The Search for Better Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Search for Better Health - Essay Example At the start of the twentieth century, researches on this subject had been mushrooming steadily which opened ways for better health practices. One of the pioneers in this field was Frank M. Burnet (Nossal 108). Frank Macfarlane Burnet was an Australian virologist and Nobel Prize winner recognized for his contributions to the field of immunology. He conducted ground-breaking research on bacteriophages and viruses at and served as director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. His virology research led to considerable impact related to discoveries on the nature and replication of viruses and their interaction with the human immune system. He was deeply involved in immunology research, more specifically in the theory of clonal selection which illustrates how lymphocytes choose antigens for destruction, which provided the experimental background for the induction of immune tolerance. His contributions in this field also set the platform for the development of protocols for solid organ transplantation and vaccination. He contributed important knowledge related to influenza research which included techniques for growing and studying the virus and hemagglutination assays. Apart from his discove ry of neuraminidase he also worked on the genetic control of virulence. He also wrote a monograph entitled "The Production of Antibodies," which was later revised with co-author Frank Fenner in 1949. This book was considered as a key publication in the field of immunology. It contained the essential demonstration of the shift on the science of immunology from a chemical point-of-view to a biological one. Furthermore, it is this work where he introduced the model of 'self' and 'non-self' to immunology. Using his concept of the said model, he formulated the hypothesis of 'autoimmunity" which is a situation wherein the body produces antibodies against its own components and consequently, the idea of immune tolerance. Through his model called clonal selection, he expanded current knowledge on immunology by proposing that each lymphocyte possess on its surface specific immunoglobulins mirroring the specificity of the antibody which will be produced later one the cell is stimulated by an antigen. According to him, the antigen functions as a selective stimulus for the proliferation and differentiation of clones that possess receptors for that antigen. Such was the impact of Frank M. Mcfarlane to the field of immunology and vaccination (Nossal 108). Epidemiological Studies on Non-Infectious Diseases Every public health organization must have extensive and up-to-date information regarding diseases and health indicators to be more prepared and armed in the dispersal of control and preventive measures. This implies the conduct of epidemiological studies which involve efficient collection and analysis of large amounts of data related to public health. Information that can be generated from this activity will be very helpful in the causal identification of non-infectious diseases and for the formulation of health programs by the local and the national government (Stroup & Teutsch 312). Epidemiological studies are based on systematic and instructive surveillance of the health of the general public which requires careful statistical analysis. To be able to establish an effective non-infectious

CU Boxes, Inc. Capital Budget Recommendation on a New Boot Sole Essay

CU Boxes, Inc. Capital Budget Recommendation on a New Boot Sole Machine - Essay Example The CFO has been tasked with offering a recommendation as to whether to stay the course with the current machine, delay the purchase, or buy the machine. For the purposes of this budgetary review and analysis the following assumptions are made: CU Boxes, Inc.'s discount rate shall be 10%. Let's see how the CFO tackles this request. There are two types of investments. "The investment decisions of any business are of two types: long term (where funds are usually invested for more than three years) and short term (where investments are for a year or less)." (Kapil p1). In this case, the boot sole machine, where the payback is longer than a year, is a long-term investment and fits the capital budgeting criteria. "The growth of any company is measured by the expected return multiplied by the amount of funds invested by the firm, that is, g = b x r - where 'g' is growth of the firm; 'b', the funds retained by the firm only for investment purpose; 'r' the required/expected rate of return; and r {gt} k (the cost of capital)." (Kapil p1) What the Kapil's model tells us is that as long as the expected rate of return is greater than the cost of capital (the discount rate at which cost of capital is calculated), there will be positive growth and that this is a good thing to have. "These decisions have to fulfill the criteria of creating net positive present value for the organization. Thus an organization should grab and hold on to every opportunity (both external and internal) that creates positive net present value (NPV) for its shareholders." (Kapil p1). Net Present Value (NPV) defined as "the present value of an investment's future net cash flows minus the initial investment. If positive, the investment should be made [unless an even better investment exists], otherwise it should not," (InvestorWords.com 3257), is one method of analysis used by CFO's. Another is the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) defined as the "discount rate at which the present value of the future cash flows of an investment equals the cost of the investment. When IRR is greater than the required return - called hurdle rate in capital budgeting - the investment is acceptable." (Zephyrmanagement.com/glossary). Using NPV first, we have an immediate outlay of capital and a constant return of cash flow calculated at year-end. NPV can be stated as follows: NPV = (10%, CF1, CF2, CF3, CF4, CF5)+CO where CF is cash flow and CO is cash outlay. In this case, with a discount rate of 10%, the result is a positive $14,998.98 at the end of year four and a positive $14,991.91 at the end of year five. (These calculations were made using an ExcelTM spreadsheet). Based on this NPV analysis the investment should be made and the CFO should make such a recommendation to his company's owners as per Kapil's statement above. Using IRR to determine whether the yield rate in a similar period is larger than the discount or hurdle rate, the result at the end of four years is a yield of 8%, which puts it below the discount rate. However, if the period of calculation is five years the IRR is now 15% and well above the 10% discount rate required. So, if the CFO had only used the IRR analysis for only a period of four years his recommendation might have been to limp along with the current machine, but if he ran the calculation out to five years the recommendation would be the same as

