Behavioral Influences on Health

It can be argued that various behavioral, psychological, sociocultural and lifestyle factors are related to the various causes of human mortality. Rationally, the root causes of various diseases that cause human death are associated with these factors. Therefore, we can argue on the point of view on how these factors are related to human health and the spread of various diseases that ultimately causes mortality.At one level, behavioral human factors can be argued as the characteristic phenomena of behavioral conceptions that may lead to contracting diseases. In this respect, human behavior could be argued in terms the relationship with the peer groups, morality, sexual behavior, attitudes towards oneself, virtues and moral obligations. Various ill-behavioral conceptions and tendencies have been known to act as the root cause of various diseases.For example, peer pressure may result to deviance, alcoholism, smoking and other conceptions (Joseph, 2005) From the implications of these be haviors therefore, various diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and other internal disorders and ailments that are strong causatives of human mortality tend to occur. The strength and the models of a personal behavior can therefore determine the propensity with which he/she can contract certain killer diseases and ailments at the expense of other behavioral patterns.The levels of morality which is shaped by the behavioral models can be a factor towards which killer diseases like HIV-AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases and ailments that are vulnerable in causing mortality can be transmitted. Psychological factors are the human related factors that shape and determine the standards of ones health. Various studies in health psychology have depicted a close relationship between the cognition, personality, perception, interpersonal relationships and personal emotions towards human health related issues.Various psychological disorders that arise as a result of disruption in the psy chological context of a person have been known to cause mortality. The principal researches done on both clinical and health psychology has revealed various diseases that are psychologically related and which are of great impact to human health. The human psychological development is a complex autonomy that is attributed to both the mental and the cognitive personality.Various attributes are of great impact to the psychological provisions of a person that causes disability in the functional layout of ones psychological dispensation. Research studies have shown that the rate of mortality as a result of psychological disorders is increasingly becoming more (Benjamin, 2003) Sociocultural factors refer to the structural factors within the family footage or the society which shapes and determines the contexts of a person’s health. These structural settings dictate the functionality, response and behavior of a person within such a social context.Within the family setting, various h ealth related factors may arise such as level of dietary, physical health, family pressure, and various influences such as the level of education, income, and living standards. Either, various cultural parameters may shape the nature of human health. These include cultural integration, family relations, cultural stereotypes and other factors. The nature of the sociocultural attributes has been of great influence in shaping the contexts of human health and possibilities of contracting diseases that cause death (Ann, 1998)Lifestyles refer to the modalities of person’s way of life. It is determined by various factors such as level of education, family backgrounds, level of income, cultural factors and other. Generally, the nature of a person’s or families’ lifestyles may be attributes towards contracting diseases, the ability of seeking medical attention and the vulnerability of achieving control and preventive measures. Consequently, a person’s health is de termined preferential by the standards and levels of his/her lifestyles. (James, Simon, 2006) Behavioral Influences on Health It can be argued that various behavioral, psychological, sociocultural and lifestyle factors are related to the various causes of human mortality. Rationally, the root causes of various diseases that cause human death are associated with these factors. Therefore, we can argue on the point of view on how these factors are related to human health and the spread of various diseases that ultimately causes mortality. At one level, behavioral human factors can be argued as the characteristic phenomena of behavioral conceptions that may lead to contracting diseases.In this respect, human behavior could be argued in terms the relationship with the peer groups, morality, sexual behavior, attitudes towards oneself, virtues and moral obligations. Various ill-behavioral conceptions and tendencies have been known to act as the root cause of various diseases. For example, peer pressure may result to deviance, alcoholism, smoking and other conceptions (Joseph, 2005) From the implications of these b ehaviors therefore, various diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and other internal disorders and ailments that are strong causatives of human mortality tend to occur.The strength and the models of a personal behavior can therefore determine the propensity with which he/she can contract certain killer diseases and ailments at the expense of other behavioral patterns. The levels of morality which is shaped by the behavioral models can be a factor towards which killer diseases like HIV-AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases and ailments that are vulnerable in causing mortality can be transmitted. Psychological factors are the human related factors that shape and determine the standards of ones health.Various studies in health psychology have depicted a close relationship between the cognition, personality, perception, interpersonal relationships and personal emotions towards human health related issues. Various psychological disorders that arise as a result of disruption in the ps ychological context of a person have been known to cause mortality. The principal researches done on both clinical and health psychology has revealed various diseases that are psychologically related and which are of great impact to human health.The human psychological development is a complex autonomy that is attributed to both the mental and the cognitive personality. Various attributes are of great impact to the psychological provisions of a person that causes disability in the functional layout of ones psychological dispensation. Research studies have shown that the rate of mortality as a result of psychological disorders is increasingly becoming more (Benjamin, 2003) Sociocultural factors refer to the structural factors within the family footage or the society which shapes and determines the contexts of a person’s health.These structural settings dictate the functionality, response and behavior of a person within such a social context. Within the family setting, various health related factors may arise such as level of dietary, physical health, family pressure, and various influences such as the level of education, income, and living standards. Either, various cultural parameters may shape the nature of human health. These include cultural integration, family relations, cultural stereotypes and other factors.The nature of the sociocultural attributes has been of great influence in shaping the contexts of human health and possibilities of contracting diseases that cause death (Ann, 1998) Lifestyles refer to the modalities of person’s way of life. It is determined by various factors such as level of education, family backgrounds, level of income, cultural factors and other. Generally, the nature of a person’s or families’ lifestyles may be attributes towards contracting diseases, the ability of seeking medical attention and the vulnerability of achieving control and preventive measures.Consequently, a person’s health is de termined preferential by the standards and levels of his/her lifestyles. (James, Simon, 2006) Reference Ann, F. (1998). Human Health and Diseases. New York, Heinemann Benjamin. G. C. (2003) Reducing unhealthy Behaviors: Where do we start? American journal f public health, Vol. 93 James, R & Simon, G (2006) What is Human Health. London, Routledge Joseph, k (2005) Social Inequalities towards Human Health, Journal of Pediatrics,

