Cognitive Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cognitive Psychology - Essay Example The authors’ main research questions were: If updating is the automatic result of locomotion, would people have ease or difficulty with ignoring their locomotion when walking without vision? If updating was an optional process that only occurred as the result of deliberate and effortful cognitive processing, would people find the task easy? Is the performance of people walking without vision better in the updating condition when they are told to ignore their locomotion? Is there was any difference in performance when people walked blindly to near targets compared to far targets? Are people able to overcome the information specifying their real positions in space and temporarily by adopting a different perspective, when they are given enough time to carry out the necessary cognitive operations? First hypothesis of the research was that: Performance of people while updating their spatial relationships is better as compared to when they are told to ignore their locomotion. The third hypothesis was that: If subjects can retrospectively overcome the earlier automatic spatial updating, then their performances in the ignoring condition should improve relative to the updating condition. These hypotheses were justified on the basis of background research and theory, because the authors have given an extensive review of literature citing other researchers’ works, and explaining them in order to support the need to conduct this specific research. They have cited literature which discusses the automatic updating of non-visual spatial relationships. The population of interest was young people. The sample for the first experiment included ten student volunteers from the Strathclyde University Psychology Department; and, the sample for the second experiment included ten other student volunteers from the same department and university. The sample was not very

Working With Family Essay Example for Free

Working With Family Essay traumatizing to the close family and friends and to a larger extent to the society. The close family members faces the worst blunt, they have to comfort and care for the affected person and share in the pain and agonizing moments. This paper shall be looking at how a woman’s breast cancer impacts on the normal functioning of a family, its impact on the family member and the need for support and counseling to both the woman and the family. Cancer refers to any malignant tumor that is as a result of an unusual and incontrollable dividing of the cells in the body. Breast cancer too is as a result of a tumor developing in a person’s breast. It starts as a lump in one breast ten further spreads to both breasts if not treated in time. There are three factors that can lead to a woman getting breast cancer, it can be genetical. A woman who comes from a family where there is prevalence in breast cancer, if for example her sisters, mother or aunts have had it, she has higher chances of developing cancer in later life (Colerman, 2000, p. 43). Age too is another factor and women develop breast cancer as they grow older starting from the early forties. Diet has also been identified as another lead factor. Women who don’t get enough exercises are at more risk as too those who have unhealthy habits like excessive smoking, drinking and consumption of high fat meals (James Fahner, 2007). My case study takes me to a small neighborhood in Maryland, U. S. A. ; here we will encounter a lady named Georgina, a wife and a mother of two boys and a girl. She is in her late forties and still struggling with breast cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of thirty seven. This is the year that her life changed dramatically, it continues to change day in day out and has seen the removal of her left breast in a bid to arrest the spread of the disease. Amid tears, she says her condition was exacerbated by the fact that her lump was not detected early (Alberg A. J, 2000, p. 22). Early detection of breast cancer makes it easy to seek for easier and effective treatment. Statistics are in favor of early detection, modern technology can enable more than 90% of those diagnosed early to be cured (Family doctor. org; 2005, p.117).Despite her being highly educated, she was very ignorant of the disease and was unconcerned with the lumps developing in her left breast. She only sought expert assistance when the cancerous growth had already spread too far. She has all along attributed the lumps in her breasts to having been emanating from hormonal changes and age. She is paying dearly for that. Cancer diagnosis or any diagnosis associated with terminal illness is a s cary affair. Equally disturbing is the thought of how your loved ones will cope with the sad news. Georgina’s husband is a public relations manger with a local bank; she herself works with an advertising firm in the same locality. Her three kids have yet not gone beyond 10th grade and might be too young to understand her situation. She could not too understand how she came to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age of 33 despite the statistics predicting the occurrences to be more prevalent in post menopausal periods (Colditz GA et al, 1995, p. 52). The rest of the family lives in Europe where they tend to the family business. Although they have been there to help her cope with the trying moments, the distance apart has not helped much and she has to rely with her husband and close friends for physical and emotional support. How families cope with breast cancer cases is one of the most explored topics. Different people react in varied manner after learning that the close friend or partner has been diagnosed with breast cancer (Heiney et al, 2001, p. 134). Women with breast cancer should be cared for and comforted by their families as they go through the hallowing process in search of cure. While it is important for family members and friends to be there for her and encourage her to think positively, intimate partners are shouldered with the duty to reassure the woman of their unconditional love and commitment (Invision, 2007). Breast cancer is physically, mentally and emotionally devastating to all those involved especially to the close family members. If not handled with care, it might lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction and even a major break up in a family, more so between the affected partners.

The effect of temperature on the reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) and Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

Investigating the effect of temperature on the reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) and Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Planning and Prediction Apparatus List Conical Flask 3 measuring cylinders Sodium Thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) Thermometer Stop watch When sodium thiosulphate reacts with hydrochloric acid, the solution becomes opaque. I will investigate how the rate of this reaction is affected when the experiment is carried out at different temperatures. The reaction that occurs produces sulphur dioxide, water and sodium chloride. GRAPH The rate of chemical reactions can be affected by a number of things:  · changes in surface area  · changes in concentration of the reactants  · changes in temperature  · added substances called catalysts  · and changes in pressure if the reactants are gases. In most chemical reactions the rate changes with time, normally slowing down. Prediction I will be investigating the effect that temperature has on the reaction between sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid. I predict that the higher the temperature, the faster the reaction will occur. This should happen because when heat is applied to a solution the particles in the compounds move faster and therefore come into contact with the other substance more rapidly. More importantly, the collisions are more energetic. An increase in collisions provides more energy than there is in the activation energy, so the reaction is faster. Preliminary Investigation In order to discover what ratio of HCl to Na2S2O3 I needed to conduct a preliminary experiment, changing the concentration of the various reactants. I will need a time of two or three minutes at 20 °C, my lowest temperature, because I predict that the reaction will speed up as the temperature is higher, and I do not want the reaction to happen in just three or four seconds once I get to 60 °C as it will be difficult to measure the time accurately. GRAPH It was discovered after the preliminary experiments that there had been some contamination so the results were inaccurate. With a larger amount of Na2S2O3 than HCl the experiment should have happened slower not faster. After further trials I discovered that: Water 40mls Na2S2O3 10mls HCl 5mls gave me an adequate starting time of approximately 3:00 - 3:30 minutes at 20 °C. As a result of my preliminary investigation I will add water to dilute the Na2S2O3, as otherwise it is too concentrated and the reaction

