Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Free Essays on Pluralism

The dictionary defines pluralism as â€Å"a form of society in which the members of minority groups maintain their independent cultural traditions.† Pluralism can also be described by the phrase the â€Å"melting pot,† in which a place where races, theories, and cultures are blended together. The United States of America is now a current melting pot and has been for a along time. Currently, the US has European, Mid-Eastern, African, Hispanic, Asian and Native Americans. However to understand the current pluralistic United States of America, you must understand the when the pluralistic idea came to be. By the end of the 19th century, the migration of millions of immigrants from Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Asia migrated to the United States. With millions of immigrants coming into America there was a large increase in urbanization. â€Å"In 1860, there had been 49 cities over 10,000 in population; by 1900 there were 645,† (www.expo98.msu.edu) Still, to some, pluralism presented a problem. There were some wanted to return to the less difficult time of the early nation by stopping immigration, limiting the rights of minorities, and declining the demands of women for an equal rights as men. Throughout history, some Americans, not all, have believed that America should rid the US of these aliens, foreigners, and immigrants. Usually, it was whoever the US was fighting with, that was who the public wanted to rid the US of. For example, when the Japanese attacked the US in Pearl Harbor, all the Japanese-Americans were ripped from their home and sent to refugee camps. They were believed to be spies. Most of these Japanese- Americans were not involved in political happenings, they were born in the United States of America and were American citizens, yet they were treated horribly. However, the idea of pluralism and for what America stands for freedom were gone and their rights lost. Since the September 11 attacks, people have been afr... Free Essays on Pluralism Free Essays on Pluralism The dictionary defines pluralism as â€Å"a form of society in which the members of minority groups maintain their independent cultural traditions.† Pluralism can also be described by the phrase the â€Å"melting pot,† in which a place where races, theories, and cultures are blended together. The United States of America is now a current melting pot and has been for a along time. Currently, the US has European, Mid-Eastern, African, Hispanic, Asian and Native Americans. However to understand the current pluralistic United States of America, you must understand the when the pluralistic idea came to be. By the end of the 19th century, the migration of millions of immigrants from Eastern Europe, Southern Europe and Asia migrated to the United States. With millions of immigrants coming into America there was a large increase in urbanization. â€Å"In 1860, there had been 49 cities over 10,000 in population; by 1900 there were 645,† (www.expo98.msu.edu) Still, to some, pluralism presented a problem. There were some wanted to return to the less difficult time of the early nation by stopping immigration, limiting the rights of minorities, and declining the demands of women for an equal rights as men. Throughout history, some Americans, not all, have believed that America should rid the US of these aliens, foreigners, and immigrants. Usually, it was whoever the US was fighting with, that was who the public wanted to rid the US of. For example, when the Japanese attacked the US in Pearl Harbor, all the Japanese-Americans were ripped from their home and sent to refugee camps. They were believed to be spies. Most of these Japanese- Americans were not involved in political happenings, they were born in the United States of America and were American citizens, yet they were treated horribly. However, the idea of pluralism and for what America stands for freedom were gone and their rights lost. Since the September 11 attacks, people have been afr...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Rainforrest Issues essays

Rainforrest Issues essays Sarah Kay Thomas 02/21/04 Rain Forest Issues Carmel H. Thesis: . I believe it is our duty as a people of this Earth to get involved and save this precious land. Of all the forests in the world, the rainforests provide the most life for both the living organisms that are in the forests themselves and those, which are surrounding it on the rest of the planet. Tropical rainforests are home to more species than all other land biomes combined. Rain Forests are one of the most diverse places on earth, containing the most species of living things, much more than anywhere else, and most have yet to be identified. All rain forests are located on earth's "green belt", the area roughly around the equator that covers all the area from Mexico, the northern area of South America, Africa, India, stretching out to Indonesia, and the northern tip of Australia all the way to New Guinea. This area is heavily covered with lush trees and plants, and is encompassed with life. Is economic development of greater value than the natural resources of the rainforest? The rainforest does provide many resources like timber, for cattle and agriculture, and for subsistence cropping by rainforest inhabitants. It has also provided natural medicines and special compounds that have proven to be very important in medical studies. Although In 1980, the estimated amount of rain forests in the world was 40,000 square miles. This number decreases each year by roughly 1,000 square miles due to construction and the resources being used for profit. Commercial logging is the leading factor in rainforest destruction, both through extraction ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Employee Engagement (MA Human Resource Management) Coursework

