Ethics in Medicine the Relationship Between Law and...

The essay will discuss the ETHICS IN MEDICINE : The Relationship Between Law and Medical Ethics: Dispute and Legal Issues: A 32 year old woman was admitted to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit following a motor vehicle accident; she had multiple injuries and fractures, with several complications which continued to develop over the first couple of weeks. The patient rapidly developed Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, was on a ventilator, and was continuously sedated. Shortly after the patients admission, her parents were contacted and remained vigilant at her bedside. The parents reported that the patient was one month away from having her divorce finalized. The patients husband was reportedly physically and emotionally abusive to her†¦show more content†¦With the husband thus removed as her surrogate decision-maker, it appears the patients parents would become the highest level class of surrogate decision-maker and could provide informed consent for her care if the patient is unable to do so. †¢ Even if the patients husband remains as her legal surrogate decision-maker, his decisions on the patients behalf are constrained by legally imposed standards. First, a surrogate is legally required to provide substituted judgment on behalf of the patient. This means that the surrogate must act in accordance with the patients wishes. If substituted judgment isnt possible (i.e., unknown what the patient would want under the current medical circumstances), then the law requires the surrogate to act in the patients best interests. Since the medical team has significant input about what would medically be in the patients interest, a decision by a surrogate which doesnt adhere to this standard should not be automatically followed and may need to be reviewed by the institutional ethics committee, risk management, or legal counsel. †¢ The patients husband may be willing to waive his surrogate decision-maker role to his estranged wife. If this occurs, then he would agree to remove himself from the list of potential surrogate decision-makers and the next highestShow MoreRelatedA Reflection On My Career Goals998 Words   |  4 Pagesthe defense, sitting in the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, I was unaware that my life would change. For the first time I became exposed to law. Since my first mock trial in the third grade, I came to recognize that law is not black and white, but shades of grey; just as life is full of grey. Reflecting on the relationship between law and life, my passion for law grew. My studies, my experiences, my determination and my curiosity became a reflection of my career goals. Ambitious and determined toRead MoreEthics And The Medical Field Using Tissue Ownership Essay1642 Words   |  7 Pagesbecoming a large public topic that lead to the creation of â€Å"do not resuscitate† orders and hospice care centers (Cassell 2000). This paper attempts to provide a better understanding of ethics and its relationship to the medical field using tissue ownership to demonstrate how bio-medical ethical debates arise. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with values concerning human conduct. These values help cultures determine what actions are appropriate and inappropriate and which motives of suchRead MoreThe Ethical Relationship Between Technology and Medicine Essay1315 Words   |  6 PagesSociety is not the only dynamic entity in the doctor-patient relationship. Medicine as a science is in perpetual change, while medicine as an art is marked by constancy and fidelity. The science of medicine and the rapid change of technology applied to medicine, involving the possibility that there may be conflict between the practice, innovation and what the public demand. This conflict could undermine the social contract of medicine and it must be addressed firmly. Provided that the practice isRead MoreA Theory Of Justice By John Rawls781 Words   |  4 PagesCommunitarianism is a philosophy that emphasizes the connection between the individual and the community cite needed. Although the communit y might be a family unit, communitarianism usually is understood, in the wider, philosophical sense, as a collection of interactions, among a community of people in a given place cite needed. Modern-day communitarianism began in the upper reaches of Anglo-American academia in the form of a critical reaction to John Rawls landmark 1971 book A Theory of JusticeRead MoreThe Ethical Marketing Strategy Of Pharmaceutical Advertising1451 Words   |  6 Pagesmarketing strategies in the pharmaceutical industry are procedures used to sell medicines morally. The strategy must be as such that it does not influence the decision making criteria of physicians. Ethical marketing is usually referred to as the use of marketing ethics into the marketing process. The establishment of marketing ethics has the potential to benefit society as a whole and should be considered a part of business ethics in the sense that marketing forms a substantial part of any business modelRead MoreCritically Evaluate Medical Ethics And Legal Issues1263 Words   |  6 PagesCritically evaluate medical ethics and legal issues Introduction Medical ethics and legal issues have been a key topic in medical field for many years now. It is important for medical professionals to understand the importance of the way we care for patients, it is therefore important to be knowledgeable and aware of the medical ethics and legal issues that govern good patient care. Health care professionals must make decisions based on ethical and legal issues to performance their regular dutiesRead MoreEthics in Public Health Essay1212 Words   |  5 Pagesof medical, ethical, and legal arguments. . By law no one except that person is allowed to disclose their positive status, unless the person gives consent to release such information to a certain party. However, the Inspector General of the United States is provided the information by law of someone having a positive status and is allowed to expose the information only if the public is at risk and only to the person(s) who are believed to have been exposed (Mair, 2009, para.14). In medicine oneRead MoreThe Moral Principles Of Health Care1040 Words   |  5 Pagesjudgments to the practice of medicine as well as in our daily life. These do not give answers as to how to handle a particular situation, but provide a useful framework for our understanding. It represents concepts and values that can set the general ethical character and approach for health care. According to Paul and Ian (2009), it provides a comprehensive description of how medical practitioners should behave but sometime It confuses the roles of ethics and law i n medicine, leading to inappropriateRead MoreCode of Ethics for Nurses Essay1605 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: SYSTEM OF INQUIRY PAPER System of Inquiry Paper Wendell A. Garcia University of Phoenix March 18, 2008 American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Nurses Ethics is an integral part of the foundation of nursing. Nursing has a distinguished history of concern for the welfare of the sick, injured, and vulnerable and for social justice. This concern is embodied in the provision of nursing care to individuals and the community. Nursing encompasses the prevention ofRead MoreOaths and Creeds by Elite Groups979 Words   |  4 Pagesimportant for trust between members that, in grave circumstances, a behavior in accordance with high standards is to be expected. On a different professional level, a lawyer’s or doctor’s oath is to the people they serve. These oaths serve to instill confidence in the professional-to-patient relationship by establishing a standard of professional accountability within their respective fields. The Hippocratic Oath is purported to be a foundation for ethics and the practice of medicine. Though it exists

Spartan Society related Essay - 2011 Words

Explain the importance of the role or religion in Spartan Society. Religion in Sparta, like in many societies, had a purpose. Religion was important in Sparta to support the ideals of a militaristic utopian society which, after the Messenian wars, the governing forces were aiming to create. â€Å"Those who honour the gods most finely with choruses are best in war† [Socrates]. The Spartan ideal of an elite military state influenced the approach to religion and the ways in which religion would be moulded to suite state doctrine, therefore highlighting the importance of religion in upholding the values of Spartan society. Religion in Sparta was interpreted to uphold Spartan values some of which are endurance, loyalty, obedience, conformity, and†¦show more content†¦Those who could withstand the punishment were given honour and moved onto another stage in their military training. Religion in this case was used to sort out those with better warrior potential. Religion was important for the State and this could also be seen in the war-time practices of the Spartan Army. According to Powell, Spartans believed in military divination, following an army to war was a herd of sacrificial animals ready to appease the Gods. Consultative sacrifices were held before embarking on a military campaign, before a battle and when stepping into the threshold of the enemy. As written by Herodotus, Cleomenes in 494 on an invasion campaign to Argo was sent troops home because he had seen bad omens at the river Erasinus. Spartans also consulted Oracles at Delphi for predictions, famously at the battle of Thermopylae Leonidas was told to give up or fight to the death against Persian troops. The Spartan reliance on divination is reflective of how religion was used for military organisation and was important in supporting the state with battle strategy and on issues of joining battles. The reliance on religion creates a sense of reassurance for warriors if they h ad been given a good battle prediction and also a justification for retreat with a bad omen, as seen through Cleomenes. Another function of religion in Spartan society was to train the hoplites. Hoplites wereShow MoreRelatedReligion, Death and Burial in Spartan Society Essay1004 Words   |  5 Pagescentral role in Spartan society in the ancient world. In addition to being well known for their fierce fighting force, Spartans were well known amongst other Greek city-states for their devotion and serious attitude towards religion and the gods. Because of their strict devotion to religious practises, they were often mocked by other Greek states. The gods were to be obeyed completely and were to be respected completely by all Spartans, though in theory, this relationship between the Spartans and the godsRead MoreThe Athenian And Spartan Women894 Words   |  4 Pagesduties as well and not just the men. The roles between the Athenian and Spartan woman were different. After looking at multiple article and reports I’ve come to a conclusion that the Spartan women were treated better. A big reason for that would be because, they can own their own property. One of the articles I read said that Spartan women competed in competitions against the men. The main difference I think in the two is the Spartan woman were taught how to protect themselves and, the Athenian womanRead MoreAristotle’s Examination of the Lacedaemonian Constitution in his Work, Politics1208 Words   |  5 Pagesof the Spartans with the primary focus of strengthening the Spartan army, which they are most commonly known for, and strengthening the society behind the Spartan war machine. In his account of the Lacedaemonian Constitution, Aristotle is highly critical of the Spartan laws and ideologies and describes certain laws as being counterproductive to the overall framework of the Spartan society. Aristot le specifically draws attention to the laws regarding the license of women in Spartan society, the lawsRead MoreCommunication And Culture 301 Has Taught Me Many Valuable Things That I Believe Will Stick With Me934 Words   |  4 Pagesspecifically in Spartan society and The Bhagavad Gita. The constant need to prove has followed our society from the thousands of years ago in which these stories take place to affect us today in our modern day beliefs the same way that they affected those who lived during these stories. Proof can be seen in several different aspects of the readings. Spartan society focuses more specifically on proof to society rather than proof of worship, like the Bhagavad Gita does. The Spartan citizens were continuallyRead MoreThe Women Of Ancient Sparta And Athens1310 Words   |  6 Pagesthe life of the Athenian woman, general education was viewed as important for them. These young women were taught reading and writing. Their mothers or tutors taught them things that related to subjects like art, literature and philosophy. Even though being intelligent was looked upon highly in the Athenian society, the women did not have much education other than what they were taught in their homes. These women were not well educated like the men of Athens. They were also taught other skills suchRead MoreComparison Of Xenophon s Constitution Of Sparta And Its Army1001 Words   |  5 Pagesvariety of different physical and written evidence about Sparta, and its army. Source R is of †¦ The main role of their army was to protect Sparta’s borders from both other city-states and in revolts. Sparta’s whole way of life, their militaristic society and the State’s constitution all revolve around its army. As time went on, Sparta developed into the leading military force in ancient Greece and they believed that they had the ‘best army in the world’ at the end of the Peloponnesian War and upheldRead MoreCauses of the Pelopenesian War1315 Words   |  6 Pagesconflict. When looking for a single cause of the peloponnesian war none can be found. Over time many events contributed to the eventual war between Sparta and Athens. I believe the peloponnesian war evolved because of Athenian support for Spartan enemies, Spartan alarm at a rise in Athenian power, and the drastic differences between the two cultures. In 435 B.C., Corcyra, a Corinthian colony declared itself independent of Corinth. Corinth responded by sending a fleet to reduce the rebellingRead MoreEssay on Causes Of The Pelopenesian War1288 Words   |  6 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When looking for a single cause of the peloponnesian war none can be found. Over time many events contributed to the eventual war between Sparta and Athens. I believe the peloponnesian war evolved because of Athenian support for Spartan enemies, Spartan alarm at a rise in Athenian power, and the drastic differences between the two cultures. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In 435 B.C., Corcyra, a Corinthian colony declared itself independent of Corinth. CorinthRead MoreWomen in Ancient Egypt and Greece1311 Words   |  6 Pagescitizens similarly to the slaves and outsiders of the community (McKay 2009). Spartan women on the other hand, though still viewed as lessor to men, had more rights. The women of Sparta enjoyed freedoms such as an education, the capability to partake in athletics, ownership of property, and the ability to make decisions without the consent of their husbands (Herff n.d.). These different attitudes toward women were of course related to the vast differences in their social structure and culture. AthenianRead MoreEvolution Of Spartan Strategy During The Peloponnesian War1150 Words   |  5 PagesEvolution of Spartan strategy during The Peloponnesian War At the very beginning I would like to express excitement by â€Å"The Peloponnesian War† and its relevance despite 2400 years afterwards. This book is not only relevant for military science, but civil society too. However, this book provides broad and comprehensive details for all levels of military war: strategic, operational, and tactical. I will focus my paper to the military sphere, more particularly, to the evolution of Spartan strategy throughout

