Strategic Business Leadership in Wendicon Technologies Limited Essay - 1

Strategic Business Leadership in Wendicon Technologies Limited - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the engineers often complain of getting delayed in their operational pursuits for needing to fill up manual timesheets from the different consumers to which they render services. Owing to the need for filling in manual timesheets the engineers often get delayed in being able to serve other consumers in the region. Thus, they steadily arise the need for innovating the current manual process to make it electronic. This would help in enhancing the customer servicing activity of the company and in motivating the internal people to work in an innovated atmosphere. The management team of the company continually worked to render innovation in the existing operational process of management of manual timesheets. To render innovation in the business process the team worked to align the capability of the staff along with the available resources to help build innovative systems. The management team has focused on aligning the professional capability of the technical base of the organization to help construct an electronic commerce application which would reach a larger consumer base via the iPads. However to counter the process of innovation in a successful manner the company management has helped aside a large pool of funds to help in the enhancement of the infrastructural base. The innovation team of the concern would help in the construction of an electronic data sheet which would be transmitted to the consumer through the help of iPads. This innovation rendered to the process would help the consumers get timely notifications of the work performed by the engineers following which invoices would be dispatched to them. In the process of rendering the process innovation, the company is required to estimate the turnover of the same in terms of the investment rendered.

Research Methods and Stats for Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Methods and Stats for Finance - Essay Example ore, the appropriate and integrative application of "Software as electronic commerce platform for manufacturers and wholesale distributors" with a focus on education and implementation of supply chain management software could have a significant impact on the manner that supply chains function within the companies (Karpinski p 9 1999). Business process re-engineering (BPR) is applied at the local, managerial, and corporate levels of the business. This concept has a significant impact on the various phases of the business process, where the changes that occur can be related to the flow of information and products (Desel & Erwin, 2000). BPR is used in SCM to renovate the managed and integrated processes that create a capable and viable business environment (Chan and Qi 2003). The crucial tenants of BPR is that it reduces tension between inter-organisational departments and business partners, particularly when the there is friction within the SC process (McCormack & Johnson, 2000). Business process re-engineering, specifically related to the main focus of technology and communication in supply chain management includes: (1)Further integration of activities between suppliers and customers across the entire supply chain;(2) on-going changes in supply chain needs and required flexibility from IT; (3) more mass customization of products and services leading to increasing assortments while decreasing cycle times and inventories; (4) the locus of the driver’s seat of the entire supply chain and (5) supply chains consisting of several independent enterprises (Akkermans et al p 284 2003). The benefits of using the BPR concept to promote SCM needs are that it connects information management (McCormack & Johnson, 2000); promotes cost saving activities through efficiency and communication (Horvath, 2001), and reduces financial risk in unsuccessful supply chains (Cross 2000). This project is to examine management logistics in supply chain management as it relates to the

Integrated Approach To Tourism Planning And Management Tourism Essay

Integrated Approach To Tourism Planning And Management Tourism Essay Tourism is one of the worlds biggest industries. For developing countries, it is also one of the biggest incomes generators. Early literature in tourism development emphasized the role of tourism in economic development, particularly for developing countries (Erbes, 1973). However, the negative social, cultural impacts of tourism has increased in the past two decades , calling for more aware of planning and management of tourism development(WTO, 1996; Mathieson Wall,1982, Wahab, 1997). The benefit of tourism in the countrys economy is a major incentive for developing countries due to three pro-tourism arguments. First, the evolution of the request for international travel is scheduled to continue at astonishing rate because of the economic stability and travel preferences of people in the developed regions such as Europe, Asia and North America. Secondly, income elasticity of demand for the tourism means that, as the family income for the developed world increased, the disposable in come would be directed to travel. Thirdly, developing countries need the foreign exchange earnings to support its economic development initiatives, in order to meet the needs of their local residents. By pro-tourism arguments, many developing countries are choosing, or being encouraged to develop tourism over some of the more traditional industry alternatives such as agriculture and manufacturing (Mill Morrison, 1999). The major problems with agriculture are that overly dependent upon a few specific crops or products. In the competitive world market, where externalities and price are uncontrollable and unpredictable, countries dependent on agriculture have an unreliable and inconsistent source of revenue. Under these circumstances, the tourism industry can play the role in diversifying economy and the supplement the income has brought in through the agriculture. For example, after introducing tourism into the Caribbean island economies, the $9 billion tourism sector brought in six times the revenue of all traditional agricultural exports (Simon, 1995). Other developing countries have set up manufacturing as an economic development policy option. In order to manufacture, a country need to have easily accessible source of raw materials for production. The country which has rich in natural resources is more successful in manufacturing. Many developing countries has shortage of skilled labour which is one of the necessary inputs for manufacturing. even when these problems are non-existent export oriented industries still face full international competition in selling their products (Mill Morrison, 1999). Tourism also need land , skilled labour, capital resources to access . Yet, tourism, in the way that the product is produced and delivered, may be a more viable alternative for developing countries. Most developing have the basic raw materials resources for tourism industry. Using the countrys heritage, architecture , the natural and cultural resources makes a destination unique and marketable to visitors. Accessing tourism is a good choice for the development of economics and requires more than simply understand the projected growth. Tourism requires many other reasons to make a suitable fit for developing countries. Unlike agriculture and manufacturing industries, tourism produces an invisible export. Tourism also allows countries to manipulate exchange rates to influence visitor expenditures. For instance, the destination can lower the exchange rates in order to attract more number of visitors. Tourism affect directly or indirectly to other sectors of economy more than other industry. The strategies to maximize the economic benefits from tourism for developing countries are to bring in more money from visitors and organize tourism to minimize leakage of money and jobs. The statement looks simple but it actually complex due to some reasons. Government and private sector play in establishing policy and encouraging development in developing countries. National policies on tourism in developing countries are usually the domain of the state, whereas in more developed countries, private entrepreneurs often dominate policy formation and enactment (Liu, 1998). In most developing countries, owing to the small size of the private sector and the shortage of funds, the government necessarily takes on the role of entrepreneur (Shurland, 1998). This is usually in response to proposed private foreign investment. Governments in the developing world generally have the responsibility of formulating and enforcing tourism policy, and for many, sustainable tourism goals are central to their tourism plan. This should include, as already stated, increasing the economic impact of tourism to the local economy by reducing the leakage of foreign exchange earnings. As previously mentioned, one of the ways to increase the tourism development is to bring in tourist who spend money in the developing country. As the mass tourism markets is criticized for the negative environmental and social impacts they cause, there is growing attention to those with higher household income expecting that they will spend more money during their visit. Although this sounds logical, the strategy has its critics (Mill Morrison, 1999). Although it is not clear, visitors with high incomes may spend more but they may also require substantial investment in infrastructure and facilities with high import content.

Wal-Mart: Good for American Cities and Towns Essay -- Business Analysi

Wal-Mart has been a staple of America since July 2, 1962, when Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City store. Within a few years, Wal-Mart Discount City stores began to spread across the country. In 1968, it opened its first stores outside Arkansas, in Sikeston, Missouri and Claremore, Oklahoma. Sam Walton found success in offering consumers options and variety. Since that first store opened, Wal-Mart has now entered the grocery business and now the company controls about 20% of the retail grocery and consumables business. This says a lot about a man who began his retail career after working just 18 months at J.C Penny. Sam Walton found success early on with offering variety, and options when no one else was. Consumers want more for their dollar and Wal-Mart has centered their focus on this idea, and has not apologized for that fact. In fact, Wal-Mart’s sole existence relies on the consumers search for the lowest priced goods. Wal-Mart has transferred itself from a simple variety store into Wal-Mart Supercenter and has other chains which include Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market and Sam’s Club. Wal-Mart Inc. has found a way to offer options to the consumer not classically offered in grocery. By offering options such as an optical center, one-hour photo processing lab, Tire & Lube Express, and even in some cases hair and nail salons, pet shops, and pharmacies, Wal-Mart has taken steps to break the mold and offer consumers options that other stores cannot and has done a good job at that. With these types of options you could be in a Wal-Mart Superstore for hours and complete all of your afternoon shopping. This idea isn’t lost on Wal-Mart Inc., now offering the ability to get a money order from the ATM shows also why Wa... ...s prices gasoline cheaper then local competitors. Wal-Mart also has donated more than $1.5 million national BackPack Program, The Nation’s Food Bank Network will deliver backpacks filled with nutritious, protein-rich food to school children in need. With the money raised thousands of backpacks filled with much needed food for school children to take home. It has helped to rasie funds and build awarness it the problem of hunger, with a â€Å"Be A Part Of The Solution To End Hunger† campaign. Wal-Mart Inc has done a great job at bringing together what is local to the area and what isn’t and bringing to many small towns. So when a Wal-Mart stands up, it isn’t just Wal-Mart Inc who benefit, but the community. REFERENCES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wal-Mart http://walmartwatch.com/ www.walmartfacts.com/ http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Financial problem in a country or organization of your choice Essay

