10 Lead Element Facts (Pb or Atomic Number 82)

10 Lead Element Facts (Pb or Atomic Number 82) Lead is a heavy metal you encounter in everyday life in solder, stained glass windows, and possibly your drinking water. Here are 10 lead element facts. Fast Facts: Lead Element Name: LeadElement Symbol: PbAtomic Number: 82Atomic Weight: 207.2Element Category: Basic Metal or Post-Transition MetalAppearance: Lead is a metallic gray solid at room temperature.Electron Configuration:  [Xe] 4f14  5d10  6s2  6p2Oxidation State: The most common oxidation state is 2, followed by 4. The 3, 1, 1-, 2-, and 4- states also occur. Interesting Lead Element Facts Lead has atomic number 82, which means each lead atom has 82 protons. This is the highest atomic number for the stable elements. Natural lead consists of a mixture of 4 stable isotopes, although radioisotopes also exist. The element name lead comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for the metal.  Its chemical symbol is Pb, which is based on the word plumbum, the old Latin name for lead.Lead is a considered a basic metal or post-transition metal. It is a shiny blue-white metal when freshly cut, but oxidizes to a dull gray in air. It is a shiny chrome-silver when melted. While lead is dense, ductile, and malleable like many other metals, several of its properties are not what one would consider metallic. For example, the metal has a low melting point (327.46  oC)  and is a poor conductor of electricity.Lead is one of the metals that was known to ancient man. It is sometimes called the first metal (although the ancients also knew gold silver, and other metals). Alchemists associated the metal with the planet Saturn and quested for a way to transmute lead into gold. Over half the lead produced today is used in lead-acid car batteries. While lead does occur (rarely) in nature in its pure form, most of the lead produced today comes from recycled batteries. Lead is found in the mineral galena (PbS) and ores of copper, zinc, and silver.  Lead is highly toxic. The element primarily affects the central nervous system. It is particularly dangerous to babies and children, where lead exposure can stunt development. Lead is a cumulative poison. Unlike many toxins, there really is no safe exposure level to lead, even though it is present in many common materials.Lead is the only metal which exhibits zero Thomson effect. In other words, when an electrical current is passed through a sample of lead, heat is neither absorbed nor released.While modern scientists can readily distinguish most elements, it used to be difficult to tell lead and tin apart because the two metals share so many similar properties. So, for a long time the two elements were considered to be different forms of the same metal. The ancient Romans referred to lead as plumbum nigrum, which means black lead. They called tin plumbum candidum, which means bright lead. Wood pencils have never actually contained lead, even though lead is soft enough it could be used for writing. Pencil lead is a type of graphite the Romans called  plumbago, which means act for lead. The name stuck, even though the two materials are different. Lead is, however, related to graphite. Graphite is a form or allotrope of carbon. Lead belongs to the carbon family of elements.There are countless uses for lead. Because of its high corrosion resistance, the ancient Romans used it for plumbing. While this sounds like a dangerous practice, hard water forms scale inside pipes, lessening exposure to the toxic element. Even in modern times, lead solder has been common for welding plumbing fixtures. Lead has been added to gasoline to reduce engine knock, to face paints and paints used for toys and buildings, and even in cosmetics and foods (in the past) to add a sweet flavor. It is used to make stained glass, leaded crystal, fishing sinkers, radiation shields, bullets, scuba weig hts, roofing, ballasts, and statues. While once common as a paint additive and pesticide, lead compounds are less commonly used now because of their lingering toxicity. The sweet taste of the compounds makes them attractive to children and pets. The abundance of lead in the Earths crust is  14 parts per million by weight. The abundance in the solar system is  10 parts per billion by weight.