Successful Environmentally Sustainable Practice- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theSuccessful Environmentally Sustainable Practice for Santos. Answer: Initial Workplace Issues The initial issues related to sustainable practices of Santos, Australia is pollution in the environment during all stages of gas and oil production. The pollution creates huge impact on the environment and it includes all sort of pollution, such that air, soil and water. Other environmental impacts are greenhouse effect, poor water quality, acid rain and ground water contamination. Even, companies such as Santos could also affect biodiversity and contribute to the destruction of the ecosystem (Patin, 2012). Company Information Santos is Australia based independent, leading Oil and Natural Gas Producer Company. The company provides energy for the domestic, business and industrial purposes in Asia and Australia (Santos.com, 2017). It produces oil and natural gas, which includes LPG, methane, ethane, CSG, shale gas, LNG and condensate. The company was established in 1954. Sustainable Work Practice The company claims that sustainability is an important and integral part of Santos. They want to be responsible to handle the environmental impact. The company aims at minimizing volumes of the air emission and contributes to the improvement of the air quality. The natural gas produces fewer amount of greenhouse gas. However, the company plants trees every year to reduce air pollution and other associated effects. As the company recognizes water as precious resources for the human society and overall environment, the company has sustainable approach to water management, which includes using the advanced rig technologies and recycling method, which ensures to reduce the total volume of water. However, the company has robust systems and processes ensuring the minimization of the negative impacts in the water sources. Environmental Regulations The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provide the legislative framework of protecting the international or national flora, fauna, heritage places and ecological communities (Environment.gov.au, 2017). The companys sustainable practice ensures the maintenance of the act of Australia by well managing the water, air and climatic effects related to natural gas production. Target The target employed by the workplace or management of the Santos to monitor the success of the practice includes water management. The company is aware to manage water bodies implementing the SMART goals. The target is specific, that is the company has sustainable approach to water management. It is measurable and motivational as strong data is available as an example of sustainable approaches of the company and it motivates other natural gas company. However, the target is action and result oriented as specific purpose is served. It is time-based as particular target is fulfilled in time or during the field action (Haughey, 2013). Technique There are various tools or techniques applied by the company to meet the target. The company uses advanced rig technologies for managing water well. It applies a recycling method, which includes the recycled water in civil works or drilling activities. In the hydraulic fracturing operation, the recycled water is used, which ultimately reduces the total amount of water in the overall process. References Environment.gov.au. (2017).Department of the Environment and Energy.Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 21 October 2017, from https://www.environment.gov.au/epbc Haughey, D. (2013). SMART goals.Project Smart. Patin, S. A. (2012).Environmental impact of the offshore oil and gas industry(Vol. 1). East Nortport, NY: EcoMonitor Pub. Santos.com. (2017).Santos - Who We Are.Santos.com. Retrieved 21 October 2017, from https://www.santos.com/who-we-are/

Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) In Brain

The nature of declarative memory and the possibility of its use in parallel distributed processing (PDP) regarding formation affects the perception of this complex and potentially threatening scene in a number of ways. The following analysis will help in understanding the scenario whereby a person sees a barely visible human as he/she is approaching an isolated ranch house at twilight.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) In Brain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Declarative memory is often referred to as the conscious memory. It has two main components, namely the semantic and episodic memory (Goldstein, 2005). The episodic memory is concerned with those memories that an individual had once experienced in his/her lifetime. Such events could be traumatizing in nature and at times leading to poor perception and memory loss, especially when someone is engaged in deep thinki ng for a long time. The mental stress associated with such deep thinking would lead to memory lapse and poor vision. Precisely, episodic memories are focused on specific events, place and time (Banich, 2004). On the other hand, semantic memory has little to do with specific events since its knowledge is not linked to any personal experience. Though, semantic memory concerns mainly the concepts, numbers, facts, and vocabulary, it can as well find its relevance in this case. It is the semantic memory that has scripts that enable an individual to visualize what happens in a given situation. Semantic memory also shares a close link with the parallel distributed processing (PDS) in the brain. The PDS in the brain is a concept that is correlated with the semantic networks and motor neurons, which are photosensitive and can help in visualizing pictures (Antonio, 2005). Failure to enhance these parallel distributed activities would prevent someone from creating mental images and visualizing pictures. It is through the help of parallel distributed processing in the brain that vision is enhanced via the spreading activation mechanism. This is facilitated through the PDP because image processing occurs along parallel lines. Consequently, the distribution of the processed images for visual output occurs in many units, which require a proper psychomotor coordination of the whole process (Dominowski Dallob, 2005). The parallel distributed processes (PDP) augment memory can aide natural memory in evaluating the potential risk in this and other potentially threatening situations in a number of ways as highlighted in the discussion that follows. The PDP in the brain is very essential in representing knowledge (Robert Frank, 2001).Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is through the PDP system that individuals are able to make visual generalizations and create similar p atterns that aide the visualization process. As an aide to the natural memory, the parallel distributed processing in the brain is capable of recognizing and visualizing similar images and patterns. After having the knowledge of one image, the PDP system is capable of predicting how the consequent images and patterns would look like. The system has proved to be quite reliable and can help the natural memory since it is highly protected and cannot totally breakdown. Single wreckage in the PDP system can only delete patterns whose units are affected. Often, such mental problems mainly occur among the patients who suffer brain lesions (Zimbardo, 1995). Even though PDP has several advantages, it suffers some limitations as well. The parallel distributed processing (PDP) explains various elements about knowledge representation in an organized and elaborated fashion. However, it fails to provide some detailed explanations on complex processes such as rapid learning. And, it is through suc h weaknesses that PDP can at times fail to explain such threatening situations. References Antonio, R. D. (2005). Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain. Oxford: Penguin Books. Banich,M.T. (2004). Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology. New York, NY: Housthon Mifflin Company. Dominowski, R. L. Dallob, P. (2005). Insight and Problem Solving: In The Nature of Insight. USA: MIT Press.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) In Brain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Goldstein, E.B. (2005). Cogntive Psychology. Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth. Robert, A. W. Frank, C. K. (2001). The MIT Encyclopedia of Cognitive Sciences (MITECS). New York, NY: Bradford Book. Zimbardo, P. G. (1995). Psychology and Life. Inc. Glenview, Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company. This research paper on Parallel Distributed Processing (PDP) In Brain was written and submitted by user PrinceofOrphans to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Shane Essays - English-language Films, Shane, Homestead Acts

