Thursday, October 31, 2019

Arsenal Football Club Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Arsenal Football Club - Coursework Example Historical Record of Arsenal Football Club The financial performance of Arsenal Football Club was quite strong in the year 2010 and the club has also experienced significant drop of debt. From the historical viewpoint, the earnings of Arsenal Football Club have fluctuated. In the year 2001, the club had a profit of almost 24.3 million Pounds but in the subsequent year the club experienced loss of 20.5 million Pounds. The reason of loss in that financial year was rise in wages due to growth in the number of players (London Business School, 2009). Since initiation the club’s group turnover has progressed gradually. In the year 2005, the group turnover of Arsenal Football club was almost 138.4 million Pounds which had become more than double by 2010 to almost 379.9 million Pounds. The club also experienced growth of operating profit in that period. The low sales in the property development business were the main reason for decreasing operating profit in 2006. Arsenal Football Club operates in two prominent segments which are football and property development. Since the operating loss in the year 2006, the football segment has shown increased growth. In the year 2007, the turnover of football segment was almost 207.7 million Euros which had become 229.9 million Euros in 2009. The increase was generally motivated by new television series. In the year 2010, almost nineteen â€Å"Barclays Premier League†, 4 â€Å"UEFA Champion League†, 3 â€Å"FA Cup† and 2 â€Å"Carling Cup† matches were telecasted. The revenue of football segment mostly comes from the sales of tickets. The Emirates Stadium of Arsenal Football Club also hosted two international friendly matches (Arsenal Holdings PLC, 2007; Arsenal Holdings PLC, 2010). ... Arsenal Football Club operates in two prominent segments which are football and property development. Since the operating loss in the year 2006, the football segment has shown increased growth. In the year 2007, the turnover of football segment was almost 207.7 million Euros which had become 229.9 million Euros in 2009. The increase was generally motivated by new television series. In the year 2010, almost nineteen â€Å"Barclays Premier League†, 4 â€Å"UEFA Champion League†, 3 â€Å"FA Cup† and 2 â€Å"Carling Cup† matches were telecasted. The revenue of football segment mostly comes from the sales of tickets. The Emirates Stadium of Arsenal Football Club also hosted two international friendly matches (Arsenal Holdings PLC, 2007; Arsenal Holdings PLC, 2010). Source: (Arsenal Holdings PLC, 2005; Arsenal Holdings PLC, 2010) Property development is the other section from which Arsenal Football Club generates profits. In the year 2005, the company experience d low activity in property development business. The total turnover during the year was 23.3 million Pounds which was 44% lesser compared to 2004. In 2006, the turnover of property development business had increased to 23.8 million Pounds which was 4.6 times more compared to previous year. The reason for this increase in turnover was due to sale of ‘Drayton Park’, one of the expansion sites of Arsenal Football Club. In the year 2008, the returns of property development business had again reduced to 15.3 million Pounds, because the sales activity was restricted by the yielding leasehold interests and constricting operations within the communal housing component. In 2009–2010, Arsenal Football Club had seen extreme

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Barilla’s manufacturing Essay Example for Free

Barilla’s manufacturing Essay Manufacturing: Barilla has 25 plants, including large flour mills, pasta plants, and fresh bread, as well as plants producing specialty products. Raw materials, in the manufacturing process, were transformed to packaged pasta on fully-automated 120 meter long production lines. The plants were specialized by the type of pasta they would produce, with the primary distinction based on the composition of the pasta, e.g. dry or fresh pasta, pasta with or without eggs and spinach. Also, even within the same family of pasta products, individual products were assigned to plants based on the size and shape of the pasta. The manufacturing process at Barilla was very precise, and required tight heat and humidity specifications in the pasta dry process, so as to keep the changeover cost low and quality high. Distribution: Barilla divided its products into â€Å"dry† and â€Å"fresh† product categories and maintained a different distribution system for the two categories. The dry products category includes dry pasta and longer shelf-life bakery products, whereas, the fresh products category includes fresh pasta products (with 21-day shelf life) and fresh bread (with one-day shelf life). Barilla had two central distribution centers (CDC) to which the products shipped from the plants. The fresh products were then purchased from these CDC’s by independent agents who then channeled the products through 70 regional warehouses located throughout Italy. From the CDC’s approximately 65% of the dry products went to the supermarkets, 70% of these (65% of dry products) went to super market chains, whereas, the remaining 30% went to independent super markets. The remaining 35% of dry products were distributed from the CDC’s to Barilla’s internally owned regional warehouses, which then distributed them to small  independent shops – Signora Maria Shops. Dry products destined for supermarket chains were distributed from the CDC to the chain’s own distribution organization, known as Grande Distribuzione (GD). While those destined for independent supermarkets were distributed from the CDC to a distributor known as Distribuzione Organizzata (DO), which acted as a centralized buying organization for a large number of independent supermarkets. The CDCs held a month’s inventory for dry products, and 3 days for fresh products. The GD, DO and the internally owned regional warehouses (for Signora Maria shops) held a two-week supply for Barilla’s dry products. The following figure (Figure 1) shows an illustration of Barilla’s distribution system for dry products: Figure 1: Barillas Distribution Network for Dry Products What is the problem faced by Barilla? What do you think are the factors causing this problem? Barilla’s pasta supply chain suffers from classic bullwhip-effect problem. It has been experiencing large amounts of variability in demand resulting in operational inefficiency and increased manufacturing, inventory, and distribution costs. The underlying factors of the fluctuating demand include Barilla’s sales strategy relying heavily on the use of promotions in the form of price, transportation and volume discounts; sales representatives being rewarded based on the amount of product sold to distributors, which led to sales representatives trying to push product to the distributors during promotions, decreasing the ability to accurately forecast sales; the distributors having full control over their orders leading to gaming behaviors; and the lack of a computer forecasting system at the distributor level. Describe the solution proposed by Brando Vitali. Why do you think this would help alleviate the problem? Brando Vitali suggested the implementation of a Just-In-Time Distribution  (JITD) strategy, which is essentially the Vendor Management Inventory (VMI) strategy. Barilla will be in charge of the channel between the CDCs and the distributor and decide on the timing and size of shipments to its distributors. Thus, unlike traditional supply chains in which distributors place orders and manufacturers try to satisfy these orders as much as possible, in JITD Barillas own logistics organization would specify the appropriate delivery quantities – those that will more effectively meet the end customer’s needs yet would also more evenly distribute the workload on Barilla’s manufacturing and logistics system. If implemented, Barilla can make better delivery decisions and improve its demand forecasts, be more effective in meeting end-customers needs, and more evenly distribute the workload on its manufacturing and logistics systems. Also, the inventory levels at CDCs will a lso be reduced. What conflicts or barriers internal to Barilla does the JITD program create? What causes these conflicts? How should Giorgio Maggiali deal with these internal conflicts? The main resistance internal to Barilla was from the sales and marketing functions, which Barilla, until now, has relied upon for its success. The sales representatives feared reduction in both their responsibilities and bonuses due to a flatted sales level. The marketing people also feared a reduction in responsibilities as trade promotions would be difficult to run with a JITD strategy. There were also concerns about inability to adjust shipments quickly to stock outs, lack of infrastructure to handle JITD, vague cost benefits, and increased competitor shelf space at distributors. I think Maggiali should demonstrate that JITD benefits not just Barilla, but also the distributors. He should run experiments at one or more distributor sites and prove his case. Also, Maggiali should encourage the marketing and sales people to look at the overall benefit to the supply chain. By getting the top management involved, by effectively advocating the benefits for the entire supply chain, and by removing the obstacles of sales incentives and reduced responsibility, Maggiali can effectively deal with this problem and get JITD implemented. How do you think a typical Barilla customer would respond to JITD? Why? How would you convince the customer that the JITD program was worth trying? If you are not able to sway the customer, what alternatives would you suggest to combat some of the difficulties that Barilla’s operating system faces? I think a typical Barilla customer, if explained to properly, should be able to comprehend the benefits associated with JITD for the entire supply chain. I would convince the customer by mentioning the benefits of the JITD in removing the bullwhip effect. I would point out the fact that they would actually be reducing their costs significantly because Barilla would be responsible for monitoring and replenishing their inventories when levels are low. Moreover, the reduced inventory levels would also save them the cost for both inventories and space. If however, I am not able to convince the customers, I will try other modes, in my capability, to effectively respond to the fluctuating demand. For this purposes, I would either reduce the varieties of products being offered which will reduce the need to have so many different inventories and SKU for both customers and Barilla. I could also try implementing the Just-In-Time (lean production) approach for Barillas manufacturing processes – processes which are internal and Barilla has full control over.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Abolition Of Death Penalty In India

