Implement excellent marketing strategies Assignment

Implement excellent marketing strategies - Assignment Example The most crucial issues related to the decision making methodologies involves the concept of integrated marketing communications to be the best weapon for the marketing managers to come up with good marketing plans to build strong brands. These strong brands form the best solution to overcome any form of competition from the rivals in the global economy. Marketing communications define the set of diverse communication strategies implemented to market the products and services of a company. The communication strategies play a vital role in making or breaking the value of the product in the market. The directors of the company push the marketing managers to extremes in order to obtain the estimated results. These estimated results definitely relate to the position of the company in the global market. Marketing communications comprises of Advertising media, branding of a product, building customer relationships, promotion of a brand, sales promotion so on (Frost & Sullivan, n.d.). All these factors specified play a major role in the construction of good brands by the marketing managers for the products under production. Now-a-days consumers are always looking for various services provided by the producers. Production of a particular product has become a dependent factor based on consumer demand (Kate Maddox, 2006). Major concentration of the marketing strategies deals with the methodologies involved over communicating the apt information concerning a product to the consumer. These communications form the backbone of the brand image formed for a product based on the idea developed in the consumers mind regarding the various features associated with the product. A consumer is always driven by a brand that ensures the quality of the product and also provides easy methods of gaining the appropriate information without any hurdles. The consumer prefers to gather all the necessary information within no time; this can be the best opportunity for the producers to provide all the information with apt details and also present a demonstration of the product functionality to gain the customers loyalty. This sort of communication helps the company to build a huge set of loyal customers who prioritize the brand options and always get back to the brand that they are confident about. Building a Strong Brand Brand is considered as a promise made to the consumer by the producer over the quality of the products and services that they offer to the customer. This is basically the major factor that defines the quality associated with the products the company manufactures (Tom Blackett, 2004). Brand image has become a matter of prestige and pride to the consumers of this new era. Brands provide the authentication over the quality of the product to the consumer in order to make the purchases confidently out of the wide variety of choices. As they say there is no free meal in this world, the consumers prefer to invest their hard earned money into products that perform up to their expectations. Consumer satisfaction

Climate Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Climate Change - Essay Example The milankovitch theory implies that over time three cyclic events vary the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth and eventually it causes climate change. According to Burroughs (2007) eccentricity is a cyclical variation that determines the shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun. The more elliptical the earth’s orbit is, the greater the the greater the variation in solar energy that is received at the top of the atmosphere between the earth’s perihelion and aphelion. As the earth rotates on its axis, it wobbles hence changing the timing of the solstices, and equinoxes a process known as the procession of the equinox. Volcanic eruptions eject large amounts of sulphur dioxide gas which reacts water vapor found in the stratosphere to form a dense layer that reduces atmospheric transmission of sun’s incoming radiation. Sun spots, which are caused by the sun’s magnetic field are dark, planet sized regions that appear on the sun’s su rface. These regions are colder than with an average temperature of 4,000K. Climate change can be explained by these factors although they are only some of those which cause climate change. Since 1979, the summer polar ice cap’s size has shrunk more than 20% and this has not only affected the natives but the globe as a whole. The contraction of the arctic ice cap accelerates global warming since the protective, cooling layer over the arctic is melting and hence the earth absorbs more sunlight (Kininmonth 2004). If the arctic is warmer, this will affect weather patterns since the rest of the world will also warm up and eventually food production will decrease. In contrast, most of the world depends on melted glaciers for fresh water supply through lakes and rivers hence their melting will cause short supply of the same. It will also cause shortage of electricity since a great percentage of the world’s population depends on melting glaciers for hydro electric power. Animals, birds and fish will lose their

How Good People Turn Evil Essay Example for Free

