Technical Project Paper: Information Systems Security

You are the Information Security Officer for a small pharmacy that has recently been opened in the local shopping mall. The daily operation of a pharmacy is a unique business that requires a combination of both physical and logical access controls to protect medication and funds maintained located on the premises and personally identifiable information and protected health information of your customers. Your supervisor has tasked you with identifying inherent risks associated with this pharmacy and establishing physical and logical access control methods that will mitigate the risks identified.Firewall (1) Windows 2008 Active Directory Domain Controllers (DC) (1) File Server (1) Desktop computers (4) Dedicated T1 Connection (1) Write a ten to fifteen (10-15) page paper in which you: Identify and analyze any potential physical vulnerabilities and threats that require consideration. Identify and analyze any potential logical vulnerabilities and threats that require consideration. Illus trate in writing the potential impact of all identified physical vulnerabilities and threats to the network and the pharmacy. Identify all potential vulnerabilities that may exist in the documented network.Illustrate in writing the potential impact of all identified logical vulnerabilities to the network and the pharmacy. For each physical vulnerability and threat identified, choose a strategy for dealing with the risk (i. e. , risk mitigation, risk assignment, risk acceptance, or risk avoidance). For each logical vulnerability and threat identified, choose a strategy for dealing with the risk (i. e. , risk mitigation, risk assignment, risk acceptance, or risk avoidance).For each physical vulnerability and threat identified, develop controls (i. e. administrative, preventative, detective, and corrective) that will be used to mitigate each risk. For each logical vulnerability and threat identified, develop controls (i. e. , administrative, preventative, detective, and corrective) tha t will be used to mitigate each risk. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Explain the concepts of information systems security as applied to an IT infrastructure. Describe how malicious attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities impact an IT infrastructure. Explain the means attackers use to compromise systems and networks, and defenses used by organizations.Explain the role of access controls in implementing a security policy. Exp lain how businesses apply cryptography in maintaining information security. Analyze the importance of network principles and architecture to security operations. Use technology and information resources to research issues in information systems security. Write clearly and concisely about network security topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions. Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Research proposal Essay

College students are among a significant population who experience extremely high levels of stress. According to the CDC one out of five college students have reported being stressed (CDC, 2012). The pressures of being a successful student and maintaining good grades along with juggling work, extracurricular activities, and a social life, are all factors that cause increased levels of stress and anxiety among college students. Research shows that people who undergo chronic stress have higher risks of developing major mental health implications such as higher levels of anxiety and depression to the extent where it can significantly damage their daily-life functioning (National Cancer Institute, 2012). The prevalence of mental illness among college-aged students is at an alarming rate considering the substantial amounts of stress students go through while in college. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2012), an AHA survey conducted among college students reveal findings that confirm 1/3 of students reported feeling depressed to the point where it impaired their ability to function (American psychiatric association, 2012). Along with major depressive symptoms, half of the whole population of students also reported having feelings of overwhelming anxiety. Furthermore, an additional study done in 2008 presented findings which showed that 53% of college students in a sample reported having high depressive symptoms as well as 52.8% of students undergoing high levels of anxiety (Downs & Ashton, 2011). Protective factors need to be considered when looking for efforts to improve the mental health and wellbeing of students among this population. One protective factor that has been linked with positive mental health is increased levels of physical activity (Buchan, Ollis, Thomas & Baker, 2012). Previous research and theory has shown that physical activity can increase the release of serotonin and norepinephrine which are neurotransmitters that have been connected with and can ultimately decrease risk of anxiety and mood disorders (American psychiatric association, 2012). Furthermore, according to the Journal of American College Health, Bray and Kwan found through their research that students who did not engage in vigorous physical  activity sufficiently scored lower on psychological well-being than students who engage in vigorous physical activity sufficiently (Bray, Kwan 2006). Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine whether or not there is an effect of engagement in physical activity on the stress levels and moods among undergraduate students at California State University, Fullerton. Based on this statement, it is hypothesized that increased amounts of physical activity will be associated with lower stress levels and an over better mental health among undergraduate students. The theory we will use to test with our hypothesis will be the transtheoretical model (TTM). Also known as the stages of change model, the main theme of this model suggests that a change in behavior is not understood as a single event, but as a process and that when a person attempts to make a behavior change, they will go through multiple stages (Rimer, Glanz, & NCI, 2005). The five stages of change include: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. The stages of change model is like a cycle, not a linear model, in which people may start the process of change at any given stage and then may take a step back to a previous stage (relapse) and have to start over. This theory informs our hypothesis that increased levels of physical activity will reduce levels of stress because previous research has proven that the transtheoretical model, which has been applied to numerous health behaviors such as diet, weight control and exercise, is successfully effective in increasing levels of physical activity (Jackson, Asimakopoulou, & Scammell, 2007). Since previous studies show a positive association between physical activity and overall better mental health, this theory can be used to support efforts (such as coming up with strategies for interventions) in order to increase the amount of physical activity college students engage in, with the aim of ultimately improving their mood and stress levels. We are testing this theory with our hypothesis by examining and analyzing the multiple aspects of a person’s beliefs about the behavior, their intentions and readiness to change their behavior, and actual engagement of behavior as it relates to their mood. Method Participants and Procedures Our sample will include eighty to one hundred students between the ages  of eighteen and twenty-four that are currently enrolled at Cal State Fullerton. We will be conducting a survey by having students at Cal State Fullerton from the classes Dr. Espinoza conducts as well as colleagues from other classes answer a survey questionnaire. Being that one out of five college students have reported feeling stressed (CDC, 2012) we will make a detailed survey that will help us determine the underlying factors and main stressors that increase the average college students stress level. Our survey will take approximately five to ten minutes to complete and will be anonymous. However, we will ask students to write their class status on the survey which will help us to determine if stress levels overall increase, decrease or remain the same the longer the participants have been enrolled in school. Measures In our survey we will be asking students to rate their current stress level on a scale of 1-10. Since one person could consider a stress level of an 8, for example, differently than another, we will include a key to the description of each rating to ensure accuracy. We will also be asking them what their key stressors are, how much they exercise, what type of exercise they participate in and at what level (vigorous, light, etc.). In addition, we will ask our participants their feelings about exercising; whether or not they think it is necessary or important to them to perform a fair amount of physical activity in order to maintain a healthy mind. We will use these questions to analyze the students’ attitudes/beliefs about physical activity and how they think it relates to their mood. With the detailed questions we are asking we will be able to make a correlation between stress levels and exercise. We anticipate to see those who exercise regularly have lower stress levels than those who do not exercise regularly. Conclusion Looking at several research studies done previously on this topic of interest indicates that stress can be related to physical activity and most certainly can affect a college student’s mental health. Our research will look more into the stress of college students and will be able to compare the year of the student in which they are enrolled in, to how much physical exercise they participate in, to how much stress they are feeling. Obtaining this research is necessary because it will be helpful for college students. It is  important for college students to be able to identify their stress properly and know how to cope with it so their mental health is not at risk of decreasing. Even though our research will be taking place at California State University, Fullerton, it will be beneficial for all college students. References American Psychiatric Association (2012). College Students | psychiatry.org. Retrieved from http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health/people/college-students Bray, S. R., & Kwan, M. W. (2006). Physical activity is associated with better health and psychological well-Being during transition to university life. Journal Of American College Health, 55(2), 77-82. Buchan, D. S., Ollis, S., Thomas, N. E., & Baker, J. S. (2012). Physical activity behaviour: an overview of current and emergent theoretical practices. Journal of Obesity, 1-11. doi:10.1155/2012/546459 CDC. (2012, aug 12). College Health and Safety http://www.cdc.gov/family/college/Cdc. Downs, A., & Ashton, J. (2011). Vigorous physical activity, sports participation, and athletic identity: implications for mental and physical health in college students. Journal of Sport Behavior, 34(3), 228-249. Jackson, R., Asimakopoulou, K., & Scammell, A. (2007). Assessment of the transtheoretical model as used by dietitians in promoting physical activity in people with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. doi:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2007.00746.x National Cancer Institute (2012). Psychological Stress and Cancer – National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress Rimer, B. K., Glanz, K., & National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (2005). Theory at a glance: A guide for health promotion practice (2nd ed.). Bethesda, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.

Marketing case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Marketing case analysis - Essay Example The other decision to be made is on the promotion to be made. Previously, the lodge had a strategy whereby guests were given a free weekend, however, it is been proposed that the guests to be given a discount in one weekend in a month (Ali 13). According to the research carried out in the hotel industry, most of the guests in hotels are business people. The business people go to lodges mainly for seminars that are meant to educate them on some trending issues in business. The other business people are those who are travelling to a place that is far from home and they have to spend a night in a lodge. The research shows that the guests who visit for leisure are not many in number and they do not spend many days. In that case, the marketing dollars should be distributed between the two types of guests; however, most of it should be invested in business travelers. This is because they make the highest income to Astor lodge. The lodge should aim at its strong point before diverging its advertising to other centers. The lodge can go into a deal with many corporate in such a way that they will be given discounts for any time they host a seminar or event at the lodge. That will ensure that the lodge gets frequent visitors especia lly if the service delivery is perfect (Ali 12). In terms of the frontier strategy, the plan is a perfect one. The company aims at increasing the time of stay and increasing first time visits. The time of stay can be increased by the guests if the lodge gives them a discount for an extra stay at the lodge. That means that it will seem cheaper for the guests to spend an extra day at the lodge as opposed to cutting short their stay. The first time visits to the lodge can be increased if the lodge increases its marketing campaign. The marketing campaign should be aimed at ensuring that the customers encourage their friends to visit the lodge and that will lead to first time

Editing And Sound In Kill Bill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Editing And Sound In Kill Bill - Essay Example The paper shows that the director uses the transition from one scene to another thereby causing a film to have an effective continuity of action. For instance, when in Japan the young Ishii's parents are murdered in front of her by the Yakuza and later on takes vengeance on the Yakuza boss making her become the new boss after training as an elite assassin. In which case, the match cut helps in giving a connection between the two different events. The film also makes use of spectacular sound edits to make the film even more lively. The scenes are well synchronized with the sound leading to the creation of sound bridges for each scene. In the film kill Bill, even if you cannot see the horrific image, you can still hear the cracking of the bones, the blood spray, and the victim let out dying breath or one last shriek. A lot of the sound effects are created by the artificial use of the FX sound effects which creates an atmosphere of the real life situations and also keep the audience glued in both either of the visual or auditory senses. In conclusion, the creativity that is applied while editing a film determines the quality and the size of the market of the film. Any form of art requires very well edited sound; effects and a diverse application of techniques that will make the audience enjoy the art and also are part of it when they are attracted. A good art, therefore, must have a good and quality visual and audio effects that make the film appear to captivate and real.

Summary devil's knot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary devil's knot - Essay Example orts are geared towards depicting the rumors for what they are in an attempt to dismiss this urban legend that consumed the lives of six innocent youngsters. When the bodies of three eight year old boys-Steve Branch, Christopher Myers and Michael Moore were found dumped in a stream barely half a mile away from their home, the police were clueless, the people frightened and the town was in shock. After four weeks, the police, by the testimony provided by Jessie Misskelley Jr. a seventeen year old, arrested him and his two friends Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin, charging them with homicide. After a much publicized trial, the trio was pronounced guilty and Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life imprisonment while Echols was put on death row. Leveritt followed the trial from day one and it was clear that the three boys were being put in the dock because they had â€Å"an obsession with heavy metal music†¦.Baldwin had fifteen shirts with the heavy metal thing.† Leveritt’s search for the truth revealed to the world the xenophobia of the small town, and how this is translated into a travesty of justice. The collective moral panic that had gripped the town â€Å"cost at least one innocent youth his life† (Root, 2003) Leveritt, systematically analyses the proof offered and the lack of evidence to show how the police bungled the case and the jury handed out life sentences and death penalties because all were â€Å"blinded by their fantasies about satanic cults† (Ebert). The biggest flaw in the whole case stems from the fact, that the police believed the testimony of Misskelley.Jr. a school dropout with an IQ of 72 and a history of behavioral problems, who implicated himself together with Echols and Baldwin. The police arrested the three without any physical evidence, which was against the law. Apart from that, the scene of the crime had not a drop of blood, while in fact the three children had been brutally killed, and their hands and feet tied together. Since the

Coca Cola Crisis in India 2003 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Coca Cola Crisis in India 2003 - Assignment Example It is important to note that this degree of trust is the cornerstone upon which any type of image recovery or customer trust will be built upon. Accordingly, these questions and answers will hinge upon building this degree of trust and seeking to engage key elements within the consumer base. Furthermore, an obvious recourse would be to attempt to re-engage the market with the understanding and belief that Coca Cola brand is investing all available energy and capital to remedy any quality control issues that might have existed previously. As a means towards accomplishing consumer trust on this matter, Coca Cola may wish to point to its civic activism within the recent past, both within India and around the world as a means to convince the shareholder of the serious nature in which Coca Cola takes such an action. As a means to accomplish both the long and the short term goals that have been mentioned, it will be incumbent upon Coca Cola to prove their overall level of seriousness by pr oviding demonstrable actions to the Indian marketplace that clear and decisive actions have been taken to remedy any prior shortfalls that may have been exhibited. How long would you evaluate the crisis? Unfortunately, a situation like the one that has been listed is not one that Coca Cola can recover from over the span of a few months or even years. Similarly, as anyone that is familiar with marketing will point out, the amount of time it takes to re-engage consumer trust and ensure the market that the firm is not typified by its most negative actions and the consequences thereof is a costly and time-intensive process. Due to the fact that the findings were so damning, it will take Coca Cola a very long period of time to both rectify the damage done to the brand’s image as well as to seek to effectively engage future consumers with the overall benefits of the brand. Although the process will not be quick or cheap, such is the responsibility of Coca Cola and defines any hope of increased future success within India. It should be noted that a great deal rests on the means by which Coca Cola attempts to re-engage its consumers.  Ã‚  

Story analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Story analysis - Assignment Example He has come to know that, if he truly loves his brother, he should respect his desire for freedom and individuality and to appreciate how music frees all of them from their inner struggles. The story has the theme of brotherly love. The narrator cannot seem to show his love for his brother whom he has harshly judged, when the latter chose to be a jazz player instead of finishing college and especially when he became addicted to heroin. This short story includes their mother’s narration of what happened to their father’s brother. Their father lost his brother due to racism and injustice. His mother reminds the narrator to take care of his brother: â€Å"You may not be able to stop nothing from happening. But you got to let him know you’s there† (Baldwin par. 112). She tells his son to love his brother whatever happens because the world is already cruel, and the only way to make it less cruel is to ensure that they have each other’s back whatever happens. If they suffer, and they will, they must suffer

Interview a woman or girl of a different generation Research Paper

Interview a woman or girl of a different generation - Research Paper Example People visit and settle in London for employment, business, health and education purposes. Keeping in view all these issues, I have conducted an interview of my colleague named Moona, a married working Egyptian Muslim lady of forty one years, who has been settled in the UK as immigrant for the last five years, and is leading a prosperous life in the vicinity of London city. The selection of the lady was made in order to compare and contrast the socio-cultural and religious beliefs as well as views and opinions on multiple issues with those followed and adopted by me. I am a young British university graduate of 23 years, and follow Christianity as my faith; I selected one of my colleagues for the interview. Since both Christianity and Islam seek inspiration from Abrahamic mythology, it was really wonderful to explore the commonalities and differences between the followers of these two religions. Being a professional social researcher, I assured confidentiality to the interviewee, whil e my communication with her. I had invited the interviewee in the restaurant at the bank of the romantic and calm Thames River in order to make the meeting remarkable and fantastic. I have named the interviewee as Moona in order to conceal her real identity. The interview was conducted in a highly friendly, amiable and pleasant environment, and the interviewee shared all her joys, sorrows and beliefs without any hesitation or hurdle. Though, I knew Moona for the last three years, yet we had never tried to explore very personal issues in past. However, during the interview, I found her as a highly sophisticated, well-mannered, well-groomed and polite lady. Here are the important findings of the interview: We had planned to meet at restaurant to give vent to our ideas and beliefs. At first, I paid my sincere thanks to her for sparing some moments from her precious time for the interview. Then I enquired her how did she feel about being a female both in the conservative Egyptian as wel l as the insecure ultra modern British society, as she belonged to the Muslim family of North Africa. She also thanked me for inviting her to dinner and discussion related to multiculturalism, which was also a topic of great interest for. She regarded being a woman as something pleasant and unpleasant equally. She admitted that Cairo was aptly regarded to be the Paris of Africa due to its modernity and being contiguous to Southern Europe, yet the girls underwent several restrictions in respect of moving freely in the male-dominating society. She informed me that there existed some proportion of conservative Christian and Muslim families in Egypt, which did not approve publically intermixing of boys and girls, and condemns and censures male-female joint sittings, studies and social interaction at large. They refuted European life style altogether, and declared it against their religious, social and cultural ideology. Hence, she had been brought up under several restrictions as soon a s she entered her teen-age, as she was not allowed to travel alone even to her school and to relatives and friends. Somehow, she also found life in London as very challenging for the woman folk, and insecurity often haunted women in all parts of England. I asked her whether ever had

Macro8C Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro8C - Essay Example In order to close this gap, the governments needs to take some expansionary fiscal policy i.e. increase government spending and/or reduce taxes. If only government spending is to be considered, At the end of your presentation, the president decides that any change in government expenditures would be politically unpopular at the moment, so she asks you how she might solve the same problem with a tax change instead. What change in taxation will you recommend? Be specific and show all of your work. Since there is a recessionary gap, the government would need to reduce the taxes. An increase in tax would mean lesser income available to spend. As the goal is to increase aggregate demand, taxes would need to be reduced. Cutting taxes will increase disposable income, which will stimulate consumption with multiplier effects & expanding output and employment. This implies that taxes need to be reduced by an amount of $ 500 in order to close the recessionary gap. So, it takes a larger deficit to get the same stimulus with a tax cut than it would with increased government spending. Suppose that a balanced budget amendment forces the president to match each dollar increase in government spending with an equal offsetting dollar increase in taxation, and each dollar decrease in federal spending with an equal decrease in taxes. Would fiscal policy be weakened, or even rendered useless, by such a law? Why or why not? The fiscal policy is not rendered useless as there is still change in GDP. If we look at the overall effect, the balanced budget multiplier allows us to close the gap without an increased deficit or decreased surplus. If, however, the recessionary gap to be closed is large, it would imply that the government needs to increase spending by a large amount, and also increase taxes by an equally large amount. This may not be very popular with the people and the government may be reluctant to enforce such a measure due to political

Globalization and international migration Essay

Globalization and international migration - Essay Example The object of analysis for the purpose of this assignment is globalisation that can be defined as the spread and interconnectedness of the relationships of people, cultures and economic activities globally. Economic globalisation, in particular, is the spread and interconnectedness of technologies, production and communication. A similar description of globalisation is given by Giddens who states that globalisation is the intensification of global social relations that join or link distant localities in a manner that happenings in the local area are shaped by events taking place thousands of miles away even as local happenings shape the events that take place thousands of miles away. International migration, on the other hand, simply refers the movement of people across international borders, either within a region or overseas/across continents. In the contemporary world, international migration is a core aspect of globalization. However, it is evident that international migration is rarely considered in the current discussions of globalisation, and even if it is, the debate is limited to a residual category. This shows that the contribution made by migration globally in the intensification of relations in the fields of labor and economic activities, cultural affairs and values, and social and political links has been ignored. International migration is a central factor in the achievement of economic, social, political, and cultural transformation, their spread and interconnectedness.... Many countries also trace their experiences of economic, social, political and cultural transformations and interconnectedness to the colonial and post colonial times. Colonisation involved massive international migration where the colonialists moved to various parts of Africa and America conquering societies and colonising them. In some cases, it also involved forced labour migration in the form of slave trade. Although many of the colonised nations suffered at these times, colonisation can be said to have been crucial in bringing about globalisation in these areas, which led to drastic, economic, socio-cultural and political changes in them. At these times, the colonial governments helped to establish important transnational networks which facilitated the flow of labour, goods, finance, technologies ideas, and practices between the colonies, the colonisers and other political establishments. In respect to the above discussions, the present scenario of globalisation is paradoxical. Currently, the world is interconnected more than ever. Technological, trade and financial flows have been liberalised, but contrastingly, the mobility of individuals across borders runs up against the stringiest ever barriers which restrict it. Tapinos and Delaunay (48) observe that international migration seems to be completely excluded from the current globalization process. This exclusion is the greatest contrast between the new trends in the global economy and the two great previous globalization periods. By leaving out the factor of human mobility, this narrow view of globalization raises a threefold question of economic efficacy, ethics, political realism, and the question relating to the long-term sustainability of the world development

Trial By the Mirror Essay Example for Free

Trial By the Mirror Essay â€Å"Underneath the shadows of the other side of time If there is a hell then there must be a behind† -Insane Clown Posse, â€Å"Echo Side†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She is led into the room by two strong men, plump and middle age. The dark blonde hair quivers as she sobs. Her legs tremble and give way, and her eyes, fallen in deeply an a face that was formerly round, are pleading. She is flopped down onto the chair designated for those condemned to the Highest Measure, and looks at us, holding clenched hands to her mouth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We – Nikolas and I – look at her indifferently.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Marjorie Penant. Nickolas states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She nods numbly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"You have killed† He starts repeating her sentence to her. We are required to do it. Psychological torture it may be, but its part of the common procedure now. Something required before we finish our job. It is difficult otherwise, to   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"I have killed no one!† Her voice rings out suddenly, kicking my train of thought off track. Damn condemned!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Yet this just may have been worth interrupting my musings for a moment. Most condemned lose all sense of will before the Highest Measure. She stands now, shaking not with fear, but with rage. Nikolas nods slightly, his perpetual boredom somewhat alleviated. Interesting – and it would seem its my turn to speak.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Really?† Only one word. I know my voice is darkly musical. This is my gift, my power, so to speak.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The word echoes almost visibly through her body, making her consider and reconsider, invoking into her things that she might not want to remember, as forceful as the call of hunger after many days of starvation. She covers her ears, and stands erect for a couple of seconds, only to fall to the floor with a shriek. â€Å"N-no!!!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My lips curl into a smirk. As expected. Ninety-nine percent of humans cant stand my voice sBut whats this?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"I Killed Nobody† She grunts through clenched teeth. â€Å"Ive Killed NOBODY!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I cast a glance at Nikolas, who calmly continues reading her sentence. â€Å"You have killed three children, by exposing them to Matters of the Soul early.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She raises a tear-stained face, and her voice is strangely clear, as she pronounces: â€Å"I. Killed. Not. One. Of. Them.† She sits up with obvious difficulty. â€Å"Your system did.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"You went against it. And took them with you.† Nikolas says calmly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Because its nonsense!† She says sharply.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I raise an eyebrow calmly. Looks like I was mistaken in my first impression. She is not the simpleton she initially looked to be. I had even wondered why she earned her measure. I no longer wonder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Really?† You are despicable – this is what my voice says this time. You decided their fates, and their deaths are only your fault. You should cry with relief that we are a humane society and merely killed them – not did what we are going to do to you. Be self-contemptuous, be afraid, be dead – my voice commands it all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Nonsense!† She gasps stubbornly. â€Å"Th The soul Isnt something to be taken away by the likes of you!!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Pedagogue.† Nikolas says calmly. â€Å"Parts of the soul are shown as a human being gets older. Gradually. It does no harm this way.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"And destroys our humanity!† She says proudly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So typical of the old-style humanists. Nikolas looks to me. â€Å"Laas?†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"You destroy it yourself.† I add calmly. â€Å"Was it not you who cried for your life a minute ago?†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"I cried for the lives of my children.† She replies dryly. â€Å"Not for my own. It is in no danger.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"You have been condemned to meeting yourself.† Nikolas finishes the sentence. And then adds; â€Å"You are wrong when you think your life is in no danger. You have been through meeting with parts of your soul.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"And they have taught me much.† She raises her chin proudly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"The shadows do not teach.† I frown. â€Å"They take away.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She looks upon me with an expression I have not seen since my initiation. It is pity. â€Å"Then you were unable to cope with their lessons. As the fourth child was unable to cope with mine. And it will kill you. As it killed them.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"And you.† I reply.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"No.† She says simply. â€Å"Go on. I want no other last words.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I and Nikolas silently lead her to the silver arch. She is left under it, as we walk to the sides of it. We press our palms to the sides pf the arch, and darkness begins playing between it, almost touching it. The feeling of stepping through the arch is like skydiving, I know. Without a parachute.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She throws her hands up. â€Å"Nothing is true! Everything is permitted!† And jumps through the arch. The darkness swallows her, and wavers, as the machine starts working   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nikolas turns to me. â€Å"I think we will have a new one among us.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I scrutinize the arch. The gate to the Other Side was reserved for those who did not deserve the Death Penalty. Especially those who committed the ultimate crime against humanity – destroyed the integrity of society by teaching younglings about souls before they were fully grown. This was the standard tactic of terrorists these days. Most return from the arch dead, a cruel death. It contains a realm of endless madness, among which, somewhere, is your own self, inflicting the insanity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I know all about it. After all, I had once stood before the same gate myself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The darkness wavers once more, as it spits out the woman who was Marjorie. Her eyes are dead now that she knows what she has been teaching her children. Sanity is limitation, after all.   Those who break limitations too early, die to the world. Who survive death, learn to control limits.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nikolas extends his hand to her. â€Å"Come.† He says soothingly. â€Å"You have much to learn.†

Review On The Banc One Finance Essay

Review On The Banc One Finance Essay Banc One was founded in 1863 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The bank has accumulated a total of $76.5 billion assets and produced revenues of $4.3 billion by 1994, being the 8th largest in the country. Banc One can be seen as a three tiered organisation. The first tier controlling five state banks and holding 42 subsidiaries, the second being a regional affiliate group and holding 36 subsidiaries and finally ten non-banking organizations, varying from insurance to data processing. Its parent company employed around 100 workers, of which 12 were working in the Asset and Liability management which is going to be explored in this report. (Kusy et al., 1986) How does Banc One manage its interest rate exposure? In this question it will be necessary to determine how Banc One hedges itself against changes in interest rate levels and what the possible risks it faces from such changes. As a foreword, it has to be understood that if a bank was to be perfectly matched in terms of its assets and liabilities, then any change in the interest rates would have offsetting impacts on both the asset and liability side. Hence the bank would never feel the effect of changing interest rates. However, in a real world situation, especially for a bank this size with its big asset and liability portfolio (assets $76.5 billion), it is quite impossible to be perfectly matched, nevertheless this must be attempted. (Saunders et al., 2006) Prior to 1980, Banc One was seen to be improperly measuring its interest rate exposure by trying to add assets to its investment portfolio until it was felt that the fixed rate investments offset the fixed rate liabilities. As well as to this, they were evading long term investments, in the belief that such prolonged investments will bring pointless risks to its investment portfolio. (Esty et al., 1994) By 1980, when the second oil shock hit hard and volatility exceeded in the market, Banc One finally understood that they have to adhere to the task of measuring their interest rate risk due to some investments bringing losses to the organization. Hence in 1981, they started measuring their maturity gap, which grouped all of its assets and liabilities into categories, adjusted to their repricing-adjusted maturities (amount of time an interest rate remains fixed on a contract). The repricing-adjusted maturities was split (12 months) and a value of assets minus liabilities derived to. This was a key figure for the bank to understand their net interest margin, i.e. interest rate received on assets minus interest paid on liabilities and therefore earnings. This was great for the bank to play around with and to understand how interest rate changes could affect its earnings. However, a problem was faced, which was that this task was far too time consuming, taking a year to produce a single gap management report which by the time of publishing would be out of date already. (Esty et al., 1994) In the same year, Banc One was generating 13% in money market short-medium term investments, 21% in longer-term securities, such as municipal bonds, which had a larger spread due to no tax incurred. As of 1984, Banc One started using asset and liability simulations to improve its prediction for interest rate exposure. By indicating the exact asset and liability portfolios they were able to estimate how interest rate changes would affect their earnings. The procedure was that, firstly, a so called online balance sheet was created that contained the most recent information on its assets and liabilities, for example key features of each contract, the principal amounts, interest rates, maturity dates and amortization of assets and liabilities, as well as historic information. Finally, when the model was complete, they could simulate how an interest rate change would affect its balance sheet and earnings. These predictions were being run monthly and outcomes helped the bank to make changes in its interest rate positions. It was later developed further by introducing an automatic system which would download all of the available loans and deposits on each customer to derive to a better prediction on the banks exposure to interest rates. What role do derivatives play in its interest rate management? Banc One has been seen to start using interest rate swaps from the 1980s. An interest rate swap is an agreement between two counterparties in which one party swaps its fixed payment interest stream with the other party for a floating payment stream that is linked to an interest rate benchmark, usually being the LIBOR. From 1983, Banc one began using interest rate swaps, the procedure was that first they bought municipal bonds and received a 9.5% yield, after which entered into an interest rate swap which paid a fixed rate of 7% (LIBOR) and hence received a net position of LIBOR +2.5%. However, using interest rate swaps has caused some of the financial data to be distorted, for example if the derivatives were included in the balance sheet then their margin would have been 1.31% lower and their return on assets lowered by 0.2%. After they have started using interest rate swaps, it was seen that they would depend more on large short-term borrowings, also the swap positions affected the amount of risk-adjusted capital they held. The impact was also seen on the net interest margin, as well as the return on assets and equity. The bank presented a set of financials and compared these to two twin banks. One, which was exactly the same as Banc One except that it brought its swaps onto the balance sheet by replacing the notional principal of its receive-fixed swaps with investments in fixed-rate securities funded by variable-rate borrowings. This bank would differ in its accounting performance, dependence on large liabilities, and capital levels. First, swaps improved Banc Ones liquidity. They also freed up capital for short term investment which provided cash when needed to repay liabilities such as CD withdraws. Second, the off-balance sheet accounting of swaps increased ROA and ROE. The receive fix rate swaps did not appear as an asset or a liability, but were disclosed in footnotes to the financial statements. Yet gains and losses would still be placed on the income statement. If the bank were to use a traditional hedge, buying a fixed rate bond and selling a floating rate security both would appear on the balance sheet: the net result being to lower traditional profitability measures. Finally, the stress over meeting the minimum capital requirements was deduced as swaps did not use much capital. They started using swaps instead of conventional fixed-rate investments. swaps were attractive investments that lowered the banks exposure to movements in interest rates. Instead of investing in medium-term U.S. Treasury obligations, it could simply enter into a medium-term receive-fixed swap and put its money into short-term floating-rate cash equivalents. Interest rate swap in which it paid a floating rate of interest and received a fixed rate in return this would increase a banks fixed-rate inflows and reduce its periodic floating rate inflows The second would invest in floating-rate loans and investments (instead of fixed-rate investments) and in floating-rate assets financed by floating-rate deposits (instead of swaps). This bank did not manage its interest rate sensitivity. exposure to interest rate risk is determined by simulating the impact of the prospective changes in interest rates in the results of operations. Management seeks to insure that over a one year period, net income will to be impacted by more than 4 percent and 9 percent by a gradual change in market interest rates of 1 percent and 2 percent, respectively. The chief Investment Officer did not understand why everyone was unhappy about swaps which was an investment which lowered the banks exposure to movements in interest rates and in 1993, they held a In 1993, a meeting took place after the $10 drop in Banc Ones stock price. Banc one did not understand why everyone was criticizing their use of derivatives (swaps). Many of the investors and market players did not really understand how to use swaps and thought that this was a risky investment, however Banc One grasped this investment style and was using it very well to their own advantage in their asset and liability management. The bank was faced with three options. First, not to do anything and hope that share price will recover over time as investors would realised that derivatives were helping the bank manage interest rate and basis risk. Second, they could reduce their derivative position. Thirdly, they could attempt to educate investors about the use of derivatives by showing more of their positions. None of these three is what Banc One decided on, what they did was create a financial summary and presented it to the market presented on the next slide. Swaps instead of investing in medium term US treasury obligations it would enter into a medium term receive-fixed swap and put its money into short term floating rate cash equivalents. (this way they improved liquidity with stable principal values; also swaps are off-balance sheet transactions for receive-fixed swap this way banks return on assets would be overstated; also swaps reduce the amount of capital needed to meet regulatory requirements) Why is Banc One liability-sensitive? In the 1980s Banc One was seen to be asset sensitive which was mostly to do with its acquisition scheme, where their acquired portfolio reached more than 75 banks which were all high asset sensitive banks. Asset sensitivity is the name given to a position where the deposit (liability) is fixed, whilst the loan (asset) might be changing. In the 90s, this has changed and the bank seemed to have turned liability-sensitive due to the use of interest rate swaps in which a floating rate was paid and a fixed rate in return was received. These transactions were giving the impression on the balance sheet that the bank was earning a floating rate liability and at the same time investing into a fixed rate asset. Banc One, being a liability sensitive bank, indicates that their loans (assets) are fixed, whilst the deposit (liability) is moving up or down. Therefore only a drop in interest rate will bring a higher net interest margin, as the spread between the fixed deposit and the floating dropped loan would widen, creating more profit for the bank. However if an interest rate rise was to incur, then this would mean that its floating rate payments would alter its financial data by boosting the interest expense, and with interest income staying on the same level this would set Banc One as a liability sensitive bank. Should it be liability-sensitive? Banc One has turned liability-sensitive as it may have been anticipating that the interest rates would drop and thus profit could have been made, as is shown in the liability sensitive bank table in the last column where the interest rate has dropped. However, if their prediction is wrong and the interest rate goes up then they will make a loss, as shown in the same table, column 3 from left. A bank can restructure its position whichever way it wants, if a bank bets that interest rates will go up then it could turn asset sensitive and fix its deposits (liabilities) and use a floating rate for their loans (assets) in order to make profits. For a bank which bets the opposite, a liability sensitive position can be taken by using the same method described as for the asset sensitive, just reversed, such that was taken by Banc One. From the graph shown below (Interest Rate and Spreads) it is now clear why Banc One has become liability-sensitive from its previous position. This is due to the fact that prior to the 90s the bank would fix its deposits, either using the LIBOR 3 month or the 2 year US Treasury, however then it was more preferable to lock the deposits in the 3 month LIBOR as the rate was lower and a more liquid position could have been sustained. However, after the drop in the rates in 1984-1986 and 1989 and thereafter Banc One would have been facing problems if to continue sustaining its position at the fixed deposit level, as the loans were under the deposit level and the bank could not get out of its obligatory 3 month or 2 year position. Therefore it started using swaps, and with undertaking swaps, this has reversed its position to swapping its loans from floating to becoming fixed, as they received a fixed return or with deposits becoming floating, as they paid a floating amount, whichever was m ore preferable. In Banc Ones case it seemed that swapping the fixed deposit, into a floating deposit would be viable as they had to get out of a loss making position, if the market was dropping. Deriving from the above mentioned, Banc One should be liability-sensitive in the case where it is making a loss on its current positions due to changing interest rates and thus utilising a swap, however its original positions undertaken in the beginning (before the interest rate moved out of favour) might be still as of an asset-sensitive bank, therefore it can be said that swaps distort the banks image. (Esty et al., 1994) References Esty B., Tufano P., Headley J., (1994). Banc One Corporation, Asset and Liability Management, Harvard Business School. Saunders A., Cornett M. M, (2006). Financial Institutions Management: A Risk Management Approach, McGraw-Hill. Kusy M.I., Ziemba W. T., (May-June 1986). Operations Research, A Bank Asset and Liability Management Model, Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 356-376, Informs. Bitner J. W., Goddard R. A., (1992). Successful bank asset/liability management: a guide to the future beyond gap, John Wiley Sons.

Estimation of Mound Height in Endoscopic Treatment of VUR

Estimation of Mound Height in Endoscopic Treatment of VUR A Numerical Study to Precise the Estimation of the Good Mound Height in Endoscopic Treatment of VUR Author(s):  Mehdi Shirazi1, Zahra Jahanabadi2, Zeinab Hooshyar5, Zahra Mortazavinia4, Alireza Mehdizadeh3, Mojtaba Taherisadr6 Abstract Purpose: it seems that there is no definite and standard index to ascertain the technique and volume of injection in order to increase the success rate of endoscopic VUR treatment. In this study, we introduced a novel method to numerically define the relationship between some indexes in order to determine optimum mound height promise to standardize the injection technique in this kind of treatment. Material and method: The main purpose of this study is to construct a finite element simulation of intramural ureter and injected mound which aims to numerically define the relationship between indexes which have influence in VUR endoscopic treatment. Using linearization software and numerically simulation data the relationship between effective indexes has been derived. Result: By linearization of the effective parameters of different finite element models, the relationship between effective parameters in filling phase is derived as: H=0.7456D+ 0.02174L +0.01846. This equation depicts adequate injected mound height as a function of internal diameter and intramural length, H=f(L,D). Conclusion: Using numerical simulation, we introduced the novel formula to predict the height of injected mound in endoscopic VUR treatment. As a result of this study, in order to increasing the success rate of this treatment, the ratio of mound height to intramural ureter diameter should be approximately 74% (~3/4). Keywords: Mound height, Endoscopic treatment, Vesico ureteral reflux, Finite element model Introduction Vesico ureteral reflux (VUR) is a major disorder of childhood declared by retrograde urine flow from the bladder toward the kidney, predisposing patients to UTI and renal scarring and in long term leading to renal insufficiency and hypertension[1]. Current treatment options include close observation with urinary chemoprophylaxis, minimally invasive endoscopic subureteral injection of bulking agents and open or laparoscopic reimplantation[2]. The prophylactic antibiotic approach is proper for uncomplicated reflux (grade I-III without significant renal scarring or breakthrough infection)[3]. This type of treatment doesn’t cure VUR and has some problems such as patient noncompliance and increased antibiotic resistance[4]. Surgical reimplantation of the ureter is an invasive method[5] and already used for patients with high grade reflux, children with breakthrough UTI and children with reflux and developed renal scarring[6]. Endoscopic subureteral injection of bulking agents was introduced by Matouscheck as an evolution in treatment of reflux with a high success rate and minimal invasion[6], [7]. The substance used as a bulking material should be biocompatible, nonantigenic, nonmigratory and non-toxic with minimal local inflammation[8]. Multiple techniques on injection have been described. These methods include subureteral needle placement[8], intraureteral needle placement[9], [10] or some combinations of these. During recent years, several studies have been done to determine success or failure of endoscopic treatment, and various injection techniques have been introduced. Puri et al., described â€Å"volcano† appearance as the main sign of success of injection[11]. The proper shape was demonst rated by adequate coaptation of the ureteral orifice and by its location in the bladder below the ureteral orifice and/or along the waldeyer’s sheat[12], [13]. Despite all the studies carried out to determine the success or failure of endoscopic treatment, such as description of volcano appearance, injection technique in combination with hydrodistention, increasing injected volume, use of intraoperative cystogram with a simulated voiding phase, there is no definite and standard index to ascertain the technique and volume of injection in order to increase the success rate. In this study, we introduced a novel method to numerically define the relationship between some indexes in order to determine optimum mound height promise to standardize the injection technique. Materials Method In this study, a computational simulation was proposed to simulate the intramural ureter and injected mound which aims to numerically define the relationship between indexes which have influence in retrograde urine flow from intramural ureter. Geometry of the numerical model Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatic representation of the functional anatomy of the ureterovesical junction and urinary anti reflux mechanism as the accumulation of urine within the bladder will lead to the tight closure of the portion of the ureter in between, thus preventing the backward return of urine to the kidneys, urinary anti reflux mechanism. In Fig. 1, P, D, H and L are intravesical pressure, intramural ureter diameter, injected mound height, and intramural ureter length, respectively. Section â€Å"A† in Figure 1 depicts the cross section of the intramural ureter with injected mound. The geometrical data of intramural ureter and ureterovesical junction were utilized as per Table 1. Materials Properties and Boundary Conditions Material properties for the intramural ureter wall were assumed to be linear elastic, isotropic, incompressible, and homogeneous with Young’s modulus of 10 Kpa [18]. The injected mound was modeled as a rigid volume as shown in Fig. 3. The boundary conditions for the wall were (1) the bottom surface of intramural wall was fixed at the connection to the internal bladder wall. (2) The upper wall was assumed to be free such that the deformation would occur due to the intravesical pressure and contribute to the tight closure of the portion of the ureter in between. Solution Method The ANSYS 11 software was employed to simulate the intramural ureter with injected mound in voiding phase. The intravesical pressure was applied on the upper portion of the intramural wall. The upper bound of intravesical pressure was considered to be 160 CmH2 O to encompass both male and female intravesical voiding pressures[15], see Table 1. The 8-Node structural solid mesh has been utilized in finite element model to have adequate adoption with this geometry and material behavior. 3 Results Fig. 2 illustrates the total deformation of the intramural ureter with injected mound in voiding phase. As shown, the intramural ureter has been closed due to the intravesical pressure. Fig. 3 shows the deformed and undeformed intramural wall in resting and voiding phase. As shown, in voiding position the injected mound height is high enough for the intramural ureter to be closed due to the intravesical pressure and prevents retrograde urine flow. In the first attempt, keeping the intramural ureter length constant, by changing intravesical pressure and internal diameter, the adequate injected mound height leading to tight closure of intramural ureter was obtained. By linearization of the effective parameters of about 30 different finite element models, the primary relationship between injected mound height, intravesical pressure and internal diameter of intramural ureter was defined as bellow, H=f(D,P) H=-0.0000003219P+0.7864D+0.000233(4) According to this relationship, it has been inferred that intravesical pressure coefficient is minute in comparison with coefficient of other effective parameters and it shows that changing the intravesical pressure plays an insignificant role in adequate injected mound height. In order to investigate the more effective indexes on injected mound height, the intramural length has been considered as one of variable parameters in finite element modeling. Varying internal diameter, intramural length and linearization of obtained data, the relationship between parameters was derived as: H=0.7456D+ 0.02174L +0.01846(5) This equation depicts optimum mound height as a function of internal diameter and intramural length, H=f(L,D). 4Discussion Endoscopic treatment of VUR was introduced more than 25 years ago and since then many different substances and injection techniques have been used with different results[13]. Choosing endoscopic treatment is reasonable, as it has many advantages, such as technical simplicity, greater acceptance of patients and parents and significant decrease in post- operation complications[7]. By improving the injection techniques the rate of endoscopic treatment has significantly increased as compared with open ureteral reimplantation[2]. During the recent years, many studies have been done to increase the ability to identify factors predicting success with the endoscopic subureteral injection[19]. At 2003, Puri et al.[11] described â€Å"volcano† appearance as the main sign of success of injection. The proper shape was demonstrated by adequate coaptation of the ureteral orifice and by its location in the bladder below the ureteral orifice and/or along the waldeyer’s sheat[12]. In different studies conducted by Lavelle et al.[12] and Yucel et al. [20], it was found that a subjectively proper mound appearance was highly predictive of injection success, but it should be noted that the morphology and location of the mound are not perfectly predictive of injection success or failure, as the mound seems perfectly adequate in some injections but the injection is not successful; also, the imperfect mound morphology does not necessarily imply injection failure[12]. Moreover, Ellworth PI et al. showed no correlation between the presence of a mound on post-injection ultrasound and the success of injection[19]. Some research agrees that an intraureteral injection technique in combination with hydrodistention results in higher success rates but this is controversial[9],[10],[20],[21]. The effect of injected volume on increasing the success rate is also controversial. Mathew D et al. showed that increasing the injection material volume will improve the success of subure teric injection[22] but other centers have shown that higher injection material volume doesn’t necessarily increase the treatment success rate[21]. So the effect of the injected volume in association with improved success rate remain unclear[12]. To determine the treatment success or failure, Tarry WF et al. described the utility of an intraoperative cystogram with a simulated voiding phase, but they demonstrated that an introperative cystogram can only detect de novo contralateral reflux but is not a proper method to predict the final success of injection[6]. Despite all the mentioned studies, still there is no definite and standard index to ascertain the technique and volume of injection, and also there is no quantitative index for determining the proper mound size and shape. So, we have conducted a study aiming to define an optimum injection mound by finite element modeling. In this study, we introduced a novel method to numerically define the relationship between some indexes in order to determine optimum mound height promise to standardize the injection technique in VUR treatment. It should be noted that due to every patient individual properties of intramural, it is not logical to consider similar injected mound height for all VUR treatment cases. Thus, it is needed to state the adequate injected mound height based on individual indexes of each case. The Intravesical pressure, intramural ureter diameter and length are some of these effective indexes. By specifying the relationship between all of these effective factors, the adequate and optimum injected mound height can be determined which can contribute to more success in treatment of VUR. In addition, it can help to save the needed injected mound height and make this injection method more economical. The results of this study show that the intravesical pressure has an insignificant effect on the required injected mound height. However, intramural length plays an important role on it in comparison with Intravesical Pressure. Moreover, the ratio of mound height to intramural ureter diameter is approximately 0.74 (~3/4), which is drawn that in order to have successful VUR treatment, it is needed that about 74% of intramural ureter diameter be filled with the injected mound. It should be mentioned that in Department of Urology of Shiraz University for the first time, an innovative method, introduced by Taheri et al.[23], is used to measure the injected mound height to assure the adequate injected mound height. In this method by adjusting camera, laparoscopy lens and imaging screen, it would be possible to measure the injected mound height as a ratio of projected picture on the screen. This study has served some limitation. The realistic cross section of intramural ureter has star shape. However, because of some limitation in finite element modeling, the circular one considered. Furthermore, we considered computational simulation only in voiding phase, although VUR may occur in resting phase. Conclusion In this study using numerical simulation, we introduced the novel formula to predict the height of injected mound in endoscopic VUR treatment. As a result of this study, in order to increase the success rate of this tevhnique, the ratio of mound height to intramural ureter diameter should be approximately 74% (~3/4). Moreover, clinical study has been conducted to ascertain the accuracy of this obtained height. Fig. 1Diagrammatic representation of the functional anatomy of the ureterovesical junction Fig. 2Intramural ureter displacement in voiding phase Fig. 3Deformed and undeformed intramural urine wall References Lenaghan, D., et al., The natural history of reflux and longterm effects of reflux on the kidney. J Urol, 1976. 115(6): p. 728-30. Cerwinka, W.H., et al., Radiologic features of implants after endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in children. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 2010. 195(1): p. 234-40. Harper, L., et al., Postoperative cystography and endoscopic treatment of lowgrade vesicoureteral reflux. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A, 2008. 18(3): p. 461-463. Hsieh, M.H., et al., Treatment of Pediatric Vesicoureteral Reflux Using Endoscopic Injection of Hyaluronic Acid/Dextranomer Gel: Intermediate-term Experience by a Single Surgeon.j urology, 2010. 76(1): p. 199-203. Elder, J.S., et al., Pediatric Vesicoureteral Reflux Guidelines Panel Summary Report on the Management of Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children. j urology, 1997. 157(5): p. 1846-1851. Perlmutter, A.E., et al., Utility of an intraoperative cystogram with a simulated voiding phase after endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux. W V Med J, 2008. 104(4): p. 22-4. Rivilla, F., Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in a paediatric surgery ambulatory unit. Vol. 7. 2011. 132-5. Bae, Y.D., et al., Endoscopic Subureteral Injection for the Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children: Polydimethylsiloxane (Macroplastique ®) versus Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid Copolymer (Deflux ®). Korean J Urol, 2010. 51(2): p. 128-131. Gupta, A. and W. Snodgrass, Intra-Orifice Versus Hydrodistention Implantation Technique in Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid Injection for Vesicoureteral Reflux. J urology, 2008. 180(4): p. 1589-1593. Kirsch, A.J., et al., The modified sting procedure to correct vesicoureteral reflux: improved results with submucosal implantation within the intramural ureter. J urology, 2004. 171(6 Pt 1): p. 2413-2416. Puri, P., et al., Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux by Endoscopic Injection of Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid Copolymer: Preliminary Results. J urology, 2003. 170(4): p. 1541-1544. Routh, J.C. and Y. Reinberg, Predicting Success in the Endoscopic Management of Pediatric Vesicoureteral Reflux. Uro, 2010. 76(1): p. 195-198. Lavelle, M.T., M.J. Conlin, and S.J. Skoog, Subureteral injection of Deflux for correction of reflux: Analysis of factors predicting success. Uro, 2005. 65(3): p. 564-567. Yeung CK, G.M., Duffy PG, Ransley PG., Nat<

Dramatic Irony in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William Shak

Shakespeare uses irony to great effect in his many plays, specifically dramatic irony, and some cosmic irony, in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. But why does he use it? What is he trying to achieve or portray? It varies throughout the play, but there are general trends as the story develops. In the beginning we see that it is almost comical uses. The irony then develops into more interesting and intriguing uses meant to keep the audience, especially the groundlings, interested and wanting more. And then finally, he uses dramatic irony to point out some of the reasons why this is a tragedy during and before the climax. In the beginning you see irony without much apparent consequence, which can be seen as amusing in some views and helped to draw people in. Some examples of this would be Romeo and Juliet talks to each other and fall in ?love? before realizing that their parents apparently hate each other. Another example is when Juliet?s nurse comes to talk to Romeo about Juliet, and the friends of Romeo mock her thinking her another stranger. Both of these and other ironies in the opening acts are meant to be entertaining and to keep the groundlings happy, along with other factors, while at the same time setting the stage for the play to become a tragedy, and slowly starting to shift to a more depth as the play progresses. In the center, specifically act three you see the use of irony to be more serious, often trying to lightly foreshadow and keep the audience interested. From Tybalt aggravating Mercutio and then Romeo with his death, after Romeo seemingly feels and professes ?love? for him due to his very recent secret marriage to Tybalt?s cousin, Juliet. Shortly after Tybalt?s death Romeo is banished due to his, a... ...e party, to Romeo killing Tybalt right after marrying his cousin and talking about his love for Tybalt, to Laurence?s message about the plan being delayed due to a cruel twist of fate. Not only does Shakespeare use cosmic irony in this play, he makes the characters, especially Romeo again, put their faith in the gods who then appear to betray him with a list of unlucky coincidences that help lead to his downfall. The use of irony has a great effect on the plot and characters in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare managed to use dramatic irony for various purposes throughout the play that drastically help the build up of conflict, tension, and emotions. His use of cosmic irony after the protagonists put faith in fate adds a cruel twist into the story that helps to enrich the play and develop the characters. It is amazing how he manages to merge it all into the play.

Censorship and Selection Essay -- self-censorship

Introduction Censorship is a dirty word to information professionals. Attempts by individuals or groups to restrict the public from reading, hearing or viewing certain materials due to their content, is enough to send librarian's and organizations such as the American Library Association, to the proverbial battle field. However, information professionals from all fields have to make choices about what to include and what not to include in their particular library's collection. How are these selections made? What causes one item to be selected instead of another? The distinction between censorship and selection is infinitesimal, dependent mainly upon the role of the individuals involved. As an information professional, who inherently is charged with the responsibility to protect the rights of the public to have free access to materials, much care must be taken in the selection of materials. By evaluating the collections, by carefully examining what deeply held beliefs we have, and by carefully a dhering to selection policies, information professionals can guard against allowing personal bias influencing selection decisions. What Is Censorship? Censorship can take many forms, but it inherently leads to an individual or group attempting to restrict access to materials. Jenkinson (2002) defines a censor as someone who â€Å"begins with a list of negatives or 'no-no's' and then seeks to identify whether any of these 'taboo' words, subjects, themes or attitudes are present in an item† (p. 22). Irregardless of the context, a censor then seeks to either have the item removed, or not acquired at all. (Jenkinson, 2002, p. 22). Censorship can take place in a visible manner, such as a parent or group challenging a book. However, a far more... ... Hill, R. (2010). The problem of self-censorship. School Library Journal. (27)2. p. 9-12. Kidd, K. (2009). â€Å"Not Censorship but Selection†: Censorship and/as prizing. Children's Literature in Education, 40(3), 197-216. doi:10.1007/s10583-008-9078-4 Mazer, Norma Fox. (1997). Shhhh! The ALAN Review. (24)2, 46-48. Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter97/w97-10-Censorship.html McMenemy, D.   (2008). Selection and censorship: librarians and their collections.  Library Review,  57(5),  341-344.   doi:  1497848431 Staples, S. (1996). What Johnny Can't Read. The ALAN Review. (23)2, n.p. Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter96/pubCONN.html Van Kampen, Doris J., and Rose Spino. 2007. "Issues in the retention and selection of materials: Censorship and self-selection." Catholic Library World 77(3), 222-225.

Racial Inclusivity and Social Media and The Souls of Black Folks by W.E

Modern innovation has made the infusion of racial inclusivity and social media a tightrope walking affair above a never-ending abyss. Social media when used has been a place for radicalized defense, sensitive humor and to cavalcade swagger. Simultaneously this tool that has been disposed to culture through telephones, computers, tablets and many other places has created a whole new world for inauthentic means of living. In particular in regards to the African American culture. The â€Å"new ‘New Negro,’† a term suggested by Marlo David has so much at their fingertips, yet do not know how to use them. She said, â€Å"the new New Negro of the millennial age has sought to escape the shadow†¦that has been more real to him than his personality.† The arbitrary nature that African Americans escape to social media networks to show themselves only serves to cover themselves from what their blackness is. Blackness rooted in the brutalization of systemic o bjectification of their minds, bodies and expressions in various walks of life. These issues are not new to the Black experience, they are found in the early 1900’s with W.E.B. Dubois in his work, The Souls of Black Folk. His prophetic work confronted the black person then, and resonates in the infusion of Social media today in everyday life. . He writes, â€Å"How does it feel to be a problem? I seldom answer a word.† He continues, â€Å"Being a problem is a strange experience - peculiar even fro one who has never been anything else, save perhaps in babyhood and in Europe.† Social media has only meliorated the way African American persons are viewed, for Dubois and today, as a problem. From Duboisian experience in 1903 to Social Media and the Black Experience today, progress and problems persist.... ...BIBLIOGRAPHY Congress, T. L., & Willis, D. L. A small nation of people : W.E.B. Du Bois and African-American portraits of progress. New York, NY: HarperCollins. David, M. (2007). Afrofuturism and Post-Soul Possibility in Black Popular Music. African American Review , 41 (4). Dubois, W. B. (2009). The Gift of Black Folk . Garden City Park, NY: Square One Publishers. DuBois, W. E. (1903). The souls of black folk: essays and sketches. Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co.; [Cambridge]: University Press John Wilson and Son, Cambridge,. Neuhaus, R. (2008). "The public square: a continuing survey of religion, culture, and public life. First Things , 184, 57-72. Schwartz, D. (1989). Visual Ethnography. Qualatative Sociology , 12 (2), 119-154. Senft, T., & Noble, S. (2013). Race and Social Media . In T. M. Jeremy Hunsinger, Routledge Handbook of Social Media (pp. 107-120). Routledge.

Mission Statement Essay

Microsoft â€Å"Our vision is to create innovative technology that is accessible to everyone and that adapts to each person’s needs. Accessible technology eliminates barriers for people with disabilities and it enables individuals to take full advantage of their capabilities.† —Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation Mission Statement The Microsoft mission regarding global diversity and inclusion is to create an environment that helps Microsoft capitalize on the diversity of its people and the inclusion of ideas and solutions to meet the needs of its increasingly global and diverse customer base. A Vision and Strategy for the Future Global Diversity and Inclusion are integral to the vision, strategy, and business success of Microsoft. Microsoft officially formed the Office of Diversity & Inclusion in recognition of the fact that leadership in the global marketplace requires a corporate culture and an inclusive business environment where the best and brightest diverse minds—employees with varied perspectives, skills, and experiences—work together to meet consumer demands. During the past few years, we have accomplished the following: * Developed a cohesive Global Diversity & Inclusion strategy linked to the company’s business and vision * Strengthened global perspective and integration of this diversity strategy across the company * Enhanced leadership engagement with the chief executive officer (CEO) and executive diversity sponsors * Improved overall quality and accuracy of diversity data in the U.S. and globally * Increased portfolio of diversity and inclusion training tools and courses Our results demonstrate that the collaboration of different cultures, ideas, and perspectives is an organizational asset and yields greater creativity and innovation. Global diversity and inclusion are business critical to the current and long-term success of Microsoft. Microsoft Accessibility Accessibility makes it easier for everyone to see, hear, and use a computer, and to personalize their computers to meet their own needs and preferences. For many people with impairments, accessibility is what makes computer use possible. Mission At Microsoft, our mission and values are to help people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential. We consider our mission statement a promise to our customers. We deliver on that promise by striving to create technology that is accessible to everyone—of all ages and abilities. Microsoft leads the industry in accessibility innovation and in building products that are safer and easier to use. Apple As a leader in innovation, the mission statement of the Apple company should be equally innovative, inspiring and somewhat lofty, but officially and unofficially Apple’s mission is barely a mission at all. (See the Apple, Inc. mission statement below.) The Mission Statement, Global Vision, and Values of Apple, Inc. It was widely reported that a famous quote from Steve Jobs in the 1980’s was the Apple company mission statement: â€Å"Man is the creator of change in this world. As such he should be above systems and structures, and not subordinate to them.† The â€Å"official† mission statement on the Apple corporation website, however, is not really a mission statement at all, but rather a list of products and past accomplishments. As stated, Apple’s â€Å"mission† is†¦ â€Å"Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.† Apple ends its press releases with a statement that resembles what a traditional mission statement is expected to be†¦ â€Å"Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.† Coca Cola The world is changing all around us. To continue to thrive as a business over the next 10 years and beyond we must look ahead. Understanding the trends and forces that will shape our business in the future and moving swiftly will prepare us for what’s to come. These are the declarations of our overall mission and goals, and the values that we are guided by as a company and as individuals. The CocaCola Company Mission Our mission is: * To refresh the world – in mind, body and spirit * To inspire moments of optimism – through our brands and actions * To create value and make a difference everywhere we engage The CocaCola Company Vision To achieve our mission, we have developed a set of goals, which we will work with our bottlers to deliver: Profit: Maximising return to shareholders, while being mindful of our overall responsibilities People: Being a great place to work, where people are inspired to be the best they can be Portfolio: Bringing to the world a portfolio of beverage brands that anticipate and satisfy people’s desires and needs Partners: Nurturing a winning network of partners and building mutual loyalty Planet: Being a responsible global citizen that makes a difference Productivity: Be a highly effective, lean and fast-moving organisation Our Winning Culture Our Winning Culture defines the attitudes and behaviors that will be required of us to make our 2020 Vision a reality. Live Our Values Our values serve as a compass for our actions and describe how we behave in the world. * Leadership: The courage to shape a better future * Collaboration: Leverage collective genius * Integrity: Be real * Accountability: If it is to be, it’s up to me * Passion: Committed in heart and mind * Diversity: As inclusive as our brands * Quality: What we do, we do well Focus on the Market * Focus on needs of our consumers, customers and franchise partners * Get out into the market and listen, observe and learn * Possess a world view * Focus on execution in the marketplace every day * Be insatiably curious Work Smart * Act with urgency * Remain responsive to change * Have the courage to change course when needed * Remain constructively discontent * Work efficiently Act Like Owners * Be accountable for our actions and inactions * Steward system assets and focus on building value * Reward our people for taking risks and finding better ways to solve problems * Learn from our outcomes — what worked and what didn’t Be the Brand * Inspire creativity, passion, optimism and fun Mc Donald’s Mission & Values McDonald’s brand mission is to be our customers’ favorite place and way to eat and drink. Our worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience – People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion. We are committed to continuously improving our operations and enhancing our customers’ experience. McDonald’s Values We place the customer experience at the core of all we do. Our customers are the reason for our existence. We demonstrate our appreciation by providing them with high quality food and superior service in a clean, welcoming environment, at a great value. Our goal is quality, service, cleanliness and value (QSC&V) for each and every customer, each and every time. We are committed to our people. We provide opportunity, nurture talent, develop leaders and reward achievement. We believe that a team of well-trained individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, working together in an environment that fosters respect and drives high levels of engagement, is essential to our continued success. We believe in the McDonald’s System. McDonald’s business model, depicted by our â€Å"three-legged stool† of owner/operators, suppliers, and company employees, is our foundation, and balancing the interests of all three groups is key. We operate our business ethically. Sound ethics is good business. At McDonald’s, we hold ourselves and conduct our business to high standards of fairness, honesty, and integrity. We are individually accountable and collectively responsible. We give back to our communities. We take seriously the responsibilities that come with being a leader. We help our customers build better communities, support Ronald McDonald House Charities, and leverage our size, scope and resources to help make the world a better place. We grow our business profitably. McDonald’s is a publicly traded company. As such, we work to provide sustained profitable growth for our shareholders. This requires a continuous focus on our customers and the health of our system. We strive continually to improve. We are a learning organization that aims to anticipate and respond to changing customer, employee and system needs through constant evolution and innovation.

Philosophy †epistemology Essay

Descartes is very successful philosophers in 17th century. Rene Descartes is widely accepted as the father of modern philosophy. He tried to create fundamental philosophy for natural sciences. Descartes mainly focus on his philosophical contributions in the theory of knowledge and his famous work focus on the epistemological project, Meditations on First Philosophy. He wants to explain his thought in Meditations on First Philosophy which is as original in philosophical modus as in content. Meditations on First Philosophy examine Descartes’ arguments and opinion. Although there are 6 meditations in this book, this paper points out the search for a foundation of knowledge (the question of truth) and doubt the â€Å"Cogito† (I think; therefore I am). First of all, in the First Meditation, Descartes demonstrates that several arguments for doubting all of his previously basic beliefs. Everything that he thought is the doubt. He has started to doubt from everything and he wanted to find the question of truth with own ideas. Descartes defines knowledge in terms of doubt and he aims ‘to reach certain’. At the same time, we have to use five senses but Descartes believes the senses sometimes deceive us concerning things. Also Descartes is often convinced when he is dreaming that he is sensing real objects. For instance, he said that â€Å"There is the fact that I am here, seated by the fire, and attired in a dressing gown, having this paper in my hands and other similar matters. And how could I deny that these hands and this body are mine (†¦)† (146). Descartes believes that we can achieve certain truth when we will doubt everything. Descartes uses some question to help prove one of his main arguments and ideas to find truth. For example, how we know certain, what is true, what we see, what we hear? As we can see, according to Descartes, the senses are not enough to decide what is real. He believes the truth is in his mind and he must use his mind. Descartes’ Second Meditation discusses some parts. First part explain that how a â€Å"body† can understand things, such as objects. Descartes examined how the mind should know better that human body. Although we need senses for everything, the mind is more important because all knowledge accumulate in our mind. Second part includes Descartes opinion about thinking. According to Descartes, thinking is very significant point because thinking is the ability to doubt, use imagination and reach certain truth. His famous theory is â€Å"Cogito Ergo Sum† which called ‘I think, therefore I am’. Descartes said that, â€Å"I don’t yet know clearly enough what I am. † (151) It means that, sometimes he has convinced himself that there is absolutely nothing in the world such as no sky, no earth also no mind no body. Descartes believes that if people convinced themselves of something then they existed. To conclude, we can infer that Descartes defend the certain truth is our knowledge and thought. These meditations are considered about modern philosophy. At the same time, Descartes wants to create gripping subject to study science.

Week Assgn

Mixed Methods Lori Hudson Walden University Mixed methods research is combined with qualitative and quantitative research methods which consist Of the quality and emphasize measurement and variables (Dentin & Lincoln, 2003). In this paper, I will provide information about mixed methods and what type of designs, timing, and data collection that was used by Tortes. I will also discuss the theoretical lens that will be used in the study. Will also discuss the data analysis, which will deliver bendable information and the rationale as to why mixed methods were used in this particular article.Design Using the mixed methods research article by Tortes provided in the Learning Resources, briefly describe the type of design and the timing of the data collection. Theoretical Lens Briefly describe the theoretical lens that underlies the study. Be sure to support your points with scholarly support. Data Analysis Briefly describe the data analysis procedures used in the study. Be sure to support your points with scholarly support. Rationale for Mixed Methods Explain the rationale for using the mixed method design in this study.Be sure to support your points with scholarly support. Conclusion Your conclusion section should recap the major points you have made in your work. However, perhaps more importantly, you should interpret what you have written and what the bigger picture is. Remember your paper should be 2 – 3 pages not counting your title page and reference page. Please do not exceed three pages of content. Save your Application as a â€Å". Doc† or â€Å". RTF† file tit the filename APP+your first initial+last name.For example, Sally Ride's assignment filename would be â€Å"Appeasers†. Use the â€Å"Submit an Assignment† link, choose the Week 9: Application basket, and then add your Application as an attachment. References Always include references. Be sure every reference is in PAP format with a hanging indent. Also, every citatio n should have a reference and vice versa. Use the PAP manual, the Citation Guide or some source to verify your format. PAP is very specific about punctuation and how elements Of the reference are presented.

Scrutinizing Adultery in the East Asian milieu through East Asian films

The ThinkExist dictionary states that adultery means immorality or unchastity of thinking as well as demeanour, as outlawed by the seventh commandment. It is the â€Å"unfaithfulness of a married person to the marriage bed; sexual intercourse by a married man with another other than his wife, or voluntary sexual intercourse by a married woman with another other than her husband†.It is regrettable that adultery is becoming extensive and out of control in the society of today. The fact that adultery is becoming widespread is perhaps due to the moral disposition of a particular country and its inhabitants or lack of appropriate implementation of the laws on adultery of a certain country.Astoundingly, adultery can be investigated in diverse contexts depending on the mores or background surrounding which adultery has been looked into. This write-up seeks to explore the concept of adultery in the East Asian context or perception by way of East Asian films or other creative or litera ry works for that matter.In the article Adultery and Bigamy in China, Jeffrey Hays describes how adultery is being depicted in the book â€Å"Bound Feet and Western Dress† by Pang-Mei Natasha Chang. Hays pointed out that the Chinese author Pang-Mei Natasha Chang tells the story of her great aunt Yu-I through this book.The book starts with the childhood days of Yu-I, her arranged marriage to Hsu Chih-Mo (her husband who was unfaithful to her), their divorce and the profession she later had. In this book, the author Pang-Mei Natasha Chang is told by her great aunt Yu-I, â€Å"You always ask me if I loved Hsu Chih-Mo, and you know I cannot answer this. It confuses me, this question, because everyone always tells me that I did so much for Hsu Chih-Mo, I must have loved him.In my entire life, I have never said to anyone, ‘I love you.' If caring for Hsu Chih-Mo and his family was love, then maybe I loved him†. Without a doubt, the book â€Å"Bound Feet and Western Dre ss† enlightens readers of the story of the earliest contemporary adultery in China.The adultery committed by Hsu Chih-Mo, the husband of Yu-I, in the narrative was stimulated by the actuality that the characters in the story were involved in an arranged marriage which is common in China.Arranged marriages can fuel or can cause adulterous acts to be perpetrated by either the husband or the wife with another woman or man correspondingly because of the fact that these types of marriages brings into the marital union two persons who are completely strangers to each other.These strangers are compelled to treat each other as husband and wife without being given the opportunity to know each other well. Hence, it becomes inevitable for any of the spouses to seek extramarital affection through illicit affairs with someone other than their spouses the moment they discovered that they are not really in love with the person they have married.Jeffrey Hays in the article Adultery and Bigamy in China laments that â€Å"simplified marriage procedures have led to a rise in bigamy†. In the past, according to Hays, it was ordinary for rich Chinese men to marry three or four women simultaneously. The wives had diverse responsibilities. They regularly had shared duties in the rearing and raising of their different children.The Chinese authorities plan to make public the nationwide marriage registry online so that wives can investigate their spouses and be convinced that they are not married to other women. The scheme has been initiated in order to eradicate bigamy and other adulterous conduct especially among Chinese men.The Chinese movie â€Å"In the Mood for Love† is another artistic work that depicts adultery in East Asian perspective. The director of the film is Wong Kar Wai. TKL, the assessor of the movie, states that regardless of all the hitches that occurred while the movie was being filmed, it turned out to be one of the best works of Wong Kar Wai.The film, according to TKL, is a soppy work of art that tells the story of a â€Å"couple in love and of lost opportunities†. The central characters in the movie, namely Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow (Tony Leung) are both married to their respective spouses.They, however, got acquainted with each other and soon traded glimpses and lovely salutations towards each other. An extramarital affair soon began between the two characters after they have determined that their respective spouses were having an illicit affair.TKL continues his movie review by stating that Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow initially wanted to map out how the illicit affair of their respective spouses began â€Å"until they unknowingly fell in love with each other too†.Mrs. Chan turned down the idea of fostering their extramarital relationship on account of her guilt feelings and on account of the fact that she did not want to be unfaithful like her husband and the wife of Mr. Chow. The film is clouded with romantic pass ions and unexpressed emotions.TKL declares that there was absence of societal restriction and there was no genuine disapproval for adultery. â€Å"The movie carries such pessimistic views†, TKL continues. â€Å"There is no positive message about fighting for love, or overcoming obstacles for love or even that love conquers all†.The movie mainly depicts the lives of those people who are not daring when it comes to love and prefer not to take the risks and spend the rest of their lives in disappointment and misery as a result. It shows how chances that once were lost could be lost perpetually.This Chinese motion picture suggests a familiar view that happiness can be obtained through a prohibited relationship with another person and such bliss can be forever unachievable if one were to select the rightful path. The rightful path is the path that invites one to forget one’s feelings towards someone who is not his or her spouse and evade extramarital relationship.Sou th Korea is one more country besides China which is situated in East Asia. South Korean dramas or motion pictures have achieved prominence and intense popularity in the past years. South Korean actors and actresses themselves have achieved tremendous recognition not only in South Korea but also in other states particularly in Asia and in the countries in the West.Cedric Collemine, in his article Adultery is Secret of Dramas’ Success, proclaims that when unfaithfulness is the main account of a new motion picture or a drama series in South Korea, spectators criticize and state that they have enough of the theme. Nevertheless, it was determined that these same spectators continue to be fastened to their television screens.Spectators pass judgment on stories about adulterous affairs but they still get pleasure from watching them. â€Å"And the more infidelity a show has, the higher its TV ratings are†. Collemine continues his scrutiny by relating that SBS will show a fresh drama series entitled â€Å"The Other Woman† and to separate this drama series from the other drama series, it will illustrate several unsafe extramarital relationships.To demonstrate uniqueness, Collemine states that the conception of the drama â€Å"The Other Woman† is â€Å"double infidelity†. A lady in the drama suffers extreme heartaches because of the illicit affairs committed by her spouse, but then she herself is committing adultery.It is important to mention that the plot that one person suffered pain due to the adulterous relationship of his or her spouse and then later finds himself or herself to fall into another traitorous relationship is parallel to the movie ‘April Snow’, starring Bae Yong-joon and Son Ye-jin.â€Å"My Rosy Life† is another South Korean drama series that is featured in the article Adultery is Secret of Dramas’ Success by Cedric Collemine. The story of â€Å"My Rosy Life† starts with a woman who â €Å"looks back into her own life after her marriage is in shambles after her husband committed adultery†. Jee-su, the central character in the narrative, is a staunch housewife for a decade.Her other half, Jae-min suddenly makes a shocking announcement. The shocking announcement is that Jae-min, her husband, is in love with another woman. He demands a divorce from his wife whom he has been married for thirteen years in order to live with another woman whom he has been having an affair for only two months.Jae-min tries every means in order to get a divorce from Jee-su his wife while Jee-su tries everything to alter the decision of her husband. The divorce came and after which, Jae-min asks his mistress to tie the knot with him but his mistress declines. For the time being, Jee-su lives alone and runs a business when she gets acquainted with a cable TV producer named Do-yeon whom she has fallen in love with.Ironically, the wife of Do-yeon is the mistress of her husband Jae-min. â€Å"Jee-su, who was a victim to the infidelity of her husband, now becomes the afflicter, and the four people get entangled in complicated love relationships†. This narrative, according to the producers, will offer an occasion for fully grown people to bring to mind their lives after marriage.Nevertheless, in contrast to â€Å"My Rosy Life†, which culminates with remorse and a recuperated marriage, â€Å"The Other Woman† inflames the audience with a lot of complex adulterous love affairs. It is safe to proclaim that up to date motion pictures and dramas have had triumph with traitorous themes.Surprisingly, however, in contrast to the triumph that these South Korean dramas and films with adulterous content experience, adulterous relationships perpetrated in actuality are dealt with seriously by the South Korean government. In connection with this, Jack Kim in his write-up, Jail for Adultery Law Upheld, asserts that the highest court of South Korea has upheld a n adultery law that is decades-old.The said adultery law can imprison guilty persons due to the commission of illicit or adulterous love affairs. Some people, however, say that such fact pertaining to imprisonment due to defiance of the adultery law is â€Å"anachronistic and infringes on personal freedom†. According to Jack Kim in his write-up, the court declares that the lawful observation of the general public that â€Å"adultery is damaging to the social order and infringes on the rights of another continues to be effective†.The legal battle began when the lawyers for actress Ok Bo-kyung made an appeal in January of 2008 in connection to the chaotic divorce arrangements that Ok Bo-kyung and her husband had entered into. Ok Bo-kyung disclosed that she indeed had an extramarital affair; nevertheless she accused her husband as an inadequate spouse.â€Å"The adultery law †¦ has degenerated into a means of revenge by the spouse, rather than a means of saving a mar riage,† the petition of Ok Bo-kyung had said. The adultery law was passed by the South Korean government in 1953 for the purpose of protecting women. Kim further disclosed that â€Å"in this male-dominated society, women had little recourse against a husband who had an affair.Back then, if a wife walked out of a marriage, she would often end up alone and penniless†. Currently, it is infrequent for unfaithful spouses to be imprisoned but such fact has not prevented lots of furious spouses from initiating criminal complaints every year. Indeed, it is clear by scrutinizing the circumstances at hand, that the adultery law of South Korea has a very righteous and noble objective which is that of safeguarding the marital rights of women and deferring unfaithful husbands from committing adultery.It is also obvious however, that although the law has been utilized towards that end, it has also been utilized towards other aims such as seeking retribution and justice.The diverse Ea st Asian films and other creative efforts that were dealt with that contained betrayal and adulterous subject matters can be utilized to explore how these films and artistic works reflect the viewpoint of a particular country on adultery and more importantly the character of the people in a particular country.To start with, it is relevant to point out the piece of writing entitled, Film View; What’s Adultery? A Little Sex, A Lot of Politics which is written by Caryn James. James, in her writing states that it is significant to examine what several film makers are doing for adultery at present. No less than eight movies from seven nations have provided a notion of betrayal around the globe in the past days.James pointed out that it is a clearly identifiable indication of a tumultuous â€Å"social era†. The film â€Å"Ju Duo† which is set in China in the 1920’s has a familiar storyline which is that of an arranged marriage between an adolescent girl and an elder man.The arranged marriage directs the adolescent woman to commit infidelity which unfortunately leads to murder. The Japanese film â€Å"The Sting of Death† on the other hand, illustrates a woman who realizes the adultery committed by her husband and goes crazy. James, in his writing cleverly pronounces that films like â€Å"Ju Duo†, â€Å"The Sting of Death† as well as the manuscript entitled, â€Å"Bound Feet and Western Dress† bring to the fore conjugal faithlessness to an imaginative and creative aspiration.James said that â€Å"in all these films, adultery is more than a matter of love or passion†. These films use the account of the marriage and adultery of a person to unveil societal insincerity in order to examine and condemn â€Å"one of the most crucial standards by which any culture lives†.â€Å"Most often, infidelity becomes a symbolic act of rebellion against the traditional social order†. Simply put, the diverse Eas t Asian movies particularly those in China that has adultery as their main theme are utilized by filmmakers in order to demonstrate their condemnation and disapproval of the existence of arranged marriages as part of the culture and common practices in China.Their disapproval on arranged marriages is being manifested in a subtle and imaginative fashion.Every East Asia film on adultery has been dealt with in a manner attributable to the â€Å"cinematic style† of each country in order to portray exceptionality and to present an informative â€Å"cross-cultural view†. In movies such as â€Å"Ju Dou†, adulterous conduct is unequivocally illustrated as a brave opposition against obsolete and old-fashioned practices. James said that these movies enlighten viewers of zeal and aggression, but they are more concerned with societal commentary.In the film â€Å"Ju Dou†, every ensuing behaviour of the main character named Ju Dou rebels the common practices of China t hat fastens her to an abusive spouse. â€Å"The affair and illegitimate son she has with Tian Qing are both symbolic and personal†. The abusive husband, so despicable that he attempts to kill the child, symbolizes the wicked traditions (and in addition the Chinese government dominion) that have held China back.When the wicked husband dies, a family leader calls upon the prehistoric ideas and evicts Tian Qing. â€Å"Challenging such rigid social patterns is both heroic and tragic and in this context, the persistent love between Ju Dou and Tian Qing is as much a failed social rebellion as it is a private passion†. James further said that in films such as â€Å"Ju Dou, the movie producer feels sorry for seditious lovers, whose ardent opposition to tradition bears figurative credence.The other personalities in the movie who contest the arranged marriage and the penalty for adultery are likewise tough characters. Nevertheless, the insurgence falls short, leading to a berea vement that functions as a powerful condemnation of obsolete common practices for its own sake. The film â€Å"The Sting of Death†, on the other end, is much more unequivocal in its utilization of adulterous theme as a ‘social metaphor’.â€Å"The film uses the medium of the relationship of a husband and wife to graphically depict the character of the Japanese people in the post war era†.The wife in this story married a soldier about to be sent to battle. This movie does not portray an arranged marriage but it is one that is â€Å"coloured by the exigencies of war and nationalism† and â€Å"when she discovers his infidelity after ten years of marriage and two children, the screen overflows with his guilt, her obsessive recriminations and mutual threats of suicide†.Certainly, the various East Asia movies and creative works that were scrutinized in this composition reflect the objective of the movie producers in creating such films with adultero us subject matters. These movie producers want to make a virulent statement towards the government of the country where they inhabit.These movie makers used artistic mechanisms to display their condemnation of a certain rigid societal pattern or to display their abhorrence or adoration to adultery itself and finally to demonstrate their deliberation on the quality of the people in a particular country specially those countries wherein which adulterous relationship is rampant. Works CitedCollemine, Cedric. â€Å"Adultery is Secret of Dramas’ Success†. December 2, 2005. .Hays, Jeffrey. â€Å"Adultery and Bigamy in China†. April 2010. .James, Caryn. â€Å"Film View; What’s Adultery? A Little Sex, A Lot of Politics†. October 14, 1990. .Kim, Jack. â€Å"Jail for Adultery Law Upheld†. October 30, 2008. .ThinkExist, â€Å"Meaning of Adultery†. 2010. TKL, â€Å"In the Mood for Love†. 2008. < http://www.spcnet.tv/Movies/In-the-Mood-for-Love-review-r444.html>.