Spin Doctors

Since the first principles Tory was all about the motives and interests of intellectual of the 6th and 5th centuries BC, Sophists were positively included as part of the intellectual position of the 5th century. The word ‘Sophist† means ‘professional cleverness'. During the fifth century, sophists were teachers, speakers, and philosophers who were paid to use rhetoric. For the first time In history, philosophy became a job to earn money by selling Intellectual skills. They were spin doctors of that period.There were some famous sophists such as Propagators, Georgia, Hippies, Produces, and Antiphon, among others. They made their living by selling their Intellectual skills to those who wanted to get a professional career and could afford to learn. Sophists offered an expensive private education that poor people could not get any education from them. They taught rhetorical skill: clever talk designed to enable their pupils to manipulate popular opinion in their favor. Furthermore, Sophists presented themselves as great facilitators of democratic procedures.However, their effect was only to secure advantages for their richness. They tried to cheat the poor while they were taking advantage from the rich. Therefore their deeds were undemocratic under the enigmatic Ideology- anyone has the right to do anything whether they are rich or poor, whether they are high or low birth- which prevailed In 5th- century Athens. Therefore the question came up to be argued that â€Å"Are the Sophists a good thing or a bad thing? ‘ This disagreement has raged more than 150 years. The result changes depend on the prevailing ideology of the contemporary world.The Sophists were generally condemned before 20th century. However, they were recovered from that bad reputation by the effects of Hitler who hold Plat's potentially totalitarian political views, in the sass. Many liberal thinkers had come to doubt Plato who disagreed with the Sophist's point of view, and to recognize Sophists as champions of liberalism. This outlook of 1 sass even continues until nowadays. It is encouraged by a naive liberalism which believes that totalitarianism and democracy are simple black and white alternatives.However, the time is reached to the right time to reconsider on all the social exclusion, economic disadvantage, and political spin that what Is theoretically democracy and quite undemocratic In reality. Public opinion can be a good gulled to public policy only if the people are In a position to Judge and can exercise their Judgment freely. Nowadays, sophistry Is one of the methods by which politicians disguise their policies in alien clothing, to make people believe in them as more sealed tan teen really are. I Norte, spin doctors succeed democracy the slogan. L.Test winner In the 4th century BC, when the great Sophists were all dead, Plato wrote more than twenty dialogues which he created a character called Socrates, based on the real Socrates who had died in BBC. Many of these dialogues describe Socrates as who totally disagreed with the idea of the best Sophists of his day. These Plat's imaginary conversations make a range of valid uncertainties about the political and moral principle implication of the activities which relative to the Sophists. Socrates opposed the idea of Sophists' teaching style.He taught people without charge and always prepared to speak his own mind in which what he knows about. He did not care what people thought of him, and he was prepared to die rather than to follow the popularity of the majority vote. He traveled around the country and asked questions about knowledge (is opinion all that matters? ) and ethics (is anyone's Judgment as good as anyone else's? . These opened discussions of Socrates emphasize the shallowness and inadequacies in positions usually associated with the Sophists.This issue arises as to whether these norms and conventions are really binding or not. Most people do the things that society tells them to do? The difference between nature and convention emerges all over the literature and political thought of the late 5th century BC. The Greek word for a man-made law or convention was ‘moos' and nature law was ‘physics'. Many intellectuals of the second half of the 5th century in Athens became more desire to know the questions about whether such man-made laws could or should have authority to respect.Where did they draw from their value? And were there perhaps other limiting factors or values that were independently and naturally right? Antiphon the Sophist suggested that conventions and laws directly conflict with what is naturally valuable. Society does little to make life actually better for those who do act self-righteous. Therefore it was always better to take hold of any opportunities to act unfairly and to steal the advantage.Furthermore, Calicles described about the distinctions between nature and convention in the dialogue called Georgia th at man-made laws postponed people room doing what they really wanted to do, which was to win as much as they could for themselves, at the expense of everyone else. Indeed worse those conventions were a cruel plot on the part of nature's born losers. That was how democracy got going; the rule by great absolute ruler that would be natural in the cruel world of nature, the world in which the winners win and flourish, and the losers lose and die.Only cowards would let those ideas set aside from their way of thinking. 2. MAN IS THE MEASURE Propagators was the most famous of the 5th-century Sophist who more favorable Attlee towards convention tan Atlanta Ana Calicles. He was rumors Tort sallying: Man is the measure of all things. If the word â€Å"Man† implies to human society as a whole, he probably meant that the conventions determined for human beings are the measure of deciding that what counts and what does not count as real; the world is as we make it out to be.If the word â €Å"Man† refers as individual man, Propagators meant that each of us is a perceiver looking out at the world, and what we see is up to us; it is not fixed by any independent reality. Either way, Propagators appears to say that there is no independent truth about what things exist. In other words the entire world is a construct of people. Nevertheless, even if he was not a committed relativist about the gods, Propagators' views on morality seem to have tending towards belief in changeable standards what was right for one society need not be right for another.That is the morally unthinkable soon becomes thinkable. Nothing is sacred. 3. THE POWER OF PERSUASION Georgia compared the power of words to the effect of drugs or physical force. Georgia, the great master of rhetorical persuasion, was the most remarkable of the in 5th century Sophists by his speech in defense of Helen of Troy. The speech took an amusing theme but the work has a more serious aim. It explores and illustrate s the corrupting power of words. Another work of Georgia was a classic text of early philosophy, typically called ‘On nature or what is not'. He proved through the text that rhetoric is so powerful.In the text, he offered an amusing work of philosophy designed to convince nature of things with three conditions: (1) that nothing exists, (2) that if something existed, one could have no knowledge of it, and (3) that if nevertheless somebody knew something existed, he could not communicate his knowledge to others. Ill. AND THE SPIN-OFF The Sophists made an amazing final act of pre-Socratic philosophy by asking society to question its reason on existence, its political beliefs, its moral values, its religious beliefs, its educational system, its legal codes, and its codes of etiquette.Even though Sophists were notorious of their deeds, they enlightened us the ideal democracy that values equality of opportunity. I believe History would have taken notice if the Sophists consistently used their power of persuasion to produce unfair results. However, the Sophists provided the tools for the average citizen to defend oneself, to participate in ileitis and to discover what he or she believed to be true. It placed rhetorical education within reach of the average middle class, and even gave some opportunities to us.I agree with the idea that education in rhetorical skills can help to make democratic equality: everyone NAS relents to express Nils or near pollens without any pressure and without any manipulation. On the other hand, it can also be harmful to us if we are not aware of the intention of using rhetoric skills to manipulate others. Rhetoric is so powerful that it can persuade us to accept logically to disqualify truth. Today, technology has advanced to the highest degree and continues to do so rapidly.Rhetoric continues to be an influential tool in education, politic and economic field. I can recognize the power that persuasion has on a society and its indivi duals. I also get sense and find the influence of a good speaker in everyday interactions. In conclusion, I assure that away from the Sophists' intentions that rhetoric be used for political and Judicial purposes, it has also entered the society through advertisements, news media, the Internet and so forth. Even the friendliest conversation contains some element of persuasion to have an agreement.

Mic 206 Guidelines for Unknown Investigation Lab Report

MIC 206 Guidelines for Unknown Investigation Lab Report General Considerations: A. Papers must be typed, written in past tense, and in third person. (-50 if not typed) B. Paper Structure: Each section is to be headed with the appropriate heading. C. Format and Style 1. Format: a. Face Page: The face page should contain the title of the experiment, the author of the report, class section time, & date submitted. (1. 5 points) b. Page Format: (1. 5 points) 1. One-inch margins 2. Last name & page number as the header 3. Double spaced 4. Section headings . Other considerations: 1. Tables, charts, and figures should be clearly labeled with captions. Ex. Figure 1/Table 1. (2 points) 2. ALL genus and species names must be italicized and the genus name must be capitalized. The first time that a genus name is used, write it out in full (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). After that, one letter abbreviations may be used (P. aeruginosa). (3 points) D. Plagiarism: Remember that you may quote another person ’s work, or even paraphrase it as long as you give credit and cite the work you are quoting, paraphrasing, or referring. -50 if plagiarism occurs) 3. Parts of a Scientific Paper: A. Abstract: This appears first in the paper, but it is the last section written. In the Abstract: (1) state the major objective(s) and scope of the experiment, (2) briefly describe the methodology used, (3) summarize the results, and (4) state the major conclusions. (3 points) B. Introduction: In this section, you should provide general background information on the subject to aid the reader. This can be followed by a very brief description (1-2 sentences) of the problem that was investigated.Every report must include a clearly stated hypothesis. A hypothesis is a statement of what may or may not occur under defined conditions. Your hypothesis must be clearly (readily identifiable) presented in this section of your report. Remember that a hypothesis does not have to be correct, just testable. (5 poi nts) C. Materials and Methods: For this section, you should merely cite your laboratory manual sections and/or pages used. Any changes made to the procedure should also be noted in this section.Finally, any changes made to the directions outlined in this manual must be stated in the materials and methods section. For instance, if the directions stated that you should incubate your sample at 37(C for 1 hour, and you incubated your sample at 25(C for 30 minutes, you must note the deviation. If you use any procedures NOT in the lab manual, describe them fully and cite them. Do not do anything more than listed above for this section. (2 points) D. Results: You must describe what you did to obtain the data that you are presenting in this section (If in doubt – refer to a journal article).You should describe the data in such a manner that if the reader chose not to look at the figures, tables or graphs, they could still understand your data. The data must be summarized in figures, tables or graphs, which must be clearly labeled and referred to specifically by name when they are being discussed. You must present both your raw data and calculated results. For the calculated results, a sample calculation must be provided so that we can determine how you obtained the calculated values. When graphs are used, be sure that both axes are labeled correctly.Remember that the dependent variable is ALWAYS presented on the vertical axis. As a rule, the intersection of the X- and Y-axes should be the zero point. The spacing between time points should be proportional to the elapsed time. DO NOT USE BAR GRAPHS, they are not appropriate in this course. In the case of differential tests, you must describe in general terms what constitutes a positive and negative result. That way we can determine whether you are interpreting your results correctly. All data MUST be reported.Deleting data to suite your hypothesis is the same as inventing data in order to suite your hypothesis. I f there are data that appear to be erroneous, you may choose not to use those data or datum, but you must still include it in the results and justify your decision not to use it. Finally, if an experiment fails and you have no data, you may obtain results from a classmate or your instructor. You cannot receive full credit for a report that has no data analysis. If you use outside data, you must state the source of the results. (7 points) E.Discussion: This is the only section in which the use of the first person is acceptable. Remember, in your Discussion, you do not reiterate your results, rather you interpret them and discuss their meaning. Present a discussion of your results as it relates to your hypothesis. Bring attention to data that support your hypothesis. You must also bring attention to data that contradict your hypothesis and provide possible explanations for why the data do not correlate with your hypothesis. It is typically easier to write a discussion when your data d o not support your hypothesis.However, that does not mean you should create a hypothesis that will purposely not be correct. You should also compare and contrast your results with other work in the field; do your results and interpretations agree or disagree with other members of your class? outline considerations for the Discussion Section: 1. State you conclusions clearly and boldly 2. Summarize the supporting data (results) for each conclusion you draw. 3. Include the following in the discussion: a. Normal Microbiota of your bacteria b. Bergey’s Group Classification/ Identification c.Does your bacteria have a Role in Disease d. Does your bacteria have a Role in Biotechnology e. One unique fact, not previously reported above, that you found interesting f. What communal relationship does your bacteria have with our environment or our bodies. 4. End your paper with a short summary or conclusion regarding the significance of the experiment. (15 Points Discussion section) F. Bi bliography: In writing your Introduction, Mat & Meth, and Discussion, you will need to support your assertions and contentions with citations from the literature.You may cite such sources as journal articles, textbooks, the lab manual, an encyclopedia, a dictionary, or any other useful sources. Be very wary of using websites – anyone can write anything and put it on a website. There is no minimum or maximum number of references required for any given report. Citations and References shall be in American Society of Microbiology (ASM) style. (-25 points if you do not properly use ASM style) Obtained isolated colonies on MAC plate, from original unknown sample (1 point) Obtained isolated colonies on CAN/PEA plate, from original unknown sample (1 point) Note: isolated colonies must have been obtained from quadrant streaking original unknown mixed culture tube. If a second culture or a control culture was given to you, after failing to get isolated colonies from your original mixe d culture and you observed isolated colonies at that point, the 1 point is not earned. ) Identified Gram Negative bacteria: (2. 5 points) Identified Gram Positive bacteria: (2. 5 points) Report is written free of grammatical or mechanical errors as determined by the TA. (3 points) Source: Stout, V. MIC 302 Report Writing Guidelines. Arizona State University