Employee Engagement (MA Human Resource Management) - Coursework Example 10 6. Conclusion 12 References 1. Introduction The involvement of the specific organization in a New Global HR programme should be checked by referring primarily to the relevant evidence, meaning the literature related to this issue but also the findings of the empirical research. At the next level, the potentials of the firm to perform well in such project would be evaluated by reviewing the results of similar business projects, i.e. other projects of similar characteristics in which the firm participated, directly or indirectly. The experience of the firm’s managers in HR management plans will be also taken into consideration. It should be noted that the development of secure assumptions regarding the potential performance of the firm in such project would be rather impossible. Only estimations can be made regarding the potentials of the firm for further growth through the specific project. On the other hand, the fact that the firm has successfully entered the global market, through its subsidiaries in India and Taiwan cannot be ignored. The needs of the firm for stabilization in the international marketplace have to be taken into account for deciding whether the engagement in such plan could result to benefits or to losses for the organization. The various implications of the particular plan will be presented and evaluated using the relevant literature. Assumptions are made based on the evidence gathered on the issues under discussion. 2. Employee engagement, role in the facilitation of business purposes In order to understand the role of employee engagement within the organization, especially regarding the facilitation of the business purposes, it would be necessary to refer primarily to the context of employee engagement, i.e. its elements and its mission. The potential forms of employee engagement are presented below; based on the form of employee engagement chosen, a relevant assumption can be produced regarding the role of employee engagement in the facilitation of business purposes. Furthermore, this view will be used in order to decide whether the suggested business plan is expected to perform well – based on its alignment with the needs of the organization but also of the employees, as reflected in their engagement to the organization. In accordance with the literature published on the specific subject, employee engagement is a rather complex concept, which is quite important for the success of business projects. However, in many cases, it is ignored being considered as having just a secondary role in daily business operations. In accordance with Federman (2009) there are four levels of employee engagement: a) at the first level, no attention is given to employee engagement; the needs of the employee are ignored. A high percentage of modern organizations belong to the specific category, about 27%, as Federman (2009, p.2) notes, b) at the second level, employee engagement is considered as just an event. In the cont ext of this thought, the following assumption is developed regarding the employee engagement: employee engagement can be included in the context of an organizational restructuring, as the result of an important change in the organization, for example ‘the change of its president’ (Federman 2009, p.2); however it could not be fully implemented. This means

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

SAQ 1116 Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

SAQ 1116 - Scholarship Essay Example Review and evaluate each method in the context of your own dissertation proposal and justify why you have or have not chosen either method as a means of data collection. While designing a research method, a key question is what should be the number of respondents. In research design, we must consider the tradeoff between efficiency (by increasing no. of respondents) and richness (by increasing depth of our questions) of data. Interviews can be unstructured, focused with more structure or highly structured resembling a questionnaire. Questions asked in an interview can be a 'Pure Inquiry' (What happened), 'Exploratory Diagnostic Inquiry' (What did you do) or even 'Confrontive Inquiry' (Have you thought about doing this). Since answers are in more detail, they provide in-depth or 'qualitative' data. Questionnaires are used generally to ask only 'Highly Structured' questions. Though it is obvious that you do not get much depth or quality answers, the efficiency of data is improved. Since a vast number of cases can be studied, the risk of interviewee bias and other problems can be reduced. Both quantitative and qualitative data offer alternative advantages and benefits that eventually serve the validity and the credibility of the entire research project. However, due to the nature of the dissertation, which requires much exploration, getting more quality and in-depth answers would be more desirable. Therefore, significant weight will be attributed to the qualitative approach, which is 'Interview Technique'. SAQ 13: Briefly review the Action Research and Case Research papers and compare each method as appropriate means of data collection or methodology for your dissertation research project. (500 words approx) Answer: Action Research Action Research (AR) is an approach to research that aims both at taking action and creating knowledge or theory about that action. Action Researcher takes action and is not merely a spectator. However, since AR projects are situation specific, they do not 'aim' to create universal knowledge. At the same time, it may extrapolate to other similar situation. Action Research is highly interactive requiring cooperation between the researchers and the client. AR is used to understand, plan and implement change in the style of working and should be conducted in real time. AR is appropriate when the research question describes an unfolding series of action and an analysis as to how and why these actions could change to improve the working. The Action Researcher needs to act in a facilitative manner to help clients inquire into their own issues and create and implement solutions. An AR cycle comprises three types of steps: 1. A pre-step: to understand the context and its purpose. 2. Six main steps: to gather data, feedback and analyse data, and to plan, implement and evaluate the action. 3. A meta-step to monitor. Case Research Case Research (CR) is based on analysis of a limited

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Use of Acupuncture for Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis Essay Example for Free