Abolition Of Death Penalty In India Mahatma Gandhi, who preached non-violence and through the same was successful in attaining independence for colonial India, said the above lines. Eye for an eye refers to vengeance which contrasts the Gandhian ideology of non-violence.In contrast, India has decided to retain the most brutal form of punishment death penalty, which has been abolished by 131 other countries. Tracing the history of abolition of death penalty in India, it dates back to 27th January1931, when this issue was brought about in the legislative assembly headed by Shri Gaya Prasad Singh.  [2]   Death penalty is one of the oldest forms of punishment, even though the method of execution has evolved over the years. This form of punishment has been prescribed under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 which introduced the preliminary concepts of criminal law in India. To a layman, death penalty is awarded for offences like murder section 302 of IPC. The most recent execution had been that of DhananjoyChatterjee, whose case has been examined in detail in our paper. This paper will study the recent trends of abolition of death penalty and evaluate Indias stand on the same. After this, various cases will be discussed to understand the meaning and scope of the term rarest of rare. Our main case in discussion is that of DhananjoyChatterjee, who was awarded death penalty. This case will bring out the restrictive interpretation of rarest of rare term. To sum up, the purpose of our paper is to put forward the arguments in favour of abolition of death penalty. RECENT TRENDS OF ABOLOTION OF DEATH PENALTY Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of UN, in 2007 said, I recognize the growing trend in international law and in national practice towards a phasing out of the death penalty.  [3]   There has been a worldwide concern regarding the abolition of death penalty. The UN General Assembly made the first instance towards any such abolition in 1948 by adopting Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). They strongly advocated the concept of right to life. Article 3 and 5 of UDHR cater to the inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 6 states that no one should be deprived of life and the countries, which are still practicing death penalty, sentence must be given for the most serious crime in accordance with the law. India too claims to have retained death penalty on the ground that it will be awarded only in the rarest of rare cases and for special reasons.  [4]   Amnesty International reports indicate that a total of 131 countries have abolished death penalty. While 66 other countries have chosen to retain this form of punishment but the number of countries actually executing the punishment is in the minority.  [5]   In 2007, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution, which called all the states to establish a ban on execution with the purpose of abolishing the death penalty. This further strengthens the movement against this form of punishment. Forty-eight countries including India opposed countries that voted in favor of it. In light of the above information India must realize the importance of abolishing death penalty in order to keep up with the rest of the world. It must be kept in mind that Indias stand in retaining death penalty is contrary to the international trend but it always seeks for justifiable ground to award such punishments. DHANANJOY CHATTERJEE Alias DHANA v. STATE OF WEST BENGAL In the present case, DhananjoyChatterjee, the accused, raped and murdered a 18 year old school going girl. The Additional Session judge found him guilty and convicted the accused : (i) for an offence under Section 302 IPC and sentenced him to death, (ii) for an offence under Section 376 IPC and sentenced him to imprisonment for life, and (iii) for the offence under Section 380 IPC, he was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five year. The High court confirmed the death sentence after which the appeal was filed, and the Supreme Court confirmed death sentence again. Justice AS Ananad examined the case in the light of the circumstantial evidence since there were no eyewitnesses and confirmed death penalty. He categorized this case under the rarest of rare cases arguing that it was a cold blooded pre-planned brutal murder, without any provocation, after committing rape on an innocent and defenseless young girl of 18 years. He further says that such a case deserves no other punishment than capital punishment. India has witnessed various heinous crimes but the biggest problem faced by the courts is whether to categorize a particular murder under the rarest of rare cases. Though the term rarest of rare is complicated to define, but the Supreme Court in Bachhan Singhs explained what constitutes rarest of rare. The Supreme Court discussed the circumstances of such cases. These circumstances include that the murder committed should be extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolical, revolting or dastardly manner so as to arouse intense and extreme indignation of the community, it should be for a motive which evinces total depravity and meanness, murder of a scheduled cast or scheduled tribe- arousing social wrath (not for personal reasons), bride burning/ dowry death, murderer in a dominating position, position of trust or in course of betrayal of the motherland, where it is enormous in proportion or when the victim is an innocent child, helpless woman, old/infirm person, public figure generally loved and respected by the community. In Panchhi v State of Uttar Pradesh, one of the important cases which stated that brutality is not the only factor that determines whether the case will fall under the rarest of rare category and thereby, life imprisonment can be a better substitution rather than commuting death sentence. The court opined:- No doubt brutality looms large in the murders in this case particularly of the old and also the tender age child. It may be that the manner in which a murder was perpetrated may be a ground but not the sole criterion for judging whether the case is one of the rarest of rare cases as indicated in Bachan Singhs case.  [6]   In State of Maharashtra v Bharat Fakir Dhiwar, even though the accused was held guilty of murder and rape, but the High court acquitted the accused. Furthermore, the Supreme Court refused to take strong stand on death penalty and awarded life imprisonment. Instead, the accused was awarded with life imprisonment. The facts of the cases are, prima facie, diabolical that the lesser option was to give life imprisonment instead of death sentence. EdigaAnamma v. State of Andhra Pradesh is another landmark judgment which involves death penalty awarded to female criminals. Justice Krishna Iyer on the basis of certain factors like gender, socio economic background, and age, psychic reversed the punishment from death sentence to life imprisonment. It was laid down that while evaluating the death penalty, the crime committed should not be the sole criterion for determining the crime but various other factors should also be taken into account. The case of SwamyShraddananda and MuraliManohar Mishra v. State of Karnataka is another case which depicts restricted interpretation of rarest of the rare category. Life imprisonment usually of 14 years was extended for the remaining life of the accused. This was the first time that a court attempted to award life imprisonment by altering the period of punishment. In Santosh Kumar SatishBhushanBariyarvs State of Maharashtra, the accused with three others lured the victim to a particular place with the purpose of confining his movement to ask for ransom. They threatened to kill him if the family did not pay the ransom. Eventually they killed the victim and cut his body into pieces to dispose of at different places. Along with Bariyar, the other accused were also arrested and charged under S.302 and S.364B read with S.120B of the IPC. Bariyar was awarded death sentence which was upheld by the high court stating that Bariyar was the protagonist of the act. However, the Supreme Court refused to award death penalty based on the reasoning that the circumstances were not sufficient enough to constitute rarest of the rare case. The court further supported the judgment by saying that the accused were not professional killers, without any criminal history, but the motive of collecting the money had lead them commit the crime. They relied on the theories of punishment and believe that the Bariyar could be reformed and rehabilitated and hence awarded him rigorous life imprisonment. This is a landmark case which is a step closer to the abolition of death penalty in India, hence was well received by the abolitionists.  [7]  In other words it restricted the scope of rarest of the rare cases. From the facts it can be gauged that the crime committed was extremely grotesque yet the punishment awarded was not in proportion. Based on the landmark cases and the work done by B.B Pande on capital punishment, well be examining the legal perspectives in support of abolition of death penalty in India. The arguments made in favour of the abolition can be discussed in a thematical framework. In Rajendra Prasad v State of U.P, certain fundamental issues relating to law have Right to life is the fundamental right as laid down in the constitution. This theme plays an important role in the debate against death penalty. The constitutional arguments as raised by Justice Krishna Iyer in Rajendra Prasad v State of U.P will be reflect an abolitionists perspective. The points raised by Justice Iyer are: 1) the deprivation of life under our system is too fundamental to be permitted save on the gravest ground and under the strictest scrutiny if Justice, Dignity, Fair Procedure are creed ally constitutional  [8]  . 2) The right to life and to fundamental freedom is deprived when he (accused) is hanged to death, is dignity is defiled when his neck is noosed and strangled.  [9]  3) The judge who sits to decide between death penalty and life sentence must ask himself: Is it reasonably necessary to extinguish his freedom of speech of assembly and association of free-movement, by putting out finally the very flame of life?  [10]  he goes into the retrospecti on of the judge deciding the death penalty and is it reasonable to extinguish to every flame of life out of the accused.  [11]  4) you cannot be unusually cruel for that spells arbitrariness and violates Article 14.  [12]  5) Through this he is trying to bring to notice that this form of punishment violates article (14) which talk about equality before law such punishments are also in violation of the Preamble which speaks of dignity of the individual.  [13]  5) you cannot inflict degrading punishment since the preamble speaks of the dignity of the individual. 6) Social Justice, which the preamble and Article 38 highlight as paramount in the governance of the country, also has a role to mould the sentence.  [14]   Through these arguments put forward by Justice Iyer clearly indicates him to be a believer of abolition of death penalty. Through the issues he wants to highlight the basic rights, one of them being Right to Life which is violated on execution of death penalty. In his argument, he highlights that the death penalty deprives the criminal from right to life and questions if the crime committed is so grave that a constitutional right needs to be compromised on? In contrary, all other fundamental rights are given equal importance in India. Such degrading punishments defeat the purpose of Article (14) which talks about equality before law. In other words, this form of punishment can be said to be unconstitutional. Justice Iyer points out to the absence of proper guidelines and standards in awarding life imprisonment or death sentence in Section. 302 of IPC. This in turn gives over- wide power in matters of life and death. Sections. 303 and 307 prescribe death penalty as the only form of punishment. Section.302 prescribes only one alternative to death penalty i.e. life imprisonment. The basic problem arising here is that the only alternative to death penalty is life imprisonment. So, the question of when and which punishment is left at the discretion of the judges. Another matter complexing the situation is that the punishments under IPC are limited. Therefore, the scope of awarding punishments in brutal and diabolical cases is restricted because of the sections enacted under IPC. Among the prevailing theory of punishments, one of the important factors of death penalty is deterrence. This element of death penalty is given a lot of importance because it has been presumed by the courts that will deter crimes to be committed in the future. This theory is supported by Justice Sen, who argued that the deterrence is generally held to be the most important, although the continuing public demand for retribution cannot be ignored.  [15]  It is still believed that through death penalty deterrence can be the factor that refrain a person from committing a crime. However, the statistics shows that this impression about deterrence is proved to be wrong. According to the Indian Crime Report of 2007 which states disturbing figures, 19,89,673 are crimes related to IPC.  [16]  It also shows that the IPC crime rate in 2007 was 175.1 whereas in 2006 it was 167.7.  [17]  These figures clearly contradict the presumptions taken by the courts on deterrence. Thus, it is al so stated in the 35th report produced in 1967 the Law Commission took the view that capital punishment acted as a deterrent to crime.  [18]   A deeper study of the implications of death penalty gives us a social aspect of this punishment which is not evident otherwise. In this perspective we can observe that the death penalty affects the poor and the helples that are to be protected by the law. The significant role of the law is to protect the people and society by laying down rules for the proper justice. However, the process and the practices implemented till now have been biased specially towards the poor and the helpless. The social inequalities are highlighted through the judgments given in different cases. In DayanidhiBisoi v State of Orissa, the accused was working as a peon which indicates about its weak economic background. Thus, this element is betokening of the wrong judgment executed by the courts. According to the cases stated above, it is evident that the rarest of rare term has been interpreted in a restrictive manner. Even after the guildines laid down by the court in the Bachhan Singh case, the judicial discretion has played an important role in defining the rarest of rare cases. For every offence where death penalty is awarded, the court looks at various aspects of the offence to decide whether it is rare enough to award death penalty. In Rajendra Prasad case, the court defined the parameters for awarding death penalty. It was further stated that the death penalty must relate to the criminal and not with the crime. In Bariyar case, brutality was not the only factor for determining death sentence for the accused, the court emphasized on the other aspects like the professional background of the accused as well as his criminal history. In EdigaAnamma case, the female criminals socio-economic background was looked into. Therefore, it can be confidently said that inspite of ma ny death penalties awarded no clear standard has evolved to clear the stand of the courts on rarest of rare term. This gives rise to erroneous judgments which in the past have taken place in almost seven cases convicting thirteen criminals and awarding them death penalty. Coming to the DhananjoyChatterjees case, in light of the above arguments, the crime or the criminal clearly does not come under the rarest of rare cases. There is a thin line between the rarest of rare and ordinary case but again its judicial discretion that plays the deciding factor. CONCLUSION Various arguments have been made in favor of the abolition of death penalty. The purpose of this paper is to bring together the analysis from the landmark cases to infer what constitutes rarest of rare. The judgment in Bariyar can be considered as a significant one because it gave importance to the reformatory and rehabilitation scheme. The court said that the prosecution has to first prove that the case belong to the rarest of the rare category after which they also have to provide evidence as to why accused was not fit for any kind of reformation. After which, the death sentence could be awarded. It is important for a developing nation like ours to match up to the international standards and do away with the forms of punishment that hinder its progress.We hope that India works towards complete abolition of death penalty!!

Friday, October 25, 2019

Truthful Horatio of Shakespeares Hamlet :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Truthful Horatio in Hamlet Horatio's role in Hamlet is minor, however he serves two purposes central to the drama. Horatio provides the truth. It is through Horatio that the actions taken by Hamlet and other characters gain credibility. He is the outside observer to the madness. Hamlet could soliloquize to no end, but it is his conversations with Horatio that ground the play in reality. Horatio believes Hamlet and thus we have permission to believe. He sees the Ghost and so we can believe that Hamlet has seen the Ghost. If Horatio were not there, Hamlet's sanity would truly be in doubt. Horatio's second purpose is to be Hamlet's one true confidant. Apart from Hamlet's soliloquies, his conversations with Horatio are the only insight we have into what the Prince is really thinking and feeling. But why Hamlet chooses Horatio to become the sole person on whom he can rely is of primary concern here. From the first scene we see that Horatio is calm, resolute, and rational. Not afraid to confront the Ghost, Horatio demands that it speak if it knows what future awaits Denmark or if it has come to make a confession: If thou art privy to thy country's fate... O, speak! Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth... Speak of it, stay and speak! (I.i.133-9) Hamlet admires Horatio for the qualities that Hamlet himself does not possess. He praises Horatio for his virtue and self-control: "Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man/As e'er my conversation cop'd withal" (III.ii.56-7). Horatio's strength of character is unwavering, and Hamlet longs for the peace of mind that such stoicism must bring to Horatio: Dost thou hear? Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, And could of men distinguish her election, Hath seal'd thee for herself, for thou hast been As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing, A man that fortune's buffets and rewards Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those Whose blood and judgement are so well commedled That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger To sound what stop she please. Give me that man That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, As i do thee. (III.ii.65-70) Thus Horatio has reached an apex that Hamlet recognizes is the freedom from emotional upheaval.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech Essay

I was an obscure individual in those days. My name was hardly known outside my own province, but I was quite content with that obscurity, which protected me from the curiosity of crowds. And then came a time when my heart felt a longing to come out of that solitude and do some work for my fellow beings, and not merely give shape to my dreams and meditate deeply on the problems of life, but try to give expression to my ideas through some definite work, definitive service. The one thing, the one work, which came to my mind was to teach children. It was not because I was specially suited for this work of teaching, for I have not had myself the full benefit of a regular education. For some time I hesitated, but I felt that as I had a deep love for nature, I had naturally love for children also. My objective in starting this institution, Shanti Niketan, was to give children full freedom of joy, of life and of communion with nature. I myself had suffered when I was young, the impediments which were inflicted upon most boys at school and I have had to go through the machine of education which crushes the joy and freedom of life for which children have such insatiable thirst. My objective was to give freedom and joy to children. So, I had a few boys around me, and I taught them, and I tried to make them happy as their playmate and companion. I shared their life, and I felt that I was the biggest child of the party. And we all grew up together in this atmosphere of freedom. The vigour and joy of children, their chats and songs filled the air with a spirit of delight, which I drank every day I was there. In the evening, at sunset, I often used to sit alone, watching the trees of the shadowing avenue and in the silence of the afternoon, I could hear distinctly voices of children in the air, and it seemed to me that these shouts and songs and glad voices were like those trees, which come out from the heart of the earth like fountains of life towards the bosom of the infinite sky. And it symbolised, it brought before my mind, the whole cry of human life all expressions of joy and aspirations of men rising from the heart of humanity up to this sky. I knew that we also, the grown-up children, send up our cries of aspiration to the Infinite. In this atmosphere, I used to write my poems Gitanjali, and I sang them to myself at midnight under the glorious stars. In the early morning and afternoon glow of sunset, I used to write these songs till a day came when I felt impelled to come out once again and meet the heart of the large world. I could see that my coming out from the seclusion of life among these joyful children and doing my service was only a prelude to my pilgrimage to a larger world. I felt a great desire to come in touch with people of the West, for I was conscious that the present age belongs to the Western man with his superabundance of energy. I felt that I must, before I die, come to the West and meet the man of the secret shrine where the Divine presence has his dwelling, his temple. And I thought that the Divine man with all his powers and aspirations of life is dwelling in the West. And so I came out. After Gitanjali had been written in Bengali, I translated those poems into English, without having any desire to have them published, being diffident of my mastery of that language, but I had the manuscript with me when I came out to the West. And you know that the British public, when these poems were put before them, and those who had the opportunity of reading them in manuscript before, approved of them. I was accepted, and the heart of the West opened without delay†¦.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Plastic – Boon or Bane

Did you know the very first plastics were produced by German chemists in the 19th century via a fermentation processes. Plastics are everywhere! Plastics are â€Å"one of the greatest innovations of the millennium. The fact that plastic is lightweight, does not rust or rot, helps lower transportation costs and conserves natural resources is the reason for which plastic has gained this much popularity. Plastics are everywhere and have innumerable uses! Plastics are durable, lightweight, and reusable. Also, the are used in packaging many goods. Did you know that if the Titanic was made of plastic, it might still be cruising around the world? Below, I will discuss some of the countless number of ways that plastics change your life:Plastic has replaced metals and glass as the primary material used.Used in pillows and mattresses (cellular polyurethane or polyester)Used in cars and hi-tech computersThey provide good insulation for the wiring and are durable in extreme weather conditions.They provide as a good non-reactive medium as water pipes.They are light weight and colourful.Safe for children when they are food grade plastics.Ordinary plastics cause health hazards to humans when eaten in them. Handy as disposable bags, carry bags, wrapping paper, etc. â€Å"Plastic has benefited our society in a number of ways. In fact, plastic has helped in advancements in satellites, shuttles, aircraft, and missiles. As a result, civilian air travel has improved, as well as military air power and space exploration. In addition, the building and construction, electronics, packaging, and transportation industries have all benefited grea tly from plastic. † Did you know that researches are trying to make a television (made of plastic) that will roll up in your living room? Plastic – Health and Environmental Hazards Although plastic has many positive influences in everyday lives, there have been instances when plastics have posed some health and environmental hazards. Most plastics do not pose any health or environmental hazards, but some monomers that are used in manufacturing plastics, have been proved to cause cancer. Even though recycling continues to reuse plastics, most plastics do not rot and cannot be reused. Unfortunately, this has become an environmental problem: Where will the plastic be disposed? But, many researchers hope to find a solution to this dilemma in the future. When every plastic can be broken down, plastic will truly become the most useful product! Plastic – BaneNon biodegradable.Obstruct underground water percolation.Microbes cannot destroy them.Produce harmful gases when burnt.Plastic bags thrown into the open drains and sewers clog them and cause stagnation of water, which in turn poses health hazardsDisposable syringes, drip bottles, blood and urine bags and other medical accessories when disposed off in an irresponsible manner, cause a lot of serious health problems.Animals sometimes feed on plastics and die painfully as plastic chokes their digestive and respiratory tracts. What we can do: Avoid using plastic bags for shopping. Avoid disposing plastic bags with organic wastes. Avoid using plastic chairs and tables. Plastic is made of crude oil. So lesser usage of plastic saves the crude oil. Plastic from Plants: Is It an Environmental Boon or Bane? Plant-based plastics are beginning to replace petroleum. But as the price drops and usage rises, will the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Facts:-More than 2. billion plastic bottles partially made from plants * PlantBottle from the Coca-Cola Co. is made by converting sugars from sugarcane farmed in Brazil into the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) * Most importantly from Coke's point of view, none of the six other major varieties of plant-based plastic can keep the carbonation from leaking out.PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA Plastic waste is recycled in India in an â€Å"unorganized† way. 60% of the plastic-waste collected and segregated gets recycled back into materials for further processing into consumer products, while the balance is left unutilized. Regulations and legislations are being enforced in two States of India viz. Haryana and Himachal pradesh, while a National Plastic Waste Management Council Task Force has been set up by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment of Forests, with the association of Department of Petroleum and Chemicals, Ministry of Urban Affairs, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and various groups/associations of plastic manufacturers. Scope is there for the recycling/management of plastic waste, as an `organised activity’ in India Municipal solid waste in India contain 1-4 per cent by weight of plastic waste. India’s rate of recycling of plastic waste is the highest (60%) in the world as compared to other countries (China 10%, Europe 7%, Japan 12%, South Africa 16%, USA 10%). As a source of hazard to environment, plastic account for 16% of chlorine in the environment and have 54 carcinogens, polythene bags for disposal if burnt irresponsibly releases highly toxic gases like phosgene, carbon monoxide, chlorine, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, besides deadly dioxin. Polymers are gradually replacing natural materials like metal, timber and fibres and thereby conserving the natural environment. Polymers are now finding diversified uses through blends and alloys and giving higher standards of performance and life cycles to various products. Plastics waste forms a wide range. Predominantly it is film packaging and polythene carry bags, followed by blow moulded containers, and broken and discarded moulded items. POLICY MEASURES IN INDIA Various policy measures are being taken to check the nuisance caused by plastic waste in India, through there is no definite policy and legislation ramed in respect of mitigating the plastic waste in the country. These are – Regulations and legislation: (a) Until recently there has been no definite environmental policy and legislation framed in respect of plastic waste in India. The plastics waste gets generated, collected, traded, and reprocessed by known methods into useful products, thereby supplementing supply3 of raw materials, and at economic price. However, a HP Non-biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995, has been introduced by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The Act appropriately envisages prohibition of throwing or depositing plastic articles in public places and to facilitate the collection through garbage in identifiable and marked garbage receptacles for non-biodegradables, placed at convenient places. Haryana State has announced a Bill (1997) on Non-biodegradable Garbage on similar lines as that of Himachal Pradesh. The National Plastics Waste Management Task Force of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has recommended a strategy and action programme of Plastics Waste Management in India. b) Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India have issued criteria for labeling `plastic products’ as `Environmental Friendly’ under its `Ecomark’ Scheme, in association with the Bureau of Indian Standards. One of the requirements for plastic products, is that the material used for packaging shall be recyclable or biodegradable. (c) The Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi (BIS) has issued guidelines on recycling of plastics waste including code of practices for collection, sorting through conventional practices continue to be adopted and accepted, need has been voiced to upgrade these, both by the authorities and NGOs. However, while formulating Indian standard specifications for various plastic products, used for critical applications like plastic piping system, water-storage tanks, packaging for food articles, a clause is included which reads â€Å"no recycled plastics waste shall be used†. An exercise has also been carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Forest in association with Bureau of Indian Standards to include use of recycled plastic waste wherever appropriate in the manufacture of plastic products and this should be specified accordingly in the relevant Indian Specifications. (d) The Prevention of Food Adulteration Department of the Government of India, has issued directives to various catering establishments to use only food-grade plastics, while selling or serving food items. Rules have specified use of `foodgrade’ plastic, which meets certain essential requirements and is considered safe, when in contact with food. The intention is to check possible contamination, and to avert the danger from use of recycled plastic. The Scheme announced in February, 1995 is being implemented in cooperation with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which has formulated a series of standards on this subject. The Bureau of Indian Standards Sub-committee PCD 12. 17 is charged with formulating guidelines, codes and specifications for recycling of plastics. Two documents, viz. , â€Å"Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics â€Å" and `Recycled Plastics for Manufacture of Products, Designation’ have been finalised. (e) The Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi had assigned a study on â€Å"Status of Waste Plastics Recycling in NCR Delhi† to Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research Delhi. Among the conclusions of this study, the following deserve particular mention: – There is need to formulate and enforce code of good practice both for the processor and the consumer. In particular, standards need to be laid down for products from various plastics waste including the co-mingled one. – Directives should be imposed for a periodic air quality and health/hygienic check in the reprocessing units. (f) During September 1996, (and earlier during September, 1994) a National Conference on `Plastics and Environment’ was organised at New Delhi, by FICCI and Plast India Foundation. It was during the Conference that the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India announced the setting up of National Plastics Waste Management Task Force, with representations of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Urban Affairs, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Plast India Foundation, The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association, All India Federation of Plastics Industry, NOCIL, IPCL, and experts from BMTPC, FICCI and CII. The Task Force has submitted its report (August 1997) and drawn Strategy and Action Programmed for Plastics Waste Management in India. (g) A National Association of PET industry has recently been formed by PET manufacturers and users in India which is expected to look after the organized collection and recycling of PET bottles/containers waste. CONCLUSION Plastic Waste Management has assumed great significance in view of the urbanization activities. Plastic waste generated by the polymer manufacturers at the production, extrusion, quality control ; lab. Testing etc. , stages, as well as, by the consumers require urgent disposal and recycling to avoid health hazards. Various strategies are being devised to mitigate the impact of plastic waste in India. Banning plastic bags oversteps the role of government The Huntington Beach City Council voted 4-3 on Oct. 4 to authorize an environmental impact report on the possible effects of banning plastic grocery bags in the city. The study is the next step in the council’s ill-advised crusade to eradicate single-use plastic grocery bags from within city limits and impose a fee of 10 cents per bag on shoppers who opt for paper bags from merchants. The proposed ban would be unwise, invasive and overreaching public policy because it attempts to use the coercive means of government to alter behavior and because it imposes a new fee on shoppers in Huntington Beach — the equivalent of a new tax. Residents of Surf City should be offended. Technically non-partisan Mayor Joe Carchio and council members Don Hansen and Matthew Harper voted against the proposal; all three are Republican, though the council is technically nonpartisan. Council members Connie Boardman, Keith Bohr, Joe Shaw and Devin Dwyer voted to move forward with authorizing the EIR. We find it peculiar that Mr. Dwyer would vote for such a policy, given that he describes himself as a conservative Republican. The council selected Rincon Consulting to conduct the study, which will cost nearly $30,000. The city will front the money for the report, but it is to be eventually borne by local environmental groups. The city will also pay an additional $10,000 in printing and copying costs for the study. Legislating personal behavior This second vote brings the council closer to making a bag ban a reality. But before proceeding, council members supporting the proposed ordinance ought to reconsider and ponder several questions: Is there sufficient evidence to suggest plastic bags actually have a significant impact on the environment compared with socalled reusable bags? Is it the role of the local city council to legislate personal behaviors and purchasing choices? Is it fiscally prudent to impose a paper-bag fee on residents? The Huntington Beach council majority is pursuing a reckless policy that will have a negative economic impact on the community and be a blow to the individual liberties of residents. Voters ought to reach out to City Hall, and, if that does not work, hold the council members who support the bag ban accountable at the ballot box.

Spence v. Washington (1974)

Spence v. Washington (1974) Should the government be able to prevent people from attaching symbols, words, or pictures to American flags in public? That was the question before the Supreme Court in Spence v. Washington, a case where a college student was prosecuted for publicly displaying an American flag to which he had attached large peace symbols. The Court found that Spence had a constitutional right to use the American flag to communicate his intended message, even if the government disagreed with him. Fast Facts: Spence v. Washington Case Argued: January 9, 1974Decision Issued:  June 25, 1974Petitioner: Harold Omond SpenceRespondent: State of WashingtonKey Question: Was a Washington State law criminalizing the display of a modified American flag in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments?Majority Decision: Justices Douglas, Stewart, Brennan, Marshall, Blackmun, and PowellDissenting: Justices Burger, White, and RehnquistRuling: The right to modify the flag was an expression of freedom of speech, and as applied, the Washington State statute was in violation of the First Amendment.   Spence v. Washington: Background In Seattle, Washington, a college student named Spence hung an American flag outside the window of his private apartment - upside down and with peace symbols attached to both sides. He was protesting violent acts by the American government, for example in Cambodia and the fatal shootings of college students at Kent State University. He wanted to associate the flag more closely with peace than war: I felt there had been so much killing and that this was not what America stood for. I felt that the flag stood for America and I wanted people to know that I thought America stood for peace. Three police officers saw the flag, entered the apartment with Spence’s permission, seized the flag, and arrested him. Although Washington state had a law banning desecration of the American flag, Spence was charged under a law banning â€Å"improper use† of the American flag, denying people the right to: Place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, color, ensign or shield of the United States or of this state ... orExpose to public view any such flag, standard, color, ensign or shield upon which shall have been printed, painted or otherwise produced, or to which shall have been attached, appended, affixed or annexed any such word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing or advertisement... Spence was convicted after the judge told the jury that merely displaying the flag with an attached peace symbol was sufficient grounds for conviction. He was fined $75 and sentenced to 10 days in jail (suspended). The Washington Court of Appeals reversed this, declaring that the law overbroad. The Washington Supreme Court reinstated the conviction and Spence appealed to the Supreme Court. Spence v. Washington: Decision In an unsigned, per curiam decision, the Supreme Court said the Washington law â€Å"impermissibly infringed a form of protected expression.† Several factors were cited: the flag was private property, it was displayed on private property, the display did not risk any breach of peace, and finally even the state admitted that Spence was â€Å"engaged in a form of communication.† As to whether the state has an interest in preserving the flag as â€Å"an unalloyed symbol of our country,† the decision states: Presumably, this interest might be seen as an effort to prevent the appropriation of a revered national symbol by an individual, interest group, or enterprise where there was a risk that association of the symbol with a particular product or viewpoint might be taken erroneously as evidence of governmental endorsement. Alternatively, it might be argued that the interest asserted by the state court is based on the uniquely universal character of the national flag as a symbol.For the great majority of us, the flag is a symbol of patriotism, of pride in the history of our country, and of the service, sacrifice, and valor of the millions of Americans who in peace and war have joined together to build and to defend a Nation in which self-government and personal liberty endure. It evidences both the unity and diversity which are America. For others, the flag carries in varying degrees a different message. â€Å"A person gets from a symbol the meaning he puts into it, and what is one manâ⠂¬â„¢s comfort and inspiration is another’s jest and scorn.† None of this mattered, though. Even accepting a state interest here, the law was still unconstitutional because Spence was using the flag to express ideas which viewers would be able to understand. Given the protected character of his expression and in light of the fact that no interest the State may have in preserving the physical integrity of a privately owned flag was significantly impaired on these facts, the conviction must be invalidated. There was no risk that people would think the government was endorsing Spence’s message and the flag carries so many different meanings to people that the state cannot proscribe the use of the flag to express certain political views. Spence v. Washington: Significance This decision avoided dealing with whether people have a right to display flags they have permanently altered to make a statement. Spence’s alteration was deliberately temporary, and the justices appear to have thought this relevant. However, at least a free speech right to at least temporarily â€Å"deface† the American flag was established. The Supreme Court’s decision in Spence v. Washington was not unanimous. Three justices - Burger, Rehnquist, and White - disagreed with the majority’s conclusion that individuals have a free speech right to alter, even temporarily, an American flag in order to communicate some message. They agreed that Spence was indeed engaged in communicating a message, but they disagreed that Spence should be allowed to alter the flag to do so. Writing a dissent joined by Justice White, Justice Rehnquist stated: The true nature of the State’s interest in this case is not only one of preserving â€Å"the physical integrity of the flag,† but also one of preserving the flag as â€Å"an important symbol of nationhood and unity.† ... It is the character, not the cloth, of the flag which the State seeks to protect. [...]The fact that the State has a valid interest in preserving the character of the flag does not mean, of course, that it can employ all conceivable means to enforce it. It certainly could not require all citizens to own the flag or compel citizens to salute one. ... It presumably cannot punish criticism of the flag, or the principles for which it stands, any more than it could punish criticism of this country’s policies or ideas. But the statute in this case demands no such allegiance.Its operation does not depend upon whether the flag is used for communicative or noncommunicative purposes; upon whether a particular message is deemed commercial or politica l; upon whether the use of the flag is respectful or contemptuous; or upon whether any particular segment of the State’s citizenry might applaud or oppose the intended message. It simply withdraws a unique national symbol from the roster of materials that may be used as a background for communications. [emphasis added] It should be noted that Rehnquist and Burger dissented from the Court’s decision in Smith v. Goguen for substantially the same reasons. In that case, a teenager was convicted for wearing a small American flag on the seat of his pants. Although White voted with the majority, in that case, he attached a concurring opinion where he stated that he would not â€Å"find it beyond congressional power, or that of state legislatures, to forbid attaching to or putting on the flag any words, symbols, or advertisements.† Just two months after the Smith case was argued, this one appeared before the court - though that case was decided first. As was true with the Smith v. Goguen case, the dissent here simply misses the point. Even if we accept Rehnquist’s assertion that the state has an interest in preserving the flag as â€Å"an important symbol of nationhood and unity,† this does not automatically entail that the state the authority to fulfill this interest by prohibiting people from treating a privately own flag as they see fit or by criminalizing certain uses of the flag to communicate political messages. There is a missing step here - or more likely several missing steps - which Rehnquist, White, Burger and other supporters of bans on flag â€Å"desecration† never manage to include in their arguments. It’s likely that Rehnquist recognized this. He acknowledges, after all, that there are limits to what the state may do in pursuit of this interest and cites several examples of extreme government behavior which would cross the line for him. But where, exactly, is that line and why does he draw it in the place he does? Upon what basis does he allow some things but not others? Rehnquist never says and, for this reason, the effectiveness of his dissent completely fails. One more important thing should be noted about Rehnquist’s dissent: he makes it explicit that criminalizing the certain uses of the flag to communicate messages must apply to respectful as well as contemptuous messages. Thus, the words â€Å"America is Great† would be just as prohibited as the words â€Å"America Sucks.† Rehnquist is at least consistent here, and that’s good - but how many supporters of bans on flag desecration would accept this particular consequence of their position? Rehnquist’s dissent suggests very strongly that if the government has the authority to criminalize burning an American flag, it can criminalize waving an American flag as well.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Turing Test essays

Turing Test essays Electrical impulses fire through the brain at high speeds, lighting up the dark recesses and grooves within to produce what we call intelligent thought. For centuries, humans have grasped onto our notion of intelligence as belonging to us and us alone. However, as we wave goodbye to the 20th century and begin our long trek into the new millenium, our ideas of what is considered to be intelligence are rapidly changing. With the birth of the computer age, we have created what is considered by many as artificial intelligence. What makes some people believe the computers we have constructed have this thing called artificial intelligence? One man, Turing, says a computer has reached a level of intelligence when it is capable of fooling a human into thinking the computer is also a human. When one looks closely at what Turing has to say for the case of AI, it is clear to see that his test proves nothing. This test for intelligence has been dubbed by many as the Turing Test and the process is amazingly simple. A human (also known as the Interrogator) converses with either another person or a computer who is situated in another room. The Interrogator has no idea what they are speaking to. Through the conversation (which is happening via computer), the Interrogator is supposed to conclude whether or not they are speaking with a computer or a human. If the computer fools the Interrogator into thinking it was another person, then it has won the test and is deemed intelligent. Turings argument is essentially valid. He argues that if something can fool a human being, it must possess some form of intelligence. It can be accepted by many people that if Bob could fool a person into believing something which is not true, then Bob must be smarter or have more intelligence than the person whom he fooled. If that could be said for Bob, than why not for a computer? But this is where Turings test begins to become untrue...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Affect of power relations on organizational change and development Essay

Affect of power relations on organizational change and development - Essay Example The consolidation exercises resorted to by the various organizations have made the companies leaner and flatter as management levels are being eliminated. Organizations are now trying to reduce bureaucracy and make the executives directly responsible and accountable for their tasks. Political as well as institutional systems play an important role in the power dynamics during any organizational change process. Some of these forces resist change due to changing dynamics while others stimulate them for the same reason (cited in Boonstra and Gravenhorst 1998). During any change process, CEO and the management along with consultants etc try to use their power to influence the process of change. At times this use of power to influence others can cause resistance while at other times it can facilitate the change process as noted by Fable and Yukl (1992) Power dynamics can be displayed openly or invisibly by the agents involved. For example, Bachrach and Baratz (1962) say that management ca n exclude participation by keeping certain decision from being open to discussions during a change process. In open display of power dynamics, managers hold meeting and discussions where they try to convince and influence others through facts, expertise or experiences. Theories of power dynamics and change management Boonstra and Gravenhorst (1998) look at power dynamics under five different perspectives. They build on the various researches that have studied the bases of power and root their first perspective on these. They say that â€Å"change in organizations is demanded by the top management and they need their position and power in order to effect change† (Boonstra and Gravenhorst 1998). In the second perspective they say that personal power is also used and thought the starting point of change is power, logical arguments and facts to support change are presented. The next two perspectives are based on the research in organization theory and management. In the fourth pe rspective, they see the role of agencies in exerting power to control processes and the various â€Å"interest groups† use power to negotiate the direction in which the change process should go. So far, the use of power was prominently observable in the various perspectives. In the fifth perspective, this is more subtle. The change agents tend to instill values, norms and perceptions through â€Å"management of meaning† and emphasize on the usefulness aspects of the desired change. The fifth perspective is about using the models developed by the organizational learning and organizational schools. They say that these models use the power of discussions and employee participation to bring about the desired change. Earlier literature on power viewed it as the ability of the change agent to influence the subjects to accept that change within a particular reference context (French and Raven 1959). Boonstra and Gravenhorst (1998) say that Bass in 1960 described two sources o f power – personal and position. In the position power, a manager has received authority to act by virtue of his position in the organization. This is the dominating power of the management and any confrontations to proposals put forward by the management are considered as resistance and hence are intolerable as per Hardy and Clegg (1996) quoted by Boonstra and Gravenhorst (1998). Bouwen (1995) describe this authoritarian model of change as â€Å"

Friday, October 18, 2019

End-of-Term Written Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

End-of-Term Written - Assignment Example Later on, with the turn of the century, white bands began to emerge and Jazz music has been evolving since its birth. In the book â€Å"A History of Jazz Music†, Scaruffi Piero credits New Orleans for becoming a hub for Jazz music and the pivot where musicians came to perform and earn. As it says, â€Å"New Orleans was a cosmopolitan amusement park. Thus music was always in demand, not just as paid entertainment but as the soundtrack of a never-ending party. In other cities ethnicity was a problem. In New Orleans ethnicity was an opportunity to improve the party, because each ethnic group brought its different style of partying (e.g., dances) to the party.† (Scaruffi, 2005) Stylistic Characteristic of Chick Corea The way he plays his electric keyboard especially on synthesizers is commendable and that is also one of the major reasons of his popularity. Also, Corea has been with countless bands and musicians, yet he has remained popular and his music, ever recognizable w ith the bass drums, blues, syncopation, improvisation and what not. He started playing piano from the age of four and had been influenced by Horace Silver and Bud Powell. As mentioned above, he collaborated with various artists in performing Jazz music and it says that he remained playing for 40 years with all these people; keeping in mind the fact, that he started his career in early 1960’s. With the turn of the 21st century, Corea began experimenting with solo albums and produced six solo albums namely, Solo Piano: Originals, Solo Piano: Standards, Past, Present & Futures, Rendezvous in New York, To the Stars and The Ultimate Adventure. It must be noted that Corea is not just a pianist but also a composer and that he had engaged in experimenting with Jazz music in collaboration with many other vocalists, drummers and guitarists to carve a niche for himself in this music genre. He is an award-winning icon who is best known for his â€Å"countless performances, recordings, t ours and collaborations with some of the music’s most well-respected names. Having been a member in bands of legends like Miles Davis, Stan Getz, and countless others, Corea began developing what has become a remarkably illustrative career. As a member of these bands, Corea met many of his closest musical cohorts, of whom he would work closely with for years to come.† (Larson, 2013) Among other things, Corea is also known to be associated with Scientology, which has a major impact on his music and as he said in one of his interviews that he could communicate with millions of people while performing as he implied Scientology in his music. About â€Å"Return to Forever† Return to Forever was composed in 1972 but it was released in USA not before 1975 and therefore their second album, â€Å"Light as a Feather† which was released in 1973; made their first album really popular. Return to Forever is another fusion of Latin and Brazilian rhythms which is mixed wi th electro-piano notes. This album is very soft and comprises of romantic numbers which is very different than that of other Jazz music which was being produced at that time. As Miles Davis and Tony Williams were producing ground shaking, rocking music, Corea and his team were approaching the Jazz music with yet another

The Historical Relevance of the Movie Saving Private Ryan Essay

The Historical Relevance of the Movie Saving Private Ryan - Essay Example Besides, the movie acts the role of a link between past and present. Thesis statement: The movie "Saving Private Ryan" is historically relevant because it portrays World War II from personal and general perspectives. Plot summary The movie begins with a World War II veteran’s (Ryan) visit to Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France. The film is presented as a flash-back, which represents the Normandy Invasion of 1944, undertaken by America and its allies against German control over French territory. The initial landing on French soil was undertaken and successfully accomplished by Captain John H. Miller. Dancyger opines about Miller that â€Å"His conscious self-sacrifice to save Ryan elevates the premise of the narrative to mediation on the question of what is worth dying for, and the film implies that there are issues and events in life that are worth dying for† (197). Then, the whole attention is shifted to the main plot of the story. Within this context, Ge neral George Marshall came to know that Ryan family is to be informed that four brothers are lost during the war. But George Marshall was aware of the fact that Private First Class James Francis Ryan (fourth brother) was not dead but missing in action. The following part of the film revolves around Miller’s attempt to find out Ryan. The troop members travel through Neuville, Vierville and Ramelle and finds out Ryan. In the end, Ryan and others survive and Miller was succumbed to death. Then the viewers came to know that the old man in the beginning of the film who visit’s Miller’s grave was Ryan. Historical relevance As pointed out, the movie "Saving Private Ryan" is interconnected with one of the important events during World War II. Within this context, the movie can be considered as attempt from the director to commemorate the soldiers who fought bravely to save the whole world from Nazism and Fascism. Besides, the director makes use of the main character (Mi ller) as a mouthpiece to communicate with the viewers. The director shows ample importance to the relationship between past and present. The first scene in the film represents the present condition, in which a World War veteran visits a grave yard. When the camera suddenly shifts attention to another scene, and the time element becomes stagnant. This leads to a sequence of scenes in which the camera focuses upon the hardships faced by the soldiers during the World War II. As the whole world was undergoing imminent threat from Adolf Hitler and his ideology of Aryan supremacy, the plot selected by the director can be considered as historically relevant. The movie’s plot is interconnected with war history, especially the World War II. But the director does not try to portray the World War II as a whole. Instead, he made use of a specific incident within the World War II as the plot for his movie. For instance, the Invasion of Normandy in France by America (say, in 1944), and its allies was an important event during the World War II. It paved the way towards the ultimate downfall of Adolf Hitler. Instead of telling the story from a third person perspective, the director made use of the character Miller as the eye witness and participant of the war. Within this context, the film must be considered as a tribute to the soldiers who fought for the wellbeing of humanity. One can easily identify that the physical and mental trauma faced by the soldiers during World War II is an eye opener for the whole world. The director gave ample importance to the combat scenes and same is to be considered as a kaleidoscopic vision into the darker side of war. Besides, the movie represents the survival instinct of human beings in critical

Mid- Term Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mid- Term Exam - Assignment Example In addition, this security model largely emphasizes the security aspects of information technology and helps people in analyzing all those important aspects that pertain to the comprehensive and valuable features of information technology (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). The three major components of the C.I.A triangle consist of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. Confidentiality: It is considered as one of the most important components of this particular model as it solely emphasizes the aspect of procurement of valuable information and it’s prevention from getting shared to unauthorized personnel. Information technology is considered to be a vital aspect as it serves multiple purposes. All kinds of major transactions that take place in today’s scenario are mostly based online mode and there are many malicious internet users who are very proficient in stealing and manipulating information that is highly restrictive (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). Integrity: It is al so considered to be a vital aspect of this particular triangle as this component largely emphasizes the protection of information along with preventing it from getting modified or even manipulated from any kind of unauthorized users which may prove to disrupt the information sharing process (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). ... to be the most important aspect in the field of information technology as it widely emphasizes the broad aspect of protection of information along with ensuring unauthorized access. It also facilitates to prevent revelation or disruption of the information to unwanted individuals. The two key concepts of information security essentially include IT security and Information assurance. IT security relates to ensuring proper security to the computers and all its components. Similarly, information assurance relates to the procurement of information and prevention of the valuable data from getting lost or being manipulated. However, both of these concepts have greater significance in relation to the triangle, especially in the modern day technological context as these concepts along with the components of C.I.A aim at a basic objective i.e. to ensure all round security in matters pertaining to information technology and its proper usage (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). Best example of informat ion technology and utilization of the concepts of information security and components of C.I.A would be that it is utilized by IT specialists, corporations, hospitals, financial institutions, government and military among broad entities. The components are utilized with the prime objective of ensuring comprehensive and steadfast security regarding various types of business information that are processed and shared for various authenticated and business purposes (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). 2. DESCRIBE AN INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY. EXPLAIN WHY IT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF AN INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM Information security policies are certain documented business rules and regulations that are implemented for the sole purpose of storing and protecting information in an appropriate

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Corporate Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate Law - Essay Example A company's safety culture will be among the factors that a jury will have to consider. Those who have campaigned for directors and senior management to be held personally accountable will be disappointed. (Baker 2007, 22-22) The act does not apply to individuals, there are no prison sentences and the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine. Individuals can still be prosecuted for manslaughter under common law and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The new law will make a considerable difference to employers' accountability for heath and safety. The most important change is that there will be convictions under this act, which prosecutors were unable to secure under previous law except in the case f a few small companies. The days f "no case to answer" submissions for high-profile corporate manslaughter cases are gone. Juries will convict, judges will impose significantly higher fines, and courts will be able to make a "publicity order" forcing guilty employers to publicise their offence and the penalty. The other main dThe other main difference is that, from now on, almost every workplace fatality will lead to a corporate manslaughter investigation by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Probably only a handful will result in a prosecution, but employers will face years f uncertainty and intrusive investigation focusing on the actions f senior management. So it's vital organisations have clear reporting lines and that managers have defined roles and responsibilities. The HSE recommends appointing a board-level health and safety director. Businesses should have up-to-date organisational charts and ensure job profiles and remits actually reflect the roles carried out. These should be reviewed after restructuring, acquisitions or disposals to ensure clear lines remain intact or have been created to cover all operations. If these kinds f details are absent, this will no doubt be drawn to the jury's attention by the prosecution. A corporate manslaughter investigation will also look for a "safety culture" in organisations. Employers should be able to show they have robust safety management systems that are reviewed regularly, and staff trained in the most relevant and up-to-date health and safety procedures. There should also be an open attitude to the raising f concerns. A clear whistle-blowing policy would demonstrate a transparent safety culture. Staff should be aware f the policy, those handling disclosures should be trained appropriately, and employee and manager health and safety training recorded on file. Even with exemplary policies, a corporate manslaughter criminal investigation will involve police scrutiny over a long period, possibly including arrest and interviews under caution. Staff may need support, legal representation, counselling