Pastoralism and Subsistence Methods

Pastoralism and Subsistence Methods Pastoralism is the ancient method of subsistence farming that substantially relies on the raising and tending of domestic animals. Pastoralism takes place or has taken place in most parts of the world, in climates that range from arid desert to arctic tundra and from forested lowlands to mountain pastures. The ways that pastoralists tend their flocks, then, vary widely depending on farmer flexibility, as well as the regional geographic, ecological, and social conditions. So, to a scientific researcher, pastoralism in its most basic meaning is simply stock keeping. But the study of pastoralists includes the effects stock keeping has on the societies, economies, and lifeways of the groups that keep stock and attach high cultural importance to the animals themselves. Stock Animal Origins Archaeological studies show that the earliest domesticated stock animals- sheep, goats, and pigs- were domesticated about the same time, about 10,000 years ago, in Western Asia. Cattle were first domesticated in the eastern Sahara desert about the same time, and other animals were domesticated later at different times in different areas. Animal domestication as a process still continues: ostriches, today an animal raised by pastoralists, were first domesticated in the mid-19th century. There are many different herded animals, which vary by the place of origin. Africa: cattle, donkeys, ostrichMiddle East: camels, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, beesCentral Asia: camels, horses, cattle, sheepTibetan Plateau: yaksAndean Highlands: llama, alpaca, guinea pig, ducksCircumpolar arctic: reindeerSoutheast Asia, China, and India: camels, water buffalo, zebu, bantengNorth America: bees, turkeys Why Domesticate? Scholars believe that stock raising arose first when humans moved their domestic stock into drier lands distant from cultivated fields: but pastoralism was not and never has been a static process. Successful farmers adapt their processes to changing circumstances, such as environmental change, population density, and the spread of diseases. Social and technological developments such as road construction and transportation affect processes of production, storage, and distribution. There is a multitude of reasons that people raise stock. Live animals are kept for their blood, milk, and wool, for their dung as fuel and fertilizer, and as transportation and draft animals. They are also food storage, fed fodder that is inedible by humans to create human-edible food, and once slaughtered, they provide skins, sinew, fur, meat, hooves, and bones for a range of purposes from clothing to tools to house construction. Further, stock animals are units of exchange: they can be sold, given as gifts or bride-wealth, or sacrificed for feasting or the general community welfare. Variations on a Theme Thus, the term pastoralism includes many different animals in many different environments. In order to better study stock-tending, anthropologists have tried to categorize pastoralism in a number of ways. One way to look at pastoralism is a set of continuums following several threads: specialization, economy, technology and social changes, and mobility. Some farming systems are highly specialized- they only raise one type of animal- others are highly diversified systems which combine animal husbandry with crop production, hunting, foraging, fishing and trade into a single domestic economy. Some farmers raise animals solely for their own subsistence needs, others produce solely to be marketed to others. Some farmers are helped or hindered by technological or social changes such as the construction of road networks and reliable transportation; the presence of a temporary labor force can also affect pastoralist economies. Pastoralist people often adjust the size of their families to provide that labor force; or adjust the size of their stock to reflect their available labor. Transhumance and Nomads A major study area in pastoralism is another continuum, called transhumance  when human societies move their stock from place to place. At its most basic, some pastoralists move their herds seasonally from pasture to pasture; while others always keep them in a pen and provide them forage. Some are full-time nomads. Nomadism- when farmers move their stock far enough distances to require moving their own houses- is another continuum which is used to measure pastoralism. Semi-nomadic pastoralism is when farmers maintain a permanent home base where old people and tiny children and their caregivers live; full-time nomads move their entire family, clan, or even community as the demands of the animals require. Environmental Demands Pastoralists are found in a wide range of environments, including plains, desert, tundra, and mountains. In the Andes mountains of South America, for example, pastoralists move their flocks of llamas and alpacas between upland and lowland pastures, to escape extremes of temperature and precipitation. Some pastoralists are involved in trade networks: camels were used in the famous Silk Road to move a wide variety of goods across vast reaches of central Asia; llamas and alpacas played a crucial role in the Inca Road system. Identifying Pastoralism in Archaeological Sites Finding archaeological evidence for pastoralist activities is a bit tricky, and as you might guess, varies with the type of pastoralism being studied. Archaeological remains of structures such as pens on farmsteads and at way stations on roadways have been used effectively. The presence of game management equipment, such as horse bits, reins, shoes, and saddles are also clues. Animal fat residues- lipids and alkanoic acids of milk fat- are found on potsherds and provide evidence of dairying activities. Environmental aspects of archaeological sites have been used as supporting evidence, such as changes in pollen over time, which show what types of plants are growing in a region; and the presence of detritivores (mites or other insects that feed on animal dung). Animal skeletons provide a wealth of information: bit wear on teeth, wear on hooves from horseshoes, morphological changes on animal bodies, and domestic herd demography. Pastoralists tend to keep female animals only as long as they reproduce, so pastoralist sites typically have more young female animals than older ones. DNA studies have tracked degrees of genetic difference among herds and domestic lineages. Sources Chepstow from the West African Sahel. Journal of World Prehistory 23(2):43-77.Little MA. 2015. Chapter 24 - Pastoralism. Basics in Human Evolution. Boston: Academic Press. p 337-347.Montero RG, Mathieu J, and Singh C. 2009. Mountain Pastoralism 1500-2000: An Introduction. Nomadic Peoples 13:1-16.Nielsen AE. 2009. Pastoralism and the Non-Pastoral World in the Late Pre-Columbian History of the Southern Andes (10001535). Nomadic Peoples 13:17-35.

Nursing organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nursing organization - Essay Example ent elect, immediate past president, secretary, treasurer, four board members and an ex-officio run its affairs, ensuring that the association attains its objectives in the long run. Its functions include promotion of health, recovery and wellness by identifying mental health issues, preventing related problems and providing appropriate care and treatment to people with psychiatric disorders (APNA, 2013). The membership of APNA draws from all educational levels and a varied range of settings including military, forensic, private practice, outpatient and education among others. Currently, the total membership exceeds 8,000 members (APNA, 2013). These members benefit from professional growth and continuing education with access to its scholarships, networking and information access through its Member Bridge program and discounts on certification exams, long term insurance, conference registration fees and educational materials. The membership cost would depend on which of the five categories a member joins. Regular membership would be available to registered nurses, those paying dues and pursue endeavors furthering the association’s purposes. Such members might vote, seek directorship and serve in committees. A joining fee of $135.00 would apply with a monthly fee of $12.50. Mental health professionals not registered as nurses would join as affiliate members at a fee of $135.00. Affiliate membership attracts all membership benefits save for voting or holding office. International membership would be for those residing outside the US at a cost of $135.00 with the entitlement to all membership benefits. For retired registered nurses interested in participating in psychiatric-mental health activities, retired membership at a cost of $75.00 would be their reserve just as the student membership would be reserved for proven nursing students at a cost of $25.00. Student registered nurses could vote though they would not hold office. Among the accomplishments of APNA

Musical influence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Essay

Musical influence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Essay Example In May 1750 another girl was born, and again died young, this time at eleven weeks." 1 That time Leopold was organizing the publication of his musical instruction dissertation Violinschule together with Johann Jakob Lotter, a friend and printer in his home town of Augsburg. He wrote about the good event to Lotter in a letter of February 9: ". . . I must inform [you] that on 27 January, at 8 p.m., my dear wife was happily delivered of a boy; but the placenta had to be removed. She was therefore astonishingly weak. Now, however (God be praised) both child and mother are well. She sends her regards to you both. The boy is called Joannes Chrisostomos, Wolfgang, Gotlieb." There is not very much information about Wolfgang's very early life available. Almost certainly, his father focused on his court career and on giving lessons. Surely he taught Maria Anna, who was called Nannerl in the family. When she was seven, Leopold started teaching her to play the clavier -- and quickly discovered to his real pleasure that she had a talent for music. He continued to teach her, attracting her with a number of exercises that he created for her in a notebook that he called Pour le clavecin, ce Livre appartient Mademoiselle Marie-Anne Mozartin 1759. The boy's inquisitiveness was fired up as well. ... He continued to teach her, attracting her with a number of exercises that he created for her in a notebook that he called Pour le clavecin, ce Livre appartient Mademoiselle Marie-Anne Mozartin 1759. The boy's inquisitiveness was fired up as well. Nannerl later recollected that the three-year-old Wolfgang "often spent much time at the clavier, picking out thirds, which he was always striking, and his pleasure showed that it sounded good." Identifying his children's' unique talents, Leopold started devoting additional effort to their education -- with the stress on musical teaching. He became a devoted, but demanding, taskmaster. A bit later, he rather remorsefully told the correspondent how from a very early age his children "had learned to wear the "iron shirt" of discipline". His daughter and son themselves possibly never realized that they can have different life. Wolfgang, without a doubt, liked the extra attention and studied with pleasure with his father. It was the beginning of relations that he "would never quite break free of", and the start of occupation that would devour him altogether. So, Mozart showed musical talent when he was still very young, composing at five years old and at six playing before the Bavarian elector and the Austrian empress. His father felt that it was appropriate, and might also be gainful, to show his children's God-given talent: so in mid-1763 he took his children on a tour to visit Paris and London, visiting many courts on the way. Mozart surprised people with his bright skills when he played to the French and English audience, published his first music and created his earliest symphonies. The family came

