Marriage Essay Introduction Essay

According to people, a family should consist of parents and children living together. This does not only apply to children from a common ancestor but also those who are adopted. Since 1960 there have been a lot of changes that has affected the real legal power of the family. There has been self-definition due to bilateral-income in marriages. It has led to divorce and children being raised by a single parent-family that makes them encounter emotional disruption and lack of family care. Women have become financial independent leading to tension in marriages (Wilcox, 2009). The introduction of the new law of non-fault divorce by American nation has eliminated the need for couples to identify their wrongs in marriages (Wilcox, 2009). It has gutted marriage its power to bind a husband and wife. All of these changes have led to a high rate of divorce. Currently, the statics of marriages have decreased with the current studies showing that in 1960s more than 68% of adults aged 23 years wer e married while today less than 23% of the same age are not married (Pewsocialtrends.org, 2010). The marriage has also shifted from heterosexual to same-sex marriage in most American societies. Due to this there has been divorce and immigration of people because one feels can access that marriage there. It has also contributed to Children being raised by foster parents because their biological parents are gay. In a situation of divorce, both parents are given opportunity to fight for the custody of their children in America. To solve all this, the government advocates are making arguments to stop divorce (Cheryl 2011).They encourage troubled couples to try work out things first since filing for divorce is expensive. The government is also coming up with laws that ensure divorce balances or the parties in the marriage.

Following Assignment

Please answer the following questions, you can upload your answers In a MS Word flee, or Word file. Answer all the questions, and upload the answers back before Sunday March 31, 2013 (before 11: 55 pm): 1 . Differentiate between guided media and unguided media 2. What are three important characteristics of a periodic signal 3. Define fundamental frequency 4. What Is attenuation? 5. Describe the components of optical fiber cable. 6. Indicate some significant differences between broadcast radio and microwave. 7. What Is the difference between diffraction and scattering? . Last and briefly define important factors that can be used in evaluating or comparing the various digital-to- digital encoding techniques. 9. What function does a modem perform? 10. What Is JAM? Differentiate between guided media and unguided media Gulled media Is that where we use any path for communication like cables (coaxial, fiber optic, twisted pair) etc. Unguided media is also called wireless where not any phys ical path is used for transmission. What are three important characteristics of a periodic signal?Period (or frequency), amplitude and phase. All periodic signals can be broken down into other signals†¦ Cost commonly Selene/coolness waves, but there are others too. These components will each have their own frequency, amplitude and phase that combine into the original signal. The strange part of the question is the phase. A signal on its own does not have a phase unless you provide some reference signal to compare it to. Generally, this comparison signal Is Implied by the context of your particular situation.When you decompose a periodic signal into components, however, it is almost always implied that the phase of each component is in reference to the fundamental component (So the fundamental has phase O. Hill the others have phases referenced to that). This is done specifically so that each component will combine to create the original signal. Define fundamental frequency. Wha t Is attenuation? The fundamental frequency, often referred to simply as the fundamental, is defined as the lowest frequency of a periodic waveform.In terms of a superposition of sinusoids The fundamental frequency Is the lowest frequency sinusoidal in the sum. In some contexts, the fundamental is usually abbreviated as of (or IF), indicating the lowest frequency counting from zero. In other contexts, it is more common to abbreviate It as FL, the first harmonic. The second harmonic Is then if = off, etc. In this context, the zeros harmonic would be O Hz's. )All sinusoidal and many non-sinusoidal waveforms are periodic, which Is to say they repeat exactly over time. Describes the signal completely.We can show a waveform is periodic by finding some period T for which the following equation is true: Reduction of signal strength during transmission. Attenuation is the opposite of amplification, and is normal when a signal is sent from one point to another. Describe the components of opt ical fiber cable. An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of glass (silica) or plastic, slightly hickey than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or â€Å"light pipe†, to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber.The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of optical fibers is known as fiber optics. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates) than other forms of communication. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel along them with less loss and are also immune to electromagnetic interference. Fibers are also used for illumination, and are wrapped in bundles so that they may be used to carry images, thus allowing viewing in confined spaces.Specially designed fibers are used for a variety of other applications, including sensors and fiber lasers. Indicate some significant difference s between broadcast radio and microwave. FL Radio is about 50 Kilohertz to 400 Kilohertz. AM Broadcast Band Radio is about 500 Kilohertz to 1600 Kilohertz. And microwave begins around 2000 Mesh and goes up thru. Some frequency ranges like 26,000 Mesh in allocated bands, depending upon the type of service you're operating. What is the difference between diffraction and scattering?Diffraction is a phenomenon observed only in waves, but scattering is a phenomenon observed in both waves and particles. Diffraction is a property of propagation of waves, whereas scattering is a property of wave interactions. Diffraction can be taken as evidence for the wave nature of light. Some forms of scattering (Compton scattering) can be taken as evidence for the particle nature of light. List and briefly define important factors that can be used in evaluating or comparing the various digital-to-digital encoding techniques. Digital signals don't have large ranges, nor do they reflect constant activity .Digital signals have very few values. Each signal is unique from a previous digital value and unique from one to come. In effect, a digital signal is a snapshot of a condition and does not represent continual movement In comparing analog and digital signals, advantages lie on either end of the spectrum. Analog signals suffer far less from attenuation over long distances. This rather makes sense. Since digital data can only be a 1 or O, what happens when a signal becomes so weak that it is hard to distinguish between each state? Sometimes we Just can't.Analog devices, on the other hand, are equipped to handle the infinite values between 1 and O. Digital devices are a lot less sophisticated, meaning that they are fairly easy to manufacture and cost-effective. In addition, bandwidths than analog systems do. What function does a modem perform? The function of a modem is Modulation and Demodulation mean to turn data into a format that can be transmitted via an audio link such as a phone line. A modem at the other side of the connection answers the phone and converts the audio back into sable data.This is why if you lift a phone while the modem is in use there appears to be random noise on the line, this noise is the data in audio What JAM? JAM stands for Quadrate Amplitude Modulation. It's a modulation scheme that transmits data by changing the amplitude of two carrier waves. The two carrier waves are out of phase with each other by 90 degrees. Digital Cable uses JAM to transmit the majority of their signals. Two major JAM schemes are GAMMA and GAMMA. GAMMA contains data throughput around 28 Mbps, where GAMMA has data throughput of 38. 8 Mbps.

Billy Elliot the Musical and Father

Some obstacles the characters face are self-belief, a father’s expectations and being an individual. This essay will discuss these challenges and how a person overcomes them to journey into the world with the use of quotes, film and language techniques. Self-belief is a factor that makes a person stronger. Without it they may not reach their goals. In the scene of Billy Elliot where Billy dances in front of his father, the audience sees that this is the first time that Billy genuinely believes in himself. The non-diegetic music is loud and energetic. This represents the fact that Billy has built enough self-confidence to stand up for himself. A close-up is used on Billy’s face when he starts to dance. This technique is used to emphasise the expression of confidence and self-belief on his face. It shows his emotion and how he isn’t afraid to do what he wants. There is also a close up on the father’s face that seems to be stunned while watching Billy. After Billy finishes dancing, his father runs to Mrs Wilkinson’s house because that is when he realised that his son really has talent. In the quote â€Å"If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,† from the poem ‘If’ the father is telling his son to have faith in himself when others don’t. In the movie, if Billy had not stood up for himself, his father wouldn’t have thought to let him go to the ballet school. The self-belief Billy had led him to success in the future. Expectations can put a lot of pressure on a child. In society, boys were expected to play manly sports like boxing, and girls to learn ballet. In the scene where Billy falls to an opponent at boxing his coach yells â€Å"Jesus Christ, Billy Elliot! You’re a disgrace to them gloves, your father, and the traditions of this boxing hall! † A high angle shot over Billy when he is on the ground is used to show he is weak and powerless in this situation. This technique develops the feeling that elder men in society had more control. There is also a mid-shot of Billy’s father sitting in the grand-stands looking exasperated after Billy falls. It shows the audience the father does not feel Billy is living up to his expectations. From the poem, the quote â€Å"which is more – you’ll be a Man my son! shows the audience the father ultimately expects his son to be a man. The word ‘man’ is written with a capital letter to emphasise this point. Though Billy held back doing from ballet, he still become a man and everyone soon supported his decision. To be an individual is what a young child seeks to be. It was normal in the community for boys to do manly sports such as boxing, and girls to learn b allet. When Billy’s father finds out that he has been secretly going to ballet lessons he says â€Å"All right for your Nana, for girls. No, not for lads, Billy. Lads do football, or boxing, or wrestling. Not friggin’ ballet. † What Billy really wants to do is not accepted for boys in the society. The quote â€Å"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,† from the poem, the father is now telling his son not to be influenced by those around him and to keep his honour and morals. By having his own way and not allowing others to influence, the son will be an individual. In the scene where Billy dances with Mrs Wilkinson to the song ‘I Like to Boogie’, Mrs Wilkinson helps Billy be his own person by letting him dance the way he wants and not preventing him from doing anything. The technique of contrasting is used with Billy’s and Mrs Wilkinson’s clothing. In the boxing hall Billy is wearing white and pink which stands out from the walls. Mrs Wilkinson wears a dull, blue colour which makes her blend into the background. This technique shows that Mrs Wilkinson is a hidden support for Billy. She is helping Billy reach his goal because she never had the chance to shine. A tracking shot is used on the both when they dance in the hall. It shows the dynamic movement between them. This technique also displays the freedom Billy has to move in the hall. In conclusion, individuals must overcome each obstacle and challenge in order to grow up and journey into the world. This has been shown through the film ‘Billy Elliot’ by Stephen Daldry and the poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling. With the use of techniques and quotes, this essay has shown how the main characters encountered the challenges of self-belief, a father’s expectations and trying to be an individual.

