Obsessive compulsive disorder Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Obsessive compulsive disorder - Research Paper Example DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria The following four criteria are useful to define obsession in the the DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000): †¢Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images are experienced at some time during the disturbance as intrusive and inappropriate and cause marked anxiety and distress. Persons with this disorder recognize the pathologic quality of these unwanted thoughts (such as fears of hurting their children) and would not act on them, but the thoughts are very disturbing and difficult to discuss with others. †¢The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems. †¢The person attempts to suppress or ignore such thoughts, impulses, or images or to neutralize them with some other thought or action. †¢The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without, as in thought insertion). The following 2 criteria are used to define compu lsions in DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000): †¢An individual performs repetitive behaviors (eg, hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (eg, praying, counting, repeating words silently) in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The behaviors are not a result of the direct physiologic effects of a substance or a general medical condition. †¢The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation. However, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a way that could realistically neutralize or prevent whatever they are meant to address or they are clearly excessive. Clinical presentation The diagnosis of OCD is mainly done based on clinical history and presentation. It is important to establish the age off onset of the condition. Also, any history of tics must be noted. Common obsessions include safety, contamination, doubting of perception or memory, need for sy mmetry or order, scrupulosity and unwanted sexual thoughts. Common compulsions include checking, hand washing, cleaning, counting, touching objects and arranging objects. In many cases comorbid conditions like eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, impulsive disorders and ADHD can be present. It is important to identify these conditions and also include them in treatment. OCD is frequently associated with Tourette disorder and this condition must be identified and ruled out. Other problems associated with OCD include loss of interpersonal relationships and loss of functioning of the individual (Greenberg, 2011). Etiology The exact cause of OCD is not yet understood. However, there is some evidence that abnormalities in the serotonin neuro-transmission can occur. Other abnormalities include defective dopaminergic transmission and defective glutamatergic abnormalities. Some researchers are of the opinion that an increase in metabolic activity and blood flo w in certain regions of brain like thalamus, limbic structures, caudate and orbitofrontal cortex. Thus, OCD symptoms mainly occur due to impairment in the inhibition of specific orbitofrontal-subcortical circuitry that are involved in the regulation of autonomic responses and strong emotions. there is a strong heritability for OCD and this is based on various twin studies. Genes related to dopaminergic, serotonergic and

LVMH †Fashion & Leather Goods Essay Example for Free

LVMH – Fashion Leather Goods Essay LVMH, known as Moà «t Hennessy †¢ Louis Vuitton, is a French conglomerate and the largest producer of luxury goods in the world. LVMH was formed in 1987 with the merger of Moet et Chandon a champagne manufacturer, Hennessy a cognac manufacturer, and Louis Vuitton a fashion house. The LVMH group is comprised over five sectors: Fashion Leather Goods, Wine Spirits, Perfumes Cosmetics, Watches Jewelry, and Selective retailing. This external analysis will focus on the fashion and leather goods sector, which accounts for 30% of the company’s total revenue. Analytical Tools To grasp a better understanding of the fashion and leather goods industry, this analysis will use the PESTEL and Michael Porter’s five forces methods to assess the external opportunities and threats. PESTEL is an effective analytical tool to determine the social and economical trends at a macro-level. Comprehending these factors can assist a company with its business strategies and vision. Porter’s five forces is a great tool when rivalry is so intense. It defines the competitive intensity and overall industry profitability. Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Loewe, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karen, Celine, Thomas Pink, and Givenchy are few popular brands that form the fashion and leather goods sector of LVMH. These brands have a total of 1,280 stores worldwide. â€Å"The development of our fashion and leather goods brands is based on three inseparable principles: leading edge expertise, constantly cultivated creativity, and a search for excellence in distribution. (www.lvmh.com).† With LVMH’s major strategic priorities to continue developing Louis Vuitton, strengthening brand image, and projecting profitable growth of the other fashion brands, it is critical to understand the external factors that may affect them. Louis Vuitton had another year of double-digit revenue growth. The Fashion and leather goods showed an increase of 7% revenue in 2012. Louis Vuitton’s brand value has steadily increased since 2004 and has eroded its competitors. (Refer to two graphs below). Currently, LVMH has 9.5% of the market share in the fashion and leather goods industry. * Luxury Goods * Louis Vuitton PESTEL Political Factor Politics does not play a large role in the fashion and leather industry. However, issues of policies and country regulations, such as customs, import VAT and consumption taxes can impact an industry. For example, country regulations such as the Lanham Act that protects the sale of counterfeit merchandise. This Act prohibits infringement activities such as false advertising and trademark copying. â€Å"Congress has passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Wilson Tariff Act, The Clayton Antitrust Act and the Robinson-Patman Act, along with various other regulations regarding unfair competition (IBISWorld, 2013, p. 36). â€Å" In the US, the level of regulation is light and trends are steady. Economic Factor  Economic issues of late 2008 have led to what economists refer to as a recession. Despite the recession in the past five years, the IBISWorld estimates that there will be in annual increase in revenue of 1.2% to $9.2 billion. â€Å"As the economy rebounds during the next five years, industry revenue is forecast to grow at an even faster annualized rate of 4.6% to reach $11.5 billion by the end of 2018 (IBISWorld, 2013, p. 5).† According to IBISWorld, per capita disposable income is expected to increase in 2013. An increase in income usually increases consumer’s purchasing power; this will create multiple opportunities for this industry. In 2010, the purchasing power has slowly begun to rebound and sustained industry profits, estimating margins to account for 10.7% of revenue in 2013. With an improvement in economy and unemployment rates, Generation Y (born between 1980-1995) is expected to increase their purchasing power. Sales of luxury goods rely heavily on Asian markets. According to IBISWorld, China is now the fastest growing foreign market. With the economic growth of China, the amount of disposable income is increasing which is causing an increase demand for luxury items. Nearly 25% of Louis Vuitton sales come from Asia. Sociocultural Factor LVMH has a wide range of consumers from different backgrounds. It is imperative that they are aware of religion, race, culture, and buying habits in every country. For instance, worldwide people are more dependent on the Internet, signifying that the methods of how people purchase goods are changing. With high rates of travel within US and abroad, there is a greater demand for luggage and leather accessories. Technological Factor Technological advances in machinery and management software can assist in forecasting demand, managing inventory, and speed up production. There are many tools that industry participant’s use: * Management information systems (MIS) and electronic data processing (EDP) * Consist of full range of retail, financial, and merchandising systems * PC-based point-of-sale (POS) * Equipped with barcode readers * Electronic barcode scanning systems Ecological Factor With an increase awareness of animal cruelty and environmental issues, the luxury goods industry should be familiar with the ecological concerns. Ecological trends could influence consumers purchase decisions as well as the perception of the brand. Legal Factor All fashion and leather goods industry will have to comply with rules and regulations. LVMH should be aware of laws that protect consumers, competitors, and corporations. For instance, comprehending labor laws and intellectual property laws. Threat of Entry The Asian luxury goods market has shown strong rates of growth in recent years. Chinese and Indian retailers are making growing fast, which increases the industries attractiveness to new entrants. Nevertheless, old players in this industry have the advantage of sustaining brand loyalty. â€Å"New operators may find it difficult to enter the industry, as these large corporations already hold a substantial portion of the market (IBISWorld, 2013, p.24).† Power of Suppliers The key suppliers in the luxury goods market are clothing manufacturers and wholesalers. Many companies are outsourcing to foreign manufacturers and increasing supplier options. Due to low-wage regions like China and India, supplier power has decreased through its competition. Power of Buyers This industry has a wide range of buyers and each customer should be seen as an individual consumer, which weakens the buyer power. In fashion and leather goods, LVMH can differentiate themselves through the unique styles and exclusive products. Threat of Substitutes There are many substitutes for luxury goods, including counterfeit and homemade goods. However, luxury goods are so highly differential, and consumers with disposable income will make the investment. Rivalry Among Existing Competitors The fashion and leather goods market is divided, creating room for many smaller players. While the industry shows high margins, LVMH has outperformed its competitors. As an older player with a highly differentiated product line, LVMH has a competitive advantage, setting it apart from competition.

