Gen 200 Personal Responsibility Essay - 777 Words

Personal Responsibility Goes Hand-in-Hand with Success GEN200 September 30, 2012 1 I define personal responsibility as being in charge of myself. Personal responsibility goes hand-in-hand with success because it is possible to fail if I am undisciplined with my time management. Being undisciplined can cause me to procrastinate. Maintaining good health is vital to my academic success. I must be aware of the consequences of managing my health poorly. Controlling stress levels ensures that I am focused on my goals. There are perks to managing my emotions. Personal responsibility means having a possessing of duty. It means setting goals and standards. As a student, I realize that only I am responsible for the outcome of my academic†¦show more content†¦This group acknowledged that parents provide support and resources and that sometimes things outside the child conspire against them, but the predominant factor for their child’s success was the child’s own efforts and motivation.† Maintaining good health is vital to my academic success because if I am unhealthy, I am likely to lose focus. Managing my health poorly can lead to a decline in academic success. For instance, not getting enough will cause restlessness and make focusing difficult. In the article Exercise Improves Academic Performance Copley is quoted as saying, â€Å"Sigfusdottir (2007) found that body mass index and physical activity were responsible for as much as 24% of all differences in academic achievement. Dwyer et als (2001) evaluation of nearly 1 million students in grades 5 through 9 found that those with higher levels of physical fitness (particularly aerobic capacity) achieved higher scores on standardized tests (this effect was strongest for mathematics tests). Shepherd (1997) found that reducing academic class time by 240 minutes per week and replacing it with physical activity increased scores on standardized math tests.† Controlling stress levels ensures that I am focused on my goals. Managing my emotions helps to make sureShow MoreRelatedGen 200 Personal Responsibility Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Responsibility and College Success Charles Roberts Jr. Gen/200 May 3, 2013 Ms. LaTaunya Howard Personal Responsibility and College Success Personal responsibility requires one to accept that every action, thought, decision, victory, and defeat in life ultimately is reliant upon and impacts them directly. When an individual accepts personal responsibility to be a college student, they are making a commitment to themself and taking ownership of their goals and ambitionsRead MorePersonal Responsibility and College Success1232 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Responsibility and College Success Antwan Houston GEN/200 October 25, 2011 University of Phoenix Personal Responsibility and College Success Introduction Personal responsibility requires one to finally accept the truth that you are responsible for your own actions. Most of the time when mistakes are made, the initial reaction is to point a finger or find an excuse rather than accept involvement. Personal responsibility is the key to College success because at times, most studentsRead MoreMy Out Look on Personal Responsibility877 Words   |  4 PagesMy Outlook on Personal Responsibility Anne Marie Bordeaux Gen/200 March 30, 2013 Barbara Wood My Outlook on Personal Responsibility Personal responsibility can mean taking ownership in everything one does. It means different things too many people for different reasons. â€Å"Broadly defined, personal responsibility is a state in which an individual feels a sense of obligation to a situation or event.† DePasquale, J. P. (2000). Without personal responsibility one may fail not only in collegeRead MorePersonal Responsibility Rough Draft1736 Words   |  7 PagesSamuel Cedeno Gen/200 August 27, 2012 Instructor: Jennifer Smith Personal Responsibility Leads to Success Even though a person taking on too many responsibilities can lead to his or her downfall, personal responsibility can lead to success in higher education. Because responsibility is the force that binds an individual to the course of action demanded by the goal, personal responsibility can incur beneficial habits and admirable behaviors that will advocate successful outcome. The stateRead MorePersonal Responsibility Essay1097 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Responsibility Albertis McCray Gen Ed 200 10/28/2011 John Bachofer III Personal Responsibility Essay Personal Responsibility is taking accountability for all your thoughts, feelings and actions. Understanding personal responsibility is taught from elementary school all the way through college. As an adult going back to school, understanding personal responsibility is the key to successfully obtain your degree. Entrepreneur’s must be personally responsible or theyRead MorePersonal Responsibility1129 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Responsibiliy Essay William Challenor Gen/200 12 Mar 2012 Felicia Winborne Personal Responsibility To be successful in college one must be personally responsible for their actions. Personal responsibility is having integrity, and taking accountability for his or her actions. Doing the right thing and making ethical choices will demonstrate being personally responsible and will result in a successful college experience. Personal responsibility is taking ownership of their thoughtsRead MorePersonal responsibility2573 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿ Personal Responsibility Brings Success in Education Michele Blevins GEN 200 February 2, 2013 Kelly Gross Personal responsibility and personal growth go hand-in-hand with success in education. Personal responsibility is the key to success in school. Responsibility goes hand-in-hand with success, happiness, and achievement. A person has to be mentally able to accept personal responsibility and delegate their responsibility appropriately. â€Å"The acceptanceRead MoreSecondary Analysis of Qualitative Data2317 Words   |  10 PagesThis essay aims to examine the practice of secondary analysis on qualitative data in terms of barriers to overcome and advantages of its practice. Over the last decades, archives of qualitative data have become widely accessible to research-es and there has been a smaller revolution in the practice of secondary analysis on such data. (Seale, 2004) There are both practical and methodological ad-vantages for researchers to use data that has been collected by others in order to pursue new research.Read MoreMetamorphoses Within Frankenstein14861 Words   |  60 PagesSydney S tudies Critica l Metamorphoses of Frankenstein reflection of some of the wild fantasies which, as it w ere, h ung in the air 7 about her’ ( Mario Pr az) . ‘Lik e almost ev erything else about her lif e, Frankenstein is an instance of gen ius observed and ad mired bu t not 8 shared’, according to Robert K iely; ‘one of those second-rate works’, declared D. W . Harding, ‘written under the influen ce of more 9 distinguished minds’. Thanks largely to some Copern ican ch anges in ourRead MoreJob Analysis13751 Words   |  56 Pagesrecruitment. (4) development of personnel selection procedures. (5) administration/implementation of personnel selection procedures. (6) empirical validation research. (7) training program development and evaluation. (8) general supervisory/management. (9) personal/ professional growth/development/service/continuing education. (10) general activities applying to multiple categories. The four task rating scales included one dichotomous rating of whether or not the task is performed, and three nine-point rating

