Cognitive Aids for People With Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Over the years, assistive technologies such as personal digital assistant (PDAs) have been used for management of multiple sclerosis. It is evidenced that cognitive impairment can have adverse effects on a patient’s life affecting his daily personal activities as well as family and social life. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of occupational therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis as they assist in managing the symptoms but have failed to provide efficacies of the evidence based methods.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Cognitive Aids for People With Multiple Sclerosis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Critical evaluation of Evidence based assistive technologies The numbers of studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention of patients with symptoms of multiple sclerosis have not been without criticism. First, extensive literature that covers rehabilitation techniques for cognitive impairment are mostly concentrated on brain injury therapy which is mostly theoretical and fails to demonstrate practical functional improvement of the patient in the real world. Secondly, the emergence of computers in the 1970s introduced gamelike remedial programs that were evidenced to improve memory attention and concentration. Research conducted in this field however did not show results of improved cognitive impairment following use of computer programs as many of the patients recorded high results in game scores which did not reflect in their every day learning activities. This therefore brings us to the conclusion that computer use as compensatory rehabilitation tool may not be affectively applied in remedial therapy (Gentry, 2008, p.18). Desktop task prompting systems such as on screen keyboards specifically developed for people with cognitive impairment are only based on theoretical analysis as they provides no evidence to s upport on their efficacy in improving patient’s functional performance. Another study conducted to asses the Psion Organizer, as a memory aid in patients with brain injury did show limitations of the evidence based practices despite remarkable improvement in functionality of the patient after practice. The problem, however, is that, memory aid used in cognitive impairment recorded high levels of response to Psion Organizer as a reminder system but failed to describe how participants were trained and track functional outcomes (Gentry, 2008, p.19).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Electric reminder systems that include cognitive aids tools such as electric pager, voice recorder and cell phone have widely been reported in numerous case studies to help people with cognitive disability carry out their daily activities by helping them stick to one schedule. Although userbility of reminder system have showed improvement after administration, the assistive technology only displayed minimum functions that were used in the study hence unreliability of the results. It has also been argued that cognitive aids rely on theoretical research which is drawn from client-based practices, innovation theories and cognitive rehabilitation theories. Since theoretical based studies such as client-centered practice involve the collaboration of a patient and a clinician in solving everyday functional problems, use of assessment tools such as Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) need adequate and thorough training which was not administered in the beginning of the case study (Gentry, 2008, p.19). Importance of assistive technology Different practices relate to different functional needs, and as Takai (1986) affirms, most of the assistive tools are widely found, durable, pocket size, light-weighted and offer multiple organizational functions that are ve ry beneficial. For example, assistive technologies used in cognitive impairment that include hand held computers, dressing sticks, adopted clothing and button aides are simplified, easy to adopt and affordable as they enhance functional independency. Feeding devices for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that include electronic feeders and fore-arm orthoses have enabled patients improve articulation. Reports from Takai (1986), case study indicated that after practice, many patients with muscle weaknesses were able to draw diagrams, feed themselves and even limited the number of visits to occupational therapy as they had mastered the adoptive techniques. Other assistive devices such as grab bars, bathseats, walkers among others have been widely credited for increasing independency of multiple sclerosis patients and even improve work life( Finlayson, 2000, p.549). Grasp kinematics that incorporates motor coordination help patients grasp objects and improve muscle movement of patients with amyotrophic lateral scelerosis (Maitra et al, 2010, p.101). The benefit of using hand held computers as an assistive technology is that they are easy to carry around which can be used both at home and in the community. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Cognitive Aids for People With Multiple Sclerosis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The personal electronic devices that included calendars, alarm and memo pads enabled patients to adhere to daily schedules as opposed to paper-based schedules hence. All the participants in the case study demonstrated the ability to operate a PDA functions independently after training as majority of them of them were able to set calendar alarms and perform basic PDA which improved their lives significantly (Gentry, 2008). Relevance to occupational therapy Assistive technology relates to occupational therapy since they represent significant of daily living. In assessing activities of daily lives performance for patients, lower and upper extremity dressing has been showing disparities with patients recording different observable benefits. Occupational therapies for this case should consider all the aspect and incorporate them into patient training activities. Some of the adoptive cognitive aids of dressing that facilitate occupational engagement of wearing slippers instead of shoes as patients experience difficulties in combining socks and shoes together result to decreased mobility since patients may shy away from leaving the house. Occupational therapists should instead fabricate assistive tools that can make dressing easier. Activities that can be incorporated in the program to help these patients quickly adapt to functional independency will require introduction of sitting while dressing and other simple tools that can be used as single items. Therapists for this case should also research into new adoptive methods and incorporate the m into patients (Mann et al, 2005, p.406). Assistive technology also relates to occupational therapy since it sufficiently trains individual with cognitive impairment to use therapeutic devices to improve their functional performances and satisfaction of their every day tasks. Occupational therapists engages in facilitating occupational engagement of the patient by encouraging their active participation which helps build self-esteem and deal with the illness amicably (Takai, 1986, p.360). Conclusion The research showed improvement in patient’s functional improvement more specifically in compensatory assistive technology as opposed to remedial therapy. Although this research showed lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of occupational therapy, majority of the patients successively achieved the needs of the assistive devices by partnering with therapists. This therefore brings us to the conclusion that computer use as compensatory rehabilitation tool may not be affectiv ely applied in remedial therapy. Occupational therapies on the other hand should consider all aspect cognitive functionality and incorporate them into patient training activities to help these patients quickly adapt to functional independency. Desktop task prompting systems such as on screen keyboards developed for people with cognitive impairment should provide evidence to support on their efficacy in improving patient’s functional performance.