Legal Brief Essay

Case name, citation, and court: Ashley County, Arkansas v. Pfizer, Inc, 552 F.3d 659 (8th Cir. 2009) Summary of Key Facts: An ingredient widely used in Pfizer’s products is a necessary ingredient in the manufacturing of methamphetamine in small toxic labs which are responsible for dangerous explosions, burns, and toxic fumes. Arkansas has one of the largest numbers of small toxic labs in the US and is burdened with high costs of fighting the meth epidemic and is seeking to recoup some of the funds that the counties of Arkansas have spent. The Issue: Is Pfizer ethically responsible for assisting in the funding of fighting the meth epidemic? The Holding: Since Pfizer is a major manufacturer of products containing necessary ingredients used in illegal meth labs and the counties of Arkansas has been so heavily financially burdened by these labs, the damages are obvious. The counties have suffered financial loss from battling a drug that could not be made without the ingredients in Pfizer’s products. Because of these damages and Pfizer’s role in the supply of ingredients to drug labs, it is the responsibility of Pfizer to either, repay the counties and finance the future costs of fighting the meth epidemic or find alternative ingredients to use in their products that cannot be used in the manufacture of meth. Summary of Your Reasoning: It is the corporate responsibility of Pfizer to assist in funding the counties’ operations battling meth. Under a corporate citizenship view, Pfizer is responsible for contributing to the solution of the social problem that their products create. Meth is an epidemic rapidly sweeping the nation and it is the responsibility of anyone, or company, with any tie to the drug at all, to contribute to the solution, the same amount that they contribute to the problem.

Describe the Learning Organization Utilizing

According to Pedler, Burgoyne, & Boydell (1991) a learning organization is defined as a company that facilitates the learning of its members and continuously transforms itself . With that definition, certain characteristics must be evident in the organization. Learning organizations are adaptive to their surroundings, encourage collective and individual learning, constructively utilizes feedback to achieve better results, and has enhanced adaptability (Fargo & Skyrme, 1995). Applying the brain metaphor to organizations, allows us to see how companies operate and how knowledge is shared and disbursed. This metaphor also demonstrates how this knowledge network is critical to the flow of information. Social networking is a key component in the way learning organizations grow and function in today’s budget conscious environment. Roughly 50% of corporate performance is attributed to responding to change and complexity intelligently (Halal, 1997). A learning organization is more than the sum of all knowledge from individual members because all information is not accessed equally. All information that is stored or processed by members is only accessed when needed. A learning organization involves the development of higher levels of knowledge and skill and encompasses four levels of learning. This goes from the learning basic facts, processes and procedures (level 1); learning transferrable jobs skills (level 2); learning to adapt (level 3); and learning to learn which corresponds to innovation and creativity (level 4 ) (Fargo & Skyrme, 1995). The last two levels are the types of learning that is preferred in learning organizations. Smaller networks being only partially connected increases the possibilities of a learning organization by leading to better utilization of internal and external knowledge . An organization’s real edge comes from having complex, content sensitive knowledge. This core knowledge is found in individual, communities of interest and their connections (Krebs, 1998). Due to the wide use of social networks, employees are raising the bar for company learning systems. With the ease of use and familiarity of the common social networking applications available i. e. MySpace, facebook, blogger, they have something to compare it to. They expect it to be at that level or better. Social networks such as twitter and facebook are allowing people to connect with each other very readily. Applications are becoming simple and easy to understand. With this is mind it is easier to locate information which is a huge benefit and part of how a learning organization functions. Information must be accessible when it is needed by whomever. Bottom line if the apps are complex and difficult to utilize, people will not use them. In learning organizations social media can serve four purposes: easy contact, information dissemination, rating and tagging, and expert advice. First, most social networking sites allow easy accessibility to information with their search functions. Second, employees are able to provide suggestions and disseminate information rapidly. Third, information can be rated and tagged for future reference. Lastly, experts are able to share expertise in their field to a large forum (Bersin, 2008). This customer specific is very narrow in its scope and limits the number of personnel who would look for this type of information. This narrow audience makes it have much more impact. This is basically what a learning organization needs, smaller networks connected to other smaller networks. Everyone is not going to be connected to everyone. This would not be logical or how an organization functions. People are going to connect with people who have the information they require. Just like a brain, all the neurons and synapses don’t all fire off when you listen to music or read a book. Different areas are responsible for those functions and are stimulated as needed. When there are abnormalities in the brain problems can result in people’s behavior i. . Tourette’s syndrome. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke current research points to abnormalities in certain brain regions (including the basal ganglia, frontal lobes, and cortex), the circuits that interconnect these regions, and the neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine) responsible for communication among nerve cells (â€Å"Tourette Synd rome Fact Sheet,† NINDS,2005). Smaller networks that are partially connected to each other are more functional in a learning organization. Otherwise there would be too much information to process and nothing would get accomplished. Social networking helps employees connect and share information and by doing this they are better able to utilize corporate resources. Employees who are central in key networks learn faster, perform better and are more committed to the organization. It has been shown that both individuals and groups are in the midst of organizational network who are not overwhelmed by direct ties are the most effective (Krebs, 1998). Hierarchy structure plays a huge role in the way learning organization functions. Learning organizations have flat decentralized organizational structures. This interconnected network of networks facilitates the dissemination of information across organizational boundaries; a dramatic change from bureaucratic way of doing things. With today’s advancement of information technology, flat organizations are able to use employee knowledge to solve operating problems more directly and quickly (Halal, 1997). Employee knowledge plays a great advantage in the corporate environment. In 1997, this knowledge accounted for 80% of all corporate assets. Yet despite this fact only 20% of this resource is used. (Halal, 1997). Advances in communications and technology have given rise to network organizations. A network organization breaks down the hierarchical organizational chart (boxes) to one level and then connects each box to every other box. When decision making and operations are decentralized this allows initiative and autonomy to flourish (Friel, 2002). I don’t see any potential downside to using social media in a corporate environment. I think that social media can help facilitate earning by allowing users to connect with each other by using forums where they can share information, opinions and expertise. This is exactly what we are doing here at TUIU. Through these online courses we are connecting with other students and the professors via the threaded discussions and the water cooler. We leave comments and then someone responds to what we wrote. His is a cyclical process, it goes back and forth. In the end we all learn from each other in the process. To me each course would be a small network and we are connected to the larger organization (TUIU) via our professors. Although there are many courses in session the only one that is of interest to me is the one I’m currently in. It wouldn’t make much sense to participate in threaded discussions in Business Ethics 501. There is no need to do so. Being that TUIU is a widely distributed and has a narrowed scope and audience makes a powerful impact on how information is processed. Using the brain metaphor has added a great deal to how companies operate in regards to networking, people and how thing get accomplished. Information sharing is a big component in how learning organization performs. Each part does its own thing, but when information is needed it is readily available. The brain is very specific, time and energy is not wasted. Only those paths that are needed are activated which saves money. Machines are geared toward precision, organisms are self regulating, and brains are centered on connectivity.References http://karlalbrecht.com/downloads/OI-WhitePaper-Albrecht.pdf http://www.espen.com/papers/orgbrain.htm http://www.skyrme.com/insights/3lrnorg.htm http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rxv/kmoi/orgint.htm

