Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Problem Statement Nursing

Modern day management of diseases is a complex task for health care professionals at various clinical settings. However, with the interference of nursing strategies, the job is under control and it is a relief for patients too who are in need of great care of nursing.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem Statement: Nursing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research in nursing involves several aspects right from the stage of entry of patient data to the stage of their discharge from hospitals. This encompasses several settings which can be considered as evidence for nursing practice. These may be Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, Randomized controlled trials with definitive results, Randomized controlled trials with non-definitive results, Cohort studies, Case control studies, Cross-sectional studies and Case reports (Fitzpatrick, 2007). Nursing research involves the functional application of scientific queries or investigations to propound ideas, hypotheses, questions through a qualitative or quantitative approach with the objective of exploring a key relationship (Introduction to Nursing Research, 2012). In contrast, evidence based practice involves the precise and reliable utility of existing evidence accumulated in various observational or analytical studies and make them applicable for deciding the patient care strategies. It is an integration of systemic research of external clinical evidence and clinical expertise (Sacket et al., 1996). Qualitative Research is concerned with the collection of data devoid of numbers. Its primary focus is on the experiment reliability instead of measuring the quantity of variables. The information obtained is finally subject to interpretation, impression or diagnostic deduction. Quantitative research, as the name, implies focus on numbers or data that can be quantified or transformed numerically (Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Research , 2009). The similarities between qualitative and quantitative researches is that both are designed as separate research processes; both obtain to reveal the enormously available data from variety of settings or circumstances; both begin from the keen involvement of researchers on studying a particular field or area (What is the similar in qualitative and quantitative,2012).Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the current scenario, the problem statement is with regard to the type 2 diabetes which is a serious disease, for example, in such a country as Taiwan. Here, the problem that needs identification is that most people are unaware of the strategies developed by health care professionals. The readers need to understand that type 2 diabetes is the fifth major contributor of death. The consequences are type 2 diabetes in this country is 4.3 times expensive compared to non diabet ic people and there is a possibility that incidence could increase. The information lacking about the problem is the awareness on diabetes care. The proposed study would contribute to the solution of the problem on the grounds that the application of nursing interventions in the form of evidence based practice could become feasible. In this study, a strategy of motivational interviewing was carried out in a randomized controlled trial setting that involved nearly 250 type 2 diabetic individuals (Chen et al., 2011). The nurse led motivational interview had improved the outcomes positively with regard to glycemic, psychological and self-management outcomes. This approach would serve as an evidence for future diabetic care in clinical practices (Chen et al., 2011). This has strengthened a previous study where primary care nurses had better orientation in determining the effects of the nurses’ training on patient outcome with regard to type 2 diabetes through the approach of moti vational interviewing (Jansink et al., 2009). This research serves to identification of the clinical problem both in qualitative and quantitative manner. On the qualitative side, parameters related to diabetic outcomes are evaluated or measured. These may be glycemic outcomes, blood pressure and lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin, life style, patients’ willingness to change behavior etc.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem Statement: Nursing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the other hand, increasing the patient or sample size on large scale in variety of population backgrounds may enhance the reliability of the intervention (Jansink et al., 2009). Thus, nursing research is central for addressing health care related issues like type 2 diabetes which may be otherwise associated with other complications. References Chen, S.M., Creedy, D., Lin, H.S., Wollin, J. (2011). Effects of motivational interv iewing intervention on self-management, psychological and glycemic outcomes in type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. Dec 30. [Epub ahead of print]. Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (2009). Web. Fitzpatrick, J. (2007). Finding the research for evidence-based practice.- Part two: Selecting credible evidence. Nursing Times, 103, 17, 32-33. Sacket, D.L., Rosenberg, W. M.C., Gray, J.A M., Richardson, W.S. (1996). Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. British Medical Journal 312 (13), 71-72. Introduction to Nursing Research. (2012). Web. What is the similar in qualitative and quantitative? (2012). Web.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Jansink, R., Braspenning, J., van der Weijden, T., Niessen, L., Elwyn, G., Grol, R. (2009). Nurse-led motivational interviewing to change the lifestyle of patients with type 2 diabetes (MILD-project): protocol for a cluster, randomized, controlled trial on implementing lifestyle recommendations. BMC Health Serv Res, 9, 19. This essay on The Problem Statement: Nursing was written and submitted by user Desmond Daugherty to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Biography of Benjamin Banneker, Author and Naturalist

