Influences of Visual Media Paper Essay

There are many forms of visual entertainment readily accessible to us; it has become the primary source of entertainment. Visual entertainment only has not helped shape American culture but also its values. Visual entertainment comes in many forms; whether it is reading a newspaper, magazines, or just watching television. Visual media has many numerous advantages as well as some disadvantages. Advisements are used to target individuals that find their product appealing. This compels viewers to buy the latest technology gadget or to wear the latest fashion clothes. Media has also changed the way we communicate and this has improved our culture in many ways. For example, in the recent years it has been possible to connect on real time with someone across the world through a computer. Now we are able to connect with people through a simple device like the IPhone 4S. The IPhone 4S lets a person talk through face time and allows them to see each other. Visual media has also made a huge impact on young children and teenagers. With all the new artists coming out changing the music and media culture the younger generation is looking up to them more each day. The younger generations view these artists as role models and want to be exactly like them. The music industry has changed media forever. Artists have introduced us to many different cultures and their music as well. Artist like Lady gaga have paved the road for young adults not to be afraid to speak up or reach high for their dreams. Beyoncà © has also paved the road for woman all over the world to feel empowered by their femininity and stand strong. Centuries ago women could not freely express themselves the way they do now. In addition, this has helped shaped a new lifestyle for many of us. The media provides full coverage of the lavish life styles of the many celebrities we have in this generation. People have lost the value of simple things in life and try grasp for the lavish life. In Addition, visual media also informs us of the news around the world. The news teaches us about the different cultures and that has impacted our culture tremendously. Visual media  continues to change every day; there is always something new and updated coming out. Visual entertainment has had many positive and negative social influences. One way that visual media influenced our culture in a negative way is by blind imitation. The media portrays an image for the viewers on how a rich and glamorous life is the way to live. Several people are so blinded by this that they try their best to live lavishing lives without having means to. For example, Heidi Montag is a celebrity who became popular after completing her first real life show called Laguna Hills. She became caught up in glamorous life that she eventually wanted more fame. She then decided she wanted to look like Barbie and had 10 plastic surgeries in just one day! Fox news wrote an article about Heidi Montag and what appeared to be her addiction to plastic surgery. In an Internet video, Fox News (2010) states that â€Å"When reality TV show star Heidi Montag announced last week that she had undergone 10 plastic surgeries, all in one day, the news was met with some (naturally) raised eyebrows. But she’s not alone in her obsession to look perfect by enduring multiple cosmetic enhancements, a phenomenon that has the makings of an addiction, or at least a binge behavior, experts say.† The media often sends messages to their viewers that skinny, resembling a celebrity, and living a luxurious lifestyle is the way to live. The media also promotes unhealthy lifestyles such changing you’re eating habits to become thinner. Another negative social influence caused by social media is media addiction. Several people become addicted to visual media. Many people are now glued to their television, reading celebrity gossip, or just surfing for hours. This influences especially teenagers who might come across information that they are not able to understand in that age. Visual media also overwhelms its viewers with information that might now possibly be truthful. Not too many people spend the necessary time to find out if that information is authentic. This is how many of us become influence by visual media. We believe everything that is shown on television or put on the Internet. However, visual media does have its positive social influences. Mass media can help you reach many people across the world. We are now able to face time chat online with a family member in New York while  you are in California. Visual media keeps us informed of global news as well as local news. Visual media has also made it possible for some individuals to work from home. For example, people that work from home are now able to have conference face time calls online. Visual media has also made it possible for people like me to go to school online and obtain a degree. In conclusion, visual media reflects and influences social behavior and attitudes. People become influenced by what the media’s message is and it influences their behavior and attitudes. Visual media sometimes influence violence as well as kindness. We see on television many tragic stories that broadcast uncensored for the viewers to see. However, the media also broadcasts the help people volunteer when there is a tragedy. The media influences people behaviors and attitudes by portraying different images. For example, if you are watching a love story on television you will automatically think that people do act like that in real life. Whether it is Twilight or True blood the media gathers people watching these series and that influences people’s behaviors at that moment. Visual media has helped us understand the various cultures as well as religions around the world. This helps us understand and respect others, we are all not the same, but we are equal. Reference Fox News (2010). Heidi Montag’s Plastic Surgery: Obsession or Addiction? [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583626,00.html

