Sunday, May 24, 2020

A Comparative Study of Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia...

This research article was published in the journal of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinsonism on August 26th 2013, volume 3, issue 2. Dr.Perea et al. conducted the study at department of neurology, Alzheimer’s Research Disease Center, department of Psychology, Bioengineering program-department of engineering, at University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA. The big question of this study is to investigate white matter differences to give better understanding of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It asks specifically whether individuals with Parkinson’s disease dementia will show significant white matter deterioration when compared to healthy non-demented control individuals. The hypothesis of this study states that cognitive decline and impaired motor control in Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) will greatly show deterioration in white matter as compared to groups of healthy individu als control group (CON), Alzheimer’s disease group, and Parkinson’s disease group (Perea et al. 2013). It was known before through many scientific studies that white matter differences are actually associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Researches few decades ago studied white matter differences using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); which measures the orientation and direction of water molecules in neural tissue and the integrity of white matter fibers (Perea et al. 2013). One example was mentioned in the article, reported aShow MoreRelatedA Look At Non Alzheimer s Disease1684 Words   |  7 PagesA Look At Non-Alzheimer’s Disease Dementias By Katie Bergstrom, PA-S ABSTRACT: The most common tendency in assessing patients who display signs of dementia is to evaluate them for Alzheimer’s Disease. This means that Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia are conversely overlooked as possible diagnoses. Special attention to clinical presentation and the use of diagnostic tests (such as the MRI) and assessment scales (like the Mini Mental State Exam) aid inRead MoreSmart Home Technology10920 Words   |  44 Pagescurrently occurring throughout Australia and across the world, the need for aged care health, social and technology services will increase. More people will be living with complex chronic illnesses. For example, in Australia the proportion of people with dementia will double by around 2035 (Deloitte Access Economics, 2011). By 2050 three times as many new fulltime employees within the care services will be needed (Commonwealth of Australia Productivity Commission, 2011). It is unlikely that the futu re needsRead MoreGsk Annual Report 2010135604 Words   |  543 PagesEurope. Operating a values-based business with integrity Continuing to run our business in a responsible way is also central to the changes we have made at GSK. In 2010, we continued progress in our signiï ¬ cant commitment to work on neglected tropical diseases. Our candidate malaria vaccine is progressing through phase III trials in Africa. If all goes well, this will be the ï ¬ rst ever vaccine against malaria, with the potential to save the lives of millions of children and infants in Africa. We also announced

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Controversy Of Capital Punishment - 1374 Words

The Controversy of Capital Punishment Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is a form of punishment that has been used as far back as the Colonial Era in America. Although it has been around for the entirety of American history, most of the scrutiny and controversy involving capital punishment arose in the 1972 Supreme Court Case of Furman v. Georgia, in which it was abolished, but quickly returned in 1977. It is evident that many citizens have ambivalent stances on capital punishment; some believing it is necessary form of punishment while others believe that the death penalty is a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Although capital punishment has been used throughout history and is seen by many as a form of justified punishment, there are many reasons in favor of ending the death penalty completely. Capital punishment is an unnecessary evil that should be found unconstitutional because of it is not practical, it is corrupt, and it is unable to deter further homicides from being committed. A brief history explaining the verdicts made by the Supreme Court regarding capital punishment in American history needs to be made to understand why capital punishment has become such a national issue in contemporary America. In the 1972 Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia, the court ruled that the, â€Å"carrying out of the death penalty†¦constitutes cruel and unusual punishment,† (Hugo 1). Since the death penalty was considered at the time cruel and unusual, it made it in directShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment and its Controversies 1434 Words   |  6 PagesCapital punishment uses death penalty as a form of punishment in many states and countries. It is a practice that has raised endless questions all over the world. Capital punishment or death penalty policy has changed in many countries overtime. Countries such as, New Australia, Zealand and 15 states in the US do not have capital punishment. One of the major concerns arising with capital punishment is because it causes ending of a human life. People and organizations of different backgrounds areRead MoreCapital Punishment Controversy1553 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough it is argued that capital punishment is a strong deterrent to crimes and serves as a just punishment, nevertheless, capital punishment should be abolished because it is a violation of human rights, carries a risk of executing innocent people, is a burden on taxpayer’s money and is discriminant in application. Capital punishment has been argued to be a violation of human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 recognizesRead MoreCapital Punishment Is Not A Longstanding Controversy Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesWhether capital punishment is fair or not a longstanding controversy. Currently the punishment has still been carried out in some countries, such as China and the United States. Numbers of capital punishment in China is in the first place, compared to other countries (Sterbenz, 2014). However, 98 countries have abolished capital punishment (Amnesty International facts and figures on the death penalty, 2007). Although most of countries have no capital punishment to crimes, it is still argued whetherRead MoreEssay on The Controversy of Capital Punishment.2184 Words   |  9 PagesThe Controversy of Capital Punishment Since the earliest times, man has struggled with the concept of justice. The controversy of capital punishment has weighed on the minds of humans since the beginning. When we are wronged it is our natural instinct to demand compensation. This thirst for revenge can be seen in the earliest civilizations and societies. Ancient Hammurabi code states â€Å"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth† (History of the World). For many people this little axiom seemsRead MoreThe Controversy Over Capital Punishment2295 Words   |  10 PagesThe controversy with capital punishment has been debated for hundreds of years. The Supreme Court is likely to sway its opinion often about whether it should be abolished or instituted throughout the United States. There have been many court cases and lawsuits regarding this issue that has suggested that legislation would be the most effective way to ending the discussion once and for all. In order to abolish the death penalty, the majority has to agree in support of abolition for any legislatureRead MoreCapital Punishment : The Nation S Controversy3247 Words   |  13 Pages CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: THE NATION’S CONTROVERSY Matthew Isaac Political Science 102 Dr. Percival May 10, 2015 A rarity exists in a single topic that can cause a degree of controversy so large that it attracts politicians, judges, community organizers, economists and even religious officials to discuss it. This issue is one that some support and others oppose; that is, the issue of capital punishment. Capital punishment is loosely defined as the execution of an offenderRead MoreCapital Punishment Has Always Been A Major Controversy1710 Words   |  7 PagesCapital punishment has always been a major controversy ever since the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, became extremely popular as a use of â€Å"punishment† for ones illegal actions. The death penalty was first established during 1834 for crimes committed such as â€Å"idolatry, witchcraft, blasphemy, murder, manslaughter, poisoning, bestiality, sodomy, adultery, man stealing, and false witness in case rebellion† (Bohm). According to Bohm’s articleRead MoreThe Death Penalty: Multiple Methods of Execution1489 Words   |  6 Pages A metal skullcap attached to your head, and then you’re blind folded. What might be going through your head? Were you wrongly convicted, or did you deserve death? There are two sides to every issue. While some say the death penalty is a flawed punishment method because it is irreversible, and innocent people have undoubtedly been put to death, others say the death penalty is a humane method of punishing brutal killers by granting them a quick and painless death. Background and Facts Although thereRead MoreThe Importance Of Capital Punishment In The United States990 Words   |  4 Pages2017). Although the State of California has the highest number of inmates awaiting execution, California has only utilized capital punishment thirteen times since the 1972 Supreme Court moratorium on capital punishment was lifted in 1976 (Statistics, 2017). According to the Death Penalty Information Center (2017), race plays a role in determining sentencing in capital punishment cases (p. 11). Thus, in the State of California and Washington State, jurors were three times as likely to recommend theRead MoreThoughtful Reasoning For The Ultimate Punishment1613 Words   |  7 PagesLinda Chin Mr. Hoague AP Lit and Comp, Period 1 14 October 2015 Thoughtful Reasoning for the Ultimate Punishment Only the most dangerous criminals in the world are faced with society’s ultimate penalty, or at least that is the theory. Capital punishment, commonly referred to as the Death Penalty has been debated for many decades regarding if such a method is ethical. While there are large amounts of supporters for the death penalty as a form of retribution, the process is avoidable financially

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Should Smokers Pay Health Taxes or No - 1314 Words

Essay 3: Should smokers pay health taxes or no? Minh Anh Nguyen City University of Seattle Smoking is something that happens every day in our life. People can easily find someone smoking in some street corners, even in public places like train station, hospital, dormitory. It is not strange if you cross the road and see a mom who is enjoying her cigarette in front of her child. It is a kind of action that has become a part of our society and it accidentally makes people think that smoking is normal and it is just a habit and people do not feel like they have to stop it. Even some people are aware of the negative impacts of smoking they still ignore it and let it happen. People used to have the same†¦show more content†¦So why nonsmokers and smokers pay the same taxes while smokers can enjoy their cigarettes but nonsmokers have to suffer many diseases as a second hand smokers? At this point is it even fair to treat nonsmokers like that? By making smokers pay for health taxes and even raise the taxes if they keep smoking, people are supporting the nonsmokers in huma n community. Why does it make sense? It would make smokers be responsible and pay for the inconvenience they have caused, for people who are living and working with them that they harm with their smoking. The consequences of smoking are not something new to people. Some of you still think that it is not that much dangerous as people are smoking everywhere and every day? Smoking causes 1 in every 5 deaths in the US every year, which was revealed by Centers for disease control and prevention (n.d). If it is not shock enough, here is the research that has been revealed by BBC NEWS (1999), which is every cigarette you smoke reduces your expected life span by 11 minutes. Smoking also makes the risk of a heart attack 200% to 400% greater than that of nonsmokers (Kurzweil Grossman, n.d). In developing countries, patients are asking more from health services. â€Å"The problem has been increasing, as the number of uninsured Americans continues to rise. In 2004, 15.7% of the population, o r 45.8 million people, in theShow MoreRelated Smokers Need Higher Health Care Premiums Essay668 Words   |  3 Pagesthe body have been proven scientifically and today is common knowledge. According to Health Canada, there is a large amount of strong medical evidence that smoking is related to more than 24 different diseases and other body conditions. Including emphysema, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. Smoking has negative effects on every part of our anatomy and generally deteriorates the health of one?s body. Every smoker is well aware of these negative consequences, yet many continue to smoke nonethelessRead MoreThe Effects Of Secondhand Smoke On Public Places1548 Words   |  7 Pagesthe surgeon general released a report which focused on the consequences of secondhand smoke the report claimed that secondhand smoke was the cause of lung cancer in healthy nonsmokers. That same year the national research council issued a report on health consequences of involuntary smoking, as a result the American’s for nonsmokers rights became a national group. By January of 2014, 28 states had enacted statewide bans on smoking in all public places, with a few exceptions such as bars or other suchRead MoreCigarette Tax Essay1293 Words   |  6 PagesIncreasing cigarette taxes is a win-win situation for everyone if you ask me, however I am not a smoker. I suppose if I were I may think differently. It is a health win that reduces smoking and saves lives; a financial win that raises revenue and re duces health care costs; and a political win that is popular with the public. On February 4, 2009, Congress enacted, and President Obama signed into law, a 62 cent increase in the federal cigarette tax, along with increases in other tobacco taxes, to fund expansionRead MoreShould Cigarette Smoking Be Banned?899 Words   |  4 Pages Should Cigarette Smoking Be Banned Whether or not cigarette smoking should be banned completely, has become an object of controversy in many countries. Should cigarette smoking be banned for everyone in the United States? Smoking tobacco products have been around for decades and in many different forms. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deathsRead MoreThe Government And Health Care1543 Words   |  7 Pagesexplosion in health care prices today. In an article titled â€Å"Spending in Health Care† James L. Madara of the American Medical Association publicized that at minimum 25 cents of each health care dollar is used for the curing of illnesses or disabilities that result from changeable activities. Whether it is smoking, alcohol misuse, poor nourishment, too little exercise, failure to use seat belts, or overexposure to the sun, avoidable health care charg es are the concern of numerous U.S. health care criticsRead MoreTax And Its Effect On Society Essay1350 Words   |  6 Pagesestimated to be  £1.5 billion) therefore, the social cost is greater than the private cost; if the social cost is greater than the prsent price, social efficiency can be increased by making smokers pay the true social cost. Although the cigarette is getting more expensive, there is still a huge number of smokers who are buying the cigarette, therefore, we can consider that cigarette have an inelastic demand. Price($) P1 Read MoreEnvironmental Tobacco Smoke Essay1084 Words   |  5 Pageslives, the prevention of disability, to a dramatic decline in health care costs – majority of which are carried by nonsmokers who otherwise are impelled to pay exaggerated health insurance premiums and higher taxes. The recently laid ban on smoking in outdoor areas, in the city, is a smart move. Support of smokers is truly much needed to make it successful. Smoking is extremely harmful to health of nonsmokers and to the nature; smokers should be self-disciplined and socially responsible and avoid smokingRead MoreCigarette Smoking Should Not Be Banned1528 Words   |  7 PagesShould cigarette smoking be banned for everyone in the United States? Why? Why not? Should those who chose their time smoking to relieve stress, personal enjoyment, or simply just because, have to lose their right to what makes them happy? Smoking tobacco products has been around for decades and in many different forms. Should pers onal rights be pushed aside to please those around us that disagree with the so called â€Å"disgusting habit†? In the paper The Washington Times an article caught my interestRead MoreEthics Of The Tobacco Industry Essays1022 Words   |  5 Pagesresponsibility the best way that it should. There are many factors that make the industry unethical; some of the reasons are the way the cigarette companies around the world Advertise, the way governments and cigarette companies make a huge profit from the sales of cigarettes, and the labeling health risks. I do believe however that there is something that the tobacco companies can do to better their strategy as far as their ethics go. I think that they should, always be looking for the best interestRead MoreEffects Of Smoking Ban On Children1747 Words   |  7 Pagesspearhead growth of the economy is being directed to treat these diseases. Majority of the affected population are young children. However, research has indicated tha t the largest number of these children emanates from family where none of the parent is a smoker. This is an indication that they inhale the cigarette smoke while on the streets and other public places such as restaurants (Sandford 2003). The government has a mandate of protecting its people. Young generation holds the future of these countries

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Strategic and Operational Risks

Question: Discuss about the Strategic and Operational Risks. Answer: Introduction: In the current business domain, every business concentrates to gain higher competitive advantages from its initial stage, which in certain circumstances, lead them towards unfavorable or unexpected situations. This in turn might cause to excessive cash outflow, fraud, crime, vandalism, inefficiency in management among others. Apart from this, this kind of situations might also take place due to inefficient decision making process regarding marketing and production (Director Publications Ltd., 2012; ACCA, 2008). HIH Insurance Limited has currently experienced certain issues in maintaining the business effectively. The company is an outcome of merger between CE Health International and Winterthur Insurance Company. There are certain risks factors evident in the HIH Insurance Limited that majorly caused financial downturn. This can be illustrated on the basis of the insured areas such as marine, workers compensation insurance, natural disasters, film finance insurance, and aviation insurance that the company offered insurance facilities to its clients, which considered to be the areas of high risk. Recently, the company faced a huge loss of around $100 million from film financing. In addition to this, the company also acquired FAI insurance and as a result, it had to remit the insurance claims of the FAI clients, affected by the devastating hailstorm in Sydney. The typhoon in Florida in 1999 also made HIH to provide a huge amount of insurance coverage to the clients that caused loss in a large scale. Apart from this, the deregulation of the industry in California made an increased in the processing of insurance claims of HIH pertaining to workers compensation (Gay Simnett, 2015). The CEO of HIH insurance has intimated about the current financial position, wherein it is observed that the company had to sale its assets to meet the obligations of the insurance claims and had to pay a large compensation to the auditors and other consulting agencies. Another business risk that was associated with HIH can be regarded as the discontinuation of the practice of prudential margins and resorted to reinsurance process. As a result the company was unable to repay the money of the insurers in the process of claim settlements (ICT, 2007). Inherent Risk Inherent risks mostly cause due to misstatements or misinterpretations of certain facts in the financial reports. This kind of occurrences often evident while auditing due to the absence of internal control mechanisms for risk detection (ACCA, 2009; Delaney Whittington, 2009). The Australian Securities and Investments Commissions (ASIC) sentenced the CEO Mr. Jeffrey Lucy to jail for making alterations in the three financial transactions which amounted more than hundreds of millions. This offence was not favorable for the shareholder, as they were unable to gain knowledge about the actual financial position of HIH. In this regard, Mr. Williams, the auditor of HIH, also helped to omit the information on behalf of HIH in 1998 in which the operating profit before tax was stated as $92.4 million (Gay Simnett, 2015; ICT, 2007). Based on the stated facts, it is apparent that the company might face issues in generating money, which will affect the financial abilities of HIH. Apart from this, the company might also unable to maintain its goodwill in the market due to these kinds of unethical activities.Thus, it is observed that the level of inherent risks in HIH is comparatively high that can create dissatisfaction among the stakeholders and reduced the ability of the company to repay the claims to the clients at the international level. Legal Liability Relevant Court Cases Several court cases can be illustrated regarding the unethical activities evident in the company, which are also continuously neglecting the creditors and the clients. for instance, the case of Enron Scandal can be highlighted in this regard, wherein the investors lose their money and employees got terminated, as the CEO hidden the information of debts on the balance sheet. This occurrence led the company towards distraction and huge reduction in the stock prices of the company (The Accounting Degree Review, 2016). Similar situation has been evident in HIH in which the company included false information to attract customers in purchasing HIH shares. In this regard, it can therefore be affirmed that HIH failed to maintain a transparent relation with its clients, which Andersen can refer. Apart from this, the case of waste management company, Houston that was found to misrepresent its earnings can also be illustrated along with the misrepresentation of HIH, which clearly depicts a negative relation between the creditors and clients (The Accounting Degree Review, 2016; US Securities and Exchange Commission, 2002). Conditions for Negligence Action The HIH insurance company was found to breach the ethical codes that led the company to become insolvent. In this regard, the CEO of the company was found guilty for misguiding the stakeholders by providing false data in the financial reports. The misinterpretation of financial data and attracting customers by providing them false information are considered to be ethical violation that have been conducted by HIH based on which the stakeholders can take appropriate measures. In addition to this, nine senior executives of FAI and HIH was also found guilty for continuously repeating such unethical activities within the setting for which the customers or other stakeholders have to face huge loss (Gay Simnett, 2015). In these kinds of cases, the clients can take legal actions against the individual as well as the company for misinterpreting the information or misguiding them. Ethics Hire of Members from External Audit Firms The audit functions of HIH were maintained by Arthur Andersen from the initial stage. The relation between Andersen and HIH can be considered as the reason of hiring prior members for auditing as the company need not to concern about the unethical activities conducted previously as Andersen also supported such actions.. Thus, including prior members those have knowledge regarding the unethical actions and support the same will make the deal success and the company can continue accordingly (Rogers, 2010; Mishekary, Yaftian Cross, 2005). Advantages of Consulting and Audit Services The consulting services provided suggestions or possible actions in the areas of tax, technology, marketing and other strategic dimensions through which a corporate house can enhance its profitability. The responsibilities of auditing team are to evaluate the information provided by the company regarding its business operation based on which the team obtain an in-depth understanding on the company strengths, risks factors and future potential. Thus, the team can easily provide comparatively more effective suggestions or recommendations to the company in increasing its overall performance along with higher profitability and risk assessment. Conversely, in case of including different consulting firm, the team hardly have knowledge on the strategic planning, decision making or strategic priorities of the company due to