Management of People at Work

Social Inventions of groups of people working to achieve their goals 2. Goal Accomplishment- Individual assembled to achieve goals that cannot be done by one man alone 3. Group Effort– By combining as a team, they can thus work efficiently to achieve goals What is Organizational Behavior? Attitudes and behaviors of individual and group in organizations. Involves systematic study of these attitudes and behaviors, and should be of interest to all students of management Why study ABHOR? 1. It is interesting 2. It Is Important as It helps us be more efficient .Makes a difference because good companies are the one practicing It ABHOR goals 1. Predicting People's Behavior – Predicting what people wants to do in work life 2. Explaining Behavior- Explain why people work in different way 3. Managing it- The art of getting things accomplished via others. If It can be predicted, It can be managed Early Prescription 2 phases to pursue correct way to manage organization 1. Sass, man agers believe high specialization of labor, intensive coordination, centralized decision making to solve issue (Classical View- Authoritative) 2.Hawthorne Studies ?Human relations movement was critique of classical management and bureaucracy that advocated management styles that were more participative and oriented toward employee needs (Participative) Contingency Approach This approach recognize there Is no best method depends on situation- No best method What Managers do? 1. Managerial Roles vary with management level and organizational technology 2. Interpersonal Roles- Roles that are used to establish and maintain interpersonal relations. Figurehead roles and spokesperson roles 3. Decisional Roles- Makes decision and the negotiator roleManagerial Activities 1. Routine communications (Exchange Info, handle paperwork with people) 2. Traditional Management (Planning, Decision Making) 3. Networking (Socializing, politicking) 4. Human Resource Management (Managing Conflict, Staffing, training and development) One of the most fascinating findings is how emphasis on these various activities relates to management success. People who promote faster tends to do more networking and less human resource management. However, if success is successful managers are those who devote more time and effort to human resource management and less networking.Managerial Agendas Successful Managers has similar patterns via – Agenda Setting, Networking and Agenda 1 . Agenda Setting- Managers tend to develop agendas of what they want to accomplish for organization. Usually Informal unwritten, more concerned with ‘people issues' and less numerical than most formal strategic plans 2. Networking- Managers established wide formal and informal network of key people inside and outside of organization to ensure cooperation inside and outside. 3. Agenda implementation- Managers use networks to implement agendas. They will go anywhere to obtain assistance. Managerial MindsIntuitio n- Problem identification and solve issues in a systematic manner International Managers- National Culture is one of the most important contingency variables with more ideas Contemporary Management Concerns 1. Diversity Local and Global-With more diversity, people need to be treated fairly and equally so that issues can be solved 2. Employee- Organization Relationship – Downsizing, Restructuring engineering have been having lots of consequences of employees, lower Job satisfaction, lower morale, trust ETC. ABHOR states its important that managers can manage these issues positively 3. Focus on quality, Speed andFlexibility – Increasing competition states Organizations have to do things faster because there is a greater need for quality, speed and flexibility to maintain standard 4. Employee Recruitment and Retention- Organizations find it difficult to sustain skilled employees in their workforce. Lack of skilled labor is a big issue for organizations and its expected to get worse as baby boomers begin to retire. Recruitment process then has to be more effective to find these employees Personality and Learning Personality – Stable set of psychological characteristic that influence the way individual interact with his or her environment.It is reflected in the way people react to other people, situations and problems. Personality and Organization behavior Individuals possess stable traits or characteristic. Interactions approach, ABHOR is a function of dispositions and situation. 5 Factor model of Personality Extroversion/Neurotics/Agreeableness/Conscientiousness/Openness to Experience Evidence state that big 5 is related to Job performance. High conscientiousness is related to performance for all occupations and the best predictor of performance of all big 5. It is also related to motivation, Job satisfaction and career success Locus ofControl- Beliefs that one's behavior is controlled by external force or internal Self Monitoring- Attitude o f being aware of surrounding or not -High self monitors tend to be more involved in Jobs and to perform at a higher level. These Jobs usually includes sales, law, public relations and politics Self Esteem by surroundings. Higher Self Esteem tend to view world more optimistically. Proactive Personality- Positive affectively tends to report world as having less stress Greater Self-Efficacy – Trait that refers to individual belief that in his own capability to do well regardless of situation.They tend to have higher Job satisfaction, higher Job performance. Core Self Evaluation- Self Esteem/Self-Efficacy/Locus of control/ neurotics What is Learning? When practice or experience leads to a permanent change in behavior. We assume that learning has occurred when individual behavior change. 4 types- Practical/ Interpersonal/elementariness/Cultural Awareness 4 types -Job Specific Skills/ Knowledge/ Technical Competence Operant Learning Theory- Subjects learns to operate on environment to achieve certain consequences. Operant Leaning can be used to increase or reduce probability of behavior Increasing the Probability of BehaviorPromoting behavior is reinforcement?By which Stimuli strengthen behaviors. 2 Behaviors are – Positive reinforcement/Negative reinforcement Positive Reinforcement- Increase or maintain probability of some behavior, this sends to be pleasant stimuli Negative Reinforcement- Increase or maintains probability of some behavior by removing them in the situation. Tends to be unpleasant experience Organizational Errors Involving Reinforcement 1. Confusing Rewards with Reinforces – Stating why rewards are given clearly 2. Neglecting Diversity in Preference for Reinforces -Provide the right benefits-Workaholic may not like holidays 3. Neglecting Important sources of reinforcement – Feedback is good to let people know how well or bad they have done 4. Reinforcement strategies Reducing Probability of Behavior 1. Extinction- Limitin g bad attitudes e. G- shorter breaks etc 2. Punishments – Provide punishment deduct pay etc 3. Using punishments effectively?Make sure punishment is truly aversive/punish immediately/do not reward behaviors before/after punishments 4. Do not punish desirable behavior Punishments can be effective to stop unwanted behavior and hence extinguish unwanted response.Reinforcing good behaviors is better than punishing bad behaviors Social Cognitive Theory Human behavior can be best explained through system of triadic reciprocal . Albert Bandeau social cognitive theory involves 3 parts 1. Modeling – Copying others behavior, some can learn by copying others 2. Self-Efficacy- beliefs people have on their ability to successfully perform the task. 3. Self-regulation- Regulating oneself 1. Organizational behavior modification – Systematic use of learning principles – Can use all 3, money positive feedback to improve returns 2. Employee RecognitionProgram – Publi cly recognize employees- how to recognize, type of behavior encouraged, manner of public acknowledgement, token of recognition 3. Training program – Positive effect on learning, skills and Job behaviors help to set goals when rewards sanctions used in trainees work environment 4. Career Development – Individual progress through a series of stages which involves certain plans and management component. Perception- Interpreting messages of our sense to provide order and meaning of environment. Most important perception that influence organizational behavior are the perceptions of each other Components ofPerception 1. Perceiver – Experience/motives/emotions can affect perception 2. Target – Ambiguity or lack of target leads of greater need of interpretation of information 3. Situation 1. Social Identity Theory?People form perceptions of themselves based on characteristics based on gender, religion, nationality, religion etc. 2. Model of the Perceptual Process – Initially less cues of information from the target but as time passes, it becomes clearer and easier to decipher messages 3. Basic Biases in Person A. Primary Regency Effect – Form impressions of others fairly quickly. We tend to read a lot into first impressions.B. Reliance on Central Traits- We read into others behavior based on their initial impressions C. Implicit Personality Theories- We organize our perceptions of others around the presence of certain traits or personal characteristics of others that are particular interest to us D. Projection?If we are always honest, people tend to believe we are honest E. Stereotype- Putting players into a certain category to Judge their behavior (Page 13) 1. Consistency Cues- How consistent to his goals 2. Consensus Cues- How his actions deviate from social expectations tell us more about his behavior 3. Distinctiveness Cues- How

Ethical issues Essay

Similarly Newman used a correlation to interpret the findings from his study and found a relationship between undefended space and levels of crime. Correlations cannot show cause and effect, therefore other causes of these findings cannot be ruled out. One other possible explanation may have been that the different estates compared by Newman were simply in high or low crime areas, or that policing tactics of the areas was different. However in contrast Brower et al (1981) used interviews to try and establish how people felt about areas of defensible space. Interviews are a good way of obtaining rich and detailed data, however unlike Newman’s data which was factual (recorded crime figures) interview data is qualitative and needs to be interpreted by the researcher. Inevitably the way this is done may be influenced by the researchers views and therefore biased. In addition to this, as in the research by Mercer, there are issues relating to the honesty of people interviewed and providing socially acceptable responses to be considered. The research by Ley was an observation and therefore, as in Smith’s observation, this research could be argued to have greater ecological validity than research using laboratory methods, however there are problems again of observer bias affecting what is recorded. Also this study used institutionalised delinquents as participants and therefore it is difficult to generalise the results to any other situations, although the findings do have implications for institutions. Ethical issues may be particularly relevant in this study as carrying out observations of institutionalised participants may be a breach of their right to withdraw from the study. It could also be argued that if the observations were carried out by a researcher their presence may have affected the behaviour, on the other hand if video cameras were used covertly there may be a problem in ensuring that all behaviour was observed, in addition to the ethical issues mentioned. Designers and architects could use the research mentioned to ensure that working areas meant for males and females have varied sizes in order to take account of different gender needs for space. When designing housing estates architects need to ensure that the semi public areas are defensible in that they are overlooked and have markers to suggest ownership. They should also include barriers and fenced areas around homes and use plants and foliage as markers. In institutional design it would seem important to use design to clearly mark out areas in order to try and create established boundaries and reduce aggression caused by disorderly space use. It may be possible to include specific time slots for prisoners to use semi public areas to help reduce any aggression caused by dominance of most desirable areas.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 15

