Television: the Downfall of American Society

Sean Conway Professor Stevens WRT 102 Essay #2 Television: The Downfall of American Society Televisions have only been around since their debut in the middle of the 20th century and have since become a huge part of everyday life here in America. Originally having good intentions, the television and watching of television in the last couple of decades has changed greatly. The amount of time people spend watching their televisions has also changed in the sense that people spend much more time in front of the television than they used to.Some argue that television has had a huge negative effect on American families. In her essay, â€Å"Television: The Plug-In-Drug,† Marie Winn explores the ways in which television has lowered the quality of family life, rituals, and values. She recognizes that there is a problem with our society and the way in which it is consistently influenced by television. She shows this when she says, â€Å"Television’s contribution to family life ha s been an equivocal one,† (Winn 353).Winn is true in saying this because television has caused children across America to have undeveloped intelligence, creativity, and imagination. TV is also detrimental to family life, family relationships, and outside relationships as well. When the television made its first debut in the early to mid 20th century it came with good intentions. This idea of good intention however did not last long with the critics. As early as 1961 the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission referred to television as a â€Å"Vast Wasteland,† (351).Many other critics would come to share in his beliefs about television. There have been numerous books, articles, essays, and research done on the subject of television and its negative effects on children in particular. Marie Winn’s article is just one of many. The amount of time America’s youth spends watching television can be correlated to a decrease in the quality of the lives of children across this nation. As a result of watching too much television, children lack the proper development of intelligence, creativity, and imagination. Parents re so used to the idea of television that they do not think to link it to their family’s problems or issues. Winn mentions a few examples of this issue in her text, one of which being a family of two boys, ages three and seven. The boy’s entire evening after school revolves around their television shows. This same situation appears countless times in households across America. The reason that this is so bad is because when young children are spending all of their free time watching television they do not develop certain characteristics that they should be developing at this age.The children who spend more time in front of the television do not gain the experience that comes from playing sports, being part of a team/club, or getting to have a large group of friends to play and explore new things with. This i s why they do not develop certain characteristics which are all important traits to develop, especially at this young age. I know that when I was young, and still to this day, I always loved being outside and playing sports or other activities.I am so thankful for this because I now realize that by spending less time in front of the television I was able to learn so many more useful traits for life. Another aspect of life that television has a negative effect on in this country is family rituals. Family rituals are defined as â€Å"The part of family life that the families like about itself, is proud of, and wants formally to continue,† (354). Family rituals are extremely important because they are unique for the family and in most cases are what keeps a family together and close throughout years and generations.Somehow television has affected these rituals in many households. Winn uses an example of a young woman from Chicago in her article to show this effect. The young wom an tells how she comes from a large family that loved getting together over holidays and had many lasting rituals that never failed to appear. Except one year when her family got a television set in their house. This particular year, instead of the usual conversations and game playing the whole family crammed in front of the television to watch a football game.This is a perfect example of family rituals going down the drain due to television. Instead of interacting and having face-to-face conversations, everyone just stared at e screen without conversing at all. This validates Winn’s argument of television having a negative effect across the nation. Television also has a huge effect on not only family relationships but others outside relationships as well. Watching television causes people to get a false sense of reality and when presented with a real world situation do not know what to do or how to act.Winn states that, â€Å"The hours children spend in a one way relationsh ip with television people, an involvement that allows with no communication or interaction, must have some effect with their relationship with real-life people,† (Winn 355). Winn is correct in saying this and in fact she proves it when she supports it with examples. She writes about a teacher who says she has trouble interacting with people after watching television for a few hours. The teacher says that because there was no necessary effort while watching, it was hard to deal with real people who require effort to talk to.Also, â€Å"Studies have been done to show the importance of eye- to-eye contact in real-life relationships,† (355) says Winn, something not required while watching television. This is more evidence to further validate Winn’s argument against television. I was lucky enough to be very involved in sports and other activities to steer me away from television. I noticed from an early age that the children in school who were not athletic and had pro blems interacting with the other children were also the ones who spent many hours a day watching television or playing games on the television.Thankfully my group of friends were always active and outdoors. Swimming also took up a lot of my time. I still swim today at the collegiate level and I still do not have time for much television. People need to learn that although television is entertaining, there is almost always something better they could be doing. Most of the people living in this nation today were born into television and watching television has been irreplaceably drilled into the minds of Americans and some people would not know how to live a life without it.The reality of television is that it has severely negative effects on people, especially America’s youth who tend to spend way too much time sitting in front of television sets. Marie Winn was able to see the significance in this and writes about it in her article, â€Å"Television: The Plug-In-Drug. † The title speaks for itself; she believes that television has a huge negative effect on quality of life including family life, real-world relationships, character development and many other things as well.She proves her believes true throughout her work and shows the reader just how important it is to limit television viewing, especially for children who are watching more and more television each year. Without these limitations and more face-to-face interactions, this nation’s future may not be a bright one.Work Cited Winn, Marie. â€Å"Television: The Plug in Drug. † Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide. 10th edition. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. New York: Bedford, 2007.

Database Enviroment Essay

THE DATABASE ENVIRONMENT: A database defines a structure for storing information and it collects information that is organized in such a way that a computer program can quickly select desired pieces of data. A database can also be thought of as an electronic filing system. Data and information are extracted from a database by creating a query and then submitting it to the query database management system (DBMS) and it is posed in a language that only the DBMS can understand. PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS: The museum’s current system is efficient but there seems to be some problems with the rights and privileges to the current users. For example, all users currently have the rights to input registration dates for certain events. The current system in not tracking the dates therefor there is no log of how many people are attending or the dates that they are supposed to attend. There seems to be lost inventory because the inventory does not match the reports that are generated. Some other problems that may exist is if artwork is removed and it is not enter into the database location it will not be updated. The reports also take too long to generate and scan the inventory. This requires the help of a user who has better access to the system rights. The administrator will have the rights to go in, access information and change and fix issues that occur. The basic employees will have limited rights to access certain information such as certain artist and artwork in the museum as well as dates that the artist will be in the museum. There is also a need for an explicit backup and recovery implementation. The administrator also needs to track openings for new artwork in the museum. Security The administrative support can use the systems database along with other authorized personal as long as he or she has a username and a password to access it. The system is password protected and is a secure system. Security is a plus when using a database where many users will be accessing the system. There will be a set standard to what a user can and cannot do based on what their position is on the databases. OBJECTIVES: The Museum of Fine Arts needs to install an updated database to track the new and existing art work along with the location of the art and artist as well as new artist. It needs to store all of the artists information as far as phone numbers, how many pieces of art they have in the museum, as well as clients that have purchased artwork or that is interested in certain pieces of art. The database also needs to store the quantity of art pieces sold and its current inventory at the museum along with the prices. They also need to log the attendance of the people that come to the museum. This system is maintained so that personnel have the ability to check the artist details, updated artwork as well as the entire museum notices, if any should be in the database. SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES: The scope is to design a database that holds the museums information in a secure environment. The database design will encompass one or more functions in a single environment or department. One of the boundaries is working with the existing hardware. Since the new database system will use standard reusable components, such as standard date routines or file access routines that will be modified. We will improve service by providing an information system to respond to customer inquiries which is all screen based. Cost of implementing the database, training and training materials for the employees might be another boundary. We will also, be implementing a disaster recovery plan for the system. Data Specifications List- Purpose- The purpose is to store information about the artists as well as current and new artwork in the museum. The database will also store information about the entire inventory that is currently in the museum along with the sale prices. A list of the major entities and the attributes about which information will be captured. Entities Attributes 1. ArtworkYear and Date Made, size, name 2. ArtistName, Artist ID number, Phone number, 3. PriceHow many   SaleDate of purchase, Item Purchases, Cost of Item Functionality- The data will be used to generate reports and track the inventory that is in the museum as well as facilitate searching and matching of the artist and artwork. Data Quality- The art museums manager and assistant manager will work to keep the data up to date. The data quality of the art museum is very important to the operation of the business. Without data quality for the museum it could lead to the loss of cliental, artist, revenue and potential closing of the art museum. Business Rules- There is many business rules that apply to the database. To determine whether a client is considered â€Å"active† or â€Å"inactive† they should have some type of communication and or contribute artwork to the museum every six months. Certain client’s information is mandatory such as address but we need to have at least their name and two contact numbers. The art museums manager is the only one who has the authority to authorize particular transactions. Classifications –The classification schemes that might be used by the database is alphabetical order or last names first. Data, which is categorized in a meaningful way, is much easier to search, sort and report on. User Interface-The user interface should look and behave in a simple manor for the user to navigate between different parts of the database. Specific functionality should be implemented and easy to use for such things as searching, adding new records and updating existing records. Reports- There are many reports that are required. There needs to be an inventory report done weakly to track the inventory. There needs to be an expense report generated as well as a loss and gain report. Security- The access to certain data needs to be restricted by user name and password because some information in the database contains sensitive information. The manager will be the only one that can add, edit or delete information. The types of art, prices and the artist information will be accessible to people outside of the museum via the internet. Scale- The museum needs a large database considering the amount of work it is required to do for example, the records the database will contain and the fact that it is available 24 hours a day. Operating Environment- The museum will need a system that can be added to in the future. References: Management-Hub.Com. (2013). Understanding the Objectives of Database Management in an Organization. Retrieved February 2, 2013, from URL http://www.management-hub.com/database-management-objectives.html Benda, S. (2011).Constraints and the Test-Driven Database Retrieved January 30, 2013, from URL http://www.simple-talk.com Peter, R. and Coronel, C. (2009). Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management –Computers, Scope and Boundaries. Retrieved February 1, 2013 from URL http://books.google.com University of Phoenix. (2004).Week Two overview. Retrieved February 1, 2013, from University of Phoenix, Week Two, Resource. DBM/380-Database Designs Web site: www.ecampus.phoenix.edu

