Pay Equity In Labor Force Movement Essay

Debates about women’s rights at work and the gendered dimensions of employment inequality were notable and contested features of Canadian political discourse throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Concern about these issues took root during the 1940s, when women experienced dramatic shifts in their employment opportunities as a result of being drawn into and later jettisoned from the reserve army of wartime labor. Pressure to improve women’s employment conditions, particularly in the burgeoning public sector, recurred in the mid-1950s. However, it was in the 1960s, once the second wave of feminism took root in Canada, that women began to develop a sustained critique of the employment inequalities they experienced and pressure their governments to address the problem through policy innovation and change. (Westhues, 45-58) From the outset of second-wave feminism, women advanced analyses of employment inequality that took account of their labor in both the public and domestic spheres. As Brockman noted, activists â€Å"drew attention, as had never been done before, to the fundamental incompatibility between reproductive labor and child care, on the one hand, and paid work on the other, as well as to the profound consequences of this incompatibility. † (Brockman, 78-93) While liberal, radical, and socialist feminists approached this issue from different ideological vantage points, they shared a common belief that the causes of gender inequality in employment were not rooted solely in the workplace. Only, they claimed, if questions about women’s employment in the public sphere were addressed in tandem with questions about their labor in the domestic sphere would the gendered dimensions of employment inequality be fully understood. In particular, feminists thought that women’s maternal work had to be recognized in discussions about promoting gender equality in the workplace. As Westhues, a well-known socialist feminist, once argued, â€Å"As long as women have the primary responsibility for maintenance of the home and for child care, we will be less than able to pursue job opportunities and our domestic commitments will be used to justify discriminatory employment practices. † (Westhues, 45-58) Growing awareness of the need to link questions about production and reproduction in analyses of women’s economic position was by no means unique to Canadian feminism. It was, for example, well established in the early writing of second-wave feminists in Britain and the United States. What did, however, distinguish Canadian feminists from their counterparts in these other liberal democracies was an ability to work together, despite ideological differences, in order to advance this double-edged critique of gender inequality in employment. Right from the start of the contemporary women’s movement, Canadian feminists engaged with the state, demanding policies that recognized the link between women’s employment opportunities and the provision of child care. Canadian feminists lobbied both federal and provincial governments about the need to improve women’s employment opportunities and expand the provision of child care. It was in the federal arena, however, that women (outside Quebec) focused their demands for the development of policies that acknowledged the link between these two issues. In some respects, this federal focus was surprising. After all, only one-tenth of the Canadian labor force is regulated by the federal government, and even at the start of second-wave feminism both federal and provincial governments had been involved in employment opportunity and child care initiatives. Moreover, even though the federal government has the constitutional capacity to use its spending power to underwrite the provision of state-subsidized child care, it is the provinces that retain constitutional control over the delivery of this service. The federal focus of women’s campaigns was encouraged by the fact that the renaissance of Canadian feminism occurred within the context of a broader social project to achieve universal welfare guarantees, assured by the Canadian state. It was reinforced by the government of Canada’s decision to establish the 1967 Royal Commission on the Status of Women (RCSW) to inquire how best the federal government could ensure that women enjoyed â€Å"equal opportunities with men in all aspects of Canadian society. † It has since been sustained by the work of activists in national organizations, in particular the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC), founded in 1972, and the Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association (CDCAA), established in 1982 and renamed the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC) in 1992. However, despite a long history of feminist engagement with the federal state, women’s repeated campaigns for the development of policies to address the double-edged nature of gender inequality in employment, and the clear recognition of these demands in reports of royal commissions and task forces, the federal policy response has been uneven. Policies to eradicate sex discrimination at work and promote women’s employment opportunities have been developed and implemented in the federal policy sphere. By contrast, the federal government has not developed policies to promote a publicly funded system of child care in order to enhance women’s employment opportunities, save as emergency measures during the Second World War or as an element of broader initiatives to get â€Å"welfare mothers† out to work. Instead it has treated child care as a fiscal issue for which parents can receive subsidies through federal taxation. This paper examines why a double-edged interpretation of women’s employment inequality, which recognizes the public and domestic dimensions of women’s work, has not been fully absorbed into federal policies to promote gender equality in the sphere of employment. The analysis follows the development of debates about women’s rights at work from the period of reconstruction after the Second World War, when questions about eradicating employment discrimination against worker-citizens first emerged in Canadian political debate, through to the close of the twentieth century. It examines federal policy developments under Liberal and Conservative governments, showing that even though the reports of federal royal commissions and task forces encoded feminist demands for a double-edged attack on employment inequality, questions about promoting women’s employment equality and child care were continually driven apart in the federal policy process. Women’s Paid and Caring Work  While this is by no means the first time that scholars have considered the relationship between Canadian women’s work inside and outside the home, it is noticeable how the link between these two aspects of women’s labor was explored by historians and sociologists before being addressed by analysts of public policy. In the late 1970s, members of the Women’s History Collective at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the Clio Collective in Montreal pioneered research in Canada on how women’s labor had shifted from the unpaid domestic sphere into the world of paid employment. In the process, they unearthed textual and oral histories that demonstrated how, despite this transition, women still faced the double bind of a double-day in which they went out to work for pay and home to work for love. Their findings were reinforced in late 1970s and 1980s by sociological analyses of women’s work arguing that because women so often entered employment while maintaining primary responsibility for the care of their children, they frequently found themselves concentrated in low-paid, low-status employment. Despite the fact that historians, sociologists, and feminist activists drew attention to the â€Å"double ghetto† of women’s working lives, discussions about policies to promote women’s employment opportunities and improve the provision of child care evolved as distinct scholarly debates. The literature on policies to promote Canadian women’s employment opportunities emerged within the context of broader discussions and debates about the development of policies to root out discrimination in the workplace. By contrast, the literature on Canadian child care policy evolved around questions about the development, cost, and politics of implementing public policies to promote the welfare, education, care, and development of young children. In recent years, however, policy analysts have paid much greater attention to the link between women’s paid and caring work. Jacobs, 120-128) Nonetheless, no one has yet considered why Canadian government policies to promote women’s employment opportunities and improve the provision of child care have been developed at such different rates and, despite repeated calls to the contrary, not linked in the design of public policies to promote gender equality in federally regulated employment. This pattern of inquiry is understandable, given the discrete historical development of policies concerned with child care and those concerned with women’s employment. However, it unduly limits our understanding of the gendered dimensions of employment inequality in Canada and fails to capture the empirical reality of many women’s working lives. Double-Edged Nature of Women’s Employment Inequality Why did women’s double-edged demand for equal employment opportunities and child care emerge in Canada in the 1960s and 1970s? After all, from the mid-1950s Canada experienced one of the fastest rates of labor force feminization in the Western industrialized world. The decline of manufacturing industries and the concomitant growth of the tertiary sector in the 1950s and 1960s meant that while industries that had traditionally attracted men closed down, those demanding support skills that had long characterized women’s traditional domestic roles expanded. Moreover, in countries like Canada, where welfare states were being established, the growth in women’s employment intensified most quickly. The much trumpeted rise in female labor force participation rates did not, however, mean that women engaged in paid employment on the same terms as men. The occupational segregation of Canadian men and women persisted in both horizontal and vertical forms. In fact, this process intensified with the increased participation of women in the paid labor force. As a result, the vast majority of women found themselves working in poorly paid occupations, situated in the lower echelons of private companies and public sector organizations. Moreover, as Jacobs have noted, although the creation of welfare states meant that â€Å"women as a group had more employment opportunities open up for them than men† in the mid-twentieth century, the growth in women’s employment was in the part-time sector of the labor force, which was increasingly dominated by women in all OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. Jacobs, 120-128) This simply intensified the inequalities of employment opportunity that women experienced because part-time work is concentrated in the least-skilled, lowest-paid, and most poorly organized sections of the labor force, where benefits are usually more limited than in the full-time sector. The rapid growth in women’s participation in part-time rather than fulltime employment reflects two other factors about the feminization of the Canadian labor force. On the one hand, it relates to the type of work that the service sector has generated and to the increasing flexibility demanded of its employees. On the other hand, it reflects the fact that the greatest increase in female labor force participation rates since the 1960s has been among women with young children. In the early 1960s, most female employees in Canada would leave the workforce when their first child was born and return only when their youngest child had entered school. By the mid-1980s most women with young children went out to work. Indeed, as Pendakur have noted, â€Å"By 1991 all traces of the reproduction function had disappeared with female labor force participation rates peaking in the major family-rearing age categories†. The double burden that women experience from juggling their employment while continuing to care for their children has been reinforced by the limited provision of subsidized child care spaces in Canada. In the late 1960s, when women began to pressure the federal government to address the minimal provision of child care for working women, federal subsidies for child care were limited to support for welfare mothers under the 1966 Canada Assistance Plan. This pattern changed very little in the course of the twentieth century, although federal subsidies to support child care for low-income families became increasingly tied to efforts to get mothers receiving welfare out to work. Although recent federal publications on the status of day care in Canada boast â€Å"a twenty-five-fold increase† in child care spaces since the government first gathered these data in 1971, in fact the proportion of children of working mothers who have access to regulated child care remains very low. As a result, most working parents remain highly dependent on informal, unregulated child care. Indeed, as Brockman noted, in the mid-1990s â€Å"children in informal child care arrangements accounted for eighty per cent of all child care used by parents in Canada. † (Brockman, 78-93) The federal state in Canada has addressed questions about promoting equal employment opportunities for men and women in the public sphere with relative ease but has failed to recognize that this project cannot be achieved without addressing the questions of child care that affect so many women’s working lives. While the reasons for this are complex, some insights from feminist theory may help us to begin this exploration. In recent years, a number of feminist theorists have discussed how the concept of worker-citizenship that took root as welfare states were developed in countries such as Canada did not take account of the different contexts in which women and men often assumed employment. (Pendakur, 111-120) As a result, when questions about promoting equal employment opportunities for men and women began to emerge in the 1950s and ’60s, they were framed in terms of women achieving the same opportunities as men. Indeed, Canadian have tried to develop a more nuanced concept of worker citizenship that not only respects the objective of equality of opportunity but also takes workers’ particular circumstances into account and, in the case of women, enables them to integrate their paid and caring work better. In the process, women have argued that a state that upholds the principle of gender equality must develop policies that take account of the interconnectedness of the public and domestic spheres and recognize the different contexts in which men and women often assume employment. Conclusion Nonetheless, although Canadian feminists have a long history of active engagement with the state, developed through a â€Å"visible and articulate women’s movement† that has successfully placed issues on the political agenda, the result, more often than not, has been that their demands have been contained within a limited set of reforms. As a result, those aspects of gender discrimination in the workplace that concern practices within the public sphere have been acknowledged through the introduction of anti-discrimination and employment equity policies. By contrast, women have had more difficulty getting their proposals for policies that transcend the public/ private divide, by linking questions of equal employment opportunity with those of child care, acknowledged in the federal policy arena. Despite their efforts to forge these links through two major royal commissions and other government inquiries, problems of gender inequality in employment are still primarily defined as issues located within the public sphere of employment. Without doubt, over the past thirty years there have been clear improvements in the position of women in the federally regulated section of the Canadian labor force. Nonetheless, women continue to cluster in the lower echelons of companies and organizations and remain under-represented in more senior positions. While this persistent pattern of inequality has many causes, paper shows how it reflects a federal policy process that concentrates on ensuring the comparable treatment of male and female employees once they have entered the labor market, yet, for complex reasons, repeatedly stalls on developing a more expansive approach to child care. As a result, federal policies to promote gender equality in the sphere of employment neglect the inequalities of access and participation that many women experience as they continue or resume employment once they have dependent children.