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Finlayson, M., Guglielmello, L., Leifer, K. (2000). Describing and predicting the possession of assistive devices among persons with multiple sclerosis. The American journal of Occupational Therapy, 55(5), 545-551 Gentry, T. (2008). PDAs as cognitive aids for people with multiple sclerosis. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 18-27 Maitra, K. K., Philips,K., Rice, M. S. (2010). Grasping naturally verses grasping with a reacher in people without disability: Motor control and muscle activation difference. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64(1), 95-104 Mann, W. C., Kimble, C., Justiss, M. D., CAsson, E. Tomita, M., Wu, S.S (2005). Problems with dressing in the frail elderly. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59, 398-408. Takai, V. L. (1986). Case Report: The development of a feeding harness for an ALS Patient. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 40 (5), 359-361. This research paper on Cognitive Aids for People With Multiple Sclerosis was written and submitted by user Patrick Merritt to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Investing in the UAE

Investing in the UAE Introduction The United Arab Emirates has caused a stir in the Middle Eastern region due to increased attention from foreign investors based on its investment potential. It is critical to look at the reasons behind this tendency through theoretical lenses as well as specific case studies.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Investing in the UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Economic environment for FDI in UAE Growth and direction of FDI in the UAE Several recent reports show that FDI in the UAE is a force worth reckoning. One such report was the Kearney FDI confidence interval that was released this year i.e. 2010. It placed the UAE as the eleventh best country to invest in the world. In the North African and Middle Eastern region, this country was ranked as the most preferred destination. Additionally, it was asserted that approximately 21 billion US dollars worth of Foreign Direct Investment entered this Gulf regio n (Razin Sadka, 2007). This country is a stable hub for investment although it has a few flaws here that can be corrected given the right time. Theoretical implications and government policy towards FDI in UAE The government of the UAE is firmly committed to the development of infrastructure because it is aware that the backbone to investment. Consequently, continual infrastructure growth has promoted a higher number of FDI. Furthermore, because the UAE is seen as a hub in the Middle Eastern and North African region, many investors can start with the UAE so as to gain access to other regional markets through this country. Furthermore, the geographical location of the country is what has attracted most investors there. It is considered as a gateway not just to the region but to other international markets (Dubai Chamber, 2009). Consequently, a business person from a developing nation will first start with Dubai in order to gain entry to other traditional world markets such as New Yo rk or London. In order to do well in any foreign market, one must be assured of finding the right business partners through the efforts of local entrepreneurs. It is therefore imperative for countries seeking foreign investment to develop the skills and capabilities of their local workers because these individuals will cooperate with foreign businessmen to make their ventures work (Dunning, 2002). Many analysts and businesspersons assert that there are capable and well qualified individuals in the UAE who can make solid business partners with these respective investors.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Government policy is such that it aims at encouraging as much foreign investment as possible. However, in order to avoid cases of exploitation, this country has created a policy where local agents must be involved (Abu Dhabi Chamber of commerce and industry, 2010). T his means that any foreign investor must be willing to comply with their ownership laws. All business activities initiated by foreigners must be such that not less than fifty one percent of ownership is ascribed to a UAE national. Only those expatriates who come from partner zones are allowed full ownership of businesses in the UAE. Furthermore, foreign companies that choose to open companies there must do so with the assistance of a local representative who will then act as a service agent. Even those individuals who are interested in selling their services and goods to the UAE must do so through a commercial agent who is located in the UAE who works hand in hand with the foreigner. Many economic specialists have argued that this is a major challenge because certain areas of the economy would benefit tremendously if this law of UAE part ownership was abolished such that one hundred percent foreign ownership was plausible. Whey developing and developed countries have increased to th e UAE A high number of developing and developed nations are looking towards the UAE because of a number of reasons. Some of them enter because they are interested in pursing new and promising foreign markets (Alasaad, 2010). The global economic downturn has not done much to improve conditions for businessmen in traditional world markets, consequently, investors have been looking for a place that was not as directly affected by this downturn as the traditional markets in western nations and the UAE has been one such area. Additionally, in order for people to start any investment then there should be ample business opportunities in target markets. The UAE is rich in these business opportunities and has therefore witnessed the rise in the number of foreign investors visiting such a destination. Many people from developing nations with low level skills will approach the UAE in order to provide their labour. Even professionals from developed nations will do the same because they are awar e of the opportunities present there.