Thursday, October 31, 2019
Power Of the Mass Media During the 1960s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Power Of the Mass Media During the 1960s - Essay Example This movement took place from around 1955 until 1968. During this time racism had been a huge part of American history. Racism and the life of African Americans were changing. The Civil Rights Movement helped move along this change and help to create a better life for African Americans. The media was a very powerful player in voicing the rights of African Americans which contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Churches, African American owned businesses and television shows teamed together to show as many as possible about the movement. Many would voice over the media and attempt to end racism and encourage the end of slavery. The mass media dramatically played a role in changing the perception of the public and how they felt toward African Americans. Just like the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam is a large part of American history and has been historically discussed in the mass media. Vietnam happened roughly from 1955 to 1975. During this time many Americans were needed to join the Army and fight in Vietnam. Some were pro to joining while others were against war. This part of history and how the media portrayed Vietnam is perfect for describing how the media changes the public’s perception and influences decisions. During the Vietnam War many were influenced to join. The media portrayed the war in so many different ways. The media made many young men believe everything would be taken care of if they were to enlist. The media dramatically influenced the public’s decisions to join. Not all mass media influence was to join the war. Many other forms of media encouraged young men to skip the war and fight for freedom and peace. This was a big way for media to encourage peace and many avoided the draft and were influenced by anti-war media. When pictures began to come up showing the negative effects of war the media thrived on the photos and they helped the media to change the perception of war through the use of
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
User Groups And Their Usage Perception Of Financial Statement Essay
User Groups And Their Usage Perception Of Financial Statement - Essay Example The above discussion is totally emphasized on the user groups of financial statements of Torotrak Plc and Surface Transformers Plc. The companies have been analyzed by considering the 3-year financial statement. Both internal and external user groups of the financial statement have been considered such as investors, lenders, suppliers, management, employees and the Government. This analysis shows the various perspectives in which each user analyze a financial statement. From investor’s point of view, it can be considered that company’s share prices are low and as a rational investor, buying shares of this company can prove to be profitable in the future. As the companies are in developing phase, the payables are quite high, but if seen on a year-on-year basis, it is also reducing. Hence, a supplier would not bother to stop their supply as they are getting paid. The analysis has illustrated the responsibility of management to evaluate and maintain efficiency and profitability of the firm by emphasizing on their efficiency to retain profit by maximizing the utilization of resources. Employees generally look into profit making of the company to understand their potential in terms of providing remuneration in an efficient and timely manner. Government focuses on taxes and as these companies are loss making, the tax levied on them are also low. Finally, it could be concluded that even if the companies are bearing losses, they are still tryi ng to control their costs, use their resources effectively and reduce the gap of their losses over year-on-year.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Health and Safety Regulations in Hotels
Health and Safety Regulations in Hotels As the facilities Manager of our hotel that I am very concerned about the lack of awareness of safe working practices amongst our employees. Therefore, this presentation will help them to understand and practice health and safety regulations at workplace. This presentation helps to ensure that our hotel operation run well and meet our customers expectations as well. But I should keep our hotel functioning at its best and want to assure that you work safe and healthy at the hotel. It can be seen that all legislation regarding to health and safety regulations have been developed since 1970s to ensure that management responsible for providing and maintenance of adequate policies and standards. Under the common law assure that employers have a duty of care about their employees who work at workplace. It is very important of having health and safety regulations at workplace. Because, employer fails to take care of an employee means that employee may have a number of claims. It would include the ability to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal and claiming personal injury as well. The necessity of Health and Safety regulations This chapter draws the attention of the necessity of health and safety regulations. Health and Safety regulation may help various ways to business. It can be highlighted that the one of the main reasons of the necessity of health and safety regulations is to ensure that the work premises is running safely thus reducing accidents at workplace. One of the biggest risks for hotel workers is ergonomic injury from strains, sprains, and repetitive work. It helps to protect workers back and limbs by practicing safety regulations when performing your job functions. On the other hand every persons objective should be to maintain the maximum level of health and safety in the hotel. There are regulations and rules that manage this issue. Each employee of the hotel should be made aware of these rules and regulations. It is to say that once the hotel workers read through the health and safety regulations they realize that most of those are common sense. The knowledge about these regulations would help them to know how to react if there is a crisis. As the hotel management, that would not enough to give our employees to read down the health and safety regulations. We should encourage them to practice it. The best way is to practice this by example. If this practice starts right from the top level of the hotel it spreads down to the entire employee. It should be mentioned that this is vital for the well being of the hotel workers. Once hotel employees make understand that these health and safety regulations are for their wellbeing and benefit them will be more willing to act in accordance with hotel management. All these health and safety regulations are a must in the workplace which is required by law. Importance of health and safety within the hotel environment It should be mentioned that health and safety is one of the most important part within the hotel premises. Keeping poor level of health and safety leads to accidents and illness and significant costs for our hotel. Successful health and safety regulations practice means that improve our hotel reputation with hotel customers, regulators and our own hotel staff. We have both legal and moral obligation to ensure that our employees work in healthy and safely at the hotel. Hotel management cannot force workers to work in an environment where their wellbeing is risk. On the other hand those hotel workers are both healthy and safe during their working hours. Injured or sick hotel workers lead to drop in service and a subsequent loss of profits. Good health and safety practices successfully pay for themselves as service keep remain from minimising insurance costs, disruption, the hotel workforce remains contended and customers also are happy with hotel service. The hotel workers need training in specific areas. For example, workers may need to learn how to handle and dispose of cleaning liquids. On the other hand all supervisors also may need to deliver health and safety policies towards our hotel employees. Key health and safety issues in the hotel Safety Audit Safety audit is able to identify the possible problems before they have an impact on hotel safety. Its object is to reveal the strengths and weakness, to determine areas of non tolerable risk and devise rectification measures. Safety audit is able to ensure compliance with all current regulations related to safety and health at workplace. The main object of safety audit is to collect information, using a predetermined protocol or a checklist, whether how workplace safety services are currently going on. The safety audit can cover the particular aspects or whole system. It is important to hold this safety audits that helps to highlight all positive and negative aspects of safety in the workplace. Safety audit may include the current system in workplace to control hazards, the record of incidents at the workplace and a physical inspection of the premises. Finally, that would help to report findings, as well as suggestions to improve the current safety policy and system. Benefits of safety audit at the Hotel Safety audit mainly evaluate hotels safety services. On the other hand it can cause to great cost savings by injuries at work. According to Roger regular safety audits are very important to minimizing risks and safety hazards in the workplace. Process of the safety auditing Method Review of documentation Interviews with staff Observations by the audit team. Outcome Benefits Observations and recommendation Conclusions substantiated with references Minimising risk and hazards Cost savings HASAWA and its importance for our hotel service HASAWA Health and safety at work act considers both physical and mental well being of employees, and freedom from risk of injury. Main object of the act can be outlined as health, safety and welfare of persons at work.It is clear that this act mainly focuses on employees at workplace. Not only workers, it protects persons other that persons at work, against risks to health or safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work. The act refers to control the keeping and using of explosive or highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substances, and generally preventing the unlawful acquisition, possession and use of such substances. On the other hand HASAWA control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances. I would disclose the duties of employers at workplace. The act provides that employer has duty of care about their employees. It can be clearly understood according to the chart below. Duties of Employer On the other hand it should be cited that employees also have to follow the duties and responsibilities which is under Health and Safety at Work Act. It is clearly cited below table. Responsibility of employee Hazard Spotting Hazard spotting is one of the most important things in the hotel. It will be of benefit to our hotel, staff and our guests as well. Therefore, I would like present and suggest action to be taken to resolve hazard spotting in our workplace. This would cover as many hazards as possible. To get reduce hazards in our hotel you will need to walk through our hotel, speak to employees. It is important that paperwork alone will not prevent injuries. It is very important to take action once a hazard has been identified. Therefore, I suggest taking action to prevent any hazards in many areas in the hotel premises. It is easily identify hazards that you may have not been previously identified once you work through the hotel. Hazard spotting involves looking for possible issues such as changes in working processes, temporary trip hazards, make sure only approved chemicals are used, etc. Any new hazards that you are found can then be dealt with either immediately or, if this is not possible, brought to the attention of the hotel administration. It is to be mentioned that there should be specify Hazard spotting exercises to conduct throughout the hotel regularly. Therefore, Nominate few persons who should be responsible for conducting the Hazard Spotting exercise Each one should be familiar with the area which the carry out the Hazard Spotting exercises Each Hazard Spotting need to be noted down with any new hazards as well Keeping a hazard spotting records which can be accessed by online. Use a checklist and make hazards list that you can see Accident reporting It is legal requirement that keeps a record of injuries in the hotel using an accident book. Employer must report certain serious workplace incidents to the hotel authorities. Accident reporting records must keep for at three years. As we employer that we have to provide an accident book for our staff and that should easily be understood. As you are the employer of work premises you are required to report some types of work-related diseases, accidents, and dangerous occurrences. Reporting ill health and accidents at workplace is a legal requirement under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences. Gathering information helps to Health and Executive and the Local Authority to recognize how and where risks arise and to prevent reoccurrence and prevent further suffering and pain to employees. Legal requirements ask to report a death, a major injury, an over three day injury, a work related disease, a dangerous occurrence and where a member of the public is taken directly to the hospital. Reporting accidents are required in time limit and it is vary depending on the severity. A major injury or where the accident has resulted in someones death need to be reported immediately. Over three day injuries need to be informed within ten days. It is noted that a work related diseases must report after the doctor diagnosis it. I have provided a sample of accident report form that would be getting clear picture about reporting accident. ACCIDENT REPORT FORM Details of person injured: Surname                      Forenames                                   Age                  DOB Department                                                           Position Held Date of Accident       Time        Was Accident Reported in Accident Record Book? How did Accident Occur? Nature of Injuries Was First Aid given?                       By Whom? Was Injured Person sent to Doctor, Medical Centre or Hospital? (Give Details) If so, accompanied by whom? Name(s) of Witness(es) of the Accident Any Previous Accident which may have been due to same cause Was Accident caused or contributed to by any defect in working conditions or premises or the conditions of the furniture, equipment or tools used? Signature of person reporting the accident                                                  Date The Health Safety Policy I would like explain about safety policy. It is to mention that we must have a written policy of safety. We are a hotel who has employees more than four. It is to say that health and safety policy should be available for our staff. On the other hand safety policy must be reviewed regularly. (eg: annually) meaning of policy in place in order to establish who is responsible for what aspects of safety in our hotel. It is an important duty of this hotel to ensure that our employees work under a safe and healthy environment. An effective health and safety policy requires the full co-operation and collaboration of all employees. I suggest all the hotel staff read this policy and accept their own personal responsibilities for safety at work. I would like to write down some responsibilities both hotel management and its employees. Responsibilities of management of the hotel; to maintain the principles of relevant legislation to ensure the safest systems of work and a safe, healthy working environment by consultation and joint involvement of management and employees, to enlist the active interest, participation and support of employees in promoting good standards. Responsibilities of the hotel employees; to take all reasonable care for the health and safety of him/herself and of fellow employees and to report any hazard which cannot be controlled personally to co-operate with the organisation by observing safety rules and complying with any measures designed to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. The role of safety co-ordinator is of vital importance for maintaining a continuous and critical scrutiny of working conditions throughout the workplace, reviewing safety performance and promoting safer working. The managing director accepts ultimate responsibility for health and safety within the organisation as a whole. All managers and employees generally are expected to support and implement this policy wholeheartedly. HACCP HACCP refers to prevent any kind of hazards that would be caused for food-borne illness by applying science based controls. It enables you to show your commitment to food and customer satisfaction. HACCP is an international principle defining the requirements for effective control of food safety. HACCP is built on seven key principles: hazard analysis, critical control points identification, establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, verification procedures and record-keeping and documentation. Hazard analysis analysis of chemical, physical and biological food hazards Critical control points identify the critical points at the raw materials, processing, storage, distribution and consumption steps Establishing critical limits establishment of critical preventive measures and control limits, eg: minimum cooking time and temperature Monitoring procedures observing of these control points Corrective actions establishment of corrective actions Verification procedures Record keeping record; and Record-keeping and documentation Systematic and regular auditing of the systems in place by independent third party certification bodies. All those measurement can be maintain HACCP in workplace easily. Summary It can be seen that health and safety is good for hotel employees and the hotel as well. If employees are getting sick or injured that could result in time and money being wasted. We have planned to place the health and safety regulations in a variety of areas where the hotel employees can read them easily. Once you realize that these regulations are for your well being and benefit you will be more willing to comply with the hotel. It means we have been successful in cultivating a culture of health and safety at the hotel. It is to be advised to practice safe ergonomic principles when performing your job functions. Furthermore, keep your body and back straight and neutral while you work. Read the safety data sheets and labels to know the hazards and safe work practices for the chemicals products you use. It is important that you get training and inspect your cleaning and maintenance tools before use. The above recommendation and evaluations are general guidance only and should not be relied upon for legal compliance purposes. Therefore, you have an obligation to practice them for benefit of the hotel, customers and yourself.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Comparing Nature in Wordsworth’s Ruined Cottage, and Coleridge’s Rime o