Health Policies in Relation to Nurse to Patient Ratio Essay

One suggested approach to ensure safe and effective patient care has been to mandate nurse staffing ratios. In 1999 California became the first state to mandate minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals. California is not the only state to enact minimum nurse staffing ratios for hospitals, over the past four years at least eighteen other states have considered legislation regarding nurse staffing in hospitals. Policymakers are forced to consider alternatives to nurses ratios due to nurse shortages. Whether minimum staffing ratios will improve working conditions enough to increase nurse supply is unknown. The United States healthcare system has changed significantly over the past two decades. Advances in technology and an aging population (baby boomers) have led to changes in the structure, organization, and delivery of health care services (Spetz, 2001). Low nurse staffing levels in acute care hospitals are jeopardizing the quality of patient care and is the leading cause for Registered Nurses (RNs) to leave the profession (Spetz, Seago, et al., 2000). Apprehension for the nursing workforce and the safety of patients in the U.S. healthcare system now has the unprecedented attention of healthcare policy leaders at every level (Spetz, 2001). One suggested approach to ensure safe and effective patient care has been to mandate nurse staffing ratios (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). In 1999 California did just that, it became the first state to enact legislation mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in acute care hospitals (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). Assembly Bill 394 (1999), directed the California Department of Health Services (DHS) to establish specific nurse-to-patient ratios for inpatient units in acute care hospitals. This was done by creating a hospital Licensed nurses classification to include both RNs and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) also referred to as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) (California, 2002 July). This was not the first time a legislation had contemplated a nurse-to-patient ratio. In 1996, proposition 216 would have established staffing standards for all licensed health care facilities in addition to creating a statewide health insurance system (California, 2002 Janurary). The ballot proposition  that was rejected by the voters in 1996. Again in 1998, Assembly Bill 695 was introduced and approved by the state legislature but vetoed by then Gov. Pete Wilson (California, 2002 Janurary). Intense lobbying by unions representing California nurses would change everything with the passage of Assembly Bill 394 (California, 2002 July). The intense lobbing paid off with the election of a new governor, Gray Davis, in November 1998, who was endorsed by unions representing nurses and other workers (Spetz, Seago, et al., 2000). California DHS proposed the minimum nurse-to-patient ratios (California Hospital, 2004). Thus ranged from one nurse per patient in operating rooms to one nurse per eight infants in newborn nurseries. The DHS proposed that the minimum ratios for medical-surgical and rehabilitation units be phased in (California Hospital, 2004). They initially set minimum ratios for these units at one RN or LVN per six patients and within twelve to eighteen months the goal was to shift to one nurse per five patients (California, 2002 July). Prior California law regarding nurse staffing in acute care hospitals were extended under Assembly Bill 394 (1999). State and federal regulations affect the demand for licensed nurses. Under the 1976-77 state legislative session, California hospitals must have a minimum ratio of one licensed nurse per two patients in intensive care and coronary care units (California Hospital, 2003). Federally certified nursing homes are required to have a RN director of nursing and a RN on duty 8 hours a day, seven days a week (California state). If the facility has under 60 beds, the director of nursing can serve as the RN on duty (Harrington, 2001). This legislation also requires that at least half of licensed nurses working in intensive care and coronary care units be RNs (California state ,Title 22, Division 5, Chapter 1, Article 6, Section 70495(e).) Legislation enacted in the early 1990s requires hospitals to use patient classification systems to determine nurse staffing needs for inpatient units on a shift-by-shift basis and to staff accordingly (California state ,Title 22, Division 5, Chapter 1, Article 6, Section 70495(e)). In January 2004, hospitals also will face minimum licensed nurse-to-patient  ratio requirements in other hospital units, as established by Assembly Bill 394 (California state, Chapter 945, Statutes of 1999). Numerous estimates of the effect of these ratios on demand for licensed nurses have been published. The DHS analysis, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, predicts that 5,820 new nurses will be needed in California hospitals to meet the staffing requirements (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, et al., 2002). Other analyses conducted by independent researchers have reported that the increased demand for nurses due to the ratios could be as low as 1,600 (Spetz, 2002). Growing numbers of research associates important benefits for patients and nurses will arise with the Assembly Bill 394 (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, 2002). It has been argued that nurse staffing levels are now so low as to jeopardize the well-being of hospital patients (California. Office of the Governor, 2002). Supporting Assembly Bill 394, minimum nurse-to-patient ratios assure quality by establishing a minimum standard below which no hospital can fall (Assembly Bill 394, 1999). Researchers disagree with California’s statute requiring use of acuity-based patient classification systems because it is inadequate and difficult to determine whether hospitals are complying with this mandate (California Hospital, 2004). Instead they support a, simple minimum ratios to enable nurses, patients, and family members to easily identify and report inpatient units with dangerously low staffing levels (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). It is believed that working conditions have a large influence on the number of persons willing to practice nursing in hospitals (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, 2002). To most, minimum staffing ratios would improve working conditions, which would in turn reduce the numbers of nurses leaving hospital positions and the nursing profession (Donaldson, FAAN, Bolton, Janet, Meenu Sandhu, 2005). Creating a better work environment and conditions also may attract more young persons to nursing (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, 2002). Increased attention to nursing and rising salaries are already raising interest levels; the American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports that enrollments in baccalaureate nursing programs increased in 2001, for the first time in six years (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2001). The Assembly Bill 394 (1999), is great and will create a safer environment for patients, and staffing ratios would help to alleviate the nursing shortage but without nurses to meet the ratios one cannot uphold and follow the nurse-patient-ratios. This is why California Governor Gray Davis announced the Nurse Workforce Initiative in his January 2002 State-of-the-State speech (California. Office of the Governor, 2002). The purpose of the Nurse Workforce Initiative (NWI) is to develop and implement proposals to recruit, train, and retain nurses both to address the current shortage of nurses in California and to support implementation of new hospital nurse-to-patient staffing ratios also announced in late January 2002 (Seago, Spetz, Coffman, Rosenoff, O’Neil, 2003). The Governor made available $60 million over three years for the NWI (California, 2002 July). His goal is to use components designed to address the nurse shortage using both short and longer term strategies. This can range from working in partnership with local hospitals, scholarships for nursing students, career ladder projects, workplace reform efforts, and other strategies to increase the number of nurses (California, 2002 July). An evaluation will be done to determine which strategies to increase the supply of nurses are most effective and improve the understanding of the labor market dynamics for nurses (Seago, et al, 2003). Whether minimum staffing ratios will improve working conditions enough to increase nurse supply is unknown. The experience of hospitals in Victoria, Australia, one of the few jurisdictions to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, is instructive (Needleman, Buerhaus, Mattke, Stewart, Zelevinsky, 2001). Large numbers of nurses returned to the nursing profession after the minimum ratios were established. However, hospitals continued to face a shortage of nurses, because there were not enough returning nurses to meet demand, forcing hospital to close hospital beds (Needleman, Buerhaus, Mattke, Stewart, Zelevinsky, 2001). Besides, minimum staffing ratios address only one piece of the ‘  dissatisfaction with hospital nursing. Staffing is a major concern of many nurses, but RN job satisfaction indicates that they are also dissatisfied with other aspects of their work, including low salaries, lack of control over work schedules, lack of opportunities for advancement, lack of support from nursing administrators, lack of input into policy and management decisions, and inadequate support staff to perform non nursing tasks (Spetz, 2002). Maine and Massachusetts state affiliates cut their ties with the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 2001, in large part because they did not fully agree with the ANA’s opposition to minimum nurse-to-patient ratios (American Nurses Association, 2003). This led to the establishment of the American Association of Registered Nurses in February 2002, leaders of unions representing nurses in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Pennsylvania joined to establish a new national association (New England, 2005). The unions will join forces on national projects and support one another’s state legislative, collective bargaining, and organizing campaigns. Further research is needed to establish the number of states in which nurses’ unions have sufficient political power to enact minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. In the short term, the number of states is likely to be small. California’s rate of unionization among nurses, approximately 25 percent, is much higher than that of most states (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, 2002). In addition, ANA affiliates are more powerful in other states than in California. Proactive ANA affiliates may be able to persuade policymakers to implement other reforms that address nurses’ concerns about hospital staffing (American Nurses Association, 2003). Other important variables include the political influence of state AHA affiliates and elected officials’ ties to organized labor (American Nurses Association, 2003). California is not the only state to enact minimum nurse staffing ratios for hospitals, over the past four years at least eighteen other states have considered legislation regarding nurse staffing in hospitals (New England, 2005). Twelve states have considered bills that would mandate minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals. Fourteen states have considered  legislation that attempts to address nurses’ concerns about staffing through other means, such as requiring hospitals to develop staffing plans based on patient acuity, mandating disclosure of nurse staffing ratios, and establishing a task force to study and monitor nurse staffing. Oregon, has enacted legislation that requires acuity-based staffing plans (New England, 2005). Policymakers in other states may wish to consider a well-designed acuity-based ratio system as an alternative to minimum nurse-to-patient ratios (New England, 2005). Many states have regulations that require hospitals to use patient classification systems to determine nurse staffing, but these regulations face much criticism, as discussed above. Although many of these regulatory systems do not function well today, they could form the basis for strong but flexible staffing regulations in the future (New England, 2005). States could mandate particular patient classification systems, develop methods of ensuring that staff and patients are aware of the required staffing during every shift, and establish effective enforcement mechanisms (New England, 2005). Alternatively, states could require that hospitals submit information relevant to their staffing needs every quarter and could mandate a ratio for that quarter based on an analysis of patients’ needs, availability of support staff, and other factors (New England, 2005). Texas is pursuing a totally different approach to the nursing situation that is tailored to the unique circumstances of individual hospitals. Under regulations issued 24 March 2002, hospitals are required to establish committees to develop nurse staffing plans and to use data on nurse-sensitive patient outcomes to assess and adjust staffing plans (Texas Nurses Association, 2002). At least one-third of the members of these committees must be RNs engaged primarily in direct patient care (Institute, 1999). The minimal nurse staffing on patient acuity or nurse-sensitive outcomes respond to nurses’ justifiable concerns about hospital staffing without imposing rigid mandates (Harrington, 2001). The flexible staffing approaches seem more appropriate than ratios, given the complexity and rapid pace of  technology changing the delivery of hospital care. (Harrington, 2001). Nurses’ job satisfaction and retention may enhance the opportunities for hospital nurses to play a more direct role in staffing decisions (Kravitz, Sauve, Hodge, 2002). The key is without more nurses no ratio can be met. So the focus needs shift on reaching as many young people as possible by showing them that they to could be a good fit in the nursing community. They need to know that nurses are people too, and the traits of a nurse, such as not being squeamish over the sight of blood comes with time. Stepping out into the high schools and broadcasting information about nurses can translate into only one thing, more students who pursue a nursing career. There is no better way to start, than by planting a seed in the mind of a young person who is about to step out into the world and choose a career. The more educating and qualified young people health care workers can get to chose a nursing career, the better off the nurse-to-patient ratio becomes, allowing for a safer environment for future patients, by permitting more effective health care. References Aiken, L., & Clarke, S., & Sloane, D. (2002). Hospital Restructuring: Does It AdverselyAffect Care and Outcomes? Journal of Nursing Administration, 30(10), 457-465. American Nurses Association. (2003). Nurse Staffing Plans and Ratios. Retrieved June, 10, 2007, from http://nursingworld.org/GOVA/STATE/2003/ratio1203.pdfAmerican Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2001, December 20). Enrollments Rise at U.S. Nursing Colleges and Universities Ending a Six-Year Period of Decline, Press Release, Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/enrl01.htmAssembly Bill 394. (1999). Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/asm/ab_0351-0400/ab_394_cfa_19990628_171358_sen_comm.htmlCalifornia Hospital Association. (2004). California’s nurse-to-patient staffing ratios: Proposedmodifications. Retrieved March 14, 2005 from http://www.calhealth.org/public/press/Article/124/Ratio%20Modifications%20Fac t%20Sheet%20finaCalifornia Hospital Association. (2003, September). Hospital minimum nurse-to-patient ratios asrequired by AB 394. Retrieved April 13, 2005 fromhttp://www.calhealth.org/public/press/Article/113/Nurse%20Ratio%20chart.pdfCalifornia. Office of the Governor. (2002, January 22). Governor Gray Davis Announces Proposed Nurse-to-Patient Ratios. Press Release, Sacramento: Office of the Governor. California. Office of the Governor. (2002, July 15). Sets Nation’s First Safe Nursing Standards: Governor Davis Announces Nurse-to-Patient Ratios, Press Release, Retrieved 10 June, 2007, fromhttp://www.calnurses.org/nursing-practice/ratios/ratios_index.htmlCalifornia state legislature Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from http://www.legislature.ca.gov/Donaldson, N., & FAAN, B., & Bolton, L., & Janet E., & Meenu Sandhu, M. (2005, August 08). New study examines impact of nurse-patient ratios law, California. Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice’s website: http://ppn.sagepub.comHarrington, Charlene. 2001. â€Å"Nursing Facility Staffing Policy: A Case Study for Political Change.† Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 2(2), 117-127. Institute for Health and Socio-Economic Policy. (1999 September). California Health Care: Sicker Patients, Fewer RNs, Fewer Staffed Beds. Retrieved 10 June, 2007 from www.calnurse.org/cna/pdf/StaffingRatios6.pdfKravitz, R., & Sauve, M., & Hodge, M. (2002). Hospital NursingStaff Ratios and Quality of Care. University of California – Davis, report submitted to State of California, Department of Health Services, Licensing andCertification. Needleman, J., & Buerhaus, P., & Mattke, S., & Stewart, M., & Zelevinsky, K. (2001). Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes in Hospitals. Washington DC: Bureau of Health Professions, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved June, 10, 2007, from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/staffstudy.htmNew England public policy center and the Massachusetts health policy forum. (2005, July). Nurse-to-patient ratios: Research and reality. Retrieved 10 June, 2007, from http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/conreports/2005/conreport051.pdfSpetz,