Biography of Sir Joseph Lister Essay -- Biographies Lister Surgery Ess

The Father Of Modern Surgery The hospital environment has not always been a place of sterility and extreme cleanliness that is associated with it so readily today. Prior to the work of Joseph Lister, the hospital was a place to go to die, not to be cured. If an individual was able to survive the pain and torture of surgery without anesthesia, a postoperative infection would most certainly be their ultimate demise. Thanks to Joseph Lister, later known as Baron Lister, a hospital is now a place of healing and cleanliness, not one of death and filth. Lister's Early Life: Joseph Lister was born to Joseph Jackson Lister and Isabella Harris on April 5, 1827 in Upton, England. Upton was a small village outside of the reaches of ever-growing London. Joseph's family were members of the Society of Friends and therefore he was raised in a Quaker environment. Joseph's father, Joseph Jackson Lister was also a well-known scientist known for his invention of the achromatic microscope in 1830, allowing for rapid progress in the studies of cells, bacteria and disease. (Meadows, 180). Joseph had a happy childhood with his four siblings and was a good student. He had particular interests in the fields of botany and zoology. Joseph was able to enter the University College of London in 1844. This was important because at the time entrance to the universities in England were restricted to those who would pledge an oath to the king and the church of England. Pledging such an oath was directly against the religious beliefs of the Quakers. The University College of England was a nonsectarian school and the Quakers were able to attend it. Joseph Lister received his college degree in 1847 at the age of 20. Lister wa... ...70. - Webpages: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/medicine/nonint/indust/dt/indtbi5.shtml http://web.ukonline.co.uk/b.gardner/Lister.html http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/Museum/lis.html http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/st_simons/cr9801.htm http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/other/profmed/slides/pm021599/slide25.html http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1867lister.html http://limiting.tripod.com/list.htm http://www.bartleby.com/people/Lister-J.html http://www.surgical-tutor.org.uk/default-home.htm http://www.lister-institute.org.uk/ http://il.essortment.com/sirjosephliste_rcod.htm http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/9910/lister.html http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/josephlister.html http://www.sciencefinder.co.uk/lister.html http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/fp/users/kkiser/History.page.htm- http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/bandaids/ Biography of Sir Joseph Lister Essay -- Biographies Lister Surgery Ess The Father Of Modern Surgery The hospital environment has not always been a place of sterility and extreme cleanliness that is associated with it so readily today. Prior to the work of Joseph Lister, the hospital was a place to go to die, not to be cured. If an individual was able to survive the pain and torture of surgery without anesthesia, a postoperative infection would most certainly be their ultimate demise. Thanks to Joseph Lister, later known as Baron Lister, a hospital is now a place of healing and cleanliness, not one of death and filth. Lister's Early Life: Joseph Lister was born to Joseph Jackson Lister and Isabella Harris on April 5, 1827 in Upton, England. Upton was a small village outside of the reaches of ever-growing London. Joseph's family were members of the Society of Friends and therefore he was raised in a Quaker environment. Joseph's father, Joseph Jackson Lister was also a well-known scientist known for his invention of the achromatic microscope in 1830, allowing for rapid progress in the studies of cells, bacteria and disease. (Meadows, 180). Joseph had a happy childhood with his four siblings and was a good student. He had particular interests in the fields of botany and zoology. Joseph was able to enter the University College of London in 1844. This was important because at the time entrance to the universities in England were restricted to those who would pledge an oath to the king and the church of England. Pledging such an oath was directly against the religious beliefs of the Quakers. The University College of England was a nonsectarian school and the Quakers were able to attend it. Joseph Lister received his college degree in 1847 at the age of 20. Lister wa... ...70. - Webpages: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/medicine/nonint/indust/dt/indtbi5.shtml http://web.ukonline.co.uk/b.gardner/Lister.html http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/Museum/lis.html http://www3.bc.sympatico.ca/st_simons/cr9801.htm http://www.medinfo.ufl.edu/other/profmed/slides/pm021599/slide25.html http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1867lister.html http://limiting.tripod.com/list.htm http://www.bartleby.com/people/Lister-J.html http://www.surgical-tutor.org.uk/default-home.htm http://www.lister-institute.org.uk/ http://il.essortment.com/sirjosephliste_rcod.htm http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/9910/lister.html http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/josephlister.html http://www.sciencefinder.co.uk/lister.html http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/fp/users/kkiser/History.page.htm- http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/bandaids/

Natural born cyborgs

Natural born cyborgs – of course one may ask or wonder what the term means. Well, the term was invented by Andy Clark, a professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science at the University of Sussex, UK and chair in Logic and Metaphysics at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. So what does he mean by natural born cyborgs? The term denotes us, humans. For him humans are very much cyborgs as Robocop, Eve 8 among many others. Now, what made him think so? Clark made use of a term called cognitive hybridization, which in turn denotes the tendency of our brain to mix with the technology or to put simply, our dependency towards technology. According to Clark we don’t need wires for the term cyborgs to be applied to us. In his exact words he said â€Å"†¦we shall be cyborgs†¦in the more profound sense of being human-technology symbionts: thinking and reasoning systems whose minds and selves are spread across biological brain and non-biological circuitry.† At first glance one might say that Clark’s interest is primarily on technology but the truth of the matter is he is more interested in understanding humans, and the nature of human mind. Clark gave certain interest upon discussing the terms â€Å"transparent† and â€Å"opaque† technology. According to Clark, the technologies we are living with today are slowly becoming a part of us. From there on he went on to define what he meant by â€Å"transparent† and â€Å"opaque† technology. According to him transparent technology â€Å"are technology that is†¦integrated with, our own lives†¦as to become invisible in use.† Having defined what transparent technology is, let us now move on to understanding what Clark meant by opaque technology. By opaque technology he means â€Å"one that†¦requires skills and capacities that do not come naturally to the biological organism, and thus remains the focus of attention.† By this one may go on to conclude that opaque technology is one which is hard to use and thus requires skills if one aims to use it successfully. Let us take the wristwatch as an example of a transparent technology. If we look back to our ancestors we can say that their way of checking the time is kind of primitive. They made use of checking the position of the sun or listening for the chime of the bell, which indicates the time. However, as time moved on time slowly became a part of us. New technology had been invented and checking the time now is not as hard as it had been before. In this sense, it may not be dangerous to say that wristwatch may now be considered a part us, and thus a transparent technology. If one is familiar with Heidegger he/she might even see the similarity of Clark’s conception of transparent and opaque technology with that of Heidegger’s ready-to-hand and present-at-hand concept. To better understand what I mean I will give a brief description of what Heidegger have in mind with the terms stated above. By present-at-hand Heidegger meant an attitude the same to that of a scientist or a theorist. Like a scientist or a theorist one will be interested in something only because of the facts the object has to offer which they could later on use to theorize about something. We often view things which are present-at-hand in a secondary mode as in the case of a broken fan which lost its usefulness, such as a watch who happened to stop working. Thus, we can see a connection between Clark’s idea of opaque technology and Heidegger’s present-at-hand. On the other hand, ready-to-hand is something more like Clark’s transparent technology. We use things without theorizing about that things, hammer or wristwatch for example. In this regard, one can clearly see the similarity between Clark’s concept of transparent and opaque technology with that of Heidegger’s concept of present-at-hand and ready-to-hand. I remember making the claim in class that these are both essentially phenomenological treatments of technology. By this I mean to say that we seek to understand what technology is. If we can experience what is meant by technology, first hand, the better. The way the mind works is very complex. Humans never cease to be content. Technology came into being because of our inability to be content. As humans seek to understand more things, to make life easier, technology blooms faster. And now, we are living in a technological world and there are people among our race who’s still not content with the way things are and thus they seek to better understand things. Clark, on his work, Natural Cyborgs, tried to show how humans became so caught up with technology that human lives became intertwined with technology itself. I remember reading something about him wishing to understand how the mind works and if he is to do that then he must understand what technology is all about. Phenomenology as a method is very useful. By exploring a certain phenomena in order to understand a higher truth behind the phenomena is something great. Phenomenology might be useful in understanding technology and in this I have no doubt. However, by saying that phenomenology can help to better understand technology I am not saying that this can open all the gates of our understanding towards technology because I strongly believe that no method, not even phenomenology itself can open our minds to everything there is to know about technology or anything in particular. As we are humans there would always be room for ignorance. We cannot understand things fully no matter how hard we try because I believe that there would always be room for questions and for doubts. In this regard, I cannot offer another alternative should phenomenology fails to make us understand everything there is to know about technology. Dualism is the belief that the body is distinct from that of the soul. In this paper I would make use of Cartesian dualism. It is in the belief of Descartes that though the body and the soul are of different entities both can still interact with one another. It is from Descartes where the term interactionism originated. In his interactionism he said that the body is the one who receives sense perceptions wherein the soul is the one who is responsible for our awareness. According to Descartes the seat of interaction lies in the pineal gland. In his belief the soul houses the body and if the body is acted upon by the soul then their point of interaction happens in the pineal gland. I talked about Cartesian dualism because if one is to look closely Clark’s idea of technology becoming one with us or a part of us is almost the same to Descartes idea of dualism. Both seem to see the body merely as a house. The difference however, is that for Descartes the body is the house of the soul wherein for Clark the body is the house of technology or something to that effect.   Clark believes that the use of technology is essential in understanding how the mind operates because men nowadays are so caught up with technology that we are completely dependent towards technology. Technology became an important part of us and it seems to solve most of the problems of our world thus Clark concluded, for the same reason that technology may be useful in understanding human mind. However, I don’t think that it really solved the mind-body problem present in Cartesian dualism because somehow I can still see flaws on Clark’s idea. Technology for one, though reliable on most time, is still prone to failure. Somehow, failure may occur or accidents of some sorts because technology is not really that perfect, it’s got its flaws. I also don’t believe that Clark can avoid radical skepticism because no matter what he does there would always be people out there who would go on to criticize his beliefs. One can’t really please everyone and I’m pretty sure that there are still people, purists for one, who would certainly doubt the power technology has. Thus, on my conclusion I say that even though Clark opened our minds to some ideas and although most of what he said holds true, I don’t really believe that his idea is perfect enough to avoid skepticisms. Reference: Clark, Andy. Natural-Born Cyborgs: Minds, Technologies, and the Future of Human   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Intelligence. Oxford University Press, USA; 2003

Personal Ethics Statement Essay

My personal ethics statement includes my values and ideals important to me as an academic and in everyday life. My ethics are personal beliefs and morals that reflect and define the person I am. The decisions and choices I make every day should be consistent with integrity and respect toward others. These ethics will ensure my happiness and peace if I keep and hold these values. I believe the value of equality for people regardless of race, religion, and handicaps ensure that all people can be treated fairly. Treating people with respect and dignity while holding myself accountable to these principles will ensure that I treat others as I want to be treated. My preferred ethical lens is the reputation lens. I listen to my intuition and determine what character traits and virtues will best serve the community. The equality of a community is important to ensure a fair and balanced society for all. All people should contribute and develop a voice in a community by actively participating and finding common ground thru diversity. I believe in examining each situation in its own context rather than applying same solutions for the whole community. My blind spot possessing unrealistic role expectations either on myself or others means that I need to pay close attention to my expectations of other individuals. My expectations may not be the same as others, so not forgetting the people make mistakes same as me. Keeping in mind that I am not in control of every situation and that other people are capable of resolving problems or events that I may believe are only accomplishable by me. Trusting other people’s choices and decisions will help in overcoming this blind spot. My strengths include courage and steadiness in the face of obstacles. I avoid rash decisions and at the same time have courage to face unknown or untested waters. I value friendship and keep close connections with people I trust and value. I appreciate those who work alongside and help to encourage me. I value equality and demonstrate compassion for others in need. My weakness include; entitlement, hardness of heart, and confusion. Believing that I am entitled to special privileges and persuade others that my role gives me pecial rights are inconsistent with good character traits. Hardness of heart comes from experiences of people that did not live up to my expectations. I must develop and practice mindfulness not to be confused on the role that I am identified. Identifying my weakness is important, it allows for self-reflection and improvement. The values I hold, and the resultant behavior allows me to listen to my intuition and determine what traits and virtues will serve the community. My values define me and my behaviors are a reflection of whom I am. My behaviors also affect others in relationships either casual or professional. The choices I make are behaviors and reflect me. My personal ethics determine my course of action allowing me to see more clearly and finding balance in my life. Exploring and digging deep into my own emotions will allow me to discern decisions I make. Keeping an open and honest heart in all situations and reexamining my ethics will allow for improvement and correction. I believe that all these things will help keep me focused and grounded to help with better decision making and improve my quality of life.