NO TOPIC YET Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

NO TOPIC YET - Research Paper Example Unilever is the world’s largest FMCG Company in the world with its competitor being P&G. The company has successful connected itself with the hearts of the people and has made itself the fundamental feature of their lives. It is the world’s leading supplier of consumer goods, providing people with the goods that are good for them as well as for others. There are 2 billion people using Unilever products daily. The company works to create a better vision for its people every day for the rest of the future. It helps people to look good, feel good and get more out of their lives by the help of the brand and services being offered to them that are good for them as well as for other. Unilever inspires people to take small effective actions every day that will definitely add up to a bigger difference being made for the benefit of the world. Within time they have developed several effective ways of doing business and doubled the size of their business with the least environment impact. The corporate vision of Unilever states that they maintain the highest standards of corporate behavior with all the people it works with, all the communities it touches through its products and the environment it imposes an impact on. The principles of Unilever include working with integrity, setting out aspiration, continuous commitment and positive impact. The structure of the company is based on executive directors, non-executive directors, Unilever executive (UEX) and senior operating officers. The executive directors at Unilever are the members of UEX. The CEO and CFO of the company are actually the executive directors from Unilever executives, UEX. In the governance of Unilever non-executive directors are considered to be independent. UEX is responsible for managing the firm’s growth, profit and loss, categories, functions and regions. The responsibility of the senior corporate officers is to make sure that the board members get all the necessary information. The

Organizational culture is fundamentally about symbolic meaning and as Essay - 7

Organizational culture is fundamentally about symbolic meaning and as such cannot be managed. Discuss - Essay Example In each organisation, there exist patterns of symbols, beliefs, myths, rituals, and practices that have been developed over time. These, in turn, form general understandings among the organisation’s personnel as to what the organisation represents and how its affiliates should conduct themselves. Organisational culture refers to the behavioural norms as well as values of the members of the organisation. There are two basic kinds of values: the instrumental and the terminal. Terminal values have to do with the preferred effects or outcomes that workers endeavour to achieve. Instrumental values, on the other hand, refer to the esteemed types of behaviours. Organisational culture exists on two levels. The first level is in external expressions of the culture, which are observable and able to make some type of interpretation. The symbols of the cultures of any organisation are evident in communication patterns, the configuration of work spaces and the methods through which authori ty is expressed. Organisational cultures can also be observed during organisational ceremonies. The other level of organisational culture can be observed in the deeply held beliefs, values, attitudes, assumptions, and feelings that lie beneath the behaviour of personnel (Jaffe 2001). Assumptions as well as organisational principles at this stage are not so easy to discern, interpret and comprehend. It is only the level of culture that is in evidence that can be assessed or changed. This level is the one that is often at the centre management activity. The Significance of Organisational Culture Organisational culture is the bond that structures the different organisational settings and makes it possible for personnel to be able to draw meaning from their duties, and also work easily alongside people who have different values from them (Drummond 2000). Strong organisational cultures are those that are clearly ordered, and have personnel that have identical core values. These kinds of cultures usually flourish in military as well as religious organisations. Strong organisational cultures also encourage behavioural consistency by letting the workers know about exactly which behaviours they should adopt. On the negative side, strong organisational cultures can foster implicit control of workers and function as an alternative for formalisation. In Schein's view, organisational culture is a contributor to internal integration as well as the exterior adjustment of the organisation to its settings (Fineman, Sims and Gabriel 2005). For an organisation to be effective, any organisation’s strategies, culture, technology and environmental concerns have to be united to realise the organisation’s objectives. Usually, when managers or other high ranking personnel try to alter organisational cultures, the resultant changes are usually erratic and sometimes even objectionable. For instance, forced changes can make workers become cynical towards all change programs in general. This does not mean that managers should avoid even the suggestion of possible organisational cultural changes. However, they should be ready to allow workers to engender the necessary changes without being coerced (Clegg, Kornberger and Pitsis 2008). Organisational culture should be viewed as a framework for fostering the desired meanings. It is important for managers not to attempt to forcibly effect organisational cu

Back to our place(Someplace of my memory) Essay

Back to our place(Someplace of my memory) - Essay Example In America, I suppose it would be a Vehicle Testing Station. As I remember, there were hundreds of taxies, so it might even have been a cab company, like Yellow Cab. In the mornings, it used to be a little crowded, with neighborhood people complaining about the waste oil flowing downhill from the top, to the housing area. This is the only bad memory that comes to mind about that place. However, residents did nothing more, other than to murmur sulkily to express displeasure about that oil. Around midday on Sundays, after having a light lunch, my family would take four badminton rackets, a few shuttlecocks, and some water to drink, and would step inside the 400 square yards area of that big car park up the hill. With a light heart, we would pass by the black written sign "Car Inspecting Office of Eastern Part", as if the sign did not exist. A few neighbors would already be there, playing side by side, as everyone had fun, and enjoyed their games. It seemed as though nobody cared about original purpose of the place. Instead, It played the role of a little camping spot and family play area. For my family, the white lines for car parking became the perfect place to play badminton, the markings were just right. We would start for home at dusk, cooled by a fresh breeze, smelling the sweet scent of sweat that wafted skywards on that gentle wind, tired but happy. On weekdays, around the... If we put those lines, that looked like a chessboard, together as a set of twelve, it became a great soccer field, or the place for dodge ball played on a group of lines, in exactly the same way. We would never go back home until darkness fell, making us afraid. The only exception that would stop our play for a time was when we heard our mother's voices. They would call us loudly for dinner, sounding very far away in the darkness. Those friends, and sound of my mother's voice, filled with alarm, have been a pattern and part of my life throughout my entire childhood and beyond. The scenes from those times remain unforgettable to me, for all my life. But sometimes things did not always happen that way, and the happy scene would be disturbed. We would hear another voice coming toward us, not the loving concern heard in our mother's calls. There were two sides to this place, a different aspect that stays in my memory. The office would never be totally empty, even though we hoped it would be. After 5.00 PM, when the workers went home, a few people would always be on duty there. Though they did not often confront us, there was a sort of competition, as they did not want to let the balance of power between neighborhood and workers, pass to our side, making us the winners. To assert their position of being 'in charge', sometimes, the person on duty would make us leave, and we had a lot of fun hiding from them and watching carefully for a chance to get back inside the car park again. But in my memory, I can see that they were only human too, the same as we were, and we saw that side of them often. When they became bored sitting in the office, they would come out and play with our soccer

Legitimacy Theory In Brewing And Hotels Sector Essay

Legitimacy Theory In Brewing And Hotels Sector - Essay Example These social contracts may be three-fold; between the society and the state, the society and the businesses and between the state and the businesses. Suchman says that legitimacy is the general view that an entity's actions are desirable, appropriate as well as proper in the light of values, norms, and beliefs within a system that's socially constructed.Suchman further highlights three kinds of legitimacy in organizations. These are; cognitive, moral and pragmatic. Management of legitimacy according to him also faces various challenges like maintenance, gaining and the repairing of it. He also writes that communication is where the management of legitimacy rests. Therefore, while the function of legitimacy is being examined it’s not possible to sideline the corporate communications’ essentiality. It attributes to goals or purposes that a business entity has.It's an issue that's widely linked with issues of corporate governance. Corporate governance is defined as the pow er exercised over business entities with the aim of increasing the value toward its stakeholders. These stakeholders should be accountable for their actions to the society at large to make sure that they achieve these objectives. That's, both to the internal and the external societies. The internal society may refer to issues like workers' protection like adherence to industrial and factory safety measures while the external society is the entire society not involved in the business actions first- hand. (William, 2009)

Corporate Social Responsibility External and Internal Factors Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility External and Internal Factors - Essay Example Galbreath, J (2006) mentions that firms have three responsibilities to society: economic, social and environmental. The internal factors that motivate the social responsibility within the companies include managers, employees, shareholders, customers, and suppliers. The internal factors are more focused on maximizing profits on shareholder returns, giving something back to the society in a form of philanthropy which arises from firm surplus profit and firms proactively involve themselves in dialogue with their stakeholders and integrate their findings into decision making. The external factors influencing the social responsibility include culture, government regulations, Non-government organizations and global standards. The external factors require the company to operate within the context of national and even regional cultures of the nation, oblige to the legal framework necessary to an economy as a response to inefficient and inequitable behavior and global standards. The companie s’ social responsibility towards society; environmentally includes reduction of waste output, reduction of energy consumption, sustainable measures to protecting the environment. Whereas socially, a company needs to focus on promoting diversity, choosing suppliers on non-economic criteria, reintegration support and alliance with NGOs (Poussing, N. 2009) in order to provide services to the community which are not available from the state, like education, health, welfare, etc.  

Bio Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bio Ethics - Essay Example The numerous aspects affecting application of bioethics continue to be identified as major debates of human enquiry. The allocation of scarce healthcare resources continues to be an increasingly discussed element of bioethics. As opposed to other ethical values of humans, bioethics concerns the application of ethical values in biological and medical practice. Commonly discussed bioethical values include aspects dealing with life, like abortion, surrogacy among others. Bioethics seeks to achieve biomedical practices exhibiting human dignity (Jonsen, p198). Though they cannot be considered as moral values, the application of bioethics ensures proper undertaking of biomedical operations. Organ transplant falls among the scarce healthcare resources that continue to be identified as essential bioethical elements. Organ transplant could be defined as biological tissue or organ donation from one person to another (Jonsen, p295). The person offering the biological tissues is referred as dono r and the person receiving, a recipient. The biological dilemma in organ transplant remains the ability for the donor to receive reimbursements for the donated biological tissues. Necessary legislation regarding the issue of conducting organ transplants differs within different countries. The various legislations existing in this field concern the availability of consent from the donating party. In opt-in system the requirement remains for donors to give consent, while in opt-out system the requirement remains for donor not to refuse. In the latter system, failure to refuse indicates a probable donor, while the former system offering consent confirms an individual as a donor. The fundamental issues regarding organ transplant remain naturally semantic. This follows the confusing definition of essential clinical terminologies. The translation of several clinical terminologies in the legal platform continues to be a debatable point within the aspect of organ transplant. The controversi es revolving around the legal definition of terms like death, life, among others continue to create immense confusion within the medical profession regarding organ donation (Rachels, p176). The legal determination of the qualifications of donors differs from the medical identification of donors. While an individual might meet all required specifications of donors legally, the same individual might not meet the medical requirement. While the law requires donors to provide consents regarding acceptance to donate, medical testing might reveal the possibility of transplant rejection. Following the legalization of organ selling, transplants continue to be viewed by many as treatment methods for the rich. Stereotypes continue to develop leading to donating individuals being perceived as extremely impoverished. Attaching commercial and financial values to biological organs essentially creates a controversial situation surrounding the transplant (Rachels, p189). In the developed nations, fo r example, the demand for biological tissues surpasses the supply. In third-world countries the situation occurs in the opposite of the developed nations. Discussions continue to elicit mixed reactions among concerned parties. Within the underdeveloped countries, concerns continue to be mounted regarding exploitation of the poor by the rich. Introduction of financial reimbursement for donors appears as attractive to poor people as a method of improving economic status. In one case involving Ruth Sparrow, the woman experienced financial constraint following gall bladder surgery. Having a medical bill of $20,000, the woman sought to trade her kidney on condition the hospital clears her pending bill. The administration refused the offer,