Acc/230 Week 6 Assignment

Week 6 Assignment: Candela Corporation Case Rebecca Mouser ACC/230 Financial Reporting: Peeking Under the Financial Hood November 4, 2012 Instructor Nathan McDaniel Week 6 Assignment: Candela Corporation Case Assignment: Candela Corporation Case Resource: Ch. 4 of Understanding Financial Statements * Compose a 500- to 750-word paper responding to questions 1 and 2 of the Candela Corporation Case on p. 146 (Ch. 4). * Format your paper according to APA standards. * Post your paper as an attachment. 1.Using the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, prepare a summary analysis for the years ended July 3, 2004, June 28, 2003, and June 29, 2002. Analyze the cash flows for Candela Corporation, Inc. for all three years. 2. Explain what information you gain from the statement of cash flows that cannot be found directly from the balance sheet or income statement. â€Å"Candela Corporation is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of advanced aesthetic laser systems that allow phys icians and personal care practitioners to treat a wide variety of cosmetic and medical conditions† (Fraser & Ormiston, 2007, pp. 46-147). After reviewing the corporation’s statement of cash flows for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004, it is clear that the company has taken on many changes financially. In 2002, Candela Corporation had a weak start with several losses compared to the years 2003, and 2004. In 2002, Candela had a net loss of $2,154 (thousands) compared to a net gain in 2003 and 2004. Candela Corporation had a significantly higher amount of loss in its net cash used in operating activities of $7,071 (thousands) compared to its net loss of $2,154 (thousands), a difference of $4,917.Candela Corporation also had a net loss in its investing activities of $1,058 (thousands), and a net loss in its financing activities of $5,141 (thousands). Candela also had a loss of $68 (thousands) on its income taxes for the year. In 2002, the company took a loss in the followi ng operating areas according to their statement of cash flows. Provision for deferred taxes $115 (thousands), tax benefit from exercised stock options $6 (thousands), effect of exchange rate changes on foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities of $305 (thousands).Account receivable $3,525 (thousands), notes receivable $54 (thousands), inventories $1,661 (thousands), and accounts payable $3,069 (thousands) and income tax payable $784 (thousands). Net losses in investing and financing areas include purchase of property, plant, and equipment of $1,058 (thousands), repurchases of treasury stock of $5,215 (thousands), and principle payments of long-term debt of $370 (thousands). In 2003, Candela Corporation had a net profit at the yearend of $6,814 (thousands) with a net cash used in operating activities of $11,655 (thousands); a significant difference from 2002.Candela Corporation still had a net loss in its investing activities of $1,227 (thousands) while they had a net profi t in its financing activities of $176 (thousands). Other net losses the company incurred in its operating, investing, and financing activities sections were provision for bad debts $13 (thousands), provision for deferred taxes $682 (thousands), and tax benefit from exercised stock options of $505 (thousands). Other areas are restricted cash $57 (thousands), account receivable $2,417 (thousands), accounts payable $1,409 (thousands).Accrued warranty costs of $921 (thousands), purchase of property, plant, and equipment $1,227 (thousands), net borrowings (repayments) on line of credit $1,114 (thousands), and principle payments of long-term debt of $3,330 (thousands). Candela Corporation seems to be most successful in 2004 according to its statement of cash flows. In 2004, Candela Corporation had a net income of $8,119 (thousands) and $1,132 used in net operating activities. Even though the company still had several losses in 2004 they were still able to profit from the last two years.Ot her net losses the company incurred in its operating, investing, and financing activities sections were tax benefit from exercised stock options of $1,223 (thousands), restricted cash $200 (thousands), accounts receivable $7,663 (thousands) and inventories of $2,134 (thousands). Other current assets of $2,550 (thousands), other assets $236 (thousands), accounts payable $91 (thousands), income tax payable $1,312 (thousands), and purchase of property, plant, and equipment of $685 (thousands).The income statement and balance sheet provides an adequate amount of information, but the statement of cash flows provides a clearer picture of what a company is doing and how well they are doing. The income statement and balance sheet provides information about the accounts receivable and the accounts payable as well as depreciation; the statement of cash flows also provides this information. â€Å"A company’s financial statements consist of the balance sheet, income statement and cash f low statement. The balance sheet summarizes the assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity of the company.The income statement shows the sales-related activity over a period, which is usually a quarter of a year. The cash flow statement shows the cash inflows and outflows during a period. Financial information is important in assessing a company’s profitability, detecting problem areas and making investment decisions† (Basu, 1999-2012). References Basu, C. (1999-2012). The importance of Income Statement and Cash Flows. Retrieved from eHow: http://www. ehow. com/info_8274659_importance-income-statement-cash-flows. html Fraser, L. M. , & Ormiston, A. (2007). Case 4. 2 CandelaCorporation. Prentice Hall.

Philippines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Philippines - Essay Example It has a land area of 114, 672 square miles and stretches almost 1, 150 miles. Its capital is Manila which is located on Luzon. According to Steinberg † The Philippines is one of the most disaster-struck countries in the world† (12). This country is located on the Ring of Fire and is subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Steinberg stated that â€Å"It is averages about five earthquakes a day of all grades and intensities up to 7.9 on the Richter Scale† (12). Its climate is tropical. The monsoons mark the rainy and the dry seasons. In Manila the rain starts from June to November. The cool dry season comes from December to February while the hot dry season is from March to May. It lies in the path of several tropical storms and suffers several strong typhoons between July and October. The Philippines has a long history of exporting agricultural products. Rice is the symbol of life (Steinberg, 2000: 15). It is the most important crop grown in the country. The farmers rely on the monsoons to give the plant the necessary water. Bad crops can affect the peasants. The tropical rain forests are one of the key sources of export income. However, tree cutting and milling are changing the landscape and causing disasters. There are major extractive mining industries as the country has large deposits of chromite and gold. Of the 49. 4 million acres of mineral land, only 34. 6 million have been geologically surveyed. (Steinberg, 2000: 29). The Philippine territorial waters offer 2,000 local species of fish, giving the people a new source of protein. In the past few decades, prawn farming has become the major industry throughout the archipelago, offering the promise of a new export product. The Philippines is a democratic country. The population of the Philippines was approximately 84.2 million in 2004 (Abinales & Amoroso, 2005: 16). Filipinos are distinguished by ethno linguistic groups originally corresponding to geographical

Three Level Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Three Level Architecture - Essay Example In this section I will present some of major objectives of the three levels of the database architecture. The DBA is able to transform the structure of database, for example without altering the software program for example external schema. Every user is able to access the data as of his/her necessities. Users are sovereign of the storage issues similar to indexing limitations etc of the database. The conceptual architecture of the database has no influence because of the transform of the physical storage systems.The External LevelThe external level is one near to users. That is the one associate with the mode in which the data is observed through particular users. At the external level the DBMS outlines every user by means of a shared or particular view or representation of the data. There are numerous views of the information and data at this phase, as well as every view is an illustration of fraction of the whole database. A view permits a client access to their part of the databa se, as well as shields the remaining database from them. Every external view is described through means of an external representation, that composed of fundamentally of descriptions of all of variety of kinds of outer record discovered that external view. In external level, the diverse views can have diverse illustrations of the similar data. For instance one user can view date in the structure as day, month, year as another may analysis as year, month, day.The external level or view of DBMS is basically associated.

