History Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

History Questions - Assignment Example S. and Soviet Union. A rapprochement would have worked better by using confidence-building measures like better communications but instead he started new proxy wars in Laos and Vietnam (Freedman 285). An optimism engendered by liberalism produced a backlash in terms of conservative anger in the form of McCarthyism in which there was a massive witch hunt of the suspected communists and their supposed sympathizers. People saw the excesses of liberalism and had wanted to go back to conservative values like family relationships. People thought America was infiltrated by communists everywhere: in government, academe and Hollywood. The culture wars produced the so-called â€Å"generation gap† between the youth and the older generations, especially their parents and elders (ONeill 5). Focal point in society where the youth were molded shifted from the high schools to colleges and universities. The country was engulfed in the youth repudiating their status and value systems while an older generation saw these trends as a threat to their lives. A few critics of the counter-culture resorted to using censorship and other controls to re-impose cherished values and social norms. Music became a medium for political messages (jazz, rap, slam poetry,); politicians now faced

Judith Anne Neelley Essay Example for Free

Judith Anne Neelley Essay Judith Anne Neelley belongs to the growing list of women offenders convicted for heinous crimes. Just 18 years old, she was convicted in 1983 in Alabama for the brutal murder of a young girl and was meted the death penalty. However, contrasting views of whether the death penalty should be implemented and racial bias as well, influenced a former governor of the state to commute her sentence to life imprisonment in 1999 (ProsandCons.us, 2009). Her Crimes Sometime in 1980, she robbed a woman inside a mall at gunpoint (Ramsland, 2007). Two years later, she lured and kidnapped Lisa Ann Millican, 13 years old of Rome, Georgia, who was under the auspices of a home for neglected girls (Ramsland, 2007). She was sexually assaulted, stabbed, injected with drain cleaner, shot to death and her body pushed down a mountain where it was found days later (Ashley, 1999). After this, she persuaded a man and his companion to ride with her and show her around the town because she was new there. She then shot but did not kill the man John Hancock and took her girlfriend Janice Chatman to a motel where she and her husband molested and raped her (O’Shea, 1999). Over-all, she was involved in 15 murders that occurred not only in Georgia but also in Tennessee and Alabama (O’Shea, 1999). She also continually committed minor offenses such as swindling, car theft, petty theft, robbery and minor assaults (Furio, 2001). Social Background Judith Neelley did not attend middle school or high school and she was not known to hold any permanent job, doing odd jobs and also swindling and robbing in order to survive (Wetsch, 2005). As a teenager, she spent time in a youth center, having been abandoned by her parents. There she claimed that she was sexually assaulted (Wetsch, 2005). She was pregnant during her detention for armed robbery and at 15-years old she gave birth to twins (O’Shea, 1999). Her third child was also born in prison just before her trial for the murder of Lisa Millican. There is no mention of her family or childhood in the literature encountered as she was not fond of giving interviews. Marriage and Family Life At a very early age, she married Alvin Neelley who was twice her age, an ex-convict who served time for shooting his first wife. With their common behavior of being violent towards women, Alvin figured as a partner in the crimes she instigated. They referred to themselves as The Nightrider and Lady Sundance (Ramsland, 2007). Following his release from prison for their robbery in 1980, Alvin took a job at a gas station and used his earnings to buy two cars with CB radios installed (Wetsch, 2005). Judith will drive around to look for the next victim and will radio Alvin to join her when the victim is in the car. Their relationship, though sexual in nature, was at times violent and lasted because of this partnership. Â  According to her husband, Judith’s personality was very dominant and she was violent which accounted for her strong influence over him. Alvin Neelley later stated that he went along because his wife had such power over other people and he was left with no choice (Ramsland, 2007). On the other hand, Judith stated during the trial that she took women and young girls to please her husband because he wanted them, that he willingly planned and executed the acts, that he battered her and threatened her children to force her to take part (O’Shea, 1999). However, investigators and the jury eventually agreed that Judith actively participated in the killing sprees as the brains behind the murders (Kelleher Kelleher, 1998). While on predating sprees, she brought her children along. They helped her earn the trust of the people she lured. The toddlers witnessed the sexual molestation and torture of Lisa Millican and the other victims by their mother. This type of parenting, husband and wife relationship and over-all family life deviates from what is typical. Contributing Factors She was not found by the jury to be mentally disturbed or to be an abused wife factors which could help explain her brutal behavior. After her conviction, she appealed to the court but exhausted the appeals process with futility (ProsandCons.us, 2009). Does this person fit the profile of the typical offender for this type of crime? Judith Neelley did not fit the profile of the typical murderer. She was female, white, a young mother, slim and blond. Females were generally regarded as soft, caring or docile and not aggressive or violent (Schurman-Kauflin, 2000). At the time she committed murder, the stereotype of persons who had the capacity to perform such crimes was male and probably black. For this reason, it was not seriously believed at first that she perpetrated the murders (Texas AM International University, 2004). Initially, the burden of accountability for the acts was brought heavily on her husband because he was the male. At the end of the trial, she got the death penalty while her husband got two life terms. Based on current information on criminal behavior however, Judith Anne Neelley fits the profile of a female serial team killer. Because she lacked the strength to subdue victims or carry dead bodies, she raped and killed together with her husband who was also a sexual killer (Kelleher Kelleher, 1998). Only one thing sets her apart from other females in serial team killing she had already attempted to kill a man by shooting him before she even met her husband (Furio, 2001). She was delinquent as a teenager and before age 20, performed her first serial killing. Very sociable, she was able to talk her victims, either when they were alone or with their companions, into going for a ride with her in her car (TAMIU, 2004). She felt herself superior over others and called the authorities about Lisa Millican and where her body could be found, implicating a warden as the one responsible. She was cruel, merciless and delighted in the suffering and death of her victims. During the trial, she played the role of victim in saying that she was a battered wife so that her husband would get the maximum penalty while she will serve time only as an accomplice (TAMIU, 2004). Which crime theory that we have studied comes closest to explaining this offender’s behavior? The strain theory of crime causation comes closest to explaining Judith Neelley’s behavior. The extreme stress from social and economic factors that she experienced as a young girl being abandoned by her family, her poverty and then being sexually molested while in a juvenile center, all contributed in pushing her to commit crime. Unsuccessful in obtaining power from money or education, she killed others to feel powerful. List of References Ashley, D. (1999). Woman Loses Death Row Appeal. Retrieved 9 April 2009 from http://www.equaljustice.ca/cgi-bin/forum.cgi/noframes/read/6290. Furio, J. (2001). Team Killers: A Comparative Study of Collaborative Criminals. New York: Algora. Kelleher, M. and Kelleher, C.L. (1998). Murder Most Rare: The Female Serial Killer. Connecticut: Praeger Publishers. Â  O’Shea, K. (1999). Women and the Death Penalty in the United States: 1900-1998. Connecticut: Praeger Publishers. ProsandCons.us (2009). Conversion of a Killer. Retrieved 9 April 2009 from http://prosandcons.us/?cat=61

Life Happens :: Essays Papers

Life Happens For just about every kid you really enjoy high school and really don’t think about what you are going to do after you graduate other than the fact that you know you are going to continue or to college of some kind. Well then there are the others who are not thinking about where they are going to go to college, but what job they are going to find so that they can support your child that they just found out that their girlfriend is having. You talk about an eye opener for those kids. Yes they may be eighteen years old and getting ready to move out on their own, but they are still kids getting ready to raise a kid. This is where it gets scary. It is the half way through your junior year and you have been having a great time. This is when the first slap in the face comes. You are talking to your girlfriend and she tells you that she is late. The first thing that runs through your mind is, â€Å"Late for what?† No sooner does that go through your brain and it hits you what she is late for, and that is when your heart hits the floor and like every other guy in the same situation you open your mouth, â€Å"Are you sure?† Like a girl not knowing when she is late for her period is kind of like a guy not knowing if he had an orgasm. After some guys have a few more beers and freak out for a few minutes, or hours, they think that they can not do this and that the girl should get an abortion. Sometimes the girl is right on board with this, and the baby is aborted and the teens lives go on like nothing ever happened. At least until the girl gets a conscious and starts thinking about what she has done and what could hav e been. This will bother the girl at least sometimes. It might bother the guy but not usually. Then there are other guys who after their freak out period they decide to take responsibility for their actions and tell the girl we will make it through this, we can do this. This is where the real story begins. Not only do we have two kids getting ready to leave the nest for the first time and learn how to spread their wings and fly, but they already have their own baby to teach how to do this also.

