Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essays - 659 Words

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Nothing is known about the author who wrote the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Yet it is considered one of the greatest works from the Middle English era. It tells a tale of a mysterious and magical figure (The Green Knight) who presents a challenge to the pride and wealth of Arthurs kingdom. Sir Gawain accepts the challenge. However, the real test of the Green Knight isnt about strength or swordsmanship. Its a test of character. During Christmas at Camelot, the celebration is interrupted by the entrance of the Green Knight. He offers (or demands) a contest: an exchange of axe-strokes. Feeling as if the honor of Camelot is being threatened, King Arthur accepts the challenge. However,†¦show more content†¦One night, the lord and Sir Gawain make a pact to exchange gifts earned the next day. They agree that whatever the lord wins on the field will be exchanged for what Gawain wins in the castle. The next morning, the lord and his men go out to hunt for deer, while Sir Gawain is still asleep in bed. The day-long hunt is described vividly by the author; the deer flee in fear, dashing through the dale, dazed with dread. The hunters shoot their arrows that tore the tawny hide with their tapered heads. Hunting horns like the cracking of cliffs their cries resounded, the horns making a loud sharp noise that explode. The day goes well and ends with the setting of the sun. This ends this segment of the hunt. Our attention now turns towards Gawain, who is still asleep in bed. He awakes to find the lords wife entering his room; surprised, he quickly pretends hes asleep. She sits beside him on the bed, pins him down and points out that her lord is away and the rest of the castle is asleep. This is the first test Gawain faces, where he is tempted to break his knightly code of honor. The wife offers herself to him for sexual pleasure. Gawain is tempted by this offer but fends off her aggressive attempt by politely declining, stating that she is bound to a better man.(228) Sir Gawain is tested two more times in the Green Knights castle. However, he is unaware that any test is being performed. He passes the second test of the Green Knight, but errs on the third.Show MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knights at the Round Table for hisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight862 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by an unknown author referred to as the â€Å"Pearl Poet,† we are introduced to Sir Gawain. Gawain is a k night of the Round Table and he is also the nephew of King Arthur. As a knight, Gawain is expected to possess and abide by many chivalrous facets. Throughout the poem he portrays many of the qualities a knight should possess, such as bravery, courtesy, and honor among others. Because of his ability to possess these virtues even when tempted to stray away from themRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight1100 Words   |  5 PagesThe poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight compares a super natural creature to nature. The mystery of the poem is ironic to the anonymous author. The story dates back into the fourteenth century, but no one knows who originally wrote the poem. This unknown author explains in the poem of Sir Gawain not knowing of the location of the Green Chapel and or who the Green Knight really is. This keeps the reader entertained with the suspicion of not knowing. The author then does not give his name orRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight contains ambiguity and irony that make it interesting to read and teach. Gawain’s conflict arose when he accepted the girdle that could protect him and when he lied to his host, severing fellowship with the lord for courtesy with the lady. By utilizing a social reconstructionist philosophy of teaching that emphasizes personal beliefs and ethics, a teacher will help the students establish their identities and learn to appreciate classic literature. Sir Gawain and theRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1514 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight is an epic poem written in the mid to late fourteenth century by an unknown author. Throughout the tale, Sir Gawain, a Knight at the Round Table in Camelot, is presented with many hardships, the first being a challenge on Christmas by a man in which, â€Å"Everything about him was an elegant green† (161). This â€Å"Green Knight† challenged someone in Camelot to a ccept his game which they will chop off his head with his axe and the Green Knight will do the same to the playerRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1335 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain: The Ironic Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale of the utmost irony in which Sir Gawain, the most loyal and courteous of all of King Arthur’s knights, fails utterly to be loyal and courteous to his king, his host, his vows, and his God. In each case, Sir Gawain not only fails to perform well, but performs particularly poorly, especially in the case of his relationship with God. Ultimately, Sir Gawain chooses magic over faith, and by doing so, shows his ironic nature as aRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight906 Words   |  4 Pagesusually the latter. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we see Sir Bertilak go off to hunt three very specific animals as a game with Sir Gawain. They agree that â€Å"what ever [Bertilak catches] in the wood shall become [Sir Gawain’s], and what ever mishap comes [Sir Gawain’s] way will be given to [Bertilak] in exchange.† (Sir Gawain†¦, ln 1105-1007). In this deal we slowly see Gawain loose his honor as paralleled with Sir B ertilak’s hunt. The first animal that is hunted by the knight is a deer, while thisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesFall 16 Donnelly Many years ago, knights were expected to form a certain type of relationship with their king, this relationship was otherwise known as fealty. Fealty is a knight’s sworn loyalty to their king (in other words a loyal relationship should be formed between the two). The use of this relationship is shown in the poem called â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† ( the author is unknown). This poem has a classic quest type of formula, with a knight receiving a challenge and then going outRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1455 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, for Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight temptation existed around every corner while he was playing the game of the Green Knight. Temptation existed every day and each day it existed in a new way. Gawain never knew what was coming his way throughout the grand scheme of the game, but one thing was for certain he was being tested. Without his reliance religious faith and dedication to his reputation, Gawain wo uld not have been able to make it through the game of the Green Knight alive andRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Sir Gawain, from â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by Marie Borroff, and Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, serve as heroes in different times of Medieval English Literature. Many of the basic principles that describe heroes in Medieval Literature are seen in both of these characters even though they were written in different times. There are distinct similarities, differences, and also a progression of what the hero was in English literature, between Sir Gawain and

Children of the Holocaust Essay - 1634 Words

Over one million Jewish children died during the Holocaust. They were ripped out of their homes and taken away from their families, and stripped of their childhoods. Innocent lives were caught in a war that they were not able to stop. When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, he promised Germany that he would improve life their by getting rid of the one race that caused the problems, the Jews. Jews, including Jewish children, were sent to concentration camps, inspected, and if approved, were sent to work. All others would have been sent to be killed. Being sent to work did not ensure survival, children would be given very little food and water, and beaten severely, which caused their death. None of the children of the Holocaust will ever†¦show more content†¦Life in the ghetto was subjected to death. Many took their own lives, and others tried to escape. Children were orphaned everyday, and many of the older orphaned children were forced to take care of the younger orphaned. In order for the children to survive, they needed to make themselves useful. Small children would crawl through narrow openings and smuggle food into the ghettos for their friends and families. They did this with great risk, because if they were caught they would be punished severely. Jerry Koenig continues, â€Å"The only way you could survive was by supplementing your diet with the things bought through the black market. But you can imagine that if the sellers were risking their lives to obtain these things, then the price is going to be extremely high† (Remembering: Voices of the Holocaust). Children tried their best to continue schooling, by attending secret classes organized by adults. Children learned how to hide books from the Nazis, to avoid being caught. Jania David, a young Polish Jewish child, remembers: â€Å"Schools were forbidden, but parents organized small groups of children, four or five at a time, and of course there was no lack of teachers. We met once or twice a week in somebody’s room, usually in a different room every week because there was a death penalty for the children, the teachers, the parents and in fact everybody in the house, if we were discovered† (Remembering: Voices of theShow MoreRelatedChildren Of The Holocaust : Children1328 Words   |  6 PagesChildren of the Holocaust As the 1930’s came along, The Nazi’s set out a series of laws and regulations called ‘Nazi Laws’. One of the very first laws was ,†Laws against Overcrowding in German schools and universities†. This was a result of many children were looked down upon by Hitler and his Nazis as ‘racially inferior’. Letters from German Children to the editor of the Nazi tabloid Der Sturmer reveal a shameful potpourri Lettof and fanaticism against their Jewish classmates. The first punishmentRead More Children of the Holocaust Essay983 Words   |  4 Pagesdeliberate intention to kill children in numbers so great that there is no historical precedent for it.† (Lukas, 13 Kindle) About 1.5 million children were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust—one million being killed because they were Jews (ushmm.org) The Germans had a clearly defined goal of killing the Jewish children so that there would be no remnants of their race to reprodu ce, resulting in extinction. Not only were the children that were victimized in the Holocaust persecuted and murderedRead MoreChildren During the Holocaust1306 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the Holocaust, â€Å"the Nazis killed over 1.5 billion children† (Children during the Holocaust). Of these children, one million of them were Jewish. The Nazis had no good reason to kill them; they only killed these innocent children because Hitler did not care for their race. The Nazis, a forceful, merciless power led by Adolf Hitler brainwashed the country of Germany into believing that Jews and other races were awful. These children bravely fought persecution and avoided death by hidingRead MoreThe Hidden Children Of The Holocaust1642 Words   |  7 PagesThe Holocaust is a very large topic with many subtopics within, which many people have never heard of. One in particular is the Hidden Children of the Holocaust. Like a majority of individuals, I never heard of this topic before, u ntil I started my inquiry work. Hiding children during the holocaust was an effort to save thousands of children’s lives. The children were hidden in different ways, either with false identities, underground, and with or without their parents. The children with false identitiesRead MoreChildren Of The Holocaust Survivor Essay1384 Words   |  6 PagesAs children of the Holocaust survivor, Jacob in Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michael s novel haunted from his past from his memories of his parents and his beloved sister Bella. Growing up with Athos care, Jacob struggles to adapt to a new environment as a child with his memories of his parents still preserve into his mind and battling to make what might have happened to his sister Bella. As Jacob ponders on his past, his memories become stronger and save him that will eventually free him from pain andRead MoreEssay on Holocaust Children2974 Words   |  12 PagesChildren of the Holocaust Advanced Composition/ ENGL 135 June 20, 2011 Alena Synjova once stated, â€Å" I’d like to go away alone where there are other, nicer people, somewhere into the far unknown, there, where no one kills another. Maybe more of us, a thousand strong, will reach this goal before too long† (Volavkovà ¡, 1994, p. 50). During the Holocaust, people craved opportunity to escape to a place where there were polite people and no one killed each other. The Holocaust affected everyoneRead MoreIs The Holocaust Over The Children Of The World?1078 Words   |  5 PagesIs the Holocaust over for the children of the world? The Holocaust was a dark time in human history during the reign of Hitler. Millions of Jews were killed by the Nazis. However, some people were still lucky enough to survive. One of these survivors, Leon Leyson, experienced the horrors of pure evil as a child. He lived to share his story, and today in America there are many programs and organizations dedicated to protecting children, but in other parts of the world children continue to experienceRead More Childrens Literature and the Holocaust Essay2097 Words   |  9 PagesLiterature and the Holocaust nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During the 1940’s Jewish Europeans experienced an unthinkable and atrocious collective trauma. In her work â€Å"Survivor-Parents and Their Children† taken from the anthology Generations of the Holocaust, Judith S. Kestenberg has argued that regardless of location, the effects of the Holocaust are felt on survivors parenting. The children of survivors receive a secondary traumatic impact by being forced to deal with the impact the Holocaust had directlyRead MoreChildren and Morality during the Holocaust1405 Words   |  6 PagesDuring World War II and the Holocaust, morality collapsed. It was no longer easy to differentiate between what was good and what was evil. With a world filled with starvation, dehumanization, and dictatorship, Jewish children had a rough life. They were not free to run away and play; instead they were either in hiding or a camp. The three sources that will be analyzed in this essay demonstrate how the Jews and Gentil es risked their lives to help save innocent Jewish children. One Jew who risked hisRead MoreThe Vulnerability of Children in the Era of the Holocaust942 Words   |  4 PagesChildren were especially vulnerable in the era of the Holocaust. The Nazis advocated killing children of â€Å"unwanted† or â€Å"dangerous† groups in accordance with their ideological views, either as part of the â€Å"racial struggle† or as a measure of preventative security. The Germans and their collaborators killed children both for these ideological reasons and in retaliation for real or alleged partisan attacks. The Germans and their collaborators killed as many as 1.5 million children, including over a