Sometimes you wake up from a dream. And sometimes, every once in a while, you wake up in a dream. That's what happened to me. I opened my eyes, head throbbing, vaguely aware of something warm and fuzzy in my arms. Bright sunlight made me squint at first, but when I could finally focus, I realized I was looking straight into the faces of Cady and O'Neill. I shot upright, a motion my head did not approve of at all. Surely I was mistaken. Surely, no†¦ there they were. Before me, next to the bed I sat in, was a large oak desk surrounded by bulletin boards and white boards. Pinned to the bulletin boards were magazine cutouts, faces and faces of people who reflected every nuance of the characters described in Seth's books. One section was even labeled NINAcady, displaying at least twenty different cutouts of slim blondes with cropped, curly hair, while another section – marked BRYANT O'NEILL – displayed brooding, thirty-something men with dark hair. Some of the cutouts were from major ads I recognized, though I'd never before connected the resemblance to Seth's characters. Other minor characters from the books also had places on the display, though less noticeably so than the leads. Scrawls of notes and words filled the white boards, most done in a bizarre shorthand type of flow chart that made no sense to me. Working Title: Azure Hopes – fix later; Add Jonah Chap. 7; Clean up 3-5; C&O in Tampa or Naples? Check stats; Don Markosin 8†¦On and on the scrawls went. I stared and stared at them, realizing I was seeing the skeleton foundation of Seth's next novel. Part of me whispered I should look away, that I was ruining something, but the rest of me was too fascinated at glimpsing the way a novel and its world came to life. Finally, the smell of frying bacon made me turn from Seth's desk, forcing me to piece together how I'd arrived here. I cringed, recalling what an idiot I'd been around Doug, Roman, and even Seth, but my hunger won out in temporarily allaying my remorse. It seemed odd that I should feel hungry after what I'd put my stomach through last night, but like Hugh's beating, I could bounce back quickly. Disentangling myself from the covers and the teddy bear I'd unknowingly been holding, I made my way to the bathroom to rinse my mouth and study my appearance: wild-haired and downright adolescent looking in the T-shirt. I didn't want to waste the energy to shape-shift, however, and trotted out of the bathroom, following the sounds of sizzling against a background of â€Å"Radar Love† by Golden Earring. Seth stood in a modern, well-lit kitchen, tending a skillet on a stove. The color scheme was bright and cheery, maple wood cupboards and beams accented with cornflower blue paint on the walls. Seeing me, he turned down the music and gave me a solicitous look. His shirt today displayed Tom and Jerry. â€Å"Good morning. How are you feeling?† â€Å"Surprisingly well.† I made my way to a small, two-person table and sat down, tugging the shirt to cover my thighs. â€Å"My head seems to be the only casualty thus far.† â€Å"You want something for it?† â€Å"No. It'll clear up.† I hesitated, detecting something through the smell of salty, greasy meat. â€Å"Is that†¦ coffee?† â€Å"Yup. Want some?† â€Å"Regular?† â€Å"Yup.† He walked over to a pot, poured a mug of steaming coffee, and brought it to me, along with a cute sugar and creamer set. â€Å"I thought you didn't drink this stuff.† â€Å"I don't. I just keep it on hand in case caffeine-crazed women wake up in my bed.† â€Å"That happen a lot?† Seth smiled mysteriously and returned to the stove. â€Å"Are you hungry?† â€Å"Famished.† â€Å"How do you like your eggs?† â€Å"Over hard.† â€Å"Nice choice. You want bacon too? You're not a vegetarian or anything?† â€Å"I'm an honest carnivore. I want the works†¦ if that's not asking too much.† I felt kind of sheepish about him waiting on me, considering everything else he'd already done. He didn't appear to mind. The works turned out to be more than I'd imagined: eggs, bacon, toast, two kinds of jam, coffee cake, and orange juice. I ate it all, thinking about how jealous Peter would be, still confined to his low- carbdiet. â€Å"I'm in a food coma,† I told Seth afterward, helping with the dishes. â€Å"I'll need to go back to bed and sleep it off. Do you eat like this every day?† â€Å"Nah. Just when aforementioned women are hanging out. It ensures they don't leave too quickly.† â€Å"Not a problem, considering this is all I have to wear.† â€Å"Not true,† he told me, pointing toward his living room. Looking up, I saw my dress – clean – hanging on a hanger. The sheer, bikini-cut panties I'd worn under it had been looped around the hanger's head. â€Å"It said dry-clean, but I took a chance on putting it on extra-gentle cycle in the wash. It came out okay. So did the, uh, other thing.† â€Å"Thanks,† I replied, unsure as to how I felt about him washing my underwear. â€Å"Thanks for everything. I really appreciate what you did for me last night – you must think I'm a total freak – â€Å" He shrugged. â€Å"It's no problem. But† – he glanced at a nearby clock – â€Å"I may need to run out on you soon. Remember that one party? It starts at noon. You can still hang out here.† I turned to the same clock. Eleven forty-seven. â€Å"Noon! Why didn't you wake me up sooner? You'll be late!† He shrugged again, infinitely unconcerned. â€Å"I figured you needed the sleep.† Setting down the towel I'd been holding, I darted to the living room and grabbed my dress. â€Å"I'll call a cab. You go. Don't worry about me.† â€Å"Seriously, it's no problem,† he argued. â€Å"I can give you a ride home even, or†¦ well, if you wanted, you could come with me.† We both froze awkwardly. I didn't really feel up to going to some strange party. What I needed to do was get home and do damage control with Roman and Doug. Yet†¦ Seth had been terribly nice to me, and he had wanted me to go to this thing before. Didn't I owe him? Surely I could do this for him. An afternoon party probably wouldn't even last that long. â€Å"Would we need to pick up anything?† I asked at last. â€Å"Wine? Brie?† He shook his head. â€Å"Probably not. It's for my eight-year-old niece.† â€Å"Oh. So no wine then?† â€Å"Yeah. And I think she's more into Gouda anyway.† I looked at the dress. â€Å"I'll be overdressed. You got anything I can put on over this?† Seven minutes later, I sat in Seth's car, driving toward Lake Forest Park. I had the georgette dress back on, along with a man's plaid flannel shirt in shades of white, gray, and navy. The shirt was open save for a couple buttons. I had French-braided my hair in lieu of shape-shifting it into place and now frantically applied cosmetics from my purse as I rode. I suspected I had a sort of Ginger-Rogers-Joins-Nirvana look going. We arrived at the suburban house I'd dropped Seth off at a few weeks ago. Pink balloons fluttered from the mailbox, and a mother in jeans and a sweatshirt waved goodbye as a small girl disappeared into the house. Said mother then returned to the massive, soccer team-carrying vehicle running in the driveway. â€Å"Whoa,† I said, taking it all in. â€Å"I've never been to anything like this before.† â€Å"You must have when you were little,† Seth amended, parking across the street. â€Å"Well, yeah,† I lied. â€Å"But it's a different experience at this age.† We approached the front door, and he entered without knocking. Immediately, four small, blond female forms slammed into him, grappling onto his limbs, nearly knocking him over. â€Å"Uncle Seth! Uncle Seth!† â€Å"Uncle Seth's here!† â€Å"Is that for me? Is that for me?† â€Å"Desist, before I have to break out the tear gas,† Seth told them mildly, unclasping one who threatened to rip his left arm off. One of them, all blond curls and giant blue eyes like the others, caught sight of me. â€Å"Hi,† she said boldly, â€Å"who are you?† Before I could answer, she tore out of the foyer, yelling, â€Å"Uncle Seth brought a girl!† Seth made a face. â€Å"That's Morgan. She's six.† He pointed to a clone of her. â€Å"This is McKenna, her twin. Over here's Kayla, four. This one† – he paused to lift up the tallest of the four, a motion that made her cackle gleefully – â€Å"is Kendall, the birthday girl. And I imagine Brandy's here somewhere, but she's too civilized to assault me like the rest.† A living room extended beyond the foyer, and another blond girl, a few years older than Kendall, watched us over the back of a couch. Other assorted children – the party guests, I presumed – ran and screamed beyond her. â€Å"I'm here, Uncle Seth.† Seth set Kendall down and tousled Brandy's hair, much to her chagrin. She wore the affronted dignity only one on the edge of adolescence could have. Morgan returned shortly thereafter with a tall, blond woman in tow. â€Å"See? See?† exclaimed the little girl. â€Å"I told you.† â€Å"Do you always create such a scene?† the woman asked, giving Seth a quick hug. She looked happy but exhausted. I could understand why. â€Å"I should be so lucky. My fans aren't half this ravenous. Andrea, this is Georgina. Georgina, Andrea.† I shook her hand as a slightly shorter, younger version of Seth entered the room. â€Å"And that's my brother, Terry.† â€Å"Welcome to our chaos, Georgina,† Terry told me after I'd been introduced. He glanced at all of the children, his own and others, running around the house. â€Å"I'm not sure I fully understand Seth's wisdom in bringing you here. You'll never come back.† â€Å"Hey,† exclaimed Kendall to me, â€Å"isn't that the shirt we got Uncle Seth for Christmas?† An awkward silence fell among us adults as we all tried to look somewhere else. Finally, Andrea cleared her throat and said, â€Å"All right, guys, let's fall into line and get some games going.† I had expected a child's birthday party to be wild, but what proceeded to pass that afternoon surpassed even my imaginings. Equally impressive was the way in which Seth's brother and sister-in-law managed to control the herd of screaming, jumping creatures that somehow seemed to be everywhere in the house at once. Terry and Andrea handled them all with efficient good nature while Seth and I did little more than watch, occasionally fielding random questions tossed our way. The entire experience stunned me as a bystander; I could hardly imagine coping with it on a regular basis. It was fascinating. At one point, catching his breath, Terry saw me alone and struck up a conversation. â€Å"I'm glad you could come,† he said. â€Å"I didn't know Seth was seeing anyone.† â€Å"We're just friends,† I clarified. â€Å"Still. It's nice to see him with someone flesh and blood. Someone he didn't make up.† â€Å"Is it true he nearly missed your wedding?† Terry grimaced by way of confirmation. â€Å"My best man, if you can believe that. Showing up two minutes before the ceremony began. We were on the verge of starting without him.† I could only laugh. He shook his head. â€Å"If you continue hanging out with him, make sure you keep him in line. My brother may be brilliant, but by God, he needs a keeper sometimes.† After party games came cake, and after cake came presents. Kendall lifted Seth's up expertly and shook it. â€Å"Books,† she declared. Brandy, older and therefore quietest of the group, glanced at me and explained, â€Å"Uncle Seth always gets us books.† This did not seem to faze Kendall any. She tore open the package and crowed delightedly over three books of pirate stories contained within. â€Å"Pirates, huh?† I asked Seth. â€Å"Is that politically correct?† His eyes danced. â€Å"She wants to be one.† As the party wound down and guests were retrieved by parents, Kendall beseeched Seth to read stories, and I followed him, the nieces, and other stragglers into the living room while the girls' parents attempted to clean up in the kitchen. Seth read in the same compelling way he had at his signing, and I curled up in an armchair, content to just listen and watch. I was therefore startled when Kayla's small form scrambled up and sat on my lap. Youngest of the girls, she could shriek with the best but tended to speak very little. She studied me with her globes of eyes, touched my French braid with interest, and then snuggled into me to listen to Seth. I wondered if she understood any of what he was saying. Regardless, she was soft and warm and smelled like little girl. Unconsciously, I ran my fingers through the fine, corn silk strands of hair and soon began weaving it into a braid similar to mine. When Seth finished a story, McKenna noticed what I was doing. â€Å"Me next.† â€Å"No, me,† ordered Kendall eagerly. â€Å"It's my birthday.† I ended up braiding for all four of the younger girls. Brandy shyly demurred. Not wanting four copies of me, I elected other styles for the girls, herringbones and plaits that delighted them. Seth continued to read, occasionally glancing up at me and my handiwork. By the time we were ready to leave, I felt drained physically and emotionally. Children always made me feel a little wistful; being in close contact like this made me downright sad in a way I couldn't explain. Seth said goodbye to his brother while I lingered near the door. As I did, I noticed a small bookcase beside me. Studying the titles, I picked out Burberry's New Annotated Bible: Old and New Testaments. Remembering what Roman had said about the King James Version being a bad translation, I opened this one up to Genesis 6. The wording was nearly identical, a little cleaner and more modern sounding here and there, but mostly unchanged. With one exception. In verse 4, the King James Version had read: â€Å"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This version, however, said: â€Å"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also afterwards, when the sons of God went to the daughters of men†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Nephilim? A superscript number appeared by the word, and I followed it to the appropriate footnote. The word † nephilim† is sometimes translated as â€Å"giants † or â€Å"fallen ones.† Sources vary in accounts of these angelic offspring, citing them sometimes simply as neighbors to the Canaanites and other times as Titan-like creatures reminiscent of Greek heroes (Harrington, 2001). Frustrated, I looked up the Harrington reference in the book's bibliography, finding it linked to Biblical Arcanaand Myth by Robert Harrington. I memorized the title and author, slipping the Bible back into its place just as Seth turned to go. We drove in silence, the sky graying early as Seattle's winter loomed nearer. I might normally have interpreted the quiet in the car as awkward or weird, but I found it comfortable as my mind pondered the nephilim reference. I needed to get a hold of the Harrington book, I decided. â€Å"They didn't have ice cream,† Seth suddenly noted, interrupting my thoughts. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"Terry and Andrea. They had cake with no ice cream. You want to get some ice cream?† â€Å"Not enough sugar for you already?† â€Å"They just go together, that's all.† â€Å"It's only about fifty out,† I warned as he pulled up next to an ice cream parlor. Ice cream in inclement weather seemed odd to me. â€Å"And it's windy.† â€Å"Are you kidding? In Chicago, a place like this wouldn't even be open this time of year. This is balmy.† We went inside. Seth ordered a double cone of mint chocolate chip. I ordered a more adventurous double of blueberry cheesecake and mocha almond swirl. Sitting at a table by the windows, we ate our sugary confections in more silence. Finally, he said, â€Å"You're quiet today.† I turned on him in wonder, pausing in my mental dissection of nephilim. â€Å"That's a switch.† â€Å"What is?† â€Å"Usually I think you're too quiet. I have to talk and talk to keep things going.† â€Å"I've noticed. Er, I didn't mean that like it came out. That sounded bad. You talking is a good thing. You always know what to say. Exactly the right thing at exactly the right time.† â€Å"Not last night. I said horrible things last night. To Doug and Roman both. They'll never forgive me,† I lamented. â€Å"Sure they will. Doug's a good guy. I don't really know Roman, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But what?† Seth suddenly looked embarrassed. â€Å"I imagine you're easy to forgive.† We looked at each other for a moment, and warmth flushed my cheeks. Not blood boiling, get naked and jump someone warm, but just cozily warm. Like being wrapped in a blanket. â€Å"That looks terrible, you know.† â€Å"What does?† He pointed at my cone. â€Å"That combination.† â€Å"Hey, don't knock it until you try it. They actually go pretty well together.† He looked doubtful. I slid my chair over by him and offered him a bite. â€Å"Make sure you get both flavors.† He leaned in for the bite and managed both the blueberry cheesecake and mocha almond swirl. Unfortunately, a piece of the blueberry cheesecake scoop fell off onto his chin in the process. I instinctively reached out to stop it, sliding it back to his mouth. He just as automatically nabbed the wayward piece with his tongue, licking it off my fingers. A blast of eroticism coursed through me, and looking into his eyes, I knew he'd shared it too. â€Å"Here,† I said hastily, reaching for a napkin, ignoring the desire to return my fingers to his mouth. Seth wiped his chin with it, but for once, he didn't let his self-consciousness get the better of him. He stayed where he was, leaning close to me. â€Å"You smell amazing. Like†¦ gardenias.† â€Å"Tuberose,† I corrected automatically, dazed by how close he was to me. â€Å"Tuberose,† he repeated. â€Å"And incense, I think. I've never smelled anything like it.† He leaned a hair closer. â€Å"It's Michael by Michael Kors. You can get it at any high-end department store.† I nearly groaned as the words left my flustered lips. What an idiotic thing to say. My nervousness made me flippant. â€Å"Maybe Cady could start wearing it.† Seth was all seriousness. â€Å"No. This is you. Only you. It would never smell exactly the same on anyone else.† I shivered. I wore this perfume because it was reminiscent of what other immortals sensed in my unique signature, my aura. This is you. With just a few casual words, I felt as though Seth had uncovered some secret part of me, looked into my soul. We sat there then, chemistry burning between us like crazy, neither of us acting. I knew he would not try to kiss me as Roman had. Seth was content simply to look at me, to make love to me with his eyes. Suddenly the wind caught the door to the tiny restaurant, forcing it open as a huge gust swept in. Wisps of hair blew into my face, and I slammed my hands down on the napkins that flew up from our table. Other items in the parlor had less success as more napkins and scraps of paper drifted around, and a cup of plastic spoons fell off the counter, spilling its contents on the floor. The clerk behind the counter ran to the door, fighting against the wind to make the latch catch. When he'd finally done so, he glared at the door resentfully. With the moment – whatever it was – shattered, Seth and I picked up our things and left shortly thereafter. I asked him to drop me off at the bookstore. I hoped Doug would be there to apologize to, plus I wanted to get ahold of that Harrington book. â€Å"You want to come in and hang out? Say hi to anybody?† I somehow felt reluctant to leave Seth now, in spite of all the things I needed to do. He shook his head. â€Å"Sorry. I've got to go. I'm meeting someone.† â€Å"Oh.† I felt kind of foolish. He could have a date now for all I knew. And why shouldn't he? It wasn't like I was his only social connection, especially after my no-dating spiel. I was foolish to be reading so much into the ice cream encounter, especially since I was supposedly crazy about Roman. â€Å"Well. Thanks again for everything. I'll make it up to you.† He waved his hand dismissively. â€Å"It wasn't anything. Besides, you paid me back by going to the party.† Now I shook my head. â€Å"I didn't really do anything there.† Seth only smiled. â€Å"See you around.† I stepped out of the car and suddenly stuck my head back in. â€Å"Hey, I should have asked you this earlier. Do you have my book signed yet? The Glasgow Pact ? â€Å" â€Å"Oh†¦ man. No. I can't believe I forgot about that. It's still at my place. I'll sign it and bring it soon. I'm sorry.† He looked sincerely contrite. â€Å"Okay. It's no problem.† I should have ransacked his condo for it. We said goodbye again, and I turned into the bookstore. If I remembered my schedule right, Paige should have opened and Doug should be here now as the late manager. Sure enough, he stood at the information desk, looking on while Tammi helped a customer. â€Å"Hey,† I said, walking up to him, uneasiness filling me as I recalled my harsh words. â€Å"Can I talk to you for a minute?† â€Å"No.† Whoa. I'd expected him to be upset†¦ but this? â€Å"You need to call your friend first.† â€Å"I – what?† â€Å"That one guy,† Doug explained. â€Å"That plastic surgeon that hangs out with you and Cody.† â€Å"Hugh?† â€Å"Yeah, that's the one. He's called, like, a hundred times, leaving messages. He's been worried about you.† His expression turned both soft and wry as he took in my dress and flannel ensemble. â€Å"So have I.† I frowned, wondering at Hugh's urgency. â€Å"Okay. I'll call him now. Come talk to me later?† Doug nodded, and I started to pull out my cell phone until I remembered I'd broken it last night. Retreating to the back office instead, I sat on the desk's edge and called Hugh. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Hugh?† â€Å"Jesus Christ, Georgina. Where the hell have you been?† â€Å"I, er, nowhere†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We've been trying to get ahold of you all last night and today.† â€Å"I wasn't at home,† I explained. â€Å"And my cell phone broke. Why? What's going on? Tell me there hasn't been another one.† â€Å"Afraid so. Another murder this time, no more friendly beatings. When we couldn't reach you, the vampires and I thought he'd got you too, even though Jerome said he could feel that you were fine.† I swallowed. â€Å"Who†¦ who was it?† â€Å"Are you sitting down?† â€Å"Sort of.† I braced myself, ready for anything. Demon. Imp. Vampire. Succubus. â€Å"Lucinda.† I blinked. â€Å"What?† All my theories of an avenger of evil shattered. â€Å"But that's impossible. She's – she's – â€Å" † – an angel,† Hugh finished for me.

