Element of Literature (theme, character, setting, conflicts, etc Essay

Element of Literature (theme, character, setting, conflicts, etc - Essay Example This paper examines all the similarities between these three works and establishes the commonality between the characters and their presentations. Tragedy has been a theme for playwrights since the beginning of literature, well explored by Greek poets like Sophocles, medieval English writers, and Elizabethan playwrights, of which Shakespeare is prominent. The most prominent cause of the tragedy in these plays would be the tragic hero fighting against his/her impending doom. ‘The tragic hero is divided "between imperative and impulse, between moral ordinance and unruly passion . . . between law and lust" (Heilman 207).’ (Brown, 2009). If we explore the similarities between the two Elizabethan dramas, Macbeth, Hamlet and the ancient Greek tragedy, Oedipus, we find that the protagonists have that fatal flaw which draws them to their downfall and all other elements that make a tragedy. When these protagonists live, they teach us many lessons with the mistakes that they commit in their life. They seem to exist to attain the ultimate goal of death.† We admire the daring, uncompromising spirit of the tragic hero wh ile recognizing that what he gains in intensity of life, he often pays for with its brevity.† (Brown, 2009). Shakespeare’s tragedies â€Å"follow a basic pattern of complication, crisis, and conclusion but with multiple variations.† (Brown, 2009). If we compare and seek similarities between the characters of the three works, we find that as mentioned above, all protagonists unconsciously seek their own fall. Hamlet muses far too much over his father’s death and even when his father has shown him the path of revenge, he fails to kill Claudius when he has the chance. Macbeth on the other hand, blinded easily by ambition and avarice, kills Duncan in haste without pondering over the consequences. Oedipus’s flaw is his colossal ego or Hubris. It does not bring about his misery directly but does lead to

Police Corruption In The United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Police Corruption In The United States - Essay Example Police corruption acts are increasing with the passage of time and everyday we comprehend and share our views regarding police unlawful acts, what is published in the newspaper. "In New Orleans, 11 police officers were convicted of accepting nearly $100,000 from undercover agents to protect a cocaine supply warehouse containing 286 pounds of cocaine. The undercover portion of the investigation was terminated when a witness was killed under orders from a New Orleans police officer." (General Accounting Office, Report to the Honorable Charles B. Rangel). Police departments participating in the five-year study were drawn from a pool of more than 4,000 police departments throughout the United States. Only sixty-nine supplied the necessary personality, background, and offense data and met all of the prerequisites for inclusion in the study (each had to administer a personality test to applicants and had to have had at least one incident where a screened officer engaged in a substantiated corrupt act, for example). Overall, the study examined 439 officers who had engaged in corrupt acts (such as bribes and information breaches) and 439 who had not. Police corruption exists in two forms: Internal corruption and External Corruption. Internal corruption refers to all those crimes, which are held within the boundaries of the police department, i.e., corruption that resides among policemen whereas External corruption escorts to those unlawful acts that apprehend police dealings with the public. Example of an Internal crime can be any officer who is involved in drug or cocaine violence along with other officers or staff or any officer who has taken excessive advantage over the authority given to him by harassing one of his colleague or member. A 1998 report by the General Accounting Office states, "The most commonly identified pattern of drug-related police corruption involved small groups of officers who protected and assisted each other in criminal activities, rather than the traditional patterns of non-drug-related police corruption that involved just a few isolated individuals or systemic corruption pervading an entire police department or precinct." (General Accounting Office, Report to the Honorable Charles B. Rangel) When we talk about external corruption, it is obvious to do something with public prosecution and it is a widespread predicament often found in our everyday lives. Example can be any police officer (or civilian) found engaged in the persuasion of common public. Like I have often observed in New York City, some cops take unnecessary advantage of wearing a five star badge uniform. As an example of police corruption, the GAO cites Philadelphia, where "Since 1995, 10 police officers from Philadelphia's 39th District have been charged with planting drugs on suspects, shaking down drug dealers for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and breaking into homes to steal drugs and cash." (General Accoun

