Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Representation of Culture in Japanese Animation Essay Example

Representation of Culture in Japanese Animation Essay RESEARCH PROPOSAL: REPRESENTATIONS OF CULTURE IN JAPANESE ANIMATION BY: ASHA JHINA ROLL NO. : 0914152 SUMITTED TO: DR. SAGARIKA GOLDER CHRIST UNIVERSITY BANGALORE Animation, more commonly known as cartoons is a very integral part of a child’s growing years. A medium which started out with a sole purpose of providing entertainment has progressed into a kind of a new-age education method. Cartoons/animations are not merely a tool to keep viewers occupied, it aims to familiarise people with their culture and their roots. Through this research paper I aim to isolate the very specifics of culture which are represented in media, especially cartoons. I have narrowed my research to ‘manga’ more commonly known as ‘anime’ which is the Japanese form of animation. Japan is known to have one of the oldest and strongest historical and cultural roots which are still relevant. Previous research has shown that people who are regular followers of anime do not watch it just as a form of entertainment but also to learn about a new and enigmatic culture. The Japanese are not one of the most outgoing people therefore a medium such as anime provides an interesting as well as visually appealing insight into their lives and culture. I wish to write my research paper by referring to the different kinds of work that has been done on this topic by others. This paper shall be based on facts collected through research and a survey among anime followers. By the end of this research I aim to draw parallels between Japanese culture and the content of different Animes. We will write a custom essay sample on Representation of Culture in Japanese Animation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Representation of Culture in Japanese Animation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Representation of Culture in Japanese Animation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Meaning and Family History of the Surname Estrada

Meaning and Family History of the Surname Estrada The toponymic surname Estrada originates from any of the many places in Spain and Portugal named Estrada, from Estrada, meaning road. Derived from the Latin stata, denoting a road or paved way, which in turn derives from sternere, to strew or cover. Estrada is the 52nd most common Hispanic surname. Surname Origin:  Spanish, Portuguese Alternate Surname Spellings:  DE ESTRADA, ESTRADO, ESTRADER Famous People With the Surname Erik Estrada – American actor of Puerto Rican descentToms Estrada Palma – First president of Cuba (1902–1906)Elise Estrada – Canadian pop-singer and actressJoseph Estrada – film actor, producer, former president of the Philippines Where Do People With the Estrada Surname Live? According to Public Profiler: World Names the majority of individuals with the Estrada surname live in Spain and Argentina, followed by concentrations in the United States, Canada, and France. Genealogy Resources for the Surname Estrada Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as an Estrada  family crest or coat of arms for the Estrada  surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   ESTRADA Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Estrada surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Estrada query. Source: Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

What is the CAPM and of what practical use is it Essay - 3

What is the CAPM and of what practical use is it - Essay Example According to CAPM, the expected return of a portfolio or a security is considered to be equal to the rate of a risk free security plus a premium for the risk factor. The risk factor is mainly calculated by taking a measure of risk called as beta in the model of CAPM. Beta is considered to compare the returns on a particular security to the market return. The formula for the CAPM is as follows: The development of the CAPM was mostly to explain the pricing of risky securities in the market. It is considered as a more practical approach to stock valuation as compared to the Markowitz theory which is considered to be more theoretical (Armitage, 2005, p. 51). The assumptions of the Capital Asset Pricing Model are as follows: I) It is considered that investors in general tend to maximize the utility of their wealth. The preferences of investors are taken into consideration through the concept of utility in the CAPM. Investors considered to be more willing to take risks are considered to have increasing marginal utility with regard to wealth while investors who are considered to be risk averse tend to have less preference for incremental wealth when it is considered to be associated with higher risk. II) It is considered that investors in general show similar expectations with regard to return and risk. It is considered in this regard that if investors do not have similar expectations, there will be no homogeneity in the conceptions of investors and as such no single efficient frontier line will apply to all investors. III) It is held that investors tend to make investment decisions on a rational basis depending on their preference for return and risk. Risk is considered to be mainly measured by two factors such as variance and mean. CAPM is considered to assume that rational investors tend to diversify away unsystematic

