Excellence Both On and Off the Field at Delaware Valley College

I am very excited about the prospect of attending Delaware Valley College.   DelVal’s business program would offer me a diversity of options in my intended career path.   Ranging from Accounting to Sports Management, I know that I can find a study area that will fulfill my long-term goals of working in business.Being sports-oriented, my current interest is in Turf Management.   With DelVal's ranking of 23 amongst schools that offer a bachelor's degree in turf management, I am excited to begin working toward that short-term goal. With more than 500 acres of outdoor laboratory space and DelVal being a small school, I look forward to the individual hands-on attention that can bring.Having been coached by an excellent football coach, Jim Algeo, in a very successful program at Lansdale Catholic High School, I am eager to become a member of DelVal’s successful NCAA Division III football program.   My intention is to show excellence both on and off the field.Located in Doylestown, PA, the college is very close to my home.   I have very close relationships with many of my family members, so being able to see them on a regular basis is very important to me.We are very close-knit, and I value the contributions my family members can make to my college experience.   The Doylestown community offers so many activities that would hold my interest as well.Having heard glowing reports from others regarding Delaware Valley College, I just know that it would be a good fit for me.   I look forward to finding out how I can be a useful member of the school community and grow academically and socially into an exceptional young man.   It would be an honor to represent Delaware Valley College.   

Cause and Effect Essay: Marijuana in Schools

Cause and Effect Essay Marijuana can be found on every college campus in Canada and is the drug of choice coming in right behind alcohol. The Department of Justice Canada conducted a survey and found that, â€Å"almost one-third (29%) of college students had reported using marijuana during the previous 12 months of 1998. (http://www. justice. gc. ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/qa02_2-qr02_2/p2. html). According to a similar study, the majority of students on college campuses that use marijuana will also participate in other high risk activities.This destructive behavior includes things such as cigarette smoking, binge drinking and sex while intoxicated. Marijuana is so easy to obtain and can be very tempting to experiment with, especially if you have already had a few drinks and your thinking is impaired. Marijuana causes many internal and external problem for a college student, Marijuana can lead to academic problems, addiction, and physical/mental issues, marijuana can also lead to ser ious problems with the law. All these issues can potentially damage the outcome of a student’s future.Marijuana prices have a major effect on the amount of use by college students at any given point in time. Although it may be more socially available on college campuses, the price still determines the usage. The fact that marijuana is illegal in Canada helps to keep the price at a seemingly higher level. This artificial price illusion regulates the buying, selling and usage among college students. Compared to alcohol, marijuana is much more accessible, especially on college campuses. Getting alcohol requires an ID or someone with an ID.Getting marijuana only requires someone that supplies the drug. So even though it is illegal, marijuana is seemingly more common. Since possession of marijuana is illegal, it is not surprising that the consequences can be so debilitating. While attending college with federal financial aid, you run the risk of jeopardizing your federal aid by be ing charged with a misdemeanor. Possession of marijuana is considered a misdemeanor and if you are charged, the federal government has the right to take away any government aid that you were granted.So not only do you have a record for possession, but more than likely you are going through the judicial system of the college or university and may be suspended or expelled. Marijuana use can also lead to academic problems. Students that participate in these behaviors have a tendency to spend more time socializing than concentrating on what they should be, their academics. These students spend more time partying than studying which greatly affects their academic performance. Two of the physical effects of marijuana that directly affect academics are difficulty in problem solving and poor memory.Students may become less and less motivated to be involved in campus activities, and also may become decreasingly concerned with their long-term goals and career plans. Users may have a hard time limiting their use and may build a tolerance to the drug. This tolerance means that the user now requires a larger amount of the drug to get the same effect, and may develop problems with their jobs and personal relationships because the drug becomes such a major part of his or her life. Many students see marijuana as a â€Å"recreational† drug.With increased â€Å"recreational† use, the drug can become addictive. It is not so much an addiction, but a psychological dependence for smoking, and that feeling of intoxication. However, besides being illegal, marijuana may contain unknown contaminants that can severely harm your brain and lungs. With all of the risks of the drug, it is amazing that people still use it â€Å"recreationally†. It is common for students to first experiment with their peers, whether it be a friend, sibling or just an acquaintance. The peer pressure is the most likely cause of first time users.Physical effects of marijuana are different ac cording to the way in which it is taken, where it is used, the expectations and or ideals of the user, and whether or not it is used in conjunction with other drugs. Users often have chronic bronchitis and increased chances of getting lung cancer. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. Marijuana also affects the brain, researchers say that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus.The immediate effects of marijuana other than a feeling of intoxication are: bloodshot eyes, anxiety, confusion and paranoia, loss of coordination, and increased appetite. Mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration and coordination. Marijuana’s effect on a student can tally up to some very serious consequences that a student can suffer, the cause and effect of marij uana lead to problems of addiction, health problems, trouble with the law and poor academic performances.

African Caribbean Culture In The United Kingdom Marketing Essay

African Caribbean Culture In The United Kingdom Marketing Essay African-Caribbean communities organize and participate in Caribbean Carnivals Caribbean style carnivals throughout the UK. The best known of these is the annual  Notting Hill Carnival, attracting up to 1.5 million people from Britain and around the world, making it the largest street festival in Europe. The carnival began in 1964 as a small procession of Trinidadians in memory of festivals in their home country. Leeds West Indian Carnival  is Europe’s oldest West Indian carnival and now attracts around 130,000 people. Other carnivals include the Leicester Caribbean Carnival and the Birmingham International Carnival. British African-Caribbean people A majority of the African-Caribbean population in the UK is of Jamaican origin; other notable representation is from Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana (which although located on the South Ameri can mainland is culturally similar to the Caribbean and was historically considered to be part of the British West Indies), and Belize. African-Caribbean people are present throughout the United Kingdom with by far the largest concentrations in London and Birmingham. Significant communities also exist in other population centres, notably Manchester, Bradford, Nottingham, Coventry, Luton, Leicester, Bristol, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Liverpool and Cardiff. In these cities, the community is traditionally associated with a particular area, such as Brixton, Harlesden, Stonebridge, Tottenham, Dalston, Lewisham, Edmonton, Peckham in London, West Bowling and Heaton in Bradford, Chapeltown in Leeds, St. Pauls in Bristol, or Handsworth and Aston in Birmingham or Moss Side in Manchester. According to the 2001 census, the largest number of African-Caribbeans is found in Lewisham, south-east London, with 9%. British African-Caribbeans have an extremely high rate of mixed-race relationship s, and could in effect become the first UK ethnic group to â€Å"disappear†. Half of all British African-Caribbean men in a relationship have partners of a different ethnic background, as do one-third of all British African-Caribbean women. 2009 estimates for England alone roughly put the full African-Caribbean to partial African-Caribbean heritage ratio at 2:1, with over 900,000 people of African-Caribbean origin in total. England in 2009: 609,400 (approximately 1.20% of the English population) Regions with significant populations Greater London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, West Midlands, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Leicester Sheffield Caribbean London It’s hard to say exactly which parts of London are synonymous with Caribbean culture. In August it’ll be Notting Hill, but although there are hubs of residential areas – Peckham, New Cross, Dalston, and Lewisham That will have their fair share of Caribbean (and African) residents and at least a ha ndful of grocers or takeaways selling Caribbean food; it’s a community that’s fairly spread across town. Two main areas do stand out, however: Brixton in South London and Harlesden in the North West. Brixton Market is home to Europe’s largest amount of Afro-Caribbean foodstuffs, which obviously appeals to a large contingent of Afro-Caribbean consumers who can also find specialist hairdressers, barber shops as well as hair products in the surrounding streets. Harlesden also boasts its fair share of Caribbean cafà ©s and grocers, but is best known as the reggae capital of London.