Biography of Benjamin Banneker, Author and Naturalist Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731–October 9, 1806) was a self-educated scientist, astronomer, inventor, writer, and antislavery publicist. He built a striking clock entirely from wood, published a farmers almanac, and actively campaigned against slavery. He was one of the first African Americans to gain distinction for achievements in science. Fast Facts: Benjamin Banneker Known For: Banneker was a writer, inventor, and naturalist who published a series of farmers almanacs in the late 1700s.Born: November 9, 1731 in Baltimore County, MarylandParents: Robert and Mary BannekyDied: October 9, 1806 in Oella, MarylandPublished Works: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Year of our Lord, 1792Notable Quote: â€Å"The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers.† Early Life Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland. Although he was born a free man, he was the descendant of slaves. At that time, the law dictated that if your mother was a slave then you were a slave, and if she was a free woman then you were a free person. Bannekers grandmother Molly Walsh was a bi-racial English immigrant and an indentured servant who married an African slave named Banna Ka, who had been brought to the Colonies by a slave trader. Molly had served seven years as an indentured servant before she acquired and worked on her own small farm. Molly Walsh purchased her future husband Banna Ka and another African to work on her farm. The name Banna Ka was later changed to Bannaky and then changed to Banneker. Benjamins mother Mary Banneker was born free. Benjamins father Rodger was a former slave who had bought his own freedom before marrying Mary. Education Banneker was educated by Quakers, but most of his education was self-taught. He quickly revealed to the world his inventive nature and first achieved national acclaim for his scientific work in the 1791 survey of the Federal Territory (now Washington, D.C.). In 1753, he built one of the first watches made in America, a wooden pocket watch. Twenty years later, Banneker began making astronomical calculations that enabled him to successfully forecast a 1789 solar eclipse. His estimate, made well in advance of the celestial event, contradicted predictions of better-known mathematicians and astronomers. Bannekers mechanical and mathematical abilities impressed many, including Thomas Jefferson, who encountered Banneker after George Elliot had recommended him for the surveying team that laid out Washington, D.C. Almanacs Banneker is best known for his six annual farmers almanacs, which he published between 1792 and 1797. In his free time, Banneker began compiling the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris. The almanacs included information on medicines and medical treatment and listed tides, astronomical information, and eclipses, all calculated by Banneker himself. Many historians believe that the first printed almanac dates to 1457 and was printed by Gutenberg in Mentz, Germany. Benjamin Franklin published his Poor Richards Almanacs in America from 1732 to 1758. Franklin used the assumed name of Richard Saunders and wrote witty maxims in his almanacs such as Light purse, heavy heart and Hunger never saw bad bread. Bannekers almanacs, though they appeared later, were more focused on delivering accurate information than on communicating Bannekers personal views. Letter to Thomas Jefferson On August 19, 1791, Banneker sent a copy of his first almanac to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. In an enclosed letter, he questioned the slaveholders sincerity as a friend to liberty. He urged Jefferson to help get rid of absurd and false ideas that one race is superior to another. Banneker wished Jeffersons sentiments to be the same as his, that one Universal Father...afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties. Jefferson responded with praise for Bannekers accomplishments: I thank you sincerely for your letter of the 19th and for the Almanac it contained. No body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men, that the appearance of a want of them is owing merely to the degraded condition of their existence both in Africa America...I have taken the liberty of sending your almanac to Monsieur de Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of sciences at Paris, and member of the Philanthropic society because I considered it as a document to which your whole colour had a right for their justification against the doubts which have been entertained of them. Jefferson later sent a letter to the Marquis de Condorcet informing him about Banneker- a very respectable mathematician- and his work with Andrew Ellicott, the surveyor who marked the boundaries of the Territory of Columbia (later the District of Columbia). Death Declining almanac sales eventually forced Banneker to give up his work. He died at home on October 9, 1806, at the age of 74. Banneker was buried at Mount Gilboa  African Methodist Episcopal Church  in  Oella, Maryland. Legacy Bannekers life became the source of legend after his death, with many attributing certain accomplishments to him for which there is little or no evidence in the historical record. His inventions and almanacs inspired later generations, and in 1980 the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor as part of the Black Heritage series. In 1996, a number of Bannekers personal belongings were auctioned, and some of them were later loaned to the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum. Some of Bannekers personal manuscripts, including the only journal  that survived the 1806 fire that destroyed his home, are in the possession of the Maryland Historical Society. Sources Cerami, Charles A.  Benjamin Banneker Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot. John Wiley, 2002.Miller, John Chester.  The Wolf by the Ears: Thomas Jefferson and Slavery. University Press of Virginia, 1995.Weatherly, Myra.  Benjamin Banneker: American Scientific Pioneer. Compass Point Books, 2006.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Business economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business economy - Essay Example ..............4 Nature and processes of business decision making..................................................4 London Olympics illustrating the application of business decision making..................5 Theme one- The way we do business.........................................................................5 Theme two- Individual responsibility........................................................................5 Theme three- Recruitment, development and transition...........................................6 Theme four- Involvement and Engagement..............................................................6 Theme five- Catalyst for Legacy...............................................................................6 Theme 3: Recruitment........................................................................................................7 Theme 4: Sustainability.....................................................................................................10 Theme 5: Procurement......................................................................................................11 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................14 References..........................................................................................................................15 Introduction Business is getting all the more complex, uncertain and globalized. The mantra for success today is planned activities and selection of best option amongst alternatives presented. This task is undertaken and simplified by management practice termed as decision making. Decision making is resorted to by managers in all situations where they get stuck as to which course of action to choose from. This paper addresses the significance of decision making and highlights its importance in the context of London Olympics. Being the mega event of the year 2012, London Olympics presents plethora of cir cumstances and opportunities to base decision upon. This is the point where managers need to use their intuition, intellect and knowledge to arrive at the most reliable, valid and fruitful decision. Various processes and techniques covered under decision making are elaborated upon by making use of three strategic decisions- recruitment, procurement and sustainable operations. Decision making process applied in each of these and subsequent benefits and limitations of each decision are also highlighted to identify any gaps and recommend solutions for them. Snap shot of business decision making Decision making in layman terms refer to selecting a course of action which is the most suitable and is capable of delivering the desired results, from a list of available alternatives. In business scenarios, managers are presented with plethora of situations where they are supposed to take rational and valid decisions. These may be taken purely on the basis of intuition or prior experience, but such dimensions for decision making can neither be transferred nor can ensure the achievement of desired results. Hence, decisions in business parlance are ought to be taken by carefully analyzing the situation, the pros and cons of each alternative and prioritizing the factors which favour the acceptance or rejection of a particular alternative. Especially in businesses, every alterative has to be contrasted against factors like cost effectiveness, strategic disposition, value addition, responsiveness, et cetera and then zeroing in on one of the alternatives which