Adolf Hitler Leadership Case Study

Adolf Hitler’s leadership style cannot be narrowed down to one.   While he was a dictator who adopted a commanding style that sought tight control even if it created dissension among   his army of generals, he also showed an uncanny ability to sense   people’s inner workings   and concerns.This worked to his advantage and added to the compelling nature of his personality which stirred his followers to support and be loyal to him. A pedantic military strategist who attacked his enemies and even his own allies from within, Adolf Hitler was one who exhausted all means, notably violence and mass extermination of races, to further his goals.For him, the all-consuming end of expanding and transforming Germany into a world power   clouded his vision of   other matters which he deemed inferior.   That Hitler was fanatical in a viciously evil kind of way does not diminish the fact that he was a great strategist and leader who left an indelible imprint on other worl d leaders.The way he formed alliances, his unstoppable will to conquer and reinforce his logistics and methods for waging war, and the unrelenting spirit he displayed even when defeat was imminent all point to how tenacious Hitler was in overcoming obstacles to his overarching goal of world domination.Yet despite his sharp memory, keen attention for detail, and strong leadership traits, Adolf Hitler did have some weaknesses, notably an impatience for individuals with weak or retreating, unfocused character, and some rash decision-making.â€Å"He presents himself to the viewer with considerable dignity and complacency†¦ But this respectability overlaid an obviously unstable temperament marked by a propensity for impulsive decisions† (Fest, 1974, p. 16).Nonetheless, he displayed a singlehanded focus revolving around an expansionist subjugation of other nations to assert Germany’s dominance, and he manifested a consistent unbending policy of warfare towards attaining this end. In the end, this may have been a major factor that led to his eventual downfall. Indeed, despite his all-consuming thirst for absolute power and personal flaws and oversights, no other great leader has perhaps shaped world history in a colossal manner the way Adolf Hitler did.Mission & Vision StatementsAdolf Hitler’s mission statement was to establish allies, fortify his troops and launch an all-out offensive against those who would get in his way of shaping the destiny of Germany – by propelling it to great stature and letting it emerge as a world power.The vision statement was to command obedience and unwavering loyalty and support from followers and the entire citizenry because only Adolf Hitler could handle Germany’s unique problems. The citizenry was called upon to take a stand in the transformation of a new nation.Hitler prevailed upon the masses, who were swayed by his eloquent speech and charismatic leadership, and impressed on them that he wa s the answer to Germany’s socio-economic ills and that he wielded the power to reunite Germany and make it rise above its impoverished state.Main IssueThe main issue of this leadership case study is that notwithstanding his despotic character, Adolf Hitler was a skillful and compelling leader who moved the masses.He honed his political decision-making process with such impetus that it â€Å"laid the foundation for World War II† (Braunbeck, 1997, p. 5).   Though he advocated a fierce and inhuman kind of nationalism, he evoked an unyielding stance and a resolute view to achieve his goal.He totally believed that â€Å"only he had the vision, the will-power, the combination of military and political, political and `world-historical’ insight†¦ to restore the lost German empire to her greatness† (Braunbeck, 1997, p. 9).Environmental AnalysisIn the early 1930s, the era when Adolf Hitler rose to power as Chancellor of Germany, the German empire was saddled with socio-economic problems and the political machinery was on the brink of chaos. The situation clearly called for a leader with an iron fist, but then â€Å"President von Hindendburg stubbornly resisted offering the chancellorship to Adolf Hitler, a volatile political upstart whose followers were considered†¦ coarse, violent and undisciplined† (â€Å"Hartwick Classic Leadership Cases,† 2001, p. 1).The ensuing events illustrated that even if the odds were not in his favor, Hitler had utilized every means and power, including political conspiracy, to ascend to the highest office.   The circumstances he figured in and the way he used these to his advantage ensured that he remained his in much sought-after position. As noted in the Hartwick Leadership Cases:By the late thirties, Hitler was the commanding figure in Europe, possibly the most   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   powerful political figure in the world. The renewal of full employment in Germany   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã ‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   subdued domestic opposition to Nazism†¦ Hitler was, quintessentially, a charismatic   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   leader. He inspired awe, devotion, loyalty, and obedience in an ever-increasing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   portion of the German population† (2001, p. 2).It will be noted that one of Adolf Hitler’s self-confessed capabilities which helped him accomplish his ends â€Å"was the ability to judge men†¦ what sort, how he could best be used† (Schramm, 2007, p. 32). He also rode with the prevailing public outlook and opinions. Hitler harnessed the â€Å"awesome power he achieved over the German people†¦to attain his political goals† (Braunbeck, 1997, p. 6).The events in Germany during the period he ascended to the highest office, his way with people, and the personal magnetism he inspired among the masses whose gripes and sentiments he played on all worked together to set the stage for a leadership that thri ved with terrorism and a well-oiled propagandist machinery, on one hand, and a â€Å"feeling for order, rules and respectability† (Fest, 1974, p. 14) on the other.Key StrengthsOne of Adolf Hitler’s major strengths was â€Å"his uncanny ability to appeal to the subconscious and irrational needs of his audience and (ability) to solicit the desired response† (Braunbeck, 1997, p. 7).By audience we may refer not just to the masses who listened to him speak with conviction and fervor but to the generals and other members of his troops. Hitler displayed strong oratorical skills that greatly helped him win favor with the masses. At the same time, his speeches reflected his racial ideologies, like when he expressed in one instance:We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   evaluation of a human being according to wealth and pr operty instead of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   under all conditions (Toland, 1976, p. 306).During trying circumstances, his perseverance worked to his advantage too, although there came a point when his all-out offensives to conquer turned out futile.As a military strategist, Hitler displayed that he can be quite knowledgeable.   â€Å"However, as his success continued to mount, he became more and more involved in the intricacies of battlefield tactics and strategy† (Braunbeck, 1997, p. 5) but tended to be over focused on the caliber of a weapon, technical capacity and speed of warships, and what may be expected of fortification lines.WeaknessesThat Hitler has a flawed personality is something just about everyone acknowledged. History recounts how Adolf Hitler was given to angry outbursts and uncontrolled rage, especially when he felt that people questioned his authority.   He restricted, rather than provided, the freedom of subordinate commanders to rely on their own judgment when a sudden crisis occurred.   He had to have a say on the matter.As far as his early experience in running state matters was concerned, Hitler displayed â€Å"complete unfamiliarity with the daily workings of government† (Schramm, 2007, p. 57).As a commanding leader in the battlefield, Hitler adopted a rigid stance.   For him, his â€Å"troops should never be given occasion for uncertainty by offering them the option to retreat† (Schramm, 2007, p. 108).Hitler was unbending in his ways, and insisted on doing things his way to the point of not consulting his generals, and in the process he made some blunders, like mounting an offensive against countries that were stronger than   Germany.Hitler is a clear-cut illustration of a study in contrast, because while he relentlessly sought to cultivate allies from other countries and acq uiesced to harmonizing relations with powerful countries like the US, he was too devious and consumed with desire to conquer that he strained such international relations.OpportunitiesHitler wielded great power and accomplished one of the things he aspired for Germany – lebensraum or more living space, using the opportunities for learning and politicking that being in power presented.Hitler had vast opportunities to shape a nation’s destiny and bequeath a lasting legacy, but his thirst for power so consumed him that it led to his ultimate downfall, leaving behind no contribution in the material or moral sense.Being a master manipulator, he was able to gain concessions from ranking officials of powerful countries and he scored some diplomatic victories, but he himself negated any headway he made in this aspect.   In short, Hitler wasted many opportunities that came his way, with the exemption of the opportunities that brought him to power.ThreatsHitler encountered opp osition within and outside the totalitarian state he established that were potential threats to his reign but their divisiveness did not create any real impediment.In the arena of international politics, there were countries that refused to have an alliance with Germany, thereby posing a threat to the actualization of his expansionist goals. Hitler also encountered some other challenges.   Economic problems became widely felt in Germany in the late 1930s, prompting Hitler forced to order, albeit hesitatingly, major defense cuts.AlternativesOn hindsight, Adolf Hitler, deranged as he may be, had actually let many opportunities and alternatives to running Germany in a way that many generations down the line would have been able to acknowledge with pride, pass him by.â€Å"Throughout his entire life, and particularly since the First World War, Hitler was dominated by a strong feeling of comradeship, loyalty and gratitude with the men who†¦had been faithful and devoted comradesâ €  (Schramm, 2007, p. 33) and he inspired confidence in his men even when the situation turned hopeless.He could have utilized people faith in his abilities to further rebuild Germany and leave behind something lasting.   Instead, what he left was an imprint of a leader who was like no other.ReferencesBraunbeck Jr., P. (1997). A military leadership analysis of Adolf Hitler. Thesis. Air Command and Staff College. Retrieved November 30, from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/acsc/97-0609h.pdf.

Case Analysis: Medical Center of Southern Indiana Essay

Introduction The Medical Center of Southern Indiana (MCSI) has had a turbulent tenure as a hospital since its inception in 1973. Unprofitable from the very beginning, MCSI has gone through multiple ownership changes, creating a distrusting atmosphere between Clark County, IN residents, the local medical community, and MCSI. The city of Charlestown purchased the hospital at the end of 1991 in the hopes of turning the facility into a profitable medical center offering key services to the community. An aggressive expansion strategy was developed by management contractor American MedTrust in 1992 and this led to an operating profit in 1998 of $480,545. This marked a turning point for MCSI, as it was the first year in a very long time that the hospital had turned a profit. As they look to the future, MCSI needs to determine if it should continue with the aggressive strategy of expanding services or slow its expansion pace and focus on providing excellent service within its current capacity and looking for ways to reduce cost and enhance revenues. Key Demographics and Facts Certain elements of the MCSI case are essential in determining the appropriate strategy to pursue in the future. The external community general hospital environment has not been thriving during this time period. Of the roughly 5,000 community hospitals in the United States in 1997, 22% had bed capacity of 50-99. From the year 1980 to 1997, the number of hospitals with 50-99 beds decreased by 24%. As a 96 bed facility, the national trend does not bode well for MCSI. When the hospital was purchased by the city of Charlestown, American MedTrust came in with its aggressive â€Å"revitalization initiatives† to help MCSI become profitable. Under American MedTrust’s leadership, MCSI spent more than $3 million from 1992 to 1998 to accomplish these aggressive strategies. Two key elements of those initiatives involved expanding the services offered and rebuilding relationships with insurance companies and the local medical community. As a full-service hospital, MCSI already offered a variety of medical services. Because of a consistently low census (occupancy rate around 45%), developing ways to attract new patients was vital. A new inpatient geropsychiatric unit, skilled nursing facility, and a home health agency were added to the mix when hospital executives determined that there was a need in the community for these services and that the competition was not offering these services. By 1998, all three new service lines were bringing in at least $1 million in gross revenue. Other key investments included the creation of an outpatient mall, purchasing new technology, and the creation of satellite specialty and primary care clinics. Finding and expanding sources of revenue was also a key feature in the aggressive strategic plan. MCSI knew that to enhance revenue, the hospital had to contract with managed care companies. Because of sour relationships between MCSI and the insurance companies, MCSI enlisted the help of the state legislature and the state insurance commissioner to pass the Any Willing Provider bill that required insurance companies to work with providers like MCSI and provide written explanations for any declinations of contracts. In 1994, MCSI had two managed care contracts; there were twenty-five managed care contracts in 1998. With 65% of its patient base on Medicare, it was essential for MCSI to increase these managed care contracts if the organiza tion hoped to expand their revenue stream. Because of the enhanced services offered, the number of full time equivalent employees also increased from 183 in 1994 to 270 in 1998. MCSI has benefited from a low 11% employee turnover and a lean organizational structure. Even with these systems in place however, the salary and wage expense has nearly tripled from $3.3 million in 1992 to $9.88 million in 1998. Of the 270 FTE employees, there are 75 active members of the medical staff. Gross revenue generated by physician was a bit lopsided in 1998 with 11 out of 75 physicians generating almost 75% of the gross revenue. As MCSI plans for the future, revenues generated by physician, by department, and the related salary expenses need to be carefully examined to determine the optimal mix of services provided to the Clark County community. The location and demographics of Clark County continue to provide challenges for MCSI and the creation of future strategic plans. Clark County is a rural  area with the majority of its population living in the southern half of the county, near the Indiana and Kentucky border. While Clark County does enjoy a low 2.7% unemployment rate, the average county household income was a middling $36, 726 in 1997. Only 11% of Clark County residents had earned a bachelor’s degree as of 1998, thus the probability of the average household income increasing by any great degree was small. 65% of the MCSI patient base in 1998 was a Medicare patient. MCSI is located in the north central section of Clark County. Its closest competitor is Clark Memorial Hospital in the southern half of the county. Clark Memorial has about 3 times the number of beds as MCSI and the majority of the county’s population lives closer to Clark Memorial. Louisville, KY is about 15 miles from MCSI. Any future expansion plans must include a close analysis of the population growth trends in the area and an analysis of the service mix offered by both competitors, Clark Memorial and the Louisville-area health systems. Both of these competitors are better positioned to capitalize on any growth trends in the area and have the financial resources to aggressively expand to meet these trends. Even though MCSI has posted an operating profit for the first time in many years, the majority of MCSI’s assets are tied up in receivables. The current ratio and days cash on hand are well below industry standards. With increasing salary expenses and various interest expenses increasing, investing in capital expenditures or investing large sums of money in new service lines might cause MCSI’s operating profits be negative. Recommendations The Medical Center of Southern Indiana should continue to grow and improve the service lines that are currently offered such as home health, skilled nursing, and geropsychiatric services. These services have been marginally profitable in the past for the facility. The home health agency has seen a tremendous growth increasing from $422,000 to $1.75 million in four years. Skilled nursing facility revenues have grown in four years from $1.07 to $4.7 million. In order to keep these existing service lines thriving, MSCI should plan moderate renovations that keep the facility up to date with current service lines. Renovations should be similar to the $300,000 remodeling that was done to the outpatient service mall and should include the purchase of medical supply equipment that will help MCSI stay up to date  with its competitors. Large capital expenditures should be avoided at this time. Additionally, MCSI should expand its marketing campaign to target the local populations and keep patients from the surrounding five counties from migrating into the Louisville area to receive care. This has been a problem for the facility in the past, and has led to losses in revenues. Another point of emphasis that should be addressed is the inclusion of the Ivy Tech College population and the Indiana University Southeast population. This population of students has yet to be targeted by the facility, and are a large source of potential revenue. The marketing strategy should also focus on the recruitment and retention of physicians. Recruitment has been an issue in the past and recruiting and retaining quality physicians is a key component to the success of a facility. Currently, a minority of physicians bring in a majority of the revenues. Having quality physicians that provide services that the community wants and needs will also help enhance revenues. Because so much of the patient population is on Medicare, these revenue enhancement strategies need to be complemented by cost saving strategies. MCSI has a bit more control over their expenses than it does over their revenue sources. After years of having a defender style of strategic plan, this aggressive prospector strategy has allowed MCSI to have the resources to better meet the needs of the community and find a way to be profitable. However, at this point, it would be best to take a step back and shift to analyzer mode before continuing in an aggressive manner. Data The Medical Center of Southern Indiana created a decision matrix to identify decision criteria in pursuing a solution going forward. MCSI choose to analyze physician partnership, its top service lines, expansion of market campaign, and expansion of the Ivy Tech population in order to decide whether or not it should continue its aggressive expansion campaign. Major criteria areas taken into account included market position, competition, potential profitability, and alignment with MCSI’s mission. As shown in Figure 1, it was recommended for MCSI to continue building physician partnership and enhancing its top three service lines (home health agency, skilled nursing facility, and geropsychiatric services). There was the  recommendation to possibly pursue expansion of its marketing campaign and Ivy Tech population. MCSI should slow down its aggressive expansion strategy of adding new services and consolidate gains from those presently in place. In doing so, MCSI would shift from a prospector to an analyzer. MCSI achieved its largest operating profit of $480,545 in 1998. Looking to continue aggressive expansion could potentially lower its operating profit going forward. Overexpansion of services may lead to a dilution in the quality of care. The hospital is already structured as lean to help control costs. With such a low operating profit, MCSI does not have the resources to continue their expansion. As an analyzer, MCSI will look to enhance its existing resources and wait to see what the competition does. Improvements can be made to MCSI’s top three services lines. Allocating resources for future renovations and purchases of equipment will help keep these areas successful and allow them to continue generating profit. These three service lines respond to the needs of the Medicare patient base. For physician partnership, MCSI must keep its physicians who represent a majority of gross revenue. There is a large disparity for both gross revenue brought in and patients seen amongst physicians. Keeping MCSI’s top physicians while also looking to recruit other good physicians can lead to an increased efficiency of patient care and a reduction of cost. Involving the physicians in issues central to care and day-to-day operations is needed for a high physician retention rate for MCSI. It is important to have physicians included in the processes because they are the ones caring for the patients. If MCSI has the available resources, it should pursue expanding its marketing campaign and look into expansion of the Ivy Tech population. The solution for MCSI to focus on its current service lines instead of continued aggressive expansion will require coordination amongst a wide-range of sections within the medical center. Kevin J. Miller, the President and Chief Executive Officer of MCSI is responsible for asserting leadership of the planning and implementation of this solution. He must be involved in the process to avoid disengagement within MCSI. It is critical for him to be a leader, but not take over the entire process. The next step would be defining and communicating the responsibilities and roles of the  organizational leaders in the various departments of the medical center through the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. It is their role to provide oversight and then let the organization take control. Physician partnership through Independent Practice Association (IPA), home health agency, skilled nursing facility, and geropsychiatric services would involve those under the Physician Affiliates, Chief Nursing Officer, and Assistant Administrator of Specialty Services, respectively. Expansion of marketing campaign and Ivy Tech population would involve those under the Director of Human Resources and Director of Business Development. Those under the Chief Quality Officer are then responsible for insuring the facilities are up-to-date through renovations for these service lines. Those under the Chief Financial Officer would be responsible for keeping track of the records and looking at the profitability from services already in place. All of these areas of MCSI must work with each other through active communication. It is necessary to have strategic plan schedules in order for the solution to be successful. Starting with monitoring day-to-day activities, MCSI should complete a full strategic planning process every three years with annual updates on each of the areas in the decision matrix. MCSI must have the resources to provide for this solution. The solution identified by the decision matrix is responsible for MCSI’s ability to earn and increase annual profit. Collecting data in these areas in addition to monitoring the internal and external environment can allow for MCSI to evaluate effectiveness of consolidating gains from services already in place in the future. Current Status of the Medical Center of Southern Indiana The Medical Center of Southern Indiana became a subsidiary of Saint Catherine Healthcare LLC on May 1, 2006. Questions from the end of the Case: 1.Should MCSI slow down its aggressive expansion strategy of adding new services and consolidate the gains from those presently in place, or continue the aggressive expansion strategy of adding and investing in even more services? We feel that MCSI should not continue its aggressive expansion strategy. Rather, they should focus on continuing the upkeep of their current service lines that have been so profitable for them the past  four years (home health, skilled nursing facilities, and geropsychiatric services) Continuing to expand these existing services is what has allowed MCSI to grow and beat out competitors in some areas. Instead of focusing on expanding the service lines any further, money should be invested to keep existing facilities â€Å"top of the line†. 2.Should MCSI reassess present services and retrench those that are not yet breaking even? MCSI should definitely carefully consider all present services, especially those that are not yet breaking even. Certain service lines will never break even, but are required as part of the community hospital services. However, reducing or retrenching these services could possibly be the best strategy moving forward. 3.Should MCSI change its fiscal orientation and focus on cost reduction versus revenue enhancement? With 65% of the patient base on Medicare, revenue enhancement might not be guaranteed. A combination of cost minimization and revenue enhancement strategies through increasing the number of managed care contracts would be the best orientation for MCSI. 4.Should MCSI pursue a joint venture with physicians in limited partnerships? Yes, MCSI should pursue a joint venture with physicians in limited partnerships. In 1998, 4 of MCSI’s 75 physicians brought in 44% of the gross revenue and 11 physicians brought in almost 75% of the gross revenue, which was $39,679,356. It is critical to identify the top earning physicians and keep them at MCSI. Part of MCSI’s mission is to â€Å"increase physician recruitment, retention, and collaboration.† MCSI must continue to involve the physicians in issues central to quality and their day-to-day operations.

