Thursday, March 19, 2020

The Thirty-Nine Steps Essays

The Thirty-Nine Steps Essays The Thirty-Nine Steps Paper The Thirty-Nine Steps Paper How does John Buchan create suspense in the book The Thirty-Nine Steps? The Thirty Nine Steps by John Buchan is about a man who has to escape London to find the real criminals behind a political assassination. The author throughout the story uses many techniques to create suspense through using the main character Richard Hannay. In the first chapter sets the scene by giving some background history of Hannays life before he gets a visit for Scudder. Buchan in the first few pages of the book is already creating the feeling of suspense when Hannay and Scudder meet outside Hannays flat. The line, Is the door locked? He asked feverishly. This gives me the image that Scudder is really nervous. I feel this creates the impression that something quite serious is going on and that the rest of the story is also going to be exciting. Buchan ends the chapter quite suddenly by finishing with, My guest was lying sprawled on his back. There was a long knife through his heart which skewered him to the floor I feel this ending made it very clear that the man who had confided in Hannay had been killed and left me wondering what was going to happen next in the story. The second chapter deals more with the thoughts of Hannay, who is devising a plan to try and leave London. He does this by stealing the uniform of a milkman. Hannay way gives exact details of timing, six thirty passed, then six forty and At one minute after the quarter to seven. I feel that the exact details of timing keeps the reader involved in the story as it creates a much stronger feeling of suspense and what will happen next. As Hannay sets out to travel to Scotland his decides he must disguise his voice so that he wont be caught out, in my broadest Scots. I feel this continues the deception of Hannay trying to hide from the Police and it also adds to the suspense that he may be caught out at any time and wont be able to stop the political assassination that is about to happen. As Hannay is in a manhunt in Scotland is becoming scared, Crouching low in the tunnels of the bog, I ran till the sweat blinded my eyes. This shows that Hannay is now becoming scared and he could be found at any time. Throughout the story Hannay fools the people he meets and causes suspense because I wonder if the people will believe his story. I pitched him a lovely yarn Hannay had been told lies by Scudder when been told about his situation. The little man told me a pack of lies I feel this created suspense because Hannay is now lost and if it wasnt for Scudders notebook he would have to give himself in. After Hannay is nearly caught by a policeman, I felt that he had no longer any who could help him, it was as if it was him against everyone. my friends at the inn had come to the understanding, and we were united in desiring to see more of me. Then follows an action packed section of the story. The plane that found him before finds Hannay and then he crashes the car and his nearly killed. This gave great suspense as I was faced with the idea that he might be killed at any time, and he would not be able to stop the political assassination that was about to happen. When Hannay spots his enemies in the hills of Scotland he begins to think clearly. He thinks of the time he changed roles with the milkman when he was trying to leave London and thinks he must do the same now. He spots a road worker and swaps role with him. Ill take on your job for a bit and see the surveyor. Here Hannay who was seconds away from death he still managed to think clearly which created suspense. Hannay is starting to struggle with hiding from his pursuers. My lack of local knowledge might very well be my undoing. By showing that Hannay was struggling, I feel that Buchan is building the reader for an exciting ending, which then creates suspense. After Hannay has found safety in the house of an old man he realises that he has made a big mistake. After being locked in a room that hid him from the men who where chasing him, he found himself held at gunpoint. I turned, and saw two men-servants who had me covered with pistols. I think this action packed section of the story has made the story far more exciting as I wondered if Hannay would be killed or would he escape and tell of the political assassination that is about to happen. Hannay realised that he had to get away. I was doing an experiment as simple as Gut Fawkes fireworks. His small knowledge of explosives might just let him escape. In this part of the story great suspense was created here. I wondered would Hannay blow himself up or manage to escape. After managing to escape he headed for a hideout. I feel at this stage in the story that Hannay might actually get free. The final section of the story is action packed when he finds out where he will be able to meet the enemy and find out their plans for the political assassination. Thirty-nine steps-I counted them-High tide, 10. 17pm. I was now very much interested as Buchan as built the story about this section. I also became interested in the story as I thought to myself Hannay might now save the day. As Hannay begins to figure out what the thirty-nine steps are, I become more positive that he would save the day. I felt that there was a lot of suspense here so Buchan could give the ending a maximum impact. When Hannay burst in on the group of criminals he thought he had made a terrible mistake but he noticed that he had seen on of the men from when he was held at gunpoint. I had stood before him in the moor land farm, with pistols of his servants behind me. Everything had now fallen in to place and I knew Hannay would catch the group of criminals. Hannay and his troops chased them and caught them. I feel that John Buchan has succeeded in creating suspense through use of the main character Richard Hannay. Which I thought made the story action packed and interesting.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Circles on SAT Math Formulas, Review, and Practice

