Community based corrections, a issue that is most critical today, Essay

Community based corrections, a issue that is most critical today, - Essay Example As well, there is a demonstration of the valuing of diversity in the organization and the environmental trends faced. This serves as a good example of community based corrections, an issues that is most critical in the present day. Introduction: Characteristics and Environments of Medicare Program In a community, it is necessary to have all needs exampleof the people catered for. In an urban setting, there are very many needs which have to be considered and be put in place. For instance, in a city of five thousand people, it is necessary to have all considerations put in place in a manner which solves the major needs and requirements for all. Whenever planning a new urban setting, all human needs should be appropriately considered. The major needs in such a setting include water availability, electricity, sanitation, health services, jobs, building types, transportation systems, and recreational land. These are some of the issues every community faces in the recent period. However, i n this paper we will examine certain programs, which are symbolic of the issues being faced recently. The use of examples and relevant illustrations as well as organizations has been cited to shed light on the issue accordingly. Human service organizations should be able to come up with appropriate programs and environments which have the capability of meeting the basic needs for the clients and the society in particular. This can be achieved through having intellectual characteristics which shall help in building a better environment which promotes the human services being offered from the organization (Brian, 2009). For instance, the Medicaid and Medicare programs in the United States are very important in ensuring that the country has been given within the necessary services. Generally, there is a very big importance with the appropriateness of characteristics and environment for all human service organizations (Medicare Program, 2008). This paper will thus discuss in details the characteristics and the environment of Medicare Program in United States of America. Medicare Vision and Mission For any kind of organization which is offering human services such as the Medicare Program, there is a very big necessity of coming up with appropriate missions and visions statement which keep a good characteristic and a better environment for the organization. This as well ensures that proper operations being done in the organization are always aimed in the realization of the organization’s goals and objectives (Taylor, 2008). The Vision of Medicare has been the provision of a program which has to be of high quality, purely equitable as well as a sustainable health program which shall meet the needs and expressions of all the people in United States. Such a vision has been playing a major role in elevating the services which are on offer by the organization (Marmor, 2000). The Mission as well has been in making sure that the best voice and care has been given to all the people of the country and as well strengthen the health care system of the country through improved healthcare access and equitable future health care for all. Medicare Organization: Governance and Staffing In this organization, governance and staffing have been seriously undertaken in order to ensure that the right environment has been created which sees all the people being given the necessary

Scientific Method and Participant Observation Essay Example for Free

Scientific Method and Participant Observation Essay In the article, â€Å"Researching Dealers and Smugglers,† Patricia Adler discusses her and her husband’s experience using participant observation to collect data from drug dealers and the problems this qualitative method brought. A qualitative method focuses on collecting rich, non-statistical data. This method involves face-to-face interviews and actual participation with the group being researched. The Adlers use this method because it is almost impossible to gather accurate information on people who smuggle drugs. This is true because they are such private and deceitful people. The only way to get the real facts is if the smugglers trust the person. Unfortunately, participant observation brought problems such as the dealers and smugglers being under the influence or going through withdrawal during the interviews and the Adlers mixing their overt and covert roles. The Adlers chose participant observation because they found that using this method allowed them to acquire the most in-depth and rich data than any other method. If criminals like dealers and smugglers were given a survey, it would not work out because they are not just going to tell the truth and risk getting caught by the police. They are specific with who they give information to, so the Adlers had to show them that they could be trusted. They could not have done that with without using participant observation. Although there were many aspects about the Adlers that made them and the research method they used convenient, there were also some risks they had to take. While doing research, the Adlers encountered some problems using this method, one of which was interviewing the dealers and smugglers while they were under the influence of either marijuana or cocaine. In addition, the participants were sometimes withdrawal symptoms, so they were not able to interview properly. Patricia mentions how marijuana and cocaine had different effects on the interviewees. She states, â€Å"marijuana was unproductive for a number of reasons†¦ Often people became confused, sleepy, or involved in eating to varying degrees. ’ On the other hand, cocaine assisted the research procedure by making the dealers feel more comfortable. Cocaine also helped the dealers open up easily. During the interviews, some dealers experienced withdrawal symptoms. It caused them to become malicious with each other or towards the Alders without any warning. The way the Alders solved this problem was by taking precautions when interacting with the dealers. The cocaine use was not a problem for the Adlers, but they most likely dealt with the marijuana issue quite easily since Patricia does not specifically explain how it was solved. In addition, there was another problem the Adlers encountered. The Adlers also found that mixing the overt and covert roles with the members of the group throughout the investigation was another issue. Since the Adlers had different level relationships with every individual, some of the dealers were aware that they were a part of a research project while others were not aware. This sometimes confused the Adlers. Patricia states, â€Å"They [the informants] would made occasional veiled references in front of people, especially when loosened by intoxicants, that made us extremely uncomfortable. † This issue made the couple uncomfortable because they did not want to blow their cover. Patricia and Peter Adler also feared that the participants would think they are police. Peter and Patricia Adler solved this issue by take the necessary safety measures so anyone they did not want to find out. The Adlers encountered various problems while utilizing this qualitative method. They had troubles such as mixing their covert and overt roles and dealing with some of the smugglers and dealers being intoxicated. Therefore this investigation became very risky, but Patricia and her husband finalized by collecting all the data needed. The Adlers also resolved their problems in a cautious way utilizing patience, precaution, and rational and clever thinking. The couple definitely learned a lot throughout the experiment and got more than they anticipated going through it.

Software Quality Development Plan for a Hospital :: software industry, risk management

1. Introduction:- The development of good quality software is very important factor in software industry . Medical software of medical devices with embedded software and decision support system can have great affect on the supply of patient care . A good quality software with poor management practices will never give very good quality of services. Hospital industry and telecom industry are facing challenges in terms of managing software . There have lots of reasons behind this activity . Main reasons are size , complexity of practices , management and comply to change. Depending upon the quality of the software systems, the accuracy of data and consequently of information are determined . There are a number of major and minor systems placed in Irish hospitals , where patients clinicians , nursing , it , administration , data entry personnel , researchers , governing bodies , and external auditors have different expectations understanding and requirements . The use of MS Access allows staff with little experience or knowledge of data quality techniques to collect data which is used for crucial decision making process along the patient journey . I will discuss an implementation of a software quality plan for Irish hospitals through the use of recognised healthcare and software quality models and standards in this essay.