Use of Acupuncture for Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis Essay Lateral epiconylitis is a commonly encountered condition resulting from minor injury to the extensor muscles of the forearm, which originate from lateral epicondyle of humerus. This condition is characterized by pain and tenderness over the lateral epicondyle of humerus. Pain is typically present upon the resisted dorsiflexion of the wrist, middle finger or both (Buchbinder, Green Struijs, 2007). Lateral epiconylitis is known by many analogous terms like tennis elbow (TE), rowing elbow, tendonitis of the common extensor origin, peritendonitis of the elbow etc. In the United Kingdom, the incidence of tennis elbow in general practice has been estimated to be about four to seven per 1,000 persons a year (Buchbinder et al). Though TE is a self-resolving condition its symptoms can persist for as long as 18-24 months. Pain of tennis elbow can interfere with normal day to day functioning like carrying objects, lifting and gripping things etc. Though pain of TE can be initially cured with various conservative treatment modalities and rest, it can frequently recur after resumption of activity. Thus TE can cause significant amount of chronic pain and disability, which can lead to considerable morbidity and financial cost (Buchinder et al, 2007). Thus there is a need for an efficient treatment modality for TE. Till date, physicians and physiotherapists are uncertain about the exact etiology and best management option for patients with TE. There are several conventional therapies which are being used for treatment of TE. These therapies are believed to relieve pain, promote tissue healing and improve joint mechanics. These conventional therapies include anti-inflammatory medicines [NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and corticosteroids], physiotherapy interventions (such as stretching and strengthening exercises), cast immobilization, ultrasound therapy, using ice packs, neural stretches, deep friction massages, surgery etc (Trinh, Philips, Ho Damsma, 2004). Various non conventional therapeutic modalities like acupuncture, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation etc have also been used for treatment of TE. In 1992, Labelle et al attempted to perform a quantitative meta-analysis in order to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of above mentioned treatment modalities (both conventional and non-conventional) for patients suffering from TE. They considered the results of 18 clinical trials conducted in the period from 1966 to 1990. From their analysis they concluded that the various randomized and controlled trials, which they had analyzed, were of poor quality and did not provide sufficient scientific evidence to support or oppose the therapeutic benefit of any of these conventional or non-conventional treatment modalities. Labelle et al (1992) did find some weak evidence supporting the beneficial effect of ultrasound therapy in comparison to that of placebo therapy in treatment of patients with TE. More recently, a systematic review of the literature, comprising of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of various treatment options for TE was carried out by Assendelft, Green, Buchbinder, Struijs, Smidt, (2003). They have suggested significant beneficial effect of NSAIDS (both topical and oral) in comparison to placebo in the providing short term relief from pain in patients with TE. However they found little evidence regarding the beneficial effect of NSAIDS (both topical and oral) in providing long term pain relief. While the use of topical NSAIDS was not found to be associated with significant side effects, use of oral NSAIDS, typically aspirin was associated with significant side effects like gastro-intestinal bleeding etc. This review found limited evidence regarding the beneficial effects of steroid injections in comparison to placebo, local anaesthetic agents, elbow strapping or physiotherapy. Assendelft et al also found insufficient evidence to support long term or short term beneficial effect of treatment modalities like acupuncture, physiotherapy exercises, orthoses (elbow strapping), extra corporeal shock wave therapy and surgery. They have recommended long term use of oral and topical NSAIDS and physical therapies (elbow strapping, physiotherapy, etc and avoidance of provoking activities as the first line of treatment, especially in the early stages of the disease.   They have also suggested the use of corticosteroid injections as second line therapy for providing relief from pain. However the pain relief provided by corticosteroids is usually temporary in nature with the pain recurring again after a few months. Thus they have suggested that the patients receiving such therapy should be counselled about not subjecting the extensor muscles to increased activity during the pain-free period resulting from use of corticosteroid injections. On the other hand, Bisset, Paungmali, Vicenzino, Beller,   Herbert, (2005) from their systematic review of literature, comprising of studies evaluating   the effectiveness of   various physical interventions (non pharmaceutical or   non-surgical therapeutic modalities) for treatment of TE have shown short term benefit   with the use of physical interventions like ultrasound therapy, ionisation, and acupuncture. However no evidence of long term benefit due to these therapeutic modalities was observed in this review; benefit due to these interventions was usually seen to last between two to eight weeks. Bisset et al observed insufficient evidence regarding the beneficial effect of manual therapy (involving manipulation of elbow or cervical spine), use of elbow strapping and physiotherapy exercises in the management of TE. They also observed the presence of sufficient evidence that disapproved the beneficial effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and laser therapy in the treatment of TE (both in short term and long term). However they have indicated the requirement of larger studies in future in order to confirm this finding. Since no clinical study till date has been able to demonstrate definite clinical efficacy of any conventional therapeutic modality in treatment of TE, there has been increasing trend towards the use of non-pharmacological treatment modalities, especially acupuncture, since last two decades, for alleviation of chronic pain due to TE. One major advantage of using acupuncture for treating   pain of TE over the conventional anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDS (oral or topical), corticosteroids etc is that it is free from the numerous deleterious   side effects commonly associated with the use of these drugs. Also the evidence supporting the use of these conventional pharmacological interventions is no better than that supporting acupuncture [National Institute of Health (NIH), 1998]. Despite the growing popularity of acupuncture in treatment of pain related to lateral epicondylitis, presently, there is little evidence which confirms the efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of tennis elbow. The studies conducted until now have produced conflicting results. Bisset et al (2005), in their systematic review of literature considered four studies evaluating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in treatment of TE. Three studies out of these four compared acupuncture with placebo whereas one study compared acupuncture with ultrasound. The overall evidence considered in this review supports short term beneficial therapeutic effect of acupuncture over placebo in patients with TE. Two studies, (Fink, Wolkenstein, Karst, Gehrke, 2002; Molsberger Hille, 1994) which compared acupuncture with placebo are described below in details. Fink et al (2002) conducted a study to evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in   treatment of TE. They also tried to compare the therapeutic effects produced by stimulating selected acupuncture points (as defined by traditional Chinese acupuncture) in contrast to those achieved through stimulation at non-specific points (these puncture points were at least 5 cm away from the traditional Chinese acupuncture points). The results of this study indicated that use of acupuncture with correct location and stimulation, in accordance to the recommendations of tradition Chinese acupuncture helped in significantly alleviating the pain, reducing disability of arms, shoulders and hands (measured through DASH questionnaire) and improving the strength of the extensor muscles in the patients suffering from TE. However these therapeutic effects (pain relief and muscle strength) of acupuncture were less evident in long term. In this study, at the time of follow-up after two months, though the overall functioning of the arm was observed to be better in the treatment group as compared to the control group, the differences in pain intensity and muscle strength were no longer found to be significant. The main aim of the study by Molsberger Hille (1994) was to find out whether acupuncture showed an intrinsic analgesic effect even after only one treatment session in comparison to that of placebo treatment for TE pain. In one single session of acupuncture treatment, patients in the treatment group were treated at a non-segmental distal point on the fibulo-tibial joint of the homolateral leg. The painful area of the elbow itself was not needled. The depth of insertion was 2 cm and during the procedure of needling, the patient was asked to move the painful arm. Patients were treated for a total of 5 min. Overall reduction in the pain score was 55.8% in the treatment group and 15% in the placebo group. After one treatment session, 79.2% (19 patients out of 24) patients in the treatment group reported pain relief of at least 50%, whereas in the placebo group only 25% patients (6 patients out of 24) reported pain relief. The average duration of analgesia after one treatment was 20.2 h in the treatment group whereas that after placebo was 1.4 h. All these results show that acupuncture has a statistically significant intrinsic analgesic effect in the clinical treatment of TE pain, which exceeds that of placebo treatment.   