Geochemical Proxy Based Reconstruction The Trace...

Geochemical proxy-based reconstruction widely utilizes the trace elemental and isotopic compositions of marine biogenic carbonates to interpret the past climatic and oceanographic conditions. However, such proxy-based reconstructions are often challenged by marine diagenesis as carbonates are highly susceptible to diagenesis, especially partial dissolution and secondary calcite recrystallization. Thus quantifying diagenetic effect is a prerequisite for development of any carbonate-based geochemical proxy. Among the metal isotopes, Mg isotopic composition (ÃŽ ´26Mg) of foraminiferal carbonates is a promising proxy to reconstruct the secular seawater ÃŽ ´26Mg variability, which is useful in understanding long-term changes in Mg geochemical cycle. However, as the trace metals like Mg in marine carbonates show greater susceptibility to diagenetic alterations due to its low abundance as compared to that in the co-existing pore fluids, development ÃŽ ´26Mg of marine carbonates as a geochem ical proxy critically requires a thorough understanding of the fractionation behaviors of Mg isotopes during diagenesis. Therefore, the primary goal of this dissertation is to quantify the effect of diagenesis on metal isotopes, in particularly, ÃŽ ´26Mg of marine carbonates from various depositional settings to evaluate the effect of advection, diffusion and lithological variation within the sedimentary column on the extent of calcite diagenesis. For this purpose, trace elemental (e.g., Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca) andShow MoreRelatedResearch Report On Marine Calcareous Microfossils1172 Words   |  5 PagesMarine calcareous microfossils are extensively utilized as geochemical proxy-archives. Among the traditional isotope proxies, ÃŽ ´18O and ÃŽ ´13C of foraminiferal tests are used as geochemical tools to determine numerous paleoceanographic parameters, such as, paleo-temperature, sea-ice volume, paleo-sea level, variation of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the seawater, paleo-productivit y and ocean circulation pattern (Urey et al., 1951; Epstein et al., 1953; Emiliani, 1954; Boyle and Keigwin, 1985;

Golden Ass Essay - 1123 Words

Golden Ass Apuleius Golden Ass, the only surviving novel of the Roman Empire, is a tale of a Greek nobleman devoting his life to the goddess Isis following his transformation to an ass and back. Although a work of fiction, the novel reveals a great deal about religion in Apuleius society. This information, however, must be viewed with a critical eye. He incorporates stories from Greco-Roman mythology not to affirm their validity, but to reveal their commonness to society. Apuleius insults other religions that are not of the Pantheon with severe viciousness, while the general public may have been more open to them. In the end, he praises Isis and Osiris as the supreme gods while giving first hand account of their righteousness.†¦show more content†¦As the wild boar mutilated the handsome Adonis, the witches and the people of Hypta had disfigured Thelyphron. Other incidents that are similar to stories in myth occur throughout the novel. Like these two incidents, the others also f ollow the pattern of showing that things occurring in everyday Greek life (having sexual relations with a slave and getting attacked by an angry mob) were nearly synonymous with divine tales. Following Lucious transformation to an ass, he takes on a more frontal assault towards the minor religions present in the Roman Empire at the time. He outright calls the eunuch priests that worship the Syrian Goddess frauds. The priests stay Where the public were very kind to them: in particular they made a good deal of money by professing to tell fortunes. Between them, these pious frauds composed an all-purpose oracle for the Goddess to deliver by their mouths, and used it to cheat a great many people who came to consult her on all sorts of questions. (Graves, pg. 198-199) By not revealing the specifics of the religion of the eunuchs, Apuleius leaves open the possibility of applying the fraudulent aspect to other outside religions in the empire. With a short paragraph he discredits several cults in the empire as being money driven and simply not true. It is also evident, however, that the public does not share Lucius distrust of the foreign goddess. In fact, they appear to be very open to her, and consequently toShow MoreRelatedSex, Magic And The Golden Ass1515 Words   |  7 PagesKatelyn White Professor McRae Greek and Roman Lit Spring 2015 Sex, Magic and the Golden Ass The theme of curiosity in The Golden Ass has different relationships with sex, magic and knowledge. The curiosity about magic, turns to the desire to possess the magic and to learn how to use it. The main character of The Golden Ass, Lucius, ignores many warnings about practicing magic and the witch Pamphile who uses it. When Lucius’ lover Photis explains the role that magic had in the prank that was pulledRead MoreDepictions Of Women During The Golden Ass1786 Words   |  8 PagesI will argue that the depictions of women in The Golden Ass seem to reinforce the gender stereotype of women to be lustful and manipulative nymphomaniacs because of the qualities of several female characters. The Golden Ass identifies the latent nature of women through several characters, namely: The woman from Corinth, who Lucius sleeps with, The wife from the story, the lover, and the jar, and Photis. First, I will analyze the woman from Corinth who sleeps with Lucius and how her qualities reinfo rceRead MoreLewis Mcgrath s Shannon And Apuleius The Golden Ass1485 Words   |  6 PagesA common theme found in both, Campbell McGrath’s Shannon and Apuleius’ The Golden Ass, is facing the consequences for venturing into the unknown. George Shannon and Lucius come face to face with unique obstacles, for instance George’s narrative long struggle to acquire any form of comestible sustenance or Lucius being faced with the seemingly immoral task to murder a woman by having sexual intercourse with her when he is in donkey form, that they must overcome. They used their pride and determinationRead MoreThe Golden Ass1237 Words   |  5 PagesApuleius wrote the Golden Ass during the Second Century A.D. In it he talked about many complex allegorical contexts and layers of meaning pertaining to varying religious practices. He was able to do this by essentially switching back and forth between side stories which might or might not intertwine with the overall story. The religion of Isis was predominant in comparing the other lesser known or rather â€Å"inferior† religions of the time such as Christianity. It seems as if Isis was praised in aRead MoreThe Death Of Socrates By Plato1188 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Roman world experienced a lot of transformations with time. The changes can be observed through the literature depending on when it was written. For instance, some revolutions are noticeable in Book 6 of Virgil’s Aeneid and Apuleius s The Golden Ass. Book 6 of Aeneid is a sort of prophecy as Virgil gives an account of Aeneas’ journey to the Underworld. The author’s imagination gives an insight into the nature of punishments for sin and that lack of adherence to the virtues of the religionRead MoreThe Ass, The Witch, And The Roman Empire1232 Words   |  5 PagesThe Ass, the Witch, and the Roman Empire: Roman Society in The Golden Ass Apuleius’ The Golden Ass is the oldest Latin novel from around the era of the Roman Empire to survive in its entirety. Because of this fact, it means that this novel is a source of great insight into a first hand account, albeit with fictional prose, of Roman society through the eyes of a well-endowed male, Lucius, the narrator of the novel. Through his travels and his various encounters along the way, both as a man and anRead MoreAnalysis Of The s Metamorphosis 1302 Words   |  6 Pagesdisobedience of Cupid’s command – the male control – and also her spontaneously taking actions to make up for her impetuousness afterwards, serving as the catalyst of the affinity between Cupid and her in the later state. As is described in the Golden Ass that Psyche â€Å"though naturally weak in body, rallied her strength with cruel Fate reinforcing it, produced the lamp, seized the blade, and took on a man’s courage†, she actually possesses the power to break the conventional regulation of a submissiveRead MoreEros : Female Souls Thriving And Crumbling1735 Words   |  7 Pagesher disobedience of Cupid’s command—the male control—and also her spontaneously taking actions to make up for her impetuousness afterwards, serving as the catalyst of the affinity between Cupid and her in the later state. As is described in the Golden Ass that Psyche, â€Å"though naturally weak in body, rallied her strength with cruel Fate reinforcing it, produced the lamp, seized the blade, and took on a man’s courage† (Apuleius 87-88). She actually possesses the power to break the conventional regulationRead MoreAlcatraz as a Tourist Attraction Essay3109 Words   |  13 PagesIndians of All Tribes, occupied the island and claimed to be taking back the land that was rightfully theirs. Unknown at this time, this event would eventually inspire and fuel the entire Indian movement. Finally, in 1972, Alcatraz became a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. From that point on it has been know as a national park, and one of San Franciscos most popular tourist attractions. People come from all walks of life to take the tour that reveals the prison that housed Americas hardestRead MoreThe Conquest of Greece by the Roman Empire and the Success of Mystery Religions771 Words   |  4 Pagesespecially true to the mystery religion of Isis. Isis was believed to hold â€Å"... the keys of the Underworld and the guarantee of salvation were in the hands of [Isis].† (Apuleius Golden ass ex. 11.1) Moreover, she had â€Å"... the power to prolong [one’s] life beyond the bounds fixed for [one] by [one’s] Fate.† (Apuleius Golden ass ex. 11.1) Her divine blessings and protection, therefore, appealed to the military officials, especially frontiers soldiers. Rome’s conquests on the eastern Mediterranean also

