Creation vs. Evolution Essay

Many different opinions have been made when it comes to where did humans come from? Who or maybe what created us? We all want to know the answer to both of those questions and I’m here to try to explain it for you. There are two different types of believe systems on where we came from. One is creation where they believe we were created by a greater and smarter being who lives in heaven. Then there are the evolutionists who believe hat we came from atoms that exploded or aliens who created monkeys that evolved into humans. First off the creationists believe that about six thousand years ago God created humans. â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.† Genesis 1:1(NIV) See in the bible it says God created the heavens and the earth. At the time when God created the world He created a man named Adam and a woman named Eve to rule over the garden. The Satan, the deceiver, came into the garden and tricked the woman into sinning. As a cause the man and woman were cast out of the garden and from then on sin has corrupted the world and made it what it is today. Creationists also believe that about four thousand years ago a flood covered the whole earth.† For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.† Genesis 7:17-18(NIV). God created a rainbow after the flood as a covenant between Him and us that ne ver again would a flood cover the whole world. Second off evolutionists believe that the world was created by a big bang or some atoms exploding in the atmosphere. So pretty much they’re saying that the world just exploded and here we are today. Newton’s law of motion says, â€Å"Every object persists in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by force impressed on it.† Which means that if an object is spinning and it gets fit by a strong force than it will wobble out of its original course. What im getting at here is that if you have atoms spinning supper fast and it explodes than the objects that come off of it will be spinning the same way as the original object. So, if that’s so than why are a couple of are planets not spinning the same way as the rest? And so evolutionists are pretty much saying that, In the beginning dust. By: Jason Yendell Recourses: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2267227/ EMBO Rep. 2007 December; 8(12): 1107–1109. http://www.clarku.edu/~piltdown/map_intro/creationscience.html

Aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment Cystic fibrosis: role of P. aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis patients

Introduction Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder of salt and water regulation in the cell. The disease is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene (Cohen and Prince, 2012). The molecular basis of CF depends on its transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, which functions as a channel and regulates the movement of ions and water across the epithelial barrier. The barrier opens in response to increased levels of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The gene in normal condition is responsible for salt (chloride) and water balance in the body. However, if mutated, is not able to excrete out enough salt of the cell; thus resulting, the build of salt within the cell forming sticky mucus. If accumulated in the lungs, this sticky mucus may clinically affect the epithelial innate function of the lungs and may result in ineffective airway inflammation that fails to eradicate pulmonary pathogens (Cohen and Prince, 2012). The working mechanism of CFTR protein under normal condition is shown in figure 1. Studies have shown that increase in sodium (Na) re-absorption on the epithelial cells may indicate an event in cystic fibrosis lung disease (Cohen and Prince, 2012). These mutations on the (CFTR) protein have impacts on its production and transfer to the epical membrane of the epithelial cells, thereby influencing the conductance of chloride and bicarbonate ions across the channels resulting in the CFTR ionic imbalance of on the epithelial cells of different organs. This leads to the formation of excessive mucus in the cells, which provides an ideal condition for bacteria growth and multiplication. Interestingly, even uncommon lung bacteria such as pseudomonas have been found to inhabit in the lungs exploiting the ideal condition (Clunes and Boucher, 2007). Abnormality in the CFTR pathway results in the increase of glycolipids on the surface of CF airway epithelial cells. These glycolipids serve as receptors to increase the binding activities of bacteria, thereby facilitating the early infection process, which is a hallmark of the disease. Moreover, defect in CFTR gene is also associated with decreased nitric oxide concentration in the cell. Nitric oxide possesses antibacterial properties; thus, decrease in its concentration may predispose an individual to severe infections with faulty CFTR gene (Clunes and Boucher, 2007). In addition, the role of inflammation in CF pathogenesis seems equally important. Inflammatory response produced against the infectious pathogens in CF patients may have detrimental effects to the host cells. Inflammatory infiltrates including macrophages, neutrophils, cytokines and interleukins may induce tissue damaging responses, further deteriorating the lung function (Cymberknoh, et.al. 2013). Inhabitation of bacteria in cystic fibrosis lung As mentioned earlier, even uncommon bacterium including Pseudomonas aeruginosa can reside in the cystic fibrosis lung (Hauser, et.al. 2011). Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram negative, rod shaped, aerobic bacterium that prefers moist environment for growth. Commonly they are found in places such as sewage and in certain areas of the human body. Furthermore, they reside in lakes, moist vegetables, moist soil and streams. Studies have also suggested that that most human infections due to P. aeruginosa result due to contact with these natural reservoirs (Friman, et.al. 2013). Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been recognized as an important pathogen in CF. Soon after residence in the lungs, it becomes extremely difficult to eradicate them by antibiotics. The persistent presence of these bacteria in the lungs ultimately results failure of the immune system to provide a defense against them; this leads to respiratory failure resulting in death of the patient (Folkesson, et.al. 2012). Firstly, P.aeruginosa acquires the airway of the patient with cystic fibrosis, which occurs during the very early phase of the disease. Infection may ensue once this bacterium enters the CF host and colonizes the oropharynx, then to the lower respiratory tract by process of micro aspiration. Infection becomes intermittent at the initial stage as a result of acquisition of different strains. During the early stage of infection, the isolate looks like environmental strains, non-mucoid and susceptible to antibiotics. Eventually P. aeruginosa establishes itself and chronic infection ensues (Folkesson, et.al. 2012). In chronic stage of CF, P. aeruginosa produces a mucoid alginate by growing in bio-film of the end- bronchiolar space. It lacks lipopolysaccharide and becomes non-motile, resulting in the development of antibiotic resistance during. Despite the known mechanism and availability of antibiotics, P.aeruginosa is able to chronically infect the airway of patients with CF and is able to cause an unrelenting decline in pulmonary function and deterioration; but how these happen has been focus on intense research (Folkesson, et.al. 2012). Molecular pathogenesis of P.aeruginosa infection in CF The molecular basis of infection due to P. aeruginosa in CF is still not fully understood. However, it may be peculiar to a specific strain at the time of adaptation after acquisition. Studies have indicated that the persistence of the bacterium in the lungs might be due to its high level of propensity and the ability to adapt with environmental changes and stress (Hauser, et.al. 2011). aeruginosa possesses traits that enable them to colonize and persist in acute and chronic infection. These traits include; High resistance to antibiotics (Zhang, et.al. 2011) Effective cell-cell communication singalling for growth and multiplication (Friman, et.al. 2013). Ability to form biofilms, plethora and virulence products and metabolic versatility (Wagner and Iglewski, 2008). The biofilms are synthesized by the bacterium encased within a hydrated polymeric matrix and are clinically important; this is because, P. aeruginosa in this mode of growth utilizes it to cope with phagocytes by the neutrophils and macrophages, as well as to the killing by antibiotics. This allows them for persistent survival in chronically infected CF despite the continuous natural immune response and antibiotics effect (Zhang, et.al. 2011). The disease pathogenesis and severity is further triggered by inflammatory responses in the later stage of the disease. Mainly the pro-inflammatory enhancers become physiologically active in the absence of function CFTR gene. Although the exact inflammatory pathophysiology of CF still remains debatable, persistent infection, poor pathogen clearance, acidic environment and are considered some of the key triggers for initiating chronic inflammatory response in the lungs of the patient with CF (Pier, 2008). The mechanism is explained in figure 2. Synthesis of ceramide from sphingomyelin by acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) and degradation by acid ceramidase (AC) is optimal at an acidic pH, such as that of normal intracellular vesicles (pH 4.5). Lack of functional CFTR increases vesicle pH to 5.9, partially inhibiting ASM and highly inhibiting AC, resulting in ceramide accumulation in the vesicle and age-dependent pulmonary inflammation. Other properties of the cystic fibrosis–affected lung, including lack of the CFTR receptor needed for clearing Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enhanced mucin secretion, a dehydrated airway surface liquid, viscous mucus and DNA deposits released from ceramide-engorged apoptotic cells, also contribute to P. aeruginosa airway colonization. Eventually, this microbe establishes a chronic infection wherein bacterial cells reside in low-oxygen mucus plugs and become highly resistant to clearance or killing by host defenses (Pier, 2008) P.aeruginosa potentially synthesize factors such as proteolytic enzymes, which damage the host cells by altering the host iron-containing protein forming hydroxyl radicals that contribute to host tissue injury and inflammation; thereby decreasing the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10, and at the same time, activating neutrophils in the airway lumen. Continuous recruitment of these neutrophils induces tissue damaging inflammatory response mainly affecting pulmonary tissue. Furthermore, neutrophils trigger the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine such as IL-8, which further contributes in the tissue damage process. In addition to pro-inflammatory cytokines, neutrophils also release the oxygen free radicals that induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the epithelial tissue in the lungs. Thus, to conclude, the role of neutrophils in airway inflammation in patients with CF seems crucial. Instead of providing innate immunity to the infected lung, it rather trigger s detrimental inflammatory response and promote the growth of P. aeruginosa though the production of different growth enhancing cytokines, leading to the destruction of the lung tissue (Sagel, et.al. 2009). The effectiveness of the immune response in CF is exploited, allowing the establishment of a relentless cycle, whereby persistent bacteria cause increased inflammation that itself leads to increased bacterial densities, which in turn results stronger inflammatory response (Sagel, et.al. 2009). The net result is progressive tissue damage and pathological consequences and sequelae of CF that include mucopurulent plugging of bronchioles, chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchioles) and bronchial gland hyperplasia (increase in the cell size of bronchial gland cells). The airway later becomes dilated and results bronchiectatic due to loss of support cartilage (Pickett, 2013). Treatment options for cystic fibrosis The decision to treat patients who are infected with P.aeruginosa can be very challenging. Prolonged treatment with antibiotics can have toxic side effects, as well as increases the chance of microbial resistance in the patients. Also, prolonged treatment may cause long term harm. Data suggest that 80% of the patients with CF die indirectly or directly from pulmonary disease (Hurley, et.al. 2012). Clinically, there has been very little progress in the development of new antibiotics with novel mode of action. Recently, researchers exploited the adjuvant therapeutic agents that may be used alongside the conventional antibiotics. Source control measures, de-escalation of antibacterial should be followed up in patients with clinical response, especially with known antibacterial susceptibilities (Hurley, et.al. 2012). Considering the virulence of this pathogen, the progress of various strategies such as efflux pumps and lectins, the use of iron chelators, immunization, immunotherapy, and inhibition of quorum sensing are currently being tested clinically for the better management of the disease. It has also been suggested that the impacts of intervening virulence of P. aeruginosa should also be assessed (Hurley, et.al. 2012). Some novel therapies are also based upon the fact that CF is caused by the mutation of the gene encoding CFTR protein; targeting the defects produced in CFTR with invacaftor in one such approach. This novel treatment seems promising in patients with specific genotype of CF. Although the long term-outcome remains unknown, the development of CFTR targeted drug is an important milestone in CF (Petit, et.al. 2012). More recently, gene therapy has been extensively studied for the complete cure of the disease. However, the technique is not easy and has several limitations and hurdles. For instance, the research on this approach is very time consuming and often very expensive. However, focus of research has been on identifying the optimal vector for gene therapy (Picket, et.al. 2013). Thus, the management of CF has been a major challenge ever since the discovery of the disease. However, advancement in medical technologies and treatments has improved the prognosis of the disease. More sophisticated treatment including gene therapy (replacing faulty CFTR gene with a normal gene) has been the focus of intense research. P. aeruginosa resistance in CF Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the common infections in western society, because of its high level of resistance to antibiotics. The synergistic relationship between the outer membrane permeability and the efflux pumps is the most important factor influencing intrinsic antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria like P. aeruginosa (Liu, et. al. 1996). The high level of P. aeruginosa resistance is due to the acquired genes coding for amino glycoside-modifying enzymes or periplasmic beta-lactamases or mutations in fluoroquinolone targets (Liu, et.al. 1996). Low outer membrane permeability, which is caused by either less production of the OprD porin, or by expressing multidrug resistance efflux pumps contributes to high level of intrinsic antibiotics resistance (Liu, et.al. 1996). Numerous efflux pumps such as MexAB-OprM and MerXY-oprMb MexAB-OprM, MeXY-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, MexJK, MexGHI-OpmD, MexVM, MexPQ-OpmE, MecMN and TriABC are encoded in the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These are of clinical importance because of their chemical ability to remove chemical-unrelated antibiotics. Among all, resistance-nodulation division (RND) super family contains the main efflux pumps of P. aeruginosa. This efflux pump has been discussed in greater details below. The energy source is derived from its proton motive force. Resistance Nodulation Division Efflux Pump Structure There are five families of multidrug resistance efflux pumps which include the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) super family, the major facilitator super family (MFS), the multidrug and toxic-compound extrusion (MATE) family, the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family and the resistance nodulation division (RND) family (Paddock, 2006). Efflux of antibiotics from the periplasm is a critical mechanism of antibiotic resistance utilized by Gram-negative cells. P. aeruginosa is capable of actively effluxing antibiotics from the periplasmic space using efflux pumps primarily from the RND family. The RND complex is tripartite in nature, composed of an outer membrane channel protein (OMP), inner membrane RND transporter, and a membrane fusion protein (MFP) (Kumar and Schweizer, 2005). The RND transporter provides the energy for the molecular transport and is often referred to as the RND pump protein (Misra and Bavro, 2009). The OMP interacts with the RND protein in the periplasm producing a chann el capable of transporting antibiotics into the extracellular space. The MFP is believed to stabilize the interactions between the RND transporter and the OMP (Misra and Bavro, 2009). All three of these components are essential for efflux function. The RND transporters are comprised of a homotrimer folded into a ?-helical transmembrane domain, with a large, soluble periplasmic domain. The top of the bacteria have semi-permeable membranes which may limit the passage of some types of antibiotics into the cell (Avrain, et.al. 2013). Multidrug resistance efflux pumps allow the bacterium to pump antimicrobials out of the cell. Porins maintain osmotic pressure by allowing the entrance/exit of hydrophilic small molecules but do not permit the passage of larger molecules. Enzymes can modify the antibiotic so that it is no longer recognized by the target, or modify them so that they are no longer functional. This is particularly prevalent with antibiotics that alter the ribosome or interfere with ribosome binding to inhibit protein synthesis. Inhibition of mRNA synthesis occurs by binding to DNA dependent RNA polymerase inhibiting initiation (Avrain, et.al. 2013). The mechanism of antibiotic resistance is shown in figure 3. Fig3: Different mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria (adapted from Fluit, et.al. 2001). In the figure, A represents mRNA and B represents tRNA. When exposed to antibiotics, MexAB-OprM and MexXY-OprM remain inducible but the rest of the systems when expressed in resistant strains may immensely contribute to biocide or antibiotics resistance. Antimicrobial components are released by the RND systems and these include first line anti-pseudomonal drugs such as beta-lactams and beta-lactamase inhibitors (Poole, 2011). Furthermore, alteration or loss of the outer membrane porin protein OprD is yet another common mechanism of resistant to carbapenems(Wang, et. al. 2010). Since P. aeruginosa infections are usually treated by the use of fluoroquinolone (Ciprofloxacin), its high level resistance is as a result of mutations in the DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV enzymes, which target these antibiotics. Outbreak of P. aeruginosa An outbreak can be defined as two or more sterile site isolate of the same species, with the same antibiogram, from different babies within the space of two weeks. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection outbreak on neonatal intensive care units reflects a degree of breakdown in infection prevention measures. Poor hand hygiene, low nurse: patient ratio, inadequate spacing between cots, overcrowding, environmental colonization (especially of water systems), inadequate cleaning of common use equipment, injudicious use of antibiotics, particularly broad spectrum and prolonged courses and delaying the introduction of material breast milk, all contribute to the emergence of outbreaks. It has been reported that infection from P. aeruginosa usually occurs 48hrs after birth, which affects two to three per thousand babies in the UK (Walker, et.al. 2013). The occurrence of the infection is even higher in those born prematurely or with surgical conditions (Durojaiye, et.al. 2011). Microbiological analysis In previous studies, (Walker, et.al. 2013) carried out the following microbiological investigations. Dismantling of Taps Taps and flow strengtheners from relevant hospital were dismantled, categorized into components, swabs and water samples were also taken. Samples for microbiological assessment were placed in 10 ml of maximum recovery diluents together with 10 sterile glass beads (3 mm diameter, VWR International, Lutterworth, UK). The surface of each component was scraped with a sterile plastic loop (Sterilin, Newport, UK) and the suspension was then vortex-mixed (10 s) to remove biofilm and to suspend the micro-organisms. Each sample was then spirally plated (Don Whitley, Shipley, UK) on to plate count agar (Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK) and Pseudomonas selective agar (PCN, Oxoid, UK), for determination of aerobic colony count (ACC) and P. aeruginosa count respectively. This was then incubated at 30Â °C on (Plate Count Agar) or at 37Â °C (PCN) for 48 h. It was found out that complex flow straightener had significantly higher P.aeruginosa counts (P