Obamacare and Small Business - 1856 Words

Obamacare Small Business BUS 207 01 November 25, 2013 Melissa Spinden Many people have a lot of questions when it comes to the new healthcare reform law. First off Obamacare is formally called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is the healthcare reform law that was signed in 2010 and now many states have opened their health insurance marketplace exchanges as of October 1, 2013. This new healthcare reform law aims to increase the number of Americans that are covered by health insurance and also to decrease the cost of health care. Under this new law everyone in America will have to get health insurance of some form.†¦show more content†¦The delay of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will allow for small businesses to increase employee hours as well as hire additional employees until 2015 when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will take affect for businesses. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may negatively impact some employees; if an employee has coverage through its employer the insurance premium must be less than 9.5% of their income. For example if the employee premium is $3600 a year and the 20% share of the premium is $720 and the employee makes $45,000 a year; $45,000 x 9.5%= $4275 which is greater than $720. Therefore this coverage would be deemed affordable. However if this particular employee has a family of four the premium for the family would be an additional $7500 a year. In this case this individual would be eligible for tax credits to help afford the health insurance coverage if their employer did not provide health coverage (Lee, 2013). The delay of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will help and hurt people at the same time. The delay of the healthcare reform law does not change the January 2014 deadline that mandates all individuals to get health insurance coverage or taxShow MoreRelatedObamacare Will Impose New Health Coverage963 Words   |  4 PagesObamacare will impose new health coverage costs, the employer mandate, compliance regulations, and new taxes on all businesses. Altogether, these constraints will dramatically affect companies’ per-employee costs, desire to provide health coverage, and motivation to grow in terms of both income and employment. Further Burdening Businesses. Obamacare is likely to exacerbate many of the concerns and costs that are already burdening businesses—particularly small-business owners—in at least four waysRead MoreEssay on Obamacare and Small Businesses 1289 Words   |  6 Pages Obamacare and Small Businesses Adverse Effects Obamacare seems to have a plethora of negative elements attached to it. When it comes to small businesses, Obamacare might potentially have an adverse effect on the employers and workers. However, at this time we cannot do anything for fellow citizens that are feeling the emotional and monetary distress that they’re enduring as a result of Obamacare. There is a possibility Obamacare will have a negative impact on small businesses. Attributable to theRead MoreShould the government require every US citizen and business to have affordable healthcare?700 Words   |  3 PagesShould the government require every US citizen and business to have affordable healthcare? You are working at your small business when you hear a knock on your office’s door, it is your boss†¦ he comes in; he starts talking about how you were a service to his business; after a long period of talk, he fires you. You are now on the way home thinking that this day cannot get worse but then you look at your taxes and they have increased. Then you open the TV and you are watching the news â€Å"Obama care willRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act783 Words   |  3 PagesCare Act (Obamacare) is a healthcare program created by president Obama’s administration. The goal of the Affordable Care Act is to make sure every United States citizen has health insurance. The Affordable Care Act provides â€Å"affordable† health insurance plans to citizens that do not have any and make about $15,000 a year. While the idea of providing health insurance to the millions of American’s that cannot afford it is great, everything comes at a cost. According to Emily Mil ler, Obamacare is causingRead MoreEssay about The Welfare Programs and The Economy in the United States 1138 Words   |  5 PagesSmall businesses are contrived to give all of their employees health care due to Medicare. Through the terms of ObamaCare, small businesses are compelled into closing their doors because of all the hand outs they have to get to their employees. When small business begin to become more successful and make more money, Medicare takes their profits away and gives it to people who dont really need it. ObamaCare and Medicare have both taught ignorant Americans to not get a job because they can get theRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act Of The United States1373 Words   |  6 Pagesbe the president of the United States. As he is the president, he implied many new suggestions in the United States, for example, the Affordable Care Act or The Patient Protection also known as Obamacare. The health care reform also known as The Patient Protection and Affordable Care A ct or simply Obamacare became one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the United States since the mid-1960’s.1 This is the first attempt to reform the U.S. Health Care system of the United States since theRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act ( Aca ) Or Obamacare?1655 Words   |  7 Pages The Pros and Cons of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare? Who Benefits and Who gets Hurt? Chanokporn Srisuwan, Student MBAA 605 Business, Government, and Society Mercy College School of Business- MBA Program August 04, 2016 Abstract The propose of this article is to present the advantages and disadvantages of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare which make all Americans insurable, by requiring insurers to accept all applicants at rates based onRead MoreAffordable Care Act and the Effect on the Economy Essay1165 Words   |  5 Pagesarea of small businesses. A study from the National Federation of Independent businesses justifies how small businesses have the biggest problem supporting their employees with health benefits. Many Americans speculate whether or not the bill will actually benefit small businesses. Instead of helping the business owners, this law will actually enforce a penalty and fine if they do not supply low enough insurance. A two thousand dollar fine per employee is actually levied for any business with moreRead MoreFinding Common Ground Essay1105 Words   |  5 Pagesthis date is when the growing debate began. The Affordable Care Act is also commonly known as Obamacare. A large issue be tween the opposing sides is the future of small business under this bill. â€Å"Many small businesses are going to be absolutely crushed by the provisions in Obamacare that require them to provide expensive health insurance coverage for their employees.† (Snyder, Michael) â€Å"3.2 million small businesses — employing 19.3 million workers nationwide — were eligible last year for tax creditsRead MoreObamacare:Threat to America Essay1076 Words   |  5 PagesThe Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law on March 23, 2010 by President Barack Obama. The purpose of the Act is a health care law aimed at improving the health care system of the United States by widening health coverage to more Americans, as well as protecting existing health insurance policy holders. As of October 1, 2013, Americans have the option to apply for medical coverage through the government controlled Health Insurance Marketplace