Since this study dealt with short term analgesic effects of acupuncture, further studies need to be carried out in future in order to evaluate the long-term therapeutic value of acupuncture for treatment chronic tennis elbow. Davidson et al (2001, cited in Bisset et al, 2005) conducted a study to compare the   therapeutic effect of acupuncture with that of ultrasound treatment in patients suffering from TE. Though significant improvement in two outcome measures i.e. pain reduction and disability prevention were observed in both the groups, no statistically significant differences in terms of these outcome measures were observed between the two groups. Thus this study indicates that there is no difference in therapeutic benefit between ultrasound and acupuncture in patients with TE. However it is difficult to reach to any definite conclusion from the results of a single study. More studies are required in future in order to arrive at a definite conclusion. In a publication by the NIH in 1998, it was determined that the results of various studies conducted till date has been promising enough to support the use of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment or an alternative to classical conventional therapeutic modalities for patients with TE. Trinh, et al (2004) conducted a systematic review of literature regarding use of acupuncture in treatment of TE, using the best evidence synthesis approach (BESA), which aimed at qualitative analysis of clinically homogeneous studies. The results of this review strongly suggested that acupuncture was an effective therapeutic modality for attaining short-term pain relief in patients with TE. Though there was a great deal of clinical heterogeneity between various studies considered in this review, five studies out of six studies considered in this review indicated that acupuncture treatment was more effective compared to placebo treatment. The studies conducted till date have failed to provide us with definite results. This can   be attributed to a variety of factors like: flaws in study design, heterogeneous treatment protocols, small sample size, inherent difficulty in the use of appropriate controls etc (NIH publication, 1998). Selection of method for performing the procedure in control group for these studies poses to be a difficult problem. Method of performing the   procedure in control group is important because the insertion of placebo needles itself results in inherent analgesic effect due to release of local ?-endorphins (opioid like substances), which can influence the outcome of the study too (NIH publication, 1998). Future research is recommended to resolve the issues discussed above. Thus there is a need for large scale, well-designed, multicentric, randomized control trials in future that will use standardized treatment protocol and appropriate methods for performing the procedure in controls. It is evident from the above discussion that various studies which aimed at assessing the   efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of TE had employed different processes for performing acupuncture, in terms of location of puncture points, depth of insertion of needles, the number of needles used, duration of treatment etc. In order to arrive at a definite conclusion regarding the efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of patients with TE and in order to maximize the chances for a successful treatment with acupuncture, there is a need for a uniform, accurate and complete description of the most effective method to be used for performing acupuncture in patients with TE. With this in mind, Webster-Harrison, White Rae (2002) conducted a study in order to develop a standardized treatment protocol for acupuncture therapy in patients with TE. They adopted a modified Delphi’s consensus technique to combine the opinions of fourteen British acupuncture experts into a standardized treatment protocol. This protocol contained eight items pertaining to the treatment of TE using acupuncture and has been described in table 1. The various items considered in this protocol were: selection of acupuncture points; length and diameter of needles used; depth of insertion; duration of treatment; interval between successive treatments; whether the needle should be stimulated or not; the type of response to be achieved upon stimulation and number of treatment cycles needed. Use of this protocol in randomized multicentric trials conducted in future is likely to give accurate results (Webster-Harrison et al). Conclusion From the discussion in this paper it becomes apparent that till date no study in published   literature has been able to demonstrate long term beneficial effects of any pharmacological, surgical or physical therapy in comparison to that of a placebo therapy for treatment of patients with TE. Among various non-pharmacological therapeutic options, acupuncture presents an effective and safe adjunct treatment or an alternative to classical conventional therapeutic modalities, especially in cases where these conventional therapeutic modalities had previously failed (NIH, 1998). Presently, the optimal treatment option for patients with tennis elbow in clinical care largely remains unclear. Acupuncture appears to be a lucrative treatment option for both clinicians and patients. However, the therapeutic benefits provided by use of acupuncture are not supported by sufficient evidence, at present. There is a need for well designed, high quality research studies, especially randomized control trials in future, in order to help in establishing the appropriate place for acupuncture in treatment of patients with TE in modern medical practice. References Assendelft, W., Green, S., Buchbinder, R., Struijs, P., Smidt, N. (2003). Extracts from concise   clinical evidence: Tennis elbow. British Medical Journal, 327, 329-340. Bisset, L., Paungmali, A., Vicenzino, B., Belle, E., Herbert, R.D. (2005). A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on physical interventions for lateral epicondylalgia. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(7), 411 422. Buchinder, R., Green, S., Struijs, P. (2007). Tennis elbow. American Family Physician, 75 (5),   701-702. Retrieved on 30 June 2007 from http://www.aafp.org/afp/20070301/bmj.html Fink, M., Wolkenstein, E., Karst, M., Gehrke, A. (2002). Acupuncture in chronic   epicondylitis: A randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology, 41(2), 205 209. Labelle, H., Guibert, R, Joncas, J., Newman, N., Fallaha, M., Rivard, C. (1992). Lack of scientific evidence for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis of the elbow: An attempted meta-analysis. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 74, 646–51. Molsberger, A., Hille, E. (1994). The analgesic effect of acupuncture in chronic tennis elbow   pain.   British Journal of Rheumatology, 33(12), 1162-1165 National Institute of Health (1998). NIH consensus conference: Acupuncture. Journal of   American Medical Association, 280, 1518–24. Trinh, K.V., Philips, S.D., Ho, E., Damsma, K. (2004). Acupuncture for alleviation of lateral   epicondyle pain: A systematic review.   Rheumatology, 43, 1085–1090. Webster-Harrison, P., White, A., Rae, J. (2002).Acupuncture for tennis elbow: An e-mail   consensus study to define a standardised treatment in a GP’s surgery. Acupuncture in Medicine, 20(4), 181-5.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Smoking Cigarettes :: Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Deduction and Induction Analysis of Cigarette Smoking Smoking: Deduction Cigarette smoking causes cancer, which leads to death. Nicotine is one of the many chemicals found in the tobacco plant used in cigarettes. It reacts with the brain resulting in addiction. Nicotine enters the body and is transported to the brain; chemically, it stimulates the brain to produce more adrenaline, which in turn gives the body a surge of energy. One the effects of nicotine lessen, the brain functions are disrupted and therefore it counter acts by sending out signals to obtain more. The craving for the same level of adrenaline during nicotine activity can only increase and thus becomes an addiction. In its natural state, nicotine is a clear liquid but when burned acquires a brown color resembling tar. Cancer is the results of a malfunction in cells. In the working cell cycle, cells that are incorrectly produced or are damaged will end up in the stage of apoptosis or cell death. If there is a malfunction with the p53 gene and it cannot recognize the damage within a cell, the cell does not go into apoptosis and is left to replicate. Over time the damage cells proliferate in such a great number and do not died resulting in a mass or â€Å"clump† of cells that is dangerous to the tissue. This clump of cells interferes with the function of the tissue, which can lead to the death of healthy cells surrounding them. This area is known as the cancer site. Smoking cigarettes introduces the chemical nicotine into the body, raising the adrenaline levels to over work the body. The tolerance level of nicotine increases, as more of the chemical is consume which leads to addiction. The addiction of this chemical increases the amount of cigarettes smoked. The inhalation of the chemical along with other harmful substances that are trapped within the cells walls. The substances disturb the normal function of the cells and damage the p53 gene. These damage cells do not go through apoptosis and proliferates endlessly. The large amount of tissues affects and kills the working cells thereby damaging the tissue. Therefore, smoking cigarettes is the direct caused of death due to lung cancer. Smoking: Induction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The NIDA quotes that â€Å"Tobacco kills more than 430,000 U.S. citizens each year-more than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire, and AIDS combined.†[1] Many researches have found that the tobacco substances found in cigarettes are carcinogens that cause cancers.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Description of Jail Essay

