Case Study ( see uploaded files) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words - 1

Case Study ( see uploaded files) - Assignment Example Continuous communication and consultation with the leads of major sectors can compensate for their absence on the  planning  team. A difference is made between the focus and level of detail in  strategic  plan elements and what is granted in each department/programs annual goals and action steps. However, a glossary was part of the  strategic  plan, "goals," "objectives," and "action steps" were not discussed. On the other hand, there were some misunderstandings about how these  strategic  plan factors fit together. Use the  planning  committee members to draft everything up to the point of assignment of responsibility and the specific action steps/strategies for achieing the objectives. Such an exercise allows the proper department heads to draft these more detailed statements. If this is not workable, at least include department leads by having them co-ordinate to the committees work. Reading about the theory and mechanics of  strategic  planning  and reviewing other libraries  strategic  plans, however, are only the first steps toward achieving a workable plan for ones own library and garnering sufficient support to make the plan a reality. According to Edward R (1996) Nestle puts continuously its efforts to understand the better changing lifestyle of people and predict the needs of consumer in order to provide Health and Wellness, Nutrition and Taste through its offerings of the product. The culture of renovation and innovation within the company can access to the group of Nestles brands/technology expertise. They also affect the centralized facilities of the Research and Development which gives a distinct advantage of efforts. It helps the company to create a value that can be supported over the long term by offering the customers a wide variety of high quality safe products of food at affordable price. Brown L R (1991) says that Nestle manufactures the products of the international quality under

