Plan on Sexual Selection Essay

In developmental terms normal choice is the procedure by which certain attributes and practices get passed on in the genetic stock since they give the individual a superior possibility of enduring and imitating. Sexual choice is the procedure inside normal choice where by any trademark or conduct that expands the regenerative accomplishment of an individual are chosen and these attributes may get misrepresented over transformative time. Due to the distinctions in parental venture among guys and females, developmental analysts recommend this has made sexual orientation explicit conceptive conduct †that is as far as mating inclinations and techniques, and as far as mating frameworks (to stay monogamous or is indiscrimination best? ) Because females need to put a great deal of time in having and raising posterity, and on the grounds that the quantity of posterity they can have in an actual existence time is restricted, Darwin recommends this has lead to females being picky about who they â€Å"mate† and settle down with. Females will be searching for acceptable hereditary characteristics in a male and characteristics that demonstrate that he could accommodate her and their posterity. This thus has made rivalry between guys. They need to persuade females they would be the best to mate with. Guys will likewise be worried about searching for females with characteristics that recommend fruitfulness (youth and great wellbeing †equal with physical allure. Sexual determination may likewise prompt contrasts in mating frameworks. A female might be best in a monogamous relationship which will guarantee the male stays and accommodates the family. Anyway for a male a polygamy might be better where he mates with however many females as could be expected under the circumstances in this way guaranteeing amount in posterity improving the probability of some of them enduring. Diverse examinations give great proof to developmental hypothesis in such a case that we see a similar conduct across culture we can reason that this conduct might be a consequence of qualities (advancement) as opposed to socialization. Buss, 1989 examined 37 societies and found that females esteemed characteristics that proposed the budgetary capability of guys †for instance aspiration and enterprising nature. Then again men esteemed physical appeal and ladies who were more youthful than them more than ladies. This recommends they were searching for characteristics related with fruitfulness in accordance with transformative expectations. This was a huge scope concentrate with more than 10,000 members which gives it believability, anyway it is conceivable that members furnished the socially alluring response as far as what they were searching for in an accomplice. Different examinations have bolstered Buss. For instance Waynforth and Dunbar (1995) broke down the substance of forlorn hearts sections and found that 43% of guys looked for an energetic mate contrasted with 25% of females (the more youthful the female the more fruitful). They additionally found that 44% of guys looked for a genuinely alluring accomplice contrasted with 22% of females. At long last they found that ladies â€Å"advertise† their physical appeal and men promote their assets. The benefit of this examination is that the individuals composing the adverts would not have been impacted by any agent impacts, anyway this is a one-sided test as just a little extent of the populaces would try to discover accomplices along these lines. There is a lot of proof to propose that guys are bound to take part in easygoing sex and participate in polygamous connections (hence spreading their qualities around). For instance Clark and Hatfield (1989 and 1990) found that when propositioned by a complete outsider half of the two people consented to go out on the town with the outsider, anyway none of the females consented to have intercourse with an outsider though a stunning 75% of guys concurred. The investigation was completed on a college grounds and the members were understudies so are not really illustrative of everybody. The morals of this investigation were likewise sketchy as it included duplicity and absence of educated assent and could likewise have influenced the mental prosperity of the members as far as later liable sentiments. Near investigations of gonad size in primates by Baker and Bellis, 1995, additionally recommend that people may have developed under a polygamous mating framework. Guys have medium measured gonads comparative with body size contrasted with chimpanzees. Chimps live in a wanton mating framework along these lines females mate with numerous guys so the male chimp must have enormous testicles to create heaps of sperm so as to contend. Gorillas are monogamous and have generally little testicles. The medium measured human testicles propose that the standard for our human precursors was to be somewhat serious so females may have had numerous accomplices. It could be contended that a woman’s best system might be to be somewhat unbridled and mate with the man with the best qualities however stay with the man who can mind and give. This is upheld by Baker and Bellis, 1995, who recommended the overall rate for misattributed parenthood was 9%. Despite the fact that the investigations above loan backing to developmental hypothesis we should be cautious in expecting that human mate decision is only a result of our transformative past. Our decisions will likewise be influenced by our childhood , religion and our way of life and these may change from age to age. A portion of the discoveries of studies can likewise be clarified as far as culture and society. For instance in the past ladies have needed to depend on men to accommodate them given the disparity in gaining power and so forth. In today’s present day times we may see changes in what ladies are searching for in a mate. Bereczkei et al (1997) found that females currently promoted for men who are family-orientated recommending they are less worried about assets. Along these lines developmental hypothesis can be blamed for being reductionist in attempting to clarify regenerative conduct regarding quality endurance and overlooking social, social and good effects on our conceptive conduct. Developmental hypothesis is likewise profoundly deterministic, which is risky as we overlook that people can consider their activities. Scholar Richard Dawkins accepts we can abrogate science with freewill. For instance transformative hypothesis anticipated that men who can't pull in a mate would fall back on assault. While this occurs, most of single men would not engage this thought. At long last a great part of the proof for developmental hypothesis depends on assumed information about past human conditions prompting theories about which practices may have been versatile. As such transformative hypothesis is extremely hard to test tentatively.

Spillover Benefits Versus the Free-rider Problem Essay

Overflow Benefits Versus the Free-rider Problem - Essay Example The legislature should make such enactments so as to maintain a strategic distance from this issue as these may in the end lead to the demolition of practical framework. Overflow benefits versus the Free Rider issue Societies, individuals, conditions experience many negative and positive circumstances because of various conditions that happen. By constructive outcomes it implies the advantages and favorable circumstances appreciated by them when tagged along the way, and by negative impacts it implies the unsafe and perilous impacts which are forced over them. These constructive and contrary impacts are legitimately related sometimes, however it might indirectly affect others or environmental factors because of another person. Such outer or roundabout impacts are named as externalities or overflow impacts. Overflow is characterized here to mean †â€Å"indirect or sudden advantages to different clients from the up-take of research, including purchaser surpluses created through r ivalry and dissemination of information through advancement of specialized aptitudes. These advantages can likewise emerge from the formation of new information stages that significantly alter procedures, items or services†. (Overflow profits by TBGs. ... The synthetic that is discharged from the industrial facility straightforwardly influences those individuals who are not partnered with the processing plant. Thus they need to follow through on a cost or cost of being the inhabitants of that territory in spite of the fact that they have no worry or points of interest from the production line. Such impacts are named as negative overflow impacts or overflow costs. Then again, when somebody appreciates specific advantages from something like this or procedure through which he/she isn't legitimately related with, it is named as positive overflow impacts or overflow benefits. There can be numerous models set in such manner; the exchange understandings between any two nations or associations legitimately influence the people who are engaged with import-send out business, in spite of the fact that there has been no power from their side to settle on such an understanding. Henceforth they appreciate the advantages by spending nothing from th emselves. Different models may incorporate instruction, which train youths how to be a decent and helpful resident of the general public, thus the more kids get taught in these terms, the more society would profit as the crime percentage will lessen and there would be sufficient harmony in the nation. Through legitimate training, progressively talented specialists will go into the market which will in this way make great quality items and offer better types of assistance to their managers. These overflow benefits, when surpass through a specific cutoff points, are likewise named as the â€Å"free rider problem†, got from the idea of somebody riding in an open vehicle without paying its charge. Subsequently all such individuals who appreciate the overflow benefits are called free riders. The free rider issue is of extraordinary concern everywhere throughout the world, since there are a colossal number of individuals who expend such assets

How to Stop Taking SSRI Antidepressants Safely

How to Stop Taking SSRI Antidepressants Safely Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print How to Stop Taking SSRI Antidepressants Safely By Paula Connell Updated on May 14, 2019 ZhangXun / Moment / Getty Images More in Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Symptoms Diagnosis So ... you are using a short-acting SSRI medication. You have to discontinue it or titrate it down, you tend to be very sensitive to the effects of medication withdrawal, and you want to know what to do to head off SSRI discontinuation syndrome? First, ask your doctor if a special dose is available for the specific purpose of weaning down. Some pharmaceutical companies are now manufacturing and offering them in sample form to doctors. Ask. If such a dose is not available, the main thing to remember is that you want to try and wean down very slowlyâ€"usually in half the increments that your doctor would normally suggest for the weaning process in most people. If you have tablets, and the insert doesnt indicate that splitting or crushing is taboo, you can split them (a pill splitter helps, a couple of bucks at the pharmacy). ALWAYS check the insert or a drug monograph first to make sure you can split them. This makes it pretty easy to halve the original titration recommendation and take each step down for a week. If you have capsules, you have a different type of problem ... you obviously cant open them and take the contents raw ... but you can still taper off. Buy some empty gel caps (very cheap - a couple of bucks for a hundred). Take a single 24-hour dosage and set it aside. Open your capsules and redistribute the medication into the empty gel caps to spread the total 24-hour dosage into smaller increments. Rub each capsule prior to storing with a dry cloth to get any of the medication off of the outside of the capsule. There is a little tool that can help you with this if you have pain in your hands or motor problems. You then set a 24-hour dosage amount aside, and gradually reduce it, using each amount for a week. I had great success using this method when titrating down from Paxil, one of the most notorious drugs for causing SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. My doctor refused to acknowledge the discontinuation problem and couldnt seem to give me any helpful suggestions for reducing the discomfort. So I did it this way, and the effects were much more tolerable. The main thing is that the brains production of acetylcholine is not interrupted. One of the simplest things you can do to prevent this in addition to ultra-slow titration is to add supplements: in particular, choline, lecithin, and B complex. The B vitamins will help sustain your brains current levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (the depletion of which is the cause of discontinuation syndrome). You should also use choline supplements or lecithin supplements (which are 13 percent choline) to help increase the level of available choline that the brain uses to make acetylcholine while the titration or discontinuation is happening. Dietary changes (temporary if you wish until after the med is weaned) can also be made. Lecithin and choline can be found in a wide variety of foods, but many of the richest sources are foods also high in cholesterol and fat. Egg yolks are one of the best dietary sources of lecithin/choline. Other excellent sources of dietary choline are beef steak, liver, organ meat, spinach, soybeans, cauliflower, wheat germ, peanuts, and brewers yeast. Discontinuation symptoms are not restricted to the SSRIs, as many of you here can attest. Many drugs that act on the central nervous system can cause discontinuation syndrome symptoms: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants, antiparkinsonian agents, traditional antipsychotics, and clozapine. Some people have a condition known as rebound, which occurs with the consumption of short-acting medications (an agitated state of emotion that occurs at the end of the dosage cycle and lasts for 15 or 20 minutes, then disappears). The dietary modifications are helpful for this problem. Its good to know that the psychiatric professional community recognizes this phenomenon as valid. Although the symptoms are varied  and are both physical and psychological, a characteristic SSRI discontinuation syndrome is now recognized.

