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Creating a Culture of Evidence-Based Practice Coursework In my facility, evidence-based practice is extensively promoted by organizational culture and regulations. Nurses are encouraged to engage in research, consult relevant literature, and share their findings. However, there is also a barrier to existing procedures; some nurses may be reluctant to change their normal practices. This issue is addressed by unit supervisors who can explain to care, providers, what the benefits of the proposed changes are. The dissemination of findings is implemented with the use of presentations that nurse practitioners deliver during regular sessions; the presentations employ audiovisual materials and research data from various fields within nursing care. Another form of dissemination is informal sharing among nurses through their everyday communication within the workplace. I think the strategy for promoting a culture that furthers evidence-based practice can be improved. Barnsteiner, Reeder, Palma, Preston, and Walton (2010) suggest that there are four areas in which evidence-based practice can be integrated into the process of delivering nursing care: development of nurses’ expertise, scheduling nurses’ work in a way that allows the conduct of research activities, availability of sources, and consulting evidence-based practice experts. In my facility, unfortunately, research is not properly recognized as part of nurses’ work. However, if it is included in the job description, and if time is allocated for nurses to engage in research, they will be more motivated to participate in the promotion of evidence-based practice (Holloway & Galvin, 2016). Also, hiring a consultant can help nurses develop a more favorable attitude toward evidence-based changes. According to Polit and Beck (2017), the responsibility of a nurse care provider is to promote evidence-based practice because it has been confirmed to improve the quality of care, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes for patients. References Barnsteiner, J. H., Reeder, V. C., Palma, W. H., Preston, A. M., & Walton, M. K. (2010). Promoting evidence-based practice and translational research. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 34 (3), 217-225. Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2016). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare (4th ed.). Ames, IA: John Wiley & Sons. Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Lomack v. City of Newark Case Study Facts Of The Case The City Council of Newark hired a certified accountant called Samuel Rosenfarb to investigate the racial composition of the fire companies. Rosenfarb found that the highest percentage of workers in the fire companies were white. He also estimated that about thirty of the companies comprised of only white employees. Regarding promotions, Rosenfarb recorded that the white population was given more chances than the blacks and the Hispanics. There had been no actions taken until Sharpe James was elected Mayor of Newark in New Jersey and issued a mandate in his inaugural meeting. The mandate stated that all single-raced fire companies would be eliminated in order to improve morale. However, the mayor’s order was rejected. The fire chief, Wallace, gave an alternative solution to achieve diversity. He suggested involuntary transfers to strike a balance between races. Firefighters were denied transfer requests and many more assigned to different fire departments, based on race. Procedural history: A total of 34 workers sued the Newark City Council for forced transfers and denied transfer requests. They were also joined by two workers’ unions, the NFU and the NFOU. The District Court dismissed this claim. However, the plaintiffs appealed. Key Issues The plaintiffs claimed that the transfers on the basis of race were unconstitutional. They argued that the transfers went against the policies outlined in the Equal Officers Clause, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act. The City claimed that they had three interests that forced them to implement these policies. They stated that they implemented the policies in order to eliminate racial segregation in the fire department. The City believed that the best way to rid racial discrimination was by transferring firefighters involuntarily to create a balance. There was also the need to safeguard the performance of the fire firms by integrating the workers to improve diversity. The City cited that implementing the policies fell within the confines of the 1980 Consent Decree. Legal Holding The court ( Lomack v. City of Newark 252) held that the City could apply racial classifications if it was involved in the previous discrimination that led to the imbalance. The City neither proved nor suggested that it had any involvement with the prior discrimination. The court referred to the case of Grutter v. Bollinger (251). The Supreme Court held that if there was an educational benefit in having a diverse student body, then it was sufficient to substantiate the racial inclusion of minority students who applied to join law school. The Court of Appeal agreed that the integration of workers was as important as the integration of students. The court agreed that integration was necessary for enhanced relations in the workplace. The court found that the 1980 Consent Decree did not apply to this case of the firefighters’ transfers. The decree deals with specific issues when it addresses the policy in question. Rationale It was evident that the imbalance was because the management of the fire department allowed the workers to choose where to work. People tend to choose to work in places close to their homes. Therefore, the City had neither participated directly or indirectly in the racial imbalance. The court stated that there was a difference between the law school and the fire companies. The purpose of the law school was to offer education, while that of the fire department is to control and fight fires. Therefore, the holding in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger (251) was not applicable. The court also found that the Decree did not require the City to get involved. Judgment The court, therefore, reversed the District Court’s decision and suspended further proceedings in line with the opinion brought out. Works Cited Grutter v. Bollinger , 288 F.3d 732 6th Cir. 2002. Print. Lomack v. City of Newark , 463 F.3d 303 3d Cir. 2006. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
BMW Company’s Main Issues Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Design Issues 3. Reliability Issues 4. Conclusion 5. Works Cited Introduction BMW is one of the leading carmakers in the world. It is an established brand, which is especially popular among high-income customers who want their cars to be functional, good-looking, and expensive. In the first decade of the century, the company has managed to grow sufficiently. Despite the fact that it maintains its competitive position in the luxury car market today, there are significant issues that affect the company’s popularity and profitability. In this essay, I will show that BMW’s place in the automobile market is likely to suffer in the next few years. Design Issues Some of the main issues that have an adverse effect on the company are its risky moves with regards to new model development. It is no secret that the competition in the luxury car market is high and the companies do everything in their power to attract customers by releasing new models and improving old ones. However, not all of the BMW models released in the past few years were as great as the executives had probably hoped. For example, models from BMW 1-series, both old and recent, have received a lot of critique from customers and reviewers. The 2016 release of the 1-series was aimed at correcting the problems that the customers found in its predecessor (Knapman par. 2). However, the model still had some significant drawbacks to its design. For instance, the car is not as spacious as other cars of the class: Knapman notes that the rear middle seat is narrow and uncomfortable, door openings are small, and the trunk section is not spacey enough to carry family luggage (par. 3-5). One of the most significant aspects of luxury car models is their comfort; people who buy expensive cars want to be able to drive them without feeling tired and uncomfortable. However, this might not be the case with BMW 1-series: poor road noise suppression and firm seats may affect the comfort of both the driver and passengers (Knapman par. 7-8). Moreover, the rear window is small, which makes reversing and parking more difficult for the driver (Knapman par. 13). Overall, despite the fact that the model was intended to improve on its predecessor, the design failures make it less appealing to the buyers, hence affecting the brand’s overall popularity. Knapman notes that the original 1-series model was “cramped and uncomfortable, but it still found plenty of buyers because it had that desirable BMW badge on its nose” (par. 1). Nevertheless, given the overall drop in satisfaction levels, it is likely that the brand name will lose its effectiveness in attracting customers in the future. Reliability Issues Another important issue that BMW has recently encountered concerns its reliability. Both new and old models produced in the last years show a decreasing level of customer satisfaction, particularly due to the frequency of maintenance. Reliability is also an important factor for customers looking to purchase a luxury car. The models offered by luxury brands are usually a lot more expensive than medium-class cars, such as Ford or Toyota, and the cost of their maintenance and replacement parts is much higher, too. This means that customers have certain expectations when buying a higher-class car, and any reliability issues are likely to affect the brand’s reputation in the worse way possible. One of the most recent examples of BMW’s safety issues is the N47 diesel engine failures. Despite the company’s attempts to address the problem, which dates back to 2007, when the newly-created 2.0-liter diesel engine was fitted to a wide range of BMW models, owners all over the world still report failures (Briscoe par. 5-6). The failures cause the engine to stop working abruptly, both at low and high speeds, posing a threat to the user’s safety (Briscoe par. 6). Moreover, the cost of repairs for this type of malfunction is quite high, since a replacement engine could be worth up to €6000, which is “Bad enough if you had bought the car from new, but disastrous if you were a second-hand buyer on a tighter budget” (Briscoe par. 6). The issue resulted in a lot of complaints and eventually led to several lawsuits, which affected the company’s reliability in the customers’ eyes. Conclusion Overall, both issues are likely to have an increasingly adverse effect on BMW’s sales in the future. Some of the outcomes have already hit the company, as it reported a decrease in both annual and monthly sales in December 2016. Press Club USA says that “the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported December sales of 37,493 vehicles, a decrease of 5.4 percent from the 39,634 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago” (par. 4). Even more notable are the company’s annual sales, which were 9.5% lower compared to the previous year (Press Club USA par. 1). The customers’ opinion of the brand’s reliability is also worse than of other luxury car providers: Knapman states that BMW was marked BMW was 13th out of 26 in the 2014 satisfaction survey, whereas the company’s primary competitor Mercedes-Benz was in the third place (par. 20). If the issues are not addressed properly, the company’s popularity will continue to drop, resulting in a decrease in its profitability. Works Cited Briscoe, Neil. “BMW’s Timing Chain Problem Comes Back to Haunt Carmaker.” The Irish Times , 2016. Web. Knapman, Chris. “BMW 1-Series Review: Better Than an Audi A3?” . The Telegraph , 2016. Web. Press Club USA. “BMW Group U.S. Reports December and 2016 Sales.” BMW Group , 2017. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
White-Collar Crimes Causes Essay Table of Contents 1. Individual Perspective 2. Environmental Perspective 3. Conclusion 4. References White-collar crime and its roots have been subjected to extensive research and debate; however, fewer people pay attention to it compared to violent crime, which currently captures national news and is the subject of television shows. The society’s attitude towards white-collar crime is different: there is some degree of fascination while in the broader sense it is merely uninteresting (Olejarz, 2016). In this paper, two theories of white-collar crime will be discussed. The first theory will focus on the individual perspective of white-collar crime causes explored by Watt (2012) while the second theory will focus on the environmental perspective studied by Pontell and Geis (2013). Individual Perspective An individual perspective that explains why white-collar crime occurs is associated with the role that personality can play (Watt, 2012). According to the research conducted by Watt (2012), white-collar crime is directly linked to self-control, which is an individual characteristic that allows individuals to resist any type of benefit or gratification that crimes can offer. Therefore, an individual perspective on causes of white-collar crime is associated with trait theories that explore a combination of either stable or unstable character attributes that could explain people’s predispositions towards offending (Hirschi & Gottfredson, 1987). Components of the trait theory include such characteristics as impulsivity, simple tasks, self-control, physical activity, self-centeredness, and tolerance (Watt, 2012). Also, the researcher explored the role of gender as an individual characteristic that could influence white-collar crime. Watt (2012) found that men were more likely to commit white-collar crime because they usually held higher managerial positions in the business world and thus possessed more power than women. In conclusion of the argument about the individual perspective with regards to white-collar crime, it is worth mentioning that the levels self-control to refrain from offending in combination with the characteristics mentioned above predicted whether an individual would commit a white-collar crime. Environmental Perspective While it has been proven that individual characteristics played a large role in predicting whether a person would commit white-collar crime, the environment’s impact is also essential to discuss. Pontell and Geis (2013) explored the role of the economic development in contributing to white-collar crime. The researchers suggested that such events as a Great Economic Meltdown increased the likelihood of white-collar crime and thus led to the inability of the government to address the dramatic rise in criminal prosecutions (Pontell & Geis, 2013). On the other hand, the government’s negligence could have been considered deliberate due to the worries that showcase trials of different corporate executives would undermine the authority of officials as well as the already declining levels of public trust in capitalism. Since businesses that committed a white-collar crime were considered “too big to fail” and their CEOs “too big to jail,” more and more individuals began committing such crimes due to the decreased fear of being prosecuted for their actions (Pontell & Geis, 2013, p. 76). To conclude, the deteriorating state of the economy means that more individuals can commit white-collar crimes. Conclusion To conclude, there are as many explanations for white-collar crimes as there are such crimes (Siegel, Brown, & Hoffman, 2015). However, research articles explored above provided substantial evidence for either theory that characterizes causes of white-collar crime: while individual characteristics such as self-control explain why specific people may commit this type of crime, the economic conditions are environmental factors that regulate whether white-collar crime will occur in general. The individual perspective is more effective in predicting white-collar crime since it focuses on personal features that have a larger role in characterizing behaviors. References Hirschi, T., & Gottfredson, M. (1987). Causes of white-collar crime. Criminology, 25 , 949-974. Olejarz, J. (2016). Understanding white-collar crime . Web. Pontell, H., & Geis, G. (2013). The trajectory of white-collar crime following the Great Economic Meltdown. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 30 (1), 70-82. Siegel, L., Brown, G., & Hoffman, R. (2012). Choice theory: Because they want to. In L. Siegel (Ed.), Criminology: The core (10th ed.) (pp. 77-98). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Watt, R. (2012). University students’ propensity towards white-collar versus street crime. Studies by Undergraduate Research at Guelph, 5 (2), 5-12. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Socrates and His Lessons in Philosophy Coursework One of the great disciples of Socrates, in Athens was Plato, he articulates the Athenian jury system and reveals the inadequacy of the arbitration. Whenever in ancient or modern period obedience of authority is a significant substance. While his defense Socrates says that “let the event be as God wills: in obedience to the law I make my defense” (Plato). The great philosopher Socrates, about twenty-four centuries ago recognized the truth that obedience is a major element to express his censure of the wrong jurisdiction and accusers. In his defense, Socrates stated his arguments to prove that he led the Athenian citizens on the way of wisdom, not atheism. Socrates teaches us that obedience is the recognition of the social system without it one can not succeed in his intention. He had the opportunity to save his life but Socrates enquired the answer to his questions. Accusers charged him as an atheist against Athenian gods at the same time; his questions were influential towards the youths. His words and opinions argued that authority continues old believes and those are orthodox. Another important lesson given by Socrates is that wisdom is not living with philosophers it lies in the experience of human beings. Socrates recognizes that his teachings were an attempt towards an eternal truth so he presents wisdom before the jury and the citizens of Athens. Socrates tells that he speaks the words of paranormal power so he is not able to explain it. Plato reveals in his commentary as Socrates words that, “I am not angry with my accusers, or my condemners; they have done me no harm, although neither of them meant to do me any good; and for this, I may gently blame them” (Plato). He recognized as he is a wise man but inform the presence of the existing truth. The accusers charged Socrates as the teacher of atheism because according to them his words about the strange knowledge. Generally, the words of Socrates could not understand by his contemporary jurists because of his ironical explanations. Socrates employs psychological approach to the success of his stand and proved it is the better element to criticize accusers. He never was a disobedient before the jury and be familiar with their authority. All the arguments of Socrates are blended with this obedience that discloses his intellectual status. Defense also exploited by the Socrates for the experiment, so that is considered as a different Milgram experiment before the authority. He often obediently addresses as ‘my judges’ for the jury members while his strong argument against the accusers. Thus Apology of Plato is presents a mock-up Milgram experiment through the words of his master. “The physical presence of an authority figure dramatically increased compliance” (Cherry). This level of authority brings the obedience from the part of the accused but Socrates maintains respect towards anything he experienced. Socrates had the knowledge about the value of obedience, wisdom, and truth. For him good concepts are eternal things with no permanent danger. He really believed that his teachings and defense is the mission of the spirit or god. Moreover he wished to become a martyr in order to secure his ideals and believes. Accordingly, after found guilty Socrates had no feelings against accusers and jurists. References Cherry, Kendra. The Milgram Obedience Experiment: The Perils of Obedience . About.com: Psychology. 2010. Web. Plato. Apology: Socrates’ Defense . 2009. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Physiologically-Structured Population Models and Their Ordinary Differential Equations Reduction Term Paper Table of Contents 1. Abstract 2. Description of the Problem 3. Methods Used 4. New Results 5. Possible Extensions 6. Reference Abstract The paper sought to analyze the physiologically-structured population models and their ordinary differential equations reduction. It includes the formulation of a physiologically structured model of the population as a non-autonomous linear integral equation of the population level birth rate (Diekmann et al., 2019). The study seeks to find out when the model that is structured physiologically allows reduction to an ODE that does not involve losing relevant information. Description of the Problem There are models which have been developed but have not considered the reduction of a population in a more detailed structured population. The paper seeks to solve the problem of understanding the conditions under which the individual processes against survival, growth, and fission do the developed equations lead to an honest representation of a cell-based model that is size-structured (Diekmann et al., 2019). The particular focus is on cell fission into two parts that are equal. The derivation of an ODE system through the description of the asymptotic time behavior of the population death, reproduction, growth, and depends on the environmental condition, and it is mainly through a single common factor. The developed problems are as below: Where: * X(t) refers to the bacterial biomass and * S(t) is the substrate concentration in the growth tank at time t The model was formulated while considering bacterial biomass and not considering issues concerning cells individually. It considered the assumption of results that are substrate in how cells grow and specifically not directly focusing on cell fission. In addition, the issue of ODE-reducibility was considered from different angles and while working under restrictions that are not similar. It analyzed the birthrate at the population level while considering the assumption of a number that is finite specifically for states-at-birth and also at dynamics which are at the individual state. Furthermore, the paper gives new examples, particularly working with division or fission into two parts that are equal. There is also the promotion of equation formation that is the renewal of a structured population that is physiological in nature. Methods Used There are several methods used during the study in achieving the desired results. The first method used is the constructive method. It was developed for solving first order partial differential equations without non-local terms. The methods, therefore, solve the equations through generation expansion as applied in the renewal equations theory. The renewal equation took center stage through the use of birth rate history as a state. It is also through dynamical system definition through history updating (Diekmann et al., 2019). This paper, therefore, focuses on renewal equations as the beginning point in modelling populations that are physiologically structured. Another method is through computation that involves elimination of everything that is non-linear in the combination of the present components. It, in most cases, also involves E -dependent coefficients in the process. This is followed by finding out if the remainder can be written as a linear combination of new functions of x , which is then added to the new functions as additional components (Diekmann et al., 2019). This is a generally acceptable ODE test for reducibility that begins with output functionals collection, which one requires. New Results The paper showed the renewal equation leads to the condition for ODE reducibility. There are equations that involve per capita growth, rates of reproduction, and death. The analysis of k=1 and k=2 specifically for fission into two equal parts, the researchers reviewed a paper submitted by Diekmann et al and realized that it was completely under specific restrictions (Diekmann et al., 2019). The paper also found the connection between the example by Diekmann (1983), the equation indicated below; ,and the example of Metz and Diekmann (1986), thus allowing for the reduction in large time behavior to an ODE. It needs proper dedication of resources for the suitable solution to occur; otherwise, the topic is open for anyone interested to pursue further studies. Scholars are also encouraged to share new findings in the field so that more researchers can utilize the literature in their studies. Possible Extensions Researchers should focus more on ODE reducibility as it is a field that has not been fully exploited. Its challenging nature makes it difficult for most researchers to study. This move leaves a gap that needs to be filled by new research. This, therefore, encourages researchers to venture into the field and seek out answers for the problems. Such a move contributes to knowledge that can be used in future studies. The ordinary differential equation can also be utilized by other fields’ expertise in solving the challenges they face. The reduction of order method is an area where most researchers have not fully ventured and explored. The ODE is continually evolving to make the field grow; hence any little contribution by any research can have a significant impact in this field. Reference Diekmann, O., Gyllenberg, M., & Metz, J. A. (2019). On models of physiologically structured populations and their reduction to ordinary differential equations. Journal of Mathematical Biology , 80 (1-2), 189-204. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Shift Log & Reporting System Development Lifecycle Report (Assessment) Table of Contents 1. Planning and Analysis 2. Design 3. Build 4. Implementation 5. Maintenance 6. References Shift Log & Reporting System can be implemented with the help of the Systems Development Life Cycle and used to control shift performance. Planning and Analysis It is critical to consider how the current reporting system works and what should be improved. All requirements should be thoroughly investigated and discussed, and a decision to implement the Shift Log & Reporting System supported (Demir, 2015). Design The advantages of such a solution should be mentioned (real-time view, etc.). The costs needed for implementation are to be predicted, including personnel training. The limitations of the system should be pointed out. Build Shift Log & Reporting System should be created according to the company’s needs and requirements. It should be placed so that every employee who needs to work with it can have free access. The final point should be considered (Brugha, 2001). Implementation The Shift Log & Reporting System should be installed. The workers are to receive training and start working in a new way. Maintenance The assessment should be done to define what is working and what needs improvement. The employees should be encouraged to continue working if the project brings success (Moore, Nolan, & Gillard, 2006). Shift Log & Reporting System presupposes that each operating unit has its own log. In this way, there are separate ones for individual workers, team leaders, and shift managers. Except for that, there are logs that can be seen by everyone (operating instructions and KPI dashboard) (IES Group, 2015). The employee enters the system and creates a shift note, in which he/she describes what has happened during the shift. Team leaders gather all their notes regarding the events that took place and any related information. Finally, shift managers take the data from the team leader logs and adapt it, adding further information. The analysis process starts with identifying what should be done during the shift and pointing out all peculiarities (for example, the time needed to accomplish a task) so that this information can be then compared with the reported one ( Shift notes and reports , 2007). Such a system replaces paper reports and streamlines operations. It provides direct access to all gathered information and allows to find particular data in no time. Work teams start to cooperate better, and overall performance improves ( Improving efficiency and control , 2014). This project is feasible for the company, in which the work is scheduled. It helps to control the working process and allows to see all issues and successes as soon as they occur. Moreover, one and the same information is not uploaded more than once, which helps to avoid any confusion. Shift Log & Reporting System requires new software for the logs and employee training (to teach the workers how to use a new system), which might be rather costly. However, the advantages, which are likely to be brought soon, overweight expenditures. The project can be successful only if it is thoroughly designed. It is critical to make a list of requirements and point out the information that is to be reported obligatory. Otherwise, there will be no systematic work, and the logs will be full of inaccurate notes that will have no advantages for the organization. Another significant aspect is training. If the employees do not receive assistance and knowledge, they will not be able to use the Shift Log & Reporting System efficiently. As a consequence, the personnel will only have problems with filling out the logs and no decent information will be gathered. Finally, the hardware and software should be considered, as the project cannot work without them. Frequent database connection failures and other related problems will prevent successful maintenance. References Brugha, C. (2001). Implications from decision science for the systems development life cycle in information systems. Information Systems Frontiers, 3 (1), 91. Demir, K. (2015). Requirements for systems development life cycle models for large-scale defense systems. Journal of Defense Resources Management, 6 (2), 87-94. IES Group. (2015). Shift log & reporting system . Web. Improving efficiency and control with electronic shift logs . (2014). Web. Moore, W., Nolan, E., & Gillard, S. (2006). Towards a higher-level systems development life cycle. International Journal of Management, 23 (3), 646-652. Shift notes and reports . (2007). Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Croup. Respiratory Alterations and Management Essay Table of Contents 1. Scenario Analysis 2. Pathophysiology 3. Patient Factors 4. Conclusion 5. References Respiratory disorders can have a variety of symptoms that do not differ significantly from each other. For example, one of the alterations that characterize pulmonary conditions is a cough (Hammer & McPhee, 2014). A cough can be a sign of many issues with one’s breathing functions, including acute and chronic disorders. In the second presented case, the boy’s cough is harsh, deep, and hoarse, while other symptoms are barely noticeable. This description along with the fact that the boy did not receive proper vaccinations suggests that the patient has acute laryngotracheobronchitis (croup). Croup is a disorder that affects children (especially boys) and is distinguished by a “barking” cough developed as a result of an infection of the trachea. Scenario Analysis The patient in the scenario shows multiple signs of having croup. First of all, the central respiratory alteration, in this case, is a cough. The boy’s cough is described as having a “barking sound,” and it also produces mucus and leads to the child vomiting occasionally. Another symptom is light fever, and no additional problems are visible or examined in the case. The analysis of these symptoms suggests that the child has croup – an acute disorder that is usually acquired through a virus such as a parainfluenza (Huether & McCance, 2017). Another argument supporting this diagnosis is the fact that the patent may not have the necessary vaccinations – the primary way to prevent the development of croup in children (Huether & McCance, 2017). Pathophysiology The pathophysiology of cough in croup is initiated by a virus. The infection causes the activation of the white blood cells and their infiltration of the subglottic region which also results in a mild fever. In a response to the virus, edema develops in the subglottis, leading to the accumulation of mucus and the obstruction of airways. The inflammation spreads from the larynx to bronchi, reducing the airflow and increasing the patient’s efforts to breathe. Although it is not described, the patient is likely to develop stridor, an easily identifiable breath sound in the larynx (Huether & McCance, 2017). Following the production of mucus and the decrease in airflow, the child develops a cough. Patient Factors Age and gender are factors that are strongly associated with the development of croup. First of all, croup is one of the most common pediatric respiratory disorders (Mandal, Kabra, & Lodha, 2015). This disease is prevalent in children from 6 months to 5 years old, although some patients may develop the infection later than that (Huether & McCance, 2017). Moreover, the condition affects young boys more often than girls, and the difference in genders is rather significant (Mandal et al., 2015; Modaresi et al., 2018). Thus, while croup can develop in older children, its regular occurrence in adults is not recorded. The factor of age directly impacts the probability of a person acquiring the condition. The variation between male and female patients with croup differs from one article to another, but the prevalence of young boys is noted in all studies (Mandal et al., 2015; Modaresi et al., 2018). Conclusion The discussed case study shows how a particular type of cough can serve as the primary source for the patient’s diagnosis. The young patient in the scenario has croup – an infectious condition that affects children and is characterized by a “barking” cough. This cough is a result of subglottic edema and mucus formation. The patient’s age and gender were influential in his developing the condition. Croup is a pediatric disorder that is prevalent in young boys. References Hammer, G. G., & McPhee, S. (2014). Pathophysiology of disease: An introduction to clinical medicine (7th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education. Huether, S. E., & McCance, K. L. (2017). Understanding pathophysiology (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby. Mandal, A., Kabra, S. K., & Lodha, R. (2015). Upper airway obstruction in children. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics , 82 (8), 737-744. Modaresi, M., Pourvali, A., Azizi, G., Taher, R. R., Alinia, T., & Reisi, M. (2018). Association of childhood croup and increased incidence of airway hyperreactivity in adulthood. Journal of Education and Health Promotion , 7 , 97. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Balancing Studies, Work and Family Life Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. How to balance studies, work and family demands 3. Conclusion 4. Works Cited Introduction With the ever-increasing cost of studies and family demands, nowadays it is very normal to find a student who is struggling with the three aspects of life, as these are responsibilities that an individual cannot run away from. Although most individuals usually manage to study while working and attending to family needs, many learners usually find it a very daunting task, as each of these three important aspects of life has its own demands that must be met. In most cases, failure to find a balance between these aspects of life can be very stressing; hence, unless an individual finds an amicable solution to this, likelihoods of one suffering from a burnout are high. Although most individuals try to solve this by taking courses that are less demanding or require no formal class attendance, likelihoods of most of them becoming victims of failure are high, because of the increased risk of taking time to do one activity while neglecting others. Therefore, because meeting all college, work, and family demands depends on how well learners mange their time, it is important for individuals to plan well their time by drawing a well balanced working schedule, which should include all the demands of each task, without forgetting to include some resting and recreation time. How to balance studies, work and family demands The primary factor that will determine whether learners will be able to manage the numerous full-time multiple responsibilities that they face every day is their ability to draw a good time management plan. The plan should be able to divide all the time at a learner’s disposal in proportions that will depend on the time required attend to each responsibility. In addition, because in normal life scenarios, numerous responsibilities that individuals may not have planned for are likely to arise, it is important for individuals to set some free time aside on their schedules to cater for any emergencies. Further, one should set some play and resting time in their timetables, as this will help to relieve one from any form of tension, tiredness, and any work or study or family related stress. On the other hand, although some individuals may understate the significance of some responsibilities; hence, the tendency of them not catering for such responsibilities in their work schedules, it is advisable for a one to give each demand an equal amount of consideration, because failure in one responsibility can be an obstacle towards succeeding in another responsibility (Bradley 1). A second strategy that individuals can use to ensure that they balance their studies with work and family responsibilities is involving their families and bosses in their studies. Although not every family member or boss may appreciate this, at least it will make them feel less threatened by one’s interests in other activities, other than the responsibilities that they are supposed to perform at specific locations. To ensure that they appreciate what one is doing, it is good to have good study and work habits. This will not only motivate others, but also it will create in them the desire to give an individual space, more so when they are engrossed in attending to other responsibilities, which an individual’s family or boss may not consider primary. Going hand in hand with having good study and work habits is setting of realistic targets. As result of the numerous responsibilities that may come with these three aspects of life, it is advisable for an individual to set small, realistic, and attainable targets, be it in their work, studies, or families. Any target set should enable individuals to stick to their plans, manage expectations and ensure individuals set some time for themselves (University of South Africa 1). Finally, because of the overwhelming nature of the demands that are associated with these aspects of life, it is important for one to seek help whenever they are overwhelmed with responsibilities. In cases where the responsibilities are not overwhelming, it is advisable for an individual to take advantage of any shared activities to bond with family members or workmates. Individuals can achieve this by ensuring that they build meaningful relationships friends, workmates, and family members. These relationships are very important for any undertaking that learners may involve themselves in, as they are one of the most important tools that can help learners to boost their self esteem and motivation level towards anything they are doing. On the other hand, learners should inform their families, tutors or supervisors of any arising matters or change of events, as this is the only way ensuring that any commanding authority will understand the need to give them permission to attend to any emergencies that may arise. Conclusion In conclusion, although balancing between studies, work and family responsibilities concurrently can be a very tiring undertaking, with proper planning and time scheduling, one can alleviate any form of stress associated with the numerous demands associated with this different aspects of life. Going hand in hand with proper time budgeting, one should seek help whenever need arises to limit chances of one becoming a burnout victim. Works Cited Bradley, Bob. Too ten tips of balancing work, study, and family life . Sydney University. 2008. Web. University of South Africa. Balancing work and studies. UNISA. 2010. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Myopia ProgressionAfter Contact Lens Wear Essay Subject Blacker, et al.’s study examines the effect of lens material on the development of myopia (Blacker et al. Para.1). Method and material used To achieve the purpose , the researchers selected 54 participants putting on low-Dk/t hydrogel contact lenses as daily wear and another 230 putting on silicone hydrogel contact lenses for a continuous duration of up to 30 nights (Blacke et al. Para.2). The study collected refractive error data from these participants within a duration of three years. The researchers carried out univariate and multivariate analysis with relevant control of variables. Discussion According to the study’s multivariate analysis, two factors were found to have a significant effect on refractive error changes: (a) subject age; and (b) by lens type- the hydrogel contact lenses wearers had -0.41 D while silicone hydrogel contact lens wearers had +02 (Blacker et al. Para.12). The researchers find consistency between their studies with past studies to the effect that a higher rate of myopia progression occurs with low Dk/t hydrogel lenses compared to silicone hydrogel contact lens use, through the degree of effect varies across the studies (Blacker et al. Para.22). The authors identified the limitations in the study to include the possibility of biases due to non-random selection of participants, instrumental errors and absence of measurements for ocular components. Conclusion The study establishes the existence of significant correlation between myopic progression on one hand and lens type as well as age on the other hand. Low oxygen contact lens wearers and younger participants exhibit more progression and vice versa (Blacker, et al. Para.4). Critique Opinion on the above Section This study is very comprehensive and the above summary in itself cannot be purported to be exhaustive; it merely captures the key elements of the paper. Strengths, Weaknesses and Elimination of Weaknesses The article has several strengths. First, the population is big enough to be representative. Second, it provides sufficient backgrounds to lend relevance to the study and reviews past studies to reveal research gaps. Third, it clearly sets out the study’s research design, processes and limitations to enable the readers to evaluate the validity and reliability of the study. Finally, it makes references and comparisons to peer-reviewed and empirical studies, which have academic reputations, thus boosting their validity and reliability. It however has a few weaknesses :(a) it does not specify the implications of its findings to future research and practice; (a) while highlighting numerous limitations, no mention is made on steps taken by the researchers to mitigate the limitations (which indeed are threats to validity). To eliminate the limitations of the study the researchers should state the implications of the study to future research and myopia prevention (practice), and highlight limitation mitigation strategies employed. Value Addition to knowledge in this Topic Through this study, I have boosted my knowledge of myopia progression mitigation across ages. For instance, I now understand that a silicone hydrogel lens (a high oxygen material) would be the best for children if they were to wear soft lenses, as this has a limited effect on myopia progression. Overall Evaluation and Opinion Overall, the study is effective and has a relatively high degree of validity, reliability, and credibility owing to strong procedures, careful and proper choice of subjects, adequate population size, appropriate control mechanisms, and sufficient duration for myopia progression. It sticks to its purpose and indeed achieves it. Works Cited Blacker , Adam, et al. “Myopia Progression over Three Years of Soft Contact Lens Wear.” Optom Vis Sci. 86.10 (2009):1150-3. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Internet and Poverty in Society Report The information that can be found on the web is a very useful resource but at the same time it is important to consider several things with the treatment and examination of the presented information. The internet has become an enormous resource for knowledge and so it is crucial to know how to use it properly. Blogs on some topics are very popular on the internet. A “Poverty Matters Blog” talks about the current issues and that state that some people are in. A sub-topic titled “One Nation: One World—and an end to absolute poverty by 2030 takes a deeper look. The article acknowledges a rather important issue that poverty must be ended and a lot of efforts must be directed towards this goal globally. With the current democracies all over the world, the information presented reminds the reader that something must be done and that steps have already been taken to address the issue. The information is very current, as poverty has indeed become a problem in the present civilized world. It seems the author mentions both sides of the story, in how things are getting better but at the same time much efforts must be directed to resolve the issue. A video titled “BBC World Debate Why Poverty?” uses cartoon and animation to present its context. A somewhat humorous approach is taken. It is important to remember that the issue of poverty is very delicate and some people might not like a humorous addition to the topic the video carries. A Podcast called “Changes to Federal Aid Programs” talks about the dependence of many people on the social government programs. The support has been great and people have heightened their level of life. Podcast is filled with facts and statistics, which greatly adds to its validity. As the author talks about another individual and their views on poverty and what can be done to end it, there is no bias from author and the podcast is based on facts and not speculation. The influence that the information on the web has on people and cultures is very extensive. It has had a global reach that plays a role in citizenship and multicultural understanding. The information presented on the web often pertains to a certain group. As the world has become better connected, both in infrastructure and telecommunication, there are many people who move all over the world. The access to the internet from any nation by any culture has become much easier. The view, opinions and statistics that can be found on the web, sometimes have very contradictory topics that greatly influence people and cultures. The politics that are involved can be harsh and detrimental to many people. Since anyone can post their opinion on the internet, the selection of the material must be very careful. Cultural conflicts are easily sparked when great amounts of wrong information circulate the web databases. The culture and citizens are very susceptible to the propaganda and provocation that can be found on the internet. This is a fact that reminds how carefully and critically the information on the web must be treated. In other case, the person will be made to believe something that is false; the internet is famous for its negative effects. The three factors that should be considered when evaluating internet sources and their use, are related to the reliability of the source. Validity and context are other important points to have in mind. The information must be current and correct. The most important is the source of the information. There are many private individuals, as well as organizations that distribute the information. Their reasons could be very different. Some focus on the advertising and such cites could have certain specificity in biases and opinion. The credibility of the source directly relates to the information provided. There is a difference if it is an article in a magazine where the main goal is to entertain and attract attention, a scholarly reviewed journal or university press with the main goal of educating and providing factual knowledge or it is a novel where the author might exaggerate and confuse on purpose. So, two important factors to consider are the source that distributes the information and the reasons why this information is being distributed. And the third important factor is what audience this information targets. An article for people of a certain profession will be filled with formal and specific language. A writing done for children for educational or entertainment purposes will be much different from a critique or a novel. Web-based information often targets people with a unique and special understanding of a subject. A person must either have a personal interest or it is extremely popular in the present times. So, not only the writer and reasons matter in the relay and registration of information but also those who receive the information, play a great role in the way the information will be accepted, analyzed and believed. References BBC World Debate Why Poverty? (2013). Web. Lewis, I. (2013). One Nation: One World – and an end to absolute poverty by 2030 . Web. Parker, D. (n.d.). Changes to Federal Aid Programs. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Customer Satisfaction in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry Report Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Customer satisfaction in hotels and restaurants 3. Conclusion 4. Works Cited Introduction This report provides credible information pertaining to customer satisfaction that remains a key element that institutions with strong performance orientation should uphold. This is important since customers are major stakeholders who define the level of performance in terms of product turnover and profitability in various institutions. Their role is critical in ensuring the achievement of institutional objectives. As contained in the report, corporations are currently refocusing their potential in producing quality services and products with an aim of meeting the varying needs of consumers. Indeed, institutions are developing viable operating strategies to foster customer attraction and retention. This is evident in various sectors especially in the hotel industry that is characterized by stiff competition. Institutions that operate in the sector emphasize on customer satisfaction as a competitive strategy. Customer satisfaction in hotels and restaurants As indicated by Hill & Jim (279), customer satisfaction is a key performance driver in the hospitality industry. This explains why most institutions that provide hotel or restaurant services are focusing on providing quality services to consumers. They are keen to providing customized services to consumers in an efficient and timely manner. This helps in attracting and retaining consumers in the sector that has been facing serious challenges that have resulted into stiff competition (Hill & Jim 279). Operators in the industry cite hygiene, affordability, quality of service delivery, aromatic meals and variety of food items as influential elements that affect decision making of consumers. They assert that any institution that seeks to record success in the industry must perform credible research to ascertain customer needs and provide quality services that match the needs with limited complications. Firstly, they must ensure that services are provided under absolute hygiene conditions to guarantee health safety of consumers. That is food items must be prepared under high level of hygiene conditions and in a clean environment. This is essential in preventing attraction of various diseases by customers due to poor health standards. Quality service delivery is also a fundamental element that drives performance in the hotel industry. Hotels and restaurants should ensure that all aspects of quality that entail timely service delivery, excellent product packaging and taste of food are administered effectively (Hill & Jim 279). This should be done to guarantee customer satisfaction by ensuring prompt service delivery. Consequently, affordability of food stuff is essential for consumers. This is evident since consumers require quality service delivery at an affordable cost. The cost should be favorable to ensure that consumers are served effectively irrespective of their economic status. As noted by Novikova (1) achieving high level of performance in the hotel industry is dependent on how well an institution manages its operations. For instance, institutions should provide quality products that are tailor made to meet consumer needs under innovative ideals. They should also adopt conventional operating techniques that foster creativity and effective communication. This explains why innovation, creativity and effective communication are key elements that are crucial in ensuring timely, fair and quality service delivery in the sector. Evidently, gaining competitiveness in hotel industry requires immense creativity. This is vital in facilitating the development of favorable food menu, prices and quality food content that meet consumer expectations (Novikova 3). Conclusion It is imperative to conclude that the provision of satisfactory services to customers in hotel industry requires adherence to consumer needs. This is vital in ensuring the provision of timely services, affordable, quality, well packaged and prepared food items that guarantee consumers’ high value. Works Cited Hill, Nigel & Jim, Alexander. The Handbook of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Measurement . Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Gower, 2006. Print. Novikova, Ksenia. A Study of Customer Satisfaction Factors and Employee Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry . London: Gower, 2009. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