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Green Anaconda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Green Anaconda - Essay Example The Eunectus marinus, also known as the ‘’Green Anaconda’’ is the best know of these species. Possibly lizard posterity, these snakes contain hints of pelvic and hind limbs. The workings of an Anaconda’s body are mostly unknown, with only theories concerning the two working lungs present inside it in contrast to the usual elongated one (Pinney, 1991). The Green Anaconda is usually found inside rivers, marshes and lakes in South America predominantly in the basins from Venezuela to Argentina. In some places, they also live in flooded grasslands. In dry weather, they seek refuge in caves. Their skin color helps them to camouflage themselves in the river’s contents. These anacondas are excellent swimmers and keep to their territory, which varies during the year (National Geographic, web). The Green Anaconda is built to best overcome its prey. Its lean, strong body coils around its victim, squeezing them until they die of suffocation. The muscle b ones are somewhat relaxed, the lower jaw and the upper jaw not joined and the surrounding muscles powerful, enabling the anaconda to swallow victims larger than normally possible. The thick skin and the razor sharp teeth that turn towards the back of its mouth leave the prey helpless against this deadly predator. The teeth’s function is hardly biting down or even gnawing, they are a means of trapping the prey (Thorbjarnarson, 1995). The Green Anaconda is believed to be a patient predator, mainly hunting in water bodies. It estimates the size of its victim by contrast with the size of its mouth. With only its eyes and mouth above water, the anaconda senses its prey through vibrations occurring though the water. Once its victim is close enough, in order to keep it in place, the anaconda bites it, quickly coiling its large body around it in order to suffocate and then, swallow its meal. When the anaconda squeezes its victim, it simultaneously breaks their spine or neck. The Anac onda’s usual victims are deer, pigs, turtles and sometimes, jaguars (Murphy, 1997). These victims are swallowed completely. Owing to the Green Anaconda’s slow metabolism, this snake can survive for as much as a few months. The length of time is decided by the size of its prey. This phenomenon has allowed the anaconda to survive in droughts and famines. On the other hand, food is not the only motivation for hunting. Hunting is considered to be correlated with successful mating (Pinney, 1991). The Eunectus marinus’s mating is very complex. Pheromones are secreted by the female in order to attract the male. A group of males gather around one female during the end of the March. An accumulation of males (even as many as twelve) form a ‘’mating ball’’. Shallow waters usually host the call for these. Male anacondas try inserting their hemipenes, into the female’s cloaca. In preparation for copulation, the male anacondas also try famili arizing themselves with the female anaconda’s smell. Once a male manages to insert a waxy plug in the female’s cloaca, she is prevented from further fertilization (Rivas, 2001). Once pregnant, the female can no longer feed for as long as she carried the offspring, which can be as long as six to seven months. The eggs of an Anaconda hatch within the female and come out as in their normal physical form. The eggs can be up to one hundred. The Anaconda does not portray any parental inclinations. The closest

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Emergency Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emergency Management - Assignment Example It is essential for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to develop a strategic partnership with other stakeholders and implement proactive approaches to emergency management (National Emergency Management Association, 2011). Emergency managers should coordinate with other Federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and National Weather Service in disaster preparedness. I have noticed that safeguarding the critical infrastructures like the highways, buildings, and seaports is not enough since Emergency Management efforts should focus on hazard identification, and land use planning (Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 2007). I have understood that emergency managers should save and protect lives in case of disasters, mitigate damage on physical property and environment, coordinate communications through incident command system (ICS) and provide essential services to the victims (National Emergency Management Association, 2011). I have also lear ned that Emergency Operations Center should involve members from different skills background such as fire services, search and rescue operations, transportation, medical services, and relief support and information technology in order to coordinate the communications and operations. My respondents suggested several skills that Emergency Managers that are critical. For instance, some mentioned that emergency managers should have specialized skills in disaster identification and assessment. I acknowledge that is a critical skill in modern emergency management since prior hazard identification, mitigation and preparedness will be capable of reducing the impact and damage to property and loss of lives. I believe that the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and Gulf Coast oil spills would be minimal if the emergency management departments had foreseen the disasters.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Treatment Options for Fractured Bridge