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning - 1795 Words

In My Last Duchess, Robert Browning takes poetic license with a real historical character from within the Italian Renaissance: Alfonso II, the last Duke of Ferrara. The Duke married a young bride, Lucrezia de’ Medici; however, their marriage ended mysteriously after just three years (Bloom 16). Within My Last Duchess, Browning uses the character and voice of the Duke to pass comment upon some of the themes of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the juxtaposition between aesthetics and morality. Furthemore, he goes on to use the Renaissance framework to criticize aspects of his own Victorian society. At the heart of the poem is the question of changes to the traditional establishment, particularly in regard to women and sensuality. The first part of this essay will explore the manner in which the poem echoes the ornamentation and Baroque sensibilities of the Renaissance. The second section will analyze the notion of the Renaissance â€Å"mask†, the facade of civility t hat covers a deeper amorality and horror. The third section will examine the ways in which the Renaissance and the Victorian period were similar, as well as the manner in which Browning drew parallels between the two and used the poem as a vehicle to voice important social criticism. The Duchess as an ornament My Last Duchess presents a classic example of a dramatic monologue, a poetic form that was often used by Robert Browning. In structuring the monologue, Browning uses rhyming pentameter lines that employShow MoreRelatedMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning693 Words   |  3 Pages‘My Last Duchess’ is all about control and jealousy. Written by Robert Browning in 1842 (the Victorian era), the dramatic monologue is set in 16th Century Italy where the Duke of Ferrara is talking to a Count’s emissary about a prospective marriage with the Counts daughter. The poem conveys the controlling nature of the Duke by the use of one stanza in the entire poem. It demonstrates this, as there is no interruption from the servant and no break whilst the Duke is talking. Any pauses in the poemRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning886 Words   |  4 Pages My Last Duchess The dramatic monologue â€Å"My Last Duchess† was penned down by Robert Browning. In this poem, the narrator is the Duke of Ferrara, and the listener is the count’s agent, through whom the Duke is arranging the proposed marriage to a second duchess. The poem is ironical and reveals its rhetorical sense, gradually. In the later part of the poem, the Duke claims that he does not have a skill in speech, but his monologue is a masterpiece of subtle rhetoric. While supposedlyRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning951 Words   |  4 PagesMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning Robert Browning was born May 7, 1812 in Camberwell, London. His father was a senior clerk in the Bank of England. His mother was a pianist. His love for writing dramatic monologues came from his father who gave him the love Browning had for art and literature. Browning attended the University of London for half a year before returning home to read in his father s library. His first work, Pauline: A Fragment of a Confession, was first issued in 1833. It was hisRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesMy last duchess by Robert Browning Quote Analysis My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is a mysterious monologue about a duke who is showing a portrait of his former wife or last duchess to a visitor at his palace. While showing this portrait of his former wife, the duke begins to demean the duchess character and their life together. Although the duke is very well spoken and chooses his words carefully as he describes the duchess, he ends up reveling more about himself than his last duchess. By doingRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning1492 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"My Last Duchess† The poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† is a masterful example of a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning. In this poem the narrator is a duke who is discussing his murder of his last duchess with a man with whom he is arranging his marriage to a count’s daughter. As it is a monologue, the man being spoken to does not say a word. It is believed by many that this character is based on the Italian Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso II, who sought out the marriage of a count’s daughter followingRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning1529 Words   |  7 PagesGentle Into That Good Night, Havisham, The Laboratory, My Last Duchess and On My First Sonne have all crafted very emotion based poems, all 6 present strong feelings. Some through manic speech and rhythm, others through a deeper meaning. I would say the majority of these poems (Havisham, Duchess, Laboratory and Photographer) all feature protagonists with mental disorders, after or during certain situations. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is about a pretentious man looking back on the fate onRead MoreSummary Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1164 Words   |  5 PagesProfessor Newberry 13 February 2017 A Reader’s Guide to Robert Browning â€Å"My Last Duchess† Title and Author Robert browning was born on May 7,1817 in Camberwell, England. To and accomplished pianist and a bank clerk. It is said by the age of five he was already proficient of writing and reading. At the age of twelve he wrote a volume of Byronic verse entitled Incondita, which his parents attempted to have published. By thirteen birthday Browning had received the rest of Shelly’s work, and declared himselfRead MoreAnalysis Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1523 Words   |  7 PagesZografakis English Period 8 7 November 2014 Throughout history, gender roles have been an important barrier in society. Women are forced to satisfy expectations established by men and society. â€Å"My Last Duchess,† by Robert Browning, focuses on the powerful Duke establishing certain expectations of the Duchess, and attempting to control her. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, concentrates on Laertes establishing certain expectations of Ophelia, and seeking to control her. A Room of One’s Own, by VirginiaRead More My Last Duchess by Robert Browning Essay2275 Words   |  10 PagesMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning In his poem â€Å"My Last Duchess†, Robert Browning gives his readers a complex picture of his two main characters. The Duke, who narrates the poem, is the most immediately present but Browning sets him up to ultimately lose the reader’s trust. The Duchess becomes the sympathetic character, a victim of foul play. It is through the various representations of the Duchess within the poem that we come to know both characters. The representations of the Duchess,Read MoreAnalysis of Robert Browning ´s My Last Duchess1165 Words   |  5 Pagesgiven by a character within the poem. My Last Duchess is a narrative poem where the poetic persona is narrating to another the story of his late wife. He first expunges on the painting of the duchess and then digresses to her personality and all her transgressions. He then makes some startling revelations about himself that allow the reader to become intimately aware of his personality. It is clear that the poetic persona in Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess is the Duke who is narrating the poem

Should Internet Gambling Be Illegal - 1191 Words

Gambling in the United States has become more than a pastime in casinos because the internet has been adapted to include online gambling. Also, gambling previously has been exclusive to adults; yet, more and more teenagers are participating in the worldwide phenomenon of fantasy sports. Personally, I have never found gambling appealing because I think that it is a waste of time and money. As it is, gambling has become a problem and will continue to grow unless something is changed. There are numerous people that are for making internet gambling illegal and there are just as many who want the choice to be from the states, not the federal government. Currently, my opinion is that internet gambling must be a choice that the states make, and that it has to be more restricted than it currently is; however, after looking at both sides of the situation, I will make my final opinion after thorough research, on whether or not internet gambling should be illegal. In the United States, individual state lotteries have contributed billions of dollars to help make the states and communities better. Just in 2013, the 44 state lotteries raised more than $20 billion for various positive causes (Anderson, Martino, Mcintyre). Recently, Congress has attempted to pass a nationwide ban on internet gambling. If that ban is permitted to pass, up to $5.5 billion has a chance to be lost from states incomes annually, according to a recent analysis (Anderson, Martino, Mcintyre). This study also showsShow MoreRelated Internet Gambling and Its Effects Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagesorganizations can be found on the Internet. Along with shopping, banking and research, entertainment is one of the major reasons for use of the Internet. Adding to the Internet’s growing popularity for entertainment purposes is online gambling. Around the world, the gambling industry is growing rapidly by way of casinos, and most recently, on the Internet. Four years ago, there was one online gambling site; today it’s estimated there are between 300 and 400. To some, gambling on the net may just be anRead More2016 Online Regulation Of Gambling970 Words   |  4 PagesLeslie Pham Professor White Hos 4590 May 5, 2016 Online Regulation of Gambling Casinos and gambling go well together like cheese and crackers. Gambling has been a part of the hospitality and tourism industry for many years. Most people find it fascinating to see what their chances are of willing a large sum of money is like and perhaps retiring early to enjoy their money. Gambling attracts risk takers and adventurous people and it will always give an adrenaline rush becauseRead MoreInternet Gambling is Affecting the Lives of Many684 Words   |  3 PagesAnnotated Bibliography on Internet Gambling Brown, Stuart J. The Surge in Online Gambling on College Campuses. New Directions for Student Services 2006.113 (2006): 53-61. Print. Retrieved February 25, 2014. http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=453a0229-2511-46c3-9499-6a133a2aa892%40sessionmgr198vid=5hid=112 This article summarizes how the growth of internet gambling is affecting the lives of many college students. It does this by explaining that once people reach collegeRead More Internet Gambling Essay1522 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract:   Internet gambling has become one of the hottest areas of the web, both in the sheer volume of sites and quantity of money involved.   Increasing controversy is accompanying this new industry, as federal and state government officials scramble to update legislation that restricts interstate wagering.   This paper examines the roots of Internet gambling and exposes some of the motivations driving the heated debate over its legitimacy. The business-to-consumer sector of theRead MoreA Farmer Of Louisiana, Not An Insider Trading Scandal1036 Words   |  5 Pageslevel, he asserts that DFS are legal under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). However, if a site accepts a bet in a state that outlaws online gambling the site can be criminally prosecuted, both at the federal and state levels (Huffman, 2014). Since the actions of the major online gambling sites promote, and will continue to promote, usage by individuals in states that outlaw online gambling, the sites should be illegal on the federal level since they violated the UIGEA. In statesRead MoreEssay on Internet Gambling1410 Words   |  6 PagesInternet Gambling   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why is gambling such a problem on the Internet? There are plenty of reasons and you are going to hear all of them throughout this research paper. There are three main types of Internet gambling. There is the sports book, there are casinos and the lotto, and last but not least there is horseracing. Throughout this paper I will explain the Laws against online gambling. Why people can get around the laws, and the style of gambling and how to do it. I think that online gamblingRead MoreEffects Of Gambling On College Students861 Words   |  4 Pages Gambling is the activity or practice of playing a game of chance for money or other stakes. Activities that are considered gambling are betting on sports and races, lotteries, card games like blackjack and poker, and casino games like slots and roulette. Bingo and raffles are technically gambling, but there are no major concerns about them, so they are not included here. Though gambling is legal within many st ates, it is does not make it right for people to engage in such activitiesRead MoreEffects Of Gambling On College Students861 Words   |  4 PagesGambling is the activity or practice of playing a game of chance for money or other stakes. Activities that are considered gambling are betting on sports and races, lotteries, card games like blackjack and poker, and casino games like slots and roulette. Bingo and raffles are technically gambling, but there are no major concerns about them, so they are not included here. Though gambling is legal within many states, it is does not make it right for people to engage in such activities. This is especiallyRead MoreThe Dangers of Online Gambling Essay1376 Words   |  6 PagesThe internet today has billions and billions of web sites, and some of those websites are the ones that if someone accesses it, then it will be a matter of life and death for them. It seemed bad enough to have gambling on the streets or in casinos, but ever since the in ternet was invented, gambling has just been getting worse and worse. People today just love getting on the internet and communicating with friends or family, but one of the things that people may be doing is gambling their money awayRead MoreGambling and Sports1027 Words   |  5 PagesShould Sports Gambling Be Legalized? Gambling is a common practice throughout human history, one that appeals to the individual’s desire for gain and offers the thrill of risk or uncertainty. Sports gambling is the â€Å"wagering of money or other items of value on the outcome of a sporting event, dependent either wholly or in part on chance† (Thompson, 2008, p. 1). Sports gambling generates billions of dollars annually, with large events like the Super Bowl or World Series alone able to

