The use of health informatics in affecting the health status of at Research Paper

The use of health informatics in affecting the health status of at Risk population - Research Paper Example With the standardization, there are evenly distributed growth levels. One of the standardization models is the Human Studies Database (HSBD). The main components standardized by this model revolve around administrative features of human studies. This harmonizes the usage of data elements in various institutional boards and clinical trial management systems in organizations. Another model is the NCI Case Report Form (CRF). In this model there is the harmonization of physical exams, enrollment, adherence to protocol and medical history (Castro, 2009). This model creates a unison picture when it comes to the welfare of patients in medical institutions. Regardless of their illnesses, a medical protocol must be adhered to during their medication. Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) is a standardization model which is aimed at protecting, recording and preserving the information of a donor and recipient (Veatch, 2002). In this model both the donor and the recipient have their own rights which a health institution cannot breach. Withholding their information is one of the rights patients are entitled to. Interoperability is the inter-operation between two or more organizations, institutions or departments in coming up with useful information to help all the parties involved. In the modern century, interoperability is greatly associated with information technologies (Veatch, 2002). Through IT, interoperability is used as a tool of providing information to many related institutions. For instance, in health care many organizations may share ideas and innovative moves through the internet. In this case this information may greatly impact the operations of other medical practices. This process is the most important process when it comes to the delivery of equal and quality medical services in different practices. Interoperability is important because it brings about the evolution of how medical services are

Analysis of Brick cleaner Aim Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Brick cleaner Aim Essay Theory/Hypothesis: The main ingredient in brick cleaner is HCL and must be diluted and titrated with a base to be able to analyse it. It reacts with parts of the concrete which allows it to remove the concrete from the bricks. I think there will be around 30% of HCL in brick cleaner. Materials: 5mL brick cleaner 100mL, 0.1M standard sodium carbonate solution 250ml de-ionised water Methyl orange indicator 250mL volumetric flask 4x100mL conical flasks Small funnel 10mL measuring cylinder * 20mL pipette * Pipette filter * Dropping pipette * Burette and stand White tile Electronic balance Safety glasses Gloves Method: 1) A 250 mL volumetric flask was weighed with its mass recorded 2) A 10mL measuring cylinder was used to pour 5mL brick cleaner into the volumetric flask. The flask was stoppered straight after all the brick cleaner was in the flask. 3) The flask was then reweighed 4) De-ionised water was added until the flask was about half full. The flask was stoppered and shaken carefully upside down several times. 5) More water was added to the flask about a cm below the graduation line. A dropper was used to accurately drop the right amount of water to the flask so the bottom of the meniscus was on the graduation line. 6) A 20mL pipette was used to put 20mL of sodium carbonate solution into each of the four 100mL conical flask. 3 drops of methyl orange indicator was added to each. 7) The burette was filled with the solution of brick cleaner. 8) The sodium carbonate solution was titrated with the solution of brick cleaner until there was a clear permanent colour change. 9) Steps 7 and 8 were repeated until 3 concordant results were Results: Weight Volumetric flask 78.968g Brick cleaner 6.00g Titre 1 2 3 Initial vol 2.3 23.4 3.0 Final vol 23.4 44.5 24.0 Vol added 21.1 21.1 21.0 Calculations: On page attached. Discussion: The weight for the brick cleaner may not be 6.00g as the volumetric flask was not weighed again with the brick cleaner in it because that step was forgotten. So the result above was taken from another student that did the prac. This will affect the results as the mass of the brick cleaner is used to determine the percentage by mass of HCL in brick cleaner. All 3 titres show that they are only within 0.1 of each other. The hypothesis has been disproved because it was suggested the 30% of HCL would be in brick cleaner and theres only 2.4% although its not certain that those steps were done correctly. There were no problems encountered during this prac. Focus Questions: 8)a) the manufacturer says that brick cleaner is made up of around 35% HCL, which is a massive difference to the answer that was got in this prac but again question 7 was not done correctly. b) differences in class results occur because not everybody would have done the exact volume of brick cleaner, sodium carbonate etc as each other therefore the difference in results obtained. 9) To correctly clean up a spill of 20mL brick cleaner you would mop it up immediately, washing it away with massive amounts of water 10)a) volumetric flask= once with water twice with brick cleaner b) Burette= once with water twice with diluted solution of brick cleaner c)pipette= once with water twice with diluted brick cleaner d) conical flask=once with water twice with sodium carbonate solution Conclusion: To conclude, there should be 35% HCL in brick cleaner although it was found that there was only 2.4%.

Peer Mediation and Conflict Resolution are the Solutions to Teen Violence :: Teens Teenage Violence

Every year, nearly one-million twelve to nineteen year olds are murdered robbed, or assaulted many by their peers and teenagers are more than twice as likely as adults to become the victims of violence. Although the problem is far too complex for any one solution, teaching young people conflict resolution skills, nonviolent techniques for resolving disputes seems to help. To reduce youth violence, conflict resolution skills should be taught to all children before they reach junior high school. First and most important, young people need to learn nonviolent way of dealing with conflict. In a dangerous society where guns are readily available, many young teens feel they have no choice but to respond to an insult or an argument with violence. If they have grown up seeing family members and neighbors react to stress with verbal or physical violence, they may not know that other choices exist. Behavior like carrying a weapon or refusing to back down gives young people â€Å"the illusion of control,† but what they desperately need is to learn real control for example, when provoked, learn to walk away. Next, conflict resolution programs have been shown to reduce violent incidents and empower young people in a healthy way. Many programs and courses in Charlotte Mecklenburg are teaching teens and preteens to work through disagreements without violence. Tools include calmly telling one’s own side of the story and listening to the other person without interrupting or blaming; skills that many adults don’t have! Peer Mediation, a Charlotte Mecklenburg public school program, starts in middle school; it trains students to be mediators, helping peers find their own solutions to conflicts ranging from a fight over a boy or girl friend to interracial gang disputes. Finally, although this appears as just a â€Å"Band-Aid† solution that does not address the root causes of teen violence: poverty, troubled families, bad schools, and drugs. Conflict resolution training saves lives. The larger social issues out there must be addressed, but they will take years to solve, whereas teaching students new

When Religion Hurts :: Suicide Death Medical Essays

When Religion Hurts "The question is do I have a God complex? †¦I have a MD from Harvard. I am board certified in cardio-thoracic medicine and trauma surgery. I have been awarded citations from 7 different medical boards in New England and I am never, ever sick at sea. So I ask you, when someone goes into that chapel and they fall on their knees and they pray to God that their wife doesn’t miscarriage, or that their daughter doesn’t bleed to death or that their mother doesn’t suffer acute neuro-trauma from post-operative shock, who do you think they are praying to? Now you go ahead and read your bible Dennis. And you go to your church and with any luck you might win the annual raffle, but if you are looking for God, he was in operating room number 2 on November 17th and he doesn’t like to be second-guessed. You ask me if I have a God complex, let me tell you something, I am God." (Becker, 1993) This quote was taken from the movie Malice. A doctor removed an ovary that he thought was necrotic and the lab result came back that it wasn’t. Unfortunately he removed the other one prior due to having a cyst on it. He was sued for malpractice and during his questioning he was asked if he had a God complex. A God complex is when a doctor believes that he has the power to save a person’s life when God might intend that person to die. The doctor then plays God by trying to undermine the plan that God has created for the patient. Many battles are fought in our society today over who actually controls our destiny. Although euthanasia is not a new concept, it is receiving more attention today. The main advisory for euthanasia is the same one as it was from the start of euthanasia. This advisory is our religious belief. Religion is said to be the key to our salvation, but it also puts blinders on our ethical values. Although religion gives us hope for a better life after death, it is this same belief that prolongs our suffering while still in this p lane of existence. Euthanasia is defined as "The act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy.

