Quality Child Care Matters

Mother’s have quite the dilemma when deciding when and if to return to work after giving birth to a child. Sometimes the choice is made for them due to financial reasons and sometimes they have the luxury of deciding on which is the best scenario for themselves and their families. In trying to make this decision, mothers may wonder if and how their absence and the choice of child care will affect their child. In all the years I have spend in early childhood education and child care, I think I have probably seen all of the â€Å"scenarios† and know that there is no one right answer. Each situation is different and there are so many variables, even within each variable, but the evidence is so vast that there are certainly findings to please almost everyone (Belsky, 2009, p. 1). In my research on this delicate topic, I have come to the conclusion that the only two factors that can predict positive outcomes for children’s later development is the combination of child care quality and healthy family attachments and support. As you will see, there are so many variables and each plays into the other, but safe and secure relationships at home and in child care are the winning factors in this decades long debate. There are two well-known pieces of data that have been gathered which researchers have utilized throughout the years to study the effects of maternal employment on later development. The first was conducted by the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) and began in 1979. The NLSY79 is a nationally representative sample of 12, 686 young men and women who were 12-22 years old when they were first surveyed in 1979. These individuals were interviewed annually through 1994 and are currently interviewed on a biennial basis† (US Dept. f Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www. bls. gov/nls/y79summary. htm, para. 1). In 1986, the NLSY79 was used as â€Å"a separate survey of all children born to NLSY79 female respondents† to conduct more child-specific information† (US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www. bls. gov/nls/nlsy79ch. htm, para. 8). Researchers such as Jay Belsky (1988) first utilized the NLSY79 data to study the effects of early and extensive maternal employment. Belsky, etc al. oncluded â€Å"that children who had initiated care for 30 or more hours per week in their first year and whose care at this level continued through their preschool years evinced poorer academic and social functioning than did children whose full-time care began sometime later – and that this was true whether one looked at teacher reports, parent reports, peer reports, or the children’s own self-reports† (Belsky & Eggebeen, 1991, p. 1084). There were some problems with this early research and the data that was used to interpret outcomes. One of the problems was that the two groups studied (maternal employment and non-maternal employment) were too different in so many ways. â€Å"One of the most difficult methodological issues in studying this causal process is the fact that there are substantial differences between women who work soon after their child is born and women who do not† (Hill, Waldfogel, Brooks-Gunn, & Wen-Jui, 2005, p. 834). Another problem with this wave of research was that â€Å"the effects of different features of the child-care experience, particularly the quality of the care, the amount or quality of care, and the type of care† (Belsky, Vandell, Burchinal, et al. 2007, p. 682) were not taken into account at the same time. Prior research â€Å"examined one or another feature of the child-care experience, but never all three† (Belsky, Vandell, Burchinal, et al. , 2007, p. 682). The second wave of research was based on more specific data â€Å"to examine the concurrent, long-term , and cumulative influences of variations in early child care experiences on the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development of infants and toddlers† (Friedman, NICHD, 1992, p. 1. . These researchers were interested not only in the effects of child-care, but the â€Å"endurance of effects† (Belsky, Vandell, & Burchinal, 2007, p. 682). They continued to follow up with children from 4 ? – 11 years of age. This goal of this study was â€Å"accomplished through the implementation of a study design that takes into account the complex concurrent, long-term and cumulative interactions among characteristics of the family and home, of the child care environments, and of the child† (Friedman, 1992, p. 6). Researchers such as Jennifer Hill and Jane Waldfogel (2005) utilized the NICHD data to determine the effects of maternal employment with easier access to more varied situations. They broke up their results into four categories – Comparisons Between Worked After First Year and Never Worked, Comparisons Between Worked Part Time in the First Year and Did Not Work Until After the First Year, Comparisons Between Worked Full Time in the First Year Versus Did Not Work Until After the First Year, and Comparisons Between Worked Full Time in the First Year Versus Worked Part Time in the First Year (pp. 839-842). These researchers concluded that â€Å"negative effects of maternal employment on children’s cognitive outcomes were found in our analyses primarily for children whose mothers were employed full time in the first year postbirth as compared with children whose mothers postponed work until after their child’s first year of life and also as compared with mothers who worked part time in the first year. Negative effects in terms of increased externalizing behavioral problems were evident in each of these comparisons involving mothers who worked full time in the first year† (Hill, Waldfogel, Brooks-Gunn, and Hann, 2005, p. 44). Although the use of the NICHD study did allow researchers to analyze the data utilizing more correlations between diverse situations, there is even later research that delves even deeper into the mixed bag of maternal work situations, family dynamics, home-life, child-care situations, etc. Heather Joshi, et al. , extended the studies even furthe r by including events such as, â€Å"additional information concerning the types of jobs that they return to: are these jobs routinized or do they provide a degree of autonomy† (2008, p. ). Also included in these studies is the â€Å"interactions between our maternal employment measures and additional maternal characteristics and behaviors† and the â€Å"differences by gender† (Joshi, Cooksey, Verropoulou, Menaghan, & Tzavidis, 2008, p. 2). The results of these more recent studies lend â€Å"only limited support to negative effect of mother’s employment per se during infancy and the pre-school years on later child well-being† (Joshi, Cooksey, Verropoulou, Menaghan, & Tzavidis, 2008, p. ). The extent and expansion of variables for research surrounding maternal employment continues to grow. Joshi, et al. , are currently working on expanding on their set of â€Å"both maternal employment and maternal/family background variables† Joshi, Cooksey, Verropoulou, Menaghan, & Tzavidis, 2008, p. 3) which should be completed sometime in 2009 (the results for which I have not yet been able to locate). There are four questions that have motivated current research on this topic. They have been identified as: Does extensive child care in the first year of life disrupt attachment between mother and child, what is the influence of varying types of in child care quality on children’s development, do long hours spent in child-care add to later behavior problems, and what are the effects of the types of child-care that are available? Mother-Child Attachment The earliest studies surrounding maternal employment and attachment came up with many mixed results which is one of the main reasons that the NICHD decided to begin their own study (1986). Assessment of the mother-child attachment relationship is made using various measures, including the Strange Situation† (Friedman, NICHD, 1992, p. 12). The Strange Situation was a psychological study designed by Mary D. Ainsworth which consisted â€Å"of eight episodes presented in a standardized order for all subjects† (1978, pp. 32-33) which tested the reactions of children, ages 12 – 18 months, w hilst in the presence of mother only, mother-stranger, stranger only, and alone (including the return of mother during each separation from her). According to the NICHD, â€Å"there were no significant main effects of child-care experience (quality, amount, age of entry, stability, or type of care) on attachment security or avoidance† and there were â€Å"significant main effects of maternal sensitivity and responsiveness† (NICHD, 1997, https://secc. rti. org/abstracts. cfm? abstract=9). These negative affects in attachment were also amplified when â€Å"combined with poor quality child care, more than minimal amounts of child care, or more than one care arrangement† (NICHD, 1997, https://secc. ti. org/abstracts. cfm? abstract=9). Child Care Quality The quality of the child-care of a child proves to be one of the most important factors when addressing the impact of child-care on child development. When assessing the impact of child-care quality, it is important to look at child-staff ratio, group size, and caregiver education and/or training. The quality of the interactions between caregivers and children, between peers, as well as how caregivers facilitate these interactions is also a tremendous indicator of child-care quality. According to the NICHD, children who experience high-quality child-care have higher scores on achievement and language tests, show fewer behavioral issues and better social skills. Programs like the federally funded Head Start can also function as an intervention for children from at-risk families/situations. In 2007, Belsky conducted a study based on the NICHD findings and concluded â€Å"that quality and type of care remained associated with children’s vocabulary and problem behavior† (2007, p. 297). In a 2002 study (also based on NICHD), researchers Hill, Waldfogel, & Brooks-Gunn concluded that children who participated in no non-maternal care and home-based, non-maternal care â€Å"would have gained the most from high quality center-based care and moreover, would have more consistently remained the bulk of these benefits overtime† (2002, p. 1). Hours Spent in Child Care Although the findings seem to be mixed, there is some evidence that the amount of hours spent in child care may be a cause for some behavior problems, namely aggressive behavior. The NICHD researchers (Belsky, Hill), did conclude that â€Å"children with more experience in child-care centers were rated by their teachers as showing somewhat more disruptive behavior in sixth grade† (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, n. d. , p. 2), but more recent research (Joshi, Cooksey, et al. ) explored â€Å"various interactions between our maternal employment measures and additional maternal characteristics and behaviors† (2008, p. 2) to be added risk factors for behavioral issues. Type of Child Care There are also mixed findings in the effects of the type of child care situation a young child experiences. I feel rather strongly that a primary caregiver relationship is best for the young infants entering child care (whether it be in a more formal, group care setting or a private situation). Unfortunately most group child care programs do not offer a primary caregiver model which definitely contributes to the disorganization and unpredictability of the care that a child receives. With a primary care model, caregivers can â€Å"promote a stronger attachment than might happen if attachment were left to chance or if all the caregivers relate to the whole group without differentiation† (Gonzalez-Mena, 2007, p. 49). Penelope Leach, et al. also state that â€Å"children who experience greater caregiver stability while attending early years settings have been found to have more secure relationships with their caregivers and to show higher degrees of social competence† (2008, p. 180). When child care provider implement practices that support child development (whether it be group care of private care), the results are positive. What it all seems to come down to is that the effects of maternal employment are complex and vary from family to family, child care situation to child care situation, and parental style/characteristics. The NICHD researchers clearly suggest that â€Å"we seek to move beyond the determination of possible risks that may be presented by child care as a unitary category. Rather, we want to find out how the effects of non-maternal care vary as a function of different variables such as child care quality, the extent of its use, characteristics of the children and of their family and home† (Friedman, NICHD, 1992, p. 10). These factors combined with family income/education and child gender make for a very complicated study. One factor seems to influence the other and there are so many variables. The one thing that does stand out in all of the research is that developmental outcomes are dependent upon the quality of child care and family dynamics. When a child is feeling supported by both his/her parents and the people that care for him/her, the outcomes are favorable. Quality child care programs support cognitive, physical, social-emotional development, but unfortunately so many families do not have access to these programs due to their lack of availability and the high cost of most quality programs. A proof in point is that I am currently a private child care provider and due to my expertise, I am able to charge higher rates than others in my field, but only families that can afford these rates are able to hire me. The sad thing is that â€Å"a national study of 100 child care centers found that 92% of them provided inadequate care to infants† and â€Å"it was reported that two in five centers were rated less than minimal† (FSU Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy, http://www. peip. fsu. edu/resourceFiles/resourceFile_81. pdf). Keep in mind that these figures are based on child care centers with varied tuition rates in various parts of the county. Those numbers are just staggering and unacceptable, but make perfect sense when you take into account that child care providers are usually not professionally trained or minimally trained and receive very low wages. Teacher training and regulations on child care centers are getting stricter which is a good si gn. More and more mothers are returning to work and it is only cost effective that the investments we make in early child care practices will result in better adjusted and academically successful children in the years to come. References Ainsworth, M. (1978). Patterns of attachment: a psychological study of the strange situation Philadelphia: Laurence Earlbaum Associates, Inc. Belsky, J. & Eggebeen, D. (1991, January 1). Early and extensive maternal employment and young children’s socioemotional development: children of the national longitudinal survey of youth. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53(4), 1083-98. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ440714). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. Belsky, J. , Vandell, D. , Burchinal, M. , Clark-Stewart, K. , McCartney, K. , & Owen, M. (2007, March 1). Are there long-term effects of early child care?. Child Development, 78(2), 681-701, (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ756658). Retrieved August 15 From ERIC database. Belsky, J. (2009, March). Effects of child care on development. Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues. Birkbeck University of London. Gonzalez-Mena, J. Infants, toddlers, and caregivers. Boston: McGraw-Hill. FSU Center for Prevention & Early Intervention Policy. (n. d. ). Research on quality child care For infants and toddlers. Retrieved August 25, 2009 from https://www. cpeip. fsu. edu. Hill, J. , Waldfogel, J. , & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2002, September 1). Different effects of high quality Care. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 21(4), 601-627. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ772831). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. Hill, J. , Waldfogel, J. , Brooks-Gunn, J. , & Han, W. (2005, November 1). Maternal employment and child development: a fresh look using newer methods. Developmental Psychology, 41(6), 833-850. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ733669). Retrieved August 25, 2009. Joshi, H. , University of London, Cooksey, E. , The Ohio State University, Verropoulou, G. , University of Piraeus, Menaghan, E, The Ohio State University, & Tzavidis, N. , University of Manchester. (2008). Combining childrearing with work: do maternal employment experiences compromise child development. Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://iussp2009. princeton. edu/download. aspx? submissionId=92322. Leach, P. Barnes, J. , Malmberg, L. , Sylva, K. , & Stein, A. (2008, February 1). The quality of different types of child care at 10 and 18 months: a comparison between types and factors related to quality. Early Child Development and Care, 178(2), 177-209. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ782856). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. Motherhood-extent and effects of maternal employment. (n. d. ). Retrieved August 26, 2009 from http://family. jrank. org/pages/1187/Motherhood-Extent-Effects-Maternal- Employment. html National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Scientific briefs: how early child care affects later development. (2007). Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://www. developingchild. net. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care: A comprehensive Longitudinal Study of Young Children’s Lives. (1992, June 1). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED353087). Retrieved August 15, 2009 from ERIC database. NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (1987). The effects of infant child care on infant- Mother attachment security: results of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care. Child Development, 68.

