Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 17

Business Ethics - Essay Example My major aim is to create value proposition for society as a whole through collective actions and shared goals by making effective decisions. My workplace has strong diversity policy that promotes cross-cultural understanding for building personal and professional relationships based on mutual respect and shared learning. In the current environment of fast changing paradigms of socio-cultural and economic environment, ethical consideration and moral responsibilities have emerged as big issues, especially in the business world. The rapid globalization has resulted in pluralistic societies encompassing people from different race, color, culture and nations. Consequently, the inclusion of diversity within and outside the business compulsions have increasingly turned into major ethical issues that need to be addressed. Today, racial differences and lack of understanding of cross cultural values are vital ingredients of workplace conflicts leading to unethical conduct. Thus, facilitating an environment of equal opportunity and equity across the workforce promotes constructive team work for higher productive outcome. Within the broader precinct of Wallace’s ethical contextualization, wisdom gained through experience becomes important tool for making decisions and rationalizing events. The past experiences encourage flexibility of approach and look at situations from wider perspectives of changing values and transforming environment that may require different and sometimes difficult decisions for the long term benefits. For example, introduction of technology within workplace could be viewed differently by different people that may bring about insecurity amongst the workforce. But disseminating information about technology and how it can be exploited for personal and organization gain would significantly influence their mindset

Buying a House Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Buying a House - Research Paper Example A triumphant negotiation requires two opposing parties to come together. The meeting between the two sides is for carrying out a consultation. There are various bargaining tips from that most successful individuals use in the negotiation meeting. First, understanding the importance of the negotiation is essential to the bargain. The importance of the consultation gives the negotiators the motivation to carry out the meetings. Secondly, the mediator should show that he understands the context of the bargain. Indicating knowledge of the negotiation gives the other party confidence and belief. Thirdly, showing various values to the other party gives him or her chance to think about the offers the negotiator is presenting. Fourthly, the negotiator should lay out the reality to the other individuals. Truth is important because it builds trusts between the mediator and the other individuals in the deal. Lastly, the use of emotions in carrying out the negotiation is essential to the authenticity of the deal. Most individuals make decisions based on emotions and use of emotions will lead to a successful negotiation (Downs, 2008). Distributive bargaining is a negotiation in which the involved individuals try to divide or distribute something. Distributive bargaining is competitive, and it means that there are parties in the deal that will gain more. Distributive bargaining happens in a situation where both sides in the negotiation want a win-win result (Hone Your Negotiation Skills, 2014). The people in the deal or negotiation always want to keep up a good working association. The type of talk happens when there are problems with the resources in the deal. This leads to a scenario where of the individuals in the party stands to lose something in the deal. Most deals have the potential to become a distributive bargaining negotiation. In a hypothetical situation, that I receive a promotion and

Theories of Realism for State Behaviour Explanations

Theories of Realism for State Behaviour Explanations â€Å"How well do the different types of realism (classical, structural and neoclassical) explain state behaviour?† Word count: 2,765 Seminar Tutor: Aijan Sharshenova Realism is a fundamental practise of international politics, a key theory in this area of study as it helps us to understand the contemporary world, as well as the challenges that we now face. Realism helps to emphasise this role of nation-state with the belief that all states are motivated by their own self-interests, prioritising territorial integrity and securing political autonomy. The relations within domestic politics and international relations are conversely discussed by different realists, from Thucydides (460-395BC) to E.H. Carr (1892-1982) showing substantial differences within realism itself. Firstly, classical realism derives from Niccolà ² Machiavelli (1469-1527), Thucydides and Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) to name but a few. The study of politics during this time was set on the foundations of human nature. Thucydides presented his belief through dialogue texts, presenting how human nature has made us crave power above all else. On the other hand, structural realists, such as Kenneth Waltz (1924-2013) believed that power is a means to an end but the ultimate aim of an individual, as well as state, is survival. Both types of realism theories have undergone much critic in the past few decades, with only a relatively recent view surfacing. This is known as neoclassical realism, a combination of classical and structural (‘neorealism’) realism, focusing on systematic variables of internal and external factors. My line of argument during this essay will be that neoclassical realism holds the most viable explanation for state behaviour, due to its contemporary analysis and consideration of systematic pressures through various variables, nationally and internationally. I will set out first by discussing the classical realism theory, in which I shall discuss the influence of human nature, interest and justice and how these internal factors influence the states behaviour. Secondly, I will discuss structural realism and the theories basis of system structure of the world states, which do not consider internal factors. Finally, I will critically assess whether neoclassical realism can truly explain state behaviour, despite its limitations. Although there is not a unified set of beliefs of realism, it is considered by all that the international system is an anarchical environment, which is important to incorporate in my essay because it in turn demonstrates how states do not have anyone to adhere to in the international system due to lack of hierarchal figures. The anarchical system is supported by Waltz’s description of international politics as ‘being flicked with particles of government and alloyed with elements of community – supranational organizations whether universal or regional, alliance, multinational co-operations, network of trade and what not. International political systems are thought of as being more or less anarchic.’ (1979:114)1. This then further presents how internal and external factors are needed to understand state behaviour, which appears to be a major flaw in the understandings of classical and structural realism. I will later discuss whether neoclassical realism is ab le to account for the changes in the nation-states behavioural patterns due to these intervening variables. Classical Realism Classical realism is essentially about power, which is measured through material capabilities. When striped back to the simplest of social organisations, it becomes the tribal groups and their competition for resources, which show that power (struggles) have always been part of society. This is then interlinked, by Hobbes, with the comparison of the individual and the state – where human nature is compromised of primarily power and the essence to survive, known as the ‘state of nature’, correlating to what the classical realist believe to be the states priorities. This is furthered by the lack of sovereignty in the international system, making it therefore anarchical, reducing state behaviour to its own national interest and its own security in order to maintain its power and survival. The idea of this egotistical self-interest was first developed by Thucydides, who understood human nature as self-interest will overcome moral principles. In Book 1 of The History o f the Peloponnesian War , during a debate in Sparta, Thucydides states how the considerations of right and wrong have ‘never turned people aside from the opportunities of aggrandizement offered by superior strength.’ (Chapter 1:76).2 Although this view disregards the teleological notions of political progress, it is supported by the period of origination during the interwar period. Leading on from this, Thucydides, as well as Hans Morgenthau, further disregards the distinction between international and domestic systems, encouraging us to understand them as similar outcomes. Thucydides uses both internal and external developments alike as reason for state behaviour. For example, when communal bonds within a system are strong, as in pre-Peloponnesian War in Greece, the laws help to restrain actors. Therefore, when community breaks down, so does this order due to the loss of legitimacy in influence. This coincides with Aristotle’s observation that law ‘has no power to compel obedience beside the force of habit.’3 This idea of community is furthered by the classical realist’s belief that justice is the foundation of relationships in order to create these communities where security and influence are insured. Thucydides relates his text to the importance of interest and justice and how they come hand in hand – with the relationship becoming more acute in response to war. An example of this is in Pericles’ Athens’ which Thucydides pointed out to be under a facade of democracy rule, when in fact it was just one man (Pericles) ruling. The democratic ideology that came with this rule caused class tensions, which heightened over time, resulting in the vicious overthrow of ‘democracy’. After this, justice then became the foundations for what was known as a more peaceful nation.2 Classical realists find justice an important influence as it helps to determine the understanding and responses actors have with one another. Even though influence can be bribed, its expense for the stereotypically short-lived maintenance of it, makes it a foolish investments. Therefore, policies that have accepted ethical approaches create a respected legitimacy that is more likely to be followed, creating a more efficient sphere of influence, which can also be translated to power. To add to this, the commitment to justice was one that showed the strength of self-restraint an actor has. For instance, weaker states behave due to the external constraints that they face, whereas more powerful states are more inclined to think they are in control. Yet, this causes irrationality of the leaders, encouraging them to make hazardous decisions. These miscalculations often lead to catastrophe, with key examples of Athens, Napoleon and Hitler. Thus, internal and external constraints are closely interconnected, as self-restraint prompts behaviour in accordance with the principles of justice, sustaining the hegemonic structure that makes sufficient influence possible. However, classical realists fell short of including all the important aspects of international relations, including that co-operation that can occur between nations. Looking from a contemporary view, with the inclusion of globalization, classical realism seems very rigid and outdated. Furthermore, the statist system has been proven wrong by Transnational Corporations (TNC’s) who in fact have a larger economy than some smaller states, giving them more power even in material capabilities, with some corporations having a form of military. This also shows that states cannot be considered unitary actors. Structural Realism Kenneth Waltz, the founder of structural realism, describes the international system through each state considering the risk and cost-analysis of irrational action, which subsequently results in stability being maintained. Although the system is not in a constant state of war, it is thought of as ‘each state decides for itself whether or not to use force; war may break out at any time.’ (Waltz 1979:111).1 Conflict is always possible in anarchy, although the relative chance of it occurring is what is important, rather than the possibility of it. Therefore, structural realists believe that a state should never let down its guard and always be prepared for the worst case scenario. This results in what realists believe that states need to make sure they always have military expenditure at full potential in order to be able to defend against possible aggressors. Structural realists believe that states need to adopt the worst-case focus in order to ensure the states don’t get caught off-guard, which could be argued, would have even heavier costs. ‘Political competition among states is much more dangerous business than economic intercourse; it can lead to war, and war often means mass killings on the battlefield and even mass murder of civilians. In extreme cases, war can even lead to total destruction of the state.’1 Consequently, defensive programmes are thought of as the only dependable insurance against outside aggression, as it may help to reduce the calamities. Balancing this behaviour and attitudes with co-operation between states is thought to be conditioned by the lack of hierarchal authority in the international system, with the constant threat that force could be used. An example of this is the regional trade blocs in the contemporary developing world. Structural realism explains that states are reluctant to co-operate due to fears, but they do believe co-operation is possible although only on the front that it is largely constrained. Moreover, this theory explains that developing countries would be the most inclined to not co-operate due to the security issues from in those regions. Yet, contrastingly to this, many co-operations have been set up, such as ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and Southern Cone Common Market. Even despite the fact that military expenditures have increased rapidly in the last few years, in addition to the territorial disputes, these countries are still able to co-operate which strongly contradicts structural realism’s theory of state behaviour. Such behaviour is consistent with the view that economic gain outweighs the probability of security due to the promoted increased international competitiveness superseding relative gains. (Economic benefits of the trade blocs include attracting Foreign Direct Investment, increased markets and reduced transaction costs). Despite the fact that structural realists are the leading critics to classical realists for their explanations being deduced by human nature, the characteristics of actors in structural realism is in the sense of ‘fear’ – part of the state of nature, as described by Hobbes. Morgenthau argues that actors will take advantage of weaker states, hence why structural realists believe that military preparedness is the only guaranteed assurance. Both areas of the arguments view the world pessimistically, interlinking them with the evidence that structural realism doesn’t actually move beyond human nature, rather just replaces the idea of ‘power’ with ‘fear’. This shows the two perspectives weaknesses as both focus on only one sole notion – rather than the intervening variables that are at play in domestic and international politics due to the variations of dynamics. Another raised point of the structural realism theory is that a state’s first concern is to maximise its likelihood of existence, thus if focusing on short term security has negative long term repercussions, it still must go ahead in order to maintain survival. Although, a rational state would only discount these future repercussions if the security pressures are not that strong, meaning the long term affects are given priority. This view is shaped by the ideal that states are shaped by the possibility and probability that conflict can outbreak at any time, hence the need for capability to deal with the contingency that may arise from the security issues. Nevertheless, Waltz recognises that states have other important intentions and therefore may not take all conceivable steps to achieve short term security, but security matters take priority over economic capabilities. Neoclassical Realism Neoclassical realism is a relative recent theory that has been accounted by Wohlforth (1993), Gildeon Rose (1998), Zakarua (1998) and Schweller (2006) to name but a few. This theory combines structural and classical realism in order to incorporate both external and internal variables with the dynamic of the international and domestic systems. Rose described neoclassical realism in the World Politics Review (1998) as an ‘impact of such power capabilities on foreign policy is indirect and complex because systematic pressures must be translated through intervening variables at the unit level.’ This makes the theory more contemporary and relevant due to its inclusion of more than one sole motive. Classical realism mainly focuses on the domestic system, meaning the theory cannot be used to explain why different actors act similarly. In contrast, neoclassical Zakarua (1998) made a clear distinction between national and state power, with the claim that the systems are more multi-dimensional than just its material capabilities.’By taking into account both domestic and international constraints on the state, and by articulating both the domestic and international choices available to the state, we are able to provide a more comprehensive integrated approach to the analysis of state behaviour’. (Mastanduno, Lake, Ikenberry1989).4 Essentially, neoclassical realists state that the reason behind why different actors act similarly can only be understood if the intervening role of domestic factors is in play. Therefore, more contemporary realist state that power cannot be used to express all dimensions of politics, and that this is not just measured by its material capabil ities due as they are not always mobilized to their full efficiency. Additionally, neoclassical realists emphasise the importance of the role of the state. This contrasts sharply to structural realism, who isolate the states’ role, making it unitary and a different body to the rest of society. However, neoclassical realists recognise the fundamental role that the statesman have as they are part of the intervening variables with the power to intervene, implement and assess changes in the foreign policy. Accounting for the changes over time and variations of different states countering external constraints, which may result in a need for a change in foreign policy due to the dynamism of today’s globalisation. This also relates to the contemporary theory’s inclusion of not only the weaker and stronger states, but also the ‘middle powers’4 – which is discarded by both classical and structural realism. The understanding that smaller (weaker) powers focus is mainly on their domestic politics is because external const raints means their power internationally is smaller – thus the need to concentrate domestically in order to build this material power. Alternatively, larger power’s focus is also domestic, especially its constraints. This is due to the greater power enabling them more freedom internationally, resulting in the focus being internal and on their own constraints that they face. This then leads onto middle powers being the only ones that face domestic, as well as international, focus on constraints. Yet, this means that the neoclassical theory, which deals with internal and external factors to justify state behaviour, is therefore mainly relevant towards middle powers because they are the ones that focus on both systems. Conclusion Realism does not have a unified set of assumptions about state behaviour, granting this, dividing realism does help to lead to a more precise conceptualization of the theory and provides a better understanding in which the variation of impacts of differential material factors help to explain state behaviour. Structural and classical realism, both alike, are theories that are inflexible even though they claim to be operative under all circumstances. Structural realism in particular, appears substandard in demonstrating state behaviour due to the fact it is presented in the terms of being relevant in all situations at all times. Not only this, but the presentation of the international system as a relentless competition for security and power, shown through material capabilities like technology, geography and economical advantages, becomes the biggest flaw in itself. This is because of the multidimensional system that we live in today, a cause of globalisation as states and actors are interconnected more than ever. Neoclassical realism helps to present this, embodying systematic and domestic level of analysis, making it more relevant to contemporary systems behaviour. However, neoclassical realism, as well as structural and classical realism, are hard to use to explain state behaviour unless the application has more knowledge of the given actor/state in order to make the assumption more relevant due to the varying degree of nations. References Baylis, J., Smith, S. Owens, P., 2013. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introdctuion to International Relations, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Burchill, Scott, et al., Theories of International Relations, London, Palgrave, third edition, 2005. Kenneth Waltz (1979).A Theory Of International Politics. 2nd ed. United States of America: Waveland Press. 111-114. Mastanduno, M., Lake, D.A., Ikenberry, J.G. (1989), Toward a Realist Theory of StateAction,International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Dec., 1989), pp. 457-474 Morgenthau, Hans, ‘A Realist Theory of International Politics’ in Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 5ed 1973). Thucydides/Richard Crawley, The History of the Peloponnesian War, (Australia: J.M. Dent and Co., 1903) https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/thucydides/crawley/index.html>{accessed 31st September 2014} 1Kenneth Waltz (1979).A Theory Of International Politics. 2nd ed. United States of America: Waveland Press. 111-114. 2Thucydides/Richard Crawley, The History of the Peloponnesian War, (Australia: J.M. Dent and Co., 1903) https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/thucydides/crawley/index.html>{accessed 31st September 2014} 3 Burchill, Scott, et al., Theories of International Relations, London, Palgrave, third edition, 2005. 4 Mastanduno, M., Lake, D.A., Ikenberry, J.G. (1989), Toward a Realist Theory of StateAction,International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 4 (Dec., 1989), pp. 457-474

The Space Race and the Apollo Program in 1968 :: American History Essays

The Space Race and the Apollo Program in 1968 I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space, and none will be so difficult or so expensive to accomplish. These words, uttered by President John F. Kennedy in May 1961 brought forth a new era in American history, the idea of sending a man to the moon. Only seven years later, in 1968, did America finally prepare to meet Kennedy’s deadline with the Apollo 7 and 8 missions. Recovering from the tragic fire of Apollo 1 in 1967, Apollo 7 put the Space program back on track. Only two months later, Apollo 8 led the first voyage around the Moon. These missions drew America’s goal for a lunar landing closer and took the Soviet Union out of the Cold War’s so-called "Space Race." The origins of the Cold War can be traced to the conclusion of World War II. Beginning with the Yalta Convention in 1945, and continuing with the Potsdam Conference later that year, the United States and the United Soviet Socialist Republic became embittered with each other over the division of Europe. This was a direct result of capitalism and communism with the blockade of Germany, the support of Communism in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Turkey and Greece and the refusal of Soviet forces to demobilize. Soon, the argument turned to America’s use of the atomic bomb in Japan in August 1945. The Soviets at first highly commended America for hastening Japan’s surrender but then repudiated it several weeks later. They claimed that it destroyed the balance of power between the two great world powers. By the early 1950’s, the focus shifted from the dilemmas in Europe to an even bigger threat, the threat of nuclear war. Both the US and the USSR claimed supremacy in Nuclear t echnology, specifically, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). However, events changed permanently on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first successful orbiting satellite. The United States immediately reacted to the launch by claiming it would have been first in launching a satellite had it not been for planning mistakes. After the launch of Sputnik II in November 1957, the United States made its first public reaction.

