Blood Promise Chapter One

Chapter One I was being followed. It was kind of ironic, considering the way I'd been following others for the last few weeks. At least it wasn't a Strigoi. I would have already known. A recent effect of my being shadow-kissed was the ability to sense the undead-through bouts of nausea, unfortunately. Still, I appreciated my body's early warning system and was relieved my stalker tonight wasn't an insanely fast, insanely vicious vampire. I'd fought enough of those recently and kind of wanted a night off. I had to guess my follower was a dhampir like me, probably one from the club. Admittedly, this person was moving a little less stealthily than I would have expected of a dhampir. Footsteps were clearly audible against the pavement of the dark side streets I was traveling on, and once, I'd caught a brief glimpse of a shadowy figure. Still, considering my rash actions tonight, a dhampir was the most likely culprit. It had all started earlier at the Nightingale. That wasn't the club's true name, only a translation. Its real name was something Russian that was beyond my ability to pronounce. Back in the U.S., the Nightingale was well known among rich Moroi who traveled abroad, and now I could understand why. No matter what time of the day it was, people at the Nightingale dressed like they were at an imperial ball. And, well, the whole place actually kind of looked like something from the old, royal days of Russia, with ivory walls covered in gold scroll-work and molding. It reminded me a lot of the WinterPalace, a royal residence left over from when Russia had still been ruled by czars. I'd toured it upon first arriving in Saint Petersburg. At the Nightingale, elaborate chandeliers filled with real candles glittered in the air, lighting up the gold decor so that even in dim lighting, the whole establishment sparkled. There was a large dining room filled with velvet-draped tables and booths, as well as a lounge and bar area where people could mingle. Late in the evening, a band would set up in there, and couples would hit the dance floor. I hadn't bothered with the Nightingale when I arrived in the city a couple weeks ago. I'd been arrogant enough to think I could find Moroi right away who could direct me to Dimitri's hometown in Siberia. With no other clues about where Dimitri had gone in Siberia, heading to the town he'd grown up in had been my best chance of getting closer to him. Only, I didn't know where it was, which was why I was trying to find Moroi to help me. There were a number of dhampir towns and communes in Russia but hardly any in Siberia, which made me believe most local Moroi would be familiar with his birthplace. Unfortunately, it turned out that the Moroi who lived in human cities were very good at keeping themselves hidden. I checked what I thought were likely Moroi hangouts, only to come up empty. And without those Moroi, I had no answers. So, I'd begun staking out the Nightingale, which wasn't easy. It was hard for an eighteen-year-old girl to blend into one of the city's most elite clubs. I'd soon found that expensive clothes and large enough tips went a long way toward helping me get by. The waitstaff had come to know me, and if they thought my presence was strange, they didn't say so and were happy to give me the corner table I always asked for. I think they thought I was the daughter of some tycoon or politician. Whatever my background, I had the money to be there, which was all they cared about. Even so, my first few nights there had been discouraging. The Nightingale might have been an elite hangout for Moroi, but it was also frequented by humans. And at first, it had seemed those were the club's only patrons. Crowds grew larger as the night progressed, and in peering through the packed tables and people lingering at the bar, I'd seen no Moroi. The most notable thing I'd seen was a woman with long, platinum-blond hair walking into the lounge with a group of friends. For a moment, my heart had stopped. The woman had her back to me, but she had looked so much like Lissa that I'd felt certain I'd been tracked down. The weird thing was, I didn't know whether to feel excited or horrified. I missed Lissa so, so much-yet at the same time, I didn't want her involved in this dangerous trip of mine. Then the woman had turned around. It wasn't Lissa. She wasn't even a Moroi, just a human. Slowly, my breathing returned to normal. Finally, a week or so ago, I'd had my first sighting. A group of Moroi women had come in for a late lunch, accompanied by two guardians, one male and one female, who sat dutifully and quietly at the table as their charges gossiped and laughed over afternoon champagne. Dodging those guardians had been the trickiest part. For those who knew what to look for, Moroi were easy to spot: taller than most humans, pale, and uber-slim. They also had a certain funny way of smiling and holding their lips in order to hide their fangs. Dhampirs, with our human blood, appeared†¦ well, human. That was certainly how I looked to the untrained human eye. I was about five foot seven, and whereas Moroi tended to have unreal, runway-model bodies, mine was athletically built and curvy in the chest. Genetics from my unknown Turkish father and too much time in the sun had given me a light tan that paired well with long, nearly black hair and equally dark eyes. But those who had been raised in the Moroi world could spot me as a dhampir through close examination. I'm not sure what it was-maybe some instinct that drew us to our own kind and recognized the mix of Moroi blood. Regardless, it was imperative that I appear human to those guardians, so I didn't raise their alarms. I sat across the room in my corner, picking over caviar and pretending to read my book. For the record, I thought caviar was disgusting, but it seemed to be everywhere in Russia, particularly in the nice places. That and borscht-a kind of beet soup. I almost never finished my food at the Nightingale and would ravenously hit McDonald's afterward, even though the Russian McDonald's restaurants were a bit different from what I'd grown up with in the U.S. Still, a girl had to eat. So it became a test of my skill, studying the Moroi when their guardians weren't watching. Admittedly, the guardians had little to fear during the day, since there would be no Strigoi out in the sun. But it was in guardian nature to watch everything, and their eyes continually swept the room. I'd had the same training and knew their tricks, so I managed to spy without detection. The women came back a lot, usually late in the afternoon. St. Vladimir's ran on a nocturnal schedule, but Moroi and dhampirs living out among humans either ran on a daylight schedule or something in between. For a while, I'd considered approaching them-or even their guardians. Something held me back. If anyone would know where a town of dhampirs lived, it would be male Moroi. Many of them visited dhampir towns in hopes of scoring easy dhampir girls. So I promised myself I'd wait another week to see if any guys came by. If not, I would see what kind of information the women could give me. At last, a couple days ago, two Moroi guys had started showing up. They tended to come later in the evening, when the real partiers arrived. The men were about ten years older than me and strikingly handsome, wearing designer suits and silk ties. They carried themselves like powerful, important people, and I would have bet good money that they were royal-particularly since each one came with a guardian. The guardians were always the same, young men who wore suits to blend in but still carefully watched the room with that clever guardian nature. And there were women-always women. The two Moroi were terrible flirts, continually scoping out and hitting on every woman in sight-even humans. But they never went home with any humans. That was a taboo still firmly ingrained in our world. Moroi had kept themselves separate from humans for centuries, fearing detection from a race that had grown so plentiful and powerful. Still, that didn't mean the men went home alone. At some point in the evening, dhampir women usually showed up-different ones every night. They'd come in wearing low-cut dresses and lots of makeup, drinking heavily and laughing at everything the guys said-which probably wasn't even that funny. The women always wore their hair down, but every once in a while, they'd shift their heads in a way that showed their necks, which were heavily bruised. They were blood whores, dhampirs who let Moroi drink blood during sex. That was also a taboo-though it still happened in secret. I kept wanting to get one of the Moroi men alone, away from the watchful eyes of his guardians so that I could question him. But it was impossible. The guardians never left their Moroi unattended. I even attempted to follow them, but each time the group left the club, they'd almost immediately hop into a limousine-making it impossible for me to track them on foot. It was frustrating. I finally decided tonight that I'd have to approach the whole group and risk detection by the dhampirs. I didn't know if anyone from back home was actually looking for me, or if the group would even care who I was. Maybe I just had too high an opinion of myself. It was definitely possible that no one was actually concerned about a runaway dropout. But if anyone was looking for me, my description had undoubtedly been circulated amongst guardians worldwide. Even though I was now eighteen, I wouldn't have put it past some of the people I knew to haul me back to the U.S., and there was no way I could return until I'd found Dimitri. Then, just as I was considering my move on the group of Moroi, one of the dhampir women left the table to walk up to the bar. The guardians watched her, of course, but seemed confident about her safety and were more fixated on the Moroi. All this time, I'd been thinking Moroi men would be the best way to go to get information about a village of dhampirs and blood whores-but what better way to locate this place than by asking an actual blood whore? I strolled casually from my table and approached the bar, like I too was going to get a drink. I stood by as the woman waited for the bartender and studied her in my periphery. She was blond and wore a long dress covered in silver sequins. I couldn't decide if it made my black satin sheath dress appear tasteful or boring. All of her movements-even the way she stood-were graceful, like a dancer's. The bartender was helping others, and I knew it was now or never. I leaned toward her. â€Å"Do you speak English?† She jumped in surprise and looked over at me. She was older than I'd expected, her age cleverly concealed by makeup. Her blue eyes assessed me quickly, recognizing me as a dhampir. â€Å"Yes,† she said warily. Even the one word carried a thick accent. â€Å"I'm looking for a town†¦ a town where lots of dhampirs live, out in Siberia. Do you know what I'm talking about? I need to find it.† Again she studied me, and I couldn't read her expression. She might as well have been a guardian for all that her face revealed. Maybe she'd trained at one time in her life. â€Å"Don't,† she said bluntly. â€Å"Let it go.† She turned away, her gaze back on the bartender as he made someone a blue cocktail adorned with cherries. I touched her arm. â€Å"I have to find it. There's a man†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I choked on the word. So much for my cool interrogation. Just thinking about Dimitri made my heart stick in my throat. How could I even explain it to this woman? That I was following a long-shot clue, seeking out the man I loved most in the world-a man who had been turned into a Strigoi and who I now needed to kill? Even now, I could perfectly picture the warmth of his brown eyes and the way his hands used to touch me. How could I do what I had crossed an ocean to do? Focus, Rose. Focus. The dhampir woman looked back at me. â€Å"He's not worth it,† she said, mistaking my meaning. No doubt she thought I was a lovesick girl, chasing some boyfriend-which, I supposed, I kind of was. â€Å"You're too young†¦ it's not too late for you to avoid all that.† Her face might have been impassive, but there was sadness in her voice. â€Å"Go do something else with your life. Stay away from that place.† â€Å"You know where it is!† I exclaimed, too worked up to explain that I wasn't going there to be a blood whore. â€Å"Please-you have to tell me. I have to get there!† â€Å"Is there a problem?† Both she and I turned and looked into the fierce face of one of the guardians. Damn. The dhampir woman might not be their top priority, but they would have noticed someone harassing her. The guardian was only a little older than me, and I gave him a sweet smile. I might not be spilling out of my dress like this other woman, but I knew my short skirt did great things for my legs. Surely even a guardian wasn't immune to that? Well, apparently he was. His hard expression showed that my charms weren't working. Still, I figured I might as well try my luck with him on getting intel. â€Å"I'm trying to find a town in Siberia, a town where dhampirs live. Do you know it?† He didn't blink. â€Å"No.† Wonderful. Both were playing difficult. â€Å"Yeah, well, maybe your boss does?† I asked demurely, hoping I sounded like an aspiring blood whore. If the dhampirs wouldn't talk, maybe one of the Moroi would. â€Å"Maybe he wants some company and would talk to me.† â€Å"He already has company,† the guardian replied evenly. â€Å"He doesn't need any more.† I kept the smile on. â€Å"Are you sure?† I purred. â€Å"Maybe we should ask him.† â€Å"No,† replied the guardian. In that one word, I heard the challenge and the command. Back off. He wouldn't hesitate to take on anyone he thought was a threat to his master-even a lowly dhampir girl. I considered pushing my case further but quickly decided to follow the warning and indeed back off. I gave an unconcerned shrug. â€Å"His loss.† And with no other words, I walked casually back to my table, like the rejection was no big deal. All the while I held my breath, half-expecting the guardian to drag me out of the club by my hair. It didn't happen. Yet as I gathered my coat and set some cash on the table, I saw him watching me, eyes wary and calculating. I left the Nightingale with that same nonchalant air, heading out toward the busy street. It was a Saturday night, and there were lots of other clubs and restaurants nearby. Partygoers filled the streets, some dressed as richly as the Nightingale's patrons; others were my age and dressed in casual wear. Lines spilled out of the clubs, dance music loud and heavy with bass. Glass-fronted restaurants showed elegant diners and richly set tables. As I walked through the crowds, surrounded by Russian conversation, I resisted the urge to look behind me. I didn't want to raise any further suspicion if that dhampir was watching. Yet when I turned down a quiet street that was a shortcut back to my hotel, I could hear the soft sounds of footsteps. I apparently had raised enough alarm that the guardian had decided to follow me. Well, there was no way I was going to let him get the drop on me. I might have been smaller than him-and wearing a dress and heels-but I had fought plenty of men, including Strigoi. I could handle this guy, especially if I used the element of surprise. After walking this neighborhood for so long, I knew it and its twists and turns well. I picked up my pace and darted around a few corners, one of which led me into a dark, deserted alley. Scary, yeah, but it made for a good ambush spot when I ducked into a doorway. I quietly stepped out of my high-heeled shoes. They were black with pretty leather straps but not ideal in a fight, unless I planned on gouging someone in the eye with a heel. Actually, not a bad idea. But I wasn't quite that desperate. Without them, the pavement was cold beneat h my bare feet since it had rained earlier in the day. I didn't have to wait long. A few moments later, I heard the footsteps and saw my pursuer's long shadow appear on the ground, cast in the flickering light of a street lamp on the adjacent road. My stalker came to a stop, no doubt searching for me. Really, I thought, this guy was careless. No guardian in pursuit would have been so obvious. He should have moved with more stealth and not revealed himself so easily. Maybe the guardian training here in Russia wasn't as good as what I'd grown up with. No, that couldn't be true. Not with the way Dimitri had dispatched his enemies. They'd called him a god at the Academy. My pursuer took a few more steps, and that's when I made my move. I leapt out, fists ready. â€Å"Okay,† I exclaimed. â€Å"I only wanted to ask a few questions, so just back off or else-â€Å" I froze. The guardian from the club wasn't standing there. A human was. A girl, no older than me. She was about my height, with cropped dark blond hair and a navy blue trench coat that looked expensive. Underneath it, I could see nice dress pants and leather boots that looked as pricey as the coat. More startling still was that I recognized her. I'd seen her twice at the Nightingale, talking to the Moroi men. I'd assumed she was just another of the women they liked to flirt with and had promptly dismissed her. After all, what use was a human to me? Her face was partly covered in shadow, but even in poor lighting, I could make out her annoyed expression. That wasn't quite what I'd expected. â€Å"It's you, isn't it?† she asked. Cue more shock. Her English was as American as my own. â€Å"You're the one who's been leaving the string of Strigoi bodies around the city. I saw you back in the club tonight and knew it had to be you.† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  No other words formed on my lips. I had no idea how to respond. A human talking casually about Strigoi? It was unheard of. This was almost more astonishing than actually running into a Strigoi out here. I'd never experienced anything like this in my life. She didn't seem to care about my stupefied state. â€Å"Look, you can't just do that, okay? Do you know what a pain in the ass it is for me to deal with? This internship is bad enough without you making a mess of it. The police found the body you left in the park, you know. You cannot even imagine how many strings I had to pull to cover that up.† â€Å"Who†¦ who are you?† I asked at last. It was true. I had left a body in the park, but seriously, what was I supposed to do? Drag him back to my hotel and tell the bellhop my friend had had too much to drink? â€Å"Sydney,† the girl said wearily. â€Å"My name's Sydney. I'm the Alchemist assigned here.† â€Å"The what?† She sighed loudly, and I was pretty sure she rolled her eyes. â€Å"Of course. That explains everything.† â€Å"No, not really,† I said, finally regaining my composure. â€Å"In fact, I think you're the one who has a lot of explaining to do.† â€Å"And attitude too. Are you some kind of test they sent here for me? Oh, man. That's it.† I was getting angry now. I didn't like being chastised. I certainly didn't like being chastised by a human who made it sound like me killing Strigoi was a bad thing. â€Å"Look, I don't know who you are or how you know about any of this, but I'm not going to stand here and-â€Å" Nausea rolled over me and I tensed, my hand immediately going for the silver stake I kept in my coat pocket. Sydney still wore that annoyed expression, but it was mingled with confusion now at the abrupt change in my posture. She was observant, I'd give her that. â€Å"What's wrong?† she asked. â€Å"You're going to have another body to deal with,† I said, just as the Strigoi attacked her.

