If the gold standard was in use today, would it hinder economic growth Essay

The highest quality level alludes to a financial framework where the unit of record of cash will be fixed with the heaviness of gold. There are numerous individuals who contend that the best quality level ought to be actualized to cut down the swelling. By fixing the gracefully of cash with gold, the legislature won't have the option to give cash without having gold for possible later use. Notwithstanding, then again, there are specialists who contend that by fixing the gracefully of cash with gold, financial development will be upset as the measure of gold accessible on Earth is restricted (Mises, 2009). This paper will show that the best quality level will frustrate monetary development. I’ll right off the bat contend that there is a restricted measure of gold in this world. Furthermore, financial development is viewed as constrained. In conclusion, the measure of trade will in the long run arrive at a level equivalent to the gold possessions by the national bank of the nation. Financial development will be impeded if the best quality level is applied as there is a limited measure of gold on the planet. Monetary development requires that there ought to be adequate liquidity in the framework. By sticking to the highest quality level, monetary development will be ruined as to flexibly more cash, the legislature will initially need to purchase gold. (Skousen, 1997) Secondly, financial development apparently is boundless. This doesn’t supplement with the highest quality level, as the measure of gold is restricted on the planet. On the off chance that financial development is to be boundless, at that point there must be sufficient cash gracefully to fund it. The highest quality level makes to hard for governments to give cash, which in truth restrains financial development. (Cagan, 1982) Ultimately, if the estimation of the dollar is restricted by the measure of gold, at that point measure of trade would arrive at a level equivalent to the gold possessions. All together for more cash to be given, the legislature would need to buy progressively gold to back the expansion in dollars gave. All the three focuses composed above are affected by the single factor that the gracefully is restricted, while the interest for gold is by all accounts boundless. (Cagan, 1982) Another issue with the best quality level is the way to figure out what weight of gold will equivalent to one unit of record. Moreover, the highest quality level can be self-destructive for creating economies. Creating economies should purchase gold to back their monetary development, which may as of now be to costly to purchase for them. At present, these economies can back it through a spending shortfall. In addition, by what method will the best quality level have the option to deal with the speed and intricacy of today’s budgetary exchanges? In conclusion, on the off chance that the world movements to a best quality level, at that point all the administrations should consume immense measure of fiat cash to make sure that the cash flexibly equivalents to the measure of gold in the economy. Eichengreen and Marc) taking everything into account, I accept that in spite of the fact that by holding fast to the highest quality level the degree of expansion will descend. In any case, the financial development of a nation will be obstruct. The significant explanation behind this is the constrained flexibly of gold. Besides, if the highest quality level is actualized the costs of gold will shoot up, making it increasingly hard for creating economies to grow up. In conclusion, the administration should consume immense measures of fiat cash to ensure that the there is no additional cash in the economy.

Law School Essay Topics

Law School Essay TopicsWhen it comes to California Bar Exams, the writing and essay topics you choose should be designed to test your ability to write well, and describe the circumstances that brought you to this point. They are an integral part of the testing and must be presented accurately. If you are not familiar with some of the California Bar Essay Topics, you should know that they do vary slightly from one state to another.Most law school applications require an essay as part of the admissions process. In fact, an application is simply a supplement to the standard application. This form will ask you to describe the work experience and strengths you have prior to applying to the Bar, and what you hope to gain from being admitted.Many law schools require a discussion letter in addition to your essays. This letter should be written by the admissions officer. It should also be an accurate reflection of your character. It will be read by the admissions committee, who will make thei r decision about whether to admit you.The topic of your essay is crucial, as the admissions committee will want to know the one thing you do best: Extra Credit. Be sure to be honest about the areas you are best at and the area of law you wish to specialize in. If you can discuss extra credit, you may be able to meet a minimum required number to be included on the senior list.Law school essays are always, always fun. One of the best things about it is that you can write it as a collaboration between you and your advisor. This means, you can sit down and come up with the most interesting and relevant topics you can. This also means that you should choose topics that are interesting to both of you.Because law school admissions essays are one of the most important parts of the admissions process, you need to make sure that you select topics that will be most important to the committee. You should also focus on topics that you are most knowledgeable about. One of the most common topics f or an essay is listed below. Make sure that the topic you choose will be of interest to the Admissions Committee.One of the most common topics for law school admission essay is money. After all, the admissions committee is looking for someone who will be able to help them understand and be interested in the law of money. The most popular topics for Law School Essay Topics are described below. Keep in mind that you should focus on topics that will be helpful to the admissions committee.These are just a few examples of the different California Bar Essay Topics that can be used to fulfill your law school admission essays. Remember that all topics are meant to focus on something. A lot of students do not even know the most common topic, but once they understand the types of topics available they can start coming up with their own. Whether you select these or create your own topics, it is a fun way to go about your studies.

2015 First Year Application Suggestions - UGA Undergraduate Admissions

2015 First Year Application Suggestions - UGA Undergraduate Admissions 2015 First Year Application Suggestions The first-year application opens up tomorrow, so here are a few hints for when you are starting your application. When you start working on the application, we suggest you have four items with you. SSN card (youabsolutely must give us your correct Social Security Number (please proofread it twice). A copy of your resume (weask you to list your honors, activities, leadership, and work experiences which you may have already collected for a resume). This information is not used for EA, but we do use it for scholarship review, so that is why we ask it for both EA and RD applicants. A copy of your latest HS transcript (youneed to accurately report the college prep curriculum you’re taking and the grades youve earned). Your fee payment information (to complete the application you must give us payment information, ideally for a credit card). After you have started the application andcreated your UGA “ApplicantID”, you can save your work and come back later to complete the application and make any corrections. Warning: Once you agree to the UGA Honor Code and choose submit at the bottom of that final page, you cannot return to make changes or corrections to your application. As well, you need to complete a payment option (check/waiver or credit card) to finalize the submission of the application. When you are selecting your term, decision plan (EA vs RD) or major, select the ones you want, not what someone told you would be easier for admission. If you select summer, do so because you intend to start in the summer term. We are fine to change freshmen from summer to fall or fall to summer, but it takes time and effort on our part, and we would rather not take time away from other work to change your term due to a rumor. When you select Early Action (EA) or Regular Decision (RD), it sets up different required items in your application checklist. Once you select a decision plan, you need to stick with it, as changing causes issues with the back end process of your application. As for majors, you are free to change your major after you are admitted and send in a deposit, so there is no logical reason for us to use this in an admission decision, or for you to select a major you do not want. I hope this helps, and Go Dawgs!