Comparing the Representation of Nature in Wordsworth’s Ruined Cottage, and Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner For most poets of the Romantic Age, nature played an invaluable role in their works. Man’s existence could be affected and explained by the presence and portrayal of the external nature surrounding it. William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are no different from the other Romantic poets, and their works abound with references to nature and its correlation to humanity. Specifically, Wordsworth’s â€Å"The Ruined Cottage†and Coleridge’s â€Å"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner†share the theme of nature affecting man, although essential differences exist in their ideas regarding how it affects man. These two works are also similar in that they use a storyteller frame to both deliver and reinforce these ideas. In order for the reader to fully appreciate the representation of nature in these two particular poems, it is necessary to supply a little background on each poet. Wordsworth reigns supreme in the nature tradition. His poetry makes tribute to nature in conjunction with examining the human state, while maintaining that the relationship between the two is unbreakable. In his book English Poetry of the Romantic Period, critic J.R. Watson claims â€Å"the finest of Wordsworth’s nature poetry explores the relationship between [man and the world seen in the spirit of love], in the attempt to demonstrate the power of nature in the rescuing of the individual mind from degradation, materialism, selfishness, and despair†(114). Crediting nature with the answer to life, Wordsworth’s philosophy reveals that there can be no greater truth than that found in the simplicity of nature. He pulls from ... ...ompany, Inc., 2000. 422-38. Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. â€Å"Biographia Literaria.†The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Romantic Period. 7th ed. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 468-486. Harding, D. W. â€Å"The Theme of ‘The Ancient Mariner.’†Coleridge: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Kathleen Coburn. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1967. 51-64. Watson, J.R. English Poetry of the Romantic Period. New York: Longman, Inc. 1985. Wordsworth, William. â€Å"The Ruined Cottage.†The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Romantic Period. 7th ed. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 259-70. Wordsworth, William. â€Å"Preface to Lyrical Ballads.†The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Romantic Period. 7th ed. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2000. 238-251.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
The influence of myths in the lives of man
Introduction Man is a complex creature, as compared to other living organisms that has walked the earth. He is able to act and cooperate with other people in order to create or do something productive. He is gifted with a rational mind which enables him to make rational judgment and decisions in his everyday life. He was blessed with emotions that enable them to express what they feel, show their appreciation or disgust. Man is complex creature such that he is able to believe something that he doesn’t see or he has no proof of its reality. He believes in myths about how he should act or react about something, thus setting it as a standard or as a norm in life. Looking at man and woman, man is said to be the more myth-believer than the woman. Man, an egoistic creature believes and values a lot of things, including abstract principles like chivalry, his big ego and his responsibilities in his life. Males, which generally see themselves, stronger than the females, often take much of the responsibilities especially when it comes to his family. It is common to see fathers who choose to work away from the family so that they will be able to supply the needs of his families. Men may consider themselves as superior to women, yet they compensate this claim by shouldering the hard work not because they like to do so, but because they are compelled to do so, as dictated by their beliefs and personal myths. Men choose to take these responsibilities not because they feel superior, but because of the fact that they are men. Even though men think this way they don’t lack fear and respect for women. In Theodore Dreiser’s short story, he pictured the main character, Rufus Haymaker, as man who has it all when it comes to material things. He lives a wealthy lifestyle, a good job, a house, doesn’t go hungry, everything that a man would strive for in his life. But then, Rufus Haymaker is not a happy man. He may have every material thing that a man may wish, but he lacks happiness. He is not fulfilled, not having lived his life to the fullest. Rufus Haymaker can be considered just like any other person in this world, someone who lacks will power and strength to decide for themselves, thus oftentimes regretting the way things in his life are going. Rufus Haymaker’s life is a typical rags-to-riches story. Because of poverty, he was driven and forced to go out and face the world. In his own, he was able to return a different man, yet he still thinks that there was really no change that happened. This resulted to suffering and mental torment, leaving him with the dilemma between duty and desire. Rufus’ situation is a common myth in men. He would strive hard in order to prove something, in order to excel, yet, in the end; he doesn’t realize that he already has proven something. He gets so engrossed with work because of his goals, he tends to forget his real reason why is working hard. In the end, he would grow old not knowing that he already met his goal, thus continuing to work hard for it. He wasn’t able to live his life to the fullest, because of his sacrifice and obedience to conventions, duty and moral order; he has lived an unfulfilled life. Rufus Haymaker already had it all, but because of moral restraints, his moral choice, he has lived an empty life. Rufus Haymaker was held back by his moral choice, because he chose to stick with the norms. He followed obediently, without knowing that it cost him his freedom and happiness. In this story, Rufus Haymaker has a wife. This is another manifestation of his loyalty and obedience to the norms. At that time, the concept of â€Å"one life, one love†was the norm being followed (Vaz). This became a restraint to Rufus life. He is pretending to be enjoying his life with his wife, but the reality is that he hates every moment of it, that her illness gave him a spark of hope. Her possible death gave Rufus another chance to be free; the moment his wife is gone, his attachment to the norm would be gone also, because she will be dead. The concept of one love is already nullified with death. Rufus’ lived a life at a time when people are bound to conventions, thus keeping them attached to their duty as a person, their beliefs where in they believe that following it means living a healthy life. Because of that, these beliefs hindered them from enjoying the real meaning of life, of being free, of seizing the day while it lasts! For Rufus Haymaker, there was this feeling of satisfaction with the idea that she is going to die, because in his marriage, he was looking for love and happiness, but with his wife, he never had it. But because of the norm, he remained bounded to his wife, and suffered emotionally. To wrap it up, Rufus Haymaker achieved the freedom he longed for so many years. But ironically, he did achieve his freedom, yet it didn’t make him happy. He found out that he was to old for the life that he was craving, and it was too late for him to recover. His great attachment with the myths and norms made him forget about time, that he was already growing old while waiting for the moment he could be free. Rufus Haymaker, the man who wished that his wife never recover from her illness, will never be happy with the freedom that he was able to get with his wife’s death. It was to late for him, because he didn’t seize the opportunity when it came to him. Reference: Vaz, Teresa Moraes. â€Å"Irony and Naturalism In â€Å"Free†, by Theodore Dreiser†. 1996. February 3 2007. .  Â
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
African American Heritage Paper Essay
This paper explores the African American heritage and also identifies the significance of nurses being culturally aware, sensitive and competent when caring for people of African American heritage. Although these terms mentioned above are used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Cultural awareness is appreciating the external or material part of the culture, such as the music, arts, and physical characteristics, and dress. Cultural sensitivity is the personal attitudes toward the culture, such as not saying things that is offensive to someone from a different ethnic or cultural background (Purnell,2013, p. 4). Cultural competence is putting it all together; by using your knowledge to provide culturally congruent care and to be able to work effectively with people in cross- cultural situations. African Americans are the second largest ethnocultural groups in the United States; however, it is one of the most misunderstood cultures. This culture is so unique because they have mixed their cultures from their different homes of origin in Africa, along with American culture. This paper overviews the history, communications, family roles, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, pregnancy and childbearing practices, spirituality, health care practices, nutrition, and death rituals in the African American culture. It is important that nurses see themselves as becoming culturally competent when caring for African Americans, and this involves incorporating cultural desire, cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, and cultural encounter with the people of African American heritage (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). 2 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE One of the largest minority groups in the United States, African Americans culture includes the various cultural traditions of different African ethnic groups. â€Å"Data from the U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (2001) reveals that there are approximately 34,333,000 African Americans residing in the United States, representing 12. 1% of the total population†(Campinha-Bacote, 2009). They were forcibly imported into the United States as slaves from 1619 to 1860 (Purnell, 2013, p. 21). During slavery, they incorporated their culture from their homes of origin, and as a result, their culture included several cultural traditions of African ethnic groups. Many African Americans live in poverty due to discrimination and lack of proper education. Most families of African American heritage value education, but they still struggle to have equal representation in the workplace, and are more likely to work in a hazardous environment, resulting in job related diseases and illness. Due to the lower-level positions and the difficulty in achieving higher opportunities in the workplace, some African Americans continue to feel discouraged. Nurses need to address discrimination and also issues that create ethnic or racial tension in the workplace. English is the language spoken by African Americans, however, people of lower socio economical status communicate in an informal language known as African American English (AAE) (Purnell, 2013, p. 22). According to Campinha-Bacote (2009), the major problem that AAE speakers face is prejudice. Most people believe that AAE is inferior to Standard American English. As a result, African Americans who speak AAE are sometimes misinterpreted as being uneducated. Nurses should be aware not to stereotype African Americans as only speaking AAE, and also not to stereotype them as uneducated based on the way they communicate. African Americans are expressive when 3. A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE communicating and often use body languages to convey their feelings. Their expressive language and body movement can be misconstrued as anger or provocation. Nurses need to be familiar with these characteristics and not misinterpret them. As a nurse, when interacting with African Americans for the first time, be sure to address them formally, until given permission to use other names, such as their first name. The African-American family has evolved over the last two decades and still continues to evolve. A person that is brought up in a traditional nuclear family is more likely to continue that tradition. Whereas, a person that is brought up in a single parent home is more likely to continue that same tradition. Although these situations are more likely, they are not always so. To provide the most competent care, the best thing for the nurse to do would be to ask the patient in a non-judgmental way about family dynamics and also ask them what they would feel the most comfortable with when it comes to decision making for their care. The nurse should then accept this decision. Being knowledgeable about this cultural group’s family values and beliefs are crucial for providing care for the African American patient (Revell & McGhee, 2012). A high percentage of African American households are matriarchal and fall below poverty level. With that being said, it is wise for nurses to make a point of including women when discussing health care issues. Nurses also should take note when dealing with homosexual individuals in this ethnic group, not to break confidence by sharing their lifestyles with others. This information can jeopardize and cause conflicts within the family and ruin relationships. Romantic relationships of the same-sex are not totally acceptable within this culture. 