Determination of the vitamin D status of adults living in the UK and identification of factors influencing the efficacy of dietary intervention

Introduction There is overwhelming clinical evidences that vitamin D plays a significant role in terms of the normal functioning of human body. One of the most common functions of vitamin D is to ensure normalcy in maintaining blood levels of both calcium and phosphate. The two elements are essential for normal bone mineralisation, contraction of muscles, conduction of nerves, and other general body cellular functions. As such, deficiency of vitamin D is associated with various adverse health complications including failure in proper bone development, cancer, and heart diseases (Holick, 2011, p.6). A review of several studies has also established evidence that vitamin D replacement can boots longevity among other health benefits (Gaddipati, et al. 2010). Adequate synthesis of vitamin D3 from the skin, everyday diet and supplements is essential for health of bones. In addition to the well-known role of vitamin D in regulating calcium metabolism, active form of vitamin D is also associated with ant i-proliferative as well as immunomodulatory effects that are linked to several serious conditions such as cancer, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, tuberculosis, dementia among other illnesses (Zitterman,et al., 2001). There have been concerns that vitamin D deficiency is significantly increasing in the western nations, and the likelihood of the problem becoming an epidemic in itself worries nutritionists as well as medical practitioners alike (Hypponen and Power (2007). A recent survey in England has revealed a worrying statistics that half of the adult population does not have sufficient levels of vitamin D (Pearce and Cheetham, 2010). The same study also revealed that 16% of this population has experienced severe hypovitaminosis D during winter and spring, with the highest rate being residents of Northern England regions. It is perhaps unsurprising that there have been increasing calls for regular screening during normal health care services. The concerns over vitamin D deficiency has led to a shift over the past decade, with several researchers striving to establish some of the most common risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency (Holick, 2004). In a study to establish difference in propensity to vitamin D deficiency between metabolically health and unhealthy obese adults, Esteghamati et al. (2004) found out that metabolically healthy obese registered more concentration of vitamin D than metabolically unhealthy obese. This difference persisted even after accounting for body mass index (BMI) and circumference of the individuals’ waists. Further, there was significantly better metabolic status and higher concentration of serum 25-hydro vitamin D among the subjects with metabolically healthy obesity. The researchers also noted that the metabolically unhealthy subjects had higher concentrations of liver enzymes and inflammatory markers. In February 2014, Health & Social Care Information centre released a report on obesity, physical activity, and diet in England, which indicated that obesity cases were on the rise (HSCIC, 2014). The data indicate that there has been a significant increase in the proportion of obese populat ion from 13.2 percent in 1993 to 24.4 percent of men in 2012. Women recorded a similarly high increase during the same period from 16.4 percent to 25.1 percent. Linking this data to relationship between obesity and vitamin D deficiency, it prudent to highlight that vitamin D deficiency prevalence is a point researchers should note with keenness it deserves. The extent to which vitamin D deficiency is a public health problem in Britain is believed to have increased for several reasons ranging from lifestyle to weather patterns. On lifestyle as a factor, Hypponen and Power (2007) states that the sedentary lifestyle in the western world, including Great Britain, leads to vitamin D deficiency, which is exacerbated by a number of other factors including working indoors during daylight hours, high latitude and a mostly cloudy climate in regions such as Manchester. Statistics also indicate that vitamin D dietary intake is much lower in Great Britain compared to other western nations incl uding United States and Canada (Calvo et al, 2005, p.314). The variance in dietary intake of vitamin D between Britain, on the one hand, and United States and Canada, on the other, may be due to the mandatory fortification of both milk and margarine in the USA and Canada. Some of the most common food sources rich in vitamin are fish, liver, fortified margarine and fortified cereals. However, clinical nutritional assessments of natural food items suggest that with the exception of fish and cod liver oil, most natural food stuff contains minimal vitamin D, if any (Brough et al., 2010). Significantly, it is important to note that insufficient natural sources for vitamin D is a risk factor in itself, and should be taken into consideration when plans are put into place to tackle the problem. Moreover, vitamin D supplements’ availability cannot be described as reliable since demand always exceeds supply (Brough et al., 2010). Studies have revealed that there are high rates of vitam in D deficiency all over Great Britain, particularly in the cloudy regions like Manchester and Scotland (Pal et al., 2003). Obesity is a well-known risk factor for vitamin D deficiency, and its high prevalence in Great Britain is likely to affect vitamin D status in the population of high-risk regions such as Greater Manchester. In another nationwide study conducted to investigate the demographic characteristics of white population and possibility of supplements use, it emerged that women and non-obese participants were more likely to use vitamin D supplements (Gaddipati et al, 2010). Similarly, residents of Northern England were found to consume less oily fish, an important source of vitamin D, compared to their Southern counterparts. The study concurs with reports that people living on the Northern England and Scotland have higher risk of hypovitaminosis D (Roy et al., 2007; Holick, 2004). In fact, those who are obese and also live in high-risk regions have a likelihood of having vitamin D deficiency twice as high as other obese people living in other areas of Great Britain. Vitamin D deficiency has also been reported to be prevalent among minority communities living in Great Britain (de Roos et al, 2012). Some ethnic minorities living in Great Britain are more susceptible to vitamin D deficiency than other groups. According to Brough et al. (2010), minority ethnic communities, particularly those who trace their roots to Indian subcontinent and Africa as they tend to suffer from rise in skin pigmentation. They are also found to increase their susceptibility