Problems Faced by Female Teachers Free Essays

gender discrimination Discrimination  is the  prejudicial  or distinguishing treatment of an individual based on his or her membership – or perceived membership – in a certain group or category. It involves the group’s initial reaction or interaction, influencing the individual’s actual behavior towards the group or the group leader, restricting members of one group from opportunities or privileges that are available to another group, leading to the exclusion of the individual or entities based on logical or irrational decision making. Discriminatory traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws exist in many countries and  institutions  in every part of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Problems Faced by Female Teachers or any similar topic only for you Order Now In some places, controversial attempts such as  racial quotas  have been used to redress negative effects of discrimination—but have sometimes been called  reverse discrimination  themselves. Though gender discrimination refers to beliefs and  attitudes  in relation to the  gender  of a person, such beliefs and attitudes are of a social nature and do not, normally, carry any legal consequences. Teacher Cadet Essay iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src="https://phdessay.com/teacher-cadet-essay/embed/#?secret=pahojawsk0" data-secret="pahojawsk0" width="500" height="282" title="#8220;Teacher Cadet Essay#8221; #8212; Free Essays - PhDessay.com" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"/iframe Gender discrimination, on the other hand, may have legal consequences. Though what constitutes gender discrimination varies between countries, the essence is that it is an adverse action taken by one person against another person that would not have occurred had the person been of another gender. Discrimination of that nature is considered a form of  prejudice  and in certain enumerated circumstances is illegal in many countries. Gender discrimination can arise in different contexts. For instance an employee may be discriminated against by being asked discriminatory questions during a job interview, or by an employer  not hiring or promoting, unequally paying, or wrongfully terminating, an employee based on her (or his) gender. In an educational setting there could be claims that a student was excluded from an educational institution, program, opportunity, loan, student group, or scholarship because of her/his gender. In the housing setting there could be claims that a person was refused negotiations on seeking a house, contracting/leasing a house or getting a loan based on his or her gender. Another setting where there have been claims of gender discrimination is banking; for example if one is refused credit or is offered unequal loan terms based on one’s gender. Another setting where there is usually gender discrimination is when one is refused to extend his or her credit, refused approval of credit/loan process, and if there is a burden of unequal loan terms based on one’s gender. Socially, gender differences have been used to justify  different roles for men and women, in some cases giving rise to claims of primary and secondary roles. While there are alleged non-physical differences between men and women, major reviews of the academic literature on gender difference find only a tiny minority of characteristics where there are consistent psychological differences between men and women, and these relate directly to experiences grounded in biological difference. However, there are also some psychological differences in regard to how problems are dealt with and emotional perceptions and reactions that may relate to hormones and the successful characteristics of each gender during longstanding roles in past primitive lifestyles. In the developing countries like Nepal, gender discrimination is one of the major backwards of development. It  describes the absence of obvious or hidden disparities among individuals based on gender. Disparities can include the discrimination in terms of opportunities, resources, services, benefits, decision-making power and influence. Males enjoy a privileged status from their birth whereas females are often ignored and/or are isolated from social interactions. They are not granted the same opportunities in education, and other basic rights are often overlooked. When a woman gives birth to a son, he is well cared for and is highly regarded by his family and society. On the other hand, in the event that she gives birth to a daughter, she is ignored and poorly regarded. Nepalese society expects females to inhabit with their husband’s family and their sons and to continue living in his parent’s home. Thus, the maintenance of the family lineage is perpetuated. Daughters are not considered as heirs in the system of Nepali lineage. Nepal’s total population is about 23 million. Out of this about fifty percent is Women. In Nepal, like other developing countries, the state of women is not satisfactory. Male dominated family system provides very little scope for the female to assert their identity. They are marginalized from economic and social opportunities due to illiteracy, poverty and conservative social taboos. The present status of women is said to be strong than the past but it is the same. 32 women have been Members of Parliament after restoration of democracy but it is only limited up to the written forms but not so practically. The status of women is the same as it used to be in the past. My neighbor is a pretty woman who has been living near me for 5 years. Her mother in law tortures her for not giving a birth to a boy child. As she has already given birth to two girl child. So they warned her that if next time she does not give birth to a boy then she has to leave the home and her husband will marry another woman. So she in the fear of losing her husband was ready to give birth to another child but unfortunately she got miscarriage and she got admitted to the hospital. The family members in this situation rather than consoling the women they didn’t cared about her and left her in the hospital. After few days the husband got married to another woman . They didn’t allow her to enter the house and meet her daughters. Men can leave their wives for petty reasons such as if they fail to give birth to a male heir. Socially and economically men are always considered as superior to women, breadwinner, head of the family and the care taker and this is major cause for the low participation of women in every sector. This is only one example from our society there are several such discriminations and crimes happening in our society for several reasons. Not only in Nepal but throughout the world females are being dominated by males. It is time that Nepalese men understood the value of their women and respected them for what they are. After all, their mothers were also born as girls. The prevailing unfair social and labour relations compounded by unequal power structure and patriarchal thinking contribute to the sorry situation of girls in Nepal. Social attitude towards girls is still regressive. Majority of girls are denied care, education, health service, recreation and other basic services right from the birth. The environment in which they are living is not conducive for physical and cognitive growth. Moreover, the atmosphere that prevails at home, family, community and at the national level obstruct the path of overall development of girls. If we fail to properly analyze the nature and form of the problems and the reasons for such a situation of girls, not only will we be unable to ensure a bright future of our girls, but we will fail to ensure a secure future for our women and mothers. This means the movement for women’s liberation will barely be able to keep its head above troubled water. Following facts reveal the situation of the girl children in Nepal. a. Population:  Girls in Nepal consist 50 per cent of the total child population. CBS) ————————————————- In every thousand children Boys  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Girls Infant mortality rate (IMR)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  144. 50  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   150. 38 Child mortality rate (U5MR)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  108. 00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   133. 00 b. Gender Discrimination/Son Preference:  Discrimination of girls is rampant in every sector of society. Son preference is very high. According to the 2001 census, the national ratio of boys and girls is 100:101, while in some districts such as Far West Kailali it is 100:84. c. Literacy Rate:  Literacy rate of girls is 42 per cent compared to 65 per cent among boys. In Nepal, primary school going girls is 74 per cent compared to 86 per cent boys. (MOE 2003) d. Child Malnutrition:  Child malnutrition in Nepal is 56. 2 per cent in which the state of girls is more vulnerable than boys. Statistics on breast feeding indicate that 51 per cent male children are breast fed, while its number is only 43 per cent among female children. e. Child Sexual exploitation:  Almost 40 per cent of survivors of child sexual abuse and rape are girls below 18 years. Most of them are abused at home, in educational institutions, work places or any given place. They are insecure in all these places. CWIN 2008) f. Child Marriage:  34 per cent of total marriages in Nepal are with girls below 16 years. Some 7 per cent of child marriages take place with children below 10 years. (UNICEF 2005). Existing practices of dowry in many parts of the country further provokes child marriages in the society. g. Child Labor Exploitation:  Most household chores and child rearing ac tivities are the responsibility of girls. Girls aged between 10-14 years work double compared to boys in the same age group. It is also reported that 2. 