Onsumer law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Onsumer law - Essay Example If the credit card provider and the bank, which is acting on behalf of the supplier/ Retailer are the same then only the transaction will have effect on only three parties. Consumer Credit agreements: In Consumer Credit Agreement the creditor provides finance to the debtor for purchase of goods and services and such finance shall be within the specified amount. The credit provided by the creditor to the debtor includes Credit sale and conditional sale such the agreements of bank overdraft and credit card, which are also termed as revolving credit or running account. Under these agreements the debtor purchases the goods and or services from the supplier or wholesaler or retailer etc and the creditor makes the payment for the debtor and such credit the creditor shall fix limit, from time to time. The further classification of these agreements are unrestricted credit agreements and restricted use credit agreements. Bank loans fall in the category of unrestricted credit agreements. ... Dealer is an Agent of Creditor: In accordance with Section 56 of the Consumer Credit Agreement a person who makes negotiations of a regulated agreements between the creditor and the debtor is called the agent of creditor, such person includes a dealer in hire-purchase and a retailer who allows the customer to pay through credit card for the goods supplied. This section gives the protection to the consumer by making creditor liable for any breach of contract of sale either due to misrepresentation or due to any reason, and giving liberty to the consumer to sue the creditor for the breach of contract of sale2. Liability of Creditors in Consumer Credit Agreement: Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 provides that the creditor is liable for the default of the supplier and the debtor has a claim against the creditor similar to that of his claim against the supplier in the Consumer Credit Agreements such as hire-purchase, credit sale and conditional sales. The creditor is jointly and severally liable to the debtor. The consumer who purchases the goods from supplier or wholesaler or a retailer using the credit card has right to claim against credit card issuing company, which provides the credit card to the consumer3. Therefore the Section 75(1) and Section 56 of the Consumer Credit Act gives the protection to the consumers against the creditor such as the credit card issuing bank for any breach of contract of sale including implied conditions such as fitness and satisfactory quality as explained in the sale of goods act. This section provides to the consumer who makes the payment of the price of goods through the credit card, to claim against the supplier and also the

HR Strategic aspects of the labour market and Managing organisational performance Essay Example for Free

HR Strategic aspects of the labour market and Managing organisational performance Essay The economic events occurring during the last two decades provide indications and evidences that the area of human resourcing has significantly changed in response to the emerging complexities of the discipline. Perhaps, among the primary components of corporate organization, the dynamics of human resourcing appear to be the most challenging as well as complex. Experts in the area of Human Resource Management (HRM) invariably agree that the surging demand for a new organizational role for the human capital. Even the usually common terminologies used to describe the HRM processes, such as labor contracting, training and development, performance evaluation, have been recycled to outsourcing, learning and growth or performance management systems. Many even replaced, such as personnel to human resource to human capital, to describe in more sophisticated way, the new character of human resourcing. Still, HRM practitioners are of the opinion that changes will continue to pervade the HR area and may soon take or evolve into new competencies again. Torrington’s Views: The HRM discipline and the Labour market Torrington presents the burgeoning labour issues confronting many organizations as propounded by theorists and practitioners. Indeed, the complexities of human resourcing are invariably revealed in the documented HR practices compiled by the author, who has been keenly observing that the area of human resource management is beginning to undergo a form of transformative process where the task s, positions and the organization virtually mutates into its more sophisticated form. Based on data provided by the author and taken from a report, there is a general shortage of workers especially the young sector. In the area of healthcare, the National Health Service (NHS) is spending ? 1bn annually on temporary, agency and locum staff. According to Laing and Buisson, well known heathcare analysts, the demand for agency staff is expected to increase across public and private healthcare sector in response to the long-standing manpower shortages in practically every healthcare occupation. The author adds that the size of the market for manpower has risen by more than four times during the two decades commencing from 1992. Even the NHS had to triple their budget expenditures during the same period. Torrington estimates this sector is worth ? 2. 4bn in the market. However, the core of the problem has shifted to the quality of care that many temporary staff provide, thus the decision to reduce manpower outsourcing, Here, the need to get better deals from agencies is becoming paramount as new alternatives of human resourcing in this sector is being addressed. The author concludes by proposing an appropriate response system through flexible staffing solutions. Torrington highlights the strategic aspects of resourcing to respond effectively to the critical messages demanded and manifested by the labor market trends. Here, he analyzes the need to adopt certain flexible resourcing choices that will focus attention either to the ready-made or home grown human capital. The labor market trends bespeak of the dilemma faced by the human resourcing industry in general. A number of recommendations are provided to address this set of HR issues – the retention strategy. The retention indicators point to a disturbing trend at the charts. The issue of retention and its corresponding techniques and strategies has been brought into the open as a result of the need to assuage the cost of transfers, job and even career shifts. The author brings the issue of turnover rates and trends as indicative of HR instability in many sectors while exacting some forms of costs on the organization as a result of new rounds of resourcing and the need to adopt staff retention strategies. Torrington insists that organization strategies versus HR strategy issues not only should be HR-driven but primarily must mutually provide a perfect fit. The author discloses the strategic aspects of performance how these are driven by HR policies and processes as practiced. This is implied to mean that a change in perspective be made in the human resourcing function: from taking control of the employment processes to a more significant HR function of managing performance. True enough, this shift in focus may have been long wanted to smoothen human capital transitions to work excellence. This further suggests that efforts are better spent on ensuring that performance management becomes the primary driver of the HR function. A number of firms have found better insights into this form of HR shift considering that the new HR performance processes adds relevance and more meaningful roles for HR theorists and practitioners rather than just the documentary and aspect legalese of human resourcing. The author proposes the adoption of a performance management system that translates into organizational performance anchored on the knowledge and learning processes as HR initiatives. Here, the proactive roles expected of the HR practitioners are deemed directed towards gradually converting the company into a learning organization where the human capital competencies are planned, managed and nurtured. Performance management system indeed is a critical need as with the 360 degree feedback system. Conclusion Torrington proposes a two-dimensional performance appraisal system based on individual and team perspectives. He emphasizes management of employee performance guided towards organizational and personal goals and objectives and an objective appraisal system to measure extent of accomplishment based on target setting. A sequential and step-by-step approach is propounded with a component critique system based on an overarching 260 degree feedback system. A comparison and contrasting view of performance management system (PMS) and its environment of procedures indicate that the PMS has and is being widely used in organizations out to harness the potentials of its people. The degree of effectiveness indicates the variability of conceptualization and implementation, but nonetheless removes the major irritants in people management that ultimately affect the relationship as well as the performance dimensions of each of the component of the human capital sponsored primarily by senior management. Thus, the proactive nature of the PMS approach entitles it to wider adoption and desirability among organizations aiming to address many of its human resourcing issues. Subject 2 Performance Management System: Linking Organizational Goals Torrington outlines the essential factors in managing organisational performance showing how a Performance Management System (PMS)links to organisational goals. Concrete and abstract benefits and disincentives are identified and benchmarked with industry practices guided by the universal principles and theories of performance management. As practiced, performance management systems commence from the goal and target setting based on the requirements of the job. Here, employees and workers are clarified in the objectives of their positions, the requisite competence, and the learning and growth perspectives if the job as well as the compensation based on how the organization assesses the relative important of the task. The use of the PMS has been tested widely and has proven to be more effective than the traditional evaluation system. This is because of the inclusion of a compendium of measures that ensures that organizational goals are aligned with the specific tasks assigned to the employee. From the targets, agreements on the degree and how these targets are achieved under quality processes are laid down and the PMS target setting contract is accomplished. Thus, the use of the PMS allows the following benefits to accrued to both the worker and the organization: among others, expectations are clear and scope and limitations of the jobs are understood by both sectors; employees can clearly predict and manage their own levels of performance based on targets as well as the needed support to accomplish the tasks; there is an objective system of evaluation and appraisal that removes subjectivity and abstract judgments; when provided with an incentive and reward systems, PMS becomes effective as a tool and basis of rewards and incentives; and, there is a better working relationship between the worker and his superior based on earlier agreements and covenants. Likewise, PMS considers possible constraints and limitations on both sides, thus alternative measures are agreed for the degree of performance resulting from the occurrences of such constraints and impediments. For the organization, the benefits are clear in terms of stronger motivation on the worker; budgeting can be integrated into the system through measurable and appropriate inventive and rewards system; the subsequent appraisal and evaluation system allows for an ideal atmosphere for the discussion of the evaluation and appraisal results to encourage future performance based on areas that additionally needed reinforcement and support. In addition, PMS encourages both individuals and teams to be evaluated based on targets that are aligned with the organizational goals. On the other hand, the disadvantages of adopting a Performance Management System (PMS) includes the requirement for a more detailed procedures and measurement system that may prove to be too elaborate and complex for the worker to understand and appreciate. Likewise, the process of documentation in support of the performance is considered difficult and tedious. Further there is no assurance that performance can indeed by achieved as there may be unforeseen circumstances not considered during the target setting completed before the start of the performance period. (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2008) Nonetheless, there is a need to study the organizational culture on whether the latter would help the system or otherwise. Conclusion Taking into account the benefits and disadvantages of Performance Management Systems (PMS), the absence of a more measurable, objective and comprehensive system of measuring and evaluating performance is non-existence despite the presence and utilization of good measuring tools and instruments. This is the complexity of the new HResourcing strategy that allows greater flexibility and uniqueness in the approach to managing performance. On the overall, the rationale for adopting PMS far outweighs the need to ignore the benefits provided by this new system. Often, the major constraint in adopting PMS is whether the organizational culture would allow such a change in the system. Thus, the efforts may indeed be tedious, but nonetheless, there is strong desirability in the system that will be more advantageous to every stakeholder in the PMS environment system.

