Sunday, January 26, 2020

Improving ADLs for Brain Function and Helping Psychosis

Improving ADLs for Brain Function and Helping Psychosis Psychosis is defined as an impairment of brain function which is caused by chemical disruptions due to biological, environmental and sociological factors (Morrison-Valfre, 2005, p.324). The Department of Health (2010) highlighted that patients with psychosis may experience disconnectedness to the world which may affect the life of individuals in performing the activities of daily living (ADL) and their families. It is essential to understand the impact of psychosis on the individuals and in the society as whole (Department of Health, 2010, p.2-3). The understanding may help to explain psychosis associated issues by helping to diminishing the rates of depression and suicide among the individuals, thus reducing the impact of mortality and morbidity and associated economic cost (Department of Health, 2010, p.4-5). This essay will analyse the deficit in ADL that may occur in a client experiencing psychosis as a part of schizophrenia (Twamley, Doshi, Nayak, Palmer, Golshan, Heaton, Patter son Jeste, 2002, p.2013; Semkovska, Bà ©dard, Godbout, Limoge Stip, 2004, p.289). This will be done by focussing on the development of psychotic symptoms by analysing positive and negative symptoms of psychosis, the deficits in ADL and the effect on the patients followed by discussing appropriate nursing interventions for both the individual and their family. Psychosis is considered to be a mental state that may have a negative impact of the interpretation of reality by the affected individual by altering their process of thinking, their behaviour pattern and their state of emotion and beliefs (Hicks, 2005, p.268-269; Morrison-Valfre, 2005, p.325). The studies highlight that psychosis related symptoms may be identified as a single event which may last from one to six months in a persons’ life (Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria [MIFV], 2011; Hicks, 2005, p.272). However, if the symptoms relapse this may lead to continuity of psychosis in the long term which may result in disease such as schizophrenia (MIFV, 2011; Elder et al., 2013, p.270; Young, 2014, p.20; Hicks, 2005, p.271). The course of psychotic symptoms is highly likely to be triggered in vulnerable people due to their susceptibility to stress as a consequence of which may lead to the development of schizophrenia (Neuchterlein, Dawson, Ventura, Gitlin, Subotnik, Snyder, Min tz Bartzokis, 1994, p.58; Hicks, 2005, p.270, 272). Studies mention that there may be both negative and positive symptoms experienced by patients with psychosis (Fortinash Holoday-Worret, 2004, p.457; MIFV, 2011; Young, 2014, p.20). MIFV (2011) reported that the positive psychotic symptoms are regarded as abnormal excessive functions of individual’s everyday life. A number of these symptoms explain an individual’s frightening experience that may be misinterpreted by the surrounding people (Hicks, 2005, p.268-270; MIFV, 2011; Fortinash Holoday-Worret, 2004, p.457). Firstly, hallucinations that is associated with dysfunction of those parts of the brain that are responsible for the five senses, namely hearing, vision, taste, smell and touch which may impact on the individual’s perceptions (Elder et al., 2013, p.195; Hicks, 2005, p.268-269). These feelings are viewed as false perceptions owing to the fact that the patients with psychosis are capable of experiencing and acknowledging them as real ones (MIFV, 2011; Elder et al., 2013, p.195) Secondly, delusions that are regarded as â€Å"firmly fixed false beliefs† which means that the patients with psychosis may hold beliefs in relation t o being observed and therefore may behave suspiciously towards the others (Hicks, 2005, p.268-269, Elder et al., 2013, p.195). In this case it becomes impossible to persuade them to adopt opposing viewpoint by providing logical explanation with regards to their beliefs (Hicks, 2005, p.269, 275; Elder et al., 2013, p.195). Thirdly, confused processes of thinking that may result in the disruption and disorganisation of â€Å"form of thoughts† and its content (Hicks, 2005, p.269, 272; Elder et al., 2013, p.194; MIFV, 2011). Examples of this may include the increased or decreased speed of the person’s speech, an interruption in the continuity of thoughts and repetition and inadequate production of the thoughts all of which result in difficulty with understanding the person (Elder et al., 2013, p.194; MIFV, 2011; Hicks, 2005, p.269). Moreover, the patient with psychosis may experience issues with regards to diminishing concentration, memorising things and therefore being un able to lead the conversation (Elder et al., 2013, p.194-195; Hicks, 2005, p.275; Hultsjà ¶, Berterà ¶, Arvidsson Hielm, 2011, p.174). Furthermore, the patient with psychosis may not understand their own symptoms due to inadequate awareness of themselves (Hicks, 2005, p.276; MIFV, 2011).However, negative symptoms related to psychosis are mostly associated with a reduced function of the patient (MIFV, 2011). These reduced functions may have been caused by positive symptoms that may affect their performance of ADL’s (MIFV, 2011; Codbout, Limoges, Allard, Braun Stip, 2007, p.294). There have been a number of studies which discuss ADLs from a viewpoint of understanding and evaluating psychosis related issues (Codbout et al., 