6 million Nepali children are working in different fields of labor. Amongst these 56% are reported to be girls. (ILO-IPEC, 2001) h. Bonded Labour:  Labour bondage still persists in the form of ‘Kamlari’ in the eastern part of Nepal, where girls are kept in the households of their ‘masters’ to serve them. i. Girl Trafficking:  Girls are trafficked for different purposes including domestic work, forced beggary, marriage, carpet weaving and sex trade. About 20 per cent (i. e. 40,000) of the total trafficked women for sex trade are girls below 16 years. (CWIN 2006) Annually approximately 12,000 girl children and women are trafficked. (ILO, How to cite Problems Faced by Female Teachers, Papers Problems Faced by Female Teachers Free Essays gender discrimination Discrimination  is the  prejudicial  or distinguishing treatment of an individual based on his or her membership – or perceived membership – in a certain group or category. It involves the group’s initial reaction or interaction, influencing the individual’s actual behavior towards the group or the group leader, restricting members of one group from opportunities or privileges that are available to another group, leading to the exclusion of the individual or entities based on logical or irrational decision making. Discriminatory traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws exist in many countries and  institutions  in every part of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Problems Faced by Female Teachers or any similar topic only for you Order Now In some places, controversial attempts such as  racial quotas  have been used to redress negative effects of discrimination—but have sometimes been called  reverse discrimination  themselves. Though gender discrimination refers to beliefs and  attitudes  in relation to the  gender  of a person, such beliefs and attitudes are of a social nature and do not, normally, carry any legal consequences. Gender discrimination, on the other hand, may have legal consequences. Though what constitutes gender discrimination varies between countries, the essence is that it is an adverse action taken by one person against another person that would not have occurred had the person been of another gender. Discrimination of that nature is considered a form of  prejudice  and in certain enumerated circumstances is illegal in many countries. Gender discrimination can arise in different contexts. For instance an employee may be discriminated against by being asked discriminatory questions during a job interview, or by an employer  not hiring or promoting, unequally paying, or wrongfully terminating, an employee based on her (or his) gender. In an educational setting there could be claims that a student was excluded from an educational institution, program, opportunity, loan, student group, or scholarship because of her/his gender. In the housing setting there could be claims that a person was refused negotiations on seeking a house, contracting/leasing a house or getting a loan based on his or her gender. Another setting where there have been claims of gender discrimination is banking; for example if one is refused credit or is offered unequal loan terms based on one’s gender. Another setting where there is usually gender discrimination is when one is refused to extend his or her credit, refused approval of credit/loan process, and if there is a burden of unequal loan terms based on one’s gender. Socially, gender differences have been used to justify  different roles for men and women, in some cases giving rise to claims of primary and secondary roles. While there are alleged non-physical differences between men and women, major reviews of the academic literature on gender difference find only a tiny minority of characteristics where there are consistent psychological differences between men and women, and these relate directly to experiences grounded in biological difference. However, there are also some psychological differences in regard to how problems are dealt with and emotional perceptions and reactions that may relate to hormones and the successful characteristics of each gender during longstanding roles in past primitive lifestyles. In the developing countries like Nepal, gender discrimination is one of the major backwards of development. It  describes the absence of obvious or hidden disparities among individuals based on gender. Disparities can include the discrimination in terms of opportunities, resources, services, benefits, decision-making power and influence. Males enjoy a privileged status from their birth whereas females are often ignored and/or are isolated from social interactions. They are not granted the same opportunities in education, and other basic rights are often overlooked. When a woman gives birth to a son, he is well cared for and is highly regarded by his family and society. On the other hand, in the event that she gives birth to a daughter, she is ignored and poorly regarded. Nepalese society expects females to inhabit with their husband’s family and their sons and to continue living in his parent’s home. Thus, the maintenance of the family lineage is perpetuated. Daughters are not considered as heirs in the system of Nepali lineage. Nepal’s total population is about 23 million. Out of this about fifty percent is Women. In Nepal, like other developing countries, the state of women is not satisfactory. Male dominated family system provides very little scope for the female to assert their identity. They are marginalized from economic and social opportunities due to illiteracy, poverty and conservative social taboos. The present status of women is said to be strong than the past but it is the same. 32 women have been Members of Parliament after restoration of democracy but it is only limited up to the written forms but not so practically. The status of women is the same as it used to be in the past. My neighbor is a pretty woman who has been living near me for 5 years. Her mother in law tortures her for not giving a birth to a boy child. As she has already given birth to two girl child. So they warned her that if next time she does not give birth to a boy then she has to leave the home and her husband will marry another woman. So she in the fear of losing her husband was ready to give birth to another child but unfortunately she got miscarriage and she got admitted to the hospital. The family members in this situation rather than consoling the women they didn’t cared about her and left her in the hospital. After few days the husband got married to another woman . They didn’t allow her to enter the house and meet her daughters. Men can leave their wives for petty reasons such as if they fail to give birth to a male heir. Socially and economically men are always considered as superior to women, breadwinner, head of the family and the care taker and this is major cause for the low participation of women in every sector. This is only one example from our society there are several such discriminations and crimes happening in our society for several reasons. Not only in Nepal but throughout the world females are being dominated by males. It is time that Nepalese men understood the value of their women and respected them for what they are. After all, their mothers were also born as girls. The prevailing unfair social and labour relations compounded by unequal power structure and patriarchal thinking contribute to the sorry situation of girls in Nepal. Social attitude towards girls is still regressive. Majority of girls are denied care, education, health service, recreation and other basic services right from the birth. The environment in which they are living is not conducive for physical and cognitive growth. Moreover, the atmosphere that prevails at home, family, community and at the national level obstruct the path of overall development of girls. If we fail to properly analyze the nature and form of the problems and the reasons for such a situation of girls, not only will we be unable to ensure a bright future of our girls, but we will fail to ensure a secure future for our women and mothers. This means the movement for women’s liberation will barely be able to keep its head above troubled water. Following facts reveal the situation of the girl children in Nepal. a. Population:  Girls in Nepal consist 50 per cent of the total child population. CBS) ————————————————- In every thousand children Boys  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Girls Infant mortality rate (IMR)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  144. 50  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   150. 38 Child mortality rate (U5MR)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  108. 00  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   133. 00 b. Gender Discrimination/Son Preference:  Discrimination of girls is rampant in every sector of society. Son preference is very high. According to the 2001 census, the national ratio of boys and girls is 100:101, while in some districts such as Far West Kailali it is 100:84. c. Literacy Rate:  Literacy rate of girls is 42 per cent compared to 65 per cent among boys. In Nepal, primary school going girls is 74 per cent compared to 86 per cent boys. (MOE 2003) d. Child Malnutrition:  Child malnutrition in Nepal is 56. 2 per cent in which the state of girls is more vulnerable than boys. Statistics on breast feeding indicate that 51 per cent male children are breast fed, while its number is only 43 per cent among female children. e. Child Sexual exploitation:  Almost 40 per cent of survivors of child sexual abuse and rape are girls below 18 years. Most of them are abused at home, in educational institutions, work places or any given place. They are insecure in all these places. CWIN 2008) f. Child Marriage:  34 per cent of total marriages in Nepal are with girls below 16 years. Some 7 per cent of child marriages take place with children below 10 years. (UNICEF 2005). Existing practices of dowry in many parts of the country further provokes child marriages in the society. g. Child Labor Exploitation:  Most household chores and child rearing ac tivities are the responsibility of girls. Girls aged between 10-14 years work double compared to boys in the same age group. It is also reported that 2. 6 million Nepali children are working in different fields of labor. Amongst these 56% are reported to be girls. (ILO-IPEC, 2001) h. Bonded Labour:  Labour bondage still persists in the form of ‘Kamlari’ in the eastern part of Nepal, where girls are kept in the households of their ‘masters’ to serve them. i. Girl Trafficking:  Girls are trafficked for different purposes including domestic work, forced beggary, marriage, carpet weaving and sex trade. About 20 per cent (i. e. 40,000) of the total trafficked women for sex trade are girls below 16 years. (CWIN 2006) Annually approximately 12,000 girl children and women are trafficked. (ILO, How to cite Problems Faced by Female Teachers, Essay examples

