Assignment on Food & Beverage Operations Essay

Introduction As this is one of the most important sources to earn revenue so food and beverage operations have got great significance in hotel management and operations. Organisations in hospitality industry like hotel and resorts are paying maximum attention on food and beverage production and operations. Through this assignment several aspects associated with food and beverage department would be discussed from the view point of a food and beverage manager of a five star hotel in Manchester. After renovation food and beverage manager has been asked to review food and beverage functions of this department and along with this process food and beverage production and service system would be analysed. Proper budget and implementation of that budget would a huge challenge for the food and beverage manager of this hotel and costing and pricing would also be a challenging job after renovation. Purchasing decision would be discussed through this assignment and how those decisions could be taken for betterment of this hotel so that it can run with profitability. For this five star hotel food and beverage manager will have to manage banqueting functions and suitable menu would be essential how this menu could more effective and attractive would also be discussed through this assignment. Later on this report several issues associated with hospitality industry would be discussed such as security, health and safety and product quality and service standard. Task 1: Food and Beverage production and service systems In contemporary hospitality management there are several aspects are associated with food production and food and beverage service system. Now in this section these aspects are being discussed in follows: 1.1 Characteristics of food production and Food & Beverage service system: Demand for Food: Demand of food is not same all over the world there is seasonality of food demand. Customers might not like to eat same food again and again. Peak times of demand of food occur during breakfast, lunch and dinner time. Between these demand times there are valleys or slow times. Competitive events could also be an influential for demand of food and based on demand food production could be modified accordingly (Defranco et al 2007). Labour intensiveness of food production and service It is difficult to get service oriented hospitality people and this is the  reason why this industry is labour intensive. Employees need training and skills for both food preparation and service. Health and safety and food and hygiene certificate must be essential for the employees of this industry. Though employees need to have proper skills but in many occasions this industry needs unskilled employees and gradually they will be skilled. Perish ability of food Simultaneous production and consumption is one of the most important characteristics of food service and produced food must be kept within certain temperature. To protect food from bacteria food must be kept either below 5 degree Celsius or more than 65 degree temperature. Food must be handled properly before, during and after preparation. Changes of Menus Customers might not like same menu every time and menu should be changed on daily basis and production changes accordingly. In this context variation must be bought in food service and preparation then business would be more profitable. Figure: Food Preparation and service process (Miller, 2009) 1.2 Food and beverage service system Modern food and beverage service system could be categorised into several methods and both customers and service people are involved in the food and beverage system. Now in this section food and beverage service systems are being discussed from the view point of Dittmer, Paul R., and Gerald G. Griffin (2009): Table Service: This service includes plate service or silver service and customers are served at a laid table. Self service: Customers will be required to help themselves from a buffet or counter. Assisted service: According to this system customers are served part of the meal at a table and part is self service. Single point service: In this system customers order, pay receive food and beverage from the same point Specialised service: Through this system customers are served from the point where they are, this is also called tray service or room service or even room delivery. 1.3 Factors affecting recipes and Menu It has been discussed above that there are several food and beverage service systems and to serve customers according to these system this five star hotel must prepare menu and there are some factors must be considered while preparing menu and recipes. Now in this section these are being discussed in follows: Financial resources available: Financial condition of this hotel must be considered in this context and based on resources available menu should be prepared. Types of restaurant: This hotel has got four restaurants and according to the nature of the restaurant menus could be prepared. Guest spending power: Spending power of customers is one of the most influential factors to set menu and recipes. Food production cost: If production cost is high then profit then it would be useless to produce that food. Competitive environment: It must be given preferences to what competitors are doing and this hotel must keep competitors in account to prepare menu. Location of the restaurant: Location of the restaurant is another important aspect to prepare menu. Chefs’ skills: It must be given preference whether chefs are skilled to prepare specific menu and in this context skilled chefs should be recruited. Guest diet requirements: Some guest might ask for Halal or gluten free or dairy free meal and in this context customers’ diet requirement must be considered. 1.4 Compare the cost and staffing implication in Food and Beverage department Cost minimisation and employing right number of workforce are the crucial decision of food and beverage department for this hotel. Several types of cost are associated with food and beverage department, now in this section these aspects are being discussed according to the principles of Coltman et al (2000): Actual Cost: The actual cost is what a cost or expenses actually was, for instance the payroll records and check made out to employees will indicate the actual labour cost for payroll period. Budgeted Cost: When a cost is expected to be for a certain period of time is called budgeted cost. Controllable Cost: A cost which could be changed in the short period of time is called controllable cost. Non controllable Cost: Which cost cannot be changed in short period of time is called non controllable cost. Fixed Cost: Fixed cost is not changed according to product unit and these costs remain unchanged. Variable Cost: Variable cost could be changed according to the production unit and it increase if production is increased. Food and beverage department is sometimes depends on seasonality so staffing should  be strategic. To ensure proper operations this hotel should recruit full time, part time and casual employees. Right employees should be placed in right position. 1.5 Suitability of Systems of different food outlets There are four different food outlets are available in this hotel, what systems could be applied with each outlet being demonstrated in follows: Main Restaurant: Buffet service could be the best option to serve food from this restaurant as there would be more customers to eat food from this restaurant. Coffee Shop: Single point service would be used to serve food from this shop as there will be less staffs will be working to serve customers. Chinese Restaurant: There would be plenty alternatives for customers so again buffet service would be good for the customers as serf service would be helpful to reduce cost for this hotel. Fine Dining Restaurant: Tray service would be essential for this restaurant as customer will be given personal service. Task 2: Financial Control in Food and Beverage Operation Financial control and management would be very important aspect for this hotel as cost minimization would be given preference. Now in this section several aspects associated with financial control would be discussed: 2.1 Uses of financial statements in food and beverage department: Financial statements for this hotel could be used to understand key facts about the performance and disposition of this hotel and several decisions could be influenced by financial statements. This hotel just finished its renovation and long term decisions should be taken to improve profitability of this hotel. Now in this section needs and uses of financial statements are being discussed in follows: Financial statements could be very useful as a precise measurement of operation profit, hotel profitability and financial position could be revealed through the financial statement. After renovation how long will be taken to bring this hotel to profitability could be understood from financial statement. Current events of the hotel and production process could be monitored through the financial statement. Financial statements could also be helpful to take better decisions for the future. In decision making process financial statements could be very effective as decisions would be taken based on the financial position of the  Hotel. 2.2 Cost and Pricing process of the hotel Cost is defined as the expense to a hotel or restaurant for goods or services when the goods are consumed or the services are rendered. Food and beverage for this hotel are considered consumed then they have been used and costing would be very important to ensure profitability and hotel must ensure cost effectiveness while making decisions for the hotel especially for the food and beverage department. In costing process this formula could be used: Opening Inventory Value + Cost of Purchases – Closing Inventory Value = Usage Amount Usage Amount / Sales Revenue = Cost of Goods Sold (%)  Pricing decisions: based on situations different pricing decisions could be sued to ensure customer attraction and profitability for this hotel. There are some strategies are being discussed those could be used for this hotel: Cost Based Pricing: This method of pricing is often referred to as â€Å"’cost-plus† pricing. In its simplest form, cost-plus pricing involves hotel calculating average cost per unit and then allocating a specified mark-up, which may be related to rate of profit required by the company, to arrive at the selling price. Value Based Pricing: How much customers are willing to pay for the food this hotel is the main theme of this value based pricing. According to this strategy hotel cannot impose any price rather they can assess customers perception about the food standard and quality of this hotel. Customers feedback could be important in this aspect to set price. Competition based pricing: Competitors pricing strategy would be considered to set price according to this strategy. Service standard and product quality could also be considered in this aspect. 2.3 Steps of Purchasing Process: There are several steps are involved with purchasing process for this hotel, now in this section these steps are being discussed in follows: Figure: Purchasing Process (Chabon, 2007) Need recognition: This process begins with recognizing the need for specific product for this hotel. A problem or need can be solved by acquiring a specific product. General need description: This is description of the  general characteristics and quantity of the needed item. Emphasis here is on reliability, durability, price and other attributes desired in the item. Product specification: The item’s product specifications are analyzed and the purchasing team decides on the best product characteristics and specify them accordingly for the hotel. Supplier search: Who could be the best supplier for the food and beverage products this is carried out to find the best suppliers? Some suppliers may not be considered because they are not large enough to supply the needed quantity or because they have poor reputation. Proposal solicitation: This hotel will invite qualified suppliers to submit proposals. When the item is complex or expensive, the buyer will need detailed written proposals from each potential supplier. Supplier selection: Food and beverage department will review the proposals and select a supplier. They will consider competence of various suppliers, their ability to deliver the item on time and also deliver the necessary services. The following attributes have a strong influence on the relationship between the supplier and customer. Order routine specification: This involves preparing the final order with the chosen supplier, listing the technical specifications, quantity needed, expected time of delivery, e.t.c. Performance review: Here the hotel will review the performance of the supplier. The hotel may retain, modify, or drop the supplier in future hence the supplier should ensure that he is giving the expected satisfaction. Task 3: Menu for Hospitality Events In hospitality industry for a caterer compiling a menu is one of the most important jobs and several factors must be considered before any menu is prepared. In menu preparation what customers want should be given preference not what the caterer has got to serve. This is the situation where for a wedding reception a menu should be prepared and justification of choosing that menu. Assume this is the Pakistani wedding and guest would be Asian community. Menu must be prepared according to the choice of this community. Let’s look at the Menu first: Starters: Sheesh Kabab Chicken Roast Vegetable Samosa Main Dish Chicken Palok Beef Bhuna Nan/ Roti Brown Rice with meat Desert Gajrela Golap Jam with Ice cream Tea/ Coffee Aspects of Preparing this Menu Wedding Date: 15 September, 2014 Type of Customer: Pakistani, Indian and Asian Budget:  £13.95 Per person Diet Requirement: Halal Justification of Selection and Suitability of recipes for menu: There are several aspects are creating impact of choosing this menu, now in this section justification of using that menu is being discussed with suitability of recipes for menu: Customers Profile: Majority of the customers are Pakistani origin and while preparing menu Pakistani cuisine has been chosen. This menu has been widely preferred by Pakistani community. Customers Preference: While choosing this menu discussion with wedding reception has been conducted and according to their choice menu has been selected. Menu Choice: In this menu there would be three starters, two main dishes with rice and nun or roty and two dessert. With starter guests will get complimentary Salad and Chutney. Selection of menu with event schedule: Customers will be served during lunch time and before serving meal there would be an drinks reception and in total customers will be at the venue for 2 hours. Anticipate special needs: Customers has been asked whether there would be any special requirements such as food allergies, religious requirement and diet requirement. All meats will be halal according to the choice of customers. Comfortable room setup: Choose the appropriate room layout that supports event objectives. If as serving a meal, the tables will be filled with used dishes and glassware, in addition to binders, notepads and pens. That’s why it’s important to choose the best room setup, and allow space for people to move. Task 4: Provide Food and Beverage services for  hospitality events: Several aspects are associated with hospitality events now in this part of this report those aspects are being discussed in follows: 4.1 Food and Beverage service plan for a wedding reception: Number of Guest: 350 Budget:  £5000.00 This wedding reception for this number of people within this budget could be implemented through the following procedure: Service Name Estimated cost Remarks Cutlery & Crockery  £1.50*350 =  £525 According to Brand Standard Table Linen  £4.00*35 = 140 According to Brand Standard Chair Cover  £1.50*350 =  £525 According to Brand Standard Cloth Napkins  £175 According to Brand Standard Stage Decoration  £450 According to Brand Standard Red carpet Walkway  £270 According to Brand Standard Table Display  £210 According to Brand Standard Waiter/ Waitress  £580 According to Brand Standard Washing area  £135 According to Brand Standard Food Cost  £1500 According to Brand Standard Food Preparation Cost  £300 According to Brand Standard Total  £4810 According to Brand Standard 4.2 Steps involved with service Plan: There are several steps are associated with recommended service plan, now in this section these plans are being discussed in follows: Step 1: Book appointing of the customer Step 2: Book the Event and take deposit Step 3: Finalise stage, walkway and decoration Step 3: Ensure service people, security and entertainment Step 4: Serve People according to the Function sheet ensure quality, health and safety and security of the customers. Step 5: Get feedback from the customers. 4.3 Evaluate service and Recommendations: Communication with customers would be essential to provide excellent service and inter and intra departmental communication would be very essential in this context. Customers’ feedback would be helpful to improve service standard and quality. Cost minimisation would be essential to maximise profit margin and in this context this food and beverage department would be involve to improve service standard. To arrange such kind of events what competitors are doing and how they are service would be very essential to improve service standard. Innovative ideas should be implemented in this context. Specific demand of customers would be essential. Conclusion In food and beverage operations two things must be coherent one is food and another one is service, these two things are inextricably interrelated.  During serving food quality and quantity must be ensured. Food production and preparation must be ensured with standard. Health and safety must be ensured according to HACCAP principles. During menu preparation customers choices must be given preference. Several aspects have been discussed through this report and proper standard must be ensured throughout the process. To increase profitability of the hotel service people should give emphasize on up selling and customers attraction and satisfaction. There should not be any gap between customers’ expectations and delivered service and food. References Defranco, Agnes L., and Pender B. M. Noriega (2007) â€Å"Cost control in hospitality industry† McGraw Hill: Mason Miller, Jack E., and David V. Pavesic (2007). Menu Pricing & Strategy. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Dittmer, Paul R., and Gerald G. Griffin (2009). Principles of Food, Beverage, and LaborCost Controls for Hotels and Restaurants. 6th ed. New York: John Wiley &Sons, Coltman, Michael M., and Martin G. Jagels. (2000) Hospitality Management Accounting. 7th ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Chaban, Joel. (2007) Practical Foodservice Spreadsheets With Lotus 1-2-3. New York: John Wiley & Sons,

Competency Differences between Associate degree Nurse and Baccalaureate degree nurse. Essay

Competency Differences between Associate degree Nurse and Baccalaureate degree nurse This essay will explore the differences in competencies for nurses prepared at the associates and baccalaureate degree levels. Both degrees allow the nurse to enter in to the field of nursing as a Registered Nurse . The American Association of colleges of Nursing believes that education significantly impacts the knowledge base and competencies of nurse (AACN2010). BSN and ADN nurses have the same skills need to care for the patient’s, the BSN prepared nurse builds  upon these skills. Educational preparation for both degrees includes a core curriculum focusing on preparing the nurse for acquired to in the clinical setting. There are the educational pathways for Registered Nurses. An associate degree nurse enters a two year community college program, earning a student in associate degree in nursing, a three year diploma program offered by hospitals and a four year university or college program, earning the student a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing. The associate degree program were first introduced in 1958 to relieve the shortage of nurses post world war. The program focused on providing direct care for a patient with a well- defined common diagnosis. Facilities have protocols which the nurse takes direction from and refers to for guidance. ADN curriculum is technical in nature focusing on task oriented clinical skill, while considering patient health conditions and need. ADN nurses understand the needs for standardized data collection and assist in obtaining data in a comprehensive manner Competencies set forth for AND’S intend to center on caregiver, councilor, and educator Activities (LUCY J HOOD 2009). ADN maintains accountability for her own actions and those of other health care peers for which she delegate task. ADN nurses assess, implement and plan Running head: Competency Difference between Associate and Baccalaureate degree nurse 2 patient care from admission to discharge. BSN NURSES BSN educational program last for four years. Baccalaureate curriculums include emphasis on critical thinking, research, leadership, management and community health . BSN nurses have excellent problem solving skills and have independent decision making capacities . The BSN program graduates assume the same responsibilities of the associate degree nurse yet their role is far more expanded. The baccalaureate nurse incorporates the physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional components to address the overall health of the individual. Applying theory of nursing knowledge from evidence bases research in a holistic view of the individual, and their community. BSN nursing knowledge is based on theory and research which allows opportunities to teach, assume a leadership role in the health care environment. BSN nurses not only provide more complex aspects of daily care and patient education, but also design and co-ordinate a comprehensive plan of nursing care for the entire length of a patient’s stay from pre-admission to post-discharge , including supervising nurses’ aides and other unlicensed assistive personnel, designing discharge and teaching plans for patient’s and collaborating with patient. Physicians, families and of the hospital departments and resource personnel. An example of differences in patient care, ADN and BSN nurse are as follows. (Patient situation) A 76 year old female patient admitted with the diagnosis of breast cancer to the oncology department . Cancer care technician arrives, providing daily care of a patient. An RN Running head: Competency Difference between Associate and Baccalaureate degree nurse 3 Arrives, welcome the patient, oriented the room, call bell, introduced staff, checks the vital  signs, assess the skin, treatments given for the wound and evaluate the plan of care. A nurse with BSN degree is responsible for the co-ordination of all care provided, after assessing the patient and family needs. The nurse with a BSN collaborates with the physician, physical therapy pastoral care services, social worker and implement a plan of care for the patients based on their health care needs. The AACN â€Å"states the road to BSN, prepares the new nurse for a broader scope of practice across a variety of inpatient and outpatient setting† (AACN, 2010) . With the increase in  complexity of today’s health care system, patient’s ,along with advances in technology, our health care requires more highly educated nurses. We as nurses embrace education that prepares us to provide the best care possible for our patients. Running head: Competency Difference between Associate and Baccalaureate degree nurse 4 References American Association of colleges of health of nursing (2010). The impact of education on nursing practice. Retrieved from American ASSOCIATION OF Nursing website: www. aacn. nche. edu/media/ factsheets/ impactednp. htm HOOD, L. J. (2010).

Assignment Future of Modernization Paper

Assignment: Future of Modernization Paper John Schonewolf SOC/120 November 28, 2010 Nicole Taylor Adopting and converting new ideas into modern ways has often motivated societies to seek change and build on the foundation of their traditions. Many time while implementing changes traditions are lost and industrialization and modernization sets in. Modernization refers to present social structures, especially those established in industrialized societies when urbanization and technological advancements are among the only indicator for survival.While discussing modernization you must look at how it manifests itself within the United States, its continuation and the possibility of a worldwide trend. One must also look at the consequences of modernization by revealing the positive and negative aspects of modernization. Modernization is the change that happens through the gradual way of industrialization, urbanization and social changes which transform populations (The American Heritage Di ctionary of the English Language, 2003). Modernization is often described as the transition from conventional society to a contemporary society as it is in Western civilizations.German sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies’ theory of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft explains that â€Å"Industrial Revolution weakened the social fabric of family and tradition by introducing a businesslike emphasis on facts, efficiency, and money† (Macionis, 2006, p. 457). Tonnies viewed modernization as the progressive loss of human community; the Gemeinschaft theory; and describes society as rootless and impersonal and individuals simply associate with other based on self interest; the Gesellschaft theory. Macionis, 2006) Modernization has rapidly manifested itself through four distinct categories; the decline of small traditional communities, expansion of personal choice, increasing social diversity, and orientation toward the future and growing awareness. Because of the decline of small traditio nal communities modernization will continue in the United States. In the past people lives revolved around their family and community where as in modern times people lives revolve around individualism and technology. The increase of cell phones, televisions, and computers has prevented many people from experience a sense of community or family.With the increasing technology individualism has pulled many people away from their traditions or beliefs. More and more individuals are choosing their own lifestyle rather than settling for what is known. Much of this individualism has help increase social diversity. People are expanding their horizons with modernization which has created a form of social blending which provides a more rational and scientific outlook of different cultures and are embracing other behaviors and beliefs. With people embracing other behavior some people are focused more on the future and their personal growth.People are optimistic and look forward to new technolo gical advance with will improve their not only their person but social lives. (Macionis, 2006) Modernization has become a world-wide trend which has reached place such as China and Latin America. Ten Years in Latin America states â€Å"ten years ago, the possibility of free trade throughout the America was a distant dream† (Westlund, 2003). A wide range of multinational industries has joining the United States in bringing Latin American up to day with modernization and has become a key factor in imports and exports.With that modernization Latin Americas population climbed over 500 million making it one of the world’s most promising consumer markers. (Westlund, 2003) Modernization has also affected China. China: Looking 50 Years Ahead discusses how in the last two decades China has seen a huge economic grown due to rapid modernization. However it has had a negative effect on the United States. As china continues to modernize, they are developed a nuclear threat. It is b ecause of that nuclear threat the United States and China has a strategic relationship which keep both countries satisfied (China, 2008).This example of how modernization has become world-wide is one of the consequences of Modernization. Another good example of the consequences of modernization is the transition to urbanization and industrialization. Urbanization is described as the increasing proportion of population in a given concentrated area during a specific period. With many people migrating into bigger cities to gain better life urbanization is beginning to run ramped in bigger cities such as New York, Chicago, or Miami. In an article published by the University of Michigan in 2002 entitled Urbanization and Global Change, it states â€Å" IN 1950, less than 30% f the world’s population lived in cities. This number grew to 47 % in the year 2000. It is expected to grow to 60% by the year 2025. (University of Michigan, 2002). This rapid growth is responsible for many of the environmental and social changes in the urban environment and its effect are related to global change issues. This rapid change also puts a major strain on the city’s ability to keep its citizens safe. Many citizens do not receive services need to survive. This rapid change also causes severe environmental problems and widespread poverty (University of Michigan, 2002).This is also an example of Ferdinand Tonnies’ theory of modernization which best reflect my perceptions of modernization. As the population grows in major cities and communities and no longer close, modernization will continue. The need for new technological and industrial advances has created a new society into a vicious circle of constant change. People are continuously seeking ways to improve their life and make it easier. Although modernization does have some benefits the urbanization and industrialization and creating major problems in today’s society.It is evident that the United States has endured many changes throughout its vast history and will continue to do as the need for modernization increases to grown and has became an important part of society and the effects of modernization will continues to be felt across the world.References China: Looking 50 Years Ahead. (2008, June). Energy Compass. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry database. (Document ID: 1510128161). Macionis, J. J. (2006). Society: The basics (8th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. (2003). Modernization. Retrieved From http://www. thefreedictionary. com/modernization Univeristy of Michigan. (2002). Urbanization and Global Change. Retrieved from Global Change: http://www. globalchange. umich. edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/urban_gc/ Westlund, R. (Jan-Feb 2003). Ten years in Latin America. (Special Advertising Feature). Latin Trade,  11,  1. p. 63(7). Retrieved  from  General OneFile  via  Gale : http://find. galegroup. com/ips/start. do? prodId=IPS

History and Money Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History and Money - Research Paper Example Therefore, business is defined as the exchange of goods with others goods or services. Business have been conducted from the time of the agrarian revolution up to date by diverse generations using different mediums like exchange of goods and other good which is commonly referred to as the batter trade. After the invention of writing and numerical recording, humans are now able to conduct business and record it effectively. After that business has advanced where in the modern world people can carry out business activities while miles away over modern methods of communication. Money remains the most preferred and used medium of exchange in most business activities and transactions. This is mainly because money is easy to use and carry and also used as a measure of value. Money is categorised as one of the earliest and the most significant inventions of civilization; it is an important item of development of trade. Money has always been used as an important intermediary substance that enables the seller to have a wide selection of choice when and where he wishes to become a buyer. The earliest currency used in commercial transactions is recorded to have been used in Egypt and Mesopotamia the third millennium BC it manly consisted of gold bars. Latter they supplemented it by gold rings for smaller sums during the early civilization. The earliest ever known coins are believed to have come from the western world in a city named Ephesus in Ionia, which is located in present day western turkey about 650 BC. Croesus king of neighbouring Lydia was the first ruler to mint coins pure gold and pure silver. Paper currency made its first appearance in Europe in the 17th century where Sweden claims the priority. Today money is printed in a different currency where value is attached to each paper and also compared in diffract currency making it able for people to switch from one currency to the other owing to the value

Western Australia economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Western Australia economy - Essay Example The economy of Western Australia is rich in resources.The development of economy of this State has been highly influenced by resources boom since 1890s.During the past few years,the industry of Western Australia’s resources had enjoyed excellent conditions instigated by its prevailing commodities’ demand in the international market The objective of this paper is to evaluate the probable effect of the commodity market boom in the Western Australian economy’s sector of the iron ore. The iron ore production in the Western Australian economy explicates 97% of total production in Australia. Most of the iron ore produced in Australia is predominantly exported to Asian market. Following the speedy growth during the last ten years in mainland China, Australian iron ore’s export market has significantly developed in China. This information is evident from the export amount in the year 2010 that amounted to 70 percent of the total iron ore in Australia. The followin g diagram represents the export figures of iron ore from Australia to the Asian market as compared to the rest of the world2. Source: 2. Effect of Increase in Demand for Iron-Ore in Western Australian Economy The production factor of iron ore in the Western Australian economy is primarily dependent on the demand prevailing in the Chinese market for iron ore. Development in the Chinese construction and industry sector is the major cause of increased demand of iron ore in China. As a result of the demand prevailing in China for iron ore with the expectations of even higher demand in the near future, the prices in the Australian iron ore will attain all time high this year, i.e., in 2011. According to the market expectations in Australia, the spot market price on an average for iron ore in the year 2011 would increase to US$153-US$154 from US$146 in the year 2010. The expected price increase for iron ore is generated by the steel output in higher amount due to increasing demand in the growing economy of China3. Source:4 The above figure illustrates the production of crude steel on a monthly basis in different countries. The illustration reveals that the steel production in China has been the highest compared to other countries of the world. From meeting up the demand for iron ore from the Asian market, especially China, Australian manufacturers are producing iron ore by utilizing their maximum capacity for exports. In this scenario, production of the optimum level of output for satisfying the international market’s demand is a matter of concern for the Australian manufacturers of iron ore. As the demand at present in the Asian market is expected to remain constant or even increase in the coming 15 years, the only concern for Australian market is to bank upon the amount of production5. The theory of isoquants and isocosts is applicable for this Australian scenario regarding the production of the optimum quality pertaining to the prevailing demand in the Asi an market. A clearer prospect of the theories can be evolved after explanation of the input requirements in the commodity production with reference to the input demand and prices. The most important inputs for production of iron-ore in Australia are capital and labor. As the concern for the Australian market is to produce maximum amount of iron ore through finding the optimum combination of the inputs required for production, implementation of the concept of isoquants would be most helpful for the economy. An isoquant is that curve which depicts all efficient combination of inputs such as capital and labor by considering their technological efficiency. The quantity to be produced remains constant, but the combinations of

Reading programs for learning disabled children Research Paper

Reading programs for learning disabled children - Research Paper Example Article # 1 The first article, which I have selected for discussion, is Repeated Reading Intervention for Students with Learning Disabilities: Status of the Evidence. The authors of this article have focused on the need of repetition of the reading intervention for the children. â€Å"For students with or at risk for learning disabilities, developing fluency with reading connected texts remains a formidable challenge† (Chard, Ketterlin-Geller, Baker, Doabler, & Apichatabutra, 2009). The authors have stressed on the use of repeated reading practices that should be designed to provide the children with multiple exposures to the same words. Repeated reading facilitates the students in reading and rereading the same text multiple times (Chard et al., 2009). According to the article, decoding difficulties should also be removed because they make learning process difficult for the students. â€Å"Decoding difficulties limit students' opportunities to read texts, decrease students' exposure to words, limit vocabulary learning, and hamper the development of content-area expertise through reading comprehension† (Chard et al., 2009, p. 263-281). Repeated reading can also be labeled as evidence-based for the students with learning disabilities. The findings of this article show that the repeated reading interventions can play an important role in improving the learning abilities of the children because the children can learn different words and their meanings quickly if they are shown those words repeatedly. The exposure to the same word through different ways can enhance the ability of the brain to capture the image and meaning of that word. The teachers of the learning-disabled children can determine the efficacy of repeated reading approaches in order to bring some improvement in the learning and comprehension skills of the children. For most students, oral reading can be associated with improved fluency and comprehension skills (Chard et al., 2009). The teachers can make great use of repeated reading interventions in the classrooms of the learning-disabled children by creating their lesson plans accordingly. The teachers can use the same words in different scenarios making the children familiar with those words. Chard et al. (2009) state, â€Å"As students repeatedly read the same content, it is likely that they will practice the same words multiple times, increasing the likelihood they'll be able to automatically retrieve those same words in future exposures† (p. 263-281). So, if the teachers give repeated exposure to the same words, the children will be able to understand those words in a very quick manner. Article # 2 The second article, which I have selected for discussion is, Evidence-Based Strategies for Reading Instruction of Older Students with Learning Disabilities. In this article, the authors have found that over a quarter of students from the 8th grade and more than one-third students belonging to the 4th grade a re not able to read well. These students cannot understand their lessons properly and find it difficult to acquire some new knowledge or information from grade-level text. â€Å"For students with lea

Assessment for learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Assessment for learning - Essay Example During learning for assessment sessions, students are communicated of what is expected from them to deliver and how they can produce quality work in their lives to complete different developmental stages in their careers (Black & William, 1998). Assessments for learning also enables the teacher to communicate to the student, any misconceptions that the student might have pertaining to different aspects in an individual’s life and how these misconceptions would lead to gaps in information that might effect decision making skills. As the process of learning goes on, the teacher identifies any gaps present in the student’s knowledge pertaining to life events and the decision-making skills. As a result, techniques to cover those gaps are identified by the teachers and incorporated into the assessment plan for students. These techniques improve the overall results of the assessment and produce pupils with enhanced decision-making and knowledge processing students (Black et al., 2003). The question, which arises here, is that why are assessments for learning so critical for the rest of students’ lives. Apparently, teachers found themselves as being responsible for the pupil’s life and career and for that reason they held themselves responsible for the quality of conduct that a student might adopt in future life. In this manner, students are prepared to be professional in their relationships with the colleagues, kind in relationships with their family and spouses and down to earth in their social lifestyle (Black et al., 2003). Teachers ensure that students are achieving good progress and results from the assessment methods applied by the teachers. Teachers might carry out following activities in order to promote good progress and results delivered by students: By establishing high expectations from students,

Abstract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 27

Abstract - Essay Example The initial construction involved changes of building materials. The other change involved the introduction of new architecture as a depiction of various victories and accomplishments. There was also addition of more rooms to cater for entertainments. The other part of the paper focuses on the structure of the palace. The structure is shown based on Victorian era. This part also offers a comparison analysis of the building and how it could have been different if it was built in the current societies. The last part of the paper carries the concluding remarks. Buckingham Palace is located in the City of Westminster and is the residence and office of the British monarch for over four centuries. The place is owned by the British government and is extended for the public and private use of the ruling monarch, which has to be given up when the King or Queen leaves their position. Buckingham Palace, originally known as Buckingham House, has housed generations of British monarch beginning from Queen Victoria and later including prominent rulers such as Edward VII, Queen Elizabeth and George VI. John Nash and Edward Blore mainly designed the Palace but later structural and other changes were incorporated in the original design to accommodate the changing needs and tastes of the ruling monarch. This paper will attempt to shed light on the history, structure and use of one of the most important houses in Britain- the Buckingham Palace. The site that is considered the Buckingham Paalace today was in the beginning three sites: Buckingham Gardens, Goring House and Arlington House. As the need for more space was required according to the lifestyle of the Dukes and rulers, the surrounding sites were added to the original Buckingham Gardens. Buckingham Palace began as Buckingham House when John Sheffield, the first Duke of Buckingham built the house in 1702. The Palace as one sees it today

Cold War in Europe Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cold War in Europe - Assignment Example The attitude of the writer towards communism changes when the Soviets take the occupation of Czech in the 1946 elections. After the Yalta agreement that ended the brutal German rule, there was a reprieve as the pre-war president, Edward Benes takes power. The communists did well in these elections, but they did not form the majority government. They later took the power and instigated their rule with initiation of a one party state. The early phases of Prague Spring are portrayed as a call for reforms in the Dubcek governance. The voices that called for the end of centralisation of the economy and the call for the formation of the opposition Socialist party engineered the whole process. The call for reform of the party doctrine, and the free economy reforms dominated this period. Furthermore, Dubcek wanted to form interrelationship with the West. He claimed that Czech would continue to be subsidiary to the Soviet Union and the other partners. Fearing that their own citizens would demand for similar reforms, Breshnev took action to gain control. It became clear that the Warsaw Pact powers had the right to intervene in the matter. On the Warsaw Pact invasion, Dubcek called for the no-resistance, despite the sporadic fighting outbreaks. The students endeavoured to stop the Soviet tanks, and tried to involve the NATO. With over 70,000 Czech refugees, non-violent resistance took place. The president was arrested and taken to Moscow, but mass resistance led to his return to Czech. The later protests led to the removal of Dubcek as the president, and he was replaced by Gustav Husak who launched the normalisation programme (Conference Six Focus – topic 1). The impression obtained from the Czech political fortunes is that, they advocated for reforms in their system of governance. They were committed towards becoming and independent state with a democratic setting. The focus to development, other than war, was a gallant step towards their growth. Stalin

Writing Historical Fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Writing Historical Fiction - Essay Example For a time I had decided after high school I wanted to pursue something different rather than simply entering college. I had no idea what I would do – get a job, study in a Buddhist monastery, join a commune – whatever it was it would ensure that my life was unique. One night I expressed this desire to my father, Daniel. Rather than rejecting my idea as I had expected he would, he empathized with me and told me that when he turned eighteen he had similar feelings. Rather than pursuing anything similar to what I had proposed, however, he went on a summer long excursion throughout the western United States. My father was born and grew up in Montana. Growing up in a large family he never really had the opportunity to travel throughout the country. After high school, before deciding on his next course of action, he and two of his friends piled into a Cadillac and started towards the western part of United States with nothing but a map and backpack of clothes. â€Å"We didn ’t really have a plan† he told me. â€Å"Really, all we knew is that we wanted to see California and take it from there.† They passed through Idaho and Oregon, heading straight for San Francisco. It was 1972 when my father and his friends drove over the Golden Gate Bridge into the city. Throughout the late 1960s San Francisco had become the center of hippie culture. Protests regularly occurred there, bands and artists frequented the area, and songs were even written about the city. While San Francisco had experienced this great idealism in the 1960s, the early 1970s were a time of growing cynicism. â€Å"We pulled into the city with a great sense of naivete, believing there would be young people with flowers and guitars all over the streets. In reality we were a few years late† he told me. They made it throughout many of the characteristic spots, â€Å"We went to Haight-Ashbury, saw Alcatraz, and rode the cable cars.† I had heard of San Francisco as the epicenter of 1960s culture, so I was very curious as to what had happened to the area’s optimism. â€Å"The month we pulled into the city was the same month men had been arrested for the Watergate scandal. A few years before Charles Manson had been arrested for leading the Tate-Labianca killings. It seemed like the collective culture of the area had grown tired of itself.† They explored throughout the city nonetheless. While San Francisco was the heart of the 1960s counter-culture movement, the city also has an illustrious history dating back to the 19th century gold rush. â€Å"What I remember the most is walking along the peer where the fishermen brought in their daily catch. Stands had been setup where you could buy fresh fish and chips. We sat along that peer each night looking out at Alcatraz.† After a couple days in the city they decided to explore the surrounding area. They ventured up a hill that overlooked the city. â€Å"The hill had actually bee n an old Northern Civil War army base† he told me. It really surprised me to discover that preparations for the Civil War had extended as far west as San Francisco. While the area was a designated no camping zone, they were traveling on a budget; they waited until night time and set up sleeping bags out of site of possible passersby. â€Å"We walked out to the top of the hill before right before the sunset and looked out across the Golden Gate Bridge and the city of San Francisco. I thought about all the people that had looked along here before and all the development the city had gone through. It was truly an American relic† he told me. He would go to sleep that night, but be woken up by cats clawing at his face.

Technological device Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Technological device - Essay Example After staying in college for three months, my parents sent me money to buy a cell phone. Unlike Gathman (42) who preferred a bilingual phone, I preferred a phone with internet access. I acquired a Nokia 2330 Classic model. This device increased my urge to use the internet. I deviated from searching for academic material to searching for famous quotes and biographies of famous people. From famous philosophers like Aristotle, Socrates to the greatest mafia such as Al-Capone I passed through their lives. This information was not much related to my field of study but I fancied searching for it. The quotes and biographies, I downloaded them, printed, and documented them. This was not only outside the lecture room; I could search for this information even during lectures if I found the lecturer to be boring. My colleagues found my character weird because at that time we were overburdened by assignments and less time was available for leisure. I had heard about Facebook several times even b efore I joined college and when I came to college I found it was very popular among the students. We were raised in a Christian family and my parents instilled in me strict Christian values. They had warned me against sites like Facebook over and over again. They told me that Facebook was a dating site that enhances moral degradation in the society. I heed to their advice and no matter how much my friends convinced me to join the network, I resisted the temptation. In fact, I commenced a campaign to discourage my friends from being on Facebook. I usually used to search for my friends on the internet and sent them messages requesting them to delete their Facebook accounts because it was an â€Å"immoral† site. One time a lecturer gave to one of our colleagues an assignment, we did not have a lecture that day so reaching all students in our class was an uphill task. The student decided to post the assignment on Facebook because making phone calls would have been costly for her. Information went round but I could not get it because I was not part of the â€Å"Facebook community†. The next day the assignment was due for submission yet I heard not heard about it. My friends blamed me for being rigid towards embracing the new technological paradigm. Since that day my thinking was transformed; was it for better or for worse? During the lunch hour, I disregarded my parents’ advice and went and opened a Facebook account. Even though I had opened the account, I was very cautious. I researched about social networking sites in depth. It was then that I came to learn that Facebook unlike dating sites offered a platform for people to make friends and share views and thoughts (Jain, Anand and Gupta 2). My whole attitude towards Facebook changed. I sent friend requests to my colleagues and friends. My friendship search did not stop at home; I crossed the borders and even searched for friends in other continents like Africa, Australia, and Europe. Sometime s I sent them messages in their in box and commented on their status. This site now provided me with information about lecture schedules, assignments, and meetings. I became so used to Facebook that most of my time was spent on Facebook. My passion for searching for quotes and biographies faced and was replaced with Facebook networking. The reason as to why I had resisted Facebook was now contradicted. I commenced

Free

Freedom Short Story from Tkam After Tom Robinsons Trial Essay As I sat outside watching the other inmates, a gentle breeze caressed my face, providing relief from the sun’s hot rays. I was used to the heat, but maybe it was the circumstances that I was in that made it unbearable. I could see that my fellow inmates felt the same as they lazed about, their skin glistening with sweat, their shirts clinging to their backs. ‘Guilty until proven innocent’ rang angrily in my mind when I saw the number of Negroes compared to white people incarcerated. The amount of court cases, as well as families, jobs and lives, lost due to our colour was innumerable. Half of us didn’t even commit a crime worth being sent to jail for, but here we are! I wiped my forehead with an already sticky hand and surveyed my surroundings in an effort to shake off the contemptuous thought. The dirt oval consisted of some simple worn out exercising equipment, their hinges squeaking in protest with very movement; a few withering trees dying in the midday heat, two lookouts sitting on the inside of the perimeter where the prison guards patrolled the prisoners and a barbed wire fence which enclosed the space in an ominous hug. I thought pensively about my situation as I kicked the dusty ground vehemently, scuffing my already torn prison boots in the process. The rising hopelessness that I had kept bottled up throughout the court case, believing that with Mr Finch on my side I would definitely be acquitted, quickly vanished, much like the specks of dirt that I had kicked up had disappeared, carried away with the breeze of reality. I observed the bluejays on the nearby trees, warbling their little hearts out with not a care in the world, unaware of the injustice that had occurred. I was being punished for a crime that I had not committed, accused by a woman whom I have assisted for nigh a year! The court case didn’t just affect me it affected my family as well and I don’t want them to suffer because of it. What will they do? How will Helen watch the chillun’ and work? They don’t deserve this! My family needs me. It was already a struggle to bring food to the table everyday, and now with most of our income ripped away, I can’t bring myself to fantasise what my family would have to suffer. Would Helen have to starve to keep the chillun’ physically satisfied? I’ve prayed for them every night confined in the dungeon, praying that God would help them through this adversity. Ms Mayella obviously doesn’t realise that her decision to accuse me affects my family just as much as it affects me. She used the only ticket that would guarantee her victory over the court case, which would prove her innocent from the despicable crime that she had committed – her race. The inequity displayed towards Negroes always perplexed me. We came from the same ancestors, Adam and Eve, but somehow, white people were born having more rights than others, perceived as superior to others, more moral than others. I should’ve conceded that I was a black man living in a white man’s world, and no matter what I did to prove myself innocent, there would be no justice for me. I hate how all white people acrimoniously conclude that all Negroes lie, all Negroes are basically immoral beings and all Negroes aren’t to be trusted around women, as Mr Finch mentioned. How can people be so shallow, so malevolent and so blind? They’re living a lie! How dare America call themselves a democracy when they can’t even treat their own people equally, lowering our rights, our standards and our lives! The act of incarcerating all black people for almost everything that we do is a paradox to their self-proclaimed government. It is overdue to set things straight, but there is no better time than now to change the way Negroes are treated. I am not going to wait for someone else to take justice, as God knows when that is going to come. Justice is in my hands. The only possible way that I can achieve this is to run. They’re going to kill me nonetheless so I’m already a dead man walking, but I’m not dying knowing that I just sat there letting them persecute me while knowing that I did nothing to prevent this precedent from occurring again to other Negro families. I must run. I quickly rose from the bench which I was seated on and began jogging the perimeter of the oval, keen to find an escape route to freedom. I took a quick glance at the patrollers- they were watching us inattentively, their faces impassive and eyes glazed over, contenting themselves in their current daydreams. I scrutinized the fence for any weakness. There were several places where the fence sagged, but all seemed intact. I searched for other possible escape routes, my eyes slowly taking in every detail of the oval, but when failing to find any, I approached an oak tree to ponder over my next move, when flashbacks of my family and previous life overwhelmed me. There were many oak trees in my life – in my backyard, on the sidewalk, at work but I never knew until now that they were so prominent in my life. There were oak trees that my children loved to climb on, loved to hide in, loved to have mini adventures in. There were oak trees that I watched from my kitchen window as their branches were softly tickled by the wind, which Helen used to sit under and pensively think about life’s uncertainties, which grew and thrived with my family. There were oak trees which provided me a job, which I spent countless hours climbing up and down laboriously picking acorns, which earned me money to support my family. My heart ached with sadness when I thought back to those wonderful memories, making me miss my family even more than I originally did. Helen would probably be working strenuously to support the children now without my help. What this event has put my family through is unthinkable. I can’t prevent what I am currently putting them through, but they must understand that if I do no try to get free I will be killed nonetheless. Everyone deserves to have equal rights, and I am going to be the person bringing justice. I am not going home after my jail sentence knowing that I did nothing to prevent further injustice from occurring to thousands of other Negroes. I want to be able to tell my chillun’ that I didn’t just sit there being persecuted, allowing other Negroes to be persecuted as well, as the pain that discrimination puts us through throughout our lives is unbearable. I want to be a role model for them; to be an example for fighting for what is right. Even though doing so may be dangerous and may lead to death, bringing justice to every race is worth losing a life for. In a sudden burst of adrenaline and surprising confidence I sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me to the barbed wire fence and began climbing. I almost leaped backwards in surprise as my bare skin came into contact with the burning metal that had been basking in the sun all day, but my mind was set on my goal, and so I ignored the acrid pain and scaled the fence. Consecutively, shouts of surprise and disbelief spread through the prisoners, and, as if my actions brought them back to life, the angry voices of the prison guards soon followed. Hollering warnings and portentous threats, the patrollers showed no evidence that a few seconds ago they were practically lifeless, but their efforts were wasted as it proved completely futile. With my prior experience climbing trees for Mr Deas, I quickly adapted to my situation and climbed, my hand and feet working simultaneously to make up for my deprivation. My eyes darted to elusive spaces between the barbs and my hand quickly followed suit, with my legs climbing after them. The barbs clung and sliced at my arms and clothes as the patrollers’ threats became more ominous, their cries climbing to a climatic forte, ineffective at impeding my pilgrimage. The word justice was repeated over and over in my mind, instilling a new hope in me, encouraging me to continue climbing. This failed when a gunshot shattered my tranquillity. A bolt of pure panic shot through me, causing my heart to thrash against my ribs as I realised the severity of my situation. I lost my footing, dangling in mid-air for a second, but immediately found another foothold and scaled the fence even faster than before. Seeing that the gunshot failed to stop me, several more shots were fired into the air, counterproductive as it only made me move twice as fast. ‘Quicker! Quicker! ’ my body seemed to holler at me, dissatisfied with the speed that I was travelling. My stomach started to twist with despair, my newfound hope abandoning me, slowly overtaken by doubt then a bullet whistled past my ear inches from my face. My hand began shaking uncontrollably from pure fear. My lungs were screaming for air, the spikes were screaming for blood, but my scream for justice overpowered them all. More deathly bullets whistled past, when one successfully tore through my leg. An explosion of pain raked my leg, and immediately I felt warm blood gush out of my pulsing wound. I was almost over the fence though! Clenching my teeth, I reached between the razor wire. The screams and hollering of the prisoners were vociferous, but nothing mattered as the second bullet hit my crippled shoulder. It immediately burst into flames as I started sweating uncontrollably, the back of my shirt soaked with blood, clinging to me. In a last ditch effort, I hauled myself between the razor wire to the other side of the fence leading to freedom. A third bullet tore through my thigh, sending me rolling to the ground in a bloodied heap while other bullets whizzed past and wounded me. The shrill roar in my ears gradually ceased to a dull hum, and dizzying black splotches began crowding my vision. The last thought that left my mind was: Freedom.

Advanced breast cancer

Advanced breast cancer Background Cancer accounts for 13% of all deaths in 2007, making it the largest cause of mortality worldwide and is the leading cause of premature death in Scotland. 2,22 Out of the staggering figure of 27,500 new cases that were diagnosed on that same year in Scotland, 4044 of them are breast cancer cases, making breast cancer the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Scottish women.3 In the UK, 16-20% of women have advanced breast cancer and approximately 40-50% of those diagnosed with early or localised breast cancer may eventually develop metastatic disease. Breast cancer is usually defined using a staging system known as the Tumour, Node and Metastasis Staging System (TNM) and stage III and IV are known as advanced stages of the disease with stage III being locally advanced and or has spread to regional lymph nodes and stage IV describing the presence of metastases at distant sites such as the bone, brain, or lung.23 In the elderly group of female cancer patients, the prevalence of breast cancer is highest at 4% and these post-menopausal women make up 80% of all breast cancer patients, hence proving that the risk increases with age.1 Apart from age, other factors like family history, uninterrupted oestrogen exposure, early menarche, late menopause, late first pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy, obesity, not breast feeding, taking oral contraceptives and past breast cancer may all attribute to a higher risk of developing breast cancer.9 Over the last decade, mortality rates from breast cancer have dropped by almost 14%, despite having more women diagnosed with the disease. In 2000-2004, the survival rate for breast cancer patients has also bumped up to 84% compared to a mere 64% 20 years earlier.4Improvement in prognosis, screening techniques such as mammography, ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI), earlier diagnosis of cancers in women participating in the Scottish Breast Screening Programme, a myriad of new hormonal and chemotherapy treatments, and better organisation and patient care plans has attributed to the substantial increase in incidence and survival rate of breast cancer patients. Women today are also encouraged to perform self breast examinations, hence are familiar with the shape and feel of their breasts, as well as to look out for abnormities like a new discrete lump, nipple discharge, unilateral persistent pain especially in post-menopausal women or pain associated with a lump and skin changes comprising of skin tethering, ulceration, abscess or inflammation.However, there is still a disparity between women from different social classes in terms of combating this disease. Women from more affluent backgrounds are more likely to have their breast cancer diagnosed earlier, have slower disease progression from the time of diagnoses and higher survival rates compared to women from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds. Women from more deprived communities are more likely to be diagnosed with the advanced stage of the disease. Pathogenesis Cancer or malignant neoplasm which literally means new growth is a disease manifested in the form of uncontrolled cell proliferations, dedifferentiation and loss of function, invasiveness and metastasis.6 Breast cancer usually forms from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. In patients with Breast Cancer, women who inherit a single defective copy of tumour suppressor genes BRCA1 or BRCA 2 have a marked higher risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. The presence of a defective BRCA1 or BRCA 2 gene can invoke changes in several cellular systems including the signaling pathways and receptors of growth factors and cell cycle tranducers, the apoptotic machinery which responsible for programmed cell death that normally disposes of abnormal cells, the secretion of telomerase, and local blood vessels which results in tumour-directed angiogenesis to supply nutrients to these tumours both aids the proliferation of cancer cells.7,8 Breast cancer cells are able to invade other tissues like the lymph nodes as they no longer exercise the same restraints as the normal cells and they also secrete enzymes like metalloproteainase to break down the extracellular matrix, conferring them mobility. Metastases are secondary tumours normally found in the advanced stage of breast cancer formed by cells released from the primary tumour and have reached and have established themselves at other sites like the lung brain or the bones which are common sites for metastatic cancers of breast origin through blood vessels and lymphatics. The tissues of lung, brain and bone origin express high levels of CXR4 chemokine receptors produced by the breast cancer cells, facilitating the selective accumulation of the cells at these sites.6 Treatment Options There are three main approaches to treating breast cancer, namely surgical excision, irradiation and a host of systemic disease-modifying therapies or a combination and is chosen based on the stage of breast cancer. However, when caring for patients with advanced breast cancer, the goal of treatment of advanced breast cancer is to palliate symptoms, improve survival and quality of life. There are notably three types of systemic disease-modifying therapies to treat advance breast cancer namely endocrine therapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Endocrine Therapy Oestrogen exposure has been instrumental in inducing mutations that can lead to breast cancer as they can stimulate cell growth in most of human breast cancer cell lines expressing Oestrogen Receptor (ER) ÃŽÂ ± .8 Clinical studies have proven that more than half of breast carcinomas are ER ÃŽÂ ± positive and respond fairly well to endocrine therapy. Drugs are aimed either to change the ER signaling pathways or prevent estrogen synthesis.7 Tamoxifen and 3rd generation Aromatase Inhibitors (AI) have been used for advance breast cancer with the former being effective in premenopausal, perimenopausal and post menopausal women. Pre-menopausal and perimenopausal cancer patients with ER positive tumours should be offered Tamoxifen tablets 20 mg daily, an oestrogen -receptor antagonist and ovarian ablation or the administration of LHRH agonists such as Buserelin or Goserelin as first-line treatment.5,12 Both options are just as effective in terms of tumour response and overall surviva l rates. The latter group of drugs, AI, are the preferred choice for post-menopausal women only with no prior history of endocrine therapy or have been previously been treated with Tamoxifen. AI work predominantly by suppressing oestrogen levels in post-menopausal women by blocking the conversion of androgens to oestrogens in the peripheral tissues. However, they do not inhibit ovarian oestrogen synthesis, hence can cause an elevation in oestradiol levels in pre-menopausal women. Anastrozole and Letrozole are non-steroidal AIs are known to be as efficacious as Tamoxifen as first -line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. 14Exemestane is a steroidal AI used as second-line treatment in advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women in whom anti-oestrogen therapy has failed. Fulvestrant, an oestrogen receptor antagonist also confers short term benefits in the clinical setting for post-menopausal women who was previously prescribed a non-steroidal AI, delaying the need for chemotherapy. 13AI h ave been associated with an increased progression-free survival and 13% decrease risk of mortality and lower incidence of vaginal bleeds and blood clots. However, patients given AI are more prone to hot flushes and gastro-intestinal symptoms. 5 Other endocrine therapies available include older and less popular therapies such as progestogen and androgen for pre-menopausal women and stilboesterol and trilostane for post-menopausal women. 5 Chemotherapy Both ER positive and negative patients with advanced breast cancer would benefit from either a choice of two or three regiments of chemotherapy and classes of drugs commonly prescribed includes antharacyclines, taxanes, capecitabine, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, alkylating agents like cyclophosphamide and platinum based drugs like carboplatin.5 Anthracyclines such as Epirubicin, Mitoxantrone and Doxorubicin are prescribed as first line chemotherapy as they boost modest survival advantage in patients with advanced breast cancer and are superior to non-anthracycline regimens.1,5Doxorubicin is commonly given via injection into a fast running infusion at 21 day intervals as extravastation can cause severe tissue damage. It exerts a cytotoxic effect by interfering with DNA and RNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA toposiomerase II action. The metabolites are excreted through the bile, hence elevated bilirubin levels are indicative of a need to reduce the dosage. 6,12 Higher accumulation of doses may result in cardiopathy precipitating to heart failure, hence cardiac monitoring is deemed important in managing cancer patients taking it and a limit of total cumulative doses is set at 450 mg/m2.Other symptoms of toxicity includes myelodysplasia and neutropenic sepsis. Doxorubicin is also available in liposomal formulations which are safer in terms of reduced incidents of cardiotoxicity and local necrosis but is not recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for treatment of metastatic breast cancer.1,12 Both Epirubicin,an anthracycline derivative, and Mitoxantrone ,an anthracenedione derivative,are structurally related to Doxorubicin, hence similar drug activity could be predicted for all three drugs.12 Mitoxantrone given intravenously is licenced to treat metastatic breast cancer and has been well tolerated by patients.However, side effects like myelosuppression and cardiotoxicity are evident and cardiac examinations are recommended after a cumulative dose of 160 mg/m2.12When both drugs are compared in a clinical trial, Epirubicin boosts higher response rates despite demonstrating a higher percentage of toxicity related side effects.20Clinical trials suggest the efficacy of Epirubicin in treating advanced breast cancer is comparable to Doxorubicin as similar response rates were recorded when equal doses were given. These trials also indicated that patients taking Epirubicin had fewer episodes of congestive heart failure and other complications resulting from cardiotoxicity. Therefo re, it could be surmised that Epirubicin is the drug of choice in this regimen .However,a limit of 0.9-1 g/m2 was still imposed when Epirubicin is given to avoid cardiotoxicity. 