Women s Rights Of Women - 1265 Words

What stands in the way of women being equal to men? Journalist Carlin Flora suggests the following, â€Å"While not all claims to humanity are universal and no one context, culture or continent can truly represent all peoples, the following three examples from very different contexts, cultures and continents show that some violations of women’s human rights are universal. In particular, it is still the case the world over that a woman’s reproductive rights, which impact on her right to life, are still seen as secondary or conflicting with men’s rights, religious freedoms, the rights of the unborn child, or even financial concerns†(Flora). However different we may appear, there is far more that unites us than divides us. Today, no country has yet achieved equality between men and women. Globally, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risk, and less political representation. Women’s rights need to be considered human rights. I f women are strong and educated, their ancestry will flourish.If women are free from cruelty, their family will blossom freely. If women have the opportunity to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will blossom. And when families blossom, communities and nations do as well. That is why every woman, every man, every child, every family, and every nation on this planet does have a stake in the discussion of women s rights. WomenShow MoreRelatedWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1455 Words   |  6 Pagesa myriad of women have expressed through outlets such as public assemblies, literature, and speeches. There have been three waves of the women’s movement, each targeting a variety of issues within each era. The third wave was in 1995, where Hillary Clinton spoke in Beijing, China, claiming that women’s rights were the same as human rights, that every aspiring girl deserved the civil liberties that every man was given around the world. Moreover, the movement had shifted towards women in developingRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women881 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty –first century ladies are discovering it a daunting task to keep up both sexual orientation parts as an aftereffect of the women s activist development. They are presently assuming liability for both the supplier and the nurturer, battling like never before to acquire and keep a superior personal satisfaction. Woman s rights has sup ported in equivalent vocation opportunity, battling to get ladies acknowledged into the employment advertise, and what initially began as ladies strengtheningRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagesthe early 1920’s, women thought they had achieved the unachievable. They could finally work, keep their earned wages, marry whomever they please, and even vote. After reaching their goal and fighting vigorously, women could taste equality and the freedom they deserved. While women still have the right to work in today’s society, women are not exactly treated equal in the workplace. Regardless of the past and the extreme measures taken to ensure equal opportunities for both men and women, there are manyRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1590 Words   |  7 Pagesthe 1920s, women were ignored in every aspect of their life. From politics, to social situations, women were constantly looked at as lesser. The 20s was a decade of women ready to fight for thei r rights. From gaining social freedoms, to getting political rights, the 20s was the first decade of feminism. Many women played key roles in the fight for women s rights through speeches, marches, and much more. The women that fought for their rights in the 1920s completely changed how women live their livesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1230 Words   |  5 PagesWomen’s suffrage has stretched from the 1800’s to present day, as women have struggled to have the same civil and constitutional rights as men in politics and be appreciated as equals in the workforce. Groups of women known as suffragists questioned the customary views of women’s roles. Eventually our nation has evolved and realized that male-controlled societies suppress women’s rights. From the beginning steps taken in 1850 to 2013 with women earning combat roles in the military, women’s rolesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1206 Words   |  5 Pagesto speak of women and the role of women in this election, the subject of women is tiresome but necessary in a world where gender is still existent as an obstacle for most. I cannot identify what woman is. I am basing my definition from our modern understanding of woman, our general view, and the popular experience. People are using younger women voting for Bernie Sanders as proof of gender’s irrelevant in this election, that women have achieved their rights. Even if women ‘have rights now’ it doesRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1393 Words   |  6 Pages Women all over the world are being treated different than men. Iran is one of the places that women are being treated the worst. From restrictions to punishments, women in Iran are being treated with no respect, and that is not okay. Women’s rights activists have tried to get it to change, and have traveled to many places to try and get more people to join their movement. There are many issues with women not having the same rights as men. One of the main problems is that they are treated lessRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1272 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout history, women have fought a strenuous battle for equal rights. Many men, and even some women, all over the world believe that women do not share the same value and importance to society as men do. On September 5, 1995, Hillary Clinton spoke at the 4th World Conference on Women, on behalf of women all over the world. Clinton raised awareness on how women s rights are being violated and why it is important to recognize women s rights as equal to everyone else’s rights. Even today, in 2016Read MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1052 Words   |  5 PagesThe family has traditionally been the basic unit of Chinese society where women have long been charged with upholding society s values in their roles as wives and mothers. Especially in the Qing Dynasty, women were required to balance society s i deals with the reality of raising a family and maintaining a household. Throughout the imperial period and into the beginning of the twentieth century, the relationship among family members was prescribed by Confucian teachings. The revered philosopherRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1159 Words   |  5 PagesWomen’s Rights is an extremely ethical topic that is surrounded by ethical theories and has a lot of history. While some of the theoretical systems in ethics have helped to gain women their rights, others have assisted in preventing women rights. Women in America have seen much improvement in our modern day society regarding Women’s Rights, but what about the women in less economically stable countries? Women continue to fight against abuse, hatred, and discrimination worldwide. I will be discussing