Bowen Family Systems

Bowen Family System Theory Introduction In doing my studies on family/systemic counselling, I found Bowen’s theory intriguing. In my work and everyday life, I witness triangulation on a daily basis, from my own experience, without the awareness from this module, I was often entwined in triangulation. As a trainee therapist I decided to write my paper on Bowenian Therapy in order to gain a better understanding and develop my awareness. Murray Bowen, M. D. (31 January 1913 9 October 1990) was an American psychiatrist and a professor in Psychiatry at the Georgetown University. Bowen was among the pioneers of family therapy and founders of systemic therapy. â€Å"The family systems theory is a theory introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Families are systems of interconnected and interdependent individuals, none of whom can be understood in isolation from the system† (Genopro. com 18/11/2010) Bowen’s interest in family began as he was practicing as a psychiatrist in the 1940s. He focused on schizophrenic patient’s emotional relationships with their mothers. Others have called it a symbiosis relationship, but for him it was only an exaggerated natural process of emotional relationship. In 1954 he started to hospitalize the entire family of the sick (schizophrenic) person. He found out that the entire family suffered with the sick person emotionally. He also studied the relationship between mother-child symbioses. This involved a certain repetitive pattern, where he observed alternating patterns of closeness and distance. They portrayed sensitive emotional tensions caused by separation anxiety and incorporation anxiety. In 1959 he started working with families with less severe problems. Surprisingly these families displayed the same problems as the disturbed families. He concluded that there is no discontinuity between the normal and disturbed families but vary along a continuum line of emotional fusion to differentiation. Bowen was one of the first to realize that the history of our family creates a template which shapes the values, thoughts, and experiences of each generation, as well as how that generation passes down these things to the next generation. Bowens theory focuses on the balance of two forces togetherness and individuality. Too much togetherness can prevent individuality, or developing ones own sense of self whereas too much individuality results in a distant and estranged family. The theory looks at the family as a system and describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way members of a family are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. According to the theory, mental illness happens as a result of emotional fusion. This can happen when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. Bowen introduced eight interlocking concepts to explain family development and functioning. Below I will provide an overview of each concept. Differentiation of Self The first concept is Differentiation of Self, or the ability to separate feelings and thoughts. Undifferentiated people can not separate feelings and thoughts; They have difficulty thinking logically because when asked to think they are flooded with feelings, so this makes It difficult for them to base their responses on their own logical thinking. They also have difficulty differentiating between their feelings and the feelings of others. They look to their family to define how they think about issues, feel about people, and interpret their experiences. Differentiation is the process of freeing yourself from your familys processes to define yourself so you can have different opinions and values than your family members, but are still capable of staying emotionally connected to them. It means being able to calmly reflect on a conflicted interaction afterward, realising your wn role in it, and then choosing a different response for the future. Triangles Triangles are the basic units of systems. They balance between closeness and distance. The third person or party brings unity and creates continuity in warring situation. The triangle brings stressed person into a manageable level of operation. This involves true listening and gives a true advice for a better solution. In it virtually all relationships are shadowed by third parti es. For example when a couple have an argument, afterwards, one of the partners may call their friend to talk about the fight. The third person helps them reduce their anxiety and take action, or calm their strong emotions and reflect, and make decision. People who are more undifferentiated are likely to triangulate others and be triangulated whereas people who are differentiated cope well with life and relationship stress, and as a result are less likely to triangulate others or be triangulated. The Nuclear Family Emotional Process These are the emotional patterns in a family that continue over generations. This involves a modeling scenario where a family member models and imitates the behaviour and even the language of his or her parents. For example, a parent who teaches his or her children to be happy when things are ok and sad when things are bad shapes the future thinking of those children. Here the parent passes on an emotional view of the world (the emotional process), which is taught throughout generation from parent to a child, in a nuclear family. Reactions to this process can range from open conflict, to physical or emotional problems in one family member, to reactive distancing. This will bring problems with family members like substance abuse, mental illness and irresponsibility. The Multigenerational Transmission Process This process entails the way family emotional processes are transferred and maintained over generations. This captures how the whole family joins in The Family Projection Process, for example, by reinforcing the beliefs of the family. As the family continues this pattern over generations, they also refer back to previous generations (Hes just like his Uncle he was always irresponsible too or Shes just like your cousin Mary she was divorced four times. ). Sibling Position Bowen believed In sibling order and that each child had a place in the family hierarchy. He believed that the oldest sibling was more likely to be seen as overly responsible and mature whilst the youngest as overly irresponsible and immature. Emotional Cut-off Emotional cut-off refers to the techniques people use to reduce anxiety from their unresolved emotional issues with parents, siblings, and other members from the family of origin. Some people seek distance either by moving away physically or emotionally using silence, diversion or avoidance of difficult and hurtful topics. To avoid sensitive issues, they may move away from their families and refuse to go home regularly. This strategy may work in the short term to reduce immediate anxiety but over time, the deeper, unresolved problems are toxic towards other relationships. An open relationship is the opposite of emotional cut-off. It is the best way to reduce a familys over-all anxiety. Continued low anxiety permits family members who would like to, to begin the slow steps to better differentiation. Bowen wrote, It might be difficult for a family with severe cut-offs to begin more emotional contact with the extended family, but any effort toward reducing the cut-off with the extended family will soften the intensity of the family problem, reduce the symptoms, and make any kind of therapy far more productive. Societal Emotional Processes The concept of societal emotional process describes how the emotional system governs behaviour on a societal level, promoting both progressive and regressive periods in a society. Cultural forces are important in how a society functions but are insufficient for explaining the rise and fall in how well societies adapt to the challenges that face them. The society’s attitudes towards for example different races, cl asses, genders and sexual orientation, have definite effects on the family. In many ways, this is like the Family Projection Process scaled up to the level of a society as a whole. The way a family deals with prejudice, discrimination and persecution is instinctively passed on to their children so that they can survive in their unique environment. The coping practices of the parents and extended family may lead to more or less adaptive emotional health for the family and its members. Normal Family Development According to Bowen, all families lie along a continuum. Bowen believed that all families lie on a spectrum or continuum and that it is difficult to try to classify families into types. If circumstances change, one type of family could change and become another type of family. For this reason, Bowen is credited with being one of the first culturally sensitive family therapists. A normal, adjusted family will have tensions and anxieties but will be balanced in terms of their togetherness and differentiation. A normal family will have good emotional balance and recognise that some problems are external and others come from the individual. There are connections between the different generations in the family and also to the extended family. The transitions for example from adolescence to adulthood are smooth and supported by the wider family. Past pains and joys are shared. Bowen says no matter how we transform and forget the past, these memories of our relationship, still stay alive in us. The danger is the way our former family attachment will shape our new family. At various times difficulties in different relationships, sometimes called dyads, are resolved without drawing in others into their difficulties. The ability to tolerate and support family members with different views supports differentiation and is a sign of a healthy family. Awareness of external societal influences as well as the unique family influences helps a family to become well adjusted. During times of grief and loneliness for example, family members give space and allow the person opportunity to grow. A positive emotional atmosphere with a belief in the virtues of family builds normal family development. Finally, when family members depend on each ther for feedback and support rather than in co-dependent ways, the family develops healthily. Family Disorders Bowen believed that family problems result from emotional fusion, or from an increase in the level of anxiety in the family. He believed that the member with the symptom is the least differentiated member of the family, and is the one who has the least ability to resist the pull to become fused with another member. This person absorbs the anxiety and worries of t he whole family and has the least ability to separate their own thoughts and feelings from those of their family. Families face two kinds of problems. Vertical problems are passed down from one generation to the next. Thus, adults who had cold and distant relationships with their parents do not know how to have warm and close relationships with their children, and so pass down their own problems to their children. Horizontal problems are caused by environmental stressors or transition points in the family development. This may result from traumas such as a chronic illness, the loss of the family home, or the death of a family member. However, horizontal stress may also result from Social Emotional Processes, such as when a minority family moves from a like-minority neighbourhood to a very different neighbourhood, or when a family with traditional gender roles immigrates to a culture with very different views, and must raise their children there. The worst case for the family is when vertical and horizontal problems happen at once. Goals of Therapy Bowen’s therapy was not aimed at changing people or solving problems, it was basically geared towards: †¢ Helping families to inquire and explore their own roles in family problems Making them assume responsibility for their own problems†¢ People learning more about themselves and their relationships †¢ Decreasing emotional reactivity†¢ Improving self-focus †¢ Modifying dysfunctional patterns †¢ Evaluating progress of the family in terms of how they function now, as well as how adaptive they can be to future changes In general, the t herapist accomplishes this by giving less attention to specific problem they present with, and more attention to family patterns of emotions and relationships, as well as family structures of dyads and triangles. Techniques that are most prominent in the practice of Bowenian family systems therapy. Genogram: Bowen used what he termed a â€Å"family diagram† to collect and organise important data concerning the multigenerational family systems. In 1972 Guerin renamed the family diagram the â€Å"genogram. † The main function of the genogram is to organise data during the evaluation phase and to track relationship processes and key triangles over the course of therapy. In the process of assessment, the following are noted: the history of the presenting problems, exact dates are noted, history of the nuclear family, when the parents met, their courtship, their marriage, child rearing, where the family lived especially in relation to the location of the extended family, history of both spouses birth, sibling positions, facts about childhood, past and current functioning with parents The Therapy Triangle: This technique is based on the theoretical assumption that conflictual relationship processes within the family have activated key-symptom-related triangles in an attempt to re-establish stability; and the family will automatically attempt to include the therapist in the triangling process. If they succeed, therapy will be stalemated. On the other hand, if the therapist can remain free of reactive emotional entanglements, in other words, stay detriangled ,the family system and its members will calm down to the point where they can begin to work out s olutions to their dilemmas. Relationship Experiments: Relationship experiments are carried out around structural altercations in key triangles. The goal is to help the family members become aware of systems processes and learn to recognise their role in them. Thomas F. Fogarty developed experiments for use with emotional pursuers and distancers (lartin-drake. com 28/12/2010). Pursuers are encouraged to restrain their pursuit, stop making demands, and decrease pressure for emotional connection and see what happens in themselves and in the relationship. The exercise isn’t designed to be a magic cure, as some people have hoped, but to help clarify the emotional processes involved. Distancers are encouraged to move toward the other person and communicate personal thoughts and feelings, in other words, to find an alternative to either avoiding or capitulating to the others’ demands. Coaching: Coaching is the Bowenian alternative to the more emotionally involved role common to most other forms of therapy. By acting as a coach, the Bowenian therapist hopes to avoid taking over for patients or becoming embroiled in family triangles. The goal is increased understanding, increased self-focus, and more functional attachment to key family members. The I-Position: Taking a personal stand, saying what you feel, instead of what others are â€Å"doing†, is one of the most direct ways to break cycles of emotional reactivity. Bowenian therapists not only encourage clients to take I-Position, they also do so themselves. Another assumption in Bowenian therapy is that confrontation increases anxiety and decreases the ability to think clearly and see options. Therefore, displacing the focus, making it less personal and less threatening, is an excellent way to increase objectivity. This forms the basis for two related techniques, multiple family therapy and displacement stories. Conclusion In conclusion I believe that Bowen developed a comprehensive theory of family therapy which inspired generations. His theory describes how the family shapes the interplay of individuality and togetherness using six interlocking concepts which are: differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional process, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process and sibling position. In 1970 Bowen added two additional concepts: emotional cut-off and societal emotional process. Bowenian therapy is a process of active inquiry in which the therapist helps family members get past blaming and fault finding in order to face their own roles in family problems. The goals of Bowenian therapy are not to change people or to solve their problems. Instead they see therapy as an opportunity for people to learn more about themselves and their relationships so that they can assume responsibility for their own problems. Contents Introduction Differentiation of Self The Nuclear Family Emotional Process Triangles The Multigenerational Transmission Process Sibling Position Emotional Cut-off Societal Emotional Processes Normal Family Development Family Disorders Goals of Therapy Conclusion Bibliography Bibliography http://www. abacon. com/famtherapy/bowen. html (14/12/2010) http://www. anzjft. om/pages/articles/78. pdf (14/12/2010) http://www. bukisa. com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapyixzz14iOkMQpM (16/12/2010) http://www. genopro. com/genogram/fam ily-systems-theory/ (22/10/2010) http://www. houd. info/bowenTheory. pdf (22/10/2010) http://www. lartin-drake. com/distancer. pdf (22/10/2010) Bibliography http://www. abacon. com/famtherapy/bowen. html http://www. psychpage. com/learning/library/counseling/bowen. html http://www. bukisa. com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy http://www. thebowencenter. org/ http://homepages. wmich. edu/~macdonal/SW 6680. 05/Friedman. Bow Contents Introduction

