Q and Answers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Q and Answers - Essay Example Answer: There is a release of stress hormones within the body when a person in under stress. These include cortisol and catecholamines. These hormones are mobilizers of glucose. Under stress the glucose is released and this leads to insulin release. The insulin causes the glucose to move inside cells because of the increased levels of hormone. This can lead to hypoglycemia. This is the reason why it is a good idea to have a meal before going to the dentist so that the blood glucose level can be maintained. Answer: During trauma there is damage to the cells of the body. The energy requirement of the body increases. This increase is due to many reasons. The cell turnover rate increases hence there is increased requirement for proteins for making new cells as well as the energy requirement increases because of the additional energy required. This leads to a depletion of the body energy stores. Glycogen stored in the liver is utilized first. Gluconeogenesis also ensues to overcome the energy requirement. Hence the lipids and proteins of the body are also utilized. This accounts for the weight loss seen in trauma. Answer: Diet is very important in people who are recovering from illness. This is because during illness there is breakdown of cells in the body. When a person is recovering there is greater cell differentiation of cells and utilization of not only proteins, carbohydrates, lipids but also vitamins and minerals which are required by the body. If the diet of these patients is not monitored they can suffer from deficiency conditions of these essential nutrients. This can also compromise the immunity of the patient hence making him susceptible to infections. Therefore the diet of convalescent patients is important. Answer: Exercise is important in weight loss programs because during exercise the body utilizes initially the carbohydrate stores of the body for energy and then it also starts using the