Business Writing is Easier Than You Think

Business Writing is Easier Than You Think Letters, memos, business plans, technical papers, presentations, reports, meeting summaries, agendas – whatever your business communication, the first rule is Dont panic! Writing for business can be easy and, yes, even fun, if you just take the time to plan before you write.Whats the purpose of your message?Are you writing a letter to request more information about a product or service? Are you enclosing a cover letter with your resume? Did your supervisor ask you to prepare a presentation for the next sales meeting? Does your class assignment include creating a business plan? No matter the situation, you first must determine the reason for your message.Who is your reader?Once you know your purpose, picture the person(s) who will be reading your message. A teacher? Another student? A business owner? Your boss? Identifying the recipient of your message will allow you to choose words and phrases that will be meaningful and understandable to your reader, so that your reader react s favorably. Consider education, position, age, gender, interests and other demographic and psychographic details that might affect how your message is received.How can you make your message complete and accurate?Research the most recent and reliable sources to collect information for your message. Sources might include the library, colleagues, company files, other students experience, or the Internet. Use your general intelligence and common sense to filter the information that should be included, and keep in mind that your goal is to be factual and to provide all the details that your reader needs to understand and process your written communication.Its time to do an outline!An outline gives you a working framework from which to write your final message. It doesnt have to be fancy or even typed as long as it organizes your material and thoughts in a logical manner, based on the purpose, reader and information you have collected.For example, if your reader is expected to be pleased and interested in your message:Opening – Present your idea. You dont have to prepare your reader for your message.Middle – Include details.Closing – Close with a positive, friendly conclusion.If, on the other hand, your reader is expected to be displeased or uninterested:Opening – Present an idea that is either neutral or gets the readers attention.Middle – Give evidence to convince the reader of benefits.Closing – Close with a positive, friendly conclusion and, if required, state action to be taken by the reader.Choosing the right wordsTo communicate clearly, choose words that result in clear, concise, correct, descriptive and complete thoughts. That doesnt mean that you have to enhance your vocabulary with $100 words and phrases; big words dont translate into big ideas or positive reactions unless they clearly communicate your message.Use simple languageThe test of clarity is that your message is impossible to misunderstand and requires o nly one reading. Use short, familiar words and conversational words to make your writing clear. Your goal is to express, not to impress.Be conciseSay what you have to say in the fewest words possible. Open with a short, strong, attention-getting paragraph; your reader wants to know right away what this message is about. Eliminate meaningless or irrelevant words and phrases that may hinder the reader from getting to the main point. Then, when youre ready to close, close! Some examples of wordy vs. concise phrases include:Wordy: A long period of timeConcise: A long timeWordy: Contact you by telephoneConcise: Call youWordy: In the event thatConcise: IfWordy: It is probable thatConcise: ProbablyWordy: With this letter, I am enclosingConcise: Enclosed isWordy: Your check in the amount ofConcise: Your check forWordy: Due to the fact thatConcise: BecauseWordy: Please do not hesitate toConcise: PleaseWordy: At the present timeConcise: NowUse correct EnglishYou owe it to yourself and your re ader to use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Incorrect writing is distracting and undermines the readers confidence in your competence and accuracy.Use specific descriptive words and phrasesAppeal to your readers senses while you make your message clear and interesting by providing a mental picture:(Vague and boring) The biology class went on a field trip.(Clearer and more interesting) Mrs. Adams biology class went to the Museum of Natural History to study wild animal habitats.Create an appropriate toneThe least important word you can use in any business writing is I. At the beginning of a letter or paragraph, avoid starting with I when you can just as easily begin with an introductory phrase or sentence related to your reader. Your attitude when writing should always be positive, friendly and sincere, no matter the subject. To ensure that your messages impart an appropriate tone (the way the message sounds to the reader):Consider the readers desires (instead of I cannot s hip your order until July 15, write Your order will be shipped on July 15.).Show sincerity (instead of Thank you for your order, write Thank you for ordering the Officemate Desk Chair; we know you will appreciate the extra comfort and functionality.).Show courtesy (instead of You have been added to our list of satisfied customers, write We are pleased to have you as a new customer).Select positive words (instead of Unfortunately, the warranty on your lawnmower has expired; however, we will repair it and charge you for parts, write We will be happy to repair your lawnmower. Your only charge will be for parts as your warranty has expired.).If you are struggling with your business writing, let common sense prevail.You cant produce successful business communications without thoughtful preparation and adherence to the rules of English – common-sense strategies for everything you write. If the only guidelines you follow are the ones on this page, youll be well on your way to impres sing your readers with your command of business writing skills.

Free sample - Argue or accept. translation missing

Argue or accept. Argue or acceptAny language at any time is prone to changes and development. Such evolution may have its pros and cons since it has power either to cause increase or decrease of language nature. After all, should the flow of thoughts be flawless and what is ‘good language’? These thorny questions concern English as well the modern variant of which makes linguists reveal the influential factors and the effects of such tendencies. Thus, concluding from George Orwell, English language has undergone and still continues to, evolutionary turn which is marked by ‘slovenliness’, ‘imitation’, ‘ugliness’ and on the whole ‘prefabricated hen-house’. The author points out that contemporary writing is full of mental faults and badly lacks any precision and sense. He provides a number of such misusage tools among which he names dying metaphor, orators or verbal false limbs, pretentious diction and meaningless words. The scope of these ‘tricks’ makes language expression stale and vague. Orwell mentions a dead metaphor which is actually neither an ordinary word nor a vivid one since a transferred image has lost its power as in â€Å"to fish for compliments†, â€Å"branch of government†, â€Å"to fall in love† etc. Such metaphors became trite with the time and no longer produce the effect of freshness and expressiveness. Let’s take an example â€Å"to give a hand of help† which initially did render the metaphorical meaning â€Å"to help somebody† and was really bright and fresh-colored because hand is viewed as sort of support when a person tries to console a friend. For now the phrase no longer needs the word ‘help’ as the meaning becomes clear enough for everyone. Moreover, the writer focuses on another type of metaphor which he calls ‘worn-out’ because it is not as expressive and ‘evocative’ as they previously used to be. He believes the reason why people continue to use them lies in t heir not willing to think of and produce new imaginary patterns. So, we still have at our disposal the phrases like Cassandra’s warning, Hercules’ labor, to sow the sand, seeds of evil etc. The author insists that inconsistent use of metaphors is often caused by the person’s lack if not absence of understanding what he or she really wants to say. This altogether is supposed to indicate the user’s indifference in the issue. Still, a question is dubious. In my opinion, such overlapping and miscomprehension are the result of ignorance and scarce literacy that is why we watch the examples which are blurry. People just don’t thoroughly understand what these or those words mean. I think the use of even dead metaphors must be appropriate and up to a point then the reader or a listener won’t be misled as in to tow the line instead if toe the line. Another point that the writer touches is excessive verbosity that provokes inflated speech pattern. Why not simply say for instance to â€Å"attract† for â€Å"grip one’s attention† or â€Å"conclude† for â€Å"to arrive at conclusion†? There is plenty of clear well-known ‘general-purpose verbs’ to express the same idea without needless long-chain phrases. Surprisingly, such verbosity may entail striking and controversial gobbledygook which means â€Å"inflated, jargon-cluttered prose that fails to communicate clearly†(About.com). Thus, let’s look through some astonishing examples of words reconsidered usage that can’t but impress many of us. There was conducted a sort of survey where the participants were asked to provide situations of weird language use which totally put them out of temper. Some of the surveyed included errors in word usage, clichà ©, misspelling, abundance, jargon, slang into this group of oddities but there were those who were even shocked by the way their language can be reversed – the most ardent representatives of English defenders. Here are some of the cases: @ (instead of "at"), aks but not â€Å"ask†, a lot for â€Å"a lot†, decimate (to mean the total annihilation of something, rather than a tenth), mispronunciation of â€Å"definitely† which acquired the for ms of definly, defaly, and definally, ex cetera instead of "et cetera", grammatically incorrect use of ‘has’ for "have," as in â€Å"there’s been two accidents†. The list of such language jeer-and-sneer application may be continued but I’m afraid I won’t endure it either! Whether such novelties are caused by fashionable twist of mind or maybe we so much lack of entertainment in our everyday hustle and bustle life that we are forced to bring jollity into language? Who knows. However, I am more than convinced that the vast set of tools a language can provide us with should be used reasonably not to spam the language at all. Another not least amusing process of language use which Orwell discussed in his work as pretentious diction is represented by euphemism – a tool to replace offensive or disagreeable remarks or statements. The ways of how these language mean can be coined is really diverse. The role of euphemisms can be helpful if used in cases like â€Å"not too slender† for â€Å"fat†, Afro-American for â€Å"Niger† etc. taking into account ethic and political reasons or even more humoristic like to â€Å"powder one’s nose: "Where can I powder my nose?" in case of ‘restroom’, â€Å"full and frank discussion† to render the meaning of â€Å"argument† – we had a full and frank discussion with my business partner. But there are too much more mind-tangling examples as in the circumlocution (periphrasis). The actual meaning of this instrument is to ‘talk around’, that is to say something but totally hide what you have said for instance when a person wants to conceal what he or she really thinks an intricate figure of speech accismus can help which is also called the oh-you-shouldn't-have figure. To be more precise we sometimes get into situations when we are presented with a gift but you refuse as if of modesty saying ‘the gift is not necessary, a check will be quite enough’ (Figures of speech served fresh. Monday, October 10, 2005). All in all, I am more inclined to think that there can’t be univocal assertion that modern English is really in state of decline. Many men many minds, so to my mind it is more a matter of overall literacy and erudition that signifies right or wrong language usage and relevance of these or those figures of speech, since an educated person has a wit to analyze the information he or she receives and therefore is able to decipher the hidden codes.

