Life in Navy Boot Camp Essay

It was a warm summer evening as I packed for Navy Boot Camp. I carefully went down the list of things I could take and ensured I didn’t have anything else. A little nervous I went to talk to my parents about my move to becoming my own man. I looked at their faces and could tell that although they were proud they were a little nervous about their only son leaving home for the first time. My mom tried to smile but she was proud yet nervous because I had always been her little guy so she was having a hard time letting go. After a short conversation with my parents I decided to try and rest for the long journey ahead. Its now 5 o’clock in the morning and I’m up to shower and get ready for the trip, I didn’t sleep very much because I was so nervous. I showed and got ready for the trip to the Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) for my final swearing in. My first trip included my initial processing and medical screening and now it was time to put all that into action. As my parent drove me to the station the car was very quiet. As we pulled up my parents got out and hugged me and wish me well. I walked in and looked back at them and it was like the cord was being cut between us, now it was time for me to make them proud and show them what I’d learned from them. The officer swore us in and we all boarded the bus starring out the window like lost kids. Hours later we arrived at Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Michigan. As we pulled up Company Commanders ran out yelling and screaming at us to put all our stuff in one hand and line up on the footprints. My heart was beating super fast and I was like what have I done. We marched into this room where they asked us to take out all our stuff, they went through it and told us what we could keep and what had to be sent home. After feeding us, they took everyone to the barber shop and shaved all our heads. They then issued us our initial uniforms and began indoctrination. After marching back to our dorms, we were told how the bed should be made, stenciled all our gear, showered and went to bed. The first night I can honestly say I missed my folks and at one point wanted to cry but I pushed on. I knew I had to do this for me and them, I had to show myself first and them second that I had what it took to make it. Day two and forward we woke up at 4 am with yelling and screaming that we had 15 minutes to shower, shave and get in line for physical training and breakfast. Everything was 15 to 20 minutes including eating; you learn to eat real quickly. Training was tough but as the weeks went on it got easier. Then around week 4 we had to swim, I was never a strong swimmer so I was nervous but I made it through. Around week five it seemed they got a little easier and then explained that the toughness was to help us rely on each other and build the necessary teamwork within us all. As time went on we had learned the entire Chain of Command, proper Navy rules and how to properly wear all the uniforms and the seasonal changes for whites and blues. As the 8th week came we got ready for graduation. Everyone was ready to show their parents how much they had grown up in the last two months. Part of growing up was proper grooming, making our beds and being responsible and accountable for each other. Some of the guys in my company sat around the night before talking about some of the hard times in boot camp. I talked about the hard part for me was the fire fighting training and taking off that gas mask, my eyes burned so bad and I coughed like I was going to die. We laughed so hard about that and having to jump off that diving board that seems like it was 100 stories tall. So now its graduation day and I’m so excited to see my parents and so they can see how I’ve turned from their little boy to this young man. We march out on the field and the guide yells â€Å"eyes right† and I look over and see my parents. My mom was crying as usual and my dad had the biggest smile on his face, it was a time I will always remember. Their little guy was finally a man.

