Poetry Is No I Don t Mean Putting A Couple Words Together...

What is poetry? No I don’t mean putting a couple words together that rhyme. Rhyme scheme is only a component of what poetry is. I got this question asked before beginning the unit of poetry. I said-- â€Å"When I think about poetry I think of the flow of a river out into the ocean. The sounds and sight of this reminds me of poetry. The sounds that the river makes are relaxing and calm as they empty into a vast body of water. It’s like the mind of a poet emptying onto a piece of paper or a keyboard. The sight of the river flowing also reminds me of poetry. Some poems seem so calm as they empty into the ocean, so serene. That is what poetry is to me. The flow of thoughts that create a piece of art that is called a poem. Just as the flow of a calm river that creates another piece of art, called an ocean.† After having my own chance to write my own poem, and also having to recite another poet’s poem, my perspective changed a bit on the whole concept of poetry. Now if someone were to ask me what poetry is and what it meant I would say poetry is a way to express ones self. Writing a poem is another way of showing whom you are and how you feel to people who don’t know you, or people who don’t know you well enough. It’s also a way to relax and release some stress. Just like athletes go to the gym when they need to relieve some stress, writers grab their notebook and a pencil. Poetry is like picking out what clothes you want to wear in the morning. You can either decide to be yourself

Is561 Week 2 Solution Essay - 1181 Words

Key IS561 – Week 2 iLab STEP 1: Working with Dictionary-Managed and Oracle-Managed Files (10 points) Scenario: As the DBA for your company, you have decided to install a new version of the Oracle Enterprise database to replace the current database version being used. The old database has become a constant headache and seems to be causing an overload on the disk drives I/O channels. Further analysis has also shown that two primary large tables are the main points of access. These tables are CUST_REC and ACCT_RECV tables. You also have a new server with three large-capacity disk drives: F, G, and H. Briefly, provide the following information. * Describe how you plan to rectify the I/O problem with the new Oracle10g†¦show more content†¦3. Parameters cannot have spaces in their name. All multi-word parameter names should contain underscores - 5 modifications ( db_block_size, db_domain, remote_login_passwordfile, db_name, instance_name ). 4. Altered the size of the db_block_size to be the standard 8K. 4K may be valid but the database would run more efficiently using 8K block s, which is the typical block size. 5. Added second control file to control_files entry. There should be a mimimum of two files. Ideally these files should be multiplexed over physically separated disk volumes to insure database recovery should a catastrophic event occur. 6. The parameter assignment â€Å"maxinstances = 2† was removed. The â€Å"maxinstances† parameter is valid in the CREATE DATABASE command but it doesn’t seem to be stored in the init.ora file. 7. The format of the Oracle version [number] in the compatible statement was adjusted. The number should consist of the 5 numerical components of a valid version of Oracle. I set this to 9.0.1.0.0 but ideally this should be set to the most recent version of Oracle thats installed, e.g. 10.2.0.1.0 if Oracle 10g is the latest installed version. 8. The db_name was minimized to just the database name. The full path, as listed, is really the db_unique_name which is used for making a globally unique nam e to a network of distributed database servers. 9. Quotation marks removed from db_domain value. (I don’t believe

Digital Technology For Literacy Practices For Children

Question: What is the positive and negative effects of using digital technology for literacy practices for children? Answer: Introduction According to Hrd Jamison (2013), the use of technology in literary practices was prominent in the late 20th century. The advent of printing press, integrated circuits and handheld electronic calculator depicted a significant improvement in terms of technology. The technology shares an interlinking relationship with the digital technology. By the late 1950s it became quite evident that in order to bring about further improvement in the analogue mechanisms for literacy practices, digital technology played a crucial role. In the year 1973 the world witnessed fist electronic digital computer. It changed the digital technology to great extent and the usage of analogue technology got experienced a paradigm shift in terms to speed, reliability and accuracy. The global revolution in digital technology and literacy practices was an outcome invention of microprocessors in the year 1996. The internet was first introduced in the 1983 and it completely revolutionized the process of information a vailability. It is important to mention the importance of internet technology and how it facilitated seamless integration of educational practices with digital technology (Crowley Heyer, 2015). According to Ager (2013), Information and communications technology (ICT) has a crucial role in amalgamation of internet through digital devices such as radio, cellular smartphones, software applications, computers etc. In the year 1998 Larry Page along with Sergey Brin founded Google which laid a prime focus on availability of accurate information tracking through internet. Due to this the researcher often refers the present generation as the Google generation (Buckingham, 2013). The digital technology is not just influential through internet but television also has a significant impact on the changing trends of digital technology. Research suggests that new technology should be available to the children in the early development process. Various studies have shown that the incorporation of digital texts among children shows increased playfulness and inculcates creative skills (Marsh et al., 2015). According to Fitzgerald et al., (2014) various studies have also shown how the computer games can influence the learning practices at early stage of childhood. The digital cable operators in the recent times have incorporated various learning packages for a child in their connection facility includes many learning aids for the children of the present generation. In order to address the various digital literacy skills of the learners the innovation in form of various pedagogy, instructors have to be aware of conveniently adopt the dichotomized modes of thinking and building on the binary logic of the individuals. The digital technology has further shown various improvements not just in terms of various digital devices but also in forms of videos, eBooks, portable digital formats of the books and even social media and blogs. According to many researchers the digital text introduced in forms of eBooks have completely replaced the use of text books among many communities of young people (Tyner, 2014). General Discussion The positive impact of the various digital technologies takes into account aspects such as accurate information, accessibility, convenience and sharing of the information. It has supplemented in teaching tools through interactive tools in educational process such as presentation tools, video files and many audio visual elements into the learning process. Research shows the various digital aids such as hands-on learning tools including ipads, tablets, notebooks and Smartphone suggests that students are better motivating in learning than the traditional learning procedures. The various new leaning measures have enabled the children to acces the information on the go thus the advancement in the technology has enabled greater mobility of the information. The main impact of digital technology for learning practices is for the accuracy and speed of access of the required material. The online learning process enables the students to learn from tutors who interact with the children through o nline video class. YouTube and Google Hangouts in air make the entire process of e- learning seamless and inexpensive (Davidson et al., 2014). Flewitt et al., (2014), the main advantage of online learning is that the students can learn at their own speed. In online classroom session the students enjoy the flexibility of completing the assignments at their convenience. The benefits are not only in terms of the learners but with the advent of the digital technology the tutors are able take classes according to their convenience and even the students are unable to attend the class the information can stored in various online clouds. The storage of information can be done by use of drop box applications, Google Drive and cloud storage facilities offered by Western Digital, HP, Dell etc (Gillen Hall, 2013) Coiro et al., (2014), the researchers have often suggested that the children often inculcate the competitive skills while they playing games with their friends or relatives. Studies have suggested that the competitive skills from the video games help the children to cope up with competition in the practical situation. In several TV connection facilities the games are so interactive that they help the children to learn various language, gain mathematical skills and analytical reasoning at a very early stage which will help them to deal with various complex situation in the real world. The eBooks have changed the learning process in great way by ease of accessibility. The eBooks have also changed the market scenario and market players like Amazon Kindle which is used by a large population of the students in the United States. The digital technology is not only prominent in terms of reading digital text but also writing of the same. The digital pen is an input device which recognizes th e handwriting of the children and converts the analogue information into digital. The digital pen is used by several students for taking classroom notes and saving the same in electronic format. The technology used for digital pen is known as Optical character recognition (OCR) technology. Manufacturers such as Polyvision, N-trig, Wacom and live scribe have made the pen widely popular in the present. The various digital technologies used by social media such as Whatsapp and Google hangout. At times useful educational information is available on facebook and social media platforms like this can integrate information into a single page which can be accessed from mobiles devices. The various negative impacts of the digital technology have brought serious concern for health problems among the children. The surveys conducted in the recent times shows that due to increase in the use of digital devices such as ipad, laptops, Smartphone and notebooks the young generation is suffering from health issues such as weak eyesight and back pain. The digital technology has created a negative impact on the children to pursue physical sports and due to lack of physical activities many children are suffer from overweight and fitness issues. The digital technology is often seen as a developing platform for many poor and developing nations and they are unable to take full use of this technology. The technology in form of internet is often inaccessible in many parts of the world and needs additional attention for a global connectivity. The negative impact is also seen on the writing skills of the children, with the use of technologies like swipe texting, keyboards and even spee ch recognition software to input text has detrimental effect on the students as they dont have to write anything on paper directly. The aforementioned technologies also have a detrimental impact on the grammar. Research has shown that while texting, type or taking of classroom notes in form digital format most student dont care about punctuation and spelling. This leads to bad habit later in life. The gadgets used for e learning in many forms prove to be expensive for some section of the society and affordability. The survey conducted on the use of Smartphone shows that the children are often affected due to radio frequency emitted from the Smartphones is harmful especially on skin. It is even considered to having serious issues relating to cancer among the children. The use of various digital technologies have proved to cause social detachment and contributing time to relatives towards family. Many children often suffer from the problem of interacting in real life as they become so caught up with the use of mobile gadgets. Many researchers consider the major problem of the growth of digital technology is seen among children for getting involved in unethical practices, such as children using it as a source of adult content rather than using it for learning purposes. This type of problems is definite to create a negative impact on the character of the involved individual. (Flood et al., 2015). Conclusion The topic of discussion in the essay gives an extensive viewpoint of the several aspects of the digital technology on the children of present generation. Among the various types of positive and negative influence of digital technology it needs to noted that the use of digital technologies are at a developing stage among various countries and needs several improvement for proper implementation so that the benefits can be reaped in the long- run. The government authorities of these developing nations are taking several initiatives to inculcate the use of digital technology among the children by introduction of laptops in primary schools and educational centers for a global inclusion of the literacy service by digital platform. Reference List Ager, R. (2013). Art of Information of Communications Technology for Teachers. Routledge. Buckingham, D. (2013). Beyond technology: Children's learning in the age of digital culture. John Wiley Sons. Coiro, J., Knobel, M., Lankshear, C., Leu, D. J. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of research on new literacies. Routledge. Crowley, D., Heyer, P. (2015). Communication in history: Technology, culture, society. Routledge. Davidson, C., Given, L. M., Danby, S., Thorpe, K. (2014). Talk about a YouTube video in preschool: The mutual production of shared understanding for learning with digital technology. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 39(3), 76. Fitzgerald, M., Kruschwitz, N., Bonnet, D., Welch, M. (2014). Embracing digital technology: A new strategic imperative. MIT sloan management review, 55(2), 1. Flewitt, R., Messer, D., Kucirkova, N. (2014). New directions for early literacy in a digital age: The iPad. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 1468798414533560. Flood, J., Heath, S. B., Lapp, D. (2015). Handbook of Research on Teaching Literacy Through the Communicative and Visual Arts, Volume II: A Project of the International Reading Association. Routledge. Gillen, J., Hall, N. (2013). The emergence of early childhood literacy. Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy, ed. Nigel Hall, Joanne Larson, andjackie Marsh (Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2003), 1-12. Hrd, M., Jamison, A. (2013). Hubris and hybrids: a cultural history of technology and science. Routledge. Marsh, J., Hannon, P., Lewis, M., Ritchie, L. (2015). Young childrens initiation into family literacy practices in the digital age. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 1476718X15582095. Tyner, K. (2014). Literacy in a digital world: Teaching and learning in the age of information. Routledge.