A firework display Essay

The dull, murky water of Lake Windermere was surrounded by the happiness and laughter of the anticipating audience. Children spontaneously danced round the hypnotising bonfire, only to be outshone by the dazzling fireworks as they spiralled into the pitch black sky. Fragrant delicious smells filtered through the air as food was prepared. Bright lights and heckles from the games stalls lured the children in like a lion to its prey. Bonfire Night at Lake Windermere is a night to be remembered! Fireworks lit up the sky like the neon glow of the Northern lights. The sounds and colours exploding from them were phenomenal. A colossal rocket pierced the night sky as it crackled and popped skyward to its doom. Catherine wheels spun like banshees trying to escape the clutches of its captor, finally slowing to an undramatic end. Sprays of crimson lava spewed from the fountain firework like a mini volcanic eruption. Everyone seemed to stop and watch in wonder as the blood red haze from the traffic light entranced them, the spell finally broken when a wave of aluminous green light gave them the signal to move along. Juices drizzled and sizzled from the burgers. The smell of salt and vinegar wafted through the air, as succulent hot dogs were grilled on the barbecue. Children buzzed around like bees pursuing the sweet smelling nectar of popcorn and candy floss as it lingered in the air. Bonfire night favourites, sticky toffee apples and treacle toffee, are being devoured messily, but tasted as sweet as honey. Parents despair as over enthusiastic children scream and shout, only to be tamed by the promise of treats from the eager stall owners. Fluffy animals are dangled everywhere. Delightful squeals echo around the amusements stall, as the game is finally conquered and victory is obtained and the priceless spoils are handed over. Excited children hopped around the raging crackling bonfire as they magically created mystical images with glowing sparklers. Cold, weary parents are drawn to the warmth and comfort of the roaring flames, as it slowly breathed life back into their chilled bodies. The heat turned their faces red like fresh juicy cherries. The bright yellow and orange flickering blaze captivated and memorised the crowd, and the inferno roared like a dragon as  it spat and spluttered singed wood and charcoal. Like a cat, the flames licked the scrawny Guy Fawkes at the top. He stood there, lifeless, dressed in tatty old clothes with bright red eyes, and looked like the devil as he was engulfed and consumed by the intense fire. Smoke filled the air. It tasted bitter, and snaked and slithered into the watching eyes of the crowd making them glisten and sting. Couples, hand in hand, romantically sauntered down to the icy waters edge. Together as one they would light their lantern, kiss gently, and then snuggle together to watch as it gracefully glided and twirled across the glistening lake like a prima ballerina. The silence, tranquilly and romance was broken as children raced to the lake eager to be the first one to light one of the special lanterns. Their hands shook as they tried so hard to be careful with the wafer thin lantern. As they cautiously set the lanterns down onto the rippling water, it gradually edged its way into the dark unknown. The once murky dark lake was now lit up like a Christmas tree, with fireflies shimmering across its surface. Bonfire Night drew to a close. Tired, weary children were snuggled up like little lambs in their parent’s arms, all ready for their warm cosy bed, their favourite teddy bear, and a good night kiss from Mum and Dad. Couples arm in arm gradually walked home. A relaxed and content glow on all their faces after a fun filled evening. The once raging bonfire was now just glowing embers twisting and turning like fireflies. The night sky returned to its peaceful existence. The smell of gunpowder was everywhere, and the lake mirrored the night sky with the lanterns twinkling like stars.

Organisation law---contracts and shares Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organisation law---contracts and shares - Essay Example Advise Bob. The legal text that regulates the various activities of companies across Australia is the Corporations Act 2001; the case law is also applicable on issues, which are not particularly regulated by the Australian law –especially the above legislative text –, or those which have been already examined and evaluated by the Courts. At the first level, a company is a separate legal entity, which means that it has the responsibility of the actions developed in its name (Salomon v Salomon & Co [1897], Ander Transport Pty Ltd v Brambles Ltd (2004); the individuals that participate in a company need to follow the rules set by the company law – the principles of common law may also be applicable; furthermore, the members of a company have to follow the rules included in the company’s constitution – which is considered as a contract between the company and its members (CA s140(1)). The company – as a legal entity – can enter contracts with individuals or other companies; however, the company is an artificial person and cannot enter a contract by itself; it is represented by individuals, board of directors or agents (Lennard’s Carrying Co v Asiatic Petroleum [1915], Royal British Bank v Turquand (1856)); the contracts of companies with third parties (outsiders) are regulated i n the section 129 of Corporations Act 2001. Because of its nature as a separate legal entity, a company can be held liable for the damages that have been caused to outsiders because of the violation of the terms of contracts signed between them and the particular company; however, the members and the officers of the firm may be hold liable for the amount paid as compensation or losses to outsiders – in the context described above – referring especially to the case that the damages to outsiders resulted by the unfair conduct of the company’s affairs. In regard to the rights and the obligations

Community Health & Social Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Community Health & Social Care - Essay Example This research highlights  obesity is a medical condition that arises as a result of an excess of body fat. Obesity is determined using the body mass index (BMI), which is derived using a person’s weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. A person is overweight when the BMI is greater than 25 while obesity is a BMI value of 30 and over. Obesity reduces the quality of a person’s life and makes a person vulnerable to a lot of serious medical complications. Persons suffering from obesity are highly vulnerable to medical complications such as osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases and certain cancers. With such medical complications within a society, health facilities experience a serious strain as well as high mortality rates.From this essay it is clear that  the World Health Organisation points out that the number of people who are obese is higher than the number of overweight people across the world. Drastic change in lifestyle is the main contributing factor to this phenomenon, where many people have tuned to sedentary lifestyles. This lifestyle does not demand a lot physically. In today’s modern world, majority of people are using personal cars, washing machines, lifts and computers, making them less physically active most of the time. Leisure times such as watching TV while eating foods that have high calorie levels increases further a person’s risk of being obese.

Correlation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Correlation - Assignment Example Correlation helps so much and the complex correlational designs that are there recently are of so much help since they allow very little causal inferences (Riccardo, 2005). Some of the variables such as those which are related to malnutrition and other cases like age and birth order since they correlational in nature. They require correlational evidence in order to be proven scientifically. Correlation is also very important in statistics since it helps us so much to make predictions since when one is able to understand the score of something one is able to predict more accurately the next score having basis on correlation. Under controlled experimental conditions the evidence that has been gotten from studies that have used correlation one can be able to test the evidence. Correlation is a very good method and by the use of its designs appropriately causal inferences are limited. It is cheaper when using some of the correlation. Most of the methods used in correlation are not expensive. It is very fast and cheap and also easy to apply. It helps the researchers to collect data in a very short time. Correlation is very effective (Thomas,

Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream - Essay Example For instance, he starts his speech by saying, â€Å"One hundred year later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination† (Incomeexperts, 2012). In his speech, he also states a number of times on the way he dreams of for equality in the United States of America. King argues that â€Å"I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character† (Incomeexperts, 2012). Martin Luther King goes further to point produce documents, which he uses to emphasize his argument. In addition, he explains to his audience on how the Emancipation Proclamation document was a milestone in the wake of equality in the United States of America Negros. The then president, Abraham Lincoln, signed this document states, which set free the slaves in many states. These were among the first signs of the black minority getting their rights. He goes even further to mention about the United States Constitution to emphasize his point on how his dream his of equality could be realized. Through emphasize of many of his introductory words, king puts his audience in a position to remember what they heard about the speech. This is one of the characteristics of a good speech presentation; moreover, the voice of Martin Luther King is sophisticated. This is seen through his use of descriptive words with these words he gives his audience the view of how they are being treated and what he dreams about. Furthermore, he uses other descriptive styles like metaphors to give the audience a better understanding of his speech, for example he says, â€Å"America has given the Negro a bad check, which has come back marked insufficient funds† (Incomeexperts, 2012)   

Exploring the factors behind medication non-compliance among patient Dissertation