Banning the use of mobile phones in motor vehicles Essay

Banning the use of mobile phones in motor vehicles - Essay Example .................................5 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦6 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 Introduction to Australian Automobile Association: The Australian Automobile Association was founded in 1924 with an aim to represent the Australian motorists at national and international level. It coordinates and manages the activities of its constituting motoring clubs and is also considered as the ‘official voice’ of Australian motoring. It has been successful in influencing the public policy and is known for its high quality services and benefits to m ore than 6.3 million members all over Australia. It undertakes research on a continuous basis to analyze the actual situation and reflect the opinions of motorist across Australia. AAA is a part of Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which represents more than 100 million people in approximately 120 countries. It also supports a range of programs both nationally and internationally such as ANCAP, Australia’s best cars etc to promote driver and road safety, environmental protection as well as sustainable mobility. Banning the use of mobile phones in motor vehicles: In this submission, concerns regarding the use of mobile phones while driving have been discussed in order to present a safe system approach for safer drivers and safer environment. The pushing implementation of the tough policy with a total ban on the use of mobile phones in vehicles is opposed by AAA. First of all, mobile phones are an important means of communication. The distraction caused by mobile phones cannot be overlooked but there are many benefits as well. It provides valuable security and assistance in emergency situations. Moreover, in this rapidly growing world it is almost impossible to stop people from the usage of mobile phones in vehicles. According to a survey, between 2009 and 2010, approximately 50,000 drivers have been fined more than $11 million for texting, calling, receiving their phones. Hence, the government should seek other ways for road safety such as the introduction of driver education programs, systematic assessment of risk levels for safety improvement etc. Background: The discussion regarding the impact of mobile phones while driving and its contribution towards the increased risk of accidents is increasing day by day. In the recent years, due to the advancements in the mobile sector, particular attention is being paid to the use of mobile phones. This has given rise to the concerns about the pote ntial impact and role of mobile phones in a collision risk. Although, there are many safety issues involved with the mobile devices the implied benefits are also present. It may increase the productivity and efficiency of the employee by increasing the responsiveness to its clients and other coworkers. A mobile phone with GPS (Global Positioning System) can save a lot of time if a person is lost. However, researches have mostly shown the negative consequences of using mobile phones as a secondary task while driving. In Australia, on an average 1700 people die on Australians road each year and the ban on hand-held mobiles has been enforced since 1999. Analysis of the issue: Although driving is a very

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Mid- Term Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mid- Term Exam - Assignment Example In addition, this security model largely emphasizes the security aspects of information technology and helps people in analyzing all those important aspects that pertain to the comprehensive and valuable features of information technology (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). The three major components of the C.I.A triangle consist of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. Confidentiality: It is considered as one of the most important components of this particular model as it solely emphasizes the aspect of procurement of valuable information and it’s prevention from getting shared to unauthorized personnel. Information technology is considered to be a vital aspect as it serves multiple purposes. All kinds of major transactions that take place in today’s scenario are mostly based online mode and there are many malicious internet users who are very proficient in stealing and manipulating information that is highly restrictive (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). Integrity: It is al so considered to be a vital aspect of this particular triangle as this component largely emphasizes the protection of information along with preventing it from getting modified or even manipulated from any kind of unauthorized users which may prove to disrupt the information sharing process (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). ... to be the most important aspect in the field of information technology as it widely emphasizes the broad aspect of protection of information along with ensuring unauthorized access. It also facilitates to prevent revelation or disruption of the information to unwanted individuals. The two key concepts of information security essentially include IT security and Information assurance. IT security relates to ensuring proper security to the computers and all its components. Similarly, information assurance relates to the procurement of information and prevention of the valuable data from getting lost or being manipulated. However, both of these concepts have greater significance in relation to the triangle, especially in the modern day technological context as these concepts along with the components of C.I.A aim at a basic objective i.e. to ensure all round security in matters pertaining to information technology and its proper usage (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). Best example of informat ion technology and utilization of the concepts of information security and components of C.I.A would be that it is utilized by IT specialists, corporations, hospitals, financial institutions, government and military among broad entities. The components are utilized with the prime objective of ensuring comprehensive and steadfast security regarding various types of business information that are processed and shared for various authenticated and business purposes (Whitman and Herbert 1-250). 2. DESCRIBE AN INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY. EXPLAIN WHY IT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF AN INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM Information security policies are certain documented business rules and regulations that are implemented for the sole purpose of storing and protecting information in an appropriate

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Banning the use of mobile phones in motor vehicles Essay

Banning the use of mobile phones in motor vehicles - Essay Example .................................5 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦6 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 Introduction to Australian Automobile Association: The Australian Automobile Association was founded in 1924 with an aim to represent the Australian motorists at national and international level. It coordinates and manages the activities of its constituting motoring clubs and is also considered as the ‘official voice’ of Australian motoring. It has been successful in influencing the public policy and is known for its high quality services and benefits to m ore than 6.3 million members all over Australia. It undertakes research on a continuous basis to analyze the actual situation and reflect the opinions of motorist across Australia. AAA is a part of Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), which represents more than 100 million people in approximately 120 countries. It also supports a range of programs both nationally and internationally such as ANCAP, Australia’s best cars etc to promote driver and road safety, environmental protection as well as sustainable mobility. Banning the use of mobile phones in motor vehicles: In this submission, concerns regarding the use of mobile phones while driving have been discussed in order to present a safe system approach for safer drivers and safer environment. The pushing implementation of the tough policy with a total ban on the use of mobile phones in vehicles is opposed by AAA. First of all, mobile phones are an important means of communication. The distraction caused by mobile phones cannot be overlooked but there are many benefits as well. It provides valuable security and assistance in emergency situations. Moreover, in this rapidly growing world it is almost impossible to stop people from the usage of mobile phones in vehicles. According to a survey, between 2009 and 2010, approximately 50,000 drivers have been fined more than $11 million for texting, calling, receiving their phones. Hence, the government should seek other ways for road safety such as the introduction of driver education programs, systematic assessment of risk levels for safety improvement etc. Background: The discussion regarding the impact of mobile phones while driving and its contribution towards the increased risk of accidents is increasing day by day. In the recent years, due to the advancements in the mobile sector, particular attention is being paid to the use of mobile phones. This has given rise to the concerns about the pote ntial impact and role of mobile phones in a collision risk. Although, there are many safety issues involved with the mobile devices the implied benefits are also present. It may increase the productivity and efficiency of the employee by increasing the responsiveness to its clients and other coworkers. A mobile phone with GPS (Global Positioning System) can save a lot of time if a person is lost. However, researches have mostly shown the negative consequences of using mobile phones as a secondary task while driving. In Australia, on an average 1700 people die on Australians road each year and the ban on hand-held mobiles has been enforced since 1999. Analysis of the issue: Although driving is a very