Flash Memory free essay sample

Our team has analyzed the current situation of your firm and its projected financial position for the future years 2010-2012. We then incorporated an analysis of the potential, new investment opportunity and its effects on future financial position, in order to decide whether your firm should pursue this growth opportunity. Based on our analysis, we strongly recommend investing in the new product line due to its positive net present value. Furthermore, we believe that it will help you maintain your competitive advantage in this rapidly changing industry.The project will address your concerns regarding cash needs and competitive pressure, among others. Ultimately, we predict that investing in the new project should be a strategic priority, as it will allow your company to remain a strong competitor in the electronic memory industry. Company Background Flash Memory Inc. operates in the computer and electronic device memory market. Founded during a high tech boom, the company has historically experienced higher returns as a pioneer in the market. We will write a custom essay sample on Flash Memory or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Flash specializes in designing and manufacturing solid state drives and memory modules. These products are then sold to original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to be used in the end products such as computers and other electronic devices. As a small firm competing for market share against industry giants such as Samsung and Intel, Flash incurred lower profit margins to order to stay competitive. In addition, continuous technological advances 1 and changing customer needs in the memory industry resulted in short product cycles. This required quick reactions from Flash to produce new products and resulted in a focus on research and development.Despite the external factors of competition and changing technology, Flash focused on creating high quality products, creating a significant competitive advantage against their competitors. Current Financial Situation Based on Flash’s current financial situation, we have forecasted financial statements assuming that Flash does not invest in the new product line and does not issue additional common shares . All assumptions were based on overall economic performance and recent reports of robust sales in the smartphones and netbook markets. Please see Exhibit A for a list of assumptions used in projecting the figures, and Exhibit B for a full set of financial statements for the fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012. The financial statements show that Flash’s profits have grown 10. 8% from 2007-2009 and are expected to grow by 58% from 2009-2011. Comparatively, the SSD market has shown growth of 175% from 20072009 and 155% from 2009-2011. Evidently, there is sufficient market capacity for your firm to pursue further growth and expand your operations. Growth Opportunity The key growth opportunity identified for your firm is to launch a major new product line.This would be a feasible initiative to implement in 2010 due to the positive outcome of our NPV analysis. The net present value of this opportunity is approximately $757,528 (Exhibit C). To arrive at this value, we accounted for all relevant cash inflows, outflows and tax considerations. We based our inflow expectations on sales predictions from our project sponsors, assuming that all sales were collected in the same period. There are also additional assumptions embedded in our analysis of cash outflows in the exhibit.Direct materials and labour costs (COGS) were calculated based on a predicted gross margin of 21% excluding non-cash depreciation of $440,000 per year ($2,200,000/5 years) related to the plant and equipment. Selling, general and administrative expenses were assumed to stay a constant 8. 36% of sales to align with 2009 figures. The one time advertising outflow in 2011 and initial purchase of the plant and 2 equipment in 2010, were considered as well. These values were converted to after-tax values by considering sales taxes and tax shields.The NWC (net working capital) requirement of the project was deemed to be 26. 15% of incremental sales. To translate this into cash flows, we calculated the NWC change year-over -year. Additionally, we assumed management would maintain their commitment to expend 5% of sales towards RD. Although Flash has already incurred a sunk cost of $400,000 to develop the prototypes for this new product line, it is reasonable to assume ongoing RD expenditures to ensure the development of future iterations of this product once the current version becomes obsolete.

Matchpoint vs oedipus Essay Example

Matchpoint vs oedipus Essay The assumptive assignment will have two parts. Part 1: Blob/Soundtrack Assignment For this part of the assumptive task, you are required to select at least 4 songs which, you believe, would work on a soundtrack to The Kite Runner. On the blob you will post a link to the song and write liner notes. For each song/poem, you must include the following in your liner notes: discuss the theme/message of the song; what is the Eng about? Identify at least three literary devices and explain their significance discuss why this song would be an appropriate selection for The Kite Runner Here are some ideas/themes that we discussed in class: Friendship and Brotherhood Rape and Sexual Abuse Gender Roles and Expectations Classicism and Chattels Betrayal, Guilt and Redemption The Immigrant Experience Escaping the past History and Politics in Afghanistan Your blob should have a title, unity, and flow. The songs should make sense together and the progression of the songs should create a drama, or arouse feelings from the Sistine. Think beyond simply the plot of the novel, and make connections to the themes, ideas, mood, tone, characters/characterization, locations discussed, etc.. As long as you can draw a clear connection between the chosen tracks and the novel, you have succeeded! NOTE: If you decide to quote something from The Kite Runner you must cite It using MILA format. We will write a custom essay sample on Matchpoint vs oedipus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Matchpoint vs oedipus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Matchpoint vs oedipus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To submit your blob, you Just have to post the link to the class Dà ©modà © page. You will also be presenting your blob to the class. As a part of your reservation, you will pick one song to play and present. In the presentation, you must discuss why you picked this song for the soundtrack, identify literary devices, and explain how the song relates to a theme in The Kite Runner. Part 2: Poetry Explication/ Analysis of a Poem (Test): This part of your assumptive assignment will be done in class. Category Knowledge Student has an appropriate selection of songs; student has Identified at least 3 separate literary devices; student has a clear understanding of the text and poetic elements Thinking Student analyzes the songs and establishes a clear connection to the novel; the songs work together and the progression of the songs make sense 110 Communication Student speaks clearly, is able to answer questions and back up their opinions by relating the song to events in the text; written communication: spelling, grammar, MILA citations Application shows evidence of thought and effort; blob is organized and creative, and clearly relates to the novel; unity between the design of the blob and the chosen songs

Using the Spanish Preposition Desde

Using the Spanish Preposition Desde Desde is one of the most common Spanish prepositions. Typically translated as since or from, it usually indicates some sort of a motion in either time or space from a certain point. Like other prepositions, desde is usually followed by a noun. However, it occasionally is followed by other types of words or phrases. How to Use "Desde" Here are some of the most common uses of desde: Followed by a noun, to indicate when an action begins: Desde nià ±o fue su pasià ³n y su anhelo ser un cantante. (Since he was a child it was his passion and longing to be a singer.) Desde estudiante se destacà ³ por su perseverancia y su espà ­ritu perfeccionista. (Since she was a student she stood out for her perseverance and her perfectionistic spirit.) Desde bebà ©, tiene una identidad propia. (Since he was a baby, he has had his own identity.) Note that sentences such as these typically arent translated word for word into English.Followed by a time, to indicate when an action begins: Desde 1900 hasta 1945, las exportaciones netas se encontraban cercanas a cero. (From 1900 to 1945, net exports were found to be close to zero.) Carlos es desde esta tarde el nuevo presidente. (Since this afternoon, Carlos has been the new president.)  ¿Desde cundo lo sabes? (Since when have you known that? For how long have you known that?)Followed by a phrase, to indicate when an action begi ns: No habr agua desde antes del mediodà ­a hasta despuà ©s de las ocho. (There will not be water from before noon until after 8.) Vivo en Espaà ±a desde hace 3 aà ±os. (I have lived in Spain since three years ago.) To mean from when indicating where an action originates: Hay vuelos especiales a Roma desde Madrid. (There are special flights to Rome from Madrid.) Puedes enviar un mensaje de texto a un celular desde aquà ­. (You can send a text message to a cellular phone from here.) Murià ³ un hombre al tirarse desde la Torre Eiffel y no abrirse el paracaà ­das. (A man died after jumping from the Eiffel Tower when his parachute didnt open.) Se ve la casa desde la calle. (The house can be seen from the street.) A note about verb tense: You may notice that verb tenses used with desde arent always what you would expect, and they may even be inconsistent. Note this sentence in the present tense: No te veo desde hace mucho tiempo. (I have not seen you for a long time.) It is also possible to use a perfect tense, as is done in English: No te he visto hace mucho tiempo. You may encounter both of these usages in everyday speech and writing, depending on the region youre in and the context of the remarks.