Exploring the factors behind medication non-compliance among patient with bi-polar disorder - Dissertation Example Role of Nurses: A Re-look of their Role in Bipolar Disorder Care 15 2.4. Role of Organisations in the Care of Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Welcome Development 18 Chapter 3 Findings and Discussion 19 3.0. Introduction 19 3.1. Findings and Discussion 20 3.1.1. Bipolar Disorder: An Old Disease with New Approach 20 3.1.2. The Nature of Holistic and Collaborative Treatment Approach (HCTA) for Bipolar Disorder 21 3.1.3. HCTA and Nurses’ Role 22 3.1.4. HCTA and Organisations Servicing Bipolar Patients 23 Chapter 4 Conclusion and Recommendation 24 4.0. Conclusion 24 4.1. Recommendations 25 References 27 Appendix 1 30 Abstract Bipolar Affective Disorder (BD) is an ancient disease that is given new understanding and contemporary approaches to treatment. The interplay of psychosocial factors and physiological elements in the understanding and treatment of BD is crucial. In this context, treatment of BD ought to be approached from holistic and collaborative perspective. Considering t he significance of gaining further understanding of bipolar disorder, this research intends to conceptually clarify the concept of holistic and collaborative treatment approach of BD. Likewise, it seeks to determine the role of nurses in the holistic and collaborative treatment approach of BD. Finally, it aims to identify the role of organisations in the holistic and collaborative treatment approach of BD. ... In order to attain the aims of this research and address the questions of this study, a documentary analysis had been conducted. Some of the findings of the research are: 1) Bipolar disorder is an ancient disease that is given a new look. 2) Nurses hold a crucial and central role in the management and treatment of BD. 3) Organisations rendering service to bipolar patients are laudable institutions that need to spread across the globe to address BD. Chapter 1 Introduction 1.0. Introduction Bipolar Affective Disorder (BD) is an ancient disease that is given new understanding and contemporary approaches to treatment (Thomas, 2004). Bipolar disorder is characterised by chronic and recurrent marked mood instability (Crowe et al, 2010). The episodes are normally intense, varying in degree with extreme highs and lows that are often intermingled, thus creating mixed states, a hybrid of symptoms, which in turn, makes it difficult for an easy categorisation of BD (Frank et al., 2000). Thus, de spite the new look of BD as a result of the identification of the various types of mania comprising the spectrum of BD (Akiskal, 2009), the easy categorisation and labelling of bipolar disorder is still a challenge (Crowe et al., 2010). Nonetheless, it is deemed essential that an appropriate characterization of the mania the patient is experiencing be provided in order to give the proper treatment that is required by the patient facing this illness (Akiskal 2002, 2009; Thomas, 2004). The need for ‘proper treatment’ for bipolar disorder is crucial because BD is now ranked fourth in the global burden of disease as a leading of cause of disability (WHO 2010). An important development in the treatment of BD is the

History musicMichael Jackson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History musicMichael Jackson - Essay Example He was won more than a dozen Grammys, had multiple albums go platinum, and made millions of dollars in sales and merchandising. However, there was more to the story than just a tale of success and wealth. Michael Jackson used his celebrity to draw attention to important issues that needed addressing, as well as, humanitarian and charitable causes worthwhile of being noticed. In this, Michael Jackson’s career transcended musical genres, he evolved himself and his music to the needs and causes that were relevant to the times. Michael Jackson was born in August of 1958. He was the 7th of 9 children. Raised in a large and musical family he became the headliner of the family’s musical group, â€Å"The Jackson Five.† Unfortunately, the experiences in the earliest years of his career were some of the most difficult. The group’s father was rather strict and difficult to please. Regardless the â€Å"Jackson Five† went on to great fame and the Jackson boys became a household name to fans all over (Rolling Stone 1). However, Michael’s greatest success would come when he began his solo career in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s the music produced by Wham and The Bangles were phasing the last of the Disco dance hits out. It was here that Michael Jackson fit in to the upbeat pop of the era. He released Thriller in 1982, which changed the way people perceived the potentials of music videos for generations to come (CNN 1).These songs reflected the more fun loving, almost decadent, times that defined the early 80s decade. The lyrics reflect the fun of dance and creativity. However, while life was good in the United States, other nations around the world were struggling just to survive. Michael Jackson co-wrote â€Å"We Are the World† in order to draw attention to the famine, disease, and suffering occurring in Africa (CNN 1). It was here that much of Jackson’s work began to reflect a message of universal unity and peace, ,making changes in one ’s self, and

Systems Documentation Techniques Essay Example for Free

Systems Documentation Techniques Essay Question 1 1.Prepare flowcharting segments for each of the following operations: a)processing transactions stored on magnetic tape to update a master file stored on magnetic tape b)processing transactions stored on magnetic tape to update a database stored on a magnetic disk c)converting source documents to magnetic tape using a computer-based optical character reader (OCR) d)processing OCR documents online to update a database on magnetic disk e)reading data from a magnetic disk into the computer to be printed on a report f)using a computer or terminal to key data from source documents to a file stored on a magnetic disk g)manually sorting and filing invoices numerically h)using a terminal to enter source document data and send it to a remote location where an online processing system records it in a database stored on magnetic disk i)a scheduled automatic backup of an internal hard drive to an external hard drive j)using a terminal to query customer sales data maintained on a magnetic disk k)enter employee hours recorded on time cards in the payroll transaction  file maintained on disk and update wage data maintained on the payroll master file l)use a terminal to access a price list maintained on disk to complete a purchase order. An electronic copy of the purchase order is sent to the vendor and a backup copy is printed and filed by vendor name m)update an airline reservation on a Web-based airline reservation system from a home computer Question 2 The Happy Valley Utility Company uses turnaround documents in its computerized customer accounting system. Meter readers are provided with preprinted computer forms, each containing the account number, name, address and previous meter readings. Each form also contains a formatted area in which the customer’s current meter reading can be marked in pencil. After making their rounds, meter readers turn in batches of these documents to the computer data preparation department, where they are processed by a mark-sense document reader that transfers their contents to magnetic tape. This magnetic tape file is used as input for two computer runs. The first run sorts the transaction records on the tape into sequential order by customer account number. On the second run, the sorted transaction tape is processed against the customer master file, which is sorted on a magnetic disk. Second-run outputs are (1) a printed report listing summary information and any erroneous transactions detected by the computer and (2) customer bills printed in a special OCR-readable font. Bills are mailed and customers are requested to return the stub portion along with payment. Customer payments are received in the mailroom and checked for consistency against the returned remittance stubs. Checks are then sent to the cashier’s office. The mailroom provides the computer data preparation department with three sets of records: (1) stubs with compatible amounts, (2) stubs with differing amounts, and (3) a list of amounts received from customers,  without stubs. For the latter two types of records, data preparation personnel use a special off-line keying device to prepare corrected stubs. An OCR document reader reads all the stubs and sends the data to the company’s computer. The computer updates the customer master file to post the payment amounts. Two printed outputs from this second process are (1) reports listing erroneous transactions and summary information and (2) past-due customer balances. Required: a)Draw a system flowchart of the billing operations, commencing with the computer preparation of the meter reading forms and ending with the mailing of customer bills. b)Draw a system flowchart depicting customer payments processing, starting with the mailroom operations and ending with the two printed reports. a)Draw a system flowchart of the billing operations, commencing with the computer preparation of the meter reading forms and ending with the mailing of customer bills. b)Draw a system flowchart depicting customer payments processing, starting with the mailroom operations and ending with the two printed reports.