Cyber securiy and cloudl computing Research Proposal

Cyber securiy and cloudl computing - Research Proposal Example several information technology (IT) based processing including cloud computing, social media networking, international communication, and global positioning system (GPS) navigation. Another aspect of the revolution is accessibility of the internet, whereby it has become easier for a person to have access to the internet today than two decades back. With the use of media devices such as smart phones, smart watches, and tablet computers, the internet is today one of the most portable technological inventions that can fit into every corner and space (Ziltrain, 2008). Indeed it cannot be denied that the revolution that has characterised the internet has several benefits to offer the ordinary user. In the estimation of Rehmeyer (2007), not only does the use of the internet today offers advantages but that the absence or non-usage of the internet comes with so much discomfort and disadvantages. Even though this position cannot be debated, the risks and vulnerabilities that the complexity o f the internet poses to individual, organisations and nations cannot be denied. In the opinion of Owens and Lin (2009), the best way to make the most out of the internet in today’s complex dynamic Web 2.0 environment is to ensure adequate cyber security for users. Without this, the list of how beneficial the internet is in today’s environment can go on but the real value that is expected to be derived may never be achieved to its fullest. The reason for this claim is that as news of cyber breaches continues to flood the airwaves, people become sceptical about their fate in using the complex and dynamic Web 2.0 for various purposes including cloud computing and electronic commerce (e-commerce) (Ziltrain, 2008). In such an atmosphere of mistrust and fear, the Web 2.0 will be seen as useful only for some of the most conventional purposes that come with limited or no risk such as gaming, information search, and downloading. Meanwhile as it has been hinted already, there are several

Introduction to Organisations and Management Essay - 7

Introduction to Organisations and Management - Essay Example The labour force is the one of the most crucial resources for a business organisation and its productivity depends on the organisational culture, structure, leadership, motivation, communication etc. Therefore, management has to take these necessary factors into account for bringing enhancement in productivity level contributed by the labour force. Traditionally, the business owners used to perceive the employees’ related expenses as an added cost of the company; whereas, as per the post-modern organisational concepts, the managements have realised the employees as vital investments for a company which will have return in future. Therefore, the nature structure and process of for completing a task has changed significantly in comparison to the earlier periods (Sole and Costa, 2001, p.2-3). Dodgson, Gann and Salter have identified the two paradigm of managements based on traditional and modern concept. The following the table depict the old paradigm of the managements and the c hanged paradigm of management. Table 1: Old and New Paradigm of Management (Source: Dodgson, Gann and Salter, 2008, p.42) As per the above table, it can be observed that the organisation in the post-modern age become very flexible and growth oriented. The organisations that have successfully understood and incorporated these changes are successful in an industry in comparison to companies following old paradigm of management (Dodgson, Gann and Salter, 2008, p.42-43). This paper will attempt to discuss organisation management of the separate companies i.e. Watsons Engine Components and H & M Consulting based on two case studies. The paper will focus on comparison of the certain areas of the both companies through analyses by using models and theories. The major areas relating to organisation management of the two companies will be organisational design and structure, teams and team working, approach to leadership and management, and approach to leadership and management. 2. Organisat ional design and structure The first step in the successful managing organisation is to create a healthy and smooth management decision making process which is crucial for achieving the organisational growth. Senior and Fleming has described that â€Å"the structure of an organisation is the formal way of identifying who is taking responsibility for what; who is to execute authority over who; and who is to be answerable to whom† (Senior and Fleming, 2009, p.78). Therefore, the organisation structure mainly focuses on the process of the decision making and it involves the top managements who are responsible for taking critical management decisions. For designing a growth oriented organisation, a favourable organisation structure is mandatory and each of the top level management must identify the plays their responsibility considering prevailing scenario for achieving the best possible outcome. Mcshane and Travaglione have identified two fundamental essentials for developing or ganisational structure. These two fundamental requirements are division of labour and coordination. The division of labour is helpful in shaping the specialized skills and coordination means the relationship status among the employees and top level managements. The coordination can be achieved through â€Å"Informal communication†, â€Å"Formal hierarchy†

