Since most people prefer to be involved in decisions concerning their Essay

Since most people prefer to be involved in decisions concerning their jobs, a participative style of leadership will always be m - Essay Example Directive leadership is often more autocratic whilst participative leadership deals more with consensus and direct stakeholder involvement in decision-making processes. In the organisational environment, some cultures and individual employee profiles will require a more directive leadership style in order to ensure compliance and goal-attainment. In a more decentralised organisation, more participative leadership is usually the method of leadership that will attain the most positive performance results. It has been said, however, that since the majority of workers want to be involved in organisational decision-making, then the participative style of leadership will be more effective than directive style. Evidence, however, somewhat refutes this notion, suggesting that both styles have practically equal probability of being effective so long as they are utilised properly and in a suitable organisational environment. Both styles are highly dependent on organisational culture, employee attitude and motivational capacity and organisational structure in order to achieve effective leadership outcomes. Participative versus directive leadership styles Participative leadership involves processes and procedures that tend to open communication channels with employees to gain their input in decision-making (Mullins 2005). The four stages of participative leadership are gaining consensus, consulting with important internal stakeholder, delegating responsibilities, and active involvement by key organisational actors (Mullins 2005). Thus, participative leadership is closely related to transformational leadership style, a style in which the leader acts as a teacher, mentor, and also opens lines of communications with employees where vision and mission are continuously reiterated (Fairholm 2009). Managers using participative style often will use charismatic, psycho-socially-based principles of leadership to gain long-term commitment and dedicated followership. Directive leaders hip is more arbitrary, focusing less on relationship development with employees and more on establishing order through controls or the development of transactional philosophy. Transactional leadership is establishing rewards based strictly on performance where low-performance reprimands are established for failing to meet organisational objectives or project goals. Directive style of leadership establishes specific job role responsibilities and then motivating performance of employees through routine evaluations and serving as a figure in the environment to ensure that compliance to procedure and goals is being accomplished by individuals or teams. Having defined both leadership styles and their differences, both can be properly explored to determine their potential success ratios when utilised in different organisational environments and cultures. In order to understand fully the style of leadership that will be most effective, it is necessary to examine existing research findings on participative versus directive leadership. Gill, Flaschner and Shachar (2006) identified that participative leadership style has a direct relationship with improved employee dedication, job satisfaction and reduced job burnout. Why is this necessarily? Participative lea

Petition for Dropping Essay Example for Free

Petition for Dropping Essay Greetings!   I would like to request for â€Å"dropping† the following subjects: Ballet (year sect lab), Modern Dance (year sect lab), Music for Dancers (year sect lab), and Folk Guitar (year sect lab) due to circumstantial difficulties, time conflict and incompliance with the course requirements.   This year, I switched to BA program which does not require the course Ballet and Modern Dance. The aforementioned courses are not indicated in my plan of study and also taking both of them at the same time will be a huge risk on my part.   Before I entered the university, I have always been a dedicated gymnast. My ballet instructor, however, advised me to discontinue with gymnastics since it is not good in helping with my alignment and flexibility. Unfortunately, I found that putting a stop to my gymnastics class bodes mistake on my part since my ballet moves worsen and my flexibility and alignment rusticates. I have decided that I will revert to my gymnastics lesson outside school and stop with ballet. This is to comply with the demands of my instructor and to fulfill my needs as a long time gymnast.   Recently, I have incurred several absences due to an injury from my Modern Class which resulted to a bad back and hip joint. My absences also extend to other classes like Folk Guitar and Music Dances. Understand that the situation makes it difficult for me to cope up with the rest of the class for the said subjects. My time table is also aggravated by my part-time job and as such, I find it really difficult to attend to my classes since I must work for my schooling. Attached herewith is a copy of my change in program, physician’s certification, and job certification.   Hoping for your consideration regarding this issue.   Thank you very much. Yours sincerely, ___your name______ ___course, stud no.__

Voltaires Candide: Analysis of Tragedy and Humour

Voltaires Candide: Analysis of Tragedy and Humour Tragic Humor: Realism and Comedy as Satirical Tools in Voltaires Candide There are few chapters in Voltaires classic satire Candide that are wholly comedic; in truth, it seems there are fewer still that do not throw light on the tragic degradation, destruction, and immorality of a humanity fed on others misery. An optimist, the character of Candide should contrast directly the pessimism and unhappiness of the world around him. However, even his interactions and experiences do little, in reality, to combat an image of a cold and cruel world. This is, of course, at the root of Voltaires satirical genius. Candide is captured into the service of the Bulgarians, finds that his love, Mademoiselle Cunegondes family has been torn apart, she herself raped and almost killed, sold from one man to another until she can maintain her fortunes as a mistress to powerful men. Voltaires Candide experiences a reality that is chaotic in its duality, with not one faction of his life seeming safe or unalterable. Through the people he encounters and the ways in which they cope and shoulder the tragedy and gifts of their lives with equal aplomb, Candides struggle is edged with a wry humor. This humor works with the harshness of the reality to lend a human perspective to the political and social issues Voltaire seeks to satirize. It is difficult to pinpoint any one large instance of humor in Candide, quite simply because the humor is of a smaller nature. Instead it works to compliment the adventures of Candide, as he crisscrosses the world while drawing on and underlining the inequalities and tragedies of societys institutions. At the beginning of his travels, Candide still believes naively in the philosophy of his old teacher, Pangloss. This philosophy believes that, since everything is made for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end (Voltaire 521). Candide and Panglosss other pupils are soon confronted by the atrocities of the world death, destruction, rape, and deception and yet seem to largely still cling fondly to the memory and philosophy of their naively optimistic teacher. It is only after losing everything and hearing the tales of the others that Candide begins to see the folly in this philosophy. Through the humor laced encounters and near and absolute tragedy, Voltaire illustrates the resilience of humanity through such characters as the old woman who cares for Candide after he has been flogged by the Inquisition. The old woman has been through combinations of terror degradation that should have reduced her humanity but instead have created. The optimism inherent to Panglosss version of fate undermines the truth of life and glosses over pain and tragedy as part of a larger universal plan. However, the humor which peppers the old womans story, the Princess of Palestrina, shows the hypocrisy of the systems of society which propagates this ideal. A prime example of this humor is the womans description of her abduction by Morocco pirates. Our soldiers defended themselves as papal troops usually do; falling on their knees and throwing down their arms, they begged of the corsair absolution. (535). The image presented is meant to be both humorous and illustrative of the illusion of religion and social position. Though the family of the Pope, the old woman and the other women aboard are abandoned to the whim of the pirates. Neither their religious affiliation, social rank, money nor beauty are able to protect them from being murdered, and in the case of the old woman sold from broker to broker having in one instance one buttock sliced off to prevent herself from being cannibalized. While the woman has in some ways accepted her lot in life, showing complicity that is at the root of such institutionalized systems that promote obedience and blind acceptance, her humor lends to Voltaire overall satire on the notion of happiness as an abstracted ideal. Having suffered innumerable tragedies throughout her long life, the old woman notes, a hundred times I wanted to kill myself, but always I loved life more(538). This ridiculous weakness is perhaps the most disastrous of our inclinations; for is their anything sillier than to desire to bear continually a burden one always wishes to throw on the ground (538). While it is supportive, in her expression of it here, of Candides own optimism it still belies a realism that there is little in her tragedy that can or has been justified by man or God. She has suffered and in her suffering has sought to hold onto the brief victories and happiness that she has attained. Her point is later echoed by Candide when in explaining the i dea of optimism to Cacambo he shows that his own blind belief in the abstract of happiness preached by Pangloss is more madness than reality. In viewing the upset of Candides very notion of life through a harsh and dramatized realism, Voltaire leads the reader to Candides own conclusions. Humor works with this realism to act as a springboard for insinuations against the institutions and conventions that have created and prolonged some of the greatest miseries in the world. Voltaire, Francois-Marie Aronet de. Candide. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: 1650 to 1800. Ed. Sarah Lawall, et al. 2nd ed. Vol. D. New York: W.W. Norton Co., 2001. 520-582.

