The human digestive system

The human digestive system The human digestive system is responsible for the intake, breakdown, absorption and finally removal of nutrients and energy needed for the functioning of the human body. It performs these duties by allowing nutrients and energy in the form of food to enter the body, and then removing the materials needed from the food, then absorbing the materials into the body, as well as sending these materials to the place that theyre needed, and finally removing the leftover materials from the body. The system consists of the primary organs; the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine, the rectum, and the anus, as well as the secondary organs; the liver, the salivary glands, the gallbladder and the pancreas. The mouth is responsible for the immediate intake of food, and is partially responsible for digestion, through the process of mastication, which is the chewing of food. Food enters the body through the mouth, where it is than chewed to soften and partially breakdown the food. Saliva from the salivary glands also aides in the preliminary breakdown of foods, because of the chemicals and enzymes contained in saliva. Once the food is sufficiently broken down, it is swallowed and brought to the next organ in the digestive system, the esophagus. The Role of the esophagus is simply to allow the partially broken down food to travel from the mouth to the stomach. Its role in digestion is minimal, but it is still considered one of the major organs in the system. At the joining point of the esophagus and the stomach, called the cardiac sphincter, is the blocker that prevents gastric acid from exiting the stomach and damaging the mouth or the esophagus itself. When the Cardiac sphincter fails its job, the gastric acid seeps into the esophagus, causing damage to the interior of the esophagus, as well as the painful sensation known as heartburn. The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the human digestive system, and is one of the primary sites of digestion. It is filled with gastric acid, a powerful acid that breaks down food with relative ease, digesting most foods in about 4 or 5 hours. The stomach contains three glands, which are used to either aid in the digestion of food, or protection of the stomach from its own digestive materials. The three types of glands are the pyloric gland, the cardiac gland and the gastric gland. The pyloric gland is responsible for secreting gastrin, a hormone which stimulates the production of gastric acid. The gastrin activates the gastric glands, which start secreting gastric acid. The cardiac glands are the centers of mucus secretion in the stomach. This mucus is used to protect the lining of the stomach. A common problem associated with the stomach is peptic ulcers, a type of ulcer formed by a disturbance in the regulation of the hormone gastrin, which causes to much gastric acid to be produced, which causes damage to the mucus membrane and the stomach lining. After food has been digested enough, it moves out of the stomach and into the small intestine. Another round of digestion occurs in the small intestine, even more than in the stomach. Absorption also begins to occur at this stage in the digestive system. The small intestine is broken down into three parts, the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, and it is responsible for most of the food digested in the small intestine. The duodenum also regulates the rate of emptying of the stomach via hormonal pathways. The next part of the small intestine is the jejunum, which is the longest portion of the small intestine, but it is also responsible for very little digestion, but is primarily responsible for the first round of absorption, where it takes most of the nutrients out of the food matter. The final portion of the small intestine is the ileum, which is where the final bit of absorption in the small intestine takes place. Once the now digested material finishes its path through the small intestine, it enters the large intestin e. The large intestines primary purpose is to remove most of the water from the now indigestible mass, and move it to the anus, where it will be removed from the body. The large intestine is made up of the cecum, the rectum and the colon. The cecum is not very large in humans, and is barely existent at all. It serves a much higher purpose in herbivores, where it digests tough leaves with the help of symbiotic bacteria. In humans this is not necessary, so it has become very unimportant. The colon is where the water is taken from the digested food matter. The rectum is where the waste is temporarily stored before it is excreted from the body, which takes place in the anus. The secondary organs in the digestive system are also vital to the survival of a human, but they take a more passive role in digestion. The liver plays a major role in digestion and has a number of functions, including glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification. It lies below the diaphragm in the thoracic region of the abdomen. It produces some of the systems bile the rest is produced by the gallbladder, an alkaline compound which aids in digestion. It also performs and regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions requiring highly specialized tissues, including the synthesis and breakdown of small and complex molecules, many of which are necessary for normal vital functions.