Entry #5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Entry #5 - Essay Example He even perceives hostility at the inn but this does not stop him from his pursuit. Robins similarly meets a hostile response from a guard that forces him to run away, by the church, he meets the previous inn attendant in a scary outfit, blocks the man’s way to demand for directions to his uncle and does not leave the man’s way even after threat. These identify a persistent character that withstands all odds with the aim of achieving set objectives (Hawthorne 4-20). Robins psychological persistence is however evident in his ability to control his emotions and not yield to the crowd’s intended humiliation when they pass with his uncle. While the crowd, led by the man whom Robin met at the inn and the church, laugh at him, Robins manages to laugh, even louder, in spite of the fact that the uncle who held his hopes is a captive. This ends the crowd’s laugh and the multitude proceeds with their march (Hawthorne 25-

About Irving Norman, Blind Momentum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

About Irving Norman, Blind Momentum - Essay Example The presentation of the steel machinery is marked by hangings depicting glaring lights, toys and smiley faces. The palate used is black with strong overtones of urban red, with shades of green and purple, accentuating a landscape littered with corpses and body parts, as neon lights glare from the hangings. Perhaps the painter in this particular painting intends to bring out the cynicism, gloom and despondency inherent in the modern urban life. This in a way carries forward Irving’s favorite theme of criticizing the contemporary times and life, urging for a spirit of change. The painter in a way intends to warn the modern viewers of the consequences of the industrial panache for material progress, at the cost of human aspirations and yearnings. The screaming and smoking faces depict the sterility inherent in the modern consumerism that gained grounds in the 60s, when this painting was made, bringing to fore the demise of innocence and a sense of human kinship. The entire landscape in the painting is viciously prearranged in a mechanical way, blatantly crushing the essential humanness residing in the recesses of the modern urban

Motivation at Workplace Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Motivation at Workplace - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that motivational scholars consider that for every last thing we do (actions and behavior) there is an essential cause or reason; as such it impacts our conduct', our decision of conduct and its perpetual quality, and the measure of exertion put into it. They additionally accept that energy about the reasons will empower forecast and hence take into account impact on those practices or activity. Contemporary exploration and hypotheses have developed and progressed subsequent to those of Skinner who considered execution taking into account inspirations from a behavioral perspective, while Maslow extended his needs pecking order to oblige inspiration regarding individuals trying to fulfill needs inside an orderly request that advances from physiological needs, to security, to social, to regard lastly acknowledgment toward oneself. His needs order represented the essentialness of fulfilling the needs of representatives if inspiration somehow happened to be affecte d and cultivated. Motivational research at the moment concentrates essentially on the determination of what great inspiration- what boost is obliged to expand inspiration - and takes both natural and outward inspiration into thought.

Walt Disney Prospectus Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Walt Disney Prospectus - Case Study Example intellectual property for using in connection with publications and merchandise; distribute end products to retailers through major Disney stores and other associated outlets; and finally publication of magazines and books. The Walt Disney Company is subjected to Securities Exchange Act of the year 1934. This report focuses on the public offer which the company offered way back in 2008. A comparison has been done to compare its former offers to the mentioned offer. Disney offered 4.50% global notes debt to citizens who had shares as well as those who never had shares. For successful results out of this, one of the approaches the company took was to provide a convenient mode for purchasing Disney common stock shares and reinvest any cash dividends paid on such shares. The discretion of the company to purchase shares was meant to be made by a designated purchasing agent either from Disney or in the open market (Barrier, 2007). Open market share purchases could be transacted through negotiated operations on such terms depending on purchasing agents’ determination. Either Disney or any participant had no authority alter the time, price or the date when shares would be purchased by the agent that deals with purchases. These were a few measures the company took to ensure that its plan fared on well. Disney proposed to sell $1,000,000,000 to the public. This amount has significantly increased as compared to initial offers. This is majorly attributed by the fact that the company’s strategy of building brands that are firm and franchises has continued creating great value across the company. The offer also increased due to the fact that the company brought in new products and services that gave them much security and confidence in offering the public these notes. More investors were also attracted to the offer which was really paying well in terms of dividend pay despite economic crisis that tried to destabilize global markets. Corporate and the unallocated

Service Experience Report on Sugarpalm Resort in Phuket Essay

Service Experience Report on Sugarpalm Resort in Phuket - Essay Example Any individual visiting Phuket for the first time can go through the positive customer ratings and reviews on Sugar Palm Resort over the internet. The resort offers a complete recreation package which one can expect to have from a high quality vacation resort. Because of the increasing Sugar Palm as a favourite traveller’s resort, I have chosen it evaluate the service quality. I have made two visits to the resort and in this report I have discussed my experience to the resort. In the light of service marketing theories and concepts, I have developed this experience report on Sugar Palm Resort in Phuket. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF SERVICE ENCOUNTER STAGE As mentioned above, I have selected Sugar Palm Resort Phuket to analyse the service quality therefore, all of the described models will be only used to evaluate the service experience of Sugar Palm Resort. Evaluating a service with few tangible clues can be difficult. A customer cannot evaluate the service of a resort without e xperiencing it. ... Figure I: Ease of Evaluation based on Product/Service Qualities Source: Lovelock, Patterson, & Walker, 2007 High-Contact Service When a customer visits Sugar Palm, he/she frequently interacts with the service personnel (Figure II). In other words, the nature of the service is high-contact service and in a high-contact service, making the experience of the customer appealing through the physical environment and excellent interaction with service personnel, is a challenge for the company (Lovelock, Wirtz, & Chatterjee, 2010). Although most of the customers visit Phuket because of its beauty, still the service quality at Sugar Palm Resort influences overall experience of the customers at Phuket. Figure II: Levels of Customer Contact with Service Organisations Source: Lovelock, Wirtz, & Chatterjee, 2010 Source: Lovelock, Wirtz, & Chatterjee, 2010 The Servucation System The service points of Sugar Palm such as physical environment that is visible to the customers is known as servucation s ystem and Lovestock has identified three overlapping elements of servucation system, based on which I will evaluate the critical service points of Sugar Palm Resort service. Service Quality Evaluation – First Visit In order to evaluate the service, I personally visit the Sugar Palm Resort twice. My experience has been different during the first and second visit. Service Operations Phuket has attracted tourists from all over the world and has been an all time favourite place for the holidays. The hotel that I have visited was located in the heart of the city and was twenty five minutes drive from the airport. The service in terms of eagerness of the hotel staffs to look after the requirements of any visitor was a feature seen in this

Reflective exercise for studing marketing module Essay

Reflective exercise for studing marketing module - Essay Example My knowledge on the topic of international marketing has improved tremendously as a result of the classes and lecture sessions. I have learnt that the strategies of marketing for internal businesses have become a crucial and cumbersome task in today’s competitive world. Globalisation is one of the most important contributing factors to international marketing strategies. My information was updated to a much greater extent in the areas of international marketing and its impact on global factors to an organization’s managerial decision making, the approaches of entering new markets, designing and developing new products for international markets, the attributes of marketing research internationally, the marketing mix for international business and a lot more. Our group comprised of three members including me. We had diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds two of us are Chinese and one belonged to Saudi Arabia. Due to the difference in cultural and religious backgrounds I learnt how to communicate and manage a diverse team. We as a team found out that the business rules of International Marketing are not the same as they used to be few years ago. The reasons behind these change of rules and strategies is globalisation and its associated threats and opportunities. I got the information that due to various factors like increased globalisation, technological advancements and increased role of internet, the competition has increased greatly these days in every industry. Due to this reason, businesses have to adopt newer methods and strategies in order to survive in the competitive world and have a sustainable business. I also got familiar with the difference of conventional marketing and international marketing and due to this I realised that the modern marketers have changed their mind sets for global development. In today’s world the traditional ways of marketing are not sufficient for this reason the marketers and the executives need to be more innovative thinkers, create newer and better ideas to market internationally and possess quick decision making capabilities. The concept of innovation in marketing techniques was also highlighted in one of the lectures and I think this is one of the basic requirements for international marketing methods of today’s world. Examples of innovative marketing techniques are video clips posted on social networking websites and viral marketing. The conventional tools for assessing the decision making abilities of an organization which includes the SWOT analysis and the PESTL analysis are found to be quite different from a global business perspective. Important to note, that I studied and analysed that now more number of factors are needed to be analysed and examined in SWOT and PESTL analysis for a global organization. I would also like to accept and appreciate the skills of my teacher who encouraged and motivated us to learn the concepts of International marketing from a broader vi ew point and effectively implement it in the practical world when possible. The lectures, seminars and the reading materials were adequate enough to bring deeper insight in the students and held up to date information. We also studied and learnt to determine the opportunities present in the global marketing with the help of real-life case studies. Moreover, it was studied that the

Mahatma Gandhi Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mahatma Gandhi - Research Paper Example Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi believed that violence merely attracts more violence. He therefore discouraged his true followers from violently engaging the colonial authorities who ruled India before 1947. Gandhi wanted to force the imperialists to consider the harm that their presence in India was doing to the ethnic population. To this end, Gandhi believed that engaging in terrorist acts would not help India’s cause. He read about the concept of non-violent protest, as described by the American, Henry Thoreau, and fashioned his protest movement on precepts that were propagated by Thoreau. During his lifetime, Henry Thoreau was believed to be a dangerous anarchist. This is because he refused to support a government that had rules in place to support institutions such as slavery- which he deeply disapproved of. Thoreau, however, did not try to start a revolution in his time. He was merely trying to convince the public that there could be a more just government if this was demanded by the citizens. Thoreau believed that responsible citizens had the duty to refuse to pay taxes to a corrupt government. Thoreau actually decided not to pay taxes in order to demonstrate this point. He was arrested and confined to jail in 1848 for this action. He disapproved of the actions of the friend that paid his bail. T his experience inspired him to pen the essay ‘Civil Disobedience’, soon after. This proposal on the performance of acts of civil disobedience would be read and implemented years after Thoreau’s death by men like Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Thesis Statement: Thoreau’s treatise contributed to the transformation of the world when revolutionary leaders like King and Gandhi used it to launch successful protests against colonialism and institutionalized racism. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who would later simply be known as Mahatma

