Best Buy

1. The key factors that lead to Best Buy's success include: Growth in the consumer electronics retail sector and the internet boom: Constant growth in the demand for consumer electronics has grown over the previous decades which has supported Best Buy's successful turnout into the top consumer electronics store. The internet also played a significant role in increasing the sales of Best Buy as it had already ramped up its computer product offerings prior to 1995.The internet boom positively affected the consumer electronics industry in general. Knowledgeable sales staff: Best Buy's salespeople did not work on commission which helped creating a low pressure shopping experience for the customers and built a consumer friendly environment. This also lead Best Buy to attract a well read sales force which would guide the customers to make the choices more customized to themselves and helped the buyers in decision making.Also merchandise was arranged by brand name instead of by price range. Both of these were unusual practices in the superstore industry but worked well for Best Buy. Focus on customer service (Geek Squad): Best Buy's belief in offering outstanding customer service through product warranties, personal services and at-home delivery helped Best Buy to differentiate itself from other competitors in the space. This also helped Best Buy in gaining trust and building a strong customer base.Acquisition of the Geek Squad to service computers 24Ãâ€"7 differentiated Best Buy as an excellent product and service provider. Customer-Centricity: Target market segmentation by Best Buy's Customer-Centric approach and extensive research and analysis of its customer base helps Best Buy in configuring its stores and training its work force to cater to the individual needs of its market segments which encourages customers to revisit for multiple purchases.Also the approach to customize the store at times in terms of some local requirements helps Best Buy in increasing its sales significantly. Risks going forward include increased competition from other retailers and wholesalers like Wal-Mart , Costco, Target etc who also have a very strong distribution network and customer base. Best Buy has to decide whether to spend money on its sales force and customization strategies or to compete in terms of price with these other retailers especially in this low margin growing industry.Best Buy also has to decide to enhance its online sales and product offerings in order to compete with the like of Amazon and Ebay in the online electronic sales market which is growing rapidly. Stores like Wal-Mart are growing tremendously fast in the retail segment and Best Buy has to compete with them in terms of opening new retail outlets as well. Another important risk Best Buy faces is investing in the international markets looking at the current economic scenario or to maintain strong hold in the local US market. . Looking forward Best Buy can compete against Wal-Mart and online companies in the following ways: Continuing to differentiate itself as an excellent customer oriented business Best Buy offers the latest technologies at its stores and to attract and hold customers who are technology savvy it is essential for Best Buy to dwell on its approach of customer service because in the space of advanced technology, nothing can replace the in store experience of actually interacting with knowledgeable salespersons.Developing the online product offerings: Best Buy must also focus a little more on its online business in order to avoid being overtaken by Amazon and Ebay which are growing their business extensively. In order to keep up to its customer oriented approach, Best Buy must offer more detailed view of its product offerings than any other online competitor. It must increase its online product offering to a wider range and variety of products to grow in the online segment. Increase international presence:At the moment, Best Buy is majorly dependen t on the local US market. The international markets are growing fast and competitors like Wal-Mart are growing their business wide, therefore Best Buy must increase its international presence quickly to avoid losing out to its competitors in the international markets and also in order to hedge the risk of being completely dependent on the US market. Also labor expenses being less in a number of international markets, Best Buy can afford to maintain its excellent customer service and enhance its brand value.SWOT Analysis for reference: Internal| Strengths| Weaknesses| 1. Strong market presence 2. Knowledgeable workforce 3. High quality technical support service 4. Strong financial performance 5. Financial resources to spend money on advertising ; promotion, introducing new products. 6. Increased market share and strong brand presence. | 1. Low margins 2. High dependence on local (U. S) market. 3. High costs of maintaining stores and employees. | External| Opportunities| Threats| . Gr owing global computer and electronics retail sector 2. Customer centric operating model 3. Expansion in the international consumer electronics retail market. 4. Strong private brand potential. 5. Failure of competitors like Circuit City ; CompUSA has opened gates to improve market share. 6. Online sales| 1. Rising competition from lower price outlets like Wal-Mart and Costco. 2. Online competitors like Amazon, Ebay. 3. Economic slowdown 4. Rising labor wages|

Velocity and Acceleration (Video Analysis) Lab Report

Velocity and Acceleration (Video Analysis) NAME Abstract: With using the new software this lab was different than the rest. We determined many solutions using video analysis. We used a frictionless track with a â€Å"car† and recorded using loggerpro software. We used this software to determine average velocity and instantaneous velocity. With this information we than discovered the average acceleration, mine was . 2115. After that we were able to find ? a, then finally the free-fall acceleration, I got 1. 693.Overall this was a fun and difficult experiment, but I learned a ton about acceleration and velocity. Introduction: The average person might hear the word physics and have no idea what it really means. The formal definition is; a science that deals with matter and energy and their interactions. Now that definition is nice and short, and doesn’t explain into too much detail, but that is the gist of it. And hopefully can help you understand this lab a little bit mor e. The next question an average person is going to ask is when is this even used in real life?But there are many examples, for one; 2-d vectors and projectile are used when using a cannonball, or any other ball flying through the air, every motion on a flat surface. Another example is hitting a golf ball, which can be in kinematics or in dynamics. If only motion of a golf ball is discussed, with terms like velocity, acceleration, displacement etc. then it's in kinematics. If mass, force, and impulse are also mentioned, than its dynamics. Those are just two of many different examples. The example that ties into this lab is hitting the golf ball, well the part about acceleration and velocity.So, if this lab is completed correctly and not only will you be able to determine the acceleration and velocity of the car on the tract but of your golf ball as well, which could be fun to see who’s is the highest with your friends. So before you know it you will be using physics in your ev eryday life and have fun doing it. But in this lab we will be finding a little bit more than just velocity and acceleration of low friction systems, we will also obtain a value for instantaneous velocity, which is used if we reduce the time interval between ti and tf to a very small value.Also the value for the free-fall acceleration g, this will be found using analytical and graphical methods, where the slope will also be determined. And I believe having fun while doing it. So, don’t think of physics as this hard useless subject because it is not! In fact, if understood it can be a useful and fun subject to learn. Theory: To describe object's motion we have a parameter called velocity which gives both the direction and speed of the object's motion. Average velocity can be found with net displacementtotal time taken or Xf-XiTf-Ti.In the first part of the experiment we will observe the motion at constant and even velocity. Constant means a quantity where the value does not cha nge with time. Even is a quantity where the value does not change with space coordinates. If a system could be found in which a mass moves with no friction, then that motion would be both even and constant. While it is impossible to take away friction completely, it is somewhat easy to minimize friction to almost none. The device available for studying nearly frictionless motion and the one we will be using is called a linear air track.Next is to find the value for instantaneous velocity which can be found with the equation; V3= X4-X2T4-T2, V4 X7-X5T7-T5, and so on, this must be done eight to ten times. So, if we determine the net displacement and take that and divide it by the total time taken, then we can establish the average velocity and the instantaneous velocity. Next we have to obtain the acceleration and the free-fall acceleration. These are found separately though and take two different methods, although they are very similar. First we must place a 1. 7 cm block under the l inear air track to rise it up which is essential to find the free-fall acceleration and the average acceleration. To find the acceleration we will be using an equation, which is; a=Vf-ViTf-Ti. And for the free-fall acceleration it is simply used with analytical and graphing with an equation, which is; Mg sin? = Ma. So, if we determine the velocity, then the acceleration can be calculated, and take that data and we can determine the free-fall acceleration. Experiment: First, before beginning this experiment you need to make sure you have the correct materials.You will need; an air track, an air car, a computer, a web cam, loggerPro ® software, a USB thumb drive, a meter stick, and a calculator. Once you have the proper equipment you are now ready to start the lab. First you turn on the vacuum cleaner, next set the car on the track. After that give the car a small push, if it runs good then you are good to go. Start up the LoggerPro ® software, select â€Å"insert†, then â €Å"Video Capture†. A pop up will appear and click on â€Å"Logitech HD Webcam C310† and click â€Å"OK†. A live image will appear.Put the web cam in a place in which you can see the whole track. On the computer click â€Å"Start Capture† button (which will start the recording), once it starts a lab partner will take the car (should be already placed at the begging of the track) and give it a slight push and wait till the car hits the end of the track and comes back to the beginning to stop the recording. Then close the window. Now that the video is taken, you will need to extract the data. First click the scale button and trace the meter stick, set it as one meter.Then click â€Å"add points† and track the car from the beginning till the end (only when moving). Press Ctrl-R to rearrange the windows, this will give a better view. Next click on the â€Å"Examine† tool, this will move the data to a data table, then turn the tool off. Once this is finished select the â€Å"Linear Fit† tool then select the â€Å"VideoAnalysisX†, this will draw a best fit line and then save. Next take the 1. 27 cm block and place it under one end of the track, this will be the end of the track where the test is run.Then in LoggerPro ® open a new page and record a video doing the same steps you previously did. Once this is complete calculate the instantaneous velocity at various points. This is done by selecting â€Å"Data†, â€Å"New Manual Column.. †, name this column â€Å"Vinst† and set the unit to â€Å"m/s†; then click â€Å"Done†. This is when the equation comes in, once each point is determined you will have to manually plug in the value into the â€Å"Vinst† column. Once this is complete you will need to complete a graph with the data from the â€Å"Vinst† column.Now the last step is just to do the calculations. Data ; Results: Acceleration= . 65-. 105-2. 4 = . 552. 6 or . 2115 ?a=12amax-amin=12. 684. 5-. 564. 8= . 0172 Free-fall acceleration = Mg sin? = Ma = g=asin? = sin? =hl= 1. 27cm125cm= . 0102 g=alh= (. 0172)(125)1. 27=1. 693 Discussion: With using the new software this lab was different than the rest. We determined many solutions using video analysis. We used a frictionless track with a â€Å"car† and recorded using loggerpro software.We used this software to determine average velocity and instantaneous velocity. With this information we than discovered the average acceleration, mine was . 2115. After that we were able to find ? a, then finally the free-fall acceleration, I got 1. 693. Overall this was a fun and difficult experiment, but I learned a ton about acceleration and velocity. References: Mellinger, Axel, Matson, William, and Qadir, Didarul. PHYSICS 175 Laboratory Manual. Department of Physics. Central Michigan University. August 2012. January 2013

Nature and Meditation in Romantic Poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nature and Meditation in Romantic Poetry - Essay Example Thus poetry is the vehicle for the spiritual elevation of humankind. In the Western world, the Romantic Poets express their spiritual feelings through descriptions of nature .Although deeply religious, they see God through nature , unlike their predecessors for whom religion was a stern affair. English Romanticism ,in particular, presented a break with the tradition by its individualism and encouragement of the imagination .The Romantic poets experienced the most sublime through nature. Romanticism emerged in the late eighteenth century as an inevitable reaction against the empirical thinking and stern reasoning that was in vogue earlier. Philosophers like Rousseau(1712-1778)urged that only in nature that mankind could find freedom of spirit. The American Revolution and the French Revolution acted as catalysts for the Romantic Movement .William Wordsworth (1770-1850) and John Keats(1795-1821)were two of the greatest English Romantic poets who found inspiration in nature . In their poetry they use descriptions of nature to raise the mind to mystic heights. William Wordsworth, one of the foremost Romantic poets, brings out the feeling of "passionate meditation" in his famous poem, Tintern Abbey. The poem conveys a feeling of deep silence and meditation attained through connecting with nature. That on a wild secluded scene impress Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect The landscape with the quiet of the sky. (6,7,8) (Wordsworth 1798) According to Geoffrey Hartman, for Wordsworth nature is "not something to be worshipped and consumed, but always a guide, leading beyond itself."(Hartman,290)We see this even when he is at his most exuberant, describing daffodils in "I wandered lonely as a cloud" I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. (1-6)(Wordsworth 1803) The poet's heart sings at the eternal spectacle of nature "Lonely as a cloud" suggests the solitude needed for meditation, while,in contrast, "crowd, a host " expresses the feeling of multitudes. .He experiences a feeling akin to meditation which recurs whenever he is "in a pensive mood" , when the multitude of daffodils "flash upon the inward eye" with the ensuing "Bliss of solitude". "Tintern Abbey" is the outstanding work of Wordsworth published in 1798,and it shows how he developed a vivid and personal approach which connects meditation to sensation in a unique way. In this poem, the brilliant lyric is transcendental; the theme is exalted by the underlying love for his sister. The emotions compliment the visual scene, the memories enrich the moral ideas. Here he feels the presence which encourages him to meditate on the oneness of all things in nature. He rhapsodizes, And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man; A motion and a spirit that impels All thinking things, all objects of all thought, And rolls through all things.

Major Current International Intrest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Major Current International Intrest - Essay Example The forty years rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had been associated with Islamic socialism that thrived on state sponsored terrorism. While the protests are getting more intense, Colonel Gaddafi has wowed to suppress the political unrest by using violent military crackdown techniques. Libya is 12th largest exporter of oil and supplies around 1.53 million barrels per day (cbcnews, 2011). It has significant gas reserve and is one of the largest exporters of oil and gas to the European nations like France, Germany, Spain, Italy etc. for refineries. The Libyan crisis therefore has adversely impacted the world market. The prices of crude oil have escalated tremendously, touching $108 per barrel (Kollewe, 22 Feb. 2011). The global stocks have taken a severe battering which threatens the still fragile economic recovery across the globe. Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency’s chief economist says that ‘Oil prices are a serious risk for the global economic recovery’ (i bid). Indeed, if the violence continues unabated in Libya, there could be huge ramifications on the global economy. In Libya, most of the foreign refineries have closed down for fear of security. The oil supplies have been curtailed and there is genuine threat to the closure of Suez Canal that is the main route for trade across Europe and America.

International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

International Relations - Essay Example After the death of Muhammad the Muslims named their leaders Caliphs. Caliph means the deputy messenger of Allah. Between 632 to 750 A. D, the Muslims had conquered of the known world. They controlled North Africa to India and western China. They reached into Europe to Spain and France. During the dark ages in Europe, Islam claimed many first in medicine. For example, they first time uses anesthesia in surgery. (Vertovec, and Peach, 1997, 44) In the same way, the Muslims introduced cauterization of wounds for the first time. Besides this, the Muslims discovered first among others that epidemics are caused by contagion through touch and air. As far as health services are concerned, there are also traces that prove that first ambulatory hospitals were introduced by the Muslims. These hospitals were carried on camel's backs. First time, the Muslims introduced prescription, and thus the separation of pharmacology from medicine. Islam is growing very fast in all five continents. There are over 1.2 billion Muslims today. They represent 22% of the world's population. And Christianity is 33% of the population in the world, at the rate that Islam is growing is expected to become the most popular religion in the globe in 2023. Islam is growing at the rate of 2.9% per year. (Al Sayyad, et. al. 2002, 56) Islam has multidimensional effects on Europe which changed Europe in all respects. The gigantic change was introduced in Spain while the Muslims were ruling this part of Europe. (Rath, and Buijs, 2003, 66) It remained the pioneer for all types of changes in Europe. Socially, Muslims have had a profound affect on Europe. The Muslims brought with them much of their lifestyle, such as their art. They resurrected mosques and unique types of architecture two these two continents. The most noticeable architectural influence was the introduction of the dome, pillar, and minaret. Furthermore, Muslims influenced African and European art through their geometric designs. Islam believe s that depicting human figures in art is idolatrous, so they only used geometric designs. (Haddad, 2002, 13) Thus, they changed the traditional art forms to their new modern ones. Additionally, Islam also changed the daily life of Europeans. Men could now have four wives at any given time instead of just one. New laws were also created about marriage and several other issues. For example, divorces had several set regulations on the ability to remarry. Women would have to wait several months after the divorce in order to relax and determine the paternity of the child if a pregnancy were involved. Finally, the social scale was destroyed as a result of the incorporation of Islam into one's daily life, for the Koran preaches that everyone is of the same value and status level. The Koran also improved the economy and way of thought, for everyone gave to the poor and thus prevented a depression. Muslims has also influenced European scientific thought and knowledge. First of all, the Musli ms made great strides in astronomy. They created the astrolabe, which measured distances and determined the circumference of the earth. They also invented the sextant, which allowed one to navigate and determine their precise location just by looking at the stars. (Hiro, 1989, 209) Furthermore, mathematically, Muslims introduced geometry and algebra. This tremendously increased mathematical thought, for problems were now easy to solve using the newfound knowledge. Intriguingly, they also

Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Law - Essay Example I note that the University reserves the right to check my assignment for plagiarism. Should the reproduction of all or part of an assignment be required by the University for any purpose other than those mentioned above, appropriate authorisation will be sought from me on the relevant form. OR, if submitting this paper electronically as per instructions for the unit, place an ‘X’ in the box below to indicate that you have read this form and filled it in completely and that you certify as above. Please include this page in/with your submission. Any electronic responses to this submission will be sent to your ECU email address (or, where relevant, the digital dropbox for the Blackboard site for LAW1100). Agreement Date  PROCEDURES AND PENALTIES ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS - Refer to the University Admission, Enrolment and Academic Progress Rule 24 and the ECU Assessment Policy ? A student who wishes to defer the submission of an assignment must apply to the lecturer in charge of the relevant unit or course for an extension of the time within which to submit the assignment. ? Where an extension is sought for the submission of an assignment the application must : be in writing - preferably before the due date; and set out the grounds on which deferral is sought. ( see ECU Assessment Policy) ? Assignments submitted after the normal or extended date without approval shall incur a penalty of loss of marks. (see 39.5) ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT Rules (Students) All forms of cheating, plagiarism or collusion are regarded seriously and could result in penalties including loss of marks, exclusion from the unit or cancellation of enrolment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Please remember to read, store for future reference and ensure that you have submitted: to the correct location the correct assessment piece CONFORMANCE STATEMENT Please note the following, and enter the required information in the grey shaded spaces provided prior to submission of the essay. 1. Your LAW1100 on campus essay should have not less than 2800 effective words but not more than 3200 effective words (without the express permission of the Unit Coordinator) (see LAW1100 Unit Plan (February, 2011, page 9). This essay has †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2801†¦. words (in determining the number of words, do a ‘word count’ from the beginning of your Introduction to the end of your Conclusion, and subtract all headings, sub headings, direct quotations and in text references therein from the result). 2. Your LAW1100 essay should use at least 6 to 10 quality academic reference sources (i.e. in terms of LAW1100 requirements, texts and journal articles – see LAW1100 on campus Essay Preparation Kit (2011), page 19). This essay has †¦13†¦ quality academic referen ce sources (in determining the number of quality academic reference sources for LAW1100 purposes, add up the total number of end references and subtract those which are not texts or journal articles; do not include the number of cases in this count – see point 4 below). 3. Your LAW1100 essay should cite your end reference sources (collectively) on at least 30 occasions in the body of your essay (see LAW1100 on cam

Rene Descartes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rene Descartes - Assignment Example France was becoming one of the main players in the European arena, a unitary state with strong monarchical power. Absolutism didn’t only provide favorable conditions for the domestic market, but also broadened the gap between social strata. Whereas Catholicism strengthened its position in French spiritual and cultural life, scientific progress driven by the development of productive capacities was the key factor that sparked Descarte’s worldview formation. In his pursuit of new philosophical methods Descartes was initially motivated by the need to find a way of defining certain knowledge and the way of acquiring it for he thought knowledge acquired with help of sense perception to be inaccurate. Moreover, he was fond of science which wasn’t well organized system in that period, thus he wanted to find a solution that would systematize scientific knowledge. In fact, Descartes laid the basics of science in its modern meaning and inquiry, made an immense contribution to development of algebra, geometry, philosophy, physics and reflexology. Considering philosophy to be the source of all natural sciences’ development, Descartes tried to find a firm set of rules that would help one to acquire certain knowledge. The basic work dealing with the foundations of Cartesian methodology is Discourse on Method focusing on the application of the main Descartes’ method, hyperbolical doubt or methodological skepticism. At the same time, the philosopher preferred to neglect empirical method in constructing knowledge, and thus used a method of deduction and argumentation. Thinking was considered by him to be the source of cognition, not senses. Along with that, Descartes philosophical doctrine was dualistic as he admitted existence of two entities that, mind and body, that are in the relations of mutual dependence and interconnection. To illustrate the unreliability and limitation of

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Rational choice theory(RCT) as Essay

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Rational choice theory(RCT) as an analytic framework for politics and IR - Essay Example Becker was the first to develop the theory and applied rational actor models in economic widely. According to Rational action theory, when there are several course of action to carry out a task, an individual will choose the one which he thinks is most likely to be the best rewarding (Ogu, 2013). This paper will focus on application of RCT in paradigm of Politics and International Relation, with its benefits and drawbacks. In politics and economics, competition has been the main drive for greater power for scarce resources. Semblance of politics and economics and, unravelled nature of relationship between economic and political competition of goods in former case and for power and privilege in the later, has made the theorist to apply economic methods in the study of politics. Some researches show that individuals or representatives in economic and political paradigm acts in the same manner on overall value scale while taking part in market of political activity. In this way, the research shows that the voters are inherently the same as costumers because the same individual is a voter and a customer simultaneously (Tullock, 2006). Since its development by Becker, the rational choice theory came along way and stormed the field of political science. It is because of two important advantages which rational choice theory possesses over its rival theories that are; first, the theory possesses immense analytical advantage. Then, secondly, it is not a mere theory, rather a technique to develop theories. Although, it work with certain other theories, however, it explains the behaviour of political actors while making selection from a certain set of options in order to get their goal with minimal input. Briefly, it illustrates the fashions and ways in which people behave when provided with choices. Similarly, this theory entails the behaviour explicitly depicted by the

Gordale beck Essay Example for Free

Gordale beck Essay In general, there is quite a variety in terms of detected total hardness levels for the different areas of Malham. Notably, from Table 1, it can be seen that the area with the highest total hardness is the Rwer air at Gargrare (with 280 ppm) followed by the Gordale spring (with 230 ppm). In relation to this, the lowest readings were from the Malham cove (180 ppm). Incidentally, upon inspection of the Malham area map in figure 2, these three areas were of the closest in proximity with each other. In terms of calcium hardness, the location that registered the highest reading was the Malham tarn outflow (with 210 ppm) while the lowest was from the Gordale beck (with 110 ppm). The resulting total hardness levels indicate that the waters surrounding Malham range from slightly hard (140 to 210 ppm) to moderately hard (210 to 320 ppm). It is evident that an area having high total hardness is not enough reason to assume that it also has high calcium hardness. This is due to the fact that total hardness is determined by the presence of magnesium and calcium and not calcium alone. In fact, the greater the difference between total hardness and calcium hardness, the greater is the resulting value of magnesium hardness. This is a rather simplistic way of determining the magnesium hardness, but it is efficient since methods for separately analyzing magnesium from calcium are not easily done. Table 3 shows the computed magnesium hardness values, which also brings a possible point of error in getting the readings pertaining to the Malham Tarn outflow. There was definitely an error since it is quite impossible for the calcium hardness to surpass the total hardness. To better understand the main factor affecting hardness, a topographic analysis of a certain location must be done, which in the process, determine what types of rocks are present. In various areas of Malham, there is a difference in amount and occurrence of limestone (Gorman n. d. : 1). The presence of limestone dictates the resulting calcium hardness levels since these are mainly composed of calcite or calcium carbonate which disperses into the surrounding passing water. Take note that calcium carbonate is the one measured in tests for calcium hardness. Other points realized from the resulting data are also present. For one, there is no evident correlation between pH and hardness readings. In relation to this, the pH levels still play a role in the resulting hardness since they partially dictate the degree of solubility, but due to the fact that there are other factors at work it does not greatly influence the resulting hardness level of water. Another point observed is in terms of colour endpoints in titration. All samples were violet for calcium hardness and grey for total hardness. The last point observed from the resulting data is in terms of the relationship between absorption and calcium hardness. Figure 2 shows that there is a direct relationship between calcium hardness and absorption reading. Hence, as the absorption reading increases, so does calcium hardness. This is probably due to the fact that absorption readings are enhanced when there are more suspended particles or substances in water. These particles block light better than water alone, hence the greater degree of absorption. List of References Dartmouth College. (2008) Titration [online lab manual] delivered for Chemlab: The Chemistry 3/5 6 Laboratories on 1 October 2008 at Dartmouth College available from http://www. dartmouth. edu/~chemlab/techniques/titration. html [26 March 2009]

CSS Styles and Web Design Essay Example for Free

CSS Styles and Web Design Essay Two types of layouts, Table-based layouts and CSS-based layouts can be used to manage the formatting of a web site. Table-based layouts are easy to use and implement when compared to CSS-layouts and editors like FrontPage and Dreamweaver make it very easy for developers to include them. The main disadvantages of Table-based layouts are that tables break on various browsers thus producing layout dysfunctions and it increases almost unnecessarily the HTML/text ratio. Cascading style sheets (CSS) make it easy to manage the formatting of a web site and it can be used to control the appearance of objects on a page or throughout a site. It can be designed and redesigned, and can control the formatting of hundreds of pages, including fonts, link colors, margin settings and background images. It is widely supported by modern browsers and allows flexibility in positioning. CSS based layouts Keeps the HTMl/text ratio at a low level thus decreasing load time and Allows the display of main content first while the graphics load afterwards. CSS also avoid accessibility issues raised by table cells and the content flows logically without disruption. A div tag defines a block of content (division/section in a document) to be formatted. Div tags can be defined through an ID or a class attribute. Using CSS and div tags reduces markup code, speeds up page downloads, separates content from its visual presentation, and brings code closer to Web standards compliance. If the div tags are defined in external CSS file than by changing properties of div tags in only CSS files the appearance of multiple pages can be controlled. Reference Web Development Series: formatting content, January 4, 2007 retrieved on 11 February 2007 http://academictech. doit. wisc. edu/ORFI/wds/index. htm Mardiros, C 2006. CSS Layouts vs. Table Layouts Alternate Browsers and Accessibility Issues. Retrieved on 11 February 2007 from http://www. mardiros. net/css-layout. html .

Minimizing Cost of Volatile Inhalational Anesthetics

Minimizing Cost of Volatile Inhalational Anesthetics P The population that will be examined are male and female patients with a physical status (PS) of I-II requiring general anesthesia for surgery, ages 20-40. I The intervention being introduced is utilizing Sevoflurane (UltaneÂÂ ®) as the inhaled anesthetic for surgeries requiring general anesthesia lasting less than one hour. C The comparison group will be those utilizing Desflurane (SupraneÂÂ ®) as the inhaled anesthetic for surgeries requiring general anesthesia lasting less than one hour. O The use of Sevoflurane for surgery cases requiring general anesthesia for less than one hour will save money for the anesthesia department rather than using Desflurane. PICO Question: Will the use of Sevoflurane rather than Desflurane in surgeries requiring general anesthesia lasting less than one hour save money for the anesthesia department? Abstract Inhalation anesthetics are used millions of times every single day in surgeries requiring general anesthesia all over the world. Cost containment is anesthesia is no longer an option, it is an absolute necessity. Anesthetic drugs account for up to 6 percent of total hospital pharmacy costs and inhalation agents comprise over twenty percent of that as a whole. One of the areas most amenable to cost reduction in the anesthesia department budget is the use and choice of inhalational anesthetic. A quantitative quasi-experimental controlled trial was developed to determine if money could be saved in the anesthesia department by utilizing Sevoflurane as the inhalational anesthetic for surgeries requiring general anesthesia less than one hour rather than Desflurane. The study chose males and females, ages twenty to forty, requiring general anesthesia at a mid-sized, urban, teaching hospital in South-Western Pennsylvania. Prices of anesthetic agents were gathered from the same facility and c alculated to determine the total cost savings that would ensue with the use of the interventional inhalation agent rather than that used by the control group. The use of Sevoflurane for two-thirds of the cases which Desflurane was used saved the institution over twenty thousand dollars. Key Words: Inhalational Anesthetics, Pharmacoeconomics, Desflurane, Sevoflurane, Anesthesia Introduction Research Problem: The cost of health services and technologies continue to increase exponentially while resources are finite. Developing effective strategies to minimize costs without compromising patient safety and quality of care are the most difficult challenges medical professionals experience.13 Inhalational anesthetics comprise twenty percent of the drug expenses in anesthesia departments. The cost of inhalational anesthetics depend on their potency, which is their minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), the minimum amount of inhalational anesthetic needed in the lungs to facilitate the absence of movement to noxious stimuli, the fresh gas flows (FGF) used to deliver the anesthetic gas, the amount of anesthetic vapor released by each milliliter of liquid, and the price of the inhalational anesthetics themselves.2,16 Inhalational anesthetics are used when general anesthesia is needed for surgery and patients do not have diseases or conditions which would preclude them from being able to utilize them (e.g. those who have malignant hyperthermia). The anesthesia provider decides which inhalational anesthetic is best for a given patient, based on their history and needs for the surgery. The problem exists when providers just use whichever anesthetic is most easily accessible at that time without minding any consideration as to the cost of the particular gas and the level of FGF they are using, which is purely a waste of money as the patient will lose heat and humidity, waste high levels of inhaled anesthetic, and demise cost containment for the anesthesia department. Statement of Purpose The purpose of this research study is to determine whether the implementation of Sevoflurane as the choice inhalation anesthetic for surgery requiring general anesthesia for procedures lasting less than one hour rather than using Desflurane will provide cost containment for the anesthesia department. Objectives/Aims The objective of this study is to provide an avenue of cost containment for the anesthesia department of a mid-sized, urban, teaching hospital and overall savings for the medical health system. This will allot more money in the department budget to be spent on technological advances, and equipment used to better develop opportunities for patient safety, the ultimate goal of all medical professionals. Review of Literature: Many studies explore different methods of cost containment in the anesthesia department. Almost all of the studies exclusively develop the notion of cost savings related to the fresh gas flows used to deliver inhalation anesthetics. Cost containment requires primarily a decrease in FGFs, but it may also be influenced by a rational use of the available halogenated agents.3 With the advances in technology and the ultra-modern anesthesia machines available, anesthesia providers should feel safe in using minimal FGFs to deliver anesthesia that would not harm their patients in any way.3 Anesthetists can directly influence healthcare costs through the patterns in which they practice, which includes reducing the FGFs chosen during inhalational anesthesia, which will directly affect the amount of inhaled anesthetic delivered to the patient and ultimately the costs which are attributable to inhaled anesthetics.10,15 Depending on breathing systems used, which are mostly semi-open today, up to ninety percent of the anesthetic gases delivered escapes into the atmosphere completely unused. By using low-flow anesthesia, most of the patients air they exhale is recycled and then returned to the patients lungs after the carbon dioxide from the exhaled air has been absorbed.15 There are also advantages of using low-flow anesthesia such as conserving the patients heat and humidity, making it less of a need to warm the patient externally, which will cut down costs on heating blankets and the like, as well as maximized the rebreathing of the exhaled anesthetic, which will cut down on the amount of gas vented into the environment,6 but there are cautions that anesthesia providers must take when using low FGFs, as titration in inhalation anesthetic is not as easily predicted. Product labeling for Sevoflurane does include a warning that patient exposure should not exceed two hours using FGF rates greater than one and less than two liters per minute.7 Also, it is not recommended at all to maintain FGFs less than one when using Sevoflurane as the patients inhalational anesthetic of choice. These recommendations are to minimize the risk of exposure of the patient to compound A which in laboratory animals, has been shown to be linked to nephrotoxicity. There are no minimum flow rate designations that exist for Desflurane.7,8 Isoflurane is less expensive than Sevoflurane and Desflurane at equal dose and the same FGFs.7 When comparing Sevoflurane with Desflurane as they are being used for surgeries lasting less than two hours, there was a ninety percent decrement time for Sevoflurane which approached the short duration of anesthesia matching that of Desflurane. However, when the duration of anesthesia increased over two hours, Sevofluranes ninety percent decrement time approached that of Isoflurane.7 The cost of inhaled anesthetic agent can be estimated by using an equation that provides the cost of anesthetic per MAC hour: Cost per MAC hour ($) = [(Conc.)(FGF rate)(Duration)(MW)(Cost per mL)] / [(2412)(D)]6 The cost of one milliliter of Isoflurane is twenty-three cents, Sevoflurane is forty-one cents, and Desflurane is eighty-three cents. Regardless of the fast onset and emergence Desflurane offers, the cost of administering Desflurane is greater than the cost of Sevoflurane at any FGF rate.10,11 The cost of inhaled anesthetic agent can be estimated by calculating the cost per MAC hour, which is the administration of inhaled anesthetic agent at 1 MAC for a one hour time interval. The cost can be calculated using the concentration percent on the anesthetic dial of gas delivered, the FGF rate chosen, the duration of the anesthetic (sixty minutes in this case), the molecular weight of the anesthetic agent (MW in grams), cost per mL of liquid agent (in dollars), a factor accounting for the molar volume of a gas at twenty-one degrees Celsius (a constant of two thousand four-hundred twelve), and the density of the agent (D in grams/mL). Cost per MAC hour ($) = [(Conc.)(FGF rate)(Duration)(MW)(Cost per mL)] / [(2412)(D)]6 The cost per MAC hour can be seen in Table 2. Desflurane is associated with a shorter recovery as is Sevoflurane, but the differences between the two in terms of patient discharge cannot be consistently shown in research studies.13 Gupta evaluated n=246 patients for recovery time after undergoing surgeries less than two hours with either Sevoflurane or Desflurane. Patients given Desflurane were able to open their eyes sixty seconds before those who received Sevoflurane, P When comparing Sevoflurane and Isoflurane for patients who are undergoing surgery for more than two hours, Gupta evaluated n=634 patients. The patients who underwent Sevoflurane were able to open their eyes sooner, P Savings of more than one hundred thousand dollars resulted from the change of using Desflurane to using Sevoflurane in the operating rooms at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. Traynor noted that three bottles of Desflurane are needed to maintain a level of anesthesia equal to that of one bottle of Sevoflurane, making this agent much less expensive for the hospital to utilize, with no difference in patient discharge times. Reviews of Literature indicated that patients who received Desflurane could be extubated in the operating room about two minutes sooner than the patients who received Sevoflurane; an advantage seen meaningless in the large scale of the operating room sequences.9,15 Methodology The research design chosen was a quasi-experimental study. It involved the use of an experimental group and a control group. It is important to mention that the control group was compiled from hospital anesthesia records. The study did not involve randomization as a medical facilitys computer database cannot throughput this information. Permission from a mid-sized, Southwestern Pennsylvania teaching hospital was granted and all information gathered from the facility involved no patient identifiers, including gender or age. The hospitals Institutional Review Board (IRB) was provided all details of the research study and deemed the research experiment to be exempt and permission was granted to start the study without any changes in the studys design. General anesthesia data spreadsheets were gathered from the hospital exemplifying a patient anesthesia case total for the month of July, 2012. From this information, it was determined there were a total of n0=1,459 general anesthesia cases and after careful analysis, it was found that n1=500 cases lasted less than one hour and n2=959 cases lasted equal to or more than one hour in length from the beginning of anesthesia delivery to the end of the surgical procedure, as seen in Chart 1 in Appendix A. The Southwestern Pennsylvania hospital was asked to provide their costs for Desflurane, Sevoflurane, and Isoflurane inhalation anesthetics. These prices can be seen in Table 1 of Appendix A. Utilizing the equation to calculate the amount of inhaled anesthetic used during a general surgical case in a sixty minute time duration, MAC hour costs could be calculated as seen in Table 3. The pharmacy was also asked to provide how many bottles of inhalational anesthetic are bought and used annually in their operating rooms. These results are seen in Chart 2 and calculated annual costs of the anesthetics are shown in Chart 3 in Appendix C The experimental group for the research procedure involved men and women, ages twenty to forty, with PS scores of I and II, who were undergoing general anesthesia for surgery cases lasting less than one hour. These patients were administered Sevoflurane as their inhalational anesthetic during surgery at a FGF rate of 2 liters per minute (LPM). To be sure all patients were given the same standard induction regimen, all drug doses were based on current body weight calculations. Propofol, a sedative hypnotic was given at 2 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). Fentanyl, an opioid analgesic was given at 5 micrograms per kilogram (mcg/kg). Midazolam, a benzodiazepine sedative was given at a standard dose of 2mg/kg. Lidocaine, a class 2 anti-arrhythmic agent was given at 1.5 mg/kg. All patients participating in the study were given their induction medications at these doses provided. In the preoperative area, all patients were given the right to participate or not participate in the research experiment as they were provided a letter of informed consent, which described completely that they would be treated no differently than any other patient and they were voluntarily consenting to participate in a research study as an individual, and in no way obligated to participate if they were unwilling to do so. Those who were not involved in the experimentation are those patients who were unwilling to consent to participate in the experiment as an individual. Those with malignant hyperthermia were excluded from the study as they could not receive volatile inhalational anesthetics. Patients who required additional narcotic for pain during surgery were excused from participation. Those with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure were also not involved in the experiment as Sevoflurane, the experimental variable could lead to kidney complications. Participants who only were given inhalational anesthetic for painful stimulation during intravenous sedation were also excluded from participation in this study. It was important to determine which inhalational anesthetic was favored most by anesthesia providers at the Southwestern Pennsylvania hospital between Sevoflurane and Desflurane for general anesthesia cases lasting less than one hour. Surveys were sent out to all members of the anesthesia team as titled Survey 1 in Appendix D. Ethics/Professionalism Ethical considerations were regarded during the completion of the study from start to finish. All information gathered from a Southwestern Pennsylvania hospital was kept in confidence and destroyed at the finish of the study by professional paper shredding services. Participant names, ages, race, nationality, and medical histories were not gathered from the hospital and were blinded from the investigator, owing to complete confidence of all those who participated during a twelve month interval. Results Results are pending until the quasi-experimental research study is completed. Discussion Volatile inhalational anesthetics account for twenty percent of pharmacy costs in the anesthesia department.10,16 By using a pharmacoeconomic model, it can be seen that careful choice of anesthetic for patients can represent a large cost containment for the anesthesia department in the hospital, without compromising patient care. All patients need to be considered a new case and may not fit into the pharmacoeconomic model because of family histories (e.g. malignant hyperthermia). However, when possible, using Sevoflurane for the choice inhalation anesthetic for general surgery cases rather than Desflurane for those lasting less than one hour can result in large cost savings for the anesthesia department. Over twenty thousand dollars could be saved if the Southwestern Pennsylvania hospital would utilize Sevoflurane over Desflurane for two-thirds of their total surgeries requiring general anesthesia for less than one hour. It is important to mention that as a professional anesthesia student, FGF commonly observed with Sevoflurane are 2 LPM and FGF with Desflurane commonly observed are 2 LPM. The nephrogenicity associated with Sevoflurane is not commonly observed when this amount of FGFs are used.7 With the use of 1 LPM FGF when using Desflurane, as there is no minimum FGF required to avoid physiological aberrance, 17,19 there is also a great cost savings maintained for the anesthesia department. Limitations There are limitations in any study when research is conducted and from this study, results are limited to a single institution and this limits its external validity as a result. Randomization was not included in this research study as a convenience sample population was used at one hospital location. The study was not extremely descriptive as patients with higher PS scores were not studied in this particular research project. This study is also missing research on older age groups, as participants age twenty to forty were included only. As all of these limitations can be seen in the experimental study, the results from this research study cannot be imposed on larger populations and therefore generalizability is poor. Future research can make these findings representable and provide for better generalization. Future Recommendations for Research In future research, randomization should be used when developing research as this will strengthen the results. Larger sample populations should be used in defined, smaller age variances to be able to impose the results on a specific group of patients. Defined surgeries should be used in sample populations to show stronger significance when looking at varied surgical procedures their results. With the inclusion of the above criteria, the research study would be experimental rather than quasi-experimental, and results could be superimposed onto given populations with much stronger data observance. Dissemination This research project will appear in the May, 2013 edition of Anesthesia and Analgesia in its entirety with all results included. There will also be one hour lectures provided on these research findings at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Robert Morris University, and St. Vincent College, times and final adjusted locations are to be announced via bulletins, which be hung in the cafeterias of each of these locations. Conclusion Inhalational anesthetics represent a significant cost for pharmaceutical costs in the anesthesia department. It is important for professional anesthesia providers to deliver cost-effective, safe anesthesia care to patients in surgery. When analyzing surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia for less than one hour, the use of Sevoflurane rather than Desflurane as the choice inhalation anesthetic in surgery can provide the anesthesia department an avenue of cost savings without compromising patient care. When Desflurane must be used for patients who cannot be administered Sevoflurane, it is important to keep in mind there is no recommendation for FGF rates, and cost savings can also be preserved by utilizing low FGFs when using Desflurane. References Weinberg L, Story D, Nam J, McNicol L. (2010). Pharmacoeconomics of volatile inhalational anaesthetic agents: an 11-year retrospective analysis. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, 38(5), 849-854. Lockwood GC White DC (2001). Measuring the costs of inhaled anesthetics. British Journal of Anesthesia, 87(4), 559-563. Odin I, Feiss P. (2005). Low flow and economics of inhalational anaesthesia. Best Practice Research Clinical Anaesthesiology, 19(3), 399-413. Strum EM, Szenohradszki J, Kaufman W, Anthone GJ, Manz IL, Lumb PD (2004). Emergence and Recovery Characteristics of Desflurane Versus Sevoflurane in Morbidly Obese Adult Surgical Patients: A Prospective, Randomized Study. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 99, 1848-1853. Boldt J, Suttner S. (2000). Low-Flow Anesthesia: Does it have Potential Pharmacoeconomic Consequences? Pharmacoeconomics, 17(6), 585-590. Golembiewski J. (2010). Economic Considerations In the Use of Inhaled Anesthetic Agents. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 67(4), 9-12. Meyer T. (2010). Managing inhaled anesthesia: Challenges from a health-system pharmacists perspective. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 67(4), 4-8. Boldt J, Juan N, Kumle B, Heck M, Mund K. (1998). Economic Considerations of the Use of New Anesthetics: A comparison of Propofol, Sevoflurane, Desflurane, and Isoflurane. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 86, 504-509. Agoliati A, Dexter F, Lok J, et al. (2010). Meta-Analysis of Average and Variability of Time to Extubation Comparing Isoflurane with Desflurane or Isoflurane with Sevoflurane. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 110(5), 1433-1439. Dolk A, Cannerfelt R, Anderson RE, Jakobsson JP. (2002). Inhalation anesthesia is cost-effective for ambulatory surgery: a clinical comparison with propofol during elective knee arthroscopy. European Journal of Anesthesiology, 19(2), 88-92. Chernin EL (2004). Pharmacoeconomics of inhaled anesthetic agents: Considerations for the pharmacist. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 61(4), 18-22. Beaussier M, Deriaz H, Abdelahim Z. (1998). Comparative effects of desflurane and isoflurane on recovery after long lasting anaesthesia. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia, 45(5), 429-434. White PF. (2010). Facilitating Recovery from Anesthesia: Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Anesthetic Drugs. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 110(2), 273-275. Gupta A, Stierer T, Zuckerman R, Sakima N, Parker S, Fleisher LA (2004). Comparison of Recovery Profile After Ambulatory Anesthesia with Propofol, Isoflurane, Sevoflurane and Desflurane: A Systematic Review. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 98, 632-641. Traynor K. (2009). Inhaled anesthetics present cost-saving opportunity. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 66(7), 606-607. Kapur P. (1994). Pharmacy Acquisition Costs: Responsible Choices Versus Overutilization of Costly Pharmaceuticals. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 78, 617-618. Dexter F, Bayman EO, Epstein RH (2010). Statistical Modeling of Average and Variability of Time to Extubation for Meta-Analysis Comparing Desflurane to Sevoflurane. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 110(2), 570-580. Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital. (2012). Annual Anesthesia Data Tracking Information. Accessed 08/30/2012 with Permission from Corporate Department. Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital. (2012). Pharmacy Records. Accessed 08/30/2012 with Permission from Corporate Department. Appendix A Table 1: Cost of Inhalational Anesthetic per a Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital Pharmacy Records Inhalational Anesthetic Cost Per Bottle ($) Total Volume in Bottle (mL) Cost per mL of Liquid ($) Sevoflurane (Ultane) 100.82 250 0.40 Isoflurane (Forane) 9.73 100 0.09 Desflurane (Suprane) 136.37 240 0.56 Reference 19. Table 3: Calculated MAC Hour Inhalation Anesthetic Cost at a Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital FGF Rate (L/Min) Isoflurane ($) Desflurane ($) Sevoflurane ($) 1 0.31 9.68 2.71 2 0.62 19.36 5.43 3 0.93 29.04 8.14 All estimated costs are based on duration of 60 minutes and the formula proposed by Golembiewski. Isoflurane calculations are based on concentration of 1.15%, MW of 184g, cost per mL=$0.09 and D of 1.49 g/mL Desflurane calculations are based on concentration of 6%, MW of 168g, cost per mL=$0.56, and D of 1.45g/mL Sevoflurane calculations are based on concentration of 2.0%, MW of 201g, cost per mL=$0.40, and D of 1.51g/mL Appendix B Chart 1: Total Anesthesia Cases in July, 2012: Time Intervals from a Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital Reference 18. Table 2: Estimated Cost per MAC Hour ($) of Inhaled Anesthetic Gases: Based on FGF Rates FGF Rate (L/Min) Isoflurane ($) Desflurane ($) Sevoflurane ($) 1 0.5 12.9 6.0 2 1.0 25.9 12.1 3 1.5 38.8 18.1 All estimated costs are based on duration of 60 minutes and the formula proposed by Golembiewski. Isoflurane calculations are based on concentration of 1.15%, MW of 184g, cost per mL=$0.15 and D of 1.49 g/mL Desflurane calculations are based on concentration of 6%, MW of 168g, cost per mL=$0.96, and D of 1.45g/mL Sevoflurane calculations are based on concentration of 2.0%, MW of 201g, cost per mL=$0.90, and D of 1.51g/mL Reference 7. Appendix C Chart 2: Number of Bottles of Inhalational Anesthetic Used Annually at a Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital Reference 19. Chart 3: Annual Expenditure on Inhalational Anesthetics at a Southwestern Pennsylvania Hospital

The Zone Diet Essay -- Health Nutrition Weight Loss

It seems like everywhere you look there is some new diet plan making miraculous promises of weight loss through pills, plans, and formulas. The zone diet is no exception. The zone diet was developed by Dr. Barry Sears in his book," Enter the Zone" which was on the bestseller lists for weeks. The zone promises high energy, weight loss, and no hunger to those willing to follow the simple set of zone rules. It sounds great you say, but does it really work? What is the Zone? The "zone" was first referred to by athletes as a period of maximum performance and energy levels. When things are clicking and every part of our body is working at its best, we say we are "in the zone." When we fall short we experience a loss of performance, more illness, and feel moody and restless. The zone diet helps individuals to stay in the zone, not just trying to hit or miss. Instead of experiencing periodic energy highs and lows, it regulates levels throughout the day, putting the body in a metabolic state of peak efficiency. Much of this energy regulation is controlled by eicosanoids (http://www.coolrunning.com/sponsor/thezone/zone.htm#eicos). These are some of the most important chemical messengers in the body. However, since they perform their cell-to-cell communications very rapidly and in very small concentrations, they have often been overlooked by many researchers. Eicosanoids are completely derived from dietary fat. In addition, they have opposing physiological functions, which can be either good or bad. The good eicosanoids accelerate the use of stored body fat, whereas the bad do the opposite. These levels of eicosanoids can be controlled by what we eat at each meal. For example, high levels of carbohydrates decrease the produ... ...er 4. Gray, J., and Martinovic, A. (I 994). Eicosanoids and essential fatty acid modulation in chronic disease and the chronic fatigue syndrome, Medical Hypotheses, 43(l): 31-42. Harvey, J., Wing, R.,& Mullen, M. (I 993). Effects on food cravings of a very low calorie diet or a balanced, low calorie diet. Appetite, 21(2): 105-15. Kurilla, Michael G. (I 996). Protein Requirements in Humans. Intemet Librwy Shah, M., McGovern, P., French, S. & Baxter J. (1994). Comparison of a low-fat, ad libitum complex-carbohydrate diet with a low-energy diet in moderately obese women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 59(5): 980-4. Suchner, U., and Senftleben, U. (1994). h=une modulation by polyunsaturated fatty acids during nutritional therapy: interactions with synthesis and effects of eicosanoids. Infusionstherapie und Transfusionsmedzin, 21(3): 167-82.

Causes of the Flu Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Why We Still Get the Flu This winter, media reports of early influenza (flu) deaths in American and British children sparked a panic that is spreading throughout the United States and the world. People are currently rushing to get flu shots to try to prevent this virus, which can be temporarily debilitating and even lead to death (1). With readily available flu vaccination and medication, it is a wonder that the flu is still an extant disease. In fact, in any given year, the flu kills about 15 million people world wide, more people than are killed by AIDS, lung cancer, and heart disease combined (2). With so much modern medical technology, why is it that we are still getting the flu? Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a virus that infects the trachea (windpipe) or bronchi (breathing tubes) (1). Strains of the flu may belong to one of three different influenza virus families, A, B, or C (3). Symptoms include high fever, chills, severe muscle aches, headache, runny nose, and cough. Complications can lead to pneumonia. Those most at risk of dying from the flu or contracting complications include asthmatics, people with sickle cell disease, people with long-term diseases of the heart, kidney, or lungs, people with diabetes, those who have weakened immunity from cancer or HIV/AIDS, children on long-term aspirin therapy, women who are on their second or third trimester of pregnancy, children under the age of nine, and adults over the age of 50 (1). Flu shots may be a miracle of modern technology, but they are not received by everyone. The flu is a world-wide problem. While Americans spend $2 billion treating and preventing the flu every year, those countries known as the Third or Developing World simply cannot afford su... ... VA – Flu Vaccine http://www.fin.org/n_flu.html 9)Fujian flu vaccine ready by next year; news article on the Star Online, a Malaysian Newspaper. http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file= 10)ScienceDaily New Release: Australian National University Scientists Find Genetic Trigger For The 1918 Spanish Flu http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/09/010907081636.htm 11)WHO 50th – Smallpox Eradication, Site Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/governance/en/smallpox.htm 12)FluMist: No More Flu Shots? , On the Mayo Clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=591BCB8D-4339-4653-86B9311B648BF021 13)ScienceDaily News Release: A Better FLU Vaccine? Nasal Spray Vaccine May Give More Protection Against 'Drifted' Strains http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/12/031209081457.htm

A Goal I Have Accomplished

Graduating from college, having a stable job or putting up their own business and having a happy family might be the things people want to achieve in their lifetime.Many people hope for this at an early age while they still have the support of their parents especially financially. I, myself, also hope for those. Those are also the goals that I want to accomplish. However, with my present status, I believe those could only be bonuses for all the achievements I have now.I recently got my General Education Development diploma — this is already a great achievement for me. This is because I got it as a fruit of all the labor, perseverance and determination. It is very difficult to manage my life while I study. I am a single mother and I need to work for a living to feed my little boy.There were times that I needed to review my lessons while I am tending to his needs during the night. There were many nights that I have gone sleepless and still go to school during the day. But I know I needed to do everything not only for my future but especially for my child future — that’s what I always think of.My beautiful boy is the crown to all my tiredness and the everlasting joy to all my achievements. At the end of the day when I see him smiling at me, he gives me new hope to pursue what I am planning to do.Aside from perseverance and thinking of our future, another step that I took is to continue my studies. I already started college in August. I am now pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Business through Kaplan Online. Moreover, to compensate for our expenses, I am also working fulltime. Going back to school is a present achievement I am enjoying now.

The Haunted Resort (English Creative Writing Coursework)

It was one o'clock when I finally arrived at the Marigold's Mansion Resort. I am so excited to be here, to get away from home and the office for a few days, even though I so am spooked out to be staying in this haunted hotel. But, like Susie advised, I can't keep writing websites about haunted hotels without actually staying in one and experiencing ghosts. So, this is it. My first haunted hotel. I was horrified at the sight of the man at the desk. His bushy eyebrows and grey, shaggy hair made him look as if he might be a werewolf. He told me that the hotel was originally the home of John and Mary Marigold, but it had to be rebuilt after it was burned down. Apparently, Mary decided to leave John and locked him out of the home and, furious, set fire to the house. I guess he thought burning the house down would force her to come out and see him, but she got stuck inside or something and couldn't save herself. He had to rush in to try and save her and they both died a â€Å"flaming agonizing death†, as the check-in guy said. The hotel was rebuilt to look like the original, with a steep roof and fancy architecture. The room is old-fashioned. Most of the furniture is wooden, like the doors, windows and even the toilet seat. It makes me feel at home, with blankets and pillows scattered around the room. Some old family photographs have even been left out on the desk, including a man with dark, sad-looking eyes and a weird fringe, hugging a laughing blonde, young girl. I quickly turned them over. It almost felt as if they were staring at me. Anyway, have to go to bed now. Hope I can find more evidence for the existence of ghosts tonight so I can finish writing the website and want to get up early to tour the hotel tomorrow morning at 8am. Report # 105 Date: 15th November 2008 Location: Marigold Mansions Resort Arrived at the resort at 1900 hours. The man at the desk looks like an actor from a bad horror movie and would not be surprised if he puts on a white sheet and runs around trying to scare guests at night. He gave me the background story – wife wants to leave husband, husband gets jealous and burns down house, and dies in romantic attempt to save wife. How scary. Looks like they have rebuilt the house, to look like the original one before it burnt down. It's Mock Tudor with steep pitched roofs and mullioned windows, looks quite pretty. This feels like all the other ‘haunted' hotels I have investigated – isolated, in the middle of nowhere, always ready to scare people. The room looks as if someone knitted it, with blankets and pillows everywhere. A pile of photographs on the desk – a bunch of smiling people. I guess it was designed to scare us, and give us the feeling that someone is watching us, but why chose cheery people, grinning to the camera? They look way more joyful than my own family. Pictures of a blonde, laughing woman, being hugged by another man who looks so gloomy seem way too happy to be in this gloomy, ‘haunted' room. Diary – 16th November, 2008 Last night was the night I had prepared myself for! Heard continuous knocking, but was too petrified to get up and open the door. The knocking grew louder but I just tried to ignore it. Pulled the covers over my head and that was when I heard a creak. I saw the door open and close. Questions formed in my mind. â€Å"Was the knocking the knocking of the man? Is he in the room?† Wonder if it was a fight between the ghost couple – the man trying to get in and the wife forcing him back out. Should add this to the website. The hotel is immense, with photos everywhere, nailed to the walls and doors. Got the creeps when looking at them. There are a lot of rooms in the resort, and all, except one, have wooden doors. According to the tour guide, the room with a steel door used to be the couple's bedroom, the only room not destroyed completely in the fire. After the disaster, no one has slept in the bed ever since. So, went in to explore, and since it was daylight, couldn't sense any ghosts lurking around. The bedroom is twice as big and neat as my own room back home and the walls inside are painted white, the bed looks very comfy and a cover white in colour with small pink roses sewn on was lying on top of the bed. It didn't seem as if John and Mary had slept in this room before. Report # 106 Date: 16th November 2008 Location: Marigold Mansions Resort Something that sounded like knocking could be heard last night. Was typing up the report when situation occurred. Immediately went to check whether the check-in guy was tapping on the door. I looked for hidden knockers or any gadgets that might be placed to produce the sound of a knock on a door. Found out later that it was the heating system with air trapped in it that was making the noise. Doors seemed to be opening and closing as well. It could be either the open window that caused the door to slam shut or the wood expanding and contracting repeatedly, not quite sure which. Old buildings often creak, and only superstitious people find it haunted. If I was meant to be scared because there was a ‘ghost', I was never afraid. Went out for a walk this morning, and enjoyed the bright sunshine. Breakfast was scrambled eggs with toast and there was cereal as well. Drank orange juice that tasted more like water. Next to the dining room was a door made of steel. Seems to be the only door that is not wooden. Opened it and saw a king-sized bed with two pillows and a duvet that looked as soft as silk. In the corner of the room was a wardrobe as tall as me. Could not open it. On the left side of the bed, there was another room. This door was made of a different type of wood – walnut wood, I'm assuming – than the other doors, which are made of old cherry wood. I opened the door and inside was a bathroom. It was like a proper hotel. It had a proper toilet made of shiny, white plastic and a shower, with a gold handle. The tap was gold too, and as I admired its beauty, I saw the word ‘Marigold' carved in the gold. Rich people†¦ Diary – 20th November, 2008 Yesterday night was one of the most horrifying nights I have ever experienced in my entire life! When I was in the shower, I saw a tall shadow outside, pacing backwards and forwards. It made me jump, my heart nearly leapt out of my body. I was so shocked I could feel myself shivering, and hid myself behind the curtains in the shower. Then, just when I was about to fall asleep last night, I heard voices. These voices sounded like someone was crying, not out of agony, but out of grief. The sound made every single piece of hair on my body stand upright, and for a few seconds I could not move or even breathe. I hid myself under the covers, panicking. Many pictures popped into my mind, ones of a man feeling guilty, trying his best to save someone. The voices never died down until the sun came out. Went out for a walk this morning, trying to forget last night's shock. When I reached the garden behind the resort, I saw a statue of a man. It felt as if he was staring at me, watching all of my moves. I dashed away immediately from the artificial man, kicking the scary feeling out of my mind. I walked towards the pond in front of the resort and saw some pretty ducklings as well as many fish swimming freely. Looking at these happy animals, the hotel did not seem as scary to me, in the day. Report #107 Date: 20th November 2008 Location: Marigold Mansions Resort Found it hard to sleep well last night. Saw shadows strolling outside. When I opened the door in curiosity, wanting to see who it was, no one was there. I looked left and right only to see that the shadow there a few seconds ago, had vanished. Looked for gadgets that make people hallucinate, to achieve the ‘haunted' effect. Thought over the scene in my mind – no one can run away as fast as that. Perhaps it was the shadow of a vehicle passing? Soon after, the wind began to blow really hard. I got up to shut the windows but the wind just blew harder, banging on the glass used to make the windows. Woke up at 1000 hours today. Noise finally died down at around 0535 hours. Lunch was spaghetti bolognaise which tasted quite diluted. There was a lot of spaghetti but a very small amount of sauce on top. After lunch, went upstairs for a look. Nothing interesting upstairs, just 13 identical guest rooms. Went outside for some fresh air and saw fish and ducks in a pond nearby – looks joyful, outside a ‘haunted' resort. Diary – 21st November, 2008 When I first arrived, I hoped to see a ghost. What a foolish thing to wish for! My dream turned into a nightmare last night. At midnight, suddenly a bright light from the old lamp on the desk began shining into my eyes. Seeing such an ancient lamp turn on unexpectedly, I screamed the loudest scream ever. I was so afraid. The sudden flame produced shadows across the room and for a second I saw a face, the face from the photographs. Was the ghost angry again, and trying to set something on fire? Then, I heard a heart pounding. It could've been mine, but it seemed quite far away, yet gradually getting louder. The lamp light grew brighter and a tall man with dark eyes was suddenly in front of me, holding a bright lamp. He dropped the lamp and a fire spread across the floor. The man moaned. He had a special fringe that I recognized from then photos on the desk. The fire began to burn the walls and I must have passed out because the next thing I remember that happened was waking up to a sunny morning, in a clean room. Report #108 Date: 21st November 2008 Location: Marigold Mansions Resort Am extremely puzzled. I need to get out of here. Went to bed at 2330 hours because I felt exhausted. At exactly 0000, a bright orange coloured light suddenly shone into my eyes. I opened my eyes, thinking it was the sun coming out, but the light seemed to be coming from an antique lamp. I checked before and there was no battery or electric cable supplying the lamp with electricity. Had to be honest I was frightened and could not understand what was making the lamp brighten? I was confused. This time, I had no answer to this situation. A moment later, I heard a loud and deafening scream. I know the noise could not be a gadget in this room because the sound seemed far away. Suddenly, the lamp fell on the floor and it seemed as if a fire was spreading. In the sudden bright light, I thought I saw a woman appear in front of the desk. She had blonde, wavy hair and was wearing a dress. I recognized her from the picture on the desk. Why was I imagining such things when I know ghosts do not even exist? Was I drugged? The more I think about it, the more confused I get. The woman in the picture must have sneaked into my room and set the trick up. But how? Something must be happening to me. Why can't I find a good explanation for this? Need to leave now and see a doctor before my condition gets worse.

No Homework Essay

No Homework Homework, we all hate it, it went from being just 3 or 4 questions to 15 to 20 questions. Homework has historically been given to students to help them remember what they learn at school, and ultimately to help them learn the material better. However, too much homework is not good, and can be bad for the student. Too much time spent on completing homework can take away from a kid’s social life, family time, and limits participation in sports or other activities. The amount of homework a teacher can give to a student should be limited, and only assigned if absolutely needed. A famous author named Tamim Ansary said that since 1981, the homework for the average sixth grader has increased by more than 50 percent. Many teachers are for large amounts of homework, claiming that it helps prepare students for a world that is becoming increasingly competitive. However, excessive amounts of homework can be harmful to kids both physically and mentally. A lot of homework usually means a lot of books to carry. Carrying large amounts of weight daily at a young age can do a lot of damage because bones are still in development. The large amount of homework is causing kids in both high school and middle school to be up until midnight or later. When other activities such as sports and clubs are added to the picture, kids may even have to wake up early the next morning to finish their homework, leaving them with not enough sleep. When busy work assignments are given frequently, it causes students to lose interest in the subject. Negative results can also occur when a student is not able to complete his or her homework. Many times they will resort to copying homework, having others do their assignments, or cheating on tests. The use of homework is effective when used by the rule less is more. Overwhelming kids with homework can cause them stress. Homework takes away from the small amount of time kids get to spend with their parents and siblings. A limit on their physical and social activities can also take a large toll on their lives, and could hurt their health. Homework is good at times, but not all the time. Some teachers just pile on the homework and not think about what the student is going through. The time that we get to ourselves should be used to rest after a long day, bond with family, and participate in physical activities.

Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Adolescense Essay

This paper focuses on an study that was conducted to examine the awareness of gender and ethinic bias along with gender and ethnic identity in late childhood and early adolescence. Data was collected on children in 4th, 6th, and 8th grades from various elementary and middle schools. The ethnic groups that were represented were White/European American, African American, an Latino. Daily diaries and individual interviews displayed that ethnic, gender, and grade level differences affected the awareness of bias ( Developmental Psychology, 2011). It was further proven that children in this age range were more aware of gender bias than ethinic bias. Keywords: gender identity, ethnic identity, bias During adolescent development a child’s need to be identified based ethnicity and/or gender becomes more prevalent and is further influenced by their peers. In addition, during this stage of development, social identity can have a deeper impact on intergroup attitudes. In the text, chapter 3 discusses gender schemas and how they evolve from being inflexible to flexible though the development of a human being (Wade & Tavris, 2011). In the Development Psychology article, â€Å"Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Group Identity and Awareness of Bias†, 2011, psychologists, Alabi, Brown, Huynh, and Masten examined the awareness of gender an identity bias and its impact on the individuals/groups. The hypothesis is the possibility that children can be aware of one type of bias and oblivious to the another based on their group identity. The study was conducted with 350 students from three participating elementary schools and three middle schools in Southern California. The schools represented various ethnic/racial make-ups and socioeconomic statuses that included 67 African American, 120 White, and 167 Latino students. Two methodologies were used during this study, case study and naturalistic observation. The case study methodology as described by the text is the description of an individual based on their observation of behavior during a specified period (Wade & Tavris, 2011, p. 18). During the first week the case study was conducted by each participant receiving a diary to document their assessment of what identity was most important to them. The approach was referred to as identity centrality and the children received an ethnicity and gender score based on the results. The second portion of this test, identified as the identity salience approach involved students documenting whether or not they thought about gender, ethnic, or no identity at all during each period of the school day. The results of this test revealed that 51% of the children mentioned ethnicity and 63% mentioned gender. Following this portion of the study, the students were assessed through individual interviews with the same ethnicity, same gender experimenter. To assess ethnic identity, the students were presented five items with opposing questions, in which they had to choose the statement that they most identified with. A similar assessment was conducted to determine the degree of their gender identity. The final results of these assessments revealed that 51% of the students were aware of ethnic bias associated with ethnic identity while 49% were unaware. The relationship between bias and group identity was determined by eight ethnic and gender identity measures to include: gender and ethinic identity, salience, centrality, positivity/importance of ethnicity, contentedness with gender, felt gender typicality, and felt pressure to conform to gender norms. Over 38% of the students felt positive about their ethnicity and felt content/typical with their gender. 26% percent felt that their ethnicity was not important and felt no pressure to conform to gender norms. 20% of the students felt that their ethnicity was not important but was discontent with the gender norms. Finally, 9% felt that their ethnicity was positive and important and were content with gender norms. In this study the awareness of gender and ethnic bias varied by age group. It comes as no surprise that children become more aware of gender bias than ethnic bias at a young age. As the text mentions, gender identity is discovered at preschool age in which the process of gender typing begins. This is where boys and girls begin to get in touch with their masculine and feminine characteristics (Wade & Tavris, 2011, pg. 107). Ethinic identity creates a sense of emotional attachment to the group and the individual feels the need to conform to the values set forth (Wade & Tavris, 2011, pg. 350). This study further showed that European American students were more aware of gender bias than ethnic bias. In middle school all students were equally aware of both biases but African american and Latinos were likely to be aware of ethnic bias in elementary school. The potential cause of this stemmed from belonging to a negatively stereotyped group which raised the earlier awareness. This showed that European American students were less likely to be targeted for ethnic bias ( Developmental Psychology, 2011). In early adolescence girls were more aware of gender bias than boys and could attest to being targets of discrimation. Conclusion The conduction of this study proved that children in late childhood and adolescence were more aware of gender bias than ethnic bias. In addition the results showed that children who were non European-American experienced and identified with ethnic bias at an earlier age. The limitations to this study was the demographics. This study was conducted in Los Angeles which has a very unique demographic because it is essentially a melting pot of ethnicities. The different socioeconomical factors and educational inequalities impacted the outcome of the results. Children in the poorest schools had more challenges to encounter in school than their peers in this study. These experiences molded their ethnic identities and the biases associated with it. During late childhood an adolescence development, group identity and intergroup relations became important factors. It is expected that this age group no matter the gender/ethnicity will witness or be a target of discrimination. Although legal segregation is a thing of the past, gender and ethnic bias can greatly impact society but the attitudes and beliefs of individuals can be contained through intervention. With intervention at the earlier stages of development, children can fully witness equality. Future research methods inspired by this article should focus on the data collected from various locations throughout the country. Keeping this research generalized to one location compromises the true validity of the study. New research methods will determine how different ethnicities identify with gender and ethnic bias. Other areas of concentration that should be included in this study are the workforce, judicial system and media/television. Successful results of these research methods can pave the way for some individuals to change their ideologies. These studies can impact the lives of everyday people and potentially unveil solutions to discrimination. As we become a more multicultural country, we must realize the importance of cultural awareness so that we can better interact with different ethnicities/genders. Parents should encourage their to children to foster positive relationships with their peers despite cultural difference. These solutions will alleviate the stereotypes associated with gender and ethnic identity. References Brown, C. , Alabi, B. , Huynh, V. , & Masten, C.. (2011). Ethnicity and Gender in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Group Identity and Awareness of Bias. Developmental Psychology, 47(2), 463. Retrieved May 21, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2321539051) Wade, C. , & Tavris, C. (2011). Invitation to Psychology, fifth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Accounting Theory Half a Defence of Positive Accounting Research

The main aim of this report is to critically evaluate the article "Half a defence of positive   accounting research" by Dunmore (2010) in order to develop understanding in the area of   accounting research theory. On the basis of this article, positive   accounting research can be defined as a research which is used to successfully complete broader intellectual scientific research projects with the purpose to understand the cause and effect relationships in the world under a study (Dunmore, 2010). Positive   accounting is considered in this article as a research program, which is aimed to develop human behaviour's casual explanations in accounting settings. The report provides a summary of the article in terms of the main arguments including aim, overall findings, and its theoretical contribution and arguments. It also discusses the value of hypothesis and its relationship with the literature review. It also identifies and discusses the theoretical framework of the paper contributing to the research element. Moreover, it also presents the article's significance and limitations by discussing methodology used and research conclusion that is justified by the methodology, impact of the limitations on the article's significance, and findings. In last, it summarizes the main points by depicting the implications of the critique. The main aim of the article is to examine the ontology (system) and epistemology (philosophy) of a positive accounting research program. It is found from the article that the logic of statistical hypothesis testing while superficially correspondent to Popper's falsification criterion is not so strong. The main argument behind this is that falsification is not able to perform its normal function because many assumptions must come in the theoretical   anticipation and falsifying the anticipation does not explain which assumption is wrong (Dunmore, 2010). It means that the theory cannot actually be falsified. In addition, the author also found that although the potential of the broad positivist research program is strong enough, however it is lowered by insufficiencies in the practice. For instance, some common problems were identified including 'building casually theoretical models to be tested, excessive trust on the logic of hypothesis testing, a lack of interest in the parameters' numerical value, the use of theory as a way to examine qualitative data rather than testing of the explanations, and insufficient replication to justify assurance in accepted findings that affect the use of this program' (Dunmore, 2010). The researcher also argued that the current way of using positive research in accounting is not effective and it is largely incompetent to attain scientific objectives. But at the same time, the researcher also argued that the use of 'Kuhn's description of normal' science can be quite effective in the context of positive accounting research. Thus, it can be stated that this article significantly contributes in developing knowledge towards the effective utilization of positive research program in accounting studies so that better results can be produced and objectives can be attained. It can also be stated that it is essential to use specific models to test theories, better measurement, use of parameters, and extensive replication for designing effective quantitative positive research. As a part of intellectual research project, the author developed four hypothesis. The first hypothesis is   related with the presence of a world, which is independent to the people's imagination. It is because people do not develop them and therefore, events in such situations cannot be controlled by individuals. The second hypothesis is that in such a kind of world, events have causes, which are also a part of the world (Dunmore, 2010). It is the reason that events are not completely random as well as the results of intervention from the outside world. The third hypothesis is that there is potential for general people to attain fairly dependable and authentic information about events in the world through a careful observation. It also indicates to the importance of observation, which is mainly used for understanding the world and its causes as event. But at the same time, it is also possible that people can be wrong in their observations as observations are not completely disconne cted to the world. Lastly, the main purpose of intellectual research project is to use observation to develop knowledge about the world, mainly in the case of causation (Dunmore, 2010). Additional, individuals attempt mental models because these help in correctly mapping the casual processes that take place in the world. All these hypothesis are valuable because these provide a background to successfully conduct an intellectual enquiry. In addition, these are also valuable to prove different theories in the context of positive accounting research. In addition, the results of this article developed based on these hypothesis can be valuable to enhance the relevancy of positive accounting research. Moreover, in an intellectual research, it is also assumed that non worldly things such as gods and spirits cause an event in this world (Dunmore, 2010). But, concurrently, there is disagreement in relation to the thing that cause an event. Similarly, in this article, the role of human behaviour in the context of accounting research is discussed. The author is intended to resolve the issue that how the current practice of accounting research fails to meet the requirements to execute the research program in a successful manner. Through this article, the researcher is not affirming the truth of these hypothesis, but simply asking for a 'willing suspension of disbelief' to allow their discussion. It also indicates that these hypothesis are developed by the researcher on the basis of the literature review to clear the doubt about the truth in the context of positive accounting research. In addition, the author developed these hypothesis for this article in a tentative and conscious way by considering human experiences and value with the review of available literature. The literature review in this article is also supportive to provide sufficient proves in the context of falsification and hypothesis testing as well as the use of models and frameworks to ensure the proper utilization of positive accounting research (Dunmore, 2010). Overall, it can be stated that by developing knowledge regarding existing accounting research theories and models, literature review helps in building hypothesis for this enquiry. In this article, the author reviews the wider intellectual project in a brief manner with its system and philosophical assumptions to understand the significance as well as deficiencies of positive accounting research. The author used different theories to examine the importance and inadequacies of positive accounting research. For instance, the use of theory by Kuhn (1970) suggested that "positive research may be a paradigm which is optimal for solving accepted puzzles" (Dunmore, 2010). Concurrently, the example of positive accounting research also provides a theoretical framework for this article. For instance, through the views of Watts and Zimmerman (1978, 1986, 1990), Dunmore (2010) clarifies that the concept of "positive accounting theory" is more extensive than their particular theory. It encourages the author to find the ways that can be used to enhance the effectiveness of accounting research. In addition, the author also used a theoretical framework as 'fundamental model of rational self-interested human behaviour' suggested by Fukuyama (1995, p. 13) (Dunmore, 2010). It shows that human behaviour is not capable to defended in quantitative terms. Concurrently, it is evaluated that this model is correct about 80% of time. It is also the reason that behaviour in accounting context is examined by some accounting research without assuming rational behaviour. For example, judgements by the audit experts, use of discretion by the managers in performance evaluation systems, etc (Dunmore, 2010). At the same time, Popper's theory of falsification and hypothesis testing is also an important part of the theoretical framework of the chosen article. Scientific researchers involve the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data and Popper's criterion is helpful to understand the philosophy of science at all (Michael, 2015). The use of this theory is beneficial to perform positive accounting research in a scientific context. In this article, the criteria of falsification is applied to evaluate the possibility of developing falsified principles within the positive accounting research. As per the falsification criterion, a theory can only be scientific when the variables can be developed in terms of principles (Baruk, 2008). Moreover, audit-complexity and audit-fee are other parts of theoretical framework in this article, which are used to discuss the importance of measurement in comparison of the testing. In order to enhance the effectiveness of positive accounting research, it is essential to define and measure the concepts so that the testing can be made more reliable and valid (Mintz, 2013). In this article, through the use of principles and assumptions, normal science theory of Kuhn is discussed. This theory shows that to make sure about the presence of scientific nature in a theory, it is important to discuss common paradigm. Moreover, normal science theory states that success of each theory is not critical due to the importance of problem-solving science nature. This theory also promotes the organization of in-depth study with the adoption of a puzzle solving approach for conducting scientific enquiry (Biondi and Zambon, 2013). At the same time, this theory is considered in this article as an impo rtant way to identify the limitations of positive accounting research. On the basis of the review of the chosen article, some implications and limitations are identified. The key strength of the article is related to the method of data collection as it enabled the researcher to define different models and theories in the context of positive accounting research (Hoque, 2006). Moreover, it also supported the researcher to justify the arguments for deficiencies in the practice of current positive accounting research. In addition to this, the inclusion of literature from qualitative and quantitative research perspective, accounting, and auditing also enabled the author to design a suitable theoretical framework for this study (Dunmore, 2010). The use of Popper's criterion was also significant to learn about the process of hypothesis testing. Concurrently, the author also found this theory's limitation as it does not include any aspect to invent a new theory. The author also discussed the importance of creativity and imagination process to enhance the streng th of positive accounting research. The consideration of ontology and epistemology of positive research by discussing interpretive and inductive aspects as well as human behaviour, rational conduct, and normal science theory are also effective to enhance the validity of this article (Wolk, Dodd, and Rozycki, 2016). In addition, it can also be discussed that the author described the theoretical conclusions from the research. For instance, the author discussed that the example of positive research in accounting has no means exhaustive, but he effectively defined that the concept of positive accounting research is large enough than the theory. The author also concluded that 'any research aiming to understand the nature and causes of particular accounting phenomena, even if those causes lie in non-rational aspects of human psychology, qualifies as positive and scientific accounting research' (Dunmore, 2010). In their views, the accounting phenomena is caused by 'the operation of rational self-interest among parties who interact through express or implied contracts in various types of organization'. The author acknowledged the limitation of this theory as Dunmore (2010) clearly discussed in this article that Watts and Zimmerman's theoretical model does not draw appreciably all the areas of positive accounting research. But, at the same time, this theory is significant to make accounting choices by the managers of the company, reporting and pricing decisions by auditors, standard setting decisions by the politicians and regulators, and expert advice offered by the academics (Mattessich, 2007). Thus, it can be stated that the author provided effective theoretical conclusions from the research that are also justified by the methodology.   For example, the author provided recommendations in the article for quantitative positive research, which enhance the validity and reliability of the res earch outcomes. In order to summarize the above discussion, it can be concluded that this article includes adequate discussion of different models and theories, which are effective to develop knowledge regarding the positive accounting research. In addition, it can also be stated that the recommendations provided in this research are also effective to successfully complete a scientific quantitative research study.   In addition, the researchers can avoid insufficiencies such as building of theoretical model, lack of measurement, and hypothesis testing model in order to make sure about the success of accounting research. Baruk, I. (2008). Causality I. A Theory of Energy, Time and Space, Volume 2. Lulu.com. Biondi, Y. and Zambon, S. (2013). Accounting and Business Economics: Insights from National Traditions. UK: Routledge. Dunmore, P.V. (2010). Half a Defence of Positive Accounting Research. Retrieved From: https://www.massey.ac.nz/~pvdunmor/HalfaDefence.pdf Hoque, Z. (2006). Methodological Issues in Accounting Research: Theories, Methods and Issues. Spiramus Press Ltd. Mattessich, R. (2007). Two Hundred Years of Accounting Research. UK: Routledge. Michael, M. (2015). Evolution by Natural Selection: Confidence, Evidence and the Gap. USA: CRC Press. Mintz, S. (2013). Accounting for the Public Interest: Perspectives on Accountability, Professionalism and Role in Society. Germany: Springer Science & Business Media. Wolk, H.I., Dodd, J. L., and Rozycki, J.J. (2016). Accounting Theory: Conceptual Issues in a Political and Economic Environment. USA: SAGE Publications. 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