On Common Ground, the Power of Professional Learning Communities Essay

The learning system by which educators and students work in is plagued with sometimes tedious, repetitive and oftentimes illogical steps that learning is hampered more than it is encouraged. The book On Common Ground, the Power of Professional Learning Communities seeks to challenge the very core of the learning system that most of schools practice. The book has collated various examples of what it makes to be able to produce education that is considered â€Å"high-level†. (DuFour, 2005) This particular book requires that the different schools and individuals to challenge their preconceived notions and incorporate different types of practices that have been observed by the authors in different types of schools and universities. By far, this is one of the most provocative pieces of work regarding the level of education that is being offered to people right now. More than anything, the book spurs people, especially the educators to press on in improving themselves as well as improving the quality of education and the quality of students that leave the universities and different schools. More than anything, the book is a testament to how a collaborative effort beautifully crafts a sort of â€Å"manual† for improved student performance. (Dufour, 2005) If you are an educator, the different steps and assertions that the authors have discussed in the book are definitely worth losing sleep over as the strategies, lessons and improvements that the authors have agreed upon are all valid, and solid in their assumptions. Should there be any particular conclusion that can be drawn from this book, it is the fact that if teachers come together in a structured and orderly manner, this essentially contributes to the betterment of the student in the area of learning and professional drive. (Dufour, 2005) Ultimately, one should look into this in order to challenge the status quo and begin a new one marked by collaboration and unity in purpose.

Employment Law Brief

Employment Law Brief The Clapton Commercial Construction Company located in Detroit, Michigan, is planning to expand its business into the state of Arizona. It is a medium-sized company with 650 employees and possibly increasing an additional 20% in the new state. Prior to the move, the human resources (HR) department must be aware of applicable employment laws that may affect the business.Outlined below are brief summaries and consequences for noncompliance of the following employment laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), he American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (FLSA). Relevant Employment Laws Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the first employment law to consider. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in aspects of employment such as hiring, wages, assignment, promotions, benefits, and discipline. Titl e VII is the most important federal Equal Employment Opportunity law because it contains the broadest coverage, prohibitions, and remedies† (Cascio, 2013, p. 83). Under the law, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) exists o implement laws dealing with employment discrimination. According to Cascio (2013), the law was expanded in 1972 to cover almost all public and private employers with 1 5 or more employees; except private clubs, religious organizations, and Indian reservations. The EEOC has the authority to conduct investigations, create resolution programs, and file lawsuits.Failure to comply with Title VII exposes the employer to both civil and criminal lawsuits with possible outcomes of fines, compensatory and punitive damages, or even imprisonment. The company may also have to reinstate or promote the affected employee. In 1991, the Act amended several statues enforced by the EEOC. Parties were able to obtain Jury trials and recover compensatory and punitiv e damages with cases involving intentional discrimination. The Act also placed monetary caps for future cases based on size of the company.Another provision was enforcement of those American controlled companies abroad. The next employment law to consider is the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This law applies to employers regardless of size and every employee regardless of status: full-time, part time, or seasonal. The IRCA prohibits employers rom hiring or continuing to employ personnel which are not legally authorized to work in the United States. The Clapton Commercial Construction Company is expanding business to Arizona with the intent of increasing the number of employees by 20%.The company must consider the demographics of that area with regard to potential employees and take measures to ensure an employee has documents to work legally in the United States, such as a passport or resident alien card. Other examples are located on the Employment Eligibility Verific ation 1-9 form that potential employees are required to complete. Penalties for noncompliance may esult in fines for each violation and denial of federal contracts. According to the Department of Homeland Security (2013), in fiscal year 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed more than 392,000 illegal workers nationwide.The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is another law to consider. â€Å"Almost 13% of people ages 21 to 64 in the United States have at least one disability, a percentage that more than doubles to 30. 2% for people ages 65 to 74† (Cascio, 2013, p. 89). The ADA prohibits an employer from discriminating against a qualified person with a disability. A qualified person is someone who can perform the essential unctions of a Job with or without accommodation. The physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities is called a disability, such as seeing, walking, hearing, or talking.The ADA expanded protection of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and those individuals who have tested positive for HIWAIDS. The ADA applies to private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions. The Clapton Commercial Construction Company is not required to lower work standards or tolerate misconduct on the Job; however, reasonable accommodations must be made to assist ualified Job applicants. For example, the company can purchase a computer screen magnifying glass for the vision impaired. The EEOC enforces the provisions outlined in the ADA.

Nature Strongly Influences Early Human Development. Discuss Essay

Both nature and nurture play an important role in early human development. However, people have always wondered that our gene which we inherited from our parents or environmental factors influenced the most. This has been a mysterious around the globe for centuries. This essay will analyze that nurture is the most important. Nature which is the heredity from our parents plays a huge role in the development. Our personal characteristics were determined by the genetic structure of the fertilized ovum. The decision of our sex, hair color, eyes color comes from the gene which we inherited from our parents. Another example for the affections of gene on the development of human is that, a twin who was separated for almost 35years with different life history still share the same interest and personality when they meet each other. Moreover, because of the genetically programmed maturation , children’s behavior after birth flows the same as the time schedule of their innate ability such as rolling over, sitting without support, standing while holding on to furniture, etc. Although we see that nature influenced human the most, what really influences the development is nurture. For instance, even if all children go through the same sequences of motor behaviors, different children will go through the same stage at different rates. What’s more, the extension of motor behaviors can be hastened by extra stimulation or practice that infants received. As we can see, a child who was given an extra practice of walking everyday began to walk earlier than children who didn’t practice. Also, the development of speech is accelerated if an infant is encouraged and stimulated to speak. According to the belief of John Locke, babies have blank minds after their births. Their minds only improved from what they’ve learned and experienced through their senses. They do not inherit from their parents. Similarly, according to John B. Waston and B. F. Skinner, the nature of human can be adaptable. It doesn’t really depend on the heredity of the child but it does depend on the training that the child has received. He also stated that he can turn any infants to any kind of specialists such as lawyer, doctor, artist, or even thief and beggar regarding to his training but not their race of ancestors, tendencies, talents or abilities. In conclusion, either nature or nurture influenced new born infants in their own ways. It seems they can back up with strong supports. However, nurture influences more than nature because it has a strong power to alter our natural form and can possibly turn us into somewhat different. In my opinion, I also believe that nurture has a strong impact on children’s development because from my personal experience, I have to study in order to get the knowledge and skills and my lifestyle just adapt to the environment around me.

Shipbuilding industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Shipbuilding industry - Essay Example South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is watching China’s growth with lot of concerns. It should be noted that China is using indigenous technology for shipbuilding whereas South Korea is importing such technologies from overseas countries. Moreover, cheap labor is another major asset of China in promoting shipbuilding industry. In any case, South East Asia (Japan, China and South Korea) dominates the present global shipbuilding industry. These three nations accounted for more than 78% of global ship production in 2005. â€Å"In the same year, Korean shipbuilders received 21,960,000 GT, 37% of world shipbuilding orders, while Japanese shipbuilders secured 14,230,000 GT, 24.5% of the world total, and Chinese firms received 9,640,000 GT, 16.6% of the world total†(Shin & Ciccantell, 2009, p.184). These statistics clearly suggest that South Korea is the current leader in global shipbuilding industry even though Japan and China are not far behind. Shipbuilding history i n Korea has started even in the 16 th century. After getting independence in 1948, Korean government established a national company; Korea Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation (KESC), to promote shipbuilding. Since then Korea witnessed huge growth in shipbuilding industry. ... It should be noted that all the big three are well known companies in the world at present. In the Korean shipbuilding industry, the number of workers has been increasing, which reflects the high performance of the industry. The number of workers in the industry in 1995 was 77,330, and it increased to 97,323 by 2004. Korean shipbuilders enlarged the labor force of unskilled workers of subcontracting companies in order to reduce labor costs. Furthermore, Korean shipbuilders worry about the possibility of a shortage of young technicians, an aging labor force, and the general trend among young people to avoid working in the local areas where most dockyards are located (Shin & Ciccantell, 2009, p.182). Shipbuilding requires huge manpower. The role of machines in manufacturing ships is minimum compared to the role of manpower. As in the case of other industries, shipbuilding industry is also facing strong competition in international market. The emergence of China as the cheapest labor or iented country is causing problems to Korean Shipbuilding industry. The success of Korean shipbuilding industry can be attributed to three factors; First, major shipbuilders started to reduce production at a time when the demand for new ships increases. Second, South Korean government implemented meaningful strategies to exploit the opportunities. Third, South Korea managed to continuously develop and upgrade its production processes, sustaining its initial cost advantages through rationalization and innovation (Bruno & Tenold, N.d., p.21). In short, South Korea’s current leading position in shipbuilding was obtained due to the favorable trends in the market and the visionary policies implemented by the government. One of the major raw materials required for ship manufacturing is steel.