Should Offshore Oil Drilling Be Allowed Environmental Sciences Essay

Should Offshore Oil Drilling Be Allowed Environmental Sciences Essay The time has come to put a stop to offshore drilling. Finding renewable resources and alternative energy can help put an end to drilling into our ocean floors and help us become an independent nation. There are an abundance of technological capabilities available in our world today and these should be pursued in depth to not only solve the current crisis, but also to ensure that the same tragedy does not occur again. The technology is here and the time is now. Renewable resources are resources that can be continually reproduced over a short period of time (Renewable Resources). Here are a few examples: wind energy generates electricity by using the wind, wave energy produces electricity by using the power of ocean waves, and bio energy uses biomass (plant materials, landfill or animal waste) to produce heat or electricity. One example of barriers that prevent us from obtaining renewable energy is utility rate structure. Unfavorable utility rate structures have perennially been a barrier to increased deployment of renewable energy technologies. Unless carefully monitored to encourage the development of distributed generation, rate structures can increase the cost of renewable energy (e.g., through stand-by rates, lack of net metering) or completely disallow connection to the electrical grid (EPA). Another difficulty that prevents us from attaining renewable energy is the complexity in obtaining environmental permits for major industrial facilities. Transmission is another concern that prevents us from having renewable resources available. Many renewable resources are located in remote areas that lack ready or cost effective access to allow for transmission to the user. The building of the Alaskan Pipeline cost eight billion dollars for eight hundred miles of pipeline (Thinkquest). It would be much more cost effective to drill for this oil in the ocean where the cost to transport the resource to the coastline and ultimately to the end user will be far less costly. Each year, the annual cost just to run this pipeline is roughly two hundred and ten billion dollars. In addition, the start-up costs alone are so immense that they are essentially unavailable. States that have not established clear utility regulations that enable investments in transmission to be reimbursable or coordinated planning and permitting processes, slow the development of utility scale renewable projects in their territory (EPA). The only problem with things like biofuels and solar energy is, ironically, they still need oil to get up and running. Solar panels require the use of oil during its production, and ethanol has to be processed using the very substance it is supposed to replace (Heigler). The benefits of offshore drilling certainly outweigh the dangers of extracting oil from deep-water drilling off the coast of the United States. Specifically, there are a couple of reasons that support our continued practice of offshore oil drilling. First, it will create jobs that are essential for our country and the economy to thrive as an independent nation. Allowing offshore drilling will also make us less dependent on foreign oil. Yes, our nation is addicted to oil. Another reason to drill is that it provides us with natural gas, alternative fuel and gas and oil that fuel our aircrafts, ships and homes. However, now we are in the twenty-first century and it is time to put our advanced technology to good use. Continuing to drill will create jobs; nevertheless, using alternative energy sources will also create jobs and help preserve our planet at the same time. Offshore drilling creates countless jobs that help sustain our economy. Our stable economy is achieved through a consistent and stable work force that allows our citizens to work and pay for their needs. This economic system of checks and balances perpetuates a stable economy for us all. Offshore drilling alone accounts for such a great number of these jobs; a system that relies on the combined efforts of such a vast array of occupational titles that the number of total jobs currently available is four-thousand, four hundred eleven in the United States alone (Careers). Some examples of jobs that are unique to this field of work are; Drilling Supervisor Jobs, Senior Drilling Engineer, Drilling Business Development Manager, and Field/Mechanical and Equipment Engineers (Careers). These occupations are so unique to this field of work that a myriad of trained oil workers have virtually no useful skill that can be easily transferred to another job. If the oil drilling workers lose their jobs, many would have to be retrained into another line of work since there are no alternative locations to move to for oil drilling work. One of the largest companies currently pursuing the development of oil and gas resources is British Petroleum. This company began as Anglo Persian Oil in the year 1909. In 1954, it became British Petroleum. This companys reach is worldwide. Its revenue in the United States is approximately two hundred forty-six billion, with ninety-two thousand employees (BP). Our reliance on the natural resource of oil and continuously increasing demand for it has driven us to seek out new locations to tap intothe coastal waters that surround the United States. This remarkable feat is one that must be mastered and performed without flaw. British Petroleum has successfully drilled for oil off the coastal waters of the United States for more than three decades, yet their recent tragedy is one that poses such a grave danger to our environment that the result may be irreversible damage to our entire ecosystem. It is not a good proposition to boycott British Petroleum because if that happens, the oil company will not be able to pay claims to the people who have lost everything in the Gulf of Mexico. A boycott would also affect the small business owners who own these stations and further cripple their livelihoods. The only connection these business owners have with British Petroleum is the contract to buy gasoline. To win back customers, theyd like British Petroleums help in reducing the price at the pump (Nola). The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has damaged the ecosystem, an undetermined amount of land, ocean, animal species and plant life. The production of life that begins in the marshes is now laden with massive amounts of oil. The cycle of life that begins here will be suffocated by the oil and therefore cease to exist. The natural lifecycle of the many animals that reproduce in this region is greatly affected. Innumerable animal species are returning to the Gulf region to breed among the damaging plumes of oil that saturate this once vibrant ecological labyrinth. The newborn offspring will be immediately subject to the hazards of the oil-filled environment and incapable of escaping from it. The food needed to sustain the new life in this region will come from the oil tainted environment and be directly fed to the newborns. The oil that is then ingested can cause poisoning of wildlife. Animals on every level of the food chain are affected as each one feeds on another to continue the cycle of life. The animals that reside in the Gulf of Mexico, life-long inhabitants, each contribute to an immense ecosystem that make up the complex weave of life that, until now has thrived uninterrupted. Thus far, hundreds dead birds, sea turtles, dolphins, fish and starfish have washed up onto the shore. The collective damage to the animal life in this region may not be completely realized for many years. This disaster will permanently alter the lives of countless animals. The newborn animals are immediately subject to exposure of the oil-filled environment and incapable from escaping from it. The direct physical effects on the animals exposed to the oil are lethal. Exposure to the oil can cause animals to suffer impairment of their red blood cells. Further, damage to or suppression of marine mammals immune system can cause bacterial or fungal infections. Oil can also deteriorate the thermal insulation of the animals skin, thus damaging their reproductive system. Injury to the airway or lungs of marine mammals can cause congestion, pneumonia, emphysema, or death by breathing in droplets of oil, fumes or gas. The clean-up has been slow and it appears there is twice as much leakage as what can be cleaned up. British Petroleum is still trying to burn off the oil on the surface of the ocean which is then polluting the air. At this point, every regulatory authority and British Petroleum is not moving fast enough to clean this mess up. They have the technology and the dollars to do this. There is not much progress being made and it has been almost three months. Tar patties from the Gulf oil spill started washing ashore on Front Beach around noon on Monday, a day after the oil first made landfall on the Mississippi mainland in Jackson County (Al.com). Twenty billion will only make a dent in helping these residents regain control of their lives. This tragedy is a true example of what can happen when big business goes well beyond the unwarranted point of trying to cut costs. Their actions repeatedly support this statement. They are not paying the fishermen who are no longer able to work to support their families. They are not paying for mass groups of workers to be trained to assist with clean up, nor providing the few who have received the training briefing the proper respirators to wear. The jobs that were plentiful for residents along the Gulf of Mexico have all been lost recently due to the Federal Governments moratorium on all oil drilling, which was implemented in response to the Deep Water Horizon oil rig. Offshore drilling is one of the biggest sources of financial revenue for the population in and around this geographical region. Residents who have grown to rely exclusively on their steady income from oil drilling are rapidly experiencing such financial loss that their lives have become filled with financial uncertainty and their expectations for achieving employment remains in peril. From the highest paid engineer to the lowest man on the rig, the loss of countless jobs that once were plentiful when the oil was being actively drilled will have a negative impact on their lives as well as our economy. It will trickle down; the economy will get even worse, said Perry Clement, a local who serves as a deck hand on several fishing boats, and is struggling for incom e. Its the delicate balance we have, with the oil and the fishing (Marketwatch). This ban proposed to put a six month seize on all deep water oil drilling in the United States. This decision would stop any new permit approvals for deepwater drilling at more than thirty existing deepwater wells. In addition, the moratorium will further cripple the jobs for immeasurable other independent drillers, equipment makers, hardware stores, manufacturers, and transportation systems that provide direct and sustained support to the effort of drilling for oil. Even with a situation as grave as the Chernobyl accident, we did not halt the production of or rid the world of nuclear power. The governments decision to stop all drilling until we can find out the cause of the disaster and prevent further ones from occurring does not support our overall economy. Offshore drilling will always be a risk, but the nation must move forward and continue to make progress. Today, over eighty percent of world petroleum reserves are state-owned and controlled by countries that have the power to manipulate supply and price with impunity, this fact goes directly to the heart of energy security (Energy Independence). According to most forecasts, oil will remain the top global energy source for the next few decades, even with the ongoing development of natural gas, nuclear, and renewable resources. Today is day 70 of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The latest news is that a federal appeals court in New Orleans will hear the governments appeal of a ruling overturning the deepwater drilling ban in the Gulf of Mexico on July 8. The six-month moratorium was ordered in late May by the Barack Obamas administration after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. A group of offshore petroleum service companies sued, saying the moratorium would inflict long-term economic damage. A federal judge agreed with the companies and barred the government from enforcing the ban. British Petroleum and the Coast Guard sent oil-scooping skimming ships in the Gulf of Mexico back to shore because nasty weather is churning up rough seas and powerful winds. Although Tropical Storm Alex was projected to stay well away from the spill zone before possibly making landfall as a hurricane near the U.S.-Mexico border, its outer edges were causing problems out in the Gulf. Waves were as high as twelve feet Tuesday in some parts of the Gulf (AP). British Petroleum says it will give cash and other help to the owners, operators and suppliers of the gas stations around America that bear its name. They say they have been struggling because of boycotts prompted by the oil spill. John Kleine of the British Petroleum Amoco Marketers Association says outlets will get cash based on volume, with the rates being higher for outlets in the Gulf than for that elsewhere in the country (AP). They also will see reductions in credit card fees and get help with national advertising. While wildlife casualties are many, there were seventy-two pelicans released Tuesday, in Georgia and last week sixty-two pelicans were rehabilitated and released on the Texas coast. About fifty-thousand sea turtle eggs from beaches in the Florida Panhandle and Alabama will be dug up and moved to Floridas Atlantic Coast in hopes of keeping the hatchlings alive. Without this intervention, federal scientists believe, most, if not all, the hatchlings this year would be at high risk of encountering oil and dying. The Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommended that the nests be collected near the end of incubation and taken to Floridas Atlantic Coast for final incubation and release. Hatchlings begin emerging from nests in early to mid-July (Straub). The production of life that begins in the marshes is now encumbered with massive amounts of oil. The cycle of life that begins here will be suffocated by the oil and therefore halt. Damage has been done to coral reefs, sea grass, and mangrove habitats which are breeding areas of many fish and crustaceans. This unique ecosystem is also home to many smaller species such as mussels, crabs, oysters, shrimp and plankton. The direct physical effects on the animals exposed to the oil are lethal. Exposure to the oil can cause animals to suffer impairment of their red blood cells. Further, damage to or suppression of marine mammals immune system can cause bacterial or fungal infections. Oil can also deteriorate the thermal insulation of the animals skin, thus damaging their reproductive system. Injury to the airway or lungs of marine mammals can cause congestion, pneumonia, emphysema, or death by breathing in droplets of oil, fumes or gas. Increasing demands for oil continue to multiply by the day. Extracting oil resources from land have proven costly and inappropriate due to the location and availability. Continued independence of our nation will be achieved through a decline in our reliance on foreign countries which will ultimately create jobs that sustain our economic future. British Petroleum has successfully drilled for oil off the coastal waters of the United States for more than three decades, yet their recent tragedy is one that poses such a grave danger to our environment that the result may be irreversible damage to our entire ecosystem. British Petroleums CEO been transparent in revealing his true feelings about this disaster on numerous occasions. Recently, he stated that we care about the small people. Are the small people he refers to the entrepreneurs who are independently wealthy because they work in harmony with nature, providing a precious food commodity to thousands without ever impeding the natural cycle of life for over a century? He also stated that nobody wants this thing to be over with more than him because he wants his life back. I am certain that the eleven men that died on his oil rig want their lives back.

The Irony in the Title Nothings Changed Essay -- Nothings Changed Po

The Irony in the Title Nothing's Changed In my opinion nothings changed is a tragic and revengeful poem, which reveals the veracity of the way nothing has changed even after apartheid. The poem is set in District six, Cape Town, South Africa and was written by Tatamkhulu Afrika. A man who once witnessed the solace and recreation of district six. There is an ample of irony in the title nothings changed. District six has changed physically but in no other way. For starters in stanza one the man is walking through district six which has been evicted of the ethnic cultures and instead been inhabited by whites. Through this stanza we discovered that district six is kept a shambles â€Å"into trouser cuffs, cans, trodden on.† This means that no one really cares about it anymore. Another factor mentioned are the purple weeds. The color purple is often referred to as dried blood (hence there must have been a massacre). The scattered rubbish and the purple weeds (in this case symbolizing death) are all ironic because during apartheid people were being killed/ beaten and ..