A description of jail’s place in corrections and its role throughout history A summary of the history of state and federal prisons A comparison of the similarities and differences between security levels in jails, state prisons, and federal prisons An explanation of factors influencing growth in jails, state prisons, and federal prisons Jails have been present within the criminal justice system for as long as you can probably date back. Jails play a vital role in the correction system. When jails originated they were used to serve the sole purpose of keeping an individual confined. In the beginning the jails and their conditions were inhumane and very harsh. Jails were not they type of place that individuals would like to be and often times people feared the possibility of having to go to jail. There are many reasons why people feared going to jail and one of the main reasons were because of the conditions that present in jail. There were many times where the inmates were not fed and they hygienic conditions were poor. As time progressed factors about jails changed. Jails were no longer only used to house criminals but they were also used to rehabilitate the criminal and allow them to opportunity change enough to be released safely into society. As time progressed jails begin to add programs that allow them to advance and further themselves. It is now possible to obtain a high school diploma while being incarcerated in jail. There are now programs that help aid drug addicts and alcoholics recover from their addictions before they are released. There are also programs that allow inmates to obtain a trade degree that they can use once they are released back into society. You made a lot of valid points within your post. I use to always wonder why exactly criminals committed the crimes that they did, like what possessed them to do those type of things? I wonder now if criminals weigh crime and punishment why would they feel as of the reward that they will gain from committing a crime is worth their life and their freedom most of the time. Maybe these thoughts vary from person to person meaning what I may not think will be worth the punishment that will be received from a crime but others may not agree with my thought process.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Decaying of Ideology in Modern China