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - 687 Words

Mistakes come with consequences that may follow one for the rest of their life. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Amir, the protagonist, makes rash decisions that come to haunt him and cause him to think twice about himself. After finding out that Hassan, his best friend and half brother had been shot by a Talib, he decides to save the last of his family in Afghanistan which is to find Hassan’s son, his nephew, Sohrab. Amir frees himself from guilt by straightening out his wrong doings and giving back to Hassan. The parallels in this well written novel used by the author, Khaled Hosseini, portray Amir’s journey of achieving redemption that he deserves. Hosseini shows Amir’s weaknesses and mistakes in the beginning, but are parallel to events that redeem Amir’s character in the end. The childhood memories that Amir has are both delightful and dreadful. Hassan runs the kite for Amir and helps him win the tournament, but does not thank Hassan. Amir observes, [Hassan] lifted our kite, red with yellow borders†¦He licked his finger and held it up, tested the wind, then ran in its direction†¦The spool rolled in my hands until Hassan stopped, about fifty feet away†¦I jerked the string twice, our usual signal, and Hassan tossed the kite (62). The young Amir has a mindset of not returning favors because he thinks highly of himself, but he eventually learns to give back to Hassan. Hassan is a loyal and innocent character. He puts others before him and sacrifices himself forShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini883 Words   |  4 Pagesregret from past encounters and usually feel guilty and bitter about the situation. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, revolves around the theme of redemption. Redemption can be used as a cure for guilt. Throughout the novel, the author shows that redemption requires some sort of sacrifice and the only way that is possible is if you can forgive yourself from the mistakes you have made in the past. Khaled Hosseini effectively portrays redemption through motifs such as rape, irony and flashbacks, symbolismRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1651 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel â€Å"The Kite Runner† by Khaled Hosseini describes the life of a boy, Amir. Amir’s best friend and brother (although that part isn’t known until towards the end), Hassan, plays a major role in Amir’s life and how he grows up. Hosseini portrays many sacrifices that are made by Hassan and Amir. Additionally, Amir seeks redemption throughout much of the novel. By using first person point of view, readers are able to connect with Amir and understand his pain and yearning for a way to be redeemedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1655 Words   |  7 PagesSarah Singer Major Works Data Form Title: The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini Date of Publication: 2003 Genre: Historical Fiction Historical information about the period of publication: Since the September 11th attacks in 2001, the United States has been at war with Afghanistan. Their goals were to remove the Taliban, track down those in charge of the attacks, and destroy Al-Qaeda. Biographical information about the author: Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. HIs motherRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1098 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, we learn a lot about Amir the main character, and Hassan his servant/brother. In the beginning Hassan and Amir’s relationship was one of brotherly love despite the fact that Hassan was a Hazara and Amir a Pashtun. Back in the 1970’s race and religion played a big part in Kabul and these two races were not suppose to have relationships unless it was owner (Pashtun) and servant (Hazara). Baba Amir’s father had an affair with Hassan’s mother, but it was kept aRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1313 Words   |  5 Pagesis not unique to just J.K. Rowling. Khaled Hosseini also incorporates life experiences into some of his novels. A prime example of this is The Kite Runner. The storyline of this novel reflects his past to create a journey of a young Afghanistan boy, whose name is Amir. This boy changes drastically throughout his lifetime from a close minded, considerably arrogant boy to an open hearted and minded man. This emotional and mental trip is partially based on Khaled Hosseini’s own life. Throughout Hosseini’sRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1050 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (Hosseini 334). This quote given by Rahim Khan to Amir holds a great amount of force and symbolism. In theory, this quote symbolizes the beginning of Amir’s path to redemption. The eye-opening Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells about the struggles of Afghanistan before and during the Taliban, and one’s struggle for redemption and acceptance. With regards to the opening quote, some see Amir’s actions as selfish. However, others may believe that Amir truly changedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1583 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir, the main character, shares his thoughts and actions due to his poor decisions. The problems he encountered were all because of the sin committed in his youth. His sins taunted the beginning of his life and gave him a troublesome memory full of guilt. As the novel continued, Amir attempted to disengage the memory of his sin and forget about it. Amir then faced the long bumpy road to redemption. Khaled Hosseini’s novel the Kite Runner is about sinRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1908 Words   |  8 Pages​In the novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner†, written by Khaled Hosseini, was taken place in Afghanistan during the 1970’s to the year of 2002. Many historical events happened during this time period and Hosseini portrayed it into his novel. Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan, was a free, living area for many Afghanistan families to enjoy the life they were given. Until one day, Afghanistan was then taken over and attacked. In the novel, Amir, the protagonist, must redeem himself and the history behind his actionsRead MoreThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini871 Words   |  4 Pagesthat person is trying to fix that mistake. This also applies to the novel The Kite Runner. The story revolves around the main character Amir, and his childhood friend, Hassan. After Amir came to America with Baba, his father, he still regrets the things he had done to his childhood friend. H e left Hassan getting raped by Assef in a small alley in 1975. Thereafter, Amir always feel regret and seeks for redemption. Hosseini -the author, argues that redemption can be achieved by helping others, teachRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini2522 Words   |  11 PagesIn The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini creates an awareness and humanization of Afghanistan as a nation and as a culture. Through a postcolonial perspective, the main character, Amir resembles the internal conflicts and external tribulations that a country and its citizens’ face when living in a war-torn region. Postcolonial criticism offers a unique perspective by highlighting the destructive events that lead to death and misery, rather than glorifying the exploratory nature of colonists as they

Androstenedione Essay Example For Students

Androstenedione Essay This past year a lot of things have happened in the world. President Clinton could possibly be impeached. Our government tried to once again take over Sadaam Hussein. And Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs to break Roger Maris record of 61. During this extraordinary event in the baseball world, one item of skepticism clouded the entire accomplishment. During an interview that he was giving next to his locker, a reporter noticed a bottle on the top shelf. This bottle was filled with a nutritional pill titled androstenedione, a legal dietary supplement that is a testosterone-producing drug that helps the body repair itself after workouts. This repairment, in turn, helps the person taking it build muscle faster. Some sports fans, and some who are not, say that McGwires record should be discounted due to the use of this pill. I am not one of those people. What he did this year was a personal accomplishment and while the andro may have helped a little, Mark did this through years of hard work in the batting cages. As a skinny rookie in 1987, McGwire managed to knock 49 baseballs out of the park. I think that 11 more years experience in the league could provide a player with the experience to chalk up another 21 dingers. Now granted, I can see some skeptics points. Androstenedione is a supplement that has been banned by a number of sports organizations worlwide: the NFL, NCAA, and the International Olympic Committee for example. But Major League Baseball is not one of these organizations. So why then should his record be nixed for breaking a rule that does not even apply in his sport? The answer is he shouldnt. Mark McGwire is a superb athlete who bettered his game by following the rules. He did absolutely nothing wrong in obtaining this once thought of unobtainable record. Another aspect to look at is that Sammy Sosa also had a tremendous year. This Chicago Cub hit 66 home runs this year and he has never touched androstenedione. How hard is it for a fellow slugger to hit 4 more? Not that difficult if you are as high a caliber player as McGwire. Muscle building supplements have been used for years in pro and college athletic programs. Creatine, probably the most popular, is used by virtually every major college in the country. Even your average weight lifter uses it. Androstenedione is just one step higher on the dietary scale, and only by a fraction. A statement was issued by the Cardinals medical staff concerning androstenedione when the supposed scandal surfaced. Now, there is a possibility that it may be a tad biased but keep in mind that the ladies and gentlemen that issued this statement are still doctors. Androstenedione is a natural substance, which is a natural precursor product of testosterone. It has no proven anabolic steroid effect nor significant side effects. It stimulates slight increase levels for a short period of time (1 hour). Taken approximately one hour before workouts, it may make ones workout more efficient. Due to current research that locks documentary evidence of any adverse side effects, the Cardinals medical staff cannot object to Marks choice to use this legal and over-the-counter supplement. If doctor after doctor repeatedly defends androstenedione as harmless and the FDA approves its use, why all the controversy? Creatine is basically the same thing and is used on a much more widespread basis, yet no one questions its use. Why? I think that partly the reason may be because Mark McGwire is so good and so powerful. Roger Maris record was never even threatened up until this year. Living in the type of country we do, people needed to find a bad side to everything that is pure. Even if no rule was broken, the public accuses anyway. If legal muscle enhancing products were outlawed and everyone who used them had their records revoked, the standard by which we measure athletic greatness would be considerably lower. .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 , .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .postImageUrl , .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 , .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:hover , .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:visited , .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:active { border:0!important; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:active , .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95 .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4915a9f1091366967321c27e996bfd95:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Jeff Bezos Essay Regardless of whether or not Mr. McGwire used a muscle enhancing product or not, he accomplished a spectacular feat. Something legal that he did should not question the validity of that event. It is a sad fact that a sports hero can break a once thought untouchable record and now his name will forever be flawed for no reason at all.