First Crusade Art and Architecture

First Crusade Art and Architecture Introduction The First Crusade which took place between 1096 and 1099 was an expedition of western Christian military personnel to reclaim their holy lands that had been taken by Muslims after conquering Levant. It commenced in 1095 when Pope Urban called people in response to an appeal that had been made by Byzantine Emperor (Gabrieli 41).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on First Crusade Art and Architecture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He had requested the Western people to assist him in fighting the Turks who were propelling invasions. From this initial goal, there arose another goal of recapturing Jerusalem from the hands of Islam which became the main goal. This essay will focus on First Crusade art and architecture. The Genesis of the First Crusade Following the conquest of England by the Normans, England and France became even stronger as compared to the time of Charlemagne. Their kings and queens started laying strategies of conquering the Mediterranean and improving the Roman Empire. They were particularly interested in capturing Jerusalem which was referred to as the city of Jesus Christ (Hillenbrand 54). The city was under the rule of Islamic Fatimids but Normans wanted to take it from them. In 1095 AD, a famous speech was given by Pope Urban at Clermont, Southern France. In his speech, he made a clarion call for people to get armed and move on to reclaim Jerusalem from the Fatimids. People ranging from small children to adults unanimously agreed hearkened to the call and they all wanted to go and fight. The enthusiasm was so high that a number of groups started their journey to Jerusalem way before the main group was constituted. They were strongly convicted that once they were in Jerusalem, God would destroy the doors of Jerusalem hence there was no need for them to have weapons or to get involved in any fight. Some of the people in the groups did not even bother to car ry money for themselves. On the way, majority discovered that the journey was not as easy as they had expected and most of them died before they got to their destination. One group deemed the journey to Jerusalem to go and fight the Fatimids as an impossible mission hence they decided to stop In Germany where they started fighting the Jews. Many Jews were robbed of their property by the crusaders and killed for the simple reason that they were not Christians Styles of Art during First Crusade During the period of the First Crusade, different styles of art were produced by the Crusaders. During this period, there are two artistic appearances that were most popular. The first one is Romanesque while the other one is Gothic.Advertising Looking for critical writing on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The military Crusaders were not actively involved in matters concerning art and most of their artistic impressions wer e destroyed after the collapse of their kingdoms hence very few survive today. One of the most sterling art styles associated with the Crusaders is the Crusader castles which were admired for their beauty. They came up with Byzantine methods of fortifying their cities with castles which were the largest ever witnessed. There was a great artistic influence of the Crusaders from the places they captured towards the end of 11th century. Byzantine Art and the Islamic Art were the most popular art styles found in Crusader states although there were other forms of indigenous art. The indigenous forms of art were incorporated with the other forms of art that the Crusaders acquired from Europe. Crusader art just like the historical background of the Crusader kingdoms is categorized into two or three periods. The first period was during the first crusade which led to the bloody recapture of Jerusalem and other Northern states. Art and Architecture during the First Crusade In the Byzantine Em pire, art and architecture started developing as early as the fifth century. First Crusade architecture is characterized by many square based domes, spires, round arches and mosaics which were made of glass. The art and architecture designs started in Constantinople and spread in the Christian world until Constantinople was taken by Turks. The most outstanding art during the First Crusade is the dome which was used in covering plans for tombs and churches with square and polygon shapes. The placing of a large number of domes in one building is contrasted with Romanesque design which basically involved use of vaulted roofs. There is no clear separation between Byzantine Art and Early Christian art. Byzantine Concrete and Brickwork Initially, construction using bricks was used by the Romans but it was adopted by the Byzantines in the First Crusade. The mixture of concrete and brickwork was finished first before being allowed to settle then slabs of marble were added. This use of indep endent component parts is a style of architecture that was used by the Byzantines. Brickwork was in addition used for decorating external caprices and internal decoration where it covered mosaic and marble decorations. The Byzantines used a lot of effort in preparing bricks which were used in military and home architecture (Gabrieli 366).The normal bricks made by Byzantines during the First Crusade were similar to those of Romans with similar dimensions and size. The general application of bricks made it necessary for great care to be exercised during the preparation of mortar which comprised of sand and lime.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on First Crusade Art and Architecture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The decorations in external facades were determined by the patterns of facing bricks. The arrangement of the bricks was not always horizontal but at times it took the form of meander frets. The Byzant ines also tried to beautify the exterior parts of bricks that were rough by applying stone bands and other arches used in decoration. The walls of the buildings were covered with sheets of marble in the inside mixed with domes. Domes The dome which was mostly used traditionally in the East turned to be an important architecture component among the Byzantines in the First Crusade. This was a combination of construction of domes and the classical columnar art. Different types of domes were put on square compartments in the form of pendetives as opposed to their use in Roman Architecture where they were only used in circular or structures with the shape of a polygon. Domes were mostly constructed using bricks or light stones like pumice. It is believed that domes among the Byzantines were constructed in the absence of centering or support by using enormous flat bricks. In the lower part of the domes is where windows were placed. The Byzantine churches during the First Crusade were char acterized by small domes surrounding a central big dome. This made the vaults and domes clearly seen from the external hence the Byzantine style of art has an exterior which is very close to the interior. Early Christian art influences Early Christian art is said to have emerged owing to the importance that was attached to images in the culture of Romans. As Christianity continued to get new members, many Christians new the importance of images from their past cultural inclinations hence they were willing to continue with their culture. For example, the Romans changed some of their cultural activities such as cremation to inhumation. As a result, Romans started having tombs carved from marble to bury their dead. Those who converted to Christianity wanted the same for their people hence this became a great influence of early Christian art. Geological factors are also said to have had an indirect influence on early Christian art and architecture. The remains of Roman buildings were a source of materials for early Christian architecture (Madden 25).This had a great influence on both the construction and the decorative aspects. Columns and various features of architecture were converted into the emergent Basilican churches. Another influence of early Christian art is the religious history. Christianity was the inspiring force behind some of the greatest architectural constructions. The purpose of churches for Christians was to have a place to shelter after making prayers. This led to various places being adopted for worship. Consequently, there was disappearance of pagan temples before churches started being constructed.Advertising Looking for critical writing on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion The First Crusade is one of the most remarkable historical events which have remained in record for the longest period of time. The Crusaders succeeded in capturing Jerusalem together with other cities located near the Mediterranean coast. They made settlements in their new land and became kings of Jerusalem. This made the First Crusade a big success for the Europeans and a failure for the Fatimids. Apart from the success of the Crusades, art and architecture are important aspects of the First Crusade. This period was characterized by architectural designs such as domes concrete, brickwork and sculptures. Gabrieli, Francesco. Arab historians of the Crusades. California: University of California Press, 1984.Print Hillenbrand, Carole. The Crusades: Islamic perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2000.Print Madden, Thomas. The new concise history of the Crusades. Oxford: Rowman Littlefield, 2005.Print

