Approach to Software Architecture Description Using UML

The 3+1 Approach to Software Architecture Description Using ML Revision 2. 2 Henries B ¦Arab Christensen, Anion Sorry, and Klaus Marcus Hansen Department of Computer Science, University of Argus Beograd 34, 8200 rush N, Denmark May 2011 Abstract This document presents a practical way of describing software architectures using the Unified Modeling Language. The approach is based on a â€Å"3+1† structure in which three viewpoints on the described system are used – module, component & connector, and allocation – are used to describe a solution for a set of architectural requirements.Introduction Software architecture represents an appropriate level of abstraction for many system development activities [Bass et al. , 2003]. Consequently and correspondingly, appropriate software architectural descriptions may support, e. G. , stakeholder communication, iterative and incremental architectural design, or evaluation of architectures [Bass et al. , 2003], [Clement et a l. , Bibb], [Clement et al. , AAA].This document represents a practical basis for architectural description and in doing so, we follow the IEEE recommended practice for architectural description of software-intensive systems [Software Engineering Standards Committee, 2000]. Central to this recommended practice is the concept of a viewpoint through which the software architecture of a system is described (see Figure 1). A concrete architectural description consists of a set of views corresponding to a chosen set of viewpoints. This document recommends the use of three viewpoints (in accordance with the recommendations of [Clement et al. AAA]): A Module viewpoint concerned with how functionality of the system maps to static development units, a Component & Connector viewpoint concerned with the runtime mapping of nationality to components of the architecture, and an Allocation viewpoint concerned with how software entities are mapped to environmental entities In addition to the views on the architecture, we recommend collecting architecturally significant requirements (see Section 2) in the architecture documentation.This corresponds to the mission of a system as described in [Software Engineering Standards Committee, 2000]. The views corresponding to these viewpoints are described using the Unified Modeling Language standard (ML; [OMG, 2003]). This reports provides examples of doing so. The ML has certain shortcomings in describing software architectures effectively , but is used here to strike a balance between precision/expressiveness and understandability of architectural descriptions. Figure 1 : Ontology of architectural descriptions 1. Structure The rest of this document is structured in two main sections: One introducing the â€Å"Architectural Requirements† section of the documentation (Section 2, page 3), and one introducing the â€Å"Architectural Description† section of the documentation (Section 2, page 3). These sections are introduced in general and a specific example of applying them to the documentation of a system is provided. The examples are created to describe a point-of-sale system (Next POS) for, e. G. , a supermarket point-of-sales. The example is inspired by the case study of Alarms [Alarms, 2002].The system supports the recording of sales and handling of payments for a generic store; it includes hardware components as a bar code scanner, a display, a register, a terminal in the inventory hall, etc. More details of the functionality of the system can be found in Section 2. 1 This is in particular connected to the central Component & Connector viewpoint [Clement et al. , AAA] 2 Architectural Requirements Two types of descriptions of architecturally significant requirements are appropriate: scenario-based and quality attribute-based requirements.The architecturally significant scenarios (or use cases) contain a subset of the overall scenarios providing the functional requirements for the system. These ca n possibly be augmented with requirements on performance, availability, reliability etc. Related to the scenarios. Moreover, â€Å"non-functional† scenarios, e. G. , describing modifiability of the system may be useful as a supplements . All requirements cannot be described as scenarios of system functionality, and we propose supplementing the scenarios with a set of the most critical quality attributes that the system should fulfill.Since quality attributes (such as modifiability and performance) are often in conflict, this needs to be a subset of all architectural quality attributes. The goal of describing architectural requirements is to enable the construction of a set of â€Å"test cases† against which deterrent architectural designs may be compared and/or evaluated. 2. 1 Example In the Next POS case, a scenario is a specific path through a use case. An example of such a scenario is: Process Sale: A customer arrives at a checkout with items to purchase. The cashie r uses the POS system to record each purchased item.The system presents a running total and line-item details. The customer enters payment information, which the system validates and records. The system updates inventory. The customer receives a receipt from the system and then leaves with the items. Critical architectural attributes for the Next POS system area : Availability. The system shall be highly available since the costiveness of sales depends on its availability Ђ Portability. The system shall be portable too range of deterrent platforms to support a product line of POS systems Usability.The system shall be usable by clerks with a minimum of training and with a high degree of e science 3 Architectural Description It is beneficial, when documenting software architecture, to apply deterrent viewpoints to the system. Otherwise the description of the system will be incomprehensible. 2 Architecturally significant scenarios are the basis of many architectural evaluation appr oaches [Clement et al. , Bibb] 3 Note that this choice of quality attributes excludes, e. G. Performance, scalability, security, safety, reliability, intolerability, and testability.Taken this into account, it is first important with a viewpoint which describes the functionality of the system in terms of how functionality is mapped into implementation. Secondly, it is important to describe how the functionality of the system maps to components and interaction among components. And thirdly, it is important to see how software components map onto the environment, in particular hardware structures. These three viewpoints are the module, component & connector, and allocation viewpoints respectively in concordance with [Clement et l. AAA]. The viewpoints used in the architectural description section are defined as proposed in [Software Engineering Standards Committee, 2000]: for each, we first have a section describing the concerns of this viewpoint, then a section describing the stakeho lders, then a section describing the elements and relations that can be used to describe views in this viewpoint, and finally an example of a view. 3. 1 3. 1. 1 Module Viewpoint Concerns This architectural viewpoint is concerned with how the functionality is mapped to the units of implementation.It visualizes the static view of the systems architecture by wowing the elements that comprise the system and their relationships. 3. 1. 2 Stakeholder Roles This viewpoint is important to architects and developers working on or with the system. 3. 1 . 3 Elements and Relations The elements are units of implementation including: Class: A class describing the properties of the objects that exist at runtime. Package: A logical division of classes in the system. This can refer to packages as we find them in Java or Just give a logical division between the classes of the system.Interface: A classification of the interface of the element that realizes it. It can refer to the interfaces found in e. G. Java or Just a description of an interface that a class can conform to. The relations describe constraints on the runtime relationships between elements: Association: Shows that there is a hard or weak aggregation relationship between the elements and can be used between classes. Generalization: Shows that there is a generalization relation between the elements and can be used between two classes or two interfaces. Realization: Shows that one element realizes the other and can be used from a class to the interface it implements. Dependency: Shows that there is a dependency between the elements and can be used between all the elements. 3. 1 . 4 Examples The module view of the POS system can be described using the class diagrams of JIMS, which can contain all the above mentioned elements and relations. It is possible to describe the system top-down by starting with the most top-level diagram. In figure 2 the overall packages of the system are shown.Figure 3 and figure 4 show furthe r decomposition of the Domain Model package and the Payments package in the Domain Model package. Figure 2: Package overview diagram for the POS system Dependencies among packages are also shown; these dependencies arise because of relationship among classes in deterrent packages. As an example, consider the association between figure 4 there is an association from classes in Payments to the Customer class of the Sales package. This relationship gives rise to a dependency from the Payments to Sales package as shown in figure 3.Figure 3: Decomposition of the Domain Model package of the POS system Typically, class diagrams such as figure 4 will suppress detail and also omit elements for clarity, since a major purpose of architectural description is come annunciation. In figure 4, e. G. , details of methods and attributes of classes have been suppressed and certain classes have been omitted. Figure 4: Decomposition of the Payments package of the POS system 3. 2 3. 2. 1 Component and Co nnectors (C&C) Viewpoint This viewpoint is concerned with the run-time functionality of the system?I. . What does the system do? This functionality lies as the heart of purpose of the system under development, thus this viewpoint is of course a very central viewpoint, and architectural design often starts from tit . In this viewpoint, software systems are received as consisting of components which are blackball units of functionality and connectors which are first-class representations of communication paths between components. Components embody functional behavior while control and communication aspects are defined by the connectors.Paraphrasing this, you can say that components define what parts of the system is responsible for doing while connectors define how components exchange control and data. It is important to describe properties of both components and connectors in the documentation. This is done using a combination of textual descriptions (listing susceptibilities for exa mple) with diagrams showing protocols, state transitions, threading and concurrency issues as seems relevant to the architecture at hand. 4 Hoverflies et al. Hoverflies et al. , 1999] defines a process where this viewpoint is the first to be considered and other viewpoints are derived and elaborated from it. 6 Figure 5: C&C overview of the POS system 3. 2. 2 This viewpoint is important to architects, developers, and may also serve to give an impression of the overall system runtime behavior to customers and end users. 3. 2. 3 The C&C viewpoint has one element type and one relation type: Component: A national unit that has a well-defined behavioral responsibility.Connector: A communication relation between components that defines how control and data is exchanged. Both are first class citizens of this viewpoint and both may contain behavior. This is obvious for components, but connectors may exhibit behavior as well. Examples of connectors with behavior are those that provide bufferi ng of data between a data producer and consumer, data convention, adoption of protocols, remote procedure calls, networking, etc. A connector defines one or more protocols. A protocol defines both incoming and outgoing operations and mandates the ordering of them.Thus a connector's protocol is radically deterrent from a class' interface that only tells what operations its instances provide (not uses) and does not describe any sequencing of method calls. 3. 2. 4 The POS system has four major functional parts as shown in the C&C view in figure 5. Components are represented by ML active objects, connectors by links with association names and possibly role names. Active objects are typically processes or threads in the operating system or programming language, and links the communication paths between them.The diagram cannot stand alone, as component names and connector names are only indicative of the functional responsibilities associated with each. We 7 therefore provide an descripti on of component functionality in terms of responsibilities: Barded Scanner. Responsible for 1) Control and communication with bar code scanner hardware and 2) notification providing ID of scanned bar code for items passing the scanner. Sales. Responsible for 1) keeping track of items scanned; their price and quantity; running total of scanned items and 2) initiation and end of sales handling. Ђ Presentation. Responsible for 1) displaying item names, quantity, subtotals and grand total on a terminal 2) printing item, quantity, subtotals and grand total on paper receipt 3) handle key board input for defining quantities when only one of a set of items are scanned. Inventory. Responsible for 1) keeping track of items in store 2) mapping between bar code ID's and item name and unit price. Likewise, the connectors' protocols needs to be described in more detail. The level of detail needed depends on the architecture at hand.For some connectors, it may be us cent with a short textual d escription (for instance if it is a straightforward application of the observer pattern; or if it is a direct memory read); others may best be explained by ML interaction diagrams; and still others may have a very large set of potential interactions (like a SQL connector) of which only a few may be worthwhile to describe in more detail. The POS example names three connectors: MFC. A standard MFC patterns is the protocol for this connector that connects the Sales component serving the role of model and Presentation serving as controller and view. Ђ JDBC. This connector handles standard SQL queries over the JDBC protocol. BPCS. This connector defines a protocol for connecting with a barded scanner. Data and control is exchanged using ASCII strings in a coded format containing control words and data elements. Sequence diagrams can be used to describe connector protocols. Depending on the system, it may be relevant to document connector protocols individually (a sequence diagram for each protocol) and/or to provide the â€Å"big picture† showing interaction over a set of connectors.Typical use cases as well as critical failure scenarios may be considered for description. In our point of sales example, an overall sequence diagram (diagram 6 seems most elevate, as the individual connectors have rather simple protocols. The scenario shown in the diagram is the event of a single item being scanned and registered. Further detail can be provided, like a sequence diagram showing observer registration and steady state operation for the MFC connector; perhaps table layout or SQL statements for the JDBC; or command language for the BPCS connector.However, most likely this information does not provide architectural insight (they do not eject architectural qualities) and their details should be found in more detailed documentation instead. 8 Figure 6: POS â€Å"item scanned† scenario 3. 3 3. 3. 1 Allocation Viewpoint This architectural viewpoint is concerned with how the software elements of the system – in particular the C&C viewpoint elements and relations – are mapped to platform elements in the environment of the system.We are interested in what the software elements require (e. G. , processing power, memory availability, network bandwidth) and what the hardware elements provide. 3. 3. 2 This viewpoint is important to a number of stakeholders: Maintainers needing to deploy and maintain the system, to users/customers who need to know how nationality is mapped to hardware, to developers who need to implement the system, and to architects. 3. 3. 3 The deployment viewpoint has two primary element types: Software elements: These may be, e. . , executables or link libraries containing components from the C&C views. Environmental elements: Nodes of computing hardware Furthermore, there are three main relation types: Allocated-to relations: Shows to which environmental elements software elements are allocated at runtime. Thes e relations may be either static or dynamic (e. G. , if components move between environmental elements). Dependencies among software elements Protocol links among environmental elements showing a communication protocol used between nodes. 3. 3. 4 Figure 7 shows the deployment of the Next POS system using a ML deployment diagram. The deployment is a typical 3-tier deployment in which presentation is run on a client, domain code is run on a JEEZ application server, and data is stored on a database server. Figure 7: Deployment view of the Next POS system The following elements are of interest Environmental elements (shown as ML nodes) – The Barded Scanner is the device used for inputting sold items into the system.It s read via an ROARS connection to the POS Terminals – The Terminal is the main point of interaction for the users of the Next POS system – The Application Server is a machine dedicated for serving all Terminals on an application level – A Databa se Server provides secondary storage Software elements (Shown as ML components) – The POS executable component runs the client part of the Next POS system including presentation and handling of external devices (biz. The Barded Scanner). It communicates with the Application Server via RMI over IIOP – Jobs is an open source application server which is used for running the domain- elated functionality of the system. It uses the Database Server via JDBC 10 – Myself is an open source SQL database which handles defenestrated functionality (storage, transactions, concurrency control) of the system. 3. 4 Overview The three viewpoints and their associated elements and relations are summarized below.Module c Deployment Elements Class Component Executable Interface Computing node Package Relations Association Connector Allocated-to Generalization Dependency Realization Protocol link +1 view: Architectural requirements The mapping to ML is straight forward for the module a nd deployment viewpoint UT less so for the C viewpoint. For the C viewpoint, components are show by ML Active Objects (that represent run-time entities with their own thread of execution, typically threads and processes), while connectors are shown by ML links (that represent control- and data flow using some protocol). 2