Discuss the causes of a financial problem in a country or organization of your choice and suggest some solutions. Specify the problem and the City/Country and relate to a particular study. Zimbabwe is an agricultural based economy previously known as the ‘bread-basket’ of Southern Africa. In the past decade, the country experienced a drastic economic disintegration due to wide range of factors including: unconstitutional land redistribution, health, decline in foreign investment and hyperinflation. The Zimbabwean economy is strongly intertwined with politics; therefore the political instability subsequently offset the economy. In 2000, the government embarked on ‘the land reform programme’ which removed white commercial farmers from arable lands so that it could be redistributed among black farmers. The experienced farmers were replaced by mostly black subsistence ones, with no farming knowledge, equipment and capital and therefore could not produce at a com mercial scale. There was no agricultural export, meaning there was a loss of foreign currency being injected into the economy on a regular basis. This marked the beginning of economic downfall. Richardson (2004:307). The failure of the agricultural sector which is the backbone of the economy led to the economic crisis. This meant that the government could not generate enough revenue to sustain its infrastructures such as the health sector. Health conditions are directly related to the poor economy. Sick workers were not able to work as much or as productively as healthy ones. Labour markets were less efficient and the market was not able to produce as much. Consequently, the economy produced far less per-worker than a similar healthy economy. This was evident in Zimbabwe by the low participation rate that at just over 35 %, as opposed to 51.08 % in the U.S. or 51.97 % in Japan. Richardson (2004:289). Another contributing factor was that foreign investors also fled, due to insecurities and the government policies dictating that 51% ownership of their businesses should be locally owned. Foreign direct investment fell to zero by 2001, and the  World Bank’s risk premium on investment in Zimbabwe shot up from 4 % to 20 % that year as well. Hill (2003: 109). Furthermore, the Zimbabwean economy was brought down by the illegal sanctions (an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with it. Merriam-Webster dictionary 2012:198) imposed by the American and European superpowers. This meant that no trade was to be done with Zimbabwe. There was a sudden death of foreign currency and investment influx to the country. The U.S. and Britain have partially withheld financial support for Zimbabwe and there would be no access to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) because they could not pay their debt and the prevailing hyperinflationary conditions. Hill (2003: 102). The causes of Zimbabwe’s financial problem can be mitigated by first achieving a ‘political breakthrough’ that will depoliticize the economy. Then, land should be re-redistributed among experienced commercial farmers and train the less experienced ones to ensure a more sustainable output. There must also be a liberalisation of foreign investment regulations to attract the foreign investors. In conclusion, these suggested solutions will help to rebuild the economy and restore Zimbabwe as the bread basket of Southern Africa. References: Richardson, C,J. 2004. The Collapse of Zimbabwe in the Wake of the 2000–2003 Land Reforms. New York: Edwin Mellen Hill, G. 2003. The Battle for Zimbabwe. Cape Town: Zebra

The Bahai Faith

Religions beliefs shape peoples characters and influence their interpersonal relationships. The Bahai faith is one of today’s many religions that is attracting people from all nations. To date it has attracted over 5 million followers . The name Bahai is derived from the Arabic word Baha which means ‘glory’. â€Å"The Bahai Faith has its roots way back in the 19th century in Persia when Baha ‘u' llah; who is considered the founder of the faith, wrote books that based the foundations of the faith. † Bahai therefore emphasizes on spirituality for all human beings.The religion is mainly a draws its principles from the major religions in the world like Christianity, Islam, Jewish, Buddhism and Hindu. Basic Beliefs of the faith In this religion, there are no clergy people as because they believe that God is in control of everything and no individual can have power over other people. â€Å"Therefore, the duty to develop human resources, attract more people to the faith and to coordinate activities of the religion by ensuring that everything is in order among other spiritually building activities falls on the spiritual assembly.† These are individuals who have been elected by the followers to serve others and offer guidance on the Bahai principles. Thus, these institutions are run according to the Bahai texts. Spiritual assemblies therefore exist at the local as well as national levels. Every adult is considered as a spiritual leader as they can instill positive values to other members of the community by interacting with them. Oneness of all religions The foundation of all religions in the world are based on the same fundamental principles such as love, serving each other, believe in one God among other things.This shows that they are one when looked from a different point of view and it is this idea and principle the Bahai is all about. â€Å"Human thinking and certain superstitions have clouded they way they relate with othe rs and this has contributed to the divisions in society and the decay of civilization. † Therefore the ideal spirituality is founded in harmonizing the various beliefs which are founded in both religion and science in one unified religion. â€Å"The Bahai faith has therefore incorporated the Western as well as the Eastern traditions in its teachings and laws.† The Bahai followers do not have a standard way of enrolling people to the movement. This is because they are made up of people from various denominations and sects who seek to fid fulfillment in a religion that gives them the peace and love that they cannot get from other places. Science and Religion Science and certain religions have always contradicted themselves in a number of issues. This is mostly seen where it is believed that God created human beings while science on the other hand states that human beings evolved.The Bahai faith says that real science as well as religion is not supposed to contradict each other and that the two depend on each other. If people concentrate on one aspect and disregard the others, they will lack certain important elements which can contribute to negative behavior. This is because each enhances in explaining why, when and how certain things occur. The Bahai scholars say that if there are any cases of conflict, then it is because of human miscalculations as everything on earth is supposed to be in unison.By understanding how things happen, people become more knowledgeable and this goes to show the importance of the harmony between science and religion. Adherents to the Bahai teachings believe in making the world a better place to live in hence the Bahai Religious movement tries to link people of all backgrounds which include the different religions plus races so as to enhance international understanding. They believe in one God who is the creator of everything that is on earth and who communicates with his people through messengers.They refer to him as bei ng all powerful and for this reason, no one on this earth who can be likened to him or take his place. God therefore serves as an example of good deeds that other human beings can emulate. The followers therefore have to continually learn to love and serve him by praying and meditating. Prayer is important and it is very important and that is why the believers especially those aged 15- 70 years have to offer obligatory prayers.These prayers are conducted individually as group prayers are not allowed unless those ones read from writings. Fasting is encouraged mainly follows the Islamic way and takes place in the month of March for a period of two weeks. During this time, people pray for their welfare as well as those of others. Human beings are the central and most unique creations of God. â€Å"They are therefore supposed to live as live holy and pleasing lives in the eyes of the most high as this connected them.† Bahai followers therefore believe that if a person dies, they can either go to heaven or hell depending on how they lived their lives where they can either be closer or further to God spiritually. Equality of all persons is one thing that the Bahai tenets stress on. By being equal, it means that both men and women are treated equally and children of all backgrounds have access to proper education. To achieve this, they try to eradicate all forms of injustice in society by embracing cultural diversity and treating all persons equally as more can be learnt from other people who have different belief systems.â€Å"People are also not supposed to discriminate others on the basis of their status of wealth or nationalism as this divisions are the ones that give rise to hate which gives rise to tensions and as they build it leads to people engaging in inhuman acts that are very wrong according to the law and not pleasing to God. † The Bahai faith draws examples that are used by central figures in other religions. Though they borrow most thing s from other religions, they have their own laws as well as scriptures that make the religion unique.Religious history is expressed in a series of manifestations where lessons are drawn from various experiences that people face. This religious movement is continual and is believed to be never ending. Teachings The Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book) is the spiritual book which was written by Baha ‘u' llah lays the foundation and laws that the followers of the religion are guided by. â€Å"It also deals with prophesies, how institutions and people should relate with each other and how it can be used to aid in passing of sentences in the judicial law systems.† The laws have also set rules for acceptable standards in the society. Since there are a lot of evils in society related to using drugs and alcohol, the Bahai religious movement prohibit the use of illegal substances mainly drugs and drinking alcohol. If a person is found to have engaged in arson, according to Bahai t eachings, when they are accorded the death penalty, they will be burnt. Offenses such as murder are punishable by law and a person found to have committed is either sentenced to death or life imprisonment.From this we can see that they involve the judicial systems in place in bringing justice to society. Religion and deeds Like all religions, offering back to the community is a good gesture as it enables the community to fund its projects, operate efficiently and also help the disadvantaged in the society. Bahai’s are expected to give back to the community no matter how much they have as that is between them and their God on top of this, they are also supposed to make a contribution of 19% of their income according to the law to serve the same purpose.Financial contributions made by non-Bahai believers however are never accepted. Before the religion came to being, little was said about peace. Leaders in today’s society are however recognizing that without religious und erstandings, it is difficult to change people’s perceptions and this is what is giving rise to the evils in today’s society. Women Most women have found solace in this religion as it passes the various ideals that they would like to see in the world. This is because both the men and the women are treated equally.Bahais believe that by eradicating past beliefs which are discriminatory and ignorant, they are able to enhance the progress of various individuals. This is rooted from the fact that both genders receive equal education therefore they can choose the careers that are suitable to them. In return, they are acceptable in the job market for ant position because they are qualified. This has enabled women to take up professions in careers that were considered to be predominantly the strong holds of men for example being political leaders, being part of the top managers in various organizations and even becoming police chiefs.Family and marriage Family and marriage are considered to be sacred in the Bahai faith. The acceptable age of getting married is 15 years if the participants are willing because no one is supposed to be married off by force. Marriage is only supposed to happen between a man and a woman. Therefore, same sex marriages or relationships are therefore forbidden. Marriage is not restricted to certain religions or races as people are free to marry whoever they love and would like to spend the rest of their lives with.When people get married, the husband to be is supposed to pay dowry which will be dependant on his and also his family’s financial status. The Kitab-i-Aqdas, allows a man to marry two wives as long as no one is favored over the other. This has however been interpreted to mean that monogamy was the principle that was being emphasized on. Adultery and fornication is not allowed. People who have been discovered to have engaged in this act will be required to pay a fine at their local spiritual assembly.â€Å"Divor ce is discouraged in the Bahai faith but when two people cannot get along or an unjust act has been committed, they are allowed to divorce but this will be made legal after a year when the couple has not been able to reconcile. † Parents are supposed to nurture their children in proper manner as well as ensure that their children are well educated. In case the family is restrained by finance, the daughter over the son in the family will be allowed to go to school. This is because the girl in future will be the first one to ensure that her children are educated.â€Å"Women are the first mothers and are teachers of their children from the time they are born, it is therefore necessary that they are educated than the men. † For the next of kin to be able to inherit anything a will has to be written. Exceptions however, can be allowed when a person dies without having written one. The deceased property is then distributed equally among the heirs and where they cannot be iden tified, it will be taken to the local spiritual assembly. Enhancing Global PeaceThe world is changing and things such as transportation, communication, industrialization and the independence of people as well as countries have radically changed people’s lives. â€Å"Moreover, they have made countries dependant on each other for various basic goods, essential commodities such as oil, expertise through skilled personnel and incorporation of information and technology to enable countries industrialize. † As different people interact, there are bound to be conflicts whish require a proper mechanism for solving disputes.Bahaism therefore, tries to ensure that there are proper avenues for nations to solve their problems so as to reduce the cases of war which has subjected nations to poverty. The Bahai religious movement therefore ensures that global unity is enhanced by emphasizing on loving fellow neighbors. In addition the teachings say that real inner peace cannot come un less people decide to treat others as they would like to be treated if they were in similar positions.Moreover, they have developed international reforms and institutions that can enhance their goals and objectives so as to put and end to war, eradicate immoral intentions and create a system of corporation among nations. Conclusion Bahai faith has defined various laws and policies that seek to address most of the problems that are faced in the world today and have addressed every issue be it social , economical, environmental among other things. It is therefore a religion that is focused on enhancing global unity and peace which the world is in need of to curb the various problems and issues that are emerging.Bahai faith has therefore revolutionalized religions by enhancing individual and community transformation. Works cited Bahai International Community. The Bahai’s http://www. bahai. org/faq/facts/bahai_faith Oxtoby W. G. World Religions: Western Traditions. Oxford Univers ity Press, 1996 chapter six: Pg. 479-485 Remey C. Mason. The Bahai Revelation and Reconstruction, Read books, 2008 Ridell Deb. From Heart to Heart -Baha'i Religion Fosters gift of Family Unity. (Religion) Guard November 11, 2006 http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1G1-154722593. html