Using material from Item A and elsewhere Essay Example for Free

Using material from Item A and elsewhere Essay ?The cultural deprivation theory argues that many working class and black children do not acquire the basic values, attitudes and skills needed for educational success through primary socialisation in the family. Many cultural deprivation theorists claim that working-class families inadequately socialise their children and therefore their children are ‘culturally deprived’. There are three main aspects to cultural deprivation, one of them being intellectual development. This refers to the child’s development of thinking and reasoning skills allowing them to solve problems and use ideas and concepts. Cultural deprivation theorists would argue that many working class homes lack the resources, such as books and educational toys, needed to stimulate a child’s intellectual development that would enable them to progress more quickly once the child has started school as they already have a prior knowledge and understanding. J. W. B Douglas (1964) says that working class parents are less likely to support their children’s intellectual development through reading with them or other educational activities in the home after he conducted a study that found working class pupils to score lower on tests of ability than middle class pupils. Basil Bernstein and Douglas Young came to a similar conclusion and suggested that middle class mothers are more likely to choose toys that encourage the thinking and reasoning skills that’d prepare their children for school. However, sociologists such as Bernstein and Young have not considered the fact that working class mothers may not have such choice in toys and books that’d be educationally beneficial for their children due to their financial state which would suggest that it is material deprivation that is more important here. Secondly, Carl Bereiter and Siegfried Engelmann (1966) highlighted the importance of language for educational achievement claiming that the language used in lower class homes is deficient. Basil Bernstein also identified differences between the language influencing achievement used by working class and middle class families. He distinguishes between two types of speech code: restricted code used by the working class and the elaborated code typically used by the middle class. He argues that the differences in speech code give middle class children an advantage at school because this is the type of language used and encouraged by the education system through teaching, textbooks and exams. However, this theory is rejected by sociologists such as Barry Troyna and Jenny Williams (1986) who say that the problem is not the language used by the children but the school’s attitude towards it. Similarly, Nell Keddie (1973) describes cultural deprivation as a ‘myth’ and sees it as a victim-blaming explanation, she argues that a child cannot be deprived of their own culture – they are culturally different not culturally deprived and they fail due to dismissal from an education system dominated by middle class values. The third aspect to cultural deprivation is the argument that the parents’ attitudes and values are a key factor affecting education achievement. Leon Feinstein (1998) found that working class parents’ lack of interest was the main reason for education underachievement and was more important than material or internal factors. He suggests that middle class children are more successful due to their parents providing them with the necessary motivation, discipline and support. Likewise, J. W. B Douglas’ study ‘The Home and the School’ said that working class failure is due to a lack of parental interest and stimulation in the home. He found that working class parents visited the school less often and were less likely to discuss their children’s progress with teachers resulting in their children’s decreased levels of achievement motivation. Although this view has been critiqued by Tessa Blackstone and Jo Mortimore (1994) who say the parents visit school less often and attend fewer parents evenings is due to longer or irregular work hours or are put off by the school’s middle class atmosphere not because of a lack of interest in their child’s educational progress. Some sociologists argue that parental disinterest in their children’s education reflects the subcultural values of the working class; they say that large groups of the working class have different goals, beliefs and values from the rest of society and this is the reason for their children’s educational failure. Barry Sugarman (1970) says that working class subculture has four key features that act as a barrier to educational achievement: Fatalism, Collectivism, Immediate gratification and Present-time gratification. Working class children internalise these beliefs and values of their subculture through the socialisation process and this results in their underachievement. Sugarman suggests these values exist due to working-class jobs being less secure and have no career structure to enable individuals to advance. Many sociologists disagree with the view that cultural deprivation is the main reason for education underachievement. Peter Mortimore and Geoff Whitty (1997) argue that material deprivation has a much greater effect on achievement than internal factors however although it is clear that material factors play a part in educational achievement, due to the success of some children from poor families we can see that material deprivation is only part of the explanation. The cultural, religious or political values of the family are a strong part of sustaining a child’s motivation regardless of the child’s social class; similarly internal factors such as the quality of the school allow children from poorer backgrounds to gain educational success.

The Role of a Strategic Leader in an Organization Essay Example for Free

The Role of a Strategic Leader in an Organization Essay Role of Indian Media in the New Age The following is the speech given by Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of HRD and C IT, on the topic: Role of Indian Media in the New Ag, presiding as the Chief Guest for the Press Club Awards for Excellence in Journalism , on 5th May, 2012 at The NSCI, Worli, Mumbai. I am privileged to be here with you on a day the media celebrates its exceptional performers. I congratulate all those who have received awards and wish them continued success in their profession. The media has emerged as a pillar of the modern State. nbsp; The foundation of a modern democratic State lies in its ability to secure fundamental rights promised to its people, to deliver Justice and lead its people to economic and social progress. Democracy is defined by freedom of speech and expression. Media is an embodiment of these rights that define democracy. If we look back into history, the emergence of the modern nation-state where the sovereignty vested in its people is closely related to the spread of the printing press. Guttenberg ¤Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ws Bible (the first printed book) was a precursor to the spread of emocracy and republican thought across the world. Rousseau was mild mannered, but his thoughts disseminated by the newspapers in the coffee houses of Paris resulted in the French Revolution. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity as the slogan for the Revolution owes much to the media of the day. The Indian media has been truly a pillar of the Indian State. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. The Indian media has indeed been vigilant and persuasive in protection of freedoms and awakening thought. If we have preserved our democracy in the midst of periodic lapses into ictatorships in our neighbourhood, the credit should go to our founding fathers who created robust institutions and to the media who kept a vigilant watch at preserving these institutions. However, the nature of media has also been changing over the last two decades. The emergence of the electronic media in India over two decades ago since the first war to be witnessed live by millions in the cosy comforts of their homes, brought the power of imagery to the forefront. The growing dominance of imagery over substance in an era where time is of the essence and competition is ntense, has brought about the need for stoking fires, beaming controversies and heated debates in the media. The divergence of approach between the print and the electronic media has been amply demonstrated in the events of the last year. Today ¤ es media does not provide much space for settling differences, it prefers to dog the protagonists forever reminding them of the past. There is a problem with this approach. We do not sufficiently celebrate our achievements, we do not appreciate the progress that we make. The spread of negative sentiment leads to despondency and inaction. Infact, today ¤Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ws headline in a prominent newspaper speaks of the fear that stalks the corridors of bureaucracy. Despite the exhortation of the Prime Minister, the civil services today is afraid of action, for any action can be questioned. Faith and trust in all institutions are being eroded. Rampant mistrust, I believe, has slowed governance and if not corrected, can imperil the foundations of democracy. We have much to correct, but it is necessary for room for correction to be available. When there is a dispute in a family, the members retire to a place of seclusion to ettle eir tn ditterences. Today, there is no such place available due to the omnipotence of media. Competition spurs innovation, but unhealthy competition can lead to pandering. The rush for eyeballs in a crush of problems leads to extremes being aired rather than the moderate being heard. In such a situation, the responsibility of the media to the larger society gets diluted.    At the same time, I would for one strongly oppose attempts to impose responsibility through regulatory action. It is for the media to ponder and find solutions for itself. If the media fails to o so, Just as we are witnessing a clamour for Judicial accountability because the judiciary has not succeeded in inculcating responsibility within itself, a similar clamour for media accountability would grow. Another trend that has emerged in the recent years is the growth of the social media riding in the ICT revolution. Social interactions have exploded as never before, aided by the connecting power of the internet. The ability of thoughts to converge and congregate have multiplied manifold.