How Good People Turn Evil Essay Understanding is not excusing. Though it may help to prevent wrong acts against humanity in the future (may it? ). The world was created with the potential of sin. Looking at the theological approach, Adam and Eve, when were put into the situation of seduction by the snake, started to be driven by evil inclination giving birth to the first sin. Why does it happen? Why do people go against normality and moral principals? Why do people do evil things? Psychologists-experimenters, philosophers, writers have been trying to answer this question. There will always be good and evil in our world. However there is a fine line between good and evil, sometimes it is so vague, that without noticing we can find ourselves on the opposite side. Zimbardo in his Stanford experiment proves, that not only is the line blurred, but also movable and permeable. The Webster dictionary defines ‘good’ as ‘being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor’. ‘Bad’ is on the contrary ‘not achieving an adequate standard; poor; injurious in effect; detrimental’. We must keep in mind that it is not right to think about these notions as only about global ones, but good and evil are found in every person and dominance of one or another depends on different factors. Good people can turn evil, as well as (thanks God) evil people can become good again. How does the transformation happen? After the abuses in Abu Ghraib the general wanted to know who is responsible for the inhuman treatment with the prisoners, who were those rotten apples ‘infecting’ others. However the question rather should be: ‘What is responsible? ’ At first we have to look at the situation in order to understand the behavior. In the fight between good people and vicious situation the situation has won. Some may argue that it is not right, as far as the guards who were taking part in the crime in Abu Ghraib (as well as the ‘guards’ of Stanford experiment) were intelligent, normal, mentally and physically healthy people, who should have been responsible for their terrible actions. But could just ‘bad apples’ go that far? The human transformation according to Zimbardo has several perspectives: ? Dispositional – internal factors. The evil starts in the person oneself. These are the bad rotten apples. ? Situational – external factors. The situation is the one to blame, which influenced people and helped evil to gain the guards over. ? Systematic – the power that is in a system (political, economical, cultural, etc). Those are the bad barrel makers. ‘A country is considered the more civilized the more the wisdom and efficiency of its laws hinder a weak man from becoming too weak and a powerful one too powerful. ’ Primo Levi. Evil is the exercise of power. As soon as someone has the power to humiliate, do harm or destroy someone else physically or spiritually, the potential of evil may get to unreachable heights and it usually does (which was proved by the Milgram experiment). Starting the Stanford experiment, Zimbardo could not predict such a development of events, because the guards who were thoroughly chosen and tested to be normal people, in a couple of days turned into madmen, psychopaths and sadists. The main driving force that provoked this metamorphosis was power. First it had to be used as a tool for control of disobedient prisoners, but later the guards started receiving pleasure out of it, feeling their privilege and dominance and the right to exercise their power in every possible way. Personally I observed the same phenomenon in sports, a gymnastics girl’s team. A couch may use the power of a superior for too much, abusing children morally and physically, excusing it as a training and forming of tenacity. One more example can be found in the student dorms of LBS. One girl was chosen by the administration as a unit representative, the task of which was to coordinate girls living in the unit and make sure the community room and the corridor are kept clean. She also had to help girls with the home appliances lending them such things as vacuum cleaner, iron, etc, which belonged to the dorms. Only students who showed themselves to be responsible, tolerant, helpful could get this ‘position’ including some privileges. As soon as the girl received this trivial power, she started humiliating girls, each time pointing out that they are dirty and disgusting and as a punishment depriving them of things that they could use freely before, like a fridge or hanger. In this case the person was changed, because she was put into another situation; and the situation in turn was endowed with power by the system. If we go back to the Stanford experiment, one of the important factors that influenced the transformation in people, both guards and prisoners, was the phenomena of deindividuation. Humiliation and disgrace increase where personality is about to vanish. John Watson in his research proves that while starting a battle or a fight people who wear masks or costumes, which cover their faces or disguise them, are more likely to kill and to torture. Zimbardo’s guards were given a uniform and shades which somehow ‘protected’ them from the external world, as if nobody could see the horrors they were doing or as if it were not them, but some other people conducting that evil behavior. In other words this phenomenon can be called the power of anonymity. It works for every one. We are much more likely to do something unusual for us and even immoral, when nobody can see us or recognize. However we should not forget that on the other side of the barricade were the prisoners or victims, who suffered from deindividuation, rather than gained of it. Prisoners were given numbers instead of names; their clothes reminded rather that of women, than men, their heads were covered with ridiculous hats. People stop perceive themselves as individuals and later as human-beings, when are found in such conditions. Deindividuation was one of the strongest driving forces of holocaust, though it made its long detour to gas chambers in concentration camps. First Jews were not allowed to get high positions at work, than to sit on the same benches in a park as locals, come in to a shop (reading a sign that Jews and dogs are not allowed to enter), later every Jew had to wear a yellow star on one’s clothes, so every one could easily identify them in a crowd. Step by step the personality was diminished, so when Jews were told to move out from their homes and to settle in ghettoes quite few of them resisted. One of the most striking things for me that actually quite few of them tried to resist, accepting the situation and believing in their individuality being erased. ‘We are Jewish, we should be quiet’. They were imposed the opinion that they were not part of the country, which many