Literature Review of biopsychosocial model of back pain

Literature Review of biopsychosocial model of back pain The bio psychosocial model is now widely accepted for the diagnosis and the management of multifaceted nature of pain. The bio psychosocial model of pain presents an integrated view of biological, psychological and socio cultural factors, which could occur in pain (Jull and Sterling 2009). Seventy-five percentages of individuals in the western world during their lifetime affected with acute or chronic low back pain, which leads to major cause of disability (Kirk et al.2005). Low back pain must be considered as a bio-psycho-social syndrome that consequently requires a multidisciplinary bio-psycho-social treatment approach. (Negrini et al .2008, p.55). The result of a dynamic interaction between psychological, social and patho- physiological factors of chronic pain makes difficulty for the individual patient to determine the pre-eminent factor in his experience of chronic pain, which emphases the importance of bio-psycho-social treatment approach (Kirk et al. 2005). European guidelines also recommend the bio-psycho-social treatment approach for the treatment of chronic low back pain (Balague et al .2007). 1.1 Rationale behind investigating this topic. In clinical area of practice, low back pain is a common health problem for both healthcare professionals and patients, which reflect the thought to find out the role of bio psychosocial perspective in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of chronic low back pain. This would lead us to better understanding of low back pain and pain in general. The aim of this assignment is to critically evaluate the available evidence regarding biopsychosocial model in relation to chronic low back pain. It will also reflect on clinical practice, taking into account the principles of evidence based practice. 2.0Literature review A literature search was carried out using the Science direct, Pub Med, Medline, Ovid, Cochrane and Google Scholar was undertaken for relevant studies in the last 5years and then extended into 10 years .the initial search did not yield enough evidence for assignment aim. The keyword search included :bio psychosocial approach, chronic low back pain, psychosocial factors, mood disorders and combination of key word also used. The search was limited to studies published in English and conducted in human beings. The strength of evidence was established using the Sacketsc hierarchy of evidence (1997) (Please see appendix 1). Each of the papers were analysed for validity and rigour according to the framework given by (Rees 1997, cited in Taylor 2009). (Please see appendix 2). Case history to relate to bio psychosocial model into clinical practise. Mrs smith 35 year old mother of one child, a health professional has been suffering from chronic back pain since 2006 to2008, who feels so depressed as she has some family problems (son was sick with heart problem) and problems with her manager at work (never agreeing with shift adaptation to look after the child). She went to see her GP and complete medical assessment was negative, started on analgesics .The conflict existed, which lead her into severe depression. In 2009 she went see a psychotherapist. The manger agreed with her job flexibility to look after the child, by the time childs condition improved lead her to less frequent and less intense episodes of pain. Like many other patients the patient had never considered the possibility of psychological or social factors for two years, which could contribute to her chronic pain. Mrs smith she was told by psychotherapist that any biological reason together with psychosocial concerns can exacerbate the experience of pain and she realized the contributing psychosocial factors to her pain gradually. As she was a health care professional she started to use coping mechanism effectively with the help of psychotherapist, which helped her to control her stress with subsequent less intense episodes of pain. In the light of the above case, one of the reasons that her medical treatment had failed to respond is because of the underlying psychosocial factors have been left un-addressed. The health care professionals should understand and exploit the bio psychosocial approach to the management of chronic pain will provide effective treatment modality for patients. The bio psychosocial model relates to chronic low back pain: Evidence from studies A systematic review of randomised controlled trials conducted by George (2008) ,to evaluate the effectiveness bio psychosocial approach for the management of chronic back pain .The study also aimed to evaluate the role of individual physiotherapist in bio psychosocial approach for treating for chronic back pain The result of the review was supporting bio psychosocial approach .The sample studies were 9 randomised control studies, where individual physiotherapist has major role in intervention. George (2008,p.4) The result demonstrated significance p The NNT odds ratio reported also showed clinical significance for the result. Compared results of different studies established generalisability and consistency (lack of heterogeneity) of study findings. The included studies were experimental studies and systematic review of experimental studies where intervention provided by individual physiotherapist with minimal support from other health professionals. These studies were concentrated only to chronic back pain treated with psychosocial interventions in adults. The inclusion criteria for selected studies for the review was specific to question set for review, which contributed to get a reliable and accurate result from the review. The selected studies were scoring high to moderate quality on PEDro(physiotherapy evidence data base) appraisal tool, which can provide quality data to support the validity of the result. The interventions carried out in these studies differ from basic physical therapy treatment, which highlights importance of the capability of individual physiotherapist. The generalisability of these finding needs to consider as all care settings does not have trained physiotherapist who can provide interventions to achieve bio psychosocial approach in chronic back pain management. The search strategy identified 99 potential sample studies and the final sample was only 9 randomised control studies after filtration through the inclusion criteria. There is potential chance of bias through objectivity as because there is chance for choice of articles to support the authors viewpoint. . The review gives the strong evidence for the bio psychosocial approach for the management of chronic back pain. The similarity or homogeneity of studies involve d in this review broadening the applicability of bio psychosocial approach by an individual physiotherapist who has appropriate knowledge and capability to carry out the interventions The study reported that individual physiotherapist who manages the bio psychosocial approach for the treatment of chronic back pain is effective as multidisciplinary management of chronic back pain .As it sounds cost effective and may more feasible for patient because of one to one interaction further research must be essential the to promote individual physiotherapy approach. .Waxman et al. (2008) conducted an observational study to examine the impact of psychosocial factors in chronic back pain patients and their relationship satisfaction. The observed sample included was24 men and 30women(N=54) with chronic low back pain who were married or cohabitating and were recruited through chronic pain clinic. The finding from the study reported that depression and negative partner response have significant impact on relationship satisfaction among chronic back pain patients. Table:2 Standardized regression (Path) Coefficients of mediational models with psychosocial variables as mediators of pain and relationship for total sample (Waxman et al. 2008,p.438) The total effect of pain on relationship satisfaction was significant,B=-.32p The association between pain and depression was significant=.63p Indirect effect of pain on relationship satisfaction through depression was significant =-.21,p The relation between pain and negative responses was significant=.38,p The indirect effect of pain on relationship satisfaction through negative response was significant indirect effect =-.20p From this significant evidence reveals that negative response by partner is also a mediator of pain and relationship satisfaction The study reported significant evidence to reveal the relation between various components in bio psychosocial model which include pain(bio),relationship satisfaction(social) depression(psycho) perceived negative response(psychosocial) . (SeeApeedix:5) Reflecting the study back to the case of Mrs smith Its not clear about her partners involvement in her treatment, but she was showing signs and symptoms of depression which might contributed to the chronic nature of pain. The study result underscores the importance of partner involvement in patients pain assessment and treatment the study. In clinical practise there is a need to promote education programme for partners of patients with chronic back pain as part of treatment plan to achieve bio psychosocial approach. When reflecting this finding to clinical practise which explain the reason why the widow or patients who lives alone are more vulnerable candidates for the chronic nature of the pain. These finding consistent with previous following study results .Future research need to consider to compare self reported data from both patients and partners to know the response and behaviours that related to pain. The ethical consideration was done on study as the study was approved by the local IRB, and written consent was obtain from patients as a proof or willingness also promotes the strength of the study. The reliable tools used for data collection was rigor to the study. The recruitment method for sample selection was based on self selection which can contribute to selection bias, which can affect the rigor of the study. The patients who has greater pain and psychological symptoms may not take initiative to participate in the study. The results in this study were based on self-reported outcomes from the questionnaires that were sent to the patients, which makes the data subjective and are most likely to be true and contribute to the rigor of the study, can promote the rigor of the study. The study also reported that the approximate time for completion of questionnaires was 45 minutes. The reliability of data can affect because of length of time especially these patient who are with pain and psychological symptoms. The study is ranked as class 3c on the hierarchy of evidence considering the design and methods employed in the study. The evidence reaffirms the bio psychosocial model for assessment and treatment of chronic back pain. Tang et al. (2008) conducted an experimental study to examine effects of mood on pain responses and pain tolerance in chronic back pain patients. The recruited sample was 55 patients suffering from chronic back pain aged between18-65.The patients were randomly allocated into three groups ,depressed group:18,neutral group19 elated group:18.The the participants were asked to perform a baseline task (reading magazine) to establish a baseline for mood and pain ratings. An artificial mood was induced to participants (musical mood induction)and followed by pain provoking task(holding a heavy bag) to assess the pain rating and tolerance. The study result proved that the participants with depressive mood showed high pain ratings and lower pain tolerance at rest, but happy mood induction resulted in lower pain ratings and higher pain tolerance. The table:3 shows that depressive mood positively correlated with increase in pain ratings(Tang et al. 2008,p.399) The participants were manipulated to examine the effect of artificially induced mood on artificially induced pain which may affects the reliability result when it apply into real mood and pain of chronic back pain patients. Even though researcher adapted a pre-determined mood change criteria to judge the effectiveness of mood on the participants during the study. This can contributed to rigour to study and it can promotes the reliability of the result. The sample population was aged between 18-65,tolerence of induced mood and pain may not be same between these age groups .The difference in sex also can affect the mood and pain tolerance. The Researcher failed to mention about the method of randomisation to overcome confounding factors. Blinding not performed and can affects the performance bias The study design was experimental designwhich comes under level 1a in hierarchy. This study also proved that music therapy is effective to improve pain and pain tolerance in chronic back pain patients. It agrees with (Guetin 2005),music therapy is a effective complementary treatment in chronic back pain associated anxiety-depression and behavioural consequences. Future research needs to consider for evaluating the effectiveness music therapy as part of multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Bio psychosocial approach for assessment helps to identify the matching treatment for patients based on their characteristics and refine the focus of treatments and achieve effective outcome. Even though there are weaknesses for this study it proved that mood can influence the pain. The result is consistent with Waxman et al.(2008 ) discussed in previous study. These studies highlights the importance of cognitive behavioural therapy in bio psychosocial rehabilitation for chronic back pain patients NICE(2009). Mitchell et al. (2009) conducted a cross sectional study to evaluate the role of personal bio psychosocial factors on low back pain, in nursing students. The results proved that modifiable life style, psychological, physical factors were relates to low back pain in nursing students. One hundred and seventy undergraduate nursing students from two university nursing schools of western Australia were enrolled for this study. The study compared three groups of students (no LBP group, mild LBP group significant LBP group) and reported that students with significant low back pain were more physically active compared to no low back pain group group. The DASS total score and stress subscale score were higher in significant low back pain group compared to NO LBP group .The study also reported that social measures did not influence their pain intensity. The study result mentioned that the social measures including household income and smoking did not affect the significant low back pain patients. This cannot be generalized into general population types, as it conducted on healthy university sample may not be much influenced by social factors. There are contrasting findings which mention the relation between low back pain and social measures(Shiri et al.2009) Study gives the evidence for sufficient statistical power and ethical consideration. The researcher used triangulation in data collection, which overcome the limitations of a single method of collecting data and hence increased the validity of the results. The results of this study were based on self-reported (questionnaire) outcomes that were collected from patients. It can contribute to validity of the results, because they are more subjective and most likely true. The inclusion criteria on sample selection was appropriate to focus bio psychosocial approach in chronic back pain patients, as the criteria excluded patients with inflammatory disorders ,neurological or metastasis disease, pregnancy or less than 6 months postpartum. The study was conducted as cross sectional study which classified in to class 3c on level of evidence.,and researcher failed to include other factors like fear avoidance and genetic factors. This study was carried out in the Australia and their socio cultural factors and life style may differ from United Kingdom , decreasing the accuracy of reproducing these results to UK practice.Even though study result is consistent with other studies conduced in united kingdom . In the area of practice physical and psychosocial factors has important role on experiencing low back pain among healthcare professionals and potential candidates, which reflects the necessity of education related to stress management such as relaxation techniques and meditation and mandatory manual handling training. Job stress and fear related to pain are mediators to inability to return to work Gheldof et al.(2005) The high prevalence rate of low back pain highlights the importance of targeting prevention interventions among healthcare professionals and patients. The case study of patient discussed has not had much benefit from the conventional treatment pattern and showed clear evidence of personnel and psychological factors that can contribute to pain. The understanding of bio psychosocial factors helps to find out cause diagnosis treatment and prevention of chronic back pain Suprina (2003) conducted a case study to discuss the efficacy of bio psychosocial model. The sample for this study was a 32-year-old woman who suffers from chronic back pain for almost ten years and study reported that bio psychosocial model helps the women for successful reduction of symptoms. This study also proves that single practitioner can plan bio psychosocial model for the treatment of chronic back pain. The researcher reports that the treatment can be more effective when implementing one person integration model than multidisciplinary approach as it has easy access to patient also saves money and time. This study classified under level 3d as this is a study of only one individual. There is chance of performance bias as the subject blinding done in this study . Even though it is individual case study it agrees with widely accepted bio psychosocial model. The study reveals that all health professional should consider individual patient as one with complex behaviours and emotions and not just organism with physiological changes .The researcher who conducted this st udy in United states is supporting the one-person integration model, practicability of this one- person integration model in United kingdoms clinical practise is questionable because the way of clinical practise may vary in different countries. The current trouble within heath care system in European countries is relegate mainly to biomedical perspective and not considering psychosocial aspects because of time constrict and inadequate training. Mauksch (2005) compared the current state of bio psychosocial approach to a dormant seed, which is sitting on the shelf, which need to be watered with bio psychosocial education by health care professionals and placed in an environment fertile with bio psychosocial practise. The knowledge about bio psychosocial approach helps healthcare professionals for better assessment and treatment of patients, which also agrees with case study discussed. Currie and Wang (2004) examined prevalence and correlation between major depression and chronic back pain. The data collected from 118,533 household residents from Canadian community health survey .The study result showed that low back pain is significant factor as a predictor for major depression (Fig:1). Individuals with severe pain intensity represented highest risk of major depression(odds ratio,1.61;95%confidence interval L:1.34-1.97;p Fig1:Prevalence of major depression(MD)in persons with chronic back pain stratified by pain severity . Currie and Wang (2004,p.55) The study also proved that individuals with chronic back pain and major depression were younger and they were more likely to be single and younger. The personal factors play an important role for contribution to low back pain which agrees with Mitchell et al. (2009). The episode of depression were measured by WHOS fully structured diagnostic interview, Composite International Diagnostic Interview -Short Form for depression. Which produce internal validity to the study.(scott et.al.(2000), The study mentioned that this is the largest sample size(118,533 residents)ever used in population -based study of chronic pain and depression. This sample size from national population health survey gives power to the study and promotes the reliability and generalisability of the results. The sample included in the study was aged from 12 years .As age, gender and cultural factors have an influence on level of perceived pain and influence of depression,these are important factors to consider to avoid selection bias and to make the study rigorous. The researcher used multi staged stratified random sampling procedure in the study would have added rigor to the study. The population for this study was from Canadian community health survey. As we discussed cultural factors and personal factors has influence in experiencing pain and depression in individual, reflection of the results into United Kingdom population may be not accurate. Even though study result is consistent with other studies conduced in United Kingdom The study was conducted as cross sectional study which classified in to class 3c on level of evidence Mrs smith case report also illustrates signs and symptoms of depression, which could contribute to her chronic back pain. She was lacking multidisciplinary  Ã‚   bio psychosocial rehabilitation in her treatment. Multidisciplinary  Ã‚   bio psychosocial rehabilitation with functional restoration reduces pain and improves function in patients with chronic low back pain(Lang et al.2003,P.270), (Demoulin et al.2010). Woby et al.(2007)aimed a study to determine the relation between cognitive factors and level of pain and disability in chronic back pain and reports that pain intensity and disability strongly related to cognitive factors . The sample selected for the study was 183 C L B P(chronic low back pain) patients with onset of back pain>3 months who had been referred to an physiotherapy rehabilitation programme which underpinned by cognitive-behavioural principles and revealed that higher levels of functional self -efficacy (b=0.40;p The researcher used triangulation in data collection, which overcome the limitations of a single method of collecting data and hence increased the validity of the results. As all data collected by self reported measures the validity of data can be affected by social desirability .The selection bias in sample selection needs to be considered because patients selected for study was from rehabilitation programme, who had been referred to cognitive behavioural based intervention. It indicates that sample may be already affected with psychosocial factors, which can affect the validity of the result. The results suggest that psychosocial factors should consider as integral facet for treatments for chronic low back pain. The cause of chronic pain in case Mrs smith should have been identified by the team involved in her care than trying to alleviate her suffering through the conventional treatment like pain killers.  The pathway in fig:2 explaining Mrs smith painful experience, disability and its recovery, which also agrees with the Woby et al.(2007)study results. Mauksch (2005) reported that average visiting length between physician and patient is highly stressed for 15 minutes in primary care system in European countries, which may possibly happened with Mrs smith case, which emphasis the need of the adequate structured training to all healthcare professionals to practise bio psychosocial model with in limited time. Fig2: Revised fear-avoidance model incorporating the mediational role of functional self-efficacy (Woby et al.2007,p.716). The health care professionals should understand that the psychosocial factors are very important prognostic factors in the prediction of chronic pain and disability. 2.3 Bio psychosocial model can promote patient satisfaction -evidence from study Margalit et al.(2004) conducted a experimental study to find out the effect of bio psychosocial approach for patient satisfaction in their care. The study confirms that bio psychosocial model approach can reduce the heath care expenditures and can promote patients satisfaction.( Table:2,appendix:6). The study sample was 44 general practitioners randomly selected from 523 practitioners who works with North Israel district. Again researcher used randomisation to allocate teaching methods, which gives rigour to the study. In this study he compared pre teaching effect and post teaching effect of two teaching interventions with two groups of general practitioners. The first method (didactic) consisted with reading assignments and lectures. The second method consist (interactive) consisted with role-play and group discussions. The result reported that the interactive teaching method elicited higher patient satisfaction. Finestone et al. (2008) included a set of suggestion for physician to introduce bio psychosocial model in his study. Fig:4(Appendix:3). There are limitations to this study. The method of randomisation is not mentioned on this study. The researcher highlighted the reasons for dropouts of patients from study but not mentioned anything about intention to treat analysis. Even though recruited sample were consented, the researcher did not request approval from institutional review board. There is chance of bias through hawthrown effect because subjects known that they are video taping for the study. It is worth mentioning that the study is conducted in Israel and application of the results to UK clinical practise needs to consider as their teaching method may differ. This study highlights the importance of interactive assessment to achieve bio psychosocial model treatment. Future researches are needed to support this study result and apply to UK clinical practise. 3.0 Conclusion: The systematic review conducted by George (2008) reported after that bio psychosocial approach for assessment and treatment of chronic back pain can make the successful reduction of symptoms . This study result also agrees with Suprina (2003) and Margalit et al.(2004) which reported that the approach can reduce the health care expenditures and can promote patients satisfaction .these studied also proved that single trained practitioner can achieve bio psychosocial model for the assessment and treatment of chronic back pain. Tang et al. (2008) , Currie and Wang (2004) and Waxman et al .(2008)also reported the same fact which explains the relation between depression and pain intensity. Depression can significantly leads to higher pain ratings and higher pain ratings can also leads to severe depression. The studies also proved that psychosocial factors like fear avoidance behaviour, stress ,negative responses by a partner and cognitive factors are contributing to chronic back pain. The cross sectional study conducted by Mitchell et al.(2008) reported that modifiable personal factors like lifestyle,physical sctvity can contribute to low back pain. After extrapolating the results and considering the nature of the studies, the findings suggest that bio psychosocial factors have important contribution to low back pain. One of these factors could trigger the other and vice versa. In practice, it is difficult, rather impossible, to dissociate one factor from the other, which emphases the importance of bio-psycho-social treatment approach. References . . . Balaguà ©, F., Mannion, A., Pellisà © , F. and Cedraschi, C. 2007 Clinical update: low back pain. The Lancet, 369(9563), pp.726-728. Breen, A., Austin, H., Campion-Smith, C., Carr, E. and Mann, E. 2007 You feel so hopeless: A qualitative study of GP management of acute back pain. European Journal of Pain, 11(1), pp.21-29. Currie, S. and Wrang, J. (2004) Chronic back pain and major depression in the general Canadian population. Pain, 107(1), pp.54-60. Demoulin, C., Grosdent, S., Capron, L., Tomasella, M., Somville, P., Crielaard, J. M. and Vanderthommen, M. (2010) Effectiveness of a semi-intensive multidisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation program in chronic low back pain. Joint Bone Spine, 77(1), pp.58-63 Egwu, M. and Nwuga, V. (2008) Relationship between low back pain and life-stressing events among Nigerian and Caucasian patients. Physiotherapy, 94(2), pp.678-688. Finestone, H., Alfeeli , A. and Fisher, W. (2008) Stress-induceed physiologic changes as a basis for the Bio psychosocial model of chronic musculokeletal pain. Clinical Journal of pain, 24(9), pp.767-775. Guà ©tin, S., Portet , F., Picot , M. C., Pommià ©, C., Messaoudi, M., Djabelkir, L., Olsen , A. L., Cano , M. M., Lecourt, E. and Touchon, J. (2009) Effect of music therapy among hospitalized patients with chronic low back pain: a controlled, randomized trial. Ann Phys Rehabil Med, 53(1), pp.3-14. Gheldof, E., Vinck, J., Vlaeyen, J., Hidding, A. and Crombez, G. (2005) The differential role of pain, work characteristics and pain-related fear in explaining back pain and sick leave in occupational settings. Pain, 113(1,2), pp.71-81. Johnston , V., Jimmieson , N., Jull, G. and Souvlis, Tina . (2009) Contribution of individual, workplace, psychosocial ;and physiological factors to neck pain in female office workers. European Journal of Pain, 13(9), pp.985-991. Jull, G. and Sterling, M. (2009) Bring back biopsychosocial model for neck pain disorders. Manual therapy, 14(2), pp.117-118. Kirka, L., Underwoodb, M., Chappellc, L., Martins-Mendezd, M. and Thomas , P. (2005) The effect of osteopathy in the treatment of chronic low back pain-a feasibility study. International journal of osteopathic medicine, 8(1), pp.5-11. Lang, E., Liebig, K., Kastner, S., Neundà ¶rfer, B., Heuschmann, P. and (2003) Multidisciplinary rehabilitation versus usual care for chronic low back pain in the community: effects on quality of life. The Spine Journal, 3(4), pp.270-276. Margalit, A. P. A., Glick, S. M., Benbassat, Jochanan and Cohen, A. (2004) Effect of a bio psychosocial approach on patient satisfaction and patterns of care. Journal of general internal medicine, 19(5), pp.485-491. Mauksch.Larry (2005) But first,training in biopsychosocial care :A Commentary on The Bio psychosocial Model Is Shrink Wrapped ,on the Shelf, Ready to be used ,but waiting for a new process of care. Families Systems, Health, 23(4), pp.448-449. Mitchell, T., Osullivan, P., Smith, A., Burnett, A., Straker, L., Thornton, J. and Rudd, C. (2009) Bio psychosocial factors are associated with low back pain in female nursing students: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 46(5), pp.678-688. Negrini, S., Fusco, C., Atanasio, S., Romano , M. and Zaina , F. (2008) Low back pain :State of art. European journal of pain supplements, 2(1), pp.52-56. NICE. (2009)