3 opciones para migrantes en casos de deportación

3 opciones para migrantes en casos de deportacià ³n Cuando un migrante recibe un Notice to Appear en Corte migratoria para el inicio de un caso de deportacià ³n o un Immigration Hold, cuando ya est en custodia, debe informarse de cules son sus opciones. La deportacià ³n, que puede afectar a cualquier persona extranjera en los Estados Unidos, incluidos los Residentes Permanentes Legales, puede lucharse, para lo cual lo ms recomendable es contar con un abogado migratorio. Tambià ©n puede aceptarse, lo cual tiene como consecuencia que el migrante sale de Estados Unidos o puede ignorarse, convirtiendo al migrante en un prà ³fugo. En este artà ­culo se informa de las opciones para luchar la deportacià ³n y de las opciones y consecuencias de la misma. Finalmente, se explica por quà © es muy mala idea ignorar un procedimiento abierto o una orden de deportacià ³n. 10 opciones que tienen los migrantes para evitar una deportacià ³n En realidad son varias las posibles opciones. Sin embargo es muy importante entender que hay que cumplir los requisitos para poder beneficiarse. Y como la ley migratoria puede ser complicada realmente este es el momento para contar con un abogado, de pago o pro bono. Entre las opciones destacan las siguientes: 1. Cancelacià ³n de deportacià ³n En cuanto a los requisitos, hay una diferencia importante segà ºn se trate de un residente permanente legal o el migrante est en otra categorà ­a. Personas que no son titulares de una green card. Tambià ©n conocida como seccià ³n 42B Para poder solicitar que se cancele su deportacià ³n debern cumplir los siguientes requisitos: Vivir en EEUU de forma continua por al menos 10 aà ±os que se puede probar con pago de impuestos, contratos de renta, facturas mà ©dicas, etc.Poder demostrar buena conducta moral en los à ºltimos 10 aà ±os.Estar casado con un ciudadano estadounidense o con un residente permanente legal o tener hijos o padres que lo son. Y que la expulsià ³n de la persona sobre la que pende la deportacià ³n pueda causar a sus familiares estadounidenses o residentes permanentes penuria extrema.Este punto es fundamental, ya que no vale simplemente con tener una familia americana o residente permanente. Debe necesariamente probarse que la deportacià ³n causarà ­a un gran perjuicio a la parte legal de la familia, como por ejemplo en los casos en los que haya una enfermedad grave en la familia.No ser un riesgo para la seguridad nacional de EEUU.No haber cometido y haber sido sentenciado por causa criminal.No haber celebrado un matrimonio de conveniencia por papeles.Haber entrado a EEUU a travà ©s de una aduana terrestre, puerto o aeropuerto donde un oficial de inmigracià ³n tomà ³ registro de la entrada. Es decir, aquellas personas que ingresaron a EEUU simplemente cruzando la frontera por un lugar no vigilado no pueden solicitar la cancelacià ³n de la deportacià ³n. No haber falsificado documentos para lograr la entrada en EEUU. Residente permanente legal tambià ©n conocido como seccià ³n 42A Debe haber vivido continuamente en EEUU despuà ©s de haber sido legalmente admitido por un mà ­nimo de 7 aà ±os hasta la fecha en que recibià ³ el Notice to appear o cometià ³ la ofensa que da lugar al immigration hold.Debe ser titular de una green card por al menos 5 aà ±os a contar hasta la fecha en la que se pide la cancelacià ³n.El delito que ha cometido no puede ser un delito agravado (aggravated felony, en inglà ©s).No puede ser un riesgo ni para la seguridad pà ºblica ni para la seguridad nacional de EEUU   2. CAT Son las siglas en inglà ©s de Convencià ³n en Contra de la Tortura. Para beneficiarse de CAT el migrante debe probar que tiene un riesgo superior al 50 por ciento de ser torturado por su gobierno o con el consentimiento del mismo si regresa a su paà ­s. Este estndar es muy difà ­cil de probar. 3. Suspensià ³n de la deportacià ³n Es lo que se conoce en inglà ©s como withholding of removal. Se parece al asilo porque se da por las mismas causas, pero es inferior en el tipo de proteccià ³n que otorga. Asà ­, en los caos de suspensià ³n de la deportacià ³n ya hay una orden para ser deportado y una vez que se consigue la suspensià ³n se puede estar en Estados Unidos legalmente pero no hay un camino hacia la green card ni tampoco posibilidad de traer a Estados Unidos a la familia inmediata. Adems, es necesario pagar anualmente una cuota para renovar el permiso de trabajo y no se puede viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos. Si se hace, se considerar que el migrante se ha autodeportado y ser prcticamente imposible regresar a USA. 4. Asilo Se puede evitar la deportacià ³n pidiendo asilo siempre y cuando el extranjero tenga un miedo real y fundamentado de que ser perseguido si regresa a su paà ­s por sus opiniones polà ­ticas, creencias religiosas o por pertenecer a un determinado grupo à ©tnico o social. 4. Stay of removal Esta medida aplica a migrantes indocumentados que tienen una orden de deportacià ³n con fecha fija antes de la cual deben abandonar Estados Unidos. En algunos casos se puede solicitar que no se cumpla la orden de deportacià ³n en esa fecha y se asegura que sà ­ se saldr del paà ­s, pero posteriormente. El Stay of removal se solicita en la oficina local del ERO, pagando una cuota que en la actualidad es de $155 y presentando documentacià ³n que justifique la razà ³n de la peticià ³n. Si es concedida generalmente se coloca al migrante bajo una orden de supervisià ³n y tendr que pagar una fianza (bond) de al menos $1,500 pero que puede ser superior. En cuanto a la posibilidad de trabajar legalmente, en algunos casos se concede un permiso de trabajo. 5. Ajuste de estatus La persona sobre la que pende una orden de deportacià ³n puede pedirle al juez que la suspenda mediante un ajuste de estatus. Ejemplos de casos: El cà ³nyuge y los hijos y padres de ciudadanos estadounidenses siempre y cuando se cumplan los requisitos para que el ciudadano pueda solicitar por và ­nculo familiar una tarjeta verde para el extranjero.Por certificacià ³n laboral y una persona resulta elegible para obtener una green card por razà ³n laboral.Cuando la persona sobre la que pende la deportacià ³n tiene una aplicacià ³n anterior para cambio de ajuste migratorio. 6. Và ­ctimas de violencia domà ©stica Por aplicacià ³n de VAWA, los cà ³nyuges  residentes permanentes o ciudadanos estadounidenses y sus hijos podrn quedarse si han estado fà ­sicamente en EEUU por al menos tres aà ±os y han sido abusados por sus cà ³nyuges. Podrn conseguir la green card aunque se divorcien del esposo abusivo. 7. Và ­ctimas de violencia que colaboran con la policà ­a o fiscalà ­a La visa U permite a las và ­ctima de determinados delitos permanecer en Estados Unidos y obtener un estatus legal. Son necesarios que se cumplan varios requisitos, entre ellos, la colaboracià ³n con las fuerzas del orden para esclarecer el delito. 8. Motion to Supress Esta herramienta es muy rara en corte migratoria pero sà ­ que es posible. Un abogado puede utilizarla para defender a su cliente cuando el ICE ha violado los derechos constitucionales del migrante.   9. Acusacià ³n discrecional Esto es lo que se   conoce en inglà ©s como prosecutorial discretion. Es muy raro en casos migratorios de deportacià ³n pero sà ­ que es cierto que todos los aà ±os se producen   casos. Bsicamente significa que no se ejecuta una orden de deportacià ³n. 10. Perdones Dependiendo del caso de cada migrante, existen perdones que se pueden solicitar bajo el amparo de la ley de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a, conocida como INA, en sus apartados 212 letra c y letra h. Opciones cuando no hay lucha contra la deportacià ³n En algunos casos es posible llegar a un acuerdo para una salida voluntaria, la cual tiene ventajas sobre una deportacià ³n a cargo del gobierno.   En los casos de deportacià ³n es importante destacar que todas llevan una penalidad y que en algunos casos es posible aplicar por un perdà ³n, pero que cada migrante debe entender los requisitos que aplican segà ºn su caso. Tambià ©n destacar que, dependiendo del caso de cada uno, ser posible regresar aà ºn sin perdà ³n, dejando pasar un periodo de tiempo, que depende del caso de cada uno. Asimismo, recordar que en algunos casos es imposible regresar legalmente a Estados Unidos. No hay cosas como hacer desaparecer el rà ©cord migratorio pasado, eso es sà ³lo cuento de personas sin escrà ºpulos que desean aprovecharse de la desesperacià ³n de los migrantes. Por à ºltimo destacar que si un migrante deportado ingresa ilegalmente a Estados Unidos est cometiendo un delito, con todas las consecuencias que ello conlleva. La opcià ³n de desaparecerse o no hacer caso a una orden de deportacià ³n Algunos migrantes no se presentan a las citas en corte migratoria. En estos casos el resultado es una orden de deportacià ³n dictada en ausencia. En otros, no se cumplen con la orden de salir de los Estados Unidos. En uno y otro caso el migrante ser deportado inmediatamente si las autoridades migratorias lo agarran de alguna forma, que puede ser en un raid o simplemente en una parada de trfico cuando se va en un auto en el que ni siquiera se es el conductor. En estos casos no hay opciones. Simplemente se procede a la deportacià ³n. Abogados para casos de deportacià ³n Precisamente porque la deportacià ³n es un asunto muy serio con graves consecuencias se recomienda encarecidamente presentarse en corte con un abogado migratorio competente. Se puede buscar en AILA, que es la asociacià ³n de abogados de inmigracià ³n, o pedir consejo para referencias a organizaciones competentes de asistencia a migrantes que incluso en algunos casos pueden referir a abogados pro bono, es decir, que no cobran por sus servicios. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Achillobator - Facts and Figures

Achillobator - Facts and Figures Name: Achillobator (combination Greek/Mongolian for Achilles warrior); pronounced ah-KILL-oh-bate-ore Habitat: Plains of central Asia Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (95-85 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 500-1,000 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; huge claws on feet; odd alignment of hips About Achillobator As far as paleontologists can tell, Achillobator (the name, Achilles warrior, refers both to this dinosaurs large size and to the large Achilles tendons it must have had in its feet) was a raptor, and thus in the same family as Deinonychus and Velociraptor. However, Achillobator does appear to have possessed some quirky anatomical features (mainly concerning the alignment of its hips) that differentiated it from its more famous cousins, which has led some experts to speculate that it may represent an entirely new type of dinosaur. (One other possibility is that Achillobator is a chimera: that is, it was reconstructed from the remains of two unrelated dinosaur genera that happened to be buried in the same location.) Like other raptors of the Cretaceous period, Achillobator is often depicted as sporting a coat of feathers, underlining its close evolutionary relationship with modern birds. However, this is based not any solid fossil evidence, but the presumed featheriness of small theropod dinosaurs at some stage during their life cycles. In any case, at up to 20 feet long from head to tail and 500 to 1,000 pounds, Achillobator was one of the largest raptors of the Mesozoic Era, exceeded only in size by the truly gigantic Utahraptor (which lived halfway around the world, in early Cretaceous North America) and making the much smaller Velociraptor seem like a chicken by comparison.

