Spina Bifida Essay Example

Spina Bifida Essay Approximately one in 1000 children born in North America is affected with spina bifida, which makes the latter one of the most common and disabling congenital defects. Due to advances in medicine and technology over the past 40 years, the predicted lifespan of a child born with this disability has improved considerably. The focus of treatment now lies in the ongoing medical and rehabilitative management of the disability, including multiple and complex neurological, surgical, orthopaedic, gastrointestinal, and urological surgical procedures, as well as long-term use of orthotic aids and mobility devices and ongoing physiotherapy regimens. Risk Factors Spina bifida is one of the most common, serious malformations of human structure. At birth, it tends to be more common in girls than in boys. Additionally, the prevalence of spina bifida varies across time, by region, and by both race and ethnicity. Since the early 1980s, estimation of the prevalence of spina bifida in many industrialized countries has been complicated by the availability of prenatal diagnosis and the elective termination of some affected fetuses (Chan et al, 1993). A recognized chromosomal, teratogenic, or Mendelian malformation syndrome can be identified in a small proportion of individuals with meningomyelocoeles (Kallen Harris, 1998). However, most affected individuals do not have an underlying malformation syndrome. The list of variables that have been implicated as risk factors for the non-syndromic form of spina bifida is long and varied, ranging from maternal consumption of blighted potatoes to a short inter-pregnancy interval. However, most of the associati ons that have been reported are weak and have not been replicated in subsequent studies. Consequently, only a few variables have been established, or are strongly suspected to be risk factors for spina bifida: history of previous affected pregnancy with same partner, inadequate maternal intake of folic acid, pregestational maternal diabetes, valproic acid and carbamazepine. We will write a custom essay sample on Spina Bifida specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Spina Bifida specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Spina Bifida specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A family history of spina bifida or anencephaly is one of the strongest risk factors for these disorders. The risk for spina bifida or anencephaly, or both, in the siblings of affected individuals ranges from 3% to 8% and is consistently higher than that of the general population. An increase in the risk of spina bifida has also been reported for second and third degree relatives of affected individuals (Carter Evans, 1973). One study has suggested that the risk of having a child with spina bifida or another type of neural tube defect might be increased in couples who have had a child with Downs syndrome, and the risk of having a child with this syndrome might be increased in couples who have had a child with a neural tube defect (Barkai et al, 2003). It is apparently that additional investigation is needed to confirm or rule out any potential link between these two disorders. It is generally accepted that inadequate intake of natural folate, or its synthetic form, folic acid, before and during early pregnancy, is associated with an increased risk of spina bifida and anencephaly. Case-control studies, randomized clinical trials, and community-based interventions with vitamin supplements have shown that the failure to consume folic acid supplements or folic acid-containing multivitamins increases the risk of having an affected child by two-fold to eight-fold (Wald et al, 2001). Moreover, the risk of having a child affected by a neural tube defect is indirectly related to both maternal folate and folic acid intake (from dietary sources and supplements) and maternal folate status. The mechanism underlying the association between neural tube defects and folate has not been established. However, folate participates in two metabolic pathways that, if disrupted, could have an adverse effect on the development of the embryo. One of these pathways is important for nucleic acid synthesis, and the other for a range of methylation reactions. Disruptions in folate metabolism can also result in raised homocysteine concentrations, which are teratogenic to the neural tube in some animal models (Wald et al, 2001). Women with pregestational diabetes are at increased risk of having a child with spina bifida and other types of birth defects (e.g., diabetic embryopathy). In these women the risk of having a child with a malformation of the central nervous system, including spina bifida, is two-fold to tenfold higher than the risk in the general population. The mechanism underlying this teratogenic effect has not been established, but it is clearly related to the degree of maternal metabolic control. Indeed, there is evidence that the risk of congenital malformations in the offspring of diabetic women is associated with first-trimester blood glucose concentrations (assessed by glycosylated haemoglobin concentrations) (McLeod Ray, 2002). Whether raised glucose concentrations are directly teratogenic, or whether they serve as a marker for another teratogenic agent (e.g., ketone bodies, free oxygen radicals) is unclear. Many anticonvulsant drugs are known teratogens. However, different anticonvulsants are associated with different constellations of malformations. An increased risk of spina bifida is associated with in-utero exposure to valproic acid or carbamazepine alone, or in combination with each other or other anticonvulsants. In infants exposed to valproic acid or carbamazepine the risk of spina bifida might be as high as 1%-2%. Women who use these drugs for indications other than epilepsy (e.g., bipolar disease, migraine, chronic pain) are also at increased risk of having a child with spina bifida if they become pregnant while taking these drugs. The mechanisms by which valproic acid and carbamazepine increase the risk of spina bifida have not been established. Diagnosis Maternal serum ÃŽ ±-fetoprotein and ultrasound are now routinely used to identify fetuses that have or are likely to have either spina bifida or anencephaly. Positive findings from either of these two screens can be followed by amniocentesis or detailed sonography, or both. When amniocentesis is done, amniotic fluid ÃŽ ±-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase concentrations can be used to confirm the presence of an open fetal malformation and differentiate between open ventral wall defects (e.g., gastroschisis and omphalocoele) and open neural tube defects (Loft, 1990). Â  Additionally, the fetal karyotype can be examined to rule out chromosomal anomalies. However, sonography can also be used to differentiate between ventral wall and neural tube defects, and to identify additional structural malformations that are characteristic of fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities. When a diagnosis of spina bifida is confirmed, ultrasound is used to assess spontaneous leg and foot motion, leg an d spine deformities. Most fetuses with spina bifida that are not electively terminated receive no treatment until after birth. Several studies have investigated whether method of delivery influences the outcome for infants with the disorder. Anteby and Yagel (2003) concluded that, in general, there is no conclusive evidence that caesarean section improves the outcome in children with spina bifida relative to vaginal delivery. However, caesarean section might be justified for large lesions, to reduce the risk of trauma, and is done after in-utero treatment of spina bifida because the forces of labor are likely to produce a dehiscence. Treatment Closure of the spinal lesion is usually done within 48 hours of birth. However, there are data indicating that, with antibiotics, the risk of infection does not rise until a week after birth. Â  If there are overt signs of hydrocephalus, and imaging studies confirm the presence of ventriculomegaly, a shunt is usually placed at the same time as the lesion is closed (Charney, 1985). However, in most cases hydrocephalus is not manifest until a few days after surgical closure. Spina bifida is a disorder that might be suitable for in-utero treatment, since it is compatible with life, is associated with substantial morbidity, and