Literature Review On Cervical Cancer Health And Social Care Essay

Literature Review On Cervical Cancer Health And Social Care Essay Review of literature is an essential component of a worthwhile study in any field of knowledge. It helps the investigator to gain information on what has been done previously and to gain information on what has been done previously and to gain deeper insight in to the research problem. It also helps to plan and conduct the study in systematic manner. In this chapter, the investigator has presented the available research studies and relevant literature from which the strength of the study was drawn. 1. Studies related to cervical cancer 2. Studies related to HPV vaccination. STUDIES RELATED TO CERVICAL CANCER MiocLee,C.(1999) conducted a qualitative study with eight focus groups (number of sample=102) by using eleven question derived from the health belief model. Focus group revealed that there was misinformation and a lack of knowledge about cervical cancer. The women there fore were confused about causative factors and preventive strategies related to cervical cancer. The findings showed that major structured barriers were economic and time factors. The main psychological barriers were fear, denial confusion thinking. Participants stated that medical advice and education would influence them to undergo Pap test. Recommendations were made to reduce certain barrier and to increase knowledge and motivation. Sheila,Twin. (2005) conducted a study among chinese women from a total sample of 467 in order to identify the knowledge about cervical cancer. Evident suggested that women knowledge about cervical cancer and preventive strategies are significant their screening practices. The need for further knowledge about the cervical screening and preventive measure was demonstrated. HkoLiou, Xueminling. (2009) conducted cross sectional descriptive design on responses action and health promoting behaviors among rural Taiwanese women with abnormal Pap test. The result shows that nearly 14% were diagnosed as precancerous and underwent further treatment. 24%of the women took no action during the 3 month after receiving the result. As many as 96% were not aware about localized cervical cancer. These analyzed results may prove useful in developing intervention strategies to assist women with positive Pap test results to choose treatment modalities and adopted health behaviors. STUDIES RELATED TO HPV VACCINATION Kwan,T, et .al. (2007) conducted a cross sectional community based study to explore Chinese womens perception of human papilloma virus vaccination and their intention to be vaccinated . A total of 1450 ethnic chinese women aged 18 and above who attended the health centers. The result shows about 38% of participants (n=527) had heard of HPV and about 50% (n=697) had heard of vaccination against cervical cancer. 88% of the participants(n=1219) indicate that they would likely to be vaccinated. Majority of the participants believed that sexually experienced women should be vaccinated; while27%opposed vaccinating sexually naÃÆ'Â ¯ve women. study suggested that HPV infection was perceived to be stigmatizing to intimate family and social relationships, despite misconception and a grossy inadequate knowledge about HPV and HPV vaccination, NubiaMunoz, et .al. (2007) conducted study among 17, 622 women aged 15-26 years who were enrolled in one of two randomized, placebo-controlled, efficacy trials for the HPV6/11/16/18 vaccine (first patient on December 28, 2001, and studies completed July 31, 2007). Vaccine or placebo was given at day 1, month 2, and month 6. All women underwent cervico vaginal sampling and Pap testing at day 1 and every 6-12 months there after. A result shows that vaccination was up to 100% effective in reducing the risk of HPV16and 18 related high-grade cervical, vulvar, and vaginal lesions and of HPV 6 and 11-related genital warts. In the intention-to-treat group, vaccination also statistically significantly reduced the risk of any high-grade cervical lesions (19.0% reduction; rate vaccine = 1.43, rate placebo = 1.76, difference = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.13 to 0.54), vulvar and vaginal lesions (50.7% reduction; rate vaccine = 0.10, rate placebo = 0.20, difference = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.16), genital warts (62.0% reduction; rate vaccine = 0.44, rate placebo = 1.17, difference = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.87), Pap abnormalities (11.3% reduction; rate vaccine = 10.36, rate placebo = 11.68, difference = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.74 to 1.90). Conclusion of the study is High-coverage HPV vaccination programs among adolescents and young women may result in a rapid reduction of genital warts, cervical cytological abnormalities. Infectious Disease Obstetric Gynecology journal. (2006) suggested that Vaccines which protect against infection with the types of human papillomavirus (HPV) commonly associated with cervical cancer (HPV 16 and 18) and genital warts (HPV 6 and 11) are expected to become available in the near future. Because HPV vaccines are prophylactic, they must be administered prior to exposure to the virus, ideally during preadolescence or adolescence. The young age of the target vaccination population means that physicians, parents, and patients will all be involved in the decision-making process. Research has shown that parents and patients are more likely to accept a vaccine if it is efficacious, safe, reasonably priced, and recommended by a physician. Widespread education of physicians, patients, and parents about the risks and consequences of HPV infection and the benefits of vaccination will be instrumental for fostering vaccine acceptance. Andrea Licht,S, et. al. (2009) conducted study on HPV vaccination. The aims of this study were to assess HPV vaccination rates and to examine whether knowledge and risk perceptions regarding HPV were associated with the reported use of the HPV vaccine among female college students. A cross-sectional design was used among 406 women aged 18-26 years were recruited at two public universities and completed a self-administered survey. Respondents who reported having received at least one dose of HPV vaccine were classified as vaccinated (n=177, 43.6%). Responses, stratified by the receipt of HPV vaccine, were compared using descriptive statistics and multivariate models. Results based on multivariate logistic regression modeling, 18-year-old women were approximately four times more likely to report use of the HPV vaccine compared with respondents aged 19-26 years. Respondents who correctly indicated that HPV caused genital warts were 1.85 times more likely to have received at least one HP V vaccine. African American and Asian women were each less likely to be vaccinated compared with white women. Risk perception was not significantly associated with vaccine uptake, however, the majority of respondents failed accurately to recognize their high risk of both acquiring and transmitting HPV. These findings suggest knowledge deficits and misperceptions about HPV risk as potential themes for educational campaigns encouraging the greater use of the preventive HPV vaccine among this subgroup Allison Friedman,L. (2004) suggested that genital human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the united States, causing genital warts, cervical cell abnormalities, and cervical cancer in women. To inform HPV education efforts, 35 focus groups were conducted with members of the general public, stratified by gender, race/ethnicity, and urban/rural location. Focus groups explored participants knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HPV and a hypothetical HPV vaccine as well as their communication preferences for HPV-related educational messages. Audience awareness and knowledge of HPV were low across all groups. This, along with an apparent STD-associated stigma, served as barriers to participants hypothetical acceptance of a future vaccine. Although information about HPVs high prevalence and link to cervical cancer motivated participants to learn more about HPV, it also produced audience fear and anxiety. This research suggests that HPV- and HPV-vaccine-related education efforts must be approached with extreme Raley, JC. (2004) suggested that Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the causative agent of cervical neoplasia and genital warts. A vaccine has recently been developed that may prevent infection with HPV. Vaccination for HPV may become a routine part of office gynecology. Researcher surveyed members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to determine their attitudes to HPV vaccination. A survey was sent to Fellows of ACOG to evaluate gynecologists attitudes. Vaccine acceptability was analyzed by using 13 scenarios with the following dimensions and respective attributes: age of patient (13, 17 and 22 years); efficacy of vaccine (50% or 80%); ACOG recommendation (yes or no); and disease targeted (cervical cancer, warts or both). Each scenario was rated by means of an 11-point response format (0 to 100). Responses were evaluated using conjoint analysis. Results of 1200 surveys that were sent out, 181 were returned and included in our analysis. ACOG recommendation w as considered the most important variable in vaccine distribution (importance score = 32.2), followed by efficacy (24.5), age (22.4) and, lastly, disease targeted (20.9). Of these variables, higher efficacy was favored; preference was given to age 17 years, with a strong disinclination to vaccinate at age 13 years; and protection against cervical cancer, or genital warts, or both. Demographic characteristics of the gynecologists (i.e., age of physician, gender, and practice setting and community size) did not play an important role in the decision to recommend vaccination. Professional society recommendation is important for acceptability of a potential HPV vaccine. Gynecologists are willing to include this vaccine in their practice. Chun Chao, et. al (2007) conducted study among 34,193 female who initiate HPV vaccination. The aim of the study was to examine the rate and correlate the completion of HPV vaccination. The result shows that the completion rate was 41.9% among age group between 9- to 17-year and 47.1% in the 18- to 26-year. Black race 95% confidence interval and lower neighborhood education level were associated with lower regimen completion. A history of sexually transmitted diseases, abnormal Pap test results, and immune-related conditions were not associated with HPV vaccination regimen completion. Caron, et. al. (2008) conducted a cross sectional study among college women, the study reveals that cervical cancer is primarily caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Purpose: College women may be at risk for contracting HPV based on their sexual behavior. An exploratory analysis was conducted, following the release of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil[R], the am of the study is to (1) determine awareness of HPV and Gardasil[R], (2) assess attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about the HPV vaccine, (3) identify information sources that college women are accessing. Methods: A cross-sectional study of college women (n=293) enrolled in a Northeastern university voluntarily completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about correlations, and paired sample t-tests. Results: Sexually active respondents would recommend the HPV vaccine to others and disagree that HPV vac cination would encourage risky sexual behavior. Yet, need more information is the predominant reason respondents would not get the HPV vaccine if it were offered for free. Discussion: Correlations are identified on how self-reported knowledge influenced attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs regarding the HPV vaccine. These findings should assist health educators in developing integrated public health education efforts for HPV vaccination that are targeted towards this at-risk population.