Museum Project free essay sample

The land increases (Gall). When you first enter the hall this is the quotation written on the ceiling and it can be viewed and interpreted in many ways. One is born and dies in the same land or one IS born and there is no hope or opportunity. The implication that one is born signifies birth and the welcoming of one into the world. When one is born they are added to the world and population is increased. When one dies it implies that life is over and one is taken off the earth and removed permanently. The fact that they are written right after each other can homology a balance or dualism because with life comes death, they go hand in hand and there is a balance. As one is born there is no loss or gain because one dies. Despite the fact that a life can be changed by life or death the land will always continue to increase and grow because before us land was here. We will write a custom essay sample on Museum Project or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This quote can also be understood to explain the slave trade. The Africans were not respected nor cherished only the land was. People were born, people died, but nothing was affected because only the European land was valued.The land increased as they were born because they were shipped off as slaves and if they died they were easily replenished. If you were born as a slave you died as one, there was no hope because you belonged to someone else. 2 I chose to observe the African peoples hall in the Museum of Natural history. Knowledge is infinite so although it is my culture I can always learn new information. I am fascinated with my culture because although we were suppressed we still overcame. It is amazing to know that we were once not even included in the Constitution or allowed to vote and now we have BarrackObama who is of African descent running for president. I used this museum trip not only as a means for getting information for this report but as a way to connect the past with the present. The museum was very successful at displaying the culture positively. Everything seemed chronological and there was a vast selection of artifacts. The timeline ranges from Ancient Africa which began nearly four million years ago to present day Africa. The geographical areas varied from river regions, woodlands, grasslands, deserts, and tropical rainforests.Their advances in tool making showed that they were creative and strategic in ways of ensuring survival. The museum also displays the political, religious and economic aspects of African life. The Africans had sacred states which were militaristic and built of smaller kingdoms seeking common defense. They also believed in a concept called opportunities without hostility. This concept originated in the East African grasslands which is home to many different people who held separate views but still coexisted without violence.As a dancer I found the Dance and Belief exhibit to be the most intriguing. African people used dancing not only as a recreational activity but to celebrate marriage, childbirth or as a way to mourn the dead. The elaborate ceremonial dance costumes were what caught my attention. Some of the costumes appeared to be made from many 3 different materials such as shells, beads, hair, sticks, and straws. The spirit world exhibit stood out to me as well simply because it looked interesting. The way the display was set up made you curious enough to wonder what it was about. The spirit world is said to explain the living world ND if you were good you were ensured an afterlife. In this afterlife you would have powers much more powerful than mans. Figurines and masks were used as a way to worship the ancestral spirits. The spirits of animals were said to convey the most power. The early humans exhibit was interesting solely because it explained the origin of my culture. It touched upon the first forms of art made with rocks and stones. It also displayed the tools used for hunting, gathering, cultivation, and herding but despite these positive aspects I found it quite boring. The mom itself made me sleepy because of the color and as I was taking notes I could not help but Want to leave. I was surprised at the fact that there were only two people including myself of African descent viewing the exhibit. I was proud that the hall was so beautifully designed and everything was well organized. It made me happy to see that people of several ethnicities were excited and intrigued by the different aspects of African culture. The hall was busy and people were drawing sketches, taking photos, and simply just enjoying the artifacts on display.

King Henry I of Germany - Henry the Fowler - Duke of Saxony

King Henry I of Germany - Henry the Fowler - Duke of Saxony Henry I of Germany was also known as: Henry the Fowler; in German, Henrik or Heinrich der Vogler Henry I of Germany was known for: Founding the Saxon dynasty of kings and emperors in Germany. Although he never took the title Emperor (his son Otto was the first to revive the title centuries after the Carolingians), future emperors would reckon the numbering of Henrys from his reign. How he got his nickname is uncertain; one story has it that he was called fowler because he was setting bird snares when informed of his election as king, but that is probably a myth. Occupations: KingMilitary Leader Places of Residence and Influence: Europe: Germany Important Dates: Born: c. 876Becomes Duke of Saxony: 912Designated heir to Conrad I of Franconia: 918Elected king by the nobles of Saxony and Franconia: 919Defeats Magyars at Riade: March 15, 933Died: July 2, 936 About Henry I of Germany (Henry the Fowler): Henry was the son of Otto the Illustrious. He married Hatheburg, daughter of the count of Merseburg, but the marriage was declared invalid because, after her first husbands death, Hatheburg had become a nun. In 909 he wed Matilda, daughter of the count of Westphalia. When his father died in 912, Henry became Duke of Saxony. Six years later, Conrad I of Franconia designated Henry as his heir shortly before he died. Henry now controlled two of the four most significant duchies in Germany, the nobles of which elected him king of Germany in May of 919. However, the other two important duchies, Bavaria and Swabia, did not recognize him as their king. Henry had respect for the autonomy of the various duchies of Germany, but he also wanted them to unite in a confederation. He managed to force Burchard, the duke of Swabia, to submit to him in 919, but he allowed Burchard to retain administrative control over his duchy. In that same year, Bavarian and East Frankish nobles elected Arnulf, duke of Bavaria, as king of Germany, and Henry met the challenge with two military campaigns, forcing Arnulf to submit in 921. Though Arnulf gave up his claim to the throne, he retained control of his duchy of Bavaria. Four years later Henry defeated Giselbert, king of Lotharingia, and brought the region back under German control. Giselbert was allowed to remain in charge of Lotharingia as duke, and in 928 he married Henrys daughter, Gerberga. In 924 the barbarian Magyar tribe invaded Germany. Henry agreed to pay them tribute and to return a hostage chief in exchange for a nine-year halt to raids on German lands. Henry used the time well; he built fortified towns, trained mounted warriors into a formidable army, and led them in some solid victories against various Slavic tribes. When the nine-year truce ended, Henry refused to pay more tribute, and the Magyars resumed their raids. But Henry crushed them at Riade in March of 933, putting an end to the Magyar threat to the Germans. Henrys last campaign was an invasion of Denmark through which the territory of Schleswig became part of Germany. The son he had with Matilda, Otto, would succeed him as king and become Holy Roman Emperor Otto I the Great. More Henry the Fowler Resources: Henry the Fowler on the Web Henry IConcise bio at Infoplease.Henry the FowlerExcerpt from Famous Men of the Middle Ages by John H. Haaren Henry the Fowler in Print Germany in the Early Middle Ages, 800-1056by Timothy Reuterby Benjamin Arnold Medieval Germany Chronological Index Geographical Index Index by Profession, Achievement, or Role in Society The text of this document is copyright  ©2003-2016 Melissa Snell. You may download or print this document for personal or school use, as long as the URL below is included. Permission is   not  granted to reproduce this document on another website. For publication permission,  please   contact  Melissa Snell. The URL for this document is:http://historymedren.about.com/d/hwho/p/Henry-I-Germany.htm

How to Create Behavior Contracts for Students

How to Create Behavior Contracts for Students Every teacher has at least one challenging student in her class, a child who needs extra structure and incentive to change bad behavior habits. These arent bad kids; they often just need a little extra support, structure, and discipline. Behavior contracts can help you mold the behavior of these students so that they no longer disrupt learning in your classroom. What Is a Behavior Contract? A behavior contract is an agreement between the teacher, student, and the students parents that sets limits for student behavior, rewards good choices, and outlines consequences for bad choices. This type of program sends a clear message to the child by communicating with them that their disruptive behavior cannot continue. It lets them know your expectations and what the consequences of their actions, both good and bad, will be.   Step 1, Customize the Contract First, make a plan for change. Use this behavior contract form as a guide for the meeting you will soon have with the student and his/her parents. Tailor the form to your particular situation, taking into consideration the personality and preferences of the child you are helping. Step 2, Set Up A Meeting Next, hold a meeting with the involved parties. Perhaps your school has an assistant principal in charge of discipline; if so, invite this person to the meeting. The student and his/her parents should attend as well. Focus on 1 to 2 particular behaviors that you would like to see change. Dont try to change everything at once. Take baby steps toward major improvement and set goals that the student will perceive as achievable. Make it clear that you care about this child and want to see him/her improve in school this year. Emphasize that the parent, student, and teacher are all part of the same team.   Step 3, Communicate the Consequences Define the tracking method to be used on a daily basis for monitoring student behavior. Describe the rewards and consequences that correlate with behavior choices. Be very specific and clear in this area and use quantitative explanations whenever possible. Involve the parents in designing a system of rewards and consequences. Make sure that the chosen consequences are truly important to this particular child; you can even ask the child for input which will make him/her buy into the process even further. Have all involved parties sign the agreement and end the meeting on a positive note. Step 4, Schedule a Follow-Up Meeting Schedule a follow-up meeting 2 to 6 weeks from your initial meeting to discuss progress and make adjustments to the plan as needed. Let the child know that the group will be meeting again soon to discuss their progress. Step 5, Be Consistent in the Classroom In the meantime, be very consistent with this child in the classroom. Stick to the wording of the behavior contract agreement as much as you can. When the child makes good behavior choices, offer praise. When the child makes poor choices, do not be apologetic; if needed, pull out the contract and review the terms that the child agreed upon. Emphasize the positive consequences that can come as a result of good behavior and enforce any negative consequences of the childs bad behavior that you agreed upon in the contract.   Step 6, Be Patient and Trust the Plan Most of all, be patient. Do not give up on this child. Misbehaved children often need extra love and positive attention and your investment in their well-being can go a long way.   In Conclusion You might be surprised at the huge feeling of relief that all involved parties feel just by having an agreed-upon plan. Use your teachers intuition to start yourself on a more peaceful and productive path with this child.

