Compare a presidential system with a parliamentary system. Choose one Essay

Compare a presidential system with a parliamentary system. Choose one country that represents each system. Explain their legislative, executive and judicial br - Essay Example He stays in office as head of government for six years with no re-election. His functions primarily revolve around the implementation of laws, policies, and, development plans for his country. In the parliamentary system adapted by Great Britain, there is a fusion in the three branches of government. The executive branch of Britain is composed of the Queen who is considered the chief of state and the Prime Minister as head of government. The Prime Minister is elected by the members of the legislative branch. He has no definite term of office as the conduct of elections is decided on by Parliament. The legislative branch of government of Mexico has two chambers-the upper (Senate) and the lower (Chamber of Deputies). They have the power to pass laws, ordinance, impose taxes, declare war, and approve the national budget. Some members of the Senate are voted through direct popular vote, some are voted per state. The members of the lower chamber are voted per district based on proportional representation. The legislative branch of Great Britain, called the House of Parliament, is also bicameral-composed of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. This branch serves as the supreme legislative body of Britain and its territories. The House of Lords is largely made up of appointed members, with a small percentage who are voted by hereditary peerage. The members of the House of Commons are elected via popular vote every four or five years. The distinct feature about British Parliament is that they control the executive branch of the government. As opposed to the Legislative branch of government in the presidential system, the executive and legislative branches of government are independent from each other. The judicial branch of government in Mexico is divided into the federal and state systems. It has a Supreme Court of Justice composed of magistrates and auxiliary judges who

Humans Causing The Sixth Mass Extinction

Humans Causing The Sixth Mass Extinction Humans could be causing the sixth mass extinction of the world through the effect the human species has on the planet earth. Human population density increases, climate change due to human activities and increased human exploration and interference of nature are some of the ways humans are on their way to causing the sixth mass extinction. A mass extinction refers to the extinction of a significant proportion of the worlds biota in a geologically insignificant period of time (Hallam Wignall, 2002, p. 2). Put simply this means a large amount of species die out a little amount of time. Raup (1992) suggests that approximately half the earths surface must be environmentally affected in order for a mass extinction, on par with previous mass extinctions, to occur (Hallam Wignall, 2002). Previous mass extinctions have occurred towards the ends of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic and Cretaceous eras (Mader, 2008). These time periods show a sudden marked decrease in biodiversity. Towards the end of the Ordovician period, the climate turned cold and it is believed up to 85% of the earths species disappeared. These species would have consisted of trilobites and brachiopods. The late Devonian mass extinction which was only recently recognised as a mass extinction in the late 1960s, continued for 20-25 million years with several extinction events such as the Kellwasser and Hangenberg (Hallam Wignall, 2002). Species including sponges, calcareous algae, foraminifera and bivalves suffered extinction within this period (Hallam Wignall, 2002). The mass extinction of the late Permian era over 250 million years ago is known to be the most severe with extinction of 54% of marine families and 96% of all marine species (Erwin, 1990). During the Triassic period, plant li fe consisted mainly of confiers and cycads. It was during this time period the first dinosaurs appeared and continued to survive despite a significant decrease in biota towards the end of this era. It is believed that the Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by meteorites that fell to the earth causing a dust cloud. This dust cloud then blocked out the sun, causing atmospheric temperatures to drop and the majority of life on earth to cease. The Creataceous mass extinction marked the extinction of the dinosaurs (Mader, 2008). The sheer increase in human population and density has affected the earths animals. It is estimated that the world population grows at approximately 1.15% per year. Within the 40 years between 1959 and 1999, the world population doubled from 3 billion to 6 billion (Worldometers.info, 2009). This translates to not only an increased strain on natural resources such as water but also increased competition for resources amongst all living things. Human activity has had a tremendous impact on the planet earth. It is estimated between one third and one half of the earths surface has been altered by human activities such as deforestation, forestry and development (Vitousek, Mooney, Lubchenco, Melillo, 1997). These practices alter the earths biodiversity and drive climate change affecting ecosystems which consequently causes disruption to the animal kingdom. Land transformation also directly contributes to climate change with an approximate 20% increased concentration of greenhouse gases an d air pollution (Vitousek, Mooney, Lubchenco, Melillo, 1997). Within the oceans, although the impact of human activity can be difficult to measure, there is significant damage. It is estimated 50% of the worlds mangroves have been destroyed or severely affected by humans (Vitousek, Mooney, Lubchenco, Melillo, 1997). Needless to say, every area of the planet that is affected by humans, affects every living thing surviving within that area. There have been many animals that have existed and become extinct before humans have even discovered they may have once existed at all (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). Coupled with the arrival of the first British settlers to Australia came the disappearance of nearly all large mammals and flightless birds (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). The largest animal types have suffered extinction such as the Dodo, the elephant birds of Madagascar and the turtles of Galapagos. A predicted 13 000 turtles disappeared within the Galapagos islands between 1838 and 1888 due to their demand as a food supply on crew ships crossing the area (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). Such instances of animal extinction due to humans are increasingly common. Recent calculations show that animal extinction has increased by 100 to 1000 times since human domination of the planet (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). This translates into approximately 18% of mammals, 11% of birds, 5% of fish and 8% of flora on earth threatened with e xtinction due to human domination (Jefferson Zuckerman, 1993). Although there are countless specific examples of particular species that have become extinct due to reasons directly related to human activity, the extinction of earths megafauna is the most poignant. The extinction of the megafauna, land animals weighing up to 45kg, has been attributed to human colonisation (Roberts, et al., 2001). Megafauna extinction in Australia occurred within the last million years, directly after known human settlement. This extinction pattern continued for North then South America, Madagascar and New Zealand providing evidence to suggest human colonisation could have contributed to the extinction of the megafauna (Roberts, et al., 2001). Humans are causing the sixth mass extinction through continued development to advance the human race without consideration of the environmental impact (Eldredge, 2001). It is predicted three major causes of animal extinction are direct habitat destruction, over exploitation and introduced species. Human consumption and exploitation of natural resources causes changes in the earths atmosphere such as an increase in greenhouse gases leading to increased temperatures on earth. Humans are causing the sixth mass extinction through consumption of natural resources that has a significant impact on the earths flora and fauna. Extinction rates of animals have dramatically increased since human colonisation and will continue to decrease without strict measures of conservation by all.

Hinduism :: essays research papers

It could be said that Hinduism has many gods but only one supreme God, Brahman. Brahman is visualized as a triad, he is three gods that make up one being. He is Brahma, the Creator, who continually creates new realities; He is Vishnu, the Preserver, who is to protect the creations of Brahma; and he is Shiva, the Destroyer, who is the more chaotic force that though sometimes is compassionate, often brings death and destruction. There are two main sects of Hinduism, Vaishnavaism and Shivaism. In Vaishnavaism they believe the Vishnu is the ultimate deity. In Shivaism they believe that Shiva is the ultimate deity. But is some rural areas a village god or an earth goddess is worshiped. Hindus are very tolerant of other faiths. The have a saying for it â€Å"The truth is One, but different Sages call it by Different Names†. Hindus believe in transmigration of the soul, the transfer of one's soul after death into another body to live another life. This closes the cycle of life and death. This whole concept follows the Hindus’ belief that the whole world is cyclic. While you live your life you collect Karma, the sum of a person’s good and bad deeds. Karma determines how you will live in your next life. If you live a bad life you could be born into a low social cast or be made to suffer in your next life. It also works the other way around, if you do pure acts and have devotion to God, you can be born into a higher level in your next life, or can even achieve enlightenment. The Hindus have many holy text. The most important of the sacred text are the Vedas, which is made up of many different volumes of text. They contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India. The oldest volume is the Rig Veda that was composed around 1500 BC. Another important group of books is the Upanishadas. They are about Vedic philosophy, and were written between 800 and 400 B.C. They are about how the soul can be united with the ultimate truth through contemplation and mediation. Hinduism is said to be one of the longest practiced religions in the world. Its roots can be traced back to the civilization in the Indus valley, some time for 4,000 BC to around 2,000BC. It was shaped by many invasions to the area over a span of thousands of years.

My School Essay

This school does block scheduling of 4 classes for 2 semesters and still have 8 classes for the year. These classes are one hour and a half long. There are about 30 students in the classroom. The students do not come to class prepared for their lessons at all. They do not carry books with them either. The class talks and does not listen to the announcements at all. A couple of students were late and not reprimanded. This teacher tries to get their attention by doing activities and they still don’t care. They have Smart Boards in their rooms and that is very helpful. Her attendance shows 34 students on the role. That is way too many students for one teacher to teach. The board also shows their grade in front of all the students and I personally do not like this at all. You can tell that the teacher gets frustrated. They sharpen their pencils and are very disruptive in class, while she gives instructions. They do detention and have to write their names on the board. You can tell some do want to learn and others don’t even have a clue. They need to show work for their problems and participate in class activities. Some examples: this is ranging 2+3>6 no 3+4>5 yes 3+3>6 no 4+5>8 yes 5+7>8 yes 5+6>9 no.