An Interesting Coming of Age Ritual in Germany

This weekend my soon to be 14-year-old son took part in a ceremony that I had known only from my knowledge about the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the Jugendfeier also known as Jugendweihe.   A quick history of this coming of age ritual It marks the coming of age of the participants with a memorable celebration and it thought as an alternative to religious initiations like the Kommunion and Firmung (Catholic Church) or Konfirmation (Protestant Church) where children declare that they choose to be self-declared members of these churches. While the concept is from 1852, the Jugendweihe was adopted in 1954 by the socialist GDR and turned into a ritual where the young had to make an oath (scroll to the end of this article to find the oath with translation into English) in favor of the socialist state. The Jugendfeier nowadays does not require the participants to make any vow or swear an oath. The only tradition that has survived the GDR is that they all get a rose and a book with thought provoking texts about becoming an adult.  You can read a bit more about this event that still is popular among former inhabitants of the GDR or their descendants here on Wikipedia. From a fathers experience We took part in this event due to the fact that my son Simon goes to a school in the Eastern part of Berlin with many parents that still seem to feel some (N)Ostalgy  and brought this topic up in class. As 20 out of 28 classmates of Simon wanted to participate in it, we didn’t want him to stand out and asked him whether he’d like to participate or not. At that age it is important for him to be part of the group and so he decided for it.   As I was born in Western Germany and had gone through a rather Catholic education and initiation I didn’t have any idea what to expect but neither had I any rejection of that idea nor was I much excited about it. I took Simon to parachute jumping last year which we inofficially declared to mark his transition into an adolescent. His mother, originating from Poland, another formerly socialist country, didn’t really know the Jugendweihe either but we were on the same track regarding our participation. Its seems still pretty popular The fact that we had to register for the event in 2013, almost 18 months ahead of time, shows how popular it still is. There were also several seminars planned that would cover certain topics of adolescence and start a thought process in the children about who they wanted to be and become. Many of those seminars where also thought to be lead or at least organized by the parents. But this task seemed to be more difficult than many had hoped. In those months until the Jugendweihe, Simon took part probably in two events and I didn’t really get the impression that he took much from it. In socialist times, those preparations would have been organized by the state and would have included quite some propaganda.   Its not the ritual, its what you make of it I’m not blaming others. I understand that our lack of deeper interest and conviction in the sense of such an initiation also had a huge influence on everything. Another parent with more enthusiasm would have described this experience probably quite differently.   When the great day came, we were invited with approximately 2000 other people to meet at the Friedrichstadtpalast, a revue theater in the evening. There the Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands (HVD, Humanistic Organisation of Germany) had organized quite a show with professional dancers and singers and has managed to get some popular entertainers like e.g. Joko Winterscheidt or actress Anna Loos to leave a few encouraging words to the children. My interim conclusion Parts of it I personally found a bit over the top and it all was a bit surprising as neither of us really knew what to expect of that day. On the other hand it was mainly entertaining and short enough to enjoy it and the message for the young participants was to trust in themselves, to question authority and to understand that with growing up they will be confronted with new rights and obligations in their life. I can’t really object to that, can you? The rest of the day As everything started at 8.30h on Saturday morning, we were home by noon and both families (my son’s mother remarried a while ago and has two little adorable daughters today) had a nice brunch  in a cafà © next door and then just enjoyed the rest of the day with my half of the family. A unique experience I am very thankful to have been able to witness this event. In a way it was inpiring, though I would have also enjoyed a more humble approach to it all. Coming of age is a challenge for all members of the family and I would have integrated the parents and siblings way more into the preparation. But as I don’t expect others to take care of my responsibilities, my overall experience was a positive one. I hope you enjoyed this little insight into the German culture and I would like to know what you do in your culture to mark the coming of age of your children. If you are religious: do you consider the existing religious rituals to also cover the coming of age or is it rather focussing on being a more responsible member of your church/religion? Das à ¶ffentliche Gelà ¶bnis   The public oath of the GDR Jugendweihe (not in use nowadays) (as found first on this page  which also contains many more information on the topic of GDR but unfortunately only in German language.)  My translation is at times very literally so that you can also learn something about the German sentence structure and grammar here. Where a literal translation would be difficult or impossible to understand, I have put a more comprehensible version into parenthesis. Liebe junge Freunde!Dear young friends. Seid ihr bereit, als junge Bà ¼rger unserer Deutschen Demokratischen Republikare you ready as young citizens of-our German Democratic Republic mit uns gemeinsam, getreu der Verfassung,  with us together, according the constitution fà ¼r die große und edle Sache des Sozialismus zu arbeiten und zu kà ¤mpfenfor the big(ger) and noble cause of-the Socialism to work and to fight und das revolutionà ¤re Erbe des Volkes in Ehren zu halten, so antwortet:and (to keep) the revolutionary heritage of-the Nation in honor to keep, so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Seid ihr bereit, als treue Sà ¶hne und Tà ¶chter  Are you prepared, as faithful sons and daughters unseres Arbeiter-und-Bauern-Staates nach hoher Bildungof-our workers- and peasant nation (to strive) for higher education und Kultur zu streben, Meister eures Fachs zu werden,  and culture (to strive), (to become) Master of-your (professional) discipline, unentwegt zu lernen und all euer Wissen und Kà ¶nnen fà ¼r die Verwirklichung  incessantly to learn and all (to utilise) your knowledge and skill for the realization   unserer großen humanistischen Ideale einzusetzen, so antwortet:  of-our grand humanistic ideals (to utilise), so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Seid ihr bereit, als wà ¼rdige Mitglieder der sozialistischen Gemeinschaft  Are you ready, as worthy members of-the socialist community stets in kameradschaftlicher Zusammenarbeit, gegenseitiger Achtung  always (act) in companionate cooperation, mutual respect und Hilfe zu handeln und euren Weg zum persà ¶nlichen Glà ¼ckand help (to act) and (to always unite) your path to personal fulfillment immer mit dem Kampf fà ¼r das Glà ¼ck des Volkes zu vereinen, so antwortet:  (always) with the struggle for happiness of the nation (lit.: the people), so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Seid ihr bereit, als wahre Patrioten die feste Freundschaft mit der Sowjetunion  Are you prepared as true patriots, the steadfast friendship with the Sovjet Union weiter zu vertiefen, den Bruderbund mit den sozialistischen Là ¤ndern zu stà ¤rken,  further to deepen, the brotherly association with the socialist countries to strengthen, im Geiste des proletarischen Internationalismus zu kà ¤mpfen,  in-the spirit of-the proletarian internationalism to fight, den Frieden zu schà ¼tzen und den Sozialismus gegen jeden imperialistischen Angriffthe peace to protect and the socialism against every imperialistic attack zu verteidigen, so antwortet:  to defend, so answer: Ja, das geloben wir!Yes, this-is-what we pledge! Wir haben euer Gelà ¶bnis vernommen.  We have heard (lit.: perceived) your pledge. Ihr habt euch ein hohes und edles Ziel gesetzt.  You have (set) yourselves a high and noble goal (set). Feierlich nehmen wir euch auf in die große Gemeinschaft  Solemnly take we you in, into the grand collective des werktà ¤tigen Volkes, das unter Fà ¼hrung der Arbeiterklasse  of-the working nation, that under the leadership of the working class und ihrer revolutionà ¤ren Partei, einig im Willen und im Handeln,  and her revolutionary party, united in will (intention) and acting die entwickelte sozialistische Gesellschaft  (errects) the developed socialist community in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik errichtet.in the German Democratic Republic (errects). Wir à ¼bertragen euch eine hohe Verantwortung.  We transfer to-you a huge responsibility. Jederzeit werden wir euch mit Rat und Tat helfen,  At-any-time will we (help) you with advice and deed (help), die sozialistische Zukunft schà ¶pferisch zu gestalten.(to design) the socialist future creatively (to design).

Analysis Of The Movie The Shell - 2720 Words

Andrew Burgos Japanese anime has been a focal point of artistic expression in eastern culture since the 1950s. By utilizing a combination of action sequences, vivid imagery, and compelling narratives these forms of art reveal the artists cultural influences as well as serving as a medium for the artist to convey his social and political beliefs. Mamoru Oshii s Ghost in the Shell, is no exception. Ghost in the Shell is a cyberpunk version of a near future Earth where society is completely reliant on technology and cybernetic humans depend heavily on the software used to create them. Within this narrative we see a cybernetic female that exists as two cohesive entities, a cybernetic shell in which she was created into, and a ghost, a concept that serves the purpose of acting as a human conscience. Using this technological dependent reality, Oshii creates a visual masterpiece that acts as a battleground for conflicting representations of power within the concept of gender as well as representing a desire to liberate ourselves from the self-imposed gender constructs that we adhere to. Many forms of anime exist within society, ranging from stories of adventures to the exploits of high school students. Ghost in the Shell falls under the category of a mecha-anime, a sub-genre that â€Å" ...are primarily science fiction narratives, often taking place in dystopian futuristic city-scape where advanced technology figures prominently†(Schaub 86). Mecha-anime utilizes a combination ofShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie The Ghost Of The Shell Trailer 1514 Words   |  7 Pagesaudience. Unreliable political and current event information and bias leads to underrepresentation of various ethnicities and identities. 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Within this heterogynous group are a dozen different personalities - some of which were leaders and most of which were not. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The strongest leader in this movie by far is the Architect in the White Suit. Right off from the beginning at theRead MoreWorld War II And The Civil War1651 Words   |  7 Pagesgreater.† (qtd. in Jennings). The Navy used the proximity fuse when launching shells from the primary long-range anti-aircraft weapon, the Navy’s 5-inch gun (Jennings). Plastic’s contribution was the substrate of the circuit board that triggered the detonation of the shell as it came within a specified proximity of its target (Eisler). The proximity fuse was so successful that testing ended early when fewer than expected shells were needed to destroy all the test targets (Jennings). 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Descriptive Essay Apples And Oranges - 1748 Words

I’d like to start off with how I came to choose the topic for this paper. I thought about choosing a simple topic to make it easier to write. When you think about comparing and contrasting, the phrase â€Å"apples and oranges† might come to mind. I thought about using apples and oranges, but in the end I chose to stick with what I know. I chose the age old sibling rivalry of the military, or more specifically, the Army and the Airforce. Being a part of an organization in the military is always going to cause you to be biased against the others. You believe that your branch is best, due to the pride that you feel from being a member of it. There has been many an argument, even the occasional bar fight, to try and discern where the superiority lies. I can say from experience though, that this has certainly lessened in recent years. The current situation in certain parts of the world has caused the different branches to work together much more closely. This has re sulted in bonding between the services and a sense of united brotherhood. Regardless of the aligned goals of different branches, there are still clearly defined roles and differences between them. My last duty station was on a joint base controlled by the Air Force. I always had an idea of how the Air Force operated, but working in conjunction with them has given me a better understanding of how they do business on a daily basis. I chose the word business because, based on my new knowledge, that is how theyShow MoreRelatedDescriptive Essay : My Old House1161 Words   |  5 PagesKenneth Lee Ms. Fenenbock Eng105 8/29/13 Descriptive Essay: Final Draft My Old House My old house has some of my greatest memories and experiences as a child. My mom, dad, uncle and grandma were the caretakers of me, my older brother, and two older sisters. As you can tell, we had a huge family. They immigrated to America 20 years ago to start a family. 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Sugar Is Not Sugar the Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup free essay sample