EasyBuys' Mobile On-line Shopping Project Essay

EasyBuys' Mobile On-line Shopping Project - Essay Example However, no one in the company, IT department included, is familiar with the mobile application and the different platforms of mobile. Due to these facts, this report will help the EasyBuys’ management and the IT department as a guide through the MOSA project. EasyBuys’ management should pay keen attention on the agile approaches as will be illustrated in this report, which aims to analyze the approaches of agile, their strengths and weaknesses and recommendation for adoption. Agile approaches have emerged so as the changes needed for development may be adopted quickly and with ease. This is in contrary to the non agile approaches which are plan driven and traditional. The main idea behind the agile approaches is to release early the working software via responding quickly to the alterations in specifications through the use of code refactoring, collaborative techniques, customer involvement, and test driven development. There are various agile approaches that can be us ed by companies such as the EasyBuys, however the focus is the same as they all emphasize on efficiency and effectiveness, and therefore in this report, we will put emphasis on the Scrum agile approach (Glass, 2001). Scrum is a business oriented framework used for managing development of software process. This agile approach was created by Jeff Sutherland and Ken Scwaber. It is an iterative, incremental that uses using rolling wave planning in order to determine, identify and prioritize project requirements. The team, such as the IT department for this report, works on the requirements in a prioritized manner in order to deliver feature of the highest value as possible. Some of the areas that the Scrum approach puts emphasis during implementation include: customer collaboration when doing business, individual interactions when using tools and processes in the project, response to change over the abrupt need by the market, and the working software for reasons of comprehensive documen tation (Fowler, 2000). The Scrum agile approach has defined principles and values that the practitioners, the IT department, will have to follow during its implementation as a guide. The Scrum agile approach has various strengths and reasons that lead to great demand by other companies, EasyBuys’ management, included. Some of the strengths that the management are likely to derive from the agile approach include: better management of priorities of change, better business IT alignment, high acceleration of time to market, enhances quality of software, and increasing company productivity. These strengths give the Scrum agile approach an upper hand for adoption and implementation in the company. The approach however demands that, for successful implementation, the project for which the agile approach is being adopted must be planned and defined, executed as detailed in the plan, and the management of the project must monitor and control the results (Highsmith, 2000). For instance , during the adoption of this Scrum agile approach, the EasyBuys’ management and the IT department will, from the outset of the project, work closely with their customers in order to understand the vision for the project, how the newly updated systems will be used, and how the projects support the goals of the business. In addition, this agile approach demands that

Support Programs for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care Research Paper

Support Programs for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care - Research Paper Example According to the research the foster care system is designed to provide temporary homes and family support for children in crisis or children who do not have parents of their own. A number of options exist for children in foster care: some are adopted by their foster families, some find permanent homes with extended family, and others are adopted by individuals or families outside the system. According to McCoy-Roth, Freundlich and Ross, federal statistics reveal that as of 2007 roughly 85 percent of all children discharged from foster care did so as a result of one of these three occurrences. However, the 15 percent not reflected by this data spend their entire childhood and youth in the foster care system, until they officially grow out of the system when they reach the age of 18. Commonly, this phenomenon is referred to as â€Å"aging out of the system†. Youth that age out of the foster system often struggle with the transition from foster care to independent living; many f eel isolated, overwhelmed, and ill-equipped for life on their own. Others lack significant and supportive relationships with adults or mentors. According to Courtney, Dworsky, Lee and Raap, the authors of the longitudinal study Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Ages 23 and 24, the propensity for drug and alcohol abuse, criminal activity, unemployment, homelessness and economic marginalization remains high among these youth. (p. 5). This policy brief focuses on the experience of youth aging out of the foster care system in California. The brief is intended for state level legislators in the departments of child welfare and social services (Bardach, 2009; Moore, 1995). This brief provides some recommendations as to how to accelerate the implementation phase of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act, commonly known as Assembly Bill 12 or AB 12, which increases the age at which youth officially leave the system from 18 to 21 (Ca lifornia Fostering Connections to Success, 2012; California Implementation News, 2012; Lemley, Raucher, & Fried, 2012). I. Introduction The purpose of this policy brief is to discuss the difficulties faced by youth aging out of the foster care system in California at the age of 18, and to provide support and recommendations for the California Fostering Connections to Success Act, as well as extending foster care beyond the age of 18 in the state of California (California Fostering Connections to Success, 2012; California Implementation News, 2012; Lemley, Raucher, & Fried, 2012). Extending foster care from the age of 18 to 21 represents a viable alternative to the current practice of releasing youth from the system at age 18 (California Fostering Connections to Success, 2012; California Implementation News, 2012; Lemley, Raucher, & Fried, 2012). This policy brief argues that the decision to age youth out at 18 is premature from a developmental standpoint and essentially flushes thes e youth into a situation that they are not developmentally equipped to navigate. The policy brief is broken down into several subsections which illustrate the need for foster care to be extended beyond the age of 18 to 21. These include the Transitional Housing Placement Plus Program (THP-Plus), the THP-Plus Statewide Implementation Project, the Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, and the California Fostering Connections to Success Act or Assembly Bill 12. The brief outlines some clear and actionable recommendations f

The Quality Caring Model of Nursing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Quality Caring Model of Nursing - Term Paper Example It is not difficult to imagine that an uncaring hospital staff and bureaucracy lead to an enhanced potential for medical errors and other dysfunctions. When the perception exists that the staff is simply doing the job, that they have become hardened to the suffering around them, and that each patient that enters their doors is simply a number and a disease, the consequences to patients’ morale could be as damaging as delivering the wrong dosage of morphine. Here, the prospect exists of elevated stress levels, pain or discomfort that may go ignored, and general disappointment and/or dissatisfaction. It is a noteworthy issue in the sense that not only could patients’ medical outcomes be negatively impacted, but also, even from the most pragmatic and cynical perspective, extremely dissatisfied patients – even when they do recover – may lead to a bad reputation of the hospital, which could impact potential donations. Even if serious complications do not occur, inconsistent or inattentive medical staff and procedures can also delay healing and recovery, and this can create a financial burden for the patient and increase the risk of nosocomial infections through extended hospital stays, if surgery and healing are not expedited with efficiency. Thus, the issue of caring in nursing is not only a matter of bolstering spirits but also a matter of added medical burdens that can be avoided by the staff which is deeply passionate both about the job and the patients’ health.... On the one hand, some level of detachment is a necessity in the medical field. Excessive emotional investment in any particular patient could compromise judgment or debilitate the healthcare provider if that patient should in fact perish or take a turn for the worst despite the implementation of all appropriate procedural measures. There is always another patient, so doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals would be doing a disservice to other patients if the previous one consumed too much of their attention and emotion. Yet detachment is also an enemy promoting the carelessness described above, making the patient feel uncared for and unappreciated, and enhancing the statistical likelihood of a medical error. Thus, there must be a corporate culture that institutes an appropriate level of attention and compassion in the implementation and management of medicine. It is a standard to teach nurses and doctors to 'care', but with the constant demands of a large hospital, with an e ndless patient-after-patient time consuming process and a great deal to be accomplished independently, the reality rarely lives up to the rhetoric. Time constraints in a large setting also limit the prospect of getting to know a particular patient on an individual basis. Bereft of the potential for attachment, one is easily dehumanized. Thus, a balance must be sought between an emotional entanglement, especially in terminal patients that can emotionally damage doctors or nurses, and a laissez-faire factory farm attitude where no outcome has any emotional impact, leading to frequent mistakes and a clear perception of indifference on part of the patients, enhancing the negative

Criminal Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Criminal Law - Essay Example This paper will present issues related to which crimes terrorists can be charged with, how defendants who commit crimes in other countries can be charged in the United States, and how we can prevent terrorism both inside and outside the United States. The agencies of the federal government define terrorism in several different ways. This lack of consistency may raise difficult legal questions when the government starts investigating and processing terrorist suspects under different legal procedures than it applies to other The Justice Department’s Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) defines domestic terrorism as involving matters where individuals or groups seek to further political goals wholly or in part through activities that involve force or the threat of force. The EOUSA defines international terrorism as a federal offense relating to international terrorism impacting United States interests.... Criminal trials have many procedural hurdles that guarantee a trial of many months. Appeals and petitions for habeas corpus can take years, and should the death sentence be given, the ACLU has shown how to delay execution for ten years or more through appeals and petitions. An open trial of that length, covered by the media, would be an ideal stage for an Osama bin Laden to spread his propaganda to all the Muslims in the world. Many Islamic governments would likely find that aroused mobs make it impossible to continue cooperating with the U.S. In open trials, our government would have to reveal much of our intelligence information, and the means by which it was gathered. In the trial of the bombers of our embassies in Africa, the prosecution had to reveal that American intelligence intercepted bin Laden's satellite phone calls. As soon as that testimony was published, Osama stopped using the satellite system and went silent. Disclosures in open court would inform not only Middle Eastern terrorists, but all the intelligence services of the world of out methods and sources. Trials before an international tribunal would have all of these defects and more. Picking the members of the court would be a diplomatic nightmare. It would be politically impossible to keep judges from Islamic countries off the court. In the past, international courts have often shown a pronounced anti-American bias. Our prosecutor would be helpless to avoid a propaganda circus and the disclosure of our intelligence capabilities and methods. In the end, convictions would be highly uncertain, but, if obtained, impassioned dissents and the martyrdom of the terrorists would be certain. We should be wary of international tribunals in

Supervision requires the active communication of leadership skills Essay

Supervision requires the active communication of leadership skills that results in a climate where self-motivation takes place - Essay Example Supervision requires the active communication of leadership skills that results in a climate where self-motivation takes place. It is rather important to encourage self-motivation in a workplace since this is the surest way of ensuring that employees perform their task as recommended. Different persons are motivated by different factors and as such achieving self-motivation towards work in a given work environment is in most cases not easy. For instance, a larger proportion of workers in various workplaces are usually motivated by money. Such people will, therefore, in most cases are likely to perform tasks so long as they are assured of payment. Another category of people may be motivated by money but do not like doing work. They will, therefore, try to avoid work by all means. Strict supervision is, therefore, necessary in order for this group to perform tasks properly. The last category involves people who have the passion for work and would thus not only be motivated by money, but rather through doing what they enjoy. Minimum or even no supervision at all is all it takes for work to be done efficiently by this category.