ACT Science Practice Tests What to Use and What to Avoid

ACT Science Practice Tests What to Use and What to Avoid SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Whichever way you choose to prepare for ACT Science - whether with a private tutor, class, online program or on your own - you need to make sure you are using high-quality practice ACT Science tests.Because ACT Science is unique, any old science study material won't cut it.To learnabout how different ACT Science is from any other science test, readthe big secret of ACT Science. In this guide, I'll tell you where to find all of the official ACT Science practice tests available: severalare free!Also, I'll provide tips on how to use these ACT Science practice tests improve your score. Additionally, I'll talk about some of the ACT Science practice materials you should avoid and why you shouldn't use them. I draw my conclusions from my years of experience tutoring students for ACT Science and from my own practice for the ACT Science test. Free Full-Length ACT Science Practice Tests These ACT Science practice tests are all free. They're all official resources and made by the ACT makers themselves. Official practice tests are the absolute best resource to use when studying, and I've listedall of them here in one place for your convenience. ACT Science Free Online Sample Test This test format can be a little difficult to use, but it's freeand online.Click on each passage on the left, and click the answer choice to see the answer response.To keep the timing realistic (35 minutes total or five minutes per passage), I recommend that you work on the answers on paper, and then check your answersone by one in your web browser AFTER you have finished the entire test. Official ACT PDFs These are PDFs of complete ACT practice exams. The pages of the Science section are indicated below. ACT Practice Test 2018-2019 (Form 74F)- Page 40-41; Answers p59-60. ACT Practice Test 2015-2016 (Form 72C)- Page 40-51; Answers p58-60. ACT Practice Test 2014-15 (Form 67C)- Page 40-51; Answers p57-60. ACT Practice Test 20-12 (Form 64E)- Page 43-55; Answers p62-65. ACT Practice Test 2008-09 (Form 61C)- Page 42-55; Answers p62-65. ACT Practice Test 2005-06 (Form 59F)- Page 42-55; Answers p62-65. Notice a few years missing?That's because the ACT duplicates the same test in different years.For example, the 2013-14 test is identical to the 2014-15 test. I've included the Form ID with each test so that you can confirm it for yourself (you can see this in the bottom left of each page on the test). Paid ACT Science Practice Tests If you're looking for even more practice ACT Science tests beyond those listed above, below are two more resources to look into. Neither of these of free, but they're still official resources worth spending money on if you want more practice. The Official ACT Prep Guide The book was produced by the makers of the ACT and has five unique full-length ACT practice tests, plus additional practice questions.Costing about $20, this book is the best book for realistic practice tests. Don't even look at Kaplan or Princeton Review for practice tests- their quality is far inferior to the tests put out by the ACT. ACT Online Program Costing $25, this online program includes two extra full-length ACT practice tests.The online prep material is not good - just buy this for the tests, if you need it.Next, I will tell you how to put all of this ACT Science study material to the best use. How to Use ACT Science Practice Tests In this portion, I'll be summarizing our guide tothe best way to study and practice for ACT Science.I highly recommend you read that article for more in-depth information.When using your real ACT Science practice tests, make sure to keep the following instructions in mind. #1:Take the Science Section in One Sitting Come on! The ACT Science sectionis only 35 minutes.You need to set aside that time to sit for the ACT Science, and you should aim to take at least five ACT Science practice tests. Because the ACT Science section is so rushed (52.5 seconds per question), the first few practice tests you take will just be helping you adjust to the pace. Myscores on my first two to three ACT Science practice tests were five points lower than my final score because I needed to adjust to the speed and strategy. You need the extra two to three to solidify your pace and understanding of the strategy. While sitting for the 35-minute section is good practice, it is even better, if you can find the time, to take the entire ACT all at once.The ACT is a four-hour-long marathon, and you will need to practice to build up endurance.Science is the last section of the test!Practicing taking the whole test will better prepare you for the Science section because it will show you what it takes to power through.Sitting for one 35-minute section, without experiencing the 3.5 hours before it, is not as helpful to your practice and improvement.I recommend sitting for at least two full-length practice tests (four hours each) before you take your official ACT. #2: Pay Attention to the Time If you find yourself struggling to finish the ACT Science in 35 minutes, try to watch your pace on each passage and keep yourself to a strict five minute per passage pace.Learn more about this and other ACT Science strategies in our guidetotime management and section strategy for ACT Science. #3: Double-Check Your Answers After finishing an ACT Science practice test, REVIEW your answers.This is the most important part of your process.Review every mistake you made and every question that you guessed on but got right.If you do not review your mistakes, you will not improve;spend at least 15-20 minutes each ACT Science practice test you take. Read our guide tothe best way to study for ACT Science and the reasons you miss ACT Science questions for help with your review process. I’d rather you take fewer ACT Science Practice tests and spend more time reviewing.Again, without review, you will not improve. #4: Consider Using a Prep Program Supplement your ACT Science practice test with a prep program if you don’t see improvement.While some people will see vast improvement simply from reviewing their mistakes and practicing the test format, others need more guidance on strategy to improve on their weak points.Check out PrepScholar’s program; we do just that.We figure out your strengths and weaknesses and select personalizedmaterials to help you work on your weaknesses and improve your score. ACT Science Practice Materials You Should AVOID and Why Unfortunately, not all ACT Science practice tests are high quality. Below are four practice tests you should avoid like the plague. They won't help you with the test, and they may actually hurt your score by causing you to study the wrong topics and question types. Varsity Tutors - Free ACT Science Practice Tests The material provided to answer questions is much shorter than actual ACT Science Passages.They provide few visuals, and those they do provide are hard to read.Rather than setting up proper tables, they just try to align the material into vague columns and rows.This seems ridiculous when the MAJORITY of the ACT Science questions ask you to read visuals for information.The timing does not match the ACT Science test timing (35 minutes total/five minutes per passage) at all.This material is a waste of your time; do not bother with it. ACT Example Practice Tests Website - Free This material provided is not even set up as passages.The questions are just asked at random with random tables thrown in on occasion.This material is nothing like real ACT Science tests, soAVOID it like the plague. McGraw-Hill Free Online Practice and McGraw-Hill 's 10 ACT Practice Tests, Second Edition I am reviewing both together because they are from the same company and have the same issues.The tests mimic the format of the ACT Science test really well.The tests set up seven passages just like the real test, and each passage has the appropriate number of questions. HOWEVER, the questions are very different.On the actual ACT Science test, you should be able to answer most questions using the visuals alone.Read more about this strategy in our other article on the three types of ACT Science passages.On McGraw-Hill’s tests, you need to use the entire passage to answer most questions.Also, the visuals are not as difficult as the visuals on the actual ACT Science test.Avoid this material because,while it may seem like the ACT Science test, looks can be deceiving and waste your time. What’s Next? In order to get the most out ofyour ACT Science practice tests,learnthe best way to study and practice for ACT Scienceand the nine reasons you miss ACT Science questions. Also, for more background on the ACT Science test and strategies, read aboutthe three types of ACT Science passagesandthe big secret of ACT Science. Ready for some tougher practice questions?Check out our guide to the hardest questions on ACT Science and exactly how you should solve them. Like this article? Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Sciencelesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Education and Organizational change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Education and Organizational change - Essay Example The current demands in the labor market require a decisive approach. The changes in the labor market necessitate proportional alternations in the education systems and curriculum1. The process of measuring the educational disparities must take into consideration the socio-economic implications and the needs of the labor market. Productive employment calls for investment in human resources and the requisite competences. This calls for educational system change. This can be attributed the central role that education plays in social equity and economic productivity. Increasing the number of schooling years is perceived to be one of the strategies of ensuring that education grows to meet the changing demands of the labor markets. The education system has been blamed for being discriminatory. Children from poor background have minimal access to education. This makes the labor market a preserve of the wealthy in the society. The inequalities in the education system have had a negative impa ct on the poor in the developed and developing countries. Access to training skills and improving access to early childhood have a profound effect of the learning in the schools and job market2. This has also led to the evolution of wage gaps and stratification of the society based on the economic well being. The labor market is keen to have qualified personnel while to education system is ready to offer quality education at expensive fees. The current labor market is segmented along low and high education levels. This has also created an exclusive club of the highly paid with multiple benefits against the lowly paid with minimal benefits. Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Labor market and human capital Addressing education is a complex affair. It must address the various levels of education and the necessary changes at each level. There is an insufficiency in terms of supply for the qualified or specialized personnel. Most of the trained young workers tend to lack the competencies t hat accompany their workplace job prescriptions. Employers blame the education systems from producing half-baked graduates. There is an urgent need to drastically change the education system of the public sector in order to improve quality. This can inject a level of equality into the education system and introduce the expected changes into the labor market. Organizations believe that productivity is closely related to the quality of employees and competencies3. The needs and the standards of the labor market have been growing and evolving over the decades. This has been attributed to the emerging wave of globalization and technological turbulence over the years. However, the education system has remained unchanged and unresponsive to the changing demands of the labor market. The tertiary education and post-secondary systems have need been customized to meet the expectation of the labor markets4. This has affected organizational performance and the national productivity in many econ omies. Universities are basing education on commercial rather that competence ideologies5. This has caused a reduction of