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Investing in the UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lastly this nation has attracted so much FDI because of the provision of investment of information by the concerned ministries as well as the prevalence of capable administrators in these areas. Furthermore, it has been marketed as investor friendly. FDI participants are often entitled to tax based incentives that make it quite favourable. In case of business start ups and disputes, matters are often resolved through a stable legal system. So generally speaking, Dubai and the UAE has a good business climate. Its growth prospects as well as the political and economic conditions make the country ideal for investment by interested parties. Foreign company that has invested in the UAE The company has several branches worldwide but was established in the UAE during the year 1975. It is a constructi on company that has become successful owing to increased building expertise and proper management of very complex projects within this nation. It has a sound relationship with architects, contractors and sub contractors thus being in a position to deliver high quality buildings to their respective clientele (Turner Construction Company, 2010). Problems and benefits faced by it The UAE has benefitted from rapid growth owing to the rapid growth of their construction sector. Prior to 2008, this sector was experiencing a rapid boom. However, after the economic downturn, countries around the world began witnessing declines. Since the UAE was highly dependent on foreigners for investment in construction, these potential clients could no longer afford making huge investments and construction projections went down. Turner Construction Company was a victim of this external factor because the construction boom it was enjoying no longer held true. At this time, new projects from the government are scanty and the firm has had to look to other areas for business.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the country is still the biggest construction market in the Middle Eastern and North African region with seven hundred and fourteen billion US dollars worth of construction projects still in their planning phase. It is such figures that make the Turner Construction Company optimistic about prospects for the future (Turner Construction Company, 2010). Turner Construction Company is still highly profitable because it has redefined its business model. In the past, the latter firm was relying on government sponsored projects. However, this has now changed dramatically. Now the company has forged new alliances with members of competitive environments. However, it is still keeping its focus on some infrastructural projects that have been sponsored by the government in order to stimulate the economy. In this regard, the latter organisation has been responsible for the growth of certain public facilities including some in the health sector and others in the education sector. Usuall y, this company may engage in a number of projects that differ in their design and their purposes. Sometimes, constructions may be done in order to create development properties designed to support certain economic centres such as airports. Conversely, the company may engage in construction of buildings for entertainment purposes. These include hotels, casinos and the like. Most of the clients in the latter category normally focus on the coastline and tourist attractions. Although, these have not been the main area of focus, they have still played a small part in maintaining profitability for the latter organisation. The company has also been challenged by the fact that most government attention is now being directed to road, rail, power and the like. This means that the amount of money allocated to projects that are the speciality of Turner Construction have been reduced and this may lead to subsequent changes in the manner in which businesses are being managed. No serious construc tion company can lay claim to the management or design of properties without involvement of sustainability concepts. The company has been involved in green building construction. It has also played a part in the creation of infrastructure in plants designed to offer green energy to the population. Turner Construction Company has had some strong points in 2009 and 2010 as well. First, this organisation has benefited from lower material costs. Between the period of 2009 and 2010, construction based materials have been dropping dramatically in the UAE more than any other country in the Middle Eastern region. Furthermore, the economic downturn has contributed towards lower labour costs in this country. This may be a problem for individuals who came to look for work in the UAE but it has benefited construction companies such as the one under analysis (Bende Nabende, 2002). In fact, the latter company has been able to save a lot on its operating costs because these expenditures normally t ake up a huge portion of costs. Currently, this company is benefiting from the ambitious plans that the UAE’s government has cut out for its respective individuals. Here, areas such as Abu Dhabi have dispensed a plan known as Plan 2030. The intension is for the creation of a new capital city, sporting and cultural centre development as well as development of about 200 islands linked to Abu Dhabi. These targets represent huge opportunities for the company under analysis because Abu Dhabi administrators are now inviting tenders for some of these projects from the private sector (Abhu Dhabi government, 2010). In this respect, it is likely that the organization will grow well into the future. On top of this, the government frequently makes announcements on commitments to infrastructure so it will then be possible to achieve that through the help of construction companies. Even though private developers may be tumultuous and hesitant towards the development of new projects, it is likely that the government plans will be adequate to sustain the construction companies like Turner. Another benefit enjoyed by the latter company is the fact that it has a strong local presence. Since it has been in operation from 1975, the firm uses this strong presence and relationship in order to market their services and get some business (Moran, 2006). Normally, most construction projects in Dubai and other parts of the UAE will invite bids. Assignment or selection of the right candidates to carry out the project will depend on a number of factors. However, the most crucial one is prevalence of a strong reputation in construction. This is even more of an advantage if the respective firm happens to have carried out those projects in the UAE. Turner enjoys such qualities and rarely has problems securing contracts. In terms of the kinds of services offered, this company has been having it easy because it has diversified into a range of provisions. It sometimes does construction c onsultancy. In certain situations, it may participate in contracting for its clients while in other scenarios it may actually be in charge of actual constructions. As stated earlier, the sound relationship or network created between several architects and contractors in the UAE market has made provision of these services quite smooth. In the end, the company has enjoyed and keeps enjoying a strong position in the sector. Normally, building materials are imported into the country. Therefore, construction companies must be in a position to access these markets in places like China. This may sometimes prove to be a challenge to the said company because imports are subjected to a range of tariffs and barriers (Dubai Chamber, 2009). In fact the need to have relationships and partners is what