The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup Rhonda Sullivan DeVry University Sugar is Not Sugar: The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup Every one has seen the infamous TV commercial with the young couple sitting in a park on a blanket, innocently sharing a Popsicle made out of High Fructose Corn Syrup. The female offers her male cohort a portion of the frozen treat, responding to his hesitance with the disreputable claim hosted by the corn industry, â€Å"sugar is sugar. Ironic, this commercial enticing the general public to accept the ill-fated ingredient of High Fructose Corn Syrup, is the epitome of Eve offering Adam the apple in The Garden of Eden. High Fructose Corn Syrup has seemed to invade even the most discrete products in the current day kitchen. Hiding in ketchup, soups, and meats, to name only a few, this overused sweetener has wreaked havoc on the American people; much less the unfortunate, overweight, diseased, diabetic rats that fell victim to its studies. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is  a man made, chemically altered, and potentially neurotoxic byproduct, largely at fault for our nation’s health epidemics of obesity diabetes and cardiac disease, but if eradicated from our diet the sequelae of its morbid effects  could be alleviated. Problems Although society is starting to hear more controversial information about the ill health effects of HFCS consumption, what they are not aware of is the dangerous contaminates within it. Chemicals and enzymes used in the processing of corn into HFCS are polluting it with unsafe levels of mercury, and since this heavy metal is neurotoxic, it could very well be to blame for the rapid rise in Autism and other neurological disorders amongst our youth (Geier, King, Sykes, Geier, 2008). To first understand how mercury ends up invading the Nation’s processed food sources, people need to understand how HFCS is developed. As described by Wallinga, Sorensen, and Yablon (2009), through an industrial process, enzymes and caustic soda are used to synthesis the sweetener from corn. Caustic soda is used throughout  the process for many reasons, including its initial employment in the separation of the starch from the corn kernel (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). The problem is, caustic soda is produced in industrial chlorine plants, which many still use a technology relying on the use of mercury, allowing the heavy metal to seep into goods made from its use in processin g (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). Multiple studies done by the Environmental Health and Food and Drug Administration have found commercial HFCS, and many name brand food items with HFCS in their ingredient list, contaminated with mercury (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). An article written by Hyman (2011), presents us with an interesting case, in which a FDA researcher was denied a request for barrels of HFCS in order to test for contaminants. Once she represented herself as an entrepreneur to a new soft drink company, a large vat of the sweetener was sent and used as a part of her study, showing toxic levels of mercury present in some of the samples. The importance one could gather from these findings is that mercury has invaded our food sources, and in all of its forms, it is toxic to the brain (Wallinga, Sorensen Yablon, 2009). Studies show that maternal antenatal consumption of mercury-contaminated food â€Å"adversely affected the IQ, language development, visual-spacial skills, gross motor skills, memory and attention in their offspring† (Schettler, 2001 p. 814). All of these symptoms are similar to conditions of Autism, or Attention Deficit Disorder. An article, supporting mercury provocation of Autism, written by Geier, King, Sykes, and Geier (2008), provides evidence that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) may result from exposure to mercury at critical times of brain development. It goes so far as to state â€Å"mercury has been found to cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining ASDs,† and these â€Å"patients who undergo protocols to reduce mercury show significant clinical improvements in some cases† (Geier, King, Sykes, Geier, 2008 p. 383). Also, it is well known through research that mercury can cause neuronal degeneration, and cell death; something that is observed in the brain of ASDs patients (Geier, King, Sykes, Geier, 2008). Schettler (2001) notes a growing rate in the incidence of developmental disabilities corresponding to the increasing prevalence of ADD and ASDs diagnoses. HFCS was first produced on a commercial scale in the 1970s, but became more widely used in the 1980s, when Coca Cola and other soda drink manufacturers started using it in their sweetened drinks (Reshanov, 2012). Bascian, Federico, and Adeli (2005) reveal alarming statistics, stating the use of HFCS has increase 1,000% between 1970 and 1990. Similarly staggering, childhood Autism diagnoses increased 800% from 1990 to 2003 (Rudy, 2009). The consumption rate of HFCS among children has mimicked the increased rate of our youth’s neurologic diagnoses, HFCS consumption is also a major contributor to the increasing numbers of people with obesity, diabetes, and elevated triglyceride levels. Just as every action has a reaction, the intake of HFCS causes a physiological strain of affects that negatively impacts the body. The digestion, metabolism, and absorption of HFCS, differ from that of table sugar, or glucose since biochemically they are different. Because the molecules that comprise HFCS are not bonded, digestion is not necessary, causing rapid metabolism in the liver (Elliott, Keim, Stern, Teff, Havel, 2002). The liver finds storage for these molecules as fat cells, and becoming overwhelmed, releases many in the blood stream. These are known as triglycerides. Elevated triglycerides inhibit insulin production (Kelpe, Johnson, Poitout, 2002), the chemical responsible for controlling our blood sugars. Leptin, our satiety hormone, is regulated by insulin, so when insulin levels are low so are leptin levels (Bascian, Federico, Adeli, 2005 Bray, Nielsen, Popkin, 2004). Obesity seems to be the most obvious epidemic as it related to HFCS consumption. It should be credited to the result of over eating due to HFCSs influence on the appetite suppression hormone leptin. When sufficient levels of leptin are circulating throughout the blood stream, the brain tells the body to no longer eat. When that hormone is diminished, the urge to continue eating is influential. As cited in Parker (2010), Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neurosciences of appetite, weight, and sugar addiction states, â€Å"when rats are drinking high fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese – every single one, across the board. † He continues to add to the discussion by saying even rats that are fed a high fat diet, don’t all gain weight (Parker, 2010). Supportive studies using rats show that when fructose was injected into the cerebroventricles of the animals, enhanced food intake was observed, while the same concentrations of glucose injections resulted in a suppression of  appetite (Bascian, Federico, Adeli, 2005. Further, the accumulation of readily converted fat cells, especially in the abdomen (Parker, 2010), doubles as a cause to obesity. When these processes are understood, it is apparent how HFCS contributes to America’s obesity issue. Elevated triglycerides have been well known for a long time in the health community to be a great risk factor for cardiac disease. When a bolus of unbounded molecules directly enter the liver for metabolizing, lipogenesis occurs, causing nonfat food products to be turned directly into fat and fatty acids (Bascian, Federico, Adeli, 2005.  ) Fatty acids, or triglycerides accumulate in the blood stream, at levels that can be considered dangerous, predisposing the person to coronary artery diseases and strokes. Multiple studies done on rats have provided evidence showing the contributory nature consumption of HFCS has on triglyceride levels. For example, a study cited in Bascian, Federico, and Adeli, (2005) showed that when rats were fed a 32% fructose, glucose, or sucrose solution, the fructose fed rats had an elevated triglyceride level. Insulin resistance is directly related to the intake of HFCS. â€Å"Because fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic ? cells, the consumption of foods and beverages containing fructose produces smaller postprandial insulin excursions than does consumption of glucose-containing carbohydrate† (Elliott, Keim, Stern, Teff, Havel, 2002 p. 911). Therefore, if large amounts of HFCS were being consumed that insulin was not acting to control, the result would be uncontrolled circulating blood sugars. In human studies done by Johnson et al. (2009), with high levels of fructose ingestion, it took just one week for the subjects to develop insulin resistance. People that were already predisposed to obesity or unhealthy diets, exhibited insulin resistance after very small amounts of fructose were taken in. Again, the prevalence of these epidemics seems to mirror the widespread utilization of HFCS as a sweetener. Bray, Nielsen, and Popkin (2004) analyzed the relationship of increased HFCS consumption with the development of obesity stating that ironically, the increased use of the sweetener in the United States has mirrored the rapidity of America’s obesity. Cited in Parker (2010), The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes that in the last 40 years, since the introduction of HFCS in the American diet, rates of obesity have â€Å"skyrocketed. † They report that in 1970, about 15% of the American population was afflicted with obesity, but as of now, roughly one third of our adult population is considered obese. The increase in fructose intake in the last twenty years is also associated with the astonishing increase in diabetes diagnoses according to Johnson et al. (2009). These discoveries are beyond coincidental, and highly recognized among experts in the field of nutrition and health. Solutions By abolishing high fructose corn syrup from our diets, we could alleviate the morbidities affiliated with its use. Because of the backlash HFCS is receiving recently, many food manufactures are removing the sweetener from their products. Even though still widely found, reading food labels will allow consumers to purchase goods without HFCS in its ingredient list. Buy products that are not processed, or advertised as â€Å"organic. † Prepare meals at home using whole foods, not prepackaged. Most manufacturers have contact information on their products, allowing consumers to notify them of their discontent with the presence of HFCS in our food. People can contact elected officials, asking for hearings that address why the FDA does not protect our nation from the mercury contamination of HFCS (Wallinga, Soreson, Yablon, 2009). One step New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, is taking, will propose a stop to all sweetened drinks greater than 16 ounces in size, hoping managed portions will reduce the intake of these drinks (Reshanov, 2012). This appears to be an important step in diet modification for decreased incidents of obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease, but its presence in even small portions may not change the risk of mercury exposure to developing brains. Just don’t eat it, drink it, or support HFCS in any manner. Although sugar has a bad rap when consumed beyond moderation, it could be reclaimed into our nations diet as a primary sweetener, since it has not shown to have the detrimental effects on health that high fructose corn syrup has. Researchers from the Department of Science and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute report that male rats given HFCS sweetened water in addition to a rat chow diet gained much more weight than those that received water sweetened with basic table sugar along with the chow (Parker, 2010). Many favorite food brands have provided an alternative using sugar to sweeten a product as opposed to HFCS. Examples of these are Pepsi â€Å"Throwback,† and â€Å"Simply† Heinz. To alleviate an extensive craving, many health food stores provide candy sweetened only with cane sugar. Trader Joes is a whole foods store that has a jellybean product with flavors similar to the famous â€Å"Jelly Belly’s† jellybeans, sweetened with only cane sugar. Making home cooked goodies with sugar, also gives the option of adding some additional ingredients with nutritive value while satisfying a weak yearning. Although sugar in excess can still have some unhealthy effects, in moderation it is recognized, metabolized and processed in the body without detriment, and is unknown to harbor neurotoxic mercury or other damaging contaminants. In previously cited findings by Parker (2010), it is apparent when comparing the outcomes of fructose fed rats as opposed to rats fed typical table sugar, that the rats eating fructose suffered ill effects to their health, unlike their glucose fed counterparts. Call to Action . Without actions on behalf of our food and drug administration (FDA), the statistics for obesity, diabetes, and cardiac disease, as well as what may be the contributing factor to the rise in our nation’s neurotoxic afflictions will continue to rise. Mercury contamination in HFCS is completely avoidable, with current technology allowing most chlorine plants to no longer use it (Wallinga, Soreson, Yablon, 2009). Since HFCS was first introduced in the 1970s, its use and consumption by the American people has continued to climb with the Average American eating an estimated 60 pounds per person per year, all concurrent with the â€Å"tripling of obesity rates and a seven-fold increase in diabetes diagnoses† (Hyman, 2011 p. 1). When comparing the ingredient list from a French based McDonalds, to an American McDonalds, there is no HFCS or multiple other unhealthy ingredients in the foreign food choices (Beardsley, 2012). Why does our nation allow poor quality, harmful food additives, disregarding years of well researched information? What makes American’s settle for less, knowing the potential ill health effects? The FDA needs to recognize the negative impacts HFCS is having on the American people, and protect them. Our nation must write, call, or email legislators and representatives to make the FDA aware .