Introduction to Negotiation

Introduction to Negotiation Negotiation is and activity that every individual caries out in his everyday life. We are constantly negotiation with ourselves, our family, friends, business, etc. Every activity that happens is the result of a negotiation – â€Å"Pros and Cons†. And thus negotiation can be defined as; â€Å"The means by which people deal with their differences† Negotiation is a continuous and an evolving process especially in a supply chain environment. A company cannot meet the expectation of its customers or shareholders single handed and thus there is lot of negotiation is involved and it is a continuous process.It is a process that emerges when there is a difference and it cannot be settled single handed without a negotiation. Negotiation is not necessarily a win-loose process, but a good negotiation process is where both parties accept a mutually beneficial or amicable solution. A Negotiation can be distributive or integrative depending on how i t been conducted. A negotiation which involves hard bargaining and is mostly concentrated on one topic where usually the winner takes all is a distributive negotiation. There is little or no attention paid to relationship, consideration or sharing of information and are very aggressive.On the contrary an integrative negotiation is a process in which all parties cooperate to maximize the benefit to all parties and is commonly referred to as expanding the pie. There is lot of understanding among the parties and importance is paid to how more value can be generated in a continuing partnership. Sometimes depending on the topic a negotiation can get very complex. It could get into a Multi Phase Negotiation stage where one negotiation could lead into another negotiation with the complexity increasing at each stage.It could also get into a Multiparty Negotiation where the needs and want of other parties will require to be explored and will be included into further negotiations. Though ther e are many types or causes of negotiation, it is always important for an effective negotiation to underline once BATNA (Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement) and their Reservation Point. A BATNA is something which every negotiator should have, and is completely under his control. With this he should be able to set up his reservation point, something beyond which he should not negotiate.Once these are clearly understood and negotiated up on, we can at most of the time identify the ZOPA (Zone of Potential Agreement), which in most of the times overlaps both parties’ reservation points. Apart from the above other main elements that plays an important role in a negotiation and the most important is listening. Both parties should pay attention, listen and acknowledge the other parties BATNA and Reservation Points. This will not only improve relationships and achieve in establishing a ZOPA, but could also be beneficial to other departments or other entities that could have c onnection with your unit or industry.There should also be lot of preparation involved prior to a negotiation and preparation should focus on all areas. While a negotiation can be very effective, it could have several barriers. Therefore it is always important that some level of effort is put in in prior and during the negotiation. It is important to respect all parties and acknowledge their interests and concerns. Finding areas of common interests and sharing same, providing a comfort zone for negotiation, talking about past experiences, etc. , are some of the few ways to unwind before going into a negotiation process directly.Similarly it is important that during negotiation a process is clearly followed. The point around which discussion is taking places is well identifies and not deviated from and a clear time line is established. It is also important that the right persons are involved during the negotiation and the points negotiated upon is justifiable There should be room for flexibility all barriers like lack of trust, excessive bargaining, being reluctant to share information, structural impediments in putting inappropriate people at the discussion, cultural and gender difference any inds of spoilers should not be used and the language used should be simple and understanding to all parties. Mental barriers like Escalation, Partisan Perception, Irrational Expectation, Override confidence caused by ego, having shifting BATNA, not having a clear breakpoint, not understanding the other person, not sharing problem and understanding viewpoint, feeling invincible, etc. and should not be used during a negotiation process. While there are no rights or wrongs, style also matters in a negotiation. This often reflects on the kind of person one is always best to consider how to proceed.There are 5 different styles and each can be detailed as below; Avoiding style is when you hates conflicts and try to avoid them at all cost. It is often associated with trying to wi thdraw from situation or try to pass the decision to someone else and hence very difficult to arrive at a conclusion. This kind of style can be used if the issue, relationship, decision is of less importance, but can cause problems if the relationship or issue is of importance. Using this too often can have a negative feeling. Accommodating is when trying to use relationship to solve a conflict.On the contrary if the other person is not accommodating and takes advantage there is nothing returned in the negotiation process a negotiation can be accommodating when no much importance is paid to the issue or when there are not arguments on one’s side of the table. This can often create problem if the outcome is going to be shared at it could show that other are taking advantage of your position. Competing is like trying to win and take control of the situation or considers a negotiation as wining and loosing.There is no attempt made on collaboration, or cooperation from others and if used often shall loose self-respect eventually. A competing strategy can be during a negotiation if there is an emergency and a decision is imminent. It could also be that one side is confident that they are right and have all the supporting’s and the situation is under their control Compromising negotiation often tries to find something amicable. This often results in giving and taking with moderate satisfaction to both parties. This could create problem while negotiation on very creative problem and could be used the working together s important with limited resources A good solution is often considered as a bottleneck and any collaboration is considered as forcing something on. Collaborating is more a problem solving style of negotiating. They are very imaginative who think about win-win situation and thing of expanding the pie. Issues and relationship are both given importance along with being cooperative and creative. All concerns are well addressed and as a result w ill not be able to exercise if time frame is too short. It is also not applicable the issues are trivial or no much preparation or rehearsing time.A negotiation can also be different when negotiation for yourself or for others. When negotiation for yourself you often tend to negotiate what is most beneficial to your whereas on the other hand when negotiation for a third party there is often a personal gain side that is looked at especially is cases where negotiating for a property via a real estate agent. However a third party negotiator can bring with him lots of experience that could also be very beneficial and will assist in a negotiation process. Thus for a negotiation it is important to understand one own style and to determine the other persons style as well.This will avoid unpleasant surprises during a negotiation. and will assist in the effective preparation of BATNA and reservation points We can thus understand that the process of negotiation is continuous and needs to be c onstantly improved. It is a process that needs to be understood and required to be planned and monitored using various strategies and resources. As part of continuous improvement it is important to create a process, train all participants to follow and monitor the process. This process can be improved by learning and summarizing from reflection after a negotiation.It is also important to consider that every negotiation must have a preparation process where goals and expectation are clarified. A clear BATNA have to be defined which everyone in the team is well aware off. Any smart suggestions need to be recognized and suitably rewarded. Develop a process that works best for oneself and use it to evaluate what works best and willingness to follow the process. And the most important to remember that all negotiations cannot be won and not to be abandon just because we are not able to achieve what we perceived. Introduction to Negotiation Introduction to Negotiation Negotiation is and activity that every individual caries out in his everyday life. We are constantly negotiation with ourselves, our family, friends, business, etc. Every activity that happens is the result of a negotiation – â€Å"Pros and Cons†. And thus negotiation can be defined as; â€Å"The means by which people deal with their differences† Negotiation is a continuous and an evolving process especially in a supply chain environment. A company cannot meet the expectation of its customers or shareholders single handed and thus there is lot of negotiation is involved and it is a continuous process.It is a process that emerges when there is a difference and it cannot be settled single handed without a negotiation. Negotiation is not necessarily a win-loose process, but a good negotiation process is where both parties accept a mutually beneficial or amicable solution. A Negotiation can be distributive or integrative depending on how i t been conducted. A negotiation which involves hard bargaining and is mostly concentrated on one topic where usually the winner takes all is a distributive negotiation. There is little or no attention paid to relationship, consideration or sharing of information and are very aggressive.On the contrary an integrative negotiation is a process in which all parties cooperate to maximize the benefit to all parties and is commonly referred to as expanding the pie. There is lot of understanding among the parties and importance is paid to how more value can be generated in a continuing partnership. Sometimes depending on the topic a negotiation can get very complex. It could get into a Multi Phase Negotiation stage where one negotiation could lead into another negotiation with the complexity increasing at each stage.It could also get into a Multiparty Negotiation where the needs and want of other parties will require to be explored and will be included into further negotiations. Though ther e are many types or causes of negotiation, it is always important for an effective negotiation to underline once BATNA (Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement) and their Reservation Point. A BATNA is something which every negotiator should have, and is completely under his control. With this he should be able to set up his reservation point, something beyond which he should not negotiate.Once these are clearly understood and negotiated up on, we can at most of the time identify the ZOPA (Zone of Potential Agreement), which in most of the times overlaps both parties’ reservation points. Apart from the above other main elements that plays an important role in a negotiation and the most important is listening. Both parties should pay attention, listen and acknowledge the other parties BATNA and Reservation Points. This will not only improve relationships and achieve in establishing a ZOPA, but could also be beneficial to other departments or other entities that could have c onnection with your unit or industry.There should also be lot of preparation involved prior to a negotiation and preparation should focus on all areas. While a negotiation can be very effective, it could have several barriers. Therefore it is always important that some level of effort is put in in prior and during the negotiation. It is important to respect all parties and acknowledge their interests and concerns. Finding areas of common interests and sharing same, providing a comfort zone for negotiation, talking about past experiences, etc. , are some of the few ways to unwind before going into a negotiation process directly.Similarly it is important that during negotiation a process is clearly followed. The point around which discussion is taking places is well identifies and not deviated from and a clear time line is established. It is also important that the right persons are involved during the negotiation and the points negotiated upon is justifiable There should be room for flexibility all barriers like lack of trust, excessive bargaining, being reluctant to share information, structural impediments in putting inappropriate people at the discussion, cultural and gender difference any inds of spoilers should not be used and the language used should be simple and understanding to all parties. Mental barriers like Escalation, Partisan Perception, Irrational Expectation, Override confidence caused by ego, having shifting BATNA, not having a clear breakpoint, not understanding the other person, not sharing problem and understanding viewpoint, feeling invincible, etc. and should not be used during a negotiation process. While there are no rights or wrongs, style also matters in a negotiation. This often reflects on the kind of person one is always best to consider how to proceed.There are 5 different styles and each can be detailed as below; Avoiding style is when you hates conflicts and try to avoid them at all cost. It is often associated with trying to wi thdraw from situation or try to pass the decision to someone else and hence very difficult to arrive at a conclusion. This kind of style can be used if the issue, relationship, decision is of less importance, but can cause problems if the relationship or issue is of importance. Using this too often can have a negative feeling. Accommodating is when trying to use relationship to solve a conflict.On the contrary if the other person is not accommodating and takes advantage there is nothing returned in the negotiation process a negotiation can be accommodating when no much importance is paid to the issue or when there are not arguments on one’s side of the table. This can often create problem if the outcome is going to be shared at it could show that other are taking advantage of your position. Competing is like trying to win and take control of the situation or considers a negotiation as wining and loosing.There is no attempt made on collaboration, or cooperation from others and if used often shall loose self-respect eventually. A competing strategy can be during a negotiation if there is an emergency and a decision is imminent. It could also be that one side is confident that they are right and have all the supporting’s and the situation is under their control Compromising negotiation often tries to find something amicable. This often results in giving and taking with moderate satisfaction to both parties. This could create problem while negotiation on very creative problem and could be used the working together s important with limited resources A good solution is often considered as a bottleneck and any collaboration is considered as forcing something on. Collaborating is more a problem solving style of negotiating. They are very imaginative who think about win-win situation and thing of expanding the pie. Issues and relationship are both given importance along with being cooperative and creative. All concerns are well addressed and as a result w ill not be able to exercise if time frame is too short. It is also not applicable the issues are trivial or no much preparation or rehearsing time.A negotiation can also be different when negotiation for yourself or for others. When negotiation for yourself you often tend to negotiate what is most beneficial to your whereas on the other hand when negotiation for a third party there is often a personal gain side that is looked at especially is cases where negotiating for a property via a real estate agent. However a third party negotiator can bring with him lots of experience that could also be very beneficial and will assist in a negotiation process. Thus for a negotiation it is important to understand one own style and to determine the other persons style as well.This will avoid unpleasant surprises during a negotiation. and will assist in the effective preparation of BATNA and reservation points We can thus understand that the process of negotiation is continuous and needs to be c onstantly improved. It is a process that needs to be understood and required to be planned and monitored using various strategies and resources. As part of continuous improvement it is important to create a process, train all participants to follow and monitor the process. This process can be improved by learning and summarizing from reflection after a negotiation.It is also important to consider that every negotiation must have a preparation process where goals and expectation are clarified. A clear BATNA have to be defined which everyone in the team is well aware off. Any smart suggestions need to be recognized and suitably rewarded. Develop a process that works best for oneself and use it to evaluate what works best and willingness to follow the process. And the most important to remember that all negotiations cannot be won and not to be abandon just because we are not able to achieve what we perceived.

