Higher Education and the Promotion of Health Essay

Higher Education and the Promotion of Health - Essay Example â€Å"Some illnesses are highly transmittable and can be passed on by touching an infected person or by getting in contact with the body fluids of the infected person† (Eddy, 1994). When the fluids of an infected person comes in contact with another the disease causing micro-organisms get transmitted to the other person. The other individual gets infected by the micro-organisms and becomes ill. Most of the causes of diseases are related directly to the environment where the individual lives or has visited. Environmental factors that cause diseases include the air that one breathes, food that one eats and the water than one drink. The air that one breathes may be contaminated by viruses that are airborne and may lead to the individual becoming ill. An example of an airborne disease is tuberculosis which is easily spread by air especially in crowded areas. Some individuals are allergic to specific foods, and if they take them by mistake, they become ill. Some diseases are waterborne, and if individuals take water that is contaminated they are a high risk of becoming ill. An example of a waterborne disease is cholera which greatly affects young children. Some diseases are caused by certain individual lifestyles such as eating habits. Eating foods that have high cholesterol levels and not engaging oneself in activities that help burn the cholesterol may lead to obesity and cardiac complications. Eating foods that have high sugar content may lead to high blood pressure and other related diseases. Some individuals have a lifestyle where they engage themselves in unprotected sex. Having unprotected sex is a very risky behavior as it makes one highly susceptible to contract sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Individuals who drink too much alcohol put themselves at a risk of getting a liver cirrhosis, and they need to reduce greatly or stop the intake of alcohol. â€Å"One needs to have a lifestyle that does not affect one’s health† (Naido

Harrahs Entertainment, Inc. Case Study Essay Example for Free

Harrahs Entertainment, Inc. Case Study Essay

Quit Smoking! Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Quit Smoking!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  SURGEON GENERALS WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy. Cigarette smoking has been proven to be hazardous to your health. It wasn’t until 1964 that the actual truth came out about cigarette use. From the years 1952-1956 Kent brand cigarettes was allowed to use a filter containing asbestos. Cigarette ads were allowed on television up until the year 1971, and it wasn’t until 1979 that it was discovered that women smokers could cause major damage to the fetus if they are pregnant. In 1964, the annual Surgeon General’s Report On Smoking And Health reported an overwhelming association between smoking and early death from lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and all other chronic diseases (Payne 2). Smoking has been proven to cause many life threatening problems, therefore cigarette use should not be tolerated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  “The number one killer of smokers is heart disease'; (Bailey 135). Not only that but also, “Cigarette smoking accounts for 30% of all heart disease deaths'; (Kim and Saltzberg 1). Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke causes the amount of cholesterol clogging the arteries to rise dramatically. Smoking also makes the walls of the arteries harden which increases the chance for the artery to rupture. Another drug in cigarettes, nicotine, causes your blood pressure to rise, your heart rate to rise, and...

Beyond Free Will in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay -- Frankenstein

Beyond Free Will in Shelly’s Frankenstein  Ã‚   One of the greatest gifts God has given to man is free will.   Free will is the ability to choose our own life’s path, to make decisions, and to suffer our own consequences. God has intended free will to allow us to live our own life by the rules we choose.   However, does free will reach a certain point as which to not crossover?   Man has always envied God, and has always tried to become god-like.   Does this ambition compromise our free will?   In Mary Shelly’s classic novel Frankenstein, Viktor Frankenstein’s tries to bring the dead back to life, and he is successful in animating a creation of his own.   The consequences of his ambition compromised his free will and destroyed his life.   Viktor Frankenstein reached the point of free will which man is not intended to cross over.   Viktor Frankenstein is a fool for trying to play God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Free will was a gift granted to man right from the start of history.   In the story of Genesis, free will granted by God allowed Adam and Eve to eat from any tree in the garden, including the tree of knowledge.   However, God did set a rule.   â€Å"The Lord God commanded the man, â€Å"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.†1  Ã‚   Now, in this story, man is tricked by the serpent, representing the devil, and eats from the tree of knowledge.   He does not die in a sense, but is cast out of paradise and is forced to work off the land for the remainder of his now mortal life.   In a letter from Paul to the Galatians, Paul writes, â€Å"You, my brothers, were called to be free.   But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.†2  Ã‚   In thes... ...†9  Ã‚   Giving life is God’s job, and any man who tries to become god-like in this sense will surely suffer the consequences of his actions according to Mary Shelly.   I completely agree, and I will conclude with a retrospective quote from Viktor Frankenstein.   â€Å"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.†10 1. Genesis 2: 16-17   (NIV) 2. Galatians 5: 13a   (NIV) 3. Shelly, Mary.   Frankenstein, Norton Critical Edition, p. 30 4. Shelly, p. 32 5. Shelly, p. 49 6. Shelly, p. 115 7. Shelly, p. 116 8. Shelly, p. 137 9. Luke 7: 14-15   (NIV) 10. Shelly, p. 31 Works Cited: Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. Quality Paperback Book Club, New York. 1994. Beyond Free Will in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Essay -- Frankenstein Beyond Free Will in Shelly’s Frankenstein  Ã‚   One of the greatest gifts God has given to man is free will.   Free will is the ability to choose our own life’s path, to make decisions, and to suffer our own consequences. God has intended free will to allow us to live our own life by the rules we choose.   However, does free will reach a certain point as which to not crossover?   Man has always envied God, and has always tried to become god-like.   Does this ambition compromise our free will?   In Mary Shelly’s classic novel Frankenstein, Viktor Frankenstein’s tries to bring the dead back to life, and he is successful in animating a creation of his own.   The consequences of his ambition compromised his free will and destroyed his life.   Viktor Frankenstein reached the point of free will which man is not intended to cross over.   Viktor Frankenstein is a fool for trying to play God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Free will was a gift granted to man right from the start of history.   In the story of Genesis, free will granted by God allowed Adam and Eve to eat from any tree in the garden, including the tree of knowledge.   However, God did set a rule.   â€Å"The Lord God commanded the man, â€Å"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.†1  Ã‚   Now, in this story, man is tricked by the serpent, representing the devil, and eats from the tree of knowledge.   He does not die in a sense, but is cast out of paradise and is forced to work off the land for the remainder of his now mortal life.   In a letter from Paul to the Galatians, Paul writes, â€Å"You, my brothers, were called to be free.   But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.†2  Ã‚   In thes... ...†9  Ã‚   Giving life is God’s job, and any man who tries to become god-like in this sense will surely suffer the consequences of his actions according to Mary Shelly.   I completely agree, and I will conclude with a retrospective quote from Viktor Frankenstein.   â€Å"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.†10 1. Genesis 2: 16-17   (NIV) 2. Galatians 5: 13a   (NIV) 3. Shelly, Mary.   Frankenstein, Norton Critical Edition, p. 30 4. Shelly, p. 32 5. Shelly, p. 49 6. Shelly, p. 115 7. Shelly, p. 116 8. Shelly, p. 137 9. Luke 7: 14-15   (NIV) 10. Shelly, p. 31 Works Cited: Shelly, Mary. Frankenstein. Quality Paperback Book Club, New York. 1994.

Narrative of Fredrick Douglass

The greatest thing about reading Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass is that there are many different and interesting themes to learn from. Throughout Douglass’ story he teaches us many lessons and motifs, but one thing that stays constant is his belief in the fact that all men and women should be created equal, with equal rights without any constraints to his or her own individual freedom.The treatment of Douglass himself and the other slaves he worked with was unbearable and under such horrible circumstances that after reading his autobiography; it really makes me wonder what other types of things other slaves had to endure during their experiences. Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass shows its readers that even though times can get extremely hard, there will still always be hope even when you think there is none. One of the most important ways slaves were kept in bondage was not simply the threat of physical brutality; rather, it was through deep and sustained ignorance.Slaves were not allowed to read and write and were therefore generally not aware of the events outside of the plantation, could not communicate with each other well to provoke rebellion or conduct escape plans, and could not reach the sense of self-sufficiency and pride that came from being educated. Literacy brought with it an understanding of the larger world. It opened up before a slave the idea of justice and an understanding of history. Reading the Bible led to a truer comprehension of Christianity. Douglass was able to first engage with abolitionism when he attained literacy.He also became fully aware of the reality of slavery; he wrote â€Å"[Literacy] had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity† (Page 56). Ignorance was thus a way for slaveholders to keep their slaves manageable, happy, calm, and content. Once a slave moved beyond such darkness into a world filled with understanding, he was only able to do what Douglass eventually did – attempt to escape from his ties.While reading Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass it is almost like reading about how white men dehumanized their slaves. The first example of this is shown in Chapter 1 when Douglass’ mother passes away. â€Å"Never having enjoyed, to any considerable extent, her soothing presence, her tender and watchful care, I received the tidings of [my mother’s] death with much the same emotions I should have probably felt at the death of a stranger† (Page 43).This quote explains that Douglass, like many other slaves, never had much of any relationship with their birth mothers. Considering that some slaves are taken away from their birth mothers only a few short years after they are born it is easy to understand why Douglass felt this way. It’s extremely sad to read how a chi ld can feel almost no emotion after hearing of such a tragic loss. I imagine if that were to happen to me and how I would feel and can only feel disheartened by the fact that most slaves never got to have relationships with their mothers.Another example of such degrading behavior by the slaveholders is simply how they scarcely feed their slaves. They expect so much work and cooperation from them and think that any amount of food, big or small, will help them to get their work done. Slaveholders instill in the minds of slaves that being unfed, whipped and called awful names is the best kind of life they will ever have. These were horrible characteristics of slavery but were well depicted by Douglass in his autobiography. According to Nathaniel P.Rogers’ Southern Slavery and Northern Religion: February 11, 1844 (Page 139), it is explained that Douglass arrives to give a speech and to tell his story to an audience who is very apprehensive and uncertain about hearing him speak. H owever, they were very curious to see him. After giving his speech, which was well received by the audience, he was asked more and more questions and they wanted to know more about his life and journey through slavery in general. â€Å"There was great oratory in his speech-but more dignity and earnestness than what we call eloquence.He was not up there as a speaker-performing. He was an insurgent slave taking hold on the right of speech, and charging on his tyrants and bondage of his race† (Page 141). Reading this review makes me really happy to know that while he had an awful time as a slave, escaping and gaining freedom was the best thing that ever happened to him. It is satisfying to read that others can feel for Douglass, though not come close to imagining what he had gone through, but having some sort of sympathy and realization that he and many other slaves are great human beings with inspiring stories to share about he freedom they all deserve. He teaches us that while we all go through horrible things; there is always a silver lining and something to be learned. Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass has really taught me a lot about myself and about a whole other kind of people that I really had no knowledge of. I truly believe that Douglass makes his audiences believe in what stands for; all men and women should be created equal, with equal rights without any constraints to his or her own individual freedom. This autobiography has a lot to teach a person and I would recommend it to anyone.It is thoroughly enjoyable and is the kind of book that makes you look past just the text. It makes you think about your own life, putting it in perspective and realizing what is really important. It is an interesting story that not many have heard themselves and really know little about its topic. I suggest to anyone who wants to read this narrative that they keep an open mind no matter what their previous views, religious or not, are so that they can ful ly understand and accept this person’s journey through slavery.