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae and Suicide In The Trenches by Siegfried Sassoon Essay

â€Å"Select two of the poems you have studied. Compare and contrast the different attitudes to war expressed by the poets and the techniques used to convey them.† The two poems, which I have chosen, are, â€Å"In Flanders Fields† by John McCrae, and â€Å"Suicide in the Trenches† by Siegfried Sassoon. The poems take opposing views to the war. â€Å"In Flanders Fields† we find McCrae taking a positive, almost religious and very sensitive view about the outcome of war. Whilst in comparison, in â€Å"Suicide in the Trenches†, Sassoon portrays a negative, harsh, cynical and angry view. â€Å"In Flanders Fields† McCrae writes about his views on what happens after dying in war. It is a very personal poem, emphasised by being written using the personal pronouns; â€Å"we and our†, rather than impersonal; â€Å"them and their†. This involves the reader by in a way, including them in the poem. The poem also imparts a strong feeling of patriotism. McCrae uses controlled, everyday language in the poem. The rhyme is steady, and flows smoothly, which draws you into the poem, and that’s what makes me like it. â€Å"Between the crosses, row on row† McCrae uses a lot of repetition. He talks of the crosses on the graves, making sure you realise that there are lots of graves, and how the poppies grow in between. He uses the poppies and the lark as a way of reminding us that we are just like a passing season, born, growing, dying, and then being replaced as nature carries on, even if we don’t! In the first stanza McCrae mainly describes the scene of the poem. In the second stanza, there isn’t enjambement like the first. McCrae uses a caesura in the first line. â€Å"We are the dead.† This forms a definite break. McCrae is making sure that you stop and take in what he is trying to tell you. It is strongly emphasised, abrupt, and it gets to the point. He continues with no complicated words. The language continues to be plain and simple. Again by using â€Å"we† McCrae includes the reader in the feeling of dawn, seeing the sunset glow, a reference to the start and end of the day , a parody of life. McCrae then goes onto writing about how the soldiers loved, and were loved. The keywords in the sentence being â€Å"were†, telling us that they are no more. They can no longer go on loving, or fighting, and are laid to rest in Flanders Fields. In the third and final stanza, McCrae tells us they have â€Å"failing hands†, means that they are losing strength. The soldiers grow weaker and weaker, then when they die they pass on the torch, symbolising responsibility, to the soldiers who are stronger. The torch of unity and hope, like the torch at the Olympic games, it’s symbolic. All the soldiers are being linked together, fighting for something they believe in. McCrae wants new soldiers to carry on fighting for something that they believe in, so that men, who have fought before him, haven’t fought in vain. They need to keep the flame in the torch alive. Then McCrae writes, â€Å"The torch, be yours to hold it high.† Telling us to be proud of the torch, hold it up high, be determined. The torch gives an impression of right, along with pride. Yet he almost invents this with what is almost a threat, contrasting life and death, right and wrong. For example, â€Å"If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep†, I think that McCrae’s attitude towards war is brave. He has hope, and thinks that you should fight for your country as your comrades have done before you. Agree with your country, and keep going till it’s over. It’s a soldier’s duty to die for his country. It should be worthwhile. The poem is patriotic, and has a strong sense of purpose, but it’s sad, and yet dignified. â€Å"Suicide in the Trenches† is a totally different poem. Its verses are simple, they have a strong beat, the lines are rhythmical, and have regular rhyming. The poem was written in 1918, in the First World War, so Sassoon is writing about his experiences. It starts off with the phrase â€Å"simple solider†, using alliteration. The soldier is young, innocent, too young to be fighting, but it seems a pleasant poem. â€Å"Who grinned at life in empty joy, means that the soldier is easily pleased, undemanding, glad with life. When it was dark, and lonesome, the soldier slept through it, happily, he was untroubled, and had nothing to worry about. He got up at the crack of dawn, as the lark does. He was cheerful. This is like a child’s impression of war. That a soldier is brave, and not afraid of anything. The second stanza says that in winter, the trenches are full of rain, snow, and conditions are bad. The young soldier feels cowed and glum, to be â€Å"cowed down†, means subdued. This tells us that he has no spirit left, his spirit has all gone. All the joy in his life has been taken away. â€Å"With crumps and lice† crumps are bursting bombs, warfare, the trenches are lice infested. There is a lack of rum. The soldiers are issued with rum for courage, before they go out and fight, they have some, it’s a way of keeping their spirits up, but there is even a lack of rum too! The poem is getting more and more angry. In the same stanza, Sassoon writes, â€Å"He put a bullet through his brain.† This has a harsh simplicity. We are shocked by what Sassoon is writing. This once so pleasant, and untroubled boy, has now found this so hard, that he has taken his own life. It is very abrupt, and comes out of the blue. â€Å"No one spoke of him again.† All his fellow soldiers are ashamed of what he did to himself. He left them, and didn’t have to courage to go on. It was a shameful, and easy way out. But it was out of shock and horror that he killed himself. I think that also people were ashamed of themselves for not helping him, and that he had to do it as a way out. He felt he had no other option. The third stanza becomes more general. It stops being so personal. We begin to feel what the writer feels, very bitter and angry towards war. All the people at home, were thinking they knew everything about the war, when they didn’t have to go through what the soldiers were going through. They didn’t have any experience of the reality of war. They dress up the war and the truth is hidden. They are â€Å"Smug†, self-satisfied people, who will send other people off to war, but wouldn’t go themselves. â€Å"Kindling eye† is a way of pointing out their excitement, getting a fire going, that they are lit up with enthusiasm for war, which they wont fight. The people are hiding away from what the soldiers have to do. War is hell. War has taken away all the soldier’s youth and laughter goes. There is no laughter in war. The men don’t get to live their youth, and have to fight, and kill. The two poems are therefore totally different, but they have the same structure. The both have three stanzas, and have generally got a steady beat throughout. They have opposite meanings. They both start off pleasant, and â€Å"Flanders Fields† stays that way, it is sad but with a positive outlook on the way. But Sassoon’s â€Å"Suicide in the trenches† changes abruptly and becomes very negative. They both talk about death, but in totally opposite ways, â€Å"In Flanders Fields† says it is worth dying for your country, and what you believe in. But on the other hand, â€Å"Suicide in the Trenches† says it isn’t worth going through the hell of war, and losing your life for nothing. They are both very personal poems, even though Sassoon’s becomes less personal towards the end. Both the poets have lived through war, and both the poems were written in the same year, during WW1. Both the poems have simple, easy to understand, everyday language.