Circles on SAT Math Formulas, Review, and Practice SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Though triangles are far and away the most common geometric shape on the SAT, make sure not to underestimate the importance of circles. You will generally come across 2-3 questions on circles on any given SAT, so it’s definitely in your best interest to understand the ins and out of how they work. And this guide is here to show you the way. This will be your complete guide to SAT circles, including areas, circumferences, degrees, arcs, and points on a circle. We’ll take you through what these terms mean, how to manipulate and solve for various aspects of a circle, and how to tackle the most difficult SAT circle questions you may see on test day. What Are Circles? A circle is a two dimensional shape that is formed from the infinite number of points equidistant (the same distance) from a single point. This single point becomes the center of the circle. This means that any and all straight lines drawn from the circle’s center will exactly hit the edge of the circle, so long as all the lines are of equal length. Degrees Though you can measure a circle in both degrees and radians, you will only ever have to use degrees on the SAT. Because of this, we will only be talking about degree measures in this guide. A full circle has 360 degrees. A semicircle (half a circle) has $360/2 = 180$ degrees. This is why a straight line always measures 180 degrees. To find a piece of a circle, you must find it in relation to 360 degrees. So a fifth of a circle is $360(1/5) = 72$ degrees, and an eighth of a circle is $360(1/8) = 45$ degrees, etc. Circumference The circumference is the edge of the circle. It is made from the infinite points equidistant from the center. In formulas, the circumference is represented as $c$. Diameter A diameter is any straight line drawn through the center of the circle that connects two opposite points on the circumference. In formulas, the diameter is represented as $d$. Radius The radius of a circle is a straight line drawn from the center of the circle to any point on the circumference. It is always half the diameter. In formulas, the radius is represented as $r$. Tangency Circles are described as â€Å"tangent† with one another when they touch at exactly one point on each circumference. A group of circles, all tangent to one another. Ï€ (pi) If you’ve taken a geometry class, then you are also probably familiar with Ï€ (pi). Ï€ is the mathematical symbol that represents the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is usually expressed as 3.14(159), but its digits go on infinitely. (For more information on ratios, check out our guide to SAT ratios.) Let's say we have a circle with a particular diameter (any diameter). Now let's multiply this same circle a few times and line them all up in a row. This gives us our same diameter 4 times in a line. Now, let us assign a starting point somewhere on the circumference of the circle and then "unpeel" the circumference from our circle. Once you remove the circumference and lay it flat, you can see that the circumference is a little more than 3 full lengths of the circle's width/diameter (specifically, 3.14159 times). The circumference of the circle will always the 3.14159 (Ï€) times the diameter.So, if a circle’s diameter is 1, then its circumference is Ï€. And if its diameter is 2, then its circumference is 2Ï€, etc. We can measure all the distance ever traveled(with wheels) in increments of pi. Circle Formulas You will always be given a box of formulas on each SAT math section. This means it is not crucial for you to memorize circle formulas, but we still recommend that you do so if possible. Why? To help both your time management and problem solving ability. The box of formulas you'll be given on every SAT math section. In terms of time management, memorizing your formulas will save you time from flipping back and forth between formula box and question. And, on a timed standardized test like the SAT, every second counts. It is also in your best interest to memorize your formulas simply for ease, practice, and familiarity. The more comfortable you get in knowing how circles work, the more quickly and easily you’ll be able to solve your problems. So let’s look at your formulas. Circumference $$c = Ï€d$$ $$c = 2Ï€r$$ There are technically two formulas to find the circumference of a circle, but they mean exactly the same thing. (Why? Because any diameter will always be equal to twice the circle’s radius). Because Ï€ is the relationship between a circle’s diameter and its circumference, you can always find a circle’s circumference as long as you know its diameter (or its radius) with these formulas. Here, we have two half circles and the sum of two radii, $RS = 12$. We can either assign different values for the radius of circle R and the radius of circle S such that their sum is 12, or we can just mentally mash the two circles together and imagine that RS is actually the diameter of one circle. Let’s look at both methods. Method 1 Since we know that $RS = 12$, let us say that circle R has a radius of 4 and circle S has a radius of 8. (Why those numbers? Because all that matters is that the radii add up to equal 12. We could have picked 6 and 6, 10 and 2, 3 and 9, etc., so long as their sum was 12.) So the circumference of circle R would be: $c = 2Ï€r$ $c = 2Ï€4$ $c = 8Ï€$ But, since we only have half a circle, we must divide that number in half. ${8Ï€}/2 = 4Ï€$ $c = 4Ï€$ Now, we can do the same for circle S. But we can also see that it is a semi-circle. So instead of taking our circumference of $2Ï€r$ for the whole circumference, let us just take the circumference of half ($Ï€r$) and so save ourselves the trouble of all the steps we used for circle R. ${1/2}c = Ï€r$ ${1/2}c = 8Ï€$ So now let us add our circumferences. $4Ï€ + 8Ï€ = 12Ï€$ So our final answer is C, $12Ï€$ Method 2 On the other hand, we could simply imagine that line RS is the diameter of a complete circle. (Why are we allowed to do this? Because we have the sum of two radii and two half circles, so combined, they would become one circle.) If RS is a diameter of a circle whose complete circumference we must find, let us use our circumference formula. $c = Ï€d$ or $c = 2Ï€r$ $c = 12Ï€$ Again, our answer is C, $12Ï€$. Area $$a = Ï€r^2$$ You can also use Ï€ to find the area of a circle as well, since a circle’s area is closely related to its circumference. (Why? A circle is made of infinite points, and so it is essentially made up of infinite triangular wedgesbasically a pie with an infinite number of slices. The height of each of these wedges would be the circle’s radius and the cumulative bases would be the circle’s circumference.) A circle splitting into a series of triangles. So you would be able to find a circle’s area using the formula: $a = Ï€r^2$ Arcs $$c \arc = Ï€d({\arc \degree}/360 °)$$ $$a \arc \sector = Ï€r^2({\arc \degree}/360 °)$$ In order to find the circumference of a circle’s arc (or the area of a wedge made from a particular arc), you must multiply your standard circle formulas by the fraction of the circle that the arc spans. To determine the fraction of the circle that the arc spans, you must have the degree measure of the arc and find its measure out of the circle’s full 360 degrees. So if you want to find the circumference of an arc