Apple Inc. Historical Analysis

Part A- Historical Analysis: A. Business In: Apple Inc. is engaged in designing, manufacturing and marketing mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players. It also sells a range of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications as well as services and support offerings. Specifically, the company operates in the Technology sector and serves computer hardware, computer software, consumer electronics and digital distribution through the Personal Computers industry.Technology: Apple sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and resellers. The Company sells to consumers both mid and small- sized businesses, education, enterprise and government customers. Apple Inc. manages its business primarily on geographic basis. †¢ Reportable operational business segments include: Americas, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific and Retail. o Americas Segment: include both North and South America. Europe Segment: includes European countries as well as Middle East and Africa. o Asia-Pacific Segment: includes Australia and Asian countries; other than Japan. o Retail Segment: operates Apple’s retail stores worldwide. †¢ As of September 24, 1011, Apple Inc. had 357 retail stores, including 245 stores in the United States and 112 stores Internationally. Apple Incorporated NAICS Codes:2 334111- Electronic Computer Manufacturing 334119- Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing 511210- Software Publishers Financials: See Appendix A: Historical Financial DataB. Goal Clarification & Strategies and Tactics Used to Fulfill Goals: Values and/ or Guiding Principles important to Apple’s innovation strategy: 1. Be Your Own Toughest Critic †¢ As the ‘Father of Management’, Peter Drucker once noted, â€Å"Your being the one who makes your products, process, or service obsolete is the only way to prevent your competitor from doing so. † With this strategy in mind, besides from just beating competitors, Apple Inc. ’s success comes mainly from its attempts to beat itself. 2. Lead Customers; Don’t Follow them Apple Inc. distinguishes itself, as a business that creates those alternatives implying that customers cant tell you what they want from a product. 3. Focus on the Few and Sell to the Many †¢ Apple Inc. is focused on selling a few products in each category rather than those companies who sell dozens of models at once. Instead of trying to satisfy every single consumers tastes, Apple Inc. narrows it down and appeals to a broader group of consumers. 4. Institutionalize your Creativities †¢ With the passing of Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. as seemed to hold and treat his values so that Apple Inc. could be far less dependent on him. †¢ Environmental Guiding Principles 1) à ¢â‚¬Å"Meet or exceed all applicable environmental, health, and safety requirements. We will evaluate our EHS performance by monitoring ongoing performance results and conducting periodic management reviews. † 2) â€Å"Communicate environmental, health, and safety policy and programs to Apple employees and stakeholders† 3) â€Å"Design, manage, and operate our facilities to maximize safety, promote energy efficiency and protect the environment† ) â€Å"Strive to create products that are safe in their intended use, conserve energy and materials, and prevent pollution throughout the product life cycle, including design manufacture, use, and end of life management. C. Environmental Analysis †¢ Integrated Brand Promotion is a way of life now. Social acceptance lays in people’s materialistic possessions. o Being the leader in trends, advertising and promoting correctly, and staying ahead of customer wants is key to successful businesses in the technology i ndustry. Patent Laws o Patent laws are good for technology companies because they protect intellectual property. Companies with sufficient funds to patent anything and everything come out ahead of the game. But recent concerns over the licensing on patents for technology has led to a review of the patent process. If patent laws change, Technology companies may only be able to protect their intellectual property for a shorter amount of time that leads to a change in the technology industry’s business processes. Global markets for the products and services are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. If companies are unable to compete effectively in these markets, their financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. o To remain competitive and stimulate customer demand, companies must successfully manage frequent product introductions and transitions. †¢ Global Economic Conditions Could Materially Adversely Affect the Industry o The Personal Computer Industry’s operating and performance epends significantly on the economic conditions worldwide. Uncertainty in global economic conditions pose risks as consumers and businesses alike cut/postpone spending in response to tighter credit, unemployment, negative financial news, and/ or decline in asset values or real wealth. †¢ Wars, Trade-laws, Outsourcing and International Business o With many companies outsourcing both product manufacturing and logistical service jobs, wars, trade-laws and international business can adversely be affected if negative factors arise. Transportation costs could significantly increase as well as taxes on the outsourcing of jobs. o Outsourcing of jobs eliminates direct control over production and distribution. D. Competitive Analysis: The markets for the Apple Inc. ’s products and services are highly competitive and are confronted by aggressive competition in all areas of its business. Its markets are ch aracterized by frequent product introductions and rapid technological advancements. Apple Inc. s main competitive factors include price, product features, relative price/performance, product quality and reliability, design innovation, a strong third=[arty software and peripherals ecosystem, marketing and distribution capability, service and support, and corporate reputation. These markets are characterized by frequent product introductions and rapid technological advances that have substantially increased the capabilities and use of mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and other digital electronic devices.The Company’s future financial condition and operating results depend on the Company’s ability to continue to develop and offer new innovative products and services in each of the markets it competes in. Industry Competitors: Direct Competitors: †¢ Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, soft ware, solutions and services to individual consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including customers in the government, health and education sectors.HP offers personal computing and other access devices, multi-vendor customer services, infrastructure technology and business process outsourcing. They also provide technology support and maintenance, application development and support services as well as consulting and integration services. HP also offers imaging and printing-related products and services; and enterprise information technology infrastructure, including enterprise storage and server technology, networking products and solutions, IT management software, information management solutions and security intelligence/risk. Research in Motion Limited (RIMM) Research In Motion Limited designs, manufactures, and markets wireless solutions for the mobile communications market worldwide. It provides platforms and solutions for access to information, including email, voice, instant messaging, short message service, Internet and Intranet-based browsing, and multimedia content through developing integrated hardware, software, and services.It also offers development platform that allow third party commercial and enterprise software developers to build and deploy custom applications to run on BlackBerry smartphones, and various products and technologies to third party developers, wireless carriers, and enterprise customers to develop distribute and manage these applications, as well as a range of software development tools. In addition, the company provides the BlackBerry Messenger Social Apps Platform; and push, payments, advertising, location, analytics, and score loop services, as well as the BlackBerry App World to discover and download/purchase of applications.Further, it offers BlackBerry Enterprise Server tools and technologies that enable secure and managed provisioning of applications; BlackBerry Enterprise App World that a llows employees access to a catalogue of applications; and repair and maintenance services. The company sells its BlackBerry wireless solutions through global wireless communications carriers and third party distribution channels. Research In Motion Limited was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada. Motion Limited †¢ Google Inc. (GOOG) Google Inc. a technology company, maintains an index of Web sites and other online content for users, advertisers, and Google network members and other content providers. It offers AdWords, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense program, which enables Web sites that are part of the Google Network to deliver ads from its AdWords advertisers; Google Display, a display advertising network that comprises the videos, text, images, and other interactive ads; DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace for the trading of display ad space; and YouTube that provides video, interactive, and other ad formats for advert isers.The company also provides Google Mobile that optimizes Google’s applications for mobile devices in browser and downloadable form, as well as enables advertisers to run search ad campaigns on mobile devices; and Google Local that provides local information on the Web.In addition, it offers Android, an open source mobile software platform; Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system; Google Chrome, a Web browser; Google+ to share different things online with different people; Google TV, a platform for the consumers to use the television and the Internet on a single screen; and Google Books platform to discover, search, and consume content from printed books online. Further, the company provides Google Apps, a cloud computing suite of message and collaboration tools, which primarily includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google translate, and Google Sites; Search Appliance, a search echnology for use within enterprises; Google Site Search, a custom search