Education Systems Around the World Essay

The United States excels in the creative aspect of schooling whereas Chinese students are much better at receiving direct instruction. Japanese students have very high test scores and a very high university attendance, but in Australia more students go into vocational schools or the workforce after high school. (Noel 99,102,103)The differences of education systems in the United States, China, Japan and Australia have created testable strengths and weaknesses. No country has found a perfect balance but each system has evolved to create workers suited to its respective nation. The United States is predominantly influenced by creativity but not as strongly in math and science. Expansions upon creative thought have brought in new products introduced to the market. (Noel, 36) In U. S. President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address, Obama emphasizes the importance of specialized creative schools and additional funding of the arts in K-12 public schools, which was spelled out in his the â€Å"Reinvestment of Arts Education† Plan. Obama states, â€Å"The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn’t know that something called the internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do –– what America does better than anyone else –– is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. But if we want to win the future then we also have to win the race to educate our kids†¦ And so the question is whether all of us –– as citizens, and as parents –– are willing to do what’s necessary to give every child a chance to succeed. † (Noel, 65) The U. S. President sees the specialization, the pronounced freedom of creativity that America has been able to maintain for many years and how they have benefitted from it. The promotion of this frame of mind will allow ideas to surge and new technologies continue to be made. Although America is pleased with all this innovation, the United States consistently test low in both math and science compared to other nations. Notable author, Douglas Noel reports that the average scores of American students in international comparisons have â€Å"†¦often been below the average of developed countries. It the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment 2003, 15 year olds ranked 24th of 38 in mathematics, 19th of 38 in science, 12th of 38 in reading, and 26th of 38 in problem solving. † (Noel 80, 81, 82) With the majority of American students so far behind it is cause for concern as to whether the U. S. will continue to falter and what impact it will have on the future. Part of the problem with high schools is that with such a large country it is going to be that much more difficult to maintain a moderate academic curriculum. This problem was attempted to be solved with the â€Å"No Child Left Behind† Act but it is still inconclusive whether it is effective or not. (Noel, pp. 70) Dr. Schmidt, who oversees the research effort into the TIMSS results, says the actual cause for the failures appears to be weak math and science curricula in U. S. middle schools. He explains, â€Å"The public schools lack focus; instead of concentrating on education, they dabble in social re-engineering†. Not only are public schools the general blame but so are the curricula, the teacher and even the textbooks. But there is some good news; despite the â€Å"bad grades† in comparison to the world the United States makes up for their low-testing high schools with 19 of the top 25 universities in the world. People from around the world come to American Universities to become some of the most influential thinkers in the world. The immigration of intelligent people in the form of students from various other countries is, said by Bill Gates, to be â€Å"†¦our most powerful import. † (Noel 4, 5, 10, 77, 80) Although the United States lacks in math and science it is gung-ho in innovative fields, we see the complete opposite pros and cons experienced in China. The education foundation in China has been reformed since the rise of Deng Xiaoping (1978-89) and made significant progress; however, the large population of China produces great promise as well as great concern. (Chinese Education & Society) Since the end of the Cultural Revolution (1966–76), the education system in China has been geared toward economic modernization. The Great Leap Forward (1958–60) and the Socialist Education Movement (1962–65) sought to end deeply rooted academic elitism, to narrow social and cultural gaps between workers and peasants and between urban and rural populations, and to â€Å"rectify† the tendency of scholars and intellectuals to disdain manual labor. During the Cultural Revolution, universal fostering of social equality was an overriding priority. The post-Mao Zedong Chinese Communist Party leadership viewed education as the foundation of China. The reorientation of educational priorities paralleled Deng Xiaoping’s strategy for economic development. For this reason the Central Government has prioritized basic education as a key field of infrastructure construction and educational development. (Zhang) The Chinese government’s aim for the development of China’s basic education system was to approach or attain the level of moderately-developed countries by 2010, of which has been accomplished. Chinese higher education has continued to evolve. Since the late 1980s, tremendous economic development in China has stimulated reforms in higher education that have resulted in remarkable improvements. (Chinese Education and Society) The UNESCO world higher education report of June 2003 pointed out that the student population of China’s schools of higher learning had doubled in a very short period of time and had become the world’s largest. (Agelasto) In the beginning of the Enlightenment period, European science began to explode with new inventions and ideas. By this time, China had already invented the first compass, printing press and use of gunpowder (which were used for fireworks). (Chinese Education & Society) Today, there is not much to be said in terms of new technology in China. Much of the new tech now comes from the United States and Japan. (Noel, 3) Nonetheless, China does have the advantage (and disadvantage) of an enormous population. Innovative ideas and technology have not been prominent in China’s recent years. (Agelasto) With a population of over one billion people, China needs to find a way to bridge the productivity gap between emerging markets and the developed world; to truly transform themselves into innovative, energetic economies. Professor Xu Jialu, director of the College of Chinese. Language and Culture at Beijing University, told a meeting of university presidents in Hong Kong that China had achieved great success over the past 30 years. Jialu states, â€Å"Our overall economic output, which is fundamental to social advancement, is already ranked third in the world,† he said, â€Å"However, to sustain this extraordinary economic growth, China needs to nurture huge additional numbers of creative and talented people to maintain economic proficiency. † (Xue) China’s history and economy are what have shaped their education systems. China has transcended itself from a richly inventive, educated society to a Communist standard of economic modernization. Now that they have achieved an ideal economy, education will most likely be reformed again to the forefront; just as the tiny island to their East has done – Japan. Japan marvels its education prowess but has Japanese students stressing to meet high standards. Without including the devastating effects of the recent Earthquake-Tsunami incident that occurred in the spring of 2011, Japan has maintained extraordinarily high test results while enjoying a technologically advanced society. Japan continuously ranks the top 5 in international test scores. (Noel, 88) The test scores remain high because their primary and secondary schooling is decidedly efficient. As of 2005, more than 2. 8 million students were enrolled in 726 universities. (Gainey) The influx of students is explained through the emphasis on the importance of University level instruction. The Japanese workforce is now better equipped to manage career-related problems that require higher thought. As with all good things, the advancements have come at a great cost. In Japan, suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 20-44 and women 15-34. Suicide in Japan is also somewhat romanticized as a traditional way of preserving one’s honor and avoiding shame. (Noel, 76) The National Police Agency informs that suicides in Japan topped 30,000 for the ninth consecutive year in 2006. In their suicide notes, 91 of them mentioned problems at school, an increase of 28. 2 percent from 2005 — the largest number since 1998 when the survey of this category began. (Gainey) With or without suicide notes, police attributed school-related problems to 242 suicides, nine more than in 2005. (Gainey) For many children, school has become a stressful environment to survive in. The social pressures to succeed help many students to succeed but the pressure is too much for others. Many countries strive for educational excellence whereas countries such as Australia are of a more relaxed nature. The educational system in Australia is a radical contrast to its Asian counterparts. Rather than attending a university, vocational training has become the beacon of education for students in Australia. Schooling beyond vocational training is difficult, costly and highly ostracized. (Horin) The training for vocational jobs requires less education than four year degree programs. They are also significantly less expensive – less than half of the cost of any of their Universities. Aussie student enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program spiked at 27% in 2010 while vocational enrollment maintains a continuous rise from 31% in 2000 to 35% in 2010. (Australia’s Guide to Education) This continuous incline of vocational training communicates the direction of progression of Australia’s youth, where the requirement of a bachelor’s degree appears to be unneeded in their society. Unfortunately, reports of low standards of education are on par with uneducated societies. 25% of Australian students do not complete grade 12 in Australia compared to 20 percent in the other 18 comparable countries such as Canada, Ireland, Austria, and Iceland. Scholastic apathy is hurting their workforce because considering the frequency in the number of high school drop outs every year they will see the rise of a serious problem emerging. The students that leave go to find jobs only to find more and more being taken by their fellow dropout colleagues. (Horin)Whether or not Australia is moving to make changes is unclear but once the dip shows itself evermore significant there will likely be public intervention which would be either expand the Australian job market or find a way to keep their students in the classrooms. We see that each country holds its own scholastic emphasis. The United States imports some of the best thinkers in the entire world. As China’s economy rises, its large population of workers stays busy generating revenue to invest more into education for the future. Japan has ranked the elite in scores by making education top priority. Australia currently enjoys significantly fewer educational burdens without much consequence in getting a job. Whether it is the progression of creative thought or early-on vocational training all these countries have their own specific sets of academic values specifically designed to best suit their current endeavors. Works Cited Agelasto, Michael. Higher Education in Post-Mao China. Hong Kong University Press, 1998. ISBN 9622094503. Print. 1 October, 2011. The quality of Chinese education and its advantages and disadvantages in economic prowess and student development. 2. â€Å"Educational Systems in Australia. † Australia’s Guide to Education. Nov. 2006. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. . Includes primary and secondary education in Australia and comparative statistics in contrast to other countries such as the United States. Also talks about vocational training programs. 3. Gainey, Peter. â€Å"The Japanese Education System: Globalisation and International Education. † Advanced Placement Source. EBSCO, Sept. 2002. Publication. 1 Oct. 2011. An overview of Japan’s education system and the impact on its students. Specifies the difficulties of secondary education and above. Horin, Adele. â€Å"Must try harder: Australia’s inequitable education system. † Sydney Morning Herald, The 02 Dec. 2006: 31. Newspaper Source Plus. EBSCO. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. An investigation of Australia’s education system which focuses on the lack of quality of education, including vocational school and international education/vocational training quality. 5. Noel, Douglas. Impact of Social Reform and Education on Sociological Development: a Comparison Of Education Systems Around the World. [S. l. ]: Xlibris, 2010. Print. 25 Sept. 2011. Compares education systems in every major country. Gives insight to literacy statistics, test scores and controversy. Asserts the notion of â€Å"better† or â€Å"needs improvement† comparisons against some countries, the United States, being one of low ratings. 6. â€Å"Various Documents Related to Chinese Education. † Chinese Education & Society 39, no. 6 (November 2006): 45-66. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost. Database. 25 Sept. 2011. The history of education in China. Over the years, China has had to reform its education system many times due to emperor dynasties, the Japanese invasion of Nanjing and the Communist Revolution. Even in the present many changes are being made. 7. Xue, Xing Hua Da. â€Å"Chinese Education & Society. † Education Research Complete. EBSCO, Nov. 2006. Article publication. 25 Sept. 2011. Chinese education and how it statistically compares to other countries such as the United States and Japan. It also relates to Chinese student frustrations in academic curriculum. Zhang, Yu. â€Å"Private Education in China: Issues and Prospects† Perspectives, Volume 4, No. 4, Dec. 31, 2003. Print. 25, Sept. 2011. The history of China and their education system from Communist China to present day and informs readers its current position in the world economy as a reliable result of Deng Xiopeng’s reformation.