Louisiana Serial Killer Ronald Dominique

Louisiana Serial Killer Ronald Dominique Ronald J. Dominique of Houma, LA has confessed to murdering 23 men over the course of nine years and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields, ditches and small bayous in six southeast Louisiana parishes. His reason for killing? He did not want to return to jail after raping the men. The First Victims In 1997, authorities found 19-year-old David Levron Mitchells murdered body near Hahnville. The body of 20-year-old Gary Pierre was found in St. Charles Parish six months later. In July 1998, the body of 38-year-old Larry Ranson was found in St. Charles Parish. Over the next nine years, more bodies of men ranging in age from 19 to 40 would be found dumped in sugarcane fields, desolate bayous, and ditches in remote areas. Similarities in 23 of the murders lead investigators to suspect the men were victims of a serial killer. The Task Force A task force made up of nine South Louisiana parish sheriffs offices, the Louisiana State Police and the FBI were formed in March 2005, to investigate the murders. Investigators knew the 23 victims were mostly homeless men, many who led high-risk lifestyles, which included drug use and prostitution. The victims had been asphyxiated or strangled, some raped and several were barefooted. The Arrest After receiving a tip, authorities armed with forensic evidence, arrested Ronald Dominique, 42, and charged him with the murder and rape of 19-year-old Manuel Reed and 27-year-old Oliver Lebanks. Just days before his arrest, Dominique had moved from his sisters home into the Bunkhouse shelter in Houma, LA. Residents of the home described Dominique as odd, but no one suspected he was a killer.​ Dominique Confesses to 23 Murders Soon after his arrest, Dominique confessed to murdering 23 southeast Louisiana men. His tactics in capturing, sometimes raping then murdering the men was simple. He would lure homeless men with the promise of sex in exchange for money. Sometimes he would tell the men he wanted to pay them to have sex with his wife and then show a picture of an attractive woman. Dominique was not married. Dominique then led the men to his home, asked to tie them up, then raped and eventually murdered the men to avoid arrest. In his statement to the police, Dominique said the men who refused to be tied up would leave his home unharmed. Such was the case with one unnamed man who reported the incident to the task force, a tip that eventually led to Dominiques arrest. Who Is Ronald Dominique? Ronald Dominique spent much of his youth in the small bayou community of Thibodaux, LA. Thibodaux sits between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and is the type of community where everyone knows a little about each other. He attended Thibodaux High School where he was in the glee club and sang in the chorus. Classmates who remember Dominique say he was ridiculed for being homosexual during his teen years, but at the time he never admitted he was gay. As he got older, he seemed to live in two worlds. There was the Dominique who was helpful to his neighbors in the small trailer parks where he lived. Then there was the Dominique who cross-dressed and did bad impersonations of Patti LaBelle at the local gay club. Neither world embraced  him, and among the gay community, many remember him as someone who was not particularly well liked. Through most of his adulthood, Dominique struggled financially and would end up living with his mother or other relatives. In the weeks before his arrest, he was living with his sister in a single-wide trailer. He was suffering from declining health, having been hospitalized for a severe heart condition and forced to use a cane to walk. Outwardly, there was side to Dominique who enjoyed helping people. He joined the Lions Club just months before his arrest and spent Sunday afternoons calling out Bingo numbers to senior citizens. The membership director said he was well liked by everyone he had met through the Lions Club. Maybe Dominique had finally found a place he felt accepted. What sparked Dominique to move from the comfort of his sisters home to the dismal surroundings of a shelter for the homeless is uncertain. Some suspect the family grew uncomfortable by the 24-hour police surveillance and Dominique, knowing he was soon to be caught, moved away to avoid getting his family involved in his arrest. A Criminal History Dominiques past arrests include forcible rape, disturbing the peace and telephone harassment. Feb. 10, 2002 - Arrested in Terrebonne Parish after he allegedly slapped a woman during a Mardi Gras parade. According to the reports, Dominique accused a woman of hitting a baby stroller in a parking lot. The woman apologized, but Dominique continued to verbally assault her, and then slapped her across the face. He was arrested but entered a parish offenders program instead of standing trial. Reports show he met all his conditions in the program in October 2002.May 19, 2000 - He received a summons to appear in court on disturbing the peace charges. Since it was a misdemeanor, he was able to plead guilty and pay a fine to avoid appearing in court.Aug. 25, 1996 - Dominique was arrested on forcible rape charges and booked on a $100,000 bond. According to neighbors, a partially dressed young man escaped from the window of Dominiques home in Thibodaux, screaming that he had tried to kill him. When the case was brought to court, the victim could not be found to testify. In November 1996, the judge continued the case indefinitely. May 15, 1994 - Arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and speeding.June 12, 1985 - Arrested and charged with telephone harassment. He pleaded guilty, paid a $74 fine and court costs. Three days after Dominiques arrest for killing Mitchell and Pierre, investigators said Dominique confessed to 21 other murders, giving details only the killer would know.

Interracial Marriages essays

Interracial Marriages essays The United States has witnessed a considerable amount of social and cultural desegregation between African-Americans and Caucasians. However, despite years of desegregation, social and cultural differences still exist. One of these differences that still exists is in the institution of marriage. Americans have been and are continually moving slowly away from segregation. In the past forty years, a multitude of changes have transformed schools, jobs, voting booths, neighborhoods, hotels, restaurants and even the wedding altar, facilitating tolerance for racial diversity (Norman 108). In the 1960's, when housing discrimination was outlawed, many African-Americans moved into mainly Caucasian neighborhoods. The steadily growing areas in the west and southwest are least segregated, because these areas never had the entrenched African-American and Caucasian sections of town (Up For Separatist 30). Even more visible signs of desegregation can be seen in the areas of education. A study done by the University of Michigan shows that integration on campuses occurs on a regular basis. The racial lines are crossed routinely; about 50% of African-Americans and 15% of Caucasians reportedly study together. Eating patterns also share the same similarities. At a social level, there has been a steady convergence of opinion on a variety of racial issues. Since 1972, surveys have asked whether the respondent would favor a law making inter-racial marriages illegal. In 1980, the results showed that 30.1% of Caucasians and 18.3% of African-Americans favor such a law. By 1994, the collected data showed 14.7% and 3.2% respectively. Similar trends have also been observed in busing and even integrated social clubs. (Up For Separatist 30) A simple analysis shows that on the surface desegregation is moving in the right direction. Notwithstanding these examples of desegregation, a deeper analysis shows that there are still signs of racial discriminations, m...

Food Culture Essay Example

Food Culture Essay Example Food Culture Essay Food Culture Essay Essay Topic: Like Water for Chocolate Food Culture Name: Course: Institution: : Instructor: Date: Food Culture Sydney is famous for its culinary variety and expertise. It is famous for combining commercially prepared food with fresh ingredients. Many of the world’s best chefs are said to come from Australia, and this is given by the fact that they provide the best seafood dishes. The budding food culture in Sydney is considered adventurous because of its growing preference amongst the locals and tourists, as well. Australian cuisine is currently one of the most dynamic cuisines in the world thanks to immigration and a public willing to try out new things in matters culinary. Prominent gourmands from different places around the world such as New York and Paris are known to frequent Sydney to share and learn culinary tricks. These chefs bring with them fresh ideas that the locals are starting to appreciate and like. This had enhanced the dining standards in Sydney making Australian chefs, recipe books and food writers sought after abroad (Ver et al, 2008). The mixture of cultures in Sydney has given birth to the development of diverse food cultures in the region. There is a new frenzy in Sydney, which is Cake Wine. This notion is about pairing the best music and art pieces with wine. This innovative idea is different from the cliche perceptions where winemakers are always thinking of what foods to pair with their wines. The founders of Cake felt the need to initiate this notion into the market after looking for something different in bottle shops and not finding it. They said, â€Å"We didn’t see a wine brand that was speaking to us and the generation who are interested in what we call ‘creative culture’† (Shanti, 2012). They are using sauvignon Blanc and cabaret merlot as canvases for the imaginative works of other artists. Beci Orpin’s art work in on the white while the red has Kill Pixie’s work. These are all ways aimed at improving their love for creativity and culture using wine. Wine enthusiasts are thus encouraged to partake in wine tasting events and functions but not to develop into connoisseurs. Taking Cake is an establishment of oneself as a lover of culture, music, art and food. Sydneysiders who have embraced this new form of drinking, have shown appreciation for innovative ideas in linking drinks and culture instead of the usual food and cultures to which they are used. Wine enthusiasts from all over the world have traveled to Sydney to sample this new phenomenon, and the results of these experiences have been impressive. It is said that taking Cake attaches an individual to Sydney music and street art. However, this idea came about after extensive traveling to carry out research in the whole of Australia about wines, before they settled on the two wines with which to work. The story behind the selected wines is purely because they were found in the oldest winery in Adelaide Hills. Cake wines are not too strong and lack opinions. Cake drinkers appreciate the lightness of the wines and the fact that they are light and easy to drink. They are wines that are bought and enjoyed without second thoughts. These wines are considered ideal for after-work relaxation periods and weekend getaways. Cake drinkers are also associated with their affection for creativity and freedom; they are a new generation of drinkers who do not give in to making compromises in life. Cake creators like to call their customers as people who â€Å"want their cake and eat it too† (Shanti, 2012). This means that they are adventurous and open to new cultural ideas. Cake can be found in around Sydney in 60 stockists and is sold at music festivals, galleries and cinemas. This is because most of its clientele is music and art lovers from Sydney and the world over. There are plans to engage new wines into the Cake business in the near future, namely pinot noir and pinot grigio. These wines will also be adorned with labels by a fresh breed of artists. One of the fastest selling Cake wines is the Layer Cake Shiraz. It is known for its exotic taste at the nose with hints of mint, dark chocolate, eucalyptus and mulberry. Customers notice on their palates the slight notes of dark chocolate, oak and black currant. It has been to have a slight touch of bitter tannin on the finish, making it a favorite of many. The Sauvignon Blanc is well balanced with stinging natural acidity leaving a mouthwateringly crisp finish. It is also made with hints of citrus and bright tropical notes and an allure of passion fruit. The pinot noir is expected to have a clean, delicate taste of cherry juice, blueberry fruits and plum flavors. The pinot grigio will possess precision in acidity leaving a crisp finish just like the Sauvignon Blanc. Sydneysiders are increasingly embracing the new culture that is Cake wines, and this has boosted their economic and social lives, as more tourists flock the region to have a taste of this innovative sensation. As the rest of the world embraces food cultures, Australia leads in this venture as it continues to celebrate biodiversity in its culinary cultures and its growing popularity in some of the world’s most legendary destinations. Customer experiences associated with Cake are linked to the love of creativity in culture and giving back to the community. Twenty-five cents from every bottle purchased go to FBI Radio, a community radio station. Cake also has connections with Inertia, a music label that provides appropriate soundtracks and ‘limited-edition vinyls’ to Cake-drinkers (Shanti, 2012). The Cake team supports drinkers of wine and artists of different calibers through their wine and promotional events. The main aim of the Cake team is not to contemporize the bottle labels but rather to contribute to the culture. In their words, the Cake team says, â€Å"we want to be different, we want to give back and support the culture that we love, this goes well beyond putting a pretty piece of art on your label† (Shanti, 2012).