University and Students Essay Example for Free

University and Students Essay Introduction The hotel and restaurant management is the worlds largest industry and offers unrivalled opportunities for an exciting and rewarding career, though the outlook for employment in this industry is rapidly growing. With the increasing demand for highly skilled hospitality managers there has never been a better time to gain a qualification in this dynamic global industry. The Hotel and Restaurant Management program responds to this challenge with a comprehensive blend of practical and theoretical courses driven by hotel industry. The HRM curriculum combines courses in business administration, communications, quantitative studies, the humanities and the sciences, with in-depth courses in foods, foodservice systems management, hotel operations and human resource management to provide a strong base for professional success. On the recent enrollment at Laguna State Polytechnic University SPCC, students of Hotel and Restaurant Management course gradually increased, this shows that many students are giving interest in the course. Based on the previous research, the course is now being recognized as one of the top courses to be taken in the country. One of the benefits of choosing this course is that the student can learn about knowing the right managerial skills in handling a Hotel and Restaurant and also learning about the different kinds of foods that they can cook. Though this course is not only to learn about cooking, one shouldve studied culinary arts for that, but primarily to have the knowledge, skills, and the right preparations for a student to be ready to handle supervisory and management positions in hospitality management. For students to be trained under an instructor in a practical setting of a restaurant or any other similar establishment, the right mindset and attitude must be present. The performance of a student in managing even just a small business serves as an enhancement of their knowledge and skills. It works as a substantial internship for future work and management. One of the factors in choosing the course, is being chosen and going out of the country to train and learn more about the industry that they have chosen. The experience that the students gain will be a valuable asset in finding a job or taking up Master’s Degree. The importance of choosing Hotel and Restaurant Management course is it will be the building blocks for the success in the future. Students need to be more attentive and interested in this course because it will help them to be prepared for their job in the future. Through studying this course students will become an effective and competent manager in the future. They will be prepared to take what they’ve learn here and go forward to undertake successful management roles within any of the hospitality sectors, namely, hotels, restaurants resorts and clubs. This course will enable freshmen student to advance their career to senior level so they can operate effectively at a strategic level in this increasingly competitive sector. While learning how to apply theory to complex problems, they will also gain an advanced understanding of business disciplines, including marketing, human resources, finance and operations management on an international level. Understanding how to be a leader, how to work with people and how to increase profits in hospitality businesses are all vital skills, and will be studied through the course. Special emphasis will be placed on preparing students for the trends in globalization which will be prevalent in tomorrows hospitality industry. Hotel and Restaurant students will acquire the competencies they need to be industry leaders in the competitive hotel and restaurant business environment. In order for them to achieve success in this industry, they need to have the ability to get along with all kinds of people under all kinds of conditions. the people they must deal with in this industry, guest and employees alike, vary widely in terms of education, personal experience, intelligence, business background, nationality, and personal characteristics. To succeed in the hotel industry, they must be broadminded, tolerant, understanding, and humane. It is important to keep in mind that as a future hotelier, they will regularly be dealing with many different temperaments in various situations. Any person contemplating a career in the hotel industry should be neat, have a flair for detail, and be willing to be of service to others. This last requirement is not a catchall phrase; it embodies the ability to listen attentively, have ready smile, and maintain a reserved manner. Therefore, anyone with an uncontrollable temper or an inbred shyness must try to overcome these defects to have a successful career in the hotel industry. The early development of the concern among the HRM students should not perish in their minds to defeat the stress that they are facing. It’s obvious that first year of education faces a trouble that maybe foreign to their mind and new to their knowledge. In this case, these challenges could be the burden which can pull them out of the school without completing their studies, such as; the choice of college course, academic problem, students schedule and of course the environmental adjustments. But the serious case that arises in some observation is that, the focus they have in the first years of their study is not that intense. Therefore, the students must make their way to create a new passage to accelerate in their subject matter. The HRM graduates believe that this will be a broad base of management and technical skills which enable them to immediately be productive in the workplace. This study intended to state the perceived difficulties met by freshmen HRM students of LSPU and their achievements in school. Direct and indirect sources of evidence of student performance will be conducted and quantify to find out the freshmen sentiments and therefore provide the most probable solutions that will reflect effective results. Background of the Study The purpose of the study is to determine the difficulties of 1st year HRM students’ and the impact of college adjustments. The difficulties face by first year student found to be the choice of college course, school curriculum, schedule, socializing with new people, as well as the environmental adjustments. Based on the previous research, it found that the major difficulties face by majority of the students is choice of college course, where in many freshmen choose HRM course because they think that it is easy and a fast way to graduate because some of the mindset of the students are just to graduate and get a job like being a waiter or bartender, without thinking that the knowledge that they learned wasn’t put into good use and disregarding their personal interest that lead them into difficulties. This was followed by the academic problems such as difficult to understand well the teacher’s lectures. However many first year students encounter difficulties in organizing their selves to do individual studies as they easily give into distractions. For example some first year students loiter around avoiding lectures and tutorials thus coming to school with different intensions. And also their time management involves doing the right thing at the right time. First year students in particular tend to misuse the time that is given. The difficulties to attend class as early as 7 in the morning. Managing time effortlessly can make the difference between a successful student and one who is defeated by stress. Other than that, students also faced health problems where they have difficulty in taking care of their health. One study identified the difficulties of the first year students and pointing out that the main cause of these problems is a big amount of stress during their life a student. A HRM student, actually in a broad sense, all of the students’ faces some series of challenges and stressors. But more likely, the HRM students are the one who are in the center of experiencing stress, especially the first year students. The stress maybe came from their friends, professors, colleagues, family or relatives, and even relationships and competition. Every day, students doesn’t only needs a brain to do a workload and be happy to grab it fast but they also founding certain emotions in dealing with the other people and not always facing the thick pages of a book. HRM students experience stress severe enough to induce mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The source of the stress in HRM students is related in their learning experience and the programs that they enrolled into. Difficulties are a challenge to freshmen in achieving academic excellence. The continuous activities making the students accumulated the burnout behaviors which are characterized by reduction in their performance. And just like the domino effect, everything else follows. The students are destined to feel slight health failure, physical illness and emotional stress. There is also physical and psychological symptoms of stress that are present in every HRM students that suffered pressure such as irritability, inability to concentrate, insomnia, depression, muscular tension and aches, palpitations, lack of appetite and others. But actually, not all the case of a HRM student finds a negative response on the stress factor. There is the existence of the arousal that at some point increases and improves the performance. Those difficulties among first year students should be given a serious attention as a serious adjustment problem could lead to student’s failure to complete their studies. This study may increase the knowledge on how they can interact and motivate themselves and adapt to the changes that would be necessary for their growth and development. Theoretical Framework According to Stephen Pravel’s Theory of Catastrophic Misinterpretation which explain that both educational researchers and experienced teachers develop what might be called theories of difficulty. A strong theory of difficulty identifies learners characteristic trouble spots for a particular area of instruction and includes some causal analysis of why they occur toward improved teaching and learning. The literature on learning and development offers numerous ways of understanding conceptual difficulties, as well as recognizing problems of ritualized knowledge, inert knowledge, knowledge too foreign for learners to engage it readily, and tacit knowledge, the partly unconscious nature of which poses learning challenges. In a number of studies, a strong theory of difficulty has led to improved learning. In everyday teaching, teachers response to recurrent difficulties may fall short. One not uncommon reaction is to blame the learners weaknesses and simply keep teaching in the same way. Another better reaction is to teach harder’; lavishing more time and attention on characteristic difficulties without any causal analysis of what makes them problematic. Most effective is to teach smarter based on a causal analysis refined through experience. The construction of informal theories of difficulty is an important part of the craft of teaching. He also discusses motivation from the perspective of contextual factors and school socialization processes that have the potential to influence student motivation and subsequent performance. In this regard, teachers instructional practices and interpersonal relationships with students are highlighted as potentially powerful factors influencing student motivation and performance. This theory will also serve as determinant of this study. Through the use of both direct and indirect sources of evidence of student performance, results from assessment guide collective actions for, among others, curricular change, better learning opportunities for students, improvement of teaching, and more effective academic support services. That is, the result which will be posted at the end of the study and shall be well classified to determine whether or not freshmen students need to worry and confused in pursuing HRM and in the end it will help them to achieve higher education and scholastic achievements, and give them an advantage in the job market and the credibility they need to achieve their career in hospitality. Coceptual Framework The researchers presented a research paradigm of the difficulties and achievements of freshmen college students of Laguna State Polytechnic University it showed the personal profile of the freshmen college students, the profile included the age, gender, civil status and family income. Factors under the difficulties by freshmen are the choice of college course, academic problem, schedule, and environmental adjustment. While in the achievement is measured by the scholastic, extra-curricular and the exposure into hospitality industry. Research Paradigm Figure 1 Achievements in School of the respondents a. Scholastic b. Extra-Curricular c. Exposure into Hospitality Industry| Independent Variable Dependent Variable Respondents’ Profile a. Age b. Gender c. Civil status d. Family IncomePerceived Difficulties of the respondents a. Choice of College Course b. Academic Problem c. Schedule d. Environmental Adjustment| The Figure 1 shows the relationship between the independent variables the dependent variable. Statement of the Problem The objective of the study is to determine the difficulties met by first  year HRM students in Laguna State Polytechnic University and how they overcome it by achieving something in school. This study is significant to the students of Laguna State Polytechnic University SPCC, These may served as their guide for the readers and future researchers who will also have a relative topic, in order to provide them idea and knowledge in handling different problems encountered in hotel and restaurant course. And provide source of information and also to motivate them to improve their performance in order to achieve something in school. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: a. Age, b. Gender, c. Civil Status and d. Family Income? 2. What are the difficulties met by first year HRM students as perceived by themselves? a. Choice of College Course, b. Academic Problem, c. Schedule and d. Environmental Adjustment? 3. What are the achievements of first year HRM students? a. Scholastic, b. Extra-Curricular and c. Exposure into Hospitality Industry? 4. Do the perceived difficulties of the first year HRM students relate significantly to their achievement? Hypothesis * There is no significant relationship between the perceived difficulties of the first year student to their achievements in school. Significance of the Study The results of this study have relevance to the following: School and administration. The findings of the study can give more information to the school and administration about the students for them to be aware in understanding the difficulties faced by the students to provide good social environment that help students easily to adjust socially that can improve their academic achievements in school. Teachers. This study will provide a better understanding about difficulties and achievements of the students and to guide them how the students be at ease to its environment and exhibits the potential of the students. Respondents. This study will encourage all HRM students, especially to the first year students to face their difficulties and learn to overcome it. And this would be a great help for them to analyze their weak point in studies and how they will optimize them. Though they suffering into difficulties they can still motivate themselves to pursue their course and received scholastic achievements. Parents. The result of this study may also serve as a guide to parents on how they will guide and help their son and daughter with regards to their difficulties and achievements in school and by understanding the anxiety felt by their children. Researchers. This study may provide necessary information in order to answer their questions and can contribute to other future researchers. Future Researcher. The findings of this study can assist them as their point of reference in continuing the study of relationship of difficulties and achievements of students in school. Scope and limitation. The coverage of this study is to determine the degree of difficulties among first year HRM students and their scholastic achievements in Laguna State Polytechnic University San Pablo City Campus. The covered period for this study starts from 2011 up to 2012. Research will only be focused on the perceived difficulties met by first year HRM student and their achievement in school and not from other related topics. Definition of Terms The researchers defined the terms used in the study, operationally and functionally. Achievement. The attainment of students to overcome their fears and difficulties by aiming their goals. Academic Problem. anxiety of the students related to their academic difficulties that is hard to overcome Choice of College Course. This is the choice of the incoming college students to know or to pursue what they want in the future Difficulty. this is the anxiety faced about the students about their task or fears. Environmental Adjustment. this is how the freshmen students adopt changes in their new environment Extra- Curricular. one way on how students get a good grades and this is also way of the students how to use their skills HRM. A course where the students can enhance their skills in cooking, housekeeping, bartending, hotel operation, restaurant operation and management Master’s Degree. is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study. Perception. this is how the students interpret or see different things about the same situation Schedule. Part of the class program that the student oblique to follow it Scholastic. students that adheres to a method or subtitles of the school Chapter II REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES AND LITERATURE. A review of related literature and studies about the difficulties and achievements of freshmen HRM students who came from Laguna State Polytechnic University is presented in this chapter. This chapter provides information on underlying theories, guidelines and concepts of value to this research. The researchers gathered literature and studies from different authors of book from foreign and local for better understanding of the problem. Different related literature presents different content with regards the variable that is used in the study. Related Literature According to Bobby Quitan, (2006) the interpersonal influences of others, such as parents and peers, have been involved in students’ aspirations to attend college. Students whose parents begin to encourage them to consider college early in their educational career are more likely to attend college. Quitan also stated that it have found that parental encouragement to attend college has a direct effect on college attendance. Students who have friends interested in attending college are more likely to pursue an undergraduate degree as well. Peers who plan to pursue a college degree positively reinforce college choice decisions. The college choice process refers to the factors that influence applicants when deciding which colleges to apply to and what factors to consider when deciding which of the colleges or universities they have been admitted to they wish to attend In order to gain a better understanding of this process, it was necessary to examine the stages that college applicants go through during the college selection process. The author said that there are three main stages of these models are predisposition, search and choice. The first stage of the college selection process in most models is predisposition. Quitan also refer to this stage as the college aspiration formation stage. This stage is characterized by students determining whether they would like to attend college. During this stage, certain background characteristics influence students. These influences include socioeconomic status, race, sex, ability, achievement, attitudes, and educational background of parents and peers. The socioeconomic status of a student can open doors of access to certain students or limit their ability to even consider attending college. Students with high socioeconomic status are more likely to go on to college than students with low socioeconomic status. The author also described three basic approaches that have been used to study the college selection process; social psychological studies, economic studies and sociological status attainment studies. All three approaches focus on decision-making influences. The first approach to the college selection process, social psychological studies, examines three main factors. The first factor incorporates the impact of the academic program that the student chooses, the social climate of the campus, the cost and location of the college, and the influence that other students have on the student’s college choice. The second factor is the student’s assessment of how they fit into the institution they have chosen. The third factor is the cognitive stages of college choice. The second approach includes economic studies that examine college choice. The author view college choice as an investment decision for the student. (Bobby Quitan, 2006). According to Ronan S. Estoque, Rogelyo G. Dela Cruz, Marinel Ivy P. Tan-Pichay (2006) the academic reputations of the university are factors that influence the students’ decisions to attend college. A large number of students enter their undergraduate institution undecided on an academic major. The students are attracted to institutions that can provide them with a wide variety of academic majors from which to choose. The academic reputation of an institution can also be very important to the students. They expect to acquire knowledge and skills in a particular field so they will be marketable for the jobs they want to pursue. Attending a college that has an excellent reputation for a specific academic program such as HRM or business will assist them in achieving their goal. Students also see academic reputation as leading to more job opportunities for them. Academic issues are just one group of factors that have an effect on the success of a student at a particular institution. Other factors within the institution may affect the student as well. These factors may be related to the social climate at a university and may create issues for students when selecting a college course. The author view on what generic competencies such as analytical thinking, ability and willingness to learn, self-confidence, relationship building was sought in order to compare these with the students’ views. The students should also be aware of the needs and be able to relate their abilities to those required by employers. If students do not see the need or importance, the likelihood of higher education institutions managing to convince students to instill these, will be difficult by enhancing their skills, competencies, personal attributes, enthusiasm, self-confidence, and knowledge that are needed in the work place, makes graduates more employable and likely to be successful in their chosen careers, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy. During this time, through the guidance of the mentor and the opportunity to actually work in a work environment the students will learn how to work with people, develop communication skills and learn how to get things done Lani Florian, (2007), said that the extracurricular activities play an important role in todays secondary education programs. When one considers the large number of activities available, one realizes the diversity of the programs. Included are athletics, publications, student government, fine arts, academic clubs, service organizations, and special interest activities. There has been a considerable amount of studying the relationship between student involvement in activities and student academic achievement. Although a positive correlation has been shown in many of these studies, there is still a fierce battle among educators concerning the need for extracurricular activities. Two positions appear to be prevalent in todays academic community. These are referred to as either the academic or developmental perspective. The academic perspective considers extracurricular activities as purely leisure and not part of the purpose of schools. The developmental perspective considers extracurricular activities necessary to the total development of the student in todays schools. Even those activities that dont require loss of classroom time are perceived to take away study time. These educators support cutting or eliminating activities for budgetary reasons. Educators who believe in the developmental perspective see activities as an extension of the educational program. Activities allow students to develop skills such as leadership, sportsmanship, self-discipline, self-confidence, and the ability to handle competitive situations. Extra-curricular activities offer an opportunity to interact in ways that allow the previously mentioned skills to blossom. The developmental minded believe that many of these skills would be impossible or very difficult to develop in a classroom setting. Participation in extracurricular activities is positively associated with many student characteristics. Participation is associated with higher levels of self-esteem. Participation is associated with lower delinquencyiabsenteeism rates the academic perspective theory considers extra-curricular activities as purely leisure and not part of the purpose of schools. Those educators that profess to the academic development theory argue that work is a deterrent to academic achievement. The author said that the participation in extracurricular activity has a small but consistently positive effect on academic achievement. Ethel Magalona, M. A. , Evelyn Salting-Sadsad, Ph. D, (2008), said that the differential scholastic achievement of students has been and is still a source of concern and research interest to educators, government and parents. This is so because of the great importance that education has on the national development of the country. All over the country, there is a consensus of opinion about the fallen standard of education. Poor academic performance is a performance that is adjudged by the examinee/tested and some other significant as falling below an expected standard. A person’s educational is closely linked to their life chances, income, and well being. The interpretation of the expected or desired standard is better appreciated from the perpetual cognitive ability of the valuator of the performance. The evaluator or assessor can therefore give different interpretations depending on some factors. Therefore, it is important to have a clear understanding of what benefits or hinders one’s educational attainment. Raising Academic Achievement narrowed the focus to what the program evaluations had to say about one set of outcomes. The current volume narrows the focus further to academic outcomes for minority students. Yet, within this academic achievement category, the focus is deep, seeking outcomes along an optimal pathway of academic achievement we wish all young people could take. It is the hope that all young people will attend school, arrive on time, go to all classes read at grade level or above do well in the sciences, mathematics and technology persist to high school graduation be appropriately identified and served for any special needs obtain good grades have access to and do well in academically challenging courses have opportunities to apply their knowledge while in school (through work-based learning or service-learning) Follow a coherent course sequence leading to postsecondary education take standardized and college entrance exams and obtain competitive scores make thoughtful guided decisions about college attendance and financing enroll in college have no need for remedial education in college sustain academic achievement and good grades in college sustain financial aid sustain college enrollment graduate from college and successfully pursue graduate/professional school degrees or fulfilling work in their chosen career. Information was sought for each level of educational achievement along this pathway. Information was also sought in the youth development literature about youth that are not in school, but there was little data on academic achievement to be found here. There was however, a great deal of writing on the topics of minority over-representation in special education, misidentification for special education, underrepresentation in gifted and talented programs, Advanced Placement, Honors and other advanced classes, and over-representation in the juvenile justice and adult penal systems. Derect Chadee, (2011), said that the social atmosphere of a campus can affect students in various ways. The author said that the students experience difficulty adjusting to an environment that is culturally different to what they have been comfortable with at their high schools. Some students experience culture shock when attending an institution where they are in the minority and they have not been accustomed to this type of atmosphere before. The author said the importance of living environment, social support and making meaningful relationship connections have on students overall adjustment to the college environment. Institutions that provide opportunities for not only academic support, but also social and personal support increase their retention rates. The author suggested that relationships and making meaningful connections are important for students to adjust to the college environment. Students who have been able to establish bonds in their new environment adjusted better than students who were isolated and not as successful in establishing new friendships and relationships. The theory of attachment has been used to explain the importance of emotional bonds and healthy adjustment. Healthy individuals tend to have secure attachments to parents, guardians, and significant others in their lives. Individuals with secure attachments tend to have an easier time transitioning to college than individuals who do not have secure attachments. Relationships with parents may change when students go to college, which can be a difficult transition for all involved, and cause additional stress and pressure on the students as they move through the developmental process and become adults. The process of adjustment can be frustrating and overwhelming for many students, leading to emotional maladjustment and depression which may, in turn, negatively affect college performance. Powers, Clayton W. Barrows, (2006). The high levels of social support buffer individuals from stress. Attachment theory has emphasized the importance of healthy emotional bonds, and students who are able to create and maintain healthy bonds with others tend to have an easier time adjusting to  college. Social adjustment may be just as important as academic adjustment; according to Clayton (2006) the personal adjustment and integration of the social fabric of campus life play a role at least as important as academic factors in student retention. One way of assisting students in establishing connections is to help them become involved in campus life. Student social adjustment to the college environment has been linked to student involvement in the university and has appeared to be a major factor in a students overall adjustment. The transition to college is difficult for many students and students need support and encouragement to join various organizations and participate in activities to feel like they are a part of the university community. Activities serve not only as a coping mechanism, but also have assisted students in making new friends and finding their place in the university community. Thus it is only natural that the residence halls would be ideal places to have activities for freshmen and help create a sense of connection to the university. Female students face unique problems adjusting to college. For example, there are more roles and opportunities for women than ever before; however those roles may not be acceptable to their families.