Richard M. Nixon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Richard M. Nixon - Essay Example The following work is an essay that evaluates Richard M. Nixon’s life both as a man and as a president according to Herbert S. Parmet’s book, putting into consideration his successes and failures and his schematic character. Early life Richard Nixon was the second in a family of five boys born of Francis and Hannah Nixon. Nixon and their family lived in a house built by his father Francis in a lemon grove in California. Two of his brothers, Harold and Donald died of tuberculosis. The family was not very poor and not financially well, but grew its own food (Parmet 6). As the father practiced carpentry, the other members worked on the farm. Nixon’s father had strong affiliations to the Republican Party, and supported the party’s candidates for presidency. His political passion drew Richard’s attention and started surfacing after a short while as he campaigned for one of his father’s favorite candidates, Warren G. Harding. Education and Career g oals Nixon attended a village school in the neighborhood for his education. After the election of Harding to the presidency, Nixon, at the age of nine read an article that presented a scandal called Tea Dome where the Harding’s secretary conducted a secret lease of oil fields belonging to the government at Tea Dome, California to his friends (Parmet 17). Nixon looked at her mother reading the article and said he would be an incorruptible lawyer when he grew up. On his eighth grade, Nixon expressed his wishes of becoming a lawyer and a politician in an essay so that he could stand for the people. Nixon’s family moved to a new town after the lemon land failed, where his father started a business at a gas station, as Nixon’s mother Hannah sold cakes and pies. Nixon’s inspiration at hard work came from their father’s always the reminder of working hard in all aspects of life. Richard assumed the responsibility of buying fresh vegetables and fruits from the market after he grew old, and would wake up early in the morning to get the best of these. With this entire tight schedule, Richard managed to get to school by eight o’clock. Richard’s hard work in class made him become one of the best students in the school. His career for becoming a politician becomes evident in high school when he joins the school debate club, and tried politics when he vied for the class presidency at Whittier High School, which he lost. Because of the Great Depression, hardships reigned in almost every part of the country, leaving Nixon and family without much money, just like the others. Disappointments made Nixon work harder participating in plays and debates, which saw him elected president of the student body. Nixon’s hard work in college made him second in class. His dream of becoming a lawyer neared fulfillment when he went Duke University School of law in Northern California. At the school, his hard work was still his four goals , and Nixon continued outworking everyone whom he competed. His hard work saw him graduate third. Nixon was elected president of Duke Student Bar Association. Nixon had hoped his academic progress would enable him secure job with the FBI or a law firm, but was turned down because it lacked money to hire new agents. Nixon returned to Whittier where he worked with local law firms, as he still acted in community plays. While in play industry, he met Catherine, nicknamed Pat and convinced her until they married after the start of

CASE STUDY FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE - Case Study Example 1). It is necessary to test the glucose level in the blood in order to determine whether an individual is suffering from hypoglycemia (Cryer, Axelrod &Grossman 2009 p.709). Specialists argue that it is better to treat hypoglycemia, especially, when individual is experiencing the signs of the disease and cannot verify its presence. Severe hypoglycemia can lead to death, coma, injuries and accidents. True hypoglycemia normally occurs in patients having diabetes type 1 and 2. This is because drugs used for treating diabetes have the ability to lower the level of glucose in the blood (Mohammadreza, 2012 p. 1). A significant proportion of patients suffering from hypoglycemia are unaware of the condition leading to a condition is called Hypoglycemia Unawareness. However, the condition can have a fatal effect on the patient when accompanied by lack of signs. The patient can develop severe hypos when there are no warnings (Cryer, 2004 p. 2273). In this case, warning signs that a patient should eat do not accompany acute drop of glucose. The patients should rely on glucose monitoring equipments and help of others. In a partial loss of hypoglycemia warnings, the patient may experience some signs of hypoglycemia condition though they may not be clear. The other condition is called reduced warning symptoms. In search a scenario, the signs are either missing or reduced though the level of glucose is reduced (Philip, 2013 p.1). The absence of warning can lead to several outcomes. The patient may depend on others and feel insecure. It may also cause embarrassment, especially, when people around an individual known about the condition. Hypoglycemia patients also fear leaving their homes to seek medical attention (Miller et al. 1980 p. 652). Such patients can be a danger to themselves or those around them. For example, hypoglycemia patient can become unconscious when driving. In such case, they can cause a fatal accident. In addition to this,

Scientific Lab Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scientific Lab - Research Paper Example nown B: It was likely to be Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria which is a typical nonspore-forming rods, facultative anaerobic, motile and negative, They ferment glucose and utilize citrate as carbon source and are lactose and sucrose non fermenters. These tests have been fully explored in the next section. With regards to the aim of the experiment, which is to identify unknown bacteria from mixed culture #18 using biochemical and morphological test, the two organisms identified had distinct characteristics which were looked for following laboratory tests. Normally, Gram staining is employed to differentiate 2 bacteria groups with different cell wall constituent. The method has the ability to differentiate Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria group; thus the bacterial cells are either colored red or violet. Gram positive bacteria is shown by Violet staining due to a thick layer of peptidoglycan existing in the cell wall of the bacteria, thus the crystal violet is retained by these cells on a slide. Consequently, Gram negative bacteria is shown by red staining due to a thin layer of peptidoglycan existing in the bacteria cell wall, hence crystal violet is not retained by bacterial cells. (Winn et al,2006) MacConkey Agar is used to distinguish Gram- negative, lactose-fermenting organisms from organisms that are non-fermentative .It is an inhibitory and differential medium that contains Crystal violets, bile salts, inhibitory agent and neutral red. Neutral red acts as a pH indicator. Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria is known to be lactose fermenters hence unknown A while Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria is not lactose fermentor thus unknown B. The orinithine decarboxylase test is important for Enterobacteriaceae differentiation. (MacFaddin, 2000).   MR-VP broth for Methyl Red test consists of peptone, phosphate buffer and glucose. The unknown bacterium that is able to perform mixed-acid fermentation generates enough acid that overcame the broth buffering

Cocooning. Consumers are shielding themselves from the harsh, Term Paper

Cocooning. Consumers are shielding themselves from the harsh, unpredictable realities of the outside world and creating safe, - Term Paper Example Tutor Signature: Date: Cocooning: â€Å"Consumers are shielding themselves from the harsh, unpredictable realities of the outside world and creating safe, â€Å"homelike† environments†. Introduction The following research is related to the topic cocooning. The report includes the discussion about the term and its implications in the current consumer behavior. The research also includes the implications of the term and the factors impacting the consumer’s behavior. Finally a conclusion has been drawn in the research. Cocooning Cocooning can be said to be as the condition or trend when people socializing less and retreating themselves in their home more. This trend has become popular after the significant commercialization of the electronic shopping. The consumers are shielding themselves from the unpredictable and harsh realities of the outer world and are retreating themselves into the safe, cozy and home like environments. People are more looking at the home saf e home concept. People and consumers have changed their buying habits because of the high fear of the crimes and no longer like to shop after dark. People are highly frightened by what they see. All the people are looking for developing safer ways to guard themselves against the mad world by burring themselves deeper into the more protective shells and the safe places like cocoons (Moe, 2012). Consumer behavior is changing with a rapid pace. These trends are presenting threat and opportunities to the large variety of organizations. With the changing lifestyle of people the buying behavior of people are changing drastically. People are becoming more career oriented and have very less time for shopping and other activities. There is a high change in the cultural trends of the consumers buying behavior. The cocooning consumer behavior trend is taking high positions in this competitive market place. The behavior of the consumers is changing with a high pace. With the cocooning behavior taking place the organizations need to go online. The cocooning consumer’s behavior is promoting the online shopping trend, and this will take high priority in the coming period (Danziger, 2005). Cultural trends affecting the consumer behavior With the changes in the buying patterns and the promotion of the cocooning behavior of the people there is a high increase in the online shopping behavior of the people. People are all the markets are looking for convenient way of shopping from the comfort of their homes. The organizations are looking for alternatives using which they can easily grab the customers and can entertain the customers buying behavior. People buying behavior has changed drastically in the recent years they have adopted several online buying means like fingertip shopping etc. people are looking for places which acts like cocoon for them. They want everything in the comfort of their homes. The heart of the every cocoon is the bedroom and the bath. People want pl aces where they can easily distress and get recharged. Smart homes are the need of the day which can make the lives of the people easier. People are more attracted towards the ways which can make their shopping experience more pleasant and easy, as compared to the previous visiting system. People look the lives as the homes and gardens are the last places where they want to control their lives. People in the current market period want everything on a click. They do not want to visit the stores and look for buying things. People

Database Structures, Languages, and Architectures Essay

Database Structures, Languages, and Architectures - Essay Example It is also a great tool for visual representation of data through graphs based on the table available. I learned a lot of things from the tutorial specifically about Access. I was oriented about the advantages Access through the tutorial as I am one of those people mentioned in the tutorial that is not very familiar with Access. The tutorial about Excel was already familiar to me because I am a regular user of Excel spreadsheet as I do many computations in the spreadsheet. I learned that users can work simultaneously with Access which is not possible with Excel. It is possible to work simultaneously with Access because Access locks a record only while a user changes it. Repetitive data records can also be handled easier with Access. For example, Excel may have difficulty handling several data about a single customer which Access can with ease such as in the example below; I also learned that it is possible to track actions or events in Access such as purchases made by a certain customer but I have to admit that I am still ambiguous on how to exactly do it because the tutorial did not show a â€Å"how to† do it. It only explained that it can be done. I also learned that if it is just about handling and management of data, Access is better than Excel. Excel however is excellent for analytical purposes and showing the data visually. I myself use Excel for analytical purpose such as tracking the change of computation by merely changing one of the variables in the formula. I got all of the four questions right. They were very easy and just basically asked about what the tutorial was all about. It is important to note however that I have a different reasoning for one question that I answered right. This was the first question that asked; My reasoning here is different. It says that each table is flat file that east related to each other. My reasoning however

Utopia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Utopia - Essay Example Houyhnhnm Land and El Dorado differ considerably in their environment. Houyhnhnm Land is an island, accessible only by sea. El Dorado is land-locked, â€Å"bounded by inaccessible mountains† (Voltaire, 76). The former has a largely natural pastoral environment with â€Å"plenty of grass, and several fields of oats† (Swift, 6). On the other hand, El Dorado is characterized by a more contrived, landscaped beauty. The beaten roads of Houyhnhnm are in contrast to the covered roads of El Dorado, on which the pebbles and sand are gold and precious stones. The public buildings and houses in El Dorado are built on a palatial scale, and are adorned with all manner of precious material. Even the â€Å"very plain house† (Voltaire, 78) of the retired courtier is ornamented in gold and silver. On the other hand, in Houyhnhnm Land, the â€Å"buildings, although very rude and simple, are not inconvenient, but well contrived to defend them from all injuries of cold and heatâ₠¬  (Swift, 12). In all aspects, Houyhnhnm Land is the epitome of simplicity, while El Dorado is filled with material wealth. The inhabitants of the two lands stand in marked opposition to each other. The Houyhnhnms are highly refined, intelligent horses, whose â€Å"grand maxim is, to cultivate reason, and to be wholly governed by it† (Swift,  9). In contrast to these noble horses, Houyhnhnm Land is also inhabited by the savage-like Yahoos, who are completely ruled by avarice and sensual depravity. The citizens of El Dorado are of one kind only: humans who have no passion for the gold and jewels which abound in their land. Peruvian is the language of El Dorado, while the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos have their distinct speeches. There is no religion in Houyhnhnm Land while the people of El Dorado offer thanksgiving to a single God, without the trappings of formal religious institutions. El Dorado has a â€Å"palace of sciences, --- filled with instruments