Lessons from Hewlett-Packard Case Essay -- corporate spying, hp corpora

Hewlett-Packard Corporation plays an important role in the Information Technology products. In the report, it will choose two of the issues which are related to each other from the Hewlett-Packard troubles list. The first issue is the congressional federal did research to the corporate spying and pretexting in 2006. The second issue is about Mark Hurd, who was the president and CEO in HP, was accused of sexual harassment and did illicit business which conduct that he is short of judgment. First, the report begin with identify the moral problem which combine with some relevant background information which can let the reader better understand the situations. Next part, the report will definitely point to point analysis two of the issues related with the moral problem which are covering in the organizational behavior, so that reader can deeply understand and interpretation the problems. At last, finding the feasible ways and establishing the clear effectiveness solutions are the importa nt steps to pull HP Corporation through the downturn. The purpose of this report is using organizational behavior knowledge to comprehend and solve the HP workers’ moral problem. â€Æ' In the report, the first issue describe Hewlett-Packard Corporation was involved into an investigation of spying and pretexting by a congressional federal. According to Hyatt (2007), Patricia Dunn, who was the chairwoman in HP, illegally obtained the private phone records and some of the employee’s information which using the pretexting method led to HP corporation internal leaks. In the second issue, in his article, Hurd on the Street, Booth (2010) describes Mark Hurd, who was the chief executive officer in HP, was got fired on account of intentionally faked financial sta... ... Works Cited Barnard, J. (1992). Successful CEOs Talk about Decision Making. Business Horizons, 35(5), 70-74. Sheeder, F. (2006). If you Find Yourself in A Hole, Put Down the Shovel. Journal of Health Care Compliance, 8(6), 51-52. Booth, R.A. (2010). Hurd on the Street. Regulation, 33(4), 2-4. Collins, D. (2006). Five Levees for Improving Ethical Performance. Strategic Finance, 88(1), 19-21. Gebler, D. (2006). Creating an Ethical Culture. Strategic Finance, 87(11), 28-34. Hyatt, J. (2007). Lessons from Hewlett-Packard. Board Leadership, 2007(90), 6-7. Ostapski, S.A. & Pressley, D.G. (1992). Moral Audit for Diabco Corporation. Journal of Business Ethics, 11(1), 71-80. Priem, R. L., Walters, B. A., & Li, S. (2011). Decisions, Decisions! How Judgment Policy Studies Can Integrate Macro and Micro Domains in Management Research. Journal of Management, 37(2), 553-580.

A Can of Bull

A Can of Bull? Impulse Energy Drink Charley’s List of Questions Energy is the capacity to do work 1. Nature of each ingredient on the cans: Xcitrusblast: Amino acid: l-taurine, l-glutamine, Acid: Citric acid, pantothenic acid, hcl Concentrated water-based extraction: adaptogen blend Sugar: sucralose, acesulfame potassium, Vitamin: Niacin, cyanocobalamin Energy: Caffeine Salt: sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, Dye: yellow 5 Redbull: Amino acid: taurine Acid: glucuranolactone, pyridoxine HCL Sugar: sucrose, glucose Vitamin: niacin, D-pantothenol, vitamin B12 Energy: caffeineSalt: sodium citrate, Dye: colors Sobe Adrenaline Rush: Amino acid: taurine, Acid: citric acid, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride Sugar: high fructose corn syrup, , Vitamin: monopotassium phosphate, beta-carotine, folic acid, Energy: caffeine, Siberian ginseng, Salt: sodium citrate, Dye: caramel color Impulse: Amino acid: taurine Sugar: sucrose Vitamin: niacinimide, C, B12, Energy: caffeine, Dye:color s 2. Acesulfame Potassium (Sunett) – Arti? cial sweetener to provide taste. Aspartame- Low calorie arti? cial sweetener that provides taste. Ca? eine- Some studies have shown that ca? ine may improve memory and reasoning responses on tests Citric Acid- It is a precursor for the citric acid cycle (Kreb’s Cycle), which is a major pathway in the cell’s production of chemical energy. Cyanocobalamin- Important for growth, cell reproduction, blood formation, and protein and tissue synthesis. Folic Acid- Required for metabolism of carbon compounds, nucleic acids, and amino acids. Fructose – Can be converted into a form for entry into the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body.Glucose – Enters the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body. â€Å" Glu curonolactone- It is a normal human metabolic byproduct formed from glucose. Glucuronolactone is found in connective tissue in animals. Also regulates formation of glycogen. Small amounts shouldn’t be harmful. 1-Glutamine – Aids in muscle building and maintenance. Inositol – Controls cholesterol levels and has potential antioxidant capabilities. Niacin (nicotinic acid) – Derivatives such as NADH are required for metabolism.It is said to aid in the synthesis of amino acids, the subunits of proteins. It has not been directly linked to improving athletic performance. Niacinamide Pantothenic Acid (also known as D-pantothenol) – Precursor of coenzyme A. Helps you use fats and carbohydrates to make molecules used for energy. Potassium sorbate †¢ Chemical formula: C6 – Used to inhibit fungal growth in foods. Pyridoxine HCL – Energy production, e? cient metabolic functioning, protein digestion, as well as maintaining healthy nervous syst em, skin, hair and nails. Sucralose (splenda) – Arti? cial sweetener to provide taste.Sucrose – Can be converted into a form for entry into the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body. 1-Taurine – Improved reaction time, concentration, and memory (not proven); essential amino acid for cats. Water – Essential for physiological processes. 3. Caffeine, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine hcl, Sucrose 4. Cyanocobalamin Post Research Analysis: IMPULSE Sources of Energy Amino Acids Stimulants & Vitamins Other Pyridoxine HCl Sucrose Glucuronolactone Inositol 1-Taurine Caffeine Vitamin B12Vitamin C Niacinamide Artificial flavors Colors Carbonated Water Questions 1. Energy is the ability to do work 2. Water- Essential for physiological processes Sucrose- Can be converted into a form for entry into the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body Taurine- : Improved reaction time, concentration, and memory (not proven); essential amino acid for cats. Glucuronolactone- It is a normal human metabolic byproduct formed from glucose. Glucuronolactone is found in connective tissue in animals.Also regulates formation of glycogen. Small amounts shouldn’t be harmful. Caffeine- Some studies have shown that ca? eine may improve memory and reasoning responses on tests; other studies have shown that ingesting 3-9mg of ca? eine one hour before physical activity improves endurance running and cycling in athletes. No adverse e? ects inhumans have been documented. Inositol- Controls cholesterol levels and has potential antioxidant capabilities Niacinimide- component of the coenzymes NAD and NADP, important in the redox reactions of metabolism pyridoxine HCL- Energy production, e? ient metabolic functioning, protein digestion, as well as maintaining healthy n ervous system, skin, hair and nails. h e B-compound vitamins are probably the single most important set of factors needed for proper maintenance of the nervous system as well as proper functioning of the cell and its energy metabolism vitamin C- : It is a precursor for the citric acid cycle (Kreb’s Cycle), which is a major pathway in the cell’s production of chemical energy vitamin B12- : Important for growth, cell reproduction, blood formation, and protein and tissue synthesis ) Pyridoxine HCl – Energy production; Sucrose, Glucuronolactone, and Inositol – all converted into ATP b) None. 3. Ca? eine is a mild CNS stimulant with a transient e? ect. 4. They help your energy boost for the short while 5. Yes, the analysis does support the claim that Impluse is an energy drink. Pyridoxine HCl, sucrose, glucuronolactone, and inositol are all sources of energy. 6. Yes, the drink could serve different purpose depending on the consumer.For instance, if the consume r is an athlete, he/she could use the drink as a source of energy, to perform better. It helps improve endurance in running, cycling, improve reaction time and concentration and Astor normal everyday people it can speed up metabolism, help control cholesterol, give energy, help maintain healthy nervous system, even improve reasoning skills on tests. If the consumer is a student, however, he/she could use the drink again as a source of energy but perhaps to work better in school, stay up to study, and do homework. . Sugar hyperglycema can occur in high in takes of sugar Caffeine hallucinations and suicide 8. No sugar doesn't cause hyperactive activity. 9. Your body uses sleep as a rebuilding time for muscles. Your muscles use energy most efficiently. If they never have time to recover then they cannot work properly. Therefore your energy can be depleted. However, lack of energy can be a sign of more serious issues such as anemia or thyroid problems. If this is an on going problem you should definitely consult your physician. 0. Yes, the energy drink contains ingredients like caffeine to temporary allow you to be boost your energy along with others and pyridoxine which helps keep a healthy nervous system some vitamins. And also has multiple ingredients to increase metabolism 11. If given the option between a can of Coke or one of the energy drinks, one should choose the energy drink. This is because the energy drink has fairly lower calorie count and less sugar. Also, the energy drinks provide more energy and have certain vitamins.Also, I would rather buy an an energy drink because it would benefit you better than buying a coke that gives no nutrition at all but instead just full of caffeine and sucrose for energy. At least with impulse you get some nutritional benefit out of it. However, energy drink is only good if taken in moderation. Assessment After conducting the assessment on the Impulse energy drink, we’ve concluded that the marketing claim for th is particular drink does prove to be legitimate and is supported by the ingredients of the drink.The drink does, in fact, acquire its energy from nutrients, minerals, and vitamins such as the ones listed on the nutrition facts. The marketing claim does not leave off any ingredients and directly inform the consumers of how each functions and its purpose. However, one thing that the marketing claim does forget to mention is that the drink should only be consumed in moderation because of the harmful effects it could have on the body if consumed in massive amounts.

