The developments in generation of DNA profiles Assignment

The developments in generation of DNA profiles - Assignment Example The changes occurring in the modern world make use of weapons of mass destruction exemplified by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The advanced weaponry is likely to result into disasters of great magnitudes as typified in armed conflicts and acts of terrorism (Zietkiewicz, Witt, Daca, Zebracka-Gala, Goniewicz, Jarzab & Witt, p41, 2012). A critical issue during disaster response involving a multitude of individuals is the need to identify victims. Various catastrophic events including the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster, Asian Tsunami and the Hurricane Katrina have offered immense knowledge regarding the effectiveness of the STR and mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis on highly compromised samples (Eisenberg & Planz, p12, 2007). Human identification has made tremendous strides over the past two decades. Since the inception of forensic DNA analysis, there have been two main objectives. These are the identification of those who could be the source of biological evidence and t o exclude individuals wrongly associated with evidence. The generation of reliable genetic profiles from unknown and reference samples, systematic and objective interpretation practices as well as providing statistical assessment of the outcomes is critical to a robust DNA profiling program (Alvarez-Cubero, Saiz, Martinez-Gonzalez, Alvarez, Eisenberg, Budowle & Lorente, p229, 2012). The early evolution of forensic genetics has driven the analysis of human genetic variation, beginning more than a century ago. Specifically, with Karl Landsteiner’s discovery of the human ABO blood group polymorphism and his early realization that this variation could be applied in solving crimes (Jobling & Gill, p740, 2004). DNA fingerprinting using the hyper variable loci known as mini-satellites discovered in 1984 by Alec Jeffery was another classical human identification technique. The mini-satellites were detected by hybridization of probes to Southern blots of restriction enzyme digested ge nomic DNA. Although the application of DNA fingerprinting lasted for some time in paternity testing, criminal casework soon concentrated on the use of specific cloned mini-satellites called single locus probes (SLPs). These revealed only a single, highly polymorphic restriction fragment length polymorphism, hence simplifying interpretation. The amplification of DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), offered an enormous increase in sensitivity. These molecular based approaches allowed small amounts of degraded DNA to be analyzed at a rapid rate (Jobling & Gill, p740, 2004). PCR-based techniques allowed the targeting of numerous genetic markers from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs). The testing of human identity may be considered in a variety of contexts namely analysis of relationship, forensic casework, missing person investigation and mass casualty incident (MCI) victim identification (Zietkiewicz, Witt, Daca, Zebracka-Gala, Gonie wicz, Jarzab & Witt, p42, 2012). Environmental conditions of mass casualty identification usually lead to severe fragmentation, degradation and intermixing of the remains of victims. Under such conditions, conventional methods of identification that depend on physical and anthropological characteristics of the victims fail. Consequently, DNA profiling has become a gold standard for the identification of victims in mass casualties or forensic related cases.

Short-term memory (STM) Essay Example for Free

Short-term memory (STM) Essay Ð s Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s known Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"nto the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s processed Ð °t severÐ °l stÐ °ges. FÃ'â€"rst mÃ'â€"nutes we remember somethÃ'â€"ng refers to Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °te memory. Іt Ã'â€"ncludes brÃ'â€"efly sÐ °ve Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t wÃ'â€"ll be not needed Ã'â€"n Ð ° short perÃ'â€"od Ð °fter Ã'â€"t wÐ °s receÃ'â€"ved. WÃ'â€"th people who hÐ °ve Ð ° heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury, Ã'â€"mmedÃ'â€"Ð °te memory cÐ °n be good or Ã'â€"t cÐ °n be bÐ °d. The problem for most heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people, however, Ã'â€"s wÃ'â€"th short-term memory (STM). ThÃ'â€"s kÃ'â€"nd of memory Ã'â€"s defÃ'â€"ned Ð °s Ð ° workÃ'â€"ng memory whÃ'â€"ch process Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on from the sensory regÃ'â€"sters (Charles G. Morris and Albert A. Maisto). Іn cÐ °se one focuses the Ð °ttentÃ'â€"on on Ð ° stÃ'â€"mulus Ã'â€"n the sensory regÃ'â€"ster, Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s Ð °utomÐ °tÃ'â€"cÐ °lly sÐ °ved Ã'â€"n thÃ'â€"s/her STM. STM lÐ °sts untÃ'â€"l the new Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s stored Ð °nd tÐ °kes Ð ° plÐ °ce of the old one. Some of the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t went through the STM wÃ'â€"ll dÃ'â€"sÐ °ppeÐ °r Ð °nd some wÃ'â€"ll be converted to your log-term memory (LTM). StudÃ'â€"es suggest thÐ °t STM cÐ °n hold Ð °bout Ð °s much Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ð °s cÐ °n be repeÐ °ted or reheÐ °rsed Ã'â€"n 1. 5 to 2 seconds. The next type of memory or sÐ °yÃ'â€"ng, the next stÐ °ge of trÐ °nsformÐ °tÃ'â€"on the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on thÐ °t we recÐ °ll Ð °fter Ð ° dÐ °y, Ð ° week or yeÐ °r. Іt refers to Ð ° Long-term memory (LTM). LTM hÐ °s Ð ° quite dÃ'â€"fferent cÐ °pÐ °cÃ'â€"ty thÐ °n STM. ІnformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s not stored for Ð ° short perÃ'â€"od, but cÐ °n be stored for mÐ °ny yeÐ °rs. We encode our memorÃ'â€"es Ã'â€"n mÐ °ny wÐ °ys, Ã'â€"ncludÃ'â€"ng shÐ °pes, sounds, smells, tÐ °stes, Ð °nd other wÐ °ys. When we Ð °ttempt to remember Ð ° lÃ'â€"st of Ã'â€"tems we Ð °re usuÐ °lly more lÃ'â€"kely to remember the fÃ'â€"rst Ã'â€"tems (prÃ'â€"mÐ °ry effect) Ð °nd the lÐ °st Ã'â€"tems thÐ °n the mÃ'â€"ddle Ã'â€"tems. ThÃ'â€"s Ã'â€"s cÐ °lled the serÃ'â€"Ð °l posÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"on effect. For most heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people, theÃ'â€"r long-term memory tends to be good. Ð fter one get Ð ° heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury, short-term memory Ã'â€"snt workÃ'â€"ng, so Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on hÐ °s Ð ° hÐ °rd tÃ'â€"me gettÃ'â€"ng to long-term memory. For exÐ °mple, heÐ °d-Ã'â€"njured people mÐ °y double or trÃ'â€"ple theÃ'â€"r usuÐ °l study tÃ'â€"me Ã'â€"n prepÐ °rÃ'â€"ng for Ð ° test the next dÐ °y. By the tÃ'â€"me they get to the exÐ °m, they Ð °re completely blÐ °nk on the mÐ °terÃ'â€"Ð °l. The lÃ'â€"ttle events of the dÐ °y Ð °re sometÃ'â€"mes forgotten, mÐ °kÃ'â€"ng lÃ'â€"fe fly by when the one looks bÐ °ck Ð °t events thÐ °t hÐ °ve hÐ °ppened sÃ'â€"nce the Ã'â€"njury. When speÐ °kÃ'â€"ng of brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury Ð °nd memory Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"mportÐ °nt to mentÃ'â€"on two common thÃ'â€"ngs thÐ °t hÐ °ppen wÃ'â€"th people wÃ'â€"th heÐ °d Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es: retrogrÐ °de Ð °nd Ð °nterÃ'â€"or grÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °. Ð mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° meÐ °ns you lost Ð ° memory thÐ °t you once hÐ °d. Іts Ð °s Ã'â€"f someone hÐ °s erÐ °sed pÐ °rt of your pÐ °st. RetrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° meÐ °ns you hÐ °ve lost memorÃ'â€"es for events PRІOR to the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent. For some people, retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° cÐ °n cover just Ð ° mÃ'â€"nute or even Ð ° few seconds. Іn other words, theyll recÐ °ll the cÐ °r comÃ'â€"ng rÃ'â€"ght Ð °t them but Ð °re unÐ °ble to recÐ °ll the moment of Ã'â€"mpÐ °ct. For other people, retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð ° mÐ °y Ð °ffect longer perÃ'â€"ods of tÃ'â€"me. The lÐ °st three or four hours prÃ'â€"or to the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent Ð °re gone. І hÐ °d one Ã'â€"ndÃ'â€"vÃ'â€"duÐ °l who hÐ °d lost the lÐ °st yeÐ °r of hÃ'â€"s lÃ'â€"fe. Ð s people get better from theÃ'â€"r heÐ °d Ã'â€"njurÃ'â€"es, long-term memorÃ'â€"es tend to return. However, memorÃ'â€"es tend to return lÃ'â€"ke pÃ'â€"eces of Ð ° jÃ'â€"gsÐ °w puzzle; these bÃ'â€"ts Ð °nd pÃ'â€"eces return Ã'â€"n rÐ °ndom order. Іn generÐ °l, the smÐ °ller the degree of retrogrÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °, the less sÃ'â€"gnÃ'â€"fÃ'â€"cÐ °nt the heÐ °d Ã'â€"njury Ã'â€"s (Spreen et al. , 1995). Ð nother form of memory loss Ã'â€"s cÐ °lled Ð °nterÃ'â€"or grÐ °de Ð °mnesÃ'â€"Ð °. Іn thÃ'â€"s cÐ °se, events FOLLOWІNG the Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent hÐ °ve been erÐ °sed. Ð  good pÐ °rt of thÐ °t Ã'â€"s due to the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury Ã'â€"tself. Complex systems Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °re Ã'â€"njured. The chemÃ'â€"cÐ °l bÐ °lÐ °nce Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s upset. Ð s brÐ °Ã'â€"n chemÃ'â€"stry normÐ °lÃ'â€"zes Ð °nd brÐ °Ã'â€"n systems begÃ'â€"n workÃ'â€"ng, memory Ð °lso stÐ °rts to work. Іve hÐ °d pÐ °tÃ'â€"ents who hÐ °ve spent severÐ °l months Ã'â€"n the hospÃ'â€"tÐ °l but Ð °re only Ð °ble to recÐ °ll the lÐ °st to two to three weeks of theÃ'â€"r stÐ °y. There Ð °re reÐ °sons why the STM does not work Ã'â€"n those who hÐ °ve brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"njury. The reÐ °son lÃ'â€"es Ã'â€"n the wÐ °y the brÐ °Ã'â€"n works. Ð s we know the Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on flows Ã'â€"n through the mÃ'â€"ddle of our brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °nd brÐ °nches out lÃ'â€"ke Ð ° tree. Before thÐ °t Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goes to dÃ'â€"fferent Ð °reÐ °s, Ã'â€"t goes through Ð ° chÐ °nnelÃ'â€"ng/fÃ'â€"lterÃ'â€"ng system. Іts Ð °lmost lÃ'â€"ke Ð ° mÐ °Ã'â€"l roomthÃ'â€"s Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on goes Ã'â€"nto thÃ'â€"s box, Ð °nd thÐ °t letter goes Ã'â€"nto thÐ °t box. When the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s Ã'â€"njured, these mÃ'â€"ddle Ð °reÐ °s get pressed upon becÐ °use of swellÃ'â€"ng (pressure pushes down on the brÐ °Ã'â€"n). The mÃ'â€"ddle sectÃ'â€"ons of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ð °re Ð °lso restÃ'â€"ng on the bone of the skull. BecÐ °use of forwÐ °rd Ð °nd bÐ °ckwÐ °rd movement of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"n Ð °n Ð °ccÃ'â€"dent, they get sheered or torn. Ð  problem develops when there Ã'â€"s Ð ° lÐ °rge flow of Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on comÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"n whÃ'â€"ch the brÐ °Ã'â€"n cÐ °nt process, or when Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s not beÃ'â€"ng sent to the rÃ'â€"ght plÐ °ce. So the mÐ °Ã'â€"l room of the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s not doÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"ts job. There Ã'â€"s Ð °lso Ð ° second type of memory problem. Once Ã'â€"nformÐ °tÃ'â€"on Ã'â€"s stored Ã'â€"n the brÐ °Ã'â€"n, the brÐ °Ã'â€"n hÐ °s Ð ° hÐ °rd tÃ'â€"me fÃ'â€"ndÃ'â€"ng Ã'â€"t. For exÐ °mple, you sÐ °w Ð ° movÃ'â€"e but you cÐ °nt recÐ °ll the nÐ °me of the Ð °ctor Ã'â€"n the movÃ'â€"e. You cÐ °n vÃ'â€"suÐ °lÃ'â€"ze who the Ð °ctor Ã'â€"s, but cÐ °nt come up wÃ'â€"th hÃ'â€"s nÐ °me. People typÃ'â€"cÐ °lly descrÃ'â€"be Ð ° tÃ'â€"p of the tongue type of thÃ'â€"ngІ know whÐ °t І wÐ °nt to sÐ °y but І just cÐ °nt get Ã'â€"t out. Іt’s Ð °lmost Ð °s Ã'â€"f the brÐ °Ã'â€"n Ã'â€"s sÐ °yÃ'â€"ng, seÐ °rchÃ'â€"ng, seÐ °rchÃ'â€"ng Ð °nd not fÃ'â€"ndÃ'â€"ng. SeverÐ °l mÃ'â€"nutes lÐ °ter, Ã'â€"t just comes to you. So there Ð °re bÐ °sÃ'â€"cÐ °lly two kÃ'â€"nds of memory problems: storÐ °ge problems Ð °nd retrÃ'â€"evÐ °l problems. Іn conclusÃ'â€"on І would lÃ'â€"ke to sÐ °y thÐ °t Ã'â€"t Ã'â€"s very Ã'â€"mportÐ °nt to Ã'â€"mprove the memory Ð °nd mÐ °ke regulÐ °r exercÃ'â€"se whÃ'â€"ch wÃ'â€"ll contrÃ'â€"bute to thÃ'â€"s process. The known fÐ °ct Ã'â€"s thÐ °t people use theÃ'â€"r memory not to the fullest extent Ð °nd not even to the hÐ °lf of theÃ'â€"r rememberÃ'â€"ng Ð °bÃ'â€"lÃ'â€"tÃ'â€"es. Bibliography: 1. Ashley MJ. Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1995.2. Anderson, V. Moore, C. Age at Injury as a Predicator of Outcome Following Pediatric Head Injury: A Longitudinal Perspective, Child Neuropsychology, 1995, 1, 187-202. 3. Charles G. Morris and Albert A. Maisto. â€Å"Understanding Psychology†. 4. Russ, R. M. , et al. Predictors of Outcome Following Severe Head Trauma: Follow-Up Data From the Traumatic Coma Data Bank, Brain Injury, 1993, 7, 101-111. 5. Spreen, O. ; Risser, A. Edgell, D. Developmental Neuropsychology, Oxford University Press, 1995.