Insolvency and the Recent Changes in the European Union to Question Essay

Insolvency and the Recent Changes in the European Union to Question Whether the Main Aim Is To Maximize the Collective Returns to Credit - Essay Example The researcher states that there have been some interesting changes to Insolvency law in the EU and subsequently in the UK to give more power to the Creditor. The aim, unlike other regulations, is to not to protect the consumer but to let the creditor maximize the collective returns to credit.   In most circumstances regime shopping within the EU is frowned upon, because there needs to be equality and protection for both parties under the law; however with insolvency law this does not seems to be the case in cross-border insolvency cases, especially with the definition of the centre of the debtor’s main interest (COMI). This concept of COMI has been used to allow the more powerful creditor to choose the regime that best suits their needs to maximize their return on credit. In the US insolvency law seems to more geared towards the creditor regaining their money back, because in good faith they have lent it out. Jackson argues that the assets of the individual should be pooled together and divided amongst the creditors on the strict economic basis to maximize the return of credit to the creditor. This would mean that the laws that offer this maximization of credit should be applied, even if there are different jurisdictions because the debt crosses state or international borders. Therefore this will be illustrated as the approach taken by the EU in regard to the new trans-border insolvency regulations, rather than individual actions for each creditor in differing jurisdictions. The enforcement of individual creditors needs versus the individual debtor's needs is the soft approach that the UK system of law takes and NOT in the best interests of creditors because they should be able to get the maximum return of credit because they are already a loss. Jackson argues this hard economic approach, rather than an approach that considers the interests of the debtor. This is fair because the creditor in good faith has lent this money to the debtor expecting its r eturn; therefore in the case that this is not possible the maximization of this return should be available.

Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Government - Essay Example strialized City in heart of this country, a highway was constructed, cutting across the major watershed supporting the City’s underground water supply to reduce into half the travel time from the Export Processing Zone to the International Ship-building Yard on the other side of the island. Hundreds of trees were cut to give way to the approximately 100-kilometer road traversing the mountain ridges. Since, the mountains were already cleared and accessible to motor vehicles, affluent City dwellers started building houses on the cleared areas. Soon, a large portion of the watershed turned into a housing and commercial district. A couple of years after the opening of the highway, water supply seriously dropped. It was estimated that with the current rate of extraction will soon overtake the recharging rate and fresh water supply will be gone in less than 15 years. An alarming level of E. Coli bacteria brought about by fecal contamination was also found in the water. This sad reality happening is not only happening in developing countries like the Philippines. Even developed countries have problems of similar nature. A serious review of water governance policies is in order. Water supply plays a vital role for sustainable development, be it in developed countries or developing countries. The use and abuse of water supply and the blatant disregard or ignorance of its management can cost a city even an entire country a fortune. Water shortages and water quality degradation are seriously affecting prospects for economic and social development in countries all over the world. However, most of these fatal mistakes can easily be avoided with a good water governance system. Water governance refers to the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to regulate the development and management of water resources and provision of water services at different levels of society. This must be instituted at the regional, national and local

Summary of fixed income securities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary of fixed income securities - Essay Example Debt securities have two essential components namely interest and principle. Fixed income securities which fall in the category of debt includes bonds, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and bank loans. Preferred stock obligations can be defined as the stock in which the investors gain ownership interests in an organization. Fixed dividends are paid to the stock holders out of the profits which are earned by the company. Preferred stock holders are different from the common stock holders as they do not have voting rights. Preferred stock holders only can realize fixed dividends at periodical intervals. However, preference stock holders are given more priority when it comes to payment of dividends as compared to common stock holders. If a company becomes bankrupt, the obligations to preference stock holders are cleared off first. Considering such aspects associated with preferred stock, they are termed as form of equity having characteristic features which are similar to bonds (Barnhill Jr and Maxwell 347). Treasury bonds- They are also referred to as government bonds as the federal government of a nation issues such bonds. The government is expected not to default the payments associated with such bonds. Hence, the risks associated with such bonds are perceived to be low. However, since the price of such bonds may fall if the rate of interest rises, they are not completely riskless. Corporate bonds- Such bonds are issued by business organizations. Unlike government bonds, corporate bonds are exposed to high default risks. If the issuing company does not earn adequate profits or is suffering huge losses, it may not be able to make timely payments to the bondholders. The default risks which are associated with the bonds may range on the basis of the characteristics of the company and the terms of the bond. Such default risks are

Home Depots Nightmarish EXIT from China Assignment

Home Depots Nightmarish EXIT from China - Assignment Example Thirdly, Home Depot wanted to get rid of the distribution network by eliminating middlemen and leverage worldwide supplier network which was hard. Lastly, Home Depot had been suffering from declining profits and only the change of the business model for example e-commerce (Saporta). The Chinese consumers haggle too much when doing their shopping which is unfavorable to the retailer. Furthermore, they do not buy some of the products for instance garage tools because they hire someone to do it for them (Saporta). In addition, Chinese do not shop alone without assistance which required Home Depot to hire and train tradesmen to meet their desired standards. A safe exit strategy from a foreign market would be liquidation because there is no worry about change of control and no negotiations are involved (Cross). From the article, I derived that closing some of the retail slowly is a safe exit strategy. Selling the retail stores to a friendly buyer would also serve as a safe exit strategy because the buyer is known. Lastly, offering an Initial Public Offer (IPO) for it would increase the worth of the company

Situation Analysis and Marketing Objectives Assignment

Situation Analysis and Marketing Objectives - Assignment Example The report ends with a concise statement of marketing objectives for Subway that it needs to follow in order to achieve its goals. Table of Contents Situation Analysis and Marketing Objectives 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 4 Situation Analysis 5 Internal Environment 5 â€Å"Product, Pricing, Promotion, and Placement†: 5 Target Market: 6 Value-addition: 6 External Environment: 7 Competitors: 7 Technology: 7 SWOT Analysis: 8 Strengths: 8 Weaknesses: 8 Opportunities 9 Threats: 9 Marketing Objectives 9 References 11 Situation Analysis and Marketing Objectives 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 5 Situation Analysis 6 Internal Environment 6 â€Å"Product, Pricing, Promotion, and Placement†: 6 Target Market: 7 Value-addition: 7 External Environment: 8 Competitors: 8 Technology: 8 SWOT Analysis: 9 Strengths: 9 Weaknesses: 9 Opportunities 10 Threats: 10 Marketing Objectives 10 References 12 Introduction Subway, the world’s number one sub-marine sandwich franchise of 2011, was started by Fred DeLuca in 1965 to make money for being able to pay his medical college’s tuition fee. Fred borrowed $1000 from Dr. Peter Buck, a family friend who later on became his partner, to open his first sub-marine sandwich shop in Bridgeport, Connecticut. ... The menus of Subway franchises vary from location to location as it adapts to the cultural differences and preferences of its target consumers. The report presents a situational analysis of both the internal and external environments of Subway to highlight the company’s target market, its objectives, competitive advantages, overall market analysis and its marketing strategies. It also presents a competitor analysis followed by a SWOT analysis of the company that indicates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats presented by the internal and external environments of Subway. Marketing objectives will follow the SWOT analysis, laying the foundation for helping the company meet its objectives (Solomon et al, 2011). Situation Analysis Internal Environment Subway’s main objective is to provide its customers with fresh and high quality sandwiches at all times. It also aims at establishing itself as a fresh and healthy sandwich maker in the fast-food industry. â₠¬Å"Product, Pricing, Promotion, and Placement†: Subway mainly deals in submarine sandwiches that are promoted like healthy and fresh sub-sandwiches. This was what Fred DeLuca started initially when he opened his first sandwich shop in Bridgeport. The company, however, expanded its product offerings with the passage of time and thus increased its menu from only sandwiches and salads to breakfast, sandwiches, salads, catering services, coffee, cookies and Kids’ meals. Subway has always targeted the upper and upper-middle class segments of the market; therefore, their sandwiches do not come cheap. One of the franchisees, however, set out to increase his franchise’s sales and popularity by offering $5 Foot-long sandwiches which was later adopted by the company as a

Cultural Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Cultural Tourism - Essay Example A thriving cultural economy can often improve the socio-economic status of a city and contribute positively to local community life. An improved packaging and marketing of The Thames Gap which consists of the Hampton Court Palace, the Richmond Park, the Kew Gardens and the view from Richmond Hill will result in higher revenues in the form of higher visitor arrivals for this cultural venue. Hence, the management of The Thames Gap must derive useful inputs from the SWOT Analysis which is tackled in this paper. A better and improved marketing strategy will redound to higher revenues and ultimately, the greater well-being of the residents of the City of London. Various tourism studies have highlighted the importance of cultural tourism and its contribution to the socio-economic development of the City of London. Von Eckardt (1980:140) has emphasised that culture is something that rises up from below. This development is a result of the new cultural planning which leads to community development. Fox-Przeworski et al. (1991:250) suggest that there is no single set of measures that can bring about successful urban economic regeneration for all cities. Hence, a cultural planning approach aims to combine cultural planning with other urban policies covering the. economic, environmental, social, political, educational, symbolic parts to ensure a more integrated development (Bianchini, 1993). Evans (2001) provides a complete analysis of the development of arts and cultural planning within the context of urban renaissance. Von Eckhardt (1980:142) again emphasised the integral nature of cultural planning by emphasizing that the art of architecture, the art of urban design, the art of winning community support, the art of transportation planning, and the art of mastering the dynamics of economic development.In addition, Harvey (1989) argued that cultural tourism is inextricably linked in the context of urban development. planning has a significant economic dimension, as stated by Von Eckhardt (1980): Good cultural planning is quite similar to good economic planning. Smith (1996:57) suggests that 'the so-called "urban renaissance" has been stimulated more by economic than cultural forces'.In the past, heavy focus been placed on the economic imperative in regeneration strategies. Fox-Przeworski et al. (1991:237) claim that the basic basis for successful local economic regeneration is an honest evaluation of the challenges and opportunities facing the local economy. Social, cultural and welfare issues whic h are crucial to the welfare of local communities has not been neglected by key officials.Cultural tourism requires global competitiveness. For instance, specific measures to enhance the competitiveness of the local economy should consider the entire economic, social and environmental structure. The local population is the priority where jobs are to be created or housing improved. Bianchini (1993:212) also stressed the importance of local community interests in urban regeneration initiatives in Western Europe as a clear goal to revitalise the cultural, social and political life of local residents which should always precede and sustain the formulation of physical and economic

