Make Prejudice and Discrimination a Subject in School Essay

Because of the immigration in the world and the great assimilation that are in progress prejudices and discrimination are more important than never before. People need to learn from young ages that it doesn’t matter where you come from or what color your skin is, the only thing that matters is your personality and how you respond to other people. Yesterday, in Stockholm, I was talking to my cousin and she told me that I never should live in Tensta because, according to her, it’s a very dangerous place because it only lives criminals there. Personally I’m sure that the majority of the people in Tensta are normal, nice people that never have done anything criminal – it’s only her prejudices that say something different. I see every day how common prejudices are, my friends have prejudices, my family has prejudices and I, that see myself as a very prejudices free person, find sometimes that even I have some prejudices. Discrimination is unfortunately also common in our society. A while ago I read a study that professors at the Linnà © university in Kalmar had written and it showed that the majority of the companies in Sweden discriminated people with Arabic names. If there were two persons with exactly the same qualities and experience in the study, and one of them was named Martin Johansson and the other Abd al Hakim only the first would be called to an interview while the second would be sorted away immediately. But I think that it is easy to forget and that we have to remember that discrimination can work in every way – white against black, black against white, men against women, women against men, and so on. Therefore I believe that we have to work for a society that is equal on every scale. I think that a way to solve the problem with prejudices and discrimination is to make it a main subject in school. In that way every kid in Sweden would get information about and be able to discus prejudices and discrimination every week from the age of 6 to 16. I believe that information and knowledge are the key to everything, and in this case the key to an equal society without prejudices and discrimination.

Titanic History

As the Titanic sped across the North Atlantic on Sunday 14th April, 1912, it picked up a series of messages from other ships in the area warning about ice. Captain Smith was firm in hid belief that his ship was in no danger, and was urged on by Bruce Ismay the ship's owner, to prove the vessel's speed and reliability by setting to New York earlier than expected. â€Å"Full speed ahead,† remained the instruction, and although the captain steered the ship 25.7 km (16 miles) to the south before turning towards New York, no other notice was taken of the increasingly detailed reports about ice ahead. Where did these reports of icebergs ahead come from? From other ships by the use of wireless radio. The use of wireless on board a ship was still a novelty at the time of the Titanic's maiden voyage. Two radio operators were employed by Marconi rather then White Star Liner. Their names were Jack Phillips and Harold Bride. Radio operators spent their time dealing with personal messages and did not need to be on 24 hour duty. As the Titanic steamed westwards towards the ice it received nine messages – by telegraph and signal lamp – warning of danger ahead. Although not all of these messages reached the bridge the message from the German steamer Amerika sent about 4 hours before the Titanic hit the ice berg, was passed to Captain Smith in person. The night of 14th April was clear and bitterly cold. As a routine precaution, the lookout men up in the crow's-nest were warned to watch out for icebergs. Because it was such a clear night everyone thought there would be plenty of time to avoid any obstacle in the sea. But large ships at full speed do not turn quickly or easily, and when lookout Fredrick Fleet spotted an iceberg, at about 11:40 pm, it was too late to avoid a collision. As the ship approached Fredrick realised that the iceberg was considerably bigger than what he first saw. The titanic struck the iceberg at a glancing blow on the starboard side (right) of its hull and damaged appeared only slight. The iceberg was supposedly 30 meters over the deck but did little damage to the upper decks. However, below the waterline, and out of sight of the crew on the bridge, the iceberg punched a series of gashes and holes along 76 meters of the hull. The ship had 42 watertight bulkheads, but only 12 at the very bottom of the ship, could be closed electrically from the bridge. The rest had to be closed by hand. Some were left open, and others reopened to make it easier for the water pumps. Should a collision occur, the theory was that the ship would still float with two compartment flooded, or even with all four of the smaller bow compartments flooded. However, the bulkheads only reached three meters above the waterline allowing water to slop over from one compartment to another, thereby defeating the purpose of the bulkheads. At 12:05 am, 25 minutes after the collision, Captain Smith realised the extent of the damage to the Titanic and gave the order to abandon ship. For the next two hours total confusion reigned. There had been no lifeboat drill since leaving Southampton, and neither passengers nor crew knew where to go or what to do in the circumstances. Many felt it was safer to remain on deck than to be lowered into the freezing Atlantic aboard a lifeboat. Tragically, not one officer realized the lifeboats could be lowered fully laden. Had they done so a total of 1,178 people could have been saved rather than 706. As the lifeboats slid down the side of the Titanic, a flurry of activity took place on deck. The radio operators sent out distress signals. Officers on the bridge flashed messages by Morse signal lamps and fired rockets high into the sky to attract the attention of any passing ships. Yet despite all these actions, it was hard for many people to believe that this vast liner was capable of sinking. In order to attract any nearby ships, Fourth Officer Boxhall fired the fired of about eight powerful rocket signals at 12:45 am. Each signal sent up at five minute intervals was launched from the bridge and soared 240 meters into the air before exploding into a shower of light. As the Titanic slipped lower and lower into the water those left on board when the last of the lifeboats had departed were either gripped by a sense of panic or resign to their fate. As the ship plunged deeper into the sea, the stern rose up into the air, causing a tidal wave of passengers to fall of deck, some into the wreckage, others into the icy sea. The Titanic met it's horrific ending. It was Captain Smith's fault It was the shipbuilder's fault It was Bruce Ismay's fault It was Thomas Andrew's fault Why did the Titanic Sink? â€Å"We have struck iceberg †¦ sinking fast †¦ come to our assistance.† The ship was doomed and it was slowly sliding into its watery grave. But why did the largest, most advanced ship of the century sink? Recommendations on how a disaster could be avoided in the future. * That the provision of lifeboat and raft accommodation on board such ships should be based on the number of persons intended to be carried in the ship and not upon tonnage. * That all boats should be fitted with a protective, continuous fender, to lessen the risk of damage when being lowered in a seaway. * That in cases where the deck hands are not sufficient to man the boats enough other members of the crew should be men trained in boat work to make up the deficiency. These men should be required to pass a test in boat work. * That the men who are to man the boats should have more frequent drills. That in all ships a boat drill, a fire drill and a watertight door drill should be held as soon as possible after leaving the original port of departure and at convenient intervals of not less than once a week during the voyage. Such drills to be recorded in the official log. * That every man taking a look-out in such ships should undergo a site test at reasonable intervals. * That all such ships there should be an installation of wireless telegraphy, and that such installation should be worked with a sufficient number of trained operators to secure a continuous service by night and day

Zappos faces Competitive Advantages Essay

Zappos faces Competitive Advantages Chapter 1 6/9/13 Zappos is an online retailer that has found its business on 10 core values that help successfully run their business. The company is known for their culture. They feel that culture evaluate how the employees will perform their job functions. The questions below will define what challenges they will face when competitive challenges intervene. 1. Zappos seems to be well-positioned to have a competitive advantage over other online retailers. What challenges discussed in Chapter 1 pose the biggest threat to Zappo’s ability to maintain and enhance its competitive position? How can human resource management practices help Zappos meet these challenges? Although Zappos is well-positioned to have a competitive advantage over other online retailers one of the biggest threats in my opinion that they will face is globalization. I say this because from the reading; Zappos use competitive pricing. However, in international markets products have a cheaper price and their shipping rates vary. Therefore, Zappos wouldn’t be able to offer their free shipping if they were to relocate into international markets. Another challenge they are likely to have pose on their business if they enter into international markets is sustainability. Sustainability basically goes hand in hand with globalization because they would have to be able to adapt to the change when entering into these markets. For example, the economy is changing everyday throughout the United States and internationally with how businesses run. With the pricing in these markets going international is going to also affect how their business will successfully run. Human resource practices can help meet these challenges by helping recruit the right employees to still promote the vision that Zappos currently hold. They can do this by interviewing through assessment testing to make sure they have the skills and requirements for the position of which they apply. Also, these practices if performed correctly can help them in  evaluating the environment in which they choose to locate internally as well as externally so that their business practices are performed. 2. Do you think that employees of Zappos have high levels of engagement? Why? I believe that Zappos demonstrates a well engaged employee relationship within the company. I say this because any company that takes the time to have outside lunches with the staff in order to hear the different ideas that they have come up with, believes in a satisfied worker and work environment. Many companies in today’s society only listen when a complaint is made over their 1800 hotline. Zappos actually take the time out and listen to every complaint of their employees individually. 3. Which of Zappos’ 10 core values do you believe that human resource practices can influence the most? The least? Why? For each of the core values, identify the HR practices that are related to it. Explain how each of the HR practice(s) you identified is related to the core values. I believe that human resource practices could influence the most is Zappos customer service. Customer service is needed throughou Core Values: 1. Deliver Wow through service— Sustainability 2. Embrace and drive change— 3. Create fun and a little weirdness—Sustainability 4. Be adventurous, creative, and open minded—Sustainability 5. Pursue growth and learning—- 6. Build open and honest relationships with communication—Sustainability 7. Build a positive team and family spirit—Technology 8. Do more with less—Sustainability 9. Be passionate and determined—Sustainability 10. Be humble—Sustainability

Comparing and Contrasting Political Ideologies: Robert Kaplan vs. Noam Chomsky Essay