In Asthmatic Children under the age of 5yrs is spacer inhaler more Essay - 1

In Asthmatic Children under the age of 5yrs is spacer inhaler more beneficial than a nebulizer - Essay Example Asthma prevalence is increasing with corresponding increase in incidences of emergency department admissions. Pollution as well as changes in lifestyle has contributed significantly in increasing the prevalence of asthma (Dhuper et al, 2011). Certain demographic factors such as poor socioeconomic status, are also contributing to higher numbers of asthma prevalence among certain ethnic populations such as African American and Hispanic populations (Dhuper et al, 2011). Among children, asthma is found to be 10 to 15% prevalent and a major cause of admissions to the emergency departments with high morbidity and mortality rates (Kovesi et al, 2010). Management of younger children remains a challenge as there are lot of constraints on the test results. Children show less cooperation, are more anxious and are not in the development stage to understand instructions or abide by them (Kovesi et al, 2010). The similar reasons are the cause of difficulty in diagnosis of the condition. While wheezing is a very common phenomena present in children, not all wheezing can be categorized as asthma. This is because wheezing pattern of breathing is quite similar to noisy breathing, which is caused by nasal secretions in children which they haven’t learnt to swallow (Kovesi et al, 2010). Children also show different asthma presentations as compared to adults (Kovesi et al, 2010). Therefore, the diagnosis of asthma is based mainly on symptoms and treatment responses than testing methods such as pulmonary function tests. Bronchodilator therapy remains a mainstay in the management of asthma conditions in children. The bronchodilator therapy can be carried out either orally or through inhalation. Inhalation therapy is now the preferred method of treatment of asthma symptoms due to lesser systemic effects as compared to oral therapy. Inhalation therapy is also speedier in remission of asthma

Community Service Is a Personal Commitment Essay Example for Free

Community Service Is a Personal Commitment Essay Community Service is a personal commitment, not a corporate responsibility. Community Service, in another word, means doing something that is meaningful for the welfare of the people who are in needs. To involve or not to involve in a social work depends on our own decision, not a corporate’s decree. Social Services is defined as the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities in enhancing and restoring their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to the goal (The National Association of Social Workers Board of Directors, 2011). Personal commitment is an act or quality of voluntarily taking on or fulfilling obligations (Wikipedia, 2012). What makes the personal commitment ‘personal’ is the voluntary aspect. Anyone can become a part of the community services regardless of their race, language or citizenship status. People participate in community and social work because of their desire in serving the society who are in need and their interest in involving themselves in community project. It is our own choice of whether or not to get involved in community service. Once we have decided, a personal commitment in servicing the community is made. Getting the intention right signifies how deep one’s commitment is towards servicing the society. Ask ourselves these questions: Why am I doing the community work? What is the motive of participating in social work? Do I really have the desire to help them, or am I ‘performing’ just to gain compliments from my supervisors? Being in a community work and a real community work is different. A real community work occurs when a group of true and honest people come together and work with the common goal of assisting people who are in need by providing them resources they need. Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in (Moore, 2004). Every single person has their own lawful human rights to ‘vote’ in this society. Whether or not one wants to spend their time and money to the community is a matter of choice. We can expect every single one of us to participate in social work, but we cannot force someone to perform social work because that violates human rights. Since the year of 1986, the Atlanta’s 100 Black Men Inc. ith their community service program, ‘Project Success’, has become one of the city’s most effective community organization. They are successful because of the love and care they have towards the children who are in need. One of the members in the company, Ed Frances said, ‘Personal commitment often produces some touching moments. ’ (Atlantas 100 Black Men Inc. , 1990) Each and every member in the community organization has had the desire and strong will of shining for the others. Without the commitment from each member, the organization would not be successful. We may not be shining as brightly as we need to shine, but we are definitely shining, and we are doing something,’ said the President of the organization, Dr. Joseph I. Hoffman Jr. The persistence they show, together with the commitment they have has made a difference to the world. Community Service is an individual personal commitment because it is often performed outside of our working hours. It is the time where you can be yourself, the time where you enjoy the moment of assisting people who needs love. It is the time where we enjoy being in our ‘sacred place’ a place where we recognize ourselves and our commitments. Turkle, 2011) There is a person whom I respect commits her time in doing voluntary work after her retirement as a teacher. She was my primary school Chinese Language teacher. I remember when I first asked her, why do you travel around the world as a voluntary worker after your retirement? Why don’t you just stay at home and be a lady of leisure? ’ She smiled to me and said, ‘There are many people in this world who are less fortunate than we are. I have been blessed for 60 years, it is more than enough. It’s my time now to be a blessing to the others. It gives me a break in everything that I do while helping others. Being a voluntary worker is the most awesome moment I have ever had in my life. I have no regrets now. ’ Community service is a personal commitment because it only works well when we have desire and interest in it. Community service should not be a corporate responsibility, but a personal commitment because of the passion in each of us. Every one of us has different passion in things, don’t we? Only people who have the passion and joy in serving the community can make a personal commitment to the community. Personal commitment tends to produce a more effective and fruitful result compared to an organizational commitment. (Curtis Eby, 2010) Not everybody has the similar pursuit and hobby. Some people love swimming, diving, and some even have assisting people as their hobby. We only decide in doing something when we feel that we can do it, and we want to do it. Once decision is made, we will put in our extra attention and effort into it. The result will be promising because not only we put in our strength, but we place our heart in serving the community too. Conversely, if we are forced to perform something that we are not fond of, the result will never be impressive. For instance, XYZ Company organize a Chinese Festival and make it compulsory for all regular officers to work as voluntary workers outside their working hours. Some will love it, some will grumble, some will nag and some will protest. Complaints from the workers will not produce a satisfying result. This is because company forces them to do so, but in their heart, they are not committed in performing community service. They ‘appear’ to be committed, but actually they are not. In conclusion, who is a real volunteer? A real volunteer is a person who gives their personal commitment into serving others, who remembers to do things to make other people happy, who takes the loneliness out of the alone by talking to them, who is concerned when others are unconcerned, who has the courage to be a prophet and to say the things that have to be said for the good of all. (Moore, 2004) Being able to participate in serving the community is a great privilege we have. Mother Teresa once said: â€Å"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go. (Teresa, 1990) Money is not everything in the social service network. Patience, love and strength are the important criteria we need to have in serving the community as well. Volunteering in a service to the community is a personal choice and responsibility. Only those who have the desire to love, to care and are willing to devote fully into helping others unconditionally are able to make a commitment to the community. A real, hidden and personal commitment we make to ourselves and to the society. Therefore, I strongly believe that servicing in the community is a personal commitment and not a corporate responsibility.

The real message of the survey Essay Example for Free

The real message of the survey Essay And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in  this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.And the real message of the survey results may have as much to do with maintaining the size of janitorial staffs as it does with cleanliness. We all knew that maintaining cleanliness of the school is one of the problem of students because they are depending to school’s janitor. Nowadays, many students don’t know their obligations in school one is that Cleanliness. They throwing their garbage around, they throwing anything around inside campus but why? Because they are being aloof. They don’t know how cleanliness is important in our lives. Why? Of course, you cannot survive in this world without having cleanliness. So as a student avoid being a sluggard.

curriculum Theory and Practice

curriculum Theory and Practice PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CURRICULUM THEORIZING Curriculum theory is the manner in which the philosophy of certain approaches to advancement and enactment of curriculum is described. Within the wider field of curriculum studies, it is both the analysis of the curriculum historically and a way of viewing contemporary educational curriculum and policy decision. However, a very useful starting point here is the definition of the word â€Å"curriculum.† According to John Kerr’s definition which was adopted by Vic Kelly in his typical work on the topic, curriculum entails planned and guided learning by the school. It is carried on in either groups or on individuals, within or without the school. There are four manners in which to approach curriculum theory and practice. They are as follows: Curriculum is seen as a body of knowledge to be transmitted. In this sense I cannot equate the curriculum with a syllabus. In essence the syllabus is simply a summarized assertion of the heads of a dissertation, the gist of a discourse, and the subjects of a series of lectures. It is attached to courses directed to examination. This view of the curriculum limits planning to a contemplation of the content or the body of knowledge that may be transmitted. Curriculum as a product, i.e., an effort to attain definite ends in students. However varied human life may appear to be, it consists in the performance of specific activities. Therefore, education should prepare a student for life, i.e., preparing definitely and adequately for such activities. Despite being copious and varied they can be exposed for any social class. This obliges one to go out into the world of affairs and find out the specifics of which his/her affairs consist. And as such it would be easy to show the abilities, forms, habits, appreciation and attitudes that people need. These have to be the objectives of the curriculum, thus making it (curriculum) a progression of know-how that learners at all levels must have by way of obtaining those objectives. Curriculum as process. Looking at curriculum as a process implies how teachers, students and knowledge interact. That is, curriculum has to be seen in terms of what essentially takes place in the classroom set up and what people do to prepare and evaluate. Curriculum as praxis. Whereas the process model is impelled by broader principles and emphasizes on judgment and meaning making, it does not formulate unequivocal statements about the interests it serves. The praxis model on the other hand, conveys these to the centre of the course and makes an unequivocal dedication to emancipation. Therefore, action is not merely informed, it is also committed. That is, curriculum is not merely a set of plans to be implemented, but somewhat is composed through a dynamic process in which planning, acting and evaluating are all mutually related and incorporated into the process. Therefore, curriculum should in due course produce students who are able to deal efficiently with the contemporary world. It should not be presented as finished concept, but should instead include the learner’s preconception and should amalgamate how the learner views his/her own world. In this perspective four instincts are used, to describe how to characterize the behavior of children. They consist of social, constructive, expressive, and artistic. The curriculum should then build a logical sense of the world in which the child lives. As a curriculum designer I have to use livelihoods to connect diminutive account of fundamental activities of life classroom activities. This could be accomplished by combining subject areas and resources. It means I have to make connections between subject matter and the child’s life. Teaching methods should focus on hands-on problem solving, experimenting, and projects, often having students work in groups. Curriculum should bring the disciplines together to focus on resolving problems in an interdisciplinary way. Rather than passing down organized bodies of knowledge to new learners, they (learners) should apply their knowledge to real situations through experimental inquiry. This prepares students for citizenship, daily living, and future careers. I have to acknowledge the fact that humans are social beings and do learn best in real-life activities with each other. Therefore education must be based on this principle. As a curriculum designer I will have to depend on the paramount scientific theories of learning available. I may borrow from John Deweys model of learning where learners behave as if they were scientists. That is, Be perceptive of the problem. Be able to delineate the problem. Suggest the hypothesis to solve it. Weigh up the consequences of the hypotheses from one’s past experiences. Test the most likely solution. With this view on human nature, it is my genuine concern that students should be provided with real-life experiences and activities that center on their real life. This is in comparison to a distinctive progressivism slogan which states, Learn by Doing! According to NCLB Act of 2001, assessments of students is supposed to be criterion-referenced tests where a student is tested on his knowledge of the required content or if he/she can do the required skill as outlined in the states standards. Unlike the norm-referenced tests, where student’s performance is based on how he/she is ranks compared to other students, the curriculum has to provide a substitute to the test-oriented instruction as stated by the NCLB Act 2001 on funding. This will enable the student, at the end of his course of study, to apply the knowledge he acquired to real-life situation in his/her daily life. As contrasted to the traditional curriculum of the 19th century, that is ingrained in conventional preparation for the university and strongly discriminated by socioeconomic level, I strongly propose a type of curriculum which finds its roots in the current experiences, is more autonomous in outlook and looks forward. The quality of this curriculum should: Emphasize on learning by doing, i.e., hands-on projects, experiential learning Integrate curriculum that is focused on thematic elements Strongly emphasize on problem solving and critical thinking Encourage group work and growth of social skills Understanding and action should be the objective of learning as contrasted to rote knowledge. Accentuate collaborative and cooperative learning projects Emphasize education for social responsibility and democracy Integrate service learning projects and community service into the daily curriculum. Select the content of the subject by looking forward to ask over what skills will be desirable in the prospective society. Discourage emphasize on textbooks as only learning resources in favor of other varied learning resources. Emphasize on life-long learning and social proficiencies. Assessment based on evaluation of the learner’s projects and productions. In conclusion an acceptable curriculum should be that which makes a learner to be creative, self-reliant and make him excel in all aspects of life that suite his desires. It would be unfair to have a curriculum which ignores the social aspect of a child because he/she lives in a society that is ever social. The curriculum should also enable the student to apply that which he/she learns in the classroom in real life experience. References: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/module1.html, (2008) Module One: History and Philosophy of Education Stenhouse, L. (1975) An Introduction to Curriculum research and Development, London: Heinemann. Kliebard, H. M. (1987) The Struggle for the American Curriculum 1893 – 1958, New York: Routledge. Taba, H. (1962) Curriculum Development: Theory and Practice, New York: Harcourt Brace and World. Blenkin, G. M. et al (1992) Change and the Curriculum, London: Paul Chapman

