Improving or Enhancing Quality and Competency Development at the Dissertation

Improving or Enhancing Quality and Competency Development at the Nursing Facuilty Using Leadership skills - Dissertation Example The proposed research aims to explore the strategies that can be applied in improving nursing teaching using the leadership skills. The objectives of the study include identifying the leadership strategies that can be applied in improving teaching, assessing the teaching needs of the nursing faculty, evaluating the effective approaches applicable in improving these needs and developing a practical strategy capable of improving the teaching environment. The primary method of data collection will involve questionnaires. Journals and books will be used to provide secondary information source related to the topic of study. Table of Contents A Research Proposal on Strategies of Improving Quality and Competency Development in Nursing Faculty Using Leadership skills 1 Abstract 1 Leadership is the interpersonal process that involves motivating and guiding others to achieve goals. Leadership involves the use of interpersonal skills to influence others in the accomplishment accomplish a specif ic goal. ... The objectives of the study include identifying the leadership strategies that can be applied in improving teaching, assessing the teaching needs of the nursing faculty, evaluating the effective approaches applicable in improving these needs and developing a practical strategy capable of improving the teaching environment. The primary method of data collection will involve questionnaires. Journals and books will be used to provide secondary information source related to the topic of study. 1 Table of Contents 2 PURPOSE OF STUDY 3 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 3 AIM 8 OBJECTIVES 8 RESEARCH QUESTION 8 Pre-Observation Interview Questions 10 Post-Observation Interview Questions 10 DATA ANALYSIS 12 Statistical figures such as charts and graphs will be used in the analysis of quantitative data. Descriptive statistics will also be used to ascertain the demographic characteristics of the sample. Qualitative data will be analysed through content analysis. 12 CONCLUSION 12 RATIONAL Improving nursing te aching requires exceptional leadership with the will to promote change, ambition to set high-level goals and commitment in implementation. Application of leadership skills involves being clear about the goals to be applied in the improvement of the organisational goals, agreeing on an effective approach for implementation and focusing on the implementation and monitoring progress. Global nursing faculties are looking for the most cost-effective and quality means of delivering efficient nursing education, with the main focus being improving the employee competence. PURPOSE OF STUDY The purpose of the study is to identify the strategies of improving teaching in faculties through application of the leadership skills.

The Effect of Foreign Trade on Tthe Nigerian Economy Essay Example for Free

The Effect of Foreign Trade on Tthe Nigerian Economy Essay Everyday, the need for foreign trade is on the increase as the needs of man is unlimited (Adams Smith). This is visible in the rise for consumer goods and services throughout the world especially with the increase in world population of over 6 billion people. Man with his advancement in social interaction and technology is able to visualize and perceive in his mind what he desires. This was obvious with the industrial revolution where production demand increased. With the location of raw materials in different geographical zones making them ubiquitous in some areas and scarce in others, the demand for certain goods is on the increase, which gave rise to the concept of foreign trade†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. . .Foreign trade exists alongside domestic trade, which has also undergone transformation from the old style of â€Å"trade by barter† to â€Å"business†. In the light of this, Nigeria as a nation participates in foreign trade. Foreign trade as defined by Longe, (2008) is the buying and selling of goods and services beyond the geographical boundaries of a country or between one country and the other. Foreign trade also referred to as international trade, can be bilateral or multilateral and involves the use of different currencies. The Economic glossary defines foreign trade as the exchange of goods and services between countries, and as such, it goes ahead to explain that the inclination for one country to trade with another is based in large part on the idea of comparative advantage†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Foreign trade is just an extension of production, exchange and consumption of goods and services that are fundamental part of life. The Wikipedia encyclopedia defines foreign trade (international trade) as the exchange of capital, goods and services across international borders or territories. In such countries, such trade represents a significant share of the GDP. Foreign trade comprises of imports, exports, and entreports. The economic, social and political importance of foreign trade has been on the rise recently due to specialization in production. Industrialization, advanced transportation, globalization, Multinational Corporation and outsourcing are all having a major impact on the global foreign trade system. Increasing foreign trade is very important to the growth of globalization as international trade assist in bridging the gap and creates availability of goods and services to other nations. The aim of foreign trade is to increase production and to raise the standard of living of the people. Foreign trade enables citizens of a country have access and enjoy the products of another country. According to †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. reasons for foreign trade are for the following reasons; uneven distribution of natural resources due to difference in climate, division of labor and specialization, difference in economic growth rate, theory of comparative cost, availability of all types of goods, increased standard of living, large scale production and stable price. According to the theory of comparative cost, each country should concentrate on the production of those goods for which it is best suited, taking into account its natural resources, climate, labour supply, technical-know-how and the level of development. Akeem (2011) explains that foreign trade plays a vital role in restructuring economic and social attributes of countries around the world. Aids to trade includes; banking, warehousing, insurance, transportation and advertisement. According to †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. , there arises challenges in implementing foreign nations involved in foreign trade is done using exchange of currency Increase in tariff, high duty on some imported goods as well as some export goods. Exposure to risk since they are transported either through the road, air, rail and sea. 2. Poor intermodal transport network in developing countries such as Nigeria. 3. Poor government policies on trade and industrialization. 4. Corruption and unaccountability. 5. Insurgence of terror groups globally acts as a threat to foreign trade. 6. Late payment for goods which results to demurrage and high port charges. 7. Language barrier slows foreign trade. With a geographical land mass of about 923,768sqkm, Nigeria is located along the Atlantic coast line. The location of natural resources in almost every part of the country has attracted trade domestically and internationally. These resources include cash crop, food crop, solid mineral, livestock and aquatic life. During this period, the industry in existence was the extractive industry and the scale of production was minimal. There existed trade by barter, the use of cowries, and coins as the medium of exchange. Nigeria experienced foreign trade with the insurgence of the British, Portuguese etc, who explored the country and tapped our natural resources. The colonial masters journeyed into the hinterland and assisted in the construction of the early road networks and later, rail lines which connected major cities to the ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar. These routes provided means of transportation for the export of cash crops like palm oil, cocoa, groundnut, rubber, etc to the industries in Europe and America. Between the periods of 2005 and 2010, many industries e. g. Unilver, located in Nigeria relocated to neighboring West African countries and their home base because of the numerous problems such as epileptic power supply, high tariff on import, corruption, inadequate social infrastructure and high tax rates imposed on them by the government. These factors have affected Nigeria’s foreign trade, especially with her over dependence on crude oil which was discovered in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, formerly Rivers.