1. Chomsky Thesis Outline: The main points within Noam Chomsky’s thesis revolve around his idealistic values and his concept of †Elemental Morality†. When describing his concept of †Elemental Morality† Chomsky explains that if people cannot rise to the level that has them apply the same standards to themselves that they apply to others, they have no right to talk about what’s right and wrong. A common example of this hypocrisy has been executed by the United States-whom Chomsky claims to be a † leading terrorist state†- in an attempt to justify their country’s terrorist acts. In other words, when they do it it’s terrorism, but when we do it its counterterrorism. When looking at the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the war aims were claimed to be to overthrow the country’s brutal dictator Saddam Hussein, in which they succeeded. The U.S. has a history of using the fight for democracy as a justification for overthrowing regimes. However, Chomsky argues that the best way to overthrow power centers and brutal regimes is to do so from within with support of internal democratic organizations. Ironically the very regimes that are being fought against have commonly been found to have support from the U.S.: South Eastern Turkey (the Kurds), Nicaragua in the 1980s, Israel, and Afghanistan during the 1980s to name a few. In Chomsky’s eyes all of these atrocities are all equally immoral simply because they are all atrocities. Chomsky explains that if we want to stop comparing atrocities, the easiest way is to stop participating in them and try to find other ways to deal with  them. As a result, as long as people are able to think for themselves and free themselves from ‘the right wing imperialists’, then they can pose the same elementary morality, levels of violence and turmoil will globally decrease. Kaplan Thesis Outline: Robert Kaplan has been known for his right-wing views on foreign policy, his concept of †Pagan Ethos†, and his Hobbsian outlook on human nature and society. Kaplan believes that Judeo-Christian values have no place in politics (Pagan Ethos) and defies Chomsky’s concept of â€Å"Elemental Morality† by claiming that we need to accept the necessary evil for the greater good. However this is not to say that there is no line to be crossed morally when accepting such evil, for if more evil is used than ‘necessary’, those committing it will lose their credibility and virtuousness. In Kaplan’s opinion, humanity is not enough of a reason for the U.S. to intervene in a country’s conflict. He feels that in order for the Americans to justifiably enter a crisis they need to have interest in it as well. In a nation’s time of crisis where time is of the essence, Kaplan infers that it’s all about the short-term decisions the country makes. In terms of domestic policy versus foreign policy Kaplan believes that internationally the world is a lawless place (Hobbsian), and that we should enforce ‘Soft American Imperialism’. This concept suggests that foreign policy should be run by self-interest, which leads into Kaplan’s aspiration of the United States becoming the world’s ‘Organizing Hegemon’. Kaplan concurs that the United States is the only country whose power and force capable of properly executing a small amount of evil for the greater good. 2. Similarity: In terms of the application of morals in foreign policy, Kaplan has given some leeway towards Chomsky’s concept of ‘Elemental Morality.’ Kaplan acknowledges that there are certain situations where we should act on morality, and that it would be unacceptable to maintain total realistic values. Genocide might be an example; he cites Darfur, and Bosnia where the  U.S. should have intervened on humanitarian grounds alone. Kaplan recognizes â€Å"without an idealistic component to our foreign policy, there would be nothing to distinguish us from our competitors,† and â€Å"Pure realism—without a hint of idealism—would immobilize our mass immigrant democracy, which has always seen itself as an agent of change.† This is concurrent with Chomsky’s assertion in which he states that he is â€Å"guided by moral principles† and elaborates that â€Å"the main reason for my concern with U.S. foreign policy are that I find it, in gener al, horrifying,† and â€Å"the foreign policy of other states is also in general horrifying† Differences: 1)Where Chomsky feels that all atrocities are equal simply because they are atrocities, Kaplan claims that ‘adult choice in foreign policy is based on distinction’ and that some atrocities were necessary in order to contribute to the greater good. As an example to prove his point Kaplan uses Winston Churchill, whom during WWII had to make the decision to either warn Coventry of oncoming German bombers and risk the Germans discovering the British had cracked the Enigma Code, or allow Coventry to be bombed and have the upper hand against the Germans when intercepting their messages. In the end Churchill chose the latter, knowing full well that although his decision cost thousands of lives, the information the British obtained would potentially save hundreds of thousands-if not millions (the ends justify the means). 2)In terms of how Kaplan and Chomsky believe international feuds should be dealt with, Kaplan argues that humanity alone is not enough of a reason for the United States to intervene in a crisis; they need to have interest in the country itself to make their efforts worthwhile. However, Chomsky feels that if we want to stop atrocities we need to stop participating in them and try finding a more alternative and peaceful approaches to a solution. As long as people are able to think for themselves and free themselves from the mindset of ‘the right wing imperialists’ they can impose ‘Elemental Morality’ and therefore progress to peaceful solutions in a more productive manner than simply invading a country. 3. Opinion on Chomsky: I agree with Chomsky’s theory that the United States is a leading terrorist state, and that the government is hypocritical in the context of defining which nations are committing acts of terrorism as opposed to their own state’s actions. Post 9/11 the Bush Administration was quoted saying, â€Å"As we stated previously there is no middle ground between those who oppose terrorism and those who support it.† Yet, the U.S. has had alliances with Israel, Turkey (the Kurds), Russia, China, Indonesia, Egypt, and Algeria â€Å"all of whom are delighted to see an international system develop sponsored by the U.S. which will authorize them to carry out their own terrorist atrocities†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The U.S. was also â€Å"†¦the only country that was condemned for international terrorism by the World Court and that rejected a Security Council resolution calling on states to observe international law.† So why is it that the U.S. has failed to acknowledge themselves as a terrorist state? Perhaps they are too ignorant, or they simply do recognize it but choose to glaze over the facts in order to try preserving their image as a nation ‘fighting against terrorism’. As for Chomsky’s concept of â€Å"Elementary Morality†, I do consider the idea of people having no double standards when criticizing others for their actions to be a decent ideal to strive for. However, realistically the idea of getting the entire world to one day obtain this mindset is very far fetched. I feel that I side more with Kaplan when I say that the world will always have evil people in it, and they will find a way to inflict inhumane actions upon others. Opinion on Kaplan: From a practical perspective, Kaplan’s theories on foreign policy have more relevancies. Take the example of Syria for instance, and compare Chomsky’s standpoint on statehood and overthrowing regimes in relation to Kaplan’s more measured approach on intervening in other countries. Both Chomsky and Kaplan might agree that the atrocities undertaken by the Assad regime in Syria are just that: immoral and atrocious. However, where Chomsky professes a role of non-intervention for the sake of avoiding hypocrisy, and  would see a benefit rather than a tragedy in the dissolution of statehood, Kaplan would have us ask: â€Å"What is the cost of waiting for internal resolution?† and, indeed, â€Å"When are the costs—both economic and human—too high?† To date, in Syria, the U.S. has chosen a ‘non-imperialist’ standpoint more in line with Chomsky’s model of foreign policy for Syria, and what has been the result: â€Å"more t han 120,000 deaths; approximately two million refugees; four million internally displaced; a proxy war between Sunni-dominated countries and Shiah-dominated countries in the region; the largest use of chemical weapons against civilian populations in 25 years.† Mounting humanitarian and economic consequences, in my view, are grounds for considering action rather than inaction in foreign affairs. As Errol Mendes, Professor of International Law at University of Ottawa and visiting fellow at Harvard Law School writes: â€Å"What the failure to act early and especially in the face of the worst forms of violation of international criminal law by the Assad regime has shown is that sometimes the failure to act in such a situation is in fact acting by omission with devastating consequences for the country, the region and the entire global community.† 4. Benefit of Comparing: Having an open mind to both Chomsky and Kaplan’s views is simply a good way to extend our knowledge on different theories regarding foreign policy. Moreover, the benefit of comparing Chomsky and Kaplan’s ideologies is that it allows us to recognize there are different, and simultaneously compelling ways to respond to global conflict. Knowing the similarities and differences of both extreme idealism and realism, and weighing options in a time of national or potentially international crisis, can help lead to policy that is based on an informed choice. The importance of well-informed and carefully considered policy in international relations is the consequences. As Chomsky, himself stresses: â€Å"The impact of U.S. foreign policy on millions of people throughout the world is enormous, and furthermore these policies substantially increase the probability of superpower conflict and global catastrophe.† Bibliography Chomsky, Noam. 9-11. New York: Seven Stories, 2001. 40-55. Print. Kaplan, Robert D. â€Å"Interventionism’s Realistic Future.† Washington Post (2006): 1-2. Print Mendes, Errol. â€Å"The Cost of Non-intervention in Syria.† The Cost of Non-intervention in Syria. Ottawa Citizen, 26 Aug. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. â€Å"†The Reasons for My Concern†Ã¢â‚¬  Interview by Celia Jakubowicz. Noam Chomsky and U.S. Foreign Policy. Third World Traveller, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. .

History of Education Essay

?1. What is empowerment? To give permission or power to do something; in simple words it means to give the confidence to do something Increasing the political, spiritual or economic capacity of individuals in a society 2. Education plays a very important part in improving individual’s well-being and society’s economic and social development 3. It is very important today that both men and women should be educated if we want our society and economy to be prosperous 4. Why is empowering girls through education very important in contemporary Islamic society? Educating girls brings many benefits to society. As educated mother gives importance to education and they invest more in their children’s schooling and this improves society’s development prospect. They strongly believe and practice family planning. They give equal importance to education, health and increase the productivity of future generation. And if they are not educated then the productivity and capacity of future generation will be low. 5. What are some of the benefits of empowering women through education? As female education rises, fertility, population growth, and infant and child mortality fall and family health improves. Increases in girls’ secondary school enrollment are associated with increases in women’s participation in the labor force and their contributions to household and national income. Women’s increased earning capacity, in turn, has a positive effect on child nutrition. Children — especially daughters — of educated mothers are more likely to be enrolled in school and to have higher levels of educational attainment. Educated women are more politically active and better informed about their legal rights and how to exercise them. Thus women’s education should be taken as a serious issue and steps should be taken to bring awareness about importance of education among every woman both in urban and rural area. This way many of the social problems like poverty, begging, child labor, child marriage and child mortality will be controlled up to some extent. 6. Negative attitudes of parents toward educating daughters can also be one of the biggest barriers to a girl’s education. Many parents think educating sons is an investment because the sons will be responsible for caring for aging parents. On the other hand, parents may see the education of daughters a waste of money because the girls are not expected to make economical contribution in the family. They are expected to take care of family and carry out household chores. Promoting girls education therefore involves changing attitude across society merely spending money on girls education will not solve this problem. The attitude can be changed when the gender gap is reduced and when the society is aware that educating women will bring about better consequences. Seminars can be arranged where importance of women empowerment is laid. Other important things that would help in making girl’s empowerment through education a success is the availability of financial resources. One of the biggest barrier to education is poverty there it is very important that such people who cannot afford sending their daughters to school, for them school fee should be abolished. 7. What are some of the challenges of empowering women? Gender gaps in parts of various regions are one of the biggest challenges. It is still thought that educating sons is more important as compared to daughters Many parents are not comfortable in sending their daughters to school It is just not enough to make education available more important is that it should be of good quality. Schools should have well qualified teachers. 8. Both governments and non-government organizations should come forward in empowering women through education. Government and private organizations need to make an extra effort to ensure that education is more accessible to low-income families and rural populations, with special attention to the quality of the education provided and the need for girls to complete school. Richer countries should help and support the not so poor countries by making educational investments by building up private schools and encouraging women education. Investing in female education will accelerate the economic and social development by enhancing human capital, slowing population growth, and alleviating poverty.