is routinely detected before 20 weeks of gestation. Moreover, neurological deterioration of affected fetuses might occur during gestation. Specifically, leg movement can be seen on sonograms of some affected fetuses before 17 to 20 weeks, whereas later in gestation and in neonates there is typically some degree of deformity and paralysis (Korenromp, 1986). The lo wer limb movements noted early in gestation could be secondary to spinal are reflexes. However, such movements could be of cerebral origin and their absence in later gestation may be the result of neural tissue damage caused by exposure to amniotic fluid or trauma. Additionally, animal studies, in which a model for spina bifida is created by laminectomy and exposure of the spinal cord to amniotic fluid, show that function can be retained if the lesion is closed before birth (Meuli et al, 1995). The first cases of in-utero spina bifida repair were done in 1994 with an endoscopic technique (Bruner et al, 1999) that proved unsatisfactory and was abandoned. In 1998, in-utero repair of spina bifida by hysterotomy was reported. Early experience suggested that infants treated by hysterotomy had improvement in hindbrain herniation, and possibly a diminished need for shunting relative to infants treated postnatally. It might be that in-utero treatment reduces the need for shunting by eliminating the leakage of spinal fluid that puts back-pressure on the hindbrain, such treatment allows reduction of the hindbrain hernia and relieves the obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid outflow from the fourth ventricle. Compared with historical controls, infants treated in utero have a lower incidence of moderate to severe hindbrain herniation and hydrocephalus requiring shunting. In a series of 50 spina bifida cases treated in utero at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, reversal of hindbrain herniation was reported in all cases, and the proportion requiring shunting was less than that in historical controls (43% versus 85%) (Johnson et al, 1989). A similar proportion requiring shunting (54%) was also noted in a series of 116 spina bifida cases treated in utero at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Bruner et al, 2004). Comparisons between infants with spina bifida who were treated in utero and historical controls are however subject to substantial bias. Infants treated in utero represent a highly selected subset of affected individuals. Additionally, the medical management of such infants might differ from that of historical controls for reasons unrelated to the in-utero repair. Prognosis Short-term and long-term survival of individuals with spina bifida has increased with improvements in medical and surgical management. The most recent population-based data indicate that 1-year survival is about 87%, and that roughly 78% of all individuals with spina bifida survive to the age of 17 years (Wong et al, 2001). Unfortunately, these individuals continue to be subject to excess morbidity and mortality into and throughout adulthood. Whether treated in utero or postnatally, individuals with spina bifida are at substantial risk for leg weakness and paralysis, sensory loss, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and orthopaedic abnormalities (e.g., clubfoot, contractures, hip dislocation, scoliosis, kyphosis). In general, the functional level of the defect corresponds to the anatomical level of the bony spinal defect as determined by radiology. However, a retrospective study published in 2002, noted that functional level was higher (worse) than the anatomic level in 48% of individuals with spina bifida, and lower than the anatomic level in 14% of individuals (Rintoul et al, 2002). Individuals with spina bifida are at risk for associated malformations of the nervous system, including hydrocephalus and Chiari II malformations. Process Neonates with spina bifida should have baseline imaging studies of the central nervous system and subsequent serial head measurements to assess the velocity of head growth and the need for shunting. Orthopaedic deformities should also be treated shortly after birth, and ultrasonography and urodynamic studies should be done to assess the status of the urinary tract and provide a baseline for continuing assessment. At this age, bowel function is usually not a substantial difficulty since affected infants have the gastrocolic reflex and pass stools with most feedings. Medical care and monitoring of individuals with spina bifida is best provided by regular assessments by a multidisciplinary team. This team should be under the direction of a skilled physician with training in the care of children who have multiple disabilities, and should include a coordinator who is responsible for patient follow-up. Additional team members should include a nurse specializing in the care of children with multiple handicaps, a paediatric neurosurgeon, urologist and orthopaedic surgeon, a physical therapist, and a social worker. Other sub-specialists should be available on an as needed basis. Team members should be in direct communication with each other and with the patient’s primary care physician, who should provide routine medical care (e.g., immunizations) and continuing emotional support for the family. Psycho-Social Implications As it is well known children with spina bifida have problems with perceptual and cognitive skills, particularly complex visual-spatial tasks involving figure-ground relations, form consistency, spatial memory, and the location of stimuli in space (Fletcher et al. 2000). It has been shown that children with spina bifida demonstrate preserved abilities on measures that include simple visual discrimination and simple spatial relations (Fletcher et al. 2000). For instance, Dennis et al. (2001) found that children aged 6 to 15 years with spina bifida were as adept as matched control individuals in the perception of visual illusions concerned with size, length, and area. Various studies indicate that parents of disabled patients express a need for greater support on psychosocial aspects of their adolescents’ condition, including a desire for more anticipatory guidance in the areas of vocational/educational training, sexuality, and daily living skills (Samuelson et al, 1992). Therefore, rehabilitation professionals who serve children with spina bifida and their families should help the family by nurturing the youth through stressful periods, and by teaching family members tangible ways to strengthen adaptive functioning. Thus, while the rehabilitation team can help with the important outcomes of functional status and medical management of the condition, effective, family-centered care must also attend to the crucial developmental skill building. Two major focuses are needed in supporting families that are coping with spina bifida: a lifelong focus and an adolescent-specific focus. In the former, rehabilitation team members must discuss autonomy skills and cognitive development early and continuously to encourage experience in decision-making appropriate for the developmental stage. In addition, it is recommended that rehabilitation professionals assess parents’ need for anticipatory guidance and resources on an ongoing basis. For optimal success, it is crucial that these interventions start early in a child’s life. For example, a toddler can be given options: which shirt to wear, what breakfast cereal to eat, or where to go for a walk. The focus on making appropriate decisions continues through the school years. Moreover, age-appropriate chores should be assigned for all children. Creativity may be needed to develop an appropriate chore for a child with mobility impairments, but the data suggest that this is cr itical to developing self-sufficiency (Sawin et al., 1999). Conclusion Giving the increasing incidence of spina bifida and diversity of its occurrence, the resolution to this dilemma requires two-fold approach. From the critical perspective, it is necessary to focus both on clinical research and simultaneously on the various sociological aspects of disabled patients, particularly their health status, functional status, and health-related quality of life. Simultaneously, the ability of healthcare providers to suggest preventive measures, anticipatory guidance, and wellness approaches to care for individuals with lifelong chronic illness and disability should be stimulated.

Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen and The Hero by Siegfried Sassoon.

Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen and The Hero by Siegfried Sassoon. Good day ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Bilinga Youth Literacy Festival, today I will be talking about two of the greatest poems about war, by two of the greatest war poets, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. First I would like to talk a bit about the backgrounds of the two poets so that when I'm finished you may decide whether this poetry is still relevant to modern youth.The first poet I would like to talk about is Wilfred OwenWilfred Owen was born the 18th of March 1893 in Oswestry in the United Kingdom. He was the eldest of four children and brought up at an Anglican school, the influence of his education remains visible in his poems and in their themes: sacrifice, Biblical language, his description of Hell.He enlisted in the Artists' Rifles on 21st October 1915 and went through 14 months of training in England before he was drafted to France in 1917, the worst war winter.English: Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (1886-1967), po...His total war experience will be rather short: four months, from which only five weeks in the line. On this is based all his war poetry. After battle experience, he went to Craiglockhart War Hospital near Edinburgh.In August 1918 Owen returned to France. The butchery was ended on 11th November 1918 at 11 o'clock. Seven days before Owen had been killed in one of the last vain battles of this war.The other poet I would like to talk about is Siegfried Sassoon.Siegfried Sassoon was born in Weirleigh, Kent, England on September 8, 1886 into a leisurely society of country living.Sassoon enlisted in the military at the age of 28 just before the draft and was eventually assigned to the Royal Welch FusiliersThe war was hard on Siegfried and his family.

Old Guard and Young Turks

Old Guard and Young Turks Old Guard and Young Turks Old Guard and Young Turks By Maeve Maddox Both terms, Old Guard and Young Turks, have been adopted for various purposes. According to the Wikipedia disambiguation pages, the terms have been applied to everything from a magazine and Internet news service to a street gang. In a general figurative sense, the terms are ideological opposites. Originally, the term Old Guard had military connotations, but now it is used in reference to any type of group. It refers to the older and most conservative faction in an organization. Aversion to change is the old guard’s most salient characteristic. The term Young Turks originated with the civil conflicts that racked Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century. It referred to opponents of the sultan’s absolute monarchy. They formed the Committee of Union and Progress and seized power in 1913. Nowadays the terms represent opposing models of leadership. The Old Guard want to keep things as they were. The Young Turks want to change the way things are done and don’t want to do it gradually. Here are some uses drawn from different countries and different types of organizations. Tea party vs. old guard in GOP Senate rift (Headline, The Denver Post) Old guard and young turks combine for stunning  victory (Headline for a story about an Australian cricket match) A storm is brewing within the MDC-T dominated Bulawayo City Council (BCC) as the party’s â€Å"young turks† who were elected as councillors in last month’s elections feel the â€Å"old guard† had failed the local authority. (Sunday News, Zimbabwe) [In a book about the C.I.A.] he traces the bitter fights between Langley’s old guard and Young Turks over whether the agency should use the new armed Predator drones to hunt and kill even Osama bin Laden. (New York Times) Army rifts: Is the old guard taking on the young Turks? (Headline, (Daily Monitor, Uganda) The majority which would control the vote would be a coalition between the â€Å"old guard† Democratic Party establishment, and the â€Å"young turks,† recent graduates of the University of Hawaii Law School. (Fighting Tradition: A Marine’s Journey to Justice by Bruce I. Yamashita) Santa Cruz Sierra Club: Old Guard vs. Young Turks (Headline, Santa Cruz Patch) Another â€Å"guard† expression is used when new leaders take over from the previous crew: changing of the guard. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for â€Å"Food†75 Idioms and Expressions That Include â€Å"Break†15 Names and Descriptions of Effects

Death and Dying Rituals in Islam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Death and Dying Rituals in Islam - Term Paper Example In this paper we would be discussing about the third phase which pertains to death and afterlife. According to the Holy Koran, every person that dies would be judged by God and would receive their everlasting abode which could either be Heaven or Hell. According to Islamic traditions, after an individual’s life comes to an end, the corpse has to be buried and hence elaborate rituals involving the burying of the dead takes place when an individual is diseased. Death, according to Islam, is a passage from an earthly existence, to a pure and eternal sacred realm. (Kassis 51) Muslims believe that only God is permanent while all else perishes after a time. The Quran clearly states – â€Å"All that dwells upon the Earth is perishing, yet still abides the Face of thy Lord majestic and splendid.† (Kassis 50) According to (Chittick 126) in Islam, an individual fails to fulfill his existence on the Earth, if they follow their own desires, outside the boundary of Divine str ucture. Thus, such a failure causes a problematic condition for the human. Shedding light on this problematic condition, Streng states that â€Å"human life that does not duplicate the eternal structure of meaning and order as found in the Sacred Realm is merely a profane existence, characterized by weakness, ignorance, impurity, and meaningless.†(44).... he profane world is impure† (46) In Islam, the different customs and rituals during the burial incorporate the concept of purity and impurity of the individual’s existence. The ritual of ghusl according to Islamic culture is the preparation of the corpse for the day of resurrection. According to (Kassis 52), the corpse is washed an odd number of times to purify it from its earthly existence. During this ritual, a white shroud is wrapped around the corpse, demonstrating that though all individuals lead different lives on this earth, yet they leave this world as equals. Islamic traditions view the impure nature of the world and are emphatic about purifying the individual before entering the Sacred Realm. (Streng 46) is of the opinion that the impure nature of the person’s existence reflects the problematic condition he faces during judgment. F. Bird (35) discloses that the washing and purifying of the corpse according to the Islamic ritual in a regulative communicat ive manner symbolizes the washing ritual by the family members, to be the purification of the individual from the profane world and into eternal light. (Sacred Realm) Shedding light on the meaning of this ritual Bird states that partaking in this ceremony helps to reinforce the myths that surround it and reaffirm ‘the beliefs they embody.’ (Bird 35) According to Islamic belief man is created in the image and likeness of God and represents and reflects varying degrees of light and darkness (131) based on the quality of their existence. Human existence is provided a special place in the universe because they are created by God. Islamic traditions believe that â€Å"the structure of the universe is like a globe of infinite dimensions. The crust or outside shell is made of clay and is the visible universe

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - The ways it has been changed Essay