that is 90 °, it would be $1/4$ the total area of the circle. Why? Because $360/90 = 4$ (in other words, $90/360 = 1/4$). This question gives us a lot of information, so let’s go through it piece by piece. First of all, we are trying to find the length of an arc circumference, which means that we need two pieces of informationthe arc degree measure and the radius (or the diameter). Well, we have the degree measure, so we’re halfway there, but now we need the radius (or diameter) of the smaller circle. We are told that it is half the radius of the larger circle, so we must find the radius of the larger circle first. All that we are told about the larger circle is that it has a circumference of 36. Luckily, we can find its radius from its circumference. $c = 2Ï€r$ $36 = 2Ï€r$ $18 = Ï€r$ $18/Ï€ = r$ [Note: though it is unusual, this problem gives us our radius in pi units, rather than giving our circumference(s) in pi units. As we said, this is perfectly acceptable, though uncommon.] If the circumference of the larger circle is 36, then its diameter equals $36/Ï€$, which means that its radius equals $18/Ï€$. Because we know that the smaller circle has a radius that is half the length of the radius of the larger circle, we know that the radius of the smaller circle is: $({18/Ï€})/2 = 9/Ï€$ So the radius of our smaller circle is $9/Ï€$. This means we can finally find the arc measure of the smaller circle’s circumference, by using the radius of the circle and the interior degree measure. $c_\arc = 2Ï€r({\arc \degree}/360)$ $c_\arc = 2Ï€({9/Ï€})(80/360)$ $c_\arc = 4$ So our final answer is D, 4. The relationship between circles and pi is constant and unbreakable. Typical Circle Questions on the SAT Circle problems on the SAT will almost always involve a diagram. With very rare exceptions, you will be given a picture from which to work. But we will discuss both diagram and word problems here on the chance that you will get multiple types of circle problems on your test. Diagram Problem A diagram problem will give you a diagram from which to work. You must use the visual you are provided and either find a missing piece or find equivalent measurements or differences. Helpful hint: often (though not always), the trick to solving a circle problem is in finding and understanding the radius. All lines drawn from the center of the circle to the circumference are radii, and are therefore equal. This will often play a vital part to solving the whole problem. Here is a perfect example of when the radius makes all the difference in a problem. We are told that lines AB and AO are equal. Based on our knowledge of circles, we also know that AO and BO are equal. Why? Because they are both radii, and the radii of a circle are always equal. This means that AB = AO = BO, which means that the triangle is equilateral. Equilateral triangles have all equal sides and all equal angles, so the measure of all its interior angles are 60 °. (For more on equilateral triangles, check out our guide to SAT triangles) So angle measure ABO = 60 degrees. Our final answer is D. Word Problem Word problem questions about circles will describe a scene or situation that revolves around circles in some way. Generally, the reason why you will not be given a diagram on a circle question is because you are tasked with visualizing different types of circle types or scenarios. On rare occasions, you may get a word problem on circles because the question describes an inequality, which is difficult to show in a diagram. When given a word problem question, it is a good idea to do your own quick sketch of the scene. This will help you keep all the details in order and/or see if you can make multiple types of shapes and scenarios, as with this question: Here, we are being asked to visualize several potential different shapes and outcomes of this circle, which is why this problem is presented to us as a word problem. Because there are many different ways to draw out this scenario, let us look to the answer choices and either eliminate them or accept them as we go along. Option I considers the possibility that M could be the center of the circle if lines XM and YM are equal and X and Y both lie somewhere on the circumference of the circle. We know this must be true because M being the center point of the circle would make lines XM and YM radii of the circle, which would mean that they were equal. So option I is true and we can therefore eliminate answer choices B and D. Now let’s look at option II. Option II presents us with the possibility that point M lies somewhere on the arc of XY. Well, if point M rested exactly halfway between X and Y, then straight lines drawn from X to M and Y to M would certainly be equal. So option II is also correct. Finally, let’s look at option III. Option III presents us with the possibility that M lies somewhere on the outside of the circle. So long as M lies at a distance halfway between X and Y, this scenario would still work. So option III is also correct. This means that all of our options (I, II, and III) are possible. Our final answer is E. Now let's talk circle tips and tricks. How to Solve a Circle Problem Now that you know your formulas, let’s walk through the SAT math tips and strategies for solving any circle problem that comes your way. #1: Remember your formulas and/or know where to look for them As we mentioned earlier, it is always best to remember your formulas when you can. But if you don’t feel comfortable memorizing formulas or you fear you will mix them up, don’t hesitate to look to your formula boxthat is exactly why it is there. Just be sure to look over the formula box before test day so that you know exactly what is on it, where to find it, and how you can use that information. (For more on the formulas you are given on the test, check out our guide to SAT math formulas.) #2: Draw, draw, draw If you’re not given a diagram, draw one yourself! It doesn’t take long to make your own picture and doing so can save you a lot of grief and struggle as you go through your test. It can be all too easy to make an assumption or mix up your numbers when you try to perform math in your head, so don’t be afraid to take a moment to draw your own pictures. And when you are given a diagram, draw on it too! Mark down congruent lines and angles, write in your radius measurement or your given angles. Mark any and all pieces of information you need or are given. The reason not everything is marked in your diagrams is so that the question won’t be too easy, so always write in your information yourself. #3: Analyze what’s really being asked of you All the formulas in the world won’t help you if you think you’re supposed to find the area, but you’re really being asked to find the circumference. Always remember that standardized tests are trying to get you to solve questions in ways in which you’re likely unfamiliar, so read carefully and pay close attention to the question you’re actually being asked. #4: Use your formulas Once you’ve verified what you’re supposed to find, most circle questions are fairly straightforward. Plug your givens into your formulas, isolate your missing information, and solve. Voila! Test Your Knowledge Now let's put your newfound circle knowledge to the test on some real SAT math problems. 