Veterans Of The Us Military - 861 Words

Veterans of the US military should be some of the most respected men and women of the United States. They risk their lives for years to fight for the freedom of Americans, and yet when they return home some are left homeless, financially unstable, injured, or worse. These men and women need help and should no longer be left to fight on their own. Veterans should be provided with a center to get back on their feet because many veterans suffer from mental disorders and substance abuse due to the things that they encountered during the war. One of the most common things veterans encounter during the war is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened. The most common symptoms of PTSD is difficulty concentrating, lack of interest/apathy, feelings of detachment, loss of appetite, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response and sleep disturbances. The statistics show that at least 20% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD. But 50% of those with PTSD do not seek treatment out of the half that seek treatment, only half of them get â€Å"minimally adequate treatment.† This issue is very serious because of how much stress it puts on these veterans. With a rehabilitation center these veterans could get the help that they need until they are healthy enough to go out on their own. The symptoms of PTSD can be extremelyShow MoreRelatedEssay on Women Dealing with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder638 Words   |  3 PagesAfrican American female’s veterans, in terms of gender, experience a higher symptom of PTSD than male veterans. The study is aimed at providing analysis demographic characteristics, diagnostic validity, and the normative sampling, among the three ethnic populations of women who experienced treatment for PTSD compared to servicemen veterans. Harrison, J. P., Satterwhite, L. F., Ruday, J. (2010). The Financial Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on Returning US Military Personnel. Journal of HealthRead MoreIs Neuropsychiatric Disorders Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?1261 Words   |  6 PagesThe foremost disease category in the US is neuropsychiatric disorders, with 25% of citizens 18 years and older suffering from a diagnosable mental illness (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011; National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 2010). These mental disorders are broken into 5 axes and 17 DSM groups by the DSM-IV and include groupings such as developmental disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, etc. (American Psychological Association, 2013). Within theRead MoreCarl Johnson s Life Matters903 Words   |  4 PagesCarl Johnson’s life matters. A 90-year-old veteran in Virginia, Carl was the last Tuskegee Airman to graduate from the famed school that produced so many heroic Afric an American aviators. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, the U.S. Army issued Carl a train ticket for a Pullman sleeping car so he could get from Texas to Alabama for his military training in 1946. Carl recalled being told by the station manager that he and his fellow black soldiers were not allowed to use the PullmanRead MoreVeteran Specific Healthcare1291 Words   |  5 Pagesis the Veterans hospital and the career is military service. The Department of Veterans Affairs runs a total of 128 Veterans Hospitals in the United States. Which is a good start coming from the Naval home hospital in 1812 and that may seem like a lot but you have to realize that is less than three per state and there is an estimated twenty three million veterans now, which means you have a total of 179,688 per hospital at the moment. This leads to many problems the Department of Veterans AffairsRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )1045 Words   |  5 Pagesof the Leading Causes of High Unemployment Rates among U.S. Veterans† The newest face of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has manifested itself regularly into action packed movies, public scrutiny, and negative stereotypes by the media. The unfortunate truth surrounding PTSD is that employers are unenthusiastic about hiring veterans with these hidden disabilities. Unemployment rates in the United States amongst post 9/11 veterans have significantly increased and employers consider the conditionRead MoreStudent Veterans And Traditional Students995 Words   |  4 PagesAs the number of student veterans continues to increase within the university system, it is imperative to examine both the similarities and the differences between student veterans and traditional students (students without military experience), and what effect those differences may have on student veterans’ ability to succeed. We surveyed thirty undergraduates at the University of Alaska Anchorage, assessing their grade point average, age, hours spent studying, and various o ther factors which weRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pagesa crisis existing within its population of returning veterans. More and more, we see veterans of the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and the war on Terror, return with not only debilitating physical wounds, but longer lasting psychological wounds of war. Furthermore, there’s a stigma with mental health in the country which dictates; if you seek help for mental health issues, you’re weak. This isn’t only a problem amongst returning veterans, but all citizens. The returning warrior shouldn’t haveRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Red Convertible By Louise Erdrich1018 Words   |  5 PagesRed Convertible† by Louise Erdrich is a story the author uses to shed light on the effects of mental illness on Vietnam era returning combat veterans. The story includes the effects not just on the veterans, also on their family and community. The acceptance and treatment of mental illness in veterans takes on new meaning with the recent increase in veterans returning from extended periods of service suffering from the disease of mental illness. The treatment for mental illness in earlier times suchRead MoreAgent Orange : A Herbicide Mixture Used By The Us Military During The Vietnam War Essay1350 Words   |  6 PagesAgent Orange is a herbicide mixture used by the US military during the Vietnam War. (Agent Orange Vietnam War History). The Department of defense advance project (DARPA) had an important role in the U.S development of herbicides as a military weapon (usa.gov). The first large scale defoliation by the US military took place in Fort Drum using a chemical called agent purple and a spray system that was the model for the one used in Vietnam (Buckingham). The use of chemicals in war is considered biologicalRead MoreAmerican Military And Health Care1563 Words   |  7 Pages American Military Family and Health Care Serena Thorne Oklahoma Wesleyan University American Military Family and Health Care American military families today are faced with many challenges, more than what they faced 50 years ago. Insurance companies today are looking out for the bottom dollar instead of working for the patient and family. Military families are faced working with many different agencies to help care for their loved one. There are more family members keeping their family

The Case to Keep Drugs Illegal Free Essays

The Case to Keep Drugs Illegal The article, â€Å"Don’t Legalize Those Drugs†, by Barry McCaffrey was made to claim that the current United States policy against drugs is indeed successful and should not be abolished. McCaffrey claims, â€Å"Drug use imposes an unacceptable risk of harm on the user and others,† then proceeds to provide substantial support for this claim. He also claims â€Å"harm reduction†, or the softening of the drug laws, would have a negative effect on our countries well-being. We will write a custom essay sample on The Case to Keep Drugs Illegal or any similar topic only for you Order Now The strength of McCaffrey’s argument is his ability to support his claims. One of his main supports is that â€Å"Substance abuse wrecks families†. He then provides perceived facts about child maltreatment, death rates, and other problems in families with substance abuse issues. He also discusses crime outside of families and how having legal drugs, our crime rate would actually increase because people on drugs are more likely to commit crimes. He uses the statistic that says â€Å"in 1997, a third of state prisoners and about one in five federal prisoners said they had committed the crimes that led to incarceration while under the influence of drugs. † There are many warrants that connect McCaffrey’s evidence to his claim. The most obvious one is the accuracy of his sources. There are many facts that are based on percentages and surveys but there is not a clear sample size. How many people are being surveyed or where are the statistics being gathered are all valid questions. He also says that â€Å"studies show that the more a product is available and legitimized, the greater will be its use†. This needs many warrants, what study actually shows this and how can it be proven that use will be more common? Finally, he stands firm against â€Å"harm reduction† and claims this will make drug use greater, but one could definitely argue that â€Å"harm reduction† would help drug abuse. McCaffrey discusses how he believes drug policies can be improved without being abolished as a counter argument to those who believe the current system is unsuccessful. He talks about how prevention is the true solution to our country’s drug issues. Also, his defense to those who argue for choice, he says that we have agreed consistently against things that can cause harm to us. Fore example, wearing a helmet when on a motorcycle therefore, the drug issue is no different. Overall, this is a well written argument and McCaffrey does a great job supporting his claim and making claims against counter arguments. Works Cited McCaffrey, Barry R. â€Å"Don’t Legalize Those Drugs. † Washington Post June 1999, n. pag. Print. How to cite The Case to Keep Drugs Illegal, Essay examples

Legal Studies Law of Agency

Question: Discuss about theLegal Studiesfor Law of Agency. Answer: Introduction In the present case, advised has to be provided to Tess, Paula and Sepal Co regarding the transactions that took place between the parties. Advice for Tess: in this case, Paula had expressly instructed Tess to buy 1200 climwits from Woddo Co as she needed them urgently. Paula also told Tess that the price should not exceed $12,000. However when Tess contacted Woddo Co, they told that they had no stock available at present. Under the circumstances, Tess contacted Sepal Co. they told Tess that they had a lot of stock of climwits but they sold only in lots of 1400. As they had not done any business dealings with Paula in the past, the were ready to sell to Tess only. In this regard, they were also ready to give a discount of 10% to Tess. Under these circumstances, an order was placed by Tess in her own name for purchasing 1400 climwits at a price of $16,000 along with a discount of 10%. However when Tess told Paula that she had purchased 1400 climwits from Sepal Co at the price of $16,000, Paula immediately contacted Sepal Co and told them that they should supply only 1200 climwits at a price of $12,000. Under the circumsta nces, the issue arises if the contract created by Tess with Sepal Co in her name can be enforced against Paula or in other words, if Paula is bound by this contract or not. For dealing with the presentation, it needs to be seen who can be considered as an agent. In this context, the law provides that any agent is the person who has been provided the authority to create legal relations between a third party and the principal (Shavell, 1980). Therefore, the relationship of agent in principle arises when the principal has allowed the agent to act on its behalf. In this context, the principal also owes certain contractual duties towards the agent. Therefore, while it is the duty of the agent to serve the principal obediently and loyally, it is also the duty of the principal to compensate the agent as agreed between them and also to protect and indemnify the agent against any claim, liability and the expenses that may have been incurred by the agent while performing the duties given by the principal. Advice for Paula: In view of the nature of agency relationship, there are liabilities for the principal and also for the agent regarding a third party. According to the agency law, generally the agent does not incur any liability under the contract when a contract is validly created between the principal and the third-party. On the other hand, in some cases, the agent may be held liable towards the third-party who has entered into a contract with the principal. Therefore in such cases, it can be held that the agent is liable towards the principal when the terms of the agency agreement have been breached by the agent. Similarly, the event can also be held to be liable towards the principal if the agent has acted negligently. There are a number of situations where the agent can be held liable towards a third party, and some of these situations depend on the fact if the presence of the principal has been disclosed by the agent to the third party. Therefore under the agency law, when the contractual agency arrangement has been breached by the agent, in such a case, legal action can be taken by the principal against the agent (Landes and Posner, 1987). Apart from the above mentioned liabilities, the law of agency provides that an agent can also be held liable for the tortious acts like negligence if the agent has failed to act within the scope of authority, express or implied or the apparent authority. In the present case, Paul authorized Tess to act on his behalf for purchasing 1200 climwits at a price of $12,000. Paula had also instructed Tess that she should buy the climwits from Woddo Co. But when they were not available with Woddo, Tess contacted Sepla Co and they told Tess that they have a large stock of climwits but they only sell in lots of 1400. At the same time, they also told Tess that as they had never dealt with Paul R., they will supply the Climwits to Tess only. At the same time, the price mentioned by Sepla Co was $16000 along with a discount of 10 percent. Advice for Sepla Co: In this context, the law provides that in case of the acts of the agent that fall within the actual or apparent authority of the agent, the agent cannot be held liable for these acts if the relationship of agency has been disclosed by the agent and at the same time, the identity of the principal has also been disclosed by the agent. On the other hand, the law of agency provides that when the agency has not been disclosed or partially disclosed, in such a case the agent as well as the principal will be held liable (Schiff, 1983). On the other hand, when the principal is not bound by the acts of the agent due to the lack of actual or apparent authority on part of the agent, such an agent will be held liable towards the third party in case of breaching the implied warranty of authority (Fishman, 1987). In the present case, Tess had disclosed the fact that she was acting as an agent of Paula when she wanted to purchase climwits from Sepla Co. Therefore, in the present case, the agreement formed by Tess can be enforced by Sepla Co against Paula. The issue that arises in this question is if Marco can set aside the contract that he has created with Ted. Hence, it has to be seen if an actionable misrepresentation has been made by Ted. It needs to be noted in this regard that the misrepresentation under common law overlaps with the statutory provisions related with misleading conduct. Therefore, the provisions of common law dealing with misrepresentation are practically relevant only when the provisions of Competition and Consumer Act, 2010 are not applicable or in other words, in noncommercial context. In this regard, the common law provides that an actionable pre-contractual misrepresentation is that would have been made by a party to the contract where such a party has made a false representation, whether orally or in writing or by conduct and the representation is of fact and therefore not a statement related with opinion of law or any prediction related with the future (Pentony et al., 2014). In this regard, it is also required that such a statement should have been made to the other party to the contract and similarly, the other body should have been induced by such a statement to enter into the contract. Whe re it has been established that the contract has been created on the basis of misrepresentation, the major remedy available to the other party is the recession of the contract. At this point, it also needs to be mentioned that generally damages are not awarded by the court in such cases unless the misrepresentation made by their party also amounts to a tort, or in other words it is fraudulent or negligent and therefore in such a case, damages under the tort law may be avoided by the court but they are not available under the contract (Dal Pont, 2008). Similarly, even when it has been established that a party to the contract has made misrepresentation, there are certain limits that have been imposed on the right to rescind the contract, for example, if it is not possible to restore the parties to the original position, the right to rescind the contract will not be available to the parties. In order to establish that a misrepresentation has been made by other party, the meaning of representation will be considered by the court by adopting an objective approach. Moreover, in such cases it is also required that the misrepresentation should be:- A statement of an existing or a past fact. It should be a positive misrepresentation. And There shall be reliance on the misrepresentation by the other party. Therefore the law requires that for the purpose of obtaining relief for a misrepresentation, it is required that the representation should be a statement that has been made regarding existing or a past fact. Therefore such a statement can be made by a party to the contract oraly or in writing or such statement can also be implied from the conduct of such a party. On the other hand, generally relief is not provided by the court in case of other types of statements like statements of opinion, statements that are mere puffs or the statements that are related with future intentions and the statements of law. In the same way, generally the relief will be provided by the court only when a representation has been made by the other party and it has proved to be false. This means that relief will not be provided by the courts for the failure to disclose something by the other party. However, there are certain exceptions present to this general rule, for example in cases where a duty of disclosure can be imposed on the other party. As mentioned above, in case of the pre-contractual misrepresentations, contractual remedies may be available under the common law or statutory remedies may also be available to the other party in accordance with the Competition and Consumer Act, 2010. Earlier, this legislation was known as the Trade Practices Act, 1974. However the provisions of CCA are being used more commonly because it is applicable in a wider range of circumstances and generally