1,12 Due to the ineffectiveness of single-agent anthracycline therapies in impeding disease progression, combination therapies are often considered for the treatment of advanced breast cancer after failure of with anthracycline monotherapy, provided that the patient is able to tolerate additional toxicity and have a higher chance of response.5 There are clinical evidence suggesting that a combination of anthracycline and taxanes like Doxorubicin and Docetaxel have resulted in better tumour response, delayed progression time compared and reduce risk of mortality to anthracycline monotherapy. The benefits of this synergistic combination, however, did not include improved survival and side effects experienced were more numerous such as thrombocytopenia, alopecia in 75% of these patients,a 10% increase in peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia in 40 to 68% of these patients.1,5 A combination of Epirubicin and Docetaxel would be a better choice as it is just as potent as the Doxycycline and Pac litaxel combination but deemed free of side effects like cardiotoxicity and fluid retention whereas neutropenia was the dose-limiting toxicity .21 Systemic chemotherapy should be offered to patients whom antrhracyclines are contraindicated in cases of cardiac disease hypertension,the elderly, those who have received myocardial irradiation ,those receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer or had receive prior adjuvant treatment with anthracycline. Docetaxel monotherapy is prescribed as the first-line drug followed by single-agent Vinorelbine or Capecitabine as the second-line treatment. Third-line treatment encompasses the use of either Vinorelbine or Capecitabine of which was not offered previously.5 Docetaxel, a member of the taxane group derived from a naturally occurring compound from the bark of yew trees, is licensed to treat locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It acts by stabilizing microtubules in the polymerized state, preventing cell division. Side effects associated with Docetaxel are myelosupression, peripheral neuropathy, cardiac conduction defects with arrhythmias, alopecia, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting . Patients currently on Docetaxel are also susceptible to leg oedema and hypersensitivity reactions, which can be ameliorated by taking Dexamethasone orally.1,6,12 Antimetabolites like Capecitabine is a rationally designed tumour-activated and tumour-selective fluoropyrimidine carbamate thatis metabolized to generate 5-fluorouracil at the tumour site which would then be converted to fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FDUMP), a fraudulent nucleotide and interact and inhibit thymidilate synthetase,preventing the synthesis of 2-deoxythymidilate (DTMP),which is vital for DNA synthesis.17Capecitabine has a role in second-line or third-line treatment of chemotherapy for patients of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer either in combination with Docetaxel or given orally alone at a dose of 1250 mg/m2 twice daily for a forthnight and subsequent courses are repeated after a 7-day interval. Vinorelbine is a semi-synthetic analogue of vinblastine, a vinca alkaloid derived from Madagascar periwinkle. Unlike taxanes, it is targeted at tubulin of mitotic microtubules to form tubulin dimers which prevents spindle formation in dividing cells leading to mitotic arrest at metaphase resulting in cell death. 6 Besides inhibiting mitosis, its effects are also significant in inhibiting leucocyte phagocytosis, chemotaxis and axonal transport in neurons. Hence, side effects includes neutropenia which was found to be the dose-limiting, peripheral or autonomic neuropathy which manifests as peripheral paraestesia, loss of deep tendon reflexes and motor weakness,constipation and abdominal pain. Neurotoxicity caused by Vinorelbine is considered relatively mild compared to other vinca alkaloids even at maximum tolerated dose as it preferentially binds to mitotic over axonal microtubules. 6,12 Vinorelbine is an option to anthracycline or taxane pre-treated patients with advanced breast canc er as second-line or third-line chemotherapy given via intravenous administration at a dose of 30mg/m2 in 250 ml of normal saline over 1 hour. Alternatively, Vinorelbine can be given orally at a dose of 60 mg/m2 for 3 weeks and can be increased if the patient shows good tolerance to the regime to maximum dose of 160 mg once weekly. A clinical response rates of 16-60% was seen with Vinorelbine as a single agent, 28-77% in combination chemotherapy.5, 16 A study comparing Vinorelbine in intravenous(i.v.) form used in combination with Capecitabine given orally and a combination therapy of Vinorelbine and Capecitabine both in oral formulations was done to observe the efficacy of both combinations in anthracycline and taxane pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer. Despite showing a marginally higher percentage in control of the disease in the oral group,improved survival rates and lower incidence of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were associated with the i.v. group.17 This study has also shown that a combination of Vinorelbine with Capecitabine therapy may confer advantages as both have unique mechanisms of action, different proposed mechanism of drug resistance and relatively non-overlapping toxicity profiles. However, this combination has yet to be recommended by the NICE or SIGN guidelines as it has yet to be proven to be cost-effective. The recommendation for systemic chemotherapy by NICE is done following a cost-utility analysis which compares chemotherapy regiments in terms of survival, quality of life and associated costs of 17 different strategies drawn up. From the table below, strategies that gives the best survival rates and quality of life are combinations 3,4,13 and 15.However,combinations 3 and 4 that offer Gemcitabine and Docetaxel as the first line are somewhat more costly by approximately  £ 10 000 in total costs compared to combinations 13 and 15.It is also proven here that offering Docetaxel as a first-line drug is also superior to Paclitaxel as survival rates and quality of life are slightly poorer in combinations 8 and 10. 5 Biological Therapy New agents to specifically target molecular processes have been developed over the last decade like Tratuzumab, Bevacizumab and Lapatinib which are all used to treat advanced breast cancer. Tratuzumab, the sole drug of its kind recommended by NICE for use in the UK, is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody which binds to Human Epidermal Growth Factor (HER2) on the cancer cells with HER2 over expression and impedes the growth. Hence, HER2 status should be assessed before commencing this therapy as only a quarter of patients with advanced breast cancer have HER2 positive tumours. Tratuzumab is given intravenously in combination with Paclitaxel, Docetaxel or Vinorelbin has been well tolerated. 5,11However, once disease progression occur outside the central nervous system, Tratuzumab should be discontinued. Bevacizumab is another monoclonal antibody aimed at affecting the growth of tumour blood vessels and Lapatinib affects the metabolic pathways of the HER2 and Epidemal Growth Fac tor Receptor (EGFR). 5,23. Surgery Surgical intervention comprises of conservation surgery which involves the removal of the tumour with a rim of surrounding breast tissue with retention of the breast followed by radiation therapy and mastectomy which is usually followed by breast reconstruction. However, these surgical procedures are limited to patients diagnosed with primary operable breast cancer or as palliative surgery for locally advanced breast cancer as they may not confer much benefits to patients diagnosed with later stages of breast cancer.1,11,19 Some patients may have already underwent surgery which was not very successful in eliminating the disease.1 Treatment Recommendation Hormonal therapies are the recommended first-line therapy for patients with an ER positive tumour, are widely used and are said to be appropriate for 70 % of patients who have hormone receptor -positive advance breast cancer. However, in circumstances whereby the disease is life-threatening or the patient has an ER negative tumour, the hormonal therapy would be of no benefit to these patients. At the time of initial diagnosis, the oestrogen receptor (ER) was accessed and the results came out positive before considering commencing on endocrine therapy. Several factors like previous endocrine therapy including adjuvant therapy, the extent and period of response to the therapy and menopausal status have to be taken into account before prescribing hormonal therapy. 5The patient is 62 years of age and is considered to be post-menopausal, hence would benefit tremendously when given aromatase inhibitors(AI),regardless of whether she is tamoxifen naÃÆ' ¯ve. A choice of non-steroidal AIs o f either Anastrozole 1 mg daily or Letrozole 2.5 daily could be given orally. However, if she has a prior history of non-steroidal AIs and she failed to respond well to it, she should be given either Exemestane 25 mg orally or Fulvestrant 250 mg via intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle every 4 weeks.5,12 Chemotherapy would be the second choice of treatment following failure to respond to hormonal therapy. If anthracyclines are not contraindicated for this patient, Epirubicin would be a good choice. Initial doses of 75 mg/m 2 of Epirubicin could be given intravenously every three weeks.20The addition of Docetaxel 75 mg/m2in combination with Epirubicin 90 mg/m2 both by intravenous infusions could be given should Epirubicin monotherapy fails. Docetaxel monotherapy could also be given as an intravenous infusion at a dose of100 mg/m2 as a 1-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks should anthracyclines be contraindicatedas first-line chemotherapy. Vinorelbine monotherapy could be given intravenously at a dose of 30 mg/m2 for days 1 and 8 of a cycle or whereares Capecitabine monotherapy could be given orally at a dose 1250 mg/m2 twice daily for two weeks. If the patient fails to respond to the entire treatment, the last resort would be to offer support and palliative care to this patient. Pain Management Pain is usually associated with progression of cancer with three quarters of patients with advanced cancer reporting pain during treatment. The principles for treating pain in cancer patients are outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) analgesic ladder: Patients are the prime assessor of pain and should have treatment outcomes monitored regularly using visual analogue scales, numerical rating scales. Patients usually start with non-opioids and then progress stepwise to step 2 and step 3. However, critics have debated that the progression to step 2 analgesics was obsolete as inadequate pain control was an issue despite having to endure similar adverse effects when given step 3 analgesics and recommended a immediate step up to step 3. Most patients with advanced breast cancer will be on step 3 for pain control. Oral morphine with an initial dose of 5-20 mg every four hourly, adjusted according to patients response, would be the first-line therapy to treat severe pain in cancer before switching to a modified release preparation once the patient is stabilized on it. Breakthrough pain should be managed while on a modified release preparation by prescribing oral morphine at 1/6th of the total daily dose to be taken when necessary. The use of adjuvants such as antidepressants like Venlafaxine and anticonvulsants like Gaba-pentin are recommended for neuropathic pain. 18 Managing Complications Complications that may arise from treating patients with advance breast cancer includes lymphoedema,cancer-related fatigue,uncontrolled local disease,bone metastases and brain metastases. Lymphoedema may occur due to damage to lymph nodes and vessels following surgery and radiotherapy or as a sign of loco-regional disease progression. This condition can be managed through manual lymphatic drainage, multi-layer lymphoedema bandaging,goos skin care and remedial exercise. Cancer-related fatigue may be well managed by identifying the factors causing lethargy which may be a host of psychological, nutritional and cognitive factors apart from the cancer itself and them treating them accordingly. Patients may also develop local disease characterized by ulceration on the chest wall and axilla, fungating tumours that may bleed and exude discharge, causing pain and giving off repulsive odours. Hence, good wound management should be adopted in relation to preventing dire consequences when wounds are left unattended. Out of the three categories, cancer with distant metastases is the hardest to treat and is considered an incurable disease with palliative care being the sole priority in treatment plans. A diagnosis of metastatic disease could be confirmed with the use of positron emission tomography fused with computed tomography (PET-CT) and bone scintilography.1As bone metastases may be a long-term condition, management involves prevention of skeletal events, pain control with Biphosphonates,radiotherapy and cementoplasty and treating complications such as fractures,immobility and spinal cord compression.5,18 Brain metastases may develop in multiple sites in these patients as most drugs used in chemotherapy cannot penetrate the blood brain barrier, especially in women with HER2-overexpressing tumours. Diagnosis of brain tumours ultimately mean a loss of independence, physical deterioration, communication difficulties,psychological distress and issues regarding body image.Treatment regimens includ es surgery for patients who have solitary metastasis, corticosteroids for symptomatic relief of inflammation and radiotherapy.

Defoe, Richardson, Fielding and the English Novel :: Literature Essays Literary Criticism

Defoe, Richardson, Fielding and the English Novel      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The roots of the novel extend as far back as the beginning of communication and language because the novel is a compilation of various elements that have evolved over the centuries.   The birth of the English novel, however, can be centered on the work of three writers of the 18th century: Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) and Henry Fielding (1707-1754).   Various critics have deemed both Defoe and Richardson the father of the English novel, and Fielding is never discussed without comparison to Richardson.   The choice of these three authors is not arbitrary; it is based on central elements of the novel that these authors contributed which brought the novel itself into place.   Of course, Defoe, Richardson and Fielding added onto styles of the past and writing styles of the period, including moralistic instruction and picaresque stories.   Using writing of the time and the literary tradition of the past, Defoe first crafted the English novel while Richardson and Fielding completed its inception.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Critics disagree on a strict definition of the novel; D.H. Lawrence has remarked, "You can put anything you like in a novel" (Stevenson 2), and Wagenknecht in his Cavalcade of the English Novel has claimed the "...'novel' has never been satisfactorily defined" (xvii).   Henry James had a unique perception of the novel:    "A novel is a living thing, all one and continuous, like any other organism, and in proportion as it lives will it be found, I think, that in each of the parts there is something of the other parts."  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Kettle 12)    "Novel" comes from the Italian "novelle," which was used for sensational news stories.   One collection, Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron, was popularized in the 14th century (Phelps 11).   The term carried over into English to form the basis of the English novels.      Ã‚  Ã‚   There are certain components that a novel should contain.   George Phelps has come up with a six-part basis for identifying novels: the writing must be fictitious, or in other words "not pretend to tell the truth," have a certain length, attain a unity of "plot, theme, tone, atmosphere, or vision," create an illusion of reality, be concerned with character, and be prose (Phelps 7-8).   Kettle, in his An Introduction to the English Novel, argues a novel must have two elements -- a quality of life and a significant pattern (13).

Who I would take to dinner :: essays research papers

Given the opportunity to invite five people to a dinner party, I thought about what I should serve, who would be my server, and which five people I will invite. To start off this infamous dinner party I chose to have it at the Santa Barbara Hotel in California. I picked out the largest banquet room, and had it stocked with art supplies, music equipment, and various other items. I chose to serve anything and everything, sushi, watermelon, pasta, meat, liquor, etc. I chose to invite five very different people, Andy Warhol, Ross Pero, Victoria Taylor, Cheech and Chong, Ja Rule, and of course myself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of my all time favorite artists is Andy Warhol. I wanted him to be at my party to ask what inspired his whole idea of pop art and if he would do a portrait of myself and the dinner party. Warhol seems like a very emotional and mixed up person and I would just like to meet him one time to experience Warhol.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The media gives Ross Pero a bad image. An image that gives the public visualizations of his appearance. I have always wanted to see Pero in person. I want to see if his ears are really that big. I don’t want to put down his intelligence so he will also inform us of world news and anything else his mind holds.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is a series of movies that these two star in, and their names are Cheech and Chong. They will liven up the atmosphere and try to get everyone to smoke marijuana. I made them something special for them to eat while they were at my party, pot leaf soup and hash brownies. I have wondered what it would be like to be Cheech and Chong to see how much of there brains were really left and marijuana they could smoke.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Victoria Taylor is my God Mother, she is my living day role model. She owns a high fashion clothing store in Portland, Oregon. I wanted her to come because she really knows how to get people going and how to have great parties. She respects different people which makes her a prime choice to come because she would not be â€Å"weirded† out by my guests.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My last guest is music artist Ja Rule. He is a rap/ hip hop artist, but his voice and appearance is really nice. I wanted him to come to my party to not only be a guest but to perform, that is what the music equipment is for.

Culutual Anthropology :: essays papers

Culutual Anthropology As an amateur anthropologist, I was to participate in my observation, which I did to the best of my ability. Choosing my topic was the most difficult for me. Coming to America there are so many options that I could choose to research. So what was I to do? Well, being in the state of Kentucky, Lexington at that, I decided to research a sporting event in which Americans call basketball. As soon as I stepped of the big metal bird, I saw a picture of a wild cat holding a round orange ball. I remember thinking, "I could never hunt these animals, they are too smart, they are nothing similar to the ones in the Outback of Australia. So I stopped the person that rode next to me on the metal bird, "What is that animal doing with that ball?" He remarked, "We are in Lexington, home of the Kentucky Wildcats." With that he walked away. How could Kentucky be considered the home of the wildcat? We have many in the Outback. So, I continued down the nest where the birds drink and rest. Then it finall y hit me, the name of the basketball team were the Wildcats. I was well on my way to find these "Kentucky Wildcats." I arrived where they house the wildcats that play ball. The name of the cage was Rupp Arena. Apparently, I was not the only one interested in watching these trained animals play the sport of basketball. The price to watch these animals were extremely expensive; thirty dollars in American currency which would translate into 300 of my own currency. Once inside the cage I found that it was not at all what I thought it to be. There was an enormous amount of people present. In my observation this event is the biggest that people in this culture attend. In this cage you could smell a variety of things. Some smells were all too familiar from home; the urine smell as you walked into the place where people went to relieve themselves reminded me of the "Hole." They had many different foods that smelled nothing like anything that I have ever smelled before. They had a brown thing that was twisted into a weird design; they had something that was in the form of a triangle that looked like a piece of bread with cheese on top and round meat.

Major Appliance Business Group

The technique of segment markets and targets of particular groups are a technique aimed to choose a certain class of customers, and It focus on study and find the dimensions of the products that could be played by Increasing marketing. It's important for the company to segmenting the market demands. This means that they need to focus on categorizing certain categories, so that it is possible for each category product to be similar to another one.By doing this technique, the company s selling the same product to match all the needs of the customers. The other goal is to reach and get the largest possible area of the customers by identifying the category or market sector, which has a purchasing power that leads to increase the value of marketing. That market segmentation helps in proper planning to pack the right marketing of the product. It also makes us extend our product at the same time to meet the needs of consumers, which Is very Important In the creation of the product.For examp le if the target category is for the people who are older than 70 years or younger than 20 years old, then we have to take into consideration that there is a limited income of the teenage and the elderly. Market segmentation helps to reduce the risk in determining where, when, how, and who will be marketing the product, service, or brand. It also increases the efficiency of direct marketing through special efforts towards a particular sector in a manner insistent with the characteristics of that part.Segmenting markets Is the simplest and the most Important technique for matching supply and demand. Steven Major Appliance Business Group By gerrymander aimed to choose a certain class of customers, and it focus on study and find the dimensions of the products that could be played by increasing marketing. Of consumers, which is very important in the creation of the product. Segmenting markets is the simplest and the most important technique for matching

How is happiness conveyed in Jane Austen’s Emma and Charlotte Bronte’s Villette?

The nineteenth century was an era of great discovery, invention and social change as a result of political unrest in the previous years. The American Revolution which culminated in the United States Declaration of Independence, lead to a change in political thought, bringing ideas of ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness' (1776: line4), though how much this extended to women is debateable. Published thirty-seven years apart, Emma and Villette tell the stories of two girls trying to find happiness in difficult societies. The two lead characters are very different; Emma is a respected, wealthy and attractive young woman yet rather spoilt, whereas Lucy Snowe is passive and secretive, with no significant amount of money or family connections. Living in the same century, therefore, it would seem safe to assume that the girls would find happiness in the same things; good company, money and a happy marriage. As Philip Davis argues, Victorian novels (though Emma predates Victoria's reign by approximately twenty years) were concerned only with ‘Humanity, Duty, Vocation, Work, Marriage [and] Family' (2002:2). However, this is not the case for either of the girls. Lucy finds comfort in solitude and some of the passages in Bronte's novel where she is most at ease are those in which she is alone. If not alone, Lucy prefers the company of just one or two trusted friends, but even this is problematical, as she often hides her feelings from the reader. Emma on the other hand, appears to take pleasure in helping others to be happy; often to their detriment! What can be said, nonetheless, is that both novels convey moral journeys towards a greater understanding of self and society. By looking at a few specific incidents in each novel, the methods with which the authors explore the feeling of happiness can be uncovered. Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her (Emma p. 5). The opening sentence of Jane Austen's novel manages to summarise Emma's situation and history in a few simple words. The reader is already informed by the omniscient narrator that this central character is content and privileged in every aspect that a young lady could wish for. In comparison, Villette has a very different approach. For example, it is not until the second chapter that we find out the name of the protagonist and narrator, Lucy Snowe. Interesting to note also that the first two chapters are names of characters, ‘Bretton' and ‘Paulina', as if the narrator is happy to talk about them, but reluctant to talk about herself. We hear about the people surrounding the narrator, events in the past but very little physical or characteristic detail. We are given few clues as to how Lucy feels or thinks about these events; ‘well I liked the visit' (Villette p. 1) is the only indication of preference or opinion. Even by the end of the novel we do not know where her ‘home' was, and Lucy is constantly evasive about places and locations. The reader is left to speculate why this is; because of unhappiness there and desire to forget it? Or perhaps she is ashamed? It is almost as if she does not trust the reader and as a result becomes difficult to like. Most readers will assume that this past, of which Lucy is so vague, holds bad memories or experiences which set the tone of her character from the start. As a narrator, Lucy is unreliable and the revelation that Dr. John and Graham Bretton are, in fact, the same people, is the prime example of this. ‘I first recognized him on that occasion, noted several chapters back, when my unguardedly-fixed attention had drawn me on the mortification of an implied rebuke' (Villette p. 70-1). Only when the reader will find out for themselves, does Lucy tell us that she knew all along. ‘I had preferred to keep the matter to myself' she reasons, ‘I liked entering his presence covered with a cloud he had not seen through' (Villette p. 171). This motif of hiding, or being screened, recurs throughout the novel. Lucy is often seen observing or people watching, preferring to be out of the limelig ht. However, this changes when she is recruited to be in M. Paul's play after one of the lead characters falls ill. Nevertheless, she puts on a performance, a mask, and is not herself. The clothes she wears are men's and by speaking another person's lines, Lucy distances herself from that which makes her feel so uncomfortable, her own feelings. It seems as if she is afraid to admit to herself how she feels. By suppressing her emotions and living an almost muted life, Lucy denies herself happiness. This alienation is heightened by her being in Belgium, where she does not speak French initially, by being a Protestant in a Catholic society and through the atmosphere of the Mme. Beck's school. Despite working very closely with the headmistress, Lucy still finds her searching through her belongings one evening, showing a lack of trust between the characters. Lucy's narrative style shows a lot about her unhappiness as a character and surprisingly Emma shares some of these traits. Emma is told through a third-person omniscient narrator, whereas Lucy tells us the story through her own, if somewhat limited perspective. Austen's narrator gives us a wider outlook on the events at Highbury, although the free-indirect style means that the narrator's opinions are sometimes blurred with those of the characters and there is some mimicry of Emma's thoughts and tone. She is a more open character, whom the narrator can easily display to the reader, and her feelings are more easily accessible, on first impression. As Emma is already ‘handsome, clever and rich' (Emma p. 1), her happiness is taken for granted, but looking a little deeper it is evident that she is not fully content. The novel is based around a series of shocks for Emma; Miss Taylor's marriage, Mr. Elton's proposal, Frank and Jane's engagement, and she seems in a constant struggle to maintain a certain decorum and propriety. It is ironic that Jane Austen's novels are so often seen as portrayals of a stagnant society, when Highbury is full of entrances and exits; Mrs. Elton, Frank Churchill, Jane Fairfax and Harriet. The proximity to London, peculiarly, does not seem to have an effect on the community. Emma's constant need to help others could be interpreted as dissatisfaction within herself. Instead of realising her feelings for Mr. Knightly at the beginning of the novel, as so easily could have occurred, Emma goes through systematic pairing up of her acquaintances, to try and arrange as many couples as possible. It is only when Harriet confides in her regarding her own feelings for Knightly that Emma is forced to identify and realise her attachment to him. Because she demands a kind of variety and excitement life cannot supply, Emma allows her fancy and imagination to shape and distort her perception of reality [†¦. What Emma constantly desires and frequently demands is not simply that her world admire her; it must also be as rich and vital and beautiful as she feels herself potentially to be [†¦. ] The crux of the matter, then, is the peculiar way in which Emma's life depends upon and is dedicated to richness and beauty in human experience. (Minter 1966 : 51) Minter argues that Emma relies on this constant application of herself to try and adapt her surroundings to suit her. In doing this, Emma is attempting to create an environment in which she is truly comfortable; not a trait one would associate with a young lady of ‘happy disposition' (Emma p. ), but more with slightly nervous and compulsive behaviour. It is as if Emma must have control of the events around her to feel content. This shows a certain extent of self-consciousness and dissatisfaction, reflected most clearly in her thoughts of Jane Fairfax: Why she did not like Jane Fairfax might be a difficult question to answer; Mr Knightly had once told her it was because she saw in her the really accomplished young woman, which she wanted to be thought herself. (Emma p. 125) View in this manner, Emma becomes, in essence, a structured action in which Jane Austen renders both the nobility and the dangers, the significance and the consequences of Emma's endeavour to force an aesthetic ideal upon her world' (Minter 1966 : 51). As a character, Lucy Snowe is built up in a different way by Charlotte Bronte than Emma is by Jane Austen. By looking at their happiest and lowest points in each text, the reader has an insight into their extremes of emotion, and how these are created by the authors. Lucy characterises her weakest moments by images of storms and tempests. This occurs several times throughout the novel and blurs the situations which Lucy does not want the reader to know or understand fully, perhaps because she does not understand herself. This is first seen upon Lucy's departure from Bretton; ‘I must have somehow fallen overboard, or that there must have been wreck at last' (Villette p. 30). It is not certain whether Lucy actually embarks on a boat journey or whether she just uses this as an extended metaphor. Bronte adds the scream of the Banshee to symbolise the coming of bad news; Miss Marchmont dies and leaves Lucy with little money. However, the worst for Lucy personally is arguably the fall ‘headlong down an abyss' (Villette p. 160) after her visit to the church. She has been ill for a long while and her soul leaves her body ‘hoping to leave for rest (Villette p. 160). The reunion of the two is a particularly painful image, ‘a sort of racking struggle', ‘with pain, with reluctance' (Villette p. 161). Villette's final chapter is the most ambiguous sequence of the whole text, in which Lucy almost leaves the conclusion of the novel down to the reader. ‘Reader, they were the three happiest years of my life. Do you scout the paradox? Listen' (Villette p. 488), she appeals to us. Whether M. Paul is killed in a tempest on his return is not overtly stated, though the image of the storm again would imply that he does. If the past three years ‘were' the happiest, then it follows that these are now unhappy times. As with the beginning of the novel, Lucy finishes by telling us what happened to other characters, but not herself; ‘Madame Beck prospered all the days of her life; so did Pire Silas; Madame Walravens fulfilled her ninetieth year before she died. Farewell' (Villette p. 491). With a similar style of description and attitude, it is as if Lucy Snowe has come full circle; she is just as happy at the end of the novel, as at the start, or there seems no noticeable difference. Victor Hugo wrote in Les Miserables that ‘life's greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved' (1862) and it is this sentiment that gives Lucy the highest moment in Villette. She says that her love for M. Paul ‘gave me such pleasure as, certainly, I had ever felt' (Villette p. 403). Emma's happiest moment comes with similar thoughts on Mr. Knightley, but also a revelation about herself and her own actions; ‘How long had Mr. Knightley been so dear to her, as every feeling now declared him now to be? When had his influence, such influence begun? ‘ (Emma p. 312). This sequence comes with a long set of rhetorical questions in which Emma begins to see her flaws; perhaps this is the ultimate happiness for her? Mahatma Ghandi is often famously quoted as saying, ‘Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony'1 and this can be seen clearly in the closing chapters of Emma. Finally Emma is settled in herself; knows how she feels, is able to talk openly and does, of course, eventually marry Mr. Knightley. What totally different feelings did Emma take back into the house from what she had brought out! – she had then been only daring to hope for a little respite of suffering; – now in an exquisite flutter of happiness – and such happiness, moreover, as she believed must still be greater when the flutter should have passed away. (Emma p. 328) Emma's reaction is markedly different from Lucy's. Her language is more descriptive and appears fast, almost as if she cannot keep up with what her mind is thinking. The narrator here sounds just like the character of Emma, speaking rapidly with the use of many exclamation marks. Lucy falters, questions M. Paul's affections and seems unsure of the situation. ‘I was content', she states (Villette p. 403) compared to Emma's ‘state of spirits' (Emma p. 328). Emma's unfeeling comments to Miss Bates at the picnic however, paint her in a very different light; ‘†Ah! Ma'am, but there may be a difficulty. Pardon me – but you will be limited as to a number – only three at once†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ (Emma p. 280). This can be seen as Emma's most unkind and lowest moment in the text, ‘she had never been so depressed' (Emma p. 284) it is a necessary addition that makes her realise how badly she has behaved, although requiring a little help from Mr. Knightley. Throughout Emma and Villette, Austen and Bronte shape their main characters with the use of these dramatic highs and lows, which alter their perceptions and also the reader's perceptions of them. By using specifically chosen language, the feelings and emotions of Lucy Snowe and Emma Woodhouse are made apparent and so the reader can share in their delight and depression. Jane Austen's novel appears overall a happier text, despite the continual failings of Emma's matchmaking, and ends positively with both Emma and Harriet getting married, and Harriet discovering her parentage. Although their marriages are well paired, with men who will complete them, the reader cannot help questioning whether marriage and money will always create ‘perfect happiness' (Emma p. 367). Villette on the other hand, ends just as mournfully as it begins, with very little defined ending. It could be argued that Lucy Snowe finds an inner peace with herself, after enjoying three happy years, despite not having M. Paul with her. Perhaps knowing she is loved is enough, and so with this and the solitary life which has given her comfort throughout the novel, Lucy can be settled. With her flourishing school as financial security, Lucy does not require anything more; she has stability and security, that which she has lacked from a young age. Though the storm imagery, if consistent with the rest of Bronte's novel, indicates further change, we are not given any clues as to how this will transpire. With so many novels of this era, both Emma and Villette look at the difficulty of a woman finding true happiness in such a patriarchal society. Kate Millett argued that Villette was ‘too subversive to be popular' (1977:140), accurate considering the conformity of many novels of the time. Emma, for example, still allows a happy ending and a marriage, despite the main character's actions throughout. In creating this alternative style, Charlotte Bronte shows happiness through a perhaps more realistic perspective, rather than Austen's romanticised, ‘happily-ever-after' story.