Unit 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Unit 3 - Essay Example Age and can possibly provide an example for this relationship. As one ages, resistance to diseases decreases. This means that the increase in age negatively affect resistance to diseases. Correlation studies can take many forms. Let us consider non-experimental correlation studies and quasi-experimental studies. Non-experimental studies involve measuring things as the objects appear. In non-experimental studies, the methods used include observation, case history, and surveys. It is it is unethical to manipulate independent variables. Non-experimental values are used to provide solutions to problems and question existing realities. Lawrence Lisa (2011), conducted a non-experimental descriptive correlation study to examine the relationship amongst four variables, moral distress, education level, CRP and work ethics and how these variables affected nurses work engagement. The study found out that there was a positive direct relationship between CRP and work engagement and a negative correlation moral distress and work engagement. According to Ramos-Alvarez, Moreno Fernandez, Valdez Conroy, & Catena (2008), quasi experiments are evaluations that attempt to determine whether a program or intervention has an expected effect on the participants. Quasi experiments take different forms but usually lack aspects of true experiments. This is the reason quasi experiments are not ideal for dissertation work. In a true experiment, there must be pre-test and posttest design, treatment group, control group and random assignment. For quasi experiment, either one or two of these aspects are lacking. Raanas, Grindel & Herting (2012) conducted a quasi experiment study to examine the health advantages of a bedroom window observethe natural background for patients undergoing a rehabilitation program. The funding for this research was that a blocked view appeared to influence negative physical health changes in women. For men, blocked views

Transformational Leader Profile Essay Example for Free

Transformational Leader Profile Essay One of the most debated, described and defined aspects of managerial competence, leadership continues to claim the attention of practitioners and theorists alike. Leadership, essentially a synthesis of arts, reflects individual experience, understanding, values and capabilities, interacting with situations where, realistically, there is rarely an ideal solution. The recognition that transforming a business is something of an heroic journey explicitly and implicitly acknowledges the key role of leadership in todays world as a determinant of success, in an organization’s change, progression and development. The quality of that leadership is itself largely determined by the leaders effectiveness as a coach and mentor who can grow the skills and confidence in others, necessary to shape tomorrows businesses, organizations and successes. To develop leadership one must work at developing himself.   The transformation of the self is central to the leadership development process. Meeting Peter was a very profound experience for me. I met Peter, CEO of a large healthcare management organization, a year ago. The CEO had recently been picked by the Chairman of the Board to head up the organization of approximately 20,000 employees. Everyone knew him, and it appeared that he was well-liked by employees and generally trusted. Peter is someone I totally admire. He is someone who always makes sure employees all know why they are part of the organization. The terms charismatic and transformational are used more or less interchangeably in much of the literature. Distilling a large literature on the transformational leader, the notion can be broadly captured by reference to six elements: an heroic figure (usually with attributed past success stories); a mystic in touch with higher truths; a value-driven individual rather than one who is apparently purely self-serving; someone who is perceived to know the way; an individual who has a vision of a more desirable and achievable future; and finally someone thought to be capable of caring for and developing followers. All six points reflect attributes of personality and behavior of Peter. Peter has an approach which aspires to significant organizational change through engaged and committed followers. It was John McGregor Burns (1978) who emphasized the meaning and significance of transformational leadership by contrasting it with transactional leadership (Orlikoff 2000). This theme was picked up and elaborated by Bass (1990). According to Bass, transformational leadership has four components: individualized consideration (the leader is alert to the needs of followers and also takes care to develop them); intellectual stimulation (the leader encourages followers to think in creative ways and to propose innovative ideas); inspirational motivation (energizing followers to achieve extraordinary things); idealized influence (offers followers a role model). The core of Peter’s model is cantered on the concept of developing oneself to develop others. Specifically, as Peter matures and gains moral perspective, he invests more time and energy in promoting the development of others versus satisfying his own needs. As Avolio and Yammarino (2002) note, through the accumulation of developmental experiences the moral structure of an individual can be enhanced providing sufficient structure to assess complex moral challenges. This basic premise is at the core of what drives transformational leadership to the highest end of the full range of leadership. In his daily work, Peter identifies developmental opportunities, where there is scope for: Challenge, and the breaking of new ground. Work that makes a significant, demonstrable contribution to the business. Bigger/wider leadership roles, preferably the earlier the better within the leaders career progression. Shifting gear and moving up into more strategic roles/tasks and relationships. Moving and operating out of existing comfort zones. Multi-disciplinary and cross-functional working. Building stakeholder coalitions and alliances, supply chain projects, involving suppliers, deliverers (own organization) and customers. Acquiring new contributive competencies which will test and enhance both skill and will. Working on specific role/task assignments in other comparable, but noncompetitive organizations. Making keynote presentations at major events, where there is a sense of occasion and opportunities to establish reputation and credibility. Leading (preferably) or acting as a member of jointly run projects with a leading business school, professional body or significant consultancy group. Setting up and managing increased outsourcing for supportive activities. In effect, leader learning development (like so much interpersonal skills training) is about building competence – and confidence – in three related areas of activity. On the reasonable assumption that competence – like charity – begins at home, the first priority in Peter development is learning to manage oneself. This includes not only the development of effective self-management skills, but also acquiring high levels of competence in the three primary areas of know-how identified as: Transforming Integrating Mobilising Peter’s personal skills and leader competencies form an appropriately strong base for developing consistently sound working relationships with others. Particularly important are the following interpersonal competencies: Self awareness and awareness of others. Negotiation techniques. Listening and questioning skills. Influencing skills. Coaching skills. Assertiveness. Motivational skills. Working as a partner (primus inter pares) as opposed to leader. Collaborative problem solving. Empowering and delegating skills. I identified five significant distinguishing characteristics which differentiated Peter from the less effective: He is neither perfect, nor perfectionists in their demands of others. He quickly learns skills which he does not possess personally. He sees management as essentially a team effort. He strives endlessly for improvement – to him, the game is not over until its over. He admits his weaknesses and learns from his mistakes, but differentiates himself from the less successful. The leadership theory proposed by Peter is based on the relationship and interaction between the leader and the follower. Under transformational theory, the leader and the follower may possess their own motivations for the interaction, but together they realize a common goal and are changed by the process. The change, or transformation, in the participants is found in the unity of purpose that raises the goal beyond individual satisfaction to a higher level. Peter’s theory is consistent with transformational theory. Collaboration cannot be achieved without the team members reaching a consensus and perhaps giving up something of themselves and changing in the process. Collaboration cannot be realized without facilitation, communication, information, participation, and expectation. Understanding something of the dynamics of group behaviour and the processes underlying transactions between people, is fundamental to effective leadership (Orlikoff 2000). There are no panaceas or cure-alls, but informed awareness of what is really going on, in behavioral terms, within and between groups helps to give managers – and others – a clearer idea of how to handle relationships in more productive ways. Peter believes that a business needs at least three interrelated forms of leadership: One which brings about requisite task performance and goal achievement. One to generate and maintain the commitment of its members. Another to ensure continuity of congruence between the requirements of the task, and peoples needs and expectations (Schein 1985). Peter has ability to overcome or compensate for (transform) organizational and individual limitations. He motivates others to do more than they originally intended and indeed often more than they thought possible. Team spirit is aroused. Enthusiasm and optimism are displayed. Peter enables his staff to overcome, to break through, to see beyond the limitations of their organization: he stimulates his ‘followers efforts to be innovative and creative by questioning assumptions, re-framing problems, and approaching old situations in new ways’ (Ackoff 1999). Peter is unique leader, on whom organizational success depends (and who therefore receives a considerable share of the benefits of that success). Peter seeks power not for self-aggrandizement but in order to share it. He empowers others to take an active role in carrying out the value-based mission or vision defined by him. That vision is based on what the organization and followers need, not what the leader wants personally. Thus, Peter appeals to followers values, emphasizing that certain important values serve as the common basis for our ideals and goals. Peter transforms organization by first using his cognitive power to understand complex causal chains and then acting to design outcomes that will benefit the organization and advance his vision. While a substantial degree of cognitive power is required in order for Peter to be effective, such effectiveness results as much from his success in developing followers cognitive abilities as from the exercise of his own. Peter with the degree of cognitive power required for a top-level position makes important long-term strategic decisions. But how much do these decisions affect what actually goes on in the organization on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis? It is the thought and action of managers and employees at lower levels that most affect current and short-term future operations. The finest long-term plan and the wisest long-range actions will surely fail if those who must act today and tomorrow are not capable of doing so. Thus, it is more important for top-level leaders with great cognitive power or vision to help followers expand and improve on their own vision than it is for leaders to simply exercise their cognitive power (Smith 2000). Peter empowers others to define organizational policies and develop programs that are explicitly based on the values and beliefs contained in the philosophy that in fact put those values and beliefs into organizational action. For example, hiring and promotion policies should take into account values consistent with those in the organizations philosophy as well as applicants knowledge and skill. Reward systems and bonus programs must be based on the values of cooperation and innovative action instead of on competition over a limited pool of resources. Finally, Peter inculcates values and beliefs through his own individual behavior, his personal practices. He models organizational values and beliefs by living by them constantly and consistently. That is why his leadership behaviors that were described earlier are extremely important. Many people think of these behaviors as tools with which leaders explain their vision to followers and convince them to carry out that vision. Although this is not totally untrue, the far more significant reason these behaviors are important is that leaders use them to demonstrate and illustrate the values and beliefs on which their visions are founded. Thats why Peter takes so much time and effort and why he is good manager with strong management skills. He uses everyday managerial activities a committee meeting, for example as opportunities to inculcate values. In a meeting the leader may guide a decision-making process while making it clear that final authority and responsibility rests with the group. By so doing, Peter takes what might otherwise be a bureaucratic process and instills the value of empowerment into it. Whenever possible, he overlays value-inculcating actions on ordinary bureaucratic management activities. Without a sound base of management skills, this would not be possible. Ultimately, examination of Peter’s leadership leads to the recognition that transformational leaders own personal behaviors play a large part in shaping organizational culture. This comprehensive theory goes beyond behavior to incorporate personal characteristics. Even more, it includes the organizational context of transformational leadership that is, culture building. Peter refers to the challenges as trigger events in our lives that oftentimes have a profoundly positive effect on our development. So how do we create the challenges that you must confront to develop into the full person you can be and to achieve your full potential? I am still searching for that in myself, and I hope you will do the same each and every day, because that is the way to develop leadership—each and every day we emerge, we get better, we know more, and we can influence people more effectively. Peter had a profoundly positive impact on my leadership development. I have chosen a developmental goal for myself, based on my primary style of leadership. After having examined Peter as a transformational leader I have tried to capture the whole process of personal and leadership development in a simple model. Let me explain. The top left-hand part of the model represents what we come into the world with our talents and strengths. Building on those capacities or attempting in some cases to break them down, we have life experiences that shape our development, that comprise our life stream. On the bottom left, we have the context in which we are currently operating and there we specify the importance of the vision and culture to nurturing leadership development. The rest of the model represents what we typically focus on in terms of leadership development, including enhancing our self-awareness of where we are and where we should focus our energies, then focusing those energies by regulating our development and then finally being consistent in our efforts to call it self-development. A number of important individual and contextual factors feed into self-awareness, but we must go beyond simply being aware to enhance leadership development. References Ackoff, R. L. (1999). Transformational leadership. Strategy Leadership, 27, 20–25. Avolio, B. J., Yammarino, F. J. (2002). Transformational and charismatic leadership: The road ahead. Greenwich, CT: JAI. Bass, B.M. (1990). Leadership and Performance beyond Expectations, New York: Free Press. Orlikoff, J. E. (2000). A board as good as its chair. Trusteeship, 8(4). Schein, E. H. (1985). Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Smith, C. J. (2000). Trusteeship in community colleges: A guide for effective governance. Washington, DC: Association of Community College Trustees.