The Role of IMF(International Monetary Fund) and its impact on Poblic PowerPoint Presentation

The Role of IMF(International Monetary Fund) and its impact on Poblic Policy in China and South Korea - PowerPoint Presentation Example This necessitates the need to establish the role played by the IMF in promoting these countries development. IMF is an international organization that was established in the post world war II period. The aim of its establishment was to enhance the stability of foreign exchange. It was also meant to create a channel through which international payment systems would be reconstructed. This followed the disruption of the payment systems during the World War II. Initially, it had a membership of 44 countries. However, its membership stands at 188 in present day. The member countries contribute towards a common pool, from where countries with deficits can borrow. The roles of the IMF have also changed, to include financial and technical assistance to affected member countries. The effects of IMF in East Asia are innumerable. However, the most significant is the assistance of these countries during the financial crisis of East Asia in 1997. Nevertheless, the critics of this role argue that the IMF did not save the situation. They argue that that the higher interest rates charged, the tight monetary policies issued and the forced cut in government budget worsened the situation. However, it is apparent that the financial bailouts given to these countries by the IMF helped them to recover from the crisis. The IMF has influenced China’s public policy in various ways. It maintains and engages in policy dialogue with the Chinese authorities. It helps the Chinese government refine its economic and structural refer issues. The IMF identifies and monitors economic development in China. It helps the Chinese government and authorities undertake developmental and policy implementations. It achieves this through exchanging views regarding these issues. The economic situation of China has changed since it joined IMF. China has grown immensely both economically and socially since joining the IMF. It has