20th Century Modern Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

20th Century Modern Art - Essay Example Kandinsky was an artist whose concepts played a crucial role in developing Abstract Expressionism. The Surrealist idea of the unconscious and Freudian imagery gained popularity among the artists simultaneously, and Abstract Expressionists, especially Jackson Pollock developed the desire to express the unconscious. He was brought up in Arizona and then in Chico, California. During the 1950s, Abstract Expressionism reached its peak. Employing the Automatism technique (from Surrealism, where the artist was to paint without fully controlling his body, thus unlocking the unconscious) which led to his â€Å"drip paintings† later known as â€Å"action painting†, Using household paints instead of artist’s paints, and sticks and other tools as paint applicators, with his canvases laid on the floor, Pollock brought a revolution to this art form. He allowed people to come and watch him while he created masterpieces: moving around the canvas, dripping paint at different angl es; he seemed engaged in a dance. In 1938, he underwent a psychiatric treatment for his alcoholism and worked with two Jungian analysts. After this extremely influential experience, he began exploring his own unconscious symbolism, the result of which is visible in his work Male and Female which shows freely poured pigment for the first time. The brilliance in the poured paintings that he began from 1947 was that he chose numbers for their titles, widening the viewers’ scope by giving them freedom of interpretation, which he thought was limited otherwise. At the age of 44, Pollock passed away in a car accident; he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Pollock’s One (Number 31) is one of his abstract works that he painted using the ‘drip technique’. The canvas is covered with long patchy, free flowing irregular lines; the color scheme is very subtle, consisting of only black, blue, grey, brown and white on an off white background; the beauty of Abstra ct Expressionism is that it does not make a statement of it own, rather it invokes the observer’s subconscious, allowing them to interpret it the way they see it and how it makes them feel (Lanchner & Pollock, 32). However, keeping in mind the post world war era it was created in, one can imagine the chaos and pandemonium of that time and relate to it; it makes one wonder what it must have been like to live amidst all the destruction and bloodshed. On a closer look, one might feel like the black strokes represent moving, perhaps dancing or falling(after being shot, maybe?) stick men like figures; or figures who are trying to run away from the brown, blue, white and grey(the war, maybe, trying to save themselves?). Also, each color might have a meaning of its own: for instance, the brown(earth or ground), the white(people’s tears), the black(arms and ammunition). It is a good thing it does not have a decipherable image(s) with definite meaning. It is a thought provocati ve piece of art, and it leaves one with no doubt as to why the art critic, Clement Greenberg wrote, â€Å"and I knew Jackson was the greatest painter this country had producedâ€Å" about Pollock,who played a great role in expressing the then deplorable social and political conditions of America, and diverting people’s attention from them, hence providing an escape from reality. Abstract Expressionism had become so influential by the second world war that the amateur artists imitated the style as it was, thus lacking originality and innovation, deterring the general public from connecting with it. In the 1950s, a bunch of approaching artists, began defying the norm, using imagery relatable by the general public. That is when advertising started making consumer items like Coca-Cola into household names in America. the American culture was heavily

LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION--- ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES Assignment

LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION--- ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES - Assignment Example The Court ruled upheld the petition. Unlike the EU Commission-led Article 258, Article 259 allows aggrieved Member States to petition the Strasbourg Court for direction. The latter provision was tested recently in Hungary v Slovak Republic Case C 364/10 (2012), where the Strasbourg Court ruled that Slovakia did not breach her duties under Article 21(1) of the TFEU requiring unhindered movement of EU citizens within the region. If the case was decided in favour of Hungary, appropriate sanctions would have been taken against Slovakia for limiting Hungarian President’s visit in the country during national holiday. The sanctions are usually binding, considering that any failure to conform to them attracts follow-up actions and penalties under Articles 260 of the TFEU. These responses show that the ECJ’s primary roles under the direct action are to enforce EU law by enhancing cooperation among Member States and slap punitive action where. However, delays in enforcement, which run into many years, are major set backs. Complimentarily, indirect actions under Article 267 of the TFEU usually enhance smooth cooperation between or among EU Member States. Under the latter platform, the Court can make decisions on the interpretation of various bodies of the EU law including the Treaty. As such, it accepts and determines cases referred to from national courts. In Foglia v Mariella Novello C 244/80 (1981), for example, the Court considered the verdict in Pretura di Bra, Italy and determined that the tax measures on liqueur wines were valid. In addition, purpose of procedure enhances collaboration between courts with EU in what is a key trigger of smooth administration of justice. The vertical relationship between the European Court of Justice and national courts through the principle of supremacy has created an effective arrangement where the courts work in synergy to resolve disputes arising from trade and movement of people and goods across the EU or

Human resources-labor relation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human resources-labor relation - Essay Example A good location in this sense implies to a locality that has access to cheap raw materials. The availability of raw materials at a low cost should be considered and should be among the determining factors (Hartmann, 1998). Labor costs- the other factor that should be considered in the making of the decision is the availability of cheap labor. The costs of the company should be kept as low as possible so as to ensure that the company increases the profit levels by cutting on costs (Adams, 1995). Level of efficiency- the efficiency of the various plants should be considered. Efficiency is a major contributor to productivity that results to profitability. Efficiency in this situation should be analyzed on the level of machine output and the productivity of the employees working in the various plants (Adler, 1991). Labor laws- the labor laws in the various states in which the plants are located should be considered. There are some laws that would not work well with the closure of a plant and the laying off of employees. The labor laws can be executed by the labor unions that exist. Labor unions may demand for the compensation of the employees who will be rendered jobless as a result of the plant closure. The amount of penalty that is associated with the closure should be kept at a minimal. Level of demand- the demand levels in which the plants are situated should be considered. There are some areas that have a higher demand for the company products and such a plant should be maintained so as to ensure that the demand is capitalized (Forteza, & Prieto, 1994). Tax rates - different states usually have different tax laws. The states that have lower tax rates should be considered over areas that have high rates of tax. Reduction on tax cost would lead to a reduction on the costs that are attributable to the company and that will lead to the company achieving its aim of maximizing profit levels. Experience of employees and

Compare and contrast the role of a Nurse Practitioner and a Essay

Compare and contrast the role of a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician's Assistant - Essay Example Physician assistants carry out their practice in partnership with medical practitioners and work in almost all specialties in the field of medicine. Physician assistants are trained in such a way that they can play the roles of a physician if need be. Creation of the physician assistant unit was crucial in many regions since the number of medical practitioners is considerably low. Additionally, this helped many countries provide health care in rural areas, inner sections of the city, as well as other areas where there are shortages of medical practitioners. As opposed to physician assistants, nurse practitioners tend to be somehow independent on their practice and are less reliant on physicians. Just like physician assistants, nurse practitioners can play most of the roles played by a physician. This paper focuses on comparing nurse practitioners and physician assistants by considering aspects such as their roles, education, job description, and scope of practice, job opportunities, and the scope of the practice. Education Education wise, a physician assistant is required to undergo a training program that takes about 26 months. Additionally, the physician assistants are required to have passed the national certified exam and holder of practice license. Furthermore, physician assistants are supposed to have accomplished clinical rotation in different specialties (Buppert, 2005; Miller & Kelli, 2012). A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has attained a master’s degree in nursing in addition to extensive clinical experience. The extensive clinical experience should be gained during the 12 to 16 months that nurse practitioners are supposed to spend treating mild as well as serious illnesses while under an instructors observation (Hooker, Cawley, & Leinweber, 2010; Buppert, 2005). Job Description Physician assistants are trained and certified health care professional that are supposed to work under the supervision of medical physician. On the other hand, nurse practitioners are trained and registered nurses who are certified and can thus conduct medical as well as operational tasks with minimal or no supervision from a physician. Physician assistants work in a wide range of medical fields. Majority of them are involved in providing primary care. Other duties may fall in other units such as assisting in surgical procedures, practicing internal medicine, emergency medicine, as well as in pediatric subspecialties. They may practice in hospitals, group physician practice, in rural or community health centers or as solo physician practice (Hooker, Cawley, & Leinweber, 2010; Buppert, 2005). Nurse practitioners are free to practice as private physicians after being certified. They also serve in the hospital inpatient and outpatient. Additionally, nurse practitioners work in rural health clinic where they offer community-based primary care. They can also work in the emergency department (Buppert, 2005). Role Responsibility Physician assistants practice in association with medical practitioners or physicians. Their role is interdependent with that of the physicians in what is described as â€Å"negotiated performance autonomy.† The roles of a physician assistant include taking the medical history of a patient and carrying out other investigations regarding the patients’ health. They are also responsible of examining the patients, assisting the physician in offering treatment to the patients, ordering

The History of Socially Desirable Female Body Types Essay

The History of Socially Desirable Female Body Types - Essay Example Personally, my fixation is for those round ones. They not only resemble the full luminescent moon but overdrive the imagination with pictures of the full frame all its glory. Poets swooned. Cleopatra is reputed to have had the most attractive face - one that launched a thousand ships of war! The desire to be thin is widespread among women. Many starve themselves almost to death in the quest for the thin, graceful frame. However, I am of the view that majority of my fellow males will agree that there is something divine about the layers of flesh and soft skin and their contour that make the female extraordinarily fabulous. (Ximena A Ramirez). To me, the peach and cream skin or the golden color is the most arresting. Not to say that the colored or black fare any worse. Given the right proportion and features, they could be equally magnetizing. Thanks to the herbals, the cosmetics, the Fair and Lovely creams and lotions, they all look scintillating in the light. The female figure has been the object of famous artists, sculptors and architects. The female bust may consist of flesh, blood, muscles and glands. But the rounded shape, the graceful ebb and flow of her movements, create their own impact and envy. Since ancient times, the form of women have been embellished and preserved through art and dances. (Kapila Vatsyayan). Year after year, prized beauties vie for beauty crowns that are there for the best combination of beauty and brains. The present day wonder, Jennifer Lopez's anatomical assets are insured in cool millions! (Stephen Wilson). Conclusion Movie makers and advertisers rake in millions by depicting female silhouettes in countless poses, outfits, angles, coverings, hiding something here and there, and arousing emotions and imaginations. The males may be stronger and more muscular. But in aesthetics and grace, the female body wins the prize, hands down! Sources: Kapila Vatsyayan, A Holistic Eye On Cultural Interface and Synergy, Across the Himalayan Gap, http://ignca.nic.in/ks_41014.htm. Natural Complexion & Body Bars, Alpine Naturals, http://www.alpinenaturals.com/complexionbars.html. Stephen Wilson, Excerpts from Information Arts: Intersections of Art, Science, and Technology, San Francisco State University, http://userwww.sfsu.edu/swilson/papers/wilson.body.infoarts.html. Ximena A Ramirez, Thin is In, An Analysis of Media Endorsed Ideals of Physical Attractiveness and Their Affects on College-Aged Women, A Senior Honor's Thesis, Department of Communication, Boston College, May 2007, http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/communication/meta-elements/pdf/thesis07.ramirez.pdf. Pictures: Complexion, Warm & Fuzzy, http://www.istockphoto.com/imageindex/432/0/432062. Figures, Rock Painting of Female Figures, http://www.srilanka.fr/imagebank/sigiriya/pages/Rock%20Painting%20of%20Female%20Figures.htm. The first crush, Demi Moore, IMDB, The Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4085684224/nm0000193.

Compare and contrast the role of a Nurse Practitioner and a Essay

Compare and contrast the role of a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician's Assistant - Essay Example Physician assistants carry out their practice in partnership with medical practitioners and work in almost all specialties in the field of medicine. Physician assistants are trained in such a way that they can play the roles of a physician if need be. Creation of the physician assistant unit was crucial in many regions since the number of medical practitioners is considerably low. Additionally, this helped many countries provide health care in rural areas, inner sections of the city, as well as other areas where there are shortages of medical practitioners. As opposed to physician assistants, nurse practitioners tend to be somehow independent on their practice and are less reliant on physicians. Just like physician assistants, nurse practitioners can play most of the roles played by a physician. This paper focuses on comparing nurse practitioners and physician assistants by considering aspects such as their roles, education, job description, and scope of practice, job opportunities, and the scope of the practice. Education Education wise, a physician assistant is required to undergo a training program that takes about 26 months. Additionally, the physician assistants are required to have passed the national certified exam and holder of practice license. Furthermore, physician assistants are supposed to have accomplished clinical rotation in different specialties (Buppert, 2005; Miller & Kelli, 2012). A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has attained a master’s degree in nursing in addition to extensive clinical experience. The extensive clinical experience should be gained during the 12 to 16 months that nurse practitioners are supposed to spend treating mild as well as serious illnesses while under an instructors observation (Hooker, Cawley, & Leinweber, 2010; Buppert, 2005). Job Description Physician assistants are trained and certified health care professional that are supposed to work under the supervision of medical physician. On the other hand, nurse practitioners are trained and registered nurses who are certified and can thus conduct medical as well as operational tasks with minimal or no supervision from a physician. Physician assistants work in a wide range of medical fields. Majority of them are involved in providing primary care. Other duties may fall in other units such as assisting in surgical procedures, practicing internal medicine, emergency medicine, as well as in pediatric subspecialties. They may practice in hospitals, group physician practice, in rural or community health centers or as solo physician practice (Hooker, Cawley, & Leinweber, 2010; Buppert, 2005). Nurse practitioners are free to practice as private physicians after being certified. They also serve in the hospital inpatient and outpatient. Additionally, nurse practitioners work in rural health clinic where they offer community-based primary care. They can also work in the emergency department (Buppert, 2005). Role Responsibility Physician assistants practice in association with medical practitioners or physicians. Their role is interdependent with that of the physicians in what is described as â€Å"negotiated performance autonomy.† The roles of a physician assistant include taking the medical history of a patient and carrying out other investigations regarding the patients’ health. They are also responsible of examining the patients, assisting the physician in offering treatment to the patients, ordering