4 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE As in many culture, social status is important in African American community. African Americans are often met with negative atmosphere and prejudice attitudes based on their cultural background and skin color. Assumptions are made based on AAE spoken by some as an indication of unintelligence and the lack of education. These assumptions sometimes affect employment opportunities and job promotions. Nurses should be cautious not to fall into the stereotyping African Americans based on these characteristics. African American skin color ranges from light to very dark due to the combination of a gene pool of more than 100 racial strains (Purnell, 2013, p. 25). When assessing for cyanosis in dark-skinned African Americans, be sure to pay attention to the oral mucosa or conjunctiva. When assessing for pallor, note the absence of the underlying red tones that give the skin it’s glow. Lastly, when observing for jaundice, be sure to look at the sclera of the eyes, the soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands for any yellow discoloration (25). Health care is a luxury that low socioeconomic African Americans may not be able to afford. Meeting their daily needs takes priority over what they believe to be minor health issues. Consequently, diseases that could be treatable might end up being a life- threatening situation. African Americans are family orientated, because of this; some tend to initially seek medical attention from family members rather than going to a health care professional. Health care professionals need to be aware of this and work toward teaching and distributing health information via church and community centers. Most African American women are against abortion due to religious, cultural, and moral beliefs. As a result, there is a delay in making a decision until it becomes too late. 5 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Family support is crucial for pregnant African American women. Gichia (2000) studied and found out that African American women look for role models such as older female relatives, or if they have none, they look for someone who seemed like a mother to them, such as a neighbor. These role models can provide the pregnant woman and new mother with needed support. According to Abbyad & Robertson (2011), nurses caring for pregnant African American women need to be informed about the variety of ways in which childbirth preparation can occur, as in any other group of pregnant women. Moreover, nurses need to consider the ways in which their attitudes and behaviors send unwelcoming messages to African American women seeking prenatal care or childbirth classes. These attitudes can discourage the African American woman in seeking further care. â€Å"Culturally competent care for the childbearing African American woman includes addressing all components of care including the use of complementary and alternative medicine†(Revell, 2012). The childbirth nurse that is providing culturally competent care should be aware that the perceived norm is different for every family. African Americans are spiritual and are usually affiliated with some religious order. Historically, the church has played a major role in the life of African American culture. The church is a place where they can meet on common grounds. Faith and prayer is one of the most important attributes of Christian African Americans. They believe that God has the power to heal them, and he also has the power not to. They believe that whatever happens to them is according to God’s will. Food is very valuable in the African American culture. It symbolizes health and wealth. It is derived from African descent. When food is offered to someone, it means that the person is valued; and by offering food, they are given you something that is 6 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE valuable to them. When it comes to nutrition, some African American diets are high in cholesterol and fats. According to James (2004), â€Å"African Americans will need information on basic nutrition topics such as serving sizes and reading food labels†. Nurses that work in African American communities should be involved in programs that promote healthy food choices. These programs can specifically be developed for churches, neighborhood grocery stores, and local restaurants. â€Å"Health disparities among the African-American population include life expectancy, heart disease, hypertension, infant morality and morbidity rates, cancer, sickle cell diseases, HIV/AIDS, violence, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and asthma†(Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Unfortunately, they have the tendency to see a health care professional only when absolutely necessary. â€Å" Health is viewed as harmony with nature, whereas illness is seen as a disruption in this harmonic state due to demons†(Purnell,2013, p. 33). Recognize and support your patient cultural behaviors and believes to promote healthy interactions. In addition, always provide factual information about health practices that may not be understood due to their cultural believes and cultural differences. In conclusion, it is recommended that nurses familiarize themselves with cultural specific information in order to provide cultural competent care in African American community. Nurses should consider the following question: â€Å"In caring for African- American patients, have I asked myself the right questions. †It is important for nurses to be aware of their biases and prejudices toward African Americans. In addition, they should possess the needed skills to conduct a cultural assessment while possessing knowledge of this cultural group (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Lastly, nurses should always 7 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE have the desire to become culturally competent not just with African American patients, but any patient that has been placed in their charge. 8 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Resources Abbyad, C. , & Robertson, T. (2011). African American Women’s Preparation for Childbirth From the Perspective of African American Health-Care Providers. Journal Of Perinatal Education, 20(1), 45-53. doi:10. 1891/1058-1243. 20. 1. 45 Campinha-Bacote, J. (2009). Culture and diversity issues. A culturally competent model of care for African Americans. Urologic Nursing, 29(1), 49-54. Gichia, J. E, (2000), Mothers and others: African-American women’s preparation for motherhood. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 25(2), 86-91, James, D. (2004). Factors influencing food choices, dietary intake, and nutrition-related attitudes among African Americans: application of a culturally sensitive model. Ethnicity & Health, 9(4), 349-367. Purnell, L. D. (2009). People of African American Heritage. Guide to culturally competent health care (2nd ed. , p. 21-35). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co. Revell, M. A. , & McGhee, M. N. (2012). Evolution of the African American Family. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(4), 44-48. Revell, M. A. (2012). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the African American Culture. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(3), 55-59.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles
. He spoke the world into existence. He spoke into the vast expanse and created night, day, seas, land, sky, animals, and everything He saw fit for His purpose. Though there was already land in existence in the magical other world, the notion of â€Å"Narnia†was born simply through Aslan’s use of both song and speech. By singing, Aslan brought about the stars and the sun. He began another song, and all around him as he walked grass sprouted underfoot and quickly spread all around, and trees began to take root and grow in the valley. Aslan’s song is analogous to the voice of God during the creation of the world. God breathed life into Adam, the first human to walk the earth. Aslan as well gave life through his breath into the animals of Narnia. Though the animals were already physically alive, their lack of knowledge and speech prevented them from being characterized as true citizens of Narnia. That is until Aslan breathed the ability of speech into the chosen... Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles A Reflection on the Narnian Chronicles Throughout the C.S.Lewis series, The Narnian Chronicles, there are many indirect references to the Christian faith and the Bible itself. Through the use of allegories, Lewis provides his readers with a link to explore and contemplate this â€Å"other world.†Though allegorical instances are prevalent throughout the entire series, they are particularly ubiquitous in both â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew†and in â€Å"The Silver Chair.†Aslan the lion is portrayed as the Christ figure in Lewis’ books. As you progress through the novels, it becomes more and more apparent that there is a strong connection between God (or Jesus) and Aslan. This first becomes evident in â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew.†The first connection that is established between â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew†and the Bible (particularly Genesis 1) is the notion of and occurrence of creation. In the Bible, everything was created merely from God’s words. He spoke the world into existence. He spoke into the vast expanse and created night, day, seas, land, sky, animals, and everything He saw fit for His purpose. Though there was already land in existence in the magical other world, the notion of â€Å"Narnia†was born simply through Aslan’s use of both song and speech. By singing, Aslan brought about the stars and the sun. He began another song, and all around him as he walked grass sprouted underfoot and quickly spread all around, and trees began to take root and grow in the valley. Aslan’s song is analogous to the voice of God during the creation of the world. God breathed life into Adam, the first human to walk the earth. Aslan as well gave life through his breath into the animals of Narnia. Though the animals were already physically alive, their lack of knowledge and speech prevented them from being characterized as true citizens of Narnia. That is until Aslan breathed the ability of speech into the chosen...
Monday, October 21, 2019
DQ2 Example
DQ2_05 Example DQ2_05 – Coursework Example QD2_05: Intergovernmental Relationships QD2_05 Currently, the public health sector stands amidst various uncertainties which must bediligently tackled to ensure continued success in the sector. Notably, the sector has various pillars including the public body and governmental entities; both federal and national. Such pillars must exist in harmonious systems in which a collaborative approach to public health issues is promoted (Scutchfield adoption of frameworks that can be relied upon to deliver social justice to the patients and clients of the public health sector. In this regard, it is evident that social justice in public health is attainable through collaborative efforts among different governmental agencies. Such collaborative approaches must be able to eliminate selective justice which has often prevailed in healthcare systems. Indeed, successful adoption of comprehensive all-inclusive healthcare policies can only be possible if all stakeholders to the sector are able to come together in pursuit of a common goal (Magnussen, Ehiri & Jolly, 2004). However, politicization of various policies aimed at enhancing patient safety, and successful adoption of various policies can have negative impacts on the public health sector as noted by Bauer (2004). However, there is need for guidance and positive political involvement in the policy-making process to promote successful adoption of policies. ReferencesAwofeso, N. (2004). What’s new about the â€Å"new public health†?. Journal Information, 94(5). Canadian Healthcare Manager. (2004). Patients vs Politics Gabrielle Bauer. Canadian Healthcare Manager. Toronto. Vol 11. Iss. (3), 42. Magnussen, L., Ehiri, J., & Jolly, P. (2004). Comprehensive versus selective primary health care: lessons for global health policy. Health affairs, 23(3), 167-176.Morales, L. S., Rogowski, J., Freedman, V. A., Wickstrom, S. L., Adams, J. L., & Escarce, J. J. (2004). Use of preventive services by men enrolled in Medicare+ Choice plans. American journal of public health, 94(5), 796-802.Scutchfield, F. D. & Keck, C.W. (2003). Principles of public health practices (2nd. ed.) New York: Thomson Delmar Learning. Chs 6-8, 75-138.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Biotechnology
Biotechnology Essay The welfare and development of todays student-athlete is central to the administration of Big Ten Conference intercollegiate athletics. Providing opportunity for young men and women to mature in a wholesome and healthy way is critically important to our universities. A commitment exists at all levels of our universities to providing the resources to support the welfare of Big Ten student-athletes. At the 1996 NCAA Convention, the Division I membership debated a number of issues related to financial assistance for student-athletes. Limitations on Pell Grants, stipends awarded by the federal government for educational purposes, were removed. Discussions took place, and continue to occur, on ways to liberalize rules on how student-athletes can earn money from work done during the off-season. Around the same time, the NCAA Executive Committee increased the annual funding of the special assistance fund from $3 million to $10 million. Big Ten institutions provide more than 6,400 young men and women opportunities to play on 250 intercollegiate teams. These young people receive more than $42 million annually from Big Ten institutions in grants-in-aid (tuition, room and board, books). While receiving the opportunity for a world-class education, they compete with and against some of the finest amateur athletes in the country. Needy student-athletes in the Big Ten may receive up to $2,000 annually above the value of their grant-in-aid via federal aid and are eligible for cash payments from the special assistance fund for items like clothing, emergency trips home and other special needs. Big Ten universities also assist student-athletes in identifying summer employment opportunities, career placement and catastrophic-injury insurance plans. They also assist with a $1 million insurance plan that financially protects student-athletes with professional sports aspirations in the event they suffer a disabling injury. Today, the system that served so many so well and for so long is being called into question by the media, the public and even by some coaches and student-athletes. They assert that some student-athletes in football and basketball should be paid for their participation. They believe that the market forces that drive professional sports, or any other private-sector activity, should provide the controlling principle for the relationship between the student-athlete and the university. This issue of financial assistance for student-athletes is critical to defining and examining the relationship between intercollegiate athletics and higher education as we approach the 21st century. While we must be open to novel approaches and new ideas, paying student-athletes to play is not supportable within the context of Big Ten intercollegiate athletics now or in the future. In my view, revenues derived from intercollegiate athletics are the sole property of the institution and should be expended in support of the broadest array of mens and womens educational and athletics opportunities. Thus, revenues are earned in private-sector activity and spent within the confines of the university for appropriate educational purposes. Some critics of college athletics cite the economic and educational exploitation of the student-athletes who participate in our major revenue sports as a major flaw in the system. We believe the educational and the lifetime economic benefits associated with a university education are the appropriate quid pro quo for any Big Ten student-athlete, regardless of the sport. For many decades, Big Ten intercollegiate athletics has been funded largely by revenues from mens basketball and football programs. This situation is not likely to change in the foreseeable future. Our institutions have sponsored sports programs that enabled outstanding athletes such as Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Red Grange, Archie Griffin, John Havlicek and Dick Butkus (the list is endless) to obtain an education and play their sport, in turn providing resources for educational and athletics opportunities for such people as Suzy Favor, Jesse Owens, Mark Spitz and Jack Nicklaus. Under this system, people like John Wooden and Gerald Ford played alongside student-athletes much less famous, but equally deserving of an intercollegiate athletics experience. Intercollegiate athletics has provided, and will continue to provide, opportunities for social mobility through education for future generations of young men and women. We must ensure that all young people admitted to our universities are prepared to compete academically so that the overall student-athlete academic outcomes are compatible with their peers within the general student population. Recent efforts to raise NCAA initial-eligibility standards are attempts to counter the argument that unprepared student-athletes are being admitted and then exploited for their athletics contributions. Ten mens basketball and football events and more than 300 million Americans watch these sports on television. Ticket and television revenues derived from those sources are shared among our members so that each university can sponsor the .