How Money Market Mutual Funds Contributed to the 2008 Financial Crisis Essay Money Market Mutual Funds (MMMF) MMMF are open-end mutual funds in which investors can easily access their invested funds through the redemption of shares [1] [2] . Redeeming a share is the situation where the investors demand the cash equivalent of the invested share. In fact, MMMF is channeling through which predetermined earnings are devoted to debt securities. The major attributes of the debt securities are their quick-fix maturities as well as nominal credit risks [1] . Some of the debt securities are assessable. The examples of the debt securities within the MMMF portfolio range from U.S. Treasury securities to Eurodollar deposits. Within the continuum includes a range of securities such as the certificate of deposits (CDs) [1] . The Systemic Risks Created by MMMF Industry during the 2008 Financial Crisis During the 2008 crisis, the MMMF held over 50% of the total deposits and were significant financial sources for short-term bank paper and repo agreements [3] . For a long time, MMMF had been taken as a perfect substitute for deposits due to their capability of holding the value of the share at $1. During the 2008 financial crisis, the majority of investors withdrew a large quantity of their invested funds resulting in a rare occurrence known as the ‘breaking the buck’, which is a liquidity phenomenon where the value of share prices drops below the required minimum of $1 [3] [4] . The fall of the value of shares below the target price caused great concern to the investors and the regulators. While how the prices of shares fell below the set $1 per share was a complex process, it became one of the greatest systemic risks posed by the MMMF to the investors and the economy during the 2008 financial crisis [4] . The Actions Taken by the Treasury and Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) to Reduce the Risks of MMMF during the 2008 Financial Crisis The continued vulnerability of the MMMF provoked the financial regulators to establish new policies aimed at controlling MMMF. The measures taken by the treasury and the FRB were concerned with monetary and fiscal policies rather than regulations on the actions of the MMMF [5] . However, following various legislations on monetary issues, the treasury was allowed to prohibit the operations of the Exchange Utilization Fund (EUF) for the establishment of guarantees by the MMMF [5] [6] . Besides the measures taken by the treasury, the FRB established a Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) that would directly buy the commercial papers from qualified issuers instead of MMMF [5] [6] . In addition, the FRB created the Money Market Mutual Investor Fund Facility (MMMIFF) that enabled the private sectors to directly purchase the money market instruments from the MMMFs [6] . The New Regulations being Proposed and Implemented by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to Mitigate the Risk from Occurring The SEC is also one of the regulatory institutions that put in place new measures to mitigate the risks posed by the actions of the MMMF. Following the continued vulnerability of the MMMF, SEC came up with three regulatory changes that have been implemented since 2008. The dogmatic changes could be categorized into three types including changes that focused on risk limitations, increased strict control of the repurchase agreements, and the special provisions for MMMF that target the minimum share prices [7] [8] . In particular, under the regulations that target the minimum set on share prices, the MMMF are permitted by SCE to utilize different accounting procedures to come up with the value of securities that offer a stable share of $1.00 [7] [8] . References 1. “ Introduction to money market mutual funds ” Investopedia. Web. 2. “Money market mutual funds and financial stability” Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 2014. Web. 3. “ Money market funds and systemic risk ” Liberty Street Economics., 2012. Web. 4. “Reducing systemic risk: The role of money market mutual funds as substitutes for federally insured bank deposits” Yale Law School, Connecticut. Web. 5. “Reforming money market mutual funds: A difficult assignment” Economic Brief, 2011. Web. 6. “The response of the federal reserve to the recent banking and financial crisis” University of Chicago, Chicago. Web. 7. “Money market mutual funds and financial stability” Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. 2011. Web. 8. “The crisis and the policy response” Federal Reserve Bank. 2009. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Toyota Motor Corporation’s Sustainability Case Study Theories and Techniques Just-in-time (JIT) is a manufacturing and inventory strategy that companies use for increasing efficiency and decreasing waste by receiving goods only when they are needed in the process of production (“Just in time – JIT,” n.d.a). Toyota Production System (TPS) is based on making vehicles that customers order in the most efficient way for delivering them as quick as possible (Toyota, 2017). TPS aligns with the ideas of just-in-time inventory and lean. Lean manufacturing is an approach that is based on finding the most efficient approach for removing any wasteful steps that do not add value to the end product (MT Team, 2017). All three concepts are related in a way that they enable manufacturers to focus on efficiency and removal of waste without compromising the quality of the end product. On the bright side, JIT, TPS, and lean reduce inventory costs; on the downside, it requires manufacturers to be extremely accurate when forecasting demand. With regards to Toyota, just-in-time, TPS, and lean encouraged the company to pull materials forward when they were needed, with components produced and received in small lots. On the other hand, the overall system was not risk-free (Schmidt & Simchi-Levi, 2013). For instance, if there were disturbances in the information or material flow, the manufacturing stages can be significantly undermined. Sustainability Triple Bottom Line (TBL) is an accounting framework that includes tree performance dimensions: social, environmental, and financial (Slaper & Hall, 2011). Three Ps are the dimensions of the TBL: people, planet, and profits (Slaper & Hall, 2011). To enhance operations management in Toyota, the management should address its three dimensions. First, there should be a shift of focus on the fair treatment of employees by enacting favorable practices. Second, Toyota should implement sustainable practices and reduce its environmental impact. Such practices can range from recycling programs to the usage of only sustainable materials (“Triple bottom line,” n.d.). Third, the company should align its financial bottom line with the sustainable practices and social responsibility since the largest consumer demographic is willing to pay for sustainable goods (“Triple bottom line,” n.d.). The ISO 14000 standards provide manufacturers with measurements for dealing with their environmental impact by integrating the environmental considerations into the production process. With regards to Toyota Motor Corp., the company identified hundreds of substances and chemicals that the suppliers must not use in their manufacturing process (Gilbert-Miller, n.d.). The alignment with the ISO 14000 standards allows the company to follow the Triple Bottom Line framework to promote the agenda of sustainability and social responsibility to show customers that Toyota cares about reducing the environmental impact associated with the process of vehicle manufacturing. Integration of corporate social responsibility in a technology-oriented company comprises of knowledge exchange with customers, maintaining sustainable agreements with suppliers, developing employee code of conduct concerning ethics and knowledge dissemination, protecting the interest of the company with regards to protecting the corporate government decisions, and creating a social action plan to benefit local communities (Guadamillas-Gomez, Donate-Manzanares, & Skerlavaj, 2010). Among the mentioned principles, exchanging knowledge with suppliers and customers is the most effective since it will allow the company understand the demands of the public with regards to vehicle manufacturing and get an idea about what suppliers can and cannot do to adhere to the practices of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. References Gilbert-Miller, S. (n.d.). ISO 14000 becomes a prerequisite for suppliers to stay in the game . Web. Guadamillas-Gomez, F., Donate-Manzanares, M., & Skerlavaj, M. (2010). The integration of corporate social responsibility into the strategy of technology-intensive firms: A case study. Proceedings of Rijeka School of Economics, 28 (1), 9-34. Just in time – JIT . (n.d.). Web. MT Team. (2017). Lean manufacturing: Working more efficiently . Web. Schmidt, W., & Simchi-Levi, D. (2013). Nissan Motor Company Ltd.: Building operational resiliency . Web. Slaper, T., & Hall, T. (2011). The triple bottom line: What is it and how does it work? Web. Toyota. (2017). Toyota production system . Web. Triple bottom line . (n.d.) Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Despite the fact that she dropped out of college, her knowledge for symbolic poetry was admirable. She spent most of her youthful years trying to discover herself. She dreamt of becoming a star as opposed to an artist and worked hard to first become a muse before following her dream of being an artist. Smith had no ego and this made her to dedicate her time and energy in ensuring that the people she interacted with succeeded in whatever they did (Seattlepi 6). She became widely recognized in the 70s due to her ability to merge rock music and poetry. Her album entitled Horses was rated as one of the best albums ever released in the world of music. Her first show of the drawings she made was in 1973 at Gotham book Mart. Since 1978, Robert Miller Gallery represented her works. In 2008, the Foundation Cartier Pour located in Paris exhibited some of her photographs, drawings and installations. In 2005, she was given the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, which is a famous title by the ministry of culture in France, a prestigious honor to be accorded an artist by the French government. In addition, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame took her as one of its members in 2007. Smith got married to her late husband Fred smith in 1980 and had two children. She currently lives in New York where she is involved in different things including performing, writing and engaging in visual art (White 5). The book ‘Just kids’ by Smith is a well written book that talks about her youthful days with Robert Mapplethorpe, whom she describes as an artist of her life. It is a combination of a memoir and an elegy shedding light on the interesting way of life in the New York City in the late 60s and 70s. The book also presents the lives of two artists characterized by unique sensibilities. Patti and Robert grew up in families that upheld strict religious doctrines but the church encounters affected them differently. The church experiences for Patti worked to give her a better understanding of her work and a starting point since she could pray the way she wanted. Robert on the other hand could not find peace in the religion which partially contributed towards his secret sexuality. Robert became Patti’s reliable friend for a short duration of time. He gave Patti creative encouragement and though he might not have been the person Patti had chosen, he remained a soul mate to Patti. Patti went through a difficult life when she first landed in New York City as a naïve girl from the suburbs. She had no money and experienced firsthand how her friends were destroyed by drugs. The musical stars who continued losing their lives in the 60s and the appearance of gay figures were some of the experiences that Patti went through every day. She was oblivious of the sexuality of Robert who was among the people who were ready to do anything in order to achieve the star status (Patti, 86). For most young artists, there were places and particular periods of time that remained significant to them. Chelsea Hotel was one such place where Patti spent time with Robert and got a chance to meet other idols. While in the hotel, she witnessed the deaths of many idols who had become her friends but she did not think that what happened to her friends could happen to Robert and her. The 60s and 70s experiences of a young girl who turned an artist are brought to life through the story of Patti in the book. She remembers most of the things that took place in the New York City in those days and although many changes occurred, the history of the city remained intact. Patti never thought of disclosing to anybody the change that had occurred in her relationship with Robert but she discovered that it was important for her to find something different. She still loved even when they drifted apart with Robert. Robert might also have been uncomfortable with Patti’s new boy friend but he never judged her. Patti and Robert kept on encouraging each another and remained true to themselves (Pajiba 10). Eventually, Patti and Robert had to live separately since their lives and art were going different ways. The band Patti had established was succeeding and she started making tours. Robert remained in New York and through the assistance he got from a prosperous patron, he fully dedicated his time to photography. He resolved to apply meticulous elegance on all his works regardless of their nature. Patti did not always relate to the subject matters that Robert dealt with but she understood why he never stopped doing it. She appreciated the fact that he never did whatever he was doing for the sake of it. Patti vowed to take care of Robert since their early lives as kids and continued protecting him. As the book comes to an end, the final days of Robert and Patti are highlighted before Robert succumbed to AIDs in 1989. It is evident that he remains an important person to Patti throughout the book. She narrates Robert’s legacy in an eloquent manner through the sharp memories and stories that evoke the feelings of the reader. Works Cited Pajiba. Just Kids by Patti Smith . 2011. Web. Patti, Smith. Just Kids. New York: Ecco, 2010.Print Seattlepi. Book Review: Just Kids by Patti Smith . 2011. Web. White, Edmund. Just Kids by Patti Smith. 2010. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Parents are concerned about providing their children with quality education in the conditions of constantly changing economies and cultural globalization. However, the current system was developed for different times, and a degree is not a guarantee for success anymore. The speaker argues that today’s education does not meet the requirements of the youth who live in an era of constant flows of information and digitalization (The RSA, 2010). The content provides a viewer with the idea that today’s schools may be considered as establishments that have a similar organization as factories of the nineteenth century (bells, separation into groups). The speaker states that the right approach to teaching the youth should be based on the concept of divergent thinking (the ability to find multiple answers to a question). This new perspective is the essential capacity for creativity and is opposite to standardization (an absence of individual approach) within the scope of education (The RSA, 2010). It might seem that Robinson’s opinion is right and demonstrates consistency and a coherent train of thought. International standards and principles clearly state that each individual has an equal right to education. Hence, every person can decide what kind of education he or she is likely to choose. Moreover, it might be necessary for the economy to provide people with the opportunity to get involved in the sphere in which they can fully realize their potential and creativity. Then, the educational process might happen not only in universities and schools but in all other spheres of life, for instance, in the family. Thus, both governments and individual citizens should be responsible for the provision of education. One of the US educational policies that might be considered successful is the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). George W. Bush and his administration aimed to solve the issue of “an education system in which only two thirds of teenagers graduated from high school” (Theodoulou & Kofinis, 2012, p. 311). The crucial measures were to increase accountability for schools and states as well as introduce national standards of education. Although critics of this policy argue that it paid too much attention to test marks as an indicator of progress, students have been improving their skills in reading and math since the adoption of the Act. References The RSA. (2010). RSA ANIMATE: Changing education paradigms . Web. Theodoulou, S. Z., & Kofinis, C. (2012). The policy game: Understanding U.S. public policy making . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Lean Six Sigma Theory Research Paper Introduction The concept of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) combines various theories of process control and improvement. LSS comprises the Six Sigma model and the Lean Manufacturing approach. The model has been tested in many industries, but it is still new in the construction industry. Based on Nicole C. Anderson and Jamison V. Kovach’s article, “Reducing Welding Defects in Turnaround Projects: A Lean Six Sigma Case Study,” this report discusses the Lean Six Sigma theory, approach and effectiveness as it relates to organizational development and improvement. Discussion Theory The article discusses the performance of JV Industrial Companies (JVIC) Ltd. before and after the implementation of the Lean Six Sigma. JVIC is a construction, welding, turnaround, and fabrication company based in Houston. Welding is a crucial activity in construction and connection of pipeline sections either during the initial layout or during repair. The welded connections (butt welds) often deteriorate over time, which may lead to connection failures. A lot of time is spent on ensuring that the butt welds are properly fitted to prevent stress concentration from resulting in connection failures. The connection failures can be due to porosity or a lack of fusion. Inadequate training, poor task performance, and other welder performance-related issues are the primary causes of connection defects. The cost of training standardized welders as per the requirements of the American Welding Society is very high. The high cost makes it difficult for welding companies to test, rank and classify their workforce. Additionally, welding exposes workers to radiation, affecting their eyesight, leading to defects in the fabrication process (Anderson & Kovach, 2014). Major companies such as Toyota, Bank of America and General Electric have used Lean manufacturing and six sigma approaches successfully to minimize costs and prevent waste. The LSS model has succeeded where Total Quality Management (TQM) failed. Research suggests that the Six Sigma model can be used to reduce irregularities in workflow and to provide better project appraisal methods (Pande, Neuman, & Cavanagh, 2000). Lean manufacturing deals with the improvement of quality through streamlining processes with the objective of minimizing waste. Anderson and Kovach’s article focuses on the Lean Six Sigma’s DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) model (Anderson & Kovach, 2014). Company Background JVIC’s specializes in piping, customized fabrication, bolted connections, tower revamping, reconfigurations, and welding. The standard repair rate is 2% on project turnarounds. In the event that the repair rate increases, JVIC pays for the extra cost, which happened severally in 2011. The company performed a Lean Six Sigma to address the issues and to improve customer satisfaction. The DMAIC was implemented in various departments to achieve the set objectives (Anderson & Kovach, 2014). Define Phase The purpose of the define phase was to identify the problem and establish the solutions required to solve the defects. The project management determined that the goal was to reduce the butt weld repair rate to an acceptable value. Every step of the welding process was inspected for errors and measures were implemented to impede error. Measure Phase The goal of the measuring phase was to assess the appraisal methods used by JVIC before the implementation of Lean Six Sigma. A quality controller (QC) recorded information relating to the previous measurement system in a database and later analyzed for errors over a nine month period in 2011. Then, the QC suggests methods of improving the measurement system. Analyze Phase The project team employed a five-why analysis to brainstorm and identify the causes of the increased repair rates. The potential causes of higher repair rates were grouped into materials, environment, measurement, methods, machines, and people. The failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was used to identify potential problems in each step of the welding process. The team allocated a risk priority number (RPN) to various issues based on occurrence, severity, and detection. The researchers identified the problems associated with the highest RPN as the root causes to the defective welds. Improve Phase The project team discovered that incorrect windshielding and use of bad welding techniques were the two main root causes of defective butt welds. The improve phase involved further brainstorming with the objective of finding solutions to the problems. Various solutions were proposed for each cause and the best four rated solutions approved by JVIC management. Several months down the line, improvement checks showed that JVIC had saved $90,000 in labor costs. Control Phase In this phase, the objective is to sustain the improvements and gains made upon implementation of Lean Six Sigma. The control plan involved training employees to maintain standards, recording improvements over time, and a performance appraisal. Conclusion Comparing the Six Sigma quality management approach learned in class and the model proposed by Anderson and Kovach, it is evident that the concepts of DMAIC are constant. However, the article focuses primarily on waste reduction and cost control rather than Total Quality Management (TQM). In contrast, the article adds the concept of lean management to the Six Sigma model, making it more advanced compared to the Six Sigma Way . The article’s focus on Lean Six Sigma proves that TQM has become obsolete in the field of contemporary quality management approaches. Reference List Anderson, N., & Kovach, J. (2014). Reducing Welding Defects in Turnaround Projects: A Lean Six Sigma Case Study. Quality Engineering, 26 (2), 168-181, DOI: 10.1080/08982112.2013.801492 Pande, P., Neuman, R., & Cavanagh, R. (2000). The Six Sigma Way: how GE, Motorola, and other top companies are honing their performance. New York: McGraw-Hill. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Music and Text Messaging Influence on Social Psychology and Psychosocial Development Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. The influence of music 3. The influence of text messaging 4. Conclusion 5. Works Cited Introduction Social psychology is greatly influenced by culture and trends in the behavioral aspects of society. Therefore, the events that happen in our day-to-day activities are a critical part of social psychology. In this essay, we analyze the importance of music’s influence on social psychology and the influence of text messages on social psychology research. The influence of music The enthusiasm with which music is taken has made it have a huge impact on a variety of life aspects. Music has, for a long time, been used by artists to express emotions, advocate for morals and values in society, and generally to entertain society. It is ideally used as a means of communicating controversial aspects of life that may, otherwise, prove to be difficult to express. With this regard, music has widely affected the psychosocial environment in the society giving substantial input to social aspects like sexual relationships, marriages, morality in the society, values upheld in human life, and emotions. This shows how critical the contribution of music to social psychology is. A discussion of the influence of music on social psychology would be incomplete without a look at the enthusiasm of the youth/children towards music. Music is under normal circumstances an ‘obsession’ to the youth. Due to this fact, it influences their values, emotions, morals etcetera and thus it can be very useful in studying the psychosocial aspects of the youth. It is therefore evident that music is very critical to psychosocial development and that it can be used to aid the study of social psychology. The influence of text messaging Next, let us have a look at the influence that text messaging has on social psychology research. Since the start of mobile telephony, text messaging is a widely used means of communication. Text messaging can be very crucial in social psychology research. Consider, for example, research whose objective is to study the moral trends associated with dating. In this case, text messaging can be very instrumental since most dating people have most of their communications through the use of mobile phones. Therefore, the analysis of the behaviors of people related to the sending of text messages. The language used in these messages can be very instrumental in deducing the morals of the people who send them. The frequency of sending text messages can also be used to analyze the morals of the parties concerned. An investigation to find the approximate number of people one sends romantic messages to can also be used in the deduction of the moral standards of the society related to dating (Reid 1-3). Conclusion Although the contribution of music and text messaging to social psychology can be negligently missed, the two have a lot of influence on social psychology and psychosocial development. As discussed above, music and text messaging have had a tremendous influence on the psychosocial aspects of society such as emotions, human values, and morals (Reid 4). They have changed these aspects to comply with the demands of the contemporary society related to them and the psychosocial needs of the society are their main driving force. This interrelationship between the two- psychosocial needs and music and text messaging forms a very crucial platform for the study/analysis of the psychosocial aspects of society. To be more specific on this topic, consider the discussed influence of text messaging in social psychology research. The information from this kind of research will be very helpful in case a campaign of change in dating morals is launched. The information can also be used remotely to give relationship advice (Reid 8). Works Cited Reid, Donna. “Insights into the psychosocial effect of Text Messaging.” 2004. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Management Functions at Toyota Essay The management of an organization is what determines whether the organization will achieve its goals. Toyota is a multinational organization that was established in 1936. Today, Toyota is the leading seller of automobiles in the whole world. This success is owed to its management commitment to achieving organizational goals. The management of Toyota has a clear vision of the future, and that is what has enabled the company to plan for future events. At the moment, the company is already developing car models that are eco-friendly; the cars do not emit carbon at all and if they do, it is minimal such that it is less harmful to the environment. The management of Toyota has been observing the environment for quite some time and has realized that in today’s world everybody is looking for a way of preventing the pollution of the environment and that is why they have come up with hybrid vehicles, which is necessitated by proper delegation of functions. This is because safeguarding the environment is a corporate responsibility of the company that’s closely monitored by the management. The management of Toyota is up to its task because plans are underway to venture into different products such as airplane manufacturing. This is commendable because for this company to remain ahead in business, it must identify what its competitors are not doing. It is the role of the company management to make the necessary arrangements for such ventures to actually take of, otherwise, just speaking about it is one thing and implementing the plans is another different task (Moon, 2010, p. 2). One expects that the management of this company is engaging in research to find out what is required for the new projects to commence. So far the company is already manufacturing hybrid vehicles, but a keen observation of their goals is to start making electric vehicles by the end of 2012. All these goals are derived from strategic planning which entails looking for possible future changes and identifying how the company will cope with the said changes (Bateman & Snell, 2009, p.137). Failure to identify alternatives could drive Toyota out of the automobile market because the tastes of consumers are influenced by these same changes, and if an organization cannot integrate the changes in its products, it is on the losing end. When it comes to achieving organization goals the managers are the ones who are expected to set the best examples. This means that the managers of Toyota should practice what they expect from others instead of leading from behind because a manager who exercises double standards creates an impression that what he/she said can be acceptable depending on circumstances. For instance, Toyota has been advocating for the reduction in carbon emissions and this is reflected in its latest models and future models. This shows that the management of this company focused and it would contradict itself if they participated in the campaign against carbon emissions and continue to manufacture vehicles that emit carbon. According to Moon (2010, p. 3) the management of Toyota exercises control over its employee by emphasizing on the need of respect among its employees and towards the clients. Respect for one another is essential in team work and since the workforce of Toyota is organized into teams, respect is crucial for them to be successful. It is the role of Toyota’s management to control how technology is introduced in its operations by analyzing the company’s preparedness to roll out new advancements. The changes that have been implemented were initiated by the management which is logical because they are the ones who authorize the changes to take place. Diversity is part and parcel of Toyota Company because it has many branches in different parts of the world. However, diversity is appreciated because people from a given location can only be themselves and would be unethical to make them behave like we all hail from the same background. The diversity in skills enhances performance of Toyota because the employees have different skills and abilities; hence when challenges occur, the diversity in skills provides alternative solution because each employee will approach the problem based on his/her knowledge (Moon, 2010, p. 4). Toyota is an equal opportunity employer, which means that the people who are hired are not brought on board because of anything else other than their skills. The workforce is comprised of employees from both sexes, that is, men and women and they are from different backgrounds. Decisions at Toyota are made from the head office in Japan and are expected to roll over to various branches. Different branches have different organizational culture but then these differences cannot be seen from outside because regardless of their location, all Toyota branches have a consistent image. References Bateman, T.S & Snell, S.A. (2009). Management: Leading and Collaborating in the Competitive World (8 th ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies. Moon, S. (2010, July 17). Toyota – Internal and External Factors Influencing Management. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Human Resource Manager in Healthcare Organization Essay Introduction This paper gives a detailed summary of the responses received from one of the human resource (HR) managers of a start-up healthcare organization in Denver, Colorado. The name of the company is OrthoFi Inc. The process and technology company is aimed at modernizing the way orthodontists finance, acquire, and manage new patients using advanced technology and meticulous diagnostic processes. OrthoFi will help orthodontists expand their business operations and achieve its aims. The interviewee indicated that he held an unspecified HR position in the institution. His responses are presented below. Interview Summary The respondent indicated that his experience with the start-up healthcare institution had been informative. He was involved in a wide range of activities, including identifying and recruiting new staff members, designing the most appropriate organizational culture, formulating the right business model, and developing a powerful mission statement. Such duties empowered him to focus on greater roles in the hospital and develop a better leadership philosophy to meet the changing needs of every employee. The interviewee argued that different issues, such as the recruitment, identification, and hiring of talent, empowerment of employees, and provisioning of adequate resources to support different stakeholders. According to the respondent, the use of evidence-based approaches such as collaboration and proper communication strategies made it easier for the team to support such issues and address conflicts. The main challenge observed during the process was that some of the newly-recruited employees were unable to adjust to the work environment. The HR team was keen to implement powerful orientation and change models to address the problem. Some of the operational issues associated with the start-up included poor coordination, miscommunication, inappropriate patient guidance, and ineffective care delivery systems. Since it was a start-up, the managers and leaders combined their efforts to guide new employees and empower them to focus on the best outcomes. The interviewee indicated that the top leaders encouraged patients to seek medical services from the hospital during this period. Consequently, every operation was implemented successfully within the first three months. The next question focused on the issue of planning. According to the respondent, different leaders were involved during the planning phase to ensure that the institution was started successfully. During this phase, several steps were taken to support the process. The first was to identify the right market for the intended health services. The next step was to focus on the existing level of competition, support systems, and potential obstacles. Finally, the third step was to develop a powerful plan to implement the institution’s business model. The next approach was to bring different stakeholders on board to start the organization. According to the interviewee, the most challenging activity was the development of the hospital’s business plan. This was the case because Denver has many institutions providing quality health services. Several issues arose in the start-up’s early days, including a lack of engagement from newly-hired employees and an inability to recruit enough professionals to meet every patient’s needs. It was revealed that the leaders had not predicted such challenges. Some barriers were also encountered during the start-up period. The first one was that there were inadequate communication channels to pass across information to every stakeholder. This gap explains why the initial services available in the institution were poorly coordinated. The second barrier was the absence of a proper leadership strategy. This occurred because the topmost leaders focused on the successful implementation of the business. This means that the needs of different employees were ignored during this period. These barriers resulted in various challenges, including poor health outcomes and increased complaints from different employees. The HR leader indicated that the most rewarding aspect for him was the ability to work in a team composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds. The team members empowered each other using evidence-based strategies. The most rewarding aspect of the facility was the creation of a positive organizational culture. Consequently, employees were willing to support the start-up process. Given an opportunity to be part of the entire process again, the respondent indicated that he would focus on the needs of different stakeholders while at the same time implementing the start-up process. The lesson learned was that employees should never be ignored when initiating a new change or starting a business. Additionally, stakeholders should be empowered throughout the process. The first few weeks of the start-up were characterized by uncoordinated care delivery processes and ineffective communication. Additionally, different stakeholders relied on the decisions made by the topmost leaders. What stood out in the interviewee’s mind was that the start-up model was followed efficiently based on the circumstances existing at the time. The negative aspect of the start-up process was that the leaders failed to use their skills to meet the needs of their followers. The one piece of advice the interviewee had to offer is that any person involved in a start-up must be ready to take on leadership roles. This practice can result in better teams, minimize misunderstandings, and streamline change implementation processes. Additionally, individuals should be charismatic and willing to solve their teammates’ problems. Conclusion This report shows that the selected interviewee played a crucial role throughout the start-up period. His charismatic approach led to the empowerment of different employees and the resolution of emerging conflicts. Such insights and lessons can, therefore, be embraced by those who want to start new organizations successfully. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It can open the window with unfamiliar perspectives and new horizons; it can be a sliding glass door, allowing readers not only to observe but also to enter the world of a unique experience, engaging in the wondrous universe created by the author. Sometimes, the window or the door can turn into a mirror, where the face and soul of the reader are reflected. Reading becomes self-exploration and, ultimately, self-affirmation: “who I am in the world, and how I am different from the others.” Regretfully, it might be observed that in a modern multicultural society, not every community and not every way of life and its perception finds its reflection in the literature, including the books for the children. However, it is the essential aspect of making young people’s character, and the evidence of it will be provided in this essay. The existing literature refers, in its majority, to the life and the worldview of white people. At the same time, as Bishop (1990) argues, in America, stories about Puerto Ricans, or Mexican Americans, are much less in number; the literature about Black Americans is more developed, however, it yet cannot be compared with the corpus of “white” stories. In this situation, the children who belong to social minorities become frustrated as they are unable to see their reflection in it, or this reflection is distorted, hurtful, and abusive. However, the lack of mentioning them in the literature is disadvantageous not only for ethnic minorities. Likewise, it affects the children from dominant social groups, who miss the opportunity to encounter their cultural “other,” and, thus, better understand themselves. Children need books as windows to reality, not imaginary worlds; they need to understand multicultural reality to be able to act in it adequately, with their connection to others. Apart from the general idea of cultural diversity, children can learn specific ways of behavior of different social groups, building their factual knowledge. For example, encountering a vernacular form of English spoken by Afro-Americans, makes white readers observe unfamiliar, authentic cultural patterns. Thus, the description of the life routine and thoughts of the characters from different ethnic groups may broaden children’s scope. When children meet the poverty and struggle in the stories, they come to the question of its cause, and the answer may lead them to the bitter realization of their own contribution to it. In this regard, folk tales are of particular significance and importance, as they preserve alive the traditions and values of particular groups, and make others familiar with them. One such compilation of folk stories is Laurence Yep’s The Rainbow People , a collection of the stories of Chinese immigrants in America. To conclude, it must be argued that, despite its power of broadening the knowledge and increasing the cultural awareness of young readers, literature has its limits. As it is obvious, it cannot stop people from expressing their aggressiveness, committing discrimination, or any maltreatment caused by racial inequality. On the other hand, it can help young members of the society to know each other better, and this is ultimately the source of tolerance and true humanity. Work Cited Bishop, Rudine Sims. “ Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors ,” Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom , vol. 6, no. 3, 1980. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“Fish Cheeks” vs. “It’s Hard Enough Being Me” Essay In the new wave of globalization, movement across borders has become the norm. Most importantly, children often find themselves in unfamiliar territories when their parents relocate to other countries. In such situations, they experience cultural identity confusion as they try to redefine their identity amidst conflicting cultures. However, while redefining identity may attract challenges for adults, it is quite daunting for children and youths; since they are already struggling with developmental identity crisis. On the same note, Amy Tan “Fish Cheeks” and Anna Raya “It’s Hard Enough Being Me” essays explore the subject of cultural identity struggle from the perspective of young people, who find themselves at cultural cross-roads in foreign soils. Against this milieu, this essay will provide a critical analysis of the two essays in an attempt to bring out the similarities and differences therein. To begin with, Raya finds herself in New York in pursuit of a university degree at the Columbia University. While here, she undergoes an array of conflicting experiences as she tries to redefine her identity amidst numerous occasions of misidentification. Although Raya has always identified herself with her Mexican and some Puerto Rican roots, she is thrown into identity confusion when her peers regard her as a “Latina” (Raya 1010). Due to this label, peers expect her to have a grasp of Spanish language, know how to dance salsa, and be knowledgeable about Mexican history. However, Raya confesses that she knew none of those things (Raya 1010). Correspondingly, in ‘’Fish Cheeks” Tan exposes the struggle she endured while growing up in America as a Chinese teenager. Tan was always embarrassed about her background, and to some extent she perceived her traditional family as primitive (Raya 102). During teenage, individuals are always struggling with identity issues. Consequently, these two stories clearly depict that for young people, redefining identities in multicultural surroundings can be quite strenuous. On the same note, isolation and loneliness themes are constantly featured in these two stories. When circumstances compel Raya and Tan to grow up alongside white American culture, the feelings of isolation becomes inevitable. Raya (1010) confesses that her peers expected her to exhibit some aura of “Latin-ness’’. Similarly, Tan avoids interacting with her peers because she is embarrassed of her Chinese roots. As a result, she avoided situations that could compel her to reveal her ‘tainted’ culture. (Tan 102). Although Tan’s embarrassment can be attributed to teenage-hood issues; she clearly confesses that she wished she had ‘a slim American nose’ that would enable her to be regarded as a Native American (Tan 102). Noticeably, the two authors do not mention about their interaction with people outside their respective culture. Obviously, this insinuates that identity crisis is coupled with feeling of loneliness. Furthermore, isolation as a result of cultural identity disparities is clearly accentuated in “It’s Hard Enough Being Me.” The above title indicates that cultural identity is a complex phenomenon that is often challenging to most people. However, it becomes even harder when one is forced to coexist with individuals who portray little or no element of cultural empathy. Raya feels isolated because her peers associate her with a culture she knows little about. Interestingly though, after a long struggle with cultural identity confusion, Raya and Tan successfully reconciles with their rich heritage. Eventually, Raya realizes that trying to conform to the American culture only brought pain, loneliness and unhappiness to her life. Therefore in order to eliminate feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness, she decides to pass herself off as a woman with a rich heritage rather than trying to imitate American culture (Raya1011). Contrastingly, the protagonists in these two stories portray some element of diversity. Although Ray is caught up between cultural identity dilemmas, she is not embarrassed with her past. As a matter of fact, she is angered because her peers do not seem to understand the difference between her Mexican/ Puerto Rican and Latina background. Her only concern is that she is associated with a culture she knows little about. Contrastingly, Tan perceives her Chinese background as embarrassing. She is embarrassed about the way her family celebrates Christmas. Most importantly, when her parents invite a white family for Christmas dinner, she is angered because she assumes that they would definitely find their Chinese meals and mannerism disgusting (Tan 103). She confesses that she wished to ‘disappear’ rather than undergo those ‘embarrassing’ moments, when minister’s family would interact with their “shabby” culture (Tan 103). The above analysis depicts that unlike Raya, Tan wished to be regarded as an American instead of being associated with Chinese roots, which she perceived as embarrassing and primitive. In a nutshell, Raya’s and Tan’s essays depict numerous similarities than differences. Inspired by the concept of cultural identity, the two authors explored themes of isolation and loneliness from a young person’s perspective. Raya’s cultural confusion arises when peer pressure compels her to behave like a Latin native while in real sense she is of Mexican/ Puerto Rican origin. However, while Tan is seemingly embarrassed by her Chinese background, Raya is proud of her roots. Works Cited Raya, Anna Lisa. “It’s Hard enough Being Me.” Literature and Composition . Ed. Sylvan Barnett et al. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2003. 1010-1011. Print. Tan, Amy. “Fish Cheeks.”. Amy Tan : a literary companion . Ed. Mary Ellen Snodgrass. London: McFarland, 2004. 102-103. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Having analyzed the whole poem, I can now adjust my guess about the first line and say that most probably, the author meant the nine months of pregnancy. “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop What is striking about this poem is the admiration and respect with which the narrator describes the fish she has caught. Through the use of metaphors and similes, through artfully crafted epithets, Bishop makes the audience sympathize with the fish and invited the reader to see all the beauty of this “homely” creature. After the seemingly unpleasant description of the fish, the author goes on to note the five hooks remaining in the fish’s “lip” as the symbol of resistance, victory, and struggle. This contrast between the two parts of the poem is another striking issue about this literary piece. When the main character is depicted with brown skin that hangs in strips, barnacles, and sea-lice, nothing but pity can be evoked in the reader. However, as soon as the “five old pieces of fish-line” are mentioned, the whole idea about the fish is altered. This is a real warrior, a fighter for his life, a courageous creature that used to be determined to escape no matter what. Probably this shift from pity towards admiration is another reason why Bishop’s poem is useful for anyone learning to analyze poetry. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Communicating in Virtual Workplace Coursework Table of Contents 1. The characteristics of virtual communication 2. Various types of communications 3. The preferred methods, and technologies, for communication 4. A Forces Driving E-commerce 5. Businesses That Do Not Have an E-commerce Component 6. Electronic Commerce 2008 The characteristics of virtual communication Virtual communication is the exchange of information using forums, and discussion rooms as well as through e-mails. This form of communication is characterized by sending messages or information without the accessibility of the recipient. Mostly, it is in the written form; therefore, it lacks emotions and nuances. This form of communication is different from natural communication, which requires personal contact, because it happens without direct interaction. Unlike virtual communication, natural one is characterized by emotions and tones, and clarification and perception of information are easier here. As opposed to virtual communication, natural interaction allows to use facial expressions and hand gestures. That is why, it is slower than the virtual communication. Various types of communications The communication needs of a virtual worker should be stronger when compared to the needs of the traditional office worker. For instance, a virtual employee should reveal his or her personality as well as his or her point of view via the telephone, e-mail or video conference, and be a person who can initiate a communication through calling or sending an e-mail. Based on these needs, a virtual worker who communicates using memo should be superior in the writing skills than in verbal ones. On the other hand, the one using voice mail messaging should have more experience in verbal communication than in writing skills. When supervising virtual workers, a manager should be to result-oriented; he or she should define, facilitate and look for ways of encouraging performance among his or her employees. The preferred methods, and technologies, for communication In my company, communication flows up through various levels of management departments where managers of a lower level take information and communicate it to the top management. Thus, the information moves from one management level to another; the same applies to a down flow. In case of a top flow, an employee reports a problem to the team leader, then the team leader informs the department manager about it, who then forwards the case to the general manager, and the opposite happens in the case of the bottom flow. Communication across the company, of one department with the related one, happens directly; a department manager communicates directly to another department manager. The most preferred method of communication is verbal. With the advance of technology, telephone, etc. may be used for such cases. The interaction as well as a feedback is instant; however, in case of a failure in telephone service, the email is used. A Forces Driving E-commerce Forces driving e-commerce relate to each other; for instance, the role of information in business prompts companies to adapt new communication technologies or upgrade the existing ones. These two forces are influenced by the need of a company to access and process information efficiently and effectively. A company that works hard to improve its access and process of information aims at improving its competitiveness within the industry. This shows that the driving forces of e-commerce are interconnected, depend on and influence each other; one driving force initiates another, and the same force is initiated by another. Businesses That Do Not Have an E-commerce Component Communication characteristics shared by businesses without e-commerce include use of old forms of communication because e-commerce requires to apply new communication technologies. These businesses mostly rely on external infrastructure accessibility and technical support for effective communication. The information they receive depends on the extensiveness of the external infrastructure. Electronic Commerce 2008 E-commerce leads to changes in business; thereby, more information is made available to the business. This helps the business to focus on activities that it can perform better. Every company should also use the available information to establish relationships with their clients and other enterprises, thus improving its performance. E-commerce also reduces communication costs; the business cuts down on its travel expanses because e-mails, mobile calls and ICTs are much cheaper than the above mentioned. There is also the reduction in the cost of arranging meeting, and all the funds saved from the use of e-commerce component can be used to expand the business. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Basically, CPP is a risk insurance package that is designed to cover a broad range of perils such as general liabilities, theft, fire and commercial property among others. It enables insurance clients such as businesses to select particular policies that are appropriate and relevant to their business environment. In this paper, we are going to discuss the relevance of CPP to businesses and the types of businesses that are usually covered under the CPP package. To understand how CPP is designed, it is important to know the basic elements of a commercial policy which include; declarations, policy conditions and the cover page (Insurancenoodle.com, 2010). Because many organizations have different risk exposures, it has become necessary to ensure several property exposures with a single policy; this is where CPP comes in. The type of CPP that is chosen by a client, therefore, tends to be unique in every case because specific policies are matched to the business risk areas. Normally CPP is an insurance option that is designed to cover various commercial businesses such as high value and low-value businesses including multiple localized businesses. The major type of CPP coverage for business include; commercial properties, professional liabilities, commercial general liability and commercial inland marine among others (Insurancenoodle.com, 2010). In practice, CPP covers more than the mentioned categories of businesses since it is designed in a flexible way that still allows other business to be covered. This is because CPP coverage offers unique advantages to business establishments, one of which include consolidation of insurance policies in a single package. CPP has approximately three general coverage forms besides other coverage types that are tailored to the type of business, these major types of coverage include; property form, liability insurance and specialized property (Insurancenoodle.com, 2010). The property form is used for such assets like buildings, valuable papers and premises, while liability insurance is used to cover claims from a third party that emanate from damage or injury lawsuits up to the limit of the policy. But this are not the only coverage forms that are catered for in a CPP, most often other claims can be included with an additional premium such as costs of defending a lawsuit. These being the CPP coverage areas, there are limitations and exceptions to the nature of claims that CPP can be used to cover in a business. As a rule of thumb CPP insurance package is not used to cover the following claims: employee compensation, insurance policies that involve health, disability or life, as well as specialized services such as fiduciary liability and director’s liability (Insurancenoodle.com, 2010). Perhaps it is because of these exceptions that make it possible for CPP premium to be cost effective since the nature and extent of coverage is usually a major determinant of its cost. Other factors that influence the cost of a CPP package include specific factors such as value of a building, its age and construction materials in the case of property coverage. Out of design, CPP are tailored in a way that enable large companies to save on their overall insurance policy while at the same time remain cost effective for the smallest of the companies. As a result large companies will benefit mostly by picking several coverage forms but with less specific policies per coverage. On the other hand small companies should aim to have a single coverage form with several specific policies in order to minimize cost and maximize on CPP coverage. For the Mid-size Company, the idea is therefore to strike a balance between these two coverage areas. Reference Insurancenoodle.com. (2010). Commercial Package Policy . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Article Information 2. Purpose or Problem Statement 3. Design/Procedure 4. Data Analysis 5. Conclusions/Implications 6. Critique/Evaluation Article Information Down Syndrome Victoria (2009). Learners with Down Syndrome: A Handbook for Teaching Professionals. 1-21. Web. Lemons, C. J., Mrachko, A. A., Kostwicz, D. E., Paterra, M. F. (2012). Effectiveness of Decoding and Phonological Awareness Interventions for Children with down Syndrome. Exceptional Children, 79(1), 67-90. Purpose or Problem Statement The purpose of the research consists in highlighting the challenges that disabled children face, particularly those who have Down syndrome, as well as how these challenges could be surpassed by implementing new educational programs. The main problem is that the existing strategies fail to address the educational issues of disabled people efficiently (Lemons et al., 2012). In addition, school counselors should take greater responsibility for this category of people to improve conditions and introduce new reforms. This is of particular concern to reading intervention programs. Design/Procedure The research premises on a set of research studies to provide experimental evaluation of current programs that address education of children with disabilities. Three programs have been selected to research the problem due to deep empirical base of the studies. The rationale for selecting these programs is also predetermined by cost-effectiveness and availability of the programs. The research design and methodology involve an experimental and evidence-based approach. The dependent variables involve reading interventions whereas independent variables focus on assessment of reading skills. Each study is premised on different intervention strategies, which allows the researchers to assess which one is the most effective. In order to check the reliability of the programs 15 children have been chosen from age 3 to 15 (Lemons et al., 2012). Children have been engaged in different programs with regard to their grades at school, as well as their reading skills. The interventions have been delivered both individually and at a group level. All observations have been carried out through recording and transcribing. The procedure has also involved screening and participant selection, as well as training and implementation. All the stages have been conducted through series of multiple baseline design studies to define whether there is a functional connection between reading interventions and measurement of reading skills among disabled children. Data Analysis The main purpose of the selected programs consists in enhancing immediate word identification and improving reading comprehension skills among disabled children. The instructors should provide background information about the main sounds and phonetic pronunciation of words for children to grasp the main approaches to reading. The analysis of the result has been premised on performance test and scale evaluations to define the degree of phonological awareness. Conclusions/Implications The proposed experiment has approved the hypothesis about the evident connection between students’ development and intervention strategies. Over 30 % students have managed to improve their reading skills by means of the proposed programs whereas 70 % were not that good at mastering reading comprehension. Despite the failure to achieve greater results, the research could serve as a foundation for other studies in the sphere of developing intervention programs for students with Down Syndrome. More importantly, the proposed study contributes greatly to increased awareness of parents and school counselors who should be more concerned with designing efficient intervention programs. Due to the fact that the research focuses on learner-centered approach in study, the scholars have managed to provide accurate numerical study and reliable information on the problem. With regard to the research, being a special educator teacher implies continuous improvement of special education programs and services in an academic environment. Understanding social and cultural diversity is vital to highlight learner differences and develop an individualized approach under CEC Advanced Standard 3. Critique/Evaluation In conclusion, the article under analysis discusses urgent issues and develops a consistent framework for analyzing the influence of intervention on the degree of students’ reading comprehension (Down Syndrome Victoria, 2009). Continuous exploration of current programs dedicated to the analysis of disabled students’ skills and abilities can significantly improve the quality of education in this particular field. Therefore, the article presents an extensive overview of approaches and techniques that teachers and professionals could employ while dealing with children with Down syndrome. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Therefore, the school management pays teachers for the excellent grades that students attain other than the knowledge they acquire. Universities aim at transferring knowledge from the lecturers to the students; hence, grades should arise from the knowledge attained as a means of rewarding students and motivating them. However, grades are viewed as the key to success, whereas knowledge is completely ignored. In addition, parents sue teachers for the poor grades attained by their children in the hope that the grade will rise. Therefore, teachers have opted to issue students with high grades that they do not deserve as a means of escaping suits. In the workplace, the management misuses the reward system when the system is only aimed at benefiting the firm’s productivity other than employees. When a firm rewards attendance and punctuality instead of performance, and in return, it expects to achieve high performance, it can be ironical. In addition, psychiatrists earn a lot when they judge that one is incapacitated, as opposed to when they declare one competent. Therefore, many proceedings always end with the incapacitated verdict. Moreover, violation of rewards occurs when the reward system is corrupt; for instance, an attorney earns more when his client wins a case than when he loses. Whether their clients are guilty or not, attorneys always work tirelessly to ensure their clients win cases in order to acquire a high reward. For a reward for resulting in its intended consequences, managers must implement an effective reward system that is not hypocritical and ironical. Rewards are aimed at motivating employees. However, if the rewards are not effective, employees will be demoralized. Rewards may be misinterpreted, especially if granted for the wrong reasons other than the right ones. For instance, a reward aimed at performance should encourage employees to work hard at their workplace. Management must ensure that the intended rewards boost the morale of their employees. Therefore, in the case of performance, the highest performing employees should be regarded as a sign of boosting their colleagues’ spirit. However, to ensure that rewards are effective and have the right consequences, research on the attainment of performance should be evaluated. Good management should explore on what behavior is actually being rewarded, as unethical behaviors may result from the rewarding system in place. It is common for organizations to use rewards as motivators for their employees; however, to ensure that rewards are being used effectively, employers should ensure that employees are not deceitful in order to attain the rewards. Rewards may vary from monetary to non-monetary; whereby, monetary involves a bonus or a salary increase, whereas non-monetary may involve praise and awards. However, an organization that uses rewards as motivators should ensure that the value of rewards by employees does not cease. For instance, there is a possibility that employees may view awards as the reason for performing a task, hence decreasing the morale of performing once awarded from it. It is evident that when work is done with the aim of a reward, it is less likely to be appealing than when the same task is handled with interest. Therefore, employees who perform work with the company’s objectives and goals in mind are likely to be productive as compared to those employees who only perform a task with the intention of being rewarded; hence, they may be demotivated after the reward. Despite the fact that rewards motivate employees to attain a certain goal, they can also contribute to hasty work that may increase quantity, but compromise the quality. Therefore, it is the duty of an organization to ensure that rewards do not compromise the quality of goods and services by ensuring the use of reward only when necessary. The question of whether the use of rewards as motivators is manipulation or just good business is rather interesting. In fact, rewards are used by organizations not only with the aim of motivating employees but also to benefit the organization through high productivity. However, manipulation can occur when the organization uses rewards as a weapon, rather than a motivator. When the company’s expectations are too high and unreasonable with rewards attached to these goals, the employees may find it hard to attain the goals, therefore viewing rewards as manipulation. However, if the tasks are reasonable but challenging, employees will work hard to attain them and are worth of rewards. In some cases, rewards as motivators can be viewed as pure business. This can occur when we view both employees and employers as dependent on one another. In this case, an employer needs an employee to make profits, whereas an employee needs an employer in order to earn an income. Therefore, an employer will use all the means possible to increase the organization’s productivity, even if it means rewards employees for standard performances. For instance, an attorney will work tooth and nail to ensure that his client wins a case despite the fact that he will be paid handsomely for the victory; the attorney also achieves a sense of satisfactory professionally. However, an equally challenging question is whether the same spirit would last if the rewards were removed. Bearing in mind that employees are adapted to the rewards as their main motivator, performance, and productivity will be affected. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Media Violence and Aggressive Behavior Essay It is said that television and media brought about new problems that are evident in the modern day and age. Mostly, these influences are harmful in relation to violence and people’s general behavior, which is characterized as careless, destructive and unpredictable. In reality, there is a great difference and separation between the violence that is seen on TV and that in real life, as people will not become aggressive if their character is not based on aggression. For a long time, there has been a debate that violence in the media causes more aggressive behavior in the person. There have been numerous studies, but the evidence is somewhat controversial. The majority of people believe that the causation of violent behavior by media is exaggerated. The social theorists suppose that people learn by modeling and imitating behavior. There have been experiments where such imitation would be tested with children as participants. It has yielded imprecise results (Wells, 1997). Further studies and experimentation have not established any particular correlation because of the control variables being too fluid. An important concept in movies and media is that they constantly remind the viewer that it is only the authorized people, like police officers and other authorities, are allowed to use violence as a last resource. In many instances, there is added humor, even though it does not diminish the violent and dangerous nature of the situation where a person is killed or their life is threatened. In general, it is possible to assume that a person might get desensitized towards violence, blood, aggression and criminal behavior. It has been proven that the more a person is confronted with a certain stimuli, the more they will get used to it. This can be seen in many examples from real life (Casey, 2008). Today, there are movies that show very gruesome and graphic scenes, and it is a fact that many people watch movies like “Saw” and it might make them more used to horror and blood. But people realize that it is a movie and a false, staged situation. A real life occurrence would be very different. For example, if a movie does not have graphic images or scenes, it might create an idea of violence where people are controlled against their will or held hostage. From one perspective, it is said that the person will learn to like the violence and use it in real life. But a person’s character or individuality cannot learn to like a particular stimulus. If a person does not like to smoke, they will not get used to it by constantly smoking. Or if someone likes a certain color or smell, a person cannot be made to like or unlike something. In the end, it is possible to see that there must be a link between violence and an already existing personal predisposition to it. The only people who will get affected by graphic violent media are those who require ideas in how to manifest own violent behavior. From this perspective, it would be better if violence was excluded from media and movies. It can be left simple, as if when a person gets shot or hit, there are no close-ups to show the wound or any blood. It would be useful to promote that the only moral of the movies in relation to violence is that it is unlawful and unwanted by anyone. Most evidence supports the fact that there must be a predisposition towards violence. It very much depends on an individual. A person who is kind and moral will not resolve to violence because it will conflict with their core moral beliefs, and no matter how often they see violence on the news or in movies, each time they will feel appalled and will not simulate such behavior (Freedman, 2002). It is clear that a person, who resolved to violence, either grew up in aggressive circumstances where they thought that it was allowed or possible or they have some genetic malfunction. Majority of people are taught that violence is wrong and will not be tolerated by the law and society. Modern civilized countries take every effort to make this as clear as possible and everyone, even the criminals, know that taking someone’s life or being aggressive towards someone is the highest crime and will be punished. Unfortunately, the evolving technology is becoming a greater part of human life. The 3D or hologram affects, not to mention virtual reality, can stimulate senses in ways that were not possible before. There is very little evidence as to how the body and genetic information reacts and what it stores. There is a slight chance that a person who watches violence all their life and becomes desensitized to human pain and suffering, will record that information in genes and pass it on to the next generation (Holtzman, 2000). In any case, there is always a limit as to violence on TV and its nature. The modern society wants to see more blood, which is evident from many movies, and the types of people that watch those movies are of specific character. But the general public seems unharmed by media, as it is too character specific. Works Cited Casey, Bernadette. Television studies: the key concepts . New York, NY: Routledge, 2008. Print. Freedman, Jonathan. Media violence and its effect on aggression: Assessing the scientific evidence. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2002. Print. Holtzman, Linda. Media messages . Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000. Print. Wells, Alan. Mass media & society . London, England: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1997. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
43, no 8 by Ashir Kumar, Renuka Gera, Gaurang Shah, Sonia Godambe and David J. Kalen is the subject for the discussion in this paper. Rapidly changing curriculum and the ways how medical students are educated and evaluated make it difficult to evaluate the efficiency of the medical students. Moreover, it has become almost impossible to measure students’ evaluation practices in clerkship. The authors of the article have decided to conduct research with the purpose “to find out about the structure of the pediatric clerkship, students evaluation practices, grading (pass, fail, honors), and remediation processes used in pediatric clerkships in US and Canadian medical schools” (Kumar, Gera, Shah, Godambe and. Kalen 729). The data was considered by means of surveys that were sent to all the members of the research. The focus of the interrogation was the information devoted to the general clerkship and to the educational process. The response rate was 69%. The research results were as follows, students were not really interested in this profession, therefore, the demand for it in medical schools was low. The duration of the courses did not have any impact. Depending on the medical school, the classes could last from 4 up to 7 weeks. The ambulatory experience was required in all the programs. According to the survey, 1.01 weeks were spent on nursing, 3.27 weeks were devoted to impatient, emergence pediatric took only 0.39 weeks, and ambulatory classes took 2.26 weeks in general. It is obvious that the measurement exists and the researchers managed to understand some peculiarities of the clerkship is to be conducted. Having conducted this research, the authors of the experiment concluded that the data studied for medical clerkship is present in many other courses. It may be important to consider this data and to reevaluate the main idea of the classes in this profession. Trying to express a personal opinion about the research results, I suppose that the medical clerkship should be removed as an independent course and should be included in another profession. Therefore, getting the same classes students are sure to get two or more occupations depending on the course. Low demand for medical clerkship classes is explained by the low interest of people in this non-medical profession and the requirement for study medicine. I am inclined to think that students in the medical schools search for the professions where they will be able to show their practical abilities, however, many students do not mind to work as clerkship for some time to consider the nursing profession from another angle, to check the work of the medical establishment and to get some practice from communication with professionally trained doctors and nurses. Therefore, medical schools and the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics should reconsider the curriculum in some professions and add the qualification students get after completing those courses. Medical clerkship is not an interesting profession as it does not offer professional growth while personal and professional development is the most important issue in the life of each person, not only of a medical employee. Works Cited Kumar, Ashir, Gera, Renuka, Shah, Gaurang, Godambe, Sonia and David J. Kalen. “Student evaluation practices in pediatric clerkships: a survey of the medical schools in the United States and Canada.” Clinical Pediatrics 43.8 (2004): 729-735. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Immigration and Control Policies in the US Essay Immigration and control policies are indeed instrumental towards the well being of a nation. A case study of the United States of America shows that myriads of these policies are already in place. Nonetheless, there has been growing need to streamline some of these policies so that the country may reap the optimum benefits of immigrant labor. In addition, some of the policies are seemingly obsolete and need to be reviewed. Hence, the United States admission and control board should take up the task of thoroughly reviewing both the temporary and permanent policies. To begin with, there is need to introduce a clause within the immigration and control policies that will enable the process of permanent residency for the US nationals who have no legal citizenship. Indeed, such a move will ensure that the country obtains a continuous and uninterrupted flow of labor supply that is much needed. It is worth noting that the temporary labor arrangements may not really save the country from high demand for both skilled and unskilled labor. There is need to set up legal measures that will ensure that the non-US citizens are also allowed to work in the country after being vetted for their suitability in various professions. Therefore, the length of stay among residents who are temporary should be reduced to the minimum as part and parcel of executing this kind of policy. It can also be attained through the visa method whereby the foreign nationals can be issued with permanent work permits. Needless to say, a sustainable economy can only be supported by regular labor supply since there will always be makeshift plans to harmonize the flow of labor in any given fiscal year. The visa waiver system can be used by the US immigration authorities to minimize the rate of illegal immigration into the country. Hence, the immigration and admissions policy should be modified in such a way that certain categories of foreigners can be permitted to work in the US for a stipulated period of time. The policy should also provide ways and means of screening residents who are unlawfully residing in the country. Strict screening measures are also necessary as one way of counterchecking acts of terrorism in the country bearing in mind that there are foreign nationals who may pose as job seekers while they are in a mission to execute acts of terror. There is usually some negative perception that certain citizens from other countries are favored when it comes to issuance of visa and other valid working documents. A diversity program can be put in place and adopted as part and parcel of the immigration and policy program that will enhance fairness in the entire process of visa allocation. In any case, equity should be seen to prevail and only qualified applicants allowed into the US as immigrant workers. Moreover, such a program will hardly discriminate against immigration flows in terms of race, region or social status. While it may be cumbersome to implement the diversity program, a green card lottery system can be used to execute the new program. One of the greatest benefits of a green card lottery program is that fairness will prevail in terms of the average level of immigrants awarded to nationals of each prospective nation. Therefore, it is highly recommended that a mixed immigration policy will be necessary in this case. In other words, a mix immigration program will accommodate workers who are both legally allowed to work in the US and have residential permits that are permanent in nature. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The chapters touch on a number of interesting topics, which I enjoyed. Culture is one such topic that stood out for me as I read the first six chapters. It is interesting to know how American society embraced diversity way before the discovery of the continent. Culture has also taken different forms over the years, from the time the Indians first crossed the Bering Land Bridge. Chapter 1 tells us how these indigenous groups used to speak various languages. They also had well established political systems and economies. This is the one thing that I found surprising because I did not think that such a kind of social organization would be in existence as early as the ice age period. It made me realize that there is nothing new that the explorers and European settlers brought to the region. All the first six chapters build on each other with regards to the topic of culture and diversity. Chapter one presents the richness of culture that was evident in early America. Most of the inhabitants used to engage in hunting and gathering, while others practiced agriculture. Chapter two present the interaction between European explorers and the indigenous people living in the Americas. It was through this interaction that both groups exchanged various aspects of their culture. They also lived together with each group independently practicing their own culture. Chapter three speaks about society in the colonies and the unique cultural aspects of these colonies. Chapters four, five, and six further discuss how life in the colonies shaped up before independence. If I were to make a movie set in the time period of the first six chapters, I would center it on the topic of culture. It would be interesting to present how culture has evolved over the years since the ice age period. The characters would mainly be the indigenous Americans, the European explorers, the white settlers, rulers in Europe, and slaves. The time span covered in the six is more than 15000 years. It begins with the period before 1400 AD and ends in 1750 AD. The beginning and end of this span of time relate to specific events that the author uses to build the story. Through this period, one can easily follow the story of how America started and became what it was just before independence. The six chapters are hard to understand in relation to culture because the culture is very broad. The chapters have limited themselves to a few aspects of culture. At the same time, some of the cultural issues talked about are based on archeological findings, which may not necessarily be true. In addition, the readings can cause emotional reactions of some people, especially Africans and Asians, because of how white settlers undermined their way of life. Chapter three has a great sense of what America has become today. The chapter speaks about how settlers from different European countries inhabited America. America today is full of immigrants who settled in the country from the beginning of the 15 th century (Davidson, 51). This is one aspect that makes the country to be the most culturally diverse. If I were to feature in any of the first six chapters, I would choose chapter six. I am sure I could have been part of the force that fought for the independence of the country as an army general. In this way, I would have made my contribution to the history of America. Works Cited Davidson, James West. US: A Narrative History, Volume 1: To 1877 . New York: McGraw Hill, 2008. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“Journey’s End” by Robert Cedric Sherriff Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Main body 3. Conclusion 4. Works Cited Introduction The story “Journey’s End” written by Robert Cedric Sherriff is a very successful play, which shows a very realistic picture of the War, its horrors, death, and struggle for freedom and against the common hostile forces. The play is dramatically shaped; it includes a great number of character sketches, an outstanding hero who is not deprived of human qualities and emotions, a great portion of humor, some recollections, a destructive culmination point, and a painful scene of death. The words of characters are clear and understandable; they reveal the theme of friendship, the importance of sacrifice, dignity, comradeship. The story of a play describes the basic human values, such as friendship, courage, love of life, friendship and comradeship, perfect willingness to come for help, the importance of mutual assistance and cooperation (Sherriff, 1993 IX-X). Main body The play is full of implicit symbolic meanings, which are used in stage directions during the play, with the help of use of symbolism and imagery with those directions. With the help of locations, furniture, different subjects, which are rather important scenes of the play, the horrors of war, and importance of cooperation are emphasized. Thus the first scene describes a dugout, where “a wooden frame, covered with white netting, stands against the left wall and serves the double purpose of a bed and a seat for the table. A wooden bench against the back wall makes another seat, and two boxes serve for the other sides” (Sherriff 8). This description can serve as a sign of poverty during the War, as people were not living during this period of horrible events, but rather surviving. So, the main purpose was not luxurious place, but a place where everything was at hand, no extras were allowed, as even a wooden frame was used in double sense: a bed and a seat. The time of war actions committed people to such way of life. But there can be observed another image full of domestic warmness and comfort: “Warm yellow candle flames light the other corner from the necks of two bottles on the table. Through the doorway can be seen the misty grey parapet of a trench and a narrow strip of starlit sky” (Sherriff 9). The images of this very extract are very symbolic from the point of view of presentation. The candle light is the image of mysterious events, romantic meetings, comfort of the hearth, and straight desire to stay alive. I believe here the latter symbol fits most, as the candle itself can be compared with a soldier who carries the burden of his own choice of defending the country where he lives, the stillness of this soldier while being at his post; he does not sleep at night in order to be ready for a severe battle. While the candle is compared with a soldier, the ‘narrow strip of starlit sky’ can be seen through the doorway, and can serve as a symbol of hope for a better future, for a future without wars and conflicts. Besides, descriptions of nature can be considered a good sign, as the Mother Nature helps our forces to win the battle. The place of the next act is the same, but the daylight came. “A pale shaft of sunlight shines down the steps, but candles still burn in the dark corner” (Sherriff 36). In spite of all conflicts and battles, during the peaceful times and during the war actions the soldier is still at his post; as the candles are burning in the dark corner, the soldiers are always ready to defend their motherland from different invasions of hostile forces. The total readiness of troops is observed during the war actions, as the candles are always ready to burn. “The sunlight has gone from the dugout floor, but still shines brightly in the trench” (Sherriff 50). Such a description can be a sign of some changes, good or bad, pleasant and negative. The change of weather can be compared with the change of moods within the troops, the change of relationships between comrades, commanding officers or junior officers. “The earth wall of the trench outside glows with a light that slowly fades with the sinking sun” (Sherriff 65). Here the image of the sunlight that disappears can be viewed from different points of view. From one side it can reflect the end of the war actions, the beginning of the peaceful life, because the next day would bring changes into the life of people, as the night brings counsel. From the other side it can be regarded as the defeat, the change for worth. “The candles are no longer burning. The intense darkness of the dugout is softened by the glow of the very lights in the sky beyond the doorway. There is no sound except the distant mutter of the guns” (Sherriff 86). The candles are not burning as there is no necessity for them to be lit; all soldiers are now fighting in a severe struggle for their lives and lives of their comrades and relatives, for their motherland. The sound of guns confirms this thought. Conclusion The play is very interesting from the point of view of usage of implicit symbolic meanings. I think that soldiers are compared to the candles, as they are silent witnesses of the war actions. The imagery helps to show horrors of the War, the comradeship, importance of understanding and cooperation. Scenes are full of vivid symbols which help the reader to analyze the way of relations between comrades, to foresee the events of the next scene. Works Cited Sherriff, Robert Cedric, and Maureen Blakesley. Journey’s End. Heinemann plays . London: Heinemann, 1993. Sherriff, Robert Cedric. Journey’s End . England: Penguin Books, 2000. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Ageism Mitigation Programs Essay COVID-19 caused the disruption of major economic, educational and political institutes. It also provided the opportunity for the development of existing problems with regards to older adults – ageism. A certain trend emerged among youths that brought the vulgar discourse on social media platforms – hashtag #BoomerRemover (Fraser et al., 2020). It stemmed from the growing mortality rates from COVID-19 among older generations which is considered as the natural outcome by the said youths (Fraser et al., 2020). It also has an implication to boost the morale of healthy younger adults that might consider the pandemic as an insignificant threat to their health (Fraser et al., 2020). Therefore, careful improvement of public messaging with regards to the spread of disease, pandemic, or disaster needs to be done to mitigate the growing exclusion of older adults. Education and reevaluation of ethical practices that create such perceptions of the age-dependent value of life might become the solution for ageism. Numerous studies addressed ageism in the modern era, but little is known about the effectiveness of ageism mitigation programs. The research by Brunes et al. (2019) addresses the issues and provides a literature meta-analysis to provide a more feasible solution to the problem. The study concluded that ageism effects could be significantly reduced through education, intergenerational contact, and the combination of two practices (Brunes et al., 2019). The effectiveness of such interventions proved to be larger among females and adolescents, and young adult groups (Brunes et al., 2019). As a result, it is evident that careful introduction of ageism among youths and proper educational seminars or curriculum could possibly reduce the scope and prevent further development of the issue. Ageism is a form of prejudice that can have a significant economic implication. The article by Levy et al. (2018) demonstrated that ageism could be attributed to $63 billion spent on healthcare annually. This sum consists of three negative impacts of ageism with regard to stereotype embodiment theory. These impacts are age discrimination, negative age stereotypes about the elderly, and negative self-perceptions of aging with 11.1, 28.5, 33.7 billion dollars of excess costs, respectfully. Ageism was found to be responsible for 17.04 million cases of declined healthcare conditions. The study builds a strong case for large-scale interventions as it is necessary to address these economic implications. Reduction of ageism-related elderly hospitalization may reduce the costs of elderly medical assistance programs and life quality. Therefore, the study may point to the governmental interest in addressing the life of aged people by building necessary infrastructure and institutes to facilitate the change. The representation of the elderly within the digital space may partially contribute to the development of visual ageism. The analysis of Ivan et al. (2020) on the presence of ageism in visual digital media demonstrates that there are existing practices that underrepresent and/or misrepresent people of age. The study implies that the establishment of communication policies incorporated by designing for dynamic diversity could resolve the issue on digital platforms (Ivan et al., 2020). The authors suggest that the introduction of visual communication rights for older people might elevate the effects of the current trends (Ivan et al., 2020). In particular, the collaboration between content makers and the elderly to create realistic and unprejudiced materials (Ivan et al., 2020). Furthermore, the authors recommend advocating for the rights of senior people to have a voice in the way they are visually represented and empowering them to have an influence over images representing the elderly (Ivan et al., 2020). This study addresses a specific sector of ageism and involves a feasible introduction of institutions to protect the rights of vulnerable senior age groups. References Burnes, D., Sheppard, C., Henderson, C. R., Wassel, M., Cope, R., Barber, C., & Pillemer, K. (2019). Interventions to reduce ageism against older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Public Health , 109 (8). Fraser, S., Lagacé, M., Bongué, B., Ndeye, N., Guyot, J., Bechard, L., Garcia, L., Taler, V., Andrew, M., Bayly, M., Bethell, J., Chasteen, A., Elliot, V., Herron, R., Itzhak, I., Kortzman, A., Maxwell, C., McGilton, K., Middleton, L., … Tougas, F. (2020). Ageism and COVID-19: What does our society’s response say about us? Age and Ageing , 49 (5), 692–695. Ivan, L., Loos, E., & Tudorie, G. (2020). Mitigating visual ageism in digital media: Designing for dynamic diversity to enhance communication rights for senior citizens . Societies , 10 (4), 76. Levy, B. R., Slade, M. D., Chang, E.-S., Kannoth, S., & Wang, S.-Y. (2018). Ageism amplifies cost and prevalence of health conditions . The Gerontologist , 60 (1), 174–181. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“A Private Life” by Chen Ran Essay A Private Life is a novel by Chen Ran that was written in 1996. The book tells the story of Ni Niuniu, a young woman who finds pleasure in keeping track of her emotions and changes in her mental state. To some extent, the protagonist’s life and memories are shaped by the city of Beijing and her gender, and the novelist uses some problems peculiar to geographic locations and gender socialization to present the woman’s story of life. Speaking about the role that the city of Beijing plays in narration, it is necessary to note that it is often represented as a memory. After a series of events that deeply affected her psychological health and mental condition, Ni Niuniu lives “a life of isolation” in order to get distracted from “the confusing clamor of the city” (Ran 2). Even though the woman’s diary does not focus on the detailed descriptions of geographic locations, the city where she lives influences the storyline and helps her to introduce some specific events that impacted people in Beijing during that period. Concerning the protagonist’s gender, it heavily affects the way that she perceives life in general and, therefore, impacts her experiences with the city. In particular, being a student at one local school, Niuniu often deals with unfair criticism and is called a difficult child for any reason, partially due to gender norms for girls (Hardenberg 934). Also, she critically analyzes the culture of the place and her books to reveal harmful ideas about women that are compared to “a rampant noxious weed” (Ran 89). Thus, as she grows older, the girl becomes more aware of harmful stereotypes and double standards related to gender that affect women in Beijing. In the end, the setting of Beijing and the character’s experiences related to gender socialization are interconnected. Growing up in Beijing’s patriarchal culture, Niuniu is often limited by specific norms for girls and women. However, given the ubiquitousness of this hidden injustice and political problems, the story would also make sense in another setting. Works Cited Hardenberg, Wendeline A. “The Breath of My Life: Constructing the Self in Chen Ran’s a Private Life.” Women’s Studies , vol. 43, no. 7, 2014, pp. 930-945. Ran, Chen. A Private Life. Translated by John Howard-Gibbon, Columbia University Press, 2004. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Trends 2. Opportunities 3. Threats 4. Works Cited Trends * Fashion, health consciousness and active lifestyle trends Statistics have indicated that bicycling is a healthy lifestyle with regard to not only cardiovascular exercise, but also a great mode of stress and tension relief. Many Americans have realized the benefits associated with bicycle industry (National Bicycle Dealers Association 2009 Para.4). It is also a fashion trend that fit and slim people are regarded to as fashion conscious. Many people regardless of age or gender therefore see bicycling as a convenient way of achieving fashion statements with regard to their perceived fitness and body size. Subsequently, the bicycle industry has grown as more and more people take this option either as a means of transportation or, for recreation. The retail shop is evidently going to have high sales due to these social trends which do not show signs of diminishing in the next three to five years. * Student market The fact that this retail shop is located near a university is very convenient, as many students prefer to use bicycles for their transport given that most of them cannot afford cars. Additionally, it is regarded as fashionable to own certain makes of bikes, which is a very effective factor that might see this retail shop make large profits in the course of the next five years. Opportunities * High fuel prices Political instability in the Middle East is a vital factor that highly affects the cost of fuel world wide. With the high cost being felt by the consumer in the recent times, consumers have found cycling not only a faster means, but also a cost saving mode of transport (Williamson & Zeng 69). The bicycle industry therefore must see the opportunity in the high fuel costs which has turned about 5.2 % of the total population to cyclists. It is therefore important that the market finds convenient strategies to win more consumers as they also work effortlessly to satisfy consumer needs. * Bicycle variety Additionally, the business must endeavor to stock a wide variety of bikes to cater for varied consumer needs. These include comfort, mountain, hybrid, beach cruiser, downhill, commuter and also children bicycles in order to capture the whole market. If every customer’s needs are met, then the profits will inevitably be enormous. The business can engage in offering free repair services for a specified period of time after purchase. This shall keep customers as they build business trust. The retail shop must therefore have unlimited selection of bicycles as they offer after service to customers. It is also important to note that the retail shop must stock varied brands to suit customer needs. * Clothing Among its competitors, there is no single one that offers riding clothing. Mostly, customers are referred to other shops. The retail shop therefore can take up the task of in additional to retail sale and service as their ways of generating revenue, selling gloves, shoes and riding wear to enhance service delivery. * Events organizers The fact that this retail shop is the only shop that organizers riding events gives it an upper hand over other competitors. However, there is great opportunity in organizing events that cater not only for students, but those that are gender and age conscious. This will give consumers an opportunity to view the stock in the retail shop. It is also at such events that raffles can be organizers where winner are awarded with prizes such as new bicycles, free service to their current bicycles for a specified period of time or free riding gear. The organization of riding events is an opportunity that is bound to raise the profit margins. Threats * Economy fluctuations – discretionary spending Being a small retail shop, the business will inevitably be affected by fluctuations of the economy as times become harder and harder for the consumer. Today, the unemployment rate stands at 9.1% which translates to fewer and fewer customers as a result of discretionary spending. Lowering costs of bicycles on the other hand is not a valid business decision considering the fact that this is a retail shop which makes only significant profit margins. * Seasonality The market is sometimes unpredictable and has seasons. If a new make of car is produced in the market, then there are chances of shift of interest. This is bound to after the bicycle retail shop as sales will definitely go down (Bicycle Retailer Para.1). Challenges associated with seasonality go beyond profits as the retailer has to cater for other business expenditures from other sources. * Competition The retail shop is at a threat facing competition pressure with regard to price sets as other wholesale merchants are in a position to cut profits and offer large discount considerably. At this point, the retail shop is not in a position to face such competition as it deals in limited stock and very minimal capital is there for expansion. Even though other competitors are retailers, the retail shop is bound to suffer together with them, when the large merchants offer appealing discounts. Works Cited Bicycle Retailer. Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. 2011. 14 September 2011. www.bicycleretailer.com National Bicycle Dealers Association. Industry Overview. 2011. 14 September 2011. www.nbda.com Williamson, Peter & Zeng, Ming. Value-for-money Strategies for Recessionary Times, 2009 Harvard Business Review , 69 | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
