Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Sensitivity Of Duplex Real Time Pcr - 1617 Words

Sensitivity of duplex Real-time-PCR compared microscopic detection of M. bovis: Results revealed that out of 600 lymph node sample with lesions suggestive to tuberculosis 580 (96.6%) was positive for AFB detected by microscopic examination of ZN stained smears. However, by duplex real-time PCR 588 (98%) was confirmed to M. bovisinfection. Analytical specificity: The specificity of real-time PCR targeting IS1081 and IS6110 was evaluated to 19 strains of different Mycobacterial species. The real-time PCR targeting both IS1081 and IS6110 sequences showed negative result with all Mycobacterial A. Selim et el. 50 species in two concentrations of DNA from each strain, 5ng/ µl and 5pg/ µl; while strong positive result with M. bovisBCG was detected. Furthermore, ÃŽ ²-actin internal control showed positive Ct-values with all Mycobacterial species including M. bovisBCG (table 1). Table 1. Mycobacteria and non-mycobacteria analyzed for the determination of the specificity of real-time MAP-PCR Target sequence IS1801 IS6110 Template concentration Species, Sub-species Type Host species / Source 5ng/ µl 5pg/ µl 5ng/ µl 5pg/ µl M. avium subspecies avium (M128/2) TS Cattle – – – – (01A1077/2) FI-J Cattle – – – – (00A0720/2) FI-J Pig – – – – (03A0910/2) FI-J Poultry – – – – (03A2530/1) FI-J Poultry – – – – M. avium subspecies hominisuis (01A0554/1) FI-J Pig – – – – (01A1054/1) FI-J Human – – – – (01A0255/1) FI-J Dog – – – – M. bovisBCGShow MoreRelatedEvaluation Of The Method Of Rt Pcr3051 Words   |  13 PagesIntroduction RT PCR is one of the most useful methods used within investigated tissue to compare all transcripts accurately. To apply it accurately it has some challenges as it critically depends on the various reference materials and correct use of calibration. PCR diagnostics application to tissues is often limited by the lack of quality template due to inefficient RNA extraction methodologies (Sellars et al., 2007). Ecologically influenced or disease phenotypes and the cellular expression patternsRead MoreMicrorna Essay1004 Words   |  5 Pagesnucleocytoplasmic shuttle exports pre-miRNA from nucleus to cytoplasm using GTP.[24] Cytoplasmic processing Another enzyme RNase III enzyme Dicer cleaves premiRNA. It cuts away the loop joining the 3’ and 5 ‘arms yielding imperfect miRNA duplex about 22 nucleotides. Functional miRNA is duplex but only one strand is usually incorporated into RISC. [25, 26] RISC in association with miR binds to 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of target gene mRNA to inhibit protein translation or promote RNA degradation. Role of miRNARead MoreDr. Alwine : A Scientist Of Cancer Biology And An Investigator1048 Words   |  5 Pagesis a straight forward method. Several of the times this technique is used as a confirmation or verification of their research process. The Northern Blotting technique is a multipurpose procedure by allowing the usage of various types of probes. These probes include: radiolabeled and non-radiolabeled, oligonucleotides, such as primers, and in vitro transcribed RNA. This technique can also produce sequences then can be partial homology, unlike real time PCR or other procedures which can be used as hybridizationRead MoreUses of Nanotechnology1790 Words   |  8 PagesINTRODUCTION: In recent times, infectious diseases continue to pose a major healthcare issue in developing countries making it imperative to develop logical solutions for robust and rapid diagnosis and treatment of these infections. Traditional techniques suffer from limitations, including laborious specimen processing, bulky instrumentation, and slow result readout. In view of the urgency for sensitive, specific, robust and rapid diagnostics, numerous advancements have been made in the areaRead MoreCell Free DNA Case Study1819 Words   |  8 Pagesare various methods and technologies used for quantitative and qualitative analysis of ctDNAs, commonly used platforms to name a few are digital PCR (dPCR)283, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)284, BEAMing285, 286, cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing (CAPP-Seq)287, tagged amplicon deep sequencing (TAM-Seq)270, safe-sequencing (Safe-Seq)288, duplex sequencing289, integrated digital error suppression (iDES)-enhanced CAPP-Seq290, whole-genome sequencing (WGS)291, 292 and next-generation sequencing

Monday, December 23, 2019

Disease Alzheimer s And Parkinson s Disease Essay

Abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive disorders that mainly affect neuronal cells and functions, and commonly characterized by abnormal protein metabolism and aggregations i.e. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease, Prion diseases, Motor neurone disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Lou Gehrig’s disease, among others. Currently, there is no single cure out there to treat these debilitating diseases. However, present therapies available either slow down the disease progression or inhibit mutant protein’s aggregation. Recent studies are facilitating our understandings in both neurochemistry and the genetic pathogenesis of the disease nature, which may result in exciting new discoveries and also provide a platform for the development of new effective drugs to cure these devastating diseases. This essay will discuss the shared pathological characteristics for common therapeutic approaches to combat agains t these incapacitating diseases with particular focus on the two most common neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Introduction: Neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by progressive loss of structure and, or function of particular groups of neurons (Gorman, 2008). The share common pathological features found in all neurodegenerative diseases are - deposits of misfolded protein aggregates (I.e. microscopically visible inclusions or plaques) and neurotoxic protein accumulations inShow MoreRelatedThe Common Types Of Dementia1013 Words   |  5 PagesIt’s a progressive disease