of them defended during the World War I and they did not belong to their home. Finding themselves in camps, people were usually totally disgraced having no power and desire to oppose whatsoever. It is hard to imagine a human-being sinking so deep, deeper than an animal, totally perverting one’s nature. Hanna Arendt in her book ‘Eichman In Jerusalem. The Report On The Banality of Evil. ’ wrote that evil is always on the surface and as soon as we dig deeper it disappears. This means that often when people happen to be in some situation it becomes difficult for them to judge their actions, as soon as they become the prisoners of the situation. Being ‘inside’ makes one perceive the horror as normality. Going back to Milgram’s experiment, which proved that people can turn evil easily and very fast, by imposing power of control and blurring their responsibility for the crime. The electroshock experiment showed that two thirds of people who were tested conformed and obeyed the experimenter blindly, suggesting an idea that they are not the ones to blame for the ‘death’ of other participants of the experiment. The evil is the readiness to follow the commands and fully comply. There are really quite few monsters in the world; the problem is in the whole majority of people who are ready to follow them and to conform to any orders without considering the consequents or the actions themselves. People face uncritical conformity to the leader’s or group norms. Their personality and moral principals are simply switched off and the aggressiveness starts growing. However Zimbardo claims that evil is not only concluded in an action, but also in passive tolerance of what is going on. A new situation may breed both – rage and inaction – and both promote evil. Although on the other hand a new situation may provoke heroic imagination. For example during holocaust many non-Jewish families under the threat of death were hiding Jewish kids in their homes. After the holocaust they were granted the title of the righteous among the nations though the righteous considered that what they did, everyone would do in the same situation. That is something that must be conveyed to our children. In every situation we can choose 3 ways: either give the green light to the hostile imagination and evil, stay aside or become heroes. Every one must be taught that humanity is our business. Bulgakov in his ‘Master Margarita’ through his character Voland claims that in the last 3000 years society did not change. People will always stay the same and the evil and the good will always confront inside us. We must always keep in mind humanity’s previous experiences and try to make the best out of them. The XXth century was a pure return of barbarism – holocaust, genocides in Cambodia and Rwanda, Abu Ghraib, mass suicide persuaded by the pastor Reverend Jim Jones etc. The list is long. According to Judaism the evil and the good come from one and the same source, so that is the reason, why it is sometimes so difficult for us to differentiate between those two. Our task is to fight with our bad inclination (Hebrew- yatzir ha-ra), helping the good inclination (yatzir ha-tov) to develop.

Health Risks of Weight Gain and Obesity

Health Risks of Weight Gain and Obesity This essay will analyse some of the main health risks posed by weight gain and obesity such as the risk of developing chronic heart disease, diabetes and cancer. It will also discuss some of the factors that can impact on wellbeing and the strategies in place nationally to promote healthy living habits. The World Health Organisation (W.H.O), reports that weight gain is a global issue, and reports that â€Å"42 million children under the age of five were overweight or obese in 2013†. Their research found that people who are overweight have a higher risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer and stroke. To reduce these risks we need to help the body maintain good weight. The British Heart Foundation(BHF) advises people to seek support from a GP or even family and friends who can help to establish long term goals to achieve this. In relation to this, there are two calculations used by health professionals to predict if someone is at increased risk of serious illness: waist circumference and body mass index or BMI (Body Mass Index), calculated by dividing one’s weight (kg) by the square of their height (m). Defining children as overweight is a difficult process since their height and weight changes at the same time, and growth patterns differ between the sexes so separate charts are used for calculations. The National Child Measurement Programme analyses these calculations in preschool children aged 4-6 in the UK and are a part of national measures to tackle obesity. A 2013 survey by Public Health England (PHE) found that obesity prevalence in 4-5 and 10-11 year olds has been increasing. These children would need to lose weight to improve their health and lessen the risk that they will become obese adults. In 2012 The BHF estimated that more than a quarter of adults in England were obese. In its 2012 statistical report, the BHF reported that coronary heart disease was the biggest killer in the UK in 2010. It is a common consequence of being overweight and obese and occurs when fatty material blocks arteries. The BHF advises people to eat healthily, lower alcohol consumption, exercise and avoid smoking to lower the risk. Being overweight can affect the risk of cancer because fat tissues in the body produce hormones that can affect the way cells work. According to Cancer Research UK, obesity is linked to one in twenty cancers in the UK and is also a factor in three of the hardest to treat cancers including: pancreatic, gallbladder and oesophageal. Smoking also increases the risk of developing at least 13 types of cancer including Lung Cancer. Chemicals in cigarettes permanently damage DNA which can cause cancer cells to grow and multiply. Smoking is also a major cause of Strokes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). People suffering from COPD struggle to breathe in and out due to the long term damage to the tissue around the lungs. The NHS estimates that nearly three million people in the UK are affected by COPD. People can slow the progression of the disease by stopping smoking, eating healthily and exercising. Like Coronary Heart Disease, strokes are linked to high blood pressure, which is often linked to smoking. Strokes occur when the brain’s blood supply is restricted when the arteries become blocked causing blood clots. The NHS advises people to reduce the risk of stroke by eating a healthy diet which can lower cholesterol levels, exercising regularly and cutting down smoking and alcohol consumption. According to Diabetes UK, diabetes affects 3.2 million people in the UK and is associated with high or low glucose and poor blood circulation since it causes arteries to become ‘’furred up’’. Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. Type 1 Diabetes usually appears in childhood and can be controlled by insulin injections. Type 2 Diabetes usually appears in people over 40, and is treated by a combination of eating healthy, exercising and medication. Complications can occur when diabetes is not managed properly since high glucose levels can damage the small blood vessels that supply key organs. Diabetes UK lists complications including: cardiovascular and kidney disease, feet ulcers, eye and nerve problems, and high blood pressure. The NHS reports that High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) , often named the ‘silent killer’, affects about 30% of the English population and if untreated can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. High Blood pressure can be reduced by altering the lifestyle by stopping smoking, lowering alcohol and caffeine consumption, and lowering weight via healthy eating and exercise. It can also be treated with some medication. Good habits learned in childhood can ensure that key health factors such as eating varied foods as part of a healthy balanced diet and exercising become part of the daily routine. The British Nutrition Foundation recommends teaching children early about the various food groups that make up a nutritionally balanced plate, illustrated via the â€Å"Eat Well Plate†. These food groups and their key benefits are summarised as: -Carbohydrates: starchy foods which should form the base of what we eat and include potatoes, rice, bread, pasta. Some of these foods are available as white or wholegrain and health professionals advise to choose the wholegrain varieties such as brown rice, as they contain more minerals, vitamins and fibre. -Protein can be found in meat, fish and beans and is essential for the body to grow and repair itself. Meat is a main source of B12, a vitamin that cannot come from vegetables. According to the National Institute of Health, B12 deficiency can lead to loss of appetite, memory loss and depression. B12 components can also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Meat can be a source of vitamins, zinc and iron, but also of fat so it is advisable to buy lean meat or poultry. Oily fish such as mackerel and sardines contain essential omega 3 fatty acids that help to fight blockages in the arteries thereby reducing cholesterol and preventing heart disease. -The dairy group comprises milk and dairy products, foods high in fat but which contain calcium, which helps to keep bones strong. Despite being high in calories fats have some beneficial roles such as helping to transport essential vitamins around the body. Fats come in two types. Saturated fat comes mainly from animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs and can increase cholesterol in the body which can lead to heart disease. Unsaturated fat products are found mainly in vegetables and plants such as nuts, olives and avocados and are beneficial to the body and help to lower cholesterol. -Fruit and vegetables help to keep the body healthy as they are low in fat and are high in essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, as well as fibre which helps to reduce bowel cancer, as well as heart disease and stroke. The Department of Health recommends eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to reduce these risks and has introduced a free piece of fruit or vegetable portion to every child in primary school aged between 4-6 years under the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. Findings in 2014 by the National Diet and Nutrition Survey showed that too many people eat more than the daily recommended amount of sugar. Sugars occur naturally in foods such as fruit and milk, but they are dangerous when added to food and drink such as biscuits, fizzy drinks, sweets and contribute to obesity and tooth decay. To help children develop good eating habits early, parents can engage children in creative activities at home such as cooking demonstrations that can help children to explore and taste new foods,explore new colours and textures which can fuel excitement and interest in food. Children can be involved in the shopping experience,at the supermarket they can select their own fruit and vegetables. Children involved in these activities,or who eat at a table with others are more likely to try different foods which can lower the risk of becoming picky eaters. The WHO recommends that children should undertake at least one hour a day of physical activity. It is therefore important that parents find opportunities to incorporate active play opportunities in a childs daily routine. The NHS advises parents to minimise the amount of time young children under five spend being restrained in a car seat or pram,or watching television. It advises that in order to maintain a healthy BMI,small children under five should be physically active for three hours spread over the day. The guidance includes energetic activities for increased movement such as swimming,using the climbing frame,chasing games involving running e.g. hide and seek. Small children can be encouraged to free play before an