Religion :: essays research papers

RESPONSIBILITY: By completing the reading assignments in a timely manner, you can have comments and questions ready for class in order to receive credit for class participation and to review for exams. Come to class prepared to make at least one comment. If occasionally you find the materials hard to understand or slow to read, let me know at the beginning of class so that we can discuss the style and the structure of the works for a clearer grasp of the writers’ ideas. Have questions ready to ask on those days so that we do not become frustrated by my trying to generate discussion about materials that have left you puzzled for whatever reason. All that I require proves a genuine attempt on your part to complete each assignment; such preparation will prevent the course from becoming a total lecture class. An excellent strategy to assist you in class participation and in studying for exams involves your making margin notes in your texts and on the study guides. Mark favorite or important passages; keep a summary of the plot and the characters at the top of each page. Jot down your questions and/or mark puzzling passages. Although Humanities does not require composition as a prerequisite, still as college students, you should have sufficient writing skills to express your ideas clearly and correctly. While I do not deduct for writing skills errors, frequent grammatical, spelling, usage, and/or punctuation errors can hurt your scores by interfering with the meaning of your sentences. I cannot credit you with what you do not say. Use spell check, grammar check, and your own proofreading skills to make sure you submit what you really mean. As a courtesy to any reader, you should always proofread your handwritten and your keyboarded work. INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMANITIES—FALL 2005 LEWIS—3 INCLEMENT WEATHER: Tune in to the area radio and/or television stations for updates about school closings. But, in any case, use your judgment of the roads you must travel. Just call or email me so that I know you are in a safe place. Try www.iowaroadconditions.com for road conditions. CLASSROOM CONDUCT: Each student has the obligation to use class time for learning. If a student’s conduct interferes with the education of others in class, that student could receive a request to leave class, with other consequences as well. LIBRARY ACCESS: Your WITCC library barcode and your current registration slip will allow you access to the Sioux City Public Library, the Morningside College

Competitiveness and Inventory Management Essay

To be competitive, many fast-food chains expanded their menus to include a wider range of foods. Although contributing to competitiveness, this has added to the complexity of operations, including inventory management. In what ways did the expansion of menu offerings create a problem for inventory management? One form of inventory is safety stock, which is primarily carried by companies to ensure a variety of products is available at all times. However, safety stock ties up capital and hinders cash flow. Using the Argosy University online library resources and the Internet, research safety stock. Then respond to the following: †¢As a manager, what recommendations could you provide to reduce inventories as it relates to safety stock? †¢What parameters would lead you to believe that (a) large safety stock, (b) small safety stock, and (c) zero safety stock would be advantageous for the organization? Be sure to provide examples and data in support. After your initial post, discuss the following: †¢What are some of the ways in which a company can reduce the need for inventories? †¢How has technology aided inventory management? †¢How have technological improvements in products such as automobiles and computers impacted inventory decisions? Write your initial response in 200 to 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. By Saturday, June 28, 2014, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday, July 2, 2014, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Consider the following in your response: †¢Provide a statement of clarification or a point of view with rationale. †¢Challenge a point of discussion or draw a relationship between one or more points of the discussion.

Say No to the Death Penalty

Counting the seconds and minutes to your death. Inhaling your last breath. The next thing you know, the prison doctor has just injected a lethal drug into you. How do you not feel pain, empathy or sadness? But, you know that the doctor brushes it off as if it nothing happened. All because of something we call ‘The Death Penalty.† The death penalty affects people who are wrongly convicted, the positive affect because there isn’t a death penalty in our society and human morality. How do you feel about innocent people dying? Innocent people are wrongly convicted on a daily bases, so why put these people in jail. Those who opposed this argument say †the people who commit a crime, deserve to die. ‘Six Canadian prisoners were convicted of a dangerous crime and later released due to their innocent. The six Canadians were condemned for the first degree murder and if there were death penalty then these six innocent people would have died. Another reason is that the prisoners should have the time to prove their innocence. I say this because after the trial. If new evidence is found then it’s very difficult to start another trial. It’s a life of a person in your hands and nothing should be neglected. Such as David Milgaard who was sentenced to life in prison. He was the suspected killer for the murder of Gail Miller. He spent 22 years in prison and was freed by DNA evidence. Once you go to prison, it makes a profound impact on your life. Have you read the human rights from the United Nations? In the third law it states †Any person right to life, liberty and security of person.† If Canada, reinstates the death penalty that's violating the human rights. It would be a very embarrassing moment for Canada for all we stand for and worked for. We are a country that is highly respected and is known for fighting for our rights. We have all the right to life. Do you think the death penalty affects things in our society? First reason is that there are fewer murders because there is not the death penalty. Since, there is no death penalty in Canada; the murder rate has decreased since 1970's. In 2009, the murder rate in Canada was 1.81 homicides per 100.000 populations. If we compare the static between Brazil is a big difference. Canada was 1.81 homicides and Brazil at 25.2homicide rates. Also, Brazil has no death penalty since 1988.

A Fable for Tomorrow Essays

A Fable for Tomorrow Essays A Fable for Tomorrow Essay A Fable for Tomorrow Essay The moment I read the first paragraph, I immediately was able to picture everything that the author had described in the piece. This story has spiked my curiosity and I would like to read the book to know more on what happens in this story. What the author writes about could actually become a reality some day. But overall, this was a great story and it really made the reader feel as if they were going through the beauty and tragedies. Maman and America This was a good story to read, but not my kind of story. I can understand how the two divorced parents have two different ideologies on how to raise a child and with which culture to follow. I’m really surprised me that Maman was hateful towards the American culture and thought that Americans were the problem, but she thought that a parent’s divorce and that the woman keeping the respect in society was ok in her book. That’s something that I understand, but to me she sounds like someone who wants her cake and wants to eat it too. You’re not going to get a perfect culture and no culture will ever be close to perfect. You shouldn’t slander other cultures, by doing that you are just creating more hate in this world and that hate is what corrupts societies and culture. Plus, on a side note†¦. they spoke about the mother the whole time and rarely about the father. Chinese Space, American Space This essay was nicely written and I could picture the detailed descriptions of the homes. I didn’t enjoy this piece as much as the other stories that we read. Overall, the story was good and had a good flow to it.

How to Create and Use DLLs in Delphi

How to Create and Use DLLs in Delphi A Dynamic Link Library (DLL) is a collection of routines (small programs) that that can be called by applications and other DLLs. Like units, they contain code or resources that can be shared between multiple applications. The concept of DLLs is the core of the Windows architectural design, and for the most part, Windows is simply a collection of DLLs. With Delphi, you can write and use your own DLLs and even call functions regardless of whether or not they were developed with other systems or developers, like Visual Basic, or C/C. Creating a Dynamic Link Library The following few lines will demonstrate how to create a simple DLL using Delphi. For the beginning start Delphi and navigate to File New DLL to build a new DLL template. Select the default text and replace it with this: library TestLibrary;uses SysUtils, Classes, Dialogs;procedure DllMessage; export;begin ShowMessage(Hello world from a Delphi DLL) ; end;exports DllMessage;beginend. If you look at the project file of any Delphi application, you’ll see that it starts with the reserved word program. By contrast, DLLs always start with library and then a uses clause for any units. In this example, the DllMessage procedure follows, which doesnt do anything but show a simple message. At the end of the source code is an exports statement which lists the routines that are actually exported from the DLL in a way that they can be called by another application. What this means is that you can have, say, five procedures in a DLL and only two of them (listed in the exports section) can be called from an external program (the remaining three are sub procedures). In order to use this DLL, we have to compile it by pressing CtrlF9. This should create a DLL called SimpleMessageDLL.DLL in your projects folder. Finally, lets take a look at how to call the DllMessage procedure from a statically loaded DLL. To import a procedure contained in a DLL, you can use the keyword external in the procedure declaration. For example, given the DllMessage procedure shown above, the declaration in the calling application would look like this: procedure DllMessage; external SimpleMessageDLL.dll The actual call to a procedure is nothing more than: DllMessage; The entire code for a Delphi form (name: Form1), with a TButton (named Button1) that calls the DLLMessage function, looks something like this: unit Unit1;interface uses Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms, Dialogs, StdCtrls; type TForm1 class(TForm) Button1: TButton; procedure Button1Click(Sender: TObject) ;private{ Private declarations }public{ Public declarations }end;var Form1: TForm1; procedure DllMessage; external SimpleMessageDLL.dllimplementation {$R *.dfm} procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject) ;begin DllMessage; end;end.