1) 2) 3) Answers: C, D, C Answer Explanations: 1) This question involves a dash of creativity and is a perfect example of a time when you can and should draw on your given diagrams (had you been presented this on paper, that is). We know that the inscribed figure is a square, which means that all of its sides are equal (for more on squares, check out our guide to SAT polygons). Therefore, if you draw a line connecting points R and T, you will have a perfect semi-circle, or 180 °. Now, the arc we are looking for spans exactly half of that semi-circle. This means that the arc degree measure of ST is: $180/2 = 90$ degrees. So our final answer C. 2) Now, before we even begin, read the question carefully. The question wants us to find the perimeter of the shaded region. If you were going too quickly through the test, you may have been tempted to find the area of the shaded region instead, which would have gotten you a completely different answer. Because we are trying to find the perimeter of circular figures, we must use our formula for circumferences. Let us start with the two circles in the middle. We know that each circle has a radius of 3 and that our shaded perimeter spans exactly half of each circle. So the circumference for each small circle is: ${1/2}c = Ï€r$ $c = 3Ï€$ And there are two small circles, so we must double this number: $3Ï€ * 2 = 6Ï€$ So the interior perimeter is $6Ï€$. Now, let’s find the outer perimeter, which is the circumference for half the larger circle. If the radius of each of the small circles is 3, then that means the diameter of each small circle is: $3 * 2 = 6$ And the diameter of each small circle is the same as the radius of the larger circle. This means that the full circumference of the larger circle is: $c = 2Ï€r$ $c = 2Ï€6$ $c = 12Ï€$ But we know that our perimeter only spans half the outer circumference, so we must divide this number in half. ${12Ï€}/2 = 6Ï€$ Our outer perimeter equals $6Ï€$ and our inner perimeter equals $6Ï€$. To get the full perimeter, we must add them together. $6Ï€ + 6Ï€ = 12Ï€$ Our final answer is D, $12Ï€$. 3) Here, we are beginning with the understanding that the circle has an area of $25Ï€$. We are tasked with finding the perimeter of one of the wedges, which requires us to know the radius length of the circle. This means we must work backwards from the circle’s area in order to find its radius. Well the formula for the area of a circle is: $a = Ï€r^2$ Our area equals 25, so: $√25 = 5$ Our radius measurement equals 5. Now, we must find the arc measurement of each wedge. To do so, let us find the full circumference measurement and divide by the number of wedges (in this case, 8). $c = 2Ï€r$ $c = 2Ï€5$ $c = 10Ï€$ The full circumference is $10Ï€$ which, divided by 8, is: ${10Ï€}/8 = {5/4}Ï€$ Now, let us add that arc measurement to twice the radius value of the circle in order to get the full perimeter of one of the wedges. $5 + 5 + {5/4}Ï€$ $10 + {5/4}Ï€$ So our final answer is C. Now for the best kind of pi(e)you earned it! The Take-Aways Almost always, the most useful part of any circle will be the radius. Once you’ve gotten used to thinking that all radii are equal, then you will often be able to breeze past even the trickiest of SAT circle problems. If you understand how radii work, and know your way around both a circle’s area and its circumference, then you will be well prepared for most any circle problem the SAT can dream up. Know that the SAT will present you with problems in strange ways, so remember your tricks and strategies for circle problems. Be careful with your work, keep a clear head, and you’ll do just fine. What’s Next? You've triumphed over circles (huzzah!). So now what? Well we've got guides aplenty on any SAT math topic you want to brush up on. Feel iffy on your lines and angles? How about probability? Integers? Check out our SAT math tab on the blog for any SAT math topic questions you might have. Don't know where to start? First, make sure you understand how the test is scored and what makes a "good" score or a "bad" score, so that you can figure out how you currently stack up. Want to get a 600 on the SAT math? How about a perfect 800? Check out our articles on how to bring your scores up to a 600 and even how to get a perfect score on the SAT math, written by a perfect SAT-scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Sunday, February 16, 2020

How Managers Measure Organizational Effectiveness Research Paper

How Managers Measure Organizational Effectiveness - Research Paper Example own to cover the facets of organizational performance combined with the internal performance outcomes, which are directly influenced by the results of the effort (Zhou, Hong & Liu, 2013). The determination of the organizational effectiveness is thus an essential role of every organization in the 21st century that is driven by the desire to succeed and achieve the internal goals of the business. At the time an organization is formed, the managers must secure a continuing supply of resources from the organization’s environment. This will enable the business to operate continuously and achieve long and short-term goals. In this paper, a discussion of the important approaches that managers use to determine the initial mix of resources to adopt during the creation of the business will be discussed. The measure of organizational effectiveness is an essential process for any startup organization that desire to grow and enter new markets. As a result, either a number of tools have been developed for the measurement of effectiveness theoretically or empirically which make up part of the entire process of effectiveness determination. The judgment of performance in an organization is influenced by the group willing to determine the effectiveness, performance and the ability of the organization to achieve its objectives. Three approaches have been developed for the determination of effectiveness of an organization and can be utilized in the measure of new businesses whose operation parameters are still limited (Guest & Conway, 2011). In measuring the organizational effectiveness through the determination of the external resource approach, the ability of a business to secure, manage and control the valuable resources and skills from the external environment is measured. In resource based view, the firm’s ability to effectively utilize the available resources is measured to determine the likelihood of profitable performance in the future. In this approach, two assumptions