which means it gets worse over time. If diagnosed early on, the quality of life for people with dementia as well as their family members can be significantly improved. There are many different types of dementias although some are far more reciprocal than others. One of the most common types of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Other few types of dementias are â€Å"Vascular dementia, Mixed dementia, Parkinson s disease and Frontotemporal dementia (Krishnan, D. S)†. All of the variousRead MoreDementia And Alzheimer s Dementia995 Words   |  4 PagesDementia and Alzheimer s Dementia and Alzheimer’s was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He discovered both of them, dementia is like Alzheimer’s just not as severe. Dementia has several different types, these include Alzheimer s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and Front temporal dementia. The first changes you notice with dementia is Cognitive changes. These include memory loss, difficulty communicating or finding words, difficulty with complex tasks, difficulty with planningRead MoreNot Only Is It Detrimental To The Social Development Of1604 Words   |  7 Pagesthat, â€Å"Many of these lifestyle changes have been shown to lower the risk of other diseases, like heart disease and diabetes, which have been linked to Alzheimer s† (Alzheimer s Association Organization). Even if evidence cannot definitively determine if these lifestyle changes directly relate to a prolonged life, there are correlations that have been developed in a multitude of studies. In terms of Parkinson’s disease, it has been proven time and time again that the slowing of motor function can beRead MoreDementia With Lewy Bodies ( Dlb )1473 Words   |  6 Pages(DLB) is a type of dementia that shares symptoms with both Alzheimer s disease and Parkinson s disease. It may account for around 10 per cent of all cases of dementia (Alzheimer’s Society, 2016). Lewy refers to the inflamm ation or neuro-inflammation of the brain (Surendranathan et al, 2015). Both Parkinson s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies are age-related diseases, although onset before age 65 years is not uncommon and both diseases are more common in men than in women (Walker et al, 2015)Read MoreEvaluation Of A Multi Model Experimental Design Using A Subject Through A Pre Test Control Group Design1165 Words   |  5 PagesMethod Participants The ideal sample is 150 participants between the ages of 50-80 years old with both male and females equally represented, all of whom suffer from and have been diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease, other forms of dementia, or Parkinson s disease according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5]. The selected participants will have volunteered for the study or were referred by physicians and caregivers, and come from multipleRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease And Its Effects On The Lives Of Millions Americans Essay1714 Words   |  7 PagesNeurodegenerative diseases continue to affect the lives of millions Americans each year, with incidence and prevalence rates ever increasing. These diseases cause degeneration or death of nerve cells in the brain. These diseases can cause a financial and emotional burden on not only patients themselves, but also family members and care givers as well. Molecular mechanisms that underlie these diseases have remained relatively unclear, despite much research. Understanding the mechanisms of these diseases are facilitatedRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Parkinson s Disease Essay831 Words   |  4 PagesParkinson Disease by Melissa Green Topical Bibliography In partial fulfillment of the writing requirement for Anatomy and Physiology 304 and the Department of Speech-Language Pathology SUNY Buffalo State Fall 2016 Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms or tremors, rigidity, (bradykinesia) or slowness of movement and posture instability. Parkinson’s involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in theRead MoreThe Health Effects Of Coffee Consumption1181 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract The health effects of coffee consumption have been controversial for many years. My claim is that moderate coffee consumption is beneficial for health. Moderate amount of coffee can possibly prevent people from some disease risks, provide high content of antioxidant for people and improve physical performance as well as brain functions. Too much coffee consumption may have adverse effects on health. Thus, the amount of coffee should be moderate in order to maximize the positive healthRead MoreParkinsonS Disease, Also Known As Pd, Shaking Palsy, And1530 Words   |  7 Pages Parkinson s disease, also known as PD, shaking palsy, and paralysis agitans is an idiopathic neurodegenerative disorder; it rises from an unknown cause and increases in severity over time (Ronken). The disease was named after English physician James Parkinson, who first described it in 1817 (Weiner). PD can be defined as the degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra, which is the area of the brain that contains dopamine cells and regulates movement. As the degeneration of neurons occurs,Read MoreCoffee Benefits1019 Words   |  5 PagesBenefits [edit] Reduced risk of Alzheimer s disease Several studies comparing moderate coffee drinkers (about 2 cups a day) with light coffee drinkers (less than one cup a day) found that those who drank more coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer s disease later in life. [2][3] [edit] Reduced risk of gallstone disease Drinking caffeinated coffee has been correlated with a lower incidence of gallstones and gallbladder disease in both men[4] and women[5] in two studies performed

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8 Free Essays

string(29) " default due to a flat tire\." Ella I realize I have more issues than I thought. As soon as we turn onto the Back Road, a passion combusts inside me. It only flames hotter when we pull up to The Hitch, an old abandoned restaurant stationed at the end of the road. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8 or any similar topic only for you Order Now It’s the perfect set up for street racing, with a long straight road tucked between the lofty trees on the mountains. The sky is black, the moon bright, but there are clouds rolling in. I cringe, thinking of the night on the bridge. We’d been racing before I’d gone there. Micha gets a text message right as we brink the end of the road. He pulls the car to the side, maneuvering carefully across the pot holes. He pushes the parking brake in and checks his phone, shutting it off, and looking torn up. â€Å"What’s wrong?† I ask. â€Å"You look upset?† â€Å"Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s great.† He’s lying, but how can I press him to tell the truth when I’m a liar too? â€Å"So this is your surprise?† I will my voice to sound disappointed, but it comes out pleased. Micha gives me a sidelong glance. â€Å"Don’t smile, pretty girl. It’ll ruin your whole I’m-neutral-and-don’t-give-a-shit act.† I opt to remain impartial. â€Å"Who are you planning to race tonight?† â€Å"You mean who are we racing?† He smiles alluringly through the dark cab of the car. â€Å"Well, I thought I’d leave that up to you.† In front of the trees is a line of cars with their headlights on and their owners standing near the front. They’re a rough crowd, mostly guys except for Shelia, a big girl with arms thicker than my legs. She’s the only girl I’ve ever truly feared. â€Å"Well, there’s Mikey.† I rub my forehead with the back of my hand. â€Å"Does he still got that piece of crap 6 cylinder in his Camaro?† â€Å"Yeah, he does.† Micha leans back in the seat, examining me amusedly through the dark. â€Å"You think that’s who I should go for?† â€Å"It’s the obvious choice.† I don’t like where my thoughts are heading, but I can’t shut off my basic instinct. I’ve always been a hanging-out-with-the-guys kind of girl and therefor there is an abundance of knowledge about cars stashed away in my head. Lila is the first girl I’ve been friends with. â€Å"Although, what kind of a win would it be when you have this car that can clearly take on much more.† â€Å"You think I should take on someone in my own league?† â€Å"If you want the win to mean anything, then yeah.† We look at each other, like magnets begging to get closer. Yet flip one the wrong direction and they will push apart. â€Å"So which one is it, pretty girl?† He drapes an arm over the headrest behind me and his fingers brush my shoulder. â€Å"The underdog or the big dog.† There’s a dare in the air, teasing the real me to come out tonight. I want to give in, just for a few hours, and let my inner ropes untie. I want to allow myself to breathe again, but I fear the loss of control – I fear I’ll have to feel everything, including my guilt. â€Å"Micha, I think we should go back.† I put my seatbelt back on. â€Å"This isn’t my thing anymore.† He presses his lips together firmly. â€Å"Please can we have a night? Just you and I. I really need this right now.† I pick up on his strange vibe and the sorrow in his eyes. â€Å"Okay, what’s wrong? You’ve seemed a little out of it. Was it bad news on that text you got?† He traces the figure eight tattoo on his forearm. â€Å"Do you remember when I got this?† I absentmindedly touch my lower back. â€Å"How could I forget, since I have the same one on my back?† â€Å"Do you remember why we got them?† â€Å"I can’t remember anything about that night.† â€Å"Exactly, yet you’ll remember it forever. No matter what happens, which is completely ironic.† He lets his finger linger on the tattoo that represents eternity. â€Å"There’s something bugging you.† I tug the bottom of my shirt down to cover up my tattoo. â€Å"Do you want to talk about it?† He shakes his head, still focused on the tattoo. â€Å"Nah, I’m good.† To distract him from his thoughts, I point my finger at a smokin’ hot 1970 Pontiac GTO, blue with white racing stripes. â€Å"What about Benny? Does he still have the 455?† Micha’s eyes are pools of black liquid. â€Å"You think we should take on the big dog?† â€Å"I think you should take on the big dog,† I clarify. â€Å"I’ll just watch you kick his ass.† His expression darkens. â€Å"No way. I’m not racing unless you’re in the car with me. It’s tradition.† A starvation inside me emerges. â€Å"Alright, I’ll ride with you, just as long as you do one thing for me?† â€Å"Say it and it’s yours,† he says without blinking. My hunger urges me closer to him. I prop my elbows on the console, and my arms are trembling. He doesn’t move, frozen like a statue as I put my lips next to his ear. â€Å"Make sure you win,† I breathe and my body arches into him on its own accord, before I sit back in the seat. His face is indecipherable, his breathing fierce, his gaze relentless. â€Å"Okay, then. Let’s go win us a race.† We climb out of the car and hike across the dirt road toward the row of cars and their owners. I shield my eyes from the headlights and wrap an arm around myself, knowing these guys are going to give me crap for how I’m dressed. Micha swings his arm around me protectively. â€Å"Relax. I got you baby.† â€Å"Well, what do we have here?† Mikey, the owner of the Camaro, strides up to us. He’s got black hair, a kink in his nose, and his thick neck is enclosed with a barb-wire tattoo. â€Å"Is the infamous duo back again to get their asses kicked?† I roll my eyes. â€Å"You beat us once and that was by default due to a flat tire. You read "The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8" in category "Essay examples"† His face pinches as he takes in my shirt, tank top, and curled hair. â€Å"What the fuck happened to you?† Chandra, his girlfriend, sputters a laugh. Her dress is so tight that her curves bulge out of it and her stilettoes make her almost the same height as me. â€Å"Holy shit, she like turned into a little princess or something.† Micha squeezes my shoulder, trying to keep me calm. â€Å"So who’s up first? Or has no one decided yet.† Mikey eyes Micha’s Chevelle and there’s a nervous look in his eyes. â€Å"You think you can just walk in here and play the game after sitting out for nearly a year?† I mouth to Micha, a year? Micha shrugs. â€Å"What? You were gone. Why the hell would I want to race?† â€Å"Again, you need to move on without†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I trail off. Mikey will use what I say against Micha, so I have to watch my mouth. â€Å"We want to race Benny.† Mikey’s laughter echoes the night. â€Å"You and what army?† I point at Micha’s Chevelle parked near the road. â€Å"That army right there.† Mikey shakes his head and shoos us away. â€Å"That thing don’t stand a chance against the GTO. Now run along and come back when you got something bigger.† He’s testing my control. A lot. â€Å"As opposed to yours?† I retort, getting into Mikey’s face. â€Å"Because that thing’s all looks and no go.† Micha directs me back by the shoulders and a trace of amusement laces his voice. â€Å"Easy there, tiger. Let’s try not to get our asses kicked tonight, okay?† Benny hops off the hood of his car, flicks his cigarette to the ground, and leaves his buddies to join us. â€Å"What’s up? Did I hear someone wanted to race me?† Benny’s the kind of guy that everyone respects because they’re afraid of him. When he was a freshman he got into a fight at school with a senior twice his size and beat him up pretty badly. No one knows what the fight was over or what happened, but it was enough that everyone became cautious of Benny. Mikey points a finger sharply at me. â€Å"Princess right here wants to challenge you to a race in that thing.† Benny’s eyes wander to the Chevelle as he cocks his shaven head and crosses his muscular arms. â€Å"Micha, isn’t that your car?† Micha pats my back and winks at me. â€Å"Yeah, apparently she’s my spokesperson.† Benny deliberates this and then turns to Mikey, who’s glaring at me. â€Å"I don’t see what the big deal is. I have no problem with Micha racing. In fact, it might be kinda nice to have a challenge for a change.† Benny slaps Mikey on the back kind of hard and then pounds fists with Micha. â€Å"Thanks man,† Micha says with a respective nod. â€Å"Are you and I going to line up first then?† Benny bobs his head up and down, nodding as he stares at the road pensively. â€Å"Yeah man, I think that’d work.† They chat a little bit more about the rules and what not, while Mikey continues to scowl at me like an angry dog. Once they’re done talking, Micha and I walk back to the car, while everyone else scatters toward the starting line located right in front of The Hitch. â€Å"So what’s your plan?† I ask. â€Å"Because beating him won’t be easy.† â€Å"You’re my plan.† He opens the passenger door for me. â€Å"With you in the car, there’s no way I won’t win, otherwise you’ll never let me live it down.† Tucking my head into the car, I drop into the seat and then look up at him. â€Å"I won’t make your car go any faster.† He grins, slamming the door. â€Å"Sure you will.† He slides across the front of the hood and climbs into the driver’s seat. â€Å"You’re such a show off,† I remark. He starts up the engine and it thunders to life. â€Å"That’s like the pot calling the kettle black.† I slump back in the seat and fold my arms. â€Å"I may have been a lot of things, but I was never a show off.† He hooks a finger under my chin and angles my head toward him. â€Å"Taylor Crepner’s graduation party two years ago. You were standing on the roof with a snowboard strapped to your feet, telling everyone you could make the jump. I think that’s pretty close to showing off.† I make an innocent face. â€Å"But I did make the jump, didn’t I?† â€Å"Yeah, but not without breaking your arm,† he says. â€Å"And that’s beside the point.† â€Å"You’re right,† I admit, touching the small scar on my arm where the bone broke through the skin. â€Å"I was showing off and you had to drive my dumb ass to the hospital, then sit in the waiting room while I had surgery to put my arm back together.† His finger traces a line down my neck and to my chest bone. â€Å"I was there because I wanted to be.† â€Å"You missed a performance because of me.† â€Å"I don’t care – never have.† My gaze involuntarily flicks to his lips. Suddenly, I want to kiss him, like I did that night on the bridge. It makes me uncomfortable because the feeling owns me. I lean away, putting space between us. Sensing my transfer of attitude, he revs up the engine and spins the tires, fishtailing the car to the startup line. He shoots me a smug look, cocking an eyebrow. â€Å"Now that’s showing off.† Shaking my head, I restrain a grin. Benny lines up the front of his GTO with Micha’s Chevelle and his girlfriend struts up between the two cars. She’s wearing jeans and a short t-shirt that shows her stomach. She flips her dark hair off her shoulder and then raises her hands above her head. People line up along the road, watching, and placing bets on the winner. I spot Ethan and Lila toward the front, chatting about something, and Lila is doing her flirty hair flip thing. â€Å"When did they get here?† Micha ignores me, eyeing Benny through his rolled down window. â€Å"To the baseline and back?† Benny’s arm is resting casually on top of the steering wheel. â€Å"Yeah, man. First one back wins.† They look away from each other. Benny waves at his girlfriend and she nods her head. â€Å"On your mark. Get set. Go!