Shane Shane is a classic example of western fiction in which Schaefer contrasts the values of the isolated family farm with the lawlessness of the cowtown. Shane, the gunfighter protagonist, attempts to find peace with the farmers but can only help clear away the violence for the civilization the farmers bring. Schaefer reveals the difficult struggles of homesteaders who fight to bring justice to an ungoverned land, and strives to fulfill the hopes and promises of prosperity to their families. The reality in the struggles of these farmers were supported with an accurate correspondence to history (e.g. The Homestead Act) and with detailed and atmospheric languages. The language is easily understandable and helps the reader to better comprehend the book. It is simply a great page turner. Although it is a fictional work, it does not fail to portray the harsh life style of the westerners of the 1800's. While the book depicts some of the western struggles, it adds an element of suspense as a novel as well with the battle between a protagonist and antagonists. Images of blood occur often in the book to emphasize the risk involved in living a western life, especially where justice does not exist. The simple language of the book does not hinder from creating its lively images, rather it makes it easier for the readers to comprehend the book. The absence of flashbacks or allusions further strengthens the simplicity of the book. The story is told through the eyes of an omniscient observer who especially concentrates on the Starrett family. Such concentration does not allow the reader to observe the lifestyles of other homesteaders; the Starrett family basically symbolizes the homesteader of that era. This particular view- point favors the triumph of good versus the evil. This old-fashioned philosophy on the battles between the good versus evil is still a universal theme, and therefore is able to appeal to today's young readers. Despite the brevity of the book, Schaefer has included all the necessary items to describe the lives of homesteaders: the struggle against famines, the competition for more land, etc. The author has limited the sophistication of its language because the novel is geared toward younger ages, and to tell the lives of simple homesteaders in a simple and undisguised way. Furthermore, the author has admirably utilized its simple language to bring a novel filled with gracious images of hope and death. The universal theme of good versus evil creates the suspense required for the novel and is appealing even to the modern society. This novel is more than a mere juvenile literature because it teaches the cruelty of life in the society by using the homesteader, which can be better related to adults.

Chesapeake colony essays

Chesapeake colony essays Although New England and the Chesapeake region were both settled largely by people of English origin, by 1700 the region had evolved into two distinct societies. The main factors that influenced the evolution of differences in New England and Chesapeake region were: political, economic and social influences. In the Chesapeake region the economy evolved through trades and agriculture; plantations and staple crops. Tobacco which became the main crop of the region increased rapidly its production, creating the need for labor. As a result of the tobacco plantations the headright system came about, which established that whoever paid the passage of an indentured servant received the right to acquire 50 acres of land and thereby, increasing the production of tobacco and other crops like rice, which became the main crop of the Carolinas. The plantations in this region were to vast causing the development of churches, schools, and cities limited and relatively few. Trades played a big role in the development of this region; in the Carolinas the settlers started to use slave trade, they used Savannah Indians to gather other Indians for their slave trade. However most of the Carolinas prosperity is due to their trade with the sugars island of the West Indies. In social terms, the tobacco plantat ion brought the young people without a family who rather work as indentured servants for ten years and hope to get the portion of land that was promised to them. These indentured servants were mostly young men whom desired to find and easy way to get rich or just make money clouded their minds; as the talked contract for land and yet not a written contract. Many proprietors didnt give them the portion of land that they were promised. As result of this, the free indentured servants moved to the backwoods of Virginia and thereby, invading Indian Territory and creating the clash that is now known as the Bacon Rebellion. Bacon being the leader of th...

The word Euthanasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The word Euthanasia - Essay Example Encyclopedia Concise Britannica (2004 Edition) archived facts that euthanasia is painless killing of a person who has a painful, incurable disease or incapacitating disorder. Most legal systems consider it murder, though in many jurisdictions a physician may lawfully decide not to prolong the patient's life or may give drugs to relieve pain even if they shorten the patient's life. Associations promoting legal euthanasia exist in many countries. The legalization movement has gained ground with advancing medical technology, which has been used to prolong the lives of patients who are enduring extreme suffering or who are comatose or unable to communicate their wishes. Euthanasia was legalized in The Netherlands in 2001 and in Belgium in 2002. In 1997 Oregon became the first state in the United States of America to decriminalize physician-assisted suicide. Euthanasia, derived from Greek for "good death," refers to the termination of the life of a person suffering from a painful and incurable medical condition. It is also widely known as "mercy killing,". According to Doudera, A. Edward, and J. Douglas Peters, (eds. Legal and Ethical Aspects of Treating Critically and Terminally Ill Patients) Euthanasia is distinguished from suicide by the necessary participation of a third party, typically either a physician or family member. Twenty-first-century disputes over euthanasia are often seen as a by product of advances in biomedical technology capable of prolonging a person's life indefinitely. Indeed, the moral and legal aspects of euthanasia are extremely complicated, as experts distinguish between active and passive euthanasia as well as voluntary and involuntary euthanasia. Additional issues include the definition of a "terminal" illness and whether pain, an intractable disease, or both, are required to make the practice morally accepta ble. Such complexity has led to a variety of legal positions worldwide. The United States officially forbids euthanasia, while some European countries, such as Switzerland, Germany, Poland, and Norway, are more lenient allowing for a variety of mitigating circumstances and reduced criminal penalties. In 1993 the Netherlands passed a law prescribing guidelines for medically assisted suicide; Uruguay has exempted mercy killing from criminal prosecution since 1933. MERCY KILLING: THE ORIGIN & ITS CRITICAL ANALYSIS Mercy killing, (Humphry, Derek. Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying. Eugene, Ore.: Hemlock Society, 1991, Re ed 2006) practiced since time immemorial, has been debated throughout history. Ancient Greek, Indian, and Asian texts describe infanticide as an acceptable solution for children physically unsuited for or incapable of living. In Plato's Phaedo, when Socrates drinks hemlock, a poison, he maintains his dignity in death, an action immortalized in the modern pro-euthanasia organization, the Hemlock Society. While many other Greeks, including Aristotle and the Stoics, sanctioned

Something to Smile About Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Something to Smile About - Essay Example Further, the changes in temperature of the foods and water we usually intake affect the colors of our teeth. Aging and other internal activities such too much fluoride may also stain the teeth ("Something to Smile About". Metro. July 2005. Volume 15 (6). pp 86). However, this teeth discoloration issue can easily be solved through various methods. At home bleaching such as the use of specially prepared toothpastes can be an alternative. Laser tooth whitening is another option for those who would want a shorter process, because this would only entail a one to two-hour session. The topic is again very simple yet a very helpful tip for its readers. I know for a fact that teeth discoloration has been a pertinent problem of most people now a days, especially because beauty and physical appearance now matters a lot. I also liked the simplicity of its presentation. Just the smile of a person having perfect teeth is enough to connote what is inside the story. It does not need further graphics nor pictures because those can only look the page a bit messy. What seemed a bit awkward to me was the mentioning of Colgate's Simply White product. It looked like it was just advertising the product and not giving tips to the readers. May be this could be minimized if Colgate's product was shown in a not too "hard sell" way. A small picture of its product on just one small corner of the page is enough to denote that this product is made to help people to maintain perfectly white teeth. Conclusion As for its "ethos", the magazine where it was published or advertised maintains a good credibility standards. Metro Magazine has been in the publishing industry for several years already, and so far, everything that is published or written in the every issue of this magazine are found to be of good value. Every reader who will be reading this material will surely not have any second thoughts on believing what has been claimed in the advertisement. With regards to the "pathos" aspect, the magazine advertisement is very objective. It has directly 'attack' the emotions of the readers, particularly the feeling of 'vanity'. I personally believe that each and every person desires to look good so as to feel good. The advertisement has made use of this idea. More so, it has created a tremendous impact to all the reader's minds that white teeth can indeed make one look beautiful and of course neat. Needless to say, this ad has attacked the mind and the hearts of all readers. It has enlightened the minds of the people on how one can maintain a pearly white teeth, while providing the hearts an avenue to aspire for additional beautiful attribute. With regards to the third aspect which is the "logos", this ad has provided logical proofs of what to do best with discolored teeth. It has given several alternatives or methods on cleaning one's teeth so as to remove stains and other matters that make it looks dirty. These things alone make this ad credible. on the first

Small Business (Entrepreneurship) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Small Business (Entrepreneurship) - Essay Example Citroen has the experience of working in a large organisation. He understands the business of cooking and recipes well. But he is still a novice in handling business operations. He may not have accosted those costs of a business that come to fore better in a small environment. The figures on which he is Citroen bases his decisions are not exhaustive and the actual running cost of the restaurant could be higher. Some of the fixed and non-fixed expenditures like overheads like electricity, water; establishment costs, telephone bills, software, internet and computer costs, insurance, dilapidation costs, maintenance costs and sales promotion are not included in his analysis. A business always needs to be in growth, expansion, improvement or development mode in order to stay in competition. A salary of $85000 and a profit margin of $ 90000 are not comparable figures. He needs to generate enough money that is over and above the amount he needs to look after himself. According to Citroen, each meal leaves him with a margin of $22. The costs for sales promotion. He needs to make forecasts of the occupancy of 40-seater restaurant especially the peak occupancy and its time period. In case it exceeds the available seating capacity of 40, for such time period that may lead to substantial business loss, he will have to provide additional seats. This needs a workload and capacity management planning. His decision to close shop on the weekend is also flawed as restaurants generate highest turnovers on the weekends. Cost should be defined as what the customer pays to obtain certain goods or services and to derive full utility from them. It is important for Citroen to realise that he will not be able to encash his rapport with clientele of La Gauloise in entirety, for as much he may have done to increase restaurant’s popularity, big businesses carry their brand loyalty that does not change with change of employees. He needs to conduct a thorough financial analysis

