Friday, January 24, 2020

The Electronics Industry in India :: miscellaneous

The Electronics Industry in India The Electronics industry is one of the fastest growing industries right from its origin. The profit brought out of this is much more compared to other olden industries. India is one among the largest economies in the world and has a good GDP among emerging economies. The birth and growth of this industry in India is quiet interesting. With large population and the potential consumer demand is almost unlimited and hence a strong growth performance could be expected. The base of this industry. Basically Indian market is a consuming market, it grows as people consume more. The liberalization of the economy by 1991 has helped to a rapid growth this helped the electronics industry in India as one of the most important and emerging markets. The start of this industry here dates back to early 1960’s.Electronics was primarily focused to develop in the filed of communication systems for radios, telephony, telegraphy, and television broadcast. A lot of importance was given for the augme ntation of defense capabilities. Till 1980’s the electronic sector was government owned. From there on the growth of the electronic industry took off due to economic changes resulting in the globalization of the economy. The electronic industry recorded a very high growth in subsequent years by 1990’s. Private, foreign investments were encouraged. This was the starting point of forex to pour in. Easing the Norms for the investment, reduction in duties and deli censing of several consumer electronic products marked attraction of foreign investors. The domestic circle response to this was also favorable to the government policies. Allowing this industry for the private sector enabled entrepreneurs build industries to meet suppressed demand. Improvements in this industry have not been only to a particular area but in each and every process right from acquiring the raw materials to the packed product. Long steps have been made in the area of consumer products, communication, biomedical instrumentation, networking and defense. This resulted in significant market growth by late 1990’s. The sales of some basic units increased three-fold .the main area of focus has now turned to design, Compact packing and to provide vale added service. Analyzing the strength of this industry it has a competitive advantage by providing high quality-low price, large trained manpower poll. The key strength being developed infrastructure as compared to the mechanical industry. The software technology parks that have been established are providing the necessary software orientation for this industry.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

MCI WorldCom Scandal Essay

Introduction MCI WorldCom was one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. Bernie Ebbers founded WorldCom in 1983, after that WorldCom began as a re-seller of long-distance telephone services. WorldCom is located at Mississippi. After Ebbers bought around 50 other small long-distance firms, he set his sight on MCI. Thus MCI WorldCom would have become the second biggest telecom service provider in 1997. MCI WorldCom was formed on September-15-1998. WorldCom merged with the $37 billion MCI Communications Corporations, the company’s operations were organized around three divisions: * MCI WorldCom * U.S. telecommunications * WorldCom International The MCI WorldCom division is the second largest long distance company in the United States (after AT&T). It has fibre optic network of 45,000-mile long, which provides local phone service in more than 100 markets and offers services such as data, Internet, and other communications services. UUNET WorldCom has a highly trusted & reliable backbone network which provides local access to the Internet to a reach of more than 1,000 locations in and around the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. WorldCom International is not only a local but also facilities-based competitor in 15 countries outside the United States, connecting to the company’s overall global network to more than 5,000 buildings in Australia, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico Belgium, Brazil, France, The Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Company – Timeline: Corporate founding 1983: Businessmen Murray Waldron and William Rector devise a plan to create a discount long distance provider called LDDS (Long-Distance Discount Service). 1985: Early investor Bernard Ebbers becomes the first chief executive officer of LDDS. 1989: LDDS becomes public through its first acquisition of Advantage Companies Inc. 1992: LDDS merges in an all-stock deal with discount long distance service provider Advanced Telecommunications Corp. MCI acquisition 1993: LDDS acquires long distance providers Resurgens Communications Group Inc and Metromedia Communications Corp. in a three-way stock. This creates cash transaction that becomes the fourth-largest long-distance network in the United States. 1994: LDDS continues its acquisition spree acquiring domestic and international communications network IDB Communications Group Inc. in an all-stock deal. 1995: LDDS acquires voice and data transmission company Williams Telecommunications Group Inc. for $2.5 billion and changes its name to WorldCom Inc. 1996: WorldCom merges with MFS Communications Company Inc. and UUNet Technologies Inc. 1998: WorldCom completes three mergers: with MCI Communications Corp. ($40 billion)—the largest in history at that time—Brooks Fiber Properties Inc. ($1.2 billion) and CompuServe Corp ($1.3 billion). Proposed Sprint merger 1 999: WorldCom and Sprint Corp. agree to merge. 2000: U.S. and European regulators block proposed merger with Sprint; WorldCom and Sprint terminate agreement. Accounting scandals & Bankruptcy 2002: A small team of internal auditors worked together secretly at WorldCom. During the night time, the auditors’ secret investigations revealed a $3.8 billion worth of fraud. WorldCom files for bankruptcy protection, listing some $107 billion in assets and $41 billion in debt, on a consolidated basis as of March 31. It was the largest such filing in U.S. history. 2003: The Company’s total assets had been inflated by about $11 billion. Creditors had lost faith in the organization. 2004: MCI officially emerges from bankruptcy, 21 months after filing the largest Chapter 11 case in history. 2005: Verizon Communications Inc. announces a $6.75 billion deal to buy MCI Inc. Former WorldCom Inc. chief executive Bernard J. Ebbers is found guilty of conspiracy, securities fraud and making false filings with regulators. Worldcom Top Management Team during Scandal: CEO – Bernard Ebbers CFO – Scott Sullivan Comptroller – David Myers Director of General Accounting – Buford â€Å"Buddy† Yates Pre-Scam Days At WorldCom LDDS changed its name to WorldCom in 1995. WorldCom was the second largest benchmarked long distance telecom provider in the USA and the biggest internet traffic carrier in the world, with a network stretching over 150,000km, and business presence in more than 65 countries. WorldCom faced explosive growth, at a scorching pace over the 15 years of its existence by acquiring many companies like MFS Communications Inc. and UUNet Technologies Inc. in 1996, MCI Communication Corp, Brooks Fiber Properties Inc., CompuServe Comp in 1998. In 2001, it made the largest merger with Intermedia Communication Inc., an internet and data services provider. With the acquisitions of UUNet and MCi, WorldCom had control over more than 50% of the Internet backbone infrastructure. Every acquisition led to higher stock price which in turn made way to finance another acquisition. The share price of WorldCom was at an all time high of $63.50, on June 18, 1999, with market value of $125 billion. Its value rose to $180 billion during the peak of the telecom boom. As long as the stock market was booming and the dot com bubble was expanding, no one cared to look into the fundamental stability of the company. Auditors also failed to perform thorough due diligence. WorldCom, in the late 1990’s was also an attractive takeover target for Nextel Communications, before the scandal. Scam – How it all happened? WorldCom, the second biggest long-distance telecom company in US and also the biggest carrier of Internet traffic in the world was the new economy company when it was launched. In its operation of 15 years, the company grew at a very rapid pace, majorly due to the ambition of its former chief executive officer (CEO) Bernard J. Ebbers. It majorly expanded by acquiring other smaller companies who had a potential to be their future competitors. The stock market supported them and the company growth was exorbitant and no one cared about the fundamentals of the company as it was giving high return year on year. Below mentioned is the chronological order of occurrence of events and the exposure of fraud. * March 2002 – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) questioned WorldCom about its accounting procedures and about loans it had extended to its officers as it was curious about the rationale behind the offers. * April 2002 – The first sign of weakness came when company announced job cuts, the number was 3,700. Following the even, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch downgraded WorldCom’s credit rating and it was the beginning of the Justice department launching a probe into the scandal. * April 2002 – This month itself J. Ebbers resigned as CEO after the shocking revelation of lending of $339.7 million to Ebbers to cover loans that he took to buy his own shares. * June 25 – The Company revealed that improper accounting of $3.8 billion in expenses had covered up a net loss for 2001 and the first quarter of 2002. The company also announced that it planned to shed more than 20% of its workforce counting to be around 17,000 jobs. * June 26 – The case was filed by SEC against WorldCom alleging them for a securities fraud. It alleged that WorldCom’s top management â€Å"disguised its true operating performance† and â€Å"misled inve stors about its reported earnings†. Method that WorldCom adopted is been classified as an accounting scandal, the company used its balance sheet to boost revenues and profits while hiding expenditures. It did so by * Classifying ordinary day-to-day expenses and long-term expenses associated with the acquisition of capital assets as investments which led to WorldCom having a significant tax advantages. * WorldCom also tried to hide expenses to the amount of nearly $4 billion and instead showed them as profits in their account books. * Another ploy it employed was using WorldCom’s major operating expenses related to its â€Å"line costs†, the fees that it pays to third party telecom network providers for the right to access their networks. WorldCom capitalised these fees, terming them as investments, when, in fact, they were one of the most important day-to-day expenses. Financial experts pointed out that WorldCom’s accounting practices, made it impossible for investors to gauge the performance of the company. They not only overstated profitability they also misled the investors by the opaque nature of its regular operating performance. The shock for the people accentuated with revelation of Arthur Andersen, the disgraced auditing and consulting major as WorldCom’s auditor too. The WorldCom’s own internal audit department was the first one who unearthed the fraud of approximately $3.8 billion in June 2002. The company’s audit committee and board of directors were notified of the fraud and acted swiftly: Sullivan was fired, Myers resigned. By the end of 2003, it was estimated that the company’s total assets had been inflated by around $11 billion (WorldCom, 2005). Post-Scam Days At WorldCom Around 17,000 jobs were cut in order to save $1 billion. The company had yet to pay many of its creditors. Many of the small creditors included former employees, primarily those who were dismissed during June 2002. On August 7, 2002, the exWorldCom 5100 group was formed. It included former WorldCom employees with a common goal of seeking the benefits and full payment of severance pay under the WorldCom Severance Plan. The â€Å"5100† signifies the number of WorldCom employees dismissed in June 2002 before WorldCom filed for bankruptcy. In 2004, the company emerged from bankruptcy, with $5.7 billion in debt and $6 billion in cash. It was renamed MCI. About half of the cash was intended to pay various claims and settlements. Previous bondholders were paid 35.7 cents on the dollar, in bonds and stock in the new MCI company. The previous stockholders’ stock was cancelled, causing huge loss to stockholders. On February 14, 2005, Verizon Communications acquired MCI for $7.6 billion. On March 15, 2005 the CEO , Bernard Ebbers, was found guilty of all charges and convicted of fraud. He was accounted for the $11 billion accounting scandal, conspiracy and filing false documents with regulator. Many other officials were also charged with criminal penalties in relation to the company’s financial misstatements. These included former CFO Scott Sullivan (entered a guilty plea on March 2, 2004 to one count each of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and filing false statements), former comptroller David Myers (pleaded guilty to securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and filing false statements on September 27, 2002), former accounting director Buford Yates (pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges on October 7, 2002), and former accounting managers Betty Vinson and Troy Normand (both pleading guilty to conspiracy and securities fraud on October 10, 2002). On July 13, 2005 Bernard Ebbers received a sentence of imprisonment for 25 years. At that time, Ebbers was 63 years old. On September 26, 2006, Ebbers surrendered himself to the Federal Bureau of Prisons prison at Oakdale, Louisiana, the Oakdale Federal Corrections Institution to begin serving his sentence. During March 2005, 16 of WorldCom’s 17 former underwriters reached settlements with the investors. During December 2005, MCI joined Microsoft Corporation by providing Windows Live Messenger customers â€Å"Voice Over Internet Protocol† (VoIP) service to make telephone calls. This was MCI’s last new product—- called â€Å"MCI Web Calling†. This product was renamed â€Å"Verizon Web Calling†, after the merger. Corporate governance Failure In 2002, when world’s second largest telecom giant WorldCom filed for bankruptcy at federal court in Manhattan, United States witnessed one of the largest accounting frauds in history. Former CEO of WorldCom, Mr. Bernie Ebbers was held responsible for orchestrating the USD 11 billion accounting fraud and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on July 13, 2005. WorldCom fiasco is a clear case of corporate governance failure. How could a fraud of such enormity go unnoticed by the Board of Directors at WorldCom? What happened to industry watchdogs? In WorldCom’s case, most of the deviations from proper corporate behaviour resulted from the failure of Board of Directors to recognize and effectively deal with the aftermaths of â€Å"greed culture†. WorldCom’s former CEO Bernie Ebbers’ desire to build and protect his personal wealth was the driving factor behind the fraud. For this reason, he had to show continually growing net worth in order to avoid margin calls on his own WorldCom stock that he had pledged to secure loans [1]. While probing this enormous failure in corporate governance and what could have been done to evade it, we came across an interesting document entitled â€Å"Report of Investigation† dated March 31, 2003. This Report was prepared for, among others, the Federal Bankruptcy Court overseeing WorldCom case [1]. From the report, we have drawn various points to understand the corporate governance failure at WorldCom. Accounting Misstatements WorldCom made major accounting misstatements that hid the increasingly perilous financial condition of the company. The Report described the accounting tomfoolery as follows: â€Å"†¦ As enormous as the fraud was, it was accomplished in a relatively mundane way: more than $9 billion in false or unsupported accounting entries were made in WorldCom’s financial systems in order to achieve desired reported financial results.† Drivers of the fraud The motivating factor behind this fraud was the business strategy (personal) of WorldCom’s CEO, Bernie Ebbers. Here was a man who put his personal gain above organization’s growth. In the 1990s, Ebbers wanted to achieve spectacular growth through a series of acquisitions. But, there was a catch – He did NOT have the necessary resources to fund his acquisition binge. So, he used WorldCom stocks to accomplish his shopping (acquisition) spree. But, the most important thing was, WorldCom stock had to continually increase in value to be of any use to Ebbers personal agenda. He felt the need to prove ever-growing revenue and income. His only option to accomplish this end was financial gimmickry. However, he faced the age-old problem which all conmen face – It is difficult to sustain deception in the long run! Complicating Ebbers’ circumstances was an industry-wide slump in telecommunications. During this time, Wall Street had continuing expectations of double-digit growth for WorldCom. After all, they had accomplished so much in such a relatively short period of time. But, WorldCom needed time to learn managing the new businesses it had acquired. To continue on the path of double digit growth, WorldCom had to consolidate the acquired businesses and turn them into money minting machines. However, Ebbers did not have the backbone to stand up and accept that WorldCom needed time. Instead he went ahead and presented Wall Street what it expected from WorldCom – Ever-growing revenues and income even when in reality none existed. He fudged the company books and met Wall Street’s expectations. Another major reason motivating this fraud was Ebbers’ very obvious aspiration to build and guard his personal financial situation. For this reason, he had to show continually growing net worth in order to avoid margin calls on his own WorldCom stock that he had pledged to secure loans [1]. He did that. While most of the reports blame Ebbers for the entire episode, the Board of Directors are not blameless. WorldCom supported revisionist model of Corporate Governance – though the Board reigns (de jure), the imperial CEO rules (de facto). WorldCom’s corporate governance failure resulted in the following: * Company filed for bankruptcy * CEO was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment * Shareholders saw their shares become useless * Lenders were strained to take losses on their loans * Employees lost jobs Court Ordered Fix The Bankruptcy Court directed the newly constituted Board of Directors and the newly appointed Corporate Monitor to fix this horrible example of corporate failure. The measures suggested.., * A corporate culture of openness, in which ethical conduct is encouraged and expected, as exemplified by the ethics pledge that the Company and the Corporate Monitor have developed and that senior management has signed * A corporate culture in which the counsel of lawyers is sought and valued; * Formalized and well-documented policies and procedures, including a clear and effective channel through which employees can raise concerns or report acts of misconduct References: 1. http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/10/MCI-WorldCom-Inc.html#ixzz2IriwULfD 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCI_Inc. 3. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/mci-worldcom-inc-history/ 4. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49156-2002Jun26.html 5. http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/45542.html 6. http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/723527/000093176303001862/dex991.htm 7. http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1915/19150810.htm 8. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2002/aug/09/corporatefraud.worldcom2 9. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/22/us/worldcom-s-collapse-the-overview-worldcom-files-for-bankruptcy-largest-us-case.html 10. http://voices.yahoo.com/worldcom-scandal-look-back-one-biggest-225686.html?cat=3 11. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/22/us/worldcom-s-collapse-the-overview-worldcom-files-for-bankruptcy-largest-us-case.html 12. http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2005%2F03%2F15%2Fnews%2Fnewsmakers%2Febbers%2F&ei=yOkAUZbcKcbirAeVwIC4BA&usg=AFQjCNHSfWmXHV-ryl3POQ1NU_MMYLmvjA&bvm=bv.41524429,d.bmk 13. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/22/us/worldcom-s-collapse-the-overview-worldcom-files-for-bankruptcy-largest-us-case.html 14. http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2005%2F03%2F15%2Fnews%2Fnewsmakers%2Febbers%2F&ei=yOkAUZbcKcbirAeVwIC4 BA&usg=AFQjCNHSfWmXHV-ryl3POQ1NU_MMYLmvjA&bvm=bv.41524429,d.bmk

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Police Corruption And Criminal Justice - 914 Words

All Police are Corrupt Police corruption today is becoming an issue more and more. Today’s police, especially in densely populated areas, are well known for using excessive force on ethnic minorities, lower classes such as the homeless, and sexually abusing women and children; whether directly or indirectly. Anyone who does not follow the orders of the police, regardless of laws, is subject to police corruption and imprisonment. In cases of anticorruption the officer, judge, or public official is removed from their position by the corrupt establishment within a short amount of time. This systematic approach to corrupt political governship can be seen daily across the country causing public outrage, protests, and in some cases even riots. Why police are corrupt, and the biased system that supports corruption against minority races, lower class citizens, and females. ‘†The people in a position to do something about brutality and racism are products of the system†, explains James Fyfe, a former New York City cop who teaches criminal justice at Temple University. â€Å"There s a sense that their loyalty should be to the department, not to the public†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Manning). This us versus them attitude in the police is common, the belief that everyone is a potential criminal because they themselves are. Police are never there to help anyone but themselves because to the police everyone else is beneath them. The police are famous for using excessive force on the homeless population. In RenoShow MoreRelatedThe Extreme Justice League By Michael Barnett1244 Words   |  5 Pagesextreme justice league. The extreme justice league consists of middle ages men and women who are real life superheroes. Each of theses superheroes has various backgrounds of being victims or affected by violence or assault or have had a troublesome upbringin g. For example, as a child, Master Legend was forced by his father to fight in a ring against his friends and other children. If he lost the fight he would not be allowed to eat dinner and he would get locked in a closet. The extreme justice leagueRead MorePolice Brutality And The Civil Rights Movement1333 Words   |  6 PagesPolice brutality goes back many decades and actually happens a lot less the it did in the 60’s it is just seems like it occurs more due to the development of social media today. During the Civil Rights Movement that began in 1963 African Americans mostly in the South took the majority of these police brutalities. For example In the 60’s blacks were beaten with batons and cattle prods as they attempted to vote at a court house that was in Selma, Alabama. The subjects that received the beatings wereRead MoreCode Of Conduct For Law Enforcement Essay1465 Words   |  6 PagesEthics in Criminal Justice Assignment 1 Sydney E Vaughn CRJU 1400 Ethics and Cultural Perspectives in Criminal Justice Professor Stephen N. Knights Jr October 22, 2016 Contents Introduction 2 Police Ethics 2 Corruption 3 Police Corruption 3 Police Discretion in Ethics 4 Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement 4 Types of Police Corruption 4 Ethics in the Courtroom 5 Prosecuting Attorneys 5 Defense Attorneys 5 Ethics in Police Training 6 Closing 6 Introduction Ethics by definition states thatRead MoreThe Criminal Justice System Is The Law Of The Land1380 Words   |  6 PagesThe criminal justice system as a whole can be looked at in numerous ways depending on the sub category you want to approach, whether it be the federal law, law enforcement or correctional programs. In most eyes, the federal law is the law of the land and by that it provides a stable community of rules that everyone must follow with efficiency while providing public safety. With that comes the enforcement of the law, the most common being police. In essence majority of the united states looks at theRead MoreEssay on Police and Corruption1393 Words   |  6 PagesPolice and Corruption The police. Twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year, this division of our government has a mandate to enforce the criminal law and preserve public peace. Understood in this mandate is an obligation to police everyday life matters that originate in the daily lives and activities of citizens within their community. Police interact in some form with the average citizen more often than any other government official. In society today the police playRead MoreNoble Cause Corruption Essay1427 Words   |  6 Pagesfor the purpose of accomplishing good ends are guilty of â€Å"Noble-cause corruption.† It usually occurs in circumstances where there is little chance of being held accountable. This happens most often with police work when people think that they can get away or hide these illegal This doesnt necessarily mean that there arent laws against the action (though sometimes there arent), but the individual who commits noble cause corruption either cant be held accountable or believes he or she wont be heldRead MorePolice Officer And The Criminal Justice System Essay960 Words   |  4 PagesWhen you hear the words ‘police officer’, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The people that protect us from the bad guys, right? Well, that might be the stereotypical answer, but is that really what we all think? Most would agree that in today s society, the words do not have the same positive correl ation anymore. It is actually almost the complete opposite. Police officers and others in the criminal justice system have created a poor reputation for themselves from the actions they haveRead MoreThe Law Enforcement System And The Criminal Justice System Essay1657 Words   |  7 PagesThe Law enforcement system is one of the major components within the Criminal Justice System. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime (2008), The Law enforcement system plays a critical key role within the Criminal Justice system, since â€Å"Law enforcement officers take reports for crimes that happen in the area, then the officers investigate crimes and both gather and protect evidence, officers may arrest offenders, give testimony during the court process, and conduct follow up investigationsRead MoreEthics And Character Analysis Interviews1677 Words   |  7 Pagesproperty. In most cases, however, we hear news of police officer involvement in criminal activities or unethical beh avior such as theft, robbery, abuse of authority and excessive coercion. The indication of police using force against suspects and committing crimes does not appear favorable to the public because people have entrusted them for their protection. Therefore, to address and effectively reduce crime, practitioners in the criminal justice system at the federal, state, and local levels mustRead MoreThe Miami River Cops Scandal1316 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Miami Police Department’s reputation. Many factors contributed to the 100 plus police officers involvement, three of the most significant being; corrupt leadership, personal greed, and victimless crimes. The Miami Police Department responded tenaciously to the corruption by establishing measures with the aim of preventing such rampant corruption in the future. As shocking as the Miami River Cops corruption scandal may seem, it is certainly not the only case of police corruption to happen within

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

10 Countries With the Highest Population Density

Cities are known for being crowded, but some cities are far more crowded than others. What makes a city feel crowded isnt just the number of people who live there but the physical size of the city. Population density refers to the number of people per square mile. According to the Population Reference Bureau, these ten countries have the worlds highest population densities 1. Manila, Philippines — 107,562 per square mile The capital of the Philippines is home to roughly two million people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay the city is home to one of the finest ports in the country. The city regularly hosts over a million  tourists each year, making the busy streets even more crowded. 2. Mumbai, India — 73,837 per square mile Its no surprise that the Indian city Mumbai comes in second on this list with a population of over 12 million people. The city is the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. The city lies on the West coast of India and has a deep natural bay. In 2008, it was dubbed an alpha world city. 3. Dhaka, Bangladesh — 73,583 per square mile Known as the city of mosques, Dhaka is home to roughly 17 million people. It was once one of the most wealthy and prosperous cities in the world. Today the city is the countries political, economic and cultural center. It has one of the largest stock markets in South Asia. 4. Caloocan, Philippines — 72,305 per square mile Historically, Caloocan is important for being home to the secret militant society that spurred the Philippine  Revolution, also known as the Tagalong war, against Spanish colonialists. Now the city is home to almost two million people. 5. Bnei Brak, Isreal — 70,705 per square mile Just east of Tel Aviv, this city is home to 193,500 residents. It is home to one of the largest coca-cola bottling plants in the world. Israels first womens only department stores were built in Bnei Brak; its an example of the gender segregation; implemented by the ultra Orthodox Jewish population. 6. Levallois-Perret, France — 68,458 per square mile Located roughly four miles from Paris, Levallois-Perrett is the most densely populated city in Europe. The city is known for its perfume industry and beekeeping. A cartoon bee has even been adopted at the citys modern emblem. 7. Neapoli, Greece — 67,027 per square mile   The Greek city of Neapoli comes in at number seven on the list of most densely populated cities. The city is divided into eight different districts. While only 30,279 people live in this small city thats impressive given its size is only .45 square miles! 8. Chennai, India — 66,961 per square mile Located on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is known as the education capital of South India. Its home to almost five million people. Its also considered one of the safest cities in India. Its also home to a large expat community. Its been dubbed one of the must-see cities in the world by the BBC. 9. Vincennes, France — 66,371 per square mile Another suburb of Paris, Vincennes is located just four miles from the city of lights. The city is probably most famous for its castle, Chateau de Vincennes. The castle was originally a hunting lodge for Louis VII but was enlarged in the 14th century. 10. Delhi, India — 66,135 per square mile The city of Delhi is home to roughly 11 million people, putting it just after Mumbai as one of Indias most populated cities. Delhi is an ancient city which has been the capital of various kingdoms and empires. Its home to numerous landmarks. Its also considered the book capital of India due to its high readership rates.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

`` Nathan The Wise `` And Francoise De Graffigny s...

During the eighteenth century, marriage was a representation of not only the unity between man and women but it was also a representation of a woman taking a servile, less meaningful role in the household. Once married, women were expected to be completely submissive to their husbands. This was the norm across Europe and even in enlightened society. These relationships were hierarchical. It was not customary for women to attend schools that educated men the math and sciences. Women holding privileged positons in society traditionally allotted to men were seen as the exception. Yet these exceptions did not generally bother society because they did not lead to certain conclusion that women could do anything. In Gotthold Lessing’s novel â€Å"Nathan the Wise† and Francoise de Graffigny’s â€Å"Letters from a Peruvian Woman†, both authors upset traditional expectations about what constitutes a novel’s happy ending by refusing to end either of their nove ls with weddings. In Lessing’s â€Å"Nathan the Wise†, the rejection of marriage plot reflects a larger symbolic representation of religious tolerance. While in Graffigny’s novel â€Å"Letters from a Peruvian Woman†, the rejection of marriage plots illustrates a woman whose circumstances would make her the exception. Zilia, Graffigny’s main character, was an enlightened woman who chose sovereignty over servitude. Therefore, I would argue that the intentions behind both Lessing and Graffigny’s rejection of the marriage plot was not to serve the same

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Unit 9 the Welfare System Human Services and Social Policy Free Essays

string(172) " Foster care parents who open their homes where children who need a safe haven for a few weeks or months, or long term foster care homes where children may live for years\." The Welfare System The Welfare System Instructor: Dr. Michelle March HN300-01 DUE: 12/20/2011 Instructor: Dr. Michelle March HN300-01 DUE: 12/20/2011 Franklin Moe, Jr. We will write a custom essay sample on Unit 9 the Welfare System Human Services and Social Policy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Human Services Social Policy Franklin Moe, Jr. Human Services Social Policy To understand the â€Å"Welfare System† one must know its history. The American welfare system has changed dramatically over the past 80 years. A 100 years ago, families, local communities, and charities; typically religious based, served as the safety net for those who had fallen on hard times. The Great Depression of the 1930s would see a change in social policy with the passing of President Roosevelt’s â€Å"New Deal† establishing Social Security and Aid to Dependent Children (ADC. ) Thus was born the American Welfare System. The U. S. welfare system stayed in the hands of the federal government for the next sixty-one years. Many Americans were unhappy with the welfare system, claiming that individuals were abusing the welfare programs by not applying for jobs, having more children just to get more aid, and staying unmarried so as to qualify for greater benefits. Further expansion came with the Johnson’s administration in the 1960s with the establishment of Medicare, Medicaid, Public Housing, and other programs. During the Reagan presidency it was claimed that mothers with infants should not be allowed to become dependent on the welfare system, and that providing assistance for children under one year of age constituted such â€Å"dependency† The welfare system remained relatively unchanged till 1996 when President Clinton signed a sweeping welfare reform law that is still a hot topic of public controversy today. When Clinton was elected he had the intention of changing the welfare system. In 1996 the Republican Congress passed a reform law signed by President Clinton that gave the control of the welfare system back to the states. Conservatives claim a dramatic decline in welfare caseloads, while Liberals attribute the decline to a once healthy economy (www. welfareinfo. org). â€Å"Compared with those of other western industrialized nations, the U. S. social safety net is exceptional in numerous ways. Federal, state, and local governments in the United States spend far less on social welfare per capita than do peer nations† (Schaefer Simmons, 2009 p. 1). The purpose of the welfare system is to address social problems (www. policyalmanac. org (ND) retrieved 11/27/11). â€Å"Some argue that the â€Å"importance† of a social problem depends on two things (1) the power and social status of those who are defining the problem and urging the expenditure of resources toward a solution and (2) the sheer number of people affected. Thus, the more people affected and the greater the social power and status of those urging a solution, the more important the social problem† (Chambers Wedel 2009 p. 7). However, it should be understood that social problems are â€Å"highly variable and depend on the viewer† (Chamber Wedel 2009 p. 9). â€Å"There are four points to consider when doing a social problem analysis: 1) Identify the way the problem is defined. 2) Identify the cause(s) to which the problem is attributed (its antecedents) and is most serious consequences. 3) Identify the ideology-the values, that is-that makes the events of concern come to be defined as a problem. 4) Identify who benefits (gains) and who suffers (loses) from the existence of the problem† (Chambers Wedel 2009 pp. 9-10). The welfare system is too complex a subject, and the social problems the system addresses are beyond the scope of this essay. However, I will discuss the goal and objectives for creating the welfare system, and address how these services are distributed. The federal government provides assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). TANF is a grant given to each state to run their own welfare programs. The TANF grant requires that all recipients of welfare aid must find work within two years of receiving aid, including single parents who are required to work at least 30 hours per week. Failure to comply with work requirements could result in loss of benefits. Eligibility for a welfare program depends on numerous factors. Eligibility is determined using gross and net income, size of the family, and any crisis situation such as medical emergencies, pregnancy, homelessness or unemployment (www. welfareinfo. org retrieved 12/12/11). A case worker is assigned to those applying for aid. They will gather all the necessary information to determine the amount and type of benefits that an individual is eligible for. The new welfare system actively discourages mothers from marrying. As the entire emphasis is now on getting the mothers into the workforce, and adding that the period during which they can receive â€Å"benefits† greatly extends if they remain single, the new version of the welfare system is both undermining traditional family values and even contributing to the poverty level by its continuing focus on keeping mothers single and in the workforce. One cannot talk about the welfare system without a focus on child welfare. Child welfare is a broad term that is used to describe the process of protecting children from abuse and neglect. A comprehensive child welfare system usually has multiple components and may involve numerous social services agencies working together in a community to provide a safety net for vulnerable children. In most communities a child welfare services include investigations of child maltreatment, foster care, protective living arrangements for children, counseling, financial assistance, and adoption programs. The scope and quality of child welfare services varies a great deal from one community to another (www. welfareinfo. org retrieved 12/13/11). The purpose of the investigative program is to inquire into allegations of abuse and neglect. Many times these referrals are screened out. Many of these investigations do not turn up any evidence of neglect or abuse however, when the children are in imminent danger of harm from further abuse or neglect, the children services investigations will turn the case over for placement. Most child welfare services also provide foster care. Foster care can consist of emergency shelters where children are housed for a few hours or days. Foster care parents who open their homes where children who need a safe haven for a few weeks or months, or long term foster care homes where children may live for years. You read "Unit 9 the Welfare System Human Services and Social Policy" in category "Papers" Some child welfare services programs also operate residential programs which are specialized to provide care for children who may suffer from extreme emotional and behavioral problems. However, there are more children in need of foster care than there are foster homes and group homes in which to place them, child welfare agencies typically have programs for what is known as family preservation. The purpose of these family preservation programs is to provide intense counseling and support for a multitude of family problems according to The History of the Welfare System (www. voices. yahoo. om retrieved 12/12/11). Families involved in these programs may have a combination of problems that range from substance abuse, domestic violence, emotional problems, severe mental disorders, financial difficulties, and lack of appropriate parenting skills. The family preservation programs provided through the child welfare system helped to keep children in their homes when the abuse or neglect was relatively mild. When the parents receive the proper kinds of support and intervention many of them are able to continue to provide care for their children and keep them free of abuse or neglect (www. elfareinfo. org retrieved 12/14/11). Many child welfare programs also incorporate eligibility programs that provide welfare benefits to enable parents who live in poverty to apply for food stamps, Medicaid, childcare subsidies, housing subsidies, and other assistance to help these parents provide basic needs for their children. The ability to access these services allows many families to feel less stress in taking care of their children, and helps keep children from having their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter go unmet (www. welfareinfo. org retrieved 12/15/11). Most child welfare services also have programs that arrange for adoption. Adoption is necessary for child welfare programs so that permanent homes can be found for those children whose parents are unable to raise them in a safe healthy environment. The termination of parental rights is the last resort for families who are not able to keep their children safe, but this process occurs after all the alternatives that child welfare programs have to offer and have been tried. The welfare system in and of itself is nothing; it is a conglomeration of policies and programs. There are three styles of welfare policy analysis: the analytic-descriptive, the value-committed, and the value-critical methods (Chambers Wedel, 2009 p. 44). While recognizing that political occasions will arise during which is essential? The value-committed approach is rejected because it is not open to new data or conclusions. The fact argues for the value-critical style which forces into the open, the effects of ideology is inherent in the analytic method use. The analytic-descriptive method fails as a policy analysis because it commits the analyst to unattainable assumptions. Such assumptions can be unrealistic because any judgment of social programs requires judgment of social worthiness (Chambers Wedel, 2009, p. 44). Chambers and Wedel explain there are six policy elements which form the cornerstone of every policy and program of the welfare system. It is these elements on which the practical social policy analyst ultimately will base judgments about a policy or program. The six policy elements are as follows: 1. Goals and Objectives 2. Forms of benefits or services delivered 3. Entitlement (eligibility rules) . Administrative or organizational structure for service delivery 5. Financing method 6. Interaction among the foregoing elements These six are without which a policy or program cannot be operated, they are necessary to implement a policy or program within the welfare system (2009, p. 38). Many studies have examined the effect of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) on employment trends, financial s ecurity and family structure, but few have considered the implications for mental health issues. Yet mental health is central to a key objective of welfare reform. Results suggest that before PRWORA, welfare recipients did not differ from other poor women in depressive or alcohol dependence symptoms. Ten years after the reform, welfare recipients experience more depressive symptoms than other poor women. This suggests that welfare reform left unusually symptomatic women on rolls. The finding also suggests that mental health services are critical if welfare recipients are to succeed in making the transaction from welfare to work (Rote Quandagno, June 2011, p. 29-245). Changes will come over time, administrations will continue to tweak the system here and there in the hopes of coming up with something better than previous generations. Drug testing may very well be a viable way to control abuse of the welfare system in the future too, welfare policies and programs are a hit and miss kind of thing, and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the welfare system. Pove rty is a phenomenon within a capitalistic society. No amount of funding appropriated for the welfare system will ever be able to completely eradicate poverty. Some people, no matter how much resources they are given, cannot pull themselves out of the clutches of poverty. This has been proven time after time when poverty stricken people win the lottery and end up worse off than they were before winning. As long as there is poverty then we can hope at least in the United States of America there is the welfare system to fall back on for the truly needy. References www. welfareinfo. org Schaeffer, H. L. amp; Simmons, E. D. The development of an unequal social safety net: Journal of Sociology and Welfare, Sep 2009, vol. 36 issue 3, p179-199 www. policyalmanac. org/social_welfare/index. shtml Chambers, D. E. , Wedel, K. E. (2009). Social policy and social programs: A method for the practical policy analyst (5th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson www. voices. yahoo. com/welfare Rote, S. Quandagno, J. : Depression and Alcohol Dependence among Poor Women: Before and After Welfare Reform: Social Service Review; Jun2011, vol 85 Issue 2, p229-245, 17p. How to cite Unit 9 the Welfare System Human Services and Social Policy, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Child and Adolescent Health Assessment Evidence Based Case Study

