Report for security mangment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Report for security mangment - Essay Example This 40-year old company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 which dominated the local market of the United States, and began to trade stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. Along with the company’s growth in revenue is the growth of its expenses in information technology (IT). According to Wal-Mart IT executives, the company is adopting expensive technologies; that is why its investment in IT is considered to be their single largest capital expenses with approximately $500 million dollars over one five year period (Beard, 1996, p.78). The company demonstrated its preparedness to invest heavily on these technologies because it strongly believes that IT is a powerful tool in achieving efficiency goals and in creating economic value for stakeholders. In order for Wal-Mart to know how these technologies will support the business in obtaining implicit and explicit objectives, it must develop IT governance strategies (Schwalbe, 2009, p.136). To provide competitive advantage, these st rategies must be integrated and aligned with the company’s strategic and operational plans, this is to make the process more comprehensive (Papp, 2004, p.27). The main focus of this paper is to identify the IT services of Wal-Mart and whether these services are aligned to the needs of the business and the customers. In the process of assessing strategic alignment, this paper will be using the conceptual levels of strategic alignment maturity model developed by Dr. Luftman and some measures in order to improve the strategic business-IT alignment of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart IT Services: Aligned to the Needs of the Business and Needs of the Customers Linda Dillman, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Wal-Mart noted that, â€Å"We do not want to be known by our technology, but we do want to be known by what our technology has done for the business† (cited in Luftman, 2004, p.275). She also added that the business is performing favourably in terms of improved revenue and marke t share, cost and time reduction, customer satisfaction, and many more because of business-IT alignment maturity through metrics performance. â€Å"Wal-Mart was one of the first companies to introduce computers to track store sales and inventory and was the first to develop a computerized network to share this information with suppliers† (Fottler & Malvey, 2007, p.267). However, because IT changes daily and becomes outmoded, the company needs to continuously seek for upgraded technologies (Eisenberg et al., 2004, p.265). The information technology/system of Wal-Mart is classified as strategic and focused on how to meet customers’ needs wherein it relies on most current information to sustain the minimum cutting of cost in retail. In order for Wal-Mart to lower their costs, maximize return on capital, and streamline their operations, the company is using the operational excellence strategy. For several decades, IT is considered to be an essential part not just of Wal-Ma rt but to some large suppliers in the world particularly in dealing with customers. Recently, Wal-Mart is using the standard transaction formats and protocols called the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) capabilities in order to standardized operations in the sharing

Does the economic downturn increase the rate of financial crime Essay

Does the economic downturn increase the rate of financial crime - Essay Example While the model has value as an economic representation of the decision to act illegally, these decision become more complex as deeper studies reveal more variables. Once the criminal decision is discussed, the way in which that decision is influenced by economic factors within a society is revealed. The aspect of crime for the need of survival is discussed as it pertains to the perception of survival over punishment becomes relevant. Choice becomes a matter that is based on fluctuating needs. As a global economic crisis has developed in recent history, the possibilities of criminal activity having been affected by the situation raises questions that are relevant to issues of safety and security of self and property. Growing numbers in unemployment creates a rich turmoil of need that may result in pursuits that are outside the boundaries of socially accepted behaviors. In an exploration of the economic repercussions of a declining financial system in comparison to the survival needs and the impending losses of individuals that suffer under those repercussions, a rational can develop that overrides the normal sociological imperatives against criminal behavior. Economic crime can be developed in many forms. The way in which financial transactions can be manipulated in order to achieve unearned gains is a form of economic crime that can take the form of frauds which are based on cheques, credit cards, and bank accounts. As well, manipulating transactions in order to hide the origins of the income is considered ‘money laundering’ which is a crime that is preceded by the commission of other crimes. These types of crimes can be committed by people from many walks of life and are predicated on the initial sociological perception of how committing these crimes affects the character of the individual involved. From the ‘floating’ of a cheque to cover groceries until payday comes, to the large scale laundering of felonious income sources,

The nature of health promotion work in midwifery