Concept Development: Florence Nightingale -Its Con

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT: Florence Nightingale – Influence on Nursing Theory 1. AIM: This assignment gives an abridged account of Florence Nightingale’s life, her education, aspirations and career. It also discusses the development of nursing theory in general, and Florence Nightingale’s influence in later nursing theorists’ work. Florence Nightingale’s philosophy regarding the environment was fundamental to her concept of nursing and health, which was demonstrated through her work on sanitary reform and hospital construction. 2. BACKGROUND: Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 to well-educated, affluent British parents. Her youthful upbringing brought her into aristocratic society, where she made life-long distinguished friends and acquaintances. These would prove pivotal in her work as the founder of modern nursing. Schooled by her father in mathematics, languages, religion and philosophy (which were put to good use in forming her theories), the young Nightingale began her nursing training in Germany. After returning to England, she became Superintendent of the Hospital for Invalid Gentlewomen 1. During the 1840’s, sanitary reform in the community became a big political issue, which Florence Nightingale zealously embraced. She utilised plans for eliminating sanitation problems on the army wards during her time in the Crimean War. Although medical care in the army was higher than in the community, conditions were still appalling with blocked latrines, overflowing cesspools and contaminated drinking water. The latter playing an important part in epidemic outbreaks of cholera. 1,2. The soldiers named her as ‘The Lady of the Lamp’ when she carried her lantern through the corridors at night. In 1855, Florence Nightingale became very ill with ‘Crimean Fever ‘ and was not expected to survive. This disease is believed by some to be brucellosis melitensis. Her symptoms subsided and she returned to England, after which, she founded nursing schools at St. Thomas Hospital and at King’s College Hospital. Her achievements have included her many writings, such as ‘Notes on Hospitals’ and ‘Notes on the Sanitary State of the Army in India’. Florence Nightingale also compiled statistics and much evidence for the Royal Commission. Hospitals were set up world-wide financed by the Nightingale Fund. Although bed-ridden for much of her later years, she worked prolifically into her eighties, gathering data and expounding her nursing theories. In 1910, Florence Nightingale died at the age of 90 years. . Development of Nursing Theories and Practices Between 1858, when Florence Nightingale first wrote her ideas for the theory and practice of nursing, and the 1950’s, there was little change to the task orientated, authoritarian concept of nursing practice. The nursing theorists may have started to evolve in order to change this viewpoint. Notable protagonists include Henderson, Peplau, Abdellah and Orem. 4 In addition, reactions to the medical paradigm which was well established and developed, may have prompted the change of nursing, from one of traditional symptom orientation to a nursing paradigm in it’s own right. Figures 3. 1 & 3. 2 refer). [pic] Nursing theories have gone through several changes and ideas that were rejected in one stage of development have been accepted in another. There has been a shift from the early rejection of nursing theories, through the positivistic, quantitative research of the sixties to the recent revival of Florence Nightingale’s concept of nursing of health and environment. Nursing research has shifted towards the phenomenological viewpoint (the meaning of experience and perceived reality) illustrated in Figure 3. 3. [pic] Nursing theories prove that nursing is a profession, not simply an occupation. Meleis describes these as being â€Å"a systematic, coherent body of knowledge with boundaries†. There are three types of nursing theories, according to Alligood and Chong Choi. 1 The first is nursing philosophy, in which the meaning of nursing is realised through analysis, reasoning and logical argument. Exponents of this type of work were early theorists. Florence Nightingale’s work is a philosophical one. The second or ‘grand theorist’ type gives a conceptual framework in which one can view the world and take into account it’s aspects. (J. Fawcett 1989)1: 6 . Orem and Neuman are examples of this type. The third type are middle range theories, which are derivatives from other works such as grand theories, philosophy of nursing theories or perhaps from other, related theories. 1 4. Florence Nightingale’s Influence on Nursing Development and Practice Florence Nightingale was the first nursing theorist. She believed her life in nursing to be a calling from God, her chief mission being to improve the environment in which people lived and in which people were cared for. Although an innovator, she was also a product of her time as sanitary reform in the community became a big issue with the educated classes. Her other philosophies influenced nursing theory and practice. These were: * Nursing as a profession distinct from Medicine. Gathering of statistical data for applied research The establishment of recognised system of nurse training Definition of Health Dichotomy of nurse / patient role. The reparative process of disease 4. 1 Environment Florence Nightingale placed great emphasis on the physical aspects of the care setting. These are namely; clean air, pure water, efficient drainage, cleanliness and sunlight, 7 which are largely taken for granted in our modern hospitals. She believed these would eradicate the main source of illness, although, Miss Nightingale rejected the theory of bacterial infection on the grounds that she had no empirical evidence to support it. Florence Nightingale believed that building construction, in particular, hospital building, should pay particular attention to sanitation and ventilation. This together with the correct diet would eliminate much current sickness. Her writings on this subject revolutionised hospital construction. 10. In her Notes on Nursing, she admonished nurses who noisily tripped over fire-irons, thus breaching safety standards. Virginia Henderson wrote of Florence Nightingale’s influence on her own work regarding the environment, when she said, â€Å"Like Miss Nightingale, I have shared an interest in seeing the environment made safer for people. She put more emphasis on fresh air than I, of course, did. I had more opportunity to learn how to control infection than she did. † 8. Miss Hende rson further enlarged on Florence Nightingale’s theory to say that nurses should recommend the construction of buildings, purchase of equipment and maintenance in order to minimise chances of injury. 1 Kathryn Barnard, speaking in 1966, said that in order for the nurse to assist the patient in promoting and maintaining his / her independence, a change in the patient’s environment may be necessary. 1 Martha E. Rogers (1970) and Betty Neuman (1995) echoed Florence Nightingale’s belief that the provision of an environment which was conducive to healing, such as cleanliness, fresh air and calm, were prerequisites for recovery from illness. Nursing theorists widened the concept to include people’s responses to their immediate and broader environment. 9 Rogers holds that the description of person and environment ‘energy fields’ are inseparable. Dorothea Orem’s ‘Universal self-care requisites’ (1980) lists the maintenance of air, water, food, rest and solitude, as being required by all human beings and adding to these; social interaction, elimination, activity, social interaction, prevention of hazards and promotion of human functioning. 4. 2 The Profession of Nursing and Health. The idea that there would be a professional body of exclusively female nurses (Miss Nightingale believed women were natural nurturers) was revolutionary in the last century. The exception was in psychiatric nursing, where men’s’ physical strength was valued. This view is largely discounted today, of course. She was also passionate about the uniqueness of nursing, existing alongside but not incorporated into, other related disciplines, such as medicine. Adherence to signs, symptoms, surgery, medication and disease prevailed in this era of health care. 5 She was suspicious of ‘new’ scientific thinking, wh ich would turn nurses into ‘medical women’. 10 The training of young, more educated nurses in the new progressive schools like St. Thomas Hospital, included Florence Nightingale’s own concept of health: hygiene, environment and care. Her belief was that health was a state of wellness, desired by the patient and gained by using all power available, to the fullest extent. 1:10 Miss Nightingale combined both health education with sick nursing in her teachings, a practice which is very much in evidence today. Hildegard Peplau, followed Florence Nightingale, in 1952, and pioneered a knowledge-based nursing practice, which included education and research; distinguishing it from medicine-based health care. 1, 11 In 1987, Rosemarie Rizzo Parse echoed the need for nursing to move away from the medical model in order to evolve. 4. 3 Concept of Nursing and Statistical Data Gathering In 1970, Martha Rogers took Miss Nightingale’s concept of nursing and redefined it as a constant human interaction with the environment. 5 She lauded Miss Nightingale’s ability to place the person â€Å"within the framework of the natural world†, by her vision of health and by supporting this with statistical data. 1 Rosemarie Rizzo Parse was greatly influenced by Martha Rogers. She believed that, since Florence Nightingale’s time, nursing owed it’s existence to Man and Health. 1 4. 4 Nurse/ Patient Role and her Model of Nursing Florence Nightingale believed disease to go through a reparative process Her model of nursing reflected her belief that nature would cure the patient by the actions of the nurse’s control on the environment, 12 the patient’s role was a passive one, with little or no say in the way in which he or she was treated by the health care team. Few would argue that nursing theories has taken a more holistic approach than was the case in Florence Nightingale’s time. A legacy of the Nightingale School is the military terminology used by Miss Nightingale from her time spent in army nursing. Phrases such as; ‘on duty’, ‘off duty’ and ‘sick leave’ are still in use today. 10 5. Conclusion Florence Nightingale saw nurses as women who were not only professionals in their own right, (a revolutionary concept for Victorian England, when most women were subservient to male domination) but were to be instrumental in bringing about changes in order to improve the environment in it’s broadest sense. By this token, she was also the first health educator. Miss Nightingale presented her own empirical evidence i. e. based on her own experiences and observations, as established facts. She was a believer in research. Her gathering of statistical data was used to give credence to her hypotheses on her epidemiological studies. She laid the foundations for a recognised system of nurse training, not only in this country, but abroad. However, those nurse educators, who followed in Florence Nightingale’s footsteps in teaching young (and from an increasingly higher social class) women in the art of nursing, failed to differentiate between the goals and focus of nursing and of medicine. The medical model tended to neglect the patient as a human being. Furthermore, nursing creativity would be stifled (at least in the U. K. ) under a regimented, task-orientated regime until the early 1950’s until the emergence of new nursing theorists, such as Peplau (1952), Henderson (1955) and Orem (1958). Some of Florence Nightingale’s practices and beliefs have been largely discontinued or discounted today, such as the pathology of dirt and dampness, her disregard to the germ theory, and the fact that the patient was non-participative of his/her method of care. This lack of holism was perhaps in keeping with her time. 1. Her vision of nurses as innovators for social health reform, continues to inspire us today. – End of Assignment – REFERENCES: | | | |1. | Marrinner-Tomey, A. (1994). Nursing Theorists and their Work. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby. | |2 |Dingwall, R. , Rafferty, A. M. , Webster, C. (1988). An Introduction to the Social History of Nursing. London: Routledge | |3 |Baly, M. E. (Nov. 13. 1996). Different history for Nightingale illness, Letters. Nursing Standard, 8 (11) 10. Harrow, Middx. , R. C. | | |N. Publishing Company. | |4 |Castledine, G. (1994). A definition of nursing based on nurturing, 3 (3): 134. British Journal of Nursing. | |5 |Meleis, A. I. (1985). Theoretical Nursing: Development and Progress. Pennsylvania: J. B. Lippincott Company. | |6 |Fawcett, J. (1989). Analysis and evaluation of conceptual models of nursing. In A. Marrinner-Tomey (Ed). Nursing Theorists and their| | |Work. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby. | |7 |Nightingale, F. (1992). Notes on Nursing. London: Scutari Press. | |8 |Smith, J. P. (1989). Virginia Henderson: The First 90 years. London: Scutari Press. | |9 |Pearson, A. , Vaughan, B. , Fitzgerald, A. (1991). Nursing Models for Practice. London: Heiman | |10 |Baly, M. E. (1986). Florence Nightingale and the Nursing Legacy. New York: Croon Helm. | |11 |Fitzpatrick, J. and Whall. A. (1983) Conceptual Models of Nursing. Prentice Hall Publishing Co. | |12 |Kershaw, B. and Salvage, J. (1994) Models for Nursing. Great Britain. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |

9 Ways To Turn Old Blog Posts Into New Content Ideas

9 Ways To Turn Old Blog Posts Into New Content Ideas Ever play 20 questions? This is like that. Just with fewer questions. If you’ve written a blog post, something must have inspired you to do it- love of the topic. Looming deadline. Desire to grow traffic. It could be anything. Have you really poked and prodded those old posts, though, and seen if there was more you could squeeze out of them? Much of the time we write a post and think, â€Å"There, I wrote about that topic. Done!† and move on to looking for a new idea. We talk a lot about reworking and repurposing content, but maybe you need a mechanism to help prompt you to see your old blog posts in a new light. Find your favorite blog posts, and let’s go through some questions about them. Time to kick off the dust and see what new content ideas are lurking in your old blog posts. 9 Ways To Create Outstanding New Content From Old Posts via @JulieNeidlinger Question #1: Was Your Post A  Good Idea? You may have loved writing the post, but did it get the traffic and traction you’d hoped for? Did people comment and share it on social media? Are you looking at your dashboard and seeing dismal stats? If the post seems to have bombed, it doesn’t mean the topic was bad, but that your idea was the wrong approach. Or, it might mean that your traffic back when you wrote the post was smaller than it is now, and your new audience might not even know it exists. If a post bombed, there is a lot to learn from it for new content ideas. #bloggingtipsAnswer: Yes, it was. People loved it. Perhaps your post was highly successful in all the usual measurements, getting: High traffic Lots of social shares Plenty of social proof Active comments section Several bloggers linking in from their own blog posts If that’s the case, good job. But keep reading this post. You're still not done with that idea even if your initial post was successful the first go-around. Action: Go to the next question. Answer: No, it really wasn’t. If your post just didn’t seem to work the first time around, great news: Not that many people apparently saw it! You can rework the post entirely, and bring that topic of the pile. For those readers who might stumble on your old post, use a 301 redirect (not a canonical redirect, which is for search engines) to send your readers to the new one. You keep whatever traffic that old one may have received and funnel it to the new post. If you’re worried about using a 301 redirect, don’t be. It isn’t going to hurt you very much. According to Google’s Matt Cutts, you’ll lose only a â€Å"tiny little bit† if you use this technique. Don’t dwell on the old post. Point people to the new content you’re about to create. Action: Move on to question #2. Question #2: Do You Have More You Want To Say? As much as you may have written in that first post, are you dying to talk more about it? I know I have my favorite topics that I like to write about, and each time I sit down to write about them, new ideas pop into my head. Often, we can talk about a topic repeatedly because: There are changes or updates that affect the original take on the topic. You’ve learned some additional information. You’ve changed your mind. Reader feedback has made it clear you need to flesh out more of the topic. You feel like you just want to write more, or could say it differently. Take a look at your favorite posts, especially your older posts. Do these five criteria fit? Answer: Yes, I could definitely talk more about it. This is the best place to be. Not only do you have a foundational post to refer to when you write about that same topic, but you also have reader feedback and reaction to respond and refer to as well. Action: Move on to the next question, or write the new post. Answer: No, I’m done talking about it. If you feel like you’ve written the pants off of that topic, you probably won’t get much more out of trying now. I’d encourage you to use your editorial calendar, though, and add a note in six months or a year to revisit that old post. You might have more to say about it then, even if only to point out how that topic hasn’t changed for you. Action: Add a note to your calendar, and see question #9. Question #3: Is It A  Topic That Readers Could Benefit From More Coverage? Whether you want to write more on it or not, your readers may need you to. You’ll know if readers want more coverage by how and what they’re saying on social media (in response to that post) or in the blog comments section. Answer: Yes, readers seem to want to know more. More than once we’ve written blog posts that respond directly to comments readers have made on this blog. Comments that lend well to additional blog posts follow a general pattern. I don’t understand. I disagree, and here’s why. I don’t think this would work for me. Here’s my specific situation. Would this work for me? This is so helpful. I especially like the part about _____. New blog posts on that topic will explain what readers didn’t understand. They might show how to use an idea in several real-world scenarios so readers can identify better with how it applies to them. And, when someone picks out a part they really like...that’s a gold mine. Go into more detail. Action: Move on to the next question, or write the new post. Contact readers directly (like I did for this post) and ask them more questions about their comments to get even more ideas. Answer: No, there isn’t much interest. If people didn’t share the post much and readers didn’t seem to respond much, or only responded â€Å"great post!† it’s time to reconsider the original idea. Action: Head back to question #1. Question #4: Could You Write About It In A  Different Style? There are two styles at work in every post: your writing style, and your readers' learning styles. This provides you a huge variety of ways to write blog posts based on the same ideas. You may prefer to write in the style(s) of: Teacher Insider Outsider Expert Newbie Observer Cryptographer Convincer Your reader may prefer content that fits their propensity for: Visual learning Numbers and data Lots of text Social references (quotes, links, etc.) Action: Write the post or head on to the next question. Answer: Yes, I could mix it up a bit. You’ll naturally have one you prefer to write as, but you can force yourself to take a different style. Take your topic idea. Choose a different writing style. Wrap your head around what that will sound like. Then choose a learning style. For example, you may write as if you were a newbie relying on lots of text. The next time, you might write as an expert using lots of data. Action: Move on to the next question, or write the new post. Answer: No, I really prefer to write in my strengths. You know what? That’s perfectly fine. Writing is enough work without writing in weaknesses. If you don’t think you can write about the topic from a different approach, don’t worry about it. You have every right to maintain a consistent tone and style on your blog. Action: Move to question #7. Question #5: Could You Re-Edit It And Clean It Up? Sometimes those older posts are pretty good structurally, but they need some cleaning up. This is especially true for those massive lists of links that are such great attention-getters (â€Å"100 Best Apps For Finding Great Restaurants!†) but that age poorly. Answer: Yes, with some clean-up that post is still viable. When it comes to cleaning up a post, your focus should be on: Improving writing and grammar. (Yes, you’ve gotten better as a writer since then.) Finding and removing or replacing dead links. Updating references and data to reflect the current state of affairs. (e.g. â€Å"guest blog like crazy!† to â€Å"Matt Cutts said guest blogging is dead!†) Redoing images to fit a more current look. Remove any that might be guilty of copyright infringement. Canva and other free blog graphics tools might not have been around when you wrote the original, but they are  now! Adding expertise you’ve gained since you wrote the original post. You could rewrite the post but keep it similar in approach. Or, you could reference that old post and talk about how things have changed since then. Action: Clean up that old post, repackage it for now, and publish it new. Use a 301 redirect if the posts are highly similar. Move on to the next question. Answer: No, that post is a dog and no cleanup will help. Fair enough. Action: If the post is really bad, use the 301 redirect technique of question #1 to point it to a newer and related post on your blog (if you have one). Move on to question #9. Question #6: Could You Break It Into Pieces? If you’re doing long form posts, especially, you probably have a lot of content there that you couldn’t go into the greatest detail because, you know, 3,000 words. Breaking your original blog post into pieces means you can do that deep dive and turn one blog post into five. Answer: Yes, I could go into more detail. By breaking your blog post into detailed parts, you have the potential for creating a powerful series of content. That can be used in email autoresponder courses to help generate email sign-ups. It can be used as an ebook later. Hopefully you used a good outline and headings, because that will help in breaking up your post logically. Headings: Your headings and subheadings might be the basis for an expandable blog post. Numbered items: Your numbered items within that body content might be the basis for a list post. Questions: If you write and use questions in your body copy, find them. Can answering those questions be a post of its  own? Data: Any place you have data, charts, case study information, etc. is  a possible opportunity to expand and explain how and why. In long posts, data is often used as a proof. Going into detail is when you explain how you arrived at that data in the first place. Action: Write your new posts or head on to the next question. Answer: No, I don’t have any more detail to share. Perhaps the post was poorly structured, rambled, or carried all the detail you could possibly extract on the subject. Either way, it doesn’t seem a fit candidate for divvying up into smaller parts. Action: Move on to question #9. Question #7: Could You Write About The Post Itself? We all like a little behind the scenes. If you have a post that was successful or got a lot of buzz, would you be willing to talk about that experience? This is particularly valuable if you are in the content marketing niche. Other content marketers like to find out how you create your content. Answer: Heck yes, I’d love to share the experience. Pulling back the curtain to reveal what happened behind the scenes of a popular old post makes for a great story. In this type of approach, you’ll reveal: Your ideation, writing, and editing process. Social, comment, and direct email responses from readers (generalized, to protect their privacy). The struggles, laughs, and raging deadlines you had. Your reaction when the post became popular. What you learned from the experience. The last one, summarizing what you learned, is a very popular blog post approach. How many headlines have you seen that say â€Å"I did ____ and this is what I learned.† Action: Write the post, or move on to the next question. Answer: No. I don’t think anyone would care. I have just the site for you: Click here. Even if you don’t have a viral post or some massive 8th Wonder Of The Blogging World, your readers are probably still curious about how you work. But, if you insist no one would be interested, OK. Action: Move on to question #9. Question #8: Could You Rewrite It As A  Guest Post? You’ve done the research and the work. Why wouldn’t you extend it as a guest post? Guest blogging is still a fantastic way to take your content and get it in front of new readers. Answer: Yes, I’m into guest posts and this would work. The first thing you have to do is make certain that what you will be writing will fit the host blog’s guidelines. If they want only previously unpublished posts, you’ll need to rework it significantly so that your old post is not the same as the new one. Secondly, you’ll want to write your guest post to fit the host blog’s audience. It might not be the exact same as yours as far as their learning style or how the host blog wants posts written. Action: Write the post by reviewing question #6. Or, move on to the next question. Answer: No, I don’t do guest posts. That’s fine. Not everyone does. Action: Move on to question #9. Question #9: Can You Turn It Into A  Different Format Entirely? If you absolutely cannot write on a topic again, you’re still not off the hook. It’s now time to repurpose your blog posts. You have reached the point where you need to see your written content as visual content, or send it elsewhere to keep doing some work for you. This means you’ll take your blog post and turn it into: Infographics Slide decks Social sharing graphics Videos Podcasts Ebooks Webinars Syndication Email autoresponder course Printable worksheets That list is by no means definitive. There are many ways to repurpose content forms. Answer: Yes, this post would work well in a different format. Each blog post has an ideal repurposed format, depending on the type of post it is. We’ve identified 10 easy blog post approaches in the past, but there are so many more. Data: Blog posts with lots of data will do well as infographics, ebooks, and slide decks. How-to: Blog posts that are written as how-to posts will do well as videos, slide decks, webinars, email courses, and ebooks. Interviews: Blog posts that are interviews will do well as social graphics, with the best quotes pulled from the post for each graphic you create. If you can get the original interviewee back, a podcast would work, too. Lists: Blog posts that are lists do well as social graphics if the list items are memorable (one item per graphic). They also make great slide decks. Case studies: Case studies are great topics of conversation in a podcast or video. Stories: Blog posts heavy on narrative and â€Å"what I learned† work well as podcasts, ebooks, and videos. Reviews: Blog posts that review products or services often have a shorter shelf life and aren’t as evergreen. Used quickly enough while still relevant, they make a great video (especially if you demo the product). Updates on an earlier review are always possible. Checklists: These types of blog posts work well with ebooks, infographics, and worksheets. See what you can make of your post. By creating these alternate forms of your written content, you’re pointing people back to the original post in a new way. Answer: No, I’m done. Time to get started brainstorming and find brand new ideas. You’ve worn out the idea and squeezed the last drop of content out of it. Good job! Don't forget to get your own map of these questions to simply

Slaves and Masters essays

Slaves and Masters essays Masters attempted to gain absolute control over slaves' lives but were often frustrated in this by the tactics of resistance the slaves employed. I. Motives of Masters in controlling slaves: The paternalistic idea masters held was that they wanted absolute control over their slaves lives as well as the "fruits of their labor." Out of this derived the shape paternalism took for a long timeout became "system class rule" it was a way of life. The masters lived off the work of their slaves. The system class rule made the slave master relationships ambiguous and complex. Masters had many advantages over slaves one was that they got paid off the their slaves work. By definition and in essence it was a system class rule, in which some people lived off the labor of others. "American slavery subordinated one race to another and there by rendered its fundamental class relationships more complex; but remained class relationships. To insist upon the centrality of class relations as manifested in paternalism is not to slight the inherent racism or to deny the intolerable contradictions." II. Tactics of control employed by masters: the paternalism encouraged by the close living of masters and slaves was enormously reinforced by the closing of the African slave trade, which compelled masters to pay greater attention to the reproduction of their labor force. Wherever paternalism exists, it weakens solidarity among the oppressed by linking them as individuals to their oppressors. "The racial distinction between master and slave heightened the tension inherent in an unjust social order." The slaves of the old south displayed impressive solidarity and collective resistance to their masters, but in a web of paternalistic relationships their actions tended to become defensive and to aim at protecting the individuals against aggression and abuse. Black leaders won the loyalty and respect of slaves and free blacks because the...