10 mejores y 10 peores estados para hacer negocios

10 mejores y 10 peores estados para hacer negocios Para los  hispanos  que residimos en Estados Unidos es importante conocer cules son los mejores y los peores estados para hacer negocio por una razà ³n muy simple: somos el grupo con el porcentaje ms alto de emprendedores. Y es que 11 de cada 100 tienen un negocio, siendo la presencia latina especialmente notable en  empresas de limpieza, jardinerà ­a, reformas de viviendas, eventos y negocios que requieren licencias profesionales. Muchos de los negocios son pequeà ±os y en realidad son una forma de autoempleo, particularmente entre los migrantes mexicanos y entre los mexicano-americanos que son dueà ±os de aproximadamente 800 mil negocios de este tipo. Est claro que los negocios son importantes para la comunidad latina, tanto para la ya asentada como para la recià ©n llegada y eligen esa opcià ³n como los que no tienen otro remedio porque llegan con una  visa E-2  que debe ser renovada perià ³dicamente  o una  green card por inversià ³n. Por esta razà ³n conviene conocer en cules de los 50 estados de Estados Unidos existe una regulacià ³n y un clima econà ³mico y empresarial que favorece la creacià ³n y el crecimiento de los negocios. Por ello este artà ­culo comprende: Lista general de los 10 mejores estados para hacer negociosLista general sobre los 10 estados en los que es ms complicado y dificultoso sacar adelante un negocioY lista de los 5 estados que los empresarios latinos prefieren para desarrollar su idea de negocio, que no siempre coincide con el listado general. Son muchas las listas que se hacen anualmente sobre los mejores y peores estados para hacer negocio. Aquà ­ seguimos la de Forbes, por su amplitud y metodologà ­a, pero en general puede decirse que hay pocas variaciones entre los diferentes listados. Se han valorado factores como: potencial econà ³mico para el futuro, regulacià ³n sanitaria y de contratacià ³n, disponibilidad de trabajadores, calidad de vida, clima econà ³mico y costo para hacer negocios. Los 10 mejores estados para emprender Utah, destacando en potencial de crecimiento (poblacià ³n: 2,963,000)Carolina del Norte, que sobresale en regulacià ³n favorable para los negocios (poblacià ³n: 9,992,000)Nebraska, tambià ©n con un excelente clima regulatorio (poblacià ³n: 1,877,600)Dakota del Norte, con un buen clima econà ³mico, influenciado por los hidrocarburos (poblacià ³n: 744,600)Colorado, el estado nà ºmero 1 en normas laborales (poblacià ³n: 5,397,200)Texas, el estado con el mejor clima econà ³mico (poblacià ³n: 27,187,700)Virginia, el mejor estado desde el punto de vista regulatorio (poblacià ³n: 8,355,200)Indiana, el mejor despuà ©s de Virginia en regulacià ³n (poblacià ³n: 6,608,900)Dakota del Sur. el estado con menor costo para hacer negocios (poblacià ³n: 856,200)Washington, un estado con excelentes perspectivas de crecimiento (poblacià ³n: 7,108,400) Los 10 peores estados para hacer negocios En esta lista se empieza con el menos malo de los top 10 para acabar con el que califica como el peor, es decir, Virginia Occidental. Nueva Jersey, sà ³lo en un estado es ms caro hacer negocio (poblacià ³n: 8,947,700)Vermont, es caro hacer negocios y mucha regulacià ³n (poblacià ³n: 626,500)Hawaii, un estado para vivir pero no para hacer negocios (poblacià ³n: 1,424,900)Alaska, un estado muy caro (poblacià ³n: 738,000)Rhode Island, sà ³lo califica bien en calidad de vida (poblacià ³n: 1,056,900)Nuevo Mà ©xico, el estado con mayor porcentaje de hispanos (poblacià ³n:2,085,300)Maine, destaca por su lado positivo, la calidad de vida (poblacià ³n: 1,331,600)Mississippi (poblacià ³n: 2,995,700)Virginia Occidental, el estado que peor califica en oferta de trabajadores y regulacià ³n (poblacià ³n: 1,844,900). Los mejores y los peores para los emprendedores latinos Los empresarios hispanos en Estados Unidos destacan en la creacià ³n de pequeà ±as empresas e incluso en las que su objetivo es el autoempleo y tienen un à ºnico empleado: el propio emprendedor. Por ello, prefieren estados donde las regulaciones laborales, de salud y de seguridad le sean favorables para sacar adelante su pequeà ±o negocio. Por estas razones, en las encuestas estos son los cinco estados preferidos por los empresarios latinos para hacer negocio: TennesseeOregà ³nUtahPennsylvaniaTexas Curiosamente, tres de los estados con una amplia presencia latina como son California, Nueva York y Florida, no aparecen en ninguna lista entre los mejores para hacer negocios. A tener en cuenta antes de fundar un negocio Los ciudadanos americanos y los residentes permanentes legales podrà ­an tener acceso a subvenciones para negocios, tanto de carcter federal como estatal o incluso local. Es importante informarse sobre posibles ayudas para prà ©stamos, subvenciones, asistencia local y condiciones para calificar para contratar con el gobierno en la pgina oficial del Small Business Administration, que tiene una versià ³n en espaà ±ol. Adems, todos los empresarios en potencia debe tener en cuenta que es importante familiarizarse sobre las formas jurà ­dicas que se le puede dar al negocio para crear una empresa. Puede haber diferencias importantes a la hora de pagar impuestos o de proteccià ³n ante la ley.   Asimismo, considerar familiarizarse con el sistema de franquicias si les gustarà ­a lanzarse al mundo del emprendimiento pero no se sienten seguros porque no conocen bien las regulaciones. Y, finalmente, antes de empezar a hacer gastos, conviene realizar si es posible un buen plan de negocios y contabilizar todos los gastos que puedan surgir, tales como abogado, contable, licencias, alquileres, seguros mà ©dicos, impuestos, derechos de los empleados, salarios mà ­nimos, etc.