God Sees the Truth but Waits Essay

* In the town of Vladimir lived a merchant named Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov along with his family. * One summer, Aksionov planned to go to the Nizhny Fair to sell all his goods but was stopped by his wife who told him to go another day because she had a bad dream about him wherein he took off his cap and his hair was quite gray. * Aksionov did not heed his wife’s plea and continued on to his journey. * When he had reached the halfway point, he met a fellow merchant who he knew and they stayed at the same inn for the night, drinking tea together and sleeping in adjoining rooms. * As it was not his habit to sleep late and wanting to leave before it became too warm, he left the inn before dawn. Rising Action: * When he had gone about 25 miles, he stopped at another inn to rest, have a samovar be heated and for his horses to be fed as well. * Suddenly, a troika drove up to the inn, followed by two soldiers who came to him and asked him who he was, where he came from, where he stayed the night and if he was alone or with a fellow-merchant. * Aksionov found out from the police-officer of the district that the other merchant was found with his throat cut. * The soldiers searched his things and found a blood-stained knife in his bag. * Aksionov was too nervous to answer the police-officer’s questions of why he had the knife in his bag so they assumed that it was guilt and he was taken into their custody and brought to the nearest town to be imprisoned. * Enquiries were done to investigate his character which found him to be a good man but when the trial came on, he was charged with murdering the merchant from Ryazan and robbing him of twenty thousand rubles. * His wife was able to visit him in prison with their children but in the end was also one of the people who suspected him of doing the crime. * Aksionov, feeling that no one believed him, gave up all hope and turned to God and trusted Him with everything. * For 26 years, he lived as a convict in Siberia where his hair became white and his beard grew long, thin and gray. * The prison authorities like him for his meekness and they along with his fellow-prisoners respected him enough to be given the title of â€Å"Grandfather† and â€Å"The Saint†. * One day, a fresh gang of convicts came to the prison and one of them was Makar Semyonich. * After overhearing several conversations, Aksionov was convinced that Semyonich is the man who committed the murder for which he was accused of, causing him to feel anger so great that he longed for vengeance. He prayed and prayed but found no peace from it. * One night, as he was walking about the prison he found out that Semyonich was creating a tunnel with the help of the other prisoners under the shelf by stuffing the earth into their high-boots. * The tunnel was found out by the prison officials and was investigated by the guards and the Governor. All the prisoners who knew would not betray Semyonich for they knew that he would be flogged almost to death. Climax * The Governor, knowing that Aksionov was a just and fair man, turned to him and asked him who dug the hole but Aksionov, even though he wanted revenge against Semyonich, spoke out that it is not his place to speak about the tunnel. Falling Action * That night, Makar, moved by Aksionov’s protection of him, went near him and begged for his forgiveness and revealed the truth to him. * Aksionov forgave Semyonich and while doing so felt his heart grow lighter and the feeling of longing to go home left him. * Makar then told the truth of the murder to the officials but when the order for his release came, Aksionov was already dead.

design essays

design essays The Bauhaus in their historical context Architecture us always the will of the age conceived as space, nothing else(438) said Mies, and he was not far from the truth. Thus, it is necessary to place in context the architectural revolution of the Bauhaus in the early 1920s. This revolution was characterized by its constant return to efficiency, clarity and simplicity. It saw architecture as a unifying force for all arts, as well as a reflection of class and sex conflict. But conservatives strongly opposed this equality and social transformation through the arts. This revolution was deeply rooted in the need to find a new identity after Germanys defeat in WWI and the post-industrialized world of airplanes and automobiles. The Bauhaus school an amalgamation of the former Weimar Academy of Fine Art and the Weimar School of Arts and Crafts- was the precursor of the new architectural revolution. It sought to unify the arts under architecture, and develop arts by teaching crafts. Their main goal was the release of creativity. They tried to connect with the public through exhibitions and to develop an architecture that would serve everyone drawing from public funds (Bruno Taut, 432-434; Gropius, 435-438). The post-industrial era was one filled with confusion, noise from fast cars roaming the cities and planes crossing the sky. This architecture sought to simplify life to effectively solve the problems of growing population and hygienic demands. It was aimed towards efficiency, clarity and cleanliness -not only in architecture and design, but in spatial exploitation and furniture. Factory work allowed for the pre-assembly of houses and the use of new materials. Rejection had proved a mistake industrialization was inevitable and architects and arts sought to embrace it to bring it to some understanding and rationalization. It became part of the whole. Another important historical aspect ...

Catalyst essays

Catalyst essays Purpose: The purpose of this project is to find out the effect of the enzyme activity by looking at enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and the effect of pH and temperature on enzyme activity. Hypothesis: If procedures are followed correctly then the effect on enzyme activity will be found. 2. Set up 5 vials containing 40ml of 4 % hydrogen peroxide in each. Measure and record the depth of the hydrogen peroxide in the vials. 3. Dilute the enzyme as follows. Make each dilution in a separate cup. 100 units/ml = 12 ml 100 units/ml + 3 ml cold dH2O 80 units/ml = 12 ml 100 units/ml + 10 ml cold dH2O 50 units/ml = 3 ml 100 units/ml + 12 ml cold dH2O 20 units/ml = 3 ml 100 units/ml + 12 ml cold dH2O 4. Using the forceps, dip a filter into the enzyme solution at 100 units/ml, then remove it and drain it on a paper towel. Drop the disc into the vial of hydrogen peroxide labeled 100 units/ml and time how long it takes the filter to rise to the surface. Repeat this procedure for each of the other enzyme dilutions. Record result. 5. Obtain 1 vial of catalase at 100 units/ml. 6. Dilute the substrate (hydrogen peroxide) as described below. 1.5% h2o2:20ml 3% h2o2 + 20ml distilled water 0.75% h2o2 :10 ml 3% h2o2 + 30 distilled water 0.38% h2o2 : 5 ml 3% h2o2 +35 ml distilled water 7. Dip a filter into the catalase, drain on a paper towel and then drop the filter into the 3% H2O2. Time how long it takes the filter to rise to the top. Repeat this procedure for each of the substrate dilutions. Record your results in the appropriate data chart. 8 Obtain 1 vial of 40 ml 1% h2o2. Measure and record the depth of the hydrogen peroxide. ...