Conducting Forensic Assessments

Conducting Forensic Assessments This study discusses different aspects of forensic psychology in relation to juvenile suspects by assessing an individual in the case study portrayed in the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning. This paper provides the brief descriptions of the following: The case study in the documentary, including a description of the individual and his forensic population. The potential role(s) of a forensic psychologist in relation to the case study. The forensic assessment principles that apply to the case study. Any third party information that may be necessary to collect for the forensic assessment of the case study. Ethical and/or multicultural issues and/or considerations related to the case study. An analysis of how a forensic psychologist might best address each of the ethical and/or multicultural issues and/or considerations that are described. What a forensic psychologist might think important to consider and/or determine when conducting a forensic assessment of the individual in this case study. What the courts might think important to consider and/or determine from a forensic assessment of the individual in this case study. At least two forensic assessment instruments and/or tools that might be used in relation to this case study, with an explanation of why. The elements that would be included in a forensic assessment report based on this case study. Which elements from a forensic assessment report based on this case study would be relevant for testimony, and why. The implications that the assessment may have for the outcome of the case Murder on a Sunday Morning This case study is based upon the forensic assessment of the accused individual in the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning (2001). The crime scene in the documentary portrays Mr. James Stevens witnessing his wife being shot and murdered by a young black male who was robbing her at the gun point. The assailant committing this crime has been characterized as a six feet tall skinny black male of age in between 20 and 25 years. The police arrested Brenton Butler as a suspect who is a 15 year old black male although he is much shorter and younger than the actual assailant that the police was looking for. Nevertheless, Butler was suspected of the murder as he was the only black found near the crime scene at that time and being identified by the victims husband as the assailant who attacked his wife. He was then interrogated in the police station in the absence of his parents and was even denied of getting any legal help. Detective Glover interrogated the young man and attempted to make him confess the crime and pressurized him to locate the murder weapon. The detective took Butler to an area of woods close to the crime scene and hit him once on the face and twice in the stomach as he was unable to extract any information from the suspect. After which, another detective with the name Dwayne Darnell came to work on this case who made Butler sign a pre-written confession that became a prime evidence for the trial. The case was then picked up by Ann Finnell and Patrick Mc Guinness as public defenders against the state of Florida, who systematically proved the prosecution wrong on account of insufficient evidence produced for the trial. They proved that the police tortured Butler both psychologically and physically to obtain the written confession from him and that Butler had no motive for the crime, no forensic evidence and no murder weapon were found and neither do Butler have any criminal record in the past nor he had any history of risk factors such as poor parenting, poverty, mental disorders, etc., normally observed in criminals (Bartol Bartol, 2011 Burkhead, 2006). Hence, the jury set Butler free as he was not found guilty of the crime after just 45 minutes of discussion although Butler had already spent 6 months of imprisonment during the proceedings of the trial. Butler and his family settled for a compensation of 7.75 million dollars when they actually sued for 8.5 million dollars on account of civil rights violations while the lawyer was punished by the District Judge John H, Moore for not pleading the case appropriately (Schoettler Pinkham, 2002). Later, the real criminal was arrested, trialed and convicted for the crime. Although Butler received justice in the end, however, he would have not passed 6 months in prison if some aspects of forensic psychology had been considered earlier in the trial. Forensic psychological assessment would have been done to determine Butlers competency to stand trial. Moreover, Butler should have been given the instruments of Dr. Grisso to understand, assess and appreciate Miranda Rights so that he would have understood the meaning of waiving his rights and possibly would not have made the false confession under pressure (Goldstein, Condie, Kalbeitzer, Osman Geier, 2003). Role of a Forensic Psychologists There are just two aspects of forensic psychology that are applicable to the Butler case, which are: first to assess the ability of the young suspect (Butler) to waive his Miranda rights and the second to determine Butlers competency to stand trial. Assessment Principles The important question is that whether or not to apply different standards to assess the competency of a juvenile? Numerous studies along with this documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning have deduced that juveniles should better be assessed and trialed on the basis of their maturity level rather than just following the Dusky Standard for their assessment since their cognitive and reasoning abilities have not been fully developed as compared to those of the adults. Nevertheless, this issue is still in debate in the circles of the legal system (Ryba, Cooper Zapf, 2003, p500). The forensic psychologists should assess the juvenile suspect irrespective of the standards being followed such that his/her level of understanding the legal proceedings and his/her cognitive mental abilities are measured accurately. I consider that in this case study of the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning if Butler was found incompetent to stand trial earlier in the proceedings then this would not have been much in favor of Butler since such a person is usually sent for treatment until he/she is able to stand trial which may even take several years. As, generally, the court proceedings would still hold while the suspected juvenile is treated through an outpatient method in order to gain competency to stand trial. Since Butler was innocent in the first place therefore keeping the trial on hold until he becomes competent to stand trial after treatment would have been a great injustice to him (Viljoen Roesch, 2008), perhaps the competency analysis was not done in the documentary due to this reason. Another problematic element of forensic psychology is the issue that who is the client. In general, the person whom the psychologist is treating or assessing is his/her client. Nevertheless, in legal matters as the one portrayed in the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning, the psychologist is working in collaboration with the legal team to find out the mental level of the suspect and not for the diagnosis or treatment of the suspects problem. Hence, the final report written by the psychologist in this regard could be greatly biased depending upon the legal-team with which he/she is working and the type of the assessment being conducted. This further signifies that if the psychologist is working with the prosecution then he/she would emphasize over the violent behavior of the suspect in his/her assessment report and thereby, would recommend moving the juvenile suspect to the adult court so that the concentration is applied only to the punishment aspects of the law. On the other hand , if the psychologist is working with the defense counsel then he/she would like to keep the juvenile suspect in the juvenile court system so as to assure the provision of proper assistance and treatment for him/her. Third Party Information The third party information is also very important for a forensic psychologist although most of the information will be acquired from the individual under assessment. The public defenders in the case of Butler used his mother as a source for determining the personality and habits of her son due to which, the prosecution case was weakened. As for instance, Butlers mother refuted the statement of Glover (the primary interrogator) that Butler stood up to hug him and said he was glad to see him when he (the detective) entered in to the room, as she reveals that her son is very reserved and normally never hugs strangers. Although this information could have also been acquired from a psychologist however its impact was more when the mother herself presented it in front of the jury (de Lestrade, 2001). This further indicates that often vital information can be acquired from the third party instead of being available from the client. As the mother pointed out that Butler was very quiet and r eserved, hence his short replies to the questions allowed the forensic examiner to extract very little information from him to present to the court. Further, a doctor certified in front of the jury that the wounds on Butlers body were caused while he was in police custody. Although a forensic psychologist could report this information to the jury as third party information however, in accordance to the 4 Cs of testimony, a psychologist does not have a clinical knowledge about the wounds where as a medical doctor does, therefore the testimony of a medical doctor in this regard would be considered as the stronger evidence. Moreover, a medical doctor could testify that how the wounds were acquired by Butler while a forensic psychologist could not. Thus, the testimony of a medical doctor would pose a better impact on the trial along with ensuring adherence to the 4 Cs of testimony: Clarity, Certainty, Case Specificity and Clinical Knowledge (Kwartner Boccaccini, 2008). Multicultural Since Butler became the victim of racial profiling being the only young black male spotted in the area near to the crime scene, this point can be accounted as the only multicultural issue in this forensic study. Although Butler was younger and shorter than the prime suspect of the case but still the police picked him up for scrutiny. This point could be best utilized by the defense attorney but the forensic psychologist could endorse it, by ensuring that this sort of racial profiling is happening quite commonly across the United States, through various case studies. Forensic Considerations According to the juvenile court rules, the juveniles caught for committing violent crimes can be easily transferred to an adult court for prosecution, after which they will be confined in adult prisons if found guilty (Brannen et al., 2006). However, there is no provision for trialing a juvenile directly in to the adult court system. In the case of Butler, he was automatically prosecuted in an adult court without being prosecuted in and referred by the juvenile court. It is ambiguous that whether or not the necessary measures were followed for transferring him to the adult court system. Court Considerations In this case, the court has to take in to account the age of the accused and the outcome of his interrogation. At the age of 15 years, Butler does not possess the cognitive abilities of a mature person. He was also unaware of the interrogation procedures of the police and his rights in this regard. Since Butler got involved in a legal problem for the first time, he was totally unfamiliar with the Miranda rights due to which the police took advantage of him. Moreover, the medical testimony proving that the police physically abused Butler in order to make him sign the pre-written confession which was actually written by the police instead of Butler. The court would have to look in to the details of all the above considerations prior to affirming to Butlers confession. Forensic Assessments In this case study of Butler, the following forensic assessments would be considered to make a strong case against the prosecution counsel of Butler: Butlers ability to waive Miranda rights. Butlers direct trial in the adult court system. Butlers competency to stand the trial. Butlers psychological evaluation for any deviant behavior or mental problem. Forensic Elements The most important element that the forensic psychologist assigned in this case should consider is that the accused is a juvenile and not all analytical methods are designed for juveniles. Moreover, there is considerable ambiguity in the rights that are given to a juvenile in the proceedings of an adult court system. It is assumed that a juvenile being transferred to the adult court has the same rights and rules as those of an adult provided that such a juvenile bears the same cognitive abilities and understanding of the legal system as those possessed by an adult, which is usually negative. Since the eye witness testimony constitutes a vital evidence in this case, the forensic psychologist would have to prove that how and why testimony of the eye witness (victims husband) was inaccurate as Hugo Munsterberg (1908) showed in his book On the Witness Stand that the testimony of the eye witness can be often deceiving in the proceedings of the court. Ability to waive Miranda rights The Instruments of Dr. Grisso to assess, understand and appreciate Miranda Rights would have been extremely beneficial for Butlers defense in this case. The forensic psychologist should utilize this assessment in analyzing the ability of a juvenile in understanding and waiving his/her Miranda rights in a legal matter (Oberlander Goldstein, 2001). This assessment instrument was developed in the 1970s and then amended in the year 2003 to cater the changes made in the legal systems. The most important characteristic of this assessment instrument that is applicable to the Butlers case is the right of a person arrested to not give answers to the police interrogation until he/she is provided legal assistance of the lawyer by the police (Goldstein, et al., 2003). If this assessment was utilized in the Butlers case then he would not have been exposed to police torture and never would have agreed to the false confession under duress. In this case, the police mislead Butler by assuring him th at they would try to get an attorney for him but never clarified that he had the right to demand for an attorney and remain silent until he has been provided with his legal help. Forensic Report Although the law is absolutely clear in the elements to be included in a forensic report presented in the courts however no standards have been set as yet to carry out a competency analysis on juvenile. Various studies have investigated different methods to evaluate competency and those methods have been used extensively in practice which have been found to be most effective and accurate (Christy, Douglas, Otto Petrila, 2004). Since no standards have been set for assessing competency, hence the studies have observed vast discrepancies in forensic reports. There has been no indication of requesting or completing any forensic reports in the Butlers case. The proceedings of this case should have included an assessment of Butlers competency to stand trial and his ability as a juvenile to waive off his Miranda rights. Implications of the Report In case of the forensic report being completed and presented to the court in relation to Butlers ability to waive off his Miranda rights being a juvenile and his competency to stand trial, the court would have taken Butlers age and unawareness of the legal system in to account before trialing him in the adult court system on charge of a murder. The forensic report would have also enabled the court to assess Butlers understanding of his Miranda rights and his signing to the false confession under duress and thereby, affirming his innocence in this case. Conclusion The Butlers case properly illustrates that why a forensic psychologist should be included in the proceedings of the court, particularly in those involving a juvenile since the juveniles being immature and unaware require more legal protection and different assessment methods than those applicable to adults. In case of being trialed in the adult system, it should be ensured that the system does not exploit the juvenile on trial. Butler was saved from a severe punishment by the public defense attorneys who managed to point out the loopholes in the prosecution case and the violations made by the police interrogators.