The nature of health promotion work in midwifery Health promotion is an essential part of a midwives responsibility; the nature of health promotion work in midwifery is geared toward promoting the health of the mother and ensuring an optimum environment for mother and baby (Dunkley, 2000:40). Breastfeeding can be a controversial topic. It can bring about mixed opinions and responses from mothers and midwives. In spite of the message breast is best bottle feeding has become part of the culture in Irelands society. Health promotion is predominately a proactive process. It is a process that is done with people not at people, either on an individual basis or within groups. Participation and partnership are key components of the process (Dunkley, 2000:42). This essay will discuss the unique ability of midwives in their contribution to the health promotion of breastfeeding in Ireland. A general role of midwives is to enthusiastically support and advise a breastfeeding woman. A midwife should help the woman recognise that breastfeeding is a normal life event in every culture. In order to do this a midwife should have a broad knowledge of the anatomy of the breast and sufficient clinical skills. This will ensure the woman receives adequate information and skills on the postnatal ward, or antenatally. Benefits of Breastfeeding Firstly the reason for the promotion in regard to breastfeeding is that apart from being economically friendly, it also holds many benefits for the baby and for the mother herself. Extensive research using improved epidemiological methods and modern laboratory techniques documents diverse and compelling advantages for infants, mothers, families and society from breastfeeding and the use of human milk. (Chalmers Kramer 2001). These advantages include health, nutritional, immunological development, psychological, social, economic and environmental factors (American Academy of Paediatrics, 1997) Human milk lessens the chances of an infants chance of infections and diseases including bacterial meningitis and respiratory tract infections. This is because breast milk contains anti-infective properties. Studies have demonstrated protection from pre-menopausal breast cancer (Buchanan and Sachs, 1998;Enger et al., 1997;Katsouyanni et al., 1996; Michels et al., 1996;UK National Case-Control Study Group, 1993) and pre-menopausal ovarian cancer (Siskind et al., 1997) and a possibility of protection against hip fractures in older age (Department of Health 1998). Breast feeding can also help the mother return to her pre birth weight. Breast milk has been shown to protect babies against gastrointestinal, urinary, respiratory and middle ear infection (Howie et al 1990) and atopic disease if there is a family history of atopy (Burr et al 1989, Oddy et al 1999). Breast milk also contains exactly the right proportion of nutrients a baby requires. From 16weeks gestation the breast will begin to produce a clear fluid known as colostrums. Colostrums is the first feed a breast fed baby will receive. It has higher levels of protein, fat-soluble vitamins and mineral percentages than normal breast milk. It is plentiful in immunoglobulins, macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and mononuclear cells which gives it the high levels of protein. Traditional breast milk holds 90% water with 10% proteins, carbohydrate and fats with vitamins and minerals. The primary solid constituent is the fatty acid component that provides 50% of the calorific requirements of the newborn.(Henderson Macdonald, 2004:595). Role of the Midwife The role and responsibility of the midwife is to work with evidence based practice with good communication to provide advice, support, encouragement and education to facilitate the womans ability to breastfeed (preferably with a hands off approach from the midwife (Johnson Taylor 2006:346). Support throughout pregnancy can have a long lasting effect no matter the scale the task may be. A good example of this is the midwives role in health promotion and in supporting women in feeding their babies. (Crafter, 1997). When a woman needs more general sources of advice and social support than those provided through the maternity services, midwives may still play a key role in providing relevant information and advice and referring her to other professionals and organisations for support.(Cooper Fraser 2003:939). If the chosen method of feeding an infant is breastfeeding a mother should expect midwives to assist them in the latching on of the child and in the correct way so it is not painf ul or uncomfortable for the mother. The baby should be brought up to the breast quickly to ensure correct attachment, rather than the breast brought down to the baby which encourages bad maternal posture and poor attachment (RCM, 2002). They must also ensure the baby is obtaining sufficient feeds and that water and artificial baby milk is avoided unless medically necessary. If a mother decides to bottle feed she should, however, expect the same level of support and shown how to make up a bottle feed. Education for a breast feeding mother is essential. In order to prepare the mother for breast feeding, it is more favourable that she understands the process of breastfeeding. The midwife will have a dual role in the first few feeds. First and foremost, she must ensure that the baby is receiving and adequate feed. Secondly the midwife should ensure the mother herself acquires the ability to feed her baby alone. Emotional support by a midwife is important if it is the womans first time breast feeding. Along with physical and emotional support a woman will also require adequate support in the means of information such as leaflets, on a one to one basis, or support groups in the community. A popular support group is La Leche League International. They are non medical breastfeeding counsellors. During the last decade, the average length of hospital stay following birth has been cut almost in half as the health care industry strives to keep costs down; especially in the economic downturn our society is enduring. Women are sent home to grapple on their own and sometimes will not have gotten any advice on breastfeeding from a midwife on the postnatal wards as there is not enough staff and not enough time in the day. Additional support has a positive effect on the womans satisfaction of breastfeeding, demonstrated by a Cochrane database review (Anderson, 1999). La Leche League(LLL) has worked for 35 years offering information and support to women who want to breastfeed, as well as providing continuing education for health care professionals. LLL believes that breastfeeding, with its many important physical and psychological benefits, offers advantages for both mother and child and is the ideal way to initiate healthy family relationships. Midwives should work within The structure set out in the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (Saadeh and Akre, 1996: Woolridge, 1994: WHO, 1998) which are as follows: Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all the healthcare staff Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding soon after birth. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from infants. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated. Practice rooming-in: allow mother and infants to remain together for 24hours a day. Encourage breastfeeding on demand. Give no artificial teats or dummies to breastfeeding infants. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from hospital or clinic. In 1991 the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was set up by UNICEF and WHO, in order for hospitals to encourage and be supportive of breastfeeding women (Ten steps). Mothers should hope to get a high standard of care in all Baby Friendly Hospitals. Hospitals who wish to receive Baby Friendly status must adhere to (WHO 1989). In such a hospital a mother should expect a midwife to assist them in the breast feeding soon after birth. This may occur when skin to skin contact occurs. A baby should remain with his mother at all times. Help given with attaching the baby to the breast soon after birth often results in successful breastfeeding (Hytten,1954). Conclusion The way forward to the successful return of breastfeeding as a cultural normality lies in the roots of prenatal and postnatal education. Different approaches to this may be in hospitals, postnatal wards, schools and the community. The keen attitude and involvement of midwives is vital to the promotion and practice of breastfeeding to ensure the best possible development of infant and child health. Breastfeeding like, like childbirth, empowers women. This power is not societys masculine definition of power meaning authority, money, or material goods. It is the power of nurturance, intimacy and attachment.

20,00 Leagues Under the Sea Essay -- essays research papers

My book starts out with a naturalist named Pierre Arronax. He’s a man that is fascinated by underwater life, and enjoys watching and studying underwater creatures. News spread worldwide about a serpent-like creature, part of the whale family, had been ramming ships and seeking them with ease. Pierre was very interested in this issue.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One day, while Pierre was staying the night in a hotel in Paris, he received a letter. The letter said that the American government was going to build a frigate to chase down and kill the sea monster. The letter also said that they would be more than happy to have him come along. Pierre and his trustworthy servant, Conseil, we’re going to attend this expedition. They packed up the belongings that were necessary, and then headed out to the dock to meet the ship, named the Abraham Lincoln. He gets aboard the ship, and the crew set sail to kill the monster.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the ship they meet a Canadian harpooner, Ned Land. He is the one who is supposed to kill the monster when they find it. The crew goes on for about four weeks without finding any sign of the monster. Just as they are about to give up, Ned spots the monster! The monster proved to be 100 times faster than the Abraham Lincoln. After chasing the monster for a long period of time, they finally get close to the monster. They thought that maybe the creature was now sleeping, because it wasn’t running from them like the previous times. The monster seemed to be letting off a radiant glow in which nobody had seen before. The crew decides they are going to go for the kill. The men start firing guns at it, and start shooting different weapons trying to kill the beast. Nobody seemed to get close to hitting the beast, and if they were, it wasn’t effecting it. One elderly man steps up with his gun, and he decides that he is going to take a shot at it. The old man proves his marksmanship by hitting the beast dead on. The crew celebrated, but it still showed it wasn’t taking any effect. Ned Land steps up and decides to take a shot as well. He decides to try to create a serious injury to it. He grabs his harpoon, and he then takes the shot. Pierre saw the harpoon soar and then hit the monster, but it made a sound as if it had hit some kind of metal. The light from the animal then went out, and the object could be seen moving at the s... ...w life aboard the Nautilus. He was determined to escape.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Captain Nemo took them to many wonderful places. They experienced hunting and searching for pearls. They went to Viglo Bay, a hollowed out volcano, and the underwater city of Atlantis. Captain Nemo took them to the South Pole, where no man had ever been before. That made Captain Nemo the first person ever there. They almost died leaving the Great Ice Barrier. Then they also got in a fight with a giant squid! The only bad parts about their voyages were that Captain Nemo seemed to be seeking revenge on ships from his own country. He used the powerful Nautilus as a weapon to sink many ships. After ten months of being aboard the Nautilus, they completed their underwater exploration covering 20,000 leagues under the sea.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later on, a maelstrom hit the Nautilus. The prisoners had then planned their escape. Professor Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land, already in the dinghy ready to escape, were thrown from the submarine. They then floated to safety, and returned to their homeland. The mystery remains. Nobody knows what happened to the Nautilus, and it’s infamous Captain Nemo.

Economical Analysis Essay

In this section, an economical analysis will be carried out to compare the generation cost of electricity from two different sources. The generation cost of electricity ($/kWh) from PV system as well as gas turbine will be considered. The computation for cost of electricity – irrespective of the source – depends on several factors such as the cost of capital, the productivity and the life of the plant as well as the fuel and operation and maintenance costs. Renewable sources have distinct characteristic of eliminating fuel cost and, as a consequence once the plant is setup, the energy costs are largely fixed and inflation has a slight affect. However, productivity is highly dependent on the site or location; hence the cost of energy cannot be uniquely defined. Generation of electricity by burning fossil fuels incurs elements of costs, which conventionally are not directly attributed to these processes. These costs are termed â€Å"External â€Å" costs. They originate, for example, in subsidies such as additionally provided infrastructure and Research and Development and environmental pollution. In contrast, renewable energy technologies incur marginal external costs. Generation costs may simply be evaluated as follows: G = C R + f + m E where G is the unit cost of energy ($/kWh) C is the initial capital cost ($) R is the annual charge rate (%) E is the annual energy yield (kWh/kW) f is the fuel cost per unit ($/kWh) m is the operation and maintenance cost per unit ($/kWh) The capital recovery factor varies according to the period over which the capital is to be recovered, n years, and the test discount rate, r, thus R = r / (1-(1+r) –n) The cost of electricity from a particular source of supply is therefore dependent upon the particular combination of value of these variables. Table (2) estimates the cost of kWh production from PV systems and Gas Turbine unit. To calculate the generation cost of the Gas Turbine, we assumed 25 years of unit’s lifetime, 8% discount rate, and the unit will operate at its rated power for 8 hours for 9 months a year (2,160 hrs). On the other hand, the generation cost of the PV cells was estimated using PV arrays with panels facing south (Tilt angle 25o), the yearly estimated generated energy was about 1964 kWh/m2/yr and the panel cost of $5/Wp. The calculations indicated that under the assumed rates of interest and capital cost the unit generation cost using PV cells is more than three folds the generation cost of the Gas Turbine. A sensitivity analysis was carried out by varying installation capital cost, and discount rate, Table (1). The results indicate that PV generation can be competitive to that from Gas Turbine when the capital cost drops to $2/Wp and at 8% interest level. The capital cost of PV generation is 30% higher than that of a gas turbine system for the specified parameters. This is contributed to the high installation cost of the PV system and the low conversion efficiency. Further sensitivity analysis of some parameters, namely, conversion efficiency and installation cost were carried out. The results are illustrated in table (2). The results suggested that a reduction of installation cost to 4 $/Wp the generation cost can be competitive to that of a gas turbine. Concluding that: 1. The mathematical modeling indicate that the optimum tilt angle for a plane facing south is 25oC in the State of Qatar, and the year average total daily radiation was a bout 5. 295 kWh/m2. day for 25oC compared to 5. 062 kWh/m2. day for a horizontal surface. 2. Using a photovoltaic system can be more expensive than buying power from the local utility, through the electrical outlet in your wall. However, it is dramatically less expensive than running a power line to a remote area that is currently with out service. 3. Finance rate and loan term are critical economic elements because photovoltaic is capital intensive. The formation of solar bank that makes capital readily available for solar energy systems and below market interest rates with more than 20 years terms should be pursued. 4. The basic economical evaluation of electricity generation in the State of Qatar suggests that photovoltaic technology is not far from being economically feasible. The advanced technology and wide market demand of photovoltaic systems result in improved conversion efficiency and lower unit cost. However, it should be emphasized that photovoltaic systems are clean source of energy and their positive impact on the environment should be taken into consideration. PV systems produce power intermittently because they work only when the sun is shining. More electricity is produced on a clear, sunny day with more intense sunlight and with a more direct light angle, as when the sun is perpendicular to the surface of the PV modules. Cloudy days can significantly reduce output, and of course no power is produced at night. PV systems work best during summer months when the sun is higher in the sky and the days are longer. Because of these variations, it is difficult for PV systems to furnish all the power you need, and are typically used in conjunction with utility-supplied electricity Renewable Resources In 1987, a United Nations commission chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, the then Norwegian Prime Minister, was formed to determine how to reconcile economic development with environmental protection. The term ‘sustainable development’ was first used in the commissions’ report, Our Common Future. The report recognized that renewable energy sources are essential for sustainable development because they provide us with constant sources of energy with fewer effects on the environment. It also identified that globally, there was the need for more efficient use of energy and that the industrialized world, especially, had to improve its conservation efforts to lessen the impact of economic development on the environment. Renewable energy sources have been used for centuries. Until the mid-1800s, most of our energy came from two biomass sources, wood and peat. The location of many large plants and mills during the industrial era in Europe and North America was determined by the availability of fast flowing streams to generate power. It was not until the latter stages of the Industrial Revolution, the mid-1850s, and following the widespread incorporation of the steam-engine into factories, that fossil fuel use, mainly coal and oil, became commonplace. By incorporating fossil fuels into the manufacturing process instead of using water, industrialists were not limited to locations by rivers or streams. Plants could be located closer to sources of raw materials, markets or major shipping ports Renewable energy sources has been constantly being sought upon to replace dwindling fossil fuel reserves. The main question is where to look for these renewable energy sources. Some of them, like biomass, have already begun to contribute significantly to power generation in several developed nations like the US. Photvoltaic cells are economically viable in some locations and wind energy, though so far contributing only a tiny fraction, is rapidly expanding in the US and several European nations. The search for renewable energy sources points to photovoltaics, wind, solar thermal electricity, and biomass-produced electricity. These are highly prized due to the ease at which electricity can be transported and converted into othe forms, with the none or low polluting energy that these bestow and because of the potential that these sources may contribute in the near future. The earth’s atmosphere acts like glass in a greenhouse: sunlight can pass through, but the resulting heat cannot escape. Gases, such as carbon dioxide, are particularly effective at trapping heat. When burned, coal, oil and natural gas increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the earth’s average temperature is raised. Renewable energy initiatives will result in reduced demand for fossil-fuelled electricity generation, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions These renewable sources once proven to be technically practical and economically feasible to provide required quantities of power, then there is no doubt that they would be greatly preferrable replace existing energy generation methods. An energy source can be classified as renewable provided the passed the following criterias: 1. there should be and indefinite supply or at least can be harnessed for an extreme length of time. 2. there would be a great reduction in the world pollution. Or at least the pollution released by the manufacturing and generation of power using these resources would not add up to current contributors to pollution. 3. and lastly, the must be able to provide energy self-sufficiency or at the very least provide a great reduction in the energy dependency.