SAT Security Protocols What to Expect on Test Day

SAT Security Protocols What to Expect on Test Day SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The security of standardized testing materials is critical in preserving the relevance and fairness of the test as a whole. Since so many students around the world take the SAT, it can be difficult to prevent leaks, but the College Board does have many measures in place to keep confidential questions from being released to the public. In this article, I'll go over the specifics of theSAT security measures, explain the most recent breaches in test security, and review what all of this means for you. Why Is SAT Test Security a Concern? Test security is a huge concern for the administrators of standardized tests like the SAT.If anyone manages to access test questions before the exam is administered, the whole system is compromised by the students who had an unfair advantage. The invalid scores of students who cheatedwill ruin the curve, which just ends up hurting the scores of other students who didn't get a sneak peek at the test. This means that the integrity of the test is extremely important for all students.If people are able to access materials before the exam, their unfair advantage can actively hurt your scores by creating artificially high numbers of top scorers. Breaches in test security also undermine the overall validity of the SAT as a measure of academic ability, which is a huge problem for the College Board and for universities that rely on SAT scores to assess candidates. How Does the College Board Ensure SATSecurity? There are a variety of measures that the College Board implements to ensure that test questions don't fall into the wrong hands. These regulations come into play throughout the test registration and administration process. Registration Security Regulations The College Board shares scores and registration information with each student’s high school. If an investigation into a student’s scores is conducted, this information will also be shared with any colleges where he or she has been admitted.Keeping all parties in the loop ensures that it’s much more difficult for someone to take the SAT for another person or circumvent the regulations in any other way. The College Board also implements an â€Å"intended use† policy, which means they take steps to ensure that everyone who registers for the SAT is using it to apply to colleges or scholarship programs.People who are taking the SAT for other reasons can only take it on dates in October, January, and May (January will be replaced with August in the 2017-18 school year) because the College Board discloses the test form for those dates with its optionalQuestion and Answer Service. For example, everyone here at PrepScholar originally signed up for the first administration of the 2016 SAT in March. However,all of our registrations were transferred to the date in May instead because we were just taking the test to get a feel for the new exam, not to apply for anything (and also very few of us could pull off a 21 Jump Street thing).If anyone who takes the test has the opportunity to order the QAS, the test material will be out there for the public to see anyways, so there’s no real risk of compromising the integrity of the exam.All students are prohibited from discussing exam content unless it's released in the form of the QAS. Accurate depiction of me taking the SAT Test Day Security Regulations The College Board also takes measures to keep test materials secure before, during, and after the exam. If you’ve taken the SAT before, you know that you have to break a seal on the test booklet to begin, which ensures that no one can read the questions ahead of time without the College Board’s knowledge.Test materials are secured in lock boxes when they’re sent to international locations to prevent the theft of test booklets. Every student must have a valid photo ID and admission ticket to be allowed into the test center. Photo IDs are checked against your admission ticket multiple times throughout the testing process to ensure that no one can swap identities. You have to upload a photo of yourself during SAT registrationso the test coordinators can verify that you are who you say you are. As you might expect, phones and other electronic devices are banned from test centers to prevent people from documenting the content of the exam. No one is allowed to read test materials without completing an answer sheet or leave the building before the test is finished. If you do, you will be dismissed, and your scores will be canceled.These actions are red flags that the person might have registered for the exam just to get a look at the test content and share it unlawfully. Even if you've been given extra time, you’re not allowed to skip ahead to preview sections before you start them.Seeing the questions before the section starts, even if it only happens during an earlier part of the test, leads to an unfair advantage. Prepare for separation anxiety when you can't look at your phone every five seconds (I do this too - I'm not just making fun of teenagers here). Recent Breaches in SAT Test Security The College Board has experienced some issues in the past few years with people obtaining test materials ahead of time.In fact, in 2013, they brought in an independent consultant who recommended additional security measures to ensure the confidentiality of not just physical test materials but also the College Board’s servers, storage, and data.The potential for system hacking complicates the security measures the College Board has to take to ensure exam safety, meaning sometimes things slip through the cracks. Also, for international test administrations, the College Board sometimes reuses questions or entire sections that have already been given to students in the US. This greatly increases the risk that students will have prior knowledge of the material.Problems with SATsecurity are particularly prevalent in Asia, where the College Board has delayed score releases and even canceled test administrations several times after finding evidence that the material was previously released to the public. In January of 2016, test administrations were canceled in China and Macau due to evidence of leaked test materials.In May of 2013, all scores in South Korea for both the SAT and SAT Subject Tests were canceled. The latest version of the SAT, introduced in March of 2016, has experienced major issues with question leaks.Reuters reported that a disgruntled ex-College Board employee with access to the materials showed them hundreds of confidential test questions.The College Board confirmed that these were official questions and that their public circulation would have dire consequences for the integrity of the test. They even got the FBI involved.Agents raided the home of the whistleblower in question, seizing computers and other potentially incriminating materials. This matter is still under investigation, and the College Board is working to switch out sections of future tests that they fear may have been compromised. The College Board treats the release of confidential test questions to the public as an extremely serious criminal matter. This makes sense because of the huge amount of time and money that went into creating questions that are now essentially useless. This is the actual whistle that was blown to call out the College Board for shoddy preparation of test materials. Just kidding, this one is far too whimsical for such purposes. It was definitely a more robust metal whistle. How the College Board Is Cracking Down on SAT Cheating In February 2017, the College Board announcedthey will begin implementing new regulations to crack down on SAT cheating in both the US and abroad.Some of these new measures include: Reducing how oftenthe SAT is administered overseas. (The SAT will now be offered four times a year overseas, in October, December, March, and May.) Reducing the number of questions that are reused formultiple tests. Providing the names of people andfirms suspected of cheating to law enforcement and federal agencies(both in the US and abroad). Preventing people from taking the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or AP Exams if the College Board has found they were guilty of past cheating offenses. Making it easier for test takers and proctors to confidentially report suspected cheating. These new measures won't eliminate cheating completely, but they should help make it even harder to cheat on the SAT and get away with it. Reducing the number of SAT questions used on multiple exams should especially lower the number of studentswho walk into the SAT already knowing some of the questions and use that information to inflate their scores. What Does SAT SecurityMean for You? For the most part, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about this issue.However, it’s in your best interests to protect the security of the test by following protocol during the exam, not sharing confidential information, and reporting any leaks you hear about to the College Board. Leaks of test materials create unfair advantages for certain groups of students and damage the credibility of everyone’s SAT scores.Such incidents may lead the College Board to cancel the scores of a large group of students if they aren't sure who had access to the test beforehand, which is very unfair to people who played by the rules. When you arrive at the test center, make sure you have a valid photo ID and admission ticket ready to present to the test coordinator. During the test, don't peek at sections ahead of time or try to go back and fix mistakes on sections that have already passed. Don't discuss exam content during breaks or leave the building for any reason. The only electronic devices you should have are a watch (if you want) and an approved calculator. Keep your smartphone turned off and in your backpack for the duration of the test. It's best not to risk violating any of these rules because if you're caught, you may be dismissed and have your scores canceled. You should also refrain from discussing or posting about specific questions in the aftermath of a test administration.These same questions may be reused overseas or on a future SAT test date in the US.Once the questions are out there on the internet, there’s no telling who will find and take advantage of them. Conclusion To ensure security of SAT test materials, the College Board takes steps to preserve the integrity of the test questions both before and after the exam is administered. Despite these precautions, there continue to be question leaks and cheating scandals that have affected many students' scores. Test security is extremely important due to the nature of standardized tests, and it is especially critical for the SAT considering how popular it is around the world as a college admissions assessment. As you go through the process of registering for and taking the SAT, make sure you avoid sharing confidential information. This could have a huge negative impact on the validity of your scores and the scores of potentially thousands of other students. What's Next? What is SAT test day really like? Read this guide to learn exactly what to expect after you arrive at the test center. You don't want to bring anything to the SAT that might compromise your scores. This article will tell you which materials to bring and which to leave at home. Finally, if you notice any suspicious behavior during the test, it's in your best interests to speak up. Find out how you can report cheating and address other issues at your test center. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The Great Recession 2008 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Great Recession 2008 - Term Paper Example According to the research findings the 2007 global financial crisis has had serious impacts on the economies of many countries, resulting to what economists call the Great Recession. The downturn began initially as an isolated problem with the sub-prime sector in the US housing market, mutating to a serious and fatal recession by the beginning of 2008. Consequently, other nations especially in the European Union followed the US into the crisis by mid-2008. In essence, 2009 was the first recorded year in history that the global economy was actually in recession since the Second World War. Interestingly, the recession came as a surprise to many economists, investor, academics, policy-makers, and multilateral agencies. For instance, Organization for Economic Co-operation Development’s Jean-Philippe Cotis was quoted as speculating further growth in the global economy because of the buoyancy of emerging economies and favoring financial conditions. After the economy drove into reces sion, the economics profession was under fire for failure to predict the financial downturn. As a result, there were few intellectual conversations taking place between scholars of like minds. Therefore, the underestimation of the severity of the global downturn was not surprising. Indeed, some leading financial forecasters like World Bank and International Monetary Funds revised their initial to their growth forecasts in 2008 and 2009. Nonetheless, there were warnings from a few economists of a brewing economical disaster. A portion of the economist predicted a looming recession based on economic models where the accumulation of the private sector was the central cause. However, their cries were not significant enough for the majority of the lulled individuals. Despite all these, the warning signs were blinking red: loose monetary policy especially in the US, lax in financial regulation, misperception of risk and search for yield, and huge current deficits in UK, US, and other supe r economies that accumulated huge savings of oil exporters and emerging economies. Events of 2008, with emphasis on the collapse and consequent closure of Lehman Brother, reversed the perceptions of risk-taking banks (Clungston, 2008). However, the complexity and nature mortgage-backed securities left most banks in the dark concerning the exact level of liabilities that was linked to the severing housing sector in the US. Thus, liquidity of most banks dried up, literary bringing the global financial system to a halt. Some critiques were quick to question the survival of the American-style capitalism. Governments in developing and advanced countries were quick to react aggressively, injecting obscene credit amounts into their financial markets, reducing interest rates, nationalizing banks, and unveiling stimulus packages to increase discretionary spending. Most policymakers were determined to avoid mistakes from previous crises, and their response was important avoiding disastrous de pression in most countries,

What athe fundamentals of a case control study, give details Presetn Research Paper

What athe fundamentals of a case control study, give details Presetn the stregths and weakness of the approach. Debate with two peers and debate the peers rationale - Research Paper Example The main aim is always to analyze a disease to determine the exposure of the risk factor from the two groups of individuals, which are the cases and controls. A case study is devised for odds estimation. Since a case control study depends on retrospective data, there is a prospect of having recall bias. Recall bias is primarily the propensity of subjects to report events in an approach that is dissimilar between two groups of study. This means that people who are suffering from a disease are more inclined to remember the risk of exposure than those not having the disease (Bonita, 2006). Case control studies have their strengths and weaknesses. Let us start by discussing its strengths. Firstly, they are primarily the most realistic studies for exposing etiology in uncommon diseases. This helps people to understand the presence of new diseases in the community. They are also used in cases of disease outbreaks to understand the nature of the disease whether it is old or new. Furthermore, case control studies use minimal time to be conducted since the disease in study is always present. Lastly, it is an effective method of study since it gives information on new disease that other studies could have failed to find out (Gordis, 2009). However, there are also weaknesses of case control studies. Retrospective studies are predisposed to bias because of the quality of data occasioned by the reliance on memory. Moreover, people with a particular disease are most probably more motivated to recall the exposure of risk factors (recall bias). Secondly, case control studies are not appropriate in the evaluation of diagnostic tests since there is evidence that the cases have the condition whereas the controls do not have it. Still, it is an uphill task to get control groups. They are also restricted to give a single outcome and the incidence rates cannot be calculated. Lastly, case control studies

Growth Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Growth Analysis - Essay Example Its continued innovation, which is marked by continued research and development activities has enabled it grasp customer needs and services (Ignatiuk, 2009). The move by dell Inc to develop modern technologies like the blue ray disc technology puts it strategically to the demands and preferences of global customers (Ignatiuk, 2009). Since Dell Inc sells a range of products, it has competitive advantage of economies of scale. The use of communication technology strategically puts it at a better position to create a collaborative relationship with its customers and network partners (Sigismund et al., 2009). The use of proactive marketing staff helps keep the company’s long-term objectives active. Since loyal customers are part of primary asset for organizations, Dell Inc has continued to create customer loyalty over years. This comes in terms of catering for customer needs by offering customized systems that cater for their needs. It is also noted that customer service and support is equally enhanced in Dell operations including online services. Diversification of the market is evident in several ways. Dell has been able to open up manufacturing centers in various parts of the world. This can be argued to be a key factor of targeting new and more customers (Sadler & Craig, 2003). It is also argued that its strategic management and objectives and the organizational culture reflects its mission and vision statements. With the mission of Dell being to be the most successful at bringing the finest customer experience in the market it serves, and the vision being to interact with customers in the global community and serving their needs with the changing technologies, it is apparent that dell has worked hard to accomplish

Unconventional Monetary Policies Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Unconventional Monetary Policies - Term Paper Example Recent studies have had an approach that is more formal as they show significant impacts of the yield curve commitment effect while employing different methodologies. Significant commitments imply that such markets expect its rates to remain very low for a period of at least a year. Different nations have adapted different policies in relation to the unconventional monetary policy. Historical Evidence The balance sheets of different banks on policies before the financial crisis were in such a manner that they did not aim at influencing the respective banks macroeconomic conditions. For example, the quantitative easing of the Bank of Japan has been considered as being ineffective at the zero lower experienced from 2001 as the central bank sheets were on the global financial crisis and monetary policy shifts that were exogenous similar to the commodity prices conditioning importance as an indicator used in conventional monetary policy identification. A shock monetary policy that is exp ansionary results in both temporary and significant rise in prices and output, the increase turning out to be robust to several model specifications perturbations. The impact of the unconventional monetary policies on price level in the past has been observed as to weaker and less persistent. Results from central bank balance sheets of different countries including Japan, UK and the United States show that panel estimates fail to obscure significantly across the heterogeneity of different countries. More specifically, there are no major observable differences across different nations in relation to the effects of macroeconomic shocks to the balance sheets of different central banks... The balance sheets of different banks on policies before the financial crisis were in such a manner that they did not aim at influencing the respective bank's macroeconomic conditions. For example, the quantitative easing of the Bank of Japan has been considered as being ineffective at the zero lower experienced from 2001 as the central bank sheets were on the global financial crisis and monetary policy shifts that were exogenous similar to the commodity prices conditioning importance as an indicator used in conventional monetary policy identification. A shock monetary policy that is expansionary results in both temporary and significant rise in prices and output.The impact of the unconventional monetary policies on the price level in the past has been observed as to weaker and less persistent. Results from central bank balance sheets of different countries including Japan, UK, and the United States show that panel estimates fail to obscure significantly across the heterogeneity of d ifferent countries. More specifically, there are no major observable differences across different nations in relation to the effects of macroeconomic shocks on the balance sheets of different central banks regardless of the several varying measures employed by different countries in an effort to deal with the economic crisis.Quantitative easing has been observed to positively affect interest rates and economic activities. It has also been identified as to greatly affect the commitment level of different nations.