Major Factors Contributing To Habitat Loss Essay Example for Free

Major Factors Contributing To Habitat Loss Essay Fragmentation and degradation are two major contributors that go hand in hand with development. Hillstrom and Hillstrom point out that Inefficient community design is one cause of habitat fragmentation. Another is the haphazardly built system of secondary highways and roads that is both a cause and result of sprawl(12) . When subdivisions go in, more and more often they are homes with one to two acre zoning, resulting in the sprawl for one housing development covering even more area. Throughout the United States millions and millions of miles of these interconnected roads and highways, that serve to connect the housing and the commercial developments, form barriers, creating separated little oasis, of sustainable habitat. As development proceeds, subdivisions, factories, and strip malls spread even further afield, all being connected to each other by this constantly growing network of tar and concrete. It is an endless cycle of human growth and expansion, and connection. Not enough care and planning is being taken to keep wildlife habitat, animal life, and biodiversity alive and thriving. Regarding Fragmentation of habitat, Silberstein and Maser refer to it as The most serious threat to biological, genetic, and functional diversity(13). Maser and Silberstein cite that fragmentation Is the primary cause of not only the often discussed global crisis of the rate of biological extinctions but also the less discussed crisis regarding the rate of local extinction(14). (12) Hillstrom Kevin, Hillstrom Laurie Collier. North America: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues. Edition: illustrated, Published by ABC-CLIO, 2003. P. 18. (13) Johnson Elizabeth Ann. Klemens Michael W. Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Sprawl. Edition: illustrated, Published by Columbia University Press, 2005. P. 43. (14) ) Maser Chris, Silberstein Jane, Land-use Planning for Sustainable Development. Published by CRC Press, 2000,p. 43. 5 Fragmentation causes the formation of those islands of refuge, that the animals in the area naturally are drawn, to in search of sustainable habitat. It does not usually take too long, before so many animals are drawn into the enclosed havens, confined by the spiderweb of roads and highways, that the food sources available there become too depleted to support the refugees contained within the man made boundaries. Fragmentation, and the total stripping of vegetation and food sources in these areas destroys the biodiversity of the habitat in a manner it may not ever be able to recover from even after the animals are gone, either starved to death or attempting to migrate elsewhere. Authors Emel and Wolch, in their book, Animal Geographies’ state that Some animals can adapt to such fragmentation and to the human proximity it implies, but more commonly animals die in situ, or migrate to less fragmented areas(15) , and as already noted, migration across the man made roadways is a risk as well. Smaller animals such as bird varieties, and squirrels, lower life forms such as insects and such are able to adapt, and at times even thrive in small park like settings, but foxes, racoon, deer, and other larger predatory animals like bears, and cougars have no place within man’s neighborhoods. Degradation of the habitat is just as bad, it may take a little longer to become apparent, but often when an area is identified, it is already in danger of complete collapse. Many times the corporations are only exposed as guilty of negligent practices resulting in contamination, and or polluting an area, after a major animal die off draws attention to the problem. â€Å" The threats of massive environmental degradation and species extinction and the commodification of billions of animals as the economy goes global have led to turbulent politics surrounding animals(16). Oil spills, chemical releases, water source contamination have all made headlines, and help draw attention to the situation, and create awareness of the plight of animals in our areas. (15) Emel Jody, Wolch Jennifer. Animal Geographies: Place, Politics, and Identity in the Nature-culture Borderlands, Edition: illustrated, Published by Verso, 1998,p. 127. (16) Ibid. p. 8. 6