Female Infanticide

Imagine a world with no women. There as no wives, no sisters, no daughters, and no mothers. Unfortunately this world is on the brink of becoming a scary reality for Asian countries such as China and India. Due to attempts to control population and the low value associated with females in these societies historically and culturally, both China and India are now facing a serious gender imbalance. Female infanticide and sex-selective abortion are responsible for this gender imbalance.The two atrocious practices have led to problems such as elevated rates in female kidnapping and slave trade, as well as forced marriages. This paper will focus on the roots of female infanticide and sex-selective abortions as well as the problems these practices have presented. According to current statistics, there are approximately 1,338,299,512 people living in China (Cao et al. 2012). For every 120 males, there are only 100 females. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that China has approximately 32 million more males than females under the age of 20 (Cao et al. 012). In a 1999 Chinese census report, the imbalance between the sexes revealed that the imbalance is now so distorted that there are 111 million males in China – more than three times the population of Canada – who will be unable to find a wife (Hvistendahl 2008). As a result of this gender imbalance, the rate of female kidnapping and slave trading has increased. There are 8,000 women on average per year who are rescued by authorities from â€Å"forced† marriages (Cao et al. 1012). A major factor responsible for the distortion of this gender imbalance in China is the one child policy.In 1979, the Chinese Government implemented a new act under the family planning policy. This new act officially restricts married, urban couples to having only one child, while allowing exemptions for several cases such as rural couples, ethnic minorities, and parents without siblings (Hesketh et al. 2 011). Ideally, the act was implemented to alleviate social, economic, and environmental problems arising from the over-population issues in China. The one child policy offers couples that delay childbearing a longer maternity leave as well as other social benefits.Couples that have a second child without a permit are at risk of being fined thousands of dollars, and may also be penalized by suffering wage cuts and reduced access to social services (Hvistendahl 2008). Approximately 35. 9% of China’s population is subject to the â€Å"one child policy. † The policy is said to have prevented some 400 million births from 1979 to 2011 (Hesketh et al. 2011). The one child policy has been the source of conflict for a variety of reasons. The main focus has been the increased rate of female infanticide.Female infanticide is the intentional killing of baby girls due to the preference for male babies and is attributed to the low value associated with the birth of females (Weijing 2010). Poverty, famine, and population control are inter-related factors. Where safe and effective birth control is unavailable, infanticide is used to selectively limit the growth of a community. Infanticide allows for selection of the fittest or most desirable offspring, with sick, deformed, female, or multiple births targeted for disposal (Hvistendahl 2008).Males are viewed as more valuable to have as children in the Chinese society because they can work for higher wages and provide for their families. Females are viewed as a burden to the family because unless they live in a major city, they are expected to stay home with the family instead of pursuing an education or working (Hesketh et al. 2011). From the moment they are born, women are considered inferior to men. Women are viewed as submissive and weak whereas males were dominant and strong. Chinese women are taught from a very young age to look after the men in their households.They continue to live the rest of their lives a s subservient to males (Reed 2011). There is a principle of three obediences by which women are expected to live, obedience to their father while living under his roof, obedience to their husband and his family once married, and obedience to the eldest son once widowed (Caldwell and Bruce 2005). In the countryside, less than half a million out of a total rural population of eight hundred million were receiving pensions in 1981. Individuals and families who live in rural areas rely on their off spring to be part of their working staff.If such families are only allowed to have one child, they much prefer to have males because they believe they are of more use for jobs that require physical labor. (Hong, 1987) If a Chinese family who is not secure financially does indeed have a daughter than she will most likely not marry, Hong explains. â€Å"For economic reasons, families with daughters are unlikely to let them go to grooms villages to live because they will be needed not only for t he parents old age security but also to boost the life- long earning potential of the household. (Hong 1987 pg. 320) In Chinese culture, it is said, â€Å"a woman’s greatest duty is to have a son. † If a woman does not give birth to a son, her husband will often take another wife in hopes of another woman carrying his heir (Hvistendahl 2008). Women are viewed as so inferior, that often, poor families would sell their daughters as servants to rich families. Despite the egalitarian nature of Chinese society, many parents believe that having a son is a vital element of providing for their old age.When a daughter is married off, she is no longer available to take care of her parents in their old age, as she is now responsible for her husband and his family (Hesketh et al. 2011). Historically, the way that women were viewed in Chinese society made it clear that with the one-child policy in place, couples would prefer to have a son rather than a daughter. It is for this reas on that rates of female infanticide increased in China. Female infanticide is not a problem that is new to Chinese culture. Studies have shown that evidence of female infanticide in China dates back to 800 B. C.E. Until the fourth century, infanticide was neither illegal nor immoral (Weijing 2010). Legal sanctions against infanticide were introduced in the fourth century as Christianity infused secular laws (Weijing 2010). â€Å"We feel it's a serious problem that everybody should be concerned about and aware of,† said Wanda Franz, president of the National Right to Life Committee. â€Å"This is a form of abortion that, from our point of view is especially egregious. Abortion is claimed to help women; obviously in these cases, females are the direct victims, because women in these cultures are not valued. Caldwell and Bruce 2005)† Another country that has high rates of infanticide is India. Unlike China, India does not have a one-child policy in place, but instead, par ents of daughters who are to get married, must pay a dowry. Although the dowry is illegal in most of India, in areas of poverty, most parents still struggle and are expected to pay the families into which their daughters marry (Mahalingam et al. 2007). The dowry consists of large amounts of money and valuable goods. For families with several daughters this can be a serious financial burden (Dube and Dube 1999).In India, the practice of female infanticide is even more common. As in China, the birth of a daughter is seen as a liability. In India the sex ratio is 93 women for every 100 men, but in some regions there are fewer than 85 women per 100 men (Ahmad 2010). According to a recent report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) up to 50 million girls and women are missing from India' s population as a result of systematic gender discrimination in India. Another study showed that approximately 2,000 females are illegally aborted every day in India (Mahalingham et al. 2007).I ndia is known throughout the world for being a country of a large population, a diverse culture, and beautiful sites. A part of India that is coming out of the dark and being discussed rapidly by academics is the extent of female infanticide and sex selective abortion. Statistics show in a United Nations report, that India has a higher death rate of females under four years old than any other country in the world. Poorer nations such as Peru have a female death percentage compared to males of seventy three percent, where a more developed country such as Japan has a female death rate of eighty three percent.The national average in India has a death rate of one hundred and seven percent compared to the death rate of boys, and in the area of Rajasthan the death rate of females under four years old is one hundred and nineteen percent compared to boys of the same age. A percentage of these deaths can be contributed to the decreasing health of female toddlers in India. Verma explains, in most regions of India girls are only fed after the males in the family. If the mother of a family does not receive proper nutrition than the chances of her daughter receiving it are very slim.The other major reason for mortality rates of young female children is so high is due to the practice of female infanticide. Virma, while travelling through her homeland on a search of qualitative research about the practice of female infanticide, came to find just how common female infanticide is across India, particularly in rural areas. Virma explains throughout many villages the male head of the household orders the daughter to be killed. In a particular interview a woman was screaming and crying, her husband told his wife, if she did not kill the baby than he would smash her head in until she was dead. Virma, 2005) In the village of a Bihar, the killing of female infants is so common; the locals repeatedly state, â€Å"The killing of girls is not a sin. † Midwives who play a large r ole in rural societies of India openly admit how many female infants they have killed. One stated â€Å"I have killed at least sixty five female babies in the last ten years. † (Verma 2005 Pg. 29) In the same villages midwives are paid a fee of one hundred rupees if the baby is a boy, twenty-five rupees if the infant is a girl, and fifty rupees if the midwife kills, or disposes of the female child. Verma, 2005) There are many different ways in which the female infants are killed; two common practices include starving the baby to death, or poisoning her with tobacco or oil. Many midwives feel that they are â€Å"liberating the female infants soul by killing them. They believe the alternative, being a woman in many parts of India is much worse than being dead. (Verma 2005) Female children who are raised in India are aware of the way they are treated by society and within their own families.In many instances they understand the expense of their dowries, and in certain circumsta nces go to great lengths to bring honor to their families. In a northern rural village, three sisters had hung themselves, with a note explaining the financial freedom their parents would have without them. (Verma 2005) The Chinese government has taken a number of steps to combat the practice of female infanticide, as well as promote and protect women's rights. The Marriage Law and Women's Protection Law prohibit female infanticide, and the latter prohibits discrimination against women who give birth to daughters (Hvistendahl 2008).The Sex Selective Abortion Law and Maternal Health Care Law of 1994 were created to put an end to sex selective abortions, and the latter prohibits the use of medical technology to determine the gender of a fetus (Hesketh et al. 2011). Unfortunately, however, the practice continues in China despite these efforts. The availability of modern ultrasound technology is a major contributing factor to sex-selective abortion. The technology was introduced to Chin a in the 1980’s for diagnostic purposes, however, the opportunity to use the technology for sex selection was soon exploited.In 1994, the Chinese Government banned the use of ultrasound technology for the use of sex selection in 1994 in an effort to elevate the number of females born per year and decrease the rate of sex-selective abortions and infanticide (Hesketh et al. 2011). In 2003, the Indian Government implemented the 2002 amendments to the PNDT (Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act, explicitly recognizing the responsibility of manufacturers and distributors, such as GE Healthcare India, to protect against female feticide.Manufacturers must confirm that their customers have valid PNDT certificates and have signed legal documents stating that the equipment shall not be used for sex determination (Mahalingham et al. 2007). Female infanticide is a horrible manifestation of the anti-female bias that continues to pollute societies throughout the world. Even in technological ly advanced and educated societies, the brutal practice continues. The successful eradication of the practice of female infanticide seems an arduous task. In order to combat the phenomenon, careful consideration of the location-specific and cultural factors leading to the practice is necessary.The education of both men and women, social strategies to improve the status of women, and access to family counseling and healthcare may provide means of eliminating female infanticide, as well as elevating the value assigned to women around the globe. In countries such as China and India where the preference of male children has been a part of their cultures history and tradition, one of the only ways to prevent the acts of female infanticide and sex selective abortion is through education. In the early 1990’s less than forty percent of India’s three hundred and thirty million females aged seven and older were literate.Approximately ten years later the numbers improved with six ty five percent of the female population being able to read or write. â€Å"Numerous studies show that illiterate women have high levels of fertility and mortality, poor nutritional status, low earning potential, and less autonomy within the household. †(United Nations 2002) Although there are many schools within India whose curriculum is outstanding and where the student’s performance out does primary schools in the global north there are still many areas where improvement must take place. The government of India must start with setting up more schools and classrooms and providing more teachers at the grass root levels. †(UNICEF) The second step that needs to be taken is to ensure quality teacher training and a solid planned out curriculum for each school to follow across the country. Along with a solid curriculum there needs to be more encouragement of education for girls. If encouragement means giving families incentives to keep their daughters in school, then the government should seriously consider them says the president of the Kanchan Foundation.With an outstanding number of children in upper primary schools across India many girls either drop out or there is not enough space for them so they are forced to leave. By increasing the number of upper primary schools many more girls in India would have the chance of a formal education. Overall the two most populous countries in the world, China and India, are facing what has been described as something close to genocide.With China attempting to control their population size, and India’s historical and cultural preference of male children, both countries are in dire need for daughters in their societies. Between female infanticide and sex selective abortion both countries are running out of potential marriage partners for their male children. With female infanticide and sex selective abortion on the rise the number of kidnapping, and forced marriages of females has also been increas ing. Research shows the answer to the problem is increased education for both male and females throughout both countries.Encouraging girls with their education, and teaching boys and men that women should be valued in society are the first steps in stopping such practices. Although sex selective abortion has been against the law in China since 1994, the practice has been on the rise, particularly with advancing technology. Authority does not watch the practice closely and more recent policy needs to be put in place. It should be both China and India’s goal to give infant females, the same celebrations of life as their male counterparts and to give all women in both countries gender equality.

Bertino Forensics C10 Handwriting analysis, forgery and fraudulence Flashcards Example for Free

Bertino Forensics C10 Handwriting analysis, forgery and fraudulence shape of letters curve of letters the angle or slant of letters the proportional size of letters the use and appearance of connecting lines between letters the smoothness of letters the darkness of the lines on the upward compared- to the downward stroke the spacing between letters the spacing between words and lines the placement of words on a line the margins a writer leaves empty on a page A document of known authorship that is being compared to a document of unknown authorship is called a(n) organization that also deals with counterfeiting cases Paper money contains these materials which do not interact with the iodine in a counterfeit pen like the starch in paper does. Forensic Information System for Handwriting. The handwriting database that is repository for threatening correspondence from federal agencies. Previously written letters, diaries, etc Scanning a document with ultraviolet or infrared light to determine the chemical composition of the ink is called _____. This can be used to tell if two different inks were used on a document This device is used to identify handwriting based on speed, pressure and rhythm. When forgery is done for material gain like money. The easiest way to tell if a $10 bill is real is by the ____. Three steps of handwriting analysis *questioned documents and exemplars are examined and detectable characteristics are recorded. *characteristics of questioned items are compared to known standard. *experts determine which characteristics are valuable for drawing a conclusion about authenticity or authorship. 27 million fake checks are cashed everyday -ordering another checks from a deposit slip -altering a check -creating a check from scratch print on chemically sensitive paper -multiple color patterns -embedded fibers in checks that glow under certain lighting -microprinting -currency -travelers checks -food stamps -certain bonds -postage stamps crime stretching back into ancient times What two chemicals react in a counterfeit pen security features on a 100 dollar bill Security thread, color shifting ink, microprinting, watermark, 3D security ribbon, raised printing A person who scientifically analyses handwriting Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain A person who uses the physical characteristics and patterns of handwriting to evaluate the personality of the writer. Pseudoscience. Writing instrument, age, mood, fatigue and how hurried the writer is. Sentenced to prison for the kidnapping of the Lindberg baby. Ransom notes were used to convict him. The making or distributing of fake money. literary forgery originally thought to be the authentic diaries of Adolph Hitler chemical alterations of check to removing ink, usually in order to pass fraudulent checks for money. the examination of questioned documents with known material for a variety of analyses, such as authenticity, alterations, erasures, and obliterations A document dealer and master forger who forged many famous authors including Emily Dickinson, Abraham Lincoln, and Mark Twain. He also was a bomber who killed several people and then injured himself. a pen that contains iodine, which reacts with starch in paper and turns a dark brown color. If starch is not present it remains amber. related essay Analysis of two Commercial Brands of Bleaching Solution Analysis of two commercial brands of bleaching solution Analysis of two brands of commercial Bleaches Analysis of 2 commercial brands Module Ten: Text Questions The movie "Catch Me If You Can" Forensic Science Unit Two Text Questions Handwriting Analysis What is a questioned document Bertino Forensics C10 Handwriting analysis, forgery and fraudulence company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy best literary forgeries use old paper and period inks they may also use chemically treated materials to fake an older look We will write a custom sample essay on Bertino Forensics C10 Handwriting analysis, forgery and fraudulence specifically