A Response To Peter Singer

A Response To Peter Singer In Famine, Affluence, and Morality, Peter Singer discusses that people are dying in Bengal from a lack of food, shelter, and medical care. Singer discusses in detail how poverty and war have created a large number of refugees that require millions just to keep them alive. Singer claims that countries and nations like Australia and Britain have given a considerable amount of assistance, but what has been given is not nearly enough. Singer believes that we have an obligation to prevent misfortunes such as, starvation or poverty, from occurring so long as it doesnt require us to sacrifice something equally as important. To reiterate, Singers main argument is, if it is in our power to prevent something very bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything morally significant, we ought, morally, to do it (Singer, p. 231). Singer responds that starvation in Bengal could be greatly reduced if everyone decided to pitch in. Singer opens his article with his example of a drowning child. To summarize, the scenario involves a person walking by a child who is drowning. Singer questions whether to go in after the child and get our clothes muddy, or to allow the child to drown. The vast majority of people would agree that one would have an obligation to save the drowning child. This can be related to Singers main argument, as one would have the power to prevent the child from drowning and getting ourselves dirty is not sacrificing anything equally significant. Singer also brings to light that whether there were other bystanders around while the child was drowning, even if they werent helping to save the child, one would still be morally obligated to save the child. Singers counter-argument is that we are more likely to help those that are close (the drowning child) then help those that are far away (starving refugees in Bengal). Singers response is that distance is irrelevant in what we should morally do. Sin gers example is simple and purposeful, and it leads us into the rest of his article. Peter Singer discusses a sense of equality, and how if we accept equality as part of our morality, then we cannot say that someone far away is not in need based on proximity and distance alone. After all, someone suffering in Bengal versus someone suffering in California should be viewed the same, right? Singer feels there are human fallacies with regards to the way we think. In his eyes, we are less likely to give to those that are far away regardless of how badly they need it. According to Singer, we need to evaluate how we help others that are far away. However, we need to be morally obligated to our families and our own country (our own poor, starving, homeless, etc), and it makes perfect sense that we will help those that are close in proximity. If we spent all of our extra money on those that live far away and forgot about those in need in our own country, how is that living up to Singers main argument of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦without sacrificing anything more significant? Singer resp onds by stating that donating is not a charity, but a duty. It is our duty to assist those in need. Singer provides a second counter-argument against the drowning child and the Bengal refugees. In the example of the drowning child, there is only one person to help but in the example of the refugees, there are millions upon millions to provide help. Singer responds to this by writing that regardless of whether you are the only one, or there are millions, it doesnt lessen your obligation to help. A third counter-argument presented by Singer regards famine. If everyone who could help, and still live within their means, gave a fixed amount of money in an attempt to prevent the famine then that is all wed be obligated to give. People who could only afford a fixed amount would donate the fixed amount while people who could afford much more than the fixed amount would still only be morally obligated to donate the fixed amount. Singers response is that this is a skewed way of reasoning, because people who can afford more should give more while people who can afford a little only give a little. Singers concept of marginal utility, as written by Singer (1972) himself is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the level at which, by giving more, I would cause as much suffering to myself or my dependents as I would relieve by my gift. (p. 241). Singer continues to say, This would mean, of course, that one would reduce oneself to very near the material circumstances of a Bengali refugee. (p. 241). This relates to Singers main argument because the amount of help that is needed in Bengal and other countries is so great that it is highly unlikely that amount of assistance will ever be provided. In his article, Singer states The traditional distinction between duty and charity cannot be drawn, or at least, not in the place we normally draw it. (p. 235) Singers concept of duty is what we are morally obligated to do, and his concept of charity is giving money to a charitable cause but because of how charity is viewed there is nothing wrong with not giving. His concepts later change in his article when he discusses that his argument cannot support people in developed nations living an affluent lifestyle should enjoy giving money to those in need. If I was able to reach out to Singer and respond to his article, I would tell him that people are not morally required to do as much as he is asking of us. If we did exactly as Singer wanted, and that would be to quit our jobs and work full time to put an end to poverty and starvation, where would that leave us? Everybody involved in this full time effort would drop everything they were doing in order to meet the goal of ending starvation. Critical breakthroughs in science and technology would cease to exist because wed all be pitching in towards the goal. If there was an instance of choosing to do donate to the relief of starvation, which would probably yield excellent results, and choosing to do something that you wanted, which might yield good results, Singer would object and state that choosing to donate to the relief of starvation is our moral duty. Of course, there is no definitive way of knowing whether donating to the relief of doing something that we really wanted would be more or less beneficial than the other. Instead of donating, I might want to research and experiment more into a cure for HIV, while someone else may want to learn a second language or learn advanced physics. The point is that we dont know what everyones exact interests are, and therefore, we cant say whether it would be beneficial to donate over doing something we wanted to do. I would end my response to Peter Singer with an open-ended, yet thought provoking question: With regards to your moral duties, how much are you giving to charity and what have you done to prevent bad things from occurring, Mr. Singer? In conclusion, Singer is correct in his article. Humans should do more than we do to help those in need, regardless of their proximity or distance. However, I think Singer is overly exaggerated in his views and humans should not do as much as he expects us to do. It simply doesnt work.

Environment Primary Factor That Influences Plant Growth Development Biology Essay