Review of a live jazz performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review of a live jazz performance - Essay Example Three shows that put the event on the going emerged as predominantly remarkable. The jazz-laden cookers spearheaded the event, Jonathan Batiste together with his band, as well as the Trio of Aaron Parks. Opening the event in Cape May on the stage were the Cookers. The Cookers presented themselves in a return act with a lot of strength in every position they stood (Ephland). At the forefront of the four performers, there was Billy Harper handling the saxophone of tenor, Donald Harrison handling the alto saxophone, the founder of the group David Weiss, and Eddie Henderson with the trumpet. They were supported by the naturally powerful section of rhythm of McBee Cecil on bass, George Cables on the piano and Billy Hart on the drums. In the combined sounds, there were many voices, although Hart particularly was very surprising, and brought menace. Hart was everywhere in his set, very effervescent and flamboyant than this assessor has ever seen in the many years of his presence in the indu stry (Ephland). Arrays of tunes were played, several of them as an ensemble in voicings that were out-styled. From the look of things and how everything was happening, some of the voicings required deep listening. You could see the horns moving from the front of the stage towards the wings; the soloing persons were as well involved in the performance. They went on playing a little of tunes from their recent CD known as â€Å"Time And Time Again†. The tunes included very interesting charts that held two-chord frames; with a melody that was dirge-like that slow-cooked in explosive singles from Harper, Cables and Weiss. "Croquet Ballet," by Harper was a slow cooker, along with driving singles from Cables and Harrison. Cables verse to Mulgrew Miller, known as "Farewell Mulgrew," got played in tribute to a good talent and friend. With blazing singles that came from Harper and

Lesson Planning with SIOP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Lesson Planning with SIOP - Essay Example Although, A-Level English learners can use various language materials, cognitive mastering, communicative skills and effective strategies for learning and reading expository texts is incredibly significant for an inclusive understanding of the language. As a result of the ever increasing English language requirements, an A-Level English teacher ought to develop an effective plan for managing the complexity of English skills and content as well as ensuring accessibility of English learning instruction to A-Level English language learners. The essay intends to come up with a practical and instrumental plan for A-level English learners’ students. The essay will as well compare and contrasts two major language acquisition theories and explore the success of the identified lesson plan based on the identified theories. The way in which English learning institutions and states deal with issues of language diversity plays a significant role in the definition of the social status of population segments that use exceptional language in the society. Generally, language forms the central conduit for human communication. English language is used in different ways by different people to communicate personal needs, experiences, and expectations. Different A-Level English scholars have used diverse theories to understand the most helpful process of learning English language by A-Level English language learners in diverse geographical, social, and historical backgrounds. In the 1960s, Chomsky observed language development as genetically predetermined and innate phenomenon. According to this theory, human beings are always born with rational and physical abilities to learn and understand language. This instinctive ability makes human being develop the capability of understanding new sentences and wordings. Chomsky suggested that, people develop their language through Language Acquisition Device (LAD). The Language Acquisition Device is

Parent's of Sex Offenders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Parent's of Sex Offenders - Essay Example Or, even if it’s known, the parent of an offender could be in denial and attest to the innocence of his child based on offender’s denial. On the same note, parents of the offender might be in disbelief, aghast or maybe in an extreme incredulity or wonder what have gotten into the psyche of their child that prompted him to do sexual offense to another. The incident will generate quick personal evaluation how they’ve been parenting to their children. Offender’s parents will likewise be subjected to trauma and psychological disturbance as impacts of their child’s abuses has consequential effect to them, too. Larger than this, the parents must importantly address the following questions to their very selves. Is the kind of behavior you expected from your child at that age? Is the incident true or not? If true, how long has he been exhibiting this behavior? Why this behavior occurred? What are the factors that motivated him to harass or employ lewd desig ns against the innocent? If the accusation hurled against alleged abuser is true, under Juvenile Sex Law, it’s likely that the accused will be held under judicial action or if it’s a minor with mental disorder committing it, offender will likely be put under rehabilitation institution. If they cannot cope with the problem, parents may seek the professional support from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers—a global organization devoted on multi-disciplinary support system working to prevent sexual abuses (ATSA, 2012). The institution offer services on extensive research, education, and empirical-based learning process using practical experiences, advocacy on public policy and community-based intervention strategies that will pave for effective holistic evaluation, medication or treatment, and about managing individuals who have sadly caused sexual abuses or posed sexual risks or vulnerabilities to others (ATSA, 2012; Ethical Treatment for All Youth s, 2012). ATSA (2012) contended that they could support person, family and association that are committed to â€Å"community safety, reduction of sexual recidivism, protection of sexual offenders, and safe-keeping vulnerable populations (p. 1).† They assured parents to provide intelligible and emotional support that could transform the very lives of people who’ve been intricately involved in the commission of sexual violence and could be directed to change their behavior to facilitate the prevention of sexual abuse (ATSA, 2012, p.1). Other than ATSA, the National Center for Reason and Justice (NCRJ, 2012) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2012) also help assist families in developing child-protective laws by educating stakeholders of child rights, responsible judicial system and promote laws, investigation and treatment to those who’ve been accused of sexual crimes. If legal measures aren’t enough to discipline a child, maybe institution that c an help subject a child to psychological and emotional healing can assist in normalizing and understanding an offender’s state. No, it’s not too late. Parents of offenders should recognize and study their children’s behavior as they grow into adolescence. They should be assisted to have a healthy adult sexual lifestyle since they are constantly challenged by numerous factors and pressures while at their respective developmental stages as persons (Hart-Kerkhoffs,

Bays by Rick Moody Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bays by Rick Moody - Essay Example This set of teenage voices is heard from the very beginning of the story: â€Å"Boys enter the house, boys enter the house. Boys, and with them the ideas of boys (ideas leaden, reductive, inflexible), enter the house. Boys, two of them, wound into hospital packaging, boys with infant pattern baldness, slung in the arms of parents, boys dreaming of breasts, enter the house† (Moody, p. 196). On the one hand, it may seem that the story represents as set of actions taken by boys. There is a progress of a boy’s life: from his childhood to teenage years and adult years. â€Å"The boys enter the house† and this phrase becomes an integral element of the story. Relations between two brothers are rather challenging and it is interesting for the readers to follow the development of emotional and psychological inner worlds of the boys. Boys enter the house Moreover, the author manages to catch up the emotions of boys and transfers inner peculiarities of boys with the help of apt lexical expressions. There is a masterful transfer of the boys’ emotions. It can be seen on the example the boys change their attitude to their sister: from a cruel jockeying to sympathy. She is ill with cancer and it is very hard for them to support her. We can see the importance of imagery used by Rick Moody. His masterful technique is perfectly presented to the readers, because he manages to describe the whole life span of boys and finally â€Å"boys, no longer boys, exit† (Moody, p. 199). There is an interesting style of Moody and his language techniques, though simple, are appealing for the emotions of the readers. A simplistic and naturalistic narration of Moody can be compared with the manner of Hemingway’s manner of narration. Language is used by these writers for language. In reality, Moody shows to the reader the way a person is growing up, when a person is changing with the years and enters their house as another person. Boys in the process of th eir growing up are â€Å"ghostly afterimages of younger selves, fleeting images of sneakers dashing up a staircase; soggy towels on the floor of the bathroom; blue jeans coiled like asps in the basin of the washing machine† (Moody, p. 197). The only proof, which shows a writer’s transformation, is his usage of pronouns: at first, he uses â€Å"one† then he uses â€Å"you†. From a formal approach that represents vague relations among boys to a more tolerant approach, which describes definite relations among boys and their families? A sense of energy in human lives There is a sense of transformation and a spirit of energy and motion. It seems as if Moody follows the principle of successful story writing: from the very beginning the writers choose the theme they know and write about it from different points of view and thus these writers find out something new about a chosen topic in the process of their writing. Therefore, Moody wrote about the process more than about the consequences. For him a process of growing up is a process of an individual’s transformation, it is not a set of some static episodes; a process of growing up is a dynamical process and it is very interesting to focus on the ways this process happens and an individual is being subjected to inner transformations under the influence of the world or relations with other people. Rick Moody makes literary emphasis by using repetition. This technique implies the necessity to reiterate occurrence of some images. The characters of boys reflect both

Critically discuss some of the ways in which a range of childrens Essay

Critically discuss some of the ways in which a range of childrens services can be shaped by the participation of children. What is the role of the practitioner in enabling participation - Essay Example Indeed, listen to young people and children can play a very important role in the planning, commissioning, and delivery of children services. One way of improving various children’s services by participation of children is, according to Foley & Leverett (2008), listening to children’s views and considering them as part of decision-making. Apparently, children are considered to have ideas and views that are unique to their experience; this means that their contribution to decision-making is critical and legitimate. For instance, in order to improve children’s educational standards and opportunities, it would be prudent to listen to their ideas and views with regards to which teaching methods they think would best work for them, what factors result in truancy and school dropouts, how to better promote inclusion of girls, how to improve attendance rates, whether or not the curriculum is relevant, and how to better ensure effective discipline and good behaviour. Further, children can also participate in improve their services through advocacy, peer representation, evaluation of services that are meant for them, use of media and publicity, managing their own institutions, for instance, schools, and analysis and development of policy (Wright et al. 2006). For this participation to be successful and useful, it is important that their involvement is directly linked to their own experience-first hand. It is the role and duty of practitioners to enable the participation of children, by directly working with them through listening and responding to their voices. Further, it is also the role of practitioners to provide favourable environments where all young children can feel safe, powerful and confident; this will ensure that the children have the space and time to express their ideas and opinion in the form that best suits them. In fact, it is

Kateryna by Taras Shevchenko Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kateryna by Taras Shevchenko - Essay Example The essay "Kateryna by Taras Shevchenko" explores the painting by Ukrainian artist Taras Shevchenko, Katerina. Shevchenko painted this painting during Austria, Hungary, and Russia. Austria and Hungary took over the Polish regions, Romania, and other Western territories of the Ukraine. Tsarist Russia occupied the Eastern Ukraine. Kateryna is set in a time where Ukrainians were forbidden to explore their culture through language or art. Several of Shevchenko’s paintings were done in exile. The cultural aspect of the Ukrainian dress on the woman to the peasant sitting on the ground shows the plight of the Ukrainian nature at the time. The Ukrainians were poor and conquered, but never defeated. The Russian riding a horse shows the powerfulness of the Russian soldiers and symbolizes the mighty country. This style is romanticism. The idea of throwing off aristocratic views with paintings depicting strong emotion is exemplified in Kateryna. The strong emotions of a seduced or raped w oman carrying an illegitimate child tug at most individuals’ emotions. Shevchenko wanted to cause outrage and anger against the occupying soldiers of Russia and the Tsarist government in general. The light colors also are considered a trait of the Romanticism era. Kateryna has a barefooted peasant girl in the forefront with a beggar at her feet. A dark animal jumps a little to her left. In the background is a large tree to the right. A windmill was placed in the top left corner. Between the windmill and girl is a Russian soldier.