America Needs Nuclear Power Essay -- Argumentative Essays, Persuasive

Nuclear power plants are a safe, clean and reliable source of energy production. They are uniquely qualified to meet the growing demand for energy in the USA. It is estimated that the demand for power will grow two and a half percent per year. Even if the demand for energy didn’t increase in the future but stayed where it is nuclear would still be the best choice for power production. Nuclear costs less and is environmentally cleaner than coal, which currently supplies approximately fifty percent of the power in the U.S. (Loewen 53). In addition nuclear has an exemplary safety record. The group of people who oppose nuclear and promote renewable power sources, hereafter termed environmentalists, do so for very sound reasons. However, they fail to realize that renewables, wind and solar power, cannot supply the base-load electricity needed for the power grid. They also don’t realize that of the five power sources that can supply base-load electricity, coal, oil, hydroelectric dams, nuclear and natural gas, nuclear outranks the others either in cost or environmental safety or both. To understand nuclear power we need to have a general understanding of how it is generated in most nuclear plants. This is a general description only and makes no claim to encompass all the different variations possible for the design of nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy is produced from the nuclear fission reaction of a heavy nucleus such as uranium absorbing a neutron after which it splits into two fragments of nearly equal mass. This releases a substantial amount of energy and several more neutrons. The neutrons are then able to strike other heavy nuclei and cause them to fission, releasing more energy. This process occurring continuously results in a chain reaction in which many billions of nuclei may fission in a small fraction of second. In a nuclear reactor the self-sustaining series of fissions is carefully controlled. The enormous amount of energy released occurs in the form of radiation and the kinetic energy of the fission products expelled at high speeds. Most of the energy becomes thermal and is used to heat water and convert it to high-pressure steam. The steam is then used to drive a turbine and the mechanical energy of the turbine is converted to electricity by means of a generator (Britannica). Environmentalists argue against nuclear power ... ...t problem of nuclear power and it is probably the most well-managed waste in the history of the United States. This essay is not attempting to present nuclear as the perfect answer to the increased demand for power. Nuclear is not perfect, however, of the options available it comes the closest. Works Cited Cohen, Bernard L., The Nuclear Energy Option: An Alternative for the 90s. New York: Plenum Press, 1990. Lake, James A., Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins. â€Å"Symposium: Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power.† Insight on the News† 27 August 2001: 40 – 45. Loewen, Eric P. â€Å"Nuclear Power Can Help Solve Energy Crisis.† National Defense August 2001: 52 – 55. â€Å"nuclear energy.† Encyclopedia Britannica. CD-ROM. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1997. Norsen, Travis. â€Å"The Enemies of Nuclear Power.† The Business Journal – Milwaukee 17 August 2001: 43 - 44 Oliver, Mike and John Hospers. â€Å"Alternative Fuels?† American Enterprise September 2001: 20 – 29. Wardell, Charles. â€Å"Nuclear Energy Comes Full Circle.† Popular Science August 2001: 38 – 42. Yelverton, Jerry. â€Å"Nuclear Engineering.† Vital Speeches of the Day 67 (2001) : 655 – 659.

Review Of On-line Publications :: essays research papers

Review of On-line Publications   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because of the prevalence of the internet in today's society many thousands of papers now publish an on-line edition. It is through the use of this medium that they wish to make in roads in the communications market. It is seen as a necessary step by many because of the loss of readership due to the internet, broadcast journalism and radio. In my review I will examine an on-line edition of a newspaper from each of the continents. I will comment on some of the technical aspects each employ. I will also discuss the tools many of the papers are using, that not only make them a hybrid of broadcast, radio and print journalism but also establish them as the only medium that is using interactive reporting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Representing the continent of Asia and the city of Hong Kong is the South China Morning Post. It is one of only a few English language news papers in the republic. The post has an air of journalistic freedom the other news papers do not seem to have. One of the lead articles outlined this concern and dispelled the rumor that China would censor the paper when the city is turned over in July.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Morning Post is a very up to date paper that features an updated breaking news sidebar. A very useful and inviting feature which enables it to keep up with and often scoop the broadcast media. The newspaper also had a technology section which caters to the on-line user. The post also utilizes the use of java script to make it seem more like an interactive medium.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of the papers available from the continent of India the Times of India is the one of the finest. It features an archive that is quite extensive, a metropolis section which features two cities a day, an easily accessible reprint section for syndication of articles and a career opportunities in India section that is aimed at the overseas applicant. It has some draw backs though, the world section although very extensive is more of an overview of the continent and the region rather than the entire world. It is not as inviting as some of the other on-line news papers it has a uninviting look to it which lends it to be a little less reader friendly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Business Day is the best offering of dailies for South Africa. It takes a little longer to load the page but that is due to a very dominate graphic which clearly outlines all of the major markets of the world. Review Of On-line Publications :: essays research papers Review of On-line Publications   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because of the prevalence of the internet in today's society many thousands of papers now publish an on-line edition. It is through the use of this medium that they wish to make in roads in the communications market. It is seen as a necessary step by many because of the loss of readership due to the internet, broadcast journalism and radio. In my review I will examine an on-line edition of a newspaper from each of the continents. I will comment on some of the technical aspects each employ. I will also discuss the tools many of the papers are using, that not only make them a hybrid of broadcast, radio and print journalism but also establish them as the only medium that is using interactive reporting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Representing the continent of Asia and the city of Hong Kong is the South China Morning Post. It is one of only a few English language news papers in the republic. The post has an air of journalistic freedom the other news papers do not seem to have. One of the lead articles outlined this concern and dispelled the rumor that China would censor the paper when the city is turned over in July.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Morning Post is a very up to date paper that features an updated breaking news sidebar. A very useful and inviting feature which enables it to keep up with and often scoop the broadcast media. The newspaper also had a technology section which caters to the on-line user. The post also utilizes the use of java script to make it seem more like an interactive medium.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of the papers available from the continent of India the Times of India is the one of the finest. It features an archive that is quite extensive, a metropolis section which features two cities a day, an easily accessible reprint section for syndication of articles and a career opportunities in India section that is aimed at the overseas applicant. It has some draw backs though, the world section although very extensive is more of an overview of the continent and the region rather than the entire world. It is not as inviting as some of the other on-line news papers it has a uninviting look to it which lends it to be a little less reader friendly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Business Day is the best offering of dailies for South Africa. It takes a little longer to load the page but that is due to a very dominate graphic which clearly outlines all of the major markets of the world.

Natures Gems :: essays papers

Natures Gems Desperately gripping the bend with screeching tires I accelerated down the slope toward a secluded lake, my lake. Edging the car over to the side, I wandered down to the water dampening my hand, revelling in the cool fluidity of it, feeling the burden of my conscience being lightened. I sat by its side, tossing stones into it’s willowy depths, watching the ripples slowly radiate from the epicentre. Stripping to the waste I waded out into the lake, the water was cold and refreshing it’s ice tendrils turning my skin a healthy red. I could still feel my hand throbbing from where I’d hit Mary, over and over until she had collapsed in a heap and I had fled the scene. Seeking peace of mind I had fled to the only place I could think of, this lake, this picture of tranquillity, I confessed my sins to it, felt reborn by it’s unspoken forgiveness and relaxed in it’s frosty grip. There would be loose ends to tie up now, for my future happiness I must n ot let this go unfinished. A low rumbling echoed down the hillside road, a sleek car followed by a cloud of dust traced around the bends of the cliff. God damnit he’s going to frighten any game off for miles around with that ruckus, Ruin my entire days hunting will he, well I’m not going home without something to show for it. Hefting my rifle I stalked off through the brush northwards. Pushing some branches aside I was greeted by a sight that wholly unimpressed me, once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen em all†¦ Some may consider this lake to be picturesque, a gem of nature. Not to me. This scene was totally uninspiring, the clam, slowly undulating waters were indifferent to me and me to them. The mountainous surrounds only made me feel more inadequate â€Å"in the great song† making my â€Å"verse† more insignificant. In my eye nature mocked humans and their pitiful achievements, this it the reason I loved to hunt, to kill, to extinguish this subtle mockery wherever I could. I heard a faint rustle to my left, ramming the butt of the rifle into my shoulder I pivoted and pulled the trigger†¦ Mary was down for only a few minutes, but when the stars cleared Harry was gone, the welts on her face were quickly swelling up closing her left eye.