Pentateuch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pentateuch - Essay Example â€Å"For most of the first eighteen centuries of the Christian era, Pentateuch authorship was considered pretty much settled matter. Most people accepted the view that the Pentateuch was composed by Moses, the great law giver and deliverer of Israel from Egyptian bondage.†(King, 2001)Later intellectuals intervened and did the obvious. Outside the faith based conservative seminaries and churches, the scholars held the view that Moses was not the author of the books and they are compilations of works of many writers over an extended period of time. Jean Astruc (1684-1766) was a renowned Professor of medicine at Montpellier and Paris. Apart from his treatise on medicine, he wrote a book that was published anonymously relating to a critical textual analysis of works to scripture. He discussed the fundamental part in the origins. According to him, the Genesis was composed by using many sources and manuscript traditions. This approach is known as The Documentary Hypothesis. Most of the universities teach in the religious studies that Pentateuch is a composite work relating to four literary strands. These strands are identified by letters, J, E, D and P. Each syllable represents a document or the source that has been incorporated in to the Bible. Documentary theory and the Graf-Wellhausen theory, support this approach. According to this view, the letter "J" stands for the Yahwist ("J" from the German Jahweh) narrative, coming from the period of the early Jewish monarchy, about 950 B.C. "E" stands for the Elohist narrative from the region of the Northern Kingdom dating from about 750 B.C. "D" is best represented by the book of Deuteronomy and is said to have originated in the Southern Kingdom about 650 B.C. or later. And finally, "P" is the priestly document that comes from the period after the fall of Israel in 587 B.C. The composition of Pentateuch reached its consolidated form by about 400 B. C. Some

Evaluation of Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Evaluation of Evidence - Essay Example The essay "Evaluation of Evidence" discusses if the prenatal breastfeeding education program impacts the period of absolute and proper breastfeeding for the pregnant women contemplating breastfeeding, as compared to not taking part in a prenatal breastfeeding education program.Mei Zen, Su-Chen, Avery, Wei, Kuan-Chia, and Meei-Ling conducted a study to assess an internet based breastfeeding training program offered to primigravidas in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy with the intention of intensifying breastfeeding understanding and boosting capabilities. The design entailed a sample of 120 women, at 29 to 36 weeks gestation, and showing the wish to take part in the breastfeeding education program. The participants were allowed to sign the consent forms that indicated their willful intentions of taking part in the study. The study established evident advancement in breastfeeding knowledge and perception on the posttest by the trial cohort compared with the controlled cohort. At 2, 4 and 6 weeks postpartum, the experimental group had evidently greater exclusive breastfeeding rates than the controlled cohort. It is evident from the study that nurses must strive to remain informed and techno-savvy. This entailed being prepared to provide answers to questions in the hospital settings, in the case online backup is not available. However, this paper encountered some weaknesses. The researchers chose a small population of a similar location, impacts of choosing and lack of generalization.

Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Politics - Essay Example As a result, children acquire understanding for which they readily pay a universal submission. Men pay such ready universal submissions on either both well or ill informed ideas. Locke, therefore, suggests and emphasizes the importance of early childhood education towards greatly shaping up their progress and development. Locke is categorical that teaching is an initial responsibility of the child’s parents from cradle long before bookwork begins. The reason for this is because such little or seemingly insensible impressions have lots of significance and lasting consequences on child behavior (Locke 133). He adds that the tempers, particular defaults, and different inclinations found in children are so diverse that they may require various remedies and combined efforts of various people to provide a remedy. Locke does not stop at collective responsibility in educating and caring for children, he gives an encouragement to parents to ensure that they watch their children closely. Consequently, through observation, parents get an opportunity to understand their children in distinctive inclinations. In another instant, John Locke advices parents to device their education methods paying particular attention to their children during perfect freedom and master the manner in which children spend the time available to them. As a result, such information would enable a parent to understand the best ways of motivating their children to conduct themselves in the right manner. However, John Lock is keen to warn parents that due to varied tempers, some children are likely to fall off the right path of reason compared to other children. He, therefore, questions against failure to guide their children properly. Children not properly guided become cruel or irrational, a situation he compares to water turning this way and that way. He argues that the mind of a child is like water that can easily move from one directions to another and change from one shape to