Trends of Internet Health Care

Trends of Internet Health Care What is Internet Health Care? Technology has changed forever the way consumers perceive healthcare. the internet is utilized by millions of user to perform daily life activities such as shopping, bills paying, communication with colleagues or family members, dating, and now health care (Bau, 2001). In the past, only physicians were the source and provider of health care information and services to their patients (Hesse all, 2005). Also most information pertaining to health was only accessible in libraries, through medical books. In this new age of advanced technology, the internet has become the go to tool for patients seeking health information as mild as flu symptoms to more serious and life threatening disease as cancer. As much as 72% of world-wide-web users seek health information though the internet (Pew 2012). â€Å"Health seekers† utilize this tool to learn more about their condition, seek new treatments, interact with others in the same situation, and get answers to questions at any given moment day or night. The internet is allowing its users access to a wealth of information, all that in the privacy of their homes and at less cost. The â€Å"informed consumers† are getting more and more involved in every aspect of their care and they want to participate in â€Å"shared decision-making† (Sunday, 2000). Internet health information seeking can help patients be better informed, which can lead to better health outcomes, a better utilization of health service resources, and a strong er physician-patient relationship (Kassier 2000; Murray et al 2003). But, health information on the Internet may be misleading or misinterpreted, compromising health behaviors and health outcomes, or resulting in inappropriate requests for clinical interventions (Eysenbach, Kohler, 2002; Murray et al 2003). To access the full potential of internet as a source of health information, physicians need to recognize the potentials of this technology, while being mindful of possible dangers to patients’ health (Powell all, 2003). What is the trend? Worldwide about 4.5% of all internet are health related (Morahan-Martin, 2004). In less than a quarter of century, the internet users grew from 42% to 81% (Fox Rainie 2014). Seventy two percent of U.S. adult reported looking for health or medical information online for themselves or for others at least once in the previous 12 months (Fox Duggan 2013). The internet not only is a research tool for those seeking information regarding their condition, bit is also a tool diagnosis tool for those searching for answers online. Indeed the 2012 Pew Research Center’s Internet American Life Project health survey revealed that among the health seekers, 35% were â€Å"health diagnosers† meaning people looking to find answers for specific medical conditions online themselves or relatives might have (Fox Duggan, 2013). Across studies, the general observation was that higher education levels was strongly correlated to higher rates of Internet use for health but internet use was not a function of household income (Jansen Spink 2006). Most of the online health seekers (77%) start their search from general search engine like Google or through medical web sites (13%) proving some specific health information (Fox Duggan 2013). These results are somewhat inconsistent with a more targeted study by Dickerson, Reinhart, Feeley, Bidani, Rich, Garg Hershey (2004) accessing patients internet behavior in three urban primary care clinics were the majority of the patient (73%) reported starting their search on a medical website. Half of the inquiries are on behalf of a loved one which translates to 39% of the online health seekers population (Fox Duggan, 2013). Often women (64%) would report searching the net for health information than male (53%) even though they equally access the internet (Fox Duggan, 2013). Why health seekers like the Internet? Seekers of online information always cite tree main reasons for going online. First, the Internet allows them to seek information at any hour; second, they can get a wealth of information and; finally, they can access the information anonymously (Fox Rainie, 2000). Seekers of online health information are of two kinds: those with a diagnosed chronic condition and those without (Dickerson et al., 2004). According to studies, they tend to have a different approach toward online information seeking. Indeed, multiple studies revealed that people that perceive themselves as being unhealthy tend to be more proactive at seeking online information that will help them get a better understanding of their condition, or to seek for second opinion, or seek advance treatment of their ailment (Fox Rainie,2000; Dickerson et al., 2004) . Most users actually attributed their improve understanding of health issues to the use of internet and some even went further admitting internet has impacted how they manage their health care needs and their choice of a health care professional (Jansen Spink, 2006). The internet is a powerful education tool and a great support to consumer looking to get more involved in their health care and participate in share decision making. Internet improves users understanding of their chronic condition, treatments for their chronic condition, or other symptoms, conditions, or treatments, effects decisions about health or health care or on use of the health care system. Potential benefits of online health information Online health information has the potential of improving patients’ participation in some aspects of their care and their interaction with the care giver (Baker, Wagner, Singer, Bundorf, 2003). Most users go to health sites for research and reference purposes. Physicians and patient alike use the internet for health information-seeking and communication purposes. Physicians glean the internet to keep up with the latest innovation in their field. It is also a way to connect with colleagues from all other the world as there are no borders restrictions on the World Wide Web. Few use it to communicate with their caregivers or to buy medicine. Most health seekers have been able to get the information they need without revealing personal information. Anonymity is another great benefit offered by the internet. Anyone can go online and look for any symptom or condition without revealing it identity. For extremely shy people or for embarrassing health conditions, the internet is a good alternative to understanding or treating the condition without getting exposed. According to studies Many are using the Web to gather information on behalf of family and friends. Those who are in excellent health often seek online materials to help someone else; those who are in less-than-excellent health are more likely to be hunting for information for themselves (Fox Rainie, 2000). The 2012 Pew health survey reported that about half of the internet health quests are on behalf of a loved one (Fox Duggan, 2012). In addition, Internet has been proven helpful in assisting caregivers in their ability to provide care to cope and support for the person in their care (Fox, Duggan, Purcell 2013). A Pew internet health tracking survey from August to September 2012 revealed that 24% of caregivers (adults ages 18+) surf the net for reviews on prescription drugs, 30% got information , care, and support from people with the same condition, as much as 46% went online for diagnosis, and 72% gathered health information online (Fox, Duggan, Purcell 2013) In general, health seekers use the internet to seek information on present or immediate medical condition. It is important to note that in most cases, in person visit with a physician precedes the seeking of online health information. Often, a diagnosis following a doctor visit always urges patients to seek online information in order to better understand their condition. But then again, the decision on when to meet with the physician depends on who the patient is. In general, health seekers looking for information on behalf of a loved one will go online after a doctor’s visit, while health seekers looking for self will go online before the doctor’s visit, so that they can actively participate. The Pew health survey reports that 53% of â€Å"online diagnoses† reported their online findings to their physician and 41% had their diagnosis confirmed (Pew, 2012). Those results contradict a study by Diaz et al (2002) conducted on primary internal medical private practi ce patients who reported that nearly 60% of the patient did not discuss their findings with their physicians. Second opinion seeking health seekers use the internet to get a second opinion.(develop on this) Interactive and E-connecting- (use the article on cancer) there are countless number of online support groups for nearly every disease and condition, with infinite discussion topics (Forkner-Dunn, 2003). But just as important as the information exchanged in these e-discussions is the emotional support they provide. Being able to interact with others that can relate to the seeker situation is a coping mechanism. â€Å"My coping mechanism was to learn as much as I could about my cancer and my treatment, and the most convenient avenue for this was the Internet† said Karen Parles a cancer patient. Indeed, patients reported being less stressed about their disease once they are able to communicate with others in similar condition. Karen Parles a lung cancer patient sated â€Å"because of the sheer numbers of patients online, I was able to find others just like myself, and I no longer felt like the only 38- year-old nonsmoker on the planet with lung cancer.† This wealth of per sonal experience and support can be recorded for future reference of patients, clinicians, or health care planners (Forkner-Dunn, 2003). E-monitoring –mentioned the internet is a tool that can be utilized to monitor patients conditions (Forkner-Dunn 2003). Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity can specially benefit from e-monitoring. Internet can facilitate home management of medical condition via monitoring devices. For instance, monitoring device testing blood glucose level are widely popular among diabetic patients and these devices connected to the internet can transmit real time results to patients care giver. Patients can also monitor and transmit their weight via e-scale or access their heart or respiratory rate using e-shirt (Forkner-Dunn, 2003). Internet and physician-patient relationship A study accessing the impact of the internet on physician- patient relationship by Murray et al (2003) found that most physicians agree that patient bringing information to the visit was beneficial to the physician-patient relationship, but negatively affected time efficiency. Moreover it had no effect on health the quality of care or the health outcome. Health information on the Internet may make patients better informed, leading to better health outcomes, more appropriate use of health service resources, and a stronger physician-patient relationship (Murray et al. 2003). The internet can have a positive outcome on patients and be the best support they can expect when facing life threatening condition. According to a cancer patient in one study â€Å"The Internet has impacted my relationship with my oncologists and my surgeon in a very positive way. I would say that the information I learn on the Internet enables me to ask different questions, to affect the agenda, and to feel involved in my care. Online support that I receive from other patients often relieves anxiety and resolves minor issues that I would otherwise raise with my doctors†(Penson et al 2002). Negatives and obstacles of internet health information Privacy violations Health seekers are scared of what may happen to their information online. There is the fear of having their online activities exposed. Anonymity is one of the reasons people get online. To date this is no enforced policies preventing health websites from keeping tract on online users’ activities and selling those data without users’ content. The absence of enforced policies to guarantee a safe navigation and patients’ privacy renders the internet unsafe for the most concerned patients. Based on the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project telephone survey from July 11-14, of 1,002 adults ages 18 and older, 86% of internet users have tried to use the internet in ways to minimize the visibility of their digital footprints, 55% of internet users have taken steps to hide from specific people or organizations (Rainie et al 2013). Specifically 21% of internet users have had an email or social networking account compromised or taken over by some one else without permission. 13% of internet users have experienced trouble in a relationship between them and a family member or a friend because of something the user posted online.12% of internet users have been stalked or harassed online. 11% of internet users have had important personal information stolen such as their Social Security Number, credit card, or bank account information. 6% of internet users have been the victim of an online scam and lost money. 6% of internet users have had their reputation damaged because of something that happened online. 4% of internet users have been led into physical danger because of something that happened online. 1% of internet users have lost a job opportunity or educational opportunity because of something they posted online or someone posted about them (Rainie et al 2013). Inaccurate, incredible and difficult to evaluate – few studies to date have been able to access the credibility, and accuracy of online health information. One major problem encounter by health seekers is that most of the information online is too general and outdated (Fox Rainie, 2000, Rice 2006). Based on previous studies results, internet health seekers find it hard to find what there are searching online, or could not fully comprehend the information, or the information was overwhelming or unreadable (Zeng et al. 2004; Berland et al., 2001 ). Health seekers are equally divided when it come to the credibility of the information online (Fox Rainie, 2000). The most common problems mentioned were: no new information, information too general, confusing interface/organization, and too much information to process (Rice, 2006). Another obstacle to expansion of online health is inequality. The lack of necessary technology some part of the population is very problematic. Many senior, minority, and lower-income patients will be excluded if online forms of intervention were to be implemented nationwide for lack of access. Previous studies reported (who use the internet). There is a possibility that the expansion of this technology might prove to worsen inequality in the distribution and delivery of care rather than ameliorate it (DiMaggio, Hargittai 2001). Previous works have also pointed out wide variations in the quality of information available on the Internet. Inaccurate or poorly targeted information can to poor treatment choices. An excess of extraneous, irrelevant, or invalid information can burden health care providers and lead to the provision of efficiently care (Baker, Wagner, Singer, Bundorf, 2003). An assessment of 121 websites on five common health topics to evaluate their credibility reported that only 24% of the sites met more than two-thirds of the published health guidelines for that health topic (Rice, 2006). Berland et al. (2001)also reported that Internet health information has an inadequate coverage of important medical information. Destroy physician- patient relationship – the search of information online can lead to unrealistic expectations (Penson et al. 2002). Patients scattering the internet for information or alternative treatments, getting their hopes up only to have their physician reject it for cause of inaccuracy or irrelevancy may get frustrated put tensions into the patient-physician relationship. Murray et al. (2003) find a correlation between physician refusals to approve inappropriate requests, patients’ satisfaction, and a lower index of quality; particularly in managed care. Physicians sometime feel as patients armed with online information are challenging their authority. This reaction was strongly associated with harms to the physician-patient relationship, quality of care, health outcomes, and time efficiency (Murray et al. 2003). Recommendations Suggestions include kitemarks (seals of approval) for quality Web sites, codes of conduct for development and content of Web sites, market forces, directing users to trusted Web sites, filters, rating instruments for users, and public education in evaluating the quality of online information (Murray et al. 2003) Directing users to trusted web sites – providers can proactive in identifying the best internet health source to direct their patients. Suggested trustworthy organizations by Diaz et al. (2002) are the Health on the Net Foundation (www.HON.ch),the Internet Healthcare Coalition (www.ihealthcoalition.org),and Health Internet Ethics (www.hiethics.org). Past studies show that up to 35% of the internet users do not share their results with physician (Pew, 2014). The main raison being that physician did not ask or did not give the impression of wanting to get involved. Physicians can best assist patients by inquiring about internet usage and by helping in finding reliable source of medical information (Diaz et al. 2002). Provide accurate, credible, Reliable Information– web sites aiming at providing internet information should thrive to assure accuracy, credibility, and reliability. Health information provided to patients ought to be useful, up to date, and must provide a list of sources that support the reliability of the information. Privacy– HIPPA requirement for health organization using health IT should apply to health information web sites. Patients’ privacy should be respected and should not be shared without authorization. Conclusion All major changes always face resistance before people can warm up to the idea and then follow the acceptation phase. Like the introduction to telephone in health care more than a century ago, introduction of the internet as a form of health care delivery will take time before it can be viewed as a tool that add value to medical practice.

