Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Acids and Alkalis Lab Report Essay Example for Free

Acids and Alkalis Lab Report Essay An acid is a group of chemicals. Acids are positively charged ions, they are liquid and are solutions of pure compounds in water. If you want to know if something is an acid, you can test it by using litmus paper. Acids will turn litmus paper red, whilst alkalis will turn it blue. Alkalis are negatively charged ions and are usually solid. Aim:To find out how much of different acids is needed to neutralize 25mls of sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH). Hypothesis:The strongest alkali will need the smallest amount of an acid to cancel out and the weakest will need more acid. Variables: Control| Independent| Dependent| The indicator, NaOH| H2SO4 HClHNO3| The chemical reaction between the acids and alkali. | Materials / Apparatus: * H2SO4 * HCL * HNO3 * Alkali (NaOH) * Stand * Burette * Beaker * Funnel * Bunsen Burner * Crucible * Phenolphyalein Method: 1. Pour the 25 ml of NaOH into a beaker. 2. Drop three drops of phenolphyalein into the beaker. 3. The solution will now turn pink. . Through a funnel, pour the acid into the burette. Start dripping a few drops one by one into the beaker. 6. The solution will start getting a lighter shade of pink. 7. Stir the beaker around. 8. Once the solution turns clear, stop adding more acid. 9. Calculate the amount of acid used. 10. Take the solution and pour a bit of it into a crucible. 11. Light the Bunsen burner. 12. The salt solution will turn into salt crystals when it is heated. NaOH + HCl = NaCl + H2O NaOH + HNO3 = NaNO3 NaOH + H2SO4 = Na2SO4 + 2H2O Observations: Alkali| Acid| Moles| Observation| NaOH| HCL| 1 Mole| Took 4 ml to neutralize. No further experiment was made. | NaOH| HCL| 0. 1 Mole| Took 31 ml to neutralize. 2. 30 minutes until pink salt crystals were formed. | NaOH| HNO3| 1 Mole| Took 19. 2 ml to neutralize. 2 minutes until good white salt crystals were formed. | NaOH| H2SO4| 2 Moles| Took 1. 1 ml to neutralize. 2. 15 minutes until rings of white salt were formed. | Analysis: The weakest acid (HCl 0. 1 Mole) needed the most alkali to be made into salt and the strongest (H2SO4 2 Moles) needed the least. Different experiments made different salts. Conclusion: The strongest acid will work faster and you will need less. This is because it is a lot more reactive than the weaker acids and it will want to react much faster with the alkali. Evaluation: In my group, Zuzanna and I were the ones doing the experiment while everyone else observed and took notes on what happened. The first time, we dropped one too many drops of H2SO4 in the alkali so the alkali quickly turned pink again. We had to try it six times before we could get it right because we kept putting too much in or we would forget how much we put in. But after a few tries we finally got it to work and we got the correct solution. Therefore we could finally go on to the next step and heat up the solution. It took our salt around 2 minutes and 15 seconds to heat up, evaporate and leave us with small rings of white salt crystals. Our salt crystals did not turn out as the best, but they were successful.

Monday, August 5, 2019

Case Study Claim For Damages In Negligence Scenario Law Essay

Case Study Claim For Damages In Negligence Scenario Law Essay In seeking to effectively advise Steve and Tina in relation to whether they have a claim/claims for damages arising out of the facts of this scenario for negligence, it is necessary to look to deal with the evidentiary aspects that are considered to be involved with the claim. As a result, this will involve looking to provide for recognition of the evidence that both Steve and Tina would be required to present (including any particular witness evidence) related to the need for there to be a recognised duty of care that was breached that was proximate leading to a recognised harm in fact so as to then be able to serve to substantiate each of their claims as they arise. Moreover, there is also a need to look to comment on as to how successful Steve and Tinas claims would be in looking to take account of the evidence that is available along with any defences that may possibly be levied on the facts. With this in mind, this means that it is necessary in advising Steve and Tina to look to analyse the facts as they are presented and give reasons for the view that is given whilst also referring to any relevant case law and/or legislative provisions as and when and where they are considered to be applicable in relation to each of the points made individually and collectively. Finally, this essay will look to conclude with a summary of the key points that have been derived from this discussion with a view to then advising Steve and Tina with regard to as to whether they have a claim/claims for damages arising out of this scenario as it is presented on the facts. First, with a view to effectively advising Steve and Tina, there is a need to show an understanding of the fact that, whilst the burden of proof in a given case is dependent upon the circumstances that lead to the particular claims arising on the facts. However, in the case of civil actions for damages, such as those arising on the facts of this scenario that Steve and Tina are now looking to claim for, the burden of proof normally falls upon the party that is affirming something to be the case (i.e. Steve and Tina) and not upon the party that is looking to make a denial (i.e. the other parties that are involved on the facts).  [1]   Nevertheless, it is also to be appreciated that, by majority, the House of Lords recognised in the case of Re H Others  [2]  that, the more serious an allegation was that was made on the facts, the less likely it was going to prove to be true so there was a need for stronger and more weightier evidence to be provided to prove it in the circumstances. On this basis, the legal burden falls upon Steve and Tina for establishing the essential elements of their respective claims for damages for negligence on the basis of the facts of this scenario and advise Steve and Tina accordingly. Therefore, Tina and her husband Steve (who was driving) were going along a lane in the country one summers evening at 8.00pm beside North Berwick to their favourite restaurant The Crusty Crab for a meal whose entrance is also an exit and consists of a very sharp blind bend that is used by both goods and customer vehicles. The problem is that as Steve approached the entrance to the restaurant car park at The Crusty Crab, he slowed down, but confidently took the bend worried that they would be late for their table booking since they were concerned that it might be given away but, as he entered the restaurant grounds, he collided with a large Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) that was reversing out onto the lane. Therefore, in advising Steve and Tina regarding their claims for negligence against the other parties involved on the facts and the evidence as it stands, it is to be appreciated that the recognition of a duty of care is ostensibly a legal obligation that is usually placed on an individual like Steve (who was driving), the HGV driver, the owners of The Crusty Crab, and Dr Bill so they must adhere to a reasonable standard of care to avoid foreseeable harm to others. This effectively means it is for the plaintiffs (i.e. Steve and Tina) to articulate a duty of care which one or more of the defendants has breached to proceed with a negligence claim because breaching a duty of care may subject them to liability.  [3]   In addition, there is also a need to articulate what is understood in relation to evidence of the duty of care in the claims brought against the defendant in any given case who is found to be in breach of such a duty of care in the event their conduct has fallen short of the standard they were expected to meet respectively in the circumstances. Generally, any defendant like Steve, the HGV driver, the owners of The Crusty Crab needs to provide evidence with a view to then meeting the standard of what is considered aspirational for a reasonable man  [4]  fundamentally revolved around the idea the standard of objectivity expected is based on what could be expected of a reasonable person because perfection cannot be expected.  [5]   On this basis, it is necessary to advise Steve and Tina that there will be a need to consider whether Steve and the HGV drivers actions are in keeping with the actions of reasonable people on the facts and also as to whether the owners of The Crusty Crab were reasonable in having a blind entrance and exit used by both customer and goods vehicles. Ostensibly, Steve and Tina will be advised that the court must first consider what the defendants knew so that the witness statements of the parties will become of great significance because, to illustrate the point, it was found in the case of Roe v. Minister of Health  [6]  that a defendant will only be liable if a reasonable person would have also foreseen the loss or damage in the circumstance. However, it is also to be appreciated that the eggshell skull rule recognises a victim of harm should be taken as they are found so if they have a particular unknown defect that makes them more susceptible to injury than the person inflicting the injury can still be held liable.  [7]  In addition, it is also necessary to advise Steve and Tina in relation to the degree of risk because it has come to be understood that the greater the risk that is involved with a particular activity, the greater the precautions that were needed on the facts.  [8]   This effectively means that it will have been necessary to look to see whether the entrance and exit at The Crusty Crab was effectively delineated in view of the fact that it was a blind turn, as to whether the HGV driver had his warning lights on and reversing warning system enabled and was also driving slowly and with due care and attention. More importantly, however, there is a need to note that the driver of the HGV actually had what is considered to be adequate turning space on the evidence of the facts as they stand to turn the vehicle in the car park of the restaurant as opposed to reversing out so that he would have had more awareness of other road users in the way that most other people would have done when faced with the same situation. Similarly, Steve and Tina need to be advised that, when looking to enter the car park, it is open to question as to whether Steve was driving with due care and attention and was looking to enter the car park at The Crusty Crab on the basis of the facts as they stand here. It is then necessary for the court to look to consider how practical these precautions were in advising Steve and Tina since, for example, in the case of Wilson v. Governor of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School  [9]  a primary school was deemed not negligent for not employing someone to supervise the playground after the close of school hours so the test for how practical precautions are is about looking to strike a balance of reasonableness of precautions against foreseeable injury. Moreover, there is a need to evaluate the social importance of a defendants activity because in the event that a defendants actions are deemed socially useful they may then be considered justified for taking greater risks  [10]   although that is unlikely to be the case here. Finally, in effectively advising Steve and Tina there is a need to evaluate as whether there is any common practice in relation to the acts and omissions of each of the given defendants on the evidence. This is because it has been recognised that, in the event that a defendant in a given case is found to have complied with common practice in their activity, they will usually be considered to have met a reasonable standard, unless the court considers the practice negligent.  [11]   At the same time, however, in advising Steve and Tina with regard to the claims brought there is a need to consider the matters of proximity and remoteness in relation to whether there enough evidence to show the events transpired are considered sufficiently related to a legally recognisable injury to be its cause through the consideration of causation in terms of the but for test and proximate cause. The but for test is on the fact a defendant will only be liable where the claimants injuries would not have occurred but for their negligence i.e. the HGV driver, the owners of The Crusty Crab, and Stevel although the defendant will not be deemed liable if the damage would, or could, on the balance of probabilities have occurred anyway because the loss or injury sustained by Steve and Tina must not be too remote to ensure any liability is fairly placed on the right defendant.  [12]   Therefore, the issue of causation in relation to Steve and Tinas claim for damages for negligence primarily relates to the causal relationship between conduct and result to connect conduct, complete with actus reus, with the resulting harm  [13]  in a concerted effort to produce results that are generally considered to be both just and fair in their nature.  [14]   Steve and Tina also need to be advised with regard to as to whether Dr Bills activities as a third party in providing the couple with medical treatment at the hospital effectively serves to break the chain of causation regarding the acts of the other potential defendants. With a view to making a decision, this is largely dependent upon whether the intervention in question was foreseeable with the general rule being that the original defendant will be held responsible for harm caused by a third party so long as it was a highly likely occurrence.  [15]  In advising Steve and Tina in this regard there is a need to consider whether there is a Novus Actus Interveniens (i.e. a new act intervening) and is thus considered a general defence in the law of tort. This is because a third partys act (like that of Dr Bill) will serve to intervene between the original act or omission and the damage produced as a result, unless that original act or omission is still considered the main contributing factor to the damage because the act of the third party had no impact upon the events as they unfolded.  [16]   This is because this could amount to a third partys inadvertent contribution since, for example, in R v. Cheshire  [17]  the victim was shot and taken to hospital where he suffered pneumonia and other respiratory problems and was placed in intensive care where he was given a tracheotomy but still later died. The court found there was an element of medical negligence because the tracheotomy the patient had been given caused a thickening of the patients tissue leading to his suffocation. As a result, Lord Justice Beldam established the following test that recognised Even though negligence in the treatment of the victim was the immediate cause of his death, the jury should not regard it as excluding the responsibility of the accused unless the negligent treatment was so independent of his acts, and in itself so potent in causing death, that they regard the contribution made by his acts as insignificant.  [18]   At the same time, however, in effectively advising Steve and Tina it is to be appreciated that, whilst there may have been an element of contributory negligence related to Steves injuries (in the accident he sustains whiplash injuries to his neck and bruising to his chest caused by the impact of his seatbelt) if the evidence shows that he was failing to fulfil his duty of care to drive with due care and attention in the interests of his passenger (i.e. Tina) and other road users (i.e. like the HGV driver), Tina may also have contributed to her own injuries. This is because of the fact that, seconds before the vehicles collided, Tina took off her seatbelt in anticipation of getting out of the car quickly to rush into the restaurant because of being late for their reservation so as to sustain similar, but more serious, whiplash injuries to Steve. As a result, as a victim, Tina effectively contributed to her own injuries illustrated by the decision in the case of R v. Dear.  [19]  In this case on the facts a man, believing the victim had sexually interfered with his daughter, attacked the victim with a knife. The defendant then argued the chain of causation had been broken because the victim later committed suicide so it became necessary to determine whether the injuries inflicted by the defendant were a significant cause of, or contribution to, the victims death. Nevertheless, as to whether the resumption or continuation of that bleeding was deliberately caused by the victim, the defendants conduct remained the most significant cause of death.  [20]  . As for the matter of Steve and Tina being taken to the local hospital, Steve and Tina also need to be advised in relation to their treatment by a junior doctor, Bill, (inexperience is no defence so a junior staff member should always seek help from a more experienced staff member  [21]  ) who has just read an article in a medical journal about a new and experimental treatment using acupuncture for whiplash injuries written by the Chairman of the Acupuncture Society, Dr. D. Odgy. The Acupuncture Society involves a group of doctors who support the use of acupuncture as much as possible in the treatment of common road traffic injuries and so, on the basis of the aforementioned article, Bill treats both Steve and Tina with acupuncture. As a result of this treatment, their injuries become worse so that both Steve and Tina have to return to hospital 3 weeks later to be treated conventionally when they then feel much better and recover within days. Steve and Tina need to be advised that this is effectively an example of medical negligence perpetrated by Dr Bill. This is because, as professional people, medical personnel are held ready to give medical advice or treatment so someone like Bill also impliedly undertakes they are possessed of skill and knowledge for a purpose equivalent to any reasonable practitioner and cannot be held to the same standard as an ordinary person.  [22]  This effectively means that the standard of care becomes what can be expected of a similar reasonable professional doctor like Bill a special standard of care.  [23]   Therefore, as to whether or not someone like Bill is a registered medical practitioner,  [24]  it is also to be appreciated in advising Steve and Tina that someone like Bill who is consulted by a patient is commonly considered to owe them a duty of care on the basis of the recognition of the evidence on the facts since that is what they are trained to do in exercising reasonable care and skill in diagnosing, advising and treating them  [25]  and them alone.  [26]   As a result, Steve and Tina need to be advised that a breach of this duty of care on the part of Dr Bill to Steve and Tina causing an exasperation of their personal injury claims will serve to support a claim for negligence on the facts by the patient along with some compensation for any financial loss accrued on this basis.  [27]   In advising Steve and Tina, however, there is a need to recognise that an error of judgment will not necessarily amount to a claim for damages for an act of negligence on the part of Dr Bill unless it would not have been made by a reasonably competent practitioner acting in keeping with an ordinary duty of care that is judged against the current state of professional knowledge  [28]  or where there are differing and well-established professional schools of thought.  [29]   This is because, as has already been recognised, Dr Bill had just read an article in a medical journal about a new and experimental treatment using acupuncture for whiplash injuries written by Dr. D. Odgy as Chairman of the Acupuncture Society that involves doctors who support the use of acupuncture in the treatment of common road traffic injuries. However, on the basis of the available evidence, Steve and Tina need to be advised that the treatment that was administered to them by Dr Bill will be held to be negligent. Therefore, this would serve to make him and potentially the hospital also vicariously liable as Dr Bills employer if it cannot be shown to the courts satisfaction the opinion relied upon is reasonable or responsible  [30]  unless (i) there is a practice normally and usually utilised; (ii) the defendant has not adopted it; and (iii) the course of action is one that no professional of ordinary skill would have taken had they been acting with ordinary care.  [31]   To conclude, having sought to advise Steve and Tina in relation to whether they have a claim/claims for damages arising out of the facts of this scenario, it is to be appreciated that it has been necessary to look to consider what is ostensibly involved with a successful claim for damages for negligence against each of the defendants as they are identified on the facts. To this effect, as has already been recognised, there is a need for Steve and Tina to make successful claims for negligence on the basis of their being (i) a duty of care; (ii) with a breach of that duty; (iii) that was proximate and not too remote; (iv) leading to recognised harm in fact.  [32]   On this basis, it would seem arguable that it is possible for Steve and Tina to look to raise claims for damages for negligence against the HGV driver, the owners of The Crusty Crab restaurant and Dr Bill (along with a claim against Steve by Tina although this may be unlikely as it will most likely depend on the nature of their relationship and as to whether Tina blames him in anyway). But at the same time there is also a need to appreciate that, in advising Steve and Tina, both of them may have actually contributed to their own injuries in view of the fact that Steve may have breached his duty of care by driving without due care and attention and the fact that Tina released her own seatbelt before the car that Steve was driving in came to a halt. In addition, it is arguable that there was a novus actus interveniens in this case that only served to further exacerbate the injuries that both Steve and Tina sustained that may also serve to be a case of medical negligence. This is because, in looking to treat Steve and Tina at the hospital, Dr Bills treatment of them actually served to make their injuries somewhat worse and he would thus be considered negligent along with the hospital vicariously unless (i) there is a practice normally and usually utilised; (ii) the defendant has not adopted it; and (iii) the course of action is one that no professional of ordinary skill would have taken had they been acting with ordinary care.  [33]   The reason for this is that, as has already been recognised in the advice provided to Steve and Tina, Dr Bill had just read an article in a medical journal about a new and experimental treatment using acupuncture for whiplash injuries written by Dr. D. Odgy as Chairman of the Acupuncture Society that involves doctors who support the use of acupuncture in the treatment of common road traffic injuries and based their treatment on this.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Clinical dentistry :: essays research papers

Fundamentals of Clinical Dentistry: Intro to Indices and Charting Specific Objectives: 1) Define the purpose of dental indices, such as DMF-T, DMF-S, Gingival Inflammation Index and Plaque Index. Dental indices are important tools used in examinations to provide a numeric score that quantifies the magnitude of the disease measured. DMF-T: The number of teeth that are decayed, missing, or filled, the DMFT index, is a total score of all affected teeth and provides a caries experience score for an individual. DMF-S: A count of tooth surfaces that are decayed, missing, or filled and provides a greater precision about the caries history of an individual or a population group when mean scores are derived. Gingival Inflammation Index: Provides an assessment of gingival inflammatory status that can be used in practice to compare gingival health before and after dental visits and or treatments. Plaque Index: Same as Gingival Inflammation Index but deals with plaque. 2) Differentiate between the terms prevalence and incidence of a disease. Disease Prevalence: The number of decayed, missing, and filled surfaces that exist in the mouth at any one time. Only one examination is required to determine prevalence. (Prevalence is what is present at one point in time!) Disease Incidence: The number of decayed, missing, and filled surfaces that occur over a given period of time. Two different examinations are required to determine incidence- one before, and one at the end of a selected time period. (Incidence is what happens over a period of time!) 3) Describe the rationale and demonstrate how to chart existing restorations (amalgam, composite, gold, crowns, bridges, other), missing teeth, incipient caries and caries. Rationale- Well I think this is pretty common sense. Charting the information listed above will give you a record of your patient. This record can be reviewed upon future visits to note and record any changes. If you want me to explain how to wipe the fog off a mirror against the inside of your patient’s cheek, let me know. I also think I could get the point of a modified pen grasp across if someone really needs the help. Code for Dental Charting Existing Restorations: Fixed bridge (3 units)- Outline tooth crowns and place an X through tooth root to indicate which tooth is the pontic. Crown- Outline tooth crown and use diagonal lines to indicate gold. Non-metallic restoration (e.g. composite)- outline margins of the restoration. Metallic restoration (e.g. amalgam)- fill in the shape of the restoration with blue pencil. â€Å"Cracked† or â€Å"chipped† restorations- use red pencil to outline the existing restoration.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Music in Jane Austens Persuasion Essays -- Austen Persuasion Essays

Music in Jane Austen's Persuasion      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Persuasion Jane Austen tells the story of Anne, a young woman who suffers terrible losses yet does not let these losses embitter her.   But the death of her mother during Anne's youth and the loss of her true love in her early adulthood certainly leave their mark on Anne.  Ã‚   She survives with great strength of character, yet she withdraws from life.   But Anne does not withdraw alone; she takes her music with her.   Music has been called the language of the heart.   It has an enduring quality, and it can cross barriers and build bridges.   Music moves us.   Words, too, can cross barriers, build bridges, and touch our hearts; and like beautiful music, a good story is timeless.   In Persuasion, Austen uses music to define Anne's character, to show her connectedness to people or her lack of it, and to show her gradual reawakening to life and to love.    Anne's great depth of character is illustrated by her appreciation of books and music, two things that give her deep and lasting pleasure.   When confronted by Mary for being tardy in coming to her, Anne mentions that she had "a great many things" (41) to do in getting ready to leave Kellynch Hall.   Most of her preparations are for her father and Elizabeth, but when talking about preparing her own possessions to be moved, the only items she mentions specifically are her "books and music" (41).   Anne's regard for books and music is also seen as Anne compares herself to the Miss Musgroves.   The Miss Musgroves use music, but for purposes other than the purely artistic appreciation of it.   They have a "grand piano forte and a harp," but their time is not invested in playing them, but in arranging the piano and harp, along with "flower stands ... ...e pattern.   Anne, like Cinderella, is a young woman who is mistreated by her own family and who has lost her only true love because of their interference.   Yet, like a fairytale heroine, Anne triumphs over adversity and is reunited with her Prince Charming.   Austen uses the timelessness of music to develop this story. She weaves together two parallel interactions, Anne's relationship with Captain Wentworth and Anne's relationship with music, just as a musician weaves together the melody and harmony in a song.   Each of these relationships enriches and mirrors the other; they are "instrumental to the connexion" (235).   Tales of romance are tales of the heart, and Austen desires to stir our hearts.   What better way to communicate Anne's story than with music, the language of the heart.        Work Cited Austen, Jane.   Persuasion. 1818. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1990.

Introduction of foreign pathogens into Australia :: essays research papers fc

Introduction of foreign pathogens into Australia It is widely known that the poor health experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders relates from complex reasons originating from their history after European settlement. Two centuries of introduced disease, combined with today’s lifestyle diseases and impoverished socioeconomic and environmental conditions, have had devastating, and all too often fatal, effects on Indigenous health. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population suffered from introduced disease that often turned out to be fatal because of lack of immunity to introduced pathogens. In 1788, Indigenous Australians were totally healthier than most Europeans of that time, whether it was socially, emotionally or physically. But when the Europeans came, their diseases killed many of the Aborigines without even lifting a hand. There were an estimated 5000 Aborigines living in Tasmania when the British first arrived in 1803. Living in small groups, they had survived for millennia in the island's extreme wilderness, hunting kangaroos and gathering shellfish along the coast. By the end of the 19th century they had been all but wiped out, in what has long been regarded as one of the darkest periods in Australia's history which many thinks was caused by introduced pathogens by Europeans. People have said that introduced disease was used as an international weapon of extermination especially in the case of the Australian Aborigines. The Aborigines were so affected by the introduced pathogens because their immune systems had never encountered that kind of disease before so they had not developed any immunity at all and so succumbed to disease very easily. The first major smallpox epidemic among Aborigines was in April 1789, fifteen months after first settlement. The second was in 1829-31, its origin never determined. Many people have suggested and even written books about it that smallpox and other various killer diseases were deliberately introduced by the First Fleet to the Aborigines to kill them off easily. Diseases introduced by convicts and settlers - smallpox, typhoid, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, influenza, pneumonia, measles and venereal disease - seriously depleted Aboriginal numbers. There was a massive population loss in central Australia - particularly in the region of what is now Alice Springs - between 1860 and 1895. Introduction of foreign pathogens into Australia :: essays research papers fc Introduction of foreign pathogens into Australia It is widely known that the poor health experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders relates from complex reasons originating from their history after European settlement. Two centuries of introduced disease, combined with today’s lifestyle diseases and impoverished socioeconomic and environmental conditions, have had devastating, and all too often fatal, effects on Indigenous health. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population suffered from introduced disease that often turned out to be fatal because of lack of immunity to introduced pathogens. In 1788, Indigenous Australians were totally healthier than most Europeans of that time, whether it was socially, emotionally or physically. But when the Europeans came, their diseases killed many of the Aborigines without even lifting a hand. There were an estimated 5000 Aborigines living in Tasmania when the British first arrived in 1803. Living in small groups, they had survived for millennia in the island's extreme wilderness, hunting kangaroos and gathering shellfish along the coast. By the end of the 19th century they had been all but wiped out, in what has long been regarded as one of the darkest periods in Australia's history which many thinks was caused by introduced pathogens by Europeans. People have said that introduced disease was used as an international weapon of extermination especially in the case of the Australian Aborigines. The Aborigines were so affected by the introduced pathogens because their immune systems had never encountered that kind of disease before so they had not developed any immunity at all and so succumbed to disease very easily. The first major smallpox epidemic among Aborigines was in April 1789, fifteen months after first settlement. The second was in 1829-31, its origin never determined. Many people have suggested and even written books about it that smallpox and other various killer diseases were deliberately introduced by the First Fleet to the Aborigines to kill them off easily. Diseases introduced by convicts and settlers - smallpox, typhoid, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, influenza, pneumonia, measles and venereal disease - seriously depleted Aboriginal numbers. There was a massive population loss in central Australia - particularly in the region of what is now Alice Springs - between 1860 and 1895.

Friday, August 2, 2019

The Euthanasia Debate

Euthanasia is the practice of voluntarily ending a life to relieve pain and suffering (Euthanasia. com/definitions). The act of euthanasia differs from the act of murder in that the person who will die makes the decision to end their life. In the case of murder, the person does not wish to end their life, but anther person intervenes to bring about their death against their wishes. Euthanasia is categorized as active and passive (Euthanasia. com/definitions). Passive euthanasia means failure to provide life prolonging medical treatment and letting a disease take its natural course without intervention. Active euthanasia means to take measures to end a person’s life (Euthanasia. com/definitions). When the topic of euthanasia is discussed, active euthanasia is typically to what is being referred to. The debate over whether euthanasia, particularly physician assisted suicide, is acceptable is a debate of global concern. Both sides of this debate have clearly defined positions. One side feels that assisted suicide is a form of mercy killing, and under certain conditions patients have a right to assisted suicide if it is their wish. However, others clearly oppose euthanasia, claiming that regardless of the circumstances, to end someone’s life early is wrong. The following will explore both sides of the euthanasia debate. Proponents The Netherlands and Switzerland were the first countries to legalize assisted suicide for those that were suffering from a painful or deadly disease (Pollard). The issue is hotly debated, and jurisdictions around the world switch back and forth continually on the issue. On the pro side of euthanasia, it is recognized as a right of the terminally ill in order to end their suffering. It is considered to be a basic human right to die with dignity (Maisie). Proponents of the right to euthanasia propose that the right to die is a natural extension of a person’s right to make their own decisions on any other topic regarding their (Maisie). The concept that a person has a right to decide whether their life has value to them or not is considered to be a basic human right (Maisie). The right to take one’s own life by suicide is considered to be unacceptable in many cultures, therefore it is looked down upon as culturally unacceptable. However, suicide differs from euthanasia in that a person does not have a condition that would shorten their life, or place them in unbearable pain that is not expected to cease (Euthanasia. com/reasonsforeuthansia). People who commit suicide would have hope for a better quality life if they receive help (St. Clair, 2009). Those who consider euthanasia are exercising their right to end their own suffering. Doctors are at the center of the euthanasia debate. They are in a position where they have an oath to do no harm. Preserving a life of suffering against the wishes of the patient, or ending that life can both be considered doing harm (St. Clair, 2009). Patients have the right to refuse any medical treatment that is against their wishes (Maisie). It is considered to be contradictory to disallow them the ability to end their life in order to end suffering (Maisie). Many of those who support euthanasia do so on the basis of preserving human rights and dignity. Opponents However, those that oppose the right to die do so based on fears that it might be abused, and become a form of legalized murder (Maise). Concerns arise over legal heirs who might promote euthanasia for financial gain, or perhaps doctors who would hasten a death in order to receive an organ transplant (Maise). Opponents bring up many scenarios that would make the bioethics surround the issue even more difficult to resolve. For instance, would a mental illness be considered sufficient emotional pain to justify euthanasia, or would the person be considered to be incapable of making a rational decision in this regard (Hershey)? There are many such issues that weigh into the decision of whether to consider euthanasia to be a reasonable course of action. How to assess whether a person is actually competent to make their own decision when they are under the influence of heavy pain medication is another issue in the euthanasia debate (Hershey). The arguments by both proponents and opponents are largely hypothetical. The circumstances of each case make it difficult to generalize and create effective policy regarding the issue. Both sides have valid points. The arguments of both proponents and opponents are supported by hypothetical situations and scenarios that have come into existence. This makes the issues surrounding the development of uniform legal and moral policies about euthanasia so difficult because of the many different circumstances. The issues surrounding euthanasia are highly emotional and highly personal. In conclusion, the central debate that is at the heart of the euthanasia issue can be reduced to that of human rights. If the person decides to end their life and they have no hope of recovery, then the question shifts from care to whether or not they have a right to end their own life. They have a right to make other medical decisions about their own care, and they have the right to determine if they wish to be resuscitated if they should go into cardiac arrest (Patients Rights Council). They can make a living will and determine if they wish to have life-saving or even life-preserving measures should they become brain dead (Patients Rights Coucil). However, the issues regarding assisted euthanasia are complex and both sides viciously defend their position.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

African Society

This study seek to highlight why some people in the case study felt that alcohol controlled behavior. This case study analysis individual unit ( e.g a person, group, or event) stressing developmental factors in relation to the study. The case study is common in social sciences and life sciences. Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. The later type is used to explore causation in order to find underlying principles. They maybe prospective, in which criteria are established and cases fitting the criteria are included as they become available, or retrospective, in which criteria are established for selecting cases from historical records for including in the study. It also highlight how a belief in ancestors related to behavior (e.g overlooking ancestral directives, there by getting cursed and how some one blamed the behavior of some people on the names they were given from birth. The assertion that the person's behavior after which a child was named determined the behavior of the person who bore the name afterwards. And the extent theory of nature/reflection in the case study. Furthermore, this case study analyze the validity that behavior is a matter of tradition (e.g up bring of children by parents. DEFINATION According to Thomas (2011) â€Å"case studies are analyses of persons, events, decisions, periods, projects, policies, institutions, or other systems that are studied holistically by one or more methods. The case that is the subject of the inquiry will be an instance of a class of phenomena that provides an analytical frame- an object- within which the study is conducted and which the case illuminates and explicates† Silverman (2005) reveals that, rather than using samples following a rigid protocol (strict set of rules) to examine limited number of valuables, case study methods involve an in- depth, longitudinal (over a long period of time) examination of a single instance or event: a case. They provide a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the results. As a result the researcher may gain a sharpened understanding of why the instance happened as it did, and what might become important to look at more extensively in future research. Case studies lend themselves to both generating and testing hypothesis. According to Lamneck (2005) another suggestion is that case study should be defined as a research strategy, an empirical inquiry that investigates a phenomenon within it's real- life context. Case study research means single and multiple case studies, can include quantitative evidence, relies on multiple sources of evidence and benefits from the prior development of theoretical propositions. Case studies should not be confused with qualitative research and they can be based on any mix of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Single- subject research provides the statistical framework for making inferences from qualitative case- study data. This also supported and well formulated in (Lamneck, 2005): â€Å"the case study is a research approach, situated between concrete data taking techniques and methodological paradigms†. The case study is sometimes mistaken for the case method, but the two are not the same. Generalizing From case studies Kyekye (1996) states that, a critical case can be defined as having strategic importance in relation to the general problem (e.g like in Mwense district research where some people in the case study felt that alcohol controlled behavior) A critical case allows the following type of generalization, ‘if it is valid for this case, it is valid for all (or many) cases.' In it's negative form, the generalization would be, ‘if it is not valid in this case, then it is not valid for any (or only few) cases.'( Lamnek, 2005). According to Karl popper, the case study is also effective for generalizing using the type of test called falsification, which forms part of critical reflexivity. Falsification is one of the most rigorous tests to which a scientific proposition can be subjected: if just one observation does not fit with the proposition it is considered not valid generally and must therefore be either revised or rejected. Popper him self used the now famous example, â€Å"All swans are white, and proposed that just one observation of a single black swan would falsify this proposition and this way have general significance and stimulate further investigations and theory- building. The case study is well suited for identifying â€Å"black swans† because of it's in- depth approach: what appear to be â€Å"white† often turns on closer examination to be â€Å"black† By selecting cases strategically in this manner one may arrive at case studies that allow generalization (Flyrbjerg, 200 6, P. 225-6). Misunderstandings about case study Research According to Flyrbjerg (2006) identifies and corrects five prevalent misunderstanding about case study research: > General, theoretical Knowledge is more valuable than concrete, practical knowledge. > One cannot generalize on the basis of an individual case and, therefore, the case study cannot contribute to scientific development. > The case study is most useful for generating hypotheses, whereas other methods are more suitable for hypotheses testing and theory building. > The case study contains a bias towards verification, i.e, a tendency to comfirm the researcher's preconceived notions. > It is often difficult to summarize and develop general propositions and theories on the basis of specific case studies.(Osei, 1971). According to a research which was conducted in Mwense district some people in the case study felt that alcohol controlled behavior and to add value to the case study: > In the first stage of alcoholism, drinking was no longer social but became a means of emotional escape from problems, inhibitions, anxiety, and in many instances, from realities of life. Stated in another way, early in the disease problem drinkers starts to depend on the mood altering capabilities of alcohol consumption. Also at this stage of alcoholism, a gradual increase in tolerance develops, meaning that increasing amounts of alcohol are needed in order for the problem drinker to â€Å"feel the buzz† or to â€Å"get high†.(Flyvbjerg, 2006). Furthermore, it is common for people with a drinking problem in the first stage of alcoholism to quickly drink a few alcoholic beverage before attending social functions and to increase social drinking to 3 to 5 drinks per day. Obviously, it can be determined that such behavior will eventually result in a host of drinking problems. > In the second stage of alcoholism, the need to drink becomes more intense. During this stage of the disease, the individual with the drinking problem frequently starts to drink earlier in the day.(Lamnek, 2005) As tolerance increases, moreover, the person drinks because of dependence on alcohol, rather than because of emotional and psychological stress and anxiety relief. During this stage, loss of control does not yet happen on a regular basis; it is however, gradually observed by others such as neighbors, co- workers, relatives, friends, and family members. > In the third stage of alcoholism, the loss of control becomes more pronounced and more problematic. This means that the problem drinker is usually unable to drink according to his or her intentions. for example, once the person takes the first drink, he or she can no longer control what will happen, even though the intention might have been to have one or two drinks. During this stage of the disease, most problem drinkers start to experience serious alcohol- related, financial, employment, legal, and relationship problems.(Robert, 1970). > The fourth and final stage of alcoholism is characterized by a chronic loss of control. In the earlier stages of the disease, the alcoholic may have been successful in maintaining a job. Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day and usually continues throughout the day. Few, if any, full- time work positions, however, can be maintained once an individual has reached this state of affairs.(Thomas,2011). Classic Alcoholic Behavior The term â€Å"alcoholism† means the same thing as â€Å"alcohol dependence,† â€Å"alcohol addiction, â€Å"and â€Å"alcohol dependence.† Hence, some people in the case study felt that alcohol controlled behavior in Mwense district because of the information articulated above, it is clear that the four stages of classic alcoholic behavior do not point a pretty picture of the sad realities and the drinking problems that most chronic alcoholics experience in Mwanse district. In fact, it is clear that as the disease progresses, so do the drinking problems that are experienced by the alcoholic. Perhaps the damaging and unhealthy consequences of this disease might not make much of an impact on those who are already alcohol dependant. It is hoped, however, that exposing the facts about this disease to our youth before they start abusing alcohol will prevent many of the teens from suffering the grim fate of most alcoholics. Belief In Ancestors Relates To Behavior A belief is a degree of certainty we have that something is true. Our core beliefs are often based on the beliefs of other people we unconsciously accepted as true when we were too young to decide if the person's belief really served us.(Osei, 1971). Hence, ancestral belief refers to a generalized belief about the amount of control people have over their own lives. Individuals who feel that they are very much in charge of their won destiny have an internal locus of control; those who think that events in their life are due mainly to fate/luck or powerful others have an external locus of control. Locus of control is a generalized belief, so people with an external locus can feel in control in familiar situations. (Steven L. Mcshane et al. 2005). Moreover, from the research, we have suggested that perception of people and events is organized into categories. How this is done depends partly on sensation, partly on the principles of perception, and partly on the nature of the individual. Another fact of the individual is the set of attitudes that he/she holds. Attitudes are, essentially, â€Å"feelings† towards people or things. How people feel, what they believe, what they intend to do, and whether and how they do it may all be connected, and may all be related to the process of perception. However, to try to reduce the confusion in this area over the use of words and concepts such as â€Å"feelings† and â€Å"beliefs† Fishbein (1967) put forward the following hierarchical model Beliefs What we think about people, things, relationship e.t.c Attitudes Affective responses to those people, things, relationships e.t.c Intentions Cognitive states Behavior or Action Observable events The Theory of Nature/Reflected In The Case Study The extent theory of nature/reflection in the case study refers to the personality. Personality defined as the pattern of relatively enduring ways in which a person feels, thinks and behaves. Fincham R. describes personality as the relatively enduring combination of traits which makes an individual unique and at the same time produces consistencies in his or her thought and behavior. A similar definition Rollision Derk defines personality as, ‘those relatively stable and enduring aspects of an individual that distinguish him/her from other people and at the same time form a basis for our predictors concerning his/her future behavior. (Rollison D., 1998). A complementary definition, Robbins Stephen defines personality as the sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others. It is a relatively stable pattern of behaviors and consistent internal states that explain a person's behavioral tendencies. Hence, we say that personality explains behavioral tendencies because individuals' actions are not perfectly consistent with their personality profile in every situation. Personality traits are less evident in situations where social norms, reward systems and other conditions contrain behavior. Traits may be defined as individual characteristics of thought or feeling that result in tendencies to have in specific ways. Also traits may be defined as enduring characteristics that describe an individual's behavior. The more consistent the characteristic and the more frequently important that trait is in describing an individual. Traits can additionally be grouped to form personality types. Traits may be grouped into groups namely; surface traits and source traits. Surface traits for example assertiveness, can be observed in behavior while, source traits such as self- discipline can be inferred.(Rollinson, D. et ,1998). Behavior And Tradition According to Robert (1970) refer human behavior as a range of behaviors exhibited by humans and which are influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethies, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and/or genetics. Hence, the behavior of people (and other organisms or even mechanisms) falls within a range with some behavior being common, some unusual, some acceptable, and some outside acceptable limits. In sociology, behavior in general is considered as having no meaning, being not directed at other people, and thus is the most basic human action. Behavior in this general sense should not be mistaken with social behavior, which is the more advanced action, as social behavior is behavior specifically directed at other people. The acceptability of behavior is evaluated relative to social norms and regulated by various means of social control. In addition, the behavior of people is studied by the academic disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, social work, sociology, economics, and anthropology. Factors affecting human behavior and actions Mcshane et al (2005) states five factors as below: * Genetics (see also evolutionary psychology) – affects and governs the individual's tendencies towards certain directions. * Attitude – the degree to which the person has a favorable or unfavorable evaluation of the behavior in question. * Social norms – the influence of social pressure that is perceived by the individual (normative beliefs) to perform or not perform a certain behavior. * Perceived behavioral control – the individual's belief concerning how easy or difficult performing the behavior will be. * Core faith – the person's set of beliefs, like religion, philosophy, e.t.c provided sometimes subconsciously, by his or her family, peers, social media, and the society where he or she lives. > Social Factors Factors that influence behavior or personality that arise from interacting with other people; early socialization, which consists in interaction with parents, siblings and peers has an effect on the way we act and think. The behaviorist school of psychology which views all human as environmentally determined refer to personality as just accumulated learning experiences (skinner, 1974). Much of personality comes through learning and so childhood experiences are paramount to the unfolding of personality. > Cultural Factors According to Kyekye (1996) a wider social beliefs, values and motives that are absorbed by an individual and guide behavior towards that which is acceptable within a particular social context; when high value is placed on achievement and individualism in a certain society, we will find that this may affect individual personality in instilling a trait of ‘the need to achieve'.(Shutte, 1993). > Situational Factors According to Osei (1971) this refers to the effect of a specific experience or situation on a person's feelings and behavior. And individual's personality, while generally stable and consistent, does change in different situations call forth different aspects of one's personality. Situations like church, tradition, a picnic in a picnic in a park do affect behavior differently. Examples here may be trauma of losing a parent or loved one. Certain situation can bring out unrecognized aspects of personality we have never been aware of. Personality development is an ongoing process, but to some degree personalities can be deemed as stable.(Senghor, 1963). According to Gyekye (1998), regard concepts of the individual and self to be almost totally dependant on and subordinate to social entities and cultural process. Kenya theology professor John S. Miti (1969 and 1992), for example, believes that individual has little latitude for self determination outside the context of the traditional African family and community. He writes: â€Å"whatever happens to the individual happens to the whole group, and whatever happens to the whole group happens to the individual. The individual can only say: â€Å"I am, because we are; and since we are, therefore I am.' This is a cardinal point in the understanding of the African view of man† (1969: 109). Furthermore, Ghanaian philosopher Gyekye (1998), the individual, although originating from and inextricably bound to his family and community, nevertheless possesses a clear concept of himself as a distinct person of volition. It is from this combined sense of personhood and communal membership that the family and community except individuals to take personality enhancing and socially responsible decisions. Although he accepts the dominant entity of African social order is the community, Gyekye believes â€Å"it would be more correct to describe that order as amphibious, for it manifests features of both community and individuality. African social thought seeks to avoid the excesses of the two exaggerated systems, while allowing for a meaningful albeit uneasy, interaction between the individual and the society (1988:31-32) According to senegales philosopher Leopold senghor (1966) regards tradition African society to be â€Å"based both on the community and on the person in which, because it was founded on dialogue and reciprocity, the group had priority over the individual without crushing him, but allowing to blossom as a person† (1966:5). According to South African philosophy professor Shutte (1993), citing the Xhosa proverb umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (a person is a person through persons), writes: This (proverb) is the xhosa expression of a notion that is common all African languages and traditional cultures. It is concerned both with the peculiar interdependence of persons on others for the exercise, development and fulfillment of their powers that is recognized in African traditional thought, and also with the understanding of what it is to be a person that underlies this. In European philosophy of whatever kind, the self is always envisaged as something â€Å"inside† a person, or at least as a kind of container of mental properties and powers. In African thought it is seen as â€Å"outside† subsisting in relationship to what is other, the natural and social environment. According to Ghananian historian Osei (1971) believes that Africa should chart it's future from it's indigenous cultural traditions and adopt only those aspects of no- Africa cultures that are compatible with Africa's needs, goals and circumstances namely, a scientific perspective and western educational practices. Taking a broader perspective, Thairu (1975) argues for a future of greater regional integration through educational and cultural exchanges within and between African nations. This, he says, will bring into the open pan- Africa cultural similarities, promote more widespread understanding and tolerance on the continent, and contribute to greater overall African unit philosopher Gyekye (1998) shares much of Nyasani, Makgoba and Thairu concern over Africans too often for saking Indigenous African values and their wholesale and uncritical adoption. According to Gyekye (1996) abhors the fact that ancestors continue to be of paramount importance in modern and traditional African life. He also recommends that for Africa to progress scientifically and technologically, â€Å"science should be rescued from the morass of (traditional) African religious and mystical beliefs.† Gyekye insists there are main â€Å"cultural values and practices of traditional Africa that can be considered positive features of the culture and can be accommodated in the scheme of African modernity, even if they undergo some refinement and pruning to become fully harmonious with the spirit of modern culture and to function†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. satisfactorily within that culture â€Å"(ibid). he discusses these traditional African values at length under the humanity, brotherhood, communalism and individualism, morality, the family economic system, chief ship and politics, human rights, knowledge and wisdom, aesthetics. CONCLUSION It is clear from the foregoing study that behavior is affected by numerous factors as discussed in this paper. Among the factors are ancestral directives, alcohol, belief, culture, emotions values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion, genetics, attitudes, situational e.t.c.