Leukopenia And Leukemia Risk Factors Biology Essay

Leukopenia And Leukemia Risk Factors Biology Essay A clinical condition, known as leukopenia occasionally occurs in which the bone marrow produces very few white blood cells, leaving the body unprotected against many bacteria and other agents that might invade the tissues. Normally, the human body lives in symbiosis with many bacteria, because all the mucous membranes of the body are constantly exposed to large numbers of bacteria. The mouth almost always contains various spirochetal, pneumococcal, and streptococcal bacteria, and these same bacteria are present to a lesser extent in the entire respiratory tract. The distal gastrointestinal tract is especially loaded with colon bacilli. Furthermore, one can always find bacteria on the surfaces of the eyes, urethra, and vagina. Any decrease in the number of white blood cells immediately allows invasion of adjacent tissues by bacteria that are already present. Within 2 days after the bone marrow stops producing white blood cells, ulcers may appear in the mouth and colon, or the person might develop some form of severe respiratory infection. Bacteria from the ulcers rapidly invade surrounding tissues and the blood. Without treatment, death often ensues in less than a week after acute total leukopenia begins. Irradiation of the body by x-rays or gamma rays, or exposure to drugs and chemicals that contain benzene or anthracene nuclei, is likely to cause aplasia of the bone marrow. Indeed, some common drugs, such as chloramphenicol (an antibiotic), thiouracil (used to treat thyrotoxicosis), and even various barbiturate hypnotics, on very rare occasions cause leukopenia, thus setting off the entire infectious sequence of this malady. After moderate irradiation injury to the bone marrow, some stem cells, myeloblasts, and hemocytoblasts may remain undestroyed in the marrow and are capable of regenerating the bone marrow, provided sufficient time is available. A patient properly treated with transfusions, plus antibiotics and other drugs to ward off infection, usually develops enough new bone marrow within weeks to months for blood cell concentrations to return to normal. Leukemia Leukemia is a cancer of one class of white blood cells in the bone marrow, which results in the proliferation of that cell type to the exclusion of other types. Leukemia appears to be a clonal disorder, meaning one abnormal cancerous cell proliferates without control, producing an abnormal group of daughter cells. These cells prevent other blood cells in the bone marrow from developing normally, causing them to accumulate in the marrow. Because of these factors, leukemia is called an accumulation and a clonal disorder. Eventually, leukemic cells take over the bone marrow. This reduces blood levels of all nonleukemic cells, causing the many generalized symptoms of leukemia. Types of Leukemia Leukemia is described as acute or chronic, depending on the suddenness of appearance and how well differentiated the cancerous cells are. The cells of acute leukemia are poorly differentiated, whereas those of chronic leukemia are usually well differentiated. Leukemia is also described based on the proliferating cell type. For instance, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood leukemia, describes a cancer of a primitive lymphocyte cell line. Granulocytic leukemias are leukemias of the eosinophils, neutrophils, or basophils. Leukemia in adults is usually chronic lymphocytic or acute myeloblastic. Long-term survival rates for leukemia depend on the involved cell type, but range to more than 75% for childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is a remarkable statistic for what was once a nearly always fatal disease. Risk Factors for Developing Leukemia Risk factors for leukemia include a genetic predisposition coupled with a known or unknown initiator (mutating) event. Siblings of children with leukemia are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop the disease than other children. Certain abnormal chromosomes are seen in a high percentage of patients with leukemia. Likewise, individuals with certain chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome, have an increased risk of developing leukemia. Exposures to radiation, some drugs that depress the bone marrow, and various chemotherapeutic agents have been suggested to increase the risk of leukemia. Environmental agents such as pesticides and certain viral infections also have been implicated. Previous illness with a variety of diseases associated with hematopoiesis (blood cell production) has been shown to increase the risk of leukemia. These diseases include Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, polycythemia vera, sideroblastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Chronic leukemia may sometimes transform into acute leukemia. Clinical Manifestations Acute leukemia has marked clinical manifestations. Chronic leukemia progresses slowly and may have few symptoms until advanced. Pallor and fatigue from anemia. Frequent infections caused by a decrease in white blood cells. Bleeding and bruising caused by thrombocytopenia and coagulation disorders. Bone pain caused by accumulation of cells in the marrow, which leads to increased pressure and cell death. Unlike growing pains, bone pain related to leukemia is usually progressive. Weight loss caused by poor appetite and increased caloric consumption by neoplastic cells. Lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly caused by leukemic cell infiltration of these lymphoid organs may develop. Central nervous system symptoms may occur. Diagnostic Tools Laboratory findings include alterations in specific blood cell counts, with overall elevation or deficiency in white blood cell count variable, depending on the type of cell affected. Bone marrow tests demonstrate clonal proliferation and blood cell accumulation. Cerebral spinal fluid is examined to rule out central nervous system involvement. Complications Children who survive leukemia have an increased risk of developing a new malignancy later on in life when compared to children who have never had leukemia, most likely related to the aggressiveness of chemotherapeutic (or radiological) regimens. Treatment regimens, including bone marrow transplant, are associated with temporary bone marrow depression, and increase the risk of developing a severe infection that could lead to death. Even with successful treatment and remission, leukemic cells may still persist, suggesting residual disease. Implications for prognosis and cure are unclear. Treatment Multiple drug chemotherapy. Antibiotics to prevent infection. Transfusions of red blood cells and platelets to reverse anemia and prevent bleeding. Bone marrow transplant may successfully treat the disease. Blood products and broad spectrum antibiotics are provided during bone marrow transplant procedures to fight and prevent infection. Immunotherapy, including interferons and other cytokines, is used to improve outcome. Therapy may be more conservative for chronic leukemia. The treatments described earlier may contribute to the symptoms by causing further bone marrow depression, nausea, and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting may be controlled or reduced by pharmacologic and behavioral intervention. Anthocyanins (chemicals with known antioxidant and liver protecting properties) isolated from the plant Hibiscus sabdariffa are being studied as chemopreventive agents in that they cause cancer cell apoptosis (death) in human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Anemia Anemia is a condition in which there is a reduced number of red blood cells or decreased concentration of hemoglobin in those cells or both. Anemia is often a manifestation of some disease process or abnormality within the body. Although there are many causes of anemia, the actual mechanism by which the anemia results is generally due to (1) excess loss or destruction of red blood cells and (2) reduced or defective production of red blood cells. Anemias may be classified according to cause or effect on red cell morphology Size changes Normocytic anemia RBC size is unchanged Example: Blood loss anemia Macrocytic anemia RBC size is increased Example: B12/folic acid deficiency anemia Microcytic anemia RBC size is reduced Example: Iron deficiency anemia Color changes (due to altered hemoglobin content) Normochromic Normal hemoglobin concentration Hypochromic Reduced hemoglobin concentration Example: Iron deficiency anemia may be classified as a microcytic, hypochromic anemia as both red blood cell size and hemoglobin content are reduced General manifestations of anemia A major feature of anemia is a reduced capacity for the transport of oxygen to tissues. This reduced oxygen delivery can result in the following: Ischemia Fatigability Breathlessness upon exertion Exercise intolerance Pallor Increased susceptibility to infection Types of anemia Hemolytic anemia Anemia that results from excess destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). Factors that may cause hemolysis include the following: Autoimmune destruction of red blood cells Certain drugs (example: quinine) or toxins Cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia Rheumatoid arthritis Certain viral infections (parvovirus) Parasitic infections (malaria) Blood loss anemia Anemia that results from acute blood loss. With acute loss of large amounts of blood, shock is the major concern. With chronic loss of smaller amounts of blood, iron deficiency is a chief concern. Causes of acute and chronic blood loss may include the following: Trauma and hemorrhage Malignancy Peptic ulcers Iron-deficiency anemia Iron-deficiency anemia is a major cause of anemia worldwide. It can occur as a result of iron-deficient diets. Vegetarians are at particular risk for iron deficiency as are menstruating or pregnant women due to increased requirement for iron. Iron-deficiency anemia may also result from poor absorption of iron from the intestine or persistent blood loss (e.g., ulcers, neoplasia). Because iron is the functional component of hemoglobin, lack of available iron will result in a decreased hemoglobin synthesis and subsequent impairment of red blood cell oxygen-carrying capacity. Cobalamin-deficiency or folate-deficiency anemia Cobalamin (vitamin B 12) and folic acid are essential nutrients required for DNA synthesis and red cell maturation, respectively. Deficiency of these nutrients will lead to the formation of red blood cells that are of abnormal shape with shortened life spans due to weakened cell membranes. One important cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency is pernicious anemia that results from a lack of intrinsic factor production by the gastric mucosa. Intrinsic factor is required for normal absorption of vitamin B 12 from the intestine. Any intestinal abnormalities (e.g., neoplasia, inflammation) that interfere with the production of intrinsic factor can lead to vitamin B 12 deficiency. Folic acid deficiency most commonly results from poor diet, malnutrition or intestinal malabsorption. Inherited anemia Anemia may also result from genetic defects in red blood cell structure or function. Two common genetic disorders of erythrocytes are sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. Both of these disorders result from abnormal or absent genes for the production of hemoglobin. Sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease is a group of autosomal recessive disorders characterized by abnormal hemoglobin production. In the United States the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease is in blacks with a reported incidence of approximately 1 in 500 births. Sickle cell disease has several patterns of inheritance that determine the severity of the disease in afflicted individuals. In the homozygous form of the disease, most of the hemoglobin formed is defective and the clinical presentation is most severe. With the heterozygous form of the disease, less than half of the red cell hemoglobin is affected and the presentation is significantly milder. Individuals may also inherit the sickle cell trait and be carriers of the defective hemoglobin gene without significant clinical manifestations. Manifestations of sickle cell disease: The abnormal hemoglobin formed in sickle cell disease results from a substitution mutation of a single amino acid. This mutation causes the deoxygenated hemoglobin to clump and become abnormally rigid. The rigidity of the defective hemoglobin deforms the pliable red blood cell membrane and causes erythrocytes to take on sickled or half-moon appearance. The degree of sickling that occurs is determined by the amount of abnormal hemoglobin within the red blood cell and only occurs when the abnormal hemoglobin is deoxygenated. As a result of their elongated shape and rigidity, affected blood cells do not pass easily through narrow blood vessels. Hemolysis of sickled red blood cells is also common. The spleen is a major site of red cell hemolysis since the blood vessels found within this organ are narrow and convoluted. As a result of the sluggish blood flow, many tissues and organs of the body are eventually affected by this disorder. Specific manifestations may include the following: Impaired oxygen-carrying capacity resulting in fatigue, pallor Occlusion of blood vessels leading to ischemia, hypoxia, pain Organ damage Splenomegaly due to increased destruction of red blood cells in this organ Jaundice as a result of increased amounts of hemoglobin released into circulation Increased risk of infection and possible septicemia due to stagnation of blood Thalassemia Thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by absent or defective production of hemoglobin ÃŽÂ ± or ÃŽÂ ² chains. As with sickle cell anemia, afflicted individuals may be heterozygous for the trait and have a milder presentation of the disease or homozygous and have a more severe form of the disorder. The ÃŽÂ ² form of thalassemia (defective formation of ÃŽÂ ² hemoglobin chains) is most common in individuals from Mediterranean populations, whereas the ÃŽÂ ± form of thalassemia (defective formation of ÃŽÂ ± hemoglobin chains) occurs mostly in Asians. Both the ÃŽÂ ± and ÃŽÂ ² forms of thalassemia are common in blacks. Manifestations of thalassemia In heterozygous individuals enough normal hemoglobin is usually synthesized to prevent significant anemia. In these individuals symptoms of anemia may appear only with exercise or physiologic stress. Homozygous individuals are often dependent on frequent transfusions to treat the resulting severe anemia. Children affected with the homozygous form may suffer severe growth retardation. The widespread hypoxia that can result from impaired oxygen-carrying capacity leads to erythropoietin-induced increases in hematopoiesis that can eventually affect the structure of the long bones. Severe anemia may also lead to congestive heart failure and marked hepatosplenomegaly. Excessive hemolysis of red blood cells may occur in severe forms of the disease due to overproduction of the normal hemoglobin subunit. Iron deposits from increased absorption and frequent transfusions