Operations Management Operational Failures and Problem Solving

Question: Describe about the Operations Management for Operational Failures and Problem Solving. Answer: Introduction: The modernization and suitable operating system are now becoming boon to the cabinet making industry. This sentence is worth suited to the changing operational management of the organization. According to the case study, Hawkesbury Cabinets is considered here in the discussion. Hawkesbury is the renowned organization which is specialized in making the custom and standard cabinets for the different purposes. The major purpose of the essay is to define the major operational aspects related to the organization. Through this essay, the argumentative approach will be defined in the suitable manner by providing the appropriate evidences thoroughly. The major findings which are covered in the essay are the operational aspects, rapid or day to day changing process of the organization and the major technical aspects are being analyzed on the wide level. Major Aspects: As the introduction clearly shows that the Hawkesbury cabinet possesses the renowned identity in the field of the cabinets making organization. But, the systematic flow of the organization can only be maintained when the operational management of the organization managed on the wide level. The major aspects mainly help in defining the technical aspects, problem definition and the broader organizational issues related to the organization. Managing the operational aspects of an organization is considered as the most strengthening factor of the organization (National Defense University, 1991). The coordination of the elements and the supporting factors matters a lot. To manage the coordination and the appropriate process, this argument is developed. The production system and the management of the Hawkesbury works in the sequential manner. The impressive processing and the well- defined production system are considered as the strongest perspective of the organization. The specialty of the organization is that it offers both the custom and the standard cabinets to the clients. These cabinets are helpful in providing the assistance to each and every type of requirement. The technical aspects of the organization (i.e. Hawkesbury) have their definite processing system and the production aspects too. The cabinets are designed and managed by the Fung and Mei Chan to show the developmental aspects of the organization. It is cle arly mentioned in the case study that to manage the production of the cabinets, various equipment are required (Aspect Cabinet Makers, 2016). The suitable arrangement is defined in the Hawkesbury. Technically, for arranging the equipment, the specific area is defined. The saws and cutting tables are in one section, routers and shapers are in another section and for the painting, denting and finishing, the specific areas are defined. The capacity of the production system is to prepare the five cabinets (i.e. Standard and custom) at a time (Chand, 2015). These cabinets are prepared by the similar craftsmen. This process is suitable for the small production system, but with the increase in demands for the cabinets, the suitable and well developed system for the production is required. Technically to manage the present aspects and the future process, the suitable strategic planning is required. Apart from this, the operational aspects of the organization should also be maintained in an appropriate manner (Kanten, Gurlek, Kanten, 2015). In the case study, it is mentioned that the manufacturing of both the standard and the custom cabinets are operated from one of the production center, i.e. Mulgrave, where both custom and standard cabinets are manufactured in the wide range. The argument which can be identified in contrast to the case study can be mentioned as whether the operational aspects are fulfilling the requirement of the organization. The continuous increment in the builders line kitchen shows the positive as well as the negative aspects. The evidence shows that the increment in the demand of the custom kitchen is increasing continuously with the rapid speed. In fact, the customers are satisfied with the services provided by the organization (Davis Lawrence, 1978). Simultaneously, the organization is also planned for the spacious area for managing the suitable business aspects in an appropriate manner. But, simultaneously the condition of the incomplete standard cabinet is also not good in comparison to the custom cabinets. The sudden increase in the demand of the custom cabinet reduces the demand of the standard cabinet. Due to this, the financial aspects of the organization are also not performing in the suitable manner. By studying the aspects of the case study, it is clearly shown that the introduction of the new kitchen builder line impact the operational aspects of the organization both in positive and negative manner (Saiya, 2005). Apart from these issues as mentioned in the paragraphs above, one of the major issues is related to the space management of the organization. To manage the complete as well as the incomplete products, there is a requirement of the space and the arrangement of the space cannot be done without the help of the suitable financial support. The Accounts department already intimated the owner about the financial issues which are generated in the organization. The argument which can be identified in contrast to the scenario is that, though the organization possesses the various resources, then also the issue related to the space is considered as the common one (Adler-Milstein, Singer, Toffel, 2009). Due to the operational problems, some of the most common organizational issues which are identified are management of the financial and the management aspects, management of the products in the rented area and many others. These are defined in the broader level and some other small issues are al so there. By identifying the aspects, it is clearly shown that the advanced and the most appropriate aspects are required for the execution of the stable process (Ribbons, 2015). Conclusion: By assuming the essay above, the most important aspects related to the operational management in the organization are clearly defined. Apart from this, the common operational problems are also being defined in the organization. The argumentative aspects and the evidences related to it are helpful in highlighting the major issues in the organization. The paragraphs define above are also helpful in providing the counter answers to the arguments which are developed thoroughly. The suitable expansion of the area and the appropriate business management of the current business of the cabinets are considered as the most appropriate option for the growth of the organization. The three elements defined in the process are considered as the base for the developmental aspects of the organization. These three elements not only help in the present perspective, but also improves the future perspectives of the organization. The strategic approach towards the operational aspects and the technical management of the process will be helpful in providing the suitable planning for managing the major aspects related to the organization (McNamara, 2016). The evidences defined in the essay above are helpful in managing the coordination and the equilibrium in the operational process. References Adler-Milstein, J., Singer, J., Toffel, M. W. (2009). Operational Failures and Problem Solving: An Empirical Study of Incident Reporting. Harvard Business School . Retrieved from https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/10-017.pdf Aspect Cabinet Makers. (2016). Aspect Cabinet Makers website. Retrieved from https://www.aspectcabinetmakers.com.au/: https://www.aspectcabinetmakers.com.au/ Chand, S. (2015). 3 Different Types of Charts in Technical Analysis. 3 Different Types of Charts in Technical Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/investment/3-different-types-of-charts-in-technical-analysis/1764/ Davis, S. M., Lawrence, P. R. (1978). Problems of Matrix Organizations. Problems of Matrix Organizations. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/1978/05/problems-of-matrix-organizations Kanten, P., Gurlek, M., Kanten, S. (2015). The Effects of Organizational Structures and Learning Organization on Job Embeddedness and Individual Adaptive Performance. Procedia Economics and Finance, 23, 1358-1366. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212567115005237 McNamara, C. (2016). Problem Solving and Decision Making (Solving Problems and Making Decisions). Problem Solving and Decision Making (Solving Problems and Making Decisions). Retrieved from https://managementhelp.org/personalproductivity/problem-solving.htm National Defense University. (1991). Strategic Leadership and Decision Making. Strategic Vision. Retrieved from https://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/strat-ldr-dm/pt4ch18.html Ribbons, S. (2015). Hawkesbury-epean valley management review-Developing a strategy where flood depth can be nine metresabove flood planning level. Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Taskforce. Retrieved from https://www.floodplainconference.com/papers2015/Sue%20Ribbons%20Full%20Paper.pdf Saiya, C. (2005, june). Six steps to better marketing operations management. Six steps to better marketing operations management. Retrieved from https://www.thewisemarketer.com/features/read.asp?id=73

Reformation in England free essay sample

Examines 16th Century rise of Protestantism, Anglicanism Calvinism. Looks at the background, English vs. Roman Church and the role of the kings. The Reformation in England This paper will briefly discuss the Protestant Reformation in England in the Sixteenth Century. The first part of the paper will examine the background to the Reformation by looking at the Church in England prior to the Reformation. The second part of the paper will discuss how the conflict between King Henry VIII and Rome arose and the role of Spain in precipitating a crisis. The third part of the paper will look at how Henry effected the break with Rome and why he chose to make the break political rather than theological. The fourth part of the paper will discuss how the reformation took on a more radical nature after Henrys death, how his daughter Mary attempted to return England to Rome, and how Elizabeth I established a more moderate course. We will write a custom essay sample on Reformation in England or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The last part of the paper will briefly look at the other major Protestant movement..

Down With the Five Paragraph Essay!

Down With the Five Paragraph Essay! Writing essays is a skill that will serve kids well throughout their lives. Knowing how to present facts and opinions in an interesting, understandable way is valuable regardless of whether they attend college or go directly into the workforce.   Unfortunately, the current trend  is to focus on a type of writing called the Five Paragraph Essay. This fill-in-the-blank style of writing has one main goal - training students to write essays that are easy to grade in the classroom and on standardized tests. As a homeschooling parent, you can help your children learn to produce informational writing that is meaningful and alive.   The Problem with the Five Paragraph Essay In the real world, people write essays to inform, persuade, and entertain. The Five Paragraph Essay allows writers to  do that but only in a limited way. The structure of the Five Paragraph Essay consists of: An introductory paragraph that states the point to be made.Three paragraphs of exposition that each lay out one point of the argument.A conclusion that sums up the essays content. For beginning writers, this formula can be a good starting place. The Five Paragraph Essay can help young students get beyond the one-paragraph page, and encourage them to come up with multiple facts or arguments. But beyond fifth grade or so, the Five Paragraph Essay becomes an obstacle to quality writing. Instead of learning to develop and vary their arguments, students remain stuck in the same old formula. According to Chicago Public School English teacher Ray Salazar, The five-paragraph essay is rudimentary, unengaging, and useless. SAT Prep Trains Students to Write Poorly The SAT essay format is even worse. It values speed over accuracy and depth of thought. Students are conditioned to turn out a large number of words quickly, rather than to take the time to present their arguments well. Ironically, the Five Paragraph Essay works against the SAT essay format. In 2005, Les Perelman of MIT found that he could predict the score on an SAT essay solely on the basis of how many paragraphs it contained. So to get a top score of six, a test taker would have to write six paragraphs, not five. Teaching Informational Writing Dont feel you need to assign your children school-type writing projects. Real-life writing is often more valuable and more meaningful to them. Suggestions include: Keep a journal. Many kids enjoy keeping a journal or notebook to capture their thoughts. It can be something to share with you (some teachers use journals to communicate with their students; you can do the same) or a private record. Either way provides useful writing practice.Start a blog. Even reluctant writers can become enthusiastic when writing has a purpose. Writing for an audience provides purpose. There are many options for starting a free blog and privacy features offer parents and students control over who reads the content.Write a review. Ask your kids to review their favorite books, video games, movies, restaurants -  the list is endless. Unlike most school-type reports, reviews have to be written with the audience in mind, and they have to be entertaining. They also help kids learn to express opinions and present valid arguments to the reader.Do a research paper. Give your kids essay-writing a purpose by integrating it into a history project or science topic. Let them c hoose an area that interests them and explore it in depth. Writing research papers also gives students practice in critical thinking and evaluating and crediting source material. Essay Writing Resources If you need some guidance, there are some fantastic online resources for writing essays.   How to Write an Essay: 10 Easy Steps. This hyperlinked guide by writer Tom Johnson is a particularly easy-to-follow explanation of essay-writing techniques for tweens and teens. Purdue OWL. Purdue Universitys Online Writing Lab contains sections on the writing process, how to understand an assignment, grammar, language mechanics, visual presentation and more. About.coms Grammar and Composition site has an entire section on Developing Effective Essays. Research Paper Handbook. A handy textbook by James D. Lester Sr. and Jim D. Lester Jr. The Five Paragraph Essay has its place, but students need to using it as a stepping stone, not the final result of their writing instruction. Updated Kris Bales.