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Quantitative finance and methods ( masters degree) Statistics Project

Quantitative finance and methods ( masters degree) - Statistics Project Example at return on capital employed and retained earnings/total assets have a very high correlation (0.6), it would be advisable to remove both of them in order to avoid the problem of problem of multicollinearity. Regarding whether to remove either retained earnings/total assets or return on capital employed based on the likelihood ratio tests, it will depend on their respective p-values. The one with its p-value approaching 1 than the other should be removed, as that implies that it is irrelevant. (e) From the coefficients of the original logistic regression, and ignoring the likelihood ratio tests, is it generally true that firms with a higher current ratio are more likely to go into liquidation? Explain. (6 marks) Firms with a higher current ratio are more likely to go into liquidation. This is because if we were to carry out a comparative analysis between the original logistic regression and Firm X statistics, it is apparent that the lower the returns of a firm, the higher the current ratio. Furthermore, it is a common knowledge that the firms with lower returns are the ones with the highest possibility if of going into liquidation. since we have concluded that firms with a higher current ratio are more likely to go into liquidation, the p-value must be less than 0.05, which shows that the model is statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Whether the above two results are statistically significant, at the 95% level of confidence will depend on the p-value generated from the computer. If p-value is less than 0.05, the two results are statistically significant, at the 95% level of confidence. Q2. In evaluating the default risk of bank customers, two approaches are used, namely, multiple discriminant analysis and conventional methods. From a sample of 460 customers, observed results and predicted results of good and bad loans are summarised below. Q3. You are working on a research project on capital structure. You

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Prevalence of ESBL in Surgical Wound Infections and Burns

Prevalence of ESBL in Surgical Wound Infections and Burns PREVELANCE OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASES PRODUCERS AMONG SURGICAL WOUND INFECTIONS AND BURNS PATIENTS AT DR. SHANKARRAO CHAVAN GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE, NANDED. *Vivek M Gujar1, Sharmila S Raut2, Sanjaykumar R More3 1. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Dr. S.C. Government Medical College, Nanded. 2. Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Dr. S.C. Government Medical College, Nanded. 3. Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Dr. S.C. Government Medical College, Nanded. ABSTRACT Purpose:- The purpose of this study was to know the prevalence of Extended Spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) among surgical wound infection and burn patients. Methods:- A total of 100 patients admitted to the surgical wards with post operative wound infections and burns from January 2014 to May 2014 were studied. A total of 137 isolates were obtained from these patients. Of these, 87 organisms (63.5% of the total isolates) were found to be Extended Spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) producers. The commonest were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia . They were studied for ESBL production by screening test, CLSI disc diffusion method phenotypic confirmation by disc potentiation test. Result:- Out of 100 strains, 87 (63.5%) were confirmed as ESBL producers. Among the ESBL producer all the isolates were sensitive to Imipenem. Resistance against Ampicillin (10ug) is 100%, Gentamicin (10ug) is 80.46%, Ciprofloxacin (5ug) is 74.72%, Tetracycline(30ug) is 63.22% and Amikacin (30ug) is 16.1 0.% Conclusion:- Our study shows presence of ESBL producer among surgical wound infections and burn patients and their prevalence is 63.5%. The routine antimicrobial sensitivity test may fail to detect ESBL. Detection of ESBL production should be carried out as a routine in diagnostic laboratories by disc potentiation test as it is a simple and cost effective test. Antibiotics resistance is significantly more prevalent in ESBL positive isolates as compared to ESBL negative. Key words:- Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases, ESBL, INTRODUCTION The beta lactam antibiotics are amongst the most widely prescribed antibiotics and are an important component of empirical therapy in intensive care unit and high risk ward.1,2,3 Resistance to beta lactam antibiotics is an increasing problem worldwide.4 Increase in the prevalence of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin resistance in Enterococci, Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) production in Enteric Gram negative bacilli and Fluroquinolone resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoea are just a few examples of the rising problem of resistance documented by both national and international surveillance system in the past few years.5 The ESBL are plasmid mediated enzymes that hydrolyze the oxyimino beta lactam (3rd generation cephalosporine) and monobactam (aztreonam), but have no effect on cephamycins (cefoxitin and cefotatan). It is situated in periplasmic space.6 Although TEM type beta lactamases are most often found in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, they are also found in Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomanas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Capnocytophaga ochracea and Citrobacter 7,8,9,10. However, the frequency of ESBL production in these organisms is low.11 Over 150 different ESBLs have been described as of today.12 ESBL pose a major problem for clinical therapeutic. It is necessary to identify the prevalence of these strain in hospitals and to characterise their epidemiology, control spread of these strains and to determine suitable preventive measures and treatment policies. MATERIALS AND METHODS A present study was conducted at Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded between January 2014 – May 2014. A total number of 100 post operative wound infections and burns patients wound swabs were processed during