Green roofs vs Conventional roofs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Green roofs vs Conventional roofs - Essay Example On the other hand, conventional roofs are the more common type of roofs made of such materials as glass, wood, concrete, and bricks. This paper draws a comparison between the green roofs and the conventional roofs. Types The conventional roof has many types. Types of the conventional roof include but are not limited to the single ply roofs, built-up roofs, metal roofs, and asphalt shingle roofs. Single ply roofs are sheet-like membranes manufactured in the factory. Thermoplastic membranes and thermoset membranes are the two types of single ply membranes. Built-up roofs contain several layers of reinforced membranes and modified bitumen roofs. Built-up roofs are the most common as well as the oldest type of conventional roofs. They are also called as the gravel or tar roofs. There are three components in the built-up roofs, which include a layer of waterproofing, a reinforcement layer, topped with a surfacing layer. It is installed with the help of asphalt or coal tar. Structural meta l panel roofs are used for roofs with low slopes as they have the characteristic quality of water barrier. They can also be used for roof assemblies with steep roofs. The structural metal panel roofs are constructed in such a way that water cannot pass through the joints. These roofs are installed in a broad range of substrates. Asphalt shingle roofs are amongst the most commonly used roofs where the slope is steep. There are two types of asphalt shingle roofs; organic roofs and fiber glass roofs. â€Å"Organic consists of paper saturated with asphalt to make it waterproof with a top coat of adhesive with embedded ceramic granule† (gogreenconstructionnow.com, n.d.). Owing to their greater weight, organic shingle roofs offer better blow-off resistance as compared to the fiber glass roofs. Roof shingles may contain single or multiple layers, but all types contain an adhesive strip which is sun-activated and serves as a sealant for the rows. There are three main types of green r oofs; extensive green roofs, semi-intensive green roofs, and intensive green roofs. The extensive green roofs are used in ecological landscapes. The type of vegetation used in the extensive green roofs ranges from moss and herbs to grasses. The depth of substrate in the extensive green roofs is between 60 mm and 200 mm, and their weight is in the range of 60 kg/m2 to 150 kg/m2 (Livingroofs.org, 2012). The cost of extensive green roofs is the lowest of the three types of green roofs. The semi-intensive green roofs are used in ecological landscapes as well as gardens. The type of vegetation employed in them includes herbs, grass, and shrubs. Their depth of substrate ranges from 120 mm to 250 mm whereas their weight is generally between 120 kg/m2 and 200 kg/m2. The cost of semi-intensive green roofs is periodic. The intensive green roofs are used in parks and gardens. The type of vegetation used in the intensive green roofs ranges from perennials and shrubs to trees. Their depth of sub strate is generally 150 mm to 400 mm. The weight of the intensive green roofs is between 180 kg/mm2 and 500 kg/mm2. The cost of intensive green roofs is the highest of the three types of green roofs. Cost Payne et al. (n.d.) conducted a research to compare the expenses associated with the green roofs to the cost of conventional tar roofs to identify the places where the installation of a green roof is more feasible economically than the conventional roof.

Criminal Investigation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Criminal Investigation - Essay Example forensic pathologists will be able to determine the subtle differences among near-contact gunshot wounds, contact gunshot wounds, distant gunshot wounds, medium range gunshot wounds. The determination of the nature of Sam’s wounds will be possible since the process involves the use of experience and technology to ascertain various significant details on Sam’s death. According to Siegel (2009), some of these details that are relevant to Sam’s three wounds will be range, direction, sequence of firing pattern and the path that will have been travelled between exit and entry wounds. In the same respect, the likelihood of Sam surviving the gunshot wounds can also be determined to help find out whether there are other forms of lethal harm that may have been inflicted upon the victim. Again, by studying Sam’s wounds, it is possible to determine the type or model of firearm that was used. Should the analysis yield different results, then it will be obvious that di fferent guns may have been used (Siegel, 2009). From the wounds that Sam incurred, it is possible to classify them as defensive wounds, or wounds that may have been inflicted by sentient beings. The presence of defensive wounds may not only indicate wrongful death, but also the murderer’s proximity to Sam. The crux of the matter herein is that Sam’s wound will be helpful in helping the police with extensive crucial

Darwinian Snails Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Darwinian Snails - Lab Report Example The paper tells that natural selection is a situation that occurs when nature selects those organisms that are well adapted to the environment for its reproductive mechanisms. It is evident that smaller snails are more susceptible to crabs, evident with blue snails in tank 2 for both trials. It was found that snails that were not damaged were found alive and had no shell chips. Snail death means a successful predation, as seen in tank 4 for trial 2. According to Seeley, â€Å"intense natural selection caused a rapid morphological transition in a living marine snail†. Natural selection by crabs is suggested to promote evolution of thicker shelled snails. Chemical defenses and behavioral avoidance mechanisms have no much effect on predation in marine environments as compared to morphological changes. The morphological changes such as shell wall thickness, shell length, shell height and the aperture area. Shell thickness contributes significantly to the environment that the snail s’ live. Shell thickness of the intertidal gastropods varies in comparison to the shores, which are intertidal and this will show the differential predation in relation to crabs. The varying shell thickness of the gastropods tends to be in parallel gradient to predation intensity and wave exposure. Another major factor that contributes to shell thickness is the predator-induced defenses, which usually suggest intertidal plasticity. Phenotypic plasticity refers to a situation where the predator will induce the formation of structures in the prey.

The Meaning Of Family To The South Asian (Indian) Male Essay Example for Free

The Meaning Of Family To The South Asian (Indian) Male Essay The family is traditionally the core of all Asian societies. Decisions are often carried out while taking into consideration the immediate family, as well as the external family. But in the context of Asian society, the family â€Å"is not a particularly loving social unit.†[1] In most Asian societies, the family is used as a means of safeguarding property, continuing bloodlines and acquiring more wealth.[2] Indian society is one such example wherein this reality exists. Sons are granted preferential treatment over their sisters, because the former is expected to run the family business and continue the family name. In addition, customs such as the dowry system provide instant fortune to a groom’s family. The Indian male, therefore, views the family as a venue wherein he can exercise control and obtain material prosperity. This belief is not without cultural reinforcements. Friends and relatives exclaim congratulations whenever a baby boy is born to Indian parents. In Indian society, a son is regarded as insurance[3] – he will inherit his father’s property and will help support the family by getting a job. In sharp contrast, daughters are seen as additional expenses[4] – their only place is in the home. The bias against daughters is deeply ingrained in Indian culture that people in some parts of India use the expression â€Å"The servant of your household has been born†[5] when greeting a family with a newborn daughter. In the Indian family, the father is the provider and the dominant authority figure. He must treat his wife like a servant and be stern and aloof towards his children. The wife, on the other hand, must be loyal, obedient and subservient to her husband. She is supposed to tend to his needs like a faithful and devoted servant. Such a rigid and hierarchical family structure often leaves wives feeling neglected and abused. To get rid of these sentiments, they lavish all their attention to their sons.[6] In doing so, they become the provider and the dominant authority figures in their respective families.[7] The Indian mother gives her baby, especially if it is a boy, constant nurturing. The baby is constantly handled, overindulged and is responded to at every whimper. Growing up, male Indian children are made to believe that they deserve to be the center of attention simply because of their gender. Their mothers exempt them from chores, as the former regards housework as a girl’s job. Upon reaching adolescence, male Indians are encouraged to prove their masculinity by drinking, smoking, gambling and having sex with prostitutes. This societal expectation is not without support from the family – there are cases when fathers and uncles are the ones who bring their sons and nephews to the brothel for their first sexual experience. Because of its overemphasis on indulging sons, the aforementioned child-rearing technique produces very irresponsible males. Pampered from infancy, most Indian men end up as wastrels, misusing the resources first of their mothers and later of their wives. Worse, they marry women who were raised to tolerate the capriciousness of their husbands. The conjugal family, as a result, is transformed into an extension of the husband’s immediate family. The wife, meanwhile, becomes the husband’s replacement for his mother – a woman who will cater to his every whim and will overlook even his most serious transgressions The wife has no choice but to accept and live with this situation – society dictates that she shifts her loyalty to her conjugal family upon marriage. Not only is she to take care of her husband; she is also to look after her parents-in-law. Indian parents-in-law, especially mothers-in-law, take advantage of this societal obligation by ensuring that the marriage of their sons will provide their family with material benefits. The dowry system is one way of achieving this goal. Although it was already outlawed in India in 1961, the practice of paying and accepting dowry is still customary in the country. India’s illegal dowry system leaves women vulnerable to abuse and even murder. Every year, an estimated 25,000 women[8] in the country are maimed or killed over dowry disputes. Dowry-related crimes are often perpetuated by grooms and mothers-in-law who are not satisfied with the dowries that the bride’s family gave them. Victims of dowry murders are usually killed by being doused with kerosene and set aflame with a lighted match. The family of the groom will then say that the death was a â€Å"suicide† or a â€Å"kitchen accident.† Police are oftentimes bribed into corroborating the claim. Families who are able to afford very expensive dowries, on the other hand, are often left impoverished and with extremely heavy debts. In pre-colonial India, upper-caste families observed the dowry system in order to help defray marriage expenses and to enable the bride to live on her own should she leave an abusive marriage.[9] But the British introduced homogenized and codified laws into the country, resulting in male domination of the local economy.[10] Only men were allowed to own land and work outside the home. In the process, boys gained higher social worth than girls. These social, political and economic conditions led to the transformation of the dowry system from a wedding gift to a form of payment[11] to a man for marrying a woman. Because Indian women were no longer capable of owning land or working outside the home, parents wanted to do away with their daughters as early as possible. As a result, they lured potential husbands with expensive dowries. The families of these men, on the other hand, viewed the dowry system as an opportunity to pay off heavy land taxes that the British imposed on them.[12] Dowries took on a new form in the 20th century. During this period, families of prospective grooms demanded costly dowries in order to keep up with the consumerist lifestyle associated with capitalism.[13] To convince families of potential brides into paying, Indian men, particularly those from the upper classes, capitalize on their eligibility, social prowess and caste.[14] The higher the qualifications and the caste, the higher the dowry required. Indian families regard marriage to a higher caste as the fastest way to social advancement.[15]