Isotope Coded Affinity Tag: Applications and Benefits

Isotope Coded Affinity Tag: Applications and Benefits Proteomics is a vital and necessary branch of science targeted at the in-depth study of proteins and their structure to understand their function; as an important pharmacological tool in drug discovery and drug development. The most widely used analytical approach to protein separation and quantification, usually involves integrating protein separation by 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with micro capillary reverse phase-liquid chromatography protein identification; and finally, detection by mass spectrometry. However, the presence of limitations such as the lack of automation and high costs associated within the combination technique led to the research and introduction of a better and more reliable technique involving the use of isotope coded affinity tags (ICAT). This report looks at the history of isotope coded affinity tags, its advantages over 2D electrophoretic techniques, the principles associated with the technique, its development over the years and finally its application and contribution to the growth and development of analytical science. It also aims to comment on future developmental routes for the technology. TABLE OF CONTENTS (Jump to) A. Background B. Introduction to protein quantification B.1. 2D Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis B.2. Reverse Phase High Liquid Chromatography B.3. Mass Spectrometry B.4. Problems associated with 2DLC-MS combination technique C. Introduction to Isotope Coded Affinity Tags (ICATs)   C.1. Major advancements in isotope coded affinity tag approach D. Principles of Isotope Coded Affinity Tags (ICATs) D.1. Protein Sampling D.2. ICAT reagent Tagging D.3. Peptide Isolation D.4. Protein quantification D.5. Peptide identification E. Applications of Isotope Coded Affinity Tags (ICATs) E.1. Applications in the quantitative identification of cancer  biomarkers E.2. Applications in the quantification of antimalarial drugs  and their metabolites in biological fluids E.3. Quantification of protein expression in oxidative-stressed liver  cells as a therapeutic target for the treatment of liver disease E.4. Quantitative analysis of defaulted proteins present in the brain as  a therapeutic target for the treatment of brain diseases E.5. Applications in the proteomic analysis of recombinant proteins F. Future Development of Isotope Coded Affinity Tags (ICATs) BACKGROUND Proteins are very important components of biologically active systems and some of their functions include structural foundation (connective tissue), transportation (carrier proteins) or immunity (antibodies). Specific and selective protein-protein interactions within the body are the basis for key metabolic and kinetic pathways within living organisms. A disruption in a specific proteins interaction and function, leading to a small or large interference in the subsequent metabolic pathway within the body due to any number of reasons; is the major cause of disease which if not dealt with, can lead to fatality. For this reason, Proteomics is a vital and necessary branch of science targeted at the in-depth study of proteins and their structures; to understand their function as an important pharmacological tool in drug discovery and drug development. Developments in proteomics and genomics over the years through quantitative-structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies and computer aid ed drug design (CADD), has helped to identify novel drugs and their targets for action. INTRODUCTION TO PROTEIN QUANTIFICATION The use of Isotope coded affinity tags as a protein quantification method in proteomics was first developed in 1999 by Aebersold et al. to aid the detection and purification of recombinant proteins[1]. Before the research done in 1999, most widely used approaches to protein quantification were done by 2D Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (2D PAGE) combined with micro-capillary Liquid reversed phase liquid chromatography (2DLC) and novel electrospray ionization (ESI-MS) or tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) technique for detection [2]. B.1. 2D POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL ELECTROPHORESIS This is because 2D Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (2D PAGE) is very well known for its sensitivity and high resolving separation power. It is also a highly adaptable technique, and its resourcefulness makes it highly sort after for the separation of biological molecules including proteins, based on both physiochemical properties and other chemical-specific interactions. The limit of detection is well documented to a resolution of more than 7000 macromolecules in a singular separation. A large variety and combination of solvents and additives can be used with 2D-PAGE electrophoretic technique to ensure analytes solubility within complex protein mixtures. B.2. REVERSE PHASE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY The inclusion of liquid chromatography as a second separation step also allows for the further separation of the protein mixtures based on difference in retention properties of the components. Recent breakthrough in the analytical approach to liquid chromatography involves the used of two HPLC pumps connected through a detailed 6-port valve system; which results in a more comprehensive separation by gradient elution of complex protein mixtures at high speed and quick run times. B.3. MASS SPECTROMETRY Finally, a mass spectrometric technique (Electrospray ionization (EIMS) or tandem mass spectrometry (MSMS)) which provides a UV detection of protein and measures the mass to charge ratios of the eluted peptides is employed. The detector produces a comprehensive chromatogram by plotting UV signals against their corresponding reverse phase retention times, and then the ESI-MS/MS-MS provides mass information for the eluted peptides. Figure 2: The construction of a 2DLC column and its interface with mass spectrometry. (A) A pressure bomb is used for column packing and sample loading. (B) The flow rate of in the 2-D column is controlled at 100-300 nL/min, and ESI is achieved by applying 2 kV to the gold wire.[4 5] B.4. PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2DLC-MS COMBINATION TECHNIQUE However, in spite of the popularity of the combination technique, a number of limitations exist that makes the technique far from perfect. It has been documented that complex proteins and peptides with very high alkalinity or basicity and some trans-membrane proteins cannot be separated by this combination method. Also during total cell analysis, the combinatorial technique was found to readily accommodate highly abundant protein separation with the lower abundant proteins being scarcely detected. The over process also requires several sequential stages including difficult techniques such as in-gel digestion; making the combination technique highly labour intensive, difficult to automate and hence non-cost effective. This called for a further development in proteomic research to overcome these problems by possibly avoiding the separation step by electrophoresis and hence the introduction of the use of novel Isotope coded affinity tags (ICAT). INTRODUCTION TO ISOTOPE CODED AFFINITY TAGS The approach of isotope coded affinity tagging mainly combined with a form of high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a relatively new and improved method used in proteomics for the precise quantification and identification of protein sequences within simple or complex protein mixtures. It has been documented to be simpler as it is capable of directly quantifying the proteins from complex mixtures, eliminating the electrophoretic stage. This makes isotope coded affinity tagging more efficient, easily-automated and hence a lot less labour and cost intensive than the electrophoretic process. The use of ICAT is the new and preferred analytical method for protein quantification. Isotope coded affinity tagging is based on a class of chemical reagents called Isotope coded affinity tags (ICAT). The ICAT reagent occurs in two forms depending on the number of deuteriums; light containing none or heavy containing eight. ICAT reagents are made up of three major functional units: A distinct chemically reactive group responsible for the selective labelling of the SH groups of thiol (cysteine) residues, An isotope coded linker responsible for the soluble properties of the reagent and it also provides a site for the addition of the isotopic label, And a biotin affinity tag used to achieve protein isolation and identification. It depends on the principle of strong binding interaction of biotin and avidin. C 1. MAJOR ADVANCEMENTS IN ISOTOPE CODED AFFINITY TAG LABELLING Since the technique was initially introduced in 1999 for the labelling of protein mixtures at low levels, there have been valuable technological advancements in the approach using isotope coded affinity tags (ICATs) within the pharmaceutical industry. These include: The design and modification of affinity tags to improve on the chromatographic separation process. [25] The use of variable peptide specific affinity tags to maximise large-scale quantification on individual processes. [25] An introduction to the combination of different tags to achieve maximum proteome industry [21] The use of exopeptidases to efficiently remove the affinity tags from the peptides in the purification stage [22, 23] D. PRINCIPLES OF ISOTOPE CODED AFFINITY TAG (ICAT) APPROACH Isotope coded affinity tags are used for identifying and quantifying the protein content of two different cell states or population within a mixture. The technique is based largely on two concepts: The peptide sequence of the protein to be quantified (between 5-25 Amino acids long) contains sufficient information to identify that unique protein. And those peptides tagged with the light and heavy reagents respectively are chemically identical and hence serve as very ideal internal standards for quantification. Figure 4. A schematic diagram for the ICAT approach to protein quantification. The principles of Isotope coded affinity tags as documented by Aebersold et al. are divided into four stages: Sampling, Tagging, Isolation and Quantification. D.1. PROTEIN SAMPLING Firstly, two different protein samples containing reduced cysteine (thiol) side chains are individually derived; by breaking down the cell structure, and isolating and extracting the proteins required from the cell. D.2. ICAT REAGENT TAGGING For one of the protein samples, the light form of the ICAT reagent (containing zero deuterium) is introduced to covalently bind to the SH cysteine residues; whilst for the other, the heavy form of ICAT reagent (containing eight deuterium) is used. The individual labelled mixtures represent different cell states or populations. The two samples are then combined into one complex protein mixture and a protease enzyme is added to cut-up or cleave the larger protein molecules into tagged smaller peptides fragments. D.3. PEPTIDE ISOLATION Avidin is then introduced to the mixture to act as a magnet and due to the strong and highly specific binding interaction of biotin and avidin, the ICAT-tagged peptides are isolated from the mixture through affinity chromatography. The isolated peptides are then analysed and separated by micro-capillary high performance liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). D.4. PROTEIN QUANTIFICATION This is the most important step of the analytical process as the quantity and sequence identity of the proteins from which the tagged peptides originated, are automatically determined. Quantification is achieved by comparing the integrated peak intensities for simultaneously eluted pairs of identical, doubly charged peptide ions. The pair corresponds to the two different forms of the ICAT reagent with the mass spectrometer running successively in two modes. One mode measures the comparative fragmenting of peptides eluting from the micro-capillary column whilst the other records the sequence information of the tagged peptides in the same molar ratios as the corresponding proteins. This also means that the chemically identical ICAT-labelled peptide ions are readily identified because as they co-elute, they differ in mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio because of an 8 deuterium difference in the mass of the ICAT-reagents. D.5. PEPTIDE IDENTIFICATION The final stage of isotope coded affinity tagging involves an automated correlation with protein sequence data banks using algorithms and permutations, to identify the protein from which the sequenced peptide originated and hence identify the protein. A combination of all results generated on the chromatogram by the mass spectrometer; and analysis of the ICAT reagent-labelled peptides therefore determines the relative quantities as well as the sequence identities of the components of protein mixtures in a single automated operation. In mass spectrometry, the ratios between the intensities of the lower and upper mass components of these pairs of peaks provide an accurate measure of the relative abundance of the peptides (and hence the proteins) in the original cell pools because the MS intensity response to a given peptide is independent of the isotopic composition of the ICAT reagents. E. APPLICATIONS OF ISOTOPE CODED AFFINITY TAGS The use of ICAT reagent -labelled internal standards, has now become a common and fundamental practice in quantitative mass spectrometry. It has been researched to great advantage in a number of different fields of biochemistry. E.1. Quantitative identification of Cancer biomarkers [9,10] Analytical methods that employ isotope coded affinity tags are very useful and hence popular in the development of high throughput approach to early cancer detection in humans. [9]The significant quantification and identification of cancer biomarkers using ICAT reagents is a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In this case, protein samples containing cancerous and non-cancerous cells are denatured and reduced to expose the cysteine -SH peptide residues contained. They can then subsequently labelled with the light or heavy forms of isotope coded affinity tags in vivo using stable isotopic labelling (SILAC; (e.g., 2H, 13C, 15N, and 18O)) or in vitro using isobaric tags (iTRAQ). This approach allows expressed proteins and peptides in malignant, cancer-derived cells to be compared with non-cancerous cells.[8] The use of labelled peptides as internal standards allows for relative and/or absolute estimation and quantification of the abundance of the differential proteins present. Emer ging technologies such as the use of protein microarrays are opportunities presently being researched and developed for future improvements in cancer biomarker identification. [10] E.2. Quantification of antimalarial drugs and their metabolites in biological fluids [7] Malaria is a deadly disease responsible for millions of deaths every year, in many tropical and developing countries. Antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine, mefloquine and pyrimethamine and their metabolites; interact with specific dihydrofolate enzymatic sites in plasmodium falciparum malaria. Since enzymes are largely made up of proteins, many enzymatic functions are made up of peptide peptide interactions. Isotope coded affinity tagging combined with high performance liquid chromatography has been documented by Kalpesh N. P. et al, 2010 [7] to be a reliable method for the selective determination and quantification of these potent antimalarial drugs in biological fluids. ICAT reagents are very useful in the extraction stage of the antimalarial drug from a biological matrix as they provide high peptide selectivity and specificity, to avoid interference from multiple antimalarial combination, or endogenous peptides that exist within the matrix. The use of the ICAT approach has grea tly aided research and development into the pharmacokinetics of different antimalarial drugs especially Chloroquine.[7,8] E.3. Quantification of protein expression in oxidative-stressed liver cells as a therapeutic target for the treatment of liver disease [12] A major pathogenic event recurrent in several variations of liver diseases in humans, involves oxidative stress of the liver caused by the formation of reactive oxygen species. Hepatocytes normally have mechanisms responsible for the regulation of oxidative and anti-oxidative molecules within the cell. However, the presence of reactive oxygen species in the liver affects major cellular components including cell proteins, and eventually, the cells regulatory ability. This leads to metabolic or proliferative liver disease and eventual cell fatality.[13] Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are largely represented by mitochondria and cytochrome P450 enzymes in liver cells. The expression of certain protein molecules termed as biomarkers within oxidative-stressed liver cells, and their subsequent quantification using ICAT reagents, can enable an early detection of liver disease. It can also allow for the progressive monitoring of liver damage as a therapeutic target to the treatment of liver disease.[15] E.4. Quantitative analysis of defaulted proteins present in the brain as a therapeutic target for the treatment of brain diseases. The brain is a very complex structure, vital to the existence of mankind. However, a lot of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the normal function and mis-function of the brain have not been fully researched. Research into quantitatively characterising the human brain proteome and using the analysis to understand important cell signalling mechanisms [16], is a very important area of neuropoteomics (i.e. proteomic research and development). The large scale use of stable isotope coded affinity tags in quantitative analysis of complex brain matrixes has helped to provide internal standards for relevant peptides that are chemically similar but isotopically different. These internal standards can be used to correctly identify important biomarkers present in the brain as in epilepsy[17]; or absent biomarkers as in the pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease[18]. E.5. Applications in the proteomic analysis of recombinant proteins High-throughput approaches to the quantification and identification of proteins, is widely applied in the industrial synthesis of therapeutic enzymes. [19] Proteomic analysis on most recombinant proteins, struggle with very low yields and poor solubility which greatly affects the ability to achieve high-throughput protein purification. Quantitative methods that employ isotope coded affinity tags have been documented to be the only way to achieve selective high-throughput protein purification with improved yields, solubility and folding of the recombinant protein, during the process [19]. This is because, purification processes by biotin affinity normal resulting in great yields of over 90%, making it very economically favourable. Combinations of two or more isotopic tags are typically needed to make the most of high-throughput screening.[1] THE FUTURE OF ISOTOPE CODED AFFINITY TAGS (ICATs) The main application area of isotope coded affinity approach is in the identification of biomarkers as a therapeutic target for disease treatment and prevention. The future of analytical techniques that use Isotope coded affinity tags for peptide-labelling includes:

socialist feminist criticism :: essays research papers fc

Socialist Feminist Criticism: You Dropped the Bomb on Me, Baby   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feminism and gender studies have been described as having the ability to â€Å"challenge literary and culture theory to confront the difficult task of assimilating the findings of an expanding sphere of inquiry† (Contemporary Literary Criticism 567). This area of study has taken center stage during the last fifty years, not only in our society, but also in literary criticism. Although the terrain Feminism traverses can hardly be narrowed down to one single definition, the exploration of the genre can, at times, be the most intriguing feature of the criticism itself. While feminism has undoubtedly changed the way women and gender roles are considered in society today, it has also had an impact on the way that I, too, read literature, look at American culture, and view the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Walter Ong suggests that â€Å"‘literature’ itself is the product of—or completely wound up and ‘imbricated’ in—the social contexts out of which it grows† (CLC 461). The social contexts that exist in our society have not only affected our societal systems themselves, but also have changed the way we view our class systems, gender roles, and sexual choices. Viewing society from a Marxist perspective can also help us decipher the unspoken rules that govern us. â€Å"Not only do Marxist critics want criticism to be constantly aware of history—both present and past history—in reading and literature, they also demand that the criticism become more overtly political or†¦ ‘politically informed,’ so that it attempts, as Marx said, not simply to interpret but to change the world† (CLC 462). This intent is similar to that of the feminist genre in that both camps are seeking to change the w ay we understand the world and to eventually change the world itself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Feminism and Marxism are further intertwined if you consider the female sex as a social class of its own. In my analysis of Walt Whitman’s poem, I Hear America Singing, I commented that â€Å"by studying cultures and societies from the Marxist vantage point we are better equipped to understand the affects of social classes on our lives. The theories of Marxism provide the thinking worker with an understanding which is capable of leading him through the many events and complex processes of society, economics, the struggle of classes, and politics.† But, by utilizing these techniques in combination with those of the Feminist perspective, we are equipped with an even greater microscope under which to examine the social contexts that surround and inevitably influence us.

The Effects of Industrialization on Society Essay -- Industrial Histor

The Effects of Industrialization on Society The Industrial Revolution changed society from an agriculture based community into a thriving urban city through many interrelated changes. One of the most important changes was the quantity and rate of products produced to meet the rising demand. Large industrial factories increased efficiency and productivity, which caused a shift in economy. Karl Marx’s believed that the new changes overturned established economies as well as society. He voiced his view through the Communist Manifesto to show people the negative effect industrialization was having on society. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, society and economics were largely determined by land and agriculture. Growth was slow and people relied on traditional means to survive. The majority of societies were farmers who raised crops and animals for a living. However, in the eighteenth century, the population exploded and grew at a significant rate. The four primary factors behind this growth are: a decline in death rate, an increase in the birth rate, the virtual elimination of plagues, and an increase in the availability of food [[i]]. This burst of population created an excessive amount of workers, who were not needed in the agriculture society. The need for workers in agriculture decreased due to the advances in technology and tools. A large number of people as well as perspective farmers had to find jobs elsewhere. This is one of the important factors in the shift of the population from rural areas to the more urban cities. The introduction of machinery initiated the Industrial Revolution making factories an important way of life. The machinery in factories used the pow... ...is, and Francisco Louà §Ã„ , As Time Goes By (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001), 164-168. [v]. Freeman and Louà §Ã„ , 194. [vi]. Montagna, [vii]. The Acts 29 Times. [viii]. Fielden, John, The Curse of the Factory System (New York: Frank Cass and Company Limited, 1969), xiii. [ix]. Wing, Charles, Evils of the Factory System (New York: Frank Cass and Company Limited, 1967), clxxxv. [x]. Fielden, 34-35. [xi]. Chris Rohmann, A World of Ideas (New York: Random House Publishing, 1999), 249. [xii]. Rohmann, 249. [xiii].Marx, Karl. â€Å"Communist Manifesto.† History and Religious Studies. 1st ed. Page 19. [xiv]. Marx, 16.

Urban Legend of Mount de Sales Academy :: Urban Legends Ghost Stories

Mount de Sales Academy When one usually thinks of a hearing a ghost story, the setting is dark with flickering light (such as around a campfire or in a basement with bad lighting) and, of course, it is nighttime. Needless to say, when I heard this story during the middle of the day on a Friday, I was a little taken aback. When prompted for any urban legends or ghost stories a white, female friend of mine immediately responded with, â€Å"Have you ever heard of de Sales Academy?† With my negative response, the nineteen year old student jumped into her story: Mount De Sales Academy is one of those Catholic, all girls’ schools that teaches their students to be good Catholics and all that. In the 1940s, however, there was one girl who didn’t listen to all the rules and became pregnant. For the time, this was a terrible situation and the girl didn’t know what to do. She lived at the school on the top floor and eventually committed suicide instead of facing the trouble she would have been in. Ever since then, there have been reports in the school of doors opening and closing with no possible explanation and silhouettes seen in the windows when there should be no one at the school. The storyteller had not witnessed the strange happenings at the school but claimed to know someone who had seen the disturbances. As a performance, the telling of this story was very matter a fact and my friend did not self-aggrandize; the performance was quick, to the point, but not particularly dramatic. The storyteller told the legend as fact and was not melodramatic about her role as storyteller. While researching the story I was only able to find one specific reference to Mount de Sales and any ghostly presence there. However, at this online repository of lore relating to the State of Maryland, Mount de Sales Academy is mentioned along with â€Å"reports of doors open[ing] and clos[ing] while locked and†¦a bright blue silhouette walk[ing] by the windows† (Juliano and Carlson). Further research found no other reference to de Sales in any stories and no reference to any suicide or murder at the school. The additional tale found relating to the Catonsville school does reflect the story told to me. Both mention doors opening and closing without cause along with a ghostly silhouette; but there is no reference in the Internet source of the suicide of a pregnant girl.

Various Government Roles in Health Care

The government performs several important roles, including financing, delivering, and regulating the delivery of healthcare. The federal government or the state government programs provides healthcare for uninsured individuals or low income families with needs. The federal government regulates programs such as Medicaid and Medicare providers. They regulate such things as health codes, the insurance industry, licensed personnel, and facilities. Important Roles The government which consists of federal, state and local combined has many important roles in the U. S healthcare system.One of the roles in which the government provides is finance. It is estimated that 48% of healthcare was paid for by public dollars in 2008, which included Medicare, Medicaid, state and local health programs, CHIP, and Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Yesalis, Holt, & Politzer, 2012). Federal and State governments jointly fund Medicaid, long term mental health services, community health centers an d public health programs. Regulation shapes all aspects of America's fragmented health care industry, from the flow of dollars to the communication between physicians and patients.It is the engine that translates public policy into action. While the health and lives of patients, as well as almost one-sixth of the national economy depend on its effectiveness, health care regulation in America is bewilderingly complex. Government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels direct portions of the industry, but hundreds of private organizations do so as well. Some of these overseers compete with one another, some conflict, and others collaborate. Their interaction is as important to the provision of health  care as are the laws and rules they implement. (Robert I. Field)RegulationsThe state government also regulates licensing for health care personnel, facilities, and establishes health codes. The government basically controls the health industry with rules and regulations. Rangi ng from: Regulation/licensing, mental health services, vital statistics, public health issues, public health laboratories, communicable disease control programs, environmental health, maternal/child health, health planning, and health education. (Yesalis, Holt, & Politzer, 2012).

Marketing and Refrigerators

grocery storeplaceING PROJECT BIMM(PGDM-A) stem MEMBERS * BHOOMIKA JOSHI * HIRAL SAVLA * PRIYANKA VARDANI * SWATI DIXIT * SHRUTI SANCHETI * SNEHA UPADHAYA * RUMPA SARKAR INDIAN REFRIGERATOR INDUSTRY (mart ANALYSIS) icebox grocery in India Refrigerators nominate been make in India since 1950s. Till the 1980s players same(p) Godrej , Kelvinator , Allwyn & angstrom Voltas controlled almost 90% of the tradeplace. rather the white goods sector was categorized as a luxury goods attention and was overcome to oppressive taxation & axerophthol licensing. The lieu changed after the liberalization of the Indian providence in the early 1990s.The government aloof on the whole restrictions and now there is no restriction on foreign investments and licences ar no longer required. Post-liberalization , a sum total of foreign companies entered the merc exitiseplace and many ho implement servant players as well as diversified into refrigerators. BPL & deoxyadenosine monophosphat e VIDEOCON who already had a presence in the consumer electronics foodstuff leveraged their strengths to enter the durables sector. The refrigerator, today, quite alone is an indispensable item of severallyday use. The refrigerator foodstuff has registered almost 40% ingathering over the last 4 long time from 3. 3million units in 2004/05 to 4. million units in 2008/09. With developing disposable incomes and a start discernment take aim for the category (34% even in urban India), the marketplace is set to split in the coming pentad years. The evidence scenario in India is that refrigerators gull the most aspirational shelter after televisions. This shows that the gain rate of refrigerator is graduate(prenominal). Today refrigerators argon being fabricate in 2 basic designs which be a) Direct Cool Refrigerator b) icing the puck Free Refrigerator In these two designs of refrigerators, the direct feeble design market is lots more than than the expensive frost-f ree lays.Although the reaping is marginal in the direct cool stupefys, the major factor for its growth is the availableness of little belld cases. Indian refrigerator market is wanted at Rs 4000 crore. Refrigerators hold just 16% of consumer durable market that is valued at nigh Rs. 20,000-25,000 crore in India. Its market is growing at the rate of 7-8% annually. study BRANDS OF REFRIGERATORS IN INDIA * Akai Refrigerators * Allwyn Refrigerators * BPL Refrigerators * Daewoo Refrigerators * Electrolux Refrigerators * Frigidaire Refrigerators * GE Refrigerators * Godrej Refrigerators Hitachi Refrigerators * Kelvinator Refrigerators * LG Refrigerators gyrate Refrigerators * Samsung Refrigerators lancinating Refrigerators * Siemens Refrigerators * Videocon Refrigerators * Voltas Refrigerators * SWOT analysis for Indian Refrigerator Industry Strengths 1. Presence of complete distribution lucres in both urban and rural atomic deem 18as 2. Presence of well-know prints 3. In recent years, organized sector has increase its sh atomic number 18 in the market vis a vis the unorganized sector. Weaknesses 1. Demand is seasonal and is high during festive seasonal 2.Demand is dep closureent on good monsoons 3. Poor government pass on infrastructure 4. lower-ranking acquire role of consumers Opportunities 1. In India, the penetration level of white goods is lower as comp bed to separate(a) developing countries. 2. Unexploited rural market 3. Rapid urbanization 4. Increase in income levels, i. e. increase in buying power of consumers 5. Easy availability of finance flagellums 1. high import duties on raw materials obligate in the Budget 2007-08 2. Cheap imports from Singapore, mainland China and another(prenominal) Asian countries COMPETITIVE FORCES IN INDIAN REFRIGERATOR INDUSTRYThe model of pure competition implies that risk-adjusted rates of supply should be constant across firms and industries. However, many economic studies spend a penny af firmed that several(predicate) industries buttocks sustain various levels of positiveness part of this difference is explained by pains structure. Refrigerators constitute the second sizablest ingathering element within the Indian consumer durables sectors in India. On the al-Qaida of Michael Porters five forces model an industry faces the pursual competitive forces Diagram of Porters 5 Forces provider POWER Supplier concentration immenseness of volume to supplierDifferentiation of inputs Impact of inputs on speak to or eminence Switching cost of firms in the industry Presence of commute inputs Threat of forward integration equipment casualty relative to total purchases in industry BARRIERS TO ENTRY Absolute cost advantages patented learning curve entranceway to inputs establishment policy Economies of scale Capital requirements taint identity Switching costs Access to distribution Expected retaliation trademarked outputs THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES -Switching cos ts -Buyer inclination to deputize - price-performance trade-off of substitutes BUYER POWER negotiate leverageBuyer volume Buyer information defect identity Price sensitivity Threat of backward integration Product contrastingiation Buyer concentration vs. indusry. Substitutes available Buyers incentives power point OF RIVALRY -Exit barriers -Industry concentration -Fixed costs/ revalue added -Industry growth -Intermittent overmental ability -Product differences -Switching costs -Brand identity -Diversity of rivals -Corporate jeopardize Designing Competitive Strategies of Refrigerators A market with competition may typically be occupied by * grocery store LEADER- LG (29. 4%) * MARKET CHALLANGER- WHIRLPOOL (25%) * MARKET FOLLOWER- GODREJ (22%) MARKET NICHES- HAIER (5%) MARKET LEADER (LG) STRATEGIES LG marketing dodging is to increase its market sh atomic number 18. LGs novel dodging aims to focus on the premium incision of the market that fetches greater margins as debate to volumes. The company claims this will put on its consumers, line of descent partners and stakeholders as it focuses on convergences that drive fast growth and lead in their brand category to create value for customers. In India for more than a decade now, LG is the market leader in consumer durables and accepted as a leading technology innovator in the information technology.LG is the adjudge trendsetter for the consumer durable industry in India with the high-velocity ever nationwide reach, latest planetary technology and product innovation. Indian challenges The challenges approach by LG when it entered the market in 1995 were Low brand aw arness about LG in India. One of the last MNCs to enter India. (Samsung, Sony antiophthalmic factor Panasonic entered in 1995 amp LG in 1997. ) extravagantly import duty. Competition from local players and other multinational companies in the consumer Electronics division Price sensitiveness of Indian consumers Factors for s uccesssophisticated marketing strategies (pre-emptive defense) To make itself a known brand in this sector, LG has taken modern marketing and promotional initiatives Launch of new technologies in the sector. It has state of art, RampD labs in Pune and Bangalore. (position defense) LG with its motive of spirit historys good domainal subscriber line dodge and wide distribution network LG has adopted the regional distribution model in India. All the distributors work now with the company. This has resulted in quicker rotation of stocks, and improve penetration into the B, C, and D screen markets.LG in like manner follows the dodge of stock rotation, rather than dispose stocks on channel partners. LG has over 46 branch offices and a nonher 110 bea offices across the country. LG had set a fool of developing 2,000 dealers in 2004, in plus to the existing 3,000 dealers all over India. LG MARKET air division securities industry particleation earth-closet be done on the pr at of * Geographic air division character all resistance cities and suburbs. * demographic variance Family size of it 1-2, 3-4, 5+ sexual practice male, female. Income 3, 00, 000Rs and above. favorable mob work line, centre course of action and stop number philia social class. Psychographic breakdown life style assimilation point, health oriented. * Behavioural segmentation do festivals and regular occasions. Benefits shade, service. Loyalty status none, medium, strong, absolute. zeal portray unaw ar, aware, interested, desirous, intending to buy. LG MARKET TARGETING * LG has ranked its market on the basis of the product that they are fling to the consumer, so they are following market specialization. * They are intenting * Upper class segment * Upper end * They are targeting to those consumer who are more concern of style product. Their product is more of upper mid class and premium segment, their target audience are those consumers, who want quality prod uct as the beat price. * LG is now going to cant over to mid class segment and want to mass market their product. LG MARKET lay SRATEGY * With the tagline Lifes grievous ,LG put is to differentiate their products on the basis of technology which appealed to the consumer on the basis of health benefits. * With the tagline Lifes Good its incorporate philosophy to make hoi pollois lives better, convenient and healthier. * Their positioning strategy is technologically intelligent and futuristic. As they are in upper and premium segment, so they are featuring that their brand is young, vibrant and premium. * They are public lecture about the value and changing lifestyles in their positioning strategy. LG PRODUCT RANGE LG refrigerators are divided into 3 categories - 1. Single brink refrigerators 2. Double door refrigerators 3. Side by side refrigerators Different models available under(a) each category are - 1. wholeness DOOR REFRIGERATORS (price swan varies from9400 to 1580 0 Rs) * 27O Lts GL- 281 (3models) * 235 LTS GL -245 (5models) * 215 LTS GL 225 (4 models) amp models ) 185 LTS GL 195 (6 models) 2. soprano DOOR REFRIGERATORS (price range varies from 14750 to 60900 Rs) * 604 LT GR M712YSQ * 559 LT GR B652YSP * 491 LT GL 548 (2) * 466 LT GL 528 (3) * 422 LT GL 478 (2) * 390 LT GL 405 (2) amp GL 408 (2) * 350 LT GL 365 (2) amp GL 368 (3) * 320 LT GL 335 (4) amp 338 (2) * 290 LT GL 305 (3) amp GL308 (2) * 260 LT GL 27 (2), GL 275 (3) amp GL 278 * 240 LT GL258 (3), GL 255 (3) amp GL 254 3. SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATOR ( price range varies from 58000 to 175000 Rs) * 721 LT GR P267BTB * 693 LT GR P247JHM/ CSP 567 LT GCP227 (3) * 581 LT GCB21 (2) * 567 LT GC L217 (2) MARKET CHALLENGER (WHIRLPOOL) dodging With 25% market share spin is the Market challenger for the refrigerator Market Whirlpools international brainpower was initiated in 1958 when it entered Brazil, but it was the 80s that marked the beginning of Whirlpools aggressive st rategy to be a world-wide competitor. India was identified as a growth market in late 80s when Whirlpool Corporation entered into a joint venture agreement with TVS crowd to produce automatic washers at a plant set up in Pondicherry.This was a modest beginning was do to establish the Whirlpool brand in India. In 1995 Whirlpool Corporation acquired Kelvinator of India circumscribed and entered into the Refrigerator market in India. In late 1995 majority ownership was gained in the TVS joint venture and the two entities were merged to form Whirlpool of India Limited in 1996. Housewives The advertise tagline is Your witching(prenominal) in Homemaking, which inspires the Indian housewife to buy its product. 6th brain cooling 6th sense cooling is the patent technology of whirlpool, with which it is nerve-wracking to magnetise market share of the Indian refrigerator market.Economy Whirlpool has understood Indian market very(prenominal) fast and has been intro products as per the requirement of the customer from different segments. Whirlpool segmented the market mainly on the basis of price and capacity. Price has been unplowed keeping the ineluctably and wants of the customer and product is designed such that it is feasible to every customer. Whirlpool has segmented its refrigerators under three segment WHIRLPOOL MARKET SEGMENTATION a)Geographic segmentation Region all metro cities and suburbs areas. b) Demographic segmentation Family size 1-2, 3-4, 5+ Gender male, female.Income 1,50,000Rs and above. Social class working class, middle class and upper middle class. c)Psychographic segmentation Lifestyle culture oriented d)Behavioural segmentation Occasions festivals and regular occasions. Benefits quality, service, economically viable Loyalty status none, medium, strong, absolute. readying stage unaware, aware, interested, desirous, intending to buy. WHIRLPOOL MARKET TARGETING dodge * Whirlpool through its advertisements has been trying to target the housewives, trying to portray as a partner in family unitmaking. Hence, the prime target consumer for Whirlpool is Housewives. Whirlpool main targeting strategy is to provide economically viable kinfolk products. * They are excessively targeting in cost of capacity and usage nature of the consumers. comparable they accept different refrigerators for consumers with requirements of not very big capacities, i. e. Households, Small Shopkeepers and Bachelors etc, then different refrigerators for the middle class consumers who has average amount of income to dispose and different for the upper class or high class consumers, which includes people with high income and also industries which requires storage capacity of more than 310 Lts.WHIRLPOOL MARKET POSITIONING scheme Whirlpool has been trying to position itself as partner in homemaking. This has been pretty much evident from the advertisements of Whirlpool. Whirlpools advertising tagline is Your fancy in Homemaking. This is Whi rlpools advertising tagline. Whirlpools in front tagline was You amp Whirlpool. The worlds best homemakers. It has been evolved