engi ne; Google Commerce Search for online retail enterprises; Google Maps Application Programming Interface for businesses; and Google Earth Enterprise, a firewall software solution for imagery and data visualization. Competitors: Computer Hardware: †¢ Dell Inc. (DELL) Dell is a global information technology company that offers its customers a broad range of solutions and services delivered directly by Dell and through other distribution channels.Dell Inc. is focused on providing technology solutions that are more efficient, more accessible, and easier to manage. Dell Inc. is a holding company that conducts its business worldwide through its subsidiaries. Dell built its reputation as a leading technology provider through listening to customers and developing solutions that meet customer needs. A few years ago, Dell Inc. initiated a broad transformation of the company to become an end-to-end technology solutions company.They are expanding their enterprise solutions, which include se rvers, networking, and storage offerings. †¢ International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) International Business Machines Corporation was incorporated on June 16, 1911, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. , a consolidation of the Computing Scale Co. of America, the Tabulating Machine Co. and The International Time Recording Co. of New York. IBM has focused on the intersection of business insight and technological innovation, and its operations and aims have been international in nature.The company creates business value for clients and solves business problems through integrated solutions that leverage information technology and deep knowledge of business processes. IBM solutions typically create value by reducing a client's operational costs or by enabling new capabilities that generate revenue. †¢ Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells Internet protocol (IP) based networking and other products related to the communicatio ns and information technology industries worldwide.It offers switching products, including fixed-configuration and modular switches, and storage products that provide connectivity to end users, workstations, IP phones, access points, and servers, as well as function as aggregators on local-area networks and wide-area networks; and routers that interconnects public and private IP networks for mobile, data, voice, and video applications. The company also provides set-top boxes; cable modem CPE products, such as data, EMTA, and gateways; cable modem termination systems products; videoscape software products; and headend equipment, which include encoders, decoders, and transcoders.In addition, it offers collaboration products comprising IP phones, call center and messaging products, unified communications infrastructure products, and Web-based collaborative offerings, as well as telepresence systems that integrates voice, video, data, and mobile applications on fixed and mobile networks ; and security products consisting of firewall, intrusion prevention, remote access, virtual private networks, unified clients, network admission control, Web gateways, and email gateways, which deliver identity, network, and content security solutions for mobile, collaborative, and cloud-enabled businesses.Further, the company provides wireless products, such as wireless access points, controllers, antennas, and integrated management solutions; data center products, which include blade and rack servers, fabric interconnects, and server access virtualization; and home networking and other networking products. Additionally, it offers technical support services; and responsive, preventive, and consultative support services for its technologies. †¢ Xerox Corp. (XRX)Xerox Corporation provides business process and information technology (IT) outsourcing, and document management services worldwide. Its business process outsourcing services include human resources services; finance an d accounting services; healthcare payers and pharma; customer management solutions; healthcare provider solutions; technology-based transactional services for retail, travel, and non-healthcare insurance companies; programs for federal, state, county, and town governments; transportation solutions; and government healthcare solutions.The company is involved in designing, developing, and delivering IT solutions, such as comprehensive systems support, systems administration, database administration, systems monitoring, batch processing, data backup, and capacity planning services; telecommunications management services; and desktop services.Its document outsourcing services comprise managed print services that optimize, rationalize, and manage the operation of Xerox and non-Xerox print devices; and communication and marketing services that deliver design, communication, marketing, logistic, and distribution services through SMS, Web, email, and mobile, as well as print media. The comp any also manufactures and sells products, including desktop monochrome, color and compact printers, multifunction printers, copiers, digital printing presses, and light production devices for small/mid-size businesses and large enterprises.In addition, it sells paper, wide-format systems, network integration solutions, and electronic presentation systems. The company sells its products and solutions through its sales force, as well as through a network of independent agents, dealers, value-added resellers, systems integrators, and the Web. F. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Organization Strengths: 1) Pioneer of innovation and high-tech quality products. 2) Globally recognized Brand Name/ Brand Image. ) Large segmentation of loyal customers. 4) Amazingly strong Research and Development team. 5) Eye-catching products and experience of Apple’s software both in hands and in Retail stores. 6) Strong presences in education segments. 7) Corporate culture passed down by former CEO an d Founder, Steve Jobs. Weakness 1) Technological products of Apple’s have extremely short lifecycles, this implies that the development and production of new products and services has to be constant. ) Low presence in advertising. Opportunities 1) Great relationship through joint venture with other big companies. 2) Consistent growth in innovation and technology. 3) More international expansion. 4) Increase demand of online retail as well as applications and services. 5) Growing market of â€Å"Green† and energy efficient products. Threats 1) Competition 2) Expensive quality products compared to competitors products. 3) The death of Steve Jobs. ) High product substitution effect in innovative and competitive technology markets. Historical Financial Data: As of June , 2012, Apple Inc. had total sales of $108,249,000 and a net income of $25,922,000. Summary information by Geographic Region for three years ended September 24, 2011(in millions): Net Sales by Geographic Reg ion Segmentation1 2011 2010 2009 America | $38,315 |$24,498 |$18,981 | | Europe |27,778 |18,692 |11,810 | | Japan |5,437 |3,981 |2,279 | | Asia-Pacific |22,592 |8,256 |3,179 | | Retail |14,127 |9,798 |6,656 | | Total: |$108,249 |$65,225 |$42,905 |Summary information by Product division for three years ended September 24, 2012 (in millions): Segment Operating Income by Geographic Region Segmentation1 2011 2010 2009 | America | $13,538 |$7,590 |$6,658 | | Europe |11,528 |7,524 |4,296 | | Japan |2,481 |1,846 |961 | | Asia-Pacific |9,587 |3,647 1,100 | | Retail |3,344 |2,364 |1,677 | | Segment |$40,478 |$22,971 |$14,692 | |Operating- Income: | | | | a) Does not include segment assets nor depreciation, amortization and accretion. A reconciliation of the Company’s segment operating income and expenses for the three years ended September 24, 2011 (in millions): Total Operating Income 2011 2010 2009 Segment Operating Income | $40,478 |$22,971 |$14,692 | | Other corporate expenses (a) |(5,520) |(3,707) |(2,242) | |Share-based compensation expense |(1,168) |(879) |(710) | | Total |$33,790 |$18,385 |$47,501 | |Operating- Income: | | | | a) Other corporate expenses include research and development, corporate marketing expenses, manufacturing costs and variances not included in standard cost, and other separately managed general and administrative expenses. [pic] [pic] Not Sure if Needed: Apple Inc. also manages its business on product divisions. †¢ Reportable operational product divisions include: o Desktops ? Including iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro and Xserve product lines. o Portables ? Includes MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook pro product lines. o iPod o Other music related products and services ? Includes sales from the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBookstore in addition to sales of iPod services and Apple-branded and third-party iPod accessories. o iPhone and related products and services. Includes revenue recognized from iPhone sales, carrier agreements, servi ces, and Apple-branded and third-party iPhone accessories. o iPad and related products and services ? Includes revenue recognized from iPad sales, services and Apple-branded and third-party iPad accessories. o Peripherals and other hardware ? Includes sales of displays, wireless connectivity and networking solutions, and other hardware accessories. o Software, services and other sales. ? Includes sales from the Mac App Store in addition to sales of other Apple-branded and third-party Mac software and Mac and Internet service. Summary information by Product division for three years ended September 24, 2012 (in millions): 2011 2010 2009 Net Sales by Product1 Desktops |$6,439 |$6,201 |$4,324 | |Portables |15,344 |11,278 |9,535 | | Total Mac: |21,783 |17,479 |13,859 | |iPod |7,453 |8,274 |8,091 | |Other music related products and|6,314 |4,948 |4,036 | |services | | | | |iPhone and related products and |47,057 |25,179 |13,033 | |services | | | | |iPad and related products and |20,358 |4, 958 |0 | |services | | | | |Peripherals and other hardware |2,330 |1,814 |1,475 | |Software, Service and other |2,954 |2,573 |2,411 | |sales | | | | | Total:|$108,249 |$65,225 |$42,905 | | | | | | 2011 2010 2009 Net Income by Product1 |Desktops | | |$ | |Portables | | | | | Total Mac: | | | |iPod | | | | |Other music related products and| | | | |services | | | | |iPhone and related products and | | | | |services | | | | |iPad and related products and | | |- | |services | | | | |Peripherals and other hardware | | | | |Software, Service and other | | | | |sales | | | | | Total:| | |$ | [pic]