A Day I’Ll Never Forget

When you wake up in the morning; you never know what to expect. People get up as though everyday will be a normal day. People go to work or school and live their daily lives. The day of October 31, 2011 my daughter's mother was induce becuase she was pass her due date. That day was crazy from waking up in the morning and the trip to the hositpal. From watching my daughter's mother go through the pain she went through and when the time came when my daughter was born was a unrealistic feeling. The day of October 31, 2011 I will never forget that day.My girlfriend and I woke up at five o'clock in the morning , and we said a prayer together. We got ready and left the house at 7 o'clock am. For some reason, driving to the hospital seemed to take longer than usual. I remember everything about this day as if it was yesterday. We arrived to Morton Plant Hospital and proceeded to the Labor and Delivery unit. The halls were very quiet and I remember thinking to myself this is it this is the da y thats gonna change my life forever. After the doctors and the nurses induce my daughter's mother it was nothing but a waiting period.After a few hours, my daughter's mother began to have some normal contractions she was able to handle them for small period of time; however, the contraction came to become more painful to her. I never wintessed anybody go thourgh no type of pain like she went thourgh. I ask her what the contractions felt like she said,† The pain is like having your insides twisted, pulled, and squeezed combined with someone stabbing you in the stomach. † The only thing I can say to myself is ouch! After hours of toture pain she couldnt take it anymore, so she went ahead a got a epidurals.When she got the epidural the pain easily ease away. Thank God for epidurals. The time has come after fourteen hours of been in the hospital it was time. My daughter's mother had a dialte to ten centemeter and it was time to push . I have never been so scared it was like I was in a hunted house and I couldnt get out. After a few pushes and me almost passing out on the floor she was finally here. When my daughter arrived, I jumped up really high and scream out it's a boy I dont know what I saw but I thought she was a boy.She was born healthy and was the cuties baby I ever seen. I never been so happy like I was that day. The day my daughter was born I will never forget. While I'll was expecting a baby boy; I got a beautiful baby girl. That day was a unforgetable day. From the time we woke up that morning and getting to the hositpal . Watching the labor pain my child's mother was going thourgh was the scariest thing I ever saw. The most important feeling was watching the birth of my child. Watching the birth of my baby girl was a unrealistic feeling.