Interpersonal Communication, Pop culture vs. analysis, Benefits of Essay

Interpersonal Communication, Pop culture vs. analysis, Benefits of Marriage - Essay Example These benefits include having increased pay and more chances of promotion simply because of being married, much more likelihood of avoiding getting into trouble with the law especially criminal, behaviour and lastly enabling the man remain in great health than their single counterparts. When individuals are married according to the research by (Horn, Xu, Beam, Turkheimer & Emery, 2012), they show lower levels of psychological distress and antisocial behaviour and this causes positive changes and significantly reduces as well as protects against the negative effects on physical health. Married individuals are better adjusted to relationship as a result if having a shared environment similar to the relationship twins who share the same environment have. Risky behaviour engagement such as excessive alcohol intake, property damage and gang fighting among other criminal activities reduces significantly when the individuals get married. According to the research results, there was reduction of such risky behavioural engagements from a 25% to a 14% as the marriage continued to advance. Cigarette smoking for example reduced from 7 cigarettes to an average of 3 of them per day (Horn, Xu, Beam, Turkheimer & Emery, 2012). The overall wellbeing of married couples is higher than that of cohabiting or simple individuals. This is indicated by their general health. The example referred to in the article by (Ducharme & Kollar, 2012) is based on homosexual relationships before and after getting married. It is found that before marriage, the lesbians even though cohabiting were generally less happy and satisfied like they became once married which is the same trend with heterosexual couples. Another indication of the general wellbeing improving is based on the increase in finances once individuals became married. Apart from the finances coming from both parties hence increasing,

Design a Marketing Metrics system for a commercial organisation of the Essay

Design a Marketing Metrics system for a commercial organisation of the group's choice - Essay Example The authors have aptly summarized the difference between yesteryears and the current day marketing where it has become a science rather than an art. Art and skills are definitely required but the scientific factor is a much needed factor. Here comes the metrics portion of the marketing activity. â€Å"A metric is a measuring system that quantifies a trend, dynamic, or characteristic. In virtually all disciplines, practitioners use metrics to explain phenomena, diagnose causes, share findings, and project the results of future events† (Farris et al., 2006). The executive summary gives a comprehensive and compact picture of the importance of Marketing Metrics in today’s business world. If the marketers are unable to quantify their projections they would not even know what they are looking forward and then all planning and marketing activity becomes vague. By quantifying it is meant that marketing requires numbers like percentage of customers requiring their products, judg e the change in market conditions, explain customer habits and purchase trends. All the quantitative measures can be put in the form of metrics which will define the future course of marketing activity in an organization. This marketing metrics is being done for Coca Cola who needs no introduction in the beverage market where they have a huge presence for decades. Even though Coca Cola has established its brand over the years but still it requires a dynamic marketing team to work round the clock to ensure that it reaches out to its customers in a market which is volatile and can change in a matter of no time. Therefore marketing metrics is required to constantly analyze the changes in trend, the purchasing habitat of people, customer tastes, and inclination to reward systems or accumulation of points on coca cola consumption. The report also emphasizes the background of the company, its non financial resources and its financial resources. The non financial resources include market s hare, customer relationship management, awareness, competitor analysis, product lifecycle and customer satisfaction. The financial resources include Sales and Revenue as well as the Return on Investment (ROI). A lot of planned marketing metrics is done by Coca Cola Company so that it can stay competitive in the market. Marketing metrics involves quantitative analysis based on which important business judgments are made and the marketing managers needs to be spot on and accurate in this analysis to use it to the good effect of the organization as a whole. Introduction Marketing metrics is a complex phenomenon and corporate like Coca Cola needs a range of metric to come to a definite and logical analysis. To achieve the marketing metrics a range of parameters and phenomenon needs to be derived and appropriate data input and analysis needs to be done. Customer satisfaction survey is one of the key input areas where customers quantify their satisfaction level. Similarly trend analysis i s done with customer survey which gives an insight to the company as to the market trends and habits of the consumers. This section gives a comprehensive insight into the method and manner of producing a marketing metric which would serve the purpose of getting quality and quantitative information of the market situation which will enable the marketing department to come to marketing decisions based on analysis. â€Å"The challenge, of course is knowing what to measure and exactly how to measure it. That is where Marketing

The Social Side of Decision Making -GP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Social Side of Decision Making -GP - Essay Example (Larson 1989, p. 46) Here, members of an organization thrive by observing others and rationalizing their actions according to comparisons made with themselves against other people. The upshot is people tend to conform to what is popular at the expense of individualism because that is the safe and easy way to move forward and get things done. This environment is dangerous when we talk of social learning theory because employees’ negative actions are collectively learned from each other. First off, communication occupies the utmost importance in the whole equation. Nike has reportedly suffered a $100 million loss in a quarter as a result of a miscommunication between the management and the company’s techies. According to Sharon Morgen (2005), the technicians were waiting for the Nike management for decisions, while the management, for its part, was expecting the techies to make the decision. As a result, an important project was botched and has generated not just loss of money but an incidence of bad blood between the parties concerned. Certainly, talking with and involving all of the people involved in the decision-making process is one of the best ways to avoid the alienation of labor that Karl Marx fretted so much about†¦ If they own the decision, if it is as much theirs as yours [the CEO’s], it becomes impossible to excuse later performance deficits with standard â€Å"it wasn’t my idea† excuse. It was their idea. (p. 159) Suggestions on changes are mostly on decision-making fronts. First off, whether it is big-decisions or minor ones, such as deciding on a new corporate logo, it should call for participation and input from everyone. The idea is that there should be a group ownership of a decision so as to remove the stigma of corporate autocratic impulses. Secondly, there should be a delegation of authority not of responsibility. Like in the case when someone blundered on a project and he gets fired for it –