Choose a global business and critically analyse the organisational Essay

Choose a global business and critically analyse the organisational structure adopted by the company since 2008. Investigate the - Essay Example Some of the key products of the company are pointer telegraph, electric train, electron microscope, automation system, the most powerful gas turbine of the world as well as cardiac pacemaker. Siemens has been named the largest electronics company in the Europe by Bloomberg (Thiel, 2007). Strong labour resource acts as one of the major strengths for the company and it heavily depends on its workforce. The structure of the organization has undergone a major change in the last decade. Initially, the company was segmented into five primary divisions, such as Industry, Energy, Infrastructure and Cities, Healthcare and Siemens Financial Services (SFS) (Siemens, 2013b). All these divisions were administered by the CEO of the company. Each of the primary divisions has a large number of subsidiaries operating in nearly 190 countries in the world, both developed nations and underdeveloped nations. The global presence of the company is the basis of its competitiveness in the industry (Siemens, 2013c). Siemens has maintained organizational value on the grounds of quality standard of the products offered by the company, technological excellence of the production process, reliability and trust on the employees and its undeviating focus on international expansion. With expansion of business organizational structure had become complex due to long hierarchies and large number of corporate units under each of the five segments of the company. In the last decade, the company has come across a rough business terrain. During 2007 Siemens was accused of a huge bribery case. Corruption was rooted deep into the transactions of the company. This has given rise to considerable public scrutiny on the company and drew the company into controversies. It hampered the smooth functioning of the company which led the organizational leaders to adopt a major structural change in the organization. The new organizational structure has been aimed at making the organizational framework lean and flex ible. This paper presents a detailed study of the new organizational structure of the company and the positive and negative impacts this change has cast on the company’s strategic management, its corporate culture and functional aspects. Methodology This paper looks into the effects of organizational structural change on the management of the company and its long term performance. The study has focussed on the structural change made by Germany based multinational Siemens. This is a qualitative study made on information collected through review of existing literature as well as information available on company website. Only secondary sources of information have been used for this study. Sources of information include books, articles published in journals and working papers and online sources of information. The changes made in the organizational structure have been presented at first followed by the investigation of positive and negative aspects of these changes on different f actors affecting organizational performance. Main Findings Siemens has brought about major changes in the company and has adopted an altogether new structure. The management of the company has decided to maintain prime focus on three sectors. These are the industrial sector, the energy sector and the healthcare sector (Siemens, 2007). The company aims at staying close to the customers and acknowledge customers’ feedback at all levels of decision making of the company. The strategy focuses on

Setting of Farewell of Arms Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Setting of Farewell of Arms - Research Paper Example The setting of weather in A Farewell to Arms has been manipulated by Hemingway through the symbols of dryness and cold, frost and rain. Different war conditions have been described through these meaningful metaphors. Weather and War At the start of the novel, the writer describes the situation as cool and calm as â€Å"there was not the feeling of storm coming† (3). But with the arrival of the rain, the country has become â€Å"wet and brown and dead with autumn† (4). This happens as the fight grows. Hence the change in the weather has also changed the situation of war. The impending dangers of death and annihilation have been emphasized through the deadness of the autumn. Now from the very beginning of the novel, the reader gets the impression that weather and war will go side by side. The calamities of war will be further aggravated through weather condition of rain and wetness. With rain came cholera which has claimed seven thousand lives. It is obvious from the desc ription that the weather has proved more deadly than war, and its capacity of taking lives is even greater than the war itself. The agents of the weather like rain have been shown as the entities which are not in human control and their presence during war is â€Å"permanent†. Rain as an Omen of death Rain traditionally is used in a positive sense, and it symbolizes growth and fertility. But Hemingway has inverted the connotative meaning of this traditional symbol. In A Farewell to Arms the rain has been constantly portrayed as a symbol of death. It portends Catherine’s death. Catherine is afraid of rain, and she asks Henry to come out of the rain. Hence, the use of rain in war setting is ironic. It forebodes death and destruction. â€Å"The treatment of bad weather as a portentous mood-setter is a good indication of Gothic literature† (Shoomp Editorial Team 60). Hemingway also has manipulated this technique. The weather has been related to the war and human moo ds. Catherine Berkley is so afraid of rain that she thinks that the rain would part them from each other. She gets assurance from Henry that rain would not mitigate his love for him. She asks, "And the rain won't make any difference?" "No." When Henry reassures her that the rain would have no effect on their love, she says, "That's good. Because I'm afraid of the rain" (134). When asked by Henry why she is afraid of rain, she is not able to explain the cause of her fears. She tells Henry, "I don't know, darling. I've always been afraid of the rain." But at the insistence of Henry she blurts out: "All right. I'm afraid of the rain because sometimes. I see me dead in it." "No." "And sometimes I see you dead in it." (135). Rama (2007) observes the following in this connection: There appears some association in Hemingway’s mind between â€Å"Cat in the rain† and Catherine of A Farewell to Arms (called Cat by Henry). Cathrine sometimes sees herself and Henry dead in the rai n. Hemingway uses rain as an important symbol first time in â€Å"Cat in the Rain† and, later, as a major symbol in A Farewell to Arms (59). Hemingway has also used the symbol and setting of snow and frost in his story. The same metaphor has been used differently in various situations. Hemingway again has betrayed the traditional symbolical connotations of this metaphor. At first, the snow is the symbol of inertia. No development is made during snow time. Henry remarks, â€Å"looking out of the window of the bawdy house, the house of officers, where I sat with a friend and two

UPMC & Highmark Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

UPMC & Highmark - Assignment Example The key reason for this battle is the attempt by Highmark Inc. to acquire a financially troubled group of hospitals known as West Penn Allegheny Health System. Highmark Inc. argues that this move will significantly lower medical costs and offer efficient health care services (Scarpino, 2013). On the other hand, UPMC, which has its own insurance firm, believes that it will not continue to bolster a company that will be a direct rival to its 19 area hospitals (Scarpino, G. 2013). Therefore, UPMC has resulted to increasing charges for patients covered by Highmark. UPMC says that Highmark’s plan to shift its 41000 inpatient from UPMC to its allegedly new chain of hospitals will result into UPMC closing its Shadyside and UPMC mercy sections and laying off over 11,000 of its employees (Baumol & Blinder, 2012). Additionally, UPMC also argues that this move will make most employees change their insurance plans that are attached to their current places of employment. This will result into the lose of patients tied to Highmark. Highmark also says that since UPMC has its own insurer, then it would be of no issue if it had its own health giver network. They believe that a little competition will be beneficial to the residents of Pittsburg since they will be provided with a range of health care providers to choose from. In response to UPMC’s sentiments that it is impossible to change insurance since it is tied to employment, Highmark says that it is also difficult for the patients to abandon the doctors that they have fully trusted and build confidence in, in pursuit for new relationships (Baumol & Blinder, 2012). I feel that UPMC has been able to get their message across most effectively because they have clearly shown that Highmark is in pursuit of its own personal interests without caring about the patients and relationships that they had built with UPMC. All the counter reactions made by UPMC were in the attempt to protect their business, as most health

Human Resource Management in Appar8us Case Study

Human Resource Management in Appar8us - Case Study Example The human resources manager wants to integrate the human resources policies and practice around the number of subsidiaries in different countries in order to achieve the corporate objective. Moreover IHRM consists of many functions, it is heterogeneous, involves constantly changing perspective, it requires more involvement in employee's personal lives and is also influenced by external sources. The International HR manager have to deal with the issue of international taxation, administrative services for expatriate's i.e. to have Selecting, training and appraising local and international employees. The HQ based HR manager deals with employees that have different cultural background. "The HQ manager must coordinate policies and procedures to manage expatriates from the firm's home country (parent country nationals, PNCs), host-country nationals (HCNs), as well as third country nationals (TCNs, e.g. a French manager working for an American MNC in the firm's Nigerian subsidiary) in subs idiaries around the world." (Manage Wise: International Human Resource Management). "The IHRM developed by Taylor and Beechler and Napier who argues that multinational competitive position is shaped by the organizational competencies that it possesses and how the firm transfers these across the nation." (Almond & Ferner 2006, P.225). The main purpose of IHRM is to have efficiency, locally responsive, being capable to transfer knowledge and learning across globally. The Appar8us is having a high control over subsidiaries having thorough use of expatriate manager in technical and managerial area of the business. A strong Appar8us culture is reinforced by regular staff bulletins and local company magazines in the language of the subsidiary company country. The Perlmutter's EPG model says that senior management of an international organization want to hold three primary functions such as Ethnocentric, Polycentric, Geocentric in building and expanding multinational capabilities. "Organizations are building IHRM functions that are shifting from the management of expatriation towards supplementary services to the business aimed at facilitating the globalisation process, and this involves capitalising upon the fragmentation of international employees." (Sparrow 2006). 2 Appar8us have strong control over the subsidiaries by way of expatriate manager in area of both technical and managerial area of business. The manger's opinion is to keep the union influence as little as possible .Also the company has introduced various schemes available for all

Public Administration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Public Administration - Essay Example This change in the public administration in the British government has created various criticisms and incited other nations to study this strategy and modify the delivery of public service in their own government. Public administration has changed along with the growing needs of the public. On the other hand, as the number of studies in public administration increases over the years, there has been no exact definition of the term as a subject. Debates on privatization, corruption, and government values have been raised over the years but the boundaries between what is public and what is private are never identified. These two opposite sections are said to fade imperceptibly into one another because both sectors are closely entangled in the complex network of relationships that form a social system. Furthermore, the ideas of administration cannot be separated from management since it is interrelated with policy making that which is a part of studying public administration (Chandler, 2000) Public administration, defined academically, is the study of the development and maintenance of policy by members of governments, public agencies and public sector employees and the practice of implementing the authoritative decisions they have made. Patterned after the recognized definition of the word public, the study of public administration has involved the establishment and sustenance of the constitution or authoritative governments of a nation or nations. And even as it is a part of political analysis, its theories involve economics and management disciplines that are significant aspects in politics (Chandler, 2000). Chandler (2000) laid several arguments concerning public administration and its role in promoting government services. The areas that which public administration focus more were political sociology or philosophy wherein it studies the manner in which politicians perceive and react to varying social economic