We Dont Sell Foods, We Sell Health Research Paper - 2

We Dont Sell Foods, We Sell Health - Research Paper Example The target market for this ad is basically full-time housewife who wants taking good care of family and people who are interested in changing body condition by eating healthy foods. In this case, I choose to design this ad looks like a shopping receipt. My core idea is to tell customers Whole Foods Market sells health instead of foods and they buy more percentage to live well with the most competitive prices possible. According to Jenkins, an advert should capture the attention of the audience at a glance (Jefkins & Yadin, 2000). I used the font as the same one on the formal receipt in my ad because I want my audience to recognize it as a receipt immediately. The font color is black and the logo is green just like the Whole Foods current logo. The receipt also seems to be laying on the desk and a little curve in order to make it more stereoscopic and attractive. This feature enhances the clarity of the advert to the customer and brings out more attention and focus on the information provided. The final ad features â€Å"total health† in order to equip the knowledge to customers of the true nature of services available. It shows that complete health awareness is found here. The advert aims at increasing the awareness of customers of the significance of high-quality foods. This implies care on the part of the seller to the customers in promoting the quality and health in life. Vincent argues that an advertisement needs to be colorful and attractive depending on the media used. This captures the attention of the audience and sends a good message with clarity (Vincent, 1989). This receipt is suitable for magazine advertising since it lacks color and can be outstanding in the colorful magazine layout. The message is precise and the advert has been designed in a mode to fit in a small part of the magazine.  Ã‚  

International Human Recourse Management Essay Example for Free

International Human Recourse Management Essay Undertake research to examine current trends and emerging issues within the field of International Human Resource Management (IHRM). What are some contrasting and recent frameworks, models and perspectives applied within the field of IHRM? The meaning of International Human Resource Management (IHRM) becomes more and more important in the last few years. The first time the term IHRM was used was in 1990, around the same time period ‘globalisation’ began. Initially the main function of IHRM was the organisation and management of expatriates (Festing, et al. , 2013, p. 161). In 2012 the foreign affiliates of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) of the United Nations had reached 69 million workers (Dowling, et al., 2013, p. viii). Due to this fact it becomes clear the tremendous challenge IHRM faces in our time. Furthermore the world is getting more uniform and standardised because of the globalisation. With the impact of technical, commercial and cultural development, companies must rise to new challenges and a different way of thinking (Durham Kellner, 2006, p. 659). If we put all the different aspects together we can define IHRM as examining the HRM issues, problems, strategies, policies and practices which firms pursue in relation to the internationalisation of their business (Brewster, et al., 2011, p. 10). On the basis of current research, this essay will investigate trends and emerging issues in the field of IHRM. In the first wide field of global assignments and careers there have been changes in recent years due to the development of technology and worldwide integration. As organisations are increasingly affected by the forces of globalisation and the competition between the different companies, the prerequisites for employees are increasing as well. Due to these facts, the work life balance (WLB) has been subject to increasing investigation and has led to a significant emerging issue for all people especially international business travellers (Festing, et al., 2013). As a consequence,  WLB is receiving attention in the IHRM field. WLB consists of two different concepts: achievement and enjoyment. You cannot get the full value from life if you are only concentrated on one concept (WorkLifeBalance, 2014). One’s daily focus on achievement and enjoyment is based in all four life quadrants: work, family, friends and self WLB. WLB is already a significant topic for HRM, however it is ev en more important for frequent travellers. Due to this fact, in the field of IHRM, work life balance has been  investigated by Iris Kollinger-Santer and Iris C. Fischlmayr (2013). They focused on the difference between female and male international travellers and their WLB, finding that the different stressors related to travelling have a variable intensity according to gender. For instance, the lack of time for social contact or leisure activities is a stronger stress factor for women than for men. The family situation in particular is an important influence on each gender, with women missing their family more than men. Coping strategies also vary according to gender (Kollinger-Santer Fischlmayr). Beauregard and Henry (2009) bring different concepts to the issue of WLB. These authors try to make a link between work life balance practices and organisational performance. Therefore they discuss the differing importance of factors according to national context, job level, and managerial support and come to the conclusion that WLB practices are often combined with high organisational performance (Beauregards Henry). Another emerging challenge beside WLB is the different types of global assignments. In recent years, working abroad as an expatriate to get international experience and to develop global skills was considered an important skill. Organisations openly promoted this process. They wanted to give their employees work experience and transcend national boundaries. However, employees are often unwilling to work abroad or those who are  willing to work abroad are leaving their international assignments early or quitting their organisations once they repatriate because of the positive effects, such as promotions and salary advancement. Another aspect that favours this situation is to compensate for the out-of-sight, out-ofmind problem that occurs when employees are physically away from their home country’s organisation (Shaffer, et al.). Due to this fact a new emerging issue is taking place within IHRM. Organisations are looking for global work alternatives for their employees to gain global work experience without losing the employee afterwards. Besides the well-known kinds of work experience, such as corporate expatriation or self-initiated expatriation, some new ways to achieve global work experience are now offered to employees. Shaffer et al. (2012) sums up the existing ways to achieve international work experience and subdivided them along the three dimensions; physical mobility, cognitive flexibility, and nonwork disruptions. Based on this knowledge, the authors interpret the major findings from their review and develop a taxonomy of these experiences as a theoretical framework for analysing past studies. They point out that all of the global work  experiences were associated with different personal and nonwork demands especially, stress and family issues. However, Shaffer et al. claim that the specific stress factor varied by the different types of global work experience. Finally, they conclude that the real challenge is not the different types of global work, but is the combination of physically moving to a foreign country with the family and learning to adapt to a new culture that creates unique family demands associated with expatriate assignments (Shaffer, et al.). In addition to the new methods to get global work experience, Vaiman and Haslberger (2013) focus on the importance of  self-initiated expatriations and take a closer look at foreign executives in local organisations (FELOs). A FELO is a rare international crosscultural management phenomenon. To find the differences between an expatriate assignment and a FELO, one must take a deeper look at the subsidiaries of multinational organisations (FELO Research, 2014). Vaiman and Haslberger derive four different types of FELOs and various types of localised FELOs as well as typologies and organisation forms. Finally they examine global careers outside of traditional, company-backed expatriate assignments, and highlight the fact that there is a rising number of foreign executives appointed in recent years (Vaiman Haslberger). Global talent management (GTM) is a rapidly growing field within IHRM. GTM includes the connection between the importance of talent management and success in global business. In general the aim of talent management is the identification of well qualified employees in a global context and placing those people in key positions where they have the potential to impact the competitive advantage of the organisation (Scullion Collings, 2011, pp. 3-4). GTM is still an emerging field with debates regarding many aspects of its relevance IHRM (Festing, et al., 2013). For instance, Schuler et al. (2012) focus on various challenges in the area of GTM like dealing with talent shortages, talent surpluses, locating and relocating talent, and compensation levels of talent. They present strategic opportunities and their implications for organisations in regards to these challenges, concluding that organisational need must be linked to the direction of organisational strategy and talent strategy in particular (Schuler, et al.). Clearly there is a wide area of unspecified topics in the field of GTM. In countries such as Germany, China or India, research on this subject is particularly limited, thus there has been much debate over the continuing significance of talent management in the recent years. There are two different views of the importance and the impact of talent  management (Festing, et al., 2013) According to Walk et al. (2013), talent is the most consistent and frequent factor in business success within a global context. For this reason, organisations compete across borders to get the most talented employees. The authors discovered that from the standpoint of an organisation, cross-cultural students are the most valuable, thus they tend to recruit their future employees from this group. Walk et al. also assess work expectations across diverse cultural backgrounds and concluded that differences in expectation are less between Chinese, Indian, and German students than one might suspect (Cf. Walk, et al.).  Ewerlin’s (2013) research on GTM focusses on the influence of talent management program’s attractiveness on an employer. Due to the fact that talented individuals are rare, organisations need to take care that they can position themselves as attractive employers in order to secure the best employees. Talented employees are able to pick and choose between several attractive job offers, therefore they are looking for an additional factors such as good talent management programs. Ewerlin could not confirm that there is a direct relationship between employer attractiveness and their GTM program, however she indicates that these programs should be designed for culturally differences and that personality also plays an important role in shaping the needs of individual employees (Ewerlin). If you compare the current trends and emerging issues of IHRM to the development of other departments within an organisation, especially due to the influence of other areas, there is constant change in IHRM. Additionally to the constant changes IHRM have made, there are a lot of increasing factors to the global market. Several aspects are crucial in the two huge fields of global assignments and careers and global work experience. In the first field there are different facts like work life balance and global work experience. The second area includes the current topics such as GTM programs and the connection to the attractiveness to an employer. Finally there are a lot of new areas of investigation that need to be explored and due to the fact of technical progress and the increasing globalisation it is important  to deal with new challenges in order to stay competitive in the international market. Reference List: Beauregards, T. A. Henry, L. C., 2009. Making the link betwen work-life balance practices and organizational performance. Human resource management review, September, pp. 9-22. Brewster, C., Sparrow, P., Vernon, G. Houldsworth, E., 2011. International Human Resource Management, London: CIPD House. BusinessDictionary.com, 2014. BusinessDictionary.com. [Online] Available at: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/expatriate.html Dowling, P. J., Festing, M. Engle, A. D., 2013. International human resource management, 6th Edition. Hampshire: Cengage Learning. Durham, M. G. Kellner, D. M., 2006. media and cultural studies. Carlton: Blackwell. Ewerlin, D., 2013. The influence of global talent management on employer attractiveness: An experimental study. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, pp. 279304. FELO Research, 2014. feloreseach. [Online] Available at: http://feloresearch.info/ Festing, M. et al., 2013. Current issues in International HRM: Alternative forms of assignments, careers and talent management in a global context. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, pp. 161-166. Kollinger-Santer, I. Fischlmayr, I. C., 2013. Work life balance up in the air Does gender make a difference between female and male internation business travelers. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, 09, pp. 195-223. Schuler, R. S., Jackson, S. E. Tarique, I., 2012. Global talent management and global talent challenges: strategic opportunities for IHRM, New York: Journal of World Business. Scullion, H. Collings, D. G., 2011. Global Talent Management. New York: Routledge. Shaffer, M. A., Kraimer, M. L., Chen, Y.-P. Bolino, M. C., 2012. Choices, Challenges, and Career Consequences of Global Work Experiences: A Review and Future Agenda. Journal of Management, pp. 1281-1327. Vaiman, V. Haslberger, A., 2013. Talent Manamgent of Self-Initaited Expatriates, Hampshire: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN. Walk, M., Schinnenburg, H. Handy, F., 2013. What do talens want? Work expectations in India, China, and Germany. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, pp. 251-278. WorkLifeBalance, 2014. WorkLifeBalance. [Online] Available at: http://www.worklifebalance.com/