Business Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business Planning - Essay Example For any new business venture, marketing, operation, and financial plans are all related and fundamental (Burns, 2014). An operation plan gives a vast organization structure of the business, including information on workers, location, and the outline of goals and the missions. The business operation plan equips investors with essential details to identify which business is viable, financially stable and can repay its worth. The plan help in establishing and to control perfect operations of the business. The marketing plans concentrates on the activities marking the company to achieve its predefined goals and missions by selling its products. The plan outlines the targeted base of customers. It outlines strategies to capture new markets and competition from rivals dealing on the same line. Aligning the three plans is imperative to attain success for the business. The alignment facilitates the business growth and prosperity. A new business should focus on strictly implementing the three plans. Every stakeholder in the business must have clear understanding of the company’s core values as outlined in the three plans. The market and customer information help in building company customer relationship by gathering vital market

Animal Extinction Essay Example for Free

Animal Extinction Essay Animal Extinction the greatest threat to mankind In the final stages of dehydration the body shrinks, robbing youth from the young as the skin puckers, eyes recede into orbits, and the tongue swells and cracks. Brain cells shrivel and muscles seize. The kidneys shut down. Blood volume drops, triggering hypovolemic shock, with its attendant respiratory and cardiac failures. These combined assaults disrupt the chemical and electrical pathways of the body until all systems cascade toward death. Such is also the path of a dying species. Beyond a critical point, the collective body of a unique kind of mammal or bird or amphibian or tree cannot be salvaged, no matter the first aid rendered. Too few individuals spread too far apart, or too genetically weakened, are susceptible to even small natural disasters: a passing thunderstorm; an unexpected freeze; drought. At fewer than 50 members, populations experience increasingly random fluctuations until a kind of fatal arrhythmia takes hold. Eventually, an entire genetic legacy, born in the beginnings of life on earth, is removed from the future. Scientists recognise that species continually disappear at a background extinction rate estimated at about one species per million per year, with new species replacing the lost in a sustainable fashion. Occasional mass extinctions convulse this orderly norm, followed by excruciatingly slow recoveries as new species emerge from the remaining gene-pool, until the world is once again repopulated by a different catalogue of flora and fauna. From what we understand so far, five great extinction events have reshaped earth in cataclysmic ways in the past 439 million years, each one wiping out between 50 and 95 per cent of the life of the day, including the dominant life forms; the most recent event killing off the non-avian dinosaurs. Speciations followed, but an analysis published in Nature showed that it takes 10 million years before biological diversity even begins to approach what existed before a die-off. Today were living through the sixth great extinction, sometimes known as the Holocene extinction event. We carried its seeds with us 50,000 years ago as we migrated beyond Africa with Stone Age blades, darts, and harpoons, entering pristine Ice Age ecosystems and changing them forever by wiping out at least some of the unique megafauna of the times, including, perhaps, the sabre-toothed cats and woolly mammoths. When the ice retreated, we terminated the long and biologically rich epoch sometimes called the Edenic period with assaults from our newest weapons: hoes, scythes, cattle, goats, and pigs. But, as harmful as our forebears may have been, nothing compares to whats under way today. Throughout the 20th century the causes of extinction habitat degradation, overexploitation, agricultural monocultures, human-borne invasive species, human-induced climate-change increased exponentially, until now in the 21st century the rate is nothing short of explosive. The World Conservation Unions Red List a database measuring the global status of Earths 1. million scientifically named species tells a haunting tale of unchecked, unaddressed, and accelerating biocide. When we hear of extinction, most of us think of the plight of the rhino, tiger, panda or blue whale. But these sad sagas are only small pieces of the extinction puzzle. The overall numbers are terrifying. Of the 40,168 species that the 10,000 scientists in the World Conservation Union have assessed, one in four mammals, one in eight birds, one in three amphibians, one in three conifers and other gymnosperms are at risk of e xtinction. The peril faced by other classes of organisms is less thoroughly analysed, but fully 40 per cent of the examined species of planet earth are in danger, including perhaps 51 per cent of reptiles, 52 per cent of insects, and 73 per cent of flowering plants. By the most conservative measure based on the last centurys recorded extinctions the current rate of extinction is 100 times the background rate. But the eminent Harvard biologist Edward O Wilson, and other scientists, estimate that the true rate is more like 1,000 to 10,000 times the background rate. The actual annual sum is only an educated guess, because no scientist believes that the tally of life ends at the 1. 5 million species already discovered; estimates range as high as 100 million species on earth, with 10 million as the median guess. Bracketed between best- and worst-case scenarios, then, somewhere between 2. 7 and 270 species are erased from existence every day. Including today. We now understand that the majority of life on Earth has never been and will never be known to us. In a staggering forecast, Wilson predicts that our present course will lead to the extinction of half of all plant and animal species by 2100. You probably had no idea. Few do. A poll by the American Museum of Natural History finds that seven in 10 biologists believe that mass extinction poses a colossal threat to human existence, a more serious environmental problem than even its contributor, global warming; and that the dangers of mass extinction are woefully underestimated by almost everyone outside science. In the 200 years since French naturalist Georges Cuvier first floated the concept of extinction, after examining fossil bones and concluding the existence of a world previous to ours, destroyed by some sort of catastrophe, we have only slowly recognised and attempted to correct our own catastrophic behaviour. Some nations move more slowly than others. In 1992, an international summit produced a treaty called the Convention on Biological Diversity that was subsequently ratified by 190 nations all except the unlikely coalition of the United States, Iraq, the Vatican, Somalia, Andorra and Brunei. The European Union later called on the world to arrest the decline of species and ecosystems by 2010. Last year, worried biodiversity experts called for the establishment of a scientific body akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to provide a united voice on the extinction crisis and urge governments to action. Yet, despite these efforts, the Red List, updated every two years, continues to show metastatic growth. There are a few heartening examples of so-called Lazarus species lost and then found: the wollemi pine and the mahogany lider in Australia, the Jerdons courser in India, the takahe in New Zealand, and, maybe, the ivory-billed woodpecker in the United States. But for virtually all others, the Red List is a dry country with little hope of rain, as species ratchet down the listings from secure to vulnerable, to endangered, to critically endangered, to extinct. All these disappearing species are part of a fragile membrane of organisms wrapped around the Earth so thinly, writes Wilson, that it cannot be seen edgewise from a space shuttle, yet so internally complex that most species composing it remain undiscovered. We owe everything to this membrane of life. Literally everything. The air we breathe. The food we eat. The materials of our homes, clothes, books, computers, medicines. Goods and services that we cant even imagine well someday need will come from species we have yet to identify. The proverbial cure for cancer. The genetic fountain of youth. Immortality. Mortality. The living membrane we so recklessly destroy is existence itself. Biodiversity is defined as the sum of an areas genes (the building blocks of inheritance), species (organisms that can interbreed), and ecosystems (amalgamations of species in their geological and chemical landscapes). The richer an areas biodiversity, the tougher its immune system, since biodiversity includes not only the number of species but also the number of individuals within that species, and all the inherent genetic variations lifes only army against the diseases of oblivion. Yet its a mistake to think that critical genetic pools exist only in the gaudy show of the coral reefs, or the cacophony of the rainforest. Although a hallmark of the desert is the sparseness of its garden, the orderly progression of plants and the understated camouflage of its animals, this is only an illusion. Turn the desert inside out and upside down and youll discover its true nature. Escaping drought and heat, life goes underground in a tangled overexuberance of roots and burrows reminiscent of a rainforest canopy, competing for moisture, not light. Animal trails criss-cross this subterranean realm in private burrows engineered, inhabited, stolen, shared and fought over by ants, beetles, wasps, cicadas, tarantulas, spiders, lizards, snakes, mice, squirrels, rats, foxes, tortoises, badgers and coyotes. To survive the heat and drought, desert life pioneers ingenious solutions. Coyotes dig and maintain wells in arroyos, probing deep for water. White-winged doves use their bodies as canteens, drinking enough when the opportunity arises to increase their bodyweight by more than 15 per cent. Black-tailed jack rabbits tolerate internal temperatures of 111F. Western box turtles store water in their oversized bladders and urinate on themselves to stay cool. Mesquite grows taproots more than 160ft deep in search of moisture. These life-forms and their life strategies compose what we might think of as the body of the desert, with some species the lungs and others the liver, the blood, the skin. The trend in scientific investigation in recent decades has been toward understanding the interconnectedness of the bodily components, i. e. the effect one species has on the others. The loss of even one species irrevocably changes the desert (or the tundra, rainforest, prairie, coastal estuary, coral reef, and so on) as we know it, just as the loss of each human being changes his or her family forever. Nowhere is this better proven than in a 12-year study conducted in the Chihuahuan desert by James H Brown and Edward Heske of the University of New Mexico. When a kangaroo-rat guild composed of three closely related species was removed, shrublands quickly converted to grasslands, which supported fewer annual plants, which in turn supported fewer birds. Even humble players mediate stability. So when you and I hear of this years extinction of the Yangtze river dolphin, and think, how sad, were not calculating the deepest cost: that extinctions lead to co-extinctions because most living things on Earth support a few symbionts, while keystone species influence and support myriad plants and animals. Army ants, for example, are known to support 100 known species, from beetles to birds. One of the most alarming developments is the rapid decline not just of species but of higher taxa, such as the class Amphibia, the 00-million-year-old group of frogs, salamanders, newts and toads hardy enough to have preceded and then outlived most dinosaurs. Biologists first noticed die-offs two decades ago, and, since then, have watched as seemingly robust amphibian species vanished in as little as six months. The causes cover the spectrum of human environmental assaults, including rising ultraviolet radiation from a thinning ozone layer, increases in po llutants and pesticides, habitat loss from agriculture and urbanisation, invasions of exotic species, the wildlife trade, light pollution, and fungal diseases. Sometimes stressors merge to form an unwholesome synergy; an African frog brought to the West in the 1950s for use in human pregnancy tests likely introduced a fungus deadly to native frogs. Meanwhile, a recent analysis in Nature estimated that, in the past 20 years, at least 70 species of South American frogs had gone extinct as a result of climate change. In a 2004 analysis published in Science, Lian Pin Koh and his colleagues predict that an initially modest co-extinction rate will climb alarmingly as host extinctions rise in the near future. Graphed out, the forecast mirrors the rising curve of an infectious disease, with the human species acting all the parts: the pathogen, the vector, the Typhoid Mary who refuses culpability, and, ultimately, one of up to 100 million victims. Rewilding is bigger, broader, and bolder than humans have thought before. Many conservation biologists believe its our best hope for arresting the sixth great extinction. Wilson calls it mainstream conservation writ large for future generations. This is because more of what weve done until now protecting pretty landscapes, attempts at sustainable development, community-based conservation and ecosystem management will not preserve biodiversity through the critical next century. By then, half of all species will be lost, by Wilsons calculation. To save Earths living membrane, we must put its shattered pieces back together. Only megapreserves modelled on a deep scientific understanding of continent-wide ecosystem needs hold that promise. What I have been preparing to say is this, wrote Thoreau more than 150 years ago. In wildness is the preservation of the world. This, science finally understands. The Wildlands Project, the conservation group spearheading the drive to rewild North America by reconnecting remaining wildernesses (parks, refuges, national forests, and local land trust holdings) through corridors calls for reconnecting wild North America in four broad megalinkages: along the Rocky Mountain spine of the contine nt from Alaska to Mexico; across the arctic/boreal from Alaska to Labrador; along the Atlantic via the Appalachians; and along the Pacific via the Sierra Nevada into the Baja peninsula. Within each megalinkage, core protected areas would be connected by mosaics of public and private lands providing safe passage for wildlife to travel freely. Broad, vegetated overpasses would link wilderness areas split by roads. Private landowners would be enticed to either donate land or adopt policies of good stewardship along critical pathways. Its a radical vision, one the Wildlands Project expects will take 100 years or more to complete, and one that has won the project a special enmity from those who view environmentalists with suspicion. Yet the core brainchild of the Wildlands Project that true conservation must happen on an ecosystem-wide scale is now widely accepted. Many conservation organisations are already collaborating on the project, including international players such as Naturalia in Mexico, US national heavyweights like Defenders of Wildlife, and regional experts from the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project to the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council. Kim Vacariu, the South-west director of the USs Wildlands Project, reports that ranchers are coming round, one town meeting at a time, and that there is interest, if not yet support, from the insurance industry and others who face the reality of car-wildlife collisions daily. At its heart, rewilding is based on living with the monster under the bed, since the big, scary animals that frightened us in childhood, and still do, are the fierce guardians of biodiversity. Without wolves, wolverines, grizzlies, black bears, mountain lions and jaguars, wild populations shift toward the herbivores, who proceed to eat plants into extinction, taking birds, bees, reptiles, amphibians and rodents with them. A tenet of ecology states that the world is green because carnivores eat herbivores. Yet the big carnivores continue to die out because we fear and hunt them and because they need more room than we preserve and connect. Male wolverines, for instance, can possess home ranges of 600 sq m. Translated, Greater London would have room for only one. The first campaign out of the Wildlands Projects starting gate is the spine of the continent, along the mountains from Alaska to Mexico, today fractured by roads, logging, oil and gas development, grazing, ski resorts, motorised back-country recreation and sprawl. The spine already contains dozens of core wildlands, including wilderness areas, national parks, national monuments, wildlife refuges, and private holdings. On the map, these scattered fragments look like debris falls from meteorite strikes. Some are already partially buffered by surrounding protected areas such as national forests. But all need interconnecting linkages across public and private lands farms, ranches, suburbia to facilitate the travels of big carnivores and the net of biodiversity that they tow behind them. The Wildlands Project has also identified the five most critically endangered wildlife linkages along the spine, each associated with a keystone species. Grizzlies already pinched at Crowsnest Pass on Highway Three, between Alberta and British Columbia, will be entirely cut off from the bigger gene pool to the north if a larger road is built. Greater sage grouse, Canada lynx, black bears and jaguars face their own lethal obstacles further south. But by far the most endangered wildlife-linkage is the borderland between the US and Mexico. The Sky Islands straddle this boundary, and some of North Americas most threatened wildlife jaguars, bison, Sonoran pronghorn, Mexican wolves cross, or need to cross, here in the course of their lifes travels. Unfortunately for wildlife, Mexican workers cross here too. Men, women, and children, running at night, one-gallon water jugs in hand. The problem for wildlife is not so much the intrusions of illegal Mexican workers but the 700-mile border fence proposed to keep them out. From an ecological perspective, it will sever the spine at the lumbar, paralysing the lower continent. Here, in a nutshell, is all thats wrong with our treatment of nature. Amid all the moral, practical, and legal issues with the border fence, the biological catastrophe has barely been noted. Its as if extinction is not contagious and we wont catch it. If, as some indigenous people believe, the jaguar was sent to the world to test the will and integrity of human beings, then surely we need to reassess. Border fences have terrible consequences. One between India and Pakistan forces starving bears and leopards, which can no longer traverse their feeding territories, to attack villagers. The truth is that wilderness is more dangerous to us caged than free and has far more value to us wild than consumed. Wilson suggests the time has come to rename the environmentalist view the real-world view, and to replace the gross national product with the more comprehensive genuine progress indicator, which estimates the true environmental costs of farming, fishing, grazing, mining, smelting, driving, flying, building, paving, computing, medicating and so on. Until then, its like keeping a ledger recording income but not expenses. Like us, the Earth has a finite budget.