Challenges And Prospects: Bangladeshi Foreign Policy

Challenges And Prospects: Bangladeshi Foreign Policy Globalization has at present become a pervasive phenomenon of international relations, and in the process, is compelling developing countries like Bangladesh to assess its impact on its security and foreign policy. The traditional way of dealing with the security (which is basically state-centric and emphasizes military security), appears to have become inadequate for the task of formulating a policy that would be capable of effectively tackling the prospects and challenges of the dynamic and technology-dominated milieu. The question is how much of traditional security concerns remains relevant to policy-making, how and what to discard from the past to enable foreign policy successfully meet the opportunities and challenges of globalization. While globalization has, to some extent, eroded the power of the nation-state, the latter has not been rendered absolutely impotent. Bangladeshs security concerns will need to be addressed through correct policies, taking into account the fact that it is multifaceted and comprehensive. In general, Bangladesh could expect to face problems in the following areas: military, political, economic, environmental and societal. Before embarking on the actual analysis of Bangladeshs security and foreign policy, a brief review of the concept and process of globalization and security will be provided. Its impact on Bangladesh will be studied, focusing on both positive and negative aspects. Finally implications for policy will be discussed. Globalization The term globalization has become a buzzword in the present-day world. Although the term has attained extraordinary popularity in recent years, it was in evidence even a hundred years ago. In the last 25 years or so, the concept of global has transformed itself from a mere reference to mean total to an emphasis on the globe as a unit of analysis in its own right. Without claiming the world to have become a single society or that it is bound to become one, globalization refers to a process or trend.  [1]  Simply, the term globalization describes the increased mobility of goods, services, labor, technology and capital throughout the world. (http://canadianeconomy.gc.ca/english/economy/globalization.html). Or it can be described as, identity related to globalization processes seem unrelated to traditional boundaries of social groups, transcending territorial, religious and other boundaries.  [2]   It was actually in the 1980s and 1990s that the world witnessed the revolutionary impact of the process of globalization. It was primarily due to unprecedented technological innovation in the fields of communication and transportation that international relations became radically transformed, especially in the realm of trade and investment, and diffusion of information. Despite fact that there is a growing concern about dealing with the complexities and changes generated by the phenomenon of globalization, the term itself is still imprecise, and means different things to different people. To simplify matters, globalization essentially refers to the process of worldwide spread of six kinds of objects and activities: i) goods and services; ii) people; iii) ideas and information; iv) money; v) normative orientation; and vi) behavioral patterns and practices.  [3]  Of these, the flow of goods and services has had the most tangible impact: it has been instrumental in raising the level of material prosperity unprecedented in human history. Besides, the free flow of information and ideas is making it possible for the full flowering of human potentials. Proponents of globalization are optimistic that increase in global prosperity would usher in a stable and peaceful world. Critics of globalization however, are not so convinced that it is an unmixed blessing. They dispute the argument that as a result of the process of globalization, the nation-state is losing it significance due to the erosion of its functions which are increasingly being performed by non-state actors like multinational cooperations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). And it is the poor countries who faces the challenges of globalization more as, globalisation is not seen as transcending the role of the state, but rather as a consequence of the powerful role of rich countries poor countries find it difficult to devise policies to deal with the crisis, especially since none of them boasts strong multinational companies that may function as influential global players.  [4]  The focus of their criticism is that the process of globalization seeks to promote the economic at the cost of the social and political. They are concerned about the deleterious effect of unbridled market operations, which could destroy communal and social unity. Although globalization is very much a fact of life, it cannot be denied that the territorially organized nation-state continues to remain significant and capable of providing the necessary (perhaps not all) services to it s citizens. Again the resistance of globalization may assume the form of ultra-nationalism and racism. It is asserted that ethnic nationalism is much more deep-rooted and less time-bound (than modernists prefer to believe), therefore, better equipped to overcome the challenge of both globalization as well as regionalization.  [5]  Critics however, point out that, globalization contains the threat of a new form of hegemony, which would thus create social conditions conducive to new doctrines of civilizational superiority.  [6]  Thus, globalization tends to strengthen nation-states in some respects and weaken in others. Security- from individual to diverse and comprehensive approach Security itself is now regarded to have become comprehensive as far as its meaning and definitions are concerned, as a result of which there is a tendency to over expand and widen the security agenda. Traditionally, a public issue is deemed to have been securitized when it is presented as an existential threat, requiring emergency measures and justifying actions outside the normal bounds of political procedure.  [7]  But the non-traditional approach to security tends to make it all inclusive and comprehensive, thereby, making it analytically unwieldy. Park defines comprehensive security in terms of policies designed to protecting the peoples life not only from traditional forms for military threat, but also from various other forms of threats such as hunger, poverty, environmental disaster, scarcity of energy, etc.  [8]  Or it can be viewed as Security measures that starts from the assumption that dialogues at the level of the state and elsewhere contribute to the formulation of mutually acceptable definitions of common threats. The threats do not necessarily emanate from rival states, but also comprise threats to internal stability in the area of economics, social unrest, ethnic divisions, or serious environmental damage.  [9]   Transnational economic and financial forces at work possesses the capacity to wreak havoc with national economies- something that cannot be tackled by military means, but only with appropriate policies adopted primarily at the national level, but would also include international and regional cooperation. Hansen viewed it Now approaches towards security can only succeed with the cooperation of the main actors on the global stage which includes not only governments, but companies, banks and, at the political level, national political parties as well.  [10]  So, in this era of globalization, to deal security measures, the most pressing need for any country like Bangladesh is to take cognizance of the magnitude and complexity of the changes now sweeping the world. Bowman describes, New technologies are making the world much more interdependent. These technologies are accelerating the movements of goods, services, ideas, and capital across national boundaries. They are displacing trad itional security threats with nontraditional worries like international terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and environmental degradation while strengthening the capacities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to influence policy.  [11]   Foreign Policy of Bangladesh The basic objectives of Bangladeshs foreign policy are to promote its security, protect its territorial integrity, achieve socio-economic development, uphold its ideology and maintain its cultural identity and national dignity (http://www.bssnews.net/about_foreign_policy.php) -goals that are challenged in various forms by the process of globalization. The security interests of Bangladesh are said to lie in the consolidation of its hard-earned independence by accelerating the process of economic development and modernization. It is argued that the basic goal of its foreign policy should be the ensuring of diplomatic and economic cooperation and assistance from external sources. Bangladeshs foreign policy has been deeply informed by the dire need to achieve socio-economic progress through the optimum use of its abundant human and other resources, which, in turn, could be instrumental in maintaining national cohesion, as well as international prestige and influence.  [12]   Again the main constraints of Bangladeshs foreign policy are its geographical location, underdevelopment and overpopulation. In the era of globalization, Bangladesh, like other developing countries, is confronted with threats emanating from both external and internal sources: terrorism, drug trafficking, circulation of light weapons, poverty, political instability, environmental degradation, etc. The Security Agenda of Bangladesh External The geographical location of Bangladesh makes it obvious that India and Myanmar are the two immediate neighbors who are the potential threats to its territorial security. However, chances are that India (aware of political costs involved in such a move) would prefer not to threaten Bangladesh militarily, if its major strategic and economic interests are served without such efforts. Myanmar, too could pose such a threat to Bangladesh, but so far it has been limited to the influx of Rohingya refugees  [13]  in the 1990s in the South-Eastern part of Bangladesh, Coxs bazar, that caused considerable security problem and socio-economic burden for the country. Although these two neighbors are potential threats to the territorial security of Bangladesh, the problematic question is how could minimize its vulnerabilities in this regard. Some analysts make suggestions, that Bangladesh does indeed possess strategic value, which it can and should exploit  [14]  but reality does not seem to support such an assessment. In this era of globalization, it appears unlikely that either or both China and the United States would seriously court Bangladesh as ally against India, since both are now more interested in improving relations with India rather than antagonizing it. So, Bangladesh does have a big concern as far as the external sources of threats to its security are concerned, but they can be best dealt with and neutralized through astute diplomacy rather than the use of force, for which it is ill equipped. Bangladesh may resent the predominance of India, but there seems to be very limited options available to it deal with it in a truly effecti ve manner. No matter how disadvantaged Bangladesh may be vis-à  -vis its immediate neighbors, it must nonetheless be in a position to oppose policies on their part that could increase tension, create instability, or otherwise run against broad interests of Bangladesh. Prospects for the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in South Asia are another security concern of Bangladesh. With the testing of nuclear devices by India and Pakistan in 1998, possibilities of nuclear war occurring in the region has become a possibility. So, Bangladeshs security has been adversely affected by the development of nuclear devices and their delivery systems in South Asia. Bangladesh should, therefore, strive to play an active role in regional forums since the development of WMD transcends the barrier of distance and could affect Bangladesh too. Internal Military Military force, although being marginalized in the era of economic globalization, has not been rendered obsolete. Military forces continue to retain their coercive and deterrent power, functions that economic instruments are still unable to perform with as much as effectiveness  [15]  . Military power, it must be born in mind, is fungible, that is, can be used for purposes other than dealing with only internal and external threats. In the Bangladesh context, apart from deterring external military aggression and tackling internal political threats, Bangladesh armed forces are of considerable help for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the aftermath of natural disasters which the country faces frequently. Economic Economic security is a term that is fraught with controversy, since in an interdependent global economic system it is difficult to achieve absolute security. In this era of globalization economic security is an inseparable element of comprehensive security, and the impact of both private sector economic activities and governmental economic diplomacy are treated as two sides of the same coin.  [16]  As a least developed country (LDC) Bangladesh has certain in-built problems, (the most glaring being wide-spread poverty), that severely constrain the effective and independent conduct of its foreign policy. At present, the country is further disadvantaged by the stiff competition that it has to face in the outside world especially with India. As has just been discussed, the globalization process offers both opportunities and poses challenges for the world, particularly for the developing countries. But Bangladesh, although poor in most respects, is not entirely without resources: it h as manpower (cheap labor), water resources, and mineral resources (coal, oil and gas). If mobilized effectively, its vast but homogeneous and resilient population could take advantage of the information technology. The liberal international trade has led to an increase in the level of employment creating about 1.5 million jobs in the export sector. Therefore, there is an urgent need for Bangladesh to conduct its economic diplomacy, with vigor and vision. Among the challenges being faced by Bangladesh are how to promote its economic prosperity in the dynamic, complex and highly competitive world, and domestically to provide the foundation for the satisfactory performance of its economy. And how to attain this goal in an environment where major decisions affecting national life are often determined by the international market. For instance, interest rates are determined more by global trends than by national ones. Another salient feature of the globalization phenomenon involves migration. So, it becomes imperative that Bangladesh make diplomatic efforts to make it possible for Bangladeshi people to work in other countries where there are better opportunities. In this era of competition, Bangladesh will not necessarily get what it deserves, but only what it can negotiate. Bangladesh needs to take the advantage of the opportunities that globalization offers through the free flow of information and the use of English as an international language. This would help produce a better trained workforce capable of competing at the international level. It also has to negotiate preferential access to the markets of the Western countries, as well as those of India and China. In the case of India, asymmetry in the bilateral trade relations has to be redressed. It would, to some extent, depend on the negotiating skills of Bangladesh officials, as, to what extent they can ensure market access. (c)Environment In the environment sector Bangladesh faces a number of challenges concerning the control of the flow of the Ganges waters by India, desertification, deforestation, global warming, etc. Most of these problems originate or are caused by factors that are external to Bangladesh. Global warming, for instance, is a truly globalized phenomenon. It is estimated that a sea-level rise of 1 meter could lead to the submergence of as much as one-third of the coastal areas of Bangladesh, and in the process, may give rise to what is called the problem of environmental refugees, and threaten the territorial integrity of Bangladesh. Although the above-mentioned problems do not appear to pose any immediate threat to security of Bangladesh, these may do in the long run. After all, it must be borne in mind that, The environment, modified by human interference, sets the conditions for socio-political-economic life: when these conditions are poor, life is poor.  [17]   (d) Socio-Political A major focus of the new thinking in security studies is the socio-political conditions of the nation. Societal security is basically about identity of a group or community, and the political security is more about institutions and organizational security of the state. There can be a number of ways in which societal security could be threatened, for example, through migration and horizontal competition.  [18]  In the case of Bangladesh, its cultural identity could be diluted through the powerful cultural influence from foreign sources, especially from closest neighbor India. Bangladesh faces a dilemma in this regard, since modernization involves adopting ideas and practices from more developed societies, while at the same time protecting its own cultural values and identity. Political threats like terrorism, which is becoming increasingly lethal, for instance, could pose a serious challenge to the viability of a nascent democracy like Bangladesh, which is already assailed by a host of other problems.  [19]  This is a particularly negative aspect of globalization that is having a damaging impact on the security of Bangladesh, which may be subjected to what is termed as cultural militarization- that is, to the transformation of culture in ways that rather render violent responses to social problems normal and unexceptional. Cultural militarization marginalizes non-violent strategies for conflict resolution, ultimately leading to the brutalization of society and the weakening of human security institutions.  [20]   Bangladesh is also moving in that direction. Terrorism and the proliferation of light weapons are a dangerous combination, the incidence of which is increasing in Bangladesh due to the free flow of goods and porous borders. Poverty is another source of insecurity for Bangladesh. But whether globalization as such would alleviate poverty is debatable. In the final analysis, it depends on the capacity of the government to mobilize resources in an optimum way. That is something that can be achieved is there is political stability inside the country. Inability to achieve political stability would not only result in Bangladesh failure to take advantage of the positive aspects of globalization, but its foreign and economic policy agenda would be set outside the country. Discussion: Globalization- Prospects and Challenges? It is amply clear that Bangladesh has vulnerabilities in practically all areas: territorial, economic, environmental, and socio-Political. Bangladesh appears to be constrained as far dealing with its immediate neighbors are concerned, which means that it will need to cooperate with them despite the fact that its internal security and stability could be adversely affected by them. However this is not to deny the value of military power, which can always act as a deterrent. No matter how remote the possibility of aggression from the outside, Bangladesh should formulate a sound defense policy. While there are both external and internal sources of threats, on balance the latter are perceived to be posing more serious challenges for the security, stability and prosperity of the country. The main objectives of Bangladeshs foreign policy, viz., upholding its sovereignty, cultural identity, ideology are challenged by the forces of globalization. At the same time, while these factors do pose threats, it is difficult to determine exactly when and how they will evolve into threats to national security. The most pressing task before Bangladesh is to achieve political stability; otherwise, it will not be possible for its diplomats to project a positive image of the country. Foreign policy is, after all, is an extension of its domestic policy; therefore, as long as Bangladesh is domestically not in order, it would not be realistic to expect it to have a credible and effective foreign policy. Despite the challenges confronting the security and foreign policy of Bangladesh, it is yet possible to hope for a prosperous future. The tragedy would be that, if it cannot compete and negotiate with the outside world from a position of strength, if cannot take advantage of the positive aspects of globalization, and if it fail to peacefully resolve its own domestic social and political problems, the process of development would be retard- taking perhaps several more costly decades, instead of one. Bangladesh needs to deal with challenges like transnational economic and financial forces, cross-border terrorism, arms and drug trafficking, climate change and environmental degradation through cooperation and coordinated efforts at both regional and international levels. The main purpose of Bangladeshs foreign policy in the present era should be minimizing the degree of vulnerabilities and reducing threats to its security, as well as possessing the ability to shape its security environment through an effective and realistic assessment of its national interests, and the production thereof through pragmatic and active diplomacy. Conclusion It can therefore be argued that despite globalization, the real sources of Bangladeshs insecurity would continue to remain mainly domestic (which could be exacerbated and exploited by external sources), that demand attention from within the state. The basic challenge facing Bangladesh is to comprehend the nature of changes taking place in the international economy and to deal with them through creating conditions and institutions necessary for coping with a dynamic environment. Only the constructive efforts of a dynamic and modern state could achieve success in eliminating the main sources of insecurity. Otherwise, chances are that, widespread and endemic social and political conflict would reduce it to the status of a failed state, with people becoming more concerned with personal security than with national security. MAP OF BANGLADESH