Kuwait Liberation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kuwait Liberation - Research Paper Example Iraq’s invasion in Kuwait turned the Middle East into a war zone. This paper intends to discuss the history of Iraq’s invasion, and the criminal and political activities that occurred during the whole phase of war. MLA referencing style has been used properly, and the report is summarized in a concluding paragraph. Iraq had been in war with Iran, before invasion in Kuwait. The Iran-Iraq war, that spread over eight years, was devastating for Iraq. At the launch of war, Iraq had ample hard currency reserves; but at the end of war, the Iraqi nation was in debt of $80 billion (Klein). Iraq had to pay beck this debt to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Kuwait had been mounting up 900 square miles of Iraqi land, by moving its border forward with Iraq northward. This moving forward of Kuwait’s border was irreversible. Kuwait gained access to Rumaila oil reserve and Iraqi oil field, by using drilling equipment of the Santa Fe Drilling Corporation of Alhambra, Californi a. Kuwait also became a reason of dropping down of Iraqi oil prices. Iraq’s main source of earning was petroleum whose price kept on fluctuating due to international production of petroleum. Kuwait tended to undermine OPEC quotas by increasing its oil production under the guidance of the United States. Due to this, the price of Iraqi oil went down from $28 per barrel to $11 per barrel (Klein), which damaged Iraq’s economy greatly. Iraq appealed to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries to stick to the OPEC production levels. Iraq’s appeals were met by USA’s navy buildup in the Persian Gulf. Still, Kuwait continued to increase its oil production, which harmed not only Iraq’s economy but also its own. Kuwait refused to return Iraq’s territory that it had accumulated during the Iraq-Iran war; rejected the production quotas; refused to stop driving oil from Rumaila oil reserve and selling it at low prices; and, rejected the idea of relinqu ishing Iraq’s debt. All these events raised tension between the two countries, finally leading to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. However, the United Nations protested against Iraq’s invasion, and instructed Iraq to withdraw its forces from Kuwait (Hussein, Ramadan & Aziz 85). On August 6, 1990, four days after the invasion had occurred, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution (known as Resolution 661 of 1990), that imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Iraq, and created a committee that supervised those sanctions and made sure that Iraq withdrew its forces from Kuwait. The resolution showed concern with the heavy loss of lives in Kuwait due to Iraq’s invasion; and, showed determination to put Iraq’s invasion to an end, liberating Kuwait and its sovereignty, self-government, and territorial integrity. The United Nations Security Council passed 12 resolutions, starting from August 6, 1990 till November 29, 1990. The last res olution was Resolution 678 (1990) which stated that, in case Iraq fails to comply with the resolution regarding withdrawal of its forces from Kuwait by January 15, 1991, this would result in authorization of all member states in support of Kuwait to force Iraq to put an end of invasion, and to restore peace in the Middle East. USA never seriously protested with high-profile military demonstrations at the beginning of Iraq’s invasion, and kept a public silence. USA kept on issuing public statements stressing the point that it had no defense

Journal Article Analysis Essay Example for Free

Journal Article Analysis Essay Current views of the world, desires, dreams, goals, and the demands placed upon society are constantly transformed by present epistemological beliefs. Schommer-Aikens and Hutter (2002) investigated the relationship between an individuals’ belief about knowledge, learning or epistemological beliefs and how this relates to average conversational issues (Schommer-Aikens , Hutter, 2002). Using a study group of 174 adults ranging in age from 17 to 71, Schommer-Aikens and Hutter (2002) posed questions assessing beliefs of knowledge and the speed control of learning. Feldman addressed how assumptions become scientific knowledge by stating â€Å"Sometimes we know things by reasoning or inference. When we know some facts and see that those facts support some further fact, we can come to know that further fact. Scientific knowledge, for example, seems to arise from inferences from observational data† (Feldman, 2003, p. 3). Understanding how assumptions move into scientific knowledge it becomes apparent how these assumptions are qualified in research. The authors used regression analysis to quantify the assumptions of the participants as they relate to knowledge, learning, multiple perspectives, and ultimately the development of epistemological beliefs. This analysis will further identify philosophical assumptions underlying the research; explain the practical significance of these assumptions and their effect on its applicability to other authors and post-positive thinkers. Philosophical Assumptions Underlying the Research Feldman (2003) stated that epistemology, the theory of knowledge is a philosophy that looks into the questions about knowledge and rational. Epistemologist`s tend to focus or concentrate on questions of principal aspects involving knowledge and how those beliefs regulate coherent belief. Those within the field are less concerned about the validity of knowledge or  coherent belief, be it correct or incorrect but focus more on causes (Feldman, 2003, p. 1). To that extent Schommer-Aikens and Hutter (2002) conducted a survey of 174 participants, including 120 women and 54 men. The ages of the participants ranged from 17 to 71 years of age and included various personal and educational backgrounds. Through the Schommer epistemological questioner participants, including chemical engineers, clerks, homemakers, factory workers, pharmacists, and teachers of both genders. These participants were asked a number of questions that incorporated religious, educational, societal and personal belief s. Questions were ranked in a likert- type scale ranging from strongly disagrees to strongly agree (Schommer-Aiker, Hutter, 2002). Philosophical Assumptions Schommer-Aikens and Hutter state â€Å"The results coming from epistemological research suggest that individual`s beliefs about the nature of knowledge and learning are linked to their comprehension, metacomprehension, interpretation of information and persistence in working on difficult academic tasks† (Schommer-Aikens, Hutter, 2002, p. 6). The authors contend that individuals who believe knowledge is isolated into segmented bits and not taken as a sum total perform more poorly in the compression of mathematical, physiological, and medical textbooks (Schommer-Aikens, Hutter, 2002). This statement confirms that knowledge or epistemological commitments are a collection of data and understanding and not segmented or isolated bits of information. The assumption is those who tend to segregate knowledge and who do not attain a higher degree of education have difficulty in their own epistemological commitments. This is further evident in the writings of Quine and Kuhn as these authors beleive science is a continuation of common-sense (Delanty Strydom, 2003, p. 22). According to these authors common, everyday decisions made by the common man and woman play a significant role in the creation of science. Whereas the purpose of the epistemological study was to extend epistemological beliefs to an individual’s everyday life, it was also designed to reflect on academic studies. This particular article using the Schommer epistemological belief survey makes several assumptions. Those assumptions state those with a higher level of education are more likely to take on multiple perspectives,  withhold decisions until information was available, acknowledge the complexity of everyday issues and were willing to modify thought processes or thinking (Schommer-Aikens, Hutter, 2002). The inference is those who take knowledge as a collection of data, not as segmented bits along with the attaining of a higher level of education were equipped for complex or critical thinking. This enabled each to understand the complexity of life, make crucial decisions, understand varying viewpoints and able to adapt as understanding grew. These assumptions have a practical significance and affect research. The Practical Significance of Assumptions and Their Effect on Research Inferences and practical assumptions are drawn during the research of this article, and one could argue some of the assumptions made were drawn before the research study ever began. Through personal epistemological beliefs society has long held the conviction those who attain a higher level of education are able to deal with the complexities of life. The practical significance of assumptions and their effect on the research conducted are visible in the work of Johnson and Duberley as they state â€Å"both within and outside of our organizations our behavior is internally motivated, and internally justified, by what we believe about â€Å"the World† (Johnson Duberley, 2000, p. 2). Often in preparing for such a survey the focus group of participants used along with the questions themselves distort the data and thus the results to achieve a desired result. While in this case the participants have diverse backgrounds and have achieved differing degrees of education, making such assertions could distort data. Assumptions and Research Methodology Kuhn preferred historical science and by building upon prior knowledge Kuhn (2012) believes this research and evidence was already available enabling that data to be tested using deferring mechanisms to either prove or disprove a current or prior theory. While not opposed to the empirical testing, it was his belief that details must be obtained for research. It is through this historical science and data that assumptions within society and within science about our understanding of epistemological belief have come into existence. Popper states the empirical method makes good use of a  criticized approach to the method (Delanty Strydom, 2003). The empirical method tests each system ensuring the best system moves forward after all methods have been tried, tested, and proved. Schommer-Aikens and Hutter (2000) used questions, including â€Å"You never know what a book means unless you know the intent of the author† and â€Å"Its a waste of time to work on problems which have no possibility of coming out with clear-cut and unambiguous answers† (Schommer-Aikens, Hutter, 2000). These answers along with others were used as a measurement in epistemological belief comparing their answers and their level of education to gauge how those answers compared with historical norms (Schommer-Aikens, Hutter, 2000). This data was then taken and a regression model developed to extract the stated research and ultimately assumptions made. Schommer-Aikens and Hutter (2000) in turn came to the same assumptions and epistemological commitments already held within social and physical science to date. The research quantified and validated the assumptions held by historical science that one’s epistemological beliefs are shaped and re-shaped by the ability to link through learning, multiple perspectives, and ultimately the development of epistemological beliefs. The ability for humans to use successfully address complex issues, attain paradigm shifts in their understanding of the world and develop are inevitably linked with thought processes and knowledge gained through high er education. Conclusion A person’s thoughts, feelings, emotion, and beliefs often shape ones decision-making process. Other components, including perception, memory, introspection, and reasoning also assist in the formation of opinions, shape our knowledge, and transform an individual’s viewpoint (Feldman, 2003, p. 3). Perception is how one sees the world around them, the sights, sounds, smells, and other senses creates an understanding of the external environment creating a mental image and often places an attachment to it. Through their research Schommer-Aikens and Hutter (2002) investigated the relationship between and individuals’ belief about knowledge, learning or epistemological beliefs and how this relates to average conversational issues (Schommer-Aikens , Hutter,2002). Using the regression model the authors quantified the beliefs and assumptions the conclusion of which is a culmination of historical science supported by this recent research. While  post-positive thinking like Kuhn, Quine, and Popper may differ in view about the empirical method, testing, and paradigm shifts as theories change over time the core belief of epistemological commitment remain comparable. A sentence sums up this article and the accompanying research as it pertains to epistemological belief. Those with a higher level of education are more likely to take on multiple perspectives, withhold decisions until information was available, acknowledge the complexity of everyday issues and were willing to modify thought processes or thinking (Schommer-Aikens, Hutter, 2002). References Delanty, G. Strydom, P. (Eds). (2003). Philosophies of Social Science: The Classic and Contemporary readings. Philadelphia, Pa: Mcgraw-Hill. https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content Feldman, R. (2003). Epistemology. Prentice Hall. The University of Phoenix. https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content. Kuhn, T. (2012). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago, Il. University of Chicago Press .https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content. Schommer-Aikins, M., Hutter, R. (2002). Epistemological Beliefs and Thinking About Everyday Controversial Issues. Journal Of Psychology, 136(1), 5.https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content. Johnson, P. Duberley, J. (2000). Understanding Management Research: An Introduction to Epistemology. Thousand Oaks CA. Sage Publishing. Prentice Hall. https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content.