Research Paper- Social Networking Essay

â€Å"Social Media is about sociology and psychology more than technology†, that’s what The Brain Solis Principal of Future Works is talking about. In this research, the researchers will talk all about the Social networking websites and how it can be useful for each and everyone. Social Networking has been the most famous among all kinds of websites in the Internet all around the world. Sometimes, they are the only ones whom you want to browse when you open your computer and sometimes, they can be very dangerous. You could be a so-called â€Å"Social Networking Addict† wherein you spend your whole day surfing and browsing your Facebook, Twitter or your Tumblr. So in this research, the researchers will tackle about the Social networking sites. A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on facilitating the building of social networks or social networking among people. It can help you get along with other people through chat whe ther video, text or voice. You can also share interests, activities, backgrounds or social activities. A Social Network service consists of a profile wherein you can see his or her background and personal information, his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Most social network services are web-based and provide means for users to interact over the Internet, such as e-mail and instant messaging. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, activities, events, and interests within their individual networks. The main types of social networking services are those that contain connection with friends and a recommendation system to trust. Some popular social Networking services all around the world are Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. Web-based social networking services make it possible to connect people who share interests and activities. Through e-mail and instant messaging, online communities are created. Social networks are providing a different way for individuals to communicate digitally. These communities of hypertexts allow for the sharing of information and ideas, an old concept placed in a digital environment. Social networking sites have so  much features. A profile is generated from answers to questions, such as age, location, interests, etc. Some sites allow users to upload pictures, add multimedia content or modify the look and feel of the profile. Many sites allow users to post blog entries, search for others with similar interests and compile and share lists of contacts. User profiles often have a section dedicated to comments from friends and other users. To protect user privacy, social networks typically have controls that allow users to choose who can view their profile, contact them, add them to their list of contacts, and so on. Some social networks have additional features, such as the ability to create groups that share common interests, upload or stream live videos, and hold discussions in forums. In most mobile communities, mobile phone users can now create their own profiles, make friends, participate in chatrooms, create chat rooms, hold private conversations, share photos and videos, and share blogs by using their mobile phone. One of the most popular wireless services for social networking is Facebook Mobile. As the increase in popularity of social networking is on a constant rise, new uses for the technology are constantly being observed. Social networking sites are the concept of â€Å"real-time web† and â€Å"location-based.â €  Real-time allows users to contribute content, which is then broadcast as it is being uploaded, the concept is like a live radio and television broadcasts. Twitter set the trend for â€Å"real-time† services, wherein users can broadcast to the world what they are doing, or what is on their minds within a 140-character limit. Facebook followed suit with their â€Å"Live Feed† where users activities are streamed as soon as it happens. Tumblr used their Social network as a blog posts where users can share what they want to share and click the favourite button if they like the blog. Social networks are also being used by teachers and students as a communication tool. Because many students are already using a wide range of social networking sites, teachers have begun to familiarize themselves with this trend and are now using it to their advantage. Teachers and professors are doing everything from creating chat-room forums and groups to extend classroom discussion to posting assignments, tests and quizzes, to assisting with homework outside of the classroom. Social networking sites are also being used by some young adults to fi nd a job. Through chatting, they can find a job online. They are also used as an entertainment likewise the games on Facebook and Friendster  wherein you level up in the game. Finally, social networking is a way for one person to meet up with other people on the net. People use social networking sites for meeting new friends, finding old friends, or locating people who have the same problems or interests they have. More and more relationships and friendships are being formed online and then carried to an offline relationship. Sometimes, it has been used as an online dating to find your true love. But if there’s advantages, there are also disadvantages. Social networking can take risks in the Kids and children. It can be a cause of Online Bullying and sometimes, Suicide. Social Networking sites can also be the cause of some Pyschological effects in some people like spending an excessive amount of time on the Internet in general and social networking sites. That is why Social networking Research is very important to learn and to tackle about because through this, you and me can be aware in this types of cases. The researchers are not saying that Using Social network sites are bad. You just have to minimize using it because if you don’t you could have Pyschological effects in your mind and in your body. That is why researching this Topic and talking about it is very important. Statement of the Problem At the end of this study, the researchers would be able to answer the following questions: 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Social Networking Sites? 2. Are you in favor of Social Networking Sites? 3. Why are some people being a so-called â€Å"addict† on Social Networking Sites? 4. What are some disorders or illnesses that you can get from being a Social Networking Addict? 5. How can you avoid being a Social Networking Addict? Importance of the Study The researchers believed that this endeavour would be beneficial to the following: To the students, To the parents, To the teachers, To the young people and to the community. Definition of Terms Here are some of the terms found in this study. Blog. This term refers to an online post entry wherein you can post stories, messages, photos and videos. Users can share what they want to share. Chat. This term refers to quick messaging wherein you can hold private conversations. Communication. This term refers to social interactions so that you may talk to friends, families and acquaintances. Electronic Mail. This term refers to sending a message to someone through online services. Facebook. This term refers to a Social-Network site that is established by Mark Zuckerberg so that you may be connected with your loved ones abroad and in the country. Forum. This term refers to an open conversation with some acquaintances. Hypertexts. This term refers to links or texts that are being highlighted. Instant Messaging. This term refers to sending a message or a mail through online services quickly. Live Feed. This term refers to updated headlines and News feeds that are being posted in your wall. Online Bullying. This term refers to a horrible conversation wherein two or more persons were arguing through mean words. Online Dating. This term refers to finding a partner through online services like video chatting etc. Profile. This term refers to your main wall wherein you can see your post blog entries, recent photos, videos, events etc. Real-Time Web. This term refers to allowing users to contribute content, which is then broadcast as it is being uploaded, the concept is like a live radio and television broadcasts. Social Media. This term refers to sociology and psychology more than technology. Social Networking. This term refers to been the most famous among all kinds of websites in the Internet all around the world. Social Networking Addiction. This term refers to an illness wherein you want to spend your whole day in the Internet to browse Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr etc. Tumblr. This term refers to an Online Social Networking sites used as a blog entry and wherein you can post videos, photos and so much more. Twitter. This term refers to Social Networking sites wherein you can post tweets and you can browse trending topics. User Privacy. This term refers to security system of your social network account. Wireless Services. This term refers to increase in popularity of social networking is on a constant rise and wherein it is an online service that is used in some social networking sites.

Burger King Holdings Inc.

Burger King Holdings Inc. was formed in 23 July 2002 and incorporated in Delaware. The holding company restaurant system includes restaurants owned by the company and franchises. The company is the second largest fast food hamburger restaurant chain (BurgerKingHoldingsInc, 2008). Controls set by the company The controls set by the company are to ensure that the financial statements provide reasonable assurance on the reliability of the financial statements and financial reporting.Internal controls ensure that the financial statements are prepared according to GAAPs. Internal controls ensure correct maintenance of records, transactions are recorded according to GAAPs and the prevention of unauthorized use or disposal of company’s assets. The effectiveness of the internal controls should be reviewed regularly to determine their adequacy although the controls put in place may not prevent and detect misstatements given its limitations due to changing conditions or degree of compli anceExamples of controls are the security and business controls put in place to prevent access and use of personal information possessed by the company that if leaked, may expose the company to litigations (BurgerKingHoldingsInc, 2008) Financial statements The total revenues for the company have been growing over the years. The total revenue in 2004 was $1. 7 billion rising to $2. 4 billion in 2008. The company’s revenues are generated by franchise and company owned restaurants.In year 2008, 88% of sales were from franchise restaurants. The operating income and net income over the same period grew from $73 million in 2004 to $ 354 million in 2008 for operating income while net income rose from $ 5 million in 2004 to $ 190 million in 2008 The diluted earnings per share i. e. earnings after adjusting for dilutive effects rose from $106. 1 in 2004 to $ 137. 6 in 2008 Total assets grew from $ 2. 5 billion to $ 2. 6 billion in 2008.Total stockholders equity also witnessed growth f rom $ 716 million in 2007 to $ 845 million in 2008 Net cash flows from operating activities grew from $67 million in 2006 to $ 243 million in 2008 Other aspects of the company’s performance is the opening of 202 new restaurants which brings the company’s total number of restaurants to 11,505 as of June, 30 2008 Techniques to analyze financial statements The financial statements are prepared and disclosed according to the GAAPs as well as presented according to the SEC regulations.The financial statements have been presented based on the reportable segments of the company i. e. USA and Canada EMEA/APAC and Latin America. As seen earlier, the company’s revenues are generated from company’s restaurants and franchise restaurants. The analysis has also been done according to the source of revenue Comparison of restaurant sales from the three reportable segments has been done in the financial statements (BurgerKingHoldingsInc, 2008) ImpactThe preparation of the financial statements according to reportable segments helps the company to formulate strategies for the various business segments in line with their performance. Comparison of sales growth in the segments over the years helps the company to evaluate the performance of each source of revenues thus formulate strategies that can improve growth References BurgerKingHoldingsInc. (2008, August 28th). Form 10-k. Retrieved April 10th, 2009, from Burger King Holdings Inc. : http://media. corporate-ir. net/media_files/irol/87/87140/BKC_AR08/10-k. html

Should you accept a counteroffer or leave your job

Should you accept a counteroffer or leave your job So, you’re about to hand in your resignation letter to your (soon-to-be-ex) boss. You’ve done all the thinking you need to do about your exit, right? Not exactly. When you give notice, one of two things will likely happen: your boss will accept your resignation and wish you well; or your boss will take your resignation and then come back with a counteroffer to convince you to stay. When should you consider taking the counteroffer, and when should you stand firm on your resignation? You should consider accepting the counteroffer if†¦It addresses the reasons you wanted to leave in the first place.  If your boss comes back with a higher salary or a re-aligned job description, think about whether this satisfies your desire to move on. Some people explore other jobs or companies because they don’t think their current job will meet the next pay level or align with their next-step career goals. If you get the counteroffer and find that they are willing to work wi th you on these things, then consider staying.You were recruited rather than seeking a new gig.  If you got your shiny new job offer as the result of someone approaching you (rather than you trying to jump ship from your current job), a counteroffer can be a way to secure a raise outside of the annual review process or get other concessions. If you weren’t feeling strongly driven to leave in the first place, it’s worth considering whether this â€Å"keep me† package will make things even better than a new job would.You’re leaving mostly because you think you should.  If you’ve been at your current job for a few years and feel like you should be applying to shake things up and advance your career, a counteroffer may achieve the same results as leaving- it’s a chance to do a little negotiation outside of the normal timelines. Does the counteroffer give you a clearer promotion path if you stay where you are? Does it bump up your pay in line with the job offer you’re holding, or even improve upon it? If you can trade up without leaving, it’s worth considering the counteroffer.You feel validated by the counteroffer.  Counteroffers are not a given. When you get one, it’s because you provide a value to the company that they don’t want to lose without a fight (so to speak). If you were looking elsewhere because you felt under-appreciated, then this could be the validation you need. If you decide to take your new job offer and move on, you’ll be starting the process of proving yourself all over.Your gut says â€Å"stay.†Ã‚  Don’t underestimate your own instincts here. If that little voice in your head is saying, â€Å"take it,† don’t tune it out.You should consider rejecting the counteroffer if†¦It feels like too little, too late.  If you tried in vain to get a pay raise six months ago and suddenly your boss is willing to make concessions, think about w hat that means- they weren’t willing to compensate you until it got to the breaking point.The counteroffer doesn’t really change anything you’re trying to escape.  A counteroffer may throw more money your way, but if your job responsibilities, boss, chances for advancement, etc., stay the same, is that acceptable to you? If a little more money in your paycheck doesn’t feel worthwhile compared to everything else you’d be committing to if you stay, then consider rejecting.Your company’s culture or your boss makes you miserable.  These are larger issues that can’t necessarily be resolved with more money or a bump in job title. If you have larger issues with your workplace that made you start to feel around elsewhere, then the new job offer is likely to be the best solution, regardless of the counteroffer.Your gut says â€Å"get out.†Ã‚  Again, listen to your instincts. A counteroffer may be tempting in the face of having to ch ange jobs, get to know a new workplace, and start over. However, if there’s something preventing you from taking the counteroffer right away, listen to that voice.When you’re getting ready to resign, it may seem like your decision is already made- after all, you went through the whole process to get hired somewhere else, right? But don’t be so quick to assume that you should reject a counteroffer out of hand. Take the time to think about what it would mean to stay, and what you’ll be leaving if you go.

