Lord of the Flies: The end of innocence Essay

Lord of the Flies. ‘The end of innocence and the darkness of man’s heart.’ Do you agree that these are the central concerns of Golding’s novel? Please justify your answer making close reference to the text. In his novel, Lord of the Flies, Golding raises the issue of ‘the end of innocence and the darkness of man’s heart’ in his portrayal of certain characters. However, he contrasts such characters with those who possess the human spirit, that is, a humanity and decency that can survive the most extreme circumstances. By contrasting characters of Jack and Ralph, Golding raises the theme of good versus evil, loss of innocence, the struggle for power and his central concern seems to be that there is a thin veneer between civilised man and the savage. Though Ralph turns out to be a good leader because of his moral principles, initially the boys choose him over Jack because of his appearance: â€Å"you could see now that he could have made a boxer†. However, as leader, Ralph is faced with adult problems which force him to lose his innocence and develop as a character. For example, Ralph reveals Piggy’s name to the others after Piggy had asked him not to, but he experiences empathy towards him: â€Å"Ralph, looking with more understanding at Piggy, saw that he was hurt and crushed. This causes him to mature and treat Piggy with more respect. Ralph attempts to maintain order among the boys by constructing a set of rules. For example, the fact that one must be holding the conch to speak. The conch represents a sense of order and democracy among the boys and Golding describes it as ‘precious’ and ‘valuable’ yet ‘fragile’. The fact that the rules get ignored gives a sense that Ralph is losing power and the boys are gradually deteriorating into savages. The idea of the loss of order is reinforced by Golding when Ralph notices that the conch is â€Å"losing its shine.† By the end of the novel, Ralph is the only one not to degenerate into a savage and retains his dignity. This is demonstrated when Samneric wanted to wear paint but Ralph refused to wear it: â€Å"we won’t wear paint because we’re not savages.† His fight for good against evil leads him into a situation quite beyond him because the standards he represents are crushed in a world run by Jack’s kind of rules. Jack epitomizes the corrupt dictator in society. From the very beginning he is illustrated as a sinister character through Golding’s use of diction such as ‘dark’, ‘shadow’ and ‘evil’. He also shows malice towards Piggy, shutting him up when he’s got the conch: â€Å"Shut up’ fatty!† this shows his disregard of the rules which pushes him to savagery. On the expedition around the island he found a piglet. Jack was on the point of killing it when he realized the â€Å"enormity the downward stroke would be† and let it get away, but afterwards he said, â€Å"Next time there would be no mercy† which is a turning point for Jack as he is now prepared to kill. The image of the pig can be linked to the character, Piggy, and Jack’s determination to kill the pig foreshadows his murder of Piggy. This is ironic since Jack was introduced as a choirboy and it reveals that we are all capable of evil. Unlike Ralph, Jack degenerates as a character, becoming an â€Å"ape-like† savage with a lust for killing. He attempts to assert his power and abolish the order when he tries to eliminate the need for the conch: â€Å"We don’t need the conch anymore.† After he becomes chief, he abuses his power. For instance, he makes his seat into a ‘throne’ and he takes Piggy’s glasses by force: â€Å"You came around like a thief and stole Piggy’s glasses.† He also managed to corrupt the others through his use of paint: â€Å"the mask compelled them† and the reward of meat. Golding’s central concern seems to be that there is a thin veneer between civilised man and the savage. He shows us that â€Å"the end of innocence and the darkness of man’s heart† is not applicable to everyone in the novel, for example, Ralph, Piggy and Simon are good characters, who possess the human spirit, in that their humanity and decency survive under the most extreme conditions. By contrasting characters, such as Ralph and Jack, Golding raises themes of good versus evil, loss of innocence and the struggle for power.

Effect of Csr Activities on Sales Essay

Reasons for this can be multinational corporations’ increasing influence on world economy as well as scandals revealing horrible working conditions in different industries. In spite of the fact that the demand for CSR is growing, there has always been critics. The most influential critic is Noble Prize winner Milton Friedman, who claims CSR to be a waste of stockholders’ money. However, several articles claim, opposite Friedman, that CSR rather increases a company’s financial performance in the long run. These claims have made us curious about in what way CSR is related to a company’s performance. Moreover, it has led to us wanting to find out how CSR can influence customer perceptions on a product or service offering. Conclusions –All the initiatives gave a positive influence on the respondents’ perceptions, but the ones resulting in the most positive changes of the perceptions and willingness to buy were social responsible business practises, cause-related marketing and corporate philanthropy, which are initiatives where the company are doing the largest effort instead of just encouraging others to make an effort. The respondents answered that they trust the companies’ information about CSR to some extent, but also think a third party should scrutinise the companies’ activities and inform. The most favourable channel for CSR information was from environmental organisations, government organisations and the third party web media. Therefore it seems like the respondents value that the companies provide information, but are not too forward and pushing the information on them by for example advertisements. Keywords : CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility, Cause promotion, Cause-related marketing, Corporate social marketing, Corporate philanthropy, Community volunteering, Social responsible business practices. Introduction: CSR is today a frequently used concept, as companies to a larger extent are held accountable for what is happening in the society. The company should also inform the stakeholders about their CSR activities in an appropriate way, in order to capitalise from all possible benefits. In order to make a trustworthy impression and gain the most benefits, the choice of CSR activity and way of communication is crucial for the company, and therefore the perceptions of the consumers are very important to know more about and understand. In the last decade tendencies towards a more social aware community have been strong. In itself these trends are nothing that is particularly new. People have always preached for problems like public health, wildlife protection, prevention of child labor etc. What is different now is that companies to a larger extent are held accountable for what is happening in our society. Companies that engage in CSR activities are likely to have different motives for doing so. Many researches claim that corporate social responsibility originally consists of activities that a company performs out of commitment and duty. However, there are also commercial motives for CSR activities. For example CSR activities may result in advantages when it comes to receiving funding, recruiting new employees, cost reductions etc. To capitalise from all possible advantages it is crucial for the company to communicate their CSR work in an appropriate way. Theoretical Framework: Types of CSR Activities: a) Cause promotion Cause promotion is often done in the way that the company provide funds, contribute financially or with any other resource, with the objective to increase awareness, support fundraising or participation, or to recruit volunteers for a specific cause. In this initiative persuasive communications are important, to create concern and to persuade people to contribute or participate to support the cause. In successful campaigns use of motivating messages and the choice of effective media channels are crucial. They also make use of publicity, printed materials, special events, web sites, advertising, featuring the logo and key message of the company and those who represent the cause. Further methods are employee involvement, messages on product labelling and to provide store space for promotions. Many of the potential benefits are marketing related, like strengthened brand positioning and preference, increased traffic and consumer loyalty.

