Essay on Antigone vs. Pai - 890 Words

Some Things Never Change There are many examples of past ideas and controversies that have arose once again in modern day situations. Although a lot of controversies get resolved, many do not and end up arising again. A great example of this comes from the play Antigone by Sophocles and the film Whale Rider by Niki Caro. In both the film and the play, a woman of royal decent is going against a leader for what she feels is right. Although Antigone dies in the end of Antigone, Pai from Whale Rider convinces the leader and lives a happy life. Pai and Antigone were very similar characters because of the problems they faced. First, Pai and Antigone were both women who stood up to a male-led society. Second, they were both listened to by the†¦show more content†¦In Antigone, the leader tries crying to god by saying, â€Å"O God, I am sick with fear. Are there no swords here? Has no one a blow for me?† (807) The leader has just lost his wife, niece, and son and is overwhelme d by the deaths. Although he asks god to take his life to, they do not respond. In Whale Rider, the leader has just found out that none of the boys that he was training to be leader were the one and Pai said, â€Å"He was calling to the ancient ones, asking them to help him...but they werent listening. So i tried...and they heard me.† (38) The leader was trying to ask the gods for help but as Pai said, they did not respond. Instead, Pai tried calling to the gods and they did respond by shoring all of the whales. Since Pai and Antigone were listened to while the leaders were not, they had a great advantage. Although they had a great advantage, they were both still willing to die for what they believed in. In Antigone, Antigone is talking to her sister about what she feels she should do and says, â€Å"But I will bury him: and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy...† (774) Antigone is telling her sister that although she will most likely be killed as a result of doing what she feels is right, she is willing to take the chance and do it anyways. Pai does something very similar when she says, â€Å"I wasnt scared to die.† (45) Pai was riding the largest whale back into the water in order to save it and ends up being pulled

Legal Research Free Essays

Samaritan Smith slipped and fell on shampoo that had spilled In the health and beauty department of the grocery store in question. Ms. Smith had suffered a broken hip from the incident and is going to be spending the next few months in physical therapy. We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Research or any similar topic only for you Order Now Ms. Smith has no health insurance and is a single mother of a 2 year old boy. After our complaints were filed In the courts; the grocery store alleges that Ms. Smith had a duty herself to avoid the spillage, but was too distracted by her young son to notice. The store feels that Ms. Smith should be held just as responsible as hey are in the case. The question being presented today, Is If both parties Involved are equally responsible? Ms. Smith does in fact possibly hold some sort of comparative fault in this case. The grocery store did complete their scheduled aisle check Just thirty minutes before Ms. Smith slipped. INDO. Code Ann. 534-51-2-5 (WEST 1998) states that â€Å"In an action based on fault, any contributory fault chargeable to the claimant diminishes proportionately the amount awarded as compensatory damages for an injury attributable to the claimants contributory fault, but does not bar recovery†. There are several factors in that can place Ms. Smith with comparative fault. The biggest fact being that she was not paying attention, because she was dealing with her 2 year old son. It does not seem that the store is not at all responsible for the injuries she sustained. Yes, the aisle check was done at the scheduled time, but it was checked by an older gentleman that wore prescription glasses. As in Wall-Mart v. Wright, 774 EN ad 891 (2002) where Wright was found at comparative fault and awarded 30% less In damages, this too could be the case with Ms. Grants Ms. Smith states negligence on the grocery stores behalf, but she too had a duty to pay attention to her surroundings. The grocery store in question has documented proof of an aisle check being done at 1 p. M. The shampoo could have spilled anytime between 1:00 and 1:30 p. M. In conclusion Ms. Smith could very well hold some comparative fault if the grocery store can prove that she was distracted enough by her child, that she was unable to notice the spillage. [Where are the headings in your memo? I have no idea where your memo components are. ] Wall-Mart stores Inc. V. Got, 774 EN ad 891 (2002) Wright originally sued Wall-Mart for Injuries she sustained when she slipped and fell on a puddle of water in the â€Å"Outdoor Lawn and Garden Corral†. Wright insisted Wall-Mart was negligent in the maintenance and inspections of the premises. Wright was found at comparative fault for not doing her duty as an Individual and shopper and paying attention In an area of the store where it was common for water to be on the ground. Description Weighting Possible Points Points Earned Content Student located a statute from the appropriate Jurisdiction. The statute that the dent located is on the appropriate issue and applied to the fact situation. Student provided proper citation of statutes. Student located a case from the appropriate Jurisdiction that interprets the statute. 32 Sentence Mastery Sentences are consistently grammatical. Major sentence-level errors, including fragments, run-eons, and comma splices, are avoided. Sentences are graceful, I. E. , they can be read aloud without awkwardness, awkward pauses, or running out of breath. Language is rich, precise, and vivid. 6 Grammar and Mechanics Spelling is proficient. Spellchecker has been used to avoid egregious errors. Grammar and mechanics are sound, including mastery of the following key elements: subject-verb agreement; verb form; appropriate punctuation and capitalization; apostrophe use; appropriate word use. There are no extra words, and there are not missing words. Organization and Format Organization and structure are clear and easy to follow. Writing shows clear purpose and orderly transitions from beginning to end. Sentences consistently establish this organization and flow rather than interrupt it. Format meets PAPA guidelines and Bluebook rules as appropriate, including use of title pages. There is no playful experimentation with fancy fonts. It is written for the appropriate audience. Citation Style Writing shows both internal citations in the body of the text as well as a proper list of references at the end of the paper, following PAPA or Bluebook format. Citations appear consistently where needed, whether following quoted or paraphrased material in the text. Note: In papers requiring secondary sources, failure to provide any citation does not result in a deduction of 10% from the paper, but will result in a failed paper and a plagiarism investigation. Total: 100% 60] Possible Points [50] Points Earned Additional Instructor Comments: FRIAR for Samaritan Smith scenario Facts [Your own paraphrase of the facts of Smith’s problem in one or two paragraphs. This goes to the Analysis section, so do not skimp. ] Issue [Your own statement of Smith’s problem in a single sentence in yes or no format. For example, â€Å"Can Samaritan Smith recover for the damages she endured as the result of a slip and fall at a local grocery store where shampoo had leaked upon the floor? â€Å"] Rule The citations and holdings from the two cases you located (one in Unit Three and one How to cite Legal Research, Essays