Mental Health issues in Adults Essay

Mental health is defined in Healthy People 2020 as encompassing the ability to engage in productive activities and fulfilling relationships with other people, to adapt to change and to cope with adversity (USDHHS, 2010). In the United States nearly 57.7 Million adults (18 years and above) suffer from a mental health disorder in a given year and 6% of the population suffers from a serious mental illness (NIMH, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to look into the perspective of how best one can advocate for mental health disorder as a population health issue through various strategies including policy change. Population Health Issue and Population Affected Mental health disorders have no boundaries and affect all people without regard to gender, race or age. They are the leading cause of disability in North America (WHO, 2008b). Despite the staggering number of people with mental health disorders, only 25% obtain help in any part of the health care system, while the majority receives no specialty mental health care. It is unrealistic to have a goal of â€Å"decreasing the prevalence of mental illness† because mental illness by its nature is a complex bio psychosocial disorder and any stressful event in life may be the cause of mental health problem and everyone is susceptible to it. According to Byers et al. the number of people age 55 and above suffering from mood or anxiety disorders has been increasing for the last two decades and it has a trend of doubling itself every five years. This alarming trend will soon become a public health crisis as a large number of â€Å"baby boomer† generation ages. The increasing number of returning veterans is also another dimension to this crisis. A study conducted by RAND Corporation found that nearly twenty percent of servicemen and women returning from recent wars have some form of mental health condition (RAND, 2008). The estimated societal costs for the veterans based on prevalence and two years of treatment is estimated between $4.0 to 6.2 million. Advocacy Programs Researched in This Area The impact of mental illness on overall health and productivity in the US is often under recognized. There are many reasons for this under recognition; mainly the misunderstanding of the illness itself, lack of resources, stigma, or lack of social support can be cited. The World Health Organization (WHO) in recognition of the need for adequate resources launched a mental health initiative called Mental Health Global Action Program (mhGAP) to raise awareness and address a variety unmet needs. Other than WHO, consumer advocacy groups such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) deserve the credit for the advances made in the treatment of mental illness. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Act otherwise known as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was signed into law in 2008. The main goal of this Act is to eliminate unequal health treatment practice that has kept individuals from seeking mental health care for a long time. The way this law works it that it does not force group health plans to cover mental health benefits, however when plans cover mental health, it requires that they provide full and equal benefit in a way that is no more restrictive than all other medical and surgical procedures covered by the plan. Effective Attributes of the Programs MHPAEA has had quite an impact on the population since it went in effect in 2010. For starter, the statute does not require for employers to buy mental health benefits and employers with less than 50 employees are exempt of this statute. The second important point is that MHPAEA stipulates that any State law that provides greater protections than MHPAEA may continue to remain in effect. The last stipulation is great because it stops the Federal law (MHPAEA) from overriding a State law assuming that it protects its constituents better. Unfortunately some employers have taken MHPAEA as an excuse to drop mental health benefits in its entirety. The Screen Writers Guild was the first employer to announce its decision to drop mental health coverage for its 12000 employees. Some employers followed suit citing rising cost of insurance and burden on employers. NAMI argues cutting mental health benefits has higher cost to employers. According to NAMI most mental illnesses are highly treatable. For example, the most common mental illness in the United States is depression. The prevalence of depression is estimated to be 1 in 10 individuals of which 75% do not get the diagnosis nor the treatment. 72% are estimated to be in the workforce. NAMI estimates the indirect loss to employers amounts to 79 billion per year out of which 63 billion reflect loss of productivity due to mental illness. Mental illness causes more days of work loss and work impairement than chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, back pain and heart disease (NAMI, 2012). NAMI also claims that within two weeks of treatment 70 to 90% of individuals with depressions see a significant reduction of symptoms with and improved quality of life therefore it would be wise for employers to provide employees mental health coverage than incur costs for absenteeism. Health Advocacy Plan and Objectives for the Policy Implemented The very first step of making a health advocacy plan is to review and understand the existing health plans and be able to establish how they impact on the patients, health care providers and other stakeholders like insurers and the leaders (Jonas & Kovner, 2011). The next step is to establish the pros and cons of having such health plans (Jonas & Kovner, 2011). This would then influence a particular advocacy plan and the objectives of the policy. The objectives should take into account the prime position played by politicians in policy change (Alberta Heath Services, 2009). To effectively advocate for mental health, one needs to understand what is actually available. The facts are as follows: The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 47 Million of Americans are uninsured and out of this number 25% of them suffer from mental health or substance abuse disorder or a combination of the two. 1/3 of insured individuals have no coverage of both including outpatient therapy visits and inpatient crisis intervention. Then there is MHPAEA that exempts small groups therefore individuals insured under small group market may not have mental health coverage (unless the employer chose to provide one). The HHS estimates that about 95 percent of those with small group market coverage have substance abuse and mental health benefits (HHS, 2012). Communication to Various Stakeholders Communication in the public health sector can be done in several forms including through the mass media, seminars, schools, and churches and depending on the situation, place and target group, several methods can be used including posters, speeches, skits and literature among others. As a policy oriented approach, it divides the target audience into primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary target addresses the organizations, groups and people with the power to effect change. The secondary target is represented by those who can be mobilized to participate in the implementation. The tertiary target is the general public (Alberta Heath Services, 2009). In effect, therefore, mass media as means of advocacy help the organizations and the general public to make better health choices. The approach of communication NAMI took is to involve all three targets. The tertiary target i.e. the general public has also been the focus of NAMI especially because of the link between mental illness and substance abuse. Efforts to raise awareness are underway especially in the DC metro area where frequent walks organized by NAMI are happening. The aim of NAMI walks is to raise awareness of mental health and well-being in communities and to improve the general understanding of the illness, and reduce the misunderstandings and stigma associated with it. NAMI educates and trains practitioners and patients of the different pathways to recovery. Health practitioners, especially nurses get a larger opportunity to educate about the disease in their area of practice and also be the voices for the patients who do not have a voice. Data and Evidence to Substantiate Proposed Need The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is commonly referred to as the ObamaCare, has become regarded as a historical law ever since it was signed into the law in March 23rd, 2010 by President Obama (American Public Health Association, 2013). ACA built on the structures of MHPAEA to expand coverage of mental health and substance use disorder for more than 62 million Americans in the following three ways: 1.Essential Health Benefits Mental health and substance use disorders will be part of all individual and small group market â€Å"non-grandfathered† insurance plans (essential health benefits) effective January 1st 2014. â€Å"non-grandfathered† means plans that were not in existence before ACA was signed into law. This statute ensures that at least 5.1 million individuals (3.9 million currently covered in the individual market and 1.2 covered in small group plans) and will gain either mental health or substance use disorder coverage or both. 2.Parity in the Individual and Small Group Markets Under the ACA and the MHPAEA 7.1 million Americans currently covered in the individual market who currently have some mental health and substance use disorder benefits will have access to coverage of Essential Health Benefits comparable to their general and surgical medical coverage. 3.Increasing Access to Quality Health Care Finally, the ACA will expand essential health benefits insurance coverage to an estimated 27 million uninsured Americans through access to insurance market places and CMS. The essential Health Benefits packages includes mental health services In total, the Affordable Care Act will expand federal parity protection to at least 62 million Americans. Application of Attributes of Effective Advocacy Programs to Proposed Campaign Among many other health-care policies that have proved to be workable, Obamacare turned out to have adequate advantages that can be borrowed and applied in this campaign. Obamacare health policy emphasizes on quality health-care and not quantity. For instance, doctors and other health-care professionals are paid according to the quality of health service they provide (Obama Care Facts, 2013). Obamacare also highlights the importance of non-discrimination in the provision of health services across the entire population, thus ensuring uniformity in its application. One yet another vital attribute that is also of importance is the reduction of costs for preventive health-care options. This ensures that options explored by the general public are not exploitative and overburdening to them (Obama Care Facts, 2013). Obamacare has also been to a greater degree people-driven, as the citizenry have been effective in pushing their political leaders to support the health plan (Obama Care Facts, 2013). It does not take rocket science to know that mental health and substance abuse disorder patients would benefit tremendously from such a program. Impact of Existing Laws or Regulations The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act legislation contained several health reforms provisions that were already being rooted for by a number of health stakeholders including American Public Health Association (APHA) and other population health experts (APHA, 2013). Following the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, there has been a shift from the focus on treatment of the sick to the focus on promoting people’s health (APHA, 2013). The ACA and HP2020 have a common goal which is to create social and physical environments that promote health and wellness in all populations. The ACA will be effective in January 2014, so far the program looks very promising and the statute have been found to have very little impact on the employer-based insurance with a projected slight increase (2.7% only), especially with regard to the high end employers. However, there appears to be a decrease for the low end employers (Blumberg et al., 2012) contrary to what the critics of ACA are speculating. Analysis of Methods Used to Influence Policy Makers According to Milstead (2013), for nurses to succeed in advocating for the enactment of new and better policies, it is imperative that they strike a working relationship with the government agencies, officers as well as with the elected officials. This way the nurses have the chance to be recognized as having what it takes to effect policies concerning population health issues, and this will thus be included in making decisions concerning population health matters (Milstead, 2013). Establishing such a cordial relationship would be instrumental in helping both parties, namely the nurses and the policy makers to be able to review existing health policies and enact better campaigns (Milstead, 2013). Other than striking a rapport with the political leaders, the nurses should also strive to enhance their understanding of the policy-making process through the nursing internships that were already put in place by the nursing organizations (Milstead, 2013). Anticipated Obstacles and Strategies According to the online article by Alberta Health Services (2009), several challenges abound when it comes to advocating for population health. The leading and most obvious problem lies in the main aim of advocacy, which is to effect legislations that would then lead to changes in policies. This is the case since the policy change is highly a political issue whose process results in public tensions (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Almost all legislative changes and implementations are funded by the public resources, and, therefore, any suggested changes are often contested (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Further still, these changes often have economic consequences as well. As a result, more often than not population health advocates together with the like-minded politicians and members of the public of good will find themselves at the receiving end on the part of various interest groups who wish to maintain the status quo (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Obamacare, which seeks to provide preventive services also covered in insurance plans and to ascertain that people with insurance covers are not dropped while sick, has for instance, faced several obstacles mainly from the stakeholders in the insurance industry (Obama Care Facts, 2013). Anybody who wishes to conduct a successful advocacy for mental health and substance abuse disorders must be prepared to deal with all these obstacles, especially given that most insurance companies would be less willing to cover against mental health. View as multi-pages