2007, p.294; Semkovska et al., 2004, p.289, 297; Twamley et al., 2002, p.2013). Those issues were mainly focused on analysing the impact of psychosis symptoms on the individuals’ memory function and thinking processes, together with evaluating concentration on tasks while performing ADLs (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.289; Twamley et al., 2002, p.2019; Codbout et al., 2007, p.293, 295). The studies demonstrated that the patients with psychosis experienced difficulty when performing their everyday tasks such as selecting a menu, purchasing the menu ingredients and preparing the meal (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.292). It was observed that frequently errors were made where a logical sequence of tasks was required (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.293, 295; Morrison-Valfre, 2005, p.325). For instance, this can be seen where patients list ingredients in the shopping list without considering the menu beforehand, or when shopping for menu ingredients do not realise that there were some products missing from the shopping list (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.293-293). In addition, the studies highlighted that there were omissions made during the menu selection which may demonstrate inadequate use of selective strategies and problem solving skills along with poor attention while performing tasks (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.290, 295-296). Moreover, it was observed that there was a challenge for patients with psychosis during meal preparation time in which they were unable to prioritise the steps of cooking and were repetitive in their actions and therefore could not manage to complete their task on time (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.293, 298). This may have occurred due to their incapability to process the information because their thoughts were being disorganised and the patients themselves could be readily distracted (Morrison-Valfre, 2005, p.325). It is also observed that the patents with psychosis may have experienced concentration related problems that prevented the completion other tasks (Semkovska et al., 2004, p.298). Furthermore, there were other activities for the patients to perform such as communication via telephone, organising outings and use of transportation and dealing with finances all of which revealed that there were issues associated with the ability to concentrate (Twamley et al., 2002, p.2015, 2018-2019). They also demonstrated verbal communication issues and reduced ability to pay attention (Morrison-Valfre, 2005, p.325; Twamley et al., 2002, p.2015). It is worthy noticing that patients with positive related symptoms were less troubled with dealing with ADLs than those with negative related symptoms patient (Codbout et al., 2007, p.294). Nevertheless, it is highlighted that if cognitive deficits and associated symptoms were reduced then the deficits of ADLs may by improved (Twamley et al., 2002, p .2019). A number of interventions have been mentioned for the purpose of minimising risk of the relapse of psychosis related symptoms (Elder et al., 2013, p.273). In MIFV (2011) strategies of interventions are discussed which show the importance of rapport establishing with the patient experiencing psychosis. It is also crucial to ensure the safety of the person by assessing a patient’s thoughts on the subject of self-harm and whether they plan suicide and in this case implement a risk assessment (MIFV, 2011; Elder et al., 2013, p.203-204). While applying therapeutic communication skills the nurse must be aware of self-behaviour by being calm and use language that may assist in reducing the patients’ level of anxiety (Elder et al., 2013, p.189, 454; MIFV, 2011). When the patient’s thoughts are confused the nurse should be patient by speaking slow and clearly to the patents (MIFV, 2011). By providing interventions with relation to ADLs the assessment of the patient is req uired prior to their task performance (Elder et al., 2013, p.273). Where the patient has a fear of being poisoned, the patient may be permitted to cook for themselves with the assistance in following the instructions (Elder et al., 2013, p.273). Cognitive behavioural therapy is highly effective when provided it to the patient as it assists their understanding about current events by emphasising their strengths (Elder et al., 2013, p.272). Some distraction techniques may be used such as walking particularly when the patient has distortion of thoughts (Elder et al., 2013, p.273; MIFV, 2011). Listening to music, as well as meditation, is considered to be effective due to reduction of psychosis associated symptoms (Silverman, 2003, p.37-38; Shonin, Gordon Griffiths, 2014, p.124). The patient is required to use the antipsychotic medication (Elder et al., 2013, p.272). The intervention for the family includes providing support service, counselling and providing stress copying programs (M IFV, 2011). In conclusion, it has been highlighted that the psychosis related symptoms have an influence on the life of both patient and family. Whilst there is a challenge for the patients in performing their ADLs due to impairment of brain function, there are some strategies in improving their ADLs. Moreover, the interventions that are provided for the patients and their family may assist in copying with the psychosis.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Rhetorical analysis of “The Scarlet letter” Essay