Motivational Program and Alcoholics Anonymous

Motivational Program and Alcoholics Anonymous Introduction Alcoholism is one of the issues that have affected mankind for a long time. Millions of dollars have been spent on alcohol and alcohol related issues. Thousands of families have been adversely affected, not to mention the talents that have been lost or not fully exploited due to taking of too much alcohol.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Motivational Program and Alcoholics Anonymous specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More We are not in a position to measure all the impacts that indulgence in alcohol has on mankind. The society understands the weight this issue has and different approaches have been taken aiming at helping the people who are struggling to stop taking alcohol. Scientists, theoreticians, philosophers, doctors and counsellors have all come up with suggestions meant to help people struggling to stop taking alcohol. Many theories have been developed in an attempt to find strategies which can help alcohol users to quite taking alcohol. Motivational theories are widely used to explain how motivation can be used to address the alcoholism issue. Motivational theories have been developed by different psychologists over time and most of the alcohol recovery programs indeed use at least one or a combination of motivational theories to help victims recover from alcoholism. Alcoholic Anonymous is one of the widely renowned alcoholism recovery programs operating in almost 200 countries and helping millions of alcohol addicts recover from alcoholism. This paper discusses Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) motivational program, motivational theories and then analyses how successful or not the AA program has been basing on the motivational theories. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) The history of AA can be traced from a group called the Oxford Group which was a Christian organisation. Its purpose was to help men struggling to quite taking alcohol possible. It is believed that their concept of deal ing with alcoholism was more of a spiritual approach as they believed that surrendering to God would help solve the sinful nature of alcoholism. AA is said to have been formed in 1939 by Bill Wilson who borrowed most of the ideas from the Oxford Group and broadened the concept to include psychological and physical treatment as well. Since then the membership has increased and the program has increased its boundaries from America and Canada, where it was originally based to different parts of the world (Kurtz, 1979). How AA works AA motivational program works on a voluntary basis whereby whoever is willing to quite taking alcohol join the group. In order to encourage alcoholic victims to join the program and at the same time protect them from public ridicule the program calls for anonymity of the members hence the name alcoholics anonymous. The program not only helps alcoholics but also people struggling from other forms of addiction as well.Advertising Looking for research p aper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is worth noting that the program is self-sustaining with no any external financial help, but works from voluntary contributions from its members and literature sales. There are no employed workers but rather the counselling is carried out by the previously recovered individuals through the mentorship program which is also voluntary. AA believes that the only qualification for membership is the decision and will to quit taking alcohol (Kurtz, 1979). There are meeting centres distributed over 200 countries and a willing member is expected to join in any of the AA group meetings close to them. Once in the group, one is expected to confess and share personal experiences as an alcoholic with other members within the group and this would thus mark the beginning of the healing process (Kurtz, 1979). Sponsorship can be seen as a mentorship program whereby members who have underg one much of the recovery program have the responsibility of mentoring and helping new entrants into the 12 principles of AA treatment program. This works both ways, the new members are able to learn from the already experienced members and on the other hand the sponsors are able to improve on their recovery process by helping the new individuals. The basic principle of AA motivational program is that the victims of alcohol addiction must admit that there is a higher power, that is, God for those that believe in him or just any higher power for those that may not believe in God. By submitting oneself to this higher power instead of working on self-reliance, the high power will somehow give them assistance as they try to recover from their addiction (AA, 2008). It is worth noting that AA takes the approach of self-involvement whereby there are no organisational structures, no managers neither CEO’s. There are no documentations or regulatory official requirements but rather the organisation is only accountable to its members. One unique characteristic of AA is the fact that individuals are not assessed by qualified experts but rather every individual does personal diagnosis and checks the progress from the 12 stepwise procedures (Dick, 1998). The course of treatment at AA is based on giving in to external greater power rather than relying on personal will and strength. In contrast to the mostly used approach of working towards improving on self-esteem, AA takes a different approach of exercising humility and submission to a greater power.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Motivational Program and Alcoholics Anonymous specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to AA, if the alcoholic just follows the simple plan that is suggested then he/she would have more chances of recovering (Galanter and Kaskutas, 2008, p. 10). In addition they believe that there is no free will in alcoholics si nce the alcoholic has already lost personal control to alcohol. AA, according to Galanter and Kaskutas (2008), defines alcoholism as: Spiritual, mental, and physical illness and recovery requires healing all aspects of the illness; abstinence from alcohol in and of itself is regarded as â€Å"being dry† and is insufficient because alcoholism is but a â€Å"symptom† of underlying character defects. (Galanter and Kaskutas, 2008, p. 10) The success or failure of AA recovery program can arguably be attributed to the strength of an individual to undergo total change in the way of thinking. The expectation of change of thought to surrender to an external powerful authority is expected to help the person quite taking alcohol. Simple suggestions are made to new individuals especially those who want to take drastic changes at a go. AA believes that the simple and few steps will help someone to stabilise before making tougher decisions later. It is claimed that one of the streng ths of AA is its cognitive approach to dealing with alcoholism. â€Å"AA meetings provide an atmosphere in which cognitive restructuring can take place† (Galanter and Kaskutas, 2008, p. 10). In addition the AA’s12 steps, attendance to meetings and being a mentor or sponsor all works positively towards mental restructuring. Self-diagnosis is one of the most important elements of the program as individuals can develop their own alcoholic individuality which, according to psychologists, creates self-recovery on one’s inner self. Motivational theories Motivational theories are thoughts and assumptions that attempt to explain the nature of a human being in terms of what prompts or triggers actions towards a certain direction. Huitt (2001) defined motivation as â€Å"internal state or condition that activates behavior and gives it direction, or desire or want that energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior, or influence of needs and desires on the intensity and dir ection of behavior† (Huitt, 2001, p. 1). The AA program uses the ideology of motivation to help alcoholic victims recover from their alcoholic behavior.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Biological motivation Biological motivation is based on the fact that human actions may be driven in such a way to satisfy an internal biological need such as need to satisfy hunger or thirst. It is believed that there are internal subconscious drives that make a human being behave in a certain way (Bernstein Nash, 2006). Drive reduction theory explains how human actions are biologically motivated in order to reduce the causative agent inside the human nature. This theory is based on the fact that inside any organism are physiological or biological needs and requirement such as hunger, thirst, sexual desire, among others which, unless met, will trigger and maintain an unstable state of body which is believed to increase with time if the need is not satisfied in time (Bernstein Nash, 2006). The process can be viewed as a feedback mechanism (Deci and Ryan, 2008). When the physiological need is satisfied the organism will go back to the normal or stable state. When the physiological need is met either directly or indirectly then, there is a reduction of the drive. Arousal theory explains that it is in human nature to sustain a definite degree of arousal that makes us feel stable and comfortable. It can mean emotional, rational or even physical activity (Shah Gardner, 2008). The AA program certainly uses biological motivation though in a simplistic approach. The program appreciates the fact that total abstinence at once may never give any desirable results. This is because a sudden stop of use of alcohol especially for addicts will definitely trigger one of the strongest biological needs to quench the alcoholic thirst. The biological motivation principle of maintaining the physiological homeostasis will be triggered by sudden cut off of alcohol. What the program advocates is continual gradual reduction in the amount of alcohol taken which will eventually reduce to manageable level where total cut off can be done. In addition the AA principle of relinquishing on eself to a higher power to take over the alcoholic problem can arguably be seen as a diversion of the alcoholic biological motivation to an external agent and in that way, the biological drive and arousal are somewhat compressed. This is likely to enable the alcoholics recover quickly. Cognitive/social motivational theory This theory explains how behavior patterns of individuals are influenced by, among other factors, physical environmental, people and situations. This theory connects between the individual, environment and the behavior. The environment can be seen as a combination of all the external factors that are likely to influence a person’s behavior (Deci and Ryan, 2008). The person’s perception about the different aspects of the environment is believed to influence the person’s behavior. The behavior can also be influenced by a person’s perception of other people’s behaviors through either watching them or even when interacting with them. Tolman Purposeful behavior theory Tolman was one of the social cognitive theorists. Through his numerous experiments with rats and mazes he came up with the theory of purposeful behavior. According to Daltonâ€Å" Tolman proposed that learning could occur without reinforcement and without an observable change in behavior. In addition, Tolman found that behavior is affected by an organism’s expectations, often resulting goal-oriented, purposeful behavior† (Dalton 1). This is arguably one of the most applicable motivational theories in the AA program. The success or failure of any given case in the AA program depends, to a large extent on the expectation of the individual. If the individual has a predetermined mind about recovery his behavior in the AA program will certainly lead him to recovery. Asch attribution and conformity theory Solomon Asch presented his theories conformity and attribution. According his attribution theory, individuals attribute actions in life to an agent either external or internal. Alcoholics may attribute their drinking habit to lack of self control. AA program counter attacks the different attributions by offering a supernatural, powerful being in which the drunkards can attribute their weaknesses and hence relinquish their inner self to the power. In addition his conformity theory which revolves