Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 41

Case Study - Essay Example The company’s four strategies – availability, affordability, acceptability, and activation – provide manufacturing flexibility that allows the broadening of the product portfolio while pursuing the most cost effective route to market for order taking and delivery to customers. Information technology is one of the key drivers to an efficient supply chain management. In 2005, the CCHBC invested heavily in technology applications by introducing a single largest and the most successful roll-out of SAP–based Advanced Planning Optimizer (APO). This has enabled CCHBC to optimize and coordinate operations within its whole network and across borders by consolidating the best practices on a single, standard enterprise platform. This platform facilitates alignment of supply chain and demand planning, which is effective for efficient sales and operation planning. Information technology has led to the creation of cost saving opportunities and leadership in the field of fast-selling goods. CCHBC can bring about integration in the supply chain by outsourcing some of its operations internally and externally. Internally, the company can outsource goods or services within its supply network. The company should be keen on the decision which goods or services it seeks to outsource for effective integration. In the process of business outsourcing, the company should seek to regulate the period of outsource because this can lead to the loss of in-house expertise. Externally, the company can seek to outsource globally. Most organizations seek this kind of business outsourcing because of the low costs and skills available internationally. Global outsourcing enables the purchasers to tap into technological expertise that may not be available in their native countries. It also creates a global process network amongst its suppliers, which, in turn, creates a pool of promising synergies to increase their

Water Quality and Environmental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Water Quality and Environmental Health - Essay Example Water is also vital as a habitat for both freshwater and marine plants and animals (Vale, 2006). Pollution of the surface water is one of the global concerns. While in many less industrialized parts of the world, diseases from inadequate water supply and water contamination are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, in United States the concerns towards this precious natural resource is quite different. There are more than 53,000 community water systems providing water to the public in the United States. Public water suppliers process 38 billion gallons of water per day for domestic and public use. Approximately 1.8 million miles of distribution mains carry water in the United States and Canada. About 800,000 water wells are drilled each year in the United States for domestic, farming, commercial, and water testing purposes. Typically, households consume approximately 30% of their water for outdoor use, such as watering the lawn. Inside, toilets use the most water, with an average of 27 gallons per person per day (AWWA, 2006). The availability of freshwater to meet the demands of a growing and increasingly affluent population while sustaining a healthy natural environment is based on several factors such as availability of good quality water, the high costs of developing additional surface-water supplies, the importance of reliable supplies of high-quality water for human and environmental health and economic development; and the shortcomings of institutions for allocating scarce supplies in response to changing supply and demand conditions (Frederick, 1995). The differences between developed and developing countries are many, but few have greater impact on human welfare than the availability of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Water- related diseases and illnesses exact devastating impacts on mortality and morbidity; prospects for economic development are also decreased by the diminished health

Mark Antony Essay Example for Free

Mark Antony Essay In Act III Scene 13, Antony receives the news that Cleopatras request has been granted, and his ignored. He sends an ambassador to propose a duel between himself and Caesar. Then Caesars ambassador comes in, and as he is kissing Cleopatras hand, Antony walks in. He orders for the ambassador, Thidias, to be whipped, inviting Caesar to do the same to his own ambassador. He then shouts angrily at Cleopatra; not only because of Thidias, but also because she was the reason he left the naval battle. After Cleopatra has satisfied Antony with her responses. He then resolves to fight Caesar, and behaves as he did in Julius Caesar, a brave warrior; Shakespeare here shows that Antony has returned to his former self, or at least a close approximation to the attitude displayed in Julius Caesar. In the opening of the scene, Shakespeare presents Antony in a very negative light; Enobarbus says that Antonys captainship, his competence as a captain, has been nicked by his infatuation with Cleopatra: The itch of his affection should not then/ Have nicked his captainship. Shakespeares word choice makes this a particularly demeaning comment; the fact that Antonys love for Cleopatra is reduced to an itch here shows that Enobarbus clearly does not think very highly of Antonys affection, as it is a very diminuting adjective. Also, it is clear that Enobarbus disapproves of Antonys priorities, as he speaks with conviction against it; he uses a model verb to voice his opinion; should not then. This is indicative of just how strongly Enobarbus feels about Antonys pursuit of Cleopatra. The way that Enobarbus brings up the idea that affection nicked his [Antonys] captainship presents Antony as a character who is far from level-headed; to lose captainship at such a vital time would have been unthinkable in Roman times, with honour and valour being key traits; it was seen as a sign of nobility for one, rather than retreat or be captured, to commit suicide, fall on his sword. A sword duel is the first thing Antony wishes to propose to Caesar, which presents him in a different light. On the one hand, it can be seen as a brave and noble thing to do. However, it is unrealistic to expect Caesar to accept, and is a very foolhardy, unprofessional stance to take. Antony says he wants Caesar to answer him sword against sword,/ Ourselves [themselves] alone, which seems more of a dramatic gesture than a genuine battle tactic. Shakespeare may here have wanted to present Antony as a desperate, irrational character at this point; in context, this seems to bewhat Antony is doing, and the speed with which he resolves to offer a dual shows that he hasnt considered it at all; it appears he wants to think and act fast just for the sake of it, rather than making precise tactical decisions. Therefore, it becomes clear that Shakespeare is presenting Antony as a foolhardy character; although one may take the view that this promise of action is better than no action at all, this is ultimately what it amounts to anyway; Antony should know full well that Caesar, who is not a front-line soldier, would never agree to such a proposal. Enobarbus, who throughout this scene is pessimistic about Antonys actions, is used by Shakespeare to present the negative side of Antony. This provides the audience with several opinions, allowing them to ultimately decide whether or not Antony is being completely imprudent, or merely headstrong. When Enobarbus says Caesar, the hast subdued/ His judgement too, he is presenting Antonys proposal as the brash, unrealistic action it really is. The word subdued shows that Enobarbus believes that Caesars action have constrained Antony, and got him completely under wraps. Also, the way Shakespeare chooses the word too shows that Enobarbus believes that Caesar already has Antony subdued politically or militarily. This negative outlook presents Antonys political and military situation as a dire one.