The Logical Database

2 Nonfunctional RequirementsFunctional requirements define the needs in terms of performance, logical database requirements, design constraints, standards compliance, reliability, availability, security, maintainability, and portability. EXAMPLE 1Performance RequirementsPerformance requirements define acceptable response times for system functionality. The load time for user interface screens shall take no longer than two seconds.The log in information shall be verified within five seconds.Queries shall return results within five seconds.Example 2Logical Database RequirementsThe logical database requirements include the retention of the following data elements. This list is not a complete list and is designed as a starting point for developmentBooking/Reservation SystemCustomer first nameCustomer last nameCustomer addressCustomer phone numberNumber of occupantsAssigned roomDefault room rateRate descriptionGuaranteed room (yes/no)Credit card numberConfirmation numberAutomatic cancellation dateExpected check-in dateExpected check-in timeActual check-in dateActual check-in timeExpected check-out date Expected check-out timeActual check-out dateActual check-out timeCustomer feedbackPayment received (yes/no)Payment typeTotal BillFood ServicesMealMeal typeMeal itemMeal orderMeal payment (Bill to room/Credit/Check/Cash)EXAMPLE 3Design ConstraintsThe Hotel Management System shall be a stand-alone system running in a Windows environment. The system shall be developed using Java and an Access or Oracle databaseIllustrate a timeframe needed to complete each task based on the requirements from question 2.(5 Marks)Answer Estimating time framesTo manage your time well, you should know not only what tasks you need to accomplish, but also when those tasks must be completed and how long they'll take. Making accurate estimates about how long a task will take is one of the keys to effective time management. Many management problems are the result of unrealistic estimates of how long it will take to complete specific tasks.If you estimate time frames accurately, you'll be able to schedule work efficiently and meet deadlines:schedule work efficiently  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Accurate estimates about how long tasks will take to complete make scheduling a lot easier. They ensure that you won't have to keep changing your schedule. If you have a task that you accurately estimate will take six hours, for example, you can allot that time in your schedule and be reasonably confident you won't have to change the schedule. But what if you didn't accurately estimate the time for that task and allotted it only three hours? It would throw your schedule off, and you'd need to rework it.meet deadlines  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ If you're accurate in estimating the time it will take to complete tasks, you'll be better able to meet your deadlines. If you're estimates aren't accurate, you may need to ask to change deadlines or disappoint others who are relying on you to complete certain tasks. With accurate time estimates, you'll also be more confident about setting deadlines because you know that the time you assign for completing each of your tasks is realistic. Time estimate equationIt's important to estimate the time frames for your tasks accurately so that you can schedule all your work effectively and meet deadlines. To go about doing this, you first need to know the requirements of each task and your experience with activities – both when they run smoothly and when they don't – to produce three time estimates:The  likely time  is the time that the task normally takes you to complete. It helps to consider the time it takes to complete the task without interruption. You should also think about a time frame you would be comfortable with based on your workload, the task, and any external factors that may delay or speed up the completion of the task.The  shortest time  is the least amount of time that you have taken to complete the task in the past. It may also refer to the shortest time in which you think you can complete the task if there are no interruptions or distractions.You can estimate the  longest time  by considering what may go wrong when performing the task and then adding this extra time to the task's likely duration. This estimate should be based on your experience of this type of activity in the past, as well as on any foreseeable difficulties.You use the three time estimates to calculate the shortest possible time to complete a task based on an average of the likely, shortest, and longest times. Because in most cases a task will take the likely time to complete, this time is given more weight. You need to multiply it by 4, add the shortest time, and then add the longest time. You divide the total by 6 to get the shortest possible time.One important thing to remember is that you must use the same measurements for each type of time. For example, if your likely time is a number of days, the shortest and longest times must also be in days. If your estimates are in different measurements, start by changing them so they are all the same. The time frames equation often produces a shortest possible time that is longer than the shortest time you put into the equation. This is because the equation helps ensure that you're realistic about how long things will take.To manage your time effectively, you have to estimate the time it will take to complete each of your tasks. Doing this ensures you can schedule your work appropriately and meet all your deadlines. To estimate the time frames for your tasks, you can use a simple time frames equation, which uses estimates for the likely, shortest, and longest times to calculate the realistic, shortest possible time that it will take to complete a task.https://library.skillport.com/courseware/Content/cca/pd_11_a02_bs_enus/output/html/sb/sbpd_11_a02_bs_enus002005.htmlFive threats to your business that you need to consider for the success of this system. Answer: After assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your business for your business plan, look for external forces, like opportunities and threats, that may have an effect on its destiny. These changes includeThe appearance of new or stronger competitorsThe emergence of unique technologiesShifts in the size or demographic composition of your market areaChanges in the economy that affect customer buying habitsChanges in customer preferences that affect buying habitsChanges that alter the way customers access your business Changes in politics, policies, and regulationsFads and fashion crazesList the threats and opportunities facing your business, and follow these guidelines:When listing opportunities, consider emerging technologies, availability of new materials, new customer categories, changing customer tastes, market growth, new uses for old products (think about how mobile phones and even eyeglasses now double as cameras and computers), new distribution or location opportunities, positive changes in your competitive environment, and other forces that can affect your success. When listing threats, consider the impact of shrinking markets, altered consumer tastes and purchase tendencies, raw material shortages, economic downturns, new regulations, changes that affect access to your business, and competitive threats, including new competing businesses and competitive mergers and alliances. Also think about the impact of expiring patents, labor issues, global issues, and new products that may make your offering outdated or unnecessary. If you're having a tough time getting specific, look back at the strengths and weaknesses, but this time, use it to list strengths and weaknesses of a competitor. You won't know as much about your competitor's capabilities as you know about your own, but you probably know enough to flag areas of strength and weakness. Your competitor's strengths are potential threats to your business, and its weaknesses present potential opportunities. http://www.dummies.com/business/start-a-business/business-plans/how-to-identify-opportunities-and-threats-in-business-planning/Three elements of risk All risk management standards agree that the goal of risk management is to enhance the chances of success of the relevant endeavor. However, each of them provides a different definition of risk: ISO31000:2009 calls it â€Å"effect of uncertainty on objectives,† the PMI â€Å"PMBOK Guide†Ã‚  has â€Å"an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on the project's objectives,† and the preferred Risk Doctor definition is â€Å"uncertainty that matters. â€Å"Each description is true, but only partly so. This matters because, until we know what we are dealing with, we cannot manage it in the best way possible:If we use the ISO definition, then our first thought will be to focus on the  effect;If we follow PMI, then we will start from the potential  occurrence;With the Risk Doctor definition, we start from  uncertainty.Each of these — the effect, the event and the uncertainty  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  is a component of risk, but on its own is not a risk. Even taken in pairs they do not provide the full picture:an effect plus an event is  an issue;an event plus an uncertainty is  a prediction;an uncertainty plus and effect is  a concern.It is only when you put all three together that you can see what a risk is made of, and use this information to decide on what, if anything, to do about it. Of course, this then requires a longer definition, but the goal enhancing the chances of success is worth the effort.But what is â€Å"success†? It is more than simply â€Å"meeting objectives;† it must also include the condition of â€Å"complying with project constraints† in order for the final result to remain within scope. The three-part definition helps with three important stages of the risk management process:1.risk identification, it supports the structured description of a risk (â€Å"risk metalanguage†) in the form: â€Å"Because of , may occur, leading to In  2.risk evaluation, knowledge of potential causes allows you to evaluate the likelihood; identification of effects provides a basis for quantifying the impact. In  3 risk response planning, the different parts of the definition suggest different response approaches:for  threat avoidance, understanding the  situation  may allow you to stop it happening or protect against its results;understanding the  situation  can also be used to help us  exploit opportunities;in  risk transfer or sharing, we seek a partner better equipped to address the  effect;for  threat reduction  or  opportunity enhancement, we focus on the  effect  and/or the  likelihood; Example 1 Safety and security risks in hotelsA strategic framework for hotel safety and security has been designed for owned and managed hotels and is illustrated below, showing the identified groups of risks and describing the management activities carried out to mitigate those risks.2 Mitigating hotel safety and security risksRisks are identified at hotel level through various means including intelligence gathering, quality audits, risk management assessments and internal audits. They are also identified as a result of incidents, customer audits and self-assessment. Hotel management discuss issues at monthly safety meetings and action plans are developed. Risks are prioritised, assigned and improvement actions are identified, progressed and monitored. Action plans are reviewed at appropriate levels in the organization for issues that need to be escalated either to drive action or to develop common solutions. IHG believes it has a mature and capable systemic and systematic approach to managing hotel safety and security which both reduces the likelihood and impact of events. The embedded culture within IHG makes hotels and the corporation more resilient to unexpected or unidentifiable risks.https://www.ihgplc.com/files/reports/ar2009/managing-risks-in-hotels.htmlhttp://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/3-essential-elements-of-risk/business-management-