Radiation Dose Reduction Strategies in Cardiac CT Angiography

Introduction With great advancements in technology especially in the field of medicine, computed tomography (CT) has developed to become a very important clinical tool (Smith-Bindman et al. 2009). The use of CT examinations has also substantially increased.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Radiation Dose Reduction Strategies in Cardiac CT Angiography specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the U.S., for example, the number increased from 3 million from the 80s to about 70 million by 2007. Computed tomography has been integrated into various healthcare procedures and has led to the dramatic improvement of patient health care. For this reason, CT has been considered among the most useful technologies in medicine. The use of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has been established to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (Goitein et al. 2011). This is basically because it allows for non-invasiv e evaluation of coronary arteries (Flohr, Raupach, and Bruder 2009). It is currently used in the evaluation of acute chest pains. CCTA is also used in the elimination of coronary atherosclerosis. For this particular reason, it has been recognized to be valuable among those with intermediate cardiovascular risks (Torres et al. 2010). Despite the importance of CT in medicine, it is known to be a great source of radiation that may be harmful to the human health. The radiation doses associated with this procedure is said to be much higher than those associated with the x-rays. A typical example is that of a chest CT scan. It is said to deliver more than 100 times that of a conventional chest radiograph (Flohr, Raupach, and Bruder 2009). Therefore, the increased use of CT in medical examinations has led to the subsequent increase in the exposure of ionizing radiation to individuals. This has led to great concerns since exposure to ionizing radiation has been associated with the developme nt of cancer (Smith-Bindman et al. 2009). In a particular study, the amount of radiation that is exposed to the patient during a single CT scan was compared to that which the long-term Chernobyl survivors were exposed to (Smith-Bindman et al. 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Radiations from cardiac CT angiography have increased the impact and prevalence of cardiac atherosclerosis among individuals. For this reason, regulation of the exposure of these elements has been necessary and has been done through adherence to the ALARA principle, which stands for ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’. The ALARA principle came about as a measure to reduce the harmful effects of radiation during any procedure involving radiation (Stolzmann et al. 2008). This implies that reasonable methods should be employed in order to ensure that an individual encounters minimum r adiation doses. It is believed that each radiation dose increases the risk of genetic mutation or cancerous developments. However, since it is also necessary to maintain the image quality in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, it is important to consider both the radiation doses and image quality while performing CCTA. Studies have shown how to comply with the ALARA principle while maintaining an image quality that would be useful in diagnosis (Torres et al. 2010). Methodology The method used for this paper included a thorough literature search to find relevant peer-reviewed articles. The various databases that were used included Medscape, ScienceDirect, PubMed and ProQuest. The keywords that were used included ‘Cardiac CT Angiography’, ‘CT radiation doses’ and ‘radiation reduction strategies in CT angiography’. From the available articles, only those that were most relevant to the study were selected. Relevance of the articles was determ ined through the analysis of the articles’ titles, abstracts and conclusions. The results were also checked and highlighted. In order to ensure up-to-date information, the search criterion was limited to articles published between 2008 and 2013 (not more than 5 years old). From the articles selected, various radiation reduction strategies were highlighted and may be summarised as shown below.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Radiation Dose Reduction Strategies in Cardiac CT Angiography specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Tube current Tube Potential ECG Gating Position of Patient Z-axis Coverage Automatic Exposure Control (ACE) Collimation Using of Dual Energy Technology Exposing the Area of Interest Only (FOV) Fast Gantry Rotation Time Using Reconstruction Techniques Pitch Over-ranging Objectives To identify the various strategies to reduce radiation exposure in cardiac (coronary) CT angiography T o highlight some of the limitations associated with CCTA To provide recommendations for the appropriate strategies to employ while performing coronary CT angiography Tube current Studies have indicated that the tube current within the CT suite should not be constant for all individuals (Leipsic et al. 2010). Several strategies