What Teachers Do Beyond the Classroom Is Critical

What Teachers Do Beyond the Classroom Is Critical Many people believe that teachers have an easy job in part because they have the summers off and multiple days off for several holidays.   The truth is that teachers spend almost as much time working when students are gone as they do when students are in class.   Teaching is more than 8-3 job. Good teachers stay at school late into the evening, continue to work once they get home, and spend hours on the weekend preparing for the upcoming week.   Teachers often do amazing things beyond the classroom when no one is looking. Teaching is not a static job where you leave everything at the door and pick it back up the next morning.   Instead, teaching follows you wherever you go. It is a continuous mindset and state of mind that is rarely turned off. Teachers are always thinking about their students. Helping them learn and grow consumes us. It causes us to lose sleep sometimes, stresses us at others, yet provides us joy constantly.   What teachers truly do is not completely understood by those outside of the profession. Here we examine twenty critical things that teachers do once their students are gone that makes a significant impact.   This list only offers some insight into what teachers do once their students leave and is not comprehensive. Actively Participate on a Committee Most teachers set on various decision-making committees throughout the school year. For example, there are committees in which teachers help formulate a budget, adopt new textbooks, craft new policies, and hire new teachers or principals.   Sitting on these committees can require a lot of extra time and effort, but give the teachers a voice in what is happening within their school. Attend Professional Development or Faculty Meeting Professional development is an essential component of teacher growth and improvement. It provides teachers with new skills they can take back to their classroom.   Faculty meetings are another requirement held several times throughout the year to allow collaboration, present new information, or simply to keep teachers up-to-date. Breaking Down Curriculum and Standards Curriculum and standards come and go. They are cycled through every few years.   This ever revolving door requires teachers to break down the new curriculum and standards they are required to teach constantly. This is a tedious, yet necessary process in which many teachers dedicate hours to conducting. Clean Up and Organize Our Classrooms A teacher’s classroom is their second home, and most teachers want to make it comfortable for themselves and their students. They spend countless hours cleaning, organizing, and decorating their classrooms. Collaborate with Other Educators Building relationships with other educators are essential. Teachers spend a lot of time exchanging ideas and interacting with one another.   They understand what each other are going through and bring a different perspective that can help solve even the most difficult of situations. Contact Parents Teachers call email and message parents of their students continuously.   They keep them up-to-date on their progress, discuss concerns, and sometimes they just call to build rapport.   Additionally, they meet face-to-face with parents at scheduled conferences or whenever a need arises. Extrapolate, Examine, and Utilize Data to Drive Instruction Data drives modern education. Teachers recognize the value of data. When they assess their students, they study the data, looking for patterns, along with individual strengths and weaknesses. They tailor lessons to meet the needs of their students based on this data. Grade Papers/Record Grades Grading papers is time-consuming and tedious. Though it is necessary, it is one of the most boring parts of the job.   Once everything has been graded, then they must be recorded in their gradebook.   Thankfully technology has advanced where this part is much easier than it once was. Lesson Planning Lesson planning is an essential part of a teacher’s job.   Designing a week’s worth of great lessons can be challenging.   Teachers must examine their state and district standards, study their curriculum, plan for differentiation, and maximize the time they have with their students. Look for New Ideas on Social Media or Teacher Websites The Internet has become a focal point for teachers. It is a valuable resource and tool full with new and exciting ideas. Social media sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter also allows a different platform for teacher collaboration. Maintain a Mind of Improvement Teachers must have a growth mindset for themselves and their students. They must always be searching for the next great thing. Teachers must not become complacent. Instead, they must maintain a mind of improvement constantly studying and looking for ways to improve. Make Copies Teachers can spend what seems like an eternity at the copy machine.   Copy machines are a necessary evil that becomes even more frustrating when there is a paper jam. Teachers print all sorts of things such as learning activities, parent information letters, or monthly newsletters. Organize and Oversee School Fundraisers Many teachers conduct fundraisers to fund things such as equipment for their classrooms, a new playground, field trips, or new technology.   It can be a taxing endeavor to count and receipt all of the money, tally and submit the order, and then distribute all of the merchandise when it comes in. Plan for Differentiation Every student is different. They come with their own unique personalities and needs. Teachers must continuously think about their students, and how they can help each one. It takes a lot of time and effort to accurately tailor their lessons to accommodate each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Review Instructional Strategies Instructional strategies are a critical component of effective teaching.   New instructional strategies are being developed all the time.   Teachers must familiarize themselves with a wide variety of strategies to meet each of their student’s needs. Strategies that work well for one student or class may not necessarily work for another. Shop for Classroom Activities and/or Student Needs Many teachers invest hundreds to thousands of dollars out of their own pocket for materials and supplies for their classroom every year.   They also purchase materials such as clothing, shoes, and food for needy students.   Naturally, it takes time to go to the store and grab these items. Study New Educational Trends and Research Education is trendy. What is popular today, likely will not be popular tomorrow. Likewise, there is always new education research that can be applied to any classroom. Teachers are always studying, reading, and researching because they do not want to miss an opportunity to improve themselves or their students. Support Extra-Curricular Activities Many teachers double as coaches or sponsors of extra-curricular activities. Even if they do not draw an extra-duty assignment, it is likely that you will see several teachers in the audience at events. They are there to support and cheer on their students. Volunteer for Extra-Duty Assignments There are always opportunities for teachers to assist in other areas around the school. Many teachers volunteer their time to tutor struggling students. They keep gate or concession at athletic events. They pick up trash on the playground. They are willing to help out in any area of need. Work Another Job As you can see from the list above, a teacher’s life is already very busy, yet many work a second job. This is often out of necessity. Many teachers simply do not make enough money to support their family.   Working a second job cannot help but impact a teacher’s overall effectiveness.

Children and internet safety Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Children and internet safety - Research Paper Example The Internet assists us when we need it, but it also provides con artists and other predators into our children’s lives. We as parents have a moral obligation to protect our children against the devastating effects of what is available on the Internet. The difficulty remains, however, of how we assure our children’s safety. Parents are given charge of their children not merely through having created them. The want to protect and foster their children is an innate need that humans have. Therefore, it is imperative that parents not only monitor what their children view online, but whom they may be talking to. Given the capacity we now have to acquire data on any given subject, there are bound to be flaws in the system, as well as the ability to obtain information that most people would view as highly inappropriate. Violent episodes are abundant on the World Wide Web, from media accounts and vicious fighting, to â€Å"hate sites that encourage the discrimination of specif ic people. Data are lacking to illuminate how many youth are intentionally accessing violent websites.† (Hamburger, M. E., Ybarra, M. L., Leaf, P. J. and West, 2011). The trouble with children accessing violent sites are in the detriment that child can potentially incur. Children are effortlessly misled to believe what they see on television or the Internet is viable and useful information. However unfortunate, even Modi 1 The most well adjusted child’s psyche can fall prey to horrific scenes of violence, which can produce fear, anxiety and even anger. This can cause extensive harm to the child’s overall sense of self, and their well-being. ... Commercials of any kind are always aimed at a particular audience, whether it is an age group, gender, race or religion. In families that are tightly knit, parents often feel that they have greater control over their children, and what they view. They are often considered more attentive to their children and their activities as well, therefore giving them perceived control over their internet usage. This perception can actually be translated into reality in many cases. â€Å"†¦The higher perceived control over children’s Internet usage, the less children’s exposure to negative Internet content.† (Cheon, Hongsik John, 01 Dec. 2005) This should serve as an epiphany for any parent with concerns over what their children are viewing. Parents that question their children and what they observe on television and Internet have a propensity to implement more restrictions on their television and their computer. In today’s information age, even televisions are so ld with the ability to allow or disallow certain ratings of programs. This enables parents to preserve the naivete of their children even more. Frequently, adults view the Internet as a place for predators, namely pedophiles. Modi 2 A recent report states, â€Å"That there are an estimated one million pedophiles online.† (Descy, Don E., 2006) given those statistics, it is even more imperative that parents keep a dedicated eye on their children’s Internet accesses to prevent their child falling victim to an unscrupulous predator. Thankfully, there are people out there that have created programs to not only identify, but also capture pedophiles and prevent the victimization of children. One such program, called Perverted Justice (perverted-justice.com, 25 Feb. 2011)

True religion jeans brand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

True religion jeans brand - Essay Example With the high sales volume and increased profits, this industry remains attractive in the market. The transformation of the market structure through the change of numerous denim labels into diverse lifestyle brands has facilitated increased rate of growth and survival within the market segment. The existing increased potential for sales is immensely attributed to the lifestyles brands, development of brand premiums and safeguarding product cycle downturns. These factors define the market structure as superior and stable. Does True Religion enjoy a competitive advantage in the segment? If so, is its advantage sustainable? Discuss the sources of competitive advantage and use the VRIO framework to evaluate True Religion and its major competitors Yes, True Religion enjoys a competitive advantage in the market segment it occupies. The advantage is sustainable because of the three segments operates independent of each other with different market sub-segments. For instance, the U.S wholesale Segment sells the premium products to leading countrywide retailer outlets; the international segment distributes the products across the international outlet and the consumer direct segment serves the consumers directly through branded retail stores and e-business sales. The sources of competitive advantage include use of technology in enhancing sales and marketing service. The internet and web ads are used to promote the products to the well-heeled, fashion cognisant consumers. On the same regard, the True Religion Jeans takes advantage of the opportunity to create brand value over its competitors. Consider the following VRIO