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Assignment Example Blending the scholarship between the insightful narratives, the story line of this book portrays an extraordinary woman who comes out boldly to challenge the unwritten codes and some barriers of the social hierarchy and goes ahead to dare seek some measure of personal independence in the male-dominated world. This book gives a summary and analysis of the record case that is found in the Florentine archives1. In this book, the class difference is not only revelatory basing on the way that the law handled people of different social classes, but it also bases on how social class was subject in handling matters of love. Just in the same way that class played a role in affecting romance in Renaissance Florence is also evident in Giovanni’s initial pursuit of Lusanna’ love. Giovanni falls in love with Lusanna despite the fact that her husband is still alive, and goes ahead to try and start a relationship with her. Despite the fact that Giovanni is rich and many girls are afte r him, he only loves Lusanna. In this case, the custom was to seek to marry just for the purpose of increasing social status or tying together the important families, but not marrying each other because of love. For this, social class is evident in comparison of Giovanni and Lusanna, but Giovanni argues that he wants to marry Lusenna not because of increasing social ties, but because he is deeply in love with her. Social class is not only the difference separating the love story between Giovanni and Lusanna, but there is also an aspect of gender. Lusanna is the rare exception among many women of her time, and thus making it not possible to categorize her as in any major roles that women adopted in this community. Women of her class would be typical â€Å"chaste wives and widows or cloistered nuns,† but not passionate and driven just as Lusanna was. All through this case Giovanni was determined to prove that their relationship was strong and had started way back before the dea th of Lusanna’s husband Andrea, and that her willingness to not only to participate in this relationship that was making her mush happier than her marriage seizes the initiative of classifying different from the set of other women in her era, in that she participates in the illicit relationship. Another aspect that existed between these different classes of lives is the double standard existing in relation to sex. According to the social norms of the community, adultery was forbidden in the Florence play. Both the secular and religious laws also forbid and even punished adultery, such as the same case that Lusanna portrayed while married to Andrea. There is also an aspect of influence in the justice system following the class difference. For instance, Lusanna was the one who filed a case against Giovanni for attempting to marry another woman while they are married. In this society, rich people had the capacity of bribing the justice system, something that would have made Giov anni walk free. Archbishop Antoninus was the only leader with the capacity of rejecting such bribes and influence from the rich class in this society, thus suiting him to preside over this case. However, the author states that the same judge would have known of Giovanni’s influence and financial power, leading him to uphold the complaint filed by Lusanna. The status difference that was separating Lusanna and Giovanni is

Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Civil War - Essay Example Ideally they championed the theory where each state was to uphold the rights in establishing a set of codes within its perimeters and that none was to be coerced to adherer to the mandates of the federal hegemony unless extremely compulsory. No sooner than soon, state rights would more often crash with various procedures the federal system was taking. Divergent view points emerged over taxes, levy, interior enhancement, the martial as well as slavery culminated into mayhem. Time and time again the North and the South faced off. Tangible reasons for doing this were purely on monetary grounds. The south relied on plantations and slaves while the north was heavily dependant on massive industrialization. The north abolished slavery whereas the south needed farm manpower; so the idea of abolishing slaves would otherwise threaten the very existence of the southern state. In 1860, the antagonism flanking the northern as well as the southern interests grew so strong. Lincoln was then elected the president and consequently South Carolina seceded from the Union to govern itself. Thereafter 10 more state followed suit constituting the Confederate States with Jefferson Davis as the Captain. (Stephen B. Oates 300-301)

Louis Kahn, Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, 1959-1965 Assignment

Louis Kahn, Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, 1959-1965 - Assignment Example The Salk compound is at the centre of the large courtyard that has identical concrete rows of laboratory space and offices. At the end of the courtyard is a magnificent view of the Pacific, coupled with the soothing fountain sounds. Designed by Louis Khan, the courtyard is the main highlight of the site. The courtyard is inspired by Louis Barragan, a Mexican architect. Khan had initially planned to have plants and trees at the courtyard but was advised by Barragan against that decision (Treib). It enabled Khan to come up with a stone plaza that created an open feeling with the large sky; it also had a water feature (Anderson). Originally, the buildings were built by different cement mixtures with various colors; this is evident in the basement of the complex. Khan introduced wood to compliment with the cement. Inside, the buildings have no walls; this is a promotion of collaboration. The basement has one floor with another two floors existing above it, on both sides (Anderson).Lighting fixtures in the form of easy slide rails have also been used to promote collaboration. Roman techniques are evident in the architecture as the concrete was created from volcanic ash to create a pinkish glow. Each laboratory block consists of five study towers each containing offices, but those at the entrances consists of only two study towers. The diagonal walls enable each of the thirty-six scientists in the studies to have a view of the Pacific. The original design of this complex had conference buildings and living quarters but were never

Grant proposal presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Grant proposal presentation - Essay Example It will be a pilot project. It proposes to teach the Police Department Personnel the Spanish language, idiomatic terms, non-verbal communication, culture, traditions, history, and customs. Pending on the results of this pilot project future funding may be sought through philanthropists, state and federal grants, and corporations. The teachers for this pilot project will be Hispanic from the Hispanic communities that not only know the language but also know the idiosyncrasies that, in general, are pertinent to the Hispanic communities and the countries they come from. The Police Department personnel will be randomly selected given that the Hispanic when in need, when taken to headquarters, when interrogated this personnel will need to be sensitive, sensible, and willing and able to communicate, to obtain the best results. A change in the interaction between these two groups needs to be reinforced positively. The duration of the Project will be an intensive six months. The classes will meet Monday through Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Police Department Personnel will have a reduced workload to support the participants involved in this pilot project. Classes – The Spanish classes will be using a new concept. It will teach the grammar of the Spanish language. The domains for the target language will be: Listening skills, the students will respond to nuances by unfamiliar speakers. The students will also demonstrate comprehension of instructions; Speaking skills, the students will present solutions to problems from a cross cultural perspective. The students, for example, will actively participate in the class and present their given situation (arresting, interrogating, filling out reports, directing people to the accurate places). Reading skills, the students will verify the information that is graphically presented and confirm the information. The students will demonstrate, for example, given a short article to

The Basic Function Of Strategic Management Accounting Essay

The Basic Function Of Strategic Management Accounting - Essay Example In terms of capital investment decisions, Tesco Plc should set up more grocery outlets in other communities. Based on prior feasibility studies done on a prospective new location, Tesco will use both investor funds (retained earnings reserved for branch expansions), and long-term borrowings to finance another big Tesco grocery outlet. In terms of the evaluation of multidivisional companies, Tesco Plc should conduct classify each multi-divisional company as cost and revenue centers. Each company will generate its own financial statements. Thus, the financial statements will indicate the number of a multi-divisional company under Tesco Plc that generates profits. Likewise, the same financial statements will vividly indicate the number of multi-divisional companies generating net losses (Garrison, 2003). The strategic management accounting system of Tesco Plc focuses on ascertaining if the company’s final reports conform to international accounting standards.The strategic managem ent accountant of Tesco is a driving force to develop a global accounting system is the desire to underwrite securities in any, or all, of the world's capital markets using a single set of financial statements. Currently, the Tesco Stocks are listed in the stock exchanges. A positive incentive for a capital market to support a global accounting system is the enhancement of its volume of business by being able to participate in underwritings in other capital markets.   Reinforcing the positive incentive is the realization that a capital market, which ignores the development of a global accounting system, may find itself with a unique set of accounting standards while the rest of the world relies on a common set of accounting standards. This would lead to an irretrievable loss of business (Brigham & Houston, 2002). Heely (1993;25) emphasized â€Å"the globalization of corporate activity, coupled with

History questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

History questions - Essay Example Abraham Lincoln told â€Å"enemy is at your door, wait not to meet him at your hearthstone, meet him at the doorsill, and drive him from the temple of liberty, or pull down its pillars and involve him in a common ruin† (McPherson 212). This should be considered as evidence that our country is not safe anymore. Abraham Lincoln also mentioned that he thoroughly disliked to comment on the various tactics employed by historical leaders who played an instrumental role in earlier wars. Government always must be â€Å"of the people, by the people and for the people† and victory always must be â€Å"an anti slavery triumph† (McPherson 218). Jefferson Davis strongly disagreed on excessive individualism that were ruling the states. He pointed out that this kind of extreme individualism won’t bring any good to the state. Instead, it will only create neglect towards teamwork. He also emphasized that â€Å"war meant it’s for all and not for single†. This means, war is always for a group of people and not for a single person. He told â€Å"each state has the right of revolution† (McPherson 240). Political revolution or any kind of revolution always placed the state in a crucial, authori tative position and the right of revolution is for everyone. 2. If as Mr. Sparks contends what is Past is prologue, there is much in the Civil War Era that is relevant to your lives today. Please provide 3 examples of how a study of The Civil War helps you understand the United States in 2010. If a civil war breaks out in the Unites States in 2010, it, will, perhaps mark the end of this country. There would be violence, bloodshed, riots and insurgencies all over the country, leading to loss of millions of human lives as well as the ultimate breakdown of the country’s vast social and economic infrastructure. A study of the civil war has helped us to understand the