The Political Regime Types In China Politics Essay

The Political Regime Types In China Politics Essay Political regime is emphasizes for foreign direct investment for foreign governments to either induce or promote consolidation(Toke, S.2011) regime is set of structure as a form of government or state system that make up a state which create a specific rule within a political system(wisegeek.com). A regimes is made by the country to protect the country interest in daily life activities, each of country is having a different set of political rules likewise the world dominant business centre United States and China that have a significant future potential for continue growth (Gomez, M.2007). Difference in political ideologies, history and culture background in a country determines how an overseas investor should prepare a strategy to entering their destination country, each country has a different regime to take into account. A legal rules relating on how the business should run such as investment, taxation , employee rights, is depend on the government as the representative of the cit izen who are need to take control on increase or decrease of their standard of living. This essay will compare a difference in political regime in China as a communist government (Wall, Stuart. 2010) and United States as a country that growing a liberal attitude (Currant, Giorel.2010). Where the regime is become the base of all activities run in the country, foreign business creator is need to understand in order to be success and did not involve in any constraints in the destination country. China have been live in a communism since its first chairman and founder of peoples republic of china Mao success in implement a successful economy growth in communist rule (Shapiro, Ellen.2010).Communism ideology is highly cautious, intensively bureaucratic and concerned first and foremost with self-reservation ,which Communist officials are known as cadres(factanddetail.com) The Communist Party has made economic growth and nationalism from the basis for its legitimacy during began an effort to put to rights the obvious contradictions between the Marxist ideology (factanddetail.com), where in this states a equality of status is being forced and those who initiate to oppose will have a consequences in legal way. As the only legal party in China, during 1979 Communism Party has enter the government portion and owned a significant size of state-own enterprises that domain all resources allocation, decision making and personnel management that determine prices and calculate their return based on forecast and granting a loans when a bankruptcy is occurs, (Lasserre,P. 1999) throughout its domination ,communism party is relied on police and military that have not changed until now. Only those who are in a high status of the party involve in making decision, the Communist Party has maintain their influence by providing a help for those who need, especially in rural area such as farmer that is freed from taxes. According to Jim Yardley in New York Times, economic and social change is so rapid in China that the communist party is sometimes describes as an overwhelmed caretaker, yet threats any potential opposition in order to hold their political power. As time goes in 2004 Zeng Qinghong, a highly regarded political fixer said that the power of the party does not last as long as the party does, he pursue to reform in the face of pressures such as liberalization, globalization and stagnation in the party (factanddetail.com).Communism have become ideology in China and exi sts today that have changed prosperity and better life to Chinese. On October 2007 on the Communists Party 17th National Congress the new leadership Hu jin tao elect a new member of 204 committee which 105 members are newly elected, and many of those come from the Communist Party Youth League (Ewing,K. 2007). These days a communism has not control every aspects such as individual problem like it has before, the Chinese Communist Party has always control the country in behind cloak of nationalism to defend them from western influence. Futile action from the urban middle class to have more political freedom do have a prohibitively high cost of failure, over the last three decades the party have shown the economic reform without changing their ideology likewise other neighbours country, the idea that china would become a democracy is just a western notion (McGregor,  R.2011).China as a multinationals country who rely on their history has sure will stand as their an previous leader do ne. Liberalism is defined as a believer in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all, and the needs of government to solve a problem (studentnewsdaily.com). Different with China who have ideology where everyone will have the same equality in status, in United States who has more power will have a higher status in the society. From the history US have lead by communist leader Lincoln (Weiner.L.2011), and become a liberal country that have all of freedom, including market freedoms, responsibility where conservatives would not be so upright in people ideology( Rourke ,  P.2011,  January).Despite on legal system in united states, people have been live in a liberal life, each individual is provided with the means of the basis of their individual talent and initiative (Ryan,N.et all . 2003).Personal effort that someone attempt to do in order to achieve a higher status make them become a rival in term of achieve personal expectation. Different in amount that someon e earn may be different as a reflect the benefit from different individual hard work and skill (Heywood,pp.230-35).The government will reserve what the community needs but not directly control all the step as long as it is done it right thing. (Hoekema,  D.2010) Moore defined individual rights are essential defence against the states false claims of supremacy. Always look for a better life and working hard for it, is a western typical of people, doing everything that they can as a reflection of freedom that the country give them , where a country also have a legal movement to stop their activities if its not appropriate. As the political regime in each country is different, a foreign investor has to be able to consider how they act in order to synchronize their origin country politic and their destination country. A free market is release in US where in China a free market is not fully applied, where there is government intervention whether it is direct or indirect. China did embrace a free market but which are straining to retain control of the political sphere.(Lassarre,P.1999) When a foreign country wan to open or assign in joint venture in China a western is in a problematic situation where a polititicied issue and freedom is restricted, make it a relationship with the authority is a key term for the foreign investor to be success in China (Lassarre,P.1999). As communism rule everything China is centralise their local industry to be in the top priority, whether if there are is highly potential business who may take the top position in each industry, government will try to make it hard for them to not interfere local business. Intellectual property right in a free market such as patent right is valid in US especially in medical technology such as biotechnology other kind of gen is patentable(Wall, S.2010).Where in China for such industries the tax rate in increased at a state set prices, a limitation for a foreign access to tens of billions of dollars in contract for technology needed for the businesses(Browne, A.2010).In different aspect of technology China has been one of largest offshore in IT work (Friedman, 2005), where US is well-known as a high tech country such as Apple.inc. Other aspect is educational status between both country many well known university such as Harvard, Oxford have been the top universities in the world, a high skill employment compare with Chinese.(Gomez,M.2007) .Other factors such as difficulties of language is also important as not much Chinese cant speak English as international language or other language properly. In conclusion a liberal regime is give a wider opportunity rather than communism ideology which did not give so much freedom of opportunity to be success. A medical industry that needs a lot of capital in technology, money, and knowledge is as basic necessity and US have proof to be a right country to start the business with. Bigger chance to collect resources needed, success in creating an invention, many high skill labours, availability for a intellectual property right in free market and a freedom which really exist. Compare with Chinese that may be more advanced in next few years but still there is no guarantee that Chinese government will help other than their local company to lead any industry in their own country, unless being part of them , which is a hard thing to do when someone who is new have nothing to offer for them .