Leonardo Da Vinca :: Essays Papers

Leonardo Da Vinca The illegitimate son of a 25-year-old notary, Ser Piero, and peasant girl, Caterina, Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, just outside Florence. His father took custody of the little fellow shortly after his birth, while his mother married someone else and moved to a neighboring town. They kept on having kids, although not with each other, and they eventually supplied him with a total of 17 half sisters and brothers. Growing up in his father's Vinci home, Leonardo had access to scholarly texts owned by family and friends. He was also exposed to Vinci's longstanding painting tradition, and when he was about 15 his father apprenticed him to the renowned workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence. Even as an apprentice, Leonardo demonstrated his colossal talent. Indeed, his genius seems to have seeped into a number of pieces produced by the Verrocchio's workshop from the period 1470 to 1475. Leonardo got his start as an artist around 1469. Verocchio's specialty was perspective, which artists had only recently begun to get the hang of, and Leonardo quickly mastered its challenges. In fact, Leonardo quickly surpassed Verocchio, and by the time he was in his early twenties he was downright famous. For example, one of Leonardo's first big breaks was to paint an angel in Verrochio's "Baptism of Christ," and Leonardo was so much better than his master's that Verrochio allegedly resolved never to paint a gain. Leonardo stayed in the Verrocchio workshop until 1477 when he set up a shingle for himself. In search of new challenges and the big bucks, he entered the service of the Duke of Milan in 1482, abandoning his first commission in Florence, "The Adoration of the Magi". He spent 17 years in Milan, leaving only after Duke Ludovico Sforza's fall from power in 1499. It was during these years that Leonardo hit his stride, reaching new heights of scientific and artistic achievement. One of his most popular early works, "The Adoration of the Magi," was painted in 1481 for the Monastery of San Donato a Scopeto as an altar piece. It was never finished due to his departure for Milan, where he offered his services to Duke Ludovico il Moro. He worked on the Duomo in Milan and the Duomo and Castle in pavia; and painted the Madonna of the Rocks and the Last Supper at this time. Leonardo Da Vinca :: Essays Papers Leonardo Da Vinca The illegitimate son of a 25-year-old notary, Ser Piero, and peasant girl, Caterina, Leonardo was born on April 15, 1452, in Vinci, Italy, just outside Florence. His father took custody of the little fellow shortly after his birth, while his mother married someone else and moved to a neighboring town. They kept on having kids, although not with each other, and they eventually supplied him with a total of 17 half sisters and brothers. Growing up in his father's Vinci home, Leonardo had access to scholarly texts owned by family and friends. He was also exposed to Vinci's longstanding painting tradition, and when he was about 15 his father apprenticed him to the renowned workshop of Andrea del Verrochio in Florence. Even as an apprentice, Leonardo demonstrated his colossal talent. Indeed, his genius seems to have seeped into a number of pieces produced by the Verrocchio's workshop from the period 1470 to 1475. Leonardo got his start as an artist around 1469. Verocchio's specialty was perspective, which artists had only recently begun to get the hang of, and Leonardo quickly mastered its challenges. In fact, Leonardo quickly surpassed Verocchio, and by the time he was in his early twenties he was downright famous. For example, one of Leonardo's first big breaks was to paint an angel in Verrochio's "Baptism of Christ," and Leonardo was so much better than his master's that Verrochio allegedly resolved never to paint a gain. Leonardo stayed in the Verrocchio workshop until 1477 when he set up a shingle for himself. In search of new challenges and the big bucks, he entered the service of the Duke of Milan in 1482, abandoning his first commission in Florence, "The Adoration of the Magi". He spent 17 years in Milan, leaving only after Duke Ludovico Sforza's fall from power in 1499. It was during these years that Leonardo hit his stride, reaching new heights of scientific and artistic achievement. One of his most popular early works, "The Adoration of the Magi," was painted in 1481 for the Monastery of San Donato a Scopeto as an altar piece. It was never finished due to his departure for Milan, where he offered his services to Duke Ludovico il Moro. He worked on the Duomo in Milan and the Duomo and Castle in pavia; and painted the Madonna of the Rocks and the Last Supper at this time.

Understanding Nourishes Belonging

Understanding nourishes belonging. A lack of understanding prevents it. Belonging is not a solo act. For belonging to exist there must be some facilitation on the sides of two separate parties. Belonging hinges on how these parties create an understanding of each other. Many of Emily Dickinson’s poems reflected the difficulty which she experienced upon attempting to forge a connection with her society.Her personas in â€Å"My Letter to the World† and â€Å"I had been hungry all the years† both initially struggle with belonging to their society, and resolve these issues through establishing a sense of understanding; the former with her peers and the latter with herself. Similarly, the titular character in Shaun Tan’s acclaimed picture book, â€Å"The Lost Thing† finds itself alienated in a world that is dismissive of things it cannot understand. This lack of understanding stems from the society’s inability to reconcile with that which is diffe rent, and the â€Å"Lost Thing† ultimately must journey to a sanctuary where it is understood and accepted.The composers of each text underscore their ideas using powerful imagery, with symbols and metaphors common features of all three. Understanding facilitates the development of belonging, and this cannot occur unless individuals go out of their way to forge connections with the larger world. The persona in Dickinson’s â€Å"My Letter to the World† attempts to do this on a massive scale, addressing her â€Å"letter† – a metonymy for her entire body of work – to a world that is dismissive of her. The persona makes it clear that she is writing to a society that â€Å"never wrote to me†, which suggests feelings of isolation.These feelings are turned around upon the establishment of a connection with the persona’s countrymen based on the persona’s love of nature, which is personified and described here with a regal and ma jestic beauty. It is due to this love that she allows herself to ask them to â€Å"judge kindly of her†. The persona’s adoration of Nature is expressed clearly through the ardent description of â€Å"Her† in the fourth line. The juxtaposition of the words, â€Å"tender† and â€Å"majesty† is striking, and impresses upon readers a sense of both nature’s gentle beauty and its powerful reign throughout the world.Nature is a commonality between the persona and the society from which she feels alienated; thus, by penning this letter and reaching out, the persona discovers a way of belonging in her society facilitated by an understanding based on their mutual respect for nature. In another of Dickinson’s poems, she addresses the possibility that by pursuing an understanding of belonging, an individual can come to experience that feeling within their own self. The persona of â€Å"I had been hungry† expresses a hunger that has spanned years, a hunger symbolising the innate human need for belonging.Dickinson employs imagery associated with food and eating throughout the poem, in keeping with this extended metaphor. The persona is given the opportunity to â€Å"sample the plenty†. The persona’s hesitance and apprehension in doing so are evident, as she â€Å"trembling drew the table near†. The persona is bewildered by the â€Å"curious wine† and comes to discover that this particular type of belonging isn’t for her. This discovery is emphasised in the metaphor in the second stanza, â€Å"Like berry of a mountain bush/Transplanted to the road†.The juxtaposition of the berry, a thing of nature, and the man-made road signifies the jarring feeling the persona is experiencing. In the end, the persona finds that, â€Å"the entering takes away†. By engaging with the possibility of belonging, much like their counterpart in â€Å"My Letter to the World†, the persona c onversely finds that it isn’t for her, and instead comes to the understanding that she was more comfortable in her own place. Lack of understanding, especially of things that are foreign to us, and how it acts as a barrier to belonging is a theme explored extensively in Shaun Tan’s â€Å"The Lost Thing†.A boy discovers a creature and takes it on a journey through the industrialised conglomerate that takes no heed of it. The â€Å"Lost Thing† is first discovered on a beach; its striking red shade and natural-looking shape instantly convey to the reader how out of place it is in respect to its rather colourless, angular surroundings. The confusion and uncertainty that the people who notice the â€Å"Thing† are epitomised in the narrator’s lines â€Å"It just sat there, looking out of place. I was baffled. † In the end, their search for the â€Å"Lost Thing’s† place, take them to a bizarre place, where all sorts of lost thi ngs have gathered.Far away from the wider society’s inability to comprehend the â€Å"Lost Thing’s† existence, here it can assimilate into a world where its features are far less likely to warrant particular notice. Throughout the book, a recurring visual motif appears in the form of a white, wavy arrow. It initially evades notice – much like the â€Å"Lost Thing† in its society – up until it becomes relevant to the story as a marker leading the two main characters to the world that the â€Å"Lost Thing† eventually finds a home in.Much like Dickinson’s persona’s, it is by making the attempt to find a place of belonging that the â€Å"Lost Thing† is able to navigate past a society that does not understand it into one that does. Society’s perceived indifference and its associated unwillingness or inability to understand play an integral role in the â€Å"My Letter to the World† persona’s percept ion of belonging. Whether this perception is the reality is not made clear; however, by playing on the insecurities of the persona this perception exacerbates her inability to belong.The persona makes it clear that she is alienated by the wider world through the line, â€Å"Her message is committed/To hands I cannot see†. As she is not privy to the contents of this letter, she is therefore not part of this understanding that is shared by the wider community. The idea that this is passed by hands that she cannot see is also significant; it gives the connotation that there is a barrier between the persona and the rest of the world, and until she bridges this barrier and shares in the understanding, she cannot belong.Through â€Å"My Letter to the World†, Dickinson expresses the idea that understanding is perhaps the key to belonging between individuals and groups. Similarly, in â€Å"The Lost Thing†, a lack of understanding gives way to the absence of belonging, a nd a desire on the part of the wider society to get rid of that which the misunderstanding originates from. The society of Tan’s book is unable to connect and interact with the objects they cannot accept into the drab surroundings of their day to day life.The society’s misguided attempts to categorise everything in their world is embodied in the â€Å"Federal Department of Odds and Ends†. Tan parodies government mottos by inventing one for his invented federal department, â€Å"sweepus underum carpetae†. The pseudo Latin suggests that the Department’s purpose is nothing more than to â€Å"sweep things under the rug†. An imperative, â€Å"Don’t Panic†, follows the question â€Å"finding that the order of day-to-day life is unexpectedly interrupted? on the Department’s advertisement, and is indicative of the entire society’s attitude to things that seem out of place. The Lost Thing’s invisibility in its soci ety is highlighted by the small size with which it is depicted against the cityscape. On one of the last pages, Tan poses a series of illustrations in which it appears as though the view is panning out from a tram to a view of several, then of hundreds; this impresses upon readers how easy it is to go unnoticed in the face of society’s lack of care and understanding.An understanding thus cannot be reached between the Lost Thing and its environment, prompting its search for one where this is possible. An understanding between individuals and groups is imperative to a sense of belonging. Both Dickinson’s poems and Tan’s picture book detail the struggles to belong that can transpire from a lack of understanding and also depict the happy reality that results from newfound understanding.