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Leadership styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Leadership styles - Essay Example There are numerous leadership styles but this paper will specifically focus on Lewin’s leadership styles namely: democratic/participative, laissez faire, autocratic as well as transactional and transformational leadership styles which are more recent. Kurt Lewin, a psychologist developed a framework of three leadership styles in 1930s and these styles were later to become a benchmark for developing styles of leadership. Lewin’s styles of leadership include the following, autocratic, laissez faire and autocratic (Amos et al., 2008). Autocratic leadership style is usually carried by leaders who make all the decisions in the organization alone (Amos et al, 2008). These leaders use authoritarian rule and they do not bother consult other members of the team when they are making decisions in the organization. The leader who uses this style has the final authority to make any decision in the organization and it can also be noted that the communication channel used is top to bottom where the subordinates are mere takers of instructions from the top. In other words, they just respond to what has been said from the top without any contribution. The subordinates can hardly interact with their leaders. This leadership style is oriente d towards goal attainment of the organization and improving productivity at the expense of the employees who also have their personal goals to achieve outside work. This style leads to demotivation of the employees and can subsequently lead to absenteeism or staff turnover since the workers are not motivated to put optimum performance in their operations. Laisez fair is another leadership style developed by Lewin which emphasises on giving the employees freedom to manage their own affairs (Kleyhnhans, 2007). In other words, the employees work with very little or no supervision at all and they are responsible for setting their own goals
Friday, October 18, 2019
Different aspects of domestic violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Different aspects of domestic violence - Essay Example It is this definition that has been the basis of evolution for policing policies as applied to domestic violence. The trend in policing today is for the police department to compose of a triage. For example, in many police departments across the United States, when an officer responds to a domestic violence call, he/she may contact the dispatcher, who will call the Crisis Center for Women 24-hour hot line. Then the Crisis Center sends a response van to the scene and will transport the victim and children to the Center's shelter. The Center will also provide transportation to court appearances and provide court advocacy. This on-scene response is available for all situations, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After the on-scene response is complete, the case is turned over to the domestic violence unit, which consists of two full-time investigators who handle all incoming cases. Defenders of mandatory arrest and prosecution policies contend that battered women are too helpless and fearful to make appropriate decisions about the arrest or prosecution of their attackers. While this may be true for some women, preliminary evidence shows that the option to decide sometimes provides the perfect avenue for expressing unrealized strength and power. Accordingly, it is premature to judge whether the mandatory rule is actually working. A great deal of the responsibility for preparing for and responding to terrorist events rests with local police departments. Community policing presents an overarching philosophical orientation that agencies can use to better deal with the threat of terrorist events and the fear that they may create. The community policing philosophy can be roughly divided into three interrelated elements: organizational change, problem solving, and external partnerships. Each element applies to the issues of terrorism prevention and response, as well as to fear. Since 9/11, the federal government has greatly increased terrorism prevention and response efforts. However, a large degree of responsibility for dealing with these threats and for alleviating citizen fear rests at the local level. To some degree, the majority of local police departments in the United States have worked to reduce the fear of future terrorist attacks and to prevent and plan for attacks. Law enforcement officials are strategi cally rethinking public security procedures and practices to maximize the potential of their resources. The philosophy of community policing is important for police in preparing for possible terrorist acts and in responding to the fear they may create. Community policing involves broadening the nature and number of police functions compared to traditional policing models. It emphasizes organizational change, active problem solving, and external partnerships to address issues that concern both the police and citizens. In recent years, the philosophy of community policing appears to have been adopted to differing degrees by a large number of law enforcement entities in the United St
Setting plays a crucial role in both of these stories. Discuss the Essay
Setting plays a crucial role in both of these stories. Discuss the importance of setting and how it contributes to the stories plots and resolutions - Essay Example the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence†(Poe, 251). This is a significant contrast of events occurring simultaneously, a deadly disease and a magnificent ball. The story essentially follows Prince Prospero from his seclusion to the time of his marvelous masquerade at his abbey. It is within his abbey that Prince Prospero desperately tries to hide himself from the horrible â€Å"red death†, but is eventually victim to death at his very own masquerade within his abbey. This is ultimately a setting of hiding and a contrast between reality and human disillusionment. Despite his efforts to avoid the â€Å"red death†, Prince Prospero succumbs to inevitable fate within the very bungalow that he used as a hiding place from a would be death. Ultimately, the setting of this piece is a grand disillusionment on the part of the Prince. In the piece written by Susan Glaspell, Trifles, the reader finds a more elemental setting. This piece introduces itself within the kitchen of a now abandoned farmhouse. This is of course the farmhouse kitchen of the Wright’s, and a very unkempt kitchen at that. This is a clue to the chaos of the situation that plays out within the piece, â€Å"The kitchen in the now abandoned farmhouse of John Wright, a gloomy kitchen, and left without having been put in order - the walls covered with a faded wallpaper†(Glaspell, 1290). The setting that the reader finds in Trifles is more realistic and conducive to the plot than that of the setting of The Masque of the Red Death. Trifles is an illustration of a woman pushed entirely too far and too long by her husband. Finally, she murders her husband and naturally, the kitchen is a mess. The entirety of the piece takes place within the home of the Wrights, a simple farmhouse showing signs of a tremulous marriage at best. The clichà ©
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Theories of knowledge and The Matrix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Theories of knowledge and The Matrix - Essay Example For example, with the power of vision a person can perceive height and width of three dimensional objects with ease but would have trouble knowing the depth (Thornton, 1987). The classic case of a mountain can be presented to clarify this idea because it is easy to see the height of the mountain and know how wide it is by sight alone but to realize that the mountain also has a certain depth and also extends deep into the ground has to come from the inferences made by the mind. This is in fact the central proposition made by Berkeley that people can never know what an object really is or they can never understand reality through their senses. The objects around us and the reality we see is only a perception which depends on our senses. Therefore, all we know about objects are our perceptions of those objects. Of course we can also imagine about things which never existed or imagine certain situations which can not exist given the physical laws of the universe (Thornton, 1987). However, such imaginations are weak perceptions and have little bearing on the real world. On the other hand, real objects and things continue to remain present in our ideas even if we do not see them as their perception is strong. The false reality is not false for the human inhabitants of The Matrix since it is the only reality they know. The information gathering which they do to function in their world comes from the same sources which provide information to other characters within the matrix, i.e. Neo, Morpheus or Trinity. The only difference is that the human inhabitants are getting signals sent to their brain from a supercomputer which is controlling how their reality functions. On the other hand, the characters which are free from the Matrix are using their natural abilities to experience the real world. Morpheus explains this quite clearly when he defines the reality of the Matrix by questioning what Neo considers to be real. Morpheus says, â€Å"What is "real"? How do you define
Curcumin to cure Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Curcumin to cure Cancer - Research Paper Example ies have been performed that hold up curcumin-mediated regulation of COX pathways, which is an essential mechanism by which curcumin stops a number of ailment processes, including the cancer. The precise regulation of COX-2 by curcumin is not fully established; though, existing evidence show that curcumin controls COX-2 mainly at the transcriptional level and, to some extent, the posttranslational level. The curcumin-selective transcriptional control action of the COX-2 inhibitory potential of this naturally occurring agent offer unique advantages over synthetic COX inhibitors, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Cells will be treated with free Cisplatin and then with free curcumin to test the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic drug. This control will be compared to a plate of cells treated with nano-encapsulated curcumin along with cisplatin. My hypothesis is that the nanoparticle delivery of drugs will show less resistance in the cells to the chemopreventive drug, a down regulation of COX-2, as well as decreased proliferation. I will be using fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles to encapsulate the cisplatin and deliver it to the mitochondria of the cells. The delivery system should not only demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake, but also show an elevated drug effect which should reduce the associated side effects. In addition, a new, simple and reasonably priced fluorescent based PT quantification technique has been adopted as an alternative of the commonly used ICP-based quantification method and this strategy of quantification could be elaborated to monitor fluorescentà ‚ pro drug nanoparticles during real-time diagnosis. A common problem with the present chemotherapeutic interventions is that it causes inflammation in the gut and kidney cells. To test my method against this, I will also conjugate the cisplatin nanoparticles with curcumin to test if the side effects are even further diminished. To measure the effectiveness of the
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Dance by Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Dance by Design - Essay Example However, despite this, it is important to explore the effect that hip-hop has on youth sexuality as well as the cultural impact that it has on youth culture in general precisely because of this importance. The purpose of this essay is to explore the links between the use of the body in hip-hop culture and this much explored and maligned sexuality that is associated with hip-hop dance. In doing this exploration, it will become clear that there are many positive forces associated with hip-hop, although there are definitely negative aspects of the strong link between hip-hop and sexuality, particularly female sexuality. Hip-Hop Culture Hip-hop culture is one that is usually described by scholars as being ‘misunderstood’ (Rose, 2010, p59), despite the fact that it generates millions or billions of US dollars in its industries and many people believe that it ‘ascends to the level of art and cultural heritage’ (Rose, 2010, p59). There are many reasons for the misu nderstanding associated with hip-hop culture. ... e itself is at its most influential and important in the United States (Dimitriadis, 2009), where it is commonly associated with African Americans or Latinos, and therefore many of the elements of hip-hop culture are direct derivatives of these two influences (Rabaka, 2011). It is important to note that hip-hop culture itself is not just limited to the music (which is commonly seen to include rap), but includes a whole variety of different dance styles (including breaking, locking and popping) as well as art forms such as graffiti and cinematography (Rabaka, 2011). In this way, hip-hop can be seen to be associated with a greater scheme of design, rather than just being limited to a music genre. It is perhaps from this perspective that it becomes obvious how such a wide-ranging culture has come to be associated with sexuality, because it permeates all aspects of life for those immersed in it (Dimitriadis, 2009). Traditionally, hip-hop is associated with youth (or seen as a youth movem ent) precisely because of the age of the culture (having started as a movement in the 1970s) and the people that partake in hip-hop dance (Schloss, 2009). The Relationship between Hip-Hop and Sexuality One important factor involved in the fact that hip-hop is perceived as a youth movement is that it will probably always be involved in some discourse on sexuality, predominantly because of the obvious link between young people and emerging sexualities. There are a number of reasons why hip-hop (dance in particular) and sexuality have often been highlighted as having such a strong link. One is that there is a hugely sexual range of motions involved in hip-hop dance, particularly with the phenomenon of grinding (Schloss, 2009). This type of dance is so sexually explicit that many towns in the
Curcumin to cure Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Curcumin to cure Cancer - Research Paper Example ies have been performed that hold up curcumin-mediated regulation of COX pathways, which is an essential mechanism by which curcumin stops a number of ailment processes, including the cancer. The precise regulation of COX-2 by curcumin is not fully established; though, existing evidence show that curcumin controls COX-2 mainly at the transcriptional level and, to some extent, the posttranslational level. The curcumin-selective transcriptional control action of the COX-2 inhibitory potential of this naturally occurring agent offer unique advantages over synthetic COX inhibitors, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Cells will be treated with free Cisplatin and then with free curcumin to test the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic drug. This control will be compared to a plate of cells treated with nano-encapsulated curcumin along with cisplatin. My hypothesis is that the nanoparticle delivery of drugs will show less resistance in the cells to the chemopreventive drug, a down regulation of COX-2, as well as decreased proliferation. I will be using fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles to encapsulate the cisplatin and deliver it to the mitochondria of the cells. The delivery system should not only demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake, but also show an elevated drug effect which should reduce the associated side effects. In addition, a new, simple and reasonably priced fluorescent based PT quantification technique has been adopted as an alternative of the commonly used ICP-based quantification method and this strategy of quantification could be elaborated to monitor fluorescentà ‚ pro drug nanoparticles during real-time diagnosis. A common problem with the present chemotherapeutic interventions is that it causes inflammation in the gut and kidney cells. To test my method against this, I will also conjugate the cisplatin nanoparticles with curcumin to test if the side effects are even further diminished. To measure the effectiveness of the
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Computer Shopper Essay Example for Free