Global Marketing Plan Report in Saudi Arabian market Assignment

Global Marketing Plan Report in Saudi Arabian market - Assignment Example The company wants to enter in the market of Saudi Arabia. In this context, the market of Saudi Arabia will be analysed with respect to different parameters. The analysis of the market will help to bring out the potential and threats of the market for the international business operations. This report will assist to provide details about marketing opportunities and potentials for the global business environment. Background of Argos Ltd Argos Ltd is the UK based retail firm that operates as a multi-channel retailer recognised for delivering value, choice and convenience to the customers. The company offers general merchandise and products for home through their 700 stores located in the UK market and Republic of Ireland along with online and telephone assistance. During the financial year of 2010, the company had been able to generate more than ?4.30 billion with the workforce of 33,000 across the business segments. The company serves more than 130 million customers annually. They are able to generate sales through the internet that consists of 26% of the total sales. These are few of the reasons for selecting the company for the analysis (Argos Limited, 2011). Marketing Plan Considering the Business Environment In order to identify the various aspects of Saudi Arabian retail market, SWOT analysis will be conducted which will bring out strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats prevalent in the market. Strengths The Fast Moving Consumable Goods (FMCG) segment of Saudi Arabia shows huge potential. There are more than 24.20 million people out of which 7.0 million are non-Saudi residents consuming FMCG goods (Mousa, 2009). The retail sector of Saudi Arabia is expected to grow by a hopping US$ 125 billion by 2014 as there are several international brands planning to enter the retail market of Saudi Arabia. In the global retail ranking, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself in the ninth place. The market has been able to attract many international retailers and had overtaken well-known retail destinations such as Russia, Hong Kong and Japan. More than 43% of international brands are attracted towards this retail destination. The present micro as well as macro economic factors such as population growth and local infrastructural expenditure on new cities highlights Saudi Arabia’s rising influence as a retail destination to expand to (Sambidge, 2010). Weaknesses The economy is highly dependent upon oil industry. The fluctuation in the price of oil creates imbalance in the economic situation. In addition, there are several political threats that make the country’s environment unfavourable for business. There had been huge decrease in the employment rate in 2009 and its effect is still seen in current year by considerable extent.

There is no set topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

There is no set topic - Essay Example The little Paul is inspired to experiment his luck in gambling because of his mother’s opinion that â€Å"if you’re rich, you may lose your money. But if you’re lucky, you will always get more money†. Once, during the conversation between Paul and his uncle, he speaks about horse races and gambling explicitly and reveals that the gardener is his partner. When the uncle comes to know it instead of correcting Paul, he too becomes a partner. The central point of the story is a wooden horse which Paul believes has some magical effects to make him a winner. Paul gives five thousand pounds of his winnings to his uncle in order to arrange a birthday gift for his mother who always used to blame her misfortune. The story ends with the tragic death of the poor boy that always had a strong affection to his parents. When the uncle asks Paul what he would do with the winning money, he says that he needs to change his mother’s bad luck. This short story best illustrates, how or to what extent family environment affects a kid’s mind. He always hears the desperate words of his mother that can only imbue him with deceptive ideologies. The young boy was disturbed by the incessant whispering he heard even from vacuum; â€Å"there must be more money! There must be more money!† Even though he doesn’t know how to make money, this strong desire to acquire money is deep-rooted in his inner soul. This is the situation when the boy comes to know about horse gambling which gradually perverts him the whole way to the tragic end. The character of Paul’s mother also conveys a great message to the readers of this beautiful story. She is the image of people who always blame others or fate for their failure. They often think that money is the sole factor that brings happiness; and it usually comes due to one’s luck. She expresses this notion openly when Paul asks why they didn’t have a car. Her answer has an adverse effect on Paul as he begins to think that only money can

HIV does not cause AIDS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HIV does not cause AIDS - Essay Example Based on this aspect, the study evaluates the articles of both authors and describes their viewpoints regarding the basis of AIDS. The first point is that HIV fails to satisfy the postulates of Koch and Henle. Koch and Henle have designed four principles in order to develop a link between virus and disease. The first principle is that in order to link any disease with a particular virus, the virus must be detected in every organism suffering from the disease, but should not be present in healthy organism (Koch, 1910). However, with respect to AIDS, it is not possible to detect free virus, provirus or viral RNA. The second point of Duesberg is the violation of second principle of Koch and Henle regarding virus and disease. Koch and Henle have stated that in any virus caused disease, the particular virus must be isolated and developed in a clean culture. Culture in this context is the procedure of cell growth in precise circumstances, primarily outside of their usual atmosphere (Koch, 1910). However, with respect to HIV, it cannot be isolated in most of the cases of AIDS. Furthermore, the isolation of HIV is indirect and subjected to activation of inactive provirus from the oppressive immune system of the host. The third point of Duesberg is violation of third principle of Koch and Henle. They have stated that in order to establish relationship, the developed virus should cause disease while it is injected in a healthy organism (Koch, 1910). Concerning AIDS, pure HIV does not replicate AIDS when vaccinated into healthy organisms. With respect to the fourth point, Duesberg stated that in contradiction of every pathogenic virus which causes progressive diseases, HIV is not biochemically active in the AIDS syndrome. It actively infects only few portion (i.e. 1 in 104) T cells. Thus, HIV cannot be regarded as the damage of T cells, the symbol of AIDS, rather HIV’s holder ascribes to

PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION - Essay Example Erikson thinks that Gandhi is helpful in addressing this type of violence. In the 1960s period, social scientists questioned the relevance of studying the effects and consequences of religion on crime. They were of the view that religion, for instance, in the United States of America was not a key source of values, beliefs and other forms of operative norms. Religion forms a part of an individual’s identity. It has many attributes, one of which is religion. It is a representation of the unique culture, religious orientation, experience and gender among other things. Erikson considers identity as a belief in sameness and a progression in the sense of a shared world. His theory of pseudo speciation can be applied to the formation of religious groups. Group conflicts arise from the evolvement of human beings for certain reasons into a complex interaction based on adversarial relationships (Erikson 3). Erikson places importance on man as a social being who must always belong to social groups. It is with this notion that he proposed the existence of massive ritual defenses of communities. Erikson explained the concept of religion in terms of s psychological phenomenon. He explained the religion in Martin Luther’s age in terms of demons, Freudian unconscious and superstitions. He had contempt for the true God. He stated that the belief in demons allowed a persistent removal of an individual’s unconscious thoughts and preconscious impulses involving malice and variance. Therefore, religion is a creation of the unconscious part of human beings. Erikson’s theory explains the formation of religious groups. The grouping instinct arises when there are conditions that discriminate against religious communities in terms of politics and economy. This promotes conflicts along ideological insight especially when the threat perception increases and

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES - Essay Example This in turn led to a correction in the industry’s long-haul pricing structure where at times airlines were forced to offer prices lower that their costs. The deregulation of the airline industry in 1978 has been a failure and the airlines are more like public utilities than ordinary businesses (Roberts, 2008). SWA operated out of Texas and was doing much better than the regulated airlines because of fewer regulations in the state. The industry today is full of uncertainties with airlines merger becoming common. The greatest strength of SWA is its superior asset utilization. Its flight schedule structuring is such that its turnaround is 20 minutes. SWA flies its planes 20 to 30 percent more hours than other major airlines. They have fewer employees per aircraft, fly fewer passengers per employee and have more available seat miles per employee (Pfeffer, 2005). They do not use the standard hub-and-spoke model like most carriers but have the a point-to-point route network and is thus able to minimize the domino effect of flight delays thereby maximizing asset utilization (Kearney, 2008). Another major strength is highly motivated workforce. SWA achieved success not from economies of scale but the airline is known for its very productive, very motivated and unionized workforce (Bacon, 2001). They encourage individuality and they encourage leadership. The employees always come first with the company and the customers a respected second (Miles & Mangold, 2005). A failure is accepted as natural and pardonable at SWA (Bunz & Maes, 1998). They are encouraged to take responsibility for their acts and celebrate mistakes as well as triumphs. The culture of the firm and the dedication to the employees sees the airline through any obstacles and challenges (Singh, 2002). The recent soaring of fuel price has disturbed the airlines industry globally. Eight US airlines have gone out of business in less than a year, one is in bankruptcy and many others are

Investigation Of A Turner Circuit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Investigation Of A Turner Circuit - Essay Example The lab report is detailed on the testing as well the design used in the construction of a tuner circuit. Being that students are supposed to actively take part in the practical in terms of setting frequencies before checking output waveforms, they become better at understanding the operation of the tuner circuit. In this report, therefore, emphasis is on assessing a tuner circuit in order to understand its features better. A circuit allowing an output only at a given frequency forms a tuner circuit. The use of a turner circuit is mainly in the communications industry for selecting of channels. Besides, it plays the role of a sub-system in that it concerts selected carrier frequency as well as its bandwidth into a fixed frequency that is in turn proper in processing from the received radio frequencies (RF). The AM/FM broadcast transmissions then feed the demodulator with the intermediate frequency (IF) and the demodulator in turn converts the radio signal into audio-frequency signals that enable driving a loudspeaker. Applications of wider frequency bandwidth are in transmissions that are more complicated such as DVB-S/DVB-T/DVB-D in digital TV, PAL/NTSC in TV and DAB for digital radio. Frequency bandwidths are equally transmitted as IFs with the use of several sub-carriers in the receiver. If the whole bandwidth undergoes sampling with A/D at a faster rate, the sub-carrier processing takes place (Learn about Electronics.com, 2011). The expected rate is at least twice the IF frequency.

Methods Section Report Rubric Lab Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Methods Section Rubric - Lab Report Example The water was added until the towels became saturated and could no longer hold additional water. The weight of the saturated paper towels was also weighed and recorded. The weight of water held by the paper towels was determined by getting the difference between the weight of the wet and dry paper towels (Baxter, Shavelson, Goldman, and Pine4). This difference in weight was recorded for each type of paper towel. The procedure was repeated eight times for each type of paper towel to obtain nine replicates. The results were recorded in a table. A fully saturated paper towel of each type was used as positive control for each replicate to determine a standard level of saturation before taking weight measurements. The hypothesis was tested by getting the average and total amount of water held by each type of paper towel. The final results (average and totals) were then compared for the two types of paper towels. The type of paper towel that held the highest amount of water was regarded the most absorbent towel. Baxter, Gail P., Richard J. Shavelson, Susan R. Goldman, and Jerry Pine. "Evaluation of Procedure-Based Scoring for Hands-On Science Assessment." Journal of Educational Measurement 29.1 (1992): 1-17.

Trends that Influence Effective Learning Assignment

Trends that Influence Effective Learning - Assignment Example According to Morrison et al (2010), ADDIE process was established at the University of Florida and was meant for military training servicemen, who needed curriculum development processes. Its present version was developed, and revised in mid-1980’s. ADDIE process involves the five treads founded in this model. They include; analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluation.Analyze; this involves an instructor collecting information concerning the learners, identifying the topics, and the content that should be covered. It is in this step that the instructors give a layout of the objectives of the project that need to be achieved. This enhances and gives meaning to the content since it makes learning to be relevant and achievable. Objectives serve as pointers of goal setting in education. When an instructor is developing a pedagogical way of delivering information, one must ensure that he comes up with objectives that need to be addressed. In cases, where these goals are not met, then learning may not have taken place. Therefore, for useful learning and teaching to be identified proper tools and materials should be applied to improve instruction. Design; this is the second step that enables instructional designers to develop their projects using the information received from the analysis stage. It is at this point that the instructor shows how he plans to ensure that learning has been achieved. The content is broken down into basic units that can be easily understood by learners.