Mental Retardation and Child Abuse

Sling Blade is a film about a mentally retarded individual by the name of Karl, who murders his mother and her lover – Karl’s classmate – at the age of twelve.   Subsequently, Karl is institutionalized.   Upon release, Karl returns to his hometown where he befriends a young boy, Frank.   The boy’s father had committed suicide, and his mother is dating Doyle, who abuses both Frank and his mother.   Eventually, Karl is responsible for the murder of Doyle as well, as he must put an end to the abuse that he is witnessing in the lives of Frank and his mother. The story of the film is atypical seeing that Karl is a mentally retarded individual who takes action against child abuse.   Scientific research, on the other hand, has revealed that it is usually the mentally retarded individual who must suffer abuse simply because he cannot take care of himself. As an example, Morse, Sahler, and Friedman studied twenty five children who had been abused, out of which forty two percent were mentally retarded.   All except one of the mentally retarded children in the study had already been diagnosed as mentally retarded before they were abused.   Hence, it is obvious that the abusers knew that the mentally retarded children are vulnerable to abuse. According to Morse, Sahler, and Friedman, people who spend time with mentally retarded children are usually aware that these children are not always able to physically or verbally defend themselves.   Moreover, these children are not always able to describe their abuse to others.   Typically, they are also unable to differentiate between proper and improper verbal communication and/or physical contact, regardless of whether the physical contact is sexual or violent in nature. Lastly, mentally retarded children are truly dependent on other people for all manners of assistance.   This makes them more trusting toward their caretakers as well as others.   Also according to the authors, passivity as well as compliance stem from the trust and dependency of the mentally retarded child.   Those who abuse mentally retarded children are, therefore, taking undue advantage of the trust shown by these children. Sandgrund, Gaines, and Green have also conducted a study on children.   Out of one hundred and twenty children studied by the authors, sixty had been abused, thirty had been neglected, and another thirty had not been abused at all.   The authors reported that twenty five percent of the abused children in their study had been diagnosed as mentally retarded. Twenty percent of the neglected children had similarly been recognized as mentally retarded, while only three percent of the children who had never been abused were mentally retarded.   The findings of this study reveal that mentally retarded children are quite likely to be abused.   The fact that Karl of Sling Blade was never abused – rather, he had the intelligence to differentiate between proper and improper verbal communication and/or physical contact – shows that the film is about an unusual mentally retarded individual.   Sandgrund, Gaines, and Green write that mentally retarded children are normally hesitant to report instances of abuse because they fear losing the essential relationships with their caretakers. Furthermore, these children are not always believed if they manage to report abuse.   Seeing that Karl was not afraid to lose his caretaker at the time he killed his mother reveals that this mentally retarded child was definitely not a typical one. McFadden has also written about the abuse of mentally ill children, including those who are mentally retarded.   Reporting a study conducted by the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled, McFadden writes that abuse in institutions for mentally retarded children is higher than abuse in institutions for children who are mentally fit.   Also according to the author: In analyzing those cases, the commission found that abuse most often occurred in leisure-  time areas, such as recreation rooms and sleeping quarters, where children congregate without  structured activities.   It also found that boys over 12 years of age and children who exhibited  disturbing conduct were at the highest risk of abuse. In 16 percent of the cases, the study said, a finding of abuse or neglect was made by the  reporting facility.   In another 18 percent, the facility found misconduct by an employee but no  evidence of abuse.   In 66 percent, some corrective action was taken and in nearly 20 percent  disciplinary action was taken against at least one employee. Most of those responsible for the abuse or neglect were not new employees.   The study said  80 percent of them had worked at the facility at least one year and 50 percent had been  employed more than three years (McFadden). Karl was fortunate because his mother did not abuse him.   He was not abused in an institution either.   All the same, research evidence suggests that mentally retarded children are highly vulnerable to abuse.   In unusual cases, perhaps mentally retarded individuals like Karl may be able to struggle against child abuse.   Then again, they might have to take drastic actions such as those of Karl in order to end child abuse.   After all, mentally retarded individuals are not considered credible if they simply manage to report abuse. Works Cited McFadden, Robert D. â€Å"Child Abuse High in New York Mental Centers.† New York Times. 1 Dec 1987. 17 Nov 2007. . Morse, C.W., O.Z. Sahler, and S.B. Friedman. â€Å"A Three-Year Follow-Up Study of Abused and Neglected Children.† American Journal of Diseases of Children. Vol. 120 (1970): pp. 439-446. Sandgrund, H., R. Gaines, and A. Green. â€Å"Child Abuse and Mental Retardation: A Problem of Cause and Effect.† American Journal of Mental Deficiency. Vol. 79 (1974): pp. 327-330. Sling Blade. Dir. Billy Bob Thorton. 1996.