Q5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Q5 - Essay Example Poorly planned information systems also increase the costs of operation or else the customer requirements may not been met. This leads to dissatisfaction among clients and hence the organization can not maintain competitiveness in the market. Moreover, poor planning also leads to the existence of information systems in the organization that are not in use, not because they are spoiled but because the organization does not need them (Benaroch, 2002). Poor planning leads to failure especially when the organization does not have effective mechanisms for maintenance and supporting the information systems. Without the appropriate plans, the organization might not be capable of maintaining adequate support for consistent working with the system. It might result in to losses and misunderstanding among the MIS staff and the general organizational managers since blameworthiness is usually placed on those involved in the application of information systems rather than the planners. For example, the employees in charge of the control room are blamed for the poor performance of the information systems especially since they interact directly with the clients whose dissatisfaction is often attributed to incompetence among these staff. Such blames are mistaken and are all as a result of poor planning (Tipon et. Al 2001) The choice of the source of decision support systems in an organization is significant to their effectiveness in enhancing organizational performance. The pros of purchasing the DSS from vendors are many. First, the cost of purchasing the DSS is far much lower than in-house development especially due to the fact that the organization does not have to employ experts to develop the systems. The costs that could otherwise be incurred in the organization for developing the systems can be used for other purposes in the organization. On the other hand, outsourcing presents the organization with a wide range of DSS developers applying various technologies, which

Critical issue of global health Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical issue of global health - Assignment Example The data struck me, based on rationale, because health has emerged to be a global issue and global efforts, that may include transfer of resources to deserving areas could be necessary. This would suggest distribution of resources to such areas as Africa and asia in order to help combat health care problems. on the contrary, a barrier seems to exist and developed countries seems to be solving their healthcare concerns and not extending resources to developing countries (World Health Organization, 2006). Variation in burden of disease across nations and regions also supports the difference in need and resource allocation and identifies lack of global efforts in healthcare, despite the suggested need (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2014). Such a variation identifies regional and national efforts and shortages, not global, and yet some data identifies these factors to be global. O’Brien and Gostin (2011) explains that shortage in healthcare workers is a global crisis, undermining the reported regional imbalance in the primary data. The inconsistency makes the data striking because of either possible dynamism in the sector that could have occurred between times of the articles’ publication or unreliability of existing data on healthcare issues. the inconsistency therefore establishes need for a new study on the

Theoretical approach Essay Example for Free

Theoretical approach Essay The use of a theoretical approach to explain a phenomenon in the society is not uncommon. For this term paper the writer is required to use five theories to answer five moral questions given. One the theory is distributive justice. This theory has to do with justice in the allocation of goods in the society. It aims at reducing inequalities that occur unintentionally and it is guided by several factors. The amount of goods to be distributed, how they will be used and how they will be divided which in essence means it deals with ensuring the outcomes and the consequences of the allocation of goods in society are just. The other theory that will be applied in this term paper is the moral rights theory which entails the rights held by developers of copyrighted materials, the right to publish a book with a pseudonym among other rights. These rights are not anchored solely on law or people’s customs or beliefs they are just natural rights. The virtue of ethics is an approach that focuses on a moral agent’s character but not so much on the rules or the consequences. An action is thereby right or wrong due to what a character does not because of the consequences of their actions. Using this theory an individual will be able to discern whether the definition of what is considered ‘green’ should be standardized. The other theories that will be used to look at the Moral Issue Questions in depth are the utilitarianism and the ethics of care theories. Utilitarian approach advocates for the action that brings the most pleasure to the people. The outcome of an action therefore becomes very important since the results are measured by looking at the levels of satisfaction or dissatisfaction in the general public. The ethics of care theory on the other hand is an approach that looks at action being either right or wrong. This theory advocates for the interests of the people who are vulnerable to warrant special consideration and these people should be protected form harm. These five approaches will be used to look at the moral issues that the scenarios presented pose and the best answer to the MIQ based on those theories. Distributive Justice MIQ. Who should regulate corporate compensation? Defining excessive pay Investment advisors have been known to overcharge their clients for the services rendered. In this case Oakmark family of mutual funds are alleging that the manager of funds from Harris Associates charged the family double the amounts charged for the same services extended to other clients thereby violating their fiduciary duty (Barnes Mufson 2009). The family wants the court to determine if they have a legal claim and how much Harris associates should pay as compensation. The case creates many dilemmas and has myriad consequencies not just on the U. S. Supreme court but also on the political arena as well. The mutual funds field being as competitive as it is the Harris Associates feel mutual funds investors are free to scout the market and get the best advisor for their needs. Also, the fact that they managed to grow the Oaks Family account as extensive as they did means they have done their job. Despite the Harris Associate defending their actions, the Founder of Vanguard Group and a very influential figure in the mutual funds industry feels that what Harris Associates did was a direct violation of the fiduciary duty and the courts should enforce this duty on investment advisors (Barnes Mufson 2009). According to distributive justice theory the courts should regulate the corporate compensation. Leaving the decision to the investment advisors will propagate the injustices even further. Harris Associates were not just in charging the Oak Family double the amount charged other companies for the same or even lesser services rendered. Therefore the court should ensure that the Oak’s get justice and are fully compensated. This is because as the mutual funds industry grows most investment advisors are aligning their loyalties to suit themselves and the government should step in and protect the rights of the investors. Moral Rights MIQ. Should the government penalize Bank of America for accepting bail out money only to pay it back ahead of schedule in order to attract CEO with lucrative pay and benefits? The Federal Government gives corporations bailouts with several conditions which are basically to do with the control and effective running of the a bailout beneficiary. The Bank of America after benefiting from the government bailout is finding it challenging running its operations with the interference of the government. Therefore it has decided to repay the taxpayer aid extended by the government during the financial crisis before the payment periods is over to free itself of any direct government interference. Being free of government debt the company will then be in a position to attract a Chief Executive Officer after the current chief retires since as things stand now most are shying away from working in the corporation due to the present government interference (Appelbaum 2009). According to Appelbaum (2009) the government will not accept the repayment until the Bank can ascertain it is in sound economic health and has stabilized. The bailout was due to a poor expansion decision made by the then Chief Executive. The much needed bailout came but left the bank under the mercy of the government. This government involvement has really affected the search for a new Chief since it has increased the scrutiny of the banks activities and now all the decisions the bank officials make have to be analyzed by the federal government. The government’s intentions bailing out the bank were noble as it was safeguarding one of the countries big economic players and it had to make sure that the bank did not sink to the quagmire again in future. By virtue of the bailout the government therefore owns the corporation since it saved it from a total collapse. According to Moral rights theory the government has to scrutinize all the decisions made in the past and in the present as it has a right by virtue of the money loaned. The government is not penalizing the bank for accepting the bailout money it is just ensuring the situation never happens again. A corporations chief should be versatile enough to work under all conditions and therefore by shying away from a lucrative position because ones activities will be scrutinized by a rightful owner according to the moral rights theorists is not right. The government as a developer has a natural right over the bank and all its undertakings. Therefore the government is justified according to this theory to penalize the bank. Utilitarianism MIQ. Should future space programs be privatized? Private Enterprises Ticket to Fly Into Space According Achenbach (2009) there is the possibility that a time is coming whereby going to the moon or to outer space will be as easy as flying to another destination is today. This is because the notion of privatizing spaceflight is looking more and lucrative each day. The American government is finding it challenging factoring in all the activities of NASA in the budget. A committee was formed by President Obama led by a retired aerospace executive Norman Augustine to evaluate and advise the president on the best course of action to take about NASA. This is because the government is feeling the strain and even according to the Committee there is not enough money for NASA’s 2020 planned trip to the moon. The budget for future spaceflights has been reduced. The committee recommended changes in strategies employed by NASA and proposed NASA looks into or explores other cheaper exploration opportunities. The biggest dilemma has to do with the Ares 1 rocket whose maintenance cost has been very high and the committee has proposed a cancellation should be considered. This creates other complications like individuals loosing their livelihoods and some other security implications. The only way to deal with scraping off the Ares 1 is considering commercial spaceflight (Achenbach 2009). This means charging those that want to experience a trip to space. This way doors would be open to include private players in the industry. Some people are of the opinion that canceling the trip to the moon in 2020 will derail the plans to go Mars and the government should instead look into other recommendations (Achenbach 2009). The utilitarianism approach advocates for the decision that fosters the most pleasurable result for the majority. There are many alternatives to be looked at in this situation with NASA and all the alternatives have their pros and cons. Through the utilitarianism approach the spaceflight should be privatized. This will open up doors to all those interested companies to invest in this industry. This will encourage creativity and give a chance to the interested members of public a chance to visit space. Privatizing the spaceflights will ease the financial burden on the government which presently finances all NASA’s activities. This money could be put to other urgent needs. The private players will be happy as they can now make money independent of the government by flying astronauts to space commercially. Virtue ethics MIQ. Should there be strict guidelines and definitions on what is considered green meats and fish used in restaurants Most people are becoming very health and environmentally conscious and will only consume those products that are perceived to be inline with their ideals. In order to keep up with this trend entrepreneurs are also sourcing for raw materials from producers who use environmentally friendly methods to grow or rear their produce. This health and environmental platform is what Founding Farmers Restaurant anchored its business on. On its menu it had advertised for ‘green cuisines’ as its specialty (Black 2009). On close scrutiny as the business continued to thrive the restaurant started to deviate from its mission statement and selling products produced in environmentally degrading situations but claiming on the menu it was committed serving ‘green’ food. With growth it became very difficult to source for produce from small family farms and still turn a profit. This is because these farmers sell their products at higher prices than large scale producers as they do not benefit from economies of scale. Also, their supplies are not reliable and sometimes their produce is affected by the seasonal production. The management of Founding Farmers defended their decision to source for its produce form large scale producers by maintaining that in other areas the restaurant was fully ‘green’ (Black 2009). The lack of clear definition on what qualifies as ‘green’ or in other words sustainable foods leaves a lot of grey areas in which some of these entrepreneurs can get away with not offering the customer exactly what they need. Some restaurants like Equinox have managed to run their business by fully supporting family farms which is expensive on their part but they are committed to the course. Founding Fathers on the other hand try as much as possible and the effort is appreciated by many but they have overtime misled customers with their menu about the authenticity of their products. This is because they do not get all their meat from family farms neither are their vegetables from the family farms but they vouch for the quality by alluding that the end justifies the means (Black 2009). According to the virtue ethics theory regardless of the outcomes being good they unfortunately have no basis in establishing whether an action was right or wrong. Therefore what the Founding Farmers are doing remains morally wrong whether the food served in the restaurant is healthy or not. The actions of the managers of the business source for the produce from farms whose practices are in question but the restaurant sells its products buy claiming it got its produce from small scale family farms. Even if their servings are healthy they are not entirely ‘green’. Therefore there should be strict guidelines and definitions on what is considered ‘green’ meats and fish served in restaurants as Founding Farmers has been misleading the public. Ethics of care MIQ. Should the government allow for NBC and Comcast merge? A new kind of company, a new challenge for feds Access to information is very important therefore a situation where this access to information can be controlled by a single company poses a security risk to the country and to the public (Kang 2009). The discussions of a possible merger between Comcast and NBC has definitely caught people’s attention since Comcast is among the largest companies dealing with the provision of internet services whereas NBC is one of the largest television network. This means merging the internet with television thus the information that people have access to online and through the cable is the same. Presently there is information that is accessible through the television only and not available online. For instance in a situation whereby the internet providers feel that the information is too controversial and would affect them negatively thus they do not post it online but the same is revealed through cable. If the two are merged the general public would have access to the same information and this reduces the idea of watchdogs. Therefore as the two would be one it means looking out for each other thus movies produced by NBC would be available online as well without being. In essence the situation poses a very high security risk to the people and there is the possibility of serious exploitation of the general public (Kang 2009). The ethics of care approach advocates for the rights of vulnerable groups to be looked out for as they have no way doing it themselves. The government should not therefore allow NBC and Comcast to merge since this would mean limiting the information the people have on important issues. Reference List Achenbach, J. , (2009). Panel May Urge Strapped NASA To Outsource Commercial Flights. Washington Post; Sep, 5th 2009. Appelbaum, B. , (2009). Bank of America to repay U. S. : Firm will be first to reimburse taxpayers completely for bailout. Washington Post; Dec, 3rd 2009. Barnes, R. Mufson, S. , (2009). Defining excessive pay: Investor case may hint at high court approach to compensation. Washington Post; Nov, 1st 2009. Black, J. , (2009). Green cuisine not always as ordered: Founding Farmers still strives for goal of sustainable food. Washington Post; Dec 7th, 2009. Kang, C. , (2009). A new kind of company, a new challenge for feds. Washington Post; 27th, 2009.

Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Essay -- sexuality, biology, ch

In today’s day in age, different sexualities and gender identities are quickly becoming more accepted in mainstream society. Despite this change, there are many people who believe that having a different sexual orientation or gender identity is a choice that is frowned upon. In order to refute this belief, research and biology of the brain is necessary. Researching the brain on the basis of sexuality is a fairly new topic of discussion because it is somewhat difficult and confusing. This paper will explore the different identities of gender, sex and sexual orientation and the main biological reasons behind these. There is also some validity of different sexual orientations and identities through the evidence of sexual disorders like Klinefelter’s and Turner’s Syndrome and gender dysphoria. In order to discuss the biology of gender identity and sexual orientation, it is necessary to first examine the differences between multiple definitions that are often mistakenly interchanged: sex, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Sexual orientation is defined by LeVay (2011) as â€Å"the trait that predisposes us to experience sexual attraction to people of the same sex as ourselves, to persons of the other sex, or to both sexes† (p. 1). The typical categories of sexual orientation are homosexual, heterosexual and bisexual. Vrangalova and Savin-Williams (2012) found that most people identify as heterosexual, but there are also groups of people that identify as mostly heterosexual and mostly gay within the three traditional categories (p. 89). This is to say that there are not three concrete groups, but sexual orientation is a continuum and one can even fluctuate on it over time. LeVay (2011) also defines gender as â€Å"the ... ...ved October 9, 2015 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/klinefelter-syndrome/DS01057. Swaab, D. F. & Garcia-Falgueras, A. (2009). Sexual differentiation of the human brain in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation. Functional Neurology, 24(1), 17-28. Turner Syndrome Society. (2011). Learn about TS: Fact Sheet. Turner Syndrome Society of the United States. Retrieved October 9, 2015 from http://turnersyndrome.org/learn-about-ts/fact-sheet Vrangalova, Z., & Savin-Williams, R. C. (2012). Mostly heterosexual and mostly gay/lesbian: Evidence for new sexual orientation identities. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41, 85-101. doi: 10.1007/s10505- 012-9921-y. Zhang, S., Liu, Y., & Rao, Y. (2013). Serotonin signaling in the brain of adult female mice is required for sexual preference. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(24), 9968-9973.

Early Religion Essay

Religion is something unique to a man. It makes us different from any other animals. Nowadays, religion has a great impact on man’s life. It one of the major factors why man still manage to survive in this cruel and unfair life. It helps man to keep holding on especially in times of down. It is something man can lean on. But those religions we are affiliated today are not the exact same religion in the early times. Even the simplest religion has a very complex history indeed. Religions have developed over thousands of years ago due to its adaptation to environmental changes such as social and ecological (Hopfe and Woodcraft, p. 15) Although archaeologists and anthropologists have found remains and of ancient people and society, still, evidences for early religions were hard to interpret. Writings were very few because they don’t actually write in their times. They preferred vocal communication. Sad to say but these gave us limited knowledge of early religions. However, their arts and symbols somehow gave little information about their religion. There was also transmission of myths from one generation to another. Stories about gods’ relationship with man are common to every religion. These stories are myths telling the truth about the religion. It helps man visualize abstract concepts (Hopfe and Woodcraft, p. 25). Like every other religion today, early religion also has initiation. After proper training, a man or woman will be initiated which serve as the end of their social cohesion and individual fulfillment (Ellwood and McGraw, p. 31. ). Shamans have a big role in spirituality of early religion. They are believed to have special powers like healing and confronting gods. Ceremonies and rituals that went with hunting and gathering were also present (Ellwood and McGraw, p. 49). Early religion, even somehow have a lot of difference with today’s religion, have shaped the lives of early people. Just like today, religion is a part of their everyday lives. Whatever the differences they may have, religion still have one good reason for existence—guidance to mankind. References: Ellwood, Robert S. and McGraw, Barbara A. Many Peoples, Many Faiths: Women and Men in the World Religions, Seventh Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2002 Hopfe, Lewis M. and Woodcraft, Mark R. Religions of the World, Eighth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2001

Evolution on Tasmainian Devils Essay

The world’s largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, the Tasmanian devil has a thick-set, squat build, with a relatively large, broad head and short, thick tail. The fur is wholly black, but white markings often occur on the rump and chest. Body size also varies greatly, depending on the diet and habitat. Adult males are usually larger than adult females. Devils once occurred on mainland Australia, but have been confined to Tasmania since pre-European times. The survival of Tasmanian Devils is threatened by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), and the species is now listed as Endangered. Devil facial tumour disease emerged in 1996 and causes tumours around in and around the mouth, face and neck and sometimes other parts of the Devils. The disease develops rapidly and is fatal: affected animals die within six months of the lesions first appearing. DFTD is contagious – the cancer cells are spread by biting during feeding and mating. It has spread across approximately 60% of Tasmania and has caused a rapid decline in wild Devil populations. Characteristics of Tasmanian devil cells have fourteen chromosomes, while the oldest-known strain of the tumour cells contains thirteen chromosomes, nine of which are recognizable and four of which are mutated. More recently-evolved strains have an additional mutant marker chromosome, for a total of fourteen chromosomes. The karyotype anomalies of DFTD cells are similar to those of cancer cells from canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT), a cancer of dogs that is transmitted between canines by physical contact. DFTD cells are not only genetically identical to each other, but also genetically distinct from their hosts, and from all known Tasmanian devils. The cancer originated in a single female individual and spread, rather than arising separately within each individual. Later the devil developed tumours from lesions caused by infected devil’s bites, confirming that the disease is spread by allograft, and that the normal methods of transmission include biting, scratching, and aggressive sexual activity between individuals. Infectious facial cancer may be able to spread because of low diversity in devil immune genes. The same genes are also found in the tumours, so the devil’s immune system does not recognise the tumour cells as foreign. There are at least four or more strains of the cancer, showing that it is evolving, and may become more virulent. The strains may also complicate attempts to develop a vaccine, and the mutation of the cancer may mean that it could spread to other related species. Devil facial tumour disease was originated in the Schwann cells, of a single devil, most likely a female. Schwann cells are found in the peripheral nervous system, and produce myelin and other proteins essential for the functions of nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system. The researchers sampled 25 tumours and found that the tumours were genetically identical. Several specific markers were identified which may enable veterinarians to more easily distinguish DFTD from other types of cancer, and might eventually help identify a genetic pathway that can be targeted to treat it. Due to the decreased life expectancy of the devils due to DFTD, they have begun breeding at younger ages in the wild, with reports that many only live to participate in one breeding cycle. Tasmanian devils have changed their breeding habits in response to the disease. Females previously started breeding at the age of two, then annually for about three more years until dying normally. Now they commonly breed at the age of one, and die of tumours shortly thereafter. It is speculated that the disease is spread by devils biting each other during the mating season. Social interactions have been seen spreading DFTD. It is one of three known contagious cancers. Wild Tasmanian devil populations are being monitored to track the spread of the disease and to identify changes in disease prevalence. To determine where the presence of the disease is and determine the number of affected animals. Areas are visited repeatedly to characterise the spread of the disease over time. Field workers are also testing the effectiveness by trapping and removing diseased devils. It is hoped that the removal of diseased devils from wild populations should decrease disease prevalence and allow more devils to survive beyond their young years and breed. At present with the population reduced by 60% since 1996, if a cure is not found then scientists predict they will become extinct by 2035. Scientists and vets are working to find out how the disease can be stopped. Meanwhile, healthy pairs of Tasmanian devils have been moved to the mainland to breed in captivity. When Tasmania is once again disease free, those devils will be released into the wild.