Problem of Protein Energy Malnutrition in Weaning Infants

Problem of Protein Energy Malnutrition in Weaning Infants This paper will examine the protein energy malnutrition problem amongst weaning children in Niger. By using secondary sources and by looking into precedent practices by different organizations to improve the situation, it will finally conclude with health promotion nutrition intervention plan which will include a collaboration and partnership with stakeholders who will as well have a great impact on the populations health determinants. For this project we will take the role of three nutritionists hired by Mà ©decins sans frontiers (MSF) to establish a best practice and protocol standardized health system in line with the solution of treatment. Firstly this paper will provide a background on the country and the subject of protein-energy malnutrition within different regions. Different existing intervention programs will be presented together with a personal health promotion intervention plan. This will be followed by the determinants that will mainly influence the program and its objectives. Secondly the strategies and practices of the intervention plan will be explained in depth. Thirdly, this project will present to collaboration and partnerships with different stakeholders in order to finally indicate how this programs is creating community capacity. Background context: Niger: Niger, or officially named the Republic of Niger, is located in Western Africa covering a surface of 1.270.000 km2 of which 80% consists of Sahara. Neighbouring countries are Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Algeria, Libya and Chad. Being landlocked it is one of the hottest countries of the world. Fifteen million people live in Niger of which only 5% in the capital Niamsey. The population density is only of 12.1/km2. The population is characterized by its fast growth rate (3rd rank worldwide) and has the number one highest birth rate and fertility rate of 7.2 births per woman which means that 49% of the Nigerien population is under the age of 15. Known also to be one the poorest countries in the world; Nigers economy has mainly been undercut by the drought cycles, desertification and the strong population growth (Niger, 2010). Protein-energy under nutrition: Protein -energy undernutrition (PEU), previously called protein-energy malnutrition is an energy deficit due to chronic deficiency of all macronutrients (which are proteins, fats and carbohydrates). In developed countries, PEU is common among the institutionalized elderly or among patients with decreased appetite. In underdeveloped countries protein malnutrition occurs because of the local diet with protein poor cereal products (Morley, 2007). The classification is determined by calculating weight as a percentage of expected weight per height using international standards. (Normal: 90-110%; mild PEU: 85-90%; moderate: 75-85%; severe: Pathophysiologically, the initial response to PEU is decreases metabolic rate. To supply energy, the body first breaks down adipose tissue or body fat. When these tissues are used up, the body may use protein for energy; visceral organs and muscle are broken down and decrease in weight. Loss in organ weight is the greatest in liver and intestine, intermediate in the heart and kidneys and least in the nervous system (Morley, 2007). Total starvation however can be fatal in eight to twelve weeks thus certain symptoms of PEU do not even have time to develop. Patients with protein-energy undernutrition often also have deficiencies of vitamins, essential fatty acids and micro nutrients which contribute to their dermatosis (skin disease) (Scheinfeld, 2010). Worldwide, the most common cause the malnutrition is inadequate food intake. Another very significant factor however is the ineffective weaning secondary to ignorance, poor hygiene, economic factors and cultural factors. The prognosis is even worse when PEU occurs with HIV infection (Niger, 2005). Protein-energy malnutrition in Niger: In Niger, the diet of most children is extremely monotonous, usually consisting of millet based porridge although the diet of older household members might be more diverse. This monotonous diet leads to nutrient deficiencies and consequently diseases such as Kwashiorkor and Marasmus develop. In 2005, a survey was conducted by MSF which stated that one child on five suffers from malnutrition. That year, the mortality rate of children under five exceeded the emergency threshold; 2 deaths per 10.000 children per day. Through the therapeutic feeding centres of MSF, the presence of doctors enabled to reduce the mortality rate to 6% that year. Care is also provided through 40 mobile nutritional care centres which allow children to be treated closer to home. Many are treated at home with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and come to the once a week for a check-up (focus on Niger, 2006).The concept of RUTF will be explained further later. Due to weather conditions, an annual hunger gap exists between April and September when family food stocks run out and hundreds of thousands of children have little access to the nutrients they need for a healthy development (IAR 2007, 2008). The World Health Organization recorded in the 43rd week of 2009 recorded 2253 cases of moderate malnutrition and 2938 cases of severe malnutrition and 5 deaths caused by malnutrition. On yearly bases for the year 2009, 157.125 cases and 384 deaths were recorded between January 1st 2009 and October 25th 2009. 