Individual project 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Individual project 2 - Assignment Example In both cases, window-shopping is the order of the day. Customers move around as they select the products they think are best suitable for them (Garrett 2007). However, in the case of the store, the difference is that there is an attendant nearby who is ready to address to the needs of the customers. In the other hand, the web store as a section called live chat where the attendants can chat lively so that they can address the needs of the online shoppers. On the part of completing purchases, the customers are provided with the receipts upon successful payments. However, the store accepts various ways of affecting the payment process such as cash, cheque, credits cards, as well as mobile phone money transfers (Gronroos 2006). In the other hand, the web store has a little similarity as far as closing a purchase is concerned. In the first place, it also accepts credit cards and mobile phone money transfers just like the store. However, it does not accept cash, and cheque. The image portrayed in the brick and mortar store is building materials with different arrays of the blocks. However, there is also a small section of a Manson indicating how those bricks do look like when used to build a house. To an extent, it fits the segmentation strategy because they have managed to cater for the needs of different customers of different age groups as well as that belongs to different economic classes. Looking carefully, the online store is more successful as compared to the actual store. This is because it has already attracted large number of customers looking at daily sales on the web site. Furthermore, the display itself at the website is more appealing than the actual store. This is not to mention the fact that it is available to everybody irrespective of his/her location in this planet earth. All needed is the web address of the store where the customers can converge and view the products they are offering (Garrett 2007). Looking at the customers

COMPANY & INDUSTRY INFORMATION Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

COMPANY & INDUSTRY INFORMATION - Assignment Example was established when Frito Company merged with H. W. Lay Company in 1961. At the time of the Pepsi-Cola Company and Frito-Lay, Inc. merger, the main products of the combined company (presently known as PepsiCo, Inc.) were Pepsi-Cola, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Fritos brand corn chips, Lays brand potato chips, Cheetos brand cheese flavored snacks, Ruffles brand potato chips and Rold Gold brand pretzels. 1970s: PepsiCo became pretty dominant and posed a potent challenge to the Coca-Cola Company. The competition between the two behemoth popularly came to be known as the ‘the cola wars.’ PepsiCo launched ‘The Pepsi Challenge’, a groundbreaking international marketing strategy. Pepsi became the single largest-selling soft drink brand in American supermarkets. PAB manufactures and markets numerous popular brands including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana Pure Premium, Propel, IZZE and Naked Juice. PAB also sells ready-to-drink teas and coffees through strategic alliances with Starbucks and Unilever. PepsiCo Americas Foods offers popular food and snacks to consumers throughout North and Latin America. The PepsiCo Americas Foods global business unit includes Frito-Lays North America, Quaker Foods North America and Latin America food and snack businesses. The popular food products sold by these divisions include Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles, Gamesa, Quaker Oats and Sabritas. The PepsiCo Europe global business unit is responsible for selling the company’s beverage, food and snack brands in Europe and South Africa. The major brands sold in these regions include Pepsi, 7UP, Tropicana, Lays, Walkers, Cheetos and Ruffles. PepsiCo AMEA markets various beverages, snacks and food brands in Asia, Middle East & Africa (excluding South Africa). Pepsi, Mirinda, 7UP, Aquafina, Tropicana, Chipsy, Kurkure, Doritos, Cheetos and Smiths are some of the popular brand sold by the AMEA global business unit. PepsiCo is in the food and beverage business. The

Urgent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Urgent - Essay Example The Indians would be under the protection of the government of United States. If a white man is killed by an Indian, The responsible Indian would be brought for trial and punishment. The converse would also be true. The Indian tribes were also promised annuities by the U.S. government. The Indian were largely satisfied with the provisions of this treaty as their concerns were addresses. However, the treaty could not last long due to encroachment by tribes. According to this treaty, Spain returned to France the territory of Louisiana which France had ceded to Spain in 1763. When the government of United States became aware of the transfer, it raised concern over a threat to its security. With this treaty, France and Napoleon became very powerful as it had the mouth of Mississippi and the outlet for the produce of seven states. Later Napoleon disregarded the treaty and sold Louisiana to United States which was reluctantly agreed by

Information systems technology change What Bert Painter does and does Essay

Information systems technology change What Bert Painter does and does not tell us - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to distill the primary lessons regarding IT systems change that Painter is trying to convey in his paper, determine how one would evaluate those lessons in terms of their correctness and usability, and to discuss any other lessons not part of his conclusions that have been learned by the writer and which he holds the hope of putting into practice in his or her future IT career. In other words, the purpose is to discuss what Bert Painter does and does not tell us regarding information systems technology change. Painter discusses his experience aiding an insurance company's paper-based system into one that was electronic and was known as E-File. The new process allowed the company to integrate their data and automate their workflow, as well as significantly redesign jobs to be more efficient in the overall process. Painter directly states what he hoped to achieve through sharing the results of this case study (Painter, 2008). According to Painter in the case study, "A socio-technical approach to organization design can mitigate potentially negative effects of information technology, while maximizing positive potentials to up-skill jobs, and yield an outcome, such as with E-File, where over 90% of the highly skilled employees surveyed in this white-collar organization regard the new system as a substantially positive change" (Painter, 2008, pg. 1). Throughout his consultation process, Painter relied on surveys that had been developed in key areas. These included effects on work processes, effects on job aspects, the user-friendliness of software and hardware, and competence and knowledge. He likely shared details of these sections as he felt they were very important aspects of socio-technical design. In fact, he probably thought that the information gathered through this information carried the primary lessons that he wished to convey to his audience (Painter, 2008). Evaluating the Lessons and Looking at Other Lessons As far as evaluating the lessons that were presented in this case study in terms of correctness and usability, they all seem to be quite useful when perhaps broken down and applied to general management concepts that anybody could use. The reason they seemed rather limited in scope in this particular case was likely because this was, after all, a case study and, therefore, it focused on one company's specific application of the lessons at hand (Painter, 2008). The general definitions of socio-technical design that are given in the introduction and the conclusion of this paper contain more generalized concepts, which is what one misses when reading Painter's case study. For example, the direct participation that was given in the case study was in the form of interviews and surveys. It could be given in other ways as well, such as through meetings where everyone in the company is made to feel important. The system of socio-technical design was definitely present in the case study and is likely to be very similar for various different firms that are looking to undergo this process. One serious fault that could occur when designing or implementing this process is to not take into account just how serious the opinions and feedback of the end users are. If a

My passion for wildlife biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

My passion for wildlife biology - Essay Example I sat enthralled as a spider spun its web underneath our porch. I gaped in amazement when I first witnessed a foal being born in our barn. I sat for many hours pondering how our chickens managed to lay eggs and break them open. Where did those chicks come from? I once wondered aloud. During certain seasons, wolves would become the bane to the lives of livestock. I spent a number of my nights as a teenager keeping that wild creature away from our farm. I hated the sound of gunshots ringing through the night air. It did not seem right to kill a creature without knowing why it was attacking other animals. My summers were spent building birdbaths for the migratory birds passing by our farm. We often had a lot of stray animals dropping by our farm in need of sustenance. When I realized that the wolves and other wild animals were just hungry, I researched on the kinds of plant food that they might be interested in eating. I encouraged my father to then plant these very plants on our farm in order to feel the wild life and save our livestock from further harm. It was a plan that actually worked. It brought down the rate of attacks by wild life on our farm animals. It was that research and passion to preserve wild life that led me down the path of further Wild Life Biology studies. I hope that I will be given a chance to learn more about my passion at the hands of the great educators of the Sterling College Biology Department. I believe that I will make a fantastic addition to your roster of students, I just need to be given a chance to prove myself to the admissions and academic members of the

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS, METHODS, & MODES IN THE HUMANITIES Essay - 2

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS, METHODS, & MODES IN THE HUMANITIES - Essay Example Classicism era was a period whereby, emphasis on form, proportion, simplicity and restrained emotion made the basis of culture, literature and art in ancient Greece and Rome’s aesthetic attitudes and principles (Grafton, Most & Settis, 2010). Neoclassicism movement in painting and other visual arts, on the other hand, started in the 1760s and climaxed in the 1780s and ‘90s, whereby it was rampant in emphasizing on austere linear design, use of correct archeological settings and costumes, and depicting classical themes and subject matter. It is arguable that neoclassicism was partly a reaction against the sensitivity and frivolous decorations of the then dominant Rococo style as well as stimulations by the then arising scientific interest from classical relic of 18th century (Grafton, Most & Settis, 2010). Neoclassicism advent was steered by the new knowledge of the classical past obtained from the archeological discoveries regarding the Greco-Roman art from the monuments and other Greek antiquities of the past. The stylistic aspects of neoclassicism were similar to those of its predecessor classical antique. For instance, the ornamented paintings of Jacques-Louis David evidenced in the classical period also prevailed in the neoclassical era. The decorative prettiness and softness in the Rococo antique extended to the era of neoclassicism as well as the Kauffmann’s sentimental subjects. The movement from classicism to neoclassicism was experienced in the arts of paintings and decorative, architecture and visual arts, and in music. In architecture and visual arts, the Neo-classical paintings are different from the classical ones by their virtue of ignoring pastel colors and haziness; instead, they are sharp colored and have Chiaroscuro. The neoclassical music, however, shows considerable similarities with the classical music in the use of harmony and instrumentation such as the wind instrument and the classical symphony in the

Mind body issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mind body issue - Essay Example One of the most important questions asked is whether the mind is part of the body or the body part of the mind. What makes the two connect or interact with each other if at all they are distinct? This also makes many wonder, which one should be in charge in case of distinctive existence. The question requires proper understanding and argumentation because every point of view has a logical explanation. The main aim is to ensure that the process of determining this will meet the main attributes of the relationship, explaining everything based on the theories put forward to explain this relationship. The mind and the body are two distinct attributes that casually interact at given times for the sake of performing bodily activities. Descartes is one of the proponents of dualism and pointed out clearly that the mind was the consciousness that existed within an individual. Unlike the brain, which was the source of the intelligence individuals possessed, the mind was an attribute that defined and determined the thought processes of a human being (Squire 20). The main reason for taking a dualistic stand is the fact that the mind has a different functionality in comparison to matter. Mind has a conscious attribute that cannot not reduced to physical attributes despite the number of times studies are conducted on it. A proper organization of matter allows for emergence of mental properties (Kim 40). The mind will only react to that which it sees as appropriately connected to the way it operates. This means that the mind will not come to full action when it perceives something is not okay. When someone is sick, the body has some deficiencies. The body will not operate well and the mind will be unresponsive in that are a. For example, if one has leprosy, the body goes numb and no thought process can make that part of the body to have any form of functionality. The mind will work on

Neoclassical era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Neoclassical era - Essay Example The other representative characteristic of the visual art of the period was the sculpture forms. An example of neoclassical architecture is the ‘national gallery of art’ in Washington DC and the ‘Lincoln memorial’ buildings. These buildings are considered representative of the neoclassical era because of their emphasis on walls and maintenance of separate identities to each of their parts (Bietoletti 82). The buildings appear to have been inspired by classical architecture from ancient Greece or Rome, and further get characterized by their tall columns that rise to the building’s full height and domed roofs. Examples of neoclassical music include ‘the soldier’s tale’ and ‘the firebird’ both composed by Igor Stravinsky, a famous neoclassical composer and musician. His music is representative of the era because it aimed at reviving earlier music forms such as those during the romantic and baroque period. The music avoided the complex forms and exaggerated gestures of the music witnessed during the late romantic period. The music focused on reintroducing a tonal center and a melodic element to bring out a clear form. The neoclassical era coincided with the age of enlightment. Artists during the period looked to draw inspiration from looking back at the art forms of classical times by emphasizing more on the classical ideals of rational control and order (Bietoletti 42). The attention paid to the past art forms ensured that these artists undertook a conservative approach in their