Programming Paradigms Essay Example for Free

Programming Paradigms Essay This style of programming was brought as a result of lines of code being too long, thousands of lines of code were needed for one program. The procedural approach of programming was introduced that would break down these lines of code into block of around 10 lines of code, these blocks were used to carry out specific functions for the overall program. These functions are procedures hence the name of this style of programming was called Procedural Programming. In procedural programming a program would be built by writing these functions/procedures and calling upon them when you need them to perform a function in the program. An example of procedural programming is a scoreboard for a football tournament where the winning team would receive 3 points, and the losing team 0, if the teams draw 1 point is allocated to each team. The program for this would be broken down into blocks: The program is controlled by one control procedure, that calls each of the other procedures in the order that they’ll be executed, in this example the procedures called from the input, then to calculate and finally to display results. Procedural programming has many limitations; firstly, there is a lack of reusability, this is because by using procedural programming, thousands of lines of code are used which are for one specific purpose. If the program was to be used in the same organisation, amending the lines of code can be a lengthy procedure as there are many lines of code to sort through, also if some lines of code are edited, bugs can occur in other parts of the while program, therefore it would be best to create a completely new program. Another limitation is the fact that using procedural programming is not productive, as is it a lengthy process, and programmers who can code in the procedural style are very expensive, therefore employing them can be very expensive. Team working while using the procedural programming can be very difficult, even though large organisations require a group of programmers rather than one. Object orientated programming became more popular due to the fact that team working was not easy, it allowed teams to be split up so that they could each create objects and then bring them together to create one whole program. FORTRAN is a typical application that uses procedural programming; this was one of the first high-level languages and was created by IBM in 1954. FORTRAN is still used today for scientific, engineering and mathematical problems.