has made Turner what it is today. On the downside, government policy in the UAE has contributed towards some losses in this organisation because local construction companies are normally given a ten percent cut off on price over their foreign owned experts when importing products into the country. This acts as a serious disincentive for companies like Turner Construction Company. Conclusion The UAE is an ideal investment location because of its strong infrastructural base as well as the strong political and economic back up. On the other hand, there are certain barriers that companies witness and this has especially been revealed through the case study. This firm is hampered by the advantages offered to locals on imported construction materials as well as the vulnerability to international economic markets. References Alasaad, N. (2010). Investors looking to Dubai as the preferred FDI destination in MENA. Retrieved from zawya.com/pdfstory.cfm?storyid=ZAWYA20100629084415l=084400100629 Abu Dhabi Chamber of commerce and industry (2010). For new investors. Retrieved from abudhabichamber.ae/user/NodeId=915Page=1Edit=1#ARTICLE%20313%C2%A0 Abhu Dhabi government (2010). Opening a branc h of a foreign company in Abu Dhabi. Retrieved from http://business.abudhabi.ae/egovPoolPortal_WAR/appmanager/ADeGP/Business?_nfpb=true_pageLabel=P5800295121229247844294did=134980lang=en Turner Construction Company. (2010). Turner UAE. Retrieved from turnerconstruction.com/international/content.asp?d=3975p=3969 Dubai Chamber (2009). Foreign Direct Investment in Dubai. Chamber Economist, May 2009, 1-3 Moran, T. (2006). Harnessing foreign direct investment for development. Center for global development Razin, A. Sadka, E. (2007). Foreign direct investment: analysis of aggregate flows. Princeton: Princeton university press Bende Nabende, A. (2002). Globalisation, FDI, regional integration and sustainable development: theory, evidence and policy. NY: Routledge Dunning, J. (2002). Global capitalism, FDI and competitiveness. Oxford: OUP

Doves Campaign for Real Beauty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Doves Campaign for Real Beauty - Essay Example In doing so, women are unaware that what this conformity to such a cruel standard is crushing their ego, shifting their focus on more important matters such as relationships, spiritual well-being and others to the more trivial things such as physical appearance. Dove is aware of the negative effects of today's concept of beauty to women of all ages. As a company with such an esteemed reputation as a global brand and a conscientious seller of beauty products, Dove wanted to look into these issues that women are dealing with. Together with a team of experts in their respective fields, Dove developed "The Real Truth About Beauty: A Global Report". This aimed to look deeper into the connection between women and their idea of being beautiful. Furthermore, this study intended to find out how women feel about themselves. This includes how women define their own concept of beauty, their degree of contentment in relation to their appearance and the impact of their views on their sense of happiness. (Campaign for Real Beauty). In every era, the concept of beauty changes; likewise, for every culture, there are also different standards to define beauty. Women, depending on their age, racial background have their own concepts and standards of attractiveness. Fashion spreads and television ads more often than not feature reed-thin models with flawless skin and picture-perfect features. This concept of beauty has led to most of the young women, most even in their teens to worry that they are not tall, blonde, pretty, or thin enough to measure up to this hyped up idea of loveliness. A majority of women nowadays feel that they don't hit the mark as far as physical beauty is concerned. Many young women and girls have developed issues with their body, certain facial features, skin tone, and this has paved the way for them to seek acceptance through other avenues. As a consequence, many have been lost to eating disorders, abusive relationships, substance abuse and other physical and psychological disorders. This is too hefty a price to pay for a girl who just wants nothing more than the world to accept her just the way she is. Review of Literature Dove believes that "every girl deserves to feel beautiful just the way she is". With Dove's supremacy in the business of beauty, it is a big deal that Dove has come with the "Campaign for Real Beauty" advertising campaign series. This is a revolutionary take on traditional advertising efforts as it borders towards social responsibility. Speaking of social responsibility, Dove is aware of the consequences of the impact that a company's advertising campaign may have on the people that it will reach. Dove is also conscious that with the way the world of advertising portrays beauty nowadays, peoples' views of beauty have become misrepresented to such a great extent. The launch of "Campaign for Real Beauty" is Dove's way of serving the public by attempting to correct

RAIL TRACK DESIGN FOR LINE SPEED IMPROVEMENT Essay

RAIL TRACK DESIGN FOR LINE SPEED IMPROVEMENT - Essay Example The design issue under consideration includes route surveying, track component identification, designing the rail curve and other design aspects that help in improving rail transport. Suggestion indicated can be implemented by any train organization seeking to improve or optimize there services (Mundrey, 1993). Rail tracks are used for the guidance of trains, and consist of two steel rails laid in parallel. The rails guide the train in motion without the need for steering. The rails are laid on sleepers. The sleeper are also referred to as the cross ties. The sleepers are embedded in the ballast and form the rail road track. The rails are fastened to the sleeper by the use of spikes, lag screws, bolts clips and pandrol clips. The type of fastening sleepers depends on the type of sleepers. For the concrete sleepers clips are used, for the wooden sleepers' spikes are used and for steel sleepers, bolts are commonly used. Convectional rail design involved route surveying and finding the most economical route for the rail line. The engineer worked on ways of designing the rail so as to surpass the geographical obstacles (Engineering Policy Group (EPG). 2009). Currently rail design encompasses many design aspects. These design aspect results from the need for greater speeds and heavy loads. Due to these factors, the most important consideration for the rail design are: Route surveying. This involves planning the rail routes so that it passes through the most economical route (Hickerson, 1967). Long term traffic levels; if the projection shows that in the long run the traffic will increase. Design consideration for expansion of the rail as well as incorporating trains with high speed and heavy should be taken into consideration. Environmental concern: the design should focus on an environmental friendly rail that does not damage the environment. Politics: Government influences and funding greatly affect the quality of the rail and also its long term benefits. Land issues; when designing for increased speed, huge curves are required; the constraining factor to this is the limitation of land. Economic factors: this determines the type of rail constructed. Well funded projects can archive most of the design requirements. Design of The track bed The rails are laid on a bed of stones, ballast is commonly used. The bed is comprised of the following major layers; The subsoil: this is the natural ground in which the rail is to be laid. The sub grade: this comprises of compacted soil. The compaction and removal of clay from this layer prevents the expansion and compression preventing the sinking of the rail which damages this track. The soils used in this layer must not expand or compress due to water absorption. Compression of the soil also helps is preventing the infiltration of water and clay. Blanket: this is a layer of stone dust or sand, it is mixed with impervious plastic. The layer prevents the upward infiltration of clay and water which may destroy the rails. Ballast: This is a layer of stone. The type of stone used and the grade of the ballast determine its load bearing