Leadership and teamwork in nursing

Leadership and teamwork in nursing ABSTRACT Introduction: The treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis includes antibiotics with or without surgical intervention. Debridement is warranted for the treatment of idiopathic spondylo-discitis in case of neurological deficits, deformity, instability, abscess formation, intractable pain or failure of medical management. The use of instrumentation is still controversial. Objective: Is to evaluate the surgical outcome of idiopathic lumbar spondylodiscitis treated with posterior debridement combined with single-stage posterior instrumentation and autologus bone grafting. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of 15 cases of idiopathic lumbar spondylo-discitis treated with posterior debridement combined with single-stage posterior instrumentation and grafting. All patients were followed up for up to 1 year post-operative. We evaluated operative time, blood loss, and complications. Visual analogue scale (VAS), activities of daily living (ADL) (Barthel index), C reactive proteins (CRP), and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the preoperative, postoperative and final follow-up periods were used to evaluate the surgical outcome. Results: All 15 cases of lumbar infections resolved without recurrence. Bony union was obtained in all cases. Twelve out of 15 patients (80%) were completely relieved of pain and fully active with improvement neurological deficits, while the other 3 patients (20%) obtained a good result. No post-operative major complications were reported among the studied group. There were two superficial infections, which healed with debridement and antibiotics. Conclusion: According to the results reported in this short study, the proposed technique is an effective and safe treatment for idiopathic lumbar spondylo-discitis, if surgery is mandatory. Keywords: spondylo-discitis, debridement, posterior fixation. INTRODUCTION The increasing number of spinal infections has become a global health concern. It is currently due to reactivation of latent infections, more drug resistant agents and more immuno-compromised patients. It has been shown that delay in diagnosis can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, early diagnosis and treatment are therefore of paramount importance.(1) Spinal infections encompass a spectrum of conditions comprising spondylitis, discitis, spondylodiscitis, pyogenic facet arthropathy, epidural infection, meningitis, polyradiculopathy and myelitis. All of these have a specific presentation and clinical course.(2) Osteomyelitis of the spine accounts for approximately 1 to 7% of all osseous infections. In recent years, there have been an increasing incidence of spinal infections, which is now estimated to occur in approximately 1/100,000 individuals annually. This rise may be attributed to the increasing prevalence of elderly and immuno-compromised individuals in the population.(3) The predominant organism in almost all studies is Staphylococcus aureus, accounting for approximately 40 to 80% of all spinal infections. Other Gram-positive organisms such as S. epidermidis and Streptococcus species are also common.(4) Establishing the diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis in a timely fashion is critical to preventing catastrophic neurological injury. In the modern imaging era, magnetic resonance imaging, in particular, has facilitated the diagnosis of osteomyelitis even before the onset of neurological signs or symptoms. Nevertheless, despite advancements in diagnosis, there remains disagreement regarding appropriate treatment. Antibiotics are the main- stay of therapy.(5) The treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis with intravenous antibiotics is universally agreed upon. More than 75% of patients can be treated with intravenous antibiotics and immobilization.(6) Although no difference in clinical outcomes has been observed when comparing antibiotics alone with antibiotics plus surgical debridement, debridement of infected and dead tissue removes the source of continuing sepsis, may allow shorter courses of antibiotic treatment and may also allow early mobilization of the patient.(7) Surgery is generally reserved for patients with neurological involvement, spinal instability, severe deformity, and/or those in whom antibiotics alone have not been effective. Current surgical treatment options include anterior or posterior decompression with or without fusion, and with or without instrumentation. The fact that there exist several alternative surgical approaches highlights the lack of a consensus on the optimal operative treatment for vertebral osteomyelitis. The decision to place instrumentation into an infected spinal column remains controversial. Numerous authors have shown that instrumentation in patients with osteomyelitis can be performed safely.(8) There is still controversy about the best surgical treatment. Many spine surgeons are unwilling to place an implant in an infected area. Some authors go one step further and advocate debridement-only surgery, followed by antibiotic treatment and second- stage instrumentation. Other authors propose single-stage anterior decompression, bone grafting and instrumentation.(9) Aim of the work The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of idiopathic lumbar spondylodiscitis treated with posterior debridement combined with single-stage posterior instrumentation and autologus bone grafting. METHODS This retrospective study included 15 patients (9 males, 6 females) with a mean age of 66 years (range: 43-80) who were admitted to El-Menoufia University Hospitals Neurosurgical Department, in the period from Aug 2007 to Nov 2008. The inclusion criteria were: MRI of lumbo-sacral spine showing evidence of spondylodiscitis. Plain radiographs revealed disc space narrowing with erosion and sclerosis of the adjacent end-plates. Persistent high levels of laboratory tests: white blood cell count (WBC; count/mm3), C-reactive protein (CRP; mg/dl) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; mm/h). Failure of conservative treatment for about 3 months. Development of neurological deficit. The exclusion criteria were: Postoperative spondylodiscitis. Decreasing ESR and CRP levels with conservative treatment. Medically unfit patients. The mean duration of symptoms before admission was 3.7 months (range: 0.5 to 12 months) and the mean duration of conservative treatment before surgery was 2.2 months (range: 1 to 3 months). The average follow-up period was 12 months. Six out of 15 patients (40 %) had an elevated white blood cell count, while all 15 had an elevated ESR and CRP level .Plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without contrast were performed in all patients. Conservative treatment was given to all cases preoperatively in the form of two bactericidal and synergistic antibiotics were administered intravenously in high doses: mostly a first-generation cephalosporin and an aminoglycoside. Postoperatively, the antibiotics were adapted to the antibiogram performed on the specimens obtained. The duration of treatment was determined by the clinical evolution, the ESR and the C-reactive protein. Generally speaking, the antibiotics were administered intravenously for 6 weeks, and orally for 6 weeks. Patients were operated in the prone position for the posterior instrumentation and grafting. A meticulous debridement of all granulation tissue, devitalized disc and sequestra was carried out to the point where healthy cancellous bone is exposed. Wide decompression of the thecal sac was done, with drainage of any epidural abscess and depridment of any necrotic tissue, which were submitted for bacteriological culture and sensitivity, and histological examination. Finally, trans-pedicular screw fixation was done combined with autologus done chips graft. Postoperatively all patients were immediately mobilized with an external lumbo-sacral orthosis. Duration of surgery and operative blood loss were recorded. The clinical outcome was assessed according to Barthel Index,(10) which has been used since the 1960s because of its high reliability and validity, as regards the activities of daily living (ADL), and the VPAS as regards the severity of back pain. Fig 1: Preoperative sagittal MRI-scan of the lumbar spine. T2-weighted images showing L3-L4 spondylodiscitis. Fig 2: A, B. Postoperative antero-posterior and lateral radiographs showing L3-L4 posterior trans-pedicular screw fixation RESULTS After surgery, infection was successfully controlled in all patients, with return of the white blood cell count, ESR and CRP to normal within a mean period of 4 months (range, 2 to 6 months). Two patients (13% of cases) had a superficial wound infection which healed with debridement and antibiotics. The estimated blood loss was 650 ml (range 450-1000 ml). The mean duration of surgery was 3 hours (range: 2 hours to 4 hours). Bony fusion with incorporation of the graft was achieved in all patients. . Table I: Pre-operative clinical presentations No. % Persistent low back pain 15 100 % Radiculopathy 12 80 % Constitutional symptoms 6 40 % Table II: Pre-operative laboratory findings No. % Elevated ESR 15 100 % Elevated CRP 10 66 % Leukocytosis 6 40 % Table III: Pre-operative radiological leveling No. % L 3/4 spondylodiscitis 8 53 % L4/5 Spondylodiscitis 5 33 % L5/S1 Spondylodiscitis 2 14 % Table IV: Associated risk factors No. % DM 5 33 % Chronic Liver Disease 2 14 % Urinary tract infection 4 28 % Table V: Post-operative outcome according to Barthel Index No. % Excellent 12 80 % Good 3 20 % Total 15 100 % DISCUSSION Although there have been advances in diagnosis and treatment of spinal infections with further refinement of microbiological and histopathological techniques, early detection and management remain a matter of considerable difficulty.(11) A correct diagnosis may be delayed by more than a month in over two thirds of the patients. A rise in the worldà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s elderly and immuno-compromised populations is bringing an increased incidence of pyogenic and granulomatous infections of the spine, hence, timely diagnosis of pyogenic spondylodiscitis with back pain and fever may prevent greater tissue destruction, spinal instability and progressive neurological deficit. Advances in therapy have reduced mortality rates, but early diagnosis is essential for a satisfactory outcome.(12) The exact cause of lumbar spondylodiscitis is controversial; some authors believe that there are two types of spondylodiscitis, a septic form caused by an infectious agent and an aseptic form resulting from an inflammatory reaction. (13) Others believe that there is no such thing as an aseptic spondylodiscitis and that this form is actually the result of a less virulent, low grade infection.(14) Once inoculated, the process of infection and discitis begins. More than often, the main causative organism is not identified. When an organism is identified, the most common infectious etiologic agent is Staphylococcus aureus followed by other Staphylococcus species and anaerobic organisms. Other less common organisms include Streptococcus viridans and other Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.(15) Traditionally, the mainstay treatment of pyogenic infections of the spine remains medical management, with external immobilization and culture specific antibiotics for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks. However, large clinical series have demonstrated the need for surgical intervention in up to 43% to 57% of the patients, in case of neurological compromise, deformity, instability, abscess formation, extensive destruction, intractable pain or failure of medical management.(16) Because all the patients in our study were from the low socio-economic class and because of the difficulty to identify the causative organism, we elected not to perform CT guided biopsy and give the patients empirical broad spectrum antibiotics covering both aerobic and anerobic pathogens. It has been reported that the most sensitive laboratory studies indicative of the presence of an inflammatory process are the ESR and the CRP. However, it should be noted that in adults, ESR trends are confused by associated medical conditions. Nevertheless, the ESR was a useful tool in the management of adult pyogenic spondylodiscitis, and the authors of most studies on this matter, view a 60 to 85% reduction in the ESR as compatible with eradication of infection, and this correlates with the results in our study which reported reduction of ESR in 80% of case.(17) MRI is the radiographic imaging modality of choice in diagnosing lumbar spondylodiscitis with a reported sensitivity and specificity of 93% and 97%, respectively. It has been shown that MRI is superior in showing loss of disc space height. This can be accompanied with erosion of the vertebral end plates above and below the infected disc space, and these changes were reported in all cases included in our study.(18) In the surgical treatment of spondylodiscitis, numerous authors have advocated a staged operation with a period of antibiotic therapy bridging the debridement and instrumentation procedures. Open surgical drainage for spondylodiscitis was historically reserved for patients with an epidural abscess. The prognosis is stated to be better when treatment is instituted early during the infection.(19) Posterior debridement combined with trans-pedicular screw fixation has been advocated by several authors. Dai et al(20) obtained 100% of good results with this technique in a series of 22 cases and we used the same technique in this short study. The first series describing the consistent placement of posterior instrumentation at the time of debridement was published in 1988 by Redfern et al(21) In 1996, Rath et al(22) reported on a series of 43 patients with thoracic or lumbar spondylodiscitis who were treated entirely via a posterior approach. This approach is based on the principle that instrumentation placed posteriorly involves a second operating field that is not (at least directly) contaminated. Single-stage procedure surgery (autograft and posterior instrumentation) was used in this study and its results correlates with the Kuklo et al(23) study which included 21 patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis managed by a single-stage with neither recurrence of infection nor perioperative complications. A single-stage procedure has several advantages, such as avoidance of a second anesthesia, reduced blood loss, avoidance of graft displacement during transfers, earlier mobilization, less anxiety for the patient, shortened hospital stay and less expense. (23) According to Barthel Index,(10) 80 % of our patients had an excellent result, without pain or restriction of activity. From a neurological viewpoint, ten patients (83%) of the 12 with a neurological deficit improved and these findings were consistent with Fayazi et al(24) who reported 85% improvement after posterior approach for lumbar spondylo-discitis. After posterior instrumentation, fusion rates up to 93% and 96% have been reported (25) the current study yielded a 100% fusion rate. As stated by Hadjipavlou et al(26) posterior stabilization through instrumentation was the critical factor in these improved results. We believe that posterior instrumentation and grafting is the principal stabilizer of the vertebral column in order to achieve a successful fusion. Conclusion Although this is a limited series, we found that a posterior debridement combined with trans-pedicular screw fixation and autologus grafting may be a safe and effective surgical treatment for selected patients with lumbar spondylodiscitis and may not be associated with recurrent hardware infections and/or any major complications.