Essay --

Brian Daniels March 12, 2014 Heart of Darkness In Heart of Darkness, Conrad presents us with two classes of â€Å"darkness†. The savage nature of the natives and the brutality of European imperialism, asking which of the two is the greater evil. In the beginning of the novel, Conrad establishes his thoughts on imperialism through the main character Marlow. The idea of â€Å"darkness† is emphasized from the title of the novel, and continues to play an important role throughout the story. Darkness governs almost everything in the novel. The secluded and harsh attitudes Europeans held towards the native’s increases the darkness throughout the novel. Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, is based on the historical period of imperialism in order to describe Marlow’s struggle. Marlow is asked by "the company", the organization who he works for, to travel to the Congo River and report back to them about Mr. Kurtz, a top notch officer of theirs. When he first sets sail, he doesn't know what to expect. Marlow's experience in Africa stirs hate at the brutalizing effects of colonialism, a hatred tha...

Good Country People by Flannery OConnor Characterization as Theme Essay

Good Country People by Flannery OConnor Characterization as Theme The Depth of Hulga?s Despair Characterization is the most prevalent component used for the development of themes in Flannery O?Connor?s satirical short story ?Good Country People.? O?Connor artistically cultivates character development throughout her story as a means of creating multi-level themes that culminate in allegory. Although the themes are independent of each other, the characters are not; the development of one character is dependent upon the development of another. Each character?s feelings and behavior are influenced by the behavior of the others. Joy/Hulga, as the story?s main character, is the singly most significant character to the themes of this story. She is characterized as brilliant and academically sophisticated, yet naà ¯ve to the feelings and motivations of others. Ironically, Hulga has a Ph.D. in philosophy, yet she has a very narrow view of her world and no insight into other people?s true character. This contrast in Hulga?s character is the topic of one of the story?s themes: academic knowledge is not to be confused with common sense. O?Connor continues to establish theme through her characterization of Hulga. She describes Hulga as being cynical about the world and the people she knows. The irony here is that she sees these people as being simple ?country people,? she doesn?t see them as they actually are, full of hidden feelings and motivations. She views herself as superior to her mother, Mrs. Hopewell, and her mother?s tenant, Mrs. Freeman. Her opinion of the other characters as less than herself, because of their tendency to see their world through the eyes of southern women, limits Hulga?s interaction with them. She... ...cares for her and thus encourages her into letting down her guard and trusting him. This becomes Hulga?s downfall and the most important theme of O?Connor?s story: people aren?t always what they appear or ?you can?t judge a book by its cover.? Her narcissism allows Manley to talk her into removing her leg. He grabs it and runs off with it, but not before letting her know that he has played her for the fool. O?Connor?s comprehensive character development leads her readers into complacently judging Hulga as superior to the other characters in her story. She takes this a step further in her development of Manley Pointer as an innocent. Through this development, O?Connor lulls her readers into stereotyping the characters into the personas she wants them to see. Hulga?s epiphany is thematic. The ultimate irony is that not only is Hulga duped by Manley, her readers are too.

Employee Volunteer Program Essay

Employee volunteer program is a major part of the Corporate Citizenship profile that has become an intrinsic agenda of many successful companies, who understand the value of community service and are ready to contribute their resources in its various forms to such gesture. This is because the importance of employee development is overwhelming: it extends to the company, the employee and the community in which the program is launched. This concept of employee volunteer program describes a situation a company sets a mission statement and proposes goals with a view to contributing to the community in which they live, by getting their employee involved in charity, giving, and community services. These seeming philanthropic activities are targeted at a particular community, usually that which the company serves with its products and services. This agenda is an indispensable program for excellent companies: it is important because it contributes to the Corporate Citizenship Outlook of the company which is promoted among the members of such community. A detailed look at the benefits of the plan has made intelligent company leaders and boards to incorporate it into their company’s mission statement. Really, the importance of corporate social responsibility can not be overemphasized. The benefits are enormous: it is a win-win situation for all. The employees, if well incorporated into the agenda, are strengthened in human relationships, and there is increased employee loyalty. Loyalty is fast promoted when the program recognizes, acknowledges and duly appreciates employee contribution to the company. The company social image is promoted because of such programs. It increases its ability to penetrate the society, and convince it of its products or services; it also makes the organization ‘ a good corporate citizen’. Communities benefit directly from the program: there is associated development. A section of the society is improved through the charity, giving and other forms the program could have taken. Everyone smiles home. And this impact makes the community another marketable centre for the organization, and an extension of its advertising unit. Its benefits outweigh its costs. However, those are also very important as it makes a decision to incorporate such a balanced one: the financial implications are enormous since it is usually a charity parade. This is one of the major costs that the company battles with. It is only with effective communication that employees see the need for it; otherwise, it won’t achieve it set goals. This implies that companies should be ready to create a viable structure for it, fund such and promote it even to the employees that would be involved. Since it is a volunteer, it stands the risk of non-compliance if this structure and communication are not in place. However, employee volunteer program promotes the Company, its employee and the community served. It is a good agenda for a corporate social responsibility.