Strategies for the Dietary Control of Diabetes

Strategies for the Dietary Control of Diabetes A survey of the recent strategies for the dietary control of diabetes in the Middle East INTRODUCTION Significant changes in the political and socio-economic climates have been the hallmark of the last decade in the many of the countries in the Middle East especially those located in the territories of the Arabian Gulf. These changes have impacted in no small way on the demographics of the affected countries. Notable are the obvious shifts in age distribution and a perceptible increase in healthy life expectancy. Furthermore, there have been alterations in the conventional lifestyles of the people living in these countries perhaps due largely to westernization, rapid urbanization and industrialization (Abdella et al 1995). It is also worth mentioning that disease types, trends and or their prevalence have also changed dramatically. Prominent among these is diabetes. Diabetes – delineation The incidence and prevalence of diabetes have consistently increased in the last 20 years; these changes have paralleled environmental transformation as well as the adjustments to changes above mentioned (Abdella et al 1995; Zimmet et al 1977). The current projection of the World Health Organisation (WHO 2007) indicates that there will be further increases in the prevalence of diabetes in the Middle East. A working committee of the WHO on diabetes defined the disease as ‘a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both; the effects being long-term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs’ (Alberti and Zimmet 1998). Diabetes is caused by a lack of the hormone insulin, which is produced by the ÃŽ ²-islet cells of the pancreas. Glucose is the primary energy source for all cells and is provided by digest ion of carbohydrates from the diet. Insulin enhances the body cells’ uptake of glucose from blood plasma. Hence, defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or, most commonly, both leads to decreased uptake of glucose by the cells and an increase in blood glucose levels. Sustained increases in blood glucose level will lead to the excretion of glucose in the urine when such increases exceed the renal threshold of the molecule. This in turn leads to the typical symptoms of diabetes: excessive production of urine (polyuria) and extreme thirst (polydipsia). Fatty acids from fat stores are metabolized as an alternative energy source when the body senses a lack of glucose, the result is weight loss and fatigue other common symptoms of diabetes (Maitra and Abbas 2004). The clinical profile of diabetes varies minimally between the countries of the Middle East. In Kuwait for example, because of the marked disparity between individuals in their age of diabetes onset, mode of present ation, and the degree of obesity, the clinical profile of the disease is heterogeneous (Abdella et al 1995). Diabetes mellitus is not a single disease entity, but rather a group of metabolic disorders sharing the common underlying feature of hyperglycemia. Type 1 (early-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and Type 2 (maturity-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) diabetes are well known types and are characterized by the different metabolic processes of the disease (Alberti and Zimmet, 1998). Type 2 accounts for about 80% of the disease worldwide. The chronic hyperglycemia and attendant metabolic dysregulation may be associated with secondary damage in multiple organ systems, especially the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels (Maitra and Abbas 2004). The Role of Diet in the Management of Diabetes Nutritional therapy is an integral part of the management of diabetes and plays a vital role in helping people with diabetes achieve and maintain optimal blood glucose level (United Kingdom (UK) Prospective Diabetes Study Group (UKPDS), 1990; Delahanty, 1998). The nutritional management of patients is based on evidence-based principles and recommendations for the treatment and prevention of diabetes and related complications (American Diabetes Association, 2002). These recommendations are based on evidence published in the international literature and from consensus and expert opinion as required (Ha and Lean, 1998). The benefit of tight control of both blood glucose and blood pressure in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated in several well controlled randomized large-scale studies (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group, 1993; UKPDS 1998a,1998b). Generally, the objectives of strategies for the dietary control of diabetes are complementary to the aims of medical treatment. Dyson (2002) reported that these includes but not limited to the following: Maintaining blood glucose within predetermined target range Minimizing the risk of hypoglycaemia for those patients taking insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents Achieving weight loss in the obese patient Reducing the risk of long-term complications of diabetes Maintaining blood pressure and lipid levels within predetermined target ranges Improving and maintaining suitable quality of life. (Dyson 2002) Rationale for the project Contemporary management of diabetes places emphasis on the individual patient’s responsibility for diabetes control of blood sugars and of food consumption. The concept of self-care with regard to a recommended diet is thus considered important in order for patients to maintain normoglycaemia and reduce or prevent diabetes-related complications (Rubin and Peyrot, 1992; Rubin et al, 1997). The diabetic patient is expected to monitor his/her carbohydrate metabolism, energy expenditure and the effects of insulin or recommended medicaments on blood pressure and sugar levels. This inevitably demands a level of understanding about diabetes and of the effect of diet on the progression and or management of the disease. This survey will explore the individual patients’ approach to control or support the pharmacotherapeutic management of his/her diabetes using diet. The study will shed light on diabetic patient’s adherence to guideline dietary