Poem convey their thoughts and feelings Essays

Poem convey their thoughts and feelings Essays Poem convey their thoughts and feelings Paper Poem convey their thoughts and feelings Paper We have been studying two poems from two different cultures, they are Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan and Search for my tongue. Both poems explore and explain the fact of coping with two unlike cultures.  We will be looking at how each poet conveys their thoughts and feelings about their culture through their poems. We will also explore the way the poets explore their roots. Our group will also attempt to look at the following points in the poems: the similarities and differences in the poems, the structural and presentational devices used and the poets use of language. Both poets show through their poems how problematic it can be to be from a different culture and live in a peculiar environment. In Sujata Bhatts poem, Search for my tongue she explains to the audience what it is like to speak and think in two languages and this leads her to losing her mother tongue whereas in Moniza Alvis poem, Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan she shows the audience how having parents from two dissimilar cultures can make life very confusing. But together the poems give a sense of incongruity and a feeling that you dont belong here. The poems also show your original culture is always there, and that it isnt completely lost, for example in Search for my tongue the poet is confident that the mother tongue is still with her and in Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan the poet shows your original culture can never be forgotten. The character in Moniza Alvis poem is shown as a person of no fixed nationality and someone who lives in two worlds, whereas Sujata Bhatt shows someone of a fixed nationality who has two tongues. On the other hand both poems talk about their cultural and personal identity. The poets use a wide variety of presentational and structural devices along with the interesting use of language to give us an idea of the difficulties and the problems they have by being bi-lingual and/or mixed race. Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan is written in loosely arranged in free verse using the line length for its emphasis on the fact that her culture hurts her and the stanzas in the poem have ranging lengths. The phrases are loosely arranged around elements that relate to the poets own experience and life or in other words autobiographical elements. This therefore leads us to suggest and associate images with the use of phrases and loose structure of the sentences. It is also a sequence of personal memories and the word I is repeated quite a lot this shows that the poet is recalling her memories. In contrast Sujata Bhatt has structured Search for my tongue into three sections which all show different ideas and images. The first section is up to line 16 where she talks about how hard it is for her to know two languages and neglect the one she feels that most belongs to her. The second section is from line 17 to 30 where she explains her ideas in her mother tongue which comes back to her in a dream, and the last section is from line 31 onwards where she translates her thoughts into English, where she shows her mother tongue dying during the day and coming back in her dreams. She also uses an extended metaphor of the tongue being a plant where she says in lines 31 to 35, It grows back, a stump of a shoot grows longer, grows moist, grows strong veins, it ties the other tongue in knots, the bud opens, the bud opens in my mouth, it pushes the other tongue aside. The repetition of the words rows and bud creates an exciting atmosphere, plus the use of the word grows three times in one line builds up speed and an anticipating atmosphere, making the reader think of what will happen next. The whole metaphor suggests that the tongue had rotted away but now it is growing back swiftly. The new tongue that grows at night is so strong that it overpowers the other tongue and ties the other tongue in knots and pushes it aside. The last line of the poem where it says, it blossoms out of my mouth shows that the mother tongue emerges as strong as ever and functions much better than the second language. In Moniza Alvis poem a lot of images are used to illustrate her feelings about her culture. She shows that her culture hurts her when she writes, glass bangles snapped, drew blood. She also seems to depict being from two cultures as going on a voyage from Pakistan to England, which the poet vaguely recalls. This shows her moving from one kind of life to another. The comparison between the western and Asian style of fashion shows the poets discomfort with her traditions and culture. The poet describes her traditional clothes as exotic and beautiful items but then she prefers the traditional western clothing than the traditional clothes because they made her feel out of place and different from everyone else at school or work, this can be seen when she says, My salwar kameez didnt impress the school friend. When we remember our past in our minds we drift from one image to another, the same happens with this poem, it sometimes happens with unusual things like a tin boat.  The other poem Search for my tongue also uses images to convey its point about the fact of having to speak two languages for example the extended metaphor can also be considered as an image showing the mother tongue growing stronger. But this poem also uses other language devices to help forward her point about her culture for instance she uses enjambment in her poem which means not that lines of poetry are not stopped at the end. This also builds up an atmosphere of anticipation and eagerness to know the outcome, like the use of grow three times in a line. Sujata Bhatt writes in first person and this can be seen when she starts the poem, where the speaker addresses you. This demonstrates that there is a conversation going on, as you have just asked a question to the poet. Where as Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan is written in first person, this can be seen when she starts her poem with I and also uses My. She is writing her own personal account of her experiences.

Convergent boundary Essay Example

Convergent boundary Essay Example Convergent boundary Paper Convergent boundary Paper Describe the major topographic relief elements on the solid surface of the earth and briefly explain their deposition in relation to the plate tectonics concept. Have you ever wondered where mountains come from, why there is a sea floor, island arcs or even volcano and what plate tectonic have to do with this? Well worry no more as all your question on the earths surfaced topographic relief elements and plate tectonics are about to be answered. The first question that might come to mind is what is a relief? A relief is a land form that is naturally developed or created on the earths surface, and the study of hose land forms is called topography as such the term topographic relief is just land forms that are studied. These landforms are able to be studied through theories that were originated by pioneers such as Alfred Wagoner, Harry Hess, J. Outs Wilson and many others, theses men all contributed to plate tectonics; which is the study of the plates that makeup the lithosphere, their movements and how these movements has influenced changes in the surfaces topography (Stealer, 2011 , 389). These plates either sink in to the mantle creating subsection zones which occurs at convergent plate margins r move away from each other causing magma to rise and spread this occurs at divergent plate margins. These plate margins create various relief elements such as volcanoes, Fold Mountains, sea floors and many others. How they do this is not a mystery as at convergent plate margins its the rising of magma that creates volcanoes. Convergent plate margin consist or two plates oceanic and continental The topographic elements that are formed here are due to three occurrence, oceanic-oceanic plates colliding, continental oceanic plates and continental-continental plates colliding (Mueller, 2005, 140). When a continental and an oceanic plate meet a major topographic feature that will form is a volcano, this is an upward mountain that usually have an opening (vent) through which magma or gas flows. And yes plate tectonics concept explains this. The concept of plate tectonics is that the divided crust which is called plates move and due to the movement of a continentals of this are Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Peel in Martinique. Where two of the same plates meet in this case oceanic-oceanic the denser of the two will sink and is stead Of a single volcano form a curved volcano mountain island chained is formed above the sub-ducted plate and example of this can be seen through the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean and Aleutian Peninsula of Alaska these are topographic element that are too created by the concept of plate tectonics. The last but not the least is the collision of a continental-continental plates, none of these plates sing as such constant movement causes them to collide or slide over each other in anyway the same land form is formed. It is here that the highest mountains in the world grow as at this collision solid rock is crumpled and faulted. Huge slivers of rock, many kilometers wide are thrust on top of one another like a fold, forming a towering mountain range. The pressure here is so great that an enormous piece of Asia is being wedged sideways; slipping out of the way like a watermelon seed squeezed between your fingers an excellent example of this is Himalayan Mountain Range in Asia. These topographic elements arent the only ones in existence as divergent plate margins also contributes to major topographic relief. Divergent plate boundaries are where two plates are moving apart from one another (Ritter, 2012)usually oceanic-oceanic . The topographic features that develop at this boundary are due to extension of the plate boundaries which causes rifting in continental and oceanic crusts Stealer, 201 1, 419). This extension is caused by rising convectional currents from the stratosphere, as they rise and approach the surface, convection currents diverge at the base of the lithosphere. The diverging currents exert a weak tension or pull on the solid plate above it. Tension and high heat flow weakens the floating, solid plate, causing it to break apart (see figure 2). The two sides of the now split plate then move away from each other, forming a divergent plate boundary. The space between these diverging plates is filled with molten rocks (magma) from below. Contact with seawater cools the gamma, which quickly solidifies, forming new oceanic lithosphere. The continuity of this process builds a chain of submarine volcanoes and rift valleys called a mid ocean ridge or an oceanic spreading ridge. Examples of this can be seen where the Eurasian plate and the North American plate are moving away from each other to form the mid Atlantic ridge located in the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland. In concluding topographic features on the earth surface are formed through the concept of plate tectonics which is the study Of the plates that makeup the lithosphere, their movements and how these movements has influenced hanged in the surfaces topography (Stealer, 2011 , 389). The movements of these plates form convergent plate boundary and divergent plate boundary and at each of these boundaries a different topographic relief id formed. At divergent the separation of oceanic plates forms oceanic ridges and at the convergent volcanoes, Fold Mountains, mountains and island arcs are formed. Features observed at these margins share some similarities but, also vary quite largely. These differences are caused by the different movements displayed at each boundary and the types of plates involved; oceanic or continental.