Understanding Soft Power in U.S. Foreign Policy

Understanding Soft Power in U.S. Foreign Policy Soft power is a term used to describe a nations use of co-operative programs and monetary aide to persuade other nations to ascribe to its policies. With U.S. State Department budget cuts likely in the wake of the August 2, 2011 debt ceiling deal, many observers expect soft-power programs to suffer. Origin of the Phrase "Soft Power" Dr. Joseph Nye, Jr., a noted foreign policy scholar, and practitioner coined the phrase soft power in 1990. Nye has served as the Dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard; Chairman of the National Intelligence Council; and Assistant Secretary of Defense in Bill Clintons administration. He has written and lectured extensively on the idea and usage of soft power. Nye describes soft power as the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than through coercion. He sees strong relations with allies, economic assistance programs, and vital cultural exchanges as examples of soft power. Obviously, soft power is the opposite of hard power. Hard power includes the more noticeable and predictable power associated with military force, coercion, and intimidation. One of the main objectives of foreign policy is to get other nations to adopt your policy goals as their own. Soft power programs can often influence that without the expense- in people, equipment, and munitions- and animosity that military power can create. Examples of Soft Power The classic example of American soft power is the Marshall Plan. After World War II, the United States pumped billions of dollars into war-ravaged western Europe to prevent it from falling to the influence of the Communist Soviet Union. The Marshall Plan included humanitarian aid, such as food and medical care; expert advice for rebuilding destroyed infrastructures, such as transportation and communication networks and public utilities; and outright monetary grants. Educational exchange programs, such as President Obamas 100,000 Strong initiative with China, are also an element of soft power and so are all varieties of disaster assistance programs, such as flood control in Pakistan; earthquake relief in Japan and Haiti; tsunami relief in Japan and India; and famine relief in the Horn of Africa. Nye also sees American cultural exports, such as movies, soft drinks, and fast-food chains, as an element of soft power. While those also include the decisions of many private American businesses, U.S. international trade and business policies enable those cultural exchanges to occur. Cultural exchanges repeatedly impress foreign nations with the freedom and openness of U.S. business and communication dynamics. The Internet, which reflects American freedom of expression, is also a soft power. President Obamas administration has reacted harshly to attempts of some nations to curb the Internet to eliminate the influence of dissidents, and they readily point to the effectiveness of social media in encouraging the rebellions of Arab Spring. As such, Obama recently introduced his International Strategy for Cyberspace. Budget Problems for Soft Power Programs? Nye has seen a decline in the United States use of soft power since 9/11. The wars of Afghanistan and Iraq and the Bush Doctrines use of preventive warfare and unilateral decision making have all eclipsed the value of soft power in the minds of people at home and abroad. Given that perception, budget woes make it likely that the U.S. State Department- coordinator of most of Americas soft power programs- will take another financial hit. The State Department already suffered $8 billion in cuts to the remainder of its FY 2011 budget in April 2011 when the president and Congress made a deal to avoid a government shutdown. The August 2, 2011, debt ceiling deal which they reached to avoid a debt default calls for $2.4 trillion in spending cuts over by 2021; that amounts to $240 billion in cuts each year. Soft power supporters fear that, because military spending became so predominant in the 2000s, and because the State Department accounts for only 1% of the federal budget, it will likely be an easy target for cuts.

En Fait French Expression Explained

En Fait French Expression Explained The French expression en fait (pronounced [a(n) feht]) is a statement of contradiction, used when you want to set the record straight. Its the equivalent of saying something like in fact, as a matter of fact or actually in English. Its  register  is normal. Examples   Ã‚  -As-tu faim ? -Non, en fait, jai dà ©j mangà ©.-Are you hungry? -No, actually, Ive already eaten.   Ã‚  -Javais pensà © que nous allions le faire ensemble, mais en fait jà ©tais tout seul.-Id thought we were going to do it together, but, in fact, I was by myself. Confusions There are two potential confusions with the expression en fait: Its really only used to contradict something. In English, theres another meaning of in fact, where you agree with what was just said and want to add some more information, as in Yes, in fact, thats a good idea. In this case, a better translation of in fact is en effet, effectivement, or possibly justement.Though it may sound similar, the expression au fait means something very different.

Handgun Registration essays

Handgun Registration essays Should handguns be restricted? Handguns have been around for many centuries and we have no control over the how the owners use them. Adam Smith in his Fifty Million Handguns is for registration on handguns but does not agree for the banning of handguns. Although through the eyes of some people the registering of handguns is not such an effective way of preventing criminal, domestic, accidental shootings but is a good place to start. On the other hand there are those whose idea differ from those of Adam Smith for they find registration will lead to confiscation. Adam Smith believes that even with the registration on handguns it will not affect the rate of deaths caused by handguns dramatically. Smith also believes that guns dont kill people, people kill people. Registration on handguns will prevent few people to own guns but will not ultimately end the production of guns for the criminals on the black market. Don B. Kates, Jr. in his Against Civil Disarmament is totally against registration on handguns. Kates believes that we as a society need to be able to not only protect ourselves against criminals but, someday protect ourselves against the government. Kates also believes that registration on handguns will eventually lead to the confiscation of handguns. The thought of confiscation on handguns seem highly improbable but possible. He thinks that registration wont decrease the crime rate and that itll have a negative effect. Registration diverts resources that otherwise might be utilized for some effective purpose. Its a known fact that handguns are used in more domestic shootings and causes of deaths than criminal and accidental. The registration of a handgun will not affect the amount of domestic deaths. Even with a registered gun, a child can find it in a home and accidentally shot upon a family member. The banning of handguns is a mor ...

Mass extinctions, then and now Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Mass extinctions, then and now - Essay Example The extent of mass extinction or bio-diversity has been evident from previous times but the impact of the same is pragmatic to be more crucial under the current bio-diversity. This severity is majorly pretentious by the changes that are incorporated within the planet reflecting on habitat destruction, climate change, along with the spread of invasive species (Mace & Lande, 1990). With this regard, the essay intends to elaborate on the different discriminations that are applicable by science on the issues of mass destruction. Through the different issues that hint towards mass destruction, the essay elaborates on the needs of management of different attributes related with the concerns that are attached with the severe destructive attribute of mass destruction and provides an insight towards the same. Despite of being acquainted of the fact that biodiversity is of utmost importance, the diverse activities of human being are causing huge amount of impact leading to mass extinction. The different instances of massive extinction of biomass are caused due to geological, astronomical, and climatic changes that are imposed due to several actions undertaken by humans. Human beings often intentionally or unknowingly get involved into certain actions that give rise to hazardous situation for earth and paves way for mass extinctions. Reviewing the different lifestyle of earth, it is evident that an interrelated ecosystem is prevalent and every species depends on others to lead their lifestyle and enhance the life expectancy and lead a proper lifestyle. Climate, atmosphere, land, agriculture are also highly dependent on the different operations of living organisms and can lead to certain amount of adversity as well as vulnerability due to actions that are taken by the same (Holsinger, 2013) . Various researches conducted in the field of mass extinctions that was prominent in the history of the earth reflect on reckless mass extinction of

Role of the International Court of Justice Essay - 2

Role of the International Court of Justice - Essay Example contentious procedure1. This court is also responsible for giving advisory opinion regarding legal issue brought forth before the court by authorized UN and specialized agencies, i.e. the advisory procedure. This court has a number of 15 judges, and they are elected by the UN’s General Assembly. These judges normally serve for a term of 9 years, and the court is situated in Hague, the Netherlands2. This paper describes the function of this court, and it gives specific examples for purposes of demonstrating a particular role. This court is responsible for settling contentious cases, between states that agree to submit a case before it. Under this function, only member states of the United Nations can bring a case before the court, and after the ruling, the states under consideration must agree to follow and implement the ruling under consideration. It is important to understand that corporate organizations, Federal States, organs of the United Nations, and Non-Governmental Organizations cannot participate directly in the cases brought forth in the court3. However, the court allows these institutions to provide any information that would support and help the court to come up with a decisive and good conclusion regarding the case under consideration. It is important to understand that in as much as non state actors cannot participate in the proceedings of the court, a state can bring in a case in the court, for the main purpose of protecting the interests of its citizens or its own corporation. An example is the case that the United States brought before the court in 1980, in protest to the detention of American diplomats in Iran4. In this case, the judges of the ICJ ruled that Iran had violated the principles that guide diplomatic relations, and on this basis, the country should take responsibility for its actions. The court further went on to rule that

Avivas Leadership Power and Motivation Lab Report

Avivas Leadership Power and Motivation - Lab Report Example Aviva is the largest general insurer in the UK and has close to 31.5 million customers spread across the 16 countries. According to the company website, the company attained 2.2 billion UK pounds in profits after tax in 2013 compared to 2.9 billion pounds reported in 2012 (Aviva 2014). The cash remittances grew by 40 percent to reach 1.3 billion UK pounds while the new business increased by 13 percent to 835 million during the year 2013. In the current 2014 financial year, Aviva is focused on improving the cash remittances while improving the life insurance business segment through differentiated pricing and building strategic partnerships in emerging markets (Aviva 2014). Aviva’s strategic framework is focused on investment, customer, distribution, and people Aviva has attained excellent performance in five metrics that include cash flow management, operating profits, a value of new business, expenses and combined operating ratio due to excellent leadership and people management. Aviva has a diverse product portfolio and highly talented employees that cater to the changing financial planning and insurance needs of both rural and urban customers (Aviva 2014). Leadership is a critical aspect of Aviva’s success since the management is committed to the organizational goals and has outlined a clear vision that is focused on increasing returns to the fund investors and satisfying the insurance customers. Another key aspect that has fostered Aviva’s growth and profitability is motivation since the employees are committed to higher performance in their jobs. The report will discuss the success of Aviva using organizational theories and c oncepts of leadership and power. The second element of organizational design and management of people that will be the motivational strategies that have been used by the company to ensure high employee performance.