it is considered that this legislation provides better remedies. As mentioned above, in case of the pre-contractual misrepresentations, contractual remedies may be available under the common law or statutory remedies may also be available to the other party in accordance with the Competition and Consumer Act, 2010. Earlier, this legislation was known as the Trade Practices Act, 1974. However the provisions of CCA are being used more commonly because it is applicable in a wider range of circumstances and generally it is considered that this legislation provides better remedies. In the present case, the provisions of common law related with unconscionable conduct also need to be discussed. In this context, unconscionable conduct is also concerned with the transactions that take place between dominant and weaker parties as a result, it overlaps with provisions dealing with undue influence and duress. While unconscionable conduct has been prohibited by equity, recently there have been statutory provisions that also prohibit unconscionable conduct. According to equity, it will intervene if an advantage has been taken by one party, of the special disability from which the other party was suffering (Terry and Giugni, 2009). Such disability can be illiteracy, lack of education, advanced age or a combination of such factors. At the same time, it is also required that the transaction created by unconscionable conduct should be harsh and oppressive for the weaker party. Therefore when unconscionable conduct has been established, the weaker party has a choice to avoid such a transaction. Similarly the Australian Consumer Law also prohibits unconscionable conduct. These provisions are present in Part 2-2, ACL. These statutory prohibitions are also based on equitable notion of unconscionable conduct and in this way, they extend the range of remedies that may be available to the weaker party that hasn't suffered unconscionable conduct. In the present case also, Merco was a migrant worker who had arrived in Australia only seven months ago. At the same time, it also needs to be noted that Merco could not read or write English but he can hardly speak and understand English. This created a lot of problems for Merco at his workplace and therefore he has also joined an English-language program that was being conducted by the NSW government. Under these circumstances, Merco met the sales representative of Eddo Publishing Co. who told him regarding the monthly magazine being published by his employer. Ted claimed that a lot of teachers were using this magazine or teaching English in their classes while the reality was Ted only knew regarding one English teacher who was using this magazine. At the same time, Ted also made a statement to Merco according to which, a number of employers have recommended their migrant employees that they should get a subscription to this magazine. But in reality, this statement was not true. Te d made another untrue statement according to which, only a limited number of subscriptions were present and they were only given to the persons who were selected by Ted. In this way, as a result of the above-mentioned untrue statements, Merco became ready to enter into a contract with Ted for the subscription of the magazine. Then Ted asked Merco to sign a contract that had 90 clauses and was 10 pages in length. This contract included a provision according to which the subscriber has agreed for an additional fee to purchase binders for the copies of the magazine each year. The presence of this clause in the contract was not brought to the notice of Merco. Under these circumstances, Merco told Ted that he could not make out most of the clauses of the contract and therefore he would like to take the help of a solicitor friend who can explain the clauses of the contract to him. But Ted told Merco that there was nothing significant and if Ted waited for one more day, he will not get the subscription to the magazine. Under these circumstances, it can be said that Merco was induced by the untrue statements made by Ted to enter into the contract for the subscription of the magazine. As a result, Merco can rescind the contract as it has been created as a result of the misrepresentations made by Ted. References Dal Pont, G. E., 2008. Law of Agency, 2nd ed. Chatswood: LexisNexis Butterworths. Fishman, S. (1987) "Inherent Agency Power -- Should Enterprise Liability Apply to Agents' Unauthorized Contracts?" Rutgers Law Journal 19: 1 Landes, R. and Posner R. (1987) The Economic Structure of Tort Law , Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1987 Pentony. B., Graw, S., Lennard, J., and Parker, D., 2014, Understanding Business Law, 7th ed. Australia: Lexis Nexis. Schiff, M. (1983) "The Undisclosed Principal: An Anomaly in the Laws of Agency and Contract," Commercial Law Journal , May 1983, 88: 229-237 Shavell, S. (1980) "Strict Liability versus Negligence," Journal of Legal Studies , January 1980, 9:1-25. Terry, A., and Giugni, D., 2009. 'Business and the Law - 5th edition', Cengage, South Melbourne, Australia

Media Conglomeration Essay Example

Media Conglomeration Essay CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1, BET, Paramount Pictures, UPN, Spike TV, TV Land, CMT: Country Music Television, Comedy Central, Showtime, and Blockbuster Video. Â  These are just a few of the companies that media giant Viacom owns. Â   Viacoms website states that CBS is the most watched network on TV. Â  It also says that MTV is the most widely distributed television network in the world, Paramount Pictures is a leading distributor of motion pictures, and infinity broadcasting is one of the largest radio operators in the United States. Â  Viacom also owns book publishing companies, video stores, and even amusement parks. Â  There is no doubt that Viacom is one of the largest and most influential companies in the world. But does the quality of the media go down because of these large media giants? Â  Do companies care about the public being truly informed, or are they just out Beginning with thefirst of the mega media mergers, Capital Cities buying ABC in 1986, and then after the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which opened the floodgates, the trend has been for large corporations to buy media and broadcast companies. Â  According to the FCC there have been over 1000 broadcast deals in the last ten years. Â   But often the conglomeration of media outlets hurts consumers by taking choice out of their hands and putting it into the hands of corporations. The media giants have become neglectful in their duties to serve a public interest. Â  Instead they serve their own narrow interest. Â  These narrow interests do serve the stockholders, theoretically of which anyone can become, but this is not the traditional position that media outlets should hold. Corporate pressure to squeeze out every penny in earnings has forever changed the look of news reporting. Â  Gone are the days of respected newsmen such as Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow. Â  Gone are the