Descartes Meditation Essay Example for Free

Descartes Meditation Essay Descartes holds that you are more mind than body. Do you agree? What sort of priority does he intend? † In the Meditation Two: Concerning the Nature of the Human Mind, Descartes describes himself â€Å"as if I had suddenly fallen into a deep whirlpool† (pg. 492), expressing the need to work his way up and pick up where he left off the day before. He basically exclaims that he will put off all doubts and â€Å"suppose that everything is false (492)†. In this meditation he plays on the concept that the mind is greater than the body. In some respects’ I do agree with what Descartes is saying about dualism concept and how we are â€Å"thinking things (493)†. I believe the mind is more important in some manner than the body because the power the mind has to think, reason, create, dream, imagine, believe, memorize, react, desire, feel, and the ability to know and have endless ideas. Descartes agrees that he â€Å"doubts, understands, affirms, denies, wills, refuses, and that also imagines and senses (494). †In this section I do agree with Descartes on his view of this â€Å"thinking thing†. The mind is so incredible that we humans can’t grasp the intricate complexes that the mind has. When Descartes describes the wax example I was rather confused but after critiquing the concept I have come to realization that it does make sense. I think Descartes was desperate to find away, some way to describe the importance of the mind and using this illustration was a creative way to do so. So he describes this piece of wax how it’s hard and cold, malleable, has a slight honey flavor (494). Then he describes what happens to this wax when it goes through the different temperature cycles and how the structure of the wax changes etc. So we know that when the piece of wax is going through those physical changes it still remains to be the same piece. So seeing that we understand that the hard piece of wax and now melted piece of wax have the same properties’ must not just come from the senses because all of the sensible properties were changed. As Descartes describes that â€Å"the sense of smell, sight, touch or hearing has now changed; and yet the wax remains (495). † So from this one may think that the imagination is what this piece of wax is, but Descartes exclaims, â€Å"Therefore this insight is not achieved by the faculty of imagination. Instead he concludes that â€Å"I (Descartes) perceive it through the mind alone. † Learning this illustration is shows the importance of the mind and the corporeal body. That the body can take on many different changes, yet the mind is beauty behind everything. I can’t say that I agree with everything that Descartes is trying to express, but I do agree with the fact there are hard concepts to grasp and understand. We each have unique mind, and understanding the mind will take time and will take patience.