Human nature in the light of Revelation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human nature in the light of Revelation - Essay Example The divide between God and man was the result of human sin and fall from heaven. But even in a fallen position, modern man is under obligation to observe righteousness by refraining from lies during our existence. Human beings must therefore cultivate real liberty by behaving in a way that is both natural and moral as the first humanity did before sin separated them with God. GS adds that in total despair, there is a heavenly spirit of conscience within the midst of human beings. Death is therefore a painful reminder to humans, of the life in the beginning; it spreads a spirit of melancholy and despair in people’s souls, but strongly delivers the message of the significance and might of God when human beings have no hope left in our hearts. Death has been, according to GS, a natural vocation by God in the current environment. Then GS proceeds with the argument, drawing upon the anthropological aspect of theology in Jesus Christ, the First Man, and the human existence being at the whims of the Supreme Deity (Schu 64). By virtue of Jesus being the God’s son and messenger, He creates the God’s power in human beings by taking the form of a human being, and through God’s spiritual power, Jesus redeems the image and integrity of man who is naturally a sinner. Jesus, therefore, midwifes the spiritual redemption of human beings (Healy 34-41). Through Jesus association with the common man, the God’s Son casts into history the influence of a rejuvenated but rarely seen recognition that individual aspirations can only be achieved when one is in a communion. In Jesus, the typical modern man is, therefore, expected to fulfil supernatural love by expressing love to their neighbours. This implies that only a candid gift of individuality effectively satisfies human character, and the Supreme Deity exposes His intimate nature in Jesus in order to enable human beings to appreciate this natural gift. This implies that God’s natural love s upports and strengthens communal love (Torrell 252-259). GS therefore jogs human memory that communal love basically embodies the success of the modern man. Love is therefore the fruitful aspect of human understanding and willingness that survives in human liberty. It is this importance of love as the satisfaction of the supernatural will and spirit of God that forms the basis of John Paul II’s philosophy of modern man and the importance of the body. Theology of the body by Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II wrote important philosophies such as theology of man in Gaudium et Specs. A number of important concepts of his philosophy were aimed at restructuring the mentality of the Catholic Church to be in line with the modern thinking of evolved man. In this important edict, the Pope underscored the significance of re-examining one’s relationship with Christ in the early 21st Century. He argued that the modern man would not be rescued from sin and challenges of life by a strategy, but by an important eternal Man (Schu 65). In the â€Å"Gaudium et Specs†, the Pope underscored the closeness of man to God and the former’s reliance on the Supreme Deity and His aspirations. He argued that without the God as the Creator, there would be no creation. In light of this, freedom of the body is dependent upon the truth (Torrell 267). The pope’s theology of the body, therefore, discredits submission of oneself to contingency and scepticism as the quest for non-existent

Mental Health Training for UK Crown Prosecution Lawyers Article

Mental Health Training for UK Crown Prosecution Lawyers - Article Example In order for the Crown Prosecution lawyer to achieve this objective, first, they need to be able to understand and emphasize with their client themselves. - Anna Bird, states that â€Å"MIND believes that CPS does not provide sufficient  training about mental health for prosecutors to make consistently good decisions concerning mental health and credibility. We understand that prosecutors-indeed all lawyers- receive no mental health awareness training at all. Given the strength of the association between distress and not being believed, it is cited that all justice professionals understand the relationship between credibility and mental health in order to ensure equal access to justice† (Bird, 2008). - Countless offenders, chiefly those with a record of persistent offending, have mental health problems that may be correlated to their offending behavior pattern. Additionally, this population of persistent offenders with mental health problems are disproportionally higher than those reported in the general offender population. Often they are also associated with ‘issues of drug and/or alcohol misuse and social exclusion’ (Lewis, 2007, p.1). -Help to identify links between mental health problems and persistent offending, this will lead to a reduction in persistent offending, and in addition help to develop prevention programmes aimed at persistent offenders who have received a diagnosis of a psychiatric or psychological problem. - A report provided by MIND (Another Assault, 2007) has shown a lack of awareness from the criminal justice system about mental health issues, much of which is because they have received no training at all in the area of mental health, its varying symptoms and effects on the individual.

Work place discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Work place discrimination - Essay Example Workplaces have generally accepted language of communication among the workforce. The working unit of an entity employs a uniform mode and means of communication across the staff. The reason behind the uniformity of language of communication is to cater for the entire workforce that in most cases is made up of diverse groups of people, who are probably from different origins and social setting (Gavin265). When the working unit is made up of diverse individuals and the formal language of communication is not observed, then language discrimination results. Language discrimination emerges in the event that the communication medium in the workplace does not provide for the individual differences in that place. Individuals associated with a given language are treated indifferently by others of a different language. This may even encompass communication by individuals in a language that particular colleagues cannot understand. Language discrimination in the workplace is therefore primarily based on the communication interaction of the entire staff unit in places of work. This form of discrimination is based on race, color, nationality, ethnic or national origin (Gavin 253). Individuals or groups of people discriminated against are treated less favorably based on the above factors. Basically, the discriminated against individuals are deemed to of lesser importance than others. This is a persistent form of discrimination in places of work. A clear-cut example on this is the discrimination against whites or blacks. Depending on whether one is back or white, different workplaces treat individuals from either of the two differently prior to the black-white social context. Workplaces employ different people from diverse social setups. Individual workers are expected to coherently relate with one another across the working units in the realization of the set objectives in the place of work. However, this is not always the case.

Possible Causes of Sales Decline Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Possible Causes of Sales Decline - Case Study Example Many people start businesses without proper planning. They just open their doors for business hoping to succeed. Research has indicated that business plans form an imperative tool for any business enterprise; thus, before one starts a business. This identifies what one wants to go and how he or she will reach there. During our discussion, I will ask the manager, Carol Todd whether she made a plan before the business started. If she did not, this might have contributed to the sale decline problem. I will, therefore, advised her to come up with a business plan. This will assist her to run the business well and hence improving the number of sales. (Blank, 2010) Â  In most cases, businesses plan to get a loan. Once they obtain the loan, they completely forget about the plan. Apart from having a business plan, it is also vital to have specific objectives especially for the first one year of the business operation. In the planning process, one should develop goals and objectives for the business, break them into stages and identify anything which must be done in each of the stages. In my discussion with Caro Todd, I will ask her whether there are goals for the business. If there were no goals, this might have contributed to the problem. I will then advised her to start setting goals and objectives for the business. Â  After establishing the operational goals and objectives, it is also important to ensure that one measures how the business is performing against the established goals and objectives. This will help the owner know whether modifications and other strategies are needed. The manager may have failed to measure the objectives as well as the goals of the business, this might have contributed to the problem. During our discussion, I will, therefore, advised her to start measuring goals and objectives which will help the number of sales to increase. Â  

Islam, Judaism And Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Islam, Judaism And Christianity - Essay Example Judaism not only can but does stand on its own. Judaism’s core beliefs in the Old Testaments are shared with Christianity. The two religions even believe in a messiah. The difference is Judaism rejects Jesus of Nazareth as that messiah, whereas Jesus is the long awaited savior in the Christian religion. The question becomes does one believe Jesus is the long awaited messiah? Christians believe so, normally without doubt. Judaism rejects that belief. Christianity has changed the world in the past two hundred years. America and most countries in the West have Christian leaders. This has influenced historical events. Cold War propaganda touted communist wanted to take over the world and get rid of religion all together. The evolution of anti-war movements and negotiations can be taken from Jesus’ teachings of peace. Instead of the Old Testament’s ‘eye for an eye’ like Judaism calls for, the death penalty has been rescinded in many countries and in parts of the United States. Finally, with the decadence of the past two hundred years, a messiah that forgives everything is quite appealing. It is more popular than Judaism’s demand that Biblical law be obeyed. Other events have been interpreted through Christian views in the past two hundred years. One example is the Holocaust.

Possible Causes of Sales Decline Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Possible Causes of Sales Decline - Case Study Example Many people start businesses without proper planning. They just open their doors for business hoping to succeed. Research has indicated that business plans form an imperative tool for any business enterprise; thus, before one starts a business. This identifies what one wants to go and how he or she will reach there. During our discussion, I will ask the manager, Carol Todd whether she made a plan before the business started. If she did not, this might have contributed to the sale decline problem. I will, therefore, advised her to come up with a business plan. This will assist her to run the business well and hence improving the number of sales. (Blank, 2010) Â  In most cases, businesses plan to get a loan. Once they obtain the loan, they completely forget about the plan. Apart from having a business plan, it is also vital to have specific objectives especially for the first one year of the business operation. In the planning process, one should develop goals and objectives for the business, break them into stages and identify anything which must be done in each of the stages. In my discussion with Caro Todd, I will ask her whether there are goals for the business. If there were no goals, this might have contributed to the problem. I will then advised her to start setting goals and objectives for the business. Â  After establishing the operational goals and objectives, it is also important to ensure that one measures how the business is performing against the established goals and objectives. This will help the owner know whether modifications and other strategies are needed. The manager may have failed to measure the objectives as well as the goals of the business, this might have contributed to the problem. During our discussion, I will, therefore, advised her to start measuring goals and objectives which will help the number of sales to increase. Â  

Critically evaluate the behaviours and traits for effective lead Essay

Critically evaluate the behaviours and traits for effective lead - Essay Example This process can be effective through appropriate management of change to adapt to all the environments of the business. Change management refers to an organized and planned approach that helps to address the various variations that occur in the business environments. This also involves the appropriate response mechanisms for responding to changes that may occur among the workplace because of the changes that the business adopts. Change management involves an outline of a process to follow in order to experience an overall transformation in the whole business together with its employees. This guideline represents different steps that an individual has to adhere to so that the organization and its employees are coordinated towards the process of fulfilling its objectives. Create a Sense of Urgency An organization can only change if it can acknowledge the change. The leaders of the organization and its employees must recognize the need for change. The leaders of the organization partic ularly the managers should strive to inform employees about the need for change in the organization. This is done by developing a sense of urgency in the organization and its employees about the outlined procedures to revolutionize the organization. The management should be able to convince the employees through instilling positive thinking amongst the employees. This can be done by explaining the future circumstances to employees and potential future threats that may necessitate a change. This is to prevent the company from falling into such pitfalls. The company can also examine opportunities that can be possible in the future, if the company adopts different mechanisms of approaching its business environment. The company can give forth-convincing explanations about the change it needs. This is a strong motivator to speech and thinking among employees in order to arrive at the necessary change. This will also attract support from other areas of interest such as customers and other industries that may have interests in the company. This further boosts confidence for the company’s proposal since all parties are able to accept the change (Green, 2007, 167). Form a Powerful Coalition The organization should focus on leading the change to realize change. The company organization needs to bring a group of experienced individuals that are able to further the objectives of the organization towards change. Individuals from different levels of the company’s hierarchy, who draw their power from different sources, should be pooled together because they can offer the necessary advice on how change can be realized. This coalition will offer a priceless effort towards furthering the company’s urgency by build the required momentum towards change (Cameron & Green, 2009, 121). Create a Vision for Change The organization should be able to consolidate its ideas of change and bring it to the individual’s level of understanding. The vision for change should summarize the core values that the organization aims to achieve and should be effectively comprehended by the coalition formed to push for it (Vukotich, 2011, 41). Communicate the Vision The organization should ensure that its vision is thoroughly communicated and embedded in the organization. This is done through frequent expression of this vision in the decisions that the company makes,

Environmental Proposal and Presentation Essay Example for Free

Environmental Proposal and Presentation Essay For this assignment we chose the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital for our virtual organization. This facility is a non-for-profit social insurance association that has supplied an extremely wide cluster of preferred value aids and offices to the town of Kelsey and the encompassing groups since 1975. The healing center supplies centered utilities for example emergency restorative consideration, surgery, work and committal, private medicine and radiology for developed persons and youthful kids. As one of the first facilities in Kelsey, they are besides dedicated to supplying a sort of projects that will underpin the health and welfare of their neighborhood inhabitant numbers (Apollo Group, 2006). The prime causes for hospital’s actuality from a dissection of the task, dream, and objectives are to be the social insurance affiliation of elective for patients, human services masters and M.D.s. Other nexus explanations are to supply esteem honor scoring social insurance aids to the group by viably treating contaminations and damages, supplying early mediation and preventive consideration, and twofold-checking their workers embraces inventiveness, respectability, esteem, aid, teamwork and freedom (Gwinnett health Center, 2009). In this entry we will infer two strategies to make collusions between the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital and its arranged inner and outside stakeholders. We will likewise clarify how the contrasts between administration and administration influence organizing inside the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital. At long last, we will recommend a nature that is supportive of crew working and studying and that considers maintainable improvement and imaginatively inside the Patton-Fuller Community Hospital. BusinessDictionary.com (2009) describes stakeholders as: Persons, gathering, or cooperation that has immediate or digressive venture in an organization on the grounds that it can influence or be affected by the organization’s exercises, targets, and arrangements. Enter stakeholders in a venture affiliation envelop lenders, clients, heads, laborers, legislature, proprietors, dealers, mergers, and the group from which the venture portrayals its assets. In spite of the fact that stake holding is ordinarily self-legitimizing, not all stakeholders are equivalent and dissimilar stakeholders merit to unique concerns. Core stakeholders of the facility are the laborers, patients, guests, speculators, and the group. Smallwood, N., Sweetman, K. Ulrich, D. (2007, November 11) state: Employees longing to work in an area where they can meet their distinctive yearnings and likes. Pioneers who imagine assignments, work domains, and visions help laborers be both skilled and promised to their work. Patients need to comprehend that they are getting the greatest consideration reasonable and be skilled to accept the forethought suppliers. Voyagers longing to grasp their friends and family are acquiring the finest forethought and that they can accept guardians. Communities need chiefs to construct affiliations that are collectively mindful, with hoe they treat the indigenous nature and how they help the greater group. Speculators-need supervisors to keep their vows, advance an influencing evolvement technique arrange focus abilities to the plan then afterward to twofold-watch that folks are promised to committing on these manufacturing. At the point that they do, gurus pay the affiliation with abnormal amounts of confidence sometime to come, which changes over into higher business worth. Controllers need chiefs to administer themselves in concurrence with heightened moral standards and in a kind predictable with master and legitimate guidelines. The difference between leadership is when it comes to a company you work for a manage needs to decide what the company can do to become better. The management has to come up with a conclusion to come together with a project that they can do to keep business flowing and customers to keep coming. Leaders can get the job done if the employees are doing their job. Some people do less work then others therefore that can bring a company down depending on what they are doing at the job. If you practice more on a job you can get more things done even if you have to ask a manager to give you more things to do. If you do less then less performance will get done. No practice will show and more improvement will be needed from that person. It is always areas that you will definite need improvement to do good and in areas that you fall short. You also can start off with what is easy to you and come back and do the hardest part later. Some people thrive on getting better while others are there just to get a paycheck. We all have to deal with different task at a job whether it is easy or hard. You can get ahead a lot quick then waiting for someone to do your job for you. People that doing well; it will better them later on down the road. This is the best time to get things done now and it will get you a better future later. Today is the best time to develop and accomplish new ideas in the company. Leaders will guide you and make sure you are getting the job done the right way. They also like to guide you to look at things in a very different way in life. Management means stay on task and gets focus on what your job is. There is room to self-develop in the work place. They would like to get and input on what makes people do the things they do. People are very different in many different ways no two people thinks alike. When good managers see you are doing a good job that really makes them feel good. They will let you know and mention to the boss. When you have a great manager they will make sure that the work they gave you has gotten done and therefore, you can move to the next task. They want employees to keep things done the right way in a straight and narrow. Sometimes it take good strong leadership to get people to pull together to get the work done. If you are motivate you can achieve your goals when you have good leadership it tends to make people wants to succeed motivation can come from growing and wanting to be successful. Managing stress in a workplace can depend on the mental or physical level of what could have happen in that people life. Tell the manager about your stress in the workplace can be very risky or very effective. Stress can affect you mental and physical in our personal lives. Too much stress can affect our jobs and getting things done that we tend to forget about in our daily lives with so much going on as far as school, children, work and other etc. Some signs of stress can include headaches making mistakes and being very forgetfulness. Make sure you are taking a break and eat lunch or talking to someone so you won’t get burnt out about things that are taking our attention. Don’t take alcohol or do drugs while you are stressing it really just adds to the problem. The best thing to do is get counseling or see a doctor to discuss your problems. It can be helpful for others to know how you are doing. Stress can also lead to depression it can get in the way of your daily routines and communication to others. Be aware of the stress you can cause up on yourself and continue to get help. Patton Fuller Community Hospital’s point is to come to be a trusted organization in the company of its clients and scratch stakeholders, by supplying worth client mind and utilities to all its patients and by helping and reckonings of nexus stakeholders. Today with the expansion of wellbeing forethought costs, the necessity for productive consideration administration is on the register of essential concerns. Patton-Fuller comprehends this requirement and accordingly centers on the viewpoints of nexus stakeholders, patients, suppliers and laborers in the team effort technique. In place for the group to relegate on its promise to be the medicinal services cooperation of decision for patients, medicinal services masters and M.D.s, Patton-Fuller comprehends the vitality of useful territory interrelationships in which organize, inspire and summon enter staff in the course of the attainment of lifelong organizational objectives and targets.

A Brand For Each Brand Position Strategy Marketing Essay

A Brand For Each Brand Position Strategy Marketing Essay The  brand position  or  brand positioning  is how the brand is perceived in the context of competitive alternatives. As brand consultants, when we develop brand positioning statement for clients, we include a target customer definition, brand essence, brand promise, brand archetype and brand personality, giving the  intended  brand position/positioning (as opposed to the actual brand position in the mind of the customer) greater depth. Brand Positioning Basics Positioning is something (perception) that happens in the minds of the target market. It is the aggregate perception the market has of a particular company, product or service in relation to their perceptions of the competitors in the same category. It will happen whether or not a companys management is proactive, reactive or passive about the on-going process of evolving a position. But a company can positively influence the perceptions through enlightened strategic actions. In marketing, positioning has come to mean the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization. It is the relative competitive comparison their product occupies in a given market as perceived by the target market. Re-positioning involves changing the identity of a product, relative to the identity of competing products, in the collective minds of the target market. De-positioning involves attempting to change the identity of competing products, relative to the identity of your own product, in the collective minds of the target market. The Process of Brand Positioning Generally, the product positioning process involves: Defining the market in which the product or brand will compete (who the relevant buyers are) Identifying the attributes (also called dimensions) that define the product space Collecting information from a sample of customers about their perceptions of each product on the relevant attributes Position. The process is similar for positioning your companys services. Services, however, dont have the physical attributes of products that is, we cant feel them or touch them or show nice product pictures. So you need to ask first your customers and then yourself, what value do clients get from my services? How are they better off from doing business with me? Also ask: is there a characteristic that makes my services different? Write out the value customers derive and the attributes your services offer to create the first draft of your positioning. Test it on people who dont really know what you do or what you sell, watch their facial expressions and listen for their response. When they want to know more because youve piqued their interest and started a conversation, youll know youre on the right track. 1) Lifestyle Louis Vuitton Brand Value: up 2% to $19.78 billion The most valuable luxury brand for the past five years, Louis Vuitton  continued to position itself as timeless and authentic. Its focus on its heritage as a travel brand helped it to retain its core customer-the jet setter. The brand increased prices, invested in creativity and heightened the focus on quality rather than compromising its brand value it is a high class brand for the super rich lifestyle. 2) Price Leadership LOreals Noisome brand face cream is sold in upscale beauty shops, whereas its Plenitude brand is available for one-sixth the price in discount stores-even though both are based on the same chemical formula this show the price leadership of LOreal as it is selling products of same formula at higher price at one place and lower at other place. 3) Attributes Iphone Iphone attributes are to provide the best user experience to its users. This smartphone has a faster processor because it has the custom A5 chip, which is the one that users will find on the iPad 2. Consequently the iPhone 4S is faster in processing speeds, downloads, and games. Another benefit it that the iPhone 4S is compatible with CDMA and GSM cellular bands therefore it can be used in more places around the world. Apple features the new Assistant, which has turned the iPhone 4S into a voice recognizing personal assistant. It is very useful to the blind and for hands-free texting, among other tasks. The iPhone 4S comes with a new camera with 8MP with easy editing features such as crop, rotate, enhance, and red-eye reduction. It also features a backside illumination sensor and a bigger aperture, which provides better low-light and The iPhone 4S comes with a new camera with 8MP with easy editing features such as crop, rotate, enhance, and red-eye reduction. It also features a backside illumination sensor and a bigger aperture, which provides better low-light and white balance correction. It also features face detection and image stabilization besides the capability to capture hd. 4) Product class BMW Z4 It is sports convertible car for speed lovers who want something different from Their car. While the brand says its buying audience is very different to its communications audience, it aims to target the 25-44 year old age bracket as part of its strategy to target a younger and broader market. The premium car brand is hosting a virtual vs. reality racing initiative at BMW World today (5 September) offering fans the chance to race F1 driver David Coulthard. 5) COMPETITION PEPSI Pepsi positions itself on points of difference as well as points of parity. Pepsis POD is their forward thinking attitude. I dont believe any of the other cola brands (including Coke) are very strong in that area. This falls into image differentiation. Pepsi has the image of being action oriented and I think that a large part of their target audience associate themselves with the brand because of that image. Pepsi also considers themselves the bold, refreshing, robust cola which Coke and other colas could also claim. These points of parity are product differentiations. 6) Occasion Wrigleys gum Wrigleys gum is an alternative at times when smoking is not permitted. Wrigleys Nicogum would be positioned as Herbal cure and not a drug-based one. To create a distinct image in the mind of the target market Wrigleys will have to educate consumers about the advantages of herbal treatment over a drug-based one. The benefits are, Herbs are provided in natural forms and are not addictive but acts  asa powerful nutritional supplement. Herbs provide physical and  mental well-being andare known to possess tremendous healing properties. Herbs are preferred source of  health care for 80% of the world. It reduces the need of smoking for avid smokers. 7) User Levis Dockers Levis Dockers are targeted primarily to men in there 20s to 40s as people need variety of cloths to wear in the office and college at a reasonable rate which can be purchased frequently and new things add up in the wardrobes. Dockers focused a lot on placing their product creating an authentic in store concept shop for the mens department to create a friendly and accessible environment and make the trial as easy as possible.   The communication strategy at the beginning of Dockers was based on their timelessness, sociability, high quality (wit the references to the Levis) and a classic, not high-fashioned way to wear.   8) Quality Toyota The Toyota name has earned a reputation for quality and integrity, as well as a commitment to responsible management and environmental practices. Ethical behavior extends beyond legal requirements. It means honesty, equity, social responsibility and integrity in everything we say or do.

Carvers Realism From Fires Essay examples -- essays research papers f

How does Carver create precision of reality with his characters, focusing on Fires? When looking at the works of Raymond Carver, one can feel a sense of autobiography, that the characters in his stories are struggling against the same circumstances that Carver himself once struggled through. How true this is, is marginal to say the least, for Carver tells us in Fires that anything from a phone call to living in a seedy apartment in Jerusalem for four months is cause to influence his writing. But taking this as subject of influence for his stories, one must then look at his characters, who at times more than closely resemble a certain element of Carver himself in a certain situation that Carver has since been in. The essence of the characters make Carvers stories all the more realistic, as you can sense the trials and tribulations that these people have gone through, and are being faced with as we read each page further. In looking at Carvers Fires, a collaborations of essays, poems, and stories, we can see the realism of each character, and in doing so, reflect them upon Carver for some likeness. But is this truly where the characters come from? Are they just a reflection of Carver and his life? In private desperation, Raymond Carvers characters struggle through their lives, knowing, with occasional clarity, that the “good life'; they had once hoped would be achieved through hard work, will not come about. In many ways, Carvers life was the model for all of his characters. Married to Maryann Burke at nineteen, and having two children in the space of seventeen months, the Carvers life was decided for years to come. Early on Carver felt, along with his wife, that hard work would take care of nearly everything. We had great dreams, my wife and I. We thought we could bow our necks, work very hard, and do all that we set our hearts to do. But we were mistaken. (Fires, p. 31) Somewhere in the middle of this life of dead end jobs and child raising, he realised, very much like one of his characters, that things would not change. He recounts one of the strongest of these moments in his essay on writing influences, Fires. He was at the laundromat washing clothes and, at this point in the essay, waiting for a dryer: When and if one of the dryers ever stopped, I planned to rush over to it with my shopping basket of damp clothes. Understand, IR... ...it feels like, by virtue of having lived it myself for so long,'; he said. “Half my family is still living like this. They still don’t know how they are going to make it through the next month or two';. (Gentry, p.138) The precision found in Carver’s writing comes from Carver himself, his experiences, his rises, and his downfalls. Carver’s stories changed with his life, and his characters reflect this. We can say a certain percentage of his stories dealt with the working poor, or alcoholics out of work, or adulterers. Or we can say that overall he dealt with people who had no hope, or little hope. He once said, “It’s strange. You never start out life with the intention of becoming a bankrupt or an alcoholic or a cheat and a thief. Or a liar.'; (Gentry, p.38) At one time Carver was all of these. And so were his characters. Bibliography Carver, R (1997) Fires: Essays, Poems, Stories The Harvill Press: London Gentry, M.B., Stull, W.L., eds.(1990) Conversations with Raymond Carver University Press of Mississippi: Jackson Nesset, K (1995) The Stories of Raymond Carver-A Critical Study Ohio University Press: Athens Pp.1-8

Truth About God :: essays research papers

Truth About God "You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One." - Acts 7:51-52 The Jews have always been afraid of the radicals of God. They have always dwelled in the safety and understandings of the past and fear the effects of these radicals. But when these radicals like the prophets arrive, they persecute them because they are uncertain about the truth. An example is when the Jews didn't want to believe Stephen in Acts 7:56-58, " Look,' he said, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.' At this they covered their ears and yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him." A lot of potshots have been taken at the Church over the years. In spite of its obvious imperfections, the Church is the means that has been chosen to carry the message of the Gospel to the world. One wonders why a better system could not have been devised. Then one realizes that any system that has people in it is going to be imperfect. Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote in the Gulag Archipelago that it was in prison where he learned that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, not through classes, not through political parties, either, but right through every human heart and through all human hearts. When we give ourselves serious evaluation, we find things hiding in our hearts that, if we could choose, we would remove. Our hearts have been described as "a zoo of lust, a bedlam of ambitions, a nursery of fears, a harem of fondled hatreds." Yet the Church, by its very nature, must be made up of the likes of us. "Imagine yourself as a living house," wrote C. S. Lewis. "God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to?

Apple engineers

For example, 600 Apple engineers developed operating system in two years unlike 1 0,000 Microsoft engineers, who developed Window Vista in five years. There are two major advantages f team stars: 1) Sheer firepower – the integration Of world class talents which increases performance and productivity. 2) Synergy – the bringing together of a pool of the best thinkers which ignites creativity and ideas. Good talent management Understanding the team members' strengths is critical: Team effectiveness arises as a result of understanding the strengths of each team member.Know their ability, in order to fill roles outside of their current positions. Indeed, care should be taken to avoid talent hoarding a situation of confining star players to an organizational division. Don't create disincentives for teamwork. Avoid inappropriate assessment methods which leads to team disincentive. For instance, Microsoft's â€Å"stack ranking† performance evaluation system, created a co mpetition amongst employees, instead of competing with its rivals. There is a chance that â€Å"A† players would not like to work with each other in fear of being seen as a weak member/link.Own the pipeline As talent is always a key component of strategy, the organizations should keep recruitment process internally. There is a danger of denomination among team members when the organization recruits externally at the expense of its internal talents. Internal talent should be recognized and roomed. Play your best hand: This entails making the right choice of the mission and the critical projects. The teams with star members should be used for big and strategic projects. For instance, to development Boeing 777 airliner, the company began by assembling its best team of engineers.It then incorporated customers and use of new technology, which led to the job completion in less than four months, paving way for the aircrafts centralization in less than five years. For Caesar, Hurrah' s and Horseshoe brands, they choose other strategic importance like determining the promotion to offer, when to offer them, which customer to target etcetera. Besides, they choose to implement direct marketing by eliminated overlapping promotions and its generating profitable revenue. Despite changing the company's marketing effort being difficult, success can be achieved through a skilful team.Anticipate what could go wrong within a team: Big ego, little progress: The star team players should aim at achieving common goal rather than being dominated by their egos with little progress. For instance, the United States of America's National Basket Association team succeeded in 1 992 Olympic Games due to focusing on achieving a common goal of success for America. Overshadowing the rest of the cast: The use of â€Å"A† team should not over shadow â€Å"B† players. In spite of the former having the best talents, both groups should work in unison in order to succeed.Hence, th ere should be a common reward and performance evaluation system for both the â€Å"stars† and â€Å"non-stars†. Great team members, mediocre leaders: Organization should take time in picking team leaders and getting feedback from the members in regard to the leaders early enough. Team members should be given the opportunity to give a feedback of their leader. If the leader, Cannot definitely perform, the organization should change him/her- For instance, Manchester United has changed its coach at the end of last season due to him being unable foster good results for the team.Short pitch of above information: 1 ) Star teams from star players outperform the average teams with ordinary members four times. 2) Care should be taken to prevent individual egos within a star team, lest it underperformed. 3) There are two main merits of star teams are: â€Å"Sheer firepower – the integration of world class talents increases performance and productivity. ‘Synergyâ₠¬  – the pooling together of best thinkers ignites creativity, innovation and new ideas 4) The best teams are managed through: Understanding where each member's strength lies and sharing these talents.Universal policies, rewards, and performance assessment process should be put in place for all the team players. Otherwise, demonstration is bound to crop within the team, if variations exists. It is vital to groom the internal talents, instead of outsourcing, particularly when it comes to the recruitment process. This will make the team players work hard to in order to be recognized and promoted. 4) use your best employees for big and strategically important projects. These act as the driving force for the team building. 5) What could go wrong?

Catcher in the Rye Symbolism

The Dangers of Isolation in The Catcher in the Rye It is normal to want to get away from all of the problems of the world, but it is not normal to want to be completely isolated from people. Holden wanted to have no human contact what so ever, and that is not normal. Throughout the book Holden expresses a rebellious attitude toward the world, and this rebellious attitude comes from his infatuation with being alone. He isolates himself from the world because he has not yet found himself and is searching. Holden feels that he must find himself alone with no one else's help. Holden expresses his rebellious side when he gets kicked out of school, again. Holden doesn't like school because he doesn't like doing activities that he loses patience for and sees no point in doing them. Holden also is rebellious in the way that he smokes and drinks when he is a minor. He is an excessive smoker and turns to alcohol to suppress his feelings of depression, which are signs of alcoholism. This behavior is not unheard of, but is rare for a 16-year-old to become an alcoholic. From this rebellious attitude Holden becomes isolated from those around him. His first act of isolation with a combination of rebellion is when Holden doesn't go to the game in the beginning of the book. Everyone was going to be there and he doesn't want to be like everyone else. Getting kicked out of school is another example of him rebelling and the cause of it being isolation. After he leaves Pency, Holden meets up with an old friend of his, Sally. After hanging out with her for awhile Holden asks her if she wants to run away with him. From this we learn that he has a desire to get away from the world. From this quote that Holden said we can tell how much he wants to run away, â€Å"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes. That way I wouldn't have to have any god dam stupid useless conversations with anybody. If anybody wanted to tell me something, they'd have to write it on a piece of paper and shove it over to me. They'd get bored as hell doing that after awhile, and then I'd be through with having conversations for the rest of my life†(p 198). Upon being kicked out of school, Holden decides to go on a little vacation. In this short period of time Holden goes through many tribulations. To get from place to place Holden takes taxicabs. During these rides Holden asks the cab drivers if they know where the ducks go when the pond freezes over. The reactions from the cab drivers are different each time, but his recurring concern about the ducks seems to be symbolic of Holden's desire for purpose and direction. While he is by himself, Holden doesn't stay in one place for very long. He didn't know where to go next just like he didn't know where his life was going. During his time by himself, Holden imagines becoming a deaf-mute and running away. Holden wants to use his imagination to feel more connected to the world and his emotions. He does this because in his fantasy world he can control what happens and in real life he wanted to do the same. Towards the end of the book, Holden loses more and more of his sense of reality. If he had stayed on this path he would have lost all sense of reality. All of these feelings that Holden had were each the cause of themselves. He kept going around in a destructive and unproductive cycle, which would be hard to break. In the end of the book, Holden didn't ride the merry-go-round because he wanted to break that cycle. He wanted to be there for his sister and see her grow up. He wanted to be a part of life, and the world. In order to do that he would need some help, and the mental hospital was the perfect place for the kind of help Holden needed.

Stereotypes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stereotypes - Essay Example The common stereotype for such students is that they are children who are either orphaned, adopted or have no biological parents for some reason, or generally that they come from abusive and broken homes. Family problems are therefore the first stereotype to be formed for such isolated students. Research shows that this type of stereotyping may be actually founded on facts. It shows that more than fifty percent of the students, especially teenagers, who exhibited the aforementioned signs, came from families with a history of abuse and divorce. Majority of these teenagers were comprised of families whose fathers had walked out on them (Dennis and Erdos, 2000). The effect of this therefore is that the student becomes distant, anti-social and depressed. This leads to poor performance in school and anti-social behavioral patterns (Teenage outcasts, 2011). The preceding argument is not entirely true as it is based on existing misconceptions about teenage outcasts. This is because not all teenage students who tend to exhibit behavioral isolation came from problematic families. In fact, in some instances such students came from good and well of families, and the isolation may have been caused by psychological factors such as shyness (Mosser, 2011). All that such students may be in need of is just some company so as to make them feel wanted and as part and parcel of the society. Stereotyping them thus only leads to long term negative impacts that would always place them at a disadvantage, one that they may wholly never recover from (U.S News Science, 2010). The second common stereotype revolves around the gay community. Majority of the people perceive gay people as having a tendency of exhibiting feminine traits. Any person who walks, talks, or engages in activities that are considered a preserve of the female gender are out rightly labeled as gay. It is not uncommon to hear of most people referring male fashion designers, stylists, or male hair dressers as gay. The st ereotype here is that all persons of the male gender who engage in professions that are considered feminine are gay. The stereotype here is even extended to ordinary male persons who exhibit feminine tendencies, or tend to lean more on female behavioral characteristics. This stereotype has been largely perpetuated by the media, which portrays all gay men as being extremely effeminate. So, are these stereotypes about gay men being effeminate true? Research suggests that gay men actually do prefer some professions like interior designing, fashion and hair coloring (Stossel and Binkley, 2006). In fact, professions like dancing and fashion require the creative touches of the gay people, and it is no wonder that such professions are flooded with gay men. Michael Bailey, a psychology professor, argues that these stereotypes of the gay men are actually true. He argues that gay men exhibited feminine tendencies during childhood and had a preference for feminine sex roles (Bailey, 2003). How ever, it is such stereotyping of the gay people that has led to homophobic attacks and discrimination among the gay community. This form of stereotyping has long-term negative impacts on the perception of the gay community in the society (Pre-existing notions, 2011). This form of stereotyping is not entirely true. This is because it is merely a generalization that lacks in elaborate research as to the accuracy of this hypothesis. The members of the gay commun

Credit Agricole a multi-channel mutual bank Case Study

Credit Agricole a multi-channel mutual bank - Case Study Example She had developed trust in the bank through her long time financial advisor. In going back to ask for the mortgage, Pauline was a little bit disappointed when she found that her financial advisor had moved 3 months ago. Even though she accepted that reality, she still went forth to seek services of the bank without comparing to other banks. Pauline and Louis were disappointed with the initial interest rate offered to them by Bernard, which was 5.5 interest rate plus insurance. The two had hoped to bargain an insurance rate less than 5.5% based on having a long customer loyalty history. This was not the case as the prices were reached by simulation software and any cut not allowed. Pauline was shocked to get a phone call after cutting a deal with Bernard of paying the mortgage at 5.5% interest rate plus insurance, though she was realized the same bank had an ongoing promotion of 4.8 % which had been reserved to outbound call-center campaign. Pauline was disappointed when Bernard pretended not to know such a service existed, though later called her and gave her the mortgage at 4.8% interest rate. Pauline found that service delivery by the people in the bank to be slow. Before getting an appointment to Bernard, it took her 2 attempt to get a chance. The call center advisor was slow in responding to crucial questions and making arrangements. In addition, Bernard was not available at some point to see Pauline, though she was at his office. Bernard took days to reply to Pauline’s requests and messages. The financial advisors, Bernard appeared not to have coordinated with well will the call center advisors since they had different information about what Pauline should get for her mortgage. The service which Pauline received was not upto standard like the way she had expected. The process of getting the mortgage took a very long time, and it had a lot of uncertainties and conflicting figures

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 50

Case study - Essay Example Above all, FAA is mandated to oversee the operations of USA air carriers even outside USA territory. The essence for this is to ensure the service level expected to be offered by USA airline companies is maintained to attract as many as possible passengers and to choose USA airline companies as the best at all times. Taking for instance being an airport manager for Los Angeles International Airport, the magnitude of task and flow of planes in and out of an airport is massive. The manager has a responsibility of ensuring the operations within the airport runs smoothly and improves continuously. Government funding to enhance the facilities in airports, cannot be sufficient, therefore, the manager should move out of the norm to look for other sources of that are reliable. Passengers can be charged for using the airport facilities, leasing space for investors to open up businesses and charging of planes for using the airport facilities will generate income. However, the charging should be logical as far as costing and returns are concerned or else it will scare away possible investor (Wells, 2000). From these sources, the manager can invest on technologies that will minimize level of sound pollution caused by planes jetting in and out of the Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 17 Case study - Essay Example One of the greatest leaders known is Nelson Mandela, a former South African President who oversaw his country gain independence after going through a difficult racial segregation period. Nelson Mandela had a wide range of leadership traits that earned him global admiration and which were also instrumental in ascertaining the success of his leadership. Among key traits that Mandela displayed in his leadership, which also have a theoretical foundation include reconciliation, self-esteem, and humility. Reconciliation formed a large part of Mandela’s leadership ideology. In the Video clip, Mandela can be seen to display the reconciliation trait by offering white members of his cabinet a chance to serve in his government. This was deemed impossible and from their body language during that first cabinet meeting, the white leaders who had spearheaded the racial apartheid movement had feared for the worst and were looking forward to being sacked from public service. Mandela on the other hand chose to forgive them and work with them for the benefit of the country. With regard to self-esteem, Mandela was very instrumental in giving his followers the belief that they were not inferior to the white who had created a notion that blacks were inferior citizens. This self-esteem is shown several times in the video clip when Mandela decides to work at par with both whites and blacks to demonstrate that no race was superior to the other. His treatment of the Rugby team, which was predominantly white, indicated his belief that all people are equal. Humility is also displayed on several instances in the movie clip and in deed in Mandela’s life and leadership. He always mixed with common citizens and other junior leaders listening to them and giving them advice. When he mingled freely with the rugby team captain sharing leadership experiences as if they are at par,

Five key factors to team effectiveness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Five key factors to team effectiveness - Essay Example This article will firstly give brief explanation of team and teamwork, and try to find out some key conditions of developing effective team through collating early literature. The focus will be in the scope of human resource management even though much research discussed team combining consideration of organizations and leadership etc. The characteristics of effective team will be assessed and continually some issues will be arisen and viewed as challenges for managers examining. Debates also arise in the parts of the autonomy and reward. Finally the conclusion will mention the required change in the managers' roles in a changing environment. A team is a group of people assigned a task or a set of tasks to accomplish and often 'granted autonomy over how to accomplish their assignment' (Baron & Kreps, 1999). Harris and Harris define teamwork as 'a work group or unit with a common purpose through which members develop mutual relationships for the achievement of goals/tasks' (Tarricone & Luca, 2002). Combining the concept of autonomy, the definition of teamwork is chosen here for providing a simple, conceptual notion to discuss work teams with various purposes and types in business environment context. Since team-working has been widely ... Study has identified effective teamwork as one of the underlying elements of businesses with high performance. In other words, successful corporations 'rely on teamwork as an essential basis for everyday operations (Tarricone & Luca, 2002).' Therefore, the characteristics of effective team-working have been drawn and listed in tremendous amount of research. The conditions included in this article are listed and discussed next. 1. Mission clarity Some studies list the mission clarity as one of the necessary conditions (Sundstorm, Meuse & Futrell, 1990; Gustafson & Kleiner, 1994; Natale, Libertella & Rothschild, 1995; Borrelli, Cable & Higgs, 1995; ) or the most important one (Davis & Scase, 2000) while discussing effective team. Mission clarity means all team members fully and clearly perceive the purpose, goal and task. Purpose is that team members need to know why they are gathered to form a team, which means team formation (Gustafson & Kleiner, 1994). Goal is the target which members need to achieve, and it includes the match of short-term objectives and long-term strategies. Task contains deciding what should be done and assigning work. 2. Rewards and recognition Rewards occur while team tasks or goals are accomplished and the achievement appeals to be significant for the team or organization. Rewards may contain praise for team success, pay, time off and promotion etc. These outcomes are 'bestowed by people other than group members', and they 'do not include any benefits derived from within the group.'(Shea & Guzzo, 1987) Recognition is that 'individual contributions to the team and team contributions to the

Global cultural exchange Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Global cultural exchange - Essay Example Even if the Early Middle Ages (approx. y. 500-800) were times of uncertainty, disorder, invasions and cosmic insecurityi, the period to come, years 800-1500, also known as the High and the Late Middle Ages, was a period of significant cultural development. Therefore, if in the Early Middle Ages we can talk about a sort of cultural indetermination, when people with different beliefs (barbarians, adepts of ancient religions, Christians, the newly emerged Muslims) were thrown in the same pot with no further instructions, then the High and Late Middle Ages bring out the cultural determination, the establishment of linguistic, religious and cultural boundaries and this is when we can observe explicit examples of cultural exchange. Still, I would like to clearly emphasize the fact that cultural interaction wasn’t a goal in itself during this time; it was more of an adjacent process to the phenomenon of medieval travel, which, at its turn, was a result of three major purposes: trade, diplomacy/conquest and missionary. Merchants that engaged in long-travel trade had two main routs available, which linked Europe, Asia and Africa: the silk-road, for luxurious goods and the sea-routes, for more common goods, such as stone, steel and building materials. Major trading cities and ports grew rapidly, becoming a meeting place for foreign merchants, traders, brokers, who ultimately exchanged knowledge, religious ideas, philosophical beliefs, stories, legends and other cultural elements. Missionaries wanted to spread their religious ideas on other territories, an ambition that also became a form of cultural exchange. Diplomatic missions and conquest ambitions appeared as a result of cultural and territorial delimitation, but also implied a cultural interaction between the conquerors and the natives. Thus, in this paper, I would like to analyze the cultural exchange between the Christian world and the Islamic world with an emphasis on the Levant area and the Iberian