the study. A total of 137 isolates were obtained from these patients. COLLECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE ISOLATES Using aseptic precautions, wound swabs were collected from the patients using sterile tipped swabs. The organism(s) isolated were identified based on colony morphology on blood agar, MacConkey agar and by standard biochemical tests.13,14 Strains:- Escherichia coli ATCC 25922( ESBL negative) and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 (ESBL positive)were used as control organism throughout the study. Antimicrobial Susceptibility testing:- The antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique with commercial available discs (HiMedia, Mumbai, India) on Muller Hinton agar plates. The discs used were Ampicillin (10ug), Amikacin (30ug), Gentamicin (10ug), Ciprofloxacin (5ug), Imipenem (10ug) and Tetracycline (30ug). The diameter of the zone of inhibition of each antibiotic was measured and interpreted as sensitive, intermediate sensitive or resistance according to CLSI criteria.15 Detection of ESBL15:- In the present study 137 isolates were tested for ESBL production by the following methods- SCREENING TESTS15:- CLSI disc diffusion method PHENOTYPIC CONFIRMATION TEST15:- Disc potentiation test CLSI ESBL Screening test:- 15 According to NCCLS 2002 for screening test to be positive or to consider an organism as probable ESBL producer the zone diameter should be- Antibiotic Zone diameter In mm or less Ceftazidime(30ug) 22 Cefotaxime (30ug) 27 Ceftriaxone (30ug) 25 Cefpodoxime(10ug) 17 Aztreonam (30ug) 27 The use of more than one antimicrobial agent suggested for screening will improve the sensitivity of ESBL detection15. Ideally the most sensitive ESBL screening agent is Cefpodoxime for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.9 In the present study, ceftazidime (30ug), cefotaxime (30ug), ceftriaxone(30ug), cefpodoxime (10ug) and aztreonam (30ug) were used. These were stored in refrigerator. Before use they were taken out of refrigerator and brought to room temperature. Then they were applied on Muller Hinton agar for Antibiotic sensitivity testing. DISC POTENTIATION METHOD 15 As per CLSI guidelines disc potentiation method was used as phenotypic confirmatory test. For confirmation of ESBL production ceftazidime (30ug), ceftazidime + clavulanic acid combination disc (30/10ug) manufactured by HiMedia and cefotaxime (30ug) + cefotaxime clavulanic acid (30/10ug) prepared in laboratory were used. PREPARATION OF CLAVULANIC ACID STOCK SOLUTION For preparation of clavulanic acid stock solution Augmentin powder (gsk company) was used- 1.2gm vial of (Augmentin) contains 200mg clavulanic acid 1200 mg contains 200mg clavulanic acid Therefore, 6 mg Augmentin contains 1 mg clavulanic acid. 6 mg Augmentin is dissolved in 1 ml sterile distilled water to make a solution i.e 1ml solution contain 1 mg clavulanic acid. i.e 1000ul solution contains 1000ug clavulanic acid. PREPARATION OF CEFOTAXIME-CLAVULANIC ACID DISC15,16 Cefotaxime (30ug) discs were kept separately in a sterile petridish. 10ul of stock solution of clavulanic acid was added to each disc with a micropipette. 30 minutes were allowed for clavulanic acid to absorb and also for the disc to dry. The discs were used immediately after preparation. STORAGE OF CEFTAZIDIME+CLAVULANIC ACID DISC Clavulanic acid being labile, discs were placed in separate screw capped glass vials and stored at -200C. When antibiotics discs were required for test, they were removed from the freezer and allowed to come to room temperature before application. 17 APPLICATION OF DISCS:- After preparing the inoculum, Muller Hinton agar plates were inoculated. With the help of sterile forcep antibiotic discs containing ceftazidime and ceftazidime+clavulanic acid and cefotaxime and cefotaxime+clavulanic acid were placed on inoculated Muller Hinton agar plate at a distance of 24 mm from center to center. Plates were inverted and incubated at 370C for 16-18 hours. INTERPRETATION More than or equal to 5mm increase in a zone diameter for ceftazidime and cefotaxime tested in combination with clavulanic acid versus its zone when tested alone indicate ESBL production. ESBL POSITIVE:- If an isolate is confirmed as ESBL producer, the isolate reported as resistant to all Penicillin, Cephalosporins and Monobactam (Aztreonam). ESBL NEGATIVE:- If an isolate is not confirmed as ESBL producer, the sensitivity of the isolate was reported as per sensitivity test report. RESULT The total number of patients screened were 100 of which 64 were males and 36 females (M : F = 1.78:1). The average age was 44.72 years (Range 12-80 years). The types of wounds were post operative wounds (65.7%) and burns (34.3%). Duration of hospital stay ranged from 15 days to 3 months. Out of 137 strains, 87 (63.50%) were confirmed as ESBL producers (Table 1). Susceptibility pattern of the ESBL producers were studied. All the isolates were sensitive to Imipenem. Resistance against Ampicillin (10ug) is 100%, Gentamicin (10ug) is 80.46%, Ciprofloxacin (5ug) is 74.72%, Tetracycline(30ug) is 63.22% and Amikacin (30ug) is 16.10.% (Table 3). TABLE 1 Distribution of ESBL strains among the different organisms isolated Sr. no Organism No. of organisms Isolated No. of ESBL strains % ESBL strains 1 Escherichia coli 71 45 63.38% 2 Klebsiella pneumonia 57 36 63.15% 3 Enterobacter spp. 07 04 57.14% 4 Morganella morganii 01 01 100% 5 Providentia rettgeri 01 01 100% TOTAL 137 87 63.50% Table 2 Distribution of ESBL strains based on clinical diagnosis Sr. no Clinical diagnosis No. of organisms Isolated No. of ESBL strains % ESBL strains 1 Post operative wounds Infections 90 55 61.11% 2 Burns 47 32 68.08% Table 3 Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of ESBL positive strains Sr. no Organism Susceptibility Category A Ak G Cf T I 1 Escherichia coli (45) S 00 37 07 10 18 45 IS 00 05 02 01 02 00 R 45 03 36 34 25 00 2 Klebsiella pneumonia (36) S 00 30 05 07 10 36 IS 00 02 02 02 01 00 R 36 04 29 27 25 00 3 Other. (06) S 04 06 05 05 04 06 IS 00 00 00 01 01 00 R 02 00 01 00 01 00 A=Ampicillin, Ak = Amikacin, Cf = Ciprofloxacin, G = Gentamicin, T = Tetracycline, I = Imepenem, R= Resistance, S = sensitive, IS = Intermediate sensitive DISCUSSION The prevalence of ESBL among clinical isolates very greatly worldwide, indifferent geographic areas and are rapidly changing overtime.18 In, 1983, Knothe et.al describe for the first time transferable resistance to the broad spectrum cephalosporins in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae.19 The routine susceptibility test done by clinical laboratories fail to detect ESBL positive strains. The incidence of ESBL producing organisms in various studies has varied from 0-84%. In our study prevalence of ESBL producing strains is found to be 63.5%. All ESBL producers were sensitive to Imipenem. The result is in accordance with observation reported by other investigators.3,12,18,20 The new inhibitor based confirmatory test approach has been recommended by the CLSI for detection of ESBL. In the present study we found disc potentiation method to be reproducible, sensitive, easy and cost effective for use in a busy diagnostic laboratory.3,11 The use of both cefotaxime and ceftazidime with and without clavulanic acid increases the sensitivity of detection of ESBL compared to the use of only one of them. Inclusion of Cefpodoxime has been reported to further increase the sensitivity of this tests. 