may injure the liver and heart as well. Treatment of sickle cell anemia and thalassemia Individuals with inherited anemia should avoid physiologic stresses that might exacerbate hypoxia. Infections should be avoided and promptly treated if they occur to prevent a possible hypoxic crisis. Proper immunizations and vaccinations should be administered to lessen the chance of infection. Frequent transfusions of normal erythrocytes are commonly used in individuals with severe forms of inherited anemia during periods of crisis. These individuals are at risk for iron accumulation as well as contracting blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis and HIV from improperly screened blood. Bone marrow transplant may be utilized effectively to cure patients with genetic anemias; however, the procedure carries considerable risk of its own. Aplastic anemia Aplastic anemia results from a lack of red blood cell production by the bone marrow. If erythrocyte stem cell precursors are lacking or destroyed, the process of erythropoiesis will be severely impaired. Aplastic anemia may result from a congenital defect in stem cell production or can be caused by exposure to agents that damage the bone marrow such as Chemicals (organic solvents, heavy metals), radiation, toxins, HIV infection, chemotherapeutic drugs and certain antibiotics (Chloramphenicol). Drug-induced aplastic anemia is usually a dose-dependent phenomenon. The clinical manifestations of aplastic anemia will depend on the extent to which hematopoiesis is impaired. General symptoms of anemia such as pallor, fatigue and lethargy can occur initially. Bleeding in the skin and from the nose, mouth and body orifices may also occur from a lack of platelet production by the abnormal bone marrow. Increased susceptibility to infection is also seen as a result of diminished white blood cell production. The underlying cause of the aplastic anemia needs to be identified and further exposure prevented. Treatment should also include avoidance of physiologic stresses and infection. Transfusions are effective for temporarily improving oxygen-carrying capacity. In severe cases, bone marrow transplant may offer a cure. Polycythemia Polycythemia is a disorder in which the number of red blood cells in circulation is greatly increased. There are two categories of polycythemia: relative and primary. Relative polycythemia results from an increase in the concentration of red blood cells due to a loss of plasma volume. In contrast, primary polycythemia (polycythemia vera) is caused by excessive proliferation of bone marrow stem cells. Polycythemia vera is a rare neoplastic disorder that occurs in men between the ages of 40 and 60. A secondary form of polycythemia may occur from excess erythropoietin production as a physiologic response to hypoxia. Secondary polycythemia may be seen in individuals living at high altitudes, in chronic smokers or in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Manifestations Increased blood volume and viscosity Increased risk of thrombus Occlusion of small blood vessels Hepatosplenomegaly from pooling of blood Impaired blood flow to tissues (ischemia) Treatment Increasing fluid volume in relative polycythemia Periodic removal of blood to reduce viscosity and volume in primary polycythemia Chemotherapy or radiation to suppress activity of bone marrow stem cells in polycythemia vera Thrombocytopenia (Purpura) Thrombocytopenia represents a decrease in the number of circulating platelets (usually less than 100,000/mm3). It can result from decreased platelet production by the bone marrow, increased pooling of platelets in the spleen, or decreased platelet survival caused by immune or nonimmune mechanisms. Dilutional thrombocytopenia can result from massive transfusions because blood stored for more that 24 hours has virtually no platelets. Decreased platelet production can result from suppression or failure of bone marrow function, such as occurs in aplastic anemia, or from replacement of bone marrow by malignant cells, such as occurs in leukemia. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suppresses the production of megakaryocytes. Radiation therapy and drugs such as those used in the treatment of cancer may suppress bone marrow function and reduce platelet production. There may be normal production of platelets but excessive pooling of platelets in the spleen. The spleen normally sequesters approximately 30% to 40% of the platelets. However, as much as 80% of the platelets can be sequestered when the spleen is enlarged (splenomegaly). Splenomegaly occurs in cirrhosis with portal hypertension and in lymphomas. Decreased platelet survival is an important cause of thrombocytopenia. In many cases, premature destruction of platelets is caused by antiplatelet antibodies or immune complexes. The antibodies can be directed against self-antigens (autoimmunity) or against nonself platelet antigens (from blood transfusions). Autoimmune thrombocytopenias include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and HIV-associated thrombocytopenias. Decreased platelet survival may also occur as the result of mechanical injury associated with prosthetic heart valves. Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia Some drugs, such as quinine, quinidine, and certain sulfa-containing antibiotics, may induce thrombocytopenia. These drugs act as a hapten and induce antigen-antibody response and formation of immune complexes that cause platelet destruction by complement-mediated lysis. In persons with drug-associated thrombocytopenia, there is a rapid fall in platelet count within 2 to 3 days of resuming use of a drug or 7 or more days (i.e., the time needed to mount an immune response) after starting use of a drug for the first time. The platelet count rises rapidly after the drug use is discontinued. The anticoagulant drug heparin has been increasingly implicated in thrombocytopenia and, paradoxically, in thrombosis. The complications typically occur 5 days after the start of therapy and result from production of heparin-dependent antiplatelet antibodies that cause aggregation of platelets and their removal from the circulation. The antibodies often bind to vessel walls, causing injury and thrombosis. The newer, low-molecular-weight heparin has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of heparin-induced complications compared with the older, high-molecular-weight form of the drug. Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disorder, results in platelet antibody formation and excess destruction of platelets. The IgG antibody binds to two identified membrane glycoproteins while in the circulation. The platelets, which are made more susceptible to phagocytosis because of the antibody, are destroyed in the spleen. Acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is more common in children and usually follows a viral infection. It is characterized by sudden onset of petechiae and purpura and is a self-limited disorder with no treatment. In contrast, the chronic form is usually seen in adults and seldom follows an infection. It is a disease of young people, with a peak incidence between the ages of 20 and 50 years, and is seen twice as often in women as in men. It may be associated with other immune disorders such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or systemic lupus erythematosus. The condition occasionally presents precipitously with signs of bleeding, often into the skin (i.e., purpura and petechiae) or oral mucosa. There is commonly a history of bruising, bleeding from gums, epistaxis (i.e., nosebleeds), and abnormal menstrual bleeding. Because the spleen is the site of platelet destruction, splenic enlargement may occur. Diagnosis usually is based on severe thrombocytopenia (platelet counts Treatment includes the initial use of corticosteroid drugs, often followed by splenectomy and the use of immunosuppressive agents. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TPP) is a combination of thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, signs of vascular occlusion, fever, and neurologic abnormalities. The onset is abrupt, and the outcome may be fatal. Widespread vascular occlusions consist of thrombi in arterioles and capillaries of many organs, including the heart, brain, and kidneys. Erythrocytes become fragmented as they circulate through the partly occluded vessels and cause the hemolytic anemia. The clinical manifestations include purpura and petechiae and neurologic symptoms ranging from headache to seizures and altered consciousness. Although TTP may have diverse causes, the initiating event seems to be widespread endothelial damage and activation of intravascular thrombosis. Toxins produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli (e.g., E. coli O157:H7) are a trigger for endothelial damage and an associated condition called the hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Treatment for TTP includes plasmapheresis, a procedure that involves removal of plasma from withdrawn blood and replacement with fresh-frozen plasma. The treatment is continued until remission occurs. With plasmapheresis treatment, there is a complete recovery in 80% to 90% of cases. Fibrinogen Deficiency Factor I (or fibrinogen) deficiency is a very rare inherited disorder with complications that vary with the severity of the disorder. It is not well known, even among health professionals. Discovery Factor I deficiency was described for the first time in 1920 by Fritz Rabe and Eugene Salomon. These two German physicians are credited with discovering the disorder. They studied the case of a 9-year-old boy who presented unexplained bleeding problems from birth. Blood tests finally demonstrated the absence of fibrinogen in the childs blood. His parents were first cousins, but they showed no bleeding problems. The two researchers established that it was an inherited disorder often found in subjects whose parents were blood relatives. Since then, knowledge about the condition has advanced considerably. What is Fibrinogen? Fibrinogen, also called Factor I, is a blood plasma protein produced by the liver that plays an important role in blood coagulation. Blood coagulation is a process in which several components of the blood form a clot. When blood escapes from a rupture in a blood vessel, coagulation is triggered. Several proteins, called coagulation factors, go into action to produce thrombin. The thrombin then converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrin produced from fibrinogen is the main protein in a blood clot. It surrounds the cells in the blood and plasma and helps form the clot. The resulting clot, which is stabilized by Factor XIII, remains intact from 10 to 14 days, the time required for healing to take place. When there is a problem with fibrinogen, i.e., either it is missing or it does not function properly, the clot has difficulty forming. This can result in hemorrhaging or thrombosis. The normal volume of fibrinogen in the blood is from 2 to 4 g/l (grams/litre). The amount of fibrinogen in blood can be measured from a blood sample. The following diagram was devised by a Toronto laboratory technician. It shows the stages in clot formation in a way that makes it easier to understand the theoretical notions explained above. Types of Fibrinogen Deficiency There are three types of deficiency: Afibrinogenemia: (absence of fibrinogen) In this type of factor I deficiency, there is a complete absence of fibrinogen. The fibrinogen level is Hypofibrinogenemia (lower than normal level) Dysfibrinogenemia (improper functioning) Transmission of Fibrinogen Deficiency Fibrinogen deficiency is a very rare inherited bleeding disorder. It is transmitted from parent to child at conception. The disorder is caused by an abnormal gene. It affects both men and women, as well as people of all races and ethnic origins. Every cell of the body contains chromosomes. A chromosome is a long chain of a substance called DNA. DNA is organized in 30,000 units: these are called genes. The genes determine physical characteristics, such as eye colour. In the case of fibrinogen deficiency, one of the genes involved is defective. The defective gene in fibrinogen deficiency is located on a chromosome that is not responsible for the childs sex (autosomal). As a result, both girls and boys can be affected equally. Afibrinogenemia (absence of fibrinogen) This is a recessive disorder, which means that both parents must be carriers. In order for a person to inherit fibrinogen deficiency, he must receive two defective genes, one from the mother and the other from the father. A carrier is a person who has only one of the two defective genes, but is not affected by the disorder: the second gene enables just enough fibrinogen to be made for good coagulation. The fibrinogen level will be lower than normal, but there will be no symptoms of the disorder. Hypofibrinogenemia and dysfibrinogenemia These are inherited disorders that can be either dominant or recessive. Dominant means that a single parent can transmit the disorder if he or she is a carrier. Recessive means that both parents must be carriers of the disorder in order to transmit it. Symptoms Afibrinogenemia (absence of fibrinogen) In congenital afibrinogenemia (fibrinogen level Other types of bleeding have been described: bruises bleeding from the gums epistaxis (nosebleeds) gastrointestinal hemorrhage genito-urinary hemorrhage intra-cranial hemorrhage rupture of the spleen and hemorrhage in the spleen About 20% of those suffering from afibrinogenemia present hemarthroses (bleeding in the joints). Because of this particular feature, the disorder may be confused with hemophilia A or B. Hypofibrinogenemia (lower than normal level) Bleeding in hypofibrinogenemia is much like what is seen in afibrinogenemia. It can be more or less serious, depending on fibrinogen levels, which can vary from 0.2 to 0.8 g/L of plasma. The higher the fibrinogen level, the less bleeding. The lower the fibrinogen level, the more bleeding. Dysfibrinogenemia (improper functioning) In dysfibrinogenemia, the quantity of fibrinogen is normal, which means between 2 and 4 g/L. Bleeding can vary depending on how the fibrinogen is functioning. Bleeding may: be absent (no symptoms) show a tendency toward hemorrhage (as described in afibrinogenemia) show a tendency toward thrombosis How to Recognize Bleeding It is strongly recommended that people who suffer from afibrinogenemia or severe hypofibrinogenemia learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of bleeding that could threaten their lives or the integrity of a limb, so they can react adequately and in a reasonable time. The information below describes the main types of bleeding that may occur in someone with a coagulation disorder. Bleeding that affects the head, neck, thorax (chest) or abdomen can be life-threatening and may require immediate medical attention. Bear in mind that this kind of bleeding can occur either following an injury or spontaneously (without injury). Head The brain, which is protected by the skull, controls all bodily functions that are essential to life. Bleeding in the brain is very serious. Signs and symptoms: Heada