Leadership Theories Essay

Classical and humanist management theories have had a major influence on modern theories of leadership. Making effective use of appropriate models and theories critically examine whether this is the case. In order to answer this question, it will be appropriate to look at how classical and humanist theories emerged and outline some of their theories relating to management. Further discussion will be on the role of management in comparison to that of leadership with concluding arguments on how far these theories have influenced modern leadership. The stride towards industrial development in the 19th century led to the emergence of classical management theories with several approaches. One such approach was how managers should act, manage task and deal with day to day problems of managing the business (Mullins 2004). Example of theories on the above approach is command and control by Henri Fayol, bureaucratic organisation by Max Weber and scientific management by F W Taylor. Fayol cited in Dilys Robinson (Training Journal, Jan 2005) favoured the idea of management organising task and managing people through a hierarchy system. He saw senior level managers as having authority not only by virtue of their position within the organisation but also on the increasing amount of decisions that managers had to make. Senior level managers cascaded orders through a command chain system to employees and had almost no interaction with workers. In addition Fayol taught that managers and workers had to abide by certain principles for the greater good of the organisation. For instance manager’s had to treat workers with some degree of fairness whiles workers on the order hand were expected to accept and follow plans from one leader, sub-ordinate their interest and not step beyond their responsibilities. In the same way Max Weber in Derek Pugh & J Hickman (2007) like Fayol supported the idea of a formalised organisation structure as it legitimised authority and helped to remove problems that authority based on tradition and charisma created. He was also concerned about the likelihood of managers using their authority to abuse workers within the hierarchy system hence his  idea that the relationship between the organisation and managers had to be impersonal in such a way that managerial roles are assigned and their authority based on competence. Additionally, Taylor in Dilys Robinson (Training Journal, Jan 2005) suggested that managers must be responsible for organising work and the task given to selected and trained workers to perform in accordance to the way managers deemed it. His idea seems to assert that there is one best way of performing task and that work task should be tailor made to fit those who have to perform them. Alternatively, humanist theorist which began to emerge on the background of classical management started to teach that workers were not only motivated by reward factors and that consideration of human needs was also a key in motivating workers. Humanist theories also began to look at the behaviour of employees within the organisation. Examples of humanist management theories are Douglas McGregor’s X and Y theory and Rensis Likert’s management systems and styles. Douglas McGregor under theory X proposes that in certain situations managers must use their authority in order to get things done and achieve desired results. Under theory Y, also based on certain assumptions he proposes that managers must be more democratic in their approach as this will motivate staff to contribute more to the organisation. Furthermore Rensis Likerts in Derek Pugh & J Hickman (2007) identified four varying types of management styles bordering on the exploitative – authoritative, benevolent – authoritative, consultative and participative system. The first is characterised by imposed decisions and use of threats and the second the use of rewards mainly to motivate staff. The third is were motivation is by rewards and some participation and the fourth seen as the best solution in that management have confidence in their workers, real responsibility is felt by all, communication is abundant, team-work exists and where motivation is on economic rewards based on agreed set goals between management and staff. McGraw Hill (1967) the human organisation,  agrees that all organisation should adopt this. (http://www.accel-team.com/human_relations/hrels_04_likert.html) However in modern organisations the exploitative – authoritative style of management is less than ideal as this usually results in staff feeling more de-motivated and demoralised. Staffs are also more likely to rebel and challenge management by lodging their grievances with internal or external arbitration systems that are in place today. From the above, it can be that whiles views generated by the classical theorist thinks managers can only lead effectively through a formalised structure, by rules and command, humanistic views provides an alternative as to how managers must lead, they must consider the needs of their workers, encourage participation to motivate and utilise the full potential of workers for the good of the organisation. To further develop this discussion, it would be useful to examine what management and leadership involves as arguments abound as to whether management and leadership are the same or not. However the difference between the two has been shown to be in what both does. Management as a term is generic in meaning and is defined by Terry and Rue in Ernest Dale (1969) as a process or form of work that involves guidance and directing of a group of people toward organisational goals and objectives. It also covers many areas such as planning, organising, problem solving, controlling and putting appropriate structures in place. These are now seen as functions performed by individuals who have been assigned formal roles as managers. Leadership in contrast is defined by Richard L Daft, Patricia G lane (2007) as ‘an influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend real changes and outcomes that can reflect their share purpose’. Mullins, L. J (2004) also defines leadership as ‘getting people to follow’ or getting people to do things willingly. From this definition what stands out is that leaders must have followers whiles management use available resources such as people to get things done. Tom Swanick & Judy Mckimm in ABC of Clinical Leadership supports this by citing management as involving the directing of people and resources to achieve organisational values and strategic  direction established and propagated by leadership. One example of what distinguishes leadership and management is when it comes to authority, leaders do not derive authority from a hierarchy system as managers do. An example of this is a case study in John Adair (2007) which was conducted at the laboratory of a molecular biology. The study found out that it was an environment which assigned offices did not exist and all workers regardless of position integrated with one another. It allowed ideas to flourish and be shared which lead to great works being produced by the laboratory. Mullins (2007) mentions also that in the performance of work task under the 7 S’s within the organisational frame work, leaders often make use of what is called the soft S’s, style, staff skills and shared goals whiles managers use the hard S’s which is structure, system and strategy. Zaleznik (1977) cited in Brooks (2005) lends his support and suggests that managers during conflict situations usually focus on achieving compromise to maintain order and do so in an unemotional and lay back manner which does not result in change. For example the parties involved in a conflict may resolve their differences through compromise but does it guarantee that such a conflict will not arise again. Bennis and Nanus (1985) cited in ABC of clinical leadership give additional weight to the above and quotes ‘Managers are people that do things right’ but ‘leaders are people that do the right thing’. Leadership is also associated with being visionary. Gower (2010) for example cites leadership as being an ‘activity that is visionary, creative, inspirational, energising and transformational’. Managers in contrast are seen as being less so. This may stem from the way management developed and trained from the past. Managers are usually assigned to be heads of departments within the organisation and as such tend to look at how they can meet targets within their departments rather than thinking about what direction the whole organisation is heading or needs to head in today’s ever complex and changing environment. In light of these differences, management is still seen as being intertwined with leadership as the former has to  exercise leadership in the performance of their duties. For example Bolman & Deal (1997) see both as necessary for success as organisations that are over managed with little leadership involvement or vice versa results in failure. In conclusion it can be said that classical and humanistic theories have had a great impact on modern leadership in various ways. One of these is that it has changed the way leadership is viewed worldwide. Calls have been made for leadership to be exemplary and moral. A recent example was the leader of Italy, Mr Berlusconi who faced a lot of criticisms on certain aspects of his behaviour whiles in office and as a result was forced to resign from his position. Increase in communication between organisations and with external bodies has been another. Leaders are seen as the face of the organisation and to promote its success, leaders go to great strengths to forge good relations with the communities within which they operate. Finally another impact on modern leadership has been the increase in innovative ideas and technology which has resulted in economic growth. An example of a leader who has shown innovation and vision is Mark Elliot Zuckerbery, owner of Facebook, who transformed the idea of creating a college social website into a global enterprise. References: Brooks Ian (2005), Organisational behaviour: individuals, groups and organisation, 3rd ed, Pearson Education [online] Available at www.dawsonera.com Buechlar Peter; Martin David; Knaebel Hans Peter; Buechlar Markus W, Leadership characteristic and business management in modern academic surgery, Langenberks Archives of Surgery, Volume 391, Issue: 2, Pages149-156. [online] Available on ISI web of knowledge, Accessed 12/12/2011 Derek S Pugh & David J Hickson, (2007), Great writers on organisations, 3rd omnibus ed, Ash gate Publishing Ltd, [online] Available on www.dawsonera.com] Dilys Robinson, http://www.trainingjournal.com/feature/2005-01-01-management-theorists-thinkers-for-the-21st-century/ [Accessed 15/12/11] Ernest Dale (1969), Management: Theory and Practice, Copyright 1993, Carlos C. Lorenzana & Rex Book store [online] Google Books, Accessed 18/12/2011 Gower handbook of leadership and management development, GB: Gower (2010), Edited by Jeff Gold, Richard Thorpe, Alan Mumford [online] Available on www.dawsonera.com http://www.accel-team.com/human_relations/hrels_04_likert.html) John Adair (2007), leadership for innovation, kogan Page Ltd [online] Available at www.dawsonera.com, Accessed 21/12/11 Mullin, L. J (2004), Management and Organisational behaviour, 7th ed., Pearson Education Mullin, L. J (2007), Management and Organisational behaviour, 8th ed., Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall Richard L Draft, Patricia G Lane (2007), The leadership experience, [online] Available on Google books, Accessed 21/12/11 Tom Swanick & Judy Mckimm, ABC of Clinical leadership 1st edition, (2010) Bmj Books, [online] Available on www.dawsonera.com, Accessed 12/12/2012 Bibliography: John P kotter, What Leaders really do, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Available [online] www.HBSPress.org , Accessed 20/12/11.

Are Online Services Responsible for an Increase in Bullying and Assignment - 1

Are Online Services Responsible for an Increase in Bullying and Harassment Responses - Assignment Example Your reason for selecting the better argument is strong, as it relates the audience to the subject. The rationale is also consistent with the scope of qualitative approach to data collection, analysis, and reporting that develops an in-depth understanding of a subject matter. Using a real life experience, Penny depicts the reality of the threat of online services as a factor to bullying and harassment. This does not however means that the services are responsible for bullying and harassment because of the active role that Gary played, and he could play the role without online services. Even though you identify Leisring’s argument as the better of the two, you do not offer comparative rationale. It may also be difficult for the audience to identify this position because of the structure of the post that presents your position deep into the paper and as a conclusion. Communicating the main point first would improve the post. Your personal opinion is consistent with reality and the recommendation may be effective in controlling effects of online services on bullying and harassment

How Families Deal with a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer's Research Paper

How Families Deal with a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer's - Research Paper Example Mild cognitive impairment is viewed as a form of forgetfulness attributed to ageing. While this disorder is a symptom of AD, it is not a must for people who suffer from mild cognitive impairment, to contract AD. Causes and Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease The well known risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease is old age, mostly when people hit the age of sixty years. It is not considered normal for aging people to suffer from the disease. It is also easier for one to have the disease if a close relative such as your sister or mother had suffered from the disease. One can also contract the disease if you happen to have certain genes that are linked with the disease. Other susceptible factors include suffering from blood pressure; however, this is yet to be proved. The disease is classified under two types which include the late and early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Late AD disease affects people who are at the age of 60 and above (â€Å"Coping with Alzheimer's disease,â₠¬  n.d.). The early onset of Alzheimer's disease is known to affect people before they attain the age of sixty. This type of disease has a fast rate of getting worse. The role of genes in this type of disease has already been established, that is why it is prevalent among family members. The common symptoms of the disease are associated with the functioning of the brain. One of the symptoms of this disease includes the individual’s inability to communicate properly. The patient will forget how to read or write or even talk. They also are emotional, increasingly aggressive and paranoid. This is as a result of increased memory loss. When the disease has progressed, Alzheimer's patients require assistance in almost all tasks which include bathing and dressing. They will often forget their relatives’ names and forget events that take place. Their judgments and thinking capacity reduce to a substantial level and they will not realize that they are in danger when something arises (Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Alzheimer's Association, n.d.). It reaches a point where the patient has to be taken care of all the time to ensure their safety. Recognizing early symptoms of the disease will ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. It is important for family members to recognize some attributes that could indicate onset of the disease. Symptoms such as loss of interest in activities that one was recently interested in is the first sign a family can identify (Brijnath, 2011). Forgetting one’s history can also be an early symptom of the disease. They will also execute tasks that require thinking for longer periods of time. When the family recognizes these symptoms, the patient should undergo a series of test to determine if they are suffering from AD (Sell, 2008). The tests will include a complete physical checkup with a mental examination. Family members of the affected person should ensure that the doctors check for brain tumor, severe depr ession, chronic infection or thyroid disease. An AD diagnosis is made when certain symptoms are present and other causes of dementia named above are not present. Taking care of the patient who suffers from the disease can be challenging (James, 2008). This is especially to the family members of the patient. It is important to ensure their safety and wellbeing and how to care for the patients will be discussed in the subsequent paragraphs of this paper.