Walden University Writing Center - the Temple of Writing Research Paper

Walden University Writing Center - the Temple of Writing - Research Paper Example In addition to these, the centre provides a grammar check facility, and to maintain academic integrity, there is a plagiarism detection tool integrated called Turnitin. Above all, the website gives a detailed description about writing in APA style. Walden University Writing Center: The Temple of Writing The online writing center of the Walden University introduces a student to what is known as the scientific way of writing. It offers the possibility of exploring APA style and formatting, taking up writing courses to improve one’s writing skills, participation in webinars, tutoring from professionals in the field of writing and expressing their views in the blogs of the writing center. The webpage is equally useful for a beginner as well as an experienced author. It caters to the individual needs of each student. One of the most attractive features of the writing centre is getting individual feedback from the Walden staff on the works the students upload on the site. A Step by Step Guide to Writing For an undergraduate student Walden University writing centre is a step by step guide unfolding the solutions to various problems he/she may come across while preparing his/her assignments. It provides an orientation to what exactly the assignment is about, the keywords to be searched, common writing terms in an assignment, thereby making the student develop a clear understanding about his/her assignment. The site provides training in preparing discussion posts. Though they are mini-essays they require ultimate attention and alertness as in preparing a research paper. There are options for preparing collaborative assignments which can improve a student’s ability in communication, time management, and delegation. As a beginner in writing, an undergraduate student definitely finds the writing guidelines very appropriate and useful as he/she progresses through the course. In addition to these services, the Walden University provides services like one to one tutoring and live webinars. Students are permitted to access Knowledge Area modules and work on it. In addition to these services, the student gets an opportunity to deal with capstone studies that give extensive help in improving one’s research paper. Individualized Learning The most interesting feature of Walden writing centre is one on one tutoring. Here the student makes an appointment with the tutor of his choice; then uploads his work for the review along with the instructions on areas to be focused on. Within 2 days the student will receive a feedback from the tutor. The feedback will include resources and suggestions on grammar, APA style adherence, basic formatting and regarding the flow of writing. The students are requested to submit their papers before 5 am EST on that day. The aim of this service is not to fix the errors in a paper but to improve the writing skills of the students. So the students should make sure to incorporate these suggestions in the next pap er they work on. Another very useful and vibrant service is the live webinars the centre provides. These are discussions on subjects relevant to perfecting one’s writing skills. There is a webinar archive which provides the details of past webinars. Making an Appointment To make an appointment with the tutor of your choice the student is requested to log on to ‘my Walden portal’. Click on the Academics tab, click on schedule an appointment and then tutor tab.        Ã‚  

Cloning in General and Ethics of Cloning Thesis

Cloning in General and Ethics of Cloning - Thesis Example Philosophers have a different point-of-views with regards to the practice of human cloning. In line with this, several philosophers such as the case of Julian Savulescu, Gregory E. Pence, and Nicholas Agar are in support of human cloning practices. On the other hand, philosophers like Leon Richard Kass strongly oppose the practice of biotechnology or human cloning. For instance, a Romania-Australian bioethicist and philosopher named Julian Savulescu published some of his writings in order to argue that the use of stem cell research should be highly promoted regardless of whether or not a person would consider an embryo as a human being. Savulescu argued that parents should be given the opportunity to choose the best child a married couple can have through the study of genetic information. Furthermore, Savulescu explained that the process of killing some embryos can be justifyiable given that the said action could benefit more people in the future (Wilkinson, Kahane and Horne; Kahane and Savulescu). Even though this particular biotechnology would mean killing an embryo or a fetus, Savulescu concludes that embryonic stem cell research should be justified because this process could eventually help the adults have more opportunity for tissue or organ transplantation whenever necessary.An expert in medical ethics and a philosophy professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham named Gregory E. Pence is one of the few bioethicists who strongly supports the practice of human cloning (Pence).

Corporate Strategies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate Strategies - Assignment Example With its vision of enabling its customers to make the most of their world and possibilities though the services it offers, O2 plc (O2) accomplishes its commitment of providing mobile communication services in Europe. The business organisation also profits from its leading mobile internet portal business. Armed with its values of being bold, trusted, open, and clear, O2 continues its quest to become the telecommunication industry's market leader. The creation of O2 in the 1990s can be traced backed to the decision of British Telecommunication to "demerge its mobile phone business" in order to strengthen the financial position of the latter. From its beginning, the firm is currently a major player in the various nations where it operates including the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Germany, the Isle of Man, and Asia. As the business organisation is focused on satisfying consumer needs, O2 strategic business units are classified according to their geographic locations. It should be noted that the products being offered varies in each region (O2 Plc 2006). The major products of O2 are mobile telecommunication equipments which are either paid through installment plans or pre-paid. With its thrust to provide the market with higher quality products, the company offers complementary services like third generation telephony (3G), O2 Active, I Mode, and O2 Online. O2 also ensures the satisfaction of customers by offering product features like entertainment through its sponsorship of the England Rugby Team and Arsenal FC and partnership with Anschutz Entertainment Group (O2 Plc 2006). III. Competitive Position in the Industry Environment As stated above, O2 Plc operates in different geographic locations, battling head-on with various competitors. Table 1 shows the geographical locations of firm's business activities alongside with its competitors in each region. It can be deduced that O2's direct competitors are Orange SA (Orange), T-Mobile, 3, Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone), Virgin Mobile Ltd. (Virgin Mobile), Meteor Mobile Communications Limited (Meteor), and e-plus. Table 1. Geographical Location of O2 and its Main Competitors Geographical Region Major Competitors United Kingdom Orange, T-Mobile, 3, Vodafone Ireland Vodafone, Meteor, 3 Germany T-Mobile, Vodafone, e-plus Czech Republic T-Mobile, Vodafone Slovakia T-Mobile, Orange In order to look at the relative position of O2 Plc relative to its competitors in the United Kingdom, this report will look each business organisation in terms of market scope, number of customers, financial performance, market growth, products and services sold, and factors affecting business well-being. The main findings including the data for O2 are tabulated in Table 2. Among all the players in the global mobile communication industry, Vodafone holds the largest market share at 26.8%. The business organization is recognized as the largest mobile telecommunication company in the world with a market value of 65 billion (Vodafone 2006). It is estimated that the market leader approximately has 186.8 million subscribers in the 27 countries where it conducts its

Financial Reporting and Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Reporting and Analysis - Essay Example b) The Board may be required to abandon neutrality and establish standards of reporting that conceals the particular transactions impact from the users of the financial reports. These costs will, however, exist regardless whether or not FASB authorizes their recognition in financial statements. It will not alter the economics of transaction and it will only withhold information from the users of the financial reports while making informed decisions and, eventually, the credibility of financial reports is impaired. c) The SEC relies on the Board and the private sector predecessors to establish and upgrade financial accounting and the reporting standards Accounting standards are therefore, established through a due process and open deliberations system to improve and certify the Board’s mission of improving financial reporting. By developing neutral accounting standards to the best interest of the public, similar transactions should be treated similarly and different transactions treated differently. This clearly shows that standard setting is in private sector in US. d) Some accounting standards are subverted so that they can achieve their purpose which is not related to fair and accurate presentation of financial statements. They there fore fail in the purpose they serve and consequently lack economic effect since they are not of importance to decision makers on allocation of resources and making other economic decisions. a) Dividends should be disclosed in changes of equity statement and in the notes as follows. Dividends that are declared are entered in the Retained Earnings account on the credit side and credited to the dividends payable account. When paid, dividends are posted to the dividends payable account in the debit side and to the Cash account, are posted to the credit side. Notes concerning the dividends can be illustrated as follows; b) The provision for a law suit should not be disclosed because the likelihood of

Discussion Questions for Sexism Readings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Discussion Questions for Sexism Readings - Essay Example Misogyny, hatred for one sex (females basically) leads to increased feelings of oppression and suffocation for the women and transgender people. This also leads to more abortions, and killing of infant girls. 2. Biological sex is basically a bodily aspect. If a person has primary sexual characters of male or female sex, he or she is biologically a male or a female. Gender is more like a concept. Essentially other than the primary sexual characters, human beings are alike. Gender studies are basically an approach towards how you perceive men and women. Biologically they are same other than primary sexual characters but gender considers them different. 3. Not all, but many men practice patriarchy happily as they have a lot to gain from it. They get to rule their households. This however is not always easy. Homophobia, the hatred people feel for lesbians and gays and sometimes for transgender people originates from this stress too. No extreme is good. When 50% population of any place is oppressed in the name of patriarchy, many react by becoming gay or lesbian. Normal life is disrupted by this extremism in favor of one sex. 4. Feminism demands equal rights for women. Biologically, women and men are equals but the sexist approaches don’t let that to be practiced in society. Although in theory it looks like United States is a very broad minded society, but there has always been a very strong negative reaction to equal rights for women and transgender people. One of the reasons is that it is always easy to follow the current trends rather than accepting changes. Also, with women getting equal rights, some of the men might feel insecure. 5. Ideal female beauty is a concept that leads a lot of girls to efforts of abnormal level to become acceptably attractive. This leads women to putting in extra efforts for acceptance and those who naturally lack it suffer a lot. From other point of view, this sometimes makes women easy targets