The Saint Michael Medal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Saint Michael Medal - Essay Example A visual projection of the Catholic's designed of the image of Archangel Michael holding a sword upright pointing toward to the beast on his feet that is being suggestive of its losing from Michael's force is what is being engraved uniformly to the medal. In Catholic tradition that almost every personality in the Scriptures (some are not) or entities are being sanctified by their administration, Archangel Michael was hailed as saint by the Catholic Church. It has been ordained to their conviction that "Saint Michael" will be the patron of the following (Catholic-Online 2008): Such list of believed to be the criteria that encompass the sainthood of Archangel Michael given by the Catholic Church as he has been honored and invoked as patron and protector from the time of the Apostles as this church claimed. In addition to this, he was also being regarded by the Catholic officials as patron of the dying people and those being tempted (Catholic-Online 2008). An example is the design "Sterling Michael 'Shield' Medal" that is made of sterling silver. The Catholic company website is selling this piece which they regarded as a sacred piece for them for $44.00.

Commodification of Biodiversity Conservation Essay

Commodification of Biodiversity Conservation - Essay Example ese organizations compensate for this by enhancing or restoring habitat of comparable ecological value as the one damaged by human activities, but in other geographical region (William & Scott, 2009). This paper thereby analyses such optimistic environmental expectations that are to be accomplished through commodification and nature selling. It visits the economic valuation controversies on ecosystem services in two prospects. First, the institutional setups upon which the environmental governance and policies are embedded, and second, the wider economic and sociopolitical influences that governs the pricing expectations into the previous non-marketed regions of the environment (Robertson, 2004). Finally, it maps the probable economic, social, and ecological problems or challenges of biodiversity commodification, as well as the necessary preconditions for biodiversity enhancements. Commodification of nature or biodiversity is a research area within the grave environmental studies, concerning the ways or methods in which natural processes and entities are made redeemable via the market, and their implications thereafter. Neoliberal conservation on the other hand refers to approaches through which the capitalist expansions and environmental protection are not only crucially complaisant activities, but also mutually companionable ones (Harvey, 2007). Amidst the contemporary environmental, economic, and financial crises, biodiversity has grown enormous vitality due to the role it plays for the ‘green economy,’ which is in turn consolidated by various agreements reached by the environmental organizational policies. The notion behind the biodiversity markets implies that if both negative and positive impacts on biodiversity are measurable as debits and credits, then they can be much easier to integrate as costs or benefits in economic decision-making. T hrough internalizing the traditionally externalized costs, the biodiversity markets opt to serve as powerful tools

International Marketing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

International Marketing Strategy - Essay Example However, the strategy will shift to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with the potential to eat into Nestle’s market share. The company will aggressively pursue the acquisition of SMEs within the next 7 years (The National, 2013). The company will also implement a hybrid structure combining holacracy and hierarchy that facilitate good interpersonal relations, communication, and faster promotions for the best performing employees (Revill, 2013). The entry strategy is based on excellent positioning and competitive pricing. Nestle intends to position itself as an internationally respected brand that guarantees quality products at affordable prices (Koltrowitz, 2013). Dairy products will be priced much lower than confectionaries because they have the largest markets. Baby food and nutritional products will be priced 3% lower than whatever rivals are offering (Y-Sing, 2014). Currently, the company forecasts a 6% growth in sales revenue for the first year of operation. However, the intention is to achieve a 13% steady growth in the next 5 years, followed by 15% within the next 10 years. In the first year of operation, Nestle will have a 13.5% market share. The objective is to increase market share to 27% in the next 3 years and then 50% within 4 years (Nestle, 2014). This will be supported by aggressive marketing and competitive pricing. The company would like to go public in Kuwait to raise enough money to fund its expansionist strategy (World Bakers, 2013). However, this proposal is still hampered by increasing risk levels in the Kuwaiti market. The company intends to manage this risk for the next 6 years before it goes public. Algethami, S. (2014, February 24) Nestle Middle East aims to triple sales by 2020, viewed December 2, 2014, from . InsiderMedia. (2014, November 19) Record year for overseas confectionery sales, viewed December 2, 2014, from

The Representative and Her Constituents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Representative and Her Constituents - Essay Example It is, therefore, arguable that a representative in this form of governance, has to share the democratic characteristics of the majority of the constituency or resemble those he represent for him to understand the concerns and empathize with the people. Melancton Smith has been credited for being the most well spoken antifederalist’s supporter, and the most conscious supporter of in-office relation. Smith argued that representatives should portray a true picture of the citizens they are representing, and be knowledgeable as far as their wants and situations are concerned (Mezey 21). He also argued that representatives should sympathize with the people and always aim at seeking their interests. His point was that the most essential knowledge for representatives is not political or commercial knowledge attained through education, but it is the knowledge of acquaintance with the occupations and concerns of the people. According to Smith, understanding the real commercial interest of a country does not only require the general ideas of the world, but also, most importantly, knowledge the country, its value, the manufactures, and the capability of the country to enlarge production (Mezey 35). Exercising such powers as laying duties, exercises, and taxes, requires more than acquaintance with the obscure parts of the financial system. ... He felt that this would not only help eliminate any plots against the authority and liberty of the government, but it would also be the best mode for remedy to such crimes. In concluding his speech, Smith said that the number of representatives should large so that while it embraces first class men, it should also admit to the middle class people (101). He felt that if the number were small, the office would be distinguished and elevated. In my opinion, his arguments were admirable since he was against office corruption. He called for prefect representation of the people. Smith believed that the size of the national legislature when coupled with the class-cultural deferential patterns would lead to a body comprised primarily by individuals from the refined and elevated classes. This is because he argued that the high-class people form better associations as compared to the poor and the middle class people who form such associations with difficulty. He, therefore, said that in case el ections by plurality were called, the great would be chosen because they unite their interests, with the poor dividing themselves. He further felt that if the first class were excluded from the legislation, they would be discontented and continually disturb the government. Majority-minority districts refer to the rule for new electoral boundaries to create electoral districts with a majority population of a grouping as a national minority (110). These voting districts have been created as a remedy to the increased underrepresentation of the interests of the minority in political matters. It ensures that the minority group is so large and geographically positioned such that a

According to Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz. How did Auschwitz Essay

According to Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz. How did Auschwitz systematically dehumanize the prisoners - Essay Example Firstly, in order to understand the scope of such a question, it is necessary to consider the very nature of humanity as the prisoners grasped the concept from the outset of their internment. With respect to the way that the prisoners were transported to the sites, one can clearly see a very obvious overtone of bestial contempt. Firstly, the prisoners were separated from their belongings as they were organized and herded just like animals into train cars that were oftentimes originally purposed for meat transportation. Once the individuals had arrived at the concentration camp however, the horro of their experience had unfortunately just begun. A further way that humanity was taken, specifically discussed by Primo Levi, was the manner in which the prisoners were immediately faced with the fact that in order to survive, key elements of their own interpretations of morality, justice, and â€Å"good† and â€Å"evil† must be adjusted. Although this seems like a small thing, this shift of the understanding of humanity and how prisoners were forced to relate with one another as a function of their captivity worked to redefine the way that these prisoners viewed their own humanity as a function of the peculiar type of life that the inhabitants of these horrible camps had to endure. In other words, mere survival required that the prisoner purge all manifestations of justice, purity, selflessness, and kindness that may have typified that approach that they took to life prior to being acquainted with the horrors of Auschwitz (Levi 86). To build upon this theme of lost humanity, Levi discusses the way in which the harsh conditions of concentration camp life demanded that the individual prisoner focus almost solely on their own survival as an all-encompassing world view and defense mechanism. As discussed previously in this essay, this type

About FedEx and UPS and who has better financial health Essay

About FedEx and UPS and who has better financial health - Essay Example Both companies have negligible difference in paying off their creditors in AP turnover. Liquidity is the ability of the company to cover its operation and its obligations. In this aspect UPS fared better in the previous two years compared to FedEx (1.70 to 1.60, 1.96 to 1.70) indicating the financial stability of the company. It is supported by a better financial position with a cash ratio that higher than its liability compared to FedEx (.62 to .39, .57 to .48). This better financial position reflects in UPS higher oeperatoing cash flow ratio compared to FedEx (1.09 to .83 in 2011) indicating its ability to cover its operation and short term debts with its available cash. Ultimately, a company will be valued by its shareholder by its profitability or ability to give returns to its investors. In this aspect, UPS clearly dominated FedEx in all aspects of profitability that includes ROA (Return on Asset), Return on Equity (ROE) and Margin before interest and tax. Of the two companies, UPS is conclusively in a better financial position than FedEx. It is only in the efficiency aspect that FedEx came near UPS in terms of its financial position. With regard to financial vitality and profitability as indicated by liquidity and profitablity ratios, UPS was clearly ahead of FedEx. Its ratio on profitability which is many times over FedEx indicates the company’s ability to profit and give return to its shareholders and is the ultimate indication that it is a better company compared to FedEx . Moreover, UPS profitability is grounded on solid fiscal discipline indicated by its liquidity that it can cover its obligations and supported by its operational efficiency to generate sales with a very competitive (comparable to FedEx) use of its resources thus making it a better company in terms of its financial

Terms comparison paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Terms comparison paper - Essay Example The subject of costs in economics is a trivial concern because as simple as it looks, costs assume many forms and applications. As conventionally defined, cost means the amount of money paid for a certain product or service. According to Encyclopedia Britannica (par. 1), cost â€Å"in common usage, (is) the monetary value of goods and services that producers and consumers purchase.† What make the concept of cost challenging in microeconomics is the diverse types or classifications attached to it. Since microeconomics encompass the study of the behavior of individuals, firms, and industries in terms of producing and consuming of economic goods and services, the concept of cost is relevant as it affects microeconomic activities of the units concerned. For consumers and individuals who are not familiar with the concepts of costs, one might have the tendency to discard this as irrelevant and immaterial. However, close examination of these underlying theories would enlighten consum ers on their effects on prices and quantities of goods which are normally offered to the public. This concept is also relevantly applicable to the health care industry. It is interesting to note that in economics, all costs are considered opportunity costs. As rationalized by Petroff (2002, par. 2), resources are usually indented for a particular purpose. When goods are produced using a definite resource, other goods could not be produced using the same raw materials. To use a practical application, for a consumer who decided to buy a television set, the opportunity cost could be the value of a trip to a nearby beach resort which was not taken due to the purchase. In health care, the concept of opportunity cost is best exemplified by the number of years in terms of lives saved and the improvement in the quality of life should monetary resources be spent on an alternative medical intervention suggested or recommended for a diagnosed health care procedure.