Environment Primary Factor That Influences Plant Growth Development Biology Essay Although there is no doubt that the world population grows up in more gradual way every year, demanding more food than any other time before, Environment is the primary factor that influences the plant growth and development and has also the greatest effect on the crop distribution on the earth. In this ten page report, the most important environmental factors that affect the crop growth and development namely light, water, temperature and carbon dioxide are covered, emphasizing their influences on crop productivity. Moreover light as the most environmental factor importance on crop production and productivity, all light quality, quantity and duration effect directly on crop yields, also in most cases plant reactions and processes are greatly influences by the temperature, plants key process affected by temperature is photosynthesis followed by germination, transpiration, respiration and flowering. However, crop temperature requirements in a specific physical, chemical or biochemical process varies from one spice to another resulting difference among crops in their geographical distribution. On the other hand, water and humidity play an important role for the crop productivity since most plants need 90% water content to grow effective and efficiency way until some crops like rice demand flooding the area to grow properly. In addition to the plant water needs, plants are number one consumers of carbon dioxide on the earth so as to synthesize food and energy. Each of these factors were discussed in this report emphasizing and giving more detailed look on their effect on crop productivity. Light Why solar energy is important to a successful plant growth, development and improvements to its yields? On the planet life is mostly solar-powered, sun is the only natural source of light energy, all the living organisms depend on the amount of light energy (solar radiation produced by the sun) harvested by green plants at any level of ecosystem, only few types of bacteria can derive the energy they require from sulfur and other inorganic chemical compounds or substances. Photosynthesis which is the process that the plants manufacture their food molecules from carbon dioxide and water by using the sun light, therefore the rate of duration of photosynthetic activities directly effects the amount of dry matter produced by the plant, and energy harvested as crop yields to transfer energy from primary producers to the other components of the ecosystem which are the consumers, so the ultimate source of food in the globe is the green plant, because plants have the ability to harvest and ut ilize the sun light manufacturing a usable food after three main consecutive processes during plants photosynthetic activities. Photosynthesis The management of that resources available to the production, that the crop requires to grow and develop and show its potential genetic characteristics as much as possible is a major factor that contribute the dramatic rise of the crop production, only organisms/plants that contain a certain pigment called chlorophyll which is the most abundant enzyme/protein on the earth are capable to utilize solar energy directly. It is therefore; light is an important factor to produce energy by the plants and the energy produced will be supplied to the different levels of the ecosystem. The light influence on the plant development and productivity can be discussed into three main categories. Quality of light The intensity of light and its concentration are what decide the quality of light; light densities differ from one season to another, countries that have three or four seasons, the largest amount of light is found in the summer season, where the least amounts are available in the winter, as the case is in many European countries, but areas like Malaysia the amount of light available throughout the year is almost the same, so the light intensity varieties depend on the geographical area, for example in Sub-Saharan Africa where the climate is desert, clouds and other sun light barriers are not found in the atmosphere, the sunlight density is very high. Not straying from the main point, the more light radiation that a plant harvests, the greater and the ore ability to manufacture food through photosynthetic processes even though this relationship will depend on the pathway group that a certain plan flows. From this interactions, the scientists specially those botanists, ecologists and physiologists realized the direct relationship the amount of light available to the plant and the crop productivity, that is why the greenhouse managers to fix artificial light sources to supply light their fields to create longer photoperiod in the greenhouse targeting more improvements to the final output, even though this strategy will negatively affect the cost of every unit produced under this system. However, they can easily manipulate the amount of light of the planned growth patterns to their plants. Quality of light Are there different light qualities? Light colors, which can be divided into bands of red, yellow, blue, orange, violet and indigo. The red and blue color lights that the plant can absorb have the biggest influence on crop growth, the blue light is primarily responsible to the leaf vegetative growth and the combination of red and blue lights encourage the flowering process. The solar rays produced by the sun, or what is normally known as wavelength of the light constitute the light quality, wavelengths that the sun sends to the earth ranges 250 7000 nanometers, these solar rays reaching the earth are divided into eight parts, only the visible radiation is called light, and the other which are Cosmic rays, Gamma rays, X-rays, Ultraviolet, Infrared, Microwaves and Radio waves are invisible. The visible solar rays or light is the small proportion of the range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation occurring somewhere between 400 and 735 nanometers. In other words the visible light is between Ultraviolet which are shorter waves than 390 nanometers and Infrared which are longer waves than 700 nanometers. Only 47% of the light produces by the sun is gained by the earth (P. Bannister 1978), where the other 53% part of it is absorbed by the atmosphere while other part is reflected by some barriers and finally gained by the space. Only 2% of that 47% o f the light that reaches the ground is used in the photosynthetic processes and about 10% is used different processes that occur in the plant. Duration of light Photoperiod or the duration of light is referred to how long of time the plant exposes to light, the flowering of many plant species is controlled by the photo duration, as a result that, the plant physiology experts tend to name and classify plants into short-day and long-day plants relating to under which condition do these crops flower. In contrast, the duration of uninterrupted darkness which presents a critical situation to the crop development and flowering process is the factor that show the importance of light duration not only the plants but also on farm animals specially poultry production therefore shorter darkness periods are encouraged. The amount of carbon dioxide fixed and assimilated by a specific plant is determined by the light density, because several situations can be seen when the plant is grown the area where the light intensity is not constant this is much explained in the plants light response curve, which shows light compensation point, plant light response area and plants light saturated period where any further increases of the light available to the plant will not result an increase in the amount of the carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere, meaning photosynthetic activities will peak t that point and all the enzymes involved to this process are active. From this concept, the ecologists realized some remarkable differences among the two main pant pathway groups C3 plants, C4plants. Because the carbon dioxide concentration is not the same in these pathways as soon as there are variations in amounts of light available (lower, neutral and higher) the different light amounts are available to the cro p, the growth, development and productivity are highly effected by the light factor. In addition to that, C4 plants showed higher net rate of photosynthesis as a result of light intensity increases than C3 plants. Even though at a very low light intensities C3 plants are more affective and efficiency than C4 plants because of their low compensation points, crops like corn and sorghum full sunlight for photosynthesis while tobacco can tolerate only partial sunlight. Water Water is the most component in the living cell, plants contain nearly 90% of water content , this high percentage enables us to understand the remarkable role of water on the crop growth and development, large quantities of agricultural output all over the world is heavily depend on different types of irrigation, over 1500 million hectares of agricultural land are irrigated every year, the continuously rise of the global temperature is seem to be the highest impact on the irrigated agriculture when considering water (hydrological) cycle. Water in a primary component in plant photosynthesis, the plant respiration, responsible to balance the pressure (turgor) in the plant cell, turgor is required to form the cell shape, tissue firmness and fullness, and ensure cell development. Also water is the place and the solvent where carbohydrates and minerals are transported from the soil and/or leaves to the other parts of the plant. Water treats as a cooling system to regulate the plant temperature specially on the leaf surface through a process called transpiration, water controls the stomata opening and closure, water provides a kind of power to encourage roots to penetrate the soil more in depth and this will enlarge the space that the crop can absorb the nutrients needed for growth and development. One more crucial role is that the water is the medium where biological reactions take place, also water is a component in the organic reactions, and it is used in the cell growth. Amount of water available in the plant compared the atmosphere water content (atmosphere humidity) is the limiting factor of crop photosynthesis, the ratio of the amount of water vapor available in the air to the volume of water that the air can keep at specific temperature and pressure is called relative humidity. Water vapor is the whenever a water molecule leaves from the surface of the ground, it is said to have  evaporated. Each individual water molecule which transitions between a more associated (liquid) and a less associated (vapor/gas) state does so through the absorption or release of kinetic energy. On the other hand, In the hot climate, wind and dry air conditions while there is a moisture stress or what scientifically called water deficit caused by the low water content, in this situation the stomata aperture is dramatically reduced and the photosynthetic reactions are weakened because the activeness and the effectiveness of the enzymes have a direct proportional relationship to the amount of water found from the s urrounding environment and inside the plant tissue and indirectly proportional to the temperature specially the extreme one. Temperature As said in the beginning temperature is important factor to the plant growth, development and yield, since it affects approximately most of the plant processes including germination, photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and flowering. As the degree of temperature increases this will result an increase to the plant respiration and photosynthesis. Generally in temperate species, the increase in temperature about 10oC (18oF) will cause to the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation approximately to double. Furthermore usually plants in the tropical areas require higher temperature degrees to perform successful photosynthetic processes to the possible maximum level that the plants in the temperate areas can generate. Usually, plants differ their temperature requirements for example radish, spinach and lettuce which are cold weather (season) crops germinate at 55oF 65oF best, where crops like petunia, lobelia and tomato which are hot climate crops germinate at about 65oF 75oF best. According to the level of the temperature, plant processes can speed up or slow down the period that each activity completes. For instance, the 18 months that the oil palm plants need to live in the nursery can be reduced to about 10 months when provided higher temperatures from artificial sources. Flowering however, experts in horticulture sometimes relate the length of the day to the temperature to manipulate flowering. For example the combination of short days with low temperature degrees helps cold-season plants to the set the flowers as the case in Christmas cactus, when the temperature levels are in their highest points and the days are in their longest hours the summer (cold-season) crops will bolt as in the case in spinach. In contrast, when the temperature is extremely cold, plants like tomato which is warm climate crops will set their fruits in unsuccessful manner. Temperature influence on biochemical plant processes Biochemical reactions of the plant are directly affected by the temperature through one or two principle functions, an exponentially dynamic increase to the rates of proceeding activities. And sometimes as the climate gets hotter more exponential delay will be experienced resulted by enzymes lost their naturalness. The most important and involved factor is the weather, it is not impossible to rise the quality of enzyme stability so as to avoid losses in their naturalness. The everyday changes on the temperature is called thermo-period the best crop growth occurs when the difference between the day and night temperatures is about 10 to 15o C. under this situation plant build up their food and break down the energy, higher temperatures than that required by the crops cause some crops to photo-respire and the amount of food manufactured by the photosynthesis will equalize the energy used to at that time and carbon dioxide CO2 assimilated will be zero meaning that the crop is in the state of light compensation point. Therefore food molecules synthesized from the photosynthetic activities must overweight the energy that the plant consumes otherwise the plant will grow poorly resulting drops in the ultimate yields. Higher temperatures and their long-term influences on the crop The chronic effects meet the crop growth and development when the temperature is getting higher every day the crop stress will become more serious because of the extreme hot weather. However C4 plants showed a higher net rate of photosynthesis than C3 plants when temperature levels at the surface of leaves were increased. In 1993 Kropff and his colloquies, found that 9% decrease of rice productivity were recorded for every 1o C increase of the temperature, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) coordinating with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), their second evaluation report in December 1995 forecasted that the temperature of the planet will rise about 2 5oC during 21st century and the sea level will grow up about 30 t0 100 cm more, and this higher sea levels can submerge many agricultural areas in the world, these weather conditions will negatively affect the food production in the globe. Carbon dioxide When crops are manufacturing their food through photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is the most component factor importance in that process, plants obtain CO2 from the air through the pore spaces on the surface of the leaf when open, CO2 flow in the plant tissue depends on the carbon dioxide concentration inside the plant and the plants surrounding atmosphere, the carbon dioxide molecules (substances) move inside the plant when the concentration inside is less density than its concentration outside and this is a physical process called diffusion. The carbon dioxide flow in the plant is controlled by the stomata then the pore spaces on the leaf surface are open, and the aperture of the stomata its turn depends on the amount of water available in the guard cells. Overview of carbon dioxide influence on plant growth and development Plants are divided into two main categories according to their response and their first stable product after the fixation of carbon dioxide. The first category is those species whose first stable products after the fixation of carbon dioxide is three carbon molecules and the plants under this group are called C3 plants or C3 pathway. The second group is the species that their first stable products after the fixation of carbon dioxide are four carbon molecules and plants in this group are called C4 plants or C4 pathway, also there are CAM plants, these plants have different character, because the plant here operate fixing carbon dioxide in dark, plants depend on the amount of carbon dioxide accumulated in the leaf in the night. The photosynthetic rates of the plant directly relate to the growing amounts of carbon dioxide until it reaches approximately 700 ÃŽ ¼ mol/mol or higher according to the plant type and other factors. Furthermore photosynthesis always develops with the rise of temperature to optimum levels and after specific maximum level the photosynthesis in C3 plants show decline, as a result of photorespiration process which takes place in the plant. As some scenarios of the world climate change mentions, a global worming is forecasted and that will increase the amount of carbon dioxide available in the atmosphere as well as other gases in the green house. Mean while the amount of rain in many places of the world may also experience changes, generally scientists believe that certain plant species will indicate yield increase especially in C3 plants (C3 pathway includes many important crops like wheat, rice, oats, soybean, pea, peanuts, sunflower and tomato) because of the CO2 increase. However, benefits of increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are limited, because stomata close and photosynthesis stops at CO2 concentrations higher than 0.15%. On the other hand, C4 plants which include coin, sorghum, sugarcane and millet and many other crops are more efficient in higher bright-nesses and higher temperatures than C3 plants even though the reverse is true when light intensity is very low. Soybean responses different amounts of CO2 As IPCC and FAO reported in their second assessment in December 1995, the amount of production harvested from soybean fields was generally increasing by the elevated CO2 levels Allen et al. (1987). The following table shows the percentage increases of soybean yield predicted across selected carbon dioxide concentration ranges associated with relevant benchmark points in time, adapted from Allen et al. (1987). Period of time (years) [CO2] midday Biomass photosynthesis Seed yield Initial Final (Nmd/mol) (% increase over initial [CO2]) IA 17001 200 270 38 33 1700 1973 270 330 19 16 1973 20732 330 660 50 41 1 IA, the ice age is about 13 000 to 30 000 years before present. The atmospheric CO2 concentration that prevailed during the last Ice Age, and from the end of the glacial melt until pre-pioneer/pre-industrial revolution times, were 200 and 270 ÃŽ ¼ mol/mol respectively. 2 The first world energy crises occurred in 1973 when the CO2 concentration was 330 ÃŽ ¼ mol/mol. This CO2 concentration is used as the basis for many CO2 doubling studies. The CO2 concentration is expected to double sometime within the 21st century. Conclusion Crop production and productivity entails the management of production resources, since the world population increases demanding more food and fiber the need of utilizing the sunlight energy, water, temperature and carbon dioxide is important since plants are the ultimate source of energy for all lives on the earth. We humans and other animals cannot utilize the solar energy, only organisms that contain chlorophyll are able, but we are capable to give more attention to the factors that affect photosynthesis. The management, conservation and protection of water, land and atmosphere are the most challenging issues to realize higher and stable crop yields. In the future, the main that the researchers discuss will be to identify and select plant species that have the ability to perform more photosynthesis and carbon dioxide assimilation for higher dry matter production. Also when more is understood from influences of the present climate changes on plant production and productivity, much money, time and effort should be invested to introduce cultivars that can adapt the environment biologically and systems to contribute the management of crop production to create more stable, sustainable and productive agricultural models.