Computer Shopper Essay Technology has evolved and changed throughout history and the world. In the 80’s and even early 90’s, type writers and the mail man were highly relied on when it came to communication. Today when it comes to communication now we have e-mail and text messaging. Presently different professions use computer but with different configurations. So what I did was take three known professions business, student and professional gamer. To describe what functions are needed for their profession. The Student Being a fulltime student takes a lot and requires one to be on point at every task at hand. Having all materials such as paper, books, pens and pencils. Even through textbooks breaks the bank in your pockets. The need for a notebook also known as a laptop is a major requirement. Having a notebook definitely helps a lot in everyday class curriculums. One problem is that once you have your notebook you need software such Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office is a wonderful tool when it comes to creating and reviewing documents. How can you determine what type of notebook to get though? On table 1 below, I have looked into Best Buy, one of America’s top known electronic retail companies, to see what is it that they have to offer to students. I came across Hewart Packard Pavilion A-8 series. This notebook comes with a 500 gigabyte hard drive and 4 gigabytes of memory. The processor is an Intel Celeron 2.1GHz. It is not one of Intels high end processors but for a student, it is definitely at the top of its class. The price provided by Best Buy is $429.99. The Business Man Reports, meetings, reviews, and analysis are the assignments general business men have to complete daily, weekly and/or monthly. But what type of desktop does a business man usually have in his or her office? Some random hand me down desktop provided by the IT Department? I believe so. What if you were your own boss and needed some sort of desktop that can get you through everyday business. What type would you go for? Generally you want a desktop with a moderate processor, high on memory and a large hard drive to keep all documentation. Below on table 1, I suggested the Dell XPS desktop. Dell is popular nationwide when it comes to businesses and even schools. The Dell XPS provides 1TB of hard drive, 12GB of memory, and on top of that a 3.4 Intel 4th Generation Core. This desktop is an awesome display of business power and priced at $699.99.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Analysis of online auction site ebid
Analysis of online auction site ebid EBid is an online auction website, which was cofounded by Mark Wilkinson and Gary Sewell in December 1998 in UK. They did not take the normal approach of putting huge amount of capital initially to establish the business, they built their site backwards by building a self sufficient auction site which would attract and retain customers. The initial version of EBid went on air in January 1999. EBid now operates in more than 20 countries including UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, India Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Netherland, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden, Singapore and South Africa. It lists to buyers in other 100 countries as well. EBid has its own online payment service PPPay, which deals in paying Euros and Pounds Shillings. But this is not restrictive as EBid also accepts payment through PayPal and Google Checkout. PPPay.com is simple and comparatively secure which makes EBid a safe marketplaces on the virtual world for everyone including individuals, small and big companies equally. The closest competitor of EBid is Ebay, OnlineAuctions, Oztion etc. In a recent online auction review EBid stood second, closing behind EBay. EBid is often termed as the best Ebay alternative. EBid has numerous auction goods in more than 3,500 product categories, which includes music, collectibles, clothing, jewellery, electronics, games and antiques etc. EBids search capability lets its customers find items in their own region or check globally the choice of items they are interested in. There is a Wanted feature which allows buyers to post a free advertisement and list the acceptable price. Sellers can then bid for the same with the given requirements. Membership level EBid offers three membership levels to their customers. Buyers: There is no membership fee. It is free of cost to join EBid and buy there. Seller: It is free to join and list on the auction. And if the product put on the auction is sold off, a minimal of 3% of the final value is charged. Sellers are required to give their credit or debit card verification for safety purposes. Seller Plus: It is the membership based on subscription which charges the seller with a recurring fee every 73090 days or 365 days. EBid also offers a lifetime membership which is a onetime charge of  £49.99. Seller Plus members can open five shops for no charge. They can also list a free auction of which the final fee is none. And for gallery type auction 2% fee is charged. Seller Plus+ members can use a type of software called the Bulk lister spread sheet which list many items at the same time, also there is software called as Ninja Lister in which you can use EBids cross-platform. Registration and upgrading A registration form is to be filled up by the users to register as buyers at EBid. For upgrading to SELLER or SELLER+ a security subscription is to be purchased. Upgrade Fees SELLER : Rs. 0.00 SELLER+ : 7 Day Rs. 59.00 30 Day Rs. 210.00 90 Day Rs. 510.00 365 Day Rs. 1800.00 Lifetime Rs. 2000.00 (Refer to appendix Figure 1) Buddy programs and affiliations An affiliate program is a system in which a customer advertise EBid at their emails or their websites etc, and then if someone joins EBid then it pays the introducer a amount of $2.00 /  £1.00. The EBid Buddy Points program is a Loyalty Card system. The customer can earn and accumulate points during his bidding or selling, they can be used everywhere at the site. Once the invited people join 1 point per person is awarded to the customer. If they then upgrade to SELLER another point will be earned, and if they upgrade to Seller+ 2 points will be earned. The buddy points then can be later used in different buddy auctions. Points are also available via the following trigger points [1] . Referring a Buddy = 1 points Buddy SELLER Upgrade = 2 points Buddy SELLER+ Upgrade = 5 points Making a Bid Meeting Reserve = 0.5% of reserve price (max 5 points) Purchasing via Winning Bid = 1.0% of final bid (max 5 points) Purchasing Using BuyNow = 1.0% of BuyNow price (max 5 points) Receiving Positive Feedback = 0.5% of final bid OR BuyNow price (max 5 points) Online Auction Business Model There are several business models associated with online auction model namely business to consumer (B2C), consumer to consumer (C2C), business to business (B2B), business to government (B2G), and government to public (G2P). EBid adopts a customer-to-customer business model, as it allows direct interaction of customers. A customer to customer interaction is defined as the interaction of n customers that affects the value, demand and credibility of a desired good. It avoids medalling of a business firm/company etc in between the two customers. In Customer-to-customer markets the website facilitates a platform where customers can sell goods to each other. EBid has globalised and centralized customer-to-customer trade. The most primal such customer interaction were seen in flea markets, garage sales etc. Online auction sites have given it a new global edge to it. On one single platform buyers and sellers can find the items and transact for the best deal. Listing an item on EBid is free of cost but they charge a nominal of 3% fee on the final sale price. At the end of an auction, EBid notifies the winning buyer through given e-mail that he has won the auction. It also contact the seller via email to report the winner and the final price of the auction. Then it is upto the buyer and seller how to complete the transaction independently. EBid doesnt charge buyers any fee to shop and place bids, so it makes money by charging fees from sellers. Advantages The middleman concept is removed. The customers are benefited more by the elimination. Large number of bidders and sellers As the online auctions are open to all, many people who have saleable product go online to sell, which increases the number of bidders too. Time barrier there is no time constraints as anyone can sell or purchase at any hour of the day. Due to globalisation people from different countries interact with each other to transact. It offers wider range of products and services. Price factor prices at such sites are negotiable and the goods sold are cheaper. In such business model there is a lot of cost cutting, inevitable cost such as inventory cost, distribution, sales etc are deleted. Customer Value Proposition EBid has not kept any buyers fee, this encourages more buyers to participate. Whereas in other auction site there is a minimum buyers fee too. There is no listing fee too, sellers can put the goods up on auction without any charges, and this strategy gets many sellers to get involved. There is a nominal 3% fee charge on final sale value, which is not comparatively much. The buddy point system makes EBid more interactive and fun to use. EBid provides a lot of incentive such as special bidding by buddy points etc, this lets customer become more enthusiastic. Revenue Model As mentioned earlier EBid earns through final sale value that is 3 %. There is another way of EBid earning, it is through their subscription based membership called as SELLER Plus. Not all the auctions are opened for regular seller; there are some which are held only for seller plus members exclusively. EBid charges a fee based on membership validity. There are some fee charged by EBid from customer who wants to highlight their or customise their bidding. A table of the list of charges have been given below. Estimated market price of EBid.net is 1,366,632 USD. And its annual revenue for the last year was calculated as 683,316 USD. (Refer to appendix Figure 2) (Refer to appendix Figure 3) (Refer to appendix Figure 4) Competitors EBids main competitor is online auction giant EBay. Then comes onlineauctions, OZtions, overstock etc. Ebid is often termed as best ebay alternative. It has better price options, free bidding, free joining and free shop to boot. It offers English as well as dutch auctions. EBid has got buddy point system which let users invite more people. Finding a item in EBid is also not a problem, they have excellent navigation system. The photo gallery is also of good size and quality. EBid has an excellent customer support. Their FAQs cover all the major problem faced by the user. EBid has got easy payment options such as PPPay, PayPal, and google checkout. EBid has been made googles official product partner which gives it an edge. Summary Ebid is a well established online auction company which is growing at a fast rate. It offers some commendable features like; numerous auctions in over thousands of categories, very powerful search functioning, simple payment options, user friendliness, different range of auction types and no hidden cost. There are some improvisations needed in the field of their promotional activities. EBid can generate better revenues if they start selling their web space for advertisements and it will help them grow their network. Their wanted section is still not well defined and should be made more visible to the customers by more promotions. Figure : Account types Figure : Traffic Rank and number of visitors. Figure : Revenue system Figure : Unique visitor count
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Periods Of English Literature :: essays research papers
Question: Show how the voices of writers through many centuries of literature have depicted a variety of mentalities and lifestyles. . Centuries could pass, and not many changes could be easily perceived by the common man, as those changes came gradually. Yet those changes can be readily discerned when looking at England as a whole, not looking at parts of history individually. The alterations of life, when looked at from a certain literary viewpoint, can be explained when one looks at the different periods in English literature, seeing the depictions of a certain era through writings that unintentionally convey great varieties in the mentality and lifestyles of the people who lived during that time. From war and violence to the more genteel inclinations of love and peace, English literature has evolved throughout the centuries, most especially if one considers the differences between the Old English, Renaissance and Romantic periods. The Anglo-Saxon history is undoubtedly very interesting to study, as the period spans several centuries and several different inhabitants of the land now known as England. The main characteristic of this time was the heroic ideal, which was the attempt by a hero to do things such as sailing a ship through a storm and taming a horse better than anyone else. The heroà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s first priority, however, was to always be ready to fight. The Angles were a heathen race, worshipping old Nordic gods and Wyrd (fate). It is very important to remember that it was the Anglo-Saxons who determined the basic language and culture of the English race, therefore it was them that were the foundation upon which literature would stand. The first literature found in the history of this period was during the reign of the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes. It was not really literature, in that it was written down by anybody, in mass-produced copies. The literature back then consisted of songs, sang b y bards, who embellished the story with every telling. It was only in later years that the tales were written down. This came about during the reign of Christianity, where the monks had tried to write down all of the tales that the bards sang, the ancient folk tales of the Anglo-Saxons. The monks also tried to infuse the Anglo-Saxons with a love for Christianity, where the heroes were Christ and his Apostles, by writing poetry such as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Cinewulfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Dream of the Roodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Building Foundations for The Future Essay -- Education Teaching Teache
Building Foundations for The Future When I think of how my teaching style will be one day, a particular parable comes to mind that I have known since my childhood days. In the Bible, in the book of Matthew, Peter and several other fishermen were fishing out on the ocean one night when from far out in the distance, they could see a man walking on the water toward them. The man was Jesus. Peter was afraid that the figure wasn’t Jesus, but instead a spirit, so Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat and walk over to him. So Peter got out, and walked on the water over to Jesus. But then, the wind began to blow furiously, causing Peter to become afraid. He looked down, began to sink, and then screamed out to Jesus to help him. Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught Peter, and said â€Å"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?†(Matt. 14:31). Most children today are wanting to learn, but from time to time there is an obstacle on their path toward knowledge that they cannot overcome on their own. When faced with such obstacles, whether it is the divorce of their parents, or continually failing in one certain subject, they usually become scared and just need someone to cry â€Å"Help!†to. Just as Jesus immediately helped Peter, I want to immediately help those students that are doubting that they can overcome something. I do not want my students to ever doubt that they can do something, and eventually become too reluctant to even try anymore just because they failed a time or two. I want to be there to assure my students that they can do anything they put their minds to, and I’ll be there to help them along the way. I believe that children are one of God’s gifts on thi... ...le the latter may not be as important as Math, English, Science, and Social Studies, they do still deserve a great deal of attention, because they work to the students’ benefit as well by making them a more well-rounded individual. My professional developmental plans consist of getting my K-6 Elementary Education Degree, and even possibly specializing in one subject area. I am still debating at the present time over whether or not to go for the specialization or not, but if I do I might specialize in Math. Also in my plans for after I graduate is the possibility of going for my Master’s Degree, so that I can become a Principal one day if I decide that I want to do that or not. But overall, I am still very undecided about my after-graduation plans. I am just really excited at the moment to be nearing the date of receiving my Teaching Degree!
Friday, October 11, 2019
How Does Steinbeck Create the Theme of Insecurity in the Novel?
Write about: †¢Why some characters feel insecure †¢How language contributes to a sense of the characters’ insecurity †¢How the settings contribute to a sense of insecurity †¢Other features which create a sense of insecurity You must: Explore how Steinbeck creates a sense of insecurity through the presentation of insecure characters, eg through: Lennie, Crooks and Curley’s wife †¢Look at language/settings, eg the situation of Curley’s wife and how she feels about Curley and her life on the ranch, and her appearance †¢Show how Steinbeck uses language/settings to create insecurity, eg how language is used to show Lennie’s insecurity about George †¢End by evaluating how the different elements work together †¢ In 45 minutes, three characters are enough to consider. Choose settings to look at in some detail, eg the pool in the valley where the novel begins and ends; the harness room (chapter 4) which is where Crooks lives; the Great Barn (chapter 5) where Lennie kills Curley’s wife. Comment on the language Steinbeck uses to describe characters and settings. †¢ The movement from harmony to discord appears in most of the settings in the book. Look at the opening description on page 18. This peaceful world of nature is disturbed by the arrival of George and Lennie. Make your point and use evidence/quotation to support it. Lennie is described as a ‘bear’. This image establishes his essential nature – the combination of brute strength and animal-like innocence. An appropriate image which emphasises his tendency to hold onto things in a ‘bear-hug’. Steinbeck suggests a great deal about Lennie by describing his movements. †¢ Now go on to look at what we learn about Lennie; George is ill at ease with Lennie’s behaviour as he helps him to rehearse how he should behave when they arrive at the ranch the following day. Comment on what causes Lennie’s insecurity. We soon see that Lennie is totally dependent on George, unable to cope in the world on his own. His innocence and ignorance of the world and other people lead him into trouble. As a result, Lennie is the main source of conflict in the novel, though as George tells us, he â€Å"never done it in meanness. †Lennie’s obsession for ‘petting’ shows that he has deep-rooted emotional needs which he himself does not understand, but which nevertheless have to be satisfied. There is a dreadful progression in his victims from dead mouse to dead girl. We are told something of the reasons why George and Lennie are on their way to a new job and what life is like for itinerant workers during the Great Depression in America in the 1930s †¢ George sometimes appears cruel in his treatment of Lennie when he tells him he could have a better life without him,(page 29) but we soon realise that this?is a form of control and that in fact, George actually enjoys their companionship and his responsibility, because the alternative life of the lonely migrant worker has little to recommend it. However,Lennie’ sinterpretationofGeorge’ swordsisalways literalandhe fears that George will abandon him if he does a ‘bad thing’. It is this that makes him feel insecure. †¢To reassure himself that they have a future together, to feel secure, Lennie frequently asks George to ‘tell about the rabbits’. Comment on the significance of the ‘dream farm’ (p. 31) â€Å"Guys like us, that work on ranches , are the loneliest guys in the world†¦. ††¢Lennie enjoys George’s story just as a child enjoys a familiar fairy story. But it represents far more to both men. The ‘heaven’ as Crooks later calls it, becomes not only their dream, but also that of Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife. †¢ In chapter 4, Steinbeck brings together the most vulnerable and insecure characters in the novel. Show how and why this is dramatically effective; the chapter ends as it begins; it prepares us for the novel’s final tragedy; achieving the ‘dream’ is impossible – â€Å"Nobody never gets to heaven. †the potential for happiness is dashed each time. †¢ Look in detail at Crooks and the setting of the harness room, where he lives. Note that Steinbeck’s portrayal of Crooks is sympathetic. He emphasises his experience of silent suffering, because of his crooked back but also because of the racism he is subjected to because he is black. It is his enforced segregation from the other workers, which causes his insecurity. Look at how Steinbeck’s description of the setting gives us an insight into Crooks’s character (p. 98,99) as well as his use of language, â€Å"he had thin, pain-tightened lips†. He is a victim of oppressive violence and prejudice and has learned to cope with it by withdrawing into himself. He is ‘proud and aloof’as a defence against the cruel treatment he receives from the other men because he is black. In this chapter, Lennie acts as a catalyst. It is through him that Crooks and Curley’s wife reveal their insecurities. In spite of Crooks’ experience which has taught him that â€Å"nobody never gets to heaven†, he too gets caught up in Lennie’s dream of owning land and having a future, but Cur ley’s wife’s cruelty in reminding him of her racial superiority, â€Å"Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. †(p. 113) when he asks her to leave, leaves him feeling humiliated. He realises that in this world of white supremacy, there will never be any security for him. He will never escape from his life of suffering, â€Å"What she says is true. ††¢ Curley’s wife is never named in the novel. She is perceived as Curley’s possession, referred to as Curley’s wife. Her husband married her because she is ‘purty’ and naively she married him because she must have believed that the security of marriage would bring her happiness. Instead, she finds herself in a world of men who do not treat her as an individual, but see her as a sex- object, or a piece of ‘jail bait’. Desperate for companionship, she approaches the men in a provocative way. Find examples of Steinbeck’s description of her. Experience has taught her that men are only interested in her looks. A victim of sexual prejudice, she herself enjoys being cruel to the men in section 4. Angry at being left alone while her husband has gone to spend the evening with prostitutes, she tells them, â€Å"An’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs-a nigger an’ a dum-dum †¦. †Like Crooks, who takes the opportunity to vent his pent up anger on someone weaker than himself when he tries to frighten Lennie into believing that George has deserted him, she gets pleasure in watching others suffer. †¢ Now look at chapter 5. The setting is the Great Barn, where Lennie has just accidentally killed his puppy. Curley’s wife confides in Lennie just as Crooks did. This results in her death and the start of the man-hunt for Lennie. Steinbeck evocatively creates a warm and lazy atmosphere through visual detail supported by onomatopeia, â€Å"The hay came down like a mountain slope to the other end of the barn†¦ †// â€Å"There was the buzz of flies in the air, the lazy afternoon humming. †This is disrupted by the violence of the killing of Curley’s wife. †¢ Look at p. 124. Curley’s wife speaks to Lennie ‘in a passion of communication’. She relishes the opportunity to talk to someone. In a form of soliloquy, she talks about the life she dreamed of and confesses, â€Å"I don’t like Curley. †On page 129, Steinbeck’s writing technique resembles script writing for film, â€Å"And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. †Death has restored her to a natural state of innocence and the visual detail of the description in its softness contrasts with earlier harsh descriptions of her, where Steinbeck suggests that her body language is intended to attract the men’s attention, â€Å"†¦. eaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward. †In death she is relieved of the loneliness and insecurity, which led her to dream and to search for attention. †¢ With her death, Lennie’s insecurity returns, â€Å"I done a real bad thing,†¦ George’ll be mad†¦ ††¢By ending the novel where it began, Steinbeck brings the action of the book full circle which gives a feeling of completeness to the story. Once again, the last chapter opens with a description of the setting. Lennie has returned to the brush, where George has instructed him to go. Steinbeck focuses on the beauty of the natural world, but this time hints at the violence in nature as a heron swoops down on a water snake â€Å"and plucked it out by the head,††¢The insecurity felt by these characters is a result of overt discrimination against race, gender and mental disability. Lack of understanding causes their suffering. Both Lennie and Curley’s wife die and Steinbeck suggests this is the only way to end their suffering. Crooks is doomed to a life of suffering and insecurity. Through these characters, Steinbeck paints a bleak picture of the lives of migrant workers at this time.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
The Golden Lily Chapter 2
I DIDN'T SLEEP THAT NIGHT. Part of it was simply the time change. My flight back to Palm Springs was scheduled for six in the morning – which was three in the morning in the time zone my body still thought it was in. Sleeping seemed pointless. And, of course, there was the teeny-tiny fact that it was kind of hard to relax after everything I'd witnessed over at the Alchemist bunker. If I wasn't envisioning Liam's freaky eyes, then I was replaying the constant warnings I'd heard about those who got too close to vampires. It didn't help the situation that I had an inbox full of messages from the gang in Palm Springs. Normally, I checked my e-mail automatically on my phone when I was out and about. Now, in my hotel room, staring at the various messages, I found myself filled with doubt. Were these truly professional? Were they too friendly? Did they blur the lines of Alchemist protocol? After seeing what had happened to Keith, it was more obvious than ever that it didn't take much to get in trouble with my organization. One message was from Jill, with a subject line reading: Angeline†¦ sigh. This wasn't a surprise to me, and I didn't bother reading it yet. Angeline Dawes, a dhampir recruited to be Jill's roommate and provide an extra layer of security, had had a little trouble fitting into Amberwood. She was always in trouble for something, and I knew whatever it was this time, there was nothing I could do about it right now. Another message was from Angeline herself. I also didn't read it. The subject was: READ THIS! SO FUNNY! Angeline had only recently discovered e-mail. She had not, so it seemed, discovered how to turn off the caps-lock key. She also had no discrimination when it came to forwarding jokes, financial scams, or virus warnings. And speaking of that last one†¦ we'd had to finally install child protection software on her laptop, in order to block her from certain websites and ads. That had come after she'd accidentally downloaded four viruses. It was the last e-mail in my inbox that gave me pause. It was from Adrian Ivashkov, the only person in our group who wasn't posing as a student at Amberwood Preparatory School. Adrian was a twenty-one-year-old Moroi, so it would have been kind of a stretch passing him off in high school. Adrian was along because he and Jill had a psychic bond that had been inadvertently created when he'd used his magic to save her life. All Moroi wielded some type of elemental magic, and his was spirit – a mysterious element tied to the mind and healing. The bond allowed Jill to see Adrian's thoughts and emotions, which was troubling to both of them. His staying near her helped them work out some of the bond's kinks. Also, Adrian had nothing better to do. His message's subject was: SEND HELP IMMEDIATELY. Unlike Angeline, Adrian knew the rules of capitalization and was simply going for dramatic effect. I also knew that if I had any doubts about which of my messages related to my job, this was hands-down the most nonprofessional one in the set. Adrian wasn't my responsibility. Yet, I clicked the message anyway. Day 24. Situation is growing worse. My captors continue to find new and horrific ways to torture me. When not working, Agent Scarlet spends her days examining fabric swatches for bridesmaid dresses and going on about how in love she is. This usually causes Agent Boring Borscht to regale us with stories of Russian weddings that are even more boring than his usual ones. My attempts at escape have been thwarted thus far. Also, I am out of cigarettes. Any assistance or tobacco products you can send will be greatly appreciated. – Prisoner 24601 I began smiling in spite of myself. Adrian sent me some kind of message like this nearly every day. This summer, we had learned that those who were forcibly turned Strigoi could be turned back with the use of spirit. It was still a tricky, complicated process†¦ made more so by the fact that there were so few spirit users. Even more recent events had suggested that those restored from being Strigoi could never be turned again. That had electrified Alchemists and Moroi alike. If there was some magical way to prevent Strigoi conversion, freaks like Liam would no longer be a problem. That was where Sonya Karp and Dimitri Belikov came in – or, as Adrian called them in his angst-filled letters, â€Å"Agent Scarlet†and â€Å"Agent Boring Borscht.†Sonya was a Moroi; Dimitri was a dhampir. Both had once been Strigoi and had been saved by spirit magic. The two of them had come to Palm Springs last month to work with Adrian in a sort of think tank to figure out what might protect against Strigoi turning. It was an extremely important task, one that could have huge ramifications if successful. Sonya and Dimitri were some of the hardest working people I knew – which didn't always mesh with Adrian's style. A lot of their work involved slow, painstaking experiments – many involving Eddie Castile, a dhampir who was also undercover at Amberwood. He was serving as the control subject since, unlike Dimitri, Eddie was a dhampir untouched by spirit or a Strigoi history. There wasn't much I could do to help Adrian with his frustration over his research group – and he knew it. He just liked playing up the drama and venting to me. Mindful of what was essential and nonessential in the Alchemist world, I was on the verge of deleting the message, but†¦ One thing made me hesitate. Adrian had signed his e-mail with a reference to Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. It was a book about the French Revolution that was so thick, it could easily double as a weapon. I had read it in both French and English. Considering Adrian had once gotten bored while reading a particularly long menu, I had a hard time imagining he'd read the Hugo book in any language. So how did he know the reference? It doesn't matter, Sydney, a stern Alchemist voice said inside my head. Delete it. It's irrelevant. Adrian's literary knowledge (or lack thereof) is no concern of yours. But I couldn't do it. I had to know. This was the kind of detail that would drive me crazy. I wrote back with a quick message: How do you know about 24601? I refuse to believe you read the book. You saw the musical, right? I hit send and received a response back from him almost immediately: SparkNotes. Typical. I laughed out loud and immediately felt guilty. I shouldn't have responded. This was my personal e-mail account, but if the Alchemists ever felt the need to investigate me, they'd have no qualms about accessing it. This kind of thing was damning, and I deleted the e-mail exchange – not that it mattered. No data was ever truly lost. By the time I landed in Palm Springs at seven the next morning, it was painfully obvious that I had surpassed my body's limits to subsist on caffeine. I was too exhausted. No amount of coffee would help anymore. I nearly fell asleep at the airport's curb, waiting for my ride. When it arrived, I didn't notice until I heard my name called. Dimitri Belikov jumped out of a blue rental car and strode toward me, grabbing hold of my suitcase before I could utter a word. A few nearby women stopped talking to stare at him admiringly. I got to my feet. â€Å"You don't have to do that,†I said, even though he was already loading my suitcase into the trunk. â€Å"Of course I do,†he said, his words lightly touched with a Russian accent. He gave me a small smile. â€Å"You looked like you were asleep.†â€Å"I should be so lucky,†I said, getting into the passenger side. Even if I'd been wide awake, I knew Dimitri would've taken my suitcase anyway. That's how he was, a lost remnant of chivalry in the modern world, ever-ready to help others. That was only one of the many striking things about Dimitri. His looks alone were certainly enough to make many halt in their tracks. He had dark brown hair pulled back into a short ponytail, with matching brown eyes that seemed mysterious and alluring. He was tall, too – about 67 – rivaling some Moroi. Dhampirs were indistinguishable from humans to me, so even I could admit that he scored pretty high on the attractiveness scale. There was also an energy around him that you couldn't help but be affected by. He was always on alert, always ready for the unexpected. I'd never seen his guard down. He was constantly ready to strike. He was dangerous, no question, and I was comforted that he was on our side. I always felt safe around him – and a little wary. â€Å"Thanks for the ride,†I added. â€Å"I could've called a taxi.†Even as I spoke, I knew my words were as useless as when I'd told him he didn't need to help me with my bag. â€Å"It's no problem,†he assured me, driving toward suburban Palm Springs. He wiped sweat off his brow and somehow made that look attractive. Even this early in the morning, the heat was beginning to build. â€Å"Sonya insisted. Besides, no experiments today.†I frowned at that. Those experiments and the amazing potential they represented to prevent the creation of more Strigoi were vastly important. Dimitri and Sonya knew that and were dedicated to the cause – especially on weekends, when Adrian and Eddie didn't have classes – which made this news so puzzling. My own work ethic had a hard time understanding why there'd be no research happening on a Sunday. â€Å"Adrian?†I guessed. Maybe he wasn't â€Å"in the mood†for research today. â€Å"Partially,†said Dimitri. â€Å"We're also missing our control subject. Eddie said he had some conflict and couldn't make it.†My frown deepened. â€Å"What conflict could Eddie have?†Eddie was intensely dedicated too. Adrian sometimes called him mini-Dimitri. Although Eddie was going to high school and completing assignments just like me, I knew he'd drop any homework in an instant to help out with the greater good. I could think of only one thing that would take precedence over helping find a â€Å"cure†for being Strigoi. My heart suddenly raced. â€Å"Is Jill okay?†She had to be. Someone would have told me, right? Eddie's main purpose in Palm Springs – and mine – was to keep her safe. If she was in danger, it would trump everything else. â€Å"She's fine,†said Dimitri. â€Å"I talked to her this morning. I'm not sure what's going on, but Eddie wouldn't be away without good reason.†â€Å"I suppose not,†I murmured, still concerned. â€Å"You worry as much as me,†teased Dimitri. â€Å"I didn't think that was possible.†â€Å"It's my job to worry. I always have to make sure everyone's okay.†â€Å"Sometimes it's not a bad thing to make sure you're okay too. You might find it actually helps others.†I scoffed. â€Å"Rose always joked about your ‘Zen Master Wisdom.' Am I getting a taste of it? If so, I can see why she was helpless against your charms.†This earned me one of Dimitri's rare, genuine laughs. â€Å"I think so. If you ask her, she'll claim it was the staking and decapitation. But I'm sure it was the Zen wisdom that won her in the end.†My answering smile immediately melted into a yawn. It was amazing that I could joke with a dhampir. I used to have panic attacks being in the same room with them or Moroi. Slowly, over the last six months, my anxiety had begun to ease up. I'd never shake the feeling of â€Å"otherness†I got from all of them, but I'd come a long way. Part of me knew it was a good thing that I still drew that line between them and humans, but it was also good to be flexible in order to make my job smoother. Not too flexible, that inner Alchemist voice warned. â€Å"Here we are,†said Dimitri, pulling up in front of my dorm at Amberwood Prep. If he'd noticed my shift in mood, he didn't say so. â€Å"You should get some rest.†â€Å"I'll try,†I said. â€Å"But I need to find out what's going on with Eddie first.†Dimitri's face turned all-business. â€Å"If you can find him, you should bring him over tonight, and we can see about getting a little work done. Sonya would love it. She has some new ideas.†I nodded, reminding myself that that was the kind of standard we needed to adhere to. Work, work, work. We had to remember our higher goals. â€Å"I'll see what I can do.†I thanked him again and then headed inside, filled with resolve to carry out my mission. So, it was a bit disappointing when my lofty goals were shattered so quickly. â€Å"Miss Melrose?†I turned immediately at the sound of the last name I'd assumed here at Amberwood. Mrs. Weathers, our plump, elderly dorm matron, was hurrying over to me. Her face was lined with worry, which couldn't bode well. â€Å"I'm so glad you're back,†she said. â€Å"I trust you had a good family visit?†â€Å"Yes, ma'am.†If by â€Å"good,†she meant â€Å"terrifying and unsettling.†Mrs. Weathers beckoned me over to her desk. â€Å"I need to talk to you about your cousin.†I held back a grimace as I recalled Jill's e-mail. Cousin Angeline. All of us attending Amberwood were doing so under fake family connections. Jill and Eddie were my siblings. Angeline was our cousin. It helped explain why we were always together and getting involved with each other's business. I sat down with Mrs. Weathers and thought longingly of my bed. â€Å"What's happened?†I asked. Mrs. Weathers sighed. â€Å"Your cousin is having trouble with our dress code.†That was a surprise. â€Å"But we have uniforms, ma'am.†â€Å"Of course,†she said. â€Å"But not outside of classes.†That was true. I was in khaki dress pants and a green short-sleeved blouse, along with a small gold cross I always wore. I did a mental rundown of Angeline's wardrobe, trying to recall if I'd ever seen anything concerning about it. Probably the most appalling part was its quality. Angeline had come from the Keepers, a mixed community of humans, Moroi, and dhampirs who lived in the Appalachian Mountains. Along with a lack of electricity and plumbing, the Keepers chose to make a lot of their clothing or at least wear it into threads. â€Å"Friday night, I saw her wearing the most appallingly short jean shorts,†continued Mrs. Weathers with a shudder. â€Å"I immediately chastised her, and she told me they were the only way she could be comfortable in the heat outside. I gave her a warning and advised she find more appropriate attire. Saturday, she appeared in the same shorts and a tank top that was totally indecent. That was when I suspended her to the dorm for the rest of the weekend.†â€Å"I'm sorry, ma'am,†I said. Really, I had no idea what else to say. I'd spent the weekend caught up in the epic battle to save humanity, and now†¦ jean shorts? Mrs. Weathers grew hesitant. â€Å"I know†¦ well, I know this isn't really anything you should be involved in. It's a parental matter. But, seeing as how you're so responsible and look out for the rest of your family†¦Ã¢â‚¬ I sighed. â€Å"Yes, ma'am. I'll take care of it. Thank you for not taking more severe action against her.†I went upstairs, my small suitcase growing heavier with each step. When I reached the second floor, I stopped, unsure what to do. One more floor would take me to my room. This floor would take me to â€Å"Cousin Angeline.†Reluctantly, I turned into the second floor hall, knowing the sooner this was dealt with, the better. â€Å"Sydney!†Jill Mastrano opened the dorm room's door, her light green eyes shining with joy. â€Å"You're back.†â€Å"So it seems,†I said, following her inside. Angeline was there as well, lounging on her bed with a textbook. I was pretty sure that was the first time I'd ever seen her study, but the house arrest probably limited her recreational options. â€Å"What did the Alchemists want?†asked Jill. She sat cross-legged on her own bed and began absentmindedly playing with the strands of her curly, light brown hair. I shrugged. â€Å"Paperwork. Boring stuff. Sounds like things were a little more exciting here.†That was delivered with a pointed look at Angeline. The dhampir girl jumped off her bed, face furious and blue eyes flashing. â€Å"It wasn't my fault! That Weathers woman was completely out of line!†she exclaimed, a slight southern drawl in her words. A quick scan of Angeline showed nothing too concerning. Her jeans were threadbare but decent, as was her T-shirt. Even her mop of strawberry blonde hair was tame for a change, tied back in a ponytail. â€Å"What on earth did you wear that got her so upset then?†I asked. Scowling, Angeline went to her dresser and produced a pair of jean shorts with the most ragged hem I'd ever seen. I thought they'd unravel before my eyes. They were also so short that I wouldn't have been surprised if they showed underwear when she wore them. â€Å"Where did you get those?†Angeline almost looked proud. â€Å"I made them.†â€Å"With what, a hacksaw?†â€Å"I had two pairs of jeans,†she said pragmatically. â€Å"It was so hot out, I figured I might as well turn one into shorts.†â€Å"She used a knife from the cafeteria,†said Jill helpfully. â€Å"Couldn't find the scissors,†explained Angeline. My bed. Where was my bed? â€Å"Mrs. Weathers mentioned something about an indecent shirt too,†I said. â€Å"Oh,†said Jill. â€Å"That was mine.†I felt my eyebrows rise. â€Å"What? I know you don't own anything ‘indecent.†‘ Before Angeline had come along a month ago, Jill and I had been roommates. â€Å"It's not,†agreed Jill. â€Å"Except, it's not really Angeline's size.