Effectiveness of Pragmatic Lifestyle for Diseases- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theEffectiveness of Pragmatic Lifestyle for Chronic Diseases. Answer: Introduction Chronic condition or illness is a prolonged illness or condition to a human health that cannot be cured. Chronic diseases are persisting and their effects come with time (DeCensi et al 2010). Human beings have to live with chronic condition by managing it. The common chronic diseases are cancer, diabetes, HIV/Aid, Arthritis, stroke, and Asthma. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of deaths in the World accounting for 60% total death per year (Green et al., 2015). Chronic diseases are common and costly to human beings that impacts people economically and socially. They make patients vulnerable to other infections. Many chronic illnesses are both manageable and preventable. Chronic diseases are highly linked to an individual lifestyle (Owen, Bauman, Brown, 2009). Chronic diseases can be prevented by avoiding tobacco, regular undertaking physical exercises, and eating nutritious foods. On the other side, chronic diseases can be managed by eating healthy food, exercising and taking m edications to prolong ones life. The following write up discusses a case study of Ann Nobis who has diabetes for the past ten years. Ann Nobis is an Australian citizen and was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. Ann is 45 years old and has been working as a hotel manager for the past 20 years. Diabetes is a complex condition and affects the entire body. Diabetes is condition that occurs as a results abnormal high level of glucose in a persons blood. Ann suffers from Diabetes type 2 that is a condition as a result of the body not making or using insulin. Ann is also obese. The write up will involve discussing Pathophysiology of diabetes, the impact of the disease to the patient and her family and recommendation on diabetic prevention and pharmacological management. Pathophysiology of Diabetes Ann had the following symptoms; first, Ann experienced frequent urination and increase thirst. The excess sugar in the bloodstream builds up causing fluid in tissue to be pulled off leading to dehydration. The tissues get dehydrated that leads to Ann drinking more water and consequently urinating more. Ann was urinating more times per day than a normal person and felt thirsty throughout the day (Noto et al., 2012). Secondly, Ann has increased hunger. Ann confessed that she felt hunger even after immediately taking a meal. This symptom was as a result of her body organs and muscles becoming depleted of energy. This is because there is no enough insulin in the body to move sugar to her cells that triggers hungers. Thirdly, Ann lost weight. Even with increased eating to reduce hunger, Ann lost weight. She recorded 5% weight loss (Chiuve et al., 2012). Anns body with type 2 diabetes has no ability to metabolize glucose leading to the body opting for alternative fuels that is stored in th e muscles and fat. The calories that can be used in the body are released as excess glucose from the body in form of urine. This leads to the body losing weight despite increased food intake (Esser et al., 2014). Fourth, the Anns body is fatigue. She gets tired walking around or undertaking easy chores at home. She feels tired and irritable. The body cells are deprived of glucose that energizes the body cells to work. The fatigue in her body cells cause her to fell tired ad be unable to carry out her duties in her daily life. Fifth, Ann said that she was experiencing blurred vision. She could hardly clearly see objects especially from a short distance. This was caused by high blood sugar in the body that pulled the fuel from her eyes lens (Noel et al., 2009). This led to her eyes being affected hence losing ability to focus on objects. Lastly, Ann confessed that she had slow healing sores. The sores took longer than expected and she was forced to visit her doctor even with minor cut s. Type 2 diabetes has caused serious health complication to Ann. Type 2 diabetes is as a result of insulin resistance which is likely to be a combination with reduced insulin secretion (Dabelea et al., 2014). This has become a lifelong disease and has affected how her body handles glucose in the blood. The pancreas produces insulin but Anns cells do not use the insulin as it is supposed to. The pancreas produces more insulin than normal to get all glucose into the cells which it not able to keep up leading to sugar building up the blood instead. This is a result of insulin resistance by the body. The overproduction of insulin happens for a long period until the cells producing insulin in the pancreas wear out. In this case, an individual loses 50-70% of the cells producing insulin for the disease to be diagnosed (Bunck et al., 2009). Therefore Anns illness was a progressive condition on destruction of cells producing insulin in her pancreas. Type 2 diabetes condition is caused by ineffectiveness of insulin. Insulin is produced by pancreas gland. It is the pancreas that secretes insulin to the blood stream. The insulin then circulates in the whole body enabling glucose to enter to the body cells. This process lowers the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. The production of insulin is stimulated by the amount of sugar in the blood. Glucose (sugar) is an important source of energy for body cells. The human body muscles and tissues require glucose to function normally through provision of energy. Glucose in the body comes from either the liver or food. The condition of Type 2 diabetes occurs when this process does not work as expected. This leads to glucose instead of being absorbed in the body cells, it remains in the bloodstream (Ferrannini et al., 2010). This accumulates sugar in the blood cells lending to increased insulin. The insulin producing cells becomes impaired and is unable to produce more insulin that can meet the demand of the body. Type 2 diabetes is contributed by several factors; first, it the genes of an individual body. Scientists have established that different bits on ones DNA do affect how the body makes insulin (Volkmar et al., 2012). This means that the illness can be genetically transferred from one generation to another. If one person in the family has type 2 disabilities, the other members from the same family are likely to have the same condition at a certain period of their life. Secondly, type 2 diabetes can be contributed by extra weight of ones body. Being obese causes insulin resistance. This is more likely when the weight is around the waist of an individual. Thirdly, diabetic condition can be contributed by metabolic syndrome. People who suffer from other conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood glucose, high cholesterol, extra fat, or triglycerides are at more risk to getting insulin resistance (Forslund et al., 2015). Fourth, having too much glucose produced by the liver. When th e liver produces glucose even when there is glucose from food, put an individual to a risk of having high blood sugar that can damage the insulin producing cells (Dunkley et al., 2014). Lastly, type 2 diabetes can be contributed by bad communication between cells or broken beta cells. This leads to cells sending wrong signals that cause insulin to be sent on the wrong time increasing the blood sugar. The high blood sugar then damages the cells producing the insulin leading to type 2 diabetics. Ann also had several comorbities as a result of type 2 diabetes. She was diagnosed with one kidney failure. Anns one kidney was damage in 2015 and it was removed. This was a as a result of damages caused by diabetes in the kidney tiny blood vessels. Secondly, Ann eyes got damaged that led to seeing problems. Diabetes damages the retina blood vessel. The blood vessels are dehydrated and lack supply of energy that lead to dysfunction. Thirdly, Ann had foot damage. Her feet nerves were damaged together with poor blood flow that led to foot complications. Lastly, Ann developed a skin conditions. Her skin developed black spots around specific area. These infections were as a result of insulin resistance in the body causing dark patches (Lewis et al., 2011). Impact of Type 2 Diabetes to Ann and Her Family Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that has no cure (Ley, Hamdy, Mohan, 2014). The condition has adversely affected Anns life and her family. First, the condition has impacted Anns ability to work. Ann used to work as a manager in a hotel in town where she lost her job two years ago. She was unable to meet targets as a result of stagnated and decreasing performance in the workplace. Secondly, type 2 diabetes has led to Ann losing her one kidney. The condition damaged her left side kidney leading to it removal. Thirdly, Ann has developed eyes problems where she has to use a pair of glasses and attend regular checkups to her optician. Lastly, Ann cannot walk without external support. She needs to be supported or use a wheelchair to move. Her foot has been damaged by type 2 diabetes condition (Hayward et al., 2015). On the other side, Anns condition has affected her family in several ways; first, her family has incurred high budgets to maintain her condition and attend medications. The family takes the responsibility of paying hospital bills for Ann. Secondly the family has been stressed over Anns condition. The family at first did not understand her condition. This caused anxiety in the family that led to stress (Vijan et al., 2014). Lastly, the family lost a bread winner. Ann was a bread winner in the family who turned to a dependant in her family. This situation has exposed the family to financial constrains. Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Type 2 Diabetes is a condition of a patients pancreas not working effectively. The pancreas does not produce optimum insulin to enable absorption of glucose top cells leading to high blood sugar (Bauer et al., 2014). The following strategies can be used to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes; Healthy eating: This involves eating a healthy diet that maintains or reduces ones blood sugar for patients (Van Acker et al., 2009). Diabetes can be prevented by eating balanced diet and avoiding food with high levels of calories. It is also important for an individual to avoid tobacco because it stimulates diabetes. Eating well enables manage blood glucose level and body weight (Zinman et al., 2015). Undertake exercises regularly: This involves engaging in physical activities that increase metabolic activities of the body. Exercising enables patient insulin to work more effectively. Exercising also reduces the risk of heart disease and lowers the blood pressure (Zoungas et al., 2014). Monitoring blood glucose regularly: This involves taking blood sugar test regularly to monitor it level. This strategy enables one to know if the treatment followed is adequate in controlling the condition. Monitoring enables making of informed decision on managing blood sugar (Matthews, 2012). Pharmacological management of Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes can be managed in several ways and each case is different. The following are pharmacological recommendation to Ann condition; Metformin: This medication helps the body to use insulin produced effectively. Sulfonylureas: This medicine enables the body to produce more insulin to enhance absorption of glucose by the muscles and tissues (Kahn, Cooper, Del Prato, 2014). DPP-4 Inhibitors: This enable reduce blood glucose level. SGLT2 Inhibitors: It prevents kidney from reabsorbing glucose from the blood. Insulin Therapy: These are injected to control blood sugar. They include; insulin glulisine, insulin aspart, insulin isophane, and insulin lispro (Nathan et al., 2009). Conclusion From Anns case study, type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition without a cure. The illness is a condition where there is insulin ineffectiveness causing high blood sugar. This condition can be contributed by genes, metabolic syndrome, liver producing glucose, overweight, and miscommunication between insulin producing cells. Type 2 diabetes damages the kidneys, eyes, foot, and the heart. The condition symptoms are impaired healing, weight loss, increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and inability to see clearly. Type 2 diabetes causes other complications such has foot, kidney, eyes, and heart diseases. The condition can be managed or prevented by eating healthy diet, monitoring blood sugar level and regularly exercising. References Bauer, U. E., Briss, P. A., Goodman, R. A., Bowman, B. A. (2014). Prevention of chronic disease in the 21st century: elimination of the leading preventable causes of premature death and disability in the USA. The Lancet, 384(9937), 45-52. Bunck, M. C., Diamant, M., Cornr, A., Eliasson, B., Malloy, J. L., Shaginian, R. M., Yki-Jrvinen, H. (2009). One-year treatment with exenatide improves -cell function, compared with insulin glargine, in metformin-treated type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes care, 32(5), 762-768. Chiuve, S. E., Fung, T. T., Rimm, E. B., Hu, F. B., McCullough, M. L., Wang, M., ... Willett, W. C. (2012). Alternative dietary indices both strongly predict risk of chronic disease. The Journal of nutrition, jn-111. Dabelea, D., Mayer-Davis, E. J., Saydah, S., Imperatore, G., Linder, B., Divers, J., ... Liese, A. D. (2014). Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents from 2001 to 2009. Jama, 311(17), 1778-1786. Dunkley, A. J., Bodicoat, D. H., Greaves, C. J., Russell, C., Yates, T., Davies, M. J., Khunti, K. (2014). Diabetes prevention in the real world: effectiveness of pragmatic lifestyle interventions for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and of the impact of adherence to guideline recommendations. Diabetes care, 37(4), 922-933. DeCensi, A., Puntoni, M., Goodwin, P., Cazzaniga, M., Gennari, A., Bonanni, B., Gandini, S. (2010). Metformin and cancer risk in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer prevention research, 3(11), 1451-1461. Esser, N., Legrand-Poels, S., Piette, J., Scheen, A. J., Paquot, N. (2014). Inflammation as a link between obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes research and clinical practice, 105(2), 141-150. Ferrannini, E., Ramos, S. J., Salsali, A., Tang, W., List, J. F. (2010). Dapagliflozin monotherapy in type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycemic control by diet and exercise. Diabetes care, 33(10), 2217-2224. Forslund, K., Hildebrand, F., Nielsen, T., Falony, G., Le Chatelier, E., Sunagawa, S., ... Arumugam, M. (2015). Disentangling the effects of type 2 diabetes and metformin on the human gut microbiota. Nature, 528(7581), 262. Green, J. B., Bethel, M. A., Armstrong, P. W., Buse, J. B., Engel, S. S., Garg, J., ... Lachin, J. M. (2015). Effect of sitagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(3), 232-242. Hayward, R. A., Reaven, P. D., Wiitala, W. L., Bahn, G. D., Reda, D. J., Ge, L., ... Emanuele, N. V. (2015). Follow-up of glycemic control and car Kahn, S. E., Cooper, M. E., Del Prato, S. (2014). Pathophysiology and treatment of type 2 diabetes: perspectives on the past, present, and future. The Lancet, 383(9922), 1068-1083. Matthews, D. R. (2012). Management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes: a patient-centered approach. Position statement of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetologia, 55(6), 1577-1596. Lewis, J. D., Ferrara, A., Peng, T., Hedderson, M., Bilker, W. B., Quesenberry, C. P., Strom, B. L. (2011). Risk of bladder cancer among diabetic patients treated with pioglitazone. Diabetes care, 34(4), 916-922. Ley, S. H., Hamdy, O., Mohan, V., Hu, F. B. (2014). Prevention and management of type 2 diabetes: dietary components and nutritional strategies. The Lancet, 383(9933), 1999-2007. Noel, R. A., Braun, D. K., Patterson, R. E., Bloomgren, G. L. (2009). Increased risk of acute pancreatitis and biliary disease observed in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes care, 32(5), 834-838. Nathan, D. M., Buse, J. B., Davidson, M. B., Ferrannini, E., Holman, R. R., Sherwin, R., Zinman, B. (2009). Medical management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes: a consensus algorithm for the initiation and adjustment of therapy. Diabetes care, 32(1), 193-203. Noto, H., Goto, A., Tsujimoto, T., Noda, M. (2012). Cancer risk in diabetic patients treated with metformin: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 7(3), e33411. Owen, N., Bauman, A., Brown, W. (2009). Too much sitting: a novel and important predictor of chronic disease risk?. British journal of sports medicine, 43(2), 81-83. Van Acker, K., Bouhassira, D., De Bacquer, D., Weiss, S., Matthys, K., Raemen, H., ... Colin, I. M. (2009). Prevalence and impact on quality of life of peripheral neuropathy with or without neuropathic pain in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients attending hospital outpatients clinics. Diabetes metabolism, 35(3), 206-213. Vijan, S., Sussman, J. B., Yudkin, J. S., Hayward, R. A. (2014). Effect of patients risks and preferences on health gains with plasma glucose level lowering in type 2 diabetes mellitus. JAMA internal medicine, 174(8), 1227-1234. Volkmar, M., Dedeurwaerder, S., Cunha, D. A., Ndlovu, M. N., Defrance, M., Deplus, R., ... Del Guerra, S. (2012). DNA methylation profiling identifies epigenetic dysregulation in pancreatic islets from type 2 diabetic patients. The EMBO journal, 31(6), 1405-1426. Zinman, B., Wanner, C., Lachin, J. M., Fitchett, D., Bluhmki, E., Hantel, S Broedl, U. C. (2015). Empagliflozin, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality in type 2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(22), 2117-2128. Zoungas, S., Chalmers, J., Neal, B., Billot, L., Li, Q., Hirakawa, Y., ... Cooper, M. E. (2014). Follow-up of blood-pressure lowering and glucose control in type 2 diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine, 371(15), 1392-1406.