Pearls have always held a great price to mankind, but no pearl has ever been earned at as high a cost to a person as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s powerful heroine Hester Prynne. Her daughter Pearl, born into a Puritan prison in more ways than one, is an enigmatic character serving entirely as a vehicle for symbolism. From her introduction as an infant on her mother’s scaffold of shame, Pearl is an empathetic and intelligent child. Throughout the story she absorbs the hidden emotions of her mother and magnifies them for all to see, and asks questions nothing but a child’s innocence permit her to ask, allowing Hawthorne to weave rich detail into The Scarlet Letter without making the story overly narrative. Pearl, at times, is a vehicle for Hawthorne to express the irrational qualities of Hester and Dimmesdale’s illicit bond, and at others a forceful reminder of her mother’s sin. Pearl Prynne is Hester’s most precious possession and her only reason to live, but also a priceless treasure purchased with her life. Pearl’s strange beauty and deeply enigmatic qualities make her an increadably powerful symbol. The product of Hester’s sin and agony, Pearl was a painfully constant reminder of her mother’s violation of the Seventh Commandment: ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’. Hester herself felt that Pearl was given to her both as a blessing and also a punishment worse than death. She is tormented by her daughter’s childish teasing and endless questioning about the scarlet â€Å"A† and it’s relation to Minister Dimmesdale and his maladies. After Pearl has created a letter â€Å"A† on her own breast out of seaweed, she asks her mother: â€Å"But in good earnest, now, mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean? — and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom? — and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?† Pearl implies that she knows much more about the scarlet letter than she lets on. Throughout the conversation Pearl is impish and teasing, saying one thing and contradicting it soon after. She refuses to say just what she means, which makes it hard for Hester to give a straight reply. Hester is  shocked that her playful daughter has lead their conversation to the topic of the scarlet letter, and even more disturbed that she has assumed Hester’s letter and Dimmesdale’s habit of pressing his hand to his heart branch from the same issue. Pearl, in bringing this forbidden and painful subject about, unwittingly inflicts agony upon her mother. Hester cannot tell her daughter what has passed between the minister and herself and come clean. Pearl symbolizes a hidden part of her mother that has not, and will never be exposed and therefore washed free of sin. Pearl was always drawn to the â€Å"A†, and seemed to twist the symbolic knife in Hester’s bosom every time she thought she was free of her weighty burden of sin. Pearl’s questioning wrenched Hester’s heart when the child seemed to somehow know about the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne herself realized that Pearl was unlike other children, and prayed that she was not sin incarnate. When Hester finally frees herself of her sin and removes the scarlet letter after years of it’s leaden weight on her chest, it was little Pearl who brought the reality of her eternal condemnation back to Hester with a stinging blow. She was â€Å"the scarlet letter endowed with life†. Pearl represented the part of Hester to be always dulled by the searing judgment of others in that she was Hester’s ceaseless reminder of the sin she had committed, but also symbolized everything about Hester that was free and alive. She brings Hesters inner feelings to life, magnifying them for the world to see. Pearl is the only happiness in Hester Prynne’s lonely life. Without a child to care for, teach, and love, Hester would have long ago given her soul and life over to evil. Yet she is also the contradictory pain that weighs down Hester’s shoulders. If Pearl had never have been born, she would not be condemed to her sinned concience. This wonderful child is symbolizing the strong connection bettween two rivaling forces; love and pain. Although Pearl is the product of an illicit bond bettween two people, she is also the only thing Hester has to live for. When town authorities, shocked at Pearl’s apparent belief that she was plucked from a rose bush and not created by God, recommended she be taken from Hester and placed in a school, Hester responds with the following: â€Å"God gave me this child!†¦ She is my happiness, she is my torture none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life!†¦Ye shall not take her! I will die first!† Pearl, though Hester understands that she was God-given as a constant reminder or her sin, is her only love and a friend that does not judge her by things past. Later, Hester comments that she would have â€Å"signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mine own blood!