5 Court Cases :: essays research papers

I. Name and Citation STATE OF FLORIDA, versus SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA II. Key Facts In this complaint, the the Tribe was operating "electronic or electromechanical facsimiles of games of chance" and that such operations constituted class III gaming as defined by IGRA. These games were operated despite the absence of a compact between the Tribe and the State regarding the regulation of class III gaming. The State also alleged that the Tribe planned to construct a new facility on its lands in order to conduct additional class III gaming. III. The Issue Does the operation of such games without a Tribal-State compact violate both federal and state law? IV. Holding and Vote No (Opinion by Justice Stevens) V. Reasoning Congress abrogated tribal immunity from state suits that seek declaratory or injunctive relief for alleged tribal violations of IGRA; (2) the Tribe, by electing to engage in gaming under IGRA, waived its immunity from a suit to require compliance with the statutory conditions precedent to class III gaming; and (3) tribal immunity does not necessarily extend to actions seeking prospective equitable relief. Congress may abrogate a sovereign's immunity only by using statutory language that makes its intention unmistakably clear, and that ambiguities in federal laws implicating Indian rights must be resolved in the Indians' favor. The Supreme Court has made it plain that waivers of tribal sovereign immunity cannot be implied on the basis of a tribe's actions, but must be unequivocally expressed. Accordingly, we reject the State's argument that the Tribe's immunity does not necessarily extend to this action for prospective equitable relief. The district court's holding that sovereign immu nity bars the State's suit against the Tribe is affirmed. I. Name and Citation ALDEN et al. v. MAINE II. Key Facts Congress lacks power under Article I to abrogate the States' sovereign immunity in federal court, the Federal District Court dismissed a Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 suit filed by petitioners against their employer, respondent Maine. Subsequently, petitioners filed the same action in state court. Although the FLSA purports to authorize private actions against States in their own courts, the trial court dismissed the suit on the ground of sovereign immunity. III. The Issue Does the federal government have authority under Article I to abrogate a State's immunity in it's own court? IV. Holding and Vote Yes. (vote 5-4) (Opinion by Justice Kennedy) V. Reasoning The Constitution's structure and history and this Court's authoritative interpretations make clear that the States' immunity from suit is a fundamental aspect of the sovereignty they enjoyed before the Constitution's ratification and retain today except as altered by the plan of the Convention or certain constitutional Amendments.

Computing Architectures

An organization s computer network is a major asset and needs extensive planning for proper function. The network design process is a long and arduous task that requires knowledge of the business need of the organization and the technical skills to achieve those needs. The network designer must first address the major problem of what architecture should be employed in a particular network. The distributed approach and central approach are the two possible choices a network designer has to choose from. Background of Central & Distributed ArchitecturesThere are two mainframe architectures for a network Central and Distributed. Both architectures employ mainframe computers that hold massive amounts of data, which are accessed by terminals, and whose location is not important to an end-user. An example would be an airline reservation system. Reservation data can be read and changed by an airline clerk, which is then sent to the mainframe to be updated. The system is updated in microseconds so another user does not see old information. The central architecture consists of one storage computer that holds data, whereas the distributed architecture consists of two or more, smaller mainframes physically separated to serve the same purpose. Advantages and Disadvantages of Central vs. Distributed Data StorageAdvantages of Central Architecture: less maintenance and changes must only be reflected at one site. Less maintenance is required on the overall network because there is only one mainframe, whereas in the distributed approach there are more mainframes to maintain. Secondly, changes that are entered into the system by a user need to be updated only at one mainframe instead of being changed at more than one. For example, John has made a reservation at 8:00 AM for Monday to mainframe A and currently it is updating itself. At the same time Linda is accessing mainframe B, which is not updated yet. She sees the 8:00 AM slot for Monday as open and reserves it for her customer. The data is now corrupt. This is a very simple example of what can happen with the distributed architecture. With the central architecture the data is updated in one place, leaving no room for error. Disadvantages of the Central Architecture: A higher load on the network is incurred due to having only one central data access point. Second, there is no data redundancy, which means, if the one mainframe goes down the network goes down. Third, unauthorized access would yield more data to a hacker compared to the distributed approach. Advantages of Distributed Architecture: more redundancy since there are more mainframes with same data, more secure because a hacker doesn t have access to all the data, and less susceptible for entire network to go down since all data is not stored in one place. Disadvantages of Distributed Architecture: More maintenance is required because there are more mainframes and data updates must be updated on more than one mainframe as stated earlier. Value of ProjectThe value of the project is enormous due to the information technology being a major asset for a company. Data retrieval and transportation is a vital part of most organizations and a must for a company to do business on any scale. That is why a network architecture decision must be made for the best data transfer method. The wrong choice will be a tremendous liability to an organization for two reasons: an undertaking of this kind is expensive and a network must grow as it gets older-meaning it must be planned out from the start correctly or else it will be of no worth later on. Methodology in Evaluation of Client Sever vs. Mainframe ArchitectureThe network designer has a set of predefined characteristics in order to choose the correct architecture for a particular network including: the physical size of the network, cost, efficiency, and performance. These are general determinants that must be taken into consideration before an architecture is chosen. SizeGenerally, a network that would reach globally, carry variable sized data, and have many users in different locations would be better suited for a distributed approach. The central approach would be ideal for a small branch office to a statewide network, with a maximum number of users at 1000, and carry continuous or steady traffic. CostA larger global network would be less concerned with cost, whereas a smaller network would be more concerned with it. Cost depends on the scale, amount of data that will be transmitted, complexity of work, etc. An installation of a network usually involves outside contractors with the aid of in-house network operators. The least cost will be determined by adding up work done by the outside vendors, equipment, software, consulting time, and proposals from different bidders. EfficiencyA standard measure in telecommunications is the 99% quality measure. A network should be totally operable, even if it is down 99% of a year. This can be tested before the installation takes place by running tests and simulations by vendors who are attempting to gain your business. PerformancePerformance will be reflected by the throughput of the network. How fast can data be delivered across the line to from the sender to the destination This will vary from the type of protocol used in both architectures depending on the type of data to be transported. This can also be tested with simulations.

The Truth Behind the Alien Reptile Hoax

The Truth Behind the Alien Reptile Hoax In 1990, a former British soccer player named David Icke began sharing his psychic visions with the world. According to Icke, our planet is secretly being controlled by a race of humanoid reptiles from the Alpha Draconis star system, 300 light years away. Not only do these reptoids or reptilians live underground beneath the earths major cities, Icke contends, but they drink human blood and have the ability to shape-shift. Sadly, most of the worlds leaders have already been co-opted by these evil reptiles; Icke and his followers believe that former president George W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II are both reptoids in disguise. Of course, Icke isnt the first person in history to ascribe supernatural powers to reptiles. Snake- and crocodile-like gods are common in ancient mythology, and there were some notable pop-culture reptilian references that preceded Icke (and may, in fact, have directly influenced his philosophy). In 1983, the hugely successful TV miniseries V featured an invasion by conniving alien reptiles disguised as humanoids. After Icke appeared on the scene, the most famous fictional reptilian is arguably the snake-like Voldemort from the Harry Potter books; however, theres no evidence that J.K. Rowling even knows who David Icke is. Are Reptoids Really Intelligent Dinosaurs? Its unclear whether or not Icke believes that his alien reptoids descended from, or were somehow responsible for, the dinosaurs that roamed the earth until 65 million years ago. However, bizarre conspiracy theories have a way of rapidly mutating, and the Icke cult has spawned a subset of enthusiasts who believe that dinosaurs didnt, in fact, go extinct, but evolved into super-intelligent reptoids- so super-intelligent, in fact, that theyve managed to evade detection to this day, except (perhaps) by ex-footballers prone to psychic visions. These conspiracy theorists have received an unintentional boost from North Carolina State paleontologist Dale Russell, who in 1982 published a paper speculating about what might have become of the dinosaur Troodon had the K/T Extinction not happened. Since Troodon was an uncommonly intelligent dinosaur, Russell surmised, its uninterrupted evolutionary arc might have resulted, tens of millions of years later, in a race of super-intelligent, humanoid reptilians. One common attribute of conspiracy theorists (not to mention religious fundamentalists and disbelievers in the theory of evolution) is to take the speculations of reputable scientists as established, carved-in-stone fact. Today, most adherents of the reptoid cult cite Russells paper as proving the existence of humanoid reptiles, and many uninformed readers have helped spread the word. Russell himself, of course, meant no such thing, and is doubtless embarrassed by the cult he unintentionally fueled with his research. Are Humanoid Reptiles a Scientific Possibility? Despite what Icke and other conspiracy theorists claim, theres absolutely no proof that a race of super-intelligent reptoids (or Martians, or swamp monsters) lurk beneath the sewers of Paris, New York, and Beijing. There is also no evidence that the earth has ever been visited by flying saucers or that reptilian aliens have tinkered with human DNA, or that Queen Elizabeth II is a lizard in disguise (though some Icke cultists claim to have seen a second eyelid flickering across her pupils, if you look really closely at slowed-down news footage). But is it possible that an isolated population of meat-eating dinosaurs (Troodon, or some other genus) managed to survive the K/T Extinction, and persist to this day on some remote island or in the middle of a dense rain forest? The odds are vanishingly small, but not zero. However, the chances are even more remote for a scenario in which these dinosaurs have evolved into super-intelligent beings, which would require (among other things) a huge increase in their population, making detection by (and competition with) contemporary human beings a certainty. The fact is that reptoids, reptilians, or whatever you want to call them simply dont exist, despite what David Icke and his followers claim.