Managing Change at SLMC Essay examples -- Change Management

If organizations are to thrive and be sustaining, they need to respond to the dynamics of their environment with change. However, change is not a singular event with an isolated focus (Spector, 2007). Effective strategic renewal is a combination of â€Å"the three faces of change†Ã¢â‚¬â€turnaround, which targets costs; technology, which targets internal process; and behavioral, which targets employee actions and interactions (Spector, 2007). In a discussion on change management, particularly management-by-control versus management-by-shaping, Palmer, et al. (2009) draw a similar conclusion that â€Å"organizations and human systems are complex and evolving and therefore cannot be reduced to a single, linear objective of maximizing shareholder value† (p. 50). Leaders and managers must be able to champion change in their organizations. Initiating and implementing new business strategies are some of the most significant and challenging of a leader’s duties (Mullins, 2011). Because people are often satisfied with the status quo, resistance to change is common. Therefore, a successful change leader must be capable of managing people and the process well. Unfreeze In order for SLMC to transform and achieve strategic renewal, which would require focus on the company’s fully insured health plan, the new leadership team made a compelling argument for change. By being able to demonstrate a need for change people will be less likely to resist change efforts (Mullins, 2011). Sloans’ new leadership was able to provide adequate justification for change by demonstrating the urgency that was required in order for the organization to survive. In addition, the new leadership explained the opportunities for success and advancement within the organ... ...Dunford, ,. R., & Akin, ,. G. (2009). Managing organizational change (2n ed.). New York, NY.: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Preziosi, R. C. ((n.d.)). Organizational Diagnosis Questioinnaire (ODQ). NA: NA. Robbins, & Coulter. (2007). Management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Robbins, S. P., Judge, T. A., & Vohra, N. (2012). Organizational behavior (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Spector, B. (2010). Implementing organizational change: Theory into practice (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. Tyson, B. (2010, August 25). Overview of Lewin's three stage change model. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/84148.aspx. Vecchio, R. P. (2008). Leadership understanding the dynamics of power and influence in Organizations,( 2nd ed.). Notre Dame, Indiana: university of Notre Dame Press.