41% of those patients were diagnosed with severe malnutrition and 23% with moderate malnutrition (Bulletin hebdomadaire, 2009.) The table in appendix 1 shows the distribution of the different malnutrition diagnoses on patients in the different regions in 2009, the graph on the other hand shows a comparison to the previous years 2006 to 2009. A general decrease is noticeable but sudden peaks and lows are present as well which can be explained by the weather conditions. As in 2005, due to poor rains and severe locust outbreak, Niger registered a record grain deficit of more than 223.000 tons (Niger, 2005). Nutrition survey data and information in Niger are not compiled and analyzed well according the United States Agency of international development. Most nutrition surveys are conducted on ad hoc basis to meet the needs of varying agency objectives. Currently a joint survey by the Government, UNICEF and the centres for disease control has been conducted regionally. One of the goals of the program will therefore also be to encourage the constant recordkeeping of patients and updating the information. Determinants: Most important determinants program intends to influence: In general, protein-energy malnutrition amongst weaning children depends on many aspects of which only a few are biological. The main determinant is that this occurrence is brought upon children in difficult socio-economic conditions, such as those in Niger. Most of these factors are related to poverty which may in turn reason dietary imbalances mainly through the incapability to provide a nutritionally balanced diet. The following determinants are the main factors that play a role in this health issue: Education: The work status of the mother and her literacy rate are key in the cause of child malnutrition. If a mother had a good work status and a better education, this would reduce the probability of the child to having a poor nutritional status. The low incomes, the lack of cultivation knowledge are what may cause an unbalanced diet. Therefore, improving a mother and future mothers education will have a significant impact on their childrens nutrition. Climate/Topology: Access to food: source to drinking water. Nigers hot, desert-dominated topology gives birth to few fruits, vegetables and legumes, and serves as grazing ground for a limited amount of livestock. Consequentially, the few grains and cereals yielded by Nigers turf epitomize the rural diet. However, such produce provides only a miniscule percentage of the nutritional intake necessary, leading to varying levels of starvation and malnutrition. Family Size/Second Child Syndrome. In Niger, statistics show that 75% of girls married before the age of 18 and that 34% of them before 15. According to a source, it can be said thatsome as young as ten. Each woman has on average 7.6 children and statistics further show that there is a 1-in-7 risk of dying during pregnancy or birth (Niger, 2010). Measurable indicators that can verify whether a child is malnourished. Before creating a program which proposes a health promotion plan to reduce protein-energy malnutrition amongst weaning children in Niger, it is important to look at the measurable points that can determine whether this malnutrition is the case or not. According to the pharmaceutical company Merck (Morley, 2007); to determine the severity of protein-energy under nutrition it is important to look at the following points: Body mass Index. Plasma albumin. Total lymphocyte count. CD4+ count. Serum transferring. In the table below, many of these points are mentioned and it can be determined whether the child has a normal, mild under nutrition, moderate under nutrition or severe under nutrition (Morley, 2007). A diagnosis of whether a child has a under nutrition of protein-energy, may be based on the past eating habits of the child. Physical examinations, such as the ones in the table below aid in confirming this diagnosis: The table above clearly shows which values one has to take into consideration when assessing the severity of protein-energy malnutrition. Further research has shown that there are other ways to identify malnutrition in a child. This method, used by the UNICEF looks at ways to identify if a child of more than six months is acutely malnourished (Chamois, 2009). First, oedema (swelling) needs to be checked. This is checked by putting your thumb on each foot of the child for three seconds. If the print of your finger creates a shallow hole, then it can be said that the child has oedema. Secondly, the left arm circumference should be measured with a specific kind of measuring device a bit like measuring tape. This left arm circumference can identify according to a colour code, whether the child is very malnourished, moderately malnourished or not malnourished. From both of these identifications, there are different solutions that should take place depending on the result. Put oedema/left arm circumference picture. Other tests, as written in the article Protein-Energy Malnutrition: Differential Diagnoses Workup (Scheinfeld Mokashi, 2010)may also include: Detailed dietary history. Growth measurements. A complete physical examination is indicated. Height-for-age or weight-for-height measurements. Skin biopsy and hair-pull analysis. In order to narrow down our research for the program, the three main measurable factors will be: BMI. Height/weight ratio. Left arm circumference. Other existing programs: Until recently, malnutrition treatment has been restricted to facility-based approaches which are often miles away from rural communities and less than 40% of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) recover from hospital treatment. By the late 90s, many researchers knew that RUTFs were key to meaningful SAM recovery rates. In 2000 clinical trials were conducted for RUTFs administered at home. In this study, a remarkable 80% of the treated children reached their 100% weight for height goal after 12 weeks. Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) are high-calorie, fortified peanut butter-like pastes. Peanuts contain mono-unsaturated fats, which are easy to digest and are rich in zinc and protein: both good for the immune system and protein as well for muscle development (Therapeutic food, 2010). Peanuts are a good source of vitamin E and a powerful antioxidant that helps to convert food into energy. RUTF are also very high in calories which means that a child will get a lot of energy from just small amounts. This is very important because their stomachs have considerably shrunk. A study by the American Medical Association published recently on January 21st 2009, proved the effect of preventive supplementation with Ready-To Use Therapeutic food on the nutritional status, mortality and morbidity of children aged 6 to 60 months. Six villages were randomly chosen for intervention and six to no intervention. The results showed significant changes in weight-for-height z-score according to the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards over the 8 month follow-up (appendix 3) (Isanaka; Nombela; Djibo etc., 2009). Plumpynut, one of the examples of Ready-to-use therapeutic food is as effective as therapeutic milk products. The product does not require any additional water, cooking, refrigeration or other preparation and because there is no water in it, its conservation is relatively easy. The high energy, high protein, peanut based paste fortified with mile and vitamins. Typically comes in foil wrappers or small plastic tubes which are practical for children to eat them. During the severe nutrition crisis in Niger in 2005, plumpynut helped saved thousands of lives. Since 2005, the Socià ©tà © de Transformation Alimentaire (STA) factory in Niamey has been producing the lifesaving food. It is the only plumpynut factory in West Africa and the production has grown about 40 tons per month. Last year only the product was used to treat more than 120.000 severely malnourished children and 63.000 moderately malnourished children, allowing them to return to a healthy weight in three to four weeks. The micro nutritional content of a plumpynut is described in appendix 2 (Dolan, n.d.). A standard plumpynut treatment goes for four weeks at a cost of 12 Euros. Currently World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Program and UNICEF guidelines only recommend RUTF for severely malnourished children. Running the combat against malnutrition in Niger since 2001 (Focus on Niger, 2006); Mà ©decins Sans Frontià ¨res has been dispensing packets of plumpynuts in 22 centres in Niger since May 2005. The region in which Plumpynut was applied had the highest malnutrition rate in Niger. The region now has the lowest malnutrition rate in the country. An article in Field Exchange magazine (Wilkinson Isanaka, 2009), outlines the results of a study which addresses one of the ongoing debates concerning the treatment of infants >6m which supplemental milk is the most appropriate to use in their treatment? (Wilkinson Isanaka, 2009). Unfortunately, infants of less than six months are not always treated for malnutrition and cannot access to treatment programs until they reached six months of age. Statistics show however, that in countries like Congo, Myanmar and Niger, more than 20% of all admissions to treatment protocols are of infants less than 6 months of age. As it is very important to consider infants of this age, the aim of the treatment taking place in this article was to encourage the production breast feeding. The study was to compare two different milk supplements with a sample size of 146 infants. Results showed that it is vital to identify malnourished infants as early as possible when they are 6 months or less as breastfeeding can significantly cause weight gain and a healthier life for the baby. The strength of this program is that it involves infants of a certain age that does not always have access to treatment programs. An action plan has been researched and is currently still in process by an UN system called the standing committee on Nutrition (UN System Standing Commitee on Nutrition, 2006-2010). One of the goals of this action plan was to reduce the proportion of underweight young children by half from 28% in 1990 to 14% in 2015. In 2010 however, statistics show, that there are still 27% of children that are underweight. The article states that hunger and malnutrition are caused by poverty and ignorance, and that they will improve if livelihoods (economic growth and incomes) and education services improve (UN System Standing Commitee on Nutrition, 2006-2010). This action plan aims to establishing a global UN system where UN agencies, ministerial sectors and development actors to find a consensus, a common vision and language on the causes of hunger and malnutrition. This would be reached by wide communication and partnership building. The strength of this program is that a common interagency monitoring and evaluation strategy for food and nutrition programs should be achieved in a minimum of 20 countries in Africa, 20 countries in Asia and Latin America and in 10 other regions. In another article named Nutrition: A foundation for development created by a worker at the UN, defines key elements that bring success to nutrition programs (Shrimpton, 2002). A growth chart, that was developed in the 1960s in Nigeria has influenced todays key element for a successful nutrition program. This key element is the use of an information system that shows people whether their nutrition situation is getting better or worse. Many malnourished children look normal to their parents as they get compared to other children of the district or community. The strength of this program is that by showing the parents and children what they really are supposed to look like at their size and age will bring awareness to their everyday lives. Objectives: This program is in accordance with the objectives and targets put out by the UN System Standing Committee on Nutrition in 2006, but on a local (rural area villages) level, rather than regional and country levels. The importance of inter-organizational relationships is emphasized to ensure that the program is successful. Funding will be primarily from existing organizations in the conflict areas. The Niger Food Diet Pyramid, pictured below, is in coherence with a combination of Nigers readily available resources and the specially formulated food and liquid supplements aims to provide a comprehensible guide to the whole population in an attempt to better educate the general population about nutritional needs. One serving size is conveniently defined as one handful, proportional to each individuals size. Number of portions is indicated with a hand signalling the number in fingers; time of consumption is portrayed by the sun