Chemistry Abbreviations Starting with the Letter T

Chemistry Abbreviations Starting with the Letter T Chemistry abbreviations and acronyms are common in all fields of science. This collection offers common abbreviations and acronyms beginning with the letter T used in chemistry and chemical engineering. Abbreviations and Acronyms Starting With T T: Period of a waveT: Tera prefixT: Thyminet: timeT: TritiumTa: TantalumTaC: Tantalum CarbideTAC: Tri acetyl CelluloseTAG: TriAcylGlyceridetan: tangentTAN: Total Acid NumberTAS: Total Analysis SystemTAS: Total Alkali versus SilicaTAT: TriAcetone TriperoxideTb: TerbiumTBA: TertButylArsineTBA: 2,4,6-TriBromoAnisoleTBP: True Boiling PointTBC: 4-TertButylCatecholTBT: TriButylTinTBHQ: TertButylHydroQuinoneTc: TechnitiumTC: Temperature CompensatedTC: Temperature ControlledTC: Theoretical ChemistryTc: Critical TemperatureTCA: TauroCholic AcidTCA: TCA cycle (citric acid cycle)TCA: TriChloroAcetic AcidTCE: TriChloroEthaneTCF: ThiolCarbon FiberTCM: TetraChloromethaneTCP: Thermal Conversion ProcessTCP: TocopherolTCP: TriCalcium PhosphateTCP: TriChloroPhenolTCP: 1,2,3-TriChloropropaneTCS: Toxic Chemical SystemTCT: ToCoTrienolTCV: Temperature Control ValveTCVF: Two Chamber Vacuum FurnaceTD: Temperature DisplacementTD: Thermal DepositionTDA: Thermal Dilatometric AnalysisTDC: Three Degrees Centigra de TDG: ThymineDNA GlycosylaseTDI: Tolerable Daily IntakeTDI: Toluene DiIsonateTDO: Tryptophan 2,3-DiOxygenaseTDP: Thermal DePolymerizationTDP: Thymidine DiPhosphateTDP: Thiamine DiPhosphateTe: TelluriumTEA: Terminal Electron AcceptorTEC: Thermal Electric CoolerTEL: Tetra Ethyl LeadTFM: Total Fatty MatterTh: ThoriumTHC: Tetra Hydra CannabinolTHM: TriHaloMethanes TI - Thermal IndexTi: TitaniumTIC: Total Ion CurrentTIMS: Thermal Ionization Mass SpectroscopyTIP: TrisIsopropyl PhenylTl: ThalliumTLC: Thin Layer ChromatographyTLV: Toxic Level ValueTm: ThuliumTM: Transition MetalTMD: Theoretical Maximum DensityTMG: TriMethylGlycineTMMA: TetraMethylMalonAmideTMP: TriMethylPhosphateTMS: TriMethylSilaneTNB: TriNitroBenzeneTNT: TriNitroTolueneTNS: Test No EtherTOBSY: Total ThroughBond Correlation SpectroscopyTOC: Total Organic CarbonTOI: Table Of IsotopesTON: Table Of NuclidesTOX: ToxicTP: Triple PointTP: Transition PointTPE: Thermoplastic ElastomerTPM: Total Particulate MatterTR: Table RowTRAP: T artrate Resistant Acid Phosphatase TRFM: Time-Resolved Fluorescence MicroscopyTRP: TryptophanTS: Temperature SensitiveTSCB: TriSilaCycloButaneTSP: Thermally Stable PolycrystallineTSP: TriSodium PhosphateTSPM: Total Suspended Particulate MatterTSS: Total Soluble SolidsTST: Transitional State TheoryTT: Test TubeTTC: Triphenyl Tetrazolium ChlorideTTFD: Thiamine TetraHydroFurfurylDisulfideTTLC: Total Threshold Limit ConcentrationTTO: Total Toxic OrganicsTTP: Thymine TriPhosphateTTX: TetrodotoxinTU: Thermally UnboundTWMC: Time-Weighted Mean ConcentrationTWV: Total Water Vapor

Exchange and markets Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Exchange and markets - Term Paper Example It is very difficult to maintain these macro-economic objectives and at times they are even in conflict of each other. (Sloman, 670) Exchange rates fluctuations are a major reason for balance of payment fluctuations. Before we understand the system of exchange rates we need to understand the method of balance of payments. Balance of payments means a record of all transactions made between one particular country and all other countries  during a  specified period of time (www.investopedia.com). BOP  compares the dollar difference of the amount of exports and imports, which includes all financial exports and imports. A negative balance of payments means that more money is flowing out of the country than coming in, and a positive BOP means that more money is coming into the country. Balance of Payment can be said as a huge accounts book for the country. It also acts as an indicator of political and economic stability. A positive BOP may mean that the country’s functioning i s going in a positive direction with foreign investment and funds coming in and limited resources in the form of cash going out. What are nominal exchange rates? Nominal exchange rate is simply the rate at which one currency is exchanged for other. This may mean for example it is quoted that one dollar is equal to 0.6 of a pound sterling. This may mean that the nominal exchange rate of a dollar to the pound is $1= 0.6 pound. Changes in the nominal exchange rates between two countries will have an effect on all the transaction prices of goods bought and sold between those two countries. This means that it is extremely important for these rates to be stables as these are bilateral rates (Bamford et al, 115). In a free market the exchange rate is determined by the market forces of demand and supply. This is quite similar to the determination of all other prices because where the supply and demand curves meet that is the market rate of the currency. For this lets consider the market pri ce of Euros against dollars. The demand for euro will be a downward sloping demand curve. This is because when the price of euro is high in terms of US dollar, then the euro zone goods and services are expensive to US customers. This means that they will have to may more dollars in exchange for euros. This will result in a low demand for euro zone goods and services in the US. Thus few pounds are demanded on the foreign exchange market. As the value of the euro falls against the dollar US customers are able to get more pounds thereby increasing the demand of pounds on the foreign exchange market (Bamford et al, 117). The supply curve of Euro is upward sloping. When the Euro is low against the Dollar, then US goods are expensive in the Euro Zone and as a result less Euros are supplied in the market to buy US goods. On the other hand if the value of the Euro rises then US goods will become cheaper allowing more people in the Euro zone to buy these goods and rising the supply of Euros. Where these demand and supply curves meet the market exchange rate of Euro against Dollar is determined as shorn in the diagram below. ( Diagram taken from Determination of Exchange Rates, http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/73/EHEP0006/EHEP000673-2.pdf). At all prices above the equilibrium exchange rate the Euros supplied will be greater than the Euros demanded and vice versa. Any changes in the supply or demand of a currency will result in a depreciation or appreciation of the

The East India Decline in year 1833 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The East India Decline in year 1833 - Essay Example This paper accounts for the decline of the East India Company in light of the political and commercial influences occurring in the Year 1833. It considers the fall in the East India Company with specific concern Charter Act 1833 It considers the fall in the East India Company with specific concern Charter Act 1833. The East India Decline in year 1833: Â § Introduction The East India Company was perhaps among the most powerful commercial organization that the world had ever witnessed. In its heyday it not only had monopoly on British trade with Far East and India but it was even responsible for the government of already vast Indian sub-continent. All of these factors meant that the British East India Company marked a greater historical event. The East India Company came into being in 1600 before collapsing completely in 1858 this was the phase when the Company was taken over under the direct control of Great British government. There are a number of reasons that contributed towards t he decline of the Company and eventually it being taken over. The decline of this megalomaniacal commercial entity was already destined by its own actions as far back as the mid-eighteenth century These include the short term factors such as the Indian Sepoy Mutiny as well as the other long term factors such as the internal mal administration of the Company (which had taken birth earlier than 1833), the ever increasing power of British government and to some lesser extent this can even be attributed to the change in public opinion over time. Charter Act 1833 Reform Act The period that had followed the enactment of the great Charter Act of 1833 witnessed very great change in England. (The Richest East India Merchant: The Life and Business of John Palmer of Calcutta, 1767-1836.) The industrial revolution had actually a greater impact in England. In the year 1830, the time when the Whigs came into super power in the wider political scenario of England, this opened a way of the triumph for the liberal principles. Consequently, the Reform Act was passed in the annual year 1832. (Reform Bill actually came into being by Parliament in June 1832. The Bill actually was directed against the political monopoly of the financial aristocracy and landed gave representatives of such industrial bourgeoisie access to the Parliament. However, the proletariat and petty bourgeoisie, the main forces towards the struggle for the reform had gained no electoral rights. ) The Reform Act with that the concepts of laissez faire and the rights of men were then duly emphasized. Introduction of Laissez Faire Laissez faire is a kind of style that is positive only in condition where the workers are very responsible and in the case of creative jobs where any person is thereby guided by his own aspirations. In such cases, less direction would be required so this style could have acted better. This was the kind of style where most people don't like someone looking over their shoulder of responsib ility, in that manner laissez faire style would promote a sense of trust in the workers. This style has more disadvantages this is due to the view that it is imposed as the lack of interest of the leader that leads to him being adopting this style. It just proves that there is an ineffective or poor management which makes the workers lose their sense of direction, purpose and focus. The disinterest of the leadership and management causes the workers to become less interested in their work and their dissatisfaction even increases. A laissez faire management might makes it easier for workers to do substandard job or to slack it off entirely but that usually cause a very high visibility problem to bring such workers to a lighter situation. Laissez faire, or a sort of hands off style of the governing, can lead to lots of corruption and anarchy. Many

Linguistics - structure and meaning in literary discourse Essay - 1

Linguistics - structure and meaning in literary discourse - Essay Example Throughout the novel, the novelist has been careful in adroitly interlinking the different subplots. The novel mainly deals with two parallel plots: the love relation between Charles Darnay and Lucy Manette and the historical events connected with French Revolution. However, there are several other underlying subplots distributed throughout the three Books of the novel. They include the story of the great sacrifice by the good-for-nothing lawyer Sydney Carton, the comparison between the two cities of London and Paris, the atrocities of the aristocrats etc along with the stories within story such as the imprisonment of Dr. Manette, the story of Madame Defarge. The overall setting of the novel is based on these interconnected subplots which contribute to the each other as well as to the meaning of the novel in general. The novelist has been effective in presenting the major themes of the novel through the literary device of setting. It means that the setting of the novel which incorpor ates the interrelated subplots functions as a literary device to the novelist in his ultimate conveyance of the major themes. Therefore, the subplots in A Tale of Two Cities work in relation to each other to reveal the major themes of the novel. In other words, different subplots and the structure of the novel has significant role in the transference of the themes and meaning. As George Newlin establishes, â€Å"The success  of  A  Tale  of  Two  Cities †¦ can be attributed to Dickens’s artful setting  of  a  touching human story against the background  of  the world-shaking events  of  the French Revolution, and to its powerful, universal themes.† (Newlin, 1) There is pertinent relation between the setting and the meaning in A Tale of Two Cities and the novelist proficiently selects the subplots which contribute eventually to his literary goal. Therefore, subplots in the novel cannot be comprehended in isolation. Rather, they are deeply contrived so as to

Impact of the Housing Market on the US GDP Term Paper

Impact of the Housing Market on the US GDP - Term Paper Example There are different types of competition and different types of markets available in economic sense. Why is GDP important? The GDP Gross domestic product is one of the primary indicators to predict a country’s stability and economic health. â€Å"Gross domestic product (GDP) tells you about the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living.† Impact of the Housing Market on the US GDP (Facts and Statistics): the housing market of US includes the construction, sale, and resale; of all residential properties all over the country, people might underestimate the US housing market but usually the conditions of the housing market indicates the stability of the entire economy. Homes are fixed Assets. Constructing and selling of the houses are highly related with the economic society. People usually buy houses for the purpose of long term investment. Hous es are their tangible assets. People only buy houses when they are confident enough that they will be able to pay entirely for the house. But often people take loans and borrow money from people to purchase a house and when they fail to pay back, this has a very diverse impact on the economy. Besides the basic buying and selling of the houses, whenever a new house is built or purchased many new appliances, furniture, utility services, and many other goods and services are brought. Many people earn their livelihood by constructing, buying and selling of the houses in US. Hence the Housing market has a vast impact on the US economy. â€Å"The best way to judge the stability of any country is to look at its GDP, the U.S. economy, as measured by GDP, is everything produced by all the people and all the companies in the U.S. In 2010, it was $14.7 trillion. (The American Bureau facts and statistics 2010)† Housing is a â€Å"mid-stream† sector of the economy, meaning that man y other industries, both upstream and downstream, is affected by the health of the housing market. For example, the demand for building materials increases in a booming housing market, as does the demand for appliances and furnishings. Even more important in terms of dollars pumped into the economy, is appreciated home values, which have been an important source of stimulus over the past few years. Housing sector contributes to GDP in two main ways: through private residential investment and consumption spending on housing services. In times gone by, residential investment has averaged roughly 5 percent of GDP while housing services have averaged between 12 and 13 percent, for a combined 17 to 18 percent of GDP. These shares tend to vary over the business cycle. The construction of the houses has a small portion of the Gross domestic product i.e. $573 bill-lion. Other investments like furniture and household equipments, comprises another 5 percent of GDP. Altogether, currently the h ousing sector comprises 15 percent of the economy. (The American Bureau facts and statistics 2011) Constructing a new home building generates income and jobs for the citizens, as well as becomes a source of revenue for the government. Whereas home building also generates liability for the government and increase their costs by