Overload protection systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Overload protection systems - Essay Example Depending on the type of overload, the appropriate protection systems are chosen and employed is design of machines. For instance, relays, overload release and circuit breakers are used to protect systems against mechanical overload (Bhalja & Maheshwari, 2011). The most common overload protection systems are mechanical and hydraulic overload protection systems. Mechanical overload protection systems are used in mechanical presses; the working principle is based on a delicate shear plate that requires approximately 130% capacity to be broken. When the shear plate is broken, a slide in position has some space of free distance that allows the press to go through a complete stroke. The shear plate is replaced after each case of overload. Hydraulic overload protection systems are more common because the force of the press can be restricted by controlling the hydraulic pressure, and the press can be restarted after an incidence of overload without having to change the plates. Overload prot ection systems (a) mechanical (b) hydraulic (Altan & Tekkaya, 2012). The system consists of an oil pad placed between the slide and the connecting rod to which pressure is applied when force is developing. The pressure from the oil is used to move another piston, which acts to intensify the pressurized air. In case the oil pressure (air pressure) exceeds a threshold value, the oil is sapped back into a tank. Therefore, the force applied is restricted and some space is created for free movement. (Altan & Tekkaya, 2012). a) Torque guard Torque guards are overload protection devices used in power transmission  applications. A spring with a load cam follower placed in a core and detent causes the core and load to rotate jointly. Thus the load always resets in one position and stays in phase when tripped. The system automatically resets when it goes back into the set position after tripping, normally by moving the machine after the overload is cleared. Torque guards assist to protect m echanical systems from damage that may result from extreme torque produced by jamming and overloads. The automatic reset and instant reaction capacity offers consummate guard and reduces down-time. The system disengages at the stipulated torque limit (Grote & Antonsson, 2009). b) Torque limiter A Torque Limiter is a torque overload system consisting of a spring loaded friction style. The load connected to the friction pads is regulated in order to transmit the process torque is transmitted. An overload torque that exceeds the set torque makes the system to slip, preventing overloads from passing through the system. The torque limiter stops slipping when the load drops below the set level, transmitting the torque. In a torque limiter, the phase between input and output is not kept constant. This system can be used in a chain drive with a machined sprocket placed between the friction pads to act as the slip interface so that shutdown and restart is not necessary (Grote & Antonsson, 20 09). Torque limiters are regularly used in applications such as conveyor systems, machine tools, and off-highway mobile equipment. c) Axial guard Axial guards are used in systems where the load acts in the linear rather than revolving direction. This overload protection device provides greatly accurate and repeatable trip point. The point of load set is simply adjusted by rotating a screw. The Axial Guard instantly trips when overload occurs and the tie between the load side and drive side is disengaged. The Axial Guard is reset by a slight push or pull in the reverse direction, allowing production to be revived swiftly and downtime to be reduced (Grote &

Ddp week2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ddp week2 - Essay Example This is exactly what this essay seeks to do. Rentschler (2003) opines that â€Å"emotions are the result of a logical appraisal of the probability that a situation will effect a positive or negative change to our physical or psychological well being.† Emotion therefore refers to the reaction that our minds give to an occurrence or event around us. Emotion is a personal feeling that may vary from person to person – thus two people will feel differently towards the same occurrence. Emergence can be said to represent how complex systems result out of relatively simple systems or interactions. To this effect, (Lewes 1875, p. 412) has it that â€Å"every resultant is either a sum or a difference of the co-operant forces; their sum, when their directions are the same -- their difference, when their directions are contrary† (Blitz 1992). Research can simply be said to be the search of knowledge. Research also involves re-learning about a thing or a phenomenon. Research has been made to appear quite complicated and formal because there are a lot of academic theories and conventions surrounding it. To conduct a research therefore, one has to follow some laid down procedure. Keegan (2009) views emergence from an angle where it impacts on the conduct of research rather than emergence having a role in the results or analysis of data. This is indeed unlike he did for emotion, which shall be discussed later. Keegan (2009) posits that â€Å"web communications, crowd behaviour and brand evolution can all be thought of in terms of emergence.† This means that Keegan relates emergence to the point of view where researchers take issues. By this, emergence makes the conduct and manipulation of concepts in research work more complex and complicated. This is because as seen in the definition of term, emergence is characterized complexity out of simple phenomenon. There could however be a

Nas Airlines and Caterpillar Inc Research Proposal

Nas Airlines and Caterpillar Inc - Research Proposal Example Currently, there is no specialized provider of such a service, a situation that presents a robust business opportunity. If implemented, the proposal will make air travel by Flynas much more convenient as passengers will enjoy a one-stop for travel and cover. Flynas is Saudi Arabia’s first and only budget airline offering domestic and international flights. The company’s head office is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Flynas was founded in 2007 as Nas Air and commenced operations in February of the year. Until the establishment of Nas Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier, was the only airline in the country. In November 2013, Nas Air rebranded to Flynas. Currently, Flynas makes 950 flights a week to several destinations around the world. As of November 2013, the airline had carried a total of 12 million customers, 3 million of them in the ten months ending November 2013. The airline, following its rebranding, targets to have carried 20 million customers by 2020 (Shane, 2013). Flynas did not offer international flights until 2009. Sharm el Sheikh and Assiut in Egypt became the airline’s first international destinations in 2009. A major milestone in the growth of Flynas came in February 2014 when the airline launched its Global Flight Routes program. The aims of the program were to provide affordable flights between the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah and specified cities in Africa, Asia and Europe and to fly religious tourists to Saudi Arabia. Under the program, Flynas became the first airline to offer low-cost flights between Saudi Arabia and the UK with the launch of the Jeddah-London Gatwick route in April 2014. The route was the airline’s first long-haul route to Europe. The airline’s other long-haul services included those to Manchester, Islamabad, Casablanca, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Medium-haul routes included Riyadh-Karachi and Riyadh-Lahore. However, in October 2014, Flynas announced the cancellation of most of its

DQ Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

DQ - Assignment Example This may lead to heated arguments and losing temper. It is also good practice to engage the client in the solution, by asking them their suggestions. The other key objective is to listen keenly, internalize the complaint, and, take time to understand before responding. These techniques help avoid taking issues as personal attacks. Feedback meetings with clients need to be well organized so as to maximize the outcome, while avoiding ambiguity. It is important when planning, to have in mind, which areas to collect feedback, what is to be addressed in the meeting, what the possible client reactions are, and, how to manage the reactions. It is advisable to devise a plan to be followed in the manner in which to engage the client. It is also important to schedule the meeting in an environment that is suitable to the client. On the material day, it is good to start by engaging the client on more general issues, before narrowing down to specifics. The client should be given ample time to express themselves without interjections, and, their complements, or complains well recorded. It is also good practice to respond to those issues that can be addressed on the spot, while committing to respond to the other, and make necessary adjustments soonest applicable. Self expression is an important tool to earn and maintain customer confidence. One way of doing this is to ensure that one is well informed about the company history, policies, products, services, and, future plans. This helps one to be articulate when handling the customers. When talking to clients, it is good to make prior preparations, to avoid rushing over issues. One should also talk naturally, avoiding reading lengthy documents. Eye contact should also be maintained, while avoiding distructive behavior. It is also good to explain using good examples where appropriate. While responding to client concerns, one should portray good understanding of the issues, and, when not sure

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

Definition of Ethics - Essay Example In the professional world, ethics refers to â€Å"the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group† (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Professional ethics are rules that govern the actions of the people it covers. Ethics tells them what is acceptable behavior from one that is not. Connotative Meaning Ethics connotes a clear sense of the right things to do and the wrong things to avoid. Since ethics corresponds to established rules and laws, everyone is expected to follow and adhere to them. Ethics governs the behavior of people; it tells them how to behave and act in different situations that are acceptable to the norms of society. It is a standard against which people’s behaviors are measured. Being moral means conforming to accepted standards of behavior. Ethics also connotes a system of belief from which people subscribe. It is a shared consciousness among people composed of their beliefs, values, and aspirations which guide their daily living. Similar to laws , however, ethics in this sense is developed by the people and is passed on to other generations. Having survived the test of time, this gives ethics a sense of legitimacy making it even more useful as a set of guiding philosophies for the next generation to use. Ethics can also be considered an area of inquiry. Studying ethics as a branch of philosophy reveals the fundamental nature of the term and the sets of knowledge that have been built around it by philosophers. In this sense, the true nature of right and wrong is argued and debated. Inconsistencies, gaps, and limitations in the definition of morality are threshed out. This results to a connotation of ethics that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Professional ethics, on the other hand, emphasizes the need to adhere to those rules since deviations from them can result to legal consequences. Examples of professional ethics include physician, journalist, and business codes of ethics. These ethics act as guidelines that help professionals make the right decisions when faced with morally-challenging situations. Examples of these situations include a doctor considering euthanasia, a journalist covering a hostage crisis, or a corporate executive dealing with union issues. I see ethics as a set of moral standards that must be observed and followed. Having a sense of right and wrong is important because it translates into the behavior and actions of a person. Ethics is what directs a person to choose the right thing over the wrong one. Knowing the difference between right and wrong allows a person to make informed decisions when dealing with difficult situations. It enables a person to align his/her moral convictions with those of the established ethical rules. Adhering to ethics, however, remains to be a personal choice. Despite societal expectations to act and behave according to ethical rules, it cannot be avoided that people’s actions may sometimes deviate from the norm. Ethics, then, is a c onscious decision that requires constant effort from the person adhering to it. It is a conviction to follow established moral principles in order to achieve societal harmony. Ethics in this sense involves having to compromise one’s beliefs with the collective belief system that a society holds about proper behavior. Since ethics is constructed by society,

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Case Study Essay Example for Free