Why oriental simplistic styles can successfully in MUJI shop products Essay

Why oriental simplistic styles can successfully in MUJI shop products - Essay Example Based to a great extent on the noble concept of â€Å"simple, natural and fundamental†, all their products are designed by using this core theory. Another fundamental consideration is the term â€Å"plainness†, which is a cultural aesthetic idea that already exists in Japanese daily life for centuries. Through the establishment of Muji brand image, this Japanese unsophisticated oriental aesthetics has a chance to thrive. A research has been done so as to find more about Muji’s style and its product design in the quest of exploring the significance of its overall brand image. From the cultural point of view, this research also explored the oriental simplistic style of Muji, and its correlation to Japanese culture, as well as the connotation hidden behind this unique style. Another endeavor of this research was to find the essential elements of its oriental plainness and to make available an applicable method for design adaptation, which can be used as a reference for future design implementations on oriental unsophisticated Muji style. A practical design was put into practice after the results of the research and its feasibility was verified. According to the analyzed results, the perceptive degree of the oriental basic factors of the practical design was comparable to that of the studied samples of Muji which meant that the theoretical results and the actual practices had a significant degree of achievability. Aim In recent years, this oriental simplicity style has spread out with design fashion. For instance the Japanese brand "Muji" which is known for its modest style with the unique identity that emphasizes "minimalistic, natural, and basic ", is a concept that has become the core of all product designs; by taking "nativity" as the basis of its ideology in the aesthetics of life and culture that has triumphed since the ancient times of Japan. The establishment of brand image promotes the Japanese oriental modest aesthetic concept and Muj i carries the exact keynote of "nativity" forward and starts to carry out cultural exchange with the rest of the world. It is expected that this study, though the research of the design and style of Muji, investigates the brand's overall image and related brand definition, by progressing from the cultural aspect to discussing the oriental inconspicuous style under the Japanese culture its cultural connotations behind the brand. The early stage of the study will be devoted to the collection of literature associated to the brand image, which includes the brand’s definition, and the brand image of Muji, after which the study will move to the business concept, development principles, and the product characteristics. Based on this knowledge of the brand-related theories and the initial concept of image definition, the study moves from the perception of "minimalistic, natural, and basic" of Muji to investigate the modest design style and the nuance in the Japanese culture in an eff ort to trace the cultural distinction and vein behind the Japanese design. Objectives Through the enterprise of brand image, this Japanese unconventional oriental aesthetics then has a chance to advance. This research studied Muji’s style and product design in the quest of exploring the significance of its overall brand image. From the cultural point of view, this research also examined the oriental unconventional style of Muji, a brand filled with Japanese culture, and the conception hidden in this style. Another endeavor of this research was to get the indispensable elements of oriental simplicity and to make available an applicable method for design adaptation, which could be used as a reference for future design executions on oriental unsophisticated style. A practical design was implemented and the feasibility was

Data Interpretation on Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

Data Interpretation on Autism Spectrum Disorder - Essay Example The data or results collected from various stated aspects collected were analyzed using synchronous statistics such as percentages and frequencies. It was mainly presented using charts and graphs. The respondents were supposed to indicate the student’s name, school, age, sex and date. The number of times or female was chosen depended on many aspects. In this case the respondent was also expected to describe the referred student and his or her classroom. Then later selected another referred student of a different sex and indicate the difference between the two. According to the data collected on the score of language skills in the following aspects need for help, speech response rate, asking permission, talking while outside the class and clearly and then taking turns while speaking. The language skills of students are seen to improve in the last two weeks of the session. The skill on responding adequately while talked to is seen to improve in week three significantly up to week five. Students who took part in the skills session are seen to be possession of the asking for permission from the word go, that is from the time the language skills test session start. However, as they get used to the session the skills goes down significantly compared to other language skills determinants. In the second student the respondent shows that the student language skills are different when compared to those from the first student. The student ability to ask for assistance clearly has increased significantly from the first week of the session. The student level of having an engaging speech was perfect from the first week, however, it deteriorated in week 2 and week 2 then it shoots to be among the best language skills for the students. The clear language speaking skills are evident in last two weeks of the session. In this case the student the skill on responding while being talked to has shown significant improvement.

Change Agents Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Change Agents - Research Paper Example The change agent is unbiased and he looks for solutions to resolve the issue taking into considerations the needs of all parties involved. Resistance to change can negatively impact the plans to implement change at a company. The managers must communicate with their employees to explain to them how the change management initiatives will affect their job routines. Change initiatives often fail due to a lack of change management (Swati, 2012). Resistance to change can hinder the ability to change the culture of an organization. Management intervention is needed to resolve resistance to change (Mariana, Violeta, 2011). The managers have to demonstrate to the employees the benefits of the initiative. If resistance to change persists it can have devastating effects on a company. The efficiency and productivity of the workers decreases which hurts the profitability of the firm. Long periods of resistance to change can escalate into work strikes or even complete shutdown of an operation. Managers have to react in a proactive manner to handle resistance to change effectively. Mariana, P., Violeta, S. (2011). Opportunity to Reduce Resistance to Change in a Process of Organizational Change. Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 10(2). p698-702. Retrieved February 9, 2013 from EBSCOhost database. Swati, M. (2012). Managing Employee Resistance to Change a Comparative Study of Indian Organizations and NMCS in Delhi-NCR Region. Researchers World: Journal of Arts, Science & Commerce, 3(4). p64-71. Retrieved February 9, 2013 from EBSCOhost

Data Interpretation on Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

Data Interpretation on Autism Spectrum Disorder - Essay Example The data or results collected from various stated aspects collected were analyzed using synchronous statistics such as percentages and frequencies. It was mainly presented using charts and graphs. The respondents were supposed to indicate the student’s name, school, age, sex and date. The number of times or female was chosen depended on many aspects. In this case the respondent was also expected to describe the referred student and his or her classroom. Then later selected another referred student of a different sex and indicate the difference between the two. According to the data collected on the score of language skills in the following aspects need for help, speech response rate, asking permission, talking while outside the class and clearly and then taking turns while speaking. The language skills of students are seen to improve in the last two weeks of the session. The skill on responding adequately while talked to is seen to improve in week three significantly up to week five. Students who took part in the skills session are seen to be possession of the asking for permission from the word go, that is from the time the language skills test session start. However, as they get used to the session the skills goes down significantly compared to other language skills determinants. In the second student the respondent shows that the student language skills are different when compared to those from the first student. The student ability to ask for assistance clearly has increased significantly from the first week of the session. The student level of having an engaging speech was perfect from the first week, however, it deteriorated in week 2 and week 2 then it shoots to be among the best language skills for the students. The clear language speaking skills are evident in last two weeks of the session. In this case the student the skill on responding while being talked to has shown significant improvement.

Should US continue trade with China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Should US continue trade with China - Essay Example In my opinion, United States should continue to trade with China. Many challenges that the U.S economy faces are usually domestic in nature, however, it is still important for investment to take place and the two states to continue trading. Thesis Statement: While the trade relationship between China and United States is not smooth, the benefits reaped are far much worth. History of U.S and China Trade relationship Lovett, William, Alfred Eckes, and Richard Brinkman. U.S. Trade Policy: History, Theory and the Wto. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2004. According to Lovett, William, Eckes and Brinkman, former British Colonies were the giants when it came to international trade. As the authors stated earlier America, was only one of the states which participated in trade. At that time, the economy of the American British colonies was only considered to be extractive. Most of the commodities such as fish, lumber among other commodities were only traded within the empire. Different types of trade and manufacturing were all prohibited in the British Empire; hence, people were required to purchase goods from Asia via the England route, rather than participating in direct trade with Asians. There was colonial unrest because most of the Americans were excluded from what most termed as successful China Trade. On page 36 of the book, the authors assert that the demand for goods from China grew even after the Revolution. The authors state that in 1850s, trade between Britain and its international partners from Asia grew. By 1890s, as the authors assert, Britain already owned more than half of all the trade exports. When the Americans saw that the Great Britain made so much profit from trade, the Americans became more than interested in trade and wanted to make such profits on their own. The Americans started trading directly with China, and with the volume being comparatively small, China was viewed as a crucial player in this trade. Chai, Joseph. An Economic History of Modern Chin a. New York: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011. Print. According to Chai, trade between China and other trading partners like the Americans declined in 1850s. Chai argues that the international environment only became favorable for the economy growth for a state like China in the year 1979 to 2009. The author points out on page 239 that the U.S and China trade troubles did not begin recently but years ago. Chain points out that the growing conflicts between China and states like the U.S grew because the foreign exchange from China’s reserve was growing due to trade. As a result of this, China also became a trade giant when it overtook the U.S and other European states and became one of the largest exporters. Chai affirms on page 239 that despite China making great profits from the booming trade, Europe was still a leader because it offered different states a market that was more receptive for goods from America. The U.S foreign trade grew enormously, but China’s trade only remained at a favorable but constant level. According to Chai, China is there today because it maintained an exchange rate that was fixed. This is the exchange rate that has led to the emerging symptoms of currency undervaluation. In the year 2008-2009, China accounted for about 39% of the total trade gap with the U.S. This issue, according to Chain was one of the contributors of China being

Widow, is no longer able to live independently Essay Example for Free

Widow, is no longer able to live independently Essay Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family? Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family? Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family?Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family?Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family?Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family?Mrs. Jones, a widow, is no longer able to live independently and is requiring more and more help with her self-care. Her daughter, Susie, who is married with three school-aged children, agrees to let her mother move in with her. Susie is concerned with balancing the demands of her career and the needs of her family, especially now that her elderly and chronically ill mother will need assistance. She is also unsure about how she feels with the reversal of roles, having to now be the primary caregiver of her mother. How can the nurse, caring for this family, assist with the changes they are about to undergo? How can both the family structural theory and the family developmental theory be applied to this scenario? How can health education enhance health promotion for this family?

