Monday, December 23, 2019

Matrix Electronic Medical Record Computer Corporation

In week 6, I will be discussing the company â€Å"Matrix Electronic Medical Record Computer Corporation.† Why the company is â€Å"available-for-sale† and how it is â€Å"subject to an annual impairment test,† as stated in the case review. There are three questions that will construct my paper and the development of a financial statement, balance sheet and losses on long-term investments. In my conclusion, I will review my findings and discuss their importance in regards to the information and not my own opinion. Case Review Matrix Electronic Medical Record Computer Corporation has significant investment activities. The following items are from their 2010 financial statements (amounts are in millions): Short-term investments Long-term investments $373 $781 Investment income $134 Purchase of investments $1,383 Sales of investments $1,538 Change in unrealized gains (losses) on long-term investments, net $6 Matrix Electronic Medical Record Computer Corporation states that all debt and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale and are subject to an annual impairment test. †¢ Where would you find each of the above items in Matrix Electronic Medical Record Computer Corporation s financial statements? According to our textbook, in the beginning of chapter 14, page 634-635. They show an example of what financial highlights look like: (Needles Powers, 2012, p. 634-635) The balance sheet- Short-term and long-term investments $373/ $781 Income statement- investment income $134Show MoreRelatedCyber Security Is An Integral Aspect Of Life1859 Words   |  8 Pagesdomestic and international, and informational releases that were meant to have been kept under the most well bolted lock and key. Cyber security, synonymous with computer and IT security, is a network of securities applied to computers, computer networks, and the data stored and shared among them. When delving into the profound specifics of computer security the jargon seems derived from science fiction or foreign languages. However, the esoteric few who are well versed in this language allow the worldRead MoreComputers in Different Spheres of Lives5456 Words   |  22 PagesComputers in different spheres of lives A computer is an electronic device, which executes software programs. 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Sunday, December 15, 2019

Lab 2 Biology Free Essays

Mitosis Hands-On Labs, Inc. Version 42-0091-00-01 Lab Report Assistant This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. We will write a custom essay sample on Lab 2 Biology or any similar topic only for you Order Now The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor. Mitosis Worksheet – Answer the questions about the photos below: Onion root tip photos at 600x and 1000x taken by Stan Carpenter of Hands-On Labs, Inc. 1. What phase is this cell undergoing? Telophase 2. What happens after this phase? Cytokinesis 1. The two center side-by-side cells are undergoing two different phases of mitosis. a. What are these phases? Prophase Metaphase b. What diagnostic features can help you with your decision? The cell under going prophase is starting to lose it’s envelope yet the cell is still very much intact. General Biology Ii Study Guide (Online Class) iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src="https://phdessay.com/general-biology-ii-study-guide-online-class/embed/#?secret=xzitJfxTWm" data-secret="xzitJfxTWm" width="500" height="282" title="#8220;General Biology Ii Study Guide (Online Class)#8221; #8212; Free Essays - PhDessay.com" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"/iframe The cell under going metaphase has spindle fibers all around the cell suggesting its in the metaphase stage of mitosis. 1. What phase is this cell undergoing? Anaphase 2. How can you tell? The chromosomes are separated yet not completely in two yet. 1. This cell has clearly visible chromatids. a. What’s the next phase this cell will undergo? Tellophase b. Where will the chromatids go in the coming phase? Half the chromosomes go into one cell and half in the other 1. The cell in the lower center is exhibiting signs of what phase of mitosis? Prophase 2. What phase does it appear the cell above is undergoing? Anaphase 1. Explain what happens during anaphase. The spindle fibers begin to split the chromatids in two. Equal halves of the chromosomes are the result 2. When the chromatids separate, what is each called? Chromosomes Questions A. What is the purpose of mitosis? Produces the cells in the body as well as DNA. B. Why is the cell cycle important for organisms? The reproduction of cells is essential to the healing of wounds and natural development. C. What role does mitosis play in the growth of an embryo? Mitosis creates the embryo. The constant replication of DNA is needed to develop the embryo and it genes. D. What is one main difference in the mitotic processes between plant and animal cells? The main difference is seen in the cytokenisis stage of development. An animal cell will pinch into to form the daughter cells while a plant cell will form a new cell wall to divide the two. E. If the cell that has undergone mitosis originally had the diploid (2n) number of chromosomes, then what number of chromosomes will the nuclei in the two new cells have? 2n F. Can mitosis ever be used for reproduction? Yes in asexual reproduction G. What parts of plants are most impacted by mitosis? Apical meristem H. Why might mitosis be easier to study in the tip of the root? Because that is the area that is most affected during mitosis I. Where else in a plant might you find a large amount of mitotic cell division occurring? J. How might the mitotic index be applied in agriculture? K. What did you compute to be the mitotic index of the combined six slides (assume there are 54 total cells)? In comparison to the indexes reflected in Figure 8, from approximately which area of a root was the sample taken? How to cite Lab 2 Biology, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

What Is International Strategic Management Critically Examine the Course of Strategic Decision Making, Identifying the Types, Processes and Implication for Managers free essay sample

1. 0Definition: International Strategic Management is a planning process of developing international strategy in the direction of achieving strategic-fit between the organisations competence resources and the global environment under which it tends to operate. It is an ongoing process that adhere an organization to compete in an international scenario. International Strategic Management (ISM) is an ongoing management planning process aimed at developing strategies to allow an organization to expand abroad and compete internationally. Strategic planning is used in the process of developing a particular international strategy. An organization must be able to determine what products or services they intend to sell, where and how the organization will make these products or services, where they will sell them, and how the organization will acquire the necessary resources for these tasks. Even more importantly an organization must have a strategy on how it expects to outperform its competitors. 2. 00The Course of Strategic Decision Making, the Types processes and Implication for the Managers 2. We will write a custom essay sample on What Is International Strategic Management? Critically Examine the Course of Strategic Decision Making, Identifying the Types, Processes and Implication for Managers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 01Course of Strategic Decision Making: Strategy formulation is the process of deciding best course of action for accomplishing organizational objectives and hence achieving organizational purpose. After conducting environment scanning, managers formulate corporate, business and functional strategies The initial task in strategic management is typically the compilation and dissemination of a mission statement. This document outlines, in essence, the raison detre of an organization. Additionally, it specifies the scope of activities an organization wishes to undertake, coupled with the markets a firm wishes to serve. Following the devising of a mission statement, a firm would then undertake an environmental scanning within the purview of the statement. Strategic formation is a combination of three main processes which are as follows: †¢Performing a situation analysis, self-evaluation and competitor analysis: both internal and external; both micro-environmental and macro-environmental. †¢Concurrent with this assessment, objectives are set. These objectives should be parallel to a time-line; some are in the short-term and others on the long-term. This involves crafting vision statements (long term view of a possible future), mission statements (the role that the organization gives itself in society), overall corporate objectives (both financial and strategic), strategic business unit objectives (both financial and strategic), and tactical objectives 2. 02The Types processes and Implication for the Managers 2. 01Researchers since Mintzberg et al. have focused on identifying and describing the major categories or types of strategic decision processes. In perhaps the most extensive study of strategic decision processes to date, Hickson, Butler, Cray, Mallory, and Wilson (1986) examined 150 decision processes in British organizations and developed a typology which included three basic types of processes; fluid, constricted, and sporadic. (i)A fluid decision process is one that is steadily paced, formally channeled, and speedy. (ii)A constricted process is one that is narrowly channeled. It is moderately restricted in terms of the effort made to obtain information and in terms of the number of organizational members who participate in the decision. iii)Finally, a sporadic process is one that is spasmodic, protracted, and contains many interrupts and recycles Furthermore, Hart (1992) synthesized earlier research on strategic decision models and developed his own integrative framework which included five styles of strategy making processes. (i)The command mode, in which strategy is driven by the organizations leader or by a small top m anagement team. (ii)The symbolic mode. In this mode, strategy is driven by the organizations mission and vision of the future. (iii)The rational mode, in which strategy is driven by formal structure and planning systems. iv)The transactive mode, strategy formulation is driven by internal processes and mutual adjustment. (v)The generative mode, strategy is most strongly influenced by the initiative of organizational actors. Strategic Decision Models and Characteristics For the past few decades, researchers have attempted to model the strategic decision process and identify the major types or categories of strategic decisions. This is a difficult task since strategic decisions are often described as unstructured, unprogrammed, and messy. Mintzberg, Raisinghani, and Theoret (1976) provided an early attempt at modeling the process of strategic decision making and identified three major phases with subroutines or subphases within each. These included the following: THE IDENTIFICATION PHASE 1. The Decision Recognition Routine: Opportunities, problems, and crises are recognized and evoke decisional activity. 2. The Diagnosis Routine: Information relevant to opportunities, problems, and crises is collected and problems are more clearly identified. THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE . The Search Routine: Organizational decision makers go through a number of activities to generate alternative solutions to problems. 4. The Design Routine: Ready-made solutions which have been identified are modified to fit the particular problem or new solutions are designed. THE SELECTION PHASE 5. The Screen Routine: This routine is activated when the search routine identifies more alternatives than can be intensively evaluated. Alternatives are quickly s canned and the most obviously infeasible are eliminated. 6. The Evaluation-Choice Routine: An alternative is chosen either through a process of analysis and judgment or a process of bargaining among decision makers. 7. The Authorization Routine: When the individual making the decision does not have the authority to commit the organization to a course of action, the decision must move up the organizational hierarchy until it reaches a level at which the necessary authority resides. Strategy Evaluation and choice An environmental scan will highlight all pertinent aspects that affect an organization, whether external or sector/industry-based. Such an occurrence will also uncover areas to capitalize on, in addition to areas in which expansion may be unwise. These options, once identified, have to be vetted and screened by an organization. In addition to ascertaining the suitability, feasibility and acceptability of an option, the actual modes of progress have to be determined. These pertain to: +Implication for Managers The strategic management process means defining the organization’s strategy. It is also defined as the process by which managers make a choice of a set f strategies for the organization that will enable it to achieve better performance. Strategic management is a continuous process that appraises the business and industries in which the organization is involved; appraises it’s competitors; and fixes goals to meet all the present and future competitor’s and then reassesses each strategy. Therefore, a manager with sound strategy that is result oriented, would not only perform well, by ensu ring that his organization compete creditable with other organization, but would also be promoted to a higher level, up to the chairman/chief executive of the organization.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Knife Essay Example For Students

The Knife Essay Word Count: 712By: Alfred HitchcockEverybody has read a horror story before at some point, but a story from Alfred Hitchcock is different because at the end he leaves the reader thinking what has happened. In The Knife he uses Plot, Setting, and Conflict to do just this. Edward Dawes and Herbert Smithers are just two friends having a drink with eachother, but one of them has a knife that was found in a nearby sewer drain. Herbert is cleaning it widly as if he was possesed. Then a red ruby appears on the knife when he is done cleaning it, now the madness breaksout like a terrible plague.. While Herbert is admiring the knife, the maid walks in and asks to see the knife,but all of a sudden Herbert goes insane out of his mind when the maid touched him, then he stares right at the maid with a devilish look, and out of the blue he stabbed her, next thing you know the maid is on the floor dead and Herbert runs out the house as fast as he can. The reader may think this is the climax, but it is not, it is the rising action leading up to the climax. Alfred Hitchcock does not tell the reader why he stabbed her,he likes to leaving the reader thinking and get more into the story, which is kind of like ahook to keep the reader reading. We will write a custom essay on The Knife specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The climax is where he will get the readers interested more in the story. AfterHerbert runs out Edward Dawes picks up the knife and notifys the police of the incident. once he has called the police for some reason he goes into the kitchen to clean the wicked knife. While he is cleaning it, it slips out of his hand and cuts his arm, then hiswife walks in and trys to help him, then Edward goes bezerk just like his friend Herbertand for no reason stabbs her in her chest. The falling action and conclusion get a little weird because the police get to the scene, and they start discussing about this, but the sergeant remembers a murder on the same street a while back, and the person that was murdered on this street was Marie Kelly, the last victim of Jack The Ripper. When Jack The Ripper was getting away he dropped the knife into a sewer drain. Both men say it was the knife that made them stabbthe two women. All of Jack The Rippers victims were women. This how the story ends. He picked up the knife, gripped if firmly, and struck a pose, winking broadly. Be careful, Miss Maples! he said. Jack The Ripper! Miss Maples giggled. Well now, she breathed. Let me look at it, may I Sergeant Tobins, if you do notmind.Her fingers touched his, and Sergeant Tobins drew his hand back abruptly. Hisface flushed, and a fierce anger unnacountably flared up in him at the touch of Miss Miss Maples hand, but as he stared into her plain, bewildered face, the anger was soothed by the pleasurable tingling warmth in his right wrist. And as he took a swiftstep toward her, there was a strange, sweet singing in his ears, high and shrill and faraway. Or was it the sound of a woman screaming? Thats the end of the story and thats how Alfred Hitchcock leaves his readers. The setting physically is in a house in the in the evening. Two men and two women, one a wife of one of the men, and the other the maid. The mood is not that frightening especially for a horror story. Here is one quote, The wind blew calmly thatevening while we were inside having some drinks and talking.But the mood starts to get tense and rapid when women starting getting killed because of the knife. .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 , .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .postImageUrl , .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 , .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:hover , .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:visited , .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:active { border:0!important; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:active , .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7 .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc0b4509d976139bbe82e0791e00716e7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pro abortion EssayIn The Knife the conflict was between men vs. women, or upon the readers decision it could be knife vs. women because all of the women that were killed, were killed everytime they touced the man holding the horrible knife which gave the men bloodlust. All of the women killed were all killed by a different man, but all with the same knife.

Monday, November 25, 2019

If I was the President essays

If I was the President essays I am the President of the United States, the figurehead of the American people, all decisions go through me, I answer to none other than God, except maybe the senate, the house, and the American people. I am the leader of the greatest country known to man, that has, over a two centuries, cast off oppression, and crushed tyranny. A Nation that strove through a great depression, defeated an assault of evil, and gave its blood in hopes of freedom and democracy. Yet, even now people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. (George Orwell) Recently a vacancy occurred within the Supreme Court. The highest court of the land, granted that cherished yet hated power of judicial review. The ability to declare laws or amendments unconstitutional. Now I must appoint a new justice, worthy of this great honor. One who will uphold the true intent of the constitution, the document that with the help of God has held this Nation together through all the oppression, tyranny, depression, evil, and bloodshed. One who will not change or adapt with the times, one who will not be easily entangled by the sin that surrounds this country. First, I must create a set criterion for the candidates eligible for the appointment. This would include all things that I as the President would want in a Supreme Court Justice. I would want to know everything I could about my appointees, medical records, voting records, credit records, everything. To obtain this knowledge I would use the best investigative tool our Nation has, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Other things of interest about the candidates I would want to know would be legal records. What kind of cases have they handled, what were there rulings? Things that I would shy away from would be party influence. In no way would I let myself be influenced by my affiliated party. Of course, one must consider that if the...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Amusement Park Place Essay Example for Free

Amusement Park Place Essay Amusement Parks are on of Americans favorite places to go. You get to ride roller-coasters, play games and just have fun. The thrill you get by getting is one of the best feelings you will ever have. When you first walk in the amusement park you feel your adrenaline rush by seeing all the people go crazy over the roller-coasters and the games. Adventure parks are an adventure that everyone needs to experience once in their life. Roller-coasters are a thrill that everyone should experience at an amusement park. Rollercoasters are what make amusement parks so fun. There are many different types of roller-coaster that has many different types of loops such as a corkscrew, the regular flip, and many more. Some of the biggest roller-coasters that I have ever been on are the ones at Six Flags. I rode the Batman, Superman, Georgia Scorcer, Deja-Vu, and all the other roller-coasters they had. My favorite was Superman; you are flying through the air just like Superman. The loops were like corkscrews and had some straight drops. Everyone needs to experience a roller-coaster ride at least once. There are many amusement parks all around the United States that you can go to and have fun. One is in Atlanta, Georgia home of Six Flags. Another one is located in Cedar Point, Ohio which is called Cedar Point and is one of the most popular visited amusement parks. Another one is Bush Gardens located in Tampa, Florida. I got to visit Bush Gardens this past Spring Break it was the best amusement park I have ever been to. There were a lot of family activities such as games, food, and roller-coasters. They didn’t have many roller-coasters, but the ones that they did have were my favorite. There are a lot of many different amusement parks around the country that you can take your family and have a great time. Games at amusement parks are also what make amusement parks so much fun. If you are scared to ride the rides just go ahead and play games. There are many games you can play like basketball shoot, racing games, shooting games and many more. If you end up doing good in the games then you will get prizes such as stuffed animals, candy and a lot more stuff. Games at amusement parks are parks are fun to play and make the amusement park experience unforgettable. Amusement Parks are fun for families and friends to go and bond for the day. Amusement Parks are enjoyed when you go and the ride the roller-coasters, play games, eat food, and go to Some of the shows that the parks have to offer. Amusement parks have been around forever and and that is why so many Americans love them so much. They allow you to have fun and relax for the day. Amusement Parks are a lot of fun and I think everyone should go to at least once to see for themselves. Amusement Park Place. (2017, Feb 03).

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Scholarship essay for wsu personal stmt Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scholarship for wsu personal stmt - Essay Example iven the opportunity for holistic development of physical and mental skills; as well as a balanced honing of spiritual, emotional, ethical and moral values. Through these abilities and skills, I have manifested belief in ethics of reciprocity that assisted in conflict resolution, negotiation and problem-solving over time. As a validated and proven leader, I was recognized through various academic and civic awards. Knowledge or creativity in a field: Describe any of your special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity: the ability to see alternatives; take diverse perspectives; come up with many, varied, or original ideas; or willingness to try new things. Being physically active is a very important commitment in my life. The various sports that I actively participated in over the years are football, basketball, soccer, track and baseball. From among the special activities I do for fun in the summer are hiking, wakeboarding and water skiing; as well as snowboarding and skiing in the winter. I enjoy playing the piano and drums and I play the trumpet in band and quad toms in the parades. Further, I work in our family apple orchard, especially at harvest time in the fall maintaining and driving equipment. Among these, a family trip Stehekin in our boat is a cherished thing to do. Dealing with adversity: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing that challenge, the role that person played, and what you learned about yourself. The challenging experience of having to go through a series of surgeries due to spinal curvature was the most memorable. I had to go through two major surgeries, a brain and spine surgery to address the chronic dilemma. My greatest fear then, aside from recovering from all the pain is the thought that I could no longer participate in any strenuous physical activities because

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Archival Studies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Archival Studies - Research Paper Example Organizations are at the verge of changing diverse activities to suit the most appropriate management procedures, it is therefore very appropriate to enhance an effective way of reviewing processing manuals. Update of processing manuals also offers the reader with the latest policies that exist in a particular organization. This reduces instances of confusion in an organization since each member has the same documentation of policies that he is supposed to abide by. Moreover, it keeps the employees at par in terms of objectives of a particular organization since they all have the latest information, which shows the latest targets of the organization. A poorly updated manual conversely leads to inconsistency therefore increasing the risk of violation of laws, regulations as well as other organizational standards. Even worse, it may result to a heightened risk of injury or harms of the employee and hence put the organization at the risk for lawsuits as well as other damages. Therefore, organizations should take time in maintaining as well as updating processing manuals in the most efficient way (American Psychological Association, 2004). From ancient times, record keeping has focused on utilization of paper documents as a way of keeping records. However, with the development of technology, documents are now stored using electronic gadgets. An electronic document is essentially a soft copy of a paper document while a paper document is a hardcopy of an electric document. There are dissimilarities between the varieties of data storage. To begin with, the scale of electronic information is much larger than the information on paper documents. Typically, the point is open since disks used to store the information at numerous gigabytes, and the size grows daily. One drive can contain a million or more documents, and a single company can hold backup files of up to five million records. Secondly, the efficiency of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Myers-Briggs Essay Example for Free

The Myers-Briggs Essay The Myers-Briggs type indicator is a widely used to help individuals gain insight into there personality type and communication patterns. This tool will help the career counselor as well as the client have a better understanding on how the client judges and perceives the world. The type indicator is a beneficial tool for gaining insight into future career endeavors. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was developed by Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs in order to have a better understanding of differences and similarities in human personalities. The instrument is based on the psychological theory of Carl Jung, who strongly suggested in the 1920s that personality traits are inherited or innate. Myers and Briggs used Jungs theory to develop a list of four ranges of personality traits. They refined their definitions over and over again during the 1940s and 1950s by administering thousands of assessments (Gordon Martin, 2004). The MBTI identifies preferences rather than competencies it is designed to help you understand your unique personality and the way you relate to others around you. Backed by thousands of research studies, the MBTI assessment is both reliable and valid in assessing personality traits. The eight characteristics that are defined in the MBTI are not traits that vary in quantity; they are dichotomous constructs that describe equally legitimate but opposite ways in which we use our minds (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). The MBTI describes a dynamic personality system such that the 16 types are greater than the sum of their parts. This instrument is the most widely used personal instrument in the world-2 million administrations are given each year (Martin, 1997). Today their personality assessment instrument is more widely used by educators in the US than any other. It is not like other psychological tests in that it does not uncover illness or psychosis (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). It was designed to help normal people understand normal human behavior. Therefore, it could be used as an assessment instrument to help individuals select careers that suite their type preferences. There are eight types arranged in four continuums or scales. Everyone uses each of the types but there is an innate preference for one. The different types explain how individuals communicate and see the world. The MBTI uses these four separate dichotomies; two of these S-N and T-F, describe functions and reflect basic preferences for use of perceptions and judgment, the other two E-I and J-P, reflect attitudes or orientations. Together these functions and orientations influence how a person perceives a situation and decides on a course of action. The scales are explained below: Extravert-Introvert: In the extraverted attitude the energy flow is outward, and the preferred focus is on people and things, whereas in the introverted attitude the energy flow is inward, and the preferred focus is on inner thoughts and ideas. Extraverts (E) are energized by interaction with others such as they love to talk, participate, organize, and party. Extroverts like action. Es are pulled into life’s social interaction and may find it difficult to due things such as; settle down, read, or concentrate on written work. It is suggested that extravert due not to enjoy listening and would prefer to talk to work out their ideas. They would find tasks such as reading, research, or writing challenging because they are solitary endeavors (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003).. Introverts (I) are energized by the inner world of reflection though thought and contemplation. They need space and time alone. Introverts like activities such as; reading, lectures, written, or oral work. They usually have a longer attention span and prefer to think things through before acting (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). . Sensing-Intuitive (S-N) Sensing and Intuition are the perceiving functions. They indicate how a person prefers to receive data from the environment around him. These are the non-rational functions, as a person does not necessarily have control over receiving data, but only how to process it once they have it. Sensing prefers to receive data primarily from the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch), and intuition prefers to receive data from the unconscious, or seeing relationships via insights. Often it is called sixth sense or gut feel†. This scale suggests how you take in information and reported to have the biggest impact on how we learn (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). Sensing (S) people depend heavily on their five senses to ingest information. They base knowledge on concrete facts, organization, and structure. They tend to be good at memorization, usually realistic, and relatively conventional. Ss are focused and oriented on the present, the concrete, and the here and now. Sensing people have a tendency to like outlines, clear guidelines, and specifics. They have difficulty relying on theories. Intuitive (N) individuals see the world through intuition. They learn by hunches, look at the big picture verse small details. They want to know the theory before deciding that facts are important. They have a tendency to be creative, innovative, and work with bursts of energy. Intuitive people ask why before anything else (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). Thinking-Feeling: Thinking and Feeling are the rational functions. They are used to make rational decisions concerning the data they received from their perceiving functions. Thinking is characterized as preferring to be logical and analytical and thinking in terms of true or false. Thinking decisions tend to be based on more objective criteria and facts. Feeling, which refers to subjective criteria and values, strives for harmonious relationships and considers the implications for people. Feeling decisions tend to be based on what seems more good or less bad according to values. This range tells how people make decisions (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). . Thinking (T) people make decisions based of logic, analysis, and reason. They follow their head rather than heart, they tend to value truth. At times thinkers can appear blunt and uncaring about the feelings of others. Ts usually have strongly held principles, value fairness over everything, and need purpose in their life. People who must make decisions that negatively effect many individual lives (surgeons and corporation presidents) are often thinking types. Feeling (F) individuals follow their heart rather than their head. They decide on the basis of their feelings, personal likes and dislikes. They tend to want others to like them therefore they find it difficult to say no or disagree with others. Fs need and value kindness. Feeling type’s value harmony and are distressed by interpersonal friction. Feeling types are often found in social work, elementary school teaching, and other helping professions. They will feel rewarded when they can help others (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). Judging-Perceiving: This range suggests the type of life style and work habits we prefer. It shows how people relate to the world around them. The J person tends to prefer to create and live in an ordered environment. Words like structured and controlled come to mind. Js tend to plan their work and work their plan. They often come across as decisive. The P individual tends to prefer a flexible, wait-and-see environment. Words like spontaneous and adaptable and open-minded best describe him or her. Judging (J) types try to order and control their world. They are decisive, may be closed-minded, and are usually well organized. The meet deadlines, like planning, and prefer to work on only one thing at a time (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). Perceiving (P) types are spontaneous and do not enjoy to be boxed in by deadlines or plans. They want to gather more information before making a decision. They tend to multitask or have a variety of activities in their lives. Ps are flexible and often good in emergencies when plans are disrupted. Their biggest problem tends to be procrastination. They may make a calendar of things to do, but will probably lose it (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). Jung originally developed his theory of types as part of his counseling with his clients. Distinguishing type can shed light on issues of self-esteem, relationship difficulties, life development and transitions, as well as decision making. As Jung suggests human behavior is actually quite orderly and consistent, due to the basic differences in the way individuals prefer to use their judgment and perception. Perception involves all the ways of becoming aware of things, people, happenings, and ideas (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). Judgments involve all the ways of coming to conclusions about what has been perceived. Every individual could be described as unique. Each of us is a product of heredity and environment and, as a result, is different from everyone else. The idea behind uniqueness, however, gives no practical help in understanding the people whom we must educate, counsel, work with, or interact with in our personal lives. The assumption of similarity, therefore can promote misinterpretations and misunderstandings of humans because peoples minds operate differently. People’s perceptions and judgments are all choices, in accordance with principles of human development (Gordon Martin, 2004). According to Jung’s theory the instrument can be beneficial in organizational development as well as career development. Through the instrument individuals can gain self understanding which leads to self awareness (Briggs-Myers, McCauley, Quenk, Hammer, 2003). When individuals have self awareness they gain knowledge on personal preferences and dislikes. MBTI suggests that when people understand how they communicate with others there can be a wealth of positive outcomes such as; increased appreciation for colleges, improvement in communication, a better understanding of how to deal with conflict, enhancement in problem solving, and better decision making (Gordon Martin, 2004). Dr. Charles Martin suggests that research clearly has shown that people are attracted to careers choices that will allow them to make use of their natural type preferences. He also suggests that through all the four letters of the final personality types can affect the kind of career that interests you (Martin, 1997). A person’s combination of the two middle letters has particular importance on the career choice you pick. That is the combination of perception (sensing or intuition) and judgment (thinking and feeling) seems to have the most influence on which kinds of careers will attract you (Martin, 1997). The individual’s type can provide the career counselor with useful information as well as the client on a variety of issues related to career choice. Based on I verse E, this will determine a persons need for social interaction, J verse P can interpret how organized an individual needs to be verse how flexible they can be (Gordon Martin, 2004). Obviously there is more to an individual them there type so it is also necessary for the individual to make decisions for a career choice. Under the assumption a career counselor would have knowledge and be educated on the Myers Briggs assessment this specific tool could be beneficial for job placement of career choice. If people gain insight in to what motivates them, possibly they could choose a career that would satisfy that need.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Conflicting Desires in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man :: Portrait Artist Young Man

Conflicting Desires in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man In the story, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, written by James Joyce, the main character Stephen Dedalus has many encounters with women. Women and sexuality are major influences on Stephen's adolescent life. Another major factor that has an influence on Stephen's life is the Church. Women and sexuality conflict with the Church and its beliefs, and that is one of Stephen's major problems thus far. Stephen is having a very big identity crisis, from being a God fearing Catholic to a very hormonal teenager. As Stephen sits at the "adults" dinner table for the first time, his father, Mr. Casey and Dante are fighting about religion and politics in Ireland. As they are arguing, Stephen's train of thought leads him to think about Eileen. Eileen Vance was the little girl that Stephen wanted to marry when he was younger. She is described to have ivory hands and golden hair, which confuses Stephen with the phrases, "Tower of Ivory" and "House of Gold" which is part of the Roman Catholic Litany of Our Lady. Later when Stephen is at school, he again thinks about Eileen. Stephen gets his first sensual experience from Eileen when she puts her hand into his pocket and touches his hand. Stephen gets quite confused with the terms of the Litany of Our Lady so he starts to associate the "Tower of Ivory" and "House of Gold" to Eileen. The way James Joyce describes the scene, "She had put her hand into his pocket where his hand was and he had felt how cool and thin and soft her hand was."(43) gives the reader the idea that Stephen enjoyed the feeling. The only problem with Eileen was that she was a Protestant and Stephen was a Catholic. Stephen also associates women with the Virgin Mary, who was the mother of Jesus Christ. He thinks women as pure, just as Mary was and since he already associated the "Tower of Ivory" and "House of Gold" with Eileen, he assumes her to be like the Virgin. Another influence of women in Stephen's life comes from the story "The Count of Monte Cristo" while reading this story, Stephen starts to fantasize about Mercedes.

Monday, November 11, 2019

India and women Essay

INDIA and WOMEN Women empowerment is a moot subject. At earlier times, women got unprejudiced status with men. But the post-Vedic time was a difficult period when many were treated as slaves, a commodity earned by the man, a mode of produce kids. From the early twentieth century (national movement) their statuses have been slowly and gradually undergone changes. In this regard, we may mention the name of the English people. After then, independence of India, the constitutional makers and national leaders strongly emphasized on equal social position of women with men. Today, we have seen the women occupying the respectable positions in all walks of the sphere. Yet, they are not absolutely free from discrimination and harassment of the society. A few number of women have been able to establish their potentialities. Therefore, each and every one should be careful to promote the status of women. Women constitute approximately 50% of the world’s population, but India has shown disproportionate sex ratio whereby female’s population has been comparatively less than that of males. As far as their social status is concerned, they are not treated as equal to men in all the places. In the Western societies, the women have got equal right and status with men in all walks of life. But gender disabilities and discriminations are found in India even today. The paradoxical situation is such that, she is sometimes portrayed as a Goddess and at other times merely as slave. It is now that the women in India enjoy a solitary status of equality with the men as per constitutional and legal provision. But the Indian women have come a long way to achieve the present positions. First, gender inequality in India can be traced back to the historic days of the sacred Sanskrit poem, Mahabharata, when Draupadi was put on the dice by her husband as a commodity. History is a witness that women were made to dance both in private and public places to please the men. Secondly, in Indian society, a female was always dependent on male members of the family until a few years ago. Thirdly, a female was not allowed to speak in a loud voice in the presence of elder members of her in-laws or move around without covering her head and in some cases, the face in the presence of other elder or male members of the family. In the family, every faults had gone to her and responsible. Fourth, as a widow her dependence on the male members of the family increased but that was better than performing ‘sati’ where the widow  was burned alive during the cremation of her dead husband. In many social activities, she was not permitted to meet with other members of the family. A woman whether a widow or not had very little share in political, social and economic life of the society and had to vote for the party the family supports, even if she had her views against it. The early twenty century was rise of the National Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi who was in favor of removing all the chains tied to a woman. At the same time, Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and various other social reformers laid stress on women’s education, prevention of child marriage, withdrawals of evil practice of sati, removal of polygamy etc. The National Movement and various reform moveme nts paved the way for their liberations from the social evils and religious taboos. After independence of India, the constitution makers and the national leaders recognized the equal social position of women with men. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 has determined the age for marriage, provided for monogamy and guardianship of the mother and permitted the dissolution of marriage under specific circumstances. Under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, an unmarried women, widow or divorce of sound mind can also take child in adoption. Similarly, the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 says that any person who gives, takes, or abets the giving or taking of dowry shall be punished with imprisonment, or fine or with both. The Constitution of India guarantees equality of sexes and in fact grants special favors to women. These can be found in three articles of the constitution. Article 14 says that the government shall not deny to any person equality before law or equal protection of the law. Article 15 declares that government shall not discriminate against any citizen on the ground of sex. Article 15 (3) makes a special provision enabling the state to make affirmative discriminations in favor of women . Article 42 directs the state to make provision for ensuring just and human conditions of work and maternity relief. Above all, the constitution regards a fundamental duty on every citizen through Articles 15 (A), (E) to renounce the practices derogatory to the dignity of women. The concept of empowerment flows from the power. It is vesting where it does not exist or exist inadequately. Empowerment of women would mean equipping women to be economically independent, self-reliant, have positive esteem to enable them to face any difficult situation and they should be able to participate in development  activities. The empowered women should be able to participate in the process of decision making. The government of India has ratified various international conventions and human rights instruments committing to secure equal rights to women. These are CEDAW (1993), the Mexico Plan of Action (1975), the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (!985), the Beijing Declaration as well as the platform for Action (1995) and other such instruments. The year of 2001 was observed as the year of women’s empowerment. During the year, a landmark document has been adopted, ‘ the National Policy for the empowerment of women.’ For the beneficiaries of the women, the government has been adopted different schemes and programs i.e. the National Credit Fund for Women (1993) , Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), Information and Mass Education (IMF) etc. But is all this actually working is what everyone wants to know. Are women actually empowered ? Or is all this only in papers and even in the 21st century women fear leaving their houses alone? Do they fear wearing clothes they want to wear ? Well I feel that the answer to this is a big YES. In the 21st century, where India is an emerging super power the women are not confident that they will return home safely. But why is it so? Some say that because ‘boys are boys’ and they can do whatever they want to or maybe because the kind of clothes a woman wears instigates men to look at her with those greedy eyes and lay their dirty hands on her? Well NO ! Did that women in a burqa who was raped while going back home in her own car provoke anybody? Or the 5 year old girl who was studying in school provoke her teacher? But boys will be boys who make mistakes. For once forget about the boys, they will defend themselves but when the head of the Mahila Vibhaag (women’s association) says that the mistake lies in the girls, don’t you believe it? I don’t. I think it is time for every girl to take a stand for herself and for every other girl in this world because it is not just India where women are not treated equally, a study conducted in the US in 2012 says that about 14% of women who were fired from their jobs was because the boss wanted something more than a normal boss and employ relationship. Also a study conducted in London in 1998 says that about 33% of divorces happen because the man is not willing to let the wife go out for a job or to pick up the kids because she might just have an affair. It’s also time for every parent stop telling their daughters to wear longer dresses and tell their sons to respect girls  because nobody should be judged by the way they dress. It is said that if a man is educated he will earn bread for the entire family but if a woman is educated then she will make sure that the entire family is educated. To sum up, women empowerment cannot be possible unless women come with and help to self-empower themselves. There is a need to formulate reducing feminized poverty, promoting education of women, and prevention and elimination of violence against women.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Health Care Policy, Law and Ethic Essay

As a Chief Nursing Officer, I’m responsible for one of the state’s largest Obstetric Health Care Centers. I just received word of some fraudulent behaviors in the center. To mitigate this type of behaviors I must evaluate how the healthcare Qui Tam affects health care organizations, provide four examples of Qui Tam cases that exist in a variety of health care organizations, Devise a procedure for admission into a health care facility that upholds the law about the required number of Medicare and Medicaid referrals, Recommend a corporate integrity program that will mitigate incidents of fraud and assess how the recommendation will impact issues of reproduction and birth, and Devise a plan to protect patient information that complies with all necessary laws. After completing my evaluation on Qui Tam I will be able to provide a proper protocol to handle or prevent future issue and grow awareness on how fraudulent behavior affects the health care center. Qui Tam is Latin for â€Å"he who brings a case on behalf of our lord King, as well as for himself†. Qui Tam allows a private citizen (relator, whistleblower) to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government, as well as himself, against a defendant who may has knowingly committed fraud or criminal act in which the government was victimized (Showalter, 2012). The private citizen need not have been personally harmed by the defendant’s conduct (Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General, 2010). The government can choose to take over the prosecution, but if the government declines the private citizen can proceed alone. How Healthcare Qui Tam affects health care organizations. Healthcare is a multi-billion dollar industry and has attracted those who want to defraud health insurance companies and the government (Showalter, 2012). Based on the healthcare industry monetary value it has become the fertile soil for white –collar crimes that end in criminal convictions and financial penalties (Showalter, 2012). The punishment for payment fraud and abuse is shared with the abuser and the organization. When an employee is involved in act of fraud and abuse management, officers as well as the organization is held accountable. They share in the punishment even if management, officers or the organization is aware of the abusers actions. . One way to minimize exposure to fraud and abuse is to have a strong corporate compliance program in place. Developing a strong compliance  programs will ensure an organization’s adherence to federal and state regulations such as false claim act, anti-kickback statues, the Starks self-referral laws and HIPAA. Using go vernment regulation as the bases of an organizations compliance program will help significantly in the effort to prevent fraud, abuse and waste within the organization (Showalter, 2012). Healthcare Qui Tam along with state and government regulations has pushed organizations to develop new or stronger compliance programs in the hopes to prevent fraud, promote integrity and improve billing accuracy. Not only has it push health care organization to create compliance program to protect the company these policy also include process for an employee to anonymously report and undesirable conduct they may see. Companies have also created their own fraud and abuse compliance departments that are responsible for educating the staff of any federal and state regulations and created requirement for and standards each depart must to abide by. This department will also be responsible for the investigation of any reported behavior. These measures are put in place to prevent any possible fraud and abuse acts with in the organization. Examples of Qui Tam cases that exist in a variety of health care organizations. To remedy abuse associated with ghost billing, up coding, unbundling, and billing for inadequate or unnecessary care the government put in place the false claims act. During January 2009 through 2012 the justice department used the false claim act to recover more than 9.5 billion dollars in health care fraud cases. Below is an example of a False Claim Act Case. Example of FCA Nelson v. Alcon Laboratories, No. 3:12-cv-03738-M (N.D. Tex.) †¢Complaint filed : September 14, 2012 †¢Complaint unsealed : July 16, 2013 †¢Intervention status : Declined †¢Claims: False claims to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and the federal defense procurement programs in violation of the Civil False Act (FCA), 31 U.S.C.  § 3729 et seq. †¢Name of Relator: Michael Nelson and Steve Gonzales †¢ Defendant’s Business: Pharmaceutical manufacturer †¢Relators’ Relationship to Defendant: Former employee †¢Relators’ Counsel: Bell, Nunnally & Martin, LLP †¢Summary of case: Alcon Laboratories allegedly failed to adhere to FDA regulations in manufacturing, packaging and delivering nonprescription and prescription eye care products sold to the U.S. government under Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other insurance programs held by a variety of military and federal employees and their dependents. Alcon even provide the eye care product to the U.S. Department of Defense †¢Current status: The U.S. declined to intervene in the case: relator may proceed on their own †¢Reason to Watch: This case was viewed similar to United States ex rel. Eckard v. GlaxoSmithKline and SB Pharmco Puerto Rico, which was settled in 2010. This case involved both civil and criminal allegation, but the focus was on failing to comply with the FDA’s regulations regarding manufacturing practices and product quality. This case resulted in a guilty from the defendant, a civil settlement of $600 million, and a criminal fine of $150 million. Anti-Kickback Statue is a criminal statute that prohibits the exchange or offer of an exchange, of any value or form, in the efforts to induce or reward the referral of federal health care program business. This statue was creates to establish penalties for individual and entities on both sides of the prohibited exchange. If convicted the violator can be fined up to 25,000 and sentenced up to five years. In lieu of the fine and the jail time the violator(s) can be excluded from participating in federal health care programs. Listed below is an example of an anti-kickback statue case. Example of AKS United States ex rel. Nevyas v. Allergan, Inc., No. 2:09cv432 (E.D. Pa). †¢Complaint Filed: January 30, 2009 ( Second Amendment Complaint Filed September 27, 2010) †¢ Complaint Unsealed: December 16, 2013 †¢Intervention Status: Unclear from docket †¢ Claims: The relators assert that the defendant caused the submission of claims for payment for prescription drugs induced by illegal kickbacks in violation of the FCA, as well as analogous false claims statutes of 19 states and the District of Columbia †¢Relators’ Names: Herbert J. Nevyas.; Anita Nevyas-Wallace, M.D. †¢ Defendant’s Business: The defendant is an international biopharmaceutical company †¢Relators’ Counsel: Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano,Bosick& Raspanti LLP (Philadelphia, Pa) †¢Relators’ Relationship to Defendant: The relators are third party physicians who claim they were offered the alleged inducements by the defendant. †¢ Current Status: Ongoing †¢Summary of Case: The relators allege the defendant violated the Anti-Kickback Statues buy offering ophthalmologists and optometrists to prescribe the defendant’s exclusive chronic dry-eye prescription drug Retasis ®. According to the defendant Allergan offer free consulting services, free acesss to a restricted website, invitation to and payment of expenses related to advisory board meetings and offers to fund independent research. †¢Reason to Watch: The defendant entered into a five year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in connection with a settlement of an unrelated criminal investigation and Qui Tam action. Some of the conducted listed in this case may have occurred while the defendant CIA was in place. Also point out possible compliance issues for pharmaceutical companies seeking to grow their business through relationship with physicians (Abhar, Grammel, McGinty, & Willis, 2014) Example of billing for unnecessary services and ghost billing United States ex rel. Fife v. Lymphedema and Wound Institute, Inc., Civ. No. 04:11-CV-271 (S.D. Tex.). †¢Complaint Filed: September 22, 2011 †¢Complaint Unsealed: November 25, 2013 †¢Intervention Status: The United States intervened. †¢Claims: Defendants allegedly submitted false claims for treatment of lymphedema †¢Name of Relator: Dr. Caroline Fife †¢Defendants’ Businesses: The individual defendants are the executives and owners of the defendant company and its affiliates, whose employees provide physical therapy and treatment for lymphatic disease. The individual defendants also managed and operated a network of sleep-study clinics. †¢Relator’s Relationship to Defendants: Relator is a competing physician and professor at the University of Texas who often treated patients who had  stopped receiving treatments from defendants’ facilities. †¢Relator’s Counsel: Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. (Houston, TX) †¢Summary of Case: The Relator alleged that the defendant provider used unqualified massage therapist to provide services to their lymphedema patients. Also according to the relator the defendant bill for unnecessary services as well as services and supplies that were never rendered. Lastly, the relator alleged the defendant used similar scheme to inflate billing services that were rendered at their sleep clinic. †¢Current Status: The parties settled the claims related to lymphedema treatments for $4.3 million. Additionally, the defendant company’s founder and CEO voluntarily submitted to a 10-year exclusion from federal health benefit programs and the defendant company entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) as of June 25, 2013 (Abhar, Grammel, McGinty, & Willis, 2014). †¢Reasons to Watch: Although the amount of the settlement — $4.3 million — is relatively modest when compared with the $165 million in fraudulent Medicare billings alleged in the complaint, the voluntary exclusion of the defendant company’s CEO from participation in federal health care programs is severe, as an excluded individual will likely find it difficult to continue working in the health care industry (Abhar, Grammel, McGinty, & Willis, 2014). Example of up-coding United States ex rel. Oughatiyan v. IPC The Hospitalist Company Inc., Civ. No. 09-C-5418 (N.D. Ill.). †¢Complaint Filed: September 1, 2009 †¢Complaint Unsealed: December 5, 2013 †¢Intervention Status: The United States intervened, but Illinois and the other 12 plaintiff states declined to intervene †¢Claims: Defendants allegedly encouraged the filling of up-coded claims for services in inpatient and long-term care facilities to federal care programs †¢Name of Relator: Dr. Bijan Ouhatiyan †¢Defendants’ Businesses: National hospitalist independent contractor company and its local subsidiaries â€Å"employing physicians and other health care providers who work in more than 1,300 facilities in 28 states.†1 Hospitalists are physicians who assist in directing and coordinating inpatient care from admission to discharge, and only work in hospitals or  long-term care facilities (Abhar, Grammel, McGinty, & Willis, 2014). †¢Relator’s Relationship to Defendants: Relator is a former employee/independent contractor of dependent. †¢Relator’s Counsel: Goldberg Kohn Ltd. (Chicago, IL) †¢Summary of Case: Relator alleges that IPC The Hospitalist Company (IPC) engaged in the following schemes to cause its employed hospitalists to bill for the services they rendered at the highest reimbursement levels even though such codes were inappropriate, a practice called â€Å"upcoding.† The lawsuit contends that IPC trained its physicians to bill at the highest levels without regard to the actual complexity of the services provided. Additionally, IPC allegedly tracked the coding statistics of its hospitalists and used the results to pressure hospitalists to upcode their services to achieve productivity and profit goals. As a result of these practices, according to the relator, the medical documentation of the actual work done did not support the billing records submitted by the hospitalists (Abhar, Grammel, McGinty, & Willis, 2014). †¢Current Status: Ongoing †¢Reasons to Watch: The defendant has another case (United States ex rel. Ziaei v. IPC The Hospitalist Company Inc., et al., Civ. No. 2:12-cv-01918 (D. Nev.)) with similar allegation, but was dismissed. Our Facility admission Policy, which is in accordance with Medicare and Medicaid referral guidelines. Medicare and Medicare Referral guidelines are based on the Stark law. To prevent any issues or conduct that violates the Stark law our facility will participate in CMS Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). We will require all qualifying providers to register their NPI with Medicare and Medicare by the deadline date. This system will allow us to submit claims, referral, and review for admittance. This program will catch any potential violations of abuse and fraud. The Physician Self -Referral law is listed below. â€Å"The Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law) (42 U.S.C. Section 1395nn) prohibits a physician from making a referral for certain designated healt h services to an entity in which the physician (or an immediate member of his or her family) has an ownership/investment interest or with which he or she has a compensation arrangement, unless an exception applies. Penalties for physicians who  violate the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law) include fines as well as exclusion from participation in all Federal health care programs† Corporate integrity program that will reduce fraud and impact issues of reproduction and birth. A Corporate Integrity program is put in place to ensure the organization and the employees would not knowingly violate any laws that control the conduct of the organization operations. Staff will receive training regarding the health care center’s Corporate Integrity Program and all law associated with the program. †¢Code of Conduct Promote and Preserve the organization values Protect the privacy of the Health care centers patients Protect the confidentiality of the patient and the employee information o Avoid all forms of discrimination Act in accordance of all policies and procedures Comply will all law that apply to the health center operations and practices o Disclose all potential conflicts of interest No accepting of gift, goods and services Adhere to all professional standard Ensure consent for service is received and documented Refusal for services are document Patient is informed/education of risk and requires treat for their condition †¢Submission of claims only for services That are actually for service renders For services that the patient or patient represented consented to oFor services that are medical necessary for the patient condition That have appropriate documentation to support the claim All services will be reviewed before billing All billing staff will be trained and certified No claim will be submitted that fall under the Physician Self-Referral law or Anti- Kickback statues Plan to protect patient information that complies with all necessary laws As one of the state’s largest Obstetric Health Care Centers in the area we have an extensive staff. The first policy is to provide excess to patient information that is in the scope of your job. For example the registration staff will not have access  to the patient’s lab results and the lab technician will not have access to member complete medical history. When a staff member signs on to any system that houses patient information they will only be able to view or update information that is within the scope of the job responsibility. This way the patient private medical records are kept private. Education, training and yearly certification of Health Insurance Portability Act and the organization privacy policy will be required fall all staff members. Certification will only be provided to those that achieve at least an 80% on any test that is provided in training. Failure to comply will result in suspicion until certified or termination. For existing employees yearly certification will be done throughout web base training portal. For our new employees training and certification will be part of their new hire orientation and any future required Training will be done through our train portal. The staff can access the training portal at home. This way our staff and complete the certification at the leisure (with in the due date). Also we have the proper process in place to such as authorization and de-identifying Protection Health Information when share and medical or any sensitive information with others. For example there maybe reason why a department must share the type of patient seen or the treatment provided. There should be not reason that patient’s name, address, or any information that may identify the patient be included in the report. We also require the patient to sign an authorization for every year, which will allow us to submit information to insurance companies for payment, medical necessity review, and appeals. We will also have the patient to sign an authorization form allowing us to spe ak with a specific individual, leave voice mail massages and or email the member about appointment and care. Any unauthorized disclosure of private health information the patient will be notified right away. Various federal and state laws, regulations, rules and guidelines govern the use, Disclosure and protection of health information. These include certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), certain provisions of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), and any other patient privacy-related laws, regulations, rules and guidelines will be used as the bases of our privacy policies Bibliography Department of Health and Human Services. (November, 27 2013). Physician sefl Referral: CMS. Retrieved 15 2014, March, from Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services: Abhar, S., Grammel, S., McGinty, K., & Willis, S. (2014, February). Qui Tam Defense: MintzLevin. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from MintzLevin: http://www.mintz.com/newsletter/2014/Newsletters/3691-0214-NAT-HL/ Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General. (2010, October 6). False claim Act: office of Inspector General. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from Department of The Interior Office of Inspector General: https://www.doioig.gov/docs/falseclaimsact.pdf. Abhar, S., Grammel, S., McGinty, K., & Willis, S. (2014, February). Qui Tam Defense: MintzLevin. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from MintzLevin: http://www.mintz.com/newsletter/2014/Newsletters/3691-0214-NAT-HL/ Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General. (2010, October 6). False claim Act: office of Inspector General. Retrieved March 15, 2014, from Department of The Interior Office of Inspector General: https://www.doioig.gov/docs/falseclaimsact.pdf. Dunphy, B. P., Kingsbury, S. P., Miner, T. A., Foster, H. S., & Willis, S. D. (2012). Health Care enforcement : 2012 Trends . MintzLevin. Gumbert, J. G. (2003). Qui TamActions Under the False Claims Act. Medical Journal – Houston. Levine, R. H. (2005). Internal Investigations By Healthcare Organizations: Practical considerations. American Health Lawyers association. Showalter, J. S. (2012). The Law of Healthcare Adminstration (6th ed.). Chicago: Health Adminstration Press. Staman, J. (2013). Health Care fraud and Buse Laws affecting Medicare and Medicaid: An Overview. Congressional research Services report for Congress.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Murder of Taylor Behl

The Murder of Taylor Behl What Happened to Taylor Behl? Taylor Behl, a 17-year-old freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, left her dormitory room Sept. 5, 2005 to give her roommate some privacy with her boyfriend. She took with her a cell phone, some cash, a student ID and her car keys. She was never seen alive again. Two weeks later, her 1997 Ford Escort was found a mile and a half from the VCU campus with stolen Ohio license plates. Her body was found in an indentation in the ground 75 miles east of Richmond on Oct. 7. Taylor Marie Behls Childhood Years Taylor Behl was born on October 13, 1987 to Matt and Janet Behl (now Janet Pelasara). By age five, Taylors parents were divorced, and Janet was remarried to a Royal Air Force officer. She and her new husband and Taylor lived in England and Belgium. Taylor became a seasoned airline passenger before the age of six, making unescorted international trips between Europe and the U.S. By the age of 11, Taylors mother was divorced again and the two returned to northern Virginia. Pretty, Popular and Savvy Taylor Behl was pretty, popular and had an air of well-traveled sophistication. She had attended 15 different schools abroad by the age of 17 when she graduated from Madison High School in the well-off Washington, D.C., bedroom community of Vienna, Virginia. She carried the outward appearance of having developed a savvy independence that would prepare her for her next life adventure of attending her first year of college at the Richmond, Virginia based Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Janet Pelasara said Taylor selected VCU because of the diversity she would find at the college with its 30,000 students. It seemed like a safe choice, located only one and a half hours away from both her mother and father. In August 2005, at age 17, Taylor Behl packed up her belongings, as did thousands of other college-bound students, and headed to her new home at Gladdings Residence dorm on West Main St. in Richmond, Virginia. Taylors Internet Personality - Bitter One important aspect of Taylor Behls life was her participation on Myspace.com. The website is designed so individuals can create profiles for themselves and interact with others in a social-type environment. On Taylor Behls profile she created during the summer of 2005, she used the name Bitter and posted: I just graduated from high school and now Im off to Richmond for college. Im looking forward to meeting people that are in Richmond because I only know a few people down there. Later in her profile she added, Who would I like to meet? Someone who is kind. Taylor posted regularly on the site and continued to do so while at VCU. Taylor Meets Ben Fawley Unknown to Taylors parents, Taylor met a man in Feb. 2005, while touring VCU as a prospective student. He was Ben Fawley, a 38-year-old amateur photographer who had a history of dating young college girls. It is believed that Taylor and Fawley developed an online friendship after meeting and the relationship became sexual at some point. There are conflicting reports concerning when or if Taylor ended the physical relationship, but when she arrived at VCU, their friendship continued. Taylor Vanishes On Sept. 5, Taylor returned to Richmond after visiting her family in Vienna over the holiday weekend. She called her parents to let them know she made it back to VCU safely. She then had dinner at The Village Cafe with an old boyfriend. Afterwards, Taylor returned to her dorm room, but left to give her roommate and her boyfriend privacy. With her car keys, cell phone, student ID and a little cash, she told her roommate she was going skateboarding and would be back in three hours. Timeline: Taylor Behl was never seen alive again. It was not until Sept. 7, that Taylors roommate made a missing persons report to the VCU campus police. On Sept. 15, the Richmond Police took over and an 11-member task force, including FBI agents, was formed to help find the missing student. Sept. 17, 2005:  Taylors car, a 1997 white Ford Escort, was found locked and parked on a quiet neighborhood street almost a mile and a half from campus. The license plates had been switched to Ohio plates that had been reported stolen in Richmond two months earlier. Neighbors in the area told police the car had not been there the entire time Taylor was missing. A K-9 dog picked up two distinct scents in the car. One belonged to Taylor and the other to 22-year-old Jesse Schultz. During police questioning, Schultz denied knowing Taylor and denied ever being in her car. He was arrested on drug possession after police discovered drugs during a search of his home. On Sept. 21, 2005:  Police reported that 38-year-old, Ben Fawley was one of the last known people to see Taylor alive. Fawley told police that Taylor had come over to borrow a skateboard and he walked her back to her dorm around 9:30 p.m. During a police search of his home, police discovered child pornography and he was arrested on 16 child pornography charges. Fawley, a father of two girls, was arraigned and ordered to remain in jail with no bond. On October 5, 2005: Fawleys ex-girlfriend led police to a house in a photograph displayed on one of Fawleys Internet web sites. The location was an old farm located on her parents property. The police searched the remote Mathews County farm and discovered the decomposed body of Taylor Behl laying in an indentation in the ground. Taylor Behl was buried on October 14, a day after she would have turned 18. Ben Fawley Convicted of Second-Degree Murder In February, 2006 Ben Fawley was charged with second-degree murder of Taylor Behl.  In August he was sentenced to 30 years in prison after entering an Alford plea in the case, which means he did not admit guilt, but accepted the fact that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him of the crime.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Biblical HERMENEUTICS ASSIGNMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Biblical HERMENEUTICS ASSIGNMENT - Essay Example This focus leads into the fact that followers must recognize that Jesus is a divine messenger or intermediary between people and God, and not God himself; this emphasis is particularly strong in the Gospel of John, in which John continues to assert that Jesus is the dutiful son of the father, and not the father himself. Finally, reading the Gospels requires an understanding of salvation and the kingdom of heaven which, through Jesus’ sacrifice, is granted to all those followers who live in faith and love of Jesus’ words, as embodied through the Gospels.4 Recognizing these strategies for reading the Gospels will enable the follower to fully internalize the truthful words of Jesus in a fashion that Jesus intended, rather than through a skewed understanding of his message. Although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date when the Gospels were written, New Testament scholars argue that the literature in the Book were written at the end of the first and the beginning of t he second century, during the Hellinistic period, when the Christian church was under persecution.5 At this time, three central events affected the writing and compilation of the New Testament, which included the following: the spread of Christianity, the effect of the fall of Jerusalem on Christianity, and the obsessive focus on the destruction of the world (that never came).6 Therefore, this period was characterized by brutal conquests and social turmoil, which is evident in the apocalyptic tone of the writing in the books in the New Testament. In addition, speaking authoritatively on the authorship of the works is particularly difficult because these contributions were not written by eyewitnesses in Jesus’ ministry; â€Å"it has to be understood that in the ancient world it was quite common to attach important names to anonymous works, or to write in the name of some teacher or famous person from the past†.7 However, there is a higher level of certainty that these w riters were, in fact, known by Jesus directly, or known by men who were close to Jesus; for example, Peter, Matthew, and John were recognized as being among the original group of Jesus’ followers. Although the apostles were in close proximity to Jesus, there is a great range of diversity between the synoptic Gospels and the fourth Gospel, as well as between the Acts and letters because the Book â€Å"contains a variety of books, written in a variety of lengths and styles, and attributed to a variety of authors†¦ [coming] from diverse times and places.†8 In this regard, the vast majority of the literature spoke of and about Jesus Christ, but did so in a varied fashion that reflects different circumstances, concerns and purposes, and