Pragmatics Application

Pragmatics Application Introduction Over the years that man has been in existence, he has found a unique way to pass message to the other members of his community. He has achieved this through the process of talking. This is very essential as he has been able to communicate what he feels, what he thinks and what he wants. This has made the manner in which he performs his activities to be effective and efficient as compared to other creatures.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Pragmatics Application specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is due to the high level of understanding that exists between the individual who is sending the information and the one who is receiving it (Stalnaker, 1970). This mutual understanding is what has assisted us to achieve all the developments and advancements that are currently present in the world. However, the process of communication has changed with time. This can be mainly attributed to the level of so cial interactions among individuals. As a result of the relationship that individuals have with one another, they have changed the literal meaning of words to mean something that is totally different. This is advantageous to the individuals who understand this sort of communication. However, misunderstandings may arise especially on those individuals who do not understand the contextual meaning of these words. This form of alteration is known as pragmatics. Pragmatics is the altering of words to give a different meaning as compared to its semantic meaning (DAndrade, 2002). For an individual to understand the meaning of a pragmatic phrase, one has to interpret it in accordance to the context in which the phrase was communicated. In most instances, high levels of confusion always arise. As a result, many individuals are against pragmatics. This is due to the high level of misinterpretation that may arise once the literal meaning of the phrase is used. This paper will therefore focus o n pragmatics and the problems that may arise due to the plain interaction of words, sentences or phrases. To achieve this, the essay will focus on the application of pragmatics on everyday conversation, the effects it has on language and the possible problems that may arise. Finally, possible solutions to the problem shall be discussed.Advertising Looking for coursework on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Pragmatics in Everyday Language Pragmatics is the process though which language is explained with the use of its context (Masuda, 2008). The meaning of such words cannot make sense if the plain interpretation of the words is applied with the use of semantics. Due to the different interpretation of words, a lot of confusion normally occurs in the everyday use of words, phrases and sentences. For example, the phrase, you have the green light, is frequently used in language. Several interpretations can be a rrived at with the use of semantics. For instance, the phrase can mean that one has a green light on his body. The phrase can also be used to say that the traffic light has changed from ambient to green so one can start to drive. However, one has to consider the context in which the conversation is made to understand the meaning of these words. In most cases, the phrase, you have the green light is used to mean that an individual has been given the authority to go on or continue to do something. He/she should therefore start or continue doing something. In games such as hockey, basketball and soccer, a player may shout man on to his teammate. If the context of this phrase is not considered, the literal meaning of the words can be interpreted to mean something that is totally different to what the player intended to communicate with his teammate. With the use of semantics, the word man can be used to refer to a male individual, the race of humankind or an individual (either male or f emale). On the other hand, the word on can be used to mean a number of things. This can be on top of someone, above someone, on duty and so on. Putting these words together will therefore lead to a totally different interpretation of the phrase. However, in sports, the phrase is used to alert the danger of the presence of an opponent to a teammate. Therefore, when an individual shouts man on to his teammate, he expects his teammate to respond appropriately by either protecting the ball or playing in a safe position. As it was mentioned earlier, understanding the contextual subtleties of a spoken phrase often proves indispensible when it comes to defining such phrase’s actual semiotics. For example, there are two equally legitimate meanings to the statement: â€Å"She requires a rod† – that the woman needs the actual rod or that this woman may be in need for sex.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on Pragmatics Application specifically fo r you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More And, it is specifically the context in which this phrase has been uttered, which provides others with the insight on what person that came up with this statement had in mind. Nevertheless, in order for just about anyone to be able to able to grasp the contextual implications of an utterance, he or she would have to be endowed with the ability to operate with rather abstract categories, as it is namely such individual’s ability that allows him or her to choose in favor of whether literal, metaphoric or situational understanding of a spoken phrase. In its turn, one’s ability to operate with abstract categories can be well conceptualized within the framework of what happened to be the rate of individual’s Intellectual Quotidian (IQ). Problem of Pragmatics From the examples that have been raised above, it is evident that the main problem that arises from pragmatics is the issue of interpretation of the mess age that is being passed on from the sender of the message to the recipient. The main aim of communication is that there should be an understanding between the individual who is passing the information and the person who is receiving it. Understanding is an integral part of communication. The initiator of a conversation expects the recipient to respond in a specific manner. This can either be in the form of an action, gesture or speech. From the few examples that have been used in this paper, it is evident that several interpretations can arise from just a simple word or phrase. At the same time, it is difficult for any individual to understand the contextual meaning of words or phrases used by an individual. Apparently, in order to be able to recognize the significance of just about any contextually formulated statement, the individual must be capable of recognizing what accounts for the difference between qualitatively defined emanations of surrounding environment. In other words, he or she would have to be aware of rationale behind categorizing such emanations.Advertising Looking for coursework on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This, however, often proves very challenging for the people with low IQ, because the primitive workings of their psyche create objective preconditions for them to indulge in exclusively literal thinking, which also explains such people’s tendency to perceive world through the lenses of utilitarianism and their lessened ability to recognize contextual implications of verbal expressions. Despite the problems that arise as a result of using pragmatics, it is essential to accept it as part of the English language. Pragmatics plays an important role in communication. To ensure that proper interpretation of such phrases is achieved, some theories have been developed. Theories of Pragmatics In practice, a lot of criticism has been raised against pragmatics. People have said that the concept does not have a specific focus, its ideologies are vague and that it is redundant (Adams, 2010). These people feel that semantics has covered effectively all the aspects that pragmatics is trying to cover. However, there are those individuals who feel that pragmatics is part and parcel of the English language. They argue that pragmatics is vital in linguistics since it has brought about a new dimension in social language interactions. It has managed to capture aspects of language that semantics has failed to capture. As a result, pragmatics has become a useful tool in teaching, especially in literature. Several theories have therefore been advanced to solve the differences that have risen between pragmatics and semantics. The first theory that has been advanced is the theory of Speech Acts (Barba, 2007). J.L. Austin, a great philosopher suggested that there is a great similarity between the utterance and the actions of an individual. Due to this relationship, it is thus easier for an individual to interpret what another person is trying to communicate to his with the help of his/her actions while he/she is speaking. According to the theory, these utterances have three aspec ts; locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary acts (Bruhl, 1928). Locutionary acts entail the words that an individual utters in the process of a conversation and the content of these words. Illocutionary acts on the other hand are the physical actions of an individual while he/she is talking. This may include gesture, facial expressions, changes in posture and so on. An individual can, for example, bite his finger while talking. The act of biting his finger in itself plays a critical aspect in determining the context and meaning if what he may be saying. Finally, perlocutionary acts are the effects of the utterance to the listener. An individual may respond in accordance to the instructions of the words that were uttered. In some other instances, an individual may respond contrary to directions that were uttered by the speaker. Whichever the case, there was an understanding between the speaker and the listener. The various avenues of communication as a result of the speech act theory were responsible for the passing of information and understanding between the two parties. This therefore removes the ambiguity that exists between pragmatics and semantics. With the use of the words uttered by an individual and the corresponding actions, an individual is capable of understanding the message that the other party was passing. In the process, he/she responds appropriately. Thus, the process of communication has effectively taken place. Apparently, people’s lessened ability to recognize the contextual meaning of verbally expressed idioms, is nothing but the mental byproduct of their evolutionary underdevelopment, as those who have not evolved to the point of being able to draw a clear line between themselves and the surrounding environment: â€Å"Identity appears in (primitive people’s) collective representations†¦ as a moving assemblage or totality of mystic actions and reactions, within which individual does not subjectualize but objectuali ze itself† (p. 120). Therefore, it does not seem utterly odd that it is namely intellectually underdeveloped individuals’ lessened capacity to understand how the associated context affects the semantic significance of linguistic idioms (which comes as the result of pre-logical workings of their psyche) that often prevents them from succeeding in academia. In its turn, such lessened capacity on their part, appears to be rather genetically predetermined. As it was pointed out by Lynn and Vanhanen (2002): â€Å"IQs appear to be determined by the racial and ethnic make-up of the populations†¦ The IQs of 96 are typical of Europeans. The countries with lower proportions of Europeans and greater proportions of Native Americans, Blacks, and Mestizos have lower IQs† (p. 263). Apparently, the practice of discussing pragmatics-related concepts outside of what happened to the qualitative essence of how people with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds indulge in cognitive process cannot be referred to as academically appropriate, in full sense of this word. After all, as many recent socio-linguistic studies indicate, it is not one’s affiliation with a particular culture/language that forms person’s existential attitudes, which in turn affect the extent of his or her linguistic proficiency, but neurological particulars of how one’s mind assesses universe and its place in it. As it was pointed out in Bunge’s (1975) article: â€Å"Language is the set of speech processes, which are in turn physiological (in particular neurophysiological) processes† (p. 109). What it means is that it is specifically the particulars of individual brain’s ‘wiring’ which define his or her varying ability to provide a proper contextual sounding to verbally expressed sentences and to also recognize the proper contextual sounding in words and phrases that are being verbally expressed by others. Conclusion This paper has pre sented a great argument with regards to pragmatics and its application in linguistics. With the application of the speech of acts theory, the differences that exist between pragmatics and semantics can easily be solved. In addition, line of argumentation, which has been deployed throughout this paper’s analytical part, supports the validity of an initial thesis that there can only be rules to pragmatics for as long as improving the linguistic proficiency of similarly ‘brain-wired’ people is being concerned. Given the fact that, as time goes on, socially appropriate verbal expressions that convey situative-contextual messages never cease being adjusted to be correlative with currently predominant socio-cultural discourses, there can be little rationale in theorizing upon what constitutes the expressional adequacy of linguistic idioms under specific circumstances, as these circumstances themselves are the subject of a constant change. It is important to understand that the very fact that, as of today, Western societies’ demographic fabric undergoes a rapid transformation creates objective preconditions for the very concept of linguistic pragmatics to grow increasingly less euro-centric, which in turn implies that it is only the matter of time, before its methodological framework will become outdated. Therefore, it will only be logical to conclude that the key to maintaining the academic validity of pragmatics, as subdivision of linguistics, is not in defining how context affects semiotics of verbal expressions, but in exposing the mechanism of how the context itself creates an entirely new semantic meaning to what is being said or written. References Adams, W. (2010). Natures participatory psyche: A study of consciousness in the shared Earth community. The Humanistic Psychologist, 38 (1), 15-39. Barba, J. (2007). Formal semantics in the age of pragmatics. Linguistics and Philosophy, 30 (6): 637-668. Bruhl, L. (1928). The soul of the pr imitive. London: George Allen Unwin Ltd. Bunge, M. (1984). Philosophical Problems in Linguistics. Erkenntnis, 21 (2) (Jul., 1984), 107-173. DAndrade, R. (2002). Cultural Darwinism and language. American  Anthropologist, New Series, 104 (1), 223-232. Lynn, R. Vanhanen, T. (2002). IQ and the wealth of nations. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Publishing Group. Masuda, T. (2008). Culture and aesthetic preference: Comparing the attention to context of East Asians and Americans. Personality and Social  Psychology Bulletin, 34(9): 1260-1275. Stalnaker, R. (1970). Pragmatics. Synthese, 22 (1/2): 272-289.

