Technology And Globalization And International Trade

The world’s economy has increase within the last few decades due to innovation and globalization and international trade. Many organizations have increased economic activity across the world and have shorten the time it takes products to be produced, transported, and received to consumers domestic and internationally. With the advancement of new technology, many companies have expanded their markets by implementing tools and by the customer and government regulation. With the rise of globalization, warehouses have become a more promenade asset and act as holding facilities until the goods are ready for transit. With the emergence of new innovations, warehouses and now been centrally located to attract more transportation activity transforming way logistics companies operate (Williams, O’Neil 2016). Distribution centers are being centrally located close to highways, it allows logistics companies to pick up loads without long delays. The RFID devices allows warehou ses to reduce labor cost, improve accurate inventory and improve the relationship with the customers. Boosting RFID technology drives the consumer market which in driven by globalization, regional distribution and new strategies. Transportation has been a major role in integrating global trade. The delivery of goods is now as important as the production of goods. New technology creates more jobs and more competitive completion among organizations and forced companies to engage strategic planning to competeShow MoreRelatedGlobalization And International Trade And Investments Aided By Information Technology1009 Words   |  5 PagesCountries are creating stronger internal ties; goods and services are being promoted and exchanged between nations, which creates relationships. Globalization is a process of intercommunication and integration within people, companies, and different nation’s governments. Globalization is processed by international trade and investments aided by information technology. This process has many effects on a nation. It affects the environment, culture, political systems, economics, and development. In additionRead MoreInternational Political Market Values And Subsequent Free Trade Agreements869 Words   |  4 PagesIn relations, international liberal market values and subsequent free trade agreements are at the forefront of economic globalization. As the global markets and economic competition intensifies, nations move towards trade liberalization. International trade agreements by extension of economic globalization are more often prioritized before environmental agreements. In fact it is evident that environmental policy is rarely prioritized over economic growth. The neo-liberal market ideals have encouragedRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Globalization Essay1680 Words   |  7 PagesGlobalization. Everyday you hear it on the news, you read it in the newspaper, and you overhear people talking about it- and in every single inst ance the word globalization seems to have a different meaning. When I hear of globalization I think of the whole world coming close together in all phases. I tend to think that we as human beings are breaking down barriers that have been protected or guarded. For instance, I initially thought of the progress we are making in the communication aspect. SoRead MoreCompare and Contrast the Current Era of Globalization with the First Age of Globalization (1850s-1920s). What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Globalization in Its Current Context?1720 Words   |  7 Pagescurrent era of globalization with the first age of globalization (1850s-1920s). What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalization in its current context? Word count: 1530   Unit Coordinator: Dr Tony Ramsay I am going to contrast the current era of globalization with the first age of globalization in many different aspects, in the mean time analysis the merits and demerits of　globalization in its current context. John and Kenneth (2012, p. 28) find that the concept of globalization means theRead MorePro Globalist vs Anti Globalist1341 Words   |  6 PagesPro Globalist vs. Anti Globalist An Essay Globalization in a broader sense means Integration. This integration happens through the flow of resources in the form of information, ideas, technology, goods, services, capital, finance amp; people. Like everything else that flows, the flow of resources happens from high potential (country) to low potential (country). Globalization is therefore a natural phenomenon and is bound to happen unless stopped by an external force. In principle all flows areRead MoreGlobalization and International Finance, Questions and Answer1533 Words   |  7 Pages Q1. History of your topic (i.e. product, country(ies), article, etc)? Please explain in detail your topic selection. Globalization is defined as moving towards a world in which barriers to cross-border trade and investment are declining; distance is shrinking due to new advance in transportation and telecommunications technology, material culture is starting to look similar the world over; national economies are merging into an interdependent, integrated global economic system (Hill). The wordRead MoreGlobalization Is A Process Of Interaction And Integration Among The People, Companies, And Countries1367 Words   |  6 PagesRebecca McCormick Globalization position paper Geography October 27, 2015 What is globalization? Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations. It is a process driven by international trade and investment aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, culture, political systems, economic development and prosperity, and human physical well-being in societies around the world. For thousandsRead MoreEssay Creating a Better Future Through Globalization1536 Words   |  7 PagesThe term â€Å"globalization† was known in the common vocabulary in the 1980. It is used to describe the increased movement of people, knowledge, goods, and money across national borders. It has led to increased interconnectedness among the worlds populations, economically, politically, socially and culturally (T. L. Friedman 6-14) . Even though globalization often is thought of in economic terms, this process has many social and political implications as well. The globali zation of today’s world throughRead MoreGlobalization And Globalization1050 Words   |  5 PagesJane Ogagan International Political Science for Public Health Practitioners Seminar Course: 221.614.01 CLASS PAPER Topic Choice 18: â€Å"On balance, globalization expands rather than contracts opportunities for economic prosperity around the world.† Why do you agree or disagree with this statement? Please support your answer with appropriate examples. Globalization has impacted almost every part of the modern world; it can be characterized by economic, political, and cultural integration. EconomicRead MoreGlobalization Essay1452 Words   |  6 Pagesimplications of globalization are greatly felt in every part of the world. One of its effects is encouraging the movement of financial capital, trade, and direct and foreign investments. This refers to the economic exchange of goods and services internationally and international financial flows. (Carr and Chen, 2001). Through the perspective of an optimistic globalist, trade has brought an increase in the volume of trade, whereas, pessimistic globalist suggests that globalization on the world economy

Say No to Animal Testing - 1436 Words

I. Every year, over 100 million animals sit in U.S laboratories waiting to be burned, crippled, poisoned and abused (â€Å"11 Facts about Animal Testing† par.1). a. Animals deserve the same security and wellbeing as humans and therefore should not be subjected to that kind of neglect and abuse. b. Animals that are a part of some kind of new medication research rarely make it out alive. In fact, 92% of experimental drugs that are safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials because they are too dangerous or don’t work (â€Å"11 Facts about Animal Testing† par. 2), only substantiating the point that animals will not react to medications the same way that humans will. c. Many animals are subjected to pain and suffering for no good†¦show more content†¦In 1992, 20 million were used. The decline may be due to the efforts of animal rights groups (â€Å"Animal Testing† par. 6). ii. It is great the animal activist were able to make such a big impact on the number of animal used in animal testing in the past; and if that big of an impact could be made today, nearly twice the number of animal lived that were saved in the past would be saved today. b. Although Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals started forming long ago, it wasn’t until many years later that certain legislation laws were passed setting standards for the care of animals in laboratories. i. In 1824, Jeremy Bentham founded the first humane society; the RSPCA, also known as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the ASPCA, was not formed until 1866 (â€Å"Animal Testing† par. 15). In 1876, England passed the Cruelty to Animals Act which controlled the use of animals in certain scientific experiments. The Animal Welfare Act was not passed in the U.S. until 1966. This act set minimum standards for the care of animals in laboratories and required government- run and private labs to submit to random inspections by the USDA (â€Å"Animal Testing† par. 17). ii. It is great that an animal welfare act was passed, but that does not necessarily mean that it is strongly enforced. The Animal Welfare actShow MoreRelatedSave Animals. Say No to Animal Testing!1390 Words   |  6 PagesArgumentative essay: Save animals. Say no to animal testing! Nowadays, it is a well-known fact that many companies test their products like cosmetics and medicines with animals before production to check their products ’safety and quality. A huge amount of animals are used in research purpose every year. Is it right for human beings to sacrifice millions of animals for testing purpose? Should animal testing be banned? Animal testing is a controversial issue and there is a heated debated about prosRead MoreAnimal Testing Is Bad1374 Words   |  6 PagesAGAINST ANIMAL TESTING! The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but rather, Can they suffer?   Did you know that over a hundred million animals get injured or die due to animal testing? But when you think about is it actually legal? So the thing is it doesn’t matter what we think because there are people who want themselves to live a better life then the animals and they do experimentation on the animals just so humans can live a better life. AndRead MoreAnimal Testing Is Inhumane For Diseases, And Development Of Medical Treatments983 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is animal testing? Animal testing is when scientist experiment on animals to find cures for diseases, and development of medical treatments. Many animals die because of this. Majority of people don’t know what they go through and how the process is done. Animal testing is inhumane for the following: why it is done, how it is done, and when it is done. To begin with, why is it done? Animal testing is done to protect humans from bad products that may hurt them, also to find ways to cure diseasesRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Should Be Used For Research1600 Words   |  7 Pageswhether the practice of animals research should be used. Many people believe animals are needed for research, while others think it is not fair for animals to be sacrificed and treated poorly during research. Animals used for research has bettered many human lives by new discoveries and advantages. Many people such as doctors, scientists, hospitals, research institutes use animal research to view how the human body works and to advance in scientific understanding. The first animal experiment started inRead Moreanimal testing essay1139 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Animal testing can be defined as the process of using animals in experiments. Normally the research such as biomedical researches, drug tests and toxicology tests are conducted in universities, medical schools, and pharmaceutical companies. Scientists use many types of animals in their experiments such as guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, monkeys, chimpanzees, rats, mice, dogs and cats. Around 50-100 millions vertebrates are used in experiments annually and in United States, the number of rats andRead MoreAnimal Rights Should Be Legal1240 Words   |  5 Pagesresearch paper will be talking about animal rights. Animal rights is the rights for animals to be free of medical research, hunting, clothing, food, and entertainment. It is the belief that all animals are entitled to the possession of their own lives and should not have to suffer from humans. (Liou, 2010) The belief is opposite of those who believe in speciesism. Speciesism is the idea that humans and their rights are above animals. The people who are against animal rights are known as speciesist. (Bennet t-JonesRead MoreAnimal Testing is Cruel1340 Words   |  5 PagesAll around the globe, animal testing has been the most controversial and frequently debated topic. Animal testing is cruel, however, it has helped us develop and become more advanced in sciences and technology. Below are the points and reasons for and against the motion, discussed to help you pick your side. Issues related to animal experimentation are frequently discussed these days, particularly in the media. It is often said that animals should not be used in testing because it is cruel and unnecessaryRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Be Banned847 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the biggest areas on where people gather around and protest is when they’re fighting agents animals testing. As well as the years has pasted on protesting on animals, it became more sires in increased in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Many cosmetics companies been testing on animals throughout the years there is also many that have n ot. The cosmetics line LUSH has been fighting over animals testing for over thirty years and will continue to fight for their right according to the company. When LUSHRead MoreAnimal Testing is Wrong! Essay923 Words   |  4 PagesPicture yourself in a testing laboratory; needles, drugs, and knives pointed in your direction with you having no idea what’s going on around you, this is how animals everyday are treated, we have to stop this now! Millions of animals are killed in laboratories everyday with no chance to object to what the testers are about to do to them. Animals feel as much pain as humans do so why does it make it okay to test on them when they are so alike to humans? Every day people test makeup, shampoos, andRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Not Be Banned1581 Words   |  7 PagesAnimal testing is being used by different organizations all over the world to prevent specific diseases, especially cancer. Americans see animal testing having a harmful effect but it i s one of the main reasons why society has most cures for some illnesses. This topic is important because people need to know what goes on during animal testing and why it is very beneficial. Animal testing needs to be used to find all cures. Some animals such as chimps/ monkeys have 90% of the same DNA humans have

Role of Transformational Servant Leadership †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Role of Transformational Servant Leadership. Answer: Introduction The report here discusses about the role of Transformational Servant Leadership within organizations in the context of employee satisfaction and empowerment in business. To explain this report gives a brief description about transformational leadership and servant leadership in order to understand how transformational servant leadership works. There is also a brief analysis on Transformational Servant leadership where a personal experience shared and the attributes necessary for servant leadership mentioned. There is also compendium reflection on transformational servant leadership mentioned in the report. Role of Transformational Servant Leadership within Organizations in Context of Employee Satisfaction and Empowerment in Business Role Transformational Servant Leadership in Context of Employee Satisfaction Transformational leadership defines the leader as individual responsible for transforming the focus of the followers to achieve the organizational objectives rather than achieve their own goals (Van Dierendonck et al., 2012). The transformational leaders seem to inspire their followers and thereby improve their performance through guidance and better understanding of their requirements. Servant leadership is considered as leadership philosophy that mainly address the concerns of customer experience, ethics, and employee engagement thereby creating uniqueness in organizational culture where both followers and leaders are united for achieving organizational goals without authoritative or positional power(Parris Peachey, 2013).Thus, servant leadership refers to a transformational approach to work and life because it has the potential of creating a positive change throughout the society. This kind of leadership does not depend on any kind of training but is a resultant of an internal transformation. Thus, the leadership begins with a heart for serving people. Moreover, the servant leaders are not just leaders but are those who implement values in their day-to-day life. The servant leadership thus connects loosely to varied leadership styles and philosophies that include ethical, transformational, charismatic and even authentic leadership. However, since this leadership is the result of internal transformation and can help in bringing effective changes in the society and organization so it can be termed as Transformational Servant Leadership(3). The attributed characteristics of servant leadership include empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, listening, conceptualization, foresight, community building and commitment. However, servant leadership has an emotional connection to employee engagement. Transformational Servant Leadership characterized by empathy, listening, awareness, healing, conceptualization, persuasion, foresight and commitment to growth of others. Here, the leader tries to understand the core feeling behind their words (Kool van Dierendonck, 2012)). In this way, the leader listens to the needs and desire of the followers and is thereby being able to identify what provides a motivating factor for the followers. Transformational servant leaders believe that they are unable to succeed without the active participation of the followers. Effective listening by the transformational servant leaders also puts across a message among the followers that their opinions and knowledge are valued and that make them an integral part of both strategizing and decision -making process. Healing and empathy are also one of the important characteristics of transformational servant leadership (Mittal Dorfman, 2012). Empathy refers to the emotional aspect that not just refers to sharing someones emotions but at the same time also feel the same with the concerned person. Thus, empathy is the emotional connection that exists between the person empathizing and the person expressing. Therefore, empathy can also lead to healing which is a unique aspect of transformational servant leadership. Transformational servant leaders help their employees to heal through intent listening and expressing empathy. Thus, the transformational servant leader and employee share desire for wholeness, as the leaders believe that helping a person in distress requires trust building where the feelings of person hurt becomes a priority. This implies that the transformational servant leader also plays the role of a counselor who helps an employee to heal. Healing however starts with awareness and self-awareness strengthens a leader to identify not his personal strength but also the area for opportunity for the business. Not only do these leaders strive for their awareness but they also strive for the awareness of the employees. True self-awareness helps employees to acknowledge their imperfections and personal flaws and thereby act accordingly (Diddams Chang, 2012). In this regard, leaders can be aware of his followers by getting to know the person that is beyond the surface level. Understanding the employees leads to the creation a connection that is able to persuade them to action. Transformational servant leaders believe in building cooperation and consensus within group to persuade employees rather than using authoritative or positional status. Persuasion based on conceptualization that the leader has created for the follower and the organization based on interactive knowledge. Conceptualization is thus the ability of transformational servant leader to not only envision the future but also create and communicate the path for reaching the final goals. The transformational servant leaders also possess visionary qualities that are necessary for leading and guiding their followers. The visions derived from the dreams combined dreams of both the employees and the leaders. Therefore, communication of the vision is an important factor on the part of the leaders in order to fulfill them. Another characteristic of the transformational servant leaders is the foresight that helps in encouraging ethical and moral behavior. In this context, the example of the Enron failure mentioned where the lack of foresight of the leaders in anticipating the results that led to the collapse of the organization. Stewardship is another characteristic that the transformational servant leaders is expected to have. Steward can be defined as a person who is look after the needs of others. Similarly, the sincerity in carrying out this characteristic helps in the growth of the empl oyees and enhances employee satisfaction. The leaders must also be committed to ensure the growth of others. Thus, transformational servant leadership helps in the growth and development of the employees, as leaders are more interested to see their followers being more successful. Thus, this kind of leadership is people-focused as they contribute to the growth and development of the followers. These leaders also ensure providing developmental aid and coaching to the employees in improving their performance while at the same time having a concern for employees growth. Here one can draw in an example where investment made in an employee for developing his personal communication or writing skills. This not only benefits the organizations but also the employees who can applicable the skills even outside of the concerned organization (Choudhary, Akhtar, Zaheer, 2013). Therefore, this reinforces the importance of the employee towards the organization. Thus, employees emotionally connecte d to the organization thereby enabling them to better perform through community building and lead to success of the organization. Thus, Transformational Servant Leadership happens to have a positive influence on employee engagement and thus can enhance employee satisfaction. Role of Transformational Servant Leadership in Context of Business Empowerment Leadership Practices in Organizations identified as a key factor of success of the service firm because of environment based on learning, cooperation and customer relation. Moreover, the competitive nature of the service industry requires more effort and time for commitment in leadership activities. Leadership traits and styles considered important for attaining success in unstable environments include support to members, being participative and transformational. Thus, by using transformational servant leadership business can also get an empowerment as leaders tries to create a culture that ensures empowerment of its subordinates through guidance and proper training (Clavelle et al., 2012). Additionally, the leaders also possess the capacity of satisfying external customers who are responsible for empowering the business. Thus, the transformational servant leaders ensure the following so that businesses or organizations can achieve their required goals. Ensuring that subordinates have sufficient training to achieve goals Providing the subordinates with adequate resources for achieving goals Ensuring employees have professional growth. Sharing necessary information with employees Ensuring empowerment of employees through a good working environment Clear explanation on the expectation from the employees. Thus, employee fulfillment related positively to the performance of the business. There is also a significant relationship drawn between financial performance, employee fulfillment and customer satisfaction (Wang, Chen, Chen, 2012). The Transformational servant leader however believes their followers acts to serve the interest of the organization. Thus, the organizations that are able to create a servant minded and healthy culture will not only maximize the skills of the workforce but also the leadership thereby leading to its empowerment. However, Transformational Servant Leaders influences in a non-traditional manner thereby allowing more freedom to the employees in exercising their own abilities. Thus, Transformational Servant Leadership is a process oriented and participatory leadership style and this kind of leadership holds the antidote toward the corrupt ridden corporate scandal. Transformational Servant Leaders look for the interest of the organization and its employee thereby ensuring mutual responsibility sharing that leads to necessary feedback from the employees resulting in developing a vision (Boone Makhani, 2012). As the leaders helps in building leadership potential amongst its followers therefore the subordinates are likely to take up informal roles of leadership in their group that in a way helps in meeting the needs and objectives of the organization. This kind of leadership style thus helps in building a working climate that helps in generation of feelings for employee empowerment thereby resulting in superior performance. Organizations that follow transformational service leadership are more likely to have employees who are more committed to the values of the organization. In other words, transformational service leaders help in developing followers into servants who act as autonomous moral agents. Thus, under this kind of leadership the employ ees not only become healthy, wise, free and autonomous thereby leading to empowerment of the organization. The act of persuasiveness of the transformational servant leaders in a group also influences an individual commitment towards the organization. An organization or business however follows several positive outcomes under Transformation Servant Leadership that includes focus on value and mission, innovation and creativity, flexibility and responsiveness, employee loyalty and respect for employees, commitment to both external and internal service and celebration of diversity. Thus, Transformational Servant Leadership has the potential for improving the productivity and financial performance of the business or organization. Transformation Servant Leaders believed to possess attributes like empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship and community building. In addition to this, these leaders also possess attributes like credibility, competence, visibility, better communication, teaching persuasion and listening. There the concept of Transformational Servant Leadership is a concept that can not only potentially change societies, business or organizations but at the same time also ensures organizational and personal metamorphoses. Thus, this leadership follows a distinctive kind of characteristics and behavior. The attributes of these leaders helps in defining five factors that includes, emotional healing, altruistic calling, wisdom, persuasive mapping and organizational stewardship. Altruistic calling refers to the deep-rooted desire of the leader for making positive difference in lives of other. Here, since the final goal is to serve therefore these leaders will put the interests of others ahead of their own and thereby work towards meeting the needs of the followers. On the other hand, emotional healing refers to the commitment of the leader in ensuring spiritual recovery from any kind of trauma or hardship. Thus, transformational servant leaders use emotional healing and are therefore considered great listeners and highly empathetic. This enables them to create safe environments for employees for voicing professional and personal issues. Wisdom referred as combination of anticipation of consequences and awareness of surroundings. Servant leaders possess this attribute and are efficient at picking cues from the environment and thereby understanding their implications. The transformational servant leadership also possess persuasive mapping that helps them to use mental frameworks and sound reasoning to persuade employees in achieving the business or organizational objectives (Sun, 2013). Therefore, these leaders also prepare an organization in making positive contribution to the society through outreach and programs on community development. Thus, Transformational Servant Leadership help in developing community spirit in a workplace thereby lead to business empowerment. Analysis on Transformational Servant Leadership Transformational Servant Leadership should be able to synthesize features of both transformational and servant leadership. This type of leadership is responsible for bringing in dynamic and new passion to the organization but is also involved with the concern of the team members and their performance (Northouse, 2016). Thus, transformational servant leadership refers to the ability of casting a collaborative moral vision while concerning about the people participating in moving the vision into a reality. For better understanding, a personal example cited as follows: The example mentions a person was an intern in a securities company but he is not working presently. The person therefore mentions that provided the company had a transformational servant leader in his company then it would have been much easier for him and his colleagues who would not have to give an explanation their wives for working overtime. However, it is very difficult to be transformational servant leadership already because the first thing that is required is passion with the help of which the leaders are able to transfer positive energy to the team members (Parolini, 2012). This will enhance their confidence and thereby make them set higher goals. The transformational servant leader also needs to be caring and empathizing and think from the perspective of the teammate that will enable them to build a strong bond even beyond their work responsibilities. Such a leader also needs to have a charismatic appeal since it will help him make potential followers. Compendium Reflections on Transformational Servant Leadership Transformational servant leadership meant for inspiring and guiding followers in order to engage and bring a change in the work process. Four primary behavioral characteristics of Transformational Leadership include inspirational motivation, charismatic influence, individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation. These attributes enable them in transforming the followers mindset and thereby providing them support to participate in fulfilling the goals of the organizational goals (Gregory Stone, Russell, Patterson, 2004). Such leaders also help in developing people ensuring that they have the necessary skills sets for gaining credibility (Allen et al., 2016). Transformational servant leadership recognized as the best among all the existing leadership styles since it promotes and upholds not only the ideals of leaders themselves but also the society Boies, Fiset Gill, 2015).Transformational Servant leadership thus helps in promoting an ideal environment and enhances political stability. Transformational servant leadership also helps in promoting a psychology of leader- follower where leaders and their subjects work for greater gain of the organization (Van Dierendonck Patterson, 2010). Under, such leadership team members also become productive when they realize that the team is working in unison. This particular leadership style also helps employees to work with inspiration and passion thereby enhancing their productivity than what is expected. Thus, transformational servant leadership helps in fulfilling an organization mandate with comfort at any given time without any failure. Suppose if was a leader in organization then I would have demonstrated transformational servant leadership through intrinsic development and motivation of my team members. Therefore, my primary focus while interacting with the team members would be to share the goals and vision of the organization so that they understand what they need to do in achieving the goals. I will also ensure they receive proper guidance by taking feedbacks and understanding the challenges that they face at work (Hammer, 2012).. Through this interaction, I will try to support them by addressing their challenges so that they can easily achieve the organizational goals. As a transformational servant leader, I will try to demonstrate and define services to the employees as a visionary. Further, I will communicate with the team members in defining the purpose and goals of the organization. This will enable employees in achieving the goal of the organization. Therefore, effective communication is very necessary for such leaders. However, as servant leader I will ensure that the process of decision-making is takes place after communication with the team members so that everyones interest indentified. As a transformational servant leader, the ultimate goal of decision-making would focus on achieving good for all and driving sustainable changes in the organization. The empowerment of the team members will depend on understanding the factors that are responsible for motivating them which would enhance their job satisfaction (Choi et al., 2016).I will also ensure that I take regular feedback from the teammates in order to understand their perception of the job. Conclusion: The report ends with a compendium reflection on transformational servant leadership mentioned. There is an analysis on transformational servant leadership with a mention of a personal experience and the attributes necessary for this kind of leadership style. Primarily the report gives an overview on the role of Transformational Servant Leadership within organizations in the context of employee satisfaction and empowerment in business along with a brief description on about transformational leadership and servant leadership. References: Allen, G. P., Moore, W. M., Moser, L. R., Neill, K. K., Sambamoorthi, U., Bell, H. S. (2016). The role of servant leadership and transformational leadership in academic pharmacy.American journal of pharmaceutical education Boies, K., Fiset, J., Gill, H. (2015). Communication and trust are key: Unlocking the relationship between leadership and team performance and creativity.The Leadership Quarterly Boone, L. W., Makhani, S. (2012). Five necessary attitudes of a servant leader.Review of Business,33(1), 83. Choi, S. L., Goh, C.F., Adam, M. B. H., Tan, O. K. (2016). Transformational leadership, empowerment, and job satisfaction: the mediating role of employee empowerment.Human resources for health Choudhary, A. I., Akhtar, S. A., Zaheer, A. (2013). Impact of transformational and servant leadership on organizational performance: A comparative analysis.Journal of Business Ethics,116(2), 433-440. Clavelle, J. T., Drenkard, K., Tullai-McGuinness, S., Fitzpatrick, J. J. (2012). Transformational leadership practices of chief nursing officers in Magnet organizations. Journal of Nursing Administration, 42(4), 195-201. Diddams, M., Chang, G. C. (2012). Only human: Exploring the nature of weakness in authentic leadership.The Leadership Quarterly,23(3), 593-603. Gregory Stone, A., Russell, R. F., Patterson, K. (2004). Transformational versus servant leadership: A difference in leader focus.Leadership Organization Development Journal Gregory Stone, A., Russell, R. F., Patterson, K. (2004). Transformational versus servant leadership: A difference in leader focus.Leadership Organization Development Journal,25(4), 349-361. Hammer, D. (2012).Servant leadership. [Place of publication not identified]: Pacific Creek Books. Kool, M., van Dierendonck, D. (2012). Servant leadership and commitment to change, the mediating role of justice and optimism.Journal of Organizational Change Management,25(3), 422-433. Mittal, R., Dorfman, P. W. (2012). Servant leadership across cultures.Journal of World Business,47(4), 555-570. Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Parolini, J. (2012). Transformational servant leadership: a workbook with a fresh approach to leading well. Xulon Press. Parris, D. L., Peachey, J. W. (2013). A systematic literature review of servant leadership theory in organizational contexts.Journal of business ethics,113(3), 377-393. Sun, P. Y. (2013). The servant identity: Influences on the cognition and behavior of servant leaders.The Leadership Quarterly,24(4), 544-557. Van Dierendonck, D., Patterson, K. (2010).Servant Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan. Van Dierendonck, D., Stam, D., Boersma, P., De Windt, N., Alkema, J. (2014). Same difference? Exploring the differential mechanisms linking servant leadership and transformational leadership to follower outcomes.The Leadership Quarterly,25(3), 544-562. Wang, C. H., Chen, K. Y., Chen, S. C. (2012). Total quality management, market orientation and hotel performance: The moderating effects of external environmental factors.International Journal of Hospitality Management,31(1), 119-129.

MBA Essay Tips

Most graduate business programs require applicants to submit at least one MBA essay as part of the application process. Admissions committees use essays, along with other  application components, to determine whether or not you are a good fit for their business school. A well-written MBA essay can increase your chances of acceptance and help you stand out among other applicants. Choosing an MBA Essay Topic In most cases, you will be assigned a topic or instructed to answer a specific question. However, there are some schools that allow you to choose a topic or select from a short list of provided topics. If you are given the opportunity to choose your own MBA essay topic, you should make strategic choices that allow you to highlight your best qualities. This may include an essay that demonstrates your leadership ability, an essay that showcases your ability to overcome obstacles, or an essay that clearly defines your career goals. Chances are, you will be asked to submit multiple essays usually two or three. You may also have the opportunity to submit an optional essay. Optional essays are usually guideline and topic free, which means you can write about anything you want. Find out  when to use the optional essay. Whatever topic you choose, be sure to come up with stories that support the topic or answer a specific question. Your MBA essay should be focused and feature you as the central player. Common MBA Essay Topics Remember, most business schools will provide you with a topic to write on. Although topics can vary from school to school, there are a few common topics/questions that can be found on many business school applications. They include: Why attend this business school? What are your career goals? What are your short-term and long-term goals? What will you do with your degree? How will a degree help you achieve your goals? Why do you want an MBA? What matters to you most and why? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What is your biggest accomplishment? What is your biggest regret? How have you failed in the past? How do you respond to adversity? What challenges have you overcome? Who do you admire most and why? Who are you? How will you contribute to this program? Why do you have leadership potential? How do you explain weaknesses in your academic record? Answer the Question One of the biggest mistakes that MBA applicants make is not answering the question they are asked. If you are asked about your professional goals, then professional goals not personal goals should be the focus of the essay. If you are asked about your failures, you should discuss mistakes you have made and lessons you have learned not accomplishments or success. Stick to the topic and avoid beating around the bush. Your essay should be direct and pointed from start to finish. It should also focus on you. Remember, an MBA essay is meant to introduce you to the admissions committee. You should be the main character of the story. It is okay to describe admiring someone else, learning from someone else, or helping someone else, but these mentions should support the story of you not cover it up. See another MBA essay mistake to avoid. Basic Essay Tips As with any essay assignment, youll want to carefully follow any instructions you are given. Again, answer the question assigned to you keep it focused and concise. It is also important to pay attention to word counts. If you are asked for a 500-word essay, you should aim for 500 words, rather than 400 or 600. Make every word count. Your essay should also be readable and grammatically correct. The entire paper should be free of errors. Do not use special paper or a crazy font. Keep it simple and professional. Above all, give yourself enough time to write your MBA essays. You don’t want to have to slop through them and turn in something thats less than your best work simply because you had to meet a deadline. See a list of  essay style tips. More Essay Writing Tips Take time to reflect on yourself, your goals, your accomplishments, your strengths, your weaknesses, etc. before you begin writing your essay. Research the school until you have a good understanding of the schools mission, culture, programs, and approach. Create an outline to organize your ideas before you start writing. Use anecdotes and personal stories to make your essay original. Dont be too academic an MBA essay isnt a term paper. It is a marketing packet designed to introduce you. Be specific and detailed. Use examples. Support your statements. Keep it real. You want to impress, but honesty is key. Dont be afraid to be creative. If youre asked where you see yourself five years from now, you can avoid the standard answer and write a diary entry for that day in the future or pretend that youre telling your children about your first job after grad school. Make your essay interesting. Some admissions reps read more than 1,000 essays answering the same question. Hook them with the intro and keep them interested throughout to make your essay stand out among everyone elses. Remember that the #1 rule when writing an MBA essay is to answer the question/stay on topic. When you have finished your essay, ask at least two people to  proofread  it and guess the topic or question you were trying to answer. If they do not guess correctly, you should revisit the essay and adjust the focus until your proofreaders can easily tell what the essay is supposed to be about.

Golden Age Of Athens Essay

Golden Age Of Athens Essay Golden Age Of Athens Essay Golden Age of Athens In 490BCE, Athens began to gain power and posed a threat to the Persians. The Persians declared war on Athens; the Persians outnumbered the Athenians 2:1. As a last resort, Athens sent Thydibides to ask for the assistance of the Spartans. After running 140 miles in 2 days, the Spartan’s refused Thybidides’ plea. In a miracle-like event, the Athenians were victorious over the Persians, killing nearly 6000 men in one day. This battle at Marathon became one of Athens’ defining moments. Thymesticles, who had gained power through democracy, was an Athenian leader who fought in this battle. He also recognized the Persians weren’t entirely defeated, and that they would rage war again with a greater army. He raised a campaign to buy huge ships that seated 170 men on three levels called triremes. When 486BCE came along, King Daris of Persia died, his son Xerxes vowed revenge on Athens. In 483 BCE, a large vain of silver was found in Athens that Thymesticles wanted to spend on the triremes. The Athenian citizens were opposed to this idea – they proposed that the silver be divided among the citizens. Thymesticles won his campaign to buy these ships just at the right time; in 480BCE the word reached Athens that the Persians were coming. Athens turned to their Gods for hope, sending a message to their oracle. Their message read, â€Å"What can we do to save ourselves?† the oracle responded telling them to flee, there was nothing they could do. The Athenians rose in uproar that their Gods had deserted them, the leaders of Athens decided to evacuate the city-state. Thymesticles sent another message to the oracle, with the response that they could be saved by the wooden wall. Thymesticles interpreted this as the wooden ships he had bought specifically for this war, so he devised a brilliant plan. He sent the warriors and men to the island of Salamis where they watched the Persians invade the deserted Athens and burn the Acropolis to the ground. Quick-witted Themyisticles sent a fake letter to the Persian army, asking to meet them in the Strait of Salamis. When the Persians arrived, the Athenians destroyed their forces, destroying over 200 of their ships. Athens had won, again. Winning this battle meant a new dawn for Athens, it began to grow unprecedentedly fast. They became the new head of naval confederacy and the unspoken head of the Delian League. With their multiple naval fleets, Athens’ economic power grew. The Athenians had access to a quality of life that no Greek before them had ever experienced. It was at this time that Themysticles was under attack – he was eventually ostracized by the ostraca

Interesting Facts About Arsenic

Interesting Facts About Arsenic Arsenic is best known as a poison and a pigment, but it has many other interesting properties. Here are 10 arsenic element facts: Arsenics symbol is As and its atomic number is 33. It is an example of a metalloid or semimetal, with properties of both metals and nonmetals. It is found in nature as a single stable isotope, arsenic-75. At least 33 radioisotopes have been synthesized. Its most common oxidation states are -3 or 3 in compounds. Arsenic also readily forms bonds with its own atoms.Arsenic occurs naturally in pure crystalline form and also in several minerals, usually with sulfur or metals. In its pure form, the element has three common allotropes: gray, yellow, and black. Yellow arsenic is a waxy solid that converts into gray arsenic after exposure to light at room temperature. Brittle gray arsenic is the most stable form of the element.The element name comes from the ancient  Persian word  Zarnikh, which means yellow orpiment. Orpiment is arsenic trisulfide, a mineral that resembles gold. The Greek word  arsenikos means potent.Arsenic was known to ancient man and important in alchemy. The pure e lement was officially isolated in 1250 by the German Catholic Dominican friar Albertus Magnus (1200–1280). Early on, arsenic compounds were used in bronze to increase its hardness, as colorful pigments, and in medicines. When arsenic is heated, it oxidizes and releases an odor similar to that of garlic. Striking various arsenic-containing minerals with a hammer might also release the characteristic odor.At ordinary pressure, arsenic, like carbon dioxide, does not melt but sublimes directly into vapor. Liquid arsenic only forms under high pressure.Arsenic has long been used as a poison, but its readily detected. Past exposure to arsenic may be assessed by examining hair. Urine or blood tests can assay recent exposure. The pure element and all its compounds are toxic. Arsenic damages multiple organs, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and the excretory system. Inorganic arsenic compounds are considered more toxic than organic arsenic. While high doses can cause a quick death, low-dose exposure is also dangerous because arsenic can cause genetic damage and cancer. Arsenic causes epigenetic changes, which are heritable changes that occur withou t alteration of DNA. Although the element is toxic, arsenic is widely used. It is a semiconductor doping agent. It adds a blue color to pyrotechnic displays. The element is added to improve sphericity of lead shot. Arsenic compounds are still found in certain poisons, such as insecticides. The compounds are often used to treat wood to prevent degradation by termites, fungi, and mold. Arsenic is used to produce linoleum, infrared-transmitting glass, and as a depilatory (chemical hair remover). Arsenic is added to several alloys to improve their properties.Despite the toxicity, arsenic has several therapeutic uses. The element is an essential trace mineral for proper nutrition in chickens, goats, rodents, and possibly humans. It may be added to livestock food to help the animals put on weight. It has been used as a syphilis treatment, cancer treatment, and skin bleaching agent. Some species of bacteria can perform a version of photosynthesis that uses arsenic rather than oxygen to obtain energy.The element abundance of arsenic in the Earths crust is 1.8 parts per million by weight.  Approximately a third of the arsenic found in the atmosphere comes from natural sources, such as volcanoes, but most of the element comes from human activities, such as smelting, mining (especially copper mining), and release from coal-burning power plants. Deep water wells are commonly contaminated with arsenic.

A critical review of the reading materials Assignment

A critical review of the reading materials - Assignment Example The review credits the rise of the Western type of film to that of a way to reflect on American history. The author of the article hints toward the fact that sometimes a rise in a certain area of movies has a particular motive in terms of influencing society. I had never really thought of it like that but in times where there are different societal issues, it does seem true that within the realm of film, media is another way to influence or inform a whole audience, several theaters or DVDs at a time. It seems as if there is one movie about one type of subject, then a few others pop up to mimic it or have similar story lines all around the same time (especially if a movie has performed exceptionally well at the box office within its initial running). Unforgiven begins with a fast pace cut from opening credits which the author of the article discusses. There is brutality shown in the context of the film and establishes where the movie is to be set. It is apparent through the use of characters such as a cowboy and a whore, guns and a saloon in the initial setting that this will be a Western film and early on establishes that with the films audience. This sets the initial mood of the film rather fast and the descriptiveness the author used to describe the opening scenes is somewhat intense and summarizes the scene of violence. Not only is the setting of the film to be in a small one-horse town but it is noted early on that this is a reflection to the olden days when trains were a useful means of transport. It also indicates that there is some level of civilization or industry as symbolized by the railroad shown in the film. Though a person has to travel to the nearby railroad, this is also symbolic that this is small town that is a little bit off of the regular beaten path but is connected to the rest of the world regardless. The author continues to describe events in the

Formation of a Legally Binding Business Contract Essay - 3

Formation of a Legally Binding Business Contract - Essay Example It is important to consider what constitutes a valid offer. There are various statements which seem like offers but actually not offer. A distinction must be among offer, invitation to offer, an invitation to treat. Jess advertised a second-hand van for sale on a car trade website for  £2650. This is not an offer but a mere invitation to offer. This means that if anyone shows interest in the van, Jess reserves the right of refusing to sell it. As seen in the given case, Mr. Powell showed interest in the van but Jess told him that she would sell it if any other customer came before him. The interest shown by Mr. Powell was the actual offer but it was not accepted by Jess. Jess agreed to sell the van to him but she qualified her acceptance by saying that she would sell the van to any customer that came before him. A qualified acceptance is not a valid acceptance which is why they did not have any agreement yet. Mr. Powell told Jess that he would pay  £450 in advance if she did not sell the van to any customer for three days. Normally, when general offers are made, the offeror is not bound to keep the offer open for any particular offeree. However, when an offeree agrees to pay a consideration for keeping the offer open for a certain period, the offeror becomes bound to keep it open for the stipulated period as seen in Dickinson v Dodds. Mr. Powell has obtained a promise with the consideration of  £450 from Jess that she would keep the offer to sell the van to Mr. Powell open for three days. Now Jess and Mr. Powell have an agreement that is separate from that of selling of the van. Another important fact is that Jess’ invitation to offer turned into an offer during this negotiation. It is because anyone could have made an offer to Jess before she promised to keep her offer open.

General Manager Essay Example for Free

General Manager Essay 1. Planning administration †¢ Provide leadership and vision to the organization by assisting the Board and staff with the development of long range and annual plans, and with the evaluation and reporting of progress on plans . †¢ Oversee preparation of an Annual Report summarizing progress on short and long range plans. †¢ Research and write discussion papers, analysis documents and proposals as needed to assist the organization in determining and meeting its long and short term goals. 2. HR management †¢ Recruitment and contracting of company and project staff; †¢ Employee development, and training; †¢ Policy development and documentation; †¢ Employee relations; †¢ Performance management and improvement systems; †¢ Employment and compliance to regulatory concerns and reporting; †¢ Company-wide committee facilitation including planning, production, staff and †¢ Board of Directors, including arranging meetings and agendas, attending and minuting meetings; 3. Project management: †¢ Manage hire and distribution of music scores and parts, including any performing rights payments. †¢ Oversee the booking of tours this includes: venue liaison from negotiating the deal to distribution of audience questionnaires, programs and merchandise. †¢ Oversee organization of company transport, subsistence and accommodation. †¢ Liaise with Production Manager to oversee hire and delivery / transport of all technical and production equipment. 4. Marketing and PR: †¢ Manage advertising opportunities in other theatre program, press and at venues. †¢ Organize the availability of company members for media/PR events as necessary. †¢ Oversee content, production and distribution of all marketing and publicity materials (posters, program, flyers, mail outs, brochures etc) with director, designer and project manager. †¢ Manage press development; †¢ Co-ordinate the invitation of potential future promoters and supporters of the company. 5. Financial management †¢ Provide recommendations regarding investments and cash strategies. †¢ Oversee preparation of annual budget, regular variance statements and annual audit. †¢ Provide vision regarding overall financial health of the company. †¢ Provide vision and leader ship in long range fiscal planning to ensure the continuity and solvency of the company. †¢ Provide recommendations regarding effective utilization of long and short term debt, including refinancing and purchasing/sales. †¢ Oversee fundraising efforts. 7. Production/QC: †¢ Insure accurate documentation of production and quality control data and records. †¢ Direct and oversee site production activities and personnel. †¢ Oversee and ensure high safety standards at all times. †¢ Direct production activities to insure safety and compliance with quality control standards, regulatory compliance, and lease agreements. †¢ Oversee and/or ensure good housekeeping at site at all times. 6. Administrative management †¢ Ensure client and vendor file integrity (documents, analytical information where required, communication notations, etc.). †¢ Maintain general oversight and insure accuracy of records including A/R, A/P, Inventory, etc. †¢ Assist in development of forms and tools to increase company efficiency and risk management. III / Job specification of general manager job description 1. A minimum of five years of experience in business management, planning and financial oversight. 2. A minimum of five years of experience in personnel management, including hiring, supervision, evaluation and benefits administration. 3. A minimum of three years of experience working with a board of directors and committees. 4. College graduate or equivalent experience. 5. Proven skills in business and financial management. 6. Demonstrated ability to work with student member owners. 7. Demonstrated ability to work in a proactively diverse and inclusive organization. 8. Excellent, proven interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills. 9. Demonstrated ability to manage and supervise a staff team. 10. Effective problem solving and mediation skills. 11. Demonstrated ability to share skills and knowledge with others. 12. Proficiency with office computer equipment and software. 13. Demonstrated ability to multi task and work in a fast paced office setting. 14. Proven ability to cope with conflict, stress and crisis situations. III/ TYPES OF EXECUTIVE JOB DESCRIPTION Executive job descriptions include JDs as follows: 1. CEO job description 2. Executive Director job description 3. Operations manager job description 4. Executive assistant job description 5. General manager job description Source: Executive job description and interview questions dictionary III / Compensation and benefits Net salary: 2.950 USD/month. Email: [emailprotected]

The Comic Hero in Aristophanes and Charlie Chaplin :: Cominc Hero Aristophanes Chaplin Essays

The Comic Hero in Aristophanes and Charlie Chaplin The comedic works of both Aristophanes, a fifth-century ancient Greek playwright, and Charlie Chaplin, an actor of the early twentieth century, center around one character. Aristophanes' play Clouds, first produced in 423 B.C.E., concerns Strepsiades and his many debts; he plans to learn from Socrates the art of the Inferior Argument so that he may convince his creditors that he does not have to pay them anything after all. In his later play Birds, first produced in 414 B.C.E., the main character is Makemedo, a man so determined to get out of Athens that he convinces a collection of birds to defy the gods, establish themselves as the rulers over the earth, and build a brick city in the sky from which they can reign and where he can also live. In each of Chaplin's films The Immigrant (1917), The Count (1916), and Easy Street (1917), he acts as a kind of "tramp" who overcomes his low status in society and achieves what he wants, even if only for a short time. Strepsiades, Makemedo, and Chaplin all shamelessly pursue their desires with little regard for the rules and standards of society around them. In his published lecture concerning Aristophanes' plays, Cedric H. Whitman discusses what he considers as the general template of all of Aristophanes' main characters: the comic hero. Whitman defines a comic hero as possessing great individualism, a good deal of poneros, meaning wickedness, and striking a balance of eiron and alazon, which translates into being a mixture of an ironical buffoon, who makes fun of himself for his own amusement, and an imposter, who disguises his true identity or feelings. He sees the comic hero as one who is extremely self-motivated and self-centered: "whatever is heroic is individualistic, and tends toward excess, or at least extremes. It asserts its self primarily . . ." Whitman also declares that poneros is necessary in the character of the comic hero, that this person is villainous, manipulative, and very convincing. The comic hero is shameless in expressing his desires, and he has no shame in pursuing them by any means necessary, whether such acts would be considered right or wrong. Whitman also recognizes the mixture of eiron--ironical buffoonery--and alazon--being an imposter--in the comic hero of Aristophanes' plays. "The mere buffoon, says Aristotle, makes fun for the sake of getting a laugh for others; the ironical man makes fun for his own amusement, which is more worthy of a free man.

Barack Obama and his Political Propaganda Essay

The process of running for the United States presidency is no easy task. Like in almost any relationship, attraction is the key to provide the foundation for anticipation and expectations. In the beginning, one will always place his best foot forward, and contemplating on addressing issues which would appeal dramatically to other people. Running for the presidency is no less than different with pursuing a girl to have a relationship with you. It all starts with making her pay attention to what you have to say and to what you can offer despite many competitors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Barack Obama came across the attraction stage with flying colors because he seemed to have captured the attention of most population in the American community, across varying groups and minorities (Martin, 2008, p.1). For one, he appeared to come prepared for what is known as a great battle to get Democratic nomination against Senator Hillary Clinton who is one tough competitor. Obama lacks the experience, and can be said as less popular than Clinton who has established her prominence during the presidency of her husband. However, the appeal in Obama’s candidacy defers the idea that he was only elected as Senator in 2005, and a very young player in the realm of politics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This paper aims to explore the political propaganda used by Obama to ensure his future in the White House. For the purpose of the paper, we shall examine the different types of media used by Obama to gain votes and preferences, the manner by which he delivers his agendas, his target audience and supporters, and how this greatly affects his stance in the race to get the democratic nomination. It is certain that the race between Obama and Clinton’s nomination is very tight, but we shall take the time to assess how Obama’s political propaganda has delivered expected results in his leads on major polls and surveys worldwide as Democrats most preferred candidate. â€Å"Change we can believe in† It is a fact that most Americans are demanding change from future politicians in running the country. Many circumstances and events has led Americans hopeful for change and has been the pivotal driving force behind many political agendas. Obama is no exception. By using the ideology of â€Å"change† as a campaign slogan, he ignites the hope among idealistic men and women around the country to believe in what he regards as change (Obama 2008: Change we Believe In, 2008). Obama has a great advantage in speaking with eloquence and sensitivity, with emotions that has words fulfilled with hope and change, gives many people the self-identity they want to see change in the future administration, or in this case, in a democratic candidate for the presidency. This is a note worthy to be taken beforehand, so as to provide a basis on how we can assess Obama’s political propaganda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even before the decisive voting held on February 5, 2008, there has been a pronounced shift in favor for Obama of Illinois from opinion polls, surveys, campaign contributions and political and media endorsements (Martin, 2008, p.1). Obama, being a new player in the realm of politics used significant intervention from different political representatives to endorse his candidacy. For example, when Senator Edward Kennedy expressed his fervent support for Obama, it has generated significant contribution in uplifting Obama’s candidacy. As many critics saw it, Kennedy’s endorsement has become a signal of the Democratic Party’s consensus on his candidacy. Following this influential event led to many mass media endorsements of the event including newspapers published in California, Los Angeles Times and La Opinion, which the most widely-read Spanish-language daily.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After Kennedy’s endorsement, opinion polls showed Obama in strict ties with Senator Clinton for the democratic nomination (Associated Press, 2008). The strategy used governs many political advisers view to gain majority of delegates from key states to secure victory, and Obama did it with just one major political and highly-publicized endorsement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The appeal of Obama’s political propaganda can be deemed into two significant standpoints. First, the on-going deep desire for social and political change is strongly used by the Obama campaign to hub an illusion, and to foster great support from the idealist (martin, 2008, p. 1). This s highlighted by the mass media by emphasizing that this change will come from someone from the African American community, a fundamentally groundbreaking event in American history if and when Obama wins as the first black President. However, Obama is not a clear product of any acts against racial oppression and civil rights struggles. He is a politician groomed to be of appeal to massive voters in the coming elections.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Obama’s political propaganda seeks to disengage and disassociate itself from the struggle of the elite and ruling class in running the country. More so, the critiques on Obama has seemingly less impacts because of a well-organized activities from the media who supports his candidacy and owes their respective professions to corporate bosses and financial institutions which have their own candidate as preferences. Even Obama’s appeal has penetrated the right-wing group with endorsements from Rupert Murdoch for example.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also significant of the character of Obama’s political propaganda is the shift in campaign contributions from major business firms. More money means more capability in a candidate’s political machinery. Obama has been endorsed by different military institutions, then national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Warren Buffett, the second richest man in the United States. Other known mass media executives and corporate executives have also pledged significant amounts for Obama to continue his aspiration on the America presidency. Through continuous efforts from the Obama campaign wagon to instill their dedication towards real change, the Los Angeles Times broke their tradition of not endorsing any candidate with the promotion of Obama’s candidacy in their editorial (Martin, 2008, p.1 ).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     As an observation, although generally the political propaganda of Obama is sufficient for him to gather and maintain support, it is also clear with biases to achieve voters support. For one, it sometimes resorts to Ad Hominem or the attack to his primary opposition and her arguments. In many cases, through debates and news reports, Obama responds to what Clinton offers on a negative tone. Although at times he emphasized their differences, he also had made several points of their similarities obvious to other people. By using change as a promotional concept and advocacy of his candidacy, he often appeals to authority which uses an ideal which is popular amongst people and grant their support for the ideology he used. He also often uses the appeal to prejudice on many public conventions and speaking engagements to evoke the sense of emotional value and goodness to benefit his character. Conclusion The Obama campaign has utilized effective marketing campaign strategies which efficiently used their connections and endorsements form media outlets and institutions. For the most part, Obama is following a political propaganda which is embedded to deny political differences and social classes but with emphasis on the economic differences between individuals in the society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Obama political propaganda strongly used news reports, radio, television and posters. It specifically and strategically used these media to indoctrinate various groups of audiences he wished to communicate with and to. Usually through this media, Obama used a directional method on how people can learn about more of his strategies, goals and principles. Through these methods, he intends to initiate individuals as information seekers, to recipients, to reinforcement and opinion leader in favor of his own. Works Cited: Associated Press (2008). â€Å"Obama comes up short on union support.† Hemscott Group Limited. Retrieved on March 24, 2008, from http://www.hemscott.com/news/latest-news/item.do?newsId=56416543358904 Martin, Patrick (2008). â€Å"US political establishment lines up behind Barack Obama.† International Committee on the Fourth International (ICFI). Retrieved on March 24, 2008, from http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/feb2008/obam-f04.shtml Obama for America (2008). â€Å"Obama 2008: Change we Believe In†. The Official Site of Obama’s Campaign. Retrieved on March 24, 2008, from http://www.barackobama.com/   

Alcoholism: Alcoholic Beverage and Life Essay

Why do people drink alcohol? To reduce stress, to relax, to show off, or due to peer pressure. One of every thirteen adult drink alcohol. According to the article ‘FTC report cites improvement in alcohol industry self-regulation, â€Å"Fourteen million American suffered health, psychological, social, and genetics problem due to excess drinking of alcohol† (federal trade commission). It has caused a serious problem in the society. Even after executing the law of no drinking and driving, these drinking and driving problem has been frequently seen in the society. Many people has involved in sever accident and also, has lost their precious life. Many people who don’t drink has also been the victim of these alcoholic problem. I decided to choose alcohol addiction as my topic because I was also once a victim of alcohol. Different plans has been made in by the government and other social service organization to control the drinking habit of the person. Since alcoholism has been a serious problem in the present society, the government and other organization has been executing different laws and regulation to control it. One of the major step is establishing the rehabilitation center. The article ‘alcoholism and drug rehab’ stated that, â€Å"Research studies have found that certain approaches to addiction treatment and aftercare works better than other. This approaches in establishing a rehab center can help a lots of citizens† (Recovery Connection). The phrases â€Å"addiction treatment and after care works better† refers that alcoholics rehabilitation is given more priority to the government to reduce the alcoholism. This kinds of plans are frequently executed by the government to help the citizens and to create safe society. Other several laws like no drinking in public areas, age regulation (drinking restriction until the person is 21 years old), ID checking while buying liquor, time to time investigation to make sure that all these rules are followed strictly are run by the government. All this above are the plans and laws used by the government to control the alcoholism. I had been a victim of alcohol by the habit drinking it excessively due to peer pressure. I was living a very luxurious live. I had a wonder job, happy family, and reputation. But one small mistake changed my life. My friend name Anthony bao said, â€Å"Hey! There is a hard drinks in our home inside cupboard. You want to try. It taste really good. There is no one on my home right now† (bao). This small incident occur when I was 16 years old. I taste the liquor that day for the first time in my life and forgot those moments for 4 years. And again I started to drink when I was with my friends. It taste sweet. I started liking it and every day I started to drink a little bit. I got habituated with it and addicted to it. I was kicked out from my house. I lost my job. Eventually I started spending all the money I earned and saved. I act like a homeless. Nobody was willing to help me looking at my condition. I faced a lots of trouble reading the situation. In this way, I faced horrible situation due to alcohol addiction. I overcome the problem with the help of my friend who showed me the right path. He fine the way for me to be a good guy. He admitted me to the rehabilitation center, where I develop my habit and came out as a good guy. My friend name Azam khan said, â€Å"This is the best I can do for you. This is one of the best place I can leave you to develop your habit† (khan). He helped me in the very bad situation where I could develop into a very good person. I was first given very high amount of alcohol to drink, but eventually they reduce the amount and finally stopped it. For the first time in the life I felt good about myself. I felt like I just woke up from the worst dream. I appreciated my friend’s believe that I can be good again. When I sometimes look back to my life, I feel shame on myself. I was back to the good guy again. I showed my sobriety. Therefore, my parents forgave me, my good friends were back with me, and I got a same position job. I started living a wonderful life. During this struggle of life, I learned a valuable experience after this incident. I went to such a terrible time in my life. I shortly got addicted to alcohol, it harmed me for a long time, and it took me a long time to recover. I wish it was just a bitter dream. But still I am trying to forget it as bitter dream. It was such a long process of recovery on the life, but I end up with learning a valuable lesson. I realize that I was living my life as a dead person. All my friends, parents, and relatives used to hate me. I was just living a disgusting life. I said to myself, â€Å"wow! Such a wonderful life I am living right now. A while ago, I was hated and today I am loved by all. Thanks to god. † One famous actor Brian welch, â€Å"In 2005 Brian’s life changed when he experienced a dramatic conversion to a non-alcoholic person. He was addicted to alcohol and then sought solitude in order to cleanse himself of addiction. He credits God with his rehabilitation† (welch). It was just a wonderful moment after I got rid of alcohol. He shared his experience about how he was sought himself and addiction. He gave a credit to the god for helping him to get rid of alcohol. He could never imagine being in that condition again. In this process of life I learn the valuable lesson that alcohol is a poison. I wish even my bad-wisher would not have to live such kind of life. After a long hard treatment, I got a positive result after the recovery within a very short time comparing to other people. Many people were surprised and happy that I recover from that world of alcohol pretty fast. One of the instructor said, â€Å"I was really surprised when I saw him making a gradual progress about ignoring alcohol. Some people takes years and years to completely stop it, but I am glad he made in such short time of eight months†. After I was released from the rehab center, I came as totally as a new person and with new life. I really started appreciating that my life has been changed and everything is back to normal again. I loved the life without conflict with friends, family and no humiliation. Since I showed the positive result I was really happy. According to the casa palmera, â€Å"more than 43% of people have trouble with changing the alcoholic’s habit within less than three years† (alcohol rehabilitation statistics). This above quotation argues that fact that people in US who are send to victim of alcoholism barely show the positive change in very short period of time. It has been a serious problems for the government and many families who have been going through miserable condition due to the alcohol addiction to their family members. My family and I myself was lucky to get out of this horrible addiction in a very short period without being any late. This was one of the best feeling I got. In this way, I showed very good result and improve myself then other people. Therefore, to share my short life with alcohol I decided to choose to write the essay about this alcohol addiction. I was lucky enough to get rid of it now and live a wonderful life. I highly appreciate the hard work and believe of my family, friends, and instructor from rehab center. I would suggest people to never, even by mistake, drink the alcohol. It ruins your life, your money, your reputation, and pretty much everything. People can do their part by showing sobriety, making friends after really knowing them and never falling in the trap of friend circle if they have a bad influence. Credits to: â€Å"Alcoholism and Drug Rehab FAQs. † Alcoholism Treatment and Drug Rehab Related FAQs. N. p. , 2 July 2011. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. Bao, Anthony. â€Å"How I started drinking† personal, 1 February 2007. 26 Feb. 2013. â€Å"Federal Trade CommissionProtecting America’s Consumers. † FTC Report Cites Improvements in Alcohol Industry Self-Regulation. Federal Trade Commision, 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. Khan, Azam. â€Å"How he helped me improved† personal, 2 may 2008. 26 Feb. 2013. Welch, Brian. â€Å"10 Celebrities Who Overcame Their Addictions. † – Beliefnet. com. Beleifnet, n. d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. â€Å"866-768-6719 Why Casa Treatments Location Admissions. † Casa Palmera. N. p. , n. d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.

Why is there a need for reconciliation projects within austr essays

Why is there a need for reconciliation projects within austr essays Why is there a need for reconciliation projects within Australia? When Europeans discovered Australia in the year 1770, they declared the land terra nullius- uninhabited. However, this was not true. This erroneous statement was what led to years of violence, discrimination, massacre and racial discord which continues to have devastating effects on our society, more than 20 decades later. As a nation, we still bear the scars from this period, and it is now, more than ever, that we need to focus on reconciliation. The term reconciliation means to bring into agreement or harmony, to render no longer opposed. The current Australian project of reconciliation refers to efforts to resolve past issues and differences between Australias indigenous population and the wider community. It was established in 1991, when the commonwealth parliament voted to found the council for Aboriginal reconciliation, aswell as to begin a formal reconciliation process. This came as the result of continuingly obvious inequalities and hostility between both groups. The 26th of January is a day on which many Australians celebrate the founding of modern- day Australia. However, for many indigenous Australians, this day is not one of celebration but one of mourning and protest. It signifies the loss of their traditional culture, death, disownment, and disease. When Europeans first colonized Australia they spread sickness and conflict throughout the Aboriginal settlements- they took the lives of many indigenous peoples, and stole their children to bring up as their own. For years after, Aboriginal people were despised and discriminated against, robbed of their land and their rights. Indigenous people were not allowed to vote until 1962, and could not even be counted as an Australian citizen until 1967. Although today Australias Aboriginals are recognised as the equals of white Australians, and racist attitudes are part of a small mino ...

The Difference Between Sessions and Cookies in PHP

The Difference Between Sessions and Cookies in PHP In PHP, visitor information designated to be used across the site can be stored in either sessions  or cookies. Both of them accomplish much the same thing. The main difference between cookies and sessions is that information stored in a cookie is stored on the visitors browser, and information stored in a session is not- it is stored at the web server. This difference determines what each is best suited for. A Cookie Resides on the User's Computer Your website can be set to place a cookie on a users computer. That cookie maintains information in the users machine until the information is deleted by the user. A person may have a username and password to your website. That information can be saved as a cookie on the visitors computer, so there is no need for him to log in to your website on each  visit. Common uses for cookies include authentication, storage of site preferences, and shopping cart items. Although you can store almost any text in a browser cookie, a user can block cookies or delete them at any time. If, for example, your websites shopping cart utilizes cookies, shoppers who block cookies in their browsers cant shop at your website. Cookies can be disabled or edited by the visitor. Do not use cookies to store sensitive data. Session Information Resides on the Web Server A session is server-side information  intended to exist only throughout the visitors interaction with the website. Only a unique identifier is stored on the client side. This token is passed to the web server when the visitors browser requests your  HTTP address. That  token matches your website with the visitors information while the user is at your site. When the user closes the website, the session ends, and your website loses access to the information. If you dont need any permanent data, sessions are usually the way to go. They are a little easier to use, and they can be as large as needed, in comparison with cookies, which are relatively small. Sessions cannot be disabled or edited by the visitor.  Ã‚   So, if you have a site requiring a login, that information is better served as a cookie, or the user would be forced to log in every time he visits. If you prefer tighter security and the ability to control the data and when it expires, sessions work  best. You can, of course, get the best of both worlds. When you know what each does, you can use a combination of cookies and sessions to make your site work exactly the way you want it to work.

Imperialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Imperialism - Essay Example n instance, Michael Parenti depends on the economic exploitations of imperialism as the basis of his definition, as he says, â€Å"By imperialism I mean the process whereby the dominant politico-economic interests of one nation expropriate for their own enrichment the land, labor, raw materials, and markets of another people† (24). A true impartial tone about the core nature of imperialism is Lake’s definition, as he says, â€Å"Imperialism is a form of international hierarchy in which one political unit, or polity, effectively governs or controls another polity† (7232). Since Lake’s political perspective focuses on the core political aspect of imperialism, it, though implicitly, implicates other aspects also through the two terms â€Å"effectively governs or control† and â€Å"another polity†. The term â€Å"effective control† refers to suppressions in various economic and cultural forms because the dominant polity in imperialism cannot assimilate â€Å"another polity† within itself by obliterating the otherness and the distance that prevails between the dominant and the dominated. Lake refers to this failure of the imperialistic dominant to shed the otherness as a primary cause of suppression in the following quote: â€Å"Exploitation of the weak by the stron g is not essential to imperialism, but it is an often natural outgrowth of effective domination. The affinity between domination and exploitation explains the typically pejorative status of the term.† (7232) In fact, the definition of imperialism is such that it cannot shed off its oppressive and repressive apparels. The existential basis of Imperialism essentially lies in the early European Colonialism. Though the overall concept of imperialism is different from early European colonialism, the underlying motif to rule the weaker people is existent at the core of these two forms of dominance. Indeed the later one is more associated with the political systems of ruling the people of an area than the colonialism

General science Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

General science - Research Paper Example Any stakeholder must meet environmental requirements. These include having competent personnel who are informed about quality work and health and safety regulations. This way, the construction and general engineering work environment will be safe during and after the work. Among the work regulations, there must be a provision that deals with defective work treatment during different times. These include defects during building season, at time of completion, at defects liability season and at rectification time. In a standard construction contract, there are instructions that provide for regular inspection of the building works; the testing of materials used general supervision of the construction work. Inspection of work and building material examination is catered for by contractor. This however excludes any inspection of work and testing materials that is not within the contract (Lepatner et al., 2008). Construction hazards and their causes In construction works, there are various dangers at different stages of the work. These dangers include accidents, collapse of the structures, outbreak of fires, and inhalation of dangerous gases among others. In a bid to ensure that the construction team is less prone to accidents, it is necessary to recruit qualified personnel to ensure knowledgeable persons are enrolled. Incompetent employees are more prone to accidents while working in construction sites, as there are high chances of being indulged in insecure practices. Basically, all employees should have knowledge on the basic safety procedures. Poor quality construction is a factor that may cause falling of buildings (Lepatner et al., 2008). Buildings collapse because of defects that arise in the building during the time of construction due to factors such as, the construction work being carried out in a bad practice as per that particular construction project. The contractor and his team may not be careful in ensuring good quality materials are delivered to the si te. Contractor’s inability to deal with minor defects in advance may result to the collapse of a building. Construction work of a faulty design, will definitely lead to construction of a defective building. When the strength members fail to bear load, the building collapses. In many cases the contractor is always liable for any damages that occur due to defective structures. Factors affecting compensation procedure formulation In occurrence of an accident, there is a need to compensate the victims. This has made people to come up with procedures to be followed during the compensation of the victims. Addition the cause of the accidents has to investigate to establish whether it is was out of negligence. Project management team should formulate procedures to be followed in the case of an unexpected occurrence during or after the completion the work. Depending on the stage at which a defect occurs, different procedures should be laid down already to guide on the making of the cl aims (Construction Research Congress, Ariaratnam, Rojas, Construction Institute & University of Washington, 2009). After making the claim and notifications to the relevant people, there should be a guideline on the dispute resolution procedures to be followed. It is crucial for project manager or contractor to think of consequences of defects at project beginning. At the design stage, the design team should have in mind that there is a need to

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - Essay Example As mentioned above, Tesco is nothing less than a living legend since it has been able to survive for so many decades. Quite understandably, this has caught the attention many experts, professionals, and critics. They all wonder about that magic formula or approach or Tesco has, which has enabled it to fight, survive and grow. Tesco takes pride in revealing this magic formula and calls it as Tesco’s way. More importantly, this Tesco’s way was noticeable during the visit to the Magor’s distribution centre. Sophistication in technology, highly trained and capable staff to use the same, simple yet complete and spacious infrastructure, proper planning with back up plans for peak times, efforts undertaken to ensure employee satisfaction, micro management, proper communication amongst employees, acknowledgement of company’s goals by employees and others were showing a glimpse of what makes up the Tesco’s way. Without any doubts, Tesco’s operations revolve around the corporate objectives set by the top management and inherited by its founder Jack Cohen. Jack once said, â€Å"You cannot do business sitting on your ass† (Seth & Randall, pp. 212-213, 2001). Jack’s strategy was of constant hard work, innovation, change, adaptability, and openness to experience and Tesco has inherited the same from him. Constant growth, being valued by the customers, and having the most committed and loyal staff, becoming a global retailer having influence at all parts of the world and making Tesco a strong brand name even for non-food items. Moreover, for creating this value, Tesco believes that it should the understand the needs, cultures and mindset of its customers, create maximum employee satisfaction because it leads to customer satisfaction and divert all its strength, efforts, and innovation towards creating value for its customers. Another famous tagline of Tesco is

Tetrodotoxin And The Threat Of Bioterrorism Biology Essay

Tetrodotoxin And The Threat Of Bioterrorism Biology Essay The threat of bioterrorism remains a reality worldwide, although of low probability, an attack would be a high-consequence event. Microbes are available to individuals with appropriate contacts and even many low-grade bacterial pathogens can severely affect health. Toxins provide bacteria with a system of defense that is often detrimental to humans and their versatility makes them potential tools of bioterrorism. It should be remembered that the aim of terrorism is not always to kill but rather to strike fear into peoples lives. Importantly, no state can ever be fully prepared for a response and it is probable that no state ever could be. It is for this reason that biological agents are so attractive as weapons. (British Journal of Biomedical Science, 2005) Deserving of a closer look as a potential weapon of bioterrorism and as a threat to public health and safety is tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent marine neurotoxin, named after the order of fish from which it is most commonly associated, the Tetrodoniformes (tetras four and odontos-tooth), or the tetraodon puffer fish. The tetraodon puffers are equipped with four large teeth which are nearly fused, forming a beak-like structure used for cracking mollusks and other invertebrates, as well as for scraping corals and general reef grazing. (Florida State University, January, 2002) According to the New York Times, first isolated from the puffer fish, tetrodotoxin is among the most potent toxins known. It is 100 times as toxic by weight as potassium cyanide two milligrams can kill an adult human and it is not destroyed by cooking. Tetrodotoxin is found in more than just marine creatures. It is present in high concentrations in the skin of certain newts in North American and Japan, and in several kinds of frogs in Central and South America and Banglaesh. (New York Times Science, December, 2009) The flesh of the puffer fish (i.e. fugu) is considered a delicacy in Japan. It is prepared by chefs specially trained and certified by the government to prepare the flesh free of the toxic liver, gonads and skin. Despite these precautions, many cases of tetrodotoxin poisoning are reported each year in patients ingesting fugu. (Medscape CDC Commentary Series, October, 2009) From 1974 through 1983 there 646 reported cases of fugu (puffer fish) poisoning in Japan, with 179 fatalities. Estimates as high as 200 cases per year with mortality approaching 50% have been reported. (Florida State University, January, 2002) Interestingly while tetrodotoxin is found in several different branches of the animal kingdom, the tetrodotoxin found in each of these creatures is identical unlike the venoms produced by snakes and scorpions which are made up of different kinds of toxins particular to that species. The evidence suggests that these animals do make the toxin themselves. (New York Times Science, December, 2009) The toxin itself appears to be made by relatively common marine bacteria, specifically Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis tetraodonis, which associates with these animals. Validating this theory when puffer fish are raised in aquariums with filtered, bacteria-free water, they are non-toxic and the same results are achieved when Japanese newts or Panamanian frogs are raised on special diets they lose their toxicity. These experiments validate the theory that these toxic animals obtain the toxin from the food chain. Several species of tetrodotoxin-producing bacteria have been found in puffer fish, the blue-ringed octopus, and certain small and other animals. It appears that the animals become toxic by sequestering the bacterially produced toxin in their tissues. (New York Times Science, December, 2009) The exact origin of tetrodotoxin in the food chain remains unclear. The only common dominator seems to be that tetrodotoxin producing animals are closely related to an aquatic system and the bacteria that commonly inhabit the aquatic system. (MDPI Marine Drugs, May 2008) The toxic dose is not clear because puffer fish have different concentrations of tetrodotoxin. A dose of 1-2 mg of purified toxin can be lethal. Reported cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have documented toxicity with ingestion as little as 1.4 ounces of puffer fish. (Medscape CDC Commentary Series, October, 2009) In contrast, the botulinum toxin (Clostridium botulinum) is reported to be the most toxic substance known. If evenly dispersed for inhalation, 1 gram of pure (botulinum) toxin is sufficient to kill 1 million people. (Ryan Glarum, 2008, p. 65) Tetrodotoxin is a neurotoxin. Neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells of the nervous system, typically by interacting with membrane proteins and especially ion channels. (Knowledgerush, n.d.) Tetrodotoxin binds to the sodium channel of the nerve preventing the passage of sodium ions through the cell membrane and therefore (passage) of the nerve impulse. (CBWinfo.com, 1999) Many of the venoms and other toxins that organisms use in defense against vertebrates are neurotoxins. A common effect is paralysis, which typically onsets extremely rapidly. (Knowledgerush) The first symptom of (tetrodotoxin) intoxication is a slight numbness of the lips and tongue, appearing between 20 minutes to three hours after eating poisonous puffer fish,. The next symptom is increasing paraesthesia in the face and extremities, which may be followed by sensations of lightness or floating. Headache, epigastric pain, nausea, diarrhea, and/or vomiting may occur. Occasionally, some reeling or difficulty in walking may occur. The second state of the intoxication is increasing paralysis. Many victims are unable to move; even sitting may be difficult. There is increasing respiratory distress. Speech is affected, and the victim usually exhibits dyspnea, cyanosis, and hypotension. Paralysis increases and convulsions, mental impairment, and cardiac arrhythmia may occur. The victim, although completely paralyzed, may be conscious and in some cases completely lucid until shortly before death. Death usually occurs with in 4 to 6 hours, with a known range of about 20 minutes to 8 hours. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; FDA U.S. Food Drug Administration, n.d.) No specific antidote has been tested in humans. No drug has been shown to reverse the effects of tetrodotoxin poisoning. Treatment is symptomatic. Specific drug efficacy has only been documented anecdotally. (Medscape CDC Commentary Series, October 2009) Animal studies using monoclonal antibodies against TTX have been done. Monoclonal antibodies were shown to e life saving in mice treated both before and after the ingestion of a lethal dose of TTX. Further studies are needed to document the efficacy in humans. In another study using guinea pigs intoxicated with tetrodotoxin, 4-aminopyridine (a potassium channel blocker) showed dramatic improvement in respiratory, cardiac, and CNS status occurred after administration of the drug. No human studies of this drug for use in tetrodotoxin poisoning are in progress. (Medscape CDC Commentary Series, October 2009) No specific laboratory test confirms tetrodotoxin ingestion exits; thus dietary history is key for diagnosis. Tetrodotoxin poisoning can be misdiagnosed as one of many differential diagnoses including: gastroenteritis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree heart blockage, hypocalcemia, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, myasthenia gravis, octopus envenomations, and ciguatera, scombroid and shellfish toxicity. Since tetrodotoxin is produced from bacteria, there is a risk that the toxin could be manufactured on a significant scale by fermentation. (CBWinfo.com, 1999) Tetrodotoxin is a colorless crystalline solid that darkens when heated about 428 ° F or 220 ° C. (CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.d.) Relatively is little is known about tetrodotoxin as a possible toxin weapon although the Japanese did some work its weaponization in Unite 731 during World war II. It is included on the Australia Group lists by reason of its toxicity. It is not known to be made in large quantities that could be used in weapons and little or nothing is know about its inhalation toxicity. (CBWinfo.com, 1999) ( NOTE: The Australia Group (AG) is an informal forum of countries which, through the harmonization of export controls, seeks to ensure that exports do not contribute to the development of chemical or biological weapons. Coordination of national export control measures assists Australia Group participants to fulfill their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention to the fullest extent possible.) (The Australia Group, n.d.) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers insight into the various methods tetrodotoxin could be disseminated and the feasibility of each method. For example, dissemination through indoor air, outdoor air or water is extremely unlikely because the source of the toxin is living organisms and to manufacture tetrodotoxin in appreciable quantities is extremely difficult. And, since tetrodotoxin is unlikely to be disseminated in the air, it is also unlikely to be disseminated through agricultural products. Ingestion does seem the most likely source of dissemination. Exposure to tetrodotoxin usually occurs through eating improperly prepared fish or possibly through contamination of other food products. (CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.d.) According to NIOSH, there is no antidote for tetrodotoxin toxicity and initial treatment is primarily supportive. In 2007 two individuals developed symptoms consistent with tetrodotoxin poisoning after ingesting home-cooked puffer fish purchased in Chicago. Both the retailer and supplier claimed the product was monkfish. High levels of tetrodotoxin were detected in the remains of the ingested meal and fish retrieved from the contaminated shipment. This case of tetrodotoxin poisoning highlights the need for continued stringent regulation of puffer fish importation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, education of the public regarding the dangers of puffer fish consumption, and raising awareness among medical providers of the diagnosis and management of foodborne toxin ingestions and the need for reporting to public health agencies. (PubMed U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health, 2009) Currently tetrodotoxin is manufactured by several specialized biotech companies. CHEMTE Biotech Company, LTD located in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China specializes in the manufacture of tetrodotoxin. According to CHEMTE Biotechs website, after ten years research and development, we have achieved extensive isolation and purification of TTX based on the abundant resource in our area. We founded the TTX production base in the world with annual product (sic) is more than 1000g. (CHEMTE Biotech Company, Ltd., n.d.) Through the use of their technology process CHEMTE has raised production rate and product quality of TTX up to the worlds highest level. CHEMTE boasts that their customers in many countries find their purity is higher than their own pure products. Currently in the European market, TTX from CHEMTE is sold as the standard product. (CHEMTE Biotech Company, Ltd., n.d.) The China Kantte Bio-Chemical company located in Shanghai, China produces tetrodotoxin extracted from puffer fish in large scale, and purified close to 100% by high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis. (China Kantte Bio-Chemical, n.d.) While it is possible to procure TTX for research as a potential pain therapeutic and medicine for opium withdrawal symptoms, its purchase is limited to researchers and scientistsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.just ask Edward F. Bachner IV of Lake Hills, Illinois. On August 26, 2008 a federal grand jury in Rockford, Illinois returned a ten-count indictment charging him with unlawfully acquiring and possessing tetrodotoxin, on five separate occasions between November 7, 2006 and June 30, 2008. Five of the counts allege that on five separate occasions, Bachner acquired tetrodotoxin in order to use it as a weapon. Bachner possessed tetrodotoxin in a quantity that was not reasonable justified by a prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose. If convicted of acquiring TTX to use as a weapon, Bachner could be sentenced to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2008) As a fun aside, during my research I came across an interesting article about the use of tetrodotoxin and folklore surrounding creation of zombies. In eight samples of zombie powder collected from four regions of Haiti all appeared to have four ingredients in common: 1) one or more species of puffer fish which contained tetrodotoxin, 2) a toxic marine frog, 3) a hyla tree frog which secretes an irritating substance, and 4) human remains. (Strayer University, n.d.) According to some theories a person poisoned with Haitian zombie powder regains consciousness either while in the coffin or shortly after being removed from it and therefore, think they have died and are now a zombie. (How Stuff Works, n.d.) When analyzing an agent as a potential biological agent for use as a weapon of bioterrorism one must examine certain attributes as they apply to that specific agent. Some of these attributes include ease of dissemination, route of entry, morbidity, mortality, infectivity, potential for contagion, potential for panic and social disturbance, and the impact on public health and public health preparedness. The most efficient route of entry for tetrodotoxin would be ingestion either through consumption of the toxin itself or the consumption of other food products tainted with tetrodotoxin. Because ingestion is the favored route of entry, tetrodotoxin does not lend itself for use as a weapon that is easily disseminated or for use as a bioterrorism weapon. Tetrodotoxin does have some potential use as a target specific biological weapon. Bioterrorists could use tetrodotoxin for targeted victims, such as political figures, world leaders or small contingents of military forces. Even for use on targeted specific victims tetrodotoxin is not be easily disseminated. Tetrodotoxin poisoning would require the introduction of the toxin directly into a food or liquid source ingested by the target. Ingestion as a route of entry makes tetrodotoxin not easily disseminated. Morbidity rates are 100% for tetrodotoxin poisoning; rarely will ingestion of tetrodotoxin contaminated food leave the victim unscathed as evidenced by the number of fugu poisoning cases recorded in Japan each year. Tetrodotoxin with its high morbidity rate could be considered as a weapon for bioterrorism. Infectivity rates for tetrodotoxin are 100%. Another fact influencing the high morbidity rate of tetrodotoxin poisoning is the possibility it can easily be mistaken for one of many differential diagnoses. Patients presenting with tetrodotoxin poisoning could easily be misdiagnosed especially if a valid dietary history is unavailable or overlooked. Mortality rates for tetrodotoxin are difficult to establish; anecdotal reports suggest 50-60% mortality, even with good supportive care. One report suggests that prognosis is good if the patient survives the first 24 hours. (Medscape CDC Commentary Series, October 2009) The same cannot be said for biological agents like plague. In the pneumonic form plague is almost 100% fatal without immediate medical attention. (Ryan Glarum, 2008) A biological weapon with only a possible 50-60% mortality rate would probably not be perceived as an effective weapon of bioterrorism. Unlike some other biological agents that lend themselves to inhalation or person-to-person transmission, tetrodotoxin poisoning is transmitted only through ingestion of the toxin. It does not have the potential as a weapon of bioterrorism because transmission is limited to persons ingesting the toxin. Tetrodotoxin poisoning offers no potential threat for contagion in terms of an epidemic or pandemic. The bacteria are contained within the host organism. Tetrodotoxin poisoning could certainly create panic and social disturbance, especially if the targeted victims were persons of political or military importance. There could also be public panic caused by the concern as to the nature, origin and location of the toxin. To be considered as a potential weapon of bioterrorism the biological agent would need to: 1) be easily disseminated or transmitted, 2) cause high mortality, 3) severely affect the public health, 4) cause public panic and social disruption, and 5) require special action for public health preparedness. Overall, while tetrodotoxin is a lethal neurotoxin with: 1) a high level of morbidity, 2) moderate level of mortality, 3) a difficult dissemination method, 4) ingestion as the route of entry, 5) no transmission qualities, 6) no likelihood of contagion and 7) unlikely to cause panic or social disruption, in my opinion it would not be useful as a biological weapon of mass destruction. In my opinion tetrodotoxin has some modest potential as a limited bioterrorism agent in special circumstances. Tetrodotoxin does not meet all the necessary criteria to be considered as a biological agent capable of causing severe damage to the health and safety of the public.