Critical Book Review on saint Augustine - confessions Essay

Critical Book Review on saint Augustine - confessions - Essay Example Augustine lived a hedonistic lifestyle in his youth and hence developed a close relationship with a young woman who remained his concubine for fifteen years and got a son by her named Adeodatus. By the age of thirty, Augustine had carved an enviable niche for himself in the Latin world. Bishop Ambrose was the key person to have changed Augustine’s outlook on life. It was in the summer of 386 AD, that Augustine became inspired after reading the â€Å"Life of Saint Anthony of the Desert† and that’s when he decided to convert back to Christianity, become a priest, follow celibacy and devote himself to God. â€Å"Confessions† written by Saint Augustine, gives us a vivid account of the pagan life he had led as well as his spiritual transformation as a devout Christian. The word â€Å"Confessions†, take on two meanings – one is to confess ones sins before God and the other is to acknowledge the truth about God. Therefore â€Å"Confessions†, can be taken as praise and glory to God Our Father. Augustine takes us on a mysterious pilgrimage from paganism to the state of grace relying on God’s strength and magnanimity. As in the words of Augustine, â€Å"they shall praise the Lord who seek him† (8) for â€Å"those who seek shall find him† (9) and â€Å"finding him shall praise him†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..(10). This is precisely what happened to Augustine. In Book One, when recalling the trouble he gave to his mother and those who looked after him as an infant. He recalls to mind how as a boy going to school he hated learning and used to get flogged by his elders. He was also given to gluttony, relentless lies to his parents and tutors and craved dishonest victories, often pilfering things from his parents to trade with other children the baubles they were willing to sell. He is disgusted by his own ways and cries out in despair to the Lord saying, â€Å"Oh, God! Woe to the sins of men! When

Pros and cons of outsourcing IT security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pros and cons of outsourcing IT security - Essay Example In this paper IT related outsourcing shall be dealt with in relation to various pros and cons that it has on a big company. Proponents of this mode of operations have put forth quite a number of the advantages that befall a major company. They have argued that for contemporary management the question should not be on whether to outsource or not but how much to outsource as IT related functions are many and some may pose huge challenge or more security risk than others. The following are some of the major advantages that a major company will face: A large company’s IT department is usually huge and having many projects to run. At times these departments are regarded as contributing to the organisation less than they consume. Huge IT departments are cumbersome to operate and outsourcing will ensure that the company is able to operate in a better way than before as argued by Frank (2009). Outsourcing firms also offer consultancy on how to best handle internal controls and in this case in relation to IT related operations thereby in the end ensuring that the company is in a better position to control its IT functions. Outsourcing in many cases acts as a cost cutting measure and with the current trend for many large companies to go the downsizing way, it has become a popular avenue. Outsourcing leads to a company needing less staff, less space and time says Tho (2005). This in totality brings efficiency in the general operations of the company. A large firm will most likely refer its IT functions to a highly competent vendor thereby ensuring high quality IT services. This high quality is coupled with lower costs as bulk contracts attract better contractual deals. The IT sector is one that is quite volatile and as time passes new technologies emerge. These advancements at times can be quite rapid that the company may not be in a position to adopt it as fast. This may be related to financial constrains or

Swatch - strategic management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Swatch - strategic management - Case Study Example The introduction of the Swatch watch is not simply a single-company success; it revolutionizes the whole Swiss watch industry. It is a brand name associated with style and fashion that has sold over 200 million units within a decade obtaining strong presence in all big markets. By 1998 the watch industry is shifting to the mature phase of its life cycle, bringing new challenges to Swatch and the other watch manufacturers. Swatch management team is facing the necessity to reconsider strategy, pressed by several major developments: By 1998 the watch market is reaching its maturity phase. What is typical for the maturity stage in an industry is decreasing sales growth and tougher competition (Thompson, 1996). Persuasive promotion and strong brand identity are key success factors for market leaders and this is one of Swatch's competitive advantages that can be used to counteract competitive pressures. Increased competition in the maturity stage of the life cycle means more companies adopting the Swatch strategy in terms of pricing and brand positioning, competing on the same market segment. Swatch's major competitors are The Timex Corporation with a number of watch brands positioned differently to cover different market segments; Guess, already part of The Timex Corporation; Fossil, and Casio. There are several factors that influence the intensity of competition (Porter, Competitive Strategy, pp. 17-21). In the watch industry intense rivalry is fuelled by the slow market growth, due to life-cycle maturity stage; and an increasing number of companies competing with equal offers on a market that is limited and decreasing in size. The high volume mass market segment is likely to attract further market entrants - other low cost manufacturers from Far Eastern countries. Additionally, on the low-price mass market segment product and brand switching is very easy, especially for fashion-driven products. According to Figures 3 and 5 in the case study, the players in the watch industry can be put in several categories. Cheap Hong Kong brands - low priced product associated with low prestige and no design exclusivity. Up-market segment dominated by watches like Rolex, Rado in the high prestige, high-priced category. Because of the specific market niche, these watches are sold in smaller quantities and have high profit margins. Medium prestige, medium price category between the two market extremes - dominated by companies like Seiko and Citizen. Swatch's strategy is in the low-price but strongly branded category, competing with brands like Benetton, J. Boxer, Timberland, Kickers etc. 1.4. Changing consumer base The power of customers is one of the five competitive forces, as identified by Porter (Porter Competitive Strategy, 1980). The changes in the consumer base are caused by demographic and fashion developments. The watch market is strongly influenced by changing lifestyle and fashion. Preference to more durable metal watches makes the standard Swatch plastic watch less attractive. To respond to this change, the company has introduced the Irony brand that is in line with new trends. Another pressing factor is changing demographics that will lead to decrease in customer base over the next decade. This means that Swatch will have to compete for fewer customers in the present market

Critical Book Review on saint Augustine - confessions Essay

Critical Book Review on saint Augustine - confessions - Essay Example Augustine lived a hedonistic lifestyle in his youth and hence developed a close relationship with a young woman who remained his concubine for fifteen years and got a son by her named Adeodatus. By the age of thirty, Augustine had carved an enviable niche for himself in the Latin world. Bishop Ambrose was the key person to have changed Augustine’s outlook on life. It was in the summer of 386 AD, that Augustine became inspired after reading the â€Å"Life of Saint Anthony of the Desert† and that’s when he decided to convert back to Christianity, become a priest, follow celibacy and devote himself to God. â€Å"Confessions† written by Saint Augustine, gives us a vivid account of the pagan life he had led as well as his spiritual transformation as a devout Christian. The word â€Å"Confessions†, take on two meanings – one is to confess ones sins before God and the other is to acknowledge the truth about God. Therefore â€Å"Confessions†, can be taken as praise and glory to God Our Father. Augustine takes us on a mysterious pilgrimage from paganism to the state of grace relying on God’s strength and magnanimity. As in the words of Augustine, â€Å"they shall praise the Lord who seek him† (8) for â€Å"those who seek shall find him† (9) and â€Å"finding him shall praise him†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..(10). This is precisely what happened to Augustine. In Book One, when recalling the trouble he gave to his mother and those who looked after him as an infant. He recalls to mind how as a boy going to school he hated learning and used to get flogged by his elders. He was also given to gluttony, relentless lies to his parents and tutors and craved dishonest victories, often pilfering things from his parents to trade with other children the baubles they were willing to sell. He is disgusted by his own ways and cries out in despair to the Lord saying, â€Å"Oh, God! Woe to the sins of men! When

Swatch - strategic management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Swatch - strategic management - Case Study Example The introduction of the Swatch watch is not simply a single-company success; it revolutionizes the whole Swiss watch industry. It is a brand name associated with style and fashion that has sold over 200 million units within a decade obtaining strong presence in all big markets. By 1998 the watch industry is shifting to the mature phase of its life cycle, bringing new challenges to Swatch and the other watch manufacturers. Swatch management team is facing the necessity to reconsider strategy, pressed by several major developments: By 1998 the watch market is reaching its maturity phase. What is typical for the maturity stage in an industry is decreasing sales growth and tougher competition (Thompson, 1996). Persuasive promotion and strong brand identity are key success factors for market leaders and this is one of Swatch's competitive advantages that can be used to counteract competitive pressures. Increased competition in the maturity stage of the life cycle means more companies adopting the Swatch strategy in terms of pricing and brand positioning, competing on the same market segment. Swatch's major competitors are The Timex Corporation with a number of watch brands positioned differently to cover different market segments; Guess, already part of The Timex Corporation; Fossil, and Casio. There are several factors that influence the intensity of competition (Porter, Competitive Strategy, pp. 17-21). In the watch industry intense rivalry is fuelled by the slow market growth, due to life-cycle maturity stage; and an increasing number of companies competing with equal offers on a market that is limited and decreasing in size. The high volume mass market segment is likely to attract further market entrants - other low cost manufacturers from Far Eastern countries. Additionally, on the low-price mass market segment product and brand switching is very easy, especially for fashion-driven products. According to Figures 3 and 5 in the case study, the players in the watch industry can be put in several categories. Cheap Hong Kong brands - low priced product associated with low prestige and no design exclusivity. Up-market segment dominated by watches like Rolex, Rado in the high prestige, high-priced category. Because of the specific market niche, these watches are sold in smaller quantities and have high profit margins. Medium prestige, medium price category between the two market extremes - dominated by companies like Seiko and Citizen. Swatch's strategy is in the low-price but strongly branded category, competing with brands like Benetton, J. Boxer, Timberland, Kickers etc. 1.4. Changing consumer base The power of customers is one of the five competitive forces, as identified by Porter (Porter Competitive Strategy, 1980). The changes in the consumer base are caused by demographic and fashion developments. The watch market is strongly influenced by changing lifestyle and fashion. Preference to more durable metal watches makes the standard Swatch plastic watch less attractive. To respond to this change, the company has introduced the Irony brand that is in line with new trends. Another pressing factor is changing demographics that will lead to decrease in customer base over the next decade. This means that Swatch will have to compete for fewer customers in the present market