The Kiss by Anton Chekhov A critical analysis Essay Example

The Kiss by Anton Chekhov: A critical analysis Essay The Kiss by Anton Chekhov is a brilliant short story. It contains all the requisite features of a good short story. Elements of excitement, drama, romantic infatuation and suspense make the story hold its ground. In terms of literary devices, the apt yet optimal use of imagery and symbolism accentuates the overall effect on the reader. The story is also outstanding for its accommodation of dual characteristics of the concrete and the abstract. In other words, while the romantic preoccupation of Ryabovitch has a certain immediacy and specificity, by the end of the story, it becomes clear that the author is dealing with human universals. The character of Ryabovitch pitted against the unexpected circumstances he finds himself in acts as a representation for broader human life. The rest of the essay will outline the summary, and analyze the themes and literary aspects of the story. When the officers of a reserve artillery brigade pass through the countryside as part of their military excursion, they are invited for tea by local landlord and retired General von Rabbek. The invitation was largely a matter of courtesy and formality, as the General could have very little genuine interest in entertaining a group of officers unknown and unconnected to him. The event begins on an awkward note, but is soon smoothened by banter, good food and music. When music is played, the young officers choose attractive young women from the gathering to dance in duet. What should be a pleasurable evening out for most is quite the opposite for one young officer called Ryabovitch, who is the central character of the story. Ryabovitch is a shy, lean and modest staff-captain, who regards himself as unattractive. He thinks of himself as â€Å"short, stooping†¦ with spectacles and lynx-like side whiskers†. He could be true about this assessment of himself, or it could have bor n of his low self-esteem. Either way, he finds social occasions discomforting, especially if it involves attractive young women. He tries to minimize his discomfort by joining a group of officers in the billiards room, but soon gets bored. On his way back to the central hall, he gets lost in the labyrinthine design of the house and ends up visiting a darkly lit room. As he ponders where to go next, a young woman visits him in the room and from behind him, plants a kiss upon his cheek. Momentarily, she realizes that she’s kissed the wrong man – something indicated by her surprised shriek and immediate rushing out of the room. Though aback by this unexpected yet very pleasant sensation of the young lady’s caress and kiss, the young Ryabovitch enjoyed immensely the waft of delightful perfume and the rustle of her delicate dress. This accidental presentation of a powerful feminine charm would have a profound effect on him in subsequent days. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kiss by Anton Chekhov: A critical analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Kiss by Anton Chekhov: A critical analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Kiss by Anton Chekhov: A critical analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The days after the accidental kiss were one of fanciful infatuation, mixed with imaginative flights of romance, marriage and a happy conjugal life thereafter. All other activities relating to his military duties appear in a blur, as his mind was fixated on the kiss, though he knew well that there is nothing more to it than an accident. In these days of imaginative fancy, Ryabovitch â€Å"goes on feeling the tingle of the kiss â€Å"like peppermint drops† around his mouth; every night he visualizes the girl who kissed him, and retains his joy at fate’s accidental caress.† (Evans, 2008, p. 26) Even when the brigade is on the move he daydreams about the kiss and the beauty of the girl. A moving brigade is a complicated affair, with all members of it playing their respective roles and coordinating with one another’s movements. But even this deliberate and complex piece of military routine appears to Ryabovitch as quite boring – an indication of the deep impact made by his evening at the General’s. Though his romantic urges are heightened by the event of the kiss, he slowly comes to realize the reality of his situation. That the girl intended to kiss another man and mistook for him in the dark was always known to Ryabovitch, but now he begins to consciously remind himself of this fact. But, when, after a three month interval, his brigade happens to cross the same village again, his pent up anticipation of meeting the girl who kissed him and pouring out his thoughts to her. But his desperate expectation of an invitation from General von Rabbek similar to the previous visit does not arrive on time. In the mean time, he admonishes himself for his own futile desperation and the purposelessness of his enterprise. When he is eventually informed of the General’s invitation to tea, he sticks by the decision not to pursue the girl. In other words, he has honestly measured his own foolish romantic tendencies and evaluated the vacuity of meaning in his pursuit of the mistaken girl. Standing by his convictions and by his own assessment of the situation, he declines the invitation from the General. This approach is not only pragmatic but also righteous, balanced and courageous. Though the ending to the story may come across as anti-climatic, it actually shows Ryabovitch’s conquering of himself, as opposed to the vanity of conquering the heart of an unknown girl. It is important to understand the personal philosophy of the author to appreciate the work he has created. A 1888 letter Chekhov wrote to a friend reveals this philosophy as well as sets the conceptual framework for studying the short story The Kiss. The letter was written in an emotional tone and expresses Chekhov’s personal credo that he was otherwise not ready to speak about: â€Å"I am neither liberal, nor conservative, nor gradualist, nor monk, nor indifferentist†¦. Pharisaism, dull wittedness and tyranny reign not only in merchants’ homes and police stations. I see them in science, in literature, among the younger generation†¦. I look upon tags and labels as prejudices. My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom imaginable, freedom from violence and lies, no matter what form the latter two take.† (McConkey, 2005) In studying The Kiss, the last sentence from the above passage provides the most relevant context. The story stands for ‘freedom from lies’ as much as it stands for other profound universal truths. In the case of Ryabovitch, the more accurate description is ‘freedom from self-deception’, which he at long last manages to achieve. Another salient feature of The Kiss is its rootedness to the ethnic while also appealing to the universal. For example, The Kiss was written during the early twentieth century. To this extent, some of the sentiments and situations explained by it are specific to the time. Let us take the importance attached by the author to the chance ‘kiss’. In contemporary culture, a kiss on the cheek is not a major life event – it happens as a matter of course in everyday life. But the social customs and norms of early twentieth century Russia is quite distant to current standards. Hence, a kiss by an un-married woman, chance or deliberate, carried a lot of significance. During that era, the society placed a lot of importance to the institution of marriage. Marriage was seen as not only a stable economic and social arrangement, but it also carried prestige and respectability.

Millions of Americans Look Outside U.S. for Drugs essayEssay Writing Service

Millions of Americans Look Outside U.S. for Drugs essayEssay Writing Service Millions of Americans Look Outside U.S. for Drugs essay Millions of Americans Look Outside U.S. for Drugs essayToday Americans face a number of challenges concerning the purchase of prescription drugs. Because of the high costs of prescription drugs, Americans should be allowed to purchase prescription drugs legally from other countries that are currently illegal. It is very important to find the proper solution to the â€Å"unregulated and unsafe situation with drug imports that exists today† (Grassley says it should be legal to buy prescription drugs from Canada, 2004). The US legislation should be aimed at reflecting consumer demands for the purchase of lower-priced pharmaceuticals. These drugs can be available in Canada, the UK and other countries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should not decline to take the proper action regarding this issue that may lead to legal certification of prescription drugs from Canada, the UK and other countries. Today patients in the U.S. have to â€Å"spend more on prescription drugs than any other country in the world, with an estimated $45 billion spent out-of-pocket by Americans last year† (The high cost of prescription drugs, 2013). Although the U.S. Congress has already passed the legislation to assist American patients aged 65 and older, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (Medicare Part D), the burden of high cost of prescription prices for the citizens of other age groups remains in place.Some people believe it isn’t legal for Americans to have choice in the global free market to purchase their prescription drugs from where they want. They believe this decision would have negative impact on the U.S. economy. According to the director of the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, â€Å"although the U.S. law bans nearly all imports of foreign medications, Americans are bringing in those drugs in record numbers† (Flaherty Gaul, 2003). This fact means many American citizens want to save their money, buying lower-priced prescription drugs in Mexico, Canada, the UK and other countries. As a result, the national drug distribution chain is being breached, exposing millions of consumers in the U.S. to certain risks. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration many medications that are brought in from other countries by the U.S. citizens and foreigners are considered to be illegal and some of them may be unsafe.  Nevertheless, the rising cost of prescription drugs has an enormous impact on those citizens who do not use health care programs, including moderate income Americans. Although many American citizens have health insurance, many policies are developed to cover only some small portion of a prescription’s price, while other policies do not cover some categories of drugs at all. Besides, many American citizens do not have health insurance policy. This fact means they have to pay full price for their prescription drugs. Today prices on prescription drugs are still high and some prices continue to rise.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, it is necessary to conclude that the U.S. policy makers should research the major reasons of high costs of prescription drug and determine what routes should be taken to provide effective legislation and price regulation. The U.S. citizens should support their national economy. Besides, Americans should realize that prescription drugs bought in other countries may be unsafe. The U.S. policy makers should make prescription drugs more affordable.

The Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902)

The Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902) From October 11, 1899, until May 31, 1902, the Second Boer War (also known as the South African War and the Anglo-Boer War) was fought in South Africa between the British and the Boers (Dutch settlers in southern Africa). The Boers had founded two independent South African republics (the Orange Free State and the South African Republic) and had a long history of distrust and dislike for the British that surrounded them. After gold was discovered in the South African Republic in 1886, the British wanted the area under their control. In 1899, the conflict between the British and the Boers burgeoned into a full-fledged war that was fought in three stages: a Boer offensive against British command posts and railway lines, a British counteroffensive that brought the two republics under British control, and a Boer guerrilla resistance movement that prompted a widespread scorched-earth campaign by the British and the internment and deaths of thousands of Boer civilians in British concentration camps. The first phase of the war gave the Boers the upper hand over British forces, but the latter two phases eventually brought victory to the British and placed the previously independent Boer territories firmly under British dominion leading, eventually, to the complete unification of South Africa as a British colony in 1910. Who Were the Boers? In 1652, the Dutch East India Company established the first staging post at the Cape of Good Hope (the southernmost tip of Africa); this was a place where ships could rest and resupply during the long voyage to the exotic spice markets along India’s western coast. This staging post attracted settlers from Europe for whom life on the continent had become unbearable due to economic difficulties and religious oppression. At the turn of the 18th century, the Cape had become home to settlers from Germany and France; however, it was the Dutch who made up the majority of the settler population. They came to be known as â€Å"Boers†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢- the Dutch word for farmers. As time passed, a number of Boers began migrating to the hinterlands where they believed they would have more autonomy to conduct their daily lives without the heavy regulations imposed on them by the Dutch East India Company. The British Move Into South Africa Britain, who viewed the Cape as an excellent staging post on the route to their colonies in Australia and India, attempted to take control over Cape Town from the Dutch East India Company, which had effectively gone bankrupt.  In 1814, Holland officially handed the colony over to the British Empire. Almost immediately, the British began a campaign to â€Å"Anglicize† the colony. English became the official language, rather than Dutch, and official policy encouraged the immigration of settlers from Great Britain. The issue of slavery became another point of contention. Britain officially abolished the practice in 1834 throughout their empire, which meant that the Cape’s Dutch settlers also had to relinquish their ownership of black slaves. The British did offer compensation to the Dutch settlers for relinquishing their slaves, but this compensation was seen as insufficient and their anger was compounded by the fact that the compensation had to be collected in London, some 6,000 miles away. Boer Independence The tension between Great Britain and South Africa’s Dutch settlers eventually prompted many Boers to move their families further into South Africa’s interior- away from British control- where they could establish an autonomous Boer state. This migration from Cape Town into the South African hinterland from 1835 to the early 1840s came to be known as â€Å"The Great Trek.† (Dutch settlers who remained in Cape Town, and thus under British rule, became known as Afrikaners.) The Boers came to embrace a new-found sense of nationalism and sought to establish themselves as an independent Boer nation, dedicated to Calvinism and a Dutch way of life. By 1852, a settlement was reached between the Boers and the British Empire granting sovereignty to those Boers who had settled beyond the Vaal River in the northeast. The 1852 settlement and another settlement, reached in 1854, brought about the creation of two independent Boer republics- the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The Boers now had their own home. The First Boer War Despite the Boers’ newly won autonomy, their relationship with the British continued to be tense. The two Boer republics were financially unstable and still relied heavily on British help. The British, conversely, distrusted the Boers- viewing them as quarrelsome and thickheaded. In 1871, the British moved to annex the diamond territory of the Griqua People, which had previously been incorporated by the Orange Free State. Six years later, the British annexed the Transvaal, which was plagued by bankruptcy and endless squabbles with native populations. These moves angered Dutch settlers throughout South Africa. In 1880, after first allowing the British to defeat their common Zulu enemy, the Boers finally rose up in rebellion, taking up arms against the British with the purpose of reclaiming the Transvaal. The crisis is known as the First Boer War. The First Boer War lasted only a few short months, from December 1880 until March 1881. It was a disaster for the British, who had greatly underestimated the military skill and efficiency of the Boer militia units. In the early weeks of the war, a group of less than 160 Boer militiamen attacked a British regiment, killing 200 British soldiers in 15 minutes. In late February 1881, the British lost a total of 280 soldiers at Majuba, while the Boers are said to have suffered only one single casualty. Britain’s Prime Minister William E. Gladstone forged a compromise peace with the Boers that granted the Transvaal self-government while still keeping it as an official colony of Great Britain. The compromise did little to appease the Boers and tension between the two sides continued. In 1884, Transvaal President Paul Kruger successfully renegotiated the original agreement. Although control of foreign treaties remained with Britain, Britain did, however, drop the Transvaal’s official status as a British colony. The Transvaal was then officially renamed the South African Republic. Gold The discovery of roughly 17,000 square miles of gold fields in Witwatersrand in 1886, and the subsequent opening of those fields for public digging would make the Transvaal region the prime destination for gold diggers from all over the globe. The 1886 gold rush not only transformed the poor, agrarian South African Republic into an economic powerhouse, it also caused a great deal of turmoil for the young republic. The Boers were leery of the foreign prospectors- whom they dubbed â€Å"Uitlanders† (â€Å"outlanders†)- pouring into their country from across the world to mine the Witwatersrand fields. Tensions between Boers and Uitlanders eventually prompted Kruger to adopt harsh laws that would limit the general freedoms of the Uitlanders and seek to protect Dutch culture in the region. These included policies to limit access to education and press for Uitlanders, making the Dutch language obligatory, and keeping the Uitlanders disenfranchised. These policies further eroded relations between Great Britain and the Boers as many of those rushing to the gold fields were British sovereigns. Also, the fact that Britain’s Cape Colony had now slipped into the South African Republic’s economic shadow, made Great Britain even more determined to secure its African interests and to bring the Boers to heel.   The Jameson Raid The outrage expressed against Kruger’s harsh immigration policies caused many in the Cape Colony and in Britain itself to anticipate a widespread Uitlander uprising in Johannesburg. Among them was the Cape Colony’s prime minister and diamond magnate Cecil Rhodes. Rhodes was a staunch colonialist and thus believed Britain should acquisition the Boer territories (as well as the gold fields there). Rhodes sought to exploit Uitlander discontent in the Transvaal and pledged to invade the Boer republic in the event of an uprising by Uitlanders. He entrusted 500 Rhodesian (Rhodesia having been named after him) mounted police to his agent, Dr. Leander Jameson. Jameson had express instructions not to enter the Transvaal until an Uitlander uprising was underway. Jameson ignored his instructions and on December 31, 1895, entered the territory only to be captured by Boer militiamen. The event, known as the Jameson Raid, was a debacle and forced Rhodes to resign as the Cape’s prime minister. The Jameson raid only served to increase tension and distrust between the Boers and the British. Kruger’s continued harsh policies against the Uitlanders and his cozy relationship with Britain’s colonial rivals, continued to fuel the empire’s ire towards the Transvaal republic during the waning years of the 1890s. Paul Kruger’s election to a fourth term as president of the South African Republic in 1898, finally convinced Cape politicians that the only way to deal with the Boers would be through the use of force. After several failed attempts at reaching a compromise, the Boers had their fill and by September of 1899 were preparing for full war with the British Empire. That same month the Orange Free State publicly declared its support for Kruger. The Ultimatum On October 9th, Alfred Milner, the governor of the Cape Colony, received a telegram from authorities in the Boer capital of Pretoria. The telegram laid out a point-by-point ultimatum. The ultimatum demanded peaceful arbitration, the removal of British troops along their border, British troop reinforcements be recalled, and that British reinforcements who were coming via ship, not land. The British replied that no such conditions could be met and by the evening of October 11, 1899, Boer forces began crossing over the borders into Cape Province and Natal. The Second Boer War had begun. The Second Boer War Begins: The Boer Offensive Neither the Orange Free State nor the South African Republic commanded large, professional armies. Their forces, instead, consisted of militias called â€Å"commandos† that consisted of â€Å"burghers† (citizens). Any burgher between the ages of 16 and 60 was liable to be called up to serve in a commando and each often brought their own rifles and horses. A commando consisted of anywhere between 200 and 1,000 burghers and was headed by a â€Å"Kommandant† who was elected by the commando itself. Commando members, furthermore, were allowed to sit as equals in general councils of war to which they often brought their own individual ideas about tactics and strategy. The Boers who made up these commandos were excellent shots and horsemen, as they had to learn to survive in a very hostile environment from a very young age. Growing up in the Transvaal meant that one often had protected one’s settlements and herds against lions and other predators.  This made the Boer militias a formidable enemy. The British, on the other hand, were experienced with leading campaigns on the African continent and yet were completely unprepared for a full-scale war. Thinking that this was a mere squabble that would soon be resolved, the British lacked reserves in ammunition and equipment; plus, they had no suitable military maps available for use either.   The Boers took advantage of the British’s ill-preparedness and moved quickly in the early days of the war. Commandos spread out in several directions from the Transvaal and Orange Free State, besieging three railway towns- Mafeking, Kimberley, and Ladysmith- in order to impede the transport of British reinforcements and equipment from the coast. The Boers also won several major battles during the early months of the war. Most notably these were the battles of Magersfontein, Colesberg, and Stormberg, which all occurred during what became known as â€Å"Black Week† between December 10 and 15, 1899. Despite this successful initial offensive, the Boers never sought to occupy any of the British-held territories in South Africa; they focused instead on besieging supply lines and ensuring that the British were too undersupplied and disorganized to launch their own offensive. In the process, the Boers greatly taxed their resources and their failure to push further into British-held territories allowed the British time to resupply their armies from the coast. The British may have faced defeat early on but the tide was about to turn. Phase Two: The British Resurgence By January of 1900, neither the Boers (despite their many victories) nor the British had made much headway. The Boer sieges of strategic British rail lines continued but the Boer militias were rapidly growing weary and low on supplies. The British government decided it was time to gain the upper hand and sent two troop divisions to South Africa, which included volunteers from colonies like Australia and New Zealand. This amounted to roughly 180,000 men- the largest army Britain had ever sent overseas to this point. With these reinforcements, the disparity between the numbers of troops was huge, with 500,000 British soldiers but only 88,000 Boers. By late February, British forces had managed to move up strategic railway lines and finally relieve Kimberley and Ladysmith from Boer besiegement. The Battle of Paardeberg, which lasted nearly ten days, saw a major defeat of Boer forces. Boer general Piet Cronjà © surrendered to the British along with more than 4,000 men. A series of further defeats greatly demoralized the Boers, who were also plagued by starvation and disease brought on by months of sieges with little to no supply relief. Their resistance began to collapse. By March 1900, British forces led by Lord Frederick Roberts had occupied Bloemfontein (the capital of the Orange Free State) and by May and June, they had taken Johannesburg and the South African Republic’s capital, Pretoria. Both republics were annexed by the British Empire. Boer leader Paul Kruger escaped capture and went into exile in Europe, where much of the population’s sympathy lay with the Boer cause. Squabbles erupted within Boer ranks between the bittereinders (â€Å"bitter-enders†) who wanted to keep fighting and those hendsoppers (â€Å"hands-uppers†) who favored surrender.  Many Boer burghers did end up surrendering at this point, but about 20,000 others decided to fight on. The last, and most destructive, phase of the war was about to begin. Despite the British victories, the guerrilla phase would last more than two years. Phase Three: Guerrilla Warfare, Scorched Earth, and Concentration Camps Despite having annexed both Boer republics, the British barely managed to control either one. The guerrilla war that was launched by resistant burghers and led by generals Christiaan de Wet and Jacobus Hercules de la Rey, kept the pressure on British forces throughout the Boer territories. Rebel Boer commandos relentlessly raided British communication lines and army bases with swift, surprise attacks often conducted at night. Rebel commandos had the ability to form on a moment’s notice, conduct their attack and then vanish as if into thin air, confusing British forces who barely knew what had hit them. The British response to the guerrillas was three-fold. Firstly, Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener, commander of the South African British forces, decided to set up barbed wire and blockhouses along the railway lines to keep the Boers at bay. When this tactic failed, Kitchener decided to adopt a â€Å"scorched earth† policy that systematically sought to destroy food supplies and deprive the rebels of shelter. Whole towns and thousands of farms were plundered and burned; livestock was killed. Lastly, and perhaps most controversially, Kitchener ordered the construction of concentration camps in which thousands of women and children- mostly those left homeless and destitute by his scorched earth policy- were interred.   The concentration camps were severely mismanaged. Food and water were scarce in the camps and starvation and disease caused the deaths of over 20,000. Black Africans were also interred in segregated camps primarily as a source of cheap labor for gold mines. The camps were widely criticized, especially in Europe where British methods in the war were already under heavy scrutiny. Kitchener’s reasoning was that the internment of civilians would not only further deprive the burghers of food, which had been supplied to them by their wives on the homestead, but that it would prompt the Boers to surrender in order to be reunited with their families. Most notable among the critics in Britain was Liberal activist Emily Hobhouse, who worked tirelessly to expose the conditions in the camps to an outraged British public. The revelation of the camp system severely damaged the reputation of Britain’s government and furthered the cause for Boer nationalism abroad.   Peace Nevertheless, the strong-arm tactics of the British against the Boers eventually served their purpose. The Boer militias grew weary of fighting and morale was breaking down. The British had offered peace terms in March of 1902, but to no avail. By May of that year, however, Boer leaders finally accepted peace conditions and signed the Treaty of Vereenigingon May 31, 1902. The treaty officially ended the independence of both the South African Republic and the Orange Free State and placed both territories under British army administration. The treaty also called for the immediate disarmament of the burghers and included a provision for funds to be made available for the reconstruction of the Transvaal. The Second Boer War had come to an end and eight years later, in 1910, South Africa was united under British dominion and became the Union of South Africa.