Museum Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Museum Paper - Essay Example He was laid to rest in a complicated grave in Saqqara. He earned titles such as the â€Å"Chief of Royal Scribes†, Governor of Buto†, and â€Å"Chief of Dentist† (El-Shahawy & Farid 67). The three panels, bearing these titles, are among the six remaining panels, which were discovered decorating the interior of niches that were cut from the west wall of the large gallery, below Hesire’s mastaba (El-Shahawy & Farid 67). The six panels depict him in different costumes and present his titles and names carved above him (Kamrin 32). They are carefully sculptured in low relief and the inscribed hieroglyphs are equally written with care and precision. They highlight the aesthetic value of each element in the panel, particularly Hesire’s body and his accessories, which are represented with respect to the conventions of Egyptian art (Kamrin 17). Hesires historical art figure is in the form of wooden panels that were set for his remembrance. The wooden panels were initially eleven, but only six of them are currently available. These remaining panels are examples of elevated implementation of hieroglyphs on corpse, and they have several forms of Egyptian language hieroglyphs (Kamrin 27). The remaining wooden panels were used to plaster his mud brick grave and were curved in different postures and ages with the facts of grave’s owner. For example, Hesire, as a middle-age person, was depicted to be standing, but his left leg always onward. A weighty wavy wig, which resembles his real hair, is placed on his head. His right hand is holding a † harp† that signifies authority and dignity while his left hand is holding scribal tools that have a palette with two inkwells and a skin bag for supply (Gardner & Kleiner 98). A kit with a belt is tied around his waist. Kamrin has had the opportunity to translate the four vertical corners. He says the â€Å"Elder of the Qed-hetep† is translates to a â€Å"father of mine and the doctor of the majestic scribes† (Kamrin 44).

Health improvement in nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Health improvement in nursing - Essay Example In order to improve health in nursing, nurses require collaboration with other different bodies, such as governments, the local communities, as well as their patients.Nurses utilize various strategies, which will promote positive health and well-being of individuals. Therefore, nurses are core in health improvement, and these are committed to their patients and aim at improving the health status of their patients, including those who suffer from long-term conditions. Nurses also provide care to the marginalized in society, and participate in a variety of public health programmes. Nonetheless, different people today need health improvement, but sometimes might lack to access it. Therefore, this paper will focus on overweight people with a BMI of 25-30kg kg/m2.Overweight people need health improvement and promotion, mainly because, today this is a worrying health issue, as a great number of people are overweight. The large number of overweight people is therefore, an indication that en ough efforts have not been adopted to address this health issue. In order to improve health for this group of people, it is important to increase their awareness of sugar intake, as is an important aspect that is overlooked by most overweight people, while some lack reliable information about this. Diabetes is experienced today at a higher rate compared to past decades. When one is overweight, they are at risk of being diabetic. Therefore, the increased prevalence of diabetes shows that one of the root causes, which is excessive weight in people, has not been given the attention it needs for improvement. Globally, the prevalence of diabetes is expected to hit a high of 552 million people by the year 2030. In 2011, prevalence of diabetes stood at 366 million people (Diabetes UK 2011). On the other hand, the UK is one of the countries, which is registering increased cases of diabetes every year. In the year 1996, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK was 1.4 million. However, this number has increased to 2.9 million, and it is expected to reach 5 million in 2055. This therefore, makes diabetes to be one of the health challenges in the UK today (Diabetes UK 2011). In order to improve this case and promote good health of the people in the UK, it is crucial that information about diabetes, its cause and effects, and prevention be disseminated to the whole population, to increase their awareness so that they can adopt the correct preventive and control strategies (Diabetes UK 2011). The most prevalent diabetes type in the UK is Type 2 diabetes, which is highly associated with being overweight or obese. Initially, this affected people aged above 40 years, but today, this affects even young people and children (Public Health England 2013: London Health Improvement Board 2011). Nonetheless, the number of obese and overweight people in the UK keeps rising, thus the rise in the prevalence of diabetes (Diabetes UK 2011). Similarly, government records from the UK department of health show that in England, 61.3% of adults are overweight and obsess, in addition to 30% of children. Evidence also shows that overweight or

National Labor Relation Act and Employee Rights Essay

National Labor Relation Act and Employee Rights - Essay Example The program will take two weeks of an intense training for the supervisors, during which the supervisors will be trained four hours every day, except for the weekends. Therefore, the training will constitute a ten-day training program, undertaken by the labor professionals and hired legal experts on employment from the labor department and other various professional labor organizations. At the end of the training, the supervisors will be required to undertake a test regarding the training, where only the ones who pass the test will be retained, while the ones who fail will be replaced. The program will also include a regular refresher course, undertaken once every 4 months for a three-day period, where the supervisors will refresh their knowledge on the duties, rights , freedoms and responsibilities of the employees and the employers, while also learning new developments in that area. Under the training program, several employee rights, freedoms, duties, and responsibilities will be covered, to equip the supervisors with the rightful knowledge about the rights of the employees, and, thus, to ensure that they do not interfere into such rights in the future. First, employees have the rights to attempt to form or to form a union in their workplace (Sack, 2010). Therefore, the supervisors will be trained to acknowledge the rights of the employees to establish unions within their workplaces, which will be used as a basis of championing for their rights, while also being as the bargaining vehicles for the employees, through which they can channel their grievances to the employers. The recognition of the fundamental right of the employees to form a union is in line with the basic human rights and the freedom of association and expressions, which no individual should be denied (Emerson, 2009). Therefore, through training the supervisors on the need to recognize and consequently respect the rights and freedoms of the employees to form and engage in union activities, the supervisors will cease to interfere with such freedoms of the employees, which will in turn serve to reduce the negative effects that the organization has felt, such as strikes and demonstrations. Additionally, by allowing the employees to engage in the formation of their own unions, they will be in a position to present their grievances to the employers or the relevant government agencies, which will, in turn, reduce the legal suits filed by the employees to the courts, which are detrimental to the organization, both in damaging its reputation, as well as causing it huge financial burdens (Dannin, 2006). The other fundamental aspect of the training for the supervisors, regarding the employee rights and freedoms, is the right of the employees to join and engage in the activities of a workers’ union, even if it is not recognized by the employer (Sack, 2010). This lesson will be very fundamental, since the employers can interfere with the rights of the employees to engage in u nion activities on the basis that such a union is not recognized by the employer. The fact that the employer does not recognize certain workers’ union does not limit the employee from joining such organizations. This fundamental

IT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

IT - Assignment Example The basic formats and practices can be duplicated however on the other hand to generalize and say IT no longer enables companies to create a competitive advantage in the marketplace was unsupported. Information technology is an evolving science its full potential still unknown. However with a better understanding of the innovative uses of the science companies have the potential of creating an advantage in the marketplace. The creation and determinant of the effective use of IT is contingent upon a myriad of factors, how a company implements the use of IT in its organizational structure and internal practices, how IT is used in a company’s external marketing campaigns, and whether the value of IT is understood by the leaders and managers as it relates to distinguishing sustainability. Corporations such as Wal-Mart, Hewlett-Packard, United Airlines and other recognizable firms provide the evidence that IT does enable companies to create a competitive advantage. Each of the companies listed has consistently used information technology to distinguish itself in the marketplace. Whereas other firms have implemented similar practices, the firms listed continue to set themselves apart by using IT in innovative and creative ways. An image of IT as a rigid format is erroneous to the contrary information technology presents unlimited possibilities. Leaders within an organization have the responsibility and duty to investigate the application and adaptability of IT practices for the maximum usage. By continuing to develop and implement IT strategies companies can position themselves as leaders within their respective industries. The lack of knowledge of the potential benefits of IT and its application within the organization as well as the benefits in the marketplace can make IT appear to be ineffective and a mundane costly endeavor (Parsons, 1984; Mata, Fuerst, & Bailey, 1995). Business leaders

Article Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Review - Article Example Consequently, the market experiences a disequilibrium condition in terms of either surpluses or scarcities (Yetter, 2013). Given that, supply and demand assessment can be quite complex, the newsletter helps the reader to separate changes in both demand and supply from activities alongside supply and demand curves. The newsletter offers a practical meaning regarding two forms of government interventions within the markets, comprising price controls and quantity controls. One major supposition deduced from the newsletter is that government price floors tend to form surpluses, since they place prices higher than equilibrium price. As a result, the quantity of goods or service supplied surpasses quantity demanded. On the other hand, government price ceilings tend to form shortages since they institute prices lower than equilibrium, and as a result, the quantity demanded surpasses quantity supplied. However, Mishkin & Eakins (2012), observes that the semi-strong outline in efficient marke t hypothesis is the one that makes the present market prices to mirror information already present in the public domain. This is because market prices tend to adjust to any good information or bad news contained in the performance of the economy. Therefore, if a price ceiling imposed by the government becomes greater than market equilibrium price, then the price ceiling would have no effect on the economy. Nevertheless, Yetter concurs with Mishkin & Eakins that in current market economy, prices serve the duo purpose of sending signals regarding relative scarceness of both goods and services (2012). This is more so through the provision of incentives to both buyers and sellers. Therefore, there will be no supply restrictions or encouragement in demand. Both observe that the price ceiling will hold, only when the equilibrium price is higher than the price ceiling, and coupled with a shortage of the service or goods. Furthermore, the newsletter asserts that, if government makes market prices to be higher than equilibrium prices, then a surplus will follow. This is because more people will offer the services at a minimum price, compared to the number of people willing to pay for the service. Yetter argument can be observed in the current health-care market, whereby states governments, which incur most of their residents’ health-care bills, have made prices to increase (2013). Consequently, the high prices make the state governments to implement price controls, such that massive physician shortage takes place and which leads to massive queues and patients waiting lists. As such, only price caps enforced by government will only force the healthcare prices to return to liberated market rates. Therefore, the issue becomes whether government intervention will affect the demand and supply of healthcare considering the far-reaching government regulations such as Obama-care. Yetter in the newsletter observes that any increase in anticipated price will change the su pply-curve towards the right (2012). Yetter points out that in the case of airlines baggage, if government enforces a price floor due to increasing charges, then passengers will increase the number of baggage considerably, such that airlines can make available space to be relatively fixed while refusing to inspect additional baggage. Therefore, in healthcare paid by government, most people will be obliged to purchase insurance instead of buying as you go, and which