Troubles with Tanning Essay examples -- Health, Cancer

People all over the world have always tanned. Over the past decade, artificial tanning has become much more popular, especially with teenage girls and younger women. More tanning salons have been built and there are more tanning companies than ever. Of course, naturally tanning is still just as popular. What some people don't realize are the actual effects of tanning. It can cause many medical problems. Instead of tanning, people should think about the dangers they are putting their body through and why they are even tanning in the first place.   While the sun does have some benefits, too much of it can be disastrous and detrimental to someone's health. Most people know that it is bad for them, but they continue to do it anyways. There are many problems with tanning. For example, it can cause skin cancer, it is detrimental to people's health, it can be expensive, and it can cause the aging process to accelerate. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tanning can cause many different forms of skin cancer, some of which can be fatal. The two main types of skin cancer are melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is much more dangerous than non-melanoma. If it isn't found early enough, it can be fatal. Non-melanomas are benign. People should be careful if skin cancer is dominant in earlier generation of their family, because the are more likely to inherit it. Skin cancer is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays. It causes skin cells to grow abnormally, which then causes melanomas or non-melanomas. It can also cause the immune system to become weak, then it can't help fight off the different cancer cells. If skin cancer is caught, it can be treated. Some symptoms are changes on the surface of the skin, such as size and co... ...gh they may like the way that their skin is tanned now, in the future it could cost them big amounts of money to fix or irreparable damage to their skin. Tanning is not justifiable in the long run. If people take the time to protect their skin, it will be extremely beneficial to them.   Works Cited Gandini, Sara, Philippe Autier, and Mathieu Boniol. "Reviews On Sun Exposure And Artificial Light And Melanoma." Progress In Biophysics & Molecular Biology 107.3 (2011): 362-366. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Dec. 2011. "Tanning." U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. "Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ ®) - National Cancer Institute." Comprehensive Cancer Information - National Cancer Institute. Web. 06 Dec. 2011 Touhig, Sion. 2007. Photograph. San Diego. "Jergens ® Natural Glow Moisturizers." Jergens ® Skincare Products. Web. 07 Dec.

Molecular Structures :: essays research papers

Covalent Bonding and Molecular Geometry Objective The objective of this exercise is to help in understanding the geometric relationships of atoms in simple molecules and the relationship of hybridization to the geometry present. Discussion In the last 30 years, data obtained from spectrometric measurements, X﷓ray and electron diffraction studies, and other experiments have yielded precise information about bond distances, angles, and energies. In many cases, the data confirmed conclusions reached earlier. In other cases, valuable new insights were acquired. Structure theory has advanced far beyond the simple electron dot representations and now rests securely on the foundations of quantum and wave mechanics. Although problems involving only simple molecules can now be solved with mathematical rigor, approximations such as the valence bond theory and the molecular orbital theory are very successful in giving results that agree with experimental measurements. This exercise will use valence bond theory or hybridization to look at the geometry formed from various hybridizations. You will use a framework model kit which gives the correct angles for the each of these hybridizations. The first bond formed between any two atoms is always a sigma (s)﷓bond (one that is symmetric about the bond axis). Additional bonds between the same two atoms will be pi (p)﷓bonds (perpendicular to the bond axis). It is the sigma﷓bonds and any lone﷓pairs of electrons occupying the sigma hybrid orbitals that determine the geometry of a molecule. Pi﷓bonds are always perpendicular to the sigma﷓bonds and follow the geometry formed by the sigma﷓bonding. Procedure Check out a molecular model kit from the stockroom. Read the kit directions to see which framework center is used for each hybridization. Tetrahedral (sp3 hybridization) CH4 Construct a model of methane using a tetrahedral center (4 prongs) and four rods of the same color to show how the 4 H's are attached. Geometry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lewis dot diagram  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  # of s bonds on C  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Approximate H-C-H angel  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Max # atoms (incl. C) in one plane  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is there a mirror plane(divides the molecule in equal halves) ? H3C﷓CH3 Construct a model of ethane using a tetrahedral center for each C and the same color rods for all 6 H's with a C﷓C bond present. Geometry  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lewis dot diagram  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  # of s bonds on each C  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Approximate H-C-H angle  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Approximate H-C-H angle The C-C bond is a single bond and has free rotation about it. Arrange the ethane molecule so that each C﷓H bond on one C atom is exactly parallel to a C﷓H bond   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  on the second C atom. (This is the eclipsed position.) View this arrangement by looking along the C﷓C bond such that the atoms on the front C blank out those on the back C.

Shakespeares Macbeth - The Transformation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

The Transformation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth      Ã‚   In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the characters  Macbeth and Lady Macbeth decide, in a great fit of ambition, to kill King Duncan.   Later in the play we see the same two characters undergo a transformation in their personalities after murdering the King.   Macbeth begins the play as a noble soldier and gradually changes into an ambitious and murdering tyrant.   Lady Macbeth begins as a strong, ambitious woman who dominates her husband and gradually changes into a weak and guilt-ridden woman.   This essay will explore the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth before and after the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth begins the play as a noble and trustworthy soldier, with a placid and honest personality.   Unfortunately he is told three prophecies by three witches and it is these prophecies that gradually change Macbeth into a greedy, untrustworthy, ambitious tyrant.   Similarly, like Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is also overruled by her ambitious nature and not only encourages her husband to kill the king, but plans it herself.   Lady Macbeth begins as an ambitious, overpowering and domineering woman, particularly towards her husband.   Though as time passes we see Macbeth become domineering and unbearably ambitious, while Lady Macbeth becomes the lesser of the two and her guilt becomes too much to bear, hence leading her to death.   Macbeth is obviously gullible as he believes the witches after a while and relies on their prophecies constantly.   This changes not only his life, but also Lady Macbeth's life and the lives of those living in Scotland at the time.  Ã‚   However Macb eth and Lady Macbeth believe that the witches are good luck, this proving to be quite the opposite. ... ...on Shakespeare s Tragedies . A Course  Ã‚  Ã‚   of Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. London: AMS Press, Inc., 1965.  Ã‚   Shakespeare, William.   Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul  Ã‚   Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Steevens, George. Shakespeare, The Critical Heritage. Vol. 6. London:  Ã‚   Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1981.  Ã‚   T.W. Shakespeare, the Critical Heritage. Vol. 5. London: Routledge & Kegan  Ã‚   Paul, 1979.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wills, Gary. Witches & Jesuits. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.      Epstein, Norrie, The Friendly Shakepeare, New York, Viking Publishing, 1993. Harbage, Alfred, Macbeth, Middlesex England, Penguin Publishing, 1956. Magill, Masterplots- Volume 6, New Jersey, Salem Press, 1949. Staunten, Howard, The Complet Illustrated Shakespeare, New York, Park Lane Publishing, 1979.   