Brazil nuts reproduction ecological report Essays - Free Essays

Brazil nuts reproduction ecological report Essays - Free Essays Brazil nuts reproduction ecological report Dr. Alan Rizzo IB Biology SL Y1 January 13, 2014 Brazil nuts reproduction ecological report Brazil nuts contain exceptional nutritious elements and can only be harvested in the Amazon forest of Brazil. Each Brazil nut tree towers high up to 200 feet; its branches provide habitat and food for other animals. Despite the fact in which only those Brazil nut trees that grow in undisturbed forests bear fruit, their reproduction has high dependency on other organisms of the forest. In accordance to my research, there are two main organisms that every Brazil nut tree depends on for its own reproduction: the orchid Coryanthes vasquezii and the agouti of genus Dasyprocta. Only an insect strong enough to lift the coiled hood on the flower can pollinate Brazil nuts and with a tongue long enough to reach the complex flower spiral. Nut production depends on the presence of Coryanthes vasquezii, an orchid that attracts long-tongued male orchid bees of genus Euglossa, with its scent that male bees need to attract females. The large female long-tongued orchid bees then pollinate the Brazil nut trees. If there is no orchid, the bees will not mate, and the lack of bees means that Brazil nut trees will not get pollinated. Brazil nut fruits will take 14 months to mature after the pollination. Each fruit has a diameter of 10 to 15 cm and weighs up to 2 kg, which is called Ourio. Its shell, similar to wood, is 8 to 12 mm of thickness, and it has about 8 to 24 seeds, which are the Brazil nuts, inside. The agoutis, South American rodents that appear similarly to large guinea pigs, possess the ability to penetrate the hard-rock case of Brazil nut fruits. Their small and chiseled teeth crack open Brazil nut pods. They eat some of the nuts before burying them for future meals. When those nuts are forgotten, they stay dormant for years in nature before finding optimal conditions to germinate, and grow into a new Brazil nut tree.

How To Pronounce Swath and Swathe

How To Pronounce Swath and Swathe How To Pronounce Swath and Swathe How To Pronounce Swath and Swathe By Maeve Maddox When I wrote a post on the confusion between the meanings of the nouns swath and swatch, I discovered that considerable disagreement exists regarding the pronunciation of the noun swath and the verb swathe. NOTE: The noun swath denotes the narrow path of cut grass made by a scythe or mower. The verb swathe means â€Å"to wrap up, swaddle or bandage.† If all you want from this article is to know how to pronounce swath and swathe, please skip the middle and read the part that begins, â€Å"My advice to speakers.† If like me you enjoy exploring changes in pronunciation, read the middle as well. Daniel Jones Pronouncing Dictionary This British reference, published 1967, gives one pronunciation for the spelling swath: /swÉ”Ë ÃŽ ¸/ [swawth] and one for swathe: /sweÉ ªÃƒ °/ [swayth]. Note: The spellings between square brackets are for readers unfamiliar with the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols. Plain a represents the broad a of father. Plain th represents the unvoiced sound of th heard in thin. Th represents the voiced sound of th heard in then. Ay represents the long a heard in late. Oxford English Dictionary For the verb swathe, the OED shows /sweÉ ªÃƒ °/ [swayth] as both British and US pronunciation. For the noun swath, the OED shows /swÉ’Î ¸/ [swath] for both British and US pronunciation. It gives /swÉ’Ã °/ [swath] as a variant US pronunciation. The spelling swathe is noted as a variant spelling of the noun swath. Merriam-Webster Unabridged The main entry for the noun shows the spelling swath, followed by an audio pronunciation that models broad a with voiced th: /swÉ’Î ¸/ [swath]. The spelling swathe is given as a variant spelling, but the pronunciation modeled for it on the audio is /swÉ’Ã °/ [swath]. Dictionary.com The noun swath is shown with the pronunciation /swÉ’Î ¸/ [swath]. Two pronunciations are given for the verb swathe: â€Å"/swÉ’Ã °/ [swath] or /sweÉ ªÃƒ °/ [swayth].† Howjsay.com This site usually gives the British pronunciation of a word first, followed by US pronunciation is applicable. However, the principal pronunciation given for swath is not OED’s /swÉ’Î ¸/ [swath] but voiced /sweÉ ªÃƒ °/ [swayth]. Four â€Å"American† pronunciations are given: [swath], [swath], [sworth], and [sworth]. No doubt about it, English speakers have problems with swath and swathe. Charles Elster (The Big Book of Beastly Pronunciation) devotes nearly an entire page to the pronunciation of the verb swathe. He begins by showing [swayth] as the â€Å"traditional† pronunciation, acknowledging that the word is â€Å"now often† heard pronounced as [swath]. He prefaces his discussion by lamenting: I find it nothing short of remarkable that- viewed from the perspective of the dictionaries- a pronunciation that has prevailed in cultivated speech for more than 150 years can be replaced, seemingly overnight, by a newly minted variant that no authority has recognized, rejected, or even remarked upon. He blames Merriam-Webster for the aberration, pointing out that in 1961, â€Å"in an astonishing bit of lexicographic legerdemain,† Webster’s Third Edition â€Å"gave priority to the heretofore unknown and unbaptized SWATH and labeled the traditional SWAYTH â€Å"infrequent.† He ends his rant with a reluctant acceptance of broad a for the verb as well as for the noun, but pleads that speakers keep the voiced th: However you choose to pronounce the a, do not, under any circumstances, pronounce the th with a dental hiss as in breath and death. It must be voiced, as in seethe, breathe, and rather. My advice to speakers who are not yet set in their ways regarding swath and swathe is this: If you mean the noun, spell it swath and pronounce it /swÉ’Î ¸/ [swath]. Example: â€Å"The mower cut a swath six feet wide.† If you intend the verb, spell it swathe and pronounce it to rhyme with bathe. Example: â€Å"Do not swathe the baby too tightly.† Note: The spelling swathe [pronounced /sweÉ ªÃƒ °/ [swayth] can be used as noun to mean â€Å"a band of linen or other fabric used to wrap something; a length of fabric.† British author Marjorie Eccles uses swathe as a noun in her mystery The Superintendent’s Daughter (1999): Abigail eased her waybetween the stands of wallpaper books and rolls of furnishing fabrics jostling modern and antique pieces of furniture. Swathes of rich, stained-glass-coloured old silk and velvet lay side by side with currently fashionable jujube-coloured cottons, lemon and lime and orange. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply with34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better Writer50 Tips on How to Write Good

Micro economics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Micro economics - Term Paper Example Minimum wage is also controlled by local and state governments, which implies that different states in the US may have different statutory minimum wages. While the statutory minimum wage has significant benefits on workers, it is nevertheless known to have some economic effects on businesses, local employment, and individuals. This paper entails minimum wage in the United States and the associated effects. By July 2009, the US federal government had set an overall minimum wage of at least $7.25 per hour. On the contrary, some municipalities and states in the same country had set minimum wage levels slightly higher than the federal government statutory minimum wage level. In the Washington State for instance, the minimum wage level was set at $9.32 per hour by January 2014 (Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 2014). Connecticut passed legislation in 2014, on March 26, that advocated for the raise of minimum wage to $10.10 from $8.7 by 2017. It was the first state in the United States to address the call by President Obama to increase minimum wage in the country. Further, Seattle City Council, in Washington passed an ordinance on June 2 2014 to increase the city’s minimum wage to $15 per hour (New York Times Editorial Board, 2014). This legislation placed the city in the topmost position regarding the highest minimum wage in the entire country. The overall minimum in the United States wage has remained as $7.25 since it was re-set in 2009, specifically on July 24. This increase was basically the third and the last step of the US Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, which had become a low in 2007, on 25th May. It was held by the Supreme Court that this federal minimum wage was constitutional and hardly exceeds the Commerce Cause’s scope in the United States v. Darby Lumber Co. ( U.S. v. DARBY, 312 U.S. 100 (1941) ). Nevertheless, some of the U.S.