River Water Pollution At Langkawi Island Environmental Sciences Essay

River Water Pollution At Langkawi Island Environmental Sciences Essay Increasing dearth of water in developing countries has made river water quality evaluation a relevant issue in recent years (Ongley, 1998). The surface water quality is a matter of serious concern today. Rivers due to their role in carrying off the municipal and industrial wastewater and run-off from agricultural land in their vast drainage basins are among the most vulnerable water bodies to pollution. The surface water quality in a region is largely determined both by the natural processes (precipitation rate, weathering processes, and soil erosion) and the anthropogenic influences viz. urban, industrial and agricultural activities and increasing exploitation of water resources (Carpenter et al., 1998 and Jarvie et al., 1998). Pollution of surface water with toxic chemicals and excess nutrients, resulting from storm water runoff, vadose zone leaching, and groundwater discharges, has been an issue of worldwide environmental concern. With an increased understanding of the importance of drinking water quality to public health and raw water quality to aquatic life, there is a great need to assess surface water quality (Campbell et al., 1993). APHA (1985), state that the use of water increases with growing population putting increasing strain in the water resources. In 1975, total global use of water was just under 4000 km3 per year, and this is expected to increase about 6000 km3 per year by the year 2000. Averaged on a global scaled, about 70% of this water is used in the agricultural sector, 20% by industry, and 10% for domestic purposes. Nowadays, there become a problem in finding adequate supplies of freshwater to meet our needs and maintaining its quality. Eventhough water availability is not a problem on a global scale, it may be a problem in finding high quality of freshwater at that required place in the required quantity. In Malaysia, 97% of water resources came from river. River can be defined as any natural stream of water that flows in a channel with defined banks. Malaysia is situated in between longitude 100 ° and 119 ° East and latitude 1 ° and 7 ° North covers a region on the subject of 329.733 km2 of land which include West Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak. The annual typical rainfall is 3000mm that contributes to a projected annual water resource of about 900 billion m3 (UNEP, 2002; FAO, 2005). Those rainfalls are stored in river, lake or either other water storage as water resources. The major water demand comes from irrigation for agricultural purposes as well as domestic and industry use (UNDP, 2005). Problem Statement As the important channel of substance cycle in biosphere, a whole river eco-system should have the functions of providing the food and water for living, industry and agriculture, amusement, shipping and commerce. Over the past century, it have been being seriously destroyed by various human activities including contaminant discharge, damming, solidifying riverside, destroying vegetation in the riparian zone and etc., resulting in deterioration of water environment, degradation of biological communities and riverbed atrophying. Therefore, the restoration and maintenance of healthy river ecosystems have become important objective of river management (Norris and Thoms, 1999). The development in Malaysia has lead to various kinds of environmental problems. Human activities such as industrialization, aquaculture activities, and urbanization caused a lot of pollution and damage the environment silently. According to the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia, these activities can produce the anthropogenic pollutants and would be endangered the coastal environment (Chester and Stoner 1974; Ismail et al. 1993, 1995; Ismail and Idris 1996; Law and Singh 1991; Yap et al. 2002, 2003). The seriousness of heavy metals leads the marine environmental pollution to be recognized as a serious matter to human health concern. Industrial and agricultural activities were reported to be the leading potential source of the accumulation of pollutants in the aquatic environment including the sea (Freedman, 1989; Gà ¼mgà ¼m et al., 1994; Nimmo et al., 1998; Barlas, 1999; Tarra-Wahlberg et al., 2001; Akif et al., 2002; Jordao et al., 2002). The significance of Study Langkawi Island is one of the most attractive ecotourism spot in Malaysia with well diverse marine lives hence attracting thousands of tourists every year. To support the increasing number of tourist visiting the Langkawi Island, more development were made along the shore line such as hotels, resorts, jetties, shopping mall, and marine recreational facilities. This extensive type of development contributes to the direct impact on the productivity of the marine environment ecosystem and would cause pollution such as heavy metals pollution into the coastal and adjacent area (White, 1988). Langkawi is located in the northern west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, bordering the south of Thailand -off the coast of Kedah and is made up of 99 islands when the tide is high and 104 islands when the tide is low. The largest of the islands is Pulau Langkawi with an area of about 478.5 km2. Research on the geological resources and landscapes of Langkawi Islands has revealed the great geotourism potential of the island system. Comprising the oldest rocks and the most complete Paleozoic Mesozoic sequence of sedimentary formations, the Langkawi rocks tell the story of the beginning of the Malaysian Land. Diverse scientific records, fossil beds, geological structure and outstanding landforms further make Langkawi a living museum where visitors are able to directly experience a potential natural world heritage site. Conservation of geosites and geotopes are absolutely necessary, in the form of geological park, geological monument, protected site and beautiful landscape, to sustain its ecotourism activities (Ibrahim Komoo Kadderi Md Desa, 1989). Langkawi is one of the most beautiful islands group in Malaysia. Apart from having a distinct and unique morphological feature such as Machinchang ridge and karstic morphology in the limestone area, there are a lot of other interesting geological features. Among those are located in the already popular tourist sites, such as Pantai Pasir Hitam, Telaga Tujuh, Pantai Pasir Tengkorak, Telaga Air Hangat, Gunung Raya and Tasik Dayang Bunting. The geological features of those sites are described and is proposed to be made available in the pamphlet forms or placed at sites as geoinformation boards to increase the tourist geological understanding when they visit those sites. Apart from that, there are also many localities with interesting, as well as unique or rare geological features which are not easily found in other parts of Malaysia. All these localities are of very high potential to be promoted as new geotourism spots. Since the Langkawi Islands is very rich in either already popular o r potential geotourism localities, a number of geotourism trails is proposed. Each trail could be reach either by land or sea and may be visited in one day trip (Ibrahim Komoo Hamzah Mohamad, 1993). According to Ibrahim Komoo Kadderi Md Desa (1989), the rocks of Setul Formation are commonly found in the eastern part of Langkawi Island. Based on the change in strikes and dips of the bedding plane of the limestone, it is interpreted that the Setul Formation was folded regionally. Field observations indicate that the structures in the detrital members of the formation are more complicated than in the limestone. The limestone of this formation was faulted as well as folded. The well-known Kisap Thrust Fault was interpreted to play very important role in controlling the rock distributions in this area, which separates the Lower Paleozoic from the Upper Paleozoic rocks. Therefore, these study should be done as well as many human activities, directly or indirectly, lead to modification of the river and its basin which produce changes in the aquatic environment of the river water. Increased access to improved water sources has been a powerful factor in improving health and also in attracting the tourists visiting the Langkawi Island. On the other hand, it also may maintain the geological resources and landscapes of Langkawi Islands. Objectives The aims of this study are: To determine the concentration of selected ions for selected river water at Langkawi Island. To classify the water quality status at Langkawi Island based on water quality index (WQI). To evaluated the origin of pollution sources at Langkawi Island. Scope of Study This study involves the determination of selected ions (Na, K, Mg, Ca and Cl) by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) at selected river in Langkawi Island. The research scope also extensive the classification of Langkawi river water status based on Water Quality Index (WQI) Formula by Department of Environment. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 The Hydrology Water is a vital element in human life and it is a renewable resource. According to Wan Ruslan (1994), water is essential for physiological existence, very much the same as every other living organism does and for many other purposes such as agricultural, recreational, industrial, hydroelectric power, navigational, propagation of fish and other aquatic life, irrigation, etc. Generally, water quality means the standards of water body especially river for any beneficial uses. Water quality with a better index value indicates cleaner water body. High water quality is suitable for man and animals consumption compared to the low water quality. Water quality refers to the characteristics of a water supply that will influence its suitability for a specific use, i.e. how well the water quality meets the needs of the consumer. Water quality status indicates the level of pollutant composition and thus relates to human activities (Anhar et al.1998; Mohd Kamil et al. 1997a; 1997b). Water quality for various types of water body varies with input loads, flow rate and quantity of water (Mohd Kamil1991; Wan Nor Azmin et al.1997). River is one of the important water sources and is classified polluted when there are changes in their chemical and physical characteristics that make it unsuitable for any objective and function (Azizi et al. 1997). Pollution standards for eac h water body usually evaluated by measuring the value of selected water quality parameters. These parameters can be categorized as physical, chemical and biological. 2.2 Water Scarcity Water has been dubbed the oil of the 21st century as its scarcity is increasingly felt globally. Over the last 50 years, the worlds population had risen by more than two-and-a-half times to about 6.4 billion. At the same time, however, the demand for fresh water went up by four times (UNEP, 2002). The United Nations predicted that at this rate, up to 7 billion people in 60 countries may possibly face water scarcity by the year 2050. Without access to clean water, not only would public health suffer because of poor hygiene and sanitation, agricultural and industrial activities could also get disrupted. A report by UNEP (2002) also state that similar stresses have also been felt on the water resources in Southeast Asia. This is because economic development had generated greater demand for water from different sectors such as agriculture, industry and domestic users. The situation is likely to worsen in the future. As the regional population is expected to rise by an additional 250 million by 2025, per capita water will fall from 10,000 m3 to 6,700 m3. These trends pose several important questions that policy-makers would have to address. 