Dansk Minox Case Study Essay Example for Free

Dansk Minox Case Study Essay Problem: A/S Dansk Minox is a company based in Copenhagen, which specializes in branded vacuum-packed meat and other food products. Through consumer survey, the company found that there was a large untapped market for a ‘Complete meal’ product which included sliced pork along with a vacuum-sealed bag of red cabbage salad. After long discussions among the marketing and finance departments, the complete meal pack was introduced at a price of $ 8.20 per pack of 1 kg. It sold only 30 tons as against the budgeted sales of 85 tons. The problem facing the company is that whether it has to stop further production of the ‘complete meal’ product or establish a new consumer price of $ 6.85 per pack, in order to boost sales. Considerations and Analysis: In order to decide the course of action we may look at the following facts and considerations. Consumer Price 8.20 6.85 Retailer Price 5.72 4.78 Variable Cost 3.49 3.41 Volume Sales (in kgs) 30000 85000 Advertising Costs 0.3 0.3 Impact on Profit 41,400 90,950 As we can see, impact on profit is higher when 85000 kgs of complete meal is sold at $6.85/kg, rather than selling 30000 kgs at $ 8.20/kg. Now, another point to note is if production expenses are to be revised to $ 1.20/kg, then on a full cost basis, the complete meal would cost. Total unit cost (new) = Total unit cost (old) Production expenses (old) + Production expenses (revised) Total unit cost (new) = 4.64 0.54 + 1.20 = $ 5.30 And Profit per unit would be = Retailer price Total unit cost (new) = 4.78 5.30 = (-0.52) (i.e) there would be a loss of $ 0.52/kg, on a full cost basis, when the ‘complete meal is sold at $ 6.85. Conclusion and Recommendations: The point to be focused here is that though the new product might sell 85Â  tons at a revised price of $ 6.85 per pack, it will incur losses on a full cost basis. Also it is not feasible to lower the production costs anymore because, the resources of A/S Dansk Minox which were specialized for meat processing were now processing Vegetables. This is not their core competency and hence they would incur more costs in performing activities that they do not specialize in. Furthermore, the need for a single package containing sliced pork and red cabbage salad is itself questionable because the same packs are also individually available and these individual packs are of better quality because slice pork is Dansk Minox’s speciality and red cabbage salad is its competitior’s specialty. Hence, it is recommended that Dansk Minox stop further production of ‘complete meal (because red salad is not its core competency) and concentrate on selling its ‘standard packs, which are in fact having a significant boost in their sales or the management can look to collaborate with the best ‘red cabbage salad making company and together give the customers the best quality of ‘complete meal at the best price. The final decision would however be dependent upon managerial discretion and organizational guidelines/objectives.

Compounding Of Offences Under Criminal Procedure Law Essay

Compounding Of Offences Under Criminal Procedure Law Essay The compounding of offences is an act on the part of the victim whereby he/she decides to pardon the offence committed by the accused and request the court to exonerate him of all charges. The compounding of an offence does not mean that the offence has not been committed; it only means that the victim is willing to pardon it, or has accepted some form of a solatium as some form of compensation or redressal for what he has suffered  [1]  . This, however, does not mean that there can be no composition without the passing of any consideration or gratification. All that the law requires is that there must be some arrangement between the parties settling their differences  [2]  . The compounding of offences should not be confused with plea-bargaining, which is against public policy. Section 320 of the CrPC is exhaustive as to the law of compounding in India. Section 320 is almost a verbatim reproduction of S 345 of the 1898 Code of Criminal Procedure, with the addition of some new provisions. It contains- The persons who may compound The criminal offences that may be compounded, either on the volition of the complainant or in certain cases with the additional backing of the court. The stage of the criminal proceedings at which the composition is sought to be made. Compounding of offences terminates the legal proceedings against the offender and the offender is entitled to an acquittal. When the law has allowed the compounding of offence as per the protocol laid down by the CrPC, there can be no question of such compounding being opposed to public policy within the meaning of Section 23 of the ICA, 1872. Any agreement between an injured person and the offender to terminate criminal proceedings where recourse has not been had to this section immediately falls foul of Sec 23 of the ICA as it does not possess the sanction of the law. Except for Section 320, the concept of negotiated settlement of criminal cases is not permissible, as it is settled law that a case has to be decided on its merits alone and not on the basis of plea bargaining . The Rationale Of Compounding Of Offences- Ordinarily it is the state that has the right or power to punish offenders, although individuals might be directly and personally aggrieved by the commission of the offence. Criminal law regards the punishment imposed by the law at the instance of the state on the offender as the proper and sufficient satisfaction, not only for the society as a whole but also for individuals personally aggrieved by the offence. But in the case of certain offences the law permits the aggrieved person himself to receive satisfaction other than actual punishment in the substitution of the punishment. It is for such offences, which can be labelled as offences which are not very grave or serious in the eyes of a reasonable individual, that the law allows the offences to be compounded. The express policy of the law of Section 320 is to promote friendliness between the parties so that peace is restored  [3]  . The rationale of compounding can be better understood through an analysis of those cases where compounding is not permissible. Offences under Section 143, 147 and 148 of the IPC are not compoundable under any circumstances, because the legislature views them as offences concerning persons other than those immediately involved; such cases cannot be concluded because of a reconciliation of the immediate parties involved as they are not private offences .but offences which affect the public at large  [4]  . From an assessment of this, it is not difficult to understand the basis of the classification of compoundable offences, offences compoundable with the sanction of the court and offences not compoundable at all. It is the degree of wrong done to the state by the commission of the offence that appears to be the basis of the distinction between compoundable offences and offences compoundable only with the permission of the court. The petty wrongs done to citizens, which do not seriously affect the interests of the community or the state are compoundable by the injured party without any reference to the state. The next class of offences, where sanction of the court is necessary to compound, consists of cases where the injury to the state is recognised, but the state considers it expedient in given cases, on the basis of the discretion exercised by a judicial authority, to permit the aggrieved party to compound the offence. The Distinction Between Withdrawal And Composition- Although the end effect of a withdrawal and a composition is essentially the same i.e acquittal of the accused at any time before a judgment is passed, there are certain differences between the two. Firstly, a withdrawal must be by intimation to the magistrate holding the trial whereas in several instances enumerated in Section 320(1) composition can be effected without the permission of the court. Secondly, withdrawal is a unilateral act of the complainant alone whereas composition presupposes some kind of arrangement between the complainant and the accused  [5]  . Thirdly, on withdrawal of the complaint the magistrate can award compensation to the accused but compensation cannot be awarded when a case is compounded. In a nutshell, whether the petition praying that the case be struck off the file is a withdrawal or a composition, is to be judged from the fact whether the accused consented to it or not. The Settlement Of Disputes At Sebi Incorporating The Concept of Compounding- At the Securities and Exchange Board of India, in Administrative/Civil enforcement actions  [6]  before the Securities Courts or the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), a settlement may be reached between the regulator and a person (Party) who may prima facie be found to have violated securities laws. Such a settlement is known as a consent order and through the process of compounding the accused pays compounding charges in lieu of undergoing consequences of prosecution. It has been stated through SEBI circulars that such an arrangement provides flexibility of wider array of enforcement and remedial actions which will achieve the twin goals of an appropriate sanction, remedy and deterrance without resorting to litigation, lengthy proceedings and consequent delays. Scope Of Compounding In The CrPC Certain Permissible Actions Within The Ambit of Section 320- If the accused brings to the notice of the courts that there has been an agreement between the two parties, then the complainant is questioned by the magistrate and on his affirmation of the claims made the accused is acquitted. In case of a disagreement between the parties as to whether the composition took place or not, although there is no provision for the same, the magistrate will initiate an evidence-finding enquiry to determine the veracity of the accuseds claims  [7]  . The controversy over whether an offence under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881 could be compounded with conflicting judgments of the Madhya Pradesh  [8]  and Andhra Pradesh High Courts  [9]  has been resolved by the Parliament when it amended Section 147 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, making all offences under the Act compoundable. A matter may be compounded at any stage under this section before a sentence is pronounced and a magistrate cannot refuse to accept a petition of compromise even if it is filed at a time when the judgment was being written  [10]  . Actions Which Outside the Scope of Section 320- A compromise has the immediate effect of acquittal so as to deprive the magistrate of his jurisdiction to try the case, the subsequent withdrawal from it by either of the two parties can neither affect the acquittal nor revive the jurisdiction of the magistrate to proceed with the case  [11]  . It has been held that the discretion granted to magistrates must be exercised by them with caution, especially in those cases where the offences are of a serious nature  [12]  . A composition has the effect of acquittal only in respect of the offence which has been compounded, and not of any other offence or offences for which the accused is charged in the same case  [13]  . It is established law since pre-independence that the compounding of offences is a judicial act, the discretion of which lies with the magistrate, and the police has no authority to interfere in these matters, and the magistrate should not take the opinion of the police in such matters  [14]  . It has been held in the case of Mangilal V. State  [15]  , that acquittal under Section 320(8) can follow only when it was a lawful compromise not made under coercion or duress or other similar circumstances vitiating the compromise. If the accused is charged with two offences, one of which is compoundable and the other is non-compoundable, a composition in respect of the compoundable offence will not acquit the accused of the non-compoundable offence  [16]  . Contentious Areas In The Implementation Of Section 320 Ambiguity in the law over the compounding of certain non-compoundable offences- One set of decisions suggests that Section 320 (9) is very explicit in its understanding and the HC, under the exercise of its statutory jurisdiction cannot vary or amend this statutory provision under Section 482. Those offences not mentioned in the section cannot be compounded, as the section is exhaustive of the law of composition  [17]  . Thus, the composition of one offence will not bar prosecution for a distinct offence which the accused might have been charged with on the same facts  [18]  . Another set of decisions hold that in the matrimonial disputes between husband and wife, it is the duty of the court to encourage genuine settlement between them and after the initiation of proceedings under Section 498-A of the IPC, if the wife wishes to settle the dispute, then her petition to quash proceedings under Section 482 should be allowed as Section 320 does not affect or limit the power of the High Court to quash criminal proceedings  [19]  . There have been very many instances where non-compoundable offences have been compounded by Indian courts on the reasoning that natural justice would demand in those cases that the offences be compounded in light of the peculiar facts and circumstances. As an illustration, an offence under Section 307, which is neither listed under 320(1) nor 320(2), was allowed to be compounded by the Supreme Court in Mahesh Chand V. State  [20]  . The Malimath Committee Report The suggestion of pre-trial sittings. The Committee is in favour of giving a role to the victim in the negotiation leading to settlement of criminal cases either through courts, Lok Adalats or Plea-bargaining. The Committee is of the opinion that there should be pre-trial sittings, which would in turn facilitate compounding of offences. This calls for the court to adopt a more interventionist and authoritative role than has been traditionally observed in identifying the issues for trial and in securing the proper preparation by both parties to deal efficiently with them. This in turn requires adequate preparation, not only by the parties and their advocates, but also by the Judge with the benefit of sufficient time out of court in which to do it. Provisions for such pretrial sittings have been made in several countries. The suggestion of an arrears eradication scheme The committee also suggested the setting up of the arrears eradication scheme, whereby the services of the appointed judge, ideally a dynamic problem solving person, could be utilized for the compounding or quick settlement of cases. The committee feels that plea-bargaining is a very viable alternative when it comes to the quick settlement of cases where the accused is penitent, and its usage and success in the USA suggests the same. Also it is felt that Section 360 of the CrPC (Order to release on probation of good conduct or after admonition) is underutilized. The caveat would be that unlike the USA where it is available for all offences, it not be extended for offences against women and children. Also it has to be well administered to prevent misuses, so that the taint of legalizing a crime not be attached to it. Another recommendation as part of the arrears eradication scheme is that part time courts may also sit on holidays. Part time courts can conveniently be assigned compoundable cases for settlement. The benefit of compounding of offences recommended by this Committee is advised to be extended to pending cases as well. A concerted effort should be made to dispose of the cases by compounding or settlement wherever that is permissible in law, it has been suggested. If the compounding offences is there in the statute even under old Cr.P.C. there is no reason why, when the accused is not let off but he is sentenced for a lesser sentence plea bargaining should not be included in the Criminal Justice System, so that the object of securing conviction and also reducing the period of trial can be achieved and reduced pendency can also be achieved in one go. Primary recommendation with regards to compounding of offences However, the Committee is of the view that in addition to the offences prescribed in the Code as compoundable with or without the order of the court there are many other offences which deserve to be included in the list of compoundable offences. Where the offences are not of a serious character and the impact is mainly on the victim and not on the values of the society, it is desirable to encourage settlement without trial. The Committee feels that many offences should be added to the table in 320(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Committee further recommends offences which are compoundable with the leave of the court, may be made compoundable without the leave of the court. These are matters which should be entrusted to the Committee. In certain cases, the committee has suggested that certain acts be given only a minor punishment as meting out imprisonment leads to social stigma, which can further lead to more offences by that individual. Hence even in this regard of the rec lassification of offences into major and minor offences, the compounding of offences plays a major role. Specific recommendation to address the ambiguity over section 498-A Section 498-A of the IPC is provision which is intended to protect the wife from being subjected by the husband or his relatives to cruelty. But what has bothered the Committee are the provisions which make this offence non-bailable and non-compoundable. As this offence is made non-bailable and not compoundable it make reconciliation and returning to marital home almost impossible This view of the Malimath committee finds support in the judgment of the Bombay HC in the case of Suresh V. State  [21]  where the learned judge recommended that the parliament amend article 320 to include 498 A in the list compoundable offences. Reasoning of the committee The woman victim lodges an F.I.R alleging commission of offence under Section 498A, her husband, in-laws and other relatives of the husband would be arrested immediately. If she has no independent source of income she has to return to her natal family where also support may not be forthcoming. Her claim for maintenance would be honoured more in default than in payment especially if the husband has lost his job or suspended from his job due to the arrest. Where maintenance is given, it is often a paltry sum. (Thus the woman is neither here nor there. She has just fallen from the frying pan into the fire.) Even when there is a divorce, or reconciliation, the criminal case continues as Section 498A is non compoundable. If the wife feels that she was very impulsive when she made the complaint, and she wants to withdraw it, there are several legal obstacles in the way owing to the offence being non-compoundable.- She may change her mind and get into the mood to forget and forgive. The husband may realize the mistakes committed and come forward to turn a new leaf for a loving and cordial relationship. The woman may like to seek reconciliation. But this may not be possible due to the legal obstacles. Even if she wishes to make amends by withdrawing the complaint, she can not do so as the offence is non compoundable. The doors for returning to family life stand closed. She is thus left at the mercy of her natal family The committees conclusion This section, therefore, helps neither the wife nor the husband. The offence being non-bailable and non-compoundable makes an innocent person undergo stigmatization and hardship. Heartless provisions that make the offence non-bailable and non-compoundable operate against reconciliations. It is therefore necessary to make this offence (a) bailable and (b) compoundable to give a chance to the spouses to come together. The committee report mentions at several places that the list of compoundable offences be enlarged, for the purposes of speedy justice and its belief that such modes of settlement of cases do not offend any principles of criminal lawà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦although it fails to mention what these offences are. All these recommendations have been incorporated into the crpc through the latest amendments. Conclusion

