Critical Analysis various programs

One of the most essential functions of the state is to provide public welfare and look after the citizens of the country. This is done through the application of various programs aimed at developing the people’s capacity and alleviating others. The success in this task is what, to a great extent, defines the state’s relationship with the citizens and how much people get involved in collaboration with it. If they don’t get the support of the state, citizens can slip into apathy and become disjoint from matters that require the attention of the whole nation.As the decades have progressed we see significant changes in the way public programs are organized and continuing improvement is necessary to promote efficiency and results. In Hope Unraveled, Richard Harwood states some of his basic observations after conversations with the American people across various states. He makes a good point that the nation is embroiled at most, in the debate regarding republicans and democrats and whether religion should be an important element in the state and does not go any further. When looked at closely, what the nation appears to be eliciting is a general level of distancing from politics and public life.The link between state leaders and the ordinary people is a very frail one and now that the ethos of the people is no longer truly represented in the rhetoric of the politicians, the public is withdrawing itself. This as a result is allowing these leaders to garner political gain for themselves (Harwood, 2005). This perhaps presents the need for some sort of change in the measures adopted for public welfare and other programs initiated by the state. That fragile link between the state and the people needs to be rebuilt which can best be done by improving public management.Kamensky and Burlin, present a very good insight into the measures that could be taken by public managers which stress use of collaborative arrangements. The basic principles of networks and partnerships can be of very important use in this regard. To bring about a so called â€Å"public management revolution† requires some changes in the methods adopted. Productivity needs to be stressed on through all levels of public services (Kamensky, 2005). This has been the hallmark of the private sector and perhaps it is now a time for increased dependence on it by the public sector.Another change drastically needed is reducing the centralization and allowing more entrustment at the sub national level so application is left more to those at the grass roots, better able to respond to changing conditions. The centre could focus more on the creation of public policy and making sure the smaller, semi-autonomous units are held accountable for their measures. The core beliefs surrounding the need for this public management revolution are culminating in public managers opting to replace the traditional bureaucratic organizational structure and to engage in the provision of p ublic services with new and creative ways.A few ways of doing this is contracting out services to third parties and collections of public, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations, instead of a bureaucratic hierarchy. These contractual relationships can help develop linkages between organizations, although it would be significantly different from a network. Networks may be funded by grants, contracts, or fee-for-service arrangements, but they use collaboration as a way of dealing with problems in a coordinated fashion that would be impossible for just one organization.The idea behind contracting is exactly the opposite of collaboration—competition, where two or more organizations are forced to compete for the contract. The network logic is that collaboration is needed to deal with problems that don’t fit neatly within the boundaries of a single organization. This creation of a so called networked form of governance has been the ultimate result of contracts and decentral ization (Harwood, 2005). Collaborative networks are the best methods for tackling public management problems like homelessness and child welfare.The problems mentioned above that have to be tackled by public agencies are interrelated to a great extent and in most occasions, are bigger than what one single, unconnected agency can handle. Effective management is important in the case of dealing with networks but the benefits accumulated from them are resoundingly high. A connected series of jobs can be fulfilled that may otherwise prove overwhelming. The network is disjointedly different from other forms such as a bureaucratic structure but their ability to aid in problem solving; despite their complex make up is what makes them important for improving public management.Certain precautions need to be taken for networks to be successful. They can result in failure if effective management is not available. There is not much significant research available in this regard. However it is st ill important to be stressed upon with public managers being provided a certain level of understanding of what needs to be done for increased ability of networks to achieve success. Schorr is an advocate making use of the ability of networks and the lessening of the bureaucratic hierarchical structure that was slowly emerging.According to her, public programs have to be â€Å"comprehensive, flexible, responsive and persevering† to be effective. This is best achieved by the decentralization that has been stressed upon before and letting the people at the grass roots handle what they are adept at. These public programs also require clear objectives and the availability of sufficient resources (Schorr, 1998). There may never have been a need for thinking about the advantages of networking for public services if earlier trends had continued.Before, as Schorr examined, there were slowly emerging small but viable public programs that were actually making headway in dealing with soc ial problems. Unemployment and issues such as teen pregnancy were effectively being handled and great things could have been expected from these programs but many of these creative ideas soon came under the stranglehold of bureaucracy. Once caught, these programs slipped into obscurity and lost their luster. Part of the responsibility for the slip in public management and the adverse results can be attributed to the public.The modern day citizens can be seen to possess a deep seeded anger with public life and politics in general. There was some level of care about the public realm but in general, most felt manipulated by lobbying techniques and spin meisters. Over time this even developed into frustration as many saw big issues being deliberated upon but too little concern being shown for their issues. This was complimented by the failure of public programs that were bogged down by the bureaucratic hierarchical structure. Even the news was dominated by scandals and power politics th at did not fit public concern anywhere in its fold.Thus when the people were immensely frustrated with public life, they began to withdraw to their own personal abode where they attempted to get away from the manipulative power of media and the political lobbyists and spin meisters. September 11 was one event that gathered the nation together with promises of engaging citizens, inception of new welfare programs and perhaps the emergence of more practical news in the media. It could have been the starting point of a process of change, a catalyst for greater trust and involvement in public life.That golden opportunity was eventually lost as well as the nation continued its retreat away from the public sphere and slipped further away. Success of public programs depends to a great extent on the involvement of citizens. This requires certain notions of public good and awareness. That was just the thing being lost from the nation’s shared lives. However great the frustration is wit h a particular cause, the health of a democracy and the effectiveness of its public programs requires more than just a good voter turnout. It requires keen interest in public life and involvement in every sphere.This â€Å"me first† philosophy needs to change if public program are to be salvaged. Building networks and partnerships is one thing but not every organizational move can result in success. It requires belief and the willingness to go the extra mile. This other path can lead the nation to create a more vibrant and robust public life. This requires a reevaluation of how the general public evaluates and puts into practice the public programs. It is a translation of the belief that people actually want to get involved and make a difference. They want to step forward to improve their surroundings and bring about change in society.When things start improving on one end, it tends to produce a ripple effect that spreads across various rungs of the public infrastructure (Bar dach, 1998). For philanthropy, this approach has immediate and concrete implications. This approach needs a particular kind of thinking that focuses on going beyond the creation of single projects or singular objectives. It requires putting hope in workable projects that themselves become shining stars to follow and emulate. This creates a feel good factor within the framework of the public administration and involves the people further as well.It has to be kept in mind that such singular projects alone can not halt particular trends or lead to improvement at large. Supporting singular successful projects only works well if it is paired with more initiative and the drive to continue producing measurable results from public programs which actually allows a new trend to establish roots and cement the change process. What needs to be taken care of here is that the change being aimed for does not just provide short term gain and results in an increase in competition within communities i n the nation.The benefits of singular projects that turn out successful may not accrue to all in the short term or even in the near future but it does lead to establishment of change. This requires patience which if not fostered, could result in acrimonious feelings within the communities (Tom, 2007). The challenge is that in the current culture of opposition, our very public structures, relationships, networks, leaders and norms are not amenable or hospitable to supporting an alternate path. This creates certain uphill tasks. As some analysts point out, real and sustainable change can only be garnered with the presence of the right mechanism.This has been founding wanting in large parts of the society and even the catalysts for change are now hard to discover and capitalize on. The years of stagnation with regard to public life has created a gap on how actually to best engage people and lead to an acceptable level of progress in public programs. It proves inherently difficult thus, to seek out ways to overcome the existent adverse conditions that hold progress. There is a need for creation of an alternate path in society, one that ignites a sense of possibility and hope. This path requires bringing together all the steps that have been deliberated above.The first is the development of civic minded organizations which go beyond the society’s divisive elements and actually involve the people as such, enabling them to engage. The needs of the hour is innovation and persistence on the part of the administrators as constructing something new and workable like that is not very quickly done. Such organizations if successfully constructed can serve as central beacons of hope that can be the stepping stone for increased engagement in public life and alleviating some of the withdrawal that has plagued the nation.These organizations themselves also need to bank on networks and partnerships with the private sector and with other public entities so as to maintain e fficiency and help increase credibility of the public management. This has to be complemented with the creation of leaders, emerging both from within society and the public sphere who can help this cycle of sustainable change to continue and also make sure that the complex partnerships and networks that come into place for problems solving work well and do not expire, leading the nation back to the trend it so desperately needs to halt.Works Cited Bardach, Eugene (1998). Getting Agencies to Work Together. Brookings Institution Press. Kamensky, John M (2004). Collaboration. Rowman & Littlefield. Richard, Harwood (2005). Hope Unravelled. Kettering Foundation Press. Schorr, Lisbeth (1998). Common Purpose. Anchor. Tom, Christensen (2007). Transcending New Public Management . Ashgate Publishing.

Character Analysis Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

After reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain’s identity is left undecided. At the conclusion of the narrative, the Green Knight restores Gawain’s knightly virtues of the pentangle and continues to praise Gawain for his virtue. But Gawain returns home unsatisfied with his restoration only to find his court full of admiration for his return home and victory, even though he now wears the green lace (4.2489-505). The physical journey Gawain to the Green Knight demonstrates his outward courage and devotion, but what is truly going on in his heart? Gawain’s moral character is at stake because he must decide between his valued pentangle or his gifted green lace as his true identity. During his encounter with the Green Knight, Sir†¦show more content†¦The courage and loyalty from his armor allows Gawain to travel through the dark and cold forest to reach an unknown castle. Here, Gawain—unknowingly—takes his first steps to uncover his t rue identity. At the entrance of the castle, he â€Å"bore away his broad sword and blazoned shield† (2.828) and took his helmet off (2.825). This initial removal of his highly decorated clothing opens up Gawain’s body to be susceptible to outside attack of sin and lust. His armor usually protects from external harm and serves as a reminder to uphold the duties of a knight. Once removed, Gawain loses his one external reminder of who he must be. He continues to trade â€Å"His war-dress of weight and his worthy clothes† (2.861) for beautiful and luxury soft robes (2.862-871). Gawain’s public appearance disappears more and more for the desires of himself, like greed and extravagance of life. His beautiful pentangle is no longer in view as he is determined to relax and cherish every moment before his anticipated death. Once inside this castle, Gawain loses sight of his mission and slowly finds an identity closer to human nature than he wishes. The contract given by the King tests Gawain without his armor. The king of the castle offers Sir Gawain a new contract where he gains everything the King wins during a hunt and Gawain must give everything he earns back to the king (2.1106-107). This contract tests Sir Gawain’s fidelity and knightly virtues the most because he cannotShow MoreRelated A Character Analysis of Sir Gawain as Presented In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight1426 Words   |  6 PagesA Character Analysis of Sir Gawain as Presented In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, the character of Sir Gawain is skillfully brought to life by the unknown author. Through the eyes of numerous characters in the poem, we see Gawain as a noble knight who is the epitome of chivalry; he is loyal, honest and above all, courteous. As the story progresses, Gawain is subjected to a number of tests of character, some known and some unknown. These tests tell us a greatRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Character Analysis1581 Words   |  7 PagesThe main events that unfold in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight predicate themselves on an initial challenge offered by the titular Green Knight: If any so hardy in this house holdes hymselven, Be so bolde in his blod, bayn in hys hede... And I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on this flet, Elles thou wyl dight me the dom to dele hym an other, [barlay]. (Sir Gawain... Lines 285-286, 295-296) These lines create a frame for the type of hero this challenge needs; is there anyone in King Arthur’sRead MoreArchetypal Characters In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight : Character Analysis1143 Words   |  5 Pagesliterature, a story such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight had many aspects of Joseph Campbell’s view of the hero’s journey. In the story of our character Sir Gawain accepts a â€Å"Call to adventure† (Campbell 45) and goes on a quest that will go through many of the archetypes. Likewise, there lies one character, The Green Knight, that can be many of the archetypal characters in the cycle of the hero’s journey. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight dramatically demonstrates how a single character can play many archetypalRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight, and One Thousand and One Nights1097 Words   |  4 Pageswork. â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† and â€Å"One Thousand and One Night† both are marvelous works. The similarities between these Arabian tales and Sir Gawain and the Green night are very striking. The scholar Edward L. Risden in his analysis of â€Å"One Thousand and One Nights,† mentioned â€Å"Sir Gawain and Green Knight† and some of the main subjects of both of these tales. After reading Norton’s â€Å"Sir Gawain and Green Knight† and Geraldine Mccaughrean’s â€Å"Arabian Nights,† I intend to show that â€Å"Sir GawainRead More Analysis Of Sir Gawains Character Essay1100 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis Of Sir Gawains Character In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the character of Sir Gawain, nephew of the famed Arthur of the Round Table, is seen as the most noble of knights who is the epitome of chivalry, yet he is also susceptible to mistakes. His courtesy, honor, honesty, and courage are subjected to various tests, posed by the wicked Morgan le Fay. Some tests prove his character and the chivalrous code true and faultless, like the time he answers a challenge although it might meanRead MoreThe Code Of Chivalry And The Fundamental Thoughts And Actions Of Human Nature1499 Words   |  6 Pages Sir Gawain†¦ Chivalric? By analyzing Sir Gawain’s attempts of following the Code of Chivalry and the fundamental thoughts and actions of human nature helps to further analyze Gawain’s character. The definition of Chivalry is the â€Å"set of values and code of conduct for the medieval knightly class† (Shatz) examining Gawain’s attempts to achieve his goal of being the perfect chivalric knight, the nature of his obstacles has to be determined, and the development of his character has to be analyzeRead MoreArchetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1100 Words   |  5 Pagesidentify which character represents which archetype. One must also understand that each story— bearing its own unique characteristics— will not always follow Joseph Campbell’s analysis to the tee, but will bear very similar qualities. For example, a character may represent multiple archetypes— a common trend in the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Despite common belief, though , other elements of a story allow for analyzation as well. In fact, a number of archetypal situations, characters, colors,Read MoreEssay Analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight1050 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, after Gawain ventures â€Å"into a forest fastness, fearsome and wild† (Norton, 311), he prays that he will be able to find â€Å"harborage† on Christmas Eve (Norton, 312). It is the middle of winter, and Gawain has been traveling in search of the Green Knight whose head he has cut off. After he prays and signs himself three times, Gawain finds a magical castle in the midst of a winter forest. He rides to the castle and is grantedRead More Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay1602 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and The Green Knight Summary The story begins in King Arthurs court, where he and the Knights of the Round Table are celebrating New Years. While they are enjoying their feast, a gigantic Green Knight rides in on a green horse with an immense axe in his hand to offer them a challenge. His offer is: I shall bide the fist blow, as bare as I sit†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.., but in twelve month and one day he shall have of me the same. (Norton Anthology,208) After a moment of consideration, Sir GawainRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay1395 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the poet depicts an entertaining story of adventure and intrigue. However, the poem is more than a grand adventure. It is an attempt to explore the moral ideals of Sir Gawain. Gawains standards are represented by the pentangle on his shield. The depiction of the pentangle occurs when Sir Gawain is preparing to gear up for his quest for the Green Chapel. Gawains outfit is described in great detail, including its color,

Main Idea Of The Road Not Taken - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 571 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/07/31 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: The Road Not Taken Essay Did you like this example? The Road Not Taken, written by Robert Frost, uses an extended metaphor of a walking path to emphasize how a choice he makes at any moment could have a significant influence on his future. Frost begins the poem by talking about the diverging roads he stumbled upon in the woods. He realizes he is only one person and can only take one path, so he examines them both in an attempt to make the best decision. The decision was not easy for him as he states, long I stood before he made the choice (3). To the best of his ability he studies both paths, but he is not able to see much due the paths curving and being enveloped with trees. Frost implies that he would like to obtain more information about each path by saying, And looked down one as far as I could, but nature prevented him from doing so (4). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Main Idea Of The Road Not Taken" essay for you Create order In the second stanza, Frost examines both paths in depth; he notices that the second path is more attractive. He concludes that no one has taken it lately because it was grassy and wanted wear (8). He seems to be very indecisive though, declaring that the second path is just as pleasant as the first. The speaker seems to be searching for a logical reason to travel down one path over the other, but the reason is unobtainable. Frost continues to search for a logical reason to choose a certain path in stanza three. He continues to analyze the paths in hopes of finding something to make his decision simpler, but both paths are almost identical. He observes that neither path has been traveled lately because the leaves have not been walked on. It starts to become apparent to Frost that he is not going to find a clear reason to choose a certain path. The speaker knows he needs to make a decision, so he decides to take the second path. He tells himself that he will come back to the forest and take the first path another day. Frost uses an exclamation mark after line 13 to express his excitement of finally making a decision and being able to walk down both paths eventually. His excitement quickly weakens when reality sets in. He acknowledges that one road can lead to another and that he may end up very far from where he started. He doubts he should ever come back, as much as he wishes he could. The tone in the last stanza, stanza four, changes drastically. The speaker jumps forward in time to reflect on his decision. He says he will be telling this story somewhere ages and ages hence, which implies that the story is important to him (17). He then proceeds to repeat the first line of the poem, two roads diverged in a yellow wood, with a few modifications; he removes the word yellow and inserts the words and I (1). By doing this the speaker has emphasized that important part of the poem, the idea of choosing between two different paths. The speaker sums up his story in the last two lines of the poem. Frost states that he took the one less traveled by; even though he said the paths were almost equal, he believes that the one he chose was a little less worn (19). He believes that taking the path that was less worn than the other made all the difference in his life (20).

Essay about Mental Health Drugs - 1568 Words

As the second decade of the 21st century progresses, the population approaches seven billion. With so many people, how are people supposed to stand out in job applications, or catch the administrators’ eye as he or she reads applications to highly prestigious colleges and universities? More and more people are asking this question, and more and more people are finding help in a small pill. Originally diagnosed for Alzheimer’s disease and ADHD, these drugs are increasingly used off label in universities and workplaces. In society, people call this form of off label use of neuroenhancing drugs chiefly two different things: smart drugs informally, and nootropics formally. The word nootropic originated from a Romanian Dr. Corneliu E.†¦show more content†¦Companies manufacturing these drugs then work around this by lobbying their drugs as cures for Alzheimer, ADHD, ADD, dementia, dyslexia, and other cognitive defects. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the military ordered amphetamines and shipped them out to soldiers in Vietnam as a stimulant to keep them awake and aware for longer periods, while in the United States these amphetamines such as methamphetamine and cocaine became a recreational drug used in parties and a way to â€Å"be cool†. Compare this with today’s cognitive enhancing smart drug, which is still an amphetamine: the military is testing these smart drugs on soldiers to make them more effective with less sleep and prolonged battle and in the States, people use them off label to avoid jetlag or to write 9 page papers in 2 hours. In both these scenes, these drugs have received little coverage until they became popular and their effects became realized. â€Å"The effects of chronic, high doses of amphetamine are toxic; it can cause psychosis, depression and cognitive deficits, which are sometimes irreversible†, says Maia Szalavitz of Time Magazine (Popping). Although Piracetam and Modafinil are not amphet amines, drugs like Adderall and others used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are amphetamines and are very popular in the cognitive enhancing world. That is why nootropics are dangerous; hardworking students andShow MoreRelatedMental Health, Gender And Drug Addiction1236 Words   |  5 PagesDiscussion Within the analysis of the dissertation, it has been recognised that there were three key themes associated with my findings: mental health, gender and drug addiction. We will dis-cuss the three documents chosen and highlight the themes which occurred. Though gender didn’t appear as much in two of the documents, it has relevance to the dissertation and was titled within the MoJ document, which recorded a high degree of statistics relating to gender. Following on from the three themedRead MoreEssay Drug Abuse and Mental Health 1194 Words   |  5 Pagesaspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacti ng effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficultRead MoreThe Use Of Recreational Drugs And Its Effects On Mental Health2286 Words   |  10 Pagesuse of recreational drugs has been common among humans ever since their psychoactive effects and ability to alter consciousness was discovered. A downside to this is that according to research, substance use has been linked to the development and expression of latent mental illness (a mental disorder that a person may carry the genes for but not express). My main research focus is the question of how drug use, especially hallucinogenic drugs, mediates and effects mental health, and whether it contributesRead MorePhysical And Mental Health Implications Of Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Programs1018 Words   |  5 PagesAs drugs have been abused for hundreds of years all over the world, their effects have been felt for just as long. Since drugs have been used, there were always those who abused them, which led to full-blown addiction and the bevy of side effects that come with it. As the physical and mental health implications of addiction became clearer, rehabilitation efforts began to appear. As a result, the history of rehabilitation in the United States dates back hundreds of years. Today, thousands of drug abuseRead MoreMental Health, Tobacco Regulation, And Medical Marijuana1063 Words   |  5 Pagesintroduced at the state level were associated with mental health, tobacco regulation, and medical marijuana. The first bill is HB 1072, which seeks to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Supporters include the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawai’i Medical Association (HMSA), and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai’i (CDFH). Due to the widespread shortage of mental health professionals in Hawai’i, these supporters believeRead MoreSummarise and Discuss the Presentations of Mental Health in the Two Newspaper Articles Given in Appendix 1.1704 Words   |  7 PagesSummarise and discuss the presentations of mental health in the two newspaper articles given in Appendix 1. In this essay, I will summarise how both newspaper articles in Appendix 1 present mental health. I will also compare and contrast the articles with each other, as well as compare them to what I know about mental health and the history behind it including psychopharmaceuticals and psychotherapies. The first article, titled ‘six in ten of us have faced mental issues such as stress or depression’Read MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Health968 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION The stigma in mental health system is deep rooted and its origin goes back by centuries. The stigma is powerful that it has been codified in federal since last 50 years. But the realization that the stigma attached adversely affects mental health care system is still lacking. The discrimination against mental illness has invaded the systemic structure causing more worries to sufferers of mental illness and their families. While every individual and system is well aware of mental illness and theRead MoreMental Health And Rural And Remote Practice1661 Words   |  7 Pagescontrasting two chosen fields of practice being mental health and rural and remote practice. This paper will discuss a brief historical outline in regards to both fields, together with a statistical overview of certain challenges and concerns that occur within the field of mental health and rural and remote practice. An emphasis will placed on the challenges faced by the client, while comparing and contrasting issu es such as social disadvantage, infrastructure, drugs and alcohol misuse. Likewise, challengesRead MoreA Child s Mind Stands At Risk Of Stressors That Induce Development Of Behavioral Changes1107 Words   |  5 Pagescharacteristics of drug addiction include compulsive, at times uncontrollable drug craving, seeking, and use despite devastating consequences behaviors that stem from drug-induced changes in brain structure and function. Due to the commonality in underlying brain deficits, genetic vulnerabilities, and/or early exposure to stress or trauma, it is often impossible to differentiate the changes in areas of brain function when comparing symptoms of drug abuse and mental illness (National Institute on Drug Abuse,Read MoreMental Illness And Its Effects On A Person s Life1628 Words   |  7 PagesAll mental illnesses fit into five main categories; anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and dementias. These illnesses have cripp ling effects on a person’s life. They change someone’s physical health, how they interact with the world, and how they perceive and address situations. An occurrence that would have no effect on someone with no mental issue, distorts the view of someone with a mental illness, into either a negative or positive issue, and

Briefing Report Business Model

Question: Discuss about theBriefing Report for Business Model. Answer: Business Model The website is built on WordPress platform and its URL is www.emarket101.cloudaccess.host.The website is an online book platform where buyers can search, view, and purchase books. It primarily focuses on digital books hence does not require shipping fees and is not restricted by location. The books are acquired and uploaded by the website administrator. In other words, eMarket101 can be described as one seller online platform. The business model primarily focuses on sale of digital books to the customers. Users who visit the site can search the books they want. The website offers a search functionality where users can search books related to their keyword. Also, users can view books by categories as presented on the homepage. Once a user identifies the book he wants, he adds it to the cart and checks it out. Buyers receive the books they have bought in their email. eMarket101 has a limitless stock of books since it deals with digital products. In addition, users are offered discounts based on the number of books they purchase. Website Structure and Purpose of Each Element The website consists of several pages with different purposes. The homepage includes a slider, informational widgets, and social media links. The image slider in the homepage includes images that offer the users a clear preview of what the website is all about. The homepage includes informational widgets which presents the websites proposition value and inform the users what they can get in the website. The social media links indicates the various social media accounts of the website. The about us page reveals the purpose of the company and its mission. It informs what the users should expect from the company. Company policies page include privacy and confidentiality, security, and returns and refunds policies which informs the user what they should follow when purchasing the products and how to respond in case an issue is encountered, and the responsibility of the company. The contact us page includes a contact form through which users who have questions or complaints can use to communicate with the company. In the products page, various products that the company offers are listed and includes an add to cart option where users can select a product an add it to cart. In the checkout page, users have an option to update cart and a form to fill in order to complete their purchases. The transactions page displays the purchases that a customer has made. The account page displays a customers shipping/account details and shipping address details which can be edited usin g the contact form displayed. WordPress Components and Features used in Development of Website Prototype During the development of the ecommerce website prototype for the company, various WordPress plugins were used. The plugins include MetaSlider, Contact Form Maker, Page Builder by SiteOrigin, SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle, and WP eCommerce. MetaSlider was used to create the Image slider on the homepage which includes various images that showcase the purpose of the website. Contact Form Maker supports the contact form in the contact us page including providing captcha code and verifying users input. The website prototype uses various tools offered by Page Builder which customize the structure and outlook of various pages. SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle includes a wide variety of widgets that are used to customize the homepage. The homepage includes several widgets which include text, picture, and social media widgets. WP eCommerce supports the overall functionality of the prototype as an online ecommerce platform. WP eCommerce includes functionality to manage products, create discounts, manage sales, payment integration, and tracking inventory. Components and Features to Include in the Final Website In the final ecommerce website, I plan to add an array of features to support its functionality and ensure a smooth user experience. I will include deals and discounts feature to attract people to the website. The website will feature shopping discounts and deals for various products offered. The website will offer discounted periods when the customers can enjoy the best deals. In addition, the website will have a loyalty feature which will recognize and reward customers loyalty based on their shopping frequency. The homepage will modified to display latest news and popular products. News including sales period or upcoming events will be displayed to inform the buyers about products offered. Buyers can find shopping deals and best product prices from the latest news featured on the homepage. Furthermore, customers will look through popular items on sale featured to find items that trending. The website will include a live chatting feature where buyers can interact with the customer service or sales team. When the customers encounter a problem, they can talk with the teams to clarify on issues encountered. The chatting feature will add value to the customer service and support the functions of the store support team. Instead of using laborious registration forms which are likely to make customers abandon items during checkout, the website will give buyers an option to checkout as guests. Offering them guest checkouts will enable them to make purchases quickly (Kalseek, 2012). The final website will include a feature that allow customers to give testimonials which will be displayed on the homepage. The testimonials will not only include text but also a photograph or image representing the buyer and will be shown randomly on the homepage and other webpages. A blog will be another feature on the final website that the company will use to publish content about its products. The blog is a vital SEO strategy for the company and an essential tool to reach out to the buyers to inform them about products offered and increase brand awareness (Fishkin, 2013). As part of the ecommerce website, the blog will be adapted to the website design to ensure a consistent look and appearance. The website will include an advanced on-site search engine. The ecommerce website will use a reliable search feature that allow filtering and has more search options for a more refined search of the inventory of products. As such, customers will effectively search products and received results that match what they look for. Also, the website will include a predictive feature which will analyze the buying patterns of the buyer and display products that are related to their previous purchases. Changes Implemented in the prototype that deviates from proposal and presentation in Assignment 1 The website prototype deviates slightly from what was presented in the proposal. The prototype includes an option for cart, checking out cart items, payment integration, and a transactions module which are not in the proposal. Despite the changes, the prototype covers all aspects and features that were proposed. References Fishkin, R., Hgenhaven, T. (2013).Inbound marketing and SEO: Insights from the Moz Blog. John Wiley Sons. Kalsbeek, M. (2012). Interface and interaction design patterns for e-commerce checkouts.

ELISA Test

Question: Discuss about theELISA Test. Answer: Overview This review aims to describe a rapid diagnostic assay using a Protein Technology. The assay that has been selected is ELISA Test. ELISA refers to Enzyme Linked Immunsorbent Assay. It is a well-known method and is most widely used rapid diagnostic assay. It is typically performed for detecting the presence and/or quantity of a target protein present in an experimental sample. The method of detecting the target protein is made possible through antibodies that make this technique as an immunoassay1. This test has been utilized as a diagnostic tool in the plant pathology and medicine. It is also utilized as a quality-control test in different industries. There are different types of ELISA Test namely, Indirect ELISA, Direct ELISA, Sandwich ELISA and Competitive and Inhibition ELISA. It is an important tool to determine the concentrations of serum antibody and it is a simple, versatile, sensitive and quantitative test. Method ELISA is concerned with the detection of an analyte, which is a specific substance and its presence is analyzed either qualitatively or quantitatively in a liquid medium through a method, which continues to utilize the liquid reagents throughout the analysis. The method of ELISA involves the separation of a number of components of an analytical reaction blend through the adsorption of certain constituents on a solid phase that has been physically immobilized. The addition of a liquid sample is carried on a stationary solid phase having exceptional binding properties and it is followed by numerous liquid reagents, and their addition, incubation and washing is carried out and is followed by a few visual changes such as development of color by the product of the enzymatic reaction 2. (Source: Takwoingi, Leeflang and Deeks. 2013) The sensitivity of process of detection is dependent on the signal amplification in the course of the analytical reactions. The generation of signal takes place by the enzymes that are linked foe detecting the reagents in fixed quantities. This is the reason, why this assay is given the enzyme linked. This test comprises of the components such as coated plates, substrate, conjugate, sample diluent, wash concentrate, controls and stop solution. The equipments of this test comprise of Dilutors, pipettes, ELISA plate readers and washer systems. Some of the other equipments include Incubator and Humidity chamber 3. The first step of this method involves the coating of antibody, in which the immobilization of a specific antibody is carried out on the plates that are meant for binding of a specific protein and is kept for overnight incubation. The blocking of plates is carried out with an unrelated protein such as albumin 7. The second step involves capturing the protein. This step is initiated with the addition of samples as well as standard solutions and their capturing takes place by the bound antibodies. The third step involves the detection of antibody in which the addition of specific biotinylated detection antibody to the wells is carried out for enabling the detection of the protein that has been captured8. In the fourth step, the addition of Streptavidin conjugated with horseradish peroidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatise carried out and this leads to the binding with the biotinylated antibody. In the next step, addition of colorimetric substrate to the wells is performed and it results i n the formation of a coloured solution when it is catalyzed through the enzyme. In the final step, the analysis is performed by measuring the absorbance in a ELISA reader and the determination of the amount of protein is also carried out 4. (Source: Takwoingi, Leeflang and Deeks. 2013) Usefulness and Cost of the Technology ELISA is useful for detecting the presence of an antigen on antibody within a sample. It plays a significant role for determining the concentrations of serum antibody in a virus test. This test has an important application in the food industry for the detection of allergens in the food products. It is also applied in the situations of outbreak of disease for keeping a track on the spreading of diseases such as STDs, cholera and HIV6. It is also used to detect the antibodies in the blood sample for previous exposure to diseases like trichinosis and Lyme disease. The successful detection of antigens such as pregnancy hormones can be easily carried out by this test. It has proved to be an accurate quantitative method that can be used for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The tests of ELISA are usually inexpensive and the companies that manufacture the test kits keep a low-cost for the customers 5. It is performed for detecting the presence and/or quantity of a target protein present i n an experimental sample. The method of detecting the target protein is made possible through antibodies that make this technique as an immunoassay. It has been utilized as a diagnostic tool in the plant pathology and medicine. It is also utilized as a quality-control test in different industries (Source: Takwoingi, Leeflang and Deeks. 2013) Comparison with DNA or other Technologies The ELISA test is different with DNA and other technologies as ELISA is a test which is used for detecting the presence of proteins in a sample, instead of DNA i.e. this test cannot be used for the detection of DNA 4. On the other hand, the tests like Southern blotting; Recombinant DNA technology is utilized for detecting DNA in animal or plant sample. DNA technology involves a set of diverse techniques, which allows the researchers foe examining, changing and creating new genetic substance. It ranges from the identification of criminals, creation of new biological products and involves the work of individuals from diverse disciplines. It also helps to understand the mechanisms of life, to solve mysteries and crimes and create solutions for nutrition along with healthy. Therefore, it differs largely in comparison to the ELISA test 6. To sum up, the ELISA test is a simple and a rapid diagnostic assay and offers a variety of advantages over the other techniques that are used in proteomics or protein technology in an efficient manner. Therefore, it plays a significant role and has varied applications that makes it a choice by the scientists and researchers. References Heick J, Fischer M, Kerbach S, Tamm U, Popping B. Application of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous detection of seven allergenic foods in flour and bread and comparison of the method with commercially available ELISA test kits. Journal of AOAC International. 2010 Dec;94(4):1060-8. Takwoingi Y, Leeflang MM, Deeks JJ. Empirical evidence of the importance of comparative studies of diagnostic test accuracy. Annals of internal medicine. 2013 Apr 2;158(7):544-54. Gan SD, Patel KR. Enzyme immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2013 Sep 30;133(9):1-3. Singhal S, Mittal V, Khare V, Singh YI. Comparative analysis of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and direct microscopy for the diagnosis of Giardia intestinalis in fecal samples. Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology. 2015 Jan 1;58(1):69. Burrows AS. Matrix Effects on the Detection of Milk and Peanut Residues by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA). Heginbotham A, Millay V, Quick M. The Use of Immunofluorescence Microscopy and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assayas Complementary Techniques for Protein Identification in Artists' Materials. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation. 2013 Jul 18. Vashist SK, Schneider EM, Luong JH. Rapid sandwich ELISA-based in vitro diagnostic procedure for the highly-sensitive detection of human fetuin A. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2015 May 15;67:73-8. Zhou F, Wang M, Yuan L, Cheng Z, Wu Z, Chen H. Sensitive sandwich ELISA based on a gold nanoparticle layer for cancer detection. Analyst. 2012;137(8):1779-84.

ELISA Test

Question: Discuss about theELISA Test. Answer: Overview This review aims to describe a rapid diagnostic assay using a Protein Technology. The assay that has been selected is ELISA Test. ELISA refers to Enzyme Linked Immunsorbent Assay. It is a well-known method and is most widely used rapid diagnostic assay. It is typically performed for detecting the presence and/or quantity of a target protein present in an experimental sample. The method of detecting the target protein is made possible through antibodies that make this technique as an immunoassay1. This test has been utilized as a diagnostic tool in the plant pathology and medicine. It is also utilized as a quality-control test in different industries. There are different types of ELISA Test namely, Indirect ELISA, Direct ELISA, Sandwich ELISA and Competitive and Inhibition ELISA. It is an important tool to determine the concentrations of serum antibody and it is a simple, versatile, sensitive and quantitative test. Method ELISA is concerned with the detection of an analyte, which is a specific substance and its presence is analyzed either qualitatively or quantitatively in a liquid medium through a method, which continues to utilize the liquid reagents throughout the analysis. The method of ELISA involves the separation of a number of components of an analytical reaction blend through the adsorption of certain constituents on a solid phase that has been physically immobilized. The addition of a liquid sample is carried on a stationary solid phase having exceptional binding properties and it is followed by numerous liquid reagents, and their addition, incubation and washing is carried out and is followed by a few visual changes such as development of color by the product of the enzymatic reaction 2. (Source: Takwoingi, Leeflang and Deeks. 2013) The sensitivity of process of detection is dependent on the signal amplification in the course of the analytical reactions. The generation of signal takes place by the enzymes that are linked foe detecting the reagents in fixed quantities. This is the reason, why this assay is given the enzyme linked. This test comprises of the components such as coated plates, substrate, conjugate, sample diluent, wash concentrate, controls and stop solution. The equipments of this test comprise of Dilutors, pipettes, ELISA plate readers and washer systems. Some of the other equipments include Incubator and Humidity chamber 3. The first step of this method involves the coating of antibody, in which the immobilization of a specific antibody is carried out on the plates that are meant for binding of a specific protein and is kept for overnight incubation. The blocking of plates is carried out with an unrelated protein such as albumin 7. The second step involves capturing the protein. This step is initiated with the addition of samples as well as standard solutions and their capturing takes place by the bound antibodies. The third step involves the detection of antibody in which the addition of specific biotinylated detection antibody to the wells is carried out for enabling the detection of the protein that has been captured8. In the fourth step, the addition of Streptavidin conjugated with horseradish peroidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatise carried out and this leads to the binding with the biotinylated antibody. In the next step, addition of colorimetric substrate to the wells is performed and it results i n the formation of a coloured solution when it is catalyzed through the enzyme. In the final step, the analysis is performed by measuring the absorbance in a ELISA reader and the determination of the amount of protein is also carried out 4. (Source: Takwoingi, Leeflang and Deeks. 2013) Usefulness and Cost of the Technology ELISA is useful for detecting the presence of an antigen on antibody within a sample. It plays a significant role for determining the concentrations of serum antibody in a virus test. This test has an important application in the food industry for the detection of allergens in the food products. It is also applied in the situations of outbreak of disease for keeping a track on the spreading of diseases such as STDs, cholera and HIV6. It is also used to detect the antibodies in the blood sample for previous exposure to diseases like trichinosis and Lyme disease. The successful detection of antigens such as pregnancy hormones can be easily carried out by this test. It has proved to be an accurate quantitative method that can be used for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The tests of ELISA are usually inexpensive and the companies that manufacture the test kits keep a low-cost for the customers 5. It is performed for detecting the presence and/or quantity of a target protein present i n an experimental sample. The method of detecting the target protein is made possible through antibodies that make this technique as an immunoassay. It has been utilized as a diagnostic tool in the plant pathology and medicine. It is also utilized as a quality-control test in different industries (Source: Takwoingi, Leeflang and Deeks. 2013) Comparison with DNA or other Technologies The ELISA test is different with DNA and other technologies as ELISA is a test which is used for detecting the presence of proteins in a sample, instead of DNA i.e. this test cannot be used for the detection of DNA 4. On the other hand, the tests like Southern blotting; Recombinant DNA technology is utilized for detecting DNA in animal or plant sample. DNA technology involves a set of diverse techniques, which allows the researchers foe examining, changing and creating new genetic substance. It ranges from the identification of criminals, creation of new biological products and involves the work of individuals from diverse disciplines. It also helps to understand the mechanisms of life, to solve mysteries and crimes and create solutions for nutrition along with healthy. Therefore, it differs largely in comparison to the ELISA test 6. To sum up, the ELISA test is a simple and a rapid diagnostic assay and offers a variety of advantages over the other techniques that are used in proteomics or protein technology in an efficient manner. Therefore, it plays a significant role and has varied applications that makes it a choice by the scientists and researchers. References Heick J, Fischer M, Kerbach S, Tamm U, Popping B. Application of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous detection of seven allergenic foods in flour and bread and comparison of the method with commercially available ELISA test kits. Journal of AOAC International. 2010 Dec;94(4):1060-8. Takwoingi Y, Leeflang MM, Deeks JJ. Empirical evidence of the importance of comparative studies of diagnostic test accuracy. Annals of internal medicine. 2013 Apr 2;158(7):544-54. Gan SD, Patel KR. Enzyme immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2013 Sep 30;133(9):1-3. Singhal S, Mittal V, Khare V, Singh YI. Comparative analysis of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and direct microscopy for the diagnosis of Giardia intestinalis in fecal samples. Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology. 2015 Jan 1;58(1):69. Burrows AS. Matrix Effects on the Detection of Milk and Peanut Residues by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA). Heginbotham A, Millay V, Quick M. The Use of Immunofluorescence Microscopy and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assayas Complementary Techniques for Protein Identification in Artists' Materials. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation. 2013 Jul 18. Vashist SK, Schneider EM, Luong JH. Rapid sandwich ELISA-based in vitro diagnostic procedure for the highly-sensitive detection of human fetuin A. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 2015 May 15;67:73-8. Zhou F, Wang M, Yuan L, Cheng Z, Wu Z, Chen H. Sensitive sandwich ELISA based on a gold nanoparticle layer for cancer detection. Analyst. 2012;137(8):1779-84.