Explore the Different Types of Galaxies

Explore the Different Types of Galaxies Thanks to instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers know more about the variety of objects in the universe than previous generations could even dream of understanding.  Even so, most people dont realize just how diverse the universe is. Thats especially true about galaxies. For a long time, astronomers sorted them by their shapes but didnt really have a good idea about why those shapes existed. Now, with modern telescopes and instruments, astronomers have been able to understand why galaxies are the way they are. In fact,  classifying galaxies by their appearance, combined with data about their stars and motions, give astronomers insight into galactic origins and evolution. Galaxy stories stretch back almost to the beginning of the universe.   This Hubble Space Telescope view reveals thousands of galaxies stretching back into time across billions of light-years of space. The image covers a portion of a large galaxy census called the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS). NASA, ESA, the GOODS Team, and M. Giavialisco (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) Spiral Galaxies Spiral galaxies are the most famous of all galaxy types. Typically, they have a flat disk shape and spiral arms winding out away from the core.  They also contain a central bulge, within which a supermassive black hole resides. Some spiral galaxies also have a bar that runs through the center, which is a transfer conduit for gas, dust, and stars. These barred spiral galaxies actually account for most of the spiral galaxies in our universe and astronomers now know that the Milky Way is, itself, a barred spiral type.  Spiral type galaxies are dominated by dark matter, making up nearly 80 percent of their matter by mass. An artists concept of what our galaxy looks like from outside. Note the bar across the center and the two main arms, plus smaller ones. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESO/R. Hurt Elliptical Galaxies Less than one in seven galaxies in our universe are elliptical galaxies. As the name suggests, these galaxies are either range from having a spherical to egg-like shape.  In some regards they look similar to large star clusters, however, the presence of large amounts of dark matter help distinguish them from their smaller counterparts. A giant elliptical galaxy has a small neighbor with a HUGE black hole at its heart. NASA/ESA/STScI These galaxies contain only small amounts of gas and dust, suggesting that their period of star formation has come to an end, after billions of years of rapid star-birth activity.   This actually gives a clue to their formation as they are believed to arise out of the collision of two or more spiral galaxies. When galaxies collide, the action spurs great bursts of star birth as the commingled gases of the participants are compressed and shocked. This leads to star formation on a grand scale.   Irregular Galaxies Perhaps a quarter of galaxies are irregular galaxies. As one might guess, they seem to lack a distinct shape, unlike spiral or elliptical galaxies. Sometimes astronomers have referred to them as peculiar galaxies, due to their odd shapes. No matter what theyre called, astronomers want to understand why they often look like oddballs when compared to other galaxy types. One possibility is that these galaxies were distorted by a nearby or passing massive galaxy. We see evidence for this in some of the nearby dwarf galaxies that are being stretched by the gravity of our Milky Way  as they are cannibalized by our galaxy. The Large Magellanic Cloud (middle left) and Small Magellanic Cloud (upper center) over Paranal Observatory in Chile. European Southern Observatory In some cases though, it seems that irregular galaxies have been created by mergers of galaxies. Evidence for this lies in the rich fields of hot young stars that were likely created during the interactions. Lenticular Galaxies The lenticular galaxies are, to some extent, misfits. They contain properties of both spiral and elliptical galaxies. For this reason, the story of how they formed is still a work in progress, and many astronomers are actively researching their origins.   Galaxy NGC 5010 a lenticular galaxy which has features of both spirals and ellipticals. NASA/ESA/STScI Special Types of Galaxies There are also some galaxies that contain special properties that help astronomers classify them even further within their more general classifications.   Dwarf Galaxies: These are essentially smaller versions of those galaxies listed above. Dwarf galaxies are difficult to define because there is no well-accepted cut-off for what makes a galaxy regular or dwarf. Some have a flattened shape and are often referred to as dwarf spheroidals. The Milky Way is currently cannibalizing a number of these smaller stellar collections. Astronomers can track the motions of their stars as they swirl into our galaxy, and study their chemical makeup (also known as metallicity).Starburst Galaxies: Some galaxies are in a period of very active star formation. These starburst galaxies are actually normal galaxies that have in some way been disturbed to ignite very rapid star formation. As mentioned above, galaxy collisions and interactions are the likely cause of the starburst knots seen in these objects.Active Galaxies: It is believed that virtually all normal galaxies contain a supermassive black hole at their cores. In some cases, however, this central engine can become active and drive massive amounts of energy away from the galaxy in the form of powerful jets. These Active Galactic Nuclei (or AGN for short) are widely studied, but it is still unclear what causes the black hole to suddenly become active. In some cases, passing clouds of gas and dust may fall into the gravitational well of the black hole. The material gets superheated as it swirls around in the black holes disk, and a jet may form. The activity also gives off x-rays and radio emissions, which can be detected with telescopes here on Earth. The study of galaxy types continues, with astronomers looking back to the earliest epochs of time using Hubble and other telescopes. So far, theyve seen some of the very first galaxies and their stars. These little shreds of light are the beginnings of the galaxies we see today. The data from those observations will help the understanding of galactic formation back at a time when the universe was very, very young.   This simple diagram of galaxy types is often called Hubbles tuning fork. public domain Fast Facts Galaxies exist in a variety of shapes and sizes (called their morphology).Spiral galaxies are very common, as are ellipticals and irregulars. The first galaxies were likely irregulars.Galaxies grow and evolve through collisions and mergers. Sources â€Å"Galaxy | COSMOS.†Ã‚  Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/g/galaxy.HubbleSite - The Telescope - Hubble Essentials - About Edwin Hubble, hubblesite.org/reference_desk/faq/all.php.catgalaxies.NASA, NASA, science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-are-galaxies.    Edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Consider these arguments in terms of culture, motivation, and Essay

Consider these arguments in terms of culture, motivation, and strategy, and comment on their substance. You should also reflect - Essay Example The paper also seeks to reflect on how power is exercised in organisations in relation to moral values. The paper begins by explaining the concept of culture in view of the arguments raised by Stiglitz. The paper will also critically analyse how motivation of the people as well as the strategy implemented have a bearing in the way financial institutions are operating during the contemporary period in USA in particular. Culture is the most basic cause of a person’s wants and behaviours. â€Å"This is commonly referred to as a set of basic values, perceptions, wants behaviours learned by a member of society from the family and other important institutions,† (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). For instance, the following values are given priority in the United States of America: achievement and success, activity and involvement, efficiency and practicality, progress, material comfort, individualism, freedom as well as humanitarianism. The success or failure of a given organisation can be attributed to this concept of culture. However, Stiglitz argues that individualism and market fundamentalism have eroded the sense of community and have led to exploitation of the ordinary people. ... In actual fact, the approach taken by the banks is that which advocates the survival of the fittest. Whilst the free market concept posits to the effect that the market forces should shape the standards expectations especially of financial institutions, it can be argued that the conditions set are favourable to the business organisations which leaves the ordinary people exposed to manipulation by these big businesses. The aspect of materialism has increased dramatically in the operations of financial institutions and this has posed a serious challenge to the ordinary people who end being victims especially during turbulent periods that can be attributed to the strategies implemented by the financial institutions. Whereas marketers in the other industries worry about the impact of culture on their strategies, financial institutions in USA are primarily concerned with entrenching the aspect of individualism in their operations (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004). Stiglitz argues that rugged ind ividualism combined with a high degree of materialism has led to loss of trust among the members of the society and different financial institutions. The aspect of culture and moral values can also be attributed to the concept of ethics. Business ethics loosely refers to values, principles and standards that operate within a particular organisation which attempts to make a distinction between something that is morally good from bad (Rossouw, 2004). The concept of business ethics therefore derives from the value system that is used by a particular organisation to shape its operations. To reinforce this assertion, DesJardins (2006, p. 5) describes values as the â€Å"essential and enduring tenets†

New teacher induction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

New teacher induction - Essay Example A mentor is useful in guiding the teacher through the various problems that the new teacher may face (Collins, 2008). An instructional coach is instrumental in ensuring that the correct procedures are kept in covering the curriculum. The induction process helps the teacher understand and know how to deal with the various students who come from diverse backgrounds. A teacher will also be better placed to deal with students who have difficulties in class and also maximize on the different talents of the various students (Collins, 2008). An important issue to consider is that teachers need to connect with the students so that they can achieve more. The induction process also needs to be reviewed from time to time to ensure that the correct practices are used in the induction of teacher. What works on the program should be further improved while what does not work should be corrected as well. In this standard the administration describes the responsibilities for the teacher and guide them through the written and vision that promotes and supports the ability of the teacher to the continuous development of the region and describes the policies of the school. At this point, the new teacher gets to learn the rules of the school such as the time that they are meant to report to school and time they are meant to eave, the timetable of the school, the values and the culture of the school and how they are meant to conduct themselves especially in regards to how they relate to the students (Collins, 2008). This area could also include issues of pay and if there are any bonuses or any medical support that he teacher is entitled to when they are teaching at the school. This stander seeks professional improvement the teachers that include classroom management techniques and motivating students. Moreover, it lets the teacher to know more about how to communicate and work with diverse students. Students are usually from very

Continuous devastation Essay Example for Free

Continuous devastation Essay The story of a jellyfish in Quinn’s book represents quite an original psycho-philosophical approach to the problem of evolution. The story is made up in a form of a dialogue. A person, telling a story argues, that man is a highpoint of evolution, and the opponent applies something like a doctrine of relativity, explaining, that the world has not always been made for man and it can be ascertained, that once the world will be made for someone else again. For the speaker, evolution has finished as man appeared, because there is no more way to evolve, thusly, he advocates a theory of extremity of evolution. And while man is a final product of evolution, he can be mentioned as ultimate and supreme creature and the whole world is made for him. To contest such a conclusion the opponent turns to a relativistic approach, trying to concretize the concerned time. A jellyfish serves as example of such relativity, because in case a researcher appeared on the shore of an ocean 500 million years ago, he would find nothing more perfect, than a jellyfish on earth. Therefore, a jellyfish could reasonably believe, that it is a supreme creature, because man was just to appear and has not yet become factual. The evolution ended with jellyfish and the world was made for jellyfish. For Quinn, the core difference between jellyfish and man in the matter of evolution is that a jellyfish does not tell stories, and a man does. Therefore, he invented a religious dogma to justify his superiority and to prove, that the evolution indeed ended with man. Nevertheless, religions remain human inventions and can serve as justification only for other humans. The conclusion is quite pessimistic for humanity: once there can appear a creature, which overpasses man just as we overpass a jellyfish. Question 2 It should first be pointed, that Ishmael sees agriculture as violation of natural laws. Humans do not listen to the voice of mother-nature which tells â€Å"take what you need and leave the rest†. In spite of doing so, man starts producing surpluses, taking more, than he needs. Production of surpluses leas to expansion of population in proportion to food supplies and is not limited by any cultural or technological barriers, finally resulting in environmental and natural phenomena, which limit population growth. Quinn compares such processes to a system of checks and balances. Women’s fertility in the regions with high surpluses production lessens year after year, until it falls below reproduction rate. Quinn suggests, that population still continues to grow globally, although population may fall locally, and this depends on the type of society. Industrial societies are much less reproductive, since people have less incentive for reproduction. Agrarian societies and their members need a lot of children, often just of economic reasons, because children are future working force. For Quinn there is one positive effect from present model of population growth. This is unsustainable pressure on nature and biosphere, leading to extension of about 200 species daily. The situation is especially dramatic in non-European countries, where industrialization, combined with traditionally high birth rates, would lead to catastrophic increase of pressure on nature. Question 3 The next link between food supplies and population growth, which is proposed by Quinn is embodied in term â€Å"food race†. He compares such a race with the arms race during the Cold war. For him, human population is determined by food supplies just as with any other animals. In case food supplies grow – population and civilization grow. Sometimes the inverse relationship is possible and food supplies grow as the population grows. Consequently, there are two variables: population and food supplies, which are mutually dependant. The primary difference with the Malthusian catastrophe concept is that fro Quinn, population can never exceed it’s food supplies. It will just not grow big enough to consume more food, than it produces. Quinn himself explained, that the problem of Malthus is that â€Å"How are we going to feed those people? †, and his problem is â€Å"How are we going to stop producing all those people? †. So, Quinn saw population growth as function of food supplies with direct correlation between them. Under his concept, a population merely can not overgrow it’s food supplies, because more people are going to produce more food. Nevertheless, it can be pointed, that Quinn does not consider secondary factors, for example, ability of the Planet itself to produce enough food. Quinn believes, that there can be two endings for food race – either abandonment, or catastrophe. It is therefore up to human discretion whether to sensually stop reproduction or face overpopulation and finally decline. Question 4 Quinn defined two major types of humans dependently on their attitude to nature – Takers and Peacekeepers. Takers are those, who are usually referred as civilized. Their culture came to the world with the beginning of agricultural revolution 10 000 years ago. Takers considered themselves the masters of nature, for whom the world has been created, and so man has a right to conquer the world. They think, that the world belongs to man. The reverse of their ideas is a belief, that there is something fundamentally wrong with people. Man does not know how to live properly because that knowledge is unobtainable and related to some divine revelation. Peacekeepers, named Leavers by Quinn represent a pretty different approach. They consider themselves just a part of Nature and try to limit their influence on it by taking nothing more than they need from their environment. They think, that a man belongs to world. Quinn uses an example of Cain and Abel. Cain symbolizes ancient tribes of farmers, who already acted as takers, and Abel presents prehistoric tribes of Semite herders. Undoubtedly, herders have much smaller influence on nature, since they do nothing to change it. Killing Able by Cain, therefore, is s Symbol of Taker’s victory over Leavers. Takers indeed easily overcome the Leavers in the process of evolution, because they enjoy much greater opportunities to increase their food supplies and consequently the population. However, in the remote prospective, their way leads to disaster due to overpressure on nature. The Leaver’s approach is more respective to nature and allows to retain it for longer time, so prospectively the Leaver’s idea seems to be preferential. Question 5 Quinn uses a figure of a pedaling airman and an aircraft as a civilization metaphor. He speaks, that humans in the last several thousands of years are Takers, â€Å"who are in the air, but not in the flight†. He compares a modern taking man to a person, who has brought some flying machine to a top of a cliff and attempts to fly. For some time he could really think, that he is able to fly, because his apparatus does not longer stand on the top of a cliff, and a man finds himself in the air. However, only a little time later a man discovers, that he flies down towards his death. Under Quinn, this happens, because man is not familiar with natural laws. He looks like an inventor, who attempts to fly without knowledge of laws of aerodynamics. Similarly, humanity, which is not aware of natural laws is likely to fall down. The basic mistake of a man is that he believes, that it is he, who pilots the aircraft, although it is piloted only by natural laws. Not having a sufficient instrument to make his machine fly, man looks like a pedaling pilot, who tries to move his plane by means of bicycle pedals. It is obvious, that pedals are not good enough to bring an aircraft into motion, so man falls down. Such fall is a direct result of Taker’ conviction, that the world is made for man. Many humans just ca not believe, that their effort to pilot such a strange aircraft would lead them only to death and annihilation. Question 6 The poster, which is observed by the character of a story puts forth one of the key questions of Quinn’s book. Gorilla here is likely to represent those other creations of nature, which share our planet with us, humans. It is impossible to say whether they should be reviewed separately from nature, Separation is human feature, and gorilla’s never tried to oppose natural processes. So, they can both be regarded as nature itself and as inhabitants of that nature. The first part of a slogan: â€Å"With Gorilla gone, will there be hope for man† is more or less clear. Quinn points, that continuous devastation of nature would lead to devastation of man, who can not survive without nature. The second part: â€Å"With man gone, will there be hope for Gorilla† is less obvious. It can seem, that in case humanity died out, natural balance would be restored. In other words, gorilla does not need man to survive. To answer the question we should consider, that finally a man is also a part of nature, same as gorilla is, so distinguishing of man would also violate natural balance. Therefore, destroying humanity to save nature appears to be an extreme, same as extreme of human’s supreme power over nature. So, humans need to find a third way – a way of clever cooperation with nature. They need to once again become part of the world and be in a way similar to gorillas.