† if they had taken Pearl from her. Her daughter is her only earthly salvation, as well as her only friend. Pearl is a blessing upon Hester in that her light-heartedness and seeming innocence allow her mother to forget about her troubles. To see Pearl playing on the beach and creating a fascinating world of her own is to allow Hester to momentarily throw off the shackles imposed on her by Puritan society and be truly happy. The Scarlet Letter is overflowing with masterfully crafted symbolism and representation, but Pearl Prynne is the purest and deepest symbol in the story. She was born not only out of utter sin, but out of the deepest and most absolute love imaginable. She serves as a messenger of God’s salvation through pain, and as a symbol of all that is blissful and content in Hester Prynne’s life. In the end, it is Pearl who kisses Arthur Dimmesdale as he lies dying on the scaffold, having admitted his sin. She breaks a spell that had lain over the dyad in adultery and herself – the product of their sin -, completing her service as a symbol of pain and hardship, but more importantly a symbol of love, salvation, and the deep bond between two lovers condemned by the strict decorum of the Puritan days.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Aims and Objectives of a Business Essay

Strategic aims and objectives of two different organisations * Aims are just general statements briefly outlining what a business plans to achieve. * Objectives are much more specific and should clarify the aims in more detail. * A Business Strategy is the conduct of drafting, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that will enable an organization to achieve its long-term objectives. Aims are broken down into individual objectives which are SMART; Specific – the objective will have a purpose Measureable – growth can be measured Achievable – It will not be impossible to achieve Realistic – It Time specific – It will be able to be achieved within a certain time frame Strategic plans enable a business to achieve its Objectives. They are based on what is happening in current marketplace. So a business must do research and find lots of different information about its, customers, competitors, sales, market shares, price, costs and profits. This information is found by doing Market Research. This information can either be Quantitative or Qualitative. Quantitative data – information easily gathered by numbers. Qualitative data – information based on opinion, beliefs, feelings. A strategic plan considers the future of current decisions, overall policy, organizational development, and links to operational plans. . It establishes imperatives, goals, strategies, and performance measures for the organization that can be used as a management and communications tool. Strategies for the Public Sector A hospital may have the aim to provide better customer service. Their objectives; * Make sure all patients in A&E are seen within 15mins * Always having ambulances ready * Answering all phones within ten seconds Plans to achieve this: * Constantly checking the quality of customer service * Buying more ambulances and hiring more ambulance staff * Provide services at cost, below cost or free where appropriate It is then up to the management to ensure that these plans are executed properly so that taxpayers’ money is well spent in providing these health services. There most important stakeholder is us. Strategies of the Private Sector The most important stakeholder in a Private Sector organisation is the owner. They would aim to; * Maximise profit * Increase sales * Cut costs * To survive * To breakeven * To expand To maximise profits the long term strategy would be to; * Increase prices * Reduce costs * Increase sales Sometimes in order to make money you have to lose money first. A business might reduce its prices to gain more sales and customers and in order to do this their profits have to fall. However, a business must make a profit in the long term or it will go bust. A Short term strategy to maximise sales would be to; * Reduce prices * Improve product quality * Add new products * Spend more on advertising * Spend more in market research Cutting costs * Reduce number of employees * Reduce wastage of materials * Conserve energy If a firm decides to get rid of employees it has to be careful not to get rid of staff who might be needed in the future or even be hired by a rival company. It is also important to keep the standard of quality high, if you choose to go to a low cost supplier you might lower your standard of quality and customers might go to a rival store. Survival * In this economic climate the main aim of a business may be to survive. They may have to drop prices drastically and cut costs. Breakeven * All businesses must at the very least cover all their costs in the short term * Their revenue must cover their fixed and variable costs * Fixed costs are those unaffected by sales; e.g. rent, rates, insurance etc. * Breakeven can be measured using a graph, chart or formula Growth * In order to become a market leader a firm has to grow * Growth can be internal or external * There are three ways to measure growth; profit, sales, and market share Private Sector Objectives > Maximising profits – may benefit shareholders and managers but at the expense of employees, customers and suppliers if the business decides to increase prices and/or reduce costs. > Maximising Sales – to maximise sales a business may have to reduce prices, increase quality, or even introduce a new product. Public/Voluntary Sector Businesses in these sectors usualy serve the public in some way. Their aim is to help people. They may have different objectives than a private sector business as a