metablolism (the) essays

metablolism (the) essays The idea that you can 'ruin' your metabolism is a very negative idea. To put it simply, you can't. You may, however, have some metabolic problems due to yo-yo dieting, but that's another matter. Here's a quick rundown of how your metabolism works. Understanding this process should help you in your weight loss. For the sake of example, let's say you lose four stone just by dieting. Let's further assume that about half of the weight you lost is fat and half of it is muscle. (These percentages aren't exactly right, but they'll work for the purpose of illustration.) You've now lost about two stone of muscle and two stone of fat. Now let's say that you go off the diet and regain that four stone. This time, almost all of the regained weight is going to be fat, and virtually none of it is going to be muscle. So at the end of the day, you weigh the same as before, but your body composition is significantly different. You now have a significantly higher percentage of body fat. Why does this matter? Simple. Most of your calories are 'burned' by muscle tissue. Fat is basically metabolic 'dead weight'. When you lose a lot of muscle, you lose one of your biggest allies in the war against fat. This shift in body composition is one of the things people refer to when they talk about their metabolism being 'ruined' by dieting. To raise your metabolic rate, one of the best things you can do is regain some of that lost muscle by adding weight training to your routine. The other thing that frequently happens with yo-yo dieting is that you train your fat storage enzymes to be more efficient. When you repeatedly starve yourself, those enzymes simply become better at their job of storing fat, an evolutionary strategy meant to keep you alive during times of famine. But by exercising consistently, eating fewer calories than you burn, and by eating the right kind of calories, you can re-train the fat-releasing enzymes to come out of hidin ...

Sociology and the Power of Sanctions in Compliance

Sociology and the Power of Sanctions in Compliance Sanctions, as defined within sociology, are ways of enforcing compliance with social norms. Sanctions are positive when they are used to celebrate conformity and negative when they are used to punish or discourage nonconformity. Either way, the use of sanctions and the outcomes they produce are used to encourage our conformity with social norms. For example, an individual who behaves appropriately in a given setting by being polite, socially engaged, or patient could be sanctioned with social approval. An individual who chooses to behave inappropriately by acting out of turn, saying or doing strange or unkind things, or expressing rudeness or impatience may be sanctioned with disapproval, expulsion, or more severe consequences, depending on the situation. How Sanctions Relate to Social Norms Social norms are expected behaviors that are agreed upon by a social group. Social norms are part of society as a whole (like using money as a tool for exchange) and of smaller groups (like wearing a business suit in a corporate setting). Social norms are thought to be necessary for social cohesion and interaction; without them, we could live in a chaotic, unstable, unpredictable, and noncooperative world. In fact, without them, we might not have a society. Societies, cultures, and groups often use sanctions to enforce compliance with their desired social norms. When an individual conforms- or does not conform- to the social norms, he or she may receive sanctions (consequences). In general, sanctions for conformity are positive while sanctions for nonconformity are negative. They can be informal sanctions such as shunning, humiliation, accolades, or awards to help shape the way individuals and institutions behave. Internal and External Sanctions Sanctions can be internal or external. Internal sanctions are consequences imposed by the individual, based on compliance with social norms. For example, an individual might suffer from embarrassment, shame, or depression as a result of noncompliance and associated exclusion from social groups. Imagine a child who decides to challenge social norms and authorities by stealing a candy bar from a store. Not being caught and without external sanctions, the child may feel miserable from guilt. Rather than eating the candy bar, the child then returns it and confesses guilt. This end result is the work of an internal sanction. External sanctions, on the other hand,  are consequences imposed by others and include things like expulsion from an organization, public humiliation, punishment by parents or elders, and arrest and imprisonment, and more. If a person breaks into and robs a store and is caught, there will be an arrest, an accusation of a crime, a court trial and the likelihood of being found guilty, and maybe jail time. What happens after the person is caught ​is a series of state-based external sanctions.​​​ Formal and Informal Sanctions Sanctions can be formal or informal. Formal sanctions are imposed through formal means by institutions or organizations upon other institutions, organizations, or upon individuals. They can be legal or based on an institutions formal code of rules and ethics. A nation that fails to comply with international law may be sanctioned, meaning that economic opportunities are withheld, assets are  frozen, or trade relationships are ended. Likewise, a student who plagiarizes a written assignment or cheats on a test may be sanctioned by the school with academic probation, suspension, or expulsion. To expand on the former example,  a nation that refuses to comply with an international ban on building nuclear weapons will face economic sanctions from nations that comply with the ban. As a result, the noncompliant country loses income, international status, and opportunities for growth as a result of the sanction. Informal sanctions are imposed by individuals or groups upon other individuals or groups without the use of a formal, institutional system. Scornful looks, shunning, boycotts, and other actions are forms of informal sanctioning. Take the example of a corporation whose products are made in factories in which child labor and abusive practices are rampant. Customers who object to this practice organize a boycott against the corporation. The corporation loses customers, sales, and income as a result of informal sanction.

Proposal Technique for Creating Behavior Change Essay

Proposal Technique for Creating Behavior Change - Essay Example They may succumb easily to repeated traumatic events that may be related to other experiences of interpersonal violence, including child abuse. The individual has feelings of intense fear and low self esteem. Prey to incidents of disrespect and more victimization, our client no longer expresses assertiveness. She is easily agreeable and prey to incidents of disrespect and more victimization. It is suggested that she undergo sessions cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in order to recognize and identify the thought patterns that she has which lead to distorted feelings about herself. The therapist will use CBT in a way such that the young lady will be able to accept and internalize a positive mirror of herself, first initiated by the therapist, so that she may constructive a credible and non-destructive self image. Discussion Cognitive Behavior Therapy Cognitive Behavior Therapy was developed by psychiatrist Aaron Beck during the 1960s and 1970s. CBT recognizes core beliefs which individ uals have built and internalized over their lifetime. They are called schemas and they give rise to intermediate beliefs of rules, attitudes, and assumptions. These collections of schemas produce instant automatic thoughts that, not based on reasoning or deliberation, are immediately evaluated and accepted as true. If the schema have been developed on irrational or dysfunctional beliefs, the individual will produce irrational behavior from stimuli that could often lead to depression, anxiety, or anger. The task of the CBT therapist is to interact with the patient in a systematic way so that the patient gains confident to begin to correct irrational thought patterns. CBT is goal directed and problem solving focused. The typical regimen may involve 14 sessions, two a week that gradually disperse to a one weekly and then biweekly delivery, all over a two to three month period. There are booster sessions which can occur quarterly and some dysfunctions, more rigid, may require longer per iods. The CBT therapist interacts with the patient to initially identify automatic thoughts in the first sessions and gradually advances to evaluation of intermediate and core beliefs. Techniques include Socratic questioning, guided discovery, positive mirroring, behavior therapy and gestalt therapy. Homework assignments are made, the patient, if capable, writes out many responses. With collaboration and active participation between the therapist and the patient, sessions are structured and outlined as parts dealing with previous review, agenda (in case of new considerations), review of homework, new homework, and feedback. The patient is taught to learn to focus and identify dysfunctional thinking, to evaluate thinking validity and to set a plan of action. The patient learns to understand how thinking is organized and how thoughts influence emotions. By doing homework and practicing session techniques, the therapist’s goal is to help the patient toward self application and t he practice and use of constructive techniques. Cognitive Trauma Therapy Kubany et al have developed a version of CBT as Cognitive Trauma Therapy for battered women (CTT-BW) who face incidents of posttraumatic stress disorder (2009). They have highlighted CBT techniques of stress management, relaxation training, and exposure homework dealing with trauma responses. Guilt was identified as a major treatment target with a focus on creating

Divorce and Its effect on children Research Paper

Divorce and Its effect on children - Research Paper Example Other challenges worth mentioning is the fact that children develop behavioral changes after the separation of their parents since there is always no balance or stability of relationship between the parents as the ones who are supposed to guide the children throughout their lives. When couples divorce, their children lose stability, comfort, and support that always come from the parents (Fagan, and Aaron 11). The result is that the decision leaves some children to fend for themselves making them assume responsibilities that bar them from interacting with their peers. Though in the developed countries children only suffer psychological impacts of divorce, the situation is worse in middle and low-income populations where departure of parents imply that the children will look for livelihood on their own. Divorce is arguably responsible for mental torture as it affects emotions of the children. Children will develop violent behaviors owing to depression and stress of leaving without their parents. In this case, children alienate themselves from their peers fearing that they might be scolded for living without their parents. On the other hand, divorce leaves a lasting impression on the child and forms the basis for their future behaviors. If, for example, the pare nts divorced because of violence, their children may become accustomed to it and perceive violence as a regular occurrence in the society and will subject their future spouses to domestic violence. Most importantly, divorce is responsible for the evils that befall teenagers in the modern society (Fagan, and Aaron 12). Divorce first weakens the existing bond between parents and their children thus leaving the young ones to make personal decisions at tender ages. In this case, children will look for others for attention and might sometimes end up in the wrong company.