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Human Resource Management High School Case Study

Human Resource Management High School - Case Study Example In addition, his character references have shown positive feedback with his work ethic and study habits. With this kind of academic background, it is blatantly obvious that the part of the benefits package which would most likely appeal to Peters is the company's apparent conduciveness to higher learning. The case states that Beco Electric encourages advanced education, fully subsidizing all expenses for tuition and books. And to top it all off, the company would even allow its employees to attend classes during the day, depending on the circumstance. A harmonious, mutually beneficial working relationship would even result in scholarships for all dependents of the employee. Judging from his description, these are the facets of the benefits program which Mr. Peters would find most attractive. Of course, having the standard health insurance and profit sharing plans never hurt, but if one is very serious with his continuing studies, this reflects a personality which would not give much credence to financial compensation. Mr. Peters is an academic achiever and has shown significant leadership potential, hence the company's flexible continuing education schemes should bode well for him . Other benefits which may favor Mr.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

National federation of independent business vs. sebelius(2012) Essay

National federation of independent business vs. sebelius(2012) - Essay Example The exchange provides individuals and families with low income,at a certain poverty rate, an opportunity to receive the government subsidy towards purchases made in the exchange. In addition, minimum health insurance policy standards are established by the law. There were two major issues that formed the basis for the case and onto which the involved parties laid their claims. The first issue involved the constitutional validity of the Congressional law requiring the states to make a choice between losing Medicaid funding from the federal government and upholding the Obamacare (National Federation of Independent Business vs. Sebelius, 2012). On the other hand, the second issue involves the constitutionality of the Congressional law that pushes for the obtaining of health insurance by all citizens and imposing penalties for those who fail to comply (National Federation of Independent Business vs. Sebelius, 2012). In reference to the first provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires all states to adhere to the Medicaid expansion parameters or experience withdrawal of the Medicaid funding, the 10th Amendment is violated. According to the court, as much as the unconstitutionality of the mechanism is evident, the courts only solution is redaction of the penalty to allow for free choice among the states concerning establishment of the proposed exchange without being treated with loss of the Medicaid funding (National Federation of Independent Business vs. Sebelius, 2012). As such, the court maintained that the unconstitutional coerciveness of the provision that withheld the federal grant was clear and evident. With reference to commerce clause, the ACT is unjustified. The court has never allowed the Congress to purchase a given product mandatory by utilizing its power to control commerce between states. As such, there ought to be an item of regulation for the regulation of intersta te commerce by the congress to be possible. On the