Christmas Project Interviewing Santa Claus Free Essays

I would guess our deal of 10 tons of cookies still counts? R: Absolutely! Fifty trucks from Centuries News Delivery are parking right in your enormous front yard. SC (laugh): Now that’s what I want to hear. According to our deal, you get your five minutes. We will write a custom essay sample on Christmas Project: Interviewing Santa Claus or any similar topic only for you Order Now Hurry up because the spell wears away quickly. R: Right into our first question from 9-year-old Mr.. Augustine. Santa Claus, how do you know we are naughty or nice for the whole year when you only come to see us for one night on Christmas Eve? SC: (Its supposed to be a secret, but since we have a deal I will share it with you, only you though. All y little elves who work for me, only a few are making presents now because everything is easily made by machine. In the old time, say before 2050, I have to make them work overtime on the days before Christmas. They spy the children for about a week and talk with the children’s parents to figure out if they are naughty or nice. I believe children are mostly nice in the bottom of their hearts because they are born with love, and they are not contaminated by the world. That’s why I linger my eyes on the â€Å"naughty† kids for a little bit longer, and can always find their little hearts lit with love. Nowadays, since aging presents doesn’t need the elves any more, I send them to each house all year round to watch the children, and of course to help them to be good in various ways. They are invisible under my spell, but on Christmas Eve I need to use the magic power to send gifts to children, so the magic power disappears and they become visible again. So, if you see a little elf running away from your house on Christmas Eve, don’t fret and try to say hello to him. R: Oh my world! You’d better watch out, because there are invisible elves living in your house! SC (wink): That’s right. I always have my eyes on you. R: Our next question is from 7-year-old Mr.. Chris. It’s also a question from all of us. How do you make the reindeer fly? SC: Now this is a hard question. My reindeer only fly on Christmas Eve. Their magic power does not just pop out. The truth is, all the power that is stored throughout the year is used on Christmas Eve to deliver presents. Normally, I cannot fly up the chimneys, carry all those presents or drive a flying sleigh. The power Of love, kindness, goodness and faith on me from each family all over the world gathers in their chimneys and goes through the factory to power the machine. The rest of the power goes into my reindeer so we can fly on Christmas Eve together. R: How fascinating! The present factory is not powered by some special magic or the elves, but love. SC: Oh, yes. Love is the most beautiful and powerful magic in this world. The more love in this world, the more presents can be produced, and the more hearts will receive warmth and joy. (smile) R: Here’s my last question from 5-year-old Miss. Jimmie, and this is also a question have been wondering myself. Santa Claus, how old are you? Do you have any family who love you and live with you? SC Lowly laughter): Such a sweet little girl! Of course you too. I existed since the year 280 in Turkey. Since then, I am favored in Holland, Switzerland, Germany, and many other places in Europe. I was not popular in America until Washington Irving and Clement Moore introduced me in the asses. Thus, am more than 1700 years old, but my memory gets vague for things a thousand years ago. As for my family, I exist because there are all those children who love me and believe in me. They ARE my family, and don’t need any more than that. Besides, have all my little elves and nine reminders who live with me. I am much loved and very happy. You don’t need to worry about me. Ifs my job to bring joy to all of you. R: Thank you very much, Santa Claus. It was a wonderful time talking to you, but our time is about to end. At the end of the interview, do you have anything to say to our little audience all over the world who are watching us? SC (joyfully): To all the children in this world a happy new year and a good night! Be good this year and I will come to you again (wink). See you all on Christmas Eve! (wave) carry all those presents or drive a flying sleigh. How to cite Christmas Project: Interviewing Santa Claus, Papers

Luna - Book Review free essay sample

When I first saw this book, I wasnt really sure what to expect of it, Luna by Julie Anne Peters. I thought totally negative about this book, I should have known better, because it turns out to be by far one of my favorite books. I was thrilled as I continued to read and notice that this is an absolute unique book. Not because its about transgenders who are people that feel as if they were born in the wrong body but its because its in a different view of living in the fear of homophobia, as this was written by the point of view of a person closest to a transgender. Regans older brother, Liam, seems like a usual teenage boy: Straight As, great side job, nice car, stylish, and quite friendly. However, during the night, he would dress up in womens clothing and show the femininity of his appearance as Luna, his considered real personality. We will write a custom essay sample on Luna Book Review or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Regan is the only one who knows about Liam/Lunas feeling, and she cant get over the fact that her brother is living a two lives in one body. Regans daily life consists of helping Liam/Luna cover up the truth, and being the only person that Liam/Luna can talk to about being transgender. First off, the plot. I love that it discusses something as really misunderstood as transgender, and that the author didnt shrink about laying the truth about transgenders the difficulties they face, the confusion, and the thoughts from other people. The main misunderstanding that transgenders are automatically gay was also touched upon, and although there were a few story-related questions bugging me by the end of the novel, it was very helpful to read such an honest description of a person in this situation. It also sent a message to teenagers, whether or not youre transgender, gay, lesbian, etc. The message is acceptance. Acceptance of who you really are. In this case, since this is told from Regans point of view, it taught her not just acceptance of Liams situation, but acceptance of herself as well. The characters were very complex but pleasant, especially since they are obviously damaged. Regan is far from perfect: Doesnt like change, has a hard time taking responsibility for her own actions, separates herself from other people, and although quite not noticeable embarrassed of her brothers situation. Meanwhile, Liam on the other hand, is different of opinion, while Luna is self-centered; but living in a secret, what other choice does she have? But the character Im most disappointed with was their mother. She wasnt really disturbed about anything that was happening in the family. Also, Im still confused about her views to Liam/Luna being transgender. The writing was very well-written and understanding. Even though, Regans point of view was used to narrate the story, I did not have any difficulty telling apart the different characters personalities from each other. The voice was different. I also liked that this book had some funny moments, even during times of strong drama. A sense of humor was something you would not normally expect in a story with so much power, but Julie Anne Peters made it happen. Luna is an emotional book that deals with the situation of transgenderism in a ways that makes it important and understandable. I had never really thought of what it must be like for someone who believes they were born with the wrong body, but after reading Luna, my heart and support goes out to anyone who has ever suffered with this situation.

Schools of economic thought

Economic schools of thought can be defined as the systems of beliefs that some of the historical economists held about economics. The different schools of thought or rather doctrines differ in their methodologies and assumptions that are made to describe a certain economic phenomena.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Schools of economic thought specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Among the major economic schools of thought include; Keynesian, Marxist, Neoclassical, Austrian, institutional economics and open economy macroeconomics just to mention but a few (Spiegel, 1991, p.102). It is essential that these schools of thought are put into consideration for the better understanding of economics. Karl Marx together with Friedrich Engels developed the Marxist economic thought where they concluded that economic doctrine is based on the fact that the people in the society undergo societal developmental stages. These sta ges include; crude communism, slavery, feudalism and capitalism then finally communism with each stage leading to the next (Spiegel, 1991, p.123). On the other hand the Keynesian school of thought explains economics in terms of integrating demand and supply to influence the decision makers who can be individuals or the government. The neoclassical school of thought is similar to the Keynesian doctrine with it having its focus on price, income and output determination. As a matter of fact, it emphasizes on maximising utility such that profit is obtained. Of all the schools of thought, the neoclassical school of thought has had the most influence in my way of thinking. The neoclassical school of thought is said to have evolved from the classical doctrines. A close look at this school of thought it is depicted that it concentrates on how the rationality of an individual is affected by demand and supply together with their utility maximisation while neglecting the strong types of uncert ainty. This theory led to the generation of many mathematical equations to express economic terms (Strober, 2010, p.1). Due to the fact that neoclassical school of thought deals with allocation of resources as its major focus point, it has had a great influence in my way of thinking since allocation of resources is an important obligation for an individual as well as a nation. This is because it is necessary that one knows which factor to allocate what amount of resources. Failure to do that leads to misappropriation or even lack of fulfilment of the obligations. The concept of free market is also rampant among neoclassical economists who believe that the free markets are what lead to the effective allocation of resources.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, neoclassical school of thought has led me into thinking big since it presents the economists with a choi ce to make between equity and effectiveness especially when allocating resources. In real sense it presents the economists with a moral dilemma. This way, one is indulged into critical thinking which broadens the mind hence applicable in other non-economic issues as well. Studying this unit has led to a great transformation in my view of the application of economics in the social world (Strober, 2010, p.1). Despite neoclassical school of thought being the superior and most prevailing economic theory it is recognised for its normative and moral dimensions when taught in education facilities. In my case it has socialisation since moral principles are important for socialisation to be effective. However, the neoclassical school of thought has been criticised for having much bias as well as not having actual descriptions of economic situations but instead dealing with unreal situations. All the same, the fundamentals it holds are what are important in the development of the minds of eco nomics and the non-economics. Reference List Spiegel, H. (1991). The Growth of Economic Thought. Durham London: Duke University Press. Strober, M. (2010). Is Teaching Neoclassical Economics as the Science of Economics Moral? Web. This assessment on Schools of economic thought was written and submitted by user Joaquin Black to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Essay Sample on Spectrometry The Study of Light