“What Is Nazism and How Did Hitler Come to Power” Free Essays

Nazism stands for National Socialist German Worker’s Party. Adolf Hitler was the leader and expressed his ideas in his book â€Å"Mein Kampf† which, when translated into English, means ‘my struggle’. Nazism was a political party in Germany that began to gain power in the 1920’s. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"What Is Nazism and How Did Hitler Come to Power?† or any similar topic only for you Order Now Nazi’s believed that Germans were the superior race also known as Aryans. Even though Hitler’s ideal race involved blonde hair and blue eyes, however, Aryans did not typically meet these criteria. Hitler had Nazi â€Å"Storm Troopers† fight in the streets against communists. The Nazi’s blamed the Weimar Republic for Germany’s problems. The Nazi’s made and followed through on promises made to the German people, such as putting Germans back to work. Nazis also believed in Anti-Semitism, they hated all Jewish people and when the Nazis gained enough political power the Jewish people suffered. Many synagogues and businesses were destroyed during Kristallnacht. The Jews were no longer considered German citizens; they lost their jobs, were forced to wear yellow stars on their clothing, and were not allowed to marry other German citizens. Hitler, like the Nazis came to power completely legally, yet shockingly after his actions of the past. After World War I, Hitler was a spy for the Weimar government. When he discovered that he agreed with the Nazis, he left and became a part of the Nazi political party in 1920. Hitler made an attempt to seize power in Munich, Germany in 1921. He was unsuccessful and thrown in prison. Rather than exiling him back to Austria, or away from Germany, Hitler gained his citizenship in 1932. Due to the Great Depression, Hitler and the Nazis popularity rose. There were nearly one million Nazi members during the Great Depression. Hitler made promises to end reparations, create jobs, and rearm Germany. Even though they despised him, some conservative politicians felt Hitler needed to be Chancellor. These people planned to use Hitler for their own benefits. After this, Hitler was appointed chancellor, democratically. Then, in 1934, he became the Fuhrer and established a new government. Within one year of Hitler’s reign he made Germany into a one party state with Nazi flags raised high all across the country. How to cite â€Å"What Is Nazism and How Did Hitler Come to Power?†, Papers

Local Exhaust Vehicle Sealing And Insulating Ducts

Question: 1. Reflect on the inter-relationship of all factors involved in the principles of chemical hazard assessment techniques and with critical insight apply them in practice. 2. Critically evaluate chemical risk information from work-based projects and with critical insight recommend justified control measures .Brief: Answer: Introduction Local exhaust ventilation system is an engineering concept which is used in various workplaces for protecting the employees the hazardous material. For an efficient use of ventilation system, it is necessary that the system is designed installed properly. During the welding joints of metal, intense heat is produced high amount of electrode is consumed by the welding machine which produces welding fume. It is a mixture of gasses, metal other hazardous compounds which is not good for health. The welding place consists of very ultra-fine particles which give irritation to eyes. For preventing this various safety measures were taken. For examples, local exhaust ventilation system respiratory wears were the perfect examples of safety measures. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported that inhalation of welding fumes enhances the probability of Cancer by 13 times then the fresh environment. It all can be minimized by local exhaust ventilation system. Control Whenever we considers control, there is a standard approach. Can this step will change this present condition or all the hazardous chemical agents will be eliminated after using this method. Is the step we are taking is effective or not? So these are the various things which should be keep in mind before taking some safety measures. Installation of any control measures can be very expensive. Before installing an LEV system we should keep in our mind, there is a need of it or not. Once the LEV is installed, then its performance should be checked regularly. So that workers would get the effective environment to work. What is local exhaust ventilation (lev)? It is the simple engineering concept of the exhaust system. It protects employees from hazard gasses. It is the only better option which removes dust highly infected fumes from the workplace. Effective design is necessary for good health of workers. Failure of the system can lead to improper function of the design flow. The Poor designing system can lead to the leakage the work place. Employees should be properly trained so that it is easy to maintain the system. Elements of LEV system Mainly five elements are there in this they are as follows Hood: it is also known as enclosure area. Contaminants are captured in this area. Ducting: this conducts air, which takes the contaminant particles from the hood. Filter: it is also known as an air cleaner.it is the system in which most of the particles are eliminated at this stage. Its essential function is to clean the air. Air mover: it is a system by which fan extracts power. Exhaust or discharge: it helps the extracted air to release at a safe place. Design feature of system for successful control Design requirement for local exhaust ventilation system. Flow rate: flow rate is an essential factor in LEV. It consists of small contaminant particles. It carries dust particles, welding fumes, combustible substances, etc. if these all things are not extracted, then there is a risk of fire explosion. Flammable solvents are also trapped in this system. To prevent this flow rate can be increased to avoid this. Leak-proof: leakage in the suction pipe can create the negative pressure. Due to leakage of air, there is not much sufficient pressure in the pipe. Much pressure can be built if there is no leakage. For avoiding eddy current ducting need to be structured. For efficient ducting there should not be any bands or any right angle turns. The material of construction should be compatible so, that containments should be easily extracted we can take the example of a flammable gas system should not be generated ignition problem. Hood includes some times of enclosures as listed below Biological safety cabinet Ventilated Hooper Pouring Station Movable hood Abrasive blasting steel cabinets Paint spray booth Portable hood with fitters Basically, there are three types of hoods Working Position Working position is the important factor in designing a local exhaust ventilation. If we are standing upright the exhaust pipe, then it is a wrong position to work we have to stand side by the working substance. This hood must be placed below the exhaust pipe so that exhaust gasses be blown out should not inhale by the worker at the time of operation. Hood indicator: It is an indicator by which we can see that the system is performing correctly or not. Biological standards and safety cabinets can also be visible as an indicator. DUCT: hood is connected with the duct. The duct is a kind of the pipeline system by which air passes to outlet frequently. Depending on the complexity of the system pipeline should not be at right angles. With this proper flow of exhaust gasses can be obtained properly. For effective use of ducting the thickness of ducting pipe should be greater so that there will not be any resistance. Our main purpose in ducting to achieve the laminar flow of air. For achieving the laminar flow, there should not be any internal leakage. Nature Of Emission Of Welding Grinding The emission from welding grinding is very dangerous for the workers working in the welding factory. Various types of emissions were produced by welding grinding. Fumes of welding grinding contain a large amount of manganese, fluorine compounds, cobalt, copper, carbon monoxide, etc. these are the various gasses which involved in the emission of welding grinding. Fumes of gasses produced due to chemical reaction, base material, air contaminants, coatings of paint, etc. This type of emission can adversely affect the health of workers working in welding factory. Exposure to welding fumes can make long term health effects. For avoiding the exposure of fumes local exhaust ventilation system has been installed in the company. After installing this system, it is observed that amount of emission from welding grinding is reduced up to a great extent. It can be easily seen in below graph that how much amount of manganese is decreased with the help of local exhaust ventilation system. So from above graph, it is clear that amount of manganese in the air is reduced from 7.23 to .091 which is a great success. So it is proved that installation of this system is very helpful the workers working the factory. Air Filtering, Collection System Air filtering is the system by which contaminated air is filtered by the filters used in LEV systems. Air filter system depends on the type of air contaminants are carried out through the duct. Multi- component system has been installed in this for multiple dust particles. For example, if the size of dust are up to 30 microns, then it is separated by the major filter if the fume particles is above 40 microns then it is separated by the filters. Without causing any exposure, it should be cleaned regularly changed. Fan Or Air Mover The air mover is a fan by which exhaust gasses are blown out. It will need to provide sufficient flow rate. It creates the sufficient duct velocity so that all the contaminant particles throughout from ducts. Air mover fan should not provide a source of ignition. There are mainly three types of fan are commonly used for power extraction Centrifugal: A fan is used in LEV system. It creates large pressure difference so that dusted fumes can be discharged out. Propeller: it is used for general ventilation. It is not suitable for high-pressure resistance. Axial: it is not suitable for dust fumes or small particles. System Discharge Discharge system should be placed so that it does not affect any air supply system. Air being exhausted should not be recirculated into the workplace. Types Of Lev System An LEV System contains inlet, enclosure hood. There are various types of hoods. Which only depend on our requirement. Some of them are as follows receiving hood, partial enclosure, and spray painting hood. Methods Study population: it is a method by which it can be calculated that LEV weather system is sufficient for workers or not. An example is taken of a welding factory in which various measurements were taken before installing the LEV system in this welding factory such as inside temperature were noted, size of fume particles inside, amount of dust fumes, suffocation level, breathing level etc. after taking these measurements LEV system is properly installed after this again particular measurements were taken then the results were incredible there is less suffocation level as compared to earlier, respiratory level increases, level of dust fumes decreases. Sampling determination of welding fume: in this method various samples of dust fumes were taken. The size of particles is in micron. The size particles are measured before LEV I installed sample is taken for 6 to 10 hour only. After this dust concentration is to be determined with the help of Hahn Hebish method. With this step, we can calculate the concentration of dust particles. In this, the limit of deduction is three times the standard deviation of weight difference. Environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity were also considered with the help of calibration. 8 personal samples were taken of respirable welding so that it is to calculate the amount of gas inhaled by the worker during the welding time. Later it was resulted that plasma welding fumes consist of high amount of manganese fumes carbon monoxide which harmful for breathing purposes. Statistical methods: All the calculation was done with the help of SAS software. By observation carried out earlier were inputted in SAS software which analyzes the data. In this statics cannot be computed by the common method. So these are the various method by which we can calculate the efficiency of LEV. Misconceptions There are various misleading concepts regarding LEV, some of them are as follows. Air carrying from the duct system will be drawn from many directions unless it is controlled by the hood. Air flow will be reduced approximately 10% of total volume near by the neck of the hood. Operator body or any obstacle placed in the flow of path can generate dead areas. Duct Surfaces causes resistance in a path flow. We can take the example of an air flow pattern Advantages of LEV System Properly used LEV system will capture the source of emission will protect the employee from exposure. General air volume can be reduced as it is not relied upon the dilute solution. Disadvantage Of Lev System If the system is not placed correctly, then the employee will face exposure in his face. Contaminants drew from the system disposed of safely. From the correct use of systematic employee must be well trained. It should be handled with care otherwise dust exposure can catch fire. Results Local exhaust system development An LEV system is shown above in which emission of welding fumes is carried out by the flexible duct away. We can obtain the desired result only when the hood is kept 15 to 20 cm away from the emission of the path. The average rate of manganese the air is .218 microgram/m. When the LEV system is installed in breathing zone amount of manganese can be reduced by .130 microgram/m. Exposure of manganese can be reduced by 63% with the use of this system. The mobile LEV is shown below. It is more suitable for heavy duty work such as for cutting operation, welding, etc. cloud fumes were very evident in breathing zone which is inhaled by the welder. When LEV is installed amount of manganese, decrease up to a certain level. Which is appropriate for welding workers. Conclusion A local exhaust system is an important system for small shops or field work. It is easily affording by low financial workers. It is a simple effective design for small fields purpose. Maintenance of the system is also low. Due to which it is very reliable in nature. It is very useful for the person who deals with electric arc welding which generates a high amount of fumes. It will also take care of the health of workers working in a factory. So with this, we can conclude that it is very reliable efficient working system. References Aldrich, R.; Puttagunta, S. (2011). Measure Guideline: Sealing and Insulating Ducts in Existing Homes. Norwalk, CT: Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings. Aldrich, R.; Williamson, J. (2013). Evaluation of Retrofit Variable-Speed Furnace Fan Motors. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (In publication) Burgess WA. (1995) Welding. In Burgess WA, editor. Recognition of health hazards in industry. New York: Wiley Interscience Harris MK, Ewing WM, LongoWet al. (2005) Manganese exposures during shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) in an enclosed space. Hewitt PJ. (2001) Strategies for risk assessment and control in welding: challenges for developing countries. Dahmann D, Taeger D, Kappler M et al. (2008b) Assessment of exposure in epidemiological studies Health and Safety Executive. Solder fume and you. INDG248. Sudbury: HSE Books, 1997a ACGIH. (1998) Industrial ventilation: a manual of recommended practice. 23rd edn. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. ACGIH. (1998) Industrial ventilation: a manual of recommended practice. 23rd edn. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Hamid E. Control of fume from hand held soldering using a push-pull ventilation system. MSc thesis, University of Aberdeen, 1995 Gala Rabie M., control system, McGraw Hill Publications, 2007 William F. Milliken, Douglas L. Milliken, Dynamics of control system, SAE Publications, 1995. Welding, retrieved Oct 12, 2006 from www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/welding. American welding society. Jeffersons welding encyclopaedia, 18th Ed. Miami: 1997 Fatigue Design of Welded Joints Components Recommendations of IIW Joint Working Group, 1996 G.S BOOTH improving the fatigue of strength welded joint by grinding, 1985 MANTEGHI, control system its components, June 1988 Bibliography Barley, C.D., R. Anderson, R. Hendron, E. Hancock. (2007). A Test Protocol for Room-to-Room Distribution of Outside Air by Residential Ventilation Systems. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-550-31548. www.nrel.gov/buildings/pdfs/31548.pdf. Accessed May 31, 2011. [DOE] U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy. (2010). Guide to Home Ventilation. Washington, DC: US DOE. https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/guide_to_home_ventilation.pdf. Accessed July 29, 2013. Holladay, M. (2009). Designing a Good Ventilation System. Musings of an Energy Nerd. Green Building Advisor. www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/designing-good-ventilation-system. Accessed June 25, 2012. National Center for Healthy Housing. (2009). Improving Ventilation in Multi-family Buildings that Do Not have Fan-Powered Ventilation. Columbia, MD: National Center for Healthy Housing. www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/Factsheet_Ventilation%201.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2013. NPCC (2011). Residential Weatherization Specifications. Portland, OR: Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Regional Technical Forum. www.nwcouncil.org/energy/rtf/subcommittees/res/Approved%20WX%20Specs%208%2030%202011.pdf. Accessed June 25, 2012. Reardon, J.T.; Shaw, C.Y. (1997). Evaluation of Five Simple Ventilation Strategies Suitable for Houses without Forced-Air Heating. ASHRAE Transactions, 103, (1), pp. 731-744. Rudd, A.; Lstiburek, J.; Townsend, A. (2009). A Method for Modifying Ventilation Airflow Rates to Achieve Equivalent Occupant Exposure. ASHRAE Transactions, v. 115, 2. Russell, M.; Sherman, M.; Rudd, A. (2005). Review of Residential Ventilation Technologies. LBNL 57730. Berkeley, CA: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Sakaguchi, J.; Akabayashi, S. (1998). Experimental Study on Air Exchange Efficiency in Houses with Central Ventilation Systems. Proceedings, Roomvent 98, 6th International Conference on Air Distribution in Rooms, Stockholm, Sweden, June 14-17, 1998. Sherman, M.; Walker, I. (2007). Air Distribution Effectiveness for Different Mechanical Ventilation Systems. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL-62700. https://eetd.lbl.gov/ie/pdf/LBNL-62700.pdf. Accessed June 14, 2011.