Womens Reproductive Health: Human Rights

Womens Reproductive Health: Human Rights Womens rights to reproductive and sexual health are fundamental to womens health in the United States and abroad. Efforts concerning womens rights to reproductive health have been essential in expanding womens human rights. Adoption of a health and human rights framework encourages logical applications about the correlation between womens health and human rights, social justice, and respect for human dignity. Hindrance to reproductive health rights is political, legal, social, and financial in nature (Gruskin 1737). The purpose of this paper is to detail the significance of human rights associated with womens reproductive health rights in the United States and the public health implications of these rights. This paper investigates health and human rights, as it relates to a womans reproductive health in the United States, including the right to autonomy; the right to health care and information; and the right to equity in the distribution of health service resources, availability, and accessibility. The association of these rights to womens reproductive health in the United States has significant public health implications, discussed below. Historical and Modern Application of Modern Human Rights Development after WWII Human Rights Human rights are standards that defend all humans from serious legal, political, and social abuses (Mann et al. 9). Historical and modern applications of modern human rights development after World War II include, the World Health Organizations (WHO) Constitution in 1946, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, and The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1966. Each of these doctrines spelled out the premise that all humans are equal and free with rights, including the right to health. The right to health was first expressed in the World Health Organizations Constitution (1946). The World Health Organization declared in the Constitution that the fulfillment of the utmost achievable paradigm of health is one of the essential privileges of every person (Mann et al. 9; Ross 55; Robinson par. 8). Conversely, the right to health continues to be neglected in many parts of the world. This neglect, while not as grossly, is extended to the United States. The United States has abstained from passing this and other international agreements. In reality, the United States has not ratified a single treaty that acknowledges an entitlement to health for its citizens. The United States lack of ratifications of these treaties is challenging and will be elucidated later in this discussion. Human rights were also expressed by the United Nations in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was implemented as a reaction to the Nazi holocaust and set a benchmark by which the human rights actions of all countries should be defined. The UDHR commences by setting forth the fundamental principle that all people are born uninhibited and equivalent in distinction and rights (Mann et al. 10). Also, it prohibits any division in the fulfillment of human rights on the grounds as race, color, sex, language, religion, political, national origin, birth status. In addition, the UDHR clearly spells out the rights to security, life, and liberty, as well as the entitlement to be liberated from slavery, servitude, torture or cruel conduct or retribution (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 90-91; Ross 55-56). The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) further expanded on the issue of human rights by specifying socio-economic rights. These rights include, but are not inhibited to, the right to education, shelter, health, water and food, employment, social security, a healthy environment, and the right to advancement (International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights articles 10-12). The treaty exemplifies processes to be implemented by States parties to accomplish: maternal, child and reproductive health; healthy natural and workplace environments; prevention, treatment and control of disease; health facilities, goods and services. This treaty also states that all socio-economic rights must be declared without inequity (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 153) The right to health is also acknowledged in various other documents world-wide including: 1961 European Social Charter, 1978 Declaration of Alma Ata, 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 1988 Additional Protocol to the American Convention on HRs in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. Womens Human Rights Womens human rights are the freedoms and benefits given to women and girls. Womens human rights are categorized collectively and distinguished from comprehensive philosophies of human rights because they frequently vary from the self-determinations essentially held by men and boys. Themes regularly connected with the concepts of womens rights include, but are not restricted to, the right: to physical integrity and autonomy; to education; and to have marital, parental and religious rights. In 1979, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations. CEDAW affirms women equal rights with men in all realms of life, including education, employment, healthcare, nationality, and marriage (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 198-203; Ross 1-3). In 1995, The Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, also popularly known as the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, was held in Beijing, China. The conference raised global knowledge of human rights, the inequalities and inequities between men and women, and bestowed the required motivation for accentuating gender-based violence as a precedence issue for engagement by the global community (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 79). Human rights are being used to promote public health. Reproductive health rights become visible in the globally reputable structure of human rights through established rights to life, security, equal treatment, education, development, and to the maximum health standards. The rights include the privilege to emergency medical services and to the fundamental health determinants, such as sovereignty from discrimination, and adequate food, water, and sanitation (Gruskin and Loff 1880). The right to health is an essential human right that consists of free will and privileges (Hunt 1878). The freedoms consist of the right to contribute to apposite decisions about ones health, including those made about sexual and reproductive freedom (Germain, Reproductive Health and Human Rights 65). Human Rights and Public Health Standards in Regards to Womens Reproductive Rights The associations amid medicine, public health, and human rights are developing swiftly, in result of a multitude of actions, occurrence, and efforts. These are comprised of the ongoing efforts on various aspects of womens health. To understand the associations between human rights and public health, it is fundamental to evaluate the important essentials of modern public health. Medicine and public health are two corresponding and interrelated methods for health advancement and protection through physical, mental, and social security. However medicine and public health must be separated because they serve different purposes (Germain 65). The primary disparity involves the population importance of public health, which varies with the individual center of medical care. Public health recognizes and measures health risks to the populations, composes legislative policies in reaction to these risks, and develops certain services contributing to the promotion of health and disease prevention (Gruskin and Loff 1880). Medicine, on the other hand, concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of individuals. There is a strong association between public health and human rights. In the article Health and Human Rights, Jonathan Mann et al. describe a trinary outline of health and human rights and the impact and implications in health policies, human rights, and the connection between the two. Health practices, policies, and programs have an effect on human rights. Public health liabilities are accomplished in considerable evaluation through programs and policies distributed, employed and implemented with assistance from the state. Public health functions are appraising health concerns and inadequacies, cultivating policies intended to manage health issues of precedence, and ensuring agendas to employ planned health goals (Mann et al. 13-17). For example, compilation of information on population health problems may be gathered on particular significant health problems opposed to others. This consequently creates inequity and other human rights violations by neglecting to contribute suitable health services. Public health is concerned with the advancement and security of the health of populations. There is a correlation between socioeconomic circumstances and inadequate health on womens reproductive health and human rights. The themes of public health and human rights are each comprised of health promotion and clarifying standards for performance (Gruskin and Loff 1880). The health and human rights framework is applicable to population issues concerning womens reproductive health. Human rights violations, such as gender inequalities, and lack of access to family planning, have a negative impact on womens health. Encouraging gender equality, development and ascertainment of womens reproductive health services and the elimination of impediment to womens economic and educational contribution is essential to promote public health. Gender equality Gender disparities are a chief reason of disproportion in health status, including health care. Gender differentiations are evident in disease prevalence; access to preventive care; and reproductive health. Promotion of gender equality in other sectors can influence health status and have reinforced public health outcomes (Robinson par. 9). Unfortunately, there remains a considerable disparities among recognized allegiance to gender equality in reproductive health services within the United States and abroad. The foremost cause of death and disease in women globally age 15-44 are reproductive health issues. Globally, inadequacies in family planning access contribute to the chief aspect regarding the 76 million unplanned pregnancies each year; nearly 20 million result in unsafe abortions, and attributing to nearly 70,000 deaths yearly. In emergent countries, the primary reason of death and impairment among women of reproductive age is pregnancy and childbirth complexities. Less than a quarter of married women use contraception in Africa. Females contribute to half the people infected with HIV-nearly 100 percent live in emergent countries (United Nations, Reproductive Health Factsheet). Cultural and societal customs regarding reproductive health contribute to the variations among womens and mens health status. Acknowledgment of the dynamic gender roles and associations reliant on social perspectives where cultural, religious, economic, and political positions are mutual are necessary to promoting gender equality in healthcare. Gender customs and discrimination within the United States, in addition to policies and laws influence womens access to health services and education can have a significant effect on womens reproductive health and their interrelated human rights (Germain, Reproductive Health and Human Rights 66). It is imperative to acknowledge the significant health outcomes attributed to a womans capability of autonomy in controlling health and health decisions. The ability for a woman to have control over when and how many children she has is crucial to increasing womens economic abilities. Family planning Family planning occupies the use of contraception to control the amount of children and intervals between births. An effective analysis of reproductive health allows women to establish informed decisions about their reproductive health and welfare (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 45-48). Family planning also encourages the preservation of womens freedoms and protects their health by precluding unplanned pregnancies and decreasing womens vulnerability to the health risks (Koop, Pearson, and Schwartz 190-191). All women should have the freedom to determine unconditionally and conscientiously the amount and proportion of children to have and to be able to acquire the education and information required to realize this right. Services include access to contraceptives, education, legal abortion, sexually transmissible infection (STI) screenings and treatment, pregnancy testing and counseling. In many parts of the world, including the U.S., these services remain unavailable. For example, betwee n 1994 and 2001, impecunious women had increased number of unplanned pregnancies, rates of abortion, and unintended births contrary to more affluent women. Low-income women are less likely to use contraceptives, thus increasing the incidence of STIs and abortion (Finer and Henshaw 95). High-quality family planning and the highest medical care aim to reduce abortion rates. Prohibiting access to superior reproductive health services and education amplifies the rate of abortion. Reproductive health and human rights and social and economic development. Population health is necessary for continuing economic advancement and overcoming poverty (Novick, Morrow, and Mays 20-24). Men and women should have a fundamental right to health and welfare, but significant infringements and disparities in health determinants and healthcare access continue to exist (Germain, Reproductive Health and Human Rights 65). In the United States, numerous relations among poverty and sexual and reproductive behavior exist. Being disadvantaged is related to first intercourse acts at an earlier age; less constancy with or no contraceptive usage; and reduced rationale to evade childbearing and rearing (Gruskin 1737). The prevalent concern is to surmount social cultural barriers and initiate family planning courses and assistances to women and girls. Supporting and promoting womens reproductive rights and encouraging family planning, enhances economic circumstances of women and families. Violence and discrimination against women continue to negatively impact the ir United States economy. The collaboration between public health and human rights transforms social and political structures that prevent women from fulfilling their highest human potential. The theory of a complex association between health and human rights has outcomes. Health professionals may supply beneficially to public acknowledgment of the remuneration and expenses related to the realization in respect of human rights and dignity. Public health may encumber human rights. In the name of public health, gross misapplication of private health status information can, consequently, aid in harming individuals and violating rights. Mann et al. explains that mishandling of HIV information has resulted in limitations on human rights in such areas as marriage and family, education and work, and freedoms (14). When vital public health problems are delineated on the basis of religion, national origin, or sex, health issues of prioritization may cause bias and are assigned inferior precedence. Additionally, discrimination may arise when health services fail to consider economic and socio-cultural impediments to their access. There are health effects consequent from human rights violations. The extent and scope of health consequences resultant from violation of rights and dignity continue to be disregarded. It is indisputable that human rights and dignity violations have poor effects on health. Recognition of these health influences connected with violations of rights and dignity can promote health and human rights fields (Mann et al. 17-19). For instance, the right to information may be violated when a woman seeks to attain a surgical procedure without appropriate procedural and health risk information available to her. Exploring the link between human rights and health is challenging. The most extensively established examination concentrates on higher socioeconomic status and enhanced health status. Lawrence Finer and Stanley Henshaw explain in the article, Disparities in Rates of Unintended Pregnancy In the United States, 1994 and 2001 that the rates of unplanned pregnancies have elevated among American women, the most prevalent populations being: women aged 18-24, low-income women, and minority women (91). The socioeconomic model generates escalating consequences that further increases the public health issues and human rights violations (Mann et al. 19-22). U.S. Healthcare Systems and Womens Reproductive Rights Public policy Public policy plays a role in womens reproductive rights in the United States. Most of the policy options are related to health care policies. Public health policies, programs and practices can burden human rights because reproductive and gender equity and equality are not analogous. Reproductive Rights are lawful rights and freedoms involving reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as the fundamental right of couples and individuals to choose without restraint and conscientiously the quantity and timing of their children. In addition, the rights also encompass the right to achieve the maximum paradigm of sexual and reproductive health and education/information devoid of inequity, force and aggression (World Health Organization, Reproductive Health.). According to the Center for Reproductive Rights in Report on the United States Compliance with Its Human Rights Obligations in the Area of Womens Reproductive and Sexual Health, a womans access to inclusive reproductive healthcare in the United States is not standardized or definite. The United States Constitution does not unequivocally defend the right to health and, consequently, healthcare is obtained through public and private sectors (par. 2). The United States is a new affiliate of the United Nations Human Rights Council. In the near future, the United Nations Human Rights Council will evaluate the United States adherence with the human rights responsibilities as declared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the United Nations Charter; and international humanitarian law (Center for Reproductive Rights; Report on the United States Compliance). This relationship will influence United States public policy as it correlates to public health issues as it exemplifies the importance of freedoms and human rights afforded people in the United States, as well as in other nations. Medical Ethics and Reproductive Health Rights There are ethical principles involved with womens reproductive health rights. Essential to contemporary medical ethics is a value for patient autonomy and the basic principle of informed consent. Medical ethics deals with the selections by both medical professionals and patients and the responsibilities and commitments of medical professionals to their patients. In addition, medical ethics also comprises of choices developed by society, the allocation of supplies and health care access and the problems evolving from these. Four elemental principles are feasible in modern medical ethics are: respect for autonomy, the principle of beneficence, the principle of non-malfeasance, and the principle of justice. Autonomy is respected when persons are considered ethical representatives with functions and responsibilities and the aptitude to comprehend and formulate ethical conclusions. The principle of respect for autonomy gives the power for the freewill of all people. In addition, the principle of beneficence attempts to promote the good of the person by doing good; the principle of non-maleficence attempts to evade producing injury; and the principle of Justice considers all people comparatively equal (Harman 40; Key Ethical Principles). Modern medicine considers the medical professional and patient reciprocally united in the treatment decision making process. Respect for autonomy, informed consent and confidentiality are also important for ethical performance. Autonomy In health care, respect for patients autonomy is imperative. Occasionally, autonomy can clash with opposing principles of ethics, such as beneficence (Pozgar 360-361). Autonomy can be limited through the position of the capability to make decisions for oneself, as in the case of a person in a coma or severely brain injured person. The principles of human dignity and respect for people are embedded within autonomy. The principle of human dignity is the fundamental worth that resides in every human being. Respect for people as a principle purports that all people should be treated as capable as they are free and responsible people (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 69-70; Key Ethical Principles). Informed Consent In health care contexts, the rights to informed consent and confidentiality are influential to assure decisions are made under the patients own free will. The principle of informed consent gives every capable woman the rights and responsibilities to progress her own health (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 86; Key Ethical Principles). These rights oblige certain associated obligations upon health care providers. To obtain informed consent of the patient, healthcare providers are obligated to divulge information of anticipated treatments and their alternatives, and they must revere her right to treatment refusal. In addition, healthcare providers are obligated to maintain privacy to permit the patient to make private decisions independent of others, including healthcare providers and family (Pozgar 278-279). Informed consent is an issue of determination. The most important characteristic is that it is patient enabling therefore providing the patient the information she requires in order to make a logical decision for her healthcare needs to be met. Confidentiality In U.S. health care, confidentiality is regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Privacy Rule, and many state laws (Miller 440-446). Confidentiality is generally used for discussions that occur between medical providers and patients in the course of treatment and/ or consultation. Legally, medical providers cannot disclose patient-provider discussions. In turn, the health care provider has a duty to respect the patients trust and keep sensitive medical information confidential (Miller 447-450; Pozgar 267-268). This necessitates the health care provider to respect the patients privacy by inhibiting others access to the patients private health care information thus, producing a trusting atmosphere supporting patient candidness with the health care provider. Technology and Challenges Unique to the U.S. and Developed Countries Technological Advances Technological advances play a role in womens reproductive rights in the United States. Reproductive technology includes contemporary and projected uses of technology for human reproduction, including facilitated reproductive technology, such as in-vitro fertilization; contraception; and abortion. The principles of integrity and totality assert that the wellbeing of the total person should be recognized when determining technology or therapeutic intervention usage (Harman 40; Key Ethical Principles). Assisted Reproductive Technology In the U.S., there has been an increase in assisted reproductive technology (ART). In the United States, the first baby conceived through ART was born in 1982. Each year since, there has been a remarkable increase in the amount ART procedures performed, from 64,681 to 134,260 between 1996-2005 (Wright et al. 9). Assisted reproductive technologies pertain to a number of alternatives to assist a woman in becoming pregnant (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 305). Because assisted reproductive technology procedures are very costly and invasive, they are frequently employed as a final recourse for conception. These medical procedures, when employed, are frequently used along with more conservative treatment to amplify the success of the procedure. Assisted reproductive technology methods include in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT) (Wright et al 3-5). Donor egg or embryo and surrogacy are also considered forms of assisted reproductive technology (Cook, Dickens, and Fathalla 305-307). Recently there has been an increase in assisted reproductive technologies and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in particular. In-vitro fertilization is the method where the ovum is fertilized by sperm outside the womb or in vitro. The fertilized ovum is then relocated to the womans uterus with the intention of producing a pregnancy. In-vitro fertilization is the principal remedy in infertility to other unsuccessfully facilitated reproductive technology approaches. There are examples of womens health rights being violated with in-vitro fertilization. Women who are single, overweight, or of significant age past child bearing years may be denied the same rights as a married, normal weight, younger woman. Contraceptives Contraception is the utilization of a variety of techniques to inhibit pregnancy as well as thwarting sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While, for the most part, the United States exemplifies elevated concentrations of contraceptive use as a method to prevent pregnancy, it is not uniformly dispersed within the United States. Certain populations, mainly urban and rural communities, contraceptive alternatives are restricted and access is complex, ensuing an unrealized necessity for contraceptive technology. (Guttmacher Institute, Facts on Contraceptive Use in the United States). In spite of evolvement of contraceptive technologies, method selection is individual. Classification of contraceptive technologies is based on the length of defense. These classifications are permanent, long-term, and short-term methods. Permanent methods of contraception have a very high success rate and include male (vasectomy) and female sterilization (tubal ligation). Both procedures are invasive and increase the risks of infection and other health complications and do not prevent against HIV and STDs. Long-term methods, while not as invasive as permanent methods, also have a very high success rate. Intrauterine devices (IUD), oral contraceptives, and hormonal injections are forms of long term contraceptive methods. This method, like permanent methods, can increase the risk of health complications and do not prevent against HIV and STDs. Short-term methods of contraception are to some extent less successful than long-term and permanent methods. Short-term contraceptives methods include condoms, spermicides, vaginal barriers, and emergency contraceptive pills. While side effects of this method are fewer than previously mentioned methods, only the condom prevents conception and HIV and STDs simultaneously when used appropriately (Guttmacher Institute, Facts on Contraceptive Use in the United States). Access to reliable, safe contraceptives is an essential component of a womans reproductive health and public health as a whole, with significant emphasis on the aspect of reproductive rights. It is imperative for healthcare providers to emphasize confidentiality and empower the womans autonomy regarding decisions about contraceptive methods. Abortion Abortion is a pregnancy that does not result in a birth (Pozgar 309). Therapeutic and elective abortions are the most common types of abortions in the United States. Therapeutic abortions are executed when there are fetal anomalies or when pregnancy endangers the mothers health. Elective abortions are the intended disruptions of pregnancy for basis exclusive of fetal irregularities or maternal threat. These types of abortion to end unintentional pregnancies are not uncommon (Guttmacher Institute, Facts on Induced Abortion). Access to reliable, legal abortion is a fundamental element of a womans reproductive health and an important factor of reproductive rights (Germain, Womens Health 193). Women must have significant procedure accession where abortion is legal. In the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the constitutional entitlement to abortion was acknowledged but failed to give women attainment to abortion services because of the escalating amount of limitations. Consequently, numerous state laws constrain a womans ability to obtain an abortion thus increasing the number of illegally obtained abortions. These laws are intended to make it more complicated for an abortion to be attained. A womans capability to access abortion services is additionally threatened by public persecution of abortion providers and confines on federal and private resources has produced a scarcity of services (Center for Reproductive Rights, Report on the United States Compliance par. 16-23; Guttmacher Institute, Fa cts on Induced Abortion). A resolution cannot ensue without corroboration for alteration. A considerable portion of the issues with womens health are mortality of mothers in addition to the fetus due in part to little education and little or no maternal health care available. Conclusion The association of human rights with regards to womens reproductive health in the United States is a significant public health issue. The overall importance of womens health and human rights is to advance the health of women and girls throughout the lifetime. Future optimal balance should be negotiated between public health goals and womens health and human rights approaches. The extensive historical impact of womens health and human rights emphasizes the need for endorsement and defense of health through respecting; protecting and fulfilling of womens human and health rights that are inextricably linked. It is imperative for public health officials and law makers to understand the serious health consequences and implications of defiance of womens health and human rights can have. The creation of universal health policies and programs to promote womens health and human rights in their design can facilitate the support of rights to autonomy, participation, privacy, and information in health care. Finally, susceptibility to illness can be abridged by adopting measures to appreciate, defend and accomplish human rights through autonomy from inequity of race, sex, and gender roles, as well as a fundamental right to health, nutrition, and education. The focal point for womens health issues is to remedy the inequities in research, health care services, and education that have positioned the womens health in danger. By organizing womens health research, health care services, and public policy new programs and ideas required to advance womens health in the United States and internationally can increase (Gruskin, Reproductive and Sexual Rights). Expansion of improved womens health practices by recognizing and duplicating thriving womens health programs, advancement of public health education by expanding the involvement of women and girls in health education courses, and increasing access to womens health services by involving professionals, such as health care professionals and public health officials, on womens health issues will attempt to close the disp