Australia and Japans Relationship since World War II Essay -- essays

Since the signing of the 1951 peace treaty between Australia and Japan, the two countries have rapidly built a productive relationship. Many factors and events have contributed to the development of this partnership. The ANZUS treaty was the turning point in the Austral-Japanese relationship. It assured Australia protection against Japan and provided security in the Asia-Pacific region. Trade and cultural exchange also played a significant role in shaping Australia’s relationship with Japan. Growth of trade was a contributor to the sense of a mutual interest between the two countries. The cultural exchange often helped to recognise and accept the differences between Australia and Japan. The partnership between Australia and Japan instigated with the signing of ANZUS treaty in 1951. ANZUS joined the nations of Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America in a defence security pact for the Pacific region. It chiefly resulted from the fear of communism by Western nations. However, from Australia’s point of view at the time, ANZUS also offered protection against a potential threat from Japan. Australia was concerned that Japan would try to conquer the Pacific region again after suffering defeat in the Second World War. Hanson.M (2001:28) sates that shortly after the end of World War Two, Australia wanted the Japanese government turned into a democracy. She even wanted a peace treaty that punished those leaders responsible for Japan’s aggression, broke the great industrious complexes of Japan’s economy, and left Japan disarmed. The ANZUS treaty however, created a connection between Australia and Japan on easier terms. With United States ba cking Australia, it was now safe to interact with Japan. Although ANZUS did not guarantee direct military support from United States, it still provided consultation in an event of attack on any of the three countries. Wolferen.K (1989:54) notes that security co-operation has been growing between Australia and Japan throughout the 1990’s. Communist China was the major concern for the two nations. Japan and Australia had the same negative views about communism, which led to them sharing a common purpose in countering the communists within that region. After Sir John McEwen, the former Minister for Trade, signed the Australia-Japan Commerce Agreement in 1957, the trading aspect between the two nations has developed ... ...dying Japanese at tertiary level alone. Research relating to Japan is carried out at about thirty-seven universities in Australia. The range of research has developed to include not only the humanities, but also practical and business-related fields. Also there is a considerable amount of youth exchange between Australia and Japan. Every year Japan accepts about one hundred young Australians as government funded students. All of the above attributes are making a major contribution to the promotion of friendly relations between Australia and Japan. After evaluating the above factors, it is clear that the partnership between Australia and Japan is of significant importance to both countries. With reference to the Centre for Study of Australian-Asian Relations (1997:152) the future prosperity of Australia will to an increasing extent, be dependent on that of her neighbours in the Asia-Pacific area. Currently the Australia-Japan relationship could be described as â€Å"comfortable and relaxed†. However both Australia and Japan need to be alert to the changing environment and must ensure that the right frameworks and policy settings are in place in order for the two countries to prosper.

Examining a Business Failure – Tyco

Examining a Business Failure – Tyco Examining a Business Failure – Tyco Introduction This paper will describe how specific organizational behavior theories could have predicted the failure Tyco International (Tyco). This paper will discuss the contributions of leadership, management, and organizational structures to the organizational failure of Tyco. Organizational Behavior Organizational behavior is a field of study, meaning that it is a distinct area of expertise with a common body of knowledge.Organizational behavior studies three determinants of behavior in organizations: individuals, groups, and structure. In addition, organizational behavior applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups, and the effect of structure on behavior in order to make organizations work more effectively. Organizational behavior is concerned with the study of what people do in an organization and how their behavior affects the organization’s performance (Robbins & Judge, 2 007).In the case of Tyco, the organizational behavior of the company in 2002 was unethical in nature. Tyco's former CEO Dennis Koslowski, former CFO Mark Swartz, and former General Counsel Mark Belnick were accused of giving themselves interest-free or very low interest loans (sometimes disguised as bonuses) that were never approved by the Tyco board or repaid. Some of these â€Å"loans† were part of a â€Å"Key Employee Loan† program the company offered. They were accused of selling their company stock without telling investors, which is a requirement under SEC rules.Koslowski, Swartz, and Belnick stole $600 million dollars from Tyco through their unapproved bonuses, loans, and extravagant â€Å"company† spending. Rumors of a $6,000 shower curtain, $2,000 trash can, and a $2 million dollar birthday party for Koslowski's wife in Italy are just a few examples of the misuse of company funds. As many as 40 Tyco executives took loans that were later â€Å"forgivenà ¢â‚¬  as part of Tyco's loan-forgiveness program, although it was said that many did not know they were doing anything wrong.Hush money was also paid to those the company feared would â€Å"rat out† Kozlowski. Essentially, they concealed their illegal actions by keeping them out of the accounting books and away from the eyes of shareholders and board members (http://money. howstuffworks. com/cooking-books9. htm). In an organizational world characterized by cutbacks, expectations of increasing worker productivity, and tough competition in the marketplace, it is not surprising that many employees feel pressured to cut corners, break rules, and engage in other forms of questionable practices.What constitutes good ethical behavior has never been clearly defined. Employees see people all around them engaging in unethical practices. (Robbins ; Judge, 2007). Leadership Failure The senior managers at Tyco failed as leaders. They forgot that leadership was about serving others and no t themselves. But it was also a failure of those who followed the leaders such as the corporate lawyers who failed in their duty to keep the leaders in check. Tyco lawyers wanted to please their bosses; instead they should have stepped in when corporate corruption was evident. Most of the people who became infamous for their misdeeds ; helip; were not evil people,† said William Lytton (general counsel for Tyco in 2002). As Lytton sees it, they lost sight of the cultural boundaries, blinded by their own career advancement goals. That is where the role of the corporate lawyer becomes critical. While it might prove difficult to stop bad things from happening, â€Å"Sometimes, you do need to just say no† (http://www. vermontlaw. edu/x7845. xml). Management FailureTyco’s top executives ignored their responsibilities to the laws governing corporate management; ignored responsibilities to their investors and ignored responsibilities to their employees. The planning and management strategies of these executives seem to have been more focused on personal gain than on the best interests of the company and its shareholders. As a result of their greed and fraudulent activities, the top executives at Tyco were indicted and convicted of fraud charges for improper accounting practices as well as unauthorized use of company funds for personal gain.One viewpoint on leadership is that it occurs only when people are influenced to do what is ethical and beneficial for the organization and themselves. This definition of leadership does not include influence attempts that are irrelevant or detrimental to followers, such as a leader’s attempts to gain personal benefits at the followers’ expense (Yukl, 2006). In the case of Tyco, when Ed Breen took over as CEO, he fired 290 of the 300 managers who were employed at Tyco during the Kozlowski era along with the other senior managers.He wanted to bring in new management and employees who would help build Tyco’s reputation up and create an ethical firm that consumers and shareholders could trust again. Organizational Failure While the organization was not solely to blame for Tyco’s failure, Tyco could have taken preventive measures which would have avoided this situation entirely, such as: o created codes of ethics to guide employees through ethical dilemmas o implemented policies for enforcing those codes create a corporate governance department and hire experienced professionals to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations are adhered to o offer seminars, workshops, and similar training programs to try to improve ethical behaviors Today’s manager needs to create an ethically healthy climate for his or her employees, where they can do their work productively and confront a minimal degree of ambiguity regarding what constitutes right and wrong behaviors.In upcoming chapters, we’ll discuss the kinds of actions managers can take to create an ethi cally healthy climate and help employees sort through ethically ambiguous situations. We’ll also present ethical-dilemma exercises at the end of each chapter that will allow you to think through ethical issues and assess how you would handle those (Robbins ; Judge, 2007). Summary In 2002, Tyco was controlled by unethical businessmen more interested in personal gain than creating a successful company that shareholders, employees and consumers could trust, respect and benefit from.They failed as leaders and managers; and as a result, made the organization as a whole suffer. They acquired businesses quickly, falsified accounting records, took out personal loans, withheld information from the public as well as shareholders, and caused the market share of the company to drop dramatically. All of this unethical business activity could have been avoided had an official corporate governance department been in place and a company code of ethics policy implemented.References Robbins, S . P. ; Judge, T. A. (2007). Organizational Behavior, Twelfth Edition: Prentice Hall. Obringer, L. (1998-2009). How Cooking the Books Works. http://money. howstuffworks. com/ cooking-books9. htm: HowStuffWorks, Inc. Staff Report (2008). Lessons of Tyco: Just Say No. http://www. vermontlaw. edu/x7845. xml: Vermont Law School. Yukl, G. (2006) Leadership in Organizations, Sixth Edition: Pearson Prentice Hall. ming