The Power of Language in Shakespeares King Lear Essay -- King Lear es

The Power of Language in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚   It is often difficult to gain entry into a work of such complete and dazzling genius as King Lear--reading Shakespeare can sometimes feel like trying to get a good long look at the sun on a cloudless day. And yet there are moments when one comes across passages that, by the sheer force of their lyrical, poetic beauty, leap off the page and resonate so strongly within one's mind that they become a kind of distillation of the entire play. One can read this play again and again, and still be struck anew by Shakespeare's utter mastery over language; surely there is no other writer who had so full a sense of, and who used to such merciless ends, the power of words. In a genre that denies the novelist's luxury of narrative explication, language in its barest, purest form, becomes Shakespeare's precision instrument, and he wields it with a perpetually astonishing combination of force, subtlety and exactitude.    The introductory quoted lines, when brought out of their immediate textual surroundings, form for this reader the kind of distilled illumination suggested in the preceding paragraph. These are the words of the sightless and stumbling Gloucester, as he begs a passing stranger, (who, unbeknownst to him is the son he so belatedly recognizes as faithful), to help him to his own death; by the end of the play, this passage becomes a central paradigm.    Despite the afore-mentioned obstacle (an obstacle the surmounting of which yields so much pleasure and insight) to readerly intercourse with Shakespeare, one can often recognize and trace logical devices he employed in order the more effectively and precisely to communicate his message. The parallel plot of Gloucester and hi... .... Jane Adelman. Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1978. Bradley, A.C. "King Lear." 20Lh Century Interpretations of King Lear. Ed. Jane Adelman. New Jersev; Prentice-Hall, 1978. Colie, Rosalie. "The Energies of Endurance: Biblical Echoes in King Lear. Some Faces of King Lear. Ed. R. Colie & F.T. Flahiff. UniversitV of Toronto Press, 19q4. Hunter, Robert G. Shakespeare and the Mystery of God's Judgments. University of Georgia Press, 19W6. Jayne, Sears. "Charity in King Lear." Shakespeare Quarterly. Spring, 1964. pps. 27-7-288. Knights, L.C. "On the Fool". 20th Century Interpretations of King Lear. Ed. Jane Adelman. New Jersey; Prentice-Hall, 1978. Matthews, Richard. "Edmund's Redemption in King Lear". Shakespeare Quarterly. Winter, 19q5. pps. 25-29. Snyder, Susan. "King Lear and the Prodigal Son." Shakespeare Quarterly. Autumn 1966. pps. 361-369.    The Power of Language in Shakespeare's King Lear Essay -- King Lear es The Power of Language in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚   It is often difficult to gain entry into a work of such complete and dazzling genius as King Lear--reading Shakespeare can sometimes feel like trying to get a good long look at the sun on a cloudless day. And yet there are moments when one comes across passages that, by the sheer force of their lyrical, poetic beauty, leap off the page and resonate so strongly within one's mind that they become a kind of distillation of the entire play. One can read this play again and again, and still be struck anew by Shakespeare's utter mastery over language; surely there is no other writer who had so full a sense of, and who used to such merciless ends, the power of words. In a genre that denies the novelist's luxury of narrative explication, language in its barest, purest form, becomes Shakespeare's precision instrument, and he wields it with a perpetually astonishing combination of force, subtlety and exactitude.    The introductory quoted lines, when brought out of their immediate textual surroundings, form for this reader the kind of distilled illumination suggested in the preceding paragraph. These are the words of the sightless and stumbling Gloucester, as he begs a passing stranger, (who, unbeknownst to him is the son he so belatedly recognizes as faithful), to help him to his own death; by the end of the play, this passage becomes a central paradigm.    Despite the afore-mentioned obstacle (an obstacle the surmounting of which yields so much pleasure and insight) to readerly intercourse with Shakespeare, one can often recognize and trace logical devices he employed in order the more effectively and precisely to communicate his message. The parallel plot of Gloucester and hi... .... Jane Adelman. Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1978. Bradley, A.C. "King Lear." 20Lh Century Interpretations of King Lear. Ed. Jane Adelman. New Jersev; Prentice-Hall, 1978. Colie, Rosalie. "The Energies of Endurance: Biblical Echoes in King Lear. Some Faces of King Lear. Ed. R. Colie & F.T. Flahiff. UniversitV of Toronto Press, 19q4. Hunter, Robert G. Shakespeare and the Mystery of God's Judgments. University of Georgia Press, 19W6. Jayne, Sears. "Charity in King Lear." Shakespeare Quarterly. Spring, 1964. pps. 27-7-288. Knights, L.C. "On the Fool". 20th Century Interpretations of King Lear. Ed. Jane Adelman. New Jersey; Prentice-Hall, 1978. Matthews, Richard. "Edmund's Redemption in King Lear". Shakespeare Quarterly. Winter, 19q5. pps. 25-29. Snyder, Susan. "King Lear and the Prodigal Son." Shakespeare Quarterly. Autumn 1966. pps. 361-369.