Historical Misconceptions About Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy :: American America History

All Presidents have faced the challenge of keeping people united in times of conflict and turmoil; this specifically applied to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. They were faced with solving delicate situations involving segregation and the civil rights of American citizens in two different centuries. While there has been the enduring impression that both presidents held high ideals with regard to the African American population, a closer examination of history could lead one to believe that Lincoln was the false freer of the enslaved and Kennedy was the false figurehead for the Civil Rights movement. Abraham Lincoln entered his first term as president following the leaders Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. Pierce was known as "an outspoken critic of federal involvement in state and locale issues" (http://www.npr.org). His veto of a bill which would have provided services and support for the mentally handicapped "established the rationale behind government uninvolvement in public health issues into the twentieth century" (http://www.npr.org). This climate of governmental uninvolvement persisted into the term of James Buchanan, a time well-known for the Dred Scott decision, which stated that "congress had no constitutional power to deprive persons of their property rights in slaves in the territories" (http://www.whitehouse.gov). Later, Buchanan "reverted to a policy of inactivity that continued until he left office" (http://www.whitehouse.gov). Therefore, upon entering office, Lincoln found the stage set for an uphill climb with a sharply divided country and a government unused to active leadership by a president whose main agenda was to unite the country, even if this meant an involvement in previously "untouchable" states rights. The issue of slavery was at the center of the controversies, and decisions in the previous two administrations only compounded the difficulties encountered in any actions that Lincoln might make. The issue of segregation continued even up to one hundred years later when Kennedy became president following Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, unlike Pierce and Buchanan, the decisions and actions of both of these presidents should have made any stand that Kennedy would take for the civil rights movement easier. After World War Two had ended, Truman proposed twenty-one main policy points for the betterment of America in an attempt to calm the unrest among the American workers, as this was a time of many labor strikes and problems involving citizens who were unsatisfied with the economy. These twenty-one points included innovations such as minimum wage, guaranteed employment, medical insurance, housing aid, improving benefits for war veterans, and price and wage controls. Historical Misconceptions About Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy :: American America History All Presidents have faced the challenge of keeping people united in times of conflict and turmoil; this specifically applied to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. They were faced with solving delicate situations involving segregation and the civil rights of American citizens in two different centuries. While there has been the enduring impression that both presidents held high ideals with regard to the African American population, a closer examination of history could lead one to believe that Lincoln was the false freer of the enslaved and Kennedy was the false figurehead for the Civil Rights movement. Abraham Lincoln entered his first term as president following the leaders Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. Pierce was known as "an outspoken critic of federal involvement in state and locale issues" (http://www.npr.org). His veto of a bill which would have provided services and support for the mentally handicapped "established the rationale behind government uninvolvement in public health issues into the twentieth century" (http://www.npr.org). This climate of governmental uninvolvement persisted into the term of James Buchanan, a time well-known for the Dred Scott decision, which stated that "congress had no constitutional power to deprive persons of their property rights in slaves in the territories" (http://www.whitehouse.gov). Later, Buchanan "reverted to a policy of inactivity that continued until he left office" (http://www.whitehouse.gov). Therefore, upon entering office, Lincoln found the stage set for an uphill climb with a sharply divided country and a government unused to active leadership by a president whose main agenda was to unite the country, even if this meant an involvement in previously "untouchable" states rights. The issue of slavery was at the center of the controversies, and decisions in the previous two administrations only compounded the difficulties encountered in any actions that Lincoln might make. The issue of segregation continued even up to one hundred years later when Kennedy became president following Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, unlike Pierce and Buchanan, the decisions and actions of both of these presidents should have made any stand that Kennedy would take for the civil rights movement easier. After World War Two had ended, Truman proposed twenty-one main policy points for the betterment of America in an attempt to calm the unrest among the American workers, as this was a time of many labor strikes and problems involving citizens who were unsatisfied with the economy. These twenty-one points included innovations such as minimum wage, guaranteed employment, medical insurance, housing aid, improving benefits for war veterans, and price and wage controls.

High School vs. College Essay

I think a good education is an important part of one’s life. To achieve a good education, one should attend both High School and College. The transition from High School to College is a step that a student will either adjust to or struggle with. Although, some people think High School has a lot in common with college, I find they have a few differences. There are also certain similarities as well, by which, one won’t feel as if College is a new world. The more prepared a person is to face the differences and similarities, the more successful they might be. High School and College are both educational grounds for a student to grow with knowledge. A student graduates from High School and again from College with a degree. Both places are full of experiences and filled with numerous memories. The government runs them. They both play an important role in making a person into a collected individual and a member of a society. High School students know that there are differences between High School and College, but sometimes what they think is not how it is. To begin with there are many ways in which the attitudes of the teachers in High School differ from the attitudes of the teachers in College. In High School, my teachers seemed to be stricter and have more rules for the students to follow. There was an everyday time schedule for each student to go by. Students go through drama in High School which some cannot get out of. Attendance is very important in High School as well as in College. Many teachers enforce it while others do not. I have noticed that it is the student’s responsibility to come to class. They believe that the students should be mature enough to make their own decision on whether to attend class or not and leave it to them to make that decision. When a student graduates from High School, a sense of maturity comes in them. They start realizing that everything in High School was materialistic, and College is practical. College is different than High School just by the personal freedoms, the classroom and the social life. In College, no one would be concerned about the basic everyday drama that would surround a student in High School. College prepares a student to face the real world, and how to handle it. It separates the mature people from the immature people. However, a person who wants to attend College has to pay to further her education. If a student doesn’t take College seriously and apply herself, she knows she wasted her hard earned money, or her parents. So, since students must pay to get into College, she works and studies harder than she did in High School. Therefore, she will study those required courses and finish her education with a degree and start a career. I don’t think I would ever want to go back to High School. I love College and all the freedom that comes with it. All there is in College is education. Now I am learning to be a better person and to improve and to learn different study habits. High School is only the first step into growing up and preparing you for College, whereas, College is preparing you for your career.