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - The ways it has been changed - Essay Example There is tremendous reason to expect that the development of information technology will considerably affect the trade-offs intrinsic in various structures for organizing work, the theoretical basis for these changes remains badly understood. According to the website som.csudh.edu, in the age of information, technology is in the forefront in the way we work and communicate. Many companies must now conform to the needs of many to satisfy the few. No longer is money the only criteria for companies to survive. Challenges such as global competition, technological innovation and customer service persist more so today than any other era. In order for the companies to exist in the industry and preserve what they can, they have taken a bold step in reorienting themselves. One way of doing this is through the use of Information Technology (IT) which can be defined as "computer and telecommunications hardware and software that aid in the processing, collection, and transmission of text, voice, and pictorial information" (Lahti, 1994, p. 1). With this technology, I as an employee can do my work virtually anywhere and at anytime that IT allows. The fundamentals of technology allow me to explore many ways of providing accurate and ac cessible information. The organization must form an infrastructure that will be incorporated into the corporations for its survival. Technology has played a most important role in shaping an organizational structure and processes, and is one of the main catalysts for organizational change. Technological innovation in the factory and office has accelerated lately and foreign competitors have been adopting these innovations promptly and effectively. Unless, companies do the same, they will be at huge disadvantage. Many of the barriers to effective use of new technology are managerial and organizational, rather than technological. For instance in my work we are still semi-computerized, we are still using manual operation in some instances, because of that our report used in meetings or for decision making is not updated. This means that organizational structure is directly associated to the usefulness of technology. The terms, organizational structure and information technology, are subject to various interpretations. Management teams in the 1980's keenly anticipated that new technology would answer the organization problems. Information technology, a term broadly used, is seldom defined. Information refers to the use of two or more elements of data. Information is subject to broad interpretation. In most organizations, on the other hand, data and information are used interchangeability. Organization refers to a group of people working together towards a common goal or objective. Structure is the summary of the ways in which a firm's labor is directed and coordinated into tasks. This definition of organization leads to the supposition that there exists a division of labor. The classical organizational model, the Elite model, was constructed over 50 years ago. Some organizations still follow this model that stresses stability, centralization, division of labor, and command and control. Technology has also influenced the organizational structure. Organizations of the past had cultures that reflect the values of bigness, hierarchy, and rigidity, have little craving to upgrade their technological equipment. Because of these unyielding and inflexible hierarchical structures, U.S.

Board of Directors, Linear Technologies Essay Example for Free

Board of Directors, Linear Technologies Essay Based on the financials to date and the forward looking capital investments required Linear should increase their dividend payout by $0.01 per share. Entering the fourth quarter of 2003 the market seems to show continued signs of improvement. The company has shown steady growth and revenues are forecasted to exceed 2002’s by 19%. The forecast shows net income coming in at $222.7m; a robust 12% increase over last year. Linear has however increased its cash holdings to be in excess of $1.5b through various management initiatives. However this $1.5b has only shown investors a 4.25% growth which translates to $0.10 earnings per share pre-tax. This is in line with the company’s history of conservatism. Looking ahead the company does seem to have requirements to build a new fabrication facility as their facility is aging and is nearing its effective use in its life cycle and will cost around $200m. Linear seems to have enough cash on hand to be able to invest their cash without leveraging the company too much in the future. They have also not spent much on capital expenditures as a percentage of sales (2.2% in FY2002) this last year and should look to increase that in the future. By looking at the information above in the table we see that Linear has had a long history of paying a dividend and has ample resources to pay out dividends; Thus making them one of the highest in their industry as noted in the table below. The other options show extremes in the industry and prove to be too â€Å"far out there† in terms of this industry. Technology companies are known for investing their cash in RD as well and Linear needs to be aggressive in using its cash reserves in a higher and better use that will in turn show investors more returns as well as provide a health dividend amongst their peers. This is in line with what their investors have come to expect over the last 3 years and any significant adjustment now would not signal well in the markets. This increase would raise their dividend payouts to over $66m (a 22% increase from FY2002). History/Analysis of the Dividend Policy at Linear Linear management started issuing dividends when they were sure of the sustainable profitability and cash flow and understood that if they started a dividend that they would have to maintain this in the long run. They understood that investors don’t react well when a company stops paying a dividend. Hence starting small at and gradually increasing the dividends over time as seen in the chart below while the dividend yield took a large hit in 2000 and rebounded in 2002. (Starting at $0.00625 dividend per share in 1992 after they went public in 1986 to a high of $.05 per share today) The Primary reasons to start issuing the dividend highlighted by the management were – Company is financially well positioned with the sustained cash flow since IPO Show investors that Linear is a less risky investment (compared to other tech firms) Tap in the investors interested in income goals along with growth goals (more attractive than the low bank interest instruments) Management feels that increasing the dividend every year even during a tough economic time was good signaling. One thing to note is that Linear did not just limit itself to dividends but also leveraged the share buyback (based on the market conditions), as a vehicle to give cash back to the investors. In 2003, company has recovered ($198m net income) from the 2001 recessionary slump but still more than 50% below the peak in 2001 ($427m net income.) Moreover, sales and profit grew at 3% and 7% respectively are still far below 2001 levels. Dividend payouts make the stocks less volatile too. On the other hand, when a technology growth company start paying dividend it can be concluded that company believes that shareholders can make higher return by investing somewhere else. Porter’s 5 Forces to date: Dividend and buyback policies at Linear Overall Market: Big market scandals, Enron and World-Com were cooking the accounting books to show growth. Every year an investor can get the real money from the dividend (a bird in hand,) but stock growth is just on paper (two birds in the bush, considering the recent big accounting scandals). Even the Fortune article in 2002 suggested that going forward a growing share of investment returns will be from the dividend income. Simple Proposal: Raise by $0.01 The goal of payout policy is to ensure that funds are allocated optimally across firms and their investors. Having said that, several facts speak in favor of raising Linear’s dividend by one cent and not swinging the pendulum in one direction or the other. Excess cash-to-operations approach for 2003 (first three quarters): Dividends paid: $47 million Operating Cash Flow: $180.1 million with the majority of cash going towards stock repurchases. ($165.7 million) while $13.2 million ended up on the firm’s balance sheet. With 312.4million shares outstanding, Linear’s additional expenditures with a $0.06 dividend would be $3.1million per quarter or $12.5million annually. Given the corporation’s financial situation, this is perfectly feasible as seen in the chart below. This would slightly change the dividend yield as seen in the charts below. The company has a very strong cash balance of over $1.5 billion in which to strategically invest In view of the upcoming changes in tax law, raising dividends enjoys support from major shareholders It could potentially help attract additional investors, such as mutual funds and European investment firms It would be consistent with the firm’s dividend payout history; the dividends have been increasing by one cent every year since 1999 The company is not planning any major acquisition for which cash would be required Middle-ground proposal: Send 1/3 FCF to Dividends, 1/3 FCF to buybacks An option to balance the historical and the path forward for dividend pay would be to adopt the idea of paying one third of their earnings per Blaine Rollins, leader portfolio manager of Janus Fund. â€Å"For companies with strong excess cash flow such as Linear, I would suggest saving a third of the cash for a ‘rainy day’ and sharing the other two-thirds with investors, split equally between dividends and buybacks.† Here’s the historical data of the actual paid and the percentage of their excess cash flow: If we follow the advice from Rollins, here’s the middle ground proposal allocating 1/3 of excess cash flow towards dividends. Assuming the Q4 will be similar to the first 3 quarters in 2003, we can estimate that the net income to be $227.5M and FCFE to be $240M. By taking 1/3, we can recommend dividend for 2003E (estimate) would be $80M. The dividend yield would increase slightly from .4% to .6% a well in the charts above. Economy Due to the recession in 2001, the overall economy is not growing strong but there’s no clear sign of a major decline. SP500 has remained steady over the past few years and with a favorable tax plan, it a signal to the investors that Linear remains a great investment opportunity when people are generally trying to hold on to their cash. Industry Although this is still higher than the industry standard, Linear has maintained a strong cash balance and by rewarding the investors, with a high dividend, it would signal strong growth and attract future investors looking for steady income revenue. This would also be a point of differentiation amongst its competitors and allow Linear to stand out amongst the crowd. However, a concern is a potential message that there is no future growth RD/projects in the pipeline. Linear’s current circumstance: Linear is in a strong financial position to pay aggressive dividends and there’s no apparent risk in increasing dividends to the company. However, some factors to consider are potentially missing out on capital growth investments and executive pay restrictions. Radical Proposal: Distribute All Cash A radical proposal for Linear Technology would be to distribute all of their cash. Taking this to the extreme, it would include the $1.5 billion cash balance they currently have as well as paying all of their cash flow for each of the subsequent years. The $1.5 billion they have on hand would provide a dividend of approximately $5.00 per share. This would represent a dividend yield of 16.2%. If they chose to continue this policy on a going forward basis it would provide a very volatile dividend. Looking at the past ten years of data, this strategy would give investors a dividend between $0.13 and $1.34 per share. Economy The economy still hasn’t rebounded from the recession of 2001. Although Linear Technologies had never had a year with negative cash flow, there was significant uncertainty in the market and by distributing all of their cash they would be in a position where they could not make a mistake if it fell further. Industry This would imply to investors that they do not have growth opportunities that would provide investors attractive returns. Investors prefer to have a predictable dividend, by doing this they would create uncertainty in their dividend policy in the future. Even if they decided not to payout all of their cash every year, by doing it one year they risk setting a precedent that if cash gets to $1.5 billion it will be used for a dividend. This would provide a dividend yield to investors of 16.2%. This is significantly higher than the 0.3% average for the Information Technology sector as a whole. Moreover, if they continued this policy moving forward they would continue to distinguish themselves from the other tech firms by having a much higher dividend yield. Linear’s current circumstance: They run the risk of missing out on opportunities for acquisitions or investment in their existing business. Even if they didn’t see opportunities at the current time, starting the year with a zero cash balance would greatly diminish their ability to finance any expansions or acquisitions. They would be forced to finance those opportunities through debt or raising new equity.