business in the public/voluntary sector does not aim to make a profit. For example a charity may want to increase the amount of aid it gives to a third world country. So they will try to raise more money to be able to send things to them. This will benefit the people of the third world country, however the people that are giving the donations may then have to so without something else because they have gave their money to the charity. P3 Boots mission is to become the world’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty group. They seek to develop their core business of pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling across the world and become a significant player in many major international markets. Boots aims to; * Be the place for health and beauty customers. * Secure market leadership in the UK. * Build on their brands’ growing success internationally. * Create shareholder value by investing to become a more modern, efficient and competitive health and beauty retail business. Objectives Their strategy is underpinned by their continued focus on patient/customer needs and service. The key steps Boots are taking in the UK to execute their strategy are: * Making Boots more convenient and accessible for customers. They are re-branding over 1,000 outlets into â€Å"your local Boots pharmacy† and relocating more Boots stores/pharmacies to improved locations. * Improving customers’ in-store shopping experience by consistently providing best in class customer care and service. This being achieved by operating efficient walk-in prescription services staffed by friendly, knowledgeable and accessible pharmacists, and faster till service. * Creating a compelling multi-channel health and wellbeing consumer offering. Initiatives include making shopping at boots.com easier, expanding product ranges available on-line and rolling out their â€Å"order on-line collect-in-store† concept. * Continuing to provide customers with excellent value by providing trusted ranges of Boots branded products, executing strong promotional offers and rewarding customer loyalty with Boots Advantage Card points. The key steps Boots are taking in their International health and beauty markets to execute their strategy are: * Opening new stores in markets where Boots is already well established, including the Republic of Ireland, Norway and Thailand. * Selective franchising of the Boots pharmacy-led health and beauty retail proposition in areas such as the Middle East. Boots aims for Alliance Healthcare to be the world’s leading wholesaler and distributor of pharmaceutical products. To make this possible they have come up with a number of Objectives to make this possible, including; * Ensuring that they continue to deliver an excellent core service to all customers. By delivering prescription medicines to pharmacies at least twice a day on a just-in-time basis to meet patients’ needs. * Differentiating their product offering. They are achieving this through a series of initiatives which include the development of Almus, their exclusive range of generic medicines, and the extension of Alvita, their branded healthcare product range. * Entering new geographical markets where stable regulatory environments, large populations, growing healthcare expenditure, scope for wholesaler consolidation and the right management can be found, such as in Russia and China. Stakeholders Shareholders – an individual or company (including a corporation) that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a joint stock company. Shareholders would have particular interest in the aim ‘Secure market leadership in the UK’, because to secure Market Leadership in the UK would mean the company is expanding and making more capital. A Shareholder in any Business is mainly interested in the company making a profit so that their shares go up in value, therefore they get more money. Customers – someone who pays for goods or services. Customers would have a keen interest in the aim ‘Ensuring that they continue to deliver an excellent core service to all customers’. This is because when a customer goes into a shop they expect there to be great customer service, they are there spending their money on that companies goods so they expect the highest standard of customer service. Otherwise they would take their custom elsewhere. Suppliers- someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity. Suppliers would have a keen interest in the aim ‘Differentiating their product offering.’ This is because if Boots want to offer new products to their customers they will have to buy them off their suppliers. This means the Suppliers would be making more money. Making a profit is the Suppliers main aim. Boots order on-line collect in-store strategy would affect the following stakeholders; Customers – would be winners, as it makes shopping more convient for them. They can shop 24/7 and they don’t even have to leave their own homes. Shareholders – would be winners because when shopping is more convienent for customers sales will go up therefore shareholders will make more profit. Older Customers – would be losers, because some older people may not own a computer or even know how to use one. So it would not make shopping more convienent for them at all. Boots strategy of Differentiating their product offering would affect the following stakeholder; Customers – would be winners as they would