Nutritional Habits

Diabetes is a very serious physiological disorder that is rather assuming an epidemic proportion the world over. It is caused by the inability of the pancreas to secrete enough insulin to work on the sugar (glucose) that has been ingested. It is treated by putting the patient on supplementary insulin and can be controlled by controlling the diet of the person afflicted with diabetes. This means reducing carbohydrate and increasing protein intake. The most important things in maintaining nutritional health of diabetics is to keep the blood glucose, blood lipids (fats) and blood pressure within an acceptable range. The acceptable range is shown thus: 1.Blood glucose should be 6-7% during fasting and before meals; and 90–130 mg/dl 2 hours after the start of a meal:

The Position of Greek Women in the Archaic Age

The Position of Greek Women in the Archaic Age Evidence About Greek Women in the Archaic Age As with most areas of ancient history, we can only generalize from limited available material about the place of women in Archaic Greece. Most evidence is literary, coming from men, who naturally didnt know what it was like to live as a woman. Some of the poets, notably Hesiod and Semonides, appear to be misogynist, seeing the role of woman in the world as little more than a cursed man would be well off without. Evidence from drama and epic frequently presents a stark contrast. Painters and sculptors also portray women in a friendlier manner, while epitaphs show women as much-loved partners and mothers. In Homeric society, the goddesses were just as powerful and important as the gods. Could the poets have envisioned strong-willed and aggressive women if there were none in real life? Hesiod on Women in Ancient Greece Hesiod, shortly after Homer, saw women as a curse sprung from the first female whom we call Pandora. Her name means all gifts, and she was a gift to man from an angry Zeus, crafted in Hephaestus forge and cultivated by Athena. Thus, Pandora was not only never born, but her two parents, Hephaestus and Athena, had never been conceived by sexual union. Pandora (hence, woman) was unnatural. Famous Greek Women in the Archaic Age From Hesiod until the Persian War (which marked the end of the Archaic Age), only a few womens exploits were recorded. Best known is the poet and teacher from Lesbos, Sappho. Corinna of Tanagra is thought to have defeated the great Pindar in verse competition five times. When the husband of Artemisia of Halicarnassus died, she assumed his place as a tyrant and joined the expedition of the Persians led by Xerxes against Greece. A bounty was offered by the Greeks for her head. Archaic Age Women in Ancient Athens Most of the evidence about women in this time comes from Athens, like the influential Aspasia in the time of Pericles. Women were needed to help run the oikos home where she would cook, spin, weave, manage servants and raise the children. Chores, like fetching water and going to market, were done by a servant if the family could afford it. Higher class women were expected to have a chaperone accompany them when they left the house. Among the middle class, at least in Athens, women were a liability. Occupations of Archaic Age Greek Women Priestesses and prostitutes were exceptions to the generally low status of Archaic Age Greek women. Some wielded significant power. Indeed, the most influential Greek person of either sex was probably the priestess of Apollo at Delphi. Spartan women may have owned property, and some inscriptions show that Greek tradeswomen operated stalls and laundries. Marriage and Family Roles in Archaic Greece If a family had a daughter, they needed to raise a substantial sum to pay the dowry to her husband. If there was no son, the daughter passed her fathers inheritance to her spouse, for which reason she would be married to a close male relative like a cousin or uncle. Normally, she was married a few years after puberty to a man much older than herself. Main Source Frank J. Frosts Greek Society (Fifth Edition).

Some Tips Of Writing Good Death Penalty Essays

Some Tips Of Writing Good Death Penalty Essays A Complete Guide to Writing a Winning Death Penalty Essay Many students face the challenge of coming up with a good death penalty essay. This should not be the case since its only the topic that makes the work sound hard to tackle. My guide will enable you as a writer to come up with an appealing essay. I will provide diverse steps that will guide your essay and offer recommendations to ensure your work is professionally written, and, in the long run, attain a desirable grade. The first step towards writing a death penalty essay is to understand its meaning. According to the dictionary definition, death penalty refers to punishment by death for a crime that accords such a comprehensive punishment. Another way you can refer to the death penalty is capital punishment. Types of Death Penalty Essays To successfully write this type of paper, you should first understand what type of essay you will be tackling. For aspects such as analysis and examination of elements related to the death penalty, an analytical essay will be more appropriate. If you embark on an effort to convince a reader about an opinion you believe and stand with, a persuasive essay will be more prudent. For aspects such as evaluation or investigating the death penalty, you should apply an expository essay. An argumentative essay would be appropriate if you are to provide an argument about the death penalty, which you want to convince the reader that its more factual, truthful, and firm than any other stated argument within the same theme and context. Topics Relating to the Death Penalty Essay After deciding on the essay type to apply in writing the death penalty essay, the next step requires you to craft an interesting topic and thesis statement. Remember that the type of essay you will write will be a determination of your thesis statement (and main idea). Here are some relevant topics that you can use in writing a death penalty essay. The effectiveness of the death penalty in reducing crime rates The various Systems of the death penalty, and the order of effectiveness. How the death penalty provides a warning to criminals willing to commit murder. Is the death penalty fairly or unfairly applied? Thesis Statements on the Death Penalty Essay A thesis statement offers an outline of issues to be discussed on your death penalty essay for the readers to have a hint of what to expect as they go through your essay. Here are examples of thesis statements relating to a death penalty essay. Only countries with inhumane legal systems still use capital punishment which is outdated and primitive. Capital punishment only applies to criminals who have committed ghastly crimes. Countries that do not endorse this system are only pampering their criminals. The death penalty is a sure way of restraining people from committing horrific crimes The death penalty is not effective enough to restrain people from committing murder. There is no fair way of administering the death penalty and thus should be eliminated. The death penalty is effective enough to assure people that justice is being served. Reliable Sources for Death Penalty Essays After you have come up with the type of essay, main topic, and your thesis statement, you are required to find reliable sources that can either support or argue against your statement. It should not be hard to find such sources as they are available in different books, articles, or magazines that you can access online or in a library. It is a requirement to use sources that have been published within the last 3 years because any other source outside this time bracket will be too outdated to support your statement. Examples of sources for a death penalty essay include: An article on the death penalty from Wikipedia Be mindful that some education centers restrict the type of sources you can use, number of online sources that can be used, or even the colossal amount of sources that can be used in your essay. Some time back, Wikipedia was discouraged as a source of information when writing an essay. This is because professors realized that the content was not well controlled, as anyone could post any topic even without the relevant expertise. This prompted the editorial team of Wikipedia to step up and gain control of the content posted on their website. The information added to a particular article should be correctly cited from a credible source. This has recently made colleges withdraw the restrictions, and the source can now be utilized. An article on the death penalty from Google Scholar Google scholar is another reliable source for information regarding the death penalty essay. As a search engine, it offers a wide array of quality resources relating to all debatable issues; it provides an option of accessing resources, from scholarly articles, magazines, to books. Several of the books and articles are accessible for free; others only offer specified pages, as others require payment to access them. Additionally, you can access citations for the books and articles easily. An article on the death penalty from Encyclopedia Britannica As a highly recognized source, the Encyclopedia Britannica has improved from a 5.25 disc to a CD-ROM and DVD. Currently, you can access its online website and find tons of resources relating to your work. Citing Death Penalty Sources To achieve this, you must research and acquire recently written sources on the death penalty. Additionally, you should have a good understanding and knowledge relating to the citation of sources within your essay, and filling up a wells of citation methods include MLA – Modern Language Association, APA – American Psychology Association, or the Chicago, Turabian Style. Here are examples of sample works with sources used within the essay on death penalty along with the required entry for the bibliography. MLA Style: With a review of various denominations, each has its own view about the death penalty. For instance, approximately 69% of the Protestants support the death penalty. Moreover, 53% of the people with no specific religious association also support the death penalty (Son). Source format for bibliography or work cited: Son, M. The support and praise the death penalty receive from the American people. Legal Report, 201418(6), 67-85. Doi: 10.12940/jfb.2014.18.6.67 APA Style: Criticisms of executions under the confinements of capital punishment to administer justice face consequences of it being applied, when the defense rests its case on retribution. (Leotard, 2017) Source format for bibliography or work cited: Leotard Jean-Franà §ois, (2017) â€Å"Review of the death penalty as it is in America today.† Manchester University Press, pp. 23-49. Death Penalty Structure On this area, you are required to write an overview of that included the definition of the death penalty, how it is applied in law, and how many executions have been done in each state. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Death Penalty It is important to understand the pros and cons of the death penalty, as it will help you argue for, or against the subject. Through this, you will be able to provide valid points with relevance to your chosen topic. Also, you should narrate the reason for your opinion based on your moral gauge concerning such issues, or financial and logistical aspects associated with capital punishment. Global Perspective on the Death Penalty The death penalty stretches its point of view across every country, with no single standard perspective carried out by all the countries. Most western countries have eliminated capital punishment, with others taking necessary steps to achieve this. For instance, many states using the death penalty have limited its application to specific scopes. This act of law can not punish Children, the mentally ill, and the mentally disabled. Below are several countries and their status on the death penalty. The death penalty in America While reviewing the actions related to the death penalty in America, highlight its historical perspective, socio-political arguments for and against capital punishment, and the current stance of America on the death penalty. The death penalty in India When you examine capital punishment in India, be sure to highlight aspects such as the historical outlook, socio-political arguments for and against the penalty and India’s current stance on this issue. The death penalty in Australia While trying to gain information about capital punishment application in Australia, examine the issue from an ancient viewpoint, socio-political opinions that are for, and those against the death penalty, and their status as per now on the same issue. The death penalty in South Africa Similarly, you should examine this issue in South Africa accordingly, utilizing dynamics such as historical perspective, socio-political arguments against or for the death penalty, and the current standpoint of South Africa on capital punishment. Historical Outlook on the Death Penalty As you give a historical perspective about capital punishment for a specific country, apply issues that concern the social, legal, religious and political perspectives. The death penalty evolution can be traced from the fatal corporal punishment which the public would be physically involved in administering the punishment, to provoke fear to those with the intentions of committing offenses with a magnitude high enough to be awarded such a punishment. Social Judgment on the Death Penalty When you are required to give your opinion concerning this type of essay, most people believe you are supposed to advocate for, or against the death penalty. This way of thinking is influenced by the moral obligation and orientation we have on human life. However, the moral balance as to whether capital punishment is wrong or right is not yet clear. However, different sources argue their viewpoint using justifiable factual data, and you can use them to gain enough information that will help you weigh in your stance about it. Pros of the Death Penalty Sources that provide information on the benefits of capital punishment examine rates of repetition of an offense, the costs to be incurred if incarcerated, and the immediate execution of the offender. Most of the sources argue in line with financial and logistical aspects; thus you can utilize such information to come up with your own argument that relates to your perspective. Shortcomings of the Death Penalty You can find such information in resources that offer anti-death standpoints. They cover aspects such as wrongful executions, the cost estimate of a single execution, the lack of a deterrent effect even after the penalty has been applied several times, and the religious and moral orientation that argue against the death penalty. How effective is the Death Penalty? While arguing about this dynamic, first define the judicial system goals in administering punishments to offenders. Criminal punishments focus its impact on a specific defendant while serving society with related functions. These functions may be retribution, punishment, and deterrence. How well or bad the death penalty fulfills these three functions will determine how effective capital punishment is. Legalizing the Death Penalty Even though it is considered an effective form of punishment, its legalization or use should focus on consideration of questions other than its effectiveness. Your argument about this aspect should be technical or offer personal reasons that support or opposes the death penalty. After achieving this relevant conclusion can be drawn whether it is right to legalize or reject incorporation of the death penalty into the law. Death Penalty on Teenagers While discussing the issue of application of the death penalty on teenagers, consider the stance of different states on this issue. Most jurisdictions bar the application of this law on teenagers and young adults, while others grant it in relation to the degree of their offense. Studies do suggest that the teenage mind has not matured enough to fully comprehend the degree of the harm their actions cause to the general public or an individual. This begs for a debate on the legality and appropriateness of such a law towards people of such age. In your essay, you should base your argument on such dynamics to come up with a first-class death penalty essay. Death Penalty Essay Examples To gain perspective on how to write a competent death penalty essay, going through another student’s essay or a professionally written essay would prove to be of advantage. Sample essays will help you outline quality topics, thesis statements, arguments and correctly cite resources related to your topic. Utilize online resources to gain a sample death penalty essay that you can go through to help you come up with your original work. A point to remember: While writing a death penalty essay, there are various types of essays that can apply to this topic of discussion. The topic you choose should follow its specified outline template to ensure the work has structure and logic. The topic you choose has to address various aspects that this practice entails, and the arguments you put across should highlight a high level of authenticity, and backed up with reliable information to make it credible.