Arab unity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Arab unity - Essay Example However, it is mandatory to note that the Arabs role though to some extent may be little, may be played out in the center stage. This study, for this reason, seeks to analyze the various impacts that correlate to the Arabs unity. Arab unity is by no mechanism a new invention, and strides towards a massive cooperation are evident throughout history of the modern Middle East. The above cooperation ranges from Pan-Arabism, Nasserism, to Islamism. In previous decades the formulation of a police force for Arab countries has frequently been frustrated by member states who believe it is not important to their stability, for instance Pakistan.. The emergency of Arab summit held in Qatar on March 2009, preceding Gaza siege by the Israeli troops, was meant to establish a common legal understanding in most of Palestine allied Arab nations. The attack that resulted in massive human casualties displayed Arabs, disillusionment, disunity and disagreement.1 Thus, was the benchmark to necessitate a common ground for the unity of the Arab Nations. In comparison to Europe, new alliances that form the League of Arab States, for instance, on one side was that of Palestinian Liberation Organization, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. While on the other side was that of Syria, Qatar, and Hamas. Rather than joining forces to a common cause that appeared straight forward, and not divisive, the Arab Leagues continuously experienced long-standing disagreements as well as fluctuating rivalries. The above misunderstandings are not only disadvantageous to the economy but also a major set-backs when it comes to issues that pertain international relations and policies. Interregional unity of the Arab states will be a massive boost to ensuring the integration of trans-boundary policies and legislation. Integration of such legislation is what will enhance and speed up the dispute resolution mechanism, without compromising another country’s sovereignty.2 In order to foster a common police force

Why do companies decide to invest overseas and to go multinational Assignment

Why do companies decide to invest overseas and to go multinational - Assignment Example Jepson (2002) explains the unprecedented flow of foreign direct investments during the last two decades has made spectacular contributions to the economic restoration of Europe and to the industrialization of many of the developing countries. Spectacular, too, have been the returns realized by the international corporations that undertook the investments. However, if we examine the conditions a host country must satisfy if it is to continue attracting foreign investments, quite distinct limits to a country's ability to keep its doors open to the foreign investor become apparent. A few basic facts will make the point. (McLaughlin Mitchell 2006). Barry (2002) defines that the most fundamental fact is this: A country's capacity to absorb foreign direct capital inflows is ultimately limited by its ability to service that capital, in terms of current account debits (e.g., dividends) and eventual repatriation of principal. In turn, a country's ability to service the stock of foreign-owned capital is tied to its ability to generate sufficiently large payments surpluses on other current account items. (Relying on a positive balance in the capital accounts is just putting off the day of reckoning.) These relationships are obviously more easily stated in the aggregate than conclusively sorted out in detail. The "current account" of a country's balance of payments has many components, and "foreign-exchange availabilities" come from many sources.