The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar - Tragic Hero :: essays research papers

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar - Tragic Hero Essay In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, I saw two main characters as tragic heroes. First, I saw Julius Caesar as a tragic hero because his will to gain power was so strong that he ended up losing his life for it. The fact that he could have been such a strong leader was destroyed when he was killed by conspirators. I saw Marcus Brutus as a second tragic hero in this play. Brutus was such a noble character that did not deserve to die. The main reason why he did die, however, was because he had led a conspiracy against Caesar and eventually killed him. These two characters were the tragic heroes of the play in my opinion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Caesar and Brutus were main characters in this play. Two sides formed during the play, and these two characters were the leaders of each side, respectively. Also, each character held a high rank in the Roman society. Caesar was the ruler of the Roman Empire, and could basically do whatever he wanted due to his outstanding power. Brutus was a general for the Empire and he was respected and was seen as a noble man and true â€Å"Roman† by many.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Caesar and Brutus were truly noble people. Caesar was a dignified and courageous man. He gained his power through hard work and courage. However, Caesar was marked by a weakness: he wanted too much power. This weakness proved to be fatal in the play. Brutus, on the other hand, was a strong leader throughout the whole play. People listened to him easily and he showed his nobility by always being open to others. Despite his good character, he did make one fatal mistake in judgment. He killed Caesar thinking he would gain too much power, yet it was truly his friend Cassius’s jealously of Caesar that truly snared him into the conspiracy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each of the two characters gained some kind of wisdom before they came to an unhappy end. Caesar found out that one of his best friends, Brutus, had betrayed him just seconds before he died from the daggers of the conspirators. Brutus also learns something before he dies. When he knows that Cassius had committed suicide, he too commits suicide. He knew that be doing that, Caesar’s ghost was truly avenged.