International relation's discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International relation's discussion - Assignment Example ny, without doubt is a bad person that should be captured and face charges of crime against humanity at the international criminal courts, but his capture would come with other consequences, which might prove to be disastrous. In that case, peace and reconciliation techniques should be used especially in Northern Uganda to avoid any kind aggression between the rebels and government forces. Another key factor is African matters should be dealt by African people. There is absolute no need for putting pressure on the United States government to intervene (Peter, 21). As much as African countries appreciates the wet support in terms of foreign aid and donation they have also proved to the world that they are willing and ready to solve their own problems, some which have proved to be big challenges to the world. Therefore, the campaign for western countries to intervene in Kony’s capture is very not a good idea. The realist will not agree with the idea of going all out to capture Joseph Kony. This is because there are still other ways of coming up with a good solution to that problem. Still there are treaties between counties that must be respected. Kony is believed to have left Northern Uganda for South Sudan or Central African Republic, so attempt for invasion on Northern Uganda will be only cause harm to the healing

Methamphetamine Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 11250 words

Methamphetamine Abuse - Essay Example It is also a belief that chronic abuse of the drug would eventually lead to profound reduction in the gray matter of the brain. There are many associated health risks reported with methamphetamine abuse, some of which are risky sexual behavior, social and family problems, and drug induced psychosis (Murray, 1998). Quite as expected, methamphetamine is a popular drug of abuse with limited role as a licit therapeutic agent only in certain indications (Gibson, Leamon, & Flynn, 2002). Due to growing problem of methamphetamine abuse, there is increased demand of the drug, and in many parts of the United State, there are illegal indigenous methamphetamine synthesis laboratories to meet this demand, which hardly follow any safety protocol (Topolski, 2007). People working in these facilities are exposed to increased risk of occupational hazards. There are also reports of increased industrial accidents in these manufacturing units. It has been reported that methamphetamine abuse, manufacturing, control, and accidental or unintentional exposure, all have been associated with health hazards, which have grown into a significant public health problems with no easy solutions (Spoth, Clair, Shin, & Redmond, 2006). On the other hand, there is quite a volume of research in this area with abundant information. Therefore, it would be prudent to undertake a research in this area with the aim of finding solutions to these problems associated with methamphetamine. In order to be able to understand the problem better, it is felt that this problem should be studied in greater detail right from its roots. If involvement in illegal drug manufacturing leads to inordinate exposure with potential and real health risks (Lazarou, 2008), then the root is at the social and economic drivers of the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine, almost to the extent of household small scale industry dedicated to production of street drugs. Drug abuse of any kind is associated with criminal activities of trading with tremendous fiscal implications (Cartier, Farabee, & Prendergast, 2006). Therefore identification and characterization of the problem need an analysis of the epidemiological details of methamphetamine abuse, since solutions for the epidemiological factors may lead to decreased abuse and demand. If the demand is less, there would be less production as expected, and this may curtail the occupational hazards associated with methamphetamine manufacturing units (Tunnell, 2006). Thus the objectives of this research are to study and critically review information on methamphetamine abuse history and epidemiology, processes and materials employed in the manufacturing of illegal methamphetamine, so an analysis of hazards and risks for the first responders and public associated with such illegal laboratories

Ethical issues Essay Example for Free

Ethical issues Essay Code of ethics for education defines the professional behavior of educator and serves as a guide to ensure there is ethical conduct. Professional standards commission came up with standards that give guidance as far as conducts that are general accepted in education profession. For this case, there is assurance of protection of safety, health and general welfare of teachers and students to ensure some degree of accountability within the education profession and defines unethical conduct justifying disciplinary action. Educators ought to uphold ethics such as moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character among others wile working. Ethical standards are set such as criminal acts, abuse of students, alcohol or drugs, misinterpretation, public fund and property mismanagement and improper remunerative conduct among others (Code of ethics for Educators, 1999) How is it then possible for a teacher, who has been trusted with the welfare of children, dare think, for a moment to have a sexual relationship with a student? Well, here is a case study in Leewicks High School in America. English teacher charged with having affair with student, February 1998 English teacher, Mary (not real name), 35 years old was charged with criminal sexual exploitation and having a sexual and romantic affair with a minor 16 year old boy. She admitted having sex with the boy. Suspicions were raised about the affaire when people saw them together cuddling and holding hands away from the school. Another teacher, Mrs.  Shael (not real name) also found a hand written note with the student’s initials on Mary’s desk. There was also a piece of paper with a list of things she wanted to do which included dinner out and â€Å"great sex! † Police said they seized letters in which Mary wrote. She was upset that the boy wanted to breakup the relationship. The boy told the police that the relationship started when he was 15 years old while baby sitting Mary’s son and taking care of her dogs and cats. They also exchanged gifts and letters, including wedding rings, police said. Mary was arrested at school and initially denied the allegations, saying the boy was fantasizing. Police said that she later confessed. Prosecutors noted that Mary initially made up a cancer story to save her marriage from breaking, and later on continued to use the same lie in order to be absent in her place of work and in an effort to keep the lover boy from terminating the relationship Mary was ordered on bail and could be sentenced to more than eight years. She was suspended with pay. She has separated with the husband; they had a 9 year old son. Mark (not real name), the principal of the school said the whole school felt betrayed. This became the topic of discussion among students and teachers in the school. Some students found it hard to believe the story as they described her as a very nice teacher who is always positive. † She was a very dear teacher to us† student commented. Some felt the act was disguising. The disciplinary action taken might lead Mary to be fired by the education managers. She is likely not to serve the eight years in jail because she can easily be released on bonds. Mary could alternatively have been asked to compensate the teen for sexually using him. The ministry of education could monitor the educator’s conduct and performance after an investigation is held. This action is to ensure that the prosecuted educator is abiding by laws and regulations of the sector. Professional certificate or license could be suspend or revocation. The action is usually taken the way it is outlined in educator’s code of ethics. Another alternative way of dealing with the case is not to allow the educator to be engaged in to play the role of volunteers. Or substitute teachers or any position during the time of her revocation, suspension or denial for the violation of the code of ethics. These solutions though acceptable, may complicate the situation because the students will loose the teacher and the education performance be affected. The sector will also have lost a human resource.

Characters Essay examples -- essays research papers

Significance of a Minor Character   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Minor characters are the backbones of all literary pieces of work. They can have an overall affect that can change the development of a story. These minute characters can provide further insight into the mind of the leading character(s) through their actions. In the short story â€Å"The Outcasts of Poker Flat†, Uncle Billy is a diminutive character that alters the upcoming events faced by the other characters. His actions force the other characters to use an alternative way to solve their dilemma. Another minute character that makes a big difference is the old timer in the short story â€Å"To Build a Fire†. The old timer gives useful advice to the man but blatantly ignores it. These two minor characters in both of these pieces show that a small and negligible character can make a huge impact on the development of the story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Uncle Billy in â€Å"The Outcasts of Poker Flat† alters the way the other characters can solve their problem. In the story, Uncle Billy steals the mules and heads back into Poker Flat leaving the other characters stranded in a snowstorm. â€Å"But turning to where Uncle Billy had been lying, he found him gone. A suspicion leaped to his brain and a curse to his lips. He ran to the spot where the mules had been tethered: they were no longer there† (Harte 585). With the few supplies obtained, the characters rely upon themselves to correct the problem. The minor character in the sto...

Banquets and Confrenceing

1. 1 THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF CONFERENCE AND BANQUETING INDUSTRY IN THE UK Conference and banqueting is normally organizing an event, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose, such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, small meetings, corporate gatherings, seminars, family occasions or weddings As of now, conferences are considered as one of the most essential and significant aspects in globalization as it bridge the gaps of various industries from one nation to another and it is helping many economies of various nations to be recognized all over the world.Accordingly, one of the most essential international conferences such as world expos is the World Expo conferences which are regarded as a large scale, non-commercial international expo. Since it is an essential and significant international conference such as world expo, the hosting for this must be applied for by a nation and approved by the international committee. The main goal of thi s event is to promote transfer and exchange of ideas as well as development of the global economy, science and technology, customs and culture and to allow exhibitors to promote as well as show off their achievements and enhance international relationship.A banquet (/? b k. w? t/; French: [b. k? ]) is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone The idea of banqueting in the UK is ancient. In the 16th century, a banquet was very different from our modern perception and stems from the medieval ‘ceremony of the void'. After dinner, the guests would stand and drink sweet wine and spices while the table was cleared, or ‘voided’ (Later in the 17th century ‘void’ would be replaced with the French ‘dessert’).During the 16th century, guests would no longer stand in the grea t chamber whilst the table was cleared and the room prepared for entertainment, but would retire to the parlour or banqueting room. 1. 2 FACTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONFERENCE AND BANQUETING INDUSTRY IN THE UK As the idea of conferencing and banqueting developed, it could take place at any time during the day and have much more in common with the later practice of taking tea. Banqueting rooms varied greatly from house to house, but were generally on an intimate scale either in a garden oom or inside such as the small banqueting turrets in Longleat House. Modern banqueting has its roots in the traditions of the Greeks and Romans. The Greeks introduced the hors d’oeuvre course, to which the Romans added up to20 courses as they furthered the development of the banquet feast. From this elaborate format evolved the three-course medieval menu, which presented as many as 25 menu items with each course. The menu format revisions of the late-eighteenth and nineteen th centuries transformed the three primary courses with multiple dishes into a series of nine courses, each featuring an individual menu item.These revisions were incorporate-rated into menus throughout Europe and America in a variety of formats. The history of American banqueting begins with the feasts of the Native Americans. The menu formats of early colonial American banquets were primarily influenced by England. French cuisine and menu formats initially threaded their way to the colonies via English recipes and customs. The emigration of French royalists during the French Revolution accelerated the assimilation of both French cuisine and menus with American banqueting customs.Thomas Jefferson greatly aided the development of American banqueting during his years in the White House. His simplification of the menu and emphasis on wines were major elements in the development of a style of banqueting that prevailed over the next 165 years of White House functions. During the preside ncy of John Kennedy, banquets were enhanced by the contributions of Jacqueline Kennedy. Like Jefferson, Mrs Kennedy preferred menus of simple elegance that concentrated on a high quality of food and service.The records tracing the development of the banquet menu throughout the centuries provide a rich and exciting chronicle of food items, recipes, and traditions. Many of these food items and recipes endure in our contemporary food customs. Today in the UK, banquets serve many purposes from training sessions, to formal business dinners. Business banquets are a popular way to strengthen bonds between businessmen and their partners. It is common that a banquet is organized at the end of an academic conference.A luau is one variety of banquets originally used in Hawaii. The Nei Mongol provincial government in China levies a tax on banquets. 1. 3 THREE FACTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONFRENCE AND BANQUETING IN THE UK The banqueting and conference industry is also subject to many influences and factors The banqueting and conference businesses must take these influences and factors into account when planning their operations and delivering their services. The influences and factors on the industry can be categorised as: †¢Economy / commerce Technology †¢Legislation Let’s consider examples of each of these factors. ?Economic / Commerce- factors can influence demand for hospitality services. During a recession or periods of low economic growth, people don’t have as much disposable income as in times of an economic boom. People become more interested in value for money. Pubs and restaurants need to offer money-off vouchers and discounts to encourage people to eat out more. ?Technology- plays a role in how people access hospitality services.Customers can now book restaurant tables, hotel rooms or spa days 24/7 from their computers or phones. Most hospitality businesses need an online presence. ?Legislation- All industries must be concerned for the health and safety of their employees and customers, and must meet their legal obligations. Hospitality is no exception. Businesses are bound by the law. There is often a cost to the business in meeting its legal requirements, but this can save thousands of pounds in damages that might result from a negligence claim.

Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: American Perspective Many of the pieces if literature have different perspectives on the American society and government and also have different affects on the readers. One piece of literature that really deals with American society in the 19th century is Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. This piece of literature deals with racism and the different reforms the government was trying to enforce, which made some people quite upset, along with giving different perspectives of society at this time.One of the character's in this story is referred to as Pap. This is Huck Finn's father and he seems to be in the lower social class of society. He is an alcoholic who thinks the government is against him and also believes the government is stupid for its different reforms, especially the one that lets Negros be free and not slaves in the South if they have not been there for a long enough time. He believes that all Negros should be slaves and that the government is stupid for not implementing that belief.The whole issue with slaves is not an issue anymore, but still many people are racists, including the older generation. This type of attitude is still held by some people, that Negros should be held at a lower class because they are not good as white people or that the Negros think they are better than white people. Pap also believes the justice system is corrupt and it is all about power. He refuses to give custody of Huck to Judge Thatcher and the Widow because he feels like he has more right to Huck because he is his father, even though he has a history of neglect and abuse.This reflects some of the lower class even now because some people feel like their children should not be taken away from them, even though they abuse them or neglect them or something that is just not legal. They will disrespect the justice system and say several crude statements about our justice system. Pap is a character in this novel that reflects some of the lowest in the lower class in American society from the 19th century and now. Pap makes one think about how the members of the lower class act.Some of the lower class are proud people and refuse to act this way, but there are the alcoholics and drug addicts of this class that gives everyone a bad name. Pap represents the worst of the lower class for the 19th century and he displays that not much has changed for these types of people, other than now they take money from the government and then say the government is horrible. This novel shows other perspectives of American society. There is Jim, who is a slave, which gives almost the opposite perspectives to Pap.Jim is a genuinely nice person when he is even lower than Pap in social ranking. The Widow gives a different perspective. She does not speak much about her view of the government but she is perceived as lower class to middle class. She believes everyone should be civilized, which Pap and Huck are not. She g ives a very different perspective then Pap, Huck, or Jim. Then there is the perception of society Huck has. He wants to run away from it all. He does not want to be part of a society where he has to be civilized.He is a typical teenager and some teens in the present think and act in these ways. The different perspectives represented in this book seem to be represented even now, in 2013. This piece of literature changed my perspective on America because it made me realize that this is still how many Americans act in society today. There might be different issues, but there is still the attitudes that are displayed in this piece of literature. People think we have moved forward and become better, but we truly have not done this.This book may not be modern, but it applies to many modern situations and behaviors of the different social classes and the government. All one has to do is read this book and think about the ignorant people in our society and realize we have not really changed at all in the past 150 to 200 years other than more equal rights and we have all gotten lazier because of technology. Those are the only differences in our society now, and this novel made me realize this.

Clinical Placement Reflection Essay Example

Clinical Placement Reflection Essay Example and evidence-based practice in the nursing practice became evident.

Big Changes at Playboy Magazine

Big Changes at Playboy Magazine For decades Playboy magazine has been known for its titillating nude photo spreads and centerfolds. However, a new era is upon us. The magazine will no longer include nude photos as of March 2016 issue.   The U.S. print edition of Playboy will be modernized to look more like men’s magazines, such as Esquire or GQ, which currently carry more PG-13-type pictures. However, Playboy’s international editions will still publish nude photos. A New Era In a letter to readers on Playboy.com, the magazine addressed the momentous change: â€Å"The question everyone will likely be asking is, â€Å"Why?†Ã‚  Playboy  has been a friend to nudity, and nudity has been a friend to  Playboy, for decades. The short answer is: times change. When Hef created  Playboy, he set out to champion personal freedom and sexual liberty at a time when America was painfully conservative. See: any popular movie, TV show or song from that era. Nudity played a role in the conversation about our sexual liberties, and over 62 years the country made great strides politically and culturally. We like to think we had something to do with that.† Playboy, like other forms of print media, has also seen a marked decrease in readership. In its heyday, Playboy had a circulation of 5.6 million in 1975.     According to the Alliance for Audited Media, its circular is a mere  800,000 now. Last year Playboy launched a safe-for-work website that can be viewed any where without fear of pornographic images popping up, which has resulted in younger viewers and more readership overall- quadrupling from 4 million to 16 million visitors. The ubiquity of nudity in today’s world- versus when Playboy launched in 1953- has forced the magazine to get with the times. Pay-per-view soft core porn images have a very limited audience in a world where one can view full-length hardcore films for free in a matter of a few keystrokes. What does this mean for women? For one, the magazine will feature a new sex columnist, one that Playboy’s chief content officer Corey Jones has said will be a â€Å"sex-positive† woman who will write enthusiastically about sex. This particular change is not insignificant and suggests that discussions of sex in the magazine have the potential to be transgressive. Playboy, which calls itself a cultural arbiter of beauty, taste, opinion, humor and style, will also continue its tradition of investigative journalism, in-depth interviews, and fiction. They are hoping that the de-emphasis on nudity will court big name stars and writers that were previously put off by the magazine’s racy content. Since the magazine is no longer relying on nude photos to draw in readers, their choices for future cover girls are reflecting the shift in focus. According to the Hollywood Reporter, openly feminist pop songstress Taylor Swift is Playboy’s first choice for the inaugural non-nude edition in April 2016. It remains to be seen if Swift will agree to the cover. Nevertheless, opponents of pornography, whether hard or soft core  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹and those who believe that media outlets like Playboy exploit women are unlikely to be swayed by Playboy’s move away from nude pictures.   And, indeed, considering that the magazine’s target demographic is young men, one can imagine that the magazine’s impact will be not unlike other men’s magazines such as Maxim, GQ, or Esquire- none of which are known for woman-friendly content and entertainment.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Research Paper Example Alcohol consumption is the main factor in a fetus developing fetal alcohol syndrome. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the alcohol enters the bloodstream and reaches the fetus by crossing the placenta; anything that enters the woman’s body is passed along to the fetus, and alcohol is no different. However, fetuses are unable to metabolize alcohol as quickly as adults, thus making the fetus’s blood alcohol concentration higher than that of the mother and more difficult to get rid of (Ulleland, 1972). Adults are able to rid themselves of alcohol within an hour for each beverage, yet fetuses do not have the ability to do so, so the alcohol sticks with them longer, often cause irreversible damage. Alcohol interferes with the oxygen being delivered to the unborn baby. It is common that babies face mental, behavioral and physical diseases and deformities when they are being denied the oxygen that they need to develop fully and healthily. This lack of oxygen greatly affects the nutrition of the baby’s developing tissues, organs, and brain, often causing babies with fetal alcohol syndrome to be born premature or with a variety of diseases or deformities. Due to science and technology, a fetus still in the womb can be pre-diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome based on certain signs and symptoms; unfortunately, properly diagnosing the baby can only take place after the child has been born. The first major sign is a mother that drinks regularly while pregnant. Through ultrasounds and by listening to the heartbeat of the fetus, a doctor can determine if the fetus is already facing difficulties and complications due to the intake of alcohol. Unfortunately, many of the signs and symptoms are made known after the baby has been born.   Babies often face growth deficiency, being excessively under average height and weight compared to babies born without the syndrome.  

Security Fraud and Manipulations Using Accounting Policies and Rules Dissertation

Security Fraud and Manipulations Using Accounting Policies and Rules - Dissertation Example More importantly, a wide variety of security fraud and malpractice of accounting policies are employed in the preparation of the financial report accounting of Enron, Madoff scheme, and WorldCom Corporation that lead into their bankruptcy. Nonetheless, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) seeks to deter fraud in financial statements of companies through laws, internal control systems and regulations. More significantly, the commission continuously seeks to detect misstatements, failure of disclosure of accurate financial information in records, documentation, accounting policies and procedures in changes of equity and explanatory notes accompanying every financial period statement of companies. In addition, this paper will look at the adherence to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as stipulated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) remains committed towards global standards. Finally, the pap er looks at various fraudulent situations that could be avoided through adherence to stipulated accounting policies and procedures by management, accountants and auditors as they put shareholders interest first. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express sincere gratitude to my dissertation supervisor, xxx, for his invaluable support. As an area of accounting and auditing practise, I hope you find this paper insightful in the minimization of security fraud and manipulation practices. Tables of Contents 1. Introduction 6 2. Literature Review 7 3. Research Methodology 16 4. Discussion of Findings 18 4.1.0 Nature and treatment Of Security Fraud &manipulation through fraudulent use Of accounting policies and rules 18 4.2.0 Security Fraud and Manipulation in Madoff scheme, Enron & Worldcom Corporation 23 4.3.0 Security Fraud and Manipulation Problems in Madoff Scheme, Enron and Worldcom Corporation 27 4.4.0 Comprehensive Analysis of Parties involved in the carrying out of Security Fraud an d Manipulation 33 4.5.0 Regulation of Security Fraud and Manipulation in Madoff scheme, Enron and WorldCom Corporation 39 5. Conclusions 43 6. Appendix 45 6. References 47 CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION More than often, fraudulent financial information given in companies financial statement typically takes the form of material misstatements done intentionally by making either the annually or quarterly financial statements fluctuated. In most cases, auditors acknowledge that financial statements are intentionally misstated such that the information provided remains not only misleading, but also inaccurate, such that the presentation of financial reports does not follow the generally accepted accounting practises (GAAP), international auditing standards (IAS) and international financial reporting standards (IFRS). More so, such security fraud and manipulation through the use of fraudulent accounting policies and rules in international corporations like Madoff scheme, WorldCom and Enron led to a huge loss as a result of fraud upon