Is marriage an outdated tradition Essay Example for Free

Is marriage an outdated tradition Essay Is Marriage an Outdated Tradition? In this essay I will be explaining whether marriage Is an outdated tradition along with my opinion and the ones of Christians. In my oplnlon I believe that No, marriage Is the same strong, important connection it was 100 years ago. The difference is the people who enter into it, and the way society no longer supports the couples who choose it. Weve become a need It now society and are ready to discard whatever doesnt give us Instant happiness. Divorce has become so acceptable that couples go Into arriage with the plan to divorce If they arent satisfied (prenup) as compared to the people in our past who believed marriage was forever and were motivated to keep working at the relationship and to make it work. Today couples are ready to give up as soon as its not fun or the sex becomes dull. The other part of the problem Is societys lack of support for marriage. The UK benefit system Is too lenient towards those who choose to have children without being married therefore helping them with housing, childcare, schooling and food. The rest f the family before would be providing emotional support and pressure for the couple to work at the relationship, now its more looked at it as being only their problem and not a problem for the people around them. Today were more concerned about an individuals right to personal happiness than to supporting responsible or ethical behaviour-I believe a persons happiness Is extremely Important but peoples morals and ethics are what make them happy. I also believe the idea that something thats worth having is worth fighting for, having omething a long time, the pride of working at something, at pushing through the hard stuff to be able to stand back and look with pride at having made something great, is gone. The Christians of the Catholic Church teach prohibition of premarital sex along with the rejection of homosexual marriage, abortion and contraception but also the acceptance of everyone and equality but while all those are very Important none is what makes the bond of marriage stick. It happens when two people who are free to marry and are physically and emotionally capable of marriage give themselves o each other, understanding that marriage means being open to life and commitment and to faithful love till death.

Consequences of Winding Up Essay Example for Free

Consequences of Winding Up Essay The liquidator has no power to carry on business with a view to resuscitating the company or making profits. The liquidator shall carry on the business of the company principally to enable the business to be sold off as a going concern. 2. A transfer of shares may be carried out only with the sanction of the liquidator. In effect, the membership of the company is frozen once winding up commences. 3. The directors and certain other officers of the company are under a duty to assist and cooperate with the liquidator. 4 4. Where the company has either bought property from or sold property to a person who was at the time of the transaction a director of the company for cash consideration and the transaction occurred within 2 years before the commencement of the winding up, the company may recover any amount by which the property was overvalued or undervalued. 5. Where the company has gone into liquidation within 6 months of the creation of a floating charge, that charge is void except to cover the amount of cash advanced to the company at the time of creation or subsequently, together with interest at 5% per annum. The liquidator(s) appointed upon the winding up of the company to manage the affairs of the company for the purpose of the liquidation shall: 1. investigate the affairs and assets of the company as well as the conduct of its directors and other related persons; 2. recover and realise the company’s assets at the best possible price and in a manner that is to the best advantage to the company; and 3. adjudicate the claims of all creditors and to ensure an equitable distribution of the company’s assets. Distribution of Assets The company’s property is to be applied in satisfaction of its liabilities upon winding up, and the surplus distributed among the members according to their rights and interests in the company. Secured creditors need not prove for their debts but can realise their security and obtain full satisfaction. Once the secured creditors have been paid out of the assets that comprise their securities, the remainder of the assets, if any, will be distributed among the preferred creditors. The order of priority is as follows : . Costs and expenses of the winding up. 2. Wages and salaries of the employees of the company. 3. Retrenchment benefit or ex-gratia payment (if any) due to the employees of the company. 4. Compensation for injuries suffered in the course of employment under the Workmen’s Compensation Act (Cap 354). 5. Provident fund contributions payable in the â€Å"12 months next before, on or after the commencement of the winding up† under any written law or under any approved scheme of superannuation or retirement benefits. . Remuneration payable in respect of vacation leave accrued before or after the commencement of the winding up. 7. All taxes assessed before the commencement of the winding up or before the time fixed for the proving of debts has expired. Any residue remaining after payment of the creditors is divisible among the members in accordance with the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Selective Toxicity Of Anti Cancer Agents Biology Essay

Selective Toxicity Of Anti Cancer Agents Biology Essay Cancer is known to be caused by a large group of various diseases, all involved in cellular malfunction. It dates back to about 1600 BC when it was first found in an Egyptian papyrus (Wu et al, 2006) and thought to be incurable till surgery and radiation became the means of treatment in the mid-1900s. After many years it was realised that using either or combination of treatment, metastatic cancer could not be controlled and in order to gain therapeutic effect, the therapy had to reach every organ of the body. Research in drug discovery and development now focuses on using chemotherapy especially those that are selectively toxic e.g. antimetabolites (Thurston, 2007). It is not fully understood why they are selectively toxic but they are more effective on tumour cells because they are able to divide faster that healthy cells. Selective toxicity was defined as materials that are able to damage some types of cells and not the others (Albert, 1951). Even though mortality rate has not imp roved much, characteristics and pathways of cells in different tumours have been identified so as to develop therapies for specific tumour. The therapies developed either target protein that cause or are involved in development of tumour directly or by targeting drugs to the tumour. Examples of new drugs that have resulted from advances in drug discovery are (Narang Desai, 2009) : Imatinib (Gleevec) inhibits binding of protein (BCR-ABL) which is found in CML tumour cells. Gefitinib (Iressa1) inhibits epidermal growth factor receptorà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s. It is used to treat lung cancer. Trastuzumab (Herceptin1) is another monoclonal antibody that binds the cell surface HER2/neu (erbB2) receptor and is used in treating erbB2+ breast cancer. This report will focus on principles and challenges of selective toxicity of chemotherapy, how they work, the limitations of the current chemotherapy and ways to improve drugs. MECHANISM OF ACTION Chemotherapy drugs are able to move throughout the body to get to where they are intended by entering the bloodstream through an injection, a drip which are usually through a vein or as capsules and tablets. For chemotherapy to work it is important to understand cell cycle, this is because chemotherapy drugs work mainly on actively reproducing cells in the body where some drugs attack particular phases of the cell cycle like the S phase. In cancerous cells, the checkpoints are damaged causing the cancer cells to continue to grow out of control. Chemotherapy works by damaging the genes present inside the nucleus of cells. Some drugs work by damaging cells when they are beginning to divide or while copies are being made. Chemotherapy drugs cause the cancerous cells to think that their lifespan has finished which leads to apoptosis. There are different classes of selective toxicity drugs which have different methods for killing cancerous cells, some of which are below(ACS, 2013): Alkylating agents (e.g. busulfan) are selectively toxic to DNA, where they damage DNA so as to prevent cancer cells from reproducing. Active in all the phases of cell cycle and are used to treat a wide variety of cancer like leukaemia Antimetabolites(5-fluorouracil), these agents alter DNA and RNA growth by replacing building blocks normally present in DNA and RNA. They work in the S phase and are used to treat breast cancer. Anti-tumour antibiotics/Anthracyclines (Doxorubicin) are also important as they affect the enzymes that contribute to DNA replication. Other cancer drugs- these are not classified as chemotherapy drugs and they are still new. There are different types, the active and passive where active stimulates the immune system to attack the disease and passive(monoclonal antibody, e.g. Rituximab which binds to particular substances) uses antibodies that were made synthetically. In 2010, the first vaccine for cancer called the Provenge for prostate cancer was approved by the FDA (ACS, 2013). Below Figure 1 shows the new selectively toxic agents that target specific sites and how they influence those sites. Figure : Shows new group of anti-cancer agents designed to target specific protein that contributes to growth of tumour (Wu et al, 2006). PRINCIPLES Chemotherapy drugs that are selectively toxic have been the first choice of treatment for many cancers and there are over 100 drugs in the market today (ACS, 2013) used alone or with other treatments. It is also important to understand how these drugs work so doctors (oncologists) can predict which drugs can be combined with them and how often each drug can be administered to patients. There are three key goals of these chemotherapy treatment (ACS, 2013): The most important goal of chemotherapy is to cure cancer where the cancer/tumour is cleared from the system. There are no guarantees with this treatment as it might even take years for a patient to be cured of cancer. In a situation where cure is not possible it is important to control the disease by shrinking cancer or stopping it from growing or spreading. This is also important as it gives the possibility of a longer life because it is controlled like a disease that is chronic like diabetes. Last is palliation, which is important when cancer is at an advanced stage. Chemotherapy drugs in this case can be used to relieve symptoms or improve the patients quality of life. LIMITATIONS Normal cells that divide rapidly are damaged by these chemotherapeutic agents because they cannot differentiate between cell reproducing normal tissues and cancer cells as they are not highly selective therefore causing the following side effects (Salmon Sartorelli, 1998). Bone marrow suppression because the bone marrow cells normally divide quickly Alopecia because hair follicle cells are able to divide frequently as well GI disturbances (Nausea and Vomiting) due to mucosal cells dividing rapidly Some of these agents cause serious side effects which may lead to permanent damage to a vital organ (liver, lungs) in the body, cause infertility, heart problems or disrupt the central nervous system by causing damage. Another big problem is the development of resistance of chemotherapy drugs to treating different tumours which can occur before treatment with drug or over time after treatment. In some cases continuous/prolonged exposure to one chemotherapy drug can cause resistance to other compounds with similar structures (Akhdar, 2012). Resistance can also develop if the drug concentration in the patient is reduced due to diminished cellular diffusion or increased drug efflux. Chemotherapy treatment is also expensive and might take a couple of years before the disease is eradicated. In some cases the treatment does not work or may not destroy the cancer completely. Lastly, it makes the immune system very weak. Ways to Improve Drug A way of improving drug or avoiding resistance is using a combination of variety of cytotoxic agents as it allows prompt attack of different biological targets therefore increasing the effect of the treatment (Thurston, 2007) or with other agents that act as sensitizers to these cytotoxic agents (Narang Desai, 2009). Another way is developing new formulations that can prevent the severe side effects associated with a particular drug e.g. Doxorubicin caused cardiotoxicity but with new formulations like the liposomal formulation there are decreased side effects that are manageable and due to the selectivity of the new drug it works better than the conventional anthracycline. The use of adjuvants can minimize toxicity of anticancer drugs, therefore reducing the side effects of some of the drugs. A better diet is also advised, especially with avoiding food that cause inactivation of the drugs. Vitamin C found in citrus fruits like oranges have been found to influence anticancer drugs and reduce toxicity to the body (Salmon Sartorelli, 1998). Conclusion It can be concluded that there are three important factors to consider in selective toxicity of a drug, they are the tumour, drug and most especially the host. There have been a lot of improvement with using chemotherapy to manage cancer even though they cause severe side effects and resistance. Other challenges faced are the cost, time involved and the high mortality rate. This has brought about increase in effort of scientists to search for ways for the body to fight cancer tissue and find better cytotoxic agents to fight cancer cells.