Current Event- Foxconn Essay Example for Free

Current Event- Foxconn Essay Having a business in the electronic industry is difficult because this industry is very competitive. To stay at the same level as other competitors or rise above, companies have to be more innovative and efficient. Companies are often under pressure to find the lowest-cost providers, and typically are free to look globally. This is where outsourcing and offshoring comes into effect, along with the difficulty in finding balance in the corporation when dealing with different societies and their culture. In order to stay at the same level as other companies or rise above, Apple Inc. outsourced and offshored its jobs to many countries. This article shows that Apple, being a multination corporation (MNC), has a blend of polycentric and regio-centric predisposition management strategies, dealing with human rights and labor practices. Apple at first made management decisions that were tailored to suit the culture, in this case, China; however, over the years, Apple has been scrutinized for their human rights and labor practices due to offshoring and outsourcing of jobs. In 2010 there were numerous amounts of suicides that occurred within the factories that Apple outsourced its jobs to. These suicides were due to bad working and living conditions, which stemmed from 60 hour work weeks, low pay, abuse on the job and countless other reasons. Since Apple subcontracted their business to other companies, in this case Foxconn in China, Foxconn can manage their facility the way they want to, to a certain extent. There are many reasons as to why there have been many suicides at these overseas factories. However, one major contributing factor to the numerous suicides is the abuse that workers deal with. It has been reported that managers of Foxconn have been known to abuse workers for mistakes or missing deadlines. According to Trompeanaars’ cultural dimensions, this abuse could be due to China being a particularistic culture, in which conflicts can arise when doing business with another country which has a universalistic culture. And this is where the obligations of Apple being a MNC comes into play. Does Apple adopt the regulations of the U.S. or those in China? It seems to me that Apple decides to do some of both. Since Apple has many suppliers in different countries, it is only fitting to believe that Apple is changing its’ management decisions, concentrating on human rights and labor practices, towards region-centric strategies for profitability and public acceptance. Some of the more difficult to understand or solve ethical problems occur as corporations do business in other societies where ethical standards differ from those at home. This article also ties into corporate social responsibility (CSR). As a response to the many suicides in 2010, Apple created the Supplier Responsibility Progress Report to help drive the change that needed to occur in the ethical aspect of the company. This report consisted of: driving change, empowering employees, protecting foreign contract workers, preventing underage labor, monitoring compliance (through audits), responding to suicides, holding suppliers accountable, and moving forward. To further enhance the company’s CSR, in March, Apple and its Foxconn supplier reached an agreement to increase wages from 16 to 25 percent, and to improve working conditions for the 1.2 million workers assembling Apple products. Since Apple Inc has outsourced and offshored the business to other companies, it continues to deal with ethical issues the most. Although Apple has created and implemented policies to bring more balance between the different societies and cultures, there will still be issues because there is no universally adopted standard for what is acceptable behavior. However, since Apple is considered a top leader in the electronic industry, implementation of improved labor practices and human rights can help other western companies to bring about change; as well as how they do business in not only China, but other countries where there are difficulties in dealing with different societies and cultures.