Investigation into Stress Capacity

Investigation into Stress Capacity This physics experiment was conducted to investigate stress capacity or known as tensile strength. We had to determine the relationship between the force applied on an object and the extension of the elastic material. The link between the force applied and the extension of the spring is governed by Hookes Law. To establish this connection, we need to measure the relationship between the force applied and the extension. We did this by adding a series of masses, which builds the force on the spring (The Professor, 2016). Hookes Law: When an elastic object is stretched, the expanded length is called extension. The extension of the elastic object is directly proportional to the force applied to it also known as F=kx. F is Force and expressed in Newtons (N). k is the spring constant expressed in newtons per metre (N/m) x is the extension expressed in metres (m). (BBC Bitesize, 2016) A force causes an object to undergo changes, forces that are unbalanced change speed, shape or direction. Gravitational forces are only in effect if there are two or more masses while friction opposes motion (BBC Bitesize,2017). Forces that affected this experiment are: Gravitational Force, Applied Force, Tensional Force. Gravitational Force: A force of attraction between all objects, it depends on the masses of the object and the distance between them. The larger object, the stronger the gravitational force. Applied Force: A force when an object is being pushed or pulled by another object. Applied forces causes an object to undergo changes in acceleration, velocity and direction. The force equation is F=ma. Tensional Force: It is a force that is transmitted through a string, cable, elastic band, rope or a wire. Tensional force is directed along the length of the object when it is pulled by forces from opposite ends. The relationship between stress and strain is known as the stress-strain curve. It is different for each material and is found by recording the amount of deformation at distinct intervals of tensile or compressive loading. Strain is relative change in shape or size of an object due to externally applied forces. This means it becomes dimensionless and has no units. Stress is the internal force (per unit area) associated with strain. It is predicted that the two materials will show different conclusions. I believe that the silicon tube has higher capability of holding larger masses. It depends on the length and thickness of the material. The prediction is that the silicon tube will have the highest stress capacity and wont have a long extension while the elastic band will stretch the furthest but wons have much stress capacity. Equipment Retort Stand Clamp 1 Metre Ruler Mass Hanger Silicon Tube Elastic Band 50g and 100g Masses Notebook and Pen Procedure Setup Retort stand and clamp. To start with, place the material/object on without any stress. Measure the weight of the mass hanger. Measure the length of the material/object. Place mass on it and measure the length to figure out extension Record results on table Repeat step 5, three times for each weight to allow results to be reliable then find average. Keep repeating step 5,6,7 until enough data has been recorded for each material Milan Abraham Elastic Band Mass (kg) Force Original Length 1st Extension 2nd Extension 3rd Extension Average 0 0 14.9 0.061 0.60N 14.9 +1.1 (16) +0.9 (15.8) +1 (15.9) +1 (15.9) 0.161 1.58N 14.9 +1.5 (16.4) +1.4 (16.3) +1.5 (16.4) +1.5 (16.4) 0.261 2.56N 14.9 +1.8 (16.7) +1.7 (16.6) +1.9 (16.8) +1.8 (16.7) 0.361 3.54N 14.9 +2.1 (17) +2 (16.9) +2.2 (17.1) +2.1 (17) 0.461 4.52N 14.9 +2.4 (17.3) +2.3 (17.2) +2.6 (17.5) +2.4 (17.3) 0.561 5.50N 14.9 +2.9 (17.8) +2.9 (17.8) +2.7 (17.6) +2.8 (17.7) Milan Abraham Silicon Tube Mass (kg) Force Original Length 1st Extension 2nd Extension 3rd Extension Average 0 0 72.2 0.061 0.60N 72.2 +2.3 (74.5) +2.3 (74.5) +2.8 (75) +2.5 (74.7) 0.161 1.58N 72.2 +4.3 (76.5) +4.3 (76.5) +4.3 (76.5) +4.3 (76.5) 0.261 2.56N 72.2 +5.3 (77.5) +6.3 (78.5) +5.8 (78) +5.8 (78) 0.361 3.54N 72.2 +7.8 (80) +7.8 (80) +8.3 (80.5) +8 (80.2) 0.461 4.52N 72.2 +8.8 (81) +8.3 (80.5) +8.8 (81) +8.6 (80.8) 0.561 5.50N 72.2 +10.3 (82.5) +9.8 (82) +9.8 (82) +10 (82.2) 0.98 1.4 0.7 The Elastic band and Silicon tube was hung vertically with a mass hanger to the end of the material. Masses from 61g to 561g were added. The length of the elastic band was measured once it was at rest. In this structure, certain forces were in effect. Gravitational force directed the hanging masses downwards. The Applied Force in this case is the masses pushes the elastic material downwards with gravity supporting it.   Restoring Force directs the elastic material upwards, in the opposite direction of displacement. Tension is directed through each material pulling each end. Using Newtons Law the spring constant was calculated for each material. F=ma was transferred into W=mg to calculate gravity. To find the spring constant for the elastic band, mass was turned into dynes. Gravity times mass= dynes. 9836.07 times 0.561 = 5518.04 dynes. Then it is dynes divided by extension(cm) which is 5518.07 divided by 2.8 = 1970.74 dynes/cm which is 1.97N/m. The spring constant for the silicon t ube was which is 0.55N/m. The intercept for the best fit straight line is close to the origin and is also consistent with Hookes Law. To minimise errors, we should have viewed the ruler from specific angles to make sure it was vertical. The scale should be viewed at eye level to avoid parallax error. There were some issues with the retort stand so some equipment was not fit for the experiment and were faulty. In some instances, we needed to make sure that when the person was adding mass, he didnt stretch the material while he was doing it so the results could be accurate. We reduced the decimal places to two so that results could be easy to substitute while being accurate. The hypothesis was predicted to be that the elastic band while have a longer extension than the silicon tube and the silicon tube would be stronger than the elastic band. The prediction wasnt correct as from results it says that silicon tube had a bigger extension which was a surprising result as the material was much thicker. The elastic band had the best result because it showed results that were somewhat predicted and accurate. Through this experiment investigated stress capacity, Hookes Law and certain forces which have influenced the experiment. The hypothesis wasnt as predicted. For this experiment, we determine the spring constant and Youngs Module, we had to interpret the behaviour of two different materials. The results will be analysed to determine what is happening to the materials physically and which one is more capable of the masses. The two types of materials used for this experiment were an elastic band and a tube of silicon rubber.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Essay