Ethics Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethics Paper - Essay Example Many people rudely refer to this disability as retardness. People also have the tendency to discriminate those that they feel to be different from them (Anon, 2013). It is important to pay attention to mental disability as one of the many types of disabilities present in the school system alongside other disabilities in identifying how to school counselors help these students. Poor performance is one of the vast amounts of negative attributes that students may develop while in the school system and it is important to recognize that in some situations, it is deemed as a disability that some kids are born with. It is imperative to understand that the treatment for these behaviors varies over a wide range. However, prescription medication should come as the last way to solve this menace. The most important aspect is for the school counselor to understand reasons the student behaves in a particular nature and what are the present optimal means for the resolution of the problem. One of th e best ways to resolve this problem is through the application of cognitive counseling where the school counselor has the student undergoing various general tests to identify the cause of the disability and figure out how to assist the student to deal with it effectively (Jackson, 2012). In the school environment, it is important to understand that the counselor uses various means to understand the thinking of a student and it is also important to understand that most students are shy and thus do not associate well with teachers in order to improve their learning. It is vital to go through an example whereby in this case there is the school counselor, Richard having an interaction with a troubled student who has mental disability. The student does not perform well in class and is also poor in socializing. In the year 2002, the ASCA released a model framework for school programs such as the school disability act to ensure that school counselors do their best in counseling. Under FERP A, the US Department of Education also released regulations that are important for protecting the students’ confidentiality (FERPA, 2011). The manner in which the framework would work is by ensuring the presence of award ceremonies that would offer gifts and acknowledgements to institutions that had the highest number of positive resolved cases with regard to assisting students with disabilities. This is one way through which ASCA has assisted in dealing with disabilities through school counselors (Stone, 2009) Credibility is alleged by the student through the counselor's ability to be well informed about what the client or patient is facing, and by their enthusiasm to tell their knowledge and information to the patient or client. School counselors employ various mechanisms to deal with disability in the school system. One is reliability. Regardless of the type of disability that a student has, the school counselor has the responsibility of showing reliability through compass ion to the disabled students and acting in a dependable manner towards them. This consideration should be made for all children, including those with disabilities and whose parents have concerns that are unique to their disabilities (Taub, 2006). There is the counselor's motivation and objectives. The student counselor should ensure that he sets out his objectives and

CRM Strategy for Charm City Mortgage Term Paper

CRM Strategy for Charm City Mortgage - Term Paper Example Effective CRM solutions will be able to develop synergy among the many business processes involved in customer relationships. Through the use of CRM, an organization will be able to maintain its current pool of customers, attract and win new customers an entice former customers back into their business. A CRM system, therefore, becomes an important tool for achieving a good level of customer loyalty and customer retention. CRM is not a single product or set of software applications. Instead, it is a platform or a technological foundation for various related services. The core components of CRM that are central to any CRM initiative are effective customer segmentation, well-defined business processes, integrated multichannel strategy, the right sets of skill and mindsets and the right technology (ORACLE 5). When these components are thoroughly re-groped, they give four core components that are central to a typical CRM structure. These are marketing management, customer support, and sales support. For businesses that have embraced a higher technological support for their business processes such as e-business, e-business infrastructure modules become a fourth core component in their CRM structure. These above-mentioned key components comprise the core functions directly supporting e-commerce staff, customer service, sales, and marketing. There are several ways in which the core components of CRM can be used within Charm City Mortgage to improve customer experience. According to ORACLE (5), the core components of CRM generate improvements to decision-making in all the three major stages of customer relationships. These are customer acquisition, development, and retention. Charm City Mortgage can segment/divide its market into distinct groups of customers sharing the same characteristics. Effective customer segmentation will allow Charm City Mortgage to understand which group of customers are the most profitable.

The Five Minds of a Manager Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Five Minds of a Manager - Article Example One of the main focuses of the discussion in the article is based on the five managerial mindsets. Everything an effective manager does is sandwiched between action on the ground and reflection on the abstract. These two mindsets must be combined to in order for reflective thinking to meet practical doing. The five modules of the mindset program discussed in the article are: managing-self, managing organizations, managing context, managing relationships, and managing change. The first managerial mindset is managing self or the reflective mindset. These days managers need to desperately stop and think and to step back and reflect on their experiences. This type of mentality and thinking process can help managers gather ideas. Most people go through their lives undergoing a series of happenings which pass through their systems undigested. Happenings become experiences when they are digested and reflected upon. Synthesizing these ideas can lead to creative business solutions. Managers m ust reflect upon the actions of the company to ensure they are acting in a correct and socially responsible manner. Managers must look at this from the perspective of other stakeholder groups such as customers. Reflective managers are able to see behind in order to look ahead. Managers must pay attention to detail and to history. The problems made by the company in the past should not be repeated. The second mindset is managing organizations or the analytical mindset. Analysis breaks down complex phenomena into components or parts. Good analysis provides a language for organizing and it provides measure for performance. The key for analyzing effectively is to get beyond the conventional approaches in order to appreciate how analysis works and what effect it has on the organization. The use of analysis can enhance the problem solving abilities of the company. The third mindset is managing context or the worldly mindset. Managers have to look beyond their cubicles and appreciate the w orld around them in order to better serve the needs of the customers.