Galactosemia: A Rare Milk Sugar Disorder :: essays research papers

Galactosemia: A Rare Milk Sugar Disorder   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Galactosemia is a rare congenital disorder which affects the body’s inability to convert galactose into glucose. Galactose is a type of sugar, which is a breakdown product of lactose. Lactose is found in milk and milk products, including breast milk. Given that the galactose can not be broken down, it builds up in the body and acts as a poison that can cause serious damage to it‘s carrier(â€Å"galactosemiaâ€Å"). â€Å"As milk is important to a baby’s diet, early diagnosis is essential to avoid lifelong problems from this potentially fatal disorder â€Å"(Chung). This research paper provides information about the genetic part of Galactosemia, the cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first trace of information that was brought to light about galactosemia was in 1908 by Von Ruess. He composed an article of his findings in an infant with many of the symptoms we now relate to galactosemia. This work has widely been accepted by scientists as the first reported case of galactosemia. However, at this time the diagnosis of galactosemia was not yet possible. It would be nine years before a similar diagnosis of galactosuria was largely accepted by scientists as a hereditary disorder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1917, galactosuria was treated by eliminating dairy products from an individual’s diet. (â€Å"galactosemiaâ€Å") The discovery of galactosemia was published by Manson and Turner in immense detail. Although this disease was recognized earlier, it was not until 1956 that scientists discovered the mutated gene that causes galactosemia. It is know that the mutated gene is found encoded on chromosome 9. In 1963, a major break- through was unearthed. Galactosemia was the second disorder found to be detectable through newborn screening. Finally, in 1970 galactosemia was acknowledged as a metabolic disease. Today scientists largely accept the notion that galactosemia is a rare metabolic disorder (disease).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This disorder comes in two different variations. Though there is more than one type, it is still rare, having only 1 in 100,000 births being affected by the disorder (Feinbloom). Classic Galactosemia is the first and more common form of the disorder. This is the form when the affected has a complete loss of the enzyme. Both parents must contribute a galactosemic gene for a child to receive the disorder. Since the accumulation of galactose behaves as a toxin in the body, serious complications such as an enlarged liver, kidney failure, cataracts, and brain damage may occur.