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs has become common place in today’s society. Every household with a television is aware of DTC advertising as they interrupt their nightly programs. Every national magazine or local newspaper offers advertising on the latest drug remedy for what ails us. This multi-media approach is relatively new for pharmaceutical companies as previously such efforts were directed only at physicians who were the sole decision makers when choosing medications. With the 1997 change in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) guidelines along with patients desires to be more involved in their own care and treatment, drug companies have expanded their promotional efforts to include the consumer. This essay will look at some of the current regulations concerning DTC advertising, pros and cons of these ads, and the ethical issues that arise from DTC advertising. Regulations Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising is the â€Å"promotion of prescription drugs through newspaper, magazine, television and internet marketing.† (Direct-to-consumer advertising, 2010) These ads are directed towards the end user, the consumer, and not the prescriber/physician. Prescription drug advertising has been regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1962. Their Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC) is responsible for ensuring that companies that directly advertise to the public are providing â€Å"information that is truthful, balanced, and accurately described.† (FDA, 2010) Even though the FDA has oversight on DTC advertising, it should not impose unnecessary restrictions on them as they fall under the category of commercial speech protected by the first amendment (Evans & Friede, 2003, p. 387). The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requires that anyone who makes, packages, or sells prescription drugs for hum ans must disclose information in their advertisements about the products uses and risks (U.S. Department of HHS, 1999, p. 3). This information disclosure is called the brief summary. Contrary to its name, the brief summary is rather lengthy as it must contain every risk associated with the drug’s approved use. Prior to regulatory changes made in 1997, these disclosures had to be included in every advertisement making television commercials impractical due to the restricted amount of time available. Now there is a distinction between print and broadcast advertising so that only print ads must contain this brief summary. The DDMAC’s 1997 revisions now only require audio and/or visual ads to disclose two things. The drugs major risks in consumer-friendly language, the major statement, and give adequate provision for the consumer to access the full product labeling (U.S. Department of HHS, 1999, p. 5). This can be achieved by providing a toll free number to call, referencing the full advertisement in a print ad, or making sure brochures are easily accessible outside of a physician’s office, like a pharmacy or grocery store. By decreasing the amount of information required in these ads, commercials suddenly became a viable form of marketing. Advertisements seen on television or in magazines are not required to be submitted to the FDA for approval prior to their release; however, companies must submit their ads to the FDA when they first appear in public. The FDA is available to offer their advice to pharmaceutical companies when asked for help (FDA, 2010). Once they see the ad and if they feel that it violates the law, they will send a warning letter requesting that the company stop the ad immediately. These letters are posted on their web site for public inspection. The drawback to this process is that an ad that violates the law may be aired without oversight. If the warning letters do not rectify the situation, â€Å"the FDA can work with the Department of Justice to seek injunctions against companies, or criminally prosecute firms.† (Vogt, 2005, p. 26) The FDA also has the authority to seize drugs that it deems as misbranded and can even reverse approval for the drug. Pros There are numerous arguments on the benefits of direct-to-consumer advertising. Supporters of DTC advertising contend that ads can be educational, provide important health information, and generate sales to further necessary research and development (R&D). One of the most commonly heard reasons is that DTC advertising has assisted consumers in â€Å"identify(ing) disease conditions and engage(ing) in more informed conversations with their health care providers.† (Pfizer, 2011) Supporters uphold that this advertising helps the doctor/patient relationship by being a conversation starter allowing discussions on disorders and options that a patient may not have known how to talk about earlier. Most patients today are educated and desire a greater level of involvement in their healthcare choices. DTC advertising gives the consumer power through knowledge. Important health information can be delivered in DTC advertising. These ads have the ability to reach millions of consumers rela tively easily. Through print and media advertising, pharmaceutical companies can play a useful role in raising awareness of certain conditions and disorders. Raising the public’s awareness can promote consumers to seek medical attention when they otherwise may not have. Seeing these conditions on television or in a magazine can lessen the stigma associated with them. Large pharmaceutical companies use the money made from DTC advertising to fund their R&D. This research and development plays an integral part in ensuring a drugs safety which in turn saves generic companies from needing to repeat R&D on the same drug. This makes generic manufacturers another supporter of DTC ads. By advertising new, name brand drugs, companies are causing a demand for the medication. Once the drug has lost its patent, physicians can begin prescribing the less expensive generic alternative. The generic manufacturer has benefited by default on the large pharma’s campaign. Cons There are an equal number of allegations on the negative effect of direct-to-consumer advertising. Opponents of DTC ads argue that ads can be detrimental to the physician/patient relationship, increase medication costs, and harm public health. Those against DTC ads feel that they have the potential to change the way doctors and patients interact with each other. A patient may see a particular advertisement and be convinced that they have a certain condition or that they need a specific drug. The patient may then present to their doctor feeling that they have diagnosed themselves and request prescriptions even if not needed. The physician may then feel pressured to oblige the patient rather than discussing other, possibly cheaper or drug free, treatment options. This scenario can lead to over-prescribing