Understanding managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Understanding managment - Essay Example The LIPC Integration Plc is a company undergoing a revolt from its employees from the aspects of introduction of new techniques within the payment system of the company. Further, the LIPC Integration Plc management team is adopting a rather different approach to the compensation strategies of the employees, a development that is not receiving the support of the employees. Thus, the bureaucratic approach by the management is raising varied issues within the given departments of the company employees. The suggestion to compensate employees depending on the given actual grade performance is raising mixed reactions for the employees and the complaints are virtually reaching a heightened level of aggravation. The issues in consideration at the management level include that the management is unwilling to increment the pay for the workers. The organization management is unwilling to adopt a different work structure for the workers as they are requesting, a factor that is reflecting their pr actice of the classical theory, which has the core characteristic of being too rigid and authoritative. This classical theory is in effect casing defect in the successful implementation of the proposed changes I the organizational management of the employee needs. The classical theory helps the organizational management to focus on its structure and the planned economic rewards rather than the individual freedoms and a conducive working environment. This establishment is affecting the approach of effective management that LIPC Integration Plc could adopt to manage the needs and expectations of the workers. The workers approach to the position undertaken by the organization is another perspective that is key to understanding the accommodation of the organizational theories in the management process. The workers in the design department have reiterated their

The Effect of Sensory-Perceptual Information on Anxiety Level of Essay

The Effect of Sensory-Perceptual Information on Anxiety Level of Patients Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery - Essay Example This project paper outlines the problem, provides a comprehensive literature review and describes the planned interventions that are designed to provide CABG patients with the sensory-perceptual information they need in order to reduce their level of anxiety and increase coping skills. The project will be carried out within a hospital setting, utilizing all patients undergoing CABG who are referred by the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Each intervention is described in detail. Interventions will include a 12-minute video presentation, an informational brochure and informational sessions with the main researcher. At the individual information session, the researcher will adapt the information presented to fit with the cultural background, linguistic preference and health beliefs of the CABG patient. Table of Contents Chapter 1 Background and need for the project 4 Purpose of the project 7 Significance of the project 7 Theoretical Framework 8 Chapter 2 Search strategy 9 Review of literature 9 Studies investigating the association between anxiety/depression and CABG 9 Studies providing systematic literature reviews 12 Studies on educational intervention and other factors 13 Summary and discussion 15 Chapter 3 Implementation procedures 16 Chapter 4 The Project Teaching Plan 18 Objectives 21 Materials 22 Vocabulary 22 Motivation 23 Chapter 5 Summary 23 Conclusions 23 Implications for nursing 24 Recommendation for further study 24 Appendix 25 References 28 Chapter I Background and need for the project Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a procedure that uses a healthy blood vessel to create a bypass, an arterial bridge, that allows blood to be routed around a blocked or diseased artery ("Coronary bypass," 2010). Typically the vessel used is taken from the patient's leg, although vessels from an arm, chest or the abdomen have also been used ("Coronary bypass," 2010). CABG restores normal blood flow to the heart, which produces a variety of beneficial e ffects, such as decreasing the risk for a heart attack. Furthermore, in many cases, the surgery reduces the symptoms being suffered by the patient, such as chest pain and shortness of breath. The principal goals of CABG are to alleviate the symptoms of angina, decrease heart attack risk and prolong and improve the quality of life (McKenzie, Simpson and Stewart, 2010). CABG is a procedure that is widely performed in all developed countries. The American Heart Association reported in 2005 that the annual procedure rate in the US was over 515,000 (Gallagher and McKinley, 2009). The procedure has a relatively low mortality rate and been proven to effectively alleviate the symptoms of angina (Gallagher and McKinley, 2009). Nevertheless, psychological problems, such as the development of anxiety and depression, have been widely reported in connection with patients who have undergone CABG surgery; and, it has been found that these psychological problems are often long-term, as research rep orts that anxiety and depression are evident in roughly one-fifth of CABG patients a year following the surgery (McKenzie, Simpson and Stewart, 2010). Problems with psychological adjustment can lead to adverse events. These adverse coronary events may include further hospitalization and even an increased incidence of mortality (McKenzie, Simpso

Can the fund by IMF save the world economy Essay

Can the fund by IMF save the world economy - Essay Example The functions of the IMF are quite broad and it ranges from enhancing monetary cooperation between nations to maintaining an acceptable level of balance of payment. Other functions include promoting stability of exchange rate, ensuring smooth flow of capital and providing funds to nations. Providing financial assistance is one of the major functions of the IMF so that problems relating to balance of payment can be reduced (Weiss, â€Å"International Monetary Fund: Background and Issues for Congress†). Monitoring the fiscal and monetary functions of nations under its membership and technical advice are also functions of the IMF. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of IMF in helping to protect the world economy. The paper is divided into five main sections. The chapter of literature review focuses on the key economic theories in explaining the role of the IMF. The methodology chapter briefly discusses the methods of conducting this essay and the section on results provides empirical verification of the ways in which the countries has performed with the help of the funds provided by the IMF. Historically, the mechanism of working of IMF is rooted in the Keynesian macroeconomics. The IMF is essentially a monetary organization that focused on the monetary help to adjust balance of payment of a country. The works of Friedman (1950 cited in Davidson 64) regarding floating exchange rates and monetarism had influenced the functioning of the IMF. Keynes was one of the founding fathers of the IMF and he had applied his countercyclical monetary and fiscal policies to combat unemployment and recessions. However, over the years the functioning of the IMF had changed dramatically with the evolution of the new classical macroeconomic ideas. The proponents of the Keynesian and the post Keynesian theories had suggested that uncontrolled flow of capital makes countries highly vulnerable to events like banking crisis and

Eddie Mabo, the Indigenous Land Father Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eddie Mabo, the Indigenous Land Father - Essay Example For almost a decade, this man fought for the rights of his people by taking a case to court with the intention of having it overturn the terra nullius land system in Australia, which alienated the indigenous people from their land. The sheer determination of this man, against all odds, ensured that he had one of the greatest wins in Australian history for an indigenous person, because the ruling made, overturning the terra nullius system, ensured that over three hundred years of injustice had almost come to an end (Pannell and Vachon 2001, p.238). The overturning of this system further granted the indigenous people the confidence of identifying themselves with the land of their ancestors and ensured that their right to it was recognized beyond doubt. Eddie Mabo was a man who rose from humble origins as a gardener to becoming one of the national icons of Australia because of the fact that he was deeply involved in fighting for the rights of his people. While he was born in the Torres Strait Islands, Mabo spent most of his life in Queensland, and was in fact not a well-known figure in his home island until after he took his case on indigenous land rights to court. It was only after his death from cancer as well as the court victory over the land issue five months later that his fellow indigenous people on the island welcomed his as one of their own. His victory did not only affect the people of his home island but also all the indigenous people of Australia and this is the reason why Mabo has become one of the most respected men among them (Burke 2007, p.240). The idea that an indigenous person could almost singlehandedly challenge the Australian status quo and gain a great victory from it was one of those instances which were unheard of in the history of this country. The indigenous people had long been suppressed by the colonial government, and later by the white settlers who dominated and continue to dominate almost every aspect of life in Australia (Furniss 2001, p.279). Mabo’s posthumous court victory ensured that the indigenous people were recognized as a legitimate part of the Australian population with the same rights as those who dominated the society (Thorner 2009, p.391). Furthermore, it may have played a role in the recognition of indigenous people as reasoning human beings who had, throughout the history of the colonization of Australia had been treated unfairly; the court case was therefore the first step in correcting the injustice done to them (Reilly 2000, p.23). The overturning of the terra nullius policy can be said to be, in reality, a policy of inclusion whose purpose is to ensure that all the Australian people have an equal chance to compete in making their dreams and aspirations come true. Previously, indigenous groups were completely excluded from the majority of economic activities in Australia except for those which were considered to be labour intensive (Nettheim 2008 p.167). Moreover, these groups were rarely ever accepted in the mainstream Australian life, therefore, Mabo’s court victory can be said to have been a step towards the inclusion of the indigenous people into the centre of Australian society. From the very beginning of the Mabo’s case in court, there has been opposition towards it with those against it stating that it is giving an unfair advantage to minority

Can the fund by IMF save the world economy Essay

Can the fund by IMF save the world economy - Essay Example The functions of the IMF are quite broad and it ranges from enhancing monetary cooperation between nations to maintaining an acceptable level of balance of payment. Other functions include promoting stability of exchange rate, ensuring smooth flow of capital and providing funds to nations. Providing financial assistance is one of the major functions of the IMF so that problems relating to balance of payment can be reduced (Weiss, â€Å"International Monetary Fund: Background and Issues for Congress†). Monitoring the fiscal and monetary functions of nations under its membership and technical advice are also functions of the IMF. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of IMF in helping to protect the world economy. The paper is divided into five main sections. The chapter of literature review focuses on the key economic theories in explaining the role of the IMF. The methodology chapter briefly discusses the methods of conducting this essay and the section on results provides empirical verification of the ways in which the countries has performed with the help of the funds provided by the IMF. Historically, the mechanism of working of IMF is rooted in the Keynesian macroeconomics. The IMF is essentially a monetary organization that focused on the monetary help to adjust balance of payment of a country. The works of Friedman (1950 cited in Davidson 64) regarding floating exchange rates and monetarism had influenced the functioning of the IMF. Keynes was one of the founding fathers of the IMF and he had applied his countercyclical monetary and fiscal policies to combat unemployment and recessions. However, over the years the functioning of the IMF had changed dramatically with the evolution of the new classical macroeconomic ideas. The proponents of the Keynesian and the post Keynesian theories had suggested that uncontrolled flow of capital makes countries highly vulnerable to events like banking crisis and