Murabaha Essay

Bai-Murabaha may be defined as a contract between a Buyer and a Seller under which the Seller sells certain specific goods permissible under Islamic Shariah and the Law of the land to the Buyer at a cost plus agreed profit payable in cash or on any fixed future date in lump sum or by instalments. The profit marked-up may be fixed in lump sum or in percentage of the cost price of the goods. In respect of dealing parties Bai-Murabaha may be of two types. 2. 01Ordinary Bai-Murabaha If there are only two parties, the seller and the buyer, where the seller as an ordinary trader purchases the goods from the market without depending on any order and promise to buy the same from him and sells those to a buyer for cost plus profit, then the sale is called Ordinary Bai-Murabaha. 2. 02Bai-Murabaha on Order and Promise If there are three parties, the buyer, the seller and the Bank as an intermediary trader between the buyer and the seller, where the Bank upon receipt of order from the buyer with specification and a prior outstanding promise to buy the goods from the Bank, purchases the ordered goods and sells those to the ordering buyer at a cost plus agreed profit, the sale is called â€Å"Bai-Murabaha on Order or Promise†, generally known as Murabaha. This Murabaha upon order and promise is generally used by the Islami Banks, which undertake the purchase of commodities according to the specification requested by the Clients and sale on Bai-Murabaha to the one who ordered for the goods and promised to buy those for its cost price plus a marked-up profit agreed upon previously by the two parties, the Bank and the Client. In this Bank, Bai-Murabaha is treated as a contract between the Bank and the Client under which the Bank purchases the specified goods as per order and specification of the Client and sells those to the ordering Client at a cost plus agreed upon profit payable within a fixed future date in lump sum or by fixed instalments. Thus it is a sale of goods on profit by which ownership of the goods is transferred by the Bank to the Client but the payment of the sale price (cost plus profit) by the Client is deferred for a fixed period. It may be noted here that, in case of Bai-Muajjal and Bai-Murabaha, Islamic Bank is a financier to the Client not in the sense that the Bank finances the purchase of goods by the Client, rather it is a financier by deferring the receipt of sale price of the goods sold by the Bank to the Client. If the Bank does not purchase the goods or does not make any purchase agreement with seller, but only makes payment of any goods directly purchased and received by the Client from the seller under Bai-Muajjal/Bai-Murabaha Agreement, that will be a remittance of the amount on behalf of the Client, which shall be nothing but a loan to him and any profit on this amount shall be nothing but Interest (Riba). Therefore, purchase of goods by the Bank should be for and on behalf of the Bank and the payment of price of goods by the Bank must be made for and on behalf of the Bank. If in any way the payment of price of goods is turned into a payment for and on behalf of the Client or it is paid to the Client any profit on it will be Riba. It is permissible for the Client to offer an order to purchase by the Bank particular goods deciding its specification and committing himself to buy the same from the Bank on Murabaha, i. . cost plus agreed upon profit. 3. 02It is permissible to make the promise binding upon the Client to purchase from the Bank, that is, he is to either satisfy the promise or to indemnify the damages caused by breaking the promise without excuse. 3. 03It is permissible to take cash/collateral security to guarantee the implementation of the promise or to indemnify the damages. 3. 04It is also permissible to document the debt resulting from Bai-Murabaha by a Guarantor, or a mortgage, or both like any other debt. Mortgage/ Guarantee/ Cash Security may be obtained prior to the signing of the Agreement or at the time of signing the Agreement. 3. 05Stock and availability of goods is a basic condition for signing a Bai-Murabaha Agreement. Therefore, the Bank must purchase the goods as per specification of the Client to acquire ownership of the same before signing the Bai-Murabaha agreement with the Client. After purchase of goods the Bank must bear the risk of goods until those are actually sold and delivered to the Client, i. e. after purchase of the goods by the Bank and before selling of those on Bai-Murabaha to the Client buyer, the Bank shall bear the consequences of any damages or defects, unless there is an agreement with the Client releasing the Bank of the defects, that means, if the goods are damaged, Bank is liable, if the goods are defective, (a defect that is not included in the release) the Bank bears the responsibility. The Bank must deliver the specified Goods to the Client on specified date and at specified place of delivery as per Contract. 3. 8The Bank shall sell the goods at a higher price (Cost + Profit) to earn profit. The cost of goods sold and profit mark-up therewith shall separately and clearly be mentioned in the Bai-Murabaha Agreement. The profit mark-up may be mentioned in lump sum or in percentage of the purchase/cost price of the goods. But, under no circumstances, the percentage of the profit shall have any relation with time or expressed in relation with time, such as per month, per annum etc. 3. 09The price once fixed as per agreement and deferred cannot be further increased. 3. 0It is permissible for the Bank to authorise any third party to buy and receive the goods on Bank’s behalf. The authorisation must be in a separate contract. Request potential Client to open an Al-Wadia Current Account. Let him maintain the Current Account satisfactorily for a reasonable period. (This will generally mean six months). 4. 02Hold preliminary discussion with the prospective Client regarding his Investment needs and business experience. 4. 03Brief him on the salient features of â€Å"Bai-Murabaha† Mode of Investment. Apprise, in particular, the usual terms and conditions under which the Bank makes such Investment. 4. 04Look to the past performance of the Client. Check-up Head Office Current Investment Policy and Branch’s track record of Bai-Murabaha Investment of the item(s). 4. 05If the Proposal is found suitable, advise the Client to submit formal Application (F-167A -as per specimen at page 34). If not found suitable, regret politely.

Online Integrated Marketing Communication Essay

Integrated marketing communication – the evolution of a concept The IMC approach has received almost instant recognition at the end of the 1990s, as a result of the existing trends to reduce the budget allocated to mass advertising campaigns and to concentrate on segmented or personalised communication with final consumers. The increased fragmentation of media and customers, as well as the revolution introduced in mass communication by the new communication channels – internet and mobile communication technologies – has created the need for a new approach to marketing communication, that can insure centralised management and a consistency of corporate messages sent towards various audiences. The concept of IMC was defined in many different, often contradictory, ways: Pickton and Broderick (2001) claim that synergy is the principal benefit of bringing together the various facets of marketing communications in a mutually supportive way. Definition proposed by Keegan et al. (1992, p. 631): Integrated marketing communications is the strategic co-ordination of all messages and media used by an organisation to collectively influence its perceived brand value. At the heart of this definition is the assumption that the credibility and value of both the company and its brand(s) will increase, when messages transmitted to various audiences become consistent across time and targets. Another definition proposed by Duncan (2002, p. 8) demonstrates the current conceptual perception of IMC: A cross-functional process for creating and nourishing profitable relationships with customers and other stakeholders by strategically controlling or influencing all messages sent to these groups and encouraging data-driven, purposeful dialogue with them. The notion of stakeholders implies the shift in the IMC concept from customer target audiences to the inclusion of key stakeholder groups such as employees, investors, suppliers, distributors, media and the social community. The most significant organisation barriers for the implementation of the IMC concept: * lack of horizontal communication; * functional specialisation; * decentralisation; * lack of IMC planning and expertise; * lack of budget; * lack of database technology; * corporate culture; and * fear of change. The impact of the internet technology on marketing communication: The rapid development of the internet in the last ten years has changed the classical communication procedures (Blattberg and Deighton, 1991; Holtz, 1999), because of three specific and co-existent characteristics that differentiate it from any other communication channel: * Interactivity. The internet offers multiple possibilities of interactive communication, acting not only as an interface, but also as a communication agent (allowing a direct interaction between individuals and software applications). The traditional communication channel was uni-directional, Even when communication was considered a two-way process, the institutions had the resources to send information to audiences through a very wide pipeline, while the audiences had only a minuscule pipeline for communicating back. Now, the communication channel is a network, not a pipeline. Communicators have grasped and even embraced this new proximity, fact demonstrated by the vast number of web sites which display â€Å"Contact Us† buttons and links. However, in most of the cases, these new facilities are not fully used. * Transparency. The information published online can be accessed and viewed by any internet user, unless this information is specifically protected. * Memory. The web is a channel not only for transmitting information, but also for storing information – in other words, information published on the web remains in the memory of the network until it is erased. The new realities of how audiences get and use information: * The audience is connected to the organisations * The audience is connected to one another * The audience has access to other information * Audiences pull information (info has to be available where audiences can find it, and it must be customizable) { Today, we get messages from multiple media channels: email, voice mail, faxes, pagers, cell phones, interoffice memos, overnight courier packages, television (with hundreds of channels), radio, internet radio, etc. As a result, the media that used to provide an efficient channel of communication for practitioners have become now only noise that most of the audiences have learned to filter out} Different definitions of IMC: Some retail organisations track the interaction between the online user and their web site: â€Å"the time spent by a client on a specific web page can represent an indication of his/her present interest†. â€Å"We use the results provided by our online behaviour tracking system to create personalised promotions targeted to individual customers†. The meaning is not simply transmitted, but has to be negotiated separately with each online audience. The message needs to be adapted to the specific level of understanding and interpretation of each public, but, on the other hand, has to express the same core organisational values, in order to display a coherent organisational image If the company attempts to reach foreign audiences, the message needs to be adapted to the cultural specificity of the overseas public. This raises important questions regarding the possibility of integrated online marketing communication in the global context: â€Å"we often communicate with customers from various cultural and economic backgrounds. In these conditions we must apply a clear segmentation and positioning strategy, in order to match the needs of every cultural group with our marketing messages.† The specific characteristics of the internet therefore create two conflicting tendencies: (1) the fragmentation of audiences and communication contexts requires the customisation of online marketing messages; but (2) the interactivity, transparency and memory of the web necessitates the consistency of communication and the coherence of the transmitted meaning Below figure presents the place of integrated online marketing communication in the online CRM process of the firm. The customer data/feed-back collected online is used directly to better design and implement the online integrated marketing communication, which are then targeting selected online audiences. Correctly implemented, the IMC program is a continuous cycle of gathering data and implementing response-generating marketing communication which is based on previously gathered consumer data. the specific characteristics of the internet are making the implementation of integrated online marketing communication both inevitable and efficient for an online organisation. The transparency, interactivity and memory of the internet force the organisation to adopt a proactive-reactive attitude in online communication, and to combine consistency and continuity with flexibility and customisation. These characteristics can be integrated by designing and implementing a specific model of integrated online marketing communication. The use of advanced online applications to collect customer data and feed-back information is paramount for the success of the online communication campaign (O’Malley and Mitussis, 2002). Because of the high interactivity of the internet, the communication process has become a real-time dialogue. Important issues relevant for the implementation of integrated online marketing communication have not been addressed because of space and methodology limitations. These areas can represent the subject of future research projects investigating: the management process of integrated online marketing communication; the criteria used for selecting and combing various channels in the online communication mix; the relation between the organisation and web advertising agencies; or the challenges raised by the general integration and co-ordination of online and offline (traditional) communication.