Thyroid Cancer in Women Essay Example for Free

Thyroid Cancer in Women Essay Introduction Thyroid cancer is admittedly the commonest endocrine malignancy often detected among young patients and frequently among the women. In most populations, the median age of its detection tends to be quite low, actually below 40 in most cases. It is currently the fastest growing cancers among women. Despite the fact that the cancer is still quite rare, it continues to be increasingly on the rise among women across the globe and especially pregnant women. Most experts are not quite certain on the causes despite the fact that they have been able to identify the risk factors at play. Essentially, there are four main types of thyroid cancer: Follicular, papillary, medullary and anaplastic. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are jointly referred to as differentiated thyroid cancer since their prognosis is more favorable relative to the other types. Among most young women, their pregnancy periods are usually accompanied with differentiated thyroid cancer. The management of this type of cancer poses risks due to the concerns of maternal and fetal health. With most women experiencing rises in differentiated thyroid cancer during pregnancy with a prevalence rate of 14 per 100,000, it has become necessary to discern the management of the ailment (Smith, Danielsen, Allen Cress, 2003) Literature review Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has a higher incident among women within  their reproductive ages. It has long been speculated that the association between human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), estrogen and DTC exists. Numerous studies have pointed out an association between high parity and the risk of DTC in pregnant women (Kravdal, Glattre, Haldorsen, 1991). However, the data on the association between DTC and estrogen seem to be gravely inconsistent with some studies indicating a pro-proliferative effect on the thyroid cancer cell lines occasioned with estrogen while other studies point at estrogens stimulatory effect on the adenomatous and normal thyroid only (Lee et al., 2005) Clinical data also conflicts; one study revealed a high risk of DTC infection among women exposed to oral contraceptives containing estrogen with another reporting no association between DTC and usage of exogenous hormones Data on the effect of HCG on DTC tends to be very discordant and non confirmatory. Despite the fact that rising levels of HCG during pregnancy tends to stimulate the production of thyroid hormones, there has not been any coherent evidence that links HCG and DTC. On the basis of women cohort using fertility drugs for treatment, there was no association observed between use of HCG and DTC. Simply put, according to available epidemiologic data, high parity and the risk to DTC are associated; but there is still some lack of clarity with regard to outcomes of DTC diagnosed at pregnancy (Mack, Preston-Martin, Bernstein, Qian, Xiang, 1999). As a result of the overt female to male ratio in the incidence of thyroid cancer, particularly the differentiated cancers, within their reproductive years, epidemiological studies have seriously focused on the role of reproductive exposures among women. Most studies have generally come up with findings that concur with the role of reproductive exposures. There is a minimal contribution of reproductive factors in the etiology and development of thyroid cancer among women. In fact, several case control studies have revealed increased risk with abortion or miscarriage, particularly during the first pregnancy (McTiernan Weiss Daling, 1987). Arguably, this is one of the most recognized reproductive risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer among women. There is an elevated risk of developing thyroid cancer among women who use lactation suppressants and this risk seems to increase with the number of pregnancies in which the suppressants are used (McTiernan, Weiss Daling, 1984). Risk factors for thyroid cancer A risk factor refers to anything that plays a role in influencing a person’s chance of contracting a particular disease. Admittedly, there are several risk factors behind any particular cancer. It must however be emphasized that risk factors do not tell everything, rather, they illuminate, to a less degree, the probable cause of the disease. It must also be asserted that the absence of a risk factor does not absolve one from contracting a particular cancer. Experts have also come to the conclusion that having one or several risk factors increases the chances of one contracting the cancer. In the case of thyroid cancer, there are a number of risk factors that have been reported and they will be discussed below. Gender and age have been noted to be among the leading risk factors of thyroid cancer. Globally, women are three times likely to be affected by thyroid cancer compared with their male counterparts. On the issue of age, thyroid cancer can develop at any particular age. However, two thirds of the cancer cases are more prevalent between ages 20 and 55.On the other hand, anaplastic thyroid cancer tends to be diagnosed after 60 year of age (Braunstein, 2011). Exposure to radiation has scientifically been proven to be a risk factor in the development of thyroid cancer. The main sources of the radiations could emanate from medical treatments, nuclear weapons and fallouts from power plant accidents. Moderate levels of exposure to radiations increase the risks of follicular and papillary cancer. Such sources include: †¢ Low to moderate doses of x- ray treatments that were used to treat children with tonsils, acne ad other head and neck pains †¢ Persons who have received radiation therapy for lymphoma in the head and neck are more inclined to develop follicular and papillary cancer. †¢ Early exposure to radioactive iodine especially at childhood increases the risk of contracting follicular and papillary cancers. There are certain types of thyroid cancer that are normally associated with genes. Actually, 20% of patients suffering from medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) tend to possess an abnormal gene that facilitates the development of the disease (Cooper et al, 2009). The gene is usually passed to offspring. The thyroid cancer that emanates from genetic abnormality is referred to as familial medullary thyroid carcinoma. In the case of papillary thyroid cancer, there is some element of heredity but the genetic basis hasn’t been established. Intake of dietary iodine is a leading environmental influence of thyroid cancer prevalence in particular. Follicular thyroid cancers tend to be more prevalent in geographic locations with low iodine in diets. In the United States, there is adequate iodine as it is normally added in diets. Diets low in iodine may increase to incidence of papillary thyroid cancer when the victim is also exposed to some radioactivity. Management of thyroid cancer Approximately 10% of thyroid cancer cases that occur in the reproductive years of most women tend to be detected during pregnancy or early in their post- partum period (Cooper et al, 2009). In the case of a pregnant woman, treatment and subsequent follow-up tend to be similar to the non pregnant women save for the prescription and use of radioactive iodine. There are certain differences in the manner in which differentiated thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer are treated. However, the most important considerations in the treatment of thyroid cancer in pregnant women must entail: †¢ Effect of the cancer on the pregnancy †¢ Effect of the pregnancy on the cancer †¢ Effects of the management modalities on the outcome of the pregnancy Managing DTC during pregnancy will mainly fall between two scenarios: The first entails women diagnosed from the beginning during pregnancy while the other one will include women who had previously been infected who have now become pregnant or are anticipating pregnancy. Each of the groups brings with it peculiar therapeutic challenges that demand for a clinical approach guided by the disease stage, preferences of the patient and the particular stage of the pregnancy. Thyroid surgery at pregnancy There is no objective consensus on the ideal timing of surgery for DTC women in labor. Generally, individualized decisions tend to be based on the wishes of the patient and other risk factors. However, in the event that a surgery has to be performed as a result of a large tumor or even the patient’s concern then it is better performed during the second trimester of the pregnancy to reduce the risk of abortion that is bound to occur if the surgery is performed in the first trimester. In case there is no life threatening risk, then it is recommended that the surgery be done after delivery (Cooper et al, 2009). Radioiodine therapy during pregnancy This therapy is usually contraindicated at pregnancy since it exposes the fetus to highly radioactive elements that may impair its normal development. Therefore, women scheduled for this therapy must exclude their pregnancy phase. Postpartum radioiodine therapy must be deferred for 6-8 weeks after breastfeeding has stopped. Thyroid hormone replacement and pregnancy Such a therapy must commence with some pre- pregnancy counseling on the importance of undertaking frequent thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and of adjusting dosage. Personal refection Admittedly, the numerous incidents of DTC among women and in particular pregnant women have become issues of great concern. Despite the numerous research that has been undertaken on the topic, none has concretely provided the main reason why women continue to be victims of the disease. Nonetheless, if women will be screened early before reaching their prime years, the chances of being treated of the diseases are high and as such the development of the fetus will not be hampered. Additionally, despite the fact that certain risk factors are beyond our control, the ones under human control, such as iodine presence in diets, ought to be addressed and enforced. Conclusion There is no doubt whatsoever that the incidents of thyroid cancer are on the rise and especially among women. The data that has been adopted in the research is indeed suggestive despite the fact that it fails to fully convince. It must be admitted that mankind, despite making several advancements in medical technology, has contributed to enhancement of thyroid malignancy by adopting therapeutic radiations as well as nuclear fission. Hence, the resulting high thyroid cancer prevalence has been buoyed by genetic mutation, environmental carcinogens and autoimmune phenomena. With proper clinical attendance, thyroid cancer can be properly managed with exposing the mother or the fetus to any danger. It is therefore recommended that women should always be screened early in life and regularly to avoid the compromising situations that the find themselves in whenever they are pregnant. References Braunstein, G. (2011).Thyroid Cancer. Boston: Springer. D. S. Cooper, G. M. Doherty, B. R. Haugen et al.(2009).Revised American thyroid association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid, 19 (11), 1167–1214, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19860577 M. L. Lee, G. G. Chen, A. C. Vlantis, G. M. K. Tse, B. C. H. Leung, and C. A. Van Hasselt(2005).Induction of thyroid papillary carcinoma cell proliferation by estrogen is associated with an altered expression of Bcl-xL. Cancer Journal, 11(2), 113–121.Retrieved September 24, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Induction%20of%20thyroid%20papillary%20carcinoma%20cell%20proliferation%20by%20estrogen%20is%20associated%20with%20an%20altered%20expression%20of%20Bcl-xL. McTiernan A. M., Weiss N. S., Daling J. R. (1984). Incidence of thyroid cancer in women in relation to reproductive and hormonal factors. Am. J. Epidemiology., 120: 423-435.Retrieved September 24, 2012 from http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/120/3/423 McTiernan A., Weiss N. S., Daling J. R. (1987). Incidence of thyroid cancer in women in relation to known or suspected risk factors for breast cancer. Cancer Res., 47: 292-295.Retrieved on September 24, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3791213 O. Kravdal, E. Glattre, and T. Haldorsen. (1991).Positive correlation between parity and incidence of thyroid cancer: new evidence based on complete Norwegian birth cohorts. International Journal of Cancer, 49(6) 831–836.Retrieved September 24, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1959987 Smith, L., Danielsen, B., Allen, M., Cress, R. (2003). Cancer associated with obstetric delivery: results of linkage with the California cancer registry. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 189(4), 1128-1135. Retrieved September 24, 2012, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14586366 W. J. Mack, S. Preston-Martin, L. Bernstein, D. Qian, and M. Xiang (1999).Reproductive and hormonal risk factors for thyroid cancer in Los Angeles County females. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, (8)11, 991–997.Retrieved September 24, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Reproductive%20and%20hormonal%20risk%20factors%20for%20thyroid%20cancer%20in%20Los%20Angeles%20County%20females