The International Company Logistics

Logistics is the designing and managing of a system in order to control the flow of material throughout a corporation. This is a very important part of an international company because of geographical barriers. Logistics of an international company includes movement of raw materials, coordinating flows into and out of different countries, choices of transportation, cost of the transportation, packaging the product for shipment, storing the product, and managing the entire process. The concept of logistics is fairly new in the business world. The theoretical development was not used until 1966. Since then, many business practices have evolved and logistics currently costs between 10 and 25 percent of the total cost of an international purchase. There are two main phases that are important in the movement of materials: material management and physical distribution. Materials management is the timely movement of raw materials, parts, and supplies. The physical distribution is the movement of the firm†s finished products to the customers. Both phases involve every stage of the process including storage. The ultimate goal of logistics is to coordinate all efforts of the company to maintain a cost effective flow of goods. There are four logistics concepts: the systems concept, the total cost concept, the after-tax concept, and the trade-off concept. The systems concept is based on all functions of a organization working together in order to maximize benefits. This concept sometimes requires certain components of the organization to operate suboptimally in order to achieve maximum goals of the system. The total cost concept is based on the systems concept, however goal achievement is measured in terms of cost. A variation of the total cost concept is the after-tax concept. This goal of this concept is after-tax profit. This concept is becoming very popular because of the many different national tax policies. The trade-off concept links the system together in a way that is very efficient, but can have trade-offs that might be inefficient. The advantages of such high efficiency must be weighed against the risk involved. One of the largest obstacles of international logistics is geography. The distance and manner materials must be shipped is the most important step in international logistics. Transportation infrastructures vary greatly throughout the world. International companies must consider all options before starting any operation in another country. Perhaps a country could have easy access by ship, but no way to transport the goods once on the ground. All available routes into and out of the country must be determined in order to judge the feasibility of the operation. Ground shipments are excellent for neighboring countries such as the U.S. and Mexico. Normally, shipping across ground borders is fairly uneventful and is usually the best method if time and distance allow it. Ocean shipments are divided by three types of service: liner, bulk, and tramp. Liner service is regularly scheduled passages on assigned and established routes. This ship routes are similar to taking a plane somewhere. This service is used more for one-time or irregular shipments. Bulk service is contractual for a prolonged period of time. This service is for those needing to ship large quantities on a fairly regular basis. Tramp service is for irregular routes and scheduled as needed. This service would be to destinations liner service normally does not operate, and for large quantities. The type of ocean service you use also depends on where the material must go. Certain types of ships can only go to certain places, and certain ships can only carry a certain type of freight. All alternatives must be fully researched before ocean service can be considered as a valid option. The biggest advantage of ocean shipping is cost. Typically, ocean service is the least costly option, however is also has the slowest travel time. Accidents are infrequent, however if one would happen, large quantities of material are lost all at once. Certain operations could not sustain long periods of down-time caused by lost goods, which could prove devastating. Additionally, not all countries have adequate docking facilities and material may have to be delivered in another manner. Sometimes, the material can be ocean shipped to a neighboring country, and then trucked across land. Air freight is the quickest method for shipping goods. It also is the most costly. While the airfreight industry has had tremendous growth over the years, it still makes up less than 1 percent of all international freight. Typically, airfreight is used for high value items, and those required to have a short transit time. Perishable goods for instance, practically requires air shipment. Another advantage to air freight is the abundance of facilities throughout the world that are accessible by air. Transit time is another important aspect of international logistics, and is closely related to the manner in which the material is shipped. Because the ocean freight takes longer, large quantities are shipped. This requires storage of inventory in both countries. By using air freight, the smaller quantities and more periodic shipments can reduce storage costs. Air freight is also more predictable than ocean shipments. Where a ship may be a few days late, the air freight is usually only a few hours late. Predictability is important for many types of shipments, and when it is required, air freight is the mode of choice. Packaging for international shipments must also be researched. Many times, a single shipment may be trucked, air freighted, and shipped. Packaging for three different types of shipping can be tricky. The most common type of international shipping is in containers. These containers can ride on a truck and then be placed on a ship. Beyond general packaging, climate changes must also be taken into consideration. Care must be taken that the freight is not susceptible to extreme temperatures or humidity. When air freight is being used, the weight of the packaging must be considered for maximum benefit. Extremely heavy packaging can add thousands of dollars to an air freight bill. Logistics of a storage facility is also very important. How many locations and where they are located must be closely researched in order to yield the most benefit. Sometimes, a location can be chosen based on monetary benefit in addition to logistical benefit. Certain enterprise zones can greatly increase after-tax profits. These types of areas must be researched and compared for cost/benefit. The final part of logistics is how to tie this system together. All of these different options and concepts must flow together and operate as efficiently as possible. There are three basic forms of logistics management. Centralized logistics management provides that the logistics operations are headed by managers that also head other divisions of the company. This type of management helps avoid internal problems by having a central manager that ultimately decides how logistics and operations are coordinated. Decentralized logistics management is based on the fact that a company needs to have a division that helps control the local-adaptation needs. Dealing with different cultures requires input from the local branch. The managers that deal with the cultural differences on a daily basis normally know what works and what doesn†t. Outsourcing is the final option for logistics management. When this happens, transportation firms concentrate on logistics, and the company can concentrate on it†s production. There are many cost savings using this type of program, however that lack of control can negatively effect many companies. International logistics requires many different options and requirements to be met in order for a company to operate internationally. It†s like a big puzzle that must be put together, in order for all the goals to be met. As described above, there are many options to consider, and sometimes what appears to be an option really isn†t. It is not difficult to hit a road block, and you must start over with a new plan. Once the logistics plan is in place, you must constantly look for improvements in order to maximize profits and goals.

Anne Bradstreets Poetry

A literary review of the collection of poemsThe Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America by Anne Bradstreet who is thought to be the first genuine poet to develop in the English speaking New World. This paper discusses the poetry of Anne Bradstreet (who was only published once during her lifetime and without her knowledge ). Bradstreet had emigrated to New England as a young wife in 1630, and her poetry exemplifies a variety of themes related to home and hearth in the New World.Bradstreet offers more in-depth philosophic and religious analysis in other poems.Bradstreets poem Contemplations is an aptly-named poetic meditation with a didactic purpose.The poet uses images of nature such as could be seen in a given day as a way of evoking a sense of God and of the connection between the human lifespan and the larger metaphysical realm of God.The poem is in the first person, with the poet-narrator explaining her views as she observes nature and makes links between the images she sees there and her inner religious beliefs.This use of the first-person personalizes the narrative and brings the reader into the consciousness of the poet directly.We are brought by the poet into her contem plations.We know that the experiences she relates about nature are her own, and we know that the thoughts that these encounters engender are her own.

Critical Thinking Part 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking Part 3 - Assignment Example The questionnaire used in the interview was developed specifically for the study. The authors developed the interview guide from key themes found in a review of the literature on second cancer risk. The authors presented evidence of the reliability of the instrument used: â€Å"A person-centered, open-ended interviewing approach helped elicit detailed responses and focused participants’ responses onto areas previously not anticipated† (489). The interviewers were trained since they are educated in the area and also studied related research before conducting their research. The questions were appropriate for the research question. One sample question was: â€Å"compared with other people your age, how would you describe your risk of developing cancer this year?† (489). There is evidence of credibility and fittingness in the authors’ design. Great care and detail was put into the interview and analyzing of the data. An interpretative, qualitative design was used to collect the data and the constant comparative method was used to analyze the findings (483). Data coding was also used to compare emerging codes and cluster the data into new codes. The statistical analysis fitted the research question. Two important themes emerged from the data: thinking about second risk and living with risk, a family affair. The findings were not statistically important since the data was qualitative. The authors used tables and figures effectively and in a way that was easy to interpret. One table showed a sample of the questionnaire used when interviewing the test subjects. It is possible there is researcher bias in the report of the findings since the ethnic sample was all one race. Findings may have been specifically inherent in the ethnic sample interviewed, the researchers made generalizations about all cancer survivors when only one ethnicity was studied. The findings of the study will be relevant and will increase understanding of cancer survivors’ mindsets, but will

MICROBIOLOGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MICROBIOLOGY - Essay Example IgD: - IgD has a serum concentration of 30Â µg/ml and constitutes about 0.2% of total serum immunoglobulin. It is the major membrane bound immunoglobulin expressed by mature B – cells and is involved in the activation of B – cells by antigen. c. In immediate hypersensitivity antigen binds to IgE on mast cells and basophils. This cross linking leads to degranulation with the release of biologically active substances contained in the granules. 5. a. In the ouchterlony method both antigen and antibody diffuse radially from wells toward each other, thereby establishing a concentration gradient. As equivalence is reached, a visible line of precipitation forms. This simple technique is an effective qualitative tool for determining the relationship between antigens and the number of different Ag-Ab systems present. ELISA Test: - An enzyme conjugated to an antibody reacts with a colorless substrate to generate colored reaction product. Enzymes used include alkaline phosphates, horseradish peroxides. ELISA test is used to detect the presence of antibodies and antigen. RIA: - RIA is a competitive binding assay in which fixed amounts of antibody and radio labeled antigen react in presence of unlabelled antigen. The labeled and unlabelled antigens compete for limited binding sites on the antibody. After reaction, the antigen is separated into free and bound fractions and their radioactive counts measured. The concentration of the unlabelled (test) antigen can be calculated from the ratio of the bound and total antigen labels, using standard dose response curve. 6. It is difficult to develop a natural system of Bacterial Taxonomy using the traditional technique of Taxonomy because bacteria are generally very small and have simple shapes, and hence their classification by shape is not an easy task. The revolution in Genomics will affect Taxonomy because with the coming of

International Marketing w6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Marketing w6 - Essay Example aba College of technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria, wrote an article on environmental perception in bank marketing strategies during the period of December 2009. In this article, the author has addressed environmental factors that impact on strategic marketing practices. According to his work, environmental issues such as technology in banking, government policy, and economic factors influence the banking industry in diverse ways. His particular focus hinges on the introduction of computer technology into the banking services in the country and all over the world. He further reviews how government policies impact on the acquisition and involvement in the technological developments within the country. In a nutshell, the article captures the environmental variables that have affected the strategic marketing moves of major banking businesses. He further asserts that the rate of technological alterations and the nature of the heated competition for the control of the clientele base form the most important aspects that influence organizational strategies in international business (Linus 2009, 1). From the above article it can be noticed that technological changes do affect the conduct of businesses in a big way. As it emerges, the banking system has been faced with this concern. It becomes upon the players in the banking sector to adopt the new innovations like the introduction of computer banking. It is however an optional issue unlike the legal requirements. One major consideration in such case is the motivation to remain in business (Khandwalla 1997, 55). If any bank aspires to remain in business or retain its market control, then the top management should be under no illusions. It should seek ways to introduce the technology or lag behind and lose out to potential competitors. Another reflection that arises is the fact that the business environment remains very dynamic. In light of this, it is the duty of the business entities’ managements to be on the look out for