Although Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Though (MLM) still serves as the ideology which the People’s Republic of China (PRC) adhere to, these socialist doctrines no longer serve inspirational purposes to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and are viewed as an â€Å"ideological vacuum. † China’s attempt to establish a rapid growing economy to support the authority of the Communist regime has contradicted the Communist ideology and has thus created a reverse effect. It is certain that Chinese citizens have grown increasingly apolitical in the current era due to the exposure to market economy and Western influences. This new environment prompts the public to adopt individualism and neglect Communist ideologies such as collectivism. As Deng Xiao Ping and many other scholars blamed the ineffective political education as the major cause of this phenomenon, the assertion remains debatable. CCP now faces a challenge where it has to redefine its political ideology while fitting the socialist regime in the context of â€Å"socialist commodity economy. † The CCP’s attempt to reconcile its capitalist practices with socialist ideal results a dilemma. As uncertainties lay in the future of the Chinese political environment, this paper evaluates the failure of The Communist Party’s normative authority, and distinguishes possible alternatives and solutions. One of the main reasons for the failure of the propaganda scheme is that the value which the Party tries to promote grossly contrasted with the actual social condition. While the Party urges the public to embrace the idea of â€Å"collectivism,† and â€Å"serving the people,† it fails to justify how socialist morality is compatible with market competition. Jurgen Habermans has labeled this dilemma as ‘rationality crisis,’ caused by the disjunction between current practices and the original ideological tenets upon which the regime was founded. † Although CCP recognizes the need for combating moral disorder and launched the â€Å"socialist spiritual civilization† (SSC) campaign in 1997, the accomplishment is diminutive. It is obvious that political education in China is heavily emphasized, where political elements are incorporated in every curriculum, from kindergarten to university. However, the program is ineffective since these principles are not applicable in the social environment. As a result, students see no purpose in these materials except to know them well so they could obtain a decent academic record and remain competitive in the job market. Furthermore, â€Å"even party functionaries no longer take ideological work seriously, and few are interested in this specialty as a career. † The character of legitimation crisis has also surfaced besides the presence of rationality crisis. Legitimation crisis is â€Å"a discrepancy between the need for motives declared by the state and the motivation supplied by socio-cultural system. † As â€Å"harmonious society† (hexie shehui) and scientific development† continues to serve as current watchwords for CCP, they appears to be oxymoronic. The concept of harmonious society is drawn upon Confucius values, whereas the concept of scientific development aroused mainly from Deng Xiao Ping Theory, which is an emphasis on economic stability. The rationality and legitimation crisis which CCP now encounters â€Å"can be explained in terms of the antinomy between rationality and reasonableness, or between scientism and moralism. This antinomy seems to be the most visible obstacle and the most controversial policy of Chinese education. † Another critical argument for CCP’s decaying normative authority is the corruption of government officials and therefore creating a devastating effect on the Party’s goal on rebuilding moral order. Since the 16th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, more than 100 minster- and provincial-level officials were sentenced for corruption, an unprecedented number, according to statistics released by the Supreme Procuratorate. In 2005, 47,206 officials were disciplined-punished by Chinese supervision agencies. † Consequently, the uncontrollable widespread of corruption among government officials brings public to think that education system is hypocritical and therefore, unpersuasive. In a survey conducted in the state enterprises of Shenyang, one of China’s largest industrial cities, 71% of respondents agreed that moral education should be directed primarily at the high- and middle- ranking cadres rather than at ordinary people. † In order to overhaul the Communist Ideology, the Party implemented inspirational projects incorporating patriotic education and Confucianism. China’s patriotic education was design for two purposes. One is to combat Western influences and second is to achieve â€Å"unified thinking† (tongyi sixiang). To a certain extent, the program was successful, particularly in â€Å"unified thinking. † Although the Party is unable to eliminate all Western influences and the exchange of information, the general public has increasingly learnt to praises and adapt to traditional Chinese culture. The party has utilized Confucianism value by describing â€Å"Confucianism as a positive force that could consolidate the Chinese nation and foster socialist spiritual civilization. † Accordingly, most of the Chinese families today follow Confucian’s teachings and the value of Confucianism is already deeply rooted in the society. Through the post-1989 Patriotic Education, the regimen has provided China’s new generations with nationalists. In China’s education system, children are taught â€Å"that China’s misery was imposed by Western countries,† and acknowledged themselves as nationalists and â€Å"bound to become fenqing. † Furthermore, although young generations are no longer interested in the concept of ideology, CCP has little problems finding new members as we can see that during â€Å"the last five years, three-quarters of those who flocked to join were under thirty-five. This is not only a result of patriotism but also joining the Party could provide opportunities and benefits. On the other hand, the increasing population of nationalist does not imply legitimating the government’s policy and authorities. â€Å"By placing the party and the center of the official discourse the state-centered view of nationalism restricts the extent to which the Party-state can mobilize nationalist symbolism in support of its leadership and make the Party vulnerable to criticism from more popular conceptions of nationalism. June 4th crackdown and the emergence of Chinese liberalism are the result of nationalism. Besides from implementing propaganda program to strengthen Communist Ideology, new ideas have also formed in the Chinese political platform. Ideas such as â€Å"new left,† â€Å"new conservative†or evenâ€Å"liberalism† are introduced. The New Leftism is in opposition to capitalism and Chinese economic reforms and in favor of the restoration of the Maoist-style socialism. â€Å"New leftists† appeal to social injustice like corruption and the interest of low class people became particular popular in 2009. Furthermore, it addresses the problem of the disparity between rich and poor. The New leftists â€Å"guarantee the welfare of the country’s 800 million peasants left behind the recent change. † Alternatively, if China is to take on the advice of the New Leftist, it would create an enormous wave of withdraws in the form of foreign investments due to the economic uncertainty, which would inevitably destroy China’s new emerging market. And the collapse of the Chinese economy would make it impossible for the Party to provide welfare for the poor. In that sense, the New Left ideas do not generate common interest between the public and the Party’s ideology. On the contrary, the â€Å"New Conservatives†, or Neo-Conservatives, â€Å"holds that modernization is a gradual process (incrementalism), and that, during this process, traditional values, the existing order and an authoritarian government are necessary to maintain social stability and ensure a successful social transformation. † It also distinguishes itself from traditional conservatism by accentuating modern transformation and accelerates economic development. The Neo-Conservatives tries to develop â€Å"a model characterized by economic growth under an authoritarian political order. † This hybrid Ideology that retained Marxism-Leninism ideals and Deng’s goal to achieve modernization â€Å"enabled Jiang to legitimize the Party and ensure its survival. † Consequently, Jiang has balanced centralism (elements of the â€Å"Mao Era†) and capitalistic-orientated economic policies (which are elements of the â€Å"Deng Era†) and achieve new census. Besides from the ideas that were discussed above, â€Å"liberalism† is another concept which has derived from the June 4th incident of 1989. The collapse of Communism in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe provided an opportunity for Chinese liberals to deeply reflect on the illusion of ‘socialist democracy. ’† The Chinese liberals advocate the abandon of one Party rule and call for multi-party elections to increase competition and limiting the power of the government. â€Å"Despite hard suppression of democracy and liberal ideas by the Chinese party-state, and partly due to this suppression, liberalism and the quest for human rights have been on the rise and achieved a level of sophistication in China since the late 1990s. Even though the idea of liberalism is not irrelevant to China’s political future, the system would be impossible to impose under a peaceful transition. Ultimately, China would have to construct a new political stance that ensures government power but also provide economic prosperity. China would have to undergo gradual transition from Communism to Authoritarian Capitalism, for instance the People’s Action Party (PAP) in Singapore. Under such political system, there is a large degree of economic freedom but tight control in terms of social freedom. Although there are negative comments on Singapore’s authoritarian capitalism, such as ones that were made by Christopher Lingle, his arguments are debatable. He claimed that â€Å"Singapore’s authoritarian rule has led to the ‘politicization of commerce,’ the distribution of economic and commercial privileges to trusted political supporters, stifling the emergence of home-grown entrepreneurs. † On the other hand, statistics has proven him wrong. Singapore is the second most economically free country according to 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. Furthermore, its government spending in terms of GDP is among the lowest in the world (14. 5%), according to information from The World Factbook. And as we can see, the Chinese government is actually taking such transition, and characters of capitalism can be found in increasingly free trade. Several universities claimed â€Å"that great powers like China and Russian, with authoritarian state capitalist regimes could pose a viable rival model. †