about voluntary yielding to situations despite personal preferences also applies. Being in the presence of a group of similar individuals in the AA meetings creates a favorable condition for conformity to the behavior of the group. This does help in motivating the alcoholics towards recovery. The physical environment such as the condition of a house or a class may play a significant part in motivating someone. The physical environment may also be a source of materials, opportunities or even societal support; this is one of the motivation strategies employed by the AA program. The fact that members meet in places far away from p ublic ridicule and in the presence of other like members makes the environment conducive for the recovery program (Bernstein Nash, 2006). A given situation may either motivate or discourage someone to behave in a certain way. In addition how an individual perceives a given situation may have an effect on the course of action to be taken depending on whether the situation was perceived as encouraging or discouraging. AA uses this technique to make the newcomers feel comfortable in the knowledge that they are in the presence of people who have gone through a similar situation and this is actually a motivation for new members to continue with the recovery program (Bernstein Nash, 2006). Expectancies which can be viewed as valuable or the importance an individual places on the expected results or rewards may have a great impact on the level of motivation for that person. People who place a higher value on the outcome are more likely to be more motivated than those who do not value the outcome as much. In AA the 12 principles places a lot of importance to the kind of life one is likely to enjoy after recovery from alcoholism. The new members actually get a chance of interacting with the already recovered members and this is a motivation enough to make them stick to the program however difficult it may seem to be. Self-control plays a very important role in motivation. People who have the internal strength of self-control may exhibit a result oriented behavior and as such they are likely to be more motivated if they are presented with conditions or situations that will demand determination or control in order to achieve the desired results. The AA program calls for determination to accept one’s alcoholic condition and surrendering to a higher authority which has the power to heal the spiritual and psychological sickness. They advocate for stepwise self-control whereby one is not required to automatically quit drinking but rather practice self-control for sh ort durations which can then be extended to achieve the desired results. This is likely to motivate self-controlled individuals (Dick, 1998). There are individuals who learn from others and are more likely to be motivated not because of what they are doing or capable of doing but by simply admiring what other people around them are doing. Individuals who are addicted to alcoholism can be motivated by being exposed to individuals who have already quite taking alcohol. AA program offers the best opportunity for the individuals struggling with alcoholism to interact with the recovering or the already recovered individuals, otherwise known as sponsorship. Through sponsorship individuals are able to associate and take after their sponsors. This can be the best method of motivation for some of the members (Dick, 1998). Self-efficacy is also believed to influence the level of motivation in a person. Some people are more motivated in the belief and knowledge that they have what it takes to complete the given task. By understanding how different people are in terms of how they are motivated, then it becomes easier to help them achieve their goals and objectives. This is best applicable in the AA program whereby alcoholics are made to believe that the desired outcome can only come from their personal will to give up themselves to a greater power for healing (Dick, 1998). Eclectic theory Eclectic theorists try to explain motivation and behaviour of people by taking on pieces of what they believe to be the best from other theories. They claim that the human nature is so complex and as such not one approach may suffice to explain the relationship between motivation and human behaviour. The 12 principle AA motivational program employs all the methods as a mixture in order to achieve the desired results. Strengths of AA program Galanter and Kaskutas (2008) claimed that â€Å"AA program is complex, implicitly grounded in sound psychological principles, and more sophisticated than is typically understood† (Galanter Kaskutas, 2008, p. 10). Although much criticism has been thrown over the program, it can be claimed that such criticism may be due to the misunderstanding of the whole idea behind the program. In addition, the fact that the program works under anonymity makes it difficult and tricky to research, analyse and document success or failure of the program. We can arguably say that the program has achieved success as compared to other programs offering the same type of service. From basic knowledge the program started in 1935 and has only grown, gaining membership every year. Then we can claim that if there was no any considerable success then the program would have died long time ago. It is also claimed that â€Å"an increasing number of DUIs are court ordered to AA† (Galanter and Kaskutas, 2008, p. 13) arguably for a simple reason, the judicial systems have confidence in the AA program. Success can also be based on the methodology of the program. The program employs a self-healing process where the victim plays the major role in initialising and maintaining the recovery process with the help of other members of the group (Deci Ryan, 2008). The fact that the program allows for personal participation, motivational environment and a chance to put into practice what one has learned by sharing with others and mentorship program suffices that a degree of success is likely to be achieved (AA, 2008). The fact that the AA program seeks to change the way of thinking of the alcoholics and not merely helping them stop the drinking habit implies that the impact of the program will be astounding. AA defines alcoholism as â€Å"spiritual, mental, and physical illness and healing require healing all aspects of the illness† (Galanter Kaskutas, 2008, p. 14). This posits that either 100% success may be achieved when an individual has fully recovered from alcoholism and thus in a better position mentally, spiritually and physically or at least some degree of success when one is not able to recover in all aspects (AA, 2002). Another point worth noting is that AA provides a program that is fit and comfortable for everyone, both spiritual and non-spiritual. Each person can customise the recovery program according to personal preferences â€Å"the house that AA helps a man build for himself is different for each occupant because each occupant is his own architect† (Galanter Kaskutas, 2008, p. 18). Atheists, believers, radicals as well as conformists can fit in the program and that is arguably the greatest achievement of the AA program. Other recovery programs such as religious sponsored institution are not compatible to such a wide variety of individuals. A statistical approach to the question of the success of the program indicates that the program has met and even exceeded expectations. A report carried out to determine success rate claimed that: A total of 68% of the women in the survey repor ted that they had stopped drinking within a year of their first meeting as compared with only 63% of the men. At the same time, 74% of those under thirty reported they had stopped drinking within a year of attending their first AA meeting, compared with 63% of those over thirty. (AA, 2008, p. 6) One of the strengths of AA is in the structure. AA works as a community though anonymous. A community of people with a common challenge in life and this is perhaps one of the greatest advantages members have, to work and share with people who have or are already undergoing what one is going through. When a new person hears the testimonies of other members who have experienced to be AA community then they get encouraged that all is not lost for them (Medvene, 1989). Another advantage of the AA program lies in the fact that individuals who have the will to stick around for some time get a chance to accelerate their recovery through mentoring the young members in the group. This can be seen as a helper therapy which is believed to help mentors affirm the need to quit alcoholism. A research done to confirm whether indeed this was true found out that â€Å"those helping other alcoholics were less likely to relapse (60%) than those who did not help their peers (78%)† (Galanter Kaskutas, 2008, p. 24). The element of reciprocity in AA gives it an upper hand over other programs. Since the program works on the principle of self-help with the help of others and that there is no any monetary payments to be made, then the only way members can give back is by doing good to themselves by quitting alcoholism. It is claimed that â€Å"many follow moral norms or reciprocity found in society at large and believe that they should give back, if not to their immediate benefactor, to some generalized other in the future† (Galanter Kaskutas, 2008, p. 25). AA weaknesses It can be argued that one of the greatest weaknesses of AA lies in its structure. The fact that there are no any official or managerial structures makes the program vulnerable to abuse and expression of personal interests, for instance it is claimed that, at times â€Å"members of AA groups may dispel disruptive drunk attendees or treat newcomers in such a way that they feel unwelcome† (Galanter Kaskutas, 2008, p. 13). This may not be the case if there was some kind of management that may regulate the response and reaction of other members towards newcomers. The principle of freewill entry to anyone including disruptive drunkards may also be one of the disadvantages. Disruptive drunkards may be more of a discouragement than a motivation to others who may be trying to concentrate on their recovery program (Dick, 1998). The fact that the program is based on a spiritual background may not work for people who do not have any spiritual relation. The success of the program depends on the individual willingness and strength to change the way of thinking. This may be a goal hard to achieve given that the drunkards, in their state of drunkenness, have already given up and may not have the inner drive to change their way of thinking (Medvene, 1989). Conclusion The effect of alcohol on our community is such a great issue that it can simply not be ignored. The community always finds a way of helping those of us struggling with alcoholism and other forms of addiction. Alcoholic people need a lot of motivation in order to encourage and help them out of the alcohol menace. Different kinds of motivational theories such as biological, eclectic, social/cognitive do exist and their applicability in motivating alcoholics to recover is very instrumental. AA is one of the most widely used alcoholic recovery programs and its efficiency in its task mostly lies in the motivations that do exist in different aspects of the program. Though there has been much criticism about the program, it appeals to many and its strengths may far outweigh its weaknesses. References AA. (2002). The Twe lve Steps Of Alcoholics Anonymous. Web. AA. (2008). Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery outcome Rates. Web. Bernstein, D Nash, P. (2006). Essentials of psychology. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Dalton, S. (n.d.). Synopsis Paper #2. Web. Deci, E Ryan, R. (2008). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York, NY: Springer. Dick, B. (1998). The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous. New York, NY: Good Book Publishing Company. Galanter, M Kaskutas, L. (2008). Research on alcoholics anonymous and spirituality in addiction recovery: the twelve-step program model. New York, NY: Springer. Kurtz, E. (1979). Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous. Minnesota: Hazelden Publishing. Medvene, M. (1989). Foilrigami. New York, NY: Astor-Honor Inc. Shah, J Gardner, W. (2008). Handbook of Motivation Science. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