Shamoon incident at Aramco Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Shamoon incident at Aramco - Case Study Example This was the first malware used by the hacktivism front and hence the company’s network was not in a position to handle the complexity of this virus. Indeed, unlike other malware whose impact cannot overcome the antivirus set in the company’s network, the technology used in Aramco was way below that of the hackers. The network system in Aramco offers security to theft of data but has no capacity to handle annihilation manifested by Shamoon. In addition, the company’s anti-hacking and firewall software is incapable to deal with such technologically advanced malware like Shamoon. Moreover, the company’s IT and computer systems policies require a review. Sadly, the network system of Aramco allows multiple users to access both unclassified and classified information at the same time, which jeopardizes the security of the system as seen in the Shamoon attack. In addition, Aramco’s network allows its employees and expatriate employees to run information s ystems and then divulge such information that acts as leeway to cyber-attacks. Indeed, the company needs to review and update its IT policies and computer systems for purposes of dealing with such complicated malware as Shamoon (Mashat, 2012, p.1). Otherwise, the ease to access, lack of proper authorization, and use of ancient anti-hacking and firewall software, jeopardizes the security of Aramco’s network system. How the Attack Happened One group of hackers has claimed responsibility over the Shamoon attack on Aramco. The group, Cutting Sword of Justice asserts that the cyber-attack took place beginning Wednesday, Aug 15, 2012 at 11:08 AM and was complete within a few hours (Fisher, 2012, p.1). Although, this information is not certain, there are clear indications that lead to this assertion. Indeed, in the same day after Cutting Sword of Justice asserted this, Saudi Aramco confirmed that part of its computer system used by its employees is under cyber-attack courtesy of a c omputer virus. Alternatively, several antivirus vendors Kaspersky Lab, Symantec, McAfee confirmed the existence of such a virus and named it Shamoon or Disttrack (Higgins, 2012, P. 16). Indeed, the hackers took the virus from another computer package and dropped it off in the Aramco’s computer system. We may need to define the details of this virus to reinforce our understanding on how this attacked happened. Shamoon or Disttrack is a legitimate software driver with a digital signature inside its package. Specifically, the virus is referred to as W32. Disttrack and ha distinct security components. Indeed, W32.Disttrack has a dropper that played a major role in creating and providing the original infection. Subsequently, the dropper significantly dropped other modules in initiating the attack. In addition, the W32.Disttrack has a wiper whose main responsibility in the attack was to destroy the network of target system, Aramco. Moreover, the wiper has the capability to enable u ser-mode applications to read and write to disk sectors of other systems (Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, 2012, n. p). As such, it is most applicable in overwriting the computer's Master Boot Record. Indeed, the wiper deleted all the existing drivers and overwrote the signed one in Aramco’s network. Most significantly, the W32.Disttrack entails a reporter, which was significant in reporting the success of the attack to the attacker. The reporter takes back all the details

Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 31

Article Example ard that whether there exist the survival of Bitcoin or not in this contemporary world, the technology underlying the same would stay for a longer time (Casey and Vigna, †Bitcoin and the Digital-Currency Revolution†). One of the important points or the lessons learned from the selected article â€Å"Bitcoin and the Digital-Currency Revolution† is that the wide application of Bitcoin will certainly develop the conditions of global economy in a positive manner through varied ways. These ways may include computerizing the operational procedures like introducing payment processors, slashing down the amounts of financial fees and generating opportunities for the people who does not hold bank currents currently among others. Apart from this, the other important point or lesson, which can be learned from the aforesaid article, is about the operational procedure of Bitcoin based on which, the conditions of global economy are developed to the maximum possible extent. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Bitcoin, acting as an efficient digital currency system, takes into concern certain core software programs that restrict in conducting unfair practices such as hacking attempts(Casey and Vign a, ‘Bitcoin and the Digital-Currency Revolution’). Thus, Bitcoin plays a decisive role in making the system of digital currency quite standardized, which in turn, assists in developing the disrupting conditions of global economy at

History of american stock car racing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

History of american stock car racing - Essay Example In fact, the sport started off with extremely inauspicious beginnings, and only later evolved into the multi-billion dollar enterprise of the 21st century. This essay examines the history of American stock car racing and considers the factors that contributed to its evolution from an event associated with bootlegging to one of the most watched sports in the United States. Although stock car racing is more popular today the ever it can be traced back to inauspicious beginnings during the 1920s. From 1920 to 1933 the Prohibition Period made it illegal to produce, sell, and drink liquor, so a prosperous bootlegging industry developed. Many people called bootleggers would illegally run whiskey to market places often racing at high speeds to outrun the police. In an effort to increase their efficiency and limit their chances of being apprehended bootleggers began to develop enhanced, or ‘souped-up’, engines and suspensions for the cars they drove. As the faster vehicle greatly increased the chances of evading the United States Department of Justice these drivers were termed ‘moonshine runners’.1 David â€Å"Turbo† Thompson, an associate professor at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, who also raced stock cars stated, â€Å"Runners built their reputations by outsmarting and outdriving the law.†2 As much of the alcohol w as produced in the Appalachian region this primarily became a southern activity. In 1933, when the prohibition ended, stock car racing was becoming very popular. After Prohibition was repealed a great deal of the runners’ business halted, but soon many regions developed an affinity for moonshine alcohol. Moonshine running soon became a recreational activity and races along dirt roads and similar tracks began occurring throughout the southern states, most notably the Wilkes County region of North Carolina. The cars continued to improve and eventually races on Sundays were organized. A number of moonshine runners gained great acclaim,

Rhetoric in Protest Music Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Rhetoric in Protest Music - Case Study Example A Vietnamese gun boat was rumored to have attacked an American ship. The resolution allowed the United States a carte blanche to invade Viet Nam. For the better part of 16 years, the North Vietnamese Viet Cong fought against South Viet Nam in a bloody battle that claimed roughly six million Asian lives, and 59,000 American lives.1 Although one cannot compare tragedies, Viet Nam was the Holocaust of Asia. The music that encompassed this era was naturally going to be very anti-war. As young men from the countryside, poorer whites, and minorities got shipped off to war in Viet Nam, people in Congress and in Washington sat around and debated and had moral quibbles about whether or not the U.S. should have been in the war in the first place. One rock band which was "most widely known for musical protests against the Viet Nam War"2 was Country Joe and the Fish. There were riches in a mountain, and one of the peoples talked about sharing the riches. The other people, however, took the mountain by force and found a message in lieu of riches that said "Peace on Earth." However, by this time the invading people had "destroyed the treasure in pursuit of it."5 There was another protest song, called "Universal Soldier," written by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.6 This song was essentially about how people have personal responsibility for war and how fighting hurts everyone. Another protest song, "Eve of Dest... There were riches in a mountain, and one of the peoples talked about sharing the riches. The other people, however, took the mountain by force and found a message in lieu of riches that said "Peace on Earth." However, by this time the invading people had "destroyed the treasure in pursuit of it."5 There was another protest song, called "Universal Soldier," written by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.6 This song was essentially about how people have personal responsibility for war and how fighting hurts everyone. Yet another protest song, written by folk singer Bob Dylan, is entitled "Blowin' in the Wind."7 The song asks many deep questions, basically all about "peace, war, and freedom."8 Another protest song, "Eve of Destruction," is a protest song written by P.F. Sloan in 1965.9 The song has to do with the end of the world. It represented the feelings that people had during the Viet Nam war era, in terms of what the United States was facing on a daily basis, seeing their youth be ground to bits in a senseless land war in Asia. One of the most frequently used lines today from the song is "You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'," which "refer[red] to the fact that in the United States, men were subject to the draft at age 18, while at that time the minimum voting age (in all but four states) was 21. Additionally, "The song makes reference to Selma, Alabama, where Bloody Sunday took place'According to Sloan, the lyric 'The pounding of the drums the pride and disgrace' relates to the Kennedy assassination."10 The song "If I Had a Hammer" was written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays.11 Written in 1949, this song did not have enormous popularity when it was first released. Rather, it was recorded 10

Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 31

Article Example ard that whether there exist the survival of Bitcoin or not in this contemporary world, the technology underlying the same would stay for a longer time (Casey and Vigna, †Bitcoin and the Digital-Currency Revolution†). One of the important points or the lessons learned from the selected article â€Å"Bitcoin and the Digital-Currency Revolution† is that the wide application of Bitcoin will certainly develop the conditions of global economy in a positive manner through varied ways. These ways may include computerizing the operational procedures like introducing payment processors, slashing down the amounts of financial fees and generating opportunities for the people who does not hold bank currents currently among others. Apart from this, the other important point or lesson, which can be learned from the aforesaid article, is about the operational procedure of Bitcoin based on which, the conditions of global economy are developed to the maximum possible extent. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Bitcoin, acting as an efficient digital currency system, takes into concern certain core software programs that restrict in conducting unfair practices such as hacking attempts(Casey and Vign a, ‘Bitcoin and the Digital-Currency Revolution’). Thus, Bitcoin plays a decisive role in making the system of digital currency quite standardized, which in turn, assists in developing the disrupting conditions of global economy at