Biography of Benjamin Banneker, Author and Naturalist

Biography of Benjamin Banneker, Author and Naturalist Benjamin Banneker (November 9, 1731–October 9, 1806) was a self-educated scientist, astronomer, inventor, writer, and antislavery publicist. He built a striking clock entirely from wood, published a farmers almanac, and actively campaigned against slavery. He was one of the first African Americans to gain distinction for achievements in science. Fast Facts: Benjamin Banneker Known For: Banneker was a writer, inventor, and naturalist who published a series of farmers almanacs in the late 1700s.Born: November 9, 1731 in Baltimore County, MarylandParents: Robert and Mary BannekyDied: October 9, 1806 in Oella, MarylandPublished Works: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Almanack and Ephemeris, for the Year of our Lord, 1792Notable Quote: â€Å"The color of the skin is in no way connected with strength of the mind or intellectual powers.† Early Life Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland. Although he was born a free man, he was the descendant of slaves. At that time, the law dictated that if your mother was a slave then you were a slave, and if she was a free woman then you were a free person. Bannekers grandmother Molly Walsh was a bi-racial English immigrant and an indentured servant who married an African slave named Banna Ka, who had been brought to the Colonies by a slave trader. Molly had served seven years as an indentured servant before she acquired and worked on her own small farm. Molly Walsh purchased her future husband Banna Ka and another African to work on her farm. The name Banna Ka was later changed to Bannaky and then changed to Banneker. Benjamins mother Mary Banneker was born free. Benjamins father Rodger was a former slave who had bought his own freedom before marrying Mary. Education Banneker was educated by Quakers, but most of his education was self-taught. He quickly revealed to the world his inventive nature and first achieved national acclaim for his scientific work in the 1791 survey of the Federal Territory (now Washington, D.C.). In 1753, he built one of the first watches made in America, a wooden pocket watch. Twenty years later, Banneker began making astronomical calculations that enabled him to successfully forecast a 1789 solar eclipse. His estimate, made well in advance of the celestial event, contradicted predictions of better-known mathematicians and astronomers. Bannekers mechanical and mathematical abilities impressed many, including Thomas Jefferson, who encountered Banneker after George Elliot had recommended him for the surveying team that laid out Washington, D.C. Almanacs Banneker is best known for his six annual farmers almanacs, which he published between 1792 and 1797. In his free time, Banneker began compiling the Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac and Ephemeris. The almanacs included information on medicines and medical treatment and listed tides, astronomical information, and eclipses, all calculated by Banneker himself. Many historians believe that the first printed almanac dates to 1457 and was printed by Gutenberg in Mentz, Germany. Benjamin Franklin published his Poor Richards Almanacs in America from 1732 to 1758. Franklin used the assumed name of Richard Saunders and wrote witty maxims in his almanacs such as Light purse, heavy heart and Hunger never saw bad bread. Bannekers almanacs, though they appeared later, were more focused on delivering accurate information than on communicating Bannekers personal views. Letter to Thomas Jefferson On August 19, 1791, Banneker sent a copy of his first almanac to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. In an enclosed letter, he questioned the slaveholders sincerity as a friend to liberty. He urged Jefferson to help get rid of absurd and false ideas that one race is superior to another. Banneker wished Jeffersons sentiments to be the same as his, that one Universal Father...afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties. Jefferson responded with praise for Bannekers accomplishments: I thank you sincerely for your letter of the 19th and for the Almanac it contained. No body wishes more than I do to see such proofs as you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren, talents equal to those of the other colours of men, that the appearance of a want of them is owing merely to the degraded condition of their existence both in Africa America...I have taken the liberty of sending your almanac to Monsieur de Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of sciences at Paris, and member of the Philanthropic society because I considered it as a document to which your whole colour had a right for their justification against the doubts which have been entertained of them. Jefferson later sent a letter to the Marquis de Condorcet informing him about Banneker- a very respectable mathematician- and his work with Andrew Ellicott, the surveyor who marked the boundaries of the Territory of Columbia (later the District of Columbia). Death Declining almanac sales eventually forced Banneker to give up his work. He died at home on October 9, 1806, at the age of 74. Banneker was buried at Mount Gilboa  African Methodist Episcopal Church  in  Oella, Maryland. Legacy Bannekers life became the source of legend after his death, with many attributing certain accomplishments to him for which there is little or no evidence in the historical record. His inventions and almanacs inspired later generations, and in 1980 the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor as part of the Black Heritage series. In 1996, a number of Bannekers personal belongings were auctioned, and some of them were later loaned to the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum. Some of Bannekers personal manuscripts, including the only journal  that survived the 1806 fire that destroyed his home, are in the possession of the Maryland Historical Society. Sources Cerami, Charles A.  Benjamin Banneker Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot. John Wiley, 2002.Miller, John Chester.  The Wolf by the Ears: Thomas Jefferson and Slavery. University Press of Virginia, 1995.Weatherly, Myra.  Benjamin Banneker: American Scientific Pioneer. Compass Point Books, 2006.

HRM Book Summery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HRM Book Summery - Essay Example logy-driven, fast changing business world where every corporation must compete for skilled talent, be able to influence its employees to provide the best products, be able to train and provide educational programs and be able to control and monitor personnel costs to maintain cost competitiveness Job analysis methods produce acceptable to high levels of reliability. Particularly high levels of liability can be demonstrated for methods that rely on structured questionnaires such as worker-oriented questionnaires, job inventories, or checklists Competence is a standardized requirement for an individual to properly perform a specific job. It encompasses a combination of knowledge, skills and behavior utilized to improve performance. More generally, competence is the state or quality of being adequately or well qualified, having the ability to perform a specific role. When it comes to executive incentives, human beings are both finite and creative; that means that the people offering incentives are often unable to predict all of the ways that people will respond to

Training & Talent Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Training & Talent Management - Essay Example I therefore appreciate the fact that Training and Talent Management has a significant impact on employees (managers, sales staff, customer service, etc.) (Treen, 2000). I suggests that it is important for the HR departments in organizations to ascertain that the employees at all levels including the managers, sales staff, customer service, etc are given equal chances to gain a clear insight of their expected roles and duties which will facilitate meeting the core values as well as purposes of the organization. This realization has enabled me as an aspiring manager to value the importance of Training and Talent Management in relation to the set goals of organization (Treen, 2000). Prior to this new knowledge I would have treated the process of recruitment of employees superficially. For instance, I would have employed the traditional method of placing an advert for job vacancies in the local dailies then asking for written applications based on purely academic qualifications as reflected on the curriculum vitae. I would also have â€Å"canvassed† from within the existing employees based on my â€Å"cronies† as a way of ‘buying royalty’. I would also have involved a hastily constituted panel to conduct â€Å"interviews† whose outcomes would have been premeditated. From the foregoing, it can be understood that I would not have been able to match talent equal to the task which is the core of Training and Talent Management. This topic on Training and Talent Management has acted as an eye opener. I now realize that the objective of Training and Talent Management is facilitating for efficient accomplishment of the responsibilities of the employees to the anticipated standards. Effectiveness of Training and Talent Management programs should be gauged by the perceived results which are reflected in the level of performance of the employees (Treen, 2000).

Monetary Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Monetary Economics - Essay Example When the Fed lowers rates then we expect an increase in borrowing, when rates are reduced there is an expectation that inflation will rise, therefore inflation will increase when the rates are reduced. When the Fed lowers rates then we expect an increase in borrowing, an increase in borrowing means that there will be an increase in spending which will lead to an increase in output. An increase in output means that the economy will grow. When the Fed lowers interest rates this may result into an increase in money supply, n increase in money supply in the economy means that there will be a rise in expected inflation rate and therefore inflation rates are expected to increase. Calculation of future spot rate is complicated in that we assume that the 3rd year rate is equal to the five year rate, in the last calculation we consider two years which is the second and third year rate and also assume that the third year rate is equal to 2.04, the values provided are an estimate of what is expected by investors and this is because of uncertainties in future. The yield curve is a curve that depicts the yield or the cost of borrowing over time, the yield curve is an upward sloping curve and this means that if an investor invests his funds for a duration of t years then the yield will be a function of time, this means that the more the investor invests in terms of years then the higher is the yield. Prevailing interest rates which is the cost of borrowing will determine the position of the yield curve, in our case the chart shows that the yield curve has shifted downwards compared to the

The affect of the healthcare reform on for-profit vs. non-profit Research Paper

The affect of the healthcare reform on for-profit vs. non-profit hospitals - Research Paper Example Health insurance and public health have been in the front line in this kind of debates as well as to what extent should the state offer assistance. Provision of healthcare is a task that encompasses provision of various healthcare services, relevant equipments to hospitals, pharmaceutical products, life sciences funding and funding in biotechnology. The activities that relate to healthcare and the centers where this is carried out include the hospitals, nursing and elderly homes, those involved in provision of healthcare plans, provision of laboratory services, drug manufacturing and delivery, diagnostic substances and biotechnology itself. Therefore, this is a line that required care to handle in the case of governments as it is a resource intensive sector. This also shows how the introduction as well as implementation of reforms can be quite a task as the stakeholders involved are many resulting to many and divergent views (Woolhandler 1997). This is what characterized the healthcare reforms bill that Obama administration brought forth. Healthcare reforms in a broader sense aim at placing more people under the health care bracket with the intervention of the government (public sector) and the private companies which offer health insurance (Congressional Budget Office 2010). The other aim is to increase the accessibility of health services and health specialists while at the same time ensuring quality improvement in regards to health care and at a relatively lower cost. The reforms also should focus on increasing the number of the providers of health care among which consumers will choose. In the United States in particular issues of healthcare reforms mostly relate to the sustainability of programs adopted, government spending on these reforms, the right to heath care, the fairness to the various people in the society, quality of the health care provided and

