Development and Policy in Modern Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Development and Policy in Modern Europe - Essay Example After periods of accumulation of wealth prior to the World War II, only a short period of time during the war was sufficient to send Europe on its knees. The prestigious position of the powerhouse of world industrialization was at risk if nothing was forthcoming, to salvage not only Europe but the rest of the world as well. As illustrated, the success thus highlighted after the war would not be conceptualized were it not for socioeconomic and political realignment of the post war community in Europe and in the USA. Firstly, the Word War II had just brought Europe on its knees and the cooperation demonstrated during the formation of alliances prior to the war seemed to have a longer future as the proverbial friends in need should. Without assurances of cooperation at the end of the war in 1939, there would have been little hope for recovery from the devastating impact of the war. The Allies were committed to continue their ties during the recovery period ahead, which is demonstrated by landmark political reorganization to recovery and prevention of similar ugly events in the future. Governments had to make arrangements to cater for declined production and nose-diving unemployment levels against pressures of demand. Hope for recovery against a backdrop of numerous setbacks that stood in the way was only in the promises of success as witnessed in the alliances formed during the war. In addition, perhaps the first brave move that restored balance in international economies came in 1944 by the Bretton Woods agreement on stability in international payment through the US dollar. According to MQF (2012, para.1), the stability obtained during the Bretton Woods conference was achieved through the creation of the IMF as well as the World Bank and the subsequent agreement of a standard based on gold and dollar valuation. In the aftermath of the established economic regime, global inflation had

How to use a Wood Material in Computer Hard Disc Drives Case Study

How to use a Wood Material in Computer Hard Disc Drives - Case Study Example A hard disk drive is made up of aluminum and a mixture of other non-biodegradable materials. These two components are expensive; hence, it is essential to come up with new, cheap and easily available materials to be used as alternatives in the manufacture of hard disks. This will result in a decline in the cost of producing and installing the hard disks. Wood is a cheap and readily available product that can be used in the manufacture of hard disks. The use of wood materials will allow for the production of affordable hard disk drives, as well as increase the efficiency of hard drives. This report will demonstrate how wood can be used as an alternative material in the manufacture of effective and efficient hard disks. To start with, the report will discuss the main components of a hard drive, the function and choice of material of each part. II. Breakdown of the Main Parts of the Hard Disk and the Function of Each Part The computer hard drive is made up of several components with dif ferent functions, as discussed below. These internal components are very sensitive to dirt and dust and, therefore, hard drives should never be opened (Born, 1997). The following figure shows the major components of a hard disk. Figure 1: Components of a hard drive 1. Cover It is also known as the drive casing and it is rectangular box that holds and covers all the internal components of the hard drive (Born, 1997). ... The speed of rotation increases with the increase in file size and speed of transfer (Braun, 2009). 3. Platters They are located at the centre of the disk and are used to store the computer data. The number of platters in a disk may vary depending on the capacity of the disk. They are made from a non-magnetic material, mostly aluminum alloy, ceramic or glass (Hdd-tool, 2010). Aluminum alloy was initially used but today the desire for higher density has resulted in the use of glass platters. Glass platters are also preferred since they are more stable thermally and offer greater rigidity (Born, 1997). All platters are coated with a layer of a magnetic material and an outer layer of Carbon for protection purposes. The platters are rotated by the spindle at a certain speed resulting in creation of air pressure that is responsible for lifting the read and write heads of the platters. In the event of more than one platter on a single drive, the distance between the platters is usually ver y precise. Data on the drive may be lost forever if the platters gets misaligned (Born, 1997). 4. Read and Write Heads They are also known as heads and they read and write magnetic information to and from the platter. The heads read data more efficiently the more close they are to the platter. However, a close-mounted head may have contact with the platter and this may damage the disk and the information stored in it (IBM, 2000). 5. Actuator Arms They move the read and write heads to the suitable area of the platter. The head of the hard disk is mounted on the actuator arm and it moves it in order to read and write data correctly (Lamberton, 2007). It also helps in keeping the head at an optimal distance from the platter so as to protect the disk as well as preserve its speed and