recommendations in the Middle East or on novel dietary strategies for the control of the disease. The results of this study is essential to health policies makers in the region and pivotal for governmental strategies to minimize the burden of the diabetic epidemics in the Middle East. Using Kuwait as First Port of Call for the Middle East Diabetes Diet Study (MEDDS) The middle east comprise a large region that covers parts of northern Africa, southwestern Asia, and south eastern Europe consisting of Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The ‘Middle East Diabetes Diet Study’ (MEDDS) will focus on Kuwait in its first phase. Implementation of the study in other countries of the Middle East will stem from its success in Kuwait following appropriate modifications to adapt the study tools to the settings and subjects of these countries. Description of First Target site: Kuwait is a relatively small country, (17, 818 km2 in surface area) and is situated in the North Eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Kuwait shares the north and west borders with Iraq, is bordered on the south by Saudi Arabia and on the east by the Arabian Gulf. Total population of Kuwait in 2005 was 2, 867, 000 and over 88% of these were aged 15 and over; percent Urban population out of total population was 100% during the same period (WHO 2007). The prevalence of diabetes in Kuwait was 104,000 in 2000 and the projection for the year 2030 is 319,000; this will amount to about 44% of the projected total population (WHO 2007). AIM AND OBJECTIVES Aim: The aim of this proposal is to develop a plan for the conduct of a cross-sectional survey of the recent ( Objectives: To purposely select a panel of experienced diabetes practitioners/clinicians to conceive questions assessing patients’ knowledge of their diabetes and the effects of their food types and feeding pattern on glycaemia and blood pressure control (in 11 main domains) To develop and validate a diabetes-diet questionnaire tool for the study To implement the diabetes-diet instrument during a face to face semi-structured interview designed to further explore recent dietary strategies for the control of diabetes To administer a 7-day diet dairy to respondents. Repeat the survey in other countries of the Middle East METHODOLOGY Development of Study Instruments An initial list of 11 patient’s knowledge domains as shown below will be used: Basic knowledge about diabetes Knowledge of patient’s own current management if involving pharmacotherapy Consumption of olives, fruits and vegetables, nuts and cereals in recent times. The intake of legumes in cooked foods in the last 5 years Recent intake of dairy and meat products. Consumption of alcohol/wine in the last 5 years Knowledge of other food types consumed recently Knowledge of feeding pattern in recent times Knowledge of occurrences of diabetes complications and or hospitalisations in the last 5 years Knowledge of the effect of food types and pattern of intake on control of blood pressure in the last 5 years Knowledge of the effect of food types and pattern of intake on the control of blood glucose in the last 5 years Under each domain, important points regarding each topic will be identified. To ensure content validity, a panel of 10 senior practitioners in the area of diabetes management will be identified and asked to participate in diabetes-diet (MEDDS) instrument development phase (Kline 1986; Streiner and Norman 1989). The expert reviewers will include 2 pharmacists involved in care of diabetes patients, 3 diabetes staff nurses, 3 diabetes specialist dietitians and 2 consultants in the area of diabetes. These will be identified based on their records of diabetes patient care experiences and on their knowledge of the factors impacting on the progression of the disease. The diabetes-diet (MEDDS) instrument’s content experts will rate each of the topic domains and indicate the percentage weight of each domain within the entire study tool. Between 6 and 12 multiple-choice questions will be created for each domain, with a focus on information ranked by the experts as most important for the objectives of the study. The multiple-choice question format is chosen because it is easy to administer and it will be easy to psychometrically validate the ensuing instrument (Kline 1986). Each multiple choice question will have 4 possible responses, namely one correct answer and 3 distracters. However, in order to fully capture any emerging theme, respondents will be allowed time to comment freely on the questions and the multiple choices in a semi-structured interview. These will then be transcribed for analysis. Existing questions from previous studies may be harnessed and modified by the panel. The expert panel will also rank the questions within the domain in descending order based on its relative importance to patients’ diabetes diet requirement/knowledge. After the initial item bank is compiled, the expert panel members will be asked to rank the overall quality of each item on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = poor, 5 = excellent) in terms of how well it tested each information point. These rankings will be used to eliminate questions and create a 20-30 item pilot instrument. An item bank will be developed based on this information. Questions will be written at 7th grade reading level as determined by the Flesch/Flesch-Kincaid Readability Tests calculated from Dave Taylor and Intuitive systems (2007). Respondents will also be asked to fill a 7-day diet diary. Inclusion criteria Adult volunteers aged 18-85, living in the study site with not less than 3 years diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Since retinal and vascular problems associated with diabetes mellitus are common, attempts will be made to administer the tools also in carers of blind diabetic patients. Exclusion criteria Anyone diagnosed with a mental illness as it may be difficult to determine the truthfulness of information collected from these patients. Patients who are deaf; this is because a researcher and the interviewee would need to be proficient in sign language for any meaningful interview to take palce