Question: Discuss about the Child and Adolescent Health Assessmentfor Evidence Based Case Study. Answer: Introduction Meningitis refers to inflammation of meninges (lining or membranes around brain and spinal cord) in the brain. The disease can be of viral or bacterial etiology, apart from other causes such as cancer and fungal infection. The disease caused due to viral or bacterial infection is most common among all types of meningitis and can spread through close contact with the patient. Among viral and bacterial meningitis, symptoms caused as a result of bacterial meningitis are considered more extreme and are a large cause of mortality in patients (Cunningham et.al 2014). Different bacterial types of meningitis include meningitis of hemophilus influenza type as well as Neisseria meningitis type (meningococcal meningitis). Typically, children and babies are affected by meningitis of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitis, Hemophilus influenza and group B Streptococcus type. Key symptoms critical to diagnose meningitis include looking for neck stiffness in patient, which may be leading to automatic response in limbs, primarily knees; this reflex is known as Brudzinskis sign. Other diagnostic tests for meningitis include detection of inflammation in brain CT scan, antibodies in blood tests and testing of cerebrospinal fluid through lumbar puncture (Polit Beck, 2008). Globally, more than 1.2 million bacterial meningitis cases are estimated to surface every year (WHO Manual, 2011). While people from all age groups are susceptible to meningitis infection, children below 5 years and infants are at higher risk of viral and bacterial meningitis respectively. Generally, community setting such as college campuses are key sites for spread of meningitis infection. Bacterial meningitis of meningococcal nature typically spread through respiratory fluids, passed as a result of coughing, sneezing, or kissing. Treatment of bacterial and fungal agents depends on administration of anti-microbial nature which are best suitable, while viral meningitis is typically not treated with anti-microbial agents (Cunningham et.al 2014). Immunization against the disease in early age is considered the best way to prevent occurrence of this disease. Interpretation of Physical Assessment Details The assessment record of the child patient, Sophia, indicates normal gastrointestinal and genitourinary symptoms. However, loss of appetite has been recorded in the patient, which is one of the signs of infection of meningitis nature (Polit Beck, 2008). Patients heart rate is normal, while the blood pressure shows reduced diastolic pressure at 60 mm Hg, which may be indicative of reduced body fluid volume. Body temperature is high at 39.7 degrees C, indicating presence of fever. However, abnormalities in neurological symptoms including irritation, sluggishness, and reluctance of move extremities indicate neurological nature of the disease. Sensitivity to light and stiffness in neck indicate towards meningitis of hemophilus influenza type B, as initial diagnosis has indicated. However, presence of purpuric rash indicates that meningitis of meningococcal nature may be present, as rashes are not typically present in meningitis of hemophilus B type infection. Typically, rashes of dark purple color may appear, in case of advanced stage meningococcal meningitis (Polit Beck, 2008). Unlike meningitis of hemophilus influenza type, meningococcal meningitis is caused by Neisseria meningitis. According to research, meningococcal meningitis is more common than other types of meningitis in children. Chances of infection spreading is also very high in case of meningococcal meningitis and care should be provided with promptness (Cunningham et.al 2014). The child has also not been indicated to be immunized, which enhances the possibility of meningitis due to infection. Additionally, diminished urine output indicates patients may be experiencing dehydration, which is a common and dangerous occurrence in these infections (Tae-Wan K. et al, August 2010). Presence of dry mouth, as shown in initial physical assessment also indicates that patients is experiencing dehydration of severe nature. To add to this, reduction in diastolic blood pressure to 60 mm Hg is also indicative of dehydration in patient. Immediate provision and control of body circulatory fluids would be required for the patient in this case (Polit Beck, 2008). In case dehydration goes out of control, the patient may experience seizures or brain damage and even death. Lethargy and high proneness to sleep are also additional indications, conforming the presence of meningitis. Other symptoms confirming to meningitis include pale skin type and reduced breathing rate (at 11 br eaths per minute), as these are also typically observed in such infections. Key Problems In the described case of the patient Sophia, it is important to establish the exact nature of meningitis infection quickly and provide medical care appropriate to the infection type. In case, infection is of meningococcal nature, and different from hemophilus influenza type, risk of septicemia (poisoning of blood by meningitis causing pathogens) may also be there. Darkening of skin around light colored skin areas such as extremities of limbs is indicative of spreading septicemia and should be looked for in the patient. Extraction of cerebrospinal fluid through lumber puncture and subsequent analyses would be required to pinpoint the exact nature of meningitis. Within the CSF, analysis is done to determine number of white blood cells, proteins and glucose in the sample. It is understood that bacterial type of meningitis shows larger number of neutrophils and low glucose quantity. A lumbar puncture or spinal tap requires collection of CSF from patients back for analysis (Cunningham et.al 2014). However, in case blood pressure of the patient falls quickly and the patient is anticipated to be falling in a state of shock, extracting cerebrospinal fluid would be contraindicated and has to be done away with. Typically, increased white blood cells count and protein level along with low sugar levels in the CSF are indicative of meningitis infection. Imaging techniques involving magnetic resonance imagery or CT scan may also be utilized to determine the extent and nature of infection already in patients system. It is important to start the patient on broad spectrum antibiotics, until the exact nature of meningitis infection is determined and a more specific treatment in provided. As patient is suffering from severe dehydration, immediate fluid resuscitation is required to avoid the risk of shock. Isotonic saline solution or colloid bolus administration may be warranted to provide normal circulatory volume to the patients body (Tae-Wan K. et al, August 2010). Different parameters should be continuously monitored including blood pressure and other normal body functions to check severity of dehydration and progression of the state of shock. Best Practices It is important to analyze the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the patients extracted through a lumber puncture, to identify the exact nature