Rhetoric in Protest Music Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Rhetoric in Protest Music - Case Study Example A Vietnamese gun boat was rumored to have attacked an American ship. The resolution allowed the United States a carte blanche to invade Viet Nam. For the better part of 16 years, the North Vietnamese Viet Cong fought against South Viet Nam in a bloody battle that claimed roughly six million Asian lives, and 59,000 American lives.1 Although one cannot compare tragedies, Viet Nam was the Holocaust of Asia. The music that encompassed this era was naturally going to be very anti-war. As young men from the countryside, poorer whites, and minorities got shipped off to war in Viet Nam, people in Congress and in Washington sat around and debated and had moral quibbles about whether or not the U.S. should have been in the war in the first place. One rock band which was "most widely known for musical protests against the Viet Nam War"2 was Country Joe and the Fish. There were riches in a mountain, and one of the peoples talked about sharing the riches. The other people, however, took the mountain by force and found a message in lieu of riches that said "Peace on Earth." However, by this time the invading people had "destroyed the treasure in pursuit of it."5 There was another protest song, called "Universal Soldier," written by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.6 This song was essentially about how people have personal responsibility for war and how fighting hurts everyone. Another protest song, "Eve of Dest... There were riches in a mountain, and one of the peoples talked about sharing the riches. The other people, however, took the mountain by force and found a message in lieu of riches that said "Peace on Earth." However, by this time the invading people had "destroyed the treasure in pursuit of it."5 There was another protest song, called "Universal Soldier," written by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie.6 This song was essentially about how people have personal responsibility for war and how fighting hurts everyone. Yet another protest song, written by folk singer Bob Dylan, is entitled "Blowin' in the Wind."7 The song asks many deep questions, basically all about "peace, war, and freedom."8 Another protest song, "Eve of Destruction," is a protest song written by P.F. Sloan in 1965.9 The song has to do with the end of the world. It represented the feelings that people had during the Viet Nam war era, in terms of what the United States was facing on a daily basis, seeing their youth be ground to bits in a senseless land war in Asia. One of the most frequently used lines today from the song is "You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'," which "refer[red] to the fact that in the United States, men were subject to the draft at age 18, while at that time the minimum voting age (in all but four states) was 21. Additionally, "The song makes reference to Selma, Alabama, where Bloody Sunday took place'According to Sloan, the lyric 'The pounding of the drums the pride and disgrace' relates to the Kennedy assassination."10 The song "If I Had a Hammer" was written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays.11 Written in 1949, this song did not have enormous popularity when it was first released. Rather, it was recorded 10

Human Resources Management - Downsizing Essay Example for Free

Human Resources Management Downsizing Essay I. Introduction In this era of globalisation, where the competition in the market has become drastic, human capital is deemed to be the most important factor to the integration as well as strategy of enterprises among any other factors (Waddel, Cummings, Worley, 2007). Since retaining and sustaining workforce is undeniably crucial to corporate integration, learning the trend and comprehending the will of employees is crucial to any enterprise’s survival. Taking scenario in Australia, the authors’ objective in this article is to emphasize the importance of older workers’ contributions to workplaces and employers are suggested unbiasedly re-adjusting their attitude and policies in order to effectively utilise the productivity of older workers. II. Article Analysis a. Researches Methodology In this article, secondary researches e.g. surveys, researches from others’ studies†¦ were used primarily. In terms of quantitative researches, the article mainly gathered data from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS); Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR); and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Its data validity can be strongly substantiated as both ABS and DEEWR are under the management of Australian government; and OECD is also a renowned international economic organisation which promotes economy and social well-being of people globally. Hence, its information validity is also confirmed. Noticeably, authors also use their past studies as references, for example, their paper: â€Å"Retaining and Sustaining the Competence of Older Workers: An Australian Perspective†, written in 2009. This raises the question about the credibility of such reference. Moreover, several references seem to be out-dated, for ex ample, â€Å"Sociology† by Giddens in 1997, or the survey’s data of McIntosh’s paper in 2001. b. Significance of the Findings The findings in the article are relatively clear and straightforward, yet what they truly provide to readers are beyond mere facts. It is the broad knowledge that is provided allowing readers to come up with their own judgement about the issue. The article first presents the idea to readers that an increasing wave of older workers will be coming up in the future due to the shortage of young worker and the consequences of the financial crisis in the early 2008. It is true that because of such crisis, people’s superannuation is heavily affected and therefore even elders will very likely try to go back to the labour market and look for works (Bekaert Hodrick, 2009). Nevertheless, what the authors aim to achieve is not only to present the trend to the readers, but to raise the employers’ awareness so that they do not look down to older workers as â€Å"last resorts† as they will very likely become a major workforce in the future. The authors claimed that older workers undoubtedly will become crucial to the Australia economy in the near future. Yet there is proof presented in the article that indicates the existence of the negativity of employers’ attitude toward older workers. This claim is also valid as according to a HR report from Thompson Reuters, a research was conducted and realized that only 25% of the number of employers being asked tried to convince Baby Boomers to stay back when they resigned, compared to 40% for Generation X and Generation Y (HR Report, 2008). On the other hand, the article also provides to readers a completely opposite proof which shows that employers hold no grudge against older workers. Such claim is also substantiated by an article by Forbes, in which, a survey of 500 hiring managers was conducted and resulted that 60% of hiring managers would likely to hire older workers, compared to 20% of those would hire Millenials, who were born just before the millennium, from 1981 through 2000 (Adams, 2012). III. Strength and Weakness/Limitation of the article c. The strength of the article Basically, the article targets readers who are working in Human Resources field. It has done its part by successfully conveying the idea to readers by using sets of well organised evidences and firm hypothesises. The article also proposed a rational strategy that, according to the authors, would not only help employers to not waste human capital, but also support the older employees’ employability by changing the attitude of employers in the workplace. The data and references used in the article were relevant to the discussed area. Each and every statement in the article is backed with credible sources; therefore it makes readers feel confident and safe when they acquire the knowledge from the article. On top of that, not only it provides evidences which support only its hypothesis, but also it provides evidences that are completely contradictory to its hypothesis, for example, the case in the study of McIntosh in 2001 where the attitude of employers toward older workers was n ot negative at all. This helps readers to have broader view and shows that the authors were unbiased when writing this article. d. Weakness and Limitation of the article Since the article was taking the scenario happening in Australia, its world-wide applicability is questionable. Although the article also uses some foreign data, for example, McIntosh’s research which was conducted with the U.S’s labour forces, it is still very limited. As mentioned, authors also used their part studies as references; hence, this raises questions about such sources’ credibility. Furthermore, the year which the article was written was 2011, yet there are a few references that were written a long time ago, â€Å"Sociology† written by Giddens in 1997 is an example. This also raises the question about the sources’ up-to-date applicability. One of its strong points turns out to be its weakness. Each and every statement in the article is backed up with a study; therefore it somewhat gives readers a feeling that very few ideas in the article were original. IV. Conclusion According to (Waddel, Cummings, Worley, 2007), in the process of globalisation, it requires enterprises to constantly adapt and develop in the way that would maximize their intrinsic value. The article has shown readers the proof that older workers is one promising and valuable source of high-quality workforce, yet evidences show that a lot of employers are still age-biased. On that ground, it is recommended that employers should not take this matter lightly anymore. Instead, they are suggested starting to change their attitude toward the older worker, re-adjust the workplace’s policies in order to maximize and sustain the productivity of older workers. Based on the hypothesis and findings of the article above, linking to the case study â€Å"High Flyers†, even though Silvertail is trying to build a newer and younger image, it should not get rid of older cabin crew by persecuting and being harsh on them. Rather than that, Silvertail should approach more positively by looking at their actual performance, including their motivation, and then re-allocate the job for them so that the integration and strategy of the company would be aligned. According to (Adams, 2012), older workers are superior in many fields e.g. positive work ethic, problem solving, leadership, reliability, professionalism, etc†¦ Rather than wasting a good source of human capital, using it wisely is always optimal. Bibliography (n.d.). Retrieved December 20, 2012, from http://deewr.gov.au/ (n.d.). Retrieved December 20, 2012, from http://www.oecd.org/ Australian Bureau of Statistics: About Us. (2012, November 13). Retrieved December 14, 2012, from Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/Home/About+Us?opendocument#from-banner=GT Adams, S. (2012, September 9). Older Workers, Theres Hope: Study Finds Employers Like You Better Than Millennials. Retrieved December 13, 2012, from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/09/24/older-workers-theres-hope-study-finds-employers-like-you-better-than-millennials/ Bekaert, G., Hodrick, R. (2009). Internation Financial Management. Boston: Peason. HR Report. (2008, September 17). Employers ignoring older workers. Retrieved December 15, 2012, from Thompson Reuters: http://sites.thomsonreuters.com.au/workplace/2008/09/17/employers-ignoring-older-workers/ Manpower Research and Statistics Department. (2007). A Statistical Profile of Older Workers. Singapore: Ministry of Manpower. Waddel, D., Cummings, T. G., Worley, C. G. (2007). Organisation Development and Change. Asia Pacific. (3rd ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Cengage Learning Australia.