Gel Electrophoresis and the Action of Alkaline Phosphatase

Gel Electrophoresis and the Action of Alkaline Phosphatase Introduction In this practical, two common techniques found in clinical laboratories are performed. The first technique is called gel electrophoresis and the second is an enzyme activity assay.      Ã‚   Electrophoresis is a method that uses an electrical field to separate proteins by molecular size. In this case, the protein extracted in practical 1 and an unknown protein are separated and analysed using a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Electrophoresis is a popular and widely used analytical technique in research, it can be used for a variety of applications but its most widespread use is the separation of proteins to then analyse and purify them. The technique has greatly evolved over the years since the instrumentation, buffer systems and visualization techniques have all been rapidly improving. This has helped to create different protein electrophoresis techniques such as isoelectric focusing (IEF) or electrophoretic transfer (commonly known as Blotting) which are great tools used in modern research methods (facebook page). The second experiment is an enzyme rate reaction experiment that uses alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Where the enzyme activity of a commercially available purified form of ALP is compared to the ALP activity of the cell lysate prepared in practical 1. A chemical reaction rate can be influenced by the presence of enzymes, these proteins can catalyse a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy of the reaction. They can do this all while remaining unchanged, making them a perfect candidate for a marker to monitor a chemical reaction rate. These reactions are found in all living organisms and naturally occur in metabolic pathways for example. The activity of an enzyme can be altered by a change in the pH, the concentration of the enzyme or the substrate, the temperature and by the presence of inhibitors. By controlling these changes the activity of an enzyme can be reliably monitored. Enzymes are very specific to their corresponding substrate. When an enzyme is mixed with its specific substrate in vitro, under optimum conditions, the substrate will bind to the active site of the enzyme to form the enzyme-substrate complex at a steady rate. Thus, until the substrate is used up or the enzyme begins to denature or the complex f ormed changes the reaction conditions. By monitoring the products of a chemical reaction, we can analyse the rate of production of enzyme-substrate complexes. In this experiment, ALP is the enzyme that speeds up the hydrolysis reaction that occurs to p-nitrophenyl phosphate to form p-nitrophenol. ALP is mainly found in the liver, bone, kidney but it is also produced by the cells in the small intestine. The CACO-2 cells used in practical 1 have very similar traits to cells found in the small intestine, therefore, the ALP activity in the extract can be measured. By monitoring the course of the reaction during various time points, the activity of ALP can be determined. Electrophoresis Materials Pipettes and tips Deionized water Electrophoresis polyacrylamide gel Electrophoresis apparatus Cell lysate (practical 1) Protein X Colour prestained Protein standard Laemlii buffer: NuPAGE LDS sample buffer 4x lot#1658555 opened on the 27/07/2015 Coomassie blue Running buffer Methods Firstly, a loading sample containing the cell lysate prepared in practical 1 was made by adding 2 µl of cell lysate, 3 µl of water and 5 µl of laemlii buffer into an Eppendorf tube. A second loading sample containing protein x was prepared by adding 10 µl of protein x to 10 µl of laemlii buffer into an Eppendorf tube. The samples were then added to a heated bath for 2 minutes. During this time, the polyacrylamide gel was opened and the comb and tape were gently removed. The electrophoresis cell was then assembled before filling the inner and outer buffer chambers with provided running buffer. The inner chamber had more buffer than the outer chamber to totally incubate the gel in the buffer. 10 µl of the protein x sample, 3 µl of the ladder and 14 µl of our cell lysate sample were then loaded onto the gel in different wells by carefully inserting them using a pipette with slender tips. Once the apparatus was correctly assembled, the electrophoresis cell was connected to the power supply and the electrophoresis was performed at 150mv for 1 and a half hours. After completion of the migration of the bands, the power supply was turned off and the electrical leads were disconnected. The gel cassette was then removed and the gel was gently transferred by floating it off the plate. The gel was then stained using Coomassie blue for an hour before transferring it to water. A picture of the gel was then taken for further interpretation. Results By measuring the migration distance travelled by the bands of proteins of known molecular weight, we can plot a standard curve of the distance travelled versus the molecular weight: Table 1. Standard bands migration distance versus fragment size Standard distance travelled (cm) Ladder fragment size (kDa) 2 245 2.7 190 3.5 135 4.5 100 5.6 80 7.1 58 8.5 46 10.3 32 11.6 25 12.6 22 13.4 17 14.1 11 Figure 3. Standard curve of the migration distance versus ladder fragment size of the protein standard This produces an equation that can be used to measure the sizes of the bands produced by the protein x sample. Table 2. Relative size of protein x components. Band number Protein x Sample distance travelled (cm) Protein x relative size proteins (kDa) 1 1.4 232.34 2 2.3 189.75 3 3.4 148.15 4 6.7 70.5 Discussion The bands observed in figure 1 are composed of proteins of the same size. The proteins are loaded in the negative end of the gel since they are negatively charged, as the electrophoresis reaction is occurring, the negative current will push the samples towards the positive end. The smaller samples will travel faster and thus further through the gel whereas larger sized proteins will tend to migrate less. This difference in migration is due to the structure of the gel, it has fine filaments that can be represented as a mesh. The density of the gel is dependent on the concentration. The smaller proteins will find it easier to travel through the mesh whereas the larger molecules will move much more slowly (facebook page). Also, we can observe that some bands are darker than others, this is because the darker bands have a higher concentration of a particular protein of the same size. We can estimate the molecular weight of the proteins by comparing the migration distances of the bands against the standard seen in well 1 (see figure 1). We can also observe the number of different protein sizes that are present in our samples by counting the number of bands. For example, our sample of protein x contains 4 visible bands, meaning there are 4 protein groups in protein-x. The most significant band in the protein x separation is the last band containing the smaller fragments of protein. This band is estimated to have proteins of about 70.5 kDa. This band can also be seen in the electrophoresis separation of the cell lysate prepared in practical 1. The band is seen in both samples because it is the band containing albumin. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood. It has a molecular mass of between 65-75 kDa which encompasses the estimated 70.5kDa of the proteins found in the bands calculated earlier (all about albumin, theodore Peters). In this practical, the use of beta-mercaptoethanol (BME) is used in combination with the sample buffer prior gel electrophoresis. It is activated by heating the sample and permits the successful migration of the subunits of the proteins during electrophoresis. It works by independently separating them on the SDS-PAGE. It completely denatures the disulphide bonds within the subunits to let the peptides freely migrate according to their chain length. By overcoming forms of tertiary protein folding and lysing oligomeric subunits, the influence of secondary structures is minimized. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) is also used during the experiment, as discussed in practical 1, this substance is an anionic detergent and is used during electrophoresis to linearize and promote the negative charge of the proteins prior to gel electrophoresis. The result of this is the even distribution of charge throughout the protein to help separate the protein fragments according to their size (Detergent bi nding explains anomalous SDS page migration of membrane proteins). To stain the proteins in this practical, a Coomassie stain was used. This protein stain is the most common anionic protein dye. It is popular because it stains most proteins and has great advantages such as good quantitative linearity, good use in identification during mass spectrometry and short staining times, for example. Other dyes can be used in gel electrophoresis such as silver stains. These stains have very high sensitivity, but unlike Coomassie Blue, they offer a lower linear dynamic range and are usually complex, therefore the protocols are time-consuming. Also, they do not offer sufficient reproducibility for quantitative analysis. Other type of stains that are commonly used are fluorescent stains. These stains also offer high sensitivity but, unlike silver stains, have a wider linear dynamic range and are simple to use and robust. The disadvantage is that they are more expensive to use and require specific imaging equipment such as scanners to view the gel (facebook page) . The electrophoresis technique is now a routinely used method used in clinical laboratories to screen for protein abnormalities using samples of serum, urine or cerebral spinal fluid and can analyse specific proteins such as enzymes (ALP or LDH), lipoproteins or haemoglobin. These techniques are evaluated visually for the presence of abnormal protein bands and can also be quantitively measured to determine the concentration of the bands. In a normal serum protein electrophoresis, 5 distinct bands appear on the gel; the highest band contains albumin, followed by smaller bands containing alpha-1 globulins, alpha 2 globulins, beta globulins and finally gamma globulins. Analysing these bands can determine if abnormalities are present in the major proteins found in the body and can therefore be a valuable diagnostic tool. For example, changes in the zone containing the albumin band can help diagnose various abnormalities such as bisalbuminemia (2 bands instead of 1) and hyperalbuminemia. Significant changes in concentrations of other bands of the serum protein electrophoresis can easily help determine many different pathological disorders. The most common use of serum protein electrophoresis is for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. An abnormal peak in a region of the gamma globulin area can indicate a monoclonal gammopathy. Monoclonal gammopathies have been shown to be associated with an anomalous clonal process that can lead to the development of cancerous tumours such as multiple myeloma (Patterns of serum protein electrophoresis, our experience at King Hussein Medical Center, Jordan). Another common use of electrophoresis in a clinical laboratory is lipoprotein electrophoresis. This method determines the concentrations of different lipoproteins such as LDL. High plasma levels of LDL have been associated with acute myocardial infarction and other heart related diseases. Conclusion Gel electrophoresis is used to separate proteins according to their sizes by migrating them through a gel using an electric gradient. The smaller proteins will migrate faster and further than larger sized proteins due to the structure of the gel. This technique can be used in various clinical settings, for example, to analyse lipoproteins or serum proteins to help diagnosis various conditions. Enzyme activity of Alkaline Phosphatase Materials Pipette and tips 96 well plate Commercial ALP Cell lysate from practical 1 Cell lysate provided Lysis buffer Para nitrophenol phosphate (PNP) 3M NaOH (stop solution) Plate reader Method The experiment was performed in different steps to minimize potential errors due to timing issues. The first was the monitoring of the commercial ALP enzyme reaction rate in combination with the blank test. This was done by adding 100 µl of the commercial ALP into 6 wells of the same line. The enzyme substrate Paranitrophenol phosphate was then added to all the wells as fast as possible to maintain a homogenous reaction in all the wells. Prior to the addition of the enzyme and the substrate, 50 µl of the stop solution (NaOH) was added to the first well to provide an initial reaction rate of 0s. 50  µl of stop solution was then added to the other wells at a 3-minute interval until the final 6th well (t=15min). The plate was then read at 410nm and the results were collected. During this time, a blank test was performed by using the same method. The only difference was that the wells only contained 200  µl of enzyme substrate and therefore no enzyme. After this was performed, an enzyme rate reaction for the provided cell lysate was done. Firstly, a stock solution of 700  µl was done by adding 350  µl cell lysate with 350  µl of buffer. 100  µl of the cell lysate stock solution was added to 6 wells. The first well also contained 50  µl of the stop solution as mentioned earlier. 100  µl of enzyme substrate was then added to all the wells as fast as possible. After 3 minutes, 50  µl of the stop solution was then added to the second well, followed by the third 3 minutes later, and so on until the last well. The plate was then read at 410 nm on the plate reader. The final enzyme reaction contained the cell lysate prepared in practical 1. Firstly, a 700  µl stock solution of cell lysate was done by adding 175  µl of the cell lysate created in practical 1 to 525  µl of lysis buffer. 100  µl of the cell lysate stock solution was added to 6 wells. The first contained 50  µl of stop solution as mentioned earlier. 100  µl of enzyme substrate was then added to all the wells as fast as possible. After 3 minutes, 50  µl of stop solution was added to the second well, followed by the third 3 minutes later, and so on until the last well. The plate was then read at 410nm on the plate reader. This experiment was done twice to provide duplicates. Table 3. 96 well plate distribution (time (t) in minutes) 1 (t=0) 2 (t=3) 3 (t=6) 4 (t=9) 5 (t=12) 6 (t=15) A BLANK BLANK BLANK BLANK BLANK BLANK B C Commercial ALP Commercial ALP Commercial ALP Commercial ALP Commercial ALP Commercial ALP D E Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate F G Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate Practical 1 Cell lysate H Provided Cell lysate Provided Cell lysate Provided Cell lysate Provided Cell lysate Provided Cell lysate Provided Cell lysate Results Table 4. 96 well plate absorbance (410nm) results 1 (t=0) 2 (t=3) 3 (t=6) 4 (t=9) 5 (t=12) 6 (t=15) A 0.284 0.303 0.288 0.344 0.294 0.290 B C 0.277 0.355 0.433 0.504 0.582 0.674 D E 0.662 0.396 0.483 0.635 0.685 1.131 F G 0.330 0.544 0.487 0.563 0.614 0.708 H 0.329 0.545 0.740 0.814 0.915 0.967 By using these absorbance, we can plot a graph of the absorbance versus the time for the various tested samples to analyse and compare them. Note that the results from well E1 and G2 have been omitted due to the errors occurred during pipetting (E1 well is t=0 but absorbance is abnormally high and G2 absorbance is abnormally high). Fortunately, these wells were part of a duplicate so the other result from the sample was kept. Figure 4. Graph of the absorbance over time of the commercial ALP, the cell lysate from practical 1 and the provided cell lysate. The activity of an enzyme can be measured by determining the rate of the formation of the product or the rate at which the substrate is used up. The rate of the reaction decreases when the substrate is being used up, therefore, the rate must be measured during the period when the formation of the product or decrease in substrate is linear with time. The rate of a reaction at time 0 is called the initial linear reaction rate (V=0min). By using the polynomial equations for each curve, an initial rate can be determined where V0=A410min-1. In other words, the value (b) in front of x in the quadratic equation y=ax2+bx+c is the initial rate of the reaction ( youtube vid). Assuming that 0.1 mM of the solution of the reaction product produces an absorbance of 1, we can determine the enzyme rate as shown below. Table 5. Initial rates for each sample Sample Initial rate (Abs/min) Enzyme rate (mM/Min) Practical 1 lysate 0.1059 0.01059 Blank 0.0336 0.00336 Commercial ALP 0.0695 0.00695 Provided ALP 0.2745 0.02745 Discussion By using this technique, we can calculate how fast an enzyme can catalyse a reaction. In this case, we can compare the rate of reaction of the cell lysate, the provided ALP and the commercial ALP to the blank sample as shown below: Cell lysate: (0.0059/0.00336) = 1.756 It can be said that the ALP present in the cell lysate from practical 1 sped up the reaction 1.756 times faster compared to the reaction without it. Commercial ALP: (0.00695/0.00336) = 2.065 It can be said that the commercial ALP sped up the reaction 2.065 times faster than without the commercial ALP. Provided ALP: (0.02745/0.00336) = 8.17 It can be said that the provided ALP sped up the reaction 8.17 times faster than without the provided ALP. Conclusion ALP is a widely-used enzyme in our body, it removes phosphate groups by a process called dephosphorisation. Its activity can be measured in vitro by monitoring its activity during a chemical reaction in controlled conditions. The experiment used different samples containing ALP to catalyse the reaction of p-nitrophenyl phosphate to form p-nitrophenol. In conclusion, the results confirmed that ALP can speed up a reaction and this acceleration was measured by comparing the rate of reaction compared to a blank sample.