Rituximab Discovery Process

Rituximab Discovery Process Description of the Target Disease Rituximab (Rituxan) is a distinct monoclonal antibody for curing of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma(NHL) or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This drug is also used in conjunction with methotrexate to cure symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. This form of cancer begins from the lymphatic system and extends all over the body. In this disease, tumor grows from lymphocytes-a variety of white blood cell. The lymphatic system is a fraction of the immune system and aids battle infections and other ailments in addition to sieving out bacteria. Clear liquid called lymph runs via the lymphatic vessels and have white blood cells called lymphocytes that fight infections (Kim 266). Although there are several diverse kinds of lymphoma that exist, this specific type is mostly widespread. The major indicator of the health is the presence of a bump in a lymph node. In the UK, over 11,000 infections of lymphoma are detected each year. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is related with ageing as the chances of gett ing the illness increases with age and its typical age of detection is estimated at 65. While the root of the health condition is unidentified, the risk features of developing it consist of having a health condition that deteriorates the immune system, previous contact with high amounts of radiation and being formerly in contact with Epstein-Barr virus. The standard way to verify the presence of this form of lymphoma is by conducting a biopsy (investigation of infected lymph bump. Survival chances of a patient with illness differ significantly depending on the actual type, status and phase of the lymphoma. Rituximab (Rituxan) vaccine is used in the curing of lymphoma and was discerned at IDEC Pharmaceuticals’ laboratories in 1991 and marketed by Genentech, a subordinate of Roche Group. The antibody was hereditarily engineered and used to generate high-yield expression structures. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) endorsed Rituximab in 1997 for curing this type of lymphoma. The vaccine received EU endorsement in June 1998 and sold under the brand name MabThera. On January 2011, the FDA endorsed Rituxan for treatment of superior follicular lymphoma (Carson et al. 820). Pharmaceutical Discovery Process of Rituxan As a curative IgG1 kappa antibody, Rituxan has mouse variable areas separated from anti-CD20 antibody. The antibody targets the lymphoma by binding itself with high resemblance to the cells having the CD20 antigen present on the exterior of normal B cells, excluding other regular cells. It mediates complement-reliant tissue lysis in the existence of human balance and antibody-reliant cellular cytotoxicity. The vaccine helps the immune system of the body to eradicate the stained CD20 B cells, reproduce new strong tissues from the lymphoid and takes them back to normal phases within a period of twelve months. In addition, the drug has been proven to stimulate apoptosis and modifies chemo-resistant lymphoma cells into in vitro (Ghetie et al. 1395). Clinical Phases of Rituximab Clinical trials are potential biomedical studies on human beings that are created to gather information about precise question on biomedical interventions. They are vital to the development of new drugs and vaccines used to prevent and cure diseases. Clinical researches are carried out to ascertain whether an innovative medication is secure and effective. Such studies are conducted after satisfactory information has been collected and approved by health authorities in the country of research. Ideally, clinical trials on new medicines comprises of four stages. Each phase of the procedure is regarded as a distinct clinical trial and the medicine development goes through all the stages over several years. After successfully proceeding through all the four phases, the drug is eventually endorsed by the regulatory authority for utilization in the whole population. The first phase of clinical development of Rituximab began in 1993. This phase involves the examination of biochemical effects of medicines on the body (pharmacodynamics) and the assessment of the body affects a drug (pharmacokinetics). In single-arm (pharmacodynamics) research, 166 patients who had B cell lymphoma were given four doses of 375 m/m2 of Rituxan as an intravenous infusion on weekly basis. Patients who had tumor of more than10cm in the marginal blood were not included in the study. It was observed that the infusion of Rituxan caused reduction of circulating B cells. Among the 166 patients infected with lymphoma, circulating B cells were lessened in the initial three weeks with continued reduction for 6 months following the treatment, in 83% of the patients. B cell revival began at about six months and the mean B cell levels went back to usual levels by 12 months after conclusion of treatment. It was also observed that there were continued and statistically considerable d epletion in serum levels from five to eleven months, after Rituximab administration Idusogie (Esohe et al. 1480). In pharmacokinetics study, 203 lymphoma patients were given four doses of 375mg/m2 Rituxan intravenous infusion on weekly basis. Rituxan was identified in the patients’ serum within 3 to 6 months following conclusion of treatment. The pharmacokinetic outline of Rituximab when given in form of six infusions of 375mg/m2in conjunction with six doses of chemotherapy was comparable to that observed with Rituximab only. In accordance to 298 non-Hodgkin’s patients who were given Rituximab dose once weekly, scrutiny of information indicated that the median terminal eradication lifespan was twenty two days (series of 6 to 52 days). The patients who had more CD19 cell tally or bigger measurable tumor before treatment indicated higher clearance. Age and sex had no impact on the Rituximab’s pharmacokinetics (Byrd et al. 790). Patients were exposed to varying from a single mixture up to a period of two years. Rituxan was researched in single and regulated trials. Majority of the patients obtained 375mg/m2 of Rituxan infusion, provided as a solitary agent on weekly basis up to eight doses, in conjunction with eight doses of chemotherapy or 16 doses of chemotherapy. Many of the lymphoma patients reported various infusion reactions comprising of fever, nausea, angioedema, headache, rash, vomiting, pruritus, myaldia, bronchospasm and dizziness after the initial Rituxan infusion. The infusion responses generally happened in 30 to 120 minutes after the initial infusion and steadied with slowing of the Rituxan infusion coupled with helpful care. The occurrence of the infusion effects was highest at the in initial infusion (77%) and reduced gradually with each preceding infusion. Patients who previously had untreated health condition and did not show a rank 3 or 4 reaction associated with infusion in cycle 1 and obtained of 90 minutes Rituxan infusion at cycle 2, the occurrence of Grade3 to 4 infusion associated responses was 1.1% on or a day following the infusion. In cycles 2 to 8, the occurrence of Grade 3 to 4 infusion responses after the 90 minutes was 2.8% on or a day following the infusion (McLaughlin et al. 1765). Severe infections (Grade 3 or 4), consisting of sepsis, happened in not more than 5% of the lymphoma patients in the single-arm researches. The general occurrence of illnesses was 31% (viral 10%, unknown 6%, bacterial 19% and fungal 1%). In the haphazard regulated researches where Rituxan had been given after chemotherapy for the healing of the medical condition, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the speed of infection was greater amongst the patients who had been given Rituxan. In scattered lymphoma patients with large B-cell, viral infections happened more repeatedly for those who had obtained Rituxan. For lymphoma patients who had been given Rituximab monotheraphy, 48% of them displayed cytopenias of score 3 and 4. These comprised lymphopenia (40%), thrombocytopenia (2%). leucopenia (4%) and neutropenia (6%) .The mean period was 14 days for lymphopenia (range, 1 to 588 days) and 13 days for neutropenia (range, 2 to 116 days). Further, a single incidence of red cell aplastic (transient anemia) and two incidences of hemolytic anemia after Rituxan treatment happened at some stages in the single-arm researches. In the researches of monotheraphy, induced B-cell reduction happened in 71% to 81% of the lymphoma patients. Reduced serum levels of IgM and IgG happened in 14% of the patients (Idusogie et al. 1487). In phase III of the clinical trials were based on primary Rituxan and maintenance. This clinical trial was carried out in an open and randomized way comprising of two treatment stages and 1217 non-Hodgkin’s patients were enrolled. The research assessed the safety of Rituxan when mixed with chemotherapy in curing patients possessed with the medical condition. The principal outcome gauge was to unearth the Progression Free Survival (PFS) duration from randomization to development, death or relapse. The secondary result measure consisted assessment of response paces, chemotherapy treatments mixed both with and devoid of Rituxan and event motivated endurance endpoints. For the initial treatment, eight doses of Rituxan mixed with diverse chemotherapy were utilized. Patients who reacted to the first treatment were dispersed to obtain Rituxan on one occasion in a period of two months, for duration of two years, as the only agent. The resulted obtained indicated that the prescription of Rituxan in conjunction with chemotherapy for the particular period multiplied twice the PFS in the lymphoma patients. The research also confirmed that the protection and effectiveness of 375mg/m2 Rituxan was constant in the subsequently utilized pivotal researches when utilized solely or in conjunction with chemotherapy unlike those who ceased receiving Rituxan. Patients who were given Rituxan showed Grade 2 infection. Grade 3 to 4 severe responses of small white blood cell tally and infections were reported to be advance in Rituxan group. Post Marketing Experience As these reactions are detailed willingly from a populace of tentative size, it is impossible to dependably approximate their frequency or develop an informal association to drug exposure. Choices to consider in these reactions when labeling are normally based on the following aspect: seriousness of response, incidence of reporting, or potency of causal attachment to Rituxan. There are no sufficient and well-regulated researches on the use of Rituximab in expectant. post marketing information pointed out that B lymphocytopenia cell typically enduring not more than six months can happen in infants subjected to Rituximab in the uterus. Rituximab was discovered in the serum of newborns after birth. NHL is a severe illness that necessitates treatment. Rituximab ought to be utilized only during pregnancy if the probable gain to the mother validates potential threat to the fetus. Reproduction researches in cynomolgus monkeys at motherly exposures comparable to human curative exposures indi cated no sign of teratogenic effects. Although B cell tissue was lessened in the progeny of treated monkeys, b cell tally returned to usual points after six months of delivery (Leget et al. 547). In the case of nursing mothers, it is unidentified whether Rituxan is produced into human milk. Published information proposes that antibodies present in breast milk stops from going into the infant circulations in significant amounts. FDA has not necessitated pediatric researches in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (PJIA) people of ages below 16 years due to worry of potential extended immune suppression in the growing immature immune system. Therefore, the safety of Rituxan in people with pediatric condition has not been ascertained. Immunogenicity Just like with all curative proteins, there is a possibility of immunogenicity. The indentified occurrence of positivity of antibody in an assay is greatly reliant on various factors comprising assay sensitivity, sample handling, assay methodology, concomitant treatments, sample gathering timing and underlying ailment. Due to the above reasons, assessment of the occurrence of antibodies to Rituximab and to other results may be deceiving. While utilizing an ELISA assay, Human Anti-Chimerical Antibody (HACA) was observed in (1.1%) 4 of 436 people with the lymphoma acquiring sole-agent Rituxan. 75% of the patients had purposive clinical reaction (Leget et al. 549). After the successful completion of the clinical trials on November 26, 1997, the Food and Drug Administration endorsed Rituximab, for showing the presence of follicular lymphoma. It formed the foremost monoclonal antibody endorsed for curing of cancer and the foremost sole agent endorsed precisely for healing of the specific lymphoma. Rituximab in conjunction with chemotherapy (CHOP) is better to CHOP only in the curing of huge lymphoma cells and various forms of B-cell lymphomas. The appropriate intravenous dose of 375mg/m2 is four weekly infusions. Healing is endured and outpatient treatment is feasible. Severe incidences are mainly grade 1 and 2, happening mostly with the initial infusion. In phase II sole-agent, the overall reaction pace was 50% with 10 months mean time to progression in patients. The bigger multicenter clinical test of 166 patients, the general reaction tempo was 48% (6% complete and 42% incomplete reactions). The median duration of reaction was 11 months and 13 months for responders. Activity has also been observed in patients with huge disease. Rituximab, endorsed for curing cancer, is safe and valuable in treating people with the health condition (Jazirehi Benjamin 2120). Mechanism of Action Rituximab attaches itself particularly to the antigen CD20, (B-lymphocyte-restricted segregation antigen, Bp35), a transmembrane protein that has a molecular mass of about 35 kD centered on B-lymphocytes. In the particular lymphoma, the antigen is shown on 90% of the B cells. However, the antigen does not exist on hematopoietic cells, normal plasma tissues or pro-B cells. CD20 controls an initial stride in the activation procedure for tissue cycle initiation and segregation, and probably operates as a calcium ion path.CD20 is not eradicated from the cell exterior and is not internalized when the antibody starts binding. B cells function also in the pathogenesis of the disease, rheumatoid arthritis and are related to chronic synovitis. In this situation, B cells might be operating at multiple locations in the autoimmune process, going through generation of rheumatoid factor (RF), antigen presentation and other autoantibodies production. The Fab realm of Rituximab attaches to the antig en CD20 present on the disease and its domain enlists immune effectors roles to intervene B-cell into vitro. Probable means of cell lysis comprise of Antibody-Dependent Cell Mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and Complement-Dependent Cytotoxitiy (CDC) (Janas et al. 442). The antibody has been demonstrated to stimulate apoptosis in the B-cell lymphoma. During tissue cross-reactivity, it was noted that Rituximab attached on the lymphoid tissues in the thymus, and on greater part of B-lymphocytes in marginal lymph and blood lumps. Little binding was seen in the non-lymphoid cells examined. Rituxan Prescription Administration of Rituxan to patients can cause severe side effects, which can eventually lead to death. Infusion reactions are the major usual side effects that occur. Severe infusion responses normally happen within 24 hours of initial infusion. It is important for patients to receive medicines to aid in reducing the possibility of having adverse infusion reactions from doctors. Patients with adverse infusion reaction history and other severe infections must notify their physicians before obtaining Rituxan. In case of occurrence of symptoms such as rash, sudden cough, itchiness, weakness and palpitations, patients should contact their doctors to obtain medication immediately. Other adverse side effects encompass Hepatitis B Virus reactivation, severe skin reaction and Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). Rituxan is administered by intravenous infusion through a needle. Blood tests are normally performed to ensure that no conditions that can safe hinder use of Rituxan ( Grillo-Là ³pez Antonio 770). The success and effectiveness of Rituximab has resulted in the development of advance anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. The advance value of Rituximab has given it superior edge over other drugs available in the market for the healing of the lymphoma. Amid its enhanced binding effect to cancerous B cells, Rituximab continues to dominate the market. Works cited Byrd, John C., et al. Rituximab therapy in hematologic malignancy patients with circulating blood tumor cells: association with increased infusion-related side effects and rapid blood tumor clearance. Journal of Clinical Oncology 17.3 (1999): 791-791. Carson, Kenneth R., et al. Monoclonal antibody-associated progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy in patients treated with rituximab, natalizumab, and efalizumab: a Review from the Research on Adverse Drug Events and Reports (RADAR) Project. The lancet oncology 10.8 (2009): 816-824. Ghetie, M. A., Bright, H., Vitetta, E. S. (2001). Homodimers but not monomers of Rituxan (chimeric anti-CD20) induce apoptosis in human B-lymphoma cells and synergize with a chemotherapeutic agent and an immunotoxin. Blood, 97(5), 1392-1398. Grillo-Là ³pez, Antonio J. Rituximab (Rituxan ®/MabThera ®): the first decade (1993-2003). Expert review of anticancer therapy 3.6 (2003): 767-779. Janas, E., et al. Rituxan (antià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ CD20 antibody)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ induced translocation of CD20 into lipid rafts is crucial for calcium influx and apoptosis. Clinical Experimental Immunology 139.3 (2005): 439-446. Jazirehi, Ali R., and Benjamin Bonavida. Cellular and molecular signal transduction pathways modulated by rituximab (rituxan, anti-CD20 mAb) in non-Hodgkins lymphoma: implications in chemosensitization and therapeutic intervention. Oncogene 24.13 (2005): 2121-2143. Kim, Julian A. Targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer. The American journal of surgery 186.3 (2003): 264-268. Leget, Gail A., and Myron S. Czuczman. Use of rituximab, the new FDA-approved antibody. Current opinion in oncology 10.6 (1998): 548-551. McLaughlin, Peter, et al. Clinical status and optimal use of rituximab for B-cell lymphomas. Oncology (Williston Park, NY) 12.12 (1998): 1763-9. Idusogie, Esohe E., et al. Mapping of the C1q binding site on rituxan, a chimeric antibody with a human IgG1 Fc. The Journal of Immunology 164.8 (2000): 4178-4184. Rapoport, A. P., et al. Autotransplantation for advanced lymphoma and Hodgkins disease followed by post-transplant rituxan/GM-CSF or radiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy. Bone marrow transplantation 29.4 (2002): 303-312.

Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own :: Virginia Woolf A Room of One’s Own

Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own Though published seventy years ago, Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own holds no less appeal today than it did then. Modern women writers look to Woolf as a prophet of inspiration. In November of 1929, Woolf wrote to her friend G. Lowes Dickinson that she penned the book because she "wanted to encourage the young women–they seem to get frightfully depressed" (xiv). The irony here, of course, is that Woolf herself eventually grew so depressed and discouraged that she killed herself. The suicide seems symptomatic of Woolf's own feelings of oppression within a patriarchal world where only the words of men, it seemed, were taken seriously. Nevertheless, women writers still look to Woolf as a liberating force and, in particular, at A Room of One's Own as an inspiring and empowering work. Woolf biographer Quentin Bell notes that the text argues: the disabilities of women are social and economic; the woman writer can only survive despite great difficulties, and despite the prejudice and the economic selfishness of men; and the key to emancipation is to be found in the door of a room which a woman may call her own and which she can inhabit with the same freedom and independence as her brothers. (144) Woolf empowers women writers by first exploring the nature of women and fiction, and then by incorporating notions of androgyny and individuality as it exists in a woman's experience as writer. Woolf's first assertion is that women are spatially hindered in creative life. "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction," Woolf writes, "and that as you will see, leaves the great problem of the true nature of women. . .and fiction unresolved" (4). What Woolf seems to say is that being female stifles creativity. Woolf does not assume, however, that a biological reason for this stifling exists. Instead, she implies that a woman's "life conflicts with something that is not life" (71). In other words, mothering, being a wife, and the general daily, culturally defined expectations of women infringe upon creativity, in particular the writing of fiction. The smothering reality of a woman's life - - housekeeping and child-rearing duties, for example - - distract a woman from writing. Sadly, Woolf notes, even if a woman in such circumstances manages to write anyway, "she will write in a rage where she should write calmly.

Cause of Homelessness :: Papers Exploratory Poor Poverty Welfare Essays

Cause of Homelessness Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 15-20 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Below is an overview of current poverty and housing statistics, as well as additional factors contributing to homelessness. A list of resources for further study is also provided. POVERTY Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, child care, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income, that must be dropped. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets. In 1997, 13.3% of the U.S. population, or 35.6 million people, lived in poverty (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1998a). While the number of poor people remains has not changed much in recent years, the number of people living in extreme poverty has increased. In 1997, 14.6 million people -- 41% of all poor persons -- had incomes of less than half the poverty level. This represents an increase of over 500,000 from 1995. Forty percent of persons living in poverty are children; in fact, the 1997 poverty rate of 19.9% for children is almost twice as high as the poverty rate for any other age group. Two factors help account for increasing poverty: eroding employment opportunities for large segments of the workforce, and the declining value and availability of public assistance. Eroding Work Opportunities Media reports of a growing economy and low unemployment mask a number of important reasons why homelessness persists, and, in some areas of the country, is worsening. These reasons include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits.

Decision Making: Espoused Versus Enacted Values

Decision Making: Espoused versus Enacted Values No matter what type of organization it is there are always tough decisions to make. These decisions are based off of the companies preferred norms and values or the employees. In any case, a decision has to be made. Sometimes there is a battle to stick with an organizations preferred values and norms or go with the values and norms exhibited by the employees (p. 39). We will look at the movie 2012 and take a look at concepts that have been described in regards to espoused values versus enacted values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition).The movie 2012 begins in India where a geophysical team learns that the earth’s core is heating up at a rapid pace. Dr. Adrian Henley makes the decision to warn the President of the United States that the crust of the earth is becoming very unstable. This instability can lead to a major catastrophe and the entire race will be doomed. Dr. Hemley assumed the Presid ent would alert the nation immediately. He was acting on his personal values and felt that everyone should be warned. Dr. Hemley felt as though everyone should have an opportunity to prepare for the worst.This is an example of an enacted value based off of emotions and what was ethically right. The government had their own agenda that was already established. . They only alerted the rich who were able to purchase a spot on arcs that were built for this type of disaster. This is an example of an espoused value within the organization. The government saw this as a way of meeting â€Å"humanity’s needs without harming future generations† (p. 39). They believed by saving the wealthy families they would have money to invest in rebuilding civilization. Again, Dr.Henley just could not sit right with the fact that the wealthy were only being warned. It was a constant battle inside him and he had to at least alert those closest to him. Dr. Henley gave his father a call and he w arned the geologist in India that first figured out the earth’s crust was heating up at a very rapid pace. This is another example of making a decision based off of an enacted value, emotions, and what was right ethically. Besides Dr. Henley and the government, another character in the movie was dealing with the same type of decision.Writer Jackson Curtis was working as a driver for a wealthy business man. Curtis was instructed to pick up the children of his boss and bring them to the plane where they would leave for the arc. In the midst of completing his assignment he stumbles upon the same information regarding the disaster that was about to occur. Curtis had children of his own and of course he wanted to save them as well. So he used the company car to pick up his kids, rent a plane, and get them to safety. Curtis still followed his boss’ instructions while following his heart.Hence, the struggle between espoused values versus enacted values is present in a smaller business as well. Organizations and their managers hope that their espoused values will directly influence the behavior and decisions of employees (p. 39) values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition). However, employees are human and can form their own opinions based on their own observations. Employees are human and emotions can affect their behavior and decisions. Organizations can have a strong desire to deliver results and not be oo flexible in getting those results. But with outside influences of the employees, a struggle between those espoused values and enacted values can present themselves. References 2012 (film). (n. d. ). Retrieved Sept. 21, 2012 from the OLPC Wiki http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/2012_(film) Central Michigan University. (2009). Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior (2nd ed. ). McGraw-Hill. Kinicki, A. & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills, and best practices (4th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGra w-Hill. . Decision Making: Espoused Versus Enacted Values Decision Making: Espoused versus Enacted Values No matter what type of organization it is there are always tough decisions to make. These decisions are based off of the companies preferred norms and values or the employees. In any case, a decision has to be made. Sometimes there is a battle to stick with an organizations preferred values and norms or go with the values and norms exhibited by the employees (p. 39). We will look at the movie 2012 and take a look at concepts that have been described in regards to espoused values versus enacted values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition).The movie 2012 begins in India where a geophysical team learns that the earth’s core is heating up at a rapid pace. Dr. Adrian Henley makes the decision to warn the President of the United States that the crust of the earth is becoming very unstable. This instability can lead to a major catastrophe and the entire race will be doomed. Dr. Hemley assumed the Presid ent would alert the nation immediately. He was acting on his personal values and felt that everyone should be warned. Dr. Hemley felt as though everyone should have an opportunity to prepare for the worst.This is an example of an enacted value based off of emotions and what was ethically right. The government had their own agenda that was already established. . They only alerted the rich who were able to purchase a spot on arcs that were built for this type of disaster. This is an example of an espoused value within the organization. The government saw this as a way of meeting â€Å"humanity’s needs without harming future generations† (p. 39). They believed by saving the wealthy families they would have money to invest in rebuilding civilization. Again, Dr.Henley just could not sit right with the fact that the wealthy were only being warned. It was a constant battle inside him and he had to at least alert those closest to him. Dr. Henley gave his father a call and he w arned the geologist in India that first figured out the earth’s crust was heating up at a very rapid pace. This is another example of making a decision based off of an enacted value, emotions, and what was right ethically. Besides Dr. Henley and the government, another character in the movie was dealing with the same type of decision.Writer Jackson Curtis was working as a driver for a wealthy business man. Curtis was instructed to pick up the children of his boss and bring them to the plane where they would leave for the arc. In the midst of completing his assignment he stumbles upon the same information regarding the disaster that was about to occur. Curtis had children of his own and of course he wanted to save them as well. So he used the company car to pick up his kids, rent a plane, and get them to safety. Curtis still followed his boss’ instructions while following his heart.Hence, the struggle between espoused values versus enacted values is present in a smaller business as well. Organizations and their managers hope that their espoused values will directly influence the behavior and decisions of employees (p. 39) values from Kreitner and Kinicki text Organizational Behavior (eighth edition). However, employees are human and can form their own opinions based on their own observations. Employees are human and emotions can affect their behavior and decisions. Organizations can have a strong desire to deliver results and not be oo flexible in getting those results. But with outside influences of the employees, a struggle between those espoused values and enacted values can present themselves. References 2012 (film). (n. d. ). Retrieved Sept. 21, 2012 from the OLPC Wiki http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/2012_(film) Central Michigan University. (2009). Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior (2nd ed. ). McGraw-Hill. Kinicki, A. & Kreitner, R. (2009). Organizational behavior: Key concepts, skills, and best practices (4th ed. ). Boston, MA: McGra w-Hill. .

Triple X Syndrome

Tracie Emmerich Professor Debbie Seale Biology 101 TR, 8:30-11:30 am 3/6/2012 Triple X Syndrome Triple X Syndrome is a sex chromosome abnormality in which there are three X chromosomes instead of the usual two found in most females. Triple X Syndrome is also known as Trisomy X, Triplo X Syndrome, and XXX Syndrome. The first published report of a woman with a karyotype with a 47, XXX was by Patricia A. Jacobs in 1959 at a hospital in Scotland. Most people have 46 chromosomes, occurring in 23 pairs. These chromosomes contain genes, which carry instructions that determine everything from your height to your eye color.One of these chromosome pairs determines your sex. You receive one sex chromosome from your mother and another from your father. Your mother can give you only an X chromosome, but your father can pass on an X or a Y chromosome. If you receive an X chromosome from your father, the XX pair makes you genetically a female. Females with Triple X syndrome have a third X chromosom e. Triple X syndrome usually results from an error in the formation of a mother's egg cell or a father's sperm cell. Sometimes, triple X syndrome occurs as a result of an error early in the embryo's development.Although this condition is genetic, it's typically not inherited. Instead, what usually happens is that either the mother's egg cell or the father's sperm cell has not formed correctly, resulting in an extra X chromosome. This random error in egg or sperm cell division is called nondisjunction. Nondisjunction is a random event and is not caused by anything either of the baby’s parents did or by any medications they may have taken. When the cause is a malformed egg cell or sperm cell, as is usually the case, all the body's cells have the extra chromosome.In the mosaic form, only some of the body's cells have the third X chromosome. Because only some cells contain the extra X chromosome, females with the mosaic form of triple X syndrome may have less severe symptoms. Tri ple X Syndrome occurs in about 1 out of every 1,000 girls born in the United States. It is estimated that between five and ten girls are born with the condition each day. As far as it is known, the syndrome is equally common in all racial and ethnic groups. The only known risk factor is the mother’s age.Women who are 35 years old or older when they become pregnant are at an increased risk of having a daughter with Triple X Syndrome. Because of the lyonization, (the process by which or the condition in which all X chromosomes of the cells in excess of one are inactivated on a random basis )inactivation and formation of a Barr body, in all female cells, only one X chromosome is active at any time. Thus, Triple X syndrome most often causes no unusual physical features or medical problems. If symptoms do appear, they may include: 1. Tall stature: Taller than other girls and women in the family 2.Small head (microcephaly) Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the circumfere nce of the head is smaller than normal because the brain has not developed properly or has stopped growing. Microcephaly can be present at birth or it may develop in the first few years of life. 3. Slightly lower weight at birth 4. Epicanthal folds: An epicanthal fold is skin of the upper eyelid — from the nose to the inner side of the eyebrow — that covers the inner corner (canthus) of the eye 5. Delayed development of certain motor skills, speech and language 6.Although rarely exhibiting severe mental impairments, Triple X Syndrome females have an increased risk of learning disabilities such as dyslexia, delayed speech, deficient language skills and delayed development of motor skills. It is possible that learning disabilities and/or delayed development could eventually lead to a variety of other issues, including academic problems, stress, and poor socialization skills that cause social isolation. 7. Weak muscle tone and delayed motor skills: poor coordination, awkw ardness 8. Menstrual irregularities 9. Increased rick of depression 10. Less assertive and quieter than most girls 1. Intelligence (IQ) may be slightly lower than that of other girls and women in the family although mental retardation is unusual. 10-15 points below siblings. Other possible, though much rarer, complications that may occur include: 1. Premature ovarian failure or ovary abnormalities. When the ovaries stop working before the expected age of menopause, there's a decline in the production of certain hormones and eggs are no longer released by the ovaries each month. This can cause infertility. Additionally, girls and women with triple X syndrome may have malformed ovaries. 2. Seizures.Girls and women with triple X syndrome may develop a seizure disorder. 3. Kidney abnormalities. Females born with triple X syndrome may also have abnormally developed kidneys or may have only one kidney. â€Å"There are even rare cases when a female with Triple X syndrome is affected by ch anges such as behavioral problems, midfacial hypoplasia, wide-set eyes, amenorrhea, posteriorly rotated ears, small head, long head, small lower jaw, expressionless face, prominent forehead, enamel hypoplasia, widely spaced nipples, small hands, small feet, kyphosis, lordosis, reduced muscle tone, and mental retardation. There are seldom any observable physical anomalies in Triple X females, other than being taller than average. Most women with Triple X have normal sexual development. Some experience an early onset of menstruation. Triple X women are rarely diagnosed, apart from pre-natal testing methods, unless they undergo amniocentesis and blood tests for medical reasons later in life. Most medical professionals do not regard the condition as a disability.However, if mild delays are present, such status can be sought by parents for early intervention treatment The chromosome change that causes triple X syndrome cannot be repaired, so the syndrome itself has no cure. Also because it is thought to be caused by a by a spontaneous genetic mutation rather than an inherited genetic defect, there is no way to prevent it. However, given the treatable nature of most symptoms and how frequently no symptoms appear at all, it's quite possible to lead a full and normal life despite having this syndrome.Because people with triple X syndrome may be more susceptible to stress, it's important to make sure a female with Triple X Syndrome has a supportive environment as well. Psychological counseling may help, both by teaching their families useful methods of demonstrating love and encouragement, and by discouraging behaviors that they might not realize are negative. According to a Danish researcher who started one of the first Triple X Syndrome support groups in the world, â€Å"If the conditions are good, stable, and stimulating†¦. learning problems rarely have any serious consequences.However, most Triple X girls need remedial teaching at school at one time or anothe r, and it is important they get this help if and when they need it. † The prognosis for girls with this syndrome is generally good. They are not at increased risks of other diseases as far as it is known and have a normal life expectancy. They are less likely to complete college than other girls, but almost all can finish high school with speech therapy or other additional help. While a few may have some social difficulties,. most are able to join the work force, marry, and start families in adult life.

Breaking Down The Metamorphosis

Breaking Down The Metamorphosis Essay Breaking Down The Metamorphosis Breaking Down The Metamorphosis Franz Kafkas beginning of his novel, The Metamorphosis, begins with what would seem a climactic moment: As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. From this point on, the reader is determined to make sense of this transformation. However, the reader later comes to realize that Gregor is actually not an insect, but this metamorphosis into a vermin was purely symbolic. It symbolizes the degrading lifestyle that Gregor leads to support his family. This leads the reader to understand Gregors absurd dilemma. Gregors insignificant and outcast lifestyle of supporting his family proves that the universe is irrational, and mans place in it is absurd. This is proven by the fact that Gregor is working to pay off his fathers debts and provide for his family. His work is mundane, and strictly business. Yet, when the metamorphosis of Gregor takes place, his family practically shuns him from their contact. Still however, Gregors first thoughts after believing that he is an insect, are to get dressed and go to work. This attitude is seemingly absurd, however Gregor is so deep into trying to help his family, that he makes an attempt at ignoring the impossibility of working. The idea that Humankind is disconnected from reality, is set in stone by Kafka when he writes about the transformation of Gregors families lives, and his own. The Samsas treated Gregor simply as a means to get out of debt, although the reader comes to realize later that the family was not as bad off as Gregor had believed. Also, the father returns back to work after Gregor cannot, which proves that his disability not nearly as severe as he had Gregor believed. Although Gregor is the family member that turns into a bug, he remains the only one of them to retain humanity. The family cannot grasp that the bug in the bedroom is Gregor, their son and brother. They disconnect themselves from him, forgetting that they have known him his entire life, and once perhaps loved him. After his metamorphosis, Gregor became the member of the family in need, yet instead of helping him, as he helped them, Gregor became a burden to the family. The family, especially the father and mother do not make an attempt to understand Gregors situation, but instead make it worse and harder for Gregor. The familys reality is tainted by the fact that Gregor was always a tool of income and stability, and now is of no help whatsoever. Many ideas and thoughts are proven in The Metamorphosis, but perhaps none so boldly as the idea that Intimacy is impossible. Kafka writes of Gregor, often haunted by the idea that the next time the door opened he would take the families affairs in hand again just as he used to do. Gregor, after transforming had to come to terms with the fact that his familys love was a love based on a responsibility to the family, instead of an unconditional love. Kafka is saying that unconditional does not exist. He is also saying that we all feed off of each other, and our love is an extension of this. When the ability to function as we always had is gone, so is the love we once thought we would have forever. Gregors father exhibited a mulishness that had obsessed his since he became a bank manager. Gregors father not only neglected his son, the son who attempted to provide and take his fathers place as the breadwinner for the family, but also developed a hatred for Gregor. Gregor presented a profound love for his family, which was not reciprocated after Gregor could no longer be of service to them. READ: Japanese recession Essay Another firm idea that Kafka presents to the reader is that People live unremembered lives. This is shown with Kafkas creation of the fathers disgust for his son, Gregor. The father, forgetting that Gregor was once the son he had acted as if he loved, threw an apple into Gregors back which became embedded. The apple eventually became infected and was the death of Gregor. The apple is a symbol for Gregors .

Choose a company that is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Essay

Choose a company that is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company should have a sustainability report - Essay Example It includes some data like 90% relationship managers are ready to help the customers after the business has taken place, more than 95% of the employees go though the training of anti money laundering. It has funded 200 million pounds for effective carbon reduction as a corporate social responsibility. It has also provided MoneySense lesion to more than 340000 young people. It has donated 3 million pounds to those organisations which help young women and people to start their own business. It always consults with and listens to its stakeholders’ problems and shows transparency in every operation in the business. To being a good employer it provides all types of tools and support to the employees that they can do their jobs efficiently and can improve themselves continuously (RBS Group, 2012, p.3). Critical evaluation on the techniques that are used by the company to discharge its social and environmental accountability to society RBS considers sustainability as its main focus a rea to achieve the goals and it makes sure that any problem that has happened in the past will not happen again in future. Corporate Governance RBS has built its sustainability on a strong governance framework which gives a clear picture of the strategic development activities of the company. It has Group Sustainability Committee (GSC) which is monitored by the senior independent director Sandy Crombie. It also includes other non executive directors from all business areas. The GSC has conducted various developmental programs within the company. In the year 2012, it has reviewed the overall strategies and policies of sustainability towards social, ethical and environmental issues. In 2013 it has solved various issues regarding customer and citizenship activities. Now GSC will look after the issues and challenges of managers in resolving various sustainability and environmental issues relating to all shareholders groups (RBS Group, 2012, p.34). Environmentally efficient operations RB S has measured the progress against their targets to reduce the impact on environment. It has made firm step towards achieving all their aims by 2015-2020. It has aimed to reduce 200 million pounds costs by 2020 to achieve their environmental goals. Energy In the year 2012, RBS has reduced the energy consumption by 5.5% and they will reduce it by 15% by 2015. It has achieved this improvement by the help of their efficient energy management team. The management is continuously purchasing electricity from various new sources in UK. In 2012, 66% of the company’s electricity was from different renewable sources. Water During the year 2012, the company has reduced its water usage by 4.9% and they will reduce it by 12% by 2015. It was done by taking various initiatives in the buildings like restricting the tap flow, urinals without water. Waste The company also has a provision to recycle their wastages and has recycled 69% of the total waste in 2012. The waste management team has t aken proactive measures to reach the target in UK and US. They have also improved their process of waste collection in 2012. It will reduce 15% waste disposing in landfill