Devolving Responsibility Of Human Resource To Managers Management Essay

Devolving Responsibility Of Human Resource To Managers Management Essay By devolving responsibility of Human Resource to managers, organizations are expecting to create a closer relationship between managers and employees which will be achieved by quick decision making and effective problem solving at workplace. Some organizations however have both the HR specialists and the managers who work together by bringing in expertise from their own areas. This report identifies the context, enablers and inhibitors of the involvement of management in HR function. In conclusion, the report identifies that adequate training and expert knowledge support must be provided to managers if they are expected to integrate HR responsibilities within their managerial function. Human Resource Management (HRM) refers to a collection of policies used to organise work in the employment relationship and centres on the management of work and the management of people who undertake this work (Claydon 2010). (Storey, 2007) states that HRM plays a pivotal role in strategically deploying highly capable and committed workforce by using human resources expertise to achieve competitive advantage. A strategic approach to managing employment relations which emphasizes that leveraging peoples capabilities is critical to achieving sustainable competitive advantage, this being achieved through a distinctive set of integrated employment policies, programmes and practices. (Gold 2007) Human Resource Management ensures the productive use of people in an organisation to achieve the organisations strategic business objectives. Human resource management also involves maintaining a healthy employer-employee relationship and the satisfaction of the individual employer needs (Stone 2007) Human resource policies and the business policies have been integrated together with the management function rather than a separate entity to achieve the organisations objectives more efficiently. Discussion of the context (Wilkinson M. M., 2002), states that many criticisms concerning the lack of contribution by HR specialists to organisational performance have come from line managers. The four main criticisms are first, personnel practitioners are regarded as out of touch of commercial realities and unable to comprehend much about the nature of the business, its customers, or its corporate goals. The allegation is that HR professionals base their decisions upon a set of principles and ideas, such as welfare and employee rights which have little relevance for competitive prospects. Second, HR is often thought to constrain the autonomy of managers to make decisions that they feel are in the best interest of the business. These are mainly the legal constraints of equal opportunities or individual rights and the involvement of union representatives. The third criticism is that HR managers are slow to act, always wanting to check the options thoroughly (Cunningham and Hayman, (1999). Finally HR practition ers are criticised for promulgating policies that may be fine in theory but hard to put in effect or unsuitable to their particular requirements. Legge (1995) argues that HRM is caught in a vicious circle because senior management do not involve them in the business decision making and planning as people issues are not considered at this stage of decision making. But in due course problems arise due to non involvement of HR such as poor recruits, inadequate training of staff or work disruption. When such problems are brought to HRs attention they have insufficient time to resolve the issue which in effect results in short term solutions with detrimental long term effects. HR function gets the blame for inefficient problem handling and continues to be excluded from decision making, thus completing the vicious circle. As line managers work closely with the people they manage, the problem solving can be immediate and relevant rather than having to wait for the HR department to get back to them. The solutions provided by these managers are also likely to be in congruence with the organisations goals and business requirements. Ulrich (1998) hence recommended that HR should be reconfigured so as to highlight what it delivers rather than what it does. The four recommendations for HR are, to become a partner with business and line managers for strategy formulation, to become an expert in the way work is organised and executed to reduce cost and to increase efficiency, to become a champion for employees by acting as a medium between the employees and the senior management to increase employee contribution and finally to become an agent of continuous transformation by shaping processes for successful implementation of change. The CIPD research on employee well-being and the psychological contract (Guest and Conway, 2005) established that too many managers are failing to motivate and improve the performance of people they manage. Due to the devolution of HR function to managers, their responsibilities have increased and their role in the organization has become more important. HR initiates policies and practices but it is the management which is responsible for implementing them. HR proposes but the line disposes (Armstrong 2006). It is hence important that the policies are well communicated to the manager who will implement it if it is perceived to be in the interest of the business. If managers are unaware of any laws requiring the implementation of those policies then it is up to the HR to educate the managers about this. (J.Purcell 2003) noted that well conceived HR policies and practices didnt automatically result in organisational performance improvement but the difference was made by the way in which those polices were implemented by the managers. If they used discretion in implementing HR policies then some policies will just be a set of useless ideas (Armstrong 2006) (H.H.Larsen 2003), pointed out the five main reasons why organisations want to integrate these functions; Pressure on firm costs to integrate HR function in line management role To provide a more comprehensive HRM which is achieved through this integration of line management and HR functions The growing influence of service industries where line managers are responsible for customer management HR specialists may take too long to resolve HR issues Devolution may be considered as an alternative to outsourcing the entire HR function resulting from changes in philosophy and organisational structure. Enablers for integrating management and HR functions Managers play an important role in implementing the HR policies (Gold 2007). Research has revealed that line manager behaviour has a significant impact on employee commitment, which in turn has an impact on customer commitment, which has an impact on business performance (Lazenby quoted in Purcell 2003). The enrichment of line manager roles within the organisations and their greater involvement in HR decision-making has arisen due to the increase in customer service demands and the resulting time pressure in decision making. Increasing performance requirements, transparency, flexibility and accountability has increased the importance of this dual role. Involving line mangers in HR functions can be seen as a strategic approach to managing people. (Renwick 2003), has listed the main benefits that organisations can derive from such integration; HR problems are solved at source saving vital organisation resources Better change management is achieved through manager participation in policy implementation Closely working managers can make decisions at increased speed Greater scope for HR managers to focus on strategic importance of HRM HR issues get a business focus before they are implemented hence those policies will no more be created in isolation from organisational goals Since managers are aware of HR issues they cant ignore them hence leading to a better employee manager relationship Managers are more likely to be committed to their own HR decisions rather than having to implement due to compulsion from HR department Promotes local management accountability and responsibility for HR issues Reduces costs due to integration of functions Promotes the case that HRM cant always be transferred to specialists Line managers occupy an important position in the organizational hierarchy and they can directly affect the level of service delivered. Entrusting line managers with HR responsibilities will add to their existing pressures, increase workload and the need to deliver on short-term priorities. Formal administrative approaches within the departments would require line managers to display a high level of HR competence. This signifies the need for high-quality training programs for line managers to ensure that they feel confident in discharging their new HR responsibilities. Money invested in training management personnel can result in saving company from expensive litigation and in maintaining a god corporate reputation. Providing line managers with such training is very important as they are not naturally trained to deliver HR duties, which are quite different to making business decisions. Inhibitors for integrating management and HR functions (Renwick 2003), has given the following inhibitors to HR and management integration; Increased pressure to train and/or re-skill managers in HRM A need for strict HR auditing Problems and maintaining consistency in decision making Risk of falling standards or abuse of position through discrimination Problems in maintaining balance of power between management and HR specialists Potential for the HR/ER management role to be marginalised Low line capability/commitment when doing HR work Little time for managers to perform HR duties well due to operational demands on them Risks of job overload/stress as manager workloads are increased Harrison (2009) supports the argument in favour of management staff by saying that, line management is mostly faced with situations pressurising them to achieve objectives resulting in the increase in profitability or in the reduction of costs resulting in less dedication to support human resource development apart from the basic tasks. If line managers are faced with a decision to prioritize between making a key business decision or to formulate policies and procedures to improve the working conditions of employees, the priority would normally be the business decision as that would be considered as their primary responsibility and also more business focussed. Brewster and Soderstrom (1994) say that before delegating tasks or entrusting people with more responsibility in different areas, it must consider the level of knowledge possessed by the individual and the willingness of such individual to train to learn new competences, since they could already be overburdened with their current tasks making it uncomfortable for them to absorb more responsibilities. In order for the line managers to deliver their HR tasks they need to maintain a good relationship with HR specialists which could be complex at times. According to (Thomas N Garavan 2006) while the line manager is a key stakeholder in the training and development process, their relationship with the function and/or the specialist can often be negative. This could result in issues arising from lack of good communication and understanding between the departments. According to Grace and Straub (1991) training specialists often exclude line managers from training the reason for which is mainly the threat of being substituted. Some such instances as noticed by them are; Excluding line managers from the needs assessment process/program; Unwillingness to consider line managers as subject matter experts; Unwillingness to utilize line managers as instructors for training duties. This could also be due to the resistance on part of the line mangers to take initiative to train as this could entail more responsibilities for them. As (Thomas N Garavan 2006) continues the argument by saying that the issue is due to the lack of trust between the line managers and the training and development specialists. Line managers refuse to co-operate with the training specialists who makes an attempt to offer advice to improve work operations because they consider training specialists as staff as providing a service in accordance with line manager requirements and expectations. Efforts to change this role are often perceived by the line managers as an attempt to thwart line authority with the generation of better ideas. Sometimes HR professionals were even seen as policing line managers. This perception leads to inflexibility and negative responses aimed at demolishing the strengths and foundations of the training specialist. Also Storey (1992) points out that lack of training and education of line managers hinder the smooth delivery of new HR practices. Those line managers simply underestimate the need for investment in the training of their subordinates. Developing and implementing HR initiatives can become a difficult task for the managers to incorporate in their regular management function. Suggestions to improve managers as people managers (J.Purcell 2003), have suggested that managers can improve their people management skills, to deliver their HR responsibilities, in following ways; Senior management must understand the prioritisation issues that managers may face when both management and HR issues arise at the same time. Pressurising from the top will not help in such circumstances Managers must be selected considering the behavioural requirements and competencies expected from them as they would be doing HR function as well Managers need to have a clear understanding of the organisational values, goals and culture for efficient people management. A good working relationship needs to exist between staff and their manager Managers must be provided with the necessary training to enable them to deliver their HR functions such as performance management, grievance and complaints handling Although line managers can be trained to an extent to carry out the HR function, there are several key competencies possessed by HR professionals that might be difficult to incorporate in a line manager function as per (Armstrong 2006). There has been a significant change to the way in which organisations manage their business in the recent years and hence there has been changes in the way different departments operates within it. Changes to work demands have made it difficult for the HR department to find people with required talents for the organisation. HR department is required to keep up to date with the HR requirement of the departments and ensures the human resource is able to meet new challenges and demands (Wright, 2003) A human resource manager must consider the nature of external and internal influences before selecting a particular course of action. Internal environmental influences involve the factors that are found within the organisation such as the organisational strategies, organisational culture, organisational structure and organisational systems. Several external factors influence the formulation and requirements of HRM policies. Some of the external factors facing organisations are changing nature work force, technological changes, globalisation and labour force demographics. (Stone 2007) CIPD has presented a list of core functions delivered by HR professionals as below; Business and cultural awareness: understand the business environment and the competitive pressures in the market facing the organisation, the key business activities, culture and the impact of HR policies on the business performance Strategic capability: seeks involvement in business strategy function, develops coherent HR strategies which are aligned with business strategy, understand the importance of human capital measurement to ensure efficient utilisation Organisational effectiveness: contributes to the analysis of people issues and proposes practical solutions, develops resource capability by ensuring that the organisation has the workforce with required skills, process redesigning for better utilisation of staff, contributes in the development of knowledge management processes Internal consultancy: proposes practical solutions by providing expert advice and coaches management on dealing with their department specific problems Service delivery: delivers appropriate services promptly and efficiently to requests for HR services and advice and provides guidance in HR decisions as required Continuous professional development: continuous development of skills and knowledge, to deliver the HR duties to high standards by updating the new HR concepts, practices and techniques As discussed above HR function is far more specialised in its core activities and many of its functions need specialist expert knowledge which is difficult for management to keep up to date with. HR Outsourcing has become more common in the recent years as the companies are relying on them for HR related matters. A good human resource outsourcing deal is to ensure that nearly all your transactional and basic advisory services are outsourced and that the jobs of the HR teams are redesigned so that they no longer focus on the operational level decisions but the focus would be on more complex business challenges and strategic needs. (Hunter 2007). But many organisations may choose to rather incorporate the HR function within their management functions rather than outsourcing. Conclusion HR can be seen as an integral part of a managerial post, as a manager is responsible for the performance and job satisfaction of his staff. There have been several factors over a period of time that has had an impact on the role of HR managers and practitioners. If an employee in a management positions accepts to deliver HR duties it is possible to achieve a higher level of efficiency. However, the success of any change process involving line manager HR participation will ultimately depend on striking a balance between factors favouring devolvement and those inhibiting HR involvement. While making line managers more responsible for HR may bring about a speedier resolution to workplace conflicts, clear structures need to be implemented to allow line managers seek guidance and advice, but also allow employees to repeal decisions made. In this regard, HR specialists need to proactively engage with line managers and bring about partnership HR approaches to managing employees. There are however certain boundaries to such a devolution. All of them lie either in line managers lack of specific knowledge and expertise or in their conflict with HR specialists. As devolution of HR responsibilities are taken for granted it is suggested that it is HR specialists who need to re-consider their role within organisations, while line managers are to be given an appropriate training.