Plato V/S Aristotle Philosophies

The questions that were posed: Plato or Aristotle, What are the differences in the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle? Which philosophy might have been the better one to live by in the era? Give examples and details to support your argument. Plato, who was the most famous student of Socrates, thought like Socrates and was not happy with the Athenian society as it was. Plato was even more upset with the Athenian society because they had his teacher put to death; even though it was reported that many of the Athenians were sorry for having done this. Hunt et al, 88) Both Socrates and Plato were republicans. He called democracy â€Å"a charming form of government†. In his dialogue â€Å"The Republic†, Plato is said to be a blue print for a perfect society. In it he talks about justice, statesmanship, ethics and politics. He did not believe that justice could be achieved through democracy. It is democracy that he blamed for the death of his teacher. (90) He wanted the †Å"Republic† to warn the people of Athens that they needed a good education, respect for the law and leaders of their society. He felt there should be a stronger community base; like it was before the wars and the arrival of this democracy. The way people were able to understand what he called â€Å"the truth of the Forms† was how he would rank people in his perfect society. Plato felt that women could rank as high as men since they had the same virtues. He felt that these people could live together in the same barracks area and could have sex to make more enlightened children. Plato felt that society should be run by someone from this communal area. The ones who were the highest in enlightenment would be the ones to govern over the people. They would be called philosopher-kings. In his school that he named the Academy, after Academus or Hecademus, a mythical hero who had a cult following, Plato taught that people are born with knowledge. He said it was not learned after birth. It was only recalled. He said that knowledge is only in the mind. There is supposed to be a higher level that people are supposed to experience over and above that of the senses. This is needed because the senses have a tendency to deceive. There is a need for a higher plane of existence called Forms. These Forms allow the person to better understand the ultimate truth. Aristotle, even though he was taught by Plato had different ideas about how things should go. Aristotle was said to have been the tutor for Alexander the Great. He was also a biologist that was called a polymath, which means he knew much about everything. He too started his own school. It was called Lyceum. He did not believe that there was an Essence or Form. He believed in nothing but the facts. Where Plato said that knowledge was born inside everyone, Aristotle said that knowledge comes from experience. The thought is that Rationalism knowledge comes from experience and Empiricism knowledge (posterior) comes after experience. Aristotle also had a great confidence in sense perception. He felt that there are principles that come from experience. His beliefs would not allow him to believe that there is a world of Forms that transcends time and space. He said that if there were Forms and absolutes they would have to be found in the thing itself. He is best known for his ideas that logic is the way to win an argument rather than being persuasive. To him, looking at things in their natural settings would allow one to find out more about it. Aristotle did not think that women could be equal to men because of his false idea about biology. And he felt that slavery was not a bad thing. Aristotle did not believe that all people had the â€Å"rational part that should rule in a human†. (91) He like Plato did not think it was a good idea for regular people to run the government. He also felt that â€Å"better† people were needed to handle this. (91) According to Aristotle people should be able to train their minds to overcome the impulses that people have. He was not telling people to not do what they felt good doing. He just wanted them to think things through before they did them. The intellect of the human mind should be able to outshine the human will. The mind to Aristotle was the â€Å"god-like† part of the human and it was the part that should and could find the balance needed to keep what you want from ruling your common sense. Plato put the person’s will and self-control in the hands of someone else. Aristotle on the other hand felt that man is in charge of his own destiny and makes the ultimate decision to do something or not. In our society today there is a basis for what Aristotle thought in the way of philosophy. Many in the West value the concept that self-control overrules wantonness. Since the basis for society prewar was in the form of deities and Plato’s school of thought is still seemingly based on a type of deity, maybe the best way for the people of that era to be was more along the lines of Aristotle. His was would cause the people to think more about what they were doing. This may have been the best way for the culture to retain its once prosperous status. This would afford the Athenians the opportunity to rule rather than be ruled. When one accepts the consequences for their own actions and think about what could happen if they do things a certain way, it is less likely that the situation will turn out badly. The parts, of his philosophy, that were not good for that time is the thoughts on slavery and women. This would not promote unity which is what was needed. Works cited http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Societies/Plato.html Hunt, Lynn, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, Bonnie G. Smith. The Making of the West, Peoples and Culture, A Concise History. 3rd ed. Boston / New York. Bedford / Martin. 2013. Print

Analysis of the Possible Effects of the Caste System

In this modern day and age, many countries are moving towards globalization. With the current changes and improvement in technology, people easily share and exchange goods, products and services for economic and social development. A lot of opportunities are given to many people so they can take part in globalization and uplift their living. However, there are still countries that seem to lag behind because of their internal problems in regards to inequalities. India with regards to its present global profile is seen to be one of the rising economic powers in the world.In spite of its vast supply of labor especially the skilled workers, this country still remain a low-income one and poverty is still a big issue. This said problem is considered a result of its caste system. The Caste system divides people of India into four groups. This system decides for Indian people what they should do for living for their entire life. The Caste system did help the Indian society to be structured a nd organized. However, the system in the modern days was only an obstacle for India. It is considered as one of the most dehumanizing systems the world.The caste system is making a big gap between the rich and the poor. The extent of and trends in inequalities and poverty in India affects global trends because of its large population size and majority of its population fall under the poverty line. Due to globalization with the mass improvement of transportation and communication, nations are competing against other nations of the entire world. In a modern society, where time and resource are truly valued, the Caste system has held back India by wasting some incredibly talented individuals of lower caste.This system has made the poor suffer most. They were stripped of an opportunity to learn and be employed on bigger companies. This said situation has further led to the marginalization of the already marginalized people. With the growth of India’s gross national product, still the labor force in agriculture remains too high while those in the manufacturing sector are low. There is no doubt that a striking feature of India’s growth performance in the past years has been the growth of the services sector like IT, software and BPO industries.There is no doubt that India has employed millions of people for this industry but as impressive as the figure seems, it is too small if they are seen against the overall size of the country’s labor force. Employment is the service sector still lags behind. Additionally, employment is only concentrated in a few large cities and very few people from the rural and poor area find jobs in this sector because they lack the required skills. In other countries, the service sector tends to gain a larger share of employment.The rising of globalization has made people move from one place to another easily. Also education has also helped people disregard gender and social inequalities. If India would remain strict on recognizing the caste system, it will pose a threat for them in the future. The world is one, and how a nation deals with its immigrants is really important for the future of the nation. Many people now are intolerant to inequalities and discrimination. Therefore, India may be losing investors or possible capitalists just because of the system.The Caste system cannot make India a stable country anymore, since there is no spot in the system for immigrants to India. India should not lose what it was built for and based on. However, they should be really careful. The caste system may give birth to possible social unrest that may dismay or discourage other people to go to their country. This social blindness can be cured only when there is the realization that all people are created equal and have equal intrinsic value and worth.

How did Hurricane Katrina influence Homeland Security as it currently Research Paper

How did Hurricane Katrina influence Homeland Security as it currently operates in the U.S - Research Paper Example The research objective is focused on drawing a balance between homeland security measures before and after the Hurricane Katrina. Expressing the measures taken and the developments introduced to rule out the previous loopholes have been considered as the major areas of discussion in this essay. Hurricane Katrina turned out to be a catastrophe for the US, allegedly due to the inefficiency and delayed reaction of the homeland security, which was designed by the government to meet the national crisis within the boundaries of the country. However, the country’s dual system of government and their inefficiency in communication proved to be fatal for the crisis that they faced (Irons, 2005). The organisation faced problems in reacting at the right time in the right way. Failures to send supplies in the place of need were major challenges the government faced at the time of the hurricane. Due to the heavy bureaucratic system of the government, severe complications were found persisting in the issue of orders and its implementation. State-level, local-level and federal-level systems of government proved to be a backlog for the timely movement of assets and food supplies to the area of need (Moyniha, 2009). The government has all previous intimation of the natural calamity but due to the complexities in the mode of operations, it was difficult for the government to act accordingly. The relief measures were weak as well. The government also failed to do the aftermath as the veto powers to trigger the financial help was vested in different hands, which made the situation even worse (Leeson & Sobel, 2006). The homeland security was trained to be prepared for this type of calamities and was supposedly well acquainted with the measures that were to be taken. However, due to the unorganised governmental procedures and the lack

A Catastrophe Housing Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Catastrophe Housing Crisis - Essay Example The astonishing part about this is that amidst this crippling crisis, no one truly has an astute understanding of how a simple subprime mortgage flap has caused so much life-changing damage. This holds particularly true for the embattled homeowner, who was bombarded with highly technical instruments without being duly informed of its potentially damaging ramifications. My uncle was one of those gravely affected by the mortgage crisis. He was always an upstanding, responsible guy, and a few years ago he proudly announced that he had taken out a mortgage for a nice new property, the culmination of all his hard work and efforts. Some in our family were particularly wary as to how he got the home loan, as he gone through a rough financial patch some years back. He proudly stated that the bank was very "kind" to him, and had worked out a "special" deal for him so he could buy his house. I distinctly remember having a conversation with him where he was really hyped about this newfangled instrument called a subprime loan. He boasted about how the bank gave him a really low interest rate for the first year, and that succeeding years would depend on how the prime rate would hold up. I asked him how sure it would hold up, and that it wouldn't skyrocket. He said he was assured by the banker he was talking to that it was the perfect time to take out a loan be cause the market was very stable and wasn't going anywhere in the next couple of years.When the prime rate went through the roof, the increase in my uncle's monthly amortization became exponential. He simply could not keep up with the payments , he was only earning so much to support himself and my three cousins. As the bills piled up, he had no choice but to let go of his dream home. The bank is starting foreclosure proceedings on his home, and I often catch him staring blankly into space. When prodded with what went wrong, all he could tell me was "They never told me it would turn out this way".Quite frankly, they never expected that it would turn out this way either. An article in the New York Times (2008) argues that "your confusion is shared by many people who are right in the middle of the crisis. (p.14.) Even top analysts and brokers are lost amidst the extreme complexity of the instruments used. Now, if even the experts do not grasp the crisis fully, what more for the ordina ry homeownerWe have to understand that we are dealing with an issue that ran so deep that once the bubble burst, everyone from the bottom up was hit hard. Its ramifications were far-reaching, extending far beyond domestic shores. According to Dattels and Antonshin, (2008), "Over the next few years losses are expected to reach the $900 billion mark, and banks and financial institutions everywhere are scrambling just to keep their head above their water". (p.9)So who could blame my uncle for not knowing what hit him, when the experts themselves were completely lost as well. Could he be completely blamed for his seeming ignorance, when everyone else was in the same boat.

Is it Fair for Universities to Consider Race or Ethnicity as a Factor Essay - 1

Is it Fair for Universities to Consider Race or Ethnicity as a Factor in Admission - Essay Example The utilitarianism point of view and John Rawls’ perspective has been touched upon here to give an incisive look at the topic at hand. Race and ethnicity debates bring bias and prejudice to the fore within college and universities, thus committing to an unfair agenda and a feeling of being left out from gaining admission on the part of the students. One would seem to agree with the premise that race and ethnicity talks bring more negativity within the equation and are bound to pose a serious problem than anything else. This is because race and ethnicity marginally divide the people, which is an area of concern as it does not treat people on the same footing as they should be in day to day lives. It makes them feel inferior, which is not the task of a college or a university before it grants admission to the ones who are applying within its realms. Merit must always remain supreme and there cannot be any divided opinions under such a dictum. It is true that race and ethnicity bring about a general bias within the discussions of the students, and hence it would be better to understand that such colleges and universities would not be able to impart the kind of education that is remarked as a hallmark of them. One would agree that this is unfair because one cannot disallow students from gaining education based on their race and ethnicity tangents. This is a heinous act which needs to be condemned as much as possible. It will make students feel bad with regards to their race and ethnic settings and ask them to protest against the college and university realms. From the utilitarianism theory, it can be deduced that properly providing each and every student the right to secure admission is a normative activity and thus should be exercised in essence. It will maximize happiness and reduce the racial and ethnic divide which has been getting the importance unnecessarily over the years.

Marxism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marxism - Essay Example The main belief of Marxism revolves around the following teams: Analysis of capitalism identifies and discusses different aspects of capitalism. Some of these aspects include "alienation" of workers, exploitation and the source of profits,  economic growth and development, economic crises,  business cycles, wage labour and surplus value, and the value of commodities (www.marxismfaq.co.uk, n. pag). The theoretical foundation of Marxism is in the materialist conception of history. In simple terms it is the application of Marxist thought to historical development.  According to Marxists the main driving force of history is the class struggle. As Marx and Engels wrote in "The Communist Manifesto",  "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." (www.marxismfaq.co.uk, n. pag) According to Marxists believe, the society is divided into separate classes. Bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (workers) are the two main classes under capitalism according to Marx and Engels. The fourth important issue they addressed is after the proletariat have taken state power themselves, they will consolidate their position as the new ruling class of society through the so called "revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat". This "dictatorship" of the working class will be the midway between capitalism and communism (www.marxismfaq.co.uk, n. pag). Marxs passion towards communism was his focus which was far more important than the class struggle, the dialectic, the theory of surplus value, and all the others. Marx categorically discarded those utopian socialists who sought to arrive at communism through a gradual and evolutionary process, through a balanced advancement of the good. In fact Marx harked back to the apocalyptics, the post-millennia1 coercive German and Dutch Anabaptists of the sixteenth century, and to the various groups of pre-millennial Christians (Rothbard, 123-179). Earlier to the popularization of the Race, Gender

Cognitive Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cognitive Assessment - Essay Example Parents are sometimes unable to understand the problems that their children might be going through. On the other hand, the parents may use forceful instructions to teach their children without knowledge on the underlying problems. Studies indicate that most children who have persistent poor performance have attention disorders. Attention disorders such as Attention Disorder Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are one of the commonest conditions among younger children that are hard to identify among school-going students. Parents may sometimes think that their children are impulsive and inattentive whereas such symptoms indicate serious attention deficits. However, it is important to ensure that the exact underlying issue is identified before the child is put into a serious strategy for resolving the learning problems. In the context of Jamir’s case, it would be necessary to diagnose the problem that the child suffers from. This will help in the identification of the best strategy to be applied in order to assist the student. The mother thinks that Jamir does not listen to the instruction. This is an assumption that might be more dangerous to the child. Children like Jamir normally have impulsive behaviors that prevent them from concentrating in certain activities. For Jamir to be able to listen and read, certain strategies must be used (Shaheem, 2012).

Performer Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Performer Assessment - Essay Example Interviewing is a day to day interaction, which is a skill that needs to be, developed (Keats, 2000) it is one of the most popular forms of communication and research in the psychological area, It’s main aim is to find out more about the client than what would usually be possibly as you are in direct charge of what questions are asked but at the same time it is down to the performer in this case how much they say. A weakness of interviews is the matter of time constraint on the performer because the performer who I’m interviewing might not have the time to go through certain areas as you never know how long an interview will go on for it all depends on how much information the performer is willing to give. Observations in a psychological way are of experimenting and trying to find a phenomenon (Sharma, 2006) through watching a performer or performers in this case and assessing them that way, an advantage of this method is you get a firsthand experience of what is wrong in that performance and what there psychological weaknesses are. The disadvantage of doing observations maybe that it is a one off and a performer’s performance will vary when in a different situation. Questionnaires and asking questions is one of the most natural way of gathering information and are certainly the most often employed data collection method (DÃ ¶rnyei,2009 (P.g 1). An advantage of doing questionnaires is the ease of the construction,it can take up to a few hours to draw up in some circumstances (Taguchi, 2009) and you can give out lots of them to different people. The main disadvantage of questionnaires is you can’t control how much information they decide to give and the answers they give might not be too detailed. Practical techniques for example performance profiling have become more popular recently when talking about sport psychology, performance profiling is a tool

Principles of Marketing Management - Assignment 2

Principles of Marketing Management - 2 - Assignment Example The plan will cover different external as well as internal environmental analysis of the company for the purpose of having long term sustainability in the market and attain a better competitive position. Ikea Estates is a sister concern of Inter IKEA Holding. The company operates in a decentralised manner in which each division of the company owns its own responsibilities. In addition to this, different business lines and operations are handled by their own managements. In this context, Ikea Estates is a separate and independent concern under the flagship of Inter IKEA Holding. This division of the group deals in real estate properties like housing. The prime quest of this division is to create long term value for the division as well as entire group with the help of making investments in properties. In addition to this, the overall operations of the organisation includes the development of new properties, land banking and undertaking of the active management the portfolio of properties that can be proved quite efficient to retrieve maximum amount of returns from the investments (Property Division 2013). Ikea Estates was recognised as a separate division of the entire group in the year 1990, when housing and real estate market was on boom phase. This division of the country is quite expended and geographically diversified. There are 8 different European countries in which, the company has registered its footprint quite intensively. These countries are Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, Poland, Latvia, Belgium, Romania, and Lithuania ((Property Division 2013). The company is well known for its factory built housing schemes offered to the customers after the recent financial crisis. The concept of wood cladded and wonky roofed houses emerged by the company was exceptional and proved as one of the most successful business ideas after the recent financial crisis that has made the perception of people regarding real estate as an investment

Creativity, innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Creativity, innovation - Essay Example It can also include the effect on the local community who might have to live in the shadow of their premises, and how they engage with the community, their customers and workforce. Social Accounting helps organizations to investigate its performances in relation to social, environmental and economic objectives ensuring that organizations core objectives are met in doing so. Focusing on the automobile Industry, almost all the large brands ensure that the keep CSR at par which includes Sustainability Reporting along with the Financial Statements. Most companies in the sector have CSR policies implemented throughout their operations including proper management system for the same. Following is the comparison of two of the industries’ brands; namely Toyota and Honda. Toyota has implemented a CSR policy throughout its operations that is based on the company’s Guiding Values. Furthermore, the company has also implemented a separate policy on Biodiversity, as well as a Code of Conduct, a Global Vision for 2020, and the Toyota Way 2001, which outlines the expectations of how employees should behave. It also has an environmental plan of action that includes design production and recycling. Toyota has a separate CSR department, as well as a CSR committee that includes members of the executive board. The company is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), but does not mention any of the relevant international standards in its international CSR report or CSR policy. Several regional divisions also publish their own annual CSR reports in accordance with GRI standards. Toyota annually produces its sustainability report including environmental aspects, social aspects, and economic aspect. â€Å"Its environmental aspect addresses Energy/ Global Warming, Recycling of resources, Substance of concern, Atmospheric Quality, Environmental

The L-Tryptophan Recall Essay Example for Free

The L-Tryptophan Recall Essay What L-Tryptophan is? Amino acids are naturally occurring component of human body. They provide the monomer units from which large proteins are synthesized. Amino acids are described as the nitrogen-containing organic compounds forming the building blocks of proteins. â€Å"They are essential to human metabolism, and to making the human body function properly for good health†. (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0001/ai_2603000153)    Amino acids are classified as essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are those which are required to be included in the diet as body is not capable of synthesizing it. â€Å"Of the 28 amino acids known to exist, eight of them are considered essential, defined as those that can be obtained only through food. These essential amino acids are tryptophan, lysine, methionine, phenylalaine, threonine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. The non-essential amino acids include arginine, tyrosine, glycine, serine, glutmamic acid, aspartic acid, taurine, cycstine, histidine, proline, alanine, and creatine, which is a combination of arginine, glycine, and methionine.† (http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?qt=tryptophanqf=allqta=1tb=artx=0y=0) Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan) is one of the essential amino acid encoded by the genetic code as codon UG. Tryptophan is found in protein rich foods. Its sources includes â€Å"oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, spirulina peanuts and turkey†. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan) Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan) is used for treating Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Aggression, Pain and many other neurological disorders. It is helpful for neurological disorders because tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitters used at almost all nerve endings present in our body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The metabolite of tryptophan, 5-HTP can be obtained in capsule or tablet form from any pharmacist without a prescription since it was included under the Dietary Supplement Act. What Products Contain It and What Their Uses Are? As already mentioned, L-Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin. Serotonin works in the body as an anti-depressant, pain and anxiety suppressor, or a sleep inducer. Therefore,  Ã‚   L-Tryptophan is found in many anti-depressant drugs such as Paxil and Zolof and even Prozac and thus when taken, produces serotonin. Other pharmaceutical products containing L-Tryptophan includes names like Xanax, Valium, Halcion, Dalmane, Codeine, Anafranil. Xanax, or alprazolam, also belongs to the class of drugs benzodiazepines. Xanax is used to treat anxiety. It acts on the brain chemicals which causes anxiety.   It should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women without prescription due to its harmful effects. Xanax can cause serious birth defects.   Xanax overdose is fatal and should contact your doctor immediately. Halcion also belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs.   Triazolam, the generic name for Halcion, is used for treating short-term insomnia. Dalmane, generic name Flurazepam hydrochloride, is used for treating insomnia. Insomnia is defined as difficulty in falling asleep or waking up frequently at night. Dalmane is usually used by people who have frequent insomnia or who have poor sleeping habits. It belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It is a prescription drug and taken as prescribed by your doctor. Side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, falling, lack of muscular coordination, light-headedness, staggering. The side effects increases if it is combined with the following:- â€Å"Antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil Antihistamines such as Benadryl and Tavist Antipsychotic drugs such as Mellaril and chlorpromazine Barbiturates such as Seconal and phenobarbital Narcotic painkillers such as Demerol and Tylenol with Codeine Sedatives such as Xanax and Halcion Tranquilizers such as Librium and Valium† (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/dal1113.shtml) Clomipramine, (brand name: Anafranil), is an anti-depressant used in treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).   It effects the serotonergic neuronal transmission by an unknown mechanism. Clomipramine should be avoided after myocardial infarction, liver damage, kidney damage, or glaucoma. The most noteworthy side effect of clomipramine known is seizures. Codeine is more commonly known as Empirin, Tylenol or Tylenol with Codeine Elixir. Codeine is an analgesic drug (narcotic pain reliever). It is used to treat all kinds of pain. â€Å"Codeine is frequently combined with Tylenol or aspirin for more effective pain relief.. EMPIRIN contains aspirin and is, therefore, not used in patients with a history of aspirin allergy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Tylenol with Codeine tablets contain a sulfite that can cause allergic asthma and even life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions in susceptible patients.†   http://www.medicinenet.com/codeine/article.htm Other side effects are usually subtle including abdominal pain, constipation nausea, vomiting and sedation. Tryptophan was banned in the United States due to the endemic outbreak Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). â€Å"The ban is maintained till now and its availability is limited to the prescription drug (Tryptan), infant formulas, and enteral feeding products. Since 1994 tryptophan is available and marketed as a dietary supplement in the United States, while imported product remains limited by special regulations†. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_11/ai_n16126569 EMS (The Disease Caused By These Products) L-tryptophan is popular among health conscious individuals for treating pain disorders and insomnia. Contrary to its popularity, tryptophan metabolism includes a lot of disorders. Some of the diseases/complications involved in tryptophan metabolism include Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS), Pellagra, and Hartnup Disease, eosinophilic fasciitis, bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP), acute eosinophilic pulmonary disease, and Hypercapnic respiratory. â€Å"The name pellagra comes from the Italian pelle, skin + agra, rough = rough skin, referring to the skin problems in pellagra†. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10366page=7 Pellagra is defined by a deficiency of niacin (B complex vitamin) or tryptophan (an amino acid). It is characterized by the 4 D’s: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death, usually appearing in this order. Other features are ulcerations within the mouth (glossitis), nausea, vomiting, seizures and balance disorder (ataxia). Niacin can prevent pellagra (and can cure it). Niacin is abundant in red meat, fish, poultry, and green leafy vegetables. Hartnup disease occurs when the essential amino acids such as, tryptophan, alanine, asparagine, glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine, are lost in the urine. â€Å"The clinical features of Hartnup disease are virtually identical to those of pellagra,† except the dermal findings are absent neuropsychiatric disturbances are more pronounced. â€Å"Cerebellar ataxia, psychiatric disturbances, and diarrhea are common†. (http://www.medstudents.com.br/nefro/nefro3.htm) Eosinophilic fasciitis is a syndrome effecting fascia. Fascia is a muscle tissue present underneath the skin. Fascia is inflamed and thickens. Rapid swelling occurs in the hands, arms, legs, and feet. The cause of eosinophilic fasciitis,however, is unknown. Eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, increases in the affected fascia and muscles. Eosinophils are associated with allergic-type reactions. Symptoms include tenderness and swelling of the arms and legs, thickened skin, muscle weakness and bone pain or tenderness. It is usually treated wit corticosteroid medications, which provides relief of the symptoms. Non-steroids anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) may also help. â€Å"Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an inflammation of the bronchioles and surrounding tissue in the lungs. BOOP may affect small areas of the lungs or the entire lung†. The pneumonia isnt infectious, but it is due to inflammation of the lung tissue around the inflamed bronchioles. The causes of BOOP are still unknown but it is predicted that is caused by certain medications, radiation therapy, organ and tissue transplantation or some connective tissue disorders, such as lupus. â€Å"Chest radiographic findings [are also] suggestive of L-tryptophan.†   Ã¢â‚¬Å"People with BOOP may or may not experience signs and symptoms. However, it can be detected on chest x-rays†. (http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/termsdefinitions/f/what_is_boop.htm) and (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n6_v104/ai_14707382) â€Å"A cluster of four patients has been identified with pulmonary infiltrates, pleural effusions, hypoxemia, peripheral eosinophilia, and histologic evidence of pneumonitis and pulmonary vasculitis. In addition, these patients report ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing products at a time when the public was made aware of an association between the ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing products and the development of an eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.† (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n1_v99/ai_10489355) â€Å"Respiratory failure due to a disease of the muscles used for breathing (pump or ventilatory apparatus failure) is called hypercapnic respiratory failure. The lungs of these patients are normal. This type of respiratory failure occurs in patients with neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia gravis, stroke, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, postoperative situations limiting ability to take deep breaths, and in depressant drug overdoses. Each of these disorders involves a loss or decrease in neuromuscular function, inefficient breathing and limitation to the flow of air into the lungs. Blood oxygen falls and the carbon dioxide increases because fresh air is not brought into the alveoli in needed amounts. In general, mechanical devices that help move the chest wall help these patients.† (http://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/respiratory_failure.php#6) â€Å"Pellagra is now rare in developed countries which enjoy balanced diets and fortified foods, but it was once a huge public health problem in the US. Three million Americans contracted pellagra and 100,000 died of it from 1906-40.† (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4821) The most well-known disease of L-Tryptophan metabolism is of the Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). â€Å"Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome is an immune mediated disease that  appeared in the United States as an epidemic in 1989. EMS resulted from ingestion of large amount of an amino acid, L-Tryptophan. Eosinophilia is an elevated level of a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil. Myalgia refers to muscle pain. Many Americans ingested the supplement regularly or occasionally during the 1980s, often upon the advice of a physician, for medical problems including insomnia, chronic pain, and depression†. http://eosinophilia-myalgia.swiftsite.com/) The overwhelming majority of persons who got sick with EMS had ingested contaminated L-Tryptophan eventually traced to one large petrochemical company, Showa Denko K.K., of Japan. Bottle labeling did not indicate the raw product originated in Japan, and nobody in this country, it seems, was told that genetic engineering had been used to manufacture the L-Tryptophan. â€Å"Evidence also shows that overloads of tryptophan supplements inhibit histamine degradation by increased formation of formate and indolyl metabolites, several of which inhibit the degradation of histamine, thereby potentiating its effects. Excessive histamine activity is known to induce blood eosinophilia and myalgia. Furthermore, patients with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation who do not have EMS also manifest greatly increased sensitivity to incurred tryptophan and histamine. Histamine disequilibrium appears to be a final common pathway for syndromes characterized by eosinophilia with myalgia.† (http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic693.htm) EMS is characterized by flu-like symptoms. â€Å"Intense muscle pain with spasms and contractures, burning rashes, breathing difficulties and elevated eosinophil (a type of white blood cell) count are also present†. http://www.iffgd.org/GIDisorders/Other.html â€Å"The skin and other organs get infiltrated by inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, and the connective tissue is often inflamed and fibrotic. Other chronic features include neuromuscular disease and cardiac disease†. http://www5.geometry.net/detail/health_conditions/eosinophilia_page_no_5.html It â€Å"causes permanent scarring and fibrosis to nerve and muscle tissues, continuing inflammation, and provokes a permanent change in the bodys immune system.† The body systems affected by EMS includes â€Å"neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, dermatologic  and endocrine systems.† Over time, the cutaneous abnormalities tend to improve, but many EMS patients continue to experience muscle cramps, muscle pain, fatigue, and memory disturbances. There is, unfortunately, no cure for EMS. Research is being conducted to develop an animal model of EMS so that its pathophysiology can be studied and treatments can be developed. Actual Recall and What Happened When It Was Issued Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome appeared first in 1989 in Mexico. Three women were suffering from a mysterious, undiagnosable condition whose symptoms comprised of â€Å"muscle pain and a high Eosinophilia count (a type of white blood cell that is usually found when a toxin or parasitic infection is present). The one thing common among all of the women was L-tryptophan†. The product came from Showa Denko Inc, a Japanese company.   Showa Denko Inc was reducing their manufacturing cost compromising in its purification procedures and quickens the production process through genetically engineered bacteria. Consequently, contaminated batches of L-tryptophan were placed on the market. Within months, 37 people killed and over 1500 were permanently disabled when they used this product.   (http://www.nemsn.org/) â€Å"Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 1990, banned the sale of all over the counter L-tryptophan dietary supplements as it was found to be the common link in the EMS cases. Research was conducted to discover the cause of this illness. An unidentified impurity, called peak X, was found. The products were traced back to one manufacturer, Showa Denko KK (SDKK), one of Japans largest petrochemical companies†. (http://www.nemsn.org/) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA agreed to that instituted a recall.   â€Å"The Food and Drug Administration today expanded its recall of L-tryptophan to include even small dosages of the manufactured dietary supplements†¦.The recall applies to all L-tryptophan products in tablet, capsule, caplet, powdered or liquid form, along with multi-ingredient, non-protein supplements that also contain L-tryptophan. (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html) Recall The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the people of United States from the use of a variety of products, including drugs, medical devices and foods. â€Å"The FDA provides important and timely clinical information about safety issues involving medical products, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, biologics, medical devices, and special nutritional products, including medical foods and dietary supplements. The FDA issues and/or announces product safety alerts, recalls, withdrawals, and important labeling changes that may affect the health of all Americans.† (http://www.drugrecalls.com/drug_recalls.html) A Recall is defined as an action taken by the FDA to remove a product from the market. However, under the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA can only request and not impose a firm to recall a product.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   FDA has no authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to order a recall, although it can request a firm to Recall a product. Under FDA’s regulation, a firm usually proceeds with a recall of a product voluntarily. It is because if they don’t comply FDA can seek a court order under the Federal Government to confiscate the product.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The recall of a defective or harmful drug or product is sometimes publicized in newspapers and in news broadcasts. The FDA publicizes a recall only when it believes the public needs to be alerted about a serious hazard. The FDA expects companies to take full responsibility for product recalls, including follow-up checks to assure that recalls are successful. After a recall is completed, the FDA makes sure that the product is destroyed or suitably reconditioned and investigates why the product was defective.† (http://www.drugrecalls.com/drug_recalls.html)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1989, an epidemic of a serious disorder called for eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) spread in the United States. It was associated with ingestion of large amount of essential amino acid L-tryptophan. Over 1,500 EMS cases were reported which includes 38 deaths.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After this incident, FDA imposed a recall on â€Å"all marketed products to which manufacturers had added [been] L-tryptophan†. Some particular medical foods or infant product essential for nutrition is were left. FDA also put alerts on the import of raw material used in association of L-tryptophan. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00259.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   EMS outbreak originated from a particular product coming from Japanese manufacturer. A lot of research has been done to know the exact cause of EMS; however, none of them has been successful. Yet, th e recall remains. Product Liability Laws Product liability comprises a number of laws and court rulings that apply to â€Å"manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, suppliers, retailers [who] are held responsible for the injuries those products cause†. The phrase is used to describe situations in which a person or property is injured or damaged in some way due to a defective product or service. Negligence, Breach of warranty and strict tort liability are the claims associated with product liability laws. In the US, product liability laws are determined at the state level and they vary from state to state.    Different elements are needed to be proven for each type of claim. However, â€Å"in any jurisdiction one must prove that the product is defective. There are three types of product defects that incur liability in manufacturers and suppliers: design defects, manufacturing defects, and defects in marketing†. Design defects are present before the product is being manufactured; manufacturing defects occur during the manufacturing process; and, defects in marketing occurs during the marketing process of the product where false information is given to the consumers.    (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Products_liability#products_liability_law:_an_overview) Negligence Negligence is defined as when the product manufacturer is unable to provide the legal standards protecting individuals against his/her product. In order to win a lawsuit against another person or company for products liability action under the theory of negligence, â€Å"a plaintiff must demonstrate that the injuries complained of were caused by a defective product whose defect existed at the time of injury and at the time in which the product left a manufacturers control†. A plaintiff must show that the goods were unreasonably dangerous either for the use to which they would ordinarily be put or for some other reasonably foreseeable purpose, and that the unreasonably dangerous condition existed when the goods left the manufacturer. (http://www.legal-definitions.com/personal-injury-law/product-liability/strict-liability-and-negligence-theories.htm) Elements Of Negligence Involved †¢ Duty:- According to the tort law, a Duty of Care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual or manufacturer requiring them to exercise a reasonable standard of care while performing any acts that could harm others. Duty of care in law should be identified for an action in negligence. Breach: Once the duty of care has been established, the plaintiff must prove that defendant failed to perform the necessary action. There will be a breach of the duty of care if defendant failed to do so. †¢ Causation: According to negligence, causation in defined as a situation when it has been proved that defendant has caused some kind of harm to the plaintiff. †¢ Damages/Harm:- â€Å"Damages are compensatory in nature and not penalizing. This means the amount awarded should aim to compensate for the pain and suffering suffered by the Plaintiff.† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negligence) †¢ Manufacturer liabilities:- As previously mentioned, manufacturer liabilities occur during the manufacturing process of the product. Subsequent liabilities of the distributors:- Distributors are held responsible if they provide false information, regarding the product, to the consumers. Breach of Warranty   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Breach of warranty is defined as the existence of defective goods at the time of sale. A warranty is violated and the seller may be held liable. Strict Tort Liability â€Å"Strict liability claims focus on the product itself. Under strict liability, the manufacturer is liable if the product is defective, even if the manufacturer was not negligent in making that product defective.† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_liability#Products_Liability_and_Strict_Liability) FDA regulations (briefly discuss FDA’s view)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On March 22, 1990, the FDA banned the public sale dietary of L-Tryptophan completely. This ban continues today. Even small dosage of manufactured dietary supplements and manufactured L-tryptophan products in tablet, capsule, caplet, powdered or liquid form, along with multi-ingredient, non-protein supplements that also contain L-tryptophan,† come under this recall. â€Å"HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., said, We are confronted with a Major public health problem.   He warned, EMS can cripple.   It can cause great pain.   It can kill.   It has had long-term effects on some unfortunate individuals, and some patients are not responding to treatment.   I urge everyone to stop taking these supplements immediately. FDAs Nov. 17 recall was base on evidence from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and state public health agencies that EMS victims had intakes of L-tryptophan that ranged from 150 to 17, 000 milligrams a day.†(http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html)   Class Action Suits Brought On By People Affected By L-Tryptophan Recall  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A tort is an unintentional violation of another persons rights, usually due to negligence. It is different than a crime, which generally is an intentional violation of anothers rights. A tort is subject to civil action and subsequent judgment for damages payable to the wronged party, whereas a crime is subject to criminal action and subsequent penalty. The Case: SHOWA DENKO K.K. v. PANGLE et al. (A91A1435)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (1991)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Product liability action. Catoosa Superior Court. Before Judge Tucker. Plaintiff: Juanita Louise Pangle Defendant: Showa Denko K.K. (Showa Denko), Natures Bounty, Inc., the Hudson Corporation, and Showa Denko America, Inc. (S.D.A.). In late 1989, the Plaintiff Juanita Louise Pangle, a resident of Georgia, suffered from eosinophilia myalgia syndrome. EMS resulted from ingesting a large dose of L-Tryptophan, an amino acid, in the over the counter food supplement. She and her husband filed a product liability case against: Nature’s Beauty, Inc., the pharmacy from where she purchased the food supplement; the Hudson Corporation, the manufacturers which produced and marketed the food supplement; â€Å"Showa Denko K.K. (Showa Denko), the Japanese company which allegedly produced the raw material used by the manufacturers of the tablets; and Showa Denko America, Inc. (S.D.A.), the New York subsidiary of Showa Denko which marketed and distributed the raw material to American pharmaceutical manufacturers. Showa Denko appeals the denial of its motion to dismiss on the ground that personal jurisdiction is lacking both under the Georgia Long-Arm Statute and pursuant to constitutional requirements of due process. The Georgia Long-Arm Statute requires that an out-of-state defendant must do certain acts within the State of Georgia before he can be subjected to personal jurisdiction.† (http://www.lawskills.com/case/ga/id/33636/) According to the evidence and investigations provided, S.D.A. distributes and markets L-Tryptophan and other products in the United States. S.D.A. works for Showa Denko.   Georgia Long-Arm Statute states that since S.D.A is subjected to jurisdiction because it performed an act for Showa Denko, Showa Denko will also be subjected to jurisdictions. (S.D.A. filed no motion to dismiss)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Showa Denko is a diverse manufacturer who manufactures and sells many different products throughout the United States. Records show visits of employees of Showa Denko to Georgia for trade shows or business purposes. Most of the business is related to the marketing of the product. This evidence was provided to prove that Showa Denko is subjected to a jurisdiction under the Long-Arm Statute.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Showa Denko,according to records, have contact with the University of Georgia. Jointly they were testing feed-grade L-Tryptophan on laying hens. Showa Denko objected to this allegation and pointed out that this issue has no link to the jurisdiction. However, there were do records present that contradicted this point. L_tryptophan used for marketing is similar to testing of feed-grade L-tryptophan for animals. This animal search was not enough to confer jurisdiction because plaintiffs’ injuries were not due to this act. â€Å"Several other jurisdictions in which Showa Denko has been named as a defendant in a case alleging injury after ingesting L-tryptophan have found Showa Denko to be subject to personal jurisdiction.† (http://www.lawskills.com/case/ga/id/33636/) Liability Joint Liability: In the case SHOWA DENKO K.K. v. PANGLE et al., Joint Liability has been put forward. Joint Liability is defined when more than one person is held responsible for the negligence act. In this case, it was not only Showa Denko that suffered the jurisdiction. Instead it liability was confirmed on all its, manufacturers and its suppliers. Vicarious liability: â€Å"Vicarious liability as also observed. It is defined as when a person is held responsible for the tort of another person, even though the person being held responsible may not have done anything wrong† http://www.duhaime.org/dictionary/dict-uz.aspx .    Damages According to the tort law, damages are compensated in the form of monetary to the plaintiff. â€Å"Damages, in a legal sense, are the sum of money the law imposes for a breach of some duty or violation of some right.† The types of damages: Actual or Compensatory Damage: these kinds of damages are compensated with the injured plaintiff. Consequential: Consequential damages apply to â€Å"damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit which were caused as a direct foreseeable result of wrongdoing.† General: In General damages, â€Å"there is no evidence of a specific dollar figure.† Liquidated:- Liquidated damages are â€Å"contractually established damages† Nominal: â€Å"a small amount of money awarded to a plaintiff in a lawsuit to show he/she was right but suffered no substantial harm.† Punitive: â€Å"Punitive damages are considered punishment and are awarded when the defendants behavior is found to be especially harmful, but are normally not awarded in the context of a breach of contract claim.† Special: â€Å"damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit which were out-of-pocket costs directly as the result of the breach of contract, negligence or other wrongful act by the defendant. Special damages can include medical bills, repairs and replacement of property, loss of wages and other damages which are not speculative or subjective.† Treble: Treble damage is when the â€Å"successful parties should receive some multiple of their actual damages.† (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Damages#definition) and (http://dictionary.law.com/) Actual Damages That Were Rewarded Expectations Damages: Expectation damages are a form of damages occurring when the defendant party fails to fulfill the contract. Showa Denko failed to provide the required amount of L-tryptophan in his product. General Damages: In general damages losses are not quantified in monetary terms. For example; it consists of the actual pain and suffering caused by the negligent act. Also, it covers the future losses including the continuing pain and suffering. The plaintiff suffered from Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). A disease that altered their lifestyles. Hedonic Damages; Hedonic Damages refers to loss of enjoyment of life damages or damages distinct from the human capital value. Treble Damages:- â€Å"Treble damages, in law, is a term that indicates that a statute permits a court to triple the amount of the actual/compensatory damages to be awarded to a prevailing plaintiff, generally in order to punish the losing party for willful conduct. Show Denko had to may a large sum of money to the plaintiff to compensate for the damage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treble_damages) Causes of Action â€Å"The cause of action according to the law is the ground on which the plaintiff files a lawsuit against the defendant. A Cause of action encompasses both the legal theory of what legal wrong the plaintiff claims to have suffered, and the remedy, which is the relief a court is asked to grant which is in the form of an Order of the Court instructing the defendant to do or not do something for the benefit of the plaintiff or an instruction in some cases to the plaintiff to do or not do something for the benefit of the defendant.† http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_of_action In this case, Fraud on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can not be considered in this case. The reason being that, fraud is defined as the intentional deceit. In contrast it was proved to be negligence. Strict liability in tort is also in effect. Strict liability in tort refers to the damages caused to the consumer by the manufacture, distributor, and wholesaler of the product. Thus, in this case, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit giving negligence and strict liability a cause of action against the defendant. The plaintiff, in return of the losses, filed financial compensation. (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Category:Overview)   Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The paper is concerned with an amino acid, L-Tryptophan, and its effects on general society. L-Tryptophan is required in the diet but it spread an epidemic in 1989. Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) was caused due to overdose of tryptophan in the dietary supplement.   The product came from Showa Denko Inc, a Japanese company.   Showa Denko Inc was reducing their manufacturing cost compromising in its purification procedures and quickens the production process through genetically engineered bacteria. Juanita Louise Pangle, a resident of Georgia, filed a case against Showa.  Ã‚   Due to the diverse and serious effects it produced, FDA banned tryptophan and placed a recall on all the products that contain it. All the over the counter food supplements had been removed. This recall is still in place, although, some changes has been made.    References John D Fernstrom (June 2000). Can nutrient supplements modify brain function?. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.Vol. 71. No. 6. Richard Alexander. Contaminated L-Tryptophan and 5-Hydroxy-L-Tryptophan, Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome [EMS]: The 1989 Epidemic and the 1998 Warning. The Consumer Law Page U. S. Food and Drug Administration (February 2001). Information Paper on L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan   Recall of L-Tryptophan http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html. Accessed Februaary 4,2007.    Tryptophan – Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan. Accessed February 4,2007 Sepp Hasslberger   (July 16 2004) Tryptophan, Niacin Protect Against Alzheimers http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/07/16/tryptophan_niacin_protect_against_alzheimers.htm. Accessed on February 4,2007. Product Liability-Strict Liability -Negligence Liability http://www.legal-definitions.com/personal-injury-law/product-liability/strict-liability-and-negligence-theories.htm. Accessed February 4,2007. Law.com Law Dictionary http://dictionary.law.com/. Accessed on February 5, 2007. Category: Overview-Wex http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Category:Overview. Accessed February 5, 2007.    Vladimir Hegyi, MD, PhD, (December 4, 2006).Pellagra. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic621.htm. Accessed on February 3,2007. Sherif Nasef, MD, (November 7, 2006). Eosinophilic Fasciitis http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic686.htm. Accessed on February 3, 2007. Gary R. Epler, M.D. (January 22, 2001). Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia. Internal Medicine. Volume 161 (2). Pages 158-164. http://www.epler.com/boop1.html Ira Jeffry Strumpf,   Richard D. Drucker,   Karl H. Anders,   Sylvan Cohen,   Oluwole Fajolu. (January 1991).Acute eosinophilic pulmonary disease associated with the ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing products.CHEST. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n1_v99/ai_10489355. Accesses February 3. 2007. Robert K. Murray. Daryl K. Granner. Peter A. Mayes. Victor W. Rodwell.( 2003). HARPER’S ILLUSTRATED BIOCHEMISTRY. A Lange Medical Book. Anafranil, Clomipramine Pharmacology –Healthyplace.com http://www.healthyplace.com/medications/anafranil.asp#description. Accessed February 3, 2007. Codeine – Complete medical information regarding this narcotic pain reliever http://www.medicinenet.com/codeine/article.htm. Accessed February 3, 2007. Dalmane, Flurazepam hydrochloride, side effects, drug interactions, overdose, dosage http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/dal1113.shtml. Accessed February 3, 2007. Xanax http://www.drugs.com/xanax.html. Accessed February 3, 2007. WHF Foods: Tryptophan http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientdbid=103 Accessed on February 3rd, 2007 Dietary Supplements: Making Sure Hype Doesnt Overwhelm Science http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00259.html Accessed on February 3rd, 2007 FDA Recall Policies http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/recall2.txt Accessed on February 3rd, 2007 Drug Recalls – What is a Drug Recall? http://www.drugrecalls.com/drug_recalls.html Accessed on February 3rd, 2007

A Story Of The Tell Tale Heart

A Story Of The Tell Tale Heart Everybody loves a good story! We have been told stories since a young age; also as we grow up; we continue to be surrounded by them. However, what makes a good and interesting story? For me in order to answer this question, I have chosen three short stories to evaluate them, which are The Tell Tale Heart, The Monkeys Paw and The Landlady. The main ingredients of the three stories mentioned above are the genre, characters and the setting. The genre of the story doesnt have to be very sophisticated, but it should tell us about the aim of the story such as is the story aimed to make us laugh or cry? The Tell Tale Heart: The Tell Tale Heart is a short story is written by Edger Allan Poe in 1843. The interesting part of the story is the guilt of a mad man who hears the heart of the old man he has killed still beating. Although the readers are given a rare insight into the mind of a mad man, but what is specially of interest is that this mad man is in obvious denial of his insanity and he acts like a child who has done something wrong and knows that the readers know it. In fact it is within the first two sentences of the story that the narrator feels he must convince to the readers of his sanity but not madness Very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but what will you say that I am mad. Another interesting point was made by the author the way in which the narrator talks fluctuate rapidly. When the narrator first defends his sanity, he seems calm, relaxed, and even intelligent. Then later like the above passage he seems to be rambling like a crazed lunatic. It is the time when he is calm in his manner of speech, which he is in his deepest state of a denial, to the time where he almost convinced of his sanity. It is interesting to note beside the obvious fact that it is impossible to hear everything in the heaven and earth, the symbolism that can be found in his speech I heard many things in hell. This statement is the narrators subconscious. After the narrator committed the murder of the old man, he started speaking about the precautions he took; precautions that he believed only a sane man could have taken. Where things really get interesting is when the narrator lunges in to kill the old man. He shrieked once-only once. The scream of the old man something that could easily be audible to the neighbours causes the narrator no anxiety. In fact the narrator almost immediately shifts its attention back to the heart. He hears the old mans heart beating furiously, terrified for his life. It is however not the old mans heart which the narrator is hearing but it is his own heart. The author does something very clever in the above part, he further portrays the narrators warped sense of reality by describing the sense of anxiety that the narrator receives from the loudness of the old mans heart, fearing that it will wake the neighbours. The greatest symbolism between a heart, the narrators super hearing and a conscience comes at the end of the story. Where the narrator manages to convince the police officers that there is nothing suspicious at the house but then the heart comes into play once again. Clearly the narrator is not hearing an actual noise, but is suffering from the manifestations of his maddened mind. Villains! I shirked, dissemble no more! I admit the deed!tear up the planks!here, here!it is the beating of his hideous heart. The narrators insanity gives him away to the police, he cant take it any longer and he cries out his guilty confession. Through the guise of the narrators madness, Poe portrays the mans consciousness as the beating of his heart. In essence the narrator is hearing a physical representation of his own guilt. The fascinating, but convoluted, point of view through which the story is portrayed is masterfully done to the point where Poe has his readers picking through the madness to separate what is actually going on, from how the narrator perceives things are going on. Poe uses symbolism and point of view as his greatest assets, and expertly portrays the order to madness. In its genius simplicity, Poe uses the narrators continuous denial to convince the reader of his undoubted insanity. The Monkeys Paw: The Monkeys Paw is a short story is written by W. W. Jacobs. The interesting part of the story begins when tragedy strikes the White Family, when Sergeant Major Morris brings a Monkeys Paw into their lives which is said to grant three wishes. This story had three main parts. These parts were the first wish, the first wish granted and the second and the third wishes. The way author has used day, night and the weather at the beginning of the story immediately captures the readers interest by explain that it is a bad day with nothing to look forward, when he says the night was cold and wet in the small parlour of laburnum villaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. The majority of the storys scenes happen at night, leaving only a few scenes in daylight. During the night, the weather is never pleasant and often unsettling, but during the day the weather is decent. The author purposely sets the suspenseful scenes during the nighttime leaving the reader to expect something horrible to happen. The scenes that take place during the day are not as scary and do not have the same effect as those at night. The authors main reason for setting these scenes at night is to target the readers fears. For example, the scene where Mr. White wishes for his son to come back to life is set at night to make it fearful and suspenseful. When their wish came true, it was a stormy night. There was heavy rain, thunder and lightning. If it had been set in the daylight it would not have had the same effect. The setting had been in the middle of nowhere it provides a feeling of isolation from civilization, and also when it at night it establishes the expectation that something could go wrong and therefore helps to build suspense. This makes the story better and interesting. Jacobs has made this story interesting because the reader attention got drawn into by listening to Sergeant Major Morris travels in India and the mysterious tale of The Monkeys Paw Well, its just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps as the Sergeant Major said. Jacobs makes the tale even more intriguing by the way the Sergeant Major tells the tale about The Monkeys Paw but then goes on to being reserved about it. Another interesting part is that all the previous owners of The Monkeys Paw remain unknown, and the only thing that is revealed is that something horrible happened to them. The Sergeant Major only mentioned about one of them, as he talked about his wishes I dont know what the first two were, but the third was for death. The three wishes are also spaced just right, so that the events in the story can take place the way they do. The first wishs horrible results are enough to create more tension in the plot, but leave enough wishes for there to be hope of fixing it. The second wish serves to complicate the plot further, yet leaves the third wish as an option to fix it. The author adds depth and more excitement to the story by injecting suspense and mystery at almost every turn. From the beginning, he uses somewhat vague dialogue and intriguing character reactions to create tension. For example when Mr. White questioned the Sergeant Major about The Monkeys Paw, he replied Leastways, nothing worth hearing. This shows the Sergeant Major Morris discomfort while speaking of The Monkeys Paw draws the reader in and keeps them hooked. The audience can understand the uncomfortable history surrounding the strange talisman. This tension exponentially has increased when Morris suddenly threw The Monkeys Paw at the fire and he said Better let it burn. At this moment, the military mans true fear and hatred of The Monkeys Paw reveal themselves. The entire climax of the story also radiates pulse pounding suspense. The author controls the readers perspective and interest through the story by other methods as well. The previous owners of The Monkeys Paw are a great example of irony. Something bad happened to them, when the Sergeant Major reveals. This creates a fearful image to the readers mind and the reader is looking for something similar to happen to the Whites family. Even though the Whites expected their magical money to come falling from the sky, when Herbert said Might drop on his head from the sky. At second and third parts of the story the readers attention focuses on Mr. and Mrs. White, and not the events that take place outside their house. The reader never really sees how the wish on the paw caused their sons fatal accident, or whether or not he was brought back to life. It could all be a coincidence but because of the perspective the reader is forced to take, the story seems more sinister and powerful than it might have otherwise. This effect is used to its fullest extent when the lost son is apparently brought back to life. The knocking on the door was believed to be him, even though Mr. White didnt believe to be him, as he said to his wife For Gods sake, dont let it in, but the last wish was made before the door was opened. Its possible that he was never there at all, despite what the characters in the story believe. The author never really reveal what was the last wish but one can assume that he wished he had never made his second wish. The end of the story is open and leaves us to come up with an end of our own. Conclusion: the author has managed to use a good connection between each part of the story, which captures the readers interesting by explaining how the Whites in the beginning of the story are content, yet skeptical of the magical properties of The Monkeys Paw. Through the events of the story, their world has turned upside down, and in the end they are wrestling on the floor for control of the same Monkeys Paw. Their previous happiness is converted to despair and sorrow in just ten days. The Landlady: The Landlady is a short story which has an unexpected ending by Roald Dahl. The writer uses clever structure and effective characterization to create such a surprising and satisfactory ending. I think the author has set the time and weather in condition, which creates an atmosphere of suspense and a sinister in the story. Billy arrived in Bath at 9pm and it is a time when darkness takes over light, as dark represents evil. The moon was coming up out of a clear starry sky. This quote is associated with strong things happening creating evil as the atmosphere changes and it shows the start of a supernatural suspense. The air was deadly cold and the wind was like flat blades of ice on his cheeks. Roald Dahls word choice is excellent and chillingly describes the opening scene. By the use of words, such as: cold, deadly and blade the author gives us clues, hinting at Billys, the main character and his fate. The weather was not pleasant because the wind was sharp and deadly cold. Flat blade is associated with knife which is related to evil because it causes people to bleed when cut. Billy is seventeen; this is another good reason, which is given by the writer in the story. Why? Because it is evident from the story that Billy is mature since he is making his own sensible decisions and is starting a good job but in reality he is young and vulnerable boy. He is also sociable, handsome and generally a likable person. There are several suggestions in the paragraph to back this up. He enjoys darts, likes going out. The writer introduces him the perfect teenage boy to readers. The problem is he catches the eye of the landlady, an original and unusual character to commit murder. Roald Dahl uses the setting to the condition that without it the story wouldnt work. If it was set in the modern day we would have the problem of communication via internet or mobile phones. In the modern day Billys mum or the people receiving him in his new job would have phoned the next day when they didnt hear from him but at the time when the story is set there was a lot less communication between people and it is likely that he would not have been missed for a long while after his disappearance. Instead he is stuck, unknowingly, at a strange BED AND BREAKFAST with a psychopathic old lady but no form of communication with the outside world. That is what makes it interesting. Therefore Billys mood is unpleasant in Bath because He didnt know anyone who lived here. This shows that Billy is a lonely person in the strong city called Bath so he would have nobody to turn to for help or assistance, therefore he is not happy. Roald Dahl manages to keep us interested the whole way through. By starting with the ice-cold weather and going on to talk about the perfect, good looking teenage boy. He draws us in with enticing clues put in here and there throughout the story like little hints of horror or spookiness. Billy comes across a swanky residence with porches and pillars but the white facades were all blotchy and cracked. A slight twist, not everything is as it seems in the fancy place and all of a sudden he comes across an illuminated sign. When he looks closer in the window he sees cosy furnishings and a beautifully designed, welcoming, window. And now a queer thing happened to him, this is where the story takes and important turn when the strange and supernatural that has been building up declares itself out in the open. We think that whatever happens now cant be right. The sign BED AND BREAKFAST, BED AND BREAKFAST, BED AND BREAKFAST stops him from going away, holding him, compelling him, forcing him to stay where he was. Before he knew what was happening he had rung the bell and then at once the door was opened and he was being welcomed, almost simultaneously into a warm and comfortable house by an elderly woman, unsuspecting. In the story she is described as looking like your best friends mother. Roald Dahl also says, with good use of parenthesis, She was not only harmless there was no question about that but she was obviously a kind and generous soul. Billy obviously has complete trust in the landlady and it is clear that he doesnt expect that she is going to turn out to be mentally deranged. Gradually we get tantalizing hints as to how Billy is undoubtedly going to die (even though it is never actually said). The landlady looks Billy up and down as if she fancies him but when we look at other clues the cheap accommodation, she doesnt want to break any laws at this stage in the proceedings it seems to be something else and we want to know what. At last we see the picture coming together from all the clues we have pieced together. Billy is sure when he reads the guest book that hes heard the names before somewhere and when he thinks he is positive that they were linked in some way. When he mentions this to the landlady she changes the subject and seems unnaturally anxious to persuade him to drink his tea. Billy looks at the names and notices that the dates are over a year apart and the latest two years ago! This is very suspicious and warrants closer inspection. He asks the landlady herself about this but she says she is very choosy. What gives her plan away to the reader is when she tells Billy that they are still in the house both together. When she says, about Mr Mulholland, and there wasnt a blemish on his body, even Billy is surprised. We are finally relieved of the burden of guesswork when she tells us that both of her extremely lifelike pets are stuffed. We know that the landlady has probably been preparing to stuff Billy because of all the clues we have had and she smells funny, a mix between old leather (preserved or dried skin) and vinegar(used to preserve food by pickling), the tea tastes like almonds, a type of poison. We know whats going to happen to him and it seems as though the landlady has been waiting for the chance for some time because the bed covers were tucked back for him and a warm hot water bottle had been laid inside the bed before he arrived even though she had had no guests for two years. Roald Dahl never has to say any of this but we understand it all by the end anyway, this is what makes the story so interesting.