Business Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 2

Business Information Systems - Essay Example One such factor that is very essential for success of any business, especially in present era of huge competition, is processing and dissemination of information in and out of the organisation. Nowadays, accurate and rapid management of information has become an essential and imperative task for business organisations since besides product quality, it has been an observation that service delivery now plays an important role in deciding future orders, and for this reason, a company can make or lose business just by focusing on its information management and systems. Although management of information was essential in the past as well; however, volume of such information was not so huge that it needed systems and thus, humans were performing the task efficiently (Martin, 1973, pp. 255-257). However, nowadays, due to huge number of customers, suppliers, vendors, etc, the need of business information systems has become inevitable, especially for companies that are dealing with suppliers and customers on national and international levels. One such company under consideration in this paper is Bognor Marine Watercraft (BMW) Company. In the last few years, BMW Company has witnessed an amazing progress in its business of watercraft and ancillaries that was limited to the UK market. Now, the decision-makers are now thinking about expanding the business due to increase in demand from the customers, especially for specialised high-end luxury watercrafts that has been the reason of their presence in the media lately. As the result, the notion of a ‘global village’ (Avgerou, 2003, pp. 97-99) is becoming a reality for the owners of BMW Company who now wants to become a market leader in their particular industry, not only in the UK market but internationally as well. Although the company was aware of the importance of information technology and therefore, it did invested in different information management systems and databases, however, it is an observation that the company did not give consideration to various aspects that are very essential before setting up of any IT structures and systems (Lan, 2005, pp. 130-134). In this regard, this paper will include understanding of different aspects related to IT systems that will potentially assist BMW Company in making the best use of its IT systems. Business Information Systems It will not be wrong to declare 21st century as the era of science and technology since even in the business market, the flow of information from one source to another has now become a decisive factor of success or failure of a company (Laudon & Laudon, 2007, pp. 101-103). As the result, nowadays, business information systems have taken place of humans and performing their tasks of processing and storing information while holding records and data related to different processes of an organisation. Companies have now installed information systems that are capable of comparing and relating past and present data to provide st atistics that enable owners to take crucial decisions in an efficient manner. Moreover, in bigger organisations such as BMW Company where there are different and various departments, information syste

Mitigation and risk reduction (case) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mitigation and risk reduction (case) - Essay Example Despite the wide range of techniques initiated since the Lisbon earthquake, the increased population density in mega cities has impeded the efficacy of all those tactics. In addition to urbanization, there are several other impediments to preventive strategies. This paper tends to explore various elements that hamper disaster prevention programs in mega cities. Although earthquake is a natural phenomenon that cannot be averted, we can take some precautions in order to mitigate the destructive potential of its aftermath. The invention of Richter scale has enabled us for computing the magnitude of earthquakes. Today, it is possible to identify frequently earthquake occurring places and the intensity of every earthquake. Modern facilities such as earthquake alarming systems are some of the advancements in this area. However, lack of improved infrastructural deterrence techniques often affects the effectiveness of disaster prevention in mage cities. According to census reports published by Government of Maharashtra (2000) in 1991, 60% of the registered buildings in Mumbai were made up of non-engineered materials such as informal masonry. It is important to note that Mumbai is categorized under seismic zone 3, which indicates the high vulnerability to the occurrence of devastating earthquakes. The earthquake history of Mumbai reflects that large number of earthquakes occurred across different parts of the city during the last century and even in the last two years. Severe losses had not been reported until 1967 when one attacked Koyna region of Mumbai with a magnitude of 6.3. Large number of buildings was destroyed at this calamity. Damages of such sorts can be avoided to a large extent only if the city employs geotechnical guidelines for the disaster prevention. The Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI) reports that â€Å"poor governance structures, lack of awareness, and poor professional standards and ethics† are some of the major impediments for dis aster prevention in mega cities (cited in Wenzel, 2006). Poor governance implies that different communities and sectors of the society do not cooperate with one another in order to mitigate the impacts of the calamity. Impediments associated with poor governance are reflected in 2004 Indian ocean earthquake. Its magnitude was between 9.1 and 9.3 and it was recorded as one of the deadliest disasters of world history, which killed nearly 230,000 people (Online Colleges, 2010). The death rate would not have exceeded 200,000 if the various social capital of a community such as media, business, and other civil organizations had coordinately involved in rescue activities. Hence, it is advisable to design proper mechanisms for the effective communication between various social sectors as it would ensure disaster effects mitigation rather effortlessly. Similarly, paucity of awareness and poor knowledge about risk factor remain to be the major constraint to disaster prevention in mega cities . Evidently, urban people do not have proper awareness regarding the occurrence of earthquakes, and hence they do not know how to respond to such situations. This lack of awareness amplifies the intensity of the calamity since the people in mega cities get totally confused and distorted during such events. For instance, the impact of 2010 Chile earthquake can be attributed to lack of awareness or poor knowledge. This earthquake continued for three minutes with a magnitude

Business Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 2

Business Information Systems - Essay Example One such factor that is very essential for success of any business, especially in present era of huge competition, is processing and dissemination of information in and out of the organisation. Nowadays, accurate and rapid management of information has become an essential and imperative task for business organisations since besides product quality, it has been an observation that service delivery now plays an important role in deciding future orders, and for this reason, a company can make or lose business just by focusing on its information management and systems. Although management of information was essential in the past as well; however, volume of such information was not so huge that it needed systems and thus, humans were performing the task efficiently (Martin, 1973, pp. 255-257). However, nowadays, due to huge number of customers, suppliers, vendors, etc, the need of business information systems has become inevitable, especially for companies that are dealing with suppliers and customers on national and international levels. One such company under consideration in this paper is Bognor Marine Watercraft (BMW) Company. In the last few years, BMW Company has witnessed an amazing progress in its business of watercraft and ancillaries that was limited to the UK market. Now, the decision-makers are now thinking about expanding the business due to increase in demand from the customers, especially for specialised high-end luxury watercrafts that has been the reason of their presence in the media lately. As the result, the notion of a ‘global village’ (Avgerou, 2003, pp. 97-99) is becoming a reality for the owners of BMW Company who now wants to become a market leader in their particular industry, not only in the UK market but internationally as well. Although the company was aware of the importance of information technology and therefore, it did invested in different information management systems and databases, however, it is an observation that the company did not give consideration to various aspects that are very essential before setting up of any IT structures and systems (Lan, 2005, pp. 130-134). In this regard, this paper will include understanding of different aspects related to IT systems that will potentially assist BMW Company in making the best use of its IT systems. Business Information Systems It will not be wrong to declare 21st century as the era of science and technology since even in the business market, the flow of information from one source to another has now become a decisive factor of success or failure of a company (Laudon & Laudon, 2007, pp. 101-103). As the result, nowadays, business information systems have taken place of humans and performing their tasks of processing and storing information while holding records and data related to different processes of an organisation. Companies have now installed information systems that are capable of comparing and relating past and present data to provide st atistics that enable owners to take crucial decisions in an efficient manner. Moreover, in bigger organisations such as BMW Company where there are different and various departments, information syste

Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Case Study - Essay Example settings in which there are various forms of actors and factors interacting with each other and eventually contributing to the organizational framework, Bolman’s and Deal’s leadership frames attempt to provide different scopes under which managers perceive issues/problems raised and behave towards implementing solutions (Mabey and Finch-Lees, 2008; Newstrom and Davis, 1997; Sasnett and Ross, 2007). The four frames of organizational leadership are: the structural frame, the human resources frame, the political frame and the symbolic frame. The structural frame underlines the essence and importance of rules, regulations, structures, organizational design and policies; the human resources frame emphasizes the aspect of ‘people’ within the organization by placing significant weight on the fit between organizational structures and employees; the political frame focuses predominantly on the concentration of power and competition between organizational members; and the symbolic frame emphasizes the cultural orientation of organizations as means of inspiring and motivating organizational members (Bolman and Deal, 1991; Bolman and Deal, 2003; Crist, 1999; Sasnett and Ross, 2007). Drawing upon the four frames proposed, this project deals with an analysis and theoretical application of the theory over the case of Nasa’s Challenger and Columbia shuttles disasters in 1986 and 2003 respectively. The aftermath of the Challenger and Columbia disasters revealed that the physical causes of the two incidents were less important than the internal – organizational ones that hindered greater problems in the overall communication and interaction between critical organizational departments. In both cases the lack of an integrated approach towards quality and safety procurement as well as the insufficient and ineffective communication amongst management and organizational members proved to be great contributors to the overall disaster. Palestini (2004) states that the