To Kill A Mockingbird Reading Journal Essay Example for Free

To Kill A Mockingbird Reading Journal Essay 1) Choose one complex character from the novel. Using quotations from the text as supporting evidence, examine and explain the devices used by the author to create this complex character. Then, describe how this character has contributed to the development of the plot in Chapters 7-11. Scout is a complex character in the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird†. From the beginning of the story, Scout goes against the stereotype of the â€Å"prissy little girl that plays with her dolls.† She prefers to play with Jem and Dill instead. She prefers to wear denim overalls instead of dresses. Throughout the story, her interactions with others help her grow up from a more wrongful thinking child into a wonderful, thoughtful one. In the beginning of the story, Scout is talking to Miss Maudie and says, â€Å"Jem said that maybe he died and they stuffed him up in the chimney.† This angers Miss Maudie because Scout does not understand what she can and cannot say about people. By the end of the story, Scout realizes what her words and actions can do to others. She is able to comprehend the concept that Atticus told her that is â€Å"climbing into his skin and walking around it.† During chapters 7-11, Scout and Jem notice that the knothole in a tree has been filled and react in different ways. While Jem is very upset about it since that was Boo Radley’s way of trying to be friendly to outsiders, Scout is more disappointed but not heartbroken. This acts as a comparison to see how Jem is growing up and starting to learn to think about the situation from the other person’s point of view. Later on, Scout gets into two confrontations with people who insulted Atticus because he was defending Tom Robinson. From the first confrontation, she is taught by Atticus that even though you may not win something, you should still fight it to the end to uphold what you believe in. Examining Language as a Means of Establishing Historical and Cultural Context 1) Select a text excerpt from Chapters 7-11 that demonstrates the author’s use of language patterns or word choice to establish the historical and/or cultural context of the novel. Post the text excerpt that you have selected into the space provided below. Then, explain how the author uses either language patterns or word choice in the excerpt to give the reader clues  about the time period in which the novel is set or the nature of the culture in which the story occurs. â€Å"†Scout,† said Atticus, â€Å"nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything – like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain – ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.† â€Å"You aren’t really a nigger lover, then, are you?† â€Å"I certainly am, I do my best to love everybody†¦ I’m hard put, sometimes – baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody think’s is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.†Ã¢â‚¬  (11. 144) In this excerpt, the author’s use of language patterns and word choice lets readers know that the story takes place in the South a long time ago. This is because the language the author uses is informal and not one that people would use today. The author’s use of word choice let’s us know that the story takes place in an area where racism is still a very big issue. It is even stated in the excerpt that people who think when somebody wants to put the rights of black people over themselves used â€Å"nigger-lover†. However, Atticus only wants equality and that terms like this do not hurt you because they are just names. Examining Allusions 1) Review Chapters 7-11 of the novel, locating one allusion within the text that helped to clarify your understanding of an element or elements of the novel (example character, setting, plot, etc). Post the text excerpt that contains this allusion into the space provided below. Then, explain why this text excerpt represents an allusion and indicate what this allusion helps you learn about one or more elements within the novel. â€Å"†You sound like Cousin Ike Finch,† I said. Cousin Ike Finch was Maycomb County’s sole surviving Confederate veteran. He wore a General Hood type beard of which he was inordinately vain. At least once a year Atticus, Jem  and I called on him, and I would have to kiss him. It was horrible. Jem and I would listen respectfully to Atticus and Cousin Ike rehash the war. â€Å"Tell you, Atticus,† Cousin Ike would say, â€Å"the Missouri Compromise would have licked us, but if I had to go through it again I’d walk every step of the way there an’ every step back jist like I did before an’ furthermore we’d whip ‘em this time†¦ now in 1864, when Stonewall Jackson came around by- I beg your pardon, young folks. Ol’ Blue Light was in heaven then, God rest his saintly brow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Come here, Scout,† said Atticus. I crawled into his lap and tucked my head under his chin. He put his arms around me an d rocked me gently. â€Å"it’s different this time,† he said. â€Å"This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is our home.† (9. 100) The allusion shown in this excerpt is that the Civil War was recent enough that veterans were still alive. This let’s us know about the time that this story takes place. Knowing that it is the 1930s, we are able to understand why racism is a big issue there. This allusion also helps us understand how Atticus thinks, as tells Scout that even though there is a racial battle going on, that everybody are still humans and Americans at the end of the day. Short Answer Question 1) Jem is particularly disturbed, not by Mrs. Dubose’s death, but by the gift she leaves him—a blossom from her Snow-on-the-Mountain camellia plant. Reflect upon this incident, explaining what you believe to be Mrs. Dubose’s true reason for giving Jem this gift. Then, explain why this message was so upsetting to Jem. I think that Mrs. Dubose’s true reasoning for giving Jem the camellia blossom was to show him that even though they were beaten down, the camellias would still grow unless pulled from the root. This symbolizes what Mrs. Dubose had to deal with and what Atticus is dealing with. Mrs. Dubose was suffering from her morphine addiction and although she could have stopped being sober from morphine, she braved the storm and died clean. Even though Atticus is dealing with all the controversy surrounding him defending a black man, he  is still going to fight to defend his cause. I think that this message was so upsetting to Jem because it was one of his first experiences with learning something like that. He learned that while she seemed mean, that she was still trying to teach them about the complexity of humans. That no matter how much you are beaten down, that you are still able to overcome it. 2) As children grow and mature, it is not uncommon for their understanding of their parents to shift and change. The plot of To Kill a Mockingbird reflects many shifts in the way that Jem and Scout view their father. Reviewing what you have read in Chapters 7-11, identify the incident that you believe has the most profound effect on the way the children view their father. Then, describe the effect that this incident has, explaining why. The experience with Tim Johnson the dog has left a big impact on how the kids view Atticus. From this event, both Scout and Jem learn something new about Atticus and something that is very contrasting with his personality. Scout thought that compared to the fathers of her classmates, Atticus was boring. However she learns that there are things to be proud of Atticus for. Jem understands and tells Scout that there are things that Atticus doesn’t want them to know about him. That no matter how much you think you know about somebody, that there is always something that is hidden. When Miss Maudie’s house catches on fire in chapter 8, Boo was the one who gave Scout a blanket. Despite Scout, Jem, and Atticus learning this, they decide to keep it amongst themselves 3) In spite of the fact that she is their relative, Aunt Alexandra is a harsh critic of both Scout and Atticus. To better understand Aunt Alexandra’s often severe personality, adopt the advice that Atticus offers Scout in Chapter 3 of the novel when she is angry with Miss Caroline—that it’s impossible to understand a person until you look at things from their point of view. Writing from Aunt Alexandra’s point of view (using the pronoun I and pretending as though you are Aunt Alexandra), explain the reasons behind some of her more questionable actions in an attempt to find valid reasons for Aunt Alexandra’s harsh treatment of her relatives. 4) Jem’s attitude towards Arthur â€Å"Boo† Radley undergoes a change in Chapters 7-11 of the novel. Starting with Chapter 7 and going through Chapter 11, explain the evolution that occurs in terms of how Jem feels about Arthur, identifying at least three critical events that cause his opinion to change. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem and Scout’s attitude towards Boo Radley changed. In chapter 7, Scout and Jem see the things that Boo Radley left for them in the knothole in the tree. Jem acknowledges that Boo Radley is trying to make contact with others and have them think differently of him. When the knothole gets filled with cement, Jem gets upset and cries because he knows that Boo has lost his way of communicating with them. In chapter 8, when Miss Maudie’s house caught on fire, it was Boo that gave Scout a blanket when she was cold. When they talk to Atticus about this, Jem feels that Boo has been deprived of a way of communicating with the outside world and deals with his first experience of trying to understand that there is both good and bad within a person. This is because while he says that Nathan Radley is crazy, he has never hurt them and probably never will. Throughout these chapters, Jem begins to see Boo as less of a monster in the neighborhood and more of a shy person who has been depraved of his way of trying to make friends. 5) Scout’s understanding of and attitude towards Calpurnia undergoes a change in Chapters 7-11 of the novel. Starting with Chapter 7 and going through Chapter 11, explain the evolution that occurs in terms of how Scout feels about Calpurnia, identifying at least three critical events that cause her opinion to change.