Food Ethics Essay

The ethics surrounding food hasn’t always been a major contributor in ones decision on what to eat. In the beginning, we would have to physically hunt or gather our meals in order to survive. The choice of what was for breakfast, lunch or dinner solely relied on what was accessible to us. The ethical questions would only come as a result of a modernized food system, where other options for food became accessible and convenient. In the essay Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace, the author describes lobsters in New England in the 1800’s as having an â€Å"Unbelievable abundance (238). Read more:  Good people analysis  essay These crustaceous creatures were all over the shores of New England. Wallace writes about the Boston seashore as, â€Å"being littered with lobsters after hard storms†¦ (238). † Yet, Lobster were considered â€Å"low-class† and as Wallace states, â€Å"†¦eaten only by the poor and institutionalized (237). † It was considered unethical to even feed the poor lobster â€Å"†¦more than once a week (238). † This was modernized New England, which eventually changed at the turn of the century, just as Lobster shifted from being â€Å"low class† to â€Å"chewable fuel†. As the world became more industrialized, food became centralized. The shift from small businesses to large companies started to occur. The lobster industry changed as well during these times as Wallace describes, â€Å"Maine’s earliest lobster industry was based around a dozen such seaside canneries in the 1840’s, from which lobster was shipped as far away as California†¦ (238). † Just like the lobster industry in New England, many companies in the United States started to fulfill the demands for products to gain a profit. Ethics became secondary to making money. Corporations would produce so much that they would drive the price down, increasing its affordability and making it more accessible and widely consumed. Eventually, large companies would become so efficient and affordable, that small businesses like farms and mom and pop shops found it increasingly difficult to compete. Many small companies and farms had to either adjust their products to niche markets or work as a subsidiary to these corporations. Along with mass production of products, was a new manufacturing process. Foods started to become streamlined in such a way that they would grow in the harshest of environments. These new forms of industrialization lead to the creation of processed foods. The companies found ways to maximize profits while making the costs as affordable as possible for the consumer. The supermarkets offered everything one could think of, packaged and ready to eat. Although the prices for most foods were at an all-time low, hunger and malnutrition still existed. There were also issues arising regarding consumer trust in food safety, and the effects on the human body. As a result of these cost efficient products, people in the United States started to become increasingly heavy, leading to an obesity epidemic and a major health crisis. The ethical issues involving economical behavior of consumers and agricultural ethics are at question. Is it unethical for corporations to mass produce unhealthy foods, knowing the adverse side effects on the environment and growing rates of obesity in the United States? The trend seemed to lead to, the more affordable the food, the more we consume. Is this a personal problem or are the companies to blame for offering these products to us? We must first look into the goals of a business and if ethics play any part in the obligations to supply our population with affordable food. The very basic objective to any business is to create a profit. This is what allows companies to continue function and thrive. The best way for this to happen is to make something that is sellable and where there is room for profit. In the food industry corn is not only a commodity it’s a common ingredient in almost every product on our shelves. According to Michael Pollan, in his book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, It is also used to feed most of the animals that become meats in our supermarkets. To say that corn is widely used would be an understatement. It seemed that we couldn’t produce enough of this plant. Not only is our climate great for growing it, we also were able to store it very effectively. The boom in corn production can be traced back to the nineteen seventies. Since those same years, â€Å"†¦American’s average daily intake of calories has jumped by more than 10 percent (Pollan 102). † The reason for this increased caloric intake leaves many to question whether people are eating more because it’s less expensive or people are eating the same amounts but the food contains more calories. Either way, the companies that were producing these items didn’t seem to be bothered by the problem affecting â€Å"three of every five Americans being overweight (Pollan 102). † The truth is that the companies are driven by profits. The Americans who consume these foods create the profits. Additionally, a lot of these companies are traded on the public market and have a responsibility to their shareholders, who subsequently are the same ones buying these foods. So the companies were being driven to make profits for the people invested. Two of the biggest soda companies in the world, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, have followed these trends as well. As Pollen says, â€Å"By 1984, Coca-Cola and Pepsi had switched over entirely from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup. Why? Because HFCS was a few cents cheaper than sugar (thanks in part to tariffs on imported sugarcane secured by corn refiners) and consumers didn’t seem to notice the substitution (104). †It’s as if these corn companies were monopolizing the industry, trying to turn-over as much product as possible. The increased production would eventually lead to increased portion sizes. Instead of lowering the prices of products, companies started charging a small upcharge for additional food and soda. This practice of continually turning over product has become so dangerous that now, â€Å"†¦in 2000 the number of people suffering from [overnutrition]-a billion- had surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition-800 million (Pollan 102). † There is clearly something broken with this system. These companies are catering to our consumer appetites and enabling us to act accordingly. You would think that the prices of the food being low would solve our food problems globally, but the answer is unfortunately no. These companies are in places where there is both a market for high sales and where they can grow these crops. Most of the areas that are facing malnutrition are in remote areas of the world. These areas wouldn’t make the companies money and therefor there isn’t an incentive for them. On the other hand, America is of course one of the largest consumer countries in the world. Our desire for food is unsurpassed by most counties. There is no question that Americans have a sweet tooth. It is part of the human makeup to consume high energy foods and is linked to natural selection. According to Pollan, â€Å"Add fat or sugar to anything and it’s going to taste better on the tongue of an animal that natural selection has wired to seek out energy-dense foods (107). † Pollan also suggests that, â€Å"natural selection predisposed us to the taste of sugar and fat (its texture as well as taste) because sugars and fats offer the most energy (which is what a calorie is) per bite (106). It’s only natural for humans to consume these ingredients, because after all we are â€Å"predisposed† to do them. This of course doesn’t mean that we are completely free of blame for our overindulging. We are all individuals and are responsible in formulating our own decisions. The companies which provide us with these calorie-packed foods and beverages also list their nutritional information on the packages. If we were to eat any packaged foods, we would be responsible for understanding the health risks involved. The real problem is whether we have the mental capacity to control our physical urges. There is extensive research that suggests, â€Å"†¦people {presented} with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more (Pollan 106). † At one time in our history, this might have served us. Now, there is no question that our bodies are becoming poisoned from this. Knowing all of this information, companies continue doing their best to offer these calorie-packed foods. This is evident in just about every corner store and fast food restaurant. The ethics concerning public safety and effects on the human body are clear. Companies are only concerned over their ability to raise a profit. Their aim to create profits from the overconsumption of high energy foods has been effective in making Americans unhealthy, while continuing to turn over profits. While the companies are certainly a large part of the problem, the consumers are also to blame. They have enabled this overproduction by continuing to consume the same products making them sick. Additionally, people seem to be ignoring their recommended caloric intakes and are choosing to eat more and more. Companies can only be blamed for producing products with limited nutritional value. They are ethically absolved of their responsibilities if they inform their consumers properly. Their goal is to make profits, not worry whether their consumers are eating the recommended serving size or not. The best way to take control of this issue would to be to consume less and choose healthier options as individuals. The more aware we become as individuals, the healthier we will become as a society.

Database Design Example

Database Design Example Database Design – Term Paper Example Business rules and their importance to Designers Business Rules are employed in the system design process in order to define: Attributes Entities Relationships Constraints It is important to keep the business rules straightforward, easy to comprehend so that could be easily understood by different individuals. Business rules should always be in writing and they must be updated. Business rules are important to designers since they allow the creator to develop rules for relationship participation as well as constraints and also to create an accurate data model. They also help the creators to know and understand business processes, nature and scope of the data. They are a tool of communication between the users and the creators, and they also prove helpful in standardizing the organization’s view of the data (Jesdisciple, 2010). Function of data dictionary in database designA data dictionary is the warehouse of all maintenance and design information that is needed for a database. It contains all the documentation and specification and serves as a reference guidebook of a particular database (Allentech, 2010).These particulars should be included in a data dictionary:Entity Relationship diagram, Logical data model or notes.Definitions of entity and attribute definitions, data domain, data type, descriptions.Relationships of entities, primary the way the user has the right to access and modify the database. Factors important in a DBMS software selectionAccording to Whitehorn (2010) the process of selection of DBMS depends on the following critical factors: Project size Technical competency of the DBMS The number of concurrent users of the DBMS References:Allentech (2010). Datadictionary. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://allentech.net/vbc/ddict.phtmlJesdisciple (2010). Business Rules. Retrieved February 4, 2011, from http://databasemanagement.wikia.com/wiki/Business_RulesWhitehorn, M. (2010). Tips for choosing a DBMS to meet your companys needs. Retriev ed February 4, 2011, from http://searchdatamanagement.techtarget.com/answer/Tips-for-choosing-a-DBMS-to-meet-your-companys-needs

Lord of the flies - Role of Gender Essays - Gender, Sex, Free Essays

Lord of the flies - Role of Gender Essays - Gender, Sex, Free Essays Lord of the flies - Role of Gender What was it that caused the aggression and dominance exhibited by the boys of Lord of the Flies? Was it some metaphysical, spiritual force, or perhaps their genetic makeup? Could it have been the influence of their peers or families, or was it the media that inspired this dangerous pattern? Conceivably, their gender had something to do with this appalling trait. It all begs the question, would the same experiences have occurred had females been stranded on the island instead of males? Had females been in a similar situation as the boys in Lord of the Flies, they would have fared abundantly better. Initially, this paper will address society's role in encouraging males' violent behavior, as well as females' politeness and passivity. Secondly, it will be discussed how family socialization influences females' gentle natures and males' aggressive temperaments. Finally, this research will explore both gender's leadership styles, and scientific perception behind these differences. Much of what society dictates can affect children's perceptions of the ideal gender standards, and can lead to abuse and violence. Media has a huge role in perpetuating these dangerous gender stereotypes. Numerous male images are used in advertising and television, representing themes such as "heroic masculinity" and "might is right". These portrayals of violent behavior associated with masculinity target young men and convince them that in order to live up to society's standards, they must resort to aggressive and dominant behavior, the use of assertion, and physical violence. Males are saturated with images of glorified aggression through movies such as Lethal Weapon, sports programs, and "macho" celebrities, like Bruce Willis and Arnold Shwartzenager. Female stereotypes span the opposite extreme. Innumerable young women perceive "ladylike" expectations to be neatness, passivity, politeness, and struggle to meet them, hence they appear nurturing and feminine. Women in the media who challenge these stereotypical behaviors and display assertiveness tend to be slotted into the role of "tomboy" or "dyke". These impositions contribute to the breeding of young men who act in an abusive manner, and are terribly restricting towards boys who covet deep emotion. The antagonist of Lord of the Flies, Jack Merridew, perceives himself to be higher than the others, on the basis of being the choral leader. Jack's hierarchical views cause him to verbally abuse, psychologically torture, and eventually wound and kill other children. With the influences of society's stereotyping, girls would generally more nurturing and caring towards group members. A lot of males' violent behavior and females' complaisance can be accredited to family and institutional socialization. Parents usually raise boys on aggressive sports, such as hockey and football, which encourage violence. Girls, however, are generally brought up on "feminine" activities, dance and figure skating to name a few, which promote a gentle, polite nature. It is the rare parent that heeds their four-year-old son's aspiration to be a ballet dancer by purchasing the child a pair of tights and a leotard. When a boy shows more interest in dolls than in trucks, his family may be distressed, and provoke him to reveal his "masculine" side. After striving for egalitarianism between the sexes for so many years, families still deter young girls from pursuits of hockey stardom, hoping to interest them in Pointe shoes. Displays of emotion by boys are often criticized for being "unmasculine", whereas emotional behavior in girls tends to be expected and accepted. As a result, boys tend to not only hide their feelings, but criticize friends for showing their emotions. Girls, on the other hand, encourage one another to express feelings and console one another naturally. Research shows that boys and girls have different means of reaching decisions and achieving organization. Males, on whole, like to dominate a situation, whereas females would rather resort to consensus and unanimity. Collegiality and cooperation are fundamental female traits, while the need for dominance and individual power goes hand in hand with masculinity. This male yearning is rooted before birth, when the developing nervous system is immersed in testosterone (the predominant male hormone). This pre-natal process is responsible for the maturation of the areas of the brain that arbitrate between the male hormones and their dominant behavior. Steven Goldberg, the chairman of the Department of