Empirical Literature on Asthma Care

Empirical Literature on Asthma Care This brief critically considers the empirical literature on asthma care. Emphasis is on UK studies although research from the USA (and other countries) is also considered. It is argued that both environmental and genetic factors are implicated in asthma onset, based on epidemiological evidence. Deficits in care provision persist: these gaps in care may be attributable to a wide range of modifiable factors, including unsatisfactory health professional (GP, nurses) input, limited use of care plans, and patient unawareness. Overall, however, conclusive inferences about asthma care provision are hampered by: A preponderance of retrospective/correlational studies, and a paucity of randomised control trials, which demonstrate causality; A paucity of research on particular gaps in asthma care; Failure to account for third-variable moderator effects. The Office for National Statistics (2004) publishes comprehensive statistics on asthma-related mortality, morbidity, treatment, and care, collapsed by demographic categories. Data is collected from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD). Issues addressed include mortality, prevalence, time trends, patients consulting general practice, incidence of acute asthma, and hospital inpatient admissions. Research suggests that health care providers often fail to agree on the precise criteria for diagnosing asthma, whether mild or severe (e.g. Buford, 2005). Severe asthma is often defined based on pulmonary function measurements, such as forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and hospitalisation. However, neither of these indicators reliably predicts asthma severity (Eisner et al, 2005). Eisner et al (2005) evaluated the efficacy of a method for identifying a cohort of adults with severe asthma based on recent admissions to an intensive care unit (ICU) for asthma. Four hundred adults with severe asthma enrolled at seventeen Northern Carolina hospitals were surveyed. A control group of patients hospitalised without ICU unit admission was also recruited. The study examined whether admission to an ICU unit is in itself a reliable indicator of asthma severity. Asthma patients with a recent ICU admission generated higher asthma scores (based on the frequency of current asthma symptoms, use of steroids and other medications, and history of hospitalisations/intubations), and poorer quality of life, were more likely to have been hospitalised, visited an asthma specialist in the previous twelve months, been in an asthma-related emergency department, and received inhaled corticosteroids in the past year. Data analysis controlled key background variables (e.g. demographic factors), increasing confidence in the reliability of the findings. However, this study was based on quasi-experimental design and hence may be confounded by sampling bias. Trends in annual rates of primary care consultations, mortality, and hospital visits/admissions were monitored for children under 5 years and 5-14 year olds. For children aged For 5-14 year olds, weekly general practice visits rose in the early 1990s (circa 70/100,000 in 1990), showed a fluctuating pattern through the mid 1990s, but has declined steadily since 1997 (about 50/100,000 by 2000). The number of patients treated annually for asthma has risen slowly but steadily, although this increase seemed to level out by the mid/late1990s. Both mortality rates have dropped steadily since the early 1990s, from about 14 million in 1990 to circa 2 million by 2000. Annual hospital admissions has also fallen steadily, from just under 30/10,000 in 1990 to about 15/10,000 by 2000. These patterns suggest an increase in self-management (e.g. action plans) that obviates the need to visit a general practice, and that asthma care overall is having the desired effect on mortality. The prevalence of wheezing and asthma in children has generally increased during the last 40 years. Although there is a paucity of reliable national statistics, data is available from specific parts of the UK, notably Leicester, Sheffield, and Aberdeen (see Figure 1). The prevalence of wheezing increased from 12% (1990) to 26% (1998) in Leicester, and from 17% (1991) to 19% (1999) in Sheffield. The prevalence of asthma showed a similar pattern in both cities, rising from 11% (1990) to 18% (1998) in Leicester, and from 18% (1991) to 30% (1999) in Sheffield. Wheezing incidence rates for Aberdeen increased from 10% (1964), to 20% (1989), 25% (1994), and 28% (1991). Data from national birth cohorts suggests a sharp increase in the average weekly GP consultations for hay fever/allergic rhinitis from 1991 to 1992. The rates rose from circa 13/100,000 (0-4 year olds) and 40/100,000 (5-14 years olds) in 1991 to about 25/100,000 (0-4 year olds) and 76/100,000 (5-14 year olds) as 1992 approached. Trends subsequently dropped off slightly but then started to show an increase again around 1998. By the year 2000 the figures were roughly 20/100,000 (0-4 year olds), and 56/100,000 (5-14 year olds). Data from a nationally representative sample of schools across the country suggests that the prevalence of asthma was fairly even across different regions. However, Data for England suggests a higher prevalence outside big cities. The greatest proportions of wheezing was found in the South West, while the highest proportion of asthma cases was found in East Anglia and Oxford (see Figure 2). In a recent Annual Report, Asthma UK (2003/2004) noted that one child in 10 has asthma and a child is admitted to hospital every 18 minutes due to an asthma attack. Over 600 copies of Asthma in the Under Fives are downloaded from the UK Asthma website monthly and on average every classroom in the UK has at least 3 children with asthma. The impact of acute asthma can be debilitating. Around 5.2 million people in Britain are presently being treated for asthma, and asthma prevention/care costs the NHS on average almost  £900 (i.e.  £889) million per year. GPs across the country treat over 14,000 new episodes of asthma each week, and UK Asthma met almost 25,000 requests for health promotion documents and other materials. About 40% of workers who have asthma find that working actually exacerbates their asthma, and 1 in 5 asthmatic people feel excluded from areas of the workplace in which people smoke. Over 12.7 million working days in the UK are lost as a result of asthma, and it is estimated that the annual cost of asthma to the economy is  £2.3 billion. Asthma UK also states that 82% of people who are asthmatic find that passive smoking triggers their asthma, and 19% of people with asthma indicate that their medical condition makes it difficult for them to play with children in their family. One in 3 children has had their routine daily activities disrupted due to asthma and 39% of asthmatic people are badly affected by traffic fumes (which stop them exercising). About 500,000 people have asthma that is very difficult to control. In 2003/2004 over 90 researchers worked on Asthma UK-funded projects and, Asthma UK spent  £2.5 million on asthma-related research. The group funded/is funding 63 research projects. These statistics paint a rather bleak picture of asthma prevalence, incidence, and the effects on people’s lives. Numerous epidemiological studies have been published that address the etiology of asthma in population groups (International Archives of Allergy Immunology, 2000; Kitch et al, 2000; Schweigert et al, 2000; Tan, 2001; Court et al, 2002; Smyth, 2002; Weissman, 2002; Tan et al, 2003; Wenzel, 2003; Gibson Powell, 2004; Barnes, 2005; Pinto Almeida, 2005). Barnes (2005) considered evidence on the role of genetic factors in resistance to atopic asthma, Studies which focus on the role of genetic factors in resistance to tropical/parasitic diseases (e.g. malaria) overlap with genetic associations found for asthma. It was concluded that genetic factors might be implicated in the development of allergic illnesses. Pregnancy is thought to increase the probability of asthma attacks in about 4% of all pregnant women. Beckmann (2006) assessed eighteen pregnant women with asthma. The study was based on a longitudinal design. Participants were recruited from local prenatal clinics and private enterprises, and enrolled during the first trimester. Patients kept a daily log recording peak expiratory flow data until delivery. Three peak-flow assessments were recorded after which the best value was entered into the log. Asthma was diagnosed by a health professional. Participants were also required to record asthma symptoms, exacerbations, medications, and cigarette use. To increase participation, subjects were reminded by telephone to complete their log. Data analysis showed that peak expiratory flow (PEF) was variable as a function of particular trimesters. Peak air flow was highest during the second trimester, with a statistically reliable difference between the second and third trimester. Unfortunately, the small sample size limits the generalisability of the findings. However, the study was based on a longitudinal design, allowing tentative causal inferences. Schweigert et al (2000) reviewed the literature on the role of industrial enzymes in occupational asthma and allergy. Enzymes used by detergent manufacturing companies (e.g. amylases, cellulases) are toxicologically benign, with mild irritation effects on the body. However, these enzymes do affected asthma and allergy. Thus, the industry is required to adhere to exposure guidelines for these enzymes. Kitch et al (2000) considered literature on the histopathology of late onset of asthma (i.e. onset in adulthood), and whether allergic exposure and sensitivity have the same impact on asthma development in adulthood as they do in children. Epidemiological studies suggest that the prevalence of asthma in older adults aged 65years or more is between 4% and 8%. The illness appears to be more common in women, especially those with a long history of smoking, and with respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, wheeze, shortness of breath). Asthma in adulthood often developed before the age of 40, with maximum incidence occurring around early childhood. Beyond the age of 20 years the incidence of asthma tends to remain stable through young, middle-aged, and older adulthood. Death rates in adults are generally lower than figures for children; â€Å"Mortality rates attributable to asthma among those aged between 55 and 59 years of age and 60 and 64 years of age were 2.8 and 4.2 respectively, per 100,000 people, the highest rates among all age groups† (p.387). However, as adults get older asthma is less and less likely to be identified as the main cause of death due to the increased incidence of other pathology. Epidemiological research in Japan highlights a link with air pollution (International Archives of Allergy Immunology, 2000). The prevalence of asthma among kindergarten and elementary school children has increased steadily since the early 1960s, rising from 0.5-1.2% between 1960 and 1969, to 1.2-4.5% (1970-1979), 1.7%-6.8% (1980-1989), and 3.9-8.2% (1990 onwards). By contrast, data indicates little or no change in asthma prevalence amongst adults. Figures range from 1.2% in 1950-1959 to 1.2-4.0% (1960-1969), 0.9-5.0% (1970-1979), 0.5-3.1% (1980-1989) the 1960s to 1.6-2.9% (1990 onwards) (see Figure 3). Asthma in Japanese children is more common amongst boys than girls although this gender difference has diminished noticeably since the 1960s. Asthma usually appears in infancy or early in childhood but has been known to begin across all age groups. Inherited (genetic) dispositions to allergies have been implicated in the onset of asthma. There is normally a strong correlation between asthma onset and a family history of asthma. Overall, asthma-related mortality in Japan has decreased since the mid 1990s. Delays in seeking treatment and rapid exacerbation of symptoms have been strongly implicated in asthma mortality. Unfortunately, this article offers little information about the designs of studies reviewed. Inferences regarding the possible causes of asthma morbidity and mortality may be inconclusive if much of the evidence is derived from cohort studies, rather than case control studies that more effectively eliminate alternative causes. The premenstrual period in women has been implicated in asthma exacerbation. Tan (2001) reviews epidemiological literature suggesting that female sex-steroid hormones may be significant in understanding the premenstrual-asthma link, albeit the available evidence is tenuous. The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is associated with airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness, and hence may explain asthma exacerbation during the premenstrual phase. However, this increase in asthma severity can still be treated effectively using the normal drugs. Studies suggest that premenstrual asthma affects the rate of hospital admissions – the majority of adults admitted are women, indicating that hormonal factors play an important role. Other evidence suggested that emergency presentations increased before ovulation. It is suggested that oral contraceptive pills or gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues may be especially effective treatments. However, premenstrual asthma was rarely associated with serious mortality. Unfortunately, most of the studies reviewed were retrospective and questionnaire based, and hence subject to response bias. There was a paucity of randomised control trials, or pseudo experiments that may permit causal inferences. Court et al (2002) considered the distinction between atopic (extrinsic) asthma, common in younger people, and non-atopic (intrinsic) asthma, found mostly in older groups. Additionally, they also considered whether identification of asthma cases in epidemiological research should be based on a doctor’s diagnosis or self-reported asthma symptoms. Nearly 25,000 people in England were surveyed. Data was collected regarding whether participants had experienced wheezing in the past 12 months and/or had been diagnosed as asthmatic by a doctor. People with atopic asthma were more likely to have experienced wheeze and been diagnosed as asthmatic in the past, compared with the non-atopic group. Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, social class, smoking status, living in an urban/rural area, and house dust mice (HDM), were all risk factors for the presence of wheeze both with (age not significant) and without (urban/rural area not significant) a diagnosis of asthma. Wheeze/asthma was more prevalent in women, younger people, lower social classes, previous/current smoking, living in an urban area, and greater HDM IgE levels. Smoking status, social class, and age were all risk factors for wheeze in both atopic and non-atopic cases. Gender was also a risk factor for atopic subjects, and urban living for non-atopics. Other research has considered the epidemiology of severe or ‘refractory’ asthma, which is rather less well understood compared with milder forms of asthma. Wenzel (2003) reviews evidence indicating that severe asthma (defined as asthmatics requiring continuous high-dose inhaled corticosteroids or oral corticosteroids for over half of the preceding year) may account for circa ≠¤ 5% of asthma cases. Data from a large Australian-based study, which has followed a large cohort of asthmatics for over three decades, implicates childhood pulmonary problems with reduced lung function in adulthood. Data suggests that over two-thirds of severe asthmatics were afflicted with asthma in childhood. Other risk factors implicated include genetic mutations (in the IL-4 gene and IL-4 receptor), and environmental factors (e.g. allergen, tobacco exposure, house dust mite, cockroach and alternaria exposures), respiratory infections (e.g. pathogens like chlamydia), obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, increased body mass index, lack of adherence to corticosteroid regimes, and poor physiological response to medication. Physiological factors are also implicated, notably structural changes in airway reactivity, inflammation of the peripheral regions of the lungs. Steroids are the main form of treatment. Tan et al (2003) demonstrated the role of respiratory infection in patients with severe (i.e. near fatal) asthma, acute exacerbations, or chronic obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD). Participants had all been diagnosed as asthmatic by a physician and were undergoing treatment. All showed evidence of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) increase of 200mL. COPD patients were suffering from chronic cough and dyspnea, with a predicted FEV1% 50%, with no ÃŽ ²-agonist reversibility. Near fatal cases were patients undergoing ventilatory support in the intensive care unit of a hospital (National University Hospital and Alexandria Hospital, Singapore) as a result of a severe exacerbation. Acute asthma subjects were characterised by non-improvement following administration of ÃŽ ²-agonists, and/or severe exacerbation judging from clinical/blood data. Analysis showed that near-fatal cases were the least likely to have the influenza A + influenza B virus, but the most prone to have adenovirus and picornavirus, compared with the other two groups (see Figure 4). This suggests that viral infection may be a risk factor for severe asthma. However, due to sampling size/bias (n= 68), and failure to control for key background variables (e.g. asthma history, smoking history, prior medication use, and outpatient spirometry), the findings can be considered tentative. Smyth (2002) reviewed epidemiological studies on asthma in the UK, and worldwide. The number of new asthma cases seen by GPs has increased noticeably since the mid 1970s. Nevertheless, asthma incidence has tended to decrease since the early 1990s, consistent with data from the Office for National Statistics (2004). By the year 2000 circa 60-70, 40-50, 20-25 new cases (per 100,000 of a given age group) were reported amongst, respectively, preschool children, 5-14 year olds, and people older than 15 years. Significant ethnic differences have been reported, with high asthma prevalence in Afro-Caribbean children. Since 1962, the number of preschool children hospitalised for asthma rose steadily, then peaked in the late 80s and early 90s, and has begun to decline since. The hospitalisation rates in 1989 were 90/10,000 (preschool children), 30/10,000 (5-14 year olds), and 10/10,000 (15 years or older). By comparison the rates for 1999 were 60/10,000, 20/10,000, and 10/10,000 respectively ( see Figure 5). The British Thoracic Society identifies specific benchmarks or ‘best practice’ which health professionals are required to meet when caring for asthma patients (BTS, 2004). These recommendations are mostly based on scientific evidence from RCTs, epidemiological studies (cohort and case-control), meta-analytic reviews, and other good quality research. The recommendations related specifically to the following topics: Diagnosis and assessment in children and adults (e.g. key symptoms, recording criteria which justified diagnosis of asthma); Pharmacological management (e.g. use of drugs [inhaled steroids, ÃŽ ²2 agonist] to control symptoms, prevent exacerbation, eliminating side effects, employing a ‘stepwise’ protocol for treatment); Use of inhaler devices (technique and training for patients, agonist delivery, inhaled steroids, CFC vs. HFA propellant inhalers, suggestions on prescribing devices); Non-pharmacological management (e.g. breast feeding and modified milk formulae for primary prevention, and allergen avoidance for secondary prevention, alternative medicines); Management of acute asthma (initial assessment, clinical features, chest x-rays, oxygen, steroid treatment, referral to intensive care) Asthma in pregnancy (drug therapy, management during labour, drug treatment in breastfeeding mothers); Organisation and delivery of care (e.g. access to primary care delivered by trained clinicians, regular reviews of people with asthma, audit tools for monitoring patient care after diagnosis); Patient education (e.g. action plans, self-management, compliance with treatment regimes). Overall, despite these guidelines, recent research suggests that patients’ treatment needs are not being met. For example, Hyland and Elisabeth (2004) report data on the unmet needs of patients. Focus groups were organised between parents, patients, and clinicians. Patients and parents reported various needs that weren’t been met including frequent exacerbations, and a preference for less complex drug regimens (i.e. with fewer drugs). Many individuals had worries regarding treatment and experienced asthma symptoms 3 or more days per week. As Levy (2004) suggests, there is a need for health professionals to address these concerns, especially in relation to the BTS guidelines. Levy, a GP and Research Fellow in Community Health, identified current deficiencies in the care of asthma victims. These comprised: Higher than expected exacerbations (42/1000 patients per year); Under-diagnosis: more patients presenting for treatment with uncontrollable asthma, who had not been diagnosed previously; Deficiencies in treatment uptake: many patients fail to collect their prescriptions; Many patients with symptoms delay presenting for treatment, until their medical situation becomes critical; Health care professionals are failing to assess patients objectively (PEF, oximetry), both pre- and post-treatment; Failure to adhere to national guidelines for the care of acute asthma (e.g. not enough oral steroids and ÃŽ ²-agonists are prescribed for patients presenting with asthma attacks. Considerable variations across GPs, NHS Trusts, clinics, and other sources of care provision: patient follow-up appointments range from a few days to six months, in direct violation of standards set by the British Thoracic Society (BTS, 2004). Levy suggests various strategies for improving asthma care including diagnosis criteria (e.g. â€Å"any patient with recurring or respiratory symptoms [cough, wheeze, or shortness of breath], or who has been prescribed anti-asthma treatment should be considered to have asthma† (p.44)), use of computerised templates, having systems or triggers in place for recalling patients (e.g. patients requesting more medication, or who have been seen out of hours), introducing more effective protocols for monitoring and informing asthma patients (e.g. using a checklist to ascertain various key information on patients status, such as effects of asthma on patients life, recent exacerbations), providing written self-management plans (e.g. how to detect uncontrolled asthma, using PFM charts), and having an agreed procedure for managing acute asthma attacks (e.g. selecting a low threshold for using oral steroids). Currently there is a lack of research testing the value of these recommendations on asthma health outcomes. However various strategies are continually being implemented in various parts of the country to improve the quality of asthma care. For example, Holt (2004) describes the effects of implementing the RAISE initiative, launched by the National Respiratory Training Centre, in a primary care setting. This scheme is designed to raise awareness of existing variations in standards of care, improve standards of care through education, support, and feedback, increase awareness and understanding of respiratory disease, use asthma as platform to demonstrate the value of shared experiences across different agencies/professionals, and augment the profile of primary care settings as the main source of asthma care and innovation. The RAISE led to various improvements, such as: The use of ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ asthma registers, to distinguish patients who currently have asthma symptoms from those who don’t. Introduction of computerised templates to improve accuracy and reliability of data recording during consultations (e.g. progressing sequentially from assessment of symptoms, to peak flow, inhaler, and advice stages). Use of symptom questionnaires (e.g. handed out with repeat prescriptions) that help patients with well-managed asthma decide whether they can opt for a telephone consultation, rather than taking the trouble to visit the practice for a face-to-face consultation. Haggerty (2005) identifies several factors paramount to effective care and management of asthma in UK patients. These comprise adequate patient education about the nature of asthma (e.g. number of asthma episodes, use of quick relief medicines, long term symptoms, restrictions on daily activities, and emergency visits), use of asthma action plans, and customised treatment plans (to achieve early control), and addressing patients own concerns and perception. Treatment for asthma is usually in the form of regular inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), oral corticosteroids (OCS), and ÃŽ ² agonists. These treatments are usually administered by a health professional when symptoms manifest and/or become severe. However, since asthma can often exacerbate rapidly, before an individual can seek medical help, it is vital that asthma patients receive the necessary care from health professionals, and also self-management skills. GPs and nurses play a critical role. Griffiths et al (2004) conducted a randomised control trial to assess the effect of a specialist nurse intervention on the frequency of unscheduled asthma care in an inner city multiethnic clinic in London. The role of specialist nurses in asthma care has been uncertain. Interventions in which specialist nurses educate patients about asthma, after hospital attendance with acute asthma, were shown to have inconsistent effects on unscheduled care. However, outreach initiatives to educate medical staff had shown no effect. Thus, an intervention was designed that combined patient education with educational outreach for doctors and practice nurses. It was suspected that such an integrated approach would benefit ethnic minority groups, especially given their higher hospital admission rates and reduced access to care during asthma exacerbation. The key research question was whether specialist nurses could improve health outcomes in ethnic minority groups. Outcome variables were the percentage of patients receiving unscheduled treatment for acute asthma during a 12 month period, and time to first unscheduled attendance with acute asthma. The study was based on 44 practices in two east London boroughs. Participants comprised over 300 patients (aged 6 to 60) who were admitted to or attending the hospital, or the out of hours GP service with acute asthma. Half the sample were classified as South Asians, 34% were Caucasian, while 16% were Caucasian. The intervention was based on a liaison model. Practices were assigned to either a treatment or control condition. Practices randomised to the treatment condition ran a nurse led clinic involving liaison with GPs and practice nurses, incorporating education, raising the profile of guidelines for the management of acute asthma, and providing on-going clinical support. In practice these practices received two one-hour visits from a specialist nurse who discussed guidelines for managing patients with acute asthma. Discussions were based on relevant empirical evidence. A computer template was provided to elicit patient information on various treatment issues, such as inhaler technique and peak expiratory flow, and offer self-management advice. By contrast, control practices received a visit promoting standard asthma care guidelines. Data analysis showed that the intervention lengthened the time to first attendance (median 194 days for intervention practices, and 126 days for control practices), and also reduced the proportion of patients presenting with acute asthma (58% treatment practices versus 68% in control practices (see Figure 6). These effects were not moderated by individual differences in ethnicity, albeit Caucasians seemed to benefit more from the intervention compared with minority ethnic groups. O’Connor (2006) noted that asthma care in the UK remains below the required standards. The majority of the 69,000 hospital admissions and circa 1400 deaths annually are attributable to poor patient adherence to treatment regimens. Nurses, it is argued, play an important role in promoting adherence. Additionally, use of a new inhaled corticosteroids – circlesonide – may also help increase adherence. Circlesonide is much easier to use than more established asthma drugs (e.g. it has a once-daily dosing). Evidence is reviewed suggesting that peak expiratory flow remains stable when patients are given circlesonide compared with a placebo. Tsuyuki et al (2005) assessed the quality of asthma care delivered by community-based GPs in Alberta, Canada. They reviewed clinical charts for over 3000 patients from 45 primary care GPs. Of this number 20% had ever visited an emergency department or hospital, 25% had evidence that a spirometry had been performed, 55% showed no evidence of having received any asthma education, 68% were prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid within the past 6 months, while a very small minority (2%) had received a written action plan. Figure 6 shows percentage of participants receiving medication. Sixty-eight percent were prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid, 11% were given an oral corticosteroid, and 80% received a short acting ÃŽ ²-agonist, while 8% were prescribed a long acting ÃŽ ²-agonist. Participants with an emergency room/hospital event were (marginally) more likely to be prescribed medication (no group differences in use of short acting ÃŽ ²-agonists). Regarding pulmonary testing, 25% had evidence of a pulmonary function test (not peak flow), 46% had peak flow monitored, 34% showed no evidence of pulmonary function tests, while 26% had an x-ray. Again individuals with an emergency room/hospital event were more likely to be tested (see Figure 7). Data about education received by patients was also evaluated. Twenty-two percent received information about environmental triggers, 20% on inhaler use, 10% on how to perform a home PEF test, 2% on written action plans, while 55% received no education at all. Those with an emergency room/hospital event were more likely to receive education. Receiving asthma education, use of spirometry, and prescription of inhaled corticosteroids, were all predicted by number of asthma-related clinic visits (4 or more) and having an emergency room/hospital event. Additionally, asthma education was predicted by cormorbidities, and absence of documentation regarding asthma triggers, while use of spirometry was predicted by being a non-smoker, and symptoms or triggers. Finally, use of inhaled steroids was predicted by symptoms. Overall, this study highlights numerous gaps in the care provided by GPs, partly echoing criticisms of GPs in the UK (Levy, 2004). For example, Levy (2004) cited ‘under