Treatment Options for Fractured Bridge Case Study: Discuss the treatment options of a case that you have treatment planned as part of your ICEi clinical portfolio. Patient complaint: Had a bridge in upper left area which had fractured and wanted to enquire about the possibility of implant treatment to replace the teeth and close the gap . History of present condition: Patient had a bridge for years for his one front missing tooth , and had recently fractured the bridge .No pain or discomfort from the broken tooth and has left the gap as such .Patient also had tried dentures for his other missing teeth but was not able to get used to them. Patient wanted to explore the options to replace his front missing teeth, in particular with dental implants. Patient not in any discomfort, and did not report any other dental problems. Patients’ expectation from the treatment is to replace front teeth, so that they look, function and feel like his own teeth and can give him confidence to smile as before . Social History: Patient rarely consumes alcohol and is a non-smoker Low sugar intake in diet Medical History: High blood pressure Medications: Ramipril, Cardioplen (Felodipine) / Simvastatin Extra oral examination: No abnormality detected Intra oral examination Soft Tissue: The soft tissues intra-orally were in good health. Periodontal condition: Bleeding on probing at some areas and calculus in lower front teeth. Grade 1 mobility with LR1, LL1 teeth but the pocketing depth was within normal range. Patient had average oral hygiene. Teeth :Teeth and existing restorations and crowns were generally in good condition. Generalised mild attrition was noted. Missing teeth: UR8 UR7 UR6 UR5 UL3 UL6 UL7 UL8 LR7 LR6 LR5 LL5 LL6 LL7 Crowned teeth (PBC) UR4 UR3 UR2 UR1 UL2 Restored teeth UL5 LR8 LR4 LL8 restored with amalgam restoration LR8 LL8 drifted mesially. UL4 tooth was fractured which was an abutment for mesial cantilever bridge (UL3-pontic, UL4- retainer crown), No caries, minimal coronal tooth structure present Occlusion: Upper arch Kennedy’s Class 1, Modification 1, considering missing UL3. Lower arch Kennedys Class 3, Modification 1 relationship was present. Due to missing posterior teeth in both upper and lower arch, patient had an edge to edge bite No obvious canine guidance or group function on lateral movements. Lip / Smile line: Lip and smile lines were positioned in such a way that when smiling broadly some of the gum margins of teeth were seen. An average (Moderate) lip line was hence recorded.(Van der Geld, Oosterveld et al. 2011). Bone morphology on palpation: UL3 area was noted to have buccal bone defect on palpation. UL4 tooth was having good hard tissue height and width due to the presence of the tooth. Diagnostic tests: Radiographs taken: DPT x-ray was done to assess the alveolar bone levels Periapical X-ray UL34 was done to assess the quality and quantity of bone available for the implant fixture. Photographs: Front view (close up) to record the lip line Intraoral view of UL3, UL4 area Bone defect picture Diagnosis: Failed anterior cantilever bridge (UL3 pontic, UL4 retainer) UL4 fracture tooth (no caries minimal tooth to restore) Upper and Lower partially edentulous arches. Generalised chronic mild gingivitis Patient wishes: Patient prefers a fixed option for the gap in the front. Treatment planning, objectives and considerations: Treatment is indicated to restore aesthetics and function and would also benefit the patient psychologically to have confidence in his smile again (Lindsay, And et al. 7). Considering patient desires, specific objectives of the treatment should be to restore missing UL3 tooth and UL4 tooth with a fixed option. The bone around the fractured tooth (UL4) is adequate, and there is sufficient bone height and width to allow the restoration of implant fixture. However, the bone around the missing tooth (UL3) was inadequate with bony defect and would need bone grafting to aid the long-term stability of the fixture. This can also further help to improve aesthetic results after implant treatment. Risk factors / limitations: Fracture of buccal bone can occur during extraction of UL4. UL3 has been noted to have less adequate bone, the implant restoration may have a higher restoration margin than the natural teeth, and tooth might appear to emerge higher up the gum than the adjacent teeth. No posterior support present in the present compromised occlusion and risk of excessive load on implants and hence failure of implants due to biomechanical reason and occlusion overloading(Kim, Oh et al. 2). Lack of primary stability of implants and Implant failure. (Chrcanovic, Chrcanovic et al. 6). Treatment options for the replacement of the missing teeth are: No treatment Leave Gap UL3 (Kanno, Carlsson 2006),Leave alone UL4 Extraction of UL4 and partial dentures (Davenport, Basker et al. 2000). Bridge (Not advised in this case, considering UL2 heavily restored and not suitable as an abutment). (Anonymous 2007). Implant options : UL4 implant and mesial cantilever bridge with UL3 UL4 (Implant supported bridge), (Kim, Ivanovski et al. 2). b. UL4 implant supported crown and UL3 Implant supported crown with bone grafting in UL3 (Al-Khaldi, Sleeman et al. 2011). Advantages and Disadvantages of different treatment options : 1. Leave, accept gap / Leave alone fractured UL4 Advantages: No treatment required No surgery Accept gap, no cost Disadvantages: Unaesthetic Drifting / Tilting of adjacent teeth Function and phonetic compromised Continuous bone loss, making restoring site more challenging at later date. Development of occlusal interferences Risk of caries developing UL4 Risk of acute pain / swelling and infection UL4 2. Partial dentures Advantages: No surgery Low cost Few visits for treatments Disadvantages: May be unstable Food accumulation Does not prevent bone loss Tolerance can be difficult 3. Bridge work (Not advised / feasible in this case) Advantages: No surgery Low cost Few visits for treatments Teeth are fixed Disadvantages: Healthy teeth prepared for support, Risk of loss of vitality ,may need Root canal treatment or Extraction at later date . Food accumulation as difficult to floss Does not prevent bone loss High cost Fracture of bridge or any part of it , needs replacing with new bridge as difficult to repair . Implant options: a) UL4 implant and mesial cantilever bridge with UL3 UL4 (Implant supported bridge) Advantages: Less cost as one implant to be placed No bone grafting needed, one surgical visit would be less. Treatment completion would be early as no bone augmentation needed. Fixed prosthesis Prevent bone loss at UL4 site Disadvantages / Limitations: Risk of implant failure is high due to excessive occlusal load due to missing posterior support. Compromised aesthetic outcome for UL3 due to bone defect present. If bridge work fails, would then plan to put two implants as planned as the next option and hence further cost. Oral hygiene needs to be maintained. b) UL4 implant supported single crown and UL3 Implant supported single crown with bone grafting in UL3 area. Advantages: Fixed prosthesis Prevent further bone loss at UL3 UL4 sites. Better aesthetic results. Individual implants, easy to maintain oral hygiene. Risk of failure due to occlusal load decreases as forces divided on two fixtures. If an implant fails, they could be replaced or treated individually. Long term clinical data reveals that the prognosis for implant treatment is very high, in the region of 90-95%. (Pjetursson, Pjetursson et al. 6). Disadvantages / Limitations: More cost as two implants and bone augmentation required. One surgical appointment added and wait for bone material to mature and hence prolonged treatment time. Risk of implant fixtures failure to ossteointegrate. The success of implant treatment will mainly depend on the ability to maintain a very high level of oral hygiene and plaque control measures in the long term. Need to attend dentist at 3-6 monthly intervals to ensure good periodontal (gum) condition is maintained around your implant fixture and standing natural teeth. Provisional restoration options: No Provisional restoration or Denture Patient opted for No Provisional restoration Type of bone grafting options 🙠 Dib 2010) An osseous graft can be osteogenic, osteoinductive or osteoconductive agent. Osteogenic graft contains vital cells, which will contribute to new bone growth. Osteoinductive graft stimulates the differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells into osteoblasts due to the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Osteoconductive graft will serve as a scaffold for new bone formation. Graft materials are also classifies as: Autograft bone, obtained from the same individual. Allograft bone, obtained from a different individual, but from the same species (Bone bank) Xenograft bone, obtained from different species (Bovine) Alloplast graft is made of synthetic materials. Patient had no reservation for xenograft and hence xenograft Bio-oss was agreed to be used. Patient information leaflet given on same. Treatment agreed and planned: From the options discussed and considering patients’ wishes , it was agreed to plan two individual implant retained single crowns with bone augmentation at UL3 site and it was proposed to do: Scale and polish Extract the UL4 tooth and Bone Graft UL3 area Place two implant UL3 and UL4 Fabricate new upper and lower partial dentures Maintenance instruction and regular follow up A report was sent to the patient with all the options written after the consultation and attached with a breakdown of the costs for consideration and consent to proceed. Reference list : AL-KHALDI, N., SLEEMAN, D. and ALLEN, F., 2011. Stability of dental implants in grafted bone in the anterior maxilla: longitudinal study. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 49(4), pp. 319-323. ANONYMOUS, 2007. Long-term survival of complete crowns, fixed dental prostheses, and cantilever fixed prostheses with posts and cores on root canal-treated teeth. British Dental Journal, 203(9), pp. 523. DAVENPORT, J., BASKER, R., HEATH, J., RALPH, J. and GLANTZ, P., 2000. The removable partial denture equation. British Dental Journal, 189(8), pp. 414-24. DIB, M., 2010. Successful Bone Grafting. Oral Health, 100(4), pp. 106-107,109. KANNO, T. and CARLSSON, G.E., 2006. A review of the shortened dental arch concept focusing on the work by the Kà ¤yser/Nijmegen group. England: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. KIM, P., IVANOVSKI, S., LATCHAM, N. and MATTHEOS, N., 2. The impact of cantilevers on biological and technical success outcomes of implantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ supported fixed partial dentures. A retrospective cohort study. Clinical oral implants research, 25(2), pp. 175; 175-184; 184. KIM, Y., OH, T., MISCH, C.E. and WANG, H., 2. Occlusal considerations in implant therapy: clinical guidelines with biomechanical rationale. Clinical oral implants research, 16(1), pp. 26; 26-35; 35. LINDSAY, S., AND, K. and JENNINGS, K., 7. The psychological benefits of dental implants in patients distressed by untolerated dentures. Psychology Health, 15(4), pp. 451; 451-466; 466. PJETURSSON, B.E., PJETURSSON, B.E., BRÄGGER, U., LANG, N.P. and ZWAHLEN, M., 6. Comparison of survival and complication rates of toothà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) and implantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ supported FDPs and single crowns (SCs). Clinical oral implants research, 18, pp. 97; 97-113; 113. VAN DER GELD, P., OOSTERVELD, P., SCHOLS, J. and KUIJPERS-JAGTMAN, A.M., 2011. Smile line assessment comparing quantitative measurement and visual estimation. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 139(2), pp. 174-180.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Blue Whales :: Biology Ecology Nature

Blue Whales The Blue whale is the largest creature of the sea, in fact, it is the largest creature known to man. Contrary to what most people think, even though Blue whales live in the sea, they are mammals. They breathe air, have their babies born alive and can live anywhere from 30 to 70 years. The Blue whale is a baleen whale, and instead of having teeth, Blue whales have around 300-400 baleen plates in their mouths. They fall under the category of the rorquals, which are the largest of the baleen family. The scientific name of the Blue whale is, Balsenoptera musculus. Introduction Whales are separated into two groups, the baleen and the toothed whales. The blue whale is the largest baleen whale and the largest animal that ever lived on Earth, including the largest dinosaurs. Baleen are rows of coarse, bristle-like fibers used to strain plankton from the water. Baleen is made of keratin, the same material as our fingernails. They live in pods, the have two blowholes. The blue whale has a 2-14 inch (5-30cm) thick layer of blubber. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are baleen whales (Suborder Mysticeti). They are one of 76 species and are marine mammals. Background The Blue whale is called a ^rorqual^, a Norwegian word for ^furrow^ referring to the pleated grooves running from its chin to its naval. The pleated throat grooves allow the Blue whale^s throat to expand during the huge intake of water during filter feeding; they can ^hold 1,000 tons or more of food and water when fully expanded^ (Small 1971). Blue whales have 50-70 throat grooves. Blue whales grow up to about 80 feet (25m) long on average, weighing about 120 tons. The females are generally larger than the males, this is the case for all baleen whales. ^The largest specimen found was a female 94 feet (29m) long weighing more than 174 tons^ (Satchell 1998). The head of the Blue whale forms up to a quarter of the total body length. Compared with other rorquals, the head is very broad. The blue whale heart is the size of a small car and can pump almost 10 tons of blood throughout the body. They have a very small, falcate (sickle-shaped) dorsal fin that is located near the fluke, or tail. Blue whales have long, thin flippers 8 feet (2.4m) long and flukes that are 25feet (7.6m) wide. The blue whale^s skin is usually blue-gray with white-gray spots. The underbelly has brown, yellow, or gray specks. Blue Whales :: Biology Ecology Nature Blue Whales The Blue whale is the largest creature of the sea, in fact, it is the largest creature known to man. Contrary to what most people think, even though Blue whales live in the sea, they are mammals. They breathe air, have their babies born alive and can live anywhere from 30 to 70 years. The Blue whale is a baleen whale, and instead of having teeth, Blue whales have around 300-400 baleen plates in their mouths. They fall under the category of the rorquals, which are the largest of the baleen family. The scientific name of the Blue whale is, Balsenoptera musculus. Introduction Whales are separated into two groups, the baleen and the toothed whales. The blue whale is the largest baleen whale and the largest animal that ever lived on Earth, including the largest dinosaurs. Baleen are rows of coarse, bristle-like fibers used to strain plankton from the water. Baleen is made of keratin, the same material as our fingernails. They live in pods, the have two blowholes. The blue whale has a 2-14 inch (5-30cm) thick layer of blubber. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are baleen whales (Suborder Mysticeti). They are one of 76 species and are marine mammals. Background The Blue whale is called a ^rorqual^, a Norwegian word for ^furrow^ referring to the pleated grooves running from its chin to its naval. The pleated throat grooves allow the Blue whale^s throat to expand during the huge intake of water during filter feeding; they can ^hold 1,000 tons or more of food and water when fully expanded^ (Small 1971). Blue whales have 50-70 throat grooves. Blue whales grow up to about 80 feet (25m) long on average, weighing about 120 tons. The females are generally larger than the males, this is the case for all baleen whales. ^The largest specimen found was a female 94 feet (29m) long weighing more than 174 tons^ (Satchell 1998). The head of the Blue whale forms up to a quarter of the total body length. Compared with other rorquals, the head is very broad. The blue whale heart is the size of a small car and can pump almost 10 tons of blood throughout the body. They have a very small, falcate (sickle-shaped) dorsal fin that is located near the fluke, or tail. Blue whales have long, thin flippers 8 feet (2.4m) long and flukes that are 25feet (7.6m) wide. The blue whale^s skin is usually blue-gray with white-gray spots. The underbelly has brown, yellow, or gray specks.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Night World : Huntress Chapter 18

Jez heard herself scream, but only faintly. There was a roaring in her ears as if the BART train was coming at her again. And a pain that engulfed her whole body, sending agonized spasms through her limbs. It centered in her chest, though, where something white-hot was lodged inside her, crushing her lung and dislodging her internal organs and burning right beside her heart. She'd been staked. What she had done so often to others had been done to her. She hadn't realized anything could hurt like this. She was glad none of her victims had lived long to keep suffering. The wood of the stake was poisoning her heart, she knew. Even if it were removed, she would die. No vampire could survive contact between living wood and its undead heart. Still, she would live for a little while-in unimaginable agony as the poison ate through her. A voice was screaming in her mind. Jez-JezJezJez†¦ Over and over, incoherently. Morgead, she thought. And she hoped he wasn't feeling any of what she was feeling through the silver cord that connected them. Hugh and Claire were sobbing. Jez wished they wouldn't. They had to stay calm; to think of a way to save themselves. Because she couldn't help them anymore. Over the sobbing she heard a shrill and angry voice. Lily. â€Å"What is wrong with you?† Lily was saying. â€Å"Don't you see what's happening to her? Don't you want to save her?† Through the red haze that filled Jez's vision, she felt dim approval. They were doing what she'd told them. Whichever of them was the Wild Power was suppressing it Good. That was what mattered. Although she couldn't really remember why any longer†¦. Suddenly a face broke through the red haze. It was Lily, bending over her. â€Å"Don't you understand?† Lily yelled. â€Å"You can stop this right now. Ill have him kill you cleanly-all the pain will be over. All you have to do is tell me who it is.† Jez smiled at her faintly. She couldn't breathe to answer, and she didn't want to try. Would you believe that I don't know? she thought. No, I don't think you would. †¦ The pain was getting less by itself. It was as if Jez was moving farther and farther away from it. â€Å"How can you be so stupid?† Lily was screaming. Her face was twisted, and to Jez's vision, floating in a scarlet mist. She looked like a monster. Then she turned and seemed to be screaming at someone else. â€Å"All right. Get the other vampire down here, too. Morgead.† She was looking at Jez again. â€Å"We'll just have to stake your friends one after another until the Wild Power decides to reveal itself.† No. No†¦ Suddenly everything was much clearer around Jez. She could see the room again, and she could feel her own body. There was still the roaring in her ears, but she could hear Claire's sobs over it. No. Lily couldn't mean it. This couldn't be happening†¦. But it was. They were shoving Morgead down on the floor beside her, and Claire and Hugh beyond him. The thugs with spears were getting into position. No. No. This can't happen. Jez wanted to scream at them, to tell the Wild Power to do something, because everything was lost now anyway. But she didn't have air to scream. And she felt so adrift and confused anyway†¦. Her universe had become disjointed. Her thoughts seemed to be unraveling at all once, past memories combining with flashing sensory impressions from the present, and with strange new ideas†¦. If it was involuntary, why didn't the Wild Power work magic more often? Unless there was some other requirement†¦. I can't let this happen. The dampness of blood spreading around her heart. †¦ Claire's nails digging into her arms. â€Å"When there's no physical way to escape †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Power in the blood. Claire on the floor there. Screaming and screaming†¦ Something building inside her, hotter than the stake. Morgead beside her whispering, â€Å"Jez, I love you.† Pierce with the stake over him. Morgead looking up unafraid†¦. Hotter than the heart of a star. Hugh in the distance saying almost quietly, â€Å"Goddess of Life, receive us; guide us to the other world. . . .† Hotter than the sun and colder and bluer than the moon, like fire that burned and froze and crackled like lightning all at once. Something that filled her with an energy that was past rage and past love and past all controlling and that she recognized in her soul even though she'd never consciously felt it before. It was swelling Jez to bursting, a pure and terrible flame that was never meant to be unleashed like this†¦. â€Å"Do it!† Lily shouted. And Jez let it free. It came roaring out from her in a silent explosion. Blue fire that streamed from her body and blasted in all directions, but especially up. It came out and out and out, engulfing everything, flowing from her in a never ending torrent. Like a solar flare that didn't stop. It was all she could see. Blue flames, streaked with blue-white lightning that crackled almost soundlessly. Just like the fire that had cocooned her on the BART tracks. Except that now she could tell where it was coming from, even if she couldn't direct it. She knew how to let it out, now, but once out it did what it wanted. And it wasn't meant to be used this way. That was the only thing she knew clearly about it. She'd been letting it slip out when she was desperately upset-when she was worried for someone's life, and she knew that she couldn't do anything else to save them. That was forgivable, because it had been unconscious. This wasn't. She was probably violating some law of the universe or something. The blue fire was only meant to be used in the last battle, when the darkness came and the Four were called to stand against it. I suppose that means I should try to stop now, Jez thought. She wasn't sure how to do it. She guessed that she needed to call it back, somehow, to draw it down into her body again. Maybe if I sort of tug†¦. She did-something. A gathering-up with her mind. It was harder than letting the fire go had been, but it worked. She could feel it returning, flooding back inside her, as if she were sucking it in. †¦ And then it was gone, and Jez could see the world again. Could see what it had done. The house had disappeared. Or most of it, anyway. There was about a foot and a half of ragged wall left all around, with charred insulation spilling out. Blue energy like electricity ran along the edges here and there, fizzing. Other than that, no house. Not even chunks of wreckage lying around. There were fine bits of debris floating down, making the sunlight hazy, but that was all. It got†¦ vaporized, Jez thought, searching for the right word. No Lily. No Azarius. No Pierce. And none of the ugly thugs. Goddess, Jez thought. I didn't mean to do that. I only wanted to stop them from hurting Morgead and Claire and Hugh. †¦ What about them? she thought in a sudden panic. She turned her head, painfully. They were there. And alive. They were even stirring. The cords they'd been tied with were lying on the carpet, sizzling with that same blue energy. It's so weird to have a carpet without a house to go with it, Jez thought fuzzily. She was going away again. And that was too bad, but at least it didn't hurt anymore. The pain was gone completely, replaced by a warm and sleepy feeling-and the sensation of gently floating outward. Her eyelids felt heavy. â€Å"Jez? Jez!† It was a husky whisper. Jez opened her eyes to see Morgead's face. He was crying. Oh, dear, that was bad. Jez hadn't seen him cry since†¦ when was it? Sometime when they'd been little kids†¦. Jez, can you hear me? Now he was talking in her mind. Jez blinked again, and tried to think of something comforting to say to him. â€Å"I feel warm,† she whispered. â€Å"No, you don't!† He said it almost in a growl. Then he looked behind him, and Jez saw Hugh and Claire crawling up. They were all shining with golden light. â€Å"You're so pretty,† she told them. â€Å"Like angels.† â€Å"This isn't the time for your weird humor!† Morgead shouted. â€Å"Stop it! Don't yell at her!† That was Claire. Claire was crying, too, lovely tears that shone as they fell. She reached out and took Jez's hand, and that was nice, although Jez couldn't exactly feel it. She could see it. â€Å"She's going to be all right,† Morgead was snarling. â€Å"She's lost blood, but she'll be okay.† Someone was stroking Jez's hair off her face. She felt that; it was pleasant. She frowned slowly at Morgead, because there was something important to tell him, and talking was difficult. â€Å"Tell Hugh†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she whispered. â€Å"Tell Hugh your freaking self! He's right here! And you're not going anywhere.† Jez blinked with the difficulty changing focus. Yes, there was Hugh. He was the one stroking her hair. â€Å"Hugh†¦ the prophecy. I figured out what the two eyes watching were. They're the sun and the moon-get it? Two eyes†¦ for somebody who belongs to both worlds.† â€Å"The Day World and the Night World,† Hugh said softly. â€Å"You got it, Jez. That was so smart.† â€Å"And blood,† Jez whispered. ‘†Power in the blood'-that's why I couldn't do it anytime I wanted. Blood has to flow before you can let out the power. The first two times Claire was scratching me. And this time . . .† Her voice died off, but it wasn't important. Everybody could see the blood this time, she knew. Hugh's voice was thick. â€Å"That was smart, too, Jez. You figured it out. And you saved us. You did everything just right.† â€Å"No†¦ because there's only going to be three Wild Powers now†¦.† â€Å"No, there aren't,† Morgead raged. â€Å"Listen to me, Jez. There's no reason for you to die-â€Å" Jez couldn't manage a smile anymore, or a sentence. But she whispered gently, â€Å"Wood†¦ poison.† â€Å"No, it isn't! Not to humans. And you're half human, Jez. You're vampire enough to survive something that would kill a human, but you're human enough not to be poisoned by wood.† Jez knew better. She couldn't see much anymore. Only Morgead, and he was getting indistinct. It wasn't that the world was dimming, though-it was getting brighter. Everything was golden and shining. Four less one and darkness triumphs, Jez thought I'm so sorry about that. I hope they can manage it somehow. It would be so sad for everything human to be lost. There's so much good in the world, and so much to love†¦. She couldn't even see Morgead now. Only gold. But she could hear. She could hear Claire whispering to her in a voice broken by tears, and feel wetness dropping on her face. â€Å"I love you, Jez. You're the best cousin anybody could ever have.† And Hugh. He was crying, too. â€Å"Jez, I'm so proud to be your friend†¦.† And then, through the mist and the gold and the warmth and peace, came a voice that wasn't gentle at all. That was roaring in sheer outrage and fury. â€Å"DONT YOU DARE DIE ON ME, JEZEBEL! DON'T YOU DARE! Or I'll follow you to the next world and KILL you.† Suddenly, in the pretty gold mist, she could see something else. The only thing in the universe that wasn't golden. It was a silver cord. â€Å"You come back and you do it right now,† Morgead bellowed in her ears and in her mind. â€Å"Right now! Do you hear me?† The peace was shattered. Nothing seemed quite so warm and wonderful anymore, and she knew that once Morgead got into one of his Excited States, he wouldn't stop yelling until he got what he wanted. And there was the cord right in front of her. It was strong, and she could feel that the other end was somewhere in. Morgead's heart, and that he was trying to drag her back to him. All right. Maybe if I just grab on†¦. Somehow, she was holding on to it, and bit by bit, pulling herself back. And then the golden light was fading and she was inside a body that hurt and Morgead was holding her and kissing her and crying all at the same time. Claire's voice came from beyond him. â€Å"She's breathing again! She's breathing!† â€Å"I love you, you stupid human,† Morgead gasped against Jez's cheek. â€Å"I can't live without you. Don't you know that?† Jez whispered, â€Å"I told you never to call me Jezebel.† Then she fainted. â€Å"Time for a nice bath,† the nurse said. â€Å"And then we can have a visitor.† Jez eyed her narrowly. The woman was kind, but she had some mania for sponge baths, and she was always putting strange-smelling ingredients in the water. Which was actually not that surprising since she was a witch. â€Å"Skip the bath,† Jez said. â€Å"Let the visitor in.† â€Å"Now, now,† the witch said, shaking a finger and advancing with the sponge. Jez sighed. Being a Wild Power in a Circle Daybreak sanctuary meant that she could have pretty much anything she wanted-except that everyone was still treating her like a little kid. Especially the nurses, who spoiled her and flattered her, but talked to her as if she were about three. Still, she was glad to let the Circle take care of some things. Keeping her relatives safe, for instance. Although she was almost fully recovered, thanks to a strong constitution and a lot of healing spells from the witches, she wasn't up to that yet. Uncle Bracken and the entire Goddard family needed constant protection, since Hunter Redfern and the Night World Council were all undoubtedly after them by now. The Circle had imported some experts from back East to take care of it. A rival vampire hunter, of all things, named Rashel something. Plus her soulmate, a vampire-turned-Daybreaker called Quinn. At least they were competent. They'd gotten Jez's uncle Bracken, as well as the remnants of the gang out of San Francisco, a city that was going to be bad for their health for a while. Morgead was trying to get the gang to join Circle Daybreak for their own good, and he said that Raven, at least, was showing some interest. Val and Thistle were being stubborn, but that was hardly surprising. What was important was that they were alive. Pierce, on the other hand, was simply gone. No one had seen a trace of him or Lily or any of her people since Jez blasted them. Apparently they had truly been vaporized, and Jez couldn't bring herself to feel too badly. â€Å"All done!† the nurse said brightly, straightening Jez's pajama top. Which was just as well because at that moment a black head came poking in the door. â€Å"What is going on in here? You getting ready to go to the opera or something?† Jez raised her eyebrows at Morgead. â€Å"Maybe. Are you telling me I can't?† He snorted and came in as the nurse went out â€Å"I wouldn't dare tell you that. You're the princess, right? You can have anything.† â€Å"Right,† Jez said, with huge satisfaction. â€Å"So how*re Hugh and Claire?† â€Å"Claire's fine; she fits right in with the witches here. I think she's trying to get them to put up a Web page. And Hugh's just his same stupid self. He's off saving chipmunks from toxic waste or something.† â€Å"And how about the kid?† â€Å"The kid,† Morgead said, â€Å"is living it up. The Day-breakers are crazy about her; something about one of the oldest Old Souls ever found:-I dunno. Anyway, they're trying to talk her mom into letting her live here. She says thanks for saving her life and she's drawing you a picture.† Jez nodded, pleased. It would be nice if Iona came to live at the sanctuary; it meant Jez could see her a lot. Not that Jez planned to live here all the time herself-she and Morgead needed their freedom. They couldn't be penned in; they had to be able to come and go. She just hadn't gotten around to telling the Daybreakers that yet. With the people she loved taken care of, she could turn her attention to other matters. â€Å"Is that chocolate?† â€Å"It's the only reason you like to see me, isn't it?† Morgead said, allowing her to take the box. He sat beside her, looking tragic. â€Å"Nah,† Jez said with her mouth full. She swallowed. â€Å"Everybody brings 'em.† Then she grinned. â€Å"I like to see you for a different reason.† He grinned wickedly back. â€Å"I can't think what that could be.† â€Å"Hmm†¦ you're right†¦ maybe there is no other reason.† â€Å"Watch it, Jezebel,† he growled and leaned forward menacingly. â€Å"Don't call me that, idiot.† â€Å"You're the idiot, idiot.† â€Å"And you're-† But Jez never got to finish, because he stopped her mouth with a kiss. And then his arms were around her-so gently- and the silver cord was humming and everything was warm and there were only the two of them in the world. One from the land of kings long forgotten; One from the hearth which still holds the spark; One from the Day World where two eyes are watching; One from the twilight to be one with the dark. [The End]

Friday, November 8, 2019

A Nucleus a Day essays

A Nucleus a Day essays Wow, another exciting day is about to begin. Sometimes I get so tired of being the brains of this whole operation, but it is fun to be the boss and give the orders. Lets examine a typical day: I am the nucleus. My life is very complicated because there are constantly things going on and I hardly have time to talk to you. But since I started telling you about myself then I might as well finish it up. I am the most important organelle in this body that I am in; I am the brain of the cell. My primary purpose is to control the actions inside the cell. I contain the RNA and the DNA of the cell, and both of these work together to build and control the cell. I also produce these things called proteins and they are carried by the endoplasmic reticulum to other parts of the cell. The proteins are messengers and they give the orders to the cells. I am studded with pores that control what comes into the cell and what leaves the cell. These pores are filled with a large nuclear protein complex and these make barriers and plugs because the NPC is so big. Bigger molecules that want to enter this cell have to go through the central part. The nucleolus that is in me is the si te for RNA and the packaging of ribosomal subunits for export to the cytosol. The DNA strand is sometimes a very long molecule, and sometimes it needs to be compacted to fit into a certain spot. It can be reduced in size by rapping it around a nucleosomes arrangement of histone proteins. This can result in the DNA strand to be reduced so it will fit in the space. Well, cant talk any longer but it was nice to take a break ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

ENGLISH ESSAY WRITING SERVICE for Students

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Sunday, November 3, 2019

Managing Human Capital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Managing Human Capital - Essay Example Recently, there has been surging demand of designing, developing and implementing a total Performance Management system which will assist the organisation in conducing the strategic human resource planning process. Traditionally, the appraisal was done at year-end by the manager or supervisor of an employee in an informal way. The appraiser had to rate the performance of the employees on predetermined standards. This technique was ineffective as it reviewed the past performance of the employees and there was lack of feedback mechanism and suggestions for future developmental opportunities for the employees. In order to address the discrepancies in the outdated appraisal processes, it was recommended that a Performance Management system is developed. This concept allows the organisations to not only evaluate an employee’s performance but the individual is made part of the process. Also, the employees have clarity about their roles, accountabilities, responsibilities, expected outcomes and behaviours. As a result, the employees are able to designate their best efforts and make sure that they make valuable contribution in organisation’s long-term objectives. Hence, the performance appraisal process has to be developed in alignment with the organisational strategy and the corporate objectives so that the individual’s goals are effectively and strategically determined. Every organisation is run and managed by people who assist them in attaining the desired goals and objectives. A company’s performance is dependent on the total sum of the members’/workforce’s performance (Biron, Farndale & Pauuwe, 2011; Hutchinson, 2013). As a result, the success of a firm relies on its ability of measuring the performance of employees accurately and objectively so that individuals can be utilised at optimum level as a valuable resource (Aguinis, 2013; Sharma et al., 2011). On the basic level, an individual’s performance is the record of the results or outcomes

Friday, November 1, 2019

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Marketing - Assignment Example Business goods can be distributed in the following manner: producer to consumer; producer to agent to consumer; producer to distributor to consumer; producer to agent to distributor to consumer. Finally, services, because of its nature can only be distributed either directly to consumers or through an agent. Decisions as to which path to take must take into account, among others, the resources available, the market itself whether local or foreign, the price of the goods, and geographical feasibility. Avon and Tupperware, for example, sells its products directly to consumers whilst Procter and Gamble sells through retailers like supermarkets. Insurance and travel industries sell through agents. Producers must also take into account factors such as the most effective distribution channel, the most appropriate level of distribution intensity and degree of channel integration. In the first, considerations such as buyers’ expectations, geographical location and clustering of target consumers, producers’ resources, nature of the goods, and the channels that are being used by competitors are taken into consideration. The second consideration involves the number of channels to be used per area, which may be intensive, selective or exclusive, and should be dependent on the resources of the producer, the image it wants to project and its main priorities. Tyrell Potato Chips, for example, sells only to specialist retailers that gives it an upmarket image and allows it to gain a 35% profit margins not duplicated by its competitors. Finally, the third consideration will depend on how much the producer wants to get involved in the distribution and sales of the goods. It c an opt to choose the conventional methods, franchising such as the practice of McDonald’s, Starbucks, Body Shop and Benetton, or to go all the way by buying all channels involved to