Changing Attitude Towards Child Sex Preference Essay

This paper focuses on the intensity of preference for sons over daughters in anticipation of old age security both physically and financially, and its impact on the care and support/ well-being of the elderly in Nigeria in general, and in particular among the Yoruba of Southwest. The paper examines the impact of social change on child sex preference as old age security. Before delving into the theme of the paper, the concept of social change was briefly discussed. The reasons for having children generally are discussed, child sex preference among the elderly were equally analyzed; the pattern it took before now, the changes that have occurred and the attitude of parents toward child sex preference as old age security in the contemporary Nigerian society were equally examined. The effects of sex preference and other socio-economic factors on the status of the elderly and its implications for the family were mentioned. Various literature and theoretical models on the subject matter were reviewed and finally, a general conclusion was drawn. Introduction Startling transformations have occurred all over the world, particularly on the mode of caring and supporting of older persons and there are a number of important issues, which arise as a result of these transformations and the major structural shift in the population. One of these issues is the concern of social gerontologists for the needs of older people for support in the society. Although, it should be mentioned at this uncture that this transformation (that is, social change) affects different people in different ways, depending on sex, location, size of cohort, economic resources (individual, familial and national), norms inherited from the past and individual’s live experiences and personality. For example, marital status and earlier patterns of childbearing are significant factors influencing the nature of the support available in old age. While co-residence of older persons and adult children is common in many developing countries, the tendency worldwide is for this arrangement to become less common. This has direct consequences for economic security, especially in the numerous societies (and particularly, their rural sectors), where pensions are paid only to a small proportion of older persons who are eligible because of earlier employment in the former sectors or few older persons who were able to save or invest for their old age. Even in countries where pensions are more generally available, the burden of an ageing population is increasingly being regarded as unsustainable, particularly since there is an increasing tendency for those able to do so to take early retirement. For many, especially women, there is a real threat of poverty in old-age, and this problem may be exacerbated by social exclusions and the deteriorating health conditions experienced by many older persons particularly, women at more advanced ages. Care of the frail and disabled becomes increasingly problematic, both in terms of stress placed on care providers and care-givers and also the mobilization of the appropriate resources of families, agencies and programmes to meet even the basic needs of older persons. According to Peil (1991), as life expectancy rises, young couples are more likely to be called upon to provide for their older parents than these parents were at the same stage of the life cycle, at a time when increasing emphasis on educating one’s children, rampant inflation and widespread unemployment of young adults make adequate provisions for older parents difficult. The situation among older people without children of their own were even more pathetic. For instance, old people who have no living children tend to risk the chances of isolation and lack of support. Personality is another very crucial factor to be considered; this is because, personality can make considerable difference to the help received. For example, an older person who was hard to get along with is more likely to lack support than the cheerful old person who gets along well with family and neighbours (Peil, 1991). All these are important variables, which determine whether individuals will receive adequate care and support from family and society. It is evident from the various literature that, very little attention has been paid to older people of modern industrializing societies of the world. In Nigeria for example, as well as in most developing countries, the need to plan for the welfare of older persons has received very little attention. There are clear evidences of lack of formal social support services for older people in Nigeria, such as Social Securiy, Pension, Health Insurance Scheme, Old Peoples Home, etc. One of the explanatory factors arises from the belief that the existing extended family system generally protects and provides for the welfare of old people in rural and agricultural societies. Hence, where an older person is childless, his/her brothers or sisters or even the children of his siblings are believed to be responsible for his/her maintenance. This may not be unconnected with why most policies, programmes and projects in the developing countries such as Nigeria have been concentrated on the children and the youths at the expense of older persons in the country. Both national and international organizations are seen working tirelessly on programmes and projects that would benefit the children and the youths, forgetting that the children and the youths of today would be the adult and older persons in the near future. Such beliefs and practices give the impression that the aged, unlike children, represent a discomforting second-order dependency on the younger working generation. But it should be mentioned at this juncture that old people are not always dependent on others for survival. For example, old age may not necessarily symbolize dependency especially in modern Nigeria in which the possession of landed property by older people and access to business opportunities may earn them some income. Hence, while it is generally believed that old people in general depend on the younger people for their survival, it can be equally true that some younger people do depend on such old people for their survival. In fact, some older persons in Nigeria may be rich enough to provide educational assistance for the children of their brothers and sisters as well as their own. Put differently, the prevailing view of older people as a ‘social problem’ emphasizes the ‘burden’ of older people in the population. This negative and blinkered vision has almost entirely neglected the provision of care by older people themselves, although there are some notable exceptions. It should also be said that prevailing ‘social problem’ focus has stigmatized older people as a dependent and unproductive group. This negative stereotyping is partly because of invisibility of informal work as a contribution to society. Older people are givers as well as receivers through their substantial caring for other older people, unpaid domestic work, care for grandchildren and voluntary work. However, it should be mentioned that differences occur between male and female in terms of access to, and possession of wealth in the society. This, in turn, leads to differences in the care and support given and received by older men and women in the society. This we must emphasized has affected older persons’ attitude towards child sex preference as old age security globally and particularly in Nigeria society. A pronounced preference of parents to have male children has been noted in a number of countries, although a desire for a balanced number of sons and daughters is also common (Williamson, 1976; Arnold and Kuo, 1984). Son preference is particularly prevalent in countries with strong patriarchal system or tradition (Cleland, Verrall, and Vaessen, 1983; Cho, Arnold, and Kwon, 1982; Freedman and Coombs, 1994). The extent of son preference has been the subject of considerable discussion and debate in most literature. Sons are preferred for a variety of reasons, including family name propagation, old age security, provision of labour, and the performance of ancestral rites (Wolf, 1985; Zhao and Zhu, 1983). Also, the Fifth National Women’s Congress (1983); Haupt (1983); Li (1982); Liu (1984); Tien (1985); Wolf (1985); all maintained that traditionally, sons were considered advantageous for two economic reasons, namely: support for their parents in old age and the provision of labour for the farm or family business. They argued further that the former is still an important consideration in most societies, despite the recent introduction of some forms of social security. So much has been written about social change that it is really not of much use for us to start a process of seeking definitions. At the level of the daily lives of ordinary citizens, it is even doubtful whether our people are really interested, one way or the other, in what intellectual ideas may really be. It is the manifestations of their collective cynicism towards this concept that one feels ought to worry us, unless we are able to capture the reasons for this drift, we run the risk of merely speaking to ourselves. The concept of social change may mean different things to different people, depending on the available indicators in any given social milieu. Many sociologists view social change in the structure of society or alteration of the social structure (Morris Ginsberg, 1958:205). Others stress that social change is not only a change in the structure, but also in the functioning of society. According to Allen, (1971:39) social change comprises modifications in social systems or subsystems in structure, functioning, or process over some period of time. It should be mentioned at this juncture that quiet a number of scholars have adopted a number of different definitions/approaches to the study of social change at various levels. (For more details see Amitai (1964), Appelbaum (1970), DeVries, (1961), Peter, (1966), Moore & Ogburn, (1922), etc. ) In spite of the cynical attitudes of the people about the concept of social change, effort is made to give a working definition of social change within the context of this paper. Social change within the context of this paper can be defined as he transformation of culture and social institutions over time. It should be mentioned at this juncture that our society has experienced social change over the past two or more centuries. Nigeria, like any other country of the world, has changed particularly, in the area of agriculture, urbanization, industrialization, family/personal relationships. Social change has influenced nearly every aspect of our life. Although, we should also mention here that people are not equally affected by these changes. This is because social change affects different people in different ways, depending on sex, age, work experience, location, class, size of cohort, economic resources (individual, familial and national), norms inherited from the past, individual’s live experiences and personality. All these are important variables, which determine how individuals are advantaged or disadvantaged by their position. Reasons for having children In many Third World countries or societies, having a large family is an eminently rational strategy of survival. Children’s labour particularly that of sons is a vital part of the family economy in many peasant communities of Africa in general, and in Nigeria in particular. Children help on the fields, tend animals, fetch water and wood, and care for their younger brothers and sisters freeing their parents for other tasks. Quite early in life, children’s labour makes them an asset rather than a liability on family income (Betsy Hartman, 1998) . In urban settings, children often earn income as servants, messengers, etc, or else stay at home to care for younger children while their parents’ work. Among the Yoruba community in Nigeria, demographer John Caldwell (1982) found that even urban professional families benefit from many children through ‘sibling assistance chains’. As one child completes education and takes a job, he or she helps younger brothers and sisters move up the educational and employment ladder, thus the connections and the influence of the family spread. Another reason for having many children, according to Cain (1983) is security. According to him, in many Third World societies, the vast majority of the population has no access to insurance schemes, pension plans, or government social security. For instance, in Nigeria, little or nothing is known, said or done about social security, i. e. about how to guarantee the individual against want, poverty, destitution, disease and idleness which may be thrust upon him by the varied hazards and vicissitudes of social life: notably loss or suspension of income or means of sustenance, resulting from sickness, maternity, injury, invalidity, old age, death of a breadwinner or unemployment. According to Nwabueze (1989) there is no clear statement of policy regarding social security and little is spent on it by the state, except in the capacity of the employer. This neglect manifests itself in the hordes of the elderly people engaged in public alms solicitation in our urban cities in the country at large, and most especially in southwestern Nigeria. One of the reasons adduced for the policy neglect is that, children are expected to care for their parents in their old age. Without them, one’s future is endangered. The help of grown up children, particularly male children, can then be crucial in surviving the periodic crisis-illness, drought, floods, food shortages, land disputes, political upheavals, which, unfortunately, punctuate village life in most parts of the world. Folbre (1983) further maintained that, in most developing countries of the world in general, and in Nigeria in particular, son preference can be another important motive for having larger families. The subordination of women means that, economically and socially daughters are less or not valued as highly as sons in many cultures, particularly among the Yoruba of the southwest Nigeria, most especially in the traditional era. Not only does daughters’ domestic work have less prestige, but daughters typically provide fewer years of productive labour to their parents, and leave home to live with their husbands and in-laws shortly after puberty. Son’s preference, combined with high infant and child mortality rates, means that parents must have many children just to ensure that one or two sons survive so as to serve as old-age security, most especially in the face of economic uncertainty. As a corollary to the above point, Lappe et al (1979) maintained that in the 1960s, an Indian couple had to bear an average of 6. 