Food and beverage manager Essay Example for Free

Food and beverage manager Essay 1.1Describe with examples, some of the characteristics of food production and food beverage service systems that is in use within the hospitality industry. The centralised Production System is the modern methods used in bringing together production and beverage activities in the hotel industry. Food that is centrally produced is easier to distribute to the point of service than for it to be produced in batches or separately. Centralised production system may be transported in a ready to serve state made e. g. hot or cold if it needs some form of regenerator for chilled or frozen food. The advantages of centralised production include, lower food cost and supply cost are lower In centralised production methods you need to employ a few staffs in the kitchen. The kitchen can also be operated in a cheaper location. The disadvantage of the centralised production methods is if there is a case of food poison the effect will be more spread and can cost loss of business, these can affect the finances of the hotel. When food and beverage come in by centralised system, they were then distributed into different departments. Main Restaurant A coffee shop Chinese food shop Fine restaurant Is the Traditional Parties’ production system, this is a table service. Table service, where cook or chill are served Table service, for Tradition Parties production. Table service (British table service or French. Also Traditional Parties’ production. Bars: are for drinks only 1.2For the systems discussed in 1.1, discuss factors that can affect recipes and menus. These are factors affecting receipts and menus. Guest religion and health, has remained a very important issues, religion of the guest and health restrictions Some people have allergy to e.g. crabs meat, protein, and fibre/vegetable, these can affect receipts and menu in the hotel. Financial resources, restaurant and guests types cost: types of restaurant, Guest, spending power, age Group, labour cost. Chinese food is only prepared by Chinese people these can also affect the receipts and menu, Time factor, if the food is not serve at the right time the food may be too cold or if care is not taken the food may not be ready in time for serving. Pricing of food: because of the market is not stable for price; the pricing of the food may change, and can affect the receipt and the menu, by buying a alternative price or brand. 1.3For the systems discussed above, compare the cost and staffing implications. Outlet COST OF FOOD STAFF Main restaurant The cost is moderate and affordable Many staffs are required, can be service from office or home A coffee Shop The cost is affordable and low price Few staffs are needed a serve customer. Speciality restaurant serving Chinese food. The price is low and affordable by class. Few staff is needed, and can be operated by member of the family. Fine dining restaurant The price is high and can some be for special occasion e.g. anniversary, birthday, or business meetings. Few staff are required e.g. silver service, wine steward. Bar There are high class bars that are very expensive or common bar for everybody. Few staff are needed to operate. 1.4A justification with examples regarding the suitability of systems for different types of food and beverage outlets. For coffee shop is non-alcohol beverage services The fine dining restaurant sales food and beverage is based on good quality at the high prices In the bar selling different types of drinks or beverage Chinese serving food is about culture food, which is served by the Chinese 2.1Taking in to account, the various needs for financial statements, discuss the use of financial statements in food and beverage operations. Financial statement or financial operations; these outline the finance of the revenue and expenses over a period of time. Which gives the production budget, the units that have been produce to the sales of the company, the production budgets also estimates the cost involved in material and labour. Operating budget: these gives the estimate of the income expenses based on sales, manufacturing costs, labour etc. Cash flow Statements: Is receipt from the business these help the business, when income will be enough to cover expenses or when the organisation needs help. It helps in taking loans from the bank and repayment. Balance Sheet; is statement of the total assets of what the company own or owe. Income statement: A finance statement that shows earnings report, operating statement, profit and loss. 2.2 To demonstrate the use of cost and pricing processes. To be able to demonstrate the assess cost and pricing will need the following methods, the purchase price per item, we then divide the food into different packs, for example if chicken are brought for  £10 per pack and the meal are going for  £15 per plate as a meal. It may sense to add the extra with the meal e.g. the rice or chips. List of the purchasing methods: Central purchasing is used by chains organization. This enable the hotel to buy their food stock in one location, all the services need will be in on site and contain the buying power and be able to negotiate the price at reasonable cost. The disadvantage; are that the individual outlets can’t complain regarding the suppliers, if one is receiving better offer than the other, These may affect the quality of the food, if too far from the site. Total supply: This method is new, these allowed the hotel to buy from one supply, these cut the papers work, the administrative work and can be expensive. 2.3 Implement effective purchasing process of the five Star Hotel Food and beverage managers we can attend industrial events and trades show in order to get new innovation ideas and learn above new products. We can communicate with functional departments regarding pricing trends products variations and inventory when available. Food and beverage manager provide effective and strategic re port to corporate the hotel catering office supplies on inventory and costing performance and recommendations. We also go to menu and catering seminal to identify new inventory that are in demands, including schedules and procurement needs.

Experiment on Changes in Serum Levels of Irisin

Experiment on Changes in Serum Levels of Irisin Khaled Abdelfattah Abdelhamid Abulfadle, MD   Serum irisin level changes after propylthiouracil treatment of L-thyroxine induced hyperthyroidism in rats ABSTRACT Background: Thyroid hormones play an essential role in lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism; and they regulate thermogenesis and basal metabolic rate. Irisin is a myokine that is secreted as a product of fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) was shown to be present in many tissues, including the thyroid tissue. Objective: To investigate the possible changes in serum levels of irisin that occurred in a rat model of hyperthyroidism and the effects of use of propylthiouracil (PTU) in its treatment. Design: 18 male albino rats were divided into 3 groups. Group I was the intact control. Rats of group II and III received daily 0.3 mg/kg subcutaneous injection of L-thyroxine (LT4) for 12 consecutive days. On the thirteenth day, animals of group III (Hyperthyroid PTU treated) received 5 ml/kg i.p. injection of propylthiouracil (PTU) along with an equivalent amount of LT4 as administered to group II animals for more 15 days. Animals of group II (Hyperthyroid control) continued to receive LT4. On the day of termination (28th day of starting LT4 treatment), overnight (12hrs) fasted animals were sacrificed by decapitation under ether anesthesia. Results: In the hyperthyroid control group, there was a significant decrease in serum level of TSH (P0.05) in serum levels of TSH, T4, T3 irisin, and, BMI in hyperthyroid PTU group in comparison to that in the intact control group. In the hyperthyroid control group, there was a significant increase in the serum level of both glucose (P0.05) in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that in the intact control group. In the hyperthyroid control group, there was a significant decrease in serum levels of both TC (P0.05) in serum levels of both TG and LDL-C in comparison to that in the intact control group. Conclusion: This study showed a significant increase in serum levels of irisin in L-thyroxine induced hyperthyroidism in rats. On using PTU, serum levels of irisin, thyroid hormones, metabolic parameters and BMI were significantly changed in comparison to the hyperthyroid control group. Keywords: Irisin, T3, T4, TSH, Propylthiouracil, Hyperthyroidism. Introduction: Irisin is a myokine that is secreted as a product of fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) in the skeletal muscle (Samy, Ismail et al. 2015, Jin Zhang 2017, Nathan C. Winn 2017). FNDC5, which is the precursor of irisin was shown to be present in many tissues, including the thyroid tissue (Huh, Panagiotou et al. 2012). It is secreted by a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ÃŽÂ ³ (PPARÃŽÂ ³) coactivator 1ÃŽÂ ± (PGC1-ÃŽÂ ±) after an exercise (Aydin 2014). Irisin was found to have an anti-obesity effect as it replaces the white fatty tissue with brown fatty tissue by the increase of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) resulting in oxygen consumption and stimulation of thermogenesis (Bostrà ¶m, Wu et al. 2012, Castillo-Quan 2012, Roca-Rivada, Castelao et al. 2013, Jin Zhang 2017, Nathan C. Winn 2017). Stengel, Hofmann et al. (2013) found that irisin level was identified to be high in obesity and to be low in anorexia nervosa. On the other hand, thyroid hormones pla y an essential role in lipid, protein and carbohydrate metabolism; and they regulate thermogenesis and basal metabolic rate (Hulbert 2000). Also, hyperfunction of thyroid gland is a common endocrine disorder which is accompanied by metabolic imbalance, oxidative stress and abnormal energy homeostasis (Erdamar, Demirci et al. 2008). There were some controversies in the results of studying the effect of thyroid hormone level changes on serum levels of irisin as Yalcin, Akturk et al. (2016) found an increase in serum irisin levels in hyperthyroidism and they suggested that it might contribute to altered energy metabolism. Also, Samy, Ismail et al. (2015) stated that hyperthyroidism was associated with up-regulation of serum irisin in male rats, probably as a response to myopathy and/or oxidative damage observed in both conditions. Moreover, Ruchala, Zybek et al. (2014) reported a borderline elevation of serum irisin in hyperthyroid versus hypothyroid patients. On the contrary, Panagiot ou, Pazaitou-Panayiotou et al. (2016) stated that changes in thyroid hormone levels did not affect circulating irisin levels in humans. Also, Stengel, Hofmann et al. (2013), Ellefsen, Vikmoen et al. (2014) and Gouni-Berthold, Berthold et al. (2013) reported lack of associations between levels of irisin, TSH and/or thyroid hormones. On the other hand, Zybek-Kocik, Sawicka-Gutaj et al. (2016) stated that irisin concentration was changed during prolonged thyroid function impairment. Also, AteÃ…Å ¸, Altay et al. (2016) found that, in hypothyroidism, there was a positive correlation between serum irisin levels and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) while a negative correlation was found between irisin levels and thyroxine (T4). Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the possible changes in serum levels of irisin that occurred in a rat model of hyperthyroidism and the effects of use of propylthiouracil (PTU) in its treatment. Materials and Methods: Animals preparations and experimental protocol: In the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, this experimental study was done from 6th of November 2016 to 28th of December 2016. 18 adult male albino rats, age and weight matched (170-195 gm), were purchased from the animal house of Zagazig University and were housed at 20-22 °C on a 12-h light-dark cycle and for 5 days, to achieve acclimatization, they were supplied with tap water and a standard chow diet. Rats were divided into 3 groups of 6 each. Group I animals served as the intact control, whereas those of group II and III received daily subcutaneous injection of L-thyroxine (LT4) (Sigma, MO, USA) at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg for 12 consecutive days (Panda and Kar 2007). On the thirteenth day, animals of group III received propylthiouracil (PTU) (Sigma, MO, USA) 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally (Panda and Kar 2007) along with an equivalent amount of LT4 as administered to group II animals. PTU was intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected, in a volume of 5 ml/kg, dis solved in saline (Kim, Kim et al. 2012). Experiment was continued for more 15 consecutive days (from 13th LT4 treatment). Animals of group II continued to receive LT4 and acted as hyperthyroid control. Intact control rats were injected with 5 ml/kg/day subcutaneously with saline. On the day of termination (28th day of starting LT4 treatment), overnight (12hrs) fasted animals were sacrificed by decapitation under ether anesthesia. Blood from each animal was collected and by its centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes, serum was separated and stored -20oc till the time of assay of different biochemical parameters (Kumar, Kar et al. 2014). PTU was used to treat hyperthyroidism by decreasing the amount of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland (Nakamura, Noh et al. 2007), and it also inhibited the enzyme 5-deiodinase, which converts thyroxine (T4) to the active form triiodothyronine (T3) (Bahn, Burch et al. 2009). Also, it inhibited LT4-induced hyperthyroidisms in rats (Panda a nd Kar 2007). Body mass index (BMI) changes: BMI in gm/cm2 was calculated in the different groups, just before rats were sacrificed (under ether anesthesia), by dividing Body weight (gm) on Length2 (cm2) (Novelli, Diniz et al. 2007). A graduated (in centimeters) metal ruler was used for measuring the rat length by putting the zero end at the rat anus and recorded the reading which reached by the nose. BMI was used as a measure for the change in body weight of rats (Novelli, Diniz et al. 2007). Figure-1: Experimental design. Rats were divided into 3 groups. Group I was the intact control. Rats of group II and III received daily subcutaneous injection of levothyroxine (LT4) for 12 consecutive days. On the thirteenth day, animals of group III (Hyperthyroid PTU treated) received i.p. injection of propylthiouracil (PTU) along with an equivalent amount of LT4 as administered to group II animals for more 15 days. Animals of group II (Hyperthyroid control) continued to receive LT4. On the day of termination (28th day of starting LT4 treatment), overnight (12hrs) fasted animals were sacrificed by decapitation under ether anesthesia. Measurement of serum parameters: Serum level of irisin was estimated (in ng/ml) using an irisin rat ELISA assay kit following the manufacturers instructions (Catalog# EK-067-52; Phoenix Pharmaceuticals Inc., Burlingame, California, USA) with a detection range of 0.1-1000 ng/ml. Quantitative immunoassaying of T3, T4 and TSH using commercially available kits as recommended by the manufacturer (cat#SE120091, SE120090, SE120135, ELISA Kits, Sigma-Aldrich). Both serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were estimated using enzymatic colorimetric methods. Serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was assayed using NS Biotec HDL-precipitating reagent. Serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using the Friedewald formula: LDL-C (mg/dl) = [(TC) (HDL-C) ( (Friedewald, Levy et al. 1972) Estimation of both serum glucose levels, using an automated analyzer (YSI 2300; YSI Life Sciences, Yellow Springs, OH), and serum insulin levels, using ELISA kits (RD Systems, Minneapolis, MN), were done. For assessing insulin resistance (IR), the homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) index was calculated by: HOMA-IR = (Nayak, Hillemane et al. 2014). There is a direct relation between insulin resistance and the value of HOMA-IR (Bonora, Targher et al. 2000). Statistical analysis: By the use of IBM SPSS Statistics for windows package version (24), data were analyzed and described as Mean ± SEM. For calculation of the statistical significance, One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc test for multiple group comparison were used. P†°Ã‚ ¤0.05 indicated significance. Results: Table-1: Changes in serum levels of TSH, T4, T3 irisin, and, BMI among different groups Intact control Hyperthyroid control Hyperthyroid PTU treated TSH (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­IU/L) 2.82 ±0.12 0.81 ±0.05a 2.68 ±0.14bc T4 (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­g/dl) 5.33 ±0.14 16.2 ±0.2a 5.36 ±0.18bc T3 (ng/ml) 1.29 ±0.04 3.52 ±0.11a 1.36 ±0.04bc Irisin (ng/ml) 401.67 ±5.65 599.17 ±6.82a 409.5 ±6bc BMI (gm/cm2) 0.54 ±0.01 0.44 ±0.01a 0.51 ±0.01bc Data was expressed as Mean ±SEM. a P0.05 in comparison to the intact control group. c P Table-2: Changes in metabolic parameters among different groups Intact control Hyperthyroid control Hyperthyroid PTU treated Glucose (mg/dl) 91.5 ±0.92 113 ±2.33a 91.33 ±1.2bc Insulin (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­IU/ml) 2.95 ±0.12 4.86 ±0.16a 2.88 ±0.13bc HOMA-IR 0.67 ±0.02 1.36 ±0.05a 0.65 ±0.03bc TC (mg/dl) 106.5 ±2.51 89.83 ±2.52a 103.33 ±1.63bd TG (mg/dl) 55.17 ±1.22 52.33 ±0.67b 53.17 ±0.95be HDL-C (mg/dl) 54 ±1.15 43.33 ±0.88a 51.33 ±0.99bc LDL-C (mg/dl) 41.47 ±3.27 36.03 ±3.07b 41.37 ±1.92be Data was expressed as Mean ±SEM. a P0.05 in comparison to the intact control group. c P0.05 in comparison to the hyperthyroid control group. HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglycerides; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Figure-2: Correlations between serum irisin levels and: TSH, T4 T3 in, the intact control group (A), hyperthyroid control group (B) and hyperthyroid PTU treated group (C); glucose in the intact control group (D); insulin HOMA-IR in the intact control group (E); glucose in the hyperthyroid control group (F); insulin HOMA-IR in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group (G); TC HDL-C in the hyperthyroid control group (H). r is the correlation coefficient. Table-1 showed changes in serum levels of TSH, T4, T3 irisin, and, BMI among different groups. In the hyperthyroid control group, there was a significant decrease in serum level of TSH (0.81 ±0.05, P group (2.82 ±0.12), (0.54 ±0.01) (5.33 ±0.14), (1.29 ±0.04) and (401.67 ±5.65) respectively. On the other hand, there were insignificant changes (P>0.05) in serum levels of TSH, T4, T3 irisin, and, BMI in hyperthyroid PTU group in comparison to that in the intact control group. Also, there was a significant increase in both serum level of TSH (2.68 ±0.14, P0.05) in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that in the intact control group. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the serum levels of both glucose (91.33 ±1.2, P0.05) in serum levels of both TG (52.33 ±0.67) and LDL-C (36.03 ±3.07) in comparison to that in the intact control group (106.5 ±2.51), (54 ±1.15), (55.17 ±1.22) and (41.47 ±3.27) respectively. In the hyperthyroid PTU treated group, there was a significant increase in serum levels of both TC (103.33 ±1.63, P0.05) in serum levels of both TG (53.17 ±0.95) and LDL-C (41.37 ±1.92) in comparison to that in the intact co ntrol group (89.83 ±2.52), (43.33 ±0.88), (52.33 ±0.67) and (36.03 ±3.07) respectively. Also, there were no significant changes (P>0.05) in serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that in the intact control group. Figure-2A showed a significant positive correlation between serum irisin levels and that of T4 (r=0.97, P Discussion: This study was done to declare changes in irisin serum levels in a rat model of hyperthyroidism and the effect of PTU therapy on it. Also, to identify the association between serum irisin level changes in such conditions and some metabolic parameters including insulin resistance and lipid profile. The results of this study showed a significant decrease in serum level of TSH and BMI, but, a significant increase in serum levels of T4, T3, and irisin in the hyperthyroid control group, in comparison to that in the intact control group. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between serum irisin levels and that of T4 T3 but a significant negative correlation with serum TSH in the hyperthyroid control group. These results were supported by Huh, Panagiotou et al. (2012) who stated that FNDC5, irisin precursor, was present in the thyroid tissue. Also, the present study results were supported by Irrcher, Adhihetty et al. (2003), Ruchala, Zybek et al. (2014), Sanchis-Gomar and Per ez-Quilis (2014), Samy, Ismail et al. (2015) and Yalcin, Akturk et al. (2016) who found an increase in serum irisin levels in hyperthyroidism and they suggested that it might contribute to altered energy metabolism. Moreover, Irrcher, Adhihetty et al. (2003) reported that T3 increased the irisin precursor, PGC-1ÃŽÂ ±, expression in muscle. Furthermore, Sanchis-Gomar and Perez-Quilis (2014) stated that serum irisin was increased in hyperthyroidism as a compensatory response to oxidative stress as it had an antioxidant effect. On the contrary, Gouni-Berthold, Berthold et al. (2013), Stengel, Hofmann et al. (2013) and Panagiotou, Pazaitou-Panayiotou et al. (2016) stated that changes in levels of thyroid hormones did not affect circulating irisin levels in humans. This discrepancy between their results and that of this study could be explained by species difference. Regarding the negative correlation between both irisin and TSH hormones which was present in this study, it was support ed by Ruchala, Zybek et al. (2014). On the contrary, Stengel, Hofmann et al. (2013) and Ellefsen, Vikmoen et al. (2014) reported lack of correlation between serum levels of irisin and that of TSH and thyroid hormones. Regarding body weight changes with hyperthyroidism, the result of this study was supported by Janson, Karlsson et al. (1995), Voldstedlund, Tranum-Jensen et al. (1995) and Loeb (1996) who found a decrease in body weight with hyperthyroidism. Also, this study results were supported by Bostrà ¶m, Wu et al. (2012), Castillo-Quan (2012) and Roca-Rivada, Castelao et al. (2013) who found that irisin had an anti-obesity effect as it replaced the white adipose tissue with brown adipose tissue and increased oxygen consumption and thermogenesis. On the contrary, Stengel, Hofmann et al. (2013) and Saleh, et al. (2014) found that irisin level was high in obesity and low in anorexia nervosa. This discrepancy between their results and that of this study can be explained by species difference. On the other hand, this study results showed insignificant changes in serum levels of TSH, T4, T3 irisin, and, BMI in hyperthyroid PTU group in comparison to that in the intact control group. This indicated the improvement that occurred with PTU therapy in cases of hyperthyroidism which was supported by Nakamura, Noh et al. (2007), Panda and Kar (2007) and Bahn, Burch et al. (2009). Also, the results of this study showed a significant increase in both serum level of TSH and BMI, but, a significant decrease in serum levels of T4, T3, and irisin in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that in the hyperthyroid control group. These results were supported by Park, Lee et al. (2016) who found that PTU administration ameliorated hyperthyroidism, reducing T4 and T3, and, increasing both TSH and BMI. Moreover, the results of this study showed a significant increase in the serum level of both glucose and insulin, and, the value of HOMA-IR in the hyperthyroid contro l group in comparison to that of the intact control group. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between serum irisin levels and that of glucose in the hyperthyroid control group. These results indicated occurrence of insulin resistance with hyperthyroidism which was supported by Loeb (1996). This was supported also by Saleh, et al. (2014) who stated that hyperglycemia gradually up regulated FNDC5/irisin expression in the skeletal muscles non-diabetic persons. Also, this study results were supported by Hee Park, Zaichenko et al. (2013), Liu, Wong et al. (2013) and Mehrabian, Taheri et al. (2016) who found a positive correlation between serum irisin and that of glucose. On the contrary, Mehrabian, Taheri et al. (2016) found that serum irisin was negatively correlated with serum glucose level. Opposite to the results of this study, Huh, Panagiotou et al. (2012), Choi, Kim et al. (2013) and Sanchis-Gomar and Perez-Quilis (2014) found that decreased blood irisin level was a ccompanied by insulin resistance development. Sanchis-Gomar and Perez-Quilis (2014) stated also, that irisin ameliorated insulin resistance by increasing betatrophin hormone expression which stimulated ÃŽÂ ²-cell regeneration. Furthermore, the results of this study showed no significant changes in the serum level of both glucose and insulin, and, the value of HOMA-IR in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that in the intact control group. Also, there was a significant decrease in the serum levels of both glucose and insulin, and, the value of HOMA-IR in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that of the hyperthyroid control group which means improvement of insulin resistance with PTU treatment. On the other hand, Huh, Panagiotou et al. (2012) found that exposure to high blood glucose for a long time was associated with a significant decrease in irisin serum level. The discrepancy between their results and the result of this study could be explained by the difference in species and duration of the study. In the hyperthyroid control group, there was a significant decrease in serum levels of both TC and HDL-C but, there were insignificant changes in serum levels of both TG and LDL-C in comparison to that in the intact control group. Also, there were significant negative correlations between serum irisin levels and that of both TC and HDL-C in the hyperthyroid control group. On the other hand, in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group, there was a significant increase in serum levels of both TC and HDL-C but, there were insignificant changes in serum levels of both TG and LDL-C in comparison to that in the intact control group. Also, there were no significant changes in serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in the hyperthyroid PTU treated group in comparison to that in the intact control group. The results of this study was partly supported by Mehrabian, Taheri et al. (2016) found a negative correlation between irisin and TC but, a po sitive correlation with HDL-C in normal weight obesity. On the other hand, Liu, Wong et al. (2013) found a positive correlation between serum irisin level and TC in non- obese, non- diabetic persons. Also, Sanchis-Gomar, Alis et al. (2014) reported insignificant correlation between irisin and TC. Conclusion   Ã‚   This study showed a significant increase in serum levels of irisin in L-thyroxine induced hyperthyroidism in rats and this could be related to changes in thyroid hormones, body weight and metabolic parameters. On using PTU, serum levels of irisin, thyroid hormones, metabolic parameters and BMI were significantly changed in comparison to the hyperthyroid control group and insignificantly changed in comparison to the intact control group which confirmed the improvement of the hyperthyroidism. Future studies are needed to confirm these results and to ensure the possible use of irisin as a biomarker for proper treatment of hyperthyroidism.