Barefoot Running vs Traditional Running, The Pros and Cons Research Paper

Barefoot Running vs Traditional Running, The Pros and Cons - Research Paper Example While some dismiss the growing trend of barefoot running as a mere fad, some believe it will be a new wave in the history of sports. Innumerable debates have ensued in popular media over which one, barefoot running or shod running, is better, more beneficial and safer. However, scientific evidence is not yet enough to settle the debate. A lot of research has gone into analyzing the biomechanics, impact characteristics, etc of traditional and barefoot running and based on the findings of these studies, the pros and cons of both types of running have been weighed. The use of cushioned and protective footwear for running began in the 1970s with the invention of modern running shoes (Lieberman et al. 531). Prior to this invention, humans ran with none or minimal footwear. Human ancestors used simple and minimal foot coverings such as moccasins made of leather (Jenkins and Cauthon 231). Earlier dogmas claim that human feet are â€Å"evolutionarily unsuccessful† and that they are fr agile because of which protective cushioning for the feet is vital (Jenkins and Cauthon 231). However, this dogma was refuted by a study in Nature, which argues that human ancestors, who practiced barefoot running, were remarkably good at endurance running and that it may have been â€Å"instrumental in the evolution of the human body form† (Bramble and Lieberman 345). ... As most of the present research on this subject is yet inconclusive and is still in progress, it cannot be ascertained as to whether barefoot running is better than shod running, but the pros and cons can however be weighed based on currently available evidence. I. Pros of Barefoot Running vs. Traditional Running A. Less susceptibility to injury in barefoot running The surging interest in barefoot running has been largely because the rates of running-related injuries are high amongst shod runners as compared to barefoot runners (Robillard 13; Edwards, Foster and Wallack 150). Kerrigan et al. (2009) have shown that the hip, knee and ankle joints are more prone to injury in shod runners than in barefoot runners, making them more susceptible to disorders such as knee osteoarthritis. In another study, Hamill et al. (2011) found that the footfall patterns in shod running and barefoot running are different, and therefore, the impact patterns of the two types of running vary from one anothe r. The differences in impact patterns are responsible for varying extents of injury caused by both types of running. Robbins and Hanna have also shown that barefoot running populations report an extremely low frequency of running related injury (148). They further state that the human foot has developed adaptations that result in shock absorption and these adaptations are non-functional in traditional running. Many other studies such as those by Warburton have found that barefoot running is associated with a significantly low rate of acute ankle injuries and chronic lower leg injuries. Scientific data as to the level of protection of athletic

Art History French Revolution Analysis Essay Example for Free

Art History French Revolution Analysis Essay A very distinct difference between A and B, is that A shows that Napoleon in a different light, as a power hungry and power crazed man and the phrase â€Å"..absolute power corrupts absolutely..† applies very perfectly in this painting. His paintings have evolved from the purpose of propaganda for the revolution and promoting his image as a hard-working and patriotic man to promoting his power, wealth and less than subtle military process in this painting, and it also shows a rather discrete relation to the paintings that the Bourbon Kings may have commissioned to have been painted for them. Painting B was painted in 1804, before Napoleon became corrupted with the power and wealth that comes with his position and interprets his character as a hard-working man, with equality to others. Painting A was created in 1806 two years after painting B, and it confirms the results of his corruption and changed character and perspective. B shows Napoleon with the attributes previously stated, a hard-working and patriotic man. This painting shows that he is hard working by painting him in his study, thus perhaps suggesting that he had a decent and educational upbringing. Another aspect in this painting that shows that he is hard-working is that his right hand is on a stack of papers on the Napoleonic Code that he perhaps just finished writing, showing that he is different from the Bourbon Kings, who could not and would not do any administrations. B shows that Napoleon is patriotic because of many reasons. One, being that his clothing colour is one of the patriotic colours of France (red, white and blue are the patriotic colours of France). Two, being that in the background there is a window overlooking Paris, the rebuilt Notre Dame in particular implying that he is with the people and for the people and of the people. Three, being that his sword hung beside his hip to show that he is always prepared to defend his country against any menaces. Painting A’s style is very different style from painting B. Painting B is rather modest and using rich colours, but has less luxurious texture than painting A gives, whereas painting A uses even more magnificent and rich colours and the texture of his clothing and accessories are even more lavish than painting B. we can see a difference in Napoleons face as well, in this painting, his face looks like it has been caked with white powder, much like the Royals used to do, and his face is also much more expression-less than painting B. B at least shows some degree, although quite small, of emotion. His face portrays a rather serious emotion. The angle of which we view the Napoleon has also changed quite drastically and contradicts one of the Napoleonic Codes that he himself created. In B we are looking at Napoleon on an equal level, showing that although our statuses may not be the same, we are still equal, one of the most