Book report on The stranger by Albert Camus Essay

Book report on The stranger by Albert Camus - Essay Example Albert Camus is considered to the French author of the Modernism era, and he is also famous by its philosophical views and journalistic articles. The philosophy of absurd has remained to be his notable contribution in the field of literature of that period (McCarthy, 5-6). This man has an individual and extraordinary world perception that he effuses in his creations. â€Å"The Stranger† has been first published in the year 1942 (McCarthy, 1). Albert Camus has had 29 years old, and that was a period of war and devastation. His father has been killed in the whirlpool of events that happened in the previous war (McCarthy, 3). That is why we may lead to personal and historical references while reading the book. Camus represents his own pattern of live vision that may seem ridiculous and irritating for the society. Still, this pattern may be understood from different perspective that author suggest us to query. The setting of the novel is the French colony of Algiers and the time is introduced the period before World War II. â€Å"The Stranger† represents two parts of the story that are thematically and logically divided. The main character is named Meursault. There are a few secondary characters in the story which help to develop the plot. The slant on the novel is tragic with the philosophical implications. The atmosphere is gloomy and dull with calm and confident inclusions. Novel â€Å"The Stranger† suggests to the audience the story about allegedly ordinary person Meursault who remains to be the recluse man with small needs and paltry subsistence. He is engaged in boring work, and lives in a small and dirty room. Physical necessities form more important value for Meursault than some entire personal feelings and moral dogmas. This man is viewed as a protagonist of the story. We also may regard him as anti-hero of the novel due to some perspective. Camus involves the readers into contradictory

The Abolition of Man Cs Lewis Review Essay Example for Free

The Abolition of Man Cs Lewis Review Essay The Abolition of Man was written by C.S. Lewis in 1943. It was subtitled Reflections on education with special reference to the teaching of English in the upper forms of schools†. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963 (same day as Robert F. Kennedy). He was a fiction and non-fiction writer whose most popular non-fiction work was â€Å"The Chronicles of Narnia†. Lewis was a Classicist who agreed philosophically with Plato and Aristotle and also considered himself a â€Å"Pagan in a World of Apostate Christians†. Lewis was also a friend of JRR Tolkien. The Abolition of Man is listed as #7 on the top 200 greatest works of the 20th Century. In Abolition Lewis writes of two opposing views: The World off the Green Book vs. the World of the Tao. â€Å"Abolition of Man† is a short philosophical work about moral education. In Chapter 1 â€Å"Men Without Chests† the Tao is described as a broad generalization of traditional moralities of the East and West consisting of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Confusion, Jewish, Muslim, and Socratic ideologies. The Tao is the sole source of valued judgments and something we cannot change otherwise the Tao would cease to exist. Within the Tao judgments are either right or they are wrong. Within the â€Å"World of the Green Book† all valued judgments and morality are subjective. The green Book itself is really an English textbook used in English upper advance primary schools. The text of the Green book teaches students that sentences containing the predicate of value are not statements about qualities in their subjects but rather unimportant statements about the speakers own feelings. Lewis believed that this philosophy was out of place in an English text book, regardless o f its validity, and proceeds to tear the philosophy apart. The Green book states that objects can merit our approval or disapproval. Lewis describes The Mind of Man in a platonic division of three: Head- the Center of man’s intelligence Stomach- The center of man’s desire Chest- The center of man’s will Lewis argues that removing all sentiments from the mind (as rationalists try to do) produces â€Å"Men Without Chests†. Lewis believes that making valued judgments are an essential part of clear thinking. In Chapter 2, â€Å"The Way†, Lewis hacks away at all other alternative system of values. Lewis goes on to argue that no one can debunk the Tao. To debunk the Tao and have a defensible position against it, one must invoke it. While attempting to debunk the Tao all other systems such as Progressivism, Utilitarianism, and instinct based ethics can be debunked themselves. â€Å"Debunking the Tao debunks itself† Lewis write of other systems. Lewis states that all other systems fall apart among further examination and people who try to debunk the Tao are trying to substitute some other system for it. In Chapter 2 arbitrary goals of other systems are described as necessary, progressive, and efficient. Lewis asks of these systems: Necessary for what? Progressing towards what? Affecting what? What are these goals and why are they desirable? The Tao states that â€Å"certain states of affairs are intrinsically meritorious†. To Lewis, Utilitarianism fails because it is a social ethic and that it lacks personal obligation. Instinct based ethics are our moral values that are derived from animal instincts. Lewis asks â€Å"Do our animal instincts make our morality?† Concerning ethics Lewis tells us that ethics are not something that tell us what we actually do but rather ethics is about telling us what we OUGHT to do, should do, should have done, ought to have done, and OUGHT to be doing. He goes on to say that basing our ethics on instincts does not make sense and that basing ethics on instincts is basing ethics on what people tell us to do. â€Å"People say different things†¦so do our instincts. Our instincts are at war with each other.† There are times in which we should control and suppress our instincts and that there is no one great instinct we should obey. In summation, ethics cannot be derived from our instincts. Chapter two ends with Lewis concluding that the Tao is the sole source of all valued judgment and that nothing is intrinsically evil. All evil is the result of twisting something good and that moral progress is â€Å"timeless, constant, and unchanging.† Lewis referred to chapter one â€Å"Men without Chests† as the present, chapter two â€Å"The Way† as the past, and chapter three â€Å"The Abolition of Man† as the future. The Abolition of man comes in when one tries to exercise the Tao from humanity, because man cannot be man without it. The Tao is a defining characteristic of man, found in no animals, and nowhere else in the universe that we know of. â€Å"To become a race that rejects the Tao is to become something other than human.† I have to admit, â€Å"The Abolition of Man† is one of the hardest reads I’ve ever had. I think if there was some way to modernize it and translate some of what Lewis was talking about it could end up b eing one of the great works of the 21st century. All in all I have probably read this book three times and I’m still a bit confused. My take on it is this; Lewis describes a principle of right and wrong. There is no grey area of the Tao, it is what is intrinsically good in the universe regardless of which philosophy you choose to follow. By trying to discredit what is intrinsically good you are discrediting yourself as any argument that stands against what is all good must contain something that is bad†¦therefore it is wrong to even try. Ethics are not instinctive and instincts themselves, although natural, are not always good just because they are instinctive.