Anthrax :: viruses, diseases,vaccines

A minor scratch or abrasion, usually on an exposed area of the face or neck or arms, is infected by spores from the soil or a contaminated animal or carcass. The spores germinate, vegetative cells multiply, and a characteristic gelatinous edema develops at the site. This develops into papule within 12-36 hours after infection. The papule changes rapidly to a vesicle, then a pustule, and finally into a necrotic ulcer from Unlike chemical agents like Cyanide which disperse over time, Anthrax [spores] can survive in soil, water and elsewhere for as long as 40 years and is highly resistant to eradication. They can only be killed by steam sterilization or burning, but not by disinfectants. An infection of wild stock populations could follow a biological attack with spores. The infected animals could then pass on the disease to people. An Anthrax Vaccine does exist and it is at present produced under contract to the Department of Defense. The immunization consists of three injections given two weeks apart followed by three additional shots given at 6, 12, and 18 months. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are required to maintain a protective level of immunity. This particular method is effective when dealing with Anthrax contacted through the skin and is believed to be effective against inhaled spores in the case of a biological warfare attack. For those unvaccinated individuals, antibiotics like penicillin is known to lessen the severity of the illness, two million units every two hours administered intervenously It was formerly thought that inhaled spores are 100% fatal despite treatment but monkeys exposed to Anthrax spores have responded successfully to antibiotics, implying that antibiotic therapy may be useful in a biological warfare setting.

The Sin of Hypocrisy in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Sin of Hypocrisy in The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is about the trials and tribulations of Hester Prynne, a woman living in colonial Boston.   Found guilty of adultery,   Hester's punishment is to wear a visible symbol of her sin: the scarlet letter "A."   Through the book, the reader comes to know Hester, the adulteress; Dimmesdale, the holy man Hester had the affair with; and Chillingworth, the estranged husband of Hester who is out for revenge.   The Scarlet Letter examines the interaction of these characters and the reaction of these characters to Hester's sin.   However, the greater sin that Hawthorne deals with in The Scarlet Letter is hypocrisy.   Hypocrisy is the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess.   All three main characters, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth, commit the sin of hypocrisy. Hawthorne shows that hypocrisy is indeed a sin by punishing the offenders. Hester Prynne is a strong, independent woman who deals with her sin of adultery very well.   Instead of running away from it, she lives with it and accepts her punishment.   However, while succumbing to the will of the court, she does not for an instant truly believe that she sinned.   Hester thinks that she has not committed adultery because in her mind she wasn't really married to Chillingworth.   Hester believes that marriage is only valid when there is love, and there is no love between Hester and Chillingworth.   In the prison, defending her actions against him, she declares, "Thou knowest, thou knowest that I was frank with thee.   I felt no love, nor feigned any" (74). Then, later, speaking to Dimmesdale, Hester further imparts her belief that she has not sinned, saying, "What we did had a consecration of its own.   We felt it so" (192).   Therefore, Hester, in her mind, has not committed a sin. The fact that she accepts the courts decision so meekly and wears the scarlet letter denoting her as an adulteress is the first way in which she is hypocritical.   Hester, although she does not believe she has sinned, portrays herself as a sinner by wearing the scarlet letter without complaint.   Over the ensuing years, Hester endures the shame and ridicule brought about by the scarlet letter.   However, the true source of

Gen X Essay -- essays research papers

Did you know that you are considered part of the first generation symbolizing the decline of the nation? Generations are labeled all the time by historians, novelists and journalist in an attempt to capture the spirit or essence of an era. But the term Generation X carries all the negativity of propaganda and stereotype. The term Generation X has become a derisive media batchphrase, a snide put-down for those 80 million people who, like me, were born between 1961 and 1981. They are the children of the baby boomers and the 13th generation since the pilgrims landed in Plymouth. This group is, were told irresponsible, materialistic, abnormal and apathetic. So how did the term Generation X originate, what are some of their characteristics and why is there so much controversy of the term Generation X? How did the term originate? Back in 1991 a 28 year old named Douglas Coupland wrote a book titled Generation X. The book was about three fictional characters who decided to withdraw from society in order to find themselves. They then moved to Palm Springs, CA where they lived in bungalows and worked at the bottom of the food chain. The book received no publicity and almost no reviews. But that summer a Texan released the movie Slackers, which was filled with overeducated and underoccupied oddballs who loosely paralleled the characters in the book. And at the same time in Seattle, a new form of music was exploding. Its attitude had everything to do with withdrawal, contemplation and seeking new margins. As the media goes, two’s nothing but three’s a trend. Thus were born the most abused buzzwords of the early 90’s Generation X, slacker and grunge. The meaning of generation x Generation X is also sometimes refereed to as the Latch key Generation. With no one at home after school. Generation X has become a negative term to describe their generation as aimless, unfocused, disorganized, unmotivated, lazy and distrustful of ideas and institutions. X’ers were labeled monsters. Their protestants became whining, being mellow became slacking and the struggle to find ourselves became apathy. Stereotypes portray generation x as transfixed by MTV, Beavis & Butthead, wearing baseball caps backwards, safety pins through nipples, rings through noses and wearing flannel during summer. They are characterized as deadbeats who lack the personal ambition ... ...m large government programs. Conclusion Although there is still much conflict and uncertainty about Generation X. You now know that generation x refers to a group of people born between 1961 and 1981. Generation X is perceived by the media, government and others to be a generation that lacks depth or direction or to add value to society. Many suggest that they are the lost generation. They may in fact be the generation that has learned from our parents mistakes and now have a different way of thinking and adapting itself to a changing world. Yet they continue to be discredited. Society need to understand that X is a term that defines not a chronological age but a way of looking at the world. Generation Xers are working to make a better life for themselves. They want to ensure that the interest of their generation is looked out for and they are committed to improving the public’s perception of their generation. Generation X is most certainly not a lost cause. Contrary to popular belief, they are intelligent and are very concerned about their future. They will in fact be the most influential and important generation in the next century, they will make a difference.

Comparing and Analyzing the Differences Between Co-Ed Schools and Single-Sex Schools Essay

The issue of single-sex schools versus co-ed schools is very much debated and controversial. There are strong supporters for both sides, giving good and valid arguments. It is an issue with a long history, receiving great attention from the media, researchers, teachers and most of all, parents. Although there are many studies that try to answer this question, the problem will probably continue to exist and be debated, the opinions being mixed. After all, choosing a type of education is a matter of personal choice. Nonetheless, there are several clear advantages and disadvantages of both, and there is evidence that there are differences when it comes to teaching styles, progress and achievements. Single-sex schools Single-sex schools have a long history, probably being most popular during the 19th and 20th centuries. In these schools, boys and girls are separated, the classes consisting of only one gender. There are schools that have separate buildings for boys and others for girls, or they only admit one gender into their academic program. This is a practice which is thought to help improve the results of the students. According to Mary Elizabeth, writer for EducationBug. org, one of the arguments is the differences between the brains of girls and boys. Others are different stress responses and hearing sensitivity â€Å"and that these differences can best be responded to by differentiating their instruction and learning environment† (CoEd or Single Sex Education). These reasons seem to be plausible and they are enough for many people to choose this kind of education for themselves or their children. There are some advantages of single-sex schools. As mentioned above, the supporters of single-sex education have many arguments and perhaps the greatest one of them is the educational benefit. It is believed that this kind of education improves student achievements and progress. Girls and boys learn and think in different ways, therefore they should be separated and the studies should be based on each gender’s interests and strengths. Different teaching techniques should be used too. Since girls are more mature than boys at a younger age, they can be more serious and focused in school, whereas boys have a lower concentration limit, and they act out ore often than girls. Leonard Sax, who has a PhD, is an M. D. in Montgomery County and founded the National Association for the Advancement of Single Sex Public Education, claims â€Å"Teach boys properly, and they will learn†. All these can improve a student’s performance. Furthermore, there is a lack of distraction in single-ed. Boys are sexually distracted by girls, being at an age when they are aroused often, and girls are distracted by the boys’ behavior (Single-Sex Education). Thompson and Ungerleider, researchers for the Canadian Center for Knowledge Mobilisation [sic] state in their report â€Å"Girls are able to focus more on academics without having to worry about pleasing the guys†. They have also quoted a 15 year old male student who said â€Å"When there is a hot girl in class you tend to look at her not to concentrate†. This proves that distraction plays an important role in education, and the single-sex schools are a means of controlling it (Single Sex Schooling). Moreover, another argument is the gender gap. This refers to the difference between girls and boys. Usually, girls are academically performing better than boys. But the focus is not on how well the girls are doing but that they are doing much better than boys, the latter being often underachievers. By separating the genders in classes could be beneficial to them, focusing more on subjects they excel at, and applying different teaching methods (Single Sex Schooling). For the many supporters of single-sex schools, the improvement of achievements and progress, the different teaching styles, gender interests and strengths, as well as the gender gap are the main arguments. Single-sex ed is a popular choice among parents, even though not all students want it or feel comfortable with it and most of them, if given a choice this would not be their first. However, despite the many advantages, there are also down-sides of single-sex schools and education. Kristin Stanberry, a writer and editor specializing in parenting, education, and consumer health/wellness issues, argues that there are many who believe that gender separation is not wise as there aren’t many instructors who are able to adapt their teaching methods and understandings to only one gender. This could lead to a worse development and achievements, the exact opposite of what single-ed’s aim is. Even more, maybe the greatest counter-argument is that this way of education promotes discrimination and sexism. This is what many people believe, among them being the American Civil Liberties Union which even filed a suit against a school in Kentucky for organizing single-sex classes in their institution (Single-Sex Education: the pros and cons). By attending a single-sex school, people may develop shyness and have problems interacting with the other sex in the future, for there was no precedent during their education. Co-ed schools: Unlike single-sex schools, co-ed schools are educational institutions where boys and girls are not separated, being no restrictions and no classes where only one sex can attend. It is not a practice as old as its opponent, in the past the higher forms of education being reserved only for male students. However, in the recent past they have gained in popularity, now having many supporters. Co-ed schools have many clear advantages in comparison to single-sex ones. One of these advantages, as it is pointed out on the University Language Services’ website, by having a class with both men and women it offers more diversity, giving a better chance to interact with each other (Co-ed vs. Single Sex Schools). It helps the students to develop their ability to talk to the other sex, developing their social skills much more than single-sex schools. Edelman Public Relations, a firm specialized on doing researches and reports, did a study on Canadian students which shows that students attending a co-ed institution have a higher level of self-confidence. Furthermore, due to interaction between sexes, co-ed attendants tend to develop a deeper respect towards the other gender. 80% of students in co-ed declared that they find it very easy to create friendships and establish relationships with members of the same sex, and 72% find it easy for members of the opposite sex, while single-sex students reported that they make friends easily in only 58% of the times. Also, they have a strong feeling of security. A research reveals that â€Å"students attending co-ed schools are much more likely to discuss ideas from their homework with opposite-sex friends (83%) than students in other school environments. This interaction results in exposure to a greater diversity of views and opinions as they share ideas of both sexes† (The Benefits of the Co-educational Environment). On their website, the Cathedral School of Llandaff, Cardiff, argues that a co-ed school is also beneficial in fighting sexism and discrimination as opinions of the both sexes are expressed and debated, resulting into a better understanding of each gender and the notion of equality (Advantages of Co-Education). Alongside with all these favorable features of co-ed schools, there is the choice of people. Students tend to choose this kind of education over single-sex institutions for the above reasons, as well as the higher possibility of finding a temporarily or life-time partner, which is becoming quite important for present generations. However, although co-ed has many advantages and benefits, it also has many disadvantages. Firstly, University Language Services claims on its website that students may feel intimidated by the members of the other sex and will not participate in class discussions and activities as much as they would if it was a single-sex class (Co-ed vs. Single Sex Schools). Becky Francis affirms in her book â€Å"Boys, girls, and Achievement – Addressing the classroom issues† that another disadvantage is the unfairness that sometimes occurs. Boys usually draw more attention to themselves, dominating the classroom and acting out while girls are quieter and more withdrawn. Also, studies have shown that teachers tend to favor boys by asking them more questions and making them participate more than girls (30-31). Furthermore, Ruth Vanita, writer for the Manushi periodical, implies in the article â€Å"Some Disadvantages of Coeducation† that starting from an early age, boys tend to harass and tease girls. The effect is that this makes girls feel insecure, ashamed and might develop a negative attitude towards men as they grow up. In addition, when pairing up for sharing a desk or picking group members for different activities, those who are left out or chosen last could grow an even deeper sense of insecurity. They might also feel unattractive for the other gender, develop emotional and psychological issues, which may later lead to something worse, such as depression. 29, 31-32) Thompson and Ungerleider implied in their report that there is a â€Å"dumbing down† phenomenon as boys sometimes refuse to participate in class, give the correct answers or do homework as â€Å"it’s just not cool to be smart† and they feel they will leave a bad impression on girls if they do so. Another disadvantage is the competiveness. Girls tend to be more interested and academically active, generally being better students than boys (Single Sex Schooling). This may result into negative reactions from the boys, marginalizing girls. It could also lead to an aggressive response, or other bad outcomes such as cheating in order to keep up with the girls. Finally, it can lead to an even more deepening of the gap between boys and girls. To use a non-academic term, boys tend to be â€Å"slackers†, being lazier than girls and try to persuade them into sharing homework and helping them or giving them the answers to tests. All in all, the issue of co-ed and single-sex educational institutions is very much debated and controversial lately receiving much attention from the media, researchers and parents. They both have many supporters providing arguments trying to prove that one is better than the other. There are many positive and negative effects, advantages and disadvantages of both, and there isn’t yet a clear conclusion whether one is better than the other. While there are studies and different opinions on this issue, the way to go is a matter of personal choice. In the end all that matters is how parents and students feel and what their interest and feelings are about it when choosing one form of education or the other. And in what concerns me, I might be biased, as I’ve attended co-ed educational institutions my entire life, but I prefer this type of education, and I could never picture myself or my children being enrolled in a single-sex school. I say this because in my experience, co-ed schools have been beneficial for me and worked out to my advantage, and I strongly believe that the benefits of such an institution and the argument put forth by its supporters are strong and logical, so if it was my choice, I would choose co-ed.