Advocating The Death Penalty :: essays research papers fc

Advocating the Death Penalty Thousands of people will attack the death penalty. They will give emotional speeches about the one innocent man or woman who might accidentally get an execution sentence. However, all of these people are forgetting one crucial element. They are forgetting the thousands of victims who die every year by the hands of heartless murderers. There are more murderers out there than people who are wrongly convicted, and that is what we must remember. I, as well as many others, have total confidence in the death penalty. It is a very beneficial component of our justice system. The death penalty saves lives. It saves lives because it stops those who murder from ever murdering again. It also deters potential murderers from ever committing the crime. Unfortunately, the death penalty is currently used so rarely that it isn’t nearly as effective as it could be. In order for it to work, we must put it into practice more often. In recent years, crime in America has been on the rise, in particular, violent crime. This has led not only to an overcrowding of prisons in our country, but also to an increase in the number of death sentences handed down by the courts. Despite the fact that the number of inmates on death row is climbing, the number of death sentences actually carried out in any given year lags far behind. People simply aren’t fearful of the death penalty when it isn’t used the way it should be (Stewart 50). If the death penalty has been declared legal, then the federal and state governments must employ it to its fullest as a means of stopping previous murderers from recommitting their crimes. Since most of the prisoners on death row are there for murder, executing them would ensure that they would never kill again. Obsessive murderers, who know no alternative to killing, need to be executed to protect both prison guards and society. This view is perhaps best illustrated through the words of Judge Alfred J. Talley of New York who explained â€Å"If I as an individual have the right to kill in self defense, why has not the state, which is nothing more than an aggregation of individuals, the same right to defend itself against unjust aggression and unjust attack?† (Kaplan 28) About two and a half years ago, my dear cousin, Jaime, became the first victim of a serial killer named Brian Duffy.

Rocking The Boat :: essays research papers fc

Throughout history individuals have been plagued with decisions in which they must choose to act in their best interest or act as a martyr, dedicating their lives to the best interests of others. While these choices may seem irrational, selfish, and poorly contemplated from the outside, on the inside there are simply no other options. Paradoxically, the protagonists in both Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain sacrifice what is precious to them to preserve their emotional and spiritual survival. Chopin’s Edna Pontillier forfeits a comfortable role and style of life in order to maintain her emotional integrity and independence. Set in the late Victorian Era, characterized by a rigid repression of women’s independence, Edna Pontillier finds herself in the center of a male-dominated society, and tries desperately to break through the expected mold of a woman at that time. She finds it particularly difficult to conform to the expected role of Victorian motherhood. Leonce, Edna’s husband, is rather upset by this fact, and often tells Edna that she must become a better mother, more involved in her children’s lives, similarly to their friend Adele, who idolizes her children and worships her husband. "In short, Mrs. Pontillier was not a mother-woman. This mother-woman seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious b road. They were woman who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels." (Chopin, 8) Furthermore proving her independence and self-reliance, many parallelisms are drawn between Edna and the language spoken by Mrs. Lebrun’s parrot. It is "language which nobody understood." (Chopin 1) Edna’s constant struggle with dissatisfaction with the social constraints of womanhood led her to a raging internal conflict. Regarded as a possession in her marriage with Leonce, Edna seeks freedom, and searches to pursue it in relationships with other men. One of these men, Alcee Arobin, allows Edna to maintain her liberty, although he is used to having the upper hand in his previous relationships with women. Edna’s short-lived romance with Alcee is the only relationship she has experienced that is not structured by possession. The other man, Robert Lebrun, is the man who holds Edna’s heart. Though Robert is Edna’s only true love, he cannot declare or act on his feelings, for he cannot cease thinking of her as anything other than the possession of another man.

The Fight for Freedom and Rights in Early America Essay -- People Hist

The Fight for Freedom and Rights in Early America The names and faces of those considered pioneers in the fight for rights and freedom may not be instantly recognizable, but nevertheless, they are an important part to the history of the United States of America. Throughout the history of our country, there has not just been an injustice towards black slaves, but also towards women, with both being unfairly discriminated against. It was the work of many individuals who brought the unfamiliar taste for rights for all God’s creatures to the mouths of many people. The impact of such people, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass, towards the demand for rights for women and slaves cannot be measured. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was born and raised in Johnstown, New York and was one of six children (Stanton 169). She was an incredibly gifted woman, extremely smart and intelligent and had a tongue for linguistics, as she had studied Greek and Latin. She enjoyed intellectual and stimulating conversations and became quite interested in temperance movements, abolishing slavery, and the struggle to gain rights for women. One day, after a discussion with like-minded women, she proposed a woman’s convention to discuss their situation. In July of 1848, she organized the first woman’s rights convention in the United States, known as the Seneca Falls Convention. Frederick Douglass was a slave with ambition and he became more educated than most slaves were by learning how to read. This in theory was good, but at times, did not work out to his advantage. His acumen and intelligence were characteristics that fed his yearning for knowledge and his taste for freedom. Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was born... ...e of Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Frederick Douglass, but their impact on American history cannot be calculated. Their goals and ideas pushed through a white male dominated world and they set out to make change. They knew it would not come easily, but they knew it was something they were willing to fight forever for. It is due to their leadership, intelligence, and the strength in their hearts for the reason why they are considered two of the most important pioneers in the fight for freedom and the fight for rights for all individuals in our society. Works Cited Douglass, Frederick. â€Å"Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.† A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. Boston: Bedford, 2002. 125-140. Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. â€Å"Declarations of Sentiments and Resolutions.† A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. Boston: Bedford, 2002. 169-178.