Contemporary Social Issues in Japan Research Paper - 1

Contemporary Social Issues in Japan - Research Paper Example Various factors like social system, family life, parent child communication and defective school system are considered the major causes for this social problem. At present, various kinds of support systems which provide help and assistance for young people, parents and teachers are available in Japan. News reports and magazine articles in Japan have reported the anxiety among the social activists and research professionals about a social trouble which has been noted as seriously affecting the country. They have also identified this new social phenomenon causing for severe behavioral changes among the youths. Michael J. Dziesinski states; â€Å"A new term, Hikikomori, was coined for this social phenomenon by Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito to describe a disturbing behavioral trend towards complete social withdrawal among Japanese youths† (Dziesinski1). Studies prove that it is a disturbing behavioral trend towards absolute social and cultural withdrawal among the Japanese youth. In the end of the 1970s, some news papers and journal articles have published reports about some kinds of challenging behavior and social withdrawal from the part of Japanese youth. In the beginning of the 1990s sociologists have noticed the fact that a gradual growth took place in these behavior al disorders. The dilemma of Hikikomori became a serious social problem in Japan as it affecting the young people who are often regarded as the wealth of a nation. Therefore, Hikikomori creates serious behavior disorders among the Japanese youth and their social withdrawal negatively affects the social and economic growth of the nation. Western psychologists and research professionals consider Hikikomori as a culture bound disease. It has been noted as adversely affecting a particular nation for the duration of a particular moment in its social and cultural history. Psychologists admit Hikikomori

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 85

Case Study Example For this reason, it was essential to adopt an advertising strategy totally different from the prevailing ones. b) The first campaign of Axe made use of the broadcast media as the central element of advertising. This media was chosen to captivate the audience after having reached them. The ‘dirty message’ that was part of this campaign was targeted to reach the intended audience by airing the commercials during telecast of television programs that were famous in the age-group that was being targeted. Program like Baywatch, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Real World were chosen for this purpose. In addition to the broadcast media, Axe also made use of the print media to display luring ads in magazines like Playboy, Maxim and Sports illustrated swimsuit issue. An additional line of action was targeting spring break destinations that were favorite among college boys. The walls of these places were covered with posters and pictures of the products manufactured by Axe. One last media used for advertisement was the internet; a website by the name of www.theaxeeffect.com served to entertain the target audience i.e. young boys. c) The second campaign made use of the ‘storytelling power’ of television and cinema combined. Since the issue was to promote the ‘detailer’ and ‘shower gel’ collectively, it was essential to promote the use of detailer using multiple media channels, as it was a novel concept at that time. In addition to the cinema and television, digital media was employed and various means like videos promoted through YouTube were used for the purpose. The idea was to promote the novel â€Å"Axe Detailer: The Manly Shower Tool†, which served just one purpose i.e. â€Å"Clean Your Balls†. In my opinion, this effort was driven by reach. d) Instead of using the traditional forms of promotion, Axe should now focus on promotion through direct interaction with the public. This may include

Contemporary Social Issues in Japan Research Paper - 1

Contemporary Social Issues in Japan - Research Paper Example Various factors like social system, family life, parent child communication and defective school system are considered the major causes for this social problem. At present, various kinds of support systems which provide help and assistance for young people, parents and teachers are available in Japan. News reports and magazine articles in Japan have reported the anxiety among the social activists and research professionals about a social trouble which has been noted as seriously affecting the country. They have also identified this new social phenomenon causing for severe behavioral changes among the youths. Michael J. Dziesinski states; â€Å"A new term, Hikikomori, was coined for this social phenomenon by Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito to describe a disturbing behavioral trend towards complete social withdrawal among Japanese youths† (Dziesinski1). Studies prove that it is a disturbing behavioral trend towards absolute social and cultural withdrawal among the Japanese youth. In the end of the 1970s, some news papers and journal articles have published reports about some kinds of challenging behavior and social withdrawal from the part of Japanese youth. In the beginning of the 1990s sociologists have noticed the fact that a gradual growth took place in these behavior al disorders. The dilemma of Hikikomori became a serious social problem in Japan as it affecting the young people who are often regarded as the wealth of a nation. Therefore, Hikikomori creates serious behavior disorders among the Japanese youth and their social withdrawal negatively affects the social and economic growth of the nation. Western psychologists and research professionals consider Hikikomori as a culture bound disease. It has been noted as adversely affecting a particular nation for the duration of a particular moment in its social and cultural history. Psychologists admit Hikikomori

The design of an automated external defibrillator Essay

The design of an automated external defibrillator - Essay Example As such, this paper seeks to highlight the defibrillator in relation to the history, functional components and human engineering considerations. Defibrillators United Kingdom is faced with health crisis with the high incidences of heart attacks among its citizens. These indices are reportedly some of the highest in the world with cardiovascular diseases causing more deaths annually than any other disease or condition. It is estimated that of the 150,000 people who have heart attacks annually, 94,000 of them die owing to various variables (Handler and Coghlan 2008). Research indicates that over one million people over the age of 35 in the United Kingdom have suffered a heart attack, and a third of these victim die before getting to the hospital. The scale of the burden is felt in the economy with escalating costs of health care as indicated by the billions spent annually by the UK government on cardiovascular diseases (Handler and Coghlan 2008). The relatively high incidences of heart attacks in UK are of great concern to health care professionals and other stakeholders, which have seen them, consolidate their efforts in order to reduce the effects. Stakeholders such as medical engineers and manufacturers team up with healthcare professionals in an effort to brainstorm on the possible solutions in line with technological advances. This front has seen the successful adoption and incorporation of technology in healthcare facilities in form of medical devices. According to the European Union definition, a medical device is an apparatus or instrument that is designed for preventative, diagnostic, monitoring, or therapeutic purposes and its purpose is not achieved through pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means (Krutmann 2011). Similarly, the mode of action of medical devices is not through chemical action in a patient’s body, although may be assisted in its functions through such means. As such, it is essential that medical devices exceed the thresh old under the European Union regulations, which call for detailed records of the products, designing and construction is limited to qualified personnel, and comprehensive risk assessment should be done (Jacobson and Murray 2007). The key function of a medical device can be illustrated from scientific information quoted by the manufacturer in line with functional principle and the manufacturer’s labelling. Medical devices vary in their capacity and level of sophistication ranging from tongue depressors to haemodialysis equipment. Owing to the role played by medical devices in the provision of healthcare services, it is critical that appropriate guidelines and regulations are adhered to (Kramer, Xu and Kesselheim, 2012). It is for this reason that biomedical engineering steps in to fill embark on the key aspects of medical devices that involve initial designing, system analysis and practical application to ensure quality and efficient products. Among the medical devices are def ibrillators, which play a crucial role in the relieving heart attacks in areas away from medical facilities. This paper seeks to highlight defibrillators as a medical device while focussing on their history, scope of application and safety aspects of the device with regard to human factors engineering. Fibrillation is characterised by accelerated and irregular contraction of heart muscle fibres, which is attributed to a deranged electrical activity of the heart. Fibrillation

An analysis of sigmund freuds level of consciousness Essay Example for Free

An analysis of sigmund freuds level of consciousness Essay Sigmund Freud, born in 1856, was an Austrian neurologist and physiologist. Today, Freud is known as â€Å"one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century†(Berger). Throughout his lifetime, which had ended in September of 1939, Freud had many theories, however, his most well known as the â€Å"psychoanalytic theory of personality development,† which argued that the human psyche is divided into three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. In the novel Lord of the Flies, many readers believed that the author, William Goldberg, applied Freud’s theory to the characters in the book. Based off of Sigmund Freud’s â€Å"psychoanalytic theory of personality development,† Jack Merridew was the id in the story, while Piggy was the superego, and Ralph was the ego. According to Freud’s theory, the id relies directly on instinct as they go through life, ignoring the logistics of reality and the possible consequences. Freud gives an example of an id by comparing it to an infant, who often demands immediate satisfaction, and will react poorly if their needs are not immediately fulfilled. In Lord of the Flies, Jack Merridew is a representation of how a newborn child with power and motor skills could act. When Jack and his hunters leave to hunt for pig and neglected his fireside duties, there is a connection with Freud’s theory. Jack did what would give him direct pleasure, which was, at the time, to hunt. However, because of Jack’s needs, the fire had been allowed to go out and the boys missed one of their only opportunities of rescue, as a ship traveled by the island, but there was no signal smoke. This event highlights Jack’s connections to the id because he had no consideration or thought of what the outcome would be if he was constantly caught up in his own needs. Another time when Jack’s actions relate to Freud’s theory is when the boys are having an assembly to discuss the best sightings. During the assembly, Jack attempts to take Ralph’s power away by causing a disturbance and questioning Ralph’s leadership in front of the whole group. Once again breaking the rules of the conch, Jack shouts, â€Å"And you shut up! Who are you, anyway? Sitting there telling people what to do. You can’t hunt, you can’t sing—†(Golding 91). Clearly, Jack is challenging Ralph’s authority in an attempt to shift it to himself, ignoring the fact that Ralph is a better leader. Jack’s overwhelming need for power convinces him that the position of the leader should be his. Before Ralph, Roger, and Jack start their climb up the mountain to see the beast, Ralph says something that highlights Jack’s connections to the id throughout the whole book. While Ralph was challenging Jack, the text reads, â€Å"For the first time since he had first known Jack, Ralph could feel him hesitate†(Goldberg 122). This quote backs up the fact that for the most part, Jack had gone through his days on the island acting on instinct without a single hesitation. It was only in this moment of time that Ralph could sense any sort of hesitation from Jack, and it would be the only time.