Portrayal Of Drugs In Television And Movies

Portrayal Of Drugs In Television And Movies Television seems to glorify drinking alcohol and the use of nicotine whether actors are bellying up to Joes Emerald City Bar in Greys Anatomy or swigging a martini at MacLarens on How I Met Your Mother, (McKean, 2006) television seems to say drinking alcohol is sexy, popular and okay. Alcohol gets free exposure on prime-time television. In shows such as CBS Two and a Half Men, Foxs Happy Hour and ABCs Brothers and Sisters, cocktails and cigarettes have replaced the usual cup of coffee after work. These shows portray negative messages that drinking after work or at social gatherings is socially accepted. Reality shows such as Intervention and Celebrity Rehab depict the full range of alcohol and illicit drug use with real life footage of heroin, crack cocaine, meth and other addictions. These shows illustrate the physical and mental destruction of what can happen to a person when they use drugs. Shows such as Intervention and Celebrity Rehab show the downfall and the reality of drug use. While other shows seem to venerate the use of alcohol with humor and sex, these shows depict how strong addiction can be and how families are affected by drug use. Shows such as these send a strong message to viewers about the realities of drug use and the reality of treatment. There is no pretty picture painted about an easy recovery neither does it glamorize a cool picture of heroin, meth, crack, inhalants and alcohol. The reality is clear, it sends the message dont do drugs because this is what will happen to you, your family and your life. A positive aspect of the prime time television and alcohol use is that when an underage person is depicted as using alcohol they portray the consequences and turn into a positive learning experience. The negative aspect of alcohol and drug use in television is that it sends a negative message to teenagers, its says its cool to drink and smoke. According to Kids Health.com kids and teens ages eight to eighteen spend nearly four hours a day watching television ( The Nemours Foundation, 2010). This is about three times the time amount they spend listening to the radio. Children are greatly influenced by what they watch and many of them idolize stars from these shows and want the mimic what they watch, especially if the use of alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs are glamorized. These shows depict unsafe behavior and often there are no consideration about the consequence of on the use of alcohol, smoking and use of drugs. Alcohol and nicotine seem to be a favorite among prime time shows; illicit drug use is mostly portrayed in movies. Illicit drugs use and alcohol are hyped up in movies more so than in prime time, but some movies also send a message how drugs can lead to destruction and the struggle to overcome addiction. In 1995, The Basketball Diaries staring Leonard DiCaprio portrayed the true story of Jim Carroll a teenagers struggle with heroin addiction whose only desires are the game of basketball and heroin. In The Basketball Diaries Jims the only escape from a best friend that is dying and a coach who is a child predator is heroin. In a downward spiral Jims addiction for heroin leads him into the streets where he steals, robs and prostitutes himself. It is only through a friend and his relentless pursuit of his desire for Jim to be clean that he overcomes his addiction and fulfills his dreams. The message in The Basketball Diaries relays how drug addiction can destroy your dreams lead you int o a path of crime and self destruction. The message in this movie was a detail of how a lifestyle can easily be misled through the use of drugs and the struggle a person will have to take to overcome that addiction. This move portrayed a very effective message; drugs can destroy all your dreams, lead you into a life where basically you would sell your soul to get your next hit. It also showed the struggles to overcome addiction and how positive your life can become once you decide to make positive choices in your life. As much as alcohol and drug use may be glorified in prime time television, there are also antidrug advertisements that try to educate parents and children on peer pressure and the effects of drug use. In 1998 Congress created The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign in collaboration with Partnership for a Drug-Free America the goal of this campaign is preventing and reducing youth drug abuse across the nation. The main goal of this campaign is to create advertisements that deliver antidrug use and the dangers of that behavior to youths. According to The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) 2009 there is a correlation between increased teen exposure to anti-drug messages on television and a decreased likelihood of trying drugs over the past ten years. Four out of ten teens agreed that anti-drug messages made them more aware of the risks of using drugs and less likely to try the drugs (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2010). In one of the many advertisement the campaign has pr oduce, The Human Puppet the advertisement depicts a girl is passed out on a chair with her friends gathered around her, they are painting her face and have strapped her arms with scarves and are moving her hands as she is a puppet. The girl is in an unconscious state and never reacts to what her friends are doing to her they make reference to the fact that she is passed out and thrashed and that she will have a major headache in the morning. Eventually they walk away from her, leaving her slumped in the chair (The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, 2009).This was an excellent advertisement, and depicted the reality of what can happen when you consume alcohol as a teenager and the embarrassing situations that you place yourself in. The advertisement also pointed out the reality of what your friends can and will do to you when you passed out from alcohol use. The one weakness that was noted in this advertisement was that some kids may think that it was more humorous than educati onal. There should have been more depiction of what can happen when a kid drinks too much alcohol such as loss of body function or alcohol related illnesses. Overall these campaigns have been shown to work The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign began in July 1998 and its primary focus was on reducing marijuana use among adolescents. The data collected from the beginning of PATS in 1998 compared to the data collected in 2008 shows that the use of the media campaign has significantly increased the teen awareness and decreased the use of marijuana in teens (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2010). The policies that are in place to deal with the portrayal of drug addiction are planned through The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the primary function of this office is to establish policies, priorities, and objectives for the Nations drug control program. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2010). The policies that have been established for drug addiction are the following that were obtained from the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation: Americans For Safe Access (ASA) an aggressive grassroots campaign working to push the Bush administration off its anti-medical marijuana crusade and allow states the right to choose and govern medical marijuana laws. Common Sense for Drug Policy (CSDP) a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding discussion on drug policy and raising questions about existing law and educating the public about alternatives to current policies. Criminal Justice Policy Foundation (CJPF) a non-profit foundation working on innovative solutions to problems facing the criminal justice system. Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) the nations leading organization working to end the war on drugs. Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet) opposes the prison-building frenzy and supports rational policies consistent with the principles of peace, justice, freedom, compassion and truth. Human Rights and the Drug War a multi-media project that combines the stories and photos of Drug War POWs with facts and figures about the US Drug War, to confront the conscience of the American people and encourage individuals to take action for social justice. Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) a progressive think-tank with a project on U.S. drug policy and U.S. involvement in Colombia. Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative (IDPI) organizes people of faith to promote drug policy reform; i.e., moving from prohibition laws toward reasonable and compassionate drug regulation, education and treatment. Judges Against the Drug War provides an extensive online database of judicial opinions critical of the governments War on Drugs. The database represents judicial dissent against drug prohibition in state and federal jurisdictions from 1970 to the present date. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) current and former members of law enforcement who support drug regulation rather than prohibition. Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana both the consumption of marijuana, and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) non-profit research and educational organization that assists scientific study of the risks and benefits of MDMA, psychedelic drugs and marijuana. National Drug Strategies Network (NDSN) coalition of organizations that offer information about drug control strategies. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) a nonprofit public-interest advocacy group that represents the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly. Parents Ending Prohibition Parents Ending Prohibition is a non-profit organization, designed to bring together parents and other concerned citizens to protect our children from the devastating harms created by our nations war on marijuana. Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) working to involve youth in the political process, and promoting an open, honest, and rational discussion of alternative solutions to our nations drug problems. Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform (UUDPR) a continental coalition of Unitarian Universalists leading the denominations efforts to develop and promote more just and compassionate drug policies (Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, 2010) In addition to these policies The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable (The Federal Communications Commission, 2009). The division of the FCC that administers policies and license is the Media Bureau. This office controls what is viewed on television and although there are some limitations due to the First Amendment Act. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is another office that regulates how drugs are portrayed on television. The FDA monitors how pharmaceutical companies advertised their drugs on television. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to claim the benefits of their product but they must also provide a website or referenced publications where consumers can find out more details regarding the products (Mosher Akins, 2007, p. 345). In 1994 T he Dietary Supplemental Health and Education Act was passed, this act established policies on the sale and advertisement of dietary aides on television. The influence that television has on our youth today is overwhelming and it is important that use of drugs, whether legal or illegal are monitored and regulated. The government as well as parents and guardians have a responsibility towards our future generation and it is important that we influence our children in the right direction.

The Humanization of Modern-Day Film Vampires Essay -- Movies

The Humanization of Modern-Day Film Vampires His thirsts have not changed. He craves the taste of blood, the warm, life-sustaining liquid that flows so gently from the necks of his victims into his own foul mouth. He continues to hunt in the night, cursed forever from the purity of sunlight, and his immortal body still remains ageless, untouched by the rugged sands of time and trauma. Yet somehow the vampire is different than he once was. He is richer, more human in color. His clothes are no longer binding and elaborate as the capes and suits of old; he often opts for simple denim or leather pants and coats. In fact, the modern vampire can often be mistaken for any other man or woman out for a midnight stroll. These observations all show evidence of the humanization of vampires in pop culture, an evolution from the soulless, purely evil animals they once were to merely darker versions of man. As humans struggle to control their own inner desires under the burden of society, increasingly protagonist vampires question and fi ght to suppress their own dark thirsts. It is this denial of nature unknown to the strictly evil vampires of old that identifies the modern-day film vampires more closely with their human counterparts today. Vampires, in retrospect, weren’t always the socially in-tune creatures that they are today. For what reasons did these changes occur? According to social critic I.C. Jarvie, â€Å"if we look again at the movie past . . . we find that the critical posture, the portrayal of society, has long been an important subtradition of the American cinema† (Social Criticism xiii). Thus, if we refer back to some of the earliest vampire films, we might receive some clues about the nature of the society that bir... ...to pursue it. As Benjamin Hoff remarks in the Tao of Pooh, â€Å"when you know and respect your own Inner Nature, you know where you belong† (41). Perhaps, in modeling what were once seen as beasts after us, we are learning to accept rather than shun our own primitive natures. Our place in the world is as creatures that are human. Works Cited Day, William Patrick. Vampire Legends in Contemporary American Culture. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2002. Hoff, Benjamin. The Tao of Pooh. New York: Penguin Books 1982. I.C. Jarvie. Movies and Society. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1970. I.C. Jarvie. Movies as Social Criticism. Metuchen: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1978. Ursini, James and Alain Silver. The Vampire Film. Cranbury: A.S. Barnes and Co., Inc., 1975 Waller, Gregory A. The Living and the Undead. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1986.

Directed Writing †Welcoming Speech Essay

You are the school head prefect and your principal is asking you to prepare a welcoming speech in conjunction with the enrolment of 800 new form 1 students to your school Prepare a welcoming speech and use the following points to assist you in the preparation of your speech: *To ensure the discipline of school is strictly adhered to. *Demerit points awarded to students who breach the code of conduct. *Behave properly and talk politely with seniors and other visitors. *Proper attires at all times,no punk hair/coloured hair. *Get active and enrol in club and socities activities *Strictly no celullar phones. *Maintain and uphold the school acdemic achievements Your speech must follow the proper format. Higher marks awarded on language,presentation and clarity. This text is not edited: You may please identify any grammatical /spelling errors or on ideas and presentation. A very good morning for our beloved principal Mr. Haji Ismail bin Haji Syafiq, respected teachers and all my friends. This morning, I felt very honoured to speak to our junior level 1 about 800 of them. Welcome to SMK Pengkalan Chepa 2, Padang Tembak. You are now members of this school and so it is very important for you to protect the good name of this school. As the Head Prefect of the school, it is my duty and responsibility to ensure that these discipline code are strictly adhered to Firstly , you cannot bring mobile phones, cannot have colored hair, your school uniform must not be tight.The hair should be short and the shoes must be all white.Leather shoes are strictly not allowed except for the prefects where they are allowed to wear black leather shoes.All forms of jewelleries are not allowed to be wear inside the school compound. Remember , If you fail to comply with these regulations,then punishment shall be imposed on you.You will be most likely suspended or expelled from school. The members of this school are encouraged to be polite and well behaved not only among yourselves but also to your seniors in form 2,3,4 and 5.In addition you are also compelled to behave in front of the teachers.If there are visitors such as parents and any officials from any organisation outside there,you are required to wish them and respect them.This is our culture in this school and everybody must behave so that we can uphold the image and reputation of this school. Dear friends, It is also important for you to be enrolled in societies and clubs that we have in this school.We have many of them and some include mathematics,sejarah, english and bahasa melayu.As for the clubs,we have taekwando,silat gayong and chess.You can enrol in clubs and socities that you think,you can carry them until you reach form5. For your information ,this school use demerit points for each offence committed by each student. If the students collect more than 10 demerit points,then the student can be penalized and their parents will be call out. . Remember,. I hope that you all as a new student can uphold the school’s name.