have been studied to ensure optimal tube current during CCTA. One of the strategies employed is the weight-based approach. This approach aims at adjusting the tube current based on the individual’s body weight or body mass index (Lee et al. 2012). This may be necessary to avoid the possibility of overexposing the individual to radiation. The tube current should be tailored to fit the individuals with different Body Mass Index (BMI) (Leipsic et al. 2010). This is meant to correct for different body shapes in order to ensure minimal radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic image quality (Tatsugami et al. 2008). Further research is underway to expl ore possibility of using diameter or thoracic shape (Shrimpton et al. 2009). This may provide a better alternative for future use as practitioners observe the ALARA principle. Tube Potential The tube potential also determines the amount of radiation exposure to patients (Lund et al. 2009). The relationship between the two is exponential. Increasing the tube voltage increases the radiation exposure by the square of that factor (Torres et al. 2010). ECG Gating For CCTA to be successful, â€Å"motionless† images of the coronary arteries should be acquired. For this to happen, all reconstructed images at a specific time must correspond to a specific point in the cardiac cycle. This may be made possible through ECG gating, which involves synchronizing with the ECG (Stolzmann et al. 2008). One of the ways this is done is through retrospective ECG gating. This involves the activation of the x-ray beam throughout the entire cardiac cycle. Images are then reconstructed in any desired phase of the cycle. This method allows for the selection of the appropriate images to reconstruct for each vessel. Despite the fact that this method allows for the assessment of any wall motion abnormality, valve function and ejection fraction, it exposes the patient to high radiation doses.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The alternative method, prospective ECG Gating, involves the same procedure but is only done in a specific period in the cycle (Wu, Budovec, and Foley 2009, 958). The interval between a whole cycle is referred to as the R-R interval. The x-ray tube is only activated at a particular point in the interval and is referred to as the phase window. As the phase window is made narrower, the radiation dose is also decreased. Therefore, this method may be useful in minimizing exposure of radiation to the patient. However, this also comes at a cost. Fewer phases of the cycle will be available for image reconstruction. For this reason, it may be difficult to obtain quality images with an increased heart rate (DeFrance et al. 2010). Position of Patient Another important factor to consider while reducing radiation dose is the position of the patient in the gantry. The patient should be placed in such a way as to ensure that the area of concern is placed at the isocenter. This would ensure that t he beam crossing that region in whatever direction would cross as much body tissue as possible. A well-positioned patient would facilitate constant image noise and avoid increased surface radiation dose (Bae et al. 2008). Z-axis Coverage The total radiation dose is greatly influenced by the craniocaudal length (Khan et al. 2011). This is basically due to the fact that it directly relates to the dose-length product. One way of reducing the radiation dose in CCTA is by limiting this length. Automatic Exposure Control (ACE) The ACE is a device that facilitates the termination of x-ray exposure. The x-ray terminal may be operated by man or automatically by the ACE. This device ensures that there is a consistent x-ray film. It may be useful in ensuring reduced radiation dose to the patient since it ensures a good consistent x-ray density in order to match the shapes and sizes of different individuals (Bae et al. 2008). Collimation The adaptive section collimation is a method that is prom ising to reduce radiation dose in CCTA (Deak et al. 2009). The results from a study by Deak and his colleagues showed that this method allowed great reduction of unnecessary exposure to radiation due to z-overscanning. They recommended that it could be used together with other strategies such as AEC and spectral optimization. Using of Dual Energy Technology The use of dual source CT has provided solutions to problems that were experienced during the implementation of CT angiography. The main problem was the fact that imaging needed rapid volume coverage while resolving the disease in vessels. This technology employs the use of two x-ray sources and detectors and ensures double temporal resolution at twice the speed (Torres et al. 2010). Therefore, radiation exposure is minimized. Exposing the Area of Interest Only (FOV) Another way of decreasing radiation dose is by exposing the area of interest only for imaging. This ensures that there is an increased z-coverage requiring few image s that maintain diagnostic image quality (Khan et al. 2011). Fast Gantry Rotation Time In order to facilitate underexposure of radiation to the patient, some scanners have the capability