Ecological Theory Typical And Atypical Child Development Social Work Essay

Ecological Theory Typical And Atypical Child Development Social Work Essay Analyse the contribution of Ecological theory to our understanding of typical and atypical child development, and discuss this model in relation to the factors and possible interventions for child abuse The importance of insight regarding the parent/child bond has always been a component of social services custom, but the significance has not always been indentified of the interaction that the environment plays on a parents ability to act in their childs best interests (Department of Health, 1999). A significant breakthrough in the knowledge of child abuse appears to have emerged through the application of an ecological model of child maltreatment, The ecological paradigm is currently the most comprehensive model we have for understanding child abuse (Gallagher 2001; 76). Such a perspective has generally been derived from theory based on Bronfenbrenners (1979) pioneering work, in which he defines to which The ecology of human development involvesthe progressive, mutual accommodation between an active, growing human being and the changing properties of the immediate settingsthis process is affected by relations between these settings and by the larger contexts in which these settings are embedded. (Sidebotham, 2001; 105). The importance of an ecological standpoint in the perception of abuse is, firstly, that it widens the boundaries of the unfavourable effects of maltreatment on children beyond just the parent-child relationship to consider the familial and social context in which such abuse occurs. Second, the ecological model is transactional; in the sense that it acknowledges the individual and the immediate and wider influences as actively interacting with each other. However, it should be noted that this ideology holds some limitations in the sense that it would not seem to account very well for child sexual abuse. Any pairing together of juxtapositions forms of behaviour as occurs with child abuse or child maltreatment, is bound to result in some loss of specificityIt would be foolish to think that ecological models are the final word on child abusethere is not single solution to abuse (Gallagher 2001; 77). Specific hazardous factors contribute to parents abusing their children. Although maltreatment does not often occur without numerable of these factors interacting in the same household simultaneously. Firstly, the risk of abuse increases in any household exposed to significant stress, regardless if this stress arises from unemployment, poverty, neighbourhood violence, a lack of social support, or an especially demanding infant (CDC, 2006). Bronfenbrenners predominant layer, or microsystem, refers to the collaborations that occur within the childs immediate environment. The childs own genetic and social characteristics affect the habits, behaviour and patience of their peers, For example, a temperamentally tiresome infant could disaffect their parents or even create friction between them that may be sufficient to damage their marital relationship (Belsky Crnic, 1995). Also, the relationship between any two individuals in the microsystem is likely to be influenced by the introduction of a child. Fathers, for example, clearly influence mother-infant interactions, happily married mothers who have close supportive relationships with their husbands tend to interact much more patiently and sensitively with their infants than mothers who experience marital tension, little support from their spouses, or feel that they are raising their children on their own (Cox et al, 1992). In regards to the emphasis on family, the notion to which a parent regards their competence and rates the performance of their parenting role is also a relevant matter. Parenting competence has been noted as problematic among abusive parents (Marsh Johnston, 1990) and linked with increased abuse possibility. Whilst acknowledging that improvement of parenting capacity is an important objective one must be cautious in concluding that improved competency in parenting directly results in a reduction in child maltreatment as observations on interactions based under experimental conditions rarely reflect in daily life (Gallagher,2001;248). Direct exposure to abuse can have a dangerous impact as abused children tend to function less adaptively than their non-abused peers in many areas (Cicchetti, Rogosch, 1993). According to Hipwell et al (2008) Children in a caring and loving environment feel more secure in their immediate surrounds in regard to the microsystem, they develop greater self-confidence, are altruistic and show higher signs of being empathetic. These children are also shown to have larger IQs throughout their schooling life, and show lower levels of anger and delinquent behaviour. As Bronfenbrenners ecological model would present, higher degrees of affection can even buffer a child against the negative implications of otherwise precarious environments (Bartley Fonagy, 2008). Several studies of children and teens growing up in poor, dangerous neighbourhoods show that the single ingredient that most clearly distinguishes the lives of those who do not become delinquent from those who do is a high level of mat ernal love (McCdord, 1982). The Mesosystem is the connections or interrelationship among such microsystems as homes, schools, and peer groups. Bronfenbrenner argues that development will be increased by supportive and strong connections between Microsystems. For example, children who have instigated attached and secure relationships with parents have a tendency to be accepted by others and to have close, supportive peers during their development (Perry, 1999). According to McAdoo (1996) a childs competence to learn in a schooling environment is dependent upon the quality of the teaching provided and also the degree to which their parents place value upon education capital and how they interact with the teacher and vice-versa. However, this can also impact negatively at this level as when deviant peer groups or friends of the child devalue scholastics, they will tend to undermine that childs school performance in spite of teacher and parents best efforts. Numerable research has revealed that exposure to abuse had a severe negative impact upon a childs academic functioning. Schwab-Stone et al (1995) concluded that as the consistency of maltreatment increased this had a direct negative correlation with academic performance. Likewise, Bowen (1999) found in a sample of over 2000 high school students that exposure to community and school violence put limitations on school attendance, behaviour and results. Warner and Weist (1999) revealed that children from low income families who are witnesses to household and neighbourhood violence demonstrated atypical symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression. The symptoms continue upon the latter to include atypical externalising behaviours such as anger, inability to form relationships and a decline in academic performance. Surviving on a low income in a bad neighbourhood does not make it impossible to be the caring, affectionate parent of healthy, sociable children. But it does, undeniably, make it more difficult (Utting, 1995, p. 40). Children from low-income households may display more behavioural troubles than their better-off peers. However, according to Gorman-Smith (1998) family factors, including parenting practices do not predict childrens exposure to violence. He suggests that other community factors rather than their household income will influence and operate on children and those family factors are not powerful enough to mediate or moderate their effects. Such studies have often found there to be an important correlation between communities in which citizens have described a high level of community cohesions and children safety, with an increase in child abuse being linked with a negative sense of community identity. Self-care has the most negative effects for children in low-income neighbourhoods with high crime rates (Marshall et al, 1997). Children who begin self-care at an early age are more vulnerable to older self-care children in their communities who can damage or abuse them. These children are more likely to have adjustment problems in school and are more likely to use after-school with socially deviant peers who do not value school and undergo criminal activities. Predictably, then the positive effects of organised after school programs on academic achievement are greater for children in low-income neighbourhoods (Mason Chuang, 2001). Bronfenbrenners penultimate layer, or exosystem, consists of contexts that children and their peers may not be aware although nevertheless will influence their development. For example, parents work environments are an exosystem influence. Childrens emotional relationships at home may be influenced considerably by whether or not their parents enjoy their work (Greenberger, ONeal, Nagel, 1994). In a similar fashion, childrens experiences in school may be influenced by their exosystem, by a social integration plan taken on by the school council, or by job cuts in their community that result in a decline in the schools revenue. Negative impacts on development can also result when the exosystem breaks down. For example, Sidebotham (2002) has shown that households that are affected by unemployment, poor housing and poor social networks are more likely to be involved in increased occurrences of child abuse. Whose comments are justified next to Beeman (1997) who concluded that a lack of so cial support and a high consistency of negative attitudes towards available networks all contribute towards the chances of child maltreatment. The majority of the research on the impact of mothers employment concludes towards a small positive influence on most children (Scott, 2004). Children whose mothers are in employment are more confident and show more admiration for their mothers in contrast to those mothers who do not work. The effect of the mothers work on influencing attitudes and results in school become less apparent, with many studies showing no difference (Gottfried, Bathurst, 1994). Muller (1995) in his large study on the latter topic distinguished a small but comprehensible negative difference on the effect on maths results if that childs mother was in employment. However, this difference seemed to be based on the fact that mothers who do not work as much are less engrossed with their childs work and are less likely to oversee the childs work continuously after school, rather than from a long-lasting deficit brought about by maternal employment in the early years. Thus, working mothers who find ways to provide such supervision and who remain involved with their childrens schools have kids who do as well as children whose mothers are homemakers. Research evidence intuitively shows that when a man becomes unemployed, it places a strain on his marriage; which in turn leads to an increase in marital conflict and both mother and father show more signs of depression. The effects of these conflicts eventually show the same characteristics as families who are experiencing divorce; both parents appear less coherent in their attitudes towards their children, become less loving and less effective at monitoring them. Similarly, children, in turn respond to this situation as they would during their parents divorce by exhibiting a series of atypical behaviours which can include depression, anger or becoming involved in delinquent behaviour. According to Conger et al (1992), the likelihood of abuse at all levels, shows an increase during times of households unemployment. However, according to Berger (2004) parents who are experiencing divorce but who have a supportive framework and emotional support from friends are increasingly more like ly to provide a safe and affectionate environment for children in comparison to those who are occupied in social isolation. Gorman-Smith and Tolan (1998), in their study of the effects of divorce, did not find that family structure and other familial influences had an independent involvement towards the prediction of exposure to abuse in comparison to that of other risk factors such as the breakdown of traditional social processes in the community. Low income parents are characterised by contributing towards their childs atypical development as Evans (2004) concludes that parents of such a nature are less likely to communicate with their children, spend less time engaging with them in intellectually stimulating activities and in turn are harsher and more aggressive in their discipline techniques. Not all children follow the same development pathways and there are certain factors that influence their development. For example, children below the poverty line are half as likely to recall the alphabet and have the ability to count by the time they enter the first years of schooling. This development according to Brooks-Gunn (1995) also applies, and is maintained through to adolescence as older children in poverty are twice as likely as their counterparts to repeat a year of school and are less likely to go onto higher education. In keeping with Bronfenbrenners model, parental values on the best way to deal with discipline will be largely in coherence with the larger culture in which they reside. According to Lockhart (Ecology of Development; 345), by striking a child it will usually stop the chid from repeating the behaviour. Although research evidence suggests that children who are spanked, like children who are abused at later ages are less popular with their peers and show higher levels of aggression, lower self-esteem, more emotional instability, higher rates of depression and distress, and higher levels of delinquency and later criminality (Mostow Campbell, 2004). Bronfenbrenners concluding layer is that of a macrosystem which entails a broad, overarching ideology in which the child is embedded, and whose principles dictate how a child should be treated and how discipline should be distributed. These principles differ across macrosystems (cultures) and sub-cultures and social classes and can have a direct influence on the types of experiences a child will have in all levels of their ecological system. To cite one example, Belsky (1993) discusses how the incidence of child abuse in families (a microsystem experience) is much lower in those cultures (or macrosystems) that discourage physical punishment of children and advocate nonviolent ways of resolving interpersonal conflict. Similarly Clarke (1997) revealed how at the level of the macrosystem, a Government policy that ensures parents have the option to take paid or unpaid leave from their jobs to see to family matters could provide a significant intervention towards child abuse allowing pare nts more free time to observe their childs development and resolve difficulties that may arise within their child. The debate that encircles the surrounding links between culture and child abuse is a complex notion, which has resulted in a myriad of concerns. For instance, recent statistics of child maltreatment has indicated that ethnic minority children are substantially more at risk of abuse than their Caucasian counterparts (U.S Department of Health, 2006). However Lassiter (1987) has countered, showing that these minorities may be over-represented to the relevant services. Lassiter argues that biased statistics do not take into consideration other influencing factors such as socioeconomic status and the level of schooling received. Without considering socioeconomic factors that may also influence the parent and child, research risks inadvertently concluding that factors that increase abuse potential are because of race or ethnicity, or are universal. The contextual risk variable that looks to have the biggest part in forecasting child maltreatment is having a family member who has also been a direct victim of some form of previous abuse. For example, A parent suffering from the stress of having been victimised herself or having another family member who has been victimised may be overwhelmed and more disturbed by the childs behaviour and may, therefore, have a lower threshold for viewing the childs externalizing behaviour as problematic. Primary or universal support targets the community as a whole, with generic initiatives, campaigns and community-based services that support parents and families without entry criteria. Their aim is to prevent problems such as child abuse and family breakdown (Healy Darlington, 1999). MacMillan (1994) in describing child abuse interventions found it necessary to distinguish between the differing forms of prevention, including that of primary intervention to which he describes as any manoeuvre that is provided to the general population or a sample of the general population or a sample of the general population to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment;, and secondary prevention, early detection of a condition with the aim of shortening the duration of the disorder, and tertiary prevention, prevention of recurrence of maltreatment and impairment resulting from abuse. MacMillan further explained the difficulties in prevention in regards to psychological and emotional maltreatment, which accounts for a high number of reported cases but difficulty arises when evidence needs to be collated, and if emotional abuse is accepted as a form of abuse, then the distinction between primary and secondary prevention or indeed tertiary prevention becomes less clear. Osofsky (1995) in his research on primary prevention has called for a nationwide campaign that would address to change the attitudes toward maltreatment and lower peoples tolerance of child abuse. Support for an ecological approach to child welfare is evident in the Framework for the Assessment of Children and their Families (Department of Health et al, 2000), which stresses the need to consider not only the factors relating to the child and their parents, but also the wider context in which children live when assessing their needs, acknowledging the impact of social and community factors on childrens welfare. This is also justified through the Every Child Matters document which refers to the concept of Making a positive contribution; being involved with the community and society. Involving local communities in the prevention of child abuse was acknowledged by Nelson and Baldwin (2002) who asserted that the Every Child Matters model has the potential to involve communities enthusiast ically in partnership with agencies in identifying problems and seeking solutions and that the process can help to build communities which are more informed, aware and thoughtful about child protection. Although the presence of risk factors, such as a poor environment or unsupportive relationships with primary caregivers, or being looked after outside the family, increases the likelihood of a negative outcome for the individual, studies of competence and resilience have shown that, regardless of background, children are generally resourceful. Competence has been shown to be a mediating variable that predicts positive or negative outcomes (Smith, Cowie, Blades, 2001; 569).