Research methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research methods - Assignment Example One of the major sources that can lead to invalidity and unreliability in a research is the bias of the researcher (Baumgarten 2012). Biases in research are mainly categorized into selection bias, measurement bias, and analysis bias (CEMÂ  - Research -Â  Bias & Confounding n.d.). The present study focuses on learning about the different types on bias in research studies with specific examples for each of the types. Bias and Types of Bias in Research Studies: Bias is said to have occurred in a research when the outcomes of the research are different from the actual results. For example, if a research is focused on determining the risk of a disease and the results of the research reflect consistent overestimation of the risks, then the study can be said to have been based on bias. Design of a research is largely responsible for a bias and bias in general presents error in the same direction for a repeated number of the experiments for a particular research sample and work (World Heal th Organization 2001). Thus biases need to be reduced in order to produce a reliable and valid research. Types of Bias with Examples: Selection Bias: Selection bias is defined as the bias when some participants are favored and selected over others while sampling is conducted and the research outcomes are based on experiments conducted on such samples, thereby affecting the external validity of the research (Gravetter and Forzano 2010). It is also referred to as sampling bias. As a result of such bias, the outcome of the research reflects a systematic difference between those subjects that are included and those that are not. Thus either the results are underestimated or overestimated in terms of their statistics, rates, and ratios (Peat, Mellis and Williams 2002). This means that the study cannot be considered as reliable for use. Moreover, with different outcomes than the actual results, the validity of the research also gets reduced. An example of selection bias in research is a c omparison of patients in one hospital where a new wound dressing method is applied on them, with patients of another hospital who are offered the standard method of treatment. In such a case the possibility of selection bias is significantly high since different patients in different hospitals differ in their social and biological characteristics. Thus such a research is exposed to selection bias (Stommel and Wills 2004). Allocation bias is a type of selection bias that occurs when there is a difference in the characteristics of the different samples put in different trial groups of a particular research experiment, and has significant influence on the outcomes of the research (Peat, Mellis and Williams 2002). Measurement Bias: Measurement bias is defined as the bias that occurs when biases or errors occur in the process of measurement and calculations of the data based on which the results are obtained. Such biases can result from erroneous tools of measurement, errors in calculati ons, errors while measurements are recorded, participant bias, recall bias, and so on (Howlett, Rogo and Shelton 2013). For example, if dietary recalls are considered for a 24 hours time period, then measurement biases can occur with the methods of the interview, the assumptions of coding, or

Computer, Programming,signal Processing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Computer, Programming,signal Processing - Essay Example It is found that various current sources in the human brain are capable to respond against similar EEG. The forward problem and the inverse problem can be diagrammatically represented with the help of source model having current dipole capable to develop neural currents which are always found localized in small regions. The electroencephalogram system consists of some connecting devices which are meant to connect with both the scalp of the individual and personal computer. The process taking place in the brain is reflected over the surface of the scalp. This is the reason why electrodes and connections are provided on the scalp. Then electrode paste is applied on the scalp and after that electrodes are placed on them. The scalp provides information to the small box attached to the computer system and the whole device after processing the information sent back to the user. Numerous neurological wave patterns can be collected with the help of this EEG system. These electrical wave patterns developing inside the brain are reflected at the scalp region. These reflections are passed in to the storage unit of the computer and the electrodes kept on the scalp region send signals of voltage variations to the amplifier. The success of this technology mainly depends on the positioning and developing contact with the electrodes. Due to this reason electrodes of highly conductive materials like gold or silver chloride are normally employed. Actually the discovery of electrical wave pattern from the brain has taken place only hundred years back and this led to the application process of Brain computer Interface. EEG is a special type of communication media between men and machines which is performed by employing the influence of electronic signals on current sources in human brain. The system of communication by means of electronic signals is termed as Brain Computer Interface. This is

Research methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research methods - Assignment Example One of the major sources that can lead to invalidity and unreliability in a research is the bias of the researcher (Baumgarten 2012). Biases in research are mainly categorized into selection bias, measurement bias, and analysis bias (CEMÂ  - Research -Â  Bias & Confounding n.d.). The present study focuses on learning about the different types on bias in research studies with specific examples for each of the types. Bias and Types of Bias in Research Studies: Bias is said to have occurred in a research when the outcomes of the research are different from the actual results. For example, if a research is focused on determining the risk of a disease and the results of the research reflect consistent overestimation of the risks, then the study can be said to have been based on bias. Design of a research is largely responsible for a bias and bias in general presents error in the same direction for a repeated number of the experiments for a particular research sample and work (World Heal th Organization 2001). Thus biases need to be reduced in order to produce a reliable and valid research. Types of Bias with Examples: Selection Bias: Selection bias is defined as the bias when some participants are favored and selected over others while sampling is conducted and the research outcomes are based on experiments conducted on such samples, thereby affecting the external validity of the research (Gravetter and Forzano 2010). It is also referred to as sampling bias. As a result of such bias, the outcome of the research reflects a systematic difference between those subjects that are included and those that are not. Thus either the results are underestimated or overestimated in terms of their statistics, rates, and ratios (Peat, Mellis and Williams 2002). This means that the study cannot be considered as reliable for use. Moreover, with different outcomes than the actual results, the validity of the research also gets reduced. An example of selection bias in research is a c omparison of patients in one hospital where a new wound dressing method is applied on them, with patients of another hospital who are offered the standard method of treatment. In such a case the possibility of selection bias is significantly high since different patients in different hospitals differ in their social and biological characteristics. Thus such a research is exposed to selection bias (Stommel and Wills 2004). Allocation bias is a type of selection bias that occurs when there is a difference in the characteristics of the different samples put in different trial groups of a particular research experiment, and has significant influence on the outcomes of the research (Peat, Mellis and Williams 2002). Measurement Bias: Measurement bias is defined as the bias that occurs when biases or errors occur in the process of measurement and calculations of the data based on which the results are obtained. Such biases can result from erroneous tools of measurement, errors in calculati ons, errors while measurements are recorded, participant bias, recall bias, and so on (Howlett, Rogo and Shelton 2013). For example, if dietary recalls are considered for a 24 hours time period, then measurement biases can occur with the methods of the interview, the assumptions of coding, or

Need for Security Essay Example for Free

Need for Security Essay Security and control is needed in a custodial environment as people are sent there for a reason so if they were allowed to do whatever they want then it wouldn’t be a punishment. An advantage of having control is that the staff will always have authority over the prisoners, which is vital as they must be able to enforce discipline. Another advantage of having control is that they can keep an account of offences that prisoners have committed. This will come in useful if the prisoner has adjudication, it will also come in usual when reviewing the prisoner. Having the IEP scheme in a prison is a good thing as it encourages the prisoners to behave, this will make security and control easier to manage as the prisoners aren’t doing things they shouldn’t be. It will also make prison life for the prisoners more enjoyable, which is an advantage as it’s another reason why they won’t misbehave. Searches are needed in prisons to ensure that prisoners aren’t in possession of any prohibited items, if they do have this then it could lead to potentially dangerous situations. An example of this is if a prisoner has a weapon then they may use this against other prisoners or against staff. It is also important that searches are carried out on visitors of the prison as they will try their hardest to smuggle items in for prisoners. This is an advantage as it prevents prisoners from having things that shouldn’t, having an item like drugs will lead to gangs within the prison and this is something that must be avoided. Another aspect of security which is a big advantage to the prisoners and the officers is the dynamic side of security. Prisoner officers monitor the prisoners to ensure that they are coping with life in prison; if they aren’t coping well at all it could lead to them becoming suicidal. Prisoners could self-harm or even commit suicide if the prison officers aren’t keeping an eye on them. It is the duty of the prison officer to ensure that they look after the prisoners so letting this happen would mean they aren’t carrying out their job efficiently. Having dynamic security is a big advantage as it stops this from happening.