Price Discrimination | Amusement Parks Essay

Introduction Consider these Amusement park pricing scenarios: ?Six Flags Discovery kingdom sells its annual season pass for $59. 99. According to its website, â€Å"Buy your Season Pass for $59. 99, just $14 more than a one-day admission. † ?Bush Gardens Dark Continent. sells its Fun Card for $95. 00. According to its website, â€Å"Pay for a Day, Get now through 2015 FREE. †, Now why would they give away an unlimited entry annual pass for an extra 25% over the single entry price? What is common in these pricing scenarios? All these businesses are practicing what economists call, â€Å"Metered Price Discriminationâ€Å", or what marketers describe as, â€Å"Customer Margin†. It all starts with, â€Å"price discrimination† – charging different customers different prices. Customers differ in the value they get from a product/service and in how much they are willing to pay for it. For each price point you set, there will be different number of customers willing to pay that price. That is your demand curve. The goal is to find the price that maximizes profit. There are many different ways to monetize the customer and Amusement parks offer us a great opportunity to examine several of them. As in the example above, Amusement Parks employ multiple price discrimination strategies when establishing ticket prices in order to increase Six Flags Season Pass Pricing Busch Gardens â€Å"Fun Card† Pricing overall attendance but make up for the lost single entry fee revenue from the subset of customers willing to pay set pricing scale at park concession stands, gift shops, diners and restaurants. This is Metered Price Discrimination – some customers get away with paying the low â€Å"entry fee† while others pay more by consuming additional services at different prices. Discrimination can take several forms and those presently employed in the amusement park industry begins with an exploration of spatial discrimination. Spatial Discrimination Amusement parks benefit greatly from their ability to isolate customers away from competitors for long periods of time. Part of the value proposition for an amusement park is the highly developed themed experience they provide. Once fully immersed in the amusement park experience the level of difficulty and inconvenience in accessing alternative providers for staples like food, drink, shopping, and accommodations, grows exponentially. Utilizing spatial discrimination, the parks have several different supply, demand and profit opportunities to exploit.? Higher than market food pricing and profits based on proximity and distance to cheaper alternative. Amusement Parks, like many other entertainment businesses can derive extremely high profits from customers on purchases of goods and services once inside the park. ?Zero competition from competitors within park confines. The experience of the park itself requires a good deal of isolation and space so the business can control the imagery, interactions, and exposure to inconsistent inputs. The space and isolation enables the parks to create their own marketplace and exclude other industry actors access to the customers in their park avoiding food, retail, services competition altogether. Once the customer is in the park you control the market and the market offerings and pricing ? Ingress and Egress marketing opportunities for personalized content like group photos on T-Shirts, Mugs etc. The parks have cameras throughout their facilities and more often than not have a kiosk standing by to sell customers personalized remembrances of the experience the park is providing. Only the park has the photo of your family on the roller coaster together. Since they own the roller coaster, they can restrict access to the best picture locations. Price discrimination takes place in that they control the supply completely. Calculate the highest price the market is willing to pay and sit back, you’ve eliminated the competition while they are in the park. Bundling One type of membership popular with both Bush Gardens and Walt Disney World customers is the add-on (up charge) for water park entry in addition to the amusement park entry at a reduced â€Å"bundled† price. Water park capacity is likely to be considerably less than the amusement park so the profit maximization point must take into account the â€Å"limited capacity† constraint. The reduced revenues from the amusement park tickets vs. full price tickets needs to be tracked so supply of the amusement/water park bundles does not, or to the best case achievable, negatively impact the supply of the water park â€Å"single park† utilization. Profit maximization can be best achieved by limiting the bundle availability to key periods during the annual calendar when excess capacity exists at the water park. Bundling will fill the gap between current utilization and current capacity at the water park while providing added perceived value to the purchase of a amusement park ticket. Peak Load Pricing. The customers of annual passes are further discriminated by those that have the capability to tailor entry dates away from peak load periods. Ex. Walt Disney World â€Å"Florida Resident† annual passes with entry restricted during the summer and holiday periods. Amusement Parks have multiple levels and types of annualized memberships based on paying a onetime fee for unlimited entry for a specified period (Typically annually) at specified times. The overall infrastructure footprint of the parks is constant. In the slower months of the year there is Busch Gardens Bundled Pricing Walt Disney World Florida Resident Pricing  an excess of capacity (or supply0 at the parks and the peak load pricing attracts park visitors at lower utilization periods of the year. (An argument can be made for inclusion in the Spatial Discrimination category and the overlap is noted here. Florida residents benefit from a price discriminator compared to out of state customers but must use the park facilities at times it benefits the park most. ) Air fares, Hotels, etc. Finally, the cross marketing partners the amusement parks team with will employ length of stay discounts, food offerings, free parking offers, service level upgrades, hotel upgrades and the like. The price discriminators are focused on the ancillary products and services typically required to in order to utilize the amusement parks. The parks will appoint official Airlines of the park, or have a preferred credit card, or as in the case of Walt Disney World several tiers of hotels. Disney owns their own hotels, all in the best locations, extensively themed to the park specifications. Disney also leases hotel locations on their land to the major hotel chains. The location is not the best, and the hotels cannot use Disney’s Theme in their decorating but they are located on Disney property with access to Disney’s higher income, more likely to spend money, customers. A third tier exists in the hotels off Disney property. Disney will offer discounted ticket prices to these hotels for their customers. Walt Disney World Package Pricing Closing Amusement Parks have well developed and sophisticated price discrimination strategies in place. They capitalize on several of the methods described in the Harvard note Economics of Product Variety. They use spacial discrimination to boost profits on food, services, and goods once the supply is controlled in the park. They use bundling to attract attendance across the multiple parks they operate in the hopes of increasing profits through the generated increase in demand the bundling creates. They use peak load pricing to entice attendees during low utilization periods as well as boost purchase of ancillary â€Å"high margin† items in the parks. And they use cross marketing strategies to team with hotels, airlines, credit cards, and others to increase demand from third tier hoteliers near the park. References HIRSCHEY, MARK; MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS 12TH EDITION, CENGAGE LEARNING, MASON OH, 2009 President and Fellows of Havard College, Price Discrimination, Havard Business Schools Publishing, Boston, MA 02163, 1993.