evening meal rather than watching television. In addition parents can involve children with physical tasks around the home,for example with cleaning or gardening. Young babies can be involved in light activity at home:such as by encouraging babies to crawl,jump or roll. Parents can let a baby kick on a changing mat before a bath or after being changed. A 2012 Health for England Survey reported that physical activity is important for preschool children as it increases bone and muscle strength,attention,and improves behaviour and achievement. However, childrens play is becoming increasingly restricted due to factors such as parents working later hours, lack of suitable outdoor play space and parents fears about childrens safety on the streets. Some charities such as Change for Life and Play for England campaign to increase awareness of the benefits that play has for children, and campaigns to increase outdoor play spaces for children. They suggest that trips to the local park and adventure playgrounds are great outdoor play opportunities, particularly valuable in a modern, urbanised society. Their Street Play Project for example,campaigns to increase residential-led street play for children particularly in disadvantaged areas. Reducing ill health is one the Governments visions for children and families in the UK, who following the tragic death of Victoria Climbe put together a programme-Every Child Matters to bring together all agencies looking after children in their care to prevent ill treatment. It created legislation to promote childrens mental and physical health by bring together all agencies to improve outcomes for all children in their care. Physical activity is also at the heart of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum,one of the seven areas of achievement intended to help preschool children recognise the importance of physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle by the time the reach the end of the curriculum. Looking after the emotional aspects of life is also an important consideration of wellbeing, sitting side by side with eating healthy and staying physically fit. It is now largely accepted that what children become in their adult lives is to a great extent a product of their experiences in the early stages of their lives (Measuring National Wellbeing 2012). However research carried out by PHE in 2013 found regional differences in physical activity and wellbeing,with higher levels of obesity detected in deprived areas of low income. Issues such as poor quality of housing and material deprivation including toys and food can have a negative effect on a young persons wellbeing. These issues contravene some beneficial principles families should incorporate to promote a harmonious environment in the home where wellbeing can thrive. Two key principles are: -Avoiding conflict within the home as this creates a negative atmosphere -The consistency approach,if followed helps to develop reliability,trust and learning that actions have consequences. In childcare settings it is essential to monitor and evaluate childrens development to ensure that they are not displaying signs of physical, social or emotional difficulties affecting their wellbeing. Equally, education practitioners can also help parents who need support with physical, emotional and economic problems impacting on their wellbeing, by offering access to parenting services such as the Triple P Program (Positive Parenting Programme) which claims that it helps lower parents stress,anger and depression. Courses include individual consultations with trained professionals and group sessions where parents can meet together in an encouraging and non judgemental environment where they can share experiences. In conclusion, the trend in modern society is for people to become less active, in particular children who are leading increasingly sedentary lives. Parents find it challenging to help children meet the recommended minimum of one hour a day of moderate exercise, as parents work increasingly longer hours,and outdoor play spaces are reduced in urbanised environments. Lack of exercise and high carb diets mean that children are more at risk of developing serious health difficulties in the future-obesity,heart disease,weakened bone structure and cancer. It is therefore important for parents to make a change since children who develop an active lifestyle and are introduced to a variety of physical activities are much more likely to continue that healthy lifestyle into adulthood. Governments also need to continue to prevent and promote good health as identified by the Every Child Matters and School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. Reference List World Health Organisation (2014) Obesity and Overweight,Factsheet No311 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ (accessed 13 November 2014) Townsend N, Wickramasinghe K, Bhatnagar P, Smolina K, Nichols M, Leal J, Luengo-Fernandez R, Rayner M (2012). Coronary heart disease A compendium of health statistics 2012 edition. British Heart Foundation: London. file:///C:/Users/monicasofia/Downloads/2012_CHD_Statistics_Compendium.pdf (Accessed 11 November 2014).Pages accessed: p8,p10 British Heart Foundation,Preventing Heart Disease 2014 http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/prevention.aspx(Accessed 12 November 2014). Public Health England, National Child Measurement Programme Operational Guidance,May 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/361189/NCMP_operational_guidance_v2_Sept_14.pdf (Accessed 14 November 2014). Cancer Research Uk,Obesity,Body weight and Cancer,2014. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/obesity-bodyweight-and-cancer/obesity-body-weight-and-cancer Accessed 12th November 2014). Kath Roberts, Nick Cavill, Caroline Hancock and Harry Rutter Public Health England Social and Economic Inequalities in diet and physical activity 2013, p8,9, http://www.noo.org.uk/uploads/doc/vid_19253_Social_and_economic_inequalities_in_diet_and_physical_activity_04.11.13.pdf (Accessed 14 November 2014) NHS ,Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseaese 2014, http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx#close.Smokers (Accessed 13 November 2014). NHS ,Stroke-Prevention,(2014), http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stroke/Pages/Prevention.aspx (Accessed 12 November 2014). NHS,High Blood Pressure,2014 http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Blood-pressure-(high)/Pages/Introduction.aspx (Accessed 12 November 2014) Diabetes UK ,What is Diabetes, 2014, http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes/ (Accessed 10 November 2014). Diabetes UK,Nerves, Diabetes Complications 2014, http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Complications/ (Accessed 12 November 2014) British Nutrition Foundation 2014,www.nutrition.org.uk (accessed 12 Novemebr 2014). National Institute of Health,June,24,2011.Vitamin B12 Factsheethttp://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-Consumer/#h1 (Accessed 12 November 2014) Department of Health,The National Archives,5 a Day http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/FiveADay/Index.htm (Accessed 12 November 2014). Department of Health,The National Archives School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme 22 march 2010 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/FiveADay/FiveADaygeneralinformation/DH_4002149 (Accessed 12 November 2014) Public Health England Reducing Obesity and Improving Diet,Public Health and Young People 14 May 2014 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-shows-uk-population-is-eating-too-much-sugar-saturated-fat-and-salt (Accessed 10 November 2014) Kath Roberts, Nick Cavill, Caroline Hancock and Harry Rutter ,Public Health England Social and Economic Inequalities in Diet and Physical Activity 2013 http://www.noo.org.uk/uploads/doc/vid_19253_Social_and_economic_inequalities_in_diet_and_physical_activity_04.11.13.pdf (Accessed 14 November 2014) Health Survey for England Summary of Key Findings 2012 http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB13218/HSE2012-Sum-bklet.pdf (Accesed 12 november 2014) Every Child Matters,Department of Health -2003 https://www.education.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/EveryChildMatters.pdf (Accessed 13 November 2014) Play for England 2014 http://www.playengland.org.uk/ (Accessed 14 November 2014) Change 4 Life 2014 http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/why-change-for-life.aspx (Accessed 14 November 2014) Theodore Joloza, Office for National Statistics,Measuring National Well-being-Children’s Well Being ,2012, http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_283988.pdf (Accessed 14 November 2012). 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Arthropod Ectoparasites in Cats

Arthropod Ectoparasites in Cats CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1Â  Origin of cat domestication The domestic cat Felis catus was originated from the wild cat species, Felis silveteris which distributed from Europe, Middle East, parts of Asia and throughout the Africa continent (Garman, 2000). Cats were first taming in Egypt around 3 600 years ago (Serpell, 1988; Coleman et al., 1997) but the recent finding suggests that the domestication took place earlier in the Fertile, Crescent around 10 000 years ago. Cats can be categorized into three groups according to where and how they live. The groups are; domestic pet cats, free roaming stray cats and feral cats. Domestic pet cats are those owned by human and their resources are provided by the owners, stray cats are not owned and they freely move however, they are still depending on resources supply by human, meanwhile the feral are those that live and reproduce in the wild and hunting for their resources and needs. In Malaysia, most household owned at least one cat as a pet and the cat population’s number increases each year (Bedi, 2011). Average animals received monthly are between 600 – 700 animals as reported by The Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Malaysia. 2.2Â  The host (Stray cats) Stray cats are free ranging cats and can be found in and around the cities, towns, rural properties and they are homeless. They are not owned however, they return to human habitation (Ogan and Jurek, 1997) since they are depending on resources that supply by human. Stray cats could also define as those that escaped home and unable to return or an abandoned cat that seeks its shelter. According to Holton (2007) if a stray cat born in the wild, it can be considered as feral which the free ranging offspring of the domestic cat. Domestic cat’s lifespan as pets are between 15 to 17 years. However for stray cats, estimated time of living is only between 4 to 5 years (Ogan and Jurek, 1997). Stray cats are usually found in contact with human kind and easily seen foraging for food around the areas where food is abundant such as markets, food courts, on the streets and around the cities. These cats are exposed to numerous types of communicable pathogens such as; rabies, toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis. Stray cats are also good vectors to parasitic organism that are transmittable which can be potentially bringing harm to human’s health. Some ectoparasites can cause skin lesions that are accompanied by pruritus, erythema, excoriation, papules and crusts (Wall, 2007) after fed on animals and as well as on human. 