This is a case decided by the Supreme of the United States of America. In this case a group of plaintiff including Toledo resident who pay State and local taxes sued in State court, alleging that the tax breaks violated the commerce clause. The tax payer plaintiffs claimed injury because the tax breaks depleted the State and local treasuries to which they contributed. Defendants removed the action to District Court. Plaintiffs moved to remand to State Court because inter alia , they doubted whether they satisfied either the constitutional or prudential limitations on standing in federal court. The District court refused to remand the case, concluding that plaintiffs had standing under the municipal taxpayer standing” rule articulated in Massachusetts v. Mellon 262 U.S 447 . On the merits the court found that neither tax benefit violated the commerce clause. Without addressing standing, the sixth circuit agreed as the municipal tax exemption, but held that the state franchise tax credit violated the commerce. Defendants sought certiorari to review the upholding of the property tax exemption.This court granted review to consider whether the franchise tax credit violates the commerce clause, and directed the parties to address the issue of standing. In this case the court unanimously ruled that state tax payers did not have standing under Article III of the United States constitution to challenge State tax or spending decision simply by virtue of their status as taxpayers. Chief Justice Roberts John delivered the majority ruling.Dissenting to the ruling was Ruth Bador Ginsburg. In this ruling the Supreme Court relied on Article III of the constitution of the United States of America. According to the judgement, taxpayers have no power to challenge state authorities on how to handle state tax in their capacity as taxpayers. On majority opinion, the court stated that the power of federal courts to engage in judicial review was limited by the requirement that the case be an actual case or controversy under Article III. “If a dispute is not a proper case or controversy, the courts have no business deciding it, or expounding the law in the course of doing so “Despite the plaintiffs previous position regarding standing and the propriety of the federal court forum or their case, the court furthermore stated that because the plaintiff were now asserting standing, the burden was on them to establish it. Bibliography Terry M. Dworkin and Eric L. Richards, LAW FOR BUSINESS, 9th ed., Boston: McGraw Hill/Irwin, 2005. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Corporate Social Responsibility in the UAE Essay Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to business activities and practices that organizations participate in for the benefit of the society. These activities do not bring any revenue or profits. CSR in the UAE encompasses a variety of practices ranging from charity work to giving away part of company revenues. CSR has gained increased attention in the last decade primarily due to the influence of globalization. Studies show that CSR in the UAE is shifting from philanthropy-based practices to more expansive strategies that aim to attract customers and improve societies. The three main forms of CSR in the UAE include emiritization, corporate philanthropy, and environment. Activities that promote emiritization include education, hiring, training, and skills development. One of the main challenges in the UAE is unemployment. The World Bank has identified unemployment as the main development barrier in the Gulf Countries. As a result, many countries have created initiatives in the private and public sectors to promote the creation of job opportunities. Several organizations are providing education, training and development, and career counseling to young people. For instance, TANMIA helps young people find employment by reducing the number of foreign workers in the UAE and increasing the number of youths qualified for jobs. Other companies are trying to increase the number of women in the workforce by finding ways around the religious and cultural limitations that prevent them from getting jobs. Corporate philanthropy is a very common form of CSR in the UAE. This is driven by the teachings of Islam that value giving to the needy and mitigating the pain and suffering of other people. Companies donate to local charities, set aside part of their revenues for the improvement of communities, and give scholarships to needy students. In addition, they help clinics and hospitals improve the quality of medical care services. Many companies donate money to set up medical facilities that provide medical care to needy people. These companies usually partner with international aid organizations such as WHO and UNICEF. According to studies, the UAE has huge demands for electricity and, as a result, use fossil fuels to produce energy. The carbon footprint per capita of the UAE is the largest in the world, thus making environmental conservation an important CSR activity in the public and private sectors. UAE has the highest rates of water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, solid waste, and energy consumption in the world. Therefore, the rates of environmental pollution are relatively high compared to other parts of the world. Companies such as Enoc and DLA Piper have programs that aim to reduce the impacts of business operations on the environment. Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) educates residents on the importance of preserving the environment. The UAE has a stringent waste management program that aims to protect the environment from degradation. The activities of numerous companies augment the policies and programs created by the Emirati government to protect and conserve the environment. Islamic teachings and Sharia consider taking care of the environment an important religious responsibility. In conclusion, CSR is gaining attention in the UAE. The three main forms of CSR include philanthropy, environmental conservation, and emiritization. Emiritization aims to increase employment opportunities, environmental conservation aims to protect the environment from the massive pollution caused by electricity demands and the use of fossil fuels to produce energy, and philanthropy aims to help needy people by offering scholarships and medical care. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The supplements provide extra units of the components for the body with the intention of meeting the recommended dietary allowance for that component, or with a view of providing other substances believed to be beneficial to health. According to Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the term dietary supplement is collective for a formulation containing a vitamin, mineral, or herb, or concentrates, metabolites, or extracts from the components. The supplements have a profound effect in regulating both biochemical and physiological functions in the body. Unfortunately, not all information regarding the use of supplements is true. Some of the information contains bias, an aspect that increases their popularity due to the promise of enhanced performance and health optimization (Talbott, 2003). A person taking supplements stands to gather various benefits. Functional foods such as dietary fiber in the supplements promote physiological functions in the body that reduce the risk of colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Minerals such as selenium also play a role in neutralizing possible cancer causative agents. Adequate amounts of selenium result from the growth of food materials in soil rich in it. Supplementation of the mineral in the diet is, therefore, a more viable way of ensuring adequate intake. Mineral requirements for elements such as Boron and Tin are hard to meet through a normal, balanced diet. Supplements containing these components become feasible in obtaining the recommended dietary intake. Supplements are also beneficial in managing certain health conditions. Hormones such as melatonin help maintain healthy sleep patterns for people with low melatonin secretions in their system. Supplements, therefore, provide relief for people who fear not meeting certain dietary allowances for minerals and some vitamins in their diets by mere administration of a pill (Talbott, 2003). Consequently, supplements may pose a health risk to an individual because of toxicity. Many vitamins and minerals requirements are easily met through the intake of a normal, balanced diet. Supplements may pump in excess of what the body requires for optimal functioning. Toxicity may occur when Vitamins and minerals exceed the upper tolerable limit. Vitamins A, D, E and K are oil soluble and excess proportions are stored in the liver fat. They are harder to expel from the body than Vitamin C and B complex. Fat accumulation may cause enlargement of the liver, which has severe consequences. Excess of Iodine causes a form of goiter that is harder to treat than the other form caused by low intake. Excess potassium can lead to cardiac arrest due to elevated heartbeat. Sodium is abundant in most processed foods and more so since it is a constituent of common table salt. Excess of sodium in supplements can lead to hypertension and promote excessive water retention in the body leading to Edema (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006). Regulations on the administration of supplements remain unclear. The mandate jointly rests on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food and Trade Commission (FTC). FDA controls and validates the use of claims during labeling, packaging and preparation of promotional materials given out at point of sale. All components in the supplement must be clearly labeled indicating their role and possible adverse effects. FTC, on the other hand, regulates claims upon a supplement when advertising. FTC aims at ensuring that consumers receive truthful information from the manufacturers, reinforced by scientific evidence. The regulation protects consumers from deception emanating from the omission of key facts of benefits and possible risks. Whatever an advert says about a supplement must be accurate. FTC has guidelines for validating claims for ingredients used traditionally. This happens in the field of traditional medicines used consistently across generations for treatment or management of certain health conditions. Section 6 of DSHEA enforces compulsory additional of a disclaimer to statements of nutritional value in supplements. There is a twist in the regulation process since manufacturers do not need to prove safety of a certain ingredient before introducing it to the market. FDA, on the other hand, must produce proof before restricting sale or imposing withdrawal of any ingredient (Talbott, 2003). Glucomannan is a soluble fiber supplement administered in aiding weight loss. The fiber absorbs water up to 200 times its weight. When administered, it promotes a feeling of fullness subsequently reducing food intake. In addition, research confirms the supplement lowers levels of low density lipoproteins and cholesterol. The polysaccharide also promotes growth of useful bacterial in the gastrointestinal tract within seven days of administration. This is helpful towards the alleviation of constipation. Recommended dosage for the supplement is 1g in eight ounces of water one hour before meals. Though effective, Glucomannan can bind and reduce bioavailability of other nutrients. This can be beneficial as it regulates the absorption of glucose. However, it may prove negative for minerals such as iron thus prompting a person to take multivitamins to compensate for binding. On the other hand, high doses may cause diarrhea and flatulence (Talbott, 2003). References Grosvenor, M.B. & Smolin, L.A. (2006). Nutrition: Everyday choices .New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Talbott, S.M. (2003). A guide to understanding dietary supplements. New York: The Haworth Press Inc. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Correlation and Causation Differences Essay Correlation, on its own, cannot completely account for the relationship between a cause and an effect. It can only explain the observed associations in the attributes or variations involving two variables. In contrast, causation, both in ideographic and nomothetic models, gives a causal explanation for a particular effect. This difference shows that an association does not necessarily mean that there is a cause/effect relationship between variables. Correlation is one criterion for achieving causality, meaning that a variable must cause an effect in another for them to be considered correlated. Thus, a causal relationship always involves a correlation between two variables. Additionally, the cause must come before the effect to make a causal explanation logical. The third condition is that the cause/effect relationship must be non-spurious. This means that one must be able to explain the correlation between the two variables without involving an extraneous factor. One can make causal inferences if the two variables meet the conditions stated above. Assuming I intend to study the causes of poor grades in middle school, I will use ideographic and nomothetic approaches to give a causal explanation for this observation. The ideographic model explains the personal idiosyncrasies and experiences that account for the differences in the respondents’ views while the nomothetic approach explains the general patterns observed in the cases. This will require quantitative data to determine the correlation between the two variables. A positive or negative association between the variables will suggest a causal relationship. For one to make legitimate causal inferences, the cause must be sufficient and necessary. In this view, I will focus on a single ideographic condition, which must occur for a middle school student to perform poorly. Thus, I will need to conduct a case study of a specific middle school to determine the relationships among different variables. The units of analysis that the study will focus on will include middle school students. The ideographic analysis of this group will reveal the ‘sufficient’ cause of poor performance. On the other hand, a nomothetic analysis will allow the researcher to generalize the findings to other contexts. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Being an immigrant from Ecuador and moving to Florida as a six-grader, Diana was excited for her new experience in a foreign country. She naively expected her life to become similar to the episodes of Full House, where tensions based on race or socioeconomic status did not exist. Unfortunately, she was wrong. Shortly she realized that despite being a bright child, her teachers and classmates did not consider her worthy. Moreno talked about how she had to repress her identities as an immigrant Latina woman from a working-class background to fit in with society’s demands. The essential parts of the talk included the speaker reflecting on her experience as an immigrant and explaining the practice of engaging diverse students in a dialogue about their identities and personal narrative. On the one hand, it was interesting to hear about how the speaker engaged with students of different backgrounds and helped them overcome identity issues that limited their happiness and well-being within the society. In addition, Moreno offered a set of guiding rules that anyone could follow when creating an environment for mutual learning and understanding. Overall, it was evident that the speaker was sincere in her intentions and wanted to contribute with her knowledge and experiences. On the other hand, Moreno gave very few examples as to how identity mapping worked and was very vague in explaining the actual conversations that occur during the sessions with her students. The rules such as “step up/step back” or “agree on expectations” may be useful in general terms, but the speaker failed to provide at least some examples of how these rules work. It was confusing to hear Moreno speak about identities as if they were labels and each person had to have them to function in society. While the audience learned that expressing oneself could be possible through interacting with others and communicating one’s experience, creating identities just for the sake of creating them is ineffective and may ruin the conversation about diversity and equality. When it comes to the criticism and questions for the speaker, it must be mentioned that Moreno had a dismissive attitude to children from upper-class families. She said, “you have upper-middle-class children who see themselves reflected in their neighborhoods, schools, television. And they might assume that nobody has to worry about paying the bills on time […]” (“Real Talk: Mapping our Identities Through Personal Narrative”). Talking about people from privileged backgrounds should not always be associated with making them seem insensitive to the issues and struggles of others. Questions that I would ask Moreno on this issue can include “What is your personal experience with upper-class individuals? Why do you think that these groups do not struggle with identity issues? Does socioeconomic status mean that people will not experience identity problems? The TED talk allowed me, as a viewer, to get to know about the experiences of diverse individuals first-hand. Talking about diversity and pushing the boundaries that our society has established is important for encouraging growth and development. However, Moreno’s talk did include some instances of prejudice toward upper-middle-class people, which can limit the understanding of diversity and put people into unwanted stereotypes. Work Cited “Real Talk: Mapping our Identities Through Personal Narrative. Diana Moreno.” Youtube , uploaded by TEDx Talks. 2017, Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The kinds of humor observed in it differ substantially depending on the director and his or her view of reality and cinematography. The focus of this paper is the consideration of the functions humor fulfills in the two famous Japanese films – “Branded to Kill” by Seijun Suzuki and “Double Suicide” by Masahiro Shinoda. To begin with, neither film can be called a comedy in its essence. The first one is a traditional Japanese gangster thriller, while the second one presents a reproduction of the 18th-century story picturing the life of the Japanese samurais. Nevertheless, there are numerous funny episodes in both films which make it easier for the watchers to catch the ideas of the films. For example, “Branded to Kill” presents examples of the director’s quick-witted and often seemingly strange humor from the very background of the story it tells. The main hero of the movie, a skillful killer Hanada, is pictured as a person who can get sexually excited only after sniffing a bit of boiled rice (Branded to Kill, 1976). Moreover, the film is filled with other minor funny episodes including Hanada’s treatment of his wife who is seen naked in the film more often than dressed, the scene of Hanada’s apartment where the walls are covered with dead butterflies, etc (Branded to Kill, 1976). The film by Shinoda also has certain humoristic, and sometimes cynical, episodes that reflect both the black humor of the film director and his attitude towards life and the troubles he discusses in the film. For example, the very idea of a respectable man, Jihei, falling in love with a prostitute, Koharu, and being ready to destroy his family for her sake seems rather ironic. Moreover, the episode when Osan, Jihei’s spouse, offers him to sell her clothes to buy Koharu out of her sex slavery is also a manifestation of the black and cynical humor of Shinoda. Finally, the climax of the black humor in this film is the scene of Jihei and Koharu making love at the graveyard before deciding to commit double suicide (Double Suicide, 1969). Accordingly, the functions performed by the above-considered humor scenes in both films are somewhat different. In “Branded to Kill”, the very plot of the story is built around the ironic background, i. e. around the fact that Hanada is addicted to sniffing boiled rice. This element of humor, however, serves not only an entertaining purpose but is also an allusion to the issue of drug trafficking and consumption in Japan. So, being difficult to understand to numerous critics and watchers, the humor of Suzuki has a purely social basis and makes people aware of the problems it raises (Branded to Kill, 1976). In “Double Suicide” the function of humor lies in attempts of the author to make the picture he draws not so dark and hopeless. Also, the humor, especially black, is used by the author to make fun of the social system which he considers to be obsolete and absurd. Moreover, the very relationships between people are the subjects of the director’s humor (Double Suicide, 1969). For example, the final scene at the graveyard is cynically pictured by Shinoda so that to express his attitude towards the culture he is a part of and towards certain actions that people do is affected by love, obsession, etc. Thus, humor in both films can be viewed as the logical continuation of their major topics. “Branded to Kill”, as a gangster story, is developed with the help of humor which the director uses not to overemphasize the criminal situation in the society. Instead, Suzuki resorts to humor as a means of both attracting people’s attention to the problem of criminality and making the film easier for the watchers to comprehend. Even Hollywood resorts to this technique nowadays, for example producing “Scary Movie” and other parody films that exaggerate some phenomena to attract public attention to them. In “Double Suicide”, the focus of the director’s humor is more general – it touches the personal relations between human beings and the whole process of social interaction. Moreover, in both films, humor serves as a means of adding ironic details to reduce the degree of tension the topics of death, killing, and suicide would produce alone. To conclude, humor in cinema is a valuable instrument for developing the major topics of films and adding certain distinguishing details to them. In “Branded to Kill” humor Suzuki helps develop the topic of Japanese criminality and the need for social attention to it. “Double Suicide” also uses humor to attract public attention to such vital issues as stereotypes and interpersonal relations. However, in both films, humor is also a means of entertainment that increases the audience of Japanese cinema. Works Cited Branded to Kill. Dir. Seijun Suzuki. With Jo Shishido, Mariko Ogawa. Second Sight Films Ltd.,1976. Double Suicide. Dir. Masahiro Shinoda. With Kichiemon Nakamura, Shima Iwashita. Criterion, 1969. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Kobe Bryant and His Work Ethic Essay Good work ethic is described as making others believe in your commitment to work and not giving them a doubt that you are of value to the company. This is a description that perfectly fits Kobe Bryant. Kobe was only 17 years old when he entered the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was admired for his brilliance by NBA analysts. This paper covers his skill, achievements, and his famous sexual assault charges brought against him. To understand Kobe’s work ethic, it is good to know some general details about him. Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978(1978-08-23). He is a National Basketball Association (NBA) player. He plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant became the cornerstone of Lakers in the 2003-2004 season after Shaq left the LA Lakers. He is ranked as the only second player to have scored the highest points in the club’s history, and this is attributed to his desire to be the best. Kobe’s work ethic has been admired by many sportsmen, amongst them golfer Tiger woods. Woods says that Kobe guides his team steadily through matches. He calls Kobe’s preparation second to none because he spends time studying the defense mechanisms of opposing teams and their offenses, making his work ethic phenomenal (Slater, 2009, para 3-4). Kobe is one player who works no matter what the circumstances are. He works even when he has an injury or is faced with any other adversity. At the age of 22, many saw him as “Air apparent” to the legendary Michael Jordan. However, Kobe did not like this association of being second to Jordan. He wanted to be the greatest basketball player in history (Kaye, 2002, p. 6). When he first became a world champion in the summer of 2004, would make 2000 shots a day. This intense practice sharpened his skill to the perfect release. Phil Jackson describes it as “not thinking, and just doing.” Kobe has been described as someone who likes his privacy. Lakers reports have compared him to Shaq who they say craves attention and has never become an adult. However, Bryant had never been a child. Their approach to basketball has also been compared with Shaq described as a person who loved punishing their opponents while Kobe loved outfoxing them. Kobe’s aspiration comes from the white shark. He describes the shark as a stealthy focused animal that cannot be stopped (Kaye, 2002, p. 16). Medina (2010, para. 5) has noted Kobe’s love for working. Medina says that when the Lakers have a day off for Super Bowl Sunday, Kobe will feel really bad. Despite his busy work schedule, Kobe makes time for charity (The Inside, 2009, para. 3). On February 13 this year he hosted a charity at Eric Crown’s home in Paradise Valley. Eric is a philanthropist. The fundraising was aimed at raising funds for non-profit organizations helping underprivileged children. Kobe’s media attention as a result of his work was diverted in 2003 when he was accused of sexual assault by Katelyn Faber. Faber was an employee at The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera hotel in Eagle, Colorado. Bryant denied the allegations and termed it as a sexual encounter. These allegations stained his reputation and lead McDonald and Nutella to terminate their contract with them. His jerseys (which were among the highest in sales) experienced a decline in sales. In 2004, Faber’s case against Kobe was dropped because she refused to testify. She filed a lawsuit against Bryant which they settled with undisclosed terms. In conclusion, Kobe Bryant is one of the most brilliant basketball players. His career was filled with one achievement after another. He demonstrates great skill and hard work. He is a role model who shows that with determination one can achieve their dream. Just like other people, life has its hard times in his case a sexual assault charge but he got through this tough time and is still admired by many. Reference List Kaye, E. (2002). Kobe, Shaq, and the Making of a Lakers Dynasty. New York: McGraw-Hill. Kobe Bryant to host local charity event . (2009). The insider Business Journal. Web. Medina, M. (2010, February 7). Kobe Bryant says he can’t measure up to Peyton Manning’s work ethic. Los Angeles times. Web. Slater, J. (2009).Tiger admires Kobe work ethic, Jordan’s skill. Inquirer sports. Web. Sportige.com. Kobe Bryant. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Description of The Choephori 3. Comparison of two plays 4. References Introduction Choephori and Medea are the performances presenting the professional acting skills of their actors and differing from all others by their emotionality and deep psychological sense. Description of The Choephori Choephori directed by Peter Hall impresses by its expressiveness. Appropriate atmosphere reflected by the actors coincide with the style of the performance. One cannot but pay attention to the make-up and clothes of the actors. Ancient masks hiding the faces of the actors make the whole atmosphere mysterious and threatening at the same time. The basic element of the performance is psychological complexity presented by the actors. They managed to create tense and involving participation of the audience in the action. One of the strong points of the performance is the vocal quality; emotional, expressive and rhythmical pronunciation of the utterances transfers the mood of the actors to the audience. It is important to stress the significant role of the music which underlines a “blood for blood” atmosphere. Comparison of two plays The performance Medea presents a different from Choephori style. This performance was directed by Mark Cullingham and Robert Whitehead in 1982. The actors of this performance transfer the audience in to the time of ancient Greece. In comparison with Choephori the actors of this performance are made up more realistic and their eyes are open to the audience. Their play causes trust and sympathy for the leading performer of the story. Though the years of both performances almost coincide, one can notice a vivid difference in the manner of presentation. Medea is an example of a depressive story which is concentrated on the sufferings of a miserable woman. The involvement of children into the performance says about the necessity of atmosphere change. The mood of the Choephori is showed from the very first scene of Orestes whose emotional and tragic address to his father impresses greatly and makes the audience be involved into the deeply moving scene. Prays, oaths and threats of a brother and a sister provide tragic and terrible reality of ancient times showed by the actors. The mixture of additional voices presented by performers makes the scene more real and three-dimensional. It seems as if the actors address the audience rather than each other and call for participation, but they do it indirectly; while in Medea one can observe the direct address of the nurse to the audience from the very first scene of the performance. To contrast both performances it is important to stress that vocal in Medea differs a lot from Choephori . It is a combination of quiet and loud cues showing the mixture of positivity and negativity performed by the actors. Medea as well as Choephori is very expressive and emotional and the quality of the actors’ play can be evaluated as very high and professional because they managed to disclose their time in all details and make the audience believe them and trust. The vocal of the leading actress is psychologically deep and involving; it distinctly reflects all her emotions and sufferings and shows the dullness of her existence. It is not the music that makes the mood of the scene but the rhythmical way of presentation. Medea covers the play of many actors while in Choephori important roles are given only to several actors and the most of the performance is concentrated only on them. Choephori is more symbolic performance: sand, masks, clothes, decorations are the center of the scene. In comparison with it, Medea focuses more on the play of the actors, on their ability to communicate with the audience and provide direct participation of the viewers. Medea and Choephori are reflections of different epochs and different nations. The actors managed to express all the peculiarities of their texts with the help of strong vocal and professional acting skills. Both performances make the audience believe in the events and suffer the tragedies together with the performers. They managed to establish rapport with the viewers and involve them into the time they reflected in their scenes. References Mark Cullingham & Robert Whitehead. Medea . John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Eisenhower Theater, Washington, DC, 1982. Peter Hall. Choephori . Channel Four, London, England & National Theatre of Great Britain. Oresteia Company, London, England, 1983. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Promotion One 3. Promotion Two 4. Promotion Three 5. Conclusion 6. Reference List Introduction Nurses can play an essential role in helping the patients who are affected by chronic diseases. In particular, one should consider those individuals who struggle with diabetes. This disorder is incurable and serious, but it can be treated (American Diabetes Association, 2013). Apart from the stress caused by the fact of falling chronically ill, it leads to permanent changes in a person’s lifestyle, which is often difficult to cope with. A nurse, however, can and should assist a patient with such a disease. The following actions of a nurse can promote the state of a patient with diabetes. Promotion One First and foremost, nurses are the source of accurate information for their patients. In case of diabetes, this includes (but is not restricted to) the information about suitable lifestyle or proper insulin usage (Modic et al., 2014, p. 157). For example, the intensiveness of insulin therapy depends on the type of diabetes. Similarly, nurses should inform patients about the diet that they have to follow (Modic et al., 2014, p. 161). Consequently, it is important for the nurse to stay informed about the latest trends in caregiving Modic et al., 2014, p. 160) Promotion Two Secondly, the nurse of a diabetes patient should promote his or her self-management. For this disease, self-management includes “adhering to a prescribed medical regimen and making lifestyle behavior changes” (Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco, & Hanson, 2015, p. 250). The latter is often one of the most difficult things, especially for children (Kaakinen et al., p. 244). The problem is that the patient should be able to perform the necessary actions without the nurse’s supervision. Self-management, therefore, requires motivation that can hardly be achieved only by providing the accurate information. It would be impossible to define a single way of solving this problem since its particular elements depend very much on the personal qualities of every patient and his or her circumstances. Still, a couple of guidelines could be suggested. First of all, it appears that the nurse needs to establish a certain level of trust with the patient that will be extended to the prescriptions and advice provided. Secondly, the nurse needs to be sensitive both to the patient and his or her environment to determine the line of action that should encourage self-management. Promoting the person’s self-efficacy, for example, could help in certain cases (Kaakinen et al., p. 250). Finally, the nurse should include and involve the patient’s family into the process: it is obvious, that the closest people can become a source of support and hope for a chronically ill person. Promotion Three The family of the patient is another concern of the nurse that has long been recognized. For example, in 1990, a Family Management Style Framework was developed by Deatrick and Knafl (Kaakinen et al., 242). Even though this Framework was mostly concerned with the needs of the families with a chronically ill child, it is obvious that the idea of assessing the mood of the patient and his or her surroundings is crucial for a nurse. Upon assessing it, the nurse may move on to defining the problematic issues of every particular case. It should be remembered that the illness is a great stress for the family as well. Still, in the end, it is the closest people who can truly support chronically ill relatives. Helping the family adapt to the new circumstances is, therefore, one of the most important aspects of a nurse’s work (Kaakinen et al., p. 251). Conclusion In case of chronic diseases, the state of patients can and should be promoted by the actions of their nurse. In the event of diabetes, the primary aim consists in helping the patients to manage their disease most effectively. This can be achieved by providing accurate and up-to-date information, encouraging the patient’s self-management and supporting the family of the ill person to adapt and participate in the process of treatment. Reference List American Diabetes Association. (2013). Screening for Diabetes . Web. Kaakinen, J., Coehlo, D., Steele, R., Tabacco, A., & Hanson, M. (2015). Family Health Care Nursing: Theory Practice and Research . Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company. Modic, M., Vanderbilt, A., Siedlecki, S., Sauvey, R., Kaser, N., & Yager, C. (2014). Diabetes management unawareness: what do bedside nurses know?. Applied Nursing Research , 27 (3), 157-161. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“Mother Tongue” Article by Amy Tan Essay In “Mother Tongue,” Amy Tan considers the various implications of the different “Englishes” that she became acquainted with, and she pays particular attention to the “limited” and “broken” English used by her mother (2-3). Tan does not consider terms like “broken” and “fractured” to be appropriate because of their negative connotations and implications about her mother’s intelligence that are not true. However, she cannot find a better descriptor to represent the way her mother expresses thoughts in English. Her mother’s English and others’ reaction to it led to several limitations that Tan had to deal with in her personal and professional life. First, Tan claims that her mother’s issues with English impacted Tan’s ideas about her. While pointing out that difficulties with grammar or sentence structure in speech do not imply anything about her mother’s abilities, Tan admits that this manner of speaking used to be embarrassing to her. Because Tan was aware of the way this type of speech was often dismissed or derided, Tan used to be ashamed of her mother. Furthermore, the English of her mother, which Tan terms as her mother tongue, may have affected Tan’s performance at school. Tan points out that relatives have an impact on the formation of a child’s language-related skills. To prove the idea, Tan observes that her struggle with English is mirrored by other Asian Americans. Besides, Tan criticizes English tests that she used to have to take because they did not account for the diversity of thought processes in students. Finally, Tan believes that people around her have always expected her to fail to use English correctly. She suspects that the lack of support from teachers may have contributed to her initially pursuing math rather than English at school. Thus, Tan feels like her mother tongue and the reaction of others to it could have denied her access to the literary career that she eventually made her vocation. Problems persisted even after Tan started writing professionally. Initially, she established a style that would contradict others’ expectations and prove her mastery of English. She used excessively complex language and vocabulary that she did not employ in real life, which is why she eventually found that she hated her writing and decided to change it. Thus, even Tan’s early style was limited and defined by other people’s reactions to her mother tongue and expectations that she tried to defy. Work Cited Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue . 2013. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
These malpractices have the potential to undermine the performance of different employees. Gerry Watson presents critical issues that have been affecting many women at Reginald Murphy College (RMS). The vice president (VP) of administration and finance should use a powerful plan to address the issues affecting the institution. Proposed Plan to Address the Issue Organizing a Meeting The first step is organizing a crisis meeting with my associate vice presidents. These VPs form part of my leadership team. The individuals will present their suggestions and observations regarding the issues presented by Gerry Waston. This approach will make it easier for me to design a powerful intervention plan. Assessing the Accuracy of the Presented Perceptions The second step is assessing the validity of the presented issues. The above-mentioned crisis meeting will ensure every VP presents his or her views. Different stakeholders and employees will be part of the meeting. My goal will be to analyze the inequities and insensitivities encountered in the institution. The proposed analysis will examine the challenges encountered by different female employees. This practice will be relevant towards addressing the gender issues affecting the institution. This strategy will make it easier for the learning institution to deal with the issue of gender inequity. A powerful intervention strategy will eventually empower more women. Implementing Appropriate Solutions Proposed Short-Term Strategy The identified issues will determine the best short-term strategy. To begin with, I will use a powerful plan to address the issues affecting different female employees. I will ensure every employee in the targeted departments promotes the most appropriate gender practices. Every female employee will be encouraged to present her suggestions. I will ensure every meeting is scheduled properly. The approach will encourage more women to attend such meetings. The managers at Reginald Murphy College (RMS) will collect different opinions from every employee. I will encourage my associate vice presidents to empower more women in their respective departments. A proper scheduling option will encourage more women to support the targeted goals. This short-term strategy will deal with gender inequality and eventually support the organization’s core values. Proposed Long-Term Strategy The issue of gender inequity affects the performance of many institutions. Managers and leaders should use powerful long-term strategies to get the best results. I will implement a proper training program. This program will equip every employee with the best competencies and skills. For instance, the program will encourage more employees to deal with the glass ceiling. The institution will use different monitoring practices to control the behaviors of its managers. I am planning to implement a powerful Women Empowerment Campaign (WEC). This campaign will encourage more female workers to be part of every meeting. Such women will also be ready to present their grievances and complaints. I will also use a proper compensation plan. The institution’s employees will be promoted and compensated depending on their competencies. This strategy will reduce the level of gender inequality. Creating a New Culture The culture of teamwork will always be embraced at Reginald Murphy College (RMS). Teamwork is a powerful practice that can reduce the malpractices affecting the learning institution. The organization will continue to promote powerful practices that can deal with gender inequality. These approaches will eventually produce positive results for the organization. Reference Ruben, B. D., & Jurow, S. (2012). Reginald Murphy College Case Study: Gender Equity Issues. In Leading in Tough Times Workbook (pp. 34-39). Washington, DC: NACUBO. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Hypothesis, Its Types, Testing, and Data Term Paper What are the different types of hypotheses? Why might a researcher use more than one type? Establishing a well-grounded hypothesis is crucial for successful scientific research. It shows the researcher’s competence in his or her field of studies, indicates the presence of unique ideas and innovative suggestions and defines the overall direction of further research (Ary, Jacobs, Razavieh, & Sorensen, 2009). A hypothesis is called inductive if it is build based on the generalization of some phenomena and observed relationships. A deductive hypothesis is the one derived from a theory. Usually, three types of hypotheses are defined, namely research, null and alternate. The first one “states the relation one expects to find as a result of the research” (Ary et al., 2009, p. 91). The null hypothesis states that there exist no relationship between the variables or that the expected result will not be proved. The alternative hypothesis, on the contrary, represents the positive outcome of one’s suggestions, indicating that the relationship between the variables exists (Ary et al., 2009, p. 92). Using more than one hypothesis can help a researcher to explain the phenomenon more comprehensively, to consider all possible options for the solution of the problem and to reach some meaningful result (Gliner & Morgan, 2009). A researcher, thus, can show more unbiased and objective approach to the problem. What parametric and nonparametric tests are used for hypothesis testing? Parametric tests require numerical data and researcher’s assumptions about the selected parameters; the data under consideration should be from ratio or interval scale (Gravetter & Wallnau, 2011). Parametric tests usually ensure more precise testing of alternative hypotheses, as they provide the comparison of null and alternative hypotheses based on the calculated numeric probability (Sheshkin, 2003). Among the key parametric tests are the t-test for one or two independent samples, single-factor between-subjects variance analysis and one or two sample proportion test (Sheshkin, 2003). Nonparametric tests involve the group of statistical criteria, which do not include the probability distribution parameters in the calculation and are based on operating with frequencies or grades. Those tests deal with nominal and rank-order data (Gravetter & Wallnau, 2011). The most widely recognized nonparametric tests are Friedman analysis of variables test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov two-sample test, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, Moses test for equal variability, Siegel-Tukey test for equal variability, chi-square tests for homogeneity and independence (Sheshkin, 2003). What is the relationship between hypothesis testing and data? Curran (2011) defines statistical hypothesis testing as a “formal, objective, repeatable way of making inferential statements based on data” (p. 98). The available data, thus, defines the methods of hypothesis testing. It may be impossible to state hypotheses using specific, measurable numeric parameters. Such situations are typical, for example, for humanities or political sciences (Gravetter & Wallnau, 2011). The available data can fall into several categories. First, the data can be of the nominal type with a variable having only name value. It is important to establish the similarity or difference between the objects based on some qualitative criteria; there may exist only to variables 0 or 1. Second, there can be ordinal data, when the variable is measured based on rank or order. In the case of interval data, there can be some “value on a continuous scale but there is no zero point where the trait does not exist” (Black, 1999, p. 52). Finally, the ratio data type suggests that there can be a zero value on the continuous scale, which indicates the complete absence of some characteristics. For the nominal and ordinal data, nonparametric hypotheses testing is used while the interval and ratio ones can deal with parametric testing. References Ary, D., Jacobs, L., Razavieh, A., & Sorensen, C. (2009). Introduction to research in education . Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Black, T. R. (1999). Doing quantitative research in the social sciences: An integrated approach to research design, measurement, and statistics . London, England: Sage Publications. Curran, J. (2011). Introduction to data analysis with R for forensic scientists . Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Gliner, J., & Morgan, G. (2009). Research methods in applied settings: An integrated approach to design and analysis . New York, NY: Routledge Academic. Gravetter, F., & Wallnau, L. (2011). Statistics for the behavioral sciences . Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Sheshkin, D. (2003). Handbook of parametric and nonparametric statistical procedures . Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Impact of Home Entertainment Products on Society Essay The home entertainment experience is about delivering media-rich content to the consumer which will involve giving consumers what they want at the right time without delays and the exact time when the services are required. But the consumer sector is facing challenges which are the competitions that result from the technologies that are very much complicated which will have a need to make changes to the services that have to be provided to consumers. This is because in the world there are new TV sets, HD, and game devices, which have been connected and led to the generation of home entertainment. There is the development of the Internet, hardware and software, and other services that come up so that they give entertainment to consumers. This will imply that it will not be possible to undergo such competition as the technologies are still changing therefore for this sector to overcome such challenges then it will have the need to know what the industries offer for people. The problems that have been brought by the change in technology can be done away with by coming up with new technologies that will have their concern on specific areas of entertainment this will mean that establishment of such institutions will be important because they will cater to the needs of the people in the right manner. ( Behrman,1999) The impact of science in entertainment in the country has been increased where the changes that are experienced in such entertainment are not right to the country. The impact of entertainment limited, which was established in the year 1985, provides the first trained professional products that are related to music, concerts, and films. These groups have well-experienced workers who are ready to provide services to people of all races. The film investment that has been done by this group has been to produce and distribute films, tile features, and other items that are related to music. The group is also active in providing partners that will be ready to have a co-production in the country and make a list of shows that will be important and will be able to pass certain information to the targeted group. The video impact is a division that was reorganized in 1993 so that it can be able to cater to the needs of people and it has been able to sell its products that is tile features for both local and overseas markets. This impact has been growing so that it can cater to the high demand of the market in the home video and have a strong and be highly potential in several areas. In the impact of entertainment then has been possible to have experiences in organized and production for both local and overseas shows and live concerts that will be used for the home entertainment. Such impacts are important because they cater to the basic needs of the people in dealing with home entertainment through the provision of services that will be important for passing creation information to the young generation. The need for the solutions to be achieved is because people are facing high challenges that result from the changes in technology that are taking place this will mean that there is a need to have popular films and videos that will be entertaining at the same time passing certain information to the youth. (Alice, 1999) The impact of science on home entertainment has been with very great and high effects. This is because with the changes that take place in the world then the films and videos are also changing and this will mean that there is a need to have changes made that will fit this changing world in terms of entertainment. The impact of this science has brought the indication that the youth require changes that will lead to the shaping of their lives in the right manner so that they can fit in the society in which they live together with the effects of changing the social setting in terms of traditions and cultures that are set. Reference Alice, R. (1999): technology impacts to society. Journal of applied development psychology, pp, 7. Behrman, Y. (1999): technology changes. Future of children, pp, 89. Buckingham, S. (2000): children and media. Social shaping and consequences of ICTs, p, 78. Calvert, L. (2003): technology changes in the world today. West port, praeger. Cordes, L. (2001): changes in technology to home entertainment. College park, MD. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Wearable Computing in Dubai’s Future Essay Any ubiquitous wearable technology must have hardware that is inexpensive, durable, and has low power consumption with the ergonomic design, which would allow it to be worn at all times. There must be appropriate software support that can provide a range of functions. Finally, a fast and complex network infrastructure should be in place to ensure interconnectivity amongst systems, databases, and the Internet with a constantly accessible and reliant signal (Weiser, 1991). Therefore, a citizen of the future in Dubai would be able to connect to a mobile or wi-fi signal from every device at any location to access information and services. A typical day of the citizen will begin with waking up to an alarm. It can be integrated into wearable technology by sending a physical stimulus to wake a person up. As the day begins, the person can send a signal for the preparation of breakfast to home utilities interconnected on the same network. During preparation for the day, a citizen would be able to use wearable computing for access to the Internet of Things. Through interactive patterns, a smart device would be able to present any requested information as per the user’s request. The information would be retrieved and observed without a significant human input, as the interaction would occur with eye movements, voice commands, or possible thoughts. Therefore, the person would be able to seamlessly switch amongst social, cyber, and physical realities (Cirani & Picone, 2015). After leaving home, wearable technology can be used for security purposes to grant entry to only people with authorized devices and to maintain surveillance of property from any location. Wearable computing can be used for medical and wellness purposes. A person may choose to attend a physical workout in the morning. The device would be able to accurately track any movements, which would calculate caloric deficiency and set target goals. In addition, the technology integrated with the human body can accurately monitor vital signs and other critical health components, which can present beneficial information for health treatment at any given time. After the workout, a person can quickly utilize the device to call a taxi or access public transportation schedules, which can be used to get to work. Quick access to various means of communication is a critical component of wearable computing. The seamless nature of wearable computing allows it to be a critical component of work and life. It can be used to display information comfortably and keep track of any measurements and calculations. Virtual overlays would allow working without tools. Meanwhile, the accessibility of data would make any process much more efficient. After work, a person may choose to go shopping with their family. Interactive reality would allow visualizing an item of clothing or painting and how it would look. It would also be an efficient method of payment via NFS or Bluetooth technology. In the evening, while having dinner, wearable technology can alert a person that their caloric intake or blood sugar has spiked and present a reminder to take medication. During a relaxing night at home, a person can use it to access social media and serve as an entertainment control center. Overall, there is a myriad of practical applications for wearable technology in every aspect of life and business, which can be implemented through the interconnectivity of sensory and network data. References Cirani, S., & Picon, M. (2015). Wearable computing for the internet of things. IT Professional, 17 (5), 35-41. Web. Weiser, M. (1991). The computer for the 21st century. Scientific American, 265 (3), 94-104. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Malcolm Baldrige Program Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Critical Thinking 3. Debrief 4. References Introduction The Baldrige Program is a national program designed in a public-private partnership to educate organizations on performance excellence and improve the performance of organizations within the U.S. The program is funded by the Baldrige Foundation, which is composed of leaders from different U.S. organizations. The program includes a complex of assessment tools and criteria required to estimate the organization’s current situation and the company’s signature product – the Baldrige Framework for Excellence. According to information provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, 2019), more than one thousand organizations annually use the Baldrige Excellence Framework. Among these organizations, 124 Baldrige Award winners serve as national role models in all areas of the economy (NIST, 2019). The economic evaluation of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program reports that the ratio of benefits from the program to the U.S. economy is 820 to 1 (NIST, 2019). One of the most common areas of the economy that gets significant benefits from the program’s application in the healthcare system and hospitals. Critical Thinking The company’s main product, the Baldrige Program Framework for Excellence, is a booklet that provides valuable information on leadership and management practices. The booklet is designed to educate the organization and its’ leaders on performance excellence by uncovering principles and strategies vital for organizational performance and providing information on cases of successful application of performance-driven practices. The information is separated into seven categories that compose the organizational profile: leadership, strategy, customers, workforce, operations, results, a system of measurements, analysis, and knowledge management. The program implies that integrating these key elements and the organization’s core values and inner concepts promotes the organization’s excellence. Although the program is more driven by the manufacturing and service-oriented organization, organizations from other vital areas of the economy like education and healthcare are frequently met in the list of Award winners. Moreover, about 24% of Award winners represent small businesses with less than 500 employees, emphasizing that the program applies to organizations of any size and the size does not determine results (Baldrige Foundation, n.d.). Applying this to the aspect of achieving customer and workforce engagement, one could say that the same principles that work in small businesses could be applied to bigger companies. The results from the Award winners suggest that aligning individual workforce plans to the organizational goals and objectives increases workforce engagement, as shown in the case of Howard Community College (Baldrige Foundation, 2021). The case of Mary Greeley Medical Center illustrated in the Foundation’s coverage of Award recipients (2021) showed that the key elements to the customers’ engagement are communication and responsiveness of the employees. In 2019, there were six recipients of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, three of them were classified as a non-profit organizations, and the other three were from education and healthcare areas. Comparing the two winners from different industries, the Mary Greeley Medical Center and Howard Community College show that the award winner organizations share similarities and differences. In both cases, the organization’s goals became closely related to the individual performance objectives of employees, which are based on the organization’s mission, vision, and values. However, in the case of Howard Community College, the recommendations for future strategy are provided by the county’s Commission on the Future. What made them both award-winning organizations is the impressive results of applying the program’s principles that allowed the organizations to grow in different areas simultaneously. Debrief The research shows that tools like the Baldrige Program Framework offer many growth opportunities for organizations that are willing to take action to increase their growth. As the framework applies to organizations of different sizes from different industries, one could say that the core principles for the excellence of the company’s activities are the same in various areas of the economy. The program provides a working framework that is proven to be reliable by previous practices. In my opinion, it is helpful that the award winner organizations present role models for the organizations in industries vital to society, like education and healthcare. References Baldrige Foundation. (n.d.) Baldrige impact for small businesses. Baldrige Foundation. Web. Baldrige Foundation. Journal of performance excellence 2020-2021. Web. NIST. (2019). About Baldrige . NIST. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Metacognitive Awareness Study Essay Metacognitive awareness is one where negative feelings occur as mental actions instead of as a self-aspect. It has been hypothesized that a decrease in Metacognitive awareness causes vulnerability and further depression, and through cognitive therapy (CT) and mindfulness, based cognitive therapy (MBCT), the depressive relapses can be reduced as it increases metacognitive awareness. This study tests the above hypotheses in three parts. The 1st study investigates whether vulnerability to depression is related to reduction inaccessibility of the metacognitive sets inducing negative thoughts. The 2nd study investigates the depression related to reduction inaccessibility of the metacognitive sets with respect to depression-related cues. The degree to which baseline metacognitive awareness can predict the danger of relapse in depressed patients is also measured. It also determines whether CT can increase the accessibility of the metacognitive sets. The 3rd study examines the psychological interventions, which can reduce relapse and increase metacognitive awareness. If the treatment program is directed towards changing the patient’s relationship with their negative feelings, then it was predicted that this could reduce relapse and increase their metacognitive awareness. The first study used depressed patients as participants between 20-65 years of age who displayed major depression criteria in the last 18 months, had a minimum residual symptom of eight on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and nine on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The patients also took antidepressant medication for at least eight weeks, with a daily dose in at least four weeks that was equal to 125 mg of amitryptiline. In the 2nd test, 158 psychiatric patients with major depression received antidepressant medicines, clinical management, and CT group for 20 weeks, while the CT group got an extra 16 CT sessions. Metacognitive awareness was also assessed before the treatment and 20 weeks after it by MACAM. In the 3rd test, 100 patients between 18-65 years from community health care facilities were treated for seven weeks, who were either in recovery from depression or were continuing with treatment. They had to meet the enhanced DSM-III-R criteria and score below ten on the 17-item HRSD. The HRSD is a 17-item interview, and BDI is a 21-item self-reports both measuring depressive symptoms. The MATLAB or Measure of Awareness and Coping in Autobiographical Memory measures metacognitive awareness. The participants rate their bad feelings from 0-100, with 0 being not bad. The interviewer then rates Metacognitive awareness as 1, minimal discrimination, 2, discrimination of various negative feelings, 3, certain discrimination of self reactions, 4, discrimination of self from own feelings, and 5, extensive or persistent distancing from feelings. MATLAB also has two versions. The first study used only version 1, while the third study received both versions randomly. The studies concluded that the patients who recovered after being treated for depression by CT showed a lesser chance of relapse and a decreased need for further treatment than those who recovered using antidepressant medicines. It also found that CT reduced the depression relapses in residually depressed patients, whereas MBCT reduced the depression relapses in recovered patients, increasing their accessibility of the Metacognitive sets. The study also found lesser Metacognitive awareness within the memories recalled by the depressed patients to the depression-related cues, which had a high possibility of relapse, than in the memories that were recalled by gender or age-matched, non-depressed controls. Work Cited Teasdale, John D. Richard G. Moore, Hazel Hayhurst, Marie Pope, Susan Williams, Zindel V. Segal; “Metacognitive Awareness and Prevention of Relapse in Depression: Empirical Evidence”; Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; 2002, Vol. 70, No. 2, 275–287; American Psychological Association, Inc, 2002. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Description of the Mediums of Advertising Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Television Advertising 3. Advertising Mascara 4. Conclusion 5. Reference Introduction Marketing is an essential strategy used by organizations to attract customers and establish lasting relationships with them. It comprises various activities, inclusive of promoting, selling, and delivering products to clients. The medium of advertising determines the number of potential consumers reached as well as the sales a business makes. This essay evaluates the factors which influence the selection of advertising medium, the advantages and disadvantages of using television in marketing, and the media which can be employed to advertise mascara. Advertisers consider the firm’s objectives, nature of the products, and potential markets. Businesses’ advertising and general purposes vary, which may include informing, persuading, or reminding consumers about a product or a service. Equally, the organizations may be aiming to create prestige and enhance sales and profitability (Kotler et al., 2017). The nature of products or services determines effective promotional media. For instance, digital and television advertising is the most appropriate marketing channel for the products which require demonstration. Companies need to identify products’ potential markets, which are defined by such features as population, interests, age, gender, level of income, and geographical regions. Indeed, the media chosen by marketing agencies vary depending on products’ nature, targeted market segment, and the objectives for promotional activities. Moreover, advertisers need to factor in such elements as the cost of the medium, audiences’ class, and extent of coverage. The budget for promoting products and services varies across and within media. The amount charged must be within the total a company is willing to pay for an advert (Kotler et al., 2017). Notably, marketing through radio and televisions is likely to be more expensive than when a firm uses a newspaper for promotion. It is essential to consider the targeted audiences’ class because certain products connect with particular people, defined by gender, age, religion, and other factors. The number of individuals an advert will reach is also important since it is proportionate to the potential buyers. Undeniably, the type of audience and extent of coverage influence the marketing cost. Media availability and advertising medium’s reputation are important factors to consider when selecting a marketing channel. The necessary media for the promotional campaign may be unavailable at the appropriate period (Kotler et al., 2017). The issue is common with such platforms as television and radio. A medium reputation can influence the way audiences perceive advertised products and services. Magazines and newspapers are considered respectable marketing channels since most people view them as trustworthy and reliable sources of information. Indeed, reputable media adds prestige to the advertised products or services, evoking audiences’ trust. Advantages and Disadvantages of Television Advertising Television is one of the advertising mediums used by most organizations to promote their products and services. It has several advantages, including the ability to grab attention, combine sight and sound, foster empathy and emotion, and reach a wide range of targeted audiences (Kotler et al., 2017). However, the medium is associated with various disadvantages, such as high charges, stressful and time-consuming advert production, and a challenging and expensive process of making changes. Therefore, small businesses cannot afford television advertising despite its benefits. Advertising Mascara Magazines would be the appropriate media for advertising the well-known brand of mascara. This platform will help target a specific demographic, the young females who live in urban areas and love to improve their beauty. Additionally, the medium increases the likelihood of pass-on advert exposure since people can read magazines at any place and share them with friends. Moreover, magazines are an affordable advertising option, which is effective for all products. Conclusion Conclusively, advertising is an important aspect of marketing, which helps organizations reach their customers and increase sales and profits. The selected advertising medium influences the effectiveness of promotional campaigns. Advertisers consider such factors as the company’s objectives, nature of the products, potential markets, cost of the medium, audiences’ class, the extent of coverage, media availability, and advertising medium’s reputation when choosing a promotion platform. Magazines are some of the media platforms used in advertising products such as mascara. Reference Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., & Opresnik, M. (2017). Principles of marketing (17 th ed.). Pearson. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Philosophy of Politics. Available Resources and Rights of the People Essay (Critical Writing) Table of Contents 1. Original position 2. Strengths 3. Weakness 4. The Difference Principle 5. Reference For many years the theory of justice has dominated the study of political philosophy. Mainly it is concerned with how government authority should govern the people in the society with fairness and justice. Social and political theory is concerned with how countries should be governed. It mainly focuses on how leaders in the society distribute the available resources and rights of the people to use them. For this to be possible the government should come up with goals that will define their course further they also need to understand justice, freedom and self-sufficiency in order to ensure equal distribution of good, (Rawls, J.1999). This paper aims to discuss the difference principle, original principle their strength and weaknesses. Original position The original position theory emphasizes on how societies should be controlled that is each individual representative in the society work together to decide on the way forward of governing the society. Such that each rational agent is concerned with the interest of the people they represent and they should not know the background or the veil of ignorance of the person represented so that they do not prejudice them on the basis of race or gender, (Audard, C., and John R 2007). The veil of ignorance presumes that the representative is logical and considers the concept of right inform of prioritizing irreconcilable alleges, application of justice to all irrespective of social status or race and should be recognized by the public. In addition those who are logic will collectively use this principle without knowledge of their own individual situation leading to the wrong choice of the best justice system. The application of the veil of justice should consider unevenness in genetic composition in human being and not environmental factors around them, (Levine, A. 2002). Further the governments in the original position do not have the alleged ideas on justice instead they should be open-minded and reasonable which are important attributes in the sustenance of justice and fairness in the society. It calls for representative not having idealistic prejudice and this ensures fairness to all. The representatives should be aware of the two principles: Principle of equal liberty that entails no individual should be oppressed on the basis of race, gender or class. Hence all the members in the society have the right to pursue their goals. Though this principle has weakness and strength. Strengths It advocates for equal rights to all in the society both the social and economic inequalities in the society should benefit the disadvantaged in the society. Furthermore, people’s representatives should ensure equal opportunities for their clients. Theses principle also ensures efficiency in justice and welfare of the client is put into consideration. For instance assists their clients irrespective of their racial or ethnic background, (Barry B. 1973). Weakness The original principle does not prove moral principles since it does not believe in utility but philosophers like J.S.Mill have tried to come up with evidence about original position but it is not convincing but Rawl a true advocator of original positions believes that moral values should be the evidence of justice in the society. Priority is considered from the top to bottom where by those are senior are served.For example, inequality of opportunities must enhance the opportunities for the lesser or disadvantaged people. The principle is collectively used by many individuals with consideration to the environmental factors affecting their situations and not their genetic composition for instance mental disability is as a result of genetic and not the surrounding in which people live in,(Barry B. 1973). The Difference Principle This principle allows for the unequal distribution of goods to benefit the poor or the vulnerable members of the society. Every society member has equal rights over the society’s goods. The goods are the satisfying rational desires of the people in the society; they include liberty, income, opportunity, wealth and self-respects. Whereas the right is the fairness rendered to all, (Van P.1988). Every members of the society has rights to unequal distribution goods and they should only be allowed to those who are worst off in the society. This principle also aims at reducing risks especially for the vulnerable group of people in the society. However for justice to prevail there is no need of equality in the society but justification to ensure justified incentives, (Daniels, N. 1989). Difference principle ensures there is general conception, social contrast, Utilitarianism and Intuitionism. General conceptions ensure that equal distribution of basic goods to worst off in the society. Social contrast implies that societies need to agree on set out principle in order to live together in harmony. Utilitarianism calls for collective reduction of basic goods/rights to ensure equality to the majority. Intuitionism recognizes set of principle such liberty, justice and wealth which are donated but with no consideration to priority, (Waldron, J.1993). Everyone especially the rich should sacrifice certain goods to assist the disadvantaged. Hence inequality is essential to for the disadvantaged in the society to improve their social status. Reference Rawls, J., (1999) A Theory of Justice (revised edition) Part One. Audard, C., and John R (2007) London: Acumen. Barry B., (1973) the Liberal Theory of Justice Oxford: Clarendon Press. Daniels, N. (1989) Reading Rawls, Standford, CA: Stanford University Press. Levine, A. (2002) Engaging in Political Philosophy Oxford: Blackwell. Van P.(1988), ‘Difference Principles’, in Freeman (ed), The Cambridge Companion to Rawls. Waldron, J., (1993)’John Rawls and the Social Minimum’, in Liberal Rights (Cambridge University Press. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Like many other dilemmas relevant to adolescents, a part-time job for a teenager has upsides and downsides. Ultimately it comes down to a personal decision for both teens and their families that are made on a case-by-case basis. However, this paper argues that overall the benefits of teenagers working part-time while at school outweigh the drawbacks, provided the teens receive appropriate guidance at home. Self-reliance is a valuable life lesson. People must learn it at some point in their lives. Teenagers who work part-time while attending school learn to fend for themselves. They can use their money to pay their school fees or as spending money. They discover how tough it is to make a living, which will help teens recognize their parents’ efforts to sustain the family. On the other hand, a personal source of income allows teenagers greater independence and confidence (Tayfur et al., 4). While only a small percentage of teenagers hand earnings to their parents, earnings from part-time employment benefit many families financially since teenagers buy items that their parents would otherwise supply. They may learn to budget and, with enough time and dedication, might save up for a big purchase that would belong only to them. Additionally, there is scientific evidence to suggest that young adults in their 20-s earn more when they’ve had a work experience throughout their teens. Teenagers who work part-time while attending school gain meaningful work experience, which will be appreciated by their employers later in life and regardless of the field. Meanwhile, at home, the prevalence of teen employment has prompted heated discussions about whether teenagers should work, how many hours they should work, and what kind of occupations they should undertake. Most parents prefer their children to work because they believe it instills a variety of desirable characteristics in them, such as independence, responsibility, interpersonal skills, and a strong work ethic. Other families, however, are against the involvement of teenagers in part-time jobs, regardless of the independence it provides. The potential for child exploitation and the difficulty of balancing school education with the emerging work environment are among the arguments against teenage employment. Most of these statements emphasize that employment entails a range of dangers. According to critics of adolescent labor, adolescents who work long hours are likely to have poorer grades than teens who work fewer hours (Tayfur et al., 18). There are comparable variations in multiple academically important indicators, such as absences and dropping out. It appears, however, that these studies are primarily conducted among socially disadvantaged adolescents who have to enter employment as early as possible to support their families and themselves financially. With appropriate support and a healthy family environment, part-time jobs do not constitute a risk for teenagers’ education. As already specified, whether a particular teenager can or should not work is for them and their family to decide. However, it is worth mentioning that a healthy family environment and a step-by-step introduction to the responsibilities of adult life could nullify or minimize most of the potential negative consequences. In adolescence, teens need to establish their separate sense of self and privacy, which is much easier achieved when a teenager has their own money. In conclusion, parents should ensure their child is not putting too much emphasis on work over other areas of life, but teenage employment in moderation provides significant advantages to the young generation. Work Cited Tayfur, Sümeyra N., et al. “ Adolescent Psychosocial Factors and Participation in Education and Employment in Young Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses. ” Educational Research Review, vol. 34, (2021), pp. 1-20. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland Research Paper Table of Contents 1. Overview 2. Hormones of the Gland 3. Anterior Lobe Hormones 4. Posterior Lobe Hormones 5. Summary 6. References Overview The pituitary gland is a major gland of the endocrine system. It excretes hormones in charge of other endocrine organs and different tissues within the body. It is approximated to be a third of an inch in diameter and found at the base of the brain. In addition to that pituitary and hypothalamus are located close to each other because they have intertwined functions. They are joined by the pituitary stalk or, more biologically, the infundibulum. The pituitary glands are composed of the posterior lobe and anterior lobe (Peate & Nair, 2017). The posterior lobe is not responsible for the production of hormones by itself. However, hormone production is done by nerve cells in the hypothalamus and posterior lobe, releasing them to circulation by the pituitary gland. On the other hand, the anterior lobe is responsible for excreting many hormones. Hormones of the Gland The pituitary gland hormones usually signal other endocrine glands to inhibit or stimulate their hormone manufacture. This section aims to discuss anterior and posterior lobe hormones, explain what triggers the release of these hormones, identify characteristics these hormones have in common, and classify which hormones are considered tropic hormones. Anterior Lobe Hormones The interior lobe releases hormones after getting inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus. These hypothalamic hormones are responsible for notifying the anterior lobe if it should release more of a particular hormone or stop the manufacture of the hormone (Nagata et al., 2019). The hormones produced by the anterior lobe after being notified are discussed below. * Prolactin hormones – These are hormones responsible for stimulating breast milk production. * Adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH) – These are hormones that stimulate the adrenal gland to produce hormones. * Thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) – These are hormones that stimulate the thyroid gland to manufacture hormones. * Growth hormones (GH) are crucial hormones in the early years of humans because they maintain healthy body composition and growth in children. In adults, GH helps in healthy muscle and bone and distributes fat. * Follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) – These are hormones that work closely with LH to ensure that ovaries and testes are functioning normally. * Luteinizing hormones (LH) – These are hormones that work with FSH to ensure that the testes and ovaries operate normally. Posterior Lobe Hormones The posterior lobe has nerve cells that are from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus transmits hormones direct to the posterior lobe through the nerve cells, as well as the pituitary gland releases the transmitted hormones (Chapman, Singhal, Gaddamanugu & Prattipati, 2020). The hormones discussed below are contained in posterior lobe hormones. * Oxytocin – These are hormones involved in different procedures such as stimulating breast milk production and contracting the uterus during childbirth. * Anti-diuretic hormones (ADH) – These are hormones that make kidneys increase water absorption in the blood. The release of hormones can be triggered by neurological stimuli, changes in the blood, or by the action of other hormones. For instance, the endocrine glands excrete different types of hormones that control the development and regulation of the reproductive system (Peate & Nair, 2017). This type of action by the endocrine gland triggers the production of various hormones. All the hormones due to this have similar characteristics, such as low molecular weight. They are water-soluble, transported to target cells through circulation, and chemical entities produced by special cells of endocrine glands. Although they have similar characteristics, their classification is different such that TSH, ACTH, GH, FSH, and LH are classified as tropic hormones. Summary In some instances, the pituitary gland is also referred to as the master gland because it controls the functions of many of the other endocrine glands. The gland is also attached to the hypothalamus by nerve fibers and blood vessels (Nagata et al., 2019). However, this perspective can be misleading and incorrect because some individuals might think this gland does not receive instructions from other glands. The reality is that it receives signals from the hypothalamus to release more pituitary hormones. References Chapman, P., Singhal, A., Gaddamanugu, S., & Prattipati, V. (2020). Neuroimaging of the Pituitary Gland. Radiologic Clinics of North America , 58 (6), 1115-1133. Web. Nagata, Y., Takeuchi, K., Yamamoto, T., Ishikawa, T., Kawabata, T., & Shimoyama, Y. et al. (2019). Peel-off resection of the pituitary gland for functional pituitary adenomas: pathological significance and impact on pituitary function. Pituitary , 22 (5), 507-513. Web. Peate, I., & Nair, M. (2017). Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology for nursing and healthcare students (2nd ed., pp. 479-510). New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Multi-Stream Framework for Policy Analysis Essay The policy entrepreneurs are using an approach known as the problem stream under the multi-stream framework introduced by John Kingdon to define opportunities for policy change within the fragmented political system of the United States. The problem stream approaches a problem from the perception that it is a public issue which must require government interference in order to address it. It reaches the awareness of policymakers due to the critical nature of the issue and potential need for change in the status quo (Béland & Howlett, 2016). In this case study, policy analysts narrowly focus on an issue from a perspective of public health and safety. They offer statistical data and research to support their stance on change, portraying it as a crisis which is largely preventable. Communication is a key concept in public policy analysis and creation as it is necessary to resolve problems. Access to information is necessary at every stage of policy creation, including identifying a problem, deliberating its causes and issues, arguing on approaches, and finalizing a solution. Communication is action-oriented by direction information in a manner which promotes specific policy decisions on a specific issue. Furthermore, communication creates a context for any information by setting expectations of the stakeholders and ensuring transparency for the public and all involved sides of the debate. References Béland, D., & Howlett, M. (2016). The role and impact of the multiple-streams approach in comparative policy analysis. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 18(3), 221-227. doi:10.1080/13876988.2016.1174410 | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Reefs Expository Essay Florida’s reefs cover the region between Dry Tortugas and Fowey Rocks in Miami, paralleling keys for three hundred and fifty six kilometers. Most of the reef tracts are found within the boundaries of the sanctuary a part from the northern cover. Additionally, several types of reefs occur mostly at the shore while others are found ten kilometers away. It is the most wide spread reef tract in North America and the third largest in the world (National Marine Sanctuaries, 2011). According to research, there are two coral species, sixty three of taxa corals and forty two species of otocorals. This essay addresses some of the disturbances which have been experienced in the coral reefs of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary together with measures which have been implemented to salvage the ecosystem. Coral reefs are mainly threatened by human activities around the world. Due to ever-increasing human population, coral reefs can be affected in countless ways. Some of these ways include but not limited to urbanization and agriculture which increases sedimentation, polluted runoffs and nutrient inputs. Emissions from industries and automobile engines further increase green house effect and leakage of waste products in water (National Geographic, 2011). Harvesting of resources and overfishing have also been identified as ways in which coral reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are affected. Additionally, huge vessel groundings have caused significant impact on coral reefs in the sanctuary. For instance, nineteen acres of coral reefs were destroyed between 1984 and 1997 by large ships which were over two hundred feet long (National Marine Sanctuaries, 2011). Huge ships cause groundings which affect the health of corals plus other organisms surviving in the ecosystem. Moreover, sediments and nutrient pollution from farming and coastal development smoother corals, block sunlight and block settling of larval. Discharges and nutrient-rich runoffs promote the growth if algal blooms and other competitors (Wadlow, 2011). These equivalently block sunlight and affect normal coral growth and reproduction. All these have weakened corals and created an environment which exposes corals to pathogens and diseases in the Florida Keys (National Geographic, 2011). Coral reefs in the Florida Keys have also suffered due to water diversion in the Southern part of Florida. This is because of the connection of the sanctuary with Florida Bay. The diversion has contributed to the growth of planktons, death of fish and sea grass die-offs. Overfishing has equally caused drifts in fish sizes, their abundance and overall composition within the ecosystem (National Marine Sanctuaries, 2011). Due to the devastating nature of the ecosystem, there have been recovery efforts from the government and the surrounding community in recent years. Firstly, radar beacons have been installed which help vessels to locate paths relative to the position of coral reefs (Prosea, 2005). This has seen access to some regions by sea vessels denied. Similarly, long tanks and vessels measuring more than fifty meters have been restricted from certain coverage of the ecosystem (National Marine Sanctuaries, 2011). Fishing is currently regulated by enforcement of legislation which prohibits overfishing and promotes safe fishing methods. It is important to note that the recovery of coral reefs of Florida Keys was primarily led by human intervention through plans and strategies. As mentioned above, legislation and restrictions have played imperative roles in saving these reefs. Other intervention measures included public awareness through education and research monitoring of the progress of the coral reefs (Prosea, 2005). The approach taken in saving the Florida Keys reefs was the most appropriate and workable in saving this particular ecosystem. This is due to the fact that the proposed measures were aimed at protecting the ecosystem from threats like improper boating, pollution and overfishing (Prosea, 2005). References National Geographic. (2011). Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs. National Geographic . Web. National Marine Sanctuaries. (2011). Ecosystems: Coral Reefs. National Marine Sanctuaries . Web. Prosea. (2005). Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary Strategy for Stewardship. Professional Shipwreck Explorers Association . Web. Wadlow, K. (2011). New study: Keys marine ecosystem faces struggles. KeysNet . Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Researching of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Essay At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nations adopted preventive measures such as country lockdown, initiating social distance protocols, COVID-19 vaccinations, and implementing policies to introduce mask-wearing as a habit. However, various individuals and populations oppose the necessity to participate in the COVID-19 prevention measures, demonstrating distrust and resilience towards vaccination. The article “Building trust in COVID-19 vaccines and beyond through authentic community investment” by Ojikutu et al. effectively explains the dynamic factors influencing the COVID-19 vaccine uptake among minorities. Furthermore, the lack of societal engagement in the vaccination is a phenomenal challenge due to insufficient transparency and public trust (Ojikutu et al. 366). I agree that the lack of ineffective strategies to involve the community in the awareness campaign planning poses a complication for the COVID-19 immunization activities across the population. Although the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic became a tremendous challenge for numerous communities, Ojikutu et al. note that participation in these activities remains a crucial concern. As such, the rates of Coronavirus infections are especially high among ethnic minorities, and the authors are concerned that engagement levels in this population remain extremely low (Ojikutu et al. 366). Indeed, as the COVID-19 pandemic can be efficiently managed only when all populations are involved in the prevention measures, Ojikutu et al. rightfully suggest that more productive interventions should be established to enhance community participation. A significant point raised by the scholars concerns the poor awareness campaigns and their impact on the ethnic minorities’ engagement in COVID-19 vaccination. The authors argue that the current strategies are primarily focused on short-term outcomes and community outreach, which does not allow for the establishment of a long-term relationship between the government bodies and the ethnic communities (Ojikutu et al. 367). Skepticism and decreased participation rates can indeed be fostered by improperly implemented campaigns that do not target particular social groups. As community-centered campaigns are highly vital for creating a stable relationship between minority groups and state institutions, the authors address a vital concern regarding community trust and vaccination participation. Another complication addressed by the authors is related to the role of racism in community health disparities. Ojikutu et al. claim that a proper awareness campaign is necessary for improving the efficiency of the COVID-19 vaccination, and promoting participation among ethnic minorities (366). The long-lasting impact of racism on the quality of health care among ethnic minority groups is crucial to address when conducting community initiatives. From this perspective, the scholars successfully emphasize the origins of the diminished vaccine uptake levels, emphasizing the importance of creating a highly engaging COVID-19 vaccination campaign for ethnic communities. Work Cited Ojikutu, Bisola O., et al. “Building Trust in COVID-19 Vaccines and Beyond Through Authentic Community Investment.” American Journal of Public Health , vol. 111, no. 3, 2021, pp. 366–368. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Report (Assessment) Table of Contents 1. Background 2. Summary 3. Analysis 4. Works Cited Background Appearing in the world’s renowned newspaper “The Economist”, the article “Innovation Pessimism: Has the Ideas Machine Broken Down?” sheds light on the factors that may have contributed to the stagnation of the global technological advancements and subsequent economic growth in recent decades. This paper summarizes and analyzes the article using the framework of supply and demand. Summary In summary, the article suggests that stagnation may have arisen due to (1) lack of intensive growth that is fuelled by the discovery of ever better ways to utilize workers and resources to allow continuous improvement in income and welfare as well as enable an economy to grow even as its population decreases, (2) lack of upcoming inventions in spite of heavy investments in education and research activities, and (3) slow pace of economic growth and progress compared with that of the early and mid-20th century (“Innovation Pessimism” 2-3). Analysis In using the supply-demand paradigm, it can be argued that lack of intensive growth in the developed world is caused by lack of supply of the needed technological advancements to drive growth since the demand for better ways of doing things is still there. Alternatively, it can be argued that the supply of technology is presently there as witnessed by recent advancements in information and communication technology, but the growth effects of these advancements will be witnessed years to come. Although America’s productivity performance since 2004 has plummeted compared to growth projections of the early and mid-20th century, chances are that recent growth in information technologies will surface in the future as research demonstrates that “the lag between investments in information-and-communication technologies and improvements in productivity is between five to 15 years” (“Innovation Pessimism” 4). Such an orientation, however, lends credence to the fact the supply of strategies that could be used to achieve intensive growth and productivity improvements is not always informed by demand. The second line of analysis would be to explore the disengagement between the lack of upcoming innovations and heavy investments in research under the supply-demand paradigm. The authors are clear that, in recent years in the developed world, there exist “unconvincing appeals to the number of patents filed and databases of innovations put together quite subjectively (“Innovation Pessimism” 3). This acknowledgment implies that the supply of new methods of doing things has been an ongoing exercise in the developed world, but these innovations cannot be termed as truly fundamental to fulfill the demands of the economy and spur productivity improvements, leading to growth stagnation. Consequently, in my view, recent innovations and subsequent patents for the innovations have not automatically led to economic growth in the developed world. Extant literature demonstrates that the urge to develop innovation strategies originates “from increasing international competitive pressures, whereby it is clear that developed regions can only compete with low-wage developing world by successfully developing new, innovative products and production processes, improving quality and achieving productivity gains” (Tsipouri 3). This view reinforces the article’s standpoint that the economic progression of developed countries has somewhat stagnated in recent years due to lack of break-through innovations compared to those that happened in the early and mid-20th century. There has been a noted upsurge of property rights as individuals come up with new innovations and patent them to prevent misuse, but the supply of these innovations is yet to fulfill the demand that is there to spur productivity gains. It is therefore clear that patents and property rights for new innovations are good motivators for the creation of new products, but the problem lies in the fact that these innovations are in their present form unable to satisfy the demand for fundamental and break-through technological advancements to drive the economic growth agenda in the developed world (“Innovation Pessimism” 4-6). For developed countries to continue gaining continuous improvements in their economies, therefore, they must develop a balance between demand and supply. Works Cited “Innovation Pessimism: Has the Ideas Machine Broken Down.” The Economist 12 Jan. 2013: 1-6. Print. Tsipouri, Lena. Innovation Strategies Articulating Supply Side and Demand Side Aspects . 2013. PDF file. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“At the Cadian Ball” and “The Storm” by Kate Chopin Essay (Critical Writing) The Relationship that Exists Between Kate Chopin’s At The Cadian Ball and The Storm The Storm appears to be a continuation of Kate Chopin’s At T he Cadian Ball . Both stories have the same main characters: Bobinot, Calixta, Alcee, and Clarisse. Alcee and Calixta hang out at Assumption, where the ball takes place. They flirt around until Clarisse comes and takes Alcee with him leaving Claxita on her own at the balcony. Then Bobinot finds her and later proposes to her on their way home, and she accepts. On the other hand, Clarisse accepts Alcee’s proposal, which she had earlier rejected. The Storm explains what happens after these two couples marry and what comes from their rushed decisions to marry each other. The two ladies accept their partner’s proposals out of fear of losing them and jealousy of the other opponent. The main themes in The Storm are sex and broken marriages. The name The Storm symbolizes some of the characters’ lives, and Calixta and Alcee end up marrying other people. Therefore, the two storybooks are related in the sense that one is the continuation of the other. The Idea of Social Status in At The Cadian Ball The question of social class dictates the events in which the characters can partake. Clarisse does not go to the Cadian Ball, and she gets upset when Alcee does. Both Alcee and Clarisse are Creoles as they belong to the Spanish and French people who had settled in Louisiana. In many of Kate Chopin’s stories, Creoles are wealthy, most of them owning a wide range of land and trade merchants. Bobino and Calixta are Acadian descendants of the Americans exiled French from Acadia. They are said to have been chased out of their homes by British colonizers during their reign in 1775. In most of her stories, the Acadians are relatively poor compared to the Creoles. They are primarily fishers and farmers living off the land and working as servants for the Creoles. Clarisse being a Creole means that she is of a higher social status, and that is why she does not go to the ball and wonders why Alcee does. How At The Cadian Ball Revolves Around Love and Attraction The author attempts to differentiate and separate the two concepts: love, attraction, and lust. This short story portrays attraction in the form of flirtation. At Assumption, where the Cadian ball is taking place, on finding Calixta, Alcee takes her with him to a more private area where they go on flirting until Clarisse comes and goes with Alcee. Additionally, Kate Chopin depicts love through devotion and loyalty. At the ball, Bobinot looks for Calixta, and on finding her all alone on the balcony, he offers to take her home. Bobinot’s feelings and actions towards Calixta show love. Even though she does not pay any attention to him, Bobinot remains irrationally enthusiastic and takes pleasure in any recognition and acknowledgment Calixta gives him. Ultimately, the author captures the issue of love and attraction through enthusiasm and flirtation that different characters portray. How the Author Uses This Short Story to Highlight Issues Related to Feminism and Impropriety This story is set in 1892 at the end of the Victorian era, where people were expected to be highly mannered. Most people of higher social standing, especially women, were allowed to be a little improper in manners but polite. However, Calixta is none of these, as she is carefree and, on occasions, rather rude. Like most of Kate Chopin’s writings in the early 20th century, At The Cadian Ball is a work of feminism with Calixta as an icon of daring women at the time who went against the social order and standards set. She is outgoing and refuses to abide by the societal rules forced by men, and at the same time, she fits and is accepted by society. Thus, a critical evaluation of this story reveals the elements of feminism and impropriety. At The Cadian Ball Shows Evidence of Racial Discrimination The story is set when there were social classes, and one’s lineage and ancestry determined the ranking of these classes. Bruce is a Creole servant and is often discriminated against throughout the story, mainly because he is African American. As a result, it is ranked at the bottom of Louisiana’s economic and social staircase. Like Bruce, African Americans served as servants to the rich after the war. Therefore, there’s sufficient evidence to prove that this story tried to highlight the issue of racial discrimination in society. Can the At The Cadian Ball Be Considered a New Woman’s Story? The Cadian Ball reflects the 19th-century cultural values of the Acadian and Creole societies. But then, it was a male-dominated society where the woman’s voice was not significant. In this society, women were limited and, to some extent, prohibited from expressing their sexual needs. Instead, they were supposed to stick to the social conventions of the time, which demanded them to adhere to traditional roles. Kate Chopin’s story is simply the longing for female freedom from slavery, subjection, and imposed dependence in a male-dominated society. Unfortunately, none of the female characters achieve this freedom despite their struggle to get it. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Introduction 2. Specific ethical issues 3. The concept of professional and applied ethics 4. Whether GE breeched the concepts 5. Specific Example 6. Preference for male children 7. Recommendation 8. Conclusion 9. Reference Introduction Companies meet CSR challenges on a regular basis. In fact, virtually all innovations come with social and economic challenges. Therefore, companies like General Electric (GE), among others, should act honorably to realize a suitable CSR strategy. This paper will explore GE healthcare’s CSR dilemma. Specific ethical issues The first ethical issue concerns use of ultrasound for illegal abortions of female fetus. Secondly, there is concern regarding the low cost of ultrasound device, which makes it easier for illegal vendors to acquire and use the device illicitly. Recommendation concerning the first ethical issue would be to create awareness on the implications of illegal abortion of female fetus in developing countries. This would create a change in attitude and hence safe usage of the ultrasound device. The second ethical issue can be solved by avoiding sale of the device to illegal third party vendors (Singh, 2011). The concept of professional and applied ethics The concept of professional and applied ethics recommends behavior, which is better than that which is required in the rules of conduct. In most cases, these behaviors are deliberated as philosophical recommendations to members. Firms like GE electric, among others, are required to act professionally. Companies are required to accept their social responsibility to the community. In essence, companies are usually given minimum levels of responsibilities that are compulsory. It should be noted that the minimum rules are enforceable. The concept of professional and applied ethics requires professionals to commit unwaveringly to an honorable behavior. Moreover, companies are required to be upright even in difficulties. Above all, companies are required to adhere to integrity, competency and objectivity. This ensures that the companies provide quality services to society, and maintains integrity. Professional ethics covers responsibility to colleagues and clients, among others. Whether GE breeched the concepts GE healthcare’s low cost alternatives for diagnostic machine were important because they lowered the cost of accessing ultrasound services. However, GE healthcare breeched the concepts of professional and applied ethics by ignoring the two countries’ common policy on gender determination. Specific Example GE healthcare was aware of the countries’ policy regarding gender determination but did not help in the enforcement of these laws by selling the machines to legalized vendors only. Additionally, the company should have conducted follow-ups on third party vendors to ensure that the devices were used as required. Furthermore, GE healthcare’s marketing strategy did not help this cause (Singh, 2011). Preference for male children GE has the responsibility of assisting with the resolution of the issue of preference for male in cultures where their product is sold. This can be done by ensuring their products are sold to legalized vendors only. This will encourage safe use of the devices in accordance with government policies. Recommendation GE can balance its responsibility of sustained growth and development with investors and human rights groups by creating awareness on appropriate use of the device to its vendors as well as the public. This can be done through advertisements. Furthermore, the company can conduct follow-ups on use of these devices. Conclusion Approach to CSR is a common problem to most companies. GE healthcare can strengthen its presence in the market for ultrasound equipment by steering clear of illegal third party vendors who do not conform to the policies of the countries concerned. Furthermore, GE healthcare should conduct follow-ups and create awareness on proper use of ultrasound equipment. Reference Singh, J. (2011). GE Healthcare (B): A CSR Dilemma. INSEAD Case , 5776. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The opinion is that two jobs are important, namely, sales and marketing personnel and an accountant. These jobs are important for reasons of advertising the company’s products, establishing market for the products, bookkeeping, and preparing the profit and loss accounts for the firm, among others reasons (Garcia & McGregor, 2008). To maintain its good reputation, it is important for a company to administer its employees well so that they can be able to deliver on time and efficiently. The formula of managing employees is through use of performance management system (PMS); PMS can be described as a sequence of procedures that involves all activities, which are meant to ensure that the objectives of a firm are accomplished on a regular basis is an effective and proficient way (Rao, 2004). Riordan manufacturers is a well- known and well established in terms of service delivery, which means that costumers also have trust and confidence in their quality products. Because of the variety of employees performing varied activities, it is recommendable for the firm to have a performance management system so as to achieve quality service delivery and other advantages as follows. First, PMS is essential in improving the productivity of the firm (Rao, 2004); the output of any business is the key to achieving positive goals. It is, therefore, recommendable for a firm that deals with production to make use of the system so as to acquire quality and quantity services for profit maximization. Second, the PMS is useful in realizing the growth of employees (Rao, 2004); evaluation of the employees guides them toward making adjustments which necessary and therefore ensures growth in the process through acquisition of proper skills as a tool for success. In fact, any business with a PMS also provides employees with an opportunity to expand their skills. Finally, a PMS is indispensable where time management is concerned (Rao, 2004); as the saying goes, “time is money,” therefore any manager should be able to know when his staff is performing duties in an efficient manner that optimizes productivity. It is recommendable to use PMS based on those reasons. Reference Rao, T.V. (2004). Performance management and appraisal system: HR tool for global Competiveness . New Delhi. Sage publications. Garcia, A & McGregor, J. (2008). Facilities planning and design. New Jersey: Prentice hall. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Home-Based Pay System for Employees Report Strengths and Weaknesses of Home-Country Based Pay, Headquarters-Based Pay, and Host-Country Based Pay Home-country based remuneration is described as a condition where an employee’s payment is determined from the home country. This means that basic pay, allowances, and incentives are based on home country standards. One of the major advantages of home-based remuneration is the extension of home country benefits such as pension plans, insurance policies, and health care plans. It is important to keep the benefits of employees who would eventually return to their country. This is achieved by home-based pay systems. Another benefit of a home-based pay system is the merit increments. For ex-pats, using a home-based pay system provides the advantage of increasing the employees’ remuneration. Finally, a home-based pay structure ensures that an employee complies with the home country tax remittances. On the other hand, this payment structure has some weaknesses. For instance, an employee would incur losses when converting currency from home country currency to host country currency to enable him or her to buy goods and services. The cost of living in a foreign country could be higher than in the home country. This means he or she would spend more to acquire the same goods and services in a foreign country. Host country-based pay means that the employees’ basic pay is determined based on the host country pay system. In this case, the payroll of expatriates is shifted to the host country. There are many advantages to this system. First, as opposed to home-country based pay, the employee will not incur losses in currency conversion. Eventually, when the ex-pat returns to the home country, he may benefit from the exchange rate if the currency of the host country is more valuable than the home country currency. Again, the employee may benefit from higher rates of remuneration offered in the host country. However, the major weakness of this system is that employees may not benefit from many incentives and extra benefits provided in the home country. Employee’s remuneration may be affected by the host country’s economy. This means that employee’s benefits and payments may be subject to the host country’s financial obligations, such as heavy taxation. Headquarters based pay is described as a payment system where all employees are on the same payroll regardless of their workplace. This means that their remuneration rates are the same. The key advantage of this method is that policy rates and practices are standard. It also creates a good relationship between the company and its employees. However, there are two major weaknesses of this system; the loss incurred during currency conversion and decrement in the package mobility (Martocchio, 2011). Should Companies Avoid International Business Activities Due to Costly Allowances and Reimbursements? Companies should not avoid international business activities because of costly allowances and reimbursements. Conducting business internationally requires corporations to strategize about every aspect of the business so that it doesn’t incur losses. Globalization can enable companies to get higher returns and should not be avoided simply because of costly allowances and reimbursements. Market participation decisions involve selecting the right markets to serve not only locally but also internationally. With proper market participation decisions, multinational corporations can make sufficient revenue to offset costly compensations and reimbursements. To cut down the costs, international corporations should adopt a payment structure that motivates workers to accept external assignments and, at the same, time benefit the company. This can be achieved by providing hybrid remuneration models in which expatriates would receive higher basic compensations and benefits in accordance with the host country. Rather than using only one payment type, both the home-country based system and host country system can be used together. However, this should depend on the type of international assignment, and companies should define the value of a foreign assignment before selecting the type of payment. This would guide them in selecting an appropriate system of remuneration (Weber, 2011). References Martocchio, J. (2011). Strategic Compensation: A Human Resource Management Approach (6 th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Weber, T. (2011). What Are The Critical Success Factors In Expatriate Assignments? . Munich: GRIN Verlag GmbH. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Today the Chilean government is oriented to search for foreign investment providing capital for the economic development of the country (Doing Business in Chile 2008). What I wish to learn This is why I am interested to learn about the business climate in Chile, the cultural and social lifestyle, its impact on business, the kind of people that inhabit Chile and business manners and etiquette there. What Are the Major Elements and Dimensions of Culture in the Region? Culture A social research conducted in Chile designed to collect information about the local culture in its relation to business making process showed very high level of uncertainty avoidance in the Chilean society (Chile Business Etiquette, Culture & Manners 2012). This dimension stands for the social desire to reduce the level of probability of unexpected outcomes. Chileans do not like facing uncertain future; this is why their state is based on strict and clear policies, laws and rules. All of these regulations are adopted and carefully followed. Besides, the research has pointed out the low level of individualism in the Chilean society, which makes Chilean people collectivists fond of being parts of their groups. Religion Another highly important element of culture in Chile is religion. The majority of citizens there are Catholic. Religion is an immense part of the Chilean lifestyle. How Are These Elements and Dimensions Integrated by Locals Conducting Business in the Nation? The Chilean collectivism is very noticeable in the connections and the status of an “insider” all businessmen there are so proud of (Doing Business in Chile 2014). Whenever someone has an issue, there always will be a friend, who knows a person who can help with that issue. Besides, a western businessman attending business meetings in Chile should not be surprised that the negotiators may stand very close to each other and touch each other’s arms, shoulders or elbows while talking (Doing Business in Chile 2013). These are the ways Chilean collectivism penetrates business relations. Chile has strong social security levels for all employees. Besides, Chile has signed social security agreements with many countries of Europe, North and South America and Australia (Doing Business in Chile 2011). This is the reflection of the high level of Chilean uncertainty avoidance. Chilean Cultural Elements and Dimensions Compared with US Business and Culture First of all, the US is a multicultural state. Its main difference from Chile is the absence of majorly homogenous society practicing the same religion and belonging to the same culture. Besides, American people since childhood are raised to be individualistic (Koch 2013). They are taught to follow their own goals and walk their own special ways, whereas Chileans enjoy sticking to collectivist values and work in groups. At the same time people of the United States are similar to the Chilean citizens in their high social level of uncertainty avoidance. Social security in business and at the workplace is highly important to the American employees and managers. Business organizations in the US encourage their workers with the benefits of social security creating comfortable and reliable workplaces. What Are the Implications for US Businesses That Wish to Conduct Business in That Region? The businessmen from the US doing business in Chile must be aware of all the cultural differences waiting for them at the meetings and negotiations with the Chileans. People of Chile like to follow rules and regulations, which should be respected by the foreigners. Before coming to Chile the negotiators have to learn the important etiquette norms and manners thoroughly. A business built in a collectivist society must be based on group work and collaboration, because these are the things Chilean people are naturally good at. Reference List Chile Business Etiquette , Culture & Manners (2012). Web. Doing Business in Chile (2008). PWC . Web. Doing Business in Chile (2011). Opportunidades . Web. Doing Business in Chile (2013). Kwintessential . Web. Doing Business in Chile (2014). South America . Web. Koch, R. (2013). Is Individualism Good or Bad? Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Chemistry. How Heavy Metals Affect Protein Folding Essay To make proteins, ‘machines’ known as ribosome chemically string together amino acids into long, linear chains. Like shoelaces, these chains loop about each other in a variety of ways (i.e., they fold). But, as with a shoelace, only one of these many ways allows the proteins to function properly. Yet lack of function is not always the worst scenario. For just as a hopelessly knotted shoelace could be worse than one that won’t stay tied, too much of a misfolded protein could be worse than too little of a normally folded one. This is because misfolded proteins can actually poison the cells around it (Anfinsen, 1972). As a group, heavy metals include both those essential for normal biological functioning (e.g. Cu and Zn), and non-essential metals (e.g. Cd, Hg, and Pb). Both essential and non-essential metals can be present at concentrations that disturb normal biological functions, and which evoke cellular stress responses. The cellular targets for metal toxicity include tissues of the kidney, liver, heart, immune response and nervous system. Intriguingly, manipulations of specific metals, their reservoirs, and the cellular stress response can have therapeutic effects on certain diseases (Mitani, et al. 1993) Amino acids are proteins primary structures. The primary structure of a protein moves to work on it to form its unique structure. This process is known as folding. They will fold spontaneously during or after synthesis. Folding does not happen by the act of amino acids only but also when other conditions are at a correct level, these are temperature, concentration and chaperone activity. (Lee & Tsai, 2005). The amino acid sequence of each protein contains unique information that work to produce individually unique structures and pathways as too specific or particular protein. Amino acid sequences don’t always fold similarly because of different conditions they occur in. Environmental conditions affect the process as similar proteins fold differently based on where they are found. Nucleoside triphosphates produce energy for the independent process. Hydrophobic interactions, provide the basis of attachment for this molecules and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Protein folding may involve covalent bonding in the form of disulfide bridges formed between two cysteine residues or the formation of metal clusters. Before settling into their more energetically favorable native conformation, molecules may pass through an intermediate state. Heavy metals attach to the desulphated bridges causing misfolding (Anfinsen, 1972). The protein is widely expressed in highly homologous forms, suggesting that the roles played by metallothionein are essential to a variety of biological processes, and that the protein has a long evolutionary lineage. Metals have long been known to evoke changes in the immune response. These changes are dependent both on the specific metal and metal valency, as well as on the genetic makeup and physiological status of the exposed individual. Although this small stress response protein (Metallothionein) is not a member of heat shock protein family, it serves many roles in both normal and stressed cells, acting as a reservoir of essential heavy metals (e.g., Cu+2 and Zn+2), as a scavenger for both heavy metal toxicants (e.g., Hg+2, Cd+2) and free radicals, and as a regulator of transcription factor activity. Metallothionein is induced by a range of different agents, including heavy metals, reactive oxygen species, glucocorticoids, acute phase cytokines and interferon, and by endotoxin. Traditionally considered an intracellular protein, recent work has suggested important roles for metallothionein both in intracellular compartments and as an extracellular agent (Pace et al. 1996). The changes induced in leukocyte behavior can result in immunosuppression and a consequent increase in susceptibility to infectious disease. These changes can also result in an autoreactive immune response that subsequently damages self tissues. Focused is on the mechanisms of metal-mediated immune modulation that are influenced by basal levels of metallothionein and by those levels of metallothionein that are induced by inflammation, autoimmune disease and toxic metal exposure. We have also explored the potential opportunities this immunomodulation provides both for the management of disease that results from toxic metal exposures, and for the management of diseases that are accompanied by metallothionein synthesis as a consequence of cellular stresses that are associated with infection, inflammation or other biological stressors (Borghesi, et al. 1996). Livers are used to detect heavy metal concentration as it is found to be of the highest metal accumulation point compared to other tissues. The total concentrations of six heavy metals: Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni are detected by Flame AAS. If we consider Cu and Zn concentrations to be high, we analyze their sub cellular distribution. Fractions of cytosol, nucleus, microsome, mitochondria and plasma membrane from the livers are obtained by high speed and ultra-centrifugation. Their Cu and Zn contents are also determined by Flame AAS which found they are highest in cytosolic fractions. proteomic approach to study the copper binding proteins. Separation of cytosolic fraction by gel-filtration chromatography reveals the presence copper (Mitani, et al. 1993). Bibliography Anfinsen C (1972). “The formation and stabilization of protein structure”. 737-49. Borghesi, L. A., et al. 1996. Interactions of metallothionein with murine lymphocytes: plasma membrane binding and proliferation. 129-40. Lee S, Tsai F (2005). “Molecular chaperones in protein quality control”. 259-65. Martin, J. 2000. Group II chaperones as mediators of cytosolic protein folding. 309-24. Mitani, K., et al. 1993. The role of inorganic metals and metalloporphyrins in “The induction of haem oxygenase and heat-shock proteins 70 in human hepatoma cells.”819-25. Pace C, Shirley B, McNutt M, Gajiwala K (1996). “Forces contributing to the conformational stability of proteins”. 75-83. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Mon2Fri Company’s Internal Controls Report (Assessment) Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Weaknesses in Internal Controls 3. Strengths of Internal Controls 4. Recommendations 5. References Introduction This analysis paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of the internal controls that are currently in place in Mon2Fri that is a company specializing in electronics with ageing information systems. Weaknesses in Internal Controls 1. The sales department comprising of three salespeople however there is no control over verification of orders received over the telephone. There are no controls over the preparation of sales order form and it lacks authorization. This could result in fictitious sales and the company could face problems. 2. The sales order recorded by the sales team is not matched with the purchase order from the client. This may lack accuracy and completeness (Kutz, 2003) 3. There are no recording controls over the sales order form. No sale journals are maintained to record and match the pre-numbered sales order form. Too much dependence on the sales team without segregation of duties could be a problem for the company. 4. There is no control over the verification of the sales order copy and client’s order when it is received by the shipping department. Non segregation of duties could result in problems for the company and possibility of fraud is at high levels (Kutz, 2003). 5. Creditworthiness of existing and new customers is not checked that could pose a greater challenge for the company. The company expects 10% of sales to be bad debt during a year however this estimation does not seem in line with the poor controls over checking credit worthiness of clients and actual results could differ significantly. 6. There are no controls over the shipping of goods as there are checks of quality and returns of goods dispatched. This could result in sales being rejected and returned at the expense of the company. 7. The inventory controls do not check any goods that have been physically damaged and are not saleable. Major inventory can be written off if damaged goods are not recorded. 8. The invoice issued by the billing department is not pre-numbered and its content is not verified and authorized (Bragg, 2009). This could result in lost documentation and sales may remain unpaid. 9. The receipt of cheques and consequent deposit in the bank does not have any controls. Loss of cheques and revenue can be expected from this. Strengths of Internal Controls 1. The sales order forms are pre-numbered that allow tracking of orders placed by clients and goods shipped to them. 2. The sales order forms are sent along with the shipment and authorized by customers that establish clients’ commitment to unpaid goods. 3. Creditworthiness of customers requiring above $5,000 is checked that could avoid major earnings turning into bad debts (Kutz, 2003). 4. The warehouse clerk checks every day the stock in hand and determines the quantities dispatched to clients. This keeps a regular check on the goods in the company’s warehouse. 5. Cheques are received with duplicate invoice that allows tracking of payments and balancing of outstanding payments from clients. Recommendations There are major flaws in the internal controls including operational, accounting and financial that could cause major problems for the company. Suggestions could be made to remove the weaknesses as identified in the previous section and also to keep a regular check so that such weaknesses may not arise again. Major suggestions could include segregation of duties, oversight of the ordering, dispatching, invoicing and recording of receipts are required. Moreover, implementation of computerized system could overcome some of the weaknesses in the internal controls and allow better decision making (Porter & Norton, 2009). References Bragg, S. M. (2009). Accounting Control Best Practices. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Kutz, D. W. (2003). Policies and Procedures Manual for Accounting and Financial Control. Carol Stream, IL: CCH. Porter, G. A., & Norton, C. L. (2009). Financial Accounting: The Impact on Decision Makers. New York: Cengage Learning. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Credentialing for Family Nurse Practitioners Essay Family Nurse Practitioner is a specific role in advanced nursing practice that is characterized by many duties typical for physicians. As a result, the tension imposed on Family Nurse Practitioners regarding credentialing is rather high (Freed, Dunham, Loveland-Cherry, & Martyn, 2010, p. 862). In this context, trends in credentialing of these nurses need to be discussed in detail. The main three trends associated with the issue of credentialing for Family Nurse Practitioners are distinguishing between roles of physicians and a Family Nurse Practitioner in terms of diagnosing, treatment, and drug prescription; the necessity of the additional licensure for prescribing medications; and the necessity of additional certificates to continue practice in the other state. These aspects are important because they determine the whole practice of a Family Nurse Practitioner in the concrete clinical setting (Keough, Stevenson, Martinovich, Young, & Tanabe, 2011, p. 196). These restrictions influence the work decision of Family Nurse Practitioners in spite of the fact that these approaches can be changed with more effective strategies to control quality. While discussing possibilities for enhancing the advanced nursing practice in the future, it is important to determine two strategies that can contribute to improving the experience of nurses regarding credentialing. As the issue of distinguishing roles of physicians and Family Nurse Practitioners is associated with licensure for prescribing medications, it is possible to state that the first strategy is the revision of approaches for distributing duties and responsibilities among physicians and Family Nurse Practitioners in the concrete clinical setting to avoid unreasonable decisions and delays in health care delivery (Freed et al., 2010). In order to make the process of cooperation between physicians and Family Nurse Practitioners more productive, clear standards for distributing duties should be stated according to credentials, and the right for prescribing drugs should be provided to Family Nurse Practitioners without the additional licensure because these nurses often work as substitutes for physicians (Keough et al., 2011). This approach will be beneficial for the nursing profession. The second proposed strategy is important for individual Family Nurse Practitioners. Thus, it is significant to decrease differences in state and national certification for Family Nurse Practitioners. If the procedure of additional certification for working in the concrete state will be eliminated, it is possible to speak about the easy flow of human resources among states (Poronsky, 2013, p. 352). The alternative variant is the simplification of the certification requirements in states. It is important to note that complications in the credentialing procedures for Family Nurse Practitioners cannot guarantee positive results and high-quality practice. Therefore, to address all legal and ethical norms and standards, it is possible to expect that Family Nurse Practitioners will be required to receive a certain type of certificate that is common for all states in the United States. Moreover, they will be authorized to perform certain roles of physicians in concrete situations because these roles will be stated in credentials. In this case, it will be possible to avoid ethical dilemmas and legal problems. Today, the particular state certification credential is not necessary for some states, and this practice can be followed in other states without compromising the aspect of regulation. Focusing on the ethical aspect, it is important to eliminate barriers that prevent patients from receiving high-quality care in time, as it is possible in cases when Family Nurse Practitioners working in the concrete clinical setting have no additional certificates to provide the certain type of assistance to a patient. References Freed, G., Dunham, K., Loveland-Cherry, C., & Martyn, K. (2010). Family nurse practitioners: Roles and scope of practice in the care of pediatric patients. Pediatrics, 126 (5), 861-864. Keough, V., Stevenson, A., Martinovich, Z., Young, R., & Tanabe, P. (2011). Nurse practitioner certification and practice settings: Implications for education and practice. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 43 (2), 195-202. Poronsky, C. (2013). Exploring the transition from registered nurse to family nurse practitioner. Journal of Professional Nursing, 29 (6), 350-358. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It will also explain how affirmative actions relate to compliance with the provision of equal employment opportunities. Affirmative actions were very useful in the past but analysts say that it is not important today. Affirmative actions have always played an important role in the areas of education and employment and thus each company or organization should implement them. Introduction Affirmative actions are the policies that are geared towards the promotion of access to education and employment for non-dominant groups. It is a way of trying to redress the negative effects; actual or perceived discrimination which is regarded as unjust to some bodies like the legislative and the human rights watchdogs. They achieve this through targeted recruitment programs for applicants who are disadvantaged in society. There have been many proponents of affirmative actions; they argue that many forms of discrimination occur where certain social groups in the society are denied entry into schools or access to employment opportunities (Thomas D. Boston, 1999). Why the Company Board should Implement Affirmative Actions The role of affirmative action has always been to promote access to education, housing, and employment. This is to prevent the discrimination that takes place during employment because people tend to be employed according to their races, age, and gender as their origin and disability status. This will ensure that all people are given equal opportunities to employment even with those of dominant groups. The reason why the board should implement affirmative action is to base the decisions that it makes on the principle of equal employment opportunities. This means that all the people that will be employed will not be limited to recruitment, training, promotions, hiring, compensation, benefits as well as recreational programs. This action will enable the company to attract candidates who are qualified for employment with the minority groups being considered as well. The other important thing is that there will be valid requirements that will be used in the process of evaluation, promotion, and employment applications that are compliant with the federal state laws as well as the local laws. These are the laws that prohibit discrimination based on color, race, religion, origin whether national or ethnic, the orientation of sex, and the status of disabilities (Clint Bolick, 1996). The other reason for the implementation is to recognize that the success of the company relies on the development and the use of human resources in the full range. This is the basis that the company will have achieved equal employment opportunities. This will in turn help the company to continue cultivating and enhancing the diversities that it has. The implementation will also help the company to administer related policies and as a result, assure that the employees are part of the diversity that the company is making strong to sustain distinctions in what it does. The implementation of affirmative actions policy will ensure that the federal agencies can come and investigate the labor recruitment policies and ensure that there is no discrimination which will be tantamount to lawbreaking. The implementation will help the company to be accountable in the way it conducts its recruitment and hiring processes. This is because affirmative actions were developed by Equal Opportunities Services and the diverse number of people brought in suggestions on how the human resources department and the equal opportunity services should operate. For this to work, the top management should support equal employment opportunities and affirmative actions concurrently. This will be possible if the board agrees to implement the affirmative action policies where the chairman of the board should be the one responsible for overseeing the implementations. The implementation of affirmative actions by the board is important as it shows the responsibilities and commitments that the company has towards society. This will be brought about by the fact that the company will show the commitment it has in the achievement of equal opportunities of employment. This in turn shows that the programs and all other activities in the company are well coordinated (Barbara Bergmann, 1996). These activities include implementing and developing procedures, programs, and policies that bring attention to the top management, monitoring the progress, and result reporting about the affirmative action implementations. The implementation is a sign that the company is compliant with the laws that are provided because of the policies that are in it. The laws support affirmative actions and it is constitutional. The implementation of affirmative actions by the board will be for the company’s good as it will ensure that it has a good task force that will enable it to achieve its goals and objectives. References 1. Barbara Bergmann, 1996 In Defense of Affirmative Action. New York: Basic Books. 2. Clint Bolick, 1996 The Affirmative Action Fraud: Can We Restore the American Civil Rights Vision? Washington, DC: Cato Institute. 3. Thomas D. Boston, 1999. Affirmative Action and Black Entrepreneurship. New York: Routledge. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The first two chapters of this work are aimed at describing the experiences of people living in favelas or shanty towns. These examples that the author provides can tell much about the challenges faced by the residents of these settlements. The main strength of this book is that the author relies not only on the statistical data, but also on the interviews given by people living in favelas. This approach makes his arguments more informative and convincing. This is why this source is worth reading. According to Peter Sheriff, Brazilian academicians avoid mentioning that nearly 75 percent of people living in slums are non-white (Sheriff 18). Furthermore, one can speak about the existence of residential as well racial segregation. The ancestors of these people were enslaved and brought to the colonies (Sheriff 18). To a great extent, this economic inequality can be regarded as a legacy of slavery in Brazil. It seems that such a trend can be observed in other countries in which slave labor was extensively used, for example, one mention the so-called inner cities in the United States. Certainly, Peter Sheriff’s arguments cannot be generalized, but he is able to show that modern societies are still affected by the discourse of race. For instance, one can mention that some governmental officials in Brazil have a rather biased attitude toward the residents of favelas. Very often, they believe that they are rude and uncultured (Sheriff 19). Certainly, I am not directly familiar with this form of discrimination, but it seems that it is widespread in modern communities. Another aspect of this reading is that Peter Sheriff tries to give voice to favela residents. Judging from their responses, in Brazil the language of race is still vital for describing the identity of a person (Sheriff 39). Moreover, there is a distinct correlation between the race of an individual and his/her socio-economic status in the community. Furthermore, one should remember that in the public opinion, the word negro is often associated with ugliness, marginality, and darkness (Sheriff 39). In my opinion, by focusing on people’s experience, Robin Sheriff is able to throw a new light on the challenges that they encounter. Nevertheless, the author’s discussion leaves many questions unanswered. Certainly, it is vital to know how people perceive race. However, one still has to determine ways of overcoming the legacies of slavery in Brazil. This issue is particularly relevant to the residents of favelas who struggle with poverty and crime. This is the main limitation of the writer’s analysis. However, one can argue that Robin Sheriff has successfully demonstrated that despite the emphasis on diversity and tolerance, racial rhetoric still plays an important part in the modern world. Such a country as Brazil is only one example of state in which there is a distinct relationship between race and social status. This is why this work should not be overlooked. On the whole, Peter Sheriff’s analysis is useful for understanding how colonial past and slavery can shape the development of the country. It can help people better understand various academic works examining such concepts as race and racism. Finally, by reading this book, one can get a better idea of contemporary Brazil. Works Cited Sheriff, Robin. Dreaming Equality: Color, Race, and Racism in Urban Brazil , New York: Rutgers University Press, 2001. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Adolescent Diversion Project in Juvenile Delinquency Treatment in Michigan Research Paper Delinquent behavior and juvenile justice are critical social issues in the United States. Juvenile delinquency can lead to significant consequences such as incarceration, drug use, lack of education, and injury. Many programs have been established across the country for early intervention and prevention purposes to divert juveniles from criminal environments and consequences. This report will examine the Adolescent Diversion Project as part of a community effort to juvenile delinquency treatment in Michigan. What is the name of the program you are assessing? Where is the program located? The selected program for assessment is the Adolescent Diversion Project (ADP). It is done through Michigan State University and is located in East Lansing, Michigan. The program is advocacy-oriented, attempting to divert juveniles from formal processing into community services. The focus of the program is to prevent future delinquency by creating social attachments to family and other prosocial youth by providing community resources and keeping individuals away from the juvenile justice system which can have stigmatizing and traumatizing outcomes. The program was established in 1976 through collaboration between Michigan State University and the local Ingham County Juvenile System. It is considered to be one of the best and most well-established juvenile programs in the country (National Institute of Justice, 2013). Have there been any studies completed on the effectiveness of the program you are reviewing for the assignment? What were the results of these studies? If no studies were done, would this have been informative? A large-scale study was conducted in 2004 by a multi-facility team from different universities and a national organization that specifically focused on ADP. It was a randomized control trial that examined 395 youth who were referred to the program to determine how effective the ecological programming approach was in preventing delinquency. The study demonstrated that ADP was slightly more effective and showed less official recidivism of juvenile delinquency than a “warn and release” attempt or processing in the juvenile justice system. It was also found that while processing and any other means of socially labeling youth as delinquent led to increased criminal behavior. Meanwhile, a greater awareness of youth activities and integration into the community without creating labels helped to greatly reduce delinquent behavior (Smith, Wolf, Cantillon, Thomas, & Davidson, 2004). What (if any) positive impact is the program providing for the community and the delinquents? The primary positive impact that the program has on the community is experiencing lower rates of juvenile delinquency and a better interconnection among its members and institutions. The delinquents are benefited as they are provided with resources, psychological guidance, positive socialization, role models, and supervision to obtain stability in their lives. Caseworkers which consist of university professors and student volunteers work individually with delinquents to help build relationships, deal with school issues, and achieve employment among other individually tailored services. Together, members of the program often participate in community engagement such as service and volunteering that further aids the local area (Office of Justice Programs, 2017). Will the program help curb juvenile delinquency? Why? The program has been functioning for over 40 years and has demonstrated statistically significant reductions in juvenile delinquency and re-offenders. Self-reported delinquency reduction is much lower, but noteworthy, nevertheless. Such success can be attributed to a comprehensive approach that combines psychological guidance, social integration, service, and community outreach. Delinquents feel much more established within their families and the communities as well as various aspects of their lives such as school or work. What are the negative aspects of the program you reviewed? The negative aspects of the program can be attributed to the short amount of time that delinquents participate in it. It lasts only 18 weeks at only about 6-8 hours per week. Past the 12th week, the active phase is over, which leads to the very limited time that caseworkers spend with the delinquent (National Institute of Justice, 2013). Also, while the program is targeted towards community outreach and pro-social activities, it has little variation and may encounter issues with delinquents that do not respond well to measures. Give specific suggestions for improving the program The best improvements would be to extend the length of the program to ensure that juveniles feel more established and integrated into the community. Furthermore, it would be recommended to introduce options for more anti-social or introverted delinquents. While some psychological guidance is provided, it may be viable to establish a therapy program to help manage traumatic experiences that the youth have witnessed while in criminal or court environments. Additionally, it may be helpful to establish check-in programs after the program ends to ensure juveniles are maintaining a good-standing status. Conclusion Juvenile delinquency is a serious issue that needs to be effectively addressed as traditional punitive systems often have a negative effect. Rehabilitation and treatment programs such as the Adolescent Diversion Project focus on social and community integration while guiding various aspects of the juvenile’s lives. The program has existed for decades and has experienced great success in reducing delinquency rates. References National Institute of Justice. (2013). Program profile: Adolescent Diversion Project (Michigan State University) . Web. Office of Justice Programs. (2017). Diversion from formal juvenile court processing . Web. Smith, E. P., Wolf, A. M., Cantillon, D. M., Thomas, O., & Davidson, W. S. (2004). The Adolescent Diversion Project. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 27 (2), 29–47. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Obesity and Adolescent Hypertension Case Study Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology 3. Racial/Ethnic Variables in Physiologic Functioning 4. Conclusion 5. References Introduction The 58-year-old patient of white descent has a history of diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension with the subsequent therapy of metformin and hydrochlorothiazide. The patient is also classified as obese on account of a greater than ordinary body mass index (BMI) over 25. Therefore, the patient has significant risk factors for cardiometabolic multimorbidities on a history of advancing age and obesity (Kivimäki et al., 2017). The patient developed fever, chills, pain, swelling of the right great toe, the inability of his foot to carry weight, and pain on assessment of the right metatarsophalangeal joint, consistent with a fracture of the right great toe. For this reason, it is imperative to accurately describe the musculoskeletal and neurological pathophysiologic process involved in the presenting symptoms. Neurological and Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology The patient’s presenting symptoms are consistent with a big toe fracture. The patient’s underlying disorder of obesity would have contributed to the development of osteoporosis (Roy et al., 2016). The manifestation of obesity presents as the expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6), leptin, adiponectin, interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), Growth hormone (GH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), angiotensin II, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5HT), and myostatin that modulate the communication pathways to muscle and bones. The upregulated or downregulated chemical messengers TNF-alpha, IL-6, and leptins have negative modulation to osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and myocytes, contributing to osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. Osteoporosis leads to bone fragility due to decreased bone mineralization secondary to calcium and phosphate deficiency. Moreover, the patient has been on hydrochlorothiazide therapy for hypertension with the potential of causing hypophosphatemia leading to reduced bone mineralization (Roy et al., 2016). Therefore, the increased weight from obesity and osteoporosis leads to a stress fracture on the patient’s foot, manifesting as pain and swelling of the right great toe. Inflammation is the product of the bone fracture manifesting as fever, chills, swelling, and pain to prevent further tissue damage. Acute inflammation begins with vasodilation in response to tissue injury leading to increased vascular permeability that allows the entry of inflammatory mediators (McCance et al., 2019). Subsequently, the increased vascular permeability leads to tissue edema manifested as swelling of the right great toe. The circulatory system, inflammatory cells, and injured tissues release chemical mediators that include vasoactive amines such as histamine for vasodilation, peptides such as bradykinin, eicosanoids from cell membrane phospholipids such as prostaglandins, cytokines such as interleukins and TNF, and acute-phase proteins such as C-Reactive proteins. Consequently, the inflammatory mediators that include interleukin-1, TNF, and prostaglandins travel to the hypothalamus to reset the brain’s thermostat. The patient has fever and chills due to the thermostat reset in the brain’s hypothalamus. Additionally, the inflammatory process leads to an elevated Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 33mm/hr and C-reactive protein of 24mg/L. Therefore, the obesity in the patient cascaded to osteoporosis and the ensuing inflammation from the stress fracture of the right foot. Racial/Ethnic Variables in Physiologic Functioning Several factors have an impact on the variations of physiological functioning among patients. Race or ethnic characteristics constitute part of the factors affecting physiological functioning. For instance, Cheung et al. (2017) established that the prevalence of obesity in African adolescents was 3.1% higher than in their Hispanic counterparts at 2.7%. However, the prevalence rate of hypertension was more significant among Hispanic adolescents at 3.1% compared to their African-American, White, or Asian counterparts at 2.7%, 2.6%, and 1.7%, respectively (Cheung et al., 2017). Moreover, Cheung et al. (2017) established that White adolescents with obesity were more likely to have sustained hypertension than African-American adolescents. For this reason, the findings indicate that the rate of adipose tissue metabolism and the subsequent complications of blood pressure disorder is ethnic/race dependent. Conclusion Advancing age with lifestyle habits such as sedentary living, and substance use contribute to a myriad of health challenges among the global population. Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart diseases, congestive heart, obesity, and stroke constitute a significant proportion of the disorders associated with lifestyle characteristics. Moreover, ensuing obesity and osteoporosis has been linked to increased incidence of stress fractures. References Cheung, E. L., Bell, C. S., Samuel, J. P., Poffenbarger, T., Redwine, K. M., & Samuels, J. A. (2017). Race and obesity in adolescent hypertension. Pediatrics , 139 (5). Web. Kivimäki M, Kuosma E, Ferrie JE, Luukkonen R, Nyberg ST, Alfredsson L, Batty GD, Brunner EJ, Fransson E, Goldberg M, Knutsson A, Koskenvuo M, Nordin M, Oksanen T, Pentti J, Rugulies R, Shipley MJ, Singh-Manoux A, Steptoe A, Suominen SB, Theorell T, Vahtera J, Virtanen M, Westerholm P, Westerlund H, Zins M, Hamer M, Bell JA, Tabak AG, Jokela M. (2017). Overweight, obesity, and risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity: Pooled analysis of individual-level data for 120 813 adults from 16 cohort studies from the USA and Europe. The Lancet Public Health , 2 (6), e277-e285. Web. McCance, K. L., Huether, S. E., Brashers, V. L., & Rote, N. S. (Eds.). (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children . (8 th ed.). Elsevier. Roy, B., Curtis, M. E., Fears, L. S., Nahashon, S. N., & Fentress, H. M. (2016). Molecular mechanisms of obesity-induced osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. Frontiers in Physiology , 7 , 439. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Whatever dance style you take, you are sure to find passion, grace, and excitement. Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary dance, each form is capable of adding some enthusiasm and evoking positive emotions. Dancing dates back to many centuries ago, and it has been developing and transforming ever since to produce the powerful effect on the audiences at all times. Ballet Dance Ballet originated in Italy at the beginning of the sixteenth century and was soon presented in France (Nedvigin, 2016). In the beginning, dancers used to wear a lot of garments and massive accessories and had heels on their footwear. Such costumes made the movement problematic, and the dance consisted of “small hops, slides, curtsies, promenades and gentle turns” (Nedvigin, 2016, para. 2). The terminology was coined in French over the following century. Ballet was constantly developing, and by the middle of the nineteenth century, it reached enormous popularity in Russia, which became the dominant dance center. Dance on toe gained recognition in the first part of the 1800s, and at first only women performed in this way (Nedvigin, 2016). The form and line used in ballet dance underline the stage performance and make sure that the main and secondary performers each have their place (Stanwood, 2012). I think that when creating a new dance performance, ballet choreographers and dancers are influenced by the theme of the future show, and they come up with the ways of conveying the theme via their movements and suitable music. Since ballet shows are lengthy, they are able to develop a complete story with its explicit images and themes which undoubtedly encourage the audience to sympathize with the heroes and attentively follow the course of events. The tenderness of ballet movements always makes me feel positive and inspired. Jazz Dance Although jazz style is quite different from ballet, they are closely connected. To be proficient in jazz, one needs to have substantial ballet practice since jazz also requires elegance and agility (Bedinghouse, 2016). This style was established in the twentieth century together with urban life and jazz music (Andreu, 2011). Jazz was used as a bridge between the country and city life and it “mirrored the lifestyles” of the people (Andreau, 2011, p. 2). Jazz style has acquired various forms in the course of its development. The forms and rhythm in jazz dance reflect the people’s desire to feel free and self-contained. The dance’s story and images inspire thoughts of liberty and rebellion. Instead of resting in the positions, the “art of suspension” practiced in jazz requires them to move all the time (Bedinghouse, 2016, para. 5). I think that jazz performers and choreographers are motivated by the aim to make their dance as dynamic as possible when creating their shows. The movements of jazz dancers evoke in me the feelings of productive action and freedom and always bring positive mood. Although ballet dance and jazz dance developed with a significant disparity in the time dimension, both these styles have a fantastic influence on the audience. The sense of rhythm and the images presented by these types of dance have always fascinated people. Performing and watching dancing allows people to feel freedom and distraction from their hectic lifestyles, which makes it an essential part of life. References Andreu, H. (2011). Jazz dance styles and steps for fun . Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. Bedinghouse, T. (2016). Jazz 101. About . Web. Nedvigin, G. (2016). A brief history of ballet. Web. Stanwood, T. (2012). Inside ballet technique . Raleigh, NC: Lulu. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Essay Budgeting can be described as a type of planning that focuses on the financial aspects of a business and is limited to a rather short term (Atrill & McLaney 2013). Given the complexity of business financing, a budget appears to be necessary for any organization (Atrill & McLaney 2013b). According to Atrill and McLaney (2013), companies of different sizes acknowledge this fact: for example, in North America, 97% of businesses use budgeting as a formal practice. The key benefits of budgets include the following ones: they facilitate control, bring out problems, improve coordination between business sections, act as an authorization system; also, they can be used as a motivation tool and to develop some cognitive skills like forward-thinking (Atrill & McLaney 2013a). Therefore, to skip budgeting means to reject the creation of a short-term plan that should complement the company’s mission, objectives, and strategic plans. Nowadays, various budgets can be used to suit the needs of any organization. According to Atrill and McLaney (2013), even the smallest business needs a budget, but it may be limited to a cash one (which reflects the business in a comprehensive way) if the owner is too reluctant to spend resources on it. Bigger companies need more extensive planning; similarly, the accountability requirements of non-profit organizations are unlikely to be satisfied by basic budgeting. Also, for the sake of effective resource management, extensive budgeting is likely to be a better choice. Various budgets should be chosen to suit a business’ needs; for example, trade payables, receivables, and inventory budgets can be created for more detailed planning of the correspondent areas. Also, different approaches to budgeting exist. For example, zero-base budgeting can be used as an alternative to the incremental approach: when the latter is based on the previous year’s budget as its starting point, the former uses current data (Palmer 2014). Participatory budgeting (an approach that requires involving different stakeholders) is considered to be more democratically acceptable and capable of maintaining ethical conduct (Rossmann & Shanahan 2012). In other words, if a businessperson is dissatisfied with a technique, it is more logical to reconsider it rather than using budgets in general. A budget needs effective management. They should be timely, short-term, seriously taken, aimed at individual managers and certain clearly identified areas, and performed through established and effective means of analysis. Also, if the budget indicates an issue, actions to rectify it must be undertaken (Atrill & McLaney 2013a). Ethical conduct is required for successful budgeting: no manager is supposed to use the tool for their personal interests, and the planning needs to be open and transparent (Rossmann & Shanahan 2012). Also, revising budgets is highly recommended (Atrill & McLaney 2013a). Finally, there are behavioral aspects of budgeting that also modify its effectiveness. In particular, the targets need to be challenging, but realistic. If these conditions are not met, the tool is unlikely to be useful and may become a waste of time and money, but a properly managed budget tends to improve the business’ performance (Atrill & McLaney 2013a). Reference List Atrill, P & McLaney, E 2013, Accounting and finance for non-specialists , 8th edn, Pearson Learning Solutions, New York. Atrill, P & McLaney, E 2013a, Accounting and finance for non-Specialists PowerPoints on the Web: Chapter 9 . Atrill, P & McLaney, E 2013b, Accounting and finance for non-Specialists PowerPoints on the Web: Chapter 11 . Palmer, JC 2014, ‘Budgeting Approaches in Community Colleges’, New Directions For Community Colleges , 2014, vol. 168, pp. 29-40. Rossmann, D, & Shanahan, E 2012, ‘Defining and Achieving Normative Democratic Values in Participatory Budgeting Processes’, Public Administration Review , vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 56-66. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Practice Environment in Healthcare Research Paper Introduction Frontline Staff and Patients/Families The practice environment (an intensive care unit in a hospital) is a complex clinical setting. Team and staff-leader communication is imperative to deliver coordinated and quality care. From my observations and unit reports, nurses and patients/families are not adequately empowered to be effective in their roles. There is limited structural empowerment, which refers to institutional strategies supporting shared governance and information sharing (1). RNs feel that leaders do not prioritize clinical advancement and support creativity and ideas at the bedside. They are not empowered to develop and disseminate impactful, innovative solutions that could lead to quality care. Leadership Accountability Another key communication risk in this practice setting is error reporting to managers, patients, and families. Self-reporting often attracts disciplinary actions, which forces nurses to conceal near misses or medication errors. System vulnerabilities are a barrier to accountable reporting and can potentially harm patient safety and clinical outcomes (2). The practice environment must promote non-punitive self-reporting of errors to mitigate their effects. The greatest communication challenge in this respect is that the definition of errors and near-miss events are unstandardized, and changes to improve safety are not provided after an incident. Interdisciplinary team meetings to review safety or communication lapses are rare in this setting. Safety huddles, which are brief sessions (10-15 minutes) or safety briefings held by health care teams to assess safety issues each day (3). In my opinion, such briefings can help nurses share key information and identify concerns that will then be escalated to hospital leaders for further action. Since safety huddles are lacking, poor error reporting and dysfunctional teams hamper care at the unit. The quality committee found blaming and limited collaboration as the key risks affecting optimal patient care and outcomes. Professional Obligation and Accountability Relevant laws and codes support mandatory reporting of medication errors. The American Nurses Association [ANA] prescribes principles for electronic health record documentation (concise, accessible, and readable), training of nurses in reporting procedures, and using standardized terminologies (4). The goal is to enhance professional communication and accountability within teams and individuals involved in quality and regulation. ANA’s ninth Standard of Practice requires RNs to communicate effectively as a professional competency. Specific laws cover the reporting of errors or sentinel events by nurses and physicians. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act promotes confidential disclosure of medical errors to avoid lawsuits (5). Individual states have laws that require adverse events to be communicated to hospital leaders and regulators. An example is Pennsylvania’s Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Act. In my view, nurses have an ethical responsibility to communicate patient safety issues, as concealing them will only exacerbate the problem. They can report such events verbally before preparing a written report. Conclusions and Recommendations The likelihood of miscommunication in the busy intensive care unit is high. In my practice setting, three communication risks are noted: inadequate RN empowerment, a weak error reporting system, and limited safety huddles. They have consequences and implications for patient outcomes – length of stay, hospital-acquired outcomes, and satisfaction. Professional codes and various laws require health professionals to communicate medical errors and issues to hospital managers and regulators for intervention. On this basis, the following two recommendations are made: 1. Provide communication training programs are needed at the unit to promote collaboration. 2. Implement standardized tools and error reporting terminologies to improve information exchange. References Brennan D, Wendt L. Increasing quality and patient outcomes with staff engagement and shared governance. Online J. Issues Nurs; 26(2): 1-10. Eltaybani S, Mohamed N, Abdelwareth M. Nature of nursing errors and their contributing factors in intensive care units. Nurs Crit Care. 2019;24(1): 47-54. Stapley E, Sharples E, Lachman P, Lakhanpaul M, Wolpert M, Deighton J. Factors to consider in the introduction of huddles on clinical wards: Perceptions of staff on the SAFE programme. Int J Qual Health Care. 2018;30(1): 44-49. Urquhart C, Currell R, Grant MJ, Hardiker NR. Nursing record systems: Effects on nursing practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5: 1-12. Vaismoradi M, Tella S, Logan PA, Khakurel J, Vizcaya-Moreno F. Nurses’ adherence to patient safety principles: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Pub Health. 2020;17(6): 1-15. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“The Heart of Darkness” a Novel by Joseph Conrad Essay The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is one of the greatest literary works of the early 20 th century. It discovers many subjects that were important for people of the society of that time. However, in the heart of this novel is theme of imperialism. There were many literary debates around this theme. According to some literary critics, it described only negative sides of imperialism, according to others, it depicted imperialistic positive influence on the society. At any rate, the story truly descries political and economic situation of that time, as well as its moral and ethical principles. The main character of the novel is a young sailor Marlowe who was fascinated by imperialism and was sure in its “perfect nature”. However, when he arrives to Congo, he observes that Congo people are oppressed by European imperialism. Thus, on the one hand, the exploration of Africa gives to a young man a possibility to improve his life, on the other hand, he begins understanding the paradoxes of imperialism while observing how its intrusion affects lives and souls of native people, as well as colonialists. European Imperialism reached its highest point in the 19 th century. The empires of Europe, that extended their influence around the world, were France, Italy, Portugal, Russia, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium and some other countries. In the 19 th century, the European empires controlled South America, Asian countries and Africa. As its mission, the European imperialism had the “civilization” of the world and expansion of the Christianity over the conquered nations through the forced introduction of the European administrative powers and its culture. However, the main purposes of the European imperialism were the boasting of the Industrial Revolution, desire of the ruling nations to extend their territorial boarders, improve economical strength and, of course, political prestige in the world arena. Imperialism, its negative influence and its racist character were one of the major themes of the world literature in the early 20 th century. Such writers as Milton and his Paradise Lost , Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels , Orwell’s Burmese Days and many other writers criticized cultural context of imperialism, its racism and anti-social character. However, some historians assume that it has not only negative influence, but some positive effect for the development of conquered countries. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is one of the most criticized literary works of the first part of the 20th century. It provoked much debates on the essence of imperialism, racism and European colonization of the world. Some critiques find this novel to propaganda imperialism and others see the text of The Heart of Darkness as extremely anti-imperialistic work. Thus, we can come to a conclusion that The Heart of Darkness is a media between pro-imperialism position of the author and a sharp criticism of the process and its methods. Analyzing the characters of the novel, in particular its main character Marlowe, we can come to a conclusion that Conrad did not criticized the imperialism itself, but he expressed his accusation of the way in which the expansion of imperialism was performed. The Europeans arrived to Congo with one aim to introduce their way of live to the natives. However, during his trip, Marlowe saw and described a terrible situation on which native people had to live, he described the inequality, unfaithful treatment, exploitation, terrible medical support for natives who worked for ruling class. The main character of the novel questions himself why those cannibals did not attack the conquerors as such treatment could only “sharpen the situation” and develop great hate towards the Europeans, “Why in the name of all gnawing devils of hunger they didn’t go for us – they were thirty to five – and have a good tuck in for once, amazes me now when I think of it” (Conrad 112). However, having analyzed the situation, Marlowe suggest the reason why the natives did not rebel, “I saw that something restraining, one of those human secrets that baffle probability, had come into play here” (Conrad 112). Thus, the act of subdue is the evidence of the situation that Marlowe saw in Africa. The ideal core of imperialism was to introduce the economical and cultural improvement to the country. However, the Belgian imperialism, as it described in the novel, had not even a project for the improvement of people’s lives or the country. The only aim was to exploit the natives and reap the benefits from it. When Marlowe sees the situation, he calls South Africa “one of the dark places on earth” (Conrad 8) as for natives as for European people. A quest of an easy profit is the only thing that governs the hearts of those who came to Africa with the aim to “civilize” cannibals and improve their lives. Thus, the narrator discusses the benefits and drawbacks of the empire building and human’s nature that constantly seeking to conquer the world and gain profits regardless possible negative consequences for other people. Thus, The Heart of Darkness is a great novel that depicted the realities of the Imperialistic times. It shows how the process of Imperialism affected societies of both conquered nation and imperialists. However, we cannot say that imperialism had an entirely negative influence on both societies, there were some positives sides of it. But, regardless of all “benefits of imperialism”, the author focused his attention on drawbacks that accompanied the process of imperialism. Works Cited Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness . Plain Label Books, 1975. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Chapter 6 of “Philosophy of Religion” by Rowe Essay (Critical Writing) Each chapter of the book Philosophy of Religion by Rowe is an attempt to explain people’s decisions either to believe in God or not. Some people consider the role of God through the prism of the Church, as a part of a prophecy life, or an example of a miracle that cannot be ignored. During this week, Chapter 6, “Faith and Reason”, has to be analyzed to contribute to the discussion of theism and atheism and clarify the connection between faith (religious beliefs) and reasons. In the chapter under evaluation, the author introduced several perspectives, definitions, and principles according to which religion and knowledge are combined. On the one hand, there is an idea that religious beliefs must be judged in the court of reason (Rowe, 2007). On the other hand, religious beliefs can be discussed in the court of reason only if there is enough evidence to support it (Rowe, 2007). Being the developer of a variety of statements, Rowe (2007) tried to criticize both of them in order to find out the truth that can be applicable to modern society. He underlined the importance of evidence that is the root of knowledge and personal opinion. This approach proved that faith is something that is not free (dependent on evidence) and free (dependent on people’s evaluations). Aquinas’, Clifford’s, and James’ studies were evaluated to explain that faith needs reasons as a guide. After reading this chapter, I would like to conclude that the role of faith is as important as the role of reason. Religious beliefs vary, and people are free to use faith as an attempt to prove that something can exist without evidence or reason as the knowledge to justify their choices. There are always some facts that can be rational without arguments. Still, if a person wants to discover some logic, religion should not prevent such an intention. Reference Rowe, W. L. (2007). Philosophy of religion: An introduction (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Women’s Identity Development in Educational Leadership Research Paper Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. The Text’s Theoretical Arguments and Concepts 3. The Relationship between the Text’s Argument and Concepts 4. Critique of the Text’s Arguments 5. Summary of the Text Arguments and Importance 6. Summative Evaluation of the Text 7. References Introduction In this text, the author, Barbara Curry, examines the leadership traits of women who have taken up leadership roles and the challenges they face in their ascendancy to leadership positions. Through a dynamic approach, the book analyses the sociological, philosophical and psychological factors that define women leaders and the aspects of effective leadership. This paper explores female leadership traits and cultural and social contexts that promote women’s ascendancy to power by reviewing, critiquing and evaluating the key concepts in Curry’s text and other literature on women’s leadership. The Text’s Theoretical Arguments and Concepts Through a brief account of the journeys of eight women leaders, Curry (2000) first analyses the theories of leadership and management including leadership style, trait, team, contingency, and situational. She then examines the environmental factors that foster leadership development. This forms the theoretical framework for her argument that ascend to leadership positions is a personal journey, not a change process as described by earlier theories. Curry (2000) notes that personal beliefs, commitments, and values change during personal journeys from childhood to adulthood; past personal experiences define the present leader’s persona (Regan, &Brooks, 1995). Curry (2000) supports this argument by sharing the developmental journeys of eight female leaders, who were administrators of universities, colleges and government offices. The Relationship between the Text’s Argument and Concepts In this text, the author charts a new course for female leadership by demonstrating the relationships between her main argument and key leadership concepts. She criticizes traditional conceptions and theories of examining leadership as a product of trait, style and teams and provides a new perspective; leadership development as an adaptive process closely related to personal development from childhood to adulthood and maturation. By providing selected success stories of women in leadership, Curry (2000) also links leader persona in women leaders with philosophical and sociological perspectives of these leaders. She dismisses mythical conceptions surrounding women’s leadership and portrays leadership as an interdisciplinary and holistic concept determined by behavior and emotional intelligence (Fletcher, 2001). From the stories of the eight women, Curry (2000) identifies transcendent themes and connects them to the leader persona. She shows that personal experiences enable each person to develop his or her leadership persona and foster authentic leadership. Critique of the Text’s Arguments In the text, the author’s dynamic approach serves to bridge the gap between theory and proactive intervention to foster women’s leadership development. She demonstrates that through an enabling environment that fosters leadership persona, women can easily ascend to leadership roles. In this regard, in the digital age, more women can assume leadership roles in the current business structures if responsibilities and career opportunities are flexible and fair (Helgesen, 1995). By drawing from the eight women’s leaders’ personal journeys, Curry (2000) shows that personal experiences play a role in identity achievement. Identity achievement is a crucial concept towards understanding women’s perceptions of leadership and authentic leadership (Zichy, 2000). Thus, the text contributes greatly to theory development and provides a framework for encouraging and training future women leaders. Summary of the Text Arguments and Importance Curry (2000) uses personal life journeys of eight female leaders to analyze the environmental factors and personality traits that foster leadership development. She also analyses the sociological, philosophical, and psychological constructs of women leaders and the development of leader personality. In this way, she portrays leadership as a process that goes hand in hand with adult development. Her approach is important for institutions that aim to encourage women employees to seek leadership positions. Summative Evaluation of the Text The text is a good read, particularly for students and employees. The personal journeys of the women in high administrative positions can inspire and motivate women to seek leadership roles. Also, the relationship between personal journeys and the development of leadership persona provides a new perspective of examining leadership that goes beyond the traditional approach. References Curry, B. (2000). Woman in power: pathway to leadership in education . New York, NY: Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Fletcher, K. (2001). Disappearing Acts: Gender, Power, and Relational Practice at Work . New York: MIT Press. Helgesen, S. (1995). The Female Advantage: Women’s Ways of Leadership. New York: Doubleday Currency. Regan, B., & Brooks, G. (1995). Out of Women’s Experience: Creating Relational Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin . Zichy, S. (2000). Women and the Leadership Q: Revealing the Four Paths to Influence And Power. London: McGraw-Hill. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Cloud computing in supply chain management Essay Cloud computing is one of the advancements, which have significantly transformed the manner in which several companies manage and access information within and outside the firm. In general, this technology allows an organization to access its information technology services like, applications and infrastructure through the internet. For this reason, companies adapt to ever-changing business environment and create better opportunities by opening up the market. Massive use of internet technologies is considered as one of the reasons why most firms find it easier to use cloud computing in supply chain management (Kefer 2012). Additionally, companies prefer using cloud computing because it offers opportunities to market new products with a lot of ease. In fact, it is believed that most supply chains have been put under pressure because of the pace at which most products and services are being introduced. It is important to underscore the fact that there are several ways through which cloud computing works in supply relationship management. These can be understood by focusing on how LyondellBasell has successfully incorporated the technology in its daily operations. The company specializes in plastics and chemicals, and sells its products in more than one hundred countries around the world (Kefer 2012). LyondellBasell uses cloud computing to manage its supply management relationship because of the involvement of multiple organizations, which have to access unique information, depending on the products being channeled to consumers. In essence, this technology allows a firm to develop a platform, which promotes the company’s visibility and control of crucial elements. Consequently, LyondellBasell is able to oversee international logistics and has opened the tender process by attracting an array of partners. The main reason why several companies are investing in cloud computing is based on the overall implications of the technology. It has been found out that “icloud” has a wide range of benefits in the management of a company and its suppliers. Firstly, it augments a company’s visibility within the market. This is essential in cases where supply chain reliability and agility are needed due to expansion. In most cases, cloud computing ensures that there is a single source of trusted information needed by partners. It also gives updated information, regarding real-time delivery of products, to allow monitoring during their supply. This ensures that delivery-delays are eliminated, thus improving customer service and loyalty, coupled with proper management of expectations. In addition, cloud computing allows effective marketing of new products and services in the market. This is made possible through instant access of information by independent organizations and partners, within the entire market. It also enhances large-scale transformation, since icloud-based supply chain solutions have the potential of promoting business competition (Reddy 2011, p. 7151). Despite the fact that cloud computing has an array of advantages, there are several challenges faced by companies, which have adopted this technology. Like in most cases, massive use of the internet exposes products and the company’s data to cyber threats. Without proper protection, companies are likely to lose customers, data and products, which may have serious implications. Based on these, companies are forced to invest in protective cloud infrastructure to promote the security of business transactions (Gold 2012, p. 24). With regard to supply chain, companies are faced with the challenge of remaining flexible and predictable in the business market. This is essential in promoting the relationship between the company and its suppliers. Reference List Gold, J 2012, ‘Protection in the cloud: risk Management and insurance for Cloud computing’, Journal of Internet Law , vol. 15 no. 12, pp. 23-28. Kefer, G 2012, Three Ways Cloud Computing Can Improve Supply Chain Operations for the Chemical Industry . Web. Reddy, K 2011, ‘Security Architecture of Cloud Computing’, International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology , vol. 3 no. 9, pp. 7149-7155. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Erosion and Deposition Essay Introduction Different landscapes, like plateaus, plains and mountains, arise as a result of different processes. They include glaciations, wind, weathering, erosion and deposition. Erosion and deposition have been termed as one of the major forces behind landscape types. Erosion usually occurs after weathering. Weathering is the process where rocks are exposed to water and air thereby altering their physical and chemical characteristics. They are broken down into sediments which are carried by erosion and later deposited elsewhere. Erosion Erosion refers to the transportation of sediments (pebbles, sand, colloids and silt) from one location to another. These sediments are transported once the rock material has been weathered. Agents of erosion include water, wind, waves, gravity and glaciers. The major driving agent leading to erosion is gravity. Gravity is a force that moves sediments from one place to another, usually downhill and is enhanced by gradient and stream velocity (Waugh 49). There are human activities which affect erosion including deforestation, forest fires, construction activities and farming methods (Hobbs 39). Types and effects of erosion Water erosion is one of the major types of erosion. It can be depicted as a runoff where water moves over the surface, depending on how flat the land is, type of vegetation and type of soil. River erosion occurs when the water carries sediments which chip the riverbed making it deeper. Features arising from river erosion include flood-plains, where erosion widens a valley rather than deepening it, ox- bow lakes, which refers to bends that have been cut off from the main rivers as a result of finding a new route and meanders where a river winds while eroding the outer bank and depositing in the inner bank of a bend making them more curved. Other features formed include waterfalls and rapids. Wave erosion causes land forms ranging from headlands, sea caves, archs and stacks which form pillars of rock rising above water (Patherniades 59). Deposition Once erosion has occurred, sediments are deposited elsewhere. Agents of erosion deposit sediments which lead to changes in landscapes. Types and effects of deposition Deposition can occur as a result of wind where sediments are picked and transported by wind. Land features formed include sand dunes. Sand dunes are formed depending on direction of the wind. Glacial deposition occurs when glaciers melt and deposit sediments. Erosion by glaciers leads to formation of glacial lakes, cirques (which are depressions formed when ice cuts back into walls of mountains), hanging valleys and others. Deposits by waves lead to formation of beaches, sandbars and spits. Wave deposition causes features ranging from tombolos (spits connecting mainlands to islands), beaches and spits (which are an extended stretch of the beach that project out to the ocean). Deposition by rivers leads to various land forms. They include deltas which refer to a flat piece of land created as a result of continued buildup and settling of sediments deposited by a river as it enters a lake, ocean or sea. Other features include flood plains and alluvial fans. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that deposition and erosion are major contributors towards the structure of landscapes. Tectonic settings and prevailing climate equally affects evolution of land forms. Erosion should be distinguished from weathering since erosion is the moving element while deposition implies ‘settling down’ of particles or sedimentation. Works Cited Hobbs, Joseph . World Regional Geography . USA: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print Patherniades, Emmanuel. Cohesive Sediments in Open Channels: Properties, Transport and Applications . United Kingdom: Elsevier Inc, 2009. Print. Waugh, David. Geography: An Integrated Approach . United Kingdom: Nelson Thornes Ltd, 2000. Print | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The artist is Dutch and he was born in 1593 or 1594 and died in 1657. The artwork is located in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (Art of Europe: Gallery 244). The painting is 35 x 55 cm. The medium is oil on panel. As the title of the work suggests this is still life. The artist is famous for his still life paintings that were very remarkable due to a combination of motion and immobility. This work of art was created during the Golden Age of Dutch Art. In fact, this is an exemplary work that represents the period. This period was characterized by realism and special attention to natural things. Thus, still, life paintings were common for that period. It is necessary to add that artists tried to convey real life as it was, which was very different from the Baroque style that prevailed earlier. The artwork in question also shows life as it is. The artist uses bright colors to depict fruit, shells, and insects. The background is grey. Notably, the artist uses different shades of grey to emphasize some parts of the painting. Balthasar Van Der Ast uses bright red, blue, and yellow to depict the fruit. Apples, peaches, and plums prevail in the painting. It is noteworthy that the artist adds leaves to his still life. These are leaves of a branch of a plum tree. The leaves are green with greyish and yellowish tinges. They are a very good background for the fruit. The branch is located at the top of the painting. Shells are depicted with the help of milder colors. Thus, beige prevails here. There are also a couple of flowers at the bottom of the painting. Interestingly apart from fruit, shells, and flowers, the artist depicts butterflies, flies, a dragonfly and even a lizard in his still life. They are depicted in darkish colors. Brush strokes are very deliberate and the painting is very realistic. The painting is also very symmetric. Thus, the fruit is depicted in the middle of the painting, leaves and flowers are revealed at the top and bottom of the work providing a frame for fruit. It is necessary to note that apart from artistic value, the painting encloses certain meaning. In the first place, it is necessary to state that at that time depiction of shells was a norm. As has been mentioned above, artists tried to reveal life as it was. Shells are a very good example of the diversity of life. Thus, peculiar forms and colors of shells have always fascinated people. Hence, Balthasar Van Der Ast was also enchanted by shells and their forms. This is why he depicted them in his still life paintings. It is also remarkable that the artist is very precise when depicting fruit. Clearly, the artist can choose the best, the freshest and most attractive fruit. However, he deliberately uses apples with spots. He wants to stress that it is natural and he is depicting natural objects. The spots can also stand for decay and symbolize death and immobility. The still life painting focuses on immobility and can also be a symbol of death as there is no motion in these pictures. Life is also rather absent as flowers depicted are about to die and fade, the fruit has also been torn so they are almost dead as well. Shells are also dead and there is no life in them. However, the artist breaks the major rule of still life paintings as he adds life to them. The insects and the lizard depicted are representatives of life itself. They are also in motion and they add life to the painting. The painting seems to be a window showing a table with fruit and insects attracted by the smell and color. When looking at the picture, the viewer feels like he/she is about to smell the fruit or flowers depicted. In conclusion, it is possible to state that Balthasar Van Der Ast’s Still Life with Fruit and Shells is a remarkable illustration of the Dutch art of the Golden Age. Dutch painters tried to reveal nature as it was. Balthasar Van Der Ast went further and made his still life painting very realistic as he added motion to the painting that should represent immobility. The artists managed to juxtapose death and life, motion and immobility. The painting shows that the natural world is a combination of death and life. The artist shows that it is natural to think of death and life as they are a part of people’s life. The natural cycle should be acknowledged and accepted. The artist makes people see beauty in everything (life, death, motion, immobility, and even decay). One of the peculiarities of the painting is its realism as it seems that everything is happening behind a window, and the butterflies or flies can easily fly out of the painting. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“The Monster” Story Analysis Term Paper Introduction “The monster” is one of the controversial stories contained in the anthology, “The Norton Introduction to Literature,” especially in its character development and analysis of roles assigned to each of the characters. One of the motifs that have been emphasized in the text is identical. The paper attempts to analyze the theme of identity in Toby’s work, ‘The Monster.’ Toby has tried to engage the reader into imagining the features of the characters in the story by omitting some significant explanations. One of the issues omitted is the gender of the character featured in the text. Secondly, the writer makes it ambiguous on the true nature of the monster, leaving the reader with options on whether the character featured is a human being or an animal. The writer leaves the reader with expectations and suspense on the identity of the featured character. It seems like the writer makes the omissions to emphasize the uniqueness of the monster and the exaggerated features in the monsters. “The monster” story The identity of the character is not clear, and although the writer tries to engage the reader into understanding the uniqueness of the featured characters, there is still some aspect of ambiguity, which makes the story intriguing and full of suspense. Since the story focuses on character development, the writer leaves the reader to make different assumptions on the character in order to understand and engage with the plot. The motif of identity is also evident as the character tries to engage in different activities. Instead of overcoming the identity barrier, the character encounters a different obstacle each time it undergoes self-exploration. The writer thus engages the reader into the activities and identity of the monster by creating suspense and making the character understand that its identity is still unknown. Despite the writer trying to make the monster’s features elaborate, there is some degree of ambiguity, making the reader rethink its gender and social class. Toby successfully models a character, which is applicable in different scenarios, depending on the interpretations of the reader. The story is based on self-actualization and finding oneself by analyzing character, behavior, gender, and cultural issues. According to the writer, identity is a significant aspect of any individual’s behavior since it dictates and helps to model character and ability to engage with normal social and cultural activities. The aspect of the monster getting a different object when trying to understand its true nature shows that life is full of obstacles that can limit an individual’s potential to understand his or her identity. The writer makes it certain that an individual’s identity can be hard to realize, especially if one is not committed to undergo through self-actualization and self-exploration. Character evaluation makes it easier for an individual to understand the self, and the story makes the concept obvious through the characterization of the monster. Toby, therefore, understands the complexities surrounding self-actualization and uses special characters, representing either humans or animals. Similarly, the writer explores the challenges in exploring one’s identity. Conclusion The story, therefore, explores the challenges, hurdles, and processes through which individual encounters in search of his or her identity. The monster, therefore, symbolically signifies the ambiguity in human character and behavior, and in its ambiguity, the writer introduces some experiences that are applicable in a real-life situation. The writer is descriptive and analytic in his representation of ideas and in the analysis of human character as defined by one’s identity. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Though most teams dwell a considerable amount of thought in the art and design of issues, factors such as comfort and price should be given enough for thought. Are the shoes big or heavy? Do they have enough padding and support? Etc are some of the main questions that must be attended to before finally zeroing down on one. The average price of cheerleading shoes varies from $50 to $60. One should thus, consider if it falls within their price range. Are they sturdy enough to last them a year at least. Ergo, plenty of time can be taken to select the best shoe on the block in the process. The quality, sport and construction of the shoe can make a huge difference between a sprained ankle and safety conscious cheering. Even then, if one’s unsure of what to wear and how to go about it, advice may be sought from the school’s physician or advisor or representatives from various companies. For instance a team that is meant to perform partner stunts and pyramids will have to select a show that will be different from a team that never has to perform any of these aforementioned functions. However canvas shoes that offer no support are a big no for cheerleaders. The risk is too dangerous to be taken up. Nonetheless cheerleading shoes should always be light and flexible. Most cheerleading shoes are available in the market with color cards. There are various kinds and brands of cheerleading shoes available in the market. Hanes Sport is one of the most renowned cheerleading shoes available in the market. Its light weightiness and excellent quality at an affordable price makes it one of the most attractive cheerleading brands around which certainly seem irresistible to most customers. If you have never tried a Hanes Sport shoe before, then this could certainly prove to be a bargain worth the price due to its quality, price and attractiveness. One of the leaders of the market; Converse which is available in different types such as Converse kick out, converse dismount and converse chant which are all available at extreme prices. Features such as the Molded EVA midsole allow the cheerleader optimum cushioning and flexibility. The other support features such as the Leather/synthetic upper makes the break in easier and the support system easier as well. Another feather in the cap of this brand is the superior traction for all surfaces. The Antimicrobial treatment for the sock liner creates better sanitary preventive measures. The different adult sizes and colors have made this brand one of the most heavily demanded shoes of today. The fact that it’s available on such low prices makes it all the more irresistible for all those who swear by this brand. Another customer favorite; Power is available at some of the lowest prices and its wide range from Maximum edge, freedom, edge, excel all make it a must buy for any cheerleader today due to its super light weight, durability, synthetic leather, enhanced hand grip, stability etc. As far as the prices are concerned, power freedom has by far been the cheapest. It is offered at $19.4 while most other cheerleading shoes are offered at $34. Nike, Adidas and Infinity all offer their shoes in the range from $50 to $40. Ergo, the best bet could be power for its cheap costs and high flexibility. Hence, all shoes are certainly worth one’s money and the quick delivery time makes it all that more appealing. So, what is stopping you from hollering your way to the nearest store? | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Teaching and Testing the English Vocabulary Exploratory Essay ESL is the acronym for English as the Second Language. It is usually a program that helps foreigners in English speaking countries to learn the language in a systematic way. The students are typically learning the basics of the language so that they can have confidence in their accomplishments career wise. They also learn some cultural attributes of the country so that they acquaint themselves with the basic information (García Mayo and Garcia Lecumberri, 2003). Speaking a second or foreign language is usually a daunting task, but it makes one appreciate other people’s style. There are primary schools that have such programs to enable the non-citizens to get used to the English language and be able to adapt quickly to the new system. Other countries that do not speak English can also have an arrangement to aid citizens who wish to learn the language in preparation for international engagements (Mohan, Leung and Davison, 2001). Students would have to learn the English alphabet and some nouns. Vowels are also important because they help form a word and or a sentence. They have to learn how to pronounce letters, words and read short sentences as beginners. Some assignments would also help them to test their memory. The teacher can also be asking each student to read some words and phrases loudly in class as others listen. The students would also need visual charts on the walls of the classroom. The charts would support the students’ learning skills. When the students enter their classrooms they can have some visual reminders (Copper, 2002). The teacher in charge would have to keep up with the recap of previous lessons. The English grammar has idioms, vocabulary, phrasal verbs, adjectives, and among other complex tools that make the language and or the subject very attractive. It is also one of the widest spoken languages in the world (Shastri, 2010). Teaching vocabularies is also one very difficult but exciting task. One needs to prepare some vocabulary words at a time. It may not be easy for the young minds to grasp many things at once. The teacher can introduce the words one by one in each class session (Hugo, 2009). There are normally classes for beginners, intermediate, and advanced level students. The more the student advances from one level to the next the more difficult the words that the teacher introduces. Learners appreciate gradual development of the language aids because it helps in their improvement of the language. Some learning institutions have installed modern technology in their primary level classrooms. One may find computers, laptops and accessibility to the internet. Students in such institutions could even have online teaching aids. They can quickly log in and recap on what they have learned in class or even advance ahead of the class by learning more helpful tips to the language knowledge (BavaHarji, Letchumanan and Bhar, 2014). The class assignments would help the teacher know how well the students understand their lessons. The tutor can prepare those assignments after every lesson, weekly and monthly. The teacher can also give homework for the students to have some busy learning time at home (Abbasnasab Sardareh and Rashid Mohd Saad, 2013). At the end of every term, the teacher and the learning institution can also arrange to have end term exams. The results of the marking of those exams can help make a judgment on the learning experiences of the students. The teacher can then know what to revise and begin with for the next term. It is not an easy task for teachers. It requires patience, commitment, and sacrifice. But after the classes are over, the effort brings out positive results. The students have to know how to communicate using the English vocabulary. References Abbasnasab Sardareh, S. and Rashid Mohd Saad, M. (2013). Malaysian Primary School ESL Teachers’ Questions during Assessment for Learning. English Language Teaching , 6(8). BavaHarji, M., Letchumanan, K. and Bhar, S. (2014). Feasibility of Building Bridges Between School and Homes in Developing ESL Literacy: The SPIRE Project. English Language Teaching , 7(9). Copper, L. (2002). Cross-cultural preference of visual information in primary school ESL children. Proc. Am. Soc. Info. Sci. Tech. , 39(1), pp.359-364. García Mayo, M. and Garcia Lecumberri, M. (2003). Age and the acquisition of English as a foreign language . Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Hugo, A. (2009). Primary school teachers’ opinions of their ESL learners’ language abilities. J. Lang. Teach. , 42(2). Mohan, B., Leung, C. and Davison, C. (2001). English as a second language in the mainstream . Harlow, England: Longman. Shastri, P. (2010). Communicative approach to the teaching of English as a second language . Mumbai: Himalaya Pub. House. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Man-Made Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Essay The introduction The major contributors to the release of greenhouse gases One of the main contributors to the release of greenhouse gases is considered to be industry. Increased emissions of greenhouse gases cause greenhouse effect. This effect is mostly known as global warming. Nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates, hydrocarbons, and sulfur oxide are the main greenhouse gases, which lead to negative environmental effects. Carbon dioxide, which traps heat, is often called a man-made greenhouse gas. Despite the fact that numerous factories are responsible for carbon dioxide emissions, one is to keep in mind that there is a small percentage of CO2, which humans are responsible for; although, on the other hand, even a small percentage of the so-called man-made carbon dioxide aggravates the situation and alters the balance. “Fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, while important sources of energy and revenue worldwide, have been identified as major contributors of man-made greenhouse gases” (“The Greenhouse Effect,” n. d.). The thesis statement Man-made emissions of greenhouse gases are mostly related to the burning of fossil fuels. Industry and the transport sector are considered to be the principal contributors to greenhouse gases’ release; so, an anthropogenic factor impacts on greenhouse effect, because it changes the balance. The body Underdeveloped countries’ emissions of greenhouse gases vs. developed nations’ emissions Canada’s contribution to the greenhouse effect is considered to be one of the highest in the world, as Canada’s carbon dioxide emissions are equal to 2%. As far as Alberta’s fossil fuel industry is one of the largest in the world, one can conclude that it is one of the major manufacturers of various greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. The transport sector cannot be neglected, as it can be regarded as the biggest source of energy-related emissions. Thus, in our days, emissions of greenhouse gases in underdeveloped countries seem to be lower in comparison with developed ones. However, the situation will be changed in the nearest future. “Developing countries’ emissions are expected to grow above the world average at 2.7 percent annually between 2001 and 2025; and surpass emissions of industrialized countries near 2018” (“What is the Prospect for Future Emissions,” 2003). As far as man-made greenhouse gases emissions are mostly related to the consumption of energy in the form of fossil fuel combustion, the USA is recognized to be the major contributor to anthropogenic emissions. While speaking about other countries, it is necessary to highlight some important data of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. According to EIA, non-OECD countries consume more energy than OECD nations. Keeping in mind the period from 2008, it becomes evident that non-OECD nations use much more energy than countries, which are the members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, because of the global recession. Furthermore, inflation pressures underdeveloped nations experience cannot be ignored. It should be pointed out that even the countries with advanced economies experience tough times, and for this reason, the process of economic recovery seems to be rather slow. Financial turbulence of underdeveloped nations can be regarded as the key reason of non-OECD nations’ irrational energy use. OECD Non-OECD Total 1990 198,6 155,1 353,7 2000 234,5 171,5 406,0 2008 244,3 260,5 504,7 2015 250,4 323,1 573,5 2020 260,6 358,9 619,5 2025 269,8 401,7 671,5 2030 278,7 442,8 721,5 2035 288,2 481,6 769,8 (“International Energy Outlook 2011,” 2011). The conclusion Underdeveloped nations seem to be more responsible for the release of greenhouse gases in comparison with developed countries. Taking into account the fact that the economy of non-OECD nations is developing, one can probably notice that the situation is aggravated with the global recession. References International Energy Outlook 2011. (2011). Eia.gov. The Greenhouse Effect . (n. d.). Unl.edu. What is the Prospect for Future Emissions . (2003). Eia.gov. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Research Paper When seeking help from a medical organization, a person is faced with medical marketing, which means marketing services in the healthcare sector. Hence, it is logical to compare with the familiar to all the fields of marketing in the market of goods and services that can be imposed or are necessary for the acquisition. Consumer buying behavior may be comparable to that of a healthcare consumer; however, consumer-driven healthcare works differently. My cousin’s experience with a dermatologist can be described as an example of getting medical care. Teenage skin problems occur in many at this age and, in most cases, go away on their own. My sister did not want to wait; she needed to solve the problem right now. Analyzing the situation, there was no immediate need to seek help; skin problems did not threaten her health, so this can be defined as a discretionary purchase. This acquisition was at the sole discretion of the teenager after the decision was weighed and discussed several times with parents and loved ones. Due to her age, her decisions were influenced by the environment, public opinion, social networks, marketing moves that showed perfect skin in advertisements. As a result, being the primary consumer, she decided to consult with a specialist. A consultation with a doctor is not the same as going to the hair salon or to a car service in terms of its consequences for the patient. After all, the problem with which a person turns to a specialist often affects the quality of his life (Kreuzer et al., 2020). Therefore, its solution, including medical materials, personnel manipulation, laboratory work, and specialized equipment, has a relative value. Healthcare consumers are different from other consumers when making purchasing decisions. To choose the best option, for example, a TV, the buyer turns to three indicators that help him make a fairly objective decision: price, quality, and desire. The relationship between price and quality is usually seen when choosing a TV; the higher the price, the better the product (SNHU A11y Remediated Videos, 2021). When choosing a therapist, the cost of a visit may be the same. However, the assistance that this or that doctor will provide may differ, even though there may be a person’s life on the line. The product’s quality can be determined for an ordinary customer by various characteristics compared by analyzing information. The choice of a surgeon is far from an obvious process for a patient. A wrong impression of a person’s personality may be formed, although only experience and qualifications are important, which are difficult to judge at the first meeting. The desire to buy a product or receive a service is natural and understandable while seeing a doctor is often forced. This experience helps to look from the outside and critically analyze the consumers’ behavior of medical services, taking into account medical marketing. The choice of a clinic or an individual specialist must be approached with more responsibility than the choice of any product, which people sometimes neglect. Consumer behavior here may depend on the fact that a person often feels nervousness or fear for his health, trusting it to another, so his decisions can be more easily influenced. Most patients are limited in information and have to completely trust their doctor, taking the prescribed treatment and following the recommendations. References Kreuzer, M., Cado, V., & Raïes, K. (2020). Moments of care: How interpersonal interactions contribute to luxury experiences of healthcare consumers. Journal of Business Research, 116 , 482-490. SNHU A11y Remediated Videos. ( 2021). HCM-325 Why Don’t Patients Behave Like Consumers (CC). [Video]. YouTube. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Parenting Styles and Overweight Status Essay Parenting style is a trait of the parent that is consistent over time, constituting the child-rearing and socialization atmosphere and emotional background. It provides a context against which children can perceive specific behaviors of parenting. According to Rhee et al. (2006), there are four basic parenting styles. These include Authoritative style, Authoritarian style, Permissive style, and Neglectful style. The style of parenting may have a more significant impact than selected parenting practices. Notably, that influences a child’s everyday activities, actions, emotional functioning, and ultimate overweight risk. Based on the description of the four parenting styles, I agree with the Authoritative parenting style the most. In the Authoritative parenting style, the parents have a high demand for self-control and maturity from their children. The Authoritative parenting style exhibits high sensitivity levels with a prevalent involvement and emotional warmth toward the children. Through the give and take between the child and the parent, the child’s opinions and worth are acknowledged by the parent while maintaining viable limits. It is thus considered to be ideal due to the much improvement in the child’s outcome. The authoritarian parenting style has a strict disciplinarian and a high expectation of the child’s self-control from the parent but a low sensitivity. However, the Authoritarian parenting style does not necessarily involve clear boundaries between the child and the parent. On the other hand, Permissive parenting features low expectations from the parents on the child’s discipline and self-control in a setting with a high degree of warmth and high sensitivity. In most cases, children subjected to Permissive parenting have more self-confidence but with low self-control levels than those raised under the Authoritative parenting style. In Neglectful parenting, the sensitivity and demands on the child’s self-control are extremely low. Children under Neglectful parenting usually have high depression levels and are highly involved in drug and substance abuse leading to poor performance and psychosocial development. Reference Rhee, K. E., Lumeng, J. C., Appugliese, D. P., Kaciroti, N., & Bradley, R. H. (2006). Parenting styles and overweight status in first grade. Pediatrics , 117 (6), 2047-2054. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Opera as a Popular Musical Form Coursework The word ‘opera’ stems from the Latin word ‘opus’ and suggests the combination of the many art forms that fuse together to create an opera presentation. Opera has prospered all over the world as a medium of communication involving a complete variety of human sentiments. I have gauged from my experiences and literary knowledge that the fundamental nature of the ‘opera buffa’ is to present mockery, parody, and sarcasm, collectively with flashes of earnestness and genuine human sentiments. The English form of the ‘ballad opera’, Spanish form or the ‘zarzuela’ and the Viennese or the ‘operetta’, all aided the establishment of the opera as a form of entertainment which continues to enjoy immense recognition all over the globe. Today, composers like John Adams, Philip Glass, and John Corigliano are immensely successful globally and are responsible for the inculcation of fresh verve into the art form which is in the continuous process of evolution even today. The ‘Opera buffa’, which employs simplicity in design, is the humorous or satirical genre, developed towards the end of the eighteenth century and portrays realistically the everyday life of humans. An important feature is the ‘Patter songs’ or the tongue twisters like: “She sells seashells at the seashore,” or “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” This genre was skillfully used by Mozart to reveal the varying social and political upheavals of the eighteenth century. ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ (1786) by Mozart is considered to be one of the greatest opera buffas and is a humorous depiction of the political and social conflicts subsisting in his existing culture. Theater, to which music was added for enhancement of effective portrayal of emotions on the stage, has been in existence for hundreds of years, entertaining people with operas long before the invention of television and radio. Operas are thus a very special form of art reflecting deepest human emotions, and effectively merge drama and music to create the eternal art enjoyed all over the world these days. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Economic Change Impacts on the Future of Arts Essay (Critical Writing) Visual arts “have declined within the past 40 years” (Paglia 1). The world of art has not received any great painting or sculpture in the recent past. Our world lacks creative sculptors and painters. Our universities have become the patrons of creative arts. Many faculties in these universities support different works of art (Paglia 2). Such universities equip learners with new skills and competencies in order to become professional artists. Many students have embraced such ideas in order to achieve their goals. Such learners have worked hard to become professional artists. Many faculties have equipped their students with competencies to become professional architects and planners. The field of architecture continues to produce magnificent buildings, structures, and landscapes. A good example is the London Aquatic Center. Zaha Hadid designed and produced this architectural structure. Our universities are also supporting flexibility and dynamism. Many students have also become competent artists. According to Corris (10), “such students produce new designs that lack cant and ideology”. Our colleges are focusing on every economical aspect in order to produce competitive works of art. New technological developments and magnificent buildings are surrounding us everywhere. Such works of art have changed our world completely. Many learners are embracing such artworks in order to fulfill their goals (Corris 11). Our colleges possess the necessary resources and mechanisms towards changing the world of art. Our universities should embrace every fine art. Every economic change can affect the future of our fine arts. The important thing is to change this focus in order to produce better paintings and sculptures. The approach will also produce creative artists who can give the world of art a better meaning. The practice will produce great artworks such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”. In conclusion, our economic goals should not determine the future of art. Works Cited Corris, Michael. “The Economy of Art.” Art Monthly 327.1 (2009):9-12. Print. Paglia, Camille. “How Capitalism Can Save Art.” The Wall Street Journal 1.1 (2012): 1-3. Print. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