Product life cycle and its stages Essay

In today’s world, where market is unpredictable, strategies play crucial role in defending a firm’s product position. â€Å"The main reason why companies must continually develop new products is because products have life cycle†, (Bittel, 1980). Just as operation managers must be prepared to develop new products, they must also be prepared to develop strategies for both new and existing products. First and foremost, before proceeding into the product life cycle strategies, lets define what a product life cycle is. According to Griffin and Ebert (2002), a product life cycle is a series of stages through which it passes during its profit -producing life. Depending on the product’s ability to attract and keep customers over time, a product life cycle may be a matter of months, years, or even decades. Anyway, there are four phases that every product undergoes in a market since it was produced and launched to its out-of market position. They are the introductor y, growth, maturity and decline phases. Below follows the figure of a product life cycle and all phases’ detailed descriptions shall be described later. Also, considerations must be given to how far the product is along the product life cycle. A new concept / product just entering the product life cycle may require intensive distribution to start with to launch it on to the market. As it becomes more established, perhaps the after sales-service will play a more important role which leads to a more selective distribution, with only those dealers that are able to offer the necessary standard of after sales-service being allowed to sell the product. In simpler words, in every phase of a product life cycle, a product should undergo different, suitable strategy in order to stay competitive in the ever changing market. Below follows the product life cycle stages along with their definitions and beneficial strategies†¦ Introductory Stage: According to Stevenson (1999), the introduction stage begins when a product  reaches the market place. When an item is first introduced, it may be treated with curiosity by the buyers. Demand is generally low as buyers are not yet familiar with that item. This often leads to the drop of the product’s price. Therefore, along with time, production and design improvements, many new products became more reliable, less costly, and also the increase in awareness in buyers lads to the increase in demand. Also, according to Griffin and Ebert (2002), during this stage, marketers focus on making their target markets aware of the products and their benefits. Also, during this stage, the particular product is represented with innovation (diffusion of innovative curve), product development (Ansoff Growth Matrix) and problem children (Boston Consulting Group). Among the common characteristics, according to Smith et al – 1997 are: – new products; – low sales; – low market share; – Specific type of customers willing to buy new products. During this phase, as compared to the other phases, profits are negative or low because of low sales and high distribution and promotional expenses. Promotional expenditures are high as the company is eager to inform customers’ about the product’s availability and get them to try it. Since the market is not ready for new products at this stage, the firm focuses on selling such items to those who are the readiest to buy. A company that wishes to be a market leader for its product must choose to launch a strategy that is consistent with the intended product positioning. The company, when deciding on which strategy to implement for the product’s long-term, life and will have to continuously formulate new pricing, promotion and other marketing strategies. Growth Stage: It is the second stage of product life cycle process. Only if the new product satisfies the market’s demand and need, it will enter this stage. According to Heizer and Render (2001), in the growth phase, product design has begun to stabilize, and effective forecasting of capacity requirements is necessary. Adding capacity or enhancing existing capacity to accommodate the increase in product demand may be necessary. Also, customers who have tried the product earlier may remain loyal. In the face of such opportunity, new competitors will start entering the market and they will introduce new product features and hence, expanding the market, leaving the product’s price constant or fall slightly. Here, a company, in order to stay competitive in the market, should keep on promoting its product. In addition, profits start to increase. The firm has several strategies to stay in the rapid growing market as long as possible. Also, the firm improves the product quality, adds more distribution channels, changing the advertising theme – from promoting the product to the market to reminding the market on the availability of the product as well as to increase awareness. The firm also lowers the price in order to attract more buyers. During this stage, usually firms that have successfully passed their product’s introduction stage have high market share and are highly profitable. On the whole, as said by Smith et al – 1997, this phase is represented by: – sales and profits growth; – more widespread usage; – development of the market; – high market share; – Increasing competition. Maturity Stage: The third stage for a product to go. As stated by Pride et al, (1988), sales are still increasing at the beginning of the maturity stage, but the rate of increase has slowed. Later in this stage, the sales curve peaks and begins to decline. Many products maturity stages lasted longer than the previous stages. Industry profits decline throughout this stage. During this stage, sales growth starts to slow down. Hence, the firm as well as its market competitors starts lowering down their prices, increases advertising and sales promotions. Also, the intense market led weaker competitors to quit. Only those strong enough will be able to precede the competition. A company should consider a different strategy when its product cines ti maturity, either by redesigning the market or its product. Modifying market is when the company tries to increase consumption if the current product. The currently matured product can also be redesigned its package or style. It is an effective way of strengthening a firm’s market share. Consumers may also be encouraged to use the product more often or in new ways. Pricing strategies are flexible during this stage, such as markdowns pr price incentives. Marketers may offer incentives and services to declare offering such matured products, especially from competitors. Sales promotions and aggressive personal selling can e effective during this period, when competition may require large promotional expenditures. On the whole, just as adopted from Smith et al (1997), this phase is represented by: – market maturity and a slow-down in sales growth’ – conversion of late majority of customers, and – trying to increase market penetration and share. Decline Stage: The final stage of the product life cycle. According to Lancaster and Jobber (1994), it is when sales begin to fall and already slim profit margins are depressed even further. Customers have begun to become bored with the product and are looking forward to newer, latest products. Dealers begin to de-stock the product in anticipation of reduced sales. Here, sales and profits sank lower, due to various reasons such as advancement in technology, shifts in consumer tastes or intense competitions. Such factors have forced many companies to quit the market and for the other remaining companies, they may have to redesign their strategies to stay longer in the market by raising the price to cover cists, re price to maintain market share, or lower the price to reduce inventory. The firm can also cut down or tighten the product’s advertising and promotional budget so it will be easier for the company to lower down the price. In addition, the company can also â€Å"downsize† its market and focuses on smaller segment as well as their trade channels. In other words, distribution of the declining product will be narrowed to te most profitable existing market. Also, the product will not be highly promoted, although advertising and promotions may be used to slow down the decline. Instead, the firm may even decide to drop the product entirely at the end. Just like the above three phases, this stage is also represented by: – declining sales and profits; – rationalism in the marketplace through mergers, acquisitions and take-over; – some products will be milked for the profits; – often products may need to be harvested; and – in a few cases, product extensions can be developed. Detecting Maturity and Decline: â€Å"The need in strategy development is to detect changes in the trend of  industry sales, to detect when the product life cycle will enter a new phase†, (Asker, 1984). In other word, it is very essential for a firm to view and analyze all market factors involved when its product’s growth phase of the product life cycle changes to a flat maturity phase and when the maturity phase changes into a decline phase. Below are some factors that supply as market indicators that serve as an aid for a firm in detecting its product maturity and decline†¦ – Price pressures caused by overcapacity and the lack of product differentiation; – As the product matures. Buyers have become familiar with the related product and hence, they are unwilling to pay finest price for the product in order to obtain brand security; – Technology advancement and substitute products may lead to the decline of a product. A suitable example for this case is the black and white television sets which due to technological development have lead to the production of color televisions – a definite unpredictable effect on sales of black and white television sets; – When the number of potential first time buyers for a particular product decreases, the market along with the company sales and profits happen to decline; – The market is fully penetrated and there are no sources of growth from existing and new users; and – Existing customers may start to be disinterested in the product and are probably looking forward to switch brands. Actually a product life cycle is conceptually simple yet powerful. However, it is not easily applied. The stages described above are not easily forecasted or predicted or even easily determined. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine and analyze the product definition and finally, even  if the stages in the life cycle are determined, the strategy implications are not always obvious. Therefore, on the whole, I would like to conclude that a company should be aware of the life cycle stages of each product it is responsible for. The company should also predict on how long the product is expected to linger in that stage. Such thinking is very important for setting up strategies such as let say, if the product is expected to remain the maturity stage for a long time; a replacement product might be introduced later in the maturity stage. On the other hand, if the maturity stage is expected to be short, however, a new product should be introduced much earlier.