and over-use of a particular drug based on the effectiveness of the advertisement. Others have argued that advertising is expensive and the pharmaceutical companies have to recoup the ir cost somewhere. This leads to the cost being passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prescription costs. The amount of money spent on DTC ads has increase dramatically from 1997 to 2005 from $1.1 billion to $4.2 billion (GAO, 2006, p. 12). This increase expenditure could create higher healthcare costs across the board. Another cost of DTC advertising could be at the expense of public health. Most consumers lack the specialized knowledge required to evaluate the content of these ads and therefore take them at face value. They may not be fully aware of the harmful side effects or interactions of the drug. DTC ads can be seen as misleading since they are not required to mention other alternatives like diet, exercise or other preventative measures. These alternatives could treat the advertised condition without medication. By not including the alternatives, companies are advocating drug use as a primary response to medical conditions. Ethical Issues Pharmaceutical companies have a substantial obligation to ensure that their direct-to-consumer advertising is ethical. Their products not only have the ability to help consumers but they may also cause potential harm. Advertising of a drug is not like advertising of any other product where you are trying to convince the consumer to buy something they don’t need. Drug advertising needs to educate the consumer while still promoting their product. Persuasion tactics therefore should be ethical. How does one go about knowing if DTC advertising methods are ethical? In the book Persuasion: Theory and Practice, ethical persuasion is defined as â€Å"a communication activity that †¦ permits maximum individual choice† (Anderson, 1978, p. 3). The key is that the consumer must be able to make a voluntary choice without feeling coerced. DTC ads should not rely on deceptive or manipulative tactics. As previously stated, the consumer can be viewed as a vulnerable audience if the y are being spoken to at a level that is beyond their ability to understand (Baker & Martinson, 2001, p. 166). Ethical marketing requires that these audiences not be unfairly targeted because of this vulnerability. DTC advertising ethics is concerned with what drug companies ought or ought not to do. Lying is morally wrong and therefore considered unethical. Using lies or false impressions in a DTC ad distorts the information a consumer receives and can alter the choices they may make (Baker & Martinson, 2001, p. 160). Therefore DTC ads should not create false impressions or omit pertinent information just for the sake of the ad. The point of DTC advertising should not be increased sales but be more of a means to an important social end which should be consumer education. An example of an ethical advertisement would be one that utilizes those messages that demonstrate respect for the consumer to whom they are directed. Respecting the consumer means that their needs are placed before the needs of the advertiser. Currently, the DDMAC does not regulate the ethicalness of pharmaceutical advertising. Their mission statement is, â€Å"To protect the public health by assuring prescription drug information is truthful, balanced and accurately communicated.† (FDA, 2010) â€Å"Ethical ads tell the truth about their product and do not try to distort its capabilities or hide its defects.† (Vaux) Unfortunately an ad can be truthful and still be considered unethical. Ads that play to â€Å"base† human emotions such as fear can be considered unethical as they are just trying to promote emotions that would cause the consumer to seek relief through the advertiser’s product. Conclusion Direct-to-consumer advertising has been integrated into our culture and is likely not going to go away. Just as there are those who lobby against these ads, there are an equal number of proponents who support them. Regulations have been changed to allow the advancement of these ads to their current place in our society. As such, the DDMAC is constantly monitoring DTC ads and will need to be the ones to set ethical boundaries and ensure they’re being adhered to. Consumers must evaluate pharmaceutical ads critically so as not to be persuaded as much as they are educated. Although proponents of DTC advertising argue they provide important consumer information, too frequently the ads can operate dysfunctionally by â€Å"providing misinformation and inducing the consumer to make purchases that are not in either their short or long term interest.† (Baker & Martinson, 2001, p. 151) Ethical DTC ads should serve an educational purpose first and a promotional purpose second. They should offer consumers information on alternatives along with true representations of the risks their medications may have. Unethical ads are those that may try to point out your flaws, i.e. depression, and then tell you they have the answer, i.e. Prozac. These unethical ads will use your emotions to cause you to believe you are in need of a fix when in reality you may not be. I believe there is a place for direct-to-consumer advertising. Consumers are constantly looking for more and more information to help them make better informed decisions. DTC ads, when done appropriately, can be used to provide this information not only about medications but health conditions as well. Decreasing public stigma around certain health issues is another advantage advertising can bring; especially if it opens doors for patients to have difficult discussions with their doctors. That being said, I believe that a balance lies with the FDA needing to take a more proactive role in how they manage DTC ads. I think that all ads should be required to go through a pre-approval process rather than the current release and retract method. It is hard to take back something that has already been seen and that may cause damage to the consumer. References Direct-to-consumer advertising. (2010, June 11). Retrieved March 4, 2012, from Sourcewatch: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Direct-to-consumer_advertising Anderson, K. E. (1978). Persuasion: Theory and practice. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Baker, S., & Martinson, D. L. (2001). The TARES test: Five principles of ethical persuasion. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 16(2), 148-175. Evans, G. W., & Friede, A. I. (2003). The Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of prescription drug manufacturer speech: A first admendment analysis. Food and Drug Law Journal, 58(3), 365-437. FDA. (2010, April 4). Drugs. Retrieved March 4, 2012, from FDA: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/PrescriptionDrugAdvertising/ucm071964.htm GAO. (2006). Prescription drugs: Improvements needed in FDA’s oversight of direct-to-consumer advertising. Pfizer. (2011). Ethical Sales and Marketing. Retrieved March 5, 2012, from Pfizer: http://www.pfizer.com/investors/financial_reports/annu al_reports/2010/ethics-sales.jsp U.S. Department of HHS. (1999). Guidance for Industry Consumer-Directed Broadcast Advertisements. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Vaux, R. (n.d.). What is the

Plantation Management in the Old South Essay