The Economy Essay

The economy has been something really important to society because of how much it’s affected our daily lives. Not to mention The Great Depression, which was something huge that happened in history. Most presidents had tried to fix the economy in whatever way but they couldn’t fix everything. A lot of Americans faced hardships due to a bad economy at different points in history. It would also be considered a hardship to the government, because of their involvement and what they went through.First, getting into The Great Depression we see that it had a huge impact on society being that it wasn’t forgotten about it had given rise to new departures in economic theory. (Rothermund, 1996) It caused free trade among different countries to be depleted at the time affecting those other countries and leading them on to lose growth. It’s no doubt that The Great Depression didn’t only affect America but other countries were also very hurt. The monetary theory w as introduced with the quantity of money supplied at the time, with introducing a gold standard it was thought to help us out in this tough time.If we could use gold bars in place of cash to help provide for the country it was said we’d be better off. Supply and demand was a big factor, being that it was needed to stimulate the economy. It didn’t help that people weren’t buying anything for the circulation of cash to dwindle through it’s cycle, and therefore help boost the economy. That, in turn caused wages to be lowered hurting that average Joe. International trade had gone up, all the countries were hurting so bad that they had no choice but to raise the price of goods to make the money that they were in need of.From that, countries had no choice but to buy the goods, so they had to go into debt from putting their purchases on credit. At the time pressure was put on the peasant farmer who already wasn’t making a whole lot of money had been taxed heavily due to the need of produce screwing him both ways. Debt, not only has an effect on the past but also the future. When people look into how much debt a person has it has a detrimental impact on lending them money. Also, countries in debt had used gold as a means of trade because they had no choice with the creditors seeing how much they owed reflected back on them giving no choice but too.Taxation was another big thing that affected the duration of The Great Depression. With high taxes, it was a big factor because it played into economy causing different companies and corporations to not bounce back or recover that quickly. Something that affected the economy during the time is war debts from our allies that owed us billions of dollars and we needed it back. It would’ve helped stimulate the economy if they had paid those back in that time of need. During The Great Depression Harlem had become a place for many famous poets, musicians, or famous black figure to move to. Â  (Greenberg, 1997)Also, black political activity had gone up during this time all this causing the Harlem Renaissance. During the 1920s, the population of blacks in Manhattan had gone from 5 to 12 percent. Then by 1930 55 percent of all foreign blacks lived in New York City. Harlem was looked at as the greatest black city in the world, and had a lot of positive energy. Through all the unequal rights blacks had at the time, it caused unemployment to rise in Harlem and the crime rate had increased due to low wages and unemployment both.The discrimination was so bad that blacks were getting such high rental rates due to the landlords being racist. Also, the quality of houses built were very unsafe, and poor that many found it hard to find a place to live. Blacks looked forward to when others would move out of their own homes so that way they would have a nicer place to live if they got to it in time. The large population of Harlem at the time had been because of migrants needing a b etter place to live and problems from where they came seeking opportunity in this area.The problem that most blacks faced was coming into the area without an education. Unfortunately blacks were discriminated so much in the workplace that they had such low quality positions and couldn’t even be granted supervisor position. Close to 70 percent of all black women in the 1920s were employed with jobs such as domestic and personal services. When the stock market crashed it had affected blacks more than whites. It also had a bigger impact on unskilled workers due to them being more concentrated on in their ranks. Malnutrition had affected so many at this time due to unemployment and low wages.At this time child labor rose to help support their families, as did theft leading to young juveniles. A lot of people had started to apply for aid for the first time in their lives. Having a need for it was a major thing, so people were hoping to get a descent amount of support. With everyth ing going on, different organizations came out and helped struggling families. Such as the Salvation Army providing shelter, food, and clothing. Also there was churches that were helping out the community in whatever way they could. At the year 1933 about 25 percent of the workplace was unemployed.Then in 1940 the numbers changed to 15 percent of the workplace not finding any work. It was proven at the time among black families that the father and son were both working. Their wages and hours worked were also so low that expenses were higher than the amount they had earned. Britain had emerged as more of a world power in the late nineteenth century with how well things went with the military and economic trade and colonial centers all helped this. (Bryan, 2010) Other countries at the time had been seeking Britain’s ways and wanted to be more like them as they were considered a role model.From the early 1870s to the 1890s most of the world have been going through lowering price s, and they called it a Great Depression. This caused a lot of discontent, and wealth to be transferred from the debtor to the creditor. Many in America had complained about the government not letting them have the free mining of silver and it leading to why the money was in such bad shape because of not being able to trade gold. At this time tariffs were tacked on to imported goods, this made domestic goods cheaper than imported goods causing producers to buy domestic instead of foreign.In Britain, protectionist ideas and expansion had up surged when there was competition in the marketplace from Americans and Germans. The governments in France, Russia, Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary had based their economic systems on promoting and protecting industry. Many countries had tried what they could to adopt the gold standard, to protect their developing countries by blocking imports, promoting exports, and de-valuing their currencies. Military spending had in part contributed to wor ldwide inflation.Also, the amount of gold production had increased all around the world when people saw a need for it. Only with military power could countries like Japan be considered full civilized since they were ignorant of nearly all methods of production. Not only gold but also iron at the time were models that shaped state currency choices, and influenced decisions as far as colonies and tariffs went. Not only was the gold standard a primary use for international money, but trade and precious metals were also. Gold had an advantage with it’s exchanged rates being fixed.The government had established centralized banks that were under the expansion of the gold standard, so they couldn’t be state controlled. Prior to the nineteenth century the use of a silver over gold was more of a worldwide currency. When more countries had seen how effective gold was they had adopted the same standards and it’s not until the 1890s that it became common around the globe wi th people adopting the gold standard. London was considered the world’s financial center, but they also had way higher interest rates then France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.The lend-lease act was passed on March 11, 1941. (U. S. Congress, 2013) This act would allow the U. S. to lend or lease war supplies to any nation that was in dire need of help, and that was important to the defense of the United States. When Winston Churchill had 11 navy warships destroyed in 1940, he looked for help through President Roosevelt. Roosevelt was smart and responded by the exchange of 50 of our destroyers for 99 year leases on British bases in the Caribbean and Newfoundland. At the time, Roosevelt had promised to keep America out of war.In 1941, Roosevelt had signed a military aid bill for Britain to help support them and what they were doing overseas. It was considered buying and not lending, since they were becoming a vital aid to us at the time. It was a time to prepare for war, many di dn’t know it yet but Roosevelt was buying security for the meantime pretty much. The United States at this time was nowhere near being ready for war. As far as training, and being unprepared and unarmed. It was time for the United States to get ready for something major to happen.This was the start of us having allies, and forming more of an alliance with other countries overseas. With the end of the Second World War 1945, many Americans had feared for the economy to plunge into another Great Depression. (Rosenberg, 2003) Which turned out to not be true, there ended up being a demand for consumer goods, and investment goods. Even modernization and expansion, housing and exports were in demand. The war had shown that the federal government could have a positive effect on the economy.Toward the end of President Eisenhower’s years there was high levels of unemployment in addition to really high inflation these occurred simultaneously. During this time, many youth were sen t back to school, and women back to the kitchen. It was in response to employment, with jobs now wanting to hire people with more of an education, and those not having full time housekeeping responsibilities were more in demand in the workplace. The business community had said the path to employment would be better achieved through the private sector.By the end of 1945, there was very few production controls that had remained. It was thought by that happening it would lead to a more successful peace time economy. Things were looking up for individuals, they were able to spark an increase in purchasing consumer goods, and housing. What really helped was the Income Tax Act of 1945 which lowered people’s income taxes leaving them with more money to spend. Also, a high demand for American exports was something that the U. S. needed. Truman had considered economic growth to be really important for economic policy to grow.He wasn’t clear how this was to happen but wanted to make an effort to make it happen. In 1950 the Truman administration had raised taxes to fight inflation and also finance the war. Something important was to stop the spread of communism, Truman believed that this could be done. After the Korean War in 1953, the amount of defense spending had lowered tremendously. Which really helped since Eisenhower wanted to lower federal spending, he said the government’s role should be to foster price stability. A balanced budget was well looked on at the time, it was thought of as a really good thing.If we had a balanced budget, then we could have a budget deficit that would look more positive. It is said that economists have a notion of defining art, and it’s more in the back of their heads causing an influence on their findings. (Abbing, 2002) Something that’s kind of funny, is when you go out to museums or art galleries, you’re looking for the price tag but can’t seem to find it, or you try finding a store c lerk but they are hiding out somewhere. It’s because of the cost of artwork, it’s not cheap causing people to be ashamed of the price when selling it.Art really draws back people when they see the price tag, but in reality artist think their art is special that’s why a lot of them have trouble when thinking of how much they want to price their painting. Cost’s in the arts rise faster than any other production sector, but value is really hard to determine at times because art is something so beautiful to a lot of people. Unfortunately, the government only seems to support art because it has no choice but to. Ex- artists have explained that they made a big mistake when switching to a different career, they felt like they lived in the world of art.So, it was a lot of positive energy, a happy lifestyle and it seemed to help calm people down when they would work on their art piece. The difference with artists is that they rely more on donation then income, the y are going against others so they have more of a challenge with having the piece of the art that somebody else would really want. Artists have really changed society for the better with everything that they created, people can keep in their homes and it reminds them of the person who made it, when looking at that piece of art. In the 1990s the U. S.economy had expanded significantly, it being from the higher tax rates in place. (Harris, 2010) Something that had helped the boost in the economy was how well productivity in Information Technology had expanded and investment in Information Technology equipment. It had no bearing on tax decisions, but it was seen as something unique and unanticipated. With the production of I. T. computers, and software the jobs went up and that explained the surge of economic expansion. More people were wanting a computer, or some type of I. T. which caused more of a demand and gave people a lot of work which was great.It was looked at, with a more pos itive feedback from the marketplace had been a big factor with the 1990s economic expansion. Also, when more production was in effect that had caused I. T. software and devices to be lowered in price because of the advancements. Causing the businesses and consumers to have more of an increased investment. The lessons learned were that the past doesn’t predict the future. Just because something was more successful with economic expansion in the past doesn’t mean it’ll be just as effective in the future.This last month in October 2013, the job growth has surged with the U. S. economy adding 204,000 jobs. (Kurtz, 2013) Which was in fact a big surprise with the government shutdown at the beginning of October because government failing to come up with a budget for fiscal year 2014. That lasted for 16 days, and had 800,000 federal employees temporarily out of work. Since September 2012 the government has been buying $85 billion in bonds each month as an effort to stre ngthen the job market.It may seem like the economy has gotten a lot better but in fact all the jobs lost since the Great Recession still haven’t been restored. The unemployment rate at this time is close to eleven percent. The government had also cut 12,000 jobs with a third of them being postal service jobs. In conclusion, we see that the economy plays a vital role in our everyday lives. It has a big impact on what jobs are available, how much a person will be taxed, a person’s wages, and it plays a role with government spending. As we have seen, government spending has seemed to go up sky high when the economy would be in decline.Also, a lot of Americans went through many hardships when their wages were garnished, or they were unemployed leaving many with very low standards of living, malnutrition, hard lifestyle, and overall tough times. There was many different decisions by presidents that had to be made throughout 1865 to present. It was not easy for them to decid e what would help our economy. The way it was seen, was that most if not all did a great job with trying to boost the economy, and even though they weren’t able to accomplish what they wanted, it still made a huge difference in many lives.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Achievements