Democracy in Civil Disobedience, Slavery in Massachusetts, Benito Ceren

The Oppression of Democracy Exposed in Civil Disobedience, Slavery in Massachusetts, Benito Cereno and Bartleby the Scrivener America has long been recognized as a democratic nation, a nation operating under the will of the people. The forefathers of America fought incessantly against British tyranny to start anew in a land of freedom and opportunity. Because America revived the ancient Greek ideology of democracy, the nation was set apart from the rest of the world and was revered for the freedom and justice it provided its people. However, not everyone thinks that American democracy means freedom and liberty. On the contrary, writers such as Henry David Thoreau in "Civil Disobedience" and "Slavery in Massachusetts," along with Herman Melville in "Benito Cereno" and "Bartleby the Scrivener," suggest that democracy can actually oppress and restrict the individual. In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau criticizes the American government for its democratic nature, namely, the idea of majority ruling. Like earlier transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thoreau believes in the importance of the individual. In a society where there are many individuals with conflicting perceptions and beliefs, Emerson chooses passivity and isolation to avoid conflict with others. However, unlike Emerson, Thoreau rejects passivity and challenges his readers to stand up against the government that focuses on majorities over individuals. Thoreau argues that when power is in the hands of the people, the majority rules, "not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest" (Thoreau 64). Thoreau portrays this very fundamental element of democracy, w... ...t the tyrannical majority and take whatever measures necessary, but Melville simply exposes the repressive nature of democracy and leaves it at that. However, Melville does point out, through "Benito Cereno" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener," that simply rebelling against democracy, as Thoreau proposes, is not the answer. Perhaps Melville does not have a solution, just as Bartleby did not. Nonetheless, to both writers, democracy continues to be a despotic institution. Works Cited and Consulted: Melville, Herman. Bartleby and Benito Cereno. Dover Publications, Inc. New York. 1993. Thoreau, Henry D. "Slavery in Massachusetts." Reform Papers. Ed. Wendell Glick. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1973. 91-109.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ----- "Civil Disobedience" from A World of Ideas - Essential Readings for College Readers, Lee A. Jacobus, Bedford Books, 1998, 1849(123 -146)