Disciplinarily Process Essay

Introduction: The purpose of this report is to provide the background and reasons why the decisions by Fair Work Australia were made in Sam’s favour. It identifies areas the company needs to address and implement in order to prevent this type of situation from occurring again. Work History as Sam’s Team Manager As Sam’s Team Manager I was aware that my predecessors response when dealing with her lacked in encouragement and was poorly handled. Sam is a diligent worker however, due to the company changing programming language to one Sam was unfamiliar with she has been unable to meet specific deadlines. Time was spent with Sam trying to understand her issues and Resources relocated in order to allow Sam extra time until she was confident and competent using the new programming language. The offer of additional training was made , but no specific timelines for a performance review to discuss progress on meeting the required standard of performance were given. During the final meeting with Sam about her inability to meet her latest deadline, Sam physically struck myself and left the office. A Medical certificate was sent to the office the following day, advising Sam was unfit for work due to stress. The receipt of this medical certificate was confirmed over the phone by Sam, to the HR department and conformation made that it had been documented and filed accordingly. It was then the next day that the incident was reported by myself to my supervisor. A meeting was held with myself, my supervisor and the HR Department, the result was that Sam would be terminated on the basis of serious misconduct.. A letter was sent by registered mail to Sam’s personal address. It was two days later that the unfair dismissal claim was filed by Sam with Fair work Australia. Fair Work Australia Hearing: The outcome of the Fair Work Australia hearing between the company and Sam went in Sam’s favor, this was due to insufficient evidence and documentation provided by the company regarding Sam’s dismissal, on the basis of serious misconduct. See attached Risk Analysis (Appendix 1) for Mitigation/Contingencies on Area’s of risk for this case. The hearing was awarded in Sam’s favour because of the following grounds: * There was no formal disciplinary process. * There was no impartial investigation carried out on the act of misconduct. * There was insufficient documentation of claims of employee meetings and reviews. * The medical certificate given to the company by Sam in its original form was not produced by the company for the hearing. * Sam was able to produce a certified copy of the medical certificate as well as email correspondence between herself and the Human Resources department confirming the companies receipt of the medical certificate. * No records or documents of any meetings or coaching sessions were kept by our company. * No evidence of signed, agreed upon and documented performance management reviews or plans were presented by the company * No formal disciplinary process followed, allowing for an investigation in the lead up to Sam’s dismissal. * There was no evidence proving the misconduct claim had taken place or witnesses to call upon to verify the incident. * During meetings where Sam was warned of poor performance, there were no members of senior management present or human resource department specialists. * There were no documented written warnings in Sam’s file, any agreements made between myself and Sam were verbal. Thus no evidence to support the claim of misconduct by Sam. Proposed Company Strategy for defense against unfair dismissal claims: For the company in future to successfully defend itself against unfair dismissal claims should there be a case of serious misconduct of an employee it needs to ensure it brings its performance management procedure and staff professional development in line with Australian legislation, Fair Work Australia Act 2009 – Small business fair dismissal (See appendix 2 for website links) By ensuring the company has a clear concise format for performance management and professional development that is documented and filed and reviewed accordingly should employee misconduct occur there is clear evidence of the employees history with the company, management and Human Resources department and the events leading up to the case of misconduct. The company needs to conduct Monthly performance reviews on all staff ensuring that agenda’s are used and meetings following the reviews are documented and filed according and if poor performance is a topic on the agenda senior management and a human resources specialist is attendance. Decisions made in performance management reviews are to be documented and conducted using the recommended template (see appendix 3) Should the employee still not meet expectations as agreed upon in Performance reviews the following steps need to be followed and all actions taken need to comply with legislation (Fair work Australia Act 2009 – Small business fair dismissal) as set by Fair Work Australia. Proposed Company Strategy for Employee misconduct: The company needs to review its policy on what is deemed as employee misconduct and the consequences of employee misconduct, the review of this policy needs to be done by senior management and the Human Resources Department making sure the policy and consequences are clear, concise and in line with legislation as set by Fair Work Australia. The below procedure should be followed: Conclusion: By completing a review of company policies and procedures regarding Performance Reviews and Employee misconduct (and the consequences), implementing correct documentation (templates) and storage the company and staff will have a clear understanding of individual staff performance, and legal documentation. Recommendation: By implementing a structured Review process for all staff, and reviewing the companies policy on misconduct. Staff performance is recorded, plans/goals set and agreed upon by staff and management and reviewed by the Human Resources Department. In the case of Sam’s dismissal the recommendation would have been to follow the following steps: At the time of the assault it should have been reported to senior management straight away and Human Resources Department notified immediately. An incident/accident report made and an investigation initiated. The authorities should have been notified and a disciplinary hearing conducted with the conclusion/decision of Sam’s termination being verbally notified with a formal letter of termination given to Sam. This should have been done the same day and a soon as possible following the incident.

Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Lay Public (FINAL draft) Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids In the rush to cut calories, reduce cholesterol intake, and avoid saturated fats, many of us have embraced low-fat diets and low-fat foods. But some fats are necessary and â€Å"essential† for health. These fats show great promise for fighting the onslaught of heart disease and diabetes, possibly even cancer. What are these â€Å"good† fats—and how do we get enough of them? The benefits of Omega 3 fats have been researched for quite some time and now those benefits are becoming increasingly well-known.Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids: They are necessary for human health but the body can’t make them — you have to get them through food. Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that the human body needs for metabolic functioning but cannot produce, and therefore has to be acquired from food. What makes omega-3 fats special? They are an integral part of cell me mbranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cells in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation.Omega-3 fats are a key family of polyunsaturated fats. There are three main omega-3s, Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are found mainly in fish. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the most common omega-3 fatty acid in most Western diets, is found in vegetable oils and nuts. The Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to life at every stage, even before birth. They are found in the membrane of every cell in the body and help to ensure that the cell membrane is ideally equipped to do its job.They are also used in the regulation of all biological functions, including those of the cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune and nervous systems. Optimum health can only be achieved when sufficient Omega-3s are obtained from the diet. They hel p maintain good health, promote brain and vision development and protect against disease. In chronic illness, it has been shown that an increase in the Omega-3 fatty acids of marine origin can effect an improvement across a range of conditions, both physical and mental.Research is continually producing positive findings for these vital nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients that play a vital role in safeguarding the body against a number of health disorders and diseases and the Omega 3 benefits are many and wide reaching. Basically, they are a class of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that must be supplied to the body through diet. Omega 3 fatty acids also help improve the inflammatory response of the body, which means relief from painful inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, without the side effects of drugs.In addition, they facilitate the production of hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins, which play a vital role in regulating a number of bodily pr ocesses such as blood clotting, blood pressure, inflammatory as well as allergic response, and nerve transmission. Among the Omega 3 fats benefits is to safeguard the body against cardiovascular diseases. This comes from their ability to reduce the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, as well as reduce blood pressure.They also help raise the good cholesterol level (HDL), prevent thickening of the arterial walls, and inhibit platelet segregation (and hence prevent blood clots). Omega 3 fatty acids help stabilize blood insulin levels, and hence reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity. Omega 3 fatty acids boost brain activity and are, therefore, considered as brain food for enhancing intelligence, memory and concentration. They have also been found to be helpful in the treatment several mental disorders such as depression, psychosis, migraine, dyslexia, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and Alzheimer’s disease.By promoting healthy cell wa lls, Omega 3 fats provide protection against undesired mutations in the DNA that may trigger the growth of cancerous cells, reducing your risk to commonly occurring cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. They also boost the immune system, thus increasing your resistance to common colds and other such allergic reactions. Omegas 3s are very important for our overall health and well-being. What health consequences and implications can occur due to lack of Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet?A lack of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet has been associated with mood swings, depression, memory loss and other neurological problems. A deficiency of Omega 3's is among the prime cause in much inflammation related diseases such as joint pain, arthritis and osteoarthritis. Given the wide-ranging importance and benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, it is important to eat fish or other seafood one to two times per week, particularly fatty (dark meat) fish that are richer in EPA and DHA . This is especially important for women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant and nursing mothers.From the third trimester until the second year of life, a developing child needs a steady supply of DHA to form the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Many women shy away from eating fish because of concerns that mercury and other possible contaminants might harm their babies, yet the evidence for harm from lack of omega-3 fats is far more consistent, and a balance of benefit versus risk is easily obtained.With so many Omega 3 benefits, it would only be prudent to include them in your daily diet. Some good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are: fatty fish (e. g. tuna, salmon, herring, halibut, shrimps, and scallops), nuts and seeds (e. g. , walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, hempseeds, mustard seeds, and pumpkin seeds), tofu, broccoli, dark green vegetables and Brussels sprouts. Or you may take supplements of omega-3 fatty acids, but preferably after consultation with your doc tor. As we can see there are a phenomenal number of omega 3 benefits on health which makes it absolutely vital to include these essential fatty acids in our daily diets. This can be carried out either through natural food sources, or through pure and potent omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