Friday, November 15, 2019

Study into Mapping Blind Spots

Study into Mapping Blind Spots Though the blind spot is a part of the retina that is devoid of photoreceptors, therefore relaying no visual information, it does not lead to the experience of a dark hole in our visual field (Sakaguchi, 2001). This is due to the perceptual phenomenon of filling-in, whereby a visual attribute such as colour and brightness is perceived in the blind-spot, even though it only exists in the surround (Komatsu, 2006). A long-standing question has been whether perceptual filling-in ignores this absence of information or actively fills it in (De Weerd, 2006). The symbolic theory proposes that early visual areas only extract information at the surface border with the colour and shape of the surface reconstructed in higher areas (Komatsu, 2006). Conversely, the isomorphic theory assumes that the retinotopic map in the primary visual cortex (V1) receives information from the entire surface with visual features such as colour activated in early visual areas (De Weerd, 2006). Hence Komatsu (2006) proposes an amalgamation of the theories, that neural activity is higher along the edge of the blind-spot with these signals then spreading across a two-dimensional array of visual feature sensitive cells in early visual areas. Hence the mechanisms of filling-in depend upon activity along the physiological edge of the blind-spot as Spillmann, Ottee, Hamburger and Magnussen (2006) found that a ring as thin as 0.5 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ° had been sufficient in inducing colour filling-in. Li et al., (2014) analysed this through 2.5à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ° mono-coloured annuli, finding that it filled in completely, providing evidence for active colour filling-in from a small border. Fahle and Schmid (1987) proposed that the mean distance between photoreceptors is slightly higher for the temporal side compared to the nasal side in the retina with the ganglion cells distributed in a similar asymmetrical fashion. This spatial arrangement of the image as it is processed within the retina is maintained in V1 (De Weerd, 2006). Hence Li et al., (2014) extended the study of homogenous stimuli to bi-coloured rings, revealing the presence of a retinotopic rule in perceptual filling-in that favours the nasal side. Whilst this validates rapid colour filling-in as preattentive, these spatial arrangements may be affected by other preattentive factors which contribute to global processes such as relative salience (Brown Thurmond, 1993). Hence the current study aimed to examine ambiguities in perceptual filling-in when responding to both lower and higher-level processes. More specifically, whether differences in the relative salience of bi-coloured annuli affected the nasal or temporal processing (retinotopic rule) in filling-in blind-spot. As Brown and Thurmond (1993) infer that relative salience contributes to higher processes, exposure to increased saturation may alter the retinotopic rule. Based on these two studies, it was hypothesised that the average choice probability for asymmetrical filling-in would decline as the relative saturation for the nasal side decreases. Reciprocally, it was hypothesised than asymmetrical choice probability would increase as relative saturation for the temporal side decreases. Method Participants Fifteen students from the University of Sydney (4 men, 11 women; M age = 21, SD = 2.03), participated voluntarily. All participants had normal or corrected-to normal vision. With the exception of the three experimenters, participants were naà ¯ve to the experiment. Materials Stimuli: All stimuli was generated using Microsoft PowerPoint Software. Stimuli consisted of bi-coloured (red and green) annuli, with a width of 2.5 ° (derived from Li et al., 2014). For each participant, the diameter of the stimuli was adjusted so that the annuli overlapped with the edge of the blind spot. The two halves of the bi-coloured annuli were juxtaposed symmetrically on the nasal and temporal sides of the blind spot. Each side was counterbalanced across trials wherein half the trials were comprised of nasal-red: temporal-green stimuli and the other half, nasal-green: temporal-red. The saturation was adjusted for one side to 100%, 50% or 25% of the original saturation, while the other half was maintained at 100% saturation (that is, 100:100, 100:50, 100:25, 50:100, 25:100). Controls used reversed stimuli, such that the fixation cross appeared on the right and the stimuli on the left. Thus, 36 randomised trials were conducted, consisting of six controls and three repeats of ten test stimuli (Appendix A1). Choice Panel: This illustrated the spread of the two colours in coloured disks and consisted of ten choices (refer to Appendix A2). Procedure The experiment was conducted over two sessions, one week apart. In the first session, the blind spot of each participant was mapped using Microsoft PowerPoint. Participants were seated in a dark room with a chin rest at a distance of .57m away from an ASUS S400c 14-inch screen. Participants were instructed to fixate on a white fixation cross presented on a black background with their right eye and left eye covered. Using a digital pen tool, a small white test dot was moved across the screen by the experimenter. The positions where the dot disappeared and reappeared were verbally reported by the participant and digitally marked when it was not visible. The process was repeated until the blind-spot had been mapped out adequately. In the second session, participant were asked to report the perceptual filling-in of the blind-spot. The fixation slide (5 sec) and the stimulus slide was presented (3 sec). Participants were then presented with the choice panel and asked to report the choice that best resembled what they observed. At the completion of the study, participants verbally reported their experiences with filling-in (Appendix B). Results Paired sample t-tests were conducted, with participants reporting nasal colour dominance significantly more often than either symmetrical filling-in, t(1,14) = 2.37, p =.03 (nasal red: M = 40.1%) and t(1,14) = 3.09, p M = 51.2%), or temporal colour dominance t(1,14) = 5.79, p M = 60.1%) and t(1,14) = 9.13, p M = 75.6%). A 5 x 2, repeated measure analysis of variance was carried out on colour and relative saturation on average choice probability for nasal dominance filling-in, after which quadratic trend contrasts were conducted. Averaged over relative saturation, choice probability for nasal dominance filling-in was significantly greater when the nasal colour was green than red (mean difference = 21.4%), F(1,14) = 15.30, p F(4, 56) = 3.56, p = .01. Quadratic trend contrasts revealed that this effect increased significantly as the nasal relative saturation increased from 25% to 100%, but decreased as relative saturation decreased from 100 to 25 on the temporal side, F(1,14) = 19.92, p F(1,14) = 0.00, p = .99, nor was there a significant cubic trend, F(1,14) = .37, p = .55. Figure 1. Average choice probability for nasal dominance filling-in as function of type of relative saturation (N = 15). Discussion Participants reported asymmetrical nasal dominance filling-in significantly more than symmetrical or temporally dominant filling-in. This replicated preliminary findings by Li et al., (2014), that filling-in from the nasal side occupied a much larger region than filling-in from the temporal side. A colour effect was revealed with a preference for green over red whilst controlling for salience, which Hamburger, Prior, Sarris and Spillmann, (2005) account for through higher-level processing of colour information. They postulate that typical background colours in natural scenes, i.e. green and blue, fill-in more easily than colours that are attributed to the foreground i.e. red and yellow. Hence in future studies, more colour pairings including blue and yellow should be tested to validate this theory. Yet, this colour effect may also reveal that relative salience was poorly controlled for in this study, as Brown and Thurmond (1993) manipulated saturation, reporting that a more salient colour is favoured when filling-in. This is because the green provided more contrast than the red as Hamburger et al., (2005) suggests that perceptual qualities of surfaces, e.g., saturation, affect other properties such as contrast and luminance. This raises concerns in the current study in the me asure of relative salience, as is it unclear whether changes in saturation alone prompted a global process that overruled the local processes involved in filling-in. Hence, in future studies these visual characteristics need to be carefully controlled for to ensure that it does not have a confounding effect on salience. As predicted, asymmetrical choice probability declined as the relative saturation for the nasal side decreased. This concurs with Li et al., (2014) that the strength of colour filling-in is determined by the retinotopic rule, whereby the direction of filling-in is correlated to greater cortical projection on the nasal side. Furthermore, Fahle and Schmid (1987) contend that the nasal side has a lower contrast sensitivity threshold compared to the temporal side which implies that the receptors on the nasal side were more easily able to detect a change in saturation, which increased the relative salience of the temporal side. This offered access to greater filling-in, which decreased the nasal-preference for asymmetrical filling-in of the disk. This can be extended for future research by also examining the effect of an increase in relative saturation e.g., 150%, 200%, 300% which may have an additive effect by strengthening the retinotopic rule (Brown Thurmond, 1993). However, contrary to the hypothesis that the asymmetrical choice probability would increase as relative saturation for the temporal side decreased, nasal dominant filling-in decreased as saturation decreased on the temporal side. As mentioned, the perceptual qualities of surfaces interact as Komatsu (2006) implies that the brain needs to integrate lower level visual information such as colour and brightness and decode it at the retinotopic map. This signal is then transmitted to higher cortical areas to eventually generate surface perception. Cortical processing in these early visual systems are heavily biased toward the detection of local contrast in luminance, resulting from edges, which is necessary in surface perception (De Weerd, 2006). In the present study when saturation was decreased on the temporal side, it also changed the luminance of the green colour, making it more salient relative to the red, amplifying the edge between the two colours. Hence, considering this local pro cessing preference for variations in luminance, Sakaguchi (2001) contended that the physical edge that exists in the annulus can activate the neurons coding them, as the two colours differ in luminance. This increased the salience of the temporal side, permitting a greater percentage of the temporal side of the disk to fill-in. Another limitation of the present study is that a majority of participants verbally reported seeing a black spot mainly on the temporal side, implying that the annulus did not fill-in completely. Yet as Li et al., (2014) argues that colour perception processes are rapid and preattentive, this incomplete filling-in cannot be attributed to an inadequate fixation time. Rather, this can be explained by other methodological issues as Spillmann et al., (2006) attribute this partial filling-in to improper fixation and involuntary eye movements that displace the annulus relative to the blind-spot. Spillmann et al., (2006) highlight the significance of this partial-filling in effect in validating that filling-in is an active physiological process generated by a narrow edge at the blind-spot. However as this dark shadow was reported mainly on the temporal side it can be explained by the more sparse distribution of receptors on the retinotopic map resulting in weaker temporal processes. As the width of the annuli remained constant, the nasal side filled in better due to a denser distribution of receptors (Li et al., 2014). Hence future studies should consider the relative width of the stimulus to suggest a width for the temporal side of the annulus in order to achieve symmetrical filling-in. In summation, this study presents evidence for active neural processes in retinotopically organized lower order areas, but also a role for higher order cognitive factors such as surface description (De Weerd, 2006). In the future, studies should attempt to map the size of the activated brain area to endorse this retinotopic asymmetry during filling-in and the effects of relative salience on this symmetry (Li et al., 2014).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Ethics in Today’s Organizations Case Study