of sub-second gantry rotation times. When this is coupled with tube current modulation, it causes tube current saturation. This means that the tube current works at maximum capacity (Israel et al, 2008). Using Reconstruction Techniques The reconstruction method used is also an important consideration. There are two classes that include the surface-based and thresholding-based reconstruction techniques. The thresholding-based reconstruction is preferred (Leipsic et al. 2010). This is due to its speed and its use of relatively small amount of computational power. Pitch The high-pitch CT angiography is a technology that has helped achieve reduced radiation exposure to patients. This is mainly because they have significantly reduced the scan time and allowed greater volumes to be covered at a time (Apfa ltrer et al. 2012). Over-ranging Over-ranging is another strategy for reducing radiation dose exposure. It facilitates the covering of large areas during scanning in order to ensure that the examination is done at a shorter period. The wide-range detectors may be used to facilitate this. Limitations of CCTA Despite the many advantages associated with cardiac CT angiography, this technology has its limitations. CT scanners produce ionizing radiation that come into contact with the patient while under examination. Increasingly high exposure to radiations from these procedures increases risks of cancer. This is even more worrying since the number of people exposed to these radiations has increased over time since CCTA procedures are done virtually everywhere. Some studies have shown the possibility of CT angiography false-detecting coronary obstruction where it actually does not exist (Nissen 2008). Such a high false-positive rate may be dangerous since it may lead to unnecessary proce dures. For CCTA to be successful, the heart rate must be about 65 beats per minutes (McCollough 2008). When this heart rate is exceeded, the quality of images may be affected. Foods and drinks containing caffeine may increase heart rate. Therefore, patients should be encouraged not to take them before examination. Patients also need to be trained on proper breath-holding techniques in order to get diagnostic images (Hausleiter et al. 2009). Another limitation is the fact that contraindicated contrast material may lead to misinterpretation of results. Lack of clinical and radiological experts is another limitation since not many are trained in the field. Since the machines used for CCTA are expensive, lack of funding may lead to the use of poor equipment. Discussion The technology behind CCTA has proved very beneficial in the field of medicine. Several improvements have been made to make examination more effective and efficient. This includes reduction of radiation exposure and impro ved image quality. Despite the several studies that have been done in order to reduce radiation dose, several limitations still exist. This calls for further research in the field. Recommendations Several strategies have been studied but each has its pros and cons. While using ECG gating, for example, it would be recommended to use the prospective ECG gating instead of using retrospective ECG gating (Miller, Rochitte, and Dewey 2008, 2330). Among the various protocols used in CCTA, the 64-row MDCTCA has been recommended (Johnson, Pannu Fishman, 2009). It is also recommended that patient preparation should be done before the patient undergoes examination. During examination, exposure parameters such as tube potential and tube current should be adapted to the individuals BMI. Proper positioning of the patient in the scanner is also recommended in order to ensure optimization of CCTA. Conclusion Great advancements in technology led to the introduction of coronary CT angiography. This technology allowed for the non-invasive imaging of coronary arteries. The multi-detector computed tomography (CT) scanners were used to perform this examination. Within few years, this technology was in use in virtually every medical situation. This procedure promised to provide safe and painless diagnosis of coronary disease. However, it was not long before some of the limitations of this procedure were discovered. The most worrying of the issues associated with CCTA was exposure to ionizing radiations that were linked to cancerous developments. For this reason, the ALARA principle was introduced in order to ensure that the patient is exposed to minimal radiation dose. Several strategies have been suggested and used to reduce the radiation dose in cardiac CT angiography (Raff et al. 2009). However, some problems are still encountered with the strategies that are in place. Therefore, more research is required to find more effective and safe methods of diagnosing coronary artery dise ase. References Apfaltrer, Paul, Herbert Hanna, Joseph Schoepf, Janet Spears, Stefan Schoenberg, Christian Fink, Rozemarijn Vliegenthart. 2012. â€Å"Radiation dose and image quality at high-pitch CT angiography of the aorta: intraindividual and interindividual comparisons with conventional CT angiography.† AJR 199(6): 1402-1409. 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