path ending with a moon. The base of the pyramid is water, to be consumed at least seven times throughout the day, as portrayed by the complete sun path, primarily because of the extremely hot and dry climate and topography of the country. The second level is made up of grains, starches and legumes, such as millet, sorghum, cowpeas, potatoes and, in the better irrigated areas, rice. These are recommended to be consumed five times a day, also throughout the day. The reason this food group is not above fruits and vegetables like it is in most western countries is that they are much more available than the latter in Niger, as a direct result to the climate and topography, as well as the poor irrigation provided by Nigers faultily placed rivers. The third tier up is made up of the vegetables found in the country: cassava a root vegetable corn, onions and cardoon a leafy green vegetable. Also included in this section are dates, the indigenous fruit to the country, but only to be found in the wetter, oasis-type regions. Recommended intake is twice a day, once during the day and again in the evening. The fourth tier is shared with sugar, peanuts and dairy (milk and butter). For the better part of the country, all of these items are hard to find, expensive and thus rarely consumed. Despite the scarcity, however, their nutritional value is essential to the human body at least once daily, and it is for this reason that, on this same tier, the food and liquid protein and calcium supplements such as Plumpy Nuts and ProSource, as well as calcium supplements like powdered milk are also pictured. The final tier is made up of meats, ultimately encompassing all available livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses and poultry. The reason that no daily intake picture is present is that these animals are rare to find and are usually used for either for their milk/eggs or as a means of trade to access the other food groups. The goal is to have the pyramid posted at all mà ©decin s sans frontiers, UNICEF and WFP locations in Niger by the end of the current month. The short-term objective is to eliminate mortality of weaning infants in Niger. This program will be attempted by simultaneously training infants to breast feed and nursing poorly nourished mothers to health, for all mother-child patients that arrive at the existing MSF ambulatory and therapeutic feeding centers, in collaboration with UNICEF and WFP. On a case by case basis, this initiative should prove to be quite successful. If effectuated properly and supported by the local population, it should reduce infant mortality due to protein-energy, undernutrition-related causes significantly in its first year, and eradicate it completely by 2015. The long-term objective is to ultimately end undernutrition in Niger by targeting future mothers, primarily through education adapted to illiterate women with visual aids and hands-on workshops. This knowledge approach aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the human body and how to treat it. It would, in due course, allow the region to develop in a more healthy way, through a three workshop series on nutritional needs, sexual education and female empowerment to Nigers women, adapted for the 10-18 year old adolescent female population, to refocus from young adult and adult, post-malnutrition efforts, and go straight to the source. If the program is a success, family sizes should halve within 10 years, jointly reducing the number of undernutrition cases in the country. Additionally, this program thrives to initiate a womans movement that would allow a healthy development of rural communities. Strategies and activities: Only through the intake of necessary proteins and a reduction of overall malnutrition in both mother-to-be and child will the vicious cycle of poverty as it presents itself in Niger be broken (The World Bank, 1997). Despite MSFs attempts at teaching Nigers women about the importance of breast milk to an infant especially during the first 6 months of its life, allowing it to build up its immune system and avoid malnutrition all together many mothers are in such poor health that they resort to water (OneWorld, August 2009). Breast-feeding is not only fundamental for infant nutrition but also for reducing female fertility as it suppresses the responsible hormone and helps the post-birth uterus contraction, reducing future delivery complications (Figueroa, 2002). The short-term program, in line with Michael Goldens production line approach, will take place at the MSF ambulatory and therapeutic feeding centers already present in Niger and will be set up as follows (OneWorld, August 2009): Dehydrated mother and infant enter the center. Mother administered food and liquid to augment milk production. Infant sucks on tube delivering milk formula attached to mothers nipples, simultaneously teaching it to feed and stimulating milk production. When mother is restored to health and quantity/quality of milk is adequate, mother and infant leave the center and mother continues breast feeding for a recommended period of five months, her health closely monitored. Weekly check-ups and a continuous supply of necessary food and liquid are provided. Essential to the development and sustainability of the state is the eviction of malnutrition among the population, especially concerning the younger generation. This long-term program focuses on providing the necessary steps to improve pre-pregnant adolescent girls nutritional status thus allowing a future fetus to develop into a healthy human being in addition to a more concrete understanding of sex and female empowerment. It will be taught in a series of three workshops. Michael Goldens protocol, as demonstrated in his work in Ethiopia, appears to be aimed at the treatment of as many cases of malnutrition as quickly as possible. It is based on the efficiency of an industrial production line. Goldens five steps to ridding the World of Malnutrition (UNICEF, August 2003) can be described as an industrial revolution for the malnourished child. It does not focus on long-term improvement of the