China Essay Example

China Essay Example China Essay China Essay Ask the ordinary businessperson on the street what is their impression of China, and two answers emerge. The first presents China as a vast and largely untapped potential market for Western goods, the ‘1 billion new customers’ approach which sees China as either a mecca or a minefield, depending on one’s attitude to the associated risks and obstacles (Barro 1995). The second sees China as a vast workshop, turning out low-cost consumer goods for both domestic consumption and export. China is the largest developing country in the world. The country has vast territories and abundant natural and human resources. The country has huge domestic markets of great potential. Through trade and economic cooperation, China can achieve resource complementarity and market sharing. Combining capital, technology, and management expertise with Chinas low-cost labour and huge domestic market will bring enormous opportunities of common interest to other countries. The expansion of th e Chinese economy is not a phenomenon that affects China alone, or even East Asia alone. All of us are touched by this growth, and will be even more affected by it in the future. If we wait for this phenomenon to reach its full form before discussing it, it may be too late and great opportunities will have slipped away. It is time to start thinking about the presence and impact of Chinese-based international and multinational businesses, even if the practical outcome may be long deferred. This paper will discuss how the political, economic and cultural issues may affect the attractiveness of China. The determinants of FDI for market-seeking investors are mainly related to market attractiveness, trade barriers, investment risks and the host countrys attitude to provide foreign investors with positive conditions for business activities. Market-seeking MNEs are attracted by the market potential (size and growth), the costs of market access (entry/participation), the governments control over supply, pricing and distribution, etc. Since European MNEs in China are strongly oriented towards RD intensive industries, intellectual property protection may also have a substantial impact on the entry path and on the type of resources committed by these firms. As trade barriers are often associated with other entry conditions such as the allowed degree of foreign ownership, the sectoral and geographic location requirements or incentives they equally influence the investment decisions by MNEs. The economic size of the Chinese market has significantly expanded since the end of the 1970s. The total GDP of China reached US$ 961 billion in 1998, which brought GDP at a per capita level at US$ 776. The average annual growth rate of Chinas GDP reached 9.8 per cent between 1977 and 1987 and 10.3 per cent during the period 1988-1998. The existing market size and its expected expansion are undoubtedly among the driving forces of the enormous FDI flows into China during the last decade (Chen 2001). The structure of the Chinese economy has changed tremendously. The proportion of the industrial and service sectors in the GDP increased, respectively, from 47 and 23 per cent in 1977 to 49 and 33 per cent in 1998. The increasing importance of the industrial sector, in particular manufacturing, resulted in the integration of China into the Asian production system and to a certain extent even in the global one. The exports of China increased from US$ 9 billion in 1977 to US$ 208 billion in 1998, an annual growth of 18 per cent during the period 1977-1987 and 14 per cent between 1988 and 1998. This economic performance, especially of manufacturing production and exports, largely explains the boom of Chinas economy (Kaufman 2001). The existence and the level of trade barriers, such as tariff duties and quotas, customs procedures and specific standards as well as all kinds of technical requirements, have been major determinants for market-seeking investors in China. China often uses prohibitively high tariffs in combination with import restrictions to protect its domestic industry. As import tariffs are much higher for finished goods than for upstream inputs, they result in a high effective rate of protection. Tariffs may range from 3 per cent on promoted imports to over 150 per cent on discouraged imports, such as automobiles. These tariff measures are often associated with a lack of transparency in customs procedures with regard to the necessary documents, registration procedures or licensing system. Chinas tariff and non-tariff barriers present major obstacles to foreign companies waiting to penetrate the Chinese market by way of exports. These trade barriers consequently encouraged many foreign companies to shift from exporting to local assembly and move on to a local production activity, especially when there are local content requirements. European MNEs producing in the automotive industry have typically followed such a sequence in China (Burkett 2004). Over the last 2-3 years, China has gradually reduced its tariffs in order to be admitted to the WTO. To facilitate negotiations for its membership requests, China already in 1996 cut its import duties on some 4,600 items, from an average rate of 35.9 to 23 per cent and scrapped a third of its import quotas (Chen 2001). While such reductions of import tariffs increased export opportunities for foreign companies, industries such as automotive and consumer electronics are still highly protected. A further reduction of import tariffs and the elimination of many non-tariff barriers by the Chinese government, as a result of its newly gained membership of the WTO, will also lower protection in a number of specific industries. As a result, the foreign MNEs that are producing in previously protected industries within China will be facing stronger competition from imported products. For these reasons, many European MNEs that moved into China at an early stage are rationalising their operations within the country by engaging into larger-scale operations and more specialised activities. A number of MNEs are reorganising their links with suppliers, especially by creating local sourcing capabilities and/or bringing with them suppliers from the home country into China. The lack of a well-structured and transparent legal system in China poses serious problems for foreign-owned firms. A clear and strict hierarchical system of norms does not really exist yet. Moreover, there are many diverse regulations issued by different ministries and offices of the central and local/regional governments. Western companies, especially SMEs, are often unable to find out which regulations exactly apply to them. In some cases, unpublished regulations may have precedence over officially published ones. Sometimes, the officially published and unofficially applied rules from the central and local governments are simply contradictory. However, since the liberalisation of FDI, the Chinese government has made great efforts to build up an appropriate business environment for foreign investors within the context of the transition of the Chinese economy towards a more market-oriented system. With regard to market-seeking foreign investors and their initiatives to expand their scale of operation and their specialisation based activities, the measures taken by the Chinese government mainly consisted of the introduction of market mechanisms that allow for a better resource allocation and product distribution. First, the foreign exchange restrictions that were the main barrier for foreign enterprises to sell in the domestic market were gradually lifted by the introduction of new regulatory and administrative measures. Also, the unification of the dual exchange rate system in 1994, through the elimination of the so-called Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs), which existed alongside the local currency Renminbi, was an impor tant step towards the convertibility of the Chinese currency. Second, the centrally controlled and unified pricing system was converted into a mechanism based on demand factors and production costs. The state plan for the supply of inputs and the distribution of products was gradually eliminated and replaced by market transactions. Market mechanisms such as stock exchanges and labour markets were established and a number of new economic institutions were set up and opened for foreign investors to facilitate transactions of capital, technology, labour and commodities. In 1995, the Chinese government allowed foreign companies to invest through the stock exchange and to set up foreign joint stock companies and investment-oriented companies. The introduction of such flexible investment forms not only improved the investment climate in general, but also allowed foreign companies to achieve a better co-ordination among their different activities in China and thus to operate more efficiently. Additionally, more intensive vertical and horizontal linkag es with Chinese domestic enterprises were fostered. Third, with the increasing use of the market mechanism for business transactions in China, the government introduced a set of regulations to explicitly facilitate market transactions and to stimulate efficiency. Also, the national regulatory framework was brought more into line with international standards, for example, in the areas of contract law, dispute settlement procedures, patent and trade mark protection, accounting systems and copyright protection. Between 1979 and 1994, the Chinese government promulgated more than 500 regulations and laws concerning foreign trade and economic co-operation, of which about seventy concerned FDI. China also signed bilateral and multilateral treaties to protect and promote FDI activities within its territory with no less than sixty-five countries (Child 1999). Most EU countries signed such bilateral treaties with the Chinese government during the 1980s. The most significant change in the Chinese business regulations for foreignowned firms was the introduction and improvement of intellectual property rights during the 1990s. The introduction of patent law has removed a major obstacle to attract foreign investment in high-tech sectors and has extended the perspectives for the development of industries with high RD investments and high specialisation. Yet, the full implementation of these regulations is not completed yet. In reviewing the development of the Chinese FDI policy and its impact on the attractiveness of Chinese LSAs for FDI during the last two decades of the twentieth century, three major characteristics can be identified. First, the liberalisation and upgrading process of LSAs by the Chinese government has been closely linked with the geographical extension of FDI incentives on the basis of special tax measures and administrative regulations. Second, China has gradually introduced a set of sectoral and performance requirements for FDI within the context of its economic development strategy that is based on import substitution, export promotion and technological upgrading. Third, the control about ownership/entry forms of FDI has been gradually liberalised with the improvement of the market mechanisms and expansion of the private sector. The specific FDI measures, which were introduced by the Chinese government to support its geographical and sectoral monitoring system, consist of the liberalisation and upgrading of local resources, the introduction of a market system to improve resource allocation and product distribution, the building-up of a legal system geared to market transactions, the decentralisation of macroeconomic management, the diversification of ownership control and the introduction of performance requirements. These measures will be briefly analysed within the geographical and sectoral dimensions of the Chinese FDI policy. China has emerged as one of the leading international traders of textile products. According to official statistics compiled by the WTO, China was the worlds largest exporter of both textiles and clothing in 1999, accounting for 9 percent and 16 percent of the international market, respectively. (Overall, China leads the world industry with a total market share of 13 percent) While China is not a big importer of clothing, it is the worlds second largest importer of textiles (many of which are reexported after processing), taking in 7 percent of total international sales in 1999 (Child 1999). By any measure, therefore, China has become a major player in the world industry. Indeed, textile trade is critical not just to the Chinese industry itself (e.g., exports account for slightly more than one-half of Chinas production of textiles and clothing by value), but to the entire Chinese economy, as well. While the share of textile and clothing products in Chinas total exports had declined t o 22 percent by 1999 from a high of 30 percent in 1994, it was still close to the 23 percent share recorded in 1980. This record is especially remarkable given the quantity-based restrictions placed on China under the MFA. Indeed, it suggests how successful the industry has been in moving upmarket. While the relative share of textile and clothing products in Chinas total exports has declined modestly over time, the absolute value of these sales has continued to rise steadily, reaching U. S. $43 billion in 1999. In fact, only in 1996 did the textile sector finally relinquish its leading position in Chinas export profile to the machinery and electronics sector. Rather amazingly, therefore, nearly U. S. $1 out of every U. S. $4 of Chinese exports is still earned from the sale of textiles and clothing, this despite the rapid growth of Chinese exports across an increasing number of industrial sectors (Hansen 1996). China has also made commitments to grant foreign companies foreign trade and distribution rights, which include wholesaling, retailing, maintenance, after-sale services, and transportation. American businesses can distribute imported products and products that are made in China, which will in turn provide export opportunities for American products. After China joined the WTO, the investment environment was further improved. Foreign investment in China was increased as a result of the increased attractiveness of the vast market. For some companies the rise of Chinese business can be seen as a threat, but for others prepared to think creatively, there will be plenty of opportunities. Important though Honda’s announcement that it will begin to build cars in China may be, an arguably still more important announcement was made later in 2002. The Chinese car maker Brilliance China is hooking up with a series of Western car makers in joint ventures in different areas. A BMW joint venture is allowing Brilliance to effectively become the BMW distributor for China, which should be good news for both parties as the market for luxury cars in China is growing. But Brilliance is also establishing technical joint ventures with Western car makers which will allow it to participate in RD projects and learn the latest methods of both designing and building cars. The global car industry is a tough one to enter; the barriers are high, and the investment required is substantial. Brilliance is taking its first tentative s teps in this industry by learning from its bigger overseas partners. More cogently, there is a tendency to think of China as a developing country, and of Chinese businesses as under-managed and inefficient. Once upon a time, yes, but the picture is rapidly changing. ‘Developing country’ is a label which many Chinese are beginning to question, regardless of the fact that certain parts of the country, at least, are still very much in an early industrial or even a pre-industrial mode. And the typical Chinese business is no longer the SOE, grossly over-manned and insolvent, its tens of thousands of workers housed and fed from the iron rice bowl, churning out its quota of goods regardless of market demand. The typical Chinese business today is a small to medium enterprise run by a close group of family or friends, perhaps graduates from the same university class, often young, conscious of the fact that they still have a lot to learn but acutely focused on a particular business opportunity and prepared to work until they drop to make it happen. These young Chinese managers are tough, flexible and determined. They know they have before them an opportunity which might not come around again. They are, in terms of intellect and commitment, our equals if not our superiors, and they deserve our respect. One of the biggest changes in China in the last few years has been the emergence of this new generation of entrepreneurs. Born at the tail end of the Cultural Revolution or early in the reform era, they were still at school at the time of Tiananmen Square. They are well-educated and used to living with Western influences. They are prepared to take on the world. In other words, they see us as a potential market very much as Westerners see them. In that common outlook, we should be able to arrange a meeting of minds on other issues as well. China, according to a series of reports in the Financial Times, is becoming the workshop of the world. With companies sourcing everything from toys to electronics components there, China is finding that its economic strength is turning from being a vast market (and occasional dumping ground) for Western goods to being a supplier of cheap retail goods and, increasingly, a supplier of labour and materials for the manufacturers of the West. And already, the trend towards exporting more sophisticated finished goods is beginning. The most important implication of all this is to repeat the comment that doing business with the Chinese is no longer just a matter of doing business in China. Chinese customers, partners and competitors are beginning to come to the West to do business on their own account, and are doing so with increasing confidence, competence and financial backing. More and more Western managers will end up doing business with, or in competition with, Chinese firms as the year s go by, and this without the Western side ever setting foot in China. This is all part of globalisation, of course, but it is part to which more thought must be given. We are accustomed to the triad America, Europe and Japan, though the last is steadily losing power and influence as its economic crisis shows no sign of ending running the show. The idea that China could be a new entrant into this power game is not always taken very seriously. But if current trends carry on, by 2020 maybe earlier China’s economy will overtake Japan’s and China will be the number 2 economic power in the world. It may be only a matter of time before it goes on to become number 1.

Ventricular System of the Brain

Ventricular System of the Brain The ventricular system is a series of connecting hollow spaces called ventricles in the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The ventricular system consists of two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle. The cerebral ventricles are connected by small pores called foramina, as well as by larger channels. The interventricular foramina or foramina of Monro connect the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle. The third ventricle is connected to the fourth ventricle by a canal called the Aqueduct of Sylvius or cerebral aqueduct. The fourth ventricle extends to become the central canal, which is also filled with cerebrospinal fluid and encases the spinal cord. Cerebral ventricles provide a pathway for the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid throughout the central nervous system. This essential fluid protects the brain and spinal cord from trauma and provides nutrients for central nervous system structures. Lateral Ventricles The lateral ventricles consist of a left and right ventricle, with one ventricle positioned in each hemisphere of the cerebrum. They are the largest of the ventricles and have extensions that resemble horns. The lateral ventricles extend through all four cerebral cortex lobes, with the central area of each ventricle being located in the parietal lobes. Each lateral ventricle is connected to the third ventricle by channels called interventricular foramina. Third Ventricle The third ventricle is located in the middle of the diencephalon, between the left and right thalamus. Part of the choroid plexus known as the tela chorioidea sits above the third ventricle. The choroid plexus produces cerebrospinal fluid. Interventricular foramina channels between the lateral and third ventricles allow cerebrospinal fluid to flow from the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle. The third ventricle is connected to the fourth ventricle by the cerebral aqueduct, which extends through the midbrain. Fourth Ventricle The fourth ventricle is located in the brainstem, posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata. The fourth ventricle is continuous with the cerebral aqueduct and the central canal of the spinal cord. This ventricle also connects with the subarachnoid space. The subarachnoid space is the space between the arachnoid matter and the pia mater of the meninges. The meninges  is a layered membrane that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord. The meninges consists of an outer layer (dura mater), a middle layer (arachnoid mater) and an inner layer (pia mater). Connections of the fourth ventricle with the central canal and subarachnoid space allow cerebrospinal fluid to circulate through the central nervous system. Cerebrospinal Fluid Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear aqueous substance that is produce by the choroid plexus. The choroid plexus is a network of capillaries and specialized epithelial tissue called ependyma. It is found in the pia mater membrane of the meninges. Ciliated ependyma lines the cerebral ventricles and central canal. Cerebrospinal fluid is produced as ependymal cells filter fluid from the blood. In addition to producing cerebrospinal fluid, the choroid plexus (along with the arachnoid membrane) acts as a barrier between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid. This blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier serves to protect the brain from harmful substances in the blood. The choroid plexus continually produces cerebrospinal fluid, which is ultimately reabsorbed into the venous system by membrane projections from the arachnoid mater that extend from the subarachnoid space into the dura mater. Cerebrospinal fluid is produced and reabsorbed at nearly the same rate to prevent pressure within the ventricular system from getting too high. Cerebrospinal fluid fills the cavities of the cerebral ventricles, the central canal of the spinal cord, and the subarachnoid space. The flow of cerebrospinal fluid goes from the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle via the interventricular foramina. From the third ventricle, the fluid flows to the fourth ventricle by way of the cerebral aqueduct. The fluid then flows from the fourth ventricle to the central canal and the subarachnoid space. The movement of cerebrospinal fluid is a result of hydrostatic pressure, cilia movement in ependymal cells, and artery pulsations. Ventricular System Diseases Hydrocephalus and ventriculitis are two conditions that prevent the ventricular system from functioning normally. Hydrocephalus results from the excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. The excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen. This fluid accumulation puts pressure on the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid can accumulate in the ventricles if the ventricles become blocked or if connecting passages, such as the cerebral aqueduct, become narrow. Ventriculitis is inflammation of the brain ventricles that typically results from an infection. The infection can be caused by a number of different bacteria and viruses. Ventriculitis is most commonly seen in individuals who have had invasive brain surgery. Sources: Purves, Dale. â€Å"The Ventricular System.† Neuroscience. 2nd edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11083/.The Editors of Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. â€Å"Cerebrospinal fluid.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, inc., 17 Nov. 2017, www.britannica.com/science/cerebrospinal-fluid.

What is the role of graduate education in preparing nurses to meet the Personal Statement

What is the role of graduate education in preparing nurses to meet the health needs of our society - Personal Statement Example A lot of diligence and ethical discipline is expected of them. A nurse therefore must have knowledge and skills that are geared towards to performing of duties diligently. Graduate education instills skills that enable a nurse to give care to the patient based on theoretical and practical knowledge. In addition, a nurse is a decision maker and skills attained from a graduate education enables the nurse to think critically in assessing patients and helps in the evaluation of the patient’s problem. In enabling the nurse to discern what is best for the patient, it helps in determining the best course of action. Communication between the nurse and the patient is crucial and barriers in communication can delay the healing process. Graduate education trains the nurse on ways to communicate effectively with the patient and the family members. These techniques can help in improving the healthcare environment. Moreover, graduate education teaches a nurse on how to play the role of teacher in educating the patient more about their health, illness, and medication (Grigg, 2007). As a teacher, the nurse teaches the patient on how to deal with the challenges that come with the illness and may need to instruct the family members on ways to care for the patient after being discharged from the hospital. Motivation of patients is a major focus that graduates education emphasis on. It trains nurses to stimulate, motivate, and to work as a team with fellow colleagues and with the patients. To devote time to listen to patients with a positive attitude and encouraging them assists with the healing process of the patient Furthermore, nursing is a sensitive field of profession; it requires the maintenance of good conduct and observance of the standard code of ethics as the core part of training in graduate education. It trains the nurse to prioritize the patients’ health first and to carry out the process of care giving diligently. It trains