This Article talks about our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Achievements which she did in her regime. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s achievements about the economy, I am thankful for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s achievements for creating a flawless and awesome job for building and creating for giving employment to millions of people who were jobless In the Philippines, and also thanking her for creating a lot of public schools for a lot of people who cannot afford education, students or young people who cannot afford to go to school because of financial problem.I thought that our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is not great because our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo cheated in the election against Fernando Poe Junior. She also cheated in the election by seeking the help from Garcy. Our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is getting money from the government that we were all even trying to pay our taxes for a good econo my even though that our parents were all having a hard time earning such money to pay the tax, but she just stole it from us like it was hers, and that made me realize how pathetic she was.But then her achievements all together are fantastic, like building bridges for a better transportation, building schools for educational purposes, for building the Light Railway Transmit also known as LRT and for helping the flood victims in the Ondoy incident, and also giving respect to our navy, marine soldiers that were killed in Mindanao because of the terrorists. According to her she had made the economy grow about 3. % which is true, in fact we can all feel this growth, by seeing the technology we have now, like high- tech gadgets and a more growing technology, I can say that we have indeed grew economically because of our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo works. Maybe if she did not corrupt or stole money, no one would hate her and with her achievements she will be loved by the Fili pino people all across the country.If she did not corrupt she would make a fine president for the Philippines, or stole money or cheat because we could see from all of her achievements that she is a potential president. And I myself as a student is thanking her from my heart because of our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo always declared that the classes are suspended!!! That made me has an easy school life and a happy school life that I could enjoy with fully with my friends.Our current elected president of the republic of the Philippines which is President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Cojuanco Aquino Junior is indeed not a corrupted president. As time passes by we can see that there has not made any corrupt movements from our President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Cojuanco Aquino Junior, he fulfills his promises that he made in the election like, not being a corrupt president, not cheating and a lot more.He even made a lot of improvement in our country like, making the cri me rates go down, making the economic growth improve even more but as what our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that she even had a better percentage of growth than our President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Cojuanco Aquino Junior had made, the reason why the Filipinos elected him because he had a potential in making the Philippines into a better country by being a better president than the past presidents that took the throne in the Philippines.President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Cojuanco Aquino Junior, has a little bit of a minor problem even if he does not corrupt from us he himself does not move to fix some problems throughout our country like what former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has said that he loves cars, and guns too much that he is not paying attention to the government at all.And also from the videos that I watched that he is not giving the land to the farmers in hacienda Luicita, that was already distributed by former President Gloria Macapagal Ar royo but now our current President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Cojuanco Aquino Junior is trying to collect the land or getting the lands that were distributed by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.I don’t know which president is better than the other because the two of them are both amazing in doing their part but is also amazing in corrupting or not moving or doing anything for the economy, I am a student so I may not know all of the things happening in the Republic but a lot of people say that our former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is so corrupt that she should be in prison or jailed for life.That is why the Department of Justice is preventing her from leaving the country, named Philippines because she might escape and not come back and it could shame the Philippines. As for our current President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Cojuanco Aquino Junior I think I will just believe in him and try to look forward in the future that he tries to make for all of us citize ns, which is what I could do as a student.

Literature Search

Grap, Mary. ,Munro, Cindy. , Hummel, Russel. , Jessica. , Elswick, and Sessler Curtis. 2005. Effect of Backrest Elevation on the Development of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. AACN. Retrieved from ajcc. aacnjournals. org on March 3, 2012. Abstract †¢ Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. Backrest position and time spent supine are critical risk factors for aspiration, increasing the risk for pneumonia. Empirical evidence of the effect of backrest positions on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, especially during mechanical ventilation over time, is limited. Objective To describe the relationship between backrest elevation and development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. †¢ Methods : It is a nonexperimental, longitudinal, descriptive design was used. The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score was used to determine ventilator-associated pneumonia. Backrest elevation was measured continuously with a transdu cer system. Data were obtained from laboratory results and medical records from the start of mechanical ventilation up to 7 days. †¢ Results Sixty-six subjects were monitored (276 patient days).Mean backrest elevation for the entire study period was 21. 7 °. Backrest elevations were less than 30 ° 72% of the time and less than 10 ° 39% of the time. The mean Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score increased but not significantly, and backrest elevation had no direct effect on mean scores. A model for predicting the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score at day 4 included baseline score, percentage of time spent at less than 30 ° on study day 1, and score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, explaining 81% of the variability (F=7. 1, P=. 003). Literature Search 3 †¢ Conclusions Subjects spent the majority of the time at backrest elevations less than 30 °. Only the combination of early, low backrest elevation and severity of illness affected the incidenc e of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Amelia Ross. (2006). The impact of an evidence-based practice education program on the role of oral care in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Retrieved from, www. elsevierhealth. com/journals/iccn. on March 2, 2012.Abstract BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence in the literature on the role of oral care in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), nurses continue to view oral care as a comfort measure with low priority and utilize foam swabs rather than toothbrushes. Although an evidence-based oral care protocol existed and best-practice oral care tools were available, the VAP rates had not significantly decreased even though nurses reported providing oral care. OBJECTIVES:The aim of the study was to determine if an evidence-based practice (EBP) educational program would improve the quality of oral care delivered to mechanically ventilated patients; thereby, reducing the VAP rate. RESULTS: Improvement in oral health was demonstrated by a decrease in median scores on the Oral Assessment Guide (pre (11. 0), post (9. 0)). A t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference (p=0. 0002). The frequency of oral care documentation also improved as demonstrated by a positive shift to the more frequent timeframes. The VAP rates have decreased by 50% following the EBP education Literature Search 4 ntervention. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an EBP educational program focused on patient outcome rather than a task to be performed improved the quality of oral care delivered by the nursing staff. Carolyn L. , Cason, Tracy, Tyner. , Sue, Saunders, Lisa, Broom. , 2007. Nurses Implementation of Guidelines for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AACN. Retrieved from ajcc. aacnjournals. org on March 1, 2012. Abstract †¢ Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia accounts for 47% of infections in patients in intensive care units.Adherence to t he best nursing practices recommended in the 2003 guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. †¢ Objective To evaluate the extent to which nurses working in intensive care units implement best practices when managing adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation. †¢ Methods Nurses attending education seminars in the United States completed a 29-item questionnaire about the type and frequency of care provided. †¢ Results Twelve hundred nurses completed the questionnaire.Most (82%) reported compliance with hand-washing guidelines, 75% reported wearing gloves, half reported elevating the head of the bed, a third reported performing subglottic suctioning, and half reported having an oral care protocol in their hospital. Nurses in hospitals with an oral care protocol reported better compliance with hand washing and maintaining head-of-bed el evation, were more likely to regularly provide oral care, and were more familiar with rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and the organisms involved than were nurses working in hospitals without such protocols.Literature Search5 †¢ Conclusions The guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not consistently or uniformly implemented. Practices of nurses employed in hospitals with oral care protocols are more often congruent with the guidelines than are practices of nurses employed in hospitals without such protocols. Significant reductions in rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia may be achieved by broader implementation of oral care protocols. Grap, Mary. ,Munro, Cindy. , Hummel, Russel. , Jessica. Elswick, and Sessler Curtis. 2005. Effect of Backrest Elevation on the Development of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. AACN. Retrieved from ajcc. aacnjournals. org on March 3, 2012. Abstract †¢ Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. Backrest position and time spent supine are critical risk factors for aspiration, increasing the risk for pneumonia. Empirical evidence of the effect of backrest positions on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, especially during mechanical ventilation over time, is limited. Objective To describe the relationship between backrest elevation and development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. †¢ Methods : It is a nonexperimental, longitudinal, descriptive design was used. The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score was used to determine ventilator-associated pneumonia. Backrest elevation was measured continuously with a transducer system. Data were obtained from laboratory results and medical records from the start of mechanical ventilation up to 7 days. †¢ Results Sixty-six subjects were monitored (276 patient days).Mean backrest elevation for the entire study period was 2 1. 7 °. Backrest elevations were less than 30 ° 72% of the time and less than 10 ° 39% of the time. The mean Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score increased but not significantly, and backrest elevation had no direct effect on mean scores. A model for predicting the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score at day 4 included baseline score, percentage of time spent at less than 30 ° on study day 1, and score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, explaining 81% of the variability (F=7. 1, P=. 003). Literature Search 3 †¢ Conclusions Subjects spent the majority of the time at backrest elevations less than 30 °. Only the combination of early, low backrest elevation and severity of illness affected the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Amelia Ross. (2006). The impact of an evidence-based practice education program on the role of oral care in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Retrieved from, www. elsevierhealth. com/journals/iccn. on March 2, 2012.Abstract BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence in the literature on the role of oral care in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), nurses continue to view oral care as a comfort measure with low priority and utilize foam swabs rather than toothbrushes. Although an evidence-based oral care protocol existed and best-practice oral care tools were available, the VAP rates had not significantly decreased even though nurses reported providing oral care. OBJECTIVES:The aim of the study was to determine if an evidence-based practice (EBP) educational program would improve the quality of oral care delivered to mechanically ventilated patients; thereby, reducing the VAP rate. RESULTS: Improvement in oral health was demonstrated by a decrease in median scores on the Oral Assessment Guide (pre (11. 0), post (9. 0)). A t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference (p=0. 0002). The frequency of oral care documentation also improved as demonstrated by a positive shift to the more frequent timeframes. The VAP rates have decreased by 50% following the EBP education Literature Search 4 ntervention. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an EBP educational program focused on patient outcome rather than a task to be performed improved the quality of oral care delivered by the nursing staff. Carolyn L. , Cason, Tracy, Tyner. , Sue, Saunders, Lisa, Broom. , 2007. Nurses Implementation of Guidelines for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AACN. Retrieved from ajcc. aacnjournals. org on March 1, 2012. Abstract †¢ Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia accounts for 47% of infections in patients in intensive care units.Adherence to the best nursing practices recommended in the 2003 guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia. †¢ Objective To evaluate the extent to which nurses working in intensive care units implement best practices when managing adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation. †¢ Methods Nurses attending education seminars in the United States completed a 29-item questionnaire about the type and frequency of care provided. †¢ Results Twelve hundred nurses completed the questionnaire.Most (82%) reported compliance with hand-washing guidelines, 75% reported wearing gloves, half reported elevating the head of the bed, a third reported performing subglottic suctioning, and half reported having an oral care protocol in their hospital. Nurses in hospitals with an oral care protocol reported better compliance with hand washing and maintaining head-of-bed elevation, were more likely to regularly provide oral care, and were more familiar with rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and the organisms involved than were nurses working in hospitals without such protocols.Literature Search5 †¢ Conclusions Th e guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are not consistently or uniformly implemented. Practices of nurses employed in hospitals with oral care protocols are more often congruent with the guidelines than are practices of nurses employed in hospitals without such protocols. Significant reductions in rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia may be achieved by broader implementation of oral care protocols.