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby Essay Example for Free

F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gatsby Essay It is invariably saddening to look through new eyes at things upon which you have expended your own powers of adjustment.( F.Scott Fitzgerald 104) Nick talks about how he looks at life with a new perspective and tries to abandoned â€Å"the West Egg† concept of â€Å"a world complete in itself, with its own standards its own great figures†. When he look at daisy, he explains that he could feel daisy’s pain and suffering by just looking into her eyes. So the significance of this quote is that nick is looking beyond the gilts and glamour of society so that he may see the true identity of people- as with Daisy. Later on, Nick will use this skill to find the true answer of whom Gatsby is . â€Å"The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God—a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that—and he must be about His Father’s business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end.†(F.Scott Fitzgerald 98) -Nick describes Gatsby’s early life using a comparison between Gatsby and Jesus to reveal Gatsby’s identity. In the Great Gatsby, Gatsby transforms himself into the ideal that he envisioned for himself a Platonic conception of himself as a youngster and remains committed to that ideal, despite the obstacles that society presents to the fulfillment of his dream. He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: â€Å"I never loved you.† After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical measures to be taken. (F.Scott Fitzgerald 109) -Gatsby is frustrated at daisy for being a cowardly woman who doesn’t stand up for her. He believes its time for her to take action but Gatsby also realizes that it’s impractical. Gatsby would like to put everything back how it was in the past, but Daisy has moved on from the past into the present. â€Å"His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy’s white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning-fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete.†(F.Scott Fitzgerald111) -Gatsby opens up to Nick and tell a memorable event between Gatsby and Daisy. This is one of the times were he actually gives information about his past that is true and Nick is surprised and hears Gatsby through. Gatsby longs for the past and revisions the event where he and daisy first kissed. Gatsby fantasies about the past, believing that Daisy is the same girl he kissed many years ago. â€Å"But his heart was in a constant, turbulent riot. The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the wash-stand and the moon soaked with wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor. Each night he added to the pattern of his fancies until drowsiness closed down upon some vivid scene with an oblivious embrace. For a while these reveries provided an outlet for his imagination; they were a satisfactory hint of the unreality of reality, a promise that the rock of the world was founded securely on a fairy’s wing.†(Scott Fitzgerald 99) Gatsby is a man who seems to have it all but in reality is troubled by one-sided love. The one thing he doesnt have is what he needs most to fulfill him is Daisy. At night, these thoughts both torment and comfort him. The beauty of this passage is Fitzgeralds use of both negative and positive imagery to illustrate the conflict in Gatsbys thoughts. The imagery of the rock and fairy’s wing just elaborates Gatsby’s view of his world is crumbling apart; something like a rock is a strong foundation has flew away so easily like a fairy. Very much like the difference between Gatsbys real world and what he wishes for himself. Chapter 7 Her voice is full of money, he said suddenly.†¨That was it. I’d never understood before. It was full of money — that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it high in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl. (Scott Fitzgerald 120) Gatsby is shocked and confused why Daisy is all about money. He doesn’t even wonder why she married Tom. So Fitzgerald adds in dialogues as a hint to fill in the missing gaps and to show Gatsby who Daisy was and is. Tom allows Daisy to ride with Gatsby because he knows she wont choose Gatsby over him. Gatsby can’t let go of the Daisy, not because of the relationship now but what they had; back in the past were he was a poor kid in the army who got this beautiful rich girl to fall in love with him. â€Å"There is no confusion like the confusion of a simple mind, and as we drove away Tom was feeling the hot whips of panic. His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate, were slipping precipitately from his control.†(Scott Fitzgerald 125) This quote reveals that Tom is getting frustrated and shocked because of the accident. He feels as though he is losing control over both women, Daisy and Myrtle. You could see the signs of tension between Gatsby and Tom when they get into a verbal argument of some sort. Tom needs control and when he doubts his control, over a situation or another person, he cant handle it. With every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up, and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to touch what was no longer tangible, struggling unhappily, despairingly, toward that lost voice across the room.†(Scott Fitzgerald 134) -As she spoke, he became more and more aware that Daisy would never be his. The dream that he once had of them being together slipped away. He was becoming forced to realize the truth even though he somehow wished it was different. â€Å"So we drove on toward death in the cooling twilight†¦.† Nick: ‘â€Å"Was Daisy driving?†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Gatsby: ‘â€Å"Yes, but of course I’ll say I was.†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Scott Fitzgerald 137-143). Fitzgerald placed the first quote as a foreshadowing of Myrtle’s death. I don’t understand why Gatsby and the other characters mourn for Myrtle, they act if it was just a normal day by day event. It’s interesting how Gatsby spoke as if Daisy’s reaction was the only thing that mattered. â€Å"He put his hands in his coat pockets and turned back eagerly to his scrutiny of the house, as though my presence marred the sacredness of the vigil. So I walked away and left him standing there in the moonlight — watching over nothing.†(Scott Fitzgerald 145) -Before the trip into the city and the accident, Gatsby was convinced that Daisy was in love with him and would without a doubt leave Tom for him. When he watches Daisy and Tom in the kitchen, the reality of the situation is starting to hit him. Ever since he and Daisy fell apart when she married Tom, he has entirely devoted his life to getting wealth to impress Daisy and win her back. He has devoted his whole life and heart to this woman, and so as he watches her slipping away from him again, he knows nothing more than to return to his vigil over the woman that has controlled his life.

Leaving a Legacy of Hope Essay Example for Free

Leaving a Legacy of Hope Essay So many people when asked what it was that drew them to this field would tell me, â€Å"I go home every night feeling good about the work I do.† Though this is a genuine and relevant answer to the question, it is not mine. I have always said that it is the people that make this work so special. What makes the population of people that we work with so incredible is that they are not caught up with the everyday way of life that you and I are. It is that freedom from conventions which sets them apart. They are not as worried about the latest fads, trends or fashions. They are people shaped through the years of their lives, filled with experience and wonder that is hard to imagine, let alone understand. They are individual’s not so much worried about â€Å"What do you think about me?† as much as, Do you love me? Their character and convictions are steadfast, and though they may be hardened to change, their hearts remain soft and tenable. The following essay has been written for these people, with hopes that it would inspire even a single person to take an earnest look at Oregon’s current service models for Seniors and People with Disabilities, and to keep Oregon as a premier model in which other states can continue to look to. What legacy will we leave? What hope will we inspire? My objective is to utilize this essay to answer these questions. In our state’s history, Oregon has been blessed with so many great advocates and has been a National leader with the Self-Directed Support model of services across the division of Seniors and People with Disabilities. So how will the new generation of college graduates continue this legacy? After an in depth inquiry into this subject and much self reflection, I submit the following. As we begin to take those choice words like â€Å"Independence, integration, productivity, choice and dignity†, and not just make sure our companies or non-profits mission statements included a few of them, not just check off the box on the service plan that says these are being implemented or accomplished, but actually look at the root meaning of the words. Are we really where we want to be? Or can we do better? We have a choice, we can take a rational and intellectual inquiry into our current and proposed service models to see if the services we are providing and more importantly plan to provide fall in line with these words. Or, we can set our sights on mediocrity, from which no legacy will be made. The choice lies with us. Do we remain stagnant and content with the progress made? Do we measure Oregon against the backdrop of other states and take solace in the fact that we may still be slightly ahead of the pack? I think the answer among fellow Oregonian’s would be a resounding â€Å"No†. The preservation of Oregon’s existing legacy as being a National leader in the legislative, economic and social advocacy for seniors and people with disabilities is important. It is something that I conclude can only be done by my previous statement of rational and intellectual inquiry into Oregon’s current and proposed service models. My personal response to this inquiry is based around the philosophy of person centered planning and person directed supports. With the heart and focus of this model remaining on individual choice. At the age of 25 years old, having spent 5 years in human services I have worked within all different areas of Oregon Seniors and People with Disabilities. Through this time, one theme that I have heard loud and clear from the people I have supported is the need for choice, more specifically is choice as it pertains to the location in which people live while receiving services. Which leads me to the following; If Oregon is going to continue to be a leader and innovator in providing the Self-Directed Support model of services, the legacy of hope that we need to focus on leaving would stem from successful implementation of what is known as the â€Å"Community Based Care† models of services. The emphasis of this model being on serving seniors and people with disabilities in ways to help them live and age comfortably in the place of their choice. Rather than emphasizing their diagnoses, medical condition or inabilities, we focus on the things in life that give them happiness, peace and strength. All things that can be accomplished through something many of us now take for granted, and that’s having the freedom and choice of where we live. As the medical field progresses people are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. The number of those over the age of 65 is growing dramatically. There are 10,000 new Medicare recipients added each day. In 2000 the number of seniors over the age of 85 was 4.2 million. By 2010 the number is estimated to be 6.1 million. Beginning in the years 2011 2012, the baby boomers will begin to turn 65 years old. More astonishing then that, by 2030, Americans 55 and older will account for 31% of the population and those 65 and older will account for 20%. From the fiscal standpoint, Community Based Care has been projected to cost as little as a few hundred dollars a month, comparatively to someone who has been displaced from their home and is living in a facility where the monthly cost to the tax payers now shoots as high as $5,000- $6,000 monthly. The SPD population overwhelmingly wants to age in place, to be able to remain living in their own homes. But they very concerned about their choice to do so. In the book, â€Å"Water for Elephants† Sara Gruen, writes from the perspective of a man named Jacob Janokowski a retired veterinarian who is 90 years old, (or 93 he can’t remember which). Below is an excerpt from the book I believe helps illustrate the discussion. â€Å"But Dad, they said, you broke your hip, as though maybe I hadn’t noticed. I dug my heels in. I threatened to cut them off without a cent, until I remembered they already had controlled my money. They didn’t remind me- they just let me rail on like an old fool until I remembered of my own accord, and that made me even angrier because if they had any respect for me at all they would have at least made sure I had the facts straight. I felt like a toddler whose tantrum was being allowed to run its course. As the enormity of my helplessness dawned on me, my position began to slip. You’re right, I conceded. I guess I could use some help. I suppose having someone come in during the day wouldn’t be so bad, just to help out with the cooking and cleaning. No? Well how about a live in? I know I’ve let things slip a little since your mother died†¦ But I thought you said†¦ Okay, then one of you can move in with me†¦ But I don’t understand†¦ Well, Simon, your house is large. Surely I could†¦? It was not to be. I remember leaving my house for the last time, bundled up like a cat on the way to the vet. As the car pulled away, my eyes were so clouded by tears I couldn’t look back. It’s not a nursing home, they said. Its assisted living- progressive, you see. You’ll only have help with the things you need, and then when you get older†¦ They always trailed off there, as though that would prevent me from following the thought to its logical conclusion.† I truthfully believe it is a realistic belief that Oregon can pioneer the cause of helping seniors and people with disabilities live confidently with independence, and the freedom to age with a positive sense of self-worth in their own homes. This is my vision of Community Based Care, and this is the legacy that I hope to leave behind.

