Market Entry and Concentration Ratios, Impacts of Keystone Holdings Free Essay Example, 3000 words

Advanced Ceramics Business has facilities in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. As originally structured, the assets acquired by Keystone would have included the Latrobe facility and other assets relating to the manufacture and sale of alumina wear tiles. On December 2, 2010, however, in an effort to resolve competitive concerns relating to the original transaction, Keystone and Saint-Gobain amended their agreement to exclude from the sale Saint-Gobain's North American alumina wear tile business. Advanced ceramics is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain and the parent company is present in almost 64 countries. Advanced ceramics' sales revenue differs largely from country to country but the main source is North America with around 1 billion dollars (Ceramics and plastics). Its revenue in 2009 was 153.3 million in the Check Republic and 8.7 million euro in central and northern Europe (2009). Saint Gobain s net sales figures are 37,786 euros in 2009 and 43800 euros in 2008. The company earns 42% of the income from North America. The easiness with which a new firm can enter into an existing industry determines the structure of the market. In oligopoly markets, it is very difficult for new firms to enter and compete with existing firms. We will write a custom essay sample on Market Entry and Concentration Ratios, Impacts of Keystone Holdings or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page The size of the investment necessary to enter the market is substantial in relation to the size of the overall markets. In addition, the uncertainty that an entrant could secure the distribution necessary to make the investment profitable is highly unlikely.

The Economics Of Happiness Is An Indicator Of Economic...

For centuries, economists have deliberated on the most effective ways to promote growth, to increase employment, to boost consumption and to eliminate poverty, but where does this all lead? Surely these are all means to an end? Today, some economists may define the end as happiness. This essay will explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of using happiness as an indicator of economic success, analyze how it can be measured and examine the current theories on whether happiness can cause economic growth, or vice versa. Whilst economic growth first and foremost implies an increase in GDP per capita, increasing happiness can be attributed to many different determinants such as health, education, stability and inequality. Therefore, the economics of happiness is a multi-layered and rather subjective area that divides economists when asked whether happiness can cause economic growth. To begin with, Stevenson and Wolfers (2008) propose that as countries grow richer, their citizens report higher levels of satisfaction. This is achieved not only through higher income per capita levels, but through the expected byproducts of an improving economy such as increases in levels of education, access to healthcare, opportunities for employment and equality. Non-income determinants can be weighted against GDP levels to assess whether economic growth does impact happiness. For example, using the Corruptions Perceptions Index it was found that Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the poorestShow MoreRelatedEvaluation Of The Alternative Of Economic Progress1397 Words   |  6 PagesMeasuring of Economic Progress Measuring the success of a country in modern society is very important as it influences future decisions made to improve economy. The main indicator used to measure a country’s success is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP represents the total dollar value of all goods and services produced, usually annually. Just like all indicators, GDP has several limitations and may not be the best-suited indicator for sustainable success. In calculating a country’s success, GDP onlyRead MoreEconomic Growth And Its Effect On Society1737 Words   |  7 Pagesthing as economic growth to the general public. This all changed when two different events occurred that greatly impacted the course of history. The first of these being the British industrial revolution in 1750, and then the more prominent American industrial revolution in 1870. Acting like a catalyst, these two events created a boom of economic growth unlike anything the world had ever seen. As certain nations have contin ued to expand, an important question that arises is, is economic growth beneficialRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book  ¬ About The Author 2036 Words   |  9 Pagespioneered natural capital accounting in Canada and alternative measures of economic progress, including the US Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) and the Alberta GPI Sustainable Well-being measurement system. Economics of Happiness: Building Genuine Wealth All of us have common interest for happiness and love. We all have our own destiny on how to discover it in our lives. In this book, we will know the factors of happiness and our conditions of well- being- our genuine wealth. It will answer someRead MoreMisconceptions Of The American Dream1190 Words   |  5 Pagesor achievement.† Over the past century, people have been striving to achieve the rich and prosperous life that Truslow refers to in hopes that they find happiness. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. While wealth is often equated with happiness and security; however, The Great Gatsby and Into the Wild illustrate that searching for happiness through the acquisition of material wealth is chasing an illusion, because amorality and corruption often follow wealth. Jay Gatsby, Chris McCandless, andRead MoreAnalyze Globalizations Impact on Singapores Development.1746 Words   |  7 Pageshealthy life in a safe environment.† These are the wise words of Kofi An nan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Thus, there are a set of tangible criteria to help determine the development of a country, of which economic criteria tend to dominate, with indicators such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as other social and security needs of the people, with the recent Human Development Index (HDI) which measures overall well-being of the people. So, with the recent phenomenonRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And America s Tragedy1502 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby and America’s Tragedy The 1920’s resemble an epoch of the most significant economic prosperity that the Western world has ever seen. The Roaring Twenties, or the Jazz Age, was a period of immense change for all people after The Great War. Women could vote, cars and telephones were immensely popular, jazz music peaked, and airplanes became widely used, all things never before witnessed in world history. In the heat of this era, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby emerged, highlightingRead MoreThe United Nations And The Oecd Agree894 Words   |  4 Pagesthe individual citizens. A country’s overall wellbeing is not strictly based off of our economic wellbeing, in fact the wellbeing of your nation depends on the people who create that nation. In this essay I intend to argue that the Canadian Index of Wellbeing and Gross Domestic Product are best used together, then separate when trying to measure the overall wellbeing of a country. A large part of the success comes from the citizens and their engagement with their environment and society. One of theRead MoreEmployee Engagement Is The Buzzword818 Words   |  4 PagesEmployee engagement is the buzzword in any organization. Several articles and studies have highlighted on how to measure and manage engagement. This is an essential area in an organization to draw on because it translates into an organizational success. However, engagement is two-way process: organizations must bring about a design to engage the employee, who in turn has a choice about the level of engagement to offer the employer. Each reinforces the other. An engaged employee comes across a mixRead More Striving for Authentic Happiness Essays1396 Words   |  6 Pagesopportunities to do whatever they want. Because of the choices, people seem to be happier to make their own choices. However, Martin E.P. Seligman, the author of Authentic Happiness, would argue that they are not happy because that kind of happiness does not last long. In his book, Seligman explains that there are two kinds of happiness, pleasure and gratification. He says, â€Å"[t]he pleasures are delights that have clear sensory and strong emotional components, what philosophers call â€Å"raw feels†: ecstasyRead MoreWilkinson Picketts Spirit Level Book Essays1401 Words   |  6 Pagesby them in 2010, is one of the most influential books on social policy to date and it argues that not only does inequality affect the ones down the bottom of the ladder but everyone across the board. Affluent countries perform better when social indicators are more equal across society. This essay will assess the validity of Wilkinson Pickett’s conclusions by comparing the works of authors that support similar arguments, to the work of authors who disagree with them. A comparison of these different

Legal and Ethical Framework Issue

Question: Discuss about the Legal and Ethical Framework Issue. Answer: Introduction: There are number of workers and organizations which are related to many fields, and they are operating their work in some boundaries which includes legal and ethical framework. In other words, all industries work under some applicable laws and ethical standards. In Australia, there is an organization which is working for disable peoples and it is known as National Disability Services. National Disability Services NDS is the peak body in Australia which deals with the non government organizations providing disability service. This body represents almost 1100 organizations which provide services in disability sector (NDS, n.d.). Ethical issue in disability industry and its Impact on client: Workers in community and disability sector are regularly working under legal and political environment, but maximum time problems faced by them is ethical rather than legal or political. It is important to understand the ethical issues in disability sector. Ethical standards mean set of principles and values through which actions of individuals and organizations are judged as right and wrong. All workers perform their duties with their own values and principles, and it is necessary that they must be aware about these values because they deal with ethical issues on daily basis (Community door, n.d.). This paper examines the ethical dilemma which is faced by workers of disability industry and that is protection of clients rights. The main task of disability services workers is to provide support to clients and ensure that their rights are protected. Many rights of clients are protected by law but there are some rights which get protection through the philosophy and policies of the organization. It is the duty of worker of disability service sector to protect the rights of client which are related to confidentiality and consultancy, and they also owe duty of care towards their client. The main aspect of this duty of care involves the protection against abuse and also reports the suspected abuse to appropriate authority. This protection also includes understanding of role and responsibility of legal guardians (Community door, n.d.). Disability service workers deal with the sensitive information of the client on regular basis which are communicated to them in confidence and trust. In relation to service provision confidentiality is the most important prospect because it safeguards the privacy of client and also develops trust between client and service provider. Confidentiality means workers are not allowed to disclose the information of client which is provided to them by the client. There are number of organizations which are engaged in disability industry, and these organizations set up various policies and procedures to deal with the issue of confidentiality. This issue is an integral part of organization policy and it is considered at both ethical as well as legal level also. Different legislations are framed at legal level such as The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, The National Standards for Disability Services, The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and The Australian Privacy Pr inciples (Community door,n.d.). Impact on client- As stated above client and workers share relation of trust, and all the information provided by client to service workers is provided in confidence. It is the duty of service worker to protect the rights of client related to privacy and confidentiality. Information provided by client is confidential in nature and provided by client under confidence. In case any information which is confidential and disclosed by worker can become threat for client mentally and physically. Any disclosure of such information cause harmful effect on client. Such disclosure not only effect the client only but it also effect the reputation of organization and create legal consequences for organization. Therefore, it is necessary that organization frame policies for the protection of right of client (Community door, n.d.). Alternatives to solve this issue and most preferred alternative: Following are some alternatives which can be used by organization to deal with this ethical issue: Social workers must ensure that they do not discuss the information of client with their friends and relatives, and they also ensure that material kept in files only contain information about the services provided to clients or any factor which may affect the delivery of services and no other information. Confidential documents must be kept at safe place and not available for public access such as keep the confidential documents in locked bag or case. Information related to client must not disclose to nay relative or neighbor of the client who may contact with the organization to find out whether client is taking the service or not. Information must not be disclosed with other agencies which are not in connection with client, and must ensure that names and other personal details of clients should not be revealed in public forums such as meetings, conferences (DSS, n.d.). Organization must frame strict policies and procedures to deal with this issue. Most preferred alternative: the most preferred alternative is strict framework made by organizations for the purpose of dealing with issue of confidentiality. It is necessary that organizations framed strict provisions for those who breach the trust of client and disclose the information to other people. Policies and procedures framed by organizations must be prepared by experts so that there is no chance of any loopholes (Robbinson, 2007). Recommendations: In this paper we recommend that this ethical issue must be considered on serious note by organizations and other authorities because it can cause serious threat on client and reputation of organization. Disable people are already discriminated by the society and in case any confidential information related to them is disclosed than it might be possible that other person to whom information is revealed used that information against disable people. Organizations must frame such rules and penalties for workers and other individuals who have access to such information, so that they think twice before disclosing such information (AHRC, n.d.). Conclusion: At last we conclude, there is fiduciary relationship between client and organization, and all information disclosed by disable person to service provider is disclosed under confidence. In case any information is disclosed by service provider then it is considered as breach of trust, and organizations must frame policies and procedures to deal with this issue. This issue is not only ethical issue but it is considered at legal level also. Service providers also own duty of care towards client, and it is their prime duty that they protect the right of client. Therefore, it is necessary that service provider in disability industry ensures that they does not violate the right of confidentiality of client. References: NDS. About NDS. Available at: https://www.nds.org.au/about. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. Community door. Work within a legal and ethical framework. Available at: https://etraining.communitydoor.org.au/course/view.php?id=3. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. Community door. Work within a legal and ethical framework. Available at: https://etraining.communitydoor.org.au/mod/page/view.php?id=55. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. Community door. Work within a legal and ethical framework. Available at: https://etraining.communitydoor.org.au/mod/page/view.php?id=67. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. Community door. Respond holistically to client issues. Available at: https://etraining.communitydoor.org.au/mod/page/view.php?id=156. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. DSS. National Standards for Disability Services. Available at: https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/12_2013/nsds_web.pdf. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. AHRC. Topic 8: Legal and ethical considerations of service delivery. Available at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/VET%20Disability%20Unit%20Trainers%20Manual%20-%20Topic%208.pdf. Accessed on 2nd March 2017. Robinson, D. (2007). Managing Ethical Dilemmas in Non-Profit Organizations. Available at: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.925.560rep=rep1type=pdf. Accessed on 2nd March 2017.

