HOWARD UNIVERSITY Essays - Computing, Extreme Programming

HOWARD UNIVERSITY Essays - Computing, Extreme Programming HOWARD UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE SPRING 2017 CSCI 540: Object-Oriented Development Grading You will be graded on how well you unit test your code and identify a reasonable number of edge cases. In addition, your test cases should also be reasonably documented, i.e., comments. Background In this assignment you will be writing JUnit test cases for the stack and queue implementations you developed in assignment #2. In eclipse, or whatever IDE you are using, you should have (2) source directories ...src/main/java (contains assignment source code) ...src/test/java (contains test source code) There are a number of JUnit tutorial and examples that you can find on the internet. You can focus your search on using JUnit with eclipse for those who are using it. As usual, please post your questions to piazza so that your classmates can benefit. Assignment You should create a JUnit test cases for every public method of your stack and queue implementations. Some of your classes may contain private "helper" classes that I assume will be executed when your public methods are invoked. So, you do not have to break encapsulation to test your private methods. Here are some additional requirements/suggestions 1. Package structure of class to be tested and test class should be the same. So, for example, if you created your stack implementation under howard.edu.ood.hw1.collections then the corresponding test case should use the same package structure. 2. Naming convention of test classes If the class to be tested is Stack then the corresponding JUnit class should be called StackTest 3. Naming convention of test methods If, for example, you are testing method pop() in Stack then use something similar to: testPopIsEmpty() { ... } test indicates a test case Pop indicates name of the method that is being tested IsEmpty gives a descriptive indicator in the name of the method of what is being tested 4. Comments Be sure to document your JUnit test cases using javadocs Submitting Your Work When you have completed this assignment and tested your code thoroughly, create a .zip file with your work. The zip file should contain source code only (i.e., no .class files) and only contain the contents of your src/main/java and src/test/java contents. E-mail your final submission to [emailprotected] Make sure to keep a copy of your work just in case!

The Rape of Lucrece Themes

The Rape of Lucrece Themes Shakespeares greatest poem is  The Rape of Lucrece. Explore some of the key themes in this classic text. The Plague It has been suggested that this poem reflects fears about the plague, which was rampant in Shakespeare’s England. The dangers of inviting a stranger into your home could result in your body being ravaged by disease, as Lucrece is ravaged. She kills herself to save her family from shame, but if the rape signifies the plague might she kill herself to prevent the disease from spreading? The play was written at a time when the theaters would have been closed to prevent the spreading of the plague and may, therefore, have informed Shakespeare’s writing. The story would have been familiar to Elizabethans and various versions of it were already available. Love and Sexuality The Rape of Lucrece serves as an antidote to Venus and Adonis in that it provides a moral contrast to how it deals with the idea of love and sexuality. Tarquin is unable to subdue his desires despite misgivings and he suffers for this, as does the undeserving Lucrece and her family. It is a cautionary tale of what can happen if you let your desires run free. Tarquin, Lines 267-271 Why hunt I then for colour or excuses?All orators are dumb when beauty pleadethPoor wretches have remorse in poor abuses;Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth;Affection is my captain, and he leadeth This play is a contrast to the romantic comedy of As You Like It, for example, where the pursuit of love and affection is treated in a light, though hard-won, way. This poem highlights the dangers of self-satisfaction and pursuing the wrong person. The pastoral is replaced by the military and instead of a game; the pursuit of a woman is seen as the spoils of war but in the end, it is seen for what it is which is a kind of a war crime. The poem comes under the genre known as the complaint, a type of poem which was popular in the late middle ages and Renaissance. This style was particularly popular at the time when this poem was written. A complaint is usually in the form of a monologue in which the narrator laments and bewails their fate or the sad state of the world. The Rape of Lucrece fits the complaints’ highly elaborate style, which uses digressions and long speeches. Themes of Rape Violation often takes Biblical images in The Rape of Lucrece. Tarquin takes on the role of Satan in the garden of Eden, violating an innocent and incorruptible Eve. Collatine takes on the role of Adam, who lures Satan in with his boastful discourse about his wife and her beauty. When he takes the apple from the tree, the Snake enters Lucrece’s bedchamber and violates her. Lines 85-87 This earthly saint adored by this devilLittle suspecteth the false worshipper,For unstained thoughts do seldom dream on evil. Collatine is responsible for inciting Tarquin’s desires and redirecting his rage from the enemy in the field to his own wife. Tarquin becomes jealous of Collatine and instead of vanquishing an army, his desires are redirected towards Lucrece as his prize. Lucrece is described as if she is a work of art; Lines 27-28 Honour and beauty in the owner’s armsAre weakly fortressed from a world of harms. Tarquin’s rape of her is described as if she is a fortress under attack. He conquers her physical attributes. Through her suicide, Lucrece’s body becomes a political symbol. As feminism later coined, the personal is political and the King and his family are finally overthrown to make way for the Republic to be formed. Lines 1849-1855 When they had sworn to this advised doomThey did conclude to bear dead Lucrece thenceTo show her bleeding body thorough Rome,And to publish Tarquin’s foul offence;Which being done with speedy diligence,The Romans plausibly did give consentTo Tarquin’s everlasting banishment. Source Shakespeare, William. The Rape of Lucrece. Paperback, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, March 11, 2018.

Critical Discussion of Two Urban Dark Tourism Sites Based On Death and Essay

Critical Discussion of Two Urban Dark Tourism Sites Based On Death and Disaster - Essay Example Memories about war, disasters, and battle sites have produced interests, curiosity, and adventurism among many tourists. Urban dark tourism therefore constitutes a field that is emerging powerfully, involving people around the world traveling towards sites, attractions, and events that have association in one way or the other with death, suffering, violence, or disaster (Stone, 2005). Wight (2006) notes that interpretation, marketing, and production of dark tourism products in the modern world is huge. However, inevitability of debate concerning political and ethical issues of the concept remains live and unavoidable (Sharpley, 2009, p.5). Due to this observation, this research paper aims to critically discuss ethical and political issues of two urban dark tourism products/sites that emerge as a result of interpreting, marketing, and producing the two dark tourism products or sites. ... Examples of key areas explored by authors that can be categorized as dark tourist sites include; cemeteries, battlegrounds, sites of deaths of celebrities, places disasters have taken place, prisons, chambers where torture has taken place, genocide sites, and memorials (Bigley, Lee, Chon, and Yoon, 2010). Dark tourism has grown and its implications exhibit interplay between various structures of; political, social, and cultural conditions of the society (Stone and Sharpley, 2008) and today bountiful potential exists in dark tourism as a result of media and communication technologies (Sharpley, 2009). Emergence of dark tourism is associated with emergence of post-modernism concept, together with its elements of communication and globalization (Huggan, 2009). What this means is that, dark tourism is regarded to be a product of post-modern culture that has been conceived and reared by global communications networks, anxieties about modernity and the general emphasis on commoditization. Presence of global communication technologies has been effective in creating the basic interest among tourist to visit these areas (Lennon and Foley, 2000). Apart from the role communication technologies play, it also appears that dark tourism sites possess ability to introduce anxiety and doubt about the project of modernity (Smith, MacLeod, and Robertson, 2009). Lastly, in consuming dark tourism products, post-modernism culture combines education with elements of commoditization and commercial ethic where visiting dark sites is perceived to constitute an opportunity to achieve mediated goals of tourism consumption. Dark tourism does not enjoy rosy ride, rather, there has been tendency among some

Journal entry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Journal entry - Essay Example News reporting needs to be as objective as possible because otherwise it could be construed as propaganda. People tend to only hear what they want to hear, so if they only are presented with one political or social opinion then they will likely widely believe anything because it fits their predetermined point of view. News reporting is a vital service necessary to keep the population informed of important national and world events. If news reporting is not objective then the lines between truth and fiction will become blurred. This is a serious concern to everyone no matter his or her political persuasion. Without another point of view to balance a news story, there will be two contrasting views of the news, neither of which will be centered or based on fact. In terms of politics, this will result in a broken down system where neither side is able to trust the other because "their version" of the news will be very different. Once politics has reached that stage, the citizens will no longer trust the government because they will have their own conspiracy theories about the real intentions of politicians. The only way to prevent such a situation is to make sure that news reporting is kept as objective as possible by sticking to the facts and having very little opinion or emotional appeals included.

The Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

The Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Despite the recent surge in media coverage regarding genetically modified foods (GM foods) many Americans are unaware of what these foods are, or the possible benefits and dangers associated with them. Sometimes referred to as agricultural biotechnology; genetic modifying means that the DNA of food has been altered in some way at a cellular level. Scientists have learned that by inserting the genetic information from one organism into another they can create food crops that grow larger, stay fresh longer and are equipped with their own pesticides. GM foods have been a common part of the national diet since the early 90s. As with many scientific advances; e. g. , using chemo therapy to treat cancer, or underwater oil drilling, there have been unexpected, negative side effects. Genetically modified foods are not the super-food they claim to be. Until further research has been done to verify their safety, and prove they do not pose a threat to human health, the environment, and agricultural bio-diversity the use of GM foods should be banned or drastically limited in the United States. Human Health Many opponents to GM foods have raised concerns regarding the vast potential for these crops to cause allergic reactions in humans. A medical investigation done in India in 2005 determined that hundreds of agricultural workers developed allergies after being exposed to genetically modified cotton that contained Bacillus thuringensis (bt) toxins (Saunders, Ho, Cummins, 2007). Bt toxins are common biological pesticides that can be found in products like Roundup; a popular brand of household weed killer. Monsanto, the makers of Roundup, is also currently the world leader in GM food production. Similar research in parts of China and Africa also found a significant increase in the number of allergic reactions reported by agricultural works (Saunders, Ho, Cummins, 2007). The Journal of Hematology Thromboembolic Diseases published the results of study done on rodents that yielded frightening results. It was determined that there was a significant detrimental effect to the liver and kidneys of rats fed a strictly GM maize diet. The negative effects were caused by the mutagenic properties of genetically altered foods and the presence of Bt toxins transferred to and detected in the blood of the animals. The study concluded that before these foods can be considered safe for human consumption there will need to be longer studies completed on the effects of the toxins (Mezzomo, Miranda-Vilela, Freire, Barbosa, Portiho, 2013). Bt toxins, which have also been found in crops of soy and corn, are added to crops in hopes of reducing pests like weeds without the use of external combatants. The Environment The toxins produced by GM crops are not only dangerous to humans; they can be harmful to the environment as well. One pledge listed on Monsanto’s website states â€Å"We will use sound and innovative science and thoughtful and effective stewardship to deliver high-quality products that are beneficial to our customers and to the environment† (Monsanto, 2013). Many people have questioned the truthfulness of this promise. Prior to the wide-spread use of GM crops, there were multiple concerns regarding the over-use of chemical pesticides applied through sprays. Consumers have been told that by genetically altering the foods so they can produce their own pesticides there would be a vast reduction in the need for sprayed chemicals. Recent studies have shown that this is not the case. A 2007 survey of farmers who grew maize, soy, and other pesticide tolerant crops showed an increase of 383 million pounds more pesticide used than they would have required with non-tolerant seeds. The use of herbicides rose 31. 4% from 2007 to 2008 on GM crops. It was shown that as the weeds become increasingly tolerant to common pesticides like Bt toxins there will be increased need for external chemical pesticides (Budinger, 2013). Washington State University researcher, Charles Benbrook, likened the overuse Bt toxins to the overuse of antibiotics to treat common infections and stated that Its very much the same dynamic in play. By genetically altering corn, soybeans, and cotton so they can be sprayed throughout the growing season, farmers are now spraying their fields three times a season. Naturally as the weeds grow more tolerant they pass that trait to next generation, creating what is commonly referred to as a â€Å"super-weed† (Koebler, 2013). Roundup is a glyphosate-based herbicide used in many GM crops. The makers of Roundup have long reported that this is a safe alternative to chemical pesticides. Although this type of herbicide may be more desirable than its purely chemical rivals there are still environmental factors that must be considered. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stated that glyphosate has been proven to be deadly to earthworms. The decreased number of earthworms has resulted in a significant decrease of the bird populations in many areas where GM crops are grown (USDA, 2013). There has been no ruling against the use of Bt toxins in the United States however the French court has over-ruled Monsanto’s claims that there are no harmful effects to humans or the environment in 2009 (Marshall, 2013). Threats to Agricultural Biodiversity Concerns have also been raised by scientists and environmentalists regarding unintended effects of Bt toxins on non-targeted animals and insects. If the weeds can grow tolerant of the pesticides, it is logical to believe that insect pests may develop a resistance as well. This will cause there to be a spike in the pest insect population causing and imbalance in their relationship to preying animals (John Innes Centre, 2013). The most alarming effects of pesticides are related to the recent phenomenon of disappearing bees known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This, however, is not related to Bt toxins; it is believed to be caused by neonicotinoids, a class of neuro-active insecticides produced by Bayer, the second world leader in GM crop production. A study done by The Harvard School of Public Health was able to recreate CCD by introducing neonicotinoids to four bee colonies. The study showed that bees exposed to high amount of neonicotinoids perished quickly, however the colonies exposed to small amounts over a period of four months also eventually succumbed to CCD. Alex Lu, an associate professor of environmental exposure biology in the Department of Environmental Health led the study and stated â€Å"â€Å"The significance of bees to agriculture cannot be underestimated, and it apparently doesn’t take much of the pesticide to affect the bees. Our experiment included pesticide amounts below what is normally present in the environment† (Chensheng Lu, Kenneth M. Warchol, Richard A. Callahan. 2012). False Promises It is arguable that GM food manufacturers could not anticipate such harmful effects on humans and the environment and therefore we can view their statements regarding health and safety as non-malicious, however, there have also been false claims made by Monsanto that make it extremely difficult for the consumers to have faith in their practices. A Monsanto-trained scientist, Dr. Florence Wambugu, claimed that the sweet potatoes grown on a test farm in Africa showed a higher yield that of the non-modified variety grown on the same farm. This caused many proponents of GM foods to claim that international cultivation of these crops will solve our world hunger problems by creating a sustainable food source. It was later discovered that the claims made by Wambugu were untrue and, in fact, the GM sweet potatoes died out much sooner than the naturally grown counter-part. A similar study done in Uganda has also shown that non-GM sweet potatoes produce higher yield. Multiple unsuccessful studies were done on gm sweet potatoes spanning a 12-year period and costing over $6 million (The Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging at San Jose State University, 2013). The World Bank and four United Nations agencies completed a study in 2008 and concluded that GM crops are not the solution for creating a sustainable food source. The study found that the sustainability of these crops is unreliable and whereas the yield was higher in some areas, it was significantly lower in others. The study also showed that organic and near organic farming had a much higher success rate in Africa where there is an emergent need for more food. (Vazakas, Arvanitoyannis, Baltas, 2007) There has been a limited amount of research done to prove the efficacy and safety of GM foods and despite claims that they are not safe for human consumption, they are becoming increasingly harder for Americans to avoid. Since the introduction of GM food there has been a substantial increase in the number of food allergies reported each year in the United States (Will Genetically Engineered Foods Cause Allergic Reactions?, 2006) . The World Health Organization has concluded that further research and monitoring of public health records will need to done before a conclusive answer can be reached (World Health Organization, 2013). It is imperative that the American people educate themselves on the negative side effects of GM foods and put a halt to the practices of GM food giants like Monsanto and Bayer. References Budinger, M. (2013). Whoops! The Legacy of Genetically Engineered Food. Retrieved from http://arizonaadvancedmedicine.com/articles/genetically_engineered_food. html Chensheng Lu, Kenneth M. Warchol, Richard A. Callahan. In situ replication of honey bee colony collapse disorder. Bulletin of Insectology. 2012. John Innes Centre. (2013, May). Impact of growing GM crops on biodiversity. Retrieved from http://www. jic. ac. uk/corporate/about/publications/gm-debate/gm-impact-on-biodiversity. htm Koebler, J. (2013, June). Herbicide-Resistant Super Weeds Increasingly Plaguing Farmers. Retrieved from http://www. usnews.com/news/articles/2012/10/19/herbicide-resistant-super-weeds-increasingly-plaguing-farmers Marshall, E. (2013). European Ruling Curbs Monsantos Claims on GM Crops. Retrieved from http://news. sciencemag. org/scienceinsider/2010/07/european-ruling-curbs-monsantos. html? rss=1 Mezzomo, B. P. , Miranda-Vilela, A. L. , Freire, I. S. , Barbosa, L. P. , Portiho, F. A. (2013). Hematotoxicity of Bacillus Thuringiensis. Journal of Hematology Thromboembolic Diseases, 1(1), 1-9. Monsanto. (2013). monsanto. com. Retrieved from http://www. monsanto.com/newsviews/Pages/Issues-and-Answers. aspx Saunders, P. , Ho, M. , Cummins, J. (2007, March). GM Food Nightmare Unfolding in the Regulatory Sham. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease. , 19(2), 66-77. The Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging at San Jose State University. (2013). Harvest of Fear. Retrieved from http://www. nufs. sjsu. edu/clariebh/Harvest%20of%20Fear. html USDA. (2013). Draft Environmental Impact Statment November 2009. Retrieved from http://www. aphis. usda. gov/biotechnology/downloads/alfalfa/gealfalfa_deis.pdf Vazakas, T. H. , Arvanitoyannis, I. S. , Baltas, H. (2007, October). The Polotics and Science behind GMO Acceptance. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 47(4), 335-61. Will Genetically Engineered Foods Cause Allergic Reactions? (2006, October 5). American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Retrieved from http://www. asbmb. org/ World Health Organization. (2013). Evaluation of Allergenicity of Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved from http://www. who. int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/en/ec_jan2001. pdf.

Suicide :: essays research papers

Suicide... I once had a boyfriend, who was severly depressed, and became suicidal. The act of his trying to commit suicide broke my heart, and his families. I decided to write my paper about how to help someone who is sucidal and how to spot the signs, if there are any. In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (both sexes). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides.1 Everyone feels sad at some point — it's only natural. But what doctors call clinical depression is very different from just being "down in the dumps." The main difference is that the sad or empty mood doesn't go away after a couple of weeks, and everyday activities like sleeping, socializing or working can be affected. Suicide is a general term encompassing all types of suicidal behavior, including thoughts about suicide, suicidal "chatter" or threats, deliberate self-harm , and suicide itself. Suicide is an intentional taking of one's own life. It combines a wish to be dead with the action that carries out that wish. A checklist used to determine whether a death is suicide include: (1) They initiate their death (2)the desire to be self-destructive (3) the loss of will to live (4) the motivation to be dead or to die There are some certain signs to watch for,as well, if you think that someone might be considering Suicide. They are as follow:  · Deepening Depression. A depressed person, who withdrawls from friends and family, and doesnt seem to be getting any "happier"  · Final Arrangements  · Risk Taking or Self-Destructive Behaviors  · Pre-Suicidal Statements. Direct or indirect statements about suicide, hopelessness or death, even when said in a joking or off hand manner.

To what extent would you explain gender differences in terms of gender socialization?

We are living in the world with gender difference, though the difference is varied from one culture to another. Sociologists often explain gender difference in terms of the Nature and the Nurture Explanation. Nature Versus Nurture Explanation also called the Genetic versus Environmental Controversy, questions if the difference in behavior of male and female is due to their genetics (Nature) or their environment or ways of upbringing (Nurture). Some phenomenon of gender stereotypes is better explained by the Nature Explanation while most of them can be explained well by the Nurture Explanation. Though genetics do play a role in separating the actions and behaviors of males and females, it is only to a certain extent; most differences between the sexes are based on differential socialization of men and women. In this essay, it explains a little about the Nature Explanation but focus on the Nurture Explanation. It attempts to give validity to the nurture side by showing evidences that gender roles are a product of gender socialization. Firstly, it gives concrete examples of socialization in our daily lives. Then, the causes of gender difference and gender roles stereotypes will be examined by the Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Development Theory. At the end, the criticism of socialization and the recent change in socialization will also be stated. The Nature Explanation The Nature Explanation was proposed by Steven Goldbery. He argued that anthropological record shows that all human societies past and present have been patriarchies, that is, societies in which men dominate women. The majority of top positions and highest statuses are occupied by men rather than by women. Thus, Goldbery concluded that men are born with dominance. (Haralambos, 1995) Therefore, Biology, and hence genetics and hormones, serves as the answer to account for and give rise to masculinity1 and femininity2, for instance, men are more aggressive and competitive than female. The Nurture Explanation — Gender Socialization Is The Key Sociologists have also tried to open the door to the Nurture Explanation and prove that gender differences are the product of culture. Gender Socialization is one important field of the Nurture Explanation. Under the effect of socialization, male and female develop different personalities, aspirations and role expectation or even achievements in the society. 1) Examples of Gender Differences under Socialization Socialization is a gender-role model tried to specify the ways in which males and females are socialized to be what is considered masculine and feminine in a particular culture. (Abbott, 1992). Sociologists claim that we are under the effect of socialization through our life cycle. Some examples are given as follows: 1.1 Infant Socialization — Effect of Parents' Upbringing Certainly, it is difficult to distinguish between a boy baby and girl baby, apart by observing their difference in biological features. When they are being brought up, they have been unconsciously under the effect of gender socialization. It is believed that parents have great influences in extending the effects of socialization in the process of nurturing their children. For instance, boys are dressed in blue and girls in pink; girls wear dresses with hearts or flowers while boys wear super hero pajamas. 1.1.1 Toys and Games The parents' choice on toys for their children also reveals socialization. As children get older, parents reinforce gender roles by encouraging activities and choosing toys that are gender-specific. (Bryant & Check, 2000) — Girls play with Barbies dolls and kitchen sets while boys with Legos, trucks and motor cars. Toys for boys tend to encourage their exploration, manipulation, invention, construction, competition and aggression whereas girls' toys typically rate high on creativity, nurturance, and attractiveness. (Renzetti & Curran, 1998) Moreover, Parents, especially fathers, tend to engage in rougher and more physical play with sons. Moreover, even for story books and cartoons, men are always typically rewarded for being smart and brave heroes like Supermen and Spidermen; Girls are usually princess with good look and being gentle, warm and kind hearted. (Renzetti & Curran, 1998) 1.1.2 Emotional Expression and Altitudes Tthe parents socialize the boys by encouraging them from a very early age to express certain types of emotions but not others, like fearfulness. Research in 1974 and again in 1995 showed that parents, especially fathers, describe newborn girls as softer, finer-featured, smaller, weaker, and more delicate than boys. (Bryant & Check, 2000) In addition, they think that it is natural for boys to be ill-mannered and aggressive. They consider it as â€Å"energetic†. Yet girls have to be polite, gentle and quiet. All these observed behaviors are obviously not because of genetics and are not preceded when they were babies, it is the parents who think their sons should behave in these ways, and therefore they treat them in such a way that elicits these behaviors and altitudes. 1,2 Socialization of School Education Schools reinforce traditional gender roles in many ways. Boys are socialized to be more analytical, critical and scientific-minded. This accounts for the fact that boys dominate in Science subjects like Engineering, Computer Programming and Pure Sciences. Girls are socialized to be good at language, so larger proportion of girls study in Business Administration, Literature and Fine Arts. Concerning other special subjects in secondary schools, Woodwork is only available for boys whereas Home Economics is for girls only. This also creates a gender stereotypes that men must deal with heavy works but women must be learnt to do housework. 1.3 Socialization of Mass Media — Advertisements Advertisements not only sell products, but they also sell gender stereotypes. The models and photos appeared in the advertisements in newspaper and magazines are also carefully chosen to display cultural understandings about differences between male and female (Richardson, 1988): Women are chosen for selling household products and cosmetics while men selling luxurious cars, mobile phones and high technology products. Sometimes, Many advertisements even promote the product being user-friendly by saying that â€Å"Even housewives know how to use it!† They unconsciously convey a message to the public that women are intelligently inferior to men. To conclude, we have been consciously and unconsciously socialized in many aspects in our daily lives. Eventually, men develop masculinity: self reliant, independent, assertive, forceful and analytical; women develop femininity: affectionate, sympathetic, sensitive to other's need, understanding, compassionate, emotional, warm and tender. 2) Social Learning Theory and Gender Role Stereotypes Two theories have been put forward to explain gender socialization as well. They are the Social Learning Theory and the Cognitive Development. 1) Social Learning theory Mischel, Bandura and Walters have developed a theory of learning sexual identity known as Social Learning Theory. It is a behaviorlist theory that relies on reinforcement of the environment of the society and modeling explanations of behavior (Coltrane, 2001). Initially, there are few physiological or behavioral differences between males and females at birth. However, as boys and girls are treated differently and put into different learning environments by their parents, they learn the behaviours of both sexes by means of their observations. They are more likely to imitate the behaviors of his or her own sex. Eventually, they develop different needs, wants, desires, skills and temperaments and eventually give rise to masculine and feminine direction to the emotions and behaviours of men and women. Gender roles are defined â€Å"entirely social created expectation of masculine and feminine behaviour initiated and perpetuated by the institutions and values of a society† (Abbott, 1992), that is, by Socialization. Gender roles usually contain certain general characteristics. These characteristics include: i) The expectation of certain personality traits. ii) Social roles iii) Social positions and occupations In this section, it will focus on how social learning brings out gender difference in social roles and occupations. 2.1 Social learning in Social Roles Due to the traditional family structure which has been deep-rooted in people's mind, men always take up the role of fathers and breadwinners while women are mothers and housewives. As a result, men are socialized to be assertive, independent and strong so that they can be the â€Å"pillar of the family†. On the other hand, women are socialized to be gentle, warm, tender, sensitive and dependent to fulfill her jobs of taking care of their husbands as well as nurturing their children. At the same time, since parents serve as the primary models for their young children, children learn from their parents by seeing what their parents do. Thus, socialization continues to exert its effect through generations. If the mother always does all the cooking, the implication to their children is that this is women's work; if the father is always the one to climb on the roof and repair electrical appliances; children soon learn that this is men's job. (Abbott, 1992) Boys and girls thus imitate their fathers and mothers respectively by acquiring the same kind of skills and developing same personality traits. Research has found out that daughters directly internalize their mothers' attitudes because they perceive these attitudes to be realized in the practice of their mother's daily life. (Carine, 1998). The internalization of altitude of girls is stronger than that of boys as fathers have high chance to go out for work and lowers the chances for their boys to imitate. In addition, parents may consciously or unconsciously have special expectations of their boys and girls and attempt to teach a child appropriate gender role behaviour. Research shows that the more traditional the gender role attitudes of a mother, the stronger her tendency to emphasize a daughter's conformity, and the more traditional her daughter's attitudes appear to be a mother's conformist orientation substantially contributed to the extent in which daughters develop a more traditional view on gender roles. (Carine, 1998) 2,2 Gender Role Stereotypes in Occupation Gender is often attached to different social positions and occupations in several ways. This results in gender inequality in work (Haralambos, 1995): According to the Human Capital Explanation, Women are less committed to paid employment as women are generally not considered as â€Å"human capital3† by most employers. Employers believe that women, who has been socialized to be home-centred, marriage-centred and child-centre, are less committed to their work. Thus, they are often employed in the secondary labour market with lower pay, job security and promotion prospects. On the other hand, there are expected roles of men and women at work. For instance, in cultures of many countries, women are usually considered at jobs as nurses, social workers, flight attendants, domestic workers, etc because these jobs involve nurturing and sensitivity that are associated with femininity. (Abbott, 1992); by coincidence, most of the jobs associated with women rank lower in the society, thus people claim that women are being discriminated by taking up lower levels of the occupational hierarchy. For men, they are usually considered better engineers, politicians, bureaucrats as they are socialized to be more logical, rational, independent and capable. As a result, they are likely to take up professional roles in the society. Needless to say, for jobs that require excellent physical institution, like the Police Force and fire fighters, men always dominate. Women, even with accepted levels of physical institution and qualifications, are less welcomed, because female hav e been portrayed as the weaker sex. 3) Cognitive Development Theory A Cognitive Developmental Theory, advocated by Kohlbery, posits that children learn gender and gender stereotypes through their mental efforts to organize their social world. Kohlbery claimed that men and women are different and these differences constitute a central organizing principle of social life. The process is called gender polarization. The theory also views gender acquisition as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Children are active agents employing cognitive processes in understand the society and the world. Initially children understand their world by sorting objects and people into categories, one of the example is to organize information on the basis of gender categories. Children interpret and learn about gender stereotype and how to â€Å"do gender† in culturally appropriate ways in thinking and behaving. It is because as they gradually grow up, they understand that gender stereotype is central to the way the society is organized. (Coltrane. 2001) At the very early stage, a baby is not concerned with his or her gender identity. As the child gets older, he or she begins to develop an identity for him- or her-self and establishs a personality that reflects their masculinity or femininity. For example, boy and girl babies usually play with each other when they are very young, but they choose to play with other kids of the same sex starting form their Oedipal period (beyond age 3). Also, Boys are raised up by their mothers and they used to be under the clutches of their mothers. However, they want to be with their dad when they gradually grow up. They refuse to go shopping with their mothers anymore because they think that it is not something that a boy should do, according to their understanding about gender stereotype. If they play with children of the opposite sex, they are likely to be teased by their peers; if they act in such ways that do not match with their own sex, like boys wearing dresses and girls being aggressive and fighting with boys, their behavior will be considered as deviance and may even be condemned by the society. To conclude, in order to be considered as competent members of the society, men and must learn how to fit in appropriately as gender individuals. This is how cognitive development brings out gender differences. Criticism of Socialization Socialization is the evil for the rise of gender roles stereotypes, which may cause gender inequalities and many problems in the society. Throughout the history, all human societies have been patriarchies and androcentristic, that is, male are superior to female and male experience is the normative standard (Coltrane, 2001) Girls seem to accept a negative stereotype of their abilities. Research studies showed that even girls get better grades in the college than the boys do, they are less likely to believe that they can be more successful in a career (Abbott, 1992). Job segregation and alienation caused by gender role stereotypes greatly narrow the field of career that each sex can choose. Both men and women may be prevented form choosing certain careers that are considered as not suitable for their sex: Women find it difficult to be fire fighters and join and Police Force. Similarly, men's chances to be secretaries, nurses and flight attendants are much reduced even they are ambitious to do so. Therefore, socialization is to blame for limiting the potential development for both sexes. Regrettably, because of socializa tion, employment somehow counts on sex, but not ability. Men and women have been socialized to perform certain gender specific roles. These roles have been changing in the society at a relatively rapid pace, but the traditional value of gender role stereotypes is changing at the same rate. One vivid example is that women nowadays may earn more than their husbands do and provide for the families whereas men are forced to take up the role of doing housework and rearing children. Thus, negative consequences arise from resistance to these role changes. This imbalance of role and value change has large implications for the future of the stability of the family. The difficulty our society has with accepting these changing roles can cause strain between spouses which can ultimately lead to an increased divorce rate. Worse still, if the accepted traits of stereotypes do not match with a person's real inclination or characteristics, this could causes stress and leads to low self-esteem of both sexes for being unable to live up to an ideal masculinity and femininity. (Reiter, 1980) High degrees of competitiveness may lead to stress and violence in men; passivity and dependence may leave women unable to support themselves in a crisis. In more serious case, the problem can be fatal: Men have long been socialized to be strong and independent. The pressure to conform to traditional roles limits the emotional expression by men and hinders them from seeking assistance even when they encounter high level of psychological stress. This can explain the increased suicidal rate of men in recent decades. Changing Gender Role of Stereotypes However, as mentioned before, socialization occurs in different ways according to the time and the particular culture. When time changes, there are also changes in the forms of socialization. Firstly, there is an obvious change in pattern of the labour force. Women are getting more education and this makes the working opportunities to them more attractive. They can become professional like lawyers, doctors, accountant, engineer, etc. Today, many important government positions and even principal officers in Hong Kong have been taken up by women. For example, the former Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs. Anson Chan, the former Secretary for Security, Mrs. Regina Ip and the Secretary for Justice, Ms. Elsie Leung are influential political figures in the society. Secondly, as women begin to marry later and are more likely to stay in the labour force longer, more employers are more confident and willing to employ female in the primary labour market which gives them higher income and promotion prospects. Lastly, because of the economic downturn, there is an increased participation in the work force. All these train women to be as competitive and capable as men in order to survive. Women are no longer expected to take up occupations at the lower level of the occupational hierarchy. In addition, there is also a slight change in the gender role in the family: Mothers have increasing power in the family, no matter in terms of finance and â€Å"administration†. Fathers are no longer as the only breed winner while mothers also contribute to the finance of the family. Similarly, housework is not considered as women's work anymore, but it is duty shared by both fathers and mothers. Besides, mothers have a say at home on all matters and involves in important decision making. Conclusion: Strike A Good Balance To conclude, many daily examples have proved that socialization is the evil for most cases of gender difference. It portrays the expected image of male and female in one culture and also restrict their thinking, behaviour and lives in a number of ways. As given in the previous paragraph â€Å"Criticism of Socialization†, many problems may arise when stereotypes are seen as ideals for behaviour which makes people follow blindly. It seems that socialization is an inevitable evil deep rooted in our norms and values. Thus, it is important to strike a balance: we can live under the effect of socialization but we should avoid serious gender stereotypes. Only by doing so, we can build up a healthy society where gender differences and inequality can be minimized.

Research Methodology, Design and Process: Dementia Care

Abstract The ability to critically analyse literature is an important skill for evidence-based practice. This literature review aimed to critically analysed literature on dementia care. A search of literature was conducted on academic databases such as Pubmed and CINAHL. Three studies were finally retrieved for this literature review. Each of these studies was critiqued using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool for qualitative studies and the critiquing framework of Long et al. (2002). Findings of this literature review could be used to inform current and future community nursing practice. Specifically, this review revealed that music therapy could improve the mood of individuals with dementia and show evidence in improving memory function. While findings could not be applicable to a wider population, nurses could utilise findings and tailor these to the individual needs of their patients. Introduction Evidence-based practice (EBP) is heavily promoted in the NHS since this helps nurses and other healthcare practitioners apply findings of recently published literature to one’s current and future practice. The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC, 2008) code of conduct also emphasises that healthcare decisions should be evidence-based and supported by published literature and current guidelines. Developing the ability to critically analyse literature is essential when developing evidence-based care (Greenhalgh, 2010; Aveyard, 2014). There is a wealth of information from published literature and current guidelines. Determining the relevance and quality of these findings will help inform nurses whether findings are credible and valid before they are applied to current practice. As part of community nursing, I am interested in improving my current practice in order to deliver quality care to my patients. The recent policy on community care from the Department of Health (2013a) emphasises the importance of allowing patients with chronic conditions and their carers to self-manage their conditions, achieve self-efficacy and lessen admissions in hospital settings. This policy, â€Å"Care in Local Communities-District Nurse Vision and Model’ (Department of Health, 2013a) emphasises the role of nurses in supporting patients and their carers to improve their health outcomes. While it is acknowledged that patients with chronic illnesses may never recover from their condition, nurses have the responsibility to help patients or their carers manage signs and symptoms of the chronic illness. As a nurse in community setting, I have cared for patients with dementia. I saw how this condition impacts the patient’s quality of life and even increase the risk of depression amongst their carers (Talbot and Verrinder, 2009). I always had an interest in caring for patients with dementia. However, I noticed that most pharmacologic treatments have little effect in delaying the progression of cognitive impairments amongst these patients (Miller, 2009). These treatments are also costly and place a considerable burden on the family members and the NHS (Department of Health, 2013b). Hence, I thought that familiarising myself with non-pharmacologic interventions and their effects on cognition or memory of the patient would be important in my role as a community nurse. A number of non-pharmacologic interventions to preserve memory or delay cognitive decline have been developed in the last two decades. Studies (Spector et al., 2010; Hansen et al., 2006; Vink et al., 2004; Teri et al., 2003) show that these interventions range from motor stimulation, exercise programmes, sensory stimulation and cognitive training. Amongst these interventions, music therapy has been suggested to be least harmful and relatively effective. Some investigators (Fornazzari et al., 2006; Cuddy and Duffin, 2005) have shown that even in patients with severe dementia, music memory seemed to be preserved. However, some studies (Menard and Belleville, 2009; Baird and Samsom, 2009) suggest otherwise and explain that some patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffer from impaired music memory. One study (Baird and Samson, 2009) however, explained that procedural memory, specifically for musical stimuli are not affected in persons with dementia. With the acknowledgement tha t most pharmacologic interventions have limited ability to treat the symptoms associated with dementia, it is essential to consider how non-pharmacologic interventions, such as music therapy, alleviate symptoms of this condition. In order to enhance my current and future nursing practice and to increase my understanding on the relevance of music therapy to dementia care, I have decided to research this topic further. Literature Search A search of literature from academic databases such as the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Pubmed was done to retrieve relevant studies. CINAHL indexes more than 5,000 nursing and allied health sciences journals and contains almost 4 million citations. The depth of research articles indexed in this database makes it a database of choice for research on the effects of music therapy on patients suffering from dementia. Meanwhile, Pubmed was also used to search for academic literature. This database also contains millions of citations and indexes nursing and allied health journals. A quick search for ‘music therapy AND dementia’ was done in Pubmed since this database focuses on nursing and allied health journals. This search yielded 20 articles, most of which were available as full text journals. The same keywords were entered in the CINAHL database. The search yielded 14 articles, with almost all articles available as full text articles. A review of the abstracts of all articles was done to select only primary research studies conducted in the last five years. Polit et al. (2013) state that retrieving journal articles in the last five years will ensure that the most recent evidence is used to inform current and future nursing practice. Literature older than five years old may be outdated. However, this also increases the risk of excluding landmark studies (Aveyard, 2014). For the present review, the selection of studies was only restricted to the last five years to ensure that more recent evidence on music therapy were evaluated and critiqued. The re was also no restriction on the place where the studies were conducted since dementia affects people of different ethnicities. Learning from the experiences of other nurses or healthcare practitioners on the use of music therapy for dementia patients would also help improve nursing practice in the UK. The following articles were chosen for critique and evaluation: Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) ‘Music-based memory enhancement in Alzheimer’s disease: promise and limitations’ Sakamoto et al. (2013) ‘Comparing the effects of different individualized music interventions for elderly individuals with severe dementia’, Dermot et al. (2014) ‘The importance of music for people with dementia: the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers, staff and music therapists’ As previously stated, I am interested in how music therapy could help me assist my patients delay the progression of dementia and help them and their carers self-manage the signs and symptoms of dementia. Hence, all articles are relevant my work as a community nurse. To critique these studies, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP, 2013) tool for critiquing qualitative studies was utilised. For the quantitative studies, Long et al. (2002) critiquing framework for quantitative studies was used. Both critiquing frameworks are easy to use and help researchers investigate the quality and rigour of research articles. Study 1: Simmons-Stern et al. (2012 A review of the title of the study shows that it reflected the main aim and objectives of the study. The title was concise and provided information to the readers that the study aimed to present the limitations of music-based memory enhancement as well as its possible application to nursing practice. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise the importance of creating a concise and clear title in order not to mislead readers and to inform stakeholders if the article is worth reading. A review was also done on the author’s background and shows that all had extensive background on dementia research and healthcare. This was essential since credibility of the authors’ background could increase the reliability of the findings of the study (Long et al., 2002). However, Hek and Moule (2011) emphasise that the authors’ background is not the sole criterion in assessing the credibility of the findings of the study. The abstract of the study failed to mention the type of study design used. While the abstract summarises the aims and main findings of the study, it did not follow the usual structure of an abstract in a journal article where the methodology or methods used are explicitly stated. Ellis (2010) reiterates that an abstract should provide a brief summary of the study’s background, aims and objectives, methodology, results and conclusion. Although it was difficult to determine why the researchers of this study failed to present the methodology in the abstract, readers of the study could have benefited from an abstract that states the methodology of the study. Reading of the body of the article would show that the quantitative study design was used. The study aimed to investigate the effects of music on the memory of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, one of the diseases grouped under dementia. Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) made excellent use of literature and related findings from previous studies with the current study. Apart from the excellent use of literature, there was also a very good review of the previous studies and a gap in literature was clearly presented. Hence, the literature review of the study was well written and provided the readers with good background on why there is a need to carry out the present study. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise that a well-written review of literature should be able to provide context to the study’s aims and objectives and argue why there is a need to address the gaps in literature. Importantly, Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) avoided the use of jargon when writing the paper. Burns and Grove (2013) explain that the use of jargon should be avoided since this excludes readers of the article that have no nursing or medical background. A good paper is one that is written for a general audience and not only for a scientific community (Burns and Grove, 2013). A total of 12 participants who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 17 healthy controls g ave their informed consents to participate in the study. Brown (2009) states the importance of obtaining the informed consent of participants before commencing the study. This would not only protect the rights of the participants but also ensure that the nurse researchers are observing the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC, 2008) code of conduct in protecting the patients or participants from harm. Part of obtaining an informed consent is the presentation of the study’s aims and objectives, possible side effects or benefits when participating in the study (Brown, 2009). An informed consent will also ensure that debriefing is provided to the participants to avoid any harm and psychological distress to the participants (Oermann, 2010). Apart from getting the informed consent, it was also crucial that an ethics committee has evaluated and approved the study protocol. An evaluation of the study reveals that this was observed and an ethics committee approved the study. On reflection, the study has a very small sample size (n=12 experimental group; n=17 control group). This would have taken a randomised controlled study design since a control group was used to compare the effects of music therapy on the patients with a healthy control. However, the investigators specifically state that this study was comparative. An inclusion and exclusion criteria were used when recruiting the patients, suggesting that participants were not randomly selected. Since the study was quantitative and employed the experimental study design, random sampling of the participants who have been more applicable (Crookes and Davies, 2004). It should be noted that it would also be difficult to randomise participants since this study was only conduc ted in one healthcare setting and it was crucial that participants have developed AD. While randomisation of participants was not observed, it is noteworthy that the investigators stated how many of the participants were excluded from the study and the reasons of their exclusion. This was essential since failure to explain why participants who gave their informed consents to participate in the study but were later excluded in the actual experiment would make the data collection process unclear (Moule and Goodman, 2009). Despite the small sample size, the demographic characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different when t-test was done. There were no significant differences in prior musical training, formal or informal, years of education and age between the participants of the two groups. This allowed the investigators to determine if there were differences after the study, this might have been due to the intervention employed. After informed consents were taken, the authors of the study declared that they paid the participants for the hours spent during the study. Compensating the participants for the time is considered as ethical since considerable time has been taken away from the subjects for their participation in the study (Hek and Moule, 2011). The interventions were clearly stated. This increased the rigour of the study since a clearly stated research method would help other investigators replicate the methods in future studies and verify whether similar findings are obtain ed (Hek and Moule, 2011). Simmons-Stern et al. (2012) also specifically outlined the lyrics used and where these were obtained and how music memory of the participants was tested. Results section of the study clearly presented the main findings of the study. Appropriate statistical tests were also utilised to test the hypotheses of the research. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise that statistical tests should be appropriate to the study’s aims and objectives and should rule out any biases in interpretation of the findings. Despite having a small sample size, the researchers were able to establish that music in patients with AD enhances memory in terms of familiarisation of sung lyrics but not in spoken stimuli. This suggests that in patients with AD, they can enhance their memory when familiarising with the lyrics or listening to music but not when they hear spoken language. There were also no significant differences in the healthy control and experimental groups in terms of memory after hearing the lyrics of a song compared to hearing the lyrics as a spoken stimuli. Since this study has a small sample size, the applicability of the findings to a larger and more heterogeneous population would be difficult (Burns and Grove, 2013). Although a control was used, it should be noted that participants in the experimental group are in the early stages of AD. This could have affected the findings of the study since it is unclear if patients with severe dementia would also yield similar reactions and results. At present, the findings are applicable to the sample population of the study and importantly, only on individuals in the early stages of dementia. While there were several limitations of the study, findings are noteworthy since these show that music therapy is promising as a non-pharmacologic intervention for enhancing memory in individuals with early stage dementia. The conclusion of the study was clearly presented and summarises the key points presented in the study. Although the discussion states future areas of study, there were no clear recommendations in the conclusion. Specific recommendations could have been made at the end to help future researchers identify areas of investigation. There were also no implications for future nursing and other healthcare practitioners’ practices. Despite the lack of clear recommendations, readers can still read through the study and identify areas that need further investigation. For example, there is a need to replicate the study in a larger and randomly selected sample population to strengthen the validity and reliability of the findings. There is also a need to compare findings with patients suffering from moderate to severe dementia to determine if music still has similar effects on the memory of those in advanced stages of the illness. There are a number of implications of the study in nursing practice. Nurses can use music to help enhance memory or prevent deterioration of memory amongst individuals with early stages of the disease. It is essential to consider the acceptability of music therapy in those suffering from dementia. As a whole, the study was of high quality and effort was made to reduce bias within the study. Although the investigators failed to blind assessors to the study, findings were presented objectively. It is also difficult to blind assessors because of the very small sample size (Burns and Grove, 2013). All investigators were familiar with the background of the participants and blinding them to the intervention was difficult since these investigators were also responsible in implementing the interventions. Finally, there were no conflicts of interest (Polit et al., 2013), ensuring the readers that bias in presentation of findings was avoided. Study 2: Sakamoto et al. (2013) An evaluation of the study’s title reveals that it was concise and clearly reflects the study’s aims and objectives. This was essential (Long et al., 2002) since this would present to the readers the main aim of the study. The type of study design chosen to answer the study’s aims was also appropriate. A quantitative study design would help investigators answer the research aims and objectives through experimentation, surveys or a randomised controlled trial (RCT) (Brown, 2009). In Sakamoto et al. (2013), the randomised controlled study design was used. Compared to other quantitative study designs, a RCT reduces risk of selection bias and bias in interpretation of findings (Moule and Goodman, 2009). Selection bias occurs when participants are not randomly selected and do no have equal chances of being assigned to a control or experimental groups (Crookes and Davies, 2004). This is avoided in RCT since all participants are randomly assigned to an experimental or c ontrol group. On the other hand, bias in interpretation of findings is lessened especially if investigators and assessors are blinded to the interventions and standard treatment (Oermann, 2010). A critical analysis of the study shows all participants in the study were randomly assigned to the treatment and standard care groups. However, a major limitation of this study was its relatively small sample size (n=39). It would be difficult to transfer findings to a larger and more heterogeneous group due to the representativeness of the sample population (Ellis, 2010). While it is difficult to transfer findings to other settings due to the relatively small sample size, community nurses may consider the applicability of the findings to their own practice. It is noteworthy that it would be difficult to recruit participants in the advanced stages of dementia since their ability to give their informed consent is severely limited (Department of Health, 2009). Further, their participation requires that their carers or immediate family members are aware of the study’s aims and objectives and should be able to assist the participants during the the study. While an ethics board app roved the study and informed consents were taken from the respondents or their representatives (Burns and Grove, 2013), involving individuals who suffer from severe cognitive impairment would be difficult. This also carries some ethical issues since their ability to understand the procedures of the study is compromised (Hek and Moule, 2011). Although the Mental Health Act in the UK acknowledges that carers can act in behalf of the individual with mental health condition, ethics regarding their participation in research studies remains debatable (Department of Health, 2009). Despite the possible ethical issues surrounding the study, investigators of this study used other means of evaluation to assess the participants’ responses to the interventions. For example, they used the Faces Scale (Sakamoto et al., 2013) to determine the emotions of the participants. A review of the study’s aims and objective shows that these were clearly presented in the beginning of the study. The introduction and review of literature also made excellent use of previous studies. It is also important to note the gaps in practice in recent studies were highlighted in the literature review section (Ellis, 2010). A good literature also argues why there is a need for the new study and how this could be applied to current healthcare practices (Ross, 2012). Methodology and methods used were also appropriate for the research question. Since the study aimed to determine the effectiveness of music therapy, it is appropriate that a RCT is used to compare music therapy with st andard care. Comparing music therapy with standard care is ethical (Ross, 2012) since all patients in the study received interventions. It would be unethical to withdraw treatment or assign participants to a control group that would receive no intervention (Crookes and Daives, 2004). The evaluation tools used to measure the responses of the patients were appropriate and have been previously validated and standardised. This was necessary to convey to the readers that validated measurement tools were used in the study (Moule and Goodman, 2009). A clear description of the research methods was presented. This would allow future researchers to replicate the present study (Oermann, 2010) and determine if similar findings could be observed. This also increases rigour of the study (Burns and Grove, 2013) since it is essential for other researchers to also test the hypothesis of the study and ensure that results are consistent across different healthcare settings. Results of the study were well presented and appropriate statistical tests were used. The discussion section of the study presented the strengths and limitations of the study. Polit et al. (2013) emphasise that presenting the limitations of a study will help inform other researchers on areas that need further improvement and presents areas for further research. Since weaknesses of the study were presented, readers and other healthcare practitioners can determine the extent in which the findings can be applied to current and future nursing practice (Burns and Grove, 2013) . The conclusion of the study succinctly captures the main points raised in the research study. This helped the researchers identify the main highlights of the study (Ellis, 2010). However, recommendations for other researchers and areas of improvement of the study were not cited. While the discussion section presented these limitations and areas for future studies, brief recommendations at the end of the study could have added rigour to the research study. Importantly, there were no conflicts of interest. This assured the readers that bias in reporting of data was reduced (Ellis, 2010). Findings of this study have important implications in nursing practice. All participants received either the passive or interactive music intervention while the control group received no music intervention. There was careful choice of music in the interactive group. For example, healthcare workers assigned to the interactive group helped investigators choose music for the patient participants. Music played during the intervention all had special meaning to the participants. All interventions were given individually for 30 minutes per session at once a week for 10 weeks. Those in the interactive group were allowed to clap, sing or interact with the music. Meanwhile, those in the passive group only listened to the music. The music chosen for the passive group also had special meaning to the participants. Those in the control group sat in silence for 30 minutes during the once a week session. Interestingly, findings show that music associated with special memories led to significant cha nges in the parasympathetic nervous system of the participants. Investigators note that music significantly increased relaxation of the individuals immediately after intervention when compared to baseline data. However, these were not noted in the control group. Significant changes were also seen on the emotional states of the participants in the interactive and passive music intervention groups. Music appeared to elicit pleasant emotional states. However, when passive and interactive groups were compared, the latter was significantly more relaxed following the music intervention. It should be noted that patients with severe dementia are more sensitive to environmental stimuli and may experience stress when placed in a new environment (Morris and Morris, 2010). Further, patients with cognitive impairments may express feelings of stress and fear through disruptive behaviour (Morris and Morris, 2010). The difficulty in verbalising their emotional needs could aggravate their responses to their surroundings (Department of Health, 2009). Hence, the st udy of Sakamoto et al. (2013) may have important implications in nursing care for patients in community settings. Nurses can encourage family members to play music that have special meaning to their loved ones suffering from dementia to illicit positive emotional states. The calming effect of music could be an advantage for patients cared in home or care settings since this would not only prevent stress but also allow patients to enjoy quality of life. Study 3: Dermot et al. (2014) A review of the study’s title shows that it also reflects the main aims and objectives of the study. Readers could easily understand that the study explored the experiences of individuals with dementia, their carers, staff and music therapists when music interventions are employed. The CASP (2013) tool for qualitative studies contains three screening questions that should be used to determine if a study is worth reviewing. The study of Dermot et al. (2014) suggests that music can help maintain the person’s interconnectedness and their quality of life. Findings have important implications in nursing practice since music intervention (Miller, 2009) is not costly and could yield positive results for patients suffering from early to advanced stages of dementia. Further review of the study shows that aims and objectives of the research were clearly stated. The main aim of the study was to explore the meaning of music in the lives of individuals suffering from dementia. Inves tigators of this study state that there is limited knowledge on why or how individuals find music beneficial to their wellbeing. Understanding the role of music according to the perceptions of the patients and their carers will help inform nursing practice on the relevance of music in the lives of people with dementia. A qualitative research methodology was appropriate for the study’s aims since the research aims to interpret the subjective experiences of individuals with dementia. Parahoo (2006) emphasises that a qualitative study allows researchers to explore the experiences and perceptions of individuals in more detail and depth. Since open-ended questions are used, investigators can use probing questions (Burns and Grove, 2013) to help participants articulate their experiences. One of the strengths of this study was the inclusion of participants’ family members, care home staff and music therapists. Individuals suffering from dementia were recruited from care homes and those living in the community. This allowed Dermot et al. (2014) to compare the perceptions of people with dementia living in care homes or in the community and determine if settings of the individuals impact their experiences with music therapy. Recruitment strategy employed was also appropriate for the research ai ms. There was also a clear explanation on the methods of data collection. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were done. In the former, this would allow researchers to investigate perceptions of participants in more detail (Parahoo, 2006). However, this requires more time to complete especially if there are many participants in a study. A focus group discussion, on the other hand, requires little resources and could be completed in one setting (Polit et al., 2013). However, if a dominant member would be included in a focus group discussion, interactions would be limited (Burns and Grove, 2013). This could be avoided with a facilitator who knows how to redirect the discussion to all members of the focus group. A stregnth of the study of Dermot et al. (2014) is the presentation of a rationalisation on why they used a combination of focus groups and in-depth interviews. It should also be noted that participants with dementia might display cognitive impairments, depending on the stage of their illness. Hence, requiring these patients to explain their experiences in more depth might be challenging. However, the investigators tried to mitigate this challenge by including carers of the patients as part of the study participants. Inclusion of carers could provide researchers with more detailed information on how music impacts the wellbeing and quality of life of the patients since these carers are more acquainted with the individuals suffering from dementia (Miranda-Castillo et al., 2010). It is also noteworthy that music therapy was individualised to the patients in the study. Thi s suggests that comparison of music therapy received by the patients was not done. Instead, investigators focused on the impact of music therapy on the patients’ wellbeing. In addition, the study did not take into account the differences in music interventions and whether this shaped the individual’s reaction to music therapy. Despite the differences in music intervention, it was common for the music therapists to use songs that were well-known to the patients. They also supported active music therapy with exploratory improvisation. Dermot et al. (2014), however, failed to explain what is exploratory improvisation or how this was done during music therapy. There was also an explanation on the content of the guides used for the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. This was essential to demonstrate the coverage of the interview guides and whether each guide reflects the aims and objectives of the study (Moule and Goodman, 2009). However, the relationship between the researchers and the participants was not thoroughly discussed. If the participants knew the investigators, this might lead to potential bias especially if the researchers hold positions of power (Oermann, 2010). Despite this limitation, Dermot et al. (2014) emphasise that only one facilitator guided the focus group discussions. There were changes in the methods used during data collection. For instance, where a focus group discussion was initially decided, this was then changed to individual interviews in the second group of patients and healthcare workers. Dermot et al. (2014) explain that the severity of dementia of the patients was considered in the choice of d ata collection. In-depth interviews were used when patients had severe dementia. There were also sufficient details on how participants were recruited and whether ethical standards were observed. Polit et al. (2013) state that ethics in research is crucial to ensure that the rights of the participants were observed and they were not subjected to undue stress or negative experiences during data collection. Confidentiality was also observed in the study and all participants remained anonymous. Approval was also sought from an ethics board in the community settings. Data analysis of qualitative data could be extensive and time consuming (Parahoo, 2006). Informing readers how data was analysed would help increase the rigour of a qualitative study. Dermot et al. (2014) provided an in-depth description of how data was analysed. Thematic analysis was also used to present the main findings of the study. There was also a clear description on how categories and themes emerged. For instance, the long-table approach was used during analysis of data. Verbatim transcripts wer e used to support the main themes. This ensures validity and credibility of the main themes generated in the study (Polit et al., 2013). Contradictory data were also taken into account. The researchers also critically examined their own roles in the research process and the potential bias that might arise during analysis of research data. While respondent was not done, validity and credibility of the data were observed through constant comparison of categories and themes. More than one researcher was involved in the analysis of data. Professors and doctoral students of the Doctoral Programme in Music Therapy were also consulted during thematic analysis and were involved in identifying categories. Importantly, findings were discussed with reference to the original research question. A discussion was also made on the relevance of the study to dementia care. Findings of this study suggest that music is a medium that is readily accessible to patients with dementia. Many of the patients, their carers and healthcare staff admitted that music promotes mental stimulation and is an emotionally meaningful experience. Almost all participants also remarked that song lyrics with personal meanings helped patients remember their personal history. It is also perceived to reinforce personal and cultural identity. Music is also perceiv ed to promote connectedness and building and sustaining of relationships. In addition, music has immediate effects on the mood of the patients. Most of the staff members who participated in the focus group discussions remarked that agitation of the patients decreased as a result of music therapy. It is also shown to promote a relaxing environment in the care homes. On the other hand, listening to music in the lounge area could be challenging since care home residents might have different music preferences. Hence, it would be a challenge for healthcare workers to address all the music preferences of the patients. Since the study was qualitative, transferability of the findings to a larger and more heterogeneous population is impossible (Polit et al., 2013). However, other healthcare practitioners could use findings to help build a peaceful environment for patients suffering from dementia. A further review of the study also shows that the conclusion summarises the main points raised in the study and provides recommendations for other researchers to consider in similar studies in the future. Implications of Findings in Nursing Practice Findings of this literature review could be used to improve nursing practice when caring for patients with dementia. All three studies (Simmons-Stern et al., 2012; Sakamoto et al., 2013; Dermot et al., 2014) included in this literature review demonstrate the impact of music therapy on patients with dementia. Music therapy could improve health outcomes and quality of life of the patients from early to advanced stages of the disease. In the latter, patients who have difficulty communicating their needs, react positively to music therapy. Many of the patients with severe dementia show less agitation when exposed to music that was once relevant to them before they suffered from dementia. This suggests that music therapy could even not only promote positive mood of the patients but might even reconnect them to ‘who they are’ (Dermot et al., 2014). This holds important implications in nursing practice in community settings. Music therapy could be introduced to families caring for a loved one with dementia and could be used to calm the patient, reconnect with their family members and create an environment that is less stressful for the individual with dementia. The type of music therapy, however, will be dependent on the preferences of the individual (Sakamoto et al., 2013). This is consistent with patient-centred care (Department of Health, 2009) where patient preferences are considered when creating a care plan or introducing healthcare interventions. It is suggested that interactive music therapy (Simmons-Stern et al., 2012; Sakamoto et al., 2013) might be more effective than passive music therapy in improving memory and mood of the patients with dementia. As a community nurse, I need to be aware of the different non-pharmacologic interventions for people with dementia. I can use findings of this review when caring for patients suffering from dementia. Music therapy is relatively easy to carry out and entails very little cost. Importantly, it has positive short and long-term impacts on patient’s mood, memory and quality of life. Hence, considering this type of intervention could also help ease the burden of carers who provide care to these patients on a daily basis. I could use information from this literature when conducting patient education. I can inform my patients and their family members of the benefits of music therapy and the sustainability of this type of therapy over time. I can also encourage family members to consider music therapy to help alleviate the mood of the patients and provide a calm environment. Conclusion This literature review has shown the feasibility and promise of music therapy in promoting wellbeing, improving memory and quality of life of patients with dementia. As a community nurse, music therapy could be employed with the help of a music therapist in community settings. Families and carers could be taught on how to use this type of therapy to improve the mood of the patient or to calm the individual when agitated. This type of therapy holds some promise in long-term care for people with dementia. As shown in the review, individuals with severe dementia still have the ability to respond positively to music therapy. However, consideration should still be made on the applicability of the findings of the three studies to a larger and more heterogeneous population. All studies recruited a relatively small sample size that might not be representative of the experiences of a wider group of people with dementia. Although this limits applicability, findings can be tailored to the needs of individual patients. Considerations should also be made on the preferences of the patients and their family members on whether music therapy is acceptable to them. Since there is a need to practice patient-centred care, nurses have to determine if patients or their family members are willing to employ music therapy. It should ne noted that this literature review is only limited to reviewing three studies. Literature on the acceptability of music therapy was not evaluated. Despite this gap in the present literature review, the positive responses generated after music therapy should help patients and their family members consider music therapy. References Aveyard, H. (2014) Doing a literature review in health & social care: A practical guide. 2nd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press. Baird, A. & Samson, S. (2009) Memory for music in Alzheimer’s disease: unforgettableNeuropsychology Review. 19(1), p. 85–101. Brown, S. (2009) Evidence-based nursing: the research-practice connection. Sudbury Mass: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Burns, N. & Grove, S. (2013) The practice of Nursing Research: Conduct. critique and utilisation. 7th ed., St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (2013) 10 questions to help you make sense of qualitative research. England: CASP. Crookes, P. & Davies, S. (2004) Research into practice. Essential skills for reading and applying research in nursing and healthcare. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Bailliere Tindall. Cuddy, L. & Duffin, J. (2005) Music, memory, and Alzheimer’s disease: is music recognition spared in dementia, and how can it be assessedMedical Hypotheses. 64(2), p. 229–235. Department of Health (2013a) Care in local communities: A new vision and model for district nursing. London: Department of Health. Department of Health (2013b) Improving care for people with dementia [Online]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-care-for-people-with-dementia (Accessed: 5 December, 2014). Department of Health (2009) Living Well with dementia: A National Dementia Strategy. London: Department of Health. Ellis, P. (2010) Understanding research for nursing students. Exeter: Learning Matters. Fornazzari, L, Castle, T. & Nadkarni, S. (2006) Preservation of episodic musical memory in a pianist with Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 66(4), p. 610–611. Greenhalgh, T. (2010) How to read a paper: the basics of evidence-based medicine. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley and Sons. Hansen, V., Jorgensen, T. & Ortenblad, L. (2006) Massage and touch for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4, p. CD004989. Hek, G. & Moule, P. (2011) Making sense of research. 4th ed. London: Sage. Long, A., Godfrey, M., Randall, T., Brettle, A. & Grant, M. (2002) Developing evidence based social care policy and practice. Part 3: Feasibility of undertaking systematic reviews in social care. Leeds: Nuffield Institute for Health. McDermot, O., Orrell, M. & Ridder, H. (2014) The importance of music for people with dementia: the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers, staff and music therapists. Aging & Mental Health. 18(6), p. 706-716. Menard, M. & Belleville, S. (2009) Musical and verbal memory in Alzheimer’s disease: a study of long-term and short-term memory. Brain and Cognition. 71(1), p. 38–45. Miller, C. (2009) Nursing for wellness in older adults. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Miranda-Castillo, C., Woods, B., Galboda, K., Oomman, S., Olojugba, C. & Orrell, M. (2010) Unmet needs, quality of life and support networks of people with dementia living at home. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 8:132 doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-8-132. Morris, G. & Morris, J. (2010) The dementia care workbook. London: McGraw-Hill International. Moule, P & Goodman, M. (2009) Nursing Research: An Introduction, London: Sage Publishers. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2009) Depression: The treatment and management of depression in adults. London: NICE. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008) The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. London: NMC. Oermann, M. (2010) Writing for publication in nursing. 2nd ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Parahoo, K. (2006) Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Polit, D., Beck, C. & Hungler, B. (2013) Essentials of nursing research, methods, appraisal and utilization. 8th ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Ross, T. (2012) A survival guide for health research methods. Maidenhead: OUP. Sakamoto, M., Ando, H. & Tsutou, A. (2013) Comparing the effects of different individualized music interventions for elderly indivduals with severe dementia. International Psychogeriatrics. 25(5), p. 775-784. Simmons-Stern, N., Deason, R., Brandler, B., Frustace, B., O’Connor, M., Ally, B. & Budson, A. (2012) Music-based memory enhancement in Alzheimer’s disease: promise and limitations. Neuropsychologia. 50(14), p. 3295-3303. Spector, A., Orrell, M. & Woods B. (2010) Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST): effects on different areas of cognitive function for people with dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 25(12), p. 1253–1258. Talbot, L. & Verrinder, G. (2009) Promoting Health: The Primary Health Care Approach. Australia: Elsevier Australia. Teri, L., Gibbons, L., McCurry, S., Logsdon, R., Buchner, D., Barlow, W., Kukull, W., LaCroix, A. McCormick, W. & Larson, E. (2003) Exercise plus behavioral management in patients with Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. 290(15), p. 2015–2022. Vink, A., Birks, J., Bruinsma, M. & Scholten, R (2004) Music therapy for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4, p. CD003477.

How to Report Child Pornography

How to Report Child Pornography It is illegal to own and/or create child pornography in the United States. Child pornography is generally defined as sexualized photos or videos of children under 18 or of children under the age of 18 performing sexual acts. What to Do If You Encounter Child Porn   If you encounter child pornography either online or through the U.S. mail, here is how you can report the crime to the proper authorities. If you encounter child pornography on the Internet, you can report the site address to your Internet Service Provider and your local or state FBI or Customs office listed in your telephone directory. You can also report child pornography online by forwarding the site address to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at cybertipline.com. NCMEC will forward your report to the appropriate investigative agency for follow-up. To collect the address (or URL) of a child-pornography website, click on the address in your browsers address bar to highlight (select) the address. Then hold down the Control key and click on the C key to copy the address. You can then paste the address into a text file or email message by holding down the Control key and hitting the V key. Porn in the Mail There is no free speech, First Amendment protection for child pornography. Pornographic pictures of children are not constitutionally protected speech. Such pictures are evidence of the sexual exploitation of children. If the pictures are sent through the U.S. Mail, it is a violation of federal law. If you have information about the use of the U.S. Postal Service to send child pornography, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service listed in the white pages of your local telephone directory. More information may be obtained at the U.S. Postal Inspection Agency web page. Why You Should Report Child Pornography If you happen upon an image of child porn online you may think theres no point in reporting it because the image could have come from anywhere in the world so how could police possibly track down anyone involved in its creation. But, youd be wrong. Investigators for the FBI are skilled at the type of forensic investigation required  to track down the people producing these horrible images. For example, there have been cases where investigators used wallpaper and bedsheets to identify the hotel being used by a ring of child pornographers. By reporting child pornography when you see it youre raising the chances that a child could be saved or of helping supply evidence needed to put someone who hurts children behind bars.

Should you accept a counteroffer or leave your job

Should you accept a counteroffer or leave your job So, you’re about to hand in your resignation letter to your (soon-to-be-ex) boss. You’ve done all the thinking you need to do about your exit, right? Not exactly. When you give notice, one of two things will likely happen: your boss will accept your resignation and wish you well; or your boss will take your resignation and then come back with a counteroffer to convince you to stay. When should you consider taking the counteroffer, and when should you stand firm on your resignation? You should consider accepting the counteroffer if†¦It addresses the reasons you wanted to leave in the first place.  If your boss comes back with a higher salary or a re-aligned job description, think about whether this satisfies your desire to move on. Some people explore other jobs or companies because they don’t think their current job will meet the next pay level or align with their next-step career goals. If you get the counteroffer and find that they are willing to work wi th you on these things, then consider staying.You were recruited rather than seeking a new gig.  If you got your shiny new job offer as the result of someone approaching you (rather than you trying to jump ship from your current job), a counteroffer can be a way to secure a raise outside of the annual review process or get other concessions. If you weren’t feeling strongly driven to leave in the first place, it’s worth considering whether this â€Å"keep me† package will make things even better than a new job would.You’re leaving mostly because you think you should.  If you’ve been at your current job for a few years and feel like you should be applying to shake things up and advance your career, a counteroffer may achieve the same results as leaving- it’s a chance to do a little negotiation outside of the normal timelines. Does the counteroffer give you a clearer promotion path if you stay where you are? Does it bump up your pay in line with the job offer you’re holding, or even improve upon it? If you can trade up without leaving, it’s worth considering the counteroffer.You feel validated by the counteroffer.  Counteroffers are not a given. When you get one, it’s because you provide a value to the company that they don’t want to lose without a fight (so to speak). If you were looking elsewhere because you felt under-appreciated, then this could be the validation you need. If you decide to take your new job offer and move on, you’ll be starting the process of proving yourself all over.Your gut says â€Å"stay.†Ã‚  Don’t underestimate your own instincts here. If that little voice in your head is saying, â€Å"take it,† don’t tune it out.You should consider rejecting the counteroffer if†¦It feels like too little, too late.  If you tried in vain to get a pay raise six months ago and suddenly your boss is willing to make concessions, think about w hat that means- they weren’t willing to compensate you until it got to the breaking point.The counteroffer doesn’t really change anything you’re trying to escape.  A counteroffer may throw more money your way, but if your job responsibilities, boss, chances for advancement, etc., stay the same, is that acceptable to you? If a little more money in your paycheck doesn’t feel worthwhile compared to everything else you’d be committing to if you stay, then consider rejecting.Your company’s culture or your boss makes you miserable.  These are larger issues that can’t necessarily be resolved with more money or a bump in job title. If you have larger issues with your workplace that made you start to feel around elsewhere, then the new job offer is likely to be the best solution, regardless of the counteroffer.Your gut says â€Å"get out.†Ã‚  Again, listen to your instincts. A counteroffer may be tempting in the face of having to ch ange jobs, get to know a new workplace, and start over. However, if there’s something preventing you from taking the counteroffer right away, listen to that voice.When you’re getting ready to resign, it may seem like your decision is already made- after all, you went through the whole process to get hired somewhere else, right? But don’t be so quick to assume that you should reject a counteroffer out of hand. Take the time to think about what it would mean to stay, and what you’ll be leaving if you go.

African-American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

African-American History - Essay Example In case they went for war both white and black soldiers fought side by side at times for the sovereignty of the United States2. Post-war period therefore brought with it huge and significant changes that are worth researching and elaboration. USA for centuries now has been dragging a huge burden of racial criticism and such periods in history as WWII have come to make the racism aspect more pronounced. This paper will look into the history of African Americans during and after the World War II while shedding light on the ideological shifts regarding racial segregation after the war together with white racial perspectives. Historians and researchers alike have come to offer their sentiments regarding World War II in a rather convergent manner. They have stated in a collective approach that this war was tyrannical and at the same time representing liberty. This war is analysed to have been between fascism and totalitarianism on one side and democracy on the other on a rather simple scale but its complexity in respect to American perspective was interesting. On one hand United States fought the Germans and Japanese because of their evil despots related to their lack of recognition for equality and freedom. This is where the complexity and irony creep in as far as United States is concerned. Right in their battle fields and within the armed forces, African Americans were hugely segregated in favour of white soldiers. The freedom and equality being fought for was being given by one hand and taken with the other by the United States from the African Americans. The reality that dawned on the African America ns was that they were in battle fighting two fronts at the same time; Jim Crow laws on one side (internally) and Axis powers on the other (externally)3. Racism and segregation were what the African Americans faced from their countrymen. For the black soldiers at war different living conditions which were obviously lower than those of the rest were in the offing.

London Stock Exchange - Why Invest in Shares Research Proposal

London Stock Exchange - Why Invest in Shares - Research Proposal Example For a while, if we go into the history of stock exchange then, it is to be noted that, it was 11th century in France where the courtiers de change were concerned with maintaining the debts of agricultural communities on behalf of banks. These men could be termed as first brokers. Basic roles of stock exchanges can be outlined as below: This report is all about the importance of the stock market and how trading can be done effectively. It discusses the basic fundamental of the stock market and market variation over time and place. In turn, it explains how trading in stock market changes its behavior in a time frame. In order to make the study realistic, research has been started with an initial account of amount notional 100,000 to invest and manage an active trading policy is followed. Constraints have been put in shares to be bought in multiples of 100 if the price is less than 2 and in multiples of 50 if the price is greater than 2. Debentures and Government stocks, which have a nominal value of 100 each, may be bought without restriction. Along with that, transfer stamp is payable on all share purchases which is 0.50 for every 100 or fractional part of 100. As it is a study oriented trading, hence no provision is kept for overdraft facilities and no other source of finance. The trading period was till 28th March 2008; by this time all the holdings were liquidated and after that whatever observation is done, reported here. This paper first discusses what the stock market is all about and then the necessity of it. The trading table is presented in section 3 which describes a few more basic questions like, how the real market is different from a theoretical one and what are the factors that the market is dependent on etc.