Sickle Cell Disease: Causes, Effects and Treatment

Sickle Cell Disease: Causes, Effects and Treatment Abstract Sickle cell disease is a genetically inherited hematological (blood) disorder that results from a mutation in the beta globin gene that is responsible for the development of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein that delivers oxygen to the red blood cells throughout the body. In the disease, a mutated variant of normal hemoglobin generates an abnormal structure of the cells, leading to the development of symptoms. Sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia are two common types of sickle diseases that are discussed in this review. The symptoms, complications, and therapies are also highlighted in the context of the pathophysiology of the disease. Sickle Cell Disease: An Overview Sickle cell disease is a genetically inherited blood disorder and it is characterized by an abnormal structure or production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen to cells throughout the body (National Institutes of Health, 2014). The disease results from a mutation in the beta globin gene causing a class of sickle diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia (Thein, 2008). Together, they are often referred to as the beta hemoglobinopathies and present a range in disease severity (Thein, 2008). Beta globin is a protein that produces hemoglobin and the gene mutation in both diseases produces abnormal variants of hemoglobin in the blood. This results in either a predominance of abnormal hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells or an absence of normal hemoglobin, and thus, normal red blood cells (Edwards et al., 2005). There are a number of available therapies that manage sickle cell disease and the only curative treatment is hema topoietic cell transplantation. Pathophysiology of Sickle Cell Disease The National Institutes of Health reports that sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States and it affects 70,000 to 80,000 Americans (National Institutes of Health, 2014). It is estimated to occur in 1 in 500 African Americans and 1 in 1,000 to 1,400 Hispanic Americans (National Institutes of Health, 2014). The disease affects 30 million people worldwide and it is most common among people who have ancestors from Africa, Mediterranean countries, the Arabian Peninsula, India, parts of South America, Central America and the Caribbean (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011; National Institutes of Health, 2014). As it is an inherited disease, the sickle gene is presumed to have a genetic advantage in which it protects from the development of malaria infection (Stuart Nagel, 2004). There are many types of sickle diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia. Sickle cell anemia is considered the most commonly occurring type of sickle c ell disease (National Institutes of Health, 2014). In sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin S replaces both beta-globin and the sixth amino acid is changed from glutamic acid to valine (National Institutes of Health, 2014; Rees Gibson, 2011). Sickle cell trait is not considered a disease and it is found in approximately 1 in 10 African Americans (Edwards et al., 2005). When both parents have the sickle cell trait, there is a one in four chance with each pregnancy that the child will have sickle cell anemia (Edwards, et al., 2005). Today, many health organizations offer newborn screenings that can determine if a child has either the disease or trait (National Institutes of Health, 2014). The development of the disease occurs due to the polymerization of deoxygenated hemoglobin S (Chirico Pialoux, 2012). The polymer formation modifies the normal red blood cell disc shape into a rigid, irregular-shaped, unstable cell and causes intravascular hemolysis, or rupture of the cells, to release hemoglobin into the plasma of the blood (Chirico Pialoux, 2012). The repeated polymerization leads to sticky blood cells (blood cell adhesion), obstruction of blood vessels (vasocclusion), and restriction of blood supply to tissues and organs in the body (ischemia) (Chirico Pialoux, 2012). Additionally, the endothelium and leukocyte, or white blood cells, are also found to play a role in disease mechanisms. Studies have found a connection between the endothelium, a thin layer of cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels, and sickled red blood cells (Stuart Nagel, 2004). The red blood cell receptors that are associated with cell adhesion are present in increased numbers on sickled immature red blood cells and mature sickle cells compared to normal red blood cells (Stuart Nagel, 2004). This finding demonstrates a structure-function abnormal activity that leads to coagulation on cell surfaces, leading to anemia (Stuart Nagel, 2004). Like cell adhesion, leukocytes have an impact in disease activity. White blood cells are found to be at an increased baseline in sickle cell disease, which serves as an independent risk factor for pulmonary and cardiac complications (Stuart Nagel, 2004). The size of the white blood cell, its rigidity, and adhesive characteristics are implicated in microvascular blood flow, vascular inflammation, and vasocclusion (Stuart Nagel, 2004). Clinical Symptoms of Sickle Cell Disease The clinical manifestation of sickle cell disease can lead to inflammatory responses and may result in acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke (Chirico Pialoux, 2012). People with sickle cell disease may also encounter several physical complications, such as delayed growth, fatigue, headaches, and cerebral vascular damage (Edwards et al., 2005). Acute chest syndrome is considered the second most common cause of hospital admissions and a leading cause of death in patients with sickle cell disease (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). It involves the presence of a pulmonary infiltrate on a chest X-ray and the symptoms may include chest pain, a temperature of more than 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3 degrees Fahrenheit), tachypnea (rapid breathing), wheezing or cough ((Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). The symptoms at clinical presentation vary with age as wheezing, cough, and fever are common in children 10 years or younger (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). Pain in the arms and legs and shortness of breath are more commonly presented in adults with the disease (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). It is believed that there are three mechanisms involved in acute lung injuries, which include infection, fat embolization (clotting) from bone marrow, and sequestration of sickled red blood cells (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). People with sickle cell disease have an increased risk for developing infections, particularly pneumonia. Treatment for acute chest syndrome is primarily supportive and includes supplemental oxygen to keep the saturation above 92% (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). Pain is considered the most frequent complication associated with the disease and acute chest syndrome stimulates this crisis (Edwards et al., 2005; Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). Repeated episodes of acute chest syndrome predispose patients to chronic pulmonary disease, such as pulmonary hypertension (Stuart Nagel , 2004). The occurrence of asthma is also associated with the increased incidence of acute chest syndrome, which is considered a comorbid condition found in people with sickle cell disease (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011). Beta Thalassemia Beta thalassemia is a common genetic blood disease that reduces hemoglobin production (National Institutes of Health, 2014). The hemoglobin gene mutation results in an unusually low level of beta-globin (National Institutes of Health, 2014). There are different levels of thalassemia based on the number of copies of beta thalassemia alleles or different copies of the same gene (Thein, 2008). The variety in alleles impacts the deficit in beta globin production, which, in turn, impacts disease severity (Thein, 2008). Carriers, for example, who have inherited a single copy of the beta thalassemia allele are clinically asymptomatic and may demonstrate mild anemia (Thein, 2008). Unlike a globin imbalance that is found in sickle cell anemia, variants of beta chains are broken down and result in ineffective red blood cell production in beta thalassemia (Thein, 2008). Physical complications involve cardiac and bone disease, bilirubin metabolism, and iron metabolism. Such symptoms may include jaundice and a predisposition to gallstones (Thein, 2008). Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease Several complications may emerge from sickle cell disease, whether it is in sickle cell anemia or in beta thalassemia. The purpose of therapies for sickle cell disease is to prevent and treat complications (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). The treatment of sickle cell disease is best achieved by decreasing the amount of hemoglobin S through the prevention of its production (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). People with severe sickle cell disease are treated with three validated therapies: hydroxyurea, transfusion and chelation therapy, and a hematopoietic or stem cell transplant (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Hydroxyurea has been shown to be an effective form of treatment for children and adults with the disease. It has been demonstrated to reduce pain and acute chest syndromes, and it decreases the frequency of hospitalizations and the need for transfusions. This therapy has also been found to play a role in stroke prevention (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). At a molecular level, hydroxyurea reduces the adhesion of sickle red cells to endothelial cells. It also modulates endothelial cell activation and nitric oxide generation (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Nitric oxide has been found to affect acute and chronic complications of sickle cell disease (Stuart Nagel, 2004). Nitric oxide, on a normal functioning level, induces relaxation of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels. In sickle cell disease, the bioavailability of nitric oxide is impaired, resulting in an imbalance between endothelial production and consumption (Stuart Nagel, 2004). The lungs are most affected by a reduction of nitric oxide and tend to constrict, which predisposes an individual to acute chest syndrome (Stuart Nagel, 2004). No adverse effects have been thus far reported on the usage of hydroxyurea and any toxicity is typically reversible (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Transfusion therapy is currently considered a standard of care treatment for primary and secondary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). It is used for short and long term management, preventing a first stroke in high-risk children as well as preventing against a recurrent stroke (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Transfusions are also used for chronic and severe pain or in cases when patients with acute chest syndrome do not respond to hydroxyurea (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Chelation therapy is used for patients who experience iron overload. Iron overload is a serious and inevitable outcome from receiving regular transfusion therapy (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Unless treated, iron overload may result in severe organ damage and other life threatening complications and this treatment mediates this by removing excess metals from the body (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). While hydroxyurea, tranfusions, and chelation therapy aim to prevent and treat complications, they do not cure sickle cell disease (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). The currently available curative treatment is a stem cell transplant. A transplant is indicated in those patients who experience complications, such as recurrent severe pain, acute chest syndrome, and stroke (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Only one-third of affected children meet the criteria for a stem cell transplant as it is an aggressive and serious procedure (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). The goal of a stem cell transplant is to replace the host’s marrow with normal cells, resulting in a new immune system (Stuart Nagel, 2004). Studies on stem cell transplant as a curative option for patients with severe sickle cell disease are demonstrating mean overall survival and event-free survival rates between 95 and 85% (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). Significant advancements have been made for pediatric patients who have beta thalassemia and were treated with a stem cell transplant. Over the last three decades, disease-free survival rates have exceeded 80% in patients who received transplants from biologically compatible family donors (Mehta Faulkner, 2013). Sickle cell disease is a genetically inherited blood disorder that is primarily diagnosed in people who have ancestors from Africa, Mediterranean countries, the Arabian Peninsula, India, parts of South America, Central America and the Caribbean (Khoury, Musallam, Mroueh, Abboud, 2011; National Institutes of Health, 2014). The disease results by a mutation in the gene that creates beta globin, which is the protein that is responsible for producing hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. When the mutation occurs, a hemoglobin variant is produced, resulting in a structural and functional change in the red blood cells. Several physical complications emerge in both children and adults who have the disease. These may include, but not limited to, pain, acute chest syndrome, cerebral and vascular damage (Edwards et al., 2005). There are three primary therapies for managing and/or treating the disease. These inc lude the drug, hydroxyurea, transfusion and chelation therapy, and hematopoietic cell transplantation (Inati, Chabtini, Mounayar, Taher, 2009). More research is underway in the development of additional treatment options, such as gene therapy and clinical trials are exploring this possibility. References Chirico, E. N., Pialoux, V. (2012). Role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease. International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Life, 64 (1), 72-80. Edwards, C. L., Scales, M. T., Loughlin, C., Bennett, G. G., Harris-Peterson, S., De Castro, L. M., Whitworth, E., Abrams, M., Feliu, M., Johnson, S., Wood, M., Harrison, O., Killough, A. (2005). A brief review of the pathophysiology, associated pain, and psychosocial issues in sickle cell disease. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12 (3), 171-179. Inati, A., Chabtini, L., Mounayar, M., Taher, A. (2009). Current understanding in the management of sickle cell disease. Hemoglobin, 33 (S1), S107-S115. Khoury, R. A., Musallam, K. M., Mroueh, S., Abboud, M. R. (2011). Pulmonary complications of sickle cell disease. Hemoglobin, 35 (5-6), 625-635. Mehta, P. A., Faulkner, L. B. (2013). Hematopoietic cell transplantation for thalassemia: a global perspective BMT tandem meeting 2013. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 19, S70-S73. National Institutes of Health (2014). Genetics home reference: beta thalassemia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Retrieved from http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/beta-thalassemia. National Institutes of Health (2014). Genetics home reference: sickle cell disease. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Retrieved from www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/sickle-cell-disease. Rees, D. C., Gibson, J. S. (2011). Biomarker in sickle cell disease. British Journal of Haematology, 156, 433-445. Stuart, M. J., Nagel, R. L. (2004). Sickle-cell disease. Lancet, 364, 1343-1360. Thein, S. L. (2008). Genetic modifiers of the ÃŽ ²-haemoglobinopathies. British Journal of Haematology, 141, 357-366.

American Women and the World War II Factory Experience Essay -- Americ

American Women and the World War II Factory Experience After much consideration, I decided to write about American women on the home front during World War II. The work done by these brave women was astounding. In order to narrow the scope of my historical survey, I chose to focus particularly on the factory experience of these women, because the female factory worker challenged the existing societal belief of separate sex roles. In this sense, the female factory worker became a pioneer for the later expansion of women into careers that were largely considered â€Å"man’s work.† My main interest has always been American history. I have been particularly interested in what has happened socially during periods of war. Former research projects, have included studies of Southern women during the Civil War, along with student demonstrations against the Vietnam War. I am enthralled with social history and the activities of those who are left at home during periods of national conflict. The behavior of American citizens on the home front often reflects changing cultural values-an evolution of society- for better or worse. I am also vastly interested in those individuals that are not typically included in general historical surveys. A successful student of American history knows about Pearl Harbor and Normandy but very little about what their own grandmother did for the war effort. In my work I hope to offer a new and interesting perspective as to what women did to help win the war. Historians specializing in the American home front, realize the prominence that women played in an American victory. Without these women, the labor force would have been severely weakened. Women war workers were quickly recruited, trai... ...ender, and Propaganda During World War II. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1984. Keegan, John. The Second World War. Middlesex: Viking Penguin, 1989. Leff, Mark H. â€Å"The Politics of Sacrifice on the American Home Front in World War II,† Journal of American History 77, no. 4 (1991): 1296-1318. Milkman, Ruth. Gender at Work: the Dynamics of Job Segregation by Sex during World War II. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1987. ed. Women, Work and Protest: a Century of US Women’s Labor History, 2d ed. New York: Routledge, 1987. Polenberg, Richard, ed. America at War: the Home Front, 1941-1945. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. War and Society: the United States 1941-1945. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1972. Vatter, Harold G. The U.S. Economy in World War II. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985.

Effects of TV viewing on Children Essay

I. Introduction Children are considered as the hope of the tomorrow. They are the one who make our world beautiful and meaningful because of their innocence and simplicity. But are these facts still true nowadays? Or will it be just a â€Å"dream† for us now? Children’s characters, personalities and their totality as individual first develop and mold inside the home where parents are oblige and responsible to teach their children the good values and morals. But the irony for this issue is that, parents tend to forget their responsibilities as parents in supervising their kids, due to their hectic schedules and demands of their work, especially in watching television where children are expose to different kinds of indecent advertisements and commercials. Parents should allot time in spending quality moments and be on the side of their children in order for them to explain the advertisements and commercials which have an adult content. Thesis Statement: This paper wants to present and persuade the readers about the negative effects of television viewing on children. II. Discussion Television is a very powerful tool to the learning of the children and it can educate them in many ways whether it is profitable or destructive to their morals and values. It contributes much most especially when parents let their children watch indecent television shows anytime of the day without their supervision. There are also shows on TV that create fear to the hearts of these children because they are able to internalize what they have seen. In a researched entitled â€Å"Television† and conducted by the University of Michigan Health System stated that â€Å"in a usual American household, there are about 7 hours spend by children in watching television everyday and there are about tens of thousands of commercials observed by the kids on TV which   the   public relations mark. And not only that, every year the range of 1,000 to 2,000 children watched TV ads for alcohol and the fears attributed by the television can create sleep problems. A survey showed that there was about 37 percent of the kids stated that they were terrified by a TV story and the symptoms for this included anxious feelings, withdrawing from friends, nightmares†¦(see â€Å"Television† University of Michigan Health System). There are also commercials that speak about sex. It is called sex in advertising. The use of sexual attraction as a tool of persuasion by drawing attention, interest to a particular product for the purpose of promotion and increase in sales had been a part of marketing and advertising industry for quite some time. The method generally uses attractive models, usually in a suggestive or provocative scene. The past two decades have witnessed an increasing use of explicit sexual appeal in consumer-oriented print advertising and particularly of women as the object of sexual desire that it has reached to the point of being common. The use of sex in advertising on television can range from being highly overt to extremely subtle; from explicit displays of sexual acts or nudity, down to the use of basic cosmetic products to enhance attractiveness. The more subtle forms of this spectrum have seeped into other types of media. One such example is the criteria in the selection of DJs and announcers, which is based on the â€Å"sexiness† of their voice. The use of sexual imagery in advertising has received a barrage of criticisms on various grounds. Moral and religious groups oppose it for being obscene.   Feminist groups raise the issue of women’s rights, that it reduces women as mere ‘objects’. Others believe that it only reinforces sexism. Sex in marketing through the years has become raunchier and raunchier, with each advertisement trying to outdo the last. Since it has become a powerful force in the marketing industry, we see the market being saturated with signs of glamorous blond women and muscle-rippling playboys. However, recent studies indicate that such a tool is no longer the sure-way answer to every marketing officer’s prayer. Although most companies utilize sex as their largest promoter of their product(s), negative results may never be far behind. Sexual ads do not always appeal to all consumers and accept sex as an acceptable marketing tool. A study done by Susan Cummings for the American Demographics Magazine, quoted that â€Å"75 percent of women and 53 percent of men aged 35 to 54 said that sex in advertising can be offensive† (Cited in â€Å"Sex Sells†¦No, Really!†). Other concerns being raised is how the youth react to this and how they perceive sex in advertising. There are many different opinions on how sexual appeal in advertising is defined. A slight difference had been found between young men and women. Sexual appeal for young women did not depend on how people looked in the advertisement. Focus is more on movement. It does not even have to include nudity, and models need not be exceptionally good looking for the ad to be even considered sexual. Young men also believe that the movement and the appearance of the models are of great importance. Both genders perceive an ad as sexual through words and images, even without images of nudity among the characters. Therefore, this study came to the following conclusions: that advertisement do not have to contain nudity to be perceived by young men and women as sexual in character; even movement and appearance of the models in the advertisement can make it sexual in nature; young men differ from their women counterparts in the sense that they believe that exceptional good looks among models require an ad campaign to be so. They also believe that there is too much sex in advertising, even observing that there are companies who make use of sexual appeal even if their product is discordant with the sexual image. These young men also see advertisements as discriminating to both men and women. This research also came to the same conclusion that buying behavior does not change, since nudity in advertisement has become so common. Young female respondents also believe that there is too much sex in advertising and these failed to elicit responses. Reaction of tension came only if the image is tasteless. However, for young women, attitude and buying behavior might change if an advertisement based on sexual appeal is too sexual. A favorable response comes only if the sexual appeal is done tastefully and the appeal has any connection towards the brand. Their self-image and confidence is affected when it showed attractive models. Corporations are then urged to make considerations in aiming advertising towards youth in using sexual appeals in their advertisement campaigns. This means that children are prone to adapt thwarted values and morals which will affect sooner to their development as individuals and contribute in the later part of their lives. Being TV addicts is more treacherous and hazardous than taking a drug because it disseminates violence, spoils people’s intellects, and ruins not only the individual but as well as our nation and culture. III. Conclusions A. Effects on children We cannot deny the fact that children are great imitators and that is one of their natures. They really follow and imitate what they have seen and observed from other people especially when they realize that these people involve manifests excitement in doing such acts. Present television’s advertisements, commercials, shows and movies already content indecent acts such as violence, sensual actions or sex, drinking and taking drugs which have great impact to the minds of the younger generations. These kinds of entertainments will create curiosity and puzzlements to their young minds that will push them to try it by themselves. The advertisers really put an effort to convey their audiences-whether young or old-whom the actions perform on TV, those actions are worth emulating for and because of this, children are motivated to imitate it. The University of Michigan Health System further discussed that â€Å"TV shows usually speak about the use of alcohol. The existence of alcohol on TV resorts the gamut from prime-time programs†¦In addition, the researched informed us that those who are TV addicts are more similarly to smoke cigarettes and marijuana. However, parents are not open in discussing issues such as birth control, sexually transmitted disease and sex and even schools are lacking to give information about sex education programs and due to such reasons, children are able to acquire sex information through watching TV. In a survey disclosed the fact that there were about 76 percent of teenagers attested that one intuition why young people indulge in sex because TV movies and programs make such thing as common and ordinary for their age group (see â€Å"Television† University of Michigan Health System).