† Her hands shoot down and screeches cut the air. A trail of dust engulfs us as we race off. The trees on the side of the road are a blur, and the sky is one big streak of stars. I keep silent as Micha shifts the car over and over again, but something inside me awakens from a very deep sleep. Benny pulls ahead and makes a sharp swerve right in front of us. His red tail lights are blinding in the night and his exhaust is puffing out thin clouds of smoke. Micha speeds up, inching the front end toward the rear of the GTO. As we approach the end, Benny pulls farther ahead, but it’s not over yet. Micha has a thing for flipping the car around, without decreasing the acceleration. It’s scary as hell, but it works every time. Besides with the longer body of Benny’s GTO it doesn’t have quite the turning power. We reach the end and I should probably be nervous. The road cuts off into a steep, rocky hill and the space to turn around is narrow, but I’ve never gotten scared, not even now. I guess I can’t change what’s in my blood. The GTO begins to slant sideways as Benny turns it. Micha veers to the side to get around him and shoots for the open gap between the car and the trees. I grab the handle above my head, the brakes squeal, and I brace my feet up on the dashboard. It’s like being on a merry-go-round on crack. Everything spins – the trees, the sky, Micha. For a second, I shut my eyes and it feels like I’m flying. It takes me back to the night on the bridge. She said she could fly. The car straightens out and Micha floors the gas pedal. Like I predicted, Benny is having a harder time lining back up. By the time we’re speeding up the road again, he’s a small distance behind us. Micha punches the gas and shifts the car into a higher gear. The long front end of the GTO materializes through my window and Micha floors it, shooting me a look that lets me know I can tell him to slow down if I want. I don’t. People flee to the side, panicking at our dangerous speed as we rip through the finish line. It isn’t clear who the winner is or who’s going to be able to get their car to stop in time, before crushing into The Hitch. Brakes shriek and dust swamps the windows. My body is thrown forward with the car’s abrupt halt and I smack my head on the dashboard. Micha works to regain control of the wheel and straightens the car as it skids to a stop. Everything settles and the dust slowly clears. Micha and I stare out the windshield, breathing loudly, our eyes as wide as golf balls. The front bumper of the Chevelle is a sliver away from a very large tree. â€Å"Holy shit,† Micha whispers and looks at me, his eyes bulging. â€Å"Are you okay?† I lower my hand from the dashboard, my chest heaving with my breaths. Rubbing the bump on my head, I turn in my seat toward Micha. There is an eerie calm inside me and one of my worst fears becomes a reality. I’m an adrenaline junkie. Plain and simple, but I think it’s how I’ve been all along. I just never admitted. I’m no longer in control. As I incline toward Micha, my heart flutters to life in my chest. My eyes shut and my lips brush his, gently tasting him. It feeds my hunger vaguely and I edge back, letting my eyes open. Micha is looking at me, his eyes pools of blue like the deep spots of the ocean hidden from the world. His hand comes up behind my head and he entices my lips back to his. Something snaps inside me, like a rubber band. With one swift movement, and the aid of my own willingness, Micha lifts me over the console and I straddle his lap, looping my arms around his neck. His hands burrow into my thighs and slip under my skirt onto my bare skin. My breath falters at the intimacy of his touch. No one has ever touched me like this before, without me running away. Usually, being this close to someone sends me into a room packed with self-doubt, panic, distrust, and unfamiliarity. My legs tense and Micha leans back. â€Å"Stay here, baby,† he whispers, like he can read my thoughts. â€Å"Trust me, okay? Don’t run.† He waits for me to nod and then crashes his lips into mine, keeping his hands under my skirt. I arch my body into him, pressing my chest against his, and my nipples tingle. His tongue sensually plays with mine, tracing every spot on my mouth and my lips. My body starts to fill with a secret longing. Micha moves his mouth away from mine and my legs tremble in objection. He sucks a path of kisses down my jawline, moving to my neck and residing on my chest right above where my breast curves out of the top of my shirt. It sends a shock through my body and my legs uncontrollably tighten around him, my knees pressing into his sides. He lets out a slow, deep groan and his hand slides higher into my skirt as he guides me closer. I can feel him pressing in between my legs and it scares the shit out of me, but not enough to make me stop. It’s like all the sexual tension I ran away from has sprung free all at once. My fingers sneak under the bottom of his shirt and trace along the outline of his lean muscles. I don’t know where to stop or how to put the line back up. My mind is racing and I clutch onto his shoulders needing my control back. Someone bangs on the window. â€Å"Are you two having fun in there?† I jump back and my cheeks start to heat at the sight of Ethan and Lila staring at us through the window. In his black tee and jeans, Ethan blends in with the night, but his dark, insinuating smile glows. Lila’s eyes are magnified and her jaw is hanging open. Micha does nothing to help the situation. A lazy grin spreads across his face as he watches me through hooded eyes, looking very pleased with himself. The adrenaline washes out of me and leaves a numb feeling in its place. I climb off his lap and straighten my skirt and hair before getting out of the car. I calmly walk around the back of the car and join Ethan and Lila. â€Å"So who won the race?† I ask, smoothing the last of the wrinkles out of my skirt. Ethan smirks at me. â€Å"Is that what you’re really thinking about at the moment?† I stare at him blankly. â€Å"What else would I be thinking about?† Micha climbs out of the car, stretching his long legs. â€Å"We won, I’m pretty sure,† he says, taking my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. â€Å"Although, I’m betting there’s an argument going on about it.† Ethan nods agreeably and takes a sip of his soda. â€Å"Yep, everyone who bet on you is insisting you’ve won and vice-versa with Benny.† Micha interlaces our fingers. â€Å"So the same old, same old.† â€Å"You know how these things go.† Ethan pats Micha’s shoulder sympathetically. â€Å"They’re never going to come to a decision.† My hand is sweating in Micha’s. He just cracked me open and my mind is racing with a billion thoughts. I can’t do this with him. I can’t crush him. I need to repaint the lines somehow. â€Å"We should just leave,† Micha says to me. â€Å"Let’s not even give them the benefit of our argument.† â€Å"You want to drive out of here all suave?† I ask. â€Å"And make a grand exit?