Essay Sample on Spectrometry The Study of Light Free sample essay on Spectrometry: Spectrometry is the study of the light spectra, to accomplish a task like this; scientists use devices called â€Å"Spectrometers†. A spectrometer is an instrument, which is used to study the light spectrum. The atoms and molecules of all substances known to man give off a different spectrum. By analyzing the spectrum given off by different items, the substance, which the item is formed of, can be determined. There are three main types of spectrometers; they are the infrared spectrometers, the visible spectrometers, and the ultraviolet spectrometers. Each of the spectrometers of used for measuring their respective spectra’s. The function of a spectrometer is to allow us to view, and record the pattern of the light spectrum off of different substances. Because all of the same types of atoms emit the same pattern, and different atoms emit different patterns, we can use the information gathered by the spectrometer to determine the type of atom that is being studied. How knowing the spectra of certain substances help us is because in the industry, it can be used to help to produce more efficient products. Spectrometry can tell us if there are any impurities in wood, steel, and water. Finding impurities in water is helpful in water process and cleaning plants, and can allow us to have safer water into our homes for domestic usage. Finding impurities in wood can help in the construction business, because a spectrometer can be used to find chemicals on the lumber, which in the case of a flammable chemical found, can prevent the structure build with the lumber, to burn later. In steel and other metals, the spect rometer can determine the purity, and thus the overall quality of the final product. As mentioned in the World Book 2000 CD-ROM Encyclopedia, the typical appearance and function of a spectrometer is this. A spectrometer is an instrument, which is used to study light, so it only makes sense that it is a case, which keeps all other light out. The case allows only a small slit of light into the box, and from there a lens diffracts the light into singular, parallel rays which are them sent through a prism which separates the colours of the light, and arranges it into the spectrum. Another lens then directs one stream of light through a projection slit and allows only one colour of light to be shone through at once. A rotator inside the case is connected to a rotator outside the case, which turns the prism to allow different colours of light to be sent through the exit slit. There is a circular scale that states the angle of the prism, when the different colours are shown. Not all spectrometers use prisms, some use mirrors that have thousands of tiny grooves dug into them , to diffract the light at different angles. The purpose of a spectrometer is to determine the spectrum from different substances. That is why it is used, as mentioned before, in many different industries to evaluate the purity of their manufactured materials. If the aforementioned industries were not enough of an example, other places where spectrometers are used are at crime scenes. During criminal investigations, spectrometers can be used to find traces of biological and chemical remains, and can be used to help identify DNA matches, and are helpful to determine causes of fires, chemical reactions, and explosions. More advanced purposes of spectrometer’s are taking readings of planets and other celestial bodies in the sky. Spectroscopes allow us to view the infrared and ultraviolet rays radiating from planets and suns in outer space, and give us more accurate readings on finding other habitable planets, or just more planets in general. The price of a spectrometer will greatly vary; depending on the use you need it for. A small portable spectrometer can start at approximately $110 and range to about $750. A large, laboratory based spectrometer can range from $11,000 and reach upwards to skyrocket in price. And even furthermore, the spectrometer’s used in outer space, the one on the Hubble Telescope, cost multiple million and even billion dollars. The durability of the device depends on the usage and price. One can expect a laboratory spectrometer to last longer than a hand held one taken out into the field, as it may be dropped, lost, forgotten, or any other of many misfortunes. Spectrometers out in space are subject to zero gravity, no atmospheric pressure, and no erosion so this makes them more resistant to damage. On the other hand, they run the risk of being damaged in space related collisions (though it is a bit farfetched). In the end, this is the information about spectrometers. This covers their usage, design, durability, prices, and some other random information about these devices. Now that you know all about them, don’t you want to go out and buy one for yourself?

Junk Statistics Paper Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Junk Statistics Paper - Article Example Whether it be a case of intentional, or unintentional actions that lead to questionable research and resulting statistical information, that would remain largely an issue to be determined on an individual basis. What remains would be the relevance of statistical data for the understanding of wider scale circumstances but in that same mind frame, such information that would have been put together with clear and concise data inputs and without the presence of emotionalism, or the need for sensationalism in any way. An example of statistical data which may be misleading in any way, would be the numbers calculated as part of the discussion of the current state of affairs with the nations economy. In his article Caution: Economic Statistics Are Wrong, author Floyd Norris addresses the issues that can take place, with regard to the statistical information surrounding the bigger question of economic solvency and what may be the issue(s) creating such uncertainty. Norris details that, if government statistics in recent years are to be believed, than the present growth in the economy at the time would have been at its lowest, the wages earned in the nation would have been on a continuous rate of falling and that an individuals standard of living would have stalled. Both then President Bill Clinton and opponent Bob Dole would have done their respective work to push along the ideals from the study. As Norris writes, â€Å"..but most voters seemed ready to trust their own impressions, not numbers cranked out by economic statisticians,† (Norris, para. 7, 1996). In the case of this example, the answer may be that most individuals, despite the political jargon being thrown at them during a general election cycle, were choosing to utilize their own respective understanding of the circumstances at hand. In doing so, they would have elected to go against the statistical information placed in front of them and instead, would have

THE ROLE OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER Research Paper

THE ROLE OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER - Research Paper Example The FNP works and functions in a similar manner like a physician even though she lacks the same knowledge and qualifications of a doctor. In family settings, the family nurse practitioner makes routine check-ups on the physical condition of the family as well as diagnoses any form of illness and other minor injuries (Aries & Middough, 2010). Roles of a Family Nurse Practitioner in Hospital Environment A major responsibility of a nurse practitioner is preparation and maintenance of medical documentation of a certain family. She is responsible of updating the charts of her findings on the condition of a patient after the completion of diagnostic tests. A family nurse practitioner adds the new information into the patients chart. All these forms of medical communication between the nurse practitioner and the patient and between the patient and the physician in addition to any other healthcare worker involved have to be stored by the nurse practitioner in the personal file of the patient . This medical information is added to the medical history of the patient such that it can be used in future by other physicians who may be attending the patient (Hamric, 2008). Since a nurse practitioner acts under the surveillance of the attending physician, she should possess perfect communication skills and sufficiently work as expected with other attending physicians who are treating a certain specific member of a family. During the process of treating a patient, the family nurse practitioner has to be involved in the process as a she acts as a part of the medical team. It is a requirement that she shares her medical knowledge of the patient with other medical professionals as well discussing the condition of the patient in an effort to gain some knowledge about the patient which may be important at a latter date (Coffman & Edward, 1998). It is the responsibility of the family medical practitioner to discuss the condition of the patient with the doctor or any other visiting phy sician so as to receive an input approval from the doctor or the physician. In addition with collaborating with the doctor, the family nurse practitioner has to work hand-in-hand with other nurses and therapists for the betterment of their patient as they will provide important advice which will be very useful during the process of caring and treating the patient. Provision of proper medication and elderly care is also a part of their duty. After people get aged, they develop many complications where in some worse cases they get mentally retarded thus it is also a duty of the family nurse practitioner to oversee that they get the right medication as well as care (Aries & Middough, 2010). This nurse further observes the complaints of the patient and conducts a diagnosis on the patient’s health and determines the course of medication to be observed in accordance with the medical history of the patient. The family nurse practitioner has the mandate to demand lab tests or X-rays of a patient by lab physicians with reference to the condition of the patient so as to make recommendations on the type of treatment the patient is supposed to receive. For instance, a middle aged female may approach a female nurse practitioner with complaints of fatigue and based on her examination of the condition of the patient, the nurse practitioner has the liberty to order for lab tests to be conducted on such a patient so as to diagnose the scope of the

General insurance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

General insurance - Assignment Example Following are the three ways to deal with insurable risks 1. Personal factors of the driver such as age, gender, marital status is considered before deciding the premium. Young people who have had driver’s training are considered less risk and hence given a lower premium. Similarly people who have had no accidents while driving are also considered less risk. Thus the personal characteristics are considered while calculating the premium. 2. Type of car is also an important factor while calculating the premium because of the variation in the repair cost. A powerful car will have increased liability and higher accident benefits premiums. 3. Use of car is another important factor in determining the premium. If more than one person drives the car and car is driven for long kilometers can also affect the risk. Similarly car used for home purpose has different premium than a car used for business purpose. Answer: A  personal property floater is a policy that has taken into consideration  all of the  insureds  property  in any location, and irrespective of where the insured is at the time of  loss. This is an all  perils  coverage  that  doesn’t provide coverage for certain events, such as war

Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism

Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism Nipah Virus and the Potential for Bioterrorism Introduction Bioterrorism is considered to be one of the most talked about issues with regard to national security since the inception of the new millennium. On September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorism struck the United States with the crashing and attempted crashing of airplanes into significant economic and political buildings. This act of terror was a significant beginning to fears of what was next from terrorist groups. Even though this was not the first, and definitely not the last, terrorist threat or attempt it was definitely the most profound and unquestionably caused fear, panic and social disruption much less economic issues globally. Within days of the 9/11 attacks the awareness of American vulnerability became more evident with the media publicity of the Anthrax scares. This brought about international concerns with bioterrorism as envelopes that were filled with anthrax spores were sent to political and media sources throughout the United States and twenty-two people were infected and five deaths occurred (Ryan Glarum, 2008). Nipah is just one of many viruses that are available to terrorist groups for development as a bioweapon. In 1999 this virus was first found and noted to be very easily disseminated to humans through inhalation and ingestion. Even though there are many potential pathogens available, the Nipah virus has proven itself to be one of the most dangerous and advantageous . As the Nipah virus progressed there was fear noted by workers, families and healthcare providers in southern Asia. With a mortality rate of 40% to 100% (Lam, 2002; World Health Organization [WHO], 2009) in infected areas, and an economic impact that cost several millions to Malaysias economy, this virus has potential for significant bioterrorism. Natural History The Nipah Virus (NiV), family paramyxoviridae, was first recognized in Malaysia, South Asia in late 1998 into Spring 1999. This disease was recognized when an outbreak of sickness and death occurred among pig farmers, it infected 265 people, with 105 deaths, a mortality rate of approximately 40% (Lam, 2002). This virus was new to the scientific community and first thought to be Japanese Encephalitis (JE) which had occurred in approximately the same location years earlier. JE was also noted to infect people that were around domesticated pigs, just like the currently identified Nipah Virus (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2001). The Nipah virus was found to also have similar symptoms as those of the Hendra Virus which caused respiratory disease and encephalitis in Australia in 1994 (Fraser, 2009). The Nipah virus is considered by the CDC as a newly emerging pathogen that could be engineered for mass dissemination (Ryan Glarum, 2008; Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). Since the onset of the Nipah virus in 1999, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been twelve significant outbreaks since the initial, with 202 persons infected and a loss of life of 146 individuals, mortality of over 72%. Two of these outbreaks, one in India in 2007 and one in Bangladesh in 2008 had mortality rates of 100%, showing the devastating effects of this virus (WHO, 2009). The initial investigation of the Nipah virus found that abattoir workers who dealt with pigs daily and those that were exposed through farming and transporting pigs were getting ill. As the investigation continued it found that the pigs were infecting the workers (zoonotic disease). After discovery, subsequently over 1.1 million pigs were disposed of to quell the transmission of the virus. This destruction of pigs was significantly devastating to the economy of Malaysia noting an estimated loss of $217 million dollars (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 104). Virus Transference The Nipah virus host was found to be pteropid bats (flying foxes), located in Australia and the southern areas of Asia. During expansion of farms toward the rainforests and the destruction of the rainforest for manufacturing and industry, many animals including bats had to relocate to survive. Many pig farmers in Malaysia also had large fruit orchards situated next to the pig enclosures, as growth of pig farming continued and the loss of habitat for bats persisted to change bats started to forage the nearby orchards for food. As this progression continued there was an increased chance of disease contamination to domestic animals from wildlife, and as such a significant increase in contact between pigs and bats. Therefore, greater opportunity for transmission of the Nipah virus (â€Å"Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returnsâ€Å", 2005). As the Nipah virus was investigated it was believed to have been transmitted to pigs from bats through the saliva, urine and feces of the bats which feed and nest in local orchards (â€Å"Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returnsâ€Å", 2005), near pig pens. This potential transmission probably occurred when bat secretions fell into the pig pens and were ingested by these domesticated animals. The initial human virus outbreak in Malaysia and Singapore was believed to have been from direct contact with sick pigs or their meat products, and possibly could have come from the consumption of contaminated fruit or juices from the orchards. As the virus progressed and research was done there was an established link noting person-to-person contamination through close contact (World Health Organization [WHO], 2009) Physiology of Exposure The Nipah virus seems to have many different clinical manifestations in individual animals and humans. There is a broad range of clinic signs that can point to virus infection that cause researchers and healthcare providers to not recognize patterns of initial infection, therefore not recognizing potential disease outbreaks. According to the WHO (2009), the incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from four to 45 days. This significant range makes it incredibly hard to follow the virus between initial exposure and medical treatment. Recognizing that the person is showing signs of a virus, and narrowing down the specific virus, then treating it appropriately for an individual is a challenge but feasible. But with such a wide incubation period there is a possibility that viable information could be lost or not noticed. The physiological symptoms of this virus in humans is characterized by non-specific signs and symptoms to include severe headache, fever, vomiting, myalgia (muscular pain) disorientation, respiratory diseases, neurological deficits and encephalitis and in many cases may cause coma or death (Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy [CIDRAP], 2009). In pigs there is characterization of signs and symptoms depending on the age of the animal. The basic signs noted are fever, shortness of breath, muscle twitching, trembling, rear leg weakness, severe coughing, open-mouth breathing, abnormal posturing and convulsions (CIDRAP, 2009). After initial exposure and treatment follow-up research was done and in this study it was noted that there were relapses in clinic symptoms to include encephalitis up to twenty-two months later, without re-exposure. The research and that an estimated 160 patients who recovered from acute encephalitis and 89 patients who experienced asymptomatic infection received follow-up care for ‘late-onset encephalitis (neurological manifestations occurring for the first time at ten or more weeks after initial infection) or ‘relapsed encephalitis (neurological manifestations after recovery from acute encephalitis) (Halpin Mungall, 2007, p. 290). Host Sources The Nipah Virus source comes from Pteropus fruit bats (AKA: Flying Foxes), which are found in Southern Asia and Australia. In 1997 fruit bats were noted to begin foraging on flowers and nectar in trees located near orchards contiguous to infected areas (Cobey, 2005). Fruit bats were found to be the natural source of this virus and caused the transfer of the virus to pigs and human beings. As domesticated pigs were sold for breeding and transferred to other farms the virus was quickly disseminated further throughout southern Asia (Cobey, 2005). Possible Use in Biowarfare Biowarfare, and in this day and age bioterrorism, is a threat that began before the birth of Christ. According to Dr. Michael D. Phillips, M.D. one of the first recorded incidents [of bioterrorism]was in Mesopotamia. The Assyrians employed rye ergot, an element of the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which contains mycotoxins. Rye ergot was used by Assyria to poison the wells of their enemies, with limited success (Phillips, 2005, p. 32). Use of pathogens to induce sickness, death or terror has continued until present time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed the Nipah virus as a critical biological agent, Category C. Category C agents are emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of: * Availability * Ease of production and dissemination * Potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.,  ¶ 3; (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 105)) With this categorization the virus is a living pathogen that can be developed as a bioweapon with the right knowledge, and equipment. For the virus to be weaponized it needs to be purified, stabilized and properly sized. Since this is a living virus the bioterrorist agent can be replicated once disseminated (Ryan Glarum, 2008). At this time, there is no information about how this virus could be manufactured to become a bioterrorist agent, but with the right knowledge the potential is there. Production Methods Since the Nipah virus has proven to be disseminated through secretions from bats and pigs, and shown to cause severe infection and death it can potentially be used as a bioterrorist agent with little changes in its basic state. If the excretions from infected bats in palm juice can cause infection and death then there is ease in distribution with a significant amount of virus. Even with these basic distribution methods there is information about the Nipah virus and its compounds being published. As knowledge continues be found about the virus and information availability of the compounds there is potential for virus manipulation for maximum threat to animals and humans to induce fear and panic. Information such as this is noted in an article by Medical News Today, (2005). This article states that UCLA scientists have revealed how the Nipah virus infiltrates human cells. The article further states the virus exploits a protein that is essential to embryonic development to enter cells and attack. The virus must infect a cell by binding to a viral-specific receptor and once that is done penetrates the cell. The article actually gives the receptor name as Ephrin-B2, and is found to be the key to unlocking these dangerous cells. If this information is so easily accessible and is available it allows terrorists groups with the knowledge and expertise to manipulate the virus for dissemination and extreme virulence. The Nipah virus is still a relatively new virus and steps are slowly being made in understanding this infant virus. As of this time there is very little knowledge about how effective this virus would be or what would be needed to make it infective. With bioterrorist there is always a concern with the storage and stability of the virus for development and weaponization. As developments are made and intelligence is gathered with regard to potential agents there will be a concern with any viral pathogen. Transmissibility Animal-to-human Animal (pig) to human transmissibility was the first noted issue with regard to the detection of the Nipah virus in 1999. As stated earlier the virus spread rapidly and was found to have started with pig farmers and abattoir workers that worked closely and handled these animals. As the virus progressed and workers died it was found that pigs in these farms had been coughing loudly (bark type of cough), and nerve damage was becoming prevalent. In a short amount of time approximately five percent of these animals died and the illness was spreading significantly (Pearl, 2006). Also transmissibility has been noted from non-specific animal contact put through the ingestion of date palm juice taken from the trees that bats nest and feed. As the fruit tree workers and farmers gather the palm juice through clay pots bats drink from the pots and transfer saliva to the nectar (Pearl, 2006). Person-to-person Many of the articles written on the Nipah virus states that there is no evidence that there is transmissibility of the virus from person-to-person. In contrast, according to a research investigation done during a Bangladeshi outbreak in 2004, there is definitive evidence that the Nipah virus can be transmitted from person-to-person (Gurley et al., July 2007). According to the research, subsequent investigations in India and Bangladesh have suggested that Nipah virus may have been transmitted from person-to-person. During an outbreak in 2001in India, 75% of the patients, including fourteen healthcare workers, had a history of hospital exposure to patients infected with Nipah virus (Gurley et al., July 2007), with no other exposure risks noted. The exposure, and subsequent virus, occurred with persons who lived with or cared for the patients, and persons who were in close contact for a significant amount of time. According to a research article published by the CDC, the Nipah virus can be transmitted from person-to-person. The article states, in a densely populated area a lethal virus could rapidly spread before effective interventions are implemented. This spread would provide the seed for a substantial regional or global public health problem (Gurley et al., 2007, p. 1036). According to Gurley et al., 2007 there is significant evidence that person-to-person contact will cause infection. The person-to-person transmissibility factors include having (1) touched or received a cough or sneeze in the face, (2) any contact with someone who later died, was febrile, unconscious, or had respiratory difficulty, and (3) visited the home, and possibly, the village an infected person. The most significant evidence of person-to-person infections was with a religious leader where twenty-two persons who had became infected after close contact. The religious leader was moved to his home and eight members of his household became infected. Two brothers who lived a significant distance away were infected after only a six hour visitation, son-in-law and daughter who lived only about one hour away and eleven other followers of the leader contracted the disease after contact (Gurley et al., 2007) with no noted other infection means. Surface-to-person To this date there is no evidence of any transfer of the virus to persons from surface contact, in fact how long the virus remains infectious on environmental surfaces is not known. In an article written by (Gurley et al., 2007) collection of 468 environmental specimens were gathered through swabbing of potential surfaces that included walls, bed frames, mattresses, floors and utensils in hospital rooms and residences of infected individuals. Also collected were swabs from trees, fruits, excrement and other surfaces around possible bat foraging sites. With all of this gathered specimens the only information obtained was that the infected individuals shed the virus into the environment, showing potential for transmission, but no evidence was found that surfaces caused any positive infection to another person. Potential for contagion and considerations relative to Biodefense The Nipah virus has the potential to be a very detrimental bioweapon of choice for domestic or international terrorists. With the virus being zoonotic (disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals, [â€Å"Zoonosisâ€Å", 2009]), which effects animals and humans, and the ease of transmission from the saliva and urine of fruit bats to these two groups the potential for a Potential for contagion and considerations relative to biodefense According to Kortepeter and Parker (Kortepeter Parker, 1999), for a biological agent to be used for a greatest plausible occurrence, an agent must have specific properties: * the agent should be highly lethal and easily produced in large quantities * Given that the aerosol route is the most likely for a large-scale attack, stability in aerosol and capability to be dispersed (17,000 to 5,000 nanometers (nm) particle size) are necessary * being communicable from person-to-person, and * having no treatment or vaccine In using the above criteria the Nipah virus would make a credible biological threat for a domestic or international terrorist group. Host bats being plentiful in Australia and southern Asia would make it easy to obtain the saliva, feces or urine of these hosts for initial development of the virus. The Nipah virus being 150 to 200 nm in diameter and 10,000 to 10,040 nm long (CIDRAP, 2009,  ¶ 3), it could be used in an aerosol form for dispersement. According to Gurley et al., there is significant evidence that there is person-to-person communicability and according to the WHO, there are currently no drugs or vaccines available to treat Nipah virus infection. Intensive supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the main approach to managing the infection in people (2009,  ¶8 ). Conclusion The Nipah virus should be a concern for any government as a potential for a bioterrorist attack. As with the 9/11 and the anthrax attacks in 2001 there could be significant fear, panic, economic issues and social disruption if this virus was used. With a mortality rate of 40% to 100% (Lam, 2002; WHO, 2009), and an incubation period of up to 45 days (WHO, 2009), this could definitely be a pathogen of choice for terrorists. The ease of access to the virus itself from fruit bats, to pigs and to humans, not to mention the transmissibility ease through inhalation and ingestion, makes this the perfect biological weapon. The disease this virus manifests, from flu type symptoms to severe encephalitis, will cause significant fear to the public and will stress healthcare facilities if a large outbreak occurs. This virus also has no known cure as of this date, even though there are developments in that direction. The Nipah virus needs to continue to be monitored and treatment options along with vaccine development needs to be continuous until this threat is diminished. References Biological Warfare. (2009). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 25, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_warfare Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2001). Japanese Encephalitis. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/jencephalitis/qa.htm Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Emergency Preparedness and Response: Bioterrorism; Category C Agents. Retrieved from http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp Center for Infectious Disease Research Policy. (2009). Nipah Virus. Retrieved December 25, 2009, from http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/biosecurity/ag-biosec/anim-disease/nipah.html Cobey, S. (2005). Nipah Virus: Natural History. Retrieved from The Henipavirus Ecology Collaborative Research Group: http://www.henipavirus.org/virus_and_host_info/nipah_virus_natural_history.htm Dr. Jonathan Epstein Returns from Studies of Nipah Virus in Malaysia. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.wildlifetrust.org/news/66-dr_jonathan_epstein_returns_from_studies_of_nipah_virus_in_malaysia Enserink, M. (2004, February 20). Nipah virus (or a cousin) strikes again. Science, 303.5661, 1121. Retrieved from Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Dec. 2009. . Field, H., Young, P., Yob, J. M., Mills, J., Hall, L., Mackenzie, J. (2001). The natural history of Hendra and Nipah viruses. Microbes and Infection, 3, 307-314. doi: 10.1016/S1286-4579(01)01384-3 Fraser, L. (2009, November 16, 2009). Is Hendra and Hipah a threat to US?. Ticker. Retrieved from http://www.theticker.org/about/2.8220/is-hendra-and-nipah-a-threat-to-us-1.2085160 Gurley, E. S., Montgomery, J. M., Hossain, M. J., Bell, M., Azad, A. K., Islam, M. R., Rahim Molla, M. A., Breiman, R. F. (July 2007). Person-toperson transmission of Nipah virus in a Bangladeshi Community. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/7/1031.htm Gurley, E. S., Montgomery, J. M., Hossain, M. J., Bell, M., Azad, A. K., Rota, P. A., Lowe, L., Breiman, R. F. (2007). Person-to-person transmission of Nipah Virus in the Banglashi Community. Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/eid Halpin, K., Mungall, B. A. (2007). Recent progress in henipavirus research. Science Direct; Com ¶tive Immunology, Microbiology Infectious Diseases, 30, 287-307. Kortepeter, M. G., Parker, G. W. (1999). Potential biological weapons and threats. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/kortepeter.htm Lam, S. (2002). Nipah virus A potential agent of bioterrorism? (Antiviral research 57). Retrieved from Science Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com.lib-proxy.jsu.edu/science?_ob=MImg_imagekey=B6T2H-47MJ4XH-3-1_cdi=4919_user=446480_orig=search_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2003_sk=999429998view=cwchp=dGLbVtb-zSkzSmd5=464c2420befda40589fa6aef4b45cc20ie=/sdarticle.pdf Lowrey, C. H. (2010, February 10, 2010). Application of Gene Therapy Strategies to Offensive and Defensive Biowarfare (White Paper). Retrieved from Dartmouth Medical School: http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/ethreats/whitepapers/Lowery.html Medical News Today. (2005). UCLS scientists reveal how Nipah virus infects cells. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/27038.php Pearl, M. C. (2006, September 2006). The potential pandemic youve never heard of. Discover, 27 (9), 26-27. Phillips, M. B. (2005). Bioterrorism: A Brief History. Northeast Florida Medicine, 32-35. Retrieved from www.dcmsonline.org/jax-medicine/2005journals/bioterrorism/bioterrorism_history.pdf Ryan, J. R., Glarum, J. F. (2008). Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, Inc.. Wong, K. T., Shieh, W., Abdullah, W., Guarner, J., Goldsmith, C. S., Chua, K. B., Lam, S. K., Zaki, S. R. (2002, December). Nipah virus infection: Pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging paramyxoviral zoonosis. American Journal of Pathology, 161 (6), 2153-2167. doi: Retrieved from World Health Organization. (2009). Chronology of Nipah virus outbreaks. Retrieved from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/nipah_chronology_en.pdf World Health Organization. (2009). Nipah Virus. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs262/en/ Zoonosis. (2009). In Zoonosis. Retrieved from http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3search=zoonosis