Lyman Frank Baum

Lyman Frank Baum is an American writer, independent film maker, and actor who was born on May 15, 1856 in Chittenango, New York from a Scottish Irish mother named Cynthia Stanton who is the direct descendant of Thomas Stanton, the founder of the Stonington, Connecticut, and a German father named Benjamin Ward Baum. From 1880 to 1902 he became a newspaper-man and began writing a series of books in which he made an original fairyland, a world of fantastic characters and light-hearted adventures, and the Land of Oz, and from this books, the most famous was the â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† written in 1900 (L. Frank Baum, Encarta). Baum wrote 13 sequels, 9 other fantasy novels, 82 short stories, over 200 poems, and many miscellaneous writing, which resulted to numerous attempts to bring back his work to the screen and stage. Because of Baum’s love for theatre, often to his financial detriment, he often support elaborate musicals. Baum adapted the â€Å"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz† as a ‘musical extravaganza’ named The Wizard of Oz in 1901, and before Baum’s death he wrote an additional thirteen more books all about Oz (L. Frank Baum, Encarta). The book became the best selling children’s book after its initial publication in 1900. Baum was originally a Methodist but later he joined the Episcopal Church to be included in community theatrical arts, and later he was encouraged by his wife in 1897 to become a Theosophist. According to records, Baum’s belief is reflected or can be seen in his writings. After Baum’s death in May 6, 1919, several writers continued his series, which resulted to huge volumes. Works Cited â€Å"L. Frank Baum.† 2007.   L. Frank Baum – MSN Encarta, 12 January 2008   

College Funding Essays - Student Financial Aid In The United States

College Funding Essays - Student Financial Aid In The United States College Funding As a young college student you have many avenues available for funding your formal education but none will be as satisfying as maintaining paying a position whether it is full-time or part-time. While there are several sacrifices for obtaining a job and going to school simultaneously there are many more rewards that will follow. Many students would like to not work while they are in school but most have financial obligations that require them to. On the other hand there are a few students that do not have to or need to work, most cases being that their parents either saved for their college education or their parents did not need to save due to their financial prosperity. Some students and parents look at working and going to school as a negative circumstance but nothing could be further from the truth. By maintaining a job while you are in college you are increasing your likelihood of being employed after graduation. Students that rely on their wealthy parents to put them through college are in some ways very fortunate because they then have the ability to solely focus on their studies without having to juggle both work and school. In the same thought, those students who do not have to worry about financial obligations would most likely come across to some as being carefree and maybe some would even think that they are not mature enough to take on the responsibility of their own finances. Through their parents these students have access to the finer things in life without having to work for them, which in some ways re-enforces the lack of work ethic among this group of students. As long as their parents are involved in their lives they will not have to work to truly earn something that they want. Without work experience these students of wealthy parents can have all the money in the world and all the degrees imaginable but without prior work experience the chances of them landing a job over someo ne that has held a position in that particular field are very slim. Parents that have saved for their son or daughters college education have given their offspring a significant advantage because by covering tuition, books, room & board the student is responsible not only for their living expenses but also their entertainment expenses. A young college student needs to be responsible for at least some of the expenses they incur while going to school, thus forcing them to obtain a paying position to cover their everyday expenditures. It not only teaches them the value of a dollar but it also prepares them for the career world that they will be entering in a few short years. Students that are financially responsible for both their education and for their living expenses are both at an advantage and a disadvantage. One disadvantage depends on how much financial aid they are awarded each semester. If the financial aid does not cover all of their tuition they may find themselves having to carry the excess into their living expenses thus causing them to work more hours and have less time for their studies. On the other hand one of the advantages that they will have is plenty of work experience once they graduate thus making them very appealing to employers. The responsibility of having to work either full-time or part-time and attend school full-time is a huge one and in the long run these people will have a significant advantage in the working world. The majority of students are in the college or university system as a student for an average of four years and to not be employed during that time is only hurting them and their future career opportunities. If a student focuses all of his or her attention on academic performance then that is all that they are going to be efficient at in the real world. Focusing on academics is a necessity but to solely focus on the hypothetical scenarios that are played out within the four wall of a classroom without any other actual outside experience puts that student at a severe disadvantage. Many employers look at prior work experience as a guide on how

Cultural Research Interview among Luo Community Essay Example

Cultural Research Interview among Luo Community Essay Example Cultural Research Interview among Luo Community Essay Cultural Research Interview among Luo Community Essay This study seeks to explore the culture of Luo community in Kenya. It is not easy to study Kenya as a culture on its own due to its multi-cultural dimension. Therefore, one can only study it from the many cultures there are. It will explore Luo culture in various domains. The study will provide concrete examples to support the findings in each domain. It will also carry out a one-on-one interview with a Kenyan citizen and especially from Luo culture. The findings in the literature review will be compared with the data collected from the interview. This study also seeks to propose few recommendations and suggestions on applications to practice. Luo Culture in Kenya Kenyan as a multi-cultural nation has got forty two tribes with different cultures. Therefore, one can only explore certain aspects of Kenyan culture. This study narrows its scope to Luo Culture, whose community takes about 25% of the Kenyan Population hence being the third largest ethnic group (Ochieng, 2007). It is believed that this community originated from the Southern part of Sudan, getting into Kenya through Northern Uganda and settled in Nyanza Province (Ochieng, 2007). It is also believed that their migration was in search of higher and cooler regions with adequate rainfalls (Isak, 1972). Today, they are popularly referred to as River-Lake Nilotes (Ochieng, 2007). This study chooses to explore on Luo culture due to its peculiar elements. In fact, it is considered to be one of those complicated cultures in Kenya especially on the issue of â€Å"wife inheritance† (Gay, 1981). When Kenya was still under British colonialism, the Luo people managed to defend their land; more so, they played a fundamental role in fighting for Kenya’s independence. It is also worth noting that this tribe produced and continues to produce a number of scholars and other educated men and women who have attained high levels of education from prominent universities all over the world (Liyong, 1972). Luo professionals are present in most parts of Kenyan economy; for instance, they serve in business and government ministries, educational institutions as professors, doctors, engineers and lawyers. Literature Review Communication The Luo community has got three languages. Two of the languages are widely used by all other Kenyan tribes, for instance, English and Kiswahili. English originated from the British colonial era and was declared by Kenyan government as the official language while Kiswahili is the national language (Sinaiko, 1995). The indigenous language of Luo community is referred to as â€Å"Dholuo† which is commonly used at home and in their everyday conversation (Sinaiko, 1995). In their culture, naming of children relate to where they were born, the exact time of day or the day of the week. This also includes the kind of weather at that time (Ocholla, 1980). For instance, the name Akoth (female) or Okoth (male) is given when one is born during a rainy season. In general, the Luo culture names children on three formats, for instance, a Christian name like Peter or James then a second name like â€Å"Okoth† then a sir name like â€Å"Omondi† (Ocholla, 1980). Nutrition Luo community grows maize (corn), millet and sorghum. It also grows cash crops, for instance, tobacco, coffee, sugarcane and cotton. They also keep animals such as goats, sheep, poultry and cattle, which are later used to settle dowry prizes. Most importantly, fish in Luo culture means a lot; in fact, fishing is a major economic activity in Luo community (Parker, 1989). It is also worth noting that this community’s staple food consists of ugali (kuon) and fish. Ugali is prepared from maize meal mixed with boiled water until it becomes a thick porridge where fish becomes its preferred accompaniment. Additionally, the ugali food can be accompanied by green vegetables, meat or stew. Maize is a common food all over Kenya and most families grow it and sell it for a better income (Parker, 1989). Luo culture abhors foods like rice and mixture of boiled maize and beans (Mboya, 1986). But sometimes, this mixture of boiled maize and beans which they refer to as (nyoyo) is typically consumed when the community members return from a hard day of work in the fields. The nyoyo can also be eaten with tea, porridge or stir fried vegetables (Mboya, 1986). This community likes traditional beer known as busaa which is prepared during special occasions or celebrations. Normally, they mix flour and water and leave it for sometime until it turns sour after which they heat it in a big pot. Men drink from the pot using long pipes while seated and women can join them or have their share on big mugs. They also feed on a mixture of milk and blood from slaughtered animals like cows or sheep. Family Roles and Organizations The Luo culture values family life and especially the gift of children. This culture believes that children belong to the father even in cases where both parents separate (Mboya, 1986). In most cases, the father is left to take care of the children. The culture also expects men of great wealth to settle for many wives as a sign of social responsibility (Liyong, 1972). This notion is what has led to the issue of wife inheritance which is going to be explored later in this study.