Data-collection tools Three data-collection tools will eventually be used; (1) the diabetes diet questionnaire (MEDDS tool), (2) a semi-structured interview using validated questions developed by the experts group and (3) a health diary. The interview and diet questionnaire will be the main data source. The semi-structured interview will last for 20 -30 minutes and will be conducted to further explore dietary trends for the control of diabetes in the last 5 years; this will be done at any location convenient for the respondents. The MEDDS questionnaire will be self or researcher administered during the face-to-face interview. A team of 8 interviewers will be trained by the researchers for 4 days before the start of data collection. The questionnaire will be translated into the local language of the study site. The study tools will be pre-tested for about 1 week in diabetes patients across age and sex variables of the target diabetic cohort as shown by Abdella et al (1995) for diabetic Kuwaiti. Larger scal e administration of the instrument will be for 6 months following the pre-test period. Study population Based on the household registry linked to databases of diabetes organisations in Kuwait, the survey will stratify the area of Kuwait into seven strata according to the degree of urbanization, geographic location, and administrative boundaries. Townships or districts will be selected from each stratum with the selection probability being proportional to its size. Sample selection will involve the use of multi-stage cluster random sampling procedure at the district level to select sub districts and zones from where the study sample could be drawn. In each district, the area will be sub-divided into sub districts from which 3 zones will be selected based on population size. Within the selected zones, households will be randomly numbered, and houses assigned ‘even numbers’ will be selected into the final sample. . Instrument Administration Diabetes patients or their carer (as may be necessary) will be identified for face-to-face semi-structured interview, the administration of the diet questionnaire and the filling of a diet diary in the final sample population. Knowledge of dietary recommendations for the management of their diabetes will be investigated; types of food as well as feeding pattern in the last 5 years will be evaluated for each diabetes type. Answers will also be sought to questions that will provide insight into patients recent general daily energy intake and expenditure; daily amount of carbohydrate and protein in the diet, control of blood pressure and glucose levels in the last 5 years. Respondents will also provide insights into changes in local custom for dietary control of diabetes. Following the interview and administration of the diet questionnaire, each participant will be given a 7-day diet diary to complete after each meal or at the end of each day. It will be explained that the diet diary sh ould contain food types and time of eating and all dietary tactics taken to maintain normal blood glucose level (4–7 mmol/litre). The diet diary will further explore the truthfulness of information provided in the interview/ questionnaire as well as shed light on how the respondents have presented their recent self-care dietary strategies for the control of their diabetes. The Use of Interpreters Linguistic competency is central to cross-cultural studies and problems that may arise due to the researchers not understanding the local language could be overcome by the use of an interpreter (Davies, 1999). It may also be reassuring for the respondents to see someone with whom they share the same culture and language during the interview periods (Freed, 1988). Interpreters will either provide verbatim translation during the face to face interview or conduct the interview independently following adequate training (Baker, 1981). Psychometric Analysis of the Questionnaire for the Dietary Control of Diabetes Ensuring content and construct validity are appropriate methods to develop a knowledge instrument. Questionnaire validity is ideally established by comparing the new instrument being developed with an established recognized standard. There are no such standard for the target patients of this study. Reliability is also a vital attribute of a sound knowledge instrument. The diabetes-diet (MEDDS) instrument will be said to be reliable when scores are consistent over time within a site or as implementation moves from one site/country to another. The variability of the instrument’s results should in this case be due to true differences among the individuals patients that will be enrolled into the study (Streiner and Norman 1989). Content Validity Content validity refers to the extent to which a set of items reflects the intended content domain (De vellis 1991). A systematic approach to identifying important domains and developing specific items based on consultations amongst experienced practitioners in the management of diabetic patients will ensure the content validity of the ‘Middle East Diabetes Diet Survey’ (MEDDS) instrument’. This method follows those employed by Zeolla et al (2006) in determining patients’ knowledge of the management of their disease. Construct Validity Construct validity determines the instrument’s ability to function for its intended purpose (Kline 1986). The ‘contrasted group’ method will be used in this study to determine the construct validity of the MEDDS tool (Kline 1986). Reliability of the Diet Questionnaire A proportion of the diabetic patients recruited into the study will be followed-up after 4 months and urged to complete the diet questionnaire only. The time elapse is considered sufficient to reduce the impact of recall (Streiner and Norman 1989). A correlation coefficient will be calculated between the test scores from each administration. A coefficient of 0.80 or higher is considered acceptable for demonstrating test–retest reliability (Streiner and Norman 1989). Hypothesis for Construct Validity If the MEDDS instrument is a valid tool to assess the recent approaches for the dietary control of diabetes, patients managed for diabetes, should be more knowledgeable and achieve significantly higher scores than those not diagnosed or managed for the disease. To confirm this hypothesis, the response of diabetic patients to the final instrument will be compared with responses of age-matched subjects without diabetes in the same setting. Construct validity would be confirmed if the mean generated score for diabetic subjects were significantly higher than those not diagnosed or managed for diabetes. . Statistical and Data Analysis Statistical analyses will be by SPSS version 14. The results of the pre-test will be excluded from the analysis. Student’s t-test will be used to compare the differences in mean scores of patients managed and not managed for diabetes. Using chi-square (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ £2), demographics characteristics will be compared between patients managed and not managed for diabetes. Pearson’s correlation coefficient will be used for the test–retest reliability analysis. Descriptive statistics will be used to report patient demographics. The interview transcripts and the health diaries will be deliberated upon on more than one occasion to fully understand patients’ self care approach and identify individual patient’s dietary care strategies. Themes emerging from the interview will then be compared with dietary patterns observed in the 7-day diet diary and the diet questionnaire. Following a detailed analysis of the results of all 3 tools, perceptions of respondentsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ conformity to recommended dietary regimen or their general philosophy/strategy of managing diabetes with diet will be reached. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION The study qualitative paradigm protocol will be submitted for review and approval by the local ethics committee for the study region. A covering letter describing the goals of the study will be provided to patients agreeing to participate. The purpose of the study will be very carefully explained to the respondents and their consent will be individually obtained before the study tools are administered. Each participant will also complete a brief demographic questionnaire. In cases of identified illiteracy, the information contained in the form will be read by the study interpreter and informed consent sought. All respondents will assured of anonymity, confidentiality and that they could withdraw from participation in the study at any time. EXPECTED OUTPUT Interventions to prevent diabetes in the Middle East should include culturally appropriate and effective ways to improve the nutritional adequacy of the diet in line with international guidelines for the dietary control of diabetes. The result of the study will indicate the knowledge gaps if any in the study population. Tight glycaemia control associated with certain food types and feeding strategies identified in the study may become basis for its recommendation and use in other parts of the world for the control of the worldwide diabetes epidemic. References Abdella Nabila A., Moustafa M. Khogalib, Amani D. Salman’, Shaker A. Ghuneimi†, Jasbir S. Bajajd (1995) Pattern of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in Kuwait Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 29.1 29-136 Alberti, K.G. Zimmet, P. Z. (1998) Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Part 1:Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus, provisional report of a WHO commission. Diabetic Medicine, 15, 539^553. American Diabetes Association (2002) Evidence-based nutrition principles and recommendations for the treatment and prevention of diabetes and related complications. Diabetes Care 25: S50–S60 Baker N (1981) Social work through an interpreter. Soc Work 26:391–97 Dave Taylor and Intuitive system (2007) [Internet] [Accessed 21st April 2007] http://www.readability.info/ Davies CA (1999) Reflexive Ethnography: A Guide to Researching Selves and Others. Routledge, London Delahanty LM (1998) Clinical significance of medical nutrition therapy in achieving diabetes outcomes and the importance of process. J Am Diet Assoc 98: 28–30 Devellis RF (1991). Scale development: theory and applications. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (1993) The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of longterm complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med 329: 977–86 Dyson Pamela (2002) Nutrition and diabetes control: advice for non-dietitians British Journal of Community Nursing Vol 7, No 8. 414-419 Freed AO (1988) Interviewing through an intrepreter. Soc Work 33(4): 315–97 Ha TKK, Lean MEJ (1998) Recommendations for the nutritional management of patients with diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr 52: 467–81 Kline P. (1986) A handbook of test construction: introduction to psychometric design. New York: Methuen Co. Maitra A and Abbas A.K (2004). The endocrine system. In: Robbin’s and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (edited by V. Kumar, A.K. Abbas N. Fausto). Pp. 1189-1207, 7th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders Company. Streiner DL, Norman GR. (1989) Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their development and use. New York: Oxford University Press. UKPDS (1998a) Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes: UKPDS 33. Lancet 352: 837–53 UKPDS (1998b) Tight blood pressure control and risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes: UKPDS 38. BMJ 317: 703–13 UKPDS (1990) Response of fasting plasma glucose to diet therapy in newly presenting type II diabetic patients: UKPDS 7. Metabolism 39: 905–12 WHO (2007) [Internet] Available: http://www.who.int/diabetes/facts/world_figures/en/ Accessed 21st April 2007 Zeolla M. M., Michael R Brodeur, Angela Dominelli, Stuart T Haines, and Nicole D Allie (2006). Development and Validation of an Instrument to Determine Patient Knowledge: The Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge Test Ann Pharmacother 40:633-8. Zimmet, P., Taft, P., Guinea, A., Guthrie, W. and Tchoma, L. (1977) The high prevalence of diabetes mellitus on a central Pacific island. Diabetologia 13, 111-115.

Computers Reshaping Society :: Technology Computers Essays

Computers Reshaping Society The emergence of computers in our society as a means of the gathering and processing of information for the sorting of it has played a major role in reshaping the society it exists in. After the introduction of computers as a business, and later personal, tool, and the large-scale assimilation of such for both purposes, the computer proceeded to shape our society by its own â€Å"needs†. This reshaping took the form suiting all business and personal life of humans around the elementary component of the computer -- information. Information has become the one most important entity in our lives, far more important than most other needs, thanks to the efforts of gathering and organizing the vast amount of information that was brought about by the introduction of computers. The next obvious issue is privacy. Privacy is by definition the withholding of certain information which is of some importance to the group or individual exercising this right. It has now become however an activ e battle with the computers seeking to organize and index all aspects of our life, while we cling to the last bits of this information, to privacy, to the frontier of battle over information. It is not surprising that privacy has become the central issue in today’s â€Å"digital age†. The following is an excerpt from the US government report â€Å"Cryptography’s Role in Securing the Information Society† by the National Research Council. Today's information age requires U.S. businesses to compete on a worldwide basis, sharing sensitive information with appropriate parties while protecting that information against competitors, vandals, suppliers, customers, and foreign governments. Private law-abiding citizens dislike the ease with which personal telephone calls can be tapped, especially those carried on cellular or cordless telephones. Elements of the U.S. civilian infrastructure such as the banking system, the electric power grid, the public switched telecommunications network, and the air traffic control system are central to so many dimensions of modern life that protecting these elements must have a high priority. The federal government has an important stake in assuring that its important and sensitive political, economic, law enforcement, and military information, both classified and unclassified, is protected from foreign governments or other parties whose interests are hostile to those of the United States. As you can see, the federal government is showing great concern over the misuse of information which it hopes to try to protect by enforcing stricter guidelines on the respect of privacy (by methods of encryption). This is a clear reflection of the cultural mindset that was developed by the presence of computers.

Design of Carburetors for Aircraft Application

Introduction A carburetor is a constituent or device which largely used on reciprocating or Piston engine. They are an of import device which mixed or blends fuel and air for an internal burning of the engine. Internal burning engine refers to an engine in which burning is intermittent such as the more familiar four and two stroke Piston engines along with the discrepancies such as six stroke Piston engine. Carburetors are classified as updraft or downdraft depending on the way of the air flow through the device. Most carburetors are the updraft type. All carburetors meter fuel and atomise it into the air to do a combustible mixture. In theory, the fuel/air mixture making each cylinder is indistinguishable in volume and ingestion. In world, both the volume and composing vary because the different distances travelled through the initiation manifold and force per unit areas exerted by the fumes system.Aircraft APPLICATIONSNew category of jobs for both engine and carburetor interior decorators created during the first aircraft engines, outside of those surface-bound vehicles. The chief complications were the deficiencies of apprehension of the temperature, force per unit area, air denseness, humidness, in add-on the velocity that these influence alterations while in flight. During 1918, the Bureau of Standards for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics accomplished a series of eng ine public presentation trials. The intent was to find the fluctuation in atmospheric force per unit area and temperature at assorted highs above the earth’s surface, with the alterations in public presentation ensuing from the variables within the carburetor itself and particular orientation to the variables impacting the operation of the carburetor. The study, published as Technical Report No. 48 in the NACA Fourth Annual Report, titled Carburetting Conditions Characteristics of Aircraft Engines, by Percival S. Tice. This work resulted in the undermentioned illations:The mixture ratio ( air/fuel ratio ) should be changeless at all heights for maximal power at all degrees.A alteration in fuel viscousness due to temperature alteration may be an of import metering feature of the carburetor.Constantly, there is wasted fuel when the carburetor does non rectify for barometric alterations.Heating of the fuel–air mixture causes a power loss accompanied by an addition in the specific fuel ingestion, with the available fuels.A 2nd probe made by the Bureau of Standards between October 1919, and May 1923, reported in the tenth NACA Annual Report of 1924 as Technical Report No. 189, Relation of Fuel–air Ratio on Engine Performance, by Stanwood W. Sparrow, replies to the undermentioned inquiries:What fuel–air ratio gives maximal power?Does a alteration in air force per unit area or temperature, such as those encountered in flight, impact the value of this ratio appreciably?What per centum of its maximal power does an engine develop when supplied with a mixture giving minimal specific fuel ingestion?The study concluded that:With gasolene as the fuel, fuel–air mixtures from 0.07 to 0.08 lbs fuel per pound. of air consequences in maximal power.Maximal power is obtained when about the same ratio is obtained over the scope of air force per unit areas and temperatures encountered in flight.Decreasing the fuel content of the charge until the po wer is 95 % of its maximal value provides the best specific fuel ingestion.PrincipleThe carburetor works on Bernoulli ‘s rule which is the faster the air moves, the inactive force per unit area will be lower while the dynamic force per