The Wife Of Bath English Literature Essay

The Wife Of Bath English Literature Essay Writer Geoffrey Chaucer was born in 1342, when he was born is still unknown. Chaucer became a knight and a member of the kings home. Chaucer ran many errands all around Europe. With increased knowledge of society, it paved the way for The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer died in October 1400 and buried in Westminster Abbey. Chaucer was one of the first to have gathered in what is now known as the Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey. The Canterbury Tales were written sometime between 1387 and 1400. Coming from all walks of life; It is a tale of a numerous of people traveling together, portrayed as pilgrims, to Canterbury. The Canterbury tales were incomplete even the completed tales were not revised. There is also no order to how the tales are to be told. As the printing press had not been invented, The Canterbury Tales have been read as hand written manuscripts. The Wife Of Bath She initiates her story by telling of her experiences she has had in her life. The Wife of Bath begins her story by making it clear that she has always followed the rules of experience. The wife could easily be classified as an expert (for lack of better words); because she has had five husbands consecutively, she surely has had enough experience to classify her as such. To her there is nothing out of the ordinary with having had five significant others and has a very hard time understanding Jesus rebuke to the woman at the well. In her own defense, the Wife refers to King Solomon, who himself had many wives, and as for the admonishment of St. Paul that it is better to be married than to burn in sin. Sexual organs are created for their normal functions and for the purposes of pleasure. And unlike many senile women, she has always been one to constantly have sex on her mindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦naturally. She then goes on to tell of her past husbands and allows for how she was able to reign supreme when it came to each of them. Unfortunately, when she does thisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦he dies. She then goes on to tell of how she gained control over husband number five. At the funeral of husband number 4, she carried a lot of lust for a young man by the name of Jankyn, for which she had already had eyes on prior. They dated for a short period, she and Jankyn were married quickly as well, even considering the fact that she was much older than he. At the end of the honeymoon, she was taken back when she found out that Jankyn spent a lot his time reading, specifically from a set that downed on women. One night in particular, from this collection, he began to read aloud, He was reading the story of Eve, he read about all that he could find, like unfaithful women, murderesses, prostitutes, and so on, the wife of bath was unable to tolerate these stories for long, before she became enraged, took the book and hit Jankyn with it. She hit him so hard that he fell from being unbalanced, and into the fire he went. As he hopped up and he lunged at her, she fell to the floor from the strength of his hit, when she hit the ground she acted as though she were dead. When jankyn leaned over her, to examine the damage, she hit him one more time and once again acted as though she were dead. Infuriated, he promised her anything if she just would live, and this is how she was able to have control over husband number five. From that very moment until the day he passed away, she was the best possible wife she could be to him. Her story, restates her belief that a successful marriage is one in which the wife is to have complete control. In King Arthurs court there was a handsome yet deceitful young knight, who comes to and rapes a beautiful young woman. People are very angered at the young knights actions and vowed for the justice of the young lady. The law states, is written and demands that the perpetrator has his head cut off. For their own reasons the queen herself and some other maidens of the court pleaded for permission to have control over the fate of the knight. Inevitably, the queen gives the knight one year to figure out what the average womans wildest desires are. The time passes very quickly. The knight comes back to the court already knowing that he is going to die, He then sees a group of young maidens mingling around. As he gets closer to them, the run in fear, the only one left is an old angry woman, and she comes to him and is wondering what it is that he wants. The knight goes on to tell of his endeavors to her, and the woman guarantees him the exact response, he should give to the court, in return, he must do what she asks she saved his life. He obliges, and later, the queen asks him to respond, he comes forward with the right answer on that of what womens wildest desires are; it beingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦total control over their husbands. Because the old woman ended up giving the knight the right answer, she insists that she be his lover and his friend. The knight, hesitantly, obliges. The wedding night approaches, and he pretty much ignores his new wife, who is right next to him. He eventually lets her know that her age, as well as some of her other physical attributes disgust him. She reminds him simply that love is not pinpointed on how one looks but of true and honest understanding. The old woman tells him that her looks can be seen as an only a physical assetperiod. Now if she were good looking, plenty of men would be after her; with her existing state, just as she is, he can rest on the fact that he has an all-around good partner. The Wifes tale is quite interesting in the fact that it is lengthier than the actual story itself. The Wife of Bath uses the story to define knowledge about experience versus authority as well as igniting the points that she wishes to reveal in her story: What women really want is total control over their significant other. Due to the fact that she has had five husbands one right after the other, she feels as though when she talks it is with authority from all of the experience. In the prologue, she tells how she gained control over them all. In the church, antifeminism was a large contributing factor. Women were portrayed as almost like demons; they were very sexual, greedy, clingy, and a nagging pain and they were looked down on by the spiritual church. Women were unable to participate in church functions by any means. Also multiple marriages were considered suspicious. The Wife of Bath carefully remembers the words of the lord as stated in his written scripture. With her knowledge of his word, it shows that she is not a mindless human being. Furthermore, in Chaucers time, if you still had your virginity, you were highly thought of, especially when it comes to the church. Saints were glorified because they would rather be dead then to their lose virginity, or some suffered badly to keep their virginity later being considered as martyrs and at that point were blessed. After the Wife of Bath reserves from the word of the lord, she appears to gain common senseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦asking if all were virgins, she questions, then who would give birth to more virgins? This allows for the sexual organs to be used for pleasure as well as for the birthing end of it: She admits that she is full of life that enjoys sex and by no means is ashamed by it. The interesting part of story of the Wife of Bath is by far her argument on traditions or with the church, but the portrayal a living being. The wife is a woman of great emotion, and character. Preceding her five husbands and all of her hardships she has unfortunately lost her looks and her young nature yet, still she still lives on. With ease, he now has the ability to thoroughly enjoy her life. All throughout the Wifes tale, values and headships, are taken back or dismissed. During the start of the tale, King Arthur bows down to the ruling of Guinevere .Alternatively the women, over the men, are judges; and the knowledge of the books and the scriptures signifies a lot of experience. The knight, who was the rapist that jeopardized the purity of a young womans virginity, is saved by another woman, an old ugly woman at that. Lastly, the old woman gives the knight a choice, yet both choices are unbearable. When he allows her make the choice, he inevitably abandons his own freedom in courtesy of the womans power. Work Cited Reynolds, George Fullmer. The Staging of Elizabethan Plays at the Red Bull Theater 1605-1625. New York: Modern Language Association, 1940. Print. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Wife of Baths Tale. Canterbury Tales. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Major Authors. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2006. 226-234. http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/canterbury-tales/geoffrey-chaucer-biography.html