Free Essays on Scent Of A Woman

Scent of a Woman â€Å"Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce high for her too, Till she cry ‘Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!’†- Thomas Parke D’Invilliers From the beginning of time, men have attempted to solve a mystery the answer to which always seems to be just out of their grasp: The Woman. Working with her, or simply trying to â€Å"communicate,† with her can challenge even the most intelligent men. Following the elusive sent of a woman, men are constantly thrown off the circuitous trail that ultimately ends at the woman’s heart- - and the nearby bedroom. Many consider poetry a sort of road map to the desired destination. John Donne’s â€Å"The Flea,† Robert Herrick’s â€Å"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,† and Andrew Marvell’s â€Å"To His Coy Mistress,† all seem to have been written with one objective: to charm her into surrender. To ply her with sensual metaphors until she falls helplessly into his bed; but which poet’s strategy proves most effective? It is possible through careful analysis, exfoliation, and gathering of various opinions, to determine which po et displays the firmest grasp of the female psyche and the most powerful wea! pons to win this battle. By its title, one may assume that Donne’s â€Å"The Flea† concerns nothing more than a blood sucking parasite; this, in fact, exposes his speakers strategy. In pointing out the far-fetched, yet ironically logical, similarities between sex and a fleabite, Donne’s speaker hopes to coax his lover into pre-marital relations. MARK but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is; It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. (1-4) (This and all other references made to John Donne’s â€Å"The Flea†, Robert Herrick’s â€Å"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time, and Andrew Marvell’s â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† ... Free Essays on Scent Of A Woman Free Essays on Scent Of A Woman Scent of a Woman â€Å"Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce high for her too, Till she cry ‘Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!’†- Thomas Parke D’Invilliers From the beginning of time, men have attempted to solve a mystery the answer to which always seems to be just out of their grasp: The Woman. Working with her, or simply trying to â€Å"communicate,† with her can challenge even the most intelligent men. Following the elusive sent of a woman, men are constantly thrown off the circuitous trail that ultimately ends at the woman’s heart- - and the nearby bedroom. Many consider poetry a sort of road map to the desired destination. John Donne’s â€Å"The Flea,† Robert Herrick’s â€Å"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,† and Andrew Marvell’s â€Å"To His Coy Mistress,† all seem to have been written with one objective: to charm her into surrender. To ply her with sensual metaphors until she falls helplessly into his bed; but which poet’s strategy proves most effective? It is possible through careful analysis, exfoliation, and gathering of various opinions, to determine which po et displays the firmest grasp of the female psyche and the most powerful wea! pons to win this battle. By its title, one may assume that Donne’s â€Å"The Flea† concerns nothing more than a blood sucking parasite; this, in fact, exposes his speakers strategy. In pointing out the far-fetched, yet ironically logical, similarities between sex and a fleabite, Donne’s speaker hopes to coax his lover into pre-marital relations. MARK but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is; It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. (1-4) (This and all other references made to John Donne’s â€Å"The Flea†, Robert Herrick’s â€Å"To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time, and Andrew Marvell’s â€Å"To His Coy Mistress† ...