Curriculum Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Curriculum - Essay Example He described curriculum in a range of approaches. One of them is linked to syllabus or a body of knowledge to be transmitted to the students. Smith also stressed that curriculum is a set of objectives, where there is a drawn-up plan to apply intended objectives with a measurable outcome. Another alternative definition is that curriculum is a student’s total experience. It comprises teachers’ and students’ communication and relationships between them. Smith also recommends that curriculum is one’s ability to apply theory to practice. Language Arts is one essential subject area that hones communication skills of students. Being knowledgeable in literature, grammar and writing is one important goal for them that will greatly benefit them in their growth and development. This paper will compare 7th Grade Language Arts curriculum guides of three schools in New Jersey, namely the Hillside, Union and Orange Public Schools. The comparison will only be based on the guides acquired from these schools and not from how their curriculums are implemented. Of the three schools, Hillside Public School provided the most comprehensive curriculum guide. Next was the Orange School which also provided a clear outline indicating the goals of the Language Arts program and how its assessment strategies. Union School provided the least comprehensive guide, with just the use of cue words in enumerating its curriculum content and suggested activities. One of the widely adopted curriculum design is the ‘Understanding by Design’ Planning Framework (UbD) by Wiggins, Grant and McTighe (1998). This is also known as the Backward Design Model wherein the teacher starts with the end, the desired results, and then derives the curriculum from the evidence of learning called for by the expectations and the teaching needed to equip students to perform. The UbD involves the following processes: The Hillside School obviously adopted the Understanding by Design

Feminist Film Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Feminist Film Theory - Essay Example He seems angry but could not resist himself from taking a peek inside once again and while he does so, a dog is shown licking his hand, obviously giving an indication of what is going on inside. Looking at the description of the scene it seems to be a part of some porn film. But it is actually is a scene from an award winning film ‘ The Piano’ directed by a female director named Jane Campion . The scene is erotic, it is sexual and it is about sex. Does it involve a woman? Yes. Is a woman in this scene used as a commodity or is she objectified? No. The scene is a brilliant work of art where even though the love scene shot is very intimate and erotic, it does not expose the body of a woman just so that it can create a visual pleasure for men. This scene, and the movie as a whole, is an answer to what Laura Mulvey in her essay, â€Å" Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† had challenged the film makers to achieve. Sex is a part of life. We are born out of sex. So sex can never be denied or eliminated from the cinema. But the challenge was to show sex and woman in such a way that it allows her to maintains her dignity and respect in the society and does not become just an object of visual pleasure. The movie ‘ The Piano’ is an excellent example of how this aim can be achieved. Laura Mulvey is one of the thinkers who had discussed the feminism in cinema with the aid of the psychoanalytical theories of Sigmund Freud. She studied the theories of Freud and have tried to understand how woman has been suppressed and objectified in the world of cinema. She has compared Freud’s theory with the way the audience

History The World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

History The World - Essay Example This schism between the two churches is noticeable even today. In the West, there were hurdles of economic and geographical reasons as well. Western Europe was far removed from the new trade routes and geographically, it was difficult for any kind of unity to develop. Then a series of invasions from c. 700 to 1000 also put a halt on European development, making the spread of Christianity more difficult in these times. Later on, there would be philosophical and cultural obstacles. For instance, the debate between ‘Reason’ and ‘Faith’ began after 1000 CE and the creation of schools and rise of scholarly activity led to the development of subjects like ‘natural philosophy.’ The emphasis shifted to law, medicine, nature and other subjects that humans could fully comprehend. The power that religion enjoyed previous over the masses began to dwindle. We see therefore that the spread of Christianity into Europe and China was fraught with obstacles of various sorts: cultural, political, philosophical and intellectual. It would take Christian missionaries many years to be able to successfully overcome these obstacles to their efforts at spreading the message of

Influnce of greek mythology on the modern world Research Paper

Influnce of greek mythology on the modern world - Research Paper Example This corpus of materials includes a huge collection of narratives, some of which explains the origin of the world and others that detail the lives and adventures of various gods and goddess, heroes, heroines, and mythological creatures. These accounts were initially disseminated in an oral poetic tradition primarily referred to as written Greek literature in modern world. Tames (2009, p 40) notes that Greek mythology is rich in stories of heroes and heroines who were victorious, gods and goddess that quarreled frequently and also creatures that were usual and mysterious. The Greek mythology provided entertainment to the Greek people while at the same time trying to offer answers to question about how the world and human beings came into existence .This tales were very powerful and provided a great inspiration to ancient Greek arts and materials for their play. In additional, these tales provided important and valuable records of history and provide encouragement to the Greek to take pride in their cultural past that was very vibrant. Tames states that the Greek myths were traditionally passed from one generation to the other orally. Also many at times, poets were paid in order to make a recitation of poems which they had memorized. Later on, these tales were put down onto written .documents. Tames (2009, p 40) The influence of Greek mythology on modern society According to enotes.com, (2011), Greek mythology has continued to exert an extensive and profound influence on various fields on modern society for hundreds of years. The impacts of Greek mythology in today’s modern world can be noted in various areas including; language, sport, literature, psychology, Astronomy, modern Art, Films and Drama. The influence of Greek mythology in the aforementioned areas will be dealt with below in a detailed and comprehensive manner and where possible appropriate examples provided. enotes.com, (2011) Language Even though few people speak Greek language internationall y, Greek mythology has shaped English and other languages over the world. For example, the phrase â€Å"Herculean task† means a task that requires great input and effort. The drug which is known as morphine derives its name from the Greek god of sleep; Morheus.The concept â€Å"venereal disease† has specific reference to god Venus. The term â€Å"aphrodisiac†, which refers to any substance or circumstances that arouses sexual desire originates from the goddess of love In modern days, a woman who may not be beautiful can be called a â€Å"happy†, that is, a winged monster with a woman’s torso and birds feet. On the other hand, a man who is handsome is referred to as â€Å"adoris†, that is, the mortal man who was so handsome that Aphrodite goddess fell in love with him. Computer viruses known as â€Å"Trojan â€Å"have their comparison to the Greek –built Trojan horses, that were used by the Greek to gain access to Troy and end the Tr ojan war.Myth-and-mythology.com,states that the impacts of Greek mythology on language is not confined to individual words in modern world but extends to many other expression, proverbs and clinches . For example, the expressions â€Å"caught between a rock and a hard place† and â€Å"between the devil and the blue sea† both came from the tales about sailors being caught between the monsters Scylla and Charybdis of the Greek mythology.(enotes.com,2011) Some of the other commonly used expression that demonstrate the impact of Greek mythology in modern society include; on Achilles heel meaning a single fatal

Strengths and Weaknesses Essay Example for Free

Strengths and Weaknesses Essay It is very difficult to outline my strengths and weaknesses (I would say areas of improvement) at any point of time, as they keep on changing. This is because when I see any area of improvement, I make it a point to mend it as soon as I can. It is really important to keep on building on skills all the time. I believe this attitude of recognizing my area of improvement and working on to improve it has been biggest strength. Another thing which has always worked in my favor is my passion and enthusiasm to learn new things. I must admit that the movie â€Å"3 Idiots† has been instrumental in taking me on to this path. After watching this movie I have always tried to imbibe whatever I read or come across which is message the movie gives. The movie made me think about what is that I am good at, which enchanted me toward the career of finance as I was good with my analytical skills and the ability to understand numbers quickly. This set me off on the path of finance when I started pursuing Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Analyst. My passion kept on surging since then and I never looked back. I feel bliss to see my family being proud of me as I am now working as a faculty at IPLAN institute helping students in clearing CFA Level 1. Let me talk about my areas of improvement. I believe there will be many. My major area of improvement at the moment is that in this rat race era I am in, I sometimes cannot acknowledge the balance between my personal and professional life. With time, new horizons will open and new avenues will be revealed. This change will unfold a new set of trends and areas of improvements. I would like one famous quote which I have faith in is from the movie of Will Smith, â€Å"The pursuit of Happyness†: Don’t ever let people tell that you can’t do something. If you have got a dream, you have to protect it. Period.

Zhang Yin Essay Example for Free

Zhang Yin Essay Zhang Yin – a forty nine year old woman – is Chinas richest billionaire and is worth  £1.8 BILLION! She is also the worlds richest self-made billionaire, and is even richer than Oprah Winfrey and JK Rowling. Zhang Yin became rich by starting a very successful business called Nine Dragons. Nine Dragons is Chinas largest recycling company and is supplied by scrap paper from the USA. The reason for importing foreign scrap paper is simply because there is not enough there in China to fill their needs. The economy benefits from her and her factories because jobs are created. Coke, Nike and Sony are helped by Nine Dragons as their packaging is made by them and we are helped as we buy those products. Also the CAN and the ACN companies benefit as they supply Nine Dragons with their scrap paper and get business from it. Also, it is doing good in the world by cutting down on landfill and reduces the amount of trees we chop down On the other hand, she is causing negative impacts. She may be doing good by making jobs and being green but that is not the only side to the story. Her factories are polluting the planet as well as the large ships that she is using to import and export her goods. In conclusion, Zhang Yin is a very clever lady with   the determination to get her to where she is now. She has done well but the recycling that she is doing is ruining the planet more in the process.