Technology of Ultrasound Scans

Technology of Ultrasound Scans 2.1 Ultrasound 2.1.1 Physics of Ultrasound Sound is a mechanical wave that travels through an elastic medium. Ultrasound (US) is sound at a frequency beyond 20 000 Hz, the limit of human hearing. Bats orientate themselves with the help of US waves at 100 000 Hz. Ultrasound at frequencies of 200 000 Hz is used for navigation. The frequency range of diagnostic US is between 1 and 20 MHz. When sound encounters a boundary between two media of different densities some of the sound bounces back as an echo, a phenomenon called reflection. The rest of the sound continues through the medium but is deflected from its original path, this is called refraction. Acoustic impedance is the resistance of a medium to the propagation of sound and decides how much sound will be reflected at the interface between the media. Some of the energy of the sound is converted by friction into heat when propagating, this loss of energy is called absorption. When ultrasound waves encounter a surface, a small part of their energy is scattered away in random directions while most of the sound continues to propagate, a phenomenon called scatter. Reflection, refraction, impedance, absorption and scatter are all phenomena important for image formation in diagnostic ultrasound use. Artifacts, echoes that do not correspond to an anatomic structure but result from the physical properties of ultrasound propagation in the tissues, are also important to be aware of when using ultrasound. This phenomenon can also be of diagnostic help. One example is the acoustic shadowing of a gallstone, caused by total absorption of the sound by the stone. Diagnostic ultrasound is based on the pulse-echo principle. The smallest functional units of the transducer are the piezoelectric crystals. The crystals are embedded in the probe, and each crystal has a specific frequency. A pulse is initiated from each crystal in the probe and a longitudinal sound wave propagates through the body. Some of the energy is absorbed in the tissue and some is reflected. The reflected energy is received by the probe, which calculates the depth of the interface by measuring the time taken to return. We can say that the human body is composed of three basic materials differing in acoustic impedance: gas with a very low impedance, bone with a very high impedance and soft tissue with an impedance somewhere in between. The large mismatch between air and bone and tissue (â€Å"impedance mismatch†) causes 100% of the sound to be reflected at air/tissue interfaces and almost all the sound at bone/tissue interfaces. There is a small mismatch between different soft tissues in impedance, a fact that is the basis for diagnostic ultrasound. Different frequencies of ultrasound are used for different diagnostic examinations. Higher US frequencies (7-16 MHz) have higher resolution but are strongly absorbed by soft tissue and are therefore used for superficial structures. Very high frequencies (16- 20 MHz) will only travel for a few millimeters within tissue and are limited to intravascular and ocular examinations. Lower frequencies (3-7 MHz) are used for deeper structures, being less strongly absorbed and of lower resolution. There are different modes of displaying the amplitude of reflected sound waves: A- mode, M-mode and B-mode. A-mode (amplitude) calculates only the depth of the interface and is mainly of historical interest. M-mode (motion) is used to display moving structures and is used in cardiac ultrasound. B-mode (brightness) is the routine US image for most surgical applications. Here the returning echoes are displayed as shades of grey with the echo amplitudes represented by a grey level ranging from black to white. The individual image lines are stored, assessed and assembled on the monitor to create a two-dimensional B-mode image. Doppler ultrasound uses the Doppler effect. When US is reflected from a moving structure (i.e. blood) the frequencies of the waves change and the amount of frequency change is determined by the speed and direction of blood flow. The use of Doppler is obvious in vascular US but is also of use in other areas of diagnostic ultrasound. 2.1.2 History of Ultrasound Scientists, including Aristoteles, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Sir Isaac Newton and Leonard Euler, have been studying the phenomena of acoustics, echoes and sound waves for many centuries. It was though not until 1877 that John William Strutt, also known as Lord Rayleigh, published a description of sound as a mathematical equation in â€Å"The theory of sound† which became the foundation for the science of ultrasound. Some years later, 1880, Jaques and Pierre Curie discovered the piezo-electric effect; that an electric potential is generated when mechanical pressure is applied to a quartz crystal, an important discovery that eventually led to the development of the modern- day ultrasound transducer which contains piezoelectric crystals. The first study of the application of ultrasound as a medical diagnostic tool was published by the Austrian brothers Karl and Friedrich Dussik in 1942. They attempted to locate brain tumours and the cerebral ventricles by measuring ultrasound transmission through the skull and concluded that if imaging of the ventricles was possible, the interior of the human body could also be visualized using ultrasound. Unfortunately it was later determined by Guttner, in 1952, that the images produced by the Dussiks were variations in bone thickness. Nevertheless, their scientific work marked the beginning of diagnostic ultrasonography in the medical field and Dussik wrote in an article a decade later: †As knife and forceps in surgery, the chemical agent in chemotherapy, the high frequency electric field in diathermy and X-ray application, so has medicine taken on a new physical tool in the last decade: the ultrasonic field†. George Dà ¶ring Ludwig, working together with Francis Struther, was the first scientist to visualize gallstones, implanted in the muscles and gallbladders of dogs, with ultrasound. His studies also resulted in the finding that the mean velocity of ultrasound in soft tissue is 1540 m/sec, a discovery that was to prove very important for future research. Much of his work was however considered restricted information, because he was employed by the military, and therefore not published in medical journals. John Julian Wild and Douglass Howry were also important pioneers in the ultrasound field. Wild was a surgeon who was able to visualize bowel wall thickness with ultrasound, and he also discovered a difference in echogenicity between benign and malignant tissue. Wild also developed transrectal and transvaginal transducers and a scanning device for screening patients for breast cancer. Howry built the first B- mode scanner in 1949 and, together with the two engineers Bliss and Posanky, he also developed the first linear contact scanner. The somascope, the first circumferential scanner, built in 1954, was also developed by Howry. The problem with these scanners was that the patient had to be immobilized and immersed for a long time. In the period 1957-58 an ultrasound scanner was developed by Howry and his colleagues where the patient was strapped to the plastic window of a semicircular pan filled with saline solution. Although not immersed, the patient had still to be immobilized for a long time. Finally, in the early 1960s, Howry developed the first hand-held contact scanner, together with Wright and E Myers. During the same time Ian Donald was carrying out ultrasound research in England and 1958 he published an article that came to be a landmark, (â€Å"Investigation of abdominal masses by pulsed ultrasound†), where he describes how ultrasound changed the treatment of a woman diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer dramatically by diagnosing a cystic mass with ultrasound; the mass was later resected and found to be a benign ovarian cyst. Donald contributed significantly to the field of obstetric and gynecological ultrasound for example by discovering the urinary bladder to be a natural acoustic window for the pelvic organs and by measuring the biparietal diameter of the fetus for the first time. A century earlier the Doppler effect had been discovered by the famous Austrian scientist Christian Andreas Doppler and presented in 1842 in a paper called ÃÅ"ber das farbige Licht der Doppelsterne und einiger anderer Gestirne des Himmels (On the colored light of the double stars and certain other stars of the heavens). In Lund, Sweden, the principal pioneers of echocardiography Inge Edler and Carl Hellmuth Hertz, developed the first echocardiogram in October 195323 . Subsequently Hertz and Ã…sberg invented the first two-dimensional real-time cardiac imaging machine 1967 and Edler and Lindstrà ¶m registred the first simultaneous M-mode and intracardiac Doppler blood flow recordings at about the same time. Ultrasound has in the last decades developed quickly and the first digital scanners were released onto the market in 1976, providing better and reproducible images. Interventional ultrasonography dates back to 1969 when Kratochwill proposed the use of ultrasound for percutaneous drainage. Regarding ultrasound for trauma the first report of the method for evaluating blunt trauma was dated 1971, by Kristenson in Germany. The development is still going on and