Child Observation for Development Analysis

Child Observation for Development Analysis Kirsty Lynch Child Observation Study Introduction By the age of six, children are moving out of what Erikson called the initiative vs Guilt-purpose period and are moving into the industry vs inferiority-competence stage of their lives. This is a main developmental stage in the life of a child where many milestones are hoped to be achieved by. To demonstrate the developmental stage of a six year old child I have conducted this child observation study. The setting of this child observation takes place in what appears to be a computer room in a primary school. There are three students present in the room, two girls, Mackenzie and Isabella aged six and one boy, Noah who is also six years old. There is one female adult present in the observation, the children’s teacher. There are a small number of adults present in the background, this is because it is a communal computer room and these other adults are not part of the observation study. The activity that’s taking place is a teaching lesson in which the teacher is demonstra ting patterns to the children and asking the children, at first to work together to complete the pattern and then to individually finish the patterns themselves. The child who is the focus of this observation study is Noah, the six year old boy. Observations: Discussion: From observing Noah in his school environment, it is easier to see the developmental stage that he is at, the milestones that he has reached are quite evident and his developmental stage is quite clear and progressing well, however there are a few milestones which Noah should have reached by the age of six which it seems he has failed to reach, here I will discuss Noah’s Physical, Emotional and Cognitive development and I will link it in with developmental psychology to illustrate where Noah is at in his Development and where he should be. Physical Develop: Noah’s physical development seems to be normal for his age, in comparison to Isabella and Mackenzie he seems to be the same height and slightly broader which is normal for a boy of his age. By the age of six years old, children usually reach an average height of about three foot ten inches and they normally weigh about forty-six pounds. These are just average figures but from observing Noah he seems to fit into this profile, although it is hard to judge his weight from the observation, he appears a healthy weight for his height and age. At the age of six years old, children have a lot of energy and they enjoy engaging in activities which involve a lot of movement. In order to achieve these movements, children require the use of Gross motor skills (Clarke McDowel, 2006). It is evident that Noah has a lot of energy and that his gross motor skills are developing at an appropriate rate. Noah can’t sit easy, is constantly moving his arms and hands, he makes shapes with his hands and at one stage imitates a bird using hand movements. It can be seen that Noah has good muscle control and good co-ordination. Noah’s fine motor skills can also be seen. Fine motor skills require dexterity, which is the good use of hands and fingers. By six years of age children have reached the stage of being able to use many fine motor skills, such as tying their shoe laces, good hand control and good use of both of their hands (Clarke McDowel, 2006). Noah’s fine motor skills can be seen little by little throughout the observation, Noah uses both of his hands consistently to complete the puzzles and he has the ability to turn the shapes into objects, Noah does this when he makes the shape of a house out of the shapes on the table. Intellectual Development: Noah’s communication does not seem to be at the level that it should be at for a six year old child. By the age of six most children can maintain attention, concentrate and can sit quietly during activities. Noah however, lacked concentration and only paid attention when he was being giving attention for his turn; he was unable to hold his concentration during the other students turns. At times Noah’s speech was quite hard to understand, it was sometimes slightly slurred. A child of Noah’s age should have an extended vocabulary and should be able to explore the meaning and sounds of new words, their speech should be precise and clear by this age. Children tend to express themselves by using new words, making up stories and developing their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas together (Clarke McDowel, 2006). Noah did not seem to have an extended vocabulary and his speech seemed very limited at times, he only spoke when he was seeking attention or when he wanted acknowledgement or praise for completing a task. Emotional and Social Development: At six years of age children should be able to identify and convey feelings and interact with adults and other children. As children develop they learn how to show affection, manage aggravation and irritation and understand jealousy and sadness (Clarke McDowel, 2006). While Noah has reached most of this developmental stage there are a few points within this stage which Noah has not completely met yet. The milestones which Noah has achieved at this developmental stage in his emotional and social development are co-operation, solving problems, seeking attention and becoming competitive. Although he co-operated, most of the time, Noah was quite fidgety while awaiting his turn. Noah was quite competitive, which is normal for a child of his age, and he likes the attention to be focused on him. Noah asked the teacher to â€Å"look† at him a number of times and at one stage said â€Å"see, look, watch how fast I am† as he was seeking attention and praise from the teacher. His sense of security seems to be reliant on praise from adults that he trusts; in this case that was his teacher. However, Noah was also quite irritated when it was not his turn to complete the puzzle, he had to be asked a number of times to wait his turn, by this age Noah should have a sense of controlling irritation and following instructions set out by his teacher. Cognitive Development: Children play an enormous role in their own cognitive development. They do this by trying to understand what’s going on around them by organising, explaining, constructing, manipulating and predicting. We can see that Noah plays an active role in his cognitive development, he understands what is being asked of him, he knows what he is meant to do and constructs shapes and patterns with the pieces supplied by his teacher. At the age of six, children also see patterns in objects and actions of the world and they can often attempt to organize these patterns to try and explain the world. Noah demonstrates this when he sees a house in the shapes that are on the table, he then constructs a tree to go along with the house because in Noah’s perception of the world this is what is normal, houses, gardens, maybe trees in the garden or outside on the road. However, Noah also demonstrates some limitations in his cognitive development. Noah has trouble controlling his own attention, when the attention is on him Noah behaves and does what he is asked to do, he displays an intense interest in learning and takes pride in completing the patterns, but when it is Mackenzie or Isabella’s turn, Noah lacks attention, he is twisting and turning in his chair, fidgeting with his hands and looking around the room. Noah becomes slightly frustrated that he has to take turns, the attention isn’t on him and the learning does not come about as quickly as he would like because he has to wait. Developmental psychology: During the Initiative vs Guilt-purpose stage children desire to copy the actions of the people around them and they take initiative in creating a play situation. Noah has reached this developmental stage as he shows that he can take instructions and copy what the teacher does, the teacher demonstrates how to do the patterns and Noah is quick to copy what she does, he is able to complete the pattern and he is able to turn the task into a play situation, he illustrates this by building a house out of the shapes that he is working with. Noah has accomplished this milestone and is moving into the Industry vs Inferiority-competence stage, which is often referred to as the latency stage. This stage allows children to learn, create and accomplish a number of new skills and Knowledge and helps them to develop a sense of industry. Noah shows that he is competent in this stage by completing the patterns that the teacher gives him with ease and he takes pride in completing these tasks. However, this is also an incredibly social stage of development, where experiences of unresolved feelings of inferiority and inadequacy among other children can have problems in relation to competence and self-esteem. Noah seems to be constantly looking for attention, he can’t sit easy if it’s not his turn and if he is not been giving attention. He is constantly looking for acknowledgement and praise for completing his tasks, it’s as if he is trying to prove that he is capable and better than the other students at completing the task., he says â€Å"See, look, watch, watch how fast I am†. Freud says that during the Latency stage sexual urges remain subdued and that children tend to play and interact with the same sex peers. In this observation Noah is with the opposite sex, however, there is no indication as to whether Noah chooses to be in this group or whether the teacher specifically put him in this group for observational purposes. If Noah was placed in this group it could account for why he felt the need to prove his capability over the girls, it is hard to tell whether Noah would have acted the same if he was in a group with boys. Piaget’s preoperational stage is just coming to an end by the time a child is six years old. Piaget states that a child should have reached the milestone of being able to use basic logic but may still not be able to understand how other people perceive the environment (Crawford and Walker, 2003). Attachment: Attachment is the close, continuous relationship with at least one other person that children need in order to develop a confident, stable, integrated personality (Fawcett, 2009). Mary Ainsworth came up with the three different types of attachment that a child could experience; Securely attached being the usual, standard attachment where children explore by themselves and can sometimes show some signs of concern when they are separated from their parents but usually settle and continue to play. , Insecure Avoidant, where children seem indifferent on whether or not the parent is there and insecure ambivalent, where children experience great upset when the parent leaves and opposing reactions when the parent returns (Ainsworth et al, 1978). Children tend to view the person that they are attached to as a secure foundation, a source of reassurance and someone who encourages them and offers them guidance (Crawford and Walker, 2003). Noah shows this attachment with his teacher. He looks to his teacher for guidance when completing the patterns, and he seeks praise and encouragement from her upon completing the task, he asks her to â€Å"look† and â€Å"see† what he has done. It is difficult to determine Noah’s attachment with his teacher in such a short amount of time, he does not ignore the presence of his teacher, nor does he cling to his teacher, although Noah does seem to constantly be looking for the teachers attention, this could indicate a lack of attention at home, or having to seek attention at home. Tentative Conclusions: From observing Noah it is clear that his development is on the right track. Noah’s physical development is normal for his age and he has accomplished many of the physical milestones that a six year old should have accomplished. His intellectual development is at a slower development rate than the average child of Noah’s age. Speech and language therapy could be used in order to help Noah develop his speech and language to an appropriate level. Noah does not seem to engage in conversation much and with the help of a speech and language therapist this could encourage Noah to engage more in conversation with his peers and his teacher. Noah seems to enjoy play and he enjoys praise for completing tasks, Play Therapy could be a useful resource to help Noah understand how to control his irritations and to help him concentrate. Noah’s development is on the right track but with a little help from the likes of a speech and language therapist or a play therapy specialist, Noah’s development could be improved to an appropriate level for a six year old child. Reflexive Piece: When beginning this observation, I had my own idea of what a six year old child should be doing and how far along a six year olds development should be. I thought back to what I was like when I was six years old, I could remember being in school and doing well in school, but other than that my memory of being six was not great. However, I myself have two younger brothers, one who has just turned seven years old and one who is turning six this year. From my own experience of my younger brother’s developmental stages, I had a preconception that all six year olds behaved in a similar way and that most six year olds had met the same developmental markers. Some of my own professional experience also influenced me in the completion of this assignment. I had previously done a placement in The National Children’s Hospital and I worked alongside Play Specialists. The children I worked with were from infants to teenagers, but the majority of the children who were involved in the play therapy sessions were aged between four years old and nine years old. From working with those children the same age as Noah I could really see what Noah was excelling in and where Noah was lacking in some developmental stages. I had previously worked with a family whose child was at a slower developing rate than his peers and the work that I participated in with that family influenced my ideas of what could help Noah. This child was also six years of age but had not reached all of the milestones expected by the age of six; similarly, Noah had not reached some of the milestones that you would expect him to have reached. Word Count: 3,299 Bibliography: Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E. Wall, S., 1978. Patterns of Attachment: A psychological study of the strange ssituation. Hillsdale: NJ: Erlbaum. Clarke, P. McDowel, G., 2006. The Developing Child. Glencoe: McGraw-Hill. Crawford, K. Walker, J., 2003. Social Work and Human Development. s.l.:Learning Matters. Fawcett, M., 2009. Learning Through Child Observation. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Ingleby, E., 2006. Applied Psychology for Social Work. Glasgow: Learning Matters.