The Good Life :: Essays Papers

The Good Life In The Good Earth, by Pearl S, Wang Lung the main character is a poor peasant who buys a wife and moves up in the social ladder during the peasants' revolution. This story displays many major ideas of ancient Chinese culture, such as the social order, the treatment of women, and the role of the family in everyday life. At the beginning of the movie the following quote appears on the screen "The soul of a great nation is expressed in the life of its humblest people. In this simple story of a Chinese farmer may be found something of the soul of China. Its humility, its courage, its deep heritage from the past and its vast promise for the future." This means that an empire's greatness can also be measured by the life of its poorest people, and from this you can tell its character and where the empire is going. The Good Earth is an accurate reproduction of China during the Song and Tang Dynasties. The role of the family was completely represented in both the film and the book. The oldest male in the family is always greatly respected with filial piety. Filial piety was the the idea that elders should be respected and the older you were the wiser you were. In the beginning, Wang Lung bought an ugly slave for a wife because his wise father told him to. Wang Lung's respect for his father somewhat diminishes as his wealth increases and because of this he buys a second wife for his own pleasure. This shows that the Chinese society was predisposed against women and they were a disgrace to the family. The Good Earth shows the treatment, or mistreatment, of women accurately. O-Lan was treated badly by today's standards, but Wang Lung was kind to her compared many other husbands back then. Women in China were treated as slaves, they often worked in the fields, kept the house, and cared for the children. If a couple had a girl as a first child then there was a good chance that she would be killed because only men could earn good money. Some women had their feet bound to keep them small, this was thought to be attractive. If a woman's feet were bound then she could not be a slave or even walk properly on retarded feet. Rich men sometimes had two wives, one they bought for slave work and the other for beauty.