Tuberculosis Undergraduate Essay Example for Free

Tuberculosis Undergraduate Essay Abstract Tuberculosis is a good example of the importance of the ecological balance between host and parasite in infectious disease. Hosts are not usually aware of pathogens that invade the body and are defeated. If defenses fail, however, hosts become very much aware of the resulting disease. Several factors may affect host resistance levels—the presence of other illness and physiological and environmental factors such as malnutrition, overcrowding, and stress. Tuberculosis is most commonly acquired by inhaling the tubercle bacillus. Only very fine particles containing one to three bacilli reach the lungs, where they are usually phagocytized by a macrophage in the alveoli. The macrophages of a healthy individual usually destroy the bacilli. I. Introduction Tuberculosis is or TB is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. The most common form is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slender, rod-like bacterium commonly called the tubercle bacillus. The tubercle bacillus is very hardy, surviving when many other bacteria cannot. In addition to affecting the lungs, tuberculosis can affect almost all other organs of the body. Tuberculosis, which in the past called phthisis and consumption, has afflicted man for thousands of years. Evidence of the disease has been found in Egyptian mummies. Tuberculosis was once a leading cause of death in all age groups, but its severity has decreased with improved medical care and better living standards. Most persons have a natural resistance to the tubercle bacillus. Even though large numbers of persons, especially in cities, become infected by the bacillus early in life, only a small percentage actually develops the disease (Orrett Shurland, 2001). This paper intent to: (1) know the occurrence of tuberculosis and how it is being spread; (2) be aware of its symptoms and detection and; (3) figure out its treatment and control. II. Background Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slender rod and an obligate aerobe. The rods grow slowly (20-hour generation time), sometimes form filaments and tend to grow in clumps. On the surface liquid media, their growth appears moldlike, which suggested the genus name Mycobacterium, from the Greek mykes, meaning fungus. These bacteria are relatively resistant to normal staining procedures. When stained by the ZiehlNeelson or Kinyoun technique that stains the cell with carbolfuchsin dye, they cannot be decolorized with a mixture of acid and alcohol and are therefore classified as acid-fast. This characteristic reflects the unusual composition of the cell wall, which contains large amounts of lipid materials (American Thoracic Society, 2000). These lipids might also be responsible for the resistance of mycobacteria to environmental stresses, such as drying. In fact, these bacteria can survive for weeks in dried sputum and are very resistant to chemical antimicrobials used as antiseptics and disinfectants. Tuberculosis is a good example of the importance of the ecological balance between host and parasite in infectious disease. Hosts are not usually aware of pathogens that invade the body and are defeated. If defenses fail, however, hosts become very much aware of the resulting disease. Several factors may affect host resistance levels—the presence of other illness and physiological and environmental factors such as malnutrition, overcrowding, and stress (Weiss, 2000). Tuberculosis is most commonly acquired by inhaling the tubercle bacilli reach the lungs, where they are usually phagocytized by a macrophage in the alveoli. The macrophages of a healthy individual usually destroy the bacilli. If they do not, the macrophages actually protect the microbe from the chemical and immunological defenses of the body, and many of the bacilli survive and multiply within the macrophage (American Thoracic Society, 2000). These macrophages eventually lyse, releasing an increased number of pathogens. The tubercle bacilli released from dying macrophages form a lesion. A hypersensitivity reaction against these organisms causes formation of a tubercle, which effectively walls off the pathogen. These small lumps are characteristics of tuberculosis and give the disease its name. Tubercles are composed of packed masses of tissue cells and the disintegration products of bacilli and leukytes; they usually have a necrotic center. Few bacteria are present in the tubercle (Diehl, 2003). The tubercle bacillus does not produce any injurious toxins. Tissue damage is mostly from the hypersensitivity reaction. As the reaction continues, the tubercle undergoes necrosis and eventually forms a caseous lesion that has a cheeselike consistency. If the caseous lesions heal, they become are called Ghon complexes. If the disease is not arrested at this point, the caseous lesions progress to liquefaction. An air-filled tuberculous cavity is formed from the caseous lesion. Conditions within the cavity favor the proliferation of the tubercle bacillus, which then grows for the first time extracellularly. Bacilli soon reach very large members, and eventually the lesion ruptures, releasing the microorganisms into the blood and lymphatic system (American Thoracic Society and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000). This condition of rapidly spreading infection that overwhelms the body’s remaining defenses is called miliary tuberculosis (the name is derived from the numerous millet seed-sized tubercles formed in the infected tissues). This condition leads to a progressive disease characterized by loss of weight, coughing (often with a show of blood), and general loss of vigor. (At one time, tuberculosis was commonly was known as consumption.) Even when patients are considered cured, tubercle bacilli often remain in the lung, and the disease may be reactivated. Reactivation may be precipitated by old age, poor nutrition, or immunosuppression. III. Discussion A. Occurrence and Spread When a person with tuberculosis coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets containing thousands of tubercle bacilli are sprayed into the air. The disease is spread when non-infected persons inhale the bacilli thus released into the air. A person can also contract tuberculosis by drinking unpasteurized milk from cows having the disease. This form of tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. Resistance to tuberculosis depends largely upon the general health of the individual. Persons who are undernourished or weakened by disease are more likely to develop tuberculosis. Outbreaks tend to occur in areas with crowded living conditions, such as nursing homes and prisons (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). About 90 percent of tuberculosis infections occur first in the lungs. Tuberculosis of the lungs is called pulmonary tuberculosis. When tubercle bacilli are inhaled into the lungs, they are either destroyed by white blood cells or surrounded by special cells and fibers in the infected area of the lung, forming tiny nodules called tubercles. If the immune system is effective, the bacteria are kept from multiplying and an active case of tuberculosis does not develop. In some cases, however, the bacteria enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and are carried to other parts of the body. The bacteria usually lodge in the brain, kidneys, bones, or heart (Murray, 2000). B. Symptoms and Detection Early pulmonary tuberculosis commonly gives no specific warning. Later, fatigue, weight loss, or a low fever may be the only symptoms. In advanced stages, severe coughing, hoarseness, chest pain and the appearance of blood in the sputum (a mixture of saliva and discharges from the respiratory passages) can occur. If the patient is untreated and his resistance is low, large areas of lung tissue can be destroyed and there is considerable weight loss. The best way of detecting infection by tubercle bacilli is by means of a tuberculin test. In a tuberculin test, tuberculin—a liquid containing substance obtained from tubercle bacilli—is injected between the layers of the skin. After 48 to 72 hours, the point of injection is examined for redness and swelling (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). A tuberculin test will reveal whether a person has been infected by tubercle bacilli, but it will not indicate whether he has an active case of the disease. Diagnosis of active tuberculosis can usually be made by a chest X ray and other tests. Diseased areas of the lungs usually cast a characteristic shadow on the X-ray film. Another method of diagnosis involves a microscopic examination of the patient’s sputum for the presence of tubercle bacilli (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). C. Treatment and Control Prior to 1945, practically the only methods for treating tuberculosis were prolonged bed rest and (in advanced cases) immobilization of the infected lung by collapsing it. Since the time, drugs have been produced that can stop the tubercle bacilli from multiplying, thus allowing the natural defenses of the body to be effective. The most important of these drugs are streptomycin (INH). In addition, improved surgical techniques permit the safe removal of areas of the lung where infection persists despite treatment with drugs (American Thoracic Society, 2000). Most important in tuberculosis control is early detection, so that persons with the disease can be treated and isolated from others. A vaccine known as BCG can create immunity to tuberculosis. However, in the United States this vaccine is recommended only in special circumstances. One reason is that vaccinated persons react positively to a tuberculin test and therefore cannot be differential from infected persons. D. Planning and Goals The major goals for the patient include maintenance of a patient airway, increased knowledge about the disease and treatment regimen and adherence to the medication regimen, increased activity tolerance, and absence of complications. E. Nursing Interventions a.) Promoting Airway Clearance Copious secretions obstruct the airways in many patients with TB and interfere with adequate gas exchange. Increasing fluid intake promotes systematic hydration and serves as an effective expectorant. The nurse instructs the patient about correct positioning to facilitate airway drainage (Diehl, 2003). b.) Advocating Adherence to Treatment Regimen The multiple- medication regimen that a patient must follow can be quite complex. Understanding the medications, schedule, and side effects is important. The patient must understand that TB is a communicable disease and that taking medications is the most effective means of preventing transmission. The major reason treatment fails is that patients do not take their medications regularly and for the prescribed duration. The nurse carefully instructs the patient about important hygiene measures, including mouth care, covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, proper disposal of tissues, and hand hygiene (Diehl, 2003). c.) Promoting Activity and Adequate Nutrition Patients with TB are often deliberated from a prolonged chronic illness and impaired nutritional status. The nurse plans a progressive activity schedule that focuses on increasing activity tolerance and muscle strength. Anorexia, weight loss, and malnutrition are common in patients with TB. The patient’s willingness to eat may be altered by fatigue from excessive coughing, sputum production, chest pain, generalized debilitated state, or cost, if the person has few resources. A nutritional plan that allows for small, frequent meals may be required. Liquid nutritional supplements may assist in meeting basic caloric requirements (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). F. Monitoring and Managing Potential Complications a.) Malnutrition This may be a consequence of the patient’s lifestyle, lack of knowledge about adequate nutrition and its role in health maintenance, lack of resources, fatigue, or lack of appetite because of coughing and mucus production. To counter the effects of these factors, the nurse collaborates with dietitian, physician, social worker, family, and patient to identify strategies to ensure an adequate nutritional intake and availability of nutritious food. Identifying facilities that provide meals in the patient’s neighborhood may increase the likelihood that the patient with limited resources and energy will have access to a more nutritious intake (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). High-calorie nutritional supplements may be suggested as a strategy for increasing dietary intake using food products normally found in the home. Purchasing food supplements may be beyond the patient’s budget, but a dietitian can help develop recipes to increase calorie intake despite minimal resources. IV. Conclusion In conclusion, persons infected with tuberculosis develop cell-mediated immunity against the bacterium. This form of immune response, rather than humoral immunity, is because the pathogen is located mostly within macrophages. This immunity, involving sensitized T cells, is the basis for the tuberculin skin test. In this test, a purified protein derivative (PPD) of the tuberculosis bacterium, derived by precipitation from broth cultures, is injected continuously. If the injected person has been infected with tuberculosis in the past, sensitized T cells react with these proteins and a delayed hypersensitivity reactions appears in about 48 hours. This reaction appears as an induration (hardening) and reddening of the area around the injection site. Probably the most accurate tuberculin test is the Mantoux test, in which dilutions of 0.1 ml of antigen are injected and the reacting area of the skin is measured. A number of similar tests are also in common use. A positive tuberculin test in the very young is a probable indication of an active case of tuberculosis. In older persons, it might indicate only hypersensitivity resulting from a previous infection or vaccination, not a current active case. Nonetheless, it is an indication that further examination is needed, such as a chest X-ray for the detection of lung lesions and attempts to isolate the bacterium. References: 1. American Thoracic Society (2000). Diagnostic standards and classification of tuberculosis in adults and children. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 161 (4), 1376-1395. 2. American Thoracic Society and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2000). Targeted tuberculin testing and treatment of latent infection. American Journal of respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 161 (4), S221-S247. 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2003). Essential components of a tuberculosis prevention and control program: recommendations of the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis. MMWR Modibity and Mortality Weekly Report, 44 (RR-11), 1-16. 4. Diehl, H. S. (2003). The Health of College Students. American Council on Education. Washington, DC. 5. Murray, J. F. (2000). Intensive Care: A Doctors Journal. University of California Press. Berkeley, CA. 6. Orrett, Fitzroy A. Shurland, Simone M. (2001).Knowledge and Awareness of Tuberculosis among Pre-University Students in Trinidad Journal of Community Health, Vol. 26. 7. Weiss, R. â€Å"TB troubles.† Science News 133:92-93, 2000. Discusses reasons for the recent increase in tuberculosis in the United States.