“Aesthetics in Wilde’s “”The Picture of Dorian Gray””” Report (Assessment) Introduction Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray shows the ruinous journey of a young man, who, grappling with the ideals of aestheticism, takes on a fatal role. The main hero is described as handsome and naïve, at least until he falls under a malign sphere of influence, which absolves him of his wrongdoings. The author makes the “confrontations between art and artist; reality and art; and spectator and art” most important throughout the novel (Scheible 132). A notable cornerstone is individuality (mostly offered through art), which, when sacrificed brings about the ruin of those, unable to protect their integrity. Wilde’s work made such themes of aestheticism most important, shifting away from the Victorian ideal of art as a medium for morality. His novel, still, while pursuing this ideal, portrays an almost Victorian cautionary tale that punishes those that do evil, in the end. One cannot remove the ideals of aestheticism from the subject they occupy, just as the link between portrait and main character shows when the destruction of one leads to the death of the other (Eastham 32). However, according to Wilde’s epigrams to the novel, defending it from claims that painted it as immoral, state that it is art, and hence has no purpose but to be art. The development of the story throughout the novel shows the seeming impossibility of this project, which tries to free itself from Victorian constraints, but entangles itself in the author’s philosophy. The story, as a monument to aestheticism, however, is supportive of the idea of individuality and shows not the Victorian disciplining of evil, but the aesthetic punishment of likelihood (Livesey 267). Society does not punish Dorian Gray for his evildoing, but his lack of restraint punishes him for blindly following the ideas of Lord Henry. Lord Henry: Friend or Foe? The character of Lord Henry Wotton raises many questions about his motives in the story, as while he is an advocate for hedonism, he is comparatively more of a theorist than a practitioner. Nonetheless, he acts as a catalyst for the plot, as he is the person who first talks to Gray about the nature of man, starting the thought process of questioning the essence of humanity (Wilde ch. 2). Preying on the protagonist’s vanity, he instills in him the idea of youthfulness at the very beginning of the book. Likewise, towards the middle of the storyline, he is the one to bestow a book upon Gray that solidifies his downfall, fully introducing him to a new, hedonistic world (Wilde ch. 10). Even stating in chapter 19 that murder is to the lower classes, as art is to the higher, he supports Gray through each moral blunder, steering him towards feeling forgiven each time. The ideas of hedonism corrupt Gray, who, unwilling to resist this influence, even sees in the death of his fiancée no tragedy but an artistically worthwhile turn of events (Wilde ch. 8). Lord Henry himself, at their very first introduction in chapter 2, articulates the idea that “all influence is immoral,” effectively condemning himself (Wilde ch. 2). It is because of him, writes Harrison, “Gray no longer interprets acts as good or evil, but as pleasurable or boring” (11). The influence of Lord Henry is what leads Dorian Gray to his downfall, so Lord Henry, as the catalyst for this must be an enemy to Gray. It is crucial, to discern the role of Lord Henry, to keep in mind the ideals supported by the author, not by Lord Henry himself. Hence, it is feasible that Gray is his own foe, as he cannot resist the power that leads him to his death, and Lord Henry is merely an amused bystander. Works Cited Eastham, Andrew. “Characterless Aesthetics: Pater, Wilde, and the End of Hegelian Hellenism.” Journal of Pre-Raphaelite Studies, vol. 23, 2014, pp. 19-36, Web. Harrison, Colleen Cooper. “Aestheticism in Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.” The Victorian, vol. 4, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1-13, Web. Livesey, Ruth. “Aestheticism.” Oscar Wilde in Context , edited by Kerry Powell and Peter Raby, Cambridge University Press, 2013, pp.261-269. Scheible, Ellen. “Imperialism, Aesthetics, and Gothic Confrontation in the Picture of Dorian Gray.” New Hibernia Review, vol. 18, no. 4, 2014, pp. 131-150. Project Muse, Web. Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. 2008. Project Gutenberg, Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Recently, the company invested $15 billion in the development of its platform for third-party sellers and for promotion through the free delivery day. In regards to equipment and process selection, Amazon decided to invest in improving the sales of third party shops that use this platform. As such, the $15 billion investment targeted different digital tools and delivery processes, which would improve the sales of those third parties. Since Amazon is a digital company, equipment replacement in its case may relate to the introduction of new and more efficient online tools for shops that sell through Amazon. New product or product expansion is associated with the company’s decision to invest in the development of services for small and medium-sized businesses that sell on Amazon. As such, Amazon expended the tools that were already available to sellers, helping them reach their target audience more efficiently. Cost reduction is associated with Amazon’s new inventory management program. As part of this investment, the company provided a Prime free shipping day to its customers, which allowed it to sell some of the inventory and reduce costs associated with maintenance, in accordance with the program’s objectives. Improvement in service or quality, in this case, relates to the investment in the platform for third-party sellers who work with Amazon. Since the latter receives a commission from sales, one can argue that Amazon benefits from an increase in sales for third-party sellers. Thus, the introduction of 225 tools for these small businesses is a significant improvement in quality when viewing Amazon as a platform provider for small online shops. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
The Importance of Becoming an Independent Learner at University Essay University education is unique since student-learning process is partly guided by the academic staff, with most of learning responsibilities lying with the student as an independent learner. Independent learning is described as “autonomous learning, independent study, self-directed learning, student initiated learning, project orientation, discovery and inquiry, teaching for thinking, learning to learn, self instruction and life long learning” (Kesten 1987, p9). Independent learning can also be described as “learning strategy that fosters self-improvement through planned independent study by students under the guidance or supervision of an instructor, can include learning in partnership with another individual or as part of a small group, possible instructional methods used include: reading, viewing, and assigned questions” (Nathenson, 1984). Many scholars have defined independent learning in various ways, thus, independent learning is a concept that has no universally agreed definition. Independent learning has been receiving tremendous interest from governments, industrialists, and academics in the advancement of higher learning education strategies, since it is capable of producing lifelong learners, skilled, and self-motivated people who are pivotal to the future of any nation. All definitions or concepts on independent learning are based on the learner taking control of their studies. Since the university students are adults, they are expected to achieve a balance between learning, work and their other attachments. For successful independent learning, the students must organize their learning through time and resources management, and prioritizing their tasks and structure of their schedule to achieve mutual balance between study and other activities. A departure from dependent learning, independent learning is viewed as a tool that transforms education by enhancing many qualities such as the habits of mind that improve critical, analytical and reflective thinking skills, and also improve and shape students’ personality by enhancing self-reliance, self-confidence, and critical thinking skills (Najoua, et al., n.d). Academic skills and independent learning All academic learning processes are supported by more than one academic skill. Academic skills are mainly composed of reading, writing and study skills, thus, any independent learning should encompass these skills. Therefore, it is important for an independent learner to develop these skills in order to achieve a successful independent learning outcome. Studies have revealed that most students who join tertiary education institution without the requisite practical study skills for academic success often experience learning challenges not because of their lack of aptitude in their academic subject, but rather, because of lack of abilities in project, time, and self-management (Nathenson 1984, p281). Hence, the most suitable academic skills that a student needs to develop for independent learning include self-assessing skills, time management skills, and writing and study skills. Though there are many study skills resources such as web sites and books, students in need of them mostly do not access them due to lack of self-motivation or the knowledge on how they are accessed. To combat this challenge, it is important for the students and education facilitators to focus on development and implementation of assessment of independent learning skills. To achieve this, it is important for all stakeholders in independent learning to focus on improving students’ self-management and self-reflective skills that can eventually improve their study skills. This should be an on-going initiative in all independent learning set-ups with the ultimate goal being equipping independent learners with the much needed study skills for lifelong learning. Studies have revealed that there are several simple techniques that support the development of self-management and self-reflective skills, with such techniques including things like learning journals that contain ongoing reflection which is useful for supporting planning, problem solving and creative thinking activities (Pickford & Brown, 2006). Time management is another skill that is very critical to any learning process, since, at the end it mostly makes the difference on the whether the student is continuing with the learning process or not. Without appropriate time management, a student may not be able to cover learning materials or to get the learning concepts conveyed in the learning process. Thus, it is essential for a student to develop a good time program that will enable covering the required learning materials, practicing the concepts learned in order to grasp them and revising to be well prepared for the independent learning outcomes. Conclusion Independent learning at university has been a key strategy in enhancing provision of university education to all students, but it has major impact in supporting distance education modules and application information technologies in support learning through internet resources such as online databases, libraries, and websites. In future, all stakeholders such as governments, academics, industrialists, and students using independent learning will be able to develop critical competencies in accessing, analyzing, and applying information for independent learning to develop the ability to think creatively, to cooperate with one another, and make sound value judgments. All these will lead to a modern society that encourages creative thinking, social responsibility, and adopting lifelong learning. Additionally, independent learning will increase innovations in education, improve assimilation of university education, and over all, reduce the burden on university infrastructures and resources. Reference List Kesten, C., 1987. Independent learning: a common essential learning, A study completed for the Saskatchewan Department of Education Core Curriculum Investigation Project . Saskatchewan Department of Education, University of Regina. Najoua, L. et al. N.d. Perception of Independent Learning. Al Akhawayn University, Morocco. Web. Nathenson, M. B., 1984. Independent learning in higher education . New Jersey: Educational Technology, Englewood Cliffs. Pickford, R. & Brown, S., 2006. Assessing skills and practice. NY: Taylor & Francis, Abingdon. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Breastfeeding and Children Immunity Research Paper According to the World Health Organization, “breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development” (“Breastfeeding” par. 1). Breastfeeding has a lot of benefits for women and infants. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed their children in order to bring them up healthy but at the same time not to ignore immunization. The topic of breastfeeding is one of the most relevant topics related to public health nowadays. Although such influential health organizations as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize that breastfeeding is the optimal choice for the infant nutrition, there is a tendency towards decreasing breastfeeding rates in the world. Kornides and Kitsantas underline that the rates of breastfeeding during the first few months of life are lower than expected among mothers in the United States of America (265). Breastfeeding is important because mother’s milk gives a child the healthy start that will have a significant impact on the child’s future life. Moreover, breastfeeding benefits society. For instance, the Office on Women’s Health states that breastfeeding saves lives (deaths among infants could be prevented) and money (medical care costs are lower) and it is good for the environment (no plastic waste) (“Why Breastfeeding is important?” par. 10). The majority of health researchers recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first four to six months of infancy. Some health professionals insist that breastfeeding should continue as long and often as the child wants. Others state that breastfeeding does not act as a substitute for immunization, and immunization cannot be replaced by breastfeeding. The paper is aimed at highlighting the advantages of breastfeeding for both the mother and the baby with the focus on its influence on child’s immune system. The paper describes some essential nutrients found in breast milk. Further, breastfeeding is compared with immunization, and some conclusions are made. The health benefits of breastfeeding are well-known. Victora et al. (2016) highlight key factors related to breastfeeding. Firstly, it is important to stress that breastfed infants are less likely to get infections, and the level of infant mortality is lower among breastfed infants. Moreover, breastfed children have fewer dental malocclusions and higher intelligence. Aune et al. argue that breastfeeding protects children from overweight and diabetes in future (114). Breast milk is the best option for infant nutrition because it contains a mixed variety of vitamins, minerals, and such useful biologically active components as lipids, proteins and others. Apart from this, mothers also benefit from breastfeeding. Mothers, who breastfeed their newborns, are less likely to suffer from breast cancer. Besides, breastfeeding can prevent diabetes and ovarian cancer. However, as it is described by the Australian Breastfeeding Association, “breastfeeding alone does not provide sufficient immunity to childhood diseases, and parents need to seek appropriate guidance on immunization from their medical advisers” (“Media Statement” par. 3). It is worth mentioning that breastfeeding is not a substitute for immunization. Breastfeeding does not provide total immunity to an infant to some diseases and illnesses. To sum up, it is important to understand that breastfeeding is essential during the first few months of infancy. Woman’s and baby’s health and wellbeing directly depend on it. There are some health benefits for both the mother and the child. It cannot be denied that human milk can help to reduce risks of some diseases and cancers for the child as well as the mother. Breast milk provides a wide variety of substances from which the baby’s immune system benefits. Nevertheless, it is necessary not to forget that although breastfeeding supports and develops an infant’s immune system, and a lot of immunity disorders can be avoided due to breast milk, it cannot replace immunization. Works Cited Aune, Dagfinn, et al. “Breastfeeding and the Maternal Risk of Type Two Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.” Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases , vol. 24, no. 2, 2014, pp. 107-115. “Breastfeeding.” The World Health Organization , 2017. Web. Kornides, Melanie, and Panagiota Kitsantas. “Evaluation of Breastfeeding Promotion, Support, and Knowledge of Benefits on Breastfeeding Outcomes.” Journal of Child Health Care, vol. 17, no. 3, 2013, pp. 264-273. “Media Statement.” The Australian Breastfeeding Association , 2013. Web. Victora, Cesar, et al. “Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Lifelong Effect.” The Lancet, vol. 387, no. 10017, 2016, pp. 475-490. “Why Breastfeeding is important?” The Office on Women’s Health, 2014. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Importance of budgeting to the decision making process Report (Assessment) Policy making is, perhaps, the most difficult function of the government. This is mainly due to the risks that are taken during the formulation of policies and the standardization which characterizes the process. The government reduces the challenges of policy making by using budgeting techniques in order to ensure that the policies formulated and implemented achieve the results they are intended to achieve (Sade, 2008, p. 1). This also ensures minimal problems as plans are implemented. This paper discusses the importance of budgeting in the making of policies. Whenever a policy involving the expenditure of federal government and state funds is laid out, the policy must have a detailed analysis of the methods that are to be used in its implementation and a detailed budget. This requirement necessitates the involvement of the congress and voters in the policy making process (Sade, 2008, p. 1). Therefore, congress approval has to be sought by the government whenever it makes policies. Additionally, before any policy is implemented or cancelled, specific rules and regulations that are set have to be met. The above discussion is an indication of the great importance of budgeting in policy making. The reasons for the discussed importance are numerous. First, in order to successfully implement policies, a precise budget must be prepared. The budget ensures that the project suggested by the policy does not run out of funds before its completion and it also ensures that the project does not have surplus funds which could be misused (O’Regan, 2010, p. 1). Therefore, precise budget is desirable in this case to ensure that state and federal resources are maximally utilized in their intended projects. Another reason for the importance of budgeting in policy making is that almost all policies affect each other financially. Thus if the government funds the various states to implement a certain policy, the money has to have a source, which could make them abandon other important projects. Thus the aforementioned projects could either be halted or forgone. For instance, the “No Child Left Behind Plan” (Sade, 2008, p. 1) was imposed by the government on the states without government funding. Schools had to find a way to fund this project. The results of such projects may turn out to be disastrous, especially if the party expected to find funds for the project has limited means. In the aforementioned plan, schools had to find money from funded programs to implement the plan. This obviously affected other projects planned by individual schools. Another example stressing the necessity of budgeting is the formulation of policies that lead to military action (Birkland, 2005, p. 17). For instance, if a certain amount of money is directed towards the funding of a war, this will have immediate effects on the taxpayers. This explains why the president’s decision to request for money for use in war must be approved by the government and the taxpayers. As evidenced in the discussion above, budgeting is an inseparable part of policy making. Budgets make policies achieve the results they are intended to achieve and the lack of a budget in a given policy makes it susceptible to failure. It is thus of essence that every policy that the government makes has a carefully planned budget to ensure that the policy achieves its intended objectives and avoid wastage of resources. Reference List Birkland, T. (2005). An introduction to the policy process . New York. Barnes & Noble. O’Regan, M. (2010). Bank inquiry should examine government policy, says Kenny. Retrieved from https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/bank-inquiry-should-examine-government-policy-says-kenny-1.679200 Sade, D. (2008). Importance of budgeting when policy making. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
His observation of many different subjects and outlooks shaped the concepts of love, faith, and morals that people accepted and shared. The provided reading observes the life story of Augustine that helps to create an image of his views on the world and his way of thinking. Saint Augustine was an inquisitive man that had a passion for learning and studying, constantly questioning everything and trying to find the truth. Although there is no objective truth, he managed to decide for himself what is more applicable for him to believe in. He believed that God stood above all the creations, for He made them, and as a supreme being is beyond time and place. After God, Augustine emphasizes the soul, but unlike the Creator, the soul changes and grows through times but is still immortal. Although the soul is something eternal and non-materialistic, it can exist within the borders of the body. He considered that all the physical senses and pleasures that people experience are there to tempt them; therefore, humans should resist them and appeal to the soul in the first place (Augustine 102). In the discussion of evil, Augustine thought that God could not create something terrible and destructive, so the occasions of life and sin are entirely human creations. Moreover, he explains that God gave people free will, and evil is just the consequence of their desires. In conclusion, the reading has given an overview of Saint Augustine’s life path and the shaping of his beliefs. Throughout his life, he developed some fundamental beliefs that determined Augustine’s outlook and believed in the context of the Christian religion. Considering the philosopher’s point of view, he emphasizes the crucial role of God, the importance of the soul over the body’s desires, and people’s impact on the world due to free will. Work Cited Augustine. “Confessions.” Gordon College Faculty. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
It is know for its competitiveness and innovative criteria. In the recent past, ICT industry registered a fast pace in invention and innovation while expanding in its market share. Its trend is towards high speed computers. This is evident by introduction of fiber optic. Company back ground Dell international company limited deals with information a technology and is based in Texas (Koehn, 2001). Its main are of operation is to develop computers, sell them and offer after sale services. Some of its products are: Latitude, Dell, Vostro, n-series and precision. ASUSTeK Computer Company is located in Taiwan and deals exclusively with computer products. Laptops, servers and motherboards are some of the products manufactured by the company Strategic marketing and planning This captures overall course of the business. It is involved with market segments, interests of the customer and the processes employed in purchase (Dann, 2004). Decisions about production, finance and human resources are involved in strategic marketing and planning. Dell Company has continuously built on its brands to suit the needs of the customer. Advent of new multimedia notebook and other products by ASUSTeK Computer Company is part of its strategic marketing plan. Macroenvironmental forces These are forces originating from outside the company. Both Dell and ASUSTeK Computer Company were affected by the recent world recession. The two companies made intensive advertisement and introduced new brands in order to outsmart its competitors i.e. Apple, IBM and Digital. SWOT analysis This gives details of the company’s strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. Direct market approach used by Dell Company facilitates it to link up with a variety of its customers both corporate and institutional (Koehn, 2001). In addition, Dell offers price for performance, customer support service and customized products. Dell has a weakness of attracting college students. Its opportunity lies on building personal computers. The threat to the market is fast pace of developing accessories. Market segmentation This is dividing the market according to factors like: geography, demographic, psychographic and behavioral factors (Pride, 2009). Both companies have explicitly segmented its market while targeting different customers. Most of the young people are located in the urban centers. It is therefore important the companies avail its products within the vicinity of such a population. Target marketing Its marketing strategy is intensive advertisement and opening up of Dell kiosks in various countries. Dell Company has also exploited the use online marketing by targeting specific customers, tracking down the results of an advertisement and building relationship with advertisement partners. The company continuously introduces new products in the market to meet individual customer needs. Acer, Apple and Acer are among its competitors ASUSTeK Computer Company is exploring on diversifying the market segment such that the product reaches several people within a short period of time. Furthermore, it uses target marketing after classifying the customers into young students and older generation. The products are tailored to meet their needs. Positioning strategy In order to reach specific target customers, brands must be advertised, packaged and distributed appropriately. Their prices must be affordable to the customer. Display of beautiful models is a marketing approach utilized by ASUSTeK Computer Company. Opening up of Dell kiosks is part of the positioning process. Recommendations Dell needs to make use of media in an innovative manner. Powerful promotions go along way in winning customer’s heart and ultimately making sales. More customer experience centers for both companies should be established in order to bridge the gap between the product and potential customer. It is important to expand on target audience so that new products can penetrate the market. References Dann, S., & Dan, S. (2004). Introduction to marketing . Milton: Wiley. Koehn, N. (2001). “Michael Dell,” in Brand New: How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers’ Trust from Wedgwood to Dell . Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Pride, W., et al. (2009). Marketing: Core concepts and applications . Milton: John Wiley & Sons. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Hotel Industry Course Experience and Influences Essay The hotel industry course has helped me go over my past doubts about being successful in the hotel business. Having learned the different aspects of the hotel industry like the importance of gaming, food, and services in the industry, I have gained confidence in the business. The course has made students have a different point of view of the current hotel industry. Additionally, it has opened a door to successful career development in the hotel industry for many students who are capable of applying the acquired skills in the profession, and real business setting. Gaming is a critical aspect of the hotel industry especially in the current century where most workers, families, and businesspersons who want a break from their daily tight schedules, use hotels as a way of relaxation. Gaming has been a center stage in the boosting of workers’ mental acuity. It has also played a role in healthy social lives. Due to increasingly declining household sizes, families have had a better part of their income as discretion income. This extra income is often diverted to recreation facilities and leisure, breaking the home setting monotony. Ecotourists are another group of hotel customers who enormously benefit from the incorporation of gaming in the industry. They get the opportunity to enjoy different cultures and site seeing. Food is a basic need in any setting where accommodation is provided. The hotel industry is not any different. Through this course, it was brought to the attention of learners that hotels entertain different categories of customers. This means different types of food ranging from drinks, for those in need of refreshments, complete meals for those staying at the hotels, and guest reception meals in case of those holding functions at the hotel. The quality of the food served at any given hotel is enough marketing. This is because customers demand high-quality food in terms of cleanliness, taste, level of cooking, cleanliness of those who serve it, and reliability of the hotel, that is, you get any type of food you want, whenever you want it. The course discussed a wide variety of services offered by the hotel industry. These have been very vital to hotel customers, to carry on their activities with ease. Accommodation, catering, tourism services, restaurants, meetings and events planning, massage, and gymnastic are among the services offered. Accommodation service has greatly benefited customers who are traveling in new places away from their homes. These include families on recreation trips away from their residential places, workers on official missions far from their normal working locations, and international tourists in a foreign country. While these customers reside in the hotel, they are offered great meals by the hotel’s catering service. This saves them the trouble of looking for food in a foreign environment. Most hotels have their facilities for taking tourists around on their daily business for the entire time agreed. With the modern advancements, most events and meetings are held in hotels, making the industry step up in its service delivery to the extent of planning for its customer’s such activities. I enjoyed this class for it opened my eyes to the kind of career I am pursuing and assured me of my chances of making a better and successful professional in the hotel industry. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
There are various types of contracts that are preconditioned by the character of relations between parties, conditions, and desired outcomes. The primary source of the given agreement is the existing legislation that presupposes the appearance of a certain kind of obligation that should be observed to generate the desired outcome and benefit from the given sort of relations. At the same time, there are severe punishments that are introduced to guarantee that all parties will adhere to the ethics code and act appropriately. Any violations in terms, such as in the proposed Tina Tinker case, can be considered by a court to determine the fault of parties and outline the following course of action. Regarding the discussing problem, the current jurisdiction, oral contracts are also considered a type of business agreement that is outlined and followed by spoken communication without any written forms (“Legal Information Institute, Oral Contract”). In such situations, it is difficult to appeal or prove the terms of this form of relations if there is a breach; however, it remains a legally accepted form of relationship between business partners. It means that an actor can appeal to all conditions discussed with his/her potential partner and act in accordance with them, expecting some reward or other good that can be generated in the course of their cooperation (Fisher, 2018). The same situation can be observed in the proposed case as Fiona Flax entered the oral agreement with Owen Owens, the owner of the Serenity store, hoping to produce and sell some ornaments and generate revenue. The concept of promissory estoppel can also be considered relevant for the given case. It presupposes that any promise is enforceable by law even if it is made without special or formal consideration (Garner, 2019). If a promisor makes a promise to a promisee, both actors engage in a specific sort of relations that are regulated by this very promise (“Legal Information Institute, Promissory Estoppel”). Promissory estoppel is introduced to avoid situations when a promisor does not want to follow conditions discussed in the conversation or argues that an underlying promise should not be legally upheld (Cheeseman, 2018). At the moment, the doctrine is a part of U.S. law that regulates various agreements in the business sphere. It is applicable to the case as Owen Owens does not want to accept the idea of promissory estoppel and refuses to accept its ability to be legally enforced. Analyzing the given situation, the case of an oral contract can be observed. Tina Tinkers entered into the agreement with Owen Owens because of their conversation and established terms presupposing that Owen would pay $8 per ornament for a total of $640. Because of the positive experience of past relations and previous business relationships, the contract was not put in writing; however, it still remains enforceable because of the existing legislation. Tina answered her obligations and delivered all ornaments to the store, but Owen refuses to buy them. At the same time, he accepts the fact of their conversation and oral agreement. In such a way, the case can be defined as a breach of an oral contract and promissory estoppel. From the case, Owen’s fault becomes evident because of several factors. First, he accepts the existence of the oral agreement, which can be used as a fact to prove that a sort of contract between these parties was established. Second, although he acknowledges the previous deal, he misunderstands the idea of promissory estoppel and Its ability to be enforced. Under these conditions, accepting the fact that there is credible evidence of the oral agreement, Owen should be administered to observe its terms and buy the provided ornaments at the established price as it is the main factor regulating their business ties. The decision to find another supplier cannot be considered a reasonable cause for the break-off relations. The application of these two basic doctrines and the consideration of the primary source of the contract can help to resolve the given case. Altogether, the given case revolves around the oral contract made by Tina Tinkers and Owen Owens, who agreed to produce and buy a certain number of ornaments. However, Owen’s unwillingness to observe its terms serves as a cause for bringing a case to a court because of the non-observation of the basic business laws and the doctrine of promissory estoppel. Thus, if there is no expected resolution, and Owen is not obliged to follow the terms, Tina can appeal to a higher court as one of the possible remedies to avoid undesired outcomes (Cheeseman, 2018). In general, in accordance with the existing legislation that regulates relations between parties in the business sphere, Owen should be enforced to observe the terms of the agreement and his obligations as a promisor who has specific duties. References Bryan Garner, Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019). Henry Cheeseman, Business Law (10th ed. 2018). James Fisher, Contract variation in the common law: A critical response to Rock Advertising v MWB Business Exchange, 47 (3), Common LAW WORLD REVIEW 196 (2018). Legal Information Institute, Oral Contract. Web. Legal Information Institute, Promissory Estoppel. Web. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Summary 2. Integration 3. Commentary 4. Work Cited Summary The results of the recent presidential elections have definitely taken the United States by surprise. The outcomes of the voting can be deemed as purely democratic and, therefore, not dubious in any way. The way in which the election results have divided the country, however, imply that the issue will need to be addressed thoroughly. In a recent episode of the 60 Minutes , Lesley Stahl mentioned some of the problems on the tip of the tongue of many Americans, addressing the pillars that the American political system had been founded on, i.e., public participation, democracy, and the role that information plays in the political life of a country. The interview with the president elect allowed shedding a lot of light on some of the most controversial aspects of the presidential election campaign, the debates, and the outcomes. Particularly, Trump pointed to the fact that he was, in fact, serious about his future position as the president of the United States, and that he embraced the magnitude of the issues that he would have to deal with once he started his presidential routine. For instance, the conversation with Barack Obama, during which the issues in the Middle East had been discussed, was brought up as one of the essential factors that shaped the course of Trump’s politics. Furthermore, some of the obscure issues regarding the changes that Trump was going to make in the U.S. foreign policy stance, particularly, building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, were clarified. Overall, the conversation served as a very basic purpose, which was to show that the future of the United States would not be in shambles once Trump was in the President’s chair. Integration As stressed above, the conversation touched upon a range of democracy-related concerns that the U.S. citizens had. Therefore, the question whether the government policies continued to reflect the wishes of the citizens as required by the democratic principles was raised. The identified problem is linked directly to the problems of authorities voicing the needs of the citizens (Greenberg and Page 11). Furthermore, the direction that the new president-elect was supposedly going with when addressing some of the topical social and economic concerns seemed to fail. Particularly, it did not meet the needs of all members of the American population. Therefore, the conversation tackled some of the aspects of the political equality principles that rule the current U.S. political environment (Greenberg and Page 11). At this point, the issue of the democracy standard should be brought up (Greenberg and Page 26). There is no secret that the concept has been experiencing drastic changes over the past few centuries. However, the very idea has remained the same. Specifically, the provision of equal rights for all citizens of the United States is viewed as the ultimate principle that the state authorities must follow. Seeing that some of the statements made earlier by Trump did not seem to coincide with the identified postulates, clarifying the issue seemed quite necessary. Therefore, the interview served as the foil for promoting reconciliation. Commentary Even though the interview turned out to be very informative, it still failed to remove the air of controversy from the election results. Naturally, it would be wrong to expect that a sixty-minute talk will help resolve the issues that have been tearing the nation apart. Nevertheless, it did not convince the target audience that trump is the right person to be at the helm of the country at present. Nevertheless, the interview showed that the president elect is ready for a compromise. Therefore, the foundation for a constructive dialogue has been created. Despite the inconsistencies between the principle of democracy as they are traditionally described and the ideas voiced by Trump, there is hope that the United States will retail its essential democratic ideas. Work Cited Greenberg, Edward S., and Benjamin I. Page. Struggle for Democracy . The 2014 Election Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2014. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Confidence Interval Essay Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Discussion 3. Example 4. Pros and Cons 5. Conclusion 6. Works Cited Introduction The term of a CI (confidence interval) is widely used in the sphere of professional statistics. This method is intended to estimate static parameters of different graphs. Moreover, it remains a more preferable practice than point estimation if its sample volume is not extended. The following paper will discuss the meaning of a confidence interval and provide an example of where it can be observed in people’s everyday life. Discussion As it is mentioned above, a confidence interval is used to evaluate and compare the static parameters of particular graphs. This method was first invented by an American scholar, Jerzy Neyman. In turn, his theory was initially based on the conclusions of his colleague from England, Ronald Fisher. According to the developed hypothesis, it becomes clear that a confidence interval parameter of Ѳ with a random variable of X, the confidence level of p , and the following sample: (X 1 ,…,X n ) is called a bordered interval (Bonett and Wright 8). According to the given formula, the majority of independent experiments with identical CIs will demonstrate that 95% of these events have a confidence interval parameter of Ѳ, whereas the other 5% do not contain this element. Example To begin with, it would be proper to mention that the model of the confidence interval can be observed almost in every aspect of people’s daily activities. For instance, when a person is not aware of the accurate sum of money on his or her banking account but knows that it is somewhere between 4 000 and 6 000 dollars, it would be inappropriate to use the method described above. Nevertheless, if there is a need to maintain a certain amount of financial means on an individual’s banking account every month, he or she can successfully apply it. Hence, one might count the sum left on the card at the end of every day to acquire precise statistics of regular expenses. Then, it is essential to calculate all the available money at the end of a certain period (not longer than six months). This lets the account owner find the standard deviation and mean. The acquired result gives the person an understanding of the average sum he or she is likely to carry from this point. In turn, all other objects will remain equal. The analysis of all the collected statistics for every month in the past will predict its consistent tendency in the future. It is necessary to mention that the given model can be implemented in a wide range of details or daily activities. For example, it is possible to analyze tire pressure with the method of the confidence interval, money spent on entertainment, the time required to get from one place to another, proportions of ingredients used to cook a certain meal, prices of different goods, utility bills, and many other factors. Pros and Cons The advantages of using the confidence interval measurement in the case of the sum on the banking account described above imply the fact that this method is much easier to use than doing the same calculation with the help of significance tests (Knapp 263). Moreover, confidence intervals accurately determine the exact estimate of a certain parameter. However, the discussed model is not recommended to be used for identifying or analyzing insignificant numbers or indicators due to its complexity. Conclusion The method of confidence interval estimation can be used in various aspects of individuals’ daily lives. This model is unique because it precisely identifies the required data or its statistics. However, the majority of people do not use it on a regular basis because it presents certain complexities. Works Cited Bonett, Douglas, and Thomas Wright. “Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability: Interval Estimation, Hypothesis Testing, and Sample Size Planning.” Journal of Organizational Behavior , vol. 36, no. 1, 2014, pp. 3–15. Knapp, Thomas. “Significance Test, Confidence Interval, Both or Neither?” Clinical Nursing Research , vol. 26, no. 3, 2017, pp. 259–265. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
Problems of the Female Reproductive Tract Essay Table of Contents 1. Endometriosis 2. Uterine fibroids 3. Ovary failure 4. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) 5. Vulvovaginitis 6. Prolapsed Uterus 7. Conclusion 8. References The female reproductive tract is made up of fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries and the vagina (Waters, 2008). There are various health complications which may affect these parts. Common health concerns that can affect the female reproductive tract include: Endometriosis Endometriosis manifests itself as abnormal growths in the uterine tissues. When a person develops this disorder, she will complain of abdominal pain. Cases of vaginal bleeding, pain when having sex, nausea and diarrhea have also been reported. Surgical operations can be used to treat this condition. Alternatively, hormone treatment may be used. Uterine fibroids This condition affects about 25% of women who are 50 years old and below. Uterine fibroids cause various problems. For instance, the affected person may suffer from lower back pain and menstrual bleeding. It can also result in reproductive concerns such as infertility. Individuals suffering from uterine fibroids require a lot of attention. This is because the uterine fibroids cause a lot of discomfort. The most effective treatment option for this health concern is surgery. Ovary failure This problem is popularly identified as premature ovarian failure. Basically, a woman who is suffering from premature ovarian failure will experience conception problems. This is because her ovaries will not be able to produce eggs. In addition, victims will experience irregularities in their menstrual cycles. Estrogen replacement is normally used as a corrective measure to this disorder. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) This problem develops when the production of androgens by the ovaries increase. When the level of androgen hormones is high, the ovulation cycle is disrupted. This problem normally causes infertility in women. A person who is suffering from this disorder will experience pelvic pain. The person will also develop an oily skin that is full of acne. Vulvovaginitis It is a vaginal infection that may be caused by various factors. It may result from failure to observe hygiene measures and guidelines. Viruses, yeast and bacteria can also lead to the development of vulvovaginitis. A person who is suffering from this condition will experience inflammations in the vaginal area. In addition, an abnormal discharge from the vagina may be witnessed. In extreme cases, bad odor and discomfort when urinating is experienced. Prolapsed Uterus The uterus is held in its position by special ligaments. This enables it to stay just above the vagina. A prolapsed uterus results from failure of the ligaments to hold the uterus in its position. This condition is characterized by the protrusion of the cervix in the opening of the vagina. Treatment of the disorder entails surgical operations. Once the uterus has been put in its correct position, the victim will be healed. Conclusion The female reproductive diseases that have been mentioned above can affect any woman. Contrary to the popular opinion that it affects certain groups of women, the truth is that all women have equal chances of developing them (Goodwin, 2010). What should be understood is that some conditions increases the chances of getting disorders. All in all, it is important to understand that all the reproductive disorders can be treated if they are diagnosed at an early stage. Always bear in mind that a health concern that is in its advanced stages is not easy to heal. References Goodwin, T. M. (2010). Management of common problems in obstetrics and gynecology (5th ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Waters, S. (2008). The female reproductive system . New York: Rosen Central. | human | 0 | 0 | 0 | human |
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