†I glanced between the two girls and understood. Jill was tall and slim, like most Moroi, with a figure much coveted among human fashion designers, a figure I would've killed to have. Jill had even done some modeling. With that figure came a modest chest. Angeline's chest†¦ was not so modest. If she wore a tank top in Jill's size, I imagined the shirt's structural integrity would indeed be stretched to indecent limits. â€Å"Jill wears that tank top all the time and doesn't get in trouble,†said Angeline defensively. â€Å"I figured there wouldn't be a problem if I borrowed it.†My head was starting to hurt. Still, I supposed this was better than the time Angeline had been caught making out with a guy in the boys' bathroom. â€Å"Well. This is easily fixed. We can go – well, I can go since you're stuck here – and get you some clothes in your size tonight.†â€Å"Oh,†Angeline said, suddenly turning more upbeat, â€Å"you don't have to. Eddie's handling it.†If not for Jill nodding along, I would've thought it was a joke. â€Å"Eddie? Eddie's buying you clothes?†Angeline sighed happily. â€Å"Isn't that nice of him?†Nice? No, but I understood why Eddie would do it. Getting decent clothes for Angeline was the last thing he probably wanted to do, but he would do it. Like me, he understood duty. And now I could guess why Eddie had canceled the experiments – and been vague about his reasons for doing so. I immediately took out my cell phone and called him. He answered right away, like always. I was certain he was never more than three feet from his phone at all times. â€Å"Hello, Sydney. Glad you're back.†He paused. â€Å"You are back, right?†â€Å"Yeah, I'm with Jill and Angeline. I understand you've been doing some shopping.†He groaned. â€Å"Don't get me started. I just walked into my room.†â€Å"You want to swing by with your purchases? I need the car back anyway.†There was a moment's hesitation. â€Å"Would you mind coming over here? As long as Jill's okay. She is okay, right? She doesn't need me? Because if she does – â€Å" â€Å"She's fine.†His dorm wasn't far, but I'd been hoping for a quick nap. Nonetheless, I found myself agreeing, just like I always did. â€Å"Okay. I'll meet you in the lobby in about fifteen minutes?†â€Å"Sounds good. Thanks, Sydney.†As soon as I disconnected, Angeline asked excitedly, â€Å"Is Eddie coming over?†â€Å"I'm going to him,†I said. Her face fell. â€Å"Oh. Well, I guess it doesn't matter since I have to stay here anyway. I can't wait until I'm free to train again. I'd like to get some more one-on-one time with him.†I hadn't realized how focused Angeline was on her training. In fact, she seemed really excited about the prospect of it. I left their room and was surprised to find Jill right behind me once the door shut. Her eyes were wide and anxious. â€Å"Sydney†¦ I'm sorry.†I regarded her curiously, wondering now if she'd done something. â€Å"For what?†She gestured toward the door. â€Å"For Angeline. I should have done better at keeping her out of trouble.†I almost smiled. â€Å"That's not your job.†â€Å"Yeah, I know†¦Ã¢â‚¬ She glanced down, letting some of her long hair fall forward. â€Å"But still. I know I should be more like you. Instead, I've just been†¦ you know. Having fun.†â€Å"You're entitled to it,†I said, trying to ignore the subtle commentary on me. â€Å"I should still be more responsible,†she argued. â€Å"You are responsible,†I assured her. â€Å"Especially compared to Angeline.†My family had a cat back in Utah that I was pretty sure was more responsible than Angeline. Jill's face brightened, and I left her so that I could return the suitcase to my room. Angeline's arrival and my work in busting Keith had earned me my own private room in the dorm, something I treasured. Inside it, everything was quiet and orderly. My perfect world. The one place that the chaos of my life couldn't touch. The neatly made bed was asking to be slept in. Begging, really. Soon, I promised it. I hope. Amberwood Prep was divided into three campuses, East (where the girls were housed), West (where the boys were), and Central (containing all the academic buildings). A shuttle bus ran between them on a regular schedule, or brave souls could walk between them in the heat. I usually didn't mind the temperatures, but walking seemed like a lot of work today. So, I took the shuttle to West Campus and tried to stay awake. The lobby of the boys' dorm was a lot like my own, people coming and going to either catch up on academic work or simply enjoy the Sunday off. I glanced around, but Eddie wasn't here yet. â€Å"Hey, Melbourne.†I turned and found Trey Juarez approaching, a grin on his tanned face. He was a senior like me and had picked up the Melbourne nickname after one of our teachers proved incapable of remembering Melrose. Honestly, with all these names, it was a wonder I knew who I was anymore. â€Å"Hey, Trey,†I said. Trey was a bona fide high school football star – but also pretty brainy, no matter how much he tried to hide it. We got along well as a result, and my help in restoring his athletic status last month had gone a long way to raise my stock in his eyes. A backpack hung on one of his shoulders. â€Å"Are you finally going to finish that chem lab write-up?†â€Å"Yup,†he said. â€Å"Me and half the cheerleading squad. You want to join us?†I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Somehow I doubt there'll be much work going on. Besides, I'm meeting Eddie.†Trey gave an easy shrug and brushed some unruly black hair out of his eyes. â€Å"Your loss. See you tomorrow.†He took a couple of steps and then glanced back at me. â€Å"Hey, are you dating anyone?†I immediately started to say no, and then a panicked thought occurred to me. I had a tendency to take things very literally. Friends of mine here, Kristin and Julia, had been trying to train me up in the subtleties of high school social life. One of their chief lessons was that what people said wasn't always what they meant – particularly in romantic matters. â€Å"Are you†¦ are you asking me out?†I asked, taken aback. This was the last thing I needed right now. How should I respond? Should I say yes? Should I say no? I'd had no idea helping him with chemistry homework would be so alluring. I should've made him do it on his own. Trey looked as startled by the thought as I was. â€Å"What? No. Of course not.†â€Å"Thank God,†I said. I liked Trey, but I had no interest in dating him – or figuring out what the appropriate way to say â€Å"no†would be. He shot me a wry look. â€Å"You don't have to look that relieved.†â€Å"Sorry,†I said, trying to mask my embarrassment. â€Å"Why'd you ask?†â€Å"Because I know the perfect guy for you. I'm pretty sure he's your soul mate.†We were back in familiar territory now: logic vs. lack of logic. â€Å"I don't believe in soul mates,†I said. â€Å"It's statistically unreasonable that there's only one ideal person for everyone in the world.†And yet, for half a moment, I wished it was kind of possible. It'd be nice to have someone who understood some of the things that went on in my head. Trey rolled his eyes. â€Å"Okay. Not a soul mate. How about just someone you could maybe go out with once in a while and have a nice time with?†I shook my head. â€Å"I don't have time for anything like that.†And I didn't. Keeping everything in order with the group, and pretending to be a student, was a full time job as it was. â€Å"I'm telling you, you'd like him. He goes to a public school and just started at Spencer's.†Spencer's was a coffee shop Trey worked at, an arrangement that yielded me discounts. â€Å"The other day, he was going off on unaerobic vs. aerobic respiration, and I was thinking, ‘You know who this sounds like? Melbourne.'†â€Å"It's anaerobic respiration,†I corrected. â€Å"And it still doesn't mean I have the time. Sorry.†I had to admit, I was immensely curious about how that topic would have come up between baristas, but figured it was best not to encourage Trey. â€Å"Okay,†he said. â€Å"Don't say I never tried to help you.†â€Å"Wouldn't dream of it,†I assured him. â€Å"Hey, there's Eddie.†â€Å"My cue to go then. See you guys.†Trey gave a mock salute to Eddie and me. â€Å"Don't forget my offer if you want a hot date, Melbourne.†Trey left, and Eddie shot me an astonished look. â€Å"Did Trey just ask you out?†â€Å"No. He's just got some co-worker he wants to set me up with.†â€Å"Maybe that's not a bad idea.†â€Å"It's a terrible idea. Let's go outside.†The desert heat didn't seem to care that it was October, and I led us to a bench right by the dorm's stucco walls. Partial shade from some nearby palm trees offered mild relief. People swore the temperature would taper soon, but I'd seen no sign of change. Eddie handed me my car keys and a shopping bag from a local superstore. â€Å"I had to guess at size,†he told me. â€Å"When in doubt, I went big. Figured it was safer that way.†â€Å"Probably.†I sat down on a bench and rifled through his purchases. Jeans, khakis, a few solid colored T-shirts. They were very practical, very much something a no-nonsense guy like Eddie would pick out. I approved. â€Å"The size actually looks right. Good eye. We'll have to send you out shopping more often.†â€Å"If that's what I have to do,†he said, face serious. I couldn't help but laugh in surprise. â€Å"I was joking.†I put the shirts back in the bag. â€Å"I know that couldn't have been fun.†Eddie's face gave nothing away. â€Å"Oh, come on. It's okay. You don't have to play stoic with me. I know you didn't enjoy it.†â€Å"I'm here to do a job. Doesn't matter if I enjoy it or not.†I started to protest but then thought better of it. After all, wasn't that my philosophy too? Sacrificing my own wants for higher goals? Eddie was intensely dedicated to this mission. He never backed down. I expected nothing less from him than single-minded focus. â€Å"So, does that mean you're up for some experiments tonight?†I asked. â€Å"Of cours – †He stopped and reconsidered. â€Å"Are Jill and Angeline coming?†â€Å"No. Angeline's still under house arrest.†â€Å"Thank God,†he said with visible relief. His reaction was probably the most surprising thing to happen today. I couldn't imagine why Eddie would look so relieved. Aside from his guardian loyalty to Jill, he was also crazy about her. He would've done anything for her, even if it wasn't his job, but refused to share his feelings with her. He thought he was unworthy of a princess. An uneasy thought occurred to me. â€Å"Are you†¦ are you avoiding Jill because of her and Micah?†Micah was Eddie's roommate, a nice guy who caused Eddie all sorts of therapy-worthy trauma because he bore so much similarity to Eddie's dead best friend, Mason. Micah also had a weird pseudo-dating relationship with Jill. None of us were happy about it, since (aside from the Keepers) humans dating Moroi or dhampirs was strictly taboo. We'd finally decided it would be impossible to keep Jill from a social life, and she swore nothing serious or physical was going on between her and Micah. They just spent a lot of time together. And flirted incessantly. He didn't know the truth about her, but I wondered at what point he'd want more from their relationship. Eddie kept insisting it was better for Jill to have a casual relationship with a human than one with an â€Å"unworthy†dhampir like him, but I knew it had to be torturous. â€Å"Of course not,†said Eddie sharply. â€Å"It's not Jill I want to avoid. It's Angeline.†â€Å"Angeline? What's she done now?†Eddie ran a hand through his hair in frustration. His was a sandy blond, not far from my own, which was a dark gold. The similarity made it easy to pass ourselves off as twins. â€Å"She won't leave me alone! She's always dropping these suggestive comments when I'm around†¦ and she won't stop staring at me. Like, you wouldn't think that'd be creepy, but it is. She's always watching. And I can't avoid her because she's with Jill a lot of the time, and I have to keep Jill safe.†I thought back on recent interactions. â€Å"Are you sure you're reading this right? I've never noticed anything.†â€Å"That's because you don't notice that kind of thing,†he said. â€Å"You cannot imagine how many excuses she finds to rub up against me.†After seeing her homemade jean shorts, I actually could imagine it. â€Å"Huh. Well, maybe I can talk to her.†Like that, Eddie snapped back to all-business. â€Å"No. It's my problem, my personal life. I'll deal with it.†â€Å"Are you sure? Because I can – â€Å" â€Å"Sydney,†he said gently. â€Å"You're the most responsible person I know, but this isn't what you're here to do. You don't have to take care of everything and everyone.†â€Å"I don't mind,†I said automatically. â€Å"It is what I'm here for.†But even as I said it, I wondered if that was true. A bit of the anxiety from the bunker returned, making me question if what I did was truly Alchemist responsibility or the desire to help those who – against protocol – had become my friends. â€Å"See? Now you sound just like I did earlier.†He stood up and flashed me a grin. â€Å"You want to come with me to Adrian's? Be responsible together?†His words were meant as a compliment, but they echoed too close to what the Alchemists had told me. And Mrs. Weathers. And Jill. Everyone thought I was so amazing, so responsible and controlled. But if I was so amazing, then why was I always so unsure if I was doing the right thing?
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