Anger and Violence in Of Mice and Men Essays -- literary Analysis, stei

In ‘Of Mice and Men,’ anger and violence is of common recurrence. Anger, as shown by many characters, is always around because of fear, jealousy and anxiety. Lennie †¨is always the source of this anger, whether it be toward him, because †¨of him, or from him. One of the first characters to portray anger in John Steinbeck’s Novel is George, Lennies companion. Straight away in the Novel, anger is shown towards †¨Lennie, Georges anger is because Lennie wants something they do not have, and because it is Lennie who is ‘pleading,’ George is Expected to have it. This is only due to Lennies innocence. George tells him, "Well we aint got no ketchup!" his anger is clearly †¨out of frustration, as he goes on to talk about how he could do "Whatever the hell" he liked if Lennie wasn't around. "I could get my †¨50 bucks at the end of the month and go sit in a cat house and enjoy myself, but no, I'm stuck with you". George is almost saying that Lennie is a burden to him and that if Lennie were to leave George alone, then George would have a more relaxed life. All of this anger that George is giving to Lennie is because George is frustrated at not being able to further his life in a way in which he wants to. Also George and Lennie (and all the other ranch workers) have a dream, when this dream is broken and will never happen, all of the workers get angry and violent to others on the ranch showing their frustration and how they will never get a sense of security, comfort or companions. The first example we see of this, is when Carlson bullies Curley in forcing Curley to let his dog be killed and gotten rid of because â€Å"He ain’t no good to you, Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself.† Carlson feels important and in-charge, just like he wanted to be (... ...e barn is because she had a chance to achieve everything she wanted; fame, fortune and glamour and because she fails at becoming an actress and spends her life with a man she hates with only glamour of the three she wanted, she gets very angry and when people do not pay attention to her, such as when Lennie, Candy and Crooks are all in Crooks’ room and she goes there for attention but is told to go away she resorts to anger telling them that she could get them â€Å"strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny† and this showing that she can no longer be turned away by people and takes out years of agony of her dream never coming true on these three guys. As seen in the Novel, most acts of anger and violence are down to failed dreams and hope, with the one or two exceptions and that they are both ways of letting how you feel known and a way to make you feel better.

A Career as a Pharmacist Essay -- Career Research

The flow of the medical community is dependent on every person employed there. The harmony it creates does not only come from the doctors or nurses, but the janitors, surgeons, receptionists, and even the pharmacists. Each job is necessary in order for the hospitals to function properly; for instance, the doctors diagnose the patient with their illness, prescribe them medication to cure it, and send them to the pharmacist, who then gives them their medication and sends them home. However, some jobs are overlooked more than others and do not receive the proper credit, like the pharmacist. Pharmacists are recognized for dispensing and sorting drugs, but their jobs help educate patients over their prescription and uphold the balance in the medical community. When young adults are challenged to pick a career, particularly in the medical field, most do not think of becoming a pharmacist. This low key career started with apothecaries, people who used botany and chemistry to help cure people. Unfortunately, their practice helped cure little to no patients, but as technology advanced, they abandoned their botany based methods and began to work with physicians. Thus, the pharmacist was created and continues to help heal the sick today. A pharmacist is â€Å"an expert in the use of medicines and drugs† (McAlpine 52) and uses their knowledge to create medications according to the doctors’ instructions. However, the job description of a pharmacist is increasing and it is not uncommon to find a patient directly talking to a pharmacist about their prescription. Pharmacists now inform patients on the proper usage of the medication and its side effects (52). Patients can bypass their physician, if they have any questions or concerns ab ou... .... Works Cited Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. â€Å"Pharmacist.† Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition. 17 Dec. 2009. 21 Nov. 2011. . Carpenter, Rachel. â€Å"Pros and Cons of Being A Pharmacist.† Associated Content by Yahoo. 01 Oct. 2010. 22 Nov. 2011. . Gable, Fred. Opportunities in Pharmacy Careers. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2004. (33-41, 63-65). Hart, Alison. â€Å"Top Skills You Need To Be A Pharmacist.† USA Today. 19 Nov. 2002. 21 Nov. 2011. . McAlpine, Margaret. Working in Health Care. Milwaukee: Garth Stevens Publishing, 2005. (52-55). Yuping Yen. Personal Interview. 28 Nov. 2011.

About Type 2 Diabetes Essay

Around 2.6 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes. About nine in 10 of these people have type 2 diabetes. It usually affects people over the age of 40, but can develop at any age. People of African-Caribbean or South Asian origin are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. It usually affects them earlier in life, from about the age of 25. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common, particularly in children. Type 2 diabetes develops when your body can’t produce enough insulin or if your body doesn’t respond to insulin as it should. Insulin regulates the level of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a simple form of sugar found in foods and sugary drinks. It’s absorbed by your body as a natural part of digestion and is carried around your body in your blood. When glucose reaches your body tissues, such as muscle cells, it’s absorbed and converted into energy. Insulin is secreted into your blood by your pancreas, which is a gland located behind your stomach. If your cells don’t respond properly to insulin, it can cause glucose to build up in your blood. This is called insulin resistance. If this happens, your pancreas needs to produce more and more insulin to overcome the resistance and control your blood glucose levels. Types of diabetes There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. There are about two million people in the UK who have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the common form, affecting nine out of every 10 people with diabetes. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes Many people with type 2 diabetes have no obvious symptoms. It’s often discovered during a routine medical check-up with your GP.If you do have symptoms of type 2 diabetes, you may: †¢pass more urine than usual See more: My Writing Process Essay †¢be constantly thirsty †¢have unexplained weight loss †¢be extremely tired †¢have blurred vision †¢have itchy skin around your genitals or get regular infections, such as thrush †¢notice that wounds such as cuts heal slowly If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP. nitially, some people find they don’t have any symptoms. So if you think you may be at risk of type 2 diabetes, speak to your GP about having a screening blood test.  Complications of type 2 diabetes If type 2 diabetes isn’t diagnosed or controlled properly, you can develop blood glucose levels that are either too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia). Hyperglycaemia If type 2 diabetes is poorly controlled or you get an infection, glucose can build up in your blood and rise to high levels. This can cause you to: †¢be thirsty †¢pass urine excessively †¢have blurred vision †¢feel tired Very rarely, if you become dehydrated and your blood glucose rises to very high levels, you can develop a condition called hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state. This can cause you to become drowsy and potentially unconscious. Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state is a medical emergency and needs to be treated in hospital. In the long-term, uncontrolled high blood glucose levels can increase your risk of: †¢kidney failure †¢blindness †¢nerve damage †¢heart disease †¢stroke Hypoglycaemia Sometimes, if your medication is too strong or you miss a meal, your blood glucose levels can become too low (hypoglycaemia). This only happens if you’re taking certain medicines such as gliclazide (or others of the same type), repaglinide or insulin (of any type). If your blood glucose is low, you may go pale, feel sweaty and become confused. If you develop hypoglycaemia, it’s important to eat or drink something containing glucose, for example fruit juice or some sweets. Causes of type 2 diabetes There are several risk factors that make you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, including if you: †¢are overweight or obese – in particular, if you’re an ‘apple shape’ with lots of fat around your abdomen (tummy) †¢have a close family member with the condition †¢are of African-Caribbean or South-Asian origin †¢are over 40 – your risk increases with age †¢have high blood pressure or have had a heart attack or stroke †¢don’t exercise regularly †¢have severe mental health problems †¢are a woman and have polycystic ovary syndrome and are overweight †¢are a woman and have had diabetes that developed during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) If you have a condition such as impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia, this means the level of glucose in your blood is naturally higher than normal and you’re more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask about your medical history. You may need to have some of the following tests. †¢Urine test. You will need to give a sample to be tested for glucose. †¢Fasting blood glucose test. You will have a sample of blood taken from your arm to test for glucose. You will need to fast overnight before having this test. You may have this with a glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) test. HbA1C is a protein that is produced when you have high blood glucose levels over a long period of time. †¢Glucose tolerance test. This may be needed if your fasting blood glucose test is borderline. It measures how your blood glucose level changes over time after you have a sugary drink. You will need to fast overnight before having this test. Treatment of type 2 diabetes There isn’t a cure for type 2 diabetes but it can be controlled. Some people can control their condition with lifestyle changes alone. Others need to take medicines or use insulin injections. Self-help By making the following lifestyle changes, you can help control your blood glucose levels. †¢Eat a healthy balanced diet with regular meals, three times a day. Include carbohydrates, such as pasta or potatoes in each meal. †¢Aim to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise over a week in bouts of 10 minutes or more. This will help you to stay a healthy weight and control your blood glucose levels. †¢Only drink alcohol in moderation and stick within the recommended limits. †¢If you smoke, give up. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, but it’s especially important to stop if you have diabetes because you already have an increased risk of developing circulatory problems and cardiovascular  disease. Oral medicines If lifestyle changes alone don’t keep your blood glucose levels under control, you may be prescribed medicines. Some examples are listed below. †¢Metformin works by reducing the amount of glucose that gets released into your bloodstream from your liver. It also improves the way glucose is used by your muscles. †¢Gliclazide, glipizide, glimepiride and tolbutamide help your pancreas to produce more insulin. †¢Repaglinide and nateglinide also help your pancreas to produce more insulin, but work more quickly and last for a shorter time. †¢Acarbose lowers your blood glucose by slowing down the rate at which some carbohydrates are absorbed by your body. †¢Pioglitazone reduces your body’s resistance to insulin. †¢Sitagliptin, saxagliptin and vildagliptin help your body to produce more insulin at mealtimes. These medicines are usually taken between one and three times a day. Injections You may be prescribed other medicines such as exenatide or liraglutide. These medicines are given by injection and work by helping your body to make more insulin when it’s needed. They can also reduce your appetite and help you lose weight. If lifestyle changes and medicines can’t keep your blood glucose levels under control, you may need to have insulin injections as well as, or instead of, tablets. You will usually inject yourself with insulin once or twice a day, using either a small needle or a pen-type syringe with replaceable cartridges. There are several different types of insulin that work at different rates and for different lengths of time. Ask your GP for advice on which type is best for you. If you have insulin injections, you will need to monitor your blood glucose levels with a home test kit. This involves taking a pinprick of blood from your finger and putting a drop on a testing strip. A meter will read the result automatically. Your GP or diabetes specialist nurse will show you how to monitor your blood glucose levels and tell you how often you need to check it. Monitoring your blood glucose level You may also need to have your levels of HbA1C tested at least twice a year. The test is done by taking blood from a vein in your arm or sometimes a drop of blood from a fingerprick. It’s used to see how well you’re controlling your blood sugar  levels.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 26-29

CHAPTER 26 Professor Langdon?† Sato said. â€Å"You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you okay?† Langdon hoisted his daybag higher onto his shoulder and laid his hand on top of it, as if somehow this might better hide the cube-shaped package he was carrying. He could feel his face had gone ashen. â€Å"I'm . . . just worried about Peter.† Sato cocked her head, eyeing him askew. Langdon felt a sudden wariness that Sato's involvement tonight might relate to this small package that Solomon had entrusted to him. Peter had warned Langdon: Powerful people want to steal this. It would be dangerous in the wrong hands. Langdon couldn't imagine why the CIA would want a little box containing a talisman . . . or even what the talisman could be. Ordo ab chao? Sato stepped closer, her black eyes probing. â€Å"I sense you've had a revelation?† Langdon felt himself sweating now. â€Å"No, not exactly.† â€Å"What's on your mind?† â€Å"I just . . .† Langdon hesitated, having no idea what to say. He had no intention of revealing the existence of the package in his bag, and yet if Sato took him to the CIA, his bag most certainly would be searched on the way in. â€Å"Actually . . .† he fibbed, â€Å"I have another idea about the numbers on Peter's hand.† Sato's expression revealed nothing. â€Å"Yes?† She glanced over at Anderson now, who was just arriving from greeting the forensics team that had finally arrived. Langdon swallowed hard and crouched down beside the hand, wondering what he could possibly come up with to tell them. You're a teacher, Robert–improvise! He took one last look at the seven tiny symbols, hoping for some sort of inspiration. Nothing. Blank. As Langdon's eidetic memory skimmed through his mental encyclopedia of symbols, he could find only one possible point to make. It was something that had occurred to him initially, but had seemed unlikely. At the moment, however, he had to buy time to think. â€Å"Well,† he began, â€Å"a symbologist's first clue that he's on the wrong track when deciphering symbols and codes is when he starts interpreting symbols using multiple symbolic languages. For example, when I told you this text was Roman and Arabic, that was a poor analysis because I used multiple symbolic systems. The same is true for Roman and runic.† Sato crossed her arms and arched her eyebrows as if to say, â€Å"Go on.† â€Å"In general, communications are made in one language, not multiple languages, and so a symbologist's first job with any text is to find a single consistent symbolic system that applies to the entire text.† â€Å"And you see a single system now?† â€Å"Well, yes . . . and no.† Langdon's experience with the rotational symmetry of ambigrams had taught him that symbols sometimes had meanings from multiple angles. In this case, he realized there was indeed a way to view all seven symbols in a single language. â€Å"If we manipulated the hand slightly, the language will become consistent.† Eerily, the manipulation Langdon was about to perform was one that seemed to have been suggested by Peter's captor already when he spoke the ancient Hermetic adage. As above, so below. Langdon felt a chill as he reached out and grasped the wooden base on which Peter's hand was secured. Gently, he turned the base upside down so that Peter's extended fingers were now pointing straight down. The symbols on the palm instantly transformed themselves. â€Å"From this angle,† Langdon said, â€Å"X-I-I-I becomes a valid Roman numeral–thirteen. Moreover, the rest of the characters can be interpreted using the Roman alphabet–SBB.† Langdon assumed the analysis would elicit blank shrugs, but Anderson's expression immediately changed. â€Å"SBB?† the chief demanded. Sato turned to Anderson. â€Å"If I'm not mistaken, that sounds like a familiar numbering system here in the Capitol Building.† Anderson looked pale. â€Å"It is.† Sato gave a grim smile and nodded to Anderson. â€Å"Chief, follow me, please. I'd like a word in private.† As Director Sato led Chief Anderson out of earshot, Langdon stood alone in bewilderment. What the hell is going on here? And what is SBB XIII? Chief Anderson wondered how this night could possibly get any stranger. The hand says SBB13? He was amazed any outsider had even heard of SBB . . . much less SBB13. Peter Solomon's index finger, it seemed, was not directing them upward as it had appeared . . . but rather was pointing in quite the opposite direction. Director Sato led Anderson over to a quiet area near the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. â€Å"Chief,† she said, â€Å"I trust you know exactly where SBB Thirteen is located?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Do you know what's inside?† â€Å"No, not without looking. I don't think it's been used in decades.† â€Å"Well, you're going to open it up.† Anderson did not appreciate being told what he would do in his own building. â€Å"Ma'am, that may be problematic. I'll have to check the assignment roster first. As you know, most of the lower levels are private offices or storage, and security protocol regarding private–â€Å" â€Å"You will unlock SBB Thirteen for me,† Sato said, â€Å"or I will call OS and send in a team with a battering ram.† Anderson stared at her a long moment and then pulled out his radio, raising it to his lips. â€Å"This is Anderson. I need someone to unlock the SBB. Have someone meet me there in five minutes.† The voice that replied sounded confused. â€Å"Chief, confirming you said SBB?† â€Å"Correct. SBB. Send someone immediately. And I'll need a flashlight.† He stowed his radio. Anderson's heart was pounding as Sato stepped closer, lowering her voice even further. â€Å"Chief, time is short,† she whispered, â€Å"and I want you to get us down to SBB Thirteen as quickly as possible.† â€Å"Yes, ma'am.† â€Å"I also need something else from you.† In addition to breaking and entering? Anderson was in no position to protest, and yet it had not gone unnoticed by him that Sato had arrived within minutes of Peter's hand appearing in the Rotunda, and that she now was using the situation to demand access to private sections of the U.S. Capitol. She seemed so far ahead of the curve tonight that she was practically defining it. Sato motioned across the room toward the professor. â€Å"The duffel bag on Langdon's shoulder.† Anderson glanced over. â€Å"What about it?† â€Å"I assume your staff X-rayed that bag when Langdon entered the building?† â€Å"Of course. All bags are scanned.† â€Å"I want to see that X-ray. I want to know what's in his bag.† Anderson looked over at the bag Langdon had been carrying all evening. â€Å"But . . . wouldn't it be easier just to ask him?† â€Å"What part of my request was unclear?† Anderson pulled out his radio again and called in her request. Sato gave Anderson her BlackBerry address and requested that his team e-mail her a digital copy of the X-ray as soon as they had located it. Reluctantly Anderson complied. Forensics was now collecting the severed hand for the Capitol Police, but Sato ordered them to deliver it directly to her team at Langley. Anderson was too tired to protest. He had just been run over by a tiny Japanese steamroller. â€Å"And I want that ring,† Sato called over to Forensics. The chief technician seemed ready to question her but thought better of it. He removed the gold ring from Peter's hand, placed it in a clear specimen bag, and gave it to Sato. She slipped it into her jacket pocket, and then turned to Langdon. â€Å"We're leaving, Professor. Bring your things.† â€Å"Where are we going?† Langdon replied. â€Å"Just follow Mr. Anderson.† Yes, Anderson thought, and follow me closely. The SBB was a section of the Capitol that few ever visited. To reach it, they would pass through a sprawling labyrinth of tiny chambers and tight passages buried beneath the crypt. Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, had once gotten lost down there and almost perished. Anderson was starting to suspect that if Sato had her way, Robert Langdon might suffer a similar fate. CHAPTER 27 Systems security specialist Mark Zoubianis had always prided himself on his ability to multitask. At the moment, he was seated on his futon along with a TV remote, a cordless phone, a laptop, a PDA, and a large bowl of Pirate's Booty. With one eye on the muted Redskins game and one eye on his laptop, Zoubianis was speaking on his Bluetooth headset with a woman he had not heard from in over a year. Leave it to Trish Dunne to call on the night of a play-off game. Confirming her social ineptitude yet again, his former colleague had chosen the Redskins game as a perfect moment to chat him up and request a favor. After some brief small talk about the old days and how she missed his great jokes, Trish had gotten to her point: she was trying to unmask a hidden IP address, probably that of a secure server in the D.C. area. The server contained a small text document, and she wanted access to it . . . or at the very least, some information about whose document it was. Right guy, wrong timing, he had told her. Trish then showered him with her finest geek flattery, most of which was true, and before Zoubianis knew it, he was typing a strange-looking IP address into his laptop. Zoubianis took one look at the number and immediately felt uneasy. â€Å"Trish, this IP has a funky format. It's written in a protocol that isn't even publicly available yet. It's probably gov intel or military.† â€Å"Military?† Trish laughed. â€Å"Believe me, I just pulled a redacted document off this server, and it was not military.† Zoubianis pulled up his terminal window and tried a traceroute. â€Å"You said your traceroute died?† â€Å"Yeah. Twice. Same hop.† â€Å"Mine, too.† He pulled up a diagnostic probe and launched it. â€Å"And what's so interesting about this IP?† â€Å"I ran a delegator that tapped a search engine at this IP and pulled a redacted document. I need to see the rest of the document. I'm happy to pay them for it, but I can't figure out who owns the IP or how to access it.† Zoubianis frowned at his screen. â€Å"Are you sure about this? I'm running a diagnostic, and this firewall coding looks . . . pretty serious.† â€Å"That's why you get the big bucks.† Zoubianis considered it. They'd offered him a fortune for a job this easy. â€Å"One question, Trish. Why are you so hot on this?† Trish paused. â€Å"I'm doing a favor for a friend.† â€Å"Must be a special friend.† â€Å"She is.† Zoubianis chuckled and held his tongue. I knew it. â€Å"Look,† Trish said, sounding impatient. â€Å"Are you good enough to unmask this IP? Yes or no?† â€Å"Yes, I'm good enough. And yes, I know you're playing me like a fiddle.† â€Å"How long will it take you?† â€Å"Not long,† he said, typing as he spoke. â€Å"I should be able to get into a machine on their network within ten minutes or so. Once I'm in and know what I'm looking at, I'll call you back.† â€Å"I appreciate it. So, are you doing well?† Now she asks? â€Å"Trish, for God's sake, you called me on the night of a play-off game and now you want to chat? Do you want me to hack this IP or not?† â€Å"Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it. I'll be waiting for your call.† â€Å"Fifteen minutes.† Zoubianis hung up, grabbed his bowl of Pirate's Booty, and unmuted the game. Women. CHAPTER 28 Where are they taking me? As Langdon hurried with Anderson and Sato into the depths of the Capitol, he felt his heart rate increasing with each downward step. They had begun their journey through the west portico of the Rotunda, descending a marble staircase and then doubling back through a wide doorway into the famous chamber directly beneath the Rotunda floor. The Capitol Crypt. The air was heavier here, and Langdon was already feeling claustrophobic. The crypt's low ceiling and soft uplighting accentuated the robust girth of the forty Doric columns required to support the vast stone floor directly overhead. Relax, Robert. â€Å"This way,† Anderson said, moving quickly as he angled to the left across the wide circular space. Thankfully, this particular crypt contained no bodies. Instead it contained several statues, a model of the Capitol, and a low storage area for the wooden catafalque on which coffins were laid for state funerals. The entourage hurried through, without even a glance at the four-pointed marble compass in the center of the floor where the Eternal Flame had once burned. Anderson seemed to be in a hurry, and Sato once again had her head buried in her BlackBerry. Cellular service, Langdon had heard, was boosted and broadcast to all corners of the Capitol Building to support the hundreds of government phone calls that took place here every day. After diagonally crossing the crypt, the group entered a dimly lit foyer and began winding through a convoluted series of hallways and dead ends. The warren of passages contained numbered doorways, each of which bore an identification number. Langdon read the doors as they snaked their way around. S154 . . . S153 . . . S152 . . . He had no idea what lay behind these doors, but at least one thing now seemed clear–the meaning of the tattoo on Peter Solomon's palm. SBB13 appeared to be a numbered doorway somewhere in the bowels of the U.S. Capitol Building. â€Å"What are all these doorways?† Langdon asked, clutching his daybag tightly to his ribs and wondering what Solomon's tiny package could possibly have to do with a door marked SBB13. â€Å"Offices and storage,† Anderson said. â€Å"Private offices and storage,† he added, glancing back at Sato. Sato did not even glance up from her BlackBerry. â€Å"They look tiny,† Langdon said. â€Å"Glorified closets, most of them, but they're still some of the most sought-after real estate in D.C. This is the heart of the original Capitol, and the old Senate chamber is two stories above us.† â€Å"And SBB Thirteen?† Langdon asked. â€Å"Whose office is that?† â€Å"Nobody's. The SBB is a private storage area, and I must say, I'm puzzled how–â€Å" â€Å"Chief Anderson,† Sato interrupted without looking up from her BlackBerry. â€Å"Just take us there, please.† Anderson clenched his jaw and guided them on in silence through what was now feeling like a hybrid self-storage facility and epic labyrinth. On almost every wall, directional signs pointed back and forth, apparently attempting to locate specific office blocks in this network of hallways. S142 to S152 . . . ST1 to ST70 . . . H1 to H166 & HT1 to HT67 . . . Langdon doubted he could ever find his way out of here alone. This place is a maze. From all he could gather, office numbers began with either an S or an H depending on whether they were on the Senate side of the building or the House side. Areas designated ST and HT were apparently on a level that Anderson called Terrace Level. Still no signs for SBB. Finally they arrived at a heavy steel security door with a key-card entry box. SB Level Langdon sensed they were getting closer. Anderson reached for his key card but hesitated, looking uncomfortable with Sato's demands. â€Å"Chief,† Sato prompted. â€Å"We don't have all night.† Anderson reluctantly inserted his key card. The steel door released. He pushed it open, and they stepped through into the foyer beyond. The heavy door clicked shut behind them. Langdon wasn't sure what he had hoped to see in this foyer, but the sight in front of him was definitely not it. He was staring at a descending stairway. â€Å"Down again?† he said, stopping short. â€Å"There's a level under the crypt?† â€Å"Yes,† Anderson said. â€Å"SB stands for `Senate Basement.' â€Å" Langdon groaned. Terrific. CHAPTER 29 The headlights winding up the SMSC's wooded access road were the first the guard had seen in the last hour. Dutifully, he turned down the volume on his portable TV set and stashed his snacks beneath the counter. Lousy timing. The Redskins were completing their opening drive, and he didn't want to miss it. As the car drew closer, the guard checked the name on the notepad in front of him. Dr. Christopher Abaddon. Katherine Solomon had just called to alert Security of this guest's imminent arrival. The guard had no idea who this doctor might be, but he was apparently very good at doctoring; he was arriving in a black stretch limousine. The long, sleek vehicle rolled to a stop beside the guardhouse, and the driver's tinted window lowered silently. â€Å"Good evening,† the chauffeur said, doffing his cap. He was a powerfully built man with a shaved head. He was listening to the football game on his radio. â€Å"I have Dr. Christopher Abaddon for Ms. Katherine Solomon?† The guard nodded. â€Å"Identification, please.† The chauffeur looked surprised. â€Å"I'm sorry, didn't Ms. Solomon call ahead?† The guard nodded, stealing a glance at the television. â€Å"I'm still required to scan and log visitor identification. Sorry, regulations. I'll need to see the doctor's ID.† â€Å"Not a problem.† The chauffeur turned backward in his seat and spoke in hushed tones through the privacy screen. As he did, the guard stole another peek at the game. The Redskins were breaking from the huddle now, and he hoped to get this limo through before the next play. The chauffeur turned forward again and held out the ID that he'd apparently just received through the privacy screen. The guard took the card and quickly scanned it into his system. The D.C. driver's license showed one Christopher Abaddon from Kalorama Heights. The photo depicted a handsome blond gentleman wearing a blue blazer, a necktie, and a satin pocket square. Who the hell wears a pocket square to the DMV? A muffled cheer went up from the television set, and the guard wheeled just in time to see a Redskins player dancing in the end zone, his finger pointed skyward. â€Å"I missed it,† the guard grumbled, returning to the window. â€Å"Okay,† he said, returning the license to the chauffeur. â€Å"You're all set.† As the limo pulled through, the guard returned to his TV, hoping for a replay. As Mal'akh drove his limo up the winding access road, he couldn't help but smile. Peter Solomon's secret museum had been simple to breach. Sweeter still, tonight was the second time in twenty-four hours that Mal'akh had broken into one of Solomon's private spaces. Last night, a similar visit had been made to Solomon's home. Although Peter Solomon had a magnificent country estate in Potomac, he spent much of his time in the city at his penthouse apartment at the exclusive Dorchester Arms. His building, like most that catered to the super-rich, was a veritable fortress. High walls. Guard gates. Guest lists. Secured underground parking. Mal'akh had driven this very limousine up to the building's guardhouse, doffed his chauffeur's cap from his shaved head, and proclaimed, â€Å"I have Dr. Christopher Abaddon. He is an invited guest of Mr. Peter Solomon.† Mal'akh spoke the words as if he were announcing the Duke of York. The guard checked a log and then Abaddon's ID. â€Å"Yes, I see Mr. Solomon is expecting Dr. Abaddon.† He pressed a button and the gate opened. â€Å"Mr. Solomon is in the penthouse apartment. Have your guest use the last elevator on the right. It goes all the way up.† â€Å"Thank you.† Mal'akh tipped his hat and drove through. As he wound deep into the garage, he scanned for security cameras. Nothing. Apparently, those who lived here were neither the kind of people who broke into cars nor the kind of people who appreciated being watched. Mal'akh parked in a dark corner near the elevators, lowered the divider between the driver's compartment and the passenger compartment, and slithered through the opening into the back of the limo. Once in back, he got rid of his chauffeur's cap and donned his blond wig. Straightening his jacket and tie, he checked the mirror to make sure he had not smeared his makeup. Mal'akh was not about to take any chances. Not tonight. I have waited too long for this. Seconds later, Mal'akh was stepping into the private elevator. The ride to the top was silent and smooth. When the door opened, he found himself in an elegant, private foyer. His host was already waiting. â€Å"Dr. Abaddon, welcome.† Mal'akh looked into the man's famous gray eyes and felt his heart begin to race. â€Å"Mr. Solomon, I appreciate your seeing me.† â€Å"Please, call me Peter.† The two men shook hands. As Mal'akh gripped the older man's palm, he saw the gold Masonic ring on Solomon's hand . . . the same hand that had once aimed a gun at Mal'akh. A voice whispered from Mal'akh's distant past. If you pull that trigger, I will haunt you forever. â€Å"Please come in,† Solomon said, ushering Mal'akh into an elegant living room whose expansive windows offered an astonishing view of the Washington skyline. â€Å"Do I smell tea steeping?† Mal'akh asked as he entered. Solomon looked impressed. â€Å"My parents always greeted guests with tea. I've carried on that tradition.† He led Mal'akh into the living room, where a tea service was waiting in front of the fire. â€Å"Cream and sugar?† â€Å"Black, thank you.† Again Solomon looked impressed. â€Å"A purist.† He poured them both a cup of black tea. â€Å"You said you needed to discuss something with me that was sensitive in nature and could be discussed only in private.† â€Å"Thank you. I appreciate your time.† â€Å"You and I are Masonic brothers now. We have a bond. Tell me how I can help you.† â€Å"First, I would like to thank you for the honor of the thirty-third degree a few months ago. This is deeply meaningful to me.† â€Å"I'm glad, but please know that those decisions are not mine alone. They are by vote of the Supreme Council.† â€Å"Of course.† Mal'akh suspected Peter Solomon had probably voted against him, but within the Masons, as with all things, money was power. Mal'akh, after achieving the thirty-second degree in his own lodge, had waited only a month before making a multimillion-dollar donation to charity in the name of the Masonic Grand Lodge. The unsolicited act of selflessness, as Mal'akh anticipated, was enough to earn him a quick invitation into the elite thirty-third degree. And yet I have learned no secrets. Despite the age-old whispers–â€Å"All is revealed at the thirty-third degree†Ã¢â‚¬â€œMal'akh had been told nothing new, nothing of relevance to his quest. But he had never expected to be told. The inner circle of Freemasonry contained smaller circles still . . . circles Mal'akh would not see for years, if ever. He didn't care. His initiation had served its purpose. Something unique had happened within that Temple Room, and it had given Mal'akh power over all of them. I no longer play by your rules. â€Å"You do realize,† Mal'akh said, sipping his tea, â€Å"that you and I met many years ago.† Solomon looked surprised. â€Å"Really? I don't recall.† â€Å"It was quite a long time ago.† And Christopher Abaddon is not my real name. â€Å"I'm so sorry. My mind must be getting old. Remind me how I know you?† Mal'akh smiled one last time at the man he hated more than any other man on earth. â€Å"It's unfortunate that you don't recall.† In one fluid motion, Mal'akh pulled a small device from his pocket and extended it outward, driving it hard into the man's chest. There was a flash of blue light, the sharp sizzle of the stun- gun discharge, and a gasp of pain as one million volts of electricity coursed through Peter Solomon's body. His eyes went wide, and he slumped motionless in his chair. Mal'akh stood up now, towering over the man, salivating like a lion about to consume his injured prey. Solomon was gasping, straining to breathe. Mal'akh saw fear in his victim's eyes and wondered how many people had ever seen the great Peter Solomon cower. Mal'akh savored the scene for several long seconds. He took a sip of tea, waiting for the man to catch his breath. Solomon was twitching, attempting to speak. â€Å"Wh-why?† he finally managed. â€Å"Why do you think?† Mal'akh demanded. Solomon looked truly bewildered. â€Å"You want . . . money?† Money? Mal'akh laughed and took another sip of tea. â€Å"I gave the Masons millions of dollars; I have no need of wealth.† I come for wisdom, and he offers me wealth. â€Å"Then what . . . do you want?† â€Å"You possess a secret. You will share it with me tonight.† Solomon struggled to lift his chin so he could look Mal'akh in the eye. â€Å"I don't . . . understand.† â€Å"No more lies!† Mal'akh shouted, advancing to within inches of the paralyzed man. â€Å"I know what is hidden here in Washington.† Solomon's gray eyes were defiant. â€Å"I have no idea what you're talking about!† Mal'akh took another sip of tea and set the cup on a coaster. â€Å"You spoke those same words to me ten years ago, on the night of your mother's death.† Solomon's eyes shot wide open. â€Å"You . . . ?† â€Å"She didn't have to die. If you had given me what I demanded . . .† The older man's face contorted in a mask of horrified recognition . . . and disbelief. â€Å"I warned you,† Mal'akh said, â€Å"if you pulled the trigger, I would haunt you forever.† â€Å"But you're–â€Å" Mal'akh lunged, driving the Taser hard into Solomon's chest again. There was another flash of blue light, and Solomon went completely limp. Mal'akh put the Taser back in his pocket and calmly finished his tea. When he was done, he dabbed his lips with a monogrammed linen napkin and peered down at his victim. â€Å"Shall we go?† Solomon's body was motionless, but his eyes were wide and engaged. Mal'akh got down close and whispered in the man's ear. â€Å"I'm taking you to a place where only truth remains.† Without another word, Mal'akh wadded up the monogrammed napkin and stuffed it into Solomon's mouth. Then he hoisted the limp man onto his broad shoulders and headed for the private elevator. On his way out, he picked up Solomon's iPhone and keys from the hall table. Tonight you will tell me all your secrets, Mal'akh thought. Including why you left me for dead all those years ago.