Beyond Petroleum (BP) is a British oil company that was founded over a century ago by an affluent business man, William D’Arcy. D’Arcy put all of his money into searching for oil in the Middle East; a decision that nearly bankrupted him, because it took six years before any oil could be tapped. It is important to note that locating the oil was not the only problem BP, or Anglo-Persian Oil Company at that time, faced; moving the oils was just of a difficult task to maneuver. They decided to build a pipeline across the region – an undertaking that lasted more than two years. (Ferrell et al., 2011, p. 432)By the early 1900s BP was again running out of money, until Winston Churchill convinced parliament to allow BP to supply the navy’s fuel. It was a British company, after all, so it would support Britain’s interests. Britain then became one of the company’s biggest shareholders. This is significant because this instance helped spark the debate o ver politics and governments’ investments in oil companies –a topic that is still debated today. (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 432) After the mid-twentieth century oil was in high demand due to automobiles being mass produced.However in the mid 1970s, political turmoil in the Middle East caused oil production there to fall from 140 million to 500 barrels (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 432). With the demand for oil still high and the supply low, BP was forced to find other untapped oil supplies. BP found some oil fields in places such as Alaska and off the coast of Scotland. These isolated locations for drilling again forced hoisted creativity of BP engineers, and they began to innovate new ways to tap and transport the oil. One of these ideas was the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline, â€Å"the largest civil engineering project in  North America, measuring 746 miles long† (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 433).BP made honest efforts to ensure the environment around drilling projects w ould be preserved. However, sometimes these efforts were thwarted, which has become one of the central ethical issues for BP, among other things, including charges of death and fraud. (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 433-434). BP has recently sought to enhance their sustainability. In an effort to repair its image and seize an opportunity to invest in future capital, BP has invested in developing other energy sources, such as wind, solar, and biofuels.BP has also has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lessening their contribution to global warming, by creating the aforementioned energies as wall as investing in practices like carbon sequestration and storage (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 435-436). Analysis What is the single most important ethical issue presented in the case, how has the issue affected specific stakeholders? I think the single most important issue presented in the case is a lack of environmental responsibility.BP poorly maintain their oil drilling and transporting equipment, and these â€Å"non-actions† contribute to the numerous oil spills over the years which destroy the environment – killing plants and animals, as well as the explosions which are responsible for claiming several human lives. These issues garner the most media coverage, as well as probing by environmentalists and other special interest groups. These secondary stakeholders influence the courts and governments to penalize companies like BP for this kind of irresponsible behavior.The negative reports discourage shareholders and employees. Unfortunately, I think the most customers, care more about the price of gas than which company they are purchasing it from. What has the company done to address their ethical issues, what could they do differently to avoid future ethical issues? BP has tried to address environmental issues by a) simply acknowledging that climate change is happening and it is a man-mad problem, and b) investing approximately $1. 4 bi llion in creating supplies of renewable energy (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 434).In 2005 BP also published a code of conduct, in it highlighting the company’s legal and ethical obligations. This document was titled â€Å"Our Commitment to Integrity†. (Ferrell et al. , 2011, p. 438) I feel that the company could have better inspections and maintenance on their rigs and pipelines, and publicize their findings, whether that facility is in perfect working order or needs to be closed down for repairs. Giving the stakeholders more transparency forces ethical behavior and a real commitment to integrity. Based on the company’s ethics would you: Work for the company?I would not work for BP, especially if they do not seriously address the maintenance of their facilities. I feel that even though BP is at least heading in the right direction by investing in renewable energy, its main product and biggest earner is still oil – the most common source of the companyâ€℠¢s ethical problems. Buy their products? I have tried not to purchase BP fuel since the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico happened. However, since gas prices have soared recently, if gas is less expensive at a BP service station, I will buy it there.Personal thriftiness does not contradict my  ethics, I just do not think makes sense to give even more money to the oil industry as a whole than what is already necessary. Invest in their stock? I would not invest in their stock right now because BP’s main product is fuel; and even though I have to use it, it is detrimental to the environment. Of course, it is doing well in the stock markets right now, but it is unsteady and influenced by other factors happening in the world, and I would rather invest in something is both sustainable and fiscally stable. Also, I do view BP as a trustworthy company, and I want to support their underhandedness.Invite them to be part of the community in which you live? I would invite BP to be a part of my community because jobs are always needed here. Additionally, their function in my community would not have to include an oil rig or pipeline, it could be a solar panel plant, or a turbine factory. Those things would have positive impacts on several communities besides my own. Updates Since this case was studied in the text a lot has happened to BP, one major event that should be mentioned is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.This explosion killed 11 people and gushed oil into the ocean for three months. It was the largest oil spill in history. While BP claims the explosion was caused by many factors, including blaming Transocean and Halliburton, providers of some of the rig’s equipment (BP, 2010), BP still estimates its overall cost for the spill to be roughly $40 billion, half of which is pledged to actual victims of the spill (Skoloff & Wardell, 2010). As of February, 2011 only $3. 54 billion had been spent on clean up and compensation to victims.T his deviates significantly from BP’s original scheduled disbursements of that fund, and yet the company agrees to still payout dividend to shareholders (usatoday. com, 2011). I am not saying whether it is or is not ethical to pay shareholder dividends during a crisis such as this, what I do find unethical is the lack of integrity. Not only has BP slowed compensations payment, but they had previously announced that they would not pay dividends after the spill, and then negated. Concept I feel that the central concept from this Case-Study is the idea of integrity.Over the span of more than 100 years, the company has come up with new ingenious way to reach and transport previously unattainable oil, but they still use a version of oils spill clean up technology circa 1960. BP develops wind and solar energy technologies, but I see more BP service stations popping up more frequently than their wind turbines. Also, BP announced they were going to halt dividend checks to shareholders after the oils spill in the gulf. However, after the issue has been out of the spotlight for a while they slow the compensation benefits to the gulf, and continue to pay their shareholders anyway.BP’s own code of conduct is titled â€Å"Our Commitment to Integrity†, and they’ve shown over and over how they just are not reliable. Application One thing that I can and do apply to my life personally is the idea of integrity, being reliable, and doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Integrity is important character facet to have professionally as well. My major is Human Resources Development –a field that I hope to work in one day. In an HR position I want to help my organization, by developing the employees, supporting fairness and equality, and helping to instill and positive and ethical culture.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Everybody Needs Somebody Essay