Anaesthesia and Associated Infection: An Unrecognized Source

Anaesthesia and Associated Infection: An Unrecognized Source Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are preventable diseases and place anenomrous socio-economic burden on economy. It is well established that intensive care units (ICU) are epicenters of cross infections and bacterial resistance, but a little is known about the role of anaesthesia atmosphere in this process. Intraoperative environment due to several reasons serves as risk factor for HAIs. [1-3] Immune suppression associated with general anaesthesia, aerosolized particles and healthcare tools used within the anaesthesia workstation area, may also be linked with development of HAIs [4]. There is high probability of patient contamination during the practice of anaesthesia due to rapid patient care combined with frequent contact with potential sources of bacterial transmission. HAIs are more common in countries with poor socioeconomic status where disposable or single use only items are re-used many times. Hospital acquired infections caused by various infectious organisms including ba cteria, virus, fungi and parasites, all of which flourish on suitable reservoirs, such as medical equipment. Precautions are recommended for all patients regardless of their diagnosis or presumed infectious status when there is a possibility of contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin and mucus membranes. Preventive measures should be based on the likelihood of an infectious agent being present, the nature of the agent and possibility of dispersion. A standard set of precautions should be established for every invasive procedure with additional risk assessment of each patient. FACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR CROSS INFECTION Intravascular catheter Stopcocks used for injection of medication, administration of intravenous (IV) infusions, and collection of blood samples represent a potential portal of entry for microorganism into vascular access catheters. Stopcocks should be capped when not being used. â€Å"Piggyback† systems (a side port on a primary infusion set) are used as an alternative to stopcocks but also have risk of infection. Modified piggyback systems have the potential to prevent contamination at these sites. Use of needleless connectors or mechanical valves appears to be effective in reducing connector colonization as compared with standard stopcocks. To reduce intravascular catheter related infection change needleless components of catheter at least every 72 hour, minimize leaks and breaks in the system, scrubbing the access port with an appropriate antiseptic and accessing the port only with sterile devices. Contamination of drugs Drugs and fluids need safe handling by anaesthesiologist and should follow protocols for preparation and administration to prevent contamination. Infusion setswith side port (preferably needle-free Luer injection devices)for drug administration and self-collapsible intravenous fluid bags, so no need of air venting which prevent entry of air born infectious particles into fluids. Connection and injection ports in intravenous lines should be kept least.Prepared syringes and needles should be kept in a clean sterile container and capped. Care must be taken when drawing drugs. Single used ampules should be discarded after required amount of drug is drawn up and not re-used for next patients. Syringes and needles must not be used for multiple patients once connected to a patient’s vascular lines or infusions. Injection port kept free of blood and covered with a cap when not in use. After use all syringes and needles should be discarded into an approved sharp container. Unsafe use and disposal of sharps Inadvertent injury or inoculation with infected blood is an occupational hazard and present a significant risk to anaesthesiologist. These are mainly caused by needles during venipuncture, drug administration and during recapping of needles. These should be prevented by adhering to guidelines and standards regarding this. Sharps must not be transferred between personnel and handling should be kept minimum. Needle must not be bent or broken prior to use or disposal. Movement within the theater complex Restricted movement in and out of operating theater reduces airborne contamination. Door should be closed and eatable items should not be allowed inside O.T complex. Patient’s dress should be changed before transferring to O.T complex. Visitors should change into theater suits and wear designated footwear. Order of patients Patients likely to disperse microbes and at risk to others should be scheduled last in the operating list. In between successive patients, transmissions of infection are airborne or on surfaces and object that have been contact with patients. Cleaning of the operating theater between all patients should be undertaken. When there is visible contamination with blood or others body materials, the area must be disinfected according to local protocols and then cleaned with detergent and water. Floors of the operating room should be disinfected at end of each session. Anesthetic equipment Either by direct contact with patients or indirectly via splashing, by secretion or from handling anaesthetics equipment may become contaminated. All used equipment’s or its parts must be assumed to be contaminated and disposed of or, if reusable, undergo a process of decontamination. Areas of anaesthetics machine and monitoring equipment which are touched by gloved hand that has been in contact with blood or secretion, should be regarded as contaminated and should be cleaned as early as possible. Equipment that touches intact skin or not touches the patient at all but visibly contaminated is cleaned at the end of day or whenever visibly contaminated. This includes non-invasive blood pressure cuffs and tubing, pulse oximeter probes and cables, stethoscopes, electrocardiographic cablesetc. Oxygen mask and tubing should be single-patient use products. If reused it must be cleaned and sterilized if possible or according to manufacturer’s instructions. Anaesthetic face masks are usually in contact with intact skin; these are frequently contaminated by secretions from patients and have been implicated in causing cross infection.[5]Airways and tubes readily contaminated with transmissible organism and blood and should be single-use type.[6, 7] Supra-glottic airways commonly used are re-usable design; therefore they should be sterilized but no more often than the manufacturer recommends. A supraglottic airway used for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy should not be used again (due to risk of Prion Disease). Laryngoscope blades are regularly contaminated with blood due to penetration of mucous membranes, which places these items into a high–risk category.[8] Decontamination and disinfection between patients are ineffective, leaving residual contamination that has been implicated as source of cross infection.[9, 10] So proper cleaning of laryngoscope blades is important before decontamination /sterilization particularly around light sources or articulated section. ForAnaesthetic machinesManufacturers cleaning and maintenance policesshould be followed, and bellows, unidirectional valves and carbon dioxide absorbers should be cleaned and disinfected periodically. Bacterial/viral filter is used between patient and circuit to prevent air born transmission of microorganism. Surfaces of anaesthesia machines should be cleaned on daily basis with an appropriate disinfectant.Anaesthesia breathing system actsas important reservoir for microorganism if used for longer period or used without filter. It is recommended that an appropriate filter should be placed between the patient and breathing system for each new patient. It is claimed that hydrophobic filters have better performance than most electrostatic filters, the clinical relevance yet to be established. [11, 12] Departments may follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use but if visibly contaminated or used for highly infectious case, the circuit should be changed between patients and safely discarded. Bougies re-use has been associated with cross infection.[13]Gum elastic bougie may be disinfected up to five times or according to manufacturer recommendation and stored in a sealed packet. Preferably single-use intubation aids are employed when possible. INFECTIOUS COMPLICATION OF REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA Infectious complication of regional anaesthesia includes abscess formation, necrotizing fasciitis, meningitis, arachnoiditis which can lead to paralysis and death. The rate of spinal- epidural abscess or meningitis occurrence has been reported to be 1:10000 to 1:40000.[14, 15]Potential routes might be contaminated syringes, catheter hubs, local anaesthetics or breaches in aseptic technique.The suggested mechanism of hematogenous infection of central nervous system caused by subarachnoid or epidural puncture might be an accidental vessel puncture lead to introduction of blood into the intrathecal space. Staphylococcus aureus is the organism most commonly associated epidural abscess and often this infection occurred in patient with impaired immunity. Meningitis follows dural puncture is typically caused by alpha-hemolytic streptococci, with the source of organism the nasopharynx of the anaesthesiologist. [14] WHAT IS THENEED? Anesthesiologist’s are insensitive regarding prevention of infection in anaesthesia atmosphere in many institution of our country. Excessive movement in Operation Theater complex, drug bags or edible items in operative room and poor compliance with cap and mask by anaesthesiologist are also contributing factors. Equipment’s are used repeatedly without cleaning/sterilization e.g. Face mask, ventilator circuit, bougie, tubes etc. Stress should be given on preventive medicine in medical and nursing curriculum. Irrespective of specialty infection prevention should be a part of the teaching curriculum. Hospital must dedicate time to re-educating and re-training their staff in infection prevention. Various studies shows that, in spite of increase in knowledge scores regarding infection prevention, doctors were least compliant of the HCW in infection control practices. [16, 17] Early detection with surveillance and screening are the important step in the prevention of hospital acquired infections. Prevention of cross infection is by isolating the affected patients, educating the public/ healthcare professionals, appropriate use of antibiotics, meticuloushand hygiene and appropriate cleaning and decontamination of the environment and medical equipment Three main techniques are important to prevent infection transmission from provider to the patients. These include aseptic practice, proper hand hygiene, and appropriate barrier techniques are recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. References Madar R, Novakova E, Baska T. The role of non-critical health-care tools on the transmission of nosocomial infection. Bratisl Lek Listy 2005;106:348-50. Maslyk PA, Nafziger DA, Burns SM, Bowers PR. Microbial growth on anaesthesia machine. AANA J 2002; 70:53-6. Lessard MR, Trepanier CA, Gourdeau M, Denault PH. A microbiological study of contamination of the syringes used in anaesthesia practice. Can J Anaesth 1988;35:567-9. Hajjar J, Girard R. Surveillance of nosocomial infections related to anaesthesia. A multicenter study. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2000,19:47-53 MacCallum FO, Noble WC. Disinfection of anaesthetic face masks. Anaesthesia 1960; 15: 307. Miller DH, Youkhana I, KarunaratneWU,Pearce A. Presence of protein deposits on cleaned re-usable anaesthetic equipment. Anaesthesia 2001; 56: 1069–72. Chrisco JA, Devane G. A descriptive study of blood in the mouth following routine oral endotracheal intubation. Journal of American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 1992;60:379-83. Phillips RA, Monaghan WP. Incidence of visible and occult blood on laryngoscope blades and handles. Journal of American Association of Nurse Anesthetists 1997;65:241-6. Ballin MS, McCluskey A, Maxwell S, Spilsbury S. Contamination of laryngoscopes. Anaesthesia 1999;54:1115-6. Esler MD, Baines LC, Wilkinson DJ, Langford RM. Decontamination of laryngoscopes: a survey of national practice. Anaesthesia 1999;54:587-92. Wilkes AR. Breathing system filters. British Journal of Anaesthesia. CEPD Review. 2002;2:151-4. Wilkes AR, Benbough JE, Speight SE, Harmer M. The bacterial and viral filtration performance of breathing system filters. Anaesthesia 2002;55:458-65. 33- Jerwood DC, Mortiboy D. Disinfection of gum elastic bougies. Anaesthesia 1995;50:376. Horlocker T T, Wedel D J. Infectious complication of regional anaesthesia. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2008;22:451-75. Moen V, Dahlgren N, Irestedt L. Severe neurological complications after central neuraxial blocksdes in Sweden 1990-1999.Anaesthesiology 2004;101:950-9. Gupta A, Kapil A, Lodha R, Sreenivas V. Knowledge, attitude and practice towards infection control among healthcare professionals. Nat Med J India 2013;19:76-81. Suchitra JB, Lakshmi Devi N. Impact of education on knowledge, attitudes and practices among various categories of health care workers on nosocomial infections. Indian J Med Microbiol 2007;25:181-7