Sejanus

SejanusLucius Aelius Sejanus (20 BC – October 18, AD 31), commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. An equestrian by birth, Sejanus rose to power as prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, of which he was commander from AD 14 until his death in AD 31.While the Praetorian Guard was formally established under Emperor Augustus, Sejanus introduced a number of reforms which saw the unit evolve beyond a mere bodyguard into a powerful and influential branch of the government involved in public security, civil administration, and ultimately political intercession; changes which would have a lasting impact on the course of the Principate. During the 20s, Sejanus gradually accumulated power by consolidating his influence over Tiberius and eliminating potential political opponents, including the emperor's son, Drusus Julius Caesar.When Tiberius withdrew to Capri in 26, Sejanus was left in contr ol of the entire state mechanism as de facto ruler of the empire. For a time the most influential and feared citizen of Rome, Sejanus suddenly fell from power in 31, the year his career culminated with the consulship. Amidst suspicions of conspiracy against Tiberius, Sejanus was arrested and executed, along with his followers. | Marcus Vipsanius AgrippaMarcus Vipsanius Agrippa (23 October or November 64/63 BC – 12 BC) was a Roman statesman and general.He was a close friend, son-in-law, lieutenant and defence minister to Octavian, the future Emperor Caesar Augustus and father-in-law of the Emperor Tiberius, maternal grandfather of the Emperor Caligula, and maternal great-grandfather of the Emperor Nero. He was responsible for most of Octavian’s military victories, most notably winning the naval Battle of Actium against the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt. | Seneca the YoungerLucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca; ca. BC – AD 65) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to Emperor Nero. While he was later forced to commit suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, the last of the Julio-Claudian emperors, he may have been innocent. His father was Seneca the Elder and | Vipsania Agrippina Vipsania Agrippina (36 BC-20 AD) was the daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa from his first wife Pomponia Caecilia Attica, granddaughter of Cicero's friend and knight Titus Pomponius Atticus.Her maternal grandmother was a descendant of Marcus Licinius Crassus. By marriage, she was a great-niece to Quintus Tullius Cicero. Octavian and her father betrothed her to Tiberius before her first birthday. In 20 BC or 16 BC she married Tiberius. Their son Drusus the Younger was born in 13 BC. Agrippa died in March, 12 BC. He was married to Julia the Elder, daughter of Augustus. Augustus forced Ti berius to divorce Vipsania and marry Julia. Tiberius reportedly loved Vipsania and disapproved of Julia.Vipsania was at the time pregnant, and from the shock lost the baby. | Livia (30 January 58 BC– 28 September AD 29), after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14 also known as Julia Augusta, was an empress of Rome as the third wife of the emperor Augustus Caesar, as well as his adviser. She was the mother of the emperor Tiberius, paternal grandmother of the emperor Claudius, paternal great-grandmother of the emperor Caligula, and maternal great-great grandmother of the emperor Nero.She was deified by Claudius who acknowledged her title of Augusta. After Mark Antony's suicide following the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Octavian had removed all obstacles to his power and henceforth ruled as Emperor, from 27 BC on, under the honorary title Augustus. He and Livia formed the role model for Roman households. Despite their wealth and power, Augustus's family continued to live modestly in their house on the Palatine Hill. Livia would set the pattern for the noble Roman matrona.She wore neither excessive jewelry nor pretentious costumes, she took care of the household and her husband (often making his clothes herself), always faithful and dedicated. In 35 BC Octavian gave Livia the unprecedented honour of ruling her own finances and dedicated a public statue to her. She had her own circle of clients and pushed many proteges into political offices, including the grandfathers of the later emperors Galba and Otho. |

Chemical Reactions Are Basis of Our Life Essay

Chemical reactions are the basis of life on earth. As human beings, we are little more than the naturally abundant elements of which we are composed and the reactions between the compounds that they form. After all, how could life exist without water? Oxygen transport in a body the size of the human body would be impossible without the aid of a complex like hemoglobin. Besides being the basis of many of life’s intangibles, chemistry also plays an active role in our daily lives. Take for instance everyday household cleaning. If you’re like me, you like to eat off of clean dishes, prepare food on a clean surface, and use clean restroom facilities. Taking the cleaning of any of these areas into your own hands requires a little chemical knowledge. Have you ever scrubbed away at some grease or oil that just won’t come out? That’s because we are used to most of the â€Å"gunk† that we clean up being a polar substance. Water is also a polar substance, and since like dissolves like, most polar substances dissolve easily in water. However, when we introduce water to big greasy hydrocarbon chains (usually called alkanes, or fats and oils as we know them), the water just slides right over them and our plate stays greasy. This is because fats, oils, and waxes are nonpolar substances. If instead of using water we used less polar mineral spirits (not recommended on food prep items), those greasy alkanes would be dissolved in no time. Solubility concerns are clearly at the forefront of chemistry in the home. For two substances to be soluble in one another, they must be composed of similar materials, as we saw in the case with water and other polar substances. The interaction between water and nonpolar substances in science is termed the â€Å"hydrophobic effect,† meaning literally â€Å"water fearing. † On a cellular level, there are many consequences of this effect, but the same is true in the macroscopic world. For instance, the â€Å"greasy† feeling your skin gets when it hasn’t been cleaned in some time is due to sebum, a hydrophobic substance your body secretes as a protecting layer. Interestingly, many people wash this layer off in the shower only to replace it with â€Å"skin moistening† lotions containing lanolin, which is nothing more than sheep sebum. Another solubility problem occurs when Coke is spilled on the floor, creating a sticky mess that doesn’t seem to clean up with any normal household cleaning agents. This is because one of the main ingredients in any soda is phosphoric acid, which is a sticky mess in and of itself, not to mention the sugars and other sticky components found in most sodas. Luckily, phosphoric acid dissolves easily in water, making water (and lots of it) typically the best way to clean up this sort of spill. Acid/base chemistry also finds its way into our everyday lives. For instance, have you ever touched your car battery only to find that seconds later, you are feeling a tingling or burning sensation? This is because the battery acid is performing a dehydration reaction on your skin. That is, water is being pulled from your tissue in a chemical reaction. Luckily, armed with your knowledge of acid/base chemistry, you quickly sprinkle some baking soda on the offending acid, neutralizing its harmful effects. Or perhaps you’ve eaten some particularly spicy food or just have a little acid reflux. It’s milk to the rescue in these cases. The slightly basic milk will neutralize the slightly acidic foods in no time. So before you shove those chemistry books into the attic to gather dust, before you decide that there’s just no application to a science so complex, think again. Chemistry permeates all of our daily lives whether we think about it every day or not. There is much more to chemistry than the biological reactions occurring inside of us. Chemistry is all around us.