How Personal Can Ethics Get Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How Personal Can Ethics Get - Essay Example 953). Two very different individuals may carry with them two entirely different perspectives of the world. These perspectives possess a viable potential to influence the individuals’ preferences concerning a variety of considerations in the organizational workplace. One area of an organization which is undoubtedly influenced by personal differences and (related differing preferences) is ethics. S.J. Reynolds (2006) finds that â€Å"individual differences can interact with issue characteristics to shape moral awareness† (qtd. Trevino, Weaver, & Reynolds, 2006, p. 954). As such, two different people may perceive an ethical dilemma differently. For example, one person may perceive the existence of nepotism in the workplace as a coincidence in which an employer’s relatives happened to be best suited for a job. Another person may perceive the existence of nepotism in the workplace as a breach of ethics in which fair hiring principles are abandoned in favor of personal interest. Whereas the former may derive their opinion from a personal experience in which a family business proved fruitful, another may harbor grievances concerning high levels of unemployment effecting his or her family, community, or self. The former maintains an ethical preference for directly helping one’s friends and family, while the latter maintains an ethical preference for indirectly helping one’s friends and family by maintaining fair and equal hiring practices. An organization containing both hypothetical individuals is subsequently shaped and form by the shifting dynamic of their conflicting ideals. Discuss how organizational policies and procedures can impact ethics. The ethical preferences of members of an organization are shaped by individuals’ predisposed positions on varying issues as well as externally imposed policy and procedure. As such, an organization’s policies and procedures can impact criterion for ethical dilemmas as well as e thical results substantially. Wotruba, Chonko, and Lo (2001) identify three primary functions executed by codes of ethics in an organization. First, codes of ethics can demonstrate a concern for ethics by the organization. In this manner, an organization may elect to create a code of ethics in an attempt to convey a general awareness and reverence for ethical observation and conduct in the workplace. For example, a company might create a code of ethics which is read and understood by its newly hired employees during their training in an effort to effectively communicate that the company is aware of ethics and embraces ethics as a high priority in the workplace. Second, codes of ethics can â€Å"transmit ethical values of the organization to its members† (Wotruba, Chonko, and Lo, 2001, p. 59). This function is substantially more specific than the former function, which seeks to convey a simple, general awareness of ethics as an existent priority within the workplace. Instead, ethical values transmitted to members of an organization by the organization are designed to create a better understanding of what an organization is and what values it holds most dear. For example, a service-oriented organization might include â€Å"putting the customer first† as an ethical priority in the w

The Iran Iraq War Essay Example for Free

The Iran Iraq War Essay World History: Mr. Ricky Waldon| Iran – Iraq War | Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) The Iran-Iraq War permanently altered the course of Iraqi history. It strained Iraqi political and social life, and led to severe economic dislocations. Viewed from a historical perspective, the outbreak of hostilities in 1980 was, in part, just another phase of the ancient Persian-Arab conflict that had been fueled by twentieth-century border disputes. Many observers, however, believe that Saddam Husseins decision to invade Iran was a personal miscalculation based on ambition and a sense of vulnerability. Saddam Hussein, despite having made significant strides in forging an Iraqi nation-state, feared that Irans new revolutionary leadership would threaten Iraqs delicate SunniShia balance and would exploit Iraqs geostrategic vulnerabilitiesIraqs minimal access to the Persian Gulf, for example. In this respect, Saddam Husseins decision to invade Iran has historical precedent; the ancient rulers of Mesopotamia, fearing internal strife and foreign conquest, also engaged in frequent battles with the peoples of the highlands. The Iran-Iraq War was multifaceted and included religious schisms, border disputes, and political differences. Conflicts contributing to the outbreak of hostilities ranged from centuries-old Sunni-versus-Shia and Arab-versus-Persian religious and ethnic disputes, to a personal animosity between Saddam Hussein and Ayatollah Khomeini. Above all, Iraq launched the war in an effort to consolidate its rising power in the Arab world and to replace Iran as the dominant Persian Gulf state. Phebe Marr, a noted analyst of Iraqi affairs, stated that the war was more immediately the result of poor political judgement and miscalculation on the part of Saddam Hussein, and the decision to invade, taken at a moment of Iranian weakness, was Saddams. Iraq claimed territories inhabited by Arabs (the Southwestern oil-producing province of Iran called Khouzestan), as well as Iraqs right over Shatt el-Arab (Arvandroud). Iraq and Iran had engaged in border clashes for many years and had revived the dormant Shatt al Arab waterway dispute in 1979. Iraq claimed the 200-kilometer channel up to the Iranian shore as its territory, while Iran insisted that the thalwega line running down the middle of the waterwaynegotiated last in 1975, was the official border. The Iraqis, especially the Baath leadership, regarded the 1975 treaty as merely a truce, not a definitive settlement. The Iraqis also perceived revolutionary Irans Islamic agenda as threatening to their pan-Arabism. Khomeini, bitter over his expulsion from Iraq in 1977 after fifteen years in An Najaf, vowed to avenge Shia victims of Baathist repression. Baghdad became more confident, however, as it watched the once invincible Imperial Iranian Army disintegrate, as most of its highest ranking officers were executed. In Khuzestan (Arabistan to the Iraqis), Iraqi intelligence officers incited riots over labor disputes, and in the Kurdish region, a new rebellion caused the Khomeini government severe troubles. As the Baathists planned their military campaign, they had every reason to be confident. Not only did the Iranians lack cohesive leadership, but the Iranian armed forces, according to Iraqi intelligence estimates, also lacked spare parts for their American-made equipment. Baghdad, on the other hand, possessed fully equipped and trained forces. Morale was running high. Against Irans armed forces, including the Pasdaran (Revolutionary Guard) troops, led by religious mullahs with little or no military experience, the Iraqis could muster twelve complete mechanized divisions, equipped with the latest Soviet materiel. With the Iraqi military buildup in the late 1970s, Saddam Hussein had assembled an army of 190,000 men, augmented by 2,200 tanks and 450 aircraft. In addition, the area across the Shatt al Arab posed no major obstacles, particularly for an army equipped with Soviet river-crossing equipment. Iraqi commanders correctly assumed that crossing sites on the Khardeh and Karun rivers were lightly defended against their mechanized armor divisions; moreover, Iraqi intelligence sources reported that Iranian forces in Khuzestan, which had formerly included two divisions distributed among Ahvaz, Dezful, and Abadan, now consisted of only a number of ill-equipped battalion-sized formations. Tehran was further disadvantaged because the area was controlled by the Regional 1st Corps headquartered at Bakhtaran (formerly Kermanshah), whereas operational control was directed from the capital. In the year following the shahs overthrow, only a handful of company-sized tank units had been operative, and the rest of the armored equipment had been poorly maintained. For Iraqi planners, the only uncertainty was the fighting ability of the Iranian air force, equipped with some of the most sophisticated American-made aircraft. Despite the execution of key air force commanders and pilots, the Iranian air force had displayed its might during local riots and demonstrations. The air force was also active in the wake of the failed United States attempt to rescue American hostages in April 1980. This show of force had impressed Iraqi decision makers to such an extent that they decided to launch a massive preemptive air strike on Iranian air bases in an effort similar to the one that Israel employed during the June 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Iraqi Offensives, 1980-82 Despite the Iraqi governments concern, the eruption of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran did not immediately destroy the Iraqi-Iranian rapprochement that had prevailed since the 1975 Algiers Agreement. As a sign of Iraqs desire to maintain good relations with the new government in Tehran, President Bakr sent a personal message to Khomeini offering his best wishes for the friendly Iranian people on the occasion of the establishment of the Islamic Republic. In addition, as late as the end of August 1979, Iraqi authorities extended an invitation to Mehdi Bazargan, the first president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to visit Iraq with the aim of improving bilateral relations. The fall of the moderate Bazargan government in late 1979, however, and the rise of Islamic militants preaching an expansionist foreign policy soured Iraqi-Iranian relations. The principal events that touched off the rapid deterioration in relations occurred during the spring of 1980. In April the Iranian-supported Ad Dawah attempted to assassinate Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz. Shortly after the failed grenade attack on Tariq Aziz, Ad Dawah was suspected of attempting to assassinate another Iraqi leader, Minister of Culture and Information Latif Nayyif Jasim. In response, the Iraqis immediately rounded up members and supporters of Ad Dawah and deported to Iran thousands of Shias of Iranian origin. In the summer of 1980, Saddam Hussein ordered the executions of presumed Ad Dawah leader Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqr as Sadr and his sister. In September 1980, border skirmishes erupted in the central sector near Qasr-e Shirin, with an exchange of artillery fire by both sides. A few weeks later, Saddam Hussein officially abrogated the 1975 treaty between Iraq and Iran and announced that the Shatt al Arab was returning to Iraqi sovereignty. Iran rejected this action and hostilities escalated as the two sides exchanged bombing raids deep into each others territory, beginning what was to be a protracted and extremely costly war. Baghdad originally planned a quick victory over Tehran. Saddam expected the invasion of the in the Arabic-speaking, oil-rich area of Khuzistan to result in an Arab uprising against Khomeinis fundamentalist Islamic regime. This revolt did not materialize, however, and the Arab minority remained loyal to Tehran. On September 22, 1980, formations of Iraqi MiG-23s and MiG21s attacked Irans air bases at Mehrabad and Doshen-Tappen (both near Tehran), as well as Tabriz, Bakhtaran, Ahvaz, Dezful, Urmia (sometimes cited as Urumiyeh), Hamadan, Sanandaj, and Abadan. Their aim was to destroy the Iranian air force on the grounda lesson learned from the Arab-Israeli June 1967 War. They succeeded in destroying runways and fuel and ammunition depots, but much of Irans aircraft inventory was left intact. Iranian defenses were caught by surprise, but the Iraqi raids failed because Iranian jets were protected in specially strengthened hangars and because bombs designed to destroy runways did not totally incapacitate Irans very large airfields. Within hours, Iranian F-4 Phantoms took off from the same bases, successfully attacked strategically important targets close to major Iraqi cities, and returned home with very few losses. Simultaneously, six Iraqi army divisions entered Iran on three fronts in an initially successful surprise attack, where they drove as far as eight kilometers inland and occupied 1,000 square kilometers of Iranian territory. As a diversionary move on the northern front, an Iraqi mechanized mountain infantry division overwhelmed the border garrison at Qasr-e Shirin, a border town in Bakhtaran (formerly known as Kermanshahan) Province, and occupied territory thirty kilometers eastward to the base of the Zagros Mountains. This area was strategically significant because the main Baghdad-Tehran highway traversed it. On the central front, Iraqi forces captured Mehran, on the western plain of the Zagros Mountains in Ilam Province, and pushed eastward to the mountain base. Mehran occupied an important position on the major north-south road, close to the border on the Iranian side. The main thrust of the attack was in the south, where five armored and mechanized divisions invaded Khuzestan on two axes, one crossing over the Shatt al Arab near Basra, which led to the siege and eventual occupation of Khorramshahr, and the second heading for Susangerd, which had Ahvaz, the major military base in Khuzestan, as its objective. Iraqi armored units easily crossed the Shatt al Arab waterway and entered the Iranian province of Khuzestan. Dehloran and several other towns were targeted and were rapidly occupied to prevent reinforcement from Bakhtaran and from Tehran. By mid-October, a full division advanced through Khuzestan headed for Khorramshahr and Abadan and the strategic oil fields nearby. Other divisions headed toward Ahvaz, the provincial capital and site of an air base. Supported by heavy artillery fire, the troops made a rapid and significant advancealmost eighty kilometers in the first few days. In the battle for Dezful in Khuzestan, where a major air base is located, the local Iranian army commander requested air support in order to avoid a defeat. President Bani Sadr, therefore, authorized the release from jail of many pilots, some of whom were suspected of still being loyal to the shah. With the increased use of the Iranian air force, the Iraqi progress was somewhat curtailed. The last major Iraqi territorial gain took place in early November 1980. On November 3, Iraqi forces reached Abadan but were repulsed by a Pasdaran unit. Even though they surrounded Abadan on three sides and occupied a portion of the city, the Iraqis could not overcome the stiff resistance; sections of the city still under Iranian control were resupplied by boat at night. On November 10, Iraq captured Khorramshahr after a bloody house-to-house fight. The price of this victory was high for both sides, approximately 6,000 casualties for Iraq and even more for Iran. Iraqs blitz-like assaults against scattered and demoralized Iranian forces led many observers to think that Baghdad would win the war within a matter of weeks. Indeed, Iraqi troops did capture the Shatt al Arab and did seize a forty-eight-kilometer- wide strip of Iranian territory. Iran may have prevented a quick Iraqi victory by a rapid mobilization of volunteers and deployment of loyal Pasdaran forces to the front. Besides enlisting the Iranian pilots, the new revolutionary regime also recalled veterans of the old imperial army, although many experienced officers, most of whom had been trained in the United States, had been purged. Furthermore, the Pasdaran and Basij (what Khomeini called the Army of Twenty Million or Peoples Militia) recruited at least 100,000 volunteers. Approximately 200,000 soldiers were sent to the front by the end of November 1980. They were ideologically committed troops (some members even carried their own shrouds to the front in the expectation of martyrdom) that fought bravely despite inadequate armor support. For example, on November 7 commando units played a significant role, with the navy and air force, in an assault on Iraqi oil export terminals at Mina al Bakr and Al Faw. Iran hoped to diminish Iraqs financial resources by reducing its oil revenues. Iran also attacked the northern pipeline in the early days of the war and persuaded Syria to close the Iraqi pipeline that crossed its territory. Irans resistance at the outset of the Iraqi invasion was unexpectedly strong, but it was neither well organized nor equally successful on all fronts. Iraq easily advanced in the northern and central sections and crushed the Pasdarans scattered resistance there. Iraqi troops, however, faced untiring resistance in Khuzestan. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq may have thought that the approximately 3 million Arabs of Khuzestan would join the Iraqis against Tehran. Instead, many allied with Irans regular and irregular armed forces and fought in the battles at Dezful, Khorramshahr, and Abadan. Soon after capturing Khorramshahr, the Iraqi troops lost their initiative and began to dig in along their line of advance. Tehran rejected a settlement offer and held the line against the militarily superior Iraqiforce. It refused to accept defeat, and slowly began a series of counteroffensives in January 1981. Both the volunteers and the regular armed forces were eager to fight, the latter seeing an opportunity to regain prestige lost because of their association with the shahs regime. Irans first major counterattack failed, however, for political and military reasons. President Bani Sadr was engaged in a power struggle with key religious figures and eager to gain political support among the armed forces by direct involvement in military operations. Lacking military expertise, he initiated a premature attack by three regular armored regiments without the assistance of the Pasdaran units. He also failed to take into account that the ground near Susangerd, muddied by the preceding rainy season, would make resupply difficult. As a result of his tactical decision making, the Iranian forces were surrounded on three sides. In a long exchange of fire, many Iranian armored vehicles were destroyed or had to be abandoned because they were either stuck in the mud or needed minor repairs. Fortunately for Iran, however, the Iraqi forces failed to follow up with another attack. Iran stopped Iraqi forces on the Karun River and, with limited military stocks, unveiled its human wave assaults, which used thousands of Basij (Popular Mobilization Army or Peoples Army) volunteers.