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group are two global institutions created to assist nations in becoming and remaining economically viable. Each plays an imporant role in the environment of international trade by helping maintain stability in the financial markets and by assisting countries that are seeking economic development and restructuring. Inadequate monetary reserves and unstable currencies are particularly vexing problems in global trade.So long as these conditions exist, world markets cannot develop and function as effectively as they should. To overcome these particular market barriers that plagued international trading before World War II, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was formed. Originally 29 countries signed the agreement; now 184 countries are members. Among the objectives of the IMF are the stabilization of foreign exchange rates and the establishment of freely convertible currencies to facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of i nternational trade.Member countries have voluntarily joined to consult with one another to maintain a stable system of buying and selling their currencies so that payments in oreign money can take place between countries smoothly and without delay. The IMF also lends money to members having trouble meeting financial obligations to other members. Argentina, Turkey, and Greece have recently received such help from the IMF, but the results have been mixed. To cope with universally floating exchange rates, the IMF developed special drawing rights (SDRs), one of its more useful inventions. Because both gold and the U. S.  dollar have lost their utility as the basic medium of financial exchange, most monetary statistics relate to SDRs rather than dollars.The SDR is in effect â€Å"paper gold† and represents an average base of value derived from the value of a group of major currencies. Rather than being denominated in the currency of any given country, trade contracts are frequen tly written in SDRs because they are much less susceptible to exchange-rate fluctuations. The special drawing right (SDR) is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the existing official reserves of member countries.Countries can exchange SDRs for hard currency at the IMF. The SDR also serves as the unit of account of the IMF and some other international organisations. Its value is based on a basket of key international currencies. The SDR is in some ways like a currency, but is currently used only at the IMF. The value of the SDR is based on the exchange rates of the US dollar, the euro, the yen and the pound sterling. The basket composition is reviewed every five years to ensure that it reflects the relative importance of currencies in the world’s trading and financial systems.Although the International Monetary Fund has some severe critics,43 most agree that it has performed a valuable service and at least partially achieved many of its obj ectives. To be sure, the IMF proved its value in the financial crisis among some Asian countries in 1997. The impact of the crisis was lessened substantially as a result of actions taken by the IMF. During the financial crisis, the IMF provided loans to several countries including Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea. Had these countries not received aid ($60 billion to Korea alone), the economic reverberations might have led to a global recession.As it was, all the major equity markets reflected substantial reductions in market prices, and the rate of economic growth in some countries was slowed. Sometimes confused with the IMF, the World Bank Group is a separate institution that has as its goal the reduction of poverty and the improvement of living standards by promoting sustainable growth and investment in people. The bank provides loans, technical assistance, and policy guidance to developing country members to achieve its objectives.The World Bank Group has five institutions, e ach of which performs the following services: (1)Lending money to the governments of developing countries to finance development projects in education, health, and infrastructure (2)Providing assistance to governments for developmental projects to the poorest developing countries (per capita incomes of $925 or less) (3) Lending directly to the private sector to help strengthen the private sector in developing countries with long-term loans, equity investments, and other financial assistance.Providing investors with investment guarantees against â€Å"non-commercial risk,† such as expropriation and war, to create an environment in developing countries that will attract foreign investment (5)Promoting increased flows of international investment by providing facilities for the conciliation and arbitration of disputes between governments and foreign investors. It also provides advice, carries out research, and produces publications in the area of foreign investment law.Since thei r inception, these institutions have played a pivotal role in the economic development of countries throughout  the world and thus contributed to the expansion of international trade since World War II. Protests against Global Institutions Beginning in 1999, what some are calling â€Å"anti-capitalist protesters† began to influence the workings of the major global institutions described previously. The basic complaint against the WTO, IMF, and others is the amalgam of unintended consequences of globalization: environmental concerns, worker exploitation and domestic job losses, cultural extinction, higher oil prices, and diminished sovereignty of nations.The anti-globalization protests first caught the attention of the world press during a WTO meeting in Seattle in November 1999. Then came the World Bank and IMF meetings in April in Washington, DC, the World Economic Forum in Melbourne, Australia, in September, and IMF/World Bank meetings in Prague, also in September 2000. S ome 10,000 protesters faced some 11,000 police in Prague. And the protests45 and violence have continued at other meetings of world leaders regarding economic issues, such as the G20 meetings in London in 2009,46 and in individual countries affected by the IMF.Tragically, the terrorism in London was most likely timed to coincide with the G8 meetings in Scotland in 2005. Regardless of the theoretical approach used in defense of international trade, the benefits from an absolute or comparative advantage clearly can accrue to any nation. Heightened competitors from around the world have created increased pressure for protectionism from every region of the globe at a time when open markets are needed if world resources are to be developed and utilized in the most beneficial manner.And though market protection may be needed in light of certain circumstances and may be beneficial to national defence or the encouragement of infant industries in developing nations, the consumer seldom benef its from such protection. Free international markets help underdeveloped countries become self-sufficient, and because open markets provide new customers, most industrialized nations have, since World War II, cooperated in working toward freer trade.Such trade will always be partially threatened by various governmental and market barriers that exist or are created for the protection of local businesses. However, the trend has been toward freer trade. The changing economic and political realities are producing unique business structures that continue to protect certain major industries. The future of open global markets lies with the controlled and equitable reduction of trade barriers.