Adolescent Offender Essay

Lionel Tate, a fourteen year old Florida boy was sentenced to life during March 2001 for killing Tiffany Eunick, a six- year boy during a wrestling match which took place in 1999. Thus he was convicted of first degree murder as the killing was due to aggravated child abuse and he was sentenced to life without parole.   His sentence was questioned by many critics and many wonder how the justice system allows to send a just fourteen year old boy to prison for life. The underlying question in the ongoing debate was that how a juvenile can be awarded punishment similar to their adult offenders. [i] Adolescent can be defined as the stage of life cycle from puberty to maturity ends at the age of majority. Adolescent thus refers to the change in physical system of a human leading to sexual maturity. Many adolescent teenagers without proper support factors can end in the ‘cracks’ and may land in hostile world. Juvenile delinquency means antisocial attitude beyond the control of parents and result in crimes that is punishable with imprisonment. In other words, it is a criminal offense committed by a minor. See more: Analysis of Starbucks coffee company employees essay Rolf Loeber has conducted research on delinquent paths or trajectories and recognized three discrete paths to a criminal career such as 1) the authority conflict pathway 2) The convert pathway 3) The overt pathway; He also recognise that disruptive behavior that starts from in early childhood with truancy ,lying , threat to animals . There were more than 600 murders that were committed by young people aged 12. Thus in the case of Lionel, it starts from early age of 12 and corroborates with Loeber finding under the overt pathway which escalated to aggressive acts beginning with aggression leading to violence i.e. murder. The Lionel may be of suffering from Problem behavior syndrome (PBS). People with these syndromes will resort to physical abuse, sensation seeking, and arrogance. Researches reveal that delinquent possessed this inherent behavior from very early young age. Some had resorted to drug abuse and heavy drinking as early as at age of 10 or still younger.   Thus the Rolf Loeber and David Farrington study reveals that early-onset offenders had a disruptive behavior with truancy, lying, cruelty to animals and theft. Thus the attitude of young offenders can be attributed when there is no adequate parental care, the environment of their brought up , inherent characteristics at birth and may also due to Problem behavior syndrome ( PBS) [i] Scott, Elizabeth S, ‘Blaming Youth’, Texas Law Review, Feb, 2003. Children Committing First Crime at Just 11. (2005, February 15). The Evening Standard (London, England), p. 16.

Provide Support Essay

1. explain the importance of a holistic approach to managing pain and discomfort It is important that we take into consideration, areas other than physical pain and have a holistic approach. Pain is whatever the person who is suffering it feels it to be. Physical pain can be experienced as a result of disease or injury, or some other form of bodily distress. Pain can also be social, emotional and spiritual as well as just physical. Having a personalised and holistic approach to a person’s pain and discomfort needs good teamwork. E.g. Nurses and care workers may be able to help to support the person with physical pain. By using effective communication skills verbal and non-verbal, including active listening will help to support people holistically. Supporting people is looking at the person as a whole, and considering all of their needs Holistic care aims to take care of the whole person – not only the physical needs (i.e. pain what they are suffering from) of the patient but also their mental & emotional needs (i.e. afraid, not knowing what`s wrong), their social needs (i.e. worrying about money, bills, or how supporting family) and spiritual needs (i.e. feelings of anger or guilt). Using a holistic approach is important because it gets to the root of the problem, the reason you are having pain to begin with. Pain may be coming from another part of the body. Conventional medicine, alternative and complementary therapies can be used as options to relieve pain and other symptoms if desired. Care plan is  individualized and tailor-made for the service users which support their lifestyle and culture. The individuals and their family members are consulted and their wishes respected as far as possible in the care process. The purpose is to bring comfort, dignity and peace to the clients as well as support to their family members 2. Describe different approaches to alleviate pain and minimise discomfort Repositioning individuals and adjustments to bedding, heating, lighting or noise can also be a factor and the use of specialised mattresses such as air mattresses and equipment and pressure reducing aids can help to alleviate pain. There are many options to minimise discomfort such as: Doctors most often use conventional methods such as drugs. Physiotherapists rely on physical means of treatment such as; massages, electrical therapies, hot or cold packs Complementary therapists use methods such as: acupuncture, herbal medication, aromatherapy or chiropractic. Aromatherapy, homeopathic medicine, reflexology, yoga – these therapies should be used only where care professional agrees with the beneficial effects. Relieving anxiety by talking to therapies. Using drugs such as analgesics (paracetamol), opiates (morphine), anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen). Using physical methods like hot water bottle, massage, cooling with ice, repositioning. Self-help methods such as walking around or taking other exercises, having a chat or doing something else to distract from pain. 3. Outline agreed ways of working that relate to managing pain and discomfort The individual needed to be assessed, as every kind of pain relief can be harmful, care plan and policies and procedures always have to be followed and necessary precautions have to be taken. We have to follow agreed ways including Homes policies for pain management. Prescribed medication- via GP Homely remedies Practical measures from Health care assistance i.e. changing positions of individuals etc. 212.2 BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN MINIMISING INDIVIDUALS PAIN OR DISCOMFORT 2.1 Describe how pain and discomfort may affect an individual’s wellbeing and communication Severe pain or discomfort could have the ability to totally transform a person. It can affect the way a person eats and drinks, ie, difficulty in swallowing, it can cause frustration and unreasonable behaviour in a person who is normally calm and in control, it could also make resting, relaxing and sleeping difficult, leading a person to feeling stressed and suffering from insomnia, it could also, in some cases, lead to other medical conditions, such as depression. How a person interacts with others might also be a further consideration, in that they might find talking difficult, or they could become irritable and prone to sudden mood swings. Something else which should be considered is the sufferers ability to work and care for their family, if they are unable to do this, it might make them more reliable on others, which in turn could affect their whole well-being. Pain can effect individual’s communication so it is therefore important to observe their behaviour for signs of pain.

Acer Case Transnational Management Essay

1. When Multitech was starting up, Stan Shih preached frugality in the form of not spending more money then necessary and not being wasteful with the resources the money spent provided. Shih went as far as creating a campaign that focused on turning lights off, using both sides of paper, and traveling economy class. This is vastly different then the philosophy of other startup companies that spend more money then they have available and quickly go bankrupt. Secondly, Multitech made employment very attractive through delegated responsibility. Most companies have a top-down management approach where all decisions are made at the top and employees need to do what they’re told and keep their ideas to themselves. With Multitech, there was a sense of freedom, which led to the recruitment of bright young engineers. That type of creative freedom, as long as it’s for the betterment of the company, breeds increased productivity. Third, to compensate for offering no more then a modest salary, Multitech offered key employees equity in the form of ownership in subsidiary companies. Can you imagine just coming out of college and being offered ownership in a company? I would take a little less per hour for that opportunity. Imagine if any of us had such an opportunity with Apple or Facebook. Wow! Lastly, joint ventures allowed Multitech to expand its sales into new territories without the risk of hiring more people or raising more capital. In other words, Multitech increased their market share without taking on additional expenses or putting in more money. To sum up, keeping spending under control, hiring the best minds and keeping them happy, and expanding for â€Å"free† leads to an impressive startup. 2. Leonard Liu added value to Acer by making employees responsible for their actions. Liu did this by introducing productivity and performance evaluations. Before Leonard Liu came on board, employees did not have a profit and loss responsibility and as we know, the difference between a successful company and an unsuccessful company is profit. Now, if an employee wanted freedom to make his own decisions, that employee had to make sure his freedom produced a profit. Before Liu, there was a lack of structure within the company. Liu brought a professional management structure to Acer by establishing standards for intra-company communications to make sure everyone was on the same page. Most importantly, Liu created structure within the company by creating RBU’s and SBU’s. With this change, organizations, subsidiaries, and marketing companies under the Acer umbrella all had specific responsibilities instead of doing a little bit of everything. Unfortunately, some of the changes Liu implemented seemed to do more damage then good, which eventually led to employees questioning his judgment and implementing his directives half-heartedly. The supportive family approach was gone having been replaced with an iron-fisted form of management. Employees were not responding. The change was too drastic. Something in between Shih’s approach and Liu’s approach would have probably been more productive. Also, frugality was replaced with lavish spending on accounting and law firms and full acquisitions of companies instead of joint ventures, which put all the financial responsibility on Acer. If the goal was profit, Liu was losing just as much, if not more money. 3. In regards to development of the Aspire, I believe a local-for-local model was used. The Aspire was the first product designed and developed by an RBU, in response to a locally sensed market opportunity. Acer America and other RBU’s felt that Acer’s Taiwan-based SBU’s were too distant to develop product configurations that would appeal to diverse consumer and competitive situations around the globe. The second aspect of the local-for-local model requires that subsidiaries use their own resources to develop products. With that criteria, Mike Culver, AAC’s Director of Product Management, commissioned a series of local focus groups to explore opportunities in home computing. After the focus groups showed a potential for a consumer PC, Culver hired Frog Design to create a prototype for the Aspire. By using focus groups and hiring Frog Design, a company independent from Acer, Culver was using resources available to him outside of the Taiwan home base. From start to finish, the development of the Aspire happened in the US as a product initially for the US market. 4. Shih should allow the development of the Aspire to continue as long as implementation is transferred back to the SBU’s in Taiwan. If all of the company’s engineering and production expertise is located in Taiwan, those with the most expertise should handle the launch of such an expensive product into a highly saturated and competitive market. Shih would also need to make sure that the design of the Aspire stays as-is to achieve economies of scale on production. As far as marketing, I see no problem with different markets customizing the marketing plan for the Aspire. Companies all over the world implement different marketing strategies for a product depending on the market. For example, Diet Pepsi is marketed as Pepsi Light in some countries outside of the US. What may be an important feature of the Aspire in the US market might not be as important in a different market.