2.3 Water Pollution Commonly, water pollution is defined as physicochemical alteration in water that may gives effect to organisms (Chiras, 2001). These broadly take into account the variety of water sources including lakes, rivers, oceans, streams, and also groundwater. The sources of water pollution can be either natural (e. g. animal waste) or by human activities such as runoff of pesticides, herbicides, and feces from agricultural land (Lerner Lerner, 2009b). The majority of tropical islands have limited sources of freshwater, no surface water or streams and fully reliant on rainfall and groundwater recharge (Praveena et al., 2010). The inhabitants of these islands mostly depend on groundwater to meet their needs, particularly for drinking and tourism purposes. The demand for fresh water has been rising in response to the increase of activities and development in tourism sector (Singh and Gupta, 1999; Aris et al., 2007). Numerous islands are experiencing water anxiety at the current levels of groundwater extraction at an outstripping supply. The freshwater lens on islands may simply be overexploited or polluted and vulnerable to climate change, pressure of island resources and the related impacts to freshwater resources (Griggs and Peterson, 1993; Singh and Gupta, 1999; Climate Change, 2007). A report by EQR Malaysia in 2009 state that compared to 2008, there was a slight deterioration in river water quality. There was a reduction in a number of clean rivers compared with 2008. There were 306 clean rivers in 2009 as compared with 334 in 2008 while the number of slightly polluted rivers increased from 197 to 217. There was also an increased in the number of polluted rivers from 48 in 2008 to 54 in 2009. However, the quality of the marine environment with respect to coastal and estuarine areas was within normal variations compared with the Malaysian Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard (MWQCS). Figure 2.1 shows the trend of the river water quality for several years. Figure 2.1 River water quality trend (DOE, 2009) 2.4 Water Pollution Sources The sources of water pollution can be categorized as point and non-point sources (DOE, 2009). Point sources include sewage treatment plants, manufacturing and agro-based industries, and animal farms. Non-point sources are mainly diffused sources such as agricultural activities and surface runoffs. EQR Malaysia 2009 by DOE state that in 2009, 20702 water pollution point sources were recorded. These comprise of manufacturing industries (9762:47.15%), sewage treatment plants (9676:46.74% inclusive of 736 Network Pump Stations), animal farms (769:3.72%) and agro-based industries (495:2.39%). Figure 2.2 shows the composition of water pollution sources by sector in 2009. Figure 2.2 Composition of water pollution sources by sector in 2009 (DOE, 2009). The decrease in the number of clean rivers were attributed to an increase in the number of polluting sources such as sewage treatment plants, manufacturing industries, and palm oil mills which contributed to high pollution loading. As in previous years, the major pollutants detected were BOD, NH3-N and SS. High BOD can be attributed to untreated or partially treated sewage and discharges from agro-based and manufacturing industries. The main sources of NH3-N were livestock farming and domestic sewage, whilst the sources of SS were from earthworks and land clearing activities (DOE, 2009). Freshwater resources in island currently have been increase in demand as it may simply be overexploited or polluted and vulnerable to climate change, pressure of island resources and the related impacts to freshwater resources (Griggs and Peterson, 1993; Singh and Gupta, 1999; Climate Change, 2007). The most significant and instantaneous consequences of climate change are increase in air temperature, increase in sea surface temperature, changes in rainfall (precipitation) patterns and more extreme weather conditions (Tompkins et al., 2005). Vulnerable to climate change has become more frequent in various countries in the recent decade and Malaysia is not excluded from this phenomenon. Effects of climate change will alter the global hydrological cycle in terms of distribution and accessibility of regional water capital. A warmer climate with its increased climate variability will increase the risk of floods and droughts (Climate Change, 2007; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 1997). Changes in rainfall during rainy season reveal the groundwater recharge, as a sensitive function of the climatic factors, local geology, topography and land use (Dragoni and Sukhija, 2008). The islands complex and dynamic system will response dynamically in variable and complex ways to climate change (Watson et al., 1998). Most research on the possible impacts of climate change to the hydrologic cycle has been directed at forecasting the potential impacts to surface water, river discharge and quality. Nevertheless, according to Mokhtar et al. (2008), to protect valuable water resources, one must understand the natural evolution of water chemistry under natural water circulation processes in mixture with knowledge about the background of the study area. This is crucial for the evaluation and protection of water resources and in the assessment of water quality for creating threshold ions composition in natural water. 2.5 Water Quality Index Water quality index (WQI) act as a marker of water quality change and be able to indicate the effects of these changes on potential water use. The WQI serves as the basis for environmental assessment of a waterway in relative to pollution load categorization and designation of classes of valuable uses as provided under the National Water Quality Standards (NWQS) (Table 2.1 Table 2.2). The Water Quality Index (WQI) consists of six (6) parameters which are Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N), Suspended Solids (SS) and pH. Water classes and uses were shown in Table 2.3. SUB INDEX WATER QUALITY INDEX INDEX RANGE CLEAN SLIGHTLY POLLUTED POLLUTED BOD 91 100 80 90 0 79 NH3-N 92 100 71 91 0 70 SS 76 100 70 75 0 69 WQI 81 100 60 80 0 59 Table 2.1 Water Quality Classification Based On WQI (DOE, 2009) Table 2.2 DOE Water Quality Index Classification (DOE, 2009) PARAMETER UNIT CLASS I II III IV V NH3-N mg/l 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.9 2.7 >2.7 BOD mg/l 1 3 3 6 6 12 >12 COD mg/l 10 25 25 50 50 100 >100 DO mg/l >7 5 7 3 5 1 3 pH >7.0 6.0 7.0 5.0 6.0 >5.0 TSS mg/l 25 50 50 150 150 300 >300 WQI >92.7 76.5 92.7 51.9 76.5 31.0 51.9 Table 2.3 Water classes and Uses (DOE, 2009) CLASS USES Class I Conservation of natural environment. Water supply I Practically no treatment necessary. Fishery I Very sensitive aquatic species. Class IIA Water supply II Conventional treatment required. Fishery II Sensitive aquatic species. Class IIB Recreational use with body contact. Class III Water supply III Extensive treatment required. Fishery III Common, of economic value and tolerant species; livestock drinking. Class IV Irrigation. Class V None of the above. 2.6 Water Quality Index Parameter 2.6.1 Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Oxygen is essential to all forms of aquatic life, including those organisms responsible for the self-purification processes in natural waters. Low levels of DO are indicative of greater pollution in the river. Pollution can cause DO concentration to drop below the necessary level to maintain healthy biota (Radojevic Bashkin, 2006). DO can also be expressed in terms of percentage saturation, and levels less than 80 per cent saturation in drinking water can usually be detected by consumers as a result of poor odour and taste (Chapman, 1996). According to Laenen and Dunnette (1997), DO is a good indicator of the overall ecological health of a river. Although other indicators also signify general river health, an adequate supply of oxygen is essential for animal life. For many species of fish, DO levels below 6 mg/L for any length if time can be lethal. 2.6.2 Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the mass of dissolved molecular oxygen which is needed by microorganisms for the oxidation and conversion of organic substances in a sample (20 °C) of water under defined conditions and within a defined period of time (index n in days and hours) (Fresenius Schneider, 1988). Fresenius Schneider (1988) also state that standardized laboratory procedures are used to determine BOD by measuring the amount of oxygen consumed after incubating the sample in the dark at a specified temperature, which is usually 20 °C, for a specific period of time, usually five days. This gives rise to the commonly used term BOD5. BOD measurements are usually lower than COD measurements. Unpolluted water typically have BOD values of 2 mg/L O2 or less, whereas those receiving wastewaters may have values up to 10 mg/L O2 or more, particularly near to the point of wastewater discharge. Raw sewage has a BOD of about 600 mg/L O2, whereas treated sewage effluents have BOD values ranging from 20 to 100 mg/L O2 depending on the level of treatment applied. Industrial wastes may have BOD values up to 25,000 mg/L O2 (Chapman, 1996). 2.6.3 Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is a measure of the oxygen equivalent of the organic matter in a water sample that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant (e. g. dichromate). The COD is widely used as a measure of the susceptibility to oxidation of the organic and inorganic materials present in the water bodies and in the effluents from sewage and industrial plants. Correspondingly, it does not indicate the total organic carbon present since some organic compounds are not oxidized by the dichromate method whereas some inorganic compounds are oxidized. However, COD is a useful, rapidly measured, variable for many industrial wastes and has been in use for several decades (Chapman, 1996). 2.6.4 Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N) The presence of ammonium ions in water is connected to the process of the biochemical decomposition of protein substances contained in household and industrial sewage (Chan, 2002). Ammonium ion is in equilibrium with dissolved oxygen in any aqueous solution. All nitrogen that exists either as ion or in equilibrium with NH3 is considered to be ammonia-nitrogen. The relative value for NH3 varies from 0.1 to 5.0% of total sum of ammonium and ammonia at typical pH value of 6-8 and temperature between 5-30 °C (Radojevic Bashkin, 2006). According to report by DOE (2009), the main sources of NH3-N were livestock farming and domestic sewage. 2.6.5 Suspended Solids (SS) Suspended solids are matter held in suspension in the water or wastewater and retained by a filter (Chan, 2002). The type and concentration of suspended solids controls the turbidity and transparency of the water. Suspended solids consist of silt, clay, fine particles of organic and inorganic matter, soluble organic compounds, plankton and other microscopic organisms. Such particles differ in size from approximately 10nm in diameter to 0.1mm in diameter (Chapman, 1996). 2.6.6 pH pH is important in natural waters and in water treatment. Aquatic organisms are sensitive to pH changes and require a pH of 6 to 9. The pH is an important variable in water quality assessment as it influences many biological and chemical processes within a water body and all processes associated with water supply and treatment. When measuring the effects of an effluent discharge, it can be used to assist determine the extent of the effluent plume in the water body. Generally, pH is a measure of the acid balance of a solution and is defined as the negative of the logarithm to the base 10 of hydrogen ion (H+) concentration. The pH scale runs from 1 to 14 (i.e. very acidic to very alkaline), with pH 7 representing a neutral condition. At any given temperature, pH (or the H+ activity) indicates the intensity of the acidic or basic character of a solution and is controlled by the dissolved chemical compounds and biochemical processes in the solution. In unpolluted waters, pH is principally controlled by the balance between the carbon dioxide, carbonate and bicarbonate ions as well as other natural compounds (e. g. humic and fulvic acids). Unpolluted water usually gives the neutral pH value or slightly alkaline. The natural acid-base balance of a water body can be affected by industrial effluents and atmospheric deposition of acid-forming substances. Changes in pH can indicate the presence of certain effluents, particularly when continuously measured and recorded, together with the conductivity of a water body. Variations in pH can be caused by the photosynthesis and respiration cycles of algae in eutrophic waters. The pH of most natural waters is between 6.0 to 8.5, although lower values can occur in dilute waters high in organic content, and higher values in eutrophic waters, groundwater brines and salt lakes (Chapman, 1996; Jonnalagadda et al., 2001). 2.7 Previous Study on River Water Quality Status Water Quality Index (WQI) value are inconsistent based on the activity and the sources of the impurity. A report by Yusoff Haron (1999), the study of river water quality status of Ayer Hitam Forest Selangor showed that the upstream water quality was better than the downstream river water quality throughout the phase of sampling. The study shows clearly that as the river flows from uninterrupted (upstream) to the distressed environment (downstream), the physicochemical characteristics vary and thus degrades the water quality status. The value of water quality index based on the DOE-WQI was in the ranged 89.6 99.8. Thus indicate that the water quality status within the vicinity fall under Class I and II. It reveals that there is a close relationship between the river water quality and the land use pattern within the vicinity of the sampling stations. Besides development activities, natural factors such as organic matter decomposition may also contribute and hence influence the river water quality in the study area. Refer to Suratman et al. (2005), river profile status in Ibai River Basin have value of WQI in between 65.0 85.4, which have been categorize under Class II with slightly polluted water status. The major activities that contribute to the decline of water quality are the contribution of domestic sewage from residential and from the small workshops. Table 2.4 below shows some previous study done by researchers on river water quality status at different location. Table 2.4 Previous study of WQI in Malaysia Study Area WQI Value