Examining Children And Domestic Violence

Examining Children And Domestic Violence This essay will explore and critically discuss issues about domestic violence and effects on children with regards to the framework for constructing childhood. I will also briefly describe the historical definition of childhood comparing it to the current definition and the links to children and domestic violence. James and Prout (1997) stated that Childhood can be understood as a social construction as it provides an interpretive frame for contextualizing the early years of human life and it is different from biological immaturity. He also suggested that to an extent the definition of childhood is dependent on the views of the society. The concept of childhood has changed overtime, due to social construction that is fuelled by our views of children, our attitudes towards them and views constructed through human understanding. This change has a big impact on children and how society sees them; these changes are due to political and theoretical influences (James and James, 2004). James and James (2004) suggested that there is a sense loss of childhood, as children are being denied their right to childhood and they are exposed to the unpredictable and impulsive of the adult world too early. History of childhood In Western Europe during the middle ages children were seen as miniature adults, with same thinking capacity and personal qualities, but not the same physical abilities. From 15th century Aries suggested that the idea of childhood has changed but the images and paintings of children changed as a new understanding of childhood emerged allowing children to be seen as distinct from adults because they had their own needs. Shahar challenged the Aries views, she argues that the perceptions of children as adults goes beyond the 15th century; children were perceived as either been born innocent or sullied by original sin (James and James, 2004). The image of the child born into original sin came from the Aristotelian notions overlaid with Judeao-Christian; in this children were seen as wicked and needed redemption. Susannah Wesley recommended that parents must discipline their children so they can be saved from their sinfulness. In the 18th century, children were seen as the nature child, n ature wants children to be children and not merely as adults in the making. John Wesley recommended that parents should break the will of their children in order to bring his Gods will into subjection so they will be subject to the will of God. During the 19th century children were portrayed as naughty rather than evil, but this has continued today for example in books such as my naughty little sister. Towards the end of the 18th century, the perception of childhood was influenced by the romantic and evangelical. Romantic portrayed childhood as a time of happiness and innocence, children were seen as pure and should be protected before facing trials and responsibilities of adulthood; for example by Rousseaus Emile, but it was later propagated by Blake, Coleridge and Wordsworth. Blake saw childhood not as the preparation for what was to come but as the source of innocence, but his views were confused by Wordsworth emphasised that children were blessings from God , as childhood was se en as the age where virtue was domiciled, (James and Prout, 1997). The romantic child was short-lived by the evangelical child, the evangelical Magazine advises parents to teach their children that they are sinful polluted creatures. Currently, childhood is seen as vulnerable to exploitation especially the way which the media plays a big role in the commercialisation of childrens merchandise such as toys and games. Childhood in Britain is often perceived as being a time of innocence and happiness, a carefree time when children should be protected and sheltered from the adult world of sex, drugs and violence (Foley et al, 2001). Children are viewed as vulnerable especially when it relates to abuse or protecting them; Holt et al (2008) suggested that the perception and understanding of children has changed overtime in relation to abuse as there is more research on children and young people who have experienced abuse. The framework for constructing childhood consists of welfare of children, childrens rights and children in a social context. The welfare of children is still a concern which continues to change the policy and legislation in order to promote and safeguard the welfare of children in society. The UK government chose three main points in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1999 which is quality protects (programme to support children aged 0-3 yrs and their families, sure start and National Childcare Strategy to ensure good-quality childcare for children aged 0-14 (James and James, 2004). Race, class, religion, gender and disability shape childrens lives; all these factors have an impact on their health, life chances and educational experience. UNCRC came into force in the UK in 1992, all organizations working with children refer to UNCRC, for example Childrens express and Article 12, aim to increase children and young peoples participation in the society. Unlike adults, children have fewer rights for example they do not have the right to vote as children do not yet have the competence to make such decisions. These special rights are for their protection rather than participation (James and James, 2004). James and James (2004) stated that the social positioning of children is inextricably linked with wider social changes associated with the roles of men and women, families and the state. Changes in the composition of the family structure and the increased involvement of women in the workforce in Western Europe and US have an impact upon the lives of children. External materials and cultural forces of the families, both subtlety and directly shape children lives; but also schools, childcare and healthcare settings influence the lives of children (James and James, 2004). Domestic violence is a health issue that is hidden but statistics shows that it is a problem not just in England but worldwide and it is also an indicator of other forms of child abuse. Evidence from Brandon et als (2008) study shows that if domestic violence is present it leads to two-thirds of cases of child deaths and serious injury, therefore this shows that domestic violence is one factor that leads/contribute to death in childrens cases where children have been killed or seriously injured for example Victoria Climbe and baby P cases. It affects everyone in the society regardless of age, gender, wealth and sexuality. Home office (2010) defines Domestic violence as Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners of family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This includes issues of concern to Black and other Minority Ethnic communities such as honour kill ings. McGee (2000) stated that domestic violence is experienced by women and children of all social classes, ethnicities and abilities. BCS (2001) estimates that one in five (21%) women and one in ten (10%) men has experienced at least one incident of non-sexual domestic threat or force since they were 16. Also when financial and emotional abuse is included, 26% of women and 17% of men had experienced domestic violence since the age of 16. The most affected group as a result of domestic violence are women, as statistics shows 32% of women had experienced domestic violence from this person four or more times compared with only 11 per cent of men (Mullender, 2004). Statistics from British Crime Survey (BCS) (1996) shows that half of families who suffered domestic violence had children aged 16 or under living in the household. Mirrless-Black (1999) suggested that 29% of children experiencing domestic violence were aware of what was happening, children were more likely to be witness abu se against women who suffer abuse themselves. In the UK it is estimated that every year at least 750,000 children witness domestic violence and over a 100-day period an estimated 205,000 children will witness domestic violence (DoH, 2009). Children are affected not only by directly witnessing abuse, but also by living in an environment where their mother (main caregiver) is repeatedly victimised. Children in a home where the mother is being abused are also at greater risk of being abused themselves, or being used to control their mother, Hidden hurt (2010). There are many ways that children and young people can experience domestic violence such as directly being abused or witnessing the abuse as children are aware of what going on, and could be listening whilst the abuse happens. Mullender (2004) stated that what children see or hear when their mothers are being abused can not only include physical violence but also emotional abuse and put-downs, threats and intimidation, sexual jealousy and abuse. Children may witness the family being kept short of money or the abuser taking money from other family members and also experience isolation from family and friends. Also children could witness domestic violence by actually seeing violent and abusive acts/behaviours, hearing arguments and seeing the physical and emotional effects of abuse and when trying to intervene to protect their mother or siblings; but young people may experience domestic violence in their own relationships (DoH, 2002). Research has shown that children are likely to be at risk of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse if they have witnessed or live in an abusive home. The National Childrens Home (NCH) Action for Children study (2002) found that children living with domestic violence frequently experienced direct physical and sexual assault and that ten per cent had witnessed their mother being sexually assaulted. Abrahams (1994) study found that of women and children who had left a domestic abuser 10% of mothers had been sexually abused in front of their children, 27% of the partners had also assaulted the children, including sexually and 1/3 said that the children became violent and aggressive, including towards their mothers; 31% developed problems at school; and 31% of children had low self-esteem. DoH (2009) stated that although the statistics shows that a high numbers of children witness domestic violence, official statistics are likely to underplay its prevalence. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of women or children that experience domestic violence as not every incident is report or disclosed; therefore the true figures are likely to be higher. Domestic violence has a big impact on children emotionally, socially, behaviourally, developmentally and on their cognitive ability. It can be difficult to research the effects of domestic violence on children due to ethical issues as they are very vulnerable, but it is important to find out what children experience in order to understand the possible impact on children on how to support them to cope. Hester et al (2000) stated that there is evidence that domestic violence has an impact on children but there is lack of knowledge to how factors such as age, race, economic status, gender, disability and childrens resilience influences children. Children can react to violence in different ways depending on whether they are witnessing or experiencing violence as some are more sensitive than others, but it depends on their age. There are two types of behaviours that can manifest in children, this could be externalised and internalised as some children could be more aggressive and are at a high risk of depression (DoH, 2009). McGee (2000) and Frantuzzo (1999) pointed out that children exposed to domestic violence tend to display more aggressive behaviour, have problems in school/home and also behavioural problems such as depression, fears, suicidal behaviours, bed wetting and low self-esteem. Other behavioural and emotional effects could be feeling powerless/helpless, withdrawn, anger, and lower academic achievements; Hester et al, (2000) suggested that this could be short or long term. However, all children could suffer from all of the above at any stage in their life without being affected or witnessing violence, research has shown that it is higher among children who witness domestic violence. Domestic violence can also affect childrens cognitive abilities as research has shown that what is happening at home can disrupt their education. Veltman et al (2000) found that 75% of cases children had delayed cognitive development and 86% had delayed language development. Research has shown that children exposed to domestic violence have difficulty in school, lack concentration and more likely to refuse to attend school (McGee, 2000 and Humphrey and Mullender, 2001). There are long-term consequences of exposure to domestic violence especially to younger children as it is thought that they dont remember what happened; however the effect can be carried to adulthood and could jeopardize their development. Cunningham and Baker (2004) suggested that if domestic violence is carried into adulthood it can contribute to a cycle of adversity and violence. Osofsky (1999) stated that studies have indicated the link between exposure to violence and negative behaviours in children of all age group; similarly Cunningham and baker suggested that exposure to domestic violence can have varied impact at different stages. The social issues of domestic violence are more likely to affect adolescent due to difficulties forming healthy intimate relationships with peers as a result of their experiences; Levendosky et al (2002) suggests adolescents exposed to violence are less likely to have a secure attachment style and more likely to have an avoidant attachment style, i ndicating perhaps that they no longer feel trust in intimate relationships. Violence experienced by infants and toddlers can cause more emotional or behavioural problems as they tend to have excessive irritability, immature behaviour, sleep disturbances, emotional distress, fears of being alone, and regression in toileting and language (Holt et al, 2008 and Osofsky, 1999). Due to their age they are dependent on the mothers/care-giver for care, safety and security so they form the attachment. Studies have shown a link between secure parent-child attachments in infancy with later positive developmental outcomes and these could affect how they relate to people in later life which could affect their normal development of trust and create social problems; research on attachment in infancy has shown that the more serious the level of domestic violence, the higher the likelihood of insecure, disorganised, attachments (DoH, 2009). Furthermore, it can be very difficult for these young children who often cannot describe their experiences in detail as their development is limited and their feelings/emotions are manifested as temper tantrums and aggression, crying and resisting comfort, or sadness and anxiety (Cunningham and Baker, 2004). Children welfare and rights Safeguarding and children welfare is defined by HM government (2006) as the process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully (p 27). Children are defined as in need when they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development which will be significantly impaired without the provision of services (S17 (10) of the Children Act (1989). Some children are in need because they are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm which justifies compulsory intervention in family life in the best interest of children. The Child Act (1989) places duty on every local authority to provide a range of appropriate services to ensure that children in need within their area welfare are promoted. The Act also places a duty on l ocal authorities to make or cause enquiries to be made, where there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering or likely to suffer, significant harm (s 47). The Children Act (1989) recognises that to promote the welfare of children, services may need to be provided to address the difficulties their parents are experiencing. In order to promote the welfare and safeguard children, all the services and agencies working with children have to come together to provide effective support and services, as when children experience serious inquiries it is evident that there has been a failure of agencies working together; this was an issue raised in the 2003 Victoria Climbià © Inquiry report. Cm 5730 (2003) from Victoria Climbià © Inquiry report recommended that many agencies have to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children which cannot be achieved by a single agency as every service has a part to play. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004), Family Law Act (1996), Protection from Harassment Act (1997) and safeguarding children all state that it is a criminal offence if a child dies as a result of an unlawful act of the parents/adults (member of the family) who do not take actions to protect the child. The Children Act s11 (2004) and Working Together to safeguard children (HM Government, 2006) stated that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyones responsibility and central to all local authority functions. Similarly HM Government (2006) stated that protecting children from significant harm, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children depends on effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise (p 33). Furthermore the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) main aim is to ensure the effective safeguarding of children by all local stake holders and the promotion of their welfare, both in a multi-agency context and within individual agencies (HM Government, 2010). LSCB should ensure better collaboration and co-ordination in cases which require services such as agencies working with both childrens and adult services such as agencies working with parents experiencing domestic violence. Working Together to Safeguard Children (HM Government, 2006) states that LSCBs should make appropriate arrangements at a strategic management level to involve among others, domestic violence forums (p 86). HM Government (2010) states that all health professionals working directly with children and young people should ensure that safeguarding and promoting their welfare forms an integral part of all elements of the care they offer. The Children Act (2004) places a wider duty on the police for example ensuring policy plans including child protection strategies. They also specify the need to respond quickly and effectively to domestic violence incidents (Cleaver et al, 2007). Police have a key role in safeguarding children and working with other agencies to stop abuse (HM Government, 2010). In the past professionals have not worked together to address the impact of domestic violence for children, but measures have been placed to reduce this impact. As health professional we have to be able to identify the impact of domestic violence on children in order to help/support them. Research has shown that professionals struggle to identify and understand childrens experiences so cannot respond appropriately to their needs (Mullender et al, 2002). Children have several coping strategies can be through resilience and being listened to about their experiences but some children can recover quickly as children are different so we as professional need to consider each childs coping strategy. DoH (2009) stated that identifying protective factors and increasing resilience can reduce the risk of harm (p 30). Mullender et al (2002) suggested that a secure attachment to a non-violent parent/carer is a protective factor for children in distress from violence. Similarly, Osofsky (1999) sta ted that the most important protective resource to enable a child to cope with exposure to violence is a strong relationship with a competent, caring, positive adult, most often a parent. This is because violence can jeopardize the development of a childs ability to think and solve problems, but with the support of good parenting by either a parent or other significant adult, a childs cognitive and social development can progress. It is important as professionals that children are listened to, taken seriously and are kept informed and involved in decisions; Mullender et al (2000) pointed out that professional lack sensitivity to children who do not feel noticed or supported appropriately. Professionals need training on how to communicate to children to experience domestic violence by using language which will allow them to talk openly. Children want their voices to be heard as this will allow children to disclose any violence; Mullender et al (2002) stated that listening to children who have lived with domestic violence has meant not only hearing voices that were silent but seeing other cases of violence from a child-centred perspective (p 206). Nevertheless when assessing childs needs, it is important to consider support for the family; Holt et al (2008) and Humphreys and Mullender (2001) both suggested that it is essential to provide an holistic assessment that will take into account the risk and protective factors in each family, especially the mother and child. Likewise Hester et al (2000) suggested that any intervention strategy needs to be individualised to children family context and should focus on stabilising the home environment to minimise disruption. They are several service and support for children who have/are experiencing domestic violence such as the hide out, family care support, NSPCC counselling for children and counselling and strong families programme. The hide out is a child friendly website for children and young people, it was created by Womens Aid to help children and young people to understand domestic abuse, and how to take positive action if its happening to you. Stronger families programme is a 12 week therapeutic group programme from children and mothers who have experienced domestic violence. The aim is to achieve safety, empowerment and a safe place to discuss feelings. It helps towards the reparation to mother child relationship through a mother and child group. It is an inter-agency collaborative model that is offered throughout Nottingham city. The Stronger Families programme is based on the successful model originally initiated in Ontario, Canada. The Community Group programme for children exposed to women abuse has over 20 years of experience and research. It is based on early research by Peter Jaffe et al in London Ontario. In 1986 first manual and groups for children, 1996 favourable evaluation and in 1997 practitioners manual published. The London borough of Sutton has been instrumental in introducing the programme for children affected by domestic violence in the UK. Nottingham is now one of the first areas in the UK to offer the full group treatment programme to local mothers and children. In 1996 the programme was evaluated and it was found that children improved their ability to identify abusive actions and behaviours and children improved in their strategies to manage interpersonal conflict. Overall there was a positive satisfaction post group from both mothers and children. To improve the outcomes of domestic violence for children and young people, professional need to make children more aware of domestic violence and where to get help/support if they or friends are experiencing violence, especially in the community for example schools or places young people are more likely to go. McGee (2000) suggested that children and young people need more information about domestic violence and leaflets should be avialblae thorough schools and community, whilst Humphreys and Mullender (2001) suggested that raising awareness in youth settings is another to help change people attitudes. Young people suggested that an educational campaign involving discussion about the media pressure and peoples attitudes towards violence (Mullender et al, 2000); similarly McGee (2000) recommended the need to have a public education campaign which is aimed at adults and children to address domestic violence, for example the Zero tolerance campaign in schools, media campaign to direct young people for support and information and raising awareness as well as providing support in schools for children experiencing domestic violence.

Transcendental Critic of the Puritans Essay -- Analysis, Hawthorne

There is no hard definition for Transcendentalism; it varies depending on which group of Transcendentalist one talks to. Webster defines its purpose is to discover the nature of reality by investigating the thought process instead of the objects of sense. The Oxford dictionary implies that divinity can be found in all nature and humanity. Almost all definitions include a search for truth, spiritual goodness, and the nature of reality by studying nature by communing with the human soul or an analysis of the human soul’s interaction with the spirit of God. Also, according to Raziel Abelson, Transcendentalism â€Å"†¦opposed the strict ritualism and dogmatic theology of all established religious institutions† (qtd. in â€Å"Brook Farm†). In 1841, a group of Transcendentalists established the Brook Farm formally known as the â€Å"Brook Farm Institute of Agriculture and Education†; among that group were American literary and religious leaders such as Amos Bronson Alcott, William Ellery Channing, Charles Anderson Dana, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Theodore Parker, and Orestes Augustus Brownson (â€Å"Brook Farm†). It is because of the influence of the Transcendental movement that Hawthorne wrote â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and â€Å"The Minister’s Black Veil† where he attempts to demonstrate (perhaps to the Puritan Church, certainly to all who read the stories) that the Puritan Church’s strict and unforgiving orthodoxy was not its greatest strength but its greatest weakness. In â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† Hawthorne’s overt use of spiritual/metaphysical allegory and symbolism is used to display the sinful nature of man and the possibly tragic consequences of the Puritan Church’s ridged and unwavering demand of sinless purity from its m... ...v. 2011. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"The Minister's Black Veil, A Parable.† Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library. Web. 25 November 2011. ---. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown.† Literature Reading, Reacting, Writing. Compact 7th Ed. Kirszner and Mandell. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010. Print. King James Version Bible. Philadelphia: The National Bible Press, 1958. Print. "Transcendentalism." (n.d.): Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. "Transcendentalism n." The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Twelfth edition . Ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Amarillo College. Web. 27 November 2011 â€Å"Transcendentalism.† Webster’s new World Dictionary of the American Language. Second College Edition. New York: Simon and Shuster, 1984. Print.