Influence to the Indian populace Essay

His influence to the Indian populace was so great that when he met an accident while filming the movie, Coolie, the whole nation prayed for his recovery. There was also a great number of Indians who donated blood for the actor. During the taping for the movie, Bachchan wanted a scene to be realistic so he suggested how the punch should be undertaken unfortunately, the acting got so intense that he ended up in pain. For several days, the doctors cannot find the source of Bachchan’s hurt, until one day, a doctor was able to detect a dark spot on his intestine. The dark spot was his undigested when the punch in his abdomen was made. After seventy-two hours of pain, the undigested food could have turned into poison (Mishra 142-143). His intestine was also ruptured as a result of his fall on the steel table after the punch administered by the stuntman (Chopra n. pag. ) The doctors opted for an immediate operation, however, while he was in the operating table, he lost signs of life. He was declared clinically dead until his wife, Jaya shouted that he saw him move his toe. After this remarkable statement of his wife, the doctors were able to revive him (Mishra 142-143). Throughout the period that he was in the hospital, his supporters speculated that the punch that he received was real and intentional—that it was meant to hurt him. However, no proof was established to back up the claim. After the recovery, Bachchan continued filming the movie to where he left off. He also thanked those who offered prayers for his recovery and the support that the entire nation devoted to him. To date, he is the only movie actor who received such sympathy. People from all walks of life showed all the support they can give and it was as if life in India stopped for Bachchan. Life only returned to its normal shape when it was declared that he is already safe (Mishra 142-143) Aside from acting, Bachchan also tried his luck in politics after he was swayed by his friend Rajiv Gandhi, whose mother was assassinated and won by sympathy vote. Bachchan was elected to a Parliamentary seat, however, this prestigious position did not prove beneficial to him as his name was included to a political controversy. Bachchan, his brother and Rajiv were accused with bribery. It was rumored that the Boffors company bribed Indian politicians to ensure that the government will buy tanks and other military equipment from them (Mishra 144). This hullabaloo seriously injured the name that Bachchan was able to established through time so he decided to quit politics two years after he first explored it. After his flop in the field of politics, Bachchan returned to his first love—film making. Bachchan is well loved by the Indians and his acting widely accepted, however, these love and acceptance were not enough to keep his star shining after the political controversy he faced. Mishra, however, points out that his breakdown in politics is not the direct cause of his collapse as a star. Just like the period when he started his sensational career as an actor, the people then were looking for variety, for something new to watch, the Indians also felt this way at some point when Bachchan was the king of the charts. The people were worn-out with the constant revenge and anger theme in his movies and were looking for something new—for a new approach in movies. This was the time when the need to revive Romanticism was felt. The revival of romance in the films brought back the idea of a character and once again motivation replaced generic predictability, something which Bachchan turned his back on (Mishra 138). For Bombay cinema to survive, the romantic twist had to return. And so, as Bachchan’s star waned, romance returned (Mishra 138). After his political stint and cinema flops, Bachchan shifted his attention to a new venture. He created a multi-faceted commercial enterprise known as the Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited or ABCL. The company delved in production and distribution of films and other ventures that involved the movie industry. For sometime, the company enjoyed success in producing movies and even catered the Miss World pageant in India in 1996. However, in its latter years, it faced so many debts that it reached bankruptcy (Indiaoye). His failure both in the political and business worlds, prompted him to go back to where he established his name—the entertainment industry. At 55, he filmed his comeback movie, Mrityutada. It was not as successful as his previous movies but it was enough to sustain him in the entertainment field. Two years after his comeback film, he was named in a BBC poll as the Superstar of the Millennium. This title placed him in equal footing with Sir Lawrence Olivier, Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando. Aside from this, he is also the first Asian actor to be included in Madame Tassaud’s wax museum (hindi lyrix n. pag. ). According to Mishra, Bachchan’s success in his career is not only because of his talent in acting but also because of his skill in building his image outside the theater houses. The author suggests three stages in the life of Bachchan that moulded his image as an actor. First is his relationship with his leading ladies, particularly Rekha. Rekha, the daughter of the Hindi actor Ganeshan, is a tall and good looking woman who exhibited real acting talent. She was one of the few actors then who brought â€Å"real sense of character to the films†. She was suspected by journalists to have established a romantic relation with Bachchan and this suspected relationship was â€Å"extensively documented in the fanzines†. Mishra suggests that this added to the growth of the â€Å"quietly sanctioned counternarrative† by the actor himself. However, Bachchan imposed censorship when journalists began to pester him (Mishra 140). The affair of Rekha and Bachchan was better revealed in the movie Silsila (Continuity, 1981). In this movie the actors showed what they could not reveal in real life—depicting the love triangle that exists between Jaya, the wife; Bachchan, the husband; and Rekha, the mistress (Mishra 141).

Great Recession How It Can Be Avoided

Great Recession How It Can Be Avoided The great economic recession is a period marked by persistent decline in the economic growth of different countries across the globe with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracting within a period that is not less than six months. The 2008-2010 great recession affected the global economy and it arose from the developed economies in the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Great Recession: How It Can Be Avoided specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This period is marked by high levels of unemployment, decline in retail sales, real income, GDP, slow growth for businesses, and stagnant wages (Altig Fitzgerald and Rupert 66). When there is high unemployment rate, housing prices decline because of the inability of consumers to meet their obligations. A normal recession does not last longer than a year but the great recession does, and it is milder than an economic depression. Due to its effects, it is necessary to avoid th e great recession at all costs through various measures as discussed in this paper. An economic recession can be avoided through various measures undertaken by the government given the causes of the recession. To begin with, the central bank or the Federal Reserve should increase the level of liquidity in the economy by pursuing expansionary monetary policies. This involves increased supply of cash in the economy through overnight market operations and reduced interest rates. A recession is caused by reduced level of consumption in the economy. Therefore, an increase in the supply of liquidity will increase the purchasing power of consumers thereby stimulating the level of production in the economy. This will reduce unemployment while increasing output and economic growth. The recession can also be avoided by pursuing an expansionary fiscal policy such as increased government expenditures in various sectors of the economy. Such type of a policy would see the government reduce the le vel of unemployment while increasing the purchasing power of the public. This will stimulate the level of productivity while leading to economic growth and ending the recession. In addition to increased spending, the government can end the recession through bailout of bankrupt institutions especially the financial institutions that do not have enough credit for lending out to borrowers.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The economy can avoid the great recession through adjusting the bank interest rates according to the projected economic situation. High bank interest rates discourage investors from borrowing and hence the money circulation in the economy decreases. By reducing interest rates, banks will increase the rate of borrowing and investments since more investors will borrow more funds. This will also encourage payment of bank loans. The government should set an interest ceiling and floor to be applied by commercial banks. This will bring an end to the recession experienced within an economy gradually. An economy should maintain equilibrium in the balance of payment (BOP), which is the graph showing the trade between a country and the other countries across the globe. To avoid the recession, exports should balance with the imports or even exceed the imports. When imports are in excess, it means that imports are cheaper than the domestic products hence there is excess demand and flow of foreign currency causing economic imbalance in the country. This leads to unemployment because the products produced by the domestic companies face a low local demand as compared to imports (Tcherneva 120). Therefore, increased imports could end the recession since the high level of exports increases production, reduces unemployment and promotes economic growth. Altig, David, Terry, Fitzgerald and Rupert, Peter. Okun’s law revisited: should we worr y about low unemployment? Economic Commentary. Cleveland: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, 1997. Print. Lee, Jim. The Robustness of Okun’s Law: Evidence from OECD Countries. Journal of Macroeconomics 22.2 (2000): 331–356. Print. Tcherneva, Pavlina. Permanent on-the-spot job creation- the missing Keynes Plan for full employment and economic transformation. Review of Social Economics, forthcoming 2.1 (2011): 112-127. Print.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Great Recession: How It Can Be Avoided specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