2.3Â  Arthropod Ectoparasites The phylum arthropoda contains over 85 per cent of all known species of animal. Most common arthropod ectoparasites that associated with cats are from class Insecta and class Arachnid. Arthropoda is a Geek word arthros which means a joint and podos means foot. Three basic characteristics of the Arthropods jointed appendages, segmented body and external skeleton. The entire body is covered with a tough skin called cuticle which in parts is chemically hardened to form a protective exoskeleton. The very simple heart is dorsal, whereas the ganglionated nerve cord is ventral but in the head region it connects to a dorsal large ganglion, often called the brain. The body cavity called coelom, which is the space between the alimentary canal and body wall, is often called a haemocoele because it contains the arthropod’s blood (Macmillan, 1980) Arthropod ectoparasites have a major impact on husbandry, productivity and welfare of domestic animals (Colebrook and Wall, 2004). Arthropod ectoparasites have strong association with their hosts, they are blood-sucking organisms which live and feed on nutrient-rich fluids that are offered by vertebrates and also may become opportunistic feeder on human. 2.4Â  Physiology and pathogenicity of ectoparasitic arthropods The small, complex, mobile arthropods usually have a short life, but their populations are maintained at a high level because of the large number of offspring and a short developmental period, usually a few days to a few weeks, although some species require a year or more. The great adaptability of arthropods is evidenced by the evolutionary changes which work to their advantage. Their jointed appendages enhance their capability for dispersal. The body covering of the terrestrial forms provides resistance to desiccation. The injuries produced by ectoparasitic arthropods are caused directly by the ectoparasite or indirectly by the transmission of disease organisms. Arthropods may cause injury or discomfort through annoyance, blood loss, dermatitis, myiasis, envonomization, and allergy. Direct lesions result from the biting, sucking, stinging, or burrowing of the adult and larval parasites. 2.5 Classification of Arthropod Ectoparasites Phylum arthropoda (figure 2.5) classified to two classes, which are class Insecta and class Arachnida. Class Insecta that associated with this study is consist of two orders which are order Phthitraptera known as louse or lice and order Siphonoptera known as fleas. Meanwhile from class Arachnida, only subclass Acari that associated with this study. Subclass Acari consist of four orders which are order Prostigmata known as chiggers, order Astigmata known as fur mites, order Mesostigmata known as mites and lastly order Metastigmata which is known as ticks. 2.5.1 Class Insecta Comstock (1949) stated that there are twenty-six orders categorized under class Insecta. Of these, eight are known to be including parasitic species, while other orders may include incidental and accidental parasites. Members often characterized as tri-segmented bodies, into head, thorax and abdomen. All members have three pairs of legs and usually pairs of wings. Some insects such as fleas and lice are lack of wings. 2.5.2 Class Arachnida Generally, members are characterized as segmented body into two parts which are the cephalothorax and the abdomen. There are no antennae or wings. Most adults have eight legs except a few species of mites that only have one up to three pairs of legs (Roberts and Janovy, 2005) .Only subclass Acari that associated with domestic animal, which consists of Mites and Ticks. Acari divided into seven orders. Of these, four orders are known in parasitic species which are Prostigamata (Chiggers), Astigmata (Fur mites), Mesostigmata (Mites) and Metastigmata (Ticks). Mites have smaller size that enables them to occupy a very wide range of habitats. Most species are free living but there are also parasitic species living on plants or animals included invertebrates and vertebrates (Fain, 1994).Ticks are obligate blood-feeding parasites for cold and warm blooded vertebrates with a worldwide distribution (Cacho et al., 1994). 2.6Â  Common ectoparasites infesting cats and its distribution Stray cats get infested with ectoparasites when they wander outdoors searching for food and most often exposed to accidental ingestion of parasites. Common ectoparasites that associated with cats include fleas, lice, mites and ticks. Previous studies in Malaysia reported parasites infecting the stray cat population from Peninsular Malaysia have given considerable data on the diversity and levels of infection (Lee et al., 1993) 2.6.1 Fleas (Order: Siphonaptera) Fleas have a segmented body divided into head, thorax and abdomen. For adult fleas, the thorax consists of six legs. Fleas are small approximately 1 – 8 mm long and yellowish brown to black wingless insects. Adult fleas are laterally flattened; usually brown in colour and readily to jump (Gullan and Cranston, 2005). The most common and important cat flea is Ctenocephalides felis (figure 2.6.1). It is a cosmopolitan species and a pest in the urban environment. This species are ubiquitous throughout the world wherever suitable host reside. It is laterally compressed, wingless, about 2mm long and reddish brown to black colour. It has sloping forehead, hind tibia which lacks an outer apical tooth and coombs which differentiate it with other species. The male Ctenocephalides felis is slightly smaller than the female and has complex, snail – shaped genitalia. Fleas undergo a complete lifecycle which consists of egg, larva, pupa and adult. Immature stages of flea do not resemble the adult and occupy very different ecological niches. On average an adult flea lives for 6 to 12 months and has been postulated to live for 2 years. A female adult flea can mature eggs and may lay 300 to 1000 eggs over its lifetimes in average 3 to 25 eggs per day, if it has access to its primary host. According to Rust and Dryden (1997), about 15 eggs fall into the soil or the carpet. The eggs then hatch and produce larvae that crawl in the environment to feed. Flea larvae are elongate, have no legs and are sparsely covered with long setae. They have small head with simple antennae but lack eyes. They feed on organic debris found in the nest or house of the host. The larva undergoes two moults before becoming the third – stage larva before developing into a silken cocoon. It remains in the pupa for 1 to 2 weeks before the adult flea emerges spontaneously f rom the pupal case when they sense the presence of an appropriate host.

Abortion :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every year in the United States 25% of all pregnancies results in an abortion, this adds up to over a million abortions a year. This clearly illustrates that there is problem of over aborting innocent fetuses in our society. I am a firm believer that abortion should be restricted, to minimize its use. I believe that our current society is using abortion as a form of contraceptive. I believe abortion does have its place, and should not be banned altogether. However I do believe when it is used form of birth control that it is being used incorrectly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When examining the issue of abortion there are many questions to consider. What if the mother wants the baby, and the father doesn’t? What if the father wants the baby and the mother doesn’t? What if the decision is made to abort the fetus in the first trimester as opposed to the second or third trimesters? What if the mother was impregnated by an act of rape? What if going on with the pregnancy could cause harm to mother? All of these questions raised are touchy issues. All of these questions bring up good points for both sides of this debate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people who are â€Å"pro choice† claim that the mother has a right to privacy, and to deny them the decision to abort is going against this right. They believe that since this decision affects the women’s body, that this should be her private business. I really don’t like this argument. I believe that the right to privacy no longer exists when the decision effects more than the person involved in the decision. When a woman makes the decision to have an abortion it affects many people involved, rather than just the mother. The father is also greatly affected by this decision. The father should have equal say in this decision making process. In any case that the father wants to keep the child, the woman should not have the right to abort. This theory work both ways, if the mother wants to keep on with the pregnancy and the father wants to terminate it, by no means should the mother have to grant the father his wishes. I think John Stuart Mi ll’s harm principle supports my argument. Mill’s principle believes that a person has a right to do whatever they choose as long as they cause no harm, or the potential of harm to others.

Abraham Lincoln Through Many Lenses Essay -- essays research papers

http://www.kkk.bz/kidspart5.htm 4)Who said, "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so." Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States or Jefferson Davis, President , President of the Confederate States of America? Answer: Abraham Lincoln - First Inaugural Address - March 4, 1861. 6) What was the major emphasis of the Emancipation Proclamation? Answer: The Emancipation Proclamation is 540 words long. of those, 400 words limit the proclamation to the states in rebellion - it defines the states in rebellion and states that it is directed ONLY to the states in rebellion. It further says that if those states in rebellion would cease and return to the union within 100 days then they would keep slavery intact. There is always a big fuss made over Lincoln being "the great emancipator." He is continually held up as an example of how this great president fought against the evils of slavery and worked on behalf of racial equality. But is the picture painted of Lincoln by egalitarians the real Abraham Lincoln? One of the most important events in Lincoln's career was the debate with Stephen Douglas. The Lincoln-Douglas debate was actually seven debates held throughout Illinois during the 1858 senatorial campaign. Most people being ignorant of the debate think the debate was about racial equality - that is Douglas favored slavery and thus white supremacy and Lincoln opposed slavery and favored equality. The fact is that many of those who opposed slavery did so not because of their belief in racial equality but because they did not want the import of Negroes into their communities - via slavery. Part of this reason was because of the economic harm that is created for poor whites who were not able to find employment in face of the huge slave population. We find the same problem today due to illegal immigration even though they aren't slaves. Douglas supported what was known as "popular sovereignty." That is, he held to the doctrine that each state had the constitutionally protected right to decide for its self whether it would be a slave or free state. the decision would be as a result of a general election. The debates clearly show Lincoln's position on slavery - he was against it. He... ...as a segregationist. Joseph Sobran Archive Table of Contents Current Column Return to the SOBRAN’S home page SOBRAN’S continues because of your generous donations! Your purchase of products or subscriptions or your donation to SOBRAN’S will be processed by PayPal, ® one of the most widely used and secure Internet-payment sources available. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Search This Site Essays and Articles | Syndicated Columns Wanderer column (â€Å"Washington Watch†) | Sobran’s Cynosure The Shakespeare Library | The Hive | Current and Back Issues What’s New? | WebLinks | Scheduled Appearances Biography of Joe Sobran | How to Subscribe or Renew Contact Us | Products and Gift Ideas | Books by Joe Griffin Internet Syndicate/Griffin Communications Notes from the Webmaster | Lagniappes Page Back to the home page | How to Subscribe or Renew Griffin Internet Syndicate/Griffin Communications Contact Us | Products and Gift Ideas Reprinted with permission Copyright  © 2000 by the Griffin Internet Syndicate, a division of Griffin Communications http://www.sobran.com/columns/1999-2001/001219.shtml