Haroun And The Sea Of Stories Character Analysis

She leaves her husband with her neighbor Mr.. Sanguine, which may be the reason for Harpoon's turn of events. Briefly describe the character and his or her relations with other characters (a solid paragraph or two). This is a more detailed factual description of your chosen character. You may combine your own factual description with quotations from the text. Give page numbers. When Sorry is first introduced she was said to have a â€Å"sweet voice raised in song† (15). Readers are seemingly given an image of her being a sweet and loving wife and mother..But things go terribly wrong once she no longer sings (16). It's also evident that Sorry was very vulnerable. She was so tired of being left home while her husband told fictional stories that Mr.. Cantata's criticisms of Raised soon enveloped her heart like the darkness of Chatham- Shut. It may be Mr.. Cantata's statement, â€Å"what's the use of stories that aren't true? That finally got to the lonely Sorry (20). Sorry was a ticking time bomb that blew up. It's almost to be expected seeing as her family was the only happy one in a sad city.Even love for her son couldn't get her to stay. Although, just as things had turned around for Rasher and Harmon, Sorry had realized her mistake. Ironically, she described Mr.. Sanguine the same as the narrator had described Chatham-Shut. Lover, mother, and wife, Sorry as a full package. Luckily, she was able to see the light of the day, instead of the darkness of the night. Explain why you find the character interesting, and discuss how the character affects your understanding of the novel (a solid paragraph or two).Sorry is a very minor character whom only appears in the beginning and the end of the story. The best thing about Sorry is that her small part had a huge impact on the way the story went. First, lets observe the way she left her husband. She simply asked him to look for some socks that their son Harmon may have lost, and in that instance she disappeared. Her leaving with the stairs neighbor was very contradictory with her character. Readers can only sympathize with the openwork Rasher and their precious son Harmon.Rasher was so distraught over his wife leaving him that only after taking out his anger by smashing every clock in their home, he loses his ability to tell stories. The plot thickens as he no longer wants to tell stories and is visited by the Water Genie to have his story line disconnected. Moving over to Harmon, he was so heartbroken that he couldn't concentrate on anything more than 1 1 minutes; this was the Same time that his mother left them (1 1 o'clock). All of these these are significant. Had it not been Corpora's choice to leave her family for boring old Mr..Sanguine, neither Hardbound nor Rasher would have helped save Kahn. It was her choice that led to Rasher's choice to no longer tell stories. It was her choice that caused Harmon to take If's tool hostage to get to the Walrus and keep his father's storytelling abilities. Corpora's choice kept Harmon from focusing on his first wish that would have kept him from ever going into Gulp City. Corpora's choice led them both into gulp City. Corpora's choice helped the sad city remember it's name. Basically, without Sorry, no one would ever know about the sea of Stories.

Lincoln Rhetorical Analysis Essays

Lincoln Rhetorical Analysis Essays Lincoln Rhetorical Analysis Essay Lincoln Rhetorical Analysis Essay To ensure the unification and positive future that Lincoln envisions for the country, he abets everyone to unite and make peace. Lincoln also summarizes the civil war and the negative outcomes that they need to overcome through directness, comparisons, parallelism and tone. Lincoln achieves directness by saying there Is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first, to Introduce his speech. His ability to be direct shows the people it is ostensible that he Is serious about the Importance of unification after the civil war. Lincoln knows that If people elected him president he be willing to listen to anything he says, so If he can be direct to show how serious the situation Is, people will listen and his goal of ensured unification can be achieved. In addition, Lincoln creates parallelism between the two sides by saying one party would rather make war than let the nation survive while the other party would accept war rather than let it parish. Lincoln compares the sentiments of the two parties to point out the mistakes both parties made by not being unified thus regressing his main point of the importance of unification and taking another step towards another tepee towards the future he envisioned. In Lincoln envisioned future, the two will not make the same mistakes over again. That is why he stresses unification by creating parallelism. On the flip side, the president mentioned the similarities both parties shared, including references to the bible and God saying that they read the same bible and pray to the same God. It was strategic of Lincoln to make this reference because he intended to create one nation bound by God with unshakeable unity. Lincoln, palpably, cannot overstress his main point that one of many keys to the positive true of the U. S. As an undivided nation is unification. The overall tone of Lincoln second inaugural address is a serious one. His attitude towards the situation is serious and Lincoln really wants the country to bounce back from the ear and do it in a unified manner. In one last attempt to achieve his main point, Lincoln mentions that It was Gods will for them to unite because if it werent then they still be at war. Ultimately, this serves to show that his country is destined for a new bright future, Just Like he envisioned. Lincoln had a vision for the future of the country. The germane devices he used Like directness, comparisons, parallelism and tone all collaborated towards getting Lincoln main point across; this provides a better opportunity to ensure the amalgamation of the people and reaching Lincoln villas of an affluent nation. By decay Lincoln achieves directness by saying there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first, to introduce his speech. His ability to be direct shows the people it is ostensible that he is serious about the importance of unification after the civil war. Lincoln knows that if people elected him president heed be willing to listen to anything he says, so if he can be direct to show how serious the situation is, people will listen and his goal of ensured unification can be In one last attempt to achieve his main point, Lincoln mentions that it was Gods will for them to unite because if it werent then they still be at war. Ultimately, this serves to show that his country is destined for a new bright future, Just like he like directness, comparisons, parallelism and tone all collaborated towards getting amalgamation of the people and reaching Lincoln vision of an affluent nation.

Free Essays on Causes For Violent Crimes

Causes for Violent Crimes The political right believes that the root cause of violent crime is bad genes or bad morals. Not so, says the left. The root cause of violent crime is bad housing or dead-end jobs. I believe that while doing something about the causes of violence surely requires a political ideology, the only way we can determine what those causes are in the first place is to check our ideologies at the door and to try to keep our minds open as wide, and for as long, as we can bear. I realize that this is not easily done but, if you give it a try I think that you will find that violence does not have one root cause. Rather, violence has many tangled roots. Some grow toward the left and some grow toward the right. We have to find the largest ones, whichever way they grow, and only then can we debate how to cut them off. Gary Ross, in his article â€Å"Moving Beyond Blame† (1999), agrees that there are many contributing factors in violence today: These include changing family structure; the breakdown of communities, villages, and neighborhoods; cynicism about government and social institutions; the decrease in a sense of security, job performance, or close personal relationships;the decline of genuine spirituality as an ethical force in the culture; an explosion of information that creates anxiety over one’s worth or abilities; a lack of respect for older people and an over reliance on ‘self’ to find the meaning of life. (pp. 407-408) One main cause for violence is the way families function. Children learn response styles mainly through watching and interacting with the people who care for them frequently. Youth can learn to lead nonviolent lives if they grow and develop in positive, caring, supportive families instead of in families with inconsistent caregiver behavior and examples of antisocial actions. Key factors include: early family and home life; presence of caring father; readiness for parentho... Free Essays on Causes For Violent Crimes Free Essays on Causes For Violent Crimes Causes for Violent Crimes The political right believes that the root cause of violent crime is bad genes or bad morals. Not so, says the left. The root cause of violent crime is bad housing or dead-end jobs. I believe that while doing something about the causes of violence surely requires a political ideology, the only way we can determine what those causes are in the first place is to check our ideologies at the door and to try to keep our minds open as wide, and for as long, as we can bear. I realize that this is not easily done but, if you give it a try I think that you will find that violence does not have one root cause. Rather, violence has many tangled roots. Some grow toward the left and some grow toward the right. We have to find the largest ones, whichever way they grow, and only then can we debate how to cut them off. Gary Ross, in his article â€Å"Moving Beyond Blame† (1999), agrees that there are many contributing factors in violence today: These include changing family structure; the breakdown of communities, villages, and neighborhoods; cynicism about government and social institutions; the decrease in a sense of security, job performance, or close personal relationships;the decline of genuine spirituality as an ethical force in the culture; an explosion of information that creates anxiety over one’s worth or abilities; a lack of respect for older people and an over reliance on ‘self’ to find the meaning of life. (pp. 407-408) One main cause for violence is the way families function. Children learn response styles mainly through watching and interacting with the people who care for them frequently. Youth can learn to lead nonviolent lives if they grow and develop in positive, caring, supportive families instead of in families with inconsistent caregiver behavior and examples of antisocial actions. Key factors include: early family and home life; presence of caring father; readiness for parentho...

Team Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Team Diversity - Essay Example In the United States, Children grow up with an positive and challenging life where TRY AND TRY AGAIN TILL YOU SUCCEED is the motto because the US territory is WIDE enough for challenges. Some of the supervisors from the other countries looked at the loss during the previous year as proof that normal life is really hard down there because there is literally no elbow room in their place for research & development. To ease the situation, I gave each member a cultural (Schermerhorn, 1997) and historical nutshell report of the cultures and traditions of each country to all members of the meeting. It was explained that based on Appendix A below, the US has a high creativity index. It is recommended that the five step program(Strickland, 19997) be implemented to eliminate mistrust and misunderstanding among the different cultures. Firth, all supervisors are to TEACH the other members of their cultures so work will go smoothly and prevent stereotyping. Second, the cultural structures have to be integrated such as no more male or female job. Third, cultural groups barriers must be broken down so that there is only ONE group of many cultures.