Efficacy of Growth Factors Concentration after PRP

Efficacy of Growth Factors Concentration after PRP Efficacy of growth factors concentration (hGH, IGF-1, FGF-2, PDGF, VEGF) after autologous Platelet-rich plasma injection (PRP) on accelerating healing of proximal hamstring tear for athletes. Ahmed Gaballah 1- Department of Sports Health Sciences, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt. 2- Kinesiology and Health Sciences Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA Abstract Platelet rich plasma (PRP) become popular biologically method used to accelerate healing in sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery field. PRP is concentrate the human platelets to supra-physiologic levels. It is an autologous producing high level of the platelets concentration centrifuged from the peripheral vein. Then it re-injected under the ultrasound gaudiness during surgery or at a site of injury. METHOD: Seventeen physically active males (age 22.0 ±0.6) with acute hamstring strain injuries divided to 8 case group and 9 matched controls (age 21.6 ±2.8) were recruited as research participants. Case group participants were injected with single 3 ml of extracted PRP under ultrasound gaudiness. However, Blood samples were collected by venipuncture at standardized time points: before the injection and 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after for case group and 4wks. and 8wks for both groups. RESULTS: there was significantly difference between the growth factors results of the case group a fter 4 weeks compared with the 8 weeks result of the control group. Additionally, the same significant results between the two groups after the 8 weeks. Nevertheless, the physical measurements related with hamstring Strain and Knee flexion range of motion between the two groups were not significant after 4 weeks or 8 weeks. CONCLUTION: a single 3-mL injection of autologous PRP combined with a rehabilitation program was effective in time return to play and reducing the severity of pain after an acute grade 2 hamstring injury. Additionally, increase in circulating concentrations of VEGF, IGF-1, PDGF and FGF-2. Key Words: Platelet rich plasma (PRP), Human Growth Factors, Hamstring Tear. 1. Introduction: Skeletal muscle injuries are up to 55% of all sports injuries and causes excessive long term pain and physical disability, Muscles strains and contusions representing more than 90% of all sports related injuries and are the most muscular injuries frequent. [1] [2]   Proximal hamstring tear injuries are common in athletes and frequently result in prolonged rehabilitation, time missed from play, and a significant risk of re-injury. Reports of acute hamstring strains without avulsion in dancers have suggested recovery times for return-to-play ranging from 30 to 76 weeks [3]. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) become popular biologically method used to accelerate healing in sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery field. PRP is concentrate the human platelets to supra-physiologic levels. It is an autologous producing high level of the platelets concentration centrifuged from the peripheral vein. Then it re-injected under the ultrasound gaudiness during surgery or at a site of injury [4] [5]. As a result of the lack side-effect and the autologous nature of PRP, it has utilized exponentially over the last few years in sports medicine and orthopaedic. Historically, since the 1950s the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used to dermatological conditions and manage maxillofacial as well [6]. Furthermore, Platelet-derived preparations including PRP were first regulated by WADA under the 2010 Prohibited List because of concerns that the elevated concentrations of growth factors in PRP may confer an unfair advantage to treated athletes. However, WADA lifted the ban on PR P in 2011 in recognition of the lack of evidence to support a systemic performance-enhancing effect and to allow further research in the field [7]. Indeed, the blood contains 6% platelets, 1% white blood cells, and 93% red blood cells.   The PRP technique aims to reverse the concentration of the platelet in lieu of red cells to increase the growth factors that more useful in accelerating the healing. [8] However, Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a centrifuged blood product that contains a supraphysiologic amount of platelets. Therefore, the preparation process to product concentrative platelet above the baseline values have started with an autologous extraction of patients` blood, then by plasmapheresis centrifuged to obtain a concentrated suspension of platelets. It then separates the solid and liquid components of the anticoagulated blood after a two-stage of centrifugation process [9]. The initial phase separates the plasma and platelets from the erythrocytes and leucocytes. The second stage concentrates the platelets further into platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma components [10] [11]. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) contains some biologic factors which have been enhanced the proliferation and collagen secretion of tenocytes. These factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), and transforming growth factor ÃŽ ² (TGF ÃŽ ²) [12] [13]. There is an increasing the stimulus response of PDGF and TGF-ÃŽ ² in the early stages of tendon and muscles healing after PRP injection resulting in new vessel formation and collagen synthesis. [14]. In addition to decrease oxidative stress that could lead to cell apoptosis, PRP has been promoted tendon and muscles cell growth [15]. This is evidenced and reinforced by release of inflammatory meiators such as COX-1 and2, PGE-2 [16] [17]. Recently, there are various approaches reported the benefits of treating the soft tissue injuries such as muscles tears and tendinosis by injecting platelet rich plasma (PRP). Despite this popularization and increasing use in soft tissue injuries, its efficacy still not clear and remains controversial. It has been previously established that platelets provide regenerative potential by the process of chemo-taxis [18] [19] [20]. The use of PRP in order to accelerate recovery time after muscle injury has become a relatively common practice in sports medicine. Several studies represent that PRP can improve skeletal muscle healing after acute injury. In particular, local PRP which increased expression of several myogenic factors at mRNA level acting on modlating the inflammatory response and myogenesis in the early stages after acute injury [21] [22]. Rossi L, et al. reported the effects of an autologous PRP injections on time to return to play in randomized controlled study conducted on 75 patients. The study represented time to return to play for recreational and competitive athletes and recurrence rate after acute muscle injuries as well. The main result in the study that PRP injection significant reduction of re-injury rates at 2 years. Additionally, it was decreased the pain severity score and significantly decreased the time of return to sports as well [23]. One more study reported that 14 professional athletes were treated with ultrasound-guidance injections of PRP after acute muscle injuries. The athletes showed a quick return to activity and improved healing in muscle tears [8]. Similar results have represented in Sanchez et al study, which conducted on 20 athletes. These results supported the benefits of PRP and its role in muscle healing. The patients recovered in half of the expected time [24]. Figure 1. Process of platelet activation (PDGF, platelet derived growth factor). Source [25] Platelet Activity in muscles: (Figure 1,) represents the released serotonin contributes to vasoconstriction. The conversion of ATP into ADP releases the energy necessary to establish and maintain the aggregation. The release of the calcium ions inside the platelet makes the myofibril within it contract, thus allowing the aggregation and release of the content of the granules. This is serum calcium, which is necessary for the formation of the fibrin network [26]. The presence of the Ca2+ ions in the plasma makes the coagulation factors activate and group, forming the fibrin network, which is stabilized by factor XIII and transformed in a stable clot. The calcium ions also inhibit the anticoagulant activity of heparin, preserving the clot [27]. The PRP and the growth factors: The functions of these growth factors are presented in Table 1. It should be noted that the mechanism of action of platelet-rich plasma does not differ from the physiological healing process, but allows for obtaining higher concentrations of growth factors. As a result, the process of tissue regeneration is accelerated [28] [29] [30]. Platelet ÃŽ ±-granules are comprised of haemostatic factors, regulators inflammation, and wound healing. Substances stored in dense granules are thrombocyte-activating factors. Platelets also contain lysosomal granules, which secrete acid hydrolases [31] [32]. Platelet activation results in growth factor release. Platelet growth factors include platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor ÃŽ ² (TGF-ÃŽ ²), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) [33] [8]. Table 1. Growth Factors function Growth factor Abbreviation Functions Transforming growth factor TGF-ÃŽ ² A mitogen for fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts Angiogenesis promotion, extracellular matrix production Platelet-derived growth factor PDGF Chemotactic effect on monocytes, neutrophils, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts A mitogen for fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells Angiogenesis promotion, formation of fibrous tissue, re-epithelialization Vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF Angiogenesis promotion Chronic wound healing promotion Inhibition of bone formation Epidermal growth EGF factor A mitogen for fibroblasts, endothelial cells, keratinocytes Chronic wound healing promotion Insulin-like growth factor IGF-1 Regulation of bone maintenance Modulator of cell apoptosis Stimulation of bone tissue regeneration Platet derived endothelial growth factor PDEGF Promotes wound healing by stimulating the proliferation of keratinocyes and dermal fibroblasts Endothelial Growth Factor EGF Cellular proliferation Differentiation of epithelial cells Figure 2. Platelet degranulation and action of the released cytokines in the process of formation of new bone and muscle tissue (VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF, platelet derived growth factor; BMP, bone morphogenetic protein; TGF-b, transforming growth factor). 2. Methods 2.1. Participants: This study was approved by Damietta University, Egypt, Alexandria University, Egypt and Utah state University, UT, USA. Twenty-three physically active males with acute grade 2 hamstring tear were voluntarily recruited for data collection (age 21.8  ± 2.64y, mass 71.52 ±2.74 Kg, height 175.4 ±2.32). All patients receiving local ultrasound-guided intratendinous PRP injection at our institution between September 2014 and December 2016 were screened for eligibility to participate in the study, and 17 patients were ultimately enrolled. Exclusion criteria included five participants with previous injury or diagnoses in hamstring. 8 physically active males (age 22.0 ±0.6) with acute hamstring strain injuries and 9 matched controls (age 21.6 ±2.8) were recruited as research participants. The case and control groups were performed rehabilitation program included aquatic exercise for 8 weeks. The history of pain data and the daily hours of using the smartphones were collected by surve y. Furthermore, the procedures were explained to the subjects and their written signatures were obtained on the informed consent. 2.2. Platelet rich plasma preparation and injection: In accordance of GPSTM III Systems instruction the blood collected for PRP was prepared by (Biomet Biologics, Inc., Warsaw, Ind) and standard 60 ml GPSTM III kit. Approximately of 7 ml of PRP was prepared in 30 minutes. Furthermore, single 3 ml of extracted PRP were injected under ultrasound gaudiness after adding 8.4% sodium bicarbonate buffered PRP for increasing the pH to normal physiological levels. The sodium was added in a ratio 0.05 ml to 1 ml of PRP. All the participants blood samples were stored in -25 ° Celsius and were analyzed to determine the concentration of the growth factors. The PRP injection of the current study were injected directly into the injured area under aseptic technique. The case group participants only received the single autologous PRP combined with the rehabilitation program. The participants were kept under observation for 96 hours and were performed the rehabilitation program after 5-7 days of PRP injection. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture at standardized time points: before (baseline) and 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours to 4wks. and 8wks. after administration of PRP. blood was drawn at precisely the same time each morning and at least 3 hours after eating and exercising per WADA standards Figure 3. PRP set up. 2.3. Growth Factor Quantification: Six growth factors and related molecules that are concentrated in PRP preparations were quantified in PRP and blood by direct immunoassay using the Quantikine enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA kit), as outlined   the Growth factors studied were: human growth hormone (hGH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), basic fibro blast growth factor (bFGF or FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor- BB (PDGF-BB). Because bFGF is present in the blood only at very low concentrations, a high-sensitivity ELISA kit was used to ensure accurate detection [34] [35] [5]. Figure 4. PRP injection under ultrasound guidance. 2.4. Rehabilitation program: A Physical rehabilitation program was performed for six weeks and designed for lower limb. In particular, hamstring muscles. both groups participants (8 case and 9 control) performed the exercises protocol once a day for 55 minutes for each training session and 5 times a week (275 M. / week). The exercise protocol was consisted of aquatic exercise and strength exercises and was divided to tree stages, the first stage was focused on the flexibility and isotonic strength exercise with 5 sets and 12-15 1RM intensity. While, the second stage was designed for strength exercises with 3 sets and 8-10 1RM intensity. While the third stage for endurance and exercise related of activity performance. Aquatic pool, Machine weights and The Thera-Band resistance bands exercises were used during the 6 weeks especially the colors (red, blue, black, silver). The red and blue bands were used in the first stage and the black and silver used in second stage. Furthermore, all the exercises were performed by stretching the band between 75 100 %. knowing that, the weight of stretching in Thera-Band between 75-100% is red 3.3-3.9kg, blue 5.9-7.1kg, black 8.1-9.7, and silver 11.1-13.2kg. 2.5. Statistical Analysis The paired t-test was used to compare the collected data before performing the exercise protocol (Pre-test) and those which were obtained after the 6 and 8-weeks training period (Post-test). The differences between the samples were significant at the t = 1.740 p < 0.05 level. All the analyses were performed by using SPSS 21 software for Windows 7 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). Additionally, all values within the text and table are observed as standard deviation and mean (mean  ± SD). 3. Results: Table 2, 3 illustrate the large variations in growth factor concentrations between participants in the two groups before and after PRP injection. Regarding growth factor (GF) trajectories for the case group participants are shown in Figure 3, and data are summarized in Table 2, the human growth hormone increased dramatically within the first 24 hours after PRP injection while these results were not significant after the 4 weeks and 8 weeks.   Moreover, IGF-1 increased relative to baseline within 24 hours after PRP and remained elevated at all-time points thereafter, and the change was statistically at 24 until 96 hours as well after 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Likewise, VEGF and PDGF were significantly elevated at 24 hours and at all-time points thereafter and were significant after 4 and 8 weeks.   Furthermore, FGF-2 rose at the point between 24 to 96 hours after PRP injection but not significantly, while it was elevated significantly after 4 week and 8 weeks. It obviously represented in table 3, the spectacular significantly difference between the growth factors results of the case group after 4 weeks compared with the 8 weeks result of the control group. Additionally, Figure 6, reveals the same significant results between the two groups after the 8 weeks. Nevertheless, the physical measurements related with hamstring Strain and Knee flexion range of motion between the two groups were not significant after 4 weeks or 8 weeks. Table 1. Data Summary for the Growth Factors after PRP Injectiona unit   Ã‚  Ã‚   Pre-test 24 h 48 h 72 h 96 h 4 weeks 8 weeks hGH   pg/mLpg/mL pg/mL 1.927  ± 0.67 8.117  ± 2.414 2.276  ± 0.030 2.776  ± 0.180 5.597  ± 1.910 2.321  ± 0.554 2.175  ± 0.651 IGF-1 pg/mL 0.577 ±0.283 1.078  ± 0.914 1.101 ±0.341 1.122  ± 0.239 1.133  ± 0.165 0.817  ± 0.844 0.793  ± 0.141 FGF-2 pg/mL 2.233  ± 1.22 2.105  ± 0.772 2.292  ± 0.736 1.911  ± 0.201 2.314  ± 0.877 3.652  ± 0.567 3.921  ± 0.822 VEGF pg/mL 0.346  ± 0.18 1.313  ± 0.42 1.544  ± 0.463 1.836  ± 0.463 1.554  ± 0.419 0.784  ± 0.098 0.749  ± 0.077 PDGF pg/mL 0.352 ±0.11 0.884  ± 0.949 1.702 ±1.572 1.602  ± 2.021 1.262  ± 1.423 0.856  ± 0.108 0.807  ± 0.133 aPRP, platelet-rich plasma; hGH, human growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; FGF-2, basic fibroblast growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor. Table 2. Difference of the Growth Factors concentration between the Case and Control group Case Group (N=8) Control Group (N = 9) Unit Pre-test 4 weeks 8 weeks Pre-test 4 weeks 8 weeks P ≠¤ 0.05 hGH   pg/mLpg/mL pg/mL 1.927  ± 0.67 2.321  ± 0.554 2.175  ± 0.651 1.941  ± 0.201 1.997  ± 0.088 2.063  ± 0.477 1.215 IGF-1 pg/mL 0.577 ±0.283 0.817  ± 0.844 0. 793  ± 0.141 0.582  ± 0.247 0.633  ± 0.145 0.637  ± 0.114 1.760 * FGF-2 pg/mL 2.233  ± 1.22 3.452  ± 0.567 3.921  ± 0.822 2.228  ± 0.721 2.593  ± 0.687 2.627  ± 0.514 2.046 * VEGF pg/mL 0.346  ± 0.184 0.784  ± 0.098 0.749  ± 0.077 0.341  ± 0.163 0.384  ± 0.187 0.396  ± 0.106 2.584 * PDGF pg/mL 0.352 ±0.117 0.856  ± 0.108 0.807  ± 0.133 0.358  ± 0.121 0.421  ± 0.633 0.429  ± 0.008 2.632 * PRP, platelet-rich plasma; hGH, human growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; FGF-2, basic fibroblast growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; N, Number; * Significant difference P ≠¤ 0.05, t =1.740 (N= 17). Table 3. Difference of Hamstring Force and Knee Flexion (ROM) between the Case and Control group Case Group (N=8) Control Group (N = 9) Unit Pre-test 4 weeks 8 weeks Pre-test 4 weeks 8 weeks P ≠¤ 0.05 HF N 26.62  ± 4.67 104.32  ± 5.67 107.06 ±1.64 25.31  ± 3.41 102.71  ± 4.75 105.75  ±3.18 0.743 KF(ROM) Deg. ËÅ ¡ 51.72  ± 5.17 147.92  ± 0.43 148.62  ± 0.78 52.04  ± 2.43 147.02  ± 0.14 147.36  ± 0.88 0.632 aPRP, platelet-rich plasma; HF, Hamstring Force; KF(ROM), Knee Flexion range of motion. N, Number. P ≠¤ 0.05, t =1.740 (N= 17). 4. Discussion: There is little published evidence to support whether a statistically significant increase in growth factors with performance-enhancing potential, including IGF-1, hGH VEGF, PDGF and FGF-2, necessarily leads to clinically relevant ergogenic effects. This is further complicated by evidence from some animal studies that local IGF-1 overexpression enhances local muscle mass and strength without systemic increases in IGF-1. The current study aims to determine the effect of PRP in accelerate the healing of hamstring strain. Moreover, to identify potential molecular markers that could be used to distinguish athletes who have been treated with local PRP injections from those who have not. Figure 5, The concentration of the growth factors after the PRP injection. PRP, platelet-rich plasma; hGH, human growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; FGF-2, basic fibroblast growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor. The performance of the growth factors after a single PRP injection was enhanced and increased significantly from 24 until 96 hours.   Indeed, hGH was peaked within the 24-hour window, although the results were not significant after 4 weeks or 8 weeks. Similarly, IGF-1 is significantly increased by 24 until 96 hours after PRP, while its activation was decreased after 4 weeks and 8 weeks but with significantly difference compared with the pretest and the control group 8 weeks test. Furthermore, IGF-1 is generated in the liver in response to hGH, is the primary downstream mediator of hGH, and is the most specific marker of supraphysiological hGH exposure [36] [37]. Figure 6. Difference between the case and control group in the concentration of the Growth Factors after 8 weeks. hGH, human growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; FGF-2, basic fibroblast growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor. Despite that both groups performed the same rehabilitation program, our study reported a significant increase in the growth factors for the control group after 4 and 8 weeks (Table 3, figure 6). However, the values of the case group after 4 weeks for the case group were more advanced than the 8 weeks values of the controlled (Figure 7,8). Therefore, the PRP injection enhanced the concentration of the growth. It is notably that the physical measurements of hamstring force and knee flexion range of motion were not significant at either 4 or 8 weeks. Wallace et al demonstrated that an acute bout of exercise increases total circulating IGF-1 by only about 20% [38] [9]. Figure 7, Difference between the case and control group in (NFROM) Knee flexion range of motion after 8 weeks. Figure 8, Difference between the case and control group in (HF) Hamstring Force after 8 weeks.          By comparison, participants in case group who treated with PRP and exercise program. Our study demonstrated a 38% increase in IGF-1 in case group and 9.5% in control group. Relative to baseline, suggesting that PRP treatment activates the hGH-IGF-1 pathway but that a single PRP injection is important to combined with the exercise to maximally stimulate. [39] [9] (Table 3) (Figure 6). We also observed FGF-2 and VEGF also peaked after treatment with PRP.   Fibroblast growth factor contributes to angiogenesis by stimulating the proliferation of endothelial cells to enhance the proliferation of satellite cells, which are the stem cells of mature muscle [40]. Basic fibroblast growth factor may enhance athletic performance by inducing muscle hyper- trophy and increasing oxygen transport. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a powerful stimulator of angiogenesis and could have noteworthy performance-enhancing effects if it entered systemic circulation and exerted its effects in tissues o ther than the site of injury [41]. The potential effects of autologous biological substances to hasten muscle healing were reported in several case reports [34] [42] [43]. Borrione et al [34] noted that athletes with grade 3 muscle strains treated with PRP showed earlier functional improvement and more complete recovery than those treated nonoperatively. Hamid et al   [44] demonstrated that a single PRP injection was effective in accelerating recovery for grade 2. However, the PRP Group achieved full recovery significantly earlier than controls and returned to play after 27 days while control group returned after 43 days. Another approach successfully treated an athlete with a grade 2 semimembranosus muscle injury with a single 3-mL infiltration of platelet-enriched plasma under ultrasound guidance. The athlete was pain free and allowed to train at the preinjury intensity 21 days after treatment [45]. The effect of a preparation rich in growth factors (PRGF) to hasten muscle recovery was reported in a 35-year-old pr ofessional bodybuilder diagnosed with a right adductor longus rupture. The athlete successfully returned to competitive training within 1 week after the third PRGF injection [43]. The effect of PRP in accelerated and associated a hamstring injury was also observed in the current study. The PRP preparation contained a high concentration of several growth factors including TGF-b, FGF-2, and insulin-like growth factor-1, but the amount of platelets and WBCs present was not stated. Additionally, the actual effect of PRP on soft tissue healing is not fully understood,22 our findings supported the possible role of higher growth factors (concentration level) in hastening recovery as postulated by previous researchers [46] [47] [42]. Sanchez et al reported full functional recovery of hamstring and adductor muscle injuries 2 times faster in 20 professional athletes treated with a PRGF [24]. Similar designed study by Rettig et al was investigated the effects of an autologous PRP injection and was retrospective case-control study conducted to determine the effect of the PRP on return time to play after acute hamstring injuries. The study included 10 professional National Football League (NFL) players with acute hamstring injury. The participants were divided equally into PRP and Control groups. Under ultrasound guidance the PRP group patients were injected once with 6 mL of PRP. Both groups were performed the same rehabilitation program. Several differences were identified between the study by Rettig et al and the current study. For instance, the