Measuring Public Sector Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Measuring Public Sector Performance - Essay Example Then, common models of performance measurement and how they were developed are investigated. Third, the public and private sectors are compared and contrasted to highlight similarities and differences in their functions, goals, and outputs. Fourth, key developments in private and public sector performance measures are reviewed and discussed to highlight the convergence in the efforts of each sector to address stakeholder expectations. The paper concludes with a set of observations that disprove the hypothesis by showing that performance measurement as a basis for financial accountability and management in both the private and public sectors has become more complex and difficult and provide challenges for everyone. Any discussion of organisational performance begins with an understanding of the nature of human organisations and why they exist. Like the human beings who establish them, every organisation exists for a purpose, a set of goals or objectives that has to be achieved. By custom and for analytical convenience, organisations are classified based on their main purpose; thus, there are private-sector, public-sector, not-for-profit, institutional, voluntary, and mixed organisations. Table 1 summarises each of these organisational types, their specific purposes, and some basic examples of each. Regardless of the type, an organisation can be ... Like the human beings who establish them, every organisation exists for a purpose, a set of goals or objectives that has to be achieved. By custom and for analytical convenience, organisations are classified based on their main purpose; thus, there are private-sector, public-sector, not-for-profit, institutional, voluntary, and mixed organisations. Table 1 summarises each of these organisational types, their specific purposes, and some basic examples of each. Regardless of the type, an organisation can be said to be successful if it meets the purpose(s) for which it is established, and with success comes its continued growth and existence. Otherwise, it would be better for an organisation that does not meet its purpose for existing to close down. This is where accounting as a management tool proves its usefulness because it helps provide public sector organisations with the means to measure performance (Jones et al., 2002). It helps any organisation determine whether it is meeting its purpose, and it is for this reason that management accountants have developed a growing body of organisational science around the notion of performance measurement. This was not, however, the case until in the previous century when increased globalisation and competition for limited resources pushed organisations to measure performance against their purpose for existence and in comparison with their competitors (Lothian, 1987; Fitzgerald et al, 1991). The term "performance" captures the notion of how an organisation operates in comparison to its purpose. Thus, performance measurement has been described (Neely, 1998; Kunz et al., 2002; Moullin, 2003) as an assessment of how an organisation performs and includes measures

Dementia awareness Essay Example for Free

Dementia awareness Essay The learner can: 1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’ 2. Describe the key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia 3. Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia. Outcome 2 Understand key features of the theoretical models of dementia The learner can: 1. Outline the medical model of dementia 2. Outline the social model of dementia 3. Explain why dementia should be viewed as a disability. Outcome 3 Know the most common types of dementia and their causes The learner can: 1. List the most common causes of dementia 2. Describe the likely signs and symptoms of the most common causes of dementia 3. Outline the risk factors for the most common causes of dementia 4. Identify prevalence rates for different types of dementia. Outcome 4 Understand factors relating to an individual’s experience of dementia The learner can: 1. Describe how different individuals may experience living with dementia depending on age, type of dementia, and level of ability and disability 2. Outline the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with dementia. SUGGESTED GUIDANCE ANSWERS OUTCOME 1 For a start what does dementia mean? Very simply for such a complex area, it is an illness of the brain. What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia? The word dementia is an umbrella term, which covers all the various dementias including Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the one widely recognized, and accounts for about sixty per cent, of all the dementias. Dementia is a term that is used to describe a collection of symptoms including memory loss, problems with reasoning and communication skills, and a reduction in a persons abilities and skills in carrying out daily activities such as washing, dressing, cooking and caring for self. Memory loss this can be one of the first symptoms that people notice. The observations people report include noticing their loved ones forgetting things that have happened earlier in the day, getting confused about messages and who people are, getting lost whilst out and about, repeating themselves, and appearing not to be paying attention or following conversations. Problems with communication Some people experience problems with expressing themselves, talking and understanding things. They get confused about words and might use the wrong words for common things and mix words up. Reading and understanding written text can become problematic. There are a number of different types of dementia the most common being Alzheimers disease, vascular dementia, Fronto temporal dementia and Dementia with Lewy bodies. Some people get diagnosed as having mixed dementia; this is when the presentation shows the person to have elements of more than one type of dementia. Dementia is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse. This progression will vary from person to person and each person will experience dementia in a different way. Although the person will have some of the above symptoms, the degree to which they affect an individual will vary and not all people will have all of these symptoms. 2. Areas of the brain affected by dementia are shown in the diagram below: [pic] The temporal lobe of the brain if affected by dementia will mean the sufferer will ‘forget’ every day functions, and how to perform them, relatives names and faces, their ‘past’ life, and friends they have known for years. Simple tasks that they used to perform with ease, become difficult to perform, and they have to ‘learn’ how to do them again. Sufferers can forget conversations and instructions, and need to be reminded on a regular basis, and given ‘prompts’ to remind them the topic of conversation, or what they are supposed be doing next for example. The frontal lobe of the brain if affected by dementia can mean that the sufferer is ‘unaware’ that their behaviour is unacceptable, or not the ‘norm’. The sufferer can become agitated very quickly, and suffer from depression. They may be unaware of apparent dangers, and unable to recognise what is ‘acceptable’ or ‘unacceptable’ behaviours. They may have violent outbursts, and exhibit ‘threatening’ behaviour to others. The parietal lobe of the brain if affected by dementia affects language skills. This means that communication skills could be reduced. The person may not be able to ‘find’ the appropriate words to use, or may not understand questions asked of them. They may not relate ‘words’ to the correct ‘objects’ for instance if they pick up a cup, but call it a ‘pot’. 3. Depression, memory problems, and delirium may be mistaken for dementia because these are often the onset symptoms of dementia, and therefore may be mistaken for the start of dementia in the elderly. Some symptoms of dementia are similar to symptoms of some mental health conditions. It is important that a comprehensive assessment is carried out if service users start to display symptoms such as confusion, poor memory or apathy. These could be indicators of dementia, but they could also be symptoms of depression, or other mental health conditions. OUTCOME 2 1. The medical model of dementia is of mental decline. This approach makes it hard to focus on maximising a person’s abilities and improving their quality of life. Putting physical problems and emotional states down to brain damage, the medical model overlooks the social world of people with dementia, and concentrates on the illness, rather than the person. 2. The social model of dementia sees the ‘person’ rather than the illness or disease. It puts the focus on what a person ‘can do’, (positives), instead of focussing on what the person can no longer do (negatives). The social model looks at ways to improve the quality of life, and experiences of dementia, and provide techniques for the dementia sufferer, to live a fulfilling and rewarding life. The social model recognises and includes the individual’s social, recreational, spiritual needs, instead of just their medical or personal care needs.