Treatments for Patients with Prostate Cancer

Treatments for Patients with Prostate Cancer EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE CANCER TO ACHIEVE A BIOCHEMICAL RECURRENCE FREE SURVIVAL Mariam O. Akinwale MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS Mentor: Dr. Akintola Odutola Manuscript word count: 4205 HYPOTHESIS: In the treatment of aggressive and metastatic prostate cancer, patients who undergo radical prostatectomy with additional radiation therapy and/or hormonal therapy have less recurrence rate in comparison to those who receive radical prostatectomy alone due to its additive curative effect. ABSTRACT (word count: 275) Hypothesis: In the treatment of aggressive and metastatic prostate cancer, patients who undergo radical prostatectomy with additional radiation therapy and/or hormonal therapy have less recurrence rate in comparison to those who receive radical prostatectomy alone due to its additive curative effect. Method: The articles reviewed in this studies were obtained from PubMed. The database search combined terms from three themes: men above the age of 50, radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy or hormonal therapy and prostate cancer remission. This search yielded 72 articles after inclusion criteria were considered. A total of 32 articles were used for final review after excluding 40 articles that did not compare management options for treatment of prostate cancer. Result: Better life-expectancy have been indicated in patient treated with radiotherapy with hormonal therapy compared to patient treated with radical prostatectomy only. However, radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy with hormonal therapy are far more efficient compared to radiotherapy with hormonal therapy. The use of hormonal therapy for treatment of prostate cancer has always been frowned at because of its life-threating side effects but its patient-survival rate supersedes that of radical prostatectomy as a monotherapy. Conclusion: Combination therapy of radical prostatectomy with radiotherapy and hormonal therapy for treatment of patients with either benign or metastatic prostate cancer have a longer life-expectancy than radiotherapy with hormonal therapy, while patients treated with radiotherapy and hormonal therapy have a longer life-expectancy than those with radical prostatectomy with radiotherapy even after considering the side effects of hormonal therapy. Screening tests may help with early detection of biochemical recurrence and also prevent overtreatment with radiotherapy and/or hormonal therapy after radical prostatectomy. Keywords: radical prostatectomy, adjuvant radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biochemical recurrence, prostates cancer INTRODUCTION Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second commonest cancer in males above age 60. African- Americans have the highest prevalence in the US. Risk factors include diets high in beef and milk. Two hundred and thirty-three thousand new cases are diagnosed yearly with 29,480 mortality reported in 2014. (American Cancer Society, 2014) Given these statistics, it is very important to diagnose and treat PC early in order to reduce the risk of high mortality. Several treatments options are available in the management of PCa. Low- risk prostate cancer is managed by active surveillance in order to prevent unnecessary exposure to radiation or surgery. Intermediate or high- risk non-metastatic prostate cancer is treated with prostatectomy or radiation therapy (Zietman et al., 2010). Aggressive and metastatic prostate cancers are treated with variable combinations of radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation therapy (RT), chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hormonal therapy (HT) and bisphosphates. These combination therapeutic options address the tendency of aggressive PCa to metastasize to neighbouring structures/organs. This study is designed to evaluate a specific combination of treatment option in the management of aggressive and metastatic PCa. It is hypothesized that patients with aggressive PCa who undergo radical prostatectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy have less recurrence rate compared to those who receive radical prostatectomy alone due to its additive curative effect (Thompson et al., 2013). This study is significant because evidence suggests that different combination treatments of aggressive PCa are associated with different recurrence rate. The identification of the combination therapy with the lowest recurrence rate and longer life-expectancy is essential in this study. I chose this topic because it is important for family practice physicians to have accurate information to give to their patients regarding best treatment options for aggressive metastatic PCa. METHOD The articles reviewed in this studies were obtained from PubMed. The database search combined terms from four themes: specific population (older men OR men above 50 OR prostate cancer patient OR post prostatectomy patient OR recurrent prostate cancer patient), intervention (prostate cancer adjuvant therapy OR prostate cancer adjuvant radiotherapy OR prostate cancer adjuvant chemotherapy), comparison (radical prostatectomy) and possible outcomes (prostate cancer recurrence OR prostate cancer remission OR prostate cancer curative OR prostate cancer life span OR prostate cancer prognosis OR prostate cancer quality of life). Boolean operators used were OR and AND. OR was used to capture each term within a theme and AND was used to link each theme within parentheses. Filters used were: article types (randomized controlled trial), text availability (free full text), publication dates (5 years), and limited to human. Inclusion criteria Articles that were included in the systematic review of this study had to meet the following criteria: used randomised clinical trials, cohort studies and meta-analysis; prostate cancer population; radical prostatectomy with adjuvant radiotherapy and hormonal therapy as intervention; radical prostatectomy only as comparison; and prostate cancer recurrence, prostate cancer remission, prostate cancer curative, prostate cancer life span, prostate cancer prognosis, prostate cancer quality of life as outcome. Localized and high risk prostate cancer management were included in the study. Exclusion criteria Population of women and men below the age of 50 were excluded. Articles published prior to 2011 and were not written in English language were excluded. Articles that were not free full text were excluded. Articles that did not compare RP+RT+HT with radical prostatectomy only were excluded. RESULTS This search yielded 72 articles after inclusion criteria were considered. A total of 27 articles were used for final review after excluding articles that did not compare management options for treatment of prostate cancer. Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy (RRP) And Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection (PLND) Before we can lay emphasises on other possible treatments to prevent biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP, we have to talk about RRP and PLND. According to one of the studies cited in this systematic review, ten of 11 patients with histologically confirmed lymph node metastasis (LNM) showed a PSA response (Winter et al., 2015). Three of 10 patients with single LNM had a complete biochemical remission (median follow-up 72months, range 31.0-83) (Winter et al., 2015). In five cases with single LNM PSA decreased et al., 2015). All of the additionally removed 30 LNs were completely negative (Winter et al., 2015). Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Radical Prostatectomy (RP), PLND and Hormonal Therapy (HT) The above combination therapies have been reported to be commonly used for the treatment of metastatic PCa to lymph nodes and other neighboring tissues than localized PCa due to its higher efficacy and potency for the treatment of metastatic PCa. The first article I will be talking about under this subtopic had a mean follow-up of 5.3 years and LNM occurred in 140 patients. An average of 10.9 lymph nodes was dissected from patient with pN1 through a method known as extended sentinel lymph node dissection (eSLND) (Muck et al., 2015). After the surgery, 121 patients with pN1 patients received adjuvant ADT for a sort period of time (Muck et al., 2015). Average survival year for; recurrence-free survival (RFS), RFS after secondary treatment, case-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were 4.7, 7.0, 8.8, and 8.1 years, respectively (Muck et al., 2015). RFS, CSS, and OS were significantly correlated with tumor staging (Muck et al., 2015). The second article focuses on the 67 Chinese patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM) after RP and extended PLND, and these patients received continuous adjuvant ADT. The median follow-up of this study was 46.7 months and two patients were lost to follow-up. BCR-free survival was recorded annually indicating 52%, 40%, 22% for the first 3 years respectively and a more significant survival was observed in patients with 5-year BCR free-survival which shows a 93% free-local recurrence, 83% free-systemic metastasis and 96% cancer death-free (Qin et al,2015). Postoperative BCR-free survival was 27.5 months (Qin et al.,2015). Even though a lot of articles support the positive effect of HT as a treatment for PCa, we also have to consider the adverse effect of HT including depression. According to Lee et al, 2015, patients who are treated with ADT have shown to a significant prolonged depressive state (pet al.,2016). The depressive state in correlation to ADT is confirmed when compared to a control by indicating a p value less than 0.001 (Lee et al.,2016) Apart from the adverse effect associated with HT, metastasis have been reported after adjuvant ADT has been used for treatment of both localized and high-risk PCAa (Taguchi et al., 2014). Taguchi et al. reported 9 (4.6%) patients developed metastasis and 6 (3.0%) died from PCa. Eight of nine metastatic patients had a GS greater than 9 and developed a metastasis to the bone, while the remaining one had a GS greater than 7 and developed lymphatic spread (Taguchi et al.,2014). Based on the findings above, optimal timing of salvage ADT for BCR after RP is crucial. According to a study by Taguchi et al., biochemical recurrence was seen in one patients (2.0%) in the ultra-early group and seen in 12 patients (17.1%) in the early salvage ADT group (Taguchi et al.,2014). Only one patient in the early salvage ADT group developed metastasis to a left supraclavicular lymph node, and no patient died from PCa during follow-up (Taguchi et al.,2014). Treatment of prostate cancer with Radical Prostatectomy (RP) and Radiation Therapy (RT) In order to examine the effect of RT after RP, an article which compared outcome of patients treated with radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy and patients who were under active surveillance after radical prostatectomy (Petruzzeillo et al., 2014). Patients who were under surveillance had a longer follow-up but higher recurrence rate and short life-expectancy (Petruzzeillo et al.,2014). Another article was able to back-up this finding, indicating significant longer life-expectancy and lower risk of recurrence (Gandaglia et al.,2014). However, the earlier administration of radiotherapy after RP is very essential. Studies had if indicated that patients who had ultra-early radiotherapy after RP had lower recurrence and longer life-expectancy (Azelie et al.,2012). A number of reports have associated early RT after RP to decrease risk of BCR and longer overall survival (OS). According to Gandaglia et al, patients with high risk score benefitted more from early radiotherapy compared to patients with lower risk scores (Gandaglia et al.,2014). The risk scores were determined based on its association to increasing 5- to 10- year prostates cancer mortality rates with a p value less than 0.001 (Gandaglia et al.,2014). the risk score was associated with increasing 5- and 10-year cancer-specià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ c mortality rates (P et al., 2014). However, adjuvant RT after RP have shown to present with gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities. A study indicating the use of real-time tumor-tracking intensity-modulate radiation therapy (RT-IMRT) as a much preferable RT for treatment of PCa with less adverse effects (Shinohara et al.,2013). In patient treated with RT-IMRT have shown to have better quality of life with little or no risk of urinary and sexual dysfunction (Shinohara et al., 2013). No patients treated with RT-IMRT after RP have gastrointestinal discomfort (Azelie et al.,2012). An article has indicated that earlier RT can lower the risk of adverse effect such as gastrointestinal and urinary dysfunction (Hegarty et al.,2015). Another concern is excessive treatment of PCa with RP+RT using standardized guideline. Patients who underwent RT after RP using this standard guideline 27 patients out of 163 patients had recurrence and 3 out 87 with PSAet al.,2014). Hence the other patients were over treated and therefore exposing them to preventable adverse effects. Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Radical Prostatectomy(RP), Radiation Therapy(RT) and Hormonal Therapy (HT) For the treatment of high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) different evidence-based therapies exist such as (RT+HT), (RP+RT), and (RP+RT+HT). RT + HT resulted in a longer life-expectancy which is always greater than 1 compared to RP+RT (Parikh et al.,2012). However, RP+RT+HT combination have a greater than 0.5 longer life-expectancy compared to RT+HT after considering their side effects (Parikh et al.,2012). Treatment of Prostate Cancer with Radical Prostatectomy (RP), Radiation Therapy (RT), Hormonal Therapy (HT) and Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NCHT). Patients with local and metastatic PCa are prone to recurrence after RP. Hence adjuvant therapies are required to reduce biochemical failure and also prolong life-expectancy. Therefore, it is important to study the adverse effect of these combination therapies (RP+RT+HT+NCHT). The major adverse effect associated with these combinations are gastrointestinal and urinary dysfunction while leucopenia and neutropenia mainly for NCHT (Guttilla et al.,2014) and (Thalgotti et al.,2014). Gastrointestinal and urinary dysfunction are seen in low grade pathologically (Guttilla et al.,2014). Thalgotti et al.,2014 reviewed the percentile of blood toxicity after patients have been administered the combination therapies; 90% had neutropenia and 53.8% leucopenia in the studied patients (Thalgotti et al.,2014). Effective Screening Test to Aid Prevention of Biochemical Recurrence (BCR) Eighty-eight miRNAs were identified to be significantly (p36months) (Bell et al.,2015). Nine miRNAs were identified to be significantly (pet al.,2015). Based on the efficacy of the above result a new prognostic stick has been created, composed of miRNA-4516 and miRNA-601, Gleason score and lymph node status (Bell et al.,2015). A study was done to assess which patients would benefit the most from RT after RP using 11C-choline PET/CT. In order to identify which patients would benefit the most from restaging 11C-choline PET/CT before RT, 11C-choline PET/CT was positive in 28.4% of patients (172/605) (Castellucci et al, 2016). Castellucci et al.,2016 categorized these patients based on staging: Eighty-three of 605 patients were positive locally, 72 of 605 patients had systemic metastasis, and 17 of 605 patients had both local recurrence and systemic metastasis (Catellucci et al., 2016). At multi-analysis; PSA, PSA doubling time (PSAdt), and ADT were signià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ cant predictors for positive scan results, whereas PSA and PSAdt were signià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ cantly related to distant recurrence detection (Pet al.,2016). Genomic classifier (GC) used to predict biochemical recurrence and distant metastasis in men receiving radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Illustrating Den et al.,2015, the measurement of GC was used to predict recurrence of PCA at 5 years after receiving RT (Den et al.,2015). A multi-analysis was done which no correlation between GC and PSA before RP. However, patients with low GC had no significance recurrence at 5 years after RT while patients with high GC had recurrence at 5 years after RT (Den et al.,2015). DISCUSSION This reviews attempted to answer the question: Can adjuvant therapy be used in patients that have undergone radical prostatectomy to prevent local recurrences? The general collective consensus of articles included in this review supported the hypothesis that in the treatment of aggressive and metastatic prostate cancer, patients who undergo radical prostatectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy with hormonal therapy have less recurrence rate in comparison to those who receive radical prostatectomy alone due to its additive curative effect (Parikh et al.,2012; Kyrdalen et al.,2012; Hayachi et al., 2012; Shinohara et al.,2013; Kaplan et al.,2013; Linder et al.,2013; Azelie et al.,2012; Miyake et al.,2014; Taguchi et al.,2014; Muck et al.,2014; Gandaglia et al,2015; Den et al.,2014; Castellucci et al.,2014; Lee M. et al., 2015; Kang et al.,2014; Thalgotti et al.,2014; Sato et al.,2014; Gutilla et al.,2014; Kim et al.,2016; Rosenkrantz et al.,2015; Petruzzeillo et al.,2014;Den et al.,2014; Lee J. et al.,2015; Qin et al.,2015; Mizowaki et al,2015; Winter et al.,2015; Bell et al,2015; Hegarty et al.,2015; Den et al., 2015; Taguchi et al.,2014). Only one article concluded that patient with High Gleason score (GS) carry a risk of bone metastasis and cancer specific-death after RP with ADT (Taguchi et al.,2014). Seven articles laid more emphasise on the combination therapys adverse effects such as gastrointestinal, genitourinary toxicities and sexual dysfunction (Shinohara et al.,2013) and specifically; diabetes mellitus, heart disease, osteoporosis (Parikh et al.,2012) and depression for HT (Lee M. et al.,2015). However, few articles addressed these adverse effects by recommending ultra-early RT after RP (Azelia et al.,2012 and Hegarty et al.,2015) and early HT after RP (Taguchi et al.,2014 and Sato et al., 2014). However, early RT after RP does not only reduce gastrointestinal and gastrourinary toxicities but it also prolongs quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) and lowers biochemical recurrence (BCR) (Azelie et al.,2012, Sato et al.,2014 and Gandgalia et al.,2014). Radiotherapy such as Real-time tumor-tracking intensity-modulated RT (RT-IMRT) may be a better treatment for localized PCa even though it has a similar effect as RP because of the adverse effects associated with RP such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction (Azelie et al.,2012). Hence, better quality of life with RT compared to RP (Shinohara et al.,2013). An article compared RT after RP with observation alone (OA) after RP which reviewed 87.1% to 30% biochemical progression-free survival, respectively (Petruzzeillo et al.,2014). This result lays further emphasises on the efficacy of RT after RP. Despite all the articles emphasizing the efficacy of adjuvant RT and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) after RP, there is concern for excessive treatment of PCa using AUA/ASTRO guideline on adjuvant RT. A particular article stretched on the concern by concluding that patients treated with RT who met the AUA/ASTRO guideline should be carefully considered to prevent excessive treatment (Kang et al., 2014). This is because in the article, among 163 patients with high risk BCR according to AUA/ASTRO guideline, only 27 patients developed BCR and treated with RT (Kang et al., 2014). In addition, in 87 patients with pre-operative PSAet al., 2014). Some articles (Gutilla et al,2014; Gutilla et al,2014 and Thalgott et al.,2014) considered the effectiveness of screening test on predicting biochemical failure in order to prevent BCR after RP. Several screening test were considered and tested. Specific miRNA (miR-4516 and miR-601), 11C-Choline PET/CT, Genomic Classifier (GC) and whole-lesion histogram apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) metric have sensitivity and specificity for BCR after RP (Bell et al.,2015; Castellucci et al.,2015; Den et al.,2015; Den et al.,2014 and Rosenkrantz et al.,2015). These screenings can help to identify specific treatment for BCR, for example, patients with low GC scores are best treated with RT only, whereas those with high GC scores beneà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ t from additional therapies (Den et al., 2014). Some studies verified that the trimodality therapy (RP+RT+HT) has shown an increase in quality of life expectancy (QALE) (Parikh et al.,2012; Guttilla et al.,2014; Kyradalen et al.,2012 and Den et al.,2014). Limitations of the search strategy include searching only one database (PubMed), only one source of information is used (database), only published data is included, only data from the last 5 years is included, only articles published in the English language are included, and only one reviewer is reviewing the abstracts. The major limitation of this systematic review is use of more retrospective cohort than clinical trials and use of only free-full articles and also broad question covering several treatment options such as different types of adjuvant radiation therapies, hormonal therapies and inclusion of some chemotherapies. Future research may consider comparing multiple interventions in a single randomized clinical trial with several approaches to allow for better comparison across clinical outcome measures. Further research may consider more screening test to prevent overtreatment. APPENDICES First Author Date of Publication Study Design Level of Evidence Study Population Therapy Outcome Azelie C. 2012 Randomized Clinical trial 1b 178 patients were referred for daily exclusive image guided IMRT (IG-IMRT) and 69 patients were the control group IG-IMRT vs RP+IMRT Patients with low risk PCa treated with IG-IMRT had a more significant outcome compared to the control group (patient treated with RP + IMRT) Bell E. March, 2015 Prospective Cohort Study without controls 4 43 patients who undergone RT after RP miRNAs miRNA signatures (Notably, two novel miRNAs: miR-4516 and miR-601) can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine patients who will benefit from additional therapy after RP. Castellucci P. Nov., 2015 Case series 4 605 patients treated with RT after RP. RT+RP vs ADT at the time of 11C-choline PET/CT At the early stage of BCr after RP 11C-choline PET/CT should be suggested before ADT is administered. Den R. March, 2015 Randomized Clinical Trials 1b 188 patients with positive margin of PCa at Thomas Jefferson University and Mayo Clinic between 1990 and 2009 were considered. Neoadjuvant HT, IMRT, salvage RT, ART In patients treated with RT after RP,genomic classifier (GC) was a good prognostic tool for determining metastasis. Den R. August, 2014 Randomized Clinical trial 1b 139 patients who underwent RT after RP that were identified with pT3 or positive prostate margin. Using genetic classifier to predict biochemical failure after RP+RT The genetic classifier (GC) predicted biochemical failure and metastasis after RP +RT. Patients with lower GC may benefit from delayed RT, as opposed to those with higher GC. Gandaglia G. August, 2014 Randomized Clinical trial 1b 7616 prostate cancer patients treated with RP. Early treatment with RT after RP vs not receiving early RT after RP Patients with two or more adverse pathological characteristics at RP might beneà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ t the most from adjuvant RT in terms of reduced cancer specific mortality. Guttilla A. 2014 Randomized Clinical Trial 1b 35 patients with newly diagnosed high-risk localized prostate cancer IMRT, RP, ADT, docetaxel-based chemotherapy This treatment phase for high-risk PCa indicated an acceptable oncological outcome. Hayashi S. July, 2012 Retrospective Cohort Study without controls 4 41 patients were treated with external beam RT as salvage RT because of increasing PSA levels following RP. RT after radical prostatectomy Lymphatic invasion is reported after RT+RP Vascular invasion is not associated with biochemical failure in PCa treatment. Hegarty S. February, 2015 Prospective Cohort Study without controls 4 Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database, we identified 6,137 prostate cancer patients diagnosed during 1995-2007 who had one or more adverse pathological features after prostatectomy. RT after RP RT after RP is associated with adverse effects such as gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities while early treatment with RT is not associated with these adverse effects. Kaplan J. 2013 Retrospective Cohort Study without controls 4 577 men with LN metastases discovered during RP and 177 men underwent ART with no distant metastases Adjuvant RT, RP ART after RP in men with LN-positive prostate cancer was associated recurrence free-survival. Kang J. 2014 Retrospective Cohort Study without controls 3b 163 men who had pT2-3 with undetectable PSA level after RP who had metastasis. Adjuvant RT (ART) after RP ART in patient who met the ASTRO/AUA criteria should be applied more selectively to avoid overtreatment. Kyrdalen A. 2012 Randomized Clinical Trial 1b 771 compliers were divided into four groups (i) no treatment, (ii) RP, (iii)RT without HT and (iv) RT+HT No treatment vs RP vs RT vs RT+HT No treatment group: had the highest level of moderate/severe bladder outlet-obstruction. RP group: reported more urinary incontinent compared to other treatment groups and also the highest prevalence of poor erectile functions. RT group: reported highest gastrointestinal dysfunction and fecal leakage compared to RP and no treatment group. Bladder outlet obstruction and poor sexual drive were significantly associated with low quality of life. Lee J. July, 2015 Prospective Cohort Study without controls 4 307 patients who underwent RP at Seoul National University Hospital between January,2006 and July,2007. RP According to this finding, SHBG may be useful in selection of candidate for adjuvant treatment following RP. Lee. M 2015 Observational studies with controls 3b 61 men with prostate cancer and their match control group (n=61) without cancer ADT This article indicates an association with PCa patient developing depression after receiving ADT. Linder B. 2013 Retrospective Cohort Study without controls 4 419 patients who received additional HT Adjuvant HT after RP Adjuvant HT after RP with high-risk PCa does not increase non-prostate cancer (such as cardiovascular disease) mortality, even in patient with multiple comorbidities. Mizowaki T. April, 2015 Observational Study with controls 3b Patients with localized PCa from the Japanese Radiation Oncology Study (JROSG) who were treated with RP before 2005 and those who received RT in 2007.. HT, RT Hormonal therapy was combined with radiotherapy which resulted in a longer life- expectancy. Muck A. March, 2014 Retrospective Cohort Study without controls 4 819 patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa) Extended sentinel lymph node dissection (eSLND) and RP. The use of ESLND and RP in patients with low risk can serve serve as complete cure for BCR. Parikh R. Jan., 2012