Americas Break from Britain essays

America's Break from Britain essays The American Colonists suffered so many grievances because of the British and their tyrannical nature. In my opinion, the Americans had no choice but to break from Britain. The American colonists were justified in waging war and breaking away from Britain by several economic, social, and political issues. Economically, Britain was without a doubt oppressing the colonists. It can be argued that The Seven Years War was primarily responsible for beginning the friction among the British and their American counterparts, but even before the Seven Years war had ended, Britain had made their presence as a tyrant by passing the Writs of Assistance, in an attempt to stop American merchants from trading with enemies of the British in the French West Indies. The Writs of Assistance negated the constitutional rights of the colonists and marked the beginning of a lengthy period of time in which the British would force their authorities upon the colonists by a number of unfair means. Two of the most prominent among these are the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. John Dickinson, a Pennsylvania political who served in the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, wrote once in Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania, The Parliament unquestionably possesses a legal authority to regulate the trade of Great Britain and al l her colonies. I have looked over every statute...and I find every one of them founded on this principle, till the Stamp Act Administration...Never did the British Parliament [until the passage of the Stamp Act] think of imposing duties in America for the purpose of raising a revenue. [The Townshend Acts claim the authority] to impose duties on these colonies, not for the regulation of trade...but for the single purpose of levying money upon us. By straining the still developing economy of America for their own economic growth, Britain left America little choice but to break from that oppressive leadership. No matter how great th...

Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus Essays

Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus Essays Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus Paper Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus Paper Essay Topic: Literature Shakespeare has created three strong characters within the play Antony and Cleopatra. Their attitudes to death and mortality in the play have little similarities as Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus all approach the issue differently. Enobarbus, for example, acquires a broken heart after regrettably leaving the side of Antony to join forces with Caesar. He is ashamed at what he has done and feels he has acted wrongly. When the messenger sent by Antony gives Enobarbus his treasure, it makes him feel guiltier for his disloyalty to his close friend. At this point, the option of suicide becomes apparent as Enobarbus speaks of his death which would be a way of ending his broken heart. At the end of Act IV, Enobarbus feels not worthy and exits by saying; go seek / some ditch wherein to die It isnt until Scene 9 that Enobarbus carries out his suicide. He looks up to the moon and addresses it, as this is associated with mental instability and asks the moon to witness his repentance and for the forgiveness of Antony, and in line 23 he stabs himself uttering Antonys name. Enobarbus death showed his weakness to carry on with the guilt of leaving Antony. He felt so ashamed of his actions and saw the only way to fix the wrong doing was to end his life as he was the one at fault. Antony however feared death. Shakespeare gives the audience the impression that he is scared of mortality. But when he hears the news that his beloved Cleopatra has apparently committed suicide he attempts suicide himself because without her in his life, he has nothing to live for. It is Eros who kills himself first after Antony asks Eros to kill him as he cannot bring himself to carry out the act. At this point Shakespeare encourages the audience to believe that Antony is going to die using the sword, but when Antony falls on Eros sword afterwards, he fails to kill himself outright. After then asking Decretas to kill him, it becomes almost like a pantomime with Antony messing up his suicide twice. With his life as a soldier at an end, Antony becomes like a brideroom in his death and runs to it, As a lovers bed with no hesitation when he finds out that Cleopatra had deceived him by lying about her suicide. When Antony is sent to Cleopatras monument after finding out that she is still alive, there is a sense of a double irony as she was not dead and he was dying. As Cleopatra eventually gives Antony his kiss which he asked for as his death wish, he dies. Cleopatras death at the end of the play is the result of a climatic build-up. Her death is to show courage which relates to being a Roman quality. After faking her death to see what her lover Antonys reaction would be, she commits suicide to defeat Caesar and join Antony. Five minutes after he has died, she feels like she has melted away. She becomes convinced that now Antony is gone, Caesar will show her off as a trophy and she will become part of a Roman pageant. This scares her immensely and she begins to sulk. Her stubbornness, strong will and single mind comes into play and this shows her powerful side. Cleopatra is a proud woman and is not afraid to kill herself as she doesnt want to continue with her life anymore. Her actually death takes place in her monument away from the reach of Caesar. She puts on her best clothes to give the impression that she is going to do this properly unlike Antony who had done so with his suicide. She uses the asp (snake) to show the symbol that her life was about to be untangled for itself and speaks of how she is jealous of those who have already died. It is not until she is half way through a sentence that she dies. This gives the end of the play a sudden twist as there is no way of knowing what else was about to be said by the queen and shows a less traditional aspect to the end of a morality play. There is a define sense of death with honour in Antony and Cleopatra and is portrayed strongly in the suicides of all three characters in some form. However it can be argued that Antony does not have this honour because of the fact that he had already attempted two times to kill himself by falling of the sword and failed and Enobarbus can be said to be dishonourable because he stabbed himself of a broken heart and felt that escapism was the only way to end his guilt. The only argument that is clearly apparent for Cleopatra being seen as dishonourable is when she faked her own suicide to see what her lovers reaction would be. All three characters have different divisions in their attitudes to death and the death situations and this is made clear in all three separate death scenes. But none of the suicides are planned with great thought except Cleopatras who felt she must die in dignity by dressing up and using snakes as a symbolic reference to dispatch its venom rather than stabbing herself. Smaller characters in the play do not have much focus on their deaths unlike Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus who are able to conduct powerful, meaningful speeches before their deaths. Characters such as Eros and Charmian, who are close friends to Antony and Cleopatra exit with little recognition. For example, Eros is shown to be honourable in refusing to kill Antony when he asks him to. He ends his life by turning the sword on himself with his back to Antony before trying to kill Antony himself. Eros speaks of his death by saying; Thus I do escape the sorrow / Of Antonys death. This character shows his loyalty to Antony until the end of his time in the play. Charmian too shows her commitment to the queen as her maidservant by killing herself after the death of Cleopatra. She speaks of the world as vile and sees no hope for the future now Cleopatra has killed herself, so she applies an asp to herself also. Her last words resort back to showing her admiration to the queen and suggests she is most royal by stating; It is well done, and fitting for a princess / Descended of so many royal kings These few words show how Shakespeare is acknowledging her reign and her powerful impact on peoples lives, and used Charmian as an example to show this in her death even though the focus did not remain on her afterwards. Throughout Antony and Cleopatra, different characters act to the news of peoples deaths in interesting ways. When Antonys first wife Fulvia dies, His reaction to her death was to know where she had died. It meant he had back the freedom he had previously wanted and was now able to marry Cleopatra but Antony now did not want to. There is hardly any reference to Fulvia in the play apart from Act 1 when her death is announced then soon forgotten by Antony. Cleopatra however asks why he married her but chose not to love her. This question asked by the queen proved Fulvias little existence to Antony and the audience may have been surprised about this. For Caesar, the death of Antony and Cleopatra changes his attitudes and this is made apparent in the last speech which is carried out by Caesar himself. As he delivers his speech, it seems as though he is now different. It steps back on how the audience has previously perceived Caesar as a somewhat negative figure which causes friction between the two main characters. Shakespeare draws the tragedy around this last significant speech as it gives the choice of pity or terror with the idea that the world can be re-built after the deaths of a great warrior and the queen of Egypt. It also emphasises that there is no loss on their part because Cleopatra will be with her Antony for eternal life in a happier place; She shall be buried by her Antony. This part can be said to be connected with the ending in Hamlet with the funeral narration. In this play, Shakespeare creates the sense of death as going somewhere better then where they are stationed now. This was because he wrote his plays around Christian beliefs in the 1600s which meant that there was meant to be a life after death. Perhaps this idea meant that the play Antony and Cleopatra wasnt so much an emphasis into a tragedy but shown as a basis of something better to come out of their lives in Rome and Egypt after the wars and disloyalty of people throughout the story. It is noticeable to see how the beginning of the play differs to the end of the play on attitudes to death. The use of the fortune teller (soothsayer) in Act II, Scene 3 makes it seem that Antony is in control of a great force. The soothsayer tells Antony that he has a guiding spirit which is courageous and unmatchable, but fearful towards Caesar, so he should be wary of his limitations. Antony does not listen to his advice and it isnt until later when he loses the second battle he begins to struggle maintaining his successful image, which he feels is fading away. His attitudes change after this, as he goes from believing he can beat Caesar to feeling defeated in war. This is when he becomes scared of death and his earlier strong, fearless character has disappeared. The soothsayer also predicts the deaths of others. This tragedy reflects on three main criteria: war, love and betrayal which all connect with death. The men who fought for Antony and Caesar died in both battles on land and sea, Antony and Cleopatra died in the end for each other so love was the cause for their deaths, and the betrayal of friends such as Enobarbus leaving Antony to join Caesars army all contrast to create the tragedy itself. There is not one main factor that can be used to explain the suicides of each character, especially for Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus as they saw dying as achieving different things. The message of this tragedy has many definitions such as escapism, pain, suffering, gloom and death itself. But perhaps the main is the fall of a great man which is Antony himself. He was a great leader and was admired for his achievements. He had to be high up for it to be a tragic fall in the play. Each three main death scenes had their own purposely built moments, and Shakespeare must have deliberately chosen to do this. The death parts are built up, which starts with Enobarbus who is the first to die, and his reason for doing so was because he was heart broken, downbeat and felt guilty. The second is taken one step higher with Antonys death having two parts. The tension rises however when he dies in the middle of a line. But these two suicides are the climatic build up to Cleopatras death which is planned with props for the stage and a long death speech. It can be said that her suicide was the dramatic finale with the two suicides of the other main characters being looked upon as not as important because of how her death was prepared and ended the play. This love-tragedy by Shakespeare sees the heroine as centre of attention like many other of his plays, so this is why she deserves to die with the dignity that Antony and Enobarbus did not.