Full Kinetic Chain Manipulative Therapy on the Knee

Full Kinetic Chain Manipulative Therapy on the Knee The relative effectiveness of full kinetic chain manipulative therapy and full kinetic chain rehabilitation in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Brief Synopsis of the Research Therefore in this study we aim to establish the effect of the KFC manipulative therapy alone, FKC rehabilitation alone and the combination of the two interventions on osteoarthritis of the knee. This will be done by means of a quantitative randomised comparative clinical trial. 60 patients will have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and will be randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group will receive 6 treatments using FKC manipulative therapy alone, the second will receive 6 treatments using FKC rehabilitation alone, and the third group will receive 6 treatments using FKC manipulative therapy combined with FKC rehabilitation. Subjective (Beck Depression Inventory, McMaster Overall Therapy Effectiveness Tool, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Berg Balance Scale) and objective (Inclinometer) measures will be taken at baseline, 1 week and 1 month follow up. These results will be recorded and the data analysed using SPSS statistical package at a 95% confidence interval. Section B: To be typed in Arial 12-point font in one and half line spacing (expand sections to fit contents, but keep within the specified maximum lengths) 1. Field of Research and Provisional Title The relative effectiveness of full kinetic chain manipulative therapy and rehabilitation in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. 2. Context of the Research 1. Osteoarthritis is a very common condition, affects 9.6% of men and 18% of women aged >60 years worldwide (Woolf and Pfleger, 2003). 2. Although multi-factorial, falls cause nearly two-thirds of all non-intentional injury related deaths in older adults (Hawk et al., 2006). One of the causative factors is loss of hip and knee proprioception secondary to increased joint degeneration, thus by addressing these problems with the rehabilitation and/or adjustment there may be a decreased risk of fall. 3. There is research to suggest that applying manipulative therapy and rehabilitation to the full kinetic chain yields greater benefits for KOA patients than at home rehabilitation alone (Deyle et al., 2005), however this combination of treatments has never been compared against full kinetic chain manipulative therapy alone. 4. KOA stiffness, pain and dysfunction was shown by Deyle et al., (2000) and Deyle et al., (2005) to improve better when adding manipulative therapy to a rehabilitation program as compared to placebo and exercise alone, respectively. 3. Research Problem and Aims Aim: The relative effectiveness of full kinetic chain manipulative therapy and rehabilitation in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Objectives: i) To determine whether manipulative therapy alone is effective in the short term treatment of KOA in terms of subjective and objective measurements. ii) To determine whether manipulative therapy alone is effective in the intermediate term treatment of KOA in terms of subjective and objective measurements. iii) To determine whether rehabilitation alone is effective in the short term treatment of KOA in terms of subjective and objective measurements. iv) To determine whether rehabilitation alone is effective in the intermediate term treatment of KOA in terms of subjective and objective measurements. v) To determine whether manipulative therapy combined with rehabilitation is effective in the short term treatment of KOA in terms of subjective and objective measurements. vi) To determine whether manipulative therapy combined with rehabilitation is effective in the intermediate term treatment of KOA in terms of subjective and objective measurements. vii) To compare short term results and intermediate results, respectively. viii) To determine whether manipulative therapy combined with rehabilitation is effective in decreasing the risk of fall according to the Berg Balance Scale. ix) To determine whether rehabilitation alone is effective in decreasing the risk of fall according to the Berg Balance Scale. x) To determine which treatment method is more effective in decreasing the risk of fall according to the Berg Balance Scale. 4. Literature review Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disorder with a complex aetiology (Felson, 2000). It is characterized by focal loss of articular cartilage within synovial joints, associated with hypertrophy of bone (osteophytes and subchondral bone sclerosis) and thickening of the capsule, resulting in alterations in biomechanical properties (Woolf and Pfleger, 2003). It is a very common joint disorder, affecting mostly those above the age of 60 and can occur in any joint but is most common in the hip; knee; and the joints of the hand, foot, and spine (Symmons, Mathers and Pfleger, 2003). As many as 40% of people over the age of 65 suffering symptoms associated with knee or hip OA (Zhang et al., 2008), resulting in OA becoming the fourth leading cause of disability in the years 2000 (Symmons, Mathers and Pfleger, 2003). Although no cure exists, a number of treatment options exist to provide symptomatic relief as well as improvement of joint function. Amongst these are non-pharmacological in terventions, such as rehabilitation, manual therapies, acupuncture and electromodalities, as well as pharmacological measures such as oral medication and intra-articular injections. In severe cases, where nonsurgical interventions have failed, more invasive approaches may be needed (Scher and Pillinger, 2007). McCarthy (2004) compared the effectiveness of an at home exercise program on its own or when supplemented with a class-based exercise program. There was found to be a greater improvement in WOMAC score in the class-based exercise group (20.6%) than the at home group (8.8%). These relatively modest effects may be owed to inability of exercise to address a number of factors that prevent patients from maximising results from their exercise program. Fitzgerald (2005) identified quadriceps inhibition or activation failure, obesity, passive knee laxity, knee misalignment, fear or physical activity and self-efficacy as examples of such factors. The necessity for additional interventions to address these factors therefore becomes apparent. Tucker et al. (2003) compared the relative effectiveness of knee joint manipulation versus a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and found manipulation to be just as effective as NSAIDs in the treatment on KOA. Fish et al., (2008) had similar results when comparing the effectiveness of knee joint mobilisation against Topical Capsaicin Cream. Capsaicin has been previously demonstrated superior to placebo in many painful disorders including knee and general osteoarthritis. Pollard, Ward, Hoskins and Hardy (2008) applied a manipulative therapy protocol, consisting of soft tissue mobilisation and an impulse thrust to the symptomatic knee joint complex. This was found to have a statistically significant improvement in knee pain, mobility, crepitus and function when compared to the control group (interferential current set at zero). Pollard et al. (2008) also noted that knee treatment had a significant improvement in hip movement of those in the intervention group compared to the control group. This may be owing to the effect that treatment to a single joint may have on the full kinetic chain (hereafter FKC). A number of studies have been conducted on various joints of the full kinetic chain of the lower extremity to determine their effect on the knee. Cliborne et al., (2004) aimed to determine the short-term effect of hip mobilization on pain and range of motion (ROM) measurement in patient with knee osteoarthritis (OA). It was demonstrated that the presence of hip pain and pain on squatting, restricted hip flexion and/or a positive scouring test predicts a better knee OA outcome. Currier et al., (2007) suggest that pain over the hip, groin or anterior thigh; limitations in passive knee flexion and internal rotation of the hip; as well as pain with hip distraction predicts a favourable short-term response to hip mobilizations. In fact it was found that, based on the presence of one variable, the probability of a successful response was 92% at 48-hour follow-up, which increased to 97% if 2 variables were present. Iverson et al., (2008) suggest that the strongest predictor of whether adjus ting the lumbopelvic spine will decrease knee pain (in patellofemoral pain syndrome) is if there is a side-to-side difference in hip internal rotation greater than 14 °. The presence of this variable increased the likelihood of a successful outcome from 45% to 80%. These studies collectively show that correcting the various dysfunctions within the kinetic chain will have a favourable effect on knee joint dysfunction. However, there has yet to be a study that seeks to improve knee osteoarthritis by treating all indicated joints in the full kinetic chain. Few studies have looked at what effect combining manipulation and rehabilitation would have in the treatment of KOA. Deyle et al., (2000) applied manual therapy to the knee as well as to the lumber spine, hip and ankle as required. Additionally patients where given to knee exercise program to perform in the clinic on treatment days and at home. WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) scores are used to detect changes in the patients perception of function and quality of life, specifically related to the disease process. In this study, there was a 55.8% improvement in the treatment group as compared to a 14.6% improvement in those patients receiving placebo (subtherapeutic ultrasound), thus proving the effectiveness of combining manipulation and rehabilitation. Using similar methodologies, Deyle et al., (2005) compared an at home versus in clinic physical therapy program. Those being treated in clinic received supervised exercise, manual therapy to the F KC and a home exercise program, while a second group received at home exercise only. Significant improvements where seen in both groups, however the clinic treatment group had an improvement in WOMAC scores of 52% and only a 26% improvement was seen in the home exercise group. The author attributed this difference between groups to the application of manual therapy to the full kinetic chain. However, the clinic group performed the exercises under supervision and where corrected where necessary while the home group were largely unsupervised and may have performed the exercises incorrectly as a result, thus decreasing the benefit such exercises would have. One should therefore not consider the difference in group performance to be solely due to the addition of manual therapy. To date there is no study which compares the effect of manual therapy alone versus the above mentioned treatment combinations. Therefore there is a need for a study to determine whether FKC manual therapy combined with a standardised rehabilitation program is more effective than either intervention alone in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. 5. Research Methodology Design type: Quantitative comparative clinical trial conducted at the Durban University of Technology Chiropractic Day Clinic (hereafter DUT CDC). Advertising: [Appendix A] Old age homes and retirement villages throughout the greater Durban region will be approached, as well as advertisements placed on notice boards of DUT, community halls, shopping centres and places of worship. Sampling procedure: A sample size of 60 (n=60) will be selected by means of convenience sampling (Brink, 2006). Those individuals responding to the advertisements will be screened and accepted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Telephonic interview: Patients are required to contact the DUT CDC telephonically to determine whether they meet the requirements of the study. This will be determined by asking the patient the following questions; * Are you between the ages of 38 and 80? * Have you had knee pain for longer than 1 year? * Do you have a history of trauma or surgery to the lumbar spine or lower limb? * Are you able to stand and walk on your own, with minimal need and/or without significant dependence on canes and walkers? * Do you suffer from a chronic medical condition that would require you to take regular medication? * Would you be prepared to have radiographs taken of your lower limb? If the patient meets the criteria for the study, a consultation will be made, at which they will be presented with a letter of information and informed consent form [Appendix B], which they will be required to sign. The following inclusion and exclusion criteria will be assess using a case history [Appendix C]; physical exam [Appendix D]; lumbar and pelvis [Appendix E]; hip [Appendix F]; knee[Appendix G] and; ankle and foot [Appendix H] regional examinations. Inclusion Criteria: A. Criteria, as developed by Altman (1991), requires a minimum of one of the first three clinical criteria below (#1, 2 or 3) for diagnosis of KOA (sensitivity 89 % and specificity 88%). 1. Knee pain and crepitus with active motion and morning stiffness ≠¤ 30 min (with age 38 ≠¤ 80 years of age). 2. Knee pain and crepitus with active motion and morning stiffness >30 minutes and bony enlargement (with age 38 ≠¤ 80 years of age). 3. Knee pain and no crepitus and bony enlargement (with age 38 ≠¤ 80 years of age). B. The following 4 criteria are all required: 4. Knee pain of ≠¥ 1 year duration and able to stand and walk without severe varus/valgus deformity and/or severe instability (Kellgren and Lawrence, 1957). 5. Diagnosis of concurrent subluxation/or joint dysfunction (S/JD) complex: a. Diagnosis of S/JD will be supported throughout using the PART(S) system. 6. A patient must have a score of ≠¥720 mm (≠¥30%) on the WOMAC scale to be included (Tubach et al., 2005). 7. No history of meniscal or other knee surgery in the past 6 months (Pollard et al., 2008). 8. A diary will be kept to monitor whether medication consumption is increased, decreased or stays the same. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Significant visual disorders, severe vestibular disorders, neurological and peripheral sensory disorders which may be a contra-indication to exercise 2. History of knee or hip joint replacement, severe varus or valgus deformity, instability, fracture and severe osteoporosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, or frank avascular necrosis with or without moderate or severe deformity, 3. History of significant lumbar herniated disc injury with sequela, 4. Severe balance and proprioception problems (i.e. inability to stand with and/or without marked spinal or hip deformity) 5. Symptoms of moderate to severe osteoarthritis in both knees and/or hips: Note: both knees can be treated if there is KOA or joint dysfunction in the opposite knee and otherwise no other severe complications as noted above. However, only data collected from the worst knee will be used for the purpose of the study. 6. Long term chronicity combined with multiple treatment failure especially multiple failure with previous physical treatment (≠¥ 3), with and/or long term severe pain, and/or a severely complicated or complex disorder (such as multiple co-morbidities combined with KOA such as a mix of: knee, hip and lumbosacral OA, and/or cardiovascular and/or auto-immune disease), or a severely disabled and/or a patient with severe and decreased functional ability and/or a severe clinical depression, may lead on a case by case basis, to exclusion. A basic guide for #6 to be used on a case by case basis: I. Pain: The patient gives a history that can be interpreted as having stayed constantly or chronically at a high level of an estimated verbal analogue score (VAS) of ≠¥ 7 or WOMAC score of 1680-1920mm (70-80%) (out of a maximum worst score of 2400mm) for 3 to 5 years or longer. II. Complicated or complex: 3 or more disorders at one time in the same patient (with KOA) as listed from #1-5 above. III. Severely disabled: dependent on a cane, brace or walker 75 to 100% of the time when ambulating; severe cardiovascular disease; severe instability in the knee or other joints or possibly less than, or markedly less than half the normal ROM. IV. Clinically depressed: determined by history and use the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The BDI has been validated for measuring depression in clinical and nonclinical settings (Beck et al., 1961). Radiological analysis: Although diagnosis of KOA will be made primarily through clinical examination, knee x-rays will be taken on patients who qualify and consent to participate in the clinical trial. The purpose is to determine the grade of osteoarthritic change (according to the Kellgren-Lawrence scale (reference)), to confirm suspicions of contra-indications to treatment, or to rule out a pathology outside of OA. Additionally, the subjects history and physical examination may indicate the need for lumbosacral/pelvic, hip, ankle and/or foot x-rays (see exclusion criteria below). Procedure: Time Baseline 2 weeks 4 weeks 6 weeks 1 week F/U 1 month F/U # Rx 2 2 2 Outcome measurement WOMAC ROM BBS BDI WOMAC OTE ROM BBS BDI WOMAC OTE ROM BBS BDI Once accepted into the study, patients will be randomly allocated into 3 (three) groups using a randomised allocation chart (reference). Interventions: Group A will be treated with only manipulative therapy of the FKC. Group B will be treated with only rehabilitation of the FKC. Group C will be treated with manipulative therapy combined with rehabilitation of the FKC. Manipulative therapy: [Appendix I] FKC manipulative therapy (manipulative therapy to the knee, and any indicated axial or appendicular joint dysfunction, such as to the spine, hip, ankle, and foot) for KOA has been hypothesized as superior to localised manipulative therapy (Deyle et al., 2005). Treatment will focus on carefully restoring knee flexion and extension by lesser grades of mobilization as recommended by Deyle et al., (2005) and Fish et al., (2008), and patellar mobilization as per Pollard et al., (2008), along with careful high velocity low amplitude axial elongation of the knee joint as per Fish et al., (2008). Additionally, manipulative therapy will be applied where needed to the full kinetic chain using other diversified techniques, such as HVLA manipulation or mobilization as outlined in Shafer and Faye (1990), and/or Peterson and Bergman (2002). Also, the hip technique, as outlined by Hoeksma et al., (2004) and the use of HVLA knee manipulation methods from Tucker et al., (2005) will also be utilized when indicated. The particular joint dysfunction also known as the subluxation complex or manipulable lesion will be chosen based upon findings in the regional examinations. Rehabilitation: [Appendix J] Rehabilitative therapy will include exercises, focused soft tissue treatment and stretch to the knee and elsewhere along the full kinetic chain where needed based upon functional assessment (Deyle et al., 2005). Also included in rehabilitation will be patient advice, education and home exercise recommendations for managing their KOA. The rehabilitation protocol will be standardised across groups B and C, with minor case by case variations. Intervention frequency: All patient will receive: 6 treatments in the first three (3) weeks (2x treatments/week). Training in a rehabilitation program, to be completed daily. Regular telephonic communication (every 1-2 weeks) following the completion of the 6th treatment. All groups will be required to return to the clinic no more than one (1) week after the 6th treatment and at the one (1) month follow up to have readings taken. Measurement Tools: All data will be collected previsit 1, no more than 1 week after 6th treatment and at 1 month follow up, with the exception of OTE which will not be collected at previsit 1. Subjective data will b obtained by means of; Beck Depression Inventory [Appendix K] The McMaster Overall Therapy Effectiveness (OTE) Tool [Appendix L] will be used to assess patient satisfaction and general improvement. o The OTE is a valid and reliable questionnaire that allows the patient to classify the change in their health status: whether their KOA symptoms, or overall quality of life has improved, remained the same, or worsened since the last visit (Chan et al., 2006) The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) [Appendix M] detects change in function and quality of life in patients suffering from KOA using multiple questions with the visual analogy scale (VAS). o The WOMAC is valid and reliable for KOA, and has a long history of being broadly and frequently utilized to assess knee and hip OA, thus allowing comparison to a large number of studies and trials (Bellamy et al., 1988). Berg Balance Scale (BBS) questionnaire [Appendix N] is a predictor of fall risk and will be delivered if the one legged standing test is failed (Hawk et al., 2006)). KOA patients who are +ve for the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) will be monitored as a subgroup (with a + OLST and BBS) at all clinic assessments Objective data will be obtained by means of: Inclinometer [Appendix O] readings for knee flexion and extension only to evaluate the patients range of motion (ROM) (reference). Statistics: The latest version of SPSS will be used to analyse the data. 6. Plan of Research Activities Provide a summarised work plan for each year of the project giving information for each research activity per year, under the following headings: Activity Timeframes (target dates for the duration of the project) 7. Structure of Dissertation / Thesis Chapters 1. Introduction 2. Review of the related literature 3. Subjects and methods 4. Results 5. Discussion 6. Recommendations and conclusions 7. References 8. Potential Outputs  § Provide details on envisaged measurable outputs (e.g. publications, patents, students, etc.);  § Expected national and/or international acclaim for the research and contribution of research outputs to building the knowledge base;  § Exploitability of outputs, e.g. applicability to community development, improved products, processes, services in SA, region and/or continent;  § Expected effects of research results. 9. Key References Brink, H. 2006. Fundamentals of research methodologies for health care professional. 2nd edition. Juta and co. Cape Town. Cliborne, A., Wainner, R., Rhon, D., Judd, C., Fee, T., Matekel, R., and Whiteman, J. 2004. Clinical hip tests and a functional squat test in patients with knee osteoarthritis: reliability, prevalence of positive test findings, and short-term response to hip mobilization. Journal of Orthopaedic Sports Physical Therapy, November; 34(11): 676-685. Currier, L., Froehlich, P., Carow, S., McAndrew, R., Cliborne, A, Boyles, R., Mansfield, L., and Wainner, R. 2007. Development of a clinical prediction rule to identify patients with knee pain and clinical evidence of knee osteoarthritis who demonstrate a favourable short-term response to hip mobilization. Physical Therapy, September; 87(9): 1106-1119. Deyle, G., Allison, S., Matekel, R., Ryder, M., Stang, J., Gohdes,D., Hutton, J., Henderson, N., and Garber, M. 2005. Physical Therapy Treatment Effectiveness for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomised Comparison of Supervised Clinical Exercise and Manual Therapy Procedures versus a Home Exercise Program. Physical Therapy, 85(12): 1301-1317. Deyle, G., Henderson, N., Matekel, R., Ryder, M., Garber, M., and Allison, S. 2000. Effectiveness of Manual Physical Therapies and Exercise in Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Annals of Internal Medicine, 132(3): 173-181. Felson, D. 2000.Osteoarthritis: New Insights Part 2: Treatment Approaches. In: National Iinstitute of Health Conference, Annals of Internal Medicine; 133: 726-737. Hawk, C., Hyland, J.K., Rupert, R., Colonvega, M. and Hall, S. 2006. Assessment of balance and risk for falls in a sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older. Chiropractic and Osteopathy, 14(3). Haynes, S. and Gemmell, H. 2007. Topical treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee. Clinical Chiropractic; 10: 126-138. Iverson. C., Sutlive, T., Crowell, M., Morrell, R., Perkins, M., Garber, M., Moore, J., and Wainner, R. 2008. Lumbopelvic manipulation for the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: development of a clinical prediction rule. Journal of Orthopaedic Sports Physical Therapy, June; 38(6): 297-312. McCarthy, C., Mills, P., Pullen, R., Roberts, C., Silman, A., and Oldman, J. 2004. Supplementing a home exercise programme with a class-based exercise programme is more effective than home exercise alone in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Rheumatology; 43: 880-886. Pollard, H., Ward, G., Hoskins, W. and Hardy, K. 2008. The effect of a manual therapy knee protocol on osteoarthritic knee pain: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, December; 52(4): 229-242. Symmons D, Mathers C, Pfleger B. 2003. Global burden of osteoarthritis in the year 2000 [online]. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: URL: http://www3.who.int/whosis/menu.cfm?path=evidence,burden,burden_gbd2000docslanguage=english Tucker, M., Brantingham, J., Myburg, C. 2003. Relative effectiveness of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (Meloxicam) versus manipulation in the treatment of osteo-arthritis of the knee. European Journal of Chiropractic, 50: 163-183. Woolf, A.D. and Pfleger, B. 2003. Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81 (9). Zhang, W., Moskowitz, R. W., Nuki, G., Abramson, S., Altman, R. D., Arden, N., Bierma-Zeinstra, S., Brandt, K. D., Croft, P., Doherty, M., Dougados, M., Hochberg, M., Hunter, D. J., Kwoh, K., Lohmander, L. S. and Tugwell, P. 2008. OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, Part II: OARSI evidence-based, expert consensus guidelines. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16:137-162. Appendix L The McMaster Overall Therapy Effectiveness (OTE) Tool (for general improvement and patient satisfaction) Patient No.â‚ ¬Ã…’â‚ ¬Ã…’â‚ ¬Ã…’â‚ ¬Ã…’ Visit No. Page No. . Overall Treatment Evaluation KOA We would like to find out if there are any changes in the way you have been feeling since treatment started: after 6 treatments, and also at the 1st week and 1st month follow ups. Since treatment started, has there been any change in your ACTIVITY LIMITATION, SYMPTOMS AND/OR FEELINGS related to your knee osteoarthritis? Please indicate if there has been any change by checking ONE of the three boxes below (Better/About the same/Worse): Better About the Same Worse ⇓ ⇓ If you have checked ABOUT THE SAME, ⇓ Please stop here. ⇓ If you have checked the box If you have checked the box BETTER: WORSE: How much BETTER would you say How much WORSE would you say your ACTIVITY LIMITATION, your ACTIVITY LIMITATION, SYMPTOMS AND/OR FEELINGS SYMPTOMS AND/OR FEELINGS have been since treatment started? Have been since treatment started? Please choose ONE of the options Please choose ONE of the options below: below: Almost the same, hardly better at all Almost the same, hardly worse at all A little better A little worse Somewhat better Somewhat worse Moderately better Moderately worse A good deal better A good deal worse A great deal better A great deal worse A very great deal better A very great deal worse Patient No.â‚ ¬Ã…’â‚ ¬Ã…’â‚ ¬Ã…’â‚ ¬Ã…’ Visit No. Page No. . Overall Treatment Effect CHF, continued Answer the following question whether or not you answered BETTER or WORSE and what your response was. Note if you have improved, the change will be important since you likely will be able to carry out your responsibilities with greater ease and comfort compared to before the study. If on the other hand you are worse, then you will have more difficulty carrying out your responsibilities; this will also be important for you as you have more difficulty with your activities. Is this change (BETTER/WORSE) important to you in carrying out your daily activities? Not important Slightly important Somewhat important Moderately important Important Very important Extremely important THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION! Description of scales and how they will be assessed: * Pages one and two are graded separately. * Page one is graded on a 15 point scale. Scored from +7 to -7 * If the answer to the first question is Better then you have a + integer * If the answer to the first question is About the Same the score is 0 * If the answer to the first question is Worse then you have a integer * With a + or integer, the answers below the better or worse response are numbered sequentially from top to bottom. Almost the same, hardly better is a 1 and A very great deal better is a 7. * Page two is graded on a 7 point scale. Scored from 1 to 7 * The answers are numbered sequentially from top to bottom. Not important is a 1 and Extremely important is a 7 Later we will dichotomize the scores on page one between scores > 1 (improved) and Appendix M The WOMAC Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS Name:_________________________________________________ Date:___/___/______DOB:___/___/_____ In Sections A, B and C questions will be asked in the following format and you should give your answers by putting a straight vertical (up-and-down) mark on the horizontal line. Note: 1. If make a straight vertical (up-and-down) mark on the line, at the left-hand end of the line, i.e. NO PAIN EXTREME PAIN Then you are indicating that you have no pain. Note: 2. If make a straight vertical (up-and-down) mark on the line, at the Right-hand end of the line, i.e. NO PAIN EXTREME PAIN Then you are indicating that you have extreme pain. 3. Please Note: a) that the further to the right-hand end you place your straight vertical (up-and-down) mark on the line, the more pain you are experiencing b) that the further to the left-hand end you place your straight vertical (up-and-down) mark on the line, the less pain you are experiencing c) Please do not place your straight vertical (up-and-down) mark on the line outside the markers. You will be asked to indicate on this type of scale the amount of pain, s