What Is CTY at Johns Hopkins Complete Guide

What Is CTY at Johns Hopkins Complete Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips CTY, or Center for Talented Youth, at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) offers an assortment of resources to gifted students. These resources include summer programs and courses, written resources, community awards/recognition, and college counseling. The first step to many of the CTY programs is registering for the Talent Search. Even the programs that are open to everyone give priority to students who participated in the Talent Search. For your convenience, we’ve compiled everything here into one magnificent blog entry guide. I recommend reading it all the way through, but if you only want to read one particular section, you can pick it out from the Table of Contents. I'll start off by going in depth into the Talent Search and then mention other programs along with links if you want more information than I give in this article. feature image credit: Lanyard by Kevin Wong, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. Table of Contents CTY Talent Search: A Primer Talent Search Participants Only Programs Family Academic Programs Recognition Ceremonies Programs Open To Everyone Who Qualifies (Not Just Talent Search Participants) Summer Programs CTY Online Study of Exceptional Talent Other CTY Resources Tips for CTY Actions To Take What Is the CTY Talent Search? The CTY website calls its Talent Search the "gateway to CTY†...meaning, I think, that the Talent Search is the portal through which many students experience CTY programs. Since there are different Talent Searches for each CTY International program, I'm going to limit my discussion to the U.S. Talent Search (including those students who apply to the U.S. Talent Search internationally). The CTY Talent Search involves the following steps: Step 1: If you're eligible for the Talent Search (more on that next), register with CTY Talent Search. Step 2: Next, you select the test that’s right for you, register for that, and take it. Step 3: After you get your score report, CTY sends you a Certificate of Participation as well as a list of other CTY programs your score qualifies you for. Step 4: If you're not satisfied with your score, or your score is too low for the programs you want to participate in, you can retest at a later date. Who’s Eligible for the CTY Talent Search? The CTY Talent Search is open to all 2nd-8th graders who qualify by: Scoring 95th percentile (or higher) on a nationally normalized test. Examples of these tests include the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children or any of the Woodcock Johnson Tests. Scoring 95th percentile (or higher) on any other the other qualifying state tests. Examples of these tests include the NY Statewide Testing Program or the California Standards Test. Displaying superior academic performance. This criterion is ONLY for students without standardized test scores. In order to qualify under this criterion, you must display superior math and critical reasoning abilities. For more on Talent Search eligibility for 2nd-8th graders, go to the CTY's website. What if you're in 9th grade or above? Unfortunately, students in grades 9-12 are too old to qualify for the Talent Search; instead, to gain access to CTY programs, they must either take the qualifying tests (SAT, ACT, Advanced SCAT, or STB) on their own or go through the Diagnostic and Counseling Center. I'll talk a little bit more about the DCC later in this article. Where Do You Apply for CTY? You can apply for the Talent Search online. When Does the CTY Talent Search Happen? For CTY purposes, the academic year is July 1-June 30, so to qualify for CTY for the next school year you should apply after July 1st (more on deadlines here). It's also not just about when you apply to CTY - your test dates also determine your eligibility. What do I mean by this? Let's say you apply to CTY at the end of your 7th grade year (e.g. June 19th), but don’t take the SCAT, STB, SAT, ACT, etc until after July 1st. Because you took your qualifying test after July 1st, CTY will consider you an 8th grader and require you to meet 8th grade score requirements for all programs and recognition ceremonies, even though you technically registered while you were in 7th grade. I have more information on specific SAT and ACT score requirements here. Calendar* by Dafne Chole, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. Why Should You Do the CTY Talent Search? What do students get out of the CTY Talent Search? One perk is the opportunity to take what Duke calls â€Å"above-level† tests (that is, you take the SAT or ACT before you're in high school) and compare your results with similarly gifted peers. Why is this helpful? It can give you information early on about areas you might want to further develop and give you a preview of the test-taking process. For instance, let's say you take the SAT as a 7th grader and score a 300 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, which is below par compared to your peers in CTY. You'll know that you have to work on that skill, and as a result be able to better plan with your family for high school and the college admissions process. If you just took the SAT as a 7th grader without taking part in the Talent Search, you would not have the opportunity to know how you stack up against other students in your grade and age group; instead, you would end up being compared to much older students, which doesn't really tell you anything about where you should be now. Taking part in the Talent Search also opens up opportunities to enroll in CTY programs, like Family Academic Programs. Even programs for which the Talent Search is not a mandatory prerequisite, like Academic Explorations or CTY Online,give preference to students who are Talent Search participants. CTY Talent Search participants also gain access to a wide variety of other resources. I'll discuss these resources later on in more detail. Finally, there's the recognition of your prowess at the (aptly named) Award Ceremonies. At year-end ceremonies, CTY recognizes the highest scorers on the SAT or ACT out of all the Talent Search participants. We have more information about these ceremonies in our articles about the SAT and ACT score requirements to qualify, but for now, I'll just say that it is usually gratifying to get special recognition for your talent. It's not just about the medal (although you do get one at the Award Ceremonies)- it's knowing that other people value your hard work. Devil's Advocate: When Should You NOT Apply to CTY at Johns Hopkins? IF... ...you don’t care about taking college entrance exams early, OR ...you don’t have any interest in taking part in any of the CTY programs or using any of their other resources, THEN it might not be worth it to do CTY at Johns Hopkins. Why? Most colleges don’t care about what you did in elementary or middle school, unless it was something truly spectacular, like qualifying for the Olympic Games or playing a solo concert in Carnegie Hall. Bottom line:if you’re going to use the resources and take advantage of the programs open to you through CTY, then do it. If not, save your money (and time). How Much Does CTY Cost? To enroll in the CTY Talent Search, there is a fee of $44 if you live in the United States, or $57 if you are an international student. In addition, you must pay test fees (currently $50.50 for the ACT without writing and $47.50 for the SAT without essay). Disclaimer: all costs mentioned here and in the rest of the article are as of the time this article was published- it's possible that they may change in the future, so be sure to double check before making a budget around these numbers. Can You Get Financial Aid? Yes. If you qualify for free or reduced school lunches and are US permanent resident, then CTY will reduce your Talent Search application fee to $10 (from $44) and provide you with a voucher to waive your test fees for one test session (either the SAT or ACT). For more information about financial aid for the Talent Search, as well as for other CTY programs, go to this site. Unfortunately, there is no financial aid for international students available through CTY. In addition to need-based aid, CTY also provides scholarships to students already part of CTY through the CTY Scholars program. Talent Search Only: Family Academic Programs Family Academic Programs at Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth are designed for students andtheir families or guardians. The programs range from all-day or overnight programs to extended (week-long) educational explorations. Costs vary widely, depending on the length of the program and what it involves. Just from the research I did for this article, it seems like there are a bunch of amazing opportunities in all sorts of areas for students and families alike (not that I'm jealous or anything, but upcoming programs includetraveling to Morocco!). As far as I can tell, Family Academic Programs are open to all studentsand their families, with no score requirements; however, if I find out that this is wrong I'll update this article accordingly. Return to Table of Contents Talent Search Only: Award Ceremonies CTY recognizes exceptionally high scoring students at award ceremonies at the end of each year. These students are 7th and 8th graders with qualifying scores, as well as students who are part of the Study of Exceptional Talent. While you must play for your own transportation and accommodations, the ceremonies themselves are free of charge. There are multiple regional Award Ceremonies every spring, located in various cities throughout the U.S., China, and in Hong Kong. I discuss what the score qualifications are for these ceremonies in SAT- and ACT-requirement articles, but basically these ceremonies are for 7th and 8th graders who participated in the Talent Search and scored extremely well on the SAT or ACT. In addition to the regional Award Ceremonies, CTY also has an international awards ceremony called the Grand Ceremony, held every year at John Hopkins' Shriver Hall. This ceremony recognizes the absolute top scoring students from the Talent Search and includes all students who are part of the Study of Exceptional Talent. Return to Table of Contents No.1_blue_ribbon by Oldbeeg, used under CC BY-SA 3.0/Resized from original. The following series of resources and programs are open to all qualified students, including those who did not participate in the Talent Search. But caveat emptor: at least for their summer programs, CTY explicitly states that â€Å"when we assign students to courses, we assign returning students first, then Talent Search participants, and then other applicants.† (bolding mine) Summer Programs There are multiple summer programs offered through CTY, offered in multiple locations across the US and in Hong Kong. Some are entirely course-based (Academic Explorations, Intensive Study, and Global Issues at Princeton), providing an opportunity for advanced students to challenge themselves with academic endeavors in the company of similarly advanced peers. Another program, the Civic Leadership Institute, offers courses in combination with real world experience, allowing students to work with actual communities and grapple with the issues facing them today. Who can take part in these summer programs? Any students in grades 2-12 who qualify (again, more about qualifying scores in these articles). Students in grades 2-4 are only eligible for the day programs, while students in grades 5-12 can do the residential programs. The summer programs tend to run from the end of June to the beginning of August, with varying tuition costs depending on the program content and locations. Return to Table of Contents CTYOnline CTY Onlineprovides online courses (including courses you can take at your own pace) year-round to students withâ€Å"outstanding academic ability.† If your high school does not have any advanced classes in a particular subject area, they may allow you to take CTYOnlinecourses for credit. Alternatively, some students useCTYOnline courses as a way to prepare for AP, IB, or SAT II tests. Out of all the programs through CTY at Johns Hopkins, CTYOnline courses are open to the widest age-range of students,from Pre-K students all the way up to 12th graders. The qualifications, of course, differ depending on age. In order to be eligible for the program, exceptional Pre-K through 1st graders need to have at least part of apsychoeducational assessment. Students in grades 2-8 who took part in the Talent Search must meet the SAT or ACT score requirements; if they didn't test in time through the Talent Search, they must apply for provisional admission. Students in grades 9-12 must submit official score reports for the SAT, ACT, or PSAT, or go through the Diagnostic and Counseling Center. So how much does this cost? The application fee is $15 (with an additional $20 charge if you are an international student), and courses range in cost from$370 for the Spanish Reader’s Workshop up to $1865 for AP Chinese Language and Culture (prices taken from most recent course listing). Visit the CTY Online websiteto read more about the program and see if you qualify to take CTYOnline courses. Return to Table of Contents Feedback checklist by AJC ajcann.wordpress.com, used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Study of Exceptional Talent The Study of Exceptional Talent, or SET, is open to students who scored extraordinarily well on the SAT at an early age (up to 13 years 10 months). We have more information on how the score requirements work in our article on SAT score requirements for CTY, but the short version is that if you took the SAT before age 13 and got ≠¥ 700 on Math or Verbal (either Critical Reading on the old SAT or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing on the new SAT), you're eligible for the SET. So what is the SET, exactly? SET is a free program that provides counseling, opportunities to interact with other similarly gifted students, access to CTY resources like the SET Precollege Newsletter, and supplemental letters of recommendation for students applying to college or competitive high schools/prep schools. Return to Table of Contents Other CTY Resources The Diagnostic and Counseling Center at CTY provides educational counseling and assessment services to all students. Students in grades PreK-1 and 9-12 may go through the DCC in order to qualify for CTY programs. In addition to assisting students in qualifying for CTY, the DCC also provides educational consultations for families who wish to discuss strategies and educational plans for their gifted child(ren). Depending on the service, the DCC provides assistance online, over the phone, or on the Johns Hopkins University campus. CTY's Imagine magazineresources provides information to all CTY students about academic competitions, academic summer programs, internships, distance learning resources, early college entrance programs, career exploration resources, and research resources. Return to Table of Contents Getting Into CTY: Cool (Free) Tips, Yay! That was maybe not one of my better reverse-engineered-acronyms, but more important than my failed acronym-ing: I've made up a list of helpful hints to boost your chances of getting into CTY's Talent Search and other CTY programs. If you haven’t done particularly well on school standardized tests within the last two years, take a look into some of the other test options. Maybe an IQ test would be a better way to identify your talent and potential. If you’re waffling between doing the Talent Search and waiting until later to apply to other CTY programs, definitely consider participating in the Talent Search. As I've said before, there are some programs and resources that are only available to students who took part in the Talent Search, and even the resources available to all students give priority to Talent Search participants. If you don't do well on the SAT or ACT when you take it through the Talent Search, you can always retest later. When you've started the 7th Grade Talent Search process, don’t forget to study for the SAT/ACT. Why? Because while CTY is just using the SAT or ACT as a sorting mechanism, if you blow it off, it could prevent you from getting into a summer studies program that you totally deserve to attend (or at the very least cause you to have to retake the test in order to qualify). At the very minimum, you need to be familiar with the test structure and timing. How can you do this? Take a practice test to gauge where you are, then use this information to determine the amount you have to improve. Know how much time you have to study so you can plan your prep accordingly. For more advice along these lines, read our articles on if you should take the SAT or the ACT in 7th grade. Return to Table of Contents Actions To Take #1: Find out which of the accepted tests you’ve taken and what your scores were, including your composite scores on these tests. Because you can only upload one score with your Talent Search application, you want to be sure you're choosing and uploading your best test score. #2: Once you get into the Talent Search Program, study for the SAT or ACT. #3: Make sure to keep an eye on the Talent Search deadlines for updates on the 2018-2019 school year information, including when enrollment begins again. #4: If after reading this article you're still not sure if the Talent Search is right for you, read more about it on the Talent Search website, or go to the CTY website to find out more about their other programs. Thought plus action by Ben Tesch, used under CC BY 2.0. What’s Next? Find out more about CTY programs with SAT and/or ACT score requirements. Want to compare CTY with comparable programs? Read our articles about Duke TIP's 7th Grade Talent Search, Summer Institute for the Gifted, and Stanford EPGY. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

An Exegetical Essay On John Chapter 1 Religion Essay

An Exegetical Essay On John Chapter 1 Religion Essay INTRODUCTION Unlike the synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not begin with the historical Jesus, instead, the author exalts his eternal existences over his earthly entrance into the world. The eternal existence of Jesus is perceived by the use of ‘Word’ (logos) in the prologue. Thus, the author begins his gospel with the words, ‘In the beginning was the Wordà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ John’s Gospel stresses on the deity of Jesus, he strikes the reader straight with the Greek ‘Word’ (Logos) as a replacement of Jesus until the end of the prologue. One could say that the understanding of this Gospel is centred on the ‘Word’ (logos) as a key affirmation of the entire Gospel. The prologue affirms that Jesus used the eternal ‘Word’ which has been translated from the Greek word (logos). In chapter (1:1-5) the author talked about the pre- existence, in (1:6-8) he elaborated on the witness of John the Baptist, in (1:9-13) he highlighted on the light coming to the worlds, in (1:14-18) he accounted on the incarnation of the Word. This prologue is specially or specifically designed to prepare the way for the evidence of the doings of no ordinary person but Jesus Christ. This paper is an attempt to exegete the passage of (John 1:1-18). The Pre-existence Word (1:1-5) The commencement of this Gospel as stated, ‘in the beginning was the word’ has something to do with (Genesis 1:1). John was trying to say that Jesus Christ was in the beginning and He was the ‘Word’ which existed in the beginning before creation or before the world began and ‘was fully God’ (John 1:1-3). Jesus is indeed the creator, sustainer of all belongings, our source of living and the establishment of eternal life. To understand this concept one must commence with the Father-Son relationship which is the central revelation of John’s Gospel and also the key to understand the sayings and deeds of Christ Jesus (17:5, 24). Extensively, this term (logos) which has a meaning in English as â€Å"the Word† was used in Greek literature or theologians and philosophers; among them were the ‘Stoics who used the term to describe the principle of divine reason which caused the natural creature to grow.’   [ 1 ]   Philo of Alexander was the mastermind of this idea in his writings and maintained it as an instrument of the world creation. There are dissimilarities between the usage of the ‘Word’ by John and Philo. In the mind of Philo, he by no means consider the ‘Word’ as a person and he did not maintain its pre-existence, he denied the incarnation of the ‘Word’ which is known as Jesus. But in Johns mind the ‘Word’ was maintained and became ‘flesh.’ This points to Jesus Christ who came to save humanity and dwell among them. One could say the fifth verse of this chapter shows the compassion of the auth or as a beloved disciple and an eyewitness of Jesus who is trying to communicate the good news to the Jews, Greek philosophers and all kinds of people from generation to generation in his writings. Here John declares that Jesus Christ is the true light, who shines in the darkness, but the darkness which can be translated as sinful man ‘has not understood it.’ The better understandings of this verse rely on (verse10-11).   [ 2 ]