Theosophy Paper Essay Example for Free

Theosophy Paper Essay Theosophy can be described as a collection of beliefs that have been put together to guard mode of operation of the theosophical society. This collection of beliefs is basically man’s effort to understand God through meditation , acts of love towards others, intensive study about various issues as well as living a life that is pure. The origin of theosophy can be traced back to a strong desire for spiritual enlightenment   that existed among ancient cultures and which has continued on   into modern society giving rise to very many religious beliefs over the span of time. This society is a modern movement whose members have a common interest of discovering the truth and understanding the real meaning of life. The theosophical society is a worldwide body whose origin dates as far back as 1875 when a Russian native by name Hellena P Blavatsky together with others came together to set up a movement whose main goal was to unite the human race beyond the boundaries of race, colour or any opinions which put together form a set of rules that govern how people should live. They also had a great desire to study the origin of all religions and their commonality. Membership of this society comprises people from different   world religions brought together by a common search for truth and members are required to observe total tolerance for all without partiality to those are not tolerant themselves. This creates a mood of universal brotherhood amongst the followers and enables them to sit at the same discussion forums irrespective of theirs religious or cultural differences (http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/gdpmanu/ryan-wh/wit-hp.htm). About the founder   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was born in 1831 in the town of Ekaterinoslav in southern Russia where she grew up. In her adult years, she became a very widely travelled woman visiting countries such as Greece, France, India, Japan, Turkey and Britain among others. Apart from being the founder of the Theosophical movement, she is also author of a book on theosophy known as ‘The Secret Doctrine’. The main aim of her writings was to introduce various religious beliefs and philosophies found in Eastern religions to the West and through these writings try to integrate the two. A great part of her teachings have been derived from knowledge imparted on her by her masters; great teachers that she came into contact in the course of her travels in the East. Her teachings have greatly influenced the minds of men and women the world over as they engage in a continuous search for truth. It is these same masters who ordered her to travel to America   where together with others who were engaged in the search for truth, they founded the theosophical society. H. P. Blavatsky died in London in 1891having established a worldwide movement of followers that have been committed to following her teachings (Charles Webster). About Theosophy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Theosophy does not hold any doctrine or opinion that should be followed by its members and no one is allowed to impose their beliefs, teachings of opinions on the other members. Members are encouraged to put others into consideration when expressing their thoughts although they have the liberty to do so.   Theosophy preaches that there’s nothing within nature that happens by chance but that the universe has pre-set laws that determine how everything operates. The system also advocates that all human beings have a spiritual nature that never dies out and the aspect that dies out that constitutes the physical, emotional and mental nature of man. Theosophy gives detailed information about the creation of the universe and the human race. The universe is said to originate from some infinite unknown source and to this source it must also return. The various origins of creation given by different world religions are analysed critically to show their contradictions while at the same time relating all these religions to a common origin which is the wisdom religion. Followers of this doctrine are encouraged to critically examine their beliefs and point out the differences in their varied religious beliefs. Theosophy is the only movement that places great responsibility on each of its followers about examining their own beliefs. Members are required to come together into one large organisation based on universal brotherhood through exchanging ideas about their different religions, different views about science and their different understandings about philosophy. Philosophically, theosophy tries to explain the connection between the soul and the solar system. Religiously, it tries to design a direct path to achieving spiritual goals and scientifically, theosophy treats philosophy and religion as aspects of life that can only be understood through intensive search of knowledge which comes from religious study and research (Charles Webster). Theosophy verses religion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Theosophy is not a religion as the movement has no common beliefs or the worship of a common deity. Members trace their origins to very different religious backgrounds and when they meet, it is for the sole purpose of discussions on various issues or books that they have read in the course of their study. Through theosophy, members are taught that their religious background is not vital because all religions can be traced back to one common source. When an individual joins the theosophical movement, they have the privilege to maintain their present religion in the course of their study of theosophy as this is supposed to help them discover the common factor about all beliefs. All have the right to believe what they choose to believe in and no member is allowed to impose their beliefs on another with the intention of converting them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Theosophy on the other hand can in itself be described as true religion as it gives every member the freedom to accept or reject any ideas read or put forward to them depending on the valuation that they give to the subject. The sole purpose of theosophy is to bridge the gap that exists between science and religion by explaining how each of these two aspects are interrelated. Religiously, these teachings try to explain the life’s main purpose, philosophically tries to explain why things are the way they are and scientifically how nature works (Pavri P.). Principles that govern theosophy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are seven basic rules or principles that govern theosophy the first and foremost being the principle of reincarnation or rebirth. This principle explains that nature operates through a system of cycles that keep repeating themselves for example the seasons of the year, the revolution of the planets around the sun as well the birth, maturity and death of ideas to name but a few. Theosophy is also governed by the law of Karma that states that for every reaction, there must be an action meaning that for every input, there is an output of that there must be a source in order to get a result.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The doctrine of hierarchies is yet another principle that governs theosophy. This principle explains that nature operates through a system of hierarchies that are all inter-related for example the interdependence of all organs of the human body or the system of government in any society. Theosophy goes on to give another principle that emphasizes on the uniqueness of character in every living thing. This principle tries to explain why every being or thing behaves in the manner that it does. The principle of evolution adds to the list of principles and this one explains the progressive nature of evolution that finally reaches a certain limit that requires the subject in question to move up to another level.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is also the principle of interaction that tries to relate the interaction of the mind and the physical to give either positive or negative results. Theosophy also tries to understand and teach about the foundation of human life or basically, its origin (http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/gdpmanu/ryan-wh/wit-hp.htm). Theosophy and modern society   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Human beings are bound to differ and what may begin as on united movement of group often disintegrates to give rise to various branches and sub-branches. Naturally, human beings are bound to differ over various ideas and norms depending on the place of their origin and such differences will certainly cause any movement to drift apart. It is this characteristic of human nature that has given rise to a diversity   of religions and religious sects. Despite the effort made through theosophy to unite these world religions into a common search for truth, the theosophical movement itself has not been exempted from this concept of disagreements. As a result very many branches claiming to base their teachings on theosophy have come the whole world over. The idea of universal brotherhood however remains a common factor that unites all these groups as well as others in their endless search for truth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The extent to which the movement has succeeded in uniting people is a topical issue. We are still living in a world that is deeply characterised by hatred and causing terror to one another. Nation is fighting against nation as each tries to impose its ideals on the other and even different societies within the same nation are constantly fighting amongst themselves.   It is an end to such mayhem that theosophy tries to seek a solution by encouraging its followers to place great emphasis on an inner discernment of issues and rely heavily on ones own strength.    Because of man’s tendency to make mistakes in the course of his endeavours, the teachings of karma are emphasized. These teachings provide every member with extensive opportunity to learn new things and gain more experience while at the same time critically comparing various issues that com up in the course of learning. The karma helps those who practice it to deviate from a personal analyses of issues and encourages them to view things from a broader perspective as it is from such a deep search for truth that they can gain new strength.    Whether the spirit of universal brotherhood has succeeded in uniting people in modern day society is a very topical issue. Perhaps theosophy has suffered the same problems suffered by world religions; the lack of commitment to a chosen course. Maybe member meet together because it is yet another movement that sounds interesting and worth finding about and the story ends there (Pavri P.). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Theosophy even though not a religion can be described as the true religion in that it its followers have been given the leeway to choose or reject anything depending on their personal valuation and subsequent conviction about any issue that crosses their path of thinking. It directs its followers on various ways of achieving higher levels of spirituality in their lives. According to theosophists, this world is the best place to live in and all resources must be used with all form of wisdom, given value and treated with great respect as a means of deriving satisfaction from life. It is only if man attaches great respect to the environment that he is living in and takes every responsibility to preserve nature and make it a better place that a change for the better can be evident in man. Theosophy explains that different human beings are not in reality different but that they are only different expressions of the same life and this therefore requires every human being to take full responsibility of themselves. According to theosophy, all humans should live harmoniously in their bind to teach others how they should live by setting good examples to them and speaking moderately. The aspect of combining religion and philosophy in the search for the real meaning of life makes it a scope of great criticism from those that have failed to find answers to their problems in theosophy and all those others that are opposed to occultism and spiritualism (Pavri P.). Works cited Ryan Charles J. What is Theosophy? A General View for Inquirers http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/gdpmanu/ryan-wh/wit-hp.htm Charles Webster A Textbook of Theosophy Published 2007 Leadbeater Cosimo, Inc. Pavri P. Theosophy Explained in Questions and Answers Published 2005 Kessinger Publishing Bloomfield Maurice The Religion of the Veda the Ancient Religion of India Published 2005

Pulse Oximetry For Anaesthesia In Veterinary Practices Biology Essay

Pulse Oximetry For Anaesthesia In Veterinary Practices Biology Essay Pulse oximetry is one of the most commonly used pieces of monitoring equipment for anaesthesia in veterinary clinics today. Using a pulse oximeter allows us to monitor the percentage of haemoglobin (Hb) which is saturated with oxygen in a non-invasive way, allowing us to detect hypoxia before the patient is visibly cyanotic. The pulse oximeter consists of a probe attached to the patient (usually tongue, ear, or prepuce/vulva) which is linked to a computerised unit. The unit displays the percentage of Hb saturated with oxygen and a calculated heart rate, often with an audible signal for each pulse beat. Some units also have a graphical display of the blood flow past the probe called a plethysmograph. The pulse oximeter is able to determine the percentage of haemoglobin saturated with oxygen, commonly referred to as SpO2, by emitting red and infrared light from the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on one side of the probe, which travels through the tissue (or reflects off depending on the probe type) to the photodiode on the other side of the probe. The machine analyses the light that reaches the photodiode and is able to detect subtle differences in the absorption of light by oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin. As these differ in absorption levels, the amount of red and infrared light absorbed by blood is related to haemoglobin oxygen saturation. The pulse oximeter can calculate the heart rate as it detects the pulsations as the volume of arterial blood in the tissue changes during the pulsative cycle, affecting light absorption. Adequate oxygenation is essential at all times for the body to perform its metabolic processes. The heart and brain are the bodys biggest consumers of oxygen, and if oxygenation levels decrease to critical levels, tissue damage occurs extremely quickly. Oxygen travels in the blood in two forms as unbound oxygen dissolved in plasma and as oxygen that is bound to the haemoglobin. In healthy patients breathing room air (which contains approximately 21% oxygen), oxygen dissolved in plasma equates to a very small percentage of the total oxygen in the blood (most texts list this as less than 1.5%), and the majority of blood oxygen is bound to haemoglobin (the remaining 98.5%). Measuring and monitoring oxygenation via pulse oximetry is very useful as it is monitoring the oxygen that is bound to haemoglobin, which is what is utilised by the body for normal cell function. Monitoring SpO2 however does not give you a good indication of how well the patient is ventilating (or breathing) for itself, especially during anaesthesia. A common mistake veterinary nurses make is to presume that if a patient has a SpO2 of 95% or higher under anaesthesia, then it is breathing adequately. We can get lulled into a false sense of security by having a good saturation figure when the patients respiration is completely inadequate. There are two main functions of respiration, one is getting oxygen out of the air and into the body, and the other is getting carbon dioxide out of the body and into the air. It possible for the patient to be getting enough oxygen into their body but not being able to get rid of enough carbon dioxide, so the SpO2 will show a good reading, but the patient may be hypercapnic (elevated levels of carbon dioxide). A capnograph should be used to measure end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) levels and assess patient respiration. Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) is a measurement of the levels of unbound oxygen in the plasma, and as discussed above, makes up a small percentage of the total oxygen in the blood. However PaO2 is important as it influences the saturation of haemoglobin because there must be an adequate level of dissolved oxygen in the blood to be available to bind to the haemoglobin. It is also important to understand that oxygen saturation and PaO2 are linked (when one goes up the other goes up and vice versa), however it does not have a direct linear correlation. As PaO2 decreases, the saturation level decreases slowly at first, but then decreases rapidly (see table **). In a patient which is breathing room air, the PaO2 is about 100mmHg, whereas for a patient breathing 100% oxygen (as for anaesthesia), their Pa02 is around 500mmHg and SpO2 is 100%. If this patient has a PaO2 drop to 100mmHg (a drop of 400mmHg) their SpO2 will drop to around 98%. If a further drop to 80mmHg occurs, their SpO2 will drop to around 95%. After this point, the SpO2 will start a more dramatic drop; if PaO2 drops to 60mmHg (another 20mmHg drop) will mean their SpO2 will be about 90%. A further drop of 20mmHg to a PaO2 of 40mmHg, the saturation will go from 90% to 75%. In practical application, when monitoring SpO2 in a normal healthy dog or cat, it should be 95-100%. Levels between 90-95% must be investigated, and critical values for oxygen saturation are below 90%.Simply, this means that the total oxygen available to the body decreases very little when partial pressures are above 80mmHg (Spo2 of 95%), however they decrease rapidly below this level, such as patients with lung disease, lack of oxygen, inadequate ventilation etc. Practically put, if you patient has a Sp02 of 90-95% this can indicate hypoxaemia and must be investigated as your patients haemoglobin is not fully saturated. If your patient has a Sp02 of less than 90%, then immediate therapy must be initiated oxygen if not receiving already, ventilation assistance etc. Sp02 of 85% or below for more than 30 seconds is considered an emergency. Placing the SpO2 Probe There are two main types of probes available on the market transmission or reflective. Transmission probes are the most common, and are usually mounted in a clip. These are generally used on the tongue, pinna, toe webbing, vulva or prepuce, or any other area that is thin and relatively hairless. Reflective probes have the light source and sensor side by side and are often taped to the base of the tail after it has been clipped, or covered and inserted into the oesophagus or rectum. When placing rectally, it is important to ensure that there are no faeces between the sensor and the rectum wall. Tongue, Cheeks, Prepuce, Vulva With tongues, start at the tip and work your way toward the base. Always direct the light downward, toward the floor; regardless of the animals position to reduce the effects of ambient light (ambient light will affect accuracy). For patient comfort, keep the tongue moist during longer procedures by applying a dampened gauze swab between the tongue and the probe. Do not have the gauze too thick as it can alter the reading by impeding the light transmission. To get a better reading on smaller tongues, bring the sides of the tongue up and pass the light through both layers. Do not fold the tip of the tongue, as you will restrict blood flow to the tongue. The same principals apply to placing the probe on the cheek, prepuce or vulva. Hock Moisten the hock area with isopropyl alcohol and/or water, and clip hair if needed. Pinna (Ear) The probe can be placed on the ear using the same technique as the tongue. Long haired animals may need a patch shaved first for the sensor to work correctly. Toes Probes can be placed on the metatarsals or metacarpals or in the webbing between them. Tail Place the reflective probe on the ventral base of the tail. The LEDs should be positioned dorsally. You may need to clip a small patch of hair, only large enough for the LEDs to lay on the skin. Be sure the skin is clean. Hold the sensor snugly against the tail and wrap with non-adhesive wrap. Poor SpO2 Readings When you detect a poor or low saturation reading, it is vital that you check the patient before you check the machine. Make sure your patient is stable by assessing all vital signs. Pulse oximeters need a strong regular pulse where the probe is located. If there is only a weak pulse, the pulse oximeter may display a reading but it might not be accurate. Most pulse oximeters have a pulse strength indicator as a bar graph and this should be used to ascertain whether you have correct placement. If the clip of the probe is too strong, this can also affect your reading by constricting the blood flow in front of the sensor. If this is the case, swapping the clip for a more gentler one is the best option, otherwise reposition the sensor to somewhere that can take the pressure (this will usually be thicker). An irregular signal caused by an irregular heartbeat or by the patient moving, shivering or fitting can cause problems for a pulse oximeter. If a patient moves too much, try relocating the probe to another location. Ambient light may be too bright for the sensor to operate correctly. Theatre lights can especially cause issues. Any sensor that is located in bright light should have a drape placed over it to reduce light contamination for more accurate readings. Do not place the sensor is on the same limb as a blood pressure cuff, the blood flow restriction from the cuff during measurement will interfere with the pulse oximeter sensor operating correctly. Other factors that can affect SpO2 readings include pigmented skin either normal pigment or jaundiced patients; peripheral vasoconstriction eg hypothermia, shock, drug-induced; or excess hair can cause interference and should be clipped away to allow the probe to sit directly against the skin. Wetting down with alcohol can also help with excess hair when you are not allowed to clip. Pulse Oximeter Maintenance Read your manufacturers instructions regarding the care of your pulse oximeter and probe. For infection control, you should always wipe the probe sensor and clip between patients. Most sensors can be surface-cleaned by wiping with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Do not immerse the sensor in liquid unless the manufacturer instructions state immersion is possible. After each cleaning and prior to each use, inspect the sensor and cable for fraying, cracking, breakage, or other damage. Inspect the clip for cracking or breakage, or loss of spring tension that would allow slippage or movement of the sensor from its proper position. If defects are noted, do not use the sensor or clip as it may provide an inaccurate reading. When used properly, pulse oximeters are an easy to use and readily available piece of monitoring equipment especially for anaesthesia, however it is important to note that they do not replace hands-on monitoring, and are not a valid method of assessing whether a patients respiration is adequate, as they provide a late indication of respiratory issues.