USS Monitor in the American Civil War

USS Monitor in the American Civil War One of the first ironclads constructed for the US Navy, the origins of USS Monitor began with changes in naval ordnance during the 1820s. Early in that decade, French artillery officer Henri-Joseph Paixhans developed a mechanism that allowed for shells to be fired with flat trajectory, high-powered naval guns. Trials using the old ship-of-the-line Pacificateur (80 guns) in 1824 showed that exploding shells could inflict significant damage on traditional wooden hulls. Refined over the next decade, shell-firing guns based on Paixhans design were common in the worlds leading navies by the 1840s. Rise of the Ironclad Recognizing wooden ships vulnerability to shells, Americans Robert L. and Edwin A. Stevens began the design of an armored floating battery in 1844. Forced to re-evaluate the design due to rapid advances in shell technology, the project came to a halt a year later when Robert Stevens fell ill. Though resurrected in 1854, the Stevens vessel never came to fruition. During this same period, the French successfully experimented with armored floating batteries during the Crimean War (1853-1856). Based on these results, the French Navy launched the worlds first ocean-going ironclad, La Gloire, in 1859. This was followed by the Royal Navys HMS Warrior (40) a year later. Union Ironclads With the start of the Civil War, the US Navy convened an Ironclad Board in August 1861 to assess potential designs for armored warships. Calling for proposals for iron-clad steam vessels of war, the board sought vessels capable of operating in the shallow waters along the American coast. The board was further spurred to action due to reports that the Confederacy was seeking to convert the captured remains of USS Merrimack (40) into an ironclad. The board ultimately selected three designs to be constructed: USS Galena (6), USS  Monitor (2), and USS New Ironsides (18) Monitor was designed by Swedish-born inventor John Ericsson who had previously had a falling out with the Navy in the wake of the 1844 USS Princeton disaster which had killed six people including Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Gilmer. Though he had not intended to submit a design, Ericsson became involved when  Cornelius S. Bushnell consulted him regarding the Galena project. In the course of the meetings, Ericsson showed Bushnell his own concept for an ironclad and was encouraged to submit his revolutionary design. Design Consisting of a revolving turret mounted on a low armored deck, the design was likened to a cheese box on a raft. Possessing a low freeboard, only the ships turret, stacks, and small armored pilot house projected above the hull. This almost non-existent profile made the ship very difficult to hit, though it also meant that it performed badly on the open sea and was prone to swamping. Highly impressed by Ericssons innovative design, Bushnell traveled to Washington and convinced the Navy Department to authorize its construction. The contract for the ship was given to Ericsson and work began in New York. Construction Subcontracting the construction of the hull to Continental Iron Works in Brooklyn, Ericsson ordered the ships engines from Delamater Co. and the turret from Novelty Iron Works, both of New York City. Working at a frenetic pace, Monitor was ready for launch within 100 days of being laid down. Entering the water on January 30, 1862, workers began finishing and fitting out the ships interior spaces. On February 25 work was completed and Monitor commissioned with Lieutenant John L. Worden in command. Sailing from New York two days later, the ship was forced to return after its steering gear failed. USS Monitor - General Nation: United StatesBuilder: Continental Iron Works, Brooklyn, NYLaid Down: October 1861Launched: January 30, 1862Commissioned: February 25, 1862 Fate: Lost at sea, December 31, 1862 Specifications Type: Monitor-class ironcladDisplacement: 987 tonsLength: 172 ft.Beam: 41 ft. 6 in.Draft: 10 ft. 6 in.Complement: 59Speed: 8 knots Armament 2 x XI-inch Dahlgren smoothbores Operational History Following repairs, Monitor departed New York on March 6, this time under tow, with orders to proceed to Hampton Roads. On March 8, the newly completed Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia steamed down the Elizabeth River and struck at the Union squadron at Hampton Roads. Unable to pierce Virginias armor, the wooden Union ships were helpless and the Confederate succeeded in sinking the sloop of war USS Cumberland and frigate USS Congress. As darkness fell, Virginia withdrew with the intention of returning the next day to finish off the remaining Union ships. That night Monitor arrived and took up a defensive position. Returning the next morning, Virginia encountered Monitor as it approached USS Minnesota. Opening fire, the two ships began the worlds first battle between ironclad warships. Pounding each other for over four hours, neither was able to inflict significant damage on the other. Though Monitors heavier guns were able to crack Virginias armor, the Confederates scored a hit on their adversarys pilot house temporarily blinding Worden. Unable to defeat Monitor, Virginia withdrew leaving Hampton Roads in Union hands. For the rest of the spring, Monitor remained, guarding against another attack by Virginia. During this time, Virginia attempted to engage Monitor on several occasions but was refused as Monitor was under presidential orders to avoid battle unless absolutely required. This was due to President Abraham Lincolns fear that the ship would be lost allowing Virginia to take control of the Chesapeake Bay. On May 11, after Union troops captured Norfolk, the Confederates burned Virginia. Its nemesis removed, Monitor began participating in regular operations, including reconnaissance of the James River to Drurys Bluff on May 15. After supporting Major General George McClellans Peninsula Campaign in the summer, Monitor participated in the Union blockade at Hampton Roads that fall. In December, the ship received orders to proceed south to aid in operations against Wilmington, NC. Departing under tow by USS Rhode Island, Monitor cleared the Virginia Capes on December 29. Two nights later, it began to take water as it encountered a storm and high waves off Cape Hatteras. Foundering, Monitor sank along with sixteen of its crew. Though in service for less than a year, it profoundly influenced warship design and several similar ships were built for the Union Navy. In 1973, the wreck was discovered sixteen miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. Two years later it was designated a national marine sanctuary. At this time, some artifacts, such as the ships propeller, were removed from the wreck. In 2001, recovery efforts began to salvage the ships steam engine. The next year, Monitors innovative turret was raised. These have all been taken to the Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA for preservation and display.