Etiology and management of lower leg pain Essay

Etiology and management of lower leg pain - Essay Example Pain has got various types. One individual may respond differently to different types of pain and at the same time different individuals may respond differently to the same type of pain. Lower leg is a portion of the body which not only supports whole of the body but also helps in moving the body from one place to another. Weight bearing process may cause some damage to the lower leg structures but when some one is running then this damage may be multiplied. The damage could be related to soft tissue injury, like: muscle, tendons or to the bony tissue ranging from just a stroke to the compound fracture. Various types of trauma and the eventual result of this injury vary depending upon the force and angle of the force applied. As all these traumatic episodes pass through an inflammatory process so the affected individual feels pain accordingly. Although the iliotibial band extends from the ileum to the condyles of the tibia but after the damage caused due to any factor it results in lower leg pain. This is the most common cause of lateral knee pain among the athletes. The affected structure is the bursa surrounding the iliotibial band. The injury usually occurs in those individuals who perform tasks which involve repetitive flexion and extension activities, for example: athletes of soccer, aerobics etc. The presentation of the case is with severe pain in the knee and lower leg. Management: Local steroid injection Achilles tendon The causes of Achilles tendinopathy are still unclear and the explanation is given on the basis of some theories which link the pathology to a variety of mechanism or factors, like: overuse stresses, poor vascularity, lack of flexibility genetic characteristics, hormonal or metabolic factors and female sex. This topic is one of the areas of lower leg pain which have been studied extensively. Excessive loading of the tendon is no doubt an important factor involved in the injury; even damage can occur to the tendon if the stress to the tendon is within physiological limits. Management Conservative Avoidance of training program which end up in this injury Gentle static strengthening Correction nwith orthotics Cryotherapy Therapeutic ultrasound Pharmacologic support Low dose heparin, wydase etc Surgical treatment of the tendinopathy Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) This is one of the commonest causes of lower leg pain which manifests itself in the anterior compartment of the leg due to over usage. Tibial stress fracture In the lower leg, either of the two bones, tibia and fibula, can have stress fracture. Usually, the fracture appears on the lower end of the two bones on medial side. Predisposing factors are: Continuous muscle contraction

Evaluate the effect of mergers in businessin the last ten years Essay

Evaluate the effect of mergers in businessin the last ten years - Essay Example The strength of this trend is shown by the fact that the total dollar value of the mergers in 1997 was about 50 percent higher than those in 1996, itself a record year. Companies are combining to create new entities on a scale larger than anything before, reflecting a growing belief among Government regulators, and many business executives, that big business is not necessarily bad†( LESLIE WAYNE WAVE OF MERGERS IS RECASTING FACE OF BUSINESS IN U.S. Top of Form Most of the mergers in the United States have involved domestic corporations. But there have also been an increasing number of deals between American and overseas companies. And a similar wave of mergers is taking place abroad, with European and Asian companies seeking dominant roles in the global economy â€Å"The EC Merger Regulation and the U.S. Clayton Act, as interpreted and applied, clearly recognize that mergers that place a firm in a position where it can raise price without a sufficient threat from an existing challenger, assuming there are significant barriers to entry, can be anti-competitive. Indeed, the U.S. has been slightly more inclined in recent years to challenge mergers because they "tend to create a monopoly" and therefore produce anti-consumer and anti-competitive unilateral effects than was the case previously†. (Robert Pitofsky(1)Chairman, Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/pitofsky/pitintermergers.shtm) . Mergers and acquisitions are fundamentally dynamic events that may involve significant changes in the business focus of the consolidating institutions. Indeed, when some companies in an industry merge, others come under pressure to do the same to remain competitive. When two companies merged together, their monopoly, their market shar e and the competitive capacity will increase. This will be a headache for the other companies in the same line. They will also think in terms of merging

Exploring Theme in August Wilsons Fences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exploring Theme in August Wilsons Fences - Essay Example Many of these restrictions and attitudes might have gone unnoticed and unremembered except for the black playwrights and authors who revealed their effects on the community as a whole. In his play Fences, August Wilson uses the concept of a fence as both a theme and a symbol to reveal the hidden boundaries his characters encounter as they attempt to achieve a modest version of the American dream in the 1950s North. The concept of invisible boundaries blocking one’s ability to reach the American Dream is the central theme of this play. The story begins on a random Friday afternoon. The play’s main character, Troy Manxson, is waiting for his latest paycheck from the city’s waste removal services department where he works somewhat unwillingly because his dreams of being a big baseball star were thwarted when he was younger by rules that prevented black men from playing in the major leagues. As the play progresses, it becomes clear that all the characters featured once had big dreams that were thwarted by the generalized lack of opportunity that applied to anyone with darker skin. In this opening scene, Troy immediately addresses the theme of the play when he tells Bono about the invisible ceilings that are constantly placed over his head, such as the boss’s reaction when Troy asked why only white men were allowed the position of garbage truck drivers. Troy’s fru stration is clear as he obviously realizes that playing for a professional team would have afforded him and his family an entirely different kind of life, and he is even held down in this lowly position working on a garbage truck. His response to the idea that things are changing and he was just born too young, Troy says, â€Å""There ought not never have been no time too early† (Wilson, Act 1, Scene 1). In spite of knowing his limitations were externally set, Troy feels he has failed

Comparison matrix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparison matrix - Essay Example This type of learning transcends to a more interconnected view of the universe [where] knowledge is seen as an abstract whole to be accessed through inquiry of themes, issues, experiences, and problems (Mathison and Freeman, 1997). This approach to social studies learning also encourages discussion, critical thinking, creativity and decision making which is applicable in a real world setting. Its drawback is its cost because implementation of integrative learning may require an overhaul of the curriculum being used in the current K-12 system. According to the study of (Petrides et al., 2011) while textbooks provide a cost saving method to facilitate learning, textbook learning still requires more opportunities for more engagement and interaction such as â€Å"in-class discussions led by students, supported by web-based interactive technologies† (41). Compared to integrative learning, textbook learning is very limited as the interpretation of the universe is limited only to the viewpoint of the author and does not provide the opportunity for application, comparison and discussion of the text. c) Commercially purchased social studies learning – commercially purchased social studies learning such as technology assisted teaching medium (DVD tutorials, online learning) became more versatile today than they were first introduced, it still cannot facilitate critical reflection and decision making due to the limitation of the medium (Rose and Fernlund, 1997). Unlike the integrative method of social studies learning where a student can infer to various discipline in synthesizing his or her interpretation of the universe, commercially purchased social studies learning are only limited to the pre-set curriculum of the program purchased. Online learning may provide interaction but the coverage of discussion is not as comprehensive compared to integrative mode of learning. Commercially purchased social studies learning can also be costly

To what extent do risk , rewards and motives contribute towards an Essay

To what extent do risk , rewards and motives contribute towards an entrepreneurs goals - Essay Example In other words, he is considered to have been a key figure in the entertainment and computer industry. He is largely accredited as the inventor of the iPod, Macintosh, the iPhone and the iTunes store amongst numerous others (Entrepreneur Staff, n.d.). His participation in modern- day business has contributed largely to the understanding that the design of a product plays an important role in its public appeal. This essay gives a discussion of the important lessons than can be learnt by entrepreneurs from Steve Jobs. Motivating factors for Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Innovation Theory The entrepreneurship theory of innovation by Joseph Schumpeter is used to explain the factors motivating entrepreneurs within an economy. The theory describes an entrepreneur as an individual who is creative, innovative and has a positive vision towards the future. Innovation occurs when an individual introduces a new product, new production method, a new entity in a given industry or discovers a new supply of raw materials (Kuratko, 2012: 122). The theory pays attention to innovation and disregards the risk taking capabilities of an entrepreneur. This model is based on a large-scale entrepreneur who is found in a developed economy. It ignores the small-scale entrepreneurs in developing economies as they imitate innovations in fast-paced economies rather than come up with new innovations. Basing on this theory is clear that Steve job was a creator and an innovator who came up with some of the most amazing innovations in the computer and entertainment industries. He was the inventor of the iPhone, iPod, the iTunes store, the Macintosh and finally, the iCloud in June 2011 before his death (Entrepreneur Staff, n.d.). Steve Jobs continuously came up with new products in the world of technology showing that an entrepreneur is one who comes up with groundbreaking innovations in a given industry. His is motivated by the drive to make things better in a particular industry. Theory of Hi gh Achievement/Theory of  Achievement Motivation McCelland’s theory of motivation stated that entrepreneurs are characterised by their ability to do things in a better way and ability to make decisions under uncertainty. The theory states that entrepreneurs have a higher achievement orientation. These people are not motivated by external factors or money (Kuratko, 2012:122). Profit is considered the best measure for competency and success. Steve Jobs had always managed to do things in a better an innovative way and wherever he worked, he succeeded in all his undertakings. He had co- founded Apple in his parents garage in 1976 but later left the company. He returned in 1997 when the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. As an entrepreneur, Steve Jobs has always been able to generate profits in all his engagements. For instance, his Apple to innovation in collaboration with Wozniak resulted to sales of over $200 million two years after its innovation. He made the first comp uter animated film ‘Toy Story’ that fuelled his success. He took up a job at Pixar and his 80 percent share was valued at $1 billion (Entrepreneur Staff, n.d.). As earlier stated, Apple’s loss in March 1997 was $708 million. Steve Jobs took over the position as the interim CEO. He entered into a partnership with Microsoft. The company recovered by the end of 1998 and its sales had soared to