to vitamin D deficiency by wearing clothes that tend to cover their entire bodies and staying indoors longer hours during the day (de Roos et al, 2012; Brough et al., 2010). Other researchers recognise the need to increase vitamin D supplement intake among the minority population, amid report that there are no consistent or routine supply of vitamin D; neither are there recognised screening programs targeting this group (Dealberto, 2006). A study looking at population demographics in the North West has revealed that the region has increasing number older people (North West Regional Assembly Report, 2000). As stated earlier, elderly people are at high-risk of vitamin D deficiency. Clinical studies have investigated age-related decline in vitamin D intake, including rate of skin absorption and response to targeted methods of increasing vitamin D through dietary interventions (Shaw and Pal, 2002). Several other studies have also linked low vitamin D status with people living in low economic status (Dealberto, 2006.). In many of these linkages, the authors cite issues such as poor nutrition, poor lifestyle and inability to afford supplements. For instance, poor nutrition intake is prevalent in regions with high poverty rate, mostly affecting middle aged women of child-bearing age (Brough et al., 2010). According to Brough et al. (2010) a socially deprived population cannot afford some of the basic nutrients essential for normal metabolic function such as vitamin D and thus resort to ‘shortcuts of life’ while exposing their immune system to chronic diseases. Poverty report released by the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission in 2002 identified Manchester as one of the regions with the highest cases of extreme poverty, with 25 percent of its population living in abject poverty (GMPC, 2012). The report further reveal that poor families cannot protect themselves from winter temperature, which makes them stay indoors longer than other UK residence with average annual income. This can only mean that they have higher risk from vitamin D deficiency. OECD report (2014) suggests that the first step in ensuring low income community members in the United Kingdom are protected from lifestyle related diseases is through social interventions. Tests have revealed that modest rise in vitamin D intake of up to 20 Â µg per day for this group can significantly reduce the rate of bone fracture (Hypponen and Power, 2007). The findings have raised focus by agencies and researchers, who have recommended that vitamin D intake for the elderly should raised from the current 5Â µg per day to between 10-20Â µg per day in order to maintain the normal hydroxy vitamin D of 25 (de Roos, 2012, p.6). Considering the need to increase vitamin D intake among the population at risk of vitamin D deficiency, the UK Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) recommended that people eat at least 280 g of fish per week, with preference to oily fish (de Roos, Sneddon and Macdonald, 2012, p.6). The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) endorsed the COMA recommendation, emphasising that this is the bare minimum fish consumption recommended for the average population goal to achieve the desired vitamin D status. However, they acknowledged that this recommendation does not represent the level of fish consumption required for optimal nutritional benefits. The campaign to encourage more UK population, particularly those living in North Western region, should be directed at increasing oily fish intake by at least 280 Â µg per week as statistics indicate that majority of them do not consume enough fish (de Roos, 2012; Holick, 2011; Hypponen and Power, 2007). Although studies (de Roos, 2012; Holick, 2004) have dwelt on the need for multiple interventions ranging from dietary to medical, of more significant for the efficacy of dietary intervention is the need for education among the population on the importance of adopting healthy diet and lifestyle. This is mostly recommended for the high-risk persons including the low-income population, those living in marginally wet and cloudy regions including Manchester, obese, and young women of child bearing age group. References Brough. L., Rees, G., Crawford, M.A. Morton. R.H. and Dorman, E.K. 2010. Effect of multiple- micronutrient supplement on maternal nutrient status, infant birth weight and gestational age at birth in a low-income, multi-ethnic population. British Journal of Nutrition, 104 (3): 437- 445. Calvo, M.S., Whiting, S.J. and Barton, C.N. 2005. Vitamin D intake: a global perspective of current status. J Nutr 135: 310–6. de Roos, B. Sneddon, A. and Macdonald, H. 2012. Fish as a dietary source of healthy long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) and vitamin D: A review of current literature. Food & Health Innovation Service, available at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/documents/fish_final_june_2012.pdf. Dealberto, M.J. 2006. Why immigrants at increased risk for psychosisVitamin D insuffiency, epigenetic mechanisms, or bothMedical Hypothesis, Vol. 68, pp. 259- 267. Esteghamati, A., Aryan, Z. and Nakhjavani, M. 2004. Differences in vitamin D concentration between metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese adults: Association with inflammatory and cardiometabolic markers in 4391 subjects. Diabetes & Metabolism, 5 May 2014, Available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1262363614000469 Gaddipati, V.C., Kuriacose, R. and Copeland R., et al. 2010. Vitamin D deficiency: an increasing concern in peripheral arterial disease. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 11(5): 308-11. Greater Manchester Poverty Commission (GMPC). 2012. Research Report . The Centre for Local Economic Strategies. Holick, M.F. 2011. Vitamin D: a d-lightful solution for health. J Investig Med. 59(6):872-80. Holick MF. 2004. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr 80 (suppl):1678S–88S. HSCIC. 2014. Statistics on Obesity, physical Activity and Diet. Health & Social Care Information Centre, England 26 February 2014. Hypponen, E. and Power, C. 2007. Hypovitaminosis D in British adults at age 45 y: nationwide cohort study of dietary and lifestyle predictors. Am J Clin Nutr, 85(3): 860-868. North West Regional Assembly, 2000. An Aging Population: Impact for the North West. North West Regional Laboratory. Lancaster University. Available at www.northest-england.org.uk. OECD Report. (2014). Society at a Glance 2014 Highlights: United Kingdom OECD Social Indicators. Last accessed on 19 May 2014 at http://www.oecd.org/unitedkingdom/OECD-SocietyAtaGlance2014-Highlights-UnitedKingdom.pdf Pal , B.R., Marshall ,T. and James, C. 2003. Shaw NJ. Distribution analysis of vitamin D highlights differences in population subgroups: preliminary observations from a pilot study in UK adults. J Endocrinol. 179:119–