Character Development in Burmese Days by George Orwell :: essays research papers

I was intrigued by how the writer George Orwell portrayed each character's personality. Each character had their own unique characteristic. For example, Mr. Floury's character was unique in every aspect imaginable, by the way he tries to help Dr. Veraswami's get elected in the club. He was not always positive, but in some instances he was cruel. There was a demeanor about him that was portrayed very well from start to finish. The arrival of the bobbed blonde, Elizabeth Lackersteen, not only shows Flory as ill-fated suitor but gives Orwell the opportunity to prove that he's a reporter of nuanced social interactions and political intrigues. Other character's worth mentioning is Ma Hla May (Flory's servant); her actions throughout the book were marvelous. Each time she appeared in the scene, her presence was felt strongly. Her actions thoughtout the book were driven by her vanity, which led to her arriving at the church and embarrassing Mr. Flory. Against this backdrop of politics and ethics, Orwell presents romance. The book was not just about one-man entrance in a club, but also of the hatred people bestow on each other. Was it their vanity that had driven everyone in the town? Is the failure to socialize extended to the natives ? U Po Kyin, villain who tormented everyone, a man without any sympathy, a man who was known to be notorious throughout the town. Most of the turmoil, which occurred during the book can be traced back to U Po Kyin doings. The addition of U Po Kyin made the book mysterious and full of mayhem. This well plotted tale of betrayal and hypocrosy in an English colonial outpost is an extraordinarily good read on several levels. The character of Flory who despises the racist hypocrosy of his fellow expats yet is too weak to do anything about it is very well written. Flory is full of contradictions and ultimately these contribute to his

J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls - Eva Smith :: English Literature