How to Cancel SAT Scores

How to Cancel SAT Scores It happens after every test administration. Kids take the SAT test, then go home fraught with worry, anxiety, stress, and depression because they realize that they didnt do as well as they could have. Perhaps they didnt do one of the seven things they were supposed to do the night before the SAT, or maybe they just didnt get the right SAT prep materials to really knock their score out of the ballpark. Their question is, Can you cancel SAT scores? And much to their relief, the answer is a quick and easy, Yes! Should You Cancel SAT Scores? Before you decide to cancel, you must first realize that youll truly have no way of knowing how well youve done on the exam until you get your SAT scores back, and that always happens a few weeks after your test. So, if you choose to cancel your scores, youll be going on gut instinct alone, which isnt always a bad thing. But there are a few things to consider before you choose to cancel your scores. Dont cancel if†¦ youre being paranoid. Most people have a little bit of doubt surrounding their testing performance. Is your doubt without warrant, based only on your paranoia? Then perhaps you should keep your scores. Remember that with Score Choice, you get to choose to report the scores youd like to the schools to which youre applying. Cancel if†¦ there are extenuating circumstances that prevented you from doing your best. Perhaps you tossed and turned for two nights prior to the exam and woke up groggy and dim the day of the test. Or, maybe you woke up with the flu, but decided to test anyway because you didnt want to pay the SAT registration fee again. Or, maybe you were seated next to someone who distracted you in some way so you lost your place, miscalculated your time, and ended up having to erase half of your scantron. Things happen! You Can Cancel SAT Scores At the Test Center If you realize immediately after youve taken the test that your SAT score is not going to get you into one of your top choices because you skipped sections or miscalculated, then you can cancel your scores even before you leave the test center. First, ask the test supervisor for a Request to Cancel Test Scores form.Next, fill out the form and sign it right then and there.Finally, give the form to the test supervisor before you get in your car and leave the test center. You Can Cancel SAT Scores at Home Maybe youre not as enlightened to your poor performance on the SAT. The desire to cancel might not really hit you until youve gone home and had a few conversations with friends about a particular reading passage in one of the Critical Reading sections (that you cant remember at all). If this is you, theres still time if you act quickly- very quickly. The College Board must receive your score cancellation request in writing no later than 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the Wednesday after your test date. Thats not much time at all! If you want to cancel, heres what to do: First, immediately download and print the Request to Cancel SAT Scores form from the College Board website.Then youll need to fill it out, sign it, and either fax or overnight the request per these instructions:Fax: (610) 290-8978Overnight delivery via U.S. Postal Service Express Mail (U.S. only): SAT Score Cancellation, P.O. Box 6228, Princeton, NJ 08541-6228Other overnight mail service or courier (U.S. or international): SAT Score Cancellation, 1425 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08618, USA

Iran's Vulnerability Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Iran's Vulnerability Assessment - Essay Example The battle of control is weakening Iran’s government and there is no clue if this destabilization will lessen down. Iran is also facing ethnic threats as an internal destabilizing problem. There is religious dictatorship in the country which is the death of democracy. The so-called theocratic leaders and divine officials have been governing the country for many years. Theocracy is the rule. So, free thought and expression is restricted. The official religion is Islam but Shia’s are given preference which means that Iran grades its citizens as first class or second class. We do not see any non-Persian Iranian in political power. Non-Farsi nationalities cannot use their language or culture within the country, for example in education. There also exists sexual apartheid in Iran which oppresses women’s rights. â€Å"As far as the issue of religion, frankly the issue for Iran is not any religion or ideology, not even Shia religion†, writes Gandhi. Non-Muslims or minorities who do not adhere to the official religion face many threats like kidnappings and killings. Freedom of religion does not prevail which leads to persecution of the non-Muslims. The strictness in the adoption of religion by radical Muslims has created a rift between the citizens and the religion. Since, as previously stated, the religion prefers the Shia’s, this leads to the creation of sects and groups which further weakens the country’s stability. According to Radio Zamaneh, â€Å"a group of 110 activists in Iran has issued a statement condemning the military threats against their country†. Perceived military threats have continued to pose dangers to the country’s integrity for years. The undemocratic leaders have been using military interventions to use war to achieve their objectives of oppressing people’s rights and requirements. Ahmadinjead has been telling the world that Iran is not

Debate Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Debate - Assignment Example Thirdly, a high percentage of this group of urban dwellers lacks health insurance and need close healthcare attention (Smith, 1997). People in urban areas with limited access to healthy groceries are also forced to eat whatever they find and most of them are harmful to humans. This include oily foods like french fries and fried meat. However, it is vital to note that people in rural areas are also extremely vulnerable to disease and preference to health care should also be accorded to them. This is because people in rural areas have significantly poorer health status than urban dwellers. This is because people in rural areas engage in unhealthy practices such as smoking, and less exercise. Secondly, people in rural areas are less educated than those in urban areas, and tend not to comprehend the importance of health care in elongating their lives. Lastly, people in rural areas have limited access to health care and must travel long distances to acquire medical care. They can die or their conditions worsen before they gain adequate medical care (Bauer, 2011). In conclusion, I believe that due to the high pollution in urban areas dwellers tend to be prone to disease and require preference to health care. Furthermore, urban dwellers with limited access to healthy groceries lack the nutrients and vitamins in their body needed to fight off

The President Can Only Read One Page (Line from US TV Series The West Essay

The President Can Only Read One Page (Line from US TV Series The West Wing) - Essay Example Cannon and Warren-Smith (2009, p. 38) emphasize that normal practices in banking have been abandoned and as a result leading to financial crises in the banking industry. This has caused a negative economic impact on the manufacturing sector. The role of the Competition commission and the OFT in regulation of competition within the banking institution is an important issue for the debate. Arora (2008, p. 224) and Bresslaw (2012, p. 20) elaborate that the large banks in 2001 operated as monopolies in providing banking services to SMEs and thus competition among the banking institutions was arrested. As a result customers had limited banking options because the banking institutions offered similar financial benefits. Therefore the argument of the debate is to enforce the role of the Competition Commission and the OFT in regulating banks so that manufacturing firms and SMEs would have better banking services which stem out of healthy competition among banking institutions. The Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Treasury as the major regulators of the banking services will be debated upon. Cassling (2012, p. 73) and Jun (2010, p. 18) point out that the major regulators of the banking system only become active when there is a banking crisis. This illustrates that a problem in regulation of the banking system must be evaluated for accurate recommendations to be reached. Haselmann, Pistor and Vig (2010, p. 549) argues that the FSA must play its role actively and ensure that financial services are efficient and fair to the consumers. A reference to the Banking Act of 2009 will be made during the discussion. The Act will be discussed in relation to the principle based system in banking regulation as compared with the rule based system such as that of the US. The Recommendation of the Turner Review will arise during the debate. Reynolds & Willey (2012, p. 64) shows that the turner review basically recommended that

Read d the instruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Read d the instruction - Essay Example This article describes the role of the nurse as health care policy advocate and identifies legislations and regulations of the state, local and political governments. Indiana’s local government sponsors people by providing direct services and offering health insurance. The local government pays for uncompensated care through insurance premiums for government employees. The local government assists people through health insurance policies that work to favor patients. These legislations protect the health system of Indiana (Indiana Health Care Association). The federal government plays a crucial role in promoting innovation across a wide spectrum of healthcare activities in Indiana. Federal funding for healthcare information technology infrastructure, basic science and transitional research help fuel innovation. Transparent regulations can support rapid development, approval and adoption of strong delivery systems, high quality care and medical product advances. Federal health care policy can incentivize sustained private investment in the healthcare sector. Success of these efforts is critical to driving innovation to reduce health care costs and expand access to quality healthcare which favors the patient (Indiana Health Care Association). There are certain legislations and regulations in the state of Indiana that affect patient health care. Examples of these legislations include plans for paying for emergency room services, laws that guarantee continuity of care when a patient is discharged among others. These regulations control the functioning of the state government hospitals. They result into positive impact to patient recovery in the hospital (Indiana Health Care Association). 1)Â  Good documentation: everyone who has practiced nursing knows that if a procedure is done and not documented then it was not done at all.

House of Tata Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

House of Tata - Case Study Example The license raj along with the dominating factor of the red tapes brought into effect significant amount of impact in regards to the irreparable financial bleeding of the business houses and entities. A lot many barriers also emerged in the business scene because of the tremendous opposition from various political parties. With the opening of the Indian economy, foreign direct investment was allowed to flow into the country. With the removal of various government based restrictions, varying amount of investments by the private and family held organizations was allowed in multiple sectors all over the country. It is of high relevance to highlight that the opening up of the economy in regards to foreign and private investments in various sectors promoted a significant amount of business opportunities. It is of high importance to mention that the diverse range of companies that were held together under the highly efficient leadership of JRD Tata has always moved forward and operated in a decentralized structure in regards to tackling the daily business operations. Because of the power of decentralization promoted by the leader JRD Tata himself, the independent set of companies which are centrally owned by the Tatas focused on capitalizing on the various growth opportunities provided by the opening up of the Indian economy. ... A presence of a single brand would have helped the India’s most popular corporate house to significantly communicate a unified set of value offerings for the company to the markets of India as well as around the world. Talking in regards to the value additions that might have happened in regards to the development of a single corporate brand, it needs to be mentioned that because of the ownership of multiple companies, the Tatas needed a strong and single line of communication that will communicate the brand’s superiority to the others. While in the past, the presence of JRD Tata helped in communicating the values of the group in a central manner, in the recently changing times, a single corporate brand will solve the purpose. Talking in regards to the positives, associated with the formation of a brand, it needs to be highlighted that the single corporate brand based identity will act as a pillar of strength and communication for all the associated companies of the Tat as. Also, it will help in communicating the brand values of the Tatas in the open markets in comparison to other rival brands. Talking in the lines of negativity, it needs to be maintained that the companies will have to stick the code of ethics and values promoted by the entire group. Non failure to address the values promoted will lead to tampering of the entire brand image for the corporate house. 1b. Building of equity interlocks among the Tata companies It is of utmost importance to mention that the Tata group of companies has ownership for multiple companies. Because of the leadership style practiced by JRD Tata, who was credited as the senior most commander of the group before Ratan