Astronomy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Astronomy - Research Paper Example According to various reports, the Atlantic Ocean is getting is bigger at the rate of five to ten centimeters per year. Since the size of the earth does not increase, the increase experienced by the Atlantic Ocean means that some plates must be shrinking. Since the seafloor is also expanding, the expansion is believed to continue (NASA). There are various members of the solar system. Earth and Venus are among the members of the solar system. Earth is the third closest planet to the sun whereas Venus is the second closest to the sun. Therefore, being relatively closer to the sun compared to the Earth, Venus is considered to be a lot hotter. The planet Venus is believed to have average temperatures of over 460 degrees centigrade. On the other hand, the planet Earth has an average temperature of 14 degrees centigrade. Nevertheless, both planets share similar composition, similar size, and more importantly, they have an atmosphere that has a complex weather system. Venus is believed to have a smooth surface like that of the earth although there is a variation of what it is and what it is expected to be. There is sizeable evidence showing the same geographical features that are available on planet earth. For instance, volcanoes, Canyons, lava flows, rift valleys, craters, mountains plains among others are also present in Venus (NASA). Just like planet Earth, Venus has a considerable number of mountains. As a matter of fact, Venus is believed to have mountains that are higher than those of Earth. Maxwell Montes, one of the highest mountains on Venus has an elevation of 11 kilometers. The elevation of Maxwell Montes is believed to be 2 kilometers higher than the highest mountain Mount Everest, which is highest mountain in Planet Earth. Substantial evidence shows that volcanoes and lava flows are also present in Venus. This is shown due to the change in

To what extent do risk , rewards and motives contribute towards an Essay

To what extent do risk , rewards and motives contribute towards an entrepreneurs goals - Essay Example In other words, he is considered to have been a key figure in the entertainment and computer industry. He is largely accredited as the inventor of the iPod, Macintosh, the iPhone and the iTunes store amongst numerous others (Entrepreneur Staff, n.d.). His participation in modern- day business has contributed largely to the understanding that the design of a product plays an important role in its public appeal. This essay gives a discussion of the important lessons than can be learnt by entrepreneurs from Steve Jobs. Motivating factors for Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Innovation Theory The entrepreneurship theory of innovation by Joseph Schumpeter is used to explain the factors motivating entrepreneurs within an economy. The theory describes an entrepreneur as an individual who is creative, innovative and has a positive vision towards the future. Innovation occurs when an individual introduces a new product, new production method, a new entity in a given industry or discovers a new supply of raw materials (Kuratko, 2012: 122). The theory pays attention to innovation and disregards the risk taking capabilities of an entrepreneur. This model is based on a large-scale entrepreneur who is found in a developed economy. It ignores the small-scale entrepreneurs in developing economies as they imitate innovations in fast-paced economies rather than come up with new innovations. Basing on this theory is clear that Steve job was a creator and an innovator who came up with some of the most amazing innovations in the computer and entertainment industries. He was the inventor of the iPhone, iPod, the iTunes store, the Macintosh and finally, the iCloud in June 2011 before his death (Entrepreneur Staff, n.d.). Steve Jobs continuously came up with new products in the world of technology showing that an entrepreneur is one who comes up with groundbreaking innovations in a given industry. His is motivated by the drive to make things better in a particular industry. Theory of Hi gh Achievement/Theory of  Achievement Motivation McCelland’s theory of motivation stated that entrepreneurs are characterised by their ability to do things in a better way and ability to make decisions under uncertainty. The theory states that entrepreneurs have a higher achievement orientation. These people are not motivated by external factors or money (Kuratko, 2012:122). Profit is considered the best measure for competency and success. Steve Jobs had always managed to do things in a better an innovative way and wherever he worked, he succeeded in all his undertakings. He had co- founded Apple in his parents garage in 1976 but later left the company. He returned in 1997 when the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. As an entrepreneur, Steve Jobs has always been able to generate profits in all his engagements. For instance, his Apple to innovation in collaboration with Wozniak resulted to sales of over $200 million two years after its innovation. He made the first comp uter animated film ‘Toy Story’ that fuelled his success. He took up a job at Pixar and his 80 percent share was valued at $1 billion (Entrepreneur Staff, n.d.). As earlier stated, Apple’s loss in March 1997 was $708 million. Steve Jobs took over the position as the interim CEO. He entered into a partnership with Microsoft. The company recovered by the end of 1998 and its sales had soared to

Doyles Background Essay Example for Free

Doyles Background Essay Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh. He was one of the children whose father was poorly paid civil servant and an alcoholic. Doyle married Louise Hawkins in 1885 and at the time he was interested in physic studies but studied medicine which he gave up as he was not succeeding. So instead he decided to pursue his first love which was writing. The features that make a gripping crime story are the development of suspense and mystery. In the story are The man with the twisted lip mystery is built up when Neville S. t Clair, alias the beggar Hugh Boone, sends his wife a letter explaining of his good health when Holmes believes hes been murdered. Crime writers also use stereotypical characters. This is typical in both Doyles stories and modern day crime writing. The most likeliest of villains is a middle aged, aggressive, non-sociable man. (NR RoyCott) Another important feature to a crime story is the plot, it has to be original and it has to spark intrigue and enigma. The investigator who has the job of solving the crime has to be unique, resourceful and have super human intelligence and skill, something which Holmes has in abundance. Holmes character is one of originality. He is in one way eccentric due to the strange and bizarre challenging cases that he thrives on solving. Holmes is a very observant and intelligent man and acknowledges clues other people wouldnt. This art of solving clues enables him to hypothesise the outcome. He noticed a tattoo on Vabez Wilsons arm revealing he had once travelled to China, and he noticed the dirt on Vincent Spauldings knees meaning he had been digging. Though intelligent, Holmes is also extremely unpredictable. He can at one moment seem calm and deep in thought, but the next he is activated by an ecstasy of movement. He has high morals, he never takes advantage of desperate people. (S. t Claires wife), he helps the poor, and the only money he accepts is that of his own expenses. (As to reward my possession is its reward you are at liberty to defray whatever expenses I may be put to at the time which suits you best). Doyle uses the character of Watson to highlight Holmes intelligence when Holmes is approached by a victim, he plunges them into deep non-stop questioning. While seeming unsympathetic he is in deep concentration trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. This is in contrast to Watson, he is extremely sympathetic and comforting Watson rarely sees the relevance of some pieces of information. (In The Speckled Band Watson doesnt think twice about the bell cord that opens the narrow ventilation). Sometimes though, Watson appears to be clever but in the end the clue is of irrelevance. (Watson looking at footprints in mud while Holmes in looking around the boundaries of Vulias room for means of entrance). Holmes perceptiveness is again acknowledged in the concluding part of the story when he reveals all to Watson. Doyles techniques for creating suspense and tension are the same as those used in crime writing today. He sets the plot in typical settings often dark or isolated. (Stoke Maran / Opium Den). He builds up tension by using vivid description as in The Speckled Band where Holmes interpretation of stoke Maran is, The central portion was in little better repair, but the right hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys showed this was were the family lived. The plot of Holmes stories usually start off with the victim approaching Holmes for advice and there is a twist of fate, with a few red herrings to throw the reader off the trail. The plot ends when Holmes and Watson wait for the criminal in the pitch darkness usually with Watson poised with his cocked revolver. And left us in pitch darkness as I have never experienced before. The smell of metal remained to assure us that the light was still there ready, to flash out at a moments notice. Doyle introduces clues at a rapid rate so there are a number of possibilities. The importance of some clues is not always apparent, but is explained at the end by who else but Holmes. The introduction of clues starts very early, as soon as Holmes is approached by the victim. In all 3 stories the motivation for crime is MONEY (S. t Claire begs for money / Dr RoyCott murders so no-one can claim inheritance / and Vincent Spaulding trying to rob the bank). Holmes uses power of observation to eliminate people from his enquiries. He also uses personal experiences from other crimes to help him deduct a conclusion . As a mule, when I have heard some slight indication of the course of events I am able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar cases. Other cases can appear important but some are red herrings such as the gypsies in The Speckled Band which added mystery to the stories. But all is in hand as Holmes uses his scientific knowledge and other methods of investigation which were relatively new to the Victorians. He is also very logical and never looks past the obvious. Doyles stories are as interesting today as they were for Victorians 100 years ago because they are original, peculiar and they still spark intrigue for readers today. Doyles stories were the first and since then they have set a standard for the rest. There are similarities between original detective stories and modern detective genre because they both have a fast pace, a twist in the middle, and a final confrontation.