unit area will be higher. The accelerator or gas pedal linkage does non command the flow of liquid fuel straight. As an option, they really actuates the carburetor mechanisms which will meter the flow of the air as they were being pulled into the engine. Once carburetors are used on aircraft with reciprocating engines, characteristics and particular designs are required to forestall from fuel famishment during an upside-down flight. Most manufactured carburetted as opposed to fuel-injected engines have a similar consumption manifold that transports and divides the fuel and air mixture to the consumption valves and a individual carburetor. Older engines used updraft carburetors, where the air enters from below the carburetor and exits through the top of the carburetor. This gives rather a good advantage of ne'er â€Å" deluging † the engine, as any fuel droplets would fall out of the carburetors alternatively of into the consumption manifold ; it besides lent itself to utilize of an oil bath air cleansing agent, where a pool of oil below a mesh component below the carburetor is sucked up into the mesh and the air is drawn through the oil-covered mesh ; this was an effectual system in a clip when paper air filters did non be. Get downing in the late 1930s, downdraft carburetors were the most popular type for automotive usage in the United States. In Europe, the side bill of exchange carburetors replaced downdraft as free infinite in the engine bay decreased and the usage of the SU-type carburetor ( and similar units from other makers ) increased. Some little propeller-driven aircraft engines still use the updraft carburetor design. Outboard motor carburetors are typically side bill of exchange, because they must be stacked one on top of the other in order to feed the cylinders in a vertically oriented cylinder block. The chief disadvantage of establishing a carburettor’s operation on Bernoulli ‘s Principle is that, being a fluid dynamic device, the force per unit area decrease in a Venturi tends to be relative to the square of the consumption air velocity. The fuel jets are much smaller and limited chiefly by viscousness, so that the fuel flow tends to be relative to the force per unit area difference. So jets sized for full power tend to hunger the engine at lower velocity and portion accelerator. Most normally this has been corrected by utilizing multiple jets. In SU and other movable jet carburetors, it was corrected by changing the jet size. For cold starting, a different rule was used in multi-jet carburetors. A flow resisting valve called a choking coil, similar to the accelerator valve, was placed upstream of the chief jet to cut down the consumption force per unit area and suck extra fuel out of the jets.CarburetorCarburetors are classified as updraft or downdraft depending o n the way air flows through the device. Most carburetors are the updraft type. All carburetors meter fuel and atomise it into the air to do a combustible mixture. In theory, the fuel/air mixture making each cylinder is indistinguishable in volume and composing. In world, both the volume and composing vary because of the different distances travelled through the initiation manifold and force per unit areas exerted by the fumes system.Principles OF CARBURETTORS VENTURIAll carburetors depend on the differential force per unit area created by a Venturi to meter the proper sum of fuel for a volume of air. When air flows through a Venturi, its velocity additions while both force per unit area and temperature lessening. To command the volume of air that passes through a Venturi, all carburetors are equipped with a throttle valve. The throttle valve ( or butterfly valve ) is a pilot-controllable restrictor home base installed between the Venturi and the engine. When the accelerator valve is to the full opened ( parallel to the air flow ) , the maximal volume of air and fuel enter the engine. In this instance, the lone constituent that limits the volume of air come ining the engine is the Venturi. However, as the accelerator valve is moved to its closed place ( perpendicular to the air flow ) less air is admitted and engine power is reduced. The size and form of the Venturi is designed for the demands of the engine. Carburetors on similar engines might look to be indistinguishable, but the size of the Venturi could be different. Always guarantee that you are put ining the right device on an engine. Figure 1 shows when the accelerator valve is parallel to the air flow, the maximal volume of air and fuel enters the engine. When the accelerator valve is near perpendicular to the air flow, less air and fuel enter the engine.THE SYSTEMS OF CARBURETTORTo supply an engine with the necessary fuel for proper operation under assorted engine tonss, velocities, and air densenesss, most carburetors include the undermentioned five systems:Main meteringIdlingMixture controlAcceleratingPower enrichment or economiserThe building and rule of operation of each of these systems varies depending on the type of carburetor. The undermentioned subjects describe each system in relation to its usage in float-type and pressure-injection carburetors. The size and form of the Venturi is designed for the demands of the engine. Carburetors on similar engines might look to be indistinguishable, but the size of the Venturi could be different. Always guarantee that you are put ining the right device on an engin e.THE FLOAT-TYPE CARBURETORSThe float-type carburetor is named after the constituent used to modulate the fuel that enters the carburetor. Fuel is stored in a float chamber, the sum controlled by a float-operated needle valve installed in the fuel recess. As fuel enters the chamber, the float rises and the needle valve begins to shut. After the fuel reaches an established degree, the place of the float wholly closes the needle valve and the flow of fuel Michigans. The carburetor float is typically constructed of brass or a composite stuff. Brass floats are hollow, and the air sealed indoors provides perkiness. A composite float can be hollow or solid. When the float solid, air trapped in the pores of the composite stuff provides perkiness. As the volume of fuel alterations in a float chamber, the volume of air besides changes. A blowhole maintains ambient force per unit area in the float chamber as the fuel degree rises and falls. All float Chamberss are vented to ambient force per unit area. In figure 2, the float carburetors