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Case Study Essay 1. How did DFCI come about? The Dana-Faber, as it is commonly known, was originally established as the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation in 1947 by Dr. Sidney Farber, then a pathologist at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. In the 1940’s the only treatment for cancer were surgical removal of tumors and radiation therapy. Cancers that had metastasized were regarded as incurable. Dr. Farber’s vision was that children’s cancer, particularly systemic cancers such as leukemia, could be cured if researchers and clinicians worked as a team. He envisioned the union of research laboratories and patient care. As David Nathan, CEO of the Dana- Faber since 1995, explained, â€Å"The problems of the patients would be brought up to the labs and ideas from the labs would go down to the patients.† The history of the Dana-Faber is intimately tied to history of its funding. Initial funding for the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation came from the Variety Club of New England. In 1948, the Variety Club organized a radio broadcast from the bedside of a young patient with lymphoma known as â€Å"Jimmy† as he was visited by members of the Boston Braves baseball team. The donations that poured in to buy Jimmy a TV set on which to watch Braves’ games were the beginning of the subsequently became the official charity of the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. In 1974, the institution’s name was changed to the Sidney Faber Cancer Center to honor its founder, and in 1983, the name was changed to the Dana-Faber Cancer Institute to acknowledge the major contributions made over twenty years by the Charles A. Dana Foundation. The first Children’s Cancer Research Foundation facility, the Jimmy Fund building, was built in 1951 and housed research laboratories. It was expanded in the 1960s to include outpatient services, mostly for children. According to Dr. Faber’s original vision, the organization was to consist of research laboratories and outpatient clinics, but not inpatient beds. Inpatient care was provided at Children’s Hospital. However, as research and patient care grew to include adult patients, the doctors at the Dana-Faber were faced with the problem of where to admit adult patients. In particular, the new technique of bone marrow transplant (BMT) required the patient services of a general hospital. A joint program existed between the  Dana-Faber and the Hematology Department at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. However when the BWH would not permit Dana-Faber physicians to admit patients and retain control of their clinical care, the Dana-Faber decided to open its own inpatient service, initially for BMT patients in 1979, and later, for general oncology patients. In fact, the system for hospital reimbursement in effect since 1983 favored the opening of inpatient beds at the Dana-Faber. General hospitals, such as the Brigham and Women’s, are reimbursed for all Medicare and many non-Medicare patients on a DRG basis. On the other hand, specialty hospitals, such as the Dana-Faber, were permitted to charge Medicare and other insurer’s full costs. This revenue allowed the Dana-Faber to finance its expansion. The institute roughly doubled in size between 1985 and 1995. In 1995, the Dana-Farber had 57 licensed beds, 2,088 inpatient admissions and 55,427 outpatient visits. 2.What was the hospital’s primary mission The Dana-Faber, as it is commonly known, was originally established as the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation in 1947 by Dr. Sidney Farber, then a pathologist at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. In the 1940’s the only treatment for cancer were surgical removal of tumors and radiation therapy. Cancers that had metastasized were regarded as incurable. Dr. Farber’s vision was that children’s cancer, particularly systemic cancers such as leukemia, could be cured if researchers and clinicians worked as a team. He envisioned the union of research laboratories and patient care. As David Nathan, CEO of the Dana- Faber since 1995, explained, â€Å"The problems of the patients would be brought up to the labs and ideas from the labs would go down to the patients.† 3.How did the mission evolve? 4.Explain Phase I II clinical research trials. Phase I and II trails are designed to understand the effects of a drug in the human body. They examine the toxicity and effectiveness of the drug and the way that the body metabolizes the drug. Phase I trails require that blood  samples be drawn as often as every few minutes for a period of several hours. Phase II trials are undertaken after a drug has been tested in a small group of people and the correct dosage has been established. They examine the efficacy of the treatment in a larger sample of patients. Phase II trails compare this drug treatment to patients who are receiving conventional therapy. All trails are implemented using a research protocol, a lengthy and detailed document that describes the following: 1.The objectives of the research and its rationale 2.The details of the drugs to be administered (dosage, frequency and route of administration), including the way in which the correct dose is to be calculated for any individual patient 3.The treatment to be administered (either investigational or conventional) 4.The criteria by which eligible patients are identified as potential candidates for the trail 5.The method of randomly assigning patients to the intervention and control arms of the trail 6.The endpoints being measured 7.The way in which the wellbeing of patients will be monitored over time (type and frequency of labs tests). 5.Explain how chemotherapy works. Cancers whose growth is restricted to a local area can be removed surgically. Those that are localized, such as malignancies of the blood and cancers that have already spread to distant sites are treated with chemotherapy. Most chemotherapeutic agents block essential process by which cells replicate, and therefore kills all replicating cells. Because cells in the cancer are replicating at a greater rate than noncancerous cells, the cancerous cells are killed preferentially. But chemotherapeutic agents are also harmful to normal cells, especially those with higher rates of turnover, such as the cells lining the intestines and white blood cells, a component of the immune system. Common side effects of chemotherapy include immune suppression, nausea and hair loss. The extent of these side effects is related to the dose of the drugs. Less common toxicities related to these drugs include heart and ling dysfunction. Chemotherapy is usually delivered in courses, each lasting several days, every few weeks. The time  off the drugs allows normal tissues time to recover. White blood cells numbers decrease after each course of chemotherapy and recover in the intervening days. Each course is preceded by blood test to check that the white blood cell numbers are back up to the normal range, and that heart, liver, and kidney function are not disturbed. The dose of chemotherapy s calculated based in the body surface area of the patient (milligrams per meter squared), which is calculated from the patient’s height and weight. Patients are weighed prior to each course of therapy. Doses of chemotherapy can be expressed by either daily of courses doses. The course doses are the sum of the daily doses. Because of the will known side effects of the chemotherapy, patients are given additional medications, such as anti- nausea drugs. 6.What is the process that the nurse goes through when a new patient arrives? Upon arriving at an inpatient unit, a patient met his primary nurse and was formally admitted to the unit. Each new patient was assigned a primary nurse and two or three associate nurses. The primary nurse was the patient’s first point of contact with this unit. The associate nurses cared for the patient when the primary nurse was off duty. The first thing that the primary nurse did, prior to administering chemotherapy, was to check the patient’s consent form. The original was kept in the patient’s medical record, and a copy was kept in the protocol binder in the physician’s dictation room. Next, the nurse determined whether or not the patient was being treated under a research protocol. The only way she could do that was to look at the physician orders that the patient often carried with him when he arrived on the unit. Medication order was also often written after the patient arrived on the unit. The nurse manager information or research protocols unless previously notified by the oncology fellow. If the research protocol was not with the physician’s orders in the patient’s record, the admitting nurse looked for a copy in the files on the unit or went to the Protocol Office. For common protocols, nurses frequently carried index cards listing the details of the treatment. If the protocol was new the nurse might have to look up additional information on the purpose and design of the protocol. Finally, in admitting a new  patient, the nurse measured the patient’s height and weight, and calculated the body surface area. With this she verified the calculations of the chemotherapy dosage. She also checked the dosage of the other agents, either by looking in the hospital formulary, other standard references, or the research protocol. Before beginning any therapy the nurse checked the results of the blood test that the patient had when he arrived at the Dana-Faber. When the nurse received the bag of the chemotherapeutic agent from the pharmacy she cross checked the label on the bag with the drug order sheet in the patient’s drug book. Having confirmed that the drug and dose written on the label of the bag matched the order in the drug book and that the patient’s name on the drug sheet and bag matched the name on the patient’s identification arm band, the nurse began infusing the solution of chemotherapy. The duration of the chemotherapy of ten spanned several nursing shifts. Each nurse coming on duty went through the same confirmation process just described. She checked the patient name, drug and dose on the label of the bag, the drug order book, and the patient’s consent form, and recalculated the dosage, but she did not necessarily check the original drug order. 7.What kinds of safeguards are present in the process of administering chemotherapy to patients? Chemotherapy is usually delivered in courses, each lasting several days, every few weeks. The time off the drugs allows normal tissues time to recover. White blood cells numbers decrease after each after each course of chemotherapy and recover in the intervening days. Each course is preceded by blood test to check that the white blood cell numbers are back up to the normal range, and that heart, liver, and kidney function are not disturbed. The dose of chemotherapy s calculated based in the body surface area of the patient (milligrams per meter squared), which is calculated from the patient’s height and weight. Patients are weighed prior to each course of therapy. Doses of chemotherapy can be expressed by either daily of courses doses. The course doses are the sum of the daily doses. Because of the will known side effects of the chemotherapy, patients are given additional medications, such as anti- nausea drugs. 8.Explain occurrence screens. Quality assurance (QA) activities were similar to many hospitals nationwide, largely because they are mandated by state agencies such as the Board of Registration in Medicine and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health, as well as the JCAHO. Each department undertook quality monitoring and improvement activities. For clinical care, quality assurance information was collected in several ways. After discharge, medical records were reviewed manually by a medical technologist who was jointly employed by the QA and Infections Control departments. She screened the record for evidence of any one of 20 adverse events, such as death, re-admission, pneumothorax secondary to an invasive procedure, and central lines improperly placed. These events were called â€Å"occurrence screens.† In addition, adverse events were monitored through an â€Å"incident reporting† system. Nurses working in the patient care area would fill out a standard from whenever there was an unexpected incident or negative outcome, such as a patient fall or a medication error. Some incidents were reported by phone call. The supervisor of the area concerned had to complete a few questions about the response to the incident, sign the form and pass it on to the QA department. As Karen Nelson, Director of the QA department said â€Å"99% of these said ‘nurse was counseled’.† 9.What were some of the issues noted in the case study that might have led to this incident? She was admitted to the Dana-Faber for her third round of high dose chemotherapy on November 14th, 1994. Her treatment involved a bone marrow transplant. The purpose of high dose chemotherapy is to kill tumor cells, but it also kills healthy bone marrow. Therefore, healthy bone marrow was removed and held in reserve prior to high dose chemotherapy and then re-injected after the chemotherapy. The treatment used was a very high dose of a common chemotherapy agent, cyclophosphamide. The dose was so high that normal bone marrow would be killed. In addition to the common side effects of hair loss and gastrointestinal upset, high dose cyclophosphamide was known to be toxic to the heart. Lehman was participating in a clinical trail and so, in addition, received the anti- ulcer drug cimetidine, which had been shown in animal studies to boost the effect of cyclophosphamide. 10.If you were Dr. Sallen, how would you have addressed this incident initially and then ultimately?