Child And Youth Care Work

Child And Youth Care Work Introduction The profession of child and youth care requires a great amount of effort, determination and skill. Within the field, child and youth care workers are expected to acquire and uphold a trusting bond with the youth involved (Quinn, 2004: 18). Although the main aim of the child and youth care worker is to care for, love, and protect the child, this may prove difficult in many circumstances. Therefore, the youth care worker needs to have acquired skills in order to overcome these challenges while still succeeding in building a strong relationship with the child involved. This essay will discuss the elements of child and youth care work as well as the expectations of child and youth care workers. In particular, it will focus on the skills needed within the profession and the difficulties faced when trying to care for children and youth. Elements of Child and Youth Care Maier (1987) describes the core elements of child and youth care work as providing children with physical comfort, knowing the different temperaments of each child, rhythmic interactions with children, predictability, dependability and also behavioural training. When practicing within the field of child and youth care, the worker is required to have an understanding of these elements in order to do their work to the best of their ability. More specifically, the elements of child and youth care includes fulfilling the physical and privacy needs of the children and also knowing the differences in their temperaments, in other words, knowing the differences in their personalities and attitudes. Also, the child care worker needs to make time for rhythmic interactions with the patient so that they can both have an experience of closeness .e.g. singing or dancing (Maier, 1987). Children have a strong need for predictability, and rhythmic interactions also play a role in this. â€Å"Rhythmic activities seem to confirm the experience of repetition and continuity of repetition† which, as a result, provides the child with a feeling of lasting commitment and predictability. Children and youth need to know that they have a reliable adult to depend on. Lastly, child and youth care workers need to add in a personal element to the behavioural training of their patients. Children generally learn quicker from those who have meaning to them and therefore will learn more readily from their care-giver once care has been established (Maier, 1987). Expectations and Skills Required The main role of a child and youth care worker is to work with children and youth in ways that are educative, participative and empowering. The worker is expected to encourage equality of opportunity and social inclusion amongst the children that they are working with (Pittman, 2004: 90). Communication plays an important role within the profession of child and youth care. Workers are required to create and maintain relationships of trust with the children and youth involved and should deliver information so that it is received in the manner intended. Child and youth care workers need to communicate well and convey and explain information assertively and â€Å"in language of the community† (Quinn, 2004: 18). Child and youth care workers are also expected to implement programmes which aid the children and youth in their growth, learning and development. In order to do this, workers are required to have knowledge on group work and should know how to assist groups in times of need. Child and youth care workers should continuously be planning and implementing new activities for children to participate in. While doing this, the patients should be motivated and encouraged to engage in these activities (Quinn, 2004: 18). In order to show respect for the family of the child and the community in which they reside, it is vital that the worker gains an understanding of the family culture and structures (Quinn, 2004: 19). This will allow workers to deal with conflicts easier as they will then be more sensitive when holding discussions on certain topics and will thus be-able to create relevant strategies in order to satisfy the childs needs. Child and youth care workers should show a high level of understanding of children and should be able to â€Å"recognise need for intervention† so that they can help with the childs problem with immediacy. Difficulties in the Field Providing good child care means â€Å"providing children with authoritative control and giving them responsive nurturance† (Cancian, 2002:65). However, it may be difficult to carry out good child care effectively at times. Difficulties in the field may include communication problems like not being sensitive or authoritative enough. Being in the profession involves a lot of stress as it is a challenge to care for children and youth and to achieve a professional image amongst society for the child and youth care profession. It is also challenging in the fact that it requires us to be flexible in changes that may occur. Child and youth care workers need to be willing to grow and learn from good and bad experiences in the profession and thus prevent certain bad aspects from occurring in the future, which may prove difficult for people who do not like change and who dont take bad experience and criticism lightly. Conclusion It is concluded that the child and youth care profession involves providing children with basic and essential needs such as love, care and protection. Child care workers need to communicate effectively with the children in order to efficiently help with their problems and establish a trusting relationship with their patients so that proper care can be given. However, the profession does provide a few challenges but none which cannot be overcome with time and more experience in the field of child and youth care. References Cancian, F.M. (ed). 2002. ‘Defining â€Å"Good† Child Care: Hegemonic and Democratic Standards, Child Care and Inequality: Rethinking carework for children and youth. Great Britain: Routledge. p.65. Maier, H.W. (1987). ‘Essential Components in Care and Treatment Environments for Children, Developmental Group Care of Children and Youth: Concepts and Practice, USA: The Haworth Press, Inc. p.40-58. Pittman, K.J. (2004). ‘Reflections on the road not (yet) taken: How a centralized public strategy can help youth work focus on youth, (In Garza, P., Borden, L.M., Astroth, K.A. (eds.), New Directions for Youth Development: Professional Development for Youth Workers, 104: 90, Winter. Quinn, J. (2004). ‘Professional development in the youth development field: Issues, trends, opportunities, and challenges, (In Garza, P., Borden, L.M., Astroth, K.A. (eds.), New Directions for Youth Development: Professional Development for Youth Workers, 18-19, Winter.

The Godmother of All the Pretty Horses Essay -- Essays Papers

The Godmother of All the Pretty Horses In analysis of the character, Duena Alfonsa, in the novel All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, facets of her character are clearly revealed. From her physical deformity to her feelings of her father keeping her exiled in her own country, seventy-two year old Alfonsa is filled with a lifetime of complex situations. Her character was consistent and motivational in wisdom and provided greatness in her role in the novel. She is a grandaunt and godmother of Alejandra, a young teenager still in school. The Duena, one could say, is the "Godfather" of the novel. She literally "goes to the mattresses" in protecting her grandniece from a man. After seventy-two years of life, Alfonsa speaks of her life's experiences at an elevated level of knowledge. She is formal, polite, and full of assuredness. McCarthy describes Alfonsa's appearance as an "elegance chilling" (McCarthy 227). Her knowledge came from reading books. McCarthy writes of Alfonsa, "By the time I was sixteen I had read many books and I had become a freethinker" (McCarthy 232). Alfonsa's complexity included her physical deformity. She describes the loss of her last two fingers of her left hand in a shooting accident when she was seventeen years old where the barrel of the gun exploded while she was shooting for live pigeons. This placed her with several perspectives. Two of her perspectives in becoming deformed were, first, it lead her to the feelings...

Role of Women in Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Huckleberry Finn – Role of Women Throughout history women have been subject to sexual discrimination based on being the physically weaker gender and thus leading to society's negative view of women, there is no exception to the stigma cast on women in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. During the novel every character portraying a woman shows society's view on the role on women. The issue of sexism was never questioned by Mark Twain, which leads to another question--- how can such a powerful novel dealing with such a heated topic like racial prejudices remain totally neutral and bypass altogether sexual inequality? One reason Twain may have overlooked the sexism of the time was because he too gave into society's connotation of women's roles. Olivia Clemens, his wife, was very much like Sally Phelps. She was dependent on her husband and served with no other true purpose in life than to run a house and bear children. But, did Twain look over sexism or support it? He may have had issues with women due to his own marriage. His wife never produced a healthy son, and she was always sickly. The dependent Olivia was even thought to hinder his ability as a writer. So were the roles of women purposely placed in the novel to support his own opinions of women in the home? Miss Watson plays into society's rules and regulations. "Miss Watson, a tolerable slim old maid, with goggles on, had just come to live with her, and took a set at me now, with a spelling book. She worked on me middling hard for about an hour, then the wido made her ease up. I couldn't stood her much longer." (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain, page 2) The word spinster came into common use during the early 19th century when the thankless task of spinning cloth had been pushed off to unmarried women as a way to earn their keep in the home (O'Brien, 1973). Miss Watson is the image of everything an old maid stands for. Contemporary use of the word conjures up a mental image of a childless, frumpy, middle-aged woman who is somewhat depressed, and is longing to be like other "normal" women.

Succeeding at a Job Interview

BERNETTA J HUNTER Comp II 8 March 2013 Succeeding at a Job Interview If you plan on being employed at a company you like, you will need to succeed at the job interview. First you must do some research on the company. Next you must avoid, if at all possible, the personnel office. Then upon being interviewed, observe all interview rules and be prepared to prove your claims. A well prepared individual walking into an interview is more likely to land the job. When you perform research on a company you have an interview with, it signals interest to the employer.For example, one might be able to state the sales quota from the previous month. Then you are prepared to state how you can be an asset to the company. If you pursue your job hunt in a detailed, professional manner, the employer could possibly view you performing the job in the same manner. Setting up a career research interview could get your foot in the door and possibly the job. The personnel office is like a road block. Try to avoid it because its job is to screen out the interviewee. You want to go in and ask if you can be interviewed by the person who has the power to interview.Make no mistake: the personnel office still has the power to say no and tell you to expect a phone call to be interviewed at a later date. If you cannot get past the personnel office for a twenty minute face-to-face interview with the interviewer, keep your research ongoing. Now let’s say you got the job interview, you must observe the interview rules. First you must be converse where you get fifty percent of the interview as well as the interviewer. Next you must not let your answers be shorter than twenty seconds, or longer than two minutes. Then you must try to prove how you can be an asset to the company, and be able to prove it.The first impression with the interviewer should be professionally set in stone. Succeeding at an interview is what will land you the job. Taking the time to perform a detailed research shows y our desirable interest. Asking to be interviewed by the person in charge can help you cross that barrier of being screened out by the personnel office. Then once you are actually being interviewed, make sure you know the interview rules and follow them. Being prepared at an interview and doing what most people fail to do will put you up higher on the hiring list.