† Micha smiles and squeezes my hand. â€Å"A grand statement.† â€Å"Which would be?† â€Å"That we don’t give a shit.† I let out a shaky breath and nod. â€Å"That sounds good to me.† â€Å"You want to meet up at the house?† he asks Ethan. â€Å"I’m sure we’re going to have to do some tuning up on The Beast after what I just did.† Lila scrunches her nose and pops her gum. â€Å"The beast? Do I even want to know what that is?† Micha taps the car door with his free hand. â€Å"Yep, that’s what I named it. Kind of like how you call your car your baby.† Lila laughs. â€Å"Oh, I get it. Although, I like my name better.† Micha traces his thumb along the palm of my hand. â€Å"Are you ready to go? Or do you want to go pick a fight with someone first.† I flash a panicked glance at Lila, who knits her eyebrows. â€Å"Maybe Lila and I should ride together. I haven’t spent any time with her today.† â€Å"You’ve spent time with me every day for the last eight months,† she replies. â€Å"I think we’re good for a few hours.† â€Å"I’ll take care of her.† Ethan chucks the empty bottle of soda across the parking lot and it lands in the back of his truck. â€Å"Really, really good care of her.† Lila lets her blonde hair fall into her face to hide her blush. I’ve never seen her blush like that. What exactly have the two of them been up to tonight? Micha shakes his head at Ethan. â€Å"Be good.† Ethan rolls his eyes and then walks off with Lila toward his truck. Micha and I get into his car and I prepare myself to make a speech. Micha squeezes his eyes shut and holds his hand up. â€Å"Don’t even say it. Just let it go for the night. Please. I need to just feel this.† The pain in his voice causes me to fasten my jaw shut. Opening his eyes, he starts up the car and we drive down the road. Micha waves to Benny as we pass and everyone’s eyes follow us. Then the darkness takes over as we pull out onto the main road and the headlights light up the night like a tunnel that leads to the unknown. How to cite The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 8, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Human Resource Management Initiative and ERP †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource Management Initiative. Answer: Introduction Human resource management Human resource management is a relatively new approach that has gained importance in the past few decades and has brought a great revolution in the business world. Human resource management aims at improving the performance of the workforce and achieved it by developing better relations between employers and employees and promoting a better environment for the employees to work in (Hendry, 2012). Today, business organisations are spending billions of dollars every year in the management of their human resources because human resources have become an important asset for all business organisations. The investment in human resource is made with a hope that the business originations will be able to achieve market competencies by developing their human resources and increasing their competencies. Even in such tough market situations, where the market competition has reached a global scale, organisations have started feeling scarcity of resources but are always ready to invest these resources for the development of their human resources because they are heavily relying upon their human resources to help them in preforming better than the competitors (Armstrong Taylor, Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, 2014). Thus, it becomes important for business organisations to measure the return on investment which they receive by allocating important resources to the ir human resources. Business Case ABC Company Pvt. Ltd. is a multinational manufacturing company based in Australia. The company was started in 1987 and has its foreign subsidiaries in China, India and Vietnam from where it outsources all the manufacturing process and assembles the final products in the headquarters (Australia). ABC Company Pvt. Ltd. has an approximate workforce of 850 employees that help the company in carrying out all of its operations. The company has been preforming well since its foundation but has started losing a significant portion of its market share of late. The loss in market share can be attributed to the companys orthodox work practices as the most of the departments in the company are still using multiple softwares to plan, monitor and analyse the work operations. The company has been conducting a lot of research in this area and has concluded that to remain competitive, it will have to implement an ERP business suite throughout its subsidiaries that will enable them to carry out their operations with more efficiency (Oseni, Rahim, Smith, Foster, 2014). The management of the company has finally decided to invest in the acquisition of an ERP business suite that will be tailored to the needs of the organisation and will cover important functional areas, such as human resource management, supply chain management, customer relationship management, financial management, production management, etc. but a major issue that the company is facing is to design and implement a training and development program that will be aimed at increasing the skills and technical efficiency of employees in using ERP business suite (Jain Sharma, 2016). Due to tough market competition and scarcity of resources, it is important for the company to allocate its resources towards the right business programs because a wastage of investment will not only make the company incur losses but also might throw it out of market competition and make it difficult for the company to sustain in the market for a longer period of time (Armstrong Taylor, Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, 2017). To check whether the initiative is feasible or not, the company has planned that it will conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis and check the return that it is likely to receive over a period of one year on the investment that it will have to make to fulfil the training and development program. Human resource management initiative The human resource management initiative that ABC Company Pvt. Ltd. is planning to undertake is the training and development of its employees so that they can become familiar with a new software that will be implemented in the workplace within a short period of time. Training and development is one of the most important core functions in human resource management that aims at improving the skills and competencies of the workforce so that they can cope up with the changing market trends (Jehanzeb Bashir, 2013). In this business setup, it is important for the business organisation to arrange for a training and development program that will help the employees in learning how to operate the new software and use its various tools and functions to carry out the business operations with a greater efficiency than before. The employees are going to be the end users of the new software, which makes it obvious that they should know how to operate it and also have knowledge about the errors or issues that might come up while using the software. In case the workforce is not comfortable with the software, the entire investment would go in vain and would even cause collateral damages to the company, such as loss of productivity, failure of supply chain managem ent, etc. The details of the training program are given below: On the job training and development sessions that would last for a month The employees will be trained for one hour during their work hours Professional support and software engineers will train the employees The employees will be taught how to use the software and deal with some major and minor errors that might occur while carrying out day-to-day operations Apart from training the employees for the software, the professionals will also conduct social activities and team building activities to help them understand the importance of team work and a team oriented environment (Phillips Phillips, 2016) The training sessions will also include simulation activities where the employees will be given practical situations to deal with A batch of 85 employees will be trained at once A total of 10 batches will be trained everyday The professionals will also help the employees in transferring the learnings from the training program to their jobs and will visit the company every week (for 1 month after the end of the program) to help the employees with any issues that they might be facing while using the software post-training. The training cost or the training fees will cost $600,000 to the company, which will include training and development of 850 employees over a period of one year and all the material that will be required for training the employees, such as papers, documents, books, study material, etc. The management at ABC Company Pvt. Ltd. is now planning to calculate a return on the investment and a cost-benefit analysis that it would achieve through the training and development program which it is planning to implement for the employees, so that a better view of the entire business decision can be achieved. Cost-benefit analysis Cost-benefit analysis is a process that allows business organisations to carefully analyse their decisions in terms of cost involved and the benefits that will be achieved. It is an approach in which the benefits of a business situation are analysed and then the cost associated with taking that action are subtracted. For this particular business case, the cost-benefit analysis will be analysed for a period of 1 year since the commencement of the training program. The cost incurred in a training program can be described as: The cost incurred towards the assessment of training needs, compensation of the training program designers, investment made in the acquisition of training material, computers, handouts, etc. The main cost of the training program i.e. the fees paid to the training organisation and professionals The third and one of the most important costs of a training program is the loss of working hours that will be caused due to the employees missing their work for a specific period of time to attend the training sessions (Cost Benefit Analysis for Training, n.d.). The cost incurred in this training and development program are given below: The main cost of the training program - $600,000, which includes an assessment of training needs, procurement of training material and the fees that will be paid to the training organisation. The loss in working hours of the employees will cost the company around $100/hour. The cost here is significantly reduced because the workforce will be divided into smaller groups and will be trained for one hour. When a particular group of employees will be attending the training session, the other groups can handle their work for the time being. On the overall, the company will have to bear a cost of $100/hour or $1000/day or $30,000 per month. In short, the loss of working hours will cost the company $30,000 in the entire training program. Total cost of the training program = $600,000 + $30,000 = $630,000 If the company will invest such a high amount in training and developing its employees, there must be certain benefits that the company aims at achieving through the training program, which will help the company in evolving in the market and becoming more competitive. The benefits of the training program are discussed below: The company will definitely be able to achieve an increase in its productivity and efficiency by helping the employees in becoming more competitive. The efficiency and productivity benefits will be around $50,000/month ($600,000/year) in terms of increased production, increased customer satisfaction and increase in sales due to streamlined operations and better quality products. The company will also be able to save a lot of resources that were earlier being wasted because of effort duplication. The company will achieve benefits worth $10,000/month ($120,000/year) in terms of saved resources The company will be able to increase the competencies of its workforce and will also be able to engage and retain them