William Scarborough’s, The Overseer, examines the importance and the daily duties of the plantation overseer and how they influenced and contributed to the production and efficiency of slaves in the â€Å"Old South†. This position was unarguably, the most important position in the southern plantation system as they determined the success or failure of a plantation. In some small plantations, but mostly larger ones, the overseer was in charge of the supervision of enslaved Africans, care of the land, planting, farm tools, and harvesting. The overseer has been especially known in history as the handler of harsh disciplinary actions against slaves for breaking heavy or mild rules. The emergence of job advertising stormed through the south with higher number of individuals owning slaves. Over time leading up to the Civil War, the position of overseer has been professionalized with some planters even requiring letters of recommendations from their applicants. The goal of the author is to gather facts and accurate evidence that demonstrate how overseers effectively completed their task set forth by plantation owners and were less concerned about the torture and harsh beating of the enslaved Africans. The writer focuses more on the profession itself as opposed to examining the individual’s social class or morals in society. He also attempts to provide a valuable interpretation of one of many groups that made up the white middle class of the Old South. The book is divided into three sections with the first concerning the history and role of the overseer in the plantation establishment. It also gives key details on contract negotiations between the overseer and the plantation owner. Lastly, this section shows the view of the overseer by the general public. The second section examines the managerial duties and responsibilities and some of the disagreements between the plantation master and the overseer. The final section shows the occupation and the importance of the plantation supervisor during the Civil War and how the loss or reduction in available overseers affected the surviving plantations after the war ended. The overseer system was first introduced in the United States by the Virginia Company of England with the primary job function of upholding gained territory. When Africans were shipped to the Louisiana Territory as slaves, this very system was implemented. The vast majority of overseers during the colonial period were indentured servants whose terms of service had expired. One major reason for the increase in overseers in the antebellum south, during the 18th century were the cultural change that demanded plantation owners to indulge in the arts and other cultural pursuits. The profile of many of the men that went into this profession were most likely either the son of a planter, white lower class men, and men who actually saw the economic benefits of being an overseer. One distinctive feature of the overseer system during the colonial period was the practice of leasing developed plantations with slaves as stock. With this agreement the overseer was in charge for maintenance of the s lave force, and in return received one-third of the net proceeds from the selling of the crops. This profession would soon become highly profitable when cotton became the forefront of agriculture in the United States although to some had a negative view of the position. Although most of the overseers were originally poor and uneducated, they still gained enough respect by their employers to be acknowledged as a semi-elite professional with a very profitable position. Whatever may have been the view of the planter class regarding the step on the â€Å"social ladder† occupied by slave managers, the overseer himself had no feeling of class inferiority and showed little resentment toward the proprietary group. One of the major duties of the overseer was the welfare and discipline of the slaves, the care of livestock and other agriculture implements, and the production of staple and subsistence crops. The overseer assigned certain task to specific slave groups and supervised the labor of slaves in the field. The overseer was expected to have basic medical understanding to be able to examine the slaves and make note of any who actually needed professional treatment to treat certain physical hinders. The slave manager was obliged to make periodic inspections of slave cabins and was responsible for the distribution of clothing for the slaves. Lastly, and most importantly, the overseer was expected to ensure the security of the whites against uprisings of slaves, which was to some, inevitable. Depending of the plantation, there were also a second set of rules that were handed down from the planter to the overseer to instruct to the slaves. Some plantations had very harsh working conditions and required long hours, regardless of age or gender, while other were pretty mild with less work demanded from pregnant women and children under the age of seven. Some planters stated that â€Å"a happy slave is a productive slave† and the overseer had to abide by the wishes of the planter although they may have had different views on the use and managing of the slaves. The relationship between the overseer and the planter became pivotal leading up to the Civil War in 1861. As the Civil War began to run its course, the production of agriculture (with slave labor) was extremely important in the surviving and continuity of the south. The role of the overseer became even greater than ever with the departure of healthy white men leaving to join the Confederate Army. In many areas in the south, the only remaining security against insurgencies from the slaves was the overseers. It was no surprise that the drafting of plantation managers to the Confederate Army, angered many planters knowing that there would not be enough qualified managers to keep the slaves productive and fearful. There were even laws put into place in states such as Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana that limited the number of overseers that could be drafted into the army. The south also made a rule stating that any wounded soldier who is able must return and oversee a plantation in order to contribute to the production of goods in the south. With this reduction in overseers, many slaves were able to escape and a number of large plantations fell due to the absence of the â€Å"slave Manager†. Scarborough’s The Overseer, examines the life and impact of the plantation overseer and how it shaped the working system of slavery and production in the United States. The author’s uses key facts to back his thesis on the importance and professionalism of the overseer. Scarborough did extensive research by exploring primary sources such as the memoirs of planters, public records, legal documents, and advertising posters. He incorporates a number of different employment contracts between planters and overseers and compared them based on the size of the plantation, state and region, and number of slaves. The author seemed to look at this job description from a professional standpoint as opposed to the ills and negative view that society and some historians have placed on the managers of plantations. He mentions that some overseers who were uneducated or inexperienced greatly affected the outlook for this profession and shadowed the somewhat complex job of managing an entire plantation.