Essay about Thirteen Colonies and New England

Essay about Thirteen Colonies and New England Essay about Thirteen Colonies and New England 5. Chapter 1: New World Beginnings: 33,000 B.C.-A.D. 1769 A. True-False: Where the statement is true, circle T; where it is false, circle F. 1. T F The geography of the North American continent was fundamentally shaped by the glaciers of the Great Ice Age. 6. 2. T F North America was first settled by people who came by boat across the waters of the Pacific Strait from Japan to Alaska. The early Indian civilizations of Mexico & Peru were built on the economic foundations of cattle & wheat growing. Most North American Indians lived in small, seminomadic agricultural & hunting communities. Many Indian cultures like the Iroquois traced descent through the female line. No Europeans had ever set foot on the American continents prior to Columbus’s arrival in 1492. A primary motive for the European voyages of discovery was the desire to find a less expensive route to Asian goods & markets. 8. 8. T F The beginnings of African slavery developed in response to the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Columbus immediately recognized in 1492 that he had come across new continents previously unknown to Europeans. The greatest effec t of the European intrusion on the Indians of the Americas was to increase the Indian population through intermarriage with the whites. Spanish gold & silver from the Americas fueled inflation & economic growth in Europe. The Spanish conquistadores had little to do with the native peoples of Mexico & refused to intermarry with them. The Spanish were able to defeat the Aztecs because they came from a more sophisticated, urban civilization. Spain expanded its empire into Florida & New Mexico partly to block French & English intrusions. The Spanish empire in the new world was larger, richer, & longer-lasting than that of the English. 9. Among the most important American Indian products to spread to the Old World were a. animals such as buffalo & horses. b. technologies such as the compass & the wheel. c. economic systems such as plantation agriculture & livestock raising. d. foodstuffs such as maize, beans, & tomatoes. The primary staples of Indian agriculture were a. potatoes, beets, & sugar cane. b. rice, manioc, & peanuts. c. maize, beans, & squash. d. wheat, oats, & barley. The number of Indians in North America at the time of Columbus arrived was approximately a. one million. b. four million. c. twenty million. d. two hundred & fifty million. Before Columbus arrived, the only Europeans to have visited North America, temporarily, were a. the Greeks. b. the Irish. c. the Norse. d. the Italians. The Portuguese were the first to enter the slave trade & establish large-scale plantations using slave labor in a. West Africa. b. the Atlantic sugar islands. c. the West Indies. d. Brazil. 3. T F 4. 5. 6. T T T F F F 7. 7. T F 9. T F 10. 11. 12. T T T F F F 13. T F 14. T F 10. Much of the impetus for Spanish exploration