On the side walk bleeding Essay Example for Free

On the side walk bleeding Essay In General, The things that make it difficult to read a book is being able to sit and concentrate only on that book, and actually reading it to the point where you know exactly what you’re reading and what’s going on and not forgetting what you read. To me in order to stay totally glued to the book you are reading it has to be something in your genre of choice, stuff that you like to read a lot. The things that made it difficult for me during this quarter and the books that I read was he page number in the books that I read it was almost impossible to finish the books that I had in 2 weeks. What influenced my choice in books was the type of books that I was into, I liked fictional books about street life family’s that have had it all and in the end, End up with nothing at all. Part B; Reading Rate : The total of pages that I have read over the total 8 weeks that we’ve been in school is 1151 pages, the number of pages that I averaged over a weekly reading rate was 143 pages. In my opinion my average weekly reading rate to me is pretty good to me knowing that my books had so many pages. I believe that my reading habits have improved over time from my first book until now. My homework of 2 hours of reading per week has grown a bit since I began reading the book I am on now , a plan of improvement is definitely needed if I want to reach the goal of 25 books before I graduate, My plan is to try harder on finding books that attract my attention. Part C; Thematic Reflections: One theme that I pondered while reading the â€Å"Coldest Winter Ever By Sister Souljah† Was Money is the route of all evil, I think that this is one of my themes because it shows that you can do a lot with money as far as making it, how you make it or get it or whether you can  prove how you earned it, the family in my book had it all until they got busted for spending too much money at once. They were being followed all the time whether they moved or not did not matter because the police would always know where they were, The other theme that caught my attention in the book â€Å"The Skin I’m In By Sharon G. Flake† is Don’t judge a book by its cover I chose this theme because no matter what Malika did someone was always judging her. No one ever tried to get to know her they were all just mean to her off back, bullying her. And she was the sweetest girl. Part D; Set Goals: The goals I would like to set is reading more books and not being lazy but just getting it done, with no distractions, another thing I would like to do is find more books like the books that I’ve been reading.