The status of the jews and christians in muslim lands 1772CE Essay

The status of the jews and christians in muslim lands 1772CE - Essay Example The status of Jews and Muslims Lands in 1772 CE was more or less similar; they were at the receiving end, notwithstanding the protection available to them under the umbrella of the laws of the land or favorable dispositions of conservative Muslims. On a fair interpretation of the literature available on the subject, it is reasonable to assume that Jews and Christians in Muslim Lands lived in constant fear and their status was less than second-grade citizens. â€Å"In 1772 a Muslim scholar in Cairo was asked how Jews and Christians should be treated. The answer is found in this selection, issued four years before the American Declaration of Independence. This answer is not law, but only the opinion of a conservative Muslim. The opinion is in Arabic.†(Jacob†¦)The very basis of terms of references smacks of inferior treatment, as otherwise why such a situation should emerge at all for making a reference about non-Muslims? Thus it is taken for granted by the Muslim rulers tha t their religious tenets are superior and others have to fall in line. The medieval mind-set is showing in the questions listed in the reference and the answers provided. The attitude of the conservative Muslim is no better than the thinking process of a fundamentalist Muslim and the difference is only in degrees and nowhere full protection is guaranteed to the Jews and Christians. The word â€Å"unbelievers† as addressed to Jews and Christians in the questionnaire smacks of fundamentalism and it is certain that the issue will not be judged in an impartial manner. The first rank Muslim cities have been hailed as â€Å"splendor in legal and philosophic studies.† The normal lifestyles of these religions have been described as â€Å"innovations introduced by the cursed unbelievers.† Another charge is â€Å"they have put themselves on a footing of equality with the chiefs, scholars, and nobles, wearing, like them; costly garments of cloth of India, expensive silk a nd cashmere fabrics, and they imitate them even in the cut of these very garments.†(Jacob†¦) This insinuation which denies the Jews and Christians to practice their social customs and follow traditions is nothing but the imposition of their will by the Muslim governing authorities, the highest authority being the King. Throughout the history of any Nation, class conflict in one way or the other existed. The reference â€Å"they ride on saddles which are of the same type as those of chiefs, scholars, and officers, with servants at their right, at their left, and behind them, scattering and pushing back Muslims for whom they thus block the streets† (Jacob†¦)clearly indicates the gap between the rich and the poor existing at that time. With the details of the perquisites enjoyed by the rich, obviously belonging to Jew and Christian Communities, the gap as per the economic scale was wide and this must have created heartburning amongst the Muslims. The reference, à ¢â‚¬Å"they carry small batons in their hands just like the chiefs. They buy Muslim slaves, the offspring of Negro, Abyssinian, and even white slaves; this has become so common and so frequent among them that they no longer consider this offensive. They even buy slaves publicly, just like the Muslims,† (Jacob†¦) clearly indicates that slavery, the evil social system was in practice and the rich Jews and Christia

House of Tata Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

House of Tata - Case Study Example The license raj along with the dominating factor of the red tapes brought into effect significant amount of impact in regards to the irreparable financial bleeding of the business houses and entities. A lot many barriers also emerged in the business scene because of the tremendous opposition from various political parties. With the opening of the Indian economy, foreign direct investment was allowed to flow into the country. With the removal of various government based restrictions, varying amount of investments by the private and family held organizations was allowed in multiple sectors all over the country. It is of high relevance to highlight that the opening up of the economy in regards to foreign and private investments in various sectors promoted a significant amount of business opportunities. It is of high importance to mention that the diverse range of companies that were held together under the highly efficient leadership of JRD Tata has always moved forward and operated in a decentralized structure in regards to tackling the daily business operations. Because of the power of decentralization promoted by the leader JRD Tata himself, the independent set of companies which are centrally owned by the Tatas focused on capitalizing on the various growth opportunities provided by the opening up of the Indian economy. ... A presence of a single brand would have helped the India’s most popular corporate house to significantly communicate a unified set of value offerings for the company to the markets of India as well as around the world. Talking in regards to the value additions that might have happened in regards to the development of a single corporate brand, it needs to be mentioned that because of the ownership of multiple companies, the Tatas needed a strong and single line of communication that will communicate the brand’s superiority to the others. While in the past, the presence of JRD Tata helped in communicating the values of the group in a central manner, in the recently changing times, a single corporate brand will solve the purpose. Talking in regards to the positives, associated with the formation of a brand, it needs to be highlighted that the single corporate brand based identity will act as a pillar of strength and communication for all the associated companies of the Tat as. Also, it will help in communicating the brand values of the Tatas in the open markets in comparison to other rival brands. Talking in the lines of negativity, it needs to be maintained that the companies will have to stick the code of ethics and values promoted by the entire group. Non failure to address the values promoted will lead to tampering of the entire brand image for the corporate house. 1b. Building of equity interlocks among the Tata companies It is of utmost importance to mention that the Tata group of companies has ownership for multiple companies. Because of the leadership style practiced by JRD Tata, who was credited as the senior most commander of the group before Ratan

Toys and Electronics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Toys and Electronics - Essay Example In most cases, children may feel that their bodies do not meet the perfection of the society image. There is some evidence that plastic toys are muscle-bound and young men are abusing anabolic steroids to have such bodies. Advertising is one of the most powerful medium, which is portraying unrealistic body types. Marketers attract attention for their goods by using muscular men and thin women. With the improved techniques of renovating images, models’ bodies are improved by computers, providing the viewers with unrealistic sense of how natural body should look like. The internet also offers young people an opportunity to find information about how to improve their bodies. One of the recent developments is the pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia, which encourages children to use unhealthy behaviors to increase their muscularity and lower their weight (Angier). This paper discusses how children body image is influenced by images such as toys, pictures, movies, video and game. Young girls always believe that Barbie has a perfect body and that is how a woman should look like. Their perception is that a woman should have no fat anywhere and should have big breasts. Young girls always wish that they could have bodies that resemble that of Barbie. Girls who have lots of fats in their bodies and small breast have a low self-esteem. Female characters in cartoons are frequently shown revealing girls in skimpy clothes. Sixty percent of middle and high school girls say that images in publications such as Sassy, Jet, Seventeen and Glamour affect their idea of the perfect body, and almost all of the girls are dissatisfied with their weights. Most of them say that they worry too much about getting fat and as result they starting dieting when still young. At a young age, girls start having eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia as doctors are treating who are as young as five years old (Angier). . Young men have an impression