Pirates of Globalization An overview of Intellectual Property Rights Essay Example

Pirates of Globalization: An overview of Intellectual Property Rights Essay Intellectual property theft is one of the major concerns for global business leaders. In an era of globalization and fast dissemination of information, fraudulent manufacturers employ sophisticated means of acquiring patented information and exploit it for commercial gain. As Catherine Holahan notes in her article for Business Week, pirated goods now account for nearly 7 percent of all commercial activity across the world. Developing economies such as India, China, Brazil and Russia are proving to be hotbeds for this trend as Intellectual Property laws are either vague or poorly developed here. Moreover, in the era of the Internet, online commercial transactions across borders are especially difficult to bring under the purview of cyber law, as there is no consensus between different participant nations. It is due to this reason that Digital Rights Management (DRM) has been conceived and implemented. (Holahan, 2008) The rest of this essay will look into some of the mechanisms fo r protecting Inellectual Property rights, especially that of DRM. In this era of globalization, intellectual property rights face their greatest threat through the open and free transmission of information in the cyber world. The case for enterprise DRM is synonymous with the case for a well-articulated, role-based technology and data protection policy. DRM simply moves the point of data security from that of the network hardware or the computer software down to the individual document, or even right down to document-based operations (Compton, 2005). Simon Halberstam, a noted expert on the subject gives an interesting insight: â€Å"Legal protections for digital IP theft have been generally strengthened in the UK and in major jurisdictions such as the EU and US, but a lack of synchronization between them and dubious enforceability in many other markets, keeps companies looking for more proactive protections. It’s difficult to impose UK laws on someone operating in Eastern Europe or China. In other words, if you want people to respect your rights, you need technological means of achieving it† (Compton, 2005). We will write a custom essay sample on Pirates of Globalization: An overview of Intellectual Property Rights specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Pirates of Globalization: An overview of Intellectual Property Rights specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Pirates of Globalization: An overview of Intellectual Property Rights specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As the current enforcement environment is full of loop holes, it becomes easy to pirate intellectual property. But the flaws inherent in the system, which is largely as a result of Information Technology industry’s lack of foresight and rigorous testing of the new business model, has been drawing concerns from commentators right from its inception. Since most business transactions take place with the aid of the Internet in the globalized era, the initiation of DRM is of special importance. The Digital Rights Management (DRM) initiative is an industry wide agreement on a robust and fool-proof data security technology. The necessity for such a sophisticated technology is the rapid growth in online commerce, especially the businesses related to entertainment. This includes downloadable movies, music albums, electronic books, etc. A very successful application of DRM technology is seen in Apple’s iTunes service. Music offered for purchase is encrypted and the unlocking the encryption is only possible by a â€Å"compatible player with the correct password† (O’Brien, 2004). For example, when a new song is bought, the buyer is required to send the unique code of his music player to the iTunes technical department. After this, the iTunes manufacturing unit encrypts the music file based on the customer’s unique music player code. This way, the file could not be opened by any other player than that of the customer’s (O’Brien, 2004). The Digital Rights Management technology was hailed as an ingenious and fool-proof method of protecting intellectual property rights when it was first proposed to online music companies. But, its practical success did not seem to match the high expectations that it created initially. What could be the reasons? Well, while there are a myriad of factors contributing toward this result, one significant one is the inadequate domain knowledge of people in the music manufacturing industry. In a world that is becoming ever smaller, specialization in one skill and ignorance in allied areas will no longer work. For example, the Information Technology gurus of music manufacturing industry are proficient in fitting high volume, high quality data in the most convenient of mediums at the cheapest of prices. But unless a broader understanding of the context of the business in terms of its legal, economic and social aspects is paid heed to, success will be difficult to achieve. Let us look a t the reasons why this is the case. The following is a classic example of creative application of technology but poor commercial results. For example, if a customer buys a film DVD from an online shop, he/she could be charged for each view of the film in a video player that does not correspond to the encryption code. While this restricts customers from benefiting from someone else’s purchase, it turned out to be a bad public relations exercise. Circulating DVDs among friends is a popular way of maintaining social contact and exchange of information. But, the fact that the customer could never really â€Å"own† the DVD unless he views it with his own player can be very offensive to the customer. Secondly, reselling is a longstanding tradition associated with all retail content – be it entertainment or information. The DRM makes it impossible for second-hand sale of the content it offers, irking the customers again. This case of failure to protect intellectual property is due to a lack of unde rstanding on part of the manufacturers (basically Information Technology professionals) about the social aspects of digital data consumption (O’Brien, 2004). A review of the scholarly literature on the subject lays open to the reader layer upon layer of poor perspective on part of Information Technology professionals. Let us leave alone all the other negative implications of the DRM systems in place presently. The least we can expect from DRM is a little progress toward curbing digital piracy in general and music piracy in particular. But DRM has failed to achieve its bottom-line in even the most liberal of evaluations. All DRM implementations ranging from Apple’s FairPlay to Advanced Access Content System employed for HD DVD versions have been circumvented by the resourceful. All entertainment content – be it music or movies – could be tapped off air. In other words, one need not hold a doctorate in electronic communication to record/copy protected content as it is playing. It is hard to believe, but nevertheless a fact, that the best brains of the Information Technology industry could not fathom this, let alo ne trying to address it (Goodman, 2007).

Artificial Selection in Plants

Artificial Selection in Plants In the 1800s, Charles Darwin, with some help from Alfred Russel Wallace, first came up with his Theory of Evolution. In this theory, for the first time that had been published, Darwin proposed an actual mechanism for how species changed over time. He called this idea natural selection. What Is Natural Selection? Basically, natural selection means individuals with the favorable adaptations for their environments would survive long enough to reproduce and pass down those desirable traits to their offspring. Eventually, the unfavorable characteristics would no longer exist after many generations and only the new, favorable adaptation would survive in the gene pool. This process, Darwin hypothesized, would take very long periods of time and several generations of offspring in nature. When Darwin returned from his voyage on the HMS Beagle where he first developed his theory, he wanted to test his new hypothesis and turned to artificial selection to gather that data. Artificial selection is very similar to natural selection since its aim is to accumulate favorable adaptations to create a more desirable species. However, instead of letting nature take its course, evolution is helped along by humans who choose the traits that are desirable and breed individuals possessing those characteristics to create offspring that have those traits. Experiments With Artificial Selection Charles Darwin worked with breeding birds and could artificially select various characteristics such as beak size and shape and color. He showed that he could change the visible features of the birds to show certain traits, much like natural selection would do over many generations in the wild. Artificial selection does not only work with animals, however. There is also a great demand for artificial selection in plants in the present time. Perhaps the most famous artificial selection of plants in biology is the origin of Genetics when Austrian monk Gregor Mendel bred pea plants in his monastery’s garden to collect all of the data that began the entire field of Genetics. Mendel was able to cross-pollinate the pea plants or let them self-pollinate depending on what traits he wished to see in the offspring generation. By doing an artificial selection of his pea plants, he was able to figure out many of the laws that govern the genetics of sexually reproducing organisms. For centuries, humans have been using artificial selection to manipulate the phenotypes of plants. Most of the time, these manipulations are meant to produce some sort of aesthetic change in the plant that is pleasing to look at for their tastes. For instance, flower color is a large portion of artificially selecting for the plant’s traits. Brides planning their wedding day have a special color scheme in mind, and flowers that match that scheme are important to bringing their imagination to life. Florists and flower producers can use artificial selection to create blends of colors, different color patterns, and even leaf coloring patterns on their stems to get the desired results. Benefits of Artificial Selection in Plants Around Christmas time, poinsettia plants are popular decorations. The colors of poinsettias can range from a deep red or burgundy to a more traditional bright red for Christmas, to white, or a mixture of any of those. The colored part of the poinsettia is actually a leaf and not a flower, but artificial selection is still used to get the desired color for any given plant. Artificial selection in plants is not just for pleasing colors, however. Over the last century, artificial selection has been used to create new hybrids of crops and fruit. For instance, corn can be bred to be larger and thicker in the cobs to increase grain yield from a single plant. Other notable crosses include broccoflower (a cross between broccoli and cauliflower) and a tangelo (the hybrid of a tangerine and a grapefruit). The new crosses create a distinctive flavor of the vegetable or fruit that combines properties of their parents.

Synonyms for Because - Proofread My Papers Academic Blog

Synonyms for Because - Proofread My Papers Academic Blog Synonyms for Because The word because is used to join two ideas and express cause and effect: The lemonade fizzed because we shook the bottle. However, if you find yourself overusing the word because, there are alternatives available. Were going to look at some here. Alternatives to Because Instead of because, you could use any of the following terms (although this may depend on the context). Consider using Since/As Used as conjunctions, these are the simplest alternatives to because. They often work as substitutes without having to change the rest of the sentence: The lemonade fizzed, since we shook the bottle. The lemonade fizzed, as we shook the bottle. Due To/On Account Of/As a Result Of These alternatives all require changing the sentence slightly. Here, for example, we need to use the term shaking rather than shook: The lemonade fizzed due to shaking the bottle. The lemonade fizzed on account of shaking the bottle. The lemonade fizzed as a result of shaking the bottle. Which Meant/Which Caused In these phrases, the sentence must be reversed, with the cause coming first: We shook the bottle, which meant that the lemonade fizzed. We shook the bottle, which made the lemonade fizz. In this version, we need to swap fizzed for the infinitive to fizz. We shook the bottle, which caused the lemonade to fizz. Using some of these alternatives will be a great way to show off your vocabulary. They will also vary the rhythm of your text and engage the reader much more, enhancing readability. Why Not to Use the Word Because Using a word repeatedly in a paper can make you seem unimaginative. It could also make your work dull to read. If you need help finding other words to use, or if you are not sure that you have used these words correctly, simply upload your document to be proofread within 24 hours!

The Opposite of Freedom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Opposite of Freedom - Essay Example There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in a brief moment of illumination. (Story 2) For her, freedom was only possible in the death of her husband, not in his life. She was not sad at his dying, because it meant that she would finally be able to make her own decisions, finally able to live her own life. Yet the story can not end there. The reader is told early in the story that Louise has a weak heart, and would be stressed by the news. When the doctors arrive to check her, and make sure she is well, another person also arrives-her husband. The story ends "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills" (Story 3). To the very end, she was controlled by her husband, and the shock at realizing that all the joy she had felt was too soon killed her. Even her death was determined by the actions of a man. For Desiree, of "Desiree's Baby," the misery in her life is no less evident. She is happy with her husband, and they have a great love. ... She, who is a very sensitive soul, is glad that the coming of their first child has softened her husband, who is often cruel with the slaves. Then, suddenly, something changed, and the entire mood of the house was different. Desire noticed When he spoke to her, it was with averted eyes, from which the old love-light seemed to have gone out. He absented himself from home; and when there, avoided her presence and that of her child, without excuse. And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves. Desiree was miserable enough to die. (Desiree 3) Something, it seemed, had changed for him, and his mood is what controlled the entire house. When Desiree suddenly realizes that her son is partially black, she goes to her husband to find out why he was black. He explains to her that she must be black. And because she was black, he no longer wanted her. She left, and he burned all her belongings, along with those of the baby. Yet, at the end, the narrator shares with the reader a note from Armand's past. His mother wrote "I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery" (Desiree 6). He was so embarrassed by his own history that he was willing to blame it on his wife, and force her to leave, along with his son. For both women, men controlled their actions. For Desiree, the fault was clearly hers, and she was forced to leave. For Louise, her only freedom came with her husband's death. Both women were limited in their movements by men, but in different ways. Desiree was forced to leave, and lose the happiness she had with her family, along with

Introduction to Emergency Planning and Operations; Types of Essay - 1

Introduction to Emergency Planning and Operations; Types of Emergencies and Disasters - Essay Example Precise officially permitted limits are set down for innumerable â€Å"chemical contaminants and naturally-occurring toxicants† in foodstuff (Table 1.0). Traditionally, these were countrywide restrictions put in place by the UK government. Though, these nationalized limits had been outmoded by the limits set by the EU Commission in the last few years. MAFF embarks a yearly program of assessment for meticulous chemical contaminants and naturally-occurring toxicants with an intention to determine the extent to which consumers are bare to presence of objectionable levels of contaminants or naturally-occurring toxicants in available foodstuffs. Observation program for entity contaminants or naturally-occurring toxicants is performed for a range of reasons: The MAFF â€Å"Joint Food Safety and Standards Group† (JFSSG) issues a â€Å"Surveillance and Short Term Research and Development Requirements Document† once a year inviting latent contractors to propose tenders for inspection surveys in evidently pre-specified vicinities. The independent laboratories execute investigation of food samples collected from assorted sources. The â€Å"sampling procedure† espoused depends mainly on the precise aspirations of the analysis, even though a core objective that lies beneath this effort is to evaluate levels of harmful chemicals in the countrywide diet and to calculate approximately the consumption of toxics. This policy looms towards controlling the levels of chemical contaminants and naturally occurring toxicants identified to cause a health dilemma at the present time, even as endeavoring to categorize novel tribulations as they occur and develop techniques of control in the outlook. â€Å"Mean rating scores† for the potency of the existing supervision program for policy of â€Å"chemical contaminants and naturally-occurring toxicants† present in food materials are detailed below in Table 1.1. The most

Personal Action Plan Essay Example for Free

Personal Action Plan Essay My life has been an unusual life; I have chosen to leave my culture and explore many others’ cultures to find myself and who I am. I have been able to have this life’s experience because I live in a country that is accepting of diverse individuals. But, I have to live with the negative aspects of not living by the status-quo; by the way I chose to represent myself to the world. To make a long story short, I am tall, scary, and I chose to dress and conduct myself as a hip-hop urban individual and that comes with consequences; so I consider every situation that I find myself in a scenario that I would make someone feel uncomfortable. But, I will make my scenario out of my comfort zone, just being in public. 1. When in public, I observe older individuals uncomfortable around me, and thy tend to hold their purses or bags close to their bodies; immigrants tend to be uncomfortable around me due the negative stereotypes given to white men, but some are very true! And most white individuals treat me as if were sell-out or I am trying to be black. 2. Most situations are out of my comfort zone due to the ignorance of others; I always what to be respectful of others and not be as ignorant as others, so I always let them have the ‘upper-hand’ to keep the civility in the situation. 3. The main thing that I have learned from others’ negativity is that I can only control how I act, and only I can make others’ perception of me change for the better. 4. The types of things I notice about people are just as I stated before, I observe older individuals uncomfortable around me, and thy tend to hold their purses or bags close to their bodies; immigrants tend to be uncomfortable around me due the negative stereotypes given to white men, but some are very true! And most white individuals treat me as if were sell-out or I am trying to be black. 5. I do observe social-conscious individuals; they tend to find themselves loving everyone and after they talk to me for a while, I believe they find their minds change for least a day. 6. The social inequality I observe on a daily system is how individuals with money have such a distain for individuals who are homeless; when I find an individual warming up to me, they will make an insensitive remark about someone else. 7. My comfort level has change over the years due to my relationship I have with myself; I know who I am, who I care about, and I find that the good I do in my life comes out in my personality, and others will notice by my actions. 8. My life’s experience has shown me to be more socially conscious due to pit-falls I have had in my life. I have been at the very top and been brought to the very bottom, and the individuals at the top have the most work to do on their souls. 9. The traits that I exhibit in public are: To be humble at all times; to be tolerant of other’s; and not judge a book by it’s cover. 10. I feel the only trait of intolerance that I need to work on is my inability to forgive individuals who have gone astray and choose to steal and do wrong.

Reducing the Risk of HIV Among Adolescent Girls :: essays research papers

According to the CDC, the majority of female adolescents will have had at least one sexual partner by the time they reach the age of 18. Once reserved for high school students, sex ed is now being introduced in junior high and even elementary schools. It is undeniable that our teenagers are becoming sexually active earlier and inevitably, are vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections and HIV. While it is impossible to alter the choices of sexually active teens once they have been made, it is a mandate for those who interact with them to equip teens with the proper resources to make smart choices and offer suggestions to modify risky behavior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The aim of this particular study was two-fold. First, the authors studied the possibility and practicality of reducing the HIV risk among adolescent girls through the utilization of a small group, community-based setting. Secondly, the effectiveness and usefulness of such an intervention was determined and further analyzed using a controlled design. In the examination of statistical conclusion validity pertaining to this study, one threat that is imperative for the reader to consider lies in the low statistical power of the study. With 129 girls recruited, less than half (62) attended either the HIV or control intervention groups with only 48 completing the three month follow up session. Polit and Beck states that studies with low statistical power may not succeed in establishing a relationship between the variables. As a pilot study, it is hardly dismissive and worth noting that, at best, a relationship may be present or could be present between the two variables, however, the low statistical power causes me to hesitate to assign an irrefutable relationship between the intervention group and reduced risk behavior as demonstrated by the behavioral changes (decreased substance abuse, increased knowledge on HIV prevention, fewer engagement in risky sexual behavior). The authors acknowledged this threat to the statistical conclusio n validity but also noted that outcomes were â€Å"encouraging†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Attrition presents a threat to both statistical conclusion and internal validity. In the aforementioned statistics, it is obvious to deduce that attrition was a direct result of the unavailability of many girls, which consequently resulted in low statistical power. The attrition rate in this study can be considered random as it was blamed on work schedules and inability to form contact and did not alter extraneous characteristics of those remaining in the study.

Case study of Bangladesh and Boscastle Floods

1. The flood occurred on Monday, 16 August 2004 in the villages of Boscastle in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village suffered extensive damage after flash floods caused by an exceptional amount of rain that fell over eight hours that afternoon. At midday on the 16th August 2004, heavy thundery showers had developed across the South West; these were the remnants of Hurricane Alex (2004) which had crossed the Atlantic. The flood in Boscastle was filmed and extensively reported. The floods were the worst in local memory. A study commissioned by the Environment Agency from a hydraulics consulting firm concluded that it was among the most extreme ever experienced in Britain. 1. The flood occurred during late July, August and September of 2004 and was widespread across Bangladesh. Although flooding is common, the 204 was exceptional bad with increased loss of live and livelihood. Bangladesh suffered extensive damage and approximately 38% of the country was submerged in flood water at some point Boscastle and Bangladesh Floods 2004 Causes Boscastle Bangladesh 1. 75mm of rain fell in just 2 hours in the village 2. The village lies in a steep valley which speeded up overland flow of rainwater 3. The village lies at the confluence of two rivers 4. The natural channel had been walled so the river couldn’t adjust to the sudden increase in water 5. There had never been a major flood in this village so there were no flood prevention methods in place. 6. The torrential rain led to a 2 m (7 ft) rise in river levels in one hour. A 3 m (10 ft) wave, believed to have been triggered by water pooling behind debris caught under a bridge and then being suddenly released as the bridge collapsed, surged down the main road. Water speed was over 4 m/s (10 mph), more than enough to cause structural damage. It is estimated that 20,000,000 cubic metres of water flowed through Boscastle that day alone 7. Changes in farming practice caused a reduction of trees and hedges higher up the valley causing water to flow through more quickly than would have been the case in the past. The saturated surface also contributed. 8. Boscastle lies in a valley and the highland encouraged precipitation in the form of orographic rainfall. 1. Bangladesh is a low-lying country with most of its land lying on the delta land of three major rivers, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and Meghna. 2. Climate change resulted in melting glaciers in the Himalayas which contribute to water input. 3. Deforestation in the Himalayas for agriculture led to increased soil erosion. This had a negative effect on the rates of interception and evapotranspiration resulting in more water reaching the river. 4. There was as unusual heavy seasonal monsoon rain upstream from May-September which fed into the rivers. This was a large contributing factor. 5. There were also tropical revolving storms (cyclones) that brung exceptional winds, intense precipitation and storm surges. Causing high discharge in the rivers. 6. River implement is difficult to implement as Bangladesh in one of the poorest countries with the GDP at around $300. 7. Increased pressure of rural-urban migration meant that more people lived on the flood plains. 8. The increased sediment in the river is also a contributing factor. Immediate Impacts Boscastle Bangladesh 1. A burst sewage mains and damaged buildings made much of Boscastle inaccessible for health & safety reasons for at least a few days. 75 cars, 5 caravans, 6 buildings and several boats were washed into the sea. Large loss of possessions 2. Approximately 100 homes and businesses were destroyed; trees were uprooted and debris were scattered over a large area. 3. A fleet of 7 helicopters rescued about 150 people clinging to trees and the roofs of buildings and cars. 4. No one died. 5. Roads were blocked off by the floodwater, making emergency access difficult except from the air. Even when rescue helicopters arrived, the valley was only big enough for two to operate at any one time, prolonging the operation & putting lives at risk from the still rising flood waters. 6. Property was destroyed by debris such as entire trees & vehicles speeding down the valley at high speed, pulled out towards the sea by the raging torrent. Buildings were smashed, especially in the main street where the river channel flows. 7. People were trapped in buildings by the floodwater & forced to seek refuge on the roofs of the buildings and await rescue. The danger of hypothermia, shock or even being swept away was great. 8. People were left homeless for the night, so emergency accommodation had to be set up. Nearby hotels & guest houses were packed with tourists who had arrived in Boscastle in the morning & had lost their cars, so were unable to return to their accommodation elsewhere. 1. During July and August 2004, approximately 38% of the total land area of the country was flooded, including 800,000 hectares of agricultural land and the capital city, Dhaka. 2. As well as 1.5 million acres of crop damage there was the death of 21,000 livestock. This is a huge loss of income for the families. 3. Nationwide, 36million people (out of a total population of 125 million) were made homeless. 4. By Mid September the death toll had risen to 800. Many of these people died as a result of disease caused by lack of clean water. 5. Raw sewage contaminated much of the flooded areas especially in Dhaka. 6. The flood also caused serious damage to the country’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges and embankments, railway lines and irrigation systems 7. Almost a million dwellings were destroyed, more than 3 million damaged and millions of inhabitants temporarily or permanently displaced. 8. Boats were afloat on the main runway at Sylhet Airport and all domestic and internal flights were suspended. Rail and road links into Dhaka and the affected areas were severely damaged. This created a difficulty distributing supplies. 9. The value of the damage was assessed as being in the region of $2.2 billion 10. Although the flood affected both the poor and wealthy households, the poor were generally less able to withstand its impacts. Landless labourers and small farmers were the most severely affected in rural areas. In the urban areas it was typical the slum dwellers, squatting on poorly drained land, who suffered the most. 11. 5000 shelters opened to accommodate the homeless. 12. 25,000 schools were damaged. The undamaged ones were used as emergency shelter and doctors set up clinics in the back of trucks. 13. Loss of export earnings from factories. Long Term Impacts Boscastle Bangladesh 1. Floodwater damaged a great deal of properties. Possessions were lost, river water and burst sewage mains spoiled the ground floor of many houses & thousands of pounds worth of damage was done. 2. Repairs had to be made after the damage. This was very time consuming & costly. Some buildings were beyond repair & their owners have had to consider rebuilding from scratch. 3. The damage not only affected the residents, but also insurance companies. It is likely that home insurance will be much costlier in Boscastle from now on. 1. Boscastle's main industry is tourism. The town was effectively closed to tourists after the flood, causing a massive loss of revenue. Tourist attractions such as the witchcraft museum were lost and tourists next season will be wary of visiting the town in case the floods are repeated. Boscastle may never recover its tourist industry fully & many small businesses could go out of business as a result. 90% of Boscastle economy is tourism, the floods caused major loss of tourism. 21 accommodation providers had to close down. 2 of which didn’t reopen. 2. Environmental damage to local wildlife habitats 3. Costal pollution caused as debris and fuel from cars flowed out to sea. 4. People suffered from long term stress and anxiety as a result of been traumatised by the incident. 1. The floods caused 4 environmental impacts: river-bank erosion, especially on embankment areas close to the main channels; soil erosion; water logging particularly in the urban areas; and water contamination, such as raw sewage in Dhaka, and the associated health risks that come with this. 2. As Bangladesh is such a poor country, the short term impacts almost mirror the long term ones as there’s little money to alter them. 3. The 36 million that were homeless up to 70% of them will remain that way for up to 5 years. 4. Factories continued to have a loss of earnings as there was a loss of export. 5. Roads, houses, other infrastructure, railway lines and embankments remained damaged. 6. Charities and other NGO have continued to provide aid and help distribute supplies 7. People undoubtedly will have suffered from long term stress and anxiety as a result of been traumatised by the incident. 8. Many small businesses and many peoples income (through farming or rearing animals) will have been lost and will never recover. 9. The absence of money in the country will inevitably mean certain amenities won’t get repaired. Immediate responses Boscastle Bangladesh 1. Buildings that were damaged were secured by building inspectors. This took 7 days, after which homeowners could retrieve there possessions. 2. People were relocated. 3. Power and water supplies were repaired 4. Local GP surgery acted as an emergency centre 5. Prince Charles made a large donation to rebuild parts of Boscastle. 6. Cars and debris was removed as well as the demolition of damaged buildings. 7. Environment agency removed debris upstream and burned vegetation away from the river. 8. Roads and sewage works were restored. 9. Nearby hotels welcomed anyone affected by the floods to stay. Especially tourists. 10. Tourists were given food and amenities and transport free of charge and helped to recover any of their possession before been helped to return home 11. The entire region was inspected & the probability of a recurrence calculated. The Environment Agency has recommended that construction in the area in the future should not include facilities for those most vulnerable to flash-flooding, such as the elderly & young children. Effectively, this means that the local Council will reject any planning applications for residential homes or schools in the valley. 1. Government organised a large scale search and rescue mission, with help from NGO’s and volunteers. 2. Sewage in the capital city was drained. 3. The government, working with non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) provided emergency relief in the form of rice, clothing, water, medicines and blankets. 4. An international appeal was launched with over $50 million donated. 5. The UN activated a disaster management team to coordinate the activities of the various UN agencies. They supplied critical emergency supplies and conducted a â€Å"damage and needs assessment† in the affected areas. 6. Bilateral aid from individual countries was directed to the UN team. 7. The charity WaterAid affected many areas that WaterAid works in, and so WaterAid and its partners actively engaged and assisted in water and sanitation issues, by rehabilitating existing work and through hygiene education. WaterAid's initial response included supplying oral saline and water purification tablets, providing transportation for emergency patients, disinfecting water points affected by flood water and raising awareness of hygiene risks through posters. 8. Many other charities such as the Red Cross provided volunteers who distributed food and essential relief items like kitchen sets, lighting, clothing, shelter materials and water purification tablets. They also provided healthcare and supported search and rescue operations. Long Term Responses Boscastle Bangladesh 1. 2004: Buildings searched, buried cars removed from harbour, trees removed, roads cleared, B3263 bridge temporary concrete parapets installed. Completed an Overflow culvert work and hard sticks were inserted into the ground so barrier against the flood water would be created. The museum and shops were demolished. All power and water supplies were restored. The Boscastle power system was also renewed 2. 2005: Most shops and restaurants re-open with new customers. The flood defences were increased and improved strongly with an  £800,000 flood defense scheme been completed by April 2005. The rest of Boscastle got rebuilt. 3. 2006: Two underground pumping stations for the sewage treatment scheme began and work to widen and lower the river channel to increase capacity began. The car park level was raised, and extended, reducing the risk of cars being washed away if it flooded again. 4. 2007: A ‘gateway building† was built and work started on rebuilding an old culvert at the top of the village, to allow more water to flow through in periods of heavy rain. Work started on installing the pipes for the new sewage treatments works, in the harbour area (between the Lower and Upper bridges). Traffic lights were reinstalled and the new lower bridge was installed. 5. 2008: Work on rebuilding the culvert next to the petrol station completed as well as a culvert in Dunn Street. The harbour was resurfaced and the Old Lower Bridge was demolished, and the new Lower Bridge was brought into use. 1. Self help schemes were put in place, such as growing pumpking on ground thought to be infertile, â€Å"Superducks†, Site and service and core housing. 2. WaterAid repaired tubewells, constructed mobile latrines and gave house to house counselling to families. 3. Charities continued donating money and continued their work with distributing supplies, improving living conditions and treating disease 4. Australia donated food supplies, consequently been the largest food aid donor to Bangladesh with the total worth contribution to over $27.6 million 5. With aid and government funding infrastructure was rebuilt along with some roads. All traces of sewage were removed from the capital city. 6. Flood shelters and early-warning systems have been successfully put in place. 7. Small scaled community projects have been put in place resulting in lives been saved 8. Following the floods, additional financial aid was granted for a period of 5 years. This was mainly in the form of a loan from the World Bank, to pay for, in the first instance, repairs to infrastructure, water resource management, health care and education. 9. Disaster-preparedness is a key priority for the future. This includes flood management and improved water resources. It is also planned that, in future, flood-resistant designs should be used in all social and economical infrastructure projects.