International Marketing Master Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Marketing Master - Assignment Example Power mainly holds with Prime Minister. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of People's Republic of China and it maintains a high degree of autonomy in all matters relating to government and politics except foreign and defense affairs. It is regarded as separate entity though maintained as dependency on certain issues on china. In South Korea the government structure is determined by constitution of republic of Korea. The country has always had a presidential system with a relatively independent chief executive. Law systems in these countries are distinctly different from each other. Japanese law and judicial system is influenced by civil law of Europe and has also the roots of Chinese whereas Hong Kong though now a part of China and have its own autonomy still follows the common law which was established under British colonial law. So if we consider our product of Play station it won't have a big effect if any problems crop up as these countries law system is quite streamlined enough to make its own impact towards the issues. In South Korea taxes are imposed on both national and local level. Taxes like property tax, license tax fall under local tax levels whereas custom duties tax and international tax come under national level. Taxes are imposed both on companies which are global or foreign and national companies. The difference however ranges from the slab rate which is offered to each of them. The following figure shows the corporate Income tax rate for general corporations Corporate Income Tax Rate for General Corporations Previous Revised Tax base Tax rate Tax base Tax rate 80 million 20% (24%) 100 million won or less 20% over 80 million won * Unlisted Large-scale Corp.:33% (39.6-41.25) * Non-Profit Corp.: 27% (32.4-33.5%) * Corp., other than the above: 30% (36-37.5%) over 100 million won 20 million won + 34% of an amount in excess of 100 million won Source: http://www.asiatradehub.com/s.korea/tax1.asp If we look at the Hong Kong economy and business prospects one thing we can gather information from it is that tax system followed. It can be said as most business friendly tax system in the world. The best part is that there are no values added taxes (VAT) or sales tax. Taxes are usually levied on profits, salaries and property. The tax rate when profit tax is considered is 17.5 % for corporations and 16% for other business environments. Similarly property taxes are 16% on the annual rent. If we consider Japan, we can say taxes form two categories. They are National Tax and Local Tax. Under these categories lots of subcategories are present which deal with every type of tax which is imposed in the country. Taxes on all issues like bathing tax, consumer goods tax, and gasoline tax are imposed. The consumption tax rate is 5%.Income tax is applied to foreigner which is way too complicated than we can

Camus life is absurd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Camus life is absurd - Essay Example Even the non-living things have their own concerns and things matter for them as will be discussed in the paper. This thesis will be argued for by discussing nature, motivations, and actions of both the living beings and the non-living beings in this world. Explication Hare argues that when Camus says â€Å"Nothing Matters†, there can be three entities to which nothing matters; Camus, the main character of his novel, or the reader. Now saying that nothing matters to Camus is absurd because if nothing mattered to him, he would not have written such an interesting, highly influential, and engaging novel. As for the main character of the novel written by Camus, it is also inappropriate to thing that nothing mattered to him because for one, that was an imaginary character without his own aspirations, desires, or motives and only acted as Camus wanted him to and secondly, the activities he does in the novel cannot be done without having any concern. Thus, the reader draws wrong inf erences from the novel by thinking that nothing matters. Matter is not an activity like â€Å"chatter† because if it was to be taken in this sense, then â€Å"Nothing Matters† seems right. ... Life never imparts the meaning that people want from it. So their either believe in God hoping that they would get the rewards in the world hereafter or they find meaninglessness in life. The latter conclusion motivates one to commit suicide because one does not find life worth living. This leaves an individual with two options; either to commit suicide or to believe in the world hereafter. A third possibility is accepting to live in a world that does not have any meaning. Main Argument Hare’s argument is right. Nothing in this world has been made without a purpose. Even things like insects such as mosquitos and flies that we often think of as a burden on us have not been made without a purpose as they play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem healthy and going. Likewise, non-living things like the sun and the moon are not purposeless. Sun gives us light during the day as well as during the night by reflecting through the moon. The moon has the concern of getting the light from the sun to glow because without the reflection of sunlight, it would not glow. Camus’s argument is inherently illogical and false. There is hardly anyone who never gets from life what he/she wants. By nature, man has two desires; first, to gain worldly desires like money, power, and fame and secondly, to gain satisfaction and peace of mind by doing good deeds. If an individual tries but cannot become rich, he might not have been able to fulfill his desires, but he can always derive pleasure and peace of mind by doing good deeds. Many good deeds do not even require the individual to spend money e.g. helping a blind man cross a road does not take any money but doing so lends one happiness and satisfaction. This suggests that