Clostridium Difficle Infection In Health-Care Workers Essay

According to Bouza (2005), Clostridium Difficile is a bacillus that is gram positive and forms spores. Its main mode of distribution is the environment whereby it also colonizes 3-5% of all healthy adults without causing any symptoms that can be noticed. At infancy, clostridium difficile colonizes between 2% and 70%, but the rates decrease with advancement in age and falling to about 6% when the infant grows to two years. Above the age of two, the rate of clostridium difficile is much similar to that of an adult, around 3% (APIC, 2008). The strains responsible for the production of clostridium difficile are characterized by their ability in the production of both toxins A and B. The most common and rampant symptom of CDI is diarrhea that is not always bloody, but can range from the soft and unformed stools to the watery and mucoid stools. Other outstanding symptoms include abdominal pains and fever and cramping in others. Clostridium difficile spores are highly resistant to destruction by most of the environmental agents and conditions. Their resistance can go as far as resisting some of the chemicals used in disinfection (Zanotti-Cavazzoni, 165). Therefore, this gives clostridium difficile the ability to survive for months or longer in the environment and even in healthcare facilities and the surrounding community. Mainly, the spread of clostridium difficile is through the transfer of spores from a contaminated environment to the patient, or perhaps through the hands of health care givers who do not follow proper hygiene and gloving practices. The only proper control measure that can be adopted is the thorough disinfection and cleaning of the patient’s environment and also through the physical removal of the spores. In recent decades, there has been a recorded increase in the number of reported rates of clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). There has also been a recording in the increase in the number of outbreaks accompanied by severe disease and also an increase in mortality. The increase in CDAD is mainly characterized by the following; changes in the use of antibiotics, a change in infection control practices or the emergence of new strains of clostridium difficile that have increased virulence or antimicrobial. It is also important to comprehend the life cycle of clostridium difficile in order to understand how to control it and if possible, prevent it. Its life cycle begins in the spore form whereby they are because they are resistant to heat, antibiotics or even acid. In a hospital setting, clostridium difficile can be found in bedding, medical equipment, and furniture and on the caregivers. Upon ingestion, the spores pass through to the intestines whereby they germinate and later colonize the colon. Studies have indicated that this bacterium colonized about 21% of patients who are in the process of receiving antibiotics and at the same time admitted to a general hospital. Through the release of both toxins A and B, clostridium difficile later induces diarrhea and colitis. However, the major risk factors associated with clostridium difficile are advancement in age, hospitalization, and antimicrobials. There are two major reservoirs of clostridium difficile in the healthcare setting, which are humans (asymptomatic and symptomatic) and inanimate objects (medical equipment and furniture). The level of environmental contamination depends primarily on the severity of the disease of the patient. However the asymptomatic colonized patients should be regarded as the potential primary source of the contamination. Clostridium difficile infection is more rampant among the elderly in the society. The main reasons for this are not fully, but it can be attributed to the fact that the elderly patients have a much less effective barrier to infection. The importance of having age as a risk factor is characterized by the age distribution in lab reports as was received by CDSC during the research period of 1990-1992. Results showed that there was a bias for adults over the age of 65 and they were more susceptible to having severe cases of clostridium difficile infections. There have also been suggestions that clostridium difficile is endemic in facilities that are considered long-stay for the elderly. However, other studies indicate that the difference in the endemic nature of clostridium difficile may be as a result of case mix whereby patients are from other facilities whereby the infection rate was high. Also, clostridium difficile is endemic in many of the long-stay facilities because the elderly t end to stay longer in the acute wards than the other younger generations. Therefore, their increased risk of infection is attributed to the increased exposure to antibiotics and nosocomial pathogens. There are several patient care activities that provide a rife opportunity for the fecal-oral transmission of clostridium difficile (CDC). Such activities include; sharing of electronic thermometers that have been used for measuring rectal temperatures, oral care or suctioning whereby the hands or equipment have been contaminated, administration of contaminated food, medication or with contaminated hands and emergency procedures like intubation. Other factors like poor hand hygiene, improper environmental and equipment cleaning and disinfection have also been reported as a cause for infection and spreading of clostridium difficile. It has been rubber stamped that the environment is the major medium of spreading for clostridium difficile whereby it has been spread so widely that that it is impossible to point out a single location that has not been contaminated. However, the environment of the infected patients is rifest with clostridium difficile, for instance, the toilets, floors, si nks and linen. Despite disinfection, clostridium difficile spores are found to exist longer than five months. Prevention and control of clostridium difficile is the responsibility of every individual who is aware of its existence. Therefore, prevention measures must be endorsed by everyone, and especially in care giving facilities whereby individuals are more likely to spread the infection. Standard precautions refer to those practices at work that are applied to every person regardless of their confirmed or perceived infectious status. Standard precautions are the front line in the war against clostridium difficile. They help control the rate of infection from person to person, even in the most prolific risk scenarios. They include; hand hygiene before and after contact with the patient, the safe use as well as disposal of sharps, the use of protective equipment and the processing of reusable medical equipment. The proper handling of linen, safety in the management of waste as well as aseptic non-touch technique should also be in the standard precautions to be implemented in hospital facili ties. However, when the first line of defense does not seem to work efficiently, there should be a backup plan in place. Thus, when standard precautions do not seem to do the job, transmission based precautions should be implemented. These are additional work practices for individually identifiable situations that are put in place to interrupt the transmission of clostridium difficile. These precautions are tailored to specific infections and their mode of transmission. They include; continued implementation of standard precautions, having patient dedicated equipment, proper handling of equipment, enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the patient’s environment and the restriction of patients within the facilities. Since healthcare settings differ greatly in terms of their day-to-day functioning, it is hard to come up with a management proposal that would fit all facilities. Therefore, all healthcare facilities should conduct infection prevention risk assessment on a regular basis alongside adoption of detailed protocols and processes for infection control. In acute care setting, personal protective equipment should be provided for nurses and visitors outside the room of a patient who has confirmed clostridium difficile infection. Healthcare givers should use gloves and gowns in order to prevent further spread of infection. Conducting effective hand hygiene is necessary for limiting the spread of clostridium difficile. They should be performed frequently and with the following considerations; should be performed using the Four Moments of Hand Hygiene, should be performed at the point-of-care using a dedicated staff sink or the use of hand wipes that have been impregnated with antimicrobials or alcohol and soap. In acute care setting, especially where the elderly are residing proper care has to be considered primarily because they are more susceptible to infection (Rupnik, 2007). One such measure of preventing clostridium difficile infection is placing the suspected or confirmed patients with CDI in a confined room that has dedicated toilets, sinks and personal equipment. Moreover, there is little need for special treatment for linen in an acute setting for both confirmed and suspected patients. Linen for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients should be in the same way. The soiled linen should be carefully. For example, it should be placed in a no-touch receptacle in order to avoid contamination of both the environment and the persons around. In cases of outbreaks, routine infection control measures are of grave importance in order to prevent the spread of the clostridium difficile infection to patients who have not yet been affected. The antibiotic policies have to be monitored as well as their compliance in order to successfully control the spread of infection. Hand washing procedures should be followed to the latter by any person who is in contact with infected patients such as doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and students. Nurses present challenges in combating clostridium difficile outbreaks especially because of the necessity to create a homely environment for the patients. This means that they have to constantly check in with the patients and therefore they become constantly at risk of infection themselves in proper precaution is not taken. For patients in the elderly acute care wards, the surroundings are also tailored to ensure a comfortable stay in the hospital. Therefore, their soft furnishings and carpeted floors provide a challenge in cases of outbreaks. For instances like this, preventive methods of combating the spread of clostridium difficile have to be implemented. One such measure that should be used during cleaning is steam. Although the heat does not kill the pathogen, it helps in the containment of its spread. Patients are also susceptible to contracting infection from the care devices used in the hospital. Such devices include electronic thermometers or glucose measuring devices. These devices are in constant use and may be used by a variety of patients. These devices are with pathogens derived from body fluids. Thus it is important to have measures in place to sterilize these devices especially more thoroughly in times of outbreaks. Another piece of communal apparatus used in wards is the linen, clothing, uniforms, lab coats and isolation gowns. Because clostridium difficile is commonly in the environment and can last for more than five months, these pieces of clothing are always in contact and possible contaminations are likely (Dubberke, 17). However indirect contact of such clothing comes from bedpans, toilets and sinks of patients who are either suspected or confirmed to be infected. The presence of soiled linen is also an area of importance that should be looked into carefully. Because bed linen is in hospitals and wards, they should be cleaned and sanitized before they can be issued to a different patient. In order to help combat the spread of clostridium difficile, the CDC has come up with the Spaulding classification system, which identifies three risk levels that are associated with surgical and medical instruments (Michel, 1095). These levels are; critical, semi-critical and noncritical. Critical items include needles, indwelling urinary catheters and intravenous catheters. These are the items that normally enter the sterile tissue, the vascular tissue or through which blood flows. Based on one of the accepted sterilization procedures, the equipment has to be sterile before penetrating any tissue. Semi-critical items include thermometers, electric razors and podiatry equipment and they are as those that touch mucous or skin which is not intact. They require meticulous cleaning and thereafter followed by high-level disinfection. Disinfection is done using a chemo sterilizer agent that is approved by the FDA. In conclusion, clostridium difficile has been on the rise in recent decades and it is only through proper prevention and control measures that it can be. Since it can live in an environment in spore form for up to five months, it poses a challenge in terms of containment. On the other hand, the elderly are more susceptible to clostridium difficile primarily because of their low immunity and their prolonged stay in hospitals. However, with proper care, chances of outbreaks can be kept at a minimum and more lives can be through prevention instead of cures. References DelmÃÆ' ©e, Michel. â€Å"Clostridium Difficle Infection In Health-Care Workers.†Ã‚  The Lancet  334.8671 (1989): 1095. Print. Dubberke, Erik. â€Å"Strategies for prevention of Clostridium difficile infection.†Ã‚  Journal of Hospital Medicine  7.S3 (2012): S14-S17. Print. â€Å"Patient Cloth Chairs and Clostridium difficile Outbreak.†Ã‚  American Journal of Infection Control  37.5 (2009): E102-E103. Print. Rupnik, Maja.  Abstract book: Clostridium difficile : organism, disease, control & prevention. s.l.: [Organizing committee ICDS], 2007. Print. Zanotti-Cavazzoni, S.l.. â€Å"Analysis of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection controlled with enhanced infection control measures.†Yearbook of Critical Care Medicine  2010 (2010): 164-166. Print. â€Å"clostridium difficle.†Ã‚  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Mar. 2013. Web.  30 Apr. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_infect.html Source document