Values Essay -- Ethics, Individualism

The importance of values can not be overstated, they shape our intrinsic motivation (Kollmuss, & Agyeman, 2002, p.251). The significance of looking at values allows us to see the inter-workings behind peoples actions. Too often society sees the natural environment as something available for our use, a set of resources to be consumed(Cohen, 2006, p.13). Our system of values causes great environmental destruction, only a change in the priority of our values will allow us to counter this trend. Our western values and American values in particular are very inward looking as a country and individually. People are naturally concerned with what is immediately in front of them. They put their family above their community, their community above the country. They only deal with problems once they are backed into a corner. Elke Weber's research of a â€Å"finite pool of worry† points to our shortsightedness in the long-term(Gertner, 2009, p.2). When issues like clean air or clean water are directly threatened we are able to act if we perceive the threat to be dangerous enough. We quickly move on to what we feel are other more pressing matters, like the economy. We can see the western society model being adopted by other countries or has a goal to aspire to(Cohen, 2006, p.132). The rise of developing countries to first world states coupled with finite resources means that our quality of life as we know it is unsustainable. Western society has a history of bending the environment to suit our will. The value of convenience and consumption can be best viewed in a city like Los Angeles. For all practical purposes the city of Los Angeles should not exist; there is not a supply of fresh water large enough to support it. The city is spr... ...gement of the ecosystem will allow both ourselves and the environment to benefit; too often with the value of prosperity it is looked at a zero-sum game. In an economic sense would a business be designed to be dependent on a resource that will run out. It makes much more sense to conserve our resources in a more responsible way by relying on renewal resources. Using market system based incentives to promote environmental protection. Economic prosperity is linked to environmental quality (Cohen, 2006, p.24). The idea of cap and trade applies a market based method of controlling and limited pollution. It incorporates the value of the free market combined with pollution controls. A change in the priority of our values will allow us to fight environmental damage. Putting our health and our children's health above the false trade-off of economic well being.

The Slums :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being raised in the slums of New York City there were not many role models for me to take after. At seventeen years old, I dropped out of school to pursue my only chance of success; long distance running. My dream would be to win the marathon that will be held in Chicago next month. If I win this race, I will receive $50,000 and hopefully a contract with Nike. There is only one problem that I face; there are a few women that are faster than I am. I am in constant training, and I have placed amongst the top ten women in the Boston Marathon, but I have never won a major race. How am I going to win when there are other people that can out run me?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While I was talking to one of my friends, who happens to be an athletic trainer, I told her of my worries. She informed me that there is a new experimental drug that can help to improve my endurance by preventing the build up of lactic acid in my muscles, and she had access to these pills. The drug has not yet been tested on humans, yet when animals were given the drug they had no series side effects. My friend offered me a one months sampling of the drug in return for $5000 if I win the race and nothing if I loose. She swore to me that it is not on the list of drugs that are banned and it will not show up on a blood test. What should I do?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main issue that I ask myself is whether or not I should take the drugs. All of my life I have dreamed of being an Olympic runner and if I take these pills I may get my chance. These pills can help build up my muscles and endurance which will give me a better chance of taking home the gold. If these pills do work than I will be able to take the $50,000 I win and move myself out of this hole I am living in. If I am in a better environment, I may want to do something with myself; perhaps I could get my GED and take college courses. If I take these pills, I could possibly be the best runner there ever could be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the contrary, I have also come up with the down sides of taking these pills.

Bisexual Discrimination Essay

Sexuality has in the history of mankind occupied a very important pat of the society. In all history of mankind, it has been hard to categorize people in any other form without one’s sex playing an important role. However the problem is not the biological sex differences. The problem is the sex roles the society has allocated to men and women, making it look like there are some things that women can do but men cannot do, and that there are some roles boys can play but girls cannot. This has come to be known as gender mainstreaming. This paper examines bisexuality in the society and how it has led to discrimination to those who do not subscribe to the majority’s sexual orientations. Bisexuality refers to a situation whereby a person desires to engage in romance or sex with both males and females. However most bisexuals tend to have an affinity for either males or females and it is often rare for a bisexual to balance the desire to both sexes. According to Kinsey Scale (Klein & Wolf, 1985) bisexuals are predominantly heterosexual and incidentally homosexual. Therefore bisexual could be characterized by aesthetic attractions for members of the opposite sex and does not necessarily have to involve romance or actual sex (Klein & Wolf, 1985). Although bisexuality was in the past confused with hermaphrodites, the term has become very popular and new terminologies have emerged to further clarify bisexuality. Such terminology include Biphobia which refers to the fear which bisexuals are subjected to by being rejected by people from mainstream sexual orientations such as heterosexuals and homosexuals who hold that, bisexuality is not an appropriate lifestyle. Bisexuals are also faced with homophobia which stems from the fear of rejection and dejection by people who only believe in heterosexuality as the only appropriate lifestyle and therefore do not recognize bisexuality as a lifestyle. This leads to the discrimination of the bisexuals by heterosexuals who form the greater part of the society. According to (Greene, 2000), about 2% of the American populations are bisexuals. This is an indicator that bisexuals form a considerable proportion of the American society and therefore deserves to be listened to and recognized in all social dimensions. Most of the problems being experienced in terms of fighting the discrimination being leveled against bisexuals have got something to do with how the society at large constructs sex. Most people look at life from the dimension of duality (Peplau, & Garnets, 2000), something which leads many people to have problems comprehending how people can comfortably engage in sexual or romantic relationships with either sex. This has led to stereotypes which in turn have led to discrimination. Bisexuals have been faced by numerous challenges in their endeavor to gain recognition from the society. These challenges mainly stem from the tendency of most bisexuals to have the phobia to come up in the open and reject discrimination while at the same time making their points known to the society. Conflicts dominate most of the bisexuals’ life spheres like marriage, education and job. Bisexuals in a marriage get it very difficult to open up to their spouses and confess about their sexual orientations in fear of rejection by their partners or outright rejection. This can be very trying moments for bisexuals and therefore many results into living in self-denial. Despite the fact that there are many married people who are bisexual; opening up is not something many are ready to do. The reality of divorce does not attract many in that, many bisexuals interact in public as heterosexuals unlike it is the case with homosexuals and heterosexuals where partners something which is widely regarded as infidelity in the society. The other major challenge facing bisexuals is recognition by religious organizations. Most religious sects have a problem recognizing any other sexual orientation apart from heterosexuality. This presents great challenges to those who happen to be spiritual as it turns that their lifestyles do not agree with their religious doctrines. This is very challenging and is a common source of discrimination for bisexuals. Bisexuals are faced with an identity crisis arising from the above challenges and this is currently a major worry for bisexuals whose right to expression is greatly affected by challenges evident in the religious, social, marital as well as work life. Cultural barrier continues to be a source of discrimination for bisexuals. Most cultures are traditionally male dominated and the social structures are constructed such that; the man is the head of most households (Lane, & Goeltz, 1998). The issue of bisexuality has not quite been received well in most traditional cultures. This presents hardships to bisexuals who wish to lead normal lives as bisexuals but at the same want to fit in the culture. This is evident in schools whereby the education system does not take into consideration the needs of bisexuals but assumes that everyone is heterosexual. This is agonizing for bisexuals whose interests are not well taken care of, which is clearly a source of discrimination. Bisexuals currently seem to be the latest victims of the unending obsession of sexuality in the society. Discrimination on the basis of one’s sex occurs when an individual is denied some rights and freedom on the basis of their beliefs concerning sex and relationship. Usually, sexual discrimination is common in cases whereby the victim belongs to a minority sex group such as bisexuality, and homosexuality. Consistent fight for equal rights for homosexuals and heterosexuals led to the recognition of the homosexuals as social bonafide groups. Today in many states, homosexuals can be proud of their sexual orientation, express themselves freely and also seek social rights. Some states recognize and allow homosexuals to marry. It is no longer a big issue for one to be gay or lesbian. The society has now evidently turned the heat on bisexuals. However the reasons for this discrimination are baseless some of the common reasons opponents of bisexuality give are; it is awkward, it is backward, and it is strange (Peplau, & Garnets, 2000). These are some of the reasons being advanced by opponents of bisexualism. Clearly, the above reasons are baseless and lack empirical support as they do lack in any legal backing. This has made it particularly hard for bisexuals to lead normal lives not only in colleges but in all spheres of life such as the work place. Bisexuals are even facing discrimination from homosexuals who having gone through the same experience of discrimination, should be in the forefront of protecting and defending the bisexual movement. Unfortunately that is not the case. Homosexuals just like the heterosexuals are not about to relent in their discrimination against bisexuals. This is totally unacceptable and is in direct violation of the rights of the bisexuals. The fact that the bisexuals are only a minority in the community and therefore cannot wage a strong ‘war’ against discrimination has made bisexuals to continue to suffer unfairly. Sexual discrimination takes a lot of forms and is manifested in the workplace, in accessing education, accessing of job opportunities, as well as in the accessing of social security. The access to opportunities based on sex is discriminatory in that, it favors people from some sexual orientations and oppresses others. In the U. S. , the legislation that protects people from discrimination based on sex is the Title VII, in Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Randen, 2001). The law has been criticized due to the fact that it only addresses issues surrounding sexual harassment that is applicable to the work place but fails to address sexual discrimination in other contexts. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 is the other law in the US that covers those facing or are under threat of sex discrimination. Again, this law like the others only covers some members of the community and does not take good care of bisexual interests. Conclusion There is a need for the society to be enlightened in regard to emerging trends in sexual orientations and lifestyles. This is possible through interest groups and the government putting in effort in terms of legislations, awareness campaigns, and incorporation of sex education into the education curriculum. All the above measures, will lead to a better understanding of bisexuality and therefore the discrimination currently being directed towards bisexuals is likely to cease. It is possible for bisexuals to overcome the current discrimination, only if the bisexuals continue in the fight against sex discrimination. References Greene, B. (2000). African American Lesbian and Bisexual Women. Journal of Social Issues, 56(2). Klein F. and Wolf T. (1985). Bisexualities: Theory and Research. Haworth Press, New York. Lane, R. and Goeltz, W. (1998). Identity confusion, bisexuality, and flight from the mother. Clinical Psychology Review, 18(3). Peplau, L. and Garnets, L. (2000). A New Paradigm for Understanding Women’s Sexuality and Sexual Orientation. Journal of Social Issues, 56(2 Randen, H. (2001). Bi Signs and Wonders: An interview with Robyn Ochs. Journal of Bisexuality, 1(1): 5-26.