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound Screening Programme

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound Screening Programme Susmi Suresh Role of the National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound Screening Programme in Improving Health Outcomes: a systematic review Abstract Background: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is one of the common conditions that affect men aged 65 and older. Described as a ticking bomb(1), rupture of such an aneurysm results in fatal bleeding and death. Early detection allows appropriate treatment to be given to patients as an effort to reduce mortality rates. The National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening programme, an initiative of Public Health England, offers screening to men in the prevalence group by following its objective of reducing mortality rates of preventable illnesses(2). Ultrasonography is the chosen imaging modality due to its high sensitivity and specificity(3). The aim of this study is to examine current literature on AAA and to understand whether screening programmes are effective enough to reduce mortality rates of AAA. Quality of life (QoL) as a health outcome will also be examined and evidence analysed, to see whether screening programmes affect patients quality of life. Method: A thorough search of prominent databases was carried out and the search-results underwent application of inclusion and exclusion criteria developed for this review. Four major randomised controlled trials were identified. Following data extraction, quality assessment was carried out using the CASP tool. Risk of bias was checked using the Cochranes tool for assessing risk of bias. All of these ensured a valid conclusion to be drawn.   Results: The four chosen RCTs were the MASS trial, the Chichester trial, the Viborg trial and the WA trial. The Mass and Chichester trials were conducted in the UK whereas the Viborg and WA trials were carried out in Denmark and Australia, respectively. The data pool of 125595 people added to the reliability of the findings of this review. A significant reduction in mortality rates of AAA was found in the intervention groups following an ultrasound screening of the abdominal aorta(4-7). QoL was looked at as the secondary outcome in the MASS trial which concluded that there was no adverse effect on QoL(4). Conclusion: The review showed evidence on reduced AAA mortality rates in men aged 65 and older following ultrasound screening. No adverse effect in patients QoL was found. The NAAASP is a commendable initiative of Public Health England and it is suggested that similar screening programmes be introduced through an evidence-based healthcare. Introduction       An aneurysm forms when a section of a weakened arterial wall dilates permanently. The walls of an artery can weaken and dilate due to cardiovascular diseases like arteriosclerosis, inflammation of the arterial wall or trauma. When this dilation occurs in the abdominal aorta, which runs from T12 to L5, it is considered to be an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)(8). Several studies have found smoking, hypertension and alcohol consumption to be the major risk factors of AAA(9). A family history of AAA is also considered to be a risk factor(10). AAA is age and sex-dependent as concluded by a retrospective prevalence study that looked at a cohort of 100,000 men and women each. The prevalence among men was found to increase rapidly after the age of 55 and that among women increases after the age of 70(11). Therefore, women are considered to be at low risk of developing AAA and hence screening programmes focus on a male population of 65 years or older(12). Patients are mostly asymptomatic and where symptoms do present, these could be abdominal pain, flank pain, back pain, groin pain, or syncope. A palpable pulsating abdominal mass could also be found during examination. An aneurysm once formed, grows in size until it bursts, leading to fatal bleeding. Only 2 in 10 people with a ruptured aneurysm survive if not treated with emergency AAA repair surgery(13). The survival rate among those who receive surgery is 94%(14). AAAs are detected using an ultrasound scan (US), which is considered to be the most effective screening modality with high sensitivity (98%) and specificity (99%) rates(15). The US is safe, cheap, quick, and non-invasive, and provides results immediately. It is widely accepted as a valid screening method and the aorta can be visualised in 99% of patients(15). Compared to CT scans which can sometimes overestimate the diameter of aneurysms in the oblique plane(15), ultrasound continues to be the choice of screening modality. In 2014, around 2000 men died from ruptured AAA, accounting for around 1% of all registered deaths in men aged 65 and over(16). Past records show a reduction in mortality in England from 7.5% in 2009 to 1.6% in 2012(17). This sheds light on the National AAA Screening Programme (NAAASP) offered by the NHS. Early detection via screening of a large aneurysm of above 5.5cm, means that patients are given the choice of repair surgery thereby increasing their survival rate by 69%(8, 18). Surveillance is offered to patients with a small or medium aneurysm of 3-4.4cm and 4.5-5.4cm, respectively(19, 20). This is through an ultrasound scan every twelve or three months for small and medium aneurysms, respectively. Screening aims to reduce the risk of developing a disease in a healthy population who have no signs of illness with respect to the condition being screened. The NAAASP is based on the policies recommended by the UK National Screening Committee in 2005 following the results of the largest randomised controlled trial about AAA, the Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study (MASS), which showed that screening reduces mortality by 40% after 10 years(21). Implemented in 2009, the programme achieved a nationwide coverage by the end of 2013. The programme aims to reduce AAA mortality by providing a systematic population-based screening programme for the male population during their 65th year and on request, for men over 65(22). This falls under Domain 2 and 4 of the Public Health Outcomes Framework provided by the Department of Health, with the objectives to help people to live healthy lifestyles and, to reduce the number of people living with preventable ill health and people dying prematurely(22), respectively. NAAASP Annual Data 2014/15 shows that a total of 280,520 men were screened and 83.2% had a conclusive screen(23). During the screening year 2013/14, this was 82% out of a total of 287,126 men(24). Depending on the size of the aneurysm, either surveillance or surgery was offered. Overall, the programme aims to achieve the health outcome of reduced mortality. Quality of life is also reported as a health outcome as shown by several retrospective, observational and cohort studies conducted on patients(25-27). Knowledge on the success of screening programmes like NAAASP remains limited. The aim of this review, therefore, is to examine current evidence on whether a screening programme improves health outcomes, namely reduced mortality and improved quality of life, by critically and systematically reviewing literature using the quality assessment tools of the critical appraisal skills programme (CASP). This will be achieved through the following objectives: Develop inclusion and exclusion criteria based on PICOS relating to AAA and ultrasound scanning Carry out a systematic search of databases- Medline, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database, OneSearch and the ISRCTN Registry (BioMed Central). Filter the search using the inclusion and exclusion criteria and carry out data-extraction using the Cochrane Data Collection form Carry out quality assessment using the CASP tool and use the Cochrane tool to assess risk of bias Conduct an analysis, focusing on mortality and quality of life as the health outcomes Methods Although evidence exists on the accuracy of using ultrasonography for detecting abdominal aortic aneurysms(3) and the validity of the scan results is widely accepted due to its high sensitivity and specificity(3), the process of abdominal aortic scanning was decided to be reviewed first(Appendix A). Prior to conducting the search, inclusion and exclusion criteria were set (Table 1)(28). Following this, databases were chosen for the search-topic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. These included PubMed/MEDLINE, ISRCTN Registry, Web of Science, Lancaster University/OneSearch and the Cochrane Database. Search strategies were developed for each source and search filters were decided (Table 3-7). Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms were used to further refine the results (Table 2). Overall, seventy-four articles were found and after removing duplicates, forty-nine remained. These were subjected to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, thus narrowing down the results to seventeen relevant articles. The reference lists of the retrieved articles were further reviewed for any relevant cited papers. This process was repeated until no relevant articles were found. Four major randomised clinical trials were identified from these. These were reviewed after undergoing data extraction and quality assessment. Data extraction was carried out using Cochranes data extraction tool and this allowed for a full-text screening that removed any ineligible studies. Moreover, the use of a standardised form increased the validity and reliability of this review whilst also reducing any risk of bias(28). Finally, the trials were critically appraised using the CASP tool. This enabled identifying risk of bias within the trials, particularly selection bias, performance bias and reporting bias. Table 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria Population General population of males aged 65 years or older Patients who are asymptomatic and symptomatic who were involved in AAA screening Patients from all ethnicities Patients of all socioeconomic status Trials that include females, younger children and males younger than 65 years since AAA is age and sex specific Intervention Ultrasound Screening for AAA Any other imaging modalities like CT, MRI or radiography Comparison Non-screened population Aneurysm Aortic Aneurysm Thoracic Aneurysm Outcome (s) Mortality Quality of Life Study Design Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) Trials that look at AAA detection using Ultrasonography Articles in the English language Articles from the time period starting from approximately 20 years before the NAAASP programme came into effect, i.e., 1985 to present Full articles All other types of studies such as qualitative studies, observational studies, cohort or case-series studies. Articles in foreign languages Studies conducted outside this time period Articles that are not fully available Table 2  Ã‚  Ã‚   Medical Search Headings (MeSH) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Mass Screening Ultrasonography Rupture Table 3 PubMed Search Strategy/Method Results Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 23,807 Mass Screening 128,434 Ultrasonography 386,798 Rupture 109,121 AAA + MS 599 AAA + MS + US 300 AAA + MS +US + Rupture 102 AAA + MS +US + RCTs 23 AAA + MS +US + Rupture + RCTs 11 Table 4 Web of Science Search Strategy/Method Results Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 18,625 Mass Screening 43,081 Ultrasonography 80,257 Rupture 119,830 AAA + MS 131 AAA + MS + US 23 AAA + MS +US + Rupture 12 Limit English 11 Table 5 Cochrane Library (RCTs only) Search Strategy/Method Results Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 702 Mass Screening 3827 Ultrasonography 11,318 Rupture 3097 AAA + MS 46 AAA + MS + US 23 AAA + MS +US + Rupture 10 Table 6 OneSearch Search Strategy/Method Results Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 27,819 Mass Screening 73,090 Ultrasonography 122,460 Rupture 94738 AAA + MS 604 AAA + MS + US 123 AAA + MS +US + Rupture 42 Limit Articles 39 Table 7 ISRCTN Registry/BioMed Central Search Strategy/Method Results Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 37 Mass Screening 328 Ultrasonography 88 Rupture 176 AAA + MS 3 Results Four dominant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified- the Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study(4) (MASS) conducted between 1997 to 1999; the Chichester Study(5), 1988 to 1991; the Viborg County Trial(6), 1994 to 1998 and; the Western Australia (WA) Trial(7), 1996. These collectively showed that AAA mortality rate can be significantly reduced in the population following an ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta (Table 8). The Mass and Chichester trials were carried out in the UK and had a participant number of 67,770 men aged 65 to 74 years and 6040 men aged 65-80 years, respectively. The Viborg Country trial was conducted in the Viborg county of Denmark with a participant number of   12,639 men aged 65-73 years; the WA trial, carried out   in the province of Western Australia included 41,000 men aged 65-79. All these trials used ultrasound screening of the abdomen to detect AAA and measured AAA-mortality as the primary outcome(4-7). The secondary outcomes of all trials were all-cause mortality. However the Mass trial also measured quality of life and cost-effectiveness as the secondary outcomes. Cost-effectiveness was also measured by the Viborg trial as the secondary outcome. Participants were randomly selected and randomisation was computer-generated(4-7). Mass and Chichester trials recruited participants via GP registers based on gender and date of birth. In the Mass trial, some were excluded if the GP considered them to terminally ill, had other health problems or had undergone AAA repair(4). In the Viborg trial, recruitment was through the countys health department and WA participants were selected from the electoral roll(6, 7). The WA trial excluded those men who were too far from the screening location; the Viborg trial had no such exclusions. MASS Trial The intervention group composed of 33839 men and the control group, 1333 men. Attendance was 80% and the median follow-up was ten years(4). 65 men died in the intervention group and 113 died in the control group, due to AAA. Mortality data was taken from death registry provided by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The study concluded that AAA mortality rate can be significantly reduced by up to half, following ultrasound screening. There was a 42% reduction in the intervention group, hazard ratio (HR) 0.58 95% CI (0.42-0.78)(4). The study also measured mood and health status outcomes such as state anxiety, depression, and health-status measures such as mental and physical health, and self-rated health(4, 13). These were calculated at intervals of six weeks after screening and, 3 and 12 months after detection of aneurysm or surgery. There were no significant changes in anxiety and depression and these remained within the recommendations(4). However, those screened negative and undergoing surveillance scored higher in health-status measures. This trend continued until 3 months after screening(4). However at 12 months, those who had undergone surgery scored higher than those in surveillance. They also self-rated higher, similar to those screened negative(4). Despite these results, the authors refrained from making a conclusive statement on quality of life. In the intervention group, there was an increase in the number of elective surgeries, odds ratio (OR)- 2.45 95% CI (2.02-2.97)(4). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in the overall 30-day mortality after elective surgery in the intervention and control groups; this remained at 6%. However, unnecessary surgery and the risk of overdiagnosis are seen as factors reducing the overall quality of life(29). So even though this increase in elective surgery in the intervention group and its effects could be used as a measure of quality of life, the authors did not make such a link. Chichester Trial The intervention group composed of 2995 men and the control group, 3045 men. The median follow-up was fifteen years and the attendance rate, 74%, decreased with age. About 33.8% of men in the age range of 76-80 years declined compared to 19.5% in the age group of 65 years(5). 10 men died in the intervention group and 17 died in the control group, due to AAA-related causes. Like the Mass trial, mortality data was taken from the ONS Death Registry. The study found no differences in mortality rates in the two groups up to four years from screening. However, over 15 years, mortality was found to be reduced in the intervention group by 11%. This was not considered as a significant reduction, HR 0.89 95% CI (0.60-1.32) (5). Viborg Trial The intervention group composed of 6339 men and the control group, 6319 men. Attendance was 76% and the maximum follow-up was fourteen years(6). 6 men died in the intervention group, compared to 19 in the control group. Mortality data was taken from the national registry. There was a significant reduction in AAA-related hospital mortality, OR-0.31 95% CI (0.13-0.79)(6). The study recommends screening men aged 65 years to reduce AAA-mortality. However since the study only noted deaths from AAA in a hospital setting in the county of Viborg, this finding cannot be expanded to other countries. Western Australia Trial The intervention and control groups composed of 19352 men each. Attendance rate was 70% and the maximum follow-up was 43-months(7). 18 men died in the intervention group and 25 died in the control group. Mortality data was taken from the national death registry and the hospital registry. The study found that there was no significant reduction in mortality following ultrasound scanning in the intervention group of men aged 65-83 years in Western Australia, OR- 0.72 95% CI (0.39-1.32)(7). However the study noted that in the subgroup of men aged 65-75 years, mortality was found to be reduced(7). Table 8 AAA mortality: raw data Trial Deaths in Screened Deaths in Unscreened Odds Ratio (95% CI) MASS 65/33,839 113/33,961 0.58 (0.42 to 0.78) Chichester 10/3205 17/3228 0.59 (0.27 to 1.29) Viborg 6/6339 19/6319 0.31 (0.13 to 1.79) Western Australia (WA) 18/19352 25/19352 0.72 (0.39 to 1.32) Total* 93/56,396 155/56,541 0.60 (0.46 to 0.78) *Data from the Viborg trial is not included since the study noted deaths only in a hospital setting. Hence, results cannot be compared to the other studies(30) Discussion The pooled data of 125595 participants shows that AAA mortality rate can be significantly reduced in the population following an ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta. Data from the four RCTs show that the Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) for the Mass trial, Chichester, Viborg and WA are 0.14%, 0.21%, 0.21% and 0.04%, respectively (See Table 9 for the full data processed by the review author). Although these may appear insignificant, when applied over a population, the ARR is 140.7, 214.6, 206.0 and 36.2 per 100,000 respectively. Hence, the Numbers Needed to Screen (NNS) are 711, 466, 485 and 2765 respectively. On an average, this is an ARR of 149.4 out of every 100,000 people for an NNS of 1107. This NNS is lower than other screening programmes like breast cancer screening which has an NNS of 1339(31).   This confirms the benefits of a population-based screening programme such as the NAAASP. The Mass trial, which looked at the effects of ultrasound screening on the quality of life found its measures to be within normal standards. Since the NAAASP is based on the results of this trial, it can be said that ultrasound screening has no adverse effects on the quality of life of the screened population. However, a   limitation acts on the trial- quality of life was measured only up to twelve months after scan; no data is available for the period after that. If quality of life was continued to be measured during follow-ups or even separately via postal questionnaires or GP appointments, a more valid inference could have been drawn. It would also have provided a fuller picture on the long-term effects on quality of life. One other limitation acting on this review is the possibility of selection bias as a result of excluding some articles in foreign languages. Despite this, the findings of this review remain unaffected and can be considered valid since an exhaustive search of the major databases was carried out systematically. Although the inclusion criteria of free-articles was applied after this search, Lancaster Universitys subscription service ensured access to all available articles and a complete retrieval of the selected search was possible. The pooled study population consisted of 125,595 men and the MASS trial alone had a sample of 67800 people. So, conclusions on quality of life and AAA mortality can be considered reliable. However, there are inconsistencies present in the four RCTs due to the different methods used. For example, the Viborg trial noted mortality only in a hospital setting. This makes its results incomparable to the other trials. Also, the source of mortality data varies in the four studies. All the trials looked at the national death registries but the Chichester and WA trials also looked at other sources(5, 7). This may have resulted in possible over-estimation or duplication of data. Similarly, the cause of death was re-checked by a clinician and two random vascular surgeons in the Chichester and WA trials, respectively. Whilst expert opinion regarding the cause of death could lead to precise and accurate mortality data, there could also be false-positives when opinions are formed on complex cases with multiple causes of mortality. This subject of human error was also noted whilst carrying out the preparatory ultrasound screening (Appendix A). Individual measurements of the same abdominal aortic diameter were varied. Although this points to the possibility of human error that may adversely affect the accuracy the diagnosis, the NAAASP identifies staff training as a significant aspect of the programme to overcome this. Staffs are well-trained in the use of ultrasonography for AAA screening and in the overall delivery of the programme(8). Also, the programme itself has several failsafe procedures incorporated within all phases of the programme so that the performance thresholds are constantly maintained(8). The result of this review can be applied to patient care in the UK. The NAAASP is successfully running its seventh year. Since its implementation in 2009, one million men have been screened(32). Accumulating evidence shows it is feasible to reduce AAA-mortality by ultrasound screening, thereby making it possible to achieve the programmes aim. Public Health England could implement similar screening interventions in other disease areas. There is currently a long of list of conditions like atrial fibrillation, thyroid disease and lung cancer where a population-based screening is not offered (but privately available) due to the absence of enough evidence to inform a screening programme'(33). Evidence-based healthcare could be further expanded to diseases like these. It is not just new and untreatable diseases that prove to be a challenge to 21st century medicine; it is the phenomenon of the disease-iceberg that proves most challenging. By detecting and treating early onset of illnesses, people live a longer and healthier life. Table 9 Data processed by the review author using the results from the four RCTs Trial Experimental Event Rate (EER) Control Event Rate (CER) Absolute Risk Reduction Relative Risk Reduction Number(s) Needed to Screen (NNS) Odds Ratio/Relative Risk MASS 0.00192086 0.00332735 0.00140649 0.422705 710.992 1.73222 Chichester 0.00312012 0.00526642 0.00214629 0.407543 465.919 1.68789 Viborg 0.000946522 0.00300680 0.00206028 0.685207 485.370 3.17669 Western Australia 0.000930136 0.00129186 0.000361720 0.280000 2764.57 1.38889 Overall 0.00157807 0.00276806 0.00118999 0.429901 840.344 1.75408 Overall* 0.00164905 0.00274137 0.00109232 0.398457 915.482 1.66239 *Data from the Viborg trial is not included since the study noted deaths only in a hospital setting. Hence, results cannot be compared to the other studies(30) Conclusion Following critical appraisal of the current available evidence provided by four major RCTs, it was found that mortality from AAA can be significantly reduced in males aged 65 years and older, through a population-based screening programme. Ultrasonography continues to be the chosen imaging modality due to its accuracy and ease-of-use.   It was also found that such a screen

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The Lost Symbol Chapter 102-106

CHAPTER 102 Robert Langdon had often heard it said that an animal, when cornered, was capable of miraculous feats of strength. Nonetheless, when he threw his full force into the underside of his crate, nothing budged at all. Around him, the liquid continued rising steadily. With no more than six inches of breathing room left, Langdon had lifted his head into the pocket of air that remained. He was now face-to-face with the Plexiglas window, his eyes only inches away from the underside of the stone pyramid whose baffling engraving hovered above him. I have no idea what this means. Concealed for over a century beneath a hardened mixture of wax and stone dust, the Masonic Pyramid's final inscription was now laid bare. The engraving was a perfectly square grid of symbols from every tradition imaginable–alchemical, astrological, heraldic, angelic, magical, numeric, sigilic, Greek, Latin. As a totality, this was symbolic anarchy–a bowl of alphabet soup whose letters came from dozens of different languages, cultures, and time periods. Total chaos. Symbologist Robert Langdon, in his wildest academic interpretations, could not fathom how this grid of symbols could be deciphered to mean anything at all. Order from this chaos? Impossible. The liquid was now creeping over his Adam's apple, and Langdon could feel his level of terror rising along with it. He continued banging on the tank. The pyramid stared back at him tauntingly. In frantic desperation, Langdon focused every bit of his mental energy on the chessboard of symbols. What could they possibly mean? Unfortunately, the assortment seemed so disparate that he could not even imagine where to begin. They're not even from the same eras in history! Outside the tank, her voice muffled but audible, Katherine could be heard tearfully begging for Langdon's release. Despite his failure to see a solution, the prospect of death seemed to motivate every cell in his body to find one. He felt a strange clarity of mind, unlike anything he had ever experienced. Think! He scanned the grid intensely, searching for some clue–a pattern, a hidden word, a special icon, anything at all–but he saw only a grid of unrelated symbols. Chaos. With each passing second, Langdon had begun to feel an eerie numbness overtaking his body. It was as if his very flesh were preparing to shield his mind from the pain of death. The water was now threatening to pour into his ears, and he lifted his head as far as he could, pushing it against the top of the crate. Frightening images began flashing before his eyes. A boy in New England treading water at the bottom of a dark well. A man in Rome trapped beneath a skeleton in an overturned coffin. Katherine's shouts were growing more frantic. From all Langdon could hear, she was trying to reason with a madman–insisting that Langdon could not be expected to decipher the pyramid without going to visit the Almas Temple. â€Å"That building obviously holds the missing piece to this puzzle! How can Robert decipher the pyramid without all the information?!† Langdon appreciated her efforts, and yet he felt certain that â€Å"Eight Franklin Square† was not pointing to the Almas Temple. The time line is all wrong! According to legend, the Masonic Pyramid was created in the mid-1800s, decades before the Shriners even existed. In fact, Langdon realized, it was probably before the square was even called Franklin Square. The capstone could not possibly have been pointing to an unbuilt building at a nonexistent address. Whatever â€Å"Eight Franklin Square† was pointing to . . . it had to exist in 1850. Unfortunately, Langdon was drawing a total blank. He probed his memory banks for anything that could possibly fit the time line. Eight Franklin Square? Something that was in existence in 1850? Langdon came up with nothing. The liquid was trickling into his ears now. Fighting his terror, he stared up at the grid of symbols on the glass. I don't understand the connection! In a petrified frenzy, his mind began spewing all the far-flung parallels it could generate. Eight Franklin Square . . . squares . . . this grid of symbols is a square . . . the square and the compass are Masonic symbols . . . Masonic altars are square . . . squares have ninety-degree angles. The water kept rising, but Langdon blocked it out. Eight Franklin . . . eight . . . this grid is eight-by-eight . . . Franklin has eight letters . . . â€Å"The Order† has eight letters . . . 8 is the rotated symbol for infinity . . . eight is the number of destruction in numerology . . . Langdon had no idea. Outside the tank, Katherine was still pleading, but Langdon's hearing was now intermittent as the water was sloshing around his head. † . . . impossible without knowing . . . capstone's message clearly . . . the secret hides within–â€Å" Then she was gone. Water poured into Langdon's ears, blotting out the last of Katherine's voice. A sudden womblike silence engulfed him, and Langdon realized he truly was going to die. The secret hides within– Katherine's final words echoed through the hush of his tomb. The secret hides within . . . Strangely, Langdon realized he had heard these exact words many times before. The secret hides . . . within. Even now, it seemed, the Ancient Mysteries were taunting him. â€Å"The secret hides within† was the core tenet of the mysteries, urging man kind to seek God not in the heavens above . . . but rather within himself. The secret hides within. It was the message of all the great mystical teachers. The kingdom of God is within you, said Jesus Christ. Know thyself, said Pythagoras. Know ye not that ye are gods, said Hermes Trismegistus. The list went on and on . . . All the mystical teachings of the ages had attempted to convey this one idea. The secret hides within. Even so, mankind continued looking to the heavens for the face of God. This realization, for Langdon, now became an ultimate irony. Right now, with his eyes facing the heavens like all the blind men who preceded him, Robert Langdon suddenly saw the light. It hit him like a bolt from above. The secret hides within The Order Eight Franklin Square In a flash he understood. The message on the capstone was suddenly crystal clear. Its meaning had been staring him in the face all night. The text on the capstone, like the Masonic Pyramid itself, was a symbolon–a code in pieces–a message written in parts. The capstone's meaning was camouflaged in so simple a manner that Langdon could scarcely believe he and Katherine had not spotted it. More astonishing still, Langdon now realized that the message on the capstone did indeed reveal exactly how to decipher the grid of symbols on the base of the pyramid. It was so very simple. Exactly as Peter Solomon had promised, the golden capstone was a potent talisman with the power to bring order from chaos. Langdon began pounding on the lid and shouting, â€Å"I know! I know!† Above him, the stone pyramid lifted off and hovered away. In its place, the tattooed face reappeared, its chilling visage staring down through the small window. â€Å"I solved it!† Langdon shouted. â€Å"Let me out!† When the tattooed man spoke, Langdon's submerged ears heard nothing. His eyes, however, saw the lips speak two words. â€Å"Tell me.† â€Å"I will!† Langdon screamed, the water almost to his eyes. â€Å"Let me out! I'll explain everything!† It's so simple. The man's lips moved again. â€Å"Tell me now . . . or die.† With the water rising through the final inch of air space, Langdon tipped his head back to keep his mouth above the waterline. As he did so, warm liquid poured into his eyes, blurring his vision. Arching his back, he pressed his mouth against the Plexiglas window. Then, with his last few seconds of air, Robert Langdon shared the secret of how to decipher the Masonic Pyramid. As he finished speaking, the liquid rose around his lips. Instinctively, Langdon drew a final breath and clamped his mouth shut. A moment later, the fluid covered him entirely, reaching the top of his tomb and spreading out across the Plexiglas. He did it, Mal'akh realized. Langdon figured out how to solve the pyramid. The answer was so simple. So obvious. Beneath the window, the submerged face of Robert Langdon stared up at him with desperate and beseeching eyes. Mal'akh shook his head at him and slowly mouthed the words: â€Å"Thank you, Professor. Enjoy the afterlife.† CHAPTER 103 As a serious swimmer, Robert Langdon had often wondered what it would feel like to drown. He now knew he was going to learn firsthand. Although he could hold his breath longer than most people, he could already feel his body reacting to the absence of air. Carbon dioxide was accumulating in his blood, bringing with it the instinctual urge to inhale. Do not breathe! The reflex to inhale was increasing in intensity with each passing moment. Langdon knew very soon he would reach what was called the breath-hold breakpoint–that critical moment at which a person could no longer voluntarily hold his breath. Open the lid! Langdon's instinct was to pound and struggle, but he knew better than to waste valuable oxygen. All he could do was stare up through the blur of water above him and hope. The world outside was now only a hazy patch of light above the Plexiglas window. His core muscles had begun burning, and he knew hypoxia was setting in. Suddenly a beautiful and ghostly face appeared, gazing down at him. It was Katherine, her soft features looking almost ethereal through the veil of liquid. Their eyes met through the Plexiglas window, and for an instant, Langdon thought he was saved. Katherine! Then he heard her muted cries of horror and realized she was being held there by their captor. The tattooed monster was forcing her to bear witness to what was about to happen. Katherine, I'm sorry . . . In this strange, dark place, trapped underwater, Langdon strained to comprehend that these would be his final moments of life. Soon he would cease to exist . . . everything he was . . . or had ever been . . . or would ever be . . . was ending. When his brain died, all of the memories held in his gray matter, along with all of the knowledge he had acquired, would simply evaporate in a flood of chemical reactions. In this moment, Robert Langdon realized his true insignificance in the universe. It was as lonely and humbling a feeling as he had ever experienced. Almost thankfully, he could feel the breath-hold breakpoint arriving. The moment was upon him. Langdon's lungs forced out their spent contents, collapsing in eager preparation to inhale. Still he held out an instant longer. His final second. Then, like a man no longer able to hold his hand to a burning stove, he gave himself over to fate. Reflex overruled reason. His lips parted. His lungs expanded. And the liquid came pouring in. The pain that filled his chest was greater than Langdon had ever imagined. The liquid burned as it poured into his lungs. Instantly, the pain shot upward into his skull, and he felt like his head was being crushed in a vise. There was great thundering in his ears, and through it all, Katherine Solomon was screaming. There was a blinding flash of light. And then blackness. Robert Langdon was gone. CHAPTER 104 It's over. Katherine Solomon had stopped screaming. The drowning she had just witnessed had left her catatonic, virtually paralyzed with shock and despair. Beneath the Plexiglas window, Langdon's dead eyes stared past her into empty space. His frozen expression was one of pain and regret. The last tiny air bubbles trickled out of his lifeless mouth, and then, as if consenting to give up his ghost, the Harvard professor slowly began sinking to the bottom of the tank . . . where he disappeared into the shadows. He's gone. Katherine felt numb. The tattooed man reached down, and with pitiless finality, he slid the small viewing window closed, sealing Langdon's corpse inside. Then he smiled at her. â€Å"Shall we?