3,11 Among the Enterobacteriaceae, ESBL are most prevalent in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates. CONCLUSION The prevalence of ESBL producing strains is 63.5%. Multidrug resistance was found to be significantly higher in ESBL positive isolates as compared to ESBL negative. All the ESBL producers are sensitive to Imipenem. If an isolate is confirmed as ESBL producer, the isolate reported as resistant to all Penicillin, Cephalosporins and Monobactam (Aztreonam). Detection and reporting of beta lactamases producer is responsibility of every clinical Microbiologist. To prevent the spread of ESBLs producing organisms, infection control precautions like barrier nursing, cohorting of patients and nurses, attention to hand washing are essential. REFRENCES Chambers H F, Neu H C, Other beta lactam antibiotics In:Mandell G L, Bennetts J E, Daolin R, editors. Principles and Practice of infectious diseases 4th ed. Vol.I, New york: Churchill Livingstone;1995p.264-72. Fatima H M,, Chanawong A, Kevin G K, Birkenhead D and Hawkey P M. Detection of extended spectrum beta lactamases in members of the family Enterobacteriaceae: comparision of the MAST DD test, the double disc and Etest ESBL. J antimicrob Chemother (2000) 45: 881-885. Mathur P, Kapil A, Das B and Dhawan B. Prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamases producing Gram negative bacteria in a tertiary care hospital. Indian J Med Res (2000) 115: 153-157. Samaha-Kfoury J N and Georges F A. Recent development in beta lactamases and extended spectrum beta lactamases. British Med J (2003) 327: 1209-1213. Tenover F C, Mohammed M J, Stelling J, O’brien T and Williams R. Ability of Laboratories To Detect Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance: Proficiency Testing and Quality Control Results from the World Health Organisation’s External Quality Assurance System for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. J Clin Microbiol (2001) 39(1):241-250. Louis Rice, MD. Evolution and Clinical Importance of Extended Spectrum beta Lactamases. CHEST (2001) 119: 391S-396S. Decre D, Guchot B, Lucet C, Guillaume A, Bergogne B and Regnier B. Clinical and Bacteriologic Epidemiology of Extended Spectrum beta Lactamases Producing Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Medical Intensive Care Unit. Clin Infect Dis (1998) 27: 834-844. Thomas K S. Controversies about Extended Spectrum and AmpC beta Lactamases CDC (2001) 7(2): 1-9. Rodrigues C, Joshi P, Jani S H, Alphonse M, Radhakrishanan Ramd Mehta A, DETECTION OF BETA LACTAMASES IN NOSOCOMIAL GRAM NEGATIVE CLINICAL ISOLATES. Indian J Med Microbiol (2004) 22(4): 247-250. Tankhiwale S S, Jalgaonkar S V, Sarfraz Ahmed and Hassani U. Evaluation of extended spectrum beta lactamases in urinary isolates. Indian J Med Res (2004) 120: 553-556. Chaudhary U and Aggarwal R. EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASES (ESBL) – AN EMERGING THREAT TO CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS. Indian J Med Microbiol (2004) 22(2): 75-80. Menon T, Bindu D, Kumar CPG, Nalini S and Thirunarayan M A. COMPARISON OF DOUBLE DISC AND THREE DIMENSIONAL METHODS TO SCREENING FOR ESBL PRODUCERS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL. Indian J Med Microbiol (2006) 24: 117-120. Betty A Forbes, Daniel F Sahm, Alice S Weissfeld. Laboratory cultivation and isolation of bacteria. In: K.Fabiano, Sarahly L, Ellen Wurm, editors. Bailey and Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology, 11th ed. Mosby Elesvier; (2002): 133-147. Koneman E W, Allen S D, Janda M W, Schreckenberger P C and Wine W C. The Enterobacteriaceae. In: Andrew A, Collins H and Deitch S editors. COLOUR ATLAS AND TEXTBOOK OF DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY, 5th ed. Philadelphia: J b Lipincott Co. 1991: 105-184. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Twelth Information Supplement 2002. M100-S12. Vol.20 No.1 2 Villanova Pa. Steward C D, Rasheed J K, Hubert S K, Biddble J W, Raney P M, Anderson G J, Williams P P, Brittain K L, Oliver A, McGowan J E and Tenover F C. Characterization of clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from 19 laboratories using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard Extended spectrum beta Lactamases Detection methods. J Clin Microbiol (2001) 39(8): 2864-2872. Watt C, Louie M, simor A E. Evaluation of Stability of Cefotaxime(30ug) and Ceftazidime(30ug) discs impregnated with clavulanic acid(10ug) for detection of Extended spectrum beta Lactamases. J Clin Microbiol (2000) 38(7): 2796-2797. Babypadmini S and Appalaraju B. EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASES IN URINARY ISOLATES OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE – PREVALENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL. Indian J Med Microbiol (2004) 22(3): 172-174. Liu P Y, Jai-Chain T, Se-Chin Ke and Chen S L. Molecular Epidemiology of Extended Spectrum beta Lactamases producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates in District Hospital in Taiwan. J Clin Microbiol (1998) 36(9): 2759-2762. Shukla I, Tiwari R and Agarwal M. PREVALENCE OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASE PRODUCING KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL. Indian J Med Microbiol (2004) 22(2): 87-91.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Saudi Stock Market