Law 421 Week 2

Role and Functions of Law Paper Amber Freetage Law/421 November 19, 2012 Eric Nord No matter where we are in our country, we are surrounded by many of them, and guarded by few. Some are short; some are long but no matter what they control every potential move we make day in and day out. We are talking about laws. By definition laws are, â€Å"a rule or set of rules, enforceable by the courts, regulating the government of a state, the relationship between the organs of government and the subjects of the state, and the relationship or conduct of subjects towards each other,† (Law.N. d. ). Over the years, our laws have changed and been added to in order to protect not only us as individuals but our businesses as well. Even though there have been limits placed by the U. S. Supreme Court, our Congress still exercises very broad powers to pass laws where the activity being regulated affects interstate commerce in any way (Chapter Two. P. 32). they have the authority to maintain chan nels of interstate commerce, the instrumentalities of interstate commerce, and the articles moving in interstate commerce.For our business’ this means that the Congress gets to have control or at least the final say with any involvement with vehicles used in shipping, our railways, and our beloved highways. Meaning any business transactions that are from state to state or across country the Congress can step in and change things to accommodate the law. For our business’ that rely on tourists, which many of our ocean front city’s do, it means that the cost for being open, staying open, and selling prices of items may be affected.This is true because Congress has the power to tax the citizenry and to spend the federal government’s money in any way that they see fit, as long as it generates common defense and general welfare. Another use of commerce power is within the Civil Rights Legislation. This commerce power is one that has affected our businesses, sch ools, and everyday lives because it gave Congress the power to ban any form of discrimination in places of public use (hotels, restaurants, stores).Placing this ban against discrimination allowed everyone the chance to shop, stay, work, and eat wherever they chose because those businesses made purchases or held business activity out of state. â€Å"States often wish to regulate commerce that crosses into their state borders. States are free to regulate commerce so long as (1) it does not impose a discriminatory law (such as a tax) on out-of-state businesses, and (2) the state law is a legitimate effort to regulate health, safety, and welfare,† (Chapter Two. P. 35)While we cannot go into deep detail of every law that regulates and mandates us to maintain a strict lifestyle or to keep a legit business’s doors open it is very important that laws are taken seriously so that lawsuits are prevented and as individuals, we are not put behind bars. While laws can be hard to und erstand, the ones that pertain to us as people are known or learned from experience or from our teachings. As a business owner take the time to know what guidelines we must follow in order to keep our job.In a previous employment position, knowing the laws came to be very informative. Federal laws are set to every state and no one can change them, except for the President, or Congress if all in agreement or high votes, but get to know the state laws where you reside. In a previous occupation, learning the laws became much easier when pointed in the right direction. As a full time employee, working no less than eight hours a day it became very apparent that I should be entitled to a break of some sort, but was not given one.After a few other employees started to mention this as well, we began to look into what we were supposed to be given as a break. To our surprise in an eight-hour day we should be given no less than a thirty minute break for lunch and two ten minute breaks to use t hroughout the day, according to the State work laws. However, when we looked through our employee handbook, breaks are not mentioned at all. When we asked management about the issue we were told, â€Å"Your breaks are in between customers. A little extreme but okay so we kept asking and we found out that since North Carolina is a right to work state there is nothing we can do but work as we are scheduled without breaks or be in fear of losing our job all together. So, you see laws are very important to learn and keep up with because you can be getting taken advantage of without even knowing what you are entitled. References Chapter Two: Business and the Constitution (p. 32-35). (n. d. ). Retrieved November 19, 2012 Law. (n. d. ). Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved November 19, 2012, from Dictionary. com

Hedda Gabler Response Questions

Why is Head so cruel to other females in the play? Does she treat women differently from men? * I think Head is so cruel to other females because she wishes she was them. She wishes she had the life and the relationships they have with other men. She wants the attention that she believes that other women get. Head is so similar to Regina George, a character in the movie Mean Girls. Regina George loved all the attention and love from everyone but it still wasn't enough.The moment others darted to get the attention that she felt was hers, she wasn't happy. She did whatever it took to get attention back on her. No matter how drastic. Do you think Head is pregnant? * I think Head is pregnant for several reasons. One reason Is her hatefulness and the increase of her hatefulness. Pregnant women are often hormonal and In pain, thus making them hateful most of the time. Head is constantly hateful and a pregnancy would explain everything. Another reason is when she burned the manuscript; it w as like burning George's baby.I feel like In Head's mind, burning the manuscript symbolizes what she would like to do with an actually child because she probably hates children as much as she secretly hates herself. The final thing that makes me wonder if Head Is pregnant Is the fact that she kills herself. If we go with the assumption that she hates children, why would she put herself through the pain and body changes that she would have to go through to birth a child she doesn't even want? So killing herself would get rid of the child as well as end her life so she doesn't have to live with her poor decision.

Analyze a film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analyze a film - Essay Example The education has led to the exclusion of the brothers from the rest of society. Moreover, the community is also shown to be united and caring. The unity is seen in contribution for support of Delbert trial(Berlinger and Sinofsky 1). The community also is seen as caring as one of the neighbors agrees to drive Delbert home to know the sate of his brother (Berlinger and Sinofsky 1). The film creates various perceptions on people. As a result, people are described based on that perception. An example of identity scripts is the depiction of brothers as poor. The brothers are shown living in poor housing conditions (Berlinger and Sinofsky 1). The reflected appraisal is seen as people view the brothers as being dirty and hence unable to have girlfriends. On the other hand, the lack of girlfriends make society views the brothers as practicing incest. Social comparison is seen through lives of the community. The brothers are depicted as less fortunate and hence attract ridicule of the community. On the other hand, the other part of community is depicted as being fortunate in life. The definitions affect identities of individuals involved as perception about them is based on their conditions (Berlinger and Sinofsky 1). In the film, there is a view that lack of relationship in all the brothers is an indication they are gay. As a result, the semen found on William is believed to be because of sexual interaction with the brother (Berlinger and Sinofsky 1). The brothers are affected by this generalization as they go through the rigorous process of trial. On the other hand, the community is affected by trial, as it is perceived to have neglected the brothers. There are variations of the perspectives in the documentary. One of the Views is the local community view that the brothers are wrongly accused (Berlinger and Sinofsky 1). On the other hand, the outsiders see the death as resulting from intimacy. The locals base their

Nervous systems,function and survival Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nervous systems,function and survival - Essay Example Sensory nervous system for instance sends viable information across to the CNS. The kind of information send through this channel is mostly gotten from external stimuli or from internal organs. From the CNS, the cells from the motor nervous system will carry loads of relevant information to organs, glands and muscles (Rudolf, 2008). Some elements of the nervous system perform such vital functions as contracting the bladder, constricting pupils as well as inhibiting heart rates. These are done by the parasympathetic division of the nervous system. On the same breath, the sympathetic division reverses these by speeding up the heart rate, relaxing the bladder and even dilating the pupils. This is in form of corrective measure to avert potential danger that accelerated heart rate can come with. It is said that each and every emotion that one experiences has to pass through the central nervous system. The CNS plays a pivotal role to initiate certain systems of reactions as soon as it is t riggered. As soon as the CNS starts to facilitate these systems, thoughts, experiences and movements, it does so to reach the rest of the body through organs, neurons and cells. A sense of balance is also vital to the body. This means that the body may want to stick to a strict mode of operation. The CNS manages to assist the body do this so as to enable one survive. Response to situations that are considered stressful are also controlled as much as possible, mostly through the launch of adrenaline that makes the stress patterns have little or no effect on the rest of the body. The CNS also manages to regulate serotonim production which has adverse effects on daily functions of life like desire for sex, hunger and sleep (Valery, 2006). The human body has immune system that contains various organs. These organs have billions of cells that function towards facilitating immunity. The endocrine system always releases hormones that support CNS so as to enable people or animals survive. T he white blood cells are the major stars in this effort as they check for foreign invaders in circulation of the blood. They facilitate immune response and fight against any unwanted materials that may invade the blood or the tissues. Living with stress tends to threaten the stability of an individual or an animal, and therefore homeostasis tends to restore the balance by responses that are either behavioral or physiological to attack intruders. The severity by which the intruders attack will act to activate the CNS which will in turn appoint the relevant adaptive responses. In this way the body stays quite safe and has the ability to fight diseases (Valery, 2006). Doctors have pointed out in studies that inflammations are the major causes of degenerative and chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes chronic fatigue, heart disease, lupus as well as many other diseases. This form of inflammation causes strong response witnessed from immune systems against pathogens that cause illness and physical injury. All these diseases have adverse effects on the immune system especially if they occur alongside stress. The immune system will be overcrowded and hence weakened leading to a compromise state of affairs in the immune system and hence this exposes people to many other illnesses (Rudolf, 2008). Hormones release is majorly done to facilitate

Creativity & Art Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Creativity & Art Education - Research Paper Example If one thinks of a new idea, he has to evaluate its feasibility or workability, convince those who are in charge of putting it into practice that it will work, and if they do not accept it persist with it in the face of opposition. Many people relate creativity to intelligence. Studies have shown that there is no direct relation between the two. Environment on the other hand may have an important part to play in creativity. There also seems to be a co-relation between creativity, spontaneity and freedom of thought. Creative people are usually found to be more impulsive and unafraid to experiment with new ideas and voice their opinions even if these go against the norm. Creating an environment for children where they have the freedom to experiment and are exposed to new experiences can nurture creativity in them. Can creativity be learned? Yes it can. All of us were very creative as children, till we learned that there were certain ways of doing things that are considered the right ways. If we can learn to question the way we think and try to stifle the idea that a new way of doing something must lead to failure, every one of us has it in us to be creative. Art education has long been associated with the notion of creativity. However the question remains of how we define creativity. Is it a sudden flash of inspiration or is it as Edison described it 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration? There was a time when art education focused on creativity, which in turn was linked to spontaneity and novelty. Hence the curriculum was designed to develop creativity in children rather than teach them skills. This was the model on which art teachers were trained. The four functions on which creativity depended were thought to be fluency, flexibility, originality and openness. Freud considered creativity as an unconscious primary process, and the prevailing thinking was that children were more creative when left alone and art should be fun and