The Story of An Hour Theme :: Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Kate Chopin wrote a short piece called â€Å"The Story of an Hour† about a woman’s dynamic emotional shift who believes she has just learned her husband has died. The theme of Chopin’s piece is essentially a longing for more freedom for women. Chopin reflects her rejection of the â€Å"postures of femininity† through her character’s descriptions. She describes her as â€Å"young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression.† Describing her as young and calm are what men looked for in a wife in the 19th century. They wanted a submissive woman to tend to their needs as Chopin’s description suggests. Furthermore, Chopin says of her character Mrs. Mallard, â€Å"she would live for herself.† Her character believes she will now be free of her marriage, and won’t be â€Å"repressed† as aforementioned any longer by her husband. Wives had a natural servitude towards their husbands as husbands worked and went about their lives. All in all, Chopin displays her character as having a joyous moment after the death of her husband because she is let go of being forced into her â€Å"femininity.† Chopin displays a need for more independent women in this piece, suggesting that wronged womanhood is the simple fact that society didn’t allow them to be on the same level with men. Mrs. Mallard realizes a â€Å"possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being.† This suggests a dying will for independence. Mrs. Mallard realizes that she can now rely upon her self for everything and it will become her number one driving factor in life. After she realizes this, Chopin says Mrs. Mallard thinks â€Å"spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own.† When she has days to herself, she will have no one to tell her what to do, as this line suggests her husband used to.