Many people vacillate to commit themselves to marriage because of the responsibilities involved, but what does the word â€Å"marriage†, that so many desist from means. It’s the state of being united; body, soul and mind to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife consensual and contractual relationship recognized by both the Lord and the law. Moreover, pledging your allegiance, promising to be there† for better or for worse, in sickness and in health†¦..till death do us path†. A lot of individuals make the decision never to marry; there may be certain circumstances why they may feel that way. For example they may have had awful relationships in their past and of the opinion that their significant other will never be found or plainly the bulk just don’t want that type of commitment. Marriage has its advantages by the bountiful, so if you are in love and sure that you want to subsist the rest of your life with him/her, then unquestionably go ahead and walk down the aisle. I confidently disagree that being single is far more advantageous than being married. Marriage offers companionship. In a healthy marriage, you are never alone. Your spouse will always be there to lend a sympathetic ear. Sometimes, of course, your spouse might not be â€Å"actually† listening to you but it is better to talk to someone than being alone. Additionally, it’s satisfying to have someone you trust completely and love unconditionally to have stimulating conversation with. For instance to discuss ideas, major financial matters and practice your humor and simply want o be consoled at the end of the day. In the period 2008, research done in the USA showed that expressing your feeling, merely talking to your spouse and letting them know how you feel, reduces your chance of divorce, dishonesty and senseless arguments. As well, companionship offers support and can be particularly important at times of misfortune. Thus, the companionship that marriage offer beats being single any day. Marriage opens the gates to a rich social life. Basically by having a partner with you, you can have a social life that is not so readily or easily available for a single person. You can visit romantic places together or holiday together. You can spend meaningful quality time with each other also relaxing without any interruptions for a single person; it may be difficult because usually social life is geared around â€Å"couples†. Hence a single person can often be left out or sometimes just not invited. Although it may be true at times, that having children might seem to encumber your social life but really it brings a pulsating change in your social life also much of that life involves being with your children. Marriage puts a stamp of tolerability in society. Research reveals that married men/women have longer lifespan compared to single individuals. This can result in three points 1. Marriage stabilizers men and women this is so because, the need for multiple partners aren’t considered necessary when you are married besides you can be confident that your trustworthy spouse isn’t going to be adulterous 2. In the case of reducing stress, take for example raising a child, although many single parents do raise children successfully. It seems the stress is less when the tasks are shared with a partner.3. The point of being pleased. Many men/women get satisfied sexually by being married. This is so because by being intimate with someone you pledged your life to and love, you are contented both physically and mentally. Consequently, by having sexual relations when single your mate is random. This type of intimacy is fabricated and has no symbolic meaning. At such times having a marriage has its rewards over being single. As stated above marriage has its advantages, the ones mentioned are just a few to start with. Each marriage is of course different, but the connection that is shared among two married persons who have unexplained love, intimacy and forever commitment is extremely sacred. Being married, said by many people is about accepting a person for who they are, faults include. To be so dedicated and honorable that together you can overcome any type of ordeal life throws also learning to grow from those hardships. It’s about making sacrifices and putting your complete trust in your spouse. Knowing, they would refrain from temptation and be honest when it is needed. There are so many types of definitions that could be used to describe what marriage is nevertheless the one that really carries the most sentimental value is the one shared among married couples. It is forlorn that single people choose to remain unmarried, they may not the joy marriage brings to a person, but marriage is a privilege so why not make use of it.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Marketing and the Strip Club Essay Example