to reflect the changed homemaker of today versus the yesteryears. by means of Whirlpools intensive consumer investigate Whirlpool found that todays homemaker believes in having everything perfect at home and takes pride in having achieved itShe has begun to encounter for that something exceptional, something additional in all the brands she chooses to encourage her achieve that. Whirlpool, as the brand that partners to this demanding homemaker of today, call this quality of hers as magic and wish to be the home thingummy brand that helps her create her magic in homemaking. Hence the new tagline Yours magic in the homemaking. MARKET FOLLOWER (GODREJ) SRATEGY The Godrej have always believed in the innovation. It has always emphasised on the development of new technologies. It invests large amount of its time and animation in RampD.It goal towards m odify its presence in the market by introducing higher performance refrigerators for providing maximum benefit to consumers. The follower, Godrej is an adapter while following the leaders in the market. It has imitated the commercial refrigeration technique i. e. , direct cooling from the leader of the market but on the other hand it is the Indias head start complete range of refrigerators with 5 leading Energy Rating. By launching an entire range of 5 Star Rated Refrigerators, it has raised the bar on product efficiency while delivering the best financial value for the consumers.Thus it is successfully and efficiently pitiable towards its goal. Godrej marketing segmentation a)Geographic segmentation Region all metro cities and suburbs areas. b) Demographic segmentation Family size 1-2, 3-4, 5+ Gender male, female. Income 1,50,000Rs and above. Social class working class, middle class and upper middle class. c) Psychographic segmentation Lifestyle culture oriented d) Behavioura l segmentation Occasions festivals and regular occasions. Benefits service, economically viable Loyalty status none, medium, strong, absolute.Readiness stage unaware, aware, interested, desirous, intending to buy. GODREJ TARGETING system Godrej produces wide range of refrigerators to cater to the different demands of different type of users. In each category, it produces large number of models. Each model has different features and different capacities. While purchasing a refrigerator, determine your requirements and preferences. Godrej refrigerators are designed to have very attractive looks and designs. They have very sleek and classy frame. They can fit into even small flats and homes.These refrigerators are available in various colors, styles and sizes. aside from exterior designing, the interior of the Godrej refrigerators is designed ergonomically to adjure great convenience of use, so they are targeting middle and working class customers who desires stylish yet economicall y viable products. They have also introduced 5 star energy rating, it is the first complete range of refrigerators with five star rating. Therefore, they are taking move toward energy saving and providing more economically viable products, by becoming purlieu friendly.GODREJ POSITIONING STRATEGY The tagline of Godrej is Brighter Living. Godrej says that the but thing cooler than our fridges is the Kulfi we stash in our freezers. With several firsts swivel, a humidity lop dial, freezer air-current design Godrej refrigerators have not only stood the test time they have also run guide on to head in the race with modernity. Godrej EON fridges are available in a armament of dashing colors to go with decor and mood. There are polybag suspenders to hang up veggies in fridge.So every day, they are trying to make the world brighter place, with their services and also cooler. Therefore, goes with their tagline brighter living. MARKET NICHER (HAIER) STRATEGY It is quality price speci alist as Haier operates at the highest end of the market. Haiers strategy mainly concentrates on their constant efforts towards internationalization. Several Chinese manufacturers who entered India priced their products low by compromising on quality, sentiment that Indian consumers preferred to buy low priced irrespective of their quality.This gave Indian consumers the impression that anything do in China would be gaudy and of poor quality, but Haier break this Indian mentality by introducing high price product for upper premium class only, not compromising on the toll of quality. HAIER MARKET SEGMENTATION a)Geographic segmentation Region all metro cities and urban areas. b) Demographic segmentation Family size 1-2, 3-4, 5+ Gender male, female. Income 8,00,000Rs and above. Social class upper middle class, Upper lower class and upper-upper class. c) Psychographic segmentation Lifestyle culture oriented ) behavioral segmentation Occasions festivals and regular occasions. Benefit s service, quality oriented. Loyalty status strong, absolute. Readiness stage unaware, aware, interested, desirous, intending to buy. HAIER TARGETING STRATEGY Their targeting strategy is more customer-oriented. Haier understands the consumer drives better and reflects that in consumer offerings. It is a grammatical construction of todays young couple ups lifestyle which connotes speed, style and togetherness. It targets upper premium segment by manufacturing wine coolers in the society.It is the niche segment in the Indian society as the use of the wines in the Indian houses is very less. precisely few (very small in number as compared to the market) use the wines and thus Haier in the wine cooler segment caters the need of the only those customers that manufactures wine coolers (which are very few in the numbers with a particular unique demand) thus they are serving the niche segment. Hence their targeting strategy is to target upper premium segment. HAIER POSITIONING STRATEGY Life is very involving and universal it offers you new challenges.Haier has peeped into life and come up with ideas that make living enjoyable and joyous. The main brand Idea was that Haier products are elysian by Life this is now evince as godly Living. There is also another perspective on Inspired Living. All Haier products are the result of closely studied actual usage patterns of home appliances, i. e. , inspired by everyday life. For example, Haier was the first to launch a Bottom attach Refrigerator in the country. It is based on a simple insight that refrigerator shelves are used far more often than the freezer shelf.So Haier has put the freezer at the bottom and refrigerator racks at convenient heights, so that you dont have to bend your back frequently. As a late entrant into the category, Haier understands the consumer postulate better and reflects that in consumer offerings. This is how they write the positioning statement Haier is better than all other brands for easy adopters because it offers them benefits that help them lead a better life as a result of our endeavour to understand life better and work technology around it.