Elizabeth Arden, Cosmetics and Beauty Executive

Elizabeth Arden, Cosmetics and Beauty Executive Elizabeth Arden (born Florence Nightingale Graham; December 31, 1884–October 18, 1966) was the  founder, owner, and operator of Elizabeth Arden, Inc., a cosmetics and beauty corporation.  She  used modern mass marketing techniques to bring her cosmetic products to the public and also opened and operated a chain of beauty salons and beauty spas. Her cosmetics and beauty products brand continues today.   Fast Facts: Elizabeth Arden Known For:  Cosmetic business executiveAlso Known As:  Florence Nightingale GrahamBorn:  December 31, 1884 in Woodbridge,  Ontario, CanadaParents: William and Susan GrahamDied:  October 18, 1966 in New York CityEducation: Nursing schoolAwards and Honors:  Là ©gion dHonneurSpouses: Thomas Jenkins Lewis, Prince Michael EvlanoffNotable Quote: To be beautiful and natural is the birthright of every woman.   Early Life Elizabeth Arden was born  as  the fifth of five children in the outskirts of Toronto,  Ontario. Her father was a Scottish grocer and her mother was English and died when Arden was just 6 years old. Her birth name was Florence Nightingale Graham- named, as many of her age were, for Britains famous nursing pioneer.  The family was poor, and she often worked odd jobs to add to family income.  She began training as a nurse but abandoned that path. She then worked briefly as a secretary. Living in New York In 1908 at the age of 24 she moved to New York, where her brother had already moved. She went to work first as a helper to a beautician and then, in 1910, she opened a beauty salon on Fifth Avenue with a partner, Elizabeth Hubbard. In 1914 when her partnership broke up, she opened a Red Door beauty salon of her own and changed her name to Elizabeth Arden, expanding her business under that name. (The name was adapted from Elizabeth Hubbard, her first partner, and Enoch Arden, the title of a Tennyson poem.) Her Business Expands Arden began to formulate, manufacture, and sell her own cosmetic products. She was a pioneer in the marketing of beauty products, since makeup had been associated with prostitutes and lower class women until this era. Her marketing brought makeup to respectable women. She went to France in 1914 to learn beauty practices where cosmetics were already widely adopted and in 1922, she opened her first salon in France, thus moving into the European market. She later opened salons across Europe and in  South America  and Australia. Marriage Elizabeth Arden married in 1918. Her husband Thomas Jenkins Lewis was an American banker, and through him she gained American citizenship. Lewis served as her business manager until their divorce in 1935. She never permitted her husband to own stock in her enterprise, and so after the divorce, he went to work for the rival firm owned by Helena Rubinstein. Spas In 1934, Elizabeth Arden converted her summer home in Maine into the Maine Chance Beauty Spa, and then expanded her line of luxury spas nationally and internationally.  These were the first destination spas of their kind. Politics and World War II Arden was a dedicated suffragette, marching for womens rights in 1912. She supplied the marchers with red lipstick as a sign of solidarity. During World War II, Ardens company came out with a bold red lipstick color to coordinate with womens military uniforms. Elizabeth Arden was a staunch conservative and supporter of the Republican Party. In 1941, the FBI investigated allegations that Elizabeth Arden salons in Europe were being opened as cover for Nazi operations. Later Life In 1942 Elizabeth Arden married again, this time to the Russian Prince Michael Evlonoff, but this marriage lasted only until 1944.  She did not remarry and had no children. In 1943, Arden expanded her business into fashion, partnering with famous designers. Elizabeth Ardens business eventually included more than 100 salons across the world. Her company manufactured more than 300 cosmetic products. Elizabeth Arden products sold for a premium price as she maintained an image of exclusivity and quality. Arden was a prominent racehorse owner, a male-dominated field, and her thoroughbred won the 1947 Kentucky Derby. Death Elizabeth Arden died on October 18, 1966, in New York. She was buried in a cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York, as Elizabeth N. Graham.  She had kept her age a secret for many years, but on death, it was revealed to be 88. Legacy In her salons and through her marketing campaigns, Elizabeth Arden stressed instructing women on how to apply makeup. She pioneered such concepts as a scientific formulation of cosmetics, beauty makeovers, travel-size cosmetics, and coordinating colors of eye, lip, and facial makeup. Elizabeth Arden was largely responsible for making cosmetics appropriate- even necessary- for middle- and upper-class women. Women known to use her cosmetics included Queen Elizabeth II, Marilyn Monroe, and Jacqueline Kennedy. The French government honored Arden with the  Là ©gion dHonneur  in 1962. Sources Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Elizabeth Arden.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc.Peiss, Kathy  Hope in a Jar: The Making of Americas Beauty Culture. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011.Woodhead, Lindy. War Paint: Madame Helena Rubinstein and Miss Elizabeth Arden: Their Lives, Their Times, Their Rivalry. Weidenfeld Nicolson, 2003.

Understanding the MBA Degree

Understanding the MBA Degree The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree that is awarded to students who have mastered the study of business. This degree option is available to students who have already earned a bachelors degree. In some cases, students who earn a masters degree return to school to earn an MBA, though this is less common.   The MBA degree is widely believed to be one of the most prestigious and sought-after degrees in the world. Students of MBA programs study the theory and application of business and management principles. This type of study equips students with knowledge that can be applied to a variety of real-world business industries and situations.​ Types of MBA Degrees MBA degrees are often split into different categories. For example, there are full-time MBA degree programs (which require full-time study) and part-time MBA programs (which require part-time study). Part-time MBA programs are sometimes known as Evening or Weekend MBA programs because classes are typically held on weekday evening or weekends. Programs like this allow students to continue working while they earn their degree. This type of program is often ideal for students who are receiving tuition reimbursement from an employer.   There are also different types of MBA degrees. For example, there is the traditional two-year MBA program. Theres also an accelerated MBA program, which takes just one year to complete. A third option is an executive MBA program, which is designed for current business executives.   Reasons to Get an MBA The main reason to get an MBA degree is to increase your salary potential and advance your career. Because graduates who hold an MBA degree are eligible for jobs that would not be offered to those who hold only a college degree or high school diploma, an MBA degree is almost a necessity in today’s business world. In most cases, an MBA degree is required for executive and senior management positions. Some companies will not even consider applicants unless they have an MBA degree. People who hold an MBA degree will find that there are many different types of employment opportunities that are available to them. What You Can Do With an MBA Degree Many MBA programs offer education in general management along with a more specialized curriculum. Because this type of education is relevant to all industries and sectors, it will be valuable regardless of the career that is chosen after graduation. Learn more about jobs for MBA grads.   MBA Concentrations When it comes to the MBA degree, many different disciplines can be pursued and combined. The options shown below are some of the most common MBA concentrations/degrees: AccountingBusiness ManagementE-Business/E-CommerceEconomicsEntrepreneurshipFinanceGlobal ManagementHuman Resources ManagementInformation SystemsMarketingOperations ManagementStrategic/Risk ManagementTechnology Management Where You Can Get an MBA Degree Much like a law school or medical school education, the academic content of a business school education does not vary much between programs. However, experts will tell you that the value of your MBA degree is often directly related to the prestige of the school which grants it. MBA Rankings Every year MBA schools receive rankings from various organizations and publications. These ranking are determined by a variety of factors and can be very useful when choosing a business school or MBA program. Here are some of the top-ranked business schools for MBA students: Best U.S. Business Schools: A ranking of the best business schools located in the U.S.Best Canadian Business Schools: A list of the business schools in Canada.Best Part-Time MBA Programs: A ranking of the best part-time MBA degree programs. The Cost of an MBA Degree Cost Getting an MBA degree is expensive. In some cases, the cost of an MBA degree is four times as much as the average yearly salary earned by recent MBA graduates. Tuition costs will vary depending on the school and the program that you choose. Luckily, financial aid is available to MBA students.   Nowadays, there are many different options for potential MBA candidates, but before making a decision, you should evaluate each one before settling on the MBA degree program that’s right for you.

How Healthy Nutrition Can Prevent Cancer Assignment

How Healthy Nutrition Can Prevent Cancer - Assignment Example Carcinogen formation in foods can be minimized by reducing the number of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) chemicals formed in muscle meat during cooking. This can be achieved by: Cancer cachexia involves death or great loss of appetite through loss of fats and muscles. Numerous cytokines like TNF-ÃŽ ±, IL-6, and IL-1 play a significant role in causing Cancer cachexia. They are connected with several metabolic changes that result in developing cachexia in cancer patients. These cytokines have the capability to imitate the action of diverse neuropeptides in order to cause cachexia, several metabolic impacts as a result of an enhanced catabolic condition and weight loss. Following are some of the significant symptoms of cachexia cancer: A neutropenic diet is a special  diet designed  for people having  a weak  immune system. It assists in safeguarding against  bacteria and other lethal  organisms contained  in certain  food and drinks. If an individual's  immune system is not functioning properly it is an indication that his/her  body is struggling hard to  protect  itself from these bacteria. When an individual is  on a neutropenic diet he/she must: Moreover, special care must be taken when consuming certain groups of foods like the dairy products among which unpasteurized milk or yogurt must be avoided. Similarly, foods containing nuts like cereals, bread and rolls with nuts must be avoided (Mahan & Escott-Stump, 2012). People experiencing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may feel tired or lacking energy quite earlier as compared to other healthy individuals. So they need to have smaller more frequent meals. Also, they need a high energy and protein diet consisting of meat servings.

Digital economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Digital economy - Essay Example With the recent technological boom, electronic businesses and markets have no doubt, flourished. The example of digital entertainment like MP3’s, e-books, availability of various soft wares for download and videos for streaming are only some examples of the phenomenal growth of the digital market. When markets come into play, whether they are digital or physical, price automatically becomes a crucial feature. It is important for consumers because they expect to buy at the least price, it is important for producers because they expect to sell at the highest price while maximizing profits and it is very important for the market as a whole in order to keep resource allocation efficient. One area of interest which scholars have long debated over, in relation to the digital economy, has been with respect to prices. A large amount of literature has been written in evidence of showing the presence/absence of price dispersions in online pricing, the reasons why such a phenomenon occurs and how significant it is in relation to modern retail outlets; traditional, pure-Internet based and multi-channel retail outlets (land based retail presence as well as an internet presence of the retailer). At this point it is important to define the phenomenon of Price dispersion. Pan, Ratchford and Shankar (2004, p.443) define price dispersion as â€Å"the distribution of prices (such as range and standard deviation) of an item with the same measured characteristics across sellers of the item at a given point in time†. In simpler words, it may be defined as the difference of prices among sellers of the same items. This concept has major implications for the retailing outlets as it acts as a cue for assessing their own pricing strategies and is reflective of what strategies their competitors have adopted. Be it the traditional, pure Internet or multi-channel retailer, the degree of price variances among the

Socrates view on death Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Socrates view on death - Essay Example In his argument that no one knowingly accepts to get harmed, Socrates demonstrated that no one accepts to die willingly knowing very well that his actions will lead him/her to death. Therefore man evades death by all means and it only occurs to him by chance and bad luck. He states that, â€Å"the unexamined life is not worth living.† to mean that life is made up of examination and one who cannot self examines his life is not fit to live. Death offers the best solution to a person leading an unexamined life. He does not disregard the fact that those who are learned in the society are better placed than the less educated but he supports the view that examined life is a continuous process which is independent of the level of education that one has attained (Reeve, 1989). According to Socrates, it is better to die than to live by not expressing ones inner thoughts. This is why his defense is based purely on truth and facts. There is no point of living if you one is denied the chance of self expression. After being sentenced to death by the court, he argues that it is better to die than to live in wickedness. He believes that he has been outrun by death that he must undertake once and for all but his accusers have been outrun by wickedness which they must live with for the rest of their lives on earth and also after their death. His view of death as a wonderful thing and a peaceful sleep in eternity is astonishing since he believes that death only moves a person from one world to another in which he can have an opportunity to meet with those who had died long time ago and have a rare chance of examining them. This reveals a person who is not afraid of death but sees it as a big relief especially after one has gotten a chance to express his innermost t houghts and what he believes to be true (West, 1998). Death to Socrates is a transformation from one life to another while maintaining the same attributes and that is why he says, â€Å"No evil can happen to a