Marketing and the Strip Club Essay Example Marketing and the Strip Club Paper Marketing and the Strip Club Paper Re: Marketing Topic Paper (Subject Matter) The subject I chose for my topic report is â€Å" Competing in the Adult Night Club Industry â€Å" . The subject sparked my interest when I over heard a classmate saying she wanted to own a â€Å"strip club†. I also had thoughts of one day opening my own â€Å"gentlemen’s club†. Typically when you think of a â€Å"strip club† you think of a low class, raunchy, place filled with criminals, but contrary to some beliefs that isn’t always the case. There is an upscale adult entertainment venue called a â€Å"gentlemen’s club†. We both had made reference to the recent popularity of a nightclub in Washington, DC called â€Å"The Stadium Club†. â€Å"The Stadium Club† considers itself an upscale â€Å"gentlemen’s club† that offers things such as: five star dining, dancing, live adult entertainment, valet, and door-to-door limousine service. â€Å"The Stadium Club† advertises live on the radio, works with various club promoters, is frequented by many celebrities, and is now featured in various rap songs and videos. â€Å"The Stadium† has a strong following on both facebook and twitter and has now become a DC â€Å"hot spot†. I knew that â€Å"The Stadium† wasn’t the only adult entertainment venue in the area, so I wondered â€Å"What made it so popular? † and â€Å"Why was â€Å"The Stadium Club† more sucessful than the others like it? â€Å". Through a market analysis I found that this industry is highly competitive. With regards to one of â€Å"Porters five forces† I decided to base my paper on the threat of rivalry among the competetiors in this industry. Introduction There is recent trend involving the popularity of â€Å"gentlemen’s clubs† thru-out the United States. With a growing acceptance and tolerance for these venues clubs are being bought and sold for millions of dollars These adult entertainment clubs have become just as popular as â€Å"regular clubs†. Atlanta and Las Vegas have an entire nightlife surrounding this industry with millions of dollar being made by these nightclub owners. There are over 2,500 â€Å"gentlemen’s clubs† competing in this 15 billion dollar market surrounding the industry. Out of the 2,500 venues only two have become successful enough to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The most successful one being â€Å"Rick’s Cabaret† based in New York City. Ricks is a very upscale â€Å"gentlemen’s club† that puts â€Å"The Stadium Club† to shame. According to â€Å"Business Wire New York† Ricks is the leading operator of upscale â€Å"gentlemen’s clubs†. â€Å"Ricks Cabaret† dominates the market operating over eleven clubs in seven cities including: Philadelphia, New Orleans, Charlotte, New York Miami, Dallas, Huston, and Minneapolis. â€Å" Ricks Caberet† Miami location operates as â€Å"Tooties† and was voted the number one †gentlemens club† in the United states by †Complex Magazine†.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Bone loss conditions, prevention and treatment essays