important things that the revolution strived to achieve, Egalite (equality). However, in Painting A we are gazing at Napoleon who is sitting above us, on a throne with a range of royal and exquisite items. The change in position clearly indicated the sign of his corruption and the nullification of one of the codes that he created for the people which was that all people shall be treated equally. In this painting we look above to see him, as if he is of a higher class than the people of Paris, above them. His clothing difference is also very dire as well. His clothing in painting B is modest, and thoroughly middle-class while also representing his support in the Revolution by wearing a Revolution colour (red). The texture of the fabric seems to be rather harshly depicted in the painting, which perhaps was meant to show that he did not spend an unnecessary amount of money buying an over-excessive amount of clothing and other various luxuries like the Royals and the upper-class. The fabric of his clothing is painted in a much more overgenerous manner in painting A than painting B. David paints his fabric with sinuous lines and rich colours. The clothing that he wears in this painting shows his corruption, that he has spent the unnecessary and excessive amount of money for such luxuries. Another sign of his corruption shown in his costume is the crown that he wears on his head. Crown, symbolizing royalism. Crown, symbolizing that he fancies himself the King Of France, after all the codes that he has created to distill the peoples fears of a dictator, a dictator was still what they have received. He may not obviously be flaunting that he is in fact dictating, but he is still dictating in a more indistinct fashion. He uses clever manipulations of thoughts and opinions about him by a clever use of marketing strategies, which enhances his image and persona and most importantly his rule.

Analysis Of The News Corporation Company

Analysis Of The News Corporation Company This case study is about worlds largest new company which is created by Rupert Murdoch in the binging of twenty first century. In this case study we learn about three area of The News Corporation Company. 1: Corporative Logic 2: Business Portfolio 3: Corporative news style of corporation. According to original web site of The News Corporation is described that this company is a global media company with operations in various industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts; newspapers and information services; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and America since 1973 to 2010. In 1986 and 1987, News Corporation moved to join the various developmental projects and plan its production processess of its to many British newspapers. A number of seniors Australianian media persons were brought into Murdochs compeny to gave hin strenght , including John Dux. News Corporation made its first compain in the US in 1973, when it purchased few news companey like TV Direct etc. In 198, 1984 and 1985 the News Corporation bought all of the movie studio like 20th Century Fox, Metromedia group of stations, setting the stage for the launch of a fourth U.S. broadcast network. And then in 1986, the Metromedia deal closed, and the Fox Broadcasting Company was launched. This network.(en.wikipedia.org). According to press in 1987 The News Corporation bought The Herald and Weekly Times in Australia. The company that Rupert Murdochs father had once managed. By 1992, News Corporation had amassed big debts, which forced it to sell many of the American magazines interests it had acquired in the mid1980s. Much of this income came from the Sky Television satellite network in the UK. In 1995 and 1996 Fox showed a great development to established the Fox News Channel and channel CNN. Between 1999 to 2009, News Corporation significantly expanded its music holdings in Australia Uk and America by acquiring the controlling shares in many media projects. Corporate Governance Issues in the News Corporation: News Corporations Board of Directors and management are committed to strong corporate governance and sound business practices. According to report which was published on web side of The news corporation in 2005, the Murdoch and his family owned only about 29 percent of the company shares. Almost all of these shares were selected voting shares, and Rupert Murdoch take control of the companys policies. And in 2006, The News Corporation showed its intention to transfer its 38.5% managing interest in DirecTV to open new projects in new field. According to our case study Rupert Murdoch approaches showed that was not a man who likes to take with the regulators and participants. Mr Rupert Murdoch and his style is usually to conform and better still, to anticipate new laws and use his lobbying power to ensure they do not harm his business. But now a situation is evolving with the passage of time which gives us the good example of corporate governance, and one which will be closely observed by many others companies worldwide to look results and follow it. For example BSkyB, that British most powerful broadcasting business and its owned 35.4% of its shares owned by Mr Murdochs News Corporation and another example BSkyB is also owned by Mr Murdoch and his family to take control of the news Corporation. In latest press release of the news corporation managers from the ten largest institutional investors in BSkyB serious discussion that the companys independent director to defined policies for new companey. While all three had few common things like to robust characters, not afraid to speak their minds, they all enjoy a friendly relationship with their former boss were their main objectives. Were they to be appointed after November, their appointments would breach UK governance guidelines, and those of many other countries. And created problems. This case study explained that these people faced too many of the difficulties where one individual is dominant, who take all control on company or where there is an element of a family ownership. The companies like The News Corporation may be the only company in the West, in Asia