Why Euthanasia Should be Permitted Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why Euthanasia Should be Permitted - Essay Example The language used by the writer is simple and is easily understood. The position that she wants to convey is clearly articulated. The direct mode of persuasion is used by the writer. The claim of the essay is that if a doctor is not allowed to practice euthanasia at the request of his patient, it is tantamount to violating a person’s right to die. According to the writer it is also an â€Å"economic burden and it interferes with a doctor’s job†. Furthermore, it â€Å"increases the patient’s sufferings†. The writer is trying to persuade his readers to fight for the legalization of euthanasia.The writer uses the appeal to the emotions as shown in this sentence, â€Å"If the person wishes to die, we should please him with their last wish†. This is obviously an appeal to the emotions because who in his right mind would not like to grant a dying person’s wish. Another example of an appeal to the emotions is the question raised by the writer in the concluding paragraph, â€Å"Would you like to be helped by doctors and your friends to die the way you want it or be kept in a room where you can hardly move with machines keeping you alive?†. The writer wants the readers to imagine themselves being in a situation where euthanasia is an option. On the other hand, the writer made use of logic in stating that, â€Å"The kind of quality of life is defined by the patient, not the doctor or government†. Aside from this statement, the writer hardly made use of logos because there were no facts, figures or expert testimonies.

Choice of the Managing Director Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Choice of the Managing Director - Essay Example Introduction In case of the expatriate operations, the functions of management and leadership are to a large extent dependent on a much broader concept called ‘diversity’ (Kirton & Greene 2005, p. 127). Diversity is a very expansive concept that includes within its ambit a little more than an individual’s looks, colour, traits, attitudes and status (Kirton & Greene 2005). In the given scenario the managing director to be selected will be required to manage, function and lead in an environment that will carry a quintessentially Vietnamese flavour. As the commonsense suggest, it will be much easier for a Vietnamese managing director to manage the manufacturing operations being undertaken in Vietnam. However, in an academic context, the choice to be made is necessarily required to be explained in a rational and factual manner. As per Geert Hofstede, the salient values in any organization are to a large extent determined by the predominant culture of that place. Hofst ede grouped the cultural values of varied countries and regions into four main groups that are called the Hofstede cultural dimensions (Baptiste, Dodor & Rana 2007). ... Vietnam has a Power Distance Index of 70, which means that in the Vietnamese society, people do readily accept a hierarchical system, without registering any objections or problems (Hofstede 1996). Individualism is a cultural attribute that determines as to the extent to which the members in a society tend to remain independent. On this dimensions, Vietnam has a score of 20 that means that in Vietnam it is the group affiliations that stand to dominate over individual aspirations and ambition (Tuan & Napier 2000). Masculinity is a cultural dimension that explains whether a society values success and ambition or whether it gives priority to the overall quality of life over success, achievement and ambition (Hofstede 1996). Vietnam has a score of 40 on this dimension which means that Vietnam is particularly a feminine society where solidarity and quality of life holds a sway over success and achievement (Reynolds 2000). Hofstede also propounded one more cultural dimension that is Uncert ainty Avoidance. The Uncertainty Avoidance Index of a culture states as to what extent the people in a culture are comfortable with the anxiety and stress associated with the ambiguity inherent in the future (Hofstede 1996). Vietnam has a low Uncertainty Avoidance Index of 30 which means that the Vietnamese hate uncertainty and are mostly willing to do away with strict norms and principles in favour of ease and certainty (Tuan & Napier 2000). It will be really interesting to see as how the Australian culture scores on the four Hofstede cultural dimensions. Australia- Cultural Dimensions Australia has a Power Distance Index of 36, very low as compared to Vietnam. Translated practically it means that in the Australian work culture, hierarchies