Managing Change and Leading People Essay

â€Å"Impact of Organisational culture on role and responsibilities of the managers within the organisation† (Word count 2900 / Word limit 3000) Haque, A. U. 139________ According to Schein (2004) the core concept of organisational culture is developing an atmosphere and the procedures are created to ensure that employees are properly managed. Glendon and Stanton elaborate the that visible expression of an organisation is considered as a climate (2000, p. 198 ). By investigating in more depth, it is evident in the past literature, â€Å"Organisational culture is an outline of collective fundamental conjectures that the individuals together collectively discover a way that is valid to overcome problems of external adaption as well internal integration, and the validity is a reason that fresh employees are being told that this is the right way to feel, think, and perceive in association to those problems† (Schein 1992, p. 12). Lundberg (1990) explains the key attributes of the organisational culture: a framework that is designed on the common and shared beliefs, interests, perceptions, and values that individuals not only embrace and governs. It is set of rules and principles that not only make the organisation unique but define the organisational behavior or a common psychology driven from the set of rules (p. 19). Therefore, it can be said that organisational culture are the set of norms, beliefs, and patterns that serves the purpose of the organisation’s existence. The organisational culture is visible at all three levels of the organisation. The above mentioned figure explains that in the first level â€Å"artefacts† there are more visible values that are easily noticeable like dress code, workplace related patterns etc. In second layer there are espoused values that explains the norms and philosophy of organisational working pattern  where as the third level consist of strong beliefs that are generally accepted for granted without any objection or protest. These are underlying assumptions and workforce take it for granted. Denison (2010) strongly emphasis that over a time period, all types of organisations forms its own culture that serves as a special and unique identity and individuality differentiating it from the other organisations. This shows the significant of the organisational culture that why it is important for the present day leaders and managers to comprehensively understand it. The better a manager understands the organisational culture, more he or she can motivate and the workforce to achieve the organisational targets and objectives because the actual vision and purpose of existence of a company is in the heart of beliefs, norms, and culture of the organisation. The leaders and managers can only make themselves and their workforce to live up to the core values or corporate values when they ensure that from inspiring workforce to walk to talk and practically implement those values. The need to understand the organisational culture arise more for the leaders and managers to ensure the resources are allocated in effective and efficient ways. As per Schien (1985), in the manner things are being done is a significant notion that urges on the significance of understanding about the organisational culture in more depth (Deal and Kennedy, 1982, p. 04). The Above figure 2. reveals that the essentiality of understanding the organisational culture. The model shows that organisational culture is similar to an iceberg, as it appear to be small at upper surface but deep down is much larger than it appears. If leaders or managers do not properly understand organisational culture, they will not be able to perform their respective assigned tasks nor bring out the best from their respective workforce. Watson (2006) strongly highlights that in the present era, the shift in managerial thinking has been remarkable as now leaders and managers are more encouraged to make efforts in developing a strong organisational culture.  One of the example is Ford company where leaders play integral part in the formation of the organisational culture (Siriginia, 2012). On the other hand, Schein (2004) argue that leadership is bind with the culture in more than one way. TATA motors is an absolute example that organisational culture has from time to time played vital role in the responsibilities and roles of the leaders. The empirical research of O’Farrell (2006) at the Australian public service indicates that principles, code of conduct, statements of values has immense affect on the role and responsibilities of the managers. For instance, Ford motor company’s vision of aiming to become leading automotive consumer choice, this is a vision bounded in the culture of a company driving the managers towards more excellence in their respective performances as it has increased the role and responsibilities of the managers to accomplish and view the vision together with the workforce. â€Å"It is our responsibility as leaders, managers and administrators to transform the vision of the organisation into reality† (O’Farrell, 2006. p.8). This explains that the roles and responsibilities of the managers cannot be separated from the organisational According to Lester (2010) managers role turns at time into disciplinarian in small organisations as he or she attempts to ensure that the missions and targets are accomplished by the employees due to the organisational culture. However, it is not just limited to the small organisation as Ryanair is not a small business, but manager’s role is more disciplinarian due to organisational culture (Riley, 2013). Therefore, it can be said that no matter how simple or complex organisation may appear but managers have a definite role to play that is being architect by the organisational culture. Malinger et al., (2009) emphasized that the organisational culture is indeed a tone setter for the leaders and managers in not only accomplishing the organisational objectives, but the changes are also managed by the managers and leaders due to the existing organisational culture. The same study revealed that managers role may not emerge as clearly as it should have been due to the reason it is at time overshadowed by the organisational culture. To support the statement, a survey at a Goodwin company indicated that managers may not succeed in the bringing the changes in the organisation due  to the lack of employee’s personal motivation. This means that no matter how much strong influences of organisational culture may have on the responsibilities of the managers but there is no guarantee that employees will accept the changes if lacks motivation. Hence, we can say that the responsibilities of the manager further exceed as to motivate and convince the workers towards accepti ng and embracing the changes for the organisational interest. The role of a manager increase more when the organisational culture demands to bring the changes inside the organisation. The manager become more of mentor and a coach to ensure that employees are trained to accept and respond in right manner towards the required changes. In the example of Head Start, the managers and leaders role and responsibilities include empowering the workforce in order to bring the best out of them. The ‘Program Culture’ is the responsibility of the managers to make sure that every individual understand the culture of the organisation and positively contribute towards the organisational success (ECLKC, 2013). In other words, the manager’s prime role is to create an environment that promotes a healthy relationship among employee with employees, employees with the management, and employees with their respective jobs. Training and development is essential for the managers to ensure that employees are understanding the organisational culture an d contributing towards the organisational interest rather than personal goals and interests (Bennis, 1989). Lister (2010) propose that the role of managers shaped by the firms with organisational culture that promote the role of disseminated leadership culture where workers are integral part of the formation of the strategies related to business, will urge the managers to have more close coordination and interaction with the employees. From the above figure, it is clear that the corporate culture and strategy of the organisation must be align so that managers can accomplish their goals. Similarly, the research report of Head Start Program published by ECLKC (2013) revealed that the role of manager is to communicate with the workforce properly to make sure that the organisational operations are being carried out in a swift and smooth patterns. However, Riley (2013) strongly argue that leaders and managers’  personal style has more influence in shaping the organisational culture. Considering the case study of Ryanair, the â€Å"macho† management culture is dominated and result of the leadership style of Michael O’Leary. Despite, this notion, the management literature suggest that in majority of the cases, it is the organisational culture that has impact on the changing responsibilities and roles of the organisation, such as in the case study of TATA motors and Ford (Sriginia, 2012). Therefore, it can be said that manager’s may have more interaction with the subordinates to encourage their participation in the decisions. Furthermore, Reed Business Information, (2011) states that individuals inside the organisation forms the organisational culture. Individuals with more authority do lead the firms and have huge influence on the culture as a result of power linkage between subordinates and managers or leaders. For this reason, it is essential to develop a comprehensive understanding about the group’s distinct behaviors so that organisational culture and its influences on responsibilities and roles of the managers can be analyzed. Manager’s main task is to make certain that right things are done in right manner. This means that it is responsibility of the manager to establish the channels in which job is done in correct manner without enticing the workforce to react in a negative way. Mowbray (2010) consider trustworthiness, motivation, wisdom, intelligence, skills to foster others, and attentiveness are some of the key attributes required by the managers to accomplish the organisational objectives through workforce. Similarly, Kouzes and Posner (1993) also argue that the role of the manager is to built an effective team inside the organisation, that can only be possible when managers posses these types of attributes. The similar findings is evident in extract of Lister (2010) that manager’s role is to lead by examples. It is the responsibility of the manager to double check that employees are motivated and performing for increasing organisational outcomes. The core values of the organisation must be lived by the managers themselves. For this reason, it is important that manager should set examples. Ron Williams of Atena is example of how leading from the front is important as he is the first person who encourages his workforce to be the first person  to be informed about the bad news. The organisational culture of Atena has four phases that are (i) Integrity, (ii) Excellence, (iii) Inspiration, and (iv) Caring respectively. These four components are the core competencies of the organisation. The manager is responsible to make certain that quality services are being delivered in an effective and efficient way. The others are being respected and inspired to perform better. These core concepts are the actual components that encourages and develops the role of leader to be more result oriented within this framework. One of the element of Atena is discussed here to explain the impact of culture and that is inspiring each other to find new ways to make a world better place. RIB – Reed Business Information (2011) also states that managers must have adaption in his approach to develop a culture of positivity at workplace that a firm requires and inspire and empower other employees to do the tasks with positive attitude and intent. However, workwell model (2010) for health management, that is being issued by the Business In The Community – BITC does not consider the management behavior as the hub and therefore does not take in account the managers and employee’s behavior can have influence on the environment but it considers environment as a key consideration that will have a strong influence on the choices and feelings. Since the role of manager as being identified by various researchers as â€Å"inspiring and motivating employees† (Bennis 1989; Lister 2010; and Sirginia, 2012). Therefore, it can be state that full understanding of the organisational culture is essential to increase employee engagement, which is the responsibility of the managers within the organisation. Mowbray (2010) consider that code of conduct is one of the important responsibility of the manager to ensure that all the employees are following the code of conduct regularly. These code of conducts are in reality part of the organisational culture’s artefacts. This means that it is the duty of the managers to make sure that the employees are following the code of conduct inside the organisation. This way, it can be said that the management behavior is reflected as well developed through the organisational culture. Furthermore, Mowbray (2010) stressed on the role of  the manager to maintain a steady focus on the organisational management, people and talent management, and service management. We notice that the values must be promoted and lived by the managers themselves in a practical manner as Blue Skies case study, it was clear that the core values of the firm were not personally lived by the managers and owner which lead to the turmoil and severe consequences. On the other hand, it is viewed that IKEA Group corporate is preferred by the employees as they feel proud to be part of it. The reason behind it is the values are centre of the culture (IKEA, 2013). The principles, values, and missions are being reflected by the code of conduct as a guiding source for the managers to carry out their responsibilities. These codes enable the managers to manage conflicts and resolve disputes at the workplace. For this purpose, effective communication is very important. It is one of the key responsibility of the managers to monitor and evaluate that the smooth communication is flowing in horizontal as well vertical direction. In case of Head Start values and beliefs are most crucial for the managers and leaders to understand and deliver the best to ensure that the conflicts are resolved. Any conflict or issue is an obstacle that will hinder the organisation from performing properly. Therefore, manager’s responsibility is to make certain that the conflicts are being resolved in a way that will contributed to the success of the organisation. As the communication channels improve, there is more and more effectiveness and efficiency in the workin g of the organisation. Everything that a manager manages is with the ultimate goal of reaching and accomplishing the organisational objectives. Planning, organizing, controlling, monitoring, directing, staffing, and coordinating are all the primary roles of the managers in the organisation. All these roles are linked with the one ultimate objective that is to make the most of the available resources to achieve goals and targets of the organisation. It is evident clearly that vision and mission are part of the organisational culture that are translated by the managers through above mentioned roles of the managers. For instance, the manager’s behavior play vital role in the influencing the behavior of the others was identified in the process of NHS  managers’ quality assurance done by the management consultancy PwC – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC, 2009). This means that positive behavior of a manager is important to develop a positive culture so it can be said that it is the responsibility of the managers to ensure that positive workplace environment is established within the organisation. However, the roles and responsibility varies from managers to managers and organisation to organisation because of its own unique culture. It is not that only manager’s role and responsibilities are being influenced by the organisational culture. There are other things like the behavior, attitude towards work, and commitment and engagement of both employees as well managers are also influenced by the culture of the organisation. On the basis of above analysis it can be said that the organisational culture is like an umbrella under which all the values, beliefs, codes, principles, norms, and procedures groom to give rise to the unique identity of the organisation. The organisational culture is not limited to only written principles, it is something that from walk to talk must be embraced by each and every individual, transformed through the managers and lived by each and every individual. Organisational culture has three significant level that are similar to the iceberg, where underlying assumptions are covered inside rituals and generally taken for granted beliefs. Furthermore, it is also clear that role of manager is to make certain that employees are led by setting examples, building effective teams, promoting smooth channels of communications, conflict management, planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, monitoring, etc are all key roles of the managers. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the manager to make sure that employees are properly trained and embrace the organisational culture properly. The more employees are familiar with the organisational culture, more are the chances of smooth operations and long time sustainability. The organisational culture not only differentiate the organisation from the other in line competitors but helps in the business succession planning and developing the environment to retain the best talents inside the organisation. Employees who have better understanding of the organisational culture, works to promote the organisational goal with more devotion and  motivation. This means that talents are retained by the organisations. However, sometime the norms and beliefs may hinder in the way of progress and change as managers and leader unconsciously follow the same routes that they have been following from long time. It is essential to develop a system through which top management review that the organisational culture is positive and progressive, proving the opportunities for the workforce to be more professional and participative. References: Bennis, W. (1989). â€Å"Why Leaders Can’t Lead†. Training and Development Journal. 43 (4), 38. Deal, T.E. and Kennedy, A.A. (1982). Corporate Cultures: The Rites and Rituals of Corporate Life. Reading, MA: Peruses Books. Denison, D. (2010). What is an Organisational culture? why culture matters to your organisation . Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd0kf3wd120. Last accessed 16th Dec 2013. ECDK, (1997). â€Å"Influencing Organizational Culture.† Leading Head Start into the Future. Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community Glendon, A.I. & Stanton, N.A. (2000). Perspectives on Safety Culture. Safety Science 34, 193-214. IKEA, (2013). Why work at IKEA? available at: https://www.ikea.com. Last accessed 16th Dec 2013. Kouzes, J., and Posner, B., (1993), Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Lister, J. (2010). Organisational Culture’s Effect on Manager’s Role. Available: http://smallbusiness.chron.co m/organizational-cultures-effects-managers-role-18426.html. Last accessed 16th Dec 2013. Lundberg, C. C. (1990). Surfacing organisational culture. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 5(4), 19-26. Mallinger, M., Goodwin, D., And O’Hara, T.,. (2009). Reorganizing the organisational culture in Managing Change. Graziado Business Review. 12 (1), 1-30. Mowbray D. (2010). â€Å"Changing management behavior†. occasional paper, vol.3 no.7 O’Farrell, G. (2006) Cultures and Values in the Queensland Public Service, Speech presented at the Queensland Regional Heads Forum Annual Business Conference, Conrad Hotel, Broad beach, 25 May 2006. Available at: http://www.qrhf.gov.au/04_conferences/georgeofarrell.presentation.pdf.pdf. Last accessed 16th Dec 2013. PwC. (2009). â€Å"Assuring the quality of senior