Bone loss conditions, prevention and treatment essays This essay will address several types of bone loss diseases and the pros and cons of treatment or prevention techniques. I will first explore what the characteristics of healthy bone are and what the loss of bone mass and density can mean to a person's health and well being. My sources will be from the internet, magazines, medical journals, several books, and the1998 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. I have a personal interest in this subject because my paternal Grandmother and Grandfather suffered before they died with some of the debilitating symptoms of bone loss and weakening. This included spinal fractures and posture slumping. Some of the prevention methods I will mention are exercise, diet, and drugs. I will talk about the use of estrogen replacement therapy and vitamins in the prevention of osteoporosis and their possible benefits and side effects. I will discuss the difference between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis as well as touch on some conditions in which the pain can b e mistaken for them. My experience with a friend who has been crippled with arthritis since she was a child will open some topics for discussion. She has suffered several severe broken bone situations as a direct or indirect result of her disease and or treatments. An interview with her will be an informative and interesting addition to my sources on this subject. What is bone and why is healthy bone essential to your health? Bone is a type of skeletal tissue and contains living cells embedded in a hard matrix. This matrix consists mostly of calcium phosphate and other calcium minerals held together by collagen and other organic substances. Bone tissue renews itself throughout life, constantly tearing down and rebuilding its mineralized framework. The balance between bone resorption and formation is regulated by the immune system and by hormones. The single most important function of bones is to support softer body tissues. The action of voluntary muscle...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

British Education System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

British Education System - Case Study Example A brief analysis on each of these issues is discussed below. The curriculum followed in the British universities is either national curriculum or hidden curriculum. Most of the university does not follow the national curriculum. Instead they prefer the hidden curriculum, which they design according to their wish. They do not consult the other universities and decide on preparing own curriculum. In some colleges, hidden curriculum works out not too well. This is an important issue because the pattern of study entirely changes from one university to another university. This posses some sort of difficulty to the students. It is better to maintain a single curriculum throughout the state. It will be an advantage to the students instead of having separate curriculum for individual colleges. (Woods 1996).Hidden curriculum does not cater the needs of all groups of students. Instead it concentrates only on a particular sector of students. The difference may be based on ethnicity, race or the status of the student. A curriculum should be common to all the students. It should be unbiased. But in the existing British Education system there is a lot of difference among the class of people. Each of them is treated differently. Education is common to all and hence the universities must follow the same procedure. The national curriculum will work out effectively as the students of all the universities will follow the same syllabus. Hidden curriculum will lead to certain problems among the students. As it is not common to all, each of them will have a difficulty in learning it.(Davies 2000). Another problem in hidden curriculum is, the teaching will be different for each group of students, as the curriculum is different. This needs more number of teachers to be trained in specific subjects. This will enhance the teacher student relationship as only a minimal number of students will be assigned to a particular teacher. One advantage is there will be individual attention for all the students. The value of education is more and it is the basic defining criteria for any curriculum. Hidden curriculum is mainly followed in schools and they are based on the type of school. National curriculum should be enforced by the government and this will avoid the unnecessary problems between the universities. Primary and middle level education does not face much of a problem. (Lempp, Seale 2004).But the problem starts in Higher education. As the schools are separately maintained for each type of curriculum, there is no problem for the students in selecting the course and type of school they prefer. Once a child finishes schooling and starts his higher education, the situation becomes different. Universities do not concentrate much on the student's selection. They specify the courses and curriculum available and it depends on the student to select whatever they wish. In some states there is difference of status and schools and colleges are decided based on their students. Some schools that are under the control of government follow a different strategy when compared to the private institutions. There are institutions that provide education to students who cannot afford to pay their fees. These institutions are run by the government. Private educational institutions provide education

Friday, November 1, 2019

Testicular self-examination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Testicular self-examination - Essay Example icular self-examination to men within that age bracket is important because it has been proven that men rarely seek medical advice unless they have serious symptoms and this contributes to the high morbidity and mortality of men due to cancer, as compared to women (American Nurses Association, 2010). Interventions are, therefore, necessary to reduce the current trend of mortality associated with testicular cancer in males. They should however be aimed at behavior change as opposed to information insemination since previous interventions have shown that although men may be educated on how to perform the testicular self-examination, just a few of them actually do it. Availing information on testicular cancer and testicular self-examination can have a positive effect on health promoting behaviors in men. This can be done through education using posters and other media such as videos and pamphlets put in strategic places such as in changing rooms and washrooms. Demonstrations using models peer-training and during health check-ups by a physician are other ways in which this information can be availed to the men. In conclusion, it is important that men check their testicles regularly since this can help detect testicular cancer in its early stages and increase chances of recovery (Benjamins, 2010). Testicular self-examination can help to reduce the incidence of testicular