Multi-channel Hybrid System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Multi-channel Hybrid System - Essay Example "The multi-channel approach expands distribution and allows the marketer to reach a wider market." ("Principles") In addition, a wider market provides more room for the company to explore the consumer needs and cater to a wide variety of customers, hence a wider distribution of products. Thus, the possibility having a sustainable market is higher. Both the local and the global markets are segmented. The needs of each segment in the market are differentiated; therefore an equal need in addressing these needs require different strategies as well as individual channels of product distribution. Concentrating with only one channel limits the market range that the company or the business may be able to cater. Customer needs and wants continue to change over time. In the most recent years, market trends has put more emphasis on delivering to the customers the products with superior quality as well as the superior services that the suppliers could offer. Moreover, a consistent delivery of high-quality products and services must be tracked down all the time, as well as analyzed, in order to become responsive to the constantly changing needs in the market. Suppliers are required to be market-oriented to become familiar with the newest marketing trends in order to remain competitive. However, market orientation does not stop in the company's awareness of the trends in the market. They need to acquire the organization-wide generation of market intelligence, its appropriate dissemination strategies across various departments, and the proper response to these new trends in the market. (cited in Jaworski & Kohli, 1993) Multi-channel/Hybrid System as a Distribution Strategy The needs of the consumers constantly changes through time. As a result, the question of whether a company should use a single-channel strategy or a multiple-channel strategy is no longer a question that needs to be answered. The markets in the future are expected to have a mix of different channels that would need to be explored by the companies in order to attain global competitiveness. The customers' increasing preferences of different channels when searching and buying products or services that depend on their characteristics, the nature of the product they buy and the transaction process are just two of the reasons of the consumers' preferences of having a multiple channel of marketing and distribution. (cited in Schijns & Groenewoud, 2002) The increasing technological developments at the same time are deemed as the reasons for this growing multi-channel distribution strategy in the market. These technological advancements offer the suppliers the opportunity to meet the preferred channel of the customers wherein it would be comfortable with him. (cited in Schijns & Groenewoud, 2002)There are, however, other distribution channels that need to be further explored by the suppliers in order to meet the demands of the customers. These consumer trends, along with the technological innovations, contribute to the decision-making of the companies with regards to the use of multi-channel or hybrid distribution that would increase production and distribution, that will eventually lead them to global competitiveness. Businesses and companies' need to add more channels are brought about by competitive pressures in the market. In the event that they refuse to accept this new trend in the market - attempting not to utilize new channels - the risk of

H Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

H - Assignment Example This includes: It is important to ensure that you stay away from carbon monoxide dense areas, for instance near factories that emit toxic gases, near vehicle exhaust pipes and other cigarette smokers. It is crucial to consider staying safe as this reduces your chances of getting back to smoking and helps you reduce continuous intoxication. Avoiding these areas will help in ensuring that the lung cleaning process is successful. It is important to eat healthy foods and also consider taking lots of fruits especially pineapples. Pineapple is a fruit that contains an essential component known as Bromelin which helps in cleaning the lungs and further for enhancing free supply of oxygen. After consuming the pineapples, you will take in deeper breaths thus boost the elastic limits of your lungs. It is important to weigh up the eating patterns and make adjustments on the diet when needed. There are a lot of healthy foods to eat in the present day and live healthy as much as foods that improve the performance of the lungs are essential. There are spices and herbal medicines that play a major role in cleansing the lungs which include rosemary, avocados, thyme, cayenne, horseradish and ginger. These are food complements that can be served or prepared with other food. On the other hand, it is also advisable to seek medical advice or guidance from a qualified nutritionist on what to eat in order to successfully cleanse the lungs. Engaging in workout programs has never been so helpful than it is in cleansing the lungs. Long term smokers are always advised to begin with less strenuous exercises or small amounts of work outs that multiplies as time goes by. This is because, during the exercises, it is possible to note the increase in Phlegm and mucus in the lungs. This will be enhanced especially by coughing. This is the greatest part of exercise programs as the lungs biologically try to remove the toxic substances. Over and above, it is advisable to ensure

Global Warming and Drought in The Southwestern U.S. Essay Example for Free

Global Warming and Drought in The Southwestern U.S. Essay Pumphrey (2008) rightly observed that until fairly recently, no one would bought the idea that the worlds climate was changing, let alone that it was been influenced by human activities. The first insight into what is today known as global warming was first conceived by the Swedish scientist Arrhenius, who, late in the 19th century, suggested that the activities of the rapidly developing industries could cause the planet to warm up. Such ideas were often ignored, but over the course of the 20th century, opinions about climate change, â€Å"even rapid climate change† were becoming more apparent (Pumphrey, 2008, p. 1). As things stand now, there appears to be a growing pile of irrefutable evidences that point to the fact that human activities are affecting the heat/energy exchange between the earth, the atmosphere and space (Justus and Susan, 2006). The primary cause of global climate change has been attributed to the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants in the earths atmosphere. These green house gases, as they are now known, form a blanket over the earth atmosphere, thus trapping the suns heat inside the planet and causing it to warm up (National Resources Defense Council, 2007). A substantial population of the worlds scientist have agreed that human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have increased atmospheric â€Å"concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 36% from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm) to 380 ppm over the past 150 years, leading to an increase in global average temperature of 0. 9oF over the past 100 years†. Consequently, there has been considerable increase in global average temperature and sea levels, decreases of sea ice in the Artic and melting of the planets continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers (Justus and Susan, 2006). More frightening, however, is the assertion by scientists that if green house gases continue to accumulate at the present rates, more rapid and devastating consequences could result within a short period of time. While scientists largely agree on the evidences pointing to a warming planet, the severity and ramifications of its consequences is often a subject of controversy, doubts and heated debates. The drought in the Southwestern U. S presents one such example of the controversies and uncertainties surrounding the consequences of global warming. In the history of the Southwestern U. S. , drought has been a relatively periodic occurrence, due to climate variability that characterizes this region. For example, after reviewing the history of climate changes in the region, Thompson and Anderson (2005) concluded that over the long term, the climate of the region is constantly changing and that in the 18,000 years since the last glacial maximum the southwestern United States has experienced conditions that ranged from much colder to somewhat warmer than today. Moisture conditions have also varied, both through time and across the region (Thompson and Anderson, 2005). However, despite these assertions, scientists through several studies have pointed out that the present multi-year drought in the region is not another result of climate variability but a consequence of climate change. They assert that the present climate situation might be the new climate of the region and that drier and more sever droughts lies ahead if urgent measures are not taken. The proposed study intends to support and add weight to the contention that climate changes is already impacting the region and that increasing global warming will increase the severity of drought in the Southwestern U. S. Purpose Statement McNab and Karl (2003) observe that drought is a complex phenomenon that can be very difficult to define. They contend that the problem with defining drought derives partially from the fact that the term could be approached from different perspectives. That, notwithstanding, the central theme that underlie any definition of drought is the absent or deficiency of water. However, they point out that to completely define drought, the â€Å"component(s) of the hydrologic cycle affected by the water deficit and the time period associated with the deficit, must be specified†. The Southwestern U. S is a region vulnerable to droughts due to its variable climatology that derives from its peculiar topography. The entire Southwestern states of the United States fall into a climatic region generally known as the subtropics. These regions are known to be dry and susceptible to drought because the atmosphere moves water out of those regions into higher planes (Thompson, 2007). It is argued that the evaporation is higher in subtropics and the moist air from here is transported to temperate regions at higher latitudes. This climatic condition sometimes causes excessive dryness (drought) in these regions. The infamous dust bowl conditions of the 1930s and the severe droughts of the 1950s are typical examples. Pointing out the vulnerability of the region, Davis (2007) observe that in some years, exceptional drought has engulfed the entire Plains from Canada to Mexico; in other years, crimson conflagrations on weather maps have crept down the Gulf Coast to Louisiana or crossed the Rockies to the interior Northwest (Davies, 2007). Based on this argument, it is convenient to describe the present drought in the region as a result of such climatic variability. Unfortunately, recent data on global warming indicate otherwise. Scientists have shown that this time, the drought in the region is not just a passing phase in climatic conditions, it is a reality that has come to stay. It is evident that this time, it is the base climate that is changing and dire consequences looms ahead. Supporting the argument that the aridity in the Southwestern U. S is different this time, Davis (2007), point out that Lake Powell had fallen by nearly eighty feet in three years, and crucial reservoirs along the Rio Grande were barely more than mud puddles. The Southwestern winter of 2005-06, meanwhile, was one of the driest on record, and Phoenix went 143 days without a single drop of rain. Noting that some scientists have regarded the present situations as the worst drought in 500 years and with the several scientific evidences showing the link between global warming and severe drought, Davis concluded that the present climate condition is not simply episodic drought but the regions new normal weather' (Davies, 2007). Statement of the Problem Both global warming and droughts portend grave dangers for both the region and the world at large. Despite the sometimes dissenting voices in the science world, there is unanimous certainty that the planet is warming up. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2007 report stated that it is unequivocal that the planet is heating up and that, with utmost certainty, the warming is caused by human activities. It is clearly understood that increased global temperatures will facilitate the propagation of certain deadly bacteria and the spread of diseases. For example, Kolivras and Andrew (2004) carried out a study that revealed that the presence and spread of four diseases; hantavirus, plague, dengue and coccidioidomycosis in the Southwestern U. S could be attributed to the increased in temperature in this region. Again, it is clear that higher global temperatures will lead to increase in the incidence and severity of droughts which will affect agricultural production, causing global food crisis. Also, the melting of continental and Artic ice, due to global warming, will cause flooding and other devastating problems that will affect millions of people globally. Persistent drought, on the other hand, also severely impacts a society. Besides the shortage of food and water that characterizes drought conditions, Davis (2007) also point out that drought rapidly destabilizes the natural ecosystem. Buttressing this fact, he observed that, without sufficient moisture to produce protective sap, millions of acres of pinyon and ponderosa pine have been ravaged by plagues of bark beetles; these dead forests, in turn, have helped to kindle the firestorms that have burst into the suburbs of Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Denver, as well as destroyed part of Los Alamos (Davies, 2007). However, despite the frightening consequences of droughts and/or global warming, the real issue here is the misunderstanding of the problem at hand. A clear understanding of the real cause and nature of the drought in the Southwestern United States will greatly help in containing the problem before it get out of hand. In a study for the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Richard Seager and other scientists point out that all the models used for the third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicated a general decrease in rainfall in the subtropics during the 21st century and gradual drying up of the region with increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (Seager et al, 2007). The present drought in the region is therefore, evidently a consequence of a much bigger problem, the realization of this fact is important in shaping public attitudes and opinions required for finding a lasting solution to the problem. Theoretical Framework The states of the Southwestern United States fall in a climatic region known as the subtropics. The climate in these regions is characteristically dry because the atmosphere moves water out of these regions. Moist air from these regions is often transported to temperate regions at higher latitudes. This phenomenon is referred to as the Hadley cell (Thompson, 2007). This flow of moist air away from subtropics induces rising air over the equator and descending air over the subtropics. The descending air over the subtropics suppresses precipitation, which further increase dryness of the regions. With global warming, the blanket of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere heat up the air over the subtropics enabling it to carry and transport more moisture away from the region. Furthermore, with increasing global temperatures, Hadley cell (the flow of air out of the subtropics) expands pole ward, bringing the United States Southwestern region under the increasing influence of descending air, further compromising precipitation and further worsening drought. The link between reduced precipitation and drought was established by McNab and Karl (2003) who asserted that precipitation can be considered to be the carrier of the drought signal and stream flow and ground-water levels can be considered to be the last indicators of the occurrence of a drought (McNab and Karl, 2003). It has been argued that whilst past droughts in the region was because La Nina brought cooler ocean temperatures to the equatorial Pacific, which resulted in drier conditions over North America, the present drought is caused by changing climatic conditions characterized by increasing global temperatures that enable more moisture to be transported out of the region and suppressed precipitation.

Bednet Utilization Survey in the Philippines

Bednet Utilization Survey in the Philippines Bednet Utilization and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Survey among Selected Barangays in 40 41 Malaria Endemic Provinces in the Philippines Survey Protocol Introduction: The Philippines has 80 provinces comprising 1,634 municipalities. These municipalities are further subdivided into barangays (villages) which is the smallest administrative unit. At the start of 2003, malaria was endemic in 66 provinces in the Philippines. The population at risk, defined at that time as the entire population of the province where malaria cases were found, was estimated to be 70,687,400. By 2010, malaria was endemic in 57 provinces and 843 municipalities in the Philippines. The population at most risk was 6,387,734, or 12.5% of the total national population. At this time, the population at risk was defined as the people living in barangays with stable, unstable and sporadic transmission based on the most recent stratification system of the National Program. By 2013, there was further reduction in the number of malaria endemic provinces to 53. Just 47 higher-incidence municipalities in 13 provinces contributed about 97% of the total malaria cases reported in 2011-2013 Malaria has historically been one of the 10 leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. Over an 8-year period, and in particular, the recent years of 2010-2013 – there has been a significant reduction in malaria cases, annual parasite incidence (API) and mortality rates throughout most of the country (Malaria Program Review 2013). Incidence of malaria has declined rapidly due to the intensified strategies implemented in the endemic areas by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) and Local Government Units with the support from The Global Fund (TGF), World Health Organization (WHO), Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) and other partners. Recent report indicates malaria cases to be less than seven thousand five hundred in 2013 down from more than twenty thousand cases at the start of the project. The national goal of malaria elimination by 2020, in the light of current developments, is attainable. Fine tuning the program strategies and activities can be f urther enhanced with the data gathered in this study. Review of Literature Insecticide treated nets (ITN) are an effective tool for preventing the transmission of malaria[Lengeler C. Insecticide-treated bed nets and curtains for preventing malaria. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 2.]. Efforts promoting the use of LLIN are geared towards the broader objective of universal coverage, defined at the household level as the use of insecticide-treated nets by all household members regardless of age or gender, and with a coverage at the community level reaching at least 80% of those at risk [WHO, Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets: A WHO Position Statement]. In a bednet utilization survey conducted in 2012 by Dela Cruz et. al, ninety-eight percent (98%) of households in the areas surveyed owned a mosquito net. On the average, there were 2.72 or roughly 3 nets present in every household. The survey revealed further that eighty-four percent (84%) of total sample population have slept inside a mosquito net the previous night. Also, approximately ninety-seven per cent (97%) of children 5 years old and below in the sample population slept under a mosquito net the previous night and approximately eighty-eight (88%) of pregnant women in the same sample population did likewise. This current survey seeks to determine the current rates of use and roughly validate such practice as revealed in the previous surveys. Objectives of the Survey: The survey aims to: 1. To determine the coverage and usage of LLINs by general populations, by pregnant women, by children less than five years of age in the target provinces, municipalities, and barangays identified. 2. To assess the interviewees’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to malaria. 3. Generate data for program monitoring and evaluation. The results of this survey will likewise be used as baseline for the 13 provinces to which change will be evaluated against in 2016. Key Indicators to measure: Proportion of population who slept under the mosquito net the previous night Proportion of children under 5 who slept under the mosquito net the previous night Proportion of pregnant women who slept under the mosquito net the previous night Percentage of population at risk covered by LLINs Proportion of population owning a mosquito net (ITN/ LLIN) Proportion of population who know the cause of, symptoms of, treatment for, and preventive measures for malaria stratified by people owning and not owning nets Study area and study population: The BUS-KAP will be conducted in a total of 41 malaria endemic provinces in the country. The 41 provinces will be divided into 2 groups of provinces with each cluster having a sample obtained from them. One group will be composed of 13 provinces while the other group will be of 28 provinces. The 13 provinces in the first group represent the provinces that will be covered in 2015 to 2017 under the GFATM New Funding Model (NFM) Grant. These are the provinces with a three-year average API of more than 1 per 1,000 pop. In these provinces, there are approximately 3,352,465 people living in the stable, unstable and, sporadic transmission barangays (population-at-risk). The second group of provinces of 28 is those with a three-year average API falling below 1 per 1,000 pop. These provinces will no longer be fully covered in the NFM Grant in 2015 to 2017. These provinces have a total at-risk population of 3,094,007. Study Methodology: The study will be a cross-sectional survey. The 41 provinces will be divided into 2 groups – one group with 13 provinces and the other group with 28 provinces. The group of 13 provinces are those with average 3-year API of 1 per 1,000 pop and above; the group of 28 provinces are those with a 3-year average API of less than 1 per 1,000 pop. The group of 13 provinces represents the provinces that will be covered under the NFM Grant in 2015-2017. From each group, only the barangays with stable, unstable and sporadic transmission will be included as source of the household samples. By definition, the people residing in these barangays within the provinces are the population-at-risk. Sample size will be computed using the estimated population-at-risk and household number in the identified stable, unstable, and sporadic transmission barangays. Both groups of provinces will have a sample of their own. The household will be the unit to be sampled or surveyed. The household number in the barangays will be obtained by dividing the population by 5, which is the estimated household size. The barangays in each group of provinces will be clustered according to stratification – a cluster of stable transmission barangays, a cluster for unstable, and another cluster for sporadic transmission. The household samples will be taken from the clusters of the stable, unstable, and sporadic transmission barangays in the provinces. A sample will be taken from each stratification area – a number from all stable transmission barangays, another number will be taken from the unstable, and another from the sporadic areas. The number of barangays per stratification area that are to be included in the survey is 30 (the minimum number statistically requested). and average number of households to be surveyed in each barangay is equal to total number of households per stratification area divided by 30. The barangays to be surveyed will be randomly selected. Likewise, the households to be interviewed in each barangay will be randomly selected. Sample Size: The sample size figures were produced using StatCalc of Epi Info 7. The factors considered in determining sample size are the following: (1) A desired confidence level of 95% (2) An assumed prevalence of 50% in the target population. (3) The Design Effect (DEFF), which expresses the increase of the sample size needed over that of a simple random sample as a multiplier. A DEFF of 2 will be used. (4) The desired precision, typically equal to one half of the confidence interval width. We will assume that an overall precision of 5% is desired. (5) A 10% non-response rate is also assumed Data Gathering: A team will be trained to conduct the interviews among the selected samples. The survey questionnaire form, attached as Annex B, will be used in the interviews. Two sets of questionnaires will be utilized. The first set is the household-level questionnaire that will be answered by the head of the household or, in the event that the head of the household is not present, the person next in authority who residing in the household will be interviewed. The questions to be answered pertains to household composition, characteristics of the house, household health seeking behavior, net ownership, net use, and others (refer to Annex A Questionnaire). The second set is the individual-level questionnaire that will be answered by all eligible adults ranging from 15 years old and above who are residing in the household and are present at the time of visit. The questions in this set pertain to knowledge and attitudes of the respondents. The trained team of interviewers will fill-up the printed questionnaires with the answers provided by the respondents Inclusion Criteria: For the household level questionnaire, the household head, father or mother, will be the eligible respondent. In the absence of either, any resident of the household above 15 years old may answer. For the individual level questionnaire, all individuals residing in the household at the time of survey who are above 15 years old are eligible respondents. Data Management and Analysis: The data from the completed questionnaires will be entered into excel software or other capable data management software. Means and proportions will be computed/ generated to establish the values for the identified indicators: Proportion of population who slept under the mosquito net the previous night Proportion of children under 5 who slept under the mosquito net the previous night Proportion of pregnant women who slept under the mosquito net the previous night Percentage of population at risk covered by LLINs Proportion of population who know the cause of, symptoms of, treatment for, and preventive measures for malaria Ethical Considerations: Confidentiality will be observed and maintained at all times possible. Data gatherers and encoders will be made familiar with the questions and its implications and will be trained on delivering the questions and handling responses gathered. Wherever possible, responses are coded and known only to the research team. All these measures are to minimize the risk of breech in confidentiality that may produce negative consequences to the respondent/s reputation or status. Further, informed consent will be utilized for the respondents of the survey. The respondents will be briefed on the purpose and process of the survey and only if they fully understand and agree to what was explained will they be considered as participant. This will be documented with a signed informed consent form. The data gatherers will likewise be trained in obtaining the informed consent form. Where appropriate, the questionnaires and informed consent form will be translated to the local dialect or dominant dialect understood in the community. The translated versions will be tested for understandability or validity. Review and clearance from a recognized Ethical Review Board will be sought. In addition, review and affirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and other governing groups of the affected populations will be obtained as needed. Time Frame: The study will take about 4 months to complete and will be contracted out to a third party entity who will closely work with the malaria Technical Working Group spearheaded by the National Program Coordinator of the Department of Health. Budget: This conduct of this survey will be contracted out to a third party. Estimated budget and its breakdown are as follows: