Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Free Speech, Censorship, and Self Determination Issues in Protests against the Chinese Government :: China Government Research Politics Papers

Free Speech, Censorship, and Self Determination Issues in Protests against the Chinese Government Introduction As a Chinese American, I have long admired the African American culture that spawned the civil rights movement. Here was a people buffeted by a history of discrimination that asserted its equal rights as men and women. Whether advocating nonviolence and integration or separation and violence if necessary, these men and women used and asserted their freedom of speech on the streets, in writings, and on the airwaves. Today we see China growing rapidly in economic power yet shaken by protests by workers displaced by the closings of state owned enterprises and migrant workers treated as second class citizens. We see organizations, from the Chinese Democratic Foundation to the Falun Gong, advocating and asserting human rights. The Chinese government has been relentless in "nip(ing) those factors that undermine social stability in the bud, no matter where they come from."(7) Many human rights organizations and dissident organizations have turned to the Internet to protest these government actions and to communicate, inform, and advocate their message to both the Chinese people and to the rest of the world. As a believer in protests and freedom of speech and someone who wants Chinese culture to grow, I should be a staunch supporter of these organizations and their actions. Yet, I am torn. What's Happening In China China is undergoing rapid and violent change. China has the fastest growing economy in the world, growing at 9.1% clip in 2003. SFGate recently reported on Shanghai novelist Mian Mian whose tale exposing an underground of rock, drugs, and promiscuity is reminiscent of America in the 60's. The number of Chinese Internet users is estimated at close to 80 million. A new generation of artists have appeared on the scene, wryly commenting on China's rapid change. China, nominally communist, seems freer than ever before and its future looks bright. Yet, you also hear reports of corruption, of large and growing underclass, and renewed repression. It seems that partly fueling China's engine of growth is a near inexhaustible supply of cheap and desperate labor spawned by the closing of state owned enterprises (S.O.E.s) and an impoverished rural population. These hardships have spawned a migrant labor population, estimated to swell to 100 million this year, that has flooded urban centers looking for work. These workers are denied education, medical care, pensions, are locked out of most jobs, and are vulnerable to labor abuses.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Plant Biotechnology

Define plant biotechnology. Using examples discuss how it is different from traditional / conventional methods plant breeding. Plant biotechnology has been defined as the integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences in-order to achieve technological application of micro-organisms and cultured tissue cells in the transfer of genetic traits from one crop species to another to obtain transgenic plants that are of beneficial use to human kind (Lawrence . W; 1968).Heldt H and Heldt F (2005) defines plant biotechnology as the art and science to produce a genetically modified plant by removing genetic information from an organism, manipulating it in a laboratory and then transferring it into a plant to change certain of its characteristics. . Plant breeding is the science and art of improving crop plants through the study and application of genetics, agronomy, statistics, plant pathology, entomology, and related sciences (Kuckuck et al; 1991).Increased crop yield is the primary aim of most plant-breeding programs; advantages of the hybrids and new varieties developed include adaptation to new agricultural areas, greater resistance to disease and insects, greater yield of useful parts, better nutritional content of edible parts, and greater physiological efficiency. Humans have been improving crops for yield and other characteristics since the advent of agriculture. Plant biotechnology involves processes such as genetic engineering which involves the direct addition of foreign gene/genes to the genome of an organism.It is a type of genetic modification. Traditional plant breeding also modifies the genetic composition of plants. It involves techniques such as crossing and selection of new superior genotype combinations. Firstly traditional methods tend to breed plants that can sexually mate with each other. This limits the new traits that can be added to those that already exist in that species. Secondly when plants are crossed, many traits are transformed along with the trait of interest. Whereas genetic engineering, on the other hand, is not bound by these limitations.It involves the removal of a specific fragment of DNA from one plant or organism and transferring the genes for one of a few traits into another. No crossing is required hence the sexual barrier between species is overcome. It is more specific in that a single trait can be added to a plant (Bajaj . Y; 2001). According to Rost . T. I et al (2006), another difference between traditional plant breeding and plant biotechnology is the number of genes transferred to the offspring in each case. Plants contain approximately 80 000 genes which recombine during sexual hybridization.The offspring may therefore inherit around 1000 new genes as a result of this recombination. This is equivalent to a 0. 0125 % change in the genome. By contrast when a specific gene is transferred into a plant, there is a 0. 0025% change in the genetic information of the plant, it is argue d that plant biotechnology provides a more precise approach to crop improvements than sexual hybridization. Plant biotechnology through genetic engineering can cause harmful toxins to be produced by transformed plants, though it is still unclear whether it is due to the technique itself on the nature of the foreign gene.The introduction of a gene that it is known to encode a toxin in one organism will induce a similar effect when introduced into a different organism (Raven P. H et al; 1992). There has been a case where a transgenic soybean containing a gene from Brazil nuts elicited an allergic reaction in some people. The gene from Brazil nuts had been well characterized and its product known to cause an allergy, hence extensive laboratory tests. This illustrates why rigorous characterization of a gene is required before permitting its introduction into a novel species.However there is also the potential of toxic product being produced as a result of conventional methods of crop im provements. For example, in sweet potatoes where vegetative propagation is done, potato varieties with increased pest resistance have continually been selected as giving a higher crop variety. Those varieties contain high levels of natural pesticides, called glucoalkaloids. However these compounds are toxic to animals, so could have harmful effects when eaten.This demonstrates that the nature of the novel feature should be open to debate rather than the method by which it is introduced (Lawrence . W; 1968). The traditional methods of crop improvements are limited by the sexual compatibility of the plants involved; whereas with plant biotechnology through genetic engineering any characteristic from any organism of any species can be introduced into a plant. Plant breeders therefore have access to a much wider gene pool than they have using traditional crossing methods to develop a new variety.For example a rice gene responsible for defense against a disease causing fungus can be tran sferred to a banana susceptible to that disease. The intent is to protect the genetically modified banana from that disease and thereby reduce yield loss and number of fungicide applications. Another example is that genes introduced into plants to provide a resistance to the herbicide Round Up was isolated from bacteria. An insecticidal toxin used as a crop spray was also extracted from bacteria. Genetically modified maize is been grown which expresses this type of proteins.One major difference between traditional plant breeding and plant biotechnology; genetic engineering/ modification is that, while extensive restrictions are in place to limit the development and release of genetically modified varieties, those developed by sexual hybridization and mutagenesis are under no restrictions (Raven P. H et al; 1992). A major concern surrounding the cultivation of genetically modified crops is the possibility of cross pollination between transgenic and related crops.While this is clearly possible for some species, but not all crop species have native wild relatives with which they are sexually compatible meaning that the possibility of the production of â€Å"super weeds† is not possible. Plants such as carrots are allowed only to flower for seed production meaning that cross-pollination during normal commercial cultivation is unlikely. In plant biotechnology plants can be grown in artificial medium requiring less land mass to produce large amounts of crops in less time. Although it seems like a great alternative to the earlier methods, it can also be devastating.By growing plants at a faster rate there is a possibility of losing the essential vitamins and nutrients that are important for us. Transgenic plants are still a relatively new field and no concrete evidence for any of this existing but it is growing concern (Bajaj . Y; 2001). Heldt . H and Heldt . F (2005) says, the techniques of traditional breeding are very time-consuming. By making crosses, also a large number of undesired genes are introduced into the genome of the plant. The undesired genes have to be â€Å"sorted out† by back-crossing.Using plant biotechnology which involves the use of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism it greatly facilitates/substitutes conventional plant breeding, because one can progress through a breeding program much faster, with smaller populations and without relying entirely on testing for the desired phenotype. RFLP makes use of restriction endonucleases enzymes which recognize and cut specific nucleotide sequence in DNA. The cut fragments are separated according to size by gel electrophoresis and made visible by hybridizing the plant DNA fragments with labeled DNA probes.The closer two organisms are related, the more pattern of bands overlap. With conventional breeding, the pool of available genes and the traits they code for is limited due to sexual incompatibility to other lines of the crop in question and to their wild relative s. This restriction can be overcome by using the methods of genetic engineering, which in principle allow introducing valuable traits coded for by specific genes of any organism (other plants, bacteria, fungi, animals, viruses) into the genome of any plant. According to Rost . T. I et al (1992), transgenes are inserted into the nuclear genome of a plant cell.Recently it has become possible to introduce genes into the genome of chloroplasts and plastids. Transgenic plants have been generated using methods such as agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer, direct DNA transfer, particle bombardment and electroporation. References 1. Bajaj . Y. (2001). Transgenic Crops. Berlin. Springer. 2. Heldt . H and Heldt . F. (2005). Plant Biochemistry. 3rd edition. California. Elsevier. 3. Kuckuck . H; Kobabe G. and Wenzel G. (1991). Fundamentals of plant breeding. New York. Springer-Verlag. 4. Lawrence . W. (1968). Plant breeding. London. Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd. 5. Raven P.H, Evert . R. F and Ei chron . S. E. (1992). Biology of Plants. 5th edition. New York. Van Hoffman Press Inc. 6. Rost . T. l. , Barbour . M. G. , Stocking . R. C. and Murphy . T. M. (2006). Plant Biology. 2nd edition. California. Thomson Brooks/Cole. CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY NAME: Tanyaradzwa R Ngara REG NUMBER: C1110934J COURSE:Plant Biotechnology COURSE CODE: CUBT 207 PROGRAM:BSBIO Assignment: Define plant biotechnology. Using examples discuss how it is different from traditional / conventional methods plant breeding [25marks].

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Immigration Restrictions Essay - 930 Words

Total inhalation of immigration would not be a healthy choice for the United States. However, setting out for stricter laws to become a citizen is in need. There are over 11.7 million illegal immigrants in the United States (poll 2011). Therefore, having restrictions on immigration overall can help the economy grow, security at airports, docs, borders, and on the streets would not only lessen the illegal immigrants around the country, but supply more jobs for Americans. Illegal immigrants not only live in the U.S, but are supplied jobs in which were made for American workers. Naturalization Act of 1870: Control Naturalization Process and penalization of fraudulent practices. The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) allowed the U.S. to suspend†¦show more content†¦(R. Stell) This is to help bring jobs back to the Americans and crack down on illegal immigrants. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952 brought all the various immigration laws together in one organized act. In 2009, out of all immigrant households, legal and illegal, with children (under 18) 57 percent used at least one welfare program, compared native households with children that came in about 39 percent. Fifty-two percent of households with children headed by legal immigrants were estimated to used at least one welfare program in 2009, compared to 71 percent for illegal immigrant households with children. Illegal immigrants generally receive benefits on behalf of their U.S.-born children. Due to low education levels more than half of the working immigrant households with children still accessed the welfare system during 2009 (Camarota). Cutting down on the amount of immigrants into the country can help to increase benefits for American citizens. This includes but is not limited to: food assistance, Medicaid, cash assistance, and public and subsidized housing. Security purposes would decrease the amount of unidentified immigrants. In 2011, ICE removed more than 396,000 individuals. ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is essentially the immigration cops and ensure that immigration laws are being enforced for public safety. It is one of the largestShow MoreRelated The Restriction of Immigration in the United States Essay665 Words   |  3 PagesThe Restriction of Immigration in the United States Immigration should be restricted in the United States. There are many political, social, and economic reasons why restrictions should be put on immigration. The United States Government and the welfare of its citizens are chaotic enough, without having to deal with the influx of thousands of new immigrants each year. Along with the myriad immigrants to the U.S., come just as many economic problems. Some of these problemsRead MoreTighter Border Restrictions Will Reduce Illegal Immigration Essay1677 Words   |  7 PagesOne of America’s many problems is the rise of illegal immigration. 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Australia wanted to remain a country of white people who lived by British customs.Read MoreThe White Australia Policy, The Racist Country Its Academic Historians Have Condemned1775 Words   |  8 Pagesdecided to introduce the Immigration Restriction Act left Australia banning prostitutes, criminals, and anyone under a contract or agreement to perform manual labour within Australia which seems that Edmund Barton was doing his job and kept Australia safe but he was not. This is because, he did not stop there, he introduced a dictation test to exclude certain people by making them sit a written exam that they need to pass to be welcome in Australia voted by an immigration officer and majority of theRead MoreAustralia s International Relations Between Australia And Japan1234 Words   |  5 Pagescu rrently living in Australia. The Immigration Act 1909 - most popularly known as the White Australia Policy - which caused upset within Australia’s international relationships with Britain and Japan. This caused other nations to criticise Australia’s racial views and eventually immigration restrictions were gradually loosened and Australian’s began to be less fearful of people from a wide range of different countries and backgrounds. The big push for the Immigration Act 1901 in the first place wasRead MoreAustralia s Historical Fear Of Invasion951 Words   |  4 Pageswill briefly discuss foreign policy and the relation it has to the new fear of invasion. The policy that will be discussed is immigration restrictions and the treatment of people who have attempted to enter Australia informally. The history of Australia’s paranoia of invasion is stated by Nikos Papastergiadis to been evident back in 1901 with Australia’s first immigration act weighted by the paranoia of an Asian invasion of the geographical isolated Australia. Australia’s fears increased with theRead MoreCanada s Immigration System Lacks Heart879 Words   |  4 PagesCanada’s immigration system lacks heart, critics say, is an article filled with professional opinions and debates. These debates and opinions are regarding the humanitarian and compassionate side of immigration and refugee law in Canada. The article’s main purpose is to expose how Canada has changed its compassion for acceptance of refugees in recent years. Canada has always been recognized as an accepting and â€Å"go-to† country in crisis. However, in recent years, there have been changes. Refugee

Saturday, December 28, 2019

William Shakespeare s Hamlet - Eavesdropping And Spying...

William Shakespeare uses eavesdropping and spying to advance the plot and enlighten the theme of revenge in his renowned play, Hamlet. Eavesdropping and spying can be seen in many instances throughout the drama, but examining two particular cases shows how the trickery progresses the plot and promotes revenge. The first espionage example is Hamlet being spied upon by Polonius as Polonius is attempting to discover the source for Hamlet’s madness. Hamlet’s anger resulting from these secretive acts advances the plot and the theme of revenge. The second situation in the play is Polonius listening in on Hamlet’s conversation with Gertrude in her chamber. He is killed as a result of his behavior, but his actions have everlasting effects, propelling the plot forward and promoting the ever-present need for revenge. As a part of Hamlet’s plan for revenge against his father’s killer, he fakes being insane. Busybody Polonius is curious about the source o f Hamlet’s madness and whether his condition is a result of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia. Polonius tells his daughter, â€Å"Ophelia, walk you here†¦ we will bestow ourselves,† explaining how he and King Claudius will listen to her conversation. Polonius and Claudius hide and Hamlet comes in to talk with Ophelia. Hamlet, although acting crazy, completely understands what is going on and calls Ophelia and the listeners out on their trickery. He says to her, â€Å"Go thy ways to a / nunnery. Where’s your father?† a comment that both shamesShow MoreRelatedHamlet s Biggest Flaw, Himself1451 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet’s Biggest Flaw, Himself The entire play of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, is based around the young prince Hamlet who has lost his father and is trying to avenge his death in any means possible. With this duty over his shoulders, it causes him to overthink every decision that he is trying to make and ultimately leads to his demise. Although everyone overthinks some situations, Hamlet would be known to have Generalized Anxiety Disorder in common time because whenever he starts to come up withRead MoreInsanity, By William Shakespeare Essay2235 Words   |  9 Pagesmentally ill.† In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet†, there is much debate on whether or not Hamlet is insane. According to SparkNotes, William Shakespeare wrote â€Å"Hamlet† in the first part of the seventeenth century. Hamlet is the prince of Denmark, and the protagonist of â€Å"Hamlet†. Hamlet’s father gets killed by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, almost immediately marries Claudius following Hamlet’s father’s death. Claudius then claims the throne, rather than Hamlet. Hamlet was betrayed

Friday, December 20, 2019

The Invention Of The Airplane Essay - 1437 Words

As technology has developed throughout the years, many forms of transportation have been invented and thoroughly advanced. The airplane is one of the inventions in transportation. The invention of the airplane is credited to Wilbur and Orville Wright, brothers from Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers were the first to successfully fly a sustained, controlled, powered, and manned airplane, which took place on December 17, 1903 (Crouch Jakab, 2003, p.131). Throughout World War I, the demand for airplanes grew; consequently, production and engineering rapidly improved (Crouch, 2003, p. 198). With the development of airplanes, airplanes went from a sport for the wealthy to a functional, efficient aircraft for carrying mail and passengers. Today, airplanes are used throughout the world for business and commercial purposes, as well as in the medical world (Woolford Warner, 2015, pp. 150-255). The invention of the airplane has been a benefit to society. Airplanes are a benefit to soci ety because they have increased businesses opportunities by a significant amount. The first sources of airplane business were through airmail. According to Dick and Patterson (2003), a quote from the first few pilots to send mail on September 9th, 1911 reads, â€Å"We believe this important event will become historical, and its development will lead to a revolution in the present modes of conveying communications between the peoples of the world.† This quote illustrates that from a very earlyShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of The Airplane1401 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica has had multiple inventions in its short lifespan, but one stands out above the rest. The invention of the airplane in 1903 by Wilbur and Orville Wright was only the beginning of something that would change the world forever. The airplane is still used today to travel around the world at a much faster pace than a boat. While it has been used to mainly help people they are also used to hurt people. The army uses planes to drop bombs, shoot down planes and threats on the ground, and to surveyRead MoreThe Invention Of The Airplane1013 Words   |  5 Pages Airplanes are sometimes considered one of the most overlooked inventions. This is often because people overlook the power of airplanes. It is amazing to think how two brothers created something used by thousands of people a day. Airplanes are usually the quickest method of transportation for people traveling long distances. They can also be used to travel across large bodies of water, whereas, ships would take a much longer time. The invention of the airplane was not easy. Airplanes were also notRead MoreThe Great Invention of the Airplane1307 Words   |  5 PagesThe airplane is a very normal word today. But it is a new word at least a hundred years. Then I want to talk about airplanes’ history, airplanes’ companies, personal business, global trade, and the benefit for international students and traveling. In my view, those parts are very important about airplanes has changed people’s lives. A lot of people believe that airplanes bring many benefits to our life. I agree with this idea because airplanes are one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth centuryRead MoreAirplanes; The Invention of and How They Fly Essay1600 Words   |  7 Pagesto fly an airplane. However, it is a good idea to have good knowledge of aerodynamics and flight theory to be able to fly safely. There are four basic components in making an airplane fly, lift, drag, thrust, and weight. All of these work in unison to make a plane stay in the air. If one of the first three is taken out of the equation, gravity and weight will take over and cause the plane to descend. It is up to the pilot to understand how to make them equal in order to keep the airplane in flightRead MoreThe Invention Of Airplanes : The United States Of America And Great Britain1748 Words   |  7 PagesFor many people, it is hard to think of the current world without airplanes. This simple fact is what makes them so important to talk about in society. They might be overlooked sometimes, but they have added a lot to history and should not be taken for granted for what they achieve. To focus on a few countries, the United States of America and Great Britain, the invention of airplanes had some of its largest impact on them. Whether that be in terms of travel or warfare, these countries benefitedRead MoreBenefits Of Airplanes And Society Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesThe Benefits of Airplanes to Society As technology has developed throughout the years, many forms of transportation have been invented and thoroughly advanced. The airplane is one of the inventions in transportation. The invention of the airplane is credited to Wilbur and Orville Wright, brothers from Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers were the first to successfully fly a sustained, controlled, powered, and manned airplane, which took place on December 17, 1903 (Crouch Jakab, 2003, p.131). ThroughoutRead MoreWhy Are Patents Important For Technology?1745 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: What is a Patent? (Natashua Hester) A patent is a limit of property rights that are related to an idea or an invention, which is granted by the United States Patent Trademark Office (Ji, 2011). Patents laws were created in 1787 by Constitution Article I 8 Class 3, which regulates commerce within a foreign nations, states and the trade of Indian tribes (Calvert, 2016). The U.S. Constitution Article I Class 8 stated that progress innovated by Science and Arts are secured by limitedRead MoreThe Airplane Has Changed The Course Of The Western World Forever888 Words   |  4 PagesJoshua Poirrier Mrs. Elliott English III 9 May 2017 The Airplane Effect Orville Wright once said, â€Å"The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall.† The ingenuity of the Wright brothers’ airplane design has changed the course of the Western world forever. The invention of the aircraft positively affected American society by providing a quicker way of traveling, having an influence on warfare, and implementing a better economy in the United States. When the aeroplane was assembledRead MoreThe History and Development of Aircraft763 Words   |  4 PagesOne very influential inventions in the early 20th century is the aircraft. Ever since the design set by the Wright brothers, it has changed in both shape and size. Throughout history people have always found a reason to travel, and now this new type of invention is allowing people to travel farther and move faster. Everyone, no matter your color, race, or gender, is allowed to travel by this new form of transportation. The evolution of the plane played a major impact on the ability to travel, sinceRead MoreTransportation in the 1800s1136 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom the beginning of time, till now. I mean technology itself has transformed the word. New inventions are created each day, improving machines, and almost everything. Throughout history people have created things that have made life easier. Transportation has always been very important. It has been a huge part of history . Of course like every other resource it had its pros and cons. Automobiles, airplanes, boats, and trains during the 1800s were all being invented. Before life was harsh

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Growth in Australian Agricultural Sector-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Growth in australian agricultural sector for export market. Answer: Introduction The agricultural sector is one of the key economic sectors for Australia from the point of view of International exports. Agriculture and the farm sector accounted for over 6% of the total exports of Australia . Agri-Exports from Australia must cope up with a dynamic economic and political world in order to maintain market share. This report is a snapshot of growth in agricultural exports from Australia. Agricultural Exports of Australia and their Growth Table 1 The Top- Five Agri-commodities Exported from Australia Commodity 2014-15 (in million A$) 2015-16 (in million A$) 2016-17 (in million A$) % share % Growth between 2012 and 2016 Beef 9,040 8,495 7,115 1.9 12.1 Wheat 5,528 5,096 6,073 1.6 -3.3 Meat (excl beef) 3,840 3,649 3,831 1.0 11.1 Vegetables. 1,236 1,936 3,271 0.9 22.5 Wool and other animal hair 2,782 2,872 3,263 0.9 4.5 (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2018) There are five agricultural commodities which are consistently in the twenty five most exported goods and services from Australia. These figures help understand the dominance of the agricultural sector in Australias exports. On a combined level, these commodities were responsible for over 6% share of the total exports from Australia by AUD. This analysis does not include wine because the exports of wine are not included separately in statistical tables but included under the alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, Wine produced in Australia is exported globally and is a source of foreign trade. (Winemakers' Federation of Australia, 2014) Australia is also, a major exporter of horticultural products like fruits and nuts. (Aebischer, 2018) As seen above, agricultural exports are not only among the biggest commodity exports of Australia but are also growing rapidly. In general, Agri- export have outperformed other commodity exports from Australia.(Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2018) Factors Affecting the Growth of Exports A significant factor that affects growth of exports of the agricultural sector is the rate of exchange of the Australian Dollar. The Real Effective Exchange Rate is a good way to measure export growth. Graph 2: REER Comparison for Australia and USA . Source (The World Bank, 2018) REERis the nominal effective exchange rate (a measure of the value of a currency against a weighted average of several foreign currencies) divided by a price deflator or index of costs.(International Monetary Fund, 2018) Exchange rates reflect the countrys terms of trade. A better exchange rate leads to better relative prices. Growth in REER implies that exports became more expensive while it became cheaper to import goods. This is an indicator of the loss in trade competitiveness(International Monetary Fund, 2018) The increase in agri-exports have corresponded with the falling value of the Australian Dollar. In order to keep the competitiveness of agri-exports high, it is important to keep the value of the AUD in check. Trade Agreements and Partnerships Australias agricultural exports were pre-dominantly oriented towards the European markets in the past. However, this situation has been changing since mid-1990s. This has been due a number of reasons. One of these reasons being the rise of Asian economies like China and India as economic forces. (Department of Agricuture and Water Resources, 2017) Part of the reason for the decline in the share of Australian exports to the EU has been caused by excessive EU regulation and regulations that usually support agriculture from EU. Agricultural importa to EU are subject to several restrictive quotas, in-quota and out-of-quota tariffs . This could change with the ratification of the Transatlantic Trade Partnership Agreement (TPP). The TPP is a multi country free trade agreement which will allow Australia to export to several countries with low or no tariffs. (Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, 2017) Australia has bi-lateral trade agreements with USA and other countries. Trade agreements can be double edged swords as they not only allow exports without tariffs but also allow imports without tariffs. For example, wine is a significant agri-export of Australia. A free trade agreement with USA allows Australia to export wine to USA but also, allows for cheap wine from USA to be imported to Australia.(Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2017) International Trade Environment The international trade environment is currently volatile and moving towards protectionism. This may have both positive and negative effects on Australias agricultural exports. For example, if the USA goes ahead with protective tariffs on Chinese imports and China retaliates with the same, then there is a possibility of increasing exports from Australia to China. China is a major trading partner of Australia and an importer of commodities such as beef, wine etc.(Department of Agriculture and Water Reources ABRES, 2017) Climate Change Climate chain can negatively affect the agricultural supply chain. Hence climate Change is a credible threat to Australian agri-exports. (Batt, 2015) Climate change presents, not only a direct threat to crops but also indirect threats. For example, water resources are affected due to climate change which consequently increases the costs of irrigation which is turn, increases production costs.(Aebischer, 2018) Conclusion According to Department of Agricuture and Water Resources, (2017) earning from the agricultural sector are expected to be approximately AUD 48.5 billion in 20182019. It is expected that fruit and nut exports will also remain strong. Exports of the traditional commodities such as wool, beef etc. are expected to grow and remain unchanged. However, these analyses do not take into consideration the impacts of the dynamic political changes that are currently shaping up. It is clear, that the growth of agri-exports is shaped up by not the just the agricultural factors but also non-agricultural factors such as climate changes, free trade treaties and more. Growth of agricultural exports in the future is expected to take place from South East Asian countries instead of traditional partners like USA and European Union. Bibliography Aebischer, C. (2018, March 6). Strong export growth for Australian produce. Retrieved from Asia Fruit: https://www.fruitnet.com/asiafruit/article/174918/strong-export-growth-for-australian-produce Batt, P. J. (2015, April 27). Australias five strong pillar economy: agriculture. Retrieved from The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/australias-five-strong-pillar-economy-agriculture-40388 Department of Agriculture and Water Reources ABRES. (2017). A stocktake of selected agricultural markets of the European Union - Opportunities for Australia. Canberra: Department of Agriculture and Water Reources, Australia Government. Retrieved from Department of Agriculture and Water Reources, Australia Government. Department of Agricuture and Water Resources. (2017, April 05). Agricultural Commodities Report. Retrieved from Department of Agricuture and Water Resources, Australian Governmet: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-commodities/report#commodity-export-forecasts Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2017, December 7). Australia-United States FTA. Retrieved from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia Government: https://dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force/ausfta/Pages/australia-united-states-fta.aspx Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2018, March). Australia's trade in goods and services 2016-17 . Retrieved from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: https://dfat.gov.au/trade/resources/trade-statistics/trade-in-goods-and-services/Pages/australias-trade-in-goods-and-services-2016-17.aspx Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. (2017, December 7). Free Trade Agreements. Retrieved from Business, australian Givernmet: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/free-trade-agreements International Monetary Fund. (2018). REER is the nominal effective exchange rate (a measure of the value of a currency against a weighted average of several foreign currencies) divided by a price deflator or index of costs. Retrieved April 19, 2018, from International Monetary Fund: https://datahelp.imf.org/knowledgebase/articles/537472-what-is-real-effective-exchange-rate-reer Tarditi, A. (1996). MODELLING THE AUSTRALIAN EXCHANGE RATE, LONG BOND YIELD AND INFLATIONARY EXPECTATIONS. Australia: Reserve Bank of Australia. The World Bank. (2018). Databank. Retrieved September 6, 2017, from The World Bank: https://data.worldbank.org/topic Winemakers' Federation of Australia. (2014). Australian Wine. Coles; Winemakers' Federation of Australia.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Pseudonym to protect privacy and confidentiality †Free Sample

Question: Discuss about the Pseudonym to protect privacy and confidentiality. Answer: Introduction John (Pseudonym to protect privacy and confidentiality) was admitted voluntarily to a community care unit/psycho-social rehabilitation following a referral from the GP due to respite for parents. John was diagnosed with Schizophrenia (schizo-typal traits) and OCD, which was characterized by demotivation, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, anhedonia, negative view of self and ritualistic behavior. This case study presents, beginning with initial assessment, both subjective and objective data that were collected using mental state examination, following DSM-V and NANDA diagnosis. The preliminary findings were used to formulate a collaborative, evidence based recovery for future focused plan. The recovery plan is presented in a logical order: planning and implementation, expected outcomes of care, and finally evaluation and outcome measurements based on Johns objective data (Carey, 2016). Assessment In order to attain a holistic insight of Johns mental state, assessment was performed which included mental state examination, community risk and assessment plan, alcohol and other drug assessment, and behavioral and symptom identification scale (BASIS-32) (Dwyer, 2012). Johns current medication included Risperidone (Risperidol consta) 37.5mg IM injection depot for every two weeks. Although John was recommended to take ZOLOFT (OCD traits) tablets, he declined due to side-effects of the drug. Mental state Exam Being a Greek, the 34-year-old John was dressed in a color t-shirt and cargo pants with small stains on color appropriate for weather. John appeared to be thin, having poor personal hygiene, rigid posture, poor eye contact and greasy hair. John could be described as Im doing laundry and shower once every two days. He looked anergic and walked very slowly, while the psychomotor retardation was a times slow to initiate tasks. Johns speech was slow in rate, soft, audible and answered to all the questions in a polite manner. Throughout the conversation, John seemed to be inactive in the interview. Johns mood was euthymic, hyper vigilant, non-depressed and mildly anxious. His affect was blunted since he had a very low facial expression, anhedonia, reactive and inappropriate gestures and wanting to pinch his cheeks every time and then throughout the conversation. However, Mr. John did not present any formal thought disorder although he was obsessed with cleaning vegetables and checking loc ks frequently. He also had some persecutory delusions because he occasionally stated that someone is following when I go out. John was also isolated, self-neglected and stayed in his bedroom for many hours, socially withdrawn without any friends. He usually reported that he used to isolate himself in his room since he was alert and oriented in terms of person, place, time and the environment. This patient also experienced difficulties in performing day to day life routines, household responsibilities and thus he had to be prompted severally, in order to get on board. He was also not impulsive and hence did not present with any perception disorders. John was dependent on his parents and he was poor in solving problems and making decisions. Risk assessment The community and risk assessment plan was used to assess the general vulnerability, dynamic risk, statics and falls, and nutritional risk. The general vulnerability of Mr. John included a history of childhood trauma and a record of being bullied at school. Rumination on events resulted in significant self-neglect, poor self-care and social withdrawal. John was isolative and never received any social support including from friends and he reported I feel fear when I come out and I feel someone is following. John had also been charged by the police for removing license plates from a police vehicle. As a result of the persecutory ideas towards the police, John stated The police will be here at any time to take me away. However, this patient never had no known history of suicidal injury, deliberate self-harm or past attempts, and current thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Moreover, John was a non-smoker, non-alcoholic and non-drug abuser. Physical health The head to toe assessment was used to obtain the data, whereby Johns vital signs were found to be within the limits (100% SpO2, 18 breaths per minute, 70 beat per minute, blood pressure 120/ 70 mmHg, and temperature 36.4C). Additionally, John never experienced any pain, and the BMI was 22, and hence considered to be normal based on Reinders et al., (2015). He neither had any abnormalities in gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, nor did he present any pressure injuries or wounds on the skin. Diagnosis By use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Johns presentation [Appendix-I], provided the requirement for diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). John had this diagnosis for past 10 years, and was dependent on his parents since he was described as I hope to become more independent, because my parents are very protective and do things for me. He also expressed his desire to regain mental wellbeing and stated that I want to be more motivated and possibly take on another study course in future. John had some persecutory delusions and negative symptoms of schizophrenia since he was amotivated, and asocialite. He also had negative views about himself and others including anhedonia secondary to schizophrenia disorder, which could be related to childhood trauma. The Northern American Nursing Diagnosis Association taxonomy of nursing diagnoses 2015-2017 (Herdman Kamitsuru, 2014) was applied to the nursing process to identify one problem or issue in this patients. Social isolation was one of his problems and was evidenced by assessment, subjective and objective data. John had difficulty in reality, establishing relationship, and false belief about the intension of other people on him. Planning Implementation In order to achieve Johns goals for his problem of social isolation, nursing interventions were required to make a plan using the SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) approach (Revello Fields, 2015). It was evident that Johns mental state was greatly affected by childhood trauma and bullying at school. Social isolation is positively correlated with schizophrenia such as low self-esteem, anhedonia and asociality (ref). Based on Johns presentation, it was required that nursing interventions were to be collaborative with John, so that a recovery-focused wellness plan could be developed to keep him safe. Group activities The group activity used in this case was gathering, whereby John expressed that he would be interested in making friends and stated I want to see myself as a friendly person and show an interest in other people. Based on his preferences, group interventions with problem-focused and goal-oriented activities were suggested, in an effort to alleviate social isolation and loneliness (Henderson). This intervention was given by nurses in collaboration with occupational therapist and social workers (ref). The group activities were realistic, and thus John was encouraged to engage with other clients. He was therefore asked to participate in activities such as card games, group outings, community meetings, walking in groups and cooking a meal. John was prompted more to get on to board as he was a slow learner and took long time to initiate a task. John was thus required to be educated to improve significant social interactions by participating in group activities. He was also advised on how t o establish rapport and show positive regard towards other people and seek for help whenever he needed support in various activities (Prokofieva). Gardiner reported that group-based activities make clients to continue feeling safe and competent during interactions. Furthermore, on long term management, clients will demonstrate willingness and desire to socialize with staff and co-clients and voluntarily participate in group activities without prompt Ojengbede. Social skill training Social skill training is an education which teaches necessary skills for effective communication with others (ALLY). John was encouraged to attend social skill training which helped to learn adaptive social skills. John was to be trained in an environment that was free of any stimuli like loud noises and high traffic (lauren), to avoid deviation of his training. Initially, John would aim to learn simple basic behaviours like maintaining good eye contact, keeping appropriate distances, appropriate behaviour, effective communication and making simple decisions. This therefore encouraged John to do rehearsal and role-play the skills which involved practicing and positive reinforcement (ally). Moreover, John would adapt and function at a higher level in the society to improve the quality of his life. However, John took time to adapt these skills because of his negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Pfammatter reported that these skills increase self-confidence, self-esteem and positive resp onses from others. The outcome was that John improved social interaction with family, friends and relatives. Evaluation and expected outcomes Short term goal for John were to engage in one activity accompanied with trusted nursing staff and attend at least one therapy by the end of day within one week. He was also to maintain interaction with other consumer while playing, drawing or cooking a meal. Long term goal for John were to spend time with other clients voluntarily in various group activities to show interest in coping skills. He would also be comfortable in talking and avoid spending more hours in his bedroom. This goal is realistic and may be achieved within a period of six months to one year. The basis-32 and adult well-being scale would be assessed to find any improvements in behaviour or daily living activities. However, social skill training and group activities helped to improve Johns status more independently and lower asociality. Outcome assessment The main issue with John was social isolation and the combination of group activities and social skill training interventions helped him in developing interpersonal and social skills. Outcome assessment for these interventions were adult well-being scale and behavioural and symptom identification scale (BASIS-32), and recovery. The wellness plan and monitoring of mental change every month was necessary with an occupational therapist, social worker, psychologist and psychiatrist. John currently had little difficulty in performing day to day life activities, household responsibilities, relation with family members, and isolation/feeling of loneliness. He had improved in self-care and independent in performing tasks but needed to be prompted for once. John had recently enrolled in TAFE program, criminal justice and started working for four hours in his brother in laws warehouse. Finally, subjective data of recovery stated that I feel more confident doing house chores and cooking and I w ill remain active and try to pass my exams in future. Conclusion John was referred to a community care unit by treating team with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, where social isolation was a current issue. The nursing process involved assessments such as mental state examination, risk assessment and physical health to form a nursing diagnosis. Based on the John preferences, collaborative recovery-focused interventions such as group activities and social skill training were framed to achieve goals. To improve social interaction, alleviate social isolation and keep him safe, these evidence-based interventions were used. His intervention plan provided reasonable outcomes which had improved his wellbeing in the community.