have a wider and better range of products to choose from. Suppliers – would benefit as they would make more money because boots are buying more of their products. The Environment – may suffer though. Because new products have to be devloped and tested, some may harm the environment. Boots Strategy of Opening new stores in markets where Boots is already well established would affect the following stakeholders; Shareholders – would be winners because if new stores were opened they they would gain more service and customers and therefore make more money. Suppliers – would be winners as they would be gettingg more business as they would have to supply for the new stores. Customers – would be winners and losers. The customers that are getting the new shops in their area would be winners but customers that live in more isolated areas and will not benfit as they would not be able to use the store. Oxfam International is an international group of independent non-governmental organizations dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world. The Oxfams work together internationally to achieve greater impact by their collective efforts. Oxfam Aims to: * To Aid third world countries in any way they can * To relieve poverty, distress and suffering * To educate people about the nature, causes and effects of poverty * To campaign for a fairer world * To work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering. * Help people to help themselves, supporting local organisations in poor parts of the world. * Campaign for national and international policy changes that will help the world’s poor. Though Oxfam’s initial concern was the provision of food to relieve famine, over the years Oxfam has developed strategies to combat the causes of famine. In addition to food and medicine Oxfam also provides tools to enable people to become self-supporting and opens markets of international trade where crafts and produce from poorer regions of the world can be sold at a fair price to benefit the producer. Oxfam’s program has three main points of focus: * development work, which tries to lift communities out of poverty with long-term, sustainable solutions based on their needs; * humanitarian work, assisting those immediately affected by conflict and natural disasters (which often leads in to longer-term development work), especially in the field of water and sanitation; * lobbying, advocacy and popular campaigning, trying to affect policy decisions on the causes of conflict at local, national, and international levels. Oxfam works on; * trade justice, * fair trade, * education, * debt and aid, * livelihoods, * health, * HIV/AIDS, * gender equality, * conflict (campaigning for an international arms trade treaty) and natural disasters, * democracy and human rights, * climate change Another of Oxfams Aims is to ensure Women have the same rights as men. Project aims During 2007-8, people from 30 remote districts of Nepal will participate in Oxfams WE CAN campaign. The campaign is based around volunteer Change Makers: men and women who pledge to change their own attitudes and practices and to spread the message that women deserve equal respect and rights in society. Change Makers tell others that violence against women is not socially acceptable. WE CAN’s long-term aim is to challenge and change attitudes. In order to generate support for their campaign and to recruit male and female Change Makers in Nepal, members of local organisations will arrange 60 community-based events and one national event in 2007/08. By the end of the year, 35,000 new Change Makers will be active in Nepal. And because each Change Maker pledges to influence at least ten people, more than 350,000 people in Nepal will have heard the WE CAN message. The aim is to recruit five million Change Makers across South Asia by 2011. Another of Oxfams Aims is to Improve Health Care in Rural Georgia. This project will ensure that 50,000 people in the isolated and impoverished regions of Ajara and Samegrelo can receive local, affordable health care. Project aims The aim of the project is to improve the health of people in Georgia. It will: * Implement community-based health care schemes * Improve health awareness and practice among the wider communities * Help people to know and demand their patient rights and state health benefits * Influence the government to fulfil its commitment to provide basic health services nationwide . Another part of the Oxfam group is Oxfam International Youth Partnerships. Their Mission The Oxfam International Youth Parliament (Oxfam IYP) is an initiative of Oxfam International, managed by Oxfam Community Aid Abroad. IYP mobilises a global network of young leaders and activists to bring about positive and sustainable change. It does this through supporting youth led initiatives, facilitating skills and capacity building programs and supporting young people to advocate for their rights and freedoms and those of their communities. Aims Oxfam IYP encourages and supports young people as leaders in developing positive, sustainable, innovative and community oriented change initiatives. IYP aims to support youth led initiatives that will make a significant contribution to: * An increase in the number of people who have a sustainable livelihood. * An increase in the number of people who have access to social services. * an increase in the number of people who have an