which the recommendations might not provide expected outcome in long run (Verschoor, 2014; PWC, 2012). Concerning the scenario of HIH, it is stated that Andersen has detailed knowledge on the companys actual position and financial condition based on which he can recommend possible measures to overcome with the financial issues. Apart from this, the auditing team can also advices HIH to manage the operations of business in reducing the amount of taxes, which on the other hand helps in the decision making process, which in turn improve the quality of audit (ACCA, 2010). Ethical Violations From the provided case scenario, it is apparent that HIH consistently violated the ethical standards, which needs to be eliminated from the setting to maintain the business operation standard. HIH has consistently hidden the information regarding financial report or other operation related data, which depicts the actual situation of the company. In the insurance or any other business, the stakeholders must have the knowledge on the business operation, which has also not been followed by HIH. Thus, in this context, it can be stated that HIH has failed to maintain transparency within its work process as well as communication with the stakeholders along with the customers (Verschoor, 2014; Ernst Young, 2013; ACCA, 2010). CLERP and Ramsay Report Nowadays, majority of companies include several unethical activities to gain higher position in the market, which in turn put a barrier for the business domain in maintaining transparency. To mitigate this concern, certain actions can be taken on the basis of the recommendations provided in CLERP 9 and the Ramsay report (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, 2005). According to the report the auditors must be independent while performing auditing process and provide the results as per the ethical considerations. In addition, the team members need to be changed in every year as per the accounting standards and focused on the necessity of greater participation by shareholders. The auditors will purely concentrate on continuous need of disclosure and charge high penalties for violation of ethics (Robinson, 2003). Apart from this, as per the recommendations of the Ramsay report, it is suggested that retired auditors or working auditors cannot maintain contacts with the client companies, as indicated in the case with HIH (John Wiley Sons, 2016). Conclusion: Through the changes of the rules in auditing process, the audit firms can maintain transparency amid stakeholders and companies that will prevent to misrepresent the data that in turn affects the interest of the investors. Taking the references from the case scenario, insurance companies such as HIH will also not have to suffer for financial downturn in long run due to the changes in auditing process. References ACCA 2008, Strategic and operational risks, Technical, pp. 34-35 ACCA 2009, Audit risk, Technica, pp. 1-4. ACCA 2010, Consultation on audit firms providing non-audit services to listed companies that they audit, Think Ahead, viewed 24 August 2016, https://www.accaglobal.com/in/en/technical-activities/technical-resources-search/2010/january/audit-firms-providing-non-audit-services.html Daughtery, B Dickins, D 2008, The value of cooling off, Corporate Governance, pp. 30-33 Delaney, P, R Whittington, O, R 2009, Wiley CPA exam review 2010, auditing and attestation, John Wiley Sons, America. Director Publications Ltd. 2012, Business risk a practical guide for board members, A Directors Guide, pp. 1-72. Gay, G Simnett, R 2015, Auditing and assurance eervices in Australia, sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, Australia. ICT 2007, Diploma in compliance insurance appendices, Diploma in Compliance, pp. 1-173. John Wiley Sons 2016, Ramsay Report recommendations into audit independence, Auditing, pp. 1. Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada and Australia 2016, Supreme court judgments, Decisions, viewed 24 August 2016, https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1511/index.do Morgenson, G 2005, KPMG settles with S.E.C. on Xerox audit, Business, viewed 24 August 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/20/business/kpmg-settles-with-sec-on-xerox-audits.html?_r=0 Mishekary, S, Yatfian, A, M Cross, D 2005, Australian corporate collapse: the case of HIH Insurance, Abstract, viewed 25 August 2016, from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/palgrave.fsm.4770157 Parlow, D, S 2012, The prospects of a successful claim against auditors in fraud, Uploads, pp. 1-10. PWC 2012, Point of view auditors scope of services, Point of View, pp. 1-3. The Accounting Degree Review 2016, The 10 worst corporate accounting scandals of all time, Scandals, viewed 25 August 2016, https://www.accounting-degree.org/scandals/ US Securities and Exchange Commission 2003, SEC charges KPMG and four KPMG partners with fraud in connection with audits of XEROX; SEC seeks injunction, disgorgement and penalties, News, viewed 24 August 2016, https://www.sec.gov/news/press/2003-16.htm Verschoor, C, C 2014, Do consulting services threaten audit performance, Ethics, pp. 12-69