Business Financing and the Capital Structure Essay

Explain the process of financial planning used to estimate asset investment requirements for a corporation. Explain the concept of working capital management. Identify and briefly describe several financial instruments that are used as marketable securities to park excess cash. As a business owner, it is important to know the value of your assets as they can be used as leverage for obtaining loans and can be used to estimate your ability to repay your debts. Calculate your current assets, long-term investments, fixed assets and intangible assets and add them up to get your total business assets. Pledgeable assets support more borrowing, which allows for further investment in pledgeable assets. The trade-off between liquidation costs and underinvestment costs implies that low-liquidity firms exhibit negative investment sensitivities to liquid funds, whereas high-liquidity firms have positive sensitivities. If real assets are not divisible in liquidation, firms with high financial liquidity optimally avoid external financing and instead cut new investment. If real assets are divisible, firms use external financing, which implies a lower sensitivity. In addition, asset redeployability decreases the investment sensitivity. Financial management includes management of assets and liabilities in the long run and the short run. The management of fixed and current assets, however, differs in three important ways: Firstly, in managing fixed assets, time is very important; consequently discounting and compounding aspects of time element play an important role in capital budgeting and a minor one in the management of current assets. Secondly, the large holdings of current assets, especially cash, strengthen firm’s liquidity position but it also reduces its overall profitability. Thirdly, the level of fixed as well as current assets depends upon the expected sales, but it is only the current assets, which can be adjusted with sales fluctuation in the short run. Marketable securities replenish cash quickly and earn higher returns than cash, but come with risks; maturity, yield, and liquidity should be considered. Marketable securities are the securities that can be easily liquidated without any delay at a reasonable price. Firms will maintain levels of marketable securities to ensure that they are able to quickly replenish cash balances and to obtain higher returns than is possible by maintaining cash. There are four factors that influence the choice of  marketable securities. These include risks, maturity, yield, and liquidity. Assume that you are financial advisor to a business. Describe the advice that you would give to the client for raising business capital using both debt and equity options in today’s economy. Some business owners say ratios are an accountant’s problem. That’s not smart, says Dileep Rao, president of Minneapolis’ InterFinance Corp, a venture-finance consulting firm, and professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. â€Å"Running your business without knowing your numbers is like driving a car without being able to see your direction or speed,† says Rao. â€Å"It’s only a matter of time before you crash.†(Rao, 2011) The terms â€Å"debt† and â€Å"equity† get tossed around so casually that it’s worth reviewing their meanings. Debt financing refers to money raised through some sort of loan, usually for a single purpose over a defined period of time, and usually secured by some sort of collateral. Equity financing can be a founder’s money invested in the business or cash from angel investors, venture capital firms, or, rarely, a government-backed community development agency—all in exchange for a portion of ownership, and therefore a share in any profits. Equity typically becomes a source of long-term, general-use funds. The share of any hard assets, such as property and equipment, that you own free and clear also counts as equity. Striking the right balance between debt and equity financing means weighing the costs and benefits of each, making sure you’re not sticking your company with debt you can’t afford to repay and minimizing the cost of capital. Choosing debt forces you to manage for cash flow, while, in a perfect world, taking on equity means you’re placing a priority on growth. But in today’s credit markets, raising equity may simply mean you can’t borrow any more. Until recently, bank credit was a financing mainstay. But experiences like Flipse’s underlie a point made by the Federal Reserve Board’s quarterly Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices, released in November. According to loan officers, small-company borrowers were tapping sources of funding other than banks. They were being driven away for many reasons. Banks â€Å"continued to tighten standards and terms†¦on all major types of loans to businesses,† though fewer were doing so than in late 2008, when tightening was nearly universal. Interest rates on small business loans were on the rise at 40% of the banks surveyed, even as the prime rate reached historic lows. One in five banks had reduced small  companies’ revolving credit lines. One in three had tightened their loan standards, and 40% had tightened collateral requirements. Partly because of the plunging value of the real estate securing many commercial loans, pressure from bank examiners for tighter standards continued to build. Meanwhile, home equity loans, another popular source of small business cash, had evaporated. Many recession-weary business owners knew they had essentially become unbankable: Loan officers surveyed said far fewer firms were seeking to borrow. Those few who could borrow were repelled by higher rates. All of a sudden, equity financing l ooked better. Explain why a business may decide to seek capital from a foreign investor indicating the risk and rewards for such a decision. Provide support for rationale. Many investors choose to place a portion of their portfolios in foreign securities. This decision involves an analysis of various mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETF), or stock and bond offerings. However, investors often neglect an important first step in the process of international investing. When done properly, the decision to invest overseas begins with a determination of the riskiness of the investment climate in the country under consideration. Country risk refers to the economic, political and business risks that are unique to a specific country, and that might result in unexpected investment losses. This article will examine the concept of country risk and how it can be analyzed by investors. There are many excellent sources of information on the economic and political climate of foreign countries. Newspapers, such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times dedicate significant coverage to overseas events. There are also many excellent weekly magazines covering international economics and politics; the Economist is generally considered to be the standard bearer among weekly publications. For those seeking more in-depth coverage of a particular country or region, two excellent sources of objective, comprehensive country information are the Economist Intelligence Unit and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book. Either of these resources provides an investor with a broad overview of the economic, political, demographic and social climate of a country. The Economist Intelligence Unit also provides ratings for most of the world’s countries. These ratings can be used to supplement those issued by Moody’s,  S&P, and the other â€Å"traditional† ratings agencies. Finally, the internet provides access to a host of information, including international editions of many foreign newspapers and magazines. Reviewing locally produced news sources can sometimes provide a different perspective on the attractiveness of a country under consideration for investment. It is important to remember that diversification, which is a fundamental principle of domestic investing, is even more important when investing internationally. Choosing to invest an entire portfolio in a single country is not prudent. In a broadly diversified global portfolio, investments should be allocated among developed, emerging and perhaps frontier markets. Even in a more concentrated portfolio, investments should still be spread among several countries in order to maximize diversification and minimize risk. After the decision on where to invest has been made, an investor has to decide what investment vehicles he or she wishes to invest in. Investment options include sovereign debt, stocks or bonds of companies domiciled in the country(s) chosen, stocks or bonds of a U.S.-based company that derives a significant portion of its revenues from the country(s) selected, or an internationally focused exchange-traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund. The choice of investment vehicle is dependent upon each investor’s individual knowledge, experience, risk profile and return objectives. When in doubt, it may make sense to start out by taking less risk; more risk can always be added to the portfolio at a later date. In addition to thoroughly researching prospective investments, an international investor also needs to monitor his or her portfolio and adjust holdings as conditions dictate. As in the U.S., economic conditions overseas are constantly evolving, and political situations abroad can change quickly, particularly in emerging or frontier markets (Forbes, 2011). Situations that once seemed promising may no longer be so, and countries that once seemed too risky might now be viable investment candidates. Explain the historical relationships between risk and return for common stocks versus corporate bonds. Explain how diversification helps in risk reduction in a portfolio. Support response with actual data and concepts learned in this course. Portfolio diversification is the means by which investors minimize or eliminate their exposure to company-specific risk, minimize or reduce  systematic risk and moderate the short-term effects of individual asset class performance on portfolio value. In a well-conceived portfolio, this can be accomplished at a minimal cost in terms of expected return. Such a portfolio would be considered to be a well-diversified. Although the concepts relevant to portfolio diversification are customarily explained with respect to the stock markets, the same underlying principals apply to all types of investments. For example, corporate bonds have specific risk that can be diversified away in the same manner as that of stocks. Bonds issued by companies represent the largest of the bond markets, bigger than U.S. Treasury bonds, municipal bonds, or securities offered by federal agencies (Worldbank, 2013). The risk associated with corporate bonds depends on the financial stability and performance of the company issuing the bonds, because if the company goes bankrupt it may not be able to repay the value of the bond, or any return on investment. Assess the risk by checking the company’s credit rating with ratings agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. Good ratings are not guarantees, however, as a company may show an excellent credit record until the day before filing for bankruptcy. When you purchase stock in a company during a public offering, you become a shareholder in the company. Some companies pay dividends to shareholders based on the number of shares held, and this is one form of return on investment. Another is the profit realized by trading on the stock exchange, provided you sell the shares at a higher price than you paid for them. The risks of owning common stock include the possible loss of any projected profit, as well as the money paid for the shares, if the share price drops below the original price. Corporate bonds hold the lowest risk of the three types of investments, provided you choose the right company in which to invest. The main reason for this is that in the event of bankruptcy, corporate bond holders have a stronger claim to payment than holders of common or preferred stocks. Bonds carry the risk of a lower return on investment, as the performance of stocks is generally better. Common stocks carry the highest risk, because holders are last to be paid in the event of bankruptcy. Preferred stocks generally have higher yields than corporate bonds, lower risk than common stocks, and a better claim to payment in the event of bankruptcy. References Dileep Rao. 2011, â€Å"InterFinance † Cambridge, Massachusetts, The MIT Press. Forbes. 2011, † Small Business Loans: A Great Option â€Å". Retrieved on 6/19/2013 from http://www.forbes.com/sites/ryancaldbeck/2012/11/14/small-business-loans-a-great-option-unless-you-actually-need-money/ â€Å"Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) | Data | Table† . Data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 6/19/2013 from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.KLT.DINV

Purple Short Crabs

Purple Shore Crabs, Hemigrapsus nudus, are small crabs that are similar in structure to true crabs. They have carapaces that are commonly found to be 4-5. 6 cm. A distinguishing characteristic of the Purple Shore Crabs is their lack of setae. They are usually found to be dark purple, olive green or red with white or cream marks, on their carapace. Their legs match the color of their carapace but have white tipped claws. Though Purple Shore Crabs are capable of living out of water for several hours, they require moisture to survive.These crabs respire with a gill system in which they take in oxygen-rich water orally, obtaining oxygen by diffusion then expelling the excess water and carbon dioxide through their gills. They are commonly found under rocks anywhere from low-tide to mid-tide zones as well as reefs as far down as 10 metres. Purple Shore Crabs prefer an environment in which the shores are medium-energy to high-energy. When their shelters are disturbed, they tend to race towa rds shelters such as other rocks, ledges, holes and crevices.Purple Shore Crabs are scavangers with dietary preferences that include worms, dead organisms, molluscs, small gastropods, small crabs, algae, carrion and seaweed. The purpose of our investigation is to determine whether there is a relationship between the relative distance to the shore and the population density of Purple Shore Crabs. To determine this, 3 transects were placed perpendicular to the shoreline of Eagle Bay, Bamfield.A random number generator was used to determine 5 completely unbiased numbers. These numbers were used to establish the distance of which the quadrats were placed. For each number, 1 quadrat was placed by the top left corner of each of the 3 transects. To calculate the population density of Purple Shore Crabs, the number of Purple Shore Crabs within each quadrat was counted and recorded. To avoid re-counting of an individual crab, crabs were counted after being collected in a bucket.

Racism and Justice System

The authors expose the myth of American meritocracy by informing us of all the ways that we maybe never paid attention to, such as how many black leaders there are in the sports arena’s such as coaches. They also expose the racial realist to the point that everything is not race based. Racial hierarchies are shown in ways that show us that American meritocracy is a myth by where blacks live. If blacks live in white neighborhoods how some would feel uncomfortable, or would even move out of the neighborhood. If racism was a thing of the past then we would no longer need affirmative action. Racism still exists and will forever exist in the world because the history it has of getting here. The book talks about how law institutionalizes the American ideal of equality, and this may be true but there are always people that are in these positions that corrupt and contaminate the entire system. Things have changed from the past form how racial discrimination was. It’s just done now through actions more so now than verbalizing. You can’t really verbalize your hatred for another race such as Texaco’s executives because you run the risk of people not bringing their business to you and now you can end up in civil court. The Supreme courts have made it even harder for one to make a discrimination suit against a company or employer because the evidence has to be so strong that it leaves no room for doubt in anyone’s mind in fact that was the case. Blacks are constantly stereotyped because of another black person’s action. Many white people have the perception that black people are lazy because we as a people seek more government help such as housing, food programs and even the low end jobs that some blacks have. They say that education rules out discrimination and employers rationally hire and promote people on the basis of their education and job skills. This is true to a certain extent; they won’t give the entire truth. They will hire African American based on those credentials but they won’t let them into the top positions. This I have found to be true just as recent as a couple of years ago. Walgreens would hire black assistant managers but would not promote them as store managers and a civil suit was filed against Walgreens’. Even in these case blacks still haven’t won because they promote a couple of black store managers and put them under a microscope, putting them in positions to fail. And once they fail they can keep hiring white store managers because they now have a paper trail of at least giving blacks an opportunity†¦.. to fail but at least they gave them a chance. Racism still exist even in schools to this day, no matter how you look at it they are still segregated to a degree. We can all agree that for the most part public schools in major cities are failing, and to get your children a good education you send them out to the suburbs. For here in Milwaukee they let a couple of black kids in their school system just to show that it’s not segregated but their tolerance for them is pretty low, knowing they can kick them out because 9 times out of ten they don’t stay in that school district. I am thankful that Brown’s case brought about desegregation in schools but there are loopholes in everything that people find. The plan that was implemented was whites move out of the major city and then their children have a chance for a better education with a lot less blacks there to intimidate or get their children involved with the wrong situation because so many whites think very lowly of blacks. I believe no matter what we as a nation or even the world will ever escape the ramifications of racism because like the book says how can we expect something of this nature to disappear in over thirty years that took over three hundred to create. My personal opinion is that we can make strides at it but we will never fully abolish racism. After all collectively as blacks we are taken for granted just as the fish takes the water they live in.

8th amendment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

8th amendment - Research Paper Example Here, courts need to look for factors on how to change the standards of the community and also come up with the independent evaluation if the statutes are reasonable. For instance, in the case of Furman V. Georgia, the jury invalidated the death penalty regulation at that time because they constituted the unusual punishment and cruelty against the eighth amendment. The eighth amendment is an American amendment that bars or prevents the government from practices that may result in the violation of the freedom of people (Smith, 2010). It prevents the government from imposing cruel and unusual punishment such as torture and excess bails and fines. This amendment was adopted as early as 1791. Death sentence is a practice of the state where people are sentenced to death due to the magnitude of their crime. It is also commonly referred to as capital punishment. Overtime death penalty was not highly considered as a violation of this amendment. There were no vivid cases that had been presented there before to show the brutality of the death sentence and how it imposed cruel and unusual punishment to people. This was until 1972 when a United State Supreme Court decision called the Furman v. Georgia was ruled. The case had to be presented by three black men including Furman who had to be sentenced to death. In this ruling, the court declared that the death penalty violated the eighth amendment. However, the court did not view the death penalty as a cruel and unusual punishment. The case led to a de facto moratorium on capital punishment. The court argued that the manner in which the death sentences were being imposed was capricious. People were being sentenced to death in an erratic manner. However, this ruling by the court was not taken well by the country. People argued that there are some crimes whose best solution was a death sentence. In 1976, the court reviewed the case due to statutes presented by

Strategic Analysis of Apple Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Strategic Analysis of Apple Inc - Essay Example Purpose of the essay is to analyze the strategies Apple Inc. used in their business to serve as a guide and inspiration to entrepreneurs who want to start their own business. As shown in the data analysis, Apple Computer used marketing strategies that gave the company a definite competitive advantage over its large competitors. The company devoted a lot of resources and used the innovative skills and technical competence of its personnel to become one of the largest computer companies in the world. Its mission and vision have been rightly tracked to its operations and have guided the company. The company is facing lawsuits on unethical business behaviors, but the researcher believes that they have not violated any unethical behavior because of the protection of patent law. However, as a public corporation, it is their corporate responsibility to serve a great number of people that will in turn contribute to the profitability of the company in the long run. As the company derives its success from its personnel, motivation and rewards should be given. The recommended rewards are bonus and profit sharing plus non monetary rewards. Mergers and acquisitions are recommended to establish long term growth and strengthen position in the market. It is also concluded by the researcher that at the moment the biggest problem of Apple is the fierce competition in the industry, that companies resort to merger and acquisition to compete globally as globalization presents a wide opportunity for computer companies.

Media Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Media Analysis - Essay Example Reference is made in the text used in the above news article, as this text is followed by relevant visual aids. Commonly, the text used in each medium is decisive in regard to the medium’s role and the message involved. At a first level, the text used needs to be clear; this means that the reader or the viewer can develop a specific view on the issue discussed. In addition, the text used needs to reflect an existing event or the personal view of the writer. The text of the medium chosen, the news article of BBC News, has the following characteristics: a) it focuses on a particular subject: the intention of Walt Disney to ban junk food ads in its programs, b) the subject of the medium is made clear in the title; this means that the text that follows cannot lead to different assumptions, i.e. no opposition would exist between the title and the rest of the text as such phenomenon would cause doubts in regard to the credibility of the information provided, c) the article itself, i .e. the text of the article excluding the title, offers a high range of information in regard to the subject discussed. This part of the text should be further analyzed in order to verify whether there is any aspect that it is not immediately obvious to the intended consumer. ... At the next level, it is noted that these standards will not be applied immediately but after a 3-years period, i.e. from 2015 onwards (BBC News 2012). However, the above fact leads to the elimination of the potential benefits of the project; in the next 3 years the development of the problem cannot be clearly estimated. This means that it is quite possible that after 3 years these standards will be incapable of facing the problem that they aim to address. Moreover, according to the text of the article, the firm has not set the criteria on which the characterization of food as junk food will be based (BBC News 2012); in this way, it is not clear when the nutrition standards of the firm will be applied. In regard to the issues discussed above, the title of the article could be considered as misleading, giving the impression that it refers to an initiative that it is in progress or one that it is about to start while neither of these cases exists. In this context, the text used in the medium chosen is problematic, not providing accurate information to intended consumers. At this point, the following fact should be highlighted: the opposition between the title of the text and the rest of the text is not clear to readers. Indeed, if reading the title in hurry the following impression is given: the title describes an event and the rest of the text presents additional aspects of the event without changing the key framework of the event. This impression is false. If reading the text carefully it is clear that the text itself presents the important doubts in regard to the particular initiatives of the organization. From this point of

Bacterial cells Quantification Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bacterial cells Quantification - Lab Report Example Additionally, the information provided by this can be used to discover the effect of an enzyme on bacterial cell count – if an enzyme increases reproduction or lyses cells, this is discoverable by comparison to the absorbance graph created using known concentrations. In this experiment, the activity of lysozyme is studied. Lysozyme is the name of a glycoside hydrolase which damages cell walls by catalysing hydrolysis of the links between two key components of peptidoglycan – N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (Pommerville, 2007). It is notable that lysozyme is present in many human excretions, such as saliva and tears, and this forms one of the body’s many natural antimicrobial techniques. It is also notable that lysozyme is more effective against Gram-positive cells because the cell walls of these bacteria have a higher concentration of peptidoglycan (Pommerville, 2007). An additional experiment was performed to test the effect of certain antibiotic s on bacterial cells. This is always an important test because of the current crisis in clinical practice due to the increasing amount of bacteria that are highly resistant to many or all of the available antibiotics (Neu, 1992). This can be done in several ways, but antibiotic disc sensitivity testing is particularly useful as it allows a test of several antibiotics on one sample of organism, allowing us to be certain that all the microbes are the same and thus reducing the possibility of false results. Results Antibiotic Effect on Various Bacteria Antibiotic/Dose Escherichia coli (-) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (-) Staphylococcus aureus (+) Bacillus subtilis (+) AP/25?g S R S S GM/10?g S S R S PY/100?g S R S S NA/30?g S R S R NI/50?g R R S S SM/200?g R R R R T/100?g S R S R TS/25?g S R S S NI at a dose of 50?g is effective only against Gram-positive microbes. TS at a dose of 25?g and T at a dose of 100?g, as well as NA at 30?g, PY at 100?g, GM at 10?g and AP at 25?g all appear to be ef fective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Micrococcus lysodeikticus Concentration vs. Absorbance at 450nm Micrococcus lysodeikticus (cells/ml) Absorbance at 450nm 0 0.000 6.25 x 106 0.406 1.25 x 107 0.274 2.5 x 107 0.301 5.0 x 107 0.455 1.0 x 108 0.870 Unknown 0.599 The general trend appears to be that absorbance is higher with a higher concentration of cells per ml. Absorbance = (0.000000008 * cell concentration) + 0.21 We can thus work out the unknown value by rearranging this formula – Absorbance – 0.21 = 0.000000008 * cell concentration Cell concentration = (Absorbance – 0.21)/0.000000008 Unknown = 48625000 or 4.8625 x 107 Effects of Lysozyme Solution on Viable Cell Count – Shown Using Absorbance Time (minutes) Absorbance of the M. Lysodeikticus standard containing 5.0 x 107 cells/ml 0 0.414 3 0.350 6 0.337 9 0.333 12 0.320 15 0.300 The longer the cells are left in the lysozyme solution, the less absorbance is shown. Discussion A s noted in the discussion, lysozyme is more effective as a antimicrobial towards Gram-positive cells due to the larger amounts of peptidoglycan in the cell walls of these organisms. As can be seen here, lysozyme has a very distinct effect on the absorbance measurements from the M. lysodeikticus standard which increase substantially with time, suggesting that there are less viable cells the longer the organism is left in the presence of