Tragedy in Dantes Comedy essay

Tragedy in Dantes Comedy essay Tragedy in Dantes Comedy essay Tragedy in Dantes Comedy essayThe mysterious and tragic events, the readers are fond of in Dante’s works, seem to have their roots in his personal life. He was born in Italy, in 1265 the period of serious political transformations in the country. At the age of 20, Dante had to marry a woman, which his family had chosen for him. It was a personal tragedy for the author, who was at that moment in love with another woman Beatrice. Her past, her roots and finally her sudden death are bearing a cover of mystery and melancholy, which the readers are able to sense, when reading one of his most famous works The Comedy. The writing of The Comedy coincided with deep political crisis in Italy, developed on the basis of confrontation between state and church authorities, along with personal love anguish of the author. The two major characters of The Comedy Beatrice and Virgil are in a way similar – as serving the guides for the author, at the same time the directions, they are go ing, are not the same: Beatrice is taking Dante to Heaven, reflecting his spirituality and morality, whereas Virgil – is his wise mentor and supporter in Hell, symbolizing his common sense and reason.Inferno, being the first part of The Comedy, is considered to be a virtuous political allegory, the outstanding exercise of intellect, breakthrough in the development of language and literature of the medieval times. The Comedy was written in Italian language, this played a vitally important role for expressing the Dante’s attitude towards political situation in the country, he used to live in. All the previous works he wrote in Latin, which was the language of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church. The name of the poem was another allegory, because there was no intention either to make it humorous or to entertain reader with happy end, rather to penetrate into a classical tragedy with its intriguing beginning and tragic end.On his way through the afterlife, Dante meets a lot of characters, all of them have their stories and appeal to the deepest emotions of the readers, However the key figures in the whole poem remain Virgil, or better to say Virgil’s ghost and Beatrice. These two characters play different roles in the afterlife travel of the author. Most critics agree that Virgil is the presentation of human reason, which protects and guides any person throughout his life. In Inferno Virgil is the only character, who is constantly very close to Dante, who is protecting him from monsters and demons, who is wise and resolute as any mentor should be. Dante trusts him and listens to him. At the moment of their meeting, he says to Virgil: O light and honor of all other poets, may my long study and the intense love that made me search your volume serve me now.   You are my master and my author, you-the only one from whom my writing drew the noble style for which I have been honored.† (Alighieri 13). He derives his moral strength in Virg il’s support, learns his moral lessons. Dante is not that impartial as Virgil, as he often feels sympathy towards the sinners, they meet on their way in Inferno. Here Virgil’s impatience contributes to his presentation as a human being, instead of ghost, as such emotions can only be inherent to an individual. However general attitude of the author is rather dual, because along with this admiration of Virgil’s wisdom, Dante often underlines his poetic weakness as a classical bard. Thus, if Virgil is seen by the author on the one hand as wise mentor and on the other hand as a poetic competitor, Beatrice is Dante’s inspiration. Real relationship with Beatrice is mysterious and the only fact, which is evident nowadays, is the passion and desire, Dante felt towards his muse. There are no evidences if his love was answered by Beatrice, but in The Comedy, she is the one, who initiated this journey, because she loved him and was concerned about the path he chose. She has to leave her place in Heaven and go to Hell, to guide Dante. Actually the role of the Beatrice is not so prominent in Inferno, as it becomes further, when she takes the leading role instead of Virgil and shows Dante the way to Heaven. The same like Virgil at some moments, managed to become a strong supporter for the author, Beatrice is also a kind of light at the end of the tunnel when Dante believes, that he can not go any further, he only has to think of his love to Beatrice and meeting with her is the strongest motivation for him. From the way, Beatrice is presented in the poem, from her role in it, we can assume, that she is the reflection of spiritual love, as it was seen by the author, the strongest and the most gentle feeling a human is able to experience in his life.  During his whole life Dante Alighieri was surrounded by moral, ethical, philosophical political problems, the solution for which he was so much eager to find. All the historical and political events , he had witnessed, had deep impact upon formation of his ideals and conceptions. Looking for the answers for the most burning questions, he was creating his famous works, which attract readers till nowadays. The brightest characters, which he managed to create, penetrate the readers into his world of pure love, literary and philosophical wanderings: Virgil, being his mentor and competitor and Beatrice – his spiritual love and muse.

Depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Depression - Essay Example Low mood is the primary symptom of depression and often clients in pursuit of getting rid of these negative emotions resort to abusing narcotics that do more harm than good. As it is also observed in patient care units, individuals suffering from depression become so heavily dependent on the narcotic that discontinuation is followed by severe withdrawal symptoms. The individual also resort to increasing the amount of drugs taken, which can lead to the individual dying as a result of an overdose. Drug abuse can also result in the individual partaking in activities that may regretted later that can exacerbate the depression experienced by the individual. (Jaekel et.al. 2009) Drug abuse is equally detrimental as depression and can seriously hamper one’s social and occupational functioning. Therefore, in order to help the individual avoid addictive behavior, the clinician must try to effectively treat the depression and if not, client psycho-education is really helpful in getting them to avoid undesirable behavior. Clinicians must explain to them the detrimental repercussions of drug abuse and their vulnerability to it, so that clients do not indulge in such behavior.

Nursing Should Not Unionize Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nursing Should Not Unionize - Essay Example It seems that there are various strong arguments against the unionization of nurses. The first argument, in the opinion of Anne Shields and Kathleen Rice, is that unionization of nurses goes in stark contradiction with the Florence Nightingale Pledge to â€Å"devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care† (Shields & Rice, 2000). It is very evident that a nurse needs to be able to think, speak, and act independently in order to serve this purpose. However, unions often come between patient and nurse. This takes away the professional freedom and status of nurses. To illustrate, it is very common for unions to adopt strike and walkout as the strategies to achieve their targets. In such cases, all the nurses in the union will be forced to do so because of their affiliations. However, unlike other professions, all healing professions are first and foremost servants of the patient. Unionization often comes with common issues like collective bargaining, political action, and litigation. When such economic considerations are given importance, the quality of patient care goes down. Another adverse impact of unions will be on the effectiveness of supervision. Admittedly, the reality of nursing is that the ones who are highly dedicated and perform exceptionally are appreciated and better compensated by the nursing supervisors. However, the presence of a contractual agreement will make it impossible for the supervisors even to think about giving different compensation to different people violating the agreements. Things turn even worse when it is about incompetence. To illustrate, it is possible for a supervisor or management to remove such nurses who are ‘good enough’ or who are incompetent regardless of their seniority. However, such actions invite the wrath of unions. Thus, managers lose the power to argue for the welfare of the patient. Thus, AS Sbinga (2008) points out, instead of providing the best possible care to the patient, the