Summary Of A Visit Of Grandmother

Chill's uncle, trades a horse for a chair. His grandmother even rides the horse and the horse almost loses control, which she thinks that Is amusing and a funny experience. Then, she asks Charles, Chic's father, if he remembers how tired they are. However, Charles is not present when his mother rides the horse and complains that she loves his rather more than him, because of their skin color differences.He yells, â€Å"If GAL and I did something wrong, you'd beat me first†¦ But if I wanted you to do something with me, you were always too busy. † Charlie's mother thinks she may have treated them differently, but thinks Charles is smarter to understand that. Charles returns to his room. Meanwhile, GAL, his brother, who is eager to meet with Charles, comes back. In the article, † A Visit to Grandmother†, which was published in the Dancer on theShore in 1964, William Melvin Kelley writes about Chic's experience of visiting his grandmother with his father. The stor y begins with Chic's father expressing an interest in attending a class reunion. The decision to visit Chic's grandmother is casual and unplanned, although they have not seen each other for thirty years. Upon visit. During their dinner, his grandmother tells a story about how GAL, Chic's uncle, almost loses control, which she thinks that is amusing and a funny experience. Then,

Free Essays on Louie Arnstrong

Louis Armstrong was born in a poor section of New Orleans known as â€Å"the Battlefield† on August 4, 1901. By the time of his death in 1971, the man known around the world as Satchmo was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz – a uniquely American art form. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Louis Armstrong’s achievements are remarkable. During his career, he: developed a way of playing jazz, as an instrumentalist and a vocalist, which has had an impact on all musicians to follow; recorded hit songs for five decades, and his music is still heard today on television and radio and in films; wrote two autobiographies, more than ten magazine articles, hundreds of pages of memoirs, and thousands of letters; appeared in over 30 films as a gifted actor with superb comic timing and an unabashed joy of life; composed dozens of songs that have become jazz standards; performed an average of 300 concerts each year, with his frequent tours to all parts of the world earning him the nickname â€Å"Ambassador Satch†; and became one of the first great celebrities of the twentieth century. Through the years, Louis entertained millions, from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. To this day, everyone loves Satchmo – just the mention of his name makes people smile.... Free Essays on Louie Arnstrong Free Essays on Louie Arnstrong Louis Armstrong was born in a poor section of New Orleans known as â€Å"the Battlefield† on August 4, 1901. By the time of his death in 1971, the man known around the world as Satchmo was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz – a uniquely American art form. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Louis Armstrong’s achievements are remarkable. During his career, he: developed a way of playing jazz, as an instrumentalist and a vocalist, which has had an impact on all musicians to follow; recorded hit songs for five decades, and his music is still heard today on television and radio and in films; wrote two autobiographies, more than ten magazine articles, hundreds of pages of memoirs, and thousands of letters; appeared in over 30 films as a gifted actor with superb comic timing and an unabashed joy of life; composed dozens of songs that have become jazz standards; performed an average of 300 concerts each year, with his frequent tours to all parts of the world earning him the nickname â€Å"Ambassador Satch†; and became one of the first great celebrities of the twentieth century. Through the years, Louis entertained millions, from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. To this day, everyone loves Satchmo – just the mention of his name makes people smile....

Discussing Friendship Lesson for English Learners

Discussing Friendship Lesson for English Learners Friendship is central to everyones life. Ive found over the years that students are always happy to speak about their friends. An added bonus is that speaking about friends requires students to speak in the third person - always useful practice for the dreaded s in the present simple. Discussing work or conversations about love can be fruitful, but if there are problems at work or at home, students might not want to discuss these popular topics. Friendship, on the other hand, always provides good stories. Use these quotes about friendship to help students explore their notions, preconceived ideas, expectations, etc. about their own friendships, as well as discuss what true friendship really means. As quotations generally provide insight into the topic, ask students to use the questions to help guide them through a discussion of each quotation. Aim: Improving conversational skills related to friendshipActivity: Exploration of the meaning of quotes related to friendshipLevel: Intermediate to advanced Outline Take a quick classroom survey rating their workplace asking students for a definition of friendship.Compare and contrast traditional views of friendship with the current trend of liking and friending on social networks.Read one of the quotes on work. Discuss as a class using the questions provided in the handout.Have students get into small groups of three to four students.Ask students to use the questions to discuss the quotes and how they relate to their own friendships.As a class, ask students if there were any comments/views that surprised them and why.As a class, clarify the characteristics of a good friend. Write a list on the board separating acquaintance and friend. What are the differences between the two?As a follow-up exercise, ask each student to write a short cause and effect essay based on their favorite quote about friendship. Students should include the reasons why they believe the quote is true and what effects following the advice should have. Questions Evaluate each quote below using these questions. Does the quote define friendship? How?Does the quote seem to suggest the differences between a true friend and someone who is not?Does the quote provide a key to success in friendships? If yes, what seems to be the key?Does the quote caution you about something concerning friendship?Is the quote humorous? If yes, whats the point of the joke?Which quote seems the closest to your own definition of friendship?Which quote do you disagree with? Why? Quotes â€Å"Dont walk behind me; I may not lead. Dont walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.† ― Albert Camusâ€Å"Its the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Marlene Dietrichâ€Å"The capacity for friendship is Gods way of apologizing for our families.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Jay McInerney, The Last of the Savagesâ€Å"The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Bette Midlerâ€Å"Anybody can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathize with a friends success.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Oscar Wildeâ€Å"Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Aristotleâ€Å"A friend may be waiting behind a strangers face.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughterâ€Å"Friendship is delicate as a glass, once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks†Ã ‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Waqar Ahmedâ€Å"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Kahlil Gibran, The Collected Worksâ€Å"The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.†Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢ Aristotle

The Ok Tedi Mine Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Ok Tedi Mine Case Study - Essay Example Moreover, the mine contributes to costs such as environmental pollution and degradation of land which is risk for the human and animal population. I do think the benefits brought to PNG by the OK Tedi Mine override the costs to the society and environment. This is because the mine is one of the most controversial mining projects where a huge tonnage of wastes are released to the Ok Tedi River which has great effect on the local community living along the river, on the biological structure of the mine and the continuous siltation causes flooding and death of aquatic life (Harding, 1998; p. 308). This is more costly than the benefits. The different stakeholders groups include the owners of land around the Ok Tedi River, the government of PNG, employees in the mine, the indigenous people around the area and the firms contracting the mining projects. The contracting firms contributes to employment opportunities for local people hence raising their living standards, the local community contributes to the labor force in the mines while the land owners give up their land for the benefit of the citizens of PNG. There are some critical problems of the EIA process noted in the DVD. The escalating bank flooding and the transformation from the tropical lands to wet lands of which it contributes to more aquatic vegetation in the area which causes loss of arid land for farming along the Ok Tedi River. This limits the diversification of exports and subsistence farming by the indigenous people of PNG hence low living standards. The dual role of the PNG government in the Ok Tedi Mine as both the owner of the mine and the regulator has some specific positive and negative impact. The positive side is that it reduces the3 exploitation of the local employees and subsequent repatriation of profits by the mining company. The negative side is that it limits the standard of investment through excessive regulation. The best

Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Obesity - Essay Example Consequently, the academic course has contributed in writing development, knowledge in course components such as; summary, critique synthesis, research proposal, sentence outline, final paper, commenting process; as well as impacting on performance, constraints, writing skills, future career, change in writing process and situational application. Foremost, the academic course has provided me with a new found level of knowledge and professionalism in writing from the course components covered. In particular, course components such as the summary, critique and synthesis provided immense knowledge on my formative writing skills. The knowledge gained on summary writing was very helpful in finding resourceful articles for reference in my essay topic on obesity. It offered the insight in judging the credibility and relevant articles, books and websites pertinent to my research topic. Furthermore, the component on critique was helpful in accessing counter articles that were useful in develo ping argumentative essays. The critique component provided insightful knowledge on how to properly cite counter arguments on the essay topics from literary works of other authors. I was able to employ the critique component on the obesity argumentative essay when presenting anti opponent views against obesity control proposals. In addition, the synthesis component was insightful in developing a general flow and connection to the paper. The synthesis component equips a student with the ability of combining the different ideas into one comprehensive essay. Consequently, I was able to synthesize both the proposal and counter proposal arguments in developing the paragraphs of the obesity argumentative essay. The knowledge gained from the course lectures and notes on research proposal was equally pertinent. It enabled me to develop a comprehensive research topic based on obesity. In recognition of the global epidemic and particularly the immense effect on the American society, obesity pr oved to be an intellectually stimulating research proposal for the argumentative essay. Furthermore, the knowledge gained in research proposal enabled me to formulate a raft of proposal options to curb obesity such as increase in taxes and health premiums in the thesis statement. In addition, the component on sentence outline provided sufficient skills on sentence structure. The basic tenets of sentence outline taught in class, dictated on my ability to cite evidence from various obesity articles, explain the reference cited, respond or offer a personal opinion on the proposal, and consequently connect to the thesis statement. Moreover, the final paper component was influential in determining the layout, format, paper outline, citation and reference criteria of an argumentative essay. The knowledge on final paper outlook such as the MLA format was aptly integrated in the obesity research paper complete with proper in text citation technique such as the author and page number. Lastly , the commenting process component in the course outline provided in depth intellectual skills in offering a personal, objective, standpoint in the argumentative essay. Consequently, in the obesity argumentative essay I was able to use it in justifying my objective belief of increasing the cost of living and premiums for obese people. The final paper grades achieved have provided me with much contentment since I was