† Before Katherine could respond, he hoisted her grief-stricken body onto his shoulder, turned out the light, and carried her out of the room. With a few powerful strides, he transported her to the end of the hall, into a large space that seemed to be bathed in a reddish-purple light. The room smelled like incense. He carried her to a square table in the center of the room and dropped her hard on her back, knocking the wind out of her. The surface felt rough and cold. Is this stone? Katherine had hardly gotten her bearings before the man had removed the wire from her wrists and ankles. Instinctively, she attempted to fight him off, but her cramped arms and legs barely responded. He now began strapping her to the table with heavy leather bands, cinching one strap across her knees and then buckling a second across her hips, pinning her arms at her sides. Then he placed a final strap across her sternum, just above her breasts. It had all taken only moments, and Katherine was again immobilized. Her wrists and ankles throbbed now as the circulation returned to her limbs. â€Å"Open your mouth,† the man whispered, licking his own tattooed lips. Katherine clenched her teeth in revulsion. The man again reached out with his index finger and ran it slowly around her lips, making her skin crawl. She clenched her teeth tighter. The tattooed man chuckled and, using his other hand, found a pressure point on her neck and squeezed. Katherine's jaw instantly dropped open. She could feel his finger entering her mouth and running along her tongue. She gagged and tried to bite it, but the finger was already gone. Still grinning, he raised his moist fingertip before her eyes. Then he closed his eyes and, once again, rubbed her saliva into the bare circle of flesh on his head. The man sighed and slowly opened his eyes. Then, with an eerie calm, he turned and left the room. In the sudden silence, Katherine could feel her heart pounding. Directly over her, an unusual series of lights seemed to be modulating from purple red to a deep crimson, illuminating the room's low ceiling. When she saw the ceiling, all she could do was stare. Every inch was covered with drawings. The mind-boggling collage above her appeared to depict the celestial sky. Stars, planets, and constellations mingled with astrological symbols, charts, and formulas. There were arrows predicting elliptical orbits, geometric symbols indicating angles of ascension, and zodiacal creatures peering down at her. It looked like a mad scientist had gotten loose in the Sistine Chapel. Turning her head, Katherine looked away, but the wall to her left was no better. A series of candles on medieval floor stands shed a flickering glow on a wall that was completely hidden beneath pages of text, photos, and drawings. Some of the pages looked like papyrus or vellum torn from ancient books; others were obviously from newer texts; mixed in were photographs, drawings, maps, and schematics; all of them appeared to have been glued to the wall with meticulous care. A spiderweb of strings had been thumbtacked across them, interconnecting them in limitless chaotic possibilities. Katherine again looked away, turning her head in the other direction. Unfortunately, this provided the most terrifying view of all. Adjacent to the stone slab on which she was strapped, there stood a small side counter that instantly reminded her of an instrument table from a hospital operating room. On the counter was arranged a series of objects–among them a syringe, a vial of dark liquid . . . and a large knife with a bone handle and a blade hewn of iron burnished to an unusually high shine. My God . . . what is he planning to do to me? CHAPTER 105 When CIA systems security specialist Rick Parrish finally loped into Nola Kaye's office, he was carrying a single sheet of paper. â€Å"What took you so long?!† Nola demanded. I told you to come down immediately! â€Å"Sorry,† he said, pushing up his bottle-bottom glasses on his long nose. â€Å"I was trying to gather more information for you, but–â€Å" â€Å"Just show me what you've got.† Parrish handed her the printout. â€Å"It's a redaction, but you get the gist.† Nola scanned the page in amazement. â€Å"I'm still trying to figure out how a hacker got access,† Parrish said, â€Å"but it looks like a delegator spider hijacked one of our search–â€Å" â€Å"Forget that!† Nola blurted, glancing up from the page. â€Å"What the hell is the CIA doing with a classified file about pyramids, ancient portals, and engraved symbolons?† â€Å"That's what took me so long. I was trying to see what document was being targeted, so I traced the file path.† Parrish paused, clearing his throat. â€Å"This document turns out to be on a partition personally assigned to . . . the CIA director himself.† Nola wheeled, staring in disbelief. Sato's boss has a file about the Masonic Pyramid? She knew that the current director, along with many other top CIA executives, was a high-ranking Mason, but Nola could not imagine any of them keeping Masonic secrets on a CIA computer. Then again, considering what she had witnessed in the last twenty-four hours, anything was possible. Agent Simkins was lying on his stomach, ensconced in the bushes of Franklin Square. His eyes were trained on the columned entry of the Almas Temple. Nothing. No lights had come on inside, and no one had approached the door. He turned his head and checked on Bellamy. The man was pacing alone in the middle of the park, looking cold. Really cold. Simkins could see him shaking and shivering. His phone vibrated. It was Sato. â€Å"How overdue is our target?† she demanded. Simkins checked his chronograph. â€Å"Target said twenty minutes. It's been almost forty. Something's wrong.† â€Å"He's not coming,† Sato said. â€Å"It's over.† Simkins knew she was right. â€Å"Any word from Hartmann?† â€Å"No, he never checked in from Kalorama Heights. I can't reach him.† Simkins stiffened. If this was true, then something was definitely wrong. â€Å"I just called field support,† Sato said, â€Å"and they can't find him either.† Holy shit. â€Å"Do they have a GPS location on the Escalade?† â€Å"Yeah. A residential address in Kalorama Heights,† Sato said. â€Å"Gather your men. We're pulling out.† Sato clicked off her phone and gazed out at the majestic skyline of her nation's capital. An icy wind whipped through her light jacket, and she wrapped her arms around herself to stay warm. Director Inoue Sato was not a woman who often felt cold . . . or fear. At the moment, however, she was feeling both. CHAPTER 106 Mal'akh wore only his silk loincloth as he dashed up the ramp, through the steel door, and out through the painting into his living room. I need to prepare quickly. He glanced over at the dead CIA agent in the foyer. This home is no longer safe. Carrying the stone pyramid in one hand, Mal'akh strode directly to his first-floor study and sat down at his laptop computer. As he logged in, he pictured Langdon downstairs and wondered how many days or even weeks would pass before the submerged corpse was discovered in the secret basement. It made no difference. Mal'akh would be long gone by then. Langdon has served his role . . . brilliantly. Not only had Langdon reunited the pieces of the Masonic Pyramid, he had figured out how to solve the arcane grid of symbols on the base. At first glance, the symbols seemed indecipherable . . . and yet the answer was simple . . . staring them in the face. Mal'akh's laptop sprang to life, the screen displaying the same e-mail he had received earlier–a photograph of a glowing capstone, partially blocked by Warren Bellamy's finger. The secret hides within The Order. Franklin Square. Eight . . . Franklin Square, Katherine had told Mal'akh. She had also admitted that CIA agents were staking out Franklin Square, hoping to capture Mal'akh and also figure out what order was being referenced by the capstone. The Masons? The Shriners? The Rosicrucians? None of these, Mal'akh now knew. Langdon saw the truth. Ten minutes earlier, with liquid rising around his face, the Harvard professor had figured out the key to solving the pyramid. â€Å"The Order Eight Franklin Square!† he had shouted, terror in his eyes. â€Å"The secret hides within The Order Eight Franklin Square!† At first, Mal'akh failed to understand his meaning. â€Å"It's not an address!† Langdon yelled, his mouth pressed to the Plexiglas window. â€Å"The Order Eight Franklin Square! It's a magic square!† Then he said something about Albrecht Durer . . . and how the pyramid's first code was a clue to breaking this final one. Mal'akh was familiar with magic squares–kameas, as the early mystics called them. The ancient text De Occulta Philosophia described in detail the mystical power of magic squares and the methods for designing powerful sigils based on magical grids of numbers. Now Langdon was telling him that a magic square held the key to deciphering the base of the pyramid? â€Å"You need an eight-by-eight magic square!† the professor had been yelling, his lips the only part of his body above the liquid. â€Å"Magic squares are categorized in orders! A three-by-three square is an `order three'! A four-by-four square is an `order four'! You need an `order eight'!† The liquid had been about to engulf Langdon entirely, and the professor drew one last desperate breath and shouted out something about a famous Mason . . . an American forefather . . . a scientist, mystic, mathematician, inventor . . . as well as the creator of the mystical kamea that bore his name to this day. Franklin. In a flash, Mal'akh knew Langdon was right. Now, breathless with anticipation, Mal'akh sat upstairs at his laptop. He ran a quick Web search, received dozens of hits, chose one, and began reading. THE ORDER EIGHT FRANKLIN SQUARE One of history's best-known magic squares is the order-eight square published in 1769 by American scientist Benjamin Franklin, and which became famous for its inclusion of never- before-seen â€Å"bent diagonal summations.† Franklin's obsession with this mystical art form most likely stemmed from his personal associations with the prominent alchemists and mystics of his day, as well as his own belief in astrology, which were the underpinnings for the predictions made in his Poor Richard's Almanack. Mal'akh studied Franklin's famous creation–a unique arrangement of the numbers 1 through 64–in which every row, column, and diagonal added up to the same magical constant. The secret hides within The Order Eight Franklin Square. Mal'akh smiled. Trembling with excitement, he grabbed the stone pyramid and flipped it over, examining the base. These sixty-four symbols needed to be reorganized and arranged in a different order, their sequence defined by the numbers in Franklin's magic square. Although Mal'akh could not imagine how this chaotic grid of symbols would suddenly make sense in a different order, he had faith in the ancient promise. Ordo ab chao. Heart racing, he took out a sheet of paper and quickly drew an empty eight-by-eight grid. Then he began inserting the symbols, one by one, in their newly defined positions. Almost immediately, to his astonishment, the grid began making sense. Order from chaos! He completed the entire decryption and stared in disbelief at the solution before him. A stark image had taken shape. The jumbled grid had been transformed . . . reorganized . . . and although Mal'akh could not grasp the meaning of the entire message, he understood enough . . . enough to know exactly where he was now headed. The pyramid points the way. The grid pointed to one of the world's great mystical locations. Incredibly, it was the same location at which Mal'akh had always fantasized he would complete his journey. Destiny.