The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 7

â€Å"Who's Celia?† Bonnie said indignantly, as soon as they'd wiped off the blood. She'd put the rose down careful y in the middle of the front seat, between her and Matt, and they were al very consciously not touching it. Pretty as it was, it looked more sinister than beautiful now, Stefan thought grimly. â€Å"Celia Connor,† Meredith said sharply. â€Å"Dr. Celia Connor. You saw her in a vision once, Bonnie. The forensic anthropologist.† â€Å"The one who's working with Alaric?† Bonnie said. â€Å"But why would her name show up in blood on my arm? In blood.† â€Å"That's what I'd like to know,† Meredith said, frowning. â€Å"It could be some kind of warning,† Elena proposed. â€Å"We don't know enough yet. We'l go to the station, we'l meet Alaric and Celia, and then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Then?† prompted Meredith, meeting Elena's cool blue eyes. â€Å"Then we'l do whatever we have to do,† Elena said. â€Å"As usual.† Bonnie was stil complaining when they got to the train station. Patience, Stefan reminded himself. Usual y he enjoyed Bonnie's company, but right now, his body craving the human blood he'd become accustomed to, he felt†¦ off. He rubbed his aching jaw. â€Å"I'd real y hoped we'd get at least a couple days of everything being normal,† Bonnie moaned for what seemed like the thousandth time. â€Å"Life's not fair, Bonnie,† Matt said gloomily. Stefan glanced at him in surprise – Matt was usual y the first to leap in and try to cheer up the girls – but the tal blond was leaning against the closed ticket booth, his shoulders drooping, his hands tucked into his pockets. Matt met Stefan's gaze. â€Å"It's al starting up again, isn't it?† Stefan shook his head and glanced around the station. â€Å"I don't know what's going on,† he said. â€Å"But we al need to be vigilant until we can figure it out.† â€Å"Oh, that's comforting,† Meredith muttered, her gray eyes alertly scanning the platform. Stefan folded his arms across his chest and shifted closer to Elena and Bonnie. Al his senses, normal and paranormal, were on ful alert. He reached out with his Power, trying to sense any supernatural consciousnesses near them, but felt nothing new or alarming, just the calm background buzz of ordinary humans going about their everyday business. It was impossible to stop worrying, though. Stefan had seen many things in his five hundred years of existence: vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts, angels, witches, al sorts of beings who preyed on or influenced humans in ways most people could never even imagine. And, as a vampire, he knew a lot about blood. More than he had cared to admit. He'd seen Meredith's eyes flick toward him with suspicion when Bonnie began to bleed. She was right to be wary of him: How could they trust him when his basic nature was to kil them? Blood was the essence of life; it was what kept a vampire going centuries after his natural life span should have ended. Blood was the central ingredient in many spel s both benevolent and wicked. Blood had Powers of its own, Powers that were difficult and dangerous to harness. But Stefan had never seen blood behave in the way it had on Bonnie's arm today. A thought struck him. â€Å"Elena,† he said, turning to face her. â€Å"Hmmm?† she answered distractedly, shading her eyes as she peered down the track. â€Å"You said the rose was just lying there waiting for you on the porch when you opened the door this morning?† Elena brushed her hair out of her eyes. â€Å"Actual y, no. Caleb Smal wood found it there and handed it to me when I opened the door to let him in.† â€Å"Caleb Smal wood?† Stefan narrowed his eyes. Elena had mentioned earlier that her aunt had hired the Smal wood boy to do some work around the house, but she should have told him of Caleb's connection to the rose before. â€Å"Tyler Smal wood's cousin? The guy who just showed up out of nowhere to hang around your house? The one who's probably a werewolf, like the rest of his family?† â€Å"You didn't meet him. He was perfectly fine. Apparently he's been around town al summer without anything weird happening. We just don't remember him.† Her tone was breezy, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Stefan reached out automatical y to speak to her with his mind, to have a private conversation about what she was real y feeling. But he couldn't. He was so used to depending on the connection between them that he kept forgetting it was gone now; he could sense Elena's emotions, could feel her aura, but they could no longer communicate telepathical y. He and Elena were separate again. Stefan hunched his shoulders miserably against the breeze. Bonnie frowned, the summer wind whipping her strawberry ringlets around her face. â€Å"Is Tyler even a werewolf now? Because if Sue's alive, he didn't kil her to become a werewolf, right?† Elena held her palms to the sky. â€Å"I don't know. He's gone, anyway, and I'm not sorry. Even before he was a werewolf, he was a real jerk. Remember what a bul y he was at school? And how he was always drinking out of that hip flask and hitting on us? But I'm pretty sure Caleb's just a regular guy. I'd have known if there was something wrong with him.† Stefan looked at her. â€Å"You've got wonderful instincts about people,† he said careful y. â€Å"But are you sure you're not relying on senses you don't have anymore to tel you what Caleb is?† He thought of how the Guardians had painful y clipped Elena's Wings and destroyed her Powers, the Powers she and her friends only half-understood. Elena looked taken aback and was opening her mouth to reply when the train chugged into the station, preventing further discussion. Only a few people were disembarking at the Fel ‘s Church station, and Stefan soon spotted Alaric's familiar form. After stepping down to the platform, Alaric reached back to steady a slender African-American woman as she exited behind him. Dr. Celia Connor was certainly lovely – Stefan would give her that. She was tiny, as smal as Bonnie, with dark skin and close-cropped hair. The smile she gave Alaric as she took his arm was charming and slightly puckish. She had large brown eyes and a long, elegant neck. Stylish but practical in designer clothing, she wore soft leather boots, skinny jeans, and a sapphire-toned silk shirt. A long, diaphanous scarf was wrapped around her neck, adding to her sophisticated demeanor. When Alaric, al tousled sandy hair and boyish grin, whispered familiarly in her ear, Stefan felt Meredith tense. She looked like she'd like nothing better than to try out a few of her martial arts moves on a certain gorgeous forensic anthropologist. But then Alaric spotted Meredith, dashed over, and took her in his arms, pul ing her off her feet as he swung her into a hug, and she visibly relaxed. In a few moments, they were both laughing and talking, and they didn't seem to be able to stop touching each other, as if they needed to reassure themselves that they were actual y together again at last. Clearly, Stefan thought, any worries Meredith had had about Alaric and Dr. Connor had been groundless, at least as far as Alaric was concerned. Stefan turned his attention to Celia Connor again. His first wary tendrils of Power discovered a slight simmering resentment emanating from the anthropologist. Understandable: She was human, she was quite young despite her poise and her many professional achievements, and she had spent a great deal of time working closely with the very attractive Alaric. It wouldn't be surprising if she felt a bit proprietary toward him, and here he was being pul ed away from her and into the orbit of a teenage girl. But more important, his Power found no supernatural shadow hanging about her and no answering Power in her. Whatever the meaning of the name Celia written in blood, it seemed Dr. Celia Connor hadn't caused it. â€Å"Somebody take pictures!† Bonnie cal ed, laughing. â€Å"We haven't seen Alaric for months. We have to document his return!† Matt got out his phone and took a couple of pictures of Alaric and Meredith, their arms around each other. â€Å"Al of us!† Bonnie insisted. â€Å"You too, Dr. Connor. Let's stand in front of the train – it's a terrific backdrop. You take this one, Matt, and then I'l take some with you in them.† They shuffled into various positions: bumping, excusing, introducing themselves to Celia Connor, throwing their arms around one another in a casual y exuberant style. Stefan found himself pushed to the edge, Elena's arm through his, and he discreetly inhaled the clean, sweet scent of her hair. â€Å"Al aboard!† the conductor cal ed, and the train doors closed. Matt, Stefan realized, had stopped taking pictures and was staring at them, his blue eyes widening in what looked like terror. â€Å"Stop the train!† he shouted. â€Å"Stop the train!† â€Å"Matt? What on earth?† Elena said. And then Meredith looked behind them, toward the train, with an expression of dawning comprehension. â€Å"Celia,† she said urgently, reaching out toward the other woman. Stefan watched in confusion as Celia jerked away from them abruptly, almost as if an unseen hand had grabbed her. As the train began to move, Celia walked, then ran beside it with stiff, frantic motions, her hands pul ing rapidly at her throat. Suddenly Stefan's perspective shifted and he understood what was happening. Celia's diaphanous scarf had somehow been firmly caught by the closing door of the train, and now the train was pul ing her along by the neck. She was running to keep from being strangled, the scarf like a leash yanking her along. And the train was beginning to pick up speed. Her hands pul ed at the scarf, but both ends were caught in the door, and her tugging only seemed to tighten it around her neck. Celia was approaching the end of the platform and the train was chugging faster. It was a flat drop from the platform to the scrub ground beyond. In a few moments, she would fal , her neck would be broken, and the train would drag her along for miles. Stefan took al this in within the space of a single breath and sprang into action. He felt his canines lengthen as a surge of Power went through him. And then he took off, faster than any human, faster than the train, and sped toward her. With one quick motion, he took her in his arms, relieving the pressure around her throat, and tore the scarf in half. He stopped and put Celia down as the train sped up and left the station. The remnants of the scarf slipped from around her neck and fluttered onto the platform by her feet. She and Stefan stared at each other, breathing hard. Behind them, he could hear the others shouting, their feet pounding on the platform as they ran toward them. Celia's dark brown eyes were wide and fil ed with tears of pain. She licked her lips nervously and took several short, gasping breaths, pressing her hands against her chest. He could hear her heart pounding, her blood rushing through her system, and he concentrated on pul ing his canines back and resuming his human face. She staggered suddenly, and Stefan slipped his arm around her. â€Å"It's okay,† he said. â€Å"You're al right now.† Celia gave a short, slightly hysterical laugh and wiped at her eyes. Then she stood upright, straightening her shoulders, and inhaled deeply. Stefan could see her deliberately calming herself, although her heartbeat was reeling, and he admired her self-control. â€Å"So,† she said, holding out her hand, â€Å"you must be the vampire Alaric's told me about.† The others were coming up to them now, and Stefan glanced at Alaric in alarm. â€Å"That's something I'd rather you kept private,† Stefan told her, feeling a prick of irritation at Alaric for divulging his secret. But his words were almost drowned out by a gasp from Meredith. Her gray eyes, usual y so serene, were dark with horror. â€Å"Look,† she said, pointing. â€Å"Look at what it says.† Stefan turned his attention to the pieces of sheer fabric around their feet. Bonnie gave a little whimper and Matt's eyebrows furrowed. Elena's beautiful face was blank with shock, and Alaric and Celia both appeared entirely confused. For a moment, Stefan saw nothing. Then, like a picture coming into focus, his vision adjusted and he saw what everyone was looking at. The torn scarf had fal en into an elaborately twisted heap, and the supposedly random folds of fabric quite clearly formed letters that spel ed: meredith