According historical notes, the first stock market company in Saudi Arabia was established in the 3rd decade of the 20th century. Nevertheless, stock trading was initiated only by the end of the 90s/ as a result, a significant increase in the number of stock exchanges was observed. In 1984 stock companies were allowed to regulate stock trading themselves through local banks and to forge panel for supervising market. In the beginning, the stock market was regulated by the Minister of Finance and the governor of Saudi Monetary Agency. Saudi Stock Exchange) Actually, the Saudi stock market has significantly developed over the last decade and nowadays Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is the largest in the Arab world. The capitalization of the stock exchange is amounted at $58 billion. Consequently, the increase in a number of joint stock companies trading shares is observed as well. So, the current position of the stock market is strengthening. About 70 firms and companies are listed on th e stock Market. Today, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency regulates the operation and trade of the stock market. Moreover, foreign investors are allowed to participate in the Saudi stock market through establishing mutual funds. (Saudi Stock Market) According official statistics, in 1997 the number of shares traded was amounted at 312. 4 million, and, thus, was valued at $16. 6 billion. In 1998 the total value of traded shares decreased because of significant fluctuations in the international stock markets and financial markets. It was amounted only at 144. 3 million and valued at ?13. 6 billion. (Saudi Stock Market) To understand better the current position of Saudi stock market it is necessary to provide its financial summary: †¢ Value traded – 12,117,480,717. 00 †¢ Traded volume – 288,915,237 †¢ Trades – 242,096 †¢ Symbols traded – 109 †¢ Symbols up – 31 †¢ Symbols down – 69 (Saudi Stock Exchange) Speaking about the companies listed on the stock market it is necessary to outline the first ten companies: 1. Saudi Kayan – 73,544,362 2. Dar Al Arkan – 30,334,318 . Jabal Omar – 28,865,643 4. Kingdom – 10,472,520 5. Shipping – 10,007,032 6. Saudi Electricity – 9,918,619 7. Al Raiji – 9, 834, 346 8. SABIC – 7, 768,456 9. SPM – 6,593,6748 10. RIBL – 5,379,256 (Saudi Stock Exchange) Saudi stock market provides a wide range of activities and service such as, for example, ope ning accounts and depository at both the banks. Next, stock market offers support for full range of depository functions. For example, it is easy to pledge shares which are help in the depository. When a bank reaches particular agreement with foreign or domestic investor, the details are automatically forwarded to the depository. The availability of shares is automatically validated by the tock market. Finally, Saudi stock market supports corporate actions. It means that instead of waiting for cheques it is possible to be paid directly into bank account. Summing, up Saudi stock market doesn’t take leading positions in the world yet, but it is swiftly developing. (Saudi Stock Exchange)

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Business Organization - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 608 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2018/12/14 Category Business Essay Type Research paper Level High school Tags: Development Essay Did you like this example? There is a rapid growth in the global business organizational concept with a need for change in business philosophy. Modern business managers strive to make business management more effective and efficient. I have always been fascinated by the new business ideas and the new technological innovation geared towards incorporating information technology in business management. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Business Organization" essay for you Create order More importantly, I love creativity and have been inspired by the notion of running a business and the risks involved. It is, therefore, my wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in business and management at the university. I have chosen a business related field because I have been interested in business. In addition, I have always been ambitious and looking for a university with a view of gaining credentials with which I can begin a successful career. It is important to note that I am an African of Ghanaian origin. I successfully completed a pre-university course at Kings College in London which has given me a better insight into the business world. During this course, I developed a kin interest in business and management. It has strengthened my strong belief into pursuing this course to a greater depth. While at the college, I was assigned the responsibility to manage and coordinate class activities. The challenges I faced helped me to develop a broader perspective on business and management. Furthermore, as far as education is concerned, I have studied in depth subjects related to this field. I have higher grades in mathematics and languages. Through hard work and dedication, I have developed an interest in mathematics, and I look forward to studying it even at a higher level. I also had excellent performance in business studies. My passion for the subject increased when I chose business studies as part of my area of interest in addition to the general subjects. Having gone through the basic requirement for admission in this course, I am convinced that I possess the right qualifications. I have the right grades. Moreover, I have also made tentative achievement in the field of business. Besides, in partnership with my family, I have always been involved in the day to day activities of running our family business during summer holidays. More important is the experience I gained during my internship at Royal Commodities. This rare opportunity enhanced my negation skills. These experiences have contributed significantly to my managerial skills. Furthermore, I attended the World Cocoa conference in Washington DC. The conference was a unique program in terms of skills, abilities, development, and opportunities that it offered. These involvements have enabled me to gain necessary experience in building teamwork. While in school, I actively participated in two extra curriculum activities Basketball and athletics. These two sports have enabled me to develop certain qualities such as perseverance and the need to push further as a team. Also, I have gained an idea of what hard competition is. I have realized that in order to win, one has to prioritize effectively. I have developed exceptional abilities as well. For instance, I have the ability to work independently, good at good time management skills, problem-solving and communication skills, listening or organizational skills and outstanding leadership abilities. I have extensive plans to be committed to this course and achieve my degree. I also have long-term plans for developing an outstanding professional career that involves around building a renowned business enterprise, to be a strategic level manager and also provide business solutions. I would, therefore, wish to file this personal statement at your esteemed university with the hopes of advancing my training in the field of business and management and to develop myself into a leading business entrepreneur.