and all most the rest of the world. Corporate Control Style of News Corporation: After the different deals in more than three years of wrangling over control of DirecTV and provides the apportuniries to Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, with the final component needed to fulfil his long-held ambition of creating a global satellite broadcasting network in world . Under the terms and conditions of the deal, The News Corporation become able to buy more shares of General Motors. Murdoch described that a genuinely exciting and transforming deal for News Corporation. The company has already built significant satellite broadcasting operations in the UK, through BSkyB, as well as in Central and South America with Sky Latin America, and across Asia with StarTV(The Time Magazine, 1996). Ahter this they buy to many shares in differet places like Direct TV about 11.3 millions in US, Fox News Coproration and Hughes also in US and all these deals have been a long time in the making, the benefits will be felt almost immediately in the competition it will offer cable, the richer services its provided to American viewers. And then they moved to EchoStar DirecTV merger was blocked in October 2007 by the Federal Communications Commission the US telecoms regulator. News Corporation finally prevailed at its second attempt. Liberty Media. Mr Murdoch described this process of pursuing of all these shares as having been three years of patient negotiations, occasional frustration but ultimately great satisfaction(Case study) Acoording to our case study all these deals remains subject to regulatory and GM shareholder approvals, but Mr Murdoch said News Corp and DirecTV had agreed to adhere to programme access regulations set by the FCC, ensuring that News Corp content is made available to all satellite broadcasters, as well as cable and other competing platforms. In the mean time Mr Murdoch will become chairman of Hughes, with Chase Carey, News Corps former co-chief operating officer, taking the role of chief executive officer. Eddy Hartenstein, Hughess corporate senior vice-president, will become vice-chairman of Hughes, reporting to Mr Carey (case study). Sustainability of the Business: News Corporation in its web site says its put its media muscle behind reducing its operations carbon emissions and engaging its almost 47,000 employees around the globe and its millions of viewers readers, and web users on internet . According to its web site in 2006, The News Corporations carbon footprint is 641,150 tons of CO2 which was equivalents and was measured across the 52 countries in which News Corporation. has activities measured. Chairman of news corporation Rupert Murdoch said that all The News Corporation business units become carbon neutral by start of 2010 through energy efficiency projects , buying renewable power resources and offsetting otherwise unavoidable emissions. (According to their press release 2006). In this press release they mentioned some of the companys initiative towords sustainability of the business. For example. 1: The News Corporation has colliberted with The Climate Group, an independent, nonprofit organization which help to advancing business and prevent the climate change. 2: MySpace has launched a channel also dedicated to climate change. 3: Fox Group and other companey has offered its employes to purchase hybrid cars and the companys first LEED-certified building is under construction on the Fox group studio to stop pollution 4: The many media ompaney in various countries of world marketing in the are replacing vehicles with hybrids for friendly environment. 5: The News corporation have entered into agreements with various Government to purchased renewable energy to redueced air pollution. Corporate Logic in News Corporation: Like any other successful organisations the news corporation they followed a very well corporate logic to give protection, efficiencies and satiability to software publisher Security and give protection software, Utility and device driver software, Information exchange software, Electrical Equipment software, Software, Business function specific software. All these need proper security and satiability to work well. The news corporation arrange very good meachnisiom of corporate logic. Rupert Murdoch Style of Management and its effectiveness According to en.wikipedia approaches Rupert Murdoch showed that was his style is usually to conform and give us clue to understand better and to anticipate new laws and ensure they do not harm the business. The plan of News Corporation expansion looks to the areas where growth is expected to be greatest for commercial media this includes continental Europe, Asia and America. News Corporation is almost as concerned with producing content as with owning distribution channels. Aside from tried and tested filmed entertainment and music videos, the fire winners in global television are news, animation and sports. Willingness to accept changes in terms of management approach to meet the needs of the global market to investing in new businesses and generating new trends in the media and broadcasting industry than acquiring and buying existing companies. Consideration of the shareholders and maintaining good relationship among shareholders to enhance market share and their strengthening bargaining power as well as market position through the use of purchasing on their supply chain, specifically for Sun and Times newspaper and their Raising investment fund through the use of bank loans and loans from other financial institution that offers minimal interest. General Opinion on Rupert Murdoch Strategic Vision The informations from press release 2003 the strategic vision of Mr. Rupert Murdoch can be understandable by the example of year 2003, when News Corporation recovered itself from the record losses in the two preceding years and the revenues at News Corporation reached over A$1.8bn and assets were stated as A$67.7bn. Therefore, the failures in the last two years and then the subsequent success of the News Corporation and its subordinate businesses were entirely due to the strategic vision and choices made by Rupert Murdoch. Whether there was a formal corporate strategy in the News Corporation or not, however, we can say without any doubt that the expansion in the business of News Corporation and its subordinate was mainly the product of Rupert Murdochs strategic vision. In annual report for the year 2003, Mr Rupert Murdoch outlined the different vision of the News Corporation; Throughout news Corporations evolution our goal has been to create a Company as unified, as logical and as creative as possible. Our vision has been one of a media company that is as well-integrated as it is international; one capable of delivering shot-term results as well as building long-term value. We have worked to build a company with the agility to seize strategic opportunities when they arise, with little patience for conventional wisdom. Some analysts describe the personal vision of Mr. Rupert Murdoch as an expansion minded person, who always wanted to buy assets, wanted to take over, to move around the world, to build his media empire, but on the other hand he also wants to retain the control.

The Cranes :: Literary Analysis, Peter Meinke

â€Å"The Cranes† by Peter Meinke appears to be a simple love story about an old couple reminiscing about their life, but with a closer look the story reveals a darker component of love. The story follows an old couple’s stop at the Gulf to watch some birds. While they are watching the birds they spot two whooping cranes. Throughout their conversation and observation of the birds Meinke reveals details that the couples and the cranes share in common. Thus, the pair of whooping cranes viewed by the couple in story symbolizes both their rarity, eternal love, and their last moments together. The couple in the story is a couple that has been together a long time and persevered through life together. When they first see the whooping cranes the husband says â€Å"they are rare, not many left† (196). This is the point in the story where the first connection between the couple and the cranes are made. The rarity of the cranes symbolizes the rarity of the couple’s relationship. Although they have started developing anomalies in their health, with the husband he â€Å"can’t smoke, can’t drink martinis, no coffee, no candy† (197)  ¬Ã¢â‚¬â€they are still able to laugh with each other and appreciate nature’s beauty. Their relationship is a true oddity; filled with lasting love. However this lasting love for whooping cranes has caused some problems for the species. The whooping cranes are â€Å"almost extinct†; this reveals a problem of the couple. The rare love that they have is almost extinct as well. The wife worries about her children because the â€Å"kids never write† (197). This reveals the communication gap between the two generations, as well as the different values between the generations. These different values are a factor into the extinction of true love. Another similarity between the whooping cranes and the couple is true, lasting love. The whooping cranes â€Å"mate for life and live a long time† (197), which is a rare trait in the animal kingdom. The commitment the cranes have with each other mirrors the couples commitment to each other; having remained with each other through all those years. Even with hardships in the relationships, they endured and stayed together while some couples may have given up on the relationship. Although their love has endured through many years, it has come to an end in the story. All throughout the story the couple is reminiscing about their life and while they are there are some odd details that are strewn throughout. The Cranes :: Literary Analysis, Peter Meinke â€Å"The Cranes† by Peter Meinke appears to be a simple love story about an old couple reminiscing about their life, but with a closer look the story reveals a darker component of love. The story follows an old couple’s stop at the Gulf to watch some birds. While they are watching the birds they spot two whooping cranes. Throughout their conversation and observation of the birds Meinke reveals details that the couples and the cranes share in common. Thus, the pair of whooping cranes viewed by the couple in story symbolizes both their rarity, eternal love, and their last moments together. The couple in the story is a couple that has been together a long time and persevered through life together. When they first see the whooping cranes the husband says â€Å"they are rare, not many left† (196). This is the point in the story where the first connection between the couple and the cranes are made. The rarity of the cranes symbolizes the rarity of the couple’s relationship. Although they have started developing anomalies in their health, with the husband he â€Å"can’t smoke, can’t drink martinis, no coffee, no candy† (197)  ¬Ã¢â‚¬â€they are still able to laugh with each other and appreciate nature’s beauty. Their relationship is a true oddity; filled with lasting love. However this lasting love for whooping cranes has caused some problems for the species. The whooping cranes are â€Å"almost extinct†; this reveals a problem of the couple. The rare love that they have is almost extinct as well. The wife worries about her children because the â€Å"kids never write† (197). This reveals the communication gap between the two generations, as well as the different values between the generations. These different values are a factor into the extinction of true love. Another similarity between the whooping cranes and the couple is true, lasting love. The whooping cranes â€Å"mate for life and live a long time† (197), which is a rare trait in the animal kingdom. The commitment the cranes have with each other mirrors the couples commitment to each other; having remained with each other through all those years. Even with hardships in the relationships, they endured and stayed together while some couples may have given up on the relationship. Although their love has endured through many years, it has come to an end in the story. All throughout the story the couple is reminiscing about their life and while they are there are some odd details that are strewn throughout.