Shakespeares Hamlet - Hamlet’s Villain, King Claudius Essay -- GCSE E

Hamlet’s Villain, King Claudius      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the drama Hamlet Shakespeare has concocted a multi-dimensional character in the person of King Claudius. It is the intent of this essay to analyze and probe all the various aspects of this curious personality.    Ward and Trent in The Cambridge History of English and American Literature consider Shakespeare’s options in designing the character of Claudius:    There were at least two ways in which an ordinary, or rather more than ordinary, dramatist might have dealt with this other â€Å"majesty of Denmark.† He could have been made a crude dramatic villain—a crowned â€Å"Shakebag† or â€Å"Black Will,† to use the phraseology of his creator’s own day. He could have been made pure straw—a mere common usurper. And it would appear that he has actually seemed to some to be one or other of these two. Neither of them is the Claudius which Shakespeare has presented; and those who take him as either seem to miss the note which, putting sheer poetic faculty once more aside, is the note of Shakespeare. It is not to be supposed that Shakespeare liked Claudius; if he did, and if he has produced on respectable readers the effect above hinted at, he certainly was as ineffectual a writer as the merest crà ©tin, or the merest crank, among his critics could imagine. But neither did he dislike Claudius; he knew tha t, in the great Greek phrase, it was the duty of creators to â€Å"see fair†Ã¢â‚¬â€[char]—in the handling of their creations. It would appear that the successor of Hamlet I might have been a very respectable person, if his brother had not possessed a kingdom and a queen that he wanted for himself. (vol.5, pt.1, ch.8, sec.16, no.53)    Literary criticism varies in its evaluation of Claudius. The â€Å"very... .... San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Rpt. from Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    Ward & Trent, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907–21; New York: Bartleby.com, 2000 http://www.bartleby.com/215/0816.html    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.               

Degeneration of Kurtz, Colonialism, and Imperialism in Heart of Darknes

Degeneration of Kurtz and Colonialism in Heart of Darkness       Kurtz was a personal embodiment, a dramatization, of all that Conrad felt of futility, degradation, and horror in what the Europeans in the Congo called 'progress,' which meant the exploitation of the natives by every variety of cruelty and treachery known to greedy man. Kurtz was to Marlow, penetrating this country, a name, constantly recurring in people's talk, for cleverness and enterprise. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a portrait of the degeneration of the ideal of Kurtz symbolizing the degeneration of the ideal of colonialism as 'civilizing work'.    The fading of the idealist mirage of 'civilizing work' in Africa has to be one of the central themes of Heart of Darkness. This theme forms the background of the whole story, from beginning to end, before the character of Kurtz is even introduced.    The focus of Heart of Darkness is not on the direct effect of the colonial presence on the native population, but on the reflected effect on the colonial occupiers. Centrally, the whole story being told directly is the effect on Marlow of his colonial adventure. Marlow here reflects or represents his Western ideological origins coming to terms with the reality of the Congo. It was not merely the economic relations of commodity exchange which so often in the colonies, it was the respectability of society; it was the very identity of the occupying force and it was the emptiness of the western colonial myth of individualism. The degeneration of Kurtz is thus inseparable from the 'other' degeneration.    Marlow, on his return to civilization, learns from Kurtz's cousin that he was a "universal genius" (Conrad 71). What ... ...ause the heart of humanity does not lie in the individual, it lies outside, in society, in language, in active engagement with a human world. Kurtz was more capable than anyone else of conquering the world, but the world, and the savagery, conquered him.    Works Cited Adelman, Gary. Heart of Darkness: Search for the Unconscious. Boston: Little & Brown, 1987. Bradley, Candice. "Africa and Africans in Conrad's Heart of Darkness." (24 Jan. 1996). Online Internet. 3 October 1998. Available: http://www.lawrence.edu/~johnson/heart. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Ed. Robert Kimbrough. 17th ed. New York: Norton, 1988. Rosmarin, Adena. "Darkening the Reader: Reader Response Criticism and Heart of Darkness." Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. Ed. Ross C. Murfin. New York: St. Martin's, 1989.       Degeneration of Kurtz, Colonialism, and Imperialism in Heart of Darknes Degeneration of Kurtz and Colonialism in Heart of Darkness       Kurtz was a personal embodiment, a dramatization, of all that Conrad felt of futility, degradation, and horror in what the Europeans in the Congo called 'progress,' which meant the exploitation of the natives by every variety of cruelty and treachery known to greedy man. Kurtz was to Marlow, penetrating this country, a name, constantly recurring in people's talk, for cleverness and enterprise. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a portrait of the degeneration of the ideal of Kurtz symbolizing the degeneration of the ideal of colonialism as 'civilizing work'.    The fading of the idealist mirage of 'civilizing work' in Africa has to be one of the central themes of Heart of Darkness. This theme forms the background of the whole story, from beginning to end, before the character of Kurtz is even introduced.    The focus of Heart of Darkness is not on the direct effect of the colonial presence on the native population, but on the reflected effect on the colonial occupiers. Centrally, the whole story being told directly is the effect on Marlow of his colonial adventure. Marlow here reflects or represents his Western ideological origins coming to terms with the reality of the Congo. It was not merely the economic relations of commodity exchange which so often in the colonies, it was the respectability of society; it was the very identity of the occupying force and it was the emptiness of the western colonial myth of individualism. The degeneration of Kurtz is thus inseparable from the 'other' degeneration.    Marlow, on his return to civilization, learns from Kurtz's cousin that he was a "universal genius" (Conrad 71). What ... ...ause the heart of humanity does not lie in the individual, it lies outside, in society, in language, in active engagement with a human world. Kurtz was more capable than anyone else of conquering the world, but the world, and the savagery, conquered him.    Works Cited Adelman, Gary. Heart of Darkness: Search for the Unconscious. Boston: Little & Brown, 1987. Bradley, Candice. "Africa and Africans in Conrad's Heart of Darkness." (24 Jan. 1996). Online Internet. 3 October 1998. Available: http://www.lawrence.edu/~johnson/heart. Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Ed. Robert Kimbrough. 17th ed. New York: Norton, 1988. Rosmarin, Adena. "Darkening the Reader: Reader Response Criticism and Heart of Darkness." Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. Ed. Ross C. Murfin. New York: St. Martin's, 1989.      

Michael Oher Essay

African-American Michael Oher’s story started when he ran away from home, escaping his drug-crazy mother who was fighting her own battle of maintaining a husband-less family and retaining money for drugs, food, and other â€Å"necessities. † Although he kept poor grades up until the year he graduated from high school, Oher showed an aptitude in sports from an early age. This would play a major role in his future, as we now see him playing as a tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. In his freshman year of high school, Oher was living temporarily with an auto mechanic whose son was just about the same age as him. His guardian enrolled both his son and Oher into Briarcrest Christian High School so they could study together. However, he ran into financial troubles and had to force Michael to leave. Eventually, Oher ran into Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who adopted him and took care of him until he went to college. Briarcrest Christian was a predominantly white school; in fact, the entire district was a predominantly white district. This meant that because Oher was African-American, he faced a lot of racial tensions in his school. He had to deal with countless people staring at him or talking about him when he was walking down the hallways in school. In fact, his mother’s friends and his sister’s friends were discouraging them both to keep him as a foster son. In football games, Oher faced many racist people on his team and from opposing teams. However, he was able to brave through many of the slurs thrown at him and channel a lot of his anger into football. By the end of senior year, Oher received varsity letters in football, basketball, and track-and-field. He received scholarships from many colleges including Tennessee, LSU, Auburn, Alabama, and South Carolina, but Oher finally decided on going to the University of Mississippi, where his foster parents and his tutor went to. He primarily went so he could play on the Ole Miss Rebels football team. We can parallel many of Oher’s actions to his baseball counterpart—Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson endured many of the taunts and racial jeers that were hurled at Oher throughout his high school life. Similarly, both of these people rose up against their problems to surpass the white people that made fun of them before—Robinson being nationally ranked as one of the best baseball players of his time, Oher being one of the best left tackles in his team in high school.