Social Psychology Essay -- Psychology

Social psychology is a science that study social thinking (how we perceive ourselves and others, judgement we make and our attitudes); social influence (such as pressure to conform, group of people) and social relations such as aggression and helping (David G. Myers, 2008). Social psychological research methods vary by location: in the laboratory or in the field. Also, it varies by method: correlational or experimental (David G. Myers, 2008). A field research method is everyday situations, for example, Piliavin et al. (1969) Good Samaritanism. Laboratory research method is a controlled situation; for example, Zimbardo (1973) Stanford Prison Experiment. A correlational method measure relationship between two or more variables: independent variable(s) and dependent variable. The independent variables are the experimental factors that the researcher can manipulate, while dependent variables are the things that the experimenter no control over, that include the outcome of the experiment (Class notes). The experimental method explores cause and effect of the study (David G. Myers, 2008). In a decent city of New York, Kitty Genovese on her home was brutally murdered. Within half hour, on two separate occasions, she was sexually molested and stabbed to death by a man (Malim and Birch, 1998). The fact that she was crying for help must have conveyed to the 38 people who heard her screams that no-one else had gone to help her. The event spurred Lantene and Darley (1970) to conduct a Laboratory experiment, investigating two important concepts: diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance. Diffusion of responsibility is the idea that people are less likely to help when there are others; no one helps because everyone is thinkin... ...08). Social psychology. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.,. 3-29, 187-269,427. Kendra Cherry (2012). About.com. (A part of The New York Times Company) What Is Social Psychology? Available: http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/f/socialpsych.htm. Last accessed 14/02/2012 Mark Holah. (2008). Piliavin, Irving., Rodin, Judith., & Piliavin, Jane. (1969). Available: http://www.holah.karoo.net/piliavinstudy.htm. Last accessed 7th March 2012. MalimTony and Birch Ann (1998). Introduction to psychology. London and New York : Palgrave Macmillan. 102-105, 640-642,826, 830. Richard Gross . (February 2012). Bystander intervention in the New York subway. Psychology Review. 17 (3), 11-13. Www. Phillipallan.co.uk/magazines. Saul Mcleod. (2007). Simply Psychology. Available: http://www.simplypsychology.org/research-methods.html. Last accessed 14/02/2012.

Female Serial Killers Essay -- essays research papers

Female Serial Killers While most of the violent crimes that happens most are them are belongs to men, women have not been the wilting flowers promoted so heartily by Victorian adorers and (right or wrong) often evident in today's society. Before we get into detail about the fascinating phenomenon of the Black Widow, it is worth a brief overview of women's escalating role in the world of violent crime, particularly in the United States. Since 1970, there has been an increasing and alarming rise 138 percent of violent crimes committed by women. Still, while the equivalent percentage compared to male violence is small 15 percent to 85 percent the fact that the numbers have elevated so drastically points to something changing in society. Sociologists try to explain it, so do criminologists, theologizes, politicians and world historians, but the resulting message is clear, and that message is that females are not alien to committing violent acts. In recent years, women have committed some of the most heinous crimes. Darlie Routier killed her two sons for reasons blamed on personal economics. Diane Downs killed one of her three children (she tried to kill all of them) in order to win back a lover who didn't want kids. Susan Smith drowned her boys in a neighborhood lake because her boyfriend did not want the responsibility of raising some other man's children. Karla Homolka and husband Paul Bernardo sexually assaulted, tortured and killed several young women for thrills. There a...

Latinos and other races Essay

Researchers did a study on bicycle helmet use in a rural Georgia town. They observed children riding bicycles during specified days and times over a five month period, both before and after incentive programs like free helmet distribution and bike safety education. Another â€Å"incentive† was that kids’ bicycles would be impounded if they were found riding without a helmet. Researchers canvassed the towns on Friday afternoons and most of the day Saturday, as these were determined to be the most popular riding times. They observed the riders indirectly and noted the child’s age, gender, race, and helmet use. Data was collected for children who were between the ages of 5 and 13, which are the ages that the helmet law covered. The researchers found that these measures increased helmet use from 0% to about 45%. Sampling for this study was somewhat difficult. Because the researchers were using only observation, and they did not track any individual riders or interact with them in any way, they were unable to guarantee that the riders were actually of the targeted age. This is especially true of older kids, between the ages of 10 and 13, as these kids have extremely varying sizes and presence or absence of secondary sexual characteristics, which were two of the determining factors in determining the child’s age. Sampling the older group was also difficult because not everyone in this age group actually received a helmet, since they went to a larger school that included children from another town. The results for this age group, then, are probably skewed and possibly not very valid. The town’s racial make up, too, was heavily slanted towards black children, with 75% black and 25% white children. Due to cultural differences between black and white children, researchers may need to repeat these studies in communities where racial make up is more heavily white, and communities which include Asians, Latinos, and other races. Each culture is individual and each would likely have a different reaction to the helmet laws and police enforcement. Within this community, the researchers probably should have used only the 5 – 10 years age group, as this group could be more carefully controlled. Researchers were aware that this age group, which attended elementary school, did all receive free helmets and bicycle education. They also would possibly have an easier time observing age, as size is more indicative in younger children rather than in older children. This study was somewhat valid. The researchers admit that they were unable to track individual riders, so when they had four observers canvassing the town at once, it was possible that certain riders may have been recorded several times (a possibility that the researchers themselves are aware of, but are not concerned with). Noting, as they said, â€Å"rides† instead of â€Å"riders† also is a limitation, although the researchers felt that their method of observation led to more accurate data than self-reported data via telephone or mail surveys. It is possible that the same group of children was observed multiple times during each session, and in fact overall helmet use was lower. This, too, depends on how the researchers define â€Å"rate of helmet use,† because number of rides where a helmet is used, and the number of riders who use a helmet is a different measure. Another issue with validity is that it was impossible for researchers to track how frequently individual riders wore their helmets. It is possible that some children always wore one, and other children rarely or occasionally wore one. A better measure of helmet use would have been to track individual children and to note how frequently they wore their helmets while riding their bikes. Police enforcement is another issue in this study. Every community who adopts a program of this type may choose a different kind of enforcement, or none at all. This community allowed parent citations (which were rarely used) and bike impoundment (parents had to go and pick the bike up at the police station, where they proved helmet ownership or were offered a free helmet, and they were also re-educated on bike safety). Other communities may rely more heavily on citations, or they may choose fines. Fines were not a good option for this community, as it was a rural community where a large minority lived below the poverty line. Another issue is that the police may be perceived differently in different areas. As the researchers noted, even the knowledge of police presence and enforcement was enough for many children to wear their helmets. This suggests a respect for the police force, which is common in rural areas. In other areas, especially urban, police may not be regarded so highly, and enforcement may become a larger problem. In an urban area, the sheer number of children would also possibly be prohibitive. This study was fairly reliable. Researchers followed up on the helmet use unofficially after 2 years and came up with similar results, which indicates both that helmet use was continuing and that the study was able to achieve the same results. Other studies, if they used the same observation methods, would probably also achieve similar results. This study is repeatable as written, despite its flaws. A better way to do this study would be to gather two groups of children: experimental and control. Both groups would be surveyed and observed for their helmet use at the beginning of the study, and these numbers would be compared. Then, the experimental group would be given the bicycle safety education and be offered free helmets. The second group would be told they should wear helmets but not offered extensive bicycle education or given free helmets. The researchers would then track individual riders through observation on at least a weekly basis to see how many in each group wore their helmets on a frequent basis. This would allow researchers to track â€Å"riders† instead of simply rides, and to make sure that each child was only counted once in their statistics. It would also show the effect of bicycle education and offering free helmets on helmet use. It is likely in this particular study that children only began to wear their helmets because they were offered free helmets. If they had been asked to go and buy helmets, cost would likely have been prohibitive in a rural, low socio-economic area. Therefore, providing the helmets was a key point in the plan. It may be interesting to do a study where children are provided with bicycle education and a list of resources on where to purchase helmets, but not actually provided with them. This study would best be done in a suburban area where the socio-economic status was higher, and would show the effect of bicycle education and possibly police enforcement on helmet use. Since further studies are possible and needed, and since the researchers themselves are aware of the study’s limitations, it would be prudent not to extend these results to all communities and situations. The study is ideal for the researchers’ purposes but has a highly limited scope. Overall, this research is very interesting. Regardless of the study’s limitations, introducing bike safety and helmets into the community resulted in statistically significant increases in helmet use, which purportedly resulted in fewer bike-related injuries and deaths. This is a step in the right direction, and although more research and more community programs are needed to both increase helmet use and decrease injuries, this study shows that programs are effective and change is possible.