ART101 MOD 2 SLP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART101 MOD 2 SLP - Essay Example Delacroix was inspired by the art work of Rubens also of the Venetian Renaissance painters. He put a lot of emphasis on movement and color unlike the neoclassical perfectionists who put emphasis on carefully modeled forms and clarity of outline. These were the beginnings of romanticism in art. As he grew into a more reputable artist, romantic and dramatic content dominated the themes of his work. As a result, he never delved into the classical and traditional models that were the roman and the Greek art. Instead, he opted to travel and explore Northern African lands for the exotic. Delacroix also sought inspiration from Lord Byron. Together, they strongly identified with the forces of the sublime – the forces of nature at their most violent action. Delacroix’s Romanticism was not that of bombast nor was it that of sentimentality. He was taken to romanticism of an individualist. The most influential of his works was Liberty Leading the People. He painted it in 1830. It is the painting that clearly demonstrated the differences between the neoclassical and the Romantic style of art. Lion Hunt by Delacroix shows a scene of lion hunting in Morocco, North Africa; where he had visited in his times as a painter looking for inspiration and the exotic. He visited North Africa with the then French embassy in the year 1832. The painting catches the eye at the first glance at it. There is strong use of color that draws viewers to it. In the painting, there are at least eight painters who are dressed in bright red mantle and have white vests on. The hunters also have turbans on their heads. They are evenly spread in the Lion Hunt painting as they engage two lions in a violent fight. Delacroix painted the lions in yellow. The lions are showing fierceness and strength towards the hunters. A male lion that is in the foreground is grabbing a hunter by the chest. The hunter’s shoe has been lashed off already, and as it seems, the angry

Unethical behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unethical behavior - Essay Example Above all, the Golden Rule and Ethical Education are suggested to solve these ethical fallacies. In order to preserve the ethical standard of the world at large, the discussion of the misconceptions and rationalizations is crucial to preserving the standard of ethics and social norms. Using Jack Marshall’s list of ethical fallacies, let’s discuss five common reasons as handpicked. First, if there is a Golden Rule, there is a Golden Rationalization, as well. Apparently, it is the opposite of the former. This rationalization is not new. It began as early as the beginning of the civilization. It was believed that when the majority of the people performed a certain action – the judgment whether the action is right or wrong is determined through it. In other words, if everybody does it – you can therefore do it, as well. If the majority of the society had committed adultery, then it is implicitly all right for you to commit the same. However, a person who used this reasoning is aware of his misconduct. Since everybody does it, he would argue that he should not be singled for condemnation, although he is conscious that adultery is illegal. Secondly, another common rationalization is called The Compliance Dodge. If a person had complied with the rules, it is obviously driven by the punishments enumerated therein. Put it another way, ethics is about the individual’s decision to do what is right. If a person has the genuine intention to do the right thing without any given sanction – it is therefore ethical. That is to say that compliance with the rules is not the same with ethics. Individuals who were using this rationalization had been finding loopholes in a set of rules to justify unethical behaviors as right. Thirdly, The Slippery Slope is an insidious fallacy. Several people believed that if a misconduct or unethical behavior had brought no harm to anybody – it could not be considered a wrongdoing. Another key thing to

Internet and children Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Internet and children - Research Paper Example This paper will aim to understand the facets of children and internet. It is clear that internet and technology are vital components of the future. With the advent of technology, the internet has become a very strong force. Internet is a monumental channel that can have a positive and a negative impact on children. The advent of social media has revolutionized internet, but is it safe for children. In my opinion, the internet has become an addiction for the children in more bad than good. As a matter of fact, this paper will aim to analyze this addiction that has deterred children from physical activity. The question remains- has the Internet produce a thinking and analysis in children? Are We Losing Our Ability to Think Critically?, an excellent article written by Samuel Greengard certainly agrees with this phenomena. As a matter of fact, conducive research statistics indicate this to be a vital force as many children use GOOGLE as a search engine. Additionally, many scholars insist that at least 65% of children have been a victim of cyber bullying. Without a doubt, these are hefty sources. The advent of internet has opened many paths but has may diminish critical thinking. Children are quick to GOOGLE or use Wikipedia as their primary source of information.

The Three Major Security Threats in Healthcare Essay Example for Free

The Three Major Security Threats in Healthcare Essay Nowadays Doctors and Nurses has several mobile devices in order to provide patient care. Virtualization is very important in providing adequate and affordable patient care in the rural health industry. Attempts to breach security happen every day in our agency. Preventing cyber-attacks and security breaches is a never ending battle in network security. Introduction I am an IT professional focusing on network security in the healthcare industry. Every day we monitor the network for phishing/pharming, DoS attacks, Trojans, and other security breaches. Mobile Devices, virtualization and lackadaisical end-users are the biggest threats to network security. Mobile Devices An article in GCN says it best, â€Å"Mobile devices are ubiquitous in todays society, and the number and types of devices used by physicians, nurses, clinicians, specialists, administrators and staff – as well as patients and visitors – is growing at healthcare agencies across the country.† Nowadays Doctors and Nurses has several mobile devices in order to provide patient care. Cellphones, laptops, and tablets are of the norm. I can’t remember the last time I had a doctor’s visit and the doctor didn’t update my chart using a laptop or tablet. All of these wireless devices make the network vulnerable. In my opinion wireless security has always been the hardest part of the network to protect because there isn’t a physical connection that can be monitored. End-users don’t always use secure passwords or they share passwords. At our agency an employee is not allowed to bring in a mobile device other than a personal cellphone to the workplace in order to reduce security breaches. â€Å"The Office of Management and Budget, Personal Identity Verification cards had been issued to 3.75 million federal employees as of Dec. 1, 2010, or 80 percent of the government workforce, and to 76 percent of contractors who are eligible to use the cards, about 885,000 contractors.† My agency uses Personal Identity Verification or PIV cards to gain access to wired devices on the network unfortunately that is not the case for wireless devices. Although we have two-party authentication in place for all devices it would be nice to have tertiary layer such as a smart card or PIV card for wireless devices. I don’t foresee a solution happening for a few years due to the cost in an already financially burdened healthcare system. It is true that â€Å"a reliance on off-the-shelf products means that there will be no PIV card readers available for workers signing on to check e-mail or read a document while out of the office.† Virtualization The agency I work for specializes in rural healthcare therefore often they don’t have the equipment or the staffing to complete tasks such as reading X-rays, providing behavioral health etc. Over the years we have had to implement Telehealth in order to meet these requirements. A patient in rural Minnesota may have his or her x-rays read by a physician in Billings, Montana. An individual may have weekly counseling sessions with a psychiatrist that is 500 miles away. Nowadays most healthcare companies use electronic health records to access patient information. Denial of Service DoS attacks happen when a hacker manages to overload a server to render it useless. A DoS attack is prevalent and damaging in virtualized environments and can preventsthe physicians and nurses from retrieving a patient’s information. If they are unable to access patient history to include what medications they are on or what they may be allergic to etc then they are unable to provide or give the wrong patient care which could be deadly. Therefore virtualization is very important in providing adequate and affordable patient care in the rural health industry. End-Users Our agency has mandatory computer security and security training every year in an effort to preempt attacks on the network. This mandatory training is required to be taken by every employee including the IT department. Attempts to breach security happen every day in our agency. Although we have security measures in place we have to constantly educate our end users on how to handle suspicious activity, password safety etc. Unfortunately there is always that one person that opens a suspicious email or shares their password or loses their token or PIV card and they don’t report it. This makes the network vulnerable. I have always believed that end users are a company’s biggest security risk. Allowing end users to access social media, personal email etc can allow for viruses to infect PC’s server’s etc. Once a virus is in the network it will spread like wildfire which will cripple the network. Prevention We use a lot of tools to constantly monitor the network to prevent DoS attacks, viruses, packet sniffing, phishing etc. We have implemented Websense as a means of policing what websites an end-user can surf to. We have firewalls in place to prevent end-users as well as outsiders from having access to IP ranges on our network as well as outside the network. We use access list on the routers as another layer of protection. We have penetration testers in our department whose only purpose is to look for packet sniffing and holes in the network. We have another group that monitor’s suspicious activity on the network such as a spike in bandwidth or an IP that is sending or receiving a large amount of information for specific length of time. Preventing cyber-attacks and security breaches is a never ending battle in network security. Conclusion Healthcare news states that â€Å"†¦Healthcare is driving the need for network security solutions that can cover multiple types of devices and infrastructure components.† Although we are largely driven by the Federal Communications Commission and HIPPAA my department is constantly implementing new devices and measures to secure the network and protect patient and employee information. This takes constant training and a lot of due diligence to accomplish that goal. References Are mobile devices already making PIV cards obsolete? Retrieved on October 13, 2013 from http://gcn.com/articles/2011/03/11/piv-status-update.aspx PIV Cards are in the hands of most federal employees and contractors, Retrieved on October 13, 2013 from http://gcn.com/articles/2011/03/11/piv-status-update.aspx Top Five Security Threats in Healthcare, Retrieved on October 14, 2013 from http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/top-5-security-threats-healthcare