Friday, November 8, 2019

Sample Size Example

Sample Size Example Sample Size – Coursework Example Application of ANOVA in analysis of the impact of crisis intervention on psychiatric hospitalizations Psychiatric hospitalization Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is a commonly used approach in testing of the equality of various means using variance (Derrick, 2008). This analysis of often based on a number of assumptions including: independence of the samples, equal variance in populations and that the populations from which the sample is extracted has a normal or near normal distribution (Derrick, 2008). This paper will apply ANOVA analysis in development of statistical assumptions defining the situation of the impact of crisis intervention on psychiatric hospitalizations. The paper will compare cases of psychiatric hospitalization before, during and after implementation of crisis intervention. In essence, the paper will seek to establish whether the means of the groups are equal and determine if there are any significant differences. The null hypothesis will be evaluated using one way ANOVA and assumes that the mean of two or more populations are equal (Stuttgart, 2007). It will questions whether (H0) the population means for all groups bear equality and whether the differences observed are a result of variations from random sampling (Brian, 2009). The data set to be used in this study is based on two groups. One groups is subjected to crisis intervention, the other group is will not be subjected to crisis intervention. The data will be collected for both groups before implementation of the crisis intervention, during implementation and after implementation. Mathematically, the expressions are expressed as follows:The study will adopt stratified systematic sampling whereby specific populations will be targeted for research. Sample consisting of 60 psychiatric patients will be considered whereby 30 will be subjected to a crisis intervention program while the other part of the targeted population will not be subjected to the crisis intervention program. Data on ho spitalization of both groups will be recorded before, during, and after implementation of the crisis intervention program. ReferencesBrian, S. (2009). Introduction to Statistics. London: McGraw HillDerrick, A. (2008). Research methods applicable to quantitative analysis of data (2th ed.). Worth publishers: New York. Green, S.B. & Salkind, N.J. (2008) Using SPSS for Windows and Macintosh: Analyzing and Understanding Data (5th ed.) Pearson Prentice Hall: New Jersey. Stuttgart, W. (2007). ANOVA application to case analysis.Journal of Statistics 14(2), pp. 123-126.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Creative Business Planning for Writers