White Supremacy Essay Example for Free

White Supremacy Essay In the aftermath of the election victory of Barack Obama, white supremacists rushed to online discussion forums to vent anger and disbelief that voters had chosen an African-American candidate as the next president of the United States. The Anti-Defamation League, which monitors and exposes extremist activity and rhetoric, said anger among white supremacists and other right-wing extremists in response to Obamas victory, resulted in an avalanche of vitriolic ranting postings on racist Web sites. At one point, the chatter so overloaded the server of the most popular white supremacist internet forum, Stormfront, which was temporarily shutdown. The notion that racism is a violation of human rights is not a new one, as those who have experienced it effects would testify. The ground-breaking progress gained by the civil rights movement of the 1960s in the United States has steadily eroded over the past decade, and the issues and incidents of racism as well as anti-Semitism, homophobia, and violence against women are ones that need to be addressed with increasing urgency. While the courts are more and more frequently relying on civil rights laws to prosecute racially motivated violence, the common abuses of basic human rights are often overlooked. In fact, the encroachment of white supremacist ideologies into the social fabric of our politics, our institutions, and our laws means that intolerance 1. is becoming the rule of the day, and the overt violation of the persons and property of individuals and groups is not only easily accepted, but part of the status quo. America has moved into a new era of white supremacy. The new tactics used by white supremacists and far right organizations must be exposed so that we can work together to mitigate their effectiveness. This includes a discussion of the relationship between three converging and ever-growing factionsthe ultra-conservatives, religious fundamentalists, and the far right. In this context, racism cannot stand alone as the sole antagonist of human rights violations. The victims of white supremacist ideologies and politics include immigrants, gays and lesbians, Jews, and women, as well as people of color. From the ranks of homophobes, anti-abortionists, racists, anti-Semites, and those who are simply afraid of a fast-changing world, white supremacists find willing allies in their struggle to control Americas destiny. Hate groups cannot be dismissed as a more complex than the virulence of a few fringe fanatics. With the breathless way the media covers hate groups, it is sometimes easier to characterize them simply as misfits or extremists, rather than acknowledge them as part of the larger problem of widespread racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia. FBI statistics report that 65 percent of Americas hate crimes are committed by whites against blacks. A good portion of such hate crimes are what we call move-in violence, when neighborhoods, schools, churches, or jobs are finally integrated 2. 30 years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Terror over the visibility of the lesbian and gay movement lays behind the numerous hate crimes against gays and lesbians (and their allies) the fastest-growing hate crime category in the country. Some of the haters, living on the United States borders, are petrified at the thought that brown hordes of Mexicans, Chinese, or Haitians may swarm over them if they cease their militant rhetoric and violence toward these immigrants. If they live near Native American reservations, the aim of their violence is to challenge the few remaining treaty rights granted native peoples. Other white supremacists want to save the white race by controlling the behavior of white womenthey attack interracial couples, lesbians, and feminists. They join the anti-abortion movement, believing they can prevent white women from getting legal abortions. Racist far right organizations have been quick to glorify anti-abortion violence, making it yet another hot issue to fuel the fires of the white revolution. Hate groups have decided that they are no longer willing to wait for the white revolution, the violent backlash against human rights movements. They want a fast solution before, as they put it, the white race is extinct. These fanatics are terrorists who use bombs, murder, arson, and assaults in their genocidal war. Some skinheadsfor example, the Fourth Reich Skins arrested a few years ago in Los Angeles or the Aryan National Front, convicted of murdering homeless people in Alabama are in the vanguard of this street-level violence. Meanwhile, older survivalists like Randy Weaver, who was acquitted of killing a