Clostridium Difficle Infection In Health-Care Workers Essay

According to Bouza (2005), Clostridium Difficile is a bacillus that is gram positive and forms spores. Its main mode of distribution is the environment whereby it also colonizes 3-5% of all healthy adults without causing any symptoms that can be noticed. At infancy, clostridium difficile colonizes between 2% and 70%, but the rates decrease with advancement in age and falling to about 6% when the infant grows to two years. Above the age of two, the rate of clostridium difficile is much similar to that of an adult, around 3% (APIC, 2008). The strains responsible for the production of clostridium difficile are characterized by their ability in the production of both toxins A and B. The most common and rampant symptom of CDI is diarrhea that is not always bloody, but can range from the soft and unformed stools to the watery and mucoid stools. Other outstanding symptoms include abdominal pains and fever and cramping in others. Clostridium difficile spores are highly resistant to destruction by most of the environmental agents and conditions. Their resistance can go as far as resisting some of the chemicals used in disinfection (Zanotti-Cavazzoni, 165). Therefore, this gives clostridium difficile the ability to survive for months or longer in the environment and even in healthcare facilities and the surrounding community. Mainly, the spread of clostridium difficile is through the transfer of spores from a contaminated environment to the patient, or perhaps through the hands of health care givers who do not follow proper hygiene and gloving practices. The only proper control measure that can be adopted is the thorough disinfection and cleaning of the patient’s environment and also through the physical removal of the spores. In recent decades, there has been a recorded increase in the number of reported rates of clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). There has also been a recording in the increase in the number of outbreaks accompanied by severe disease and also an increase in mortality. The increase in CDAD is mainly characterized by the following; changes in the use of antibiotics, a change in infection control practices or the emergence of new strains of clostridium difficile that have increased virulence or antimicrobial. It is also important to comprehend the life cycle of clostridium difficile in order to understand how to control it and if possible, prevent it. Its life cycle begins in the spore form whereby they are because they are resistant to heat, antibiotics or even acid. In a hospital setting, clostridium difficile can be found in bedding, medical equipment, and furniture and on the caregivers. Upon ingestion, the spores pass through to the intestines whereby they germinate and later colonize the colon. Studies have indicated that this bacterium colonized about 21% of patients who are in the process of receiving antibiotics and at the same time admitted to a general hospital. Through the release of both toxins A and B, clostridium difficile later induces diarrhea and colitis. However, the major risk factors associated with clostridium difficile are advancement in age, hospitalization, and antimicrobials. There are two major reservoirs of clostridium difficile in the healthcare setting, which are humans (asymptomatic and symptomatic) and inanimate objects (medical equipment and furniture). The level of environmental contamination depends primarily on the severity of the disease of the patient. However the asymptomatic colonized patients should be regarded as the potential primary source of the contamination. Clostridium difficile infection is more rampant among the elderly in the society. The main reasons for this are not fully, but it can be attributed to the fact that the elderly patients have a much less effective barrier to infection. The importance of having age as a risk factor is characterized by the age distribution in lab reports as was received by CDSC during the research period of 1990-1992. Results showed that there was a bias for adults over the age of 65 and they were more susceptible to having severe cases of clostridium difficile infections. There have also been suggestions that clostridium difficile is endemic in facilities that are considered long-stay for the elderly. However, other studies indicate that the difference in the endemic nature of clostridium difficile may be as a result of case mix whereby patients are from other facilities whereby the infection rate was high. Also, clostridium difficile is endemic in many of the long-stay facilities because the elderly t end to stay longer in the acute wards than the other younger generations. Therefore, their increased risk of infection is attributed to the increased exposure to antibiotics and nosocomial pathogens. There are several patient care activities that provide a rife opportunity for the fecal-oral transmission of clostridium difficile (CDC). Such activities include; sharing of electronic thermometers that have been used for measuring rectal temperatures, oral care or suctioning whereby the hands or equipment have been contaminated, administration of contaminated food, medication or with contaminated hands and emergency procedures like intubation. Other factors like poor hand hygiene, improper environmental and equipment cleaning and disinfection have also been reported as a cause for infection and spreading of clostridium difficile. It has been rubber stamped that the environment is the major medium of spreading for clostridium difficile whereby it has been spread so widely that that it is impossible to point out a single location that has not been contaminated. However, the environment of the infected patients is rifest with clostridium difficile, for instance, the toilets, floors, si nks and linen. Despite disinfection, clostridium difficile spores are found to exist longer than five months. Prevention and control of clostridium difficile is the responsibility of every individual who is aware of its existence. Therefore, prevention measures must be endorsed by everyone, and especially in care giving facilities whereby individuals are more likely to spread the infection. Standard precautions refer to those practices at work that are applied to every person regardless of their confirmed or perceived infectious status. Standard precautions are the front line in the war against clostridium difficile. They help control the rate of infection from person to person, even in the most prolific risk scenarios. They include; hand hygiene before and after contact with the patient, the safe use as well as disposal of sharps, the use of protective equipment and the processing of reusable medical equipment. The proper handling of linen, safety in the management of waste as well as aseptic non-touch technique should also be in the standard precautions to be implemented in hospital facili ties. However, when the first line of defense does not seem to work efficiently, there should be a backup plan in place. Thus, when standard precautions do not seem to do the job, transmission based precautions should be implemented. These are additional work practices for individually identifiable situations that are put in place to interrupt the transmission of clostridium difficile. These precautions are tailored to specific infections and their mode of transmission. They include; continued implementation of standard precautions, having patient dedicated equipment, proper handling of equipment, enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the patient’s environment and the restriction of patients within the facilities. Since healthcare settings differ greatly in terms of their day-to-day functioning, it is hard to come up with a management proposal that would fit all facilities. Therefore, all healthcare facilities should conduct infection prevention risk assessment on a regular basis alongside adoption of detailed protocols and processes for infection control. In acute care setting, personal protective equipment should be provided for nurses and visitors outside the room of a patient who has confirmed clostridium difficile infection. Healthcare givers should use gloves and gowns in order to prevent further spread of infection. Conducting effective hand hygiene is necessary for limiting the spread of clostridium difficile. They should be performed frequently and with the following considerations; should be performed using the Four Moments of Hand Hygiene, should be performed at the point-of-care using a dedicated staff sink or the use of hand wipes that have been impregnated with antimicrobials or alcohol and soap. In acute care setting, especially where the elderly are residing proper care has to be considered primarily because they are more susceptible to infection (Rupnik, 2007). One such measure of preventing clostridium difficile infection is placing the suspected or confirmed patients with CDI in a confined room that has dedicated toilets, sinks and personal equipment. Moreover, there is little need for special treatment for linen in an acute setting for both confirmed and suspected patients. Linen for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients should be in the same way. The soiled linen should be carefully. For example, it should be placed in a no-touch receptacle in order to avoid contamination of both the environment and the persons around. In cases of outbreaks, routine infection control measures are of grave importance in order to prevent the spread of the clostridium difficile infection to patients who have not yet been affected. The antibiotic policies have to be monitored as well as their compliance in order to successfully control the spread of infection. Hand washing procedures should be followed to the latter by any person who is in contact with infected patients such as doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and students. Nurses present challenges in combating clostridium difficile outbreaks especially because of the necessity to create a homely environment for the patients. This means that they have to constantly check in with the patients and therefore they become constantly at risk of infection themselves in proper precaution is not taken. For patients in the elderly acute care wards, the surroundings are also tailored to ensure a comfortable stay in the hospital. Therefore, their soft furnishings and carpeted floors provide a challenge in cases of outbreaks. For instances like this, preventive methods of combating the spread of clostridium difficile have to be implemented. One such measure that should be used during cleaning is steam. Although the heat does not kill the pathogen, it helps in the containment of its spread. Patients are also susceptible to contracting infection from the care devices used in the hospital. Such devices include electronic thermometers or glucose measuring devices. These devices are in constant use and may be used by a variety of patients. These devices are with pathogens derived from body fluids. Thus it is important to have measures in place to sterilize these devices especially more thoroughly in times of outbreaks. Another piece of communal apparatus used in wards is the linen, clothing, uniforms, lab coats and isolation gowns. Because clostridium difficile is commonly in the environment and can last for more than five months, these pieces of clothing are always in contact and possible contaminations are likely (Dubberke, 17). However indirect contact of such clothing comes from bedpans, toilets and sinks of patients who are either suspected or confirmed to be infected. The presence of soiled linen is also an area of importance that should be looked into carefully. Because bed linen is in hospitals and wards, they should be cleaned and sanitized before they can be issued to a different patient. In order to help combat the spread of clostridium difficile, the CDC has come up with the Spaulding classification system, which identifies three risk levels that are associated with surgical and medical instruments (Michel, 1095). These levels are; critical, semi-critical and noncritical. Critical items include needles, indwelling urinary catheters and intravenous catheters. These are the items that normally enter the sterile tissue, the vascular tissue or through which blood flows. Based on one of the accepted sterilization procedures, the equipment has to be sterile before penetrating any tissue. Semi-critical items include thermometers, electric razors and podiatry equipment and they are as those that touch mucous or skin which is not intact. They require meticulous cleaning and thereafter followed by high-level disinfection. Disinfection is done using a chemo sterilizer agent that is approved by the FDA. In conclusion, clostridium difficile has been on the rise in recent decades and it is only through proper prevention and control measures that it can be. Since it can live in an environment in spore form for up to five months, it poses a challenge in terms of containment. On the other hand, the elderly are more susceptible to clostridium difficile primarily because of their low immunity and their prolonged stay in hospitals. However, with proper care, chances of outbreaks can be kept at a minimum and more lives can be through prevention instead of cures. References DelmÃÆ' ©e, Michel. â€Å"Clostridium Difficle Infection In Health-Care Workers.†Ã‚  The Lancet  334.8671 (1989): 1095. Print. Dubberke, Erik. â€Å"Strategies for prevention of Clostridium difficile infection.†Ã‚  Journal of Hospital Medicine  7.S3 (2012): S14-S17. Print. â€Å"Patient Cloth Chairs and Clostridium difficile Outbreak.†Ã‚  American Journal of Infection Control  37.5 (2009): E102-E103. Print. Rupnik, Maja.  Abstract book: Clostridium difficile : organism, disease, control & prevention. s.l.: [Organizing committee ICDS], 2007. Print. Zanotti-Cavazzoni, S.l.. â€Å"Analysis of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection controlled with enhanced infection control measures.†Yearbook of Critical Care Medicine  2010 (2010): 164-166. Print. â€Å"clostridium difficle.†Ã‚  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Mar. 2013. Web.  30 Apr. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_infect.html Source document

a stranger is watching essays

a stranger is watching essays A Stranger is Watching is a terrific book. I enjoyed reading this book very much. The non-stop action kept me reading for hours. This was my first Mary Higgins Clark book, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The story is interesting and thank God it moves fast. One of the best features of the book is how it was written. The point of view changes every chapter.For example Chapter 1 is written in the point of view of the infamous Foxy character. Chapter 2 is written in the point if view of our protagonist, Steve; and so on. I also liked how the author built the relationship of the characters up,so you care about what happens to them and feel like you're going through what they are going through. For instance, the author tells us of Steve's wife's death. We find out that Steve's son, Neil was never the same after this tragedy. When a new women, Sharon comes into Steve's life, Neil rejects her. Neil thinks that if Sharon and his father get married , his father will send him away. When Neil and Sharon are held hostage together, Neil's feelings for Sharon change; he begins to see her as a nice person and a motherlike figure.I felt the author built this relationship up well so that the story would have a I also like how the author made the character traits of the protagonist completely conflict with the antagonist. The protagonist, Steve is a successful man with a family and no problems; at least in the mind of the antagonist. The antagonist has problems with females, a career he feels is going nowhere, and a lack of good friends. Throughout the story we find out that the antagonist is very jealous of the protagonist's lifeand that's why he indirectly targets him. This contrast was an addition to the already excitng plot of the In my opinion the best part of "A Stranger is Watching"is the end,chapter 52. This chapter contains ...