Literature Review: Smoking And Coronary Artery Disease

Literature Review: Smoking And Coronary Artery Disease Cigarette smoking highly boosts the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), and the associated risk is particularly high in subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) (Mà ¼hlhauser, 1994). The prevalence of smoking worldwide is one and quarter billion adult smokers, 10% of them reside within South East Asian countries. Smoking prevalence in these countries is a range from 12.6% to 40% in Singapore and Laos, respectively. Malaysia is recording 21% adult current smokers (Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), 2008). Cigarette smoking is estimated to cause more than five million deaths, making it the leading cause of preventable mortality worldwide (Peto et al., 1996). Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer consider the three relevant causes of smoking related mortality (Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 2008). It has well known that cigarette smoking increases the risk of microvascular complications in DM (ie, nep hropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy) probably by its metabolic effects (worsening diabetes control and insulin resistance) in combination with increased inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. It appears to be stronger in type 1 diabetic patients, while the enhanced risk for macrovascular complications, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, is most pronounced in type 2 diabetic patients (Eliasson, 2003, Haire-Joshu et al., 1999, Solberg et al., 2004). Smoking cessation can safely and cost effectively be recommended for all patients, and it is a gold standard against which other preventive behaviors should be evaluated. Stopping smoking at any age has a considerable impact on improving life expectancy, reducing morbidity and reducing health care costs associated with treating smoking related conditions (Asaria et al., 2007, Ward, 2008), but effective strategies are lacking cessation support (Everett and Kessler, 1997). There are several treatment interventions have been identified as essential to achieve cessation. These interventions include brief counseling by multiple health care providers, use of individual or group counseling strategies, and use of pharmacotherapy (Haire-Joshu et al., 1999). Smoking cessation medicines are among the most cost-effective disease prevention interventions available (Fiore, 2000). There are several types of them assist in smoking cessation are available. (Wu et al., 2006). The 2008 update to Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, a Public Health Service-sponsored Clinical Practice Guideline Panel identified seven first-line (FDA-approved) medications (bupropion SR, nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine lozenge, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine patch, and varenicline) and two second-line (non-FDA-approved for tobacco use treatment) medications (clonidine and nortriptyline) as being effective for treating smokers (Fiore et al., 2008). The most commonly used formulation is nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). It reduces motivation to smoke and many of physiological and psychomotor withdrawal symptoms usually experienced during an attempt to quit smoking, and therefore, may increase the likelihood of remaining abstinent (Gourlay and McNeil, 1990, W est and Shiffman, 2001). NRT is currently recommended as a safe intervention to general populations and higher-risk groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescents, and smokers with cardiovascular disease (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2008). Systematic reviews show that all forms of NRT have been proven to be effective (Fiore et al., 2008) and it increase quit rate one and a half to two fold in comparison with placebo. There are many studies provide good evidence that smoking cessation pharmacotherapy enhance the success of quit smoking attempt (Cahill et al., 2008, Fiore et al., 2008, Hughes et al., 2007, Stead et al., 2008). Unfortunately, there are insufficient evidences to recommend one delivery system over another. Literature review This review will cover the aims of this research. Globally, it was estimated that there are about 1.3 billion smokers, half of whom will die from smoking-related diseases (Shafey et al., 2009). While in Malaysia, the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey has reported some decline in smoking statistics among general population (18 years and above) in Malaysia with an overall smoking rate of 21.5%; male and female smoking rates of 46.4% and 1.6%, respectively (Ministry of Health, 2006). To our knowledge, there is limited information about the prevalence of smoking among diabetes mellitus patients, but it seems to be mirror to general population, at least for young adults. Findings from the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System show that the prevalence of smoking in young adults with diabetes mellitus is similar to the prevalence in the general population (Ford et al., 2004). Other study in the United States found the age-adjusted prevalence of smoking was 27.3% and 2 5.9% among people with and without diabetes, respectively. The prevalence of smoking did not differ significantly between participants in both groups when they were stratified by age, sex, race, or education (Ford et al., 1994). Few studies examined the prevalence of tobacco use with diabetic patients, information that is critical for targeting prevention efforts. There is no estimated prevalence for smoking in diabetes mellitus patients in Malaysia. Few studies was conducted about the knowledge and awareness of diabetic patients towards smoking cessation and its pharmacotherapies. There is a survey done in the United Kingdom to investigate awareness of pharmacotherapeutic aids to smoking cessation in diabetic cigarette smokers. A structured questionnaire-based interview was held by research nurse individually with current smokers in a private room. Of 597 diabetic patients attending a routine clinic, one hundred diabetic patients were current smokers. The majority of them were type 2 diabetic patients (96%). There were 66% and 54% had heard about NRT and bupropion, respectively. Those who had heard about NRT, only 49% considered it safe with diabetes, while who knew of bupropion 39% thought it unsafe in diabetic patients. Approximately 84% were aware of the UK National Health Service (NHS) quit line, but only 8% had used it. The authors conclude that this subpopulation has poor knowledge and awareness of NRT and bupropion as aid s to quit smoking (Gill et al., 2005). A qualitative study done in the United States, aimed to investigate beliefs about cigarette smoking and smoking cessation among Urban African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes. Focus groups and a short survey were used to assess cigarette use patterns, perceived smoking health effects, preferences for treatment, and attitudes toward smoking cessation among this subpopulation. Twenty five participants were included in this study. The mean age was (SD) 48.5 years ( ±10.23), 60% female, smoked 20.9( ±12.54) cigarettes per day. Regarding the beliefs and knowledge about smoking and diabetes, Participants believed that smoking increased their risk for all health outcomes, though there was not a clear understanding of how. Furthermore, they believed smoking decreased their appetite and quitting smoking makes you gain weight, and that it would negatively affect diabetes. Regarding beliefs and opinions about stopping most participants desired to quit and believed it was important t o quit, but were not motivated to quit or confident they could achieve cessation (Janet L. Thomas et al., 2009). Another study established in the United States, aimed to assess what smokers believe about the health risks of smoking and the effects of smoking filtered and low-tar cigarettes, as well as their awareness of and interest in trying so-called reduced risk tobacco products and nicotine medications. It was conducted between May and September 2001. They gathered data on demographic characteristics, tobacco use behaviors, awareness and use of nicotine medications, beliefs about the health risks of smoking, content of smoke and design features of cigarettes, and the safety and efficacy of nicotine medications. The findings of this study showed a substantial percentage of respondents either answered incorrectly or responded dont know to questions about health risks of smoking (39%), content of cigarette smoke (53%), safety of nicotine (52%), low-tar cigarettes and filtered cigarettes (65%), additives in cigarettes (56%), and nicotine medications (56%). The smokers characteristics most commo nly associated with misleading information when all six indices were combined into a summary index were as follows: those aged 45 years or older, smokers of ultra-light cigarettes, smokers who believe they will stop smoking before they experience a serious health problem caused by smoking, smokers who have never used a stop-smoking medication, and smokers with a lower education level. Those who believed they would stop smoking in the next year were more knowledgeable about smoking. The authors conclude that smokers are misinformed about many aspects of the cigarettes they smoke and stop smoking medications (Cummings et al., 2004). Unfortunately, there is a dearth of information on the efficacy of smoking cessation pharmacotherapies in diabetic patients because large-scale studies involving this group do not report results separately for them. Additionally, there are few direct head to head comparison studies among them in this subgroup population. In an open-label, randomized trial conducted in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, compared varenicline with transdermal NRT for smoking cessation. Participants were randomized to receive either 12 weeks of varenicline or 10 weeks of transdermal NRT (Aubin et al., 2008). The primary end point was continuous abstinence rate (CAR) during the last 4 weeks of each treatment. Secondary end points were CARs from the last 4 weeks of treatment through weeks 24 and 52 and the 7-day point prevalence of abstinence assessed at the end of treatment, week 24, and week 52. The Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) and The modified Cigarette Evaluation Questionnaire (mCEQ) measures of craving, withdrawal, and smoking satisfaction were assessed at baseline and at each weekly visit through week 7 (or at early termination). Data were analyzed in both the prespecified primary analysis population (all randomized participants who received at least 1 dose of study drug: 376 varenicline, 370 NRT) and the all-randomized population (378 varenicline, 379 NRT). CARs were significantly higher in the last 4 weeks of treatment of varenicline group compared with NRT group (55.6% vs 42.2%, respectively; Odds ratio (OR) = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31-2.36; P < 0.001). At week 24, there was no significant difference in CARs (32.2% and 26.6%; OR = 1.33; 95% CI, 0.97- 1.82). At week 52, CARs were not significantly higher for varenicline over to NRT in the primary analysis population, although the difference in CARs remain significant through week 52 in all-randomized population analysis (25.9% vs. 19.8%; OR = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.02-2.03; P = 0.04). The 7-day point prevalence of abstinence at week 12 was significantly higher for varenicline compared with NRT (62.0% vs 47.0%, respectively; OR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.27-2.30; P < 0.001). The d ifferences in 7-day point prevalence of abstinence were not significant at week 24 or week 52. For weeks 1 through 7, the average scores of MNWS and mCEQ for cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and the reinforcing effects of smoking were significantly lower with varenicline compared with NRT (all population analysis, P à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 0.001). Varenicline group had significantly lower MNWS subscale scores for negative affect and restlessness compared with NRT (both, P < 0.001); there was no difference between varenicline and NRT in the subscale scores for increased appetite or insomnia. A guideline Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update is a product of the Tobacco Use and Dependence Guideline Panel. This guideline contains strategies and recommendations designed to assist clinicians; tobacco dependence treatment specialists; and health care administrators, insurers, and purchasers in delivering and supporting effective treatments for tobacco use and dependence (Fiore et al., 2008). A meta-analysis displayed the effectiveness of the first-line smoking cessation medications compared with placebo at 6 months post-quit. They determined the estimated abstinence rate and odds ratio at 6 months post-quit (95% CI) compared with placebo estimated abstinence rate of 13.8% and estimated odds ratio of 1.0. Varenicline had the highest estimated abstinence rate and odds ratio (33.2% and 3.1), while nicotine gum had the lowest estimated abstinence rate and odds ratio (19.0% and 1.5). Another multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial compared the efficacy and safety of varenicline with placebo for smoking cessation in 714 smokers with stable cardiovascular disease that had been diagnosed for > 2 months. Participants received either varenicline (1 mg twice daily) or placebo at ratio 1:1, along with smoking-cessation counseling, for 12 weeks. Follow-up lasted 52 weeks. The primary end point was carbon monoxide-confirmed CAR for last 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary outcomes were the CAR from week 9 through 52; CAR for weeks 9 to 24 and 7-day point prevalence of tobacco abstinence at weeks 12 (end of drug treatment), 24, and 52. The CAR was higher for varenicline than placebo during weeks 9 through 12 (47.0% versus 13.9%; odds ratio, 6.11; 95% CI, 4.18 to 8.93) and weeks 9 through 52 (19.2% versus 7.2%; odds ratio, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.93 to 5.11). The varenicline and placebo groups did not differ significantly in cardiovascular