Eva Smith - character study. There are many reasons for the death of Eva Smith. Each one of the Birling family and Gerald pushed Eva Smith a little closer to suicide but no one person was solely responsible for her death. It was not only the Birling's that contributed to Eva Smith's death but her position in the world she was in, she was very poor and low in society Mr Birling was the first person who we were led to believe started off the train of events that led to the death of Eva Smith. I don't believe that Mr Birling did anything that ultimately push Eva to commit suicide the only thing he did was sack her from his factory after she started to cause trouble demanding higher wages and getting the other girls in the factory to go on strike. Most men in his position would have done the same. Mr Birling said to the inspector, 'She had a lot to say far too much so she had to go ´. Although I don't think that Mr Birling did anything really wrong regarding Eva he does not come off well throughout the play as he shows himself up a number of times because of his personality. The major fault in his personality is that he seems to show no remorse for Eva and his son Eric is annoyed by this. He seems to be a very hard man, and shows no regret for dismissing Eva which led to her death. Sheila was the second person that the Inspector turned on and her part in the run up to Eva's death shows her in an unfavourable light as she turned on Eva because she was jealous of her. Sheila wrongfully used her position as an important customer to turn Eva out of a job. She even admits, 'it was my own fault ´, and that she 'was in a furious temper ´. She was jealous of Eva describing her as a 'very pretty girl too - with big dark eyes ´. Although her actions show her to be a bad tempered, jealous and malicious person you get the impression as she begins to talk that that is quite a harsh view of her and that although she does have bad characteristics she isn ´t really as bad as you first think her to be. She shows herself to be honest admitting straight away all that she had done, that she caught sight of her smiling at the assistant and 'I was furious with her ´. Gerald was the third person to come under the spotlight.

Effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup Essay -- HFCS Food

Abstract: This research essay will investigate the effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup. The liver is effected because the fructose—as it is being metabolized deposits fatty acids into the liver, it also develops cirrhosis, which has the same effect normally seen in alcoholics. High Fructose Corn Syrup increases cholesterol which blocks the inner walls of the arteries and may be fatal if not treated. High Fructose Corn Syrup was believed to be beneficial to diabetics, but studies show the they may actually promote more diseases. Obesity is a major problem, as High Fructose Corn Syrup does not release leptin—which is what signals the brain to stop eating, so society is prone to over consumption. It also alters the heart's use of other minerals and enables the appropriate minerals to reach the part of the body that needs them, (such as calcium for bones). Lack of the minerals cause osteoporosis which cause bones to become more fragile and easier to break. Dental caries are problemat ic because they cause toothaches and holes to form on the tooth—another effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup. It is human nature to have a sense of memento mori, even if it means becoming sick. High Fructose Corn Syrup, (High Fructose Corn Syrup) is the backbone of the USA in that it is ubiquitous and virtually everyone is affected by it. The High Fructose Corn Syrup in foods are known to hinder the liver, lead to diabetes, cause obesity, mineral deficiency, osteoporosis, and dental caries, as well as other diseases caused by the â€Å"trickle down effect.† Little is known about High Fructose Corn Syrup because it has only been used for 30 years, but what is known is that the bad outweighs the good. One of the organs that is directly effected by High Fructos... ...ture and harm of High Fructose Corn Syrup before it causes permanent damage. 6 Edgar, W.M. Nutritive Sweeteners. â€Å"Sugars and Dental Caries.† G.G. Birch and K.J. Parker. Englewood, NJ. 1982. Kapner, Adam. Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine and national Institute of Health. 26 June, 2008. 23 July 2008. www.nlm.nih.gov Jefferson, Ashley. â€Å"The Negative Effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup on the Human Body Excluding Obesity, Diabetes and Kidney Failure.† 30, July, 2006. 23, July 2008. www.westonaprice.org Piersall, Wendy. Five Reasons to Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup. The Fit Shack. 2008. 23, July 2008. www.thefitshack.com Mohr, Christopher R. High Fructose Corn Syrup. 1 May, 2005. www.diabeteshealth.com Osteoporosis: A debilitating disease that can be prevented and treated. National Osteoporosis Foundation. 27 July, 2008. 27 July, 2008. www.nof.com

Animal Liberation and Their Moral Status Essay

Peter Singer, author of the highly revered book entitled ‘Animal Liberation’, caused quite a stir when he released this book in 1975. Considered by some as the Bible of animal rights, the book aimed to halt the abuse that a lot of nonhuman animals were experiencing at the expense of human beings. This would include the use of animals for experimentation, as well as the consumption of animals as part of our everyday meals. The book made it a point to emphasize the fact that majority of the humans are taking advantage of animals, and treating them with disregard and without any form of consideration whatsoever. Many people credited the effectiveness of Singer’s book for the sudden burst of animal rights into the mainstream of issues surrounding society. No doubt, his views on animal rights has had a significant influence in the past. Alex Pacheco helped found People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), after reading Singer’s book. And many people still use his book as a reference when discussing the rights of animals (Internal Vegetation Union, 2006). Even so, Singer’s skills as a messenger can’t alone explain how concern about the status and treatment of animals has moved into the mainstream of public policy discussions. Master communicator though he be, the culture had to be ready for his message. It had been prepared by several factors, among them the civil rights, peace and women’s movements and the apparent failure of science and technology to deliver fully on all their promises. Chernobyl, holes in the ozone layer, pesticides in the food chain, and the possibility of a brave new world created by cloning and genetic engineering have put the suspicion and fear of scientists into our collective hearts. Singer’s Animal Rights Still, Singer proceeds to emphasize a lot of his points in his book, as to why animal cruelty should be abolished from society. For one thing, animals and humans, despite some similarities, are still so relatively different that it would be pointless to apply the results that one would acquire from animal testing, and apply it to humans. Aside from that, both animal pain and its relief by means of anesthesia not only interferes with the experimental results, but invalidates it as well. Also, there are now numerous alternatives to animal research, that wouldn’t involve hurting them in any way or form. By doing animal research, whether it is needed or could be beneficial, it is still morally wrong to inflict injury upon animals, as they too have the tendency to feel pain. Singer’s main point of concern is that nonhuman animals should not be subjected to being treated so harshly and without compassion. It is not to say that animals should be treated as equals; rather, humans should not do to them what we wouldn’t do to our fellow species. If a scientist would consider it immoral to experiment on another human being, the same sentiment should be shared to animals. If it would be morally unacceptable to use human beings as a source of food, then why is eating animals any different? Just as it is wrong to kill a fellow human being, so should be the case with animals as well. Singer believed that animals should not be â€Å"a means towards our end†, and treat them as mere commodities which only exist to satisfy our own needs, and should be treated as fellow living things (Lim, 2008). Singer’s philosophical views hold a lot of truth, as the abuse that some animals face due to the work of human beings should be considered as morally wrong. Animals should not be subjected to all sorts of scientific experiments, even if these scientists claim that this for the greater good. Some scientists would argue that the studies they make on animals would benefit us, as their discoveries could pave the way for a better understanding of life in general. But using animals as test subjects should not be condoned, especially if the animals’s health and life is in parrel. Animals should not be harmed, period, no matter what the circumstances are. In terms of preserving their lives, their rights should be just as a high as any human’s. Contradicting Singer’s Arguments Though some of Singer’s arguments may be valid, I cannot say that I agree with some of his beliefs. For instance, in the animal kingdom, when a dominant animal kills one of its prey and feeds it to its family, is that animal considered a murderer? Would it also be considered as, ironically, inhuman? Some would say that animals kill other animals as part of their primal insticts, as a need to feed themselves in order to survive. But if humans eat other animals, shouldn’t it also be considered as the same primal needs? Singer might consider the thought of eating meat to be unruly and wrong, but I beg to differ. Since the beginning of time, the earliest of humans, being not as intelligent as we are now, had the same primal instincts as any other animal. Humans, for the most part, are born as omnivores (Best, 1991). We cannot help it if we crave to eat meat rather than just fruits, vegetables and other natural produce. So for someone to dispute that humans should not eat animals is to go against our own human nature and instincts. Of course, its wrong to eat a fellow human being. But how often have you seen any other animal eating its own kind, too? In that case, it’s not even about being a species of higher intelligence. Not even animals of lower intellect would do such a thing. The point is,   eating another species is part of our natural instincts; not as humans, but as natural-born omnivores. And to say that we are morally wrong to eat anything other than what grows on the ground would be to contradict the nature of not only humans, but the entire animal kingdom as well. We may be more intelligent than animals, but have the same primal needs as animals do, and to deprive us of following that need would also be considered wrong. How then, do we come to a compromise? I believe that Singer had it right when he pointed out the abuse that animals endure when being used as test subjects for scientific experiments. This method is not only unnecessary, but it should be considered as morally wrong. The same goes for sports hunting. The killing of animals should not be done as a leisurely activity, as we would not do it against our fellow man. In terms of consuming other animals as food, while I personally believe there should be limits in terms of choosing what animals can be considered, it should not be taken against those who prefer to eat meat. We as omnivores have our own needs. though not to say that we can’t survive without eating meat, it is still part of our nature to crave for it. In terms of morals, humans should not be held accountable for consuming other animals, as it is what binds us with them. To conclude, animal rights have long ways to go before any permanet laws could be issued that would be fair on both sides. Though Singer stresses a lot of important points, one still cannot deny our own rights, not as humans but as part of the circle of living creatures.   References Best, Steven. Philosophy Under Fire: The Peter Singer Controversy (1991). Retrieved 18 June    2008 from http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Saints/Authors/Interviews/Peter  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   %20Singer—summary.htm Lim, Alvin. On Peter Singer’s Ethics of Animal Liberation (2008). Retrieved 18 June 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from http://chlim01.googlepages.com/singer.htm Professor Peter Singer (2006). International Vegetation Union. Retrieved 18 June 2008 from