IAS 18 Revenue Recognition

Introduction This assignment features the recognition and measurement of revenue depending on the source of revenue in accordance with the provisions of International Accounting Standards (IAS) 18 Revenue. I researched the topic and defined the special purposes of the assignment: first of all, it is important to know the main concepts of IAS 18, also to learn the rules by using this particular regulatory framework, and to get knowledge about writing the report at all. The Report To: Managing DirectorFrom: Student A Regarding: IAS 18 Date: 3/11/2011 Introduction to the Report The Conference on International Accounting Standard (IAS) 18 Revenue was held to introduce the concepts of the regulatory framework of financial reporting and to represent the given information in convenient use of practice. The objective of IAS 18 is to prescribe the accounting treatment for revenue arising from certain types of transaction and events (Summaries of International Financial Reporting Standards, 20 01). Key definitionAccording to International Accounting Standard Committee (IASC) the Framework Revenue is income that arises in the course of ordinary activities of an enterprise and is referred to by a variety of different names including sales, fees, interest, dividends and royalties (IASC, 2000). So revenue is one of the most important indicators of accounting. It is a key factor of the profit, its assessment helps to build many financial indicators on the profitability of the activities of the organization, as well as return on investment.A key issue when recording revenue is to define the moment of its recognition. Revenue is recognized if it is likely that the organization will receive economic benefits in the future, and these benefits can be reliably measured. IAS 18 specifies conditions where these criteria are met and therefore the revenue recognizes. This standard also provides practical advice on the application of those criteria. Measurement of Revenue In accordance w ith IAS 18 revenue is usually determined by agreement between the supplier and the customer or user of the asset.This means that it is measured at fair value consideration, which the company has received or receivable; trade discounts and volume rebates provided by the enterprise are taken into the amount. The standard defines fair value as â€Å"the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction†. (IASC, 2000) As the fair value is often expressed in monetary terms, the revenue will be the amount that the company has received or receivable. This problem occurs when the incoming payment is deferred.In this case the present value of the payment will be less than its face value. So IAS 18 introduced the following requirement: the company must be discounting. In such circumstances all future receipts should be discounted using the imputed interest rate. The second problem in recogn izing the revenue arises in cases when the company offers its clients discounts for fast calculation. To comply with the requirements of IAS 18, discounts for fast payment should be measured at the time of the sale and deduct from the revenue.In cases when there is an exchange for goods or services similar in nature, cost of revenue does not arise. When exchanging a variety of goods, revenue is measured at fair value of the goods or services received, minus the amount transferred to cash or cash equivalents. Revenue recognition Revenue is recognized with regard to the certain points: the convincing evidence of an agreement with a customer, the delivering goods and the rendering of services. Sale of goodsThere are following criteria to recognize revenue from the sale of goods: * Significant risks and rewards associated with ownership of the goods passed from the seller to the buyer; * The company no longer participates in the management of the property, sold goods and it does not hav e control over them; * The amount of revenue can be reliably assessed; * Costs that should be suffered relating to a transaction can be measured reliably; * There will be probable economic benefits for the enterprise as a result of this operation. Rendering of servicesWhen the outcome of a transaction involving the rendering of services can be reliably estimated, revenue from the sale of services is based on the level of completion of the transaction at the balance sheet date. The outcome of a transaction can be measured reliably when: * The amount of the transaction can be reliably assessed; * There will be probability to get economic benefits for the enterprise as a result of this operation; * Level of completion of the transaction at the balance sheet date can be assessed; * Costs that should be suffered relating to a transaction can be measured reliably.Revenue from the provision of goods and all services is only recognized when the amounts to be recognized are fixed or determin able, and collectability is reasonably assured (Elliot B. , Elliot J. , 2007) Interest, royalties and dividends IAS 18 considers the accounting procedure of potential components of revenue organization primarily from transactions involving the sale of goods, rendering of services, as well as through other organizations or individuals property of the reporting organization, giving interest, dividends or royalties.If the probability of the economic benefits for the enterprise exists and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, income in the form of interest, royalties and dividends are recorded as follows: * Interest (fees that are levied for the use of cash and cash equivalents or amounts owed) should be recognized on a temporary basis, which is proportional to the effective yield of the asset; * Dividends (profit-sharing between the owners of the share capital in proportion to their participation in the capital of a particular class) should be recognized when the shareholders have the right to receive payment; * Royalties (fees for the use of fixed assets such as patents, trademarks, copyrights and computer software payments) should be recognized on an accrual basis according to the content of the relevant treaty. Disclosure requirements IAS 18 contains certain disclosure requirements because it is important to use disclosures to get the decision-useful information about an entity’s arrangements with customers.In the income statement, as well as in the financial statements should be disclosed the following information: a. The amount of each substantive article of the revenue received from the sale of goods, services, as well as the amount of interest, royalties and dividends; b. The amount of revenue arose from exchanges of goods or services; c. The methods used to designate the quantitative measures for the level of completion of the transactions in rendering of services. The disclosure requirements provide sufficient information to users of an entity’s financial statements about the changes in circumstances affecting those performance obligations (International Accounting Standards Board, 2008). Example of Revenue On 1/04/2010 Leather Ltd. eceived total subscriptions of â‚ ¬480,000. So as the result, the company is obliged to provide 24 monthly publications of the magazine. Dr Bank 480,000 Cr Deferred Income account 480,000 On 31/03/ 2011 the company has produced and sent out only 6 of the 24 publications, and the total cost of producing the 24 publications is â‚ ¬180,000. The average cost of each publication is the same amount. That means each publication cost 7,500 (â‚ ¬180,000/24). Consequently, the cost of production 6 publications is â‚ ¬45,000 (â‚ ¬7,500*6). For one year, from 1/04/2010 to 31/3/2011, company produced 6 publications. Therefore, to produce all 24 publications, the company should complete the order in 4 years.Thus, each year Leather Ltd. will earn â‚ ¬120,000 (â‚ ¬480,000/4) selling 6 publications. The organization will receive economic benefits in the future, and these benefits can be measured reliably. So 31/3/2011 revenue of the company is â‚ ¬120,000. Dr Deferred Income account 120,000 Cr Sales account 120,000 Income Statement of Leather Ltd. for the year ended 31st March 2011 Sales 120,000 Cost of production 45,000 Gross profit 75,000 Conclusion of the Report Revenue recognition criteria provided in IAS 18 â€Å"Revenue† should normally be applied to each operation separately.However, in certain circumstances, they must be applied to individual elements of a transaction in order to correctly reflect the sources of revenue. At the same time, on the contrary, recognition criteria can be applied simultaneously to two or more operations when their commercial effect cannot be determined without considering the operations as a whole. The provided conference helps to understand that the general principles of revenue recognition and measurement for financial reporting are extremely essential in the system of accounting rules formed by IAS. Signed: ____________ Conclusion The assignment represents the report that determines the important concepts of the regulatory framework defined by IAS 18 Revenue.While researching the following topic I got useful knowledge about the structure of the report. The assignment gives clear explanations of such terms as â€Å"revenue† and â€Å"fair value†, it also outlines important points of revenue recognition and measurement of the revenue. The assignment covers all information about how to recognize revenue and there is the particular example on revenue recognition. Bibliography ELLIOT, B. , ELLIOT, J. , (2007). Financial Accounting and Reporting. Accounting and reporting on an accrual accounting basis. 11th edition. London: Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd. , p. 26. International Accounting Standards Committee (2000). International Accounting Standards Explained.Accounting fo r revenue and Expenses Revenue. London: Copyright of IASC, p. 321. International Accounting Standards Committee (2000), International Accounting Standards Explained, Accounting for Revenue and Expenses Revenue. London: Copyright of IASC, p 322. Preliminary Views on Revenue Recognition in Contracts with Customer. International Accounting Standards Board, 2008. p. 77 http://www. iasb. org/NR/rdonlyres/0E3D5E00-B961-42F0-BA64-AB1D20BB9FE9/0/DP_PreliminaryViewsRevenueRecognition1208. pdf Accessed: 24 Oct 2011 Summaries of International Financial Reporting Standards. Deloitte, 2001. http://www. iasplus. com/standard/ias18. htm. Accessed: 20 Oct 2011

Is Solitary Confinement an Effective Means of Changing Criminal Behavior Essay Example

Is Solitary Confinement an Effective Means of Changing Criminal Behavior Essay Example Is Solitary Confinement an Effective Means of Changing Criminal Behavior Essay Is Solitary Confinement an Effective Means of Changing Criminal Behavior Essay Is Solitary Confinement an Effective Means of Changing Criminal Behavior? Name: School: Course/Number: October 31, 2011 Instructor’s Name: Table of Contents Introduction: Statement of the Problem †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2 Purpose of the Study †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..3 Research Hypothesis †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 Justification of the Study †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 Limitations of the Study †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Assumptions of the Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..8 Terminology †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.8 Literature Review †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 Methodology: Participants †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.17 Informed Consent †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 Data Collection †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦19 The Questionnaire †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦20 Is Solitary Confinement an Effective Means of Changing Criminal Behavior? Introduction: Statement of the Problem Solitary confinement has been a controversial form of punishment in prison, where prisoners are confined in solitary cells. Such prisoners spend more than 23 hours of their day in solitary confinement where they do not get to talk to any body except the prison wardens on rare occasions when they are served food and when in outdoors for a few minutes. In many occasions, the prisoners are put into solitary cells not because of crimes they are in for, but for committing other crimes in the prison that are considered dangerous to other prisoners especially violence related crimes (Lovell, Cloyes, Allen, Rhodes, 2000). Most of the solitary confined prisoners are released from prison directly to the gates or their freedom without undergoing any counseling to help them live or adapt back to free life where they are free to do anything. This has raised some concern in me whether such prisoners who serve their sentence in solitary cell are able to reform considering they do not talk to anybo dy in prison, which is important for changing behavior. Considering prison is supposed to be a form of rehabilitation, solitary confinement does not help in changing criminal behavior since people cannot change their behavior without the help of others. Majority of the prisoners put in this confinement are criminals who engage in violent behavior, which can only be changed through learning to live with other people and controlling their anger around others (Yost, Knobil, Coyote, Auster Dubrino, 2010). Behavior is influenced largely by the environment, personal factors as well as attributes of the behavior. When put in solitary confinement the prisoners have nothing to influence their behavior, and use their personal thought as days pass by inside the cell. Thoughts of such a person cannot be expected to be good when they are alone, and this might even give them more reasons to encourage criminal thoughts. Hence, there is nothing to influence them to change either for the better or for worse. In behavior model theories, social support and ecological support suggest that a person needs physical activities to enhance changing of behavior and positive motivation. A prison may not have such environments, but allowing all prisoners to take part in physical activities is better than locking them for 23 hours in a solitary cell without anybody to talk to. From several researches, it has been found that solitary confinement has had mental effects on the prisoners, and others having psychological disorders. According to Grassian (n.d.), solitary confinement where prisoners have minimal social contact can adversely have psychiatric effects on the prisoner. He further cites that too much restriction from social and environmental stimulation can have a deleterious result on the functioning of the brain. Solitary confinement is said to ruin a man in very few weeks. People who suffer such effects may recover after sometime from imprisonment, but some could end up having little tolerance for interaction with other people. Such people may have difficulties for the rest of their life in adapting back to social life after solitary confinement for a long period. Purpose of the Study Many researchers have conducted studies on the effects of solitary confinement, but few have looked at its effectiveness in changing criminal behavior. Many would argue that solitary confinement suits such violent criminals who pose a threat to others and do not seek to know why they engage in such acts of violence. Many researchers and psychologists have sought to know causes of criminal behavior, where many have proven that nature vs. nurture issue has an answer to this question. Many researchers conclude that criminal behavior is influenced by genetic make up and environmental factors. Many have cited that a person with criminal genes does not end up a criminal, but with a pre-disposition to a criminal environment, their chances of becoming criminals are high. Hence, despite genetic make up playing a role in criminal behavior, the environment plays the role of enhancing the behavior or bringing it out of the person. Without the environment to enhance criminal behavior, people wit h criminal genes on a higher probability may never end up engaging in crimes. Therefore, rehabilitating or changing criminal behavior requires an environment that can help the criminals overcome their genetic influence on such behaviors. In this study, I seek to find out whether solitary confinement is an effective means of changing criminal behavior, where such people are isolated from the rest, with minimal interaction with the environment. I also intend to seek whether solitary confinement where there is no environment, either criminal or not helps in shaping the behavior of a criminal. In addition, criminals who do not end up fully rehabilitated from their criminal behavior may have a chance of engaging in criminal behavior again. In this study, I seek to find out the rate of adoption or relapsing to previous criminal behaviors for solitary confined inmates. More still, from this study, I intend to find out what happens to solitary confined inmates after they are released, whether they are able to adapt back to the society, or are there long-term psychological effects of their solitary confinement that may play a role in adapting back to social life. More so, this study will be comparing recidivism among those co nfined in solitary cells and those in general population, to give an insight of what means is more effective (Lovell Johnson, n.d.). Research Hypothesis H1: Solitary confinement is not effective in changing criminal behavior H0: Solitary confinement is effective in changing criminal behavior. H1: Solitary confinement has many adverse long-term psychological effects on the inmates H0: Solitary confinement does not have adverse long-term psychological effect on inmates. H1: The rate of recidivism of solitary confinement is higher compared to other inmates H0: The rate of recidivism of solitary confinement is lower compared to other inmates Justification of the Study Considering the rate of crime is going higher everyday and more people continue to flock the prisons, there is need for finding out what means of changing criminal behavior is more effective, in an effort to reduce the rate of crime as well as recidivism to crime. Conducting a study on whether solitary confinement acts as an effective means of changing behavior will play an important role in the fight against crime. Moreover, considering that many of those who engage in criminal behavior have a violent and neglected childhood, putting them in solitary confinement may act counteractively in changing their criminal behavior since being neglected at a tender age contributed to their criminal behavior, which is the same with solitary confinement where prisoners are isolated (fortunecity.com, n.d.). From the many researches carried out, there has been a strong indication of the fact that solitary confinement does have adverse long-term effects on the inmates, and may not act to change th eir behavior; hence, seeking to prove this statement may be of great importance in reforming criminals from their behaviors. This study will provide information whether adding more to their punishment is the best way to change their behavior, or could giving them social support to change their behavior probably be better? The result of this study will play a crucial role in illustrating whether solitary confinement should be used as a means of changing criminal behavior in the future. In addition, considering the study will also seek to find out the recidivism rate of this type of confinement, it will provide crucial information concerning how effective it has been. More so, in seeking the recidivism rate and long-term effects of solitary confinement in adjusting back to the society, the study will provide results concerning the life of those who served solitary confinement and how their life has been since their release. Have they managed to stay away from crime because they do not want to be back in solitary confinement, or is it because the effects of the confinement have made them incapable of crime? In addition, the results will provide an insight concerning whether the psychiatric effects of solitary confinement guarantee that an inmate will not want to be in the same situation again; hence, the results will tell whether the severe punishment motivates the criminals never to relapse to their criminal activities ever again, considering this is the worst form of punishment. The court does not sentence people to serve their sentences in solitary confinement except for the terrorists who pose a threat to the nation. Solitary confinement for others is declared by the prison authorities depending on the behavior of the prisoner inside prison. It is important to note that majority of the prisoners are criminals, and could all contribute to violence in prisons. However, not all may be confined in isolation. Hence, solitary confinement is meant to correct violent behavior in prisons, but is it efficient when the prisoners are released upon serving their sentences. Results of this question will provide information on whether confining them will help them change their behavior once released. The whole results of the study will provide the criminology department with enough information about solitary confinement ability to change or not to change criminal behavior. Limitations of the Study There are several limitations to this study considering the nature of the subjects involved. Many of the inmates who have served and are serving in this form of confinement find it quite hard to talk about the subject due to fear of victimization, and in addition, the effect of the solitary confinement makes it difficult to communicate effectively while expressing their feelings. In proving whether the inmates are able to change due to solitary confinement, not many of the ex-convicts in solitary confinement may prove this if they have psychiatric effects. The other limitation is having access to files of the inmates who are confined in solitary cells considering they fear victimization from their records. From several researches, this has been a problem where permission has to be sought before such information is given, including why they are in solitary cells. Considering prisoners put in solitary cells are confined until they finish their sentence, there may be no prove whether they manage to change violent behaviors in side prison. Thus, there can be no record of their behavior after solitary confinement in the prisons; hence, the study has to make its own observations that will require time to notice the behavior. The other limitation comes from finding people who are already released from prison to give an account of their experiences and how their lives have turned out to be since their release and how coping with a world that had been denied to them for years has been. Finding such people is hard considering that some might be intolerant to social interaction, and end up showing their whereabouts to very few people. Hence, proving whether some of them have refrained from criminal behavior because of fear of going back to prison again or because they underwent mental difficulties that have had long-term effects, leaving them incapable of crime will not be easy since not many may answer this correctly. More so, if such people are involved in crime again yet to be caught, they are not likely to provide such information that could send them to jail, proving the recidivism rate may not be easy if a person has not been caught by the law yet. For better result, there will be a need to observe and interview those who have just been released from prisons after serving their solitary confinement and those who were released more than a year from the time of the study to access the rate of adapting back to normal life. In addition, it will be hard to find out what their previous life before conviction was when they were arrested and their current behavior to illustrate the changes that have occurred since the release. Assumptions of the Study To complete this study, several assumptions have to be made without necessarily affecting the results significantly. The selected participants in the study are from Texas, and it is assumed that they represent all of the prisoners who have been released from solitary confinement in the state. The other participants have been selected from several prisons to make the study more comprehensive and it is assumed they may not be released from solitary confinement until their sentence is over since we have not come across any of the prisoners in the prisons who has been to the solitary and is out. It is also assumed that the subjects or the inmates were the most dangerous and violent inside prison since the prison authorities make us believe it is so. It is also assumed that the prisoners interviewed had no psychiatric conditions before they were put in solitary cell considering mentally ill people are discouraged from being put under such confinement. Terminology Recidivism rate: The rate at which the released prisoners are likely to relapse back to criminal activities or behavior Solitary confinement: This is the act of holding prisoners their own cells, which are just big enough to accommodate their basic amenities such as toilet and sink. The prisoners spend around 23 hours of their day inside these cells away from social interaction. It is also called Intensive Management Units (IMUs). Control units and Supermax: Have been used interchangeably with solitary confinement, segregation and isolation. Criminal behavior: The behavior of wanting to get into crime most of the time Past felony: Previously committed crimes Subjects: These are the prisoners and ex-prisoners that the study is centered upon Participant: They are all the people involved in the study, ranging from prisoners, prison authorities and wardens together with family members of the subjects. Mental disturbances and psychiatric disorders: These terms have been used interchangeably to explain the abnormal brain conditions of those confined in solitary cells. Rehabilitation: The act of helping a person to live independently from a previous behavior, which in this topic means reducing the recidivism rate Literature Review When a person is sentenced to prison, many people know that it will be a better way of rehabilitating them by taking away their freedom and time, which everybody wishes to have. However, some prisoners face even worse than that through solitary confinement. The court does not sentence people to serve in solitary confinement, but it is usually because of criminal activities in prison that cause them to go to solitary cells. What makes it the worst form of punishment is the fact that a prisoner does not get any right to leave the concrete wall, for a whole day except a few minutes everyday (Siegel, 2009). This makes it quite inhumane for the prisoners who do not even have a chance to talk to another human being. This has been known to have many effects on the person and has raised the question whether solitary confinement is a way of rehabilitating people or just a form of punishment. Considering that changing of behavior requires the influence of other people, solitary confinement do es not provide all the necessary needs for change since there is no contact with other people; thus, solitary confinement does not rehabilitate criminal behavior. It has been cited by many researchers that putting a person in isolation is a sure way of making them go insane (Rodriguez, 2011). Solitary confinement puts prisoners in isolation from other people and physical activities for around 23 hours a day, leaving only one hour for the prisoners to be outside, alone without any human contact. The only people they are able to talk to are the prison guards on rare occasions during the day. A research conducted on solitary confined people showed that solitary confined persons had a higher probability of developing pathologies at a rate of 28% vs. 15% of the general population (Rodriguez, 2011). Furthermore, it has been cited that solitary confined prisoners are likely to engage in self-mutilation at higher rates than other general population inmates are. It is evident that solitary confinement has quite a negative effect on the psychology of the person and their mental health (Haney, 2003). According to Grassian (n.d.), after solitary confinement was introduced in America, many thought it was a good idea of criminal rehabilitation. However, he further cites that the results were catastrophic since so many of the prisoners developed severe psychiatric effects, making the solitary confinement face more disfavors from people. The mental disturbances and their severity were so high among the prisoners put under this confinement. â€Å"The paradigmatic psychiatric disturbance was an agitated confusional state which, in more severe cases, had the characteristics of a florid delirium, characterized by severe confusional, paranoid, and hallucinatory features †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ( Grassian, n.d. p.328). He further cites that even among people who had no prior disturbances, such behaviors were observed after they were confined, including self-violence. It also contributed to exacerbation of previously observed mental conditions to a severe level. These conditions make it difficult for such individuals to adapt back even to the other prison environment after they are released from isolation (Mears, 2008). When such people are released back into the community, they are expected to live a normal life and become productive members of the community, without going back to criminal behaviors, which is the aim of sentencing a person to jail. However, the truth is on to the contrary, with many of them having the worst difficulties of adapting back to social life that is crucial if a person is to become productive again (Sharon, 2010). In most cases, such effects leave the individual with an impairment or ability of reforming back to their sufficient normal brain activity to engage in productive work in the community. Grassian (n.d.), further cites that even with a few days in solitary confinement, a person will soon start developing incapability of adequate maintenance of alertness to the environment with his or her attention going down, shifting the electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern to an abnormal one with characteristics of trance and confusion as well as hallucinations (Grassian n.d.). According to the above literature, what solitary confinement does is impair people from responding to the environment and other usual stimuli, which they find too much to bear after solitary confinement and react by avoiding it as much as possible. In my opinion, this is not a way of rehabilitating; rather, it is a form of incapacitating a prisoner. Putting a person in solitary confinement ceases to be rehabilitation and turns into a mental torture where the individual is put under circumstances that impair the brain from functioning, as it should. Rehabilitation has been defined generally as a means of helping a person become independent physically, mentally emotionally and socially. Drawing from the meaning, criminal behavior rehabilitation means helping a person become independent and free from crime through giving social, emotional mental and physical help. It is meant to reduce recidivism of going back to crime after prison. Solitary confinement does not offer any of this. Rathe r, it takes away everything in the meaning and hence, solitary confinement should not be considered a means of rehabilitation, but a means of incapacitating a person from acting as themselves considering all the impairment effects it leaves in a person (Lenzner, 2006). In terms of reducing crime relapsing for violent people, solitary confinement does help since it incapacitates them from engaging in violent behavior again after a long period of solitary confinement. People who go through solitary confinement find it hard to adapt back to their usual life since they are impaired in responding to the environment and other stimulus around them. Such people only want to hold back and withdraw from all forms of interaction with other people or the environment. Such an individual may not be in a position to engage back to criminal activities, and neither can they engage in social productive activities (Kurki Morris, 2001). This raises the concern of whether prison should be a place of incapacitating criminals mentally or whether it should act to help them change their behavior since incapacitating a person does not change behavior. In addition, when such people are released to the public again, they do not have a means of earning a decent livelihood and adapting to a free life might even be harder. This may increase their chances of engaging in crime again. Considering that rehabilitation of criminal behavior is supposed to be a means of ensuring criminals do not relapse for criminal activities again, the best way of helping them should not be confining them in solitary cells. There are several studies carried out on the best means of rehabilitating criminal behavior. According to Wright (2011), education is one way of rehabilitating offenders to prevent them from going back to criminal behavior upon release. He cited that many of the offenders end up in jail again after release due to lack of decent means of living and social circumstances force them into crime again. Majority of criminals end up in crime out of circumstances such as lack of a stable economic activity to support them. Hence, providing education to inmates increases their chances of making a better living since they can secure better jobs to sustain them upon release. Much research has indicated that most of the inmates are lowly educated, and increasing their knowledge will give them a better chance of securing jobs. More so, some inmates may have served in the prison for a long time and their knowledge may not be relevant to the current time; hence, giving them a chance to upgrade their knowledge will be better than confining them in solitary cells. To reduce violence in prison, education and counseling is a better way of inspiring the inmates to change, since keeping them busy reduces their chances of engaging in criminal activities inside prison. In addition to education and counseling, physical activities such as games and exercise facilities within prison facility can pre-occupy them and reduce violence. According to Godoy (2006), California has over the last 20 years been isolating inmates more and more in a bid to reduce violence in prison and gangs in the community. However, both of what they have been aiming to do has increased tremendously, suggesting their efforts are not rewarded. There are worries that solitary confinement could be making it worse than it was. She further says that majority of the solitary confined inmates are due to be released sometime back into the public, and the only help they get to adapt back to normal life is a few weeks in a local prison, which she says does little or nothing to help them. One has to ask whether the solitary confinement has shaped them or are they still the same people without any change or mentally disturbed. In the Pelican Bay isolation, the only way to get out is through proving to prison wardens and authority that one has not been involved in any gang for a period of not less than six years, or tell everything about your gang, wh ich might take two years. One of the isolated members in the prison says that the place is not designed to rehabilitate but to break down. He says that it made him different, and spiteful (Godoy, 2011). On the other hand, one of the wardens says that it may make prisoners a little mad for sometime, but it has much benefit such as taking people who might be a threat to the public from the streets as well as keeping the other inmates safe. On to the contrary, another of the prison officials who has served for a long time says that solitary confinement, which he referred to as Supermax facility, says that after they put prisoners in the solitary facilities, some behaved even worse. Some of the inmates would spit on them as they passed by, pour urine on them and some would even smear urine and feces on themselves, out of frustration and some out of spitefulness. He clearly says that it made their behavior worse then they were, leaving him to wonder about the effectiveness of the Supermax facility (Luce, 2010). Godoy (2011) cites that currently, solitary confinement has changed in some ways with some regulation about who goes to solitary and for how long. However, she cites that changing the system does not mean changing the inmate, which is supposed to be the aim of the solitary cell. It has now been made clear that putting inmates in isolation is not going to work. However, putting the dangerous ones in the general population in prisons is not going to work for them either. Therefore, a balanced approach for such people needs to be used for maximum results. One prison warden says that prisoners he had good terms with while at general population turned out to be the opposite when put in solitary confinement (Burkhead, 2007). He talks of how he was on good terms with some of them until they were taken to the solitary cells where they never talked to him even for a moment, and some become hostile. Once they are in the solitary cell, an attitude of the inmates vs. the prison officers builds u p, where the prisoners feel they are there because of them. The warden further cites that putting the inmates in isolation does not do them any good, and considering that one day they will be neighbors, it does not do the society any good either. Hence, solitary confinement should be rethought (Godoy 2011). It has been proven that inmates who spend much of their time in solitary confinement in prison have a high recidivism rate than those who spend their sentences in general prison population. Many of them are likely to go back for violent crimes again since they suffer lack of tolerance to social interactions, which might trigger abnormal reactions to such interaction (Beck, 1997). Many of the solitary confined inmates are not able to adapt to the social life, and many may end up becoming worse considering the effects they have gone through. More so, many are not able to engage in meaningful work for self-upkeep since they do not like crowded places anymore. The situation is worse for those who may not have families to go to and some may not even be accepted back and end up in crime again. It is not a wish they make, but circumstances force them to look for all ways of surviving. This was found in two studies on prisoners who were freed from solitary confinement in Washington and Texas, where the results showed that they had a higher recidivism rate, and they were most likely to engage in violent crimes (Godoy, 2011). Considering that the need for prison is to rehabilitate such behaviors and ensure the least recidivism rate, solitary confinement seems to be doing hardly anything if not the opposite of its purpose. In reality, solitary confinement largely protects other inmates and guards, and at least, the community until they are released again into the public where they might commit more crime. In a research that interviewed an ex-convict who served 18 years of his 25 years sentence in solitary confinement, it states that the he does not socialize with people since he lost his social skills. He lives with the mother who provides for him and is now taking a welding class, which has not been easy for him since he does not like talking to anybody. More so, he does not talk to anybody, does not go to social places, and has no friends. He says that he is his best companion, and does not need anybody’s company and spends time sitting in the front yard just to look at motorists passing by. His greatest struggle in life is adapting back to the society and the mother says he is not the same person she knew. Godoy (2011) cites that the increase of solitary confinement illustrates a failure of policies used in prison to rehabilitate the inmates. She says that due to the increase of prison population, segregating some has become so widespread, and budgets for prisons are going up everyday making it impossible to provide rehabilitation facilities such as counseling and education. People in solitary confinement require more help than others do considering they are more violent. Instead, solitary confinement does the opposite by putting them in such isolation where no help is accorded, which my make them even worse especially mentally. It is known that prisoners who are offered education and counseling therapy are more likely to refrain from crime ever again since they can make a decent livelihood. However, considering that some might be quite dangerous in prisons, isolation could be helpful to protect the general population, but should not be in an inhumane manner that denies them any intera ction needed for their rehabilitation such as contact with people (Roth, 2006). This way, the prison will not rehabilitate them if there is no provision of such interaction in the solitary cell that allows them to exercise their mind and body. Solitary confinement for such long hours a day for several years makes them insane, which is not part of rehabilitation (O’Keefe Colorado, 2010). When people in segregation cannot bear the harsh conditions and mental disturbances start occurring, self-harm starts to linger in their mind, and some even result to suicide. According to Rodriguez (2011), the rate of suicide in prison is going up, with 70% of those who committed suicide in 2005 being in solitary confinement. More so, he cites that it has been a trend, giving a statistics of 1986 on a study of 401 jails nationally where 2 out of 3 for the prisoners who committed suicide were confined under control units or solitary confinement. In 2007, a study showed that solitary confinement contributed largely to suicidal thoughts of prisoners, where some commit suicide out of the mental condition they are. Some said they heard voices, and lost control of their thought, and this is where suicidal thought comes in. Rodriguez (2011) further affirms that a research carried out in 2006 has indicated that solitary confinement is counter productive and often leads to violence in prison s, and a higher recidivism rate especially for inmates who are released directly from the solitary confinement. The rate was 64% for those who were released directly from solitary confinement to 41%, for those who were taken back to the general population before release. He cites that segregation does not make better people but worse than they were, with mental conditions. Hence, segregation only serves to punish (Roesch Gagnon, 2007). Methodology: Participants To complete this study, a selection of the right participants will have to be made who can provide credible information for best results. The best participants will be the subjects, who in this case are inmates who have had an experience with solitary confinement and those who are released from jail, as well as those who never served in solitary confinement for comparison to how their life inside prison and outside prison differs or correlate. For the subjects, they will be put under observation for a period. Their behaviors will be observed and put down. To assert that solitary confinement has contributed to the condition or behaviors they are in, another group of participants will be taken. This group could be anybody who wishes to volunteer for the purpose of the study. Before they are accepted, their current and past mental health will be taken. After volunteering, they will be put under solitary confinement; the same kind that the inmates go through, for a period of not less th an a few weeks. They will be observed and their behavior as well as mental health will be examined after the confinement for comparison. Other participants will be wardens in the prison who have interacted with the subjects during their solitary confinement in prisons. Their information will give reasons why prisoners are sent to jail and highlight on the behavior of the inmates before entering the solitary confinement and when they leave solitary cells, on whether they behave the same, or what changes are observed? Other participants will be close relatives of the released inmates to give an account of what behaviors the solitary confined take up after they are released from prison. Informed Consent All participants especially volunteers will be informed of all the procedures they will undergo considering they will be put under solitary confinement for some weeks and they may not be released despite their pleas for the sake of the study. The duration will be determined before they are confined. Their mental health before and after the confinement will be kept confidential and under no circumstance unless they so wish, shall their names be mentioned. Hence, their names will only remain with the researchers for their signature of acceptance to confinement. They will be informed of the dangers of such confinement before they are required to sign. There will be informed consent for all the inmates and ex-convicts that their names shall not be used without their consent, and their records will not be used against them, but only for research purposes. Those who wish for their names to appear in the research will have to sign that they agree to such terms. For those who do not wish their names to appear, they will not be required to sign to such terms. However, to prove that such a study took place, their signatures will be required just for that purpose, and their roles will not be mentioned in the research itself. The signatures are to remain with the study group for filing purposes only. The prison wardens will be treated the same way, and their names will not be mentioned in the research unless they want. Names mentioned by prison officials will not be included either in the research unless the particular person agrees. Close relative will also be told of their roles in the research, and any information they may not want appe aring in the research will be reserved Data Collection Data collection will come from the participants. Information about the inmates may be provided by the Planning and Research office, and the Department of Corrections, which can provide the following data: 1) Infractions File: this data file will provide the types of infractions, their dates, and sanctions, as will as offenders. 2) Principle offender file: this provides several details of an offender such as age, ethnicity, sex, current offence, their date of confinement and release, mental conditions, and identity. This is for every incarceration served by the offender, and those who go back to prison have more than one. 3) Movement file: this provides information about offenders location of custody, where they are moved, the movement codes as well as location codes and reasons of movement. More information will come from the prison wardens and officials concerning the records of the inmates. All other information will come from interviews and observations of the confined group. The data from the movement file will be used to identify those who served in Supermax or IMU facilities during their terms, and those still serving their sentence. From this file, the participants to be used will be identified, especially those who are already released. In addition, we can be able to know the amount of time served in solitary confinement as well as release. From the other two files, we are able to know the type of offences the offenders served and past felonies if any. The Questionnaire The study will use open-ended questionnaire as well as closed questions for better results. For the inmates inside solitary cells, the questions will mostly be open to observe their response and relevance to questions in order to observe any signs of unusual mental conditions. Questions could include: Why they are in isolation What is their routine Who they talk to Do they wish to be back to general population What are they finding hard For those who are already released, questions could include: What is the most difficult thing in their life now? Have they been able to make friends? Do they have a stable job? Do they enjoy their freedom and are they happy to interact with people? Why? Have they been accepted? What was their hardest thing in solitary confinement or what could they not stand after solitary confinement? Other participants will only find observations of the inmates who were isolated from others and tell of the changes they observed in them. For the volunteers, the questions will resemble the one above and observation from the researcher. Their behavior will be compared with their previous behavior. References Beck, A. (1997). Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1983. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. Burkhead, M. D. (2007). The treatment of criminal offenders: A history. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. fortunecity.com. (n.d.). Criminal Behavior – Contributing Factors throughout Life. Retrieved from http://members.fortunecity.com/smashx14/criminal.html Godoy, M. (2006). Solitary Confinement the Law. Retrieved from NPR.org. Grassian, S. (n.d.). Psychiatric Effects of Solitary Confinement. Journal of Law Policy, 22, 325-347. Haney, C. (2003). Mental health issues in long-term solitary and â€Å"Supermax† Confinement. Crime and Delinquency, 49 (1), 124-156. Kurki, L. Morris, N. (2001). The purposes, practices, and problems of supermax prisons. Crime and Justice, 28, 385-424. Lenzner, E. (2006). Solitary Confinement: How Effective Is It? Retrieved from npr.org/about/press/060725.solitary.html Lovell, D., Cloyes, K., Allen, D. Rhodes, R. (2000). Who lives in super-maximum custody? A Washington State study. Federal Probation, 64 (2), 33-38. Lovell, D., Johnson, C. (n.d.). Felony and Violent Recidivism among Supermax Prison Inmates in Washington State: A Pilot Study. University of Washington: Department of Psychosocial Community Health. Luce, P. (2010). Effectiveness of solitary confinement discussed at hearing. Retrieved from delcotimes.com/articles/2010/08/03/news/doc4c57850907033292831638.txt?viewmode=fullstory Mears, D. (2008). An Assessment of Supermax Prisons Using an Evaluation Research Framework. The Prison Journal, 88 (1), 43-68. O’Keefe, M. L., Colorado. (2010). One year longitudinal study of the psychological effects of administrative segregation. Colorado Springs, Colo: Colorado Department of Corrections, Office of Planning and Analysis. Rodriguez, S. (2011). Fact Sheet: Psychological Effects of Solitary Confinement. Retrieved from solitarywatch.com Roesch, R., Gagnon, N. (2007). Psychology and law: Criminal and civil perspectives. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. Roth, M.P. (2006). Prisons and prison systems: a global encyclopedia. London: Greenwood Publishing Group Sharon, S. (2010). Former Prisoners Describe Psychiatric Toll of Solitary Confinement. Retrieved from mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/11095/Default.aspx Siegel, L.J. (2009). Introduction to Criminal Justice. New York, NY: Criminal Justice Department of New York. Wright, M. (2011). Criminal Rehabilitation – Working Towards a Better Life for Inmates and Their Families. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Criminal-Rehabilitation- Working-Towards-A-Better-Life-For-Inmates-And-Their-Familiesid=455250 Yost, P., Knobil, M., Coyote, P., Auster, A., Dubrino, J. (2010). Solitary confinement. Washington, DC: National Geographic Channel

Marx Communist Manifesto Summary Essay Essays

Marx Communist Manifesto Summary Essay Essays Marx Communist Manifesto Summary Essay Paper Marx Communist Manifesto Summary Essay Paper Essay Topic: Communist Manifesto All throughout history. there has ever been a sense of hierarchy in society such as the elites over the provincials. blue bloods over plebeians. etc. Although there was much social alteration in the clip of revolution. this subordination of categories did non. Sprouted from feudal society. businessperson continues the division of social categories: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat. The work of the Proletariats was to merely happen occupations and work. They’d continue working so long as it increased the capital. However. Proletariats did non necessitate any â€Å"individual character† to be working. They were merely an â€Å"appendage† to the machines in the mills. Not much accomplishment or instruction was needed to work these machines. hence. the cost of bring forthing the stuffs was really limited. As work increased. their rewards would diminish. As industry increased. so did the Proletariat. Factories were rapidly going packed with more labourers. Conditionss of life for them began to equalise. nevertheless their rewards seemed to fluctuate in response to the competition between other mills. Technologically. the machines weren’t progressing due to their trust on the workers to hasten production anyhow. This began to rupture down the Proletariats vibrant support. so they began to make groups against the Bourgeoisie. Their stria to gether helped them maintain better path on the stableness of the rewards and were more powerful in their occasional rebellions. At times. they would be successful in these rebellions. However. their existent success stemmed from their prevarications. The continual laden behaviour of the Proletariat was no longer compatible with society.

Shopping Online and Shipping to Canada

Shopping Online and Shipping to Canada If youre on the Canadian side of the border and shopping online on American sites, hidden costs may catch you by surprise. There are things you should check before you give out your credit card number. First, ensure that the shopping site offers international shipping or at least shipping to Canada. Theres little more irritating than going through an online store, filling your shopping cart, and then discovering that the vendor doesnt ship outside the United States. Shipping Charges to Canada Good sites will list their shipping policies and procedures upfront, usually in the customer service or help sections. Shipping charges are determined by weight, size, distance, speed, and number of items. Read the details carefully. Dont forget to factor in the exchange rate for the shipping charges as well as for the cost of the merchandise. Even if the exchange rate is in your favor, your credit card company will likely add a charge for currency conversion. The shipping charges and methods of shipment, usually mail or courier, arent the total cost youll have to pay to get that package across the border. Youll also have to pay Canadian customs duties, taxes, and customs brokerage fees. Canadian Customs Duties Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement, Canadians dont have to pay duties on most American and Mexican manufactured items. But just because you buy an item from a U.S. store doesnt mean it was made in the United States; its possible it was imported into the United States first. If so, you may be charged duty when it comes into Canada. So check before you buy and if possible get something in writing from the online store in case the Canada Customs people decide to be particular. Duties on goods vary widely, depending on the product and the country where it was manufactured. In general, on goods ordered from a foreign retailer, there is no assessment unless Canada Customs can collect at least $1 in duties and taxes. If you have questions about Canada customs and duties, contact the Border Information Service during business hours and speak to an officer. Canadian Taxes Just about everything individuals import into Canada is subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5 percent. The GST is calculated after customs duties have been applied. Youll also have to pay the applicable Canadian Provincial Sales Tax (PST) or Quebec Sales Tax (QST). The provincial retail sales tax rates vary between provinces, as do the goods and services to which the tax is applied and how the tax is applied. In Canadian provinces with a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island), youll be charged the HST rather than the separate GST and provincial sales tax. Customs Brokers Fees Fees for customs brokers services can really surprise you. Courier companies and postal services use customs brokers to get packages processed through Canada Customs at the Canadian border. Fees for that service will be passed along to you. Canada Post is authorized to charge the recipient a handling fee of $5 for mail items and $8 for express mail items for collecting duties and taxes assessed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). If there is no duty or tax owed, they dont charge a fee. Customs brokers fees for courier companies vary but are usually much higher than the Canada Post fee. Some courier companies include the custom brokers fees in the courier service price, depending on the level of courier service you select. Others will add the customs brokers fees on top and youll have to pay those before you can get your parcel. If you select a courier service for shipping to Canada, check whether the level of service includes customs brokers fees. If it isnt mentioned on the online shopping site youre using, you can check the service guide on the individual courier company website or call the local number of the courier company to find out their policies on international shopping.

Mid term report internship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mid term report internship - Essay Example A cover letter has been attached before the questionnaire which will explain the objective of my survey. I am in the way to complete the Mid-term and final project on time. At this moment I am having a clear plan and schedule to complete the project. Examples of the part of the scope I have a plan to survey with 300 employees. At this moment of time 200 employees has already send their response while 100 employees are yet to send their response. Two methods are used for questionnaire sample. One is hard copy and the second is mailing questionnaire. For hard copy as mentioned above, it was attached with the questionnaire. For mailing questionnaires, I have used the letter to convey my purpose. My Task: My task is to handle the entire questionnaire and the entire 300 respondents. I have started writing report on the basis of secondary data collection about the Company ABC. The draft of the final table content is in below: Pages 1. Thoughts and Challenges dealing with the project †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2. Abstract †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3. Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4. Literature Review †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 5. HRM process. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6. HRM process in family business. ... Research Variables†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. a) Employee satisfaction constructs. 11. Research result and discussion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. a) Employee’s demographic condition. b) Employee’s satisfaction level. c) Employee’s relation with the HR department. 12. Conclusion and Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 13. Value and insights to ABC Company†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 14. References. Research Methodology and the questions we asked to the Employees to measure the employee satisf action Research Methodology means how I have proceeded towards my objectives. What methods I have used for the purpose of my research. Research methods are of two types namely Primary and Secondary research. Primary research is the first hand data collection method. That means for Research purpose one needs to use the data collected by him only. It is a field collection. Secondary research is a kind of research where the data can be collected from different other sources like Internet, Books, and Journal, Magazine and research papers done by others. The validity of primary research is always better (Armstrong, 2007). But always it is not possible to use primary research because it is very time consuming and sources are not available always. In my study, I have used both the kind of research methods Primary and Secondary. In primary research, I used sample survey method. Sample is a part of population. My survey was based on the employees of the company. There were 400 employees and I took 300 employees as my sample. I tried to do a population survey but it is difficult to

The Role of Nutrition in Health Deviations Essay

The Role of Nutrition in Health Deviations - Essay Example Diabetes can be described as a cluster of metabolic ailments in which an individual depicts high blood glucose due to inadequate insulin production or failure by body cells to respond accordingly to insulin. According to Bangle (2006), Patients suffering from diabetes are advised to eat foods with low carbohydrates levels and minimal calorie. In addition, the patients should engage numerous physical exercises to enhance weight loss, especially for the people with overweight. In addition, eating foods rich in fiber and those containing whole grains is an important prevention and management strategy for diabetes. In essence, losing weight and maintaining it at the recommended level ensures efficient insulin intake in the body and thereby reducing the incidences of suffering from diabetes. Hypertension is a chronic health disorder which entails blood pressure in the arteries being raised beyond the normal level. One can suffer from hypertension/ high blood pressure for many years without showing any notable symptoms. However, the disease can be easily recognized and treated once assessed by medical professionals. Doctors and the entire body of health professionals have comprehensively researched on the disease and devised various nutritional guidelines to quell the situation. These guidelines include avoidance of too much sodium salt. In fact, research has shown that less sodium intake facilitates efficient hypertension control. However, nutrients such as magnesium and fiber are preferred for blood pleasure control. Nadar & Lip (2009) states that, it is important to take enough fruits and vegetables since they are rich in magnesium and fiber. Gout is an ailment associated with unusual metabolism of uric acid in the body. People suffering from gout either have excessive production of uric acid or their body mechanisms have challenges in removing it. The dietary guideline for gout provides that it is important to ensure low-purine

Emotional response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Emotional response - Assignment Example Priceline enables the customer to choose from 165,000 hotels in addition to being able to carry out all the booking transactions online. Additionally, the website enables the customer to accomplish several other activities such as check the status of any bookings as well as receive alerts in case of won bids. Moreover, the customers can also give feedback on different services. The website appeals to the customers who may be willing to make last minute flight bookings or even compare prices in different hotels worldwide. Priceline’s website plot is appealing since all the services are organized in columns, which makes it easy for customers to access and scrutinize. On opening each column, it becomes even easier for the customer to analyze the services offered by Priceline in different regions of the world. The website contains navigation tools that enable the customer to access further details on each specific service. Additionally, sections such as vacation packages display images that add to the strength of the

Journal review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Journal review - Essay Example There are various clinical manifestations that are similar in appendicitis and some other diseases such as acute gastroenteritis, pyelonephritis, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease etc. There is no diagnostic test for the confirmation of appendicitis but surgeon’s experience, the patient’s past record or the physical assessment help in the diagnosis. One of the major techniques used for the diagnosis of appendicitis is abdominal computed tomography scan; other techniques include ultra sound, X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. If the appendicitis is not diagnosed by any of the technique the surgeon must diagnose it by the clinical manifestations made by the patient. If it is not diagnosed properly it may lead to life threatening effects. A patient with the risk of appendicitis must have proper nursing facilities; they should be kept in health care centers until they recover, their treatment should be looked upon on strictly i.e. antibiotic therap y in order to reduce any inflammation or septicemia. If the general practitioner thinks inflammation has occured in the appendix he must use some special techniques i.e. laparoscopically or by laparotomy in order to minimize the chances of further perforation. In a typical examination it is observed that 80% of the patients having acute abdominal pain experience appendicitis and only 20% of patients that undergo appendectomy remain safe from these pathological conditions. If this infection of appendix is not diagnosed properly it may cause perforation of appendix. It is also observed in 80% of the patients that perforation usually occurs after 48 hours of appendicitis. Untreated appendicitis may also become life threatening. Appendicitis should be properly cured or else it may lead to acute inflammation. Proper treatment should be given to patients

The individual as representive of society's values Essay

The individual as representive of society's values - Essay Example Given this issues, this paper will try to look at two parallel stories to identify the social values represented by the protagonists and main characters. William Faulkner’s â€Å"Intruder in the Dust† with Lucas Beauchamp as the protagonist and main character and Richard Wright’s â€Å"Native Son† which revolves around the life of Bigger Thomas. Looking at the plot of William Faulkner’s story â€Å"Intruder in the Dust†, it can be observed that it revolves around the life of Lucas Beauchamp, a black man that is known to mingle among their white neighbors and unlike any other of the black race, he is not afraid to belong in the white man’s world (Faulkner). Similarly, the plot of Richard Wright’s story, â€Å"Native Son†, revolves around the life of Bigger Thomas also a black man. Bigger Thomas, unlike Faulkner’s Lucas, is living a lowly life and is not very much favored in his society (Wright). Analyzing the plots of the two stories, it can be noted that they are parallel yet the protagonist and the main character differ in how they act and react in the norms of their respective societies. Among the differences of the two stories include, Lucas having defied the usual perspective and actions of his race and Bigger Thomas having acted what was the white men’s perceived to be actions and reactions of black men towards the situation. However, both plots include murder and both Lucas and Bigger Thomas is accused of the crime. The similarity of some acts in both stories will enable us to compare and contrast the representative social values each of the character possessed and portrayed. Looking in depth, it can be noted that Lucas Beauchamp is characterized in the story as a proud, independent negro with the integrity not to accept payment for the good deed that he showed to others especially to white men. He is considered both by his own race and the white man’s race as a threat to their interests since he considers himself of equal footing to any man and did not conform to the stereotyped role the society dictates a colored man should be. He is also characterized as self-serving as he is only interested in his self-preservation yet in contrast, the story also implied that he is a social being given by his good relationship with Chick and other white men in the story (Faulkner). Bigger Thomas on the other hand grown up under the racial prejudice among his race, hence, considered himself as a marginal being and not capable of doing anything great. His character in the story resorted to committing crimes such as robbery, murder and rape. His very existence is characterized by anger, fear and frustration in his previous and current situation in which he effectively hidden in his tough personality. Unlike Lucas, Bigger Thomas never considered himself of equal footing with his white neighbors and perceived them as constant threat to his survival and oppression to h is rights such that he perceived them as entities dictating him his every action and even thoughts. He is also a self-preserver as he resorted to lying and conning in order not be accused of the crimes he committed. However, it cannot be excluded that being black and oppressed, he is not really of bad disposition but only resorted to such things in hopelessness and fear brought about by the racist and

Journal review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Journal review - Essay Example There are various clinical manifestations that are similar in appendicitis and some other diseases such as acute gastroenteritis, pyelonephritis, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease etc. There is no diagnostic test for the confirmation of appendicitis but surgeon’s experience, the patient’s past record or the physical assessment help in the diagnosis. One of the major techniques used for the diagnosis of appendicitis is abdominal computed tomography scan; other techniques include ultra sound, X-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. If the appendicitis is not diagnosed by any of the technique the surgeon must diagnose it by the clinical manifestations made by the patient. If it is not diagnosed properly it may lead to life threatening effects. A patient with the risk of appendicitis must have proper nursing facilities; they should be kept in health care centers until they recover, their treatment should be looked upon on strictly i.e. antibiotic therap y in order to reduce any inflammation or septicemia. If the general practitioner thinks inflammation has occured in the appendix he must use some special techniques i.e. laparoscopically or by laparotomy in order to minimize the chances of further perforation. In a typical examination it is observed that 80% of the patients having acute abdominal pain experience appendicitis and only 20% of patients that undergo appendectomy remain safe from these pathological conditions. If this infection of appendix is not diagnosed properly it may cause perforation of appendix. It is also observed in 80% of the patients that perforation usually occurs after 48 hours of appendicitis. Untreated appendicitis may also become life threatening. Appendicitis should be properly cured or else it may lead to acute inflammation. Proper treatment should be given to patients

Health Care Access Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Health Care Access - Research Paper Example And the people can simply chide him eventually in order to change his mind. Facts should clarify the right decision that should be made. Because the fear and argument generated by the good governor was about heavy indebtedness and loss of sovereignty, this paper endeavoured to check on the validity behind his reasoning against supporting the Obama Health Care plan to improve Medicaid and to insure the public with health care insurance. Random sampling of empirical data was done to find out what is meant by the possibility of losing sovereignty. Findings reveal that the total debts of USA are below the average in terms of percentage growth of total debts of the world since 2001. Compared to nine (9) out of eleven (11) countries included in the random sample, it shows that annual increases in US debts are normal. Details are shown in Table 1. The total debt statistics of ten other countries – UK, France, Japan, China, Canada, Israel, India, Russia, Germany, and Saudi Arabia – were chosen at random for comparison with the USA’s debts. (Source: USA Department of Health & Human Services 2012. Fiscal Year 2013 Budget in Brief: Stengthening Health and Opportunity for All Americans. Viewed October 8, 2012 @ http://www.hhs.gov/budget/budget-brief-fy2013.pdf ) USA ave. = (31.7 less 11.7 ) / 10 years = $ 2 K / year or less than 10% average increase of debts per year. The average increase or decrease is computed by $ 2K divided by the average of ($ 31.7 + 11.7) / 2, or $ 2 K / 21.7 = 9.22 % average increase in debts per year .from 2001 to 2011. This means that USA has been controlling its debt increases per year compared to the average growth of debts of the whole world. UK ave. = (31.5 less 9.6 ) / 10 years = $ 2.19 K / year or more than 10% average increase of debts per year. The average increase or decrease is computed by $ 2.19 K divided by the average of

Swot Analysis Guide Essay Example for Free

Swot Analysis Guide Essay SWOT Analysis Guide The comprehensive guide to the SWOT analysis method In the following guide we will introduce you to several widely used strategic planning methods. They enable business executives and strategists to evaluate options, plan for the strategic goals and implement the changes necessary to achieve those goals. The evaluation version of the guide Distribution note: You may NOT distribute the original or modified version of the document. Check more information about licensing in license.txt BSCDesigner.com AKS-Labs SWOT Analysis Guide Copyright  © AKS-Labs Page 2 SWOT analysis: introduction and use of the method in the business environment If you are even remotely familiar with a business world, you have certainly heard about the competitive environment, strategic planning and business analysis. There are several different methods currently used in the business world and one of the most popular st strategic evaluation tools is the SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats SWOT can be further classified in to internal and external factors. Strength and weaknesses belong to the internal factors, and the opportunities and strength are classified as external factors. Why use SWOT analysis you might  ask? Well, it is a very useful and highly effective tool when useful planning for the strategic goals, when trying to analyze the environment the company operates in, and it is a good visual illustration of the challenges company faces. What is unique about SWOT is that it enables managers and executives to lists the key advantages and disadvantages of the company and matches them with the external factors that will influence the company’s performance in the short and the long run. To give you a better understanding of the method, let’s look at some of the examples of strength, look weaknesses, opportunities and strength. Strength †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Rights to intellectual property; patents. Strong brand. High customer satisfaction. Cost effective methods in operations. Availability of cheap resources. Advantage of a highly efficient and effective distribution networks. AKS-Labs ââ€" ª 2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150 ââ€" ª Raleigh ââ€" ª NC ââ€" ª 27607 www.measurebusiness.com [emailprotected] Business Analysis Methods Guide SWOT Analysis Guide Copyright  © AKS-Labs Page 3 Weaknesses †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ No patents. Weak or no brand developed. Low customers satisfaction. High cost structure. Expensive natural resources. Poor distribution networks. As you have probably noticed, strength and weaknesses are exactly the opposites of each other. It is true in a lot of real cases when the strength for one company is a weakness for another. If one has an access to cheap energy and other company doesn’t, the former has the strength over the latter. Strengths Strong brand Cheap resources Weaknesses High costs No patents Opportunities Technology Low trade barriers SWOT Threats Regulations -Trade barriers Opportunities †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Underutilized customer market; there is a room to grow and generate revenue. Modern technologies. Relaxed regulations. Globalization. Since there are fewer barriers, companies may expand. Threats †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Changing consumer needs and wants. Substitute products and new entrants. Regulations. Trade barriers. Business Analysis Methods Guide AKS-Labs ââ€" ª 2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150 ââ€" ª Raleigh ââ€" ª NC ââ€" ª 27607 www.measurebusiness.com [emailprotected] SWOT Analysis Guide Copyright  © AKS-Labs Page 4 As you can see, the method can be universally used for almost any condition and environment. It is a tool that can be used in a broader sense and can be as specific as the problem requires it to be. A simple SWOT analysis graphic is shown below for illustrative purposes. Stakeholders of the SWOT analysis are several. They are: management, employees, suppliers and distributors, and customers. Let’s not forget that the ultimate goal is to deli deliver the highest customer satisfaction possible in order to generate revenue and  maximize profits. SWOT provides adequate procedures and guidelines for the management to practice. It states clearly the tactics and communication patterns management has to implement in order to achieve the strategic implement goals. Employees are directed and trained to increase productivity and reduce errors. Suppliers and distributors are considered in order to design highly effective and efficient supply chains and distribution networks; and finally the customer satisfaction and loyalty is one of the most rks; important aspects that SWOT helps to evaluate and plan for. Who uses the method? SWOT is used by the managers and top executives in the evaluation, planning, and implementation proce process. In the evaluation process, top executives review the available resources, measure the revenues and the target cost structures, and once ready, set out a strategic plan that stipulates the direction that company is going to take. In this process, they evaluate all four characteristics and plan for an appropriate course of action. For the planning process, upper and mid level management reviews the graph, and gets familiar with the key objectives as well as the resources available to them in order to ac achieve the strategic goals. In the implementation process, thanks to the clear definitions of what is going to affect the company’s performance, employees have the advantage of knowing what to expect and what is going to challenge them. SWOT helps them anticipate the future hurdles and plan appropriately in anticipate order to overcome the barriers. As you can see, SWOT is an illustrative method of business planning and evaluation. It enables the management to clearly identify the advantages and disadvantages they are faced with, and design the realistic goals in order to achieve overall organizational success. Advantage of the method is that it is versatile, it creates clear visual picture of the situation and can be modified and adjusted fairly easily. One of the biggest advantages of the method is that it is very inexpensive and biggest provides highest results per dollar invested in to the analysis. Cost efficiency and performance effectiveness is one of the reasons why the method has been popular among the business executi executives sine the 1960s. Business Analysis Methods Guide AKS-Labs ââ€" ª 2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150 ââ€" ª Raleigh ââ€" ª NC ââ€" ª 27607 www.measurebusiness.com [emailprotected] SWOT Analysis Guide Copyright  © AKS-Labs Page 5 SWOT and Balanced Scorecard Before we go in to the details of the balanced Scorecard method and compare it to the SWOT analysis, let’s take a look at the BSC (Balanced Scorecard) and define what it is, what it does and ) how it differs from the SWOT analysis. s BSC is a strategic planning and implementation tool that assists management in the process of achieving organizational goals. It is a method that enables cooperation and synchronization in the business procedures. Typically, balan balanced Scorecard consists of several fields (usually 4), which lists the subject of interest and the steps that would allow the company to reach highest results in the listed fields. A simple version of a basic BSC is illustrated below. Balanced Scorecard As you can see, there are four fields: financial, internal business procedures, learning and growth and customers. We will discuss each one of them in little more detail in order to give you a better understating of how the method works. Financial; in this section managers list some of the key steps and goals they need to achieve in s order to succeed in their ultimate goal. Steps might be lowering fixed costs, low leverage, possible IPO etc. As for the internal business process, it might involve training, b better communication, changing organizational structure, etc. For the learning and growth, it might outline the process of training, growth strategies (acquisition, franchising), and target market share. As far as the Business Analysis Methods Guide AKS-Labs ââ€" ª 2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150 ââ€" ª Raleigh ââ€" ª NC ââ€" ª 27607 www.measurebusiness.com [emailprotected] SWOT Analysis Guide Copyright  © AKS-Labs Page 6 customers are concerned, management might define the strategy for increasing customer might satisfaction, brand development, and advertising. What is important to understand is that, there is a difference between the SWOT and BSC. While the SWOT analysis is mostly used in the broader planning procedures, such as strategic goals for procedures, the organization, BSC is a tool that has often been used in the process of achieving a specific goal. To make it clear, SWOT is used to define the goal, and the BSC is used to design a plan to achieve that goal. BSC is not strictly limited to this particular purpose and can be successfully used in a broader planning; but we have found that the method is most appropriate and useful when planning for a particular strategy and steps for implementing it. While the design presented above is not a standard one, most frequently we encounter 4 field ted designs. An alternative design is presented below. SWOT and BSC have been in use for several decades and have proved to be effective and efficient methods in business planning. The two methods have frequently been viewed as competitors, but the consensus has been emerging in the academic as well as the professional community that the two are more complementary to each other than they are rivals. Both methods are relatively cheap to design and implement, and provide a valuable insight in to design the key aspect that will determine the organization’s success. In conclusion it has to be mentioned that, BSC and SWOT are two methods that help define goals, steps, and an overall organizational strategy; they both have been used successfully for several strategy; decades. Even in the modern age of technology and alternative methods, these two simple graphic charts have been very popular among the top executives. Business Analysis Methods Guide AKS-Labs ââ€" ª 2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150 ââ€" ª Raleigh ââ€" ª NC ââ€" ª 27607 www.measurebusiness.com [emailprotected] SWOT Analysis Guide Copyright  © AKS-Labs Page 7 More in the full version of the Business An Analysis Methods Guide Guide: †¢ 29 page SWOT guide (Adobe PDF file): †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Alternative methods to SWOT analysis Steps in solving problems using Porter’s Five Forces for Competitive Position Solving problems using the SWOT analysis 5 examples in format: Problem, Response with SWOT, Result SWOT analysis: conclusions SWOT FAQ SWOT checklist †¢ 21 PowerPoint templates (.pptx file; check examples below) for SWOT analysis presentation †¢ 32 page PEST Analysis Guide (Adobe PDF file) †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Introduction to the method and problem of PEST PEST and SWOT PEST and its extensions Step-by-step guide on how to use PEST for solving business problems step Key success factors of PEST Examples of real-life usage of PEST life Conclusions PEST FAQ Checklist for PEST Other aspects related to PEST Review of the most popular business analysis methods The review includes introduction to the method, step step-by-step algorithms, pros and cons, best step practices. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ 80/20 Pareto Analysis (4 page) Break-even Analysis (4 page) even Competitive Analysis (4 page) Key Ratio Analysis (3 page) PEST Analysis (3 page) SWOT Analysis (4 page) Variance analysis (4 page) What if simulation (4 page) Learn more online: http://www.measurebusiness.com/ Business Analysis Methods Guide AKS-Labs ââ€" ª 2501 Blue Ridge Road Suite 150 ââ€" ª Raleigh ââ€" ª NC ââ€" ª 27607 www.measurebusiness.com [emailprotected]

Role of Money in Inequality and Rights

Role of Money in Inequality and Rights Jonathon James Dunn For this essay, I have been asked to describe how two of the module themes help to illustrate the role of money in society. The two themes I have chosen are inequality and rights. The idea of inequality can be applied to the subject of money to give a range of different insights. The presence or absence of inequality can be judged in relation to equality of opportunity, conditions or outcomes. Inequalities take many various forms, such as the ones based on social categories, like class, gender or age. A study by the independent think tank Inequality Briefing provides an explanation regarding the distribution of wealth within the UK. It suggests where the money should be in an ideal world, where we think it should be (based on polls) and where it is. It concludes that the actual distribution figures show that the richest 20% have 60% of all the wealth. This suggests the balance is not as fair as the majority think and emphasises the apparent inequality within UK society. * The theme of inequality and rights can also be shown concerning migrants and the right to education, with the example of the rapidly growing city of Guangzhou, the export capital of southern China. After more than 30 years of domestic migration in China, more than 10 million migrant workers are working in Guangzhou city; they are considered the backbone of Chinas export industry. Guangzhou is one of the four mega cities in China which include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.ÂÂ   In 1978, less than 20% of Chinas population lived in the cities. The growth in Chinas export industry resulted in increased urbanisation, and consequently, millions of people left rural areas ascended to Chinas cities to find employment. This was at a time when the government was looking to convert broad areas of land and employ cheap labour in order to make products and to sell those products to the world. Now for the first time in history, China is a more urban country than a rural one. Desp ite the rapid growth in Guangzhou, a significant question arises; has everyone benefited from it? With Chinas rapid urbanisation driving its growing economy, the enlarging inequalities in the cities have received widespread attention. Evidence suggests, migrants have been made to feel excluded, isolated, and have suffered discrimination while also being blamed for increasing traffic congestion and urban crimes. Many people within the city are urging for reforms towards equality. The growth of Guangzhou encourages, and enables, investigation of the impact that rapid urbanisation and a fast-changing economy has in the social world. Social inequality exists between the wealthy elite and the working poor in megacities such as Guangzhou and in this sense shows some similarities to the Inequality Briefing statistics previously mentioned, regarding the UKs wealth division. Guangzhous rapid development is the result of a mixture of globalisation, the migration of people from the countryside to the city and investment into infrastructure. To achieve this, it had to take on massive debt. The issue of rights and inequality is none more prevalent than when considering migrants who are far poorer on average than those from the City. Of an estimated 14 million people living in Guangzhou, nine million are considered as residents. The Chinese population is categorised as belonging to one of two groups urban or rural under a system called hukou. This system became a way of administering the distribution of state resources and controlling migration within the country in 1958. Under the socialist regime, people were provided with ration cards to buy food and goods at subsidised prices. Those individuals who were not resident in the place where they held their hukou status were not entitled to access these rationing cards. Migrants are only permitted to work in the cities with temporary residence permits and without an urban Hukou. This seemingly archaic system remains in place today. Although movement between the countryside and the city has become much freer, people with no hukou in the place where they live face significant difficulties accessing jobs, education, healthcare and welfare. There are even recent signs that the growth of rural migrant labour is slowing down and despite the increase in the number of migrant workers during the past decade which reached an estimated 274 million in 2014, this growth has declined from 5.5 percent in 2010 to just 1.9 per cent in 2014. * The children of rural migrants are denied access to education in the city and are only entitled to free education in their hometowns. An article in the South China Morning Post suggests Some migrant workers put in 18-hour shifts in sweatshops, others sell vegetables, sweep the streets or labour in construction sites. Often that just brings in 5,000 yuan a month- This means they cannot afford the fees children without hukou must pay to study in the city. When you consider rural migrants have provided the workforce that has enabled the city to grow and prosper are not entitled to the same benefits as those who have lived in the city for all of their lives, a striking example of inequality emerges, especially as Ganzhou has particularly relied on the movement of these people from the countryside to the town. Being a full member of the UN, China are duty bound to guarantee all humans a minimum standard of rights.* It could certainly be argued that children of migrants face unnecessary ha rdship in accessing education, which could be against their human rights. Without a doubt, its been difficult for the government to maintain equity during this growth period. The rising social inequality experienced by Chinese migrant workers in the Guangzhou is worrying. The governments comprise a strategy which should aim to balance economic growth and social equality and consider removing or altering the hukou system. Word count: 937 Wealth inequality in the UKYouTube. (2017). Wealth inequality in the UK. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOJ93tAbPP0 Chinas migrant workers embrace new opportunities closer to homeEqual Times. (2017). Chinas migrant workers embrace new opportunities closer to home. [online] Available at: https://www.equaltimes.org/china-s-migrant-workers-embrace?lang=en [Accessed 28 Feb. 2017]. Under Article 26.1 of this universal declaration:Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.(UN, [1948] 2015) Migrant workers in Guangzhou hope to give their children a brighter future South China Morning Post. (2015). Migrant workers in Guangzhou hope to give their children a brighter future. [online] Available at: http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1826842/migrant-workers-guangzhou-hope-give-their-children-brighter