Creative Business Planning for Writers Samantha graduated from her writing program several years ago. With high marks and big dreams, she found herself working a department store instead. On some nights she compensated Writers like Samantha usually diagnose the problem as a lack of creativity. Little do they know that dreams arent always fueled Creative writers often overlook the value of a business plan. They believe its all about money and dont want to get involved with the facts and figures of it. They shy away from financial planning because its considered too left-brained for the artist. But even the simplest career layout will do. Not all big dreams have to start with dramatic origins. Basic preparation can make a big difference. With a little time and effort, small, but specific plans can transform writing ambiguity into a clearer sense of success. Good planning will mitigate self-doubt which, in turn, could minimize distractions. Setback wont turn into months of procrastination. A handy overview, such as a business plan, keeps a writer on track and financially stable in the long run. Here are four specific examples to show how the elements of a simple business plan could help Samantha – and writers like her – move towards success: (1)    A business plan enhances self-image. Every business plan contains an executive summary which defines the endeavor. Writers could use this statement to define a sharper self-image which will bolster self-confidence and enthusiasm. (2)    A business plan encourages social connections. A good plan helps determine how you will market to  potential mentors and publications alike. It defines your social circle too. A writer isnt born overnight and certainly not alone. Support is essential for success. A business plan challenges the writer to define which influences and niche excites her the most as well as where to focus her work. (3)    A business plan doubles as a funding manual. A writing aspiration needs real money to back it up. It is a sign of commitment and self-trust. A writer willing to budget for dreams will show that shes willing to walk the walk and talk the talk. Whether it be for contests, paper clips or new software, writers stand a better chance when they have money to spend. It not only makes sense for the pocketbook, it keeps the writers ego alive and healthy too. (4)    A business plan marks important dates and deadlines. A writer is nothing without her deadlines. Procrastination runs rampant in the community and following up on ones goals is crucial to success. A business plan gives a birds-eye view of what needs to be done and at what time. A writer in control is a strong writer; she will be focused during tough times and wiser during good ones. Creative writers, like Samantha, arent always the first to admit theyre in business. But the art needs to be supported Samantha doesnt have to waste time any more. She can set down a simple business plan which will transform her attitude and goals towards a real path towards success. Without doubt, opportunities await her prepared mind.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Gulf Regional Legal Environment of Business Essay - 4

Gulf Regional Legal Environment of Business - Essay Example Rules are necessary in each of our lives since it gives us protection when we are victims and aids in punishing unlawful acts. Individuals who do not obey the laws and subject us to oppression have to face the consequences. If we were to live in a society without laws that can control how we handle things, most of us would be taken advantage of by our superiors and thus we will suffer. Without laws, people make decisions based on their principles hence facilitating crimes. Laws therefore prevent each of us in the society from crimes. The parental principle of law protects individuals from themselves. Laws state that all children must go to school. Most children would not naturally like the idea of going to school. Laws also protect some of the employees from being exploited by their employers. The donation principle of law enables employees acquire services pertaining to their welfare. Welfare laws grant aid to the individuals unable to provide for themselves. Maintaining social cohesion is one of the roles of legislation in the society. Laws ensure that social cohesion is maintained by reinforcing values and providing ways of solving conflicts (NAIM, 2002, p. 27). Social cohesion is vital in a society as it provides continuity of the principal values of a community by providing guidelines. The current legal system in our society gives people freedom besides setting the limits regulating such freedom. A legal system is important in the modern society as it helps in protecting everyone in the society. Child-abuse in the contemporary modern society is curbed through laws (CAMPBELL & CAMPBELL 2009, p. 56). Law does not take into consideration the personal or religious needs but focuses on protection of rights. Whether the man confesses or repents of the sins they have committed, law does not give adjustments but follows what is in course. Laws are, therefore, important in the society as they give protection to members of a particular

Friday, November 1, 2019

An entrepreneurial viewpoint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

An entrepreneurial viewpoint - Essay Example Discerning the module has taught me that there are certain traits that any successful entrepreneur needs to be endowed with. A careful scrutiny of my own personality against these entrepreneurial traits has confirmed to me what I have and areas that I need to improve on to call myself a happy and successful entrepreneur. My entrepreneurial spirit is hemmed in by several personality traits that the module has helped me identify about myself and most immediately is confidence. Like Michael Bloomberg puts it: â€Å"Don’t be afraid to assert yourself, have the confidence in your capabilities, never letting the bastards drag you down.† I believe that confidence comes in handy for startup success. I have the confidence to take the risks, and to lead teams in creating a vision and to confidently sell the product to investors and customers (Straut, 2008). The other trait is optimism, Bill Gates has made fortunes as an entrepreneur because he looked at what was ahead of him with optimism; and that is how I always look at things that are ahead of me. I have learnt from the module that an entrepreneur should be optimistic about a product, their teams and their future. A study done by Baron (2004) found out that entrepreneurs perceive risks as being smaller than they are in actual sense, and also smaller than many people would ordinarily perceive them to be. It is with such optimism that I look at the future that though things may look obscured at the beginning, soon they will clear up, all it takes is to hang on and be positive. Passion has taught me that anyone can succeed in anything they set out to do, as long as their endeavor is anchored on unlimited and incredible enthusiasm. I am very passionate about everything I believe in and speaking about the importance of passion in entrepreneurship, Baron (2004, pp. 230) wrote, â€Å"Passion is a key cog in the wheel of determination, it is both contagious and palpable, many consumers, businesses and investors will be swayed by an entrepreneur who exhibits great passion.† Going with passion is self-efficacy. Nolan Bushnell was quoted saying that â€Å"many people have great ideas, but it’s only a few of them who decide to do something about those ideas now; a true entrepreneur is the one who is a doer, rather than a dreamer† (Choo, 2004). The last characteristic that wraps up my entrepreneurial spirit is persistence. I made a promise to myself that I was going to be successful in anything that I put my all into. There is no amount of money, or any amount of labor neither any number of hours would deter me from giving the very best that is in me. The module is clear that a successful entrepreneur is one who is will overcome and persevere despite the many hurdles, setbacks or failures (Osborne, 1995). Entrepreneurs are able to learn from their failures to make improvements on themselves, their team and their products. I have an entrepreneurial mentality as opposed to an employee mentality and so it would more fulfilling for me to work in an entrepreneurial organization as an entrepreneurial manager as opposed to working in a conveniently structured organization with convenient management approaches. This is inspired by the fact that I have a vision to chart and create my own path, as opposed to that employee mentality