Topic of your choice but i have a request can you send your topic Essay

Topic of your choice but i have a request can you send your topic choice by thursday a.m. I have to turn in topic thursday in c - Essay Example Excited and enthusiastic would describe my mood at the time of assessment. My first task was to test my endurance and meant that I had to run two kilometers in twenty-five minutes. Me run! My enthusiasm for fitness instantly decreased by 30% upon visualizing myself running around the block in the midday sun, dying for water and collapsing less than half way around. Nevertheless, once I realized I would be running on a treadmill I decided to give it a go. I felt quite pleased with myself to start and thought that the task would not be so difficult after all. After ten minutes however, I was not going as fast as I needed to finish the length in the allotted time, so the speed was increased. That was the end for me. I had to stop. I felt my heart was in my mouth and if I took one more step I would send it into oblivion. Strength was the next assessment area, and after composing myself from the endurance catastrophe I keenly ventured into my next venture, for after all I considered mysel f to be quite strong and able to lift a few weights. My enthusiasm instantly nose-dived by a further 50% on finding that I was not lifting weights but doing push-ups and sit-ups.

Analysis of Child Immunisation Programmes

Analysis of Child Immunisation Programmes Introduction Child immunisation programmes rank highly among the most successful public health interventions and are believed to have contributed substantially to the overall increase in life expectancy observed during the 20th century (Gellin et al. 2000). Global immunisation coverage has increased considerably since the introduction of the WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1974. It is estimated that twenty million deaths have been prevented through immunisation over the past twenty years (Tickner et al. 2006) and many vaccine-preventable diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio are now rare in developed countries (Bardenheier et al. 2004). However, in countries including the UK, there are fears that immunisation programmes may have become victims of their own success. Low prevalence rates of vaccine-preventable diseases have led to public belief that these diseases no longer pose a serious health risk, while concerns over the safety and side effects of vaccines are now greater than those relating to the diseases these vaccines were designed to prevent. The past thirty years has seen continuing controversy over vaccine safety. Concerns over the whole-cell pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine were first raised during the 1970s following a study which reported severe neurological complications in children following immunisation with DTP, a combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (Kulenkampff et al. 1974). Controversy surrounding the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) triple vaccine followed in the early 1990s after widespread reports suggested a link between this vaccine and both autism and bowel disease. In a study of 12 children referred to a paediatric gastroenterology unit with concurrent developmental regression and gastrointestinal problems, nine developed autism. The parents of 8 of these children associated the onset of their condition with MMR vaccination (Wakefield 1998). While more recent research has shown these fears to be unfounded (Peltola et al. 1998; Taylor et al. 1999), some parents remain unconvinced and vaccine uptake has fallen across the UK, with decreases in MMR uptake of up to 30% in some regions. Declining vaccine coverage rates are also linked to disease outbreaks. A 30% drop in uptake of the pertussis vaccine was recorded following extensive adverse media publicity in 1974 (discussed previously), which was then followed by an epidemic of pertussis (Vernon 2003 ). Similarly, since the decline in MMR coverage, outbreaks of measles have been reported in a number of European countries including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands (Department of Health 2004). Suboptimal vaccine uptake has also been reported for other vaccines including diphtheria, tetanus and polio (Tickner et al. 2006). Although the trend for decreased vaccine uptake appears to be reversing in recently years, many Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England are still failing to reach the 95% uptake target recommended by the WHO, which is essential to achieve ‘herd immunity’, i.e. where a sufficiently high proportion of the population is immune to a particular disease, thereby preventing transmission of the infectious organism (Health and Social Care Information Centre 2005). For example, data collected in 2004–2005 demonstrated an MMR uptake of 81% across England, a 1% increase on the previous 8-year period. It should be also noted that considerable regional variations were observed, with rates below 70% by some PCTs (Henderson et al. 2008). Immunisations frequently require multiple doses for maximum disease protection. Between 5–10% of children remain unprotected after the first dose of the MMR vaccine, whereas this is reduced to below 1% after the second dose (Tickner et al. 2006). However, there is evidence of poor compliance with childhood immunisation schedules. A study involving a cohort of 18,819 infants in the UK reported that 3.3% were partially immunised, compared with 95.6% of fully immunised infants (Samad et al. 2006). In the UK, statistics show that among children who reached the age of 5 years in 2004-2005, uptake levels of the primary immunisation of diphtheria, tetanus and polio vaccine plus the pre-school booster vaccination were 14% lower than those of the primary immunisation alone (Health and Social Care Information centre 2005). Similarly, uptake of the first and second doses of the MMR vaccine was 16% lower than the first dose alone. This pattern of poor compliance has also been observed in other countries including Sweden and Australia (Heiniger and Zuberbuhler 2006; Ferson et al. 1995). In order to maximise vaccine coverage rates, a full understanding of the factors affecting vaccination uptake and compliance is required, both to identify and address existing unmet needs and to develop and implement effective health promotion strategies. In the case of childhood immunisation, it is also important to consider how parental knowledge, attitudes and beliefs may influence decision-making regarding immunisation. The aims of this review are to explore those factors associated with low rates of vaccination uptake in children and poor compliance with immunisation schedules, with particular emphasis on the knowledge, attitudes and concerns of those parents who decide not to immunise their children. The specific objectives are to perform a search to identify relevant published literature, critique selected articles using an appropriate conceptual framework, and discuss the relevance and implications of the findings of this research. Overview [Client: this section isn’t really an overview, more background material – you may therefore wish to consider re-naming this as ‘Background’] Public health within the UK Public health may be defined as â€Å"the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health throughout the organised efforts of society† (Acheson 1988). Public health services within the UK cover a broad range of areas which include general health (e.g. issues such as obesity, smoking and blood pressure), environmental health (e.g. food hygiene and pest control) and disease. The NHS national immunisation programme which focuses on childhood immunisation against diseases including tetanus, diphtheria and polio forms a key component of public health provision within the UK (NHS 2007). The public health system comprises a number of core functions which include the health surveillance and monitoring the health status of communities, identifying health needs, developing disease screening and prevention programmes, managing health promotion, and evaluating the provision of health care (Department of Health 2008). Principles of immunisation [Client: I’ve assumed a detailed knowledge of immunity is already held and have therefore kept this section brief] Immunisation may be active or passive. Whereas passive immunisation provides short-term protection, active immunisation also known as vaccination induces protective long-lasting immunity. Active immunisation involves the administration of an antigen which elicits an immune response similar to that which a naturally-acquired infection (Robinson and Roberton 2003). This response results in the development of immunological memory and is achieved through the activation of both T and B cells, which produces a high yield of memory cells which, after initial exposure, are able to recognise a particular antigen again in the future. Active immunisation can be performed using live or killed whole organisms, components of organisms such as subunits, or fractionated or recombinant (manufactured) vaccines (Robinson and Roberton 2003). Importance of immunisation programmes Immunisation programmes play a key role in the control of infectious disease. Disease-related morbidity and mortality places a substantial burden on healthcare systems and preventing individuals from becoming ill is more favourable in terms of healthcare-associated costs than treating them once they are ill. Immunisation has a direct effect by offering protection to the immunised individual and an indirect effect by reducing the incidence of disease among others, (i.e. by providing herd immunity) since vaccinated individuals are less likely to act as a source of infection, unvaccinated individuals have less chance of being exposed to that infection, thus vaccination also benefits the community (ScotPho 2008). If vaccine coverage rates are high enough to induce high levels of herd immunity within a population, it is possible for a disease to be eradicated, as illustrated by the global eradication of smallpox in 1980. However, if high coverage rates are not sustained, the disease coul d return. Immunisation programmes may be aimed at children, adolescents or adults. Routine immunisation against measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and tuberculosis is now provided in all developing countries but many countries also include a wider range of immunisations against influenza, mumps (usually in combination with measles and rubella) and predominant strains of pneumococcal disease (WHO 2005). In addition, hepatitis B immunisation is also recommended by WHO for all countries, while Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is recommended for those countries with a significant disease burden and who have sufficient resources (WHO 2005). UK childhood immunisation programme The UK immunisation programme for children and adolescents from birth to the age of 18 years is shown in Table 1 below. Each vaccination is administered as a single injection into either the thigh or upper arm. The use of combination vaccines is advantageous in reducing the number of injections administered. For example, children in the UK receive only 7 vaccinations before the age of 15 months, instead of the 21 single-antigen injections they would otherwise receive. In the US, children receive up to 21 injections by the age of 15 months (CDCP 2006). Vaccinations are not mandatory in the UK and are offered free of charge by the NHS. This is in contrast to countries such as the United States and Australia where vaccination is compulsory (Salmon et al. 2006) and proof of immunisation is required for school entry (Vernon 2003). However, despite the lack of a mandatory immunisation policy, coverage rates in the UK are still high compared with many other developed countries, although the current levels of MMR coverage are cause for concern. Table 1. UK childhood immunisation programme (from NHS 2007). When to immunise Diseases protected against Vaccine given Routine immunisation Two months Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal infection DTaP/IPV/Hib + Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Three months Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and H. influenzae type b (Hib) Meningitis C DTaP/IPV/Hib + MenC Four months old Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and H. influenzae type b (Hib) Meningitis C Pneumococcal infection DTaP/IPV/Hib + MenC + PCV Approx. 12 months H. influenzae type b (Hib) Meningitis C Hib/MenC Approx. 