for a longer period of time. The monetary benefits of reduced labour turnover rates, better employee engagement and satisfaction levels will be approximately $2,000/month ($24,000/year) The company will be able to grab a greater market share and will become more competitive because of an increase in its workforce competencies. The benefits of this will be approximately $5,000/month ($60,000/year) Miscellaneous training and development benefits, such as increased team work, will be $1,500/month ($18,000/year) The total benefits that the company will be able to achieve through this training program in a single financial year are = $600,000 + $120,000 + $24,000 + $60,000 + $18,000 = $822,000/year From the above cost-benefit analysis, it can be clearly seen that the training program is highly beneficial for the company and will definitely provide the company with a competitive edge in the market. Return on investment model Return on investment, also known as ROI, is a model that helps business organisations in calculating the return that they will achieve by investing a certain amount of money in a specific program (Satiman, Mansor, Zulkifli, 2003). ROI helps business organisations in identifying the right investment opportunity by comparing the rate of return of different programs. The formula used for calculating the return on investment for a particular program is given below: Rate of return (in percentage) = (program benefits/costs of program) * 100 (Cost Benefit Analysis for Training, n.d.) The return on investment for the training and development program that the ABC Company Pvt. Ltd. is planning to implement in its workplace is given below: Rate of Return = (822,000/630,000) * 100 = 130.5%, which means that for every dollar invested in the training program, the company will receive an approximate return of $1.3 above the cost of the training program. Evaluation From the above cost-benefit analysis, it is evident that the benefits of the human resource management initiative being planned by the organisation will far outweigh the cost of the entire training and development program. The company will receive a return of 130.5% on the investment that it will make in training and developing its employees over a period of one year. To sum up, the benefits of the training program are listed below: A competitive workforce that will be able to use an ERP business suite to carry out various functions and operations of the business organisation A workforce that would understand the important of team work and will be comfortable in working as a team An increase in the level of employee satisfaction and competencies because of the training program Increased job satisfaction, job engagement, job commitment and organisational commitment Reduced employee turnover rates and absenteeism Streamlined operations Greater efficiency and productivity due to digitisation of operations Less wastage of resources due to reduced duplication of efforts A competitive edge in the market Critical Reflective Analysis Even though there were a number of problems in finding out the right costs and benefits related with the training and development initiative being planned by ABC Company Pvt. Ltd., on the overall, the report has been greatly helpful in understanding the importance that cost benefit analysis and return on investment play in a business set up. In the present day business world, the competition has reached a global scale and the resources available to business organisations are also scarce, which increases the importance of investing the right amount of resources in the best available options so that the companies can ensure a sustainable position in the market for a longer run. The business case of ABC Company Pvt. Ltd. is helpful in understanding the way in which a cost benefit analysis and a return on investment approach can be used to identify the positive outcomes of a project. The case is also helpful in understanding that business decisions can become better when the cost involve d is weighed against the monetary as well as the non-monetary benefits of a project. After preparing this report, to become competitive and to ensure success in the market, one must analyse each and every business opportunity using a cost benefit analysis and a return on investment model so that the project that can bring the highest return on investment is passed. Comparing the cost-benefit analysis and the return on investments of different initiatives can help in understanding the feasibility of each initiative and choosing the best imitative out of multiple initiatives. Bibliography Jehanzeb, K., Bashir, N. A. (2013). Training and Development Program and its Benefits to Employee and Organization: A Conceptual Study . European Journal of Business and Management , 5(2). Cost Benefit Analysis for Training. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2017, from www.managementstudyguide.com: https://www.managementstudyguide.com/cost-benefit-analysis-for-training.htm Nas, T. F. (2016). Cost-Benefit Analysis: Theory and Application. Lexington Books. Rackley, J. (2015). Return on Investment. Marketing Analytics Roadmap. Hendry, C. (2012). Human Resource Management . Routledge. Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2014). Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Satiman, L. H., Mansor, N. N., Zulkifli, N. (2003). Return on Investment (ROI) training evaluation in Malaysian SMEs: factors influencing the adoption process. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal. Oseni, T., Rahim, M. M., Smith, S. P., Foster, S. (2014).An Initial Empirical Evaluation Of The Influence Of Erp Post-Implementation Modifications On Business Process Optimisation. Jain, D., Sharma, Y. (2016). Cloud Computing with ERP - A Push Business Towards Higher Efficiency. Annaul Research Journal of SCMS Pune, 4. Phillips, J. J., Phillips, P. P. (2016). Handbook of Training Evaluation and Measurement Methods. Routledge. Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2017). Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. Kogan Page Publishers.