The Wife of Baths Tale :: Canterbury Tales, Chaucer

The wife's life with her first three husbands (lines 193-451) The wife of bath begins this section by giving an account of her first three marriages. She treats her first three marriages as one marriage; talking about how she used the same techniques to control her husbands and does not refer to individual people but a combination of all her first three husbands which she refers to as her husband. The wife begins, with a shockingly cynical statement, by informing her audience that her first three husbands were good, because they were rich and old and easily controlled. "The thre were goode men, and riche, and olde." This is very degrading to her husbands; she did not care about them at all and is more then willing to stand up in front of a crowd and degrade them. "How pitously a-night I made hem swinke!" Her degradation of her husbands continues as she goes on to tell her audience how easily she controlled them by forcing them to give her their worldly possessions, "And sith they hadde me yeven al hir lond." The wife then goes on to tell about how she used to cheat on her husbands and get away with it if anyone told by convincing them that the person who told them was crazy by getting her friends to convince them she didn't. "And take witnesse of hir owene maide." The wife was also able to get her husbands to buy her new clothes and make up and any item she wanted by taking ad vantage of their kind nature. She would tell them that she was not respected like her neighbour was because she has not got so many nice things. "I sitte at hoom, I have no thrifty clooth." The wife is very proud of her achievements at controlling her husbands and goes into great detail about how she makes up stories about her husbands getting drunk and insulting her. "Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous, and prechest on thy bench, with ivel preef!" she also says they insult marriage to women in general, saying you cant marry a poor woman "To wedde a povre womman, for costage" and you cant marry rich women "And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, thane seistow that it it a tormentrie to soffre hire pride and hire malencolie." The wife also says that her husbands use petty arguments against her "Thow seist that dropping houses, and eek smoke, and chiding wives maken men to flee.

The Importance of Drug Testing in Workplaces

As widespread drug use is on the rise, many employers have begun to worry about the performance of their employees. Absenteeism, injuries, loss of productivity, employee morale, theft and fatalities are just some of the causes of drug use in the workplace. The idea of drug testing among workers has developed from society's concern over a perceived increase in the use of drugs and the relation between drug use and impairment, with resultant risks to the worker, fellow workers and the public. As early as 1987, 21% of employers had instituted drug-testing programs. Employers have begun to think that mass drug tests are the answer to their problems. What many of these employers don't know is that there are many problems that surround drug testing at work. One of the biggest of these problems is whether or not it is constitutional to conduct drug tests on the employees. Employers fail to educate themselves with established or recent laws about drug testing in the workplace and about human rights. Also, mass, low-cost screening tests may not be reliable or valid. Alcohol testing does not differentiate casual drinking from alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Drug tests can create an untrustworthy environment for the employees. There are better ways to address substance abuse. Drug testing in the workplace is an important issue for all of Canada's labour force, regardless if it's you're first job or if you've had a steady job for 30 years. Many employees, who have had to subjugate themselves to degrading and demeaning drug tests, feel that these tests violate their constitutional rights. It is an infringement on their privacy. In order for the tests to make sure there is no specimen tampering there must be an administrator present to oversee every action the employee makes during their drug test. For tests such as hair and breath testing this does present a major problem, but for urine tests men and women alike are disturbed by the direct observation of their urine collection. Unfortunately, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies only to the laws and actions of the federal and provincial governments and their agencies. It does not apply to the policies and actions of private employers. The Charter therefore does not protect private sector employees from unreasonable drug testing. It is necessary to state that currently an employer can terminate an employee's job if the employee has been using illegal drugs and alcohol, but only if such use is not considered a disability. Alcohol or drug addiction can be viewed as a physical and/or mental disability. In Ontario, the Ontario Human Rights, Citizenship, and Multiculturalism Act prohibit employment discrimination based on disability. Employers have a responsibility to accommodate employees who are disabled. Drug testing has not been proven to be against the Canadian Human Rights Commission. In order to institute a drug testing policy into a company which complies with human rights legislation, an employer must be able to demonstrate that the testing is related to job performance, and not just substance abuse. † Many employees feel that drug testing is a way of discriminating against people who might have a drug and/or alcohol disability. An example of such discrimination is found in Entrop v. Imperial Oil Ltd. The Ontario Board of Inquiry found that Imperial Oil Limited discriminated against Martin Entrop, a senior operator at the Sarnia Refinery, because of a disability. The Board of Inquiry found that â€Å"under a new Alcohol and Drug Policy introduce in 1992, Imperial Oil employees in â€Å"safety-sensitive† positions were required to notify management if they currently had or had previously had a substance abuse problem. † After Mr. Entrop heard that this policy was coming into effect he informed his employer that he had had an alcohol problem about ten years earlier, that he had attended Alcoholics Anonymous, and that he had abstained from using alcohol since 1984. Mr. Entrop had been an employee for seventeen years and he had had no problems at work that were related to substance abuse, but Imperial Oil's policy required that Mr. Entrop be immediately removed form his current position. This example clearly shows that it is discriminatory to terminate a person's job because of a past or present disability and that there are constitutional matters involved with drug testing in the workplace. The lab procedure is a second invasion of privacy. Urinalysis reveals not only the presence of illegal drugs, but also the existence of many other physical and medical conditions including pregnancy. Drug testing is an invasion of privacy that is to be abhorred and it is clearly against our constitutional rights. Drug testing is designed to detect and punish conduct that is usually engaged in off-duty and off employer's premises, in other words, in private. There is much confusion about the accuracy of drug tests. In fact claims of billions of dollars lost in employee productivity are based on guesswork, not real evidence. Urine tests cannot test for drugs directly. They test for traces of substances taken before the test which are no longer active in your system but can still be detected. The most accurate methods of urine analysis are time-consuming and expensive, and even then can be wrong at least 10% of the time. Even though these drug tests are the most accurate, more often then not employers opt for a less accurate drug test because the more accurate ones are too much of an expense for the company. These cheaper drug tests often have an error rate of 30%, which means that 30% of all people that take these drugs tests are falsely accused and may be fired from their jobs. Also, traces of legal medicines, such as cough syrups, nasal sprays and eardrops can be confused with those of illegal drugs. Even the poppy seeds found in baked goods can produce a positive result for heroin. Furthermore, drug tests are not work-related because they do not measure impairment that occurs during work hours. A positive drug test only shows that a drug was taken at some time in the past. Also, the drug test does not distinguish between occasional and habitual use, the same is also true with alcohol testing. Another reason that drug testing isn't very reliable is the fact that drug testing does not even detect all drug users. This is true because most stronger drugs such as cocaine do not last in the user's blood stream as long as someone who has used marijuana for example. This means that the weekend user of cocaine is much more likely than the weekend user of marijuana to pass a weekday drug test. Also drug tests may not reveal very recent drug use. For example, a worker who does not smoke marijuana regularly decides to smoke marijuana in the middle of the work day, a drug test may come back negative because mot enough time has passed for drug metabolites to appear in the urine. With all these factors working against the accuracy of drug tests, not to mention the occasional error of the people who process the specimens at the lab and the false-negatives that occur when an employee deliberately decides to sabotage a drug test, it is hardly worth it for an employer to go through with the trouble of a drug tests when the true drug users, the ones that are harmful to the company, are not pointed out anyways. There are better ways to address substance abuse in the workplace then to rely on the very unreliable method of drug and alcohol testing. These ways are more cost-effective, time-effective and have a much better impact in the workplace; also they do not raise the same privacy issues that drug tests do. An effective alternative to drug testing is to train supervisors to confront, and refer impaired employees to Employee Assistance Programs or other intervention programs. This strategy leads to increased employee acceptance of treatment and a subsequent improvement in overall job performance.

How Sports Can Improve Team Relations

Team sports are a great fun way to instil strong teamwork values in staff that have to work effectively together off the field. Team Sport Spirit As a sports team functions in much a similar way to a workplace team – with members cooperating with one another to achieve a common goal, sport participation is a good way of further instilling the important principles of teamwork in a group. A lot of the same rules of the workplace team can be played out on the field or court. For example, if one person fails to pull their weight then the whole team performance will suffer. And conversely if one individual dominates then the performance of others will be adversely affected. Feeling undervalued and second best, their morale and motivation will droop. In both arenas the only way to achieve a victory is with a team working in harmony and on equal terms with one another. As with sport, a team may comprise of the most brilliant individual talents but if they don’t work well together then the team will be worthless. The Mechanics of a Good Team It’s easy to accept that the key lessons of team sport are the same as those in the workplace, but beyond that what can sport teach employees about teams that they can’t pick up in the workplace? For starters, the benefit of taking team relations out onto the field is in providing a more direct and boiled down display of how a team should function. On the field success is made or broken based on the effort – or lack of – of the competing players. If there are any weak links on the field, for example, then the upshot will be swift and decisive. It’s not so clear cut in the workplace where success and failure is not judged in super fast one hours bursts. Lazy individual members can generally drag the team down for a long time before the negative effects become apparent. Therefore by participating in sports, team members learn the effectiveness of ‘pulling together’ in achieving a goal and hopefully apply the same principles to their work. Team Bonding and Communication Team sports not only instil a belief in the power of effective teamwork but also they help improve team bonding and the relationships between team members, so that they can better achieve that goal. Encouraging staff to participate in team sports together on a regular basis is an excellent way to allow team members to get to know one another better and build up stronger and more productive relationships both on the field and in the workplace. Sport promotes a numbers of qualities that are valuable in the office, such as trust, respect, effective communication and good old fashioned comradeship. If team members find success together on the football field or badminton court, for example, then the bond they form with one another will hold strong in the workplace context. Often it doesn’t even matter whether certain people don’t get on in the workplace. On the sports field there is no room for frosty relations – for the sake of the team players must put their differences aside and cooperate. Hopefully success together can help people to put their petty differences aside off the field too.