Defining Mills Harm Principle Philosophy Essay

Defining Mills Harm Principle Philosophy Essay The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. John Stuart Mill. The above sentence has been the one significant principle as asserted by Mill in his famous On Liberty, commonly called the harm principle. Harm, in his context, means only direct harm, by means of actions and inaction, onto others. Harm that one done to others by harming himself does not count unless one has failed to fulfil some specific and concrete obligation that ought to be done initially. Interference should not be placed on someone as long as the things done do not harm others. Legal penalties and sanctions can only be justified if they are imposed to prevent harm to others. Mill mentioned that the time where the society or the individual as a whole can impose influences on particular individual liberty is when it is for self-protection. If a person is placing himself in a position that is dangerous solely to him, society has no right to interfere. He believes that every individual is autonomous, nothing can be compelled upon him/her, for his/her own benefit/welfare, as long as the thing done does not impose threats to others even though it is harming himself. This is what Mill meant from Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign  [1]  . However, this does not apply to children and some backward states of society, who are not capable to take care of themselves and to make sensible decisions, such as the undeveloped races. Furthermore, Mill thought that human liberty should encompass first, the inward domain of conscience, and liberty of thought and feeling. Second, the liberty of tastes and pursuits in planning ones own life and lastly, the liberty of individuals in uniting with other consenting collective groups for any purposes which do not harm others. He believed that a good society can only exist through the granting of all the liberties to the people in pursuing their own good lives in their own good ways.  [2]   In Mills works, they were inevitably much influenced by his thought on utilitarianism  [3]  . Obviously, in which he regarded utility as the ultimate appeal on all ethical questionsin the largest sense, grounded on the permanent interests of man  [4]  Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, would be the permanent interests of mankind. This can be seen much clearer where he held that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.  [5]   What did the legal theorists think? In an influential defence of the harm principle, Raz has challenged on the precept on how the state should promote the well-being of people and in the pursuit of moral ideas, how far, the state in coercing the society should be determined by the harm principle. He suggested that it is a perfectionist ideal which presupposes specific moral conceptions which are not indifferent towards criteria of moral worth or moral virtue  [6]  . Also, as we have seen, Mill ruled out the compulsion and control of the state to prevent harmless wrongdoing although that could be what the state think is in the best interest of the society in obtaining pleasures and happiness. By acting as a guiding principle in terms of political restraint, this will not lead Raz to non-perfectionist position  [7]  . Raz supported Mills harm principle not by his utilitarian path, but by the autonomy principle. He claimed that the autonomy principle is an important ingredient for the state to pursue a moral good and to promote a good life for the citizens in such societies. Autonomous life is valuable only if it is spent in the pursuit of acceptable and valuable projects and relationships.  [8]   Ultimately, Razs central claim is to defend the harm principle through the principle of autonomy for one simple reason: The means used, coercive interference, violates the autonomy of its victim because it violates the condition of independence and expresses a relation of domination and an attitude of disrespect for the coerced individual and, coercion by criminal penalties is a global and indiscriminate invasion of autonomy.  [9]  To complete a personal autonomy, condition of independence  [10]  must be present, too. Slavery, moral censorship, sale of contraceptives  [11]  , etc could be the more common examples. Dan-Cohen has also come out with a similar structure of Razs arguments on the harm principle but a rather more different and inconsistent conclusion, in which he focused more on criminal law. He suggested that the harm principle should be replaced by the dignity principle  [12]  because dignity demands that our actions, practices, and institutions convey an attitude of respect to people.  [13]  He has made a hypothetical example of happy slavery in contradicting with Razs argument on the independence is part and parcel of autonomy but his point is, a dignity principle altogether independent of autonomy.  [14]