9 Great Mark Twain Quotes on Travel, Writing, and Life

9 Great Mark Twain Quotes on Travel, Writing, and Life SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Mark Twain has been a household name since the nineteenth century. Known for the bestselling adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, Twain has also gained popularity for the pithy words of wisdom he shared. Mark Twain's Biography Mark Twain grew up in the town of Hannibal, Missouri, which was the setting of both Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Before he became a renowned author, Twain was an apprentice to a printer, then went on to be a typesetter for a newspaper company owned by Orion Clemens, his older brother. Twain attributed his later success in journalism and writing to his experiences working in mines and on riverboats. Christened by William Faulkner as â€Å"the father of American literature,† Twain authored some of the most popular works in American history, including A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and more. 9 Great Mark Twain Quotes Mark Twain was known for his quotes about life, honesty, racism, productivity, and more. Here are some of the best Mark Twain quotes about life. Mark Twain Quotes About Honesty "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." â€Å"Mark Twain's Notebook" edited by Albert Paine. According to Mark Twain's quote on honesty, telling the truth saves you from the stress of having to remember the lives you’ve told. Life is easier, the air feels fresher, and stress melts away if you live your life simply and honestly. Mark Twain Quotes About Conflict "Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." "Mark Twain's Notebook" edited by Albert Paine. In this quote, Mark Twain examines the value in swimming against the current. According to Twain, people that refuse to conform with the crowd become leaders, while others are followers. The quote asks the reader to consider: why stay with the crowd? What can be gained? What can be lost? Mark Twain Quotes About Conformity "Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world - and never will." "Bite-Size Twain" by Mark Twain Like the previous quote, this quote highlights the futility of staying loyal to a thought or opinion that doesn't make sense. In fact, Twain goes so far as to say that sticking to ideas held in the past actively prevents progress. Mark Twain Quotes About Imagination "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain This quote highlights the idea that your eyes are fallible: they’ll see what they want to see. If you want to see something, you’ll see it, even if it’s not already there. Mark Twain Quotes About Popularity "The best of us would rather be popular than right." "No. 44, the Mysterious Stranger" By Mark Twain This Mark Twain quote calls out one of humanity’s biggest faults: most of us would rather be beloved than correct. That desire for acceptance and appreciation drives us more than anything else. Mark Twain Quotes About Prejudice "I have no race prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse." "Concerning the Jews" by Mark Twain This quote by Mark Twain highlights the writer’s view of prejudice. Twain indicates that all he cares about is whether or not someone is a human being. Nothing else matters. Mark Twain Quotes About Temptation "To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing." "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain This quote highlights a well-known conundrum: nothing makes you want to do something like being told you can’t do it. Mark Twain Quotes About Productivity "I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week sometimes to make it up." "The Innocents Abroad" By Mark Twain Here, Twain highlights his tendency towards procrastination. He’s not the only one who avoids decision-making! Mark Twain Quotes About Travel "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." "The Innocents Abroad" By Mark Twain According to Twain, travel is the antidote for prejudice. When you see the world, you can’t help but open your eyes to different kinds of people. â€Å"It liberates the vandal to travel - you never saw a bigoted, opinionated, stubborn, narrow-minded, self-conceited, almighty mean man in your life but he had stuck in one place since he was born and thought God made the world and dyspepsia and bile for his especial comfort and satisfaction.† â€Å"The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain† by Mark Twain This quote follows a similar train of thought as the previous quote: travel helps people learn about and appreciate other peoples and cultures. Mark Twain Didn’t Say That There are plenty of quotes attributed to Mark Twain. There are also plenty of quotes inaccurately attributed to Mark Twain. Here are some of our favorite quotes that Mark Twain didn’t say: â€Å"If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.† â€Å"The secret of getting ahead is getting started.† "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.† â€Å"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.† â€Å"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.† Mark Twain Quotes: Final Thoughts As a famed writer, it’s not surprising that so many of Mark Twain’s sayings have made it to present day. Did we include your favorites? Let us know in the comments. What's Next? Not sure what literary devices are or how to use them? Here are some in-depth posts on imagery, assonance, point of view, and personification that define these important terms and show you how to find them in literature. Learning to interpret poetry? Luckily, we have great resources for you! Check out this post that walks you through a complete analysis of the poem â€Å"Do not go gentle into that good night.† Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Hayley Milliman About the Author Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. No spam ever. hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: '360031', formId: '2167ba30-e68e-4777-b88d-8bf3c84579af', formInstanceId: '2', submitButtonClass: 'btn-red-light btn', target: '#hubspot-container2', redirectUrl: 'http://ww2.prepscholar.com/blog-subscribe-thank-you', css: '.post-bottom .hs-form.stacked label {display:none;} .post-bottom .hs-form.stacked .field div.input {padding-top: 55px; padding-left: 300px;} .post-bottom .hs-input {width: 220px} .post-bottom .btn-primary, .hs-button.primary {margin-top:0px; padding-left:350px} .post-bottom .hs-form-field {margin-bottom:5px}' }); $(function(){ $(".exclusive-tip-form #hubspot-container2 label").hide(); }); function replace_tag(a, b){ $(a).each(function(index) { var thisTD = this; var newElement = $(""); $.each(this.attributes, function(index) { $(newElement).attr(thisTD.attributes[index].name, thisTD.attributes[index].value); }); $(this).after(newElement).remove(); }); } $(function(){ replace_tag($(".posts-by-topic h3"), "h2"); }) Ask a Question BelowHave any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply! Search the Blog Search jQuery(function(){ var $ = jQuery; var url = 'http://google.com/search?q=site:' + location.protocol + '//' + location.hostname + ' '; var $searchModule = $('.hs-search-module.ff1ec895-8924-4e9a-9894-7ba45d91906f'); var $input = $searchModule.find('input'); var $button = $searchModule.find('.hs-button.primary'); if (false) { $input.val(decodeURIComponent(location.pathname.split('/').join(' ').split('.').join(' ').split('-').join(' ').split('_').join(''))); } $button.click(function(){ var newUrl = url + $input.val(); var win = window.open(newUrl, '_blank'); if (win) { //Browser has allowed it to be opened win.focus(); } else { //Browser has blocked it location.href = newUrl; } }); $input.keypress(function(e){ if (e.keyCode !== 13) return; e.preventDefault(); $button.click(); }); }); Improve With Our Famous Guides SATPrep ACTPrep For All Students The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section: Score 800 on SAT Math Score 800 on SAT Reading Score 800 on SAT Writing Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section: Score 600 on SAT Math Score 600 on SAT Reading Score 600 on SAT Writing Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section: 36 on ACT English 36 on ACT Math 36 on ACT Reading 36 on ACT Science Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section: 24 on ACT English 24 on ACT Math 24 on ACT Reading 24 on ACT Science What ACT target score should you be aiming for? ACT Vocabulary You Must Know ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA How to Write an Amazing College Essay What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For? Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide Should you retake your SAT or ACT? When should you take the SAT or ACT? Michael improved by 370 POINTS! Find Out How Stay Informed Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Looking for Graduate School Test Prep? Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: GRE Online Prep Blog GMAT Online Prep Blog TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Compare certain aspect of India and China Dissertation

Compare certain aspect of India and China - Dissertation Example Detailed research in this direction would throw more light on HDI utility. Therefore, review of contemporary register of cultural and political events become essential. The processes that may be adopted to develop the utility of HDI is attempted to foresee in the light of strength and weakness of the people of these two countries. Five areas of focus were identified and studied. Data collected on these five areas were analyzed and found that future research would promote devising new parameters to measure human development. I. Introduction: With the purpose of this paper in view, that is to compare certain aspects of India and China, we rely chiefly on Human Development Index. In the light of HDI the attempts made to compare these two countries are necessarily confined to a few areas of development alone. HDI data currently available do not cover some areas like human rights, government and conflicts, a few cultural and social impacts and governance factors. As these two countries re present the biggest populated areas of the world, our study of these countries is expected to provide ample chances to explore various aspects of human development. Human Development Index was hitherto based on GDP of a nation. GDP is mainly dealing with the income and the purchase power of people. This economic data are in fact essential to measure the development of a nation. However, this alone can not be called human development. Human development comprises several aspects of human life sphere. Economic growth is one among those aspects. While it is easy to measure economic growth or fall in terms of data translated in to numbers, there are some areas, which can not be translated into numbers. Inclusion of other areas of human life sphere thus becomes necessary to be included in HDI. Improving the utility strategy of HDI is therefore essential to compare national level developments. The study of constrains and concessions, joy and sorrow, wealth and poverty ill and healthy, lite racy and illiteracy of men and women of densely populated countries is bound to open a floodgate of focus areas. These focus areas will represent the human life style of the place, the measurement of which will give out a clear picture of the entire nation. Thus the population study of India and China is expected to bring out many areas of their life sphere which have impacts on their overall national development. Several focus areas came across, out of which some five were picked for the present study. The data gleaned were applied to the area of focus and a test of match and mismatch with the core of the focus areas was performed. While the matching statistics were found to confirm the hypothesis, the mismatching data were allocated for future research. Confirmatory data in respect of a country although go along with the hypothesis, are found to contradict with hypothesis in respect of other country. II. Rationale of the study with hypothesis: With HDI as the chief tool of human d evelopment measurement, we try to compare two nations namely China and India. As far as population is concerned, these two countries represent the world’s densest areas. In order to near the research questions the following hypothesis is framed. With the current tool of HDI in hand, comparing these two countries on the basis of similar population density provide a picture of their developments with ups and downs: - Taking only the manpower of