Report on takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Report on takotsubo cardiomyopathy Abstract This is a report on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It includes details of the left ventricle, proposed mechanisms of the disease, reasons as to why certain regions are affected and some arent, the exact problem in detail, symptoms and clinical features including tests and ECG readings, treatment options used and prognosis, incidence and recurrence, some case reports to show the condition in its clinical setting and a conclusion summing up the important points and what direction needs to be taken with regards to the disease. Introduction What do I mean by a broken heart? A broken heart can mean many things, both physiologically and philosophically. Physiologically a broken heart can be a myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, angina, the list is endless. However, philosophically speaking a broken heart is generally perceived as the loss of a loved one or a relationship breakup but in this context can also mean other things which would also cause severe emotional stress such as legal issues, sudden poor financial situation, intense arguing, finding out you have a chronic terminal illness or a loved one does, surgery and car accidents and even the stoppage of use of addictive drugs. We know profound stress can cause certain cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and coronary heart disease. A relatively recent cardiomyopathy has been discovered, and is called broken heart syndrome. This is because it is highly associated with having a profound amount of emotional stress. Heres some anatomy of the left ventricle and myocardium muscle. The left ventricle will be concentrated on as that is the general area this cardiomyopathy occurs. The left ventricular free wall is thickest at the base and thinnest at the apex (usually around 1-2mm). The left ventricular free wall in general is 3 times thicker than the right ventricular free wall. The role of noradrenaline Noradrenaline is a hormone and a neurotransmitter produced in the human body. It is released upon excitement, threat etc and directly increases the heart rate. It is released in the fight or flight response. So what is broken heart syndrome? Broken heart syndrome was first recorded by Dote et al in 1991. They discovered that this form of cardiomyopathy involved the left ventricle and particularly the apex. They found that instead of contracting normally to pump blood around the body, the ventricle ballooned and expanded. This is due to akinesia of the distal anterior wall and apical wall and hypercontraction of the basal wall. Obviously, this would have a severe effect on the blood flow to vital organs so could be quite problematic. It was named Takotsubo cardiomyopathy because the appearance of the left ventricle in an angiogram resembles an octopus pot, which translates as Takotsubo in Japanese. It is also referred to as apical ballooning syndrome, due to the ballooning of the apex. A shows what happens in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in contraction, as can be seen the volume of the ventricle increases. B shows what a normal contraction should look like. What are the physiological mechanisms behind Takotsubo cardiomyopathy? There have been a few proposed theories, but no one is quite sure. Multivessel coronary vasospasm One theory is that many of the coronary arteries spasm and constrict at the same time so blood flow is greatly reduced to the myocardium muscle and other areas of the heart. However in some studies a vasospasm has been induce by acetylcholine and it has not been conclusive. Also the duration of the abnormal wall motion is longer than it should be. Release of catecholamines In almost all cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, increased levels of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine) have been found in the body. There are many things which can induce a release of catecholamines and emotional excitement or stress are some of them. The catecholamines would be released to the heart to make it beat harder and faster. This is the most widely accepted mechanism for Takotsubo but as mentioned earlier, there is no clear answer. Microvascular spasm It has been found that there is impaired microcirculation in this syndrome, but again there are many challenges to this theory. The â€Å"slow-flow† phenomenon is not observed. Impaired microcirculation may be the result of the primary myocardial injury not necessarily the cause of it. So why is the apical wall of the left ventricle and the mid-ventricle the place that is most affected by a surge of these catecholamines? Well, there are a few anatomical and physiological causes for this. There is a markedly higher concentration of adrenergic receptors in the apex of the left ventricle than other parts of the heart and it is these receptors that noradrenaline and adrenaline will bind to. Also due to increased responsiveness of the apical myocardium to stimulation of these receptors. The apical wall is especially vulnerable structurally as when the rest of the heart has a three layered myocardial composition, the apex does not and is therefore a lot thinner. The area of the apex tends to lose its elasticity a lot more easily after many extreme expansions and does not correctly go back to its original state. The apex is a lot more likely to become ischemic as the blood flow is not large in that area so at any time when blood flow is reduced the apex loses out quickly. The Electro Cardio Gram of a person with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy usually shows ST elevation in the acute stage, T wave inversions and a prolonged QT interval in the sub acute stage and the inverted T wave can persist for weeks in the recovery stage. Clinical presentation The clinical presentation and diagnostic tools are very similar to that of acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial ischemia. A diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should not be made until ACS, coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, myocarditis, pericarditis etc have been ruled out. Along with the ECG there are other symptoms which might lead to a diagnosis. Among these are chest pain and shortness of breath. Temporary loss of consciousness and shock have been reported. A slight elevation of cardiac damage bio markers troponin and creatine kinase can be detected. Surprisingly, it generally occurs in patients without significant blockage of coronary arteries or any acute plaque rupture. Treatments Long term therapy should include: Beta blockers, which work by blocking the transmission of certain nervous impulses to the heart and reduces the heart rate and force of the beat. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors which stop the conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, which reduces arteriole resistance and increases the venous capacity. Diuretics get rid if the water built up in lungs from heart failure. Aspirin is used to reduce the risk of another heart attack and prevent more cardiac muscle death. Calcium channel blockers are generally used to lower blood pressure. The treatment for this disease is generally to try and take the stress away that caused it in the first place and is of a supportive nature. Most people suffering from broken heart syndrome recover within about 2 weeks to 2 months. Incidence Various different studies have shown that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a generally a female condition as between 70% and 100% of all cases are in women, most of whom are post menopausal. The reason for this is unclear, however some explanations have been proposed. Sex hormones may definitely influence the sympathetic neurohormonal axis and coronary vasoreactivity. Females may also be more susceptible to myocardial stunning that is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. Endothelial function is altered due to changes in oestrogen levels and this could be another reason for the much more common occurrence in post menopausal women. A Danish study suggested that 234 out of 100,000 people get acute coronary syndrome and an American study reported that 1.7% to 2.2% of patients thought to have acute coronary syndrome actually have Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. So as can be seen it is a very rare illness. Around 99% of patients in hospital with Takotsubo survive the disease and fully recover. Some reports suggest that up to 10% of patients who recover will get it again. This makes it difficult from a treatment point of view as to how long to treat for. Some case reports Case 1 67 year old woman presenting with chest pain that has lasted a day has ST elevations on ECG. Chest pain is substernal and is linked with dyspnoea. Pain radiates to left arm. When resting pain and dyspnoea goes after an hour but comes back throughout the day. ECG is concerning. She is sent to the emergency department from a clinic. Her blood pressure is 140/86 mmHg, pulse is 86 beats per minute, breathing is 14 breaths per minute, O2 saturation is 100%, she is cannulised and on 2 litres per minute nasally. Her temperature is 37.1 °C. She smokes 20 packs of cigarettes a year. She is asked about a history of heart problems in her family and she begins to cry and describes her sisters death from a heart attack just 2 days before. ECG shows small Q waves, T wave inversions, ST elevation and poor R wave progression. All other tests are normal, a left ventriculogram reveals akinesia of parts of the apex. 7 days later she has normal left ventricular function and apex wall motion is normal, though the base appears to be contracting harder than apex. Case 2 86 year old woman is in emergency department presenting with chest pain that has lasted 10 hours. It is substernal and does not radiate. Her blood pressure is 185/88 mmHg, pulse is 71 beats per minute, breathing rate is 20 breaths per minute O2 saturation is 98% and she is breathing normal air. Her temperature is 35.7 °C. Medical history is hypertension, gout a hysterectomy and hypothyroidism. She has a family history of coronary disease. ECG shows ST elevation and T wave inversion. All other tests are normal. The left ventriculogram reveals akinesia of the apex and mid anterior wall. The base has normal function. Mid septum shows hypertrophy and apex shows hypotrophy. Left ventricular function is at just 34% ejection fraction. It is found out that her son was killed accidentally just 2 weeks prior to onset of symptoms. Conclusion Yes, by all means it is possible to die of a â€Å"broken heart†. Both cases showed that a profound amount of severe emotional stress led to the Takotsubo â€Å"broken heart† syndrome Although it is a very rare disease and almost all patients survive and recover fully, if the condition goes unnoticed or untreated it can prove fatal. As can be seen from the cases, the symptoms are very general with tests not showing many abnormalities. It seems to have no predisposition in people with heart problems. Its symptoms and clinical features are very similar to that of acute coronary syndrome. The most defining tests seem to be the ECG which shows similar results each time, and a left ventriculography, which can show up exactly which parts of the ventricle wall have akinesia. The relatively recent discovery of the disease means that although it is fully recognised by medical institutions it is not fully integrated into clinical practise. Although incidence is rare, this does need to change. More research must be done in the field to fully understand the mechanism behind the illness, as all the proposed mechanisms are unproved and conflicting. By finding the correct mechanism the treatment options can also be broadened to suit more specifically the cause and not just management. References Apical ballooning syndrome or takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a systematic review Gianni M, Dentali F, Grandi AM, Sumner G, Hiralal R, Lonn E. European Heart Journal 2006. Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, or Broken-Heart Syndrome Virani SS, Khan AN, Mendoza CE, Ferreira AC, de Marchena E. Texas Heart Institute Journal 2007 v.34 Recognition of the Apical Ballooning Syndrome in the United States G. William Dec, MD Circulation 2005 American Heart Association Stress, emotion and the heart: tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy Iqbal MB, Moon JC, Guttmann OP, Shanahan P, Goadsby PJ, Holdright DR Postgrad Med J 2006;82:e29 www.takotsubo.com www.wrongdiagnosis.com Hursts The Heart A case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy mimicking ACS Metzl et al 2006 Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med Apical and Midventricular Transient Left Ventricular Dysfunction Syndrome (Tako-Tsubo Cardiomyopathy): Frequency, Mechanisms and Prognosis Kurowski et al 2007 CHEST Systematic Review: Transient Left Ventricular Apical Ballooning: A Syndrome That Mimics ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Bybee et al December 2004 Annals Takotsubo cardiomyopathy a case series and review of the literature West j emergency medicine Acute coronary syndrome: incidence and prognosis, Nielsen KM, Danish Medical Bulletin No. 1. February 2006. Vol. 53 Page 95