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote, "You are a very special person - become what you are." These words encourage us, the graduating class of 2012, to recognize the goodness and potential in each and every one of us and to go out and excel in the world. We are a diverse group of different aspirations and backgrounds, bound for different corners of the earth to carve out our won individual niches. Before we leave behind Lee Falls High School and each other, we must ask ourselves how we have become who we are. Most of us have grown up in this town. We have known each other for many years, gone through the school system and interacted with the community. We have been labeled by the press as inhabitants of "Cranktown" and "Methville," but the community has rallied to fight the problem. This same community is the true spirit of where we come from and who we are. It is the same community that sees generations of change and is always willing to stretch its hands out to help those in need and to honor those deserving. We live in a unique community, though we may not realize it, a...

Mechanisms of LSD :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Mechanisms of LSD: a Glimpse into the Serotonergic System In 1938, Albert Hoffman discovered, invented a substance that would revolutionize the American drug culture forever and would change how we, as psychologists and biologists, thought about psychosis. That substance was LSD. A simple molecule, LSD has the potency that no other drug has. Only a drop will produce the desired hallucinations and euphoria. In addition, it does not seem to be physically addicting, although tolerance to the drug can develop in as few as three days but disappears after week of abstinence. Much 'research' has been done into the actual effects of the drug. LSD most profound effect on behavior is the production of sensory distortions, such as hallucinations, and euphoria. It also produces dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate (7, 9). However, little is know about the mechanisms by which it acts. It is known that LSD affects the serotonergic system in the brain. However, the actual ways in which it acts on that system to modify behavior remains unclear. Before we explore the current research into LSD, it may be helpful to review some of the ways in which serotonin affects behavior. Serotonin (also called 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter that is produced from tryptophan. Although serotonin is only produced by a small number of neurons (1000's), each of those neurons innervates as many as 500,000 other neurons (3,12). For the most part, these neurons originate in the Locus Coerleus (LC) and the Raphe Nuclei (RN) (12). The LC controls the release of n orepinephrine, a neurotransmitter/hormone that regulates the sympathetic NS. It also has neurons that extend into the cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus (12). The RN extends its projections into the brainstem and up into the brain (12). It has been suggested that neurons in this region of the brain may be responsible for the inhibition of sensation, thus "protecting the brain from sensory overload." (12) The fact that these two regions innervate virtually every part of the brain shows that serotonin can activate large portions of the brain from a relatively small area of origination. Serotonin seems to have an inhibitory effect on these neurons (1, 12). Thus, it would decrease the occurrence and frequency of action potentials in the neurons that it innervates. Because of this, it produces neural activity (of lack of activity) that are in some way an inhibition of behavior. Mechanisms of LSD :: Biology Essays Research Papers Mechanisms of LSD: a Glimpse into the Serotonergic System In 1938, Albert Hoffman discovered, invented a substance that would revolutionize the American drug culture forever and would change how we, as psychologists and biologists, thought about psychosis. That substance was LSD. A simple molecule, LSD has the potency that no other drug has. Only a drop will produce the desired hallucinations and euphoria. In addition, it does not seem to be physically addicting, although tolerance to the drug can develop in as few as three days but disappears after week of abstinence. Much 'research' has been done into the actual effects of the drug. LSD most profound effect on behavior is the production of sensory distortions, such as hallucinations, and euphoria. It also produces dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and increased heart rate (7, 9). However, little is know about the mechanisms by which it acts. It is known that LSD affects the serotonergic system in the brain. However, the actual ways in which it acts on that system to modify behavior remains unclear. Before we explore the current research into LSD, it may be helpful to review some of the ways in which serotonin affects behavior. Serotonin (also called 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter that is produced from tryptophan. Although serotonin is only produced by a small number of neurons (1000's), each of those neurons innervates as many as 500,000 other neurons (3,12). For the most part, these neurons originate in the Locus Coerleus (LC) and the Raphe Nuclei (RN) (12). The LC controls the release of n orepinephrine, a neurotransmitter/hormone that regulates the sympathetic NS. It also has neurons that extend into the cerebellum, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus (12). The RN extends its projections into the brainstem and up into the brain (12). It has been suggested that neurons in this region of the brain may be responsible for the inhibition of sensation, thus "protecting the brain from sensory overload." (12) The fact that these two regions innervate virtually every part of the brain shows that serotonin can activate large portions of the brain from a relatively small area of origination. Serotonin seems to have an inhibitory effect on these neurons (1, 12). Thus, it would decrease the occurrence and frequency of action potentials in the neurons that it innervates. Because of this, it produces neural activity (of lack of activity) that are in some way an inhibition of behavior.