Ideal Home Description Essay

The kickoff steps onto the retention lead to a lavish channel. in that location is a vast automated opening in front line for privacy. Running fit to the cream colo loss concrete drive look atomic number 18 trees on both brasss. The enceinte booming trees shade the driveway when it is lucky out. Down the driveway put eat up to the side is a massive service department. The garage, the akin the home, is built with brick. Set off to the honorable, the garage can hold up to flipper cars. The accesss of the garage ar a ground illusion that matches the window sills of the home. Moving stick out to the left, walking upon the home, in that respect is a capacious porch.It takes five steps to get to the top, and to catch out two pillars s sunburnding guard by the populate access. The pillars stand short and stocky, sloped like ivory pearls. Pushing through the grueling red entrance with an odd cause black iron door carry off leads to the spacious dormitory. B eside the left of the door at heart the d surfacey foyer rests a goodly circuit board to be used for get away and other things from the outside world that do not require immediate attention. To the dear at that place argon hooks to wait on coats and keys. Also below the hooks is a rack for shoes that sits on a polished wood grade.Moving a extensive through the foyer in that location is a large expansive staircase. The staircase some curves and leads into a hallway of get ons. thither are one-third modes on each(prenominal) side of the stairs. The first door on the right side of the stairs is brown. The board is painted a very impertinent green color with auburn carpet. intimate the room in that location are galore(postnominal) toys. in that respect are toys of all kinds there are stuffed animals, dolls, cards, board games, and more. The door across from the toy room is a minuscule brighter then the others. Walking in this door, there appears to be not much in it.The walls are the color of a squishy blue sky with clouds and a practiced light brown bamboo floor. It has large expanding windows for the sunniness to easily come in. at that place are many chairs to lounge in and a few spa chairs in the congest corner. There is a closet on the right of the room that is change with towels, lotions, creams, and and so forth Leaving this room, there is one door left at the end of this side. here is the largest room to explore yet. The walls are a calm and mature dim red like the color of blood. The floors are a dark polished bamboo. There are bright light carvings into the wall that make up bookcases.Each wall is lined with them and is stocked with with books. In the very defend of the room there is a fireplace with a shaggy green rug in front of it. Two narrow long windows stand at the side of the fireplace. There are two brown armchairs spilt by a love couch in the plaza of the same color. In the middle of the room, there are in li ke manner a few low level bookcases fill up with books. Leaving this room and entering the first room on the left side of the stairs, there is a safe bathing bathroom. The walls are a brilliant blue color with eggshell colored tiles. There is a closet to the left just with toiletries.The his and her egest is an intense red along with the toilet. The shower, which is to a fault a tub, has a stainless vane door. The towel rack on the door holds blue towels that match the blue rug position in front of the shower. right-hand(a) between the door and the decide, a twist light brown hamper is placed to throw dirty clothes in. erupt of the bathroom and moving along to the room across the hall is a door full of pictures. Inside the room there are vivid golden walls and bamboo flooring. covering fire virtually of the floor is a coarse purple rug. There is a desk in the top left corner of the room encased with papers and projects.A information processing musical arrangement an d mouse struggle to stay on top of all the work. Arranged in the right corner is a nance sized make love with a huge mahogany chest in front of it. The ceiling has a glow-in-the-dark universe full with stars and planets. There is one large government agency by the door stuffed with clothes. The closet on the other side is filled with shoes, coats, and dresses. The defy room to explore upstairs is likewise quite massive, but not as giant as the room full of books. It has a queen sized bed in the middle where the floor is elevated. On one side there are two medium sized dressers liner the shady orange wall.On the other is an entertainment system full of the in style(p) gadgets and a flat screen TV. There is a closet spewing clothes and shoes. The floor is tan colored carpet. Going covering down the stairs and through the foyer is the kitchen. The kitchen has a large stainless brand name refrigerator full of the healthiest and some of the most unhealthiest foods. Next to the refrigerator is a bluster oven. There is an island in the middle with three bar stools. In the island there is also a stainless steel sink and cabinets underneath. The cabinets around the kitchen are mahogany colored to set off the pale white walls.They are filled with pots, pans, spices, and food. Also in the kitchen to match most of the dramatics are more bamboo flooring. done the kitchen to the right is the eat room. A sturdy dinning room table stands center with many chairs encasing it. The room has tan walls and polished dark flooring. There is an surcharge arrangement of light fixtures hanging in a higher place the table for decoration. There is another bathroom behind the dine room that resembles the preliminary one mentioned. Back through the kitchen and to the left is the largest room in the house. It is the living room. extensive of everything that is in a living room like a fireplace, TV, entertainment system with a stereo, and etc. The walls are a calm green color , and the floors are bamboo. Through the living room going bet onward to the front of the house, there is the master bedroom. It contains a king-sized bed for everyone to crawl into. There are two large dressers, a walk-in closet inside a walk-in closet, and a bathroom that replicates the upstairs bathroom but twice the size. The chief(prenominal) difference is the whirlpool hot tub in the far back. The other way through the living room, heading to the back of the house, leads to a patio.The patio holds sitting chairs and is a place to relax. It has a great adopt of the swimming pool and the enormous back thou. The yard contains a mini play-set with swings, a slide, and a jungle gym. A tree house was built in the far circuit of the owned land property. There is a bevy of grass field of force for kids and pets to sound around on. Also the tennis and hoops courts are on the far right side of the lawn. Next to the patio there is a spiral staircase that leads to the basement. Th e basement is a storage area filled with cold concrete flooring and unpainted drywall. It has one tiny room for thickening with just a bed and a small dresser.Next to it is a small bathroom with just a stand up shower, a toilet, and a sink which are all pearly white. Going back up the spiral staircase directs to the throne of the home. It illustrates the expansive lifestyle of the owners. Having six entourage upstairs used for multiple purposes, but two being bedrooms, and one a bathroom is a great deal. on with the large living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and dining room, there are oodles of chores to be kept. Keeping maintenance in the rampant amount of rooms is hard work. not to mention the total outside area that also needs to be well kept. This is an ideal home for families.

Atlantic Slave Trade: Social and Cultural Impact on the Society Essay

In The Atlantic break ones back stool Herbert Klein attempts to go into great head of the inner workings of the hard worker peck how it came to be, the subtracties concern, as well as the social and cultural impacts it had on the society. When thinking of the slave business deal previous to this class, I would think to myself how impoverished we as a humanity at a time became, and how m each another(prenominal) of African Americans were exploited to this awful set of events. after(prenominal) contracting the ledger, those akin thoughts still remained, however, collectible to Klein my sympathy of the experience gave me greater insight into how complex the slave trade re all(prenominal)y was. How Portugal was angiotensin converting enzyme of the leaders in the slave trade, how countries turned against each other, and how much of the earthly concern was involved in this exorbitant set of events were all news to me epoch reading.Because of this complexity, no matt er how pass off the root was, the multitudes of culture seemed to overwhelm me through my reading. Herbert Klein nonionized the take for in a modal value that do all the data very hairsplitting, however, with all the mathematical data I had a hard prison term keeping track. The Chesapeake became the primary tobacco producer for the world, exporting 38 million pounds by 1700 holding nearly 145,000 slaves by 1750 absorbed 40,000 slaves by midcentury. By 1790 in that respect were an impressive 698,000 slaves (44). This was all in the matter of a couple of sentences, for myself I could never retain the information that was provided in the first sentence. This quote does however go into precise figures, and is actually well laid turn up as a whole. Without having a deep forward accreditledge though, it is very difficult to follow the whats all going on. If someone was to read this with introductory lie withledge of the subject, Im sure they could pasture out a lot of the information and take a expressive style more from the book.This book is definitely not for some general educated reader to pickup. It requires a decent understanding of the geography, slight prior knowledge of the subject, as well as the full touch on into the subject. The first region encountered by the Portuguese as they rounded Cape Bojador and arrived in the western Sudan righteous south of the Sahara, was the area called Senegambia, which took its name from the Senegal and Gambia Rivers, its two almost prominent features (60). This quote proves as an example, and a primary one at that, that one must know at least where everything is to fully gather the information that is provided in Kleins book. Without it, one may for certain get anomic in the reading. Even if a specialist were to read the book, I feel that due to how compact the book is, that they may get confused while reading as well. I wear outt feel as though one could read through the book just once and hon estly say, I understood the major(ip)ity of the information throughout the book, without getting missed somewhere in the book.Entering this project, nothing rattling interested me while looking at the residue Selected Sources of each chapter. bondage was the totally thing that seemed remotely interesting, not only because its such a huge part of history, but also because I didnt know much about it. I had no tip that so many countries were so directly involved in this business of sorts, that Portugal was the origin of the slave trade, and that the posts shifted so much in this horrific tragedy that happened in the new world. The book has increase my knowledge of the events that happened during the slave trade, but not inescapably my interest. I never found myself deeply move in the book unfortunately, and I found that surprising. I still strongly believe that the slave trade was wrong, but I rich person neither gained, nor lost interest in it.The importance of the subject i s make clear with all the information inside of it. I may not understand every detail as they are going through, but the way the book is organized in a way where the importance of the subject is definitely shown. The importance of the book is to show us readers what the Atlantic Slave trade was all about. The chapter titles, and the information that is reflected in each chapter really shows this. Chapter titles beginning with Slavery in Western Development, and ending with, The End of the Slave Trade, really show how the author wanted to really concentrate on the large picture, rather than one specific moment in the Atlantic Slave Trade.Throughout the book, I entert believe there were any major inconsistencies. I actually felt that Klein went deeper, and was most precise in his book. If the slave trade was profitable and the Africans were gravel to productive use in the Americas, then why did Europeans begin to attack the trade at the end of the eighteenth century and systemical ly terminate the participation of every European metropolis and American colony or republic in the nineteenth century? (188). Klein often used this strategy of posing a challenge at the beginning of the chapter, and then answering the same question throughout the rest of the chapter. Using this strategy, any inconsistencies were very infrequent, if none at all. All in all, there wouldnt be anything in the book that I would need explained more, the author presented the question himself, and provided passable information where I felt he answered the question, and more.Because of how difficult this book was to read for myself I probably wouldnt recommend it to someone who wanted to just read a book. If someone was interested in training the intricacies, and the numerical data that came along with the Atlantic Slave Trade I would definitely recommend this one. Its just one of those books that if you dont have the want, or motivation to read it, then it wont be enjoyable, and youll likely become lost in the plethora of information the book presents.