13 months Measles, mumps and rubella Pneumococcal infection MMR + PCV Between 3 years 4 months and 5 years Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio Measles, mumps and rubella DTaP/IPV or dTaP/IPV + MMR 13–18 years Tetanus, diphtheria and polio Td/IPV Non-routine immunisation At birth (to babies who are more likely to come into contact with TB than the general population) Tuberculosis BCG At birth (to babies whose mothers are hepatitis B positive) Hepatitis B Hep B Literature review A literature search of English language articles was performed using the electronic databases Pubmed and CINAHL. Search terms included: immunisation OR vaccination plus uptake OR compliance OR parent AND belief OR attitude OR knowledge. A number of conceptual frameworks have been developed for use in the critique of both quantitative and qualitative research (Cormack 2000). In this paper, the framework proposed by Cormack (2000) was employed both in the initial selection of relevant, high-quality research articles and in the subsequent critique of those articles. The use of evidence-based practice is necessary to provide high-quality healthcare, and it is therefore essential that all healthcare providers possess the understanding and expertise to review and evaluate published research. By following Cormack’s framework, an informed judgement can be made regarding the findings of a particular research article and their relevance and implications for practice. A total of 8 articl es, including both quantitative and qualitative research, were selected for this review. The article by Gellin et al. (2000) describes a telephone survey study conducted in the United States which investigated parents’ understanding of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisation practices and procedures. The article abstract is concise, informative and presents the main points of the study in a clear and easy to understand way. The introduction provides the relevant background information needed to set the study in context and clearly states the aims of the research. Study participants were recruited via random digit dialling which is a widely accepted method of ensuring selection of a random population sample. The selection criteria are stated and the study sample size (n=1600) was large enough to yield a confidence interval of  ±2.5% for the population overall. The survey was conducted using by trained market researchers using a pre-tested scripted interview but a full list of the questions is not provided in the article, nor is the script included as an app endix. Further, no mention is made of ethical considerations such as confidentiality or the right to withdraw participation. The statistical analyses used to analyse the data are described fully. The results section of the article is well structured and clear with appropriate use of tables to present data. However, for additional clarity, it may have been better to present the demographic characteristics of the study respondents in a table rather than as a list of percentages in the main text. Results showed that 87% of study respondents believed immunisation to be extremely important and believed there to be a high level of overall vaccine safety (X2=8.6; standard deviation (SD)=1.6). Respondents were asked to state their level of agreement with a series of belief statements. Findings showed that while the majority of respondents held beliefs that were consistent with the available evidence on vaccine efficacy and safety, misconceptions were held by a substantial number of respondents. For example, 25% believed their child’s immune system could become weakened as a result of too many immunisations, while 23% believed that children got more immunisations than were good for them. Doctors were cited as the key providers of information on immunisation. The article includes a comprehensive discussion of the relevance of the study findings with reference to other published research and addresses the limitations of the study (e.g. only those households with telephone could be contacted via random digit-dialling and the inclusion of English-speaking participants only). A separate conclusions section is not included but the implications of the research are discussed in the context of the future of immunisation programmes and public health. The paper by Pareek and Pattison (2000) reports the findings of a prospective cross-sectional UK survey to investigate the factors which influence the intention of mothers to vaccinate their children with the two-dose MMR vaccine. The paper contains a well-structured abstract that present the main points of the study. The introduction is comprehensive with clearly stated aims and lists the theoretical framework used in the study (i.e. the Theory of Planned Behaviour). Study participants were randomly selected from confidential records held by Birmingham Health Authority, after written consent had been obtained. A total of 300 mothers of children aged between either 5-12 months or 21-35 months received a pre-piloted 48-item questionnaire with the assurance of confidentiality. The full questionnaire is not provided but a list of the three sections in the questionnaire is given. The response rate was 59%. A brief description of the statistical analyses used to analyse the data is given. The results section is unstructured making if difficult to read but is comprehensive in nature. No figures or tables are included. Results showed that significantly fewer mothers intended to take their children for their second MMR immunisation (Group 2), compared with the number intending to take their child for their first immunisation (Group 1) (Group 1: 87% vs Group 2: 78%; p Kennedy et al. (2005) reported the findings of an analysis of data from the 2002 annual, mail panel survey of adults in the United States performed to examine the socio-demographic factors and immunisation beliefs/behaviours associated with parental opposition to compulsory vaccination. This article contained a brief abstract which nonetheless detailed the key points of the study but did not list the number of study participants. A comprehensive introduction is included with extensive reference to other published research and the aims and objectives of the study are given, together with the model used (i.e. the Health Belief Model). The method of study participant recruitment is described but this is confusing and difficult to follow. In summary, a total of 6,027 adults received surveys with a response rate of 73%. However, these individuals were not selected randomly. The questions in the survey are not listed and a copy of the questionnaire is not included. However, responses to relevant beliefs statements are listed in a table in the results section, which provides the reader with some insight into what was included. No mention is made of ethical considerations. The statistical analyses used are described adequately. The results section is clear and well-structured with tabulation of relevant data. Study findings showed that 12% of respondents were opposed to compulsory vaccination. Compared with parents who were supportive of compulsory vaccination, those who were opposed were significantly more likely to agree that the ‘the body can protect itself without vaccines’ (opposed 24% vs supportive 10%; pvs 17%; pvs 32%; pvs 13%; p Sporton and Francis (2001) performed a study to explore the decision-making process of parents who have chosen not to have their children immunised. Their paper contains a very detailed abstract which describes the study in detail. A short introduction sets the study in context and includes the rationale for performing the study, with a clearly stated aim. The selection of the 13 final study participants (12 mothers and 1 father) is described in detail and details of ethical approval are included. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information, a widely accepted method in qualitative research which allows the researcher to be guided by the study participant while still allowing key points to be covered. All interviews were conducted by the same researcher, thus ensuring consistency. Although all interviews were transcribed, no mention of consent or other ethical considerations is made in the paper. The results section has a clear and logical structure with a relevant table and figure. Narrative accounts from the study participants are also included within each section. Findings showed that while parents often cited more than one reason for choosing not to immunise their children, the risk of side effects, particularly long-term effects, was identified as a reason by every parent. Other reasons included moral reasons, alternative methods of protection (e.g. homeopathy), practical reasons (lack of access to clinics) and personal parental experiences of immunisation (e.g. lack of immunisation has not resulted in any adverse effects on their own health). Many parents believed that healthcare providers did not provide balanced information and were unwilling to acknowledge the perceived association between immunisation and adverse effects. The discussion makes very limited reference to other published research an fails to address the limitations of the study (i.e. the extremely limit ed sample size and the extreme bias towards mothers). The conclusion and discussion of implications for the future are brief but adequate. In their recently published article, Pearce et al. (2008) report the findings of a nationally representative UK cohort study performed to estimate uptake of the combined MMR and single-antigen vaccines and explore the factors associated with uptake. This article contains a comprehensive abstract which includes a detailed results section, while the introduction discusses previous research that supports the purpose of the current study. Data from a longitudinal study of 14,578 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002 were used in this analysis. These data were obtained via face-to-face interviews between trained researchers and the main care giver (usually the mother) conducted at home when the child was approximately 9 months old and again at the age of 3 years but no mention is made of whether consent was obtained from participants. The study sample included adequate representation from all 4 countries within the UK including those from deprived areas and ethnic minorities. A de tailed description of the analysis performed is provided in the paper. Results showed that 6.1% of children in the study were not immunised and that various socio-demographic factors were associated with immunisation uptake. For example, children were less likely to be immunised if they lived in a household with other children or a single parent; if the mother was aged 34 years at the time of the birth; or if the mother was more highly educated, unemployed or self-employed. Ethnicity was also strongly associated with single-antigen vaccine uptake. Almost three quarters (74.4%) of parents who had not immunised their children stated that they had made a conscious decision not to do so. The discussion section addresses the studies strengths (e.g. the large sample size) and limitations (e.g. using maternal report of immunisation status in which only one fifth of participants actually checked their child’s health record) and compares the findings with that of previous research. The implications for future practice and policy-making are discussed in de pth with recommendations and appropriate conclusions have been drawn. Gust et al. (2004) conducted a case-control study in the United States to examine the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of parents whose children were incompletely immunised, compared with those of fully immunised children. This article includes a well-written abstract that provides the reader with all the relevant information about the study. The introduction refers to existing research and clearly identifies the study’s aims. Both case and control study participants were randomly sampled from children participating in the National Immunization Survey (NIS) and who had adequate provider-reported immunisation data. Case participants were those children who were incompletely immunised with respect to ≠¥2 of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP)/diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B and/or measles-containing vaccine (MCV) vaccines (‘incompletely immunised’ defined as The results are presented in a structured, logical way which includes tabulation of the data. Findings showed that among case subjects, 14% of incomplete immunisation was due to parental beliefs, attitudes and behaviours. It is interesting to note that while these beliefs are more common among parents of incompletely immunised children, the parents of fully immunised children also report similar beliefs and attitudes. Parents/guardians of case subjects were more likely not to want their child to receive all immunisations, to rate immunisations as unsafe or somewhat safe and to ask the doctor or nurse not to administer a vaccine to their child for reasons other than illness. The discussion section of this paper is comprehensive but makes limited reference to other published research but the limitations of the study are addressed (e.g. potential inaccurate reporting of beliefs and attitudes through inaccurate recall, due to the length of time since their children were vaccinated). Valu able recommendations are made, together with information to guide the reader to the source of potentially useful educational materials for both healthcare providers and parents. A UK focus group study conducted by Evans et al. (2001) investigated what influences parents decisions on whether to accept or refuse primary MMR vaccination. This article contains a comprehensive abstract that informs the reader about the key points of the study. The introduction is brief but states the study aims. Six focus group discussions (a commonly used method of gathering qualitative data) were held, which were conducted by a moderator using appropriate open-ended questions which are described in the paper. Assistance was provided by a member of the research steering group, thereby ensuring consistency across the groups. A total of 48 participants were recruited purposefully rather than randomly, such that three of the groups contained ‘immunisers’ and three contained ‘non-immunisers’, from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. The methods section describes how data collected was analysed and sorted int o themes. The results section of the article is easy to understand and includes narrative accounts from study participants within each section. All parents who participated in the study believed the decision about whether to vaccinate was difficult and felt under undue pressure from healthcare providers to comply. Four key factors were found to influence parents’ decisions: (1) their beliefs about the risks and benefits of the MMR vaccine and compared with the risk of contracting those diseases; (2) information on the safety of the MMR vaccine; (3) trust in healthcare providers about the accuracy of the advice they had given and attitudes towards this advice; and (4) views on the importance of individual choice. The paper contains a balanced discussion which refers to other published research and includes both recommendations for practice and the limitations of the study (i.e. that over half of study respondents were highly educated, with a mean age of 35 years), and appropriate conclus ions are drawn. Flynn and Ogden (2004) conducted a prospective questionnaire study in the UK to explore which parental beliefs are the best predictors of MMR vaccine uptake. Their paper contains a short abstract which nonetheless details the key points of the study. The introduction to the paper refers extensively to other published research and presents a strong rationale for the study with clearly stated aims. Study participants (n=511) comprised parents whose children were due to receive an invitation for MMR vaccination. A questionnaire was used to gather data, together with additional follow-up data taken from child health records. The various sections within the questionnaire are described in the paper, together with examples of typical questions within each section; however, a copy of the questionnaire is not included. A response rate of 56.9% was recorded. Ethical approval for the study was obtained which also complied with the Data Protection Act. The method used for data analysis is descri bed