Anselms Ontological Argument

In the second chapter of Anselm 's Proslogian, Anselm later offered something described as his ontological argument. This believes that he is very powerful Psalm 14: 1 Fool He his heart, No God. Anselm's assertions are as follows: God is unimaginable If someone understands something, this means that in someone's understanding, bigger ones can not be imagined If someone understands, Someone can imagine without big things exists in someone's understanding. In Anselm 's ontological argument, he is trying to prove the existence of God, but his argument is purely based on a discussion of thought and does not require a moral entity to challenge the truth of emotion. Ontology is related to existence or something. Anselm 's ontological debate is considered to be omnipotent and kind, regarded as existence and whether it is God's wealth, and omnipotent. This argument is a transcendental argument. Instead of relying on experimental knowledge to prove the existence of God it means that God must exist logically or that the absence of God is illogical. Ontology argument is a transcendental argument. These arguments are trying to prove the existence of God from the meaning of the word God. Anselm of Canterbury introduced an ontological argument to his work Proslogion. The classic argument of Anselm is based on two principles, the most important of which are the aforementioned St. Ansell and Renà © Descartes of Cantabelli. If he does not exist, you can still think of a big existence (it is like saying that God does not exist except this existence). The presence must still be one of the attributes of God, as it can still understand the larger God (God that exists) by removing it. The most common problem of this discussion is that it only enumerates its existence in God's attributes, not it. This argument seems to indicate that the facts that can be imagined should be true. Antism 's ontological argument is intended to be the first testimony of the existence of God. Anselm star ts with the premise that it does not rely on experience and draws the conclusion of the existence of God in a purely logical way. His purpose was to refute the fool who said in God that there is no God (Psalm 14: 1). This fool has two important features. The following is an attempt to clarify the discussion presented in Chapter 2 of Proslogium. The discussion in Chapter 3 is quite different and is more interesting in some ways. After completing this page, you may try to give a similar gloss with the second parameter. This is not easy. This argument is very complicated. But you may do this in a useful campaign

Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld 548 US 557 (2006) Case Study

Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld 548 US 557 (2006) - Case Study Example Bush, President of the United States. After a year of detention, President Bush deemed him eligible to be tried before a military commission that was authorized under Military Commission Order No. 1. The military commission would have allowed the inclusion of evidence with no probative value or acquired through illegal means, made it possible that there be evidence used against the accused that the accused would not be able to see, and the appeals would only be within the Executive branch. Opposing this, Hamdan filed a writ of habeas corpus, in chief arguing that a military commission conducting trial in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the Geneva Conventions should be declared illegal and with no power to proceed. Procedural History: Hamdan filed his petition before the United States District Court for the District of Colombia, which found in his favor. Upon Appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously revers ed the decision of the District Court. Subsequently, on 7 November 2005 the Supreme Court issued a writ of certiorari to hear the case, and it was argued before the said court on 28 March 2006. On 29 June 2006, the Supreme Court issued its decision, reversing the Court of Appeals and finding in favor of Hamdan. Issues: 1. The first issue is whether or not the provisions in the military commission that would allow the accused to be convicted using evidence that he had not seen or heard, or evidence that may not be in compliance with admissibility or relevancy rules in other court martial proceedings violate the uniformity rule and the principle that â€Å"no procedural rule must be contrary or inconsistent with the UCMJ†? 2. The second issue is whether or not Hamdan can invoke the guarantees of the Geneva Conventions given the contextual background of the capture of Hamdan, and giving due regard to the fact that such capture was done pursuant to the war with Al Qaeda, which is not a High Contracting Party to the Conventions? Holding: The Supreme Court answered in the affirmative to both questions. It held firstly that the deviations in the military commission rendered it defective, and secondly, that the Geneva Conventions could be validly invoked by Hamdan. Rationale: The Supreme Court relied on the case of Ex Parte Quirin, 317 U.S. 1 (1942) as justification for granting certiorari to Hamdan, stating that trial by military commissions surfaces important questions about the balance of powers of the three branches of government. Likewise, the case of In Re Yamashita 327 U.S. 1, 11 (1946) recognizes that the exigencies of war may demand extraordinary measures. In the case of Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507 (2004) it reaffirmed the war powers of the President, including the authority to convene military commissions. With respect to the first question, the Supreme Court noted that in the military commission created by Military Commission Order No. 1, Section 6 permits exclusion of the accused from proceedings and denial of his and his civilian counsel’s access to evidence that may be used to convict him. The grounds for the denial of access "include the protection of information classified or classifiable . . .; information protected by law or rule from unauthorized disclosure; the physical safety of participants in Commission proceedings, including prospective

Network and protocol processes that occur in the network when you Essay

Network and protocol processes that occur in the network when you access X-Stream - Essay Example tors and students to collaborate and exchange information, we will discuss the insights of this portal by demonstrating the necessary methods, protocol techniques and processes. However, in order to give a better idea, we have to take TCP/IP protocol suite in to account. Moreover, the foundation for this technological layer that enables a communication channel for internet applications is the IP addresses itself. The priority of the IP is vital because the rest of the TCP/IP protocol suite is fabricated on the IP. However, a recently introduced modification for improving the efficiency of IPv4 32 bit addressing is the CIDS (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) (Linton 2011). Likewise, IP address is assigned a job for developing and constructing the data packets in the same standardized method along with packet management associated with data transmission between interlinked devices in an efficient way. The primary objective is to establish a path for data packets to travel and serve as a basis for delivering network based online applications and services via a TCP/IP suit. The purpose is to expand accessibility of these web-based applications globally and provide services to users such as sharing and uploading documents, pictures, videos, electronic email, video conferencing, chatting, forums, social networks etc. in a broad spectrum, a common platform is now established that is empowered with the mentioned services to make communication valuable. Consequently, for educational communication, a student portal named as X stream has been established, that will serve as a common platform for all the students and tutors, professors and staff for the same university or college. However, apart from some common examples of web enabled services above, the X stream provides advanced services bundled with customization options for students to gain insights on their studies effectively. The report will follow a thorough discussion of the semantics behind these services ranging from

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example For instance, information of an organization needs to be protected and is the ultimate responsibility of the board of director for which they are also liable. We have selected a small medium enterprise called as ‘Wizni Incorporated’ this is transformed from a traditional IT service to a cloud service provider. The Information technology architecture of the company incorporates three components i.e. business analytics expertise, along with the provision of a quality cloud hosting provider. Likewise, the core competency of Wizni Inc. is business analytics. Moreover, the company is delivering business analytics bundled with powerful systems enabling their clients to make efficient decision making. Wizni Incorporated provides state of the art analytics solutions for empowering organizations to utilize business intelligence required for making efficient decision making. The company provides Business intelligence deployments that facilitate ease of discovery, patterns hidden i n IT systems, applications and unstructured data. The business analytics products are DIFEEâ„ ¢ (data-inference and federation engine) and Score IT. DIFEE is used for virtualization and Score IT is used for data mining, model scoring and life cycle management. Furthermore, IBM Cognos Express is also a first integrated business intelligence tool that is precisely developed and acquired by the company to meet customer requirements. The tool is bundled with critical reporting, scorecard, analysis, budgeting, forecasting dashboard and customization features and capabilities for the small medium enterprises at an affordable cost without large associated investments. Moreover, the tool incorporates a pre-configured solution that is very easy for installation and use for the end users. The transition of this new powerful cloud solution is approved by the board on the basis of gaining competitive edge among small medium enterprises within the region. Previously, there was no growth in cl ientele and after implementing the cloud based solution, clientele sky rocketed and stakeholders were satisfied at the same time ready to invest in the technological solution. On the other hand, cloud computing also reflects significant risks, principal risks of cloud computing is associated with federal agencies and regulations. Any vulnerability found in the software, platform or infrastructure of the vendors will expose serious exposures, as information may be related to more than one organization. Moreover, employees working internally on the cloud computing premises of ‘Business Cloud’ may also expose a serious threat if no proper background employee checks were performed during recruitment procedures. Furthermore, if any governmental agencies for instance, military or other sensitive body is also using the same cloud from the same vendor is also most likely to be compromised, if any breach of any one of these fundamental concepts Confidentiality, Integrity and Ava ilability is successful. In addition, the incident response function may not be efficient and effective if any incident occurs and affect the customer or employee. For instance, if a security incident affects the customer, the incident response function of the organization will trigger in a timely manner to isolate and investigate the root cause via root cause analysis. In a cloud computing scenario, it may be a different case and result

Analysis of the Chinese films Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of the Chinese films - Essay Example As pointed out, the protagonist was forced to be the custodian of Kosaburo Hanaya and Dong Hanchen. Before this incident, Ma Dasan’s life was flowing slowly without much problem. But this incident forced Ma Dasan to be in a dilemmatic situation because the person who handed over the prisoners pointed out that he must look after the prisoners with due care. The following events include the futile effort undertaken by Ma Dasan to keep the prisoners safe, hiring of One Stroke Liu to execute the prisoners and failure to do so, Kosaburo Hanaya’s return to his homeland, and the fire in Ma Dasan’s village, Ma Dasan’s attempt to take revenge and his ultimate doom. The most shocking incident in the film is the large scale massacre at the feast. This incident ignited the feeling of revenge in Ma Dasan’s mind. Earlier, Ma Dasan’s role in the village (say, his community or society) was to obey the law and order without showing his hesitation. But this in cident transformed him from a passive individual to an active individual who is ready to give up his life for a noble purpose. A bird’s eye view of the film leads one to misinterpret the same as an anti-Japanese invasion genre film. But deeper understanding leads one to the realization that the director’s attempt is to mock the hypocrisy of the Chinese authorities and the mentality of the Chinese villagers towards the Japanese invaders. For instance, in the film, children are ready to share secrets with the invaders and the villagers feel satisfied by the supply of food grains. Besides, this unveils the passive attitude shown by the people towards the authorities. The fundamental problem of violence in the film faced by the ignorant villagers without a unified authority is two sided. For... The contemporary Chinese cinema is undergoing rapid but positive change. Nowadays, the Chinese film makers show keen interest to inculcate innovative ideas in their films. For instance, the film Devil at the Doorstep by the Chinese actor cum director Jiang Wen is one of the best examples which highlight the foretold change. Jiang Wen’s prior status as an actor did not hinder him from choosing the story line of the film Devil at the Doorstep, which carries violence and mental trauma faced by individuals in a closed society. The film was able to gain the jury prize at Cannes, but that did not help Jiang Wen as a direThe film Devil at the Doorstep by Jiang Wen was accepted by the international viewers but less accepted by the Chinese government. The main problem faced by Jiang Wen was the restriction upon individual freedom of a director with the international outlook. The main reason behind the less acceptance and ban on the film was the realistic and critical attitude of the di rector towards power politics, violence and its effect upon the individuals. The protagonist’s transformation from an inactive stage to activism and as the mouthpiece of the director to communicate with the viewers is the most important development in the film. The narrative feature of the film is conversational and less ambiguous because of the usage of the historical plot. The stylistic features of the film raise the same from its limitations to the international arena of cinematography.