3 children to be confident of having one son who would survive to adulthood. Male dominance in the family, patriarchal social mores, the systematic exclusion of women from the development process, and the absence of decent birth control services combine to force many women into having more children than they want. Put differently, the social environment, in effect, leaves them (women) little or no reproductive choice. Thus, there is tendency among them, to have more children in order to guarantee the future of the lineage. Sex Preferences and Worldwide Patterns Parental preference for sons over daughters is a common phenomenon in many parts of the world. Son preference has been well documented in a large number of countries, including Nigeria. But the degree of such preference varies substantially from one country to another, depending on such factors as the level of economic development, social norms, level of education, cultural and religious practices, marriage and family systems, degree of urbanization, and the nature of social security systems available. The preference for sons tend to be particularly pronounced in developing countries, in rural areas, and among more traditional couples and couples of lower socio-economic status. Although son preference is still common even in many economically developed countries (Bennett, 1983), this preference often exists side by side with parents’ desire to have, at least, one child of each sex. The World Fertility Survey (WFS) found that son preference was moderately strong in Lesotho and the Sudan, and very strong in Jordan and Syria. In Asia, son preference was found to be weak among women from Indonesia (except for the first child). The survey also found a moderate degree of son preference in Malaysia, Thailand, and SriLanka, and son preference was extremely strong in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and South Korea. The WFS result for Asia generally agrees quite closely with the findings of Williamson (1976), who reviewed the literature on sex preferences throughout the world in the mid 1970s (Arnold and Liu; 1986). Further, son preference has been found to be prevalent in all East Asia and among groups outside of that region that share a heritage of Confucian patriarchal tradition. According to Arnold and Kuo (1984:301), son preference in South Korea and Taiwan is both pervasive and extreme. This finding has been confirmed by a number of other studies (see Williamson, 1976; Coombs and Sun, 1981; Cho, Arnold and Kwon, 1982; Chung, Cha, and Lee, 1974). In spite of the foregoing, it should be mentioned that in some countries, couples exhibit little or no son preference, and there are even a few instances in which a preference for daughters has been documented. For example, WFS found that considerably more women wanted a daughter for their next child than a son in Jamaica and Venezuela (Cleland, Verrall, and Vaessen, 1983). The WFS also found little or no sex preference of any type in most South America countries, in parts of the Caribbean and in Kenya and so on, to mention but a few (Arnold and Liu, 1986). Sex Preference among the Yoruba Concern among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria about son preference, as an old age security is a long-standing one. Mao Zedong vividly depicted this problem in a talk with Edgar Snow in 1970. â€Å"In the country side, a woman still wants a boy child. If the first and second babies are girls, she will make another try. If the third one comes and is still a girl, the mother would try again. Pretty soon, there are nine of them, Then, the mother is already over 45 or so and she finally decides to leave it at that† (cited in Katagiri and Terao, 1972:2). A variety of historical, moral, ethical, and economic factors underlie son preference among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria. In the past, the male patriarch dominated the family in Nigeria, and the practice of ancestor worship gradually developed. Hence, the patriarchal family structure and the resulting strong preference for sons became institutionalized values among the Yoruba. These traditions also stress the importance of carrying on the family line through male progeny. Traditionally, apart from social prestige and the felt need to continue the family line, the existence of sons among the Yoruba is considered advantageous for two economic reasons. These are, support for their parents in old age and the provision of labour for the farm or family business. The former is still an important consideration in Nigeria in general, and among the Yoruba of Southwest in particular, despite the recent introduction of some forms of social security in Nigeria. Other reasons for sex preference among the Yoruba include son’s financial contribution to the family income; emotional support and the need for sons to meet religious obligations, and so on. Finally, the productive utility of sons is still an important factor underlying son preference among the Yoruba, where traditional notions about the appropriate division of labour by sex are still prevalent. Child Sex Preference, Old Age Security and the Welfare of the Elderly. Income in later life may come from a variety of sources, including earnings, family members, the children, the state or charity. The balance of these sources has shifted over time as a result of social change, modernization, urbanization, westernization, education of women, more women in formal sector of the economy, coupled with the cracks in the extended family tie and introduction of pension systems by government. In particular, older people’s economic reliance on their children or older people’s reliance on their children as old-age security has declined, allowing them the dignity of financial independence of kin. The twenty-first century has seen a dramatic shift in the sources of income of older people in both industrialized and non-industrialized countries of the world, but the changes differ profoundly according to gender. For men, the change has been from mainly earnings to mainly pensions, while for women, the change has mainly been from reliance on family members (particularly the children), to income from private business and the support from the spouse. Heavy reliance on private support and support from spouses have not guaranteed or ensured women’s economic security in later life and this has further led to gender inequality of income among older people (Ginn, 2001). Having said the foregoing, it is germane to mention that the old-age security and child sex (gender) preference are two highly controversial hypotheses regarding the influence of household fertility and welfare in less-developed and developing countries of the world such as Nigeria. The old-age security hypothesis postulates that in environments where parents face uncertainty about the ability to support themselves during old age, they would expect such support from their children (Raut, 1996:81-104). This motive could be strong particularly in rural areas of less-developed or developing countries such as Nigeria, particularly among rural dwellers of the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria where available resources both financial and physical (materials) tend to yield low or negative interest. Therefore, these are not able to provide for parents’ needed welfare at old age, so that children may provide a more efficient hedge against old age disability risks (Raut, 1985; 1990; 1992; Nerlove and Raut, 1995; Cain, 1981; 1983; Nerlove, Razin, and Sadka, 1987 and Nugent, 1985). The gender preference hypothesis postulates that parents exhibit preference for having children of a particular sex. In most developing or less-developed societies, parents seem to have preference for sons rather than daughters. The preference for sons may be rooted purely in taste and cultural values or it could be the outcome of some economic calculations. For instance, sons generally stay with their parents, while daughters are married off to another household or family, so that sons tend to provide better support in old-age as well as augment current household income. The extent to which the preference for sons occurs as an economic response to underdeveloped capital markets and incomplete risk markets has been a long-standing issue in economic demography literature. Ben Porath and Welch (1976); Heer (1983); and Leung (1988) have examined the consequences of this motive for population growth, and sex ratio. Also, the consequences of child sex preference (sons preference) on the allocation of human capital and bequest among children have been discussed by Behrman, Pollak and Taubman, (1982). Generally, children are expected to provide long term net benefit streams by supplying labour for family enterprises, generating monetary income stream, providing for old-age security, and acting as a form of insurance. In a setting of risk and uncertainty, parents engage in strategies to influence the pattern and guarantee the reliability of long-term intergenerational benefit flows. Such self-interested strategies to promote parental well-being at old age include conditional inheritance benefits, practices controlling the mobility of children, and sex differentiated educational and nutritional investments. According to Fapounda et al (1988), West African parents invest more in the education of male children since the financial returns on their education are relatively high. On the other hand, parents are more oriented towards the receipt of a one-time financial payment, a bride price, from the marriage of their daughters than to an economically uncertain investment in their daughters’ schooling (Fapounda et al 1988). Caldwell further maintained that, in rural Nigeria, for example, one of the reasons for sons preference is that, male children (boys) produce more than they consume by the age of ten to thirteen; and by the age of fifteen their total production has exceeded their cumulative life-time consumption. Although, female children (girls) likewise perform a number of valuable economic tasks, which include helping their mothers with cooking and the post-harvest processing of crops etc. , this is insignificant when compared to the contributions of their male counterparts to the family economy (Caldwell, 1982). Today, the expected increase in the absolute number and proportion of the elderly raises serious concerns about their welfare in the country, particularly given the absence of social security scheme and formal social welfare services for the old in most African countries. A number of studies have therefore, focused on examining the extent to which the family is involved in providing assistance to the elderly (Peil, 1995; Apt and Katila, 1994; and Togonu-Bickersteth, 1989, 1997). All confirm that the families, particularly children, are the principal source of old-age support in the various African countries studied. It has also been found that assistance is usually offered by children to ensure some level of physical and economic survival for their elderly to the extent that the former can afford. By contrast, parents in industrialized countries and their affluent counterparts among Third World urban elite have much less need to rely on children either for labour or old-age security. The economics of family size changes as income goes up, until children become a financial burden instead of an asset (Folbre, 1983). According to him, when children are in school, for example, they no longer serve as a source of labour. Instead parents must pay for their education, as well as for their other needs, which cost far more in a high consumption society than in a peasant village. And there is often no guarantee that parents’ investment will buy the future loyalty of a grown up child. As economist Nancy Folbre (1983) noted, â€Å"The gift of education, unlike a bequest, cannot be made contingent upon conformity to certain expectations. Once given, it can hardly be revoked†. In industrialized societies personal savings, pension plans, and overnment programs replace children as the basic forms of social security. These social changes fundamentally alter the value of children, making it far more rational from an economic standpoint, to limit family size. Folbre (1983) also argued that as the value of children decreases, male heads of households are more willing to allow their wives to work outside the home, since the contribution of their wages to the family economy now exceeds the value of their household work. This further spurs low demand for children and less craze sex preference of a particular child.