Saturday, November 2, 2019

White Collar Crime Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

White Collar Crime - Term Paper Example White collar crimes are less obvious due to their ability to incorporate legitimate and criminal behavior. Whether committed by corporations or individuals, white collar crimes cause serious financial and social repercussions in the society. These crimes tend to increase the cost of doing business, which is in turn passed on to consumers in the form of increased prices and decreased services. Victims of white collar crimes and all members of society affected by these crimes experience emotional consequences, which include violation of trust, stress from victimization, and damage to public morale. Categories of crime include fraud, conspiracy, embezzlement, tax evasion, and money laundering. All these types of crimes have different magnitude of negative impact in the society, and this report has recommended turf penalties to be imposed on those who are implicated. The issues are recurrent and are likely to reoccur with the emergence of new opportunities, therefore, measures should be taken to avoid loss of property, money, markets, or personal possessions. For that reason, the society has the responsibility to deploy its private and public administrative, law enforcement resources and research in trying to contain white collar crime. White collar crime Introduction The phrase white collar crime best describes a violence free method of obtaining money illegally. With regards to criminology, Edward Sutherland was the first to use the phrase during the 1939 speech to the American Sociological Society. In 1940, more than forty years ago, Sutherland coined the term white collar crime. ... In the early 1930s, the passage of the first securities act laid a powerful foundation for the legislative weapons against financial fraud as it saw the prosecution of bankers and government officials for abuse of trust; whereas the federal mail fraud statute took a key role as part of an extensive law enforcement tool against business fraud. Furthermore, a president of the New York Stock Exchange was convicted before Sunderland discovered white collar crime. Nevertheless, he discovered white collar crime for the American criminologists; and although it has been dormant, white collar crime has been a top agenda for over forty years (Glovin, 2009). White collar crimes often relate to crimes that have to do with large finances yet no physical violence takes place (Levi, 2010). The same rights and protections given to defendants of other crimes are accorded to people accused of white collar crimes. White collar crimes involve most of the legal principles as other crimes, but they are co mplex than other crimes as they involve complicated legal and factual issues. Criminal forfeiture, fines, restitution and prison sentences are among the penalties involved in white collar crimes. A consultation with an experienced white collar criminal defense attorney should be the first option for anyone charged with white collar crime. Discussion White collar crimes vs blue collar crimes What is available to the potential offender constitutes the function of the types of crimes committed. Therefore, the risks to engage in crime are lower in those employed in unskilled environments and living in inner-city areas as compared to those who live in prosperity and where large financial transactions take place. Shoplifting and vandalism are types of blue

Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Leader Affects the Outcome of an Ethical Situation Essay

The Leader Affects the Outcome of an Ethical Situation - Essay Example The health provider and any other concerned person must respect any decision by the patient. The case of Eduardo Rosas Cruz, a 25-year-old tuberculosis patient, is an example of a patient that refused treatment, according to the principle of autonomy. The man who is from the northern California disappeared immediately he was diagnosed with tuberculosis (Fauria, 2014). He was arrested and taken to a medical center and kept under guard. The leader who is the health care provider influences the outcome by ordering the patient to remain in a hotel room under isolation. The patient violated the orders and escaped leading the health providers worried about the security of the uninfected. As a nurse leader, I would create a quarantine room in the hospital for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and offer quality services for those quarantined. The action will help the patient to feel comfortable and recover fast. I would also ensure that any other patient diagnosed with a similar disea se undergoes thorough counseling in the psychiatry department. American Nurses Association,. (2015). Short Definition s of Ethical Principles and Theories Familiar Words. What do they man. Retrieved 25 May 2015, from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Resources/Ethics-Definitions.pdf Fauria, K. (2014). Arrest Warrant Issued For Santa Barbara TB Patient. The Washington Times. 26 May 2015, from

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

How are fashion and appearance central to the construction of social Essay

How are fashion and appearance central to the construction of social identities Discuss, with reference to specific examples - Essay Example Fashion plays a very important role in this process, for it is a way to express our personality, to state our beliefs, to communicate our likes and dislikes. Fashion is a skilled architect for our bodies, using colours, shapes and textures to create pieces of clothing, which combined in a particular way produce, at their turn, a graspable, yet unique image of our identity. As Bennett states in Culture and Everyday Life (2005) â€Å"fashion embodies a range of symbolic values which are collectively understood within and across different social groups†. Therefore, by dressing in a certain way and creating a particular appearance for ourselves, we can send out particular messages about our character, education, financial success, interests and intentions, even sexual preferences. After all, in this fast and complicated world we have very few seconds to make an impression, this is why fashion is a key factor which will help us express all of who we are trough our style and choice of clothing. A piece of clothing can make one feel inhibited, or on the contrary, free and daring, nostalgic for the past or a visionary of the future. The right clothes can help us accomplish our goals and better interact with the people surrounding us. Therefore, given the complex nature of fashion as a central part of our society I will focus on three major aspects: feminism and the way fashion has helped women define and change their social roles and identities, youth and their use of fashion to make statements about their place in the society, as well as their personalities and in the end, intercultural exchange and the way one can create a unique style by combining fashion elements from different cultures. I will start with a short historical map out and thus begin with the Medieval times, since it is considered a period marked by darkness, rigid ideology and strict social delimitations. This is why fashion did not suffer any exceptions: clothes were used to set specific socia l boundaries and thus, dictate social identities. First of all, fashion was inspired at court and it included carefully tailor garments, which offered information about the social status of the person that was wearing the clothes. It included heavy dresses, which did not allow women the privilege of fast movement and which transposed into society as little involvement and obedience. The clergymen’s simple tunics were supposed to represent their penitence and modest life. The peasants’ poor dressing was a result of their placement at the bottom of the Feudal Pyramid of social order. As we slip into the modern era, towards the 18th and the 19th century, fashion still remains a wealth-dominated area. However, new social roles appear, such as public magistrates and the militia, which mark their social identity by particular clothing and uniforms. The tailoring business develops rather faster and cheaper replicas of high-fashion, designer clothes became more accessible for women belonging to lower social classes and disposing of smaller wealth. Luxury was not limited to the elite or the metropolitan any more (Breward, 1995). However, women continued to be restrained in movement by their clothes, which included the corset and the long dresses: women’s dresses were composed of large quantities of fabric and different occasions needed different kinds of dresses, factors which