Electronic financial transactions over the Internet Essay

Electronic financial transactions over the Internet - Essay Example Technological innovation in terms of developing security software aided this process and so did the process of globalization. As a culmination of these parallel but complementary processes, e-commerce in general and electronic financial transactions in particular has firmly taken root in mainstream global economy. While this kind of progress in such a short span of time is an impressive achievement, there is much work to be done in terms of creating robust security systems for the Internet. This essay will look into the various types of security threats facing electronic financial transactions, the potential damage they could inflict, the remedial measures to counter these threats and the effectiveness of such measures. The architecture of the Internet is such that it is inherently difficult to ensure security. Alongside this, the concept of user anonymity makes the Internet â€Å"an attractive medium for extortion and crimes involving theft of personal information for illicit financial gain† (Misra Scherer et al, 2004). As per a report released by IDG News Service, many organized crime groups avail of the services offered by hackers to implement complex and sophisticated financial schemes to swindle money from unsuspecting participants. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, as much as $200 million was lost in the year 2006 alone. And each year this sum seems to increase, since financial institutions like banks and insurance companies are lucrative targets for cybercriminals. A FBI report released at the beginning of the new millennia has confirmed the nexus between computer hackers and organized crime groups. Many of these organized crime groups are said to operate from Eastern European countries that were part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. In such cases, the hackers first crack the security systems in place and gain access to vital data. The organized

Why Should We Forgive Others Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why Should We Forgive Others - Essay Example In Christianity which is a western religion, teaching about forgiveness takes a very central role in the spiritual life of the Christian adherent. The teaching is that, if we expect God to forgive us, we must in turn forgive our fellow man when they wrong us. This is best expressed in what is known as the Lord’s Prayer in Mathew 6:9-13 where the Christian petitions God to forgive him just as they forgive others. This is as a precondition that if we expect God to forgive us, we have a part to play in forgiving others as it is narrated in Mathew 6:15. We also find the example of a Christian who practiced forgiveness during the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7:60 where Stephen prayed and said ‘lay not this sin to their charge’, words almost similar to the ones uttered by Jesus Christ at His crucifixion, ‘forgive them for they know not what they do’, speaking about His crucifiers, yet He had committed no sin, Luke 23:34. This shows that a Christian who forgiv es is following the example of the author of Christianity, Jesus Christ. The Bible also teaches about turning your other cheek and giving your coat as well to someone who takes your cloak as it continues to express the virtue of forgiveness, Luke 6: 27-31. The Bible also talks about God’s demonstration of love in that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world while man was still a sinner (Bash, 2007).

Electronic financial transactions over the Internet Essay

Electronic financial transactions over the Internet - Essay Example Technological innovation in terms of developing security software aided this process and so did the process of globalization. As a culmination of these parallel but complementary processes, e-commerce in general and electronic financial transactions in particular has firmly taken root in mainstream global economy. While this kind of progress in such a short span of time is an impressive achievement, there is much work to be done in terms of creating robust security systems for the Internet. This essay will look into the various types of security threats facing electronic financial transactions, the potential damage they could inflict, the remedial measures to counter these threats and the effectiveness of such measures. The architecture of the Internet is such that it is inherently difficult to ensure security. Alongside this, the concept of user anonymity makes the Internet â€Å"an attractive medium for extortion and crimes involving theft of personal information for illicit financial gain† (Misra Scherer et al, 2004). As per a report released by IDG News Service, many organized crime groups avail of the services offered by hackers to implement complex and sophisticated financial schemes to swindle money from unsuspecting participants. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, as much as $200 million was lost in the year 2006 alone. And each year this sum seems to increase, since financial institutions like banks and insurance companies are lucrative targets for cybercriminals. A FBI report released at the beginning of the new millennia has confirmed the nexus between computer hackers and organized crime groups. Many of these organized crime groups are said to operate from Eastern European countries that were part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. In such cases, the hackers first crack the security systems in place and gain access to vital data. The organized

The Great War career of Field Marshal Douglas Haig Essay Example for Free

The Great War career of Field Marshal Douglas Haig Essay Considered assessment of the Great War career of Field Marshal Douglas Haig. Douglas Haig was appointed as commander of the BEFs 1st Army Corps at the outbreak of World War One in 1914 with Sir John French as Commander in Chief of the British Army. By the end of 1915 it became apparent that Sir John French was ill-suited to the role and Douglas Haig replaced him as Commander-in-Chief. Haig became one of the most controversial figures in military history with tag-lines such as the butcher of the Somme and an incompetent leader being the most associated with him. His tough and decisive leadership style with apparent little compassion to the huge amounts of British deaths during World War One made him one of the most debated person in history with varying views of his leadership style. It is widely believed that Haig was unwilling to accept new ideas but stick to his traditional, military experience with reluctance to hear new ideas and recommendations. Major Desmond Morton who served as one of Haigs adjutants said He (Haig) hated being told any new information, however irrefutable, which militated against his preconceived ideas or beliefs. This reliable source that gives an insight to the leadership of Haig goes on to say that John Charteris was being a sycophant to Haig and although he was anincredibly bad head of intelligence, Haig favoured him because he was conservative of the truth and always concealed bad news, or put it in an agreeable light. This is backed up by General Sir James Marshall-Cornwall who said that One of the faults of Haigs nature was that he trusted too completely some of his immediate subordinates. This is supported by the History Learning Site who says that Haig had little time for new military ideas and was steeped in the ways that he knew-conventional tactics. His history as a cavalry commander enforces this quote of Haig sticking to what he knew best and an inability to listen to new ideas or react to a changing situation-essential characteristics of a cavalry commander. Further criticism to Haigs inability to listen to new ideas is given by Liddell Hart when he states that Haig failed in his poor receptivity of ideas. However, some people hold the view that Haig and the other generals in The Great War were receptive to new ideas and did change tactics. The BBC History site says that it is not true, as some think, that British Generals and troops simply stared uncomprehendingly at the barbed wire and trenches, in reality, the Western Front was a hotbed of innovation as the British and their allies and enemies experimented with new approaches. Whilst not directly talking about Haig, this does imply that although Haig may not have been the most experimental leader, despite this view it did not impact on the experimenting of new ideas that took place within the Army. Mike Hone would agree with this evaluation of Haig when he wrote the fact is that British tactics developed considerably during the war. The disastrous first day of the Battle of the Somme resulted in huge amounts of analysis and blame put on the event with mixed interpretations. With 19,240 soldiers being killed on the first day alone it was one of the most costly battles in the history of warfare. The planning and conducting of the battle of Somme by Field Marshal Haig has also been subjected to criticism and evaluation. As Commander in Chief of the British Army, Haig is responsible for the welfare and safety of all British Soldiers and this has primarily led to the vast criticism of Haig regardless of Haigs direct actions. A Battle of the Somme timeline compiled by gommecourt.co.uk says that on the 23rd January 1916 whilst preparing for the preliminary attacks on a 20,000 yard front on the Somme to commence on 20th April, General Joseph Jaques Cesaire Joffre, Commander in Chief of the French Army suggested to Haig wearing down attacks prior to the main joint offensive starting on 20th April and the other in May. However, the source goes on to say that Haig rejects the plan. Whilst this may not be an extremely surprising quote it does present a worrying situation. Dennis Wheatley who served during the Great War wrote that He (Haig) had a rooted dislike of the French and was not even a second rate general. It presents an extremely worrying possibility that Haigs personal feelings and attitudes could have led to poor decisions and the loss of many innocent lives. The rejection of the French plan is also a further example of both his decisive leadership and his inability to listen to advice and recommendations. This also shows that Haigs planning of attacks are of an extremely dictatorial nature with a strong sense that his traditions of leadership should be withheld regardless of any interventions. Later on in this timeline, Haig replies to Joffre again on 10th April 1916 to again reject another of his ideas and on the same day, Haig received a revised plan from Rawlinson suggesting a long artillery perpetration rather than Haigs preferred hurricane bombardment. Communication during Haigs planning of the Battle of the Somme has also been under scrutiny after GHQ writes to Rawlinson that it was not clear whether his attack or that of the Second Army at Messines would start first . Both communications and Haigs decisions were disputed during the timeline of events, creating a picture of a dictatorial, private ruler who wanted to plan the British attacks by himself, using traditional methods and without any assistance, information or ideas. PW Turner and RH Haigh wrote that the planning of the Somme campaign was ham-fisted and clumsy. The fault for the failure of most of the strategic planning must fall on Haig. They hold the view that the failure in planning for the Somme was not due to communications or incorrect decisions but of national and personal pride and that Haig and his generals must have some spectacular victory to prove how right they were. The historians conclude that Haig promised victory and failed. This account holds the view that Haig was fulfilling his role of winning the war. He was a traditional leader in the sense that he was given an order (to win the war) and he was to complete that task at whatever cost. Martin Gilbert gave a somewhat more favourable view to the plan that Haig drew up. Gilbert believed that Haig made a logical plan to wear out the enemy and exhaust his reserves and then prepare for a decisive attack made with the objective of piercing the enemy lines. Gilbert the goes on to explain how Haig elaborated and made it extremely clear that it was to be a decisive account similar to his leadership. Haigs plan went on to describe that once the Germans had been worn down and used up their reserves-but not until then-a mass of troops would be thrown in at some points where the Enemy has show himself to be weak with the definite objective to break through and win victory . Gilberts view of Haigs planning is of an optimistic plan by Haig with clear and logical objectives. Norman Stone agrees with Gilbert that Haigs plan was logical but points out that Haigs information and intelligence from the Somme was flawed. Stone explains how Haig still imagined that the German line could be breached and cavalry could pour through the gap, but it could have been poured more effectively elsewhere. Stone simply explains that the solidification of the German line in 1914 along ridges allowed their guns a greater advantage and gave them the benefit of earth less likely to turn into mud. Stone concludes that the most Haig could do would be to take those ridges. Although the Brittish war industry was rapidly expanding to capabilities able to make thousands of guns and millions of shells able to launch a bombardment Haig did not trust his mens capacity, and Hereford relied on crushing bombardment. Stone points out that he believed this was probably the error in the planning of the Somme. After the catastrophic first day of the battle, questions were being asked about why to continue with the battle, why should Haig risk another 20,000 British lives? Martin Gilbert says that the Germans knew that the British would not give up. It was part of the British spirit and would not honour the 20,000 already killed to simply give up. It also didnt comply with Haigs determination to fulfil his task of winning the war. Questions regarding the planning of the battle also arose- why was the wire not cut? Why were the Germans still alive after such heavy bombardment? Was it an British failure of a German success and who should ultimately be blamed for the deaths of so many innocent soldiers? Some people like Desmond Morton believe that figures such as John Carteris who was head of intelligence was incredibly bad and sycophant nature of his relationship with Haig led to incorrect predictions that formed Haigs plans. The overestimated results of the British bombardment by British generals is extremely clear by Martin Gilberts description of what British soldiers had to carry and what they were expecting. They carried a rifle with fixed bayonet, between 170 and 220 rounds of small arms, two grenades, a waterproof cape(although it was a beautiful summers day), two sandbags, a steel helmet, two gas helmets, a pair of google against tear gas, a first aid field dressing and iodine, waterproof groundsheet, filled water bottle, haversack, mess tin, towel, shaving kit, extra socks, message book, uneaten rations, extra cheese, one preserved and one iron ration. In addition 40% would carry shovels and 10% would carry picks and one battalion was given a tin of grey paint each. This resulted in about sixty-six pounds of equipment. Historian General Edmonds wrote the weight of this equipment made it difficult t get out of a trench, impossible to move much quicker than a slow walk or to rise and lie down quickly Historian Peter Liddle agrees with this conclusion adding thousands of men offering so bulky and slow-moving a target would crumple to the ground quickly enough but would not rise at all, never mind quickly In addition to this, a planned stun tactic was used to explode mines in front of German trenches two minutes before the assault but this resulted in craters being formed allowing the Germans to occupy these craters, install machine guns and deliver devastating fire upon the British Army. The overestimation of the success of the bombardment by Haig resulted in the false expectations of British soldiers to be able to simply walk across no-mans land and create the beginning of the end of the Great War. This is evident in Martin Gilberts long list of issued equipment-40% of men carried a shovel obviously for digging trenches, 2 sandbags each to protect their trenches, rations and groundsheets to be able to stop overnight during their long advance. If the British generals had correctly estimated the effects if the bombardment, British soldiers would not have gone over the top and 20,000 lives could have been spared. Personally, I believe the initial failure of the battle of the Somme was down to the leadership and intelligence of the British generals. Soldiers trusted them for the correct information that would lead to the overall success of the battle-in reality false predictions led to the slaughter of thousands of innocent lives. Haigs continuation of the battle led to the monumental and historical introduction of the tank and the eventual victory over the Germans. The planning of the offence in Passchendaele was viewed by Stone to have made sense that Haig wanted to advance in Flanders. Stone explains that the German position was strong with height, the Messines ridge and could fire at Ypres from the side. It also allowed the British to deal with the submarine base at Zeebrugge. Stone believed that the British army was very strong with millions of shells and considerable experience with the kind of bombardment that might loosen the defence. The problem of the water table at Passchendaele resulted in near certain considerable amounts of mud whenever it rained or was churned up by shell. Although eventual success occurred following the explosion of the Messines ridge on 7th June the initial success lured the generals into disaster Disaster arose when Haig threw away the advantage. Stone says that there was an extraordinary interval before the next British attack.during which the German defences were strengthened and allowed the Germans to install pill boxes in which heavy machine-guns were placed. Therefore, it becomes clear that the initial planning of Passchendaele was extensive and proved a huge success but the resulting actions from Haig led to a catastrophic German rebound as a direct consequence of the leadership of Haig. The 21st March 1918 saw a large German bombardment starting at 4:40 am and lasted until 9:40 pm. It resulted in a million shells being fired and a British retreat over the old Somme battlefield to the French town of Amiens. Later in the year when German reserves were disrupted, Norman Stone describes how Rawlinson, Monash and Currie had to persuade Haig to not persist with the attack beyond a few days. J Rickard wrote that during the planning of the Battle of Amiens, Haig had directed General Rawlinson, to prepare for an attack on the salient. He goes on to explain that Rawlinson developed a plan fro a tank battle. Rawlinson had a multi-national army with American, Australian, Canadian and British divisions. Interestingly, Haig was also given control of the French First Army. However, Haig launched a second attack further nothing, using the Third Army. The purpose of this attack known as the battle of Bapaume, was to force the Germans back to the line of the somme. This attack began n 21 August.the British advance forced the Germans to retreat to the Somme. The battle of Amiens gives an example of times when Haigs leadership proved to be successful. Although Haig used the same methods of leadership as he did at the Somme and Passchendaele, the decisive, stubborn approach was needed here to drive the Germans back at a time when the German defence was at its weakest, the perfect cond itions for the leadership of Haig. The National Archives describe how the final German assault which started in the Spring of 1918 very nearly succeeded. The final German assault, which culminated in the Spring of 1918, very nearly succeeded. American forces were vital in holding the line but it was the British who took the lions share of territory and prisoners, no doubt in part thanks to Haigs still inspiring leadership. However, questions have now been asked as to whether Haig nearly settled for a compromise with the Germans. Nick Allen wrote for the Daily Telegraph thatHaig didnt realise how weak German forces were towards the end and wanted to settle for a compromise, according to Dr J P Harris, senior lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Dr Harris said: He wanted to offer the Germans very, very, easy ceasefire terms in late 1918.That could have left Germany with its armed forces, including its artillery, and its territorial gains in Eastern Europe intact. The end of World War One on 11th November 1818 was a result of many factors that all came together. The arrival of fresh troops from America in the summer of 1918 gave the allied forces a very large advantage. History on the Net explains how The German commander Erich Ludendorff (right) was a brilliant military commander and had won decisive victories over Russia in 1917 that led to the Russian withdrawal from the war.In 1918 he announced that if Germany was to win the war then the allies had to be defeated on the Western Front before the arrival of American troops. The British Naval Blockade led to food shortages in Germany and subsequent protests on the streets of Berlin. October 1918 saw the resignation of German commander Ludendorff and a naval mutiny. Kaiser Wilhelm II then abdicated on November 8th 1918 and an armistice was signed on November 11th 1918. The controversial leadership of Field Marshal Haig throughout the Great War is subject to so many different views and opinions by different historians, making an informed assessment on his leadership is extremely challenging. However, I do believe that the infamous catastrophic first day of the Somme was down to poor intelligence, predictions and overestimation. Men were sent to their deaths in appalling conditions whilst I do not think that Haig was solely to blame, I do believe that his distinct leadership style was not suited to the planning of the Somme and as commander in chief he does have overall responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all men in the Army. However, his leadership style fitted the circumstances of the final year of the great war. 1918 saw circumstances requiring decisive, quick and dictatorial actions at a time when German defences were weak and rapid advancements needed to be made. Haig played an incredibly important role in the final year which ultimately led to allied victory along with the help of the fresh American soldiers. In Conclusion, I believe that Field Marshal Haig had an incredibly unique leadership style that only fitted the final phases of the war. The inability to listen to new ideas and dictatorial style during the Battles of Somme and Passchendaele I believe led to the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent soldiers. Poor intelligence also contributed to the immense disaster of the first day of the Somme. Whilst Haig has a duty to take responsibility forthe deaths of British soldiers I certainly believe that a number of factors contribute to both the successes and failures of the Great War and no single person or factor can take overall responsibility.

Case study of cyanotic congenital heart disease

Case study of cyanotic congenital heart disease Baby J, a 3-week-old infant, was admitted to Ward 5A since birth due to severe central cyanosis caused by several congenital heart problems. Soon after birth, he suffered from respiratory distress, where his initial SaO2 was only about 70%. He was resuscitated and given 5 nanograms/kg/min of Prostin (Prostaglandin E2). On appearance, he was dusky-looking and his peripheries were cold and cyanosed. He was started on biphasic continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) via an apnoea mask and also given positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) as an adjunct. His CPAP was delivered using nasal cannula the following day after his SaO2 increased to 80% and he remained on CPAP for the first 5 days after birth, which subsequently was weaned off. Antenatal scans found pulmonary atresia, overriding aorta and ventricular septal defect (VSD). Postnatally, cardiac catheterisation confirmed the antenatal findings with extra major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs). He tolerated feeding via TPN and was given 6ml of EBM (expressed breast milk) at intervals of 2 hourly. Bottle feeding was attempted on 28/09/09 and he tolerated the feedings well. Recently, the feedings increased to 44ml 2 hourly. Baby J passed urine normally and his stools were of normal consistency. Past Medical and Surgical History Baby J underwent a cardiac surgery on 1/10/09 through a median sternotomy and a Melbourne shunt was inserted to create an aortopulmonary connection. He was also diagnosed with Alagilles syndrome (an autosomal dominant inherited disorder affecting the heart, liver, spine, kidney and central nervous system). Family History Baby Js father was diagnosed with Alagilles syndrome as a child. He has congenital spinal abnormalities, cardiac defects (atrial septal defect, ASD, pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular dysfunction). Baby Js mother suffered from depression for about 3 years now. She also has asthma and a high BMI of 40. During pregnancy, Baby Js mother was on anti-depressant (Fluoxetine 20 mg OD) and inhalers (Becctide and Ventolin). Drug History NKDA Medication Dosage Frequency Aspirin 15mg OD Frusemide 3mg BD Spironolactone 3mg BD Social History Baby J is the 3rd child in the family. He has one brother and 2 sisters. His brother was also diagnosed with Alagilles and suffers from cardiac anomaly. Baby Js mother is a non-smoker and she did not drink alcohol while conceiving him. Systemic Enquiry Neurological None to note. Cardiovascular See above. Respiratory Cyanotic. Gastrointestinal None to note. Opened bowel normally with normal stools. Genitourinary None to note. Passed urine normally. Haematological None to note. No fevers or rigors Musculoskeletal None to note. Endocrine None to note PHYSICAL EXAMINATION General Inspection Not distressed or in pain. Alert and non-lethargic. Apyrexial (Temperature 37.1 0C) Mild bluish discolouration of lips and tongue. SaO2 83% on room air. Heart rate: 156 bpm RR: 48/min Anterior fontanelle normal. Cardiovascular Examination Examination Findings BP Pulse rate 78/ 45 mmHg 156 bpm (regular, normal volume, character) No radial-radial delay or radio-femoral delay. Normal radial/ brachial/ femoral pulses. Normal carotid pulses. Inspection Hands and nails Face and tongue Precordium Ankle Non-cyanotic fingers. CRT No finger clubbing/ splinter haemorrhages. Non-pallor palmar creases. Deep-set eyes, prominent forehead (features of Alagilles syndrome) Non-pallor conjunctiva Mild central cyanosis (bluish tinge to tongue) Median stenotomy scar. No peripheral oedema (rarely seen in children) Palpation Central trachea. No thrills or left parasternal heave. Auscultation HS=I+Single II (muscular pulmonary atresia) + Ejection click (due to high flow across aortic valve) and continuous murmur. Respiratory Examination Examination Findings Inspection Hands Mouth Eyes Chest wall Not breathless or in distress. Breathing at ease. No peripheral cyanosis. No finger clubbing. Mild bluish tinge to tongue. No jaundice and non-pallor conjunctiva. Normal AP diameter. Symmetrical movement of chest wall with respiration No accessory muscles used in respiration. Trachea Central, no tracheal tug Percussion Generally, resonant to percussion. Auscultation Vesicular breath sounds. Normal air entry. No wheeze or added sounds. Summary of Problems Baby J suffered from severe cyanosis immediately post-delivery due to closure of ductus arteriosus. To maintain the patency of the duct, he was given prostaglandin E2. However, this was just a temporary measure to maintain a duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. A more definitive treatment for Baby J was to establish a direct connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery by a shunt in order to promote growth of central pulmonary artery. Differential Diagnosis *Most likely differential for Baby J bolded. Differentials of cyanosis:- Primary pulmonary disease Cyanotic congenital heart disease Reduced or duct-dependent pulmonary circulation Tetralogy of Fallot Pulmonary atresia Tricuspid atresia Abnormal mixing Transposition of great arteries Total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (all draining into right atrium) Single truncus arteriosus Persistent pulmonary hypertension due to persistent fetal circulation Anaemia Asphyxia Sepsis Metabolic disorder Methaemoglobinaemia due to haemolytic anaemia Management Plan Initial management:- Respiratory distress at birth Resuscitation, give CPAP and PEEP to maintain oxygenation to lungs, immediate Prostin (5ng/kg/min) Check breathing Maintain circulation IV fluids Routine bloods and ABG Continuous monitoring oxygen saturation and vitals Cardiology review- echo and CXR Echo findings consistent with Fallot tetralogy with MAPCAs CXR found cardiomegaly Feeding via TPN (6ml/kg/2 hourly) Further management:- Cardiac catherisation to assess for cardiac anomaly Cardiology experts advised surgery to establish connection between aorta and pulmonary artery to increase pulmonary blood flow. Melbourne shunt was inserted via median sternotomy on 1/10/09. Echo post-op showed good flow in small pulmonary arteries and patent central shunt. Continue monitoring oxygen saturation aim to keep above 75% Perform ECG Monitor temperature post-op If pyrexial, culture blood and give vancomycin and gentamicin. Start on aspirin, frusemide, spironolactone and paracetamol PRN. Increase feed to 150ml/kg/day via bottle Relevant Investigations and Results: Bloods results (2/10/09) after cardiac surgery FBC Hb Platelets WBC 15.2 230 10.5 UE Na+ K+ Cl Urea Creatinine 142 4.7 100 3.9 77 LFTs Alk P AST ALT Pro Alb 274 29 31 55 27 CRP 100 Echo Results on 18/09/09 Pulmonary atresia, MAPCAs, VSD, overriding aorta. Results on 2/10/09 Patent central shunt with good flow to small pulmonary arteries. MAPCAs flow demonstrated from joined aortopulmary branches. X-ray of whole spine Single AP view of thoracolumbar spine no abnormality found. Reflective Commentary: Tetralogy of Fallot Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the commonest cause of cyanotic congenital heart disease. It has 4 cardinal anatomical anomalies:- [1] Large outlet VSD Overriding aorta with respect to ventricular septum Right ventricular outflow obstruction (infundibular and valvular pulmonary stenosis) Right ventricular hypertrophy Epidemiology TOF affects 3-6 infants in every 10, 000 births. [1] Aetiology [4] The aetiology is unknown, but evidence suggests a multifactorial cause. Antenatal risk factors are:- Maternal rubella (or other viral infections during pregnancy) Poor antenatal nutrition Maternal alcohol use Maternal age > 40 years Diabetes Children with Down syndrome have a higher risk of TOF. Presentation [4] Symptoms Very few infants present with severe cyanosis in the first few days of life with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. Most infants are diagnosed by murmur at the age of 1-2 months. Feeding difficulty and failure to thrive. Tet spells episodes of bluish pale skin during crying or feeding. Squatting is classical of infants with TOF. Exertional dyspnoea usually worsens with age. Physical examination Smaller than expected for age. Peripheral cyanosis is normally found at birth, and after 3-6 months, finger clubbing may develop. Cardiac examination:- A thrill at left sternal border. Ejection systolic murmur heard over the pulmonic area and the left sternal border. In babies with aortopulmonary collaterals, continuous murmurs may be detected The S2  is usually single. Diagnosis Diagnosis is through history and clinical examination, supported by chest x-ray and ECG, and confirmed by echocardiography. Bloods Haemoglobin and haematocrit are usually increased in relation to the degree of cyanosis. The arterial oxygen saturation varies from 65-70%. ECG ECG shows right ventricular hypertrophy (+ right axis deviation) and may also show right atrial hypertrophy. Imaging Radiography Classical boot-shaped heart. Echocardiography Used to diagnose ductus arteriosus, VSD, or ASD with Doppler echocardiography. *Comparison of Baby Js presentation to the classical presentation Baby J had severe pulmonary atresia (muscular in origin) due to a severely malrotated infundibular septum. He suffered from life-threatening cyanosis at birth which had to be attended to promptly by maintaining the patency of ductus arteriosis using prostaglandin E2. As he was highly symptomatic, a palliative surgery to increase pulmonary blood flow had to be done where he underwent placement of Melbourne shunt connecting his aorta to MAPCA. This was done hoping to promote the development of main pulmonary artery. Baby J also had another problem which was the 50% possible chance of inheriting Alagilles syndrome (autosomal dominant) from his father. His LFTs were checked for any liver abnormality which is commonly implicated in this syndrome. He also had spine X-ray to exclude spinal deformities. He will be having ophthalmology review soon as well. GMC theme 2: Treatment Acute treatment [4] Neonates with severe cyanosis due to ductal constriction are given an infusion of prostaglandin E2(0.05 to 0.1  ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼g/kg/min IV) to reopen the ductus arteriosus. Tet spells are usually self-limiting and followed by a period of sleep. If prolonged (> 15 mins), treatment consists of:- [4] placing infants in a knee-chest position sedation and pain relief morphine  IM. IV fluids are used for volume expansion. Propanolol  IV acts as peripheral vasoconstrictor. Bicarbonate to correct acidosis. Muscle paralysis and artificial ventilator to reduce oxygen demand. Symptomatic or palliative treatment in first few months Palliative surgery can be performed in patients who are not suitable for complete repair or patients with tet spells. One of the commonly used procedures is the Blalock-Taussig shunt where the subclavian artery is connected to the ipsilateral pulmonary artery with a prosthetic graft. Baby J had a relatively new shunt placement (first developed in Melbourne) which connects the major aortopulmonary collateral artery (MAPCA) to aorta. This has been shown to promote the growth of central pulmonary artery. [2] Melbourne shunt: illustrates the completed shunt with the pulmonary artery anastomosed to the posterior and left lateral aspect of the ascending aorta close to the sinotubular junction. Adapted from Ref [2] Corrective Surgery Since TOF is a progressive disorder, Baby J will require a more definitive corrective surgery. Nowadays, surgery is commonly performed electively at around 6 months of age (or before 1 year). The timing of complete surgical repair on Baby J will depend on numerous factors like further symptoms, severity of lesions (multiple VSDs, pulmonary atresia),etc. Complete repair is achieved by patch closure of VSD and widening of right ventricular outflow tract. Perioperative mortality rate is   Primary repair is beneficial in terms of preventing long-term right ventricular outflow obstruction and the consequential development of right ventricular hypertrophy, prolonged cyanosis, and postnatal angiogenesis. [1] Summary Survival in children with simple forms of TOF is promising and quality of life is good. Studies showed that survivors are in NYHA 1 class with minimal reduction in exercise capacity. However, Baby J has a rather severe form of TOF and it is difficult to predict his prognosis as for now. This will depend on his progress after corrective surgery repair done. He will need life-long cardiac review and this can be quite stressful for the child and the family as well. Baby J is fortunate to have good supportive parents who are both rather anxious about the childs condition during the interview.