of meningitis. Rich neutrophil content and low glucose content in the CSF would be indicative of meningitis of bacterial etiology. At the same time, time should not be wasted in starting preliminary care and patient should be immediately started on antibiotics and steroids. Delay in starting the patient on antibiotics may results in aggravation of infection and also death (Polit Beck, 2008). Recommended antibiotics at the outset are ceftriaxone or cefotaxime, and best antibiotic to administer should be determined based on consideration of resistance and any prior sensitivity on the part of patient. Steroid therapy is also required in certain cases, to avoid coagulation in blood. However, in some cases, patients already on anti-microbial therapy may not require steroid administration, as effect would necessarily be complimentary to each other. Non -steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen may help alleviate symptoms such as pain, inflammation, and fever (Cunningham et.al 2014). It is important to maintain sufficient fluid circulatory volume at all times and patient should be immediately started on fluid therapy, with constant monitoring of blood pressure. In case the blood pressure continues to fall despite fluid therapy, vasoactive agents including dopamine may be injected to maintain blood pressure. Milrinone and dobutamine are other agents of vasoactive nature which may be useful in such a situation. In some patients, hyperglycemic condition may result due to meningitis, which may warrant the use of insulin for control of sugar level in blood. Increase in blood sugar levels combined with shock condition has been found to be one of the key reasons for death in meningitis patients (Polit Beck, 2008). Additionally, blood transfusion may also be required in case hemoglobin level falls below required levels. Family and Child Care Considerations As the child is unimmunized, close family members should also be checked for any abnormal symptoms as infection could have spread to such members. Typically, close family members are at highest risk of infection and infection could spread through respiratory or throat based secretions. It may be advisable to start patients family members on an antimicrobial therapy for prophylaxis against meningitis (Polit Beck, 2008). It also needs to be determined if any of the family members have been earlier vaccinated against meningitis, in which case prophylactic treatment with anti-microbials may not be required for such family members. In general, the family members need to be educated against risks of contamination and should be advised and keep cleanliness, including washing hands, using separate utensils and avoiding very close contact with the patient at all times. The patients mouth should also be covered at all times to prevent risk of respiratory fluids transfer of infection. Until the time that child shows symptoms of infection such as fever and rashes, these measures are to be continued with urgency (Polit Beck, 2008). It is also important for the laboratory personnel to follow guidelines and take necessary protection steps to prevent any contamination to themselves. Lab staff needs to be properly trained before handling the pathogenic samples for testing, while nursing staff also needs to take required precautions before dealing with the patient (WHO Manual, 2011). It is warranted that the child patient be admitted immediately to hospital and antibiotics are started. Once antibiotics are started, the patient needs to be monitored for 5-7 days and in case condition worsens, shifting to intensive care unit should be promptly considered. In the scenario of symptoms getting aggravated, support for breathing and other medications (for instance, to control blood pressure) could also be required. In typical cases, benefits of anti-microbial therapy should start to show within 2-3 days, while fever is expected to persist beyond five days. It may be possible that the child develop complications such as deafness, seizures or delayed development even after cure of meningitis (Polit Beck, 2008). Avoidance of such symptoms would depend on early and prompt care, as well as disease progression at the time of admission. At the time of discharge, the child should be examined for hearing tests to check if any symptoms related to deafness have appeared. Also, family should be educated on the symptoms which are typically seen after discharge in such patients including tiredness, problems with hearing, frequent head aches and in some patients, hearing problems (WHO Manual, 2011). It is important for the family to follow-up with specialists regularly to get the childs recovery tested, post discharge. The patient may also experience mood swings and feel good on certain days followed by days of bad mood and uneasiness. Disturbances in sleep, depression and bed wetting may also surface as after effects of meningitis. Proper counselling on psychological level may also help the patient recover from these after effects (Polit Beck, 2008). Conclusion Meningitis is a disease of high mortality risks and should be treated promptly and appropriately at a quick pace. In the given case study for patient Sophia, all symptoms indicate towards meningitis, such as neck stiffness, presence of rash, reducing blood pressure, reluctance to move extremities and dislike towards light (Polit Beck, 2008). Presence of a purpuric rash indicates more towards meningococcal meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitis. Exact nature of meningitis is prescribed to be confirmed through pathological examination of CSF obtained through lumbar puncture. It is important meanwhile to start the patient on appropriate anti-bacterial therapy and closely monitor the vital symptoms in intensive care unit (Cunningham et.al 2014). Moreover, because of possibility of cross-contamination, close family members need to be monitored for any signs of meningitis. It may be advisable to administer antimicrobial therapy to such family members for prophylaxis. Close family also needs to be educated on different ways to avoid contamination until the child shows symptoms of infection. After discharge, the nursing staff also needs to provide proper counselling to the patients family on post discharge care and tackling the after effects of the disease such as mood swings experienced by the patient, deafness, depression, lethargy, and lack of concentration (WHO Manual, 2011). References CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/symptoms.html Cunningham, F., Leveno, K., Bloom, S., Spong, C. Y., Dashe, J. (2014). Williams Obstetrics, 24e. McGraw-Hill.https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/lab-manual/full-manual.pdf N.d. (2011). Laboratory Methods for the Diagnosis of Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenza. WHO Manual, Second Edition. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989465/ Polit, D. F., Beck, C. T. (2008). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Polit, D. F., Beck, C. T. (2013). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Tae-Wan K., Whang J., Lee S., Choi J., Park S., Lee J. (August 2010). Acute Urinary Retention due to Aseptic Meningitis: Meningitis-Retention Syndrome. International Neurological Journal, 14 (2), 122-124, doi 10.5213/inj.2010.14.2.122. Retrieved from: