Mexican Gulf Oil Spill Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Mexican Gulf Oil Spill - Research Paper Example The company’s reputation was also tarnished severely, as the oil spill was a public relations disaster. British Petroleum had to face criticism not only from environmental groups but also from the general populace. The case study of Gulf of Mexico oil spill will aid the understanding of the audience as to how the company dealt with the situation. The focus will be on the way company handled its communication in the media. Also, the role of culture and politics and its impact on the way the company dealt with the crisis will be discussed. The reaction of the public and how British Petroleum handled it will also be significant part of this case study. Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill The Gulf of Mexico oil spill started on 20th April 2010 with an explosion of the deep water horizon in which 11 men lost their lives and another 17 were left wounded (Welch & Joyner, 2010). The explosion resulted in the worst oil spill in the history of oil and gas industry, and millions of barrels of crude oil polluted the sea. The oil spill lasted for about 3 months, during which British Petroleum tried many attempts to block the oil well. Government agencies also took action, and the company was fined. The company also had to deal with many lawsuits from businesses and individuals. The underwater oil spills are difficult to stop, because the source of oil is underwater. This is why it took the company 3 months to stop the oil spill. The company tried very hard to stop the oil spill earlier but was not successful. British Petroleum also had to face severe criticism and public outrage when many of its attempts to stop the oil spills went unsuccessful. People couldn’t find answers as to how it is not possible for a company as big as British Petroleum to stop the oil spill. The underwater oil spill is also more damaging than other types of drilling disasters, because it is very difficult to clean the rivers and seas that are affected by the oil spill. British Petroleum had to ha ndle this situation, as it was no less than a public relations disaster. The company had to take tough decisions to protect its reputation, as it was getting a bashing from media, environmental groups, and public. The company first tried to dial down the situation and took a position that the oil spill is not as big as people think it is. The potential damage of the oil spill was dialed down by the company. The company also took steps to curb the damage from the oil spill. The policy of damage control was put in place as the company was trying to stop the oil spill. Initially, people believed the company’s stance that everything would work out. But when days went by and the oil spill didn’t stop, the media and the public started to panic. This is when the company publicly admitted that there was something seriously wrong and steps had to be taken. Initially, however, the policy of dialing down the issue was followed by the company. Given the size of the company, it was necessary for it to dial down the danger. Any bad news would result in lowering stock prices, which is not acceptable by the shareholders; therefore, the company initially tried to tell people that the problem was not bad enough and the company would soon solve it. From the standpoint of the company, it was a good step, as it stopped the share prices from falling immediately. But when the news broke out that the company is finding it difficult to fix the oil spill, company stocks decreased and, eventually,

How learning theories inform knowledge

How learning theories inform knowledge The NMC (2008) stipulates that as nurses we must maintain our professional knowledge and competence regularly through participation in appropriate learning and practice activities that will maintain and develop our competence and performance. Therefore, this essay will aim to explore and analyse how learning theories informed knowledge development in clinical settings. I will examine the principles underpinning the facilitation of learning and assessment. I will demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of the theoretical concepts in an episode in which I facilitated learning to residents while on placement. Finally, I will use the reflective model by (Gibbs, 1988) to reflect on the strategies used within the episode and discuss the implications in relation to my future role as a nurse. I observed most residents having fast food and fizzy drink regularly for lunch. I was deeply concerned because of my duty of care as a nurse (NMC, 2004) and because previous research has shown the risk of malnutrition was commonly associated with people with psychosis which predisposes them to host of physical health problems (Bottomley and Mckeown, 2008 and Hallpike, 2008). I had a discussion with my mentor of my intention to use the weekly communal meeting to carry out health promotion on healthy eating, considering the fact that most of them were on various antipsychotic medication which predisposes them to become obese. Timms (2008) said that a huge majority of people with mental health problems are most likely to have weight issue due to side effects of their antipsychotic medication. My mentor agreed to table it before the residents in the next meeting to gain their consent in compliance with NMC (2008). The residents consented to it and were quite interested because some them said they were really concerned about their weight. We agreed on a date for me to facilitate the learning that will empower the residents to take responsibility for their health and make a positive change. A vast majority of physical health problems are caused by people lifestyles and their failure to see the risk associated with their daily habits. Kiger (1995) defined health as a state of balance between different facets of life suggesting that it is a dynamic concept which he termed movable. This means is that our lifestyles can alter the balance resulting in an adverse effect on our health. As facilitators, it is essential that we have a clear understanding of the different learning styles in order to tailor our teaching to meeting the varied approach of our learners. This is because learners are intrinsically different and preferred different ways of learning. Teaching is a purposeful intervention aimed at promoting learning and causing learning to happen. While Kiger (2004) defined teaching as a process of enabling people to learn through the dissemination of information and advice; it creates room for people to express their feeling, clarify their thought and acquired new skills. Roger (1996) defined learning as a kind of change often in knowledge but also in behaviour. Reece and Walker (2002) said that learning brings about change and that teaching and learning proceeds pari passu and cannot be treated in isolation. I spent time engaging with the residents so as to build a therapeutic relationship based on trust whilst observing their behaviours. This was to enable me to identify their preferred style of learning so as to increase ease of transmission of knowledge. Kolb (1984) developed the experimental learning theory (learning by doing) by this he suggested that learning is not fixed but formed from previous experiences. Kolb learning theory which is cyclical suggested that people have different learning style and he identified four distinct learning styles as shown in figure 1 below. This includes concrete experience (having an experience), reflective observation (reflective on their experience from a different perspective), abstract conceptualization (drawing their conclusions) and active experimentation (putting theory into practice). For effective learning to happen Kolb said all this four must be taking into context when planning a teaching session. Honey and Mumfords learning cycle is sl ightly different from Kolb system. Honey and Mumford (2000) identified four different types of learners which must be taken into consideration when planning a teaching session. These include the activists, they like learning situation that presents them with new challenges, problem solving, and role play and uses the first opportunity to experiment; reflector like brainstorming and learning activity that gives room for observation, thinking and reflecting on what they have learned; theorist like to research into fact before taking it onboard, they prefer a step by step approach and pragmatist like practical based learning and been given the opportunity to try out techniques and getting feedback in return. In view of fact that people have varied approach to learning and considering the fact that its a group teaching. I intend to present my teaching to my mentor first to get feedback on whether I have considered all the four learners identified by both Kolb and Honey and Mumford. Health promotion is a vital aspect of our nursing intervention. Ewles and Simnett (2003) defined health promotion as the process of empowering people to take proactive action and improve their health. They identified five approaches which must be considered in health promotion and this includes medical, behaviour, education, client-centred and societal change. It is important that we use an approach that encompasses congruence, empathy and respect in assisting our client (Roger, 1996) instead of coercing them to change their life style. it is imperative that we aware that teaching the client requires consent and that the client has the right and autonomy to refuse any intervention even though it can result to death provided they have the mental capacity to make informed decision (Mental Capacity Act, 2005 and NMC, 2008). DH (1996) states that the client must be provided with vital information about their health, so that they can make informed choice about the treatment options, life styles changes and behaviour. Because of this we sort residents consent by providing them information on what the teaching is all about so that they can make informed decision. Kemm and Close (1995) said that there is high tendency for client to learn if teaching is directed to meeting their needs, interest and within their ability. Effective communication plays a vital role in facilitating learning. As nurses the way we communicate and the kind of rapport we build with our client plays an essential role in empowering or disempowering them (Brown, 1997). Good communication skills act as therapeutic tool in delivery a holistic and person-centred care (Burnard, 1992). Our role as facilitator should be to explore and support our client to build that intrinsic motivation to make a change in their life, strengthen their commitment to change and then develop a plan to fulfill that change (Miller and Rollnick 2002). The responsibility for change lies purely on the client however as facilitator we should use an approach that confront the client with the idea of need for change without been persuasive and argumentative rather we should create an environment that show a sense of genuinity, respect and empathic understanding through collaboration and working in partnership with the client. Individuals personal values, beli efs and altitude are motivating factors for self-directed learners. Based on my assessment and the fact that the residents are adult learners capable of self-directing their learning, I chose andragogical instead of pedagogical teaching style. Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching children, it is a teacher- centred while andragogy is the art and science of assisting adults to learn and it is learner-centred. Andragogical approach help learning to take place because of the clients own willingness and it helps learners to learn what they want to learn (Knowles, 1990). Over the years educational psychologist and educationalist have developed models and learning theories (Hincliff, 2004). These include the behaviourist, cognitive or humanistic. I chose the humanistic approach in facilitating the teaching in order to meet the residents learning needs. The humanist theory as explained by (Maslow, 1943) is concerned with individual fulfillment and self-actualisation. Bandura (1977) stated that learning take place as a result of social interaction through observation and mimicking others whom the learner look up to. To facilitate learning; a conducive learning environment, learning material suited to the learners level and their knowledge base must be noted (Quinn, 1995).In view of this, I planned and gathered all the necessary resource taking into account the residents varied learning styles and I ensured the environment was conducive for leaning, spacious, quite and with the right temperature The residents belong to the theorist, pragmatist and reflector learning styles based on my assessment using (Honey and Mumford, 1982). Prior to the start of the teaching, I introduced myself and asked how many of them like burgers and French fry; majority said they liked it. I explained the rationale for the teaching session. I gave them handout I prepared for the session which contains literature and picture which were simple to understand and which they could keep and refer to later at their convenience. I also used video clip from YouTube to facilitate the learning process http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp0nc4kY-tc . I explained to them that most of the fast food they eat is made from hydrogenated oil which is rich saturated fats and that this raises the cholesterol level in the blood because the body find it difficult to break it down. This bad cholesterol gradually blocks the arterial wall which could lead to anterosclerosis, stroke and heart diseases. One of the residents then asked what is cholesterol? I explained the meaning and told them there was the good and bad cholesterol. I encourage them to go check out their cholesterol level. I encouraged them to buy food products rich in unsaturated fat and low saturated fats when shopping for food products. I brought out some food products to show them how to check for this information on the food pack. Then I brought out more food products for them to pick out which one contain high saturated and low unsaturated fats and vice versa to test their understanding of the lectures; they did perfectly well identifying the products. I applauded them for a job well done. I showed another video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFTcfaA-pc on You Tube on the kind of food that is healthy, which can raise the good cholesterol which the body need. As a facilitator I encouraged them to adopt a healthier lifestyle by eating more fruit and vegetable, drinking more water instead of fuzzy drink and to cook their meal and to exercise by going to gym or taking a light walk at least once a day. The teaching session was an interactive one with room for question and answer session. I thanked them for their collaboration and for making the teaching successful. Their willingness to learn was awesome. I provided information on what make a balance diet and some activities aim at dealing with weight issues in the communal lounge see appendix. As nurses its imperative that we reflect daily on our professional and clinical practice. Gibb et al (2005) stated that constant reflection allows learning to occur at every given opportunity and that it improves practice. I felt competent though initially nervous teaching the residents. I was able to facilitated residents learning by building a rapport through which I observed their learning styles and knowledge base which made it possible for me to tailor the teaching to their varied learning approach. I believe the teaching session met the outcome of enlightening the residents on the need for healthy eating and lifestyles change based on the feedback I got at the end of the teaching. The session was collaborative and interactive with the residents fully involved in the discussion and asking appropriate when seeking clarification. The residents during the evaluation felt they are now self aware of the danger associated with unhealthy eating and that the handout, leaflet and the use of video during the teaching session were very useful. Residents said they will eat healthier now when asked what they think about fatty foods at the end of the teaching session. My mentors feedback was encouraging but said I was a bit too fast in my presentation. I am aware as a registrant, that my professional development is ongoing and that as I progress in my training I will become more confident in facilitating learning. Conclusively, I have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the principles underpinning the facilitation of learning and assessment. Therapeutic relationship and effective communication is the key to facilitating learning. Through therapeutic engagement I was able to understand the varied learning approach of the residents based on Honey and Mumford learning styles. As facilitators, it important that we work collaboratively, encouraging and supporting our client to build that intrinsic motivation to make change in their life by using an approach that encompasses congruence, respect and empathy rather than coercing them which is inimical to holistic and client-centred care. Reflecting on the teaching session and feedback from both the residents and my mentor has given me insight on ways to improve my teaching skills and this will form a basis for my future role as nurse.

Population Growth, Industrialization, and the Environment Essay

Population Growth, Industrialization, and the Environment Human population growth was relatively slow for most of human history. Within the past 500 years, however, the advances made in the industrial, transportation, economic, medical, and agricultural revolutions have helped foster an exponential, "J-shaped" rise in human population (Southwick, Figure 15.1, p. 160). The statistics associated with this type of growth are particularly striking: "Human beings took more than 3 million years to reach a population of 1 billion people...The second billion came in only 130 years, the third billion in 30 years, the fourth billion in 15 years, the fifth billion in 12 years..." (Southwick, p. 159). As human population has grown, there has been simultaneous growth within the industrial sector. Both of these increases have greatly contributed to environmental problems, such as natural resource depletion, ecosystem destruction, and global climate change. Also linked with the increasing human population are many social problems, such as poverty and dise ase. These issues need to be addressed by policy makers in the near future in order to ensure the survival and sustainability of human life. One of the major effects of the huge population increase has been the depletion of natural resources and the destruction of ecosystems. In the 1960's, theorist Paul Ehrlich predicted that, given the skyrocketing figures of human population, the amount of food produced would not grow at a fast enough rate for human survival (Professor Carr Everbach, personal communication). He predicted mass starvation and death by the year 2000 as the result of uncontrolled population growth. Clearly, this did not occur. Ehrlich did not foresee the advancements ma... ...hods of sustaining the burgeoning human population before these problems reach the threshold of catastrophe. References Hansen, J., Ruedy, R., Sato, M., & Lo, K. (2002). "Global Warming Continues." Science, 295, 275. Kerr, R. A. (2002). "A Brighter Outlook for Good Ozone." Science, 297, 1623-5. NPR Radio Broadcast, March 17, 2002. http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1140067 Poliakoff, M., Fitzpatrick, J. M., Farren, T. R., & Anastas, P. T. (2002). "Green Chemistry: Science and Politics of Change." Science, 297, 807-810. Quay, P. (2002). "Ups and Downs of CO2 Uptake." Science, 298, 2344. Southwick, C. H. (1996). "Chapter 15: Human Populations." Global Ecology in Human Perspective. Oxford University Press, 159-182. Wattenberg, B. J. (March 8, 2003). "It Will Be a Smaller World After All." New York Times: Editorial/Op-Ed Section.

Leadership: Equality, Justice, Truth, and Freedom

Leadership: Equality, Justice, Truth, and Freedom| Busi 472- Organizational Ethics || Katherine Carpenter| 10/3/2011| Abstract | In this paper the reader will read about leadership. The basis for this paper is from a quote by Clarence Walton, â€Å"Leadership, an ill-defined word, comes from understanding and respecting four crucial ideas: equality, justice, truth, and freedom,† (Hosmer, 2011). This paper will illustrate the importance of the four ideas to leadership. IntroductionLeadership is defined as â€Å"the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group,† (Dictionary. com, 2011). How does a person become a leader and what should that person’s values be to be a good leader? Clarence Walton said it best, he said â€Å"Leadership, an ill-defined word, comes from understanding and respecting four crucial ideas: equality, justice, truth, and freedom,† (Hosmer, 2011). The ideas stated by Clarence Walton are all important in build ing a talented leader. In this paper each of the four ideas will be expanded on.There have been many leaders in the past and the present who have been great leaders because they understood and respected the crucial ideas of being a leader. Equality in Leadership Equality is defined as â€Å"the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability,† (Dictionary. com, 2011). Equality should be followed by a leader, because they will lose or never earn respect if they do not treat each person equally. Even when women were first allowed to work with the men they were not treated equally.Some women were only given jobs that others felt that a woman could handle and the women that did have the same job title as a man were paid significantly less than the man. A great leader is one that will look at the work that the person has done rather than judge them on their sex or color. â€Å"Discrimination of any kind undermines the strength of our c ommunities,† (Association of Flight Attendants, 2011). I think that this is a very true statement, because if one or several are not treated equally then the help and support of those is lost making the whole weaker.Justice in Leadership Justice is defined as â€Å"the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness,† (Dictionary. com, 2011). Justice is an important quality for a leader to possess. If a leader was not just then his authority would be unfair, and people will not want to work for someone who is unfair. If a leader is not just then people will not hold the position long. Blaise Pascal who was a French philosopher said, â€Å"Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just,† (BookRags, 2001).There are many interpretations of the Goddess of Justice but the main ideas of her are that she is blindfolded balancing a scale and wielding a sword, (Dean, 1999). This shows that being just in leadership takes a lot of hard work and dedication to overcome any obstacles. If being a leader was easy then everyone would do it. Truth in Leadership Truth is defined as â€Å"the true or actual state of a matter,† (Dictionary. com, 2011). Truth is a very cut and dry topic. If it did not happen or something is just a little bit off then it is not the truth.A great leader will not lie or fabricate truth in order to gain respect or to try and get to a particular outcome. I have had leaders that have lied to me or only given me partial truth; I lost all respect for them and did not know when I could actually believe them. One of the biggest problem is when a leader tells one lie they will have to tell another to cover up the first lie. Telling just one lie is not possible and it makes people not trust a leader who have lied to them. A leader who wants to be a good leader or wants to gain the respect of others should always strive to tell the trut h.Freedom in Leadership Freedom is defined as â€Å"the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint,† (Dictionary. com, 2011). In this country we have many freedoms granted to us. All of our freedoms are written in the constitution. If we did not have those freedoms the only people that held jobs would be white males. There have been leaders in the past that have helped to give all people the freedom to be able to have jobs. Harriet Tubman was leader in her time helping to free slaves, she believed in the freedom of others.After Harriet Tubman helped free slaves in the Underground Railroad she pursued women’s rights, (Women in History, 2011). Conclusion In this paper the effort was put into trying to show that great leaders will have certain qualities. There have been great leaders in the past that have helped to define what great leadership is. â€Å"Leadership, an ill-defined word, comes from understanding and respecting four crucial ideas: equality, justice, truth, and freedom,† (Hosmer, 2011) is the definition that we can use for leadership.If we look upon the great leaders of the past and the four crucial ideas stated in this paper then incorporate that into ourselves we to can become great leaders. Being a great leader also takes a great deal of work so that others will respect and look up to the leader. References Association of Flight Attendants. (2011). Association of Flight Attendants. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from AFA: The Leader of Equality: http://unitedafa. org/news/details. aspx? id=6233 BookRags. (2001). Brainy Quote. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from Blaise Pascal Quotes: http://www. brainyquote. om/quotes/authors/b/blaise_pascal_3. html Dean, M. A. (1999). Images of the Goddess of Justice. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from http://mdean. tripod. com/justice. html Dictionary. com. (2011). Dictionary. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from dictionary. com: http://dictionary. reference. com / Hosmer, L. (2011). The Ethics of Management, A multidisciplinary Approach (Vol. Seventh Edition). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill. Women in History. Harriet Tubman biography. Last Updated: 10/3/2011. Lakewood Public Library. Date accessed 10/3/2011. http://www. lkwdpl. org/wihohio/tubm-har. htm

Mediatory Argument

When it comes to finding common ground on important issues, few polarize people as much as immigration questions and difficulties. There are plenty of varying opinions on immigration, especially when one considers whether or not to grant United States citizenship to illegal immigrants. Some feel that illegal immigrants should be given a chance to earn their citizenship, since they are already in the country. Others feel that they are criminals who deserve nothing from the government of the United States. Finding a middle ground on that issue is difficult, but it is possible through mediation. When one takes the time to research the issue at hand, some interesting things come to light. The first thing that a person must understand is the definition of an illegal alien. An illegal alien, as the name suggests, is a person who comes to the United States illegally. In short, it is a person that enters the country through some means that is not approved by the immigration office of the United States. The punishment for such an offense is something that must also be considered by any person who is looking to do research. If an illegal alien is found out in the United States, then they are usually deported back to the country where they came from. In some cases, they are detained for a short time before being shipped back to their country. Research must also be done on the options for these people. Where do they come from and why do they come to the United States? As one might expect, the majority of illegal aliens come to the United States because they have nowhere else to go. These people do not have a future or a leg to stand on in their previous countries, so they make their way into America with an eye on making a new life for themselves or for their families. One side of this argument might also focus on the job status of these people, as well. Unfortunately for many Americans, some of the jobs have been occupied by illegal aliens. This is something worth considering if one hopes to find a middle ground between the two sides of this equation. There are certain middle grounds in this argument where people come together. Though folks might disagree on many things, one would be hard pressed to find anyone who believed that illegal aliens were worse off in the United States. In addition, most people on either side of the chart can admit that illegal aliens are just as likely to pass the citizenship requirements as those people who migrate to the United States legally. In addition to all of that, both sides can see some part of the American dream coming out in this situation. When America was being formed, it took on all comers as a place where anyone could come to explore and find great opportunities. Though that has changed some, it is still one of the American ideals that all residents of this country hold near and dear. As for disagreements, there are many in this case. The fundamental disagreement between the two sides is that people who think illegal immigrants should be given citizenship believe that the illegal alien laws are unfair. They believe that there needs to be widespread reform to accommodate for those people who make their way to the United States. Their basic argument is that it should not be illegal to come to America. Those on the other side would argue that the laws are in place to protect the country from being overrun by cheap labor and they are there to keep the economy in tact. In addition to all of that, the two sides disagree on the impact that illegal immigrants might have on the job market. Those who support the illegal immigrants feel that, ultimately, the increased productivity with these new workers will help stimulate the economy. Obviously, those on the other side feel that adding more low cost workers will make it difficult for people to demand competitive wagers in a competitive market. It is important to keep in mind the different viewpoints when trying to reach a common ground. In this case, the perspectives could not be any different on the issue. On one side, there are the illegal immigrants, who have escaped their previous life and made it to the land of opportunity. They see a new life sitting right in front of them for the taking and they see nothing wrong with that. Those who want these people gone are looking out for their best interests and they are somewhat fearful of what could happen is illegal immigrants were granted citizenship. Because neither party has had the chance to walk in the other party’s shoes, it makes things especially difficult. Illegal immigrants cannot understand why those people in the U.S. do not want to share their wealth. Those in the U.S. do not understand where the illegal immigrants have come from and why they might have made the decision to come. The common ground here is that everyone wants to work for the greater good of the human race. While it might seem like an idealistic or simplistic common ground, it is the basic premise that will have to drive the decision making. No good intentioned human being wants to see another human being suffer. That is where these people can come together. There are plenty of people in the United States who would want to see illegal immigrants exported that might have come from a rough background. They can certainly relate to the plight of these immigrants. The common ground is not a huge piece of dirt, but there is room for people to come together there for the great good of society. As far as a solution goes, there seems to be a place for one in this case. Though it might not fall right in the middle of what people are looking for, there is a way to come to something of a compromise. In order to give illegal immigrants the best chance to prove themselves and earn their way into the country, a probationary period must be adhered to before they are â€Å"full citizens†. In addition to that, they would have to complete all of the steps that normal immigrants have to go through, including the tests. This would benefit both sides, as it would not blindly throw people back into the hell that they used to inhabit, but it also would not open up the borders to anyone who wanted to come. Those people who made the choice to come to America would understand that it is going to take a long time to gain citizenship. In addition, this might even encourage people to go about immigration the right way, instead of having to sneak into the country.

Price

Price Introduction After the rising costs of inputs and the prices arraigned by the opponents are taken into account, price-cap regulation is launched to guard the buyers while making sure that the businesses continue being cost-effective (Alexander Irwin 1996). There is a trial by the income cap to employ the same procedures, but it does it for profits rather than for the prices. Let us look at how unusual a value operator is, compared to an average firm in the market.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Price-Cap as Monopoly Rogulation Mechanism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Take an assumption that the operator is similar to the average firm, but the prices of inputs of the operator vary at the pace that is dissimilar to the pace of variation for the average firm. If the input prices of the operator rise more quickly than the inflation pace, then the retail prices of the operator will be forced to rise more quickly than the inflation rate so that the operator will be capable to earn more than the cost of capital of the operator. Again, take an assumption that the operator is similar to an average firm, except that the operator has the capability to pick up value (Alexander Irwin 1996). If the productivity of the operator advances more quickly than the average firm, then the retail prices of the operator will be forced to come down in relation to the inflation rate. When these variations between the operator and the average firm are combined in the market, the retail prices (revenues) of the operator ought to vary at the inflation rate. From this analysis, two elements are recognized: the first one is the rate of inflation, which is utilized in the price cap index signifying the general price increase rate in the market; the second one is the X-factor, which is aimed at confining the variation between the operator and the standard firm in the market in relation to the increase in the input prices a nd variation in productivity. These elements indicate that the selection of inflation index and X-factor go together (Alexander Irwin 1996). Historical Background The price-cap regulation is a type of regulation made in 1980s by Stephen Littlechild. Stephen Littlechild was a UK treasury economist. This regulation has been utilized in all private system utilities of Britain. However, it contravenes the regulation of the rate of return whereby utilities are allowed a lay down rate of returns on capital. In addition to that, the sum revenue is the regulated element in the revenue-cap regulation. At times, the price-cap regulation is known as â€Å"CPI-X† (Alexander Irwin 1996). The UK calls it â€Å"RPI-X† after using it to lay down price caps. RPI stands for Retail Price and X is the anticipated proficient savings. A form of this formula is used in the water business as RPI-X+K, where K is a factor of capital investment necessities (Alexander Irwin 1996). This scheme is made to give inspirations for proficient savings because the savings above X are handed over to the investors till the price caps are scrutinized. The main portion of the scheme is that the rate of X is grounded on both the firm’s previous productivity and the other firms’ production in the business.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This indicates that in the businesses, which are natural monopolies, X is endeavored to be an alternative for an aggressive market. The methods of incorporating and removing the rate components from the price caps are very crucial in businesses with quickly varying service deliveries. Price-cap regulation is not solely employed in Britain, but also in some Asian countries (Alexander Irwin 1996). Economic Components of the Price-Cap At the initial usage of the price-cap scheme, it will look similar to the traditional reg ulation because the price-cap will work on the basis of the existing taxes or certain traditional procedures of the accommodative lay down of prices. The strategy of the price-cap permits the firm to change its general level of prices according to numerous aspects of the industry while the traditional regulation permits to change its prices according to the firm’s particular information (Key Components of an Appropriate Price Cap System 2013). Below is a discussion of the main components of price caps. Starting rates in the price-cap Strategy For a price-cap scheme to give up a maximum outcome, the primary price ought to be accurate at the beginning. Such a rate is usually focused on the similar service cost and the principles of returns employed in the traditional directive. If the preliminary price-cap is put so high, the production might make monopoly profits, which are not related to the capabilities and production of its labor and administration. Provided that the price- cap is lowered significantly, the organization may sustain significant losses and its revenues will be lower than, the cost of capital. As a result, the firm will go to the regulator for a high price-cap, abandon the price-cap scheme or adopt other variations that will overcome its problems. Majority of the regulators who use the price-cap strategies have either initialized with the present taxes of the firm, or they needed a certain amount of downward reduction in these respective rates. As a rule, profits tend to vary if a company operates in a highly competitive environment and the government makes use of rate-base regulation. These fluctuations can be above or below the cost of capital. If the firm is not obtaining its capital cost, then it might be deprived of an opportunity to overshadow the occurring inadequacy by the present level of the capping prices. Therefore, such firms keep profits below the usual level for quite a few years and vice versa (Key Components of an Appropr iate Price Cap System 2013).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Price-Cap as Monopoly Rogulation Mechanism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Index variable Index variable is an indicator that is important for measuring inflation. It is widely used for setting the yearly price pap. When accurate initial rates are set, a suitable index is classically applied as an indicator of the amount to which the general price levels will be varying over time. The level of input costs sustained by the industries is one of the factors which persuade price levels. For consistence of the price-cap scheme with the examples in the competitive economies, prices need to be evaluated by the variations in the general level of input costs incurred by the firms in the business. From a purely theoretical perspective, prices are supposed to reflect the input costs which can be incurred by various exchange companies. This combined level of prices w ill focus on the cost of labor, services, and the firm’s substances that create services. The prices of such services are managed by the price-cap scheme. The regulators can use such indices to check on the variations of the input costs of a business without connecting prices directly to the cost level of the firm. Therefore, if a firm is capable of operating competitively, then it will gain from that competence. However, every firm is given a benefit of probability to advance its prices when the input costs are rising. Still, companies can increase their prices provided that their input costs increase. In turn, the buyers have the advantage of very low prices when input costs are decreasing. Adjustments are necessary in order to employ the price cap regulation (Abel 2000). Moreover, adjustments are needed if there is a discrepancy between the general inflation rates and the inflation rates that are typical of a specific industry. This is one of the details that can be single d out. It should be kept in mind that the rates of inflation do not follow same patterns in various sectors of economy. The labor costs are impacted by the competition rate of the economy. A counterbalance aspect or a downward adjustment is important to indicate the gains of the advancing markets of density and scale. Hence, one can say that the productivity improves provided that workers spend a smaller amount time and effort on the same task such as the production of certain goods.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Labor adjustments are done so that the rate payers can distribute the short-lived and long-lived gains of the incompetence caused by the price-cap. However, if the chosen productivity criteria are not accurate, then this rule cannot perform that function. As much as competition generates a number of gains, it should also be noticed that it has negative effects on present producers and their consumers. Competition hinders the current rate of growth because as the market decreases, the gains of the markets of density and scale are minimized. Competitive forces are very tough when margins are at maximum level and/or obstacles to ingress are the weakest. Overall, technologies help companies to increase the volume of production, even though the input can remain at the same level. As a result, the production costs decrease, which will persuade the corresponding decrease in prices of the outputs (Abel 2000). Monopoly entails two main problems. The first one is that the result is Pareto inc ompetent (inadequacy is created), and the second one is that the distribution of benefit is prejudiced in goodwill of the monopolist. If there is only one company in the business because of simulated limitations, then the removal of the constraint can work if the result after constraint is superior to the result of the monopoly. However, if the business is a natural monopoly, using a constraint to the entrance will not permit an access. In this respect, the competitor will not create a profit because the market is small to handle more than one firm. There are three methods of controlling monopolists: price ceiling, rate of return regulation, and the efficient regulation mechanism (Osborne 1997). Conclusion Price-cap regulation was established in UK in 1980s by Stephen Littlechild (UK treasury economist). This regulation has been widely used within and outside Britain’s private services. The price cap regulation puts a cap on the value that the value giver can demand. The cap is put in harmony with the numerous economic issues like price-cap index, anticipated competence savings, and the rise in price. References Abel, JR 2000, The State Performance of the Telecommunication Industry Under price-Cap Regulations, National Regulatory Research Institute, Ohio. Alexander, I Irwin, T 1996, â€Å"Price Caps, Rate-of-Return Regulation, and the Cost of Capital,† Note no. 87 in Public Policy for the Private Sector,  World Bank Group, Washington, D.C.  Key Components of an Appropriate Price Cap System n.d., utilityregulation.com/content/essays/t3.pdf. Osborne, J 1997, Policies to Control Monopoly, https://www.economics.utoronto.ca/osborne/23/tutorial/MONCOFRM.HTM

How To Monetize Your Content Marketing With Gini Dietrich

How To Monetize Your Content Marketing With Gini Dietrich You’re already putting a lot of time and energy into creating great content. So wouldn’t it be great if it could be making even more money for you? And it would be even better if you knew before you even posted it that it would be successful. When it comes to monetizing your blog, knowing what is going to appeal to your audience ahead of time is priceless. Today’s guest, Gini Dietrich, founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, and the  lead blogger of Spin Sucks, is speaking to us today about content monetization. Gini is also the author of the book, Spin Sucks, as well as Marketing in the Round. If you’ve been thinking about how to bring in more money with your content, today’s episode is perfect for you!

Does the GEICO Gecko Need a Grammar Lesson

Does the GEICO Gecko Need a Grammar Lesson Today I heard a GEICO commercial that included a line something like this: To show our appreciation, call within the next 15 minutes This sentence contains a grammatical error!   Was it intentional? The thing is, these sorts of sentences are all-too-common in the writing I see every day.   GEICO might have intended this one, or the error may have been an oversight   but many of my clients make these errors frequently and unintentionally. You may be saying to yourself, WHAT grammatical error?   Looks okay to me! Let me explain. Take a look at the the first half of GEICOs sentence: To show OUR [Geicos] appreciation Ask yourself, who is the natural subject of this sentence?   What would naturally follow from the first half of the sentence?   If you think carefully, youll see that it would be something relating to whom? To GEICO of course!   GEICO is the natural subject of the sentence. A grammatically correct sentence might read, To show our appreciation, we are offering you a NEW CAR with FREE insurance for the vehicles lifetime! Now *that* would be a great sentence.   Yes, I like that sentence. Another alternative would be to write a different first half of the sentence that would naturally lead toward making the customer the subject of the sentence.   For instance: To show YOUR appreciation, call us within the next 15 minutes and tell us how adorable the gecko is! Id call to praise the gecko in an instant.   Hes pretty cute.   And he gives great car insurance.   If he looked at me just right with those beady little eyes, Id probably even forgive him for having his grammar a little mixed up. Do you think the GEICO gecko needs grammar help? Or do you think GEICOs ad people made this error intentionally?   Please take our 1-Question Survey and/or share your opinion below. And if you need writing help, please contact The Essay Expert for a FREE 15 minute consultation.   Well make sure you dont make it into someone elses grammar rants. Category:Grammar Writing TipsBy Brenda BernsteinNovember 22, 2010

How has the fund fared Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How has the fund fared - Essay Example Furthermore, a company cannot be able to pay dividends if it is not making profits. Supposing a company is going through financial difficulties, such as high cost and declining sales that lead to losses, it becomes very difficult to afford funds to pay dividends to its shareholders. In such a situation, the company is forced to cut the dividends paid to its shareholders in order to conserve cash so the company can continue existing. It is for this reason that we shall assume that the dividends paid by the three companies will depend on their returns. Therefore, as shown in the table above, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE) will be able to pay the highest level of dividends followed by General Electric (NYSE) and finally Microsoft (NASDAQ). Considering dividends payout as the factor determining the performance of the fund, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE) will be the most attractive whilst Microsoft (NASDAQ) will be the least attractive. What where your biggest mistakes and successes? To evaluate ho w well or bad our fund has performed, it is important to reflect on different ways that are used in measuring stock performance. What is more important in doing this depends on the current type of investment and the exact information that we are seeking. For example, considering that we intend to sell our stocks in the short-term, with the aim of making profit, then the most important consideration will be assessing whether the market price of our stock is souring, declining, or if it has reached a plateau. With this in consideration, it will appear like we made a mistake by investing in Microsoft (NASDAQ) because its price is declining. Alternatively, if we assume a buy-and-hold kind of investment, then we shall be more concerned about the value of the stock many years to come, in which case the most important factor to consider is whether each stock has a pattern of earnings growth, which yields future expansion (Ryan and Deci, 2004). The other important aspects to consider when i nvesting include reward and risk. Measuring stock risk can be a bit difficult and that is why it was easy to make a mistake when investing in this fund. However, it is very easy to measure how the individual stocks performed from the financial statements - this measure could have been successfully used because the profitability performance reflects how the shares faired, at-least in the short-run. In other words, the profitability of these companies reflected their share price appreciation. In view of this, investment in Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE) was a very successful decision, but investment in Microsoft (NASDAQ), whose share price performed poorly, was a bad investment. Despite the fact that investment in a company such as Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE) was a success because the company’s profitability as well shares performance was remarkable, the aspect of risk, which is more difficult to measure, can turn an investment that was preserved successful in the short-run unsuccessf ul in the long-run. Actually the issue of risk becomes even more difficult because different individuals have different perspectives of what risk entails. Some individual may perceive that a risky stock is the one that is not worthy its price, and that a stock is less risky when the price that was paid to purchase it is considerably below the company’

Everglades National Park Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Everglades National Park - Research Paper Example Background: Balanced Diversity Everglades National Park is the largest park and preserve in the state of Florida. It has a combination of sensitive wetland and estuarine environment, spanning 1,508,000 acres in area. The mangroves that mostly constitute the park are important breeding ground for numerous marine species as well as a natural habitat for alligators and many species of birds. It is also considered the largest wilderness area east of the Rocky Mountain, the biggest continuous section of saw-grass prairie and the most important breeding location for tropical wading birds in the North America. (Kras 2009, p. 9) In 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated it as a world heritage site. Such recognition was fundamentally given due to its rich biological diversity, which represented a balanced relationship of human life and nature. According to UNESCO, the area has extreme importance to the world because it has a unique blen d of human history and the diverse life forms that harmoniously lived together for ages, including those animals and plants that are considered endangered species. (Kras, p. 9) Ecological relationships A Senate Report summed up the Everglades Park’s interesting interrelationships among its life forms. It explained: The intermingling of plant and animal species from both the tropical and temperate zones, plus the merging of freshwater and saltwater habitats provide the vast biological diversity that makes Everglades National Park unique. (US Congress, p. 340) Experts point out that the park is not consisted of one single ecosystem but a system of ecosystems. The above statement underscores this highlighting how numerous and diverse habitats are in existence that offer homes to a number of flora and fauna that collectively form a kind of relationship that continually amazes scientists. Much of the area is covered by saw grass, trees and shrubs as well as palm trees, cypresses, among other tropical plants. They provide a natural habitat for animals like the American crocodile, alligators, deer, Florida panther, roseate spoonbill, wood stork, snakes, turtles, among other reptiles and animals that are endangered like the southern bald eagle. The animals are sufficiently represented to sustain a healthy food chain and sheet-flow ecosystem connected by the water system beginning with Kissimmee River, into the Lake Okeechobee and, finally into the Gulf of Mexico. The intrusion of man, particularly with the agriculture cultivation that takes place in the Everglades’ periphery, and the damage it inflicts is increasingly destroying the habitats and the relationships within. For instance, the fertilizers discharged from nearby agricultural areas led to the growth of cat-tails and furry grasses that began depleting oxygen from the waters, endangering the lives of several animals that thrive on them. (Europa 2001, p. 77) Human Intrusion Another factor that mak es Everglades National Park unique is the fact that it is situated in a mouth of a waterway instead of in a headwater like Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Unfortunately, this variable became a major contributor in the damage being done to the park. Human activities have disrupted the water cycle that occurs within the area due to agricultural cultivation and the

3M COMPANY Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

3M COMPANY - Coursework Example A unique accounting standard is used across the world to deliver a unique and global standard high quality accounting and reporting of financial statements. The main purpose is to convey the economic condition of an organisation in the most fair and unbiased manner. The shareholders would make use of such information to make decision whether to invest in a company or not. Evaluation of the purpose and context of International Financial Reporting Standards The International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS) is an autonomous, non –profit organisation that works for the interest of the public. It is devised as a universal global language that is used for business dealings so that the accounts of a company are comprehendible and comparable across boundaries of nations and continents. The main purpose of this accounting standard is to overcome the cross country barriers in today’s time when many companies have their operations overseas and hence have to account for their businesses in different business languages (Bragg, 2010, p.172). The European Union was the first to abide by the IFRS. However, it was later adopted by the other countries across the globe considering the benefits it provided. Prior to the implementation of the IFRS, the International Accounting Standards was used which operated between the years 1973 and 2001 and was controlled by International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). The prime objectives of the IFRS include: Development of a distinct set of premium, comprehendible, imposable and internationally accepted IFRS through its regulatory and supervisory body. Promotion of such standards and ensuring that it is properly implemented. Providing with assistance to the developing countries in their financial reporting needs. Promotion and adoption of an improved IFRS through the union of IFRS and the National Accounting standards. The IFRS is used across the world by the different companies. Regulatory bodies, analy sts and accounting professionals with an aim to reduce costs for comparing financial statements that otherwise would have arisen due to use of various accounting standards. Most of the MNC’s have cross country operations and they would benefit most from this IFRS as it is a unique standard of accounting. However it had been argued by several experts that the IFRS may not provide with a fair valuation of the companies residing in different countries because the local laws of countries may vary and thus losses or profit may not be accounted for in a proper manner (Kirk, 2006. p.306). The foundation ensures accountability to the public through the pathway of keeping their work transparent and consulting with any party who is interested in this process of setting a standard. They also link to the public in a formal way. There is a monitoring board that is linked to the public for all their accounting questions. The trusties review the constitution once in every five years. The pu blic can also access their proposals through their website and provide recommendations. All their meetings are open to the public and the notes are also disclosed to the public. 3M communicates with its shareholders and sends out the detailed financial performance in the Annual General Meeting through the Publication of the annual report (Needles, 2013, p.714). The main objective of 3M is to impart an unbiased awareness among the investors of the company and encouraging them to hold on with such investments. The company is accountable to the shareholders because they are the ultimate owners of the company. There is a problem with disclosing all the information in

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 28

Case study - Essay Example the merger would result in saving about $1.4 billion during the year after the merger due to the prospect of combining operations such as purchasing and distribution. In any merger, there are issues that have to be considered in order to determine if the merger will be successful. The most understated but possibly one of the most important of these factors is the difference in national cultures of both parties. One of the biggest challenges for the Daimler-Chrysler merger would be the distinctions between the German and American work cultures. While both America and Germany rank quite high in terms of the masculinity level of cultural goals in the workplace, they have intrinsic factors in which both nations greatly differ. According to the Dutch sociologist, Geert Hofstede, characteristics that mark cultures as being more male-oriented include ambition, competitiveness, assertiveness and the push for financial success (Abdou and Kliche 2004). Moreover, in the German culture, there tends to be a strong undercurrent of female identified traits such as emphasis on the importance of maintaining good relationships even while committing to being the be st worker one can be. The masculine traits embraced in the American work culture also encourages a greater level of individuality that is lacking in German society which is more supportive of collectivity and creating good relations with co-workers and neighbors. The differences in work culture, which did not seem as such big problems prior to the merger, quickly emerged to be the greatest challenge for Daimler-Chrysler. The main divisions that would have been affected by the merger would be those personnel policy, finance, joint production, and marketing. The Germans and Americans had different views about how to go about engaging in decision-making (Camera and Renjen 2004). The executives at Daimler were accustomed to a bureaucratic structure in which decisions could only be made after a painstaking analysis of the

Tensile Tst Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tensile Tst - Lab Report Example The intention of this experiment is to find out what kind of material should be used in different loading conditions depending upon the kind of construction and the criticality of the work structure. In the experiment, 4 samples of different metals were used –Aluminum, Brass, Steel and Cast-Iron. The experiment involves application of axial loads to four different specimens of identical dimensions till it breaks. A Universal Testing Machine (UTM) is used for this purpose and corresponding stress, strain and extension undergone by each specimen prior to breakage is observed and suitable conclusions drawn. Preparing the specimen is also an important aspect of testing as both ends of the specimen should have ample length so as to be properly gripped during loading. There is specific gauge length that is standardized and is directly related to the diameter of the round specimen. The testing machine also comes in various combinations with simple screw driven machines to hydraulically actuated machines. Modern machines also have a computer generated feedback which displays all the required information on our screen. After preparing the specimen it is loaded onto the UTM machine and loaded according to a specific gradual extension rate till the specimen breaks. (Gere and Timoshenko, 2004) The outputs results from the range of stress that the specimen goes through during the process of loading till its breakage gives us valuable information regarding the yield strength, allowable stress and Young’s Modulus of the material. The uniform plastic deformation continues till the specimen starts to experience necking which gives the ultimate tensile strength. On further increase of loading non-uniform plastic deformation starts. This progresses till a point of fracture which gives the fracture strength of the specimen. (Gere and Timoshenko, 2004) Specimen 1 (aluminum) and specimen 2 (brass) showed lower

Automotive Industry Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Automotive Industry Marketing - Essay Example It is closely followed by General Motors and Ford as the second major players in the industry. On the industry relationship there is a close relationship between the different major players with cross ownership of different groups by same players. For example Porsche holds about 20percent ownership in Volkswagen group while Renault-Nissan alliances have different holding in the world. However Toyota remains the world largest vehicle manufacture group with more than 5 brands in the market. (Auto Industry, 2008) As such there has been increasing competition in the industry. This has been due to the changes that have been taking place in the market and the change in consumer preference of cars. The increasing awareness of the environmental impact of cars has been a major shift in the industry as consumers prefer cars which are more fuel efficient and environment friendly. This has seen a drop of sales in some of the leading car produced like the Ford and General Motor since they were not able to adapt to the demand by the consumers and consequently there was rise of Toyota which was seen as producing cares which were more environmental friendly. (Meiners, 2007) The increasing competition in the industry has seen the rise of intense advertisement which is all aimed at showing the customers how a certain brand is efficient and meets their demand. The trend has been to show consumers how efficient is their brands and how friendly they are to the environment. Communication strategy Three have been many strategies that have been used in the industry in order to reach out to the consumers. There has been increase in the advertisement as the consumer preference shift and at the same time in consideration of the changes that have been taking place in the market. The advertisements have been reflecting the efficient of the brand in their efforts to meet the demands by consumers and the demand of the environment. Due to the increasing rise of communication technology, the industry has been in the leading front to take the advantage and reach all customers. Therefore there has been increasing trend of increased consumption as players in the industry use all the available means of communication in order to reach the customer. Of particular target have been the increased use of internet and its related channels of communication like the U tube. However there has also been increased use of the bill boards and other Medias of communication like the mass media sign TV radio, news paper, magazines, and others. This has been in effort of reaching as many customers as one can and reaching the customer before the other brand reaches them. This has resulted to creation of very impressive and effective means of advertisement to the consumers. They are designed in such a way that they don't just pass the message to the customer but they also shows them an additional value that they can get from the brands. The aims of the advertisements in the industry as we have said is not only to inform the customer of the existence of a certain brand in the market but also to show them that the brand has an additional value compared to others. Let us evaluate some of the advertisements that we have collected. First all the advertisements clearly pass the massage that they are meant to communicate to the consumer. They are well designed in a way that they are appealing to the

Tensile Tst Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tensile Tst - Lab Report Example The intention of this experiment is to find out what kind of material should be used in different loading conditions depending upon the kind of construction and the criticality of the work structure. In the experiment, 4 samples of different metals were used –Aluminum, Brass, Steel and Cast-Iron. The experiment involves application of axial loads to four different specimens of identical dimensions till it breaks. A Universal Testing Machine (UTM) is used for this purpose and corresponding stress, strain and extension undergone by each specimen prior to breakage is observed and suitable conclusions drawn. Preparing the specimen is also an important aspect of testing as both ends of the specimen should have ample length so as to be properly gripped during loading. There is specific gauge length that is standardized and is directly related to the diameter of the round specimen. The testing machine also comes in various combinations with simple screw driven machines to hydraulically actuated machines. Modern machines also have a computer generated feedback which displays all the required information on our screen. After preparing the specimen it is loaded onto the UTM machine and loaded according to a specific gradual extension rate till the specimen breaks. (Gere and Timoshenko, 2004) The outputs results from the range of stress that the specimen goes through during the process of loading till its breakage gives us valuable information regarding the yield strength, allowable stress and Young’s Modulus of the material. The uniform plastic deformation continues till the specimen starts to experience necking which gives the ultimate tensile strength. On further increase of loading non-uniform plastic deformation starts. This progresses till a point of fracture which gives the fracture strength of the specimen. (Gere and Timoshenko, 2004) Specimen 1 (aluminum) and specimen 2 (brass) showed lower

Strategic Management and Business Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic Management and Business Policy - Essay Example Then there are the consequential decisions which take up a lot of resources and thus demand high level commitment from the people at different levels within the organization. The last characteristic within the strategic decision understandings is that of directive decisions which set precedents for lesser decisions as well as the future actions that take place at varied levels of the organization (Hoffman, 2006). A strategic decision at my workplace has been in the form of an example that I can quote here. My boss once asked all the employees to think about the organization and cut back on late comings so that it could boost performance considerably. This was one consequential strategic decision that was taken by the boss so that the productivity could increase and thus the organization could achieve more success with the changing business times. The same were followed up by the employees and about 90% rate of success was achieved within that

Dementia Sufferer Mental

Dementia Sufferer Mental Introduction Dementia is a loss of mental function in two or more areas such as language, memory, visual and spatial abilities, or judgment severe enough to interfere with daily life3. Dementia is not a disease itself, sufferers show a broader set of symptoms that accompany certain diseases or physical conditions3. Well known diseases that cause dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and multi-infarct dementia3. Dementia is an acquired and progressive problem that affects cognitive functions, behavior, thinking processes and the ability to carry out normal activities. Vision is one of the most important primary senses, therefore serious or complete sight loss has a major impact on a individuals ability to communicate effectively and function independently. Individuals who suffer from both dementia and serious vision loss will inevitably be subject to profound emotional, practical, psychological and financial problems. These factors will also influence others around the sufferer and will extend to family and the greater society. As we get older both dementia and visual problems inevitably become much more prevalent. Current demographic trends show the increase of the number of very old in our population. Therefore it is inevitable that dementia and serious sight loss either alone or together, will have important consequences for all of us3. The vast majority of people are aware that dementia affects the memory. However it is the impact it has on the ability to carry out daily tasks and problems with behavior that cause particular problems, and in severe cases can lead to institutionalization. In the primary stages of dementia, the patient can be helped by friends and family through ‘reminders’. As progression occurs the individual will loose the skills needed for everyday tasks and may eventually fail to recognize family members, a condition known as prospagnosia. The result of such progression is that the individual becomes totally dependent on others. Dementia not only affects the lives of the individual, but also the family9. Dementia can present itself in varying forms. The most common form of dementia in the old is Alzheimers disease, affecting millions of people. It is a degenerative condition that attacks the brain. Progression is gradual and at a variable rate. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are impaired memory, thinking and changes in behaviour. Dementia with Lewy bodies and dementias linked to Parkinsons disease are responsible for around 10-20% of all dementias. Dementia with Lewy bodies is of particular interest as individuals with this condition not only present confusion and varying cognition, but also present symptoms of visual hallucinations9. Another common conditions that causes dementia is multi-infarct dementia, also known as vascular dementia. It is the second most common form on dementia after alzheimers disease in the elderly. Multi infarct dementia is caused by multiple strokes in the brain. These series of strokes can affect some intellectual abilities, impair motor skills an d also cause individuals to experience visual hallucinations. Individuals with multi infarct dementia are prone to risk factors for stroke, such as high BP, heart disease and diabetes. Multi infarct dementia cannot be treated, once nerve cells die they cannot be replaced. X3 In most cases the symptoms of dementia and serious sight loss develop independently. However some conditions can cause both visual and cognitive impairments, for example Down syndrome, Multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Dementia is most prevalent in the elderly, as is sight loss. Therefore it is inevitable that a number of people will present dementia together with serious sight loss. There have been many studies into the prevalence of dementia in the UK. An estimate for the prevalence of dementia in people over 75 years of age is 15% of the population9. The Alzheimer’s society suggest that 775,200 people in the UK suffer from dementia (figures taken 2001). The Alzheimer’s society also calculates that the prevalence of dementia in the 65-75 years age group is 1 in 50, for 70-80 years 1 in 20 and for over 80 years of age 1 in 5. Estimates suggest that by 2010 approximately 840,000 people will become dementia sufferers in the UK. Estimates suggest that around 40% of dementia sufferers are in residential institutions. One study from 1996 showed that dementia sufferers are 30 times more likely to live in an institution than people without dementia. At 65 years of age men are 3 times more likely than women to live in an institution and at 86 men and women are equally likely to be institutionalized10 Visual impairments are not associated general diagnostic features of dementia. However recent research has shown the change in visual function and visual processing may be relevant. Alzheimer’s disease patients often present problems with visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereo-acuity and color vision. These problems are believed to be more true of cognitive dysfunction rather than any specific problems in the eye or optic nerve9. Early diagnosis is essential to both dementia and sight loss patients, as drug treatments are becoming more and more available. Therefore maximizing the treatment and care for the individual. On the other hand early diagnosis of visual conditions is also essential, so that progression is slowed and treatment is commenced, therefore further progression is prevented if plausible9. The Mini-Mental State examination MMSE, is the most commonly used cognitive test for the diagnosis of dementia. It involves the patient to undertake tests of memory and cognition. It takes the form of a series of questions/answers and uses written, verbal and visual material. Poor vision or blindness is the most common cause of poor performance on this test other than dementia itself9. Research, development and investment in the future will help to contribute to improved care for dementia and sight loss sufferers. A better understanding of the daily lives and experiences of these people will give us a greater insight into the problems faced and will help to improve the quality of care available9. Alzheimer’s disease The aim of this paper is to provide information about current knowledge on the topic on visual function dementia. With regards to Alzheimer’s disease there will be an inclination to several main foci of research, namely anatomical/structural changes, functional visual changes, cognitive brain changes and other changes such as the effects of diagnostic drugs on Alzheimer’s disease patients. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia amongst older adults. The Alzheimer’s research trust estimates that 700,000 individuals in the UK currently are afflicted. This number will inevitably increase exponentially in the near future with the trend of an increasingly aging UK population. Therefore it must be of the utmost of importance worldwide to have an understanding all behavioral, anatomical and physiological aspects of this disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disease that attacks the brain, it begins gradually and progresses at a variable rate. Common signs are impaired thinking, memory and behavior. Health professionals and care givers agree that the memory deficit is usually the initial sign of the disease. However researchers have long known that Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by impairments of several additional domains, including visual function11. However these findings have not yet appeared in the diagnostic guides consulted by healthcare professionals, for example the most recent addition of the Diagnostic Statistical manual of mental disorders states that few sensory signs occur in early Alzheimer’s disease2. Therefore we still have a limited understanding of the true extent to which visual impairments affects Alzheimer’s disease. The current web site of the Alzheimer’s association1 and National Institute of Aging4 make no mention of the topic of sensory changes in Alzheimer’s disease. It has even been said that patients with Alzheimer’s disease report visual problems to their healthcare professionals less frequently than do healthy elderly individuals5. Nevertheless visual function is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease6. In terms of cognitive changes, the neuropathology of this disorder affects several other brain areas which are dedicated to processing low level visual functions as well as higher level visual cognition and attention11. These neuropathological cognitive changes are more dominant however in the visual variant of Alzheimer’s disease known as posterior cortical atrophy, however visual problems are also present in the more common Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease begins when there are deposits of abnormal proteins outside nerve cells located in the brain in the form of amyloid. These are known as diffuse plaques, and the amyloid also forms the central part of further structured plaques known as senile or neurotic plaques3. Buildup of anomalous filaments of protein inside nerve cells in the brain can also take place. This protein accumulates as masses of filaments known as neurofibril tangles. Atrophy of the affected areas of the brain can also occur as well as the enlargement of the ventricles3. There is also a loss of the neuro transmitter Serotonin, Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine and Somatostatin. Attempts have been made to try to slow the development of the disease by replacing the neurotransmitters with cholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (excelon), galantamine (Reminyl) and memantine (Namenda)3. These drugs work by increasing the levels of transmitters between cells, which otherw ise become lacking in Alzheimer’s disease. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence NICE conducted a review of these drugs in March 2005 and concluded that none of these drugs provided sufficient enough advantages to the patient in order to justify their cost. They recommended against the use of such drugs in the Nhs, though the Department of Health later overturned this ruling. Visual Changes in Alzheimer’s Patients Loss of vision is a key healthcare dilemma amongst the elderly. By the age of 65 approximately one in three people have a vision reducing eye disease. Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease patients and elderly patients, consequently have many visual conditions in common. Alzheimer’s disease impairs visual; function early in the course of the disease and functional losses correlate with cognitive losses. There are several common visual functional deficits that are frequently identified in Alzheimer’s disease. There is evidence for deficits in Motion perception32,33 contrast sensitivity31 colour discrimination of blue short wavelength hues34 and performance on backward masking tests31 In Alzheimer’s disease the secondary point of damage is usually the visual association cortex and other higher cortical areas as well as the primary visual cortex 35,36. Some of the main changes that occur in the eye with aging inlclude7: The crystalline lens increases in thickness, therefore decreasing its transparency and elasticity; therefore there is a tendency for cataracts to appear. The conjunctiva can become thicker and wrinkled, therefore is subject to deposits such as pinguecela. The iris can atrophy, therefore pupils become constricted and their response to light becomes sluggish. The eyes ability to dark/light adapt is affected. Refractive index of the cornea decreases and it becomes less transparent. Arcus senilis can appear. The ocular globe and eyelids can shrink leading to conditions such as entropian, ectropian and trichiasis. Also while the lachrymal production is reduced the puncta lachrymalis can become stenosed and provide less drainage which gives rise to chronic watering of the eyes Anterior chamber usually becomes more shallow and the sclera more rigid, increasing the prospects of glaucoma. These changes summed together not only diminish the quality of vision, but many of them also make the examination of the eye much more complicated. In conjunction with the general visual symptoms of aging, Alzheimer’s patients can also experience visual disturbances caused by the brain rather than the visual system alone. This means that they can have problems and difficulties perceiving what they see rather than how clearly they see it3. Difficulties are usually experienced in the areas mentioned earlier, namely depth, motion, color, and contrast sensitivity. Visual hallucinations are also a common problem with linked to loss of vision in Alzheimer’s disease patients38. Another common disorder linked to patients with Alzheimer’s disease is a variant of motion blindness. The patient can appear to be confused and lost; the individual will see the world as a series of still frames8. Visual changes in Alzheimer’s disease may also be dependent upon which brain hemisphere is more severely damaged; this factor can often be overlooked. An individual with Alzheimer’s disease could have damage to a greater extent on their left brain hemisphere from plaques and tangles. This would therefore cause subsequent retinal changes in only the left hemi-retinas of each eye i.e. the right visual fields. The right eye visual field would be affected in the temporal side (right) and the left eye visual field would be affected nasally (right)51. When only half the retina is impacted, smaller regions of the optic nerve and nerve fiber layer show losses. The left eye with affected temporal retina would show optic nerve damage in differing regions of the nerve than the right eye with nasal retinal damage.51 Alzheimers patients commonly show selective degeneration of large ganglion cell axons located in the optic nerves. This suggests that there would be impairment of broadband channel visual function. Conversely studies have shown that broadband visual capabilities are not selectively impaired in Alzheimer’s disease. The magnocellular and parvocellular neurons are greatly affected in Alzheimer’s patients, this has been proved by studies of the dorsal Lateral geniculate nucleus(LGN)3. The geniculostirate projection system is split both functionally and anatomically into two sections. They include the parvocellular layers of the Lateral geniculate body and also incorporates the magnocellular layers. These systems are mainly divided in the primary visual cortex and go through further segregation in the visual association cortex. They conclude in the temporal and paritetal lobes3. The parvocellular layers contain smaller, centrally located receptive fields that account for high spatial frequencies (acuity), they also respond well to color. On the other hand these cells do not respond well rapid motion or high flicker rates. The magnocellular cells have larger receptive fields and respond superiorly to motion and flicker. They are however comparatively insensitive to color differences, the magnocellular neurons generally show poor spatial resolution, although the seem to respond better at low luminance contrasts. To summarize the parvocellular system is superior at detecting small, slow moving, colored targets placed in the centre of the visual field. Meanwhile the magnocellular system has the ability to process rapidly moving and optically degraded stimuli across larger areas of the visual field3. The parvocellular system projects ventrally to the inferior temporal areas, which are involved in visual research, pattern recognition and visual object memory. The magnocellular system projects dorsally to the posterior parietal and superior temporal areas. These are specialized for motion information processing. The cerebral cortical areas to which the parvocelluar system projects receives virtually no vestibular afferents. Alternatively the cerebral areas to which the magnocelullar system projects receives significant vestibular and other sensory inputs. These are believed to be involved in maintaining spatial orientation. Research shows shows that the magnocellular system is more involved in Alzheimer’s disease3. Oddly, many individuals experience difficulties at low spatial frequencies instead of high frequencies as in old age. This suggests that areas controlling the low spatial frequency processing in the primary visual cortex would be affected more than those for higher frequencies processing39 After neuropathilogical studies in 1997 by Hof et al were carried out on brains with visual impairments they concluded that cortical atrophy dominated on the posterior parietal cortex and occipital lobe40 Glaucoma is also a neurodegenerative disease that has similar effects on the visual system. Lower spatial frequencies in the contrast sensitivity, deficits in the blue short wavelength color range as well as reductions in motion perception are all linked to glaucomatous patients16. When patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease also have glaucoma, the deterioration of vision related to glaucoma is much more rapid and progression is more aggressive than in people with glaucoma solely and not Alzheimer’s disease as well.19 Glaucoma is different from Alzheimer’s disease in that it affects the visual function at the early sites of neural activity, namely, the retinal ganglion cells. Glaucoma destroys the afferent axons at the nerve fiber layer in the retina. This loss of axons ultimately leads to added atrophy further up the visual pathway due to decreased neuronal input. Alternatively Alzheimer’s disease impacts the cells that are located terminally or intermediary in the visual pathway of the brain. The result is again reduced neuronal input due to loss of nerve fibre connections and atrophy along the visual pathway. When the two diseases exist in the same individual together it can be seen that there is likely to be a greater disruption to the visual system20, one key difference between the two diseases is that they affect the visual pathway at different points. Glaucoma is a degenerative disease starting at the beginning of the visual pathway, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is a deg enerative process starting relatively late in the visual pathway. When the two diseases coexist then the neuronal and functional losses of vision are cumulative. Optometric examination of dementia patients Dementia patients present special problems for optometrists. A standard eye test can be an audile to even the best of us. The patient is placed in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by unusual equipment, machinery and is subjected to probing questions about he medical history which will inevitably tax their already flawed memory. Dementia patients are most likely to be from the elderly. Therefore several difficulties are presented while conducting an ocular examination. The patient is required to maintain a position and has to maintain concentration throughout the testing procedures, which can be very difficult. Subjective examination requires responses from the patient, they are expected to remember and follow complex instructions given to them by the optometrist as well as make many precise discriminatory judgments in a short space of time. The multiple tasks required to be completed during the examination are often beyond dementia patients as they are limited by the disease. The refore it is common that patients with even a minor degree of dementia fail to provide valid answers, provide unpredictable responses to the subjective examination and retreat into an apathetic state3,9. During the visual examination of Alzheimer’s disease patients, several key visual problems can be detected. Moderate dementia patients will often experience problems such as topographic agnosia, alexia without agraphia, visual agnosia and prospagnosia3. Such patients often cannot describe individual components of photos and routinely fail to recognize family members. The degree to which such problems are experienced is consistent with the level of cytochrome oxidase deficits in the associated cortical area. In conjunction with these problems dementia patients often have problems with texture discrimination and blue violet discrimination3. During examination of the elderly dementia patients there are two contradictory requirements, firstly is ‘assurance’. The patient’s responses will be delayed and the patient may feel anxious in such an unfamiliar situation, therefore constant reassurance is required and they cannot be rushed. Alternatively time constraints are important, a dementia/elderly patient is likely to have a short attention span. Therefore the two factors above much be considered and balanced. The examination must be thorough yet carried out as quick as possible. Often when examining a dementia patient a family member of the carer must be present in order to aid the communication between optometrist and patient, for example difficulties are likely to occur when recording history and symptoms without a carer present. All factors need to be considered such as family history, medication, eye treatment and knowledge of any medical conditions and if so how long they have suffered from them. In terms of an external examination firstly, gross observations should be recorded for example does the patient have an abnormal head position or is there any lid tosis. Many external observations can also be detected with the aid of pupil reflexes. Upon carrying out the external examination the optometrist must be carful to explain exactly what each procedure will involve so as not to intimidate the patient. Internal examination Internal examination of an elderly patient often presents many problems. Older patients tend to have constricted pupils and often opacities in the media such as cataract. Patients with dementia also show poor fixation as well as lack of concentration. Pupil dilation is often used to aid external examination however many older patients can have a poor response to the insertion of mydriatic eye drops. There have been many studies into the affects of diagnostic mydriatic and miotic drugs. Many studies have shown excessive mydriatic pupil response to trompicamide (a pupil dilating drug) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease when compared to control individuals.))) on the other hand studies into the use of Miotic drops, particularly Pilocarpine have shown an increased response of pupil constriction in Alzheimer’s disease patients in comparison to normal control patients. These findings suggest a defect in pupillary innervation with Alzheimer’s disease individuals. Studies of post mortem individuals with exaggerated mydriatic pupil responses to Tropicamide found a definte disruption to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. The Edinger-Westphal nucleus is one of the key structures of the brain involved in the autonomic nervous system, it mediates the sympathetic and para-sympathetic pupil responses. Research by Scinto et al found amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in all individuals tested with excessive mydriatic pupil responses. The conclusion was that the Edinger-Westphal nucleus is targeted early in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In terms of intraocular pressures use of the goldman an Perkins tonometers will be limited for the elderly dementia patients, due to health an safety reasons. Sudden movements whilst carrying out pressure tests on such equipment may be dangerous. Therefore this can be overcome to a degree by the use of handheld instruments such as the pulseair. However even with the pulseair problems can still be faces with uncooperative patients. Objective examination With uncooperative and awkward patients objective refraction through retinosopy may be difficult. Factors such as opacified media, miotic pupils, and poor fixation will influence the accuracy of the refraction. The recent introduction of hand held optometers has contributed to somewhat overcoming such problems. Instruments such as thee Nikon Retinomax are excellent for obtaining an objective refraction of the elderly patient with miotic pupils and cloudy media. When presenting the Snellen chart to a patient, the quality of their response will inevitably depend upon the degree of their dementia. Depending on which stage of dementia they are suffering from, responses could range from routine reading of the chart to no response at all. The later presents the optometrist with greater problems; however a visual acuity can still be measured via other techniques. Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease is often widespread and a prevalent problem, however it is often an untreated disorder. A reason for this impairment to be overlooked could be that visual function is typically only measured in terms of visual acuity in the majority of cases, which in Alzheimer’s patients is often normal. However, studies have shown that up to 60% of people with Alzheimer’s disease show deficits in on or multiple visual areas such as depth perception, motion perception, color discrimination or contrast sensitivity31, 32. Therefore detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s patients must include these other visual capacities and not only visual acuity tests. Deficits in depth perception have accurately been demonstrated in Alzheimer’s individuals33-37. Decline in this visual capacity is even seen at the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, independently of the other visual capacities36. Impaired depth perception will inevitably cause problems in performing everyday tasks33,36 eg walking, cleaning and stair climbing. Motion perception is also a common deficit seen in Alzheimer’s disease41-45. Studies have shown that individuals with Alzheimer’s take significantly longer to identify stationary objects that can be identified by motion cues41,43. A study by Rizzo et al42 found that 33% of Alzheimer’s patients had car accidents when put through a set of driving scenarios in a virtual simulator, compared to 0 accidents with non demented age match participants. The decreased ability of Alzheimer’s patients to accurately process visual motion cues was a significant factor in avoiding accidents. Contrast sensitivity can be defined as the smallest difference in intensity that a person can resolve between an object and its immediate surround. Most elderly patients are impaired at high spatial frequencies. However Alzheimer’s sufferers are impaired at low spatial frequencies as well46,47,48,49-51. Problems with contrast sensitivity will have a subsequent impact on how a person with Alzheimer’s disease perceives their environment, and will adversely affect their ability to perform many everyday tasks such as dressing, washing and eating to name but a few. Contrast sensitivity problems cannot be cured or overcome by means such as optical correction through spectacles, medication or surgery. However individuals can be helped by environmental modifications. We will now go on to discuss a handful of simple environmental modifications that can be made for dementia patients in order to increase their quality of life. Firstly there are several key simple principles relating to colour and light that should always be considered when modifying a living area for a dementia individual. Color Light Use sharply contrasting color between back ground and foreground. Always have even distribution of light within a room. Use solid colors rather than stripes or multi color patterns. Good to have as much natural light as possible. Do not use ‘like’ colors next to each other Minimise glare Task lighting when applicable Place light behind reading or television chair to enhance vision. In the bedroom the main point of concern is not to bump into objects and not to fall out of bed. Caregivers can also find it problematic to get the patient into their bedroom at the end of the day. Enhancing the contrast of objects in the bedroom will help patients to recognize areas of their room and intern make care givers jobs much easier during care. In order to draw the patient into a room in a common technique many institutions or caregivers use is to paint the furthest most wall in the bedroom in a contrasting color to the rest of the room, for example in a light colored room (magnolia) it would be advantageous to paint the far wall in a dark contrasting color such as brown. This will provide a depth cue for the patient and will encourage them to enter the bedroom. Once in the room dementia patients can often have problems locating the bed. Again this problem can be aided by a simple modification of using a bed spread that is of high contrast when compared to the surrounding w alls and floor of the room. This simple modification will draw the patient towards the bed and help prevent them from tripping or stumbling over the bed. Other simple tips can be to modify appliances within the bedroom such as telephones, clocks and radios with different colored buttons to encourage independence. The bathroom is another frequently used area within the household and there are many simple modifications that can be made within this area to aid the user. Firstly placing a fixed bath mat of the same color as the floor is a simple useful modification. The matt with low contrast to the floor will decrease any depth perception problems and will aid the user when getting in and out of the bath tub. Also a fixed mat can be placed inside the bath tub, however in this case the matt should be of a contrasting color to the tub. The reasoning behind this is that the contrasting bath mat will provide a excellent depth cue for the user who would other wise would be unsure to about how deep the floor of the bath tub is. The bathroom can be a hazardous place for a dementia individual as there are many risks within this room especially the risk of hot water. Therefore an extremely important modification in the bathroom is to ensure all taps have different colored knobs on the hot and cold compon ents. The colored taps will provide a color cue and help the user to distinguish between the two. The kitchen can be a dangerous place, especially for the elderly and dementia su

The Medieval Crusades: Launched to Spread Worship of Dionysus :: European Europe History

The Medieval Crusades: Launched to Spread Worship of Dionysus Although it is a popular notion that the crusades of the Eleventh through Thirteenth Century Europe were launched to spread Christianity, it is a seldom realized fact that they were actually launched to spread the worship of the Greek God Dionysus. While many fundamentalist radicals and even some historians who ought to know better will dispute this,it is,nevertheless,true. During the Middle Ages in Europe,there were a series of ten religious crusades launched over a period of three centuries.It is commonly believed that these were organized and carried out by Christian religious leaders to unite more territory under the red and white flag of their cherished religion. The fact that accounts of the Crusades were recorded as they are in the history books is due to the overwhelming influence exerted by overzealous religious leaders on historians of the day.It is an unfortunate fact that little remains of the historical representations of what actually happened. While the Church leaders of the day destroyed all written account of who initiated the ten Crusades and what really occurred in the course of these religious conquests,the true story of what happened survives to this day.High in the mountainous terrain of Northern Turkey exists a tribe of dedicated monks who,with their female counterparts,still engage in the rituals of Dionysean worship,just as they have for centuries in their mountaintop isolation. These are the chosen few who engage in the festivals of uncontrolled drinking and the shared group enjoyment of their female members characterizing their worship of this fun-loving God.It is to these few that practice not the self-denial of the Christian Church,but rather the indulgent,free-spirited way of the Dionysean following that the true story of the Crusades is known. While the historical accounts of the participants and the motives behind the Crusades are inaccurate,they do correctly identify the routes taken by the Crusaders.Their objective was to come up through Europe,eventually arriving in Turkey,staging festival after festival along their way,in much the same manner as the original followers of Dionysus did. After that,however,they planned to return through what is now the Soviet Republics,so as to avoid angry festival-goers recovering from the ill effects of excessive alcohol consumption and various social diseases contracted during the festivities.After the tenth Crusade,after numerous military encounters with opposing religious groups occupying various territories,they had arrived in Turkey. There,a tremendous celebration and public orgy was held,as this would be their final destination before returning home. Unfortunately,however,the group lingered too long and was overrun by unruly,hung-over citizens.The Dionysean company's chariots and wagons were burned,and they were forced to flee into the mountains of