federal marshall in an Idaho firefight in 1992, 3.are barricaded in mountain shelters with stockpiles of weapons, awaiting the final Armageddon. Impressionable, often alienated people, both young and old, are natural recruits for this movement. They bring new energy and a willingness to display their hatred aggressively. They also expand the influence of the white supremacist movement, into the anti-abortion movement, into the anti-gay movement, into the English only movement, opening new avenues for the expression of hate. In the 21st century, the image of organized hate is rapidly changing. It is no longer the exclusive domain of white men over 30. It is becoming younger, meaner and more violent. Many people join the movement as teenagers, including a remarkable number of young women. This new and dangerous increase accounts for nearly one-third of the membership of some hate groups. The increase in the number of women, coupled with a strategic thrust to reform the public image of hate groups, has expanded womens leadership. These new recruits do not fit the stereotypical image of wives on their husbands arms. In fact, many of them are college-educated, very sophisticated, and display skills usually found among the rarest of intellectuals in the movement. Of particular concern in this early 21st century is a continuing convergence of sections of the white supremacist movement with the radical Christian Right, as represented by Pat Robertson, and nationalist ultra-conservatives, as represented by the crackpot Tea Party members and conservative Republicans such as Rick Santorum. This alliance is between religious determinists who think that ones degree of Christianity determines one’s future, economic determinists who see themselves in a 4.war of the haves against the have-nots, and biological determinists for whom race is everything. All believe they are in battle to save Western civilization (white Europeans) from the ungodly and the unfit (people of color, gays and lesbians, and Jews). What many Americans fail to realize is that, increasingly, white people are being literally scared out of their wits by demagogues, who crystallize for them their fears of people of color, lesbians and gays, the government, the media, welfare mothers, immigrants, the economy, health care, and the list goes on. The fact that race relations in the United States are usually presented as a black/white model disguises the complexity of color, the brutality of class, and the importance of religion and sexual identity in the construction and practice of white supremacy. This simplistic model, which fails to convey many of the important aspects of white supremacy, cannot specifically explain how white supremacy influences American culture and politics. White supremacy is an ideology that manipulates US politics and affects all relations in American society. It is sustained by rigid ideological categories. The construction of racial categories, although varying greatly over time, has always been based on the economic, social, and political aspirations of people of European descent. Throughout European history, racial definitions have been based on lineage, characteristics, skin hue, and religion. At the present time, there are not safe places for the victims of this type of violence to turn. No homeless shelters, no womens shelters, and often not even 5. police departments offer them support. The first step in building these resources is to recognize the magnitude of the problem so that human rights activists can come together to offer help and support to those outside the majority rule. A concerted, prolonged effort to teach young people about the true impact of white supremacy and its prevalence in American society is fundamental to breaking the cycle. To ignore this issue is to build intolerance into the next generation. An understanding of the historical and institutional effects of racism and the other isms that dominate our culture and society is vital to understanding present bigotry and abuse. In conclusion, when we recognize that racism, homophobia, sexism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia flow from the same spring, and that they permeate every aspect of the lives of all Americans, we can then take steps together to make the United States a place that respects and honors the dignity of all people. 6. A Childs Tale By Gloria A. Loftin Let me tell you a tale my child of blue and grey of a world gone wild Let me tell you a tale my child of men in hoods and capes of hearts full of rage and hate Let me tell you a tale my child of men of god of greed and wealth Let me tell you a tale my child of peace and hope for all the world Let me tell you a tale my childÃ'Ž