IT in Hotels and Resorts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IT in Hotels and Resorts - Essay Example To enable us to come to a conclusion whether IT is a blessing in disguise for hotels else if it is destroying the service within hotels, it is important that the benefits and drawbacks of IT in the hospitality sector are discussed. The next section focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of IT on the hospitality sector. Technology is shaping our world. It has become a part of everyone’s lives and it rules almost every action of ours. The hospitality industry being such a massive industry also needs to be aware of the latest technological developments. Every year there is an event held called HITEC the worlds best and unbeatable hospitality technological event! This event is for all hoteliers to meet up with their fellow hoteliers and to attend sessions held by industry experts. These sessions that are held are to help attendees learn the basics and make them informed buyers. The main idea of the event is to give hoteliers an exposure to the latest technologies, products and services from over 300 companies. The event is generally held somewhere between mid to late June. This years even has brought about a very interesting innovation was addressed, the progressive hotels are now willing to engage online and trying their best to gain as many customers as possible and make their stay as comfort able as possible(Mce, 2008). There have been several technological developments in the hospitality sector. Some of these developments go unnoticed by customers since they are mainly used for management purposes and operational purposes. However there are a lot of other developments which can be appreciated by the customers since it directly relates to customer experience. The developments have been many, from changing of a regular door key to a key card, to implementation of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to ensure complete comfort for the customer (Schweisberger & Chatterjee, 2001). It is very clear that technology has in

Discuss Proust's theory of memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discuss Proust's theory of memory - Essay Example Proust, a contemporary of Freud was greatly influenced by the latter in his philosophical leanings and in literary work. Freud treated symbolism in his book Psychoanalysis. According to this theory he propounded which must have influenced Proust, objects or ideas are represented by symbols. Our dreams can symbolize something we have left unexpressed and remain embedded in our unconscious mind. Many of Freud's ideas, however, are sex-oriented . In the complex realm of our existence, the truth remains that ugliness and perversion abound which we try to prevent from surfacing in our conscious mind. These however may find their way into consciousness in our unguarded moments. Proust was a realist and at the same time a symbolist. As such he portrays mental awareness as stream of consciousness. This reduces man's dignity as a human being. Common to Freud and Proust's work is the prevalence or integration of sex into their hierarchy of value.

Components of a Valid Contract Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Components of a Valid Contract - Research Paper Example Certain kinds of contracts require documentation. These contracts have to acquire signatories from the involved parties under the rule of law to be abiding. Contracts are falling under this category abide by statue of frauds and vary from one place to another within varied jurisdiction. A promise or offer needs to be in a contract to render its validity. Offer is, usually, the first element in a contract to ensure that the contract is legally valid to be acceptable. There is a distinct difference in the offer to be an option or an advertisement. Making of an offer requires the availability of two or more parties, and these parties should be ready to agree to a mutual consent in agreement. The constituents of the offer should be open to both parties, and the return value should be acceptable. After presenting a contract offer, acceptance is a crucial validation element (Liuzzo, 2010). Acceptance should only prevail when the offer is clear and within the bounds of the law. Acceptance either can be in the form of writing if it is within the statue of fraud or verbally accepted. For example, promises made in marriages are acceptable in a condition that there is a written draft of the agreement made. In another form of contract for the sale of the car, the seller may gi ve an offer of $20,000. If the buyer accepts, the offer there is a definite creation of a binding contract in a written format. It is worth noting that counter offer has no classification as a form an acceptance. It is, usually, a form of rejection for the offer in place (Gillies, 2004). In a perfect example, if the car buyer counter-offers a purchase of $100,000 it counts as a typical rejection of the initial sale offer. In the case of the counter acceptance by the seller, the contract may automatically face its completion. However, in the case of rejection

Discuss Proust's theory of memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discuss Proust's theory of memory - Essay Example Proust, a contemporary of Freud was greatly influenced by the latter in his philosophical leanings and in literary work. Freud treated symbolism in his book Psychoanalysis. According to this theory he propounded which must have influenced Proust, objects or ideas are represented by symbols. Our dreams can symbolize something we have left unexpressed and remain embedded in our unconscious mind. Many of Freud's ideas, however, are sex-oriented . In the complex realm of our existence, the truth remains that ugliness and perversion abound which we try to prevent from surfacing in our conscious mind. These however may find their way into consciousness in our unguarded moments. Proust was a realist and at the same time a symbolist. As such he portrays mental awareness as stream of consciousness. This reduces man's dignity as a human being. Common to Freud and Proust's work is the prevalence or integration of sex into their hierarchy of value.

Production Management Principles Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Production Management Principles - Assignment Example One of the early contributors towards the evolvement of scientific production management principles was F.W. Taylor. He put forward ideas and developed a theory of organization by which managers could optimize their production and increase efficiency. Till that point of time, there was no scientific back up for the workers engaged in production activity and the methods and tools that were used were outdated. In 1881, Taylor brought out a study on the science of metal cutting. (The Principles of Scientific Management 1910, 2005) Later on, different shovels were tested and the optimum shape of the shovel was designed which would allow the worker shovel without any hindrance for the entire day. This improved efficiency as the number of people required to do a certain kind of work like shovelling reduced considerably. Other areas of research included the moving of pig iron. If workers were usually moving 12.5 tonnes of pig iron per day, he conducted experiments which later on proved that given sufficient rest timings in between lifts, a certain percentage of people could transport 47.5 tonnes per day. This generated the idea that workers should be selected as to how they were suited for a particular job. 1. Each and every process was backed up with a scientific explanation. This provided for a comprehensive method of optimizing work efficiency rather than go by an outdated thumb rule. This is because each process has definite character constraints affected by geographical locations and work culture. 2. There should be a scientific method of selecting an individual to do a certain kind of work. After the right person has been selected proper training and guidance should be provided to make his transition into the job easier. There should always be development programmes to enhance his skills while on the job. 3. There should be a list of procedures laid down by the company commonly called QAP (Quality Assurance Procedures). These define the methods and the checklists to be followed while carrying out a certain procedure. The company should ensure that there is complete co-operation between the management and the employees when carrying out processes as per the QAP.