Issues and Challenges of Micro Finance in India

Issues and Challenges of Micro Finance in India Micro-finance refers to small savings, credit and insurance services extended to socially and economically disadvantaged segments of society. Indian context terms like Small and Marginal Farmers, Economically weaker sections have been used to broadly define micro-finance customer. Large part of micro finance activities is confined to credit. Large size and population of around 1000 million, Indias GDP ranks among top 15 economies of world.Around300 million people or about 60 million households are living below the poverty line. Group of micro finance practitioners estimated the annualize credit usages of all poor families about Rs45000crores of which some 80 percent is met by informal sources. Credit on reasonable terms to poor can bring a significant reduction in poverty. About 60 million households below or just above the austerely defined poverty line and with more than 80 percent unable to access credit at reasonable rate. There are certain issues and problems which have prevented reach of microfinance to needy. MICRO FINANCE AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION: Micro finance institution have expanded frontiers of institutional finance and have brought the poor, especially poor women into formal finance system and enabled them to access credit and fight poverty. Some significant strides have made in upscalling the large quantities of microfinance, observed that microfinance had an asymmetric growth across country with diverse rate of interest being charge to member which are area of concern. The lack of access to credit for the poor is attributable to practical difficulties arising from the discrepancy between the mode of operation followed by financial institution and the economic characteristics and financing needs of low-income household. The income of many self-employed households is not stable, regardless of it size. Large numbers of small loans are needed to serve the poor, but lenders prefer dealing with large loans in small numbers to minimize administration costs. They also look collateral with a clear title which many low-income households do not have. To the extent that Microfinance Institution becomes financially viable, self sustaining and integral to the communities in which they operate, they have the potential to attract more resources and expand services to clients. Despite the success of microfinance institutions only about 2% of worlds roughly 500 million small entrepreneurs is estimated to have access to financial services. Microfinance institution can broaden their resource base by mobilizing savings, accessing capital markets, loan funds and effective institutional development support. Saving facilities to tap small saving in a flexible manner. Microfinance institution are engaged in deposit taking in order to mobilize household saving, they became financial intermediaries. Consequently financial regulations become necessary to ensure the solvency and financial soundness of institution and to protect the depositors. Excessive regulations that do not consider the nature of microfinance institution and their operation can hamper their viability. In view of small loan size, microfinance institution should be subjected to minimum capital requirement which is lower than the applicable to commercial banks. More stringent capital adequacy rate should be maintained because microfinance institution provide uncollateralized loan. Microfinance institution could also serve as intermediaries between borrowers and formal financial sector and on lend funds backed by public sector guarantee. Business like NGOs can offer commercial banks ways of funding micro entrepreneur at low cost and risk. There are many on-going researches on this line but context specific research is needed to identify the meet appropriate model. FORMAL AND INFORMAL SECTOR IN INDIA FORMAL SECTOR INSTITUTIONS: The formal sector banking institution in India have been serving only the needs of commercial sector and providing loans for middle and upper income groups. For housing the HFIs primarily because of the perceived risk of lending to this sector . Risks generally perceived by formal sector Financial Institution are credit risk, High transaction and services cost, Irregular flow of income due to seasonality, Lack of tangible proof of assessment of income, Absence of land tenure of financing housing. Formal Financial Institution are concerned are Commercial Banks, Housing Finance Institution(HFI),NABARD, Rural Development Banks(RDB),Land Development Banks and Cooperative Banks(CBs). The government has taken several initiatives to strengthen the institution rural credit system. The rural branch network of commercial banks have been expanded and certain policy prescriptions imposed, in order to ensure great flow of credit to agriculture and other preferred sectors. The commercial banks are required to ensure that 40% of total credit is provided to priority sectors out of which 18% in the form of direct finance to agriculture and 25% to priority sector in favor of weaker sections besides maintaining a credit deposit ratio of 60% in rural and semi urban branches. Further IRDP introduction in 1979 ensure supply of credit and subsidies to weaker section beneficiaries. INFORMAL FINANCIAL SOURCES: Informal financial sources generally include funds available from family sources or local money lender. Local money lenders charge exorbitant rates, generally ranging from 36% to 60% interest due to their monopoly in the absences of any other source of credit for non-conventional needs. NGOs engaged in activities related to community mobilization for their socio-economic development have initiated saving and credit program for their target groups. Community based financial system (CBFS) can be categorized into two models. Group base financial intermediary and NGO linked financial intermediary. NGOs like SHARAN in Delhi, FEDERATION of THRIFT AND CREDIT ASSOCIATION (FICA) or SPARC have adopted first model where they initiate groups and provide necessary management support.SEWA pertain to second model. Experience of these informal intermediaries shows that although saving of group members, small in nature do not attract high returns, it is skill practiced due to security reasons. Most of loans are unsecured. Personal or group guarantees or other collaterals like jewellery is offered as security. There are some agencies which provide bulk funds to system through NGO. Organization engaged in micro finance activities in India may be categorized as wholesaler, NGOs supporting SHG and NGOs directly retailing credit borrowers or group of borrower. Wholesalers will includes agencies like NABARD, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, New Delhi and Womens world Banking,ASA in Trichy, RDO Layalam Bank in Manipur. TARGETING PROGRAMMES FOR LOW INCOME GROUPS: GRAMEEN BANK IN BANGLADESH: Grameen Bank lending system is simple but effective. To obtain loans, potential borrowers must form a group of five; gather once a week for loan repayment meetings and to start with learn the bond rules and 16 Decision, which they chant at start of their weekly session. There decision incorporate code of conduct that members are encourage to follow in their daily life, e.g.: production of fruits and vegetables in kitchen gardens, investment of improvement of housing and education for children, safe drinking water for health,etc.For this physical training are held at meeting. Key-unit in credit program is first necessary step to receive credit. Initially loans are providing to individuals in group, there were under pressure from other members to repay the loan. Credibility of group members and benefits in term of new loan will be stopped if any one default to repay and the group members are fined or expelled a member if they fail to attend the meeting. FINANCIAL MODELING SELF-HELP GROUPS: SHG-MGI System: Typical SHG consist of 12 or 30 member. It is not only saving and loan association but serves as affinity group that provides platform for issues. SHG is system raises funds from individual and also from MCI. MCI arise fund from three sources: Capital, SHG saving and borrowing from outside and MCI have regulatory restriction on assets, liabilities and interest rates. Some of the principles underlying that were issued to implementing: SHG use almost 60% for lending to their members and rest for depositing. Joint liability of members is to serves as substitute for physical collateral and saving are to come first. Interest rates on saving and credit for members are market rates to determine locally by participating institutions. All NGOs and SHGs will charge an interest margin to cover their costs. SHGs may levy an extra charge to interest rate of internal fund generation which will force saving. MECHANISMS FOR CREDIT FUNDING LOW INCOME GROUP BENEFICIARIES BY HDFC . HDFC making sub-stained efforts to reach the lower income groups of society, especially the weaker section, thus enabling them to realize their dreams of possessing own house. HDFCs response to need for housing and living environment for poor both in rural and urban sectors materialized in collaboration with German Development Bank. It also ensures newly constructed houses are within the affordability of beneficiaries and promotes the usage of innovative low cost technologies and locally available material for constructing house. Purpose of implementation of low cost having projects, HDFC collaborate with Government and Non-Government. Security for loan is mortgage of property being financed. Construction work is regularly monitored by coordinating agencies and HDFC. The loan is disbursed depending upon the stages of construction. Microfinance operation experience poor repay their loans, saving and loan facilities. It also contribution to solving problem of inadequate housing. It has hot to contribute to this by building financial discipline and educating borrower about repayment requirements. CHALLENGES OF MICROFINANCE: The importance of microfinance in the process of poverty eradication is realized, it faces multiple problems. Offering financial services to poor individual and in itself leads to various challenges. Challenges are divided into challenges faced by Micro Entrepreneurs and challenges faced by Microfinance Providers. Challenges Faced by Micro Entrepreneurs: Inability to offer marketable collateral for loans: They are either small businesses or poor individual who have few assets and low income. These clients have cannot offer any collateral for loans. Due to this microfinance providers may raise their interest rate or turn down hundreds of application. Poor institutional viability of micro enterprises. Business ideas with a lack of consideration of demand and cost render the micro venture unsustainable and microfinance may incorrectly get blame for it. For instance, In the case of micro crop farming farmer often fail to account for their personal consumption between the sowing and harvesting periods and realize they face shortage of more. Due to this they often end up using the micro loan for personal matter and problem arises when its time to pay back the loan, farmer are forced to take another loan. Knowledge regarding sources of microfinance is lack. Many micro entrepreneurs live in remote villages, so they have no access to microfinance service offered by MFIs. Misallocation or shortage of finance. Lack of fund, which can solve if MFIs build up their capital base by accessing various sources of funds without fund micro ventures, cannot grow. Inability to exploit growth opportunities. Shortage of finance is a contributor to this problem, because lack of access to funds means micro entrepreneurs cannot inject money into their business to grow. They may have little information pertaining to their market such as customer needs and competitor strengths and weakness, this may result May critics. Lack of organizational resources and governance. They may have limited skill, qualification and exposure to handling business. They need to be trained through capacity building initiative by MFIs; many micro entrepreneurs may not grow because of this problem. Low bargaining power. Micro entrepreneurs operates in competitive markets, their individual bargaining power is diminished. There still isnt any respite because micro entrepreneurs deal with MFIs on individual basis, which also erode their bargaining power. Most problems faced by micro entrepreneurs are caused by small size, improper skill, and location. When venture secures loan and begins to grow these problems will eventually. Challenges faced by microfinance providers. The importance of microfinance in the process of process of poverty eradication is realized, it faces multiple problems. The challenges faced by microfinance providers are High risk of micro entrepreneurship and small business. Micro entrepreneur usually no collateral to offer microfinance providers, no alternate source of income. Micro entrepreneurs are considered high risk ventures and micro finance providers are forced to compensate for this by changing interest rate. High costs for Micro Lending. Small micro enterprises increase the transaction cost for MFIs, because they cannot process micro loan in bulk. In study conducted by Asian Development Bank, Microfinance providers change interest rate ranging from 30 to 70% per year. Fund shortage. There are plenty of financial options available for MFIs there is an emerging shortage of money. This is due to lack of awareness of funding source by MFI managers. Difficulty in measuring the social performance of MFIs. Micro finance is delivering the economic returns its proponents promised but there are only a handful of tools available that measure the social return of microfinance. Mixing of charity with business. If microfinance providers fail to protect themselves against loan delinquency, they will in effect, prioritize social at expenses of financial sustainability. Improper delinquency management is result of inadequate implementation of corporate governance principle. As result loses control over microfinance deals will lead to higher default rates. Lack of solution for poor. Targeting of poor households by microfinance programs is common problem because MFIs fail to understand the various needs of micro entrepreneurs. MFI must spend time to develop microfinance tools for each micro entrepreneur. Lack of microfinance training for MFIs. Micro finance sector is different when compare to traditional financial sector, microfinance providers need special training to ensure they avoid problem such as under-serving clients. Poor distribution system of MFIs and lack of information about microfinance investment opportunities. CONCLUSION: All these problems can broadly fall into either financial or operational in nature, they should not be impossible to solve as microfinance sector move towards its optimal performance level in next several years. Microfinance can contribute to solving the problem of inadequate housing and urban service as an integral part of poverty alleviation programs. Microfinance institutions have a lot of contribution to this by building financial discipline and educating borrowers about repayment requirements. Micro Finance have more opportunity if the state Reduced direct involvement, increased outlays, Structuring of outlays and finding right outlets, Creating incentives and regulatory environment for implementation.