A Comparison of the Representation of Oppression in The Lost Honour of

Oppression is a theme often found in works that discuss our humanity, mortality and (of course) our freedoms. The binary of freedom and oppression will come into play in most narratives which reflect upon ethics, but we find this theme most prevalently in stories which examine the nature of law and justice, in addition to those which explore the distinguishing features of our humanity. Both the texts feature protagonists who are put on trail for crimes that they were, in one way or another, unaware that they had committed. Meursault in The Outsider shoots an Arab man on a beach in a haze of sensory turmoil, while Katharina in The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum has the misfortune to fall for a convicted murderer and is accused first of helping him make his escape and later of being involved with his criminal offences. Also common to both books is the corruption of facts, either because social powers (such as the law courts or the media) are unable to understand what our characters did, or do not want to either out of fear, or out of a dark lust for the events to become a sordid tale. In these cases we are faced not only with the oppression of the ‘victims’ of the story, but also the public in general, denied by their own desire access to the truth, and of course the warping and controlling of the truth itself. When we talk about oppression, we are most often referring to unjust treatment exerted by some kind of authority. Though that particular definition of the word does feature heavily in both The Outsider and The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, we can also find the theme of oppression in the sense of ‘mental pressure or distress’ . Both books, though more prominently The Outsider, discuss freedom in a philosophical se... ...pression manifests itself in both of the stories in similar and familiar ways. Both of our protagonists are faced with the physical oppression of law and its power over their freedoms, and proceed to engage in an absurd struggle against the forces of law, social expectancies and falsehood. Also similar in both books is the human fear of absolute rationality, something which grants Katharina and Meursault a great deal of personal strength and freedom, but which ultimately proves to be their downfall when they are in need of appearing sympathetic or vulnerable in order to survive the judgement passed upon them. Works Cited BÃ ¶ll, Heinrich. The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1978. Camus, Albert. The Outsider. London [etc.: Penguin Books, 1983. Camus, Albert. The myth of Sisyphus, and other essays. New York: Vintage Books, 1991.

How to Find and Buy Quality Websites :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

How to Find and Buy Quality Websites Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com Most buyers don’t realize that very few of all website buyers are successful in buying a quality website. VotanWeb receives email form website buyers daily and the frustrations I hear from them are usually pretty much the same. Buyers need to know how the game works when buying a website. It is a lot like finding that great job – it takes a lot of work and patience. Most website buyers are unprepared, unrealistic, and think they will easily find that perfect website. If you are thinking of buying a website, you need to carefully read and follow the points below to be successful. To successfully buy a website you need to: 1. Have a one page â€Å"Acquisition Criteria/Resume† ready at all times - this info consists of the types of websites you are looking to purchase, what amount you have are willing to invest, how much adjusted net income you expect from the website you are buying i.e. return etc. Make sure you have your name, address, all phone numbers to be contacted at, email address, and fax number. 2. You need to understand as a buyer that most websites listed for sale have little or no value – you need to know this when you go searching. Searching for a website to buy is not like looking for a house to purchase. Houses may be overpriced, but most houses listed for sale have some inherent value. Most websites offered for sale have no value at all. 3. Take confidentiality agreements seriously. If you are going in with someone else to buy a website (like a partner) make sure you both sign and get it back to the owner immediately – don’t expect much information about the website without signing one. Keep all info about websites you look at confidential – you break the agreement and you will never have access to any other confidential information about any website on the internet. Of course, there are also legal ramifications in many instances. 4. Never ever tell a website owner these things: â€Å"Don’t worry I have plenty of money to buy a website – it’s none of your business†, â€Å"I’m looking at all websites for sale – I am not picky† – when website owners hear these comments and other nonsense from buyers they know you’re not a professional and they will usually pass on you.

Kidney Stone Formation Due to Patients’ Lifestyle

EPI 602 INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH RESEARCH Research Proposal RESEARCH PROPOSAL | PART A STATEMENT OF PROBLEM, RELEVANCE & FIELD APPLICATION The kidney is an amazing organ. It makes urine and helps to control your blood pressure. It also keeps your bones strong and healthy, and controls manufacture of red blood cells. However, this organ is challenged with many diseases and complications. Thus, my Research Project is based on one of the most common problem: S KIDNEY STONE FORMATION A RESULT OF PATIENTS’ LIFE STYLEThere has been an increase in the number of kidney stone cases at Diagnostic & Specialist Medical Centre [DSM Centre, 2 Lodhia Street, Nadi Town] recently. Based on the records for the Year 2012, a tremendous increase in the number of new cases diagnosed with kidney stones was noted. Kidney Stones are increasingly becoming common health condition at DSM Centre Clinic. Therefore, this Research Project seeks to find out if kidney stone formation is just a medical complicati on or a result of patients’ lifestyle.Over a million people worldwide are diagnosed with Kidney Stones every year . . . PAGE 1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL | PART A STATEMENT OF PROBLEM, RELEVANCE & FIELD APPLICATION WHERE IS THE PROBLEM OCCURING? Kidney Stone Disease is a worldwide phenomenon. For this project however, my research is based on patients attending DSM Centre, Nadi. WHO IS AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM? Generally both genders and all age groups are affected. My sampling will be constrained on patients attending DSM Centre, aged 30 – 50 years.Upon completion, this research project will reveal, whether lifestyle of patients [aged 30 – 50 years visiting DSM Centre] contributes to kidney stone formation. WHAT SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT TO ERADICATE THE PROBLEM? WERE THEY SUCCESSFUL? Patient education and awareness programs in health centres and hospitals are implemented to inform the public about the condition and its consequences. However, with the increasing num ber of cases, indicates that these methods have not been as successful as intended.Through this research, numeric data will be obtained and analyzed to validate the above statement. RELEVANCE OF THE PROBLEM TO NATIONAL OR LOCAL ACTIVITIES: This research is relevant to the Programs administered by the Kidney Foundation of Fiji, who continue to raise public awareness aganist kidney diseases. The revelations from this project will substantiate their worthy cause. Never before Kidney Research has been so important! PAGE 2 RESEARCH PROPOSAL | PART A STATEMENT OF PROBLEM, RELEVANCE & FIELD APPLICATION FIELD APPLICATION OF THE PROPOSED RESULTSThe research result can be used in further awareness programs with evidences and recent figures relating to kidney stone formations and their causes. VARIOUS METHODS OF AWARENESS PROGRAMS CAN BE USED SUCH AS; KIDNEY FOUNDATION OF FIJI JOURNAL CLUB MEETINGS Results from this research can be sent to Kidney Foundation of Fiji in support of their awarenes s programs. DSM CENTRE WEBSITE Presentation of this research paper in Journal Club meetings will encourage medical professionals within the vicinity to join in the awareness program.MEDICAL CONFERENCES The entire research document can be uploaded on DSM Website for online readers. DSM NEWSLETTER Presentation of this research paper in Medical Conferences will encourage medical team nationally to participate in the awareness program. JOURNALS Publishing this research paper in form of an article in the DSM Newsletter â€Å"Your Doctor† will serve as introductory information to patients. POSTERS & BROCHURES Publishing this research paper in form of an article will provide first hand information to readers, thus creating awareness.SOCIAL HUB The results can be tabulated and diagrammatically illustrated in posters and brochures placed in the waiting area of the clinics and hospitals for patient awareness. With tremendously revolutionizing digital world, Facebook pages and Twitter l inks can be created for this research paper to obtain maximum audience and hence awareness. New era . . . new challenges . . . new approach! PAGE 3 A Research on Patients’ Lifestyle Robin Rohnil Kumar S019059 | BMIS – DFL College of Medicine & Health Sciences Fiji National University

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a touching tale of the friendship between two men–set against the backdrop of the United States during the depression of the 1930s. The book addresses the real hopes and dreams of working-class America. Steinbeck's short novel raises the lives of the poor and dispossessed to a higher, symbolic level. The novel opens with two workers who are crossing the country on foot to find work. George is a cynical, irresolute man. George looks after his companion, Lennie–treating him like a brother. Lennie is a giant man of incredible strength, but has a metal disability that makes him slow-to-learn and almost child-like. George and Lennie had to flee the last town because Lennie touched a woman's dress and he'd been accused of rape. They begin to work at a ranch, and they share their dream: they want to own their own piece of land and farm for themselves. They feel dispossessed and unable to control their own lives. The climactic moment of the novel revolves around Lennie's love of soft things. He pets the hair of Curley's wife, but she gets scared. In the resulting struggle, Lennie kills her and runs away. The farmhands form a lynch mob to punish Lennie, but George finds him first. George understands that Lennie cannot live in the world, and he wants to save him the pain and terror of being lynched, so he shoots him in the back of the head. The literary power of Of Mice and Men rests firmly on the relationship between the two central characters, their friendship and their shared dream. These two men are so very different, but they come together, stay together, and support each other in a world full of people who are destitute and alone. In a way, Of Mice and Men is an extremely despondent novel. The novel shows the dreams of a small group of people and then contrasts these dreams with a reality that is unreachable, which they cannot achieve. Even though the dream never becomes reality, Steinbeck does leave us with an optimistic message. George and Lennie do not achieve their dream, but their friendship stands out as a shining example of how people can live and love even in a word of alienation and disconnectedness. Its powerful ending is climactic and shocking to the extreme. But, we also come to an understanding of the tragedy of life. Regardless of the sufferings of those who live it, life goes on. The book is great, highly recommended. There’s so much human nature in those few pages, it’s just amazing how Steinbeck managed to pack it all in so nicely. Many of the most major and fundamental principles of the human psyche are here – self-esteem, meaning to one’s life, loneliness, friendship, love. The book is a masterpiece.

Amd and 64 bit microporcessor

It seems that the migration to 64-bit system for home and office use is unstoppable. AMD, Intel and Microsoft are leading the said technology migration. 64-bit computing is dominating faster in the world of desktop PC’s, it is embraced by the computing industry form all around the world. News about some new processors, operating systems and applications that takes advantages of this feature is coming everyday. During the 80’s the computer systems migrated from 8-bit to 16-bit and later on, in the 90’s, the system advanced further once again, to 32-bit.32-bit computing becomes the common place for all the end-users, but that is two decades old and surprisingly computer technology keeps on advancing as the need to have more powerful desktop need is running up the scale. 32-bit refers the number of bits that can be processed or transmitted in parallel. Bits are the smallest unit of information on a machine that a microprocessor can process. The term indicates the wi dth of the registers in union with the microprocessor that is designed in a 32- bit platform.However, we can conclude that a 64-bit processor has a register that can store 64-bit numbers. Therefore, a 64-bit architecture is capable of processing data two times the amount of data a Central Processing Unit (CPU) can process per clock cycle. A computer user can easily say or think that 64-bit processors can double the speed of a 32-bit processor. The truth is, it is not all about processing speed, but it is all about memory management. 32-bit processor can use up to 4GB of Random Access Memory (RAM) with the help of using a capable motherboard.This 4GB Random Access Memory (RAM) is split between the operating system and the applications, 2GB for operating system and 2GB for application. In this manner of thinking, the entire user will see and think that a 64-bit processor is capable of using 8GB of RAM on their 64-bit computers. That is why numerous organizations and companies that acc ess massive amounts of data have already made the evolution to 64-bit servers, since this server can support superior number of larger files.They can also efficiently load huge enterprise database into memory that results in faster data retrieval and faster searches. The majority of 64-bit Central Processing Unit (CPU) remuneration will be ignored or will not be noticed without the key mechanism of 64-bit operating system software, and device drivers that can take benefit of 64-bit processor features. In 2005 to present, the puzzle has already been solved.We have a 64-bit operating system and some applications that support the technology and that makes as ready for the big migration. But then, as the end user thinks that migrating to a 64-bit computing will make their browser move faster, Word documents will be running faster or even presentation software will look much impressive, everyone will be dissatisfied. On the other hand, a more demanding application such as gaming, video e diting or encoding and the whole thing that requires more memory will surely witness the benefits.Even if at this point of time we already have the operating systems, applications that support the 64-bit platform, migrating from 32-bit to 64-bit is still a problem, due to the fact that Device Drivers for x64 operating are not yet fully available. Even the software giant Microsoft has requested those kinds of drivers. I. Brief background on the company you have chosen Datronic is a software development company focused on two upright markets; †¢ Windows device driver development and driver developers training based in Portugal†¢ Public Library book loan application software system based in Germany In 1972, Otto Rudinger founded Datronic in Ausberg/Germany. The main area of the Business for the first 20 years is Microfilm and high precision barcode master film production. In 2001 Marcel Rudinger the son of the founder of the said company founded device driver development depa rtment located in Madeira Island in Portugal and took over 49 % of Datronic. Marcel Rudinger as a student of computer science first developed his first MS DOS device driver and a low level system software that is intended to run under 8086 computer.Furthermore he continuously developed drivers and low-level systems software, design and project management for many well-known companies worldwide. The company also conducts public and onsite training courses which focuses on device driver development for windows Marcel Rudinger as the trainer. The company has been in this business since the middle of 1990’s. 2006 is the year where DATRONICSOFT was founded and Marcel Rudinger took over 100% of the Datronic.DatronicSoft supply offshore development, and test capacities for Windows device driver development, and at the same time develops Datronic’s public library book loan system as well as for some external companies. Discussion of Current Business Issues The companies traini ng and seminars supply the basic knowledge for developing or writing a complete new drivers and even modification of existing device drivers. The title of the training courses is WDM Device Driver Development for Windows XP, W2K3M VISTA and Longhorn server course 1(basics). It is a workshop with hands on labs and practical samples.It provides thorough introduction to low level and hardware related software development on the Microsoft windows platform. Mostly experienced application programmers, system software and driver developers are the company’s clients or customers. With DatronicSoft training courses, students expand a thorough knowledge and learn more about the device driver architecture of the Microsoft Windows operating system and their kernel mode components. On top of the course students learn more on backgrounds and concepts of device driver development using the Driver Development Kit (DDK) and lots of practical tips and tricks.C or C++ is the major programming l anguage for device driver development. Visual Studio is used as a tool for the development environment and as a compiler of the codes. The main issue whether the company is doing the development side or conducting offshore or in house training with due respect to adopt 64-bit computing, is the program possible errors occurring while porting C++ code from 32-bit platforms on 64-bit ones. As discussed earlier migrating from 32-bit computer system to 64-bit systems is inevitable and the need to develop drivers that will support the new platform is truly a necessity.Programmers should understand appropriately that the new set of errors that materialized while coding the 64-bit programs is not just some new faulty constructions among thousand of other codes. These are unavoidable difficulties, which the developers of any developing program will face. We are aware that 64-bit software and drivers is the next step of the information technologies development. But in actuality, only few prog rammers have faced the nuances of this bubble and developing 64-bit programs in particular. The analysis of the errors occurring while porting 32-bit programs on 64-bit system is a difficult task.Writing a not very quality code written without taking into account peculiarities of other architectures, might demand a lot of time and efforts. Thus causing delays on the development side, and may cause inaccurate instructions and solutions in the trainings conducted by the company. These issues should not be ignored for it will cause a huge amount of money in the company. We all know any project delays can cause disaster to any company and most probably it may cause the company to fail its objectives that will lead to the company’s downfall.Furthermore, dissatisfied students in terms of the content of the materials will surely arise. Since the student of the company are mostly programmers from different programming firms, possibility of loosing clients for driver development is ve ry high, because the content of the lecture doesn’t have the solutions for the problems stated below. Most common and possible problems that need to be observed thoroughly which the developer of 64-bit programs can face are: †¢ Common errors of programming which occur on 64-bit systems †¢ Reasons for appearing of these errors and the corresponding examples †¢ Methods of correcting the listed errors†¢ Review of methods and means of searching errors in 64-bit programs Recommendations for the Executive Committee With the problems sited in the study, the need to provide possible solutions will be provided. Program errors occurring while porting C++ code from 32-bit platforms on 64-bit ones are observed. Examples of the incorrect code and the ways to correct it are given. Methods and means of the code analysis, which allow diagnosing the errors discussed, are listed. The need to include the solutions to the training courses should be considered and applied in t he device driver development side.The following codes and analysis has already been tried and should be applied in both upright market of the company. Off warnings In all books devoted to the development of the quality code it is recommended to set a warning level of warnings shown by the compiler on as high level as possible. But there are situations in practice when for some project parts there is a lower diagnosis level set or it is even set off. Usually it is very old code that is supported but not modified. Programmers who work over the project are used to that this code works and don’t take its quality into consideration.Here it is a danger to miss serious warnings by the compiler while porting programs on the new 64-bit system. While porting an application you should obligatory set on warnings for the whole project that help to check the compatibility of the code and analyze them thoroughly. It can help to save a lot of time while debugging the project on the new archi tecture. If we won’t do this the simplest and stupidest errors will occur in all their variety. Here it is a simple example of overflow which occurs in a 64-bit program if we ignore warnings at all.

Promise vs. Duty in Nursing Essay

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1997), the definition of a promise is â€Å"a pledge to do or not to do something specified.† For the sake of not sounding like a bunch of politicians who seldom keep their rhetorical promises, I think we should change the word to something more honorable such as to duty. Duty, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1997) is â€Å"conduct or action required by one’s occupation or position†. That is much more fitting. Promises can be made and broken by individuals. A duty is inherent in the position one holds. Promises are a voluntary commitment. A duty is an ethical standard or obligation that applies to a position or occupation. Dorman and Middaugh, (2009) stated that â€Å"repeated gaps between promises and performance create doubt, distrust, and finally cynicism in the public†. Instilling a sense of duty in a profession is much different. I have a duty to treat patients under my care with dignity and respect. I do not have to promise to do this. It is inherent in my position and I need to do this. This is stated nicely by the International Council of Nurses, (2006) â€Å"inherent in nursing is respect for human rights, the rights to life and choice, to dignity and to be treated with respect†. The public wants care givers with a sense of duty, not a promise. Otherwise we may fall into the same category of politicians that cannot be trusted. I think that this is important in order to maintain the image that nursing currently has as a caring and trustworthy profession (Gray, 1999). Having a sense of duty links directly to the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics as my nursing professional obligation or if you wish, promise to patients, community and society (see Nursingworld.org, Code of Ethics). References Dorman,D., & Middaugh, D.(2009). Promise keeping: do we keep our promises. Medsurg Nursing, 18(1). â€Å"Duty.† The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1997).Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Gray,B.B.,(1999). Public opinion poll reveals consumer attitudes about nursing. Nurseweek.com. Retieved from nurseweek.com/features/99-7/hpoll.html International Council of Nurses (ICN) (2006). Retrieved from: http://www.icn.ch/images/stories/documents/about/icncode_english.pdf â€Å"Promise.† The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (1997).Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.