Rime response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rime response - Essay Example Also, the racial origin is also found to affect how the criminal justice system is delivered. This paper then discusses these issues in details. The succeeding paragraphs will analyze if indeed there is a difference on how the criminal justice system responds to elite and street crimes and to race. Poverty and Income inequality are believed to be the main reason for street crimes. This belief stems from common sense notions about the effects of poverty on the lives and behaviors of persons: the acute frustrations of being poor and the impact of those frustrations on the choices people make. The idea that poverty causes crime also stems from the perception that most criminals-particularly those in prisons for serious and violent street crimes-come from backgrounds of poverty. Street crimes also involved youth gangs. They "often engage in criminal activities, which to a great extent serve as training for the youth to engage in more crime as adults, thus developing a career of crime" (Margaret L. Andersen). Among the Americans, John Hagan noted that "the young African-American males have a vastly disproportionate risk of encountering the criminal justice system, both as victims and violators. Crime is also a great concern for low-income Hispanic and White Americans" (Hagan). It i s important to know the profile of the doers of street crime so as we will understand the cause of the differnce on the response of the country's criminal justice system. There is also what sociologists tag as white collar crimes. These refer to "criminal activities by persons of high social status" and includes "embezzlement (stealing funds from one's employer), involvement in illegal stock manipulation (insider trading), and a variety of income tax laws including tax evasion" (Margaret L. Andersen). Elite crime has two types: "white-collar crimes" or crimes committed by upper-status individuals during the course of their occupations and "corporate crimes," which are crimes committed by organizations, business and industry. Sociologists believe that "whether it is in the police station, the courts or the prisons, the social factors of race, class and gender are highly influential in the administration of justice in this society. People in the most disadvantaged groups are more likely to be defined and identified as criminal, and having encountered this system of authority, are more likely to be detained or arrested, found guilty and punished " (Margaret L. Andersen). The profiles of those who are involved in street crimes are mostly the poor and the Black Americans. Following the argument above, there can indeed be a difference between how the criminal justice system respond to doers of street crimes against those who commit elite crimes simply because of their race and class status. Street crime offenders will be most likely detained, found guilty and punished. The Influence of Race One of the most controversial issues in criminal justice processing is the possible influence of the racial or ethnic background of the accused-despite the checks and balances built into the system-on the outcome of legal proceedings; these include the crimes he or she is charged with, whether he or she is convicted, and, if convicted, whether he or she will serve a long prison sentence. In light of the gross disparities in imprisonment between whites and African Americans, this is a serious concern. Other sociologists argue that the

Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 29

Summary - Assignment Example Numbers are more convincing since readers and audiences often focus on profits, losses, savings and costs. The numbers provided ought to be easy, trustworthy and accurate. In addition, the presenter should be able to cite the source of information for reference purposes. Utilization of examples in the presentation helps the audience to remember and visualize the point. Examples enabled the presenter to show the audience, the meaning of the information. Associating the presentation or research to expert opinions lends credibility and authority to any claim. The presenter should remember to cite the expert during presentation of the information. A presenter requires something more than evidence to change the minds of the audience. The presenter has to appeal to common goals and value of the presenter. In business organization for example, the presenter is required to identify common goals and appeal to them in order to convince other employee. The goals of people are often shaped by their values: honesty, loyalty, friendship, fairness and equality. In addition, the presenter should also appeal to the shared values (pg 51). A speaker or presenter should also consider the cultural context when passing information to the audience. This is because; reaction to persuasive appeals can be determined by the values and custom of a certain culture. Understanding the culture of the audience is quite significant as it might differ in people’s willingness to criticize, debate, or express emotions and disagreement. Additionally, cultures may also differ in their attitude towards technology, business, competition as well as the rol e of women at their place of work. Grier (2008, pg 53), states that, ‘primacy of face saving is one of the key values in all cultures. It is the act of preserving an individual’s outward dignity and prestige’. Presenters should ensure they pay attention to situations

American Has Too Many Malls Essay Example for Free

American Has Too Many Malls Essay Many traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are being threatened with economic destruction by their online competition. I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time looking at this issue, and I believe we’re seeing clear signs that the e-commerce revolution is seriously impacting commercial real estate and will continue to do so. Online retailers are relentlessly acquiring success in many retail categories. As a result, many offline businesses are fighting to survive for their economic life. A number of physical retailers have already succumbed to online competition including Circuit City, Borders, CompUSA, Tower Records and Blockbuster. Many other physical businesses are also showing signs of serious economic distress. While many of these large businesses collapsed due to their inability to compete online, The shopping mall is also in danger from the online shopping revolution. Many malls are closing stores by the thousands, and there are few large physical chains opening stores to take their place. The recession in 2008 was the catalyst for bringing down many of these businesses, but competition from online retailers continued the financial difficulties for many offline retailers. The mall business isnt economically healthy either. Most professionals understand that profound changes are afoot. Don Wood, CEO of federal realty investment trust, says there is too much retail supply in this country. The wall street journal reports: green street advisor (forecasts) that 10 percent of the roughly 1,000 large malls in the U. S. will fail within the next 10 years †¦. Thats a conservative estimate. Many mall CEOs predict the failure rate will be higher. I agree with the above perspectives. A report from Co-Star observes that there are more than 200 malls that have vacancy rates of 35 percent or higher. This is a clear marker for shopping center distress. In short, These malls are becoming ghost towns. They are not economically successful now and will only get less so as online business continues to steal retail sales from physical stores. Hundreds of malls will soon need to be repurposed or demolished. Strong malls will stay successful for a while since retailers are willing to pay for foot traffic and customers, but even they stand in the path of the shift of retail spending from offline to online. However, despite the decline of physical commerce, there has been a huge rise in online commerce. If I were thinking of starting a new retail brand right now, I would unquestionably start it online. many very talented entrepreneurs are doing just this. I personally shop at Bonobos for pants, J. Hilburn for sweaters, Ledbury for shirts and Warby Parker for eyeglasses. In the past, these retailers have started in the mall but they now are starting online. This is a trend that will undoubtedly continue. There will clearly be fewer new offline retailers to take the space vacated by the disappearing brick-and-mortar chains. This puts further pressure on malls to try and make money. While doing research for this article, I came across a fascinating website called deadmalls. com. it is a site that chronicles the stories of hundreds of already or soon-to-be dead malls. Unfortunately for mall owners and people who work inside them, the content on deadmalls. com is about to expand substantially. There just are too many malls in America, and this will only get worse.

The Rapid Change Of Information Technology

The Rapid Change Of Information Technology With the rapid change of information technology in twentieth century, internet has become a catalyst for the way people in the world to communicate and sharing or access information speedily. Many businesses also adopted the internet as a means of trading or improving internal processes and more importantly, engage and build relationships with customers. In this paper, the author will analyst the competitive environment and resources for one of the market leading electrical appliances chain stores in Malaysia and propose a information systems strategy plans which suits the company best. 1.2 Companys profile SenHeng Electric (KL) Sdn. Bhd is one of the well known household electrical retailers among few names in the annals of Malaysian retailing business. Founded in 1989 by Lim brother, K.H., K.C., and K.Y., the company has started its business from a tiny consumer electronics half shop set up with stocks worth less than RM30,000.00 to one the largest electrical chain store in Malaysia. Currently, SenHeng has more than 100 stores spread throughout nationwide with 10 distribution centre located in Selangor, Johor, Perak, Terengganu, Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. This has assured its customers to enjoy consistent and punctual delivery of all purchased items. 1.3 PESTEL Political Economic Transformation Programme The Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) embraced by Malaysia government in year 2010 is a comprehensive effort to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation by year 2020. It targeted to lift Malaysias gross national income (GNI) per capita from USD6,700.00 or RM23,700 in 2009 to more than USD15,000 or RM48,000 in year 2020. Specific attention has been paid to raise the incomes of the bottom 40 percent of households, with a target of increasing the monthly mean income of this group from RM1,440 in 2009 to RM2,300 in 2015. The prospect of Malaysian retail industries like SenHeng Electric is expected to be positive as consumer spending power will eventually boost by the plan. According to Ecmlibra investment research, total retail sales are forecast to increase by 34 percent to RM123.5bn in 2014 from RM92.3bn in 2010. (http://www.ecmmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2010/09/Strategy_100922_A-challenging-road-ahead.pdf) Economic performance Retailer profits have a correlation with the country overall economic performance. After the global economy downturn in 2009, the Malaysian economy experienced a strong resumption of growth in 2010. The growth was driven by robust domestic demand, with strong expansion in private sector activity. For the year as a whole, the overall aggregate domestic demand expanded strongly by 6.3 percent from -0.5 percent in 2009. It was reflected in the strong performance of major consumption indicators such as passenger car sales, retail sales and imports of consumption goods. (http://www.bnm.gov.my/view.php?dbIndex=0website_id=1id=819). According to Bank Negara Malaysia annual report 2010, the Malaysian economy is projected to grow by 5 percent to 6 percent this year. However, inflation hikes which caused by rising prices of food and energy in Malaysia continuous to worry the nation and will likely to affect consumer spending behaviors and trim down purchasing power in household electrical appl iances. Social Consumer Buying Behavior The growing population in Malaysia and steady rise in household disposable income in recent year has permitted them to spend more on luxury goods outpaced on basic items like food. High profile international retailers and the global mass media have also played a hand in shaping consumer buying behavior to chase after high end electrical appliances. This is predominantly true for young and large working-age populations often looking up for better lifestyle are more willing to spend more on high tech home appliances which can save their time from doing home work. Greater access to credit allowed individuals to fund discretionary spending and sometimes squander more than what they have earned. According to Bank Negara Malaysia annual report 2010, in the period between 2000 and 2009, household debt grew at an annual rate of 13.5 percent. (http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=109pg=333ac=81yr=2010) Technology Technological innovations encouraged consumer spending in areas like internet services, mobile communication equipment, cable television services and audio visual equipments. The advent of mobile technology is impacting the way retail businesses operate today compared to a decade ago. Urban consumers who armed with smart phones are getting smarter every day. They are able to access information on products, prices and stores anywhere at any time. They can compare price for the same product offered by different retailer shop easily. Retail businesses are able to reach out to their customers instantaneously with tailored information and product offers via mobile broadcasting. 1.3.5 Environmental Global Warming Global warming and climate change continues to be threatening humanity today. The impact of global warming is already being seen around the world. With the world as a whole is pumping out more and more carbon dioxide (CO2) every year, the IPCC has concluded that global temperatures will likely to rise by 1.2 to 6.5 degrees C by end of the century. The increase individual awareness of global warming issue, consumer tend to favor for home appliances which are more eco-friendly, energy saving and with minimal impact on the current environment. (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/29/nation/19028575sec=nation) Legal New Credit Card Rules Bank Negara Malaysia has recently announced new measures on credit card application by rising minimum annual income requirements for credit card eligibility from RM18,000 per annum to RM24,000 per annum. Cardholders can only hold credit cards from a maximum of two issuers. For existing cardholders whose outstanding balance which exceeds the maximum credit limit, a grace period of two years given to them to meet the new requirement. The new guidelines are to address concerns over rising household debt in the recent year. (http://www.theasianbanker.com/press-releases/6368). However, with the limited access to credit, the move will trim down the purchasing power of the lower income group and affect the buyer shopping behaviors which ultimately affect retailers business. 1.4 Strength of the Company 1.4.1 Supply Chain Management SenHeng Electric has installed a comprehensive supply chain management system into the day to day operations of its business. This system allows the company to gauge and manage product flow seamlessly. Furthermore, it allows the company to continuously maintain optimum stock of goods within all their outlets. This will ultimately reduces excessive cost on overstocking and eliminate low supply upon consumers demand is rise. The system was designed in the way of centralized order that liked online directly to its suppliers. 1.4.2 Branding Given the long history of the company in household electrical appliances business, SenHeng electrical is a well known branding in Malaysia. The company continues to execute its brand building strategies by creating more streamlined look and feel for all its branches. This new identity spans across the board, its marketing brochures, posters as well as uniform for its employees. With the companys trademark green, these stores are brighter that the usual electrical store. This exercise has given SenHeng electrical a friendlier image and enabled the company to provide more professional service to its customers. Loyalty Card The company has implemented PlusOne loyalty card, a unique plan to reward its customers. The card members of PlusOne are allowed to enjoy extra thirteen months of product warranty as well as thirty percent off on all service or repairing labor costs. In additional to that, those products that purchased by card members will be delivered to their doorstep with no charge. Every purchased item is rewarded with specific points to its member card and these points will be used to redeem for other goods. Fixed price policy and flexible payment scheme To standardize the service standard and eliminate poor experiences by customer in the companys outlet throughout the nation, the company has implemented a fixed price policy and the product offered by its outlets carried the same price. The company has partnership with more than ten major banks for flexible payment methods where customers are allowed to make payment via cash or credit and opt for their preferred installment plan with interest free. Varieties of products To provide conveniences for its consumers and enhancing their shopping experience, the company has offered varieties of electrical products for different brands. It covers home appliances, digital imaging, computer, audio video, office automation and those electrical appliances from bedroom to kitchen. Product testing and demo facilities are provided to its consumers to learn on the products prior to purchase. 2.0 Weaknesses of the Company Consumer is the kind in todays market. In order to retain existing customer and convert them into loyal customer, the company needs to listen and understand their consumer needs. Despite SenHengs effort in providing training to improve the service standard of its employees, however, it is still difficult to manage the service quality standard for all its outlets due to the large number of the outlets spread throughout the nation. Customers feedback is therefore important to the company to gauge the service standard of respective outlet and put in appropriate preventive measure which SenHeng needs to focus on it. Opportunity E-Commerce According to euromoney latest statistic, the internet users in Malaysia have continues to grow from 14 million in 2007 to 17 million in 2011. E-commerce served one of the most popular tools for many organizations to tackle the fierce competition in the market. It will untapped the potential business market segment and increase the sales of their products in a cost effective manners. With the emerge popularity of smart phones, M-commerce becomes another potential channel for business to promote their products or promotion effectively. 2.0 Porter five forces 2.1 Threat of new entrants Currently there are large numbers of small or medium size companies in Malaysian electrical retailing market. Not to include large departmental stores like Giant or Tesco. Thus, the profit margin is rather tiny due to the stiff competition in the market. With the maturity level for electrical retailing business, its very unlikely that new entrants would step in without a new business models. However, in view of the rising internet penetration, online shopping may be the novel trend in Malaysia. With the increase trend for consumer to shop online, online retailer may be one of the threats which will potentially slide off the market share of SenHeng. (http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/11/business/3620542sec=business) 2.2 Threat supplier bargaining power As there are large numbers of suppliers in the electrical appliances market, thus the bargaining power of supplier is minimal. Furthermore, SenHeng Eletric has established a long history of relationship with its various suppliers. With its well established branding in Malaysian household home appliances and large market share in this retail business segment, supplier would find it difficulty to get the similar buyers like SenHeng Electric to cross selling their products. 2.3 Threat buyer bargaining power In electrical retailing business, prices are sensitive to consumer. The consumer is always looks for the better price for electrical products. As the competition in this industry is stiff, small retailers often offered lower price to sell out the goods during bad season. The selling prices sometime dont even sufficient to cover their delivery cost. Furthermore, easy access to information through internet allows consumer to compare price and products against the companys competitors. Although SenHeng Electric has established a fixed price policy to its outlets to eliminate price bargaining. However, to offer a fair price to its consumer still deems to be the main concern to stay competitive. The company has since 2002 implemented a centralized order management system to manage its stock inventory level which helps the company to reduce its inventory cost. 2.4 Threats of substitutes As most of the competitors in this industry are selling finished products with similar brands of household electrical appliances in the market, thus at a glance, selling price becomes the key consideration factor for consumer to decide where they spend. However, some consumers do take consideration of other aspect like after sales service, product testing, repair service and etc. 2.5 Rivalry among competitor Although SenHeng Electric is one of the largest electrical chain stores in Malaysia, the company still facing stiff competition from its competitor HLK (Chain-Store) Sdn Bhd whom continues to slide the market share of SenHeng Electric. To avoid cutthroat pricing competition and sustain its market present, service differentiation is one of the key areas for the company work on. 3.0 Strategy implication Determined market segmentation is vitally important in every business. Through identify who the actual and potential customers are, the company would able to determine how to position themselves into that specific market segment. Michael Porter has pointed out that combining a market segmentation strategy with a product differentiation strategy is an effective way of matching the firms product strategy (supply side) to the characteristic of the target market segments (demand side). Below table illustrated Porters generic strategies which differentiated into three dimensions (level of differentiation, relative product cost, and scope of target market). The traditional electrical retailing business like Senheng electric and other similar competitors are usually focus on middle income group consumer with age range from 30 to 50 years old. The approach has limit the expansion of the company as there are many of its competitors out there in the market are chasing the same group of consumers. To stay competitive, SenHeng Electric is in need to differentiate themselves from its competitors by improving its services and enhancing customers experiences towards its outlet. Understand its consumers by collecting feedback from them would in turn help the company to look into those areas where they need further improvement. With the economic growth in last two decades and Malaysian government effort in building higher education infrastructure in the country, there are increasing number of young working adults whose earned higher salary income in recent year. Moreover, rising demand in home electrical appliances is foreseeable with the My First Home Scheme launched by Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently which has enabled young adults to buy houses costing between one hundred thousand ringgit and 220,000 ringgit with a repayment period of up to thirty years. This is a potential lucrative market segment which SenHeng should untapped into it. As online shopping is becoming popular in Malaysia, E-commerce is an alternate channel for the company to reach out consumer in different market segment. E-commerce eliminates the traditional purchase approach which is time consuming and labor intensive. It helps the company to reduce cost of purchasing transactions and speed delivery. Customers can reach a company via internet for twenty four hours which increase the business competitiveness. This will helps the company to relieve their sales person to take up other important task. Furthermore, it enables the company to collect consumer buying behavior or pattern as all sales orders for individual buyers are traceable. The company can use the data to strategize the marketing or promotion approach accurately. 4.0 Plan/Recommendations In view of the above, the author proposes to enhance the current webpage of SenHeng Electric by engaging its vendor Webz Design and Solution Sdn Bhd. 4.1 Business proposal plan and objectives Below consists of the webpage enhancement needs for the company: To setup a user friendly e-commerce website which inducing internet users to purchase the companys products and services online. To utilize the webpage for marketing and promotion activities run by the company. To increase the professional looks of the company and brand awareness to its potential consumers in the market. To enable online order status checking for the company and its consumer. To conduct consumer survey and served as a channel for consumer to escalate feedback/complaint for its products and services. Objectives: To provide alternate channel where consumers are allowed to place their order anywhere anytime. Customers can trace their order online easily without calling the outlets for assistance. To untapped young adults market where online shopping becoming a common trend in the market. To improve its services through collecting complaint/feedback from its clients. To increase its sales volume by 20 percent from second years onwards after the webpage enhancement. To achieve economic scales of assigning other tasks to its sales people. 4.4 Projected Incremental in Sales Volume 4.5 Business Assumption 4.5.1 Sales volume Assumption make that progressive incremental in sales order which will generate yearly gross revenue of RM100,000.00 starting from the second consecutive year onwards after e-commerce website launched. 4.5.2 Headcount Impact Sales department Assumption makes that no requirement for additional sales staff as customer will perform self online visit to evaluate the products nature and price offered. 5.0 Conclusion In conclusion, consumer buying trends and pattern will undergo significant changes over the next five to ten years. Shopping centers and the entire retail industry will be affected immensely by the increasing number of online shopper. With the broader accessibility of internet and high speed broadband implemented throughout Malaysian nation, embrace in e-commerce is certainly a right business strategy move for traditional retailer in Malaysia. In authors view, online retailing business is foresee to have positive growth continuously in the next fifteen years. Adopting service differentiation approach will eventually help the company to stay competitive and position themselves in better aspect to avoid price war situation. See appendix 1 (http://www.euromonitor.com/malaysia/country-factfile).