Almost High : My Experience At The Homecoming Dance :: essays research papers

It's Saturday night and I'm in my snug but not skin tight blue spaghetti strap floor length dark royal blue dress, all ready to go out to a very fancy restuarant. Old Country Buffet. As my friend and I climb out of my car in a classy like fashion, we realize that the line to Old COuntry Buffet is at least 50 meters long. "Oh My God." I say as my lipstick chalked lips fall to the floor. Glancing over at a fast-food pizza restaurant, my friend and I look at each other. "Uh huh." We both say. Pizza is better than some buffet anyway, I thought. About five minutes later, some friends of hours emerge from the middle of the centidpede like line and come up to us. I almost jumped in hyperness. "WHazzzzzzup?" I say in such a polite way, sticing my tougue out in my dress. My friends and I eat at the small cafe-like tables provided in the indoor mall, trying not to smear pizza all over our faces before we got to the dance. Walking across the street to the school, the caffeine from the large Coke was already racing through my blood stream. Hyper as anything and almost jumping my friends began to think I got high before the dance, like most everyone else. By the time we got to the dance in the cafeteria, the music was pumping, people dancing their butts off, and me, hyper as anything. I was anything but bored. Ready to start jumping as soon as I got there, I raced into the cafeteria and brought my friend , Jimmy , with me. I had never felt so energized at a social event. I felt as if the music was literally flowing through my veins, pulsing with every move, and I was...high. But I wasn't. I was normal but I felt like I was high. Did being high feel like this? Had I had too much caffeine? Damn! I have to suck some helium out of those floating balloons! THe thoughs would not stop racing. Although I had never been to a rave, I thought that this dance felt like one. Euphoric, and as energized as a duracell battery after about 24 hours of charging, I hadn't checked my watch for at least two hours. About an hour later, I took a break to get some soda and some fresh , dry air.

Tiffany & Co Case Study Essay

Background Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837 in New York City by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young. After decades of development, the company has grown to an internationally famous designer and retailer of fine jewelry, diamonds, timepieces and other luxury accessories. In July 1993, Tiffany made a decision to directly operate sales in Japan, rather than profiting from medium corporation Mitsukoshi. According to this decision, Tiffany will pay Mitsukoshi 27% of net retail sales for providing the local services and bearing the risk of holding inventories. Below is a snap shot of the financial summary of Tiffany & Co from 1988 to 1993. The total revenues grew sustainably over the past years before the decision. However, for the cash flow statements, the company had been losing profits in terms of investments. Two-Pillar Strategy The new decision put Tiffany to a very difficult situation where the firm will face the fluctuation of the yen-dollar exchange rates. Due to the fact that the yen is considered to be overvalued with regards to the dollar, the uncertainty of future rates will diminish the company’s profits. In addition, Tiffany also keeps the company exposed to the volatility of the future exchange rate and related risks remain unhedged. As a result, the management came up with two-pillar strategy – to sell yen for dollars at a preset price in the future with a forward contract and to buy a yen put option with the flexibility to excise in the future with a more favorable price. The first strategy is to get a short position in a forward contact, which sells yen to the counterparty at a pre-decided price in the future. Tiffany and the counterparty of the contact both have the obligations to honor the agreement until the contract is expired. The second strategy will allow Tiffany the right, but not the obligation to sell yen at a pre-decided price in the future. Strategy Analysis After this new agreement with Mitsukoshi, Tiffany & Co are exposed to significant exchange risk. 75 of 492 million US dollar total revenue will be settled in terms of Japanese yen. This counted for approximately 15% of the  revenue of 1992. The net income would also suffer from the exposure of foreign currency exchange rate. The number of 1992 is 25 million US dollar. According to the case, there is high possibility that 10% of fluctuation would be reasonable, which may potentially cause a down fall of roughly 20 million US dollars loss. There will be no doubt that Tiffany should proactively manage its yen-dollar exchange risk. Investors value companies which will provide a solid solution for offshore business risk management. The company may just lose portion of revenues in the beginning. However, if the issue remains lacking sufficient attention, it will eventually have negative influence on the core business revenues. Customers will start to question the company’s brand equity. Investors would doubt the continuing profit-generating capacities of the equity. These facts will cause much stronger fluctuation and more severe fundamental problems. In terms of the risk management objectives, each firm will vary because of different risk appetite. In the industry, analysts will run VaR test based on certain scenario and yield various possible results. The management should analyze on the risk within a scale which tailors to the company’s specific needs. In my own opinion, company should aim at hedging the exchange rate risk instead of gaining extra profits from the derivatives market. Conclusion From the below screen shot of yen/dollar exchange rate from 1989 to 1993, we can conclude the rate will be rather volatile and unpredictable. Additionally, there was market assumption that the yen was overvalued in terms of dollar. Therefore, it would be natural to consider the possibility of the yen crashing. Thus, a yen put option seems to be a more favorable strategy for Tiffany.

Ee Study Plan

Statement of Purpose Dear Sir/ Madam, This is Md. Sahadat Hossain, from Bangladesh; expressing here my interest for studying Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Sciences Department under the Faculty of Meteorology, Environment Arid Land Agriculture of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the academic year 2013/2014. I completed my four (04) years Bachelor of Science (B. Sc. Hon’s) degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management with securing CGPA 3. 58 and Master of Science (MS) degree in Environmental Science securing 3. 3 (out of 4. 0) respectively in my academic sessions from Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University under the Department of Environmental Science and Resource Management, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh. I learnt about the above mentioned program offered by your university through the website http://dgsscholarship. kau. edu. sa/. The program in particular caught my interest, because of the cutting edge research I would get to experience while I pursue my education at your university.I have already conducted several researches on Biodiversity conservation, Park management, Socio-economic condition, Ecotourism, Water quality measurement, Farakka Barrage and its ecological impacts, etc. I have also two research publications. My long range goals would be to teach what I have learned to others. Teaching people how to solve some of society’s problems will be challenging and environmentally significant.I would like to continue my higher studies through research to gain knowledge regarding those are on environmental issues such as biodiversity conservation, physical environment, ecosystem and ecological processes, water pollution and crisis, biodiversity losses, deforestation, climate change and its potential and devastating impacts on human societies, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. To achieve this goal I realize that I will need a good education.Although my dream is to be an envir onmentalist to serve my country but I'm sorry to say that we have no sufficient instrument to assess the environmental impacts and their remedial measures. China is a well-developed country and their advance technologies are world widely using. So, I wanna get admission for Master’s program in â€Å"Master of Science (MS) in Environmental Sciences Department under the Faculty of Meteorology, Environment Arid Land Agriculture of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the academic year 2013/2014 to achieve ulfillment of my environmental study. I respect and love my country. So, I'll must comeback in my country after completing my desire study and will devote myself to her. I hope, through your efforts, as well as university will help me to achieve my most prominent goal in life-a good education. Thank you for your kind consideration. Yours sincerely, (Md. Sahadat Hossain)

The Story Only Goodness by Jhumpa Lahiri

People usually have strong opinions and differences when it comes to problems that face intercultural marriages. Most of the people I know my brother, dad and some of my friend married from different culture and each one has a story to tell. However, some of the problems that face intercultural marriage are culture difference, religion, and last but not the least identity conflicts. Some people think culture difference is not an issue and they can adapt to a new culture very easily, but that is not true. It is number one problem that faces every intercultural marriage. There are a lot of things that we do that are normal to us, which are not normal to others. For example, in my community a man is known as the breadwinner while a woman is caretaker of the children and has nothing else to do, so she cannot ask her husband to change diaper, or help her clean the house. In America something like this is normal. Another example of culture difference that leads to a lot of problems is a woman having a male friend. In most of the communities a woman should not have a male friend besides her husband, but in America it’s normal for her to have friends regardless of their gender. All of this culture difference leads to problems in intercultural marriage and makes understanding each other difficult. Religion is one of the main problems that faces intercultural marriage. Despite the upswing in the religious fundamentalism in all part of the world, very few couples can speak of their religious conflicts freely in their marriage. However, people normally think they can address their religious differences thoughtfully before marriage, realizing that what people believe affects not only how they worship, but also how they live their daily life. A good example is a marriage between a Muslim and Christian. A Muslim person has a lot of restrictions he is not allowed to drink alcohol or eat pork meat, which is normal in most part of the world, but not to a Muslim person and will lead to a lot of problems because some people can’t live with out alcohol. Another problem is, a child borne into this kind of marriage get confused which way to follow because the father and mother have different religion and they each want their child to follow their footsteps and they get caught in the middle. Finally, another problem that faces intercultural marriage is identity conflict. Children borne out of two races for example black and white or different nationalities have difficulties in stating their races because mostly they face rejection from both sides, some time they call themself half white or half black or fifty fifty. A good example is our president Barack Obama. Some people think he is black while others think he is white because of his mother, and most blacks don’t like him for that. I have a half brother who is still trying to figure out whether he Arab or African because his mother is an Arab and lives in Dubai and our father is African. Last year when he came to the USA we met each other he couldn’t speak any other language except Arabic and we couldn’t communicate each other well because of that, but he did not think of me as a brother, but a stranger he just met. His mother got divorced from my father long time ago when he was a child and took him along with her. All these are problems that face intercultural marriage. In conclusion intercultural marriage has many problem such as culture difference, religion, and identity conflict. But all of these are how nature is and nobody can change it. It doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t marry; they still do get married from different community and live together happily ever after. Even I want to get married to a white girl and let’s hope things will never change for us and remain the way it is now and tomorrow.