Autonomous intelligent agent topic tracking system Dissertation

Autonomous intelligent agent topic tracking system - Dissertation Example The researcher states that technology has forever changed the way journalists approach their careers, but there have those proverbial bumps in the road. For instance, Google found itself with a bit of quagmire following the 9/11 attacks on the Unite States. People were using keywords that they were hoping would put them right where they needed to be for the must up to date information. Unfortunately, Google as a search engine couldn’t meet the demands and a worse, the search engine just didn’t know what to do with these unfamiliar strings of words. For the first time, the internet failed people – both those hungry for news and those eager to get their columns in before deadline. A key component in the globalization of the world economy involves the transfer of intellectual material across borders. Access to new ideas and information is an important means of development in most economies. Today, thanks to the Internet, the flow of information is much easier; intel lectual ideas and property can be exchanged across borders almost instantaneously. Except perhaps in China where government officials block access not only to individual web sites, but to entire search engines. While China’s leaders recognize the value of the Internet as a tool for building economic competitiveness and technology capabilities, they have established what is known as the Great Firewall to filter what Chinese citizens can read on the Web, and effectively maintain the Communist Party’s grip on power.... Today, thanks to the Internet, the flow of information is much easier; intellectual ideas and property can be exchanged across borders almost instantaneously. Except perhaps in China where government officials block access not only to individual web sites, but to entire search engines. While China’s leaders recognize the value of the Internet as a tool for building economic competitiveness and technology capabilities, they have established what is known as the Great Firewall to filter what Chinese citizens can read on the Web, and effectively maintain the Communist Party’s grip on power. This paper discusses how China’s limitation on free access to the Internet influences the country’s ability to achieve meaningful economic progress. The CEO of AltaVista, one of the search engines banned by the Chinese government, noted that "censorship is not compatible with his vision of free global access to information" and has stated that he will not screen his siteâ €™s content to cater to Chinese officials. Yahoo Inc.’s Chinese portal in contrast has pledged to censor itself. This paper supports Yahoo Inc.’s decision and the contention that the current Chinese internet policy has helped the economy in achieving exponential economic growth. China’s policy in the context of technology during the last fifteen years has highlighted the undeniable reality of how a global power can adopt a need to use basis approach in strengthening internet limitations and censorship. Theorists have often felt that the main objective of adopting this policy is principally accounted for by the desire to strengthen national sovereignty and to enhance economic development. Obviously, these are two

Baseball and the Changes made in 1968 Essay Example for Free

Baseball and the Changes made in 1968 Essay Baseball is America’s most favorite past time. It is America’s national sports. Among the non-contact sports being played today, it is the most popular and widely played around the globe. Since contacts are less baseball players get to play more games and eventually seasons compare to their baseball and basketball counterparts. Baseball owns style and uniqueness is what makes the game more special and closer to the heart of the people of America. It is the only sport with exception to softball, which traces its origin and roots to baseball – in which the defense starts play by putting the ball in play. The success being enjoyed by baseball as America’s most favourite past time can be attributed to the excitement and fun the way games are played through the years, from minor to major leagues. The techniques and strategies employed by coaches, team owner, players and sport’s organizer to uplift quality of games, all add color and spice to an already colorful sporting event. The sight and sound inside the ballpark are things to behold as players continue to provide entertainment to every spectator. From the first time baseball was invented and developed, the game had undergone and seen several and important changes and facelift all for the improvement of the game’s quality and for the purpose of bringing the game closer to the public. It is no secret that several changes that are made in baseball’s rule and guidelines are results of the growing clamour made by casual and serious â€Å"faniacs† (fans and maniacs alike). By adapting these changes games are played more interestingly and competition became tougher as games are now dictated and rely heavily on the shoulders of every batter (Newell). The game has now evolved to a batter’s dominated game. With the changes in the existing rule efficiency of pitchers was limited. By limiting effectiveness of pitchers more hits are made, eventually yielding to more runs scored and homeruns being made. The committee’s action emphasis the growing important they put on hits, run, homeruns and offense as they try to bring attendance back in on ball parks. Thus, a new phase in baseball history opens up as fans and spectators go frenzy with every swing of the bat. With the major transformation of the game from a pitcher’s dominance to a batter controlled and dictated tempo, it is fitting and necessary to understand the changes that are made that swing the tide to the offensive teams’ favour. It was in 1968 when major league officials, organizers and experts started re-evaluation of existing baseball rules that govern the sports. One of the rules the committee focus and re-evaluated was the scoring of homeruns in the ninth inning or bottom of extra inning. Prior to the 1920 season, homeruns that propel winning run of runners ahead of them were not considered homeruns and will only be scored as a singles, doubles or a triples depending on the base occupied by the runner ahead of the player who made the homerun (Titlebaum). For example, if a runner is positioned on the second base, bottom of the ninth inning, and his teammate hit a home run the batter would only be credited with a double. His score would depend on the number of bases needed by the runner to advance in order to complete the winning run. In 1968 the special committee restore the homeruns that were lost due to the above mentioned law (Titlebaum). This was the first step made by the committee that slowly shifted the dominance from the pitchers to the batters. The year 1968 was also known to baseball fans as the â€Å"Year of the Pitcher†. It was in this year Robert â€Å"Bob† Gibson dished out the lowest ERA ever made in the 20th century. Gibson who played for the ST. Louis Cardinals was widely known as one of the most dominant and prominent figure of a pitcher in his era. It was during that year the he compiled an amazing 1. 12 ERA, whish was the most dominant performance of a pitcher in a season (Schell). He also completed 28 games out of his 34 as the starting pitcher in which 13 of them were shutouts (Schell). In 28 starts he never allowed a single run. Tim McCarver, Gibsons long-time catcher in St. Louis once quoted I never went to the mound when he was pitching. What is a catcher going to tell someone like him how to throw a pitch? † (Schell). The dominating performance of pitchers in this year led by Gibson, prompted league officials and organizers to make changes in able to help hitters and thus creating an era of an offense minded games. The influx of pitching talents during the 1968 was one of the reasons why pitchers dominated the game. Gibson wasn’t alone in dominating the ’68 season. There was Danny Mclain which was Gibson’s opponent in the World Series, which poser a pretty impressive number with his 1. 96 ERA (Schell). Apparently the figure was only good for fourth ranked in the American League behind Dave McNally with 1. 95, Sudden Sam McDowell’s 1. 81, and Luis Tiant’s 1. 60 (Schell). With the abundance of talent coupled with scarcity in hitting talent the Year of the Pitcher was born. Due to this abundance of pitching talent, organizer provides batters the leverage they needed to slug it put with the highly touted and remarkable pitchers. Thus, in order to resolve this problem officials change the height of the mound. From 15 inches in 1968, the mound was lowered to 10 (Newell). For this reason the environment has become friendly to hitters as strike zone has become smaller. Pitchers then have to be more perfect with their throws and batters can wait more patiently, unlike before when strike zones was enforced from the height of the batter’s armpit to the level of the knees. With this strike zone, pitcher like Gibson giving big, riding fastballs can easily eat the offense alive. As a result of this change the occurrence of players being out because of â€Å"easy outs† has declined. Furthermore, higher pitching mounds favour pitchers as it means more leverage for them. With the advantage in altitude, pitchers can put more downward velocity and spin to the ball making it more difficult for the opposing team to hit the ball. For the next few years attendance in ball parks increases as offense dominated baseball. Today, offense has dictated the flow of the games. Fans love watching games loaded with offensive actions. Pitchers too found it hard to dominate games, unlike before because of the fatigue and beating they obtained throughout the year. They play more games today. The inclusion of aluminum bats also increased the capacity of hitters to make homeruns. The changing of laws in 1968 has great impact on the field of baseball. The changes made define modern baseball. Work’s Cited Page Newell, Kevin. Five Game-Changing Moments in Baseball. Scholastic administrators (2005). Schell, Michael J. Baseballs All-Time Best Hitters, How Statistics Can Level the Playing Field. Princeton, New Jersey Princeton University Press, 1999. Titlebaum, Dr. Peter. Rule Changes in Baseball: Spring Training Never Ends sports media (2006).

The Evils Of To Kill A Mockingbird :: essays research papers

Has evil always been around, or did man create it? One could trace evil all the way back to Adam and Eve; however, evil came to them, but it was not in them. When did evil become part of a person? No one knows, but evil has been around for a long time and unfortunately is discovered by everyone. In many great classics in literature evil is at the heart or the theme of the novel, including Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. This classic book demonstrates the growing up of two children in the South and illustrates the theme of evil by showing how they discover, how they deal, and how they reconcile themselves to the evils they experience. First, the trial of Tom Robinson is an eye-opening experience for Jem and Scout; there they discover hatred, child abuse, and lying. Seeing pure hate is new and strange for Jem and Scout. They know that prejudice does exist, but listening to and watching Bob Ewell during the trial is astounding to them because Bob Ewell abhors all blacks, especially Tom Robinson. Bob’s daughter, Mayella, makes an advance on Tom, which is absolutely unspeakable and shameful at that time. In addition, Bob Ewell’s hate grows (especially for Atticus) because after the trial his reputation and respect is ruined, even though he does not have a high degree of integrity to begin with. Also, through the Jones 2 verdict of the trial, Jem and Scout see the hate in jurors for blacks, for it is obvious that Tom Robinson is innocent. Another new and disturbing element that Jem and Scout discover is child abuse. Having never been hit by Atticus, the children know nothing of physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse. However, Mayella Ewell knows too well of these abuses and is a victim of them from her own father. Bob Ewell shows he has no consideration for her by his actions or words, and this is clearly displayed during the trial when he is being asked on the stand, "Are you the father of Mayella Ewell?" (172) His crude reply is, "Well, if I ain’t I can’t do nothing about it now"(172). This shows he has no class or respect, while on the other hand, Jem and Scout are used to seeing the example of their tactful father. Also, during the trial it becomes lucid that Bob Ewell beat Mayella up and not Tom Robinson.