store a measure of fuel in a float chamber. The sum of fuel in the float chamber is controlled by a float-actuated needle valve. Figure 3 The figure 3 above visualize of the Float Level, Main Metering Jet and Discharge Nozzle. Please be reminded that the fuel degree in the fuel bowl is somewhat below the fuel discharge nozzle gap and is identified by the missive ‘h’ .THE BASIC AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEMThe fuel circuit includes the parts and shrieking necessary to present fuel to the carburetor fuel recess, at the proper force per unit area and volume. The fuel admitted through the float-type carburetor recess valve is reduced to atmospheric force per unit area as the fuel bowl blowhole to the air recess canal. Figure 4 As the fuel bowl fills, the float rises with the fuel degree until the fuel degree in the fuel bowl is somewhat below the degree of the discharge nose and one time at the right degree, the float is high plenty to shut the recess valve, halting fuel flow into the carburetor at a precise tallness. This prevents fuel leaks into the consumption manifold when the engine is non running. Fuel can non come in the consumption system unless consumption manifold suction is sufficiently strong plenty to raise the fuel up to the tallness of the discharge nozzle gaps. On its manner to the discharge nose, extra jets control the rate of fuel flow and force per unit area, as necessary. The bead in fuel force per unit area through the recess valve classifies the valve as a jet.MAIN METERING OF FLOAT TYPE CARBURETTORThe chief metering system supplies the engine with the right sum of fuel for all velocities above idle. The system consists of one or more venturi tubings, the chief metering jet and discha rge noses, and the throttle valve. Fuel metering begins at the Venturi. In some carburetors, a individual Venturi is deficient to make an equal force per unit area bead to meter fuel. In this instance, a encouragement Venturi is installed frontward of the primary Venturi. The discharge nozzle delivers fuel from the float chamber to the consumption air. For an engine at remainder, the fuel in the discharge nose is even with the degree in the float chamber. In most instances, the fuel degree is about 1/8 inch below the gap of the discharge nose. This distance is referred to as the fuel metering caput and is designed to forestall fuel from leaking from the carburetor when the engine is non runing. 1

Literate in a Modern Society

Literate in a Modern Society Human history saw many examples when knowledge meant everything for people because the information and ability and opportunity to acquire it was something more than simply data from books, this was independence in terms of thoughts and the ways of expressing one’s ideas. So, people strove for knowledge, for free access to information, and means of obtaining knowledge.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Literate in a Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The modern world changed greatly and literacy is not associated with ability to read and to write; it has become a method of achieving one’s goals in accordance with the rules typical for modern people. However, literacy can still be perceived as a set of skills that enable a person to read and write because is it a burning issue of modern education. Contemporary society fights for higher literacy level because representatives of modern youth ar e not able to spell their names correctly. Competency of educators is one of the burning issues of this day because the quality of knowledge depends greatly of the level of knowledge and effectiveness of methods applied by educators on different levels of the educational process. However, it can be concluded that educators should not assess their students objectively because students are discouraged by low grades. This vicious circle leads us to the illiteracy of the rising generation and irreversible consequences with regard to future generations. The modern world suggests many options on the ways of acquiring knowledge and gaining experience in different areas of human activity. People should be able to read, write communicate their ideas, and deal with technological innovations that include communication, storage, sharing devices and a great variety of other means of communication and learning. As the level of literacy is not sufficient, it is necessary to analyse the reasons for this. The past generation saw the rise of technological progress and invention of various devices to facilitate human life and work. So, the means used by professionals to accelerate their productivity served as means of entertainment for children that are now students and young specialists. They can read typed texts and write electronic messages. However, the literacy problem is carried to the point of absurdity when it comes to spelling some words and checking the appropriateness level of the word use and other factors that contribute to the overall literacy level.Advertising Looking for article on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People need literacy skills in all areas of human life and activity though some fields require a higher level of literacy as an option for effective performance of a company. So, if a person cannot write without a word processor that spell-checks the message, he/she can happen to fail in the overall performance within business area, politics, administration, and managerial positions. The community demonstrates an increased level of cohesion and integrity today. Individuals should be able to convey their messages effectively not causing misunderstanding to inform the global community about their goals and means of their achieving. In this respect, international non-profit and for-profit organizations, those engaged into commerce and cultural exchange should gain literacy skills to be able to share knowledge and experience accumulated in their native community. Every individual should be able to read and write to convey messages and share knowledge. While international organizations try to solve the problem of literacy level that seems to fall dramatically, it is necessary to engage the community members into development of methods and techniques suitable for the current situation when a lot of mistakes are made and something should be done to e nable current students obtain knowledge necessary for their adult life as independent qualified employees.