Theories of Communicatiion in Health and Social Care

Theories of Communicatiion in Health and Social Care Introduction In the context of health and social care settings, it is very important to have good communication between service users and staff (Gambrill, 2012). As Hepworth et al. (2010) comment, it is vital that care staff develop good communication skills so that they have effective communication with service users and can explain treatment needs to the latter. In addition, care staff must learn professional communication techniques (and know how to apply them) to create a better health care environment (Cournoyer, 2013). There are many different forms of communication, including, for instance, verbal and non-verbal forms. There are also many approaches through which good communication relationships can be fostered (or hampered) and it is imperative, therefore, that care staff learn from best practice so as to ensure that they maximise the potential for the development of a meaningful relationship (Reeves et al., 2011). Good communication and interpersonal skills are, quite simply, essential t o the practice of effective health and social care (Greenhalgh, 2008). Such skills are not merely limited to day-to-day communications with clients. In communicating with others, the practitioner needs to be able to use a variety of strategies to ensure that professional practice meets health and social care needs and facilitates a positive working relationship. Indeed, as Reeves et al. (2010) suggest, there are different approaches for communication and it is imperative that the individual practitioner tailors his or her use of these to the individual needs of the individual patient. Accordingly, expertise, or at least a sound working knowledge of all of the following approaches – humanistic, behavioural, cognitive, psychoanalytical and social (to name but five) – is vital. These theories are, as alluded to, applicable to developing certain techniques in the sector of health and social care. For example, as Gitterman and Germain (2013) comment, humanistic theory is applicable in situations where people are involved in aspects of self-actu alisation, self-conception, self-esteem, honour, and dignity. This approach reflects on the perspective that every human being has the potential to be good, to enjoy life, to contribute positively, and to be a loving and lovable member of society. Thus, as Healy (2014) suggests, this is an approach that aims to maximise critical thinking and analytical optimism. In the health and social care sector, service providers such as doctors, nurses, home care managers, and social workers are, as Ife (2012) contends, offered appropriate training in order to care for service users in the most humanistic manner by implementing or practising modes of communication relevant to the appropriate situation and/or individuals. Theoretical foundations Social theory, as Howe (2009) explains, is the use of theoretical frameworks to study and interpret social phenomena within a particular school of thought. It is an essential tool used by social scientists, and the theory relates to historical debates over the most valid and reliable methodologies that should be used in the analysis and evaluation of needs and how such analysis can be transformed into ‘real-life’ action (Parrott and Madoc-Jones, 2009). Certain social theories attempt to remain strictly scientific, descriptive, or objective, whereas, as Healy (2014) postulates, conflict theories present ostensibly normative positions, and often critique the ideological aspects inherent in conventional, traditional thought. It is important to recognise the differences between such models so as to ensure that the right model is used with the right service user to maximise an understanding of their care needs. At all times, the needs of the client must come first (Hughes, Ba mford and May, 2008). In commenting further upon the individual theories it should be noted that, as Weitz (2009) remarks, cognitive theory is a theory which is recognised to be implemented instantly. Social cognition is, therefore, the encoding, storage, retrieval, and processing of data in the brain (Parrott and Madoc-Jones, 2008). Widely used across psychology and cognitive neuroscience, it is particularly useful when assessing various social abilities and how these can be disrupted by persons suffering from autism and other disorders. Thus, it is clear that the utilisation of this theory in treatment assessment should be tailored to those individual patients who exhibit the systems of the neurological problems noted – and not just used as a ‘catch all’ for all patients (Miles and Mezzich, 2011). It is the requirement of all care settings to accept, follow and implement effective strategies to provide the right source of communication to all the staff, service users and visitors (Krauss and Fussell, 2014). The appropriate and applicable training on verbal techniques must be given to care staff and other professionals. Furthermore, all employees should be made aware of new developments and techniques through further training and educational courses during the course of their employment. This level of career professional development is important because, as Zarconi, Pethtel and Missimi (2008) comment, it is vital to modernise employees’ knowledge and skills to help them to deal with the demands of changing communication and technology, as well as the changing aspirations and demands of clients. For the betterment of any care settings, research always plays a vital role (Bourgeault, Dingwall and de Vries, 2010). There is a number of techniques that have been followed and brought into daily-use in a health care context. These are now considered to be everyday techniques, but when they were introduced they were ground breaking and radical – which shows how keeping abreast of new developments and integrating new techniques into daily working patterns can result in longer term benefits, not just for individual benefits but also the wider profession as a whole (Greenhalgh, 2008). Some of those techniques include the special needs of communication for those with autism, dementia and all of those who have sensual impairment, and it is to such issues that this assignment now turns. The application of relevant theories of communication to health and social care contexts Any health and social care department consists of different types of service users. As a care provider, it is imperative that professionals implement several types of communication techniques through knowledge, experience and skills, as advised by Krauss and Fussell (2014). In accordance with the views proffered by Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum (2011), who have advanced the cause of using multitudinous approaches to communication, the role of positivism can be seen as critically important. Indeed, many theorists such as Carl Roger, Abraham Maslow, and B.F Skinner, have made life-time studies of how this approach can be beneficial to patient care (Weitz, 2009). In a similar manner, through an evaluation of characteristics based on a humanistic behavioural analysis of actions, people can also be monitored and their health care provision improved, as noted by Burks and Kobus (2012), by treating all people with respect through being gentle and kind. This helps to build mutually benefici al relationships between patient and carer and between different health care professionals. To recognise and understand the behaviour of separate individuals, and to understand how care provision needs to be tailored to meet their individual needs and circumstances, a range of case studies was undertaken by the author. In so doing, cognitive behaviour theory was applied; a summary of the individuals assessed and how their treatment needs were developed is given below. So as to ensure that this assignment conforms to best practice with regards to ethical research, the names of all people have been changed so that there are no personal identifiers. As a consequence, this section of the research not only complies fully with the ethical research protocols of the university but also those advanced by Bourgeault, Dingwall and de Vries (2010). Case Studies Case Study One Estrella is a lady of about 65 years of age. She has been diagnosed with dementia and has lived with this condition for a number of years. She is physically very fit and enjoys walking, making a habit of walking every afternoon after a siesta. Estrella was interviewed at home. The following is a transcription of the interview that took place. It is useful in research to take a transcription because as Speziale, Streubert and Carpenter (2011) contend, it enables the researcher to check facts and return to the data whilst they are analysing and interpreting it. â€Å"Hello Estrella. May I come in please?† I asked. â€Å"Yes, dear, you can come in.† The beaming smile from Estrella suggested that as soon as she saw me she felt happy and she was very welcoming. She showed me into the lounge room and I then asked her â€Å"How was your siesta, Estrella? Did you have a good sleep?† She replied, â€Å"Yes, dear, but I had a weird dream.† Concerned, I questioned, â€Å"What kind of weird dream did you have, Estrella?† â€Å"I just forgot it, dear!† she replied. I asked Estrella kindly and politely if she would like me to help her get changed before she embarked upon her walk. â€Å"Yes, dear, otherwise we will stay here forever,† she answered, whilst looking at me with a sweet smile. In the above situation, as a care worker, I applied humanistic theory. This is shown by my engaging with Estrella in a manner that nourished individual respect. The benefits of this approach are clearly evident through the polite and efficient conversation that took place. The needs of Estrella were quickly identified and, accordingly, a high level of care was delivered. Case Study Two Norah is a 75-year old widow. She has been diagnosed with dementia. If she is awake she tends to stay in her bedroom and, as soon as she is awake, she asks for her breakfast to be brought into her room. From the reading of case notes, which is, as Beresford, Croft and Adshead (2008) suggest, a useful way to gain prior information on a new client, I realised that Norah preferred having her breakfast in her bed and that her breakfast must be warm: neither hot nor cold. I also realised that she likes to have a glass of milk with her breakfast and that she appreciates having the curtains opened so that she can enjoy the outside view. Having already let myself into Norah’s house on the morning of the interview, I asked her, â€Å"May I come in, Norah?†, and explained that I had brought her breakfast in the manner that she likes. She replied, â€Å"Oh, thank you, pet; thats very kind of you. I didnt have to ask for it and you already brought it And it is just the way I like it.† Having deposited the tray on her lap, I opened the curtains. Norah smiled and said, â€Å"Thank you very much, pet.† Once she had finished her breakfast, I took away the tray and let myself out. In this case study it can be seen that, in accordance with the approach advanced by Greenhalgh (2008), cognitive behaviour theory was applied. Norah’s needs were recognised before she had given voice to them. Therefore, in my role as carer, I applied my knowledge and precipitated her needs. Case Study Three Aelfric, a former steelworker, is 78 years old, and has been diagnosed with dementia. He is a very shy patient and finds it very difficult to socialise with other service users. Indeed, such is his shyness that he prefers to stay in his room most of the time, as Aelfric feels that no one likes his company. This, he has suggested, in reflecting upon himself, may be due to his attitude, behaviour and language. Mindful of this plethora of problems, I decided to integrate Aelfric in a bingo day with the rest of the service users once a week. â€Å"Good morning, Aelfric! How was your day?† I asked. He rarely answered, and on this occasion he did not. â€Å"I have good news for you today; have you ever played bingo before?† I queried. Finally Aelfric answered, â€Å"Well, I used to, but am I not the right age to play that kind of game.† I responded, â€Å"Oh! That is wonderful, because I have booked a day out for you to play bingo with the rest of the patients and you are coming as well.† At the beginning, Aelfric did not like the idea of going and being part of the team. As a result, at the start of the bingo session he did not participate and just sat in the corner. However, he later participated and even won a game. As the weeks passed, Aelfric never wanted to miss a week, and began making friends as well. In the case of Aelfric, social theory was applied in accordance with the recommendations advanced by Healy (2014). By the end of several months, Aelfric had become positively friendly with me, which shows how analysing a person using this theory can be beneficial to treatment needs. Case Study Four Minka is a 30-year old lady with learning difficulties and limited speech skills. In the middle of a normal shift, whilst a colleague and I were bathing her, she suddenly started screaming and crying. We did not know what we had done wrong, so I asked her politely, â€Å"What have we done wrong?† Minka seemed to be expressing that the shampoo we had used on her was not nice, and that it smelled bad, and that it had gone into her eyes. Conscious of the discomfort we had caused Minka, I apologised and asked her, â€Å"What shampoo would you like me to use?† Minka pointed to the other shampoo. This shampoo was then applied to her scalp and, as a result, she stopped screaming and let us do our job. When we had finished washing her hair, Minka indicated that she was very happy and asked us to smell her hair. In this case my colleague and I had applied psychoanalytic theory in accordance with the approaches advanced by Weitz (2009). We understood Minka’s needs better as a consequence of so doing. Communication skills in health and social care contexts The Department of Health has, as Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum (2011) note, been updating all kinds of communication techniques in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the health care sector. Many new technologies have been gradually implemented with the aim of ensuring that the service operates in a professional and effective manner. With regards to the contribution to service users, professionals and staff have been introduced to the latest technologies and have adopted them into their daily working lives in order to ensure that they are following best practice (Sarangi, 2010). This has been achieved through, for instance, the attendance of relevant training sessions and courses which are specifically tailored to update knowledge and skills. As Miles and Mezzich (2011) further observe in commenting more generally upon such improvements to health care, modern equipment and communication aids are being used to monitor the effectiveness of care service provision. It is within this arena that it is vital that professionals use verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to deal with service users and colleagues. It is good practice in the health service to ensure that there is an effective handover between professionals and generally, as Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum (2011) advise, there is a hand-over during each shift. A hand-over is essential for it updates carers on the progress of service users. A hand-over normally reviews the service user’s health and emotional condition and usually the nurse in charge of the morning shift discusses with the afternoon staff the progress of a client. Training is mandatory in the National Health Service. There are many types of training and staff are encouraged to attend training opportunities as it benefits the health sector and ultimately provides a better service to the clients (Zarconi, Pethtel and Missimi, 2008). Through using such techniques, best practice is filtered down between colleagues which helps raise the overall