situation and cycles provoking such malnourishment but it does allow for immediate results. Thus, other programs and organizations can step in on a more long-term basis to provide education and actual diet balance. This is where the distinction for this long-term program needs to be made as it will serve as a second step in rural areas that are already receiving food and malnutrition aid through other domains, whether it is from the short-term program provided by this organization, or that of another. As much as education is essential to the elimination of malnutrition, food and sex are more important according to Maslows hierarchy of needs, see Figure below. The latter is situated at the bottom tier, namely Biological and Psychological Needs, whereas the former is categorized under Cognitive Needs, four tiers up. A balanced diet does not particularly concern a human being without food; he or she would rather just have food to begin with. Once they are less hungry, and have regained a bit of hope, they can be sat down and talked through the Niger-adapted food pyramid that has been constructed solely with pictures to provide a complete, visual outlook of what proper nutrition requires. Sexual education in Niger will pose as another difficult challenge, especially when the focus is on individuals in rural areas. Not only are the vast majority of women illiterate, but approximately 90% (Buckens, 2009) of the countrys population is Muslim. Hence, a visual method needs to be used to teach sexual education without offending the local population. Firstly, medical professionals, either doctors or nurses, will always be responsible for providing the classes. Studies have shown that they are among the most trusted and that their presence would allow a bit more flexibility in what can and cannot be shown. Secondly, visual aids must be clearly understood without having to provide graphic sexual images. The program needs to refrain from comparing human sex to reproduction in animals as this may also pose as an offence. Thirdly, the program will be segregated for men and women, to allow a more comfortable, gender-specific approach. No woman will be forced to participate; howeve r, they will be given the incentive to, as complimentary food and liquid nutritional supplements will be part of its foundation. Partnership development: In order to achieve or short term and long term objectives to reduce protein-energy malnutrition amongst weaning children in Niger, one has to consider the development of a partnership to maintain positive results. As nutritionists working for Mà ©decins sans Frontià ¨res, our goal with this program is to continue generating positive outcomes. Many international organizations such as UNICEF, UN agencies, World Food programme, together with MSF have been collaborating closely with the government of Niger and non-governmental partners on the ground. The existence and execution of the proposed program cannot be realized without the cooperation of different organizations and thus only excellent relationship between them can guaranty the success of the program. Therapeutic feeding centres in Niger provide nutritional and medical treatment for children between the age of six months and five years suffering from severe malnutrition. The five feeding centres in Niger are in Maradi, Dakoro, Keita, Tahoua and Aguie (MSFS response, 2005). In July 2005, international aid agencies prepared to distribute supplementary food rations at the therapeutic feeding centre in Maradi. Fearing that nobody would show up, the aid workers spread the word in the nearby villages. The modicum of mobilization led to a near riot as hundreds of women crowded in desperate to obtain food (Tectonidis, 2006). Such a scene points out to which extent the problem of malnutrition is present amongst the population. During the crisis year 2005, when nutritional emergency was caused by drought and an infestation of locust in the previous year, malnourished children began pouring into the therapeutic feeding of MSF. Until then, malnourished children were routinely hospitalized in therapeutic feeding centres but because of the substantial resources required, it has been impossible to open sufficient number of beds during emergency periods (the yearly hunger gaps)(Tectodinis, 2006). Today with the presence of ready-to-use therapeutic food such as Plumpynut, more severe cases can be accepted at the centre while the moderate cases will be send home with solid therapeutic food and will come back weekly for check-up but without having to be hospitalized. Most children treated in a stabilization unit do survive but are soon discharged to an outpatient program (Tectodinis, 2006). The TFCs will also help teach parents about proper nutrition until they gain respite from poverty (Bamford, 2008). In a study comparing therapeutic feeding centres and ambulatory care centres by the department of Health services at the University of Washington, the authors concluded the ambulatory rehabilitation to be more cost-effective (Chapko, Prual, Gamatià © etc; 1994). Mà ©decins sans frontiers. MSF is an international humanitarian aid organisation which has been setting up emergency medical aid mission to populations in danger in more than 70 countries around the word since 1971. Where health structures are insufficient, MSF collaborates with other organizations and local authorities. MSF works in rehabilitation of hospitals, dispensaries, vaccination programmes and water and sanitation projects. MSF seeks also to raise awareness of crisis situations and to address any violations of basic human rights (about MSF, 2005). In 2005, Niger represents one of the largest malnutrition-treatment programs in Mà ©decins sans frontiers history: a capacity of treating 20.000 severely nourished children per year, five therapeutic feeding centres and 25 ambulatory centres, representing a budget of around â‚ ¬10 million. UNICEF: Unicef, the united nations childrens fund, is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized. UNICEF, present in 190 countries, believes that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress and was created to overcome obstacles of poverty, violence, disease and discrimination on a childs path. Upholding the Convention on the Rights of the child and as part of the Global Movement for Children, UNICEF strives for peace and security and work to hold everyone accountable to promises made for children (who we are, 2008). UNICEF Niger is assisting most