Great Works of Western Tradition: The Treatment of Time and History Essay

Not a few of the greatest works in the Western tradition tackle the evolution of humanity and of civilization throughout the ages. The question of the evolution of civilization is all the more difficult since it seems to be tortuous rather than linear and progressive. As it shall be seen, thinkers from very different times have pictured civilization in different ways, emphasizing either its wondrous development or its blatant imperfections. Thomas More, Voltaire and Sigmund Freud belong to very different ages of human civilization and have held very different opinions about history and the evolution or involution of man. As it shall be seen however, the major theme in all of the works under discussion is the evolution of man and society throughout the course of time. Moreover, in Utopia, Candide and Civilization and its Discontents the development of civilization is questioned and the achievements of humanity doubted. Despite the fact that the come from different turning points in human history, which had seen a prodigious advance of culture and understanding of the world, the three authors argue that the human civilization is very far from its ideal state. Thomas More’s Utopia is an imaginary project of the perfect human society which resembles Plato’s Republic. As a representative of Renaissance, More is a humanist and a socialist, who criticizes the state of thing in his native England. The work is therefore, in many ways an inverse mirror of his contemporary society. More openly addresses the precarious society and the politics in England and at the same time creates a reverse counterpart for these on the island of Utopia. The most salient target of the scholar’s criticism is the specific form of government characteristic for his society: feudalism. In his imaginary world, everyone is equal and no one is poor or in need, since everything is distributed justly: â€Å"In Utopia, where every man has a right to everything, they all know that if care is taken to keep the public stores full, no private man can want anything; for among them there is no unequal distribution, so that no man is poor, none in necessity, and though no man has anything, yet they are all rich; for what can make a man so rich as to lead a serene and cheerful life, free from anxieties. †(More 86) According to More, money and possessions in general are the key of civilization as he saw it. As such, he attacks his contemporary society at its very roots, by advocating a society in which everyone would be equal and in which money would hold no importance. As he saw it, the human world was moved and impulse by inequalities and disproportion in possessions: â€Å"And who does not see that the frauds, thefts, robberies, quarrels, tumults, contentions, seditions, murders, treacheries, and witchcrafts, which are indeed rather punished than restrained by the severities of law, would all fall off, if money were not any more valued by the world? †(More 87) Another important aspect that More notes is that, all the crimes and misfortunes arising from the pecuniary problems are punished rather than restrained by law. This aspect of the human society has remained true even today, since money is still a key element in the world and since the law is only designed to help maintain a relative order. Thus, More sees the state of civilization during Renaissance as very precarious, since the character of people and their morality is continuously undermined by the inequality regarding the distribution of possessions. Expressing truly revolutionary ideas for his age, More perceives that the nature of the government in his own time is nothing more than a â€Å"conspiracy of the rich† to monopolize the goods and to hold sway over the rest of the population, under the pretense of administering the public affairs: â€Å"Therefore I must say that, as I hope for mercy, I can have no other notion of all the other governments that I see or know, than that they are a conspiracy of the rich, who on pretence of managing the public only pursue their private ends, and devise all the ways and arts they can find out. †(More 157) More’s intuition about the workings of politics and economics in his own society is therefore incredibly accurate. Utopia is moreover a complete society, having all the institution of the modern world, including politics, religion, science, culture and family. More fundamentally remodels the social order of his time, designing an ideal community marked by simplicity. For instance, the political system is democratic, in the sense that we understand it today, with all of the members of society participating in the elections: â€Å"Once a year every group of thirty households elects an administrator, who used to be known as a syphogrant, but in modern times has been called a phylarch. There is another administrator in charge of every group of ten syphogrants with their households. He used to be called a tranibor, and is now called a senior phylarch. All the syphogrants–there are two hundred of them–elect the chief executive. †( More 96) The family is an important cell of this society which hints at the principles of brotherhood that should dominate and regulate the world. The society has very few laws, moreover, which emphasizes More’s views of the contemporary justice system. According to him therefore, the human society is inevitably based on complex and marginal laws, which strive to punish delinquency but which do not manage to restrain it. Furthermore, science and the arts are made accessible to the large public and not limited to a privileged category. More obviously points out to another essential feature of socialism which stipulates the intellectual equality of all people. This also pinpoints the fact that, in More’s view, the financial inequality of people is the key factor causing inequality in all other respects. It should be noted that More constructed his utopian world primarily as a satire for his contemporary society. He did not believe himself in the ideal society he proposed, simply because the project came considerably before its time and before there would be the necessary conditions to establish it. His main contention therefore is that the human civilization of the Renaissance England was a corrupted and dysfunctional system that revolved around the possessions and interests. All the institutions, the government, the law, the economy, politics and even the arts and sciences suffered from this corruption as they were based on inequality between people. More’s view is all the more revolutionary since the world of Renaissance believed in order and in the chain of things. This scale or hierarchy of things obviously applied to the human society as well, where the king was the highest link in the chain, being set there by divine will. In this context, More’s encouragement of equality is all the more mystifying. As it shall be seen, almost three centuries later, Voltaire published a satire that attacks the myth of human civilization and points out its main weaknesses. As More belongs to the Renaissance, Voltaire belongs to another period of cultural revolution and advancement, the Enlightenment. More so than the Renaissance that had established the faith in man and in his powers, the Enlightenment brought incredible evidence of man’s reasoning capacities and his ability for controlling nature and the universe and making these work in his own favor. As More before him, Voltaire satirically attacks the very roots of his contemporary society. His Candide can be easily considered one of the most potent philosophical satires of all times, as it is directed not to a particular aspect of the world but to the world as a whole and to the entire human race. What Voltaire mocks is not so much the state in which the world and humanity are in, but the inveterate optimism that characterized the Age of Reason. The values and creeds of the Enlightenment philosophers are demolished one by one in Voltaire’s work: the famous statement maintained by Leibniz and Rousseau that our world is â€Å"the best of all possible worlds†, the belief that the universe is in a state of unshakable harmony that only gives the impression of chaos, the general optimism that regarded even the dreariest events in the world as good, the faith in the human reason and the free will of man and many other similar optimist opinions. Voltaire makes the eponymous character of his work, Candide (who is, not by accident and as his name indicates, incredibly naive and simple) experience, through his journeys and adventures, the entire range of human sufferance: wars, natural disasters, maladies, slavery, religious persecution, rape and so on. In his way, Candide experiences all there is to experience and meets with all the evil in the world. His gullible nature disposes him to believe the more comfortable theory, which is that of his master Pangloss. Pangloss is thus the prototype of the Enlightenment thinker, the professed optimist who believes in the absolute perfection of the world. Despite of the disasters he meets with and despite of the evil nature of the men he encounters, Pangloss remains a stubborn optimist, an advocator of the perfect harmony of the universe: â€Å"Master Pangloss taught the metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology. He could prove to admiration that there is no effect without a cause; and, that in this best of all possible worlds, the baron’s castle was the most magnificent of all castles, and my lady the best of all possible baronesses. † (Voltaire 27) As More before him, Voltaire ironically notes here the way in which the belief in the perfection of the world is used by some to justify their own rights. The eulogy of the baron and baroness, who are obviously far from moral rectitude and nobleness, is a hint to the way in which people of rank had to be treated as great men despite the fact that in truth they were full of imperfections. Another bitter allusion is the image of war as one of the most absurd evils haunting the human society. This is one of the most terrifying proof that man has not reached yet the state of absolute civilization, and that he is still a savage: â€Å"Never was anything so gallant, so well accoutred, so brilliant, and so finely disposed as the two armies. The trumpets, fifes, hautboys, drums, and cannon made such harmony as never was heard in hell itself. The entertainment began by a discharge of cannon, which, in the twinkling of an eye, laid flat about 6,000 men on each side. The musket bullets swept away, out of the best of all possible worlds, nine or ten thousand scoundrels that infested its surface. â€Å"(Voltaire 9) In extremely light tones, Voltaire describes the carnage and absurdity specific to war, hinting that such a disaster would be sufficient to recognize the world and the state of civilization for what it is. Instead of the ordered, harmonious world that some of the greatest philosophers and scientists of the time discerned, Voltaire points to the actual state of humanity as he saw it. Discoveries were indeed being made, but man was far from living in an ideal and balanced universe. There are some obvious similarities between More’s and Voltaire’s satires therefore. More imagined an ideal society which would be the reverse of his contemporary world and Voltaire imagined a story of a naive character who is confronted with all the ills and evils of humanity and civilization. Both of the authors therefore imply that the human evolution is not as significant as it is believed. The beginning of the twentieth century, with the dawn of modernism saw equally great changes in all the aspects of human existence. Freud’s Civilization and its Discontents makes a potent critique of civilization as a web of negative impositions on the modern man. Freud puts forth that civilization can only become workable through an economical principle similar to that employed by the politics of a state: it restrains man’s instinctual force in order to concentrate his energy on the exploitation of its intellectual resources. Thus, while the two other authors under investigation proposed that the world was largely primitive at its core, despite the advancement of civilization, Freud points out the opposite. He elaborates on the benefits and incredible progress made by human civilization, all the same criticizing its prospects which have restrained the instinctual nature of man: â€Å"This contention holds that what we call our civilization is largely responsible for our misery, and that we should be much happier if we gave it up and returned to primitive conditions. †(Freud 33) In Freud’s view, as revolutionary for his time as the other two authors’ perspective during their own, it is the basic requirement of civilization which has become pernicious for man. Thus, civilization demands a repression of instinct in man, in favor of intellectual achievement: â€Å"No feature [†¦] seems better to characterize civilization than its esteem and encouragement of man’s higher mental activities–his intellectual, scientific and artistic achievements-and the leading role that it assigns to ideas in human life. †(Freud 41) According to Freud, it is the very nature of civilization which causes man to become more and more frustrated out of his natural freedom and lack of restraint: â€Å"Civilization is built up upon a renunciation of instinct, how much it presupposes precisely the non-satisfaction (by suppression, repression or some other means) of powerful instincts. †(Freud 44) The efforts and results of science and technology as they are perceived in modern times are indubitable. Man has strived to protect himself from nature thus becoming more and more alienated from it. Civilization is in many ways synonymous with comfort, but, in Freud’s view it is and will always be contrary to man’s happiness: â€Å"Is there, then, no positive gain in pleasure, no unequivocal increase in my feeling of happiness, if I can, as often as I please, hear the voice of a child of mine who is living hundreds of miles away or if I can learn in the shortest possible time after a friend has reached his destination that he has come through the long and difficult voyage unharmed? † (Freud 35) As Freud pertinently remarks, people usually think of the advanced state of civilization in terms of victories over nature, such as the invention of soap for instance: â€Å"Indeed, we are not surprised by the idea of setting up the use of soap as an actual yardstick of civilization. The same is true of order. It, like cleanliness, applies solely to the works of man. But whereas cleanliness is not to be expected in nature, order, on the contrary, has been imitated from her. †(Freud 40) Also, people tend to think of the previous ages as uncivilized in terms of cleanliness, order and comfort mainly. In Freud’s opinion however, these victories are as many frustration for the ego, who has definitively lost his liberty. He argues that civilization comes into harsh conflict with the human ego, since the ego’s instinctual nature cannot be ‘corrected’ by culture but only repressed or silenced. As many aspects of human behavior prove it, instincts only lie dormant inside the psyche and can be awaken at any time. Civilization comes with its impositions and claims, attempting to subdue the subconscious and promote only the sublimated characteristics of the mind. Therefore, being denied the attainment of the pleasure principle, men have to content themselves with exchanging it for the milder ‘reality principle’ which will only safeguard them from extreme sufferance. While More and Voltaire have endeavored to show that civilization is far from reaching its perfection, Freud points out the essential conflict there will always be between civilization and man in his natural state. Basically however, all the authors observe the degradation of humanity, despite the efforts of civilization. In modern times, as Freud notes, the primitive forms of violence have been subdued for the greatest part; however violence has only changed its form and not its nature. The same applies to the majority of the aspects of civilization today. Therefore, the fundamental ideas of the three authors selected have a common center. While the advancement of civilization seems to be undeniable at each of the turning points in history, Renaissance, Enlightenment and then Modernism, civilization seems to have evolved superficially without the possibility of reaching an ideal state. Man builds up an artificial civilization which comes in conflict with the natural world and therefore it is far from being balanced. Thomas More, Voltaire and Sigmund Freud all note that, from various stances, we still do not have the right formula for civilization. ? Works Cited: Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and its Discontents. New York: W. W. Norton, 1961. More, Thomas. Utopia. Trans. David Wootton. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 1999. Voltaire. Candide. New York: Modern Library, 1918.