Why I Love Cats Essay -- essays research papers

Reason I love Cats . The first day I brought Mimi home , I regretted it immediately. She was a kitten then and was crying all the time . It was my first cat and I did not know what to do . I kept thinking that there must be something wrong with her . I wanted to bring her back to the pet shop but I decided to just wait and see what happen . Finally Mimi got used to her surroundings and she became my best friend . Caring for a cat means much more than simply making sure they have plenty of food and water , it requires a lot of patience and love . The reason I chose a cat instead of a dog in the first place is because my apartment did not allow dogs . Most apartment don’t . Also because cat require less attention which I would be able to give . They are independent animals who are usually litter trained and does not need to be walked . Cats are quiet animals and not as aggressive in comparison to dogs . They can also live in small places as they are happy just being indoor . They need less grooming and they clean themselves a lot . People who want to get a cat should be aware of what to expect and the responsibility of having a cat . Cats are very different from dogs and most of the time , they cannot be led with a leash . They hate traveling on cars and have difficulty adjusting to changes . Moving can be very painful and traumatic experience for a cat . They like to cuddle but sometimes , they totally ignore you . They are temperamental animals ...

Photosynthesis Investigation :: Papers

Photosynthesis Investigation This is the method used by plants to obtain their food. Plants which use this process only are known as Autotrophic (self feeding) organisms. Plants produce carbohydrates as a result of Photosynthesis, predominately glucose. If a plant cannot use the glucose immediately it stores it in the form of starch. If the carbohydrates were stored as glucose, this would have a drastic effect on each plant cell. They would absorb water through osmosis, swell up and burst. Starch is osmotically inert. Photosynthesis takes place in special mini-organs (organelles in plant cells called Chloroplasts). When chloroplasts are carrying out photosynthesis they make temporary stores of starch in their cells, in the form of grains. So the presence of starch grains in leaf tissue is an indication that photosynthesis is occurring or has occurred very recently. How do we test a leaf to see whether starch is presence in leaf cells? The iodine test for starch. Method- step 1 Â · Half full a beaker with water and bring to the boil. Â · Detach a leaf from a plant and place it into the water. Â · Boil the leaf for two minutes. Â · Remove the leave from the hot water; keep the hot water for next step. Step 2 Â · Place the leaf in a boiling tube, filled with ethanol. Â · Put the boiling tube into the hot water kept from the last step. Â · Swirl the leaf in the ethanol at least once. Â · Continue with this programme until the leaf has turned pale yellow and the ethanol has turned green. Step 3 Â · Remove the boiling tube from the hot water. Â · Carefully tip the ethanol away (into the beaker) and remove the leaf. Â · Drop the leaf back into the hot water, swirl it to remove any ethanol, then place it carefully on a white tile. Â · Spread the leaf out gently until it is flat. Step 4 Â · Using a dropper, carefully add a few drops of iodine to the leaf

Organizations And Behavior Essay

Introduction Management is an important activity in the performance of an organization.   Management involves integrated activities which together ensue that there is effective planning, control, and organization of recourses to lead the organization to achieve its goals and objectives. This means that managers need to have a wide range of information pertaining to different  Ã‚   departments in the organization. In this paper we are going to discus different management perspectives through accomplishment of different tasks.   The paper will look into organization structure can culture, motivation of employees, working with others in teams and groups, and organization leadership and management. Task 1 Comparing organization structure and culture of McDonalds and King George Pizza in Canada The fast food is one of the most competitive industries in the world.   The fast food industry has been recording higher rates of growth in North America including U.S and Canada than any other part of the world. MacDonald is a major player in the North American fast food industry while King George Pizza is one of small fast food establishment in British Columbia. Although the two companies operate in the same industry, there are a lot of similarity and differences in the organization structure and culture. This is based on the difference that comes as result of difference in their operation. McDonald organization structure is based on the size of its operation  Ã‚   which means that the structure has to adapt to the franchise nature of its operation (Haas and Wotruba 2003, p. 92). On the other hand, King Georges Pizza is a local restaurant operating just one branch in British Columbia. The culture between the two organization is also similar and at the same time with some differences. One of the key successes of MacDonald in the fast food industry has been its strong customer oriented culture. McDonald has adopted a market oriented culture which ensures that the company understands its consumers very well.   On the other hand, King George Pizza has also adopted a market oriented culture but its marketing activities have not been well targeted to the consumers like those of McDonalds. Due to its larger size of operation, MacDonald has adopted a bureaucratic structure that allows for standardization of its operations. The company has adopted tall structure in order to provide for standardization of operations and decision making process. On the hand, King George Pizza has adopted a pre-bureaucratic structure which lacks standardization with management strategies meant to meet the operational needs of the small establishment. The success of McDonalds has been cemented on it culture and organization structure. Since it was established, the company has taken consumer oriented hospitality culture that keeps customers coming for more.   McDonald is one of the companies which use a huge part of their revenues on customer service and advertisement in order to create good relationship with its customers. Apart from the customer oriented culture, the leadership of the company is democratic and ensures inclusion of employees in the decision making process.   The company takes its employees as the most important capital asset  Ã‚   for its growth.   Therefore McDonald employees are well motivated.   The structure of the organization has ensured standardized operations in all its establishments. Although there is management control from the head office, the franchises are given freedom in decision making process to make decisions which fits their operation (Haas and Wotruba 2003, p. 92). On the other hand, the King George Pizza has adopted an organization culture and structure that fits its operation. Like MacDonald, the company has a strong consumer oriented culture and although it does not have a customer service department, the employees have been well trained on customer service.   This has ensured the continued flow of customer to the small establishment in a competitive fast food market. At the same time, the company has adopted the right structure for its small operations. This structure ensures that there is strong control of the operation of the establishment by the management. Task 2 – Approaches to Management and Leadership Management approaches and how they can be implemented Management is one of the most important factions in the organization. Management involves playing key roles of planning and organizing the resources for the organization to lead it to achieve the set goals. Research has documented a correlation between the effectiveness of the management and the overall performance of the organization. There are different approaches to management depending on the kind of organization that one is dealing with (Haas and Wotruba 2003, p. 92).  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most common approaches to management is the project management.   This approach ahs been used for decades although it has been undergoing several changes in the recent past. Under this approach, the management takes the organization as a project that has specific goals and objectives to achieve. Therefore the guiding principle in the management is the requirements of the project and the fulfillment of the mission needs of the organization. This approach therefore assumes that the organization runs in cycles like a project and in each cycle, there are specific objectives that have to be leading the achievement of the overall goal.   However, this approach is  Ã‚   more focused on the technical mission or the technical aspects of the projection and various plans of action  Ã‚   and milestones to be achieved are the guiding pillars for the organization. Under this approach, the management takes into consideration activities like team building, budgeting, tracking the tasks as assigned to different individuals in the organization, reviewing individual performance, and many others. The success of the project or the organization is based on the way it meets its deliverables on the stipulated time and the set budget. This means that this approach is a bit rigid and set to details. To implement this approach, the management has to understand the goals and objectives of the organization and then formulate the necessary plan that will lead the organization to achieve the set goals and objectives. Another common management approach is the Balanced score card approach. This is a strategic planning and management system which is widely used in business, government, non-profit organization, and in other organizations with an aim of aligning the acclivities of the business with the vision and the overall growth strategy.   This approach is also aimed at improving the internal and external communications and toe monitor the progress in the performance of the organization in light of the set goals. This management approach is also focused on the drivers for the future growth and performance of the organization.   To achieve this, the management prioritizes the projects or initiatives which are likely to assist the organization to achieve these goals.   In order to implement this approach, the management has to view organization from four different perspectives including the learning and growth perspective, the business process perspective, the customer perspective, and financial perspective (Haas and Wotruba 2003, p. 92). Operational change As the U.S economy recede, most companies have been forced to undergo operations changes which are meant to reduce the cost of operation to align with the changing economic condition. The U.S Automotive industry which is on its knees due to threats of bankruptcy has seen a number of players in the industry under various operational changes in order to reduce the cost of operation. With the large burden of meeting the high labor cost, General Motors is one of the companies which as restructured its operation in a number of ways in order to cut its cost. Although the changes have emanated from the economical factors which may be beyond the control of the company, it has result to massive layoff and closing down of its plants in order to reduce the cost of operation. However, this has not gone well with UAW which is the trade union representing automotive workers in the US. The issues for confrontation has been the agreement that were made earlier between the company and the worker and even in the current financial crisis, the UAW has refused to let the deal go. Apparently the company could have retained some of the labor force and lowered the rate of pay per hour. At this time we can say the company is in a crisis. Managing change during a crisis is one of the most difficult tasks for any organization. At the time of crisis the organization needs to have a strong leadership style that does not compromise on the need to bring the organization back to its feet. Therefore authoritative leadership should be used to manage the current restructuring taking place in Ford General Motors. Authoritative leadership would minimize the number of time the management ha s to engage with the employees and the unions since the union has failed to recognize the current financial situation of the company. Task 3 – Motivational Theories In the 20th century management, the organizational assets were the most important capital for an organization. However, this has drastically changed in the 21st century and employees have become the most important capital for any organization. A well motivated workforce  Ã‚   can help an organization to have a competitive edge in the market which other organizations may find difficult to replicate.  Ã‚   One of the most important factors in human resource management is to ensure the overall satisfaction of the employees.  Ã‚   The main duty of human resource management is to ensure that employees are represented in the management and their affairs are taken care of. Motivation of the employees is one of the human resource practices that have been shown to increase employee satisfaction and therefore low rate of employee turnover and higher retention. Different organizations have taken different approaches to employee motivation (Weightman 2008, p. 45).   Research has documented that  Ã‚   despite the varied methods of employees motivation, monetary incentives remains the most effective.   Employee motivation can be described using behavioral and social approach. According to the behavioral approach, the management needs to have a clear understanding of the employees including the incentives and rewards that are used to motivate employees in the company.   In this case the managers have a duty of identifying the specific behavior that need to be reinforced in employees. These may include outstanding performance of the employee, punctuality, neatness, accuracy in completion of tasks and others. Any employee who shows improvements in these behaviors need to be rewarded to reinforce the development of those positive behaviors. On the other hand, social approaches include the integration of the cognitive and the behavioral aspects.   This theory view motivation as a factor produced by two forces including the expectation of the individual to succeed at work and the need to gain vicarious experience. Once the management recognizes the individual expectations, then they should provide the approach environment that will help the individual employee to achieve these. According the Maslow hierarchy of needs, we have different needs in our life that has to be fulfilled. The Maslow hierarchy therefore assumes that there are those basic needs that have to be met for the employees to the motivated.   The Maslow hierarchy of needs can be used to categorize how employees have different needs that have to be met for them to be motivated (Weightman 2008, p. 45).   .   The Maslow hierarchy theory starts with the basic needs up to social need. At the bottom there is physiological needs, safety, social, esteem, and self actualization a the top This means that it is important to recognize the specific needs of the employee that has to be met first according their hierarchy of needs. According to this theory, there are some basic needs that have to be met and in our life, we struggle to meet these needs. This means that our quest in life is to climb up the Maslow hierarchy to meet these needs.   Therefore if such needs are not satisfied, then individual motivation will arise from to satisfy them.   In line with fulfillment of these needs, a business therefore needs to offer different incentives to the workers in order to fulfill the different need as they progress up the ladder. Another theory of motivation is the two factor theory of Hertzberg.   Also known as hygiene theory,  Ã‚   it emphasizes more on the factors in the working environment which causes satisfaction and dissatisfaction.   The following table lists the top six factors which cause dissatisfaction and the top six factors causing satisfaction. Factors leading to dissatisfaction Leading to satisfaction Company policy Achievement Supervision Recognition Relationship with the boss Work itself Work conditions Responsibility Salary Advancement Relationship with peers Growth Like Maslow, Hertzberg reasoned that there are different individual needs which can be satisfied by money while there are others which cannot be satisfied by money. He argued that physiological needs or basic needs should be satisfied first while the other physiological needs should be satisfied later (Weightman 2008, p. 45).   . The implications of Hertzberg theory assert that the management should not only meet the hygiene factor to avoid the dissatisfaction of employees but they must also provide other factors which intrinsic to work in order to have satisfied employees. For example IBM, which is one of the most prosperous ICT companies in the world, has taken various strategies including flexible working schedules, pay per performance, and others in order to motivate their employees. The company takes an order from a client and allocates it to the worker who then works closely with the client to ensure that they meet all the technological challenges given by the client. Task 4 – Working with others, teamwork, groups and group dynamics Difference between teams and groups In many instances, we tend to use the work group and team interchangeably. However there are many differences between a tem and a group in the real application of the two.   In management we usually stress the importance of team building and not group building. This is because the strength of a team depends on the common purpose and the connectivity of the individual members. On the other hand, the strength of a group come the volume or the willingness to carry out the command given by the leader. In real application, it is very easy to form a group rather than a team. A group can be formed   by individuals of different   types and background but eventually it will be very difficult to achieve the commonality between the group members.   It is very difficult to build consensus in a group for a leader that it is in a team.   Unlike a group which is simple to form, a team is quite difficult to form.    The members of a team are not selected on the ground of commonality but on the ground of compatibility in different  Ã‚   complementary skills. For example a business team can be made up of an accountant, a salesman, secretary, and others.   Every member plays a different role but which are integrated to achieve a common goal. Unlike in a group, there is no room for conflicts in a team. The role of teams in a small and a big organization differs in some aspects although all the teams have the same role of achieving a set goal. However, teams in a small organization may be easier to form and evaluate and their process of work may be simpler due to the size of their operation. On the other hand, teams in a larger organization may take time to form since all members have to be consulted. Their process of work may be a bit difficult since they have a large operation to cover. Application of Tuckman and Jensen team development model Tuckman and Jensen present us with four stages which define group development.   Although the process can be subconscious, the four stages present the process which all groups go through in their formation. The first stage is the forming stage in which the individual behavior is defined by the desire to be accepted by other members of the team (McGrath and Tschan 2004, p. 61).   At this stage, serious issues, feelings, controversy, or conflict are usually avoided.   The individuals get more focused on adapting to their roles and gather information about others. The next stage is storming stage in which the group remains good to the other only when important issues are addressed.   There are minor confrontations which are dealt with or are ignored. These conflicts are related to work or relationship in the group.   The next stage is the norming stage in which the rules of engagement for the group member are established. At this stage, members understands the other well and the experience the efforts and experience of the other. However, individuals at this stage are resistance to change especially from outside for fear of group break up (McGrath and Tschan 2004, p. 61). The last stage is the performing stage which not many groups usually reach this stage.   This stage is characterized by interdependence and flexibility and every group member understand their role and trust each other. The group identity, loyalty and the performance are high as members become task oriented. How communication methods can affect team performance in a large multi national organization. Communication is one of the most important factors for optimum performance of an organization.   The communication process helps the organizations to pass important operation details from one department to the other. The communication structure in an organization is also very important since determines the flow of information from the management to the employees.   The  Ã‚   communication structure in an organization should ensure the smooth flow of information between the dyad in the work place. However, communication methods can affect team performance in multinational organizations. In most multinational organizations, the teams may be allocated to a certain function far away from the managements of the organization. This means that the team may be faced with the difficulty of enquiring important details regarding their duties from the management. At the same time, there is a high likelihood that the team will be made up of individuals using different languages. This means that the team will require an interpreter for it to function effectively (McGrath and Tschan 2004, p. 61). While forming teams for multinational organizations, language barrier should be one of the most important factors to consider. Bibligraphy: Haas, R.W. & Wotruba, T.R 2003, Management: Concepts, Practice and Cases, Texas: Business Publications, Inc McGrath, J. E., & Tschan, F 2004, Temporal matters in social psychology: Examining the role of time in the lives of groups and individuals. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Weightman, J 2008, The Employee Motivation Audit, Cambridge Strategy Publications

Capstone 9 Hsm260

Capstone 9 Usha Dillard April 17, 2013 HSM/260 Wanda Rainey-Reed I think it is very important especially if you want to improve the services that are being provided to the clients, no organization wants to have a loss, and every organization wants to have growth, especially when it deals with health sector. So having a proper financial management for the human service organization would give it an edge over other organization in Quality of Service and Net growth per year.Which I think that many HR people are not financially aware and this impacts their decisions, but by then having this knowledge it will give them a competitive advantage. Also as well rounded look at the finance’s which effect developing their personal awareness to operational issues and marketing issues. The knowledge of financial management is essential as the human service professional strives to create a tenable and largely acceptable model that serves the collective benefits of a group or a community that they are trying to reach.Each professional in the organization should have a grasp on budgetary allocations of different facets of societal work like social welfare policy analysis, human services management, community organization, health services etc. The human service professional must know if the funds allocated are judiciously spent on all the wings of the welfare activity. For this the human service professional should work in tandem with the policy makers to see the program is adequately funded and help them devise the plans and explain them the situation at grass root levels.The professional should also ensure that cost-cutting measures are implemented wherever applicable and identify areas that are either surplus/scarcely funded areas and intimate the same to program’s The human service professional decent knowledge in financial management helps them to be a better team player and helps chalk out a chart for better promotion of social welfare activities in their com munities.Example’s why needed: 1. The complexity of client problems appears to be growing, as are expectations that agencies will be accessible, accountable, and better able to document outcomes. 2. Funding limits constrain agency efforts to offer competitive salaries and to fully fund training programs for all staff and board members.

Ethan Frome Analysis Essay

Major themes in Ethan Frome include silence, isolation, illusion, and the consequences that are the result of living according to the rules of society. Wharton relies on personal experiences to relate her thematic messages. Throughout her life as a writer, Wharton would schedule the time that she wrote around social engagements and she did not readily discuss her writing. As a result, she was familiar with silence and isolation. The rules of society did not condone a woman who was a member of the upper class working, much less as a professional writer. Societal rules also frowned upon divorce. Wharton lived in a loveless marriage for years before she took a risk and divorced Teddy Wharton, her husband for almost thirty years. Throughout the novel Wharton focuses on silence as a major theme. In the introduction, the author describes her characters as â€Å"granite outcroppings . . . half emerged from the soil, and scarcely more articulate.† Each of the three major characters is encased in his/her own silence. Ethan, a quiet man by nature, returns to Starkfield following the death of his father to run the family farm and sawmill. Because he is too busy working to make small talk with the villagers and his sick mother stops speaking, Ethan becomes imprisoned in a â€Å"mortal silence.† He experiences a brief reprieve when Zeena arrives to care for his mother; but after his mother’s death and his subsequent marriage to Zeena, Zeena falls silent also. Communication between the couple is minimal and superficial. After Mattie’s arrival, Zeena forces a smothering silence on her also with her â€Å"fault-finding (that is) of the silent kind.† Ethan is able to share his passion for the wonders of nature with Mattie; however, when conversation takes a turn towards intimacy, silence returns and all Ethan can say is, â€Å"Come along.† The characters are unable to communicate with each other to di spel their own loneliness. It isn’t until Zeena forces Mattie to leave the Frome household that Ethan and Mattie express their feelings for each other. They abandon rational thought as they attempt to commit suicide and enter a silent hell in which the only verbal communication to be heard is Zeena and Mattie’s complaining. Isolation, another major theme in the novel, is not self-imposed before the tragedy that befalls Mattie and Ethan, but is enforced upon them by outside circumstances. Ethan tried to escape the isolation of Starkfield and his father’s farm by going off to the technological college at Worcester. He began to cultivate his own social traits and to overcome his reticence; however, his father’s death forced him to give up college and return to the farm and his ill mother. After his marriage to Zeena, Ethan is imprisoned by the farm, millwork, and caring for Zeena. He is physically isolated from the world at large and is also cut off from the possibility of any human fellowship that life in a village might afford. Mattie and Zeena are isolated characters also. Mattie is isolated by the deaths of bot h parents and the ill will of most of her relatives. She moves to the Fromes’, an unfamiliar farmhouse and, except for church socials, is cut off from contact with human beings other than the Fromes. Because Zeena is consumed by her many illnesses, she rarely leaves the farmhouse, and only speaks to Ethan and Mattie when voicing her complaints or demands. Because the attempted escape from isolation by Ethan and Mattie fails tragically, Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena are left to spend their lives in an isolation even more complete than that from which they tried to flee. Illusion, a false interpretation or perception, is an important theme in the novel. Illusion affords each of the three main characters a means of escape from the reality of the silent and isolated lives they lead. Ethan would † . . . imagine that peace reigned in his house† when Zeena stopped watching Mattie so closely after her arrival. He wants to believe that Mattie’s smiles and certain gestures are just for him. Ethan dreams of being with Mattie always; in fact, â€Å"he was never so happy with her (Mattie) as when he abandoned himself to these dreams.† The night that Zeena went to Bettsbridge, Ethan imagines them (Mattie and himself) sitting â€Å"on each side of the stove, like a married couple.† When Zeena insists that Mattie leave their household, Ethan tries to convince himself that Zeena will change her mind. His illusion about running away with Mattie fizzles when he faces reality — he can not afford one ticket, much less two. Mattie dreams of spending her life with Ethan. Ironically, her illusion becomes a reality. She does spend her life with Ethan, but as an invalid cared for by Zeena, not as Ethan’s wife, as she had imagined. Zeena’s illusions are unhealthy. Her hypochondria enables her to escape into self-pity and self-indulgence. The smash-up forces her to abandon her illusions of withdrawing from all her household responsibilities through the device of a hired housekeeper. The imprisonment experienced by an individual living according to the rules of society is a major theme inEthan Frome. The message that Wharton conveys through Ethan is that when people fear they are violating the rules of society, they risk becoming enslaved by those rules. Ethan doesn’t leave his wife because he feels bound by his marriage vows. He dreams about being married to Mattie; however, even as he writes his goodbye letter to Zeena, and subsequently talks to Mrs. Hale, his conscience does not allow him to follow through with his wishes. Instead, the rules of society rule his life and he remains entrapped in a loveless marriage. Symbols in Ethan Frome enrich the themes found in the novel as well as Wharton’s characterizations. A symbol functions literally as a concrete object and figuratively as a representation of an idea. Symbols allow writers to compress complicated ideas or views into an image or word. The most important use of symbolic imagery in Ethan Frome is the winter setting, which is first described in the prologue and is carried throughout the main story. Harmon Gow’s assessment of Ethan Frome early in the prologue is that he has endured too many Starkfield winters. From that point on, winter presides over the tragedy in all its manifestations of snow, ice, wind, cold, darkness, and death. The Narrator speculates that the winters in Ethan’s past must have brought about a suppression of life and spirit. Winter is also symbolic of the isolation, loneliness, and immobility that Ethan experiences. The name of the town, Starkfield, symbolizes the devastating and isolating effects of the harsh winters on the land and the men who work the land. The name is also symbolic of the stark and carefully composed prose Wharton used to write the story. Other symbols include the dead vine on the front porch of Fromes’ farmhouse that symbolizes the dead and dying spirits that inhabit the house and its adjacent graveyard, the farmhouse itself that has lost the â€Å"L† seems to be symbolic of Ethan (the house looks â€Å"forlorn† and â€Å"lonely†), it stands alone without support — isolated and lonely. The image of the butterfly, which has defied the cold and death of winter symbolizes freedom; freedom that Ethan is unable to attain because he is trapped in a loveless marriage. The cushion that Ethan throws across his study is the only cushion that Zeena ever made for him. Throwing it across the floor symbolizes his growing rejection of Zeena and his desire to run away with Mattie. Ethan thinks Mattie’s hair is one of her most beautiful features; it is symbolic of her free, happy, and open personality. Zeena’s hair, on the other hand, is always unattractively crimped and confined with pins, just as her personality seems pinched and constrained. The symbolic use of Mattie’s hair is more important at the climax of the novel, when it represents beauty and love, to which Ethan is willing to give his love — but can’t. The symbols used by Wharton in Ethan Frome reinforce the themes of silence, isolation, and entrapment; feelings that Ethan experiences i n his marriage. Wharton establishes patterns of imagery by using figurative language — language meant to be taken figuratively as well as literally. In Ethan Frome, Wharton’s descriptive imagery is one of the most important features of her simple and efficient prose style. Her descriptions serve a definite stylistic and structural purpose. The figurative language used by Wharton includes metaphors and similes. Metaphorscompare two unlike things without using words of comparison (such as like or as). For example, in the beginning of the novel, Wharton gives readers the feeling of the bitterness and hardness of the winter by setting the constellation, Orion, in a â€Å"sky of iron.† When Ethan and Mattie enter the Frome household after walking home, the kitchen has â€Å"the deadly chill of a vault after the dry cold of the night.† This image is appropriate to the living death that Ethan and Mattie experience in the years after their accident. Their lives do become cold and dead. The imagery associated with Zeena is bleak and cold also. When Ethan sees her before her trip to Bettsbridge, she sits in â€Å"the pale light reflected from the banks of snow,† which makes â€Å"her face look more than usually drawn and bloodless.† In contrast, the imagery associated with Mattie is associated with summer and natural life. Mattie’s change in mood reminds Ethan of â€Å"the flit of a bird in the branches† and he feels that walking with her is similar to â€Å"floating on a summer stream.† Later in the novel, when Ethan goes downstairs to tell Mattie that she will have to leave their house, their conversation has the effect of â€Å"a torch of warning† in a â€Å"black landscape.† Similes, comparisons of two unlike things that use words of comparison such as like oras, are direct comparisons that Wharton uses throughout the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Ethan’s perception of Mattie’s face is â€Å"like a window that has caught the sunset,† and later, he thinks her face seems â€Å"like a wheat field under a summer breeze.† As Ethan and Mattie walk home from the dance, Ethan reveals to Mattie that he had been hiding while she talked to Denis Eady. Wharton describes the moment when â€Å"her wonder and his laughter ran together like spring rills in a thaw.† The dead cucumber vine at the Frome farmhouse looks â€Å"like the crape streamer tied to the door for a death.† And, when Zeena tells Ethan that she should have sent Mattie away long ago because people were â€Å"talking,† the effect of her comment on Ethan is â€Å"like a knife-cut across the sinews. . . . † As Mattie and Ethan approach their crippling accident, darkness prevails over the imagery. Darkness comes, â€Å"dropping down like a black veil from the heavy hemlock boughs.† The b lack veil causes the reader to think of a funeral. Such figurative language evokes vivid images that reveal characterization and reinforce Wharton’s themes. Edith Wharton’s writing style is characterized by simplicity and control. Her choice of vocabulary and sentence structure, which is as stark as the lives led by her protagonists, is deceptive. Throughout the novel, Wharton builds up patterns of imagery, patterns of behavior, and specially charged words; all of which serve a definite stylistic and structural purpose. One of the best examples of Wharton’s careful control is seen in the descriptions of the events immediately before and after the â€Å"smash-up.† As Mattie and Ethan ride the sled down the hill, Wharton captures the initial thrill of the speed and then Ethan’s frenzied determination to drive them straight into the elm tree. Her prose slows down as she evokes Ethan’s return to consciousness. Not only in this example, but everywhere in the novel, her style is restrained, so that the way the words are arranged enhances their meaning without calling attention to the cleverness of the arrange ment. Because Wharton refrains from using unnecessary, superfluous modifiers, her descriptions seem to be almost elliptical or incomplete. She chooses adjectives and adverbs carefully and uses them infrequently. Her imagery is always appropriate to the limitations of her characters and is simply and subtly stated. For example, when Mattie and Ethan spend the evening together, Wharton uses the imagery of warmth and cold to complement characterization. She uses adjectives related to warmth when describing Mattie, and adjectives related to cold to describe Zeena. Other examples of elemental nature found in Wharton’s imagery are stars, the seasons, animals, vegetation, light, and darkness. Wharton’s use of structure contributes to the depiction of Ethan’s tragedy. The prologue and the epilogue, which take place some twenty years after the events of the main story, are written in first person from The Narrator’s point of view. Structurally, these portions of the novel constitute a â€Å"frame† around the story itself; however, this frame is more than a decoration. The prologue not only establishes the nature of theme and action, but also begins the characterization of Zeena and Ethan Frome. It also sets the important patterns of imagery and symbolism and starts a tone of omniscient narration throughout the body of the novel. Ethan is the only character who is thoroughly explored. Wharton’s attention to minor details and her use of structure to relay Ethan’s complicated and tragic life story to readers enables her to portray her characters as victims of the rules of society.