A Study On Sharing The Wealth Philosophy Essay

A Study On Sharing The Wealth Philosophy Essay There are many people in the world who are currently living in horrible conditions that include malnutrition, hunger, and polluted drinking water. While these people are living in such horrible conditions, I am living a comfortable life and have a habit of taking advantage of certain luxuries that are available to me, but not to someone living in such unfortunate conditions. If a global tax was instated in an attempt to end hunger by contributing a mere one dollar a week, then I would be more than willing to support this movement. There are some others who would agree to and support this tax, but there are also some who disagree with this tax. Different individuals who would have varying opinions on this idea for a global tax are Thomas Pogge, John McMillian, Peter Singer, and Garrett Hardin. Thomas Pogge, as shown in his essay, World Poverty and Human Rights, would seem to agree with the notion of a global tax to help aid those in need. He writes that we have duties, not to expose people to life-threatening poverty and duties to shield them from harms for which we would be actively responsible (Pogge 319). In other words, he believes that those who live in wealthier nations should not allow other people to fall to illnesses if they can afford not to. This would include leaving people to just starve when one can contribute a small portion of our funds to them. Pogge also discusses the topic of how richer countries, such as the United States, strip these poorer areas of their own natural resources. He does mention that these countries to pay for it, but there is a problem with this payment. The payments we make for resource imports go to the rulers of the resource-rich countries, with no concern about whether they are democratically elected or at least minimally attentive to the needs to the people they rule (Pogge 320). Although the richer nations may be paying for the resources they take away, they are paying to leaders who may not share this payment fairly with those that they rule. With this idea in mind, perhaps Pogge would be even more supportive of this global tax if it could be guaranteed that the funds from the tax would be placed in the correct hands and those who need it will actually receive it. Peter Singer is another person who would agree to this notion of a global tax to an extent. In his essay, World Poverty and Hunger, he states that, I (Singer) begin with the assumption that suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are bad (Singer 332). It would be an obvious conclusion to come to from this that he would agree that everyone (who can afford to do so) contributing something to people who are suffering from those things would be a good thing. This is ratified when he states that, if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, with-out thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it (Singer 332). Again, this would lead to the conclusion that he would be in favor of this tax. Although evidence would support that he would be in favor of the global tax, his argument soon gets more complex than that: If everyone in circumstances like mine were to give  £5, I would have no obligation to give more than  £5. If the conclusion were so stated, however, it would be obvious that the argument has no bearing on a situation in which it is not the case that everyone else gives  £5 (Singer 333). In other words, the wording of that statement means that not everyone would be obligated to give that amount of money. Therefore, by giving more than  £5 I will prevent more suffering than I would if I gave just  £5 (Singer 333). Although this is more of a real-world situation, there is evidence in these statements to come to the conclusion that Singer would redefine this global tax. Instead of everyone being taxed one dollar, everyone should instead give as much as they can to limit even more suffering. He continues to say, it follows that I and everyone else in similar circumstances ought to give as much as possible, that is, at least up tot he point at which by giving more one would begin to cause serious suffering for oneself and ones dependents (Singer 333). He would suggest that everyone who can should give as much as they can without causing suffering on themselves. However, despite the idea that Singer would prefer people to give as much as they possibly can, he would sti ll be in favor of the global tax as it is. As he says, At the very least, though, one can make a start (Signer 338). It is better to give something than nothing at all. Although there are those who agree with the notion of a global tax, there are also those who would not approve of this idea. One such person in John McMillan. In his essay, Antipoverty Wars he blatantly states that, Global poverty cannot be eliminated by sharing the wealth (McMillan 323). The global tax in question would be an example of this idea of sharing the wealth as McMillan puts it. Instead he believes that, The only real solution therefore, is economic growth, to expand the worlds total resources (McMillan 324). By growth, he means an increase in a nations income (McMillan 324). Something in this argument that cannot be ignored is the reasons he gives for the potential failure of redistributing the wealth to those in need. Let us do some hypothetical arithmetic. Imagine that the wealth of the millionaires is confiscated and distributed to everyone earning less than $2 per day. Dividing $25 trillion among 2.8 billion people would give $9,000 to each. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) It would be infeasible for many reasons, one of which is that taxing income at 100 percent would squash any incentive to earn it (McMillan 323). In this, McMillan states that even though it would give a substantial amount to those in need, it would not bode well to take all of the wealth that millionaires make. With the global tax in question, it would only require everyone to be taxed one dollar, not the entirety of a millionaires wealth like McMillan mentioned. Despite this, McMillan still states that he believes that economic growth is what should be focused on to increase the wealth in a country. Therefore it can be assumed that he would not agree to the idea of a global tax in favor for economic growth instead. In his essay, Living on a Lifeboat, Garrett Hardin is another individual who, like McMillan, would not agree that this global tax is a good idea. He writes this essay with the idea in mind of the lifeboat metaphor. He explains this metaphor as such, Metaphorically, each rich nation amounts to a lifeboat full of comparatively rich people. The poor of the world are in other, much more crowded, lifeboats. Continuously, so to speak, the poor fall out of their lifeboats and swim for a while in the water outside, hoping to be admitted to a rich lifeboat, or in some other way to benefit from the goodies on board (Hardin 340). In other words, the rich nations are separate from, and in better conditions than, the poorer nations. The poorer nations have overflowed and are now in the water and need a boat to get on in order to live. The decision now is whether or not to allow them onto our (the richer nations) lifeboat. Hardin believes that nobody should be allowed onto the lifeboat for many metaphorical reasons, and then backs them up with real-world reasons. The closest example that would align to this notion of a global tax would be the international food bank. One of his issues with this idea is that, the concepts of blame and punishment are irrelevant. The question is, what are the operational consequences of establishing a world food back? If it is open to every country every time a need develops, slovenly rulers will not be motivated (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Others will bail them out whenever they are in trouble (Hardin 343). In other words, the leaders of these countries that are receiving aid will not be motivated to prepare for bad times or to help themselves. They will just become, essentially, lazy and not do anything to help themselves. They will become reliant on other countries to bail them out. The most anguishing problems are created by poor countries that are governed by rulers insufficiently wise and powerful (Hardin 344). Here is where Hardin claims that the rulers are not capable of properly leading these poorer countries and that is why they are not doing so well. To relate these ideas to the global tax would be to say that, since these countries are receiving aid now, they do not have to worry about what will happen later because they will become accustomed to thinking that they will always receive that aid when they believe it is necessary. The one dollar that everyone donates could help them get out of poverty, but it would not help them to stay out of it. My personal response to this global tax is a positive one. Despite Hardin and McMillans possible views on the idea, I still believe it would ultimately benefit poorer nations and lead to positive results. The biggest incentive for agreeing with this notion for a global tax is very simple: it is easily affordable. It would not involve drastic cuts from a paycheck that leaves one without money for the things that are necessary for them to live in a day to day society. If everyone contributed one dollar a week, it would not add up for each person individually. This idea aligns up with Singers argument. Since I have money to spare and can give without taking away from any necessities that I have, I should be willing to donate it to those who need it. Even though McMillan makes the argument that sharing the global wealth would not help these nations, I disagree. I disagree because of his proposal that economic growth is the key to a nations success. As both Pogge and Hardin point out, the leaders of these poorer countries are not always the most well suited or fair. Pogge states that the wealth that the economic leaders would get are not being shared with the rest of the nation. Hardin states that getting this aid would not encourage the leaders to start becoming dependent on their own land. This would lead to economic growth being very difficult. Also, as Pogge does mention, richer countries are coming and either buying or stripping a country of its natural resources. There resources are possible necessities that these poorer nations may need in order to actually grow. Another issue that prevents me to subscribing to McMillans theory is his example as to why spreading the global wealth is bad. The first is that it is purely based on the idea of completely taking away a millionaires profit for a year. In our example of a global tax, one dollar a week will hardly scratch the surface of a millionaires profit, and it would still provide positive results to those in need. McMillans theory also requires that this spreading of global wealth is only in place for one year. This global tax would be in place for longer than that one year. This means that it would have more of a chance of being effective and collecting more for those in need. Pogge brings up the point that not when richer countries purchase land or goods from the leaders of poorer countries, the wealth is not always distributed to the people. This is why I believe that the money that is taken from the global tax should be carefully moderated to ensure that it gets placed into the right hands. For this reason, I disagree with Hardins logic. Although the leaders may not always be the best suited, the money can still be distributed to those who need it by not providing it to those in charge. If this money is monitored, there should be no issue of this. A global tax of one dollar per person a week would be a huge benefit to those in the world who need the money and are living in horrible conditions. Taking into consideration of how the money gets distributed and that those giving the money do not place themselves in danger or in need, I agree to this concept of a global tax. Despite McMillans and Hardins views, I think it is a good idea to attempt to redistribute the funds in the richer countries by taking this very small step.

Shaker Communities Essays -- Essays Papers

Shaker Communities During the 1800’s many utopian societies sprouted in the United States. Most of these societies blossomed and faded quite quickly, but one group did not fade away like the others. This society successfully combined their faith with the reasoning of the changing times and kept their communities going strong. They are or known as the Shakers, or more formally as the members of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. The Shakers were inventors and thinkers who challenged many traditional thoughts and beliefs. Even today, people marvel and wonder at the Shakers and their communities, which have survived for over two hundred and twenty years and whose influences on society still are present today. Originally, the Shakers formed out of a sect of Quakers in England that was known as the "Shaking Quakers" due to their very emotional religious services. Jane and James Wardley led the group who shook, danced, sang and spoke in tongues during services. A woman from Manchester, England, named Ann Lee joined the group in 1758. In 1770 she was arrested and spent time in jail for disturbing the peace during a religious celebration. During this time Ann had her vision of "Adam and Eve having carnal intercourse" which shaped the future of the group.1 Afterwards she came to the realization that sexual intercourse caused humankind’s fall from grace. Following her release from jail, she went forth to tell the members of the Shaking Quakers in Manchester about her vision. At this point, Ann Lee became known as Mother Ann, the leader of the Shaking Quakers. For the next four years, the group remained in England. Due to the persecution they faced during this time, they failed to attract many new members... ...x/soc257/nrms/Shakers.html (5 Mar. 2000). 3. Hillebrand ( Http://www.webzonecom.com/ccn/cults/othr09a.txt). 4. Robley Edward Whitson, The Shakers: Two Centuries of Spiritual Refection (New York: Paulist Press, 1983), 1-2. 5. David R. Lamson, Two Years Experience Among the Shakers (New York: AMS Press Inc., 1971), 10-11. 6. Lawrence Foster, Women, Family, and Utopia (New York: Syracuse University Press, 1991), 30-31. 7. Stephen J. Stein, The Shaker Experience in America (New Haven, CO: Yale University Press, 1992) 133-134. 8. Unknown, "New Release from Storey Books - Shaker Medicinal Herbs" Http://www.storey.com/news/aug0404.htm (5 Mar. 2000). 9. Unknown, "Sabbathday Lake." Http://www.shakerworkshops.com/sdl.htm (5 Mar. 2000). 10. Harlan ( Http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~jkh8x/soc257/nrms/Shakers.html).

black holes :: essays research papers

The Search for Black Holes: Both as a Concept and An Understanding for age’s people have been determined to explicate on everything. Our search for explanation rests only when there is a lack of questions. Our skies hold infinite quandaries, so the quest for answers will, as a result, also be infinite. Since, its interception, Astronomy as a science speculated heavily upon discovery, and only came to concrete conclusions later with closer inspection. Aspects of the skies which at one time seemed like reasonable explanations are now laughed at as egotistical ventures. Time has shown that as better instrumentation was developed, more accurate understanding was attained. Now it seems, as we advance on scientific frontiers, the new quest of the heavens is to find and explain the phenomenon known as a black hole. The goal of this paper is to explain how the concept of a black hole came about, and give some insight on how black holes are formed and might be tracked down in our more technologically advanced future. Gaining an understanding of a black hole allows for a greater understanding of the concept of space time and maybe gives us a grasp of both science fiction and science fact. Hopefully, all the clarification will come by the close of this essay. A black hole is probably one of the most misunderstood ideas among people outside of the astronomical and physical communities. Before an understanding of how it is formed can take place, a bit of an introduction to stars is necessary. This will shed light on the black hole philosophy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A star is an enormous fire ball, fueled by a nuclear reaction at its core which produces massive amounts of heat and pressure. It is formed when two or more enormous gaseous clouds come together which forms the core, and as an aftereffect the conversation, due to that impact, of huge amounts of energy from the two clouds. The clouds come together with a great enough force, which a nuclear reaction ensues. This type of energy is created by fusion wherein the atoms are forced together to form a new one. In turn, heat in excess of millions of degrees Fahrenheit is produced. This activity goes on for eons until the point at which the nuclear fuel is exhausted. Here is where things get interesting. For the entire life of the stars, the nuclear reaction at its core produced an enormous outward force.