Effectiveness Of Non Medical Nurse Prescribing Primary Care

Effectiveness Of Non Medical Nurse Prescribing Primary Care Nurse-led clinics have been increasing for some time and Marsden (1992) identified the benefits of using specialist nurses to compliment services already offered by doctors. Read (1999) defined nurse-led care as being the interface between nursing and medicine. Miles (2003) cited ten individual authors as saying that research shows that nurses are capable of carrying out procedures usually in the domain of doctors, often resulting in greater patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is an important quality indicator. Yellen (2002) felt that the measurement of patient satisfaction with nursing care was particularly important as it provided a good measure of overall satisfaction with services. Ford (1997) agreed with this principle but concentrated more on the competitive edge and financial survival being reflected in patient satisfaction. Cohen (1994) advocated the use of satisfaction questionnaires, but both Avis (1997) and Westbrook (1993) doubted their efficacy, questioning the validity of questionnaires and the way in which they are measured. Westbrook (1993) felt that questionnaires may be limiting and poorly evaluated, giving rise to a poor reputation for satisfaction questionnaires. Duffin (2002) commented that questionnaires with tick boxes appear to have limited use and may include leading questions where there is no scope for the patient to enlarge upon their answers. Both Robson (1993) and Wiles (1996) warned that the results of surveys can sometimes paint a falsely positive picture and may be difficult to translate into a course of action. However, Backhouse (2000) says that the power of a successful nurse-led user satisfaction survey lies in the immediacy and relevance of the results. This may have enormous potential to transform practice, especially if the staff are able to remain positive about any possible negative feedback. Backhouse (2000) commented that nurses may tend to take praise for granted, as a regular stream of cards and thanks is often the only feedback they receive. This may produce the belief that the service is satisfactory, but it has been found that although there is a great deal of satisfaction, there is also some dissatisfaction, particularly with respect to information (McColl (1996), Backhouse (2000), Byrne (2000), Duffin (2002)). As a Business Manager in General Practice in an affluent rural environment, the author has found that there are increasing frustrations and limitations with time and resources where a competent healthcare professional could manage a patients care more than adequately during one appointment. Additionally, continuity of care and health care management in a more patient centred, balanced way could benefit the patient. Discussion around the management of their medicines and general health education could aid to the patient taking responsibility for their own health care management. The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) (WAG 2001, WAG 2005) has prioritised patient access to primary care services for the last few years which has impacted on patient expectation around the need for an urgent appointment. This has caused pressure on appointment systems, and subsequently changes have been made to deal with the demand. One way in which the practice would like to cope with these demands is by enabling the Senior Practice Nurse to give more holistic care, making the consultation seamless for the patient, thus reducing the need for additional appointments, having already consulted with an appropriate healthcare professional (WAG 2001, WAG 2005). This practice nurse is currently undertaking the Independent Nurse Prescribing (non-medical). When qualified, this will tie in with the nurse-led diabetes clinic and Minor Illness clinics for which she is qualified. The natural progression would be for her to prescribe appropriate medicine or dressings in relation to the competencies she has accumulated following evidence based practice in these disciplines. A nurse may spend a considerable amount of time dealing with the assessment and management of a patient, then waiting outside a GPs door for a prescription to be signed. This situation is far from ideal, and with the enhancement of the prescribing qualification, this could be done in a more appropriate way. This literature review looks at aspects of nurse prescribing in primary care, and how this can lead to patient satisfaction, autonomy and job satisfaction for nurse prescribers. Literature Search Strategy (Method: 10% c350 words) 582 LoBiondo-Wood (2002) describes a literature search as an efficient retrieval of scholarly literature related to the topic of interest, while Cormack (2000) describes a literature search as a review of previously written literature on a related topic in order to provide the researcher and the reader with knowledge of the field being researched. Research literature can originate from many sources. The volume of literature would be unmanageable if careful selection was not carried out (Cormack 2000, LoBiondo 2002). Polit (2004) recommends using electronic databases to locate relevant research information and points out the limitations of manual and internet sources as being time consuming and inconvenient, internet searching possibly not providing required results and bibliographic information. Polit (2004) likens locating all relevant information on the chosen subject to being like detective work. Primary research only was sought. CINAHL Plus (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature) with Full Text and MEDLINE were used to search for key words non-medical AND nurse prescib AND primary care with published dates between January 2004 to present, resulting in 209 hits. These were restricted to research, years 2004-2010 and English-only articles in order to reduce the number of articles to 29. Playle (2000) suggests that the title of a research article is extremely important and should cover focus as well as identifying the research approach used (McCaughan, 1999 Stevens et al, 1993). In the authors case, an informative abstract facilitates the choice of research article. The abstract or introduction, as Bailey (1991) suggests it should prepare the stage for the problem to be investigated, as well as being brief. As suggested by Playle (2000) a well written abstract identifies the main points of the study, although the main weakness can be the word restriction as suggested by Burns and Grove (2001). It should represent an accurate picture (Reid, 1993) of the study with concise methodology, sample subject, reported findings and conclusion. This would enable any reader to base a decision to read the article (Reid, 1993). The rationale for choosing the critique guidelines from Benton Cormack (2000) is based on the convenience and manageability of a well structured process that enables to author to appraise with ease. A literature review is an important element of a research question. Rees (2003 p. 17) indicates that a thorough review of the literature is essential to provide the theoretical and conceptual context for the study. Parahoo (1997) supports this stating a literature search provides the identification and locating up to date material, relevant to the topic under review. It involves the scanning along with critical reading of the literature chosen to assess usefulness to the question under discussion. The authors knowledge and prior reading of literature directed at change management in primary care dictated the final choice of research articles to Richards, L.A; Richards, A; Gilead, L; Stessman, J; blab la bla and Raz, I (1999) title of an article International Journal of Dermatology 38, 623-627 (appendix 1). Those chosen for review were three qualitiative and one quantitative research articles relating to the question under evaluation. AUTHORS All eleven authors have either the appropriate professional qualifications or academic qualifications, for example MD or PhDs. A further research on the authors names and using databases CINAHL and Medline xx to present showed that between them they have published xxx articles in various medical journals with different topics. Most have no bearing on the subject of maggots and wounds blab la bla, while most of them have some bearingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. The review (50% c1750 words) 2168 THE REVIEW (PAULAs) LITERATURE REVIEW A good literature review draws on a wide range of sources (McCaughan, 1999) and will identify the need for research. Nevertheless, A poor literature does not invalidate the findings but a good one does enhance the status of the research (Stevens et al, 1993:135). HYPOTHESIS A hypothesis is not included and an explanation could be that the aim of this study is to provide new information by utilising a descriptive research method. Burns and Grove (2001) suggested that if there is very little or no research being conducted on a particular question, then researchers state objectives or questions and there is an objectiveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS Quantitative research should have all terms explained or defined. Stevens et al (1993) refer to common error by researchers in the assumption that readers are knowledgeable about the jargon and terminologies employed. METHODOLOGY The research approach is not acknowledged within the article. Howedver, it can be assumed that the approach is quantitative, in that it involves manipulation of the independent variable.. On the other hand, to provide the strongest evidence with a greater degree of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Also included are certain qualitative components such as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. that would indicated possible combination of the two approaches, qualitative and quantitative. Using this combination in approach to research may not appear to be very scientific, however Docherty (2000) suggests that this method may produce a more meaningful and richer data. Even so, there is strength and weakness to both approaches and neither have been stated within this study. On the other handà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ but backed up with à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. And the author agreed with this type of approach as it enables a reader to scrutinise the data, without having to be familiar with research methodology, data statistics or the terminology. SUBJECTS The subjects are identified as 43xx in five depts. Of xx hospital à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Nevertheless, many potential or suitable candidates for this type of research may be unwilling to participate (burns Grove, 2001 and Reid Boore, 1987) due to the xxxx. SAMPLE SELECTION The approach to the sample selection is not clearly stated and a good research study should explain the sample selection method as suggested by Baxter (2001b). Howeverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ On the other hand, all the subjects are typically,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. DATA COLLECTION Data collection procedures areà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. not acknowledgedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. The validity and reliability are undefined within this study and McCaughan (1999) suggests that if the researcher has not mentioned testing for reliability and validity then it is unlikely that it has been done. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS Xxxxx ethical committee à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. In the authors opinion, ethical consideration should have been an important part of this articleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Nonetheless Appendix 3 shows/à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. As suggested by Matthews Venables (1998) every published research report should include a description on how the informed consent is given. On the other hand, lack of acknowledgement of anonymity, confidentiality as well as the description of informed consent does not necessarily mean they have not been considered (Firby, 1995 McCaughan, 1999), merely that the researchers assumed that the results and method were more interesting to the reader. RESULTS The results are presented as xxxxx and backed up by xxx, which showed that xxx. However, quantitative data is limited wtug xxxx. In spite of this, there is sufficient detail that would enable a reader without any research experience to look at the results and understand what they signify and to judge with confidence the findings. DATA ANALYSIS The data analysis is appropriate to the type of data collected that is percentages and for the type of read that xxx was aiming for. In some ways the method employed is simple and easy to replicate. However, thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Clarke (1999c) suggests that the data analysis relies heacily on the researchers skill and judgement to see that it is accurately exeuted, also not reported are values such as test values df and p. In addition, poor quality analysis will render the data anecdotal and unfocused, yet the analysis is focused, credible and to improve upon this, the author would suggest the inclusion of statistical tables. DISCUSSION The discussion is not really balanced, as it only mentions and draws upon xxxx However, what is discussed is very concise and knowledgeable. There is also no acknowledgement of the limitations or weakness of this particular stify and there is only one reference to disadvantages, THAT IS à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. (Teresas) LITERATURE REVIEW The aim of the literature review was to find out what the nurses role is in primary care, in relation to providing xxxxx. To assist in the critiquing process, quantitative and qualitative papers were reviewed using the Benton and Cormack (2000) framework. Although the author finds this framework comprehensive and simplistic, it is noted Rees (2003) states qualitative and quantitative research are extremely different, and same method of critiquing cannot be used. This opinion is not upheld by Benton and Cormack (2000) as they promote the use of one framework for both. Within the articles reviewed the evident themes that emerged are xxx and xxxx. In order to guide the reader to continue reading a paper, the abstract should set the scene for the rest of the report. Playle (2000) states an abstract that is soundly written will list the main points of a study. It is noted three out of the four articles reviewed have concise detailed abstracts. Although, that by xxx (2006) lacked depth, understanding and did note cite up to date government papers to support the topic of xxxx. Burns and Grove (2001) highlight that a potential weakness noted wihin Gibbs et al (2004b) paper was the difficulty the reader encountered at determining whether the paper was quantitative or qualitative. Parahoo (1997) concedes this should have been obtained within the abstract, as this should briefly summarise the method, sampling and main findings within a study. Within the abstracts of the articles reviewed, the researchers have clearly portrayed and accurate image of all study methodologies, reported findings, sample subjects and conclusions. EDUCATION Gibbs et al (2004a) initial quantitative research paper tested one hundred and forty-one general practitioners and sixty-six practice nurse opinions relating to xxxx. Results favourably showed that ninety-seven percent of practice nurses raised xxxx but the article concluded xxxx within primary care and mainly relied upon xxxx. Leading on from this study, Gibbs et al (2004b) carried out a quantitative study involving eight general practices and one thousand five hundred and forty-nine kxdffdsdf. The article reports on xxxx. This quantitative paper involved structured interviews where questions were asked in a planned format. A structured interview involves set questions with no deviation from these (Parahoo 1997). A limitation of the study was the elevated drop-out rate but positively forty percent achieved a five percent or more weight loss at twelve months. It highlights whether the researcher has performed the study in a logical, systematic method, having paid attention to pointers that may influence the accuracy of the results (Rees 2003). Although Burns and Grove (2001) argue that a rigorous study should have exact measurement tools, a representative sample and a tightly controlled design. Audit was conducted in all practices prior to the study, where measurement tools such as weighing scales, height measure and large blood pressure cuffs were assessed. The provided consistency of the tools used at each centre along with evidence of their validity. Validity refers to whether an instrument measures what it stated to be measuring whilst reliability relies upon individuals using the tools and reporting accurate measurments obtained (Carter and Porter 2000). It was noted those practices participating in this study were self-selected, already having an interest in obesity management, thus possibly weakening representations. It was encouraging that a cross-section of those involved included large practices, rural, urban, single handed and those fro low deprivation areas. This appeared to provide a representative population with no evidence of bias selection. The xxxx project was ethically approved by xxxx. In contrast Moore et al (2003) in a cluster randomised control studyxxxxxxxx Cluster randomised trual means the sampling frame are geographically spread or the individual elements of the population are not know (Rees 2003). The advantage of this process is achievement of an accessible sample from an almost impossible total population (Rees 2003). Donnan (2000) states experimental research is the gold standard way of representing in a rigorous style that a treatment or intervention is effective. It concludes it si an essential tool for qualitative evaluation of a studys worth. Greenhalgh (2006) draws attention to the fact that publication of an article does not mean the evidence is robust. In conclusion as found in xxxx. Rees (2003) states bias is anything that distorts or affects a study, potentially altering or influencing the accuracy of the findings. Results noted that xxxx. They conclude more in=depth training of health professionals is needed xxxx. This would involve further implementation of training progrmmes and additional research. Ethical approval was granted by the xxxx ethics committee. The research paper by XX (2007) mixes quantitative and qualitative approaches and is known as triangulation,. Docherty (2000) suggests use of triangulation provides richer, more meaningful data. Holloway and Wheeler (2002) support this method stating it to be a way of obtaining rigour in qualitative research. Rees (2003 p. 235) lists this as being the use of more than one method of data collection within the same study in an attempt to produce more accurate information and understanding. This was a cross-sectional study with questionnaires being completed by forty General Practitioners and forty-seven practice nurses. A limitation to this study was no indication was made of the total number of initial questionnaires sent out in comparison to the response rate. A cross-sectional study is a survey that gazes at a situation at one point in time (Rees 2003). The qualitative results by xx (2005) were not shown within the report and rigour was disputed on reading the research paper as a full conclusion of the findings could not be made. It is realised word restriction could be the main reason for the results being omitted, but unfortunately it leaves the reading having to guess what they might have concluded. Ethical approval was supported by xxxx. In comparison with Gibbs et al (2004b) article the outcomes indicated mirror one another, with both papers coming to the conclusion that opportunties for xxxxxx in primary care are often missed or inadequate time given to education and support. Although the report by xx(2-3) shows xxxx, it was indicated this was in accordance with increasing responsibilities in implementation of chronic disease management. It is highlighted in the report that caution regarding results needs to take place. Also this article, although mainly quantitative, has a small sample size. Parahoo (1997) states quantitative research usually involves large numbers in probability samples. The importance of large numbers aims to lessen the chance of bias and correctly achieve statistical procedures (Rees 2003). A pilot study was not carried out prior to this research. Piloting of a questionnaire increases research validity and reliability as it highlights any anticipated problems accessing data, and ensures the method used to gather data works (Parahoo 1997). Research should be instigated because the researcher wants to extend knowledge base and understanding through rigorous collection of information, answering a question objectively and with accuracy (Rees 2003). SUPPORT Soanso (2009) article is a qualitative study and deals with support and perceptions of the patient who is obese. This is a primary study that reports research findings first hand (Greenhalgh 2006). Rees (2003) states to have involvement in qualitative research and understand a topic, individuals first have to see it through the eyes of those who experience it. This method aims to summarise perceptions, experiences, behaviour or interpretations. This process included a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews drawing on grounded theory methodology. Grounded theory aims to produce a concept or explanation that is grounded in the results and arises inductively by researchers understanding and analysis (Rees 2003). Polit et al (2001) strongly supports interviews stating they by far outweigh questionnaires. The response rate is higher, reaching a wider population than questionnaires, are less likely to mislead those reading the questions and provide wealthier data. Rees (2003) ag rees with the above adding, those involved can experience the belief of being in control and positively feeling more valued. It is noted there are disadvantages such as high cost, participants providing socially acceptable answers, affect of interviewer status and difficultly in expressing feelings (Rees 2003). Five general practices from differing socioeconomic backgrounds in Sheffield were involved with interviews conducted at their homes. This provided a varied population adding rigour to the study, and it could be generally assumed an individual would feel more comfortable being interviewed within their own surroundings. Although, it can be argued that interviewers have less power to control the interview within this environment as there is no assurance that the interviewee will maintain a safe place with no interruption, disturbance or being overheard (Pontin Webb 1995, Webb Pontin 1996). Kdfsdfsfhskdfhsd. Ethical approval was sought prior to this study from xxx Ethics Committee. Application to clinical practice (30% c 1050 words) 1086 APPLICATION TO PRACTICE At present within the authors practice setting issues of xxxx are raised xxxx. Since April 2006 the General Medical Service Contract (National Health Service 2006) awarded points for the xxxx. This critical review of the literature has aimed to answer the question: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx? It is well documented that xxxx. Research that has been carried out in an ethical manner and is of robust design can benefit all involved and improve practice (Royal College of Nursing 2004). The document Best Research for Best Health (Department of Health 2006a) states research provides the support and evidence to tackle increasing challenges that disease and ill health have placed on society. This document supports a pilot study within primary care in England to improve evidence based practice of care by facilitating the conduct of clinical trial and other well designed studies. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say, pending successful results in 2014, the use of this structure within primary care in Wales could potentially benefit application of much needed research findings into practice. Findings of this review showed the counterweight project by Gibbs et al (2004a, 2004b) provided the best evidence of implementation within practice, showing xxxx. The Cochrane Library for Sytematic Reviews (2004) supports the Counterweight Project (2004b) stating The Counterweight Programme is an evidence-based weight managmentxxxx Brown Psarou (2007) in their literature review also supported this project stating it was rigorously conducted and soundly funded. Presentation of these research findings were undertaking xxxx. Banning (2005) suggests the management of obesity should focus on xxxx. The National Institue for Clinical Excellence (2001) states that primary care nurses are ideally placed to manage and assess obese individuals. This comprehensive package addresses issues and management of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. The material is simplistic with the alforithm providing an easy guide for the primary care nurse to follow, The à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ pathway opportunistically at routine appointments or reviews. To implement this in the clinical setting, xxxx. Successful implementation of this pathway into the practice setting would require change management issues to be addressed. Implementation of change following research can be a difficult process. Resistance, resentment and jealousy can all impede implementation of the change process (Cormack 2000). To overcome resistance to change the key factor is leadership, along with effective communication and a sound understanding of what motivates people (LaMonica 1994). Those involved in the change process must be kept informed and involved at each stage of change. Individuals like equilibrium and are keen to be involved once they know the process will not cause problems or a change of workload (Broome 1998). (Paulas) CONCLUSION A conclusion was included within the abstract, xxxx As suggested by McCaughan (1999) and Playle (2000), there is a restriction placed on researchers and authors by publications to condense from a much larger and more detailed research report. It can be assumed that this is the case with this research article. However, as suggested by Baxter (2001c) that in qualitative research to aid the flow and understandings, discussion and conclusion are kept together under one heading. In the authors opinion, the conclusion should have à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ RECOMMENDATIONS Stevens et al (1993) suggests the realistic researcher would draw conclusion from the data presented and then make further recommendations on what other research is required. However, there is no heading of recommendation or any indication that one was included. Alternatively, suggestions for further research studies and in the authors opinion threr should have been a recommendation for future randomised control trial. There is a possibility as suggested by Playle (2000) that the actual research report is more detailed with recommendations, but this may have been lost when condensed for publication. Teresas conclusion In conclusion, this literature review has shown xxxx. To achieve this, implementation of findings along with ongoing research is necessary to sustain the evolving needs of xxxx. It should be noted that a limited number of research articles were used for this review, providing partial evidence. Thus, it is suggested more concrete evidence is needed requiring a further search and review of the literature on xxxx. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that this review has highlighted the need for further research on the topic of xxxx relating to support and education. It can be said this would potentially emphasise additional studies, which in turn could be applied to practice improving nurse education and support to the obese patient. APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE AUTHORS CONCLUSIONS The article on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Appeared to be a concise, informative and innovative piece of research on first perusal. However, what appeared at first glance to be justà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. turned out to be more complicated upon closer iinvestigation and mmmmmm. The reader begins to questionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It has a focus and direction, which is to assess the efficacy of maggot therapy and a very concise and informative methodology, which would enable anyone to reproduce a similar type of research. The data collection procedures are not clearly identified, although the simple representation allows it to be easily followed and replicated. This is further confounded by the entwined discussion and conclusion and as suggested by Baxter (2001c) this often occurs with qualitative research. Nevertheless, the reader must balance the evidence presented and sometimes more than one type of evidence (Roberts, 1999) is needed to determine if the interventions is practicable or efficient, as well as ethical and morally sound (Freak, 1995). Another point is the ethical considerations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Ethical significance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. An assumption is the researcher focus on the results or alternative the method, as being more interesting or important (Firby, 1995) to the reader. As suggested by various authors including Polit Hungler (1991) all research has limitation and can be imperfect and if this research article has been condensed from a much larger research report, then this critique has been conducted on a published condensed research article and not the actual research report. Therefore, what imperfections or liitations that are identified within this critique, is the ability of the researchers to actually condense their work and the readers have to assume that the researchers have honestly presented their fndings (Firby, 1995). For all the points highlighted like ethical, operational definitions, qualitative/quantitative approach, this is a very good informative research article that allows anyone to replicate the study. AUTHORS RECOMMENDATION The author would like to recommend thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Furthermore, it à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. However, as reported by XX, the main disadvantage is,,,, nevertheless, A readonable recommendation in the authors opinion would beà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, In addition, if there isà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ INTEGRATING RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE Sdfhsdkfhshdfhdfh to advocate and support the patient. References Avis, M. Bond, M. Arthur, A. (1997). Questioning patient satisfaction: an empirical investigation in two outpatient clinics. Social Science Medicine. 44,1:85-92 Backhouse, S. Brown, Y. (2000). Using a patient satisfaction survey to close the theory-practice gap. Nursing Standard. 14,38:32-35 Byrne, G. Richardson, J. Patel, A. (2000). Patient satisfaction with emergency nurse practitioners in AE. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 9,1:83-93 Cohen, L. Delaney, P. Boston, P. (1994). Listening to the customer: implementing a patient satisfaction measurement system. Gastroenterology Nursing. 17,3:110-115 Cormack, D. (editor) (2000). The Research Process in Nursing. (4th ed). Blackwell Science Ltd. Oxford. Duffin, C. (2002). If youre happy and you know it. Nursing Standard. 16,32:12-13 Ford, R. Bach, S. Fottler, M. (1997). Methods of measuring patient satisfaction in health care organizations. Health Care Management Review. 22,2:74-79 LoBiondo-Wood, G. Haber, J. (2002). Nursing Research, Methods, Critical Appraisal and Utilization. Mosby. Missouri. Marsden, E. (1992). Outpatient nurses must adapt to survive. British Journal of Nursing. 1(7) 356-357 McColl, E. Thomas, L. Bond, S. (1996). A study to determine patient satisfaction with nursing care. Nursing Standard. 10,52:34-38 Miles, K. Penny, N. Power, R. Mercey, D. (2003). Comparing doctor and nurse-led care in a sexual health clinic: patient satisfaction questionnaire. Journal of Advanced Nursing.42 (1), 64-72 Polit, D. Beck, C. Hungler, B. (2004). Essentials of Nursing Research, Methods, Appraisal a

The Portrayal of Women in James Joyces Dubliners Essays -- Dubliners

In Dubliners, women are victims indeed. They are victims of home, of the recognized virtues by society, of classes of life, of religious doctrines, and of women themselves. In this essay, we are going to analyze the portrayal of women in Dubliners in terms of the aforementioned aspects, namely home, the recognized virtues by society, classes of life, religious doctrines and women themselves. The selection above is provided to make student aware of focus of the essay.   The complete essay begins below. "My mind rejects the whole present social order and Christianity – home, the recognized virtues, classes of life, and religious doctrines†¦. My mother was slowly killed, I think, by my father’s ill-treatment, by years of trouble, and by my cynical frankness of conduct. When I looked on her face as she lay in her coffin – a face gray and wasted with cancer – I understood that I was looking on the face of a victim and I cursed the system which had made her a victim." (Letters, II, 48) In Dubliners, women are victims indeed. They are victims of home, of the recognized virtues by society, of classes of life, of religious doctrines, and of women themselves. In this essay, we are going to analyze the portrayal of women in Dubliners in terms of the aforementioned aspects, namely home, the recognized virtues by society, classes of life, religious doctrines and women themselves. Women are victims of home. They suffer being confined to their homes. They are somehow isolated from the external world. They have little, if not no at all, freedom. Their chief roles are to be good wives to the menfolk, to be good mothers to their children, and to look after their families well. They are not expected to take care of those affairs out... ... by masculine authority by virtue of the fact that they are inferior to and should be subservient to men. Worse still, women are often discriminated by society, which is largely monopolized by men. Sex discriminations find their way to home, the workplace and even the public life by and large. Furthermore, they are victimized by religious orthodoxy as well as their own acts and psychology. But anyway, who is to blame for the sufferings of women – the circumstance or women themselves? Works Cited: Benstock, Bernard. Critical Essays on James Joyce. G.K. Hall & Co. Boston, Massachusetts: 1985. Joyce, James. Dubliners. Washington Square Press. New York, New York: 1998. Selected Joyce Letters. Ed. Richard Ellmann. New York: Viking Compass, 1975. Seidel, Michael. James Joyce: A Short Introduction. Blackwell Publishers, Inc. Oxford, UK: 2002.

Galahad as a Christ Figure Essay -- God Religion Galahad Essays Papers

Galahad as a Christ Figure Very few people can call themselves a Christ figure. There are so many elements that go into being a Christ figure. Galahad had all those elements. He was enraptured, he saw 'the wonders of the Holy Grail', and he had disciples. Also, he made life better for human beings by sacrificing himself for others, he preformed miracles, and he heard holy voices and saw holy visions. Because of all that he did Galahad was a proven Christ figure of his time. Galahad would hear holy voices and see visions throughout his journeys. Galahad saw a vision of angels praying about a silver table, meaning that he was close to the end of his search for the Holy Grail. Many times voices would help him and warn him. At one time he was about to kill one of the knights he had been fighting when a voice told him, 'If those two knights had known you as well as I do, they would let you alone.' Hearing this, Galahad rode off without killing either of the knights. The voice saved him from killing his own father. 'For once caution was the better part of valor!' Performing miracles to make life better for human beings is a characteristic that Christ figures possess. When the silver table appeared on Galahad?s boat, he needed help taking it off. He called to an old crippled man to help him carry it. The old man told Galahad that he had been crippled for far too long and such a task would be impossible for him. Finally, the cripple obeyed Galahad and when he stood up he ...

The Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858: Causes and Consequences :: British History

The Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858: Causes and Consequences Under the administration of the Marquess of Dalhousie (Governor-General 1848-56), the last of the independent Indian states, including the wealthy Muslim state of Oudh, were annexed by the British. To consolidate this new territory, some degree of Westernisation was introduced: an Indian railway and road system was developed and the first three Indian universities were founded, creating a tier of higher-caste men educated according to the British system but not fully incorporated into those careers of civil service and army awaiting them. Child marriage and the practice of suttee previously had been abolished and, in 1856, a regulation was passed requiring sepoys to serve overseas thereby losing caste. Both the annexation and consolidation heightened tension between government and population and mutiny was inevitable when the Indian section of the army was allocated cartridges smeared with the fat of cows and pigs, unclean to both Hindu and Muslim elements. The mutiny lasted thirteen months: from the rising of Meerut on 10 May 1857 to the fall of Gwalior on 20 June 1858.The sepoys were quickly joined by large numbers of civilians supporting the reinstatement of both a Moghul and a Maratha emperor and by landlords, particularly those of Oudh, penalised by the new administration and its policy of exporting raw materials for manufacture in Britain. Historians agree that the mutiny was characterised by violent reprisals on either side but, at least in British historical tradition, the most significant events are the massacres at Meerut, Cawnpore and Lucknow; post-mutiny literature dwelling on the fate of women and children especially. The mutiny, regarded by many as India's first War of Independence, was to have important consequences and the structure of British India was to be re-organised extensively. Increasingly, India came under direct Crown rule as the British East India Company was dispossessed of its functions and, in 1877, Queen Victoria was crowned Empress. Despite the severity of European reprisal as each territory had been regained and its subsequent defensive proposals of military alteration, a measure of conciliation had been introduced to administrative policy. Integration of the higher castes and princes was now considered important, land policy was revised and plans for radical social change were shelved. The Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858: Causes and Consequences :: British History The Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858: Causes and Consequences Under the administration of the Marquess of Dalhousie (Governor-General 1848-56), the last of the independent Indian states, including the wealthy Muslim state of Oudh, were annexed by the British. To consolidate this new territory, some degree of Westernisation was introduced: an Indian railway and road system was developed and the first three Indian universities were founded, creating a tier of higher-caste men educated according to the British system but not fully incorporated into those careers of civil service and army awaiting them. Child marriage and the practice of suttee previously had been abolished and, in 1856, a regulation was passed requiring sepoys to serve overseas thereby losing caste. Both the annexation and consolidation heightened tension between government and population and mutiny was inevitable when the Indian section of the army was allocated cartridges smeared with the fat of cows and pigs, unclean to both Hindu and Muslim elements. The mutiny lasted thirteen months: from the rising of Meerut on 10 May 1857 to the fall of Gwalior on 20 June 1858.The sepoys were quickly joined by large numbers of civilians supporting the reinstatement of both a Moghul and a Maratha emperor and by landlords, particularly those of Oudh, penalised by the new administration and its policy of exporting raw materials for manufacture in Britain. Historians agree that the mutiny was characterised by violent reprisals on either side but, at least in British historical tradition, the most significant events are the massacres at Meerut, Cawnpore and Lucknow; post-mutiny literature dwelling on the fate of women and children especially. The mutiny, regarded by many as India's first War of Independence, was to have important consequences and the structure of British India was to be re-organised extensively. Increasingly, India came under direct Crown rule as the British East India Company was dispossessed of its functions and, in 1877, Queen Victoria was crowned Empress. Despite the severity of European reprisal as each territory had been regained and its subsequent defensive proposals of military alteration, a measure of conciliation had been introduced to administrative policy. Integration of the higher castes and princes was now considered important, land policy was revised and plans for radical social change were shelved.

Statement of Purpose for Cfd

Statement of Purpose â€Å"Physicists come and go but the problem of turbulence remains. † ———- A. Liebchaber Career plans and long-term goals†¦ The â€Å"teraflops† supercomputers will become common over the next decade and with the advent of a new era in the world of parallel programming, the long cherished dream of the scientific community to get a substantially deep insight into the hitherto uncanny world of turbulence will at last take a realistic shape.The desire to become a part of this revolution, to collectively tackle the challenge expressed in the comment on top, has motivated me to opt for a career in research in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics. In the long-term, I want to take up an exacting position, either in the academia or the industry, where I can do independent research on fundamentally challenging and technically demanding problems with an immediate relevance to the everyday world. Bearing these long-term goals in mind, my immediate objective is to work towards an M.S. leading to Ph. D. , whose importance in laying a strong foundation for a successful career in research is paramount. What I want to contribute†¦ A thorough understanding of the basic nature of turbulence and the fundamental principles governing it is at the heart of numerous key issues facing the present day scientists and engineers. But our extremely limited knowledge of this classical bete noire becomes a severe handicap when we try to address those issues.With this in mind I am determined to carry out research in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics, as it (CFD) will help us in remarkably improving our comprehension of turbulence science. Further, I also wish to work on the control of turbulence because I reckon that one may not be able to predict the direction of the wind but one can certainly control one’s sails. What I mean is that turbulence will always remain, just that we will have to use our understan ding of turbulence to develop innovative controls that will decrease or increase turbulence, as the requirement may be.While I will try to delve into turbulence, I also wish to apply the existing knowledge to control it. We just can’t afford to wait, as we are running out of fuel! What I have†¦ I believe that the fruitful past academic and research experiences I have had, the present grooming I am going through and a focused and determined approach towards future are the main ingredients of my recipe for success in my long-term goals. Consistently the overall topper at school, I derived a special kind of pleasure from the world of mathematics and nurtured it as a hobby and not merely as a part of academics.My love for mathematics won kudos when I topped the Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO) from my region in class 9th (RMO is normally written in 11th standard) and went on to get 12th rank at the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) the same year, thus becoming the youngest Indian to get the INMO Award (INMO is just one level below the International Mathematical Olympiad, IMO). To add to my good academic performance, I have background in doing research work, whose invaluable experience should help me in my academic and research pursuits in the graduate school.At college my research interests were kindled when I got an opportunity to work on â€Å"Design of Disassembly† under Prof. M. K. Tiwari. Based on the efforts of the group a paper titled â€Å"Disassembly Sequence Generation: A Petri Net Based Heuristic Approach† has been communicated to the International Journal of Production Research (IJPR) (refer resume for details). The project acquainted me with the research-oriented approach and the success fostered in me a keen desire to further explore and excel on the research front.In the summers after the junior year I joined an industrial consultancy project â€Å"Cryo-treatment of cutting tools and its effects on wear resi stance† under the aegis of the Cryogenic Engineering Center, IIT Kharagpur. Working on the project exposed me to the complexities of a real life industrial project besides honing my computational and experimental skills. Currently I am working on my senior year project on â€Å"Design and Fabrication of Thermal Mass Flow Meters for laminar and turbulent flows† under the guidance of Prof.Sunil Kumar Sarangi (refer resume for details). During my work, the interactions with fellow researchers and senior investigators have not only helped me crystallize my fundamentals and further widen my horizons of understanding real life problems and then in molding them into suitable mathematical models for simulation and analysis using CFD (we are using a lot of CFD for modeling our system) but they have also effectively taught me the importance of collaborative work.On delving deeper into CFD I realized the tremendous importance and numerous applications it has, right from hypersonic aircrafts to the flow of blood in the ventricles. The immense computational and mathematical skills needed for CFD are indeed very challenging, and compatible with my abilities and so I have decided to specialize in CFD. Why Stanford†¦ Stanford University has one of the topmost ranked graduate programs in Mechanical Engineering in terms of experienced faculty and state-of-the-art infrastructure.Of particular interest to me is the high quality fundamental and pioneering research being done at the Center for Turbulence Research (CTR) and the Center for Integrated Turbulence Simulation (CITS) for significantly advancing the understanding of turbulence physics. My special interest in CFD, therefore, makes Stanford University a very coveted place for graduate studies. I am sure that a chance to work at these centers of excellence would give me an in-depth understanding of the challenges involved in turbulence physics and would also provide me with a golden opportunity to make origi nal contributions to my field of interest.I firmly believe that I am well equipped with the necessary technical skills and adequately prepared for the kind of dedication and resolve I will have to show in such demanding research environment as the Mechanical Engineering Department at Stanford offers to its graduate students. I strongly believe that graduate studies at Stanford would be an important step towards realizing my career and research goals. Varun Rai