level of professionalism within the service. An analysis of strategies to support users of health and social care services with specific communication needs In order to allow service users to be fully involved in the decisions made that relate to their individual health care, it follows that effective communication must be used to enable the service users to understand what is proposed for them (Gitterman and Germain, 2013). In order to achieve this aim, and given the comments previously made within this assignment, it is imperative that the health and social care sector develops a range of strategies to meet this need. Every care setting is, as Krauss and Fussell (2014) confirm, required to adopt and implement the strategy of providing the right and proper sources of effective communication to staff. Through the use of verbal and non-verbal techniques, all care professionals and staff are made aware of this and they are also provided with training related to verbal and non-verbal techniques. There are different techniques to support vulnerable people in the health sector, such as reading lenses and voice recognition systems, and Braille . In addition, as Gitterman and Germain (2013) observe, the Picture Exchange Communication System is used as an aid for individuals who suffer from autism. This is an effective system that has now become, as Healy (2014) comments, part of mainstream treatment. An overview of how communication processes are influenced by values and cultural factors As a national health service, the NHS works with a divergent set of people across the nation as a whole. Reflecting upon modern day multicultural Britain, the NHS accordingly needs to be aware of an array of different cultures and sub-cultures within the UK (Greenhalgh, 2008). In addition, the NHS and wider social and health care sectors must be aware of cultural differences, religious tolerance, and language barriers. According to Sarangi (2010), and in line with the values of a tolerant society, everybody should be treated with respect and in accordance with their cultural and ethnic values. Care workers must, therefore, keep in mind cultural, religious, and linguistic differences so as to ensure, as Reamer (2013) notes, that service users do not feel that they have been treated in a way that is disrespectful, for it might lead to the creation of feelings of disappointment and shame. Such emotions would be counter-productive to the establishment of a professional and meaningful cli ent-professional working relationship. For example, a Muslim client may request a halal meal and the hospital or care facility should provide one so that it operates in a manner that is respectful of the needs of the client. Indeed, ensuring that such values are central to patient care may help patient recovery and will further show the patient that his or her individual needs are valued by the service. Whilst, within a British context, English is the main language, there are vast swathes of the population who do not speak the language, do not understand the language, or have no knowledge of the language (Beresford, Croft and Adshead, 2008). Thus, it is essential for the wellbeing of all citizens that English is not the only language in which heath care provision and needs are discussed. There have been major moves forward in this regard over the last thirty years throughout British society, with an increasing number of publications of an official nature being available in different languages. Thus, even the cultural sensitivities of the Welsh and Scottish are now addressed with regard to the publication of information. With reference to health care, service users who either do not speak English or have very little knowledge of it, may find communicating their health care needs difficult, as Beresford, Croft and Adshead (2008) assert. In order to treat such people with respect and d ignity, the health service must continue to act in a proactive way and employ translators so that those who do not speak the language can still have their health needs assessed. This is, Weitz (2009) notes, an arena of increasing importance within the UK as the country becomes evermore multicultural. The Department of Health ensures that when information is provided to clients and service users, leaflets are distributed in different languages. Such provision needs to be expanded so that all who use the NHS feel valued – regardless of the language in which they choose to communicate. Indeed, it has been suggested by Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum (2011) that all hospitals and surgeries should have a range of translators on call at all times; it is evident that were this provision to be widened to every care home and local authority responsible for the wider social needs of patients, further progress would be made. If such services are not provided, those who do not communicate in English may feel like second-class citizens and this would have a drastic impact on the extent to which the health sector could build a meaningful relationship with such clients; ineffective communication would lead to poor quality services. Policies and procedures are implemented so that different religious and cultural backgrounds, along with differences in socio-economic status, are not reacted to in a negative manner within a health and social care setting. The latter of these, socio-economic status, can often be overlooked but needs to be considered so that no member of the public feels discriminated against in the service that they receive (Weitz, 2009). Existing legislation provides fundamental guidance as to how health and care operatives should work and it is clear, from that legislation, as Ife (2012) notes, that issues of intolerance have no place in modern day social and health care. The same also applies to issues of sexual orientation – the ‘respect’ agenda is, therefore, an important component of daily life in social and health care settings. Existing legislation allows all people to have the right to be offered the facilities that they need to ensure that their health and well-being is maximised by the state and, within an increasingly multicultural society, techniques and strategies of communication have been successfully established to enable all to access the services that they need (Healy, 2014). Complacency is not, however, an option for the service; needs continue to develop on a daily basis and it is imperative therefore that the service as a whole, as well as staff on an individual basis, reflect critically upon their own actions to ensure that they work in a non-discriminatory manner (Burks and Kobus, 2012). How legislation, charters and codes of practice impact on the communication process in health and social care Good practice with regards to communication in the work place is achieved through the adoption of various techniques and methods. As Ife (2012) opines, the Data Protection Act is an important piece of legislation in the workplace and it ensures that personal data is secured and accessed in a controlled and responsible manner. Health care records are, by definition, very personal and many patients have concerns as to how such data is stored. By enforcing rigorous protocols and ensuring, through ongoing training and assessment, that all staff understand the importance of best practice in data protection, such fears can be allayed. It is also worthy of note that clients may also now seek copies of all data held about them. Accordingly, it is vital, as Reamer (2013) maintains, that data recorded about individual patients is always done in a mature and professional manner so as to ensure that no offence is caused. Further, the information contained within such records cannot be disclosed to a third party without the consent of the service user. The Data Protection Act can be seen, therefore, to promote good practice and, as such, helps to ensure that the health sector runs smoothly. Treating somebody as humanely as possible is therefore a fundamental aspect of health and social care and, if privacy and dignity are respected, it follows that the protection of human rights is also achieved (Ife, 2012). Allied to this are issues that relate to freedom of speech, choice and the rights of individual patients; it is clear, as noted within this essay, that by increasing the ability of patients to communicate effectively with health care professionals about their care, ‘patient’ voice is increased. The effectiveness of organisational systems and policies in promoting good practices in communication As Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum (2011) assert, good practice in communication within health and social care contributes to the efficiency of the service and builds confidence and trust in individuals. This is shown by the fact that staff and professionals are governed by a code of conduct (Hepworth et al., 2010). In addition, the use of computers has revolutionised the National Health Service and, within the confines of this essay, an example of the effectiveness that increased computerisation has brought is described. For example, a case that was reviewed in the unit referred to a gentleman picked up by the police, as he was wandering the streets. This middle-aged man had been shouting and responding to voices in his head and it appeared that he was unwell. The police rang the Mental Health Assessment Unit and asked for more information about the patient, including whether or not he was known to the service. As a result of the computerisation of records, a simple search on the bro wser indicated that he was known and provided details of previous care. This, therefore, allowed paramedics to respond to his needs more quickly because they were aware of his preconditions. Such efficiency within the service would not have been possible with the computerisation of records. However, such systems do bring into question issues of data protection and it is imperative that, as Cournoyer (2013) states, computer records are held in a secure manner and that information is kept confidential, so no third party can access it without the consent of a senior manager. Ways of improving the communication process in a health and social care setting The National Health Service has implemented a system whereby a patients record and daily progress are being saved on RiO. On this system a patients file can be retrieved and updated. In most hospitals, RiO is used and it has proved to be effective (Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum, 2011). The main drawback of this method is that all staff members – whether junior or senior – have to have access to RiO, creating additional budgetary pressures on training. An individual patients health is monitored on RiO and any staff member can delete information, such as a care plan, from the details stored. This could cause problems if a staff member accidentally deletes something. This again illustrates why increasing training budgets is essential to improve communication processes (Sarangi, 2010). In addition, on some of the wards, the verbal and written commands of staff are very poor. This can be particularly evident where nurses do not have a very solid grasp of English (Krauss and Fussell, 2014). Whilst it is important not to discriminate, there is a need for a robust process of recruitment to ensure that all medical professionals can communicate with each other in a clear manner (Reeves et al., 2011). In order to minimise this problem, staff should only be recruited on the basis of the qualifications that they possess. Indeed, it is now widely argued by academics, including Miles and Mezzich (2011) and Greenhalgh (2008) that a minimum qualification level should apply to all health care professionals – perhaps at a level equivalent to an NVQ level 2 qualification. The National Care Standards Act (2000) makes provisions for the standard of care to be delivered and in so doing sets out 42 standards of care that need to be implemented. Within the documentation there is not much emphasis on the implementation of modern systems of communication that can contribute in the provision of information about the care services as well as service users and staff. So far the standards of care have been monitored on a humanistic basis, but the communication systems need to be improved (Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum, 2011). This could once again be achieved through further training. In addition the Care Quality Commission has the power to inspect and assess the performance care homes and to make recommendations in areas where an improvement in the level of services being delivered is needed Standard ICT packages to support work in health and social care With continuous progress in the field of information technology and the medical and healthcare sectors, the use of the software packages for dealing with reports such as writing, printing, storing, retrieving, updating, and referring have become very important. Indeed, as Reeves et al. (2011) suggest, computer literacy is a basic requirement for all health care professionals. Older staff and those who may not have benefitted from recent school-based educational opportunities may once more benefit from the availability of tailored courses. Further, as systems develop, there is clear evidence to suggest that all staff should undertake refresher courses, especially with regards to data protection law (Thompson, Parrott and Nussbaum, 2011). Prior to recent IT developments, all patient records were recorded on paper. This was not only cumbersome but made searching for specific records more difficult. Further, the records could only be readily accessed on site. These deficiencies in the pa per-based approach have been rectified by the adoption of multi-layered computer systems, which also enable remote access and the sharing of information between agencies. As Parrott and Madoc-Jones (2008) claim, critical to this revolution in the keeping, making, and recall of paperwork has been the development of both the internet and the intranet. However, this has also brought an array of potential problems, including issues relating to third party access and security. With reference to my own workplace (as a means of providing a practical example), the use of computers has developed to such an extent that it has cut down on all paper work. Daily progress notes are entered on a sophisticated package and day-to-day care of the clients is inputted on the system. Benefits of ICT in health and social care for users of services, care workers, and care organisations If a service user is discharged from the health services and thereafter returns to see his local general practitioner or attend an accident and emergency unit, an advantage of computer-based records is that his details can be retrieved from the system. Such information that was not readily transferrable using paper-based systems helps multi-disciplinary teams achieve continuity of care and, as a result, the client is treated better. In addition, as Parrott and Madoc-Jones (2008) notes, social workers find it easier to go on the internet and find places for service users in different catchment areas quickly. Detailed information about the services offered is displayed and the service user is updated; processing times are quicker – and treatment is again improved. IT also helps with training – both in delivery and record keeping. Indeed, as has been evident through my own experience, most training in mental health trusts is done online. Conclusion This assignment has, through case studies, personal experience, and the assimilation of data from existing studies, provided a thorough overview of a range of communication techniques used in the NHS and associated social care settings. In addition, comment has been made on the individual needs of patients and how these can best be assessed using a range of different theories. Further, the role of ICT has been discussed and examples given as to how its incorporation into health and social care sectors has transformed working practices. Through addressing