Bongo.. Always American Made - Analysis Of Bongo Jeans Ad :: essays research papers

BONGO.. Always American Made - Analysis of Bongo Jeans Ad This ad for Bongo jeans is from the April issue of Seventeen magazine. The ad gives no written description of the product. Only symbols and hidden messages are used to draw in the reader and stir up interest in the product. There is an attractive young couple engaged in what appears to be a strip-poker game. The man is obviously losing. He is apparently nude behind a card table, wearing only his shoes, with his jeans draped over him. His briefs are on the floor under the table, reinforcing the fact that he is nude. He has a look of disbelief on his face, but at the same time, he looks happy and content. It is almost as if he is thinking, "Oh no, now I am nude. What will I do now?". The young lady has obviously not lost a single hand. She is fully clothed and seems to be in total control of the game and her life. This makes sense since the magazine the ad appears in is geared towards teenage girls. She sits in a somewhat sensual pose, leaning forward, with a look of confidence and achievement on her face. She obviously knows that her hand is a winner, and that her companion will soon be without even his shoes. On the table are two glasses of milk. This is one of the most powerful images in the ad. I believe they are there to counteract the sexual overtones and idea of risk-taking in the ad. Milk is included as if to say, "Even though these two young people are probably going to have sex when the game is finished, they are wholesome, good people." Milk works much better than using soft drinks, for example. If the makers of the ad had used cola for instance, the reader could not have really known if the liquid in the glasses was cola, dark beer, or liquor. By using milk, the people who produced the ad made certain that the reader could make no mistake about what the glasses contain. Surrounding the border of the ad are playing cards. I believe they represent the idea of gambling and a "Devil may care" attitude. The cards convey to the reader that its all right to gamble and take chances. They seem to say, "If you wear our jeans, you can take chances and still be in control." Teen age girls are looking for this type of message, so this ad is very effective in relaying this thought.

Role of Mutated Gene in the Evolution of Large Brained, Small-Jawed Hum

Role of Mutated Gene in the Evolution of Large Brained, Small-Jawed Humans The debate with-in the anthropology field has been heated over the evolution of the human and the events that have lead us to where we are now. One of the major questions that is debated is how did we, humans-large brained and small jawed, evolve from primates-large jawed and small brained. Interestingly enough, this debate is now being directed from outside the field; by biologists and plastic surgeons. On march 25, 2004, Doctors Stedman (and others) published their findings in Nature (VOL 428) under the title Myosin gene mutation correlates with anatomical changes in the human lineage. Their findings point to the gene myosin and its mutated form MYH16 and that the mutation that toke place some 2.4 million years ago as a major step in the development of a larger brain that we now as humans have. In this paper I aim to outline what they have discovered and point out some of the controversy surrounding the findings. It is not my goal to understand how the gene functions, but to rely on accepted judges conclusions that the gene is mutated but I will explain what this can say about the formation of bone structure. What the researchers found centers on the MYH16 mutation and the original myosin gene, a protein that builds strong muscular jaws. Myosin is a protein that works with other proteins to contract muscles, more importantly jaw muscles. The mutation of myosin, MYH16, causes a weaker bite. In their experiments they looked at macaque monkey and human genes to determine how this mutation worked. They found that the gene myosin only worked in the muscles of the head used for chewing and biting. The difference between the two subjects was... ...ary Source: Stedman, Hansell, et. al. Myosin Gene Mutation Correlates with Anatomical Changes in the Human Lineage. Nature, Vol 428, March 28, 2004. The Nature Publishing Group. www.nature.com/nature Secondary Sources: Associated Press. Gene Mutation Said Linked to Evolution. http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/ap20040324_1105.html Hopkin, Michael. Jaw-Dropping Theory of Human Evolution. http://www.nature.com/nsu/040322/040322-9.html Kreeger, Karen. Myosin Mutant Points to Human Origins. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-03/uopm-mmp032204.php Ananthaswamy, Anil. Early Humans Swapped Bite for Brain. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994817 Reuters. Scientists: Humans traded jaw strength for big brains. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/03/24/science.brains.reut/index.html

Algorithm: Flowchart and Trailer Record