in the light of advances in technology leading to smaller available machines combined with the prices of machines decreasing rapidly speculations have been made about the possibility that doctors in the future will routinely be equipped with their own ultrasound stethoscope for use in their daily clinical work. 2.1.3 Ultrasound Instruments It is important to have a basic knowledge in which an ultrasound image is produced. The components of scanner include Transmitter: Emits electrical impulses that strike the transducer piezoelectric crystals and cause them to vibrate thus producing ultrasound wave. Transducer: Transducer is one which converts one form of energy to another. In ultrasound it converts electric energy to mechanical energy and viceversa. It converts the electrical energy provided by the transmitter to the acoustic pulses directed into the patient. It serves as the receiver of reflected echoes, converting weak pressure changes into electric signals for processing. Receiver: When returning echoes strike the transducer face,minute voltages are produced across the piezoelectric elements. The receiver detects and amplifies these weak signals and provides a means for compensating for the differences in echo strength which result from attenuation by different tissue thickness by control of time depth compensation. Another important function of receiver is the compression of the wide range of amplitudes returning to the transducer into a range that can be displayed to the user. Scan Processor: Processor detects and amplifies the back scattered energy and manipulates the reflected signals for display. Control Console Display: Display presents the ultrasound image or data in a form suitable for analysis and interpretation. Over the years imaging has evolved from simple A mode display to high resolution real time gray scale imaging. Recording Device: Interpretation of images and archival storage of images may be in the form of transparencies printed on film by optical or laser cameras and printers, videotape or through use of digital picture archiving and communications system (PACS). Increasingly digital storage is being used for archiving of ultrasound images. 2.1.4 Transabdominal Ultrasound, Use and Limitations Transabdominal ultrasound of the female pelvis has been the conventional approach in imaging of the female pelvis. With this approach) a full urinary bladder is required to provide a window for imaging and to displace bowel gas. Transabdominal scanning (TAS) therefore required deeper penetration and a lower frequency transducer, usually 3 -5 MHz, must be used. The resolution of images is limited by the relatively lower frequency transducer that is required, and it also has great limitations in the obese lady, especially in the elderly who often cannot hold a full bladder. In the study of uterine hemodynamics in patients who are pregnant, these disadvantages may not be very significant, because the uterine arterial signal from these patients are usually strong. However, in the non-pregnant state, especially in postmenopausal ladies, studies of uterine hemodynamics with TAS could be very difficult. 2.1.5 Transvaginal Ultrasound, Advantages and Disadvantages Widespread availability of ultrasound imaging in the past two decades has dramatically changed the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. These specialists rely heavily upon this technology to make major decisions about management of their patients. Transabdominal sonography (TAS) images the pelvic organs through the anterior abdominal wall in the supra-pubic region. A distended urinary bladder is essential to displace the bowel loops and to provide an acoustic window. There are two major limitations of TAS. First is the need to use lower frequencies for imaging due to the longer distance between the transducer and the pelvic organs. Other disadvantage is the beam degrading effect of the anterior abdominal wall especially in obese patients. Both these limitations lead to degradation in image quality. To overcome these limitations of TAS special transducers, which could be introduced in the vagina, were designed in 1985. The vaginal approach reduces the distance between the probe and the pelvic structures allowing the use of higher frequencies. Trans-vaginal sonography (TVS) produces greatly improved resolution as compared to TAS, primarily due to the higher frequencies employed and also due to the absence of beam deformation by the anterior abdominal wall, Major advantages of TVS over TAS are better image quality and avoidance of patient discomfort due to full urinary bladder. Comparison of TVS and TAS is given in Table 2.1. 2.1.5.1 Indications of TVS TVS is indicated whenever a better look at the pelvic structures is required. Common indications include the following Early pregnancy Lower uterine segment in late pregnancy Ectopic pregnancy Pelvic masses Retroverted or retroflexed uterus Obese or gaseous patient Emergency cases when bladder is empty Follicle monitoring Oocyte retrieval Endometrial study to assess suitability in IVF ET techniques Cervical canal mucous Doppler examination of pelvic organs Interventional procedures The list is not exhaustive and newer indications are continuously being added. TVSTAS Full bladder Not essential Essential Probe frequency 5-7.5 MHz 3-5 MHz Resolution Very high Moderate Field of view Small Large ContraindicationsVirgins, Vaginal obstruction Premature rupture of membraneNone interventional uses Many usesLimited role Table 2.1 Comparison of TAS and TVS 2.1.5.2 Scan Technique Once the probe and the patient have been prepared, the transducer is gradually inserted while monitoring the ultrasound image. The urinary bladders normally consistent position in the pelvis relative to much more variable position of the uterus and the ovaries makes it a good landmark to use when making initial assessment of the transducer orientation. Three basic scanning manoeuvres of the probe are useful to scan the pelvic organs comprehensively: Sagittal imaging with side to side movements, 90 ° rotation to obtain semi-coronal images with angulation of probe in vertical plane, Variation in the depth of probe insertion to bring different parts within field of view/focal zone. A pelvic survey should be done first to ascertain quickly the relative position of the uterus and ovaries as well as to identify any obvious masses. This is obtained by slowly sweeping the beam in a sagittal plane from the midline to the lateral pelvic side walls followed by turning the probe 90 degrees into corona plane and sweeping the beam from cervix to the fundus. In multi-frequency probes proper selection is important for best results. Setting of appropriate focus in electronic arrays is equally important. In mechanical sector fixed focus probes the organ of interest is brought in the focal zone by changing the depth of insertion of the probe. Proper selection of frame averaging is also important. It should be low for fast moving structures like foetal heart and high for studying solid immobile tissues. For Doppler studies a steady probe position is essential and it helps if the examiners forearm is well supported. 2.1.5.3 Dynamic uses of the TVS probe The ultrasonographic examination can be enhanced by placing a hand over the lower abdomen to bring pelvic structures within the field of view/focal range of the probe. Localisation of the point of maximal tenderness by the probe will help in identifying the cause of pain. Dense pelvic adhesions can be diagnosed by the sliding organ sign. In the absence of adhesions, the organs move freely past each other and the pelvic wall in response to pressure by the TVS probe tip. Absence of this free movement may suggest pelvic adhesions. 2.1.5.4 Interventional uses of TVS There are many interventional uses of transvaginal sonography. Newer indications are constantly being added to the list. Some of the more common ones are given below:- aspiration of ova for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) aspiration of ovarian cyst drainage of pelvic collection multi-foetal pregnancy reduction non-surgical etopic pregnancy management early amniocentesis chorion villous sampling transvaginal embryo transfer sonohysterosalpingigraphy 2.1.5.5 Limitation of TVS It should be remembered that TVS provides a more limited field of view than TAS. A survey trans-abdominal scan usually be performed prior to the TVS to rule out the possibility of overlooking a mass lying outside the field of view of the TVS transducer. To avoid the need of a full bladder it has been suggested that a TVS examination may be followed by a TAS scan with bladder empty. The rationale behind this approach is that a mass lying outside the field of view of the TVS probe will be sufficient in size to be seen trans-abdominally even if the bladder is empty. The advent of the transvaginal sonography in 1985 has had a tremendous impact on the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. The pelvic organs can now be imaged with a resolution not possible earlier. The management of infertility due to female factors depends mainly on the TVS. Addition of Colour Doppler to TVS now gives added information about the vascular supply of various pelvic organs. Details of foetal anatomy that can be depicted by TVS are far superior to that shown by TAS. As a new technique TVS has proved very useful and has a bright future.

Degenerative Joint Disease Or Osteo Arthritis Nursing Essay

Degenerative Joint Disease Or Osteo Arthritis Nursing Essay Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States. Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 27 million Americans. This painful condition develops when there is a breakdown of cartilage in the joints (Shaw, 2012, p.1). Osteoarthritis can occur with age, or it can be caused by a joint injury or stress on the joints from a specific job, sport or being overweight. Over time, some people experience extreme inflammation and permanent damage to the joint. The joint may even need to be surgically replaced. The chance of developing the disease increases with age. Most people over age 60 have osteoarthritis to some degree, but its severity varies. Even people in their 20s and 30s can get osteoarthritis. In people over 50, more women than men get osteoarthritis (Gazella, 2009). Bone ends are covered with a layer of cartilage and lubricated by a synovial fluid to provide less friction and a smooth surface for the bones to move over each other. The whole joint is enclosed by the synovial sac (Gazella, 2009). In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes thinner and rougher while the bone underneath thickens. The ends of the bones start to rub against each other which causes pain and even more damage. The bones try to repair themselves, but this is not very successful, so it results in a more uneven surface of spurs and cracks. The synovium also produces extra fluid, which results in swelling, and there are changes to the ligaments, which cause movement restriction. Muscles may also become weaker Progression is slow and many patients diagnosed with OA will not suffer a great degree of deterioration (Gazella, 2009). The most common other form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which has a different pattern of signs and symptoms, although some of the symptoms may overlap. Symptoms of OA can also vary, with flares and remission, which can make diagnosis more difficult. Other factors such as the cold and damp weather often can increase pain. One complication which can occur is calcification, which is when deposits of calcium crystals form in the cartilage to cause further swelling and the joint can become hot and red. Pain and stiffness in the joints are the most common symptom. The pain is often worse after exercise and when you put weight or pressure on the joint. Your joints may ache, or the pain may feel burning or sharp. For some people, the pain may come and go. Constant pain or pain while you sleep may be a sign that your arthritis is getting worse. When you have arthritis, getting up in the morning can be hard. Your joints may feel stiff and creaky for a short period of time, until you get moving. You may also get stiff from sitting. The muscles around the joint may get weaker. This happens a lot with arthritis in the knee. Arthritis can cause swelling in joints, making them feel tender and sore. Joints can start to look like they are the wrong shape, especially as arthritis gets worse. As it gets worse, you may not be able to fully bend, flex, or extend your joints. Or you may not be able to use them at all. Your joints may make crunching, creaking sounds. This creaking may also occur in a normal joint. But in most cases, it doesnt hurt and doesnt mean that there is anything wrong with the joint. The phrase morning stiffness refers to the pain and stiffness you may feel when you first wake up in the morning. Stiffness usually lasts for 30 minutes or less. It can be improved by mild activity that warms up the joint (Shaw, 2012). There are several factors that can increase the risk for developing osteoarthritis, including heredity, obesity, injury, or overuse of certain joints. People born with abnormalities are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. Some people have an inherited defect in one of the genes responsible for making collagen a major component of cartilage; this causes defective cartilage, which leads to more rapid deterioration of joints (Gazella, 2009). Obesity increases the risk of osteoarthritis. Maintaing ideal weight or losing excess weight may help prevent osteoarthritis, or decrease the rate of progression once osteoarthritis is established. Injuries contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. For example, athletes who have knee-related injuries may be at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. In addition, people who have had a severe back injury may be predisposed to develop osteoarthritis of the spine. People who have had a broken bone extending into the joint margin are prone to develop osteoarthritis in that joint (Osteoarthritis, 2009). Overuse of certain joints increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is not associated with fever, weight loss, or anemia. As of now there is no known cure for osteoarthritis, but treatments can help to reduce pain and maintain joint movement. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can relieve pain, but doesnt reduce inflammation. It has been shown to be effective for people with osteoarthritis who have mild pain to moderate pain. Taking more than the recommended dose can cause liver damage (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs reduce inflammation and reduce pain. Over-the-counter NSAIDs can cause stomach upset, ringing in your ears, cardiovascular problems, bleeding problems, and liver and kidney damage. Narcotics typically contain ingredients similar to codeine and may provide relief from more severe osteoarthritis pain. These stronger medications carry a risk of dependence, though that risk is thought to be small in people who have severe pain. Side effects include nausea, constipation, and sleepiness (Researchers from National Research Center Describe Findings in Osteoarthritis, 2012). Working with a physical therapist can help. The physical therapist can work with you to create an individualized exercise regimen that will strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase the range of motion in your joint and reduce your pain. Find ways to go about your day without stressing your joints. Consider trying splints, braces, shoe inserts or other medical devices that can help reduce your pain. These devices can immobilize or support your joint to help you keep pressure off it (Gazelle, 2009). The Arthritis Foundation and some medical centers have classes for people with osteoarthritis or chronic pain. These classes teach skills that help manage osteoarthritis pain. Injections of corticosteroid medications may relieve pain in the joint. During this procedure the doctor numbs the area around the joint, and then inserts a needle in the space within the joint and injects medication. The number of cortisone shots you can receive each year is limited, because the medication can cause joint damage (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Injections of hyaluronic acid derivatives may offer pain relief by providing some cushioning in your knee. These treatments are made of rooster combs and are similar to a component normally found in your joint fluid (Mayo Clinic, 2012). In joint replacement surgery (arthoplasty), the surgeon removes the damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal devices called prostheses. The hip and knee joints are the most commonly replaced joints. Surgical risks include infections and blood clots. Artificial joints can wear out or come loose and may need to eventually be replaced (Shaw,2012). Medications and other treatments are key to managing pain and disability, but another major component to treatment is your own attitude. Your ability to cope despite pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis often determines how much of an impact osteoarthritis will have on your everyday life. Make a plan with your doctor for managing your arthritis. This will help make you feel that youre in charge of your disease rather than vice versa. Studies show that people who take control of their treatment and actively manage their arthritis experience less pain and function better (Mayo Clinic, 2012). It is also important that you know your limits. Rest when you think it might be needed. Arthritis can make a person feel fatigued and makes that person prone to muscle weakness, a deep exhaustion that makes everything you do a great effort. Resting or taking a short nap that doesnt interfere with nighttime sleep may help a great deal.

Adolescent Peer Pressure :: Peer Pressure Essays

Between the ages of twelve and nineteen is a period in a teenager's life that determines what kind of adult he or she will become. This period of adolescence, also known as the "formative years", is the subject of much study and research to determine why adolescents are vulnerable to the phenomenon called peer pressure. The disturbing number of incidents of teenage drug use, teenage pregnancy and teenage suicide is most assuredly the reason that fuels the need for such research. Perhaps it is because as children they are taught the importance of having and maintaining friends. Or perhaps they don't feel that they can talk to their parents or teachers when problems arise. Or maybe they simply want to rebel against the pressures placed on them as youths. Because adolescents spend their time either at home or in school, it is within these confines that the answers to adolescents' behavior lay. In other words, family and school can sometimes cause adolescents to give in to peer pressure because of an overemphasis on the importance of social adjustment, a lack of interest or communication on the part of the parents and teachers, and the unrealistic expectations that these entities create. Although the purpose of attending school is to receive an education, it also provides children with a medium through which they can develop relationships with other children that eventually turn into friendships. The ability to form friendships can be traced back to even the pre-school years and its importance henceforth emphasized by eager parents who want their children to fit in at school. "Interactions with friends or other peers are crucial for the development of a mature morality." (Juvonen, p.11) Most would agree that social interaction is important but sometimes parents are guilty of over-emphasizing this importance. Let's recall the numerous birthday parties where every child in the neighborhood was invited to come regardless of whether or not they were actual friends. This desire to socialize children also occurs in the classroom at school. "The classroom setting represents not only an educational arena but a powerful social context in which the psychological adjustment of children and adolescents can be affected."(Juvonen, p.248) Teachers tend to promote social interaction by assigning exercises that require working in pairs or groups. Furthermore, when a teacher spots a child playing alone, they will encourage him or her to join the other children while overlooking the possibility that the child might have preferred to be alone.

Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington Essay -- Religion, Spir

Dennis Covington writes about a unique method of worship—snake handling, in his memoir, Salvation on Sand Mountain. He begins as a journalist, looking in on this foreign way of life; however, as time progresses he increasing starts to feel a part of this lifestyle. As a result loses his journalistic approach, resulting in his memoir, detailing his own spiritual journey. Upon the conclusion of his stay in this world, Covington realizes the significance of this journey, and argues in his memoir that we cannot entirely know ourselves until we step outside of our comfort zone and separate ourselves from our norm. It is almost as if Covington was in a dream or some sort of trance throughout this whole experience. He begins as a journalist covering an eccentric trial. Instead of leaving this world after the conclusion of the trial, he is intrigues and uses journalism to get a closer look and this unfamiliar practice. He becomes intoxicated with this fascination causing him to forget his initial intentions as a writer, and begins to act and feel as if he is one of them. It is only until he disagrees with the way they feel about women, Covington is forced to wake up from his dream and come back to life, finally realizing he this is not where he belongs or wants to be. The author says, â€Å"I think he knew what he was doing in releasing me back to the wider world† (236). Covington says, â€Å"It was as though nothing has happened, but of course everything had. I knew it could never be the same with the handlers. I had found my people. But I had also discovered that I couldn’t be one of them, after all. Knowing where you come from is one thing, but its suicide to stay there† (236). Everybody at that moment knew that his prescribed time... ...ife, and he does not want to end up like them. He says, â€Å"It’s sad, in a way. I wish I could assure the Porter and the McGlocklins and all the others that we can be friends as long as we like, but that I won’t be taking up serpents anymore. I refuse to be a witness to suicide, particularly my own. I have two daughters to raise, and a vocation in the world† (238). He finally acknowledges his place in the world, is ready and happy to fulfill his calling. It is evident that the author Covington has a strong ethos, which he uses to convey his argument to his readers. His argument becomes clear only at the end of the memoir, which is intentional; readers had to see the entirety of his journey in order to fully understand his underlying message. The author successfully conveys the message of self-purpose through his own struggles and experiences written in his memoir.

Racial Divide In America Health And Social Care Essay

The United States wellness attention system is considered missing when compared to other developed states. The issues refering the quality of wellness attention raises polarized argument across the state, yet everyone agrees that on the whole, the U.S. wellness attention system is one of the better attention systems in the universe. Despite immense investing and changeless reforms, there is an overpowering organic structure of literature back uping racial disparity in the wellness attention system, particularly amongst African-Americans. This paper explores the causes for the disparity in wellness attention that prevail against African-Americans. The surveies on wellness attention disparity portion common decision that African-Americans suffer from terrible wellness attention disadvantages. Research has besides shown that African Americans have higher mortality and morbidity rates1. They experience hapless wellness runing from infant mortality and diabetes to cardiac disease, HIV/AIDS, and other unwellnesss. 2 There are many factors lending to difference in the wellness attention quality among the races. One of the most perennial and common documented factor is the socio-economic factor. It is good documented and recognized that disparity in socio-economic across racial and cultural groups correlatives to disparity in the wellness attention. 3 SES affects handiness to quality wellness attention and better populating criterion which leads to healthy diet. It besides affects instruction quality that has deduction for future development. A recent analysis of 1991 to 2000 mortality informations concluded that, had mortality rates of African Americans been tantamount to that of Whites, over 880,000 deceases could hold been prevented.4 These 800,000 African americans died because of hapless wellness quality and carelessness on the supplier ‘s side. In add-on, African American babies are two to three times more likely than white babies to hold low birth weight-a cardinal index of baby mortality.5 Even after commanding economic factors, surveies show that African-Americans receive poorer quality intervention than their white opposite numbers with same insurance. So why are African Americans having hapless quality wellness attention? The reply to this inquiry encompasses an intricate organic structure of history of racism, wellness attention construction & A ; policy and environmental factors that has put minorities ‘ wellness at a disadvantage. In the yesteryear, a turning figure of research relied on socio- economic position factor to explicate the racial disparity. In recent old ages, racial prejudices are good recognized and documented to explicate the difference in wellness quality. In fact, in the most recent study by Institute of Medicine ( IOM ) , they found strong grounds that racial prejudice, favoritism, pigeonholing, and clinical uncertainness besides play a function. 6 In the book Health Care disparity in the United States by Donald Barr, he concludes that â€Å" unconscious prejudice † is the chief cause of disparity in the wellness care7. Dr Barr exerts that most doctors carry unconscious prejudice when they treat patients of differing cultural or racial background. Experimental surveies besides confirm that doctors can keep negative beliefs about their minority patients. The negative stereotypes in bend affect the type of intervention or prescription offered to them. Thus the difference in intervention and lack in wellness among African Americans is largely due to their doctor ‘s bias.8 These prejudices stem from race as a societal building that existed from long ago and continues to make so. The difference in wellness attention intervention based on race roots from U.S. history of racism based on negative stereotyping that plagued the state for decennaries. The unconscious racial prejudice held by doctors entirely can non account for the disparity. The construction of wellness attention system, and policies in which the attention is provided, besides contribute to the inequality of wellness attention. For illustration, quality of wellness attention resources depends on the vicinity in which wellness centre is located. Many Afro-american vicinities are extremely segregated from white communities. In such countries, doctors have greater troubles accessing high-quality specializers, diagnostic imagination, and non-emergency admittance of their patients to the infirmary, than doctors who serve preponderantly non-minority patients.9 The other consequence of race is its deduction on the individual. Person ‘s racial individuality can do them to be prone to certain diseases like bosom diseases, higher blood force per unit area due to emphasize, and favoritism subjected to them. There is a figure of research that really supports this. In fact Dr. Arline Geronimus of University of Michigan proposed the â€Å" weathering † hypothesis, which states that Afro-american experience early wellness impairment as a effect of the cumulative impact of perennial experience with societal or economic hardship and political marginalization.10 From 1990, the racial disparity drew serious attending from outside organic structures like United Nations and World Health attention organization.11 Ever since so these outside organic structures have been pressing U.S. authorities to take actions. There has been lot done to document the disparities and implicate policies to diminish the spread. In certain countries, wellness attention for African Americans seem to better, yet from a bigger position the quality of wellness attention seems to increase small or no alteration at all. For case, among African Americans, decease rates from bosom disease were 10 % lower than in White persons in 1980, but 30 % higher in 200012. Cancer is the second-leading cause of decease in the United States and African-Americans have moved from holding a decease rate from malignant neoplastic disease below that for Whites in1950 to a rate 30 % higher than for Whites in 200013. Such statistics calls for serious argument, it is sad to see widening racial disparity of wellness attention in a state that has the highest Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) . Studies point to new ways to incorporate racial determiners as cardinal factors to better the wellness attention for minorities. Dr. Barr in his decision calls for an addition in minorities in the wellness attention professionals. The racial disparity in wellness attention is a consequence of interaction of race with socio-economic factor, wellness attention construction, environmental conditions and biass. Merely as racial biass still pertain in today ‘s universe, the institutional racism in wellness attention besides pertains. The racial disparity in the United States is a serious issue that requires betterment and governmental attending. There has been lot done to bridge the spread, yet really small has improved. This issue requires calls for different professionals to work together. End Notes Kaplan, H Roy. The Myth of Post-Racial America. Old line state: Rowman & A ; Littlefield Education, 2011. Kahng, Sang Kyoung. â€Å" Can Racial Disparity in Health between Black and White Americans Be Attributed to Racial Disparities in Body Weight and Socio economic Status? † Health & A ; SocialWork, November 2010, 257-66. Kahng, Sang Kyoung 2 S.H. Woolf et al. , â€Å" The wellness impact of deciding racial disparities: An analysis of US mortality informations † , Public Health 2078, 2078-81 ( 2004 ) . Board on Health Science Policy: Unequal intervention: Confronting Racial and cultural disparities in Health Care, Consensus Report, March 20, 2003. Board on Health Science Policy 4 Barr, Donald, A. Health Disparities in the United States: Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, and Health. Old line state: The Johns Hopkins University Press.2008. Barr, Donald, A. 7 Dolores Acevedo-Garcia et al. , â€Å" Unequal Health Outcomes in the United States † , A Report to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, January 2008. Arline T. Geronimus, ScD, Margaret Hicken, MPH, Danya Keene, MAT, and John Bound, PhD, â€Å" â€Å" Weathering † and Age Patterns of Allostatic Load Scores Among Blacks and Whites in the United States † , American Journal of Public Health, May 2006, Vol 96, No. 5 Kim, E Annice, Kumanyika Shiriki, Igweatu Daniel, and Kim, Son-Ho. â€Å" Coverage and Framing of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in US Newspapers, 1996-2005. † American Journal of Public Health, Supplement 2010, 224-31 Airhihenbuwa, O. Collins, & A ; Liburd, Leandris. â€Å" Eliminating Health Disparities in the African American Population: The Interface of Culture, Gender, and Power † Health Education & A ; Behavior, August 2006, 488-501 Airhihenbuwa, O. Collins, & A ; Liburd, Leandris 12

Martin Luther King Essay

I have a dream was one of the most powerful and influential speeches of all time, it not only created the realisation that the Negro was not free, it persuaded that of white people to make a change for the benefit of the African Americans. The African American civil rights movement was creeping forward but two individuals created a greater atmosphere for the reinforcement of the movement, sure William Wilberforce abolished the slave trade for Britain in 1807, and that was just the start, but 203 years later the African Americans are now equal. It took time but nonetheless it happened. In essence the African American civil rights movement was Martin Luther king’s dream, and that dream has come true. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia; He was the middle child from a family of five. Growing up in Atlanta, King attended Booker T. Washington High School. An intelligent student, he graduated from Morehouse with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. The bus boycott of 1955 was the first step in king’s revolutionary ideas. The boycott lasted 382 days. After which the Supreme Court of the United States had declared the laws requiring segregation on buses as illegal, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, but after he was released, he emerged as the Negro leader. King came from a world where he was part of an inferior race, it was this very world that needed to change and martin Luther King Jr was the one to start the changes that would soon shape the world. The bus boycott was just the beginning of his incredible contribution. Martin Luther King Jr then went on to be one of the most influential people among those who changed the world for the better; he died fighting the cause of justice that is now known as the African American civil rights movement. King wanted a better world where his children were not subjects to racial oppression and judged not by their skin colour but by their character and personality, where the coloured man was equal to the white man, Martin Luther king Jr was so inspired and passionate about change to come about, and he started the bus boycott, taking a stand for what was righteous. The fact that Martin Luther was an African American himself was just as much motivation for his actions and dedication to the African American civil rights movement. Martin Luther king Jr understood the pain caused by racial discrimination and through understanding this pain first hand, made him realise that he wanted to make a change and through doing so, started the bus boycott in 1955. Martin Luther king was so inspired to eventually give his most well known speech which is â€Å"I have a dream†, this speech changed the African American revolution and spoke to every person in the world, whether you were a man of colour or not, it still had meaning, he said that we should treat all people equally and not judge someone by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. He was inspired and became an influential person for many. John Kennedy came from a rich and privileged Irish-American family. Even so, the family had to leave Boston, and move to New York. In Boston, the family had been held at arm’s length by those rich families who saw their Irish background as vulgar and the family’s wealth as lacking ‘class’. The Kennedy’s hoped that the more cosmopolitan New York would allow them to access high society. This introduction to bigotry and discrimination should have given Kennedy some kind of empathetic understanding of what life was like for African Americans. However, the opposite would appear to be true. However, during the presidential campaign and after he was nominated for the Democrats, Kennedy made it clear in his speeches that he was a supporter of civil rights. Some saw the opposition to the 1957 Act as understandable from a political point of view. Others have adopted a more cynical view which is that Kennedy recognised that he needed the ‘Black Vote’ if he was to beat Nixon. Hence why he said in his campaign speeches that discrimination stained America. Kennedy did not exploit the African American civil rights movement as a scheme to gain more votes, Kennedy wanted the African Americans to be equal, so he took their side, He wanted a better world where blacks and whites were equal, through martin Luther king Jr’s dream, Kennedy also had a vision of this dream where everyone was equal. A world where everyone is not equal is hardly a world at all, and john F Kennedy was a supporter of the new world, he was inspired both through getting the black vote and making a change for the better, with a vision of the new world. Kennedy helped shape the world to what it is today with equality and harmony through all individuals no matter what the race or colour or religion. Within the three speeches in which I have chosen to analyse, there are three main techniques that all three speakers use. These techniques help to make the speeches more effective and have a deeper impact. Repetition is a key point throughout all these speeches, in martin Luther king’s speech he keeps repeating about the dream he has â€Å"I have a dream that one day†¦ †, The dream is a frame for the future and sets the stage for the rest of the words. ‘Dream’ is vague aspiration. ‘One day’ starts to make it specific. This creates an ambience throughout the audience when he begins to share his dream, those words â€Å"I have a dream† is constantly repeated so that the audience remembers his dream, and even today it is a prominent speech. In JFK’s speech he repeats the phrase â€Å"It ought to be possible† he gives examples of what should be possible. â€Å"It ought to be possible for American consumers of any colour to receive equal service in places of public accommodation. †; â€Å"It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his colour† this helps the listeners and viewers to get an idea of the dream that both JFK and martin Luther king Jr share. He highlights the importance of what is ‘ought’ to be like to be an American. Furthermore all speakers use emotive language, in martin Luther king Jr’s speech emotive language is everywhere, â€Å"One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. † We immediately feel sympathetic to the Negro’s because of the oppression that they face in everyday life, martin Luther king uses emotive language in several occasions within his speech both for effect and to get people to realise how harsh negro’s are treated in society. We preach freedom around the world, and we mean it, and we cherish our freedom here at home, but are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other that this is a land of the free except for the Negroes† JFK says this with passion as he repeats martin Luther king’s dream and message, the negro is still not free regardless of this contradi ction with the American voice of freedom. They speak of freedom and peace throughout the world yet, the Negro is still not free, Despite contradictory ideas within the American public, they are forced to feel sympathy for the negro because of these words being spoken. Finally the use of personal pronouns within all three speeches. Martin Luther king specifies the Negro as his personal pronoun, the use of the word in his speech is not to offend but to educate that the African American is still not free; he addresses the Negro people in the crowd and the world. â€Å"But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination† But not only does he address these people, the speech is aimed at white people because they are the oppressors, yet martin Luther king decides to address the Negro as his collective, everyone who attended that speech was addressed, martin Luther king used personal pronouns to persuade and win over his audience and he changed and aided the African American revolution for the better. In JFK’s civil rights message he uses personal pronouns to win over and side with the audience members. Negro† and â€Å"American† are the two personal pronouns used the most throughout this speech. These are used so that everyone is included within this speech, and hence everyone can be persuaded that a change is needed because they feel as if JFK is talking to them, the use of personal pronoun within all three speeches is used to persuade and win over the people receiving the speeches. â€Å"I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. † This is speaking out to all Americans in a way through the use of a personal pronoun.

Organ Sales Will Save Lives

In the essay â€Å"Organ Sales Will Save Lives† by Joana Mackay, kidney failure is the main topic in this essay. Honestly, I did not really have an opinion on organ sales. It just knew a bit about it. However, after I read this essay, I felt like I completely agreed with her argument. She argues that the sale of human organs should be legal. As we learned, some key features in an argument include a clear and arguable position, necessary background information, and convincing evidence.In Mackay’s essay, at the very beginning of the essay, she clearly states her position, which is â€Å"Governments should not ban the sales of human organs; they should regulate it. † Throughout the entire essay she gives a lot of reasons about why she believe that the sale of human organs should be legal. Also, she pointed out that there is a black market where people can purchase and sell kidney by a very good deal. Meanwhile â€Å"there are over 60,000 people on the waiting list for kidneys, and it takes an average of 10 years for your waiting to end†, in black market, they don’t have to wait a line for ten years.This is very surprising. This evidence stood out the most for me because I did not know that people have to wait for 10 year to get a kidney. Furthermore, in the third world countries, they are willing to sell their kidney, which cost about $1000. Sadly, because they need money to by food and clothing for their family, so they are willing to do anything to get money even sale their kidney. It is so sad to know about this.

Life in Prison

Prison life in most society is not considered a life worth mentioning. When a person decides to break the law and take up a life of crime, he or she should be aware of certain circumstances that lie ahead. When individuals break the law in our society, the pathway to a life in jail or prison is almost certain. Life simple freedom that most of society enjoys are limited in prison, and in some case none existence. Told where to go, how to act, when to speak, when to rise for the day or when to sleep can be torture. While enduring this he or she is confined in a small cell surrounded by the worst criminals society has to offer can make what life one has left a living nightmare (Heydoorn, 2008). In this paper, I will discuss my personal perspective that I have on Life in Prison. I will also discuss the policies that I would enforce, inmates need for respect, change in correctional policies that I would implement, and my beliefs on why people become criminals. After reading various topics on prison life during this course of study, along with my personal experience as a law enforcement officer, my perspective and understanding of prison life has not change. The main purpose of jail and prison has not change since the early days of our society. Prisons in our society are to house those citizens, which have committed crimes, like murder, rape, arson, and burglary. These citizens are held until their day in court, their trail has been set, and punishment has been rendered. Our ancestors intended purpose of jails and prisons were used as a form of punishment against the offender, a deterrent against the offender from committing crimes, removing dangerous criminals from our society and rehabilitation of less violent criminals. The system I think is ineffective so my understanding is that the system works. However, I am not supportive of the harsh conditions that some inmates will experience while incarcerated. The subculture of gang life and having to choose between living prison life safe or a victim of prison life is a difficult choice (Latessa, 2004). Some policies that I would make to aid the adjustment of prisoners to prison life are first address the subculture mentality that all inmates will experience. This unwritten inmate code, which is nothing more than a certain rules, and belief that used to bind inmates together. Prison life within this culture sees prison as nothing more than a training ground for gladiators. Here is where the strong will survive and flourish in this culture or weak shall become victims. This one area seldom addressed in the majority of prisons. In some cases, prisons officials allow this system to operate for fear of staff safety and gang retaliation. If this were the first order of attack, an inmate might have the chance at rehabilitation and reeducating themselves for reentry back to society (De Viggiani, 2006). In prison life for an inmate, his or her very existence is based on respect, hope, and safety that he or she will survive their sentence. If respect is given to an inmate as, a human being than respect should be rendered in return. Respect can be the difference between a prison riots or safe staff. Giving an inmate hope can change an individual whole outlook on prison life. Though hope an inmate can, one acquires his or her GED, learn a trade, kick drug addiction, and one-day walk out a free man. Other changes in policy that I would suggest in both state and federal prison would first start with the correctional management staff ideology. In almost every state in the United States prison system operates with the idea that if a plan worked good one day why change it the next. In other words if the system is not broken why fix it. The correctional system is like any other field in our society reluctant to change even when it is long overdue. The hearts and minds of correctional professionals, is a start in the right direction. In the last 100 years, there has been very little difference in how our prisons are operated this needs to change. Just because it was successful in 1950 does not mean it is for 2011. During this course of study, I do not think that there is no definite reason people become criminals. It is hard for me to think that individuals are merely born criminals and its is beyond that person control to do otherwise. I think that some people just take up criminal activity because the lifestyle and danger of being caught appeals to their behavior. Others might do strictly for financial gains that might override any rational thought. Some because of their environment see it as easy ticket out of poverty in which he or she grew up. The list could go on with no simple answer. However, I am confident that if the majority of our society were taught at an early age that criminal behavior is a no win scenario that will only led them to a life in prison. Life in Prison Prison life in most society is not considered a life worth mentioning. When a person decides to break the law and take up a life of crime, he or she should be aware of certain circumstances that lie ahead. When individuals break the law in our society, the pathway to a life in jail or prison is almost certain. Life simple freedom that most of society enjoys are limited in prison, and in some case none existence. Told where to go, how to act, when to speak, when to rise for the day or when to sleep can be torture. While enduring this he or she is confined in a small cell surrounded by the worst criminals society has to offer can make what life one has left a living nightmare (Heydoorn, 2008). In this paper, I will discuss my personal perspective that I have on Life in Prison. I will also discuss the policies that I would enforce, inmates need for respect, change in correctional policies that I would implement, and my beliefs on why people become criminals. After reading various topics on prison life during this course of study, along with my personal experience as a law enforcement officer, my perspective and understanding of prison life has not change. The main purpose of jail and prison has not change since the early days of our society. Prisons in our society are to house those citizens, which have committed crimes, like murder, rape, arson, and burglary. These citizens are held until their day in court, their trail has been set, and punishment has been rendered. Our ancestors intended purpose of jails and prisons were used as a form of punishment against the offender, a deterrent against the offender from committing crimes, removing dangerous criminals from our society and rehabilitation of less violent criminals. The system I think is ineffective so my understanding is that the system works. However, I am not supportive of the harsh conditions that some inmates will experience while incarcerated. The subculture of gang life and having to choose between living prison life safe or a victim of prison life is a difficult choice (Latessa, 2004). Some policies that I would make to aid the adjustment of prisoners to prison life are first address the subculture mentality that all inmates will experience. This unwritten inmate code, which is nothing more than a certain rules, and belief that used to bind inmates together. Prison life within this culture sees prison as nothing more than a training ground for gladiators. Here is where the strong will survive and flourish in this culture or weak shall become victims. This one area seldom addressed in the majority of prisons. In some cases, prisons officials allow this system to operate for fear of staff safety and gang retaliation. If this were the first order of attack, an inmate might have the chance at rehabilitation and reeducating themselves for reentry back to society (De Viggiani, 2006). In prison life for an inmate, his or her very existence is based on respect, hope, and safety that he or she will survive their sentence. If respect is given to an inmate as, a human being than respect should be rendered in return. Respect can be the difference between a prison riots or safe staff. Giving an inmate hope can change an individual whole outlook on prison life. Though hope an inmate can, one acquires his or her GED, learn a trade, kick drug addiction, and one-day walk out a free man. Other changes in policy that I would suggest in both state and federal prison would first start with the correctional management staff ideology. In almost every state in the United States prison system operates with the idea that if a plan worked good one day why change it the next. In other words if the system is not broken why fix it. The correctional system is like any other field in our society reluctant to change even when it is long overdue. The hearts and minds of correctional professionals, is a start in the right direction. In the last 100 years, there has been very little difference in how our prisons are operated this needs to change. Just because it was successful in 1950 does not mean it is for 2011. During this course of study, I do not think that there is no definite reason people become criminals. It is hard for me to think that individuals are merely born criminals and its is beyond that person control to do otherwise. I think that some people just take up criminal activity because the lifestyle and danger of being caught appeals to their behavior. Others might do strictly for financial gains that might override any rational thought. Some because of their environment see it as easy ticket out of poverty in which he or she grew up. The list could go on with no simple answer. However, I am confident that if the majority of our society were taught at an early age that criminal behavior is a no win scenario that will only led them to a life in prison.