How Writing About My Hardships and Sharing My Weaknesses is Leading to My Success

How Writing About My Hardships and Sharing My Weaknesses is Leading to My Success Ive written, published, and received monetary compensation about my bipolar illness since 1995. Though risky to divulge my shortcomings, its also rewarding. My bipolar material first appeared in literary magazines. Kaleidoscope, udsakron.org/kaleidoscope.aspx, specializing in both mental and physical disability, printed The Prodigal Daughter, the first bipolar story I ever wrote. The Missouri Review, missourireview.com/, and The North American Review, http://northamericanreview.org/, picked up my fictional stories with mentally ill main characters, formulated on my personal experiences with the illness. Having Anne, published in The Missouri Review, was shortlisted for an O. Henry Prize in 2000. A big, mental health publication bp Magazine is completely devoted to discussing bipolar illness. I wrote a few humor pieces for these folks. I turned to venues on the internet. Â  In EmpowHER, empowher.com/, I wrote about my early years with bipolar illness, and how I came down with the disease, how I was first treated, how I struggled to adjust, and how my friends and family reacted. I received more positive feedback for that gig. People liked how I made my mental illness experiences funny through lite bipolar personal essays. At Author, authormagazine.org, I wrote specifically about how my bipolar illness affected my writing career. Then I blogged about bipolar illness at PsychCentral, http://psychcentral.com. Â  Since January, Ive written ten blog posts for PsychCentral. Â  Some of the posts included A Tribute to Patty Duke, Living Through a Medication Change, The Good Family Myth, Is Your Diagnosis a Deal-breaker? Â  How to Survive an Adoption Home Study, and Which is Worse, Mental or Physical Illness? Here are three other paying publications that I have personal experience with that specialize in health issues: Womans World (see masthead of actual magazine for contact information) - This weekly magazine readers can pick up in their grocery checkout line prints beautiful stories about women whove dealt with difficult health issues. Â  And they do it in a very upbeat way. Â  (I like this magazine so much that I have a yearly subscription to it.) Â  Im currently working closely with an editor there who is considering publishing a story about my experience with cancer. You Me Magazine, youandmemagazine.com - The Worlds Medical Magazine, You Me publishes nonfiction articles, preferably in first person, about dealing with all medical issues. Â  You Me published a story of mine about lithium usage and pregnancy. Pentimento, pentimentomag.org/ - This Journal of All Things Disability lists itself as a disability-themed literary magazine. Â  They accept poetry, fiction, nonfiction and art and photography. Â  This is a great little journal. Â  Ive been trying to break into it for years. Â  Thats another story. Through writing about my hardships and sharing my weaknesses, Im thoroughly enjoying myself, and I know from the feedback Ive received that Im aiding others. In being sincere about your trials and tribulations, you can find acceptances for your material because editors discern that youve been there, and you know what youre talking about. Â  In a way, youre an expert on misery. Â  Then theres always write what you know. In reality, my life is problematic and often tough, but its also filled with joy because suffering ultimately brings empathy for people, and thats what its all about. So if life has dealt you a difficult hand, consider creating articles, short stories, blog posts, essays, about your experiences. This is not a new concept. We all know that all good writing addresses human problems. Now, go make some lemonade.