To Kill a Mockingbird Passage

â€Å"If you had a clear conscience, why were you scared? † â€Å"Like I says before, it weren’t safe for any nigger to be in a—fix like that. † â€Å"But you weren’t in a fix—you testified that you were resisting Miss Ewell. Were you so scared that she’d hurt you, you ran, a big buck like you? † â€Å"No suh, I’s scared I’d be in court, just like I am now. † â€Å"Scared of arrest, scared you’d have to face up to what you did? † â€Å"No suh, scared I’d hafta face up to what I didn’t do. † â€Å"Are you being impudent to me, boy? † â€Å"No suh, I didn’t go to be. † This was as much as I heard of Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination, because Jem made me take Dill out. For some reason Dill had started crying and couldn’t stop; quietly at first, then his sobs were heard by several people in the balcony. Jem said if I didn’t go with him he’d make me, and Reverend Sykes said I’d better go, so I went. Dill had seemed to be all right that day, nothing wrong with him, but I guessed he hadn’t fully recovered from running away. â€Å"Ain’t you feeling good? † I asked, when we reached the bottom of the stairs. Dill tried to pull himself together as we ran down the south steps. Mr. Link Deas was a lonely figure on the top step. â€Å"Anything happenin‘, Scout? † he asked as we went by. No sir,† I answered over my shoulder. â€Å"Dill here, he’s sick. † â€Å"Come on out under the trees,† I said. â€Å"Heat got you, I expect. † We chose the fattest live oak and we sat under it. â€Å"It was just him I couldn’t stand,† Dill said. â€Å"Who, Tom? † â€Å"That old Mr. Gilmer doin‘ him thataway, talking so hateful to him—† â€Å"Dill, that’s his job. Why, if we didn’t have prosecutors—well, we couldn’t have defense attorneys, I reckon. † Dill exhaled patiently. â€Å"I know all that, Scout. It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick. † â€Å"He’s supposed to act that way, Dill, he was cross—† Page 202 He didn’t act that way when—† â€Å"Dill, those were his own witnesses. † â€Å"Well, Mr. Finch didn’t act that way to Mayella and old man Ewell when he crossexamined them. The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time an‘ sneered at him, an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered—† â€Å"Well, Dill, after all he’s just a Negro. † â€Å"I don’t care one speck. It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do ‘em that w ay. Hasn’t anybody got any business talkin’ like that—it just makes me sick. † â€Å"That’s just Mr. Gilmer’s way, Dill, he does ‘em all that way. You’ve never seen him get good’n down on one yet. Why, when—well, today Mr. Gilmer seemed to me like he wasn’t half trying. They do ’em all that way, most lawyers, I mean. † â€Å"Mr. Finch doesn’t. † â€Å"He’s not an example, Dill, he’s—† I was trying to grope in my memory for a sharp phrase of Miss Maudie Atkinson’s. I had it: â€Å"He’s the same in the courtroom as he is on the public streets. † â€Å"That’s not what I mean,† said Dill. â€Å"I know what you mean, boy,† said a voice behind us. We thought it came from the tree-trunk, but it belonged to Mr. Dolphus Raymond. He peered around the trunk at us. â€Å"You aren’t thin-hided, it just makes you sick, doesn’t it? † Page 203

Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Essay

I did not understand why I had to take a research class when all I wanted to do was be a staff nurse in a critical care unit. Research? Evidence-based practice? Why are these topics in the nursing program? I have enough to do just learning all the content in my clinical courses. What do research and evidence have to do with developing my nursing abilities? I trust the faculty, the textbooks, and clinical experience to prepare me for nursing. I’m already getting what I need to know. That was my earlier attitude. Now that I am practicing, I have a new appreciation for nursing research and the evidence it provides for application to practice. I have an entirely different way of addressing clinical questions. I’m starting to ask questions about how I can improve the care I give to patients and how I can be involved in my workplace’s efforts to improve care for the patients it serves. I have discovered by purposeful reading in my practice area that research reports and research summaries contain many implications that apply to practice in the critical care unit.  ¦ QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHILE READING THIS CHAPTER: 1 How can faculty encourage students to read research journals? 2 How does research affect nursing practice? 3 How can nurses motivate colleagues to base their practice on research? KEY TERMS Clinical nurse researcher (CNR) An advanced practice nurse who is doctorally prepared and directs and participates in clinical research. Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) An advanced practice nurse who provides direct care to clients and participates in health education and research. Clinical practice guideline (CPG) an evidence-based guide to clinical practice developed by experts in a particular ? eld for direct application in clinical environments. Control group Subjects in an experiment who do not receive the experimental treatment and whose performance provides a baseline against which the effects of the treatment can be measured. When a true experimental design is not used, this group is usually called a comparison group. Data collection The process of acquiring existing information or developing new information. 104 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice CHAPTER 6 105 Empirical Having a foundation based on data gathered through the senses (e. g. , observation or experience) rather than purely through theorizing or logic. Ethnography A qualitative research method for the purpose of investigating cultures that involves data collection, description, and analysis of data to develop a theory of cultural behavior. Evidence-based practice The process of systematically ? nding, appraising, and using research ? ndings as the basis for clinical practice. Experimental design A design that includes randomization, a control group, and manipulation between or among variables to examine probability and causality among selected variables for the purpose of predicting and controlling phenomena. Generalizability The inference that ? ndings can be generalized from the sample to the entire population. Grant Proposal developed to seek research funding from private or public agencies. Grounded theory A qualitative research design used to collect and analyze data with the aim of developing theories grounded in real-world observations. This method is used to study a social process. Meta-analysis Quantitative merging of ? ndings from several studies to determine what is known about a phenomenon. Methodologic design A research design used to develop the validity and reliability of instruments that measure research concepts and variables. Naturalistic paradigm A holistic view of nature and the direction of science that guides qualitative research. Needs assessment A study in which the researcher collects data for estimating the needs of a group, usually for resource allocation. Phenomenology A qualitative research design that uses inductive descriptive methodology to describe the lived experiences of study participants. Pilot study A smaller version of a proposed study conducted to develop or re? ne methodology, such as treatment, instruments, or data collection process to be used in a larger study. Qualitative research A systematic, subjective approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning. Quantitative research A formal, objective, systematic process used to describe and test relationships and examine cause-and-effect interactions among variables. Quasi-experimental research A type of quantitative research study design that lacks one of the components (randomization, control group, manipulation of one or more variables) of an experimental design. Randomization The assignment of subjects to treatment conditions in a random manner (determined by chance alone). Secondary analysis A research design in which data previously collected in another study are analyzed. State-of-the-science summary A merging of ? ndings from several studies concerning the same topic. Examples include meta-analysis with a quantitative approach and integrative review with a descriptive approach. Survey A nonexperimental research design that focuses on obtaining information regarding the status quo of a situation, often through direct questioning of participants. Triangulation The use of a variety of methods to collect data on the same concept. LEARNING OUTCOMES After studying this chapter, the reader will be able to: 1 Summarize major points in the evolution of nursing research in relation to contemporary nursing. 2 Evaluate the in? uence of nursing research on current nursing and health care practices. 3 Differentiate among nursing research methods. 4 Evaluate the quality of research studies using established criteria. 5 Participate in the research process. 6 Use research ? ndings to improve nursing practice. 106 UNIT ONE The Development of Nursing CHAPTER OVERVIEW This chapter provides basic knowledge regarding the research process and the ultimate importance of evidence-based nursing practice. The intent is to inspire an appreciation for nursing research and to show how it can improve nursing practice and how results can be translated into health policy. Nursing research is de? ned as a systematic approach used to examine phenomena important to nursing and nurses. A summary of major points in the evolution of nursing research in relation to contemporary nursing is presented. A description of private and public organizations that fund research is given, and their research priorities are listed. Major research designs are brie? y described, and examples of each are given. Nurses of all educational levels are encouraged to participate in and promote nursing research at varying degrees. The process of locating research and evidence for practice is reviewed. Students are introduced to the research process and guided in the process of critically appraising published research and research syntheses. Ethical issues related to research are examined, and historical examples of unethical research are given. The functions of the institutional review board (IRB) and the use of informed consent in protecting the rights of human subjects are emphasized. DEFINITION OF NURSING RESEARCH Research is a process of systematic inquiry or study to build knowledge in a discipline. The purpose of research is to develop an empirical body of knowledge for a discipline or profession. Speci? cally, research validates and re? nes existing knowledge and develops new knowledge (Burns and Grove, 2007). The results of research process provide a foundation on which practice decisions and behaviors are laid. Research results create a strong scienti? c base for nursing practice, especially when deliberately and carefully evaluated for application to speci? c clinical topics (Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt, 2005). In recent decades the nursing discipline has begun to pay much greater attention to the necessity of participating in research. Nursing research is a systematic approach used to examine phenomena important to nursing and nurses. Because nursing is a practice profession, it is important that clinical practice be based on scienti? c knowledge. Evidence generated by nursing research provides support for the quality and cost-effectiveness of nursing interventions. Thus recipients of health care—and particularly nursing care—reap bene? ts when nurses attend to research evidence and introduce change based on that evidence into nursing practice. The introduction of evidence-based change into the direct provision of nursing care may occur at the individual level of a particular nurse or at varied organizational or social levels. In addition to nursing research aimed at affecting the direct provision of nursing and health care to recipients of nursing care, nursing research also is needed to generate knowledge in areas that affect nursing care processes indirectly. Research within the realms of nursing education, nursing administration, health services, characteristics of nurses, and nursing roles provides evidence for effectively changing these supporting areas of nursing knowledge (Burns and Grove, 2007). Today the importance of nursing research to the discipline is recognized. However, much nursing history underlies the current state of acceptance. EVOLUTION OF NURSING RESEARCH Nursing research began with the work of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War. After Florence Nightingale’s work, the pattern that nursing research followed was closely related to the problems confronting nurses. For example, nursing education was the focus of most research studies between 1900 and 1940. As more nurses received their education Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice CHAPTER 6 107 in a university setting, studies regarding student characteristics and satisfactions were conducted. As more nurses pursued a college education, staf? ng patterns in hospitals changed because students were not as readily available as when more students were enrolled in hospitalaf? liated diploma programs. During this period, researchers became interested in studying nurses. Questions such as what type of person enters nursing and how are nurses perceived by other groups guided research investigations. Teaching, administration, and curriculum were studies that dominated nursing research until the 1970s. By the 1970s more doctorally prepared nurses were conducting research, and there was a shift to studies that focused on the improvement of patient care. The 1980s brought nursing research to a new stage of development. There were many more quali? ed nurse researchers than ever, widespread availability of computers for collection and analysis of data, and a realization that research is a vital part of professional nursing (Polit and Beck, 2006). Nurse researchers began conducting studies based on the naturalistic paradigm. These studies were qualitative rather than quantitative. In addition, instead of conducting many small, unrelated research studies, teams of researchers, often interdisciplinary, began conducting programs of research to build bodies of knowledge related to speci? c topics, such as urinary incontinence, decubitus ulcers, pain, and quality of life. The 1990s brought increasing concern about health care reform, and now in the twenty-? rst century, research studies focus on important health care delivery issues, such as cost, quality, and access. Research ? ndings are being used increasingly as the basis for clinical decisions. Evidencebased practice (EBP) can be de? ned as the process of systematically ? nding, appraising, and using research ? ndings as a basis for making decisions about patient care. The rise of technology and the worldwide access and ? ow of information have transformed the decision-making processes of practitioners. Helpful informational websites for busy practitioners are listed in Box 6-1. No longer do nurses simply compare outcomes of patient care with other units in the B O X 6–1 Helpful Websites l f l b i National Guideline Clearinghouse—resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines www. guidelines. gov US Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Practice Guidelines www. healthquality. va. gov AHRQ Healthcare Innovations Exchange—innovations and tools to improve health care www. innovations. ahrq. gov/index. aspx The Evidence-Based Medicine Education Center of Excellence—extensive list of databases, journals, and textbooks http://library. ncahec. net/ebm/pages/resources. htm U. S. National Institute for Health Consensus statements http://consensus. nih. gov Centre for Evidence-Based Nursing, based at University of York—United Kingdom www. york. ac. uk/healthsciences/centres/evidence/cebn. htm The Joanna Briggs Institute, based at Royal Adelaide Hospital and the University of Adelaide, Australia—multiple evidence resources for practice www. joannabriggs. edu. au Cochrane Center—resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines www. cochrane. org 108 UNIT ONE The Development of Nursing same hospital. Nurses and other health care professionals are more likely to look for solutions, choices, and outcomes for patients that represent the best available knowledge internationally (Hamer and Collinson, 2005). RESEARCH PRIORITIES Why set priorities for research in the nursing discipline? Can nurses do research in areas that match personal areas of interest? The answer to the second question is, yes, certainly. But nursing exists to provide high-quality nursing care to individuals in need of health-promoting, health-sustaining, and health-restoring strategies. The main outcome of research activity for a nurse is to eventually put the knowledge gained to work in health care delivery. Research priorities, often set by groups that fund research, encourage nurse researchers to invest effort and money into those areas of research likely to generate the most bene? t to recipients of care. Of course the funding opportunities offered by such groups do not hurt the research enterprise either. Research costs money. Thus nurses engaged in research often match personal interests with funding opportunities that are available during the planning phase for a proposed investigation. Two major sources of funding for nursing research are the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) (formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research [AHCPR] and reauthorized as AHRQ by Congress in 1999). Both of these organizations are funded by federal congressional appropriations. Private foundations and nursing organizations also provide funding for nursing research. National Institute of Nursing Research As part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NINR supports research on the biologic and behavioral aspects of critical health problems that confront the nation. The NINR’s research focus encompasses â€Å"health promotion and disease prevention, quality of life, health disparities, and end-of-life† (NINR Strategic Plan 2006-2010, 2006). A small sampling of potentially supported research topics includes those aimed at: ? Determining disease risk and treatment through utilizing genetic information ? Determining effective health-promotion strategies for individuals, families, and communities ? Discovering approaches that encourage people to effectively take responsibility for symptom management and health promotion ? Assisting in identi? cation and effective management of symptoms related to acute and chronic disease ? Improving clinical settings in which care is provided ? Improving the quality of care giving in settings such as long-term care facilities, the home, and the community ? Understanding predisposition to disease, socioeconomic factors that in? uence health, and cultural health practices that either protect from or expose to risk for health problems ? Improving symptom management for those at end of life The areas of research emphasis published by the NINR are useful guides for investigators developing proposals but are not considered to be prescriptive in nature. Investigators bring to bear their own unique expertise and creativity when proposing research in harmony with NINR priority research areas. Annually the NINR conducts a roundtable discussion with multiple nursing organizations to obtain the feedback of the disciplines regarding the need for continued or new research Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice CHAPTER 6 109 emphases. Information obtained is used in setting future research agendas and making decisions about funding of proposals submitted by researchers (Of? ce of Science Policy and Public Liaison, NINR, 2009). The NINR website details current announcements regarding research priorities (www. ninr. nih. gov/ResearchAndFunding). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality The AHRQ broadly de? nes its mission as â€Å"improving the quality, safety, ef? ciency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans† (AHRQ, 2009a). As an agency of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, the AHRQ’s health-related aims are to reduce the risk of harm by promoting delivery of the best possible health care, improve health care outcomes by encouraging the use of evidence to make informed health care decisions, transform research into practice to facilitate wider access to effective health care services, and reduce unnecessary costs (AHRQ, 2009a). Since the inception of the agency in 1989, strategic goals have centered on supporting improvements in health outcomes, strengthening measurement of health care quality indicators, and fostering access to and cost-effectiveness of health care. The 1999 reauthorizing legislation expanded the role of the agency by directing the AHRQ to: ? Improve the quality of health care through scienti? c inquiry, dissemination of ? ndings, and facilitation of public access to information. ? Promote patient safety and reduce medical errors through scienti? c inquiry, building partnerships with health care providers, and establishment of centers for education and research on therapeutics (CERTs). ? Advance the use of information technology for coordinating patient care and conducting quality and outcomes research. ? Establish an of? ce on priority populations to ensure that the needs of low-income groups, minorities, women, children, the elderly, and individuals with special health care needs are addressed by the agency’s research efforts. The research-related activities of the AHRQ are quite varied, but a recent shift emphasizes a more deliberate translation of research evidence into practice. In a process similar to that used by the NIH, investigators are invited to submit research proposals for possible funding through grant announcements. A listing of current areas of the agency’s research interests can be found online at www. ahrq. gov/fund/portfolio. htm. The AHRQ actively promotes EBP, partially through the establishment of 14 EBP centers (EPCs) in the United States and Canada. EPCs conduct research on assigned clinical care topics and generate reports on the effectiveness of health care methodologies. Health care providers may then use the evidence in developing site-speci? c guidelines that direct clinical practice. AHRQ also actively maintains the National Guideline Clearinghouse (www. guidelines. gov), an website that makes available to health care professionals a wide array of clinical practice guidelines that may be considered in health care decision making. Another recent addition to AHRQ’s initiatives is the Healthcare Innovations Exchange (2009b), which provides a public source of information about innovations taking place in health care delivery. Submitted innovations are reviewed for the quality of achieved outcomes, providing evidence as a foundation for decision making by others who may be searching for or considering similar innovations. Although most AHRQ activities are intended to support health care professionals and institutions, the agency supports health care recipients by designing some information speci? cally for dissemination to the lay public (AHRQ, 2009a). 110 UNIT ONE The Development of Nursing Private Foundations Federal funding is available through the NIH and the AHRQ. However, because obtaining money for research is becoming increasingly competitive, voluntary foundations and private and community-based organizations should be investigated as possible funding sources. Many foundations and corporate direct-giving programs are interested in funding health care projects and research. Computer databases and guides to funding are available in local libraries. In addition, grant-seeking enterprises often purchase subscriptions that allow computer access to enhanced listings of funding foundations that include information about the types of projects those foundations typically fund. Though subscriptions are expensive, costs are often balanced by the ef? ciency with which suitable funding prospects are identi? ed. An example of such a service is Prospect Research Online (www. iwave. com). Private foundations, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2009a, 2009b) or the W. K. Kellogg Foundation (2009), offer program funding for health-related research. Investigators should be encouraged to pursue funding for small projects through local sources or private foundations until a track record is established in research design and implementation. After several years of experience in the research arena, investigators are more likely to be successful in securing funding through federal sources, such as the NIH. Nursing Organizations Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), the American Nurses Association (ANA), and the Oncology Nurses Society (ONS), are a few of the nursing organizations that fund research studies. STTI makes research grant awards to increase scienti? c knowledge related to nursing practice. STTI supports creative interdisciplinary research and places importance on identifying â€Å"best practices† and benchmark innovations. Awards are made at the international and local chapter levels. The ANA awards small grants through the American Nurses Foundation. Specialty nursing organizations offer grants to support research related to their specialty. For example, the ONS awards grants that focus on issues related to oncology. To summarize, multiple potential sources of funding are available for research projects. The individual or group wishing to conduct research will need to carefully develop a proposal, search for a possible funding source, and submit the proposal. Libraries and the Internet provide ample information about the many foundations and organizations interested in funding research endeavors. Most research institutions establish of? ces that help in the search and procurement of funding. Thus researchers are supported in their work of knowledge building. COMPONENTS OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS The research process involves conceptualizing a research study, planning and implementing that study, and communicating the ? ndings. The process involves a logical ? ow as each step builds on the previous steps. These steps should be included in published research reports so that the reader has a basis for understanding and critiquing the study (Box 6-2). STUDY DESIGNS Study designs are plans that tell a researcher how data are to be collected, from whom data are to be collected, and how data will be analyzed to answer speci? c research questions. Research studies are classi? ed into two basic methods: quantitative and qualitative, two distinctly different approaches to conducting research. The researcher chooses the method based on the research question and the current level of knowledge about the phenomena and the problem to be studied. Quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numeric