The Rain Man Essay Example for Free

The Rain Man Essay Of course I dont have my underwear. Im definitely not wearing my underwear. These are not boxer shorts. Mine are boxer shorts. These are Hanes 32 My boxer shorts have my name and it says RaymondI get my boxer shorts at K-Mart in Cincinnati. (Rain Man, 1988) This quote from the popular movie Rain Man perfectly captures the disorder that plagues Raymond Bobbitt, one of the main characters. He is a very particular man who must always do everything on a schedule; any disruption in this schedule completely turns his world upside down. He shows very little emotion, unless something happens to upset him, in which case he completely melts down. His behavior is almost that of a young child. However, he also has a very unique gift. He has an absolutely astounding memory and can recall the smallest details from events that occurred when he was just a young child. At one point in the movie, a lady drops a box of toothpicks and Raymond is able to immediately determine how many of the toothpicks spilled out of the box. The behaviors of Raymond Bobbitt, while very interesting, are nowhere near normal and they prevent him from functioning in any kind of normal society. It is because of this that I have determined he has a mental disorder and could benefit greatly from treatment. In order to diagnose Raymond, it is important to look at all of the factors that may contribute to his behavior. The DSM-IV multiaxial system is a great way to break everything down and do this. It has 5 sections that take a deeper look in to all of the factors that contribute to the possible mental disorder of a patient and provides a standard for classifying mental disorders. Because of this, it is heavily relied on when making an accurate diagnosis and will be used to diagnose Raymond. AXIS I: Axis one of the DSM-IV system is reserved for the clinical symptoms of the disorder. Raymond showed many of the typical clinical symptoms of a person with autism. The first symptom that they generally display is developmental regression. Most sufferers of autism do not show any signs of developmental problems until around 15-30 months. Since Raymond was a young child and not an infant when he was sent away to live at the care home, it can be assumed that he did not start to show problems until he was a young toddler, which is consistent with the autism diagnosis. Another clinical symptom of autism is abnormal reactions for environmental stimuli. This is clearly seen by Raymond when we see him completely melt down when the fire alarm goes off. The loud noise, which is not something that would bother normal people, is too much for him to handle. Abnormal social interactions are another thing that Raymond displays that is also characterized by autism. He cannot hold a normal conversation and has big problems understanding the social intentions of his brother as he takes him on their trip. It is also clear when you listen to the way that Raymond talks that he might suffer from autism; he refers to himself as â€Å"Raymond† instead of â€Å"I† and he often rambles on to no one in particular about his schedule or whatever else he is thinking at the time. The final characteristic of autism that is seen in Raymond is the stress that he feels whenever his routine is broken. (Brasic, 2013) When his brother takes him away from the care home and changes everything, Raymond displays significant anxiety. He insists that they watch Jeopardy at 5:00 and is constantly talking about what he should be doing at any given time. He starts to melt down when he is not doing what he normally does and continues on until his brother finally lets him get his way. AXIS II: Under axis II, the personality disorders and intellectual disabilities are assessed. There are several of these that are associated with both Raymond and Autism, specifically and autistic Savant. The biggest personality disorder that is shown by Raymond and that is also exhibited by autistics is that he has extreme anxiety. (Mayo Clinic, 2013) It is clear by the way that he will not get on an airplane because there are no available airlines that have never experienced a plane crash. A normal person would not think that much in to getting on a plane, and they definitely would not know the statistics of every airline that there is. Even after they start driving, Raymond starts rambling off statistics about driving and car accidents, making it clear that he is not even comfortable riding in a car. You can also look back at some of the other examples that we have already looked at to show his elevated anxiety levels. When the fire alarm goes off, and he starts breaking down, he is reacti ng abnormally (the symptom from axis I); it is because of his extreme anxiety that he starts to display this behavior. The same goes for why he is constantly rambling and is so distressed about missing his shows, not having dinner at the right time and everything else that has changed in his schedule; he does all of this because he is suffering from constant anxiety due to his autism and his change in routine. Another thing to look at under axis II is his intellectual abilities. While he is not able to function as a normal person intellectually (another symptom of autism), he shows extraordinary abilities intellectually in other areas. He remembers specific events from his childhood starting at a very young age, and he remembers them with extreme accuracy and detail. He is also able to store things in his memory that no normal person would be able to, such as when he knew the one and only airline that had never had a plane crash (it was a very small and unknown airline at that) or w hen he knew all of the highway statistics concerning car accidents. It is also made clear that he is brilliant at math, counting and patterns when he is in Vegas and is counting the cards with ease. All of these amazing intellectual abilities that he shows are characteristics of a savant as well. (Hiles, 2002) AXIS III: Axis III is reserved for and physical problems that may be relevant in diagnosing or treating the mental disorder. For example, if a person is suffering from a mood disorder and they also have a disease which causes them pain or discomfort, then that might be something that contributed to their depression. (Edelson, 2013) Raymond does not display any of these however, so there would be no diagnosis for him under this axis. Axis IV: Axis IV is used to assess any environmental stressors that may affect the diagnosis or treatment or the mental disorder. This was a big factor in Raymond’s diagnosis and his display of symptoms. He was doing fairly well at the care home and, even though he was still displaying some symptoms of an autistic savant, he was able to live happily and relatively stress free. However, when his brother took him from his place of comfort, his symptoms got significantly worse. His anxiety levels went through the roof and it was clear that he was not handling the change well. He had lost his primary support group, which included all of the nurses at the hospital and he was left only with his brother who he had not seen since they were young children. This caused him anxiety because he was not familiar with him and his brother was not prepared to deal with all of the behaviors that Raymond displays. He was also showing elevated levels of anxiety due to his environment. When they left the care home, it was clear that Raymond did not want to go because he said it and started acting out. But his brother made him, and his actions just got worse from there. Every night Raymond would insist that they at least follow his schedule and he would start throwing a tantrum if they didn’t. Also, when they were in the casino, he could not handle all of the flashing li ghts and the ringing of the bells. This eventually led to another melt down. After being with his brother for almost their whole trip, it seemed like Raymond started to warm up to him a bit. Since his brother was the only constant during their trip, this again shows how much Raymond needs something consistent and some sort of routine, a need that is very common in autistic. (Bellini, 2013) AXIS V: Axis V is used for the Global Assessment of Funtioning (GAF). It is an evaluation of the patient’s ability to function in daily life and is based off of a 100 point scale (100 being the most functioning and 0 being the least). When looking at Raymond, I would assign him two separate GAF scores. When he is in an comfortable environment, such as when he is living in the care home, I would give him a GAF of 40 because he still displays symptoms and would not be able to keep a job and function in society, but he is not extreme. However, when taken out of his environment and put out in the world, I would give him a GAF of 20 because he starts to display extreme behavior and even becomes a threat to himself or others. (PsyWeb, 2013) There was a point when one of his melt downs became so bad that he started banging his head and hurting himself. He is in need of constant supervision when he is not in a comfortable familiar place. After taking a look at the symptoms that Raymond displayed (which include things like not making eye contact and constantly fidgeting, not seeming to hear when people talk to him and not being able to hold a conversation, and resting touch and changes in routine) and breaking them down with regard to the DSM-IV multiaxial system, I have determined that he suffers from Autism, and more specifically, he is an Autistic Savant. He would be classified as a Savant because he, while lacking in many areas, does have extraordinary skills in other areas. There was a time in the movie when his brother takes him to Vegas and tells him to count cards in blackjack and Raymond (having to prior training) is able to do it with ease. His symptoms under the DSM-IV model are extremely consistent with those of an autistic savant. He displays all of the clinical symptoms (axis I) that an autistic would display, including abnormal social behavior, the inability to hold a normal conversation and the constan t fidgeting. These behaviors are also consistent with the autistic and savant personality disorders and mental abilities (axis II), including the extreme anxiety and the extraordinary abilities in specific areas. There are not necessarily any physical problems (axis III) that contribute to being an autistic savant, and Raymond did not show any of these either. His environment (axis IV) however, did play a significant role his behavior and that is very common with autistics as well. (First Signs, 2012) After diagnosing Raymond as an autistic savant, the most important treatment that I would recommend for him would be to return to the care home and live the rest of his life there. When treating autism, there is no one set treatment because every person with autism is unique. (Autism Speaks, 2013) Since we were able to see how Raymond responded to living in the care home and sticking to a strict routine, we were able to see that it worked for him. This plan, and the routine that was tailored for him, worked to minimize his symptoms and reduce his behavioral problems. As far as him being a savant as well, there really is no treatment needed for that because it does not pose a problem in his life. It is a talent that he lives with and not something that needs to be fixed. If Raymond is returned to the care home and his familiar schedule, there is no reason that he cannot live out the rest of his life as happily and comfortably as possible. References Autism Speaks. (2013). How is Autism Treated? Retrieved from: http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment Bellini, Scott. (2013). The Development of Social Anxiety in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved from: http://foa.sagepub.com/content/21/3/138.short Brasic, James. (2013). Autism Clinical Presentation. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/912781-clinical Edelson, Steven. (2013). Research: Autistic Savants. Retrieved from: http://www.autism.com/index.php/understanding_savants First Signs. (2012). DSM-IV Criteria Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Retrieved from: http://www.firstsigns.org/screening/DSM4.htm Hiles, David. (2002). Savant Syndrome. Retrieved from: http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm Mayo Clinic. (2013). Autism. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348/DSECTION=symptoms PsyWeb. (2013). Axis V- Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Retrieved from: http://www.psyweb.com/DSM_IV/jsp/Axis_V .jsp

OPV Cell Fabrication

OPV Cell Fabrication To fabricate the inverted OPV cells with the structure of ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/Ag, the ITO was first coated onto a glass substrate. The ITO coated glass substrate was then cleaned by ultra-sonication in detergent solution, deionized water, acetone and isopropanol sequentially for 10 minutes each. After that, the pre-cleaned and pre-patterned ITO substrate was exposed to a UV-ozone treatment for 10 more minutes. A solution of ZnO was prepared for spin coating onto the ITO coated glass substrate. To prepare the solution, 0.15g of ethanolamine (NH2CH2CH2OH) and 0.6g of zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH3COO)2à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢2H2O] were dissolved in 5 mL of 2-methoxyethanol [CH3OCH2CH2OH] with continuous stirring for 24 hours. After that, 1mL of ammonia (NH3) was added to the solution and stirred for 2 more hours. To remove the inpurities, the solution would need to be filtered through a 0.25mm PVDF filter. With the technique of spin coating at 3500 rpm for 90 s, a ZnO film of about 40 nm would be coated onto the pre-cleaned ITO coated glass substrates. Mild washing would then be performed on the ZnO films with isopropyl alcohol and it was blown dry in air. In the next step, poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) are mixed in the proportion of 10 : 8. The mixture was then dissolved in 1,2-dichlorobenzene solution and to be spin-coated to a thickness of approximately 200nm on the ZnO/ITO layer prepared. Annealing at 120 oC was then carried out to the film for 10 minutes. The hole transport layer of PEDOT:PSS was then spin-coated on the bulk layer of P3HT:PCBM from a commercial solution (Clevios) under the temperature of 120 oC for 10 minutes. In the last step, under a pressure of about 1 milliPascal, the silver electrode of a thickness about 100 nm was coated onto the PEDOT:PSS layer. The devices then needed to be annealed for 10 minutes at around 70 oC under a pressure of about 1 milliPascal. After that, the device was cooled down to room temperature. Using a source meter at AM1.5G illumination with a solar simulator, the photovoltaic characteristics of the cell were measured. The photocurrent measurements were done by using a source meter at AM1.5G illumination. This value of photocurrent was used to calibrate the illuminator for measurements later on. The area of the devices was 0.9 cm2. Intro of OPV, normal and inverted geometry In recent years, there has been great interest in organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) due to various advantages over the conventional silicon solar cells. Some of the prominent advantages include low cost of manufacturing, light cell weight, high power conversion efficiency reaching 10% 1 and being environmentally friendly. The structure of the photoactive layer in these organic photovoltaic cells is usually an amalgamation between a fullerene derivative as an electron acceptor and a p-conjugated polymer as an electron donor. Among different materials, poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) have attracted wide attention for being developed to bulk heterojunction [2]. This is because of their outstanding conductivity for both electrons and holes and good stability in atmospheric conditions [3]. Aside of these advantages, a major challenge in the study of OPV cells is to combine the high power conversion efficiency and operational stability. To tackle this problem, there are two device structure set forth, namely the conventional geometry and inverted geometry. For devices made according to the conventional geometry, as shown in Fig 1, the photoactive layer, which is usually a blend of the P3HT:PCBM, is lodged between two electrodes, such as an aluminum electrode and an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. Upon shining of light, the electrons and holes are photo-excited and then separated to be collected at the two electrodes. Electrons are gathered at the aluminum electrode and holes are collected at the ITO electrode. Devices with such geometry usually have relatively high power conversion efficiency. Nevertheless, the stability of such devices is compromised because these devices are easily affected by oxygen and humidity present in the atmosphere. This is due to the fact that the aluminum electrode has a low work function and it is much susceptible to oxidation [4]. Thus, the stability of devices made with the conventional geometry is restricted. However, the oxidation of aluminum electrode is not the only factor responsible for device degradation. Other factors such as: (1) charge carriers being accumulated at the interface between the photoactive layer and the electrode, (2) metal ions diffusing from the electrodes to the photoactive layer [5], (3) the photoactive layer being unstable and degrade in atmospheric conditions [6], (4) the morphology of the photoactive layer varies in the nanoscale [7]. One of the suggested ways to improve the stability of such OPV cells is to add a layer of encaps ulation to prevent the oxygen and moisture from entering the devices [8]. Nevertheless, the encapsulation cannot prevent the degradation reaction from happening within the OPV cells. Therefore, the intrinsic stability of devices needs to be improved. One achievable way is to use the inverted geometry with reversed charge collection. For OPV cells manufactured with the inverted geometry, as shown in Fig 2, the photoactive layer is middled between an electron transport layer (ETL) and a hole transport layer (HTL) which are in turn lodged between two electrodes, which are usually indium tin oxide electrode and a metal with high work function like silver. Upon photo excitation, the electrons generated will go through the ETL and be collected by the ITO electrode; the holes generated will go through the HTL and be gathered by the metal electrode [9]. The high work function of the metal electrode used makes the electrode unreactive to the oxygen and moisture present in the atmosphere, thus, a higher stability of the OPV cells can be maintained in a relatively long time period. However, the power conversion efficiency of OPV cells with inverted geometry is generally lower than those OPV cells made with conventional geometry [10]. Info on ZnO Several materials are commonly used for constructing ETL, some examples are ZnO, LiF[11], and Ca [12]. Currenly, ZnO is most recognized as a good material for ETL because of its high electron mobility, high photo-stability, low work function and optical transparency [10]. Study done by Krebs et al. [2] has shown that inverted OPV cells with ETL made of ZnO exhibit an extended lifetime. In their study, I–V measurements were performed under illuminated conditions in both presence and absence of UV light. Their results showed that there is increased recombination when the oxygen molecules are desorbed from the surface of ZnO layer due to the photoelectrons when the cell is in operation. In the night time when the cell is not in operation, oxygen molecules are adsorbed onto the ZnO layer again from the atmosphere, thus restoring the OPV cells’ performance. This cycle of desorption and re-adsorption of oxygen molecules causes the inflection point in the I-V measurement to di sappear first and re-appear later. Other than the factors affecting the OPV cells in operation, manufacturing factors exert equally significant influence on the performance of OPV cells. One of such factors is the trap state. In the band gap of ZnO which is a metal oxide semiconductor with nanostructure, there is presence of localized energy states, which are also called trap states. These trap states make the charge transport in ZnO to be different from the bulk material and they exert adverse effect to the charge transport in ZnO [13]. The amount of such trap states increase exponentially from the top of the valence band to the bottom of the conduction band. According to previous research, different amount of trap states can even be present in the band gap of materials which are chemically identical. The different amount of trap states is a result of difference in crystallinity which means the perfectness of the crystal. High electron diffusivity and mobility is usually associated with materials which have higher crystallinity [14]. The crystallinity can be varied by undergone ZnO film through annealing process in different temperature, different density of trap states can thus be achieved. The devices which undergo annealing in higher temperature will have lower depth of trap states, thus consequently exhibiting a better photo-conversion efficiency and greater operational stability. Annealing effect on ZnO, FF, Voc Isc info To further illustrate the effect of annealing on the crystallinity of ZnO layer and consequently the effect on the OPV performance, a study was done by N. K. Elumalai et al.[1] with two devices which have their ZnO thin films annealed at two different temperatures after the ZnO film is coated onto the ITO substrate. As shown in Fig. 3, the current–voltage measurement was done under the illuminated condition of 1 sun for both device A and device B. Device A had its ZnO film annealed at 240 oC, whereas device B had its ZnO film annealed at 160 oC. In the current–voltage measurement, the value of the current when the voltage is zero is called the short circuit current (Isc). In the significance of an OPV cell, Isc is the amount of current going through the cell when the cell is short circuited, which means the voltage across the cell is zero. Hence, the Isc is the maximum current which can be possibly drawn from the OPV cell. The light conversion ability of the OPV cell has a direct influence on the value of Isc. Hence, Isc is useful in characterizing the OPV cell performance. The value of the voltage at the point when the current is zero is called the open circuit voltage (Voc). Voc is the maximum voltage which can be possibly drawn from the OPV cell. In theory, the Voc is dependent either on the work function of the electrodes used or the energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the electron donor material and the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LOMO) of the electron acceptor material in the OPV cell, depending on whether the contact is non-ohmic or ohmic. With the current–voltage measurement, the fill factor (FF) can be determined. Fill factor is the ratio of maximum power to the product of Voc and Isc. By going through every point on the (I–V) measurement curve, there is such a point with the current (Imax) and voltage (Vmax) values that maximize the fill factor value according to equation, Hence, the fill factor is determined. In addition, the power conversion efficiency (PCE), can be found from the current–voltage measurement. PCE is the ratio of the energy output from the OPV cell to the solar energy the cell received from illumination source. The energy output from the OPV cell is defined as Pcell, the solar energy the cell received is defined as Psun. The PCE can be calculated from the equations shown below. With reference to Fig. 3, it is obviously that device A has a better performance since it shows a higher short circuit current density and a higher open circuit voltage than device B does. With some simple calculation, the fill factor and the power conversion efficiency of both device A and device B can be determined and summarized in Table. 1. From the Isc, Voc and PCE, it is obvious that the device A is superior that device B in terms of photovoltaic performance. Hence, it proved that annealing of ZnO film changes the crystallinity of the nanostructure, reduced trap states density and consequently lead to better photovoltaic performance. In layer ZnO, Voc vs. T in detail examine To examine the effect of trap states of ZnO in more details, the concept of trap depth should be introduced. The trap depth, represented by the symbol , is the depth of the distribution of the trap states in the band gap of ZnO layer. An equation relating the trap depth and Isc is employed [15], as shown below. From this equation, it is obvious that the trap depth is related to the short circuit current which in turn is a function of temperature and illumination intensity. The pre-exponential term Io in the equation summarized factors such as mobility and density of the photo-excited carriers. Researches have been done by N. K. Elumalai et al.[1] to find the effects of different temperature and illumination intensity on the Isc. By a semi-log plot, it is easy to find the trap depth at different condition of temperature and illumination intensity. For this study, it is evident that the trap depth of device A is much lower than device B. This is in line with the theoretical prediction which says that the annealing at higher temperature make the nanostructure have a more perfect crystallinity and thus less trap states distribution. The operational stability of these inverted organic solar cells is influenced by the trap depth and variation of the open circuit voltage. Hence, the effect of temperature and illumination intensity on Voc should be noted. There is on such equation proven to be useful as shown below In this equation, the recombination is assumed to be Langevin type, Eg signifies the effective band gap, which is the energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the electron donor material and the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LOMO) of the electron acceptor material; the effective density of trap states is represented by Nc; p and n represent the hole density and electron density respectively; e and kB have their usual meaning of elementary electron charge and the Boltzmann constant [16]. From the equation above, when the temperature decreases, the Voc will approach more closely to the effective band gap. Nevertheless, this is only true under the condition that the contacts in the device are all ohmic. When contacts are all ohmic, the barriers for charge carriers are low at the interface. However, in the case which contacts are non-ohmic, charge carriers will stuck and accumulate at the interface due to the higher barrier present. Hence, the Voc will be determined by the difference in the work function of the two electrodes. In Fig 5, the effect of temperature and illumination intensity on the Voc is illustrated. In Fig 5 (a), the ZnO layer in the device is annealed at a higher temperature, the Voc decreases almost linearly when the temperature increases for different illumination intensity. This observation can be explained by an increase in the phonon scattering in the photoactive layer and the ZnO interlayer when the temperature increases. In Fig 5 (b), Voc remains relatively constant when temperature is below 180 K for various illumination intensities, but the linear decrease of Voc is observed again when the temperature increases above 180 K; this may be due to the fact that the resistivity of the ZnO layer decreases at lower temperature. By comparing the two figures, the difference in shape can only be associated to the difference of crystallinity which is a result of annealing at different temperature. Hence, it can be suggested that the Voc is affected by the trap states at low temperature. To va lidate this proposition, the plot of Voc in Fig 5 (a) can be extrapolated to a temperature of 0 K, it will yield a value of 0.8 to 0.9 V. Comparing to the work function difference of the two electrodes which is around 0.7 V, this open circuit voltage is much higher, and it is indeed determined by the effective band gap.