Student Name Syed Haseeb Hashmi Registration # FA11-BCS-075 Course Title Design and Analysis of Algorithm Assignment # 1 Submitted To Sir Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui Due Date 19-03-2013 For Odd Role Number Group Q1. How does a flowchart help a programmer in a program development? Ans. Flowcharts provide the visual representation of a concept and make it clear. A flow chart serves as a blueprint of the program. Flowcharts helps a programmer organize his/her thoughts in a logical order and their presentation.Program development without graphics may be less effective. In big projects it gets difficult to keep things together. Flowcharts provide flexibility, so that you can make changes and restructure the project as you move further and, according to requirement. Flowcharts act as a guide during the analysis and program development phase. Moreover they are also helpful in debugging process. Q2. Draw a flowchart of the logical steps needed to produce a printed listing of all students over the age of 20 in a class. The input records contain the name and age of the students.Assume a sentinel value of 99 for the age field of the trailer record. Sol. Q3. The first 20 records in a data set are to be read and printed. Draw a flowchart for the algorithm to do this job. Make sure that the processing stops after the twentieth record. Sol. Q4. For the employees problem of Question 40 ( even group Q3), we want to count and print the number of only male employees in the age group of 25 to 30. Assume that the input records contain SexCode and Age fields to provide this information. Draw a flowchart for the algorithm to perform this job. Sol. Q5.A set of examination papers, which have been graded with scores form 0 to 100 is to be searched to find how many of them are above 90. The total has to be printed. Prepare a flowchart to do this job. Assume a suitable sentinel value for the trailer record. Sol. Q6. A shopkeeper wants to have a general program for his personal computer, which will prepare bills for each customer as and when he sells goods to them. His idea is that as soon as the customer purchases some goods from his shop, he will supply the description, unit price, and the quantity purchased for each item. s input to the computer. He wants that with this information, the computer should print each item along with its unit price, quantity purchased and the total price. Finally the computer should also print the total cost of all the items purchased by the customer. Assuming a sentinel value of zero for the quantity purchased field in the trailer record, draw a flowchart for the logic to do this job. Q7. Each employee pay record includes the hours worked and the pay rate. The gross pay is to be determined as hours worked times pay rate, and is to be printed for each employee.For all hours worked in excess of 40, the overtime rate, which is 1. 5 times the regular rate, is to be paid. Draw a flowchart for the problem logic to do this. Assume a suitable sent inel value for any of the input fields of the trailer record. Q8. The data file of Question 48 (even group Q7) is expanded to include several sets of data, each requiring calculation of its average. Each data set is followed by a trailer record with a value of -1; however the last data is followed by a trailer record with a value of -2.Draw a flowchart for the logic to perform this task. Solution. Q9. Draw a flow chart to add up all the even numbers between 0 and 100. Before ending, print the result of calculation. Solution. Q10. Draw a flowchart for the logic to find out whether a given triangle ABC is a right angled triangle. Assume that the sides are supplied as input and data. Print the answer as yes or no. Solution. Q11. Draw a flowchart for the logic to convert a number from base 10 to new base using division remainder technique. Solution. Question #2 ) Determine which characteristics of an algorithm the following procedures have and which they lack. Procedure 1 double(n:posit ive integer)// The purpose of this procedure is to double a positive integer while n > =0 do n 2n| Procedure 2 choose(a, b: integers)// The purpose of this procedure is to choose a number from two positive numbers x either a or b| Procedure 3 sum(n:positive integer)// The purpose of this procedure is to find the sum of first 9 digits. sum = 0while i < 10 do sum sum + i| 1.Procedure 4 divide(n:positive integer) // The purpose of this procedure is to find the reciprocal of a positive integer n till 1. while n>= 0 do m 1/n n n-1| Solution Procedure| Input| Output| Precision| Finiteness| Definiteness| Correctness| Generality| 1| NO| NO| YES| YES| NO| YES| YES| 2| NO | YES| NO| NO| YES| YES| NO| 3| YES| YES| YES| YES| YES| NO| YES| 4| NO| YES| NO| NO| YES| YES| NO| b) Modify above procedure so that they satisfies all the properties Procedure 1: if n >= 0 n 2n Procedure 2: if a>0 && b>0 either a or b Procedure 3: i 0 sum 0 while i < 10 do sum sum + i i++ Procedure 4: While n > 0 do m 1/n n n – 1 Question # 3 a) Find gcd(31415, 14142) by applying Euclid’s algorithm. Sol. gcd(31415%14142) gcd(14142%3131) gcd(3131%1618) gcd(1618%1513) gcd(1513%105) gcd(105%43) gcd(43%19) gcd(19%5) gcd(5%4) gcd(4%1) gcd(1%0) = 1 Answer. b) Estimate how many times faster it will be to find gcd(31415, 14142) by Euclid’s algorithm compared with the algorithm based on checking consecutive integers from min{m, n} down to gcd(m, n). Ans.The algorithm for finding gcd based on checking consecutive integers will take 14142 steps, whereas the Euclid’s algorithm took just 11 steps. So, 14142/11 we get 1285. We can say that Euclid’s algorithm is 1285 time faster. Question #4 What does Euclid’s algorithm do for a pair of numbers in which the first number is smaller than the second one? What is the largest number of times this can happen during the algorithm’s execution on such an input? Ans. According to Euclid’s algorithm if the first number i s smaller the second one then we have to swap the both values.We will have to swap only once. Question # 5 a) What is the smallest number of divisions made by Euclid’s algorithm among all inputs 1 ? m, n ? 10? b) Ans. For any possible combination of inputs among 1 ? m, n ? 10, the smallest number of division made by Euclid’s algorithm is 1. c) What is the largest number of divisions made by Euclid’s algorithm among all inputs 1 ? m, n ? 10? d) Ans. For any possible combination of inputs among 1 ? m, n ? 10, the largest number of divisions made by Euclid’s algorithm is 5 for (5,8). Question # 6Euclid’s algorithm, as presented in Euclid’s treatise, uses subtractions rather than integer divisions. Write a pseudo code for this version of Euclid’s algorithm. Ans. If a0 X b2-4ac If X < 0 print ‘no real roots exits’ else X1 -b+sqrt(X)/2a X2 -b-sqrt(X)/2a Return X1 and X2.