mortality (0.3% ve rsus 0.6%; difference, _0.3%; 95% CI, _1.3 to 0.7), all-cause mortality (0.6% versus 1.4%; difference, _0.8%; 95% CI, _2.3 to 0.6), cardiovascular events (7.1% versus 5.7%; difference, 1.4%; 95% CI, _2.3 to 5.0) (Rigotti et al., 2010). Nides and his colleagues conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of three varenicline doses in adult smokers. Bupropion hydrochloride was included as an active control. Participants were randomized to receive varenicline 0.3 mg once daily, varenicline 1 mg once daily, varenicline 1 mg BID, bupropion SR 150 mg BID, or placebo for 7 weeks, with the option of participation in follow-up through week 52. The varenicline groups received active drug for 6 weeks, followed by placebo for 1 week. The primary efficacy outcome in this study was CAR for any 4-week period from baseline through week 7. Secondary efficacy outcomes involved the 4-week CAR for weeks 4 through 7, 4 through 12, 4 through 24, and 4 through 52; cravings and withdrawal symptoms, assessed using the MNWS and the brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU-brief); reinforcing effects of smoking, assessed using the mCEQ; and changes in body weight (Nides et al., 2006). The findings of this study presented that the patients treated with varenicline (except of those who received varenicline 0.3 mg once daily) or bupropion SR had significantly higher CARs for any 4 weeks compared with placebo (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The CARs for any 4 weeks were 48.0% for varenicline 1 mg BID (OR = 4.71; P < 0.001), 37.3% for varenicline 1 mg once daily (OR = 2.97; P < 0.001), 33.3% for bupropion SR (OR = 2.53; P=.002), and 17.1% for placebo. No statistical comparison was performed between the varenicline and bupropion SR groups. Only varenicline 1 mg BID was significantly more efficacious than placebo throughout the entire follow-up period (P à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 0.01). Varenicline 0.3 mg once daily and varenicline 1 mg once daily were significantly more efficacious than placebo through week 7 (P à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 0.05), and bupropion SR was significantly more efficacious than placebo through week 12 (P à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 0.05). Scores on the MNWS and QSU-brief indicated reductions from baseline in cravings with varenicline 1 mg BID compared with placebo at each weekly time point during active treatment (week 2: P < 0.01; weeks 1 and 3-6: P < 0.001). Varenicline 1 mg BID was also associated with consistent improvements from baseline (the day before the TQD) to week 1 in scores on several subscales of the mCEQ compared with placebo, including satisfaction (mean change, -4.82; P < 0.05), enjoyment of respiratory tract sensations (mean change, -0.84; P < 0.05), and aversion (mean change, 0.82; P < 0.05). (The mCEQ was not used beyond week 1 of the active-treatment period.) There were no significant differences on any of the mCEQ measures between the lower doses of varenicline and placebo (Nides et al., 2006). Rationale/Justification Few studies examined the prevalence of tobacco use with diabetic patients, information that is critical for targeting prevention efforts. To our knowledge, there is no estimated prevalence for smoking in diabetes mellitus patients in Malaysia. Most people today recognize major health risks from smoking, but this general knowledge does not necessarily translate into a belief that one is personally at high risk of becoming seriously ill as a consequence of smoking. Furthermore, general awareness of health risks does not mean that people are adequately informed about smoking in ways that might influence their smoking behavior. Because the knowledge, beliefs, and preferences of smokers facilitate maximum receptivity to programs, these are important considerations when developing effective cessation interventions. Therefore, we will investigate smokers knowledge about the health risks of smoking and their awareness of nicotine medications. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of information on the efficacy of smoking cessation pharmacotherapies in diabetic patients because large-scale studies involving this group do not report results separately for them. Additionally, there are few direct head to head comparison studies among them in this subgroup population. Objectives General objectives Determine the prevalence of smoking among diabetic patients in outpatient clinic at General Hospital Penang. To investigate diabetic smokers knowledge about the health risks of smoking and their awareness of nicotine medications. To estimate direct head-to-head comparison between varnicline and nicotine patch regarding to their efficacy in smoking cessation. Specific objectives Determine the prevalence of smoking among diabetic patients. To assess the knowledge of diabetic smokers about the health risks of smoking and their awareness of nicotine medications. To compare between varenicline and NRT in the abstinence rate of smoking. To compare between varenicline and NRT in the cravings and withdrawal symptoms, assessed using the MNWS and QSU-brief. To compare between varenicline and NRT in the reinforcing effects of smoking, assessed using the mCEQ. To compare between varenciline and NRT in changes in body weight. Research Methodology Study design This study comprises different types of study design according to the different objectives. For estimating the prevalence of the smoking among DM patients, it will be achieved by review the medical records for all diabetic patients who attend the diabetic outpatient clinic during 2010. Besides assessing the smoking status, we will collect also specific demographic and diabetic-related data. Any medical records does not contain information about smoking status will be excluded. The second objective in investigating knowledge and awareness of diabetic smokers about the health risks of smoking, smoking cessation and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies, the study design it will be cross-sectional survey. All the diabetic smoker patients who attend the outpatient diabetic clinic at General Penang Hospital in 2011 will be invited to participate in the survey. The questionnaire will be either distributed or interviewed by the clinical staff. The questionnaire will be based on another study. More detailed information on how the survey was conducted can be found elsewhere (Cummings et al., 2004). The questionnaire will be divided to two sections involving: socio-demographic, tobacco-related and diabetes-specific health information; knowledge and awareness towards the health risks of smoking and their knowledge of smoking cessation and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies. The sociodemographic information will include (age, sex, race à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ etc); diabetic-related information, it will contain: type of diabetes, type of diabetic treatment, duration of diabetes; while for smoking related information will involve: number of cigarettes smoking per day, age started smoking, duration of smoking, are there any attempt to stop smoking for any period of time, Are there other smokers in the household. To compare treatment effect of varenicline and nicotine patch in abstinence rate of smoking cessation for diabetic smoker patients and to investigate the impact of the smoking cessation on the diabetic control. The study design will be randomised, open-label, parallel group study. The participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio either to varenicline or nicotine patch treatments. Subject who will receive varenicline will administer 0.5 mg/day for 3 days, 0.5 mg twice daily for 4 days, then 1 mg twice daily thereafter. Full dosing was achieved by the target quit date (TQD) and continues up to 12 weeks. Participant who will receive nicotine patch applied transdermal patches each morning starting on the TQD for 10 weeks. Doses of NRT were 21 mg/day for the first 6 weeks, 14 mg/day for 3 weeks, then 7 mg/day for 3 weeks. We choose these two treatments (nicotine patch and varenicline) for several reasons. Nicotine patch is the most commonly used pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation (Burton et al., 2000, Pierce et al., 1995, West et al., 2001). Given that many smokers in general population use this treatment to quit smoking, it is important to determine treatment effect of other agents relative to the patch. Furthermore, recent data suggest that there is decline in the efficacy of nicotine patch over the previous 10 years (Irvin et al., 2003, Jorenby et al., 1999, Pierce and Gilpin, 2002). Varnecline is selected in this study because yet there is limited studies publish about the effectiveness of this treatment in the diabetic smoker population. Also, varnecline was found to be the highest efficacy in the 2008 PHS Guideline meta-analysis (odds ratio 3.1) comparing to placebo (Fiore et al., 2008). Finally, smokers could be encouraged to seek out this prescribed agent, and insurers and health care syste ms could be encouraged to make this treatment more widely available, if it could be demonstrated that varnecline is more efficacious than over-the-counter medication (such as nicotine patch). In this study we will collect three types of end points: efficacy, measuring of craving and withdrawal symptoms, and investigating the impact of smoking cessation on diabetic outcome. The primary outcome for efficacy in the study it will be self-reported CAR, confirm by exhaled CO levels of 6 ppm or below, during the last 4 weeks of treatment (varenicline and NRT, weeks 9-12 after TQD) The secondary is the CAR from the last 4 weeks of each treatment until 6 months. Other secondary outcomes are 7-day point prevalence of tobacco abstinence at weeks end of drug treatment and at 6 months. Continuous abstinence define as self-reported abstinence from any tobacco- or nicotine-containing product during the specific period and it will be verified by carbon monoxide (CO) level à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 10 ppm. If the CO level is more than 10 ppm will be classified as a smoker regardless of self-reported abstinence. Point prevalence abstinence define as self-reported abstinence from any tobacco- or nicotine-containing product in the past 7 days that was not contradicted by expired air CO > 10 ppm. These are traditional standards for assessing efficacy of smoking cessation interventions (Fiore et al., 2008, Hughes et al., 2003). The Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) (Cappelleri et al., 2005) will be used to assess urge to smoke, depressed mood, irritability, anxiety, poor concentration, restlessness, increased appetite and insomnia. The modified Cigarette Evaluation Questionnaire (mCEQ) (Cappelleri et al., 2007) will be used to assess smoking satisfaction, psychological reward, aversion, enjoyment of respiratory tract sensations and craving reduction. The two previous questionnaires will be administered baseline visit and at each weekly visit through week 6 (after TQD) and at the end of treatment or at termination for participants who discontinued the study before week 6 (TQD). While the MNWS will be administered to all participants, the mCEQ will be administered only to participants who report smoking since their last completed questionnaire. Furthermore, we will assess the level of the nicotine dependence by using the Modified Fagerstrà ¶m Test for Nicotine Dependence (Heatherton et al., 1991) that range to three score ranges: (0-3) score indicate to low dependent, (4-6) score indicate to moderate dependent and (7-10) score indicate highly dependent. It will be administered at the baseline of the study. Schematic presentation of study design: Screening all diabetic patients medical records to estimate prevalence of smoking among them Interviewed structured questionnaire for all diabetic smoker to: To know characteristics of diabetic smoker (sociodemographic, diabetic history and tobacco use history) Investigate the knowledge towards smoking cessation and its pharmacotherapies Patients who attend quit smoking clinic Assessed for eligibility Excluded: Did not meet entry criteria Withdrew consent Randomized at ratio 1:1 Allocated to Varnicline (2mg or 1mg) (For 12 weeks) and arrange for quit date Allocated to nicotine Patch (For 12 weeks) and arrange for quit date Follow up at the end of treatment (12 weeks) and at 6 months to assess: Abstinence rate of smoking cessation the cravings and withdrawal symptoms the reinforcing effects of smoking changes in body weight Analysis Inclusion criteria The inclusion criteria it will be varying among the different objectives: For investigating the knowledge and awareness towards smoking cessation and its pharmacotherapies, smoker and ex-smoker diabetic patients (either type I or II) of both sexes aged à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥18 years will be included. For the direct comparison between nicotine patch and varenicline, Diabetic smokers of both sexes aged à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥18 years who smoke à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥10 cigarettes/day and willing to quit smoking. Exclusion criteria Patient is currently using any form of tobacco other than cigarettes; any form of NRT or other smoking cessation therapy. Significant depression requiring behavioral counseling and those using medications with psychoactive effects (e.g., antidepressants, antianxiety agents). other active psychiatric diseases because of previously identified limitations with delivery of the specific counseling intervention in such subjects. History of skin allergies or evidence of chronic dermatosis. Patient has medical contraindications for any of the study medications. Pregnant, breastfeeding women or at risk of becoming pregnant. Drug abuse or HIV infected patient. Recent (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤3 months) history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, serious cardiac arrhythmia, or other medical conditions that the healthcare provider deemed incompatible with study participation. Participation within the last 12 months in a formal smoking cessation program.