Rain Man the Movie

Rain Man is a movie directed by Berry Levinson. The movie won best picture in 1988. This movie is about a man Charlie Babbitt, played by Tom Cruise. In the beginning of the movie Charlie suddenly learns of his estranged and wealthy father’s death. After the funeral, Charlie is read his father’s last will and testament. He then finds out that he is not to be included in the estates finances. This news is somewhat disturbing to Charlie. He questions the lawyer to find out who the money has been left too. Charlie finds out that the three million dollars had been left to an un-named trustee.Charlie is determined to find out who this unnamed trustee is, and why his father would leave so much money to him. Through some digging Charlie finds that the trustee is a man that lives at a mental institution. Charlie goes there to check out the institution and ask questions. At the institution Charlie runs into his long lost autistic and institutionalized brother. It takes him awhile to put the pieces of the puzzle together because Charlie was never told that he had a brother. Charlie is still angry about not inheriting his father’s money, and is very confused about the news of having an autistic brother.Charlie decides to take his brother away from the institution, and back with him to Los Angeles. The news of having a brother is a big shock to Charlie, the fact that his brother has autism is very difficult for Charlie to deal with. Charlie’s brothers name is Raymond Babbitt he is played by Dustin Hoffman. Raymond is not allowed to leave the institution for longer than two hours, so it takes some manipulation on Charlie’s part to finally convince Ray to go with him to Los Angeles on this lengthy cross country road trip. Charlie had to promise Ray that he would take him to a major league baseball game.During the excursion Charlie slowly learns more about Raymond’s condition. It’s very challenging for both of them along the way . Charlie slowly learns how to adjust to all of Raymond’s autistic ways. Ray always likes to eat at the same time every day and gets very upset and nervous if anything is altered from his normal routine. He has certain menus he follows for each day of the week and any variation in these menus seems tragic to him. Ray also followed a strict television routine. He always watches the same programs every day. Ray would drive Charlie crazy by always repeating things, and insisting on only shopping at K-Mart.Along the way Charlie realizes that Raymond has a gift to memorize and count things with great accuracy. To Charlie’s downfall he ends up taking him to Las Vegas to count cards at the black jack tables at Caesars Palace casino. Although at first Charlie was concerned mostly about the money, he does establish a very strong bond with his brother and decides that he wants him to live with him in Los Angeles. The doctors on the other hand want Raymond to come back to the ins titution to live. It is unclear if the doctor’s motives are the money, or if they truly care for this patient.They have a custody hearing to determine where Raymond will live. The doctor at the institution meets up with Charlie to try to buy him off with money, but Charlie refuses, it is no longer an issue of money for him he just wants to be with his brother. The following day they go to the custody hearing. Even though it had appeared as though Raymond had made great improvements while in the care of his brother Raymond was unable to show the psychiatrist and doctor this because he became too nervous. It appears as though he was no different than he was when he left the institution.The decision was made that Raymond would return to the institution to live. Charlie puts Raymond on a train back to the institution with a promise that he will be coming to visit him in two weeks. The movie ends with Raymond counting down the days until Charlie’s visit. He is counting how many days, weeks, minutes, and even the exact seconds it will be until he will get to see his little brother again. Levinson, B. (1988) Autism is a challenging disorder. It causes massive amounts of stress on families. Autism disorder tends to causes a lot of stress on parents, siblings, and caregivers alike.Raising a child with autism usually causes more stress on a parent than mental retardation does due to the lack of interpersonal responsiveness associated with autism. Hoppes and Harris (1990). It is such a commonly known disorder for children to be diagnosed with that it scares new moms who are constantly looking for those red flags. If a child has a speech delay then parents often become concerned about a diagnosis of autism. It will lead parents to have their children tested when sometimes there is no reason for them to be concerned.Pediatrician’s offices usually have tons of useful information pertaining to identifying symptoms of autism disorder. Some symptoms includ e but are not limited to violent temper tantrums, they can appear to be deaf at times but not at others, or not respond when their own name is called. Most often autism is recognized by a delay in language skill or even a regression of skills such as social or communication. Autism affects each individual differently, some cases can be very mild and some can be more severe. Parker and Parker (2002) often parents become aware that something is not right as early as infancy.Sometimes it can take as long as three years of age before they notice something is wrong. It really depends on the severity. Patients with autism will or can show signs of communication problems, difficulty relating to people, difficulty to changes, and repetitive body movements ex: repetitive rocking. Children with autism usually do not like a lot of physical contact; they often do not like to even be held by their own parents. It is noted that adults with autism usually find looking people directly in the eye to be a problem, even people that they may know very well.Many people with autism never learn to speak. Parker and Parker (2002) For years Scientist research to find a cure, but for now no one even knows exactly what causes autism. It is estimated that somewhere between three to nine percent of the population of the United States has been diagnosed with this disorder. Boys seem to be more likely to get it than girls are by a ratio of 2. 5 to four. Studies seem to show that genetics play a big role as siblings seem to be two hundred times more likely to get this disorder than the general population.Piotrowski (2005). Yet over the years there have been many speculations, news stories and several documentaries on how vaccinations are the main cause of autism, as of yet there has been no scientific proof that this is true Parker and Parker (2002). There are also rumors of lead and mercury being a culprit although I was not able to find a documented source on this that I could cite. There are many people who feel that if they feed their children a certain diet plan that it will help their children’s symptoms, again these are not scientifically documented.The main fact here is that there is no cure for autism, but there are treatment options available. The earlier the treatment is started the better chance the patient and families will have at a possibly of living a near-normal life. Usually it is recommended to start treatment before age two. Examples of treatment options are Individualized Education Programs, Comprehensive Treatment Programs, Applied Behavior Analysis, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support, and certain types of medications. Parker and Parker (2002) Autism is a challenging disorder. It causes massive amounts of stress on families. Through further education and treatment autism does not have to be a crippling disease, it can be managed with proper treatment and care.References Berkell Zager, D. (1999). Autism: Identification, Education, and Treatment. Mahwah,NJ Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 17 Parker, J. & Parker, P. (2002). Official Parent’s Sourcebook on Autism. San Diego, CA Icon Health Publications, 10-25 Piotrowski, N. (2005). Psychology Basics. Hackensack, NJ Salem Press, 121-126 Johnson, M. (Producer), & Levinson, B. (Director). (1988). Rain Man [Motion picture]. United States: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios Inc.

Anne Sexton essays

Anne Sexton essays Anne Sexton became one of the best known of the often-controversial Confessional poets. Anne Sexton wrote openly about menstruation, incest, adultery, and drug addiction at a time when these topics were forbidden in poetry. Theres possibly no other American in our time that has cried aloud publicly so many private details. In additional to focusing upon her emotional life, Sextons later work includes frequent allusions to mythology, fairy tales, and Christian motifs, and explores such topics as romantic love, motherhood, and relationships between the sexes. So, Anne Sexton uses twisted metaphors and similes, symbolic images, and vivid colors to tell about her transformed poems. By using twisted metaphors and similes as a technique in her writing, Sexton transforms her poems to be anything but the ordinary. Using metaphors in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs contribute to the breezy contemporary sound. In addition, nearly every line of this quote uses simile or metaphors to develop them and tone: No matter what life you lead/ the virgin is a lovely number:/ cheeks as fragile as cigarette paper, arms and legs made of Limoges, lips like Vin Du Rhone, rolling her china-blue doll eyes/ open and shut.(Sexton Trans. Pg3) This other twisted metaphor depicts theme and tone for the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her stepmother, a beauty in her own right, though eaten of course, by age, would hear of no beauty surpassing her own. Beauty is a simple passion. (Sexton Trans. Pg3) In In Celebration of My Uterus as one of the few poems in which a woman has come to the fact as a symbol, the center after many years of silence and taboo that is delineation of female ness so fanatical that it makes one wonder. Everyone in one is a bird. I am beating all my wings. They wanted to cut you out/ but they will not. They said you were immeasurably empty/ but you are not/...

The Two Paths essays

The Two Paths essays Within John Ruskins Book The Two Paths he discusses many of his ideas, concerns and theories on art and art culture. I will cover but four of what I think to be the more interesting concepts. Balancing true representation of form and abstract human expression in an artwork. The effect art has on a cultures behaviour and vice versa. The idea that the human hand will never be surpassed in its ability to create true art. And finally, I will discuss Ruskins position on the distinction between art for arts sake, or art for self-recognition and wealth. Born in London, February 8, 1819, John Ruskin was destined to be either a man of God or a man of art and literature. His mother Margaret Cox was a devoted Christian who had dedicated her only child to God before Ruskin was even born. His first education was to be that of the bible, and due to his mothers strict policy of being a Christian, he would end up learning it well. His father, though no less strict, was a highly cultured man. He was not only a collector of art, but also a lover and writer of poetry. This mix of strictness and culture, caused Ruskins upbringing to be a very successful one in which he learnt to write verse by the age of eight, began taking lessons from a drawing master at age ten, and had his first works published by the age of fifteen. It was his strict upbringing, his educated outlook on the world and a copy of Rogers Italy by which was partly illustrated by J.M.W. Turner that influenced his stance on the world of art, architecture and poetry all around hi m. Although Ruskin suffered from a lot of mental illness throughout his life he was still able to write the most profound statements that often seem to encapsulate what I think to be the truth about art. Of all writers on art, Ruskin is the most difficult to evaluate today (Fishman,1963, 14). This statement is certainly powerful, and ...

Academy Awards Trivia and Interesting Facts

Academy Awards Trivia and Interesting Facts Whether youre a classic movie buff or a blockbuster film fanatic, the yearly Academy Awards is likely to be a big deal for you and your friends. At your next Oscars party, test everyones knowledge with trivia questions on the award ceremonys history and fun, little-known facts. The Very First Oscar Winner The first person to receive an Academy Award did not even attend the first Academy Awards ceremony. Emil Jannings, the winner for Best Actor in the 1927-28 Academy Awards, had decided to go back to his home in Germany before the ceremony. But before he left for his trip, Jannings was handed the very first Academy Award. The Only Oscar to Win an Oscar Oscar Hammerstein II won the Oscar for his song, The Last Time I Saw Paris, in the movie Lady Be Good (1941). X-Rated Winner Midnight Cowboy (1969), the winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, is the only X-rated movie to win an Oscar. Sibling Rivalry Ethel and Lionel Barrymore are the only brother and sister to ever win Academy Awards for acting. Lionel Barrymore won an Oscar for Best Actor in A Free Soul (1931). Ethel Barrymore won an Oscar for Best Actress in None But the Lonely Heart (1944). The First Color Movie to Win Best Picture Gone With the Wind (1939) was the first movie filmed in color to win the Best Picture award. Posthumous Nominations There have been a number of people nominated for Academy Awards after their death. However, the first person to be nominated posthumously and actually win was screenwriter Sidney Howard for Gone With the Wind (1939). James Dean, on the other hand, has been the only actor to be nominated twice after death; once for Best Actor in East of Eden (1955) and again the following year for Best Actor in Giant (1956). Winners Who Didnt Speak on Camera Three actors have won Academy Awards for playing characters that did not utter a single word throughout the entire film. Jane Wyman won the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Belinda, a deaf mute, in   Johnny Belinda (1948). Sir John Mills played the mute village idiot in Ryans Daughter (1970), for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award. Most recently, Holly Hunter won the Best Actress award for her portrayal of the mute Ada McGrath in The Piano (1993). The Most Frequent Hosts The list of hosts for the Academy Awards ceremony is dotted with prestigious names such as Will Rogers, Frank Capra, Jack Benny, Fred Astaire, Jack Lemmon and David Letterman. However, one man has dominated Academy Award history; Bob Hope hosted a whopping 18 Academy Award ceremonies. Billy Crystal, who has hosted the ceremonies 8 times, ranks second as the host with the most. Johnny Carson comes in third after hosting 5 Academy Award ceremonies. How the Oscar Name Came About The Oscar statuettes official name is the Academy Award of Merit. The name Oscar is actually a nickname that has been around for decades with unclear beginnings. Though there are several different stories that claim to tell the origin of the nickname Oscar, the most common attributes the nickname to a comment made by Margaret Herrick. Herrick, as the story goes, worked as a librarian at the Academy and upon first seeing the statuette, commented that the statuette looked like her Uncle Oscar. No matter how the nickname started, it became increasingly used to describe the statuette in the 1930s and was officially used by the Academy beginning in 1939. A Winner Who Was Never Nominated The only Academy Award winner who won but was never officially nominated was Hal Mohr for Best Cinematography for   A Midsummer Nights Dream (1935). Mohr was the first and only person to win via a write-in vote. When the Phrase And the winner is... Was Discontinued At the 61st Academy Awards, held in 1989, the Academy decided to replace the trademark phrase And the winner is... with the phrase And the Oscar goes to... Did you notice? The Streaker During the Academy Awards ceremony held on April 2, 1974, a man named Robert Opal ran across the stage naked, flashing the peace sign. David Niven had been on stage to introduce the Best Picture category when the streaker ran behind him. Thinking quickly on his feet, Niven remarked, The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping ... and showing his shortcomings.† A 20-Year Delay in Award Eligibility In a strange turn of events,  Charlie Chaplins movie Limelight, which was produced in 1952, won an Academy Award in 1972- 20 years after its first release. According to the Academys rules at the time, a movie could not be considered for an Academy Award until it had played in Los Angeles. When Limelight finally played at a theater in Los Angeles in 1972, it became eligible for an award. Winners Who Refused the Awards Honor The Academy Awards are one of the highest honors one can receive in the movie business. Yet, 3 people have refused the honor. The very first person to refuse an Oscar was Dudley Nichols. Nichols, who had won Best Screenplay for  The Informer  (1935), boycotted the Academy Awards ceremony because of ongoing conflicts between the Academy and the Writers Guild. For his dramatic portrayal of the World War II general in  Patton  (1970), George C. Scott won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Scott refused the honor, stating that the awards ceremony was a  two-hour meat parade. Marlon Brando also refused his award for Best Actor for  The Godfather  (1972). Brando, who said he refused the award because of the discrimination toward Native Americans by the U.S. and Hollywood, sent a woman supposedly named, Sacheen Littlefeather, to collect his award. It turned out later that the woman was really an actress named, Maria Cruz. The Oscar Statuette The Oscar statuette stands at 13 1/2 inches tall and weighs 8 1/2 pounds. It depicts a knight, holding a sword, standing on a reel of film which has five spokes, representing the 5 original branches of the Academyactors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers. In 1949, the Academy started to number the statuettes, starting with number 501. Award Ceremony Postponements Contrary to the old adage, the show must go on, the Academy Awards ceremonies have been postponed 3 times. In 1938, the ceremony was delayed a week because of flooding in Los Angeles. In 1968, the Academy Awards ceremony was pushed back 2 days because of  Martin Luther King Jr.s  funeral. The Academy Awards ceremony was pushed back a single day in 1981 because of the  assassination attempt  on President  Ronald Reagan. The First Televised Academy Awards On March 19, 1953, the Academy Awards ceremony was telecast for the first time across the United States and Canada. Then 13 years later on April 18, 1966, the Academy Awards were broadcast in color for the first time. Both of these ceremonies were hosted by Bob Hope. Plaster Oscars Rather than the usual metal Oscar statuettes, the Academy Awards handed out plaster Oscars during World War II in support of the war effort. After the war, the plaster Oscars could be traded in for traditional metal ones. 11 Nominations, 0 Wins In Oscar history, 2 films  tied  for the record of the most nominations without a single win. Both  The Turning Point  (1977) and  The Color Purple  (1985) received 11 Oscar  nominations but won not a single Academy Award. Sisterly Competition Twice in Academy Awards history, 2 sisters have been nominated for the same category during the same year. For the 1941 Academy Awards, sisters Joan Fontaine (Suspicion) and  Olivia de Havilland  (Hold Back the Dawn) were both nominated for the Best Actress award. Joan Fontaine won the Oscar. Jealousy between the two sisters continued to escalate after this and the 2 have been estranged for decades.   At the 1966 Academy Awards, a similar thing happened. Sisters Lynn Redgrave (Georgy Girl) and Vanessa Redgrave (Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment) were both nominated for the Best Actress award. However, this time, neither of the sisters won.

Who is the Prophet Isaiah Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Who is the Prophet Isaiah - Research Paper Example Within a year of the death of Jeroboam II, however, the Jehu dynasty in the Northern Kingdom of Israel had come to an end and times of insecurity set in . Despite the greater sense of stability due to the Davidic dynasty in Judah, the spiritual and social problems that shook both Judah and Israel, including the deep socioeconomic divide, seemed pretty much identical . As though to multiply the Israelite woes, Tiglath-pileser III, who had gained the throne of Assyria, turned his attention westwards soon after stabilizing his rule in the East . Consequently, the Northern Kingdom sank into an abject vassalage to the Assyrian empire , and in 722 B.C., Tiglath-pileser’s successor, Sargon II, put an end to its existence capturing the capital city Samaria. Insofar as the Hebrew prophets, as witnesses of God’s vital concerns , had generally spoken to the people and elites in times of crisis, whether spiritual, moral or political , their guidance was badly needed by that time. Thus, the Assyrian menace, first posed by Tiglath-pileser III and then by his successors, Shalmaneser V, Sargon II and Sennacherib, was addressed, to a degree or another, by the prophets Amos, Hosea, Isaiah and Micah, while the prophecy of Isaiah particularly reflected the Assyrian invasions of Syria-Palestine . 8. The moral and religious decay, which according to the prophets constituted the circumstances that led to the end of Israel – the Northern Kingdom – and had grave implications for Judah9, necessitated a source of authority, outside the complacent monarchy and priesthood, that would steer the nation â€Å"through the narrow straits of political uncertainty and moral inexactitude†10. This purpose of this paper is to convincingly reconstruct prophet Isaiah’s life and ministry, as found in the Old Testament; as well as to highlight the historical circumstances and divine inspiration that called forth his visions and prophecies. The Prophet’s Life Prophet Isaiah is thought to have lived in Jerusalem throughout most of the second half of the eight century B.C., namely 765-69511. The biographical details about the prophet are found especially in the Book of Isaiah, chapters 6-8, 20, and 36-39, while the historical – political, social and religious – circumstances of his time are thoroughly presented within 2 Kings 15-2012. However, the opening chapter of the Book of Isaiah provides some general information, namely the prophet’s name, the name of his father as well as the historical time13. The prophet’s name, â€Å"Yesha’yahu†, means â€Å"Yahweh saves† or â€Å"helps† and thus, according to Sawyer, enshrines two elements of immense theologica l significance – ‘yahu’, which stands for the name of Israel’s God, Yahweh, and ‘yesha’, which appears not only in the names of Joshua, Elisha, Hosea and Jesus (Yeshua), but also in the triumphant cry ‘Hosanna’ (save)1415. As for the name of Isaiah’s father, Amoz, due to the similarity between Latin and Greek forms of this name and that of prophet Amos, the latter had been initially mistaken for the father of Isaiah16. Among those, who believed the prophet-shepherd of Tekoa17 to be the father of Isaiah, was St Clement of Alexandria; however, as early as the antiquity there had been voices against that opinion, e.g. St Augustine (354-430 A.D.)18, St Jerome (342-420 A.D.)19, etc. Virtually nothing is known about prophet Isaiah’s ancestry; nevertheless, certain passages from the Book of Isaiah hint at the possibility of notable origin2021. As Souvay points out, a Jewish tradition

Economic theory of statistical discrimination Coursework

Economic theory of statistical discrimination - Coursework Example On the other hand in unconscious bias theory, the employers may have a preconceived stereotype towards a certain group which may affect his/her decision making in situations such as giving promotions or pay rises. Such people have preconceived stereotypes when making decisions which object how they would make an unbiased decision. Such people may be trying to do otherwise but they will be affected by the unconscious bias while making decisions. As Wax, (2011) notes, unconscious bias plays a major role in social disparity by race and gender (p. 877). These theories justify the need for anti-discriminatory laws and policies. It is important to help in the ruling of legal suits that have been filed against companies for discriminatory claims. The Employment Non-Discriminatory Act of 2007 is an important act in safeguarding the rights of employees against discrimination. I don’t feel there is any law or policy that should be done away with. Since managers are educated and they know how to handle the employees it is important to put in place strict measures to address cases of

Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Politics - Essay Example International trade is a common policy of an open economy. This might come in goods and services trade or in shipping of capital to and from the country. International trade is one of the highly talked about macroeconomic policies of the governments in the world. Almost all the capitalist countries open their goods and services to trade especially with the creation of the international agencies such as World Trade Organization and the World Bank. Opening the country to the rest of the world also means having an ally in the form of aids in case of calamities or wars. Trade talks can be bilateral or multilateral. At the present, the vast of its international relation of Africa is through foreign aid. The continent has opened its door to foreign aids especially after its independence from Europe. â€Å"Overseas development aid has played a much greater role in Africa than in any other part of the world† (Mkandawire). This paper wishes to trace if the existence of a trade deficit (having higher imports than exports) influenced the conduct of macroeconomic policies in African countries such as Tanzania. If so, in what ways has the deficit influenced macroeconomic policies? â€Å"In the broadest sense, macroeconomic policy is directly concerned with the aims of growth, distribution and sustainability that have been recognised as overriding national objectives† (National Development Strategy). â€Å"It is a tool for changing the economic positions of countries in the wordl economy† (Wuyts). International trade is one of the most important macroeconomic decision of a country as it affects its exchange rate, the interest rate and other aspects of the economy. TheAfrican economies was tagged as â€Å"uncommonly open† because of a high ratio of trade relative to the Gross Domestic Product (Wuyts). In the year 2000, this number reached to more than 60% of the GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa. An important study then is to

HR manager of a large cinema chain based in London Coursework

HR manager of a large cinema chain based in London - Coursework Example The recruitment manager requires few qualities in order to select the right person at the ‘right place and time’. There are several policies for the process of recruitment. In accordance with the provided scenario stetting, the HR manager desires to recruit a cinema manager for a large cinema chain business in London so that the individual can perform according to the policies and principles of the business. The recruitment along with the selection process forms a part of the HR strategy. The main objective of the HR manager for the purpose of recruitment is to employ an individual who can work hard to achieve the desired goals of the business. The analysis of the skills required, judging the ability of the individual along with making an evolution of the performance capability of the individual are the key determinants for the HR manager (Sims, 2005). The process of recruitment is one of the critical tasks of the HR manger as it is the method of attracting new individua ls in the organisation to achieve its set out goals. HR planning (HRP) is important for an organisation to achieve its strategic goals. HR planning is done with the concept that people are amid the most important resources for any organisation. They are the core component of the business as they work in accordance with the requirement of the business development. It is the decision making procedure which helps in identifying the right person for the job. Motivating the employed person facilitates to attain greater performance and create a bridge between the management along with the people planning activities. HRP is of two forms i.e. the â€Å"Hard† and â€Å"Soft† HRP. Hard HRP focuses on the allocation of the right person with the quality needed for the business to flourish. On the other hand, soft HRP endeavours to build the culture of the organisation by achieving the

Brazos Co-Mark Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Brazos Co-Mark - Case Study Example in proving to the potential lenders that the CoMark deal has been carefully evaluated and will be able to generate the money needed to offset the loan given. As a result of the tough economic times brought about by the economic recession of 2008, apart from lenders being more careful the corporate bond market is also not as attractive since investors are very careful with their dollars. Sellers on the other hand as in the case of the founders of CoMark are very hesitant as they expect continued recovery and as such would take their time before committing to transactions. As the economy continues to recover however, the investment environment should become favourable going forward and as such the investment in CoMark will yield returns. The fallen oil prices should also mean a friendlier investment environment. So as to guarantee return on the investment in the CoMark deal as well as assure lenders and potential investors of value due diligence must be taken in every aspect. The first area of due diligence is the company’s profile and its industry. CoMark is strategic in the sense that unlike peers in the industry, it is completely integrated with own production and sales forces. As such the company is easy leverage upon. Firstly it can control prices and also effectively management investment with sales persons involved from the production to the final point where the product is sold. CoMark’s marketing strategy of selling to the end users, majority of whom are government agencies, educational institutions and the private sector is differentiated. As such on this end therefore the company is capable of withstanding recession thus will prefer to go ahead with the investment. Second is the management aspect, CoMark is a family owned business which fits well in the strategy of Brazos. It is well managed and has unique business model in the entire industry hence will approve the deal. The other area of due diligence is the company’s cash flow; CoMark strategy

HR manager of a large cinema chain based in London Coursework

HR manager of a large cinema chain based in London - Coursework Example The recruitment manager requires few qualities in order to select the right person at the ‘right place and time’. There are several policies for the process of recruitment. In accordance with the provided scenario stetting, the HR manager desires to recruit a cinema manager for a large cinema chain business in London so that the individual can perform according to the policies and principles of the business. The recruitment along with the selection process forms a part of the HR strategy. The main objective of the HR manager for the purpose of recruitment is to employ an individual who can work hard to achieve the desired goals of the business. The analysis of the skills required, judging the ability of the individual along with making an evolution of the performance capability of the individual are the key determinants for the HR manager (Sims, 2005). The process of recruitment is one of the critical tasks of the HR manger as it is the method of attracting new individua ls in the organisation to achieve its set out goals. HR planning (HRP) is important for an organisation to achieve its strategic goals. HR planning is done with the concept that people are amid the most important resources for any organisation. They are the core component of the business as they work in accordance with the requirement of the business development. It is the decision making procedure which helps in identifying the right person for the job. Motivating the employed person facilitates to attain greater performance and create a bridge between the management along with the people planning activities. HRP is of two forms i.e. the â€Å"Hard† and â€Å"Soft† HRP. Hard HRP focuses on the allocation of the right person with the quality needed for the business to flourish. On the other hand, soft HRP endeavours to build the culture of the organisation by achieving the

Theory Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Theory - Term Paper Example In considering each claim it is important to look into what democracy actually means. This paper looks into democracy and its claims from both Marxism and Leninism perspectives. Practical use of democracy will form the centre stage in elaborating the meaning of democracy and whether it is an end in itself or a means to an end. Democracy literal meaning is People’s Rule meaning that it is the populace that should bear a nation’s sovereignty. This definition is quite the opposite of autocracy and oligarchy which connote forms of dictatorship perpetuated by one person or a number of people respectively. Therefore, democracy is a situation where people exercise political power through choosing leaders or participating in governance. The latter statement has little strength but its claim is indisputable as an inherent attribute of a democratic establishment. These definitions raise a number of arguments one being that some government systems are more democratic than others ( Lenin 177-215). An absolute democracy will therefore demand that people’s wishes are incorporated in the governance system. Wishes of the people even in the modern democratic institutions are basically achieved through elections. In this case people’s representatives are elected to various levels of government where they are expected to represent the views and wishes of their electorates. Utilitarian theorists hold the belief that democracy offers a channel for people’s will to be done. Elections in the case are an agent of people’s will since electors choose those who are closest to their ideals. Although this is not a strong justification as to the establishment of democracy, it goes further to elaborate the representation of the will of the people in governance. This utilitarian approach to democracy and general will of the people is however not accurate. It is basic fact that a society is comprised of people who hold different views on issues. Consequ ently, it is hard for all to agree on one thing especially on matters pertaining to public policy. This argument of elections as a symbol of democracy does not necessarily bear people’s will (Loo and Peter 45-80). Majoritarianism is used widely in elections debate since those who end up in government are the most popular candidates and this translates into ignorance of the minority’s interests. This loophole in democracies has been overcome by establishing systems that facilitate proportional representation although their viability has proved questionable as factions are forced to join forces to acquire considerable majority. Britain is an example where tyranny of the minority is experienced. This has been the trend after the 2nd World War where only two parties have dominated the political arena. In winning elections these parties need to work hard to woo voters who are indecisive. In so doing the parties find themselves ignoring their ideologically based supporters i n order to appeal to the few undecided ones. This scenario is clearer after looking into democracy as a means to an end. Democracy depicts a situation where people are ruling themselves meaning that a state is incapable of coercing an individual citizen (Lenin 277-313). Freedom is therefore a pillar expected to be upheld by a democratic system more than in others. The degree of equality among people also forms the

Blades, Inc. Case Essay Example for Free

Blades, Inc. Case Essay Ben Holt, chief financial officer (CFO) of Blades, Inc., has decided to counteract the decreasing demand for Speedos roller blades by exporting this product to Thailand. Furthermore, due to the low cost of rubber and plastic in Southeast Asia, Holt has decided to import some of the components needed to manufacture Speedos from Thailand. Holt feels that importing rubber and plastic components from Thailand will provide Blades with a cost advantage ( the components im-ported from Thailand are about 20 percent cheaper than similar components in the United States). Currently, approximately $ 20 million, or 10 percent, of Blades’ sales are contributed by its sales in Thailand. Only about 4 percent of Blades’ cost of goods sold is attributable to rubber and plastic imported from Thailand. Blades faces little competition in Thailand from other U. S. roller blades manufacturers. Those competitors that export roller blades to Thailand invoice their exports in U. S. dollars. Currently, Blades follows a policy of invoicing in Thai baht ( Thailand’s currency). Ben Holt felt that this strategy would give Blades a competitive advantage since Thai importers can plan more easily when they do not have to worry about paying differing amounts due to currency fluctuations. Furthermore, Blades’ primary customer in Thailand ( a retail store) has committed itself to purchasing a certain amount of Speedos annually if Blades will invoice in baht for a period of 3 years. Blades’ purchases of components from Thai exporters are currently invoiced in Thai baht. Ben Holt is rather content with current arrangements and believes the lack of competitors in Thailand, the quality of Blades’ products, and its approach to pricing will ensure Blades’ position in the Thai roller blade market in the future. Holt also feels that Thai in the Thai roller blade market in the future. Holt also feels that Thai importers will prefer Blades over its competitors because Blades invoices in Thai baht. You, Blades’ financial analyst, have doubts as to Blades’ â€Å"guaranteed† future success. Although you believe Blades’ strategy for its Thai sales and imports are sound, you are concerned about current expectations for the Thai economy. Current forecasts indicate a high level of anticipated inflation, a decreasing level of national income, and a continued depreciation of the Thai baht. In your opinion, all of these future developments could affect Blades financially given the company’s current arrangements with its suppliers and with the Thai importers. Both Thai consumers and firms might adjust their spending habits should certain developments occur. In the past, you have had difficulty convincing Ben Holt that problems could arise in Thailand. Consequently, you have developed a list of questions for yourself, which you plan to present to the company’s CFO after you have answered them. Your questions are listed here: 1. How could a higher level of inflation in Thailand than that of US affect Blades import and export respectively in the following two scenarios? a. In the short term, US$ versus THB hold at fixed exchange rate due to a pegged exchange rate policy. b. In the long run, the Thailand trade deficit causes the pegged exchange

Concept of Nationalism in Contemporary Political Geography

Concept of Nationalism in Contemporary Political Geography To what extent is the concept of nationalism useful for understanding contemporary political geography? Use examples to illustrate your answer. In order to analyse to what extent the concept of nationalism is useful for understating contemporary political geography, it is important to define what is meant by the concepts. Nationalism can be defined as an ‘identification with ones own nation and support for its interests.’ (Dictionaries, 2018) However, the concept of nationalism is much more complexed and I intend to expand on this during the course of the essay.   When discussing political geography it refers to ‘the branch of geography that deals with the boundaries, divisions, and possessions of states.’  (Dictionaries, 2018) With the key concepts defined it allows us to examine the question in depth. In this essay I intend to demonstrate, using a variety of examples that the concept of nationalism forms a core foundation in several contemporary debates in political geography and thus it can be useful to understanding it. One of the main reasons that nationalism has become present in contemporary political geography is due to geographical reasons.   It can be concluded that those countries with a stronger sense of national identity have a more isolationist approach and place the benefits of their own countries above that of everything else. It is evident that geographical location plays a large part in a countries sense of national identity. Britain has already acquired a strong sense of national identity, however, many argue that this sense of national identity has developed further due to its geographical location – they have no bordering nations. This concept is also visible in other countries with few bordering nations such as the USA. (Agnew, et al., 2003)This isolation means that they form more nationalist viewpoints which as I will demonstrate has a direct impact of contemporary political debates. Nationalism has also come about in contemporary political geography due to historical reasons which have, again, led to nationalist viewpoint and approaches and thus impacted several contemporary political debates. Using the example of Europe, it becomes clear to see that certain countries overtime have become dominant through their military power and strong trade links. Countries have fought for authority and those that have come out on top such as Britain can see this reflected in their national identity, which is one of pride. Their dominance over Europe has led the country to have an isolationist approach to contemporary political geography issues.   In contrast, those countries in Europe such as France which has over history suffered greatly from its vulnerability and military weakness has led to them needed strong ties with its neighbouring countries in order to help protect themselves. This has meant that over time their sense of national identity has diminished. This is reflected in contemporary political geography issues as they are certainly more open to changes, such as further integration in Europe and the issues surrounding asylum seekers, than countries with a stronger sense of national identity such as Britain. (Agnew, et al., 2003) Britain’s political stability has remained similar over time and this is what has brought about such a strong sense of national identity. In the context of nationalism and contemporary political geography the current issues faced in regards to integration in Europe are a prime example of an issue in which the two concepts are present.   The concept of nationalism is apparent here because while some are encouraging an improvement in integration, others are concerned that this will decrease individual state sovereignty.   It can be concluded that state sovereignty is one of the key aspects of nationalism. It has allowed each nation to govern itself and have its own authority, elections have made people feel part of the governance of their own nation and thus has allowed each nation to develop its own sense of national identity. For example, over history, Britain and its national sovereignty has allowed it to rule over its empire and colonies. This has led to a strong sense of national identity within the nation and a cautious view towards European integration. (Adler-Nissen, 2015) Political geography is present in this debate because it concerns the boundaries of states. In this example there are many who argue that a more integrated Europe should be one in which boundaries are broken down between nations, allowing the free movement of goods and labour.   On a similar line to this, the current debate surrounding asylum seekers and the control of European Union borders is one in which nationalism forms a central basis. It occurs across almost every country in the world and has become a significant issue in current political geography debates. The movement of people across borders has always caused conflict due to the negative representations of asylum seekers. (Manara, 2018)These negative representations of asylum seekers are ultimately aimed at protecting individual state sovereignty. (Appendix 1) A prime example of this is in the UK, one of the main driving forces behind ensuring votes to ‘leave’ Brexit was to implement stricter criteria in relation to asylum and immigration. In 2016, 75% of potential ‘leave’ voters mentioned immigration as the most important issue, this was at a time in which asylum seekers were arriving to the UK at near-record levels.  (Hirschler, 2017)   The concept of nationalism is evident here because the UK was more concerned about protecting its individual state sovereignty and economy rather than helping refugee’s during the crisis. Environmental issues also play a key part in current political geographical debates, in particular global warming and destruction of rainforests.   Climate change has profound implications for the future of the planet. In relation to political geography the debate is whether those countries who are responsible for climate change should be obliged to contribute more into the Green Climate Fund.  (Goodwin, 2014) This is because it has been proven that emissions produced by these countries are affecting not only the whole earth but in particular those countries within their borders. Since President Trump announced the United States withdraw from Paris Agreement in 2017, there have been several debates. The United States is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide that is heating the planet. (Appendix 2) The nationalist view of President Trump here was that the contributions the country was making as part of the Paris Agreement was affecting the United States economy. However, the counter argument is that the large role the United States has played in causing climate change creates an outsize responsibility to help control the issue. A further example of an environmental issue in contemporary political geography is the destruction of the rainforests. At the centre of this debate is South America, here most deforestation takes place because of their need for agricultural land. (Goodwin, 2014) In poor countries such as South America people very often turn to agriculture in order to make money to meet every day needs of living. The farmers migrate to agricultural settlement areas, and cut down several acres of land to use for farming. The stumps are burnt which releases the nutrients into the soil that are needed to grow crops. The nationalist view here is that it is a source of income and helps boost the nation’s economy and that the forests are within the nation’s border. However, the argument is that it is affecting the entire planet as it is adding to climate change and the greenhouse effect to the large scale destruction. Not only does it affect climate change but also wildlife.   ‘It is obvious that there is no clear solution to these problems, but the result of nationalism in this sense, on the world could be disastrous.’ Nationalism has been a concept which has appeared throughout the ongoing political issues linked to immigration in Europe. It was one of the main reasons behind the choice that Britain made to leave the European Union in 2017. The European Union allows people to have free movement between the countries, and although many people would see this as a benefit it can be argued that Britain did not. Perhaps this was because of the countries strong sense of nationalism and representations of asylum seekers in the British media which meant that citizens would see the arrival of immigrants as a hindrance on the British economy. Many British people believed that it was unfair that workers who were unskilled and unable to support themselves were moving to the country and being supported by the government.  (Delanty & OMahony, 2002)   I believe that this sense of nationalism can, again, be contributed to Britain’s isolationist approach. Ex Tory Leader William Hague defined the British nationalist approach in one of his interviews. In which his response to the immigration dilemma was that ‘first we must learn to look after our own people, then we can look at helping others.’   This has been a statement which has symbolised many of Britain’s nationalistic tendencies. One final example of where it is apparent that nationalism is at the core to a contemporary political geography issue is over world economy, in particular the subject of poverty. It becomes apparent from the previous examples that a countries national interests always dominate other factors to contemporary political geography issues and it is no different here. It is well known that over the past years, the world’s wealthiest countries have been exploiting third world countries for their own economic benefits.  (Delanty & OMahony, 2002) For example, countries such as the United States and United Kingdom have benefited from the exploitation of labour forces in third world countries, such as Africa, as it allows them to increase profit on trade goods.   Nationalism is evident here as countries such as the US and UK are accepting the exploitation of third world countries in order to benefit their economies and increase profit maximisation. However, this in turn increases the amount of debt and poverty experienced in third world countries. The political debate surrounding this issue is that there are two standards. In the developing world, a minimum wage is required whereas in the underdeveloped world it can be said that they are being exploited in order to make more money. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why disparity exists in the world and nationalism is the cause, which priorities its own economic benefits above that of equality. In conclusion, from the examples discussed above it becomes clear to see that nationalism forms a core foundation in several current political geography issues. Whether it is environmental or social issues they all unanimously point to nationalism as the centre topic. Therefore from this it can be concluded that nationalism is extremely useful to understanding a wide range of contemporary political geography issues. Nationalism is both a symptom and a cause of contemporary political geography issues, due to countries prioritising their own interest above all else.   There are many contemporary political geography issues relating to nationalism which need to be addressed in order for them to be resolved. Bibliography Adler-Nissen, R., 2015. Opting out of the European Union: diplomacy, sovereignty and European integration.. International Affairs, 91(4), pp. 897-899. Agnew, J. A., Toal, G. & Mitchell, K., 2003. A companion to Political Geography. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Delanty, G. & OMahony, P., 2002. Nationalism and Social Theory: Modernity and the Recalcitrance of the Nation. London: Sage Publications. Dictionaries, O., 2018. Oxford Dictionaries. [Online] Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/nationalism [Accessed 16 April 2018]. Dictionaries, O., 2018. Oxford Dictionaries. [Online] Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/political_geography [Accessed 16 April 2018]. Goodwin, B., 2014. Using Political Ideas. 6th ed. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Hirschler, S., 2017. Brexit, immigration and expanded markets of social control. Safer Communities, 16(4), pp. 176-185. Insitute, W. R., 2016. World Resoruces Insitute, London: World Resources Insitute. Manara, M., 2018. The depoliticisation of asylum seekers. Political Geography, Volume 64, pp. 43-52. Periwal, S., 1995. Notions of Nationalism. London: Central European University Press Book. Stewart, H., 2016. The Guardian. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/16/nigel-farage-defends-ukip-breaking-point-poster-queue-of-migrants [Accessed 19 April 2018]. Appendix 1 (Stewart, 2016) Appendix 2 (Insitute, 2016)

Digital Divide :: Essays Papers

Digital Divide The â€Å"Digital Define† is the distance between the people who have adequate access to technology and those who do not. As teachers, we have numerous avenues through which we can assist in narrowing the gap of the Digital Divide. Some suggestions are the following: 1. Gather teaching materials through sources such as: www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/about.html www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/learning.html www.siliconvallydigitaldivide.net www.ed.gov/free www.fcs.gov/resources.html 1-800-257-5126 2. Donate a computer, obtain a donated computer, or upgrade an obsolete one. Many organizations have been developed to assist in this task; a few are as follows: Share the Technology - www.sharetechnology.org Computers for Learning – www.computers.fed.gov NewDeal – www.newdealine.com Heaven – www.heavens.org 3. Keep informed about the most recent government initiatives, as well as what politicians and government officials have to say. A variety of Web sites can aid you in this undertaking; some are listed here: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology – www.ed.gov/Technology Federal Communications Commission – www.fcc.gov.major.html Closing the Digital Divide – www.digitaldivide.gov The National Telecommunications and Information Administration – www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fttn99/contents.html The Digital Divide Network – www.digitaldividenetwork.org 4. Investigate the community access centers (CACs) in your area and spread the word about their availability. CACs include places such as libraries, community centers, schools, and other public-access locations. 5. Learn about model initiatives – successful models. A few projects include: The Digital Divide Project – www.washington.edu/wto/digital/resources/html NetDay – www.netday.org Alliance for Community Technology – www.communitytechnology.org The Foundry – www.thefoundry.org The Village Foundation – www.villagefoundation.org/PROGRAMS/pathways/technology/index.html PowerUP: Bridging the Digital Divide – www.powerup.org The Maine Laptop Program Lightspan, Inc. – www.lightspan.com Plugged In – www.pluggedin.org Neighborhood Network – www.hud.gov/nnwnnwindex.html 6. Explore opportunities for corporate support. A good place to start is www.wested.org/tie/grant.html#corporate. This site has a list of corporate and foundation funding sources and other grant related resources. The model initiative I chose to investigate is NetDay. NetDay is a project connecting students and their teachers in under-served communities with the necessary resources to facilitate learning through education technology. From this site, NetDay Compass is accessible. NetDay Compass is a teachers guide to educational technology resources. There are sections on developing technology plans, technology infrastructure, grant and funding, classroom support, and model high tech schools. Here teachers will find the information they need to include technology in education and narrow the gap of the digital divide. In the three years I have been teaching in Louisiana, I have seen numerous incidents of digital divide. However, one particular incident stands out in my mind the most. Last year, I had a Financial Math class made up of mostly juniors and seniors.

Lyme’s Disease

Early signs and symptoms are similar as the flu such as fever, headache, stiffness, fatigue, and Joint pain. If it's not treated, the severity worsens, â€Å"infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system (2). Medically, it is possible to treat diseases, depending on severity, in order for the patient to get well but the only flaw is finances. Companies want to make money out of every advantage that they can. According to one of my colleagues that there Is a medication that can treat cancer but it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Capitalism is gruesome because it is beginning to outweigh a person's health instead of balancing or allowing the person's health become more important than money.Doctors and nurses should teach the patient that diseases will be treated but not rued because diseases can pause its process but can restart the process and further It's destruction. They need to teach the patient and the patient's family on preventive ways to prevent fr om getting the disease, â€Å"Steps to prevent Lame disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat (2)†. In this generation, social media is a huge influencer that spreads word around the world. The greatest example is the ALLS ice bucket challenge.

Sport Journalism, a view of the world, or a view generated by the dominant male supremacy?

The media is a powerful tool, which shapes the views and ideas of society, ‘the print media is an influential socializing agent in that it informs and entertains the reader and encourages social integration and social change by values, ideas and attitudes it presents' (Eitzen and Sage, 1995, p78). When the media has such an important effect on society, is it right that male journalists dominate the media, in a sense serving to maintain and preserve patriarchal relationships. Although there have been many changes in the treatment of females in society in the past, many females are still excluded from numerous professions. Certain institutions frown upon the entry of females, as advancements made by females in society decreases the amount of men in dominant positions in society. This is shown by the small number of ‘male preserves' (Elias & Dunning, 1986, p268) left in today's modern society. However, one institution that seems unable to accommodate change, for the sake of protecting its ‘male preserve' (Elias & Dunning, 1986, p268) is the print media. The media is increasingly becoming more of a male preserve, due to ever-growing equality females strive for; many men's clubs have vanished, as they would rather shut than accommodate females, and erase issues of equality. Therefore the print media is an important site for this male preserve, ‘our newspapers are run like old boy's clubs' (Stratford, 1992, p130). Even when females have broken in to the sports journalism profession, it is still under the dominant ideologies of a male supremacy. Entry is possible for women, as long as no attempt is made to alter or even question the status quo' (Stratford, 1992, p130). The only way females can be involved in the sports journalism world, is to reject the issues that display feminine power, in addition they also have to adopt the dominant ideologies of a male society. ‘They wanted the jobs: therefore played by the rules in order to get them, the rules were not changed to facilitate the progress of other female journalists after them. Long hours, drinks with the boys and a disregard for childcare remain the norm' (Stratford, 1992, p130). Although females do break in to the media profession, this most commonly comes in the form if a television reporter. As sports journalism portrays the journalist's personal opinions, where television reporters are presented with scripts to shape the ideals of viewers, the only important thing on television is image, which is more often than not an attractive female. The profession of sports journalism in the print media is one of the most gender specific in modern society. ‘Sport is a male preserve and at the part it plays, relative to other sources, in the production and reproduction of masculine identity' (Elias & Dunning, 1986, p268). The print media has always been run by a dominant male supremacy producing a masculine identity, with jobs of highest priority, which shape the views of society such as journalist, more often than not given to men. This dominance of males in the media raises issues, which are constantly raised over the treatment of females in society, especially over the stereotypical coverage they receive. Therefore, sports journalism in this light can not actually be classed as sports journalism, sports journalism is all about reproducing and portraying the views of society, and giving everyone a equal voice. However, the media is so one sided it clearly cannot achieve this successfully. Although journalists, claim to be reflecting the attitudes of society rather than shaping men, recent national trends indicate that, with respect to women's lives, they lag behind dismally' (Stratford, 1992, p134). Affect of Bias In Sports One major area, which is affected by the dominance of a male hegemony is sports journalism. A large number of achievements are lost in the media concerning female athletes, due to the stereotypical coverage they receive. This negative coverage is the production of having a print media, which is run by men, as they will never be able to write about females from a female perspective. Their ownership by rich, white middle aged men, and their editorship usually by the same type of men, explains the difficulties they have in reflecting recent changes in society in any but the most stereotypical ways' (Stratford, 1992, p130). The media frequently directs the reader away from the success and the strengths of female athletes, and towards the typical stereotypes of women. Journalists achieve this by the use of narratives, which is the forming of a story, ‘narratives provide drama, human interest and appeal necessary to attract and keep viewers' (Higgs and Weiller, 1994, p234). Narratives often demonstrate traditional qualities associated with females, females successes are seen to be more challenging due to the struggles of their personal lives. ‘Women's sport is further denigrated in importance by a heightened focus on the athlete's personal lives' (Duncan, 1993, p234). Furthermore, females are repeatedly represented as being weak and depending on others, more often than not this figure comes in the shape of a man. This shows how narratives often reinforce inequalities in power and gender relations. These inequalities help to construct a hegemonic masculinity, which Humberstone (1990) labels ‘the reproduction of patriarchal gender relations in society' (Humberstone, 1990, p235). Therefore, it can be argued that the media is just a site where men are free to oppress females, and are free from criticisms. In essence, journalists can be seen as originators of patriarchy in society, as they help it develop and manifest itself on to the larger stage of society through their own accounts they present to society. People are inevitably affected by what media present them, if the writers of the media are predominately of one gender, then there is potential that another side of the story or noteworthy athletic accomplishments are being neglected' (Urquhart and Crossman, 1999, p199). Conclusion: In conclusion, sports journalism is a flawed profession. The whole concept journalism is to illustrate and construct an equal argument, giving no one group priority over the next. However, many accounts of sports journalism demonstrate that the majority of the time, coverage is biased towards men and their male perspective. This bias is especially evident when it comes to the case of females in the media, often females voices and opinions are lost and unequal arguments are created. Research into the absence of female journalists in sport has previously demonstrated that not one single article was written by a female until 1976 concerning articles surrounding the Olympics, in two Canadian newspapers. There was also only one article written by a female in the 1992 Olympics, this is one example of a male supremacy in the media. ‘Sports journalism is obviously a male stronghold' (Urquhart and Crossman, 1999, p199). In addition, a recent count showed that in two popular British newspapers, female journalists still suffer from oppression due to the dominant male operated media. With 100% of sport articles written by male journalists for the Independent, and 96% written by male journalists for the Times. This justifies the argument that sports journalism is essentially flawed, as the codes of sports journalism are rejected. ‘For example, the practice of sports journalism should revolve around a set of essentially ethical concepts: freedom, democracy, truth, objectivity, honesty, and privacy' (Belsey and Chadwick, 1992, pXi), yet sports journalism does not. Thus, sports journalism cannot be seen as a democratic and truthful process, sports journalism simply is the production of a dominant male society, trying to hold on to one of its ever-fading male preserves.

Picture Archiving and Communication System Essay

The Picture Archival and Communication System (PACS) is a system that permits several types of imaging including CT, MRI, plain X-rays, etc, to be captured, stored and transmitted electronically (using a computer). This would enable convenience for the doctors and other healthcare professionals in accessing and evaluating the images. Films have been used in medicine for more than 100 years. By using PACS, there is a great chance that the entire process of imaging would go from film to film-free, encouraging greater convenience and flexibility in accessing, storage, transmission and retrieval of the X-ray images (NHS, 2009). When PACS was initially developed (early 1980’s), all images including X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans were shot on films and then converted to images by taking frame-grabbed snapshots. Although technology was able to obtain snapshots of the CT and MRI scans on the computer, they were still converted to film and photographed, as plain X-rays had to be film-processed and then photographed. Once photographed, the images could be stored in the forms of files and folders on the computer system and shared over the LAN network. During the early 1990’s, there was also a chance of sharing radiographic images over an external network or with a dedicated gateway. During the 1990’s, the network connections were very slow and the images needed a greater bandwidth for effective transmission of images. Hence many of the PACS systems had failed to prevent digital transmission of information over a network of hospitals. The Hammersmith Hospital in London and the Sozialmedizinisches Zentrum Ost in Vienna were the first hospitals in the Europe to employ the PACS system in the early 1990’s (Inchingol, 2001). Today, automatic capturing methods can be used with PACS (first captured images) and this has replaced conventional imaging techniques with digital ones. Certain protocols have been developed by several organizations including the DICOM standards (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine and the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Effectively, these two standards are utilized in managing the storage, input, retrieval and transmission of images. These protocols have been extended to use for laboratory and other healthcare settings which transmission of medical reports has been essential. Hospitals would play a major role in the management of the clinical data associated with the PACS system. DICOM is also ensuring that the end-users have greater conveniences in using the PACS system rather than creating greater problems and making issues more difficult. Another system known as Data and Picture Archiving and Communication System (DPACS) which was initiated by a university in Italy helps in several aspects including retrieval of images and remote consultation with specialists, transmission of information, etc. This system is superior and is capable of being used with other EMR tools. Several imaging machinery, hardware and software systems are based on DICOM. Newer management systems are effectively trying to integrate several components of the EMR with the PACS and develop a very strong integrated system. There are rapid changes in technology and the PACS systems have to stay abreast of the use of such technology. In the year 2000, only 5% of the hospitals in the US had a PACS system, which increased to 20 to 40 % in 2003 and 2004. PACS helps in the management of sensitive radiological data, and hence is very critical in handling the patients in various clinical setups (Inchingol, 2001). The use of a PACS system in a hospital may be initially very costly for the hospital, but in the long-run, there is set to be an advantage has PACS can help lower costs and provide several benefits in terms of quality standards, flexibility and the ease in transferring information to other hospitals. Some of the advantages of the PACS system include:- †¢ Images can be transferred anywhere over the network (or internet) and hence consultation with specialists can be organized across the world †¢ In the future, there would be several benefits as costs would come down, support would improve, standards would be more easily followed, technical innovations would be developed, etc †¢ PACS can be utilized across various setting including cardiology, oncology, surgery, nuclear medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, community medicine, etc. These specialists may require individual specialized images to be taken and used over the PACS. †¢ PACS promises to be a reliable and safe system †¢ Greater integration of the PACS with other systems such as the EMR, LIS, etc, to form what is known as the virtually integrated electronic patient record (VIEPR). In the early 1990’s, the implementation of a PACS system was very costly for the hospital. Some of the elements of the purchase of such a system included hardware, software, development of a network, infrastructure, support systems, etc. Initially, as PACS was newer technology, a hospital had to spend several millions on purchasing such a system. There was an even higher expenditure on running and maintaining such a system and the usage of electricity, and support staff. However, with time, technology of PACS became even cheaper, and there were several benefits noted including decrease in the number of lost images, reduced exposure to X-rays, higher quality of images, reduction in errors whilst observing the X-ray, etc (Bryan S, 1998). There is also a reduced need to use films, which helps reduce the costs of X-rays for the patient. However, it is important to note than although PCAS would ensure a film-free setup, there may be several situations in which films would also be required (Inchingol, 2001). The PCAS can be integrated with several systems including the radiology information system, HIS, VIEPR, etc. The vendors of all these systems should ensure greater amount of integration so that the functional efficiency would be able to be improved (Inchingol, 2001). Overall the PCAS has been implemented in several hospitals over the world and huge benefits are obtained in terms of reduction in costs, effectiveness, quality and access of healthcare, etc. Initially an organization may find it costly to implement such a system. However, in the long-run, there would be immense benefits and organizations would be able to recover the costs. Vendors also need to improve the integration of PCAS with other systems. Bibliography Bryan S, W. G. (1998). Costs and benefits of hospital-wide picture archive and communications systems (PACS): results from the evaluation of Hammersmith Hospital. Annu Meet Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Meet , 14: 84. http://gateway. nlm. nih. gov/MeetingAbstracts/ma? f=102237049. html Inchingol, P. (2001). Picture Archiving and Communications Systems in Today’s Healthcare. B u s i n e s s b r i e f i n g : n e x t – g e n e r a t i o n h e a l t h c a r e. http://www. wma. net/e/publications/pdf/2000/inchingolo. pdf NHS. (2009). Learn more about PACS. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Connecting for Health NHS: http://www. connectingforhealth. nhs. uk/systemsandservices/pacs/learn