effective voice in decisions that affect their lives. * An increase in the number of people who are live free from fear and discrimination, especially those who are currently oppressed or marginalized due to their gender, ethnicity, Indigenous status or cultural identity. * An increase in the number of people who are safe from conflict and disaster. Objectives To achieve these ends IYP has the following objectives: Support youth led initiatives: To support Action Partners in the development, implementation and evaluation of social change initiatives (individual and collective action plans) through the provision of strategic and financial support. Skills development and capacity building To increase the effectiveness of Action Partners as social change leaders through further developing skills and knowledge necessary for implementing positive and sustainable change. Networking and Alliance Building To encourage and support action partners to exchange information and learning, build alliances and partnerships amongst themselves and with others to support their work for change. IYP Sittings To inspire, empower and grow the next generation of young leaders and activists. IYP sittings are international meetings between action partners that are convened every 2-3 years. Through IYP sittings action partners build skills, networks and develop social change initiatives. IYP sittings launch a cycle of activity and programs to be implemented over the next two years. Research and information exchange To establish a significant exchange of learning, information and research relating to the issues that face young people and the actions they have taken for the positive and sustainable change locally, nationally and globally. Youth Participation To actively promote the right of young men and women to meaningful participation in the decision making processes that affect their lives. IYP empowers Action Partners to participate in policy development and decision making at all levels. Oxfam International To facilitate and enhance the work of Oxfam International and its affiliates with young people around the globe. M1 Stakeholders A key Stakeholder in Oxfam would be The Third World Countries that it helps. They are probably the most important stakeholder as their lives often depend on the goodwill and charity Oxfam provides for them. Third World countries would have an interest in all of Oxfams aims, ‘To relieve poverty, distress and suffering’, ‘To campaign for a fairer world’, etc. Another Stakeholder would be the Employees (Volunteers). Oxfam employees do not get a Salary; they work for free (volunteer). This means they will have a keen interest in helping the business provide aid for third world countries. So they will have particular interest in aims such as ‘to recruit five million Change Makers across South Asia by 2011’. The Government would also have a keen interest in the aims of Oxfam. They would in particular be interested in the aim to ‘stop conflict (campaigning for an international arms trade treaty). They would be interested in this as international arms would be very important to the Government.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Symptoms And Treatment Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries

Introduction Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are amongst the most common injuries affecting approximately 42 million individuals annually (Gardner Yaffe, 2015). This incidence rate is inaccurate as many mTBI are not reported (Gardner Yaffe, 2015). Such injuries are thought to increase susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (Gardner Yaffe, 2015). AD accounts for up to 80% of all senile dementia and is characterized by cognitive deficits that progressively manifest into severe cognitive and behavioral impairment (Elder et al., 2010). Such symptoms are causally associated with amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles†¦show more content†¦A cohort of mice underwent a second mTBI after 24 hours. Mice from both WT and Tg groups were assessed 2 days, 9 weeks, and 16 weeks after mTBI treatment. Primarily, HE stain was employed along with Gomori’s iron stain to localize site and severity of mTBI injury. The degree of A deposition in the somatosensory cortex (SSC), the perihippocampal cortex (PHC), and the hippocampus (HP) of both hemispheres was determined by 4G8 immunostaining. In addition, GFAP staining was used to quantify the population of astrocytes at the site of the injury. Furthermore, Sandwich ELISA was utilized in mice groups 16 weeks after injury to measure A40 and A42 peptide levels in various brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and the cerebellum. Such tissues were also analyzed for isoprostane levels that are produced by lipid peroxidation. Isoprostanes were also detected in urine samples at various survival periods. Moreover, mice underwent Morison water maze (MWM) and composite neuroscore (NS) tests at 16 weeks’ post-injury to examine cognitive and motor functions respectively. Uryu and collegues found a significant increase in iron deposits and reactive astrocytes in the repetitive mTBI postmortem sections of Tg mice, when compared to other groups at 16 weeks after the injury. This was not the case in WT mice. Similarly, there was a significant increase in the A burden within select brain regions (i.e. SSC, PHC, HP) of single and