Management accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Management accounting - Essay Example 20-25, 2003). The type, number, or volume of the products does not directly drive these costs. Several costs even within a factory are questionable for the same reason. Moreover, substantial material vendors and customer also impel quite a few costs. â€Å"In fact there is no single correct (product) cost figure† (Walker, 22, 1999). Costs centers hold records of the financial transactions of the organizations, which they use to calculate their product costs. Several methods for this exist where different organizations may employ unique methods. The simplest of the aforementioned methods for product costing, employs only direct costs. Earlier, labor costs received greater importance. Companies carried out everything manually. The number of employees involved dictated the output volume. Then came the time when machines began to substitute labour in production. This progress posed a problem to the prevailing costing method because most of the machine costs are depreciation costs and are not comparable to direct labor costs (Fritzsch, pp. 83-89, 1997). Organizations and experts highlighted several more weaknesses of the traditional accounting system because it was not compatible with the development of the new business methods. To overcome the weaknesses of the simple product costing method, accounting experts introduced standard costing. Standard costing method uses Bill of Material (BOM) and the capacity demand of the product to calculate the product cost. To calculate direct costs, the accountant considers raw material costs and labor costs, as incurred per unit of production. Whereas, to calculate indirect costs, they use the product of multiplier factors (predetermined rates) and the direct costs (Broadbent et al., pp. 31-37, 2003). Although standard costing is an easy and appropriate way for actual cost follow-up, it may lead to inappropriate decisions when used erroneously in future planning. The basic issue with standard product costing is that it do es not provide sufficient information to facilitate the user to control the overheads and other indirect costs related to the product. For instance, accounting experts express the production overheads multiplier as an additional percentage of the product direct cost. Recursive calculations from past accounting figures drive this value and it usually allows a rising trend for overheads when managers use it as a standard for a new product (Shank & Fisher, 77, 1999). Having seen the drawbacks of simple and standard costing systems, experts in the field have been attempting to formulate generic costing methods since decades. For example, traditional costing methods include only the manufacturing costs in the total unit cost of each product. However, the new concepts in cost management require the accountants to cross the usual limits of product costing methods by applying all organizational costs in a more applicable and informative way and attaching them to cost objects such as a proce ss, product, customer etc (Broadbent et al., pp. 41-48, 2003). The design of such advance cost management system (ACMS) requires companies to integrate the new concepts practically in the business processes and operating systems (Schnoebelen, 52, 1993a).  Ã¢â‚¬ËœActivity-based costing’ is one of such advance cost management systems. Activity based costing technique is a way of assigning

Review of The Blast in Centralia No. 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Review of The Blast in Centralia No. 5 - Essay Example As seen in the article by Martin (1948), Driscoll O. Scanlan- thirteen years of age- was among the inspectors of the mine as appointed by the then governor, Dwight H. Green. Martin (1948) continues to argue that Scanlan was committed to his work and effortlessly aimed at ensuring that the mining laws would be enforced; thus, security and high output of the miners' efforts. As contrasted to Scanlan, the other miners were reluctant and passed timing chatting throughout their working time (Martin, 1948). As the leader, Scanlan raised alarm over the laxity portrayed by the miners, recommending that other miners need to be appointed, and that the mine was the worst in the entire district. Besides the issues on the side of the miners, the mine was faced with other challenges that entailed the general infrastructure of the mine. Martin (1948) says that Scanlan recommended cleaning of the passage ways as well as making use of clay as opposed to filling of shots using coal dust. Additionally, Martin (1948) indicates that Scanlan also advocated for the shutting down of the mine for renovation and maintenance purposes. From the above case, it is valid to argue that there a lot of issues surrounding this case, ranging from administration to political. With the help of the work and compilation by Wilson Woodrow on The study of Administration, and Cropf’s American public administration: Public service for the 21st century, this section shall attempt to analyze what went wrong in the case and how politics influenced the occurrence of this disaster, and how the same would have been easily avoided. Wilson (1886) indicates that for any organization to be successful, the management must shift lots of their energy in improving the personnel, so as they can attain efficiency. As seen in the case of Centralia, this was a failure on the side of the governor’s administration as he ignored the call by the head of the mine on the incompetence of the miners who spent a majo rity of their time gossiping and wasting a lot of time, which would have been used in boosting the output of the mine. The organization methods and follow-up mechanisms, which are key in administration as seen in the argument by Wilson (1886), were not good enough to improve the personnel in the mine. Secondly, Wilson (1886) says that in any administration system, the government must ensure that they analyze what they can successfully accomplish, and how they can effectively accomplish the same using minimum amounts of funds and less energy. Martin (1948) reports a different case as rock dusting, that has over the years been said to be distressing and not fit for the miners, was applied in the case of Centralia. The government then watches the miners inhaling huge chunks of coal dust, which affects their health. The government, in this case failed as they had no clear plan on how they would deal with the issues in the mine. Probably, one would argue that this is the reason behind th e government assuming the alarms caused by Scanlan, on the poor condition of the mine to operate effectively. This opposes the argument by Wilson (1886) who is of the opinion that administration ought to be a government at work, which seeks attention and immediate action to issues. Wilson (1886) in

Case Study Of Unstable Angina

Case Study Of Unstable Angina The patient in context is a 61 year old male, Mr. X, admitted to hospital in the late evening for a case of unstable angina. Presenting complaints include left-sided chest pain which was less severe than that of his previous admission and localized pain during rest. Absent symptoms are profuse sweating as well as nausea and vomiting, orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dypsnoea, cough and fever. Patients past medical history includes diabetes mellitus and hypertension diagnosed 6 years ago, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) since 3 years ago, for which the last hospital admission was 11 months ago. In the previous admission for IHD, Mr. X also suffered from pneumonia and ventricular failure, his electrocardiogram (ECG) indicated right bundle branch block, his serum troponin I levels were 0.3 ng/mL (normal levels 0-0.1 ng/mL), and his creatinine levels were 5.0 mg/dL (normal for males 0.2-0.6 mg/dL). Mr. X is also afflicted with chronic kidney disease, for which his baseline creatinine dur ing his last admission was 208 ÃŽÂ ¼mol//L. Mr. X has retired from the military and is living with his wife, who monitors his medications and compliance. He used to be a chronic smoker but has stopped smoking 15 years ago. His previous medication history is as below: Drug and Form Strength Frequency Furosemide tabs 40 mg BD Omeprazole tabs 20 mg PRN Amlodipine tabs 10 mg OD Simvastatin tabs 20 mg ON Perindopril tabs 4 mg OD Table 1: Table showing past medications of Mr. X. Mr. X takes no non-prescription medications and has no known drug allergies. On examination he appears to be alert and comfortable on his nasal cannula for delivery of oxygen 3L/min. His blood pressure is 134/81 mmHg, pulse rate is 76 bpm, body temperature 37oC, SpO2 of 99%, abdomen feels soft and non-tender, and no pedal oedema was observed. A blood glucose strip test reveals that Mr. Xs glucose levels were 10.3 mmol/L. Emergency ECG shows right bundle branch block and no ischaemic changes. The tentative diagnosis was unstable angina and further tests were scheduled, including a full blood count (FBC), renal profile (RP), liver function test (LFT), troponin and creatinine (CKMB) investigations, as well as a urine full examination and microscopy (UFEME). The immediate plan was to give Mr. X subcutaneous enoxaparin 60 mg stat and twice daily thereafter, aspirin 75 mg tablets once daily, lovastatin 20 mg tablets once daily, sublingual glyceryl trinitrate when required, and to continue the 3L/min oxygen cannula. Clinical Progress Day 1 Morning Patient was well, free from chest pain, tolerating orally and suffering from no nausea or vomiting. He had minimal shortness of breath (SOB). Troponin I levels were at 0.15 ng/mL and ECG showed no acute or evolving changes. Fasting plasma glucose was at 4.8 mmol/L (within normal range). Secondary dehydration was observed using the skin pinch test, so patient was started on intravenous normal saline drip (3 x 500 mL bag per 24 hours). Patient was found to be anaemic due to pre-existing chronic renal failure. Evening Patient reported mild chest pain and SOB. His troponin I levels were 0.15 ng/mL and other vitals were normal. His creatinine levels were 423 ÃŽÂ ¼mol/L. Day 2 Patient felt comfortable and his vitals were normal. His creatinine levels decreased to 345 ÃŽÂ ¼mol/L. Day 3 Patients condition was well, no chest pain was reported but he was still experiencing some SOB in the morning, which subsided in the afternoon. Patient was put on continuous peritoneal dialysis in the late morning. Patients vitals were normal, and he was taken off enoxaparin in the evening. Day 4 Patient complained of chest pain in the morning, with minimal SOB. His vitals were normal. Subcutaneous enoxaparin 60 mg was given and the IV saline was continued. Lab Findings Urine Biochemical Analysis (Day 1) Investigation values Normal values Protein ++100 mg/dL Glucose negative negative Blood negative Leucocytes +-10 WBC/ÃŽÂ ¼L Ketone negative negative Bile negative negative Urobillinogen normal Specific gravity 1.025 1.003 1.040 pH 5.5 4.6 8.0 Nitrite negative negative Table 2: Results of urine biochemical analysis on Day 1 Lipid Panel Fasting Serum Lipid Plasma total cholesterol / mmol/L 4.5 Desirable Borderline 5.17-6.19 High risk >6.20 Plasma triglyceride / mmol/L 1.27 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Å" Desirable Borderline 1.7-5.64 High risk >5.65 Plasma LDL-cholesterol / mmol/L 2.91 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Å" Desirable Borderline 3.36-4.12 High risk >4.13 Plasma HDL-cholesterol / mmol/L 1.01 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Å" Desirable >1.03 High risk Total cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol 4.5 Desirable Borderline 3.8-5.8 High risk >5.9 Table 3: Results of lipid panel (fasting serum lipid levels). Renal Profile Electrolytes Measured levels on Day 1-1.14am Measured levels on Day 1-12.54am Measured levels on Day 2-10.47am Normal range Urea / mmol/L 22.8 22.4 21.1 2.8-7.2 Sodium / mmol/L 129 128 129 136-146 Potassium / mmol/L 5.3 4.8 4.7 3.5-5.1 Chloride / mmol/L 98 94 101 98-107 Creatinine / ÃŽÂ ¼mol/L 423 398 345 58-96 Table 4: Renal profile of Mr. X showing levels of electrolytes and creatinine. Plasma troponin I 0.15 ng/mL Liver Function Test Measured level Normal range Plasma total protein 81 g/L 66-83 g/L Plasma albumin 34 g/L 35-52 g/L Plasma globulin 47g/L 25-44 g/L A/G ratio 0.7 0.9-1.8 Plasma alkaline phosphatase 119 u/L 30-120 u/L Plasma aspartate transaminase 19 u/L Plasma alanine transaminase 43 u/L à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Plasma total bilirubin 6 ÃŽÂ ¼mol/L 5-21 ÃŽÂ ¼mol/L ESR 47mm/hour à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ 0-20 mm/hour Table 5: Results of liver function test showing protein and liver enzyme levels in plasma. Full Blood Count (FBC) (Beckman Coulter) Cell type Measured level Normal range WBC 9.9109/L 4-10109/L RBC 3.341012/L 3.8-4.81012/L Haemoglobin 95g/L 120-150g/L Haematocrit 0.273L/L 0.36-0.46L/L Mean cell volume 81.8fl. 83-101fl. Mean cell haemoglobin 28.4pg. 27-32pg MCH concentration 347g/L 315-345g/L Platelets 353109/L 150-400109/L RDW 19.4% Neutrophils 3.3 2-7 x109/L Lymphocytes 1.74 1-3 x109/L Monocytes 0.55 0.2-1.0 x109/L Eosinophils 0.21 0.02-0.5 x109/L Basophils 0.03 0.02-0.1 x109/L Table 6: Full blood count of Mr. X. Vital Stats Chart Date Time Blood Pressure/ mmHg Temperature / oC Pulse Rate/ bpm SpO2/ % Blood Glucose levels/ mmol/L Day 0 11.05 pm 140/80 37 91 100 13.9 11.30 pm 137/84 37 80 100 Day 1 8.30 am 130/80 37 70 4.8 (fasting) 3.55 pm 130/70 37 90 10.30 pm 108/64 37 81 Day 2 8.20 am 119/69 37 78 4.50 pm 130/90 37 82 9.6 9.45 pm 140/90 37 80 6.7 Day 3 8.50 am 114/77 37 72 98 6.6 Table 7: Records of vital stats of Mr. X from Day 0 3. Disease Overview Pharmacological Basis of Drug Therapy Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a broad term used to classify a continuum of symptoms and events stemming from acute ischaemic episodes affecting the cardiac muscle.1 This includes unstable angina, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NTEMI), and ST segment elevation infarction. It is usually characterised by chest pain which increases in its severity at rest or with physical exertion. The ischaemic events usually arise from the development of unstable atheromatous plaques,2 which explains the fact that stable angina (due to a stable coronary atheromatous plaque) is not included under this umbrella term. Rupture, ulceration or fissures of the atherosclerotic plaque often leads to formation of a thrombus, causing occlusion of coronary arteries and inadequate blood flow and, subsequently, inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cardiac muscle. This can be precipitated by acute stress factors on the sclerotic cap usually consisting of fibrous material, which is caus ed by local blood flow disturbances or vasospasms3. Unstable angina usually occurs without cardiac muscle damage while myocardial infarction (MI) may occur with or without myocardium damage. The thrombus formed in unstable angina is labile and obstruction is transient, and not a full-on occlusion as would occur in MI.4 Unstable angina occurs at rest and is almost indistinguishable from a non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction except in the severity of cardiac muscle ischaemia. Theoretical definitions of unstable angina would include changes in usual patterns of stable angina after a stable pain-free period, or severe acute anginal pain causing almost total incapacity5, though it is difficult to define it exactly as the term is often used by medical professionals to describe a range of different conditions intermediate between stable angina and MI. The primary clinical symptoms of unstable angina are: sudden occurrence of chest pain that persists for more than 20 minutes which may be felt in other areas such as the jaw, arm, shoulder, neck or back; without cause (as opposed to stable angina which stems from physical exercise); shortness of breath, rapid pulse rate, and sometimes a rapid drop in blood pressure. Patients suffering from an ACS have a high risk of MI and possible even death; immediate hospitalization is often required1 and treatment is of a more urgent nature compared to that of stable angina. It has been suggested by the National Health Service (NHS) Hospital Episode Statistics in 1998 that 1000 out of every million per population is affected with unstable angina, or 10 acute hospital admissions per week.6 On a more recent note, NHS has reported in 2009 that angina affects between 10-15% of women and 10-20% of men aged 65 and above in England.7 Due to the close relationship between unstable angina and coronary events, it is worth noting that the highest averaged rates of cardiovascular events were observed in Glasgow and Belfast (UK), North Karelia and Kuopio (Finland), Newcastle (Australia), and Warsaw (Poland).8 Diagnosis of an unstable angina episode, or any ACS in that matter, is based on several aspects9. Physical symptoms include anginal pain at rest that lasts for 20 minutes or more; new onset angina severely limiting ability of physical activity; or changes in existing angina intensity, frequency or length of attack. One or more of these symptoms are an urgent indication that the patient is suffering from an ACS attack. Upon admission to hospital, ECG and blood tests should be performed to confirm the type of ACS in order to initiate treatment. In unstable angina, the ST segment is not elevated and levels of cardiac enzymes are normal (especially troponin T and I). If the onset of symptoms is unclear as to indicate ACS, a measurement of serum troponin concentration should be carried out 12 hours from presentation to establish the diagnosis.10 Treatment of unstable angina and NSTEMI are similar in terms of pharmacological management; indeed they are at presentation indistinguishable exc ept in terms of the severity and extent of cardiac muscle ischaemia, in which the ischaemia is less severe in unstable angina and less troponin T and I are released into the bloodstream. Antiplatelet agents. Aspirin and clopidogrel are the immediate emergency drugs used in the ambulance, both being antiplatelet drugs. Aspirin is an irreversible inhibitor of arachidonate cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, in which covalent acetylation of the serine moiety in a hydrophobic channel in the enzyme11 reduces synthesis of thromboxane A2 in platelets and prostaglandins in the endothelium. This prevents platelet aggregation and further enlargement of the thrombus formed in the coronary artery. Clopidogrel is an inhibitor of the ADP-dependent activation of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor and prevents the formation of fibrinogen bridges between glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors on the surfaces of platelets11, subsequently preventing platelet activation. Glycoprotein IIB/IIIA receptor antagonists, eg, abxicimab, have the advantage of inhibiting all pathways in the platelet activation process by inhibiting the glycoprotein IIB/IIIA receptor. Anticoagulants. Unfractionated heparin is an activator of antithrombin III, which inhibits the action of thrombin and serine proteases. The heparin also binds to thrombin; the combined effect of this and the heparin-antithrombin complex formed inhibits thrombin, which decreases the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and reduces platelet aggregation. In contrast, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have molecular sizes that are too small to bind to thrombin but still bind to antithrombin III, which inactivates all serine proteases including Factors XIIa, IXa, and Xa11, preventing the coagulation process. Direct thrombin inhibitors such as hirudin and bivalirudin inhibit thrombin reversibly. These agents can bind to free and bound thrombin, thus have the ability to prevent and dissolve preformed clots. Synthetic pentasaccharides (fondaparinux) is a selective indirect inhibitor of Factor Xa. It binds to antithrombin III reversibly, catalyzing the inactivation of Factor Xa12 and inhibit ing the coagulation cascade. Beta blockers. All beta blockers bind to beta-adrenoceptors, competitively antagonizing the action of catecholamines. These drugs block the beta-1 adrenoceptors at the heart, achieving a decreased heart rate and force of cardiac contractions, as well as lowering blood pressure. Atenolol is relatively specific for cardiac beta-1 adrenoceptors and exerts fewer side effects associated with beta-2 adrenoceptor blockade, for example bronchospasm in asthmatics. Nitrates. Organic nitrates mimic the actions of endogenous nitric oxide to relax vascular smooth muscle by increasing the synthesis of cGMP, leading to the dephosphorylation of myosin light chains.11 Vasodilatation of coronary arteries causes increased coronary blood flow and coupled with its effects of decreasing arterial pressure and also cardiac output, the myocardial oxygen consumption is largely reduced. Statins. Also termed HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, these medicines inhibit the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of cholesterol, in which this enzyme converts HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid. ACE inhibitors are diuretics acting on the rennin-angiotensin system which inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and block the production of angiotensin II from angiotensin I. This reduces vascular resistance, increases tissue perfusion, and reduces cardiac afterload. Angiotensin II receptor inhibitors also act on the same system as the ACE inhibitors, except that they block the angiotensin II receptors directly instead of inhibiting their formation. The outcome is the same as above. Evidence for Treatment of the Condition Antiplatelet Agents The SIGN guidelines advocate that aspirin and clopidogrel be given to patients with ECG ischaemic changes or increased levels of cardiac markers; and aspirin is advocated for all patients suffering from ACS. A meta-analysis of 287 randomised trials proves the protective effect of aspirin on patients with unstable angina, halving the rate of cardiovascular events, including death, non-fatal MI and strokes, or also termed the first primary outcome; while in those with an acute MI, it reduces the rate of coronary events by almost a third13. Long-term use of aspirin for these patients was also shown to be a beneficial antiplatelet therapy. According to the same study, reduction of serious vascular events by clopidogrel was 10% compared to aspirin. The combined use of clopidogrel and aspirin as compared with a placebo and aspirin showed significantly higher success rates in reducing occurrences of first primary outcomes (9.3% compared to 11.4%, P On the flipside, although short term studies have shown that antiplatelet medications are effective for patients with renal failure in the prevention of serious vascular events13, the risks of bleeding is increased by renal disease15, posing a possible contraindication for antiplatelets to Mr. X. A clinical study found that treatment for NSTEMI ACS in patients with chronic renal disease (mild to moderate stages) was less aggressive than those with normal renal function, despite the risk that these patients with renal disease would experience greater adverse outcomes from insufficient treatment for ACS compared to the other patient group16. However the available information on adverse effects of antiplatelets on patients with varying degrees of renal disease is limited and it would appear that this would result in the reluctance of medical professionals in using this class of drugs for patients with chronic renal disease as well as ACS. It can be inferred that Mr. X would gain the maximum benefits if his medications were changed to aspirin 300 mg and clopidogrel 300 mg stat and aspirin 75 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg thereafter, in which the patient should be closely monitored for signs of bleeding. Heparins LMWHs A 2003 review of 7 studies involving 11,092 patients with non-ST elevation ACS found that low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) were more effective than unfractionated heparins in reducing MI events, requirement for revascularization procedures, and thrombocytopenia17. No difference in the mortality, recurrent angina, major and minor bleeds were observed in the two types of drugs. A meta-analysis of 12 randomised trials with 17,157 patients involved found that patients who have had a non-ST elevation ACS who were put on aspirin experienced no significant difference in benefits in efficacy (preventing MI or death) or safety (major and minor bleeding complications) when they were put on unfractionated heparin or LMWH17, implicating no difference in the thrombolytic effect in both classes of drugs. These results are partially similar to those of the first review. Another meta-analysis of 2 phase-3 trials comparing enoxaparin and unfractionated heparin, on the other hand, showed a signifi cant (20%) difference in reducing death or severe cardiac ischaemic events18. From an economic point of view, authors of yet another meta-analysis on the subject stated that the cost of LMWH is 3-5 times higher than unfractionated heparin19. From these data it can be concluded that LMWHs does indeed have additional positive treatment outcomes compared to unfractionated heparins22; it does not show significantly decreased side effects (bleeding). Enoxaparin has, though, an increased bleeding effect on patients with renal disease as reported by an investigation of 106 patients, in which total bleeding complications occurred in 22% of normal patients and 51% of patients with impaired renal function (p It is still the drug of choice for patients present with non-ST elevated ACS, and this is applicable to Mr. X with unstable angina. Beta-Blockers Beta-blockers were not prescribed for Mr. X. The SIGN guidelines states that beta-blockers should be the drug of choice for first line treatment of anginal pain in patients with non-ST elevated ACS. A meta-analysis of 5 trials consisting of 4700 patients in all showed a 13% reduction in anginal pain with the use of beta blockers (initially IV then oral for a week) in patients with non-ST elevated, MI-characterised chest pain23. It was stated in the clinical progress Mr. X had chest pain on Day 1 and 4, thus the addition of a beta blocker to his medications would be useful in alleviating his pain. Despite the popular belief that beta-blockers are contraindicated in patients with diabetes mellitus, it is possible to treat these patients using beta-blockers as long as good glycaemic control is achieved and the patient is monitored regularly24. This would further support its use in Mr. X; furthermore, several studies have shown that diabetic patients derive a significant benefit from the use of beta-blockers after an MI, in which diabetic patients had a significantly lower mortality 1 year post-discharge25, total mortality after 3 years, and deaths from cardiac events26. A multicentre randomized trial, the HINT trial, on patients with unstable angina found that metoprolol, a relatively cardioselective beta blocker, reduced occurrence of myocardial ischaemia or progress to MI within 48 hours, indicating that metoprolol has a short term beneficial effect on patients not already taking beta blockers prior to the unstable angina episode27. It has been suggested that beta-blockers be the first line treatment for unstable angina and if patients remain unstable, a calcium channel blocker should be added28. Statins The beneficial effects of statins in reducing mortality and cardiovascular events have been proven by a meta-analysis of large, randomized controlled trials (n=90,056) where coronary artery disease was present or absent29. The positive results were also proven spanning a large range of serum cholesterol levels. Investigations comparing the use of intensive versus moderate doses of statins in the early stages and post-ACS showed positive results: a meta-analysis of 4 large trials (n=27,548) shows a 16% reduction in cardiovascular deaths or MI, as well as a 16% reduction in cardiovascular deaths or coronary events30. This view is shared by another meta-analysis of the same subject of 13 randomised controlled trials which found a decrease in mortality and coronary events after 4 months of treatment31. These data support the use of statins by Mr. X. Nitrates Nitrates have been widely used in relieving pain from unstable angina, despite its lack of clinical evidence in supporting its role in improving survival and reducing the rate of MI and cardiovascular events32. ISIS-433 and GISSI-334 reports no significant difference of the use of glyceryl trinitrate post-MI in reducing the overall mortality; however this may be explained by the fact that more than 50% of patients in the controlled group are also on other forms of nitrate therapy, such as intravenous glyceryl trinitrate. Despite this, nitrates will still be of use for reducing the pain in post-MI patients and those with unstable angina. The BNF advises against the use of nitrates in patients with serious anaemia (Hb Glycaemic control Mr. Xs plasma glucose levels were elevated on the day he was admitted to hospital (13.9 mmol/L). Diabetes mellitus has been proven to be a strong independent risk marker for coronary heart disease: patients with poorly controlled diabetes at hospital admission have a worse outlook on prognosis and future development of cardiovascular events35. The DIGAMI investigation reports that the use of intensive insulin therapy increased long-term prognosis (P=0.011) of patients presenting with hyperglycemia (>11mmol/L) at admission compared with those on standard antidiabetic therapy36. These data support the use of insulin to control the blood glucose levels of Mr. X which were highly increased upon admission. This is also supported by the SIGN guidelines which advocate immediate control of blood glucose is carried out for MI patients with glucose levels of more than 11.0 mmol/L for at least 24 hours. ACE Inhibitors The SIGN guidelines recommend that patients with unstable angina should be given ACE inhibitors as long-term therapy. In patients at high risk of cardiovascular events, ACE inhibitors (ramipril was investigated in a report37) have been proven to reduce overall mortality, MI, and stroke, particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus. Perindopril was found to reduce cardiovascular risk (relative risk reduction =20%, P=0.0003) in a population with stable coronary heart disease in absence of heart failure38 in a double-blinded, randomized multicentre trial involving 13,655 patients. A meta-analysis of the 2 above trials and a third one (PEACE) showed a reduction in overall mortality, cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery bypass surgery by ACE inhibitors39. This demonstrates the benefits of ACE inhibitors in patients with atherosclerosis: as patients who had an ACS event would have a higher rate of cardiovascular events, the po sitive outcomes of ACE inhibitors can perhaps be extrapolated to this population in order to decrease coronary events and improve prognosis. However, the BNF advises caution and close clinical monitoring if ACE inhibitors are to be used in patients with hyponatremia ( Oxygen therapy On admission, Mr. Xs SpO2 was 99% and remained high throughout his stay in the hospital. The use of oxygen therapy is significantly beneficial only in hypoxic patients (with SpO2 Anaemia and Unstable Angina Anaemia can disturb the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand: a decrease in the number of red blood cells can lead to a reduction in the supply of oxygen to the myocardium. Thus correction of the causative factor would be sensible in the treatment of unstable angina for the patient in context. Mr. X was given a combination of ferrous fumarate, vitamin B complex, and folic acid for treatment of his anaemia. From the data in Table 6, it can be seen that Mr. X has low haemoglobin concentrations (95 g/L) and a low mean cell volume (81.8 fl.). To confirm that Mr. X is indeed suffering from iron-deficiency anaemia (as suggested by his treatment medication), three parameters must be established namely the plasma iron, the plasma ferritin, and total iron binding capacity. However, as very few conditions can cause abnormalities in the mean cell volume, and a decreased value is due to iron-deficiency anaemia or thalassemia42, it is safe to assume that Mr. Xs anaemic condition is due to an insufficiency of iron. Iron supplements are given to correct the iron status of the patient, in which the ferrous form given orally is found to be cheap, safe and effective in the majority of patients with iron-deficiency anaemia2. Vitamin B complex and folic acid are only indicated in patients with the respective deficiencies2; there is little evidence that they would be of any significant benefit in patients with iron-deficiency anaemia. Summary Based on the evidence given, Mr. Xs aspirin dose should be changed to 300 mg stat and 75 mg thereafter, and clopidogrel should be added into his medication profile in the same doses. These changes ensure that Mr. X is obtaining sufficient antiplatelet effects from his medications to prevent another attack of unstable angina or even a myocardial infarction. Present drugs that were given for his condition that are suitable and supported by evidences include enoxaparin, lovastatin, insulin, and GTN: these can be safely continued without problems. A beta-blocker (metoprolol tablets) may be given additionally in doses of 50-100 mg as evidences described above have shown that they can be safely used in diabetic patients contrary to popular belief; an ACE inhibitor (perindopril as previously used by Mr. X) may be initiated coupled with regular electrolyte

Analysis of New Social Movement Theory Essay -- Sociology Social Mov

Analysis of New Social Movement Theory Works Cited Not Included In Johnston, Laraà ±a, and Gusfield’s discussion of New Social Movement (NSM) theory, they identify the concept as a â€Å"double-edged sword,† in that is has both related itself to the changing shape of society but also overemphasized the newness of its model, almost divorcing itself from previous social movement theories instead of acknowledging and assessing the similarities between them and integrating what is useful from theories of the past. As its basic framework asserts that social movements now are not as linked to class as they were in the time of the emergence of Marxism and at the height of industrialist society (as Resource Mobilization Theory might stress), new social movement theory succeeds in fitting itself to post-modern and post-industrialist social structure while it fails to explain the situations and changes that it describes. It makes the important point that a new and different society incites new and different movements. However, the language o f the theory has a â€Å"tendency to ‘ontologize,’† as it tries to claim â€Å"more explanatory power than it empirically warranted,† which occasionally makes it an obstacle rather than a tool to analyze the modern face of social movements (Buechler & Cylke 276). Johnston, Laraà ±a, and Gusfield proceed to break down social movements and attribute to them eight characteristics which help clarify what defines a â€Å"new social movement.† The first of these characteristics is the frequently discussed observation that social movements are no longer homogenous in the category of social class, which Johnston, et al. describe as an NSM not bearing a â€Å"clear relation to the structural roles of its participants† (Buechler &... ...on in the Leninist model,† according to Johnston, Laraà ±a, and Gusfield (Buechler & Cylke 278). Overall, New Social Movements are defined by their particular reflections of individualist, post-industrialism, though the basic premises for the formation of movements remain. Individuals have grievances which affect their choices of action and organization. Though collective action is acted out in different ways and reflects a less unified identity formation process, NSM’s bring to bear their effects on society by the sum of the actions of its members, whether those actions are personal or collective, and whether or not ideology is broadly shared. In this way, it may be detrimental to call New Social Movements â€Å"new.† Their context has changed, and so they have changed. The evolution of social movements reflects both their current environment and their roots.