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Kurdish Conflict Regulation

Kurdish Conflict Regulation 1.4. Definitions As Milton- Edwards says, before examining the specific manifestations of the main subject, it is important to outline some of other important related definitions (2008). To analyze and discuss Kurdish conflict regulation in the Republic of Turkey, one needs to define Turkey’s system in relation to the Kurds as an ethnic minority in that country. Ethnicity and its related issues are important enough for scholars to consider it as one of main forces to shape the world. Brass claims â€Å"ethnicity and nationalism, interethnic conflicts, and secessionist movements have been major forces shaping the modern world and the structure and stability of contemporary states† (1991). Zuelow in ‘Nationalism Journals’ like Brass about national identity and its potency says national identity has been one of the principals force shaping the course of history, certainly since the French Revolution† (1999). In addition, he believes that national identity has played a key role in revolutions, wars and state-formation (Ibid). When people of different ethnicity are living in one territory and one group generally has the majority rule on other groups in non-democratic ways, it is the starting point of conflict. Bruce Gilley defined â€Å"ethnic conflict as sustained and violent conflict by ethnically distinct actors in which the issue is integral to one ethnicity† (2004, 1160). In the same source, he uses other terms such as ‘ethnic violence’ or ‘ethnic war’ for ethnic conflict (Ibid, 1155). ‘Ethnic conflict regulation’ is the other term should be defined here. There are many definitions for ethnic conflict regulation in different references. Wolff believes â€Å"conflict regulation comprises three elements: prevention, management, and settlement: Conflict prevention aims at channeling conflict into non-violent behavior by providing incentives for peaceful accommodation. Conflict management is the attempt to contain, limit or direct the effects of an ongoing ethnic conflict. Conflict settlement aims at establishing an institutional framework in which the conflicting interests of different ethnic groups can be accommodated to extent the incentives to non-violent and cooperation condition† (2009, 1). Ilievski Wolff define ethnic conflict regulation through institutional design that conflicts can be resolved via an institutional bargain that establishes macro-level structures through which disputes among the conflict parties can be addressed politically and without recourse to violence† (2010, 5-6). McGarry and OLeary claim, â€Å"The term of ‘regulation’ is inclusive and it covers both conflict termination and conflict management. Eight distinct macro-methods of ethnic conflict regulation can be distinguished into two methods for eliminating differences and methods for managing differences† (1993, 4). The Republic of Turkey was founded on the main principles, or ‘six arrows’, of Kemalism. These principles are republicanism, nationalism, secularism, populism, statism and revolutionism (Los Angeles Times 2014). Kemal Ataturk and his followers have defined Turkey as a pro-Western, modern and democratic country. The two subjects of ethnic minority rights and Islamism, based on two principles of Turkish nationalism and secularism, were taboo for many decades. The Welfare Party in the general election for the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in 1995 captured the majority of seats. Necmettin Erbakan came to power as the first Islamist Prime Minister in the Republic of Turkey in 1996. Although the age of his Cabinet was just one year, it was enough to break the taboo of the secularism principle as a ban for Islamist political parties. Nonetheless, the years of 1990s and Ãâ€"zal’s speeches about Kurdish people as an ethnic minority in Turkey, can be looked as a s tarting point, at least one decade was needed to start to break the one-nation-one- state idea in Turkey. In respect of Kurdish ethnic regulation in Turkey, the definition of ‘Double Standard’ seems to fit with institutions and constitutional laws in Turkey. â€Å"Double standard is a situation in which two people or groups are treated very differently from each other in a way that is unfair to one of them† (merriam-webster dictionary 2014) or â€Å"a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another† (QA.com) and (Ibid). Park, referring to Guney (2006-2007) and Uslu (2008a) says, â€Å"a major explanatory factor behind Turkey’s resistance to the adoption of more contrition to the Armenian fate, or a more inclusive embracing of its Kurdish citizens, is the intensity of Turkish nationalism (2012, 23). The ‘Turkish history thesis’ insist that the Turks of central Asia constituted the world’s first civilized people, who had provided the root of all other world civilizations (Park 2012,23). Associated with the history thesis was the ‘Sun language theory’ which claims that â€Å"Turks were the originators of language itself and that all other languages were thus derived from or linked to it (Cagaptay 2002; Arkman 2006)† (Park 2012,24). Security systems, militaristic approaches, economic and human rights conditions in West and Center of the country, or overall for Turks, has been different from non-Turk minorities in Turkey. Kurds, as approximately 20% of Turkeys population, have been forbidden from the basic rights for about one century. In the meantime, supporting the rights of the Turkish language population as citizens of other countries has been one of the main principles of Turkeys Foreign Policies. These types of different approaches can be described as forms of a double standard policy. Sometimes these dual policies have caused conflict for Turkey and have pushed the country from a zero-problem to a zero-friend situation. Park, when defining the Republic of Turkey, refers to Yavuz and Eposito (2003:xx1) in that they claim â€Å"when Ataturk died in 1938, Kemalism was ‘neither democratic nor liberal but Authoritarian, elitist, and ideological† (2012, 13). However, Urrutia and Villellas look at Turkey as a ‘consolidating democracy’ (2012, 2) in their description of Turkey’s system. Gulcan Saglam (2012) looks at Turkey under the rule of AKP as a ‘semi-democratic state’ that may be more compatible with the current conditions in Turkey and useful for this study. A semi-democratic state is defined as a state that has democratic principles and an authoritarian rule in practice at the same time, but they are neither entirely authoritarian nor fully democratic. The semi-democratic state, by Akinola (2013) definition, is â€Å"a state that supports democracy as an idea, but fails to reach the application of its principles.The principles of freedom speech and association, free and fair election as well as transparency in government constitute essential characters of the democratic state†. Saglam says â€Å"in semi-democratic political settings with strong authoritarian actors, political parties that build broad coalitions consisting of various power centers in the society via group specific policy promises will be more likely to shift the balance of power in favor of themselves than actors that lack such connections† (2012, 37-8). He believes â€Å"The AKP is the first Islamist political party in Turkey that pursued this strategy, and it was these group-specific policy promises that eventually helped the Party to repel the Kemalist state structure and shift the balance of power in favor of itself† (Ibid). 1.5. The Problem and Rationale Ethnic identity and ethnic conflict have been the most complicated issues among societies and have remained as double bind ties in domestic, regional and international levels, especially in developing countries. Ethnic conflict has a connection and interrelation with other themes such as gender, political economy and democratization in different aspects (Milton-Edwards 2008, 1). Beavis asserts that â€Å"ethnic conflict studies can be seen as a source for understanding international relations but single book; concept or theory is not able to explain such a complex phenomenon in its entirety† (1999-2012). Ethnic conflict is often considered as a local or intra-state issue, but indeed, it has had effect on both intra-state and inter-state relations. The Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) answers the question ‘How many conflicts were there in the world in 2011?’ (UCDP 2011) and clarifies the number and rank of ‘intrastate conflicts’ in comparison to other kinds of conflict in that year, claiming that â€Å"in 2011, UCDP recorded 37 active armed conflicts†(Ibid). Based on the same source, from thirty-seven armed conflicts in 2011 that took place in 30 different parts of the world, 27 of them were intrastate, nine intrastate with foreign involvement. Cambodia-Thailand (common border) was the only case among them registered as interstate conflict. Turkey was among five Middle Eastern countries having intrastate Kurdish conflict; that it did not introduce to a level of war until 2011. The above chart from UCDP (2013) shows the type and number of armed conflicts from 1946-2012. It shows the extra state conflict just until 1974, interstate conflicts have decreased and internationalized conflicts have had slow increase since 2004. However, the numbers of intrastate conflicts have had significant increase especially from the 1960’s. In comparison with international wars from 1950s, Civil Wars have been more frequent and more durable. Ethnic wars have been main part of civil wars. For instance, 55% in 1970 and 72% in 1991 of civil wars have been ethnic wars. During the 1990s, more than 200 ethnic minorities or subordinate majorities in the world have struggled to achieve their political rights ( Johnson 2008). Caselli and Coleman refer to Fearon and Laitin (2003) in that from 1945 to 1999, the numbers of ethnic civil wars have been 58, equal to 51% of all civil wars in that period; and they believe that more silent and worth noting are the non-violent conflicts (2011). In some countries, ethnic groups compete through overtly ethnic parties, and compete for power, but in others, a dominant group discriminates against and exploits the others (Ibid). â€Å"Esman (1994, 229) believes when an ethnic group gains control of the state, important economic assets are soon transferred to the members of that community† (Ibid 2011, 2). Gilley disagrees with some definitions of the concept of ethnic conflict and looks at it as a critic, but, he accepts the importance and widespread of this conflict in reality. He looks the rise amount of researches and academic studies in this field as a ‘major growth industry’ and he has made reference to the number of published books and online articles in specific periods in comparison with previous periods. He claims that the ethnic conflict issue is a more attractive subject to be studied by new journals and research centers. He announces that the numbers of published books and online articles in the English language under the title of ‘ethnic conflict’ have been 43 books since 1990 in comparison to 17 before that and 249 online academic English-language articles with the title of ‘ethnic conflict’, but just 23 articles under the ‘class conflict’ title for the same years (2004). McGarry and O’Leary refer to deep geo-political changes in different parts of the world, especially in Africa; for instance in Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe and finally in South Africa by extinction of Apartheid regime in the last decades of 20th century. All of them show the power of ethnicity to mobilize populations and create mass movements to redefine the borders. They say, â€Å"The renewed instability of state frontiers is merely one symptom of the global political power of ethnic consciousness and conflict† (1993, 2), and they say, â€Å"a reason why ethnic questions are potentially explosive, and raise the possibility that some people(s) will be tempted to exercise self-determination through secession is simple. Ethnic questions raise relatively non-tradable issues. It is obvious nationality, language; territorial homelands and culture are not bargain-able products (Ibid 1993). Previous explanations and definitions show the importance and role of ethnicity, nationalism and ethnic conflicts and its rank in academic research. Kurdish ethnic conflict is one of the most complex issues in the Middle East. Kurds have struggled for more than one century for freedom and to achieve self-determination in Kurdish regions. The states that have controlled parts of Kurdistan have denied, suppressed and assimilated Kurds. It has brought unfavorable consequences for all sides. Turkey as having approximately 20% of its population as Kurdish minority, basing its state on Kemalism ideology and Turkish nationalism, has been one of the most atrocious regimes against Kurdish political movements. The bloody violence from 1984 between PKK and Turkey’s military has taken place. The consequences of that war have been more than 40,000 deaths, more disabled people, imprisonment and millions forced to be immigrants and refugees. In the past few years, Turkey with PKK and its in jailed leader, Abdulla Ó ¦calan, has entered into peace negotiations. This subject is a new opening in Turkish nationalism. The first sign of change was in the speeches of statesmen about the Kurdish ethnic conflict regulation, back in the 1990’s and Ó ¦zal; who believed in a multicultural society for Turkey. The most behavioral and practical changes have been attributable to Erdogan and the AKP administration from 2002 to 2014. This current issue and its effect on the Kurdish political condition in Turkey and other countries and the democratization process in local and regional realms, has become worthy enough for academic research study.