Critique of Health Related Information Sources

Critique of Health Related information sources Abstract Background – The internet is a vast source of information containing over 70 000 health related sites and discerning credible sites can often be a challenging task. It is important however so that reliable information can be obtained. Methods – A series of critique questions were devised to determine the credibility of a health based online journal article and health based website. Questions were determined according to guidelines based on accuracy, links to authority, current relevance, scope of coverage, objectivity and design of each source advised by Hendrix and Winters (2001) [2].Findings – Journal Article; was deemed a credible source coming from a peer reviewed journal with many credible references and no apparent bias or conflict of interest. The main author had significant authority and relevance in the given field and discussions were examined in depth. Most limitations are accounted for though no mention was made regarding possible complications of using slightly out dated data. Findings – Website; was deemed a non-credible source according the critique questions.Very few authors could be linked to articles and most articles were associated with product promotion indicating high levels of bias. While articles were maximum 4 years old, no references were made to original findings and therefore age and accuracy of data could not be confirmed. Conclusion – keeping in mind critiquing criteria is important when discerning any information sourced from the internet whether it is peer-reviewed or not as this does not guarantee 100% credibility. The website chosen was relatively easy to discern.More thought and critical thinking would be required to discern more popular health websites. Introduction Websites can be created by anyone with access to a computer and internet [1] and are subject too misleading or incorrect information whether accidentally or maliciously [2]. There are over 70 000 health-related websites available [3] the form of journals, websites, blogs, other social media, the list goes on. As a health professional, one needs to be aware of the extensive amounts of new and existing research available over the internet, but also how to valuate, discern and decide which information is reliable. Deciding the credibility of a website is not always straight forward. Research shows that even credible websites may not necessarily always provide highly accurate health information [4]. A study found internet to be a desirable medium used by collage students with 74% of participants obtaining health information from the internet via websites such as Yahoo, Ask Jeeves and health. com [5].Some of these sites may seem reputable but are not subject to peer-reviewing. Information subject to peer-review, such as online journals, is significantly more likely to be credible and contain reliable information [6]. The aim of this report is to evaluate an d critique, two health related internet sources, a journal article ‘Energy density of foods and beverages in the Australian food supply: influence of macronutrients and comparison to dietary intake’ [7] and a website ‘Goodhealth. com’ [8] MethodsSources were critiqued based on criteria adapted from Hendrix and Winters (2001) [2]. Detailed questions were answered in regards to the following topics; accuracy, links to authority, current relevance, scope of coverage, objectivity and design of each source. This information was then critically analysed to determine the reliability and credibility of each source. Findings Journal Article – Energy density of foods and beverages in the Australian food supply: influence of macronutrients and comparison to dietary intake. [7]This article explores the relationship between energy density and the percentage of energy as fat, carbohydrate or percent water weight of individual foods and beverages listed in the 1999 Australian Food and Nutrient Database [9] composed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand [10], as well as Australian dietary intake data obtained from the 1995 National Nutrition Survey (9). Links are made between relationships found in this and other studies towards the increase in overweight and obesity in Australia and worldwide.Analysis This is a peer-reviewed study sourced from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, straight away indicating likely reliability. Methods, while generally clear, failed to sufficiently describe how energy density was calculated for Australian dietary intake data. Logical assumptions can be made as to how this was done, but further clarity is required. Data used was collected from 3673 individual foods, 247 beverages and dietary information from 13 858 people.This high volume of information and participants allowed for greater range of variances and increased reliability of findings. Results clearly presented findings and statistical evid ence to support relationships (or lack of) between energy density and main macronutrient energy source. The article is well referenced, citing 23 references, particularly articles from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition plus other journals and databases such as the Australian Food and Nutrient Database. According to SciVerse Scopus [7] this article is cited in 13 additional articles.Author, TC Crowe, Associate Professor and academic at the School of Exercise and nutrition at Deakin University has been involved with many studies prior to and since this article [11,12]. Though published in 2004, all the data used is from 1999 and 1995, making it slightly outdated. Due to the nature of the study, date is an unlikely relevant criteria. It is possible an influx of new products could have affected results of the study, though for this to be determined, a similar study would need to be carried out using the most recent AusNut from 2007 [9] .Recent studies that support the findings of this article are referenced throught the discussion, though most focus more on the relationship between energy density and overweight and obesity problems. As this is published in a nutrition journal, it can be assumed that the target audience is a combination of health professionals, academics, university students and government officials. The depth in which the article explains its findings is thorough yet simple, making it easy to understand even without a health or science background.The results section visually represents the data so that relationships can easily be seen and supports with appropriate statistical evidence. The discussion section does not go into great scientific detail but includes supporting information from other studies and focuses on the relationships between energy density and macronutrients and the links towards overweight and obesity issues. There is no apparent evidence towards any conflict of interest regarding the main author and study. Crowe was gu arantor and involved in all stages of the study with support from the remaining authors [7].Data used was collected by independent organisations, which further eliminates any possibility of any bias while publication in a European journal increases credibility from an Australian circle to a more global view. This is an observational study design which provides level III-3 evidence according to the NHMRC guidelines [13]. The design of the methods allowed results to be presented in a clear and concise manner, easily portraying the studies findings. The study acknowledges that it was, however, limited by the following; 1. Population daily food intake was collected over a 24 hour time period.Dietary habits are subject to change daily and different days could present different results. 2. No weighting system was used regarding daily food intake thus may lead to bias by under or over representing a particular food. 3. Comparisons cannot be made between individual foods and population dail y intake due to differences in data sets. Other limiting factors may include differences in food consumption habits and availability between 1995 and 1999. Evaluation The evaluation provides sufficient information to determine this study is a reliable source.While there is some room for improvement in methods and certain limitations need to be noted, it comes from a reliable source and cites many articles from similarly reliable sources. There are no apparent conflicts of interest and whilst slightly outdated, the results are not likely to vary greatly over time. Health Related Website – www. goodhealth. com. au The website titled ‘Good Health Now! ’ [9] is a small collection of health related articles ranging from 2009 to 2012 along with links to recent health related news articles from ABC News [14] and Natural news [15].Many (non news) articles have an external link located within the article. The website is well presented, aesthetically pleasing and seems to supply a varied range of health topics. After short investigation, however, it is apparent information on each topic Is quite limited. Analysis When looking at the accuracy of the website there appears to be no process in which the information has been reviewed or critically analysed before being posted. No references are found within the text nor listed at the end with the exception of one article, which had a direct link to an article from the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition [16].There were however, links in many articles to generally unfamiliar sites relating to the issue of discussion, often offering a product or service. While ABC News appears a reputable source, some headline appear to have authors and quotes or references while others appear to be press releases containing relatively general and basic information. Articles within the website have 1 of 3 author names; Admin, Katrina or Guest. Searching Admin or Katrina produced no information though some information cou ld be found regarding the Guest articles.The end of each Guest article presented a small biography titled either Author Bio, Bio or no heading at all. Those without the heading Author Bio assumed the biography was not regarding the article author. While it is possible to contact site administrators through the site, not contact information is available. Accounting these factors no judgment can be made on any authors level of authority or expertise with the exception of the few named Guest authors where further research would need to be done.Considering the high number of links to related sites promoting products, there is a strong bias towards product awareness, particularly regarding Guest articles. No specific ‘last update’ date was found on the website though each article states the publishing date. Articles range in date from 2009 to 2012 appearing relatively current, however the audience are unable to determine the age of the data this information was sourced from. Aimed at health conscious adults, the website boasted a motto of ‘enabling all the live a healthy, happy life’ with a not so hidden agenda towards advertisement and product promotion.While some articles provided some detailed information many were lacking in detail. The provided a brief overview to draw the customer in [17] but then required them to search further if truly interested. Language and detail was very simple therefore there was lots of room for improvement in detail and coverage of article in general. Evaluation While initially appearing professional, lack of evidence and references significantly demises the source’s credibility, with the high amount of product promotion suggesting excessive levels of bias in featured articles.Combined with lack of detailed, sufficient information this site appears to be neither reliable nor credible. Conclusion Completion of reviewing sources illustrates the importance of evaluating information found on the internet . The critiquing criteria used provided a solid guide to deciphering the reliability of each source. While journal articles are generally deemed a reliable source care must be taken to ensure they are peer-reviewed, even then, this does not guarantee 100% reliability. Consequently, the critiquing criteria should always be kept in mind. Lack of credibility of the Good Health Now! 9] website was quickly apparent once investigation started. A lot more attention and investigation would be required if investigating more well known health websites such as health. com or WebMD. Credibility is a lot less apparent and investigation would become significantly more reliant on the critiquing framework. ? References (1) McGowan J. Evidence-based health care and the Internet. Canadian Medical Association. Journal 1998 Oct 06;159(7):843-843. (2) Hendrickx L, Winters C. Evaluating healthcare information on the Internet: Guidelines for nurses. Crit Care Nurse 2001;21(2):62-5, 67-8. 3) Ahmann E. Supp orting families' savvy use of the Internet for health research. Pediatr Nurs 2000;26(4):419-23. (4) Kunst H, Groot D, Latthe PM, Latthe M, Khan KS. Accuracy of information on apparently credible websites: Survey of five common health topics. Br Med J 2002 Mar 09;324(7337):581-2. (5) Escoffery C, Miner KR, Adame DD, Butler S, al e. Internet Use for Health Information Among College Students. Journal of American College Health 2005;53(4):183-8. (6) Lazaroiu G. The Quality and Credibility of Process Control in Research. Economics, Management and Financial Markets 2012;7(2):185-191. 7) Crowe TC, La Fontaine ,H. A. , Gibbons CJ, Cameron-Smith D, Swinburn BA. Energy density of foods and beverages in the Australian food supply: Influence of macronutrients and comparison to dietary intake. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004;58(11):1485-91. (8) Good Health Now! [internet] No Date [cited 2012 Sep 13] Available from: http://www. goodhealth. com. au/ (9) Australian Food and Nutrient Database (1999): Australia n and New Zealand Food Authority. Available from: http://www. foodstandards. gov. au/ (10) McLennan W ; Podger A (1998); National Nutrition Survey. NutrientIntakes and Physical Measurements, Catalogue No. 4805. 0 Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (11) Crowe TC, Cameron-Smith D. Low-carbohydrate diets in Australia: prevalence and public perceptions. Med J Aust 2005 Jun 06;182(11):594-5. (12) Crowe TC, Seligman SA, Copeland L. Inhibition of enzymic digestion of amylose by free fatty acids in vitro contributes to resistant starch formation. J Nutr 2000;130(8):2006-8. (13) Australian Government – National Health and Medical Research Council. NHMRC Levels of Evidence and Grades for recommendations for developers of guidelines. 2009 Dec. 14) ABC News [Internet] No date [cited 2012 Sep 13] Available from: http://www. abc. net. au/news/ (15) NaturalNews. com [Internet] Not date [cited 2012 Sep 13] Available from: http://www. naturalnews. com/index. html (16) Njike V, Faridi Z, Dutta S, Gonzalez-Simon A, Katz DL. Daily egg consumption in hyperlipidemic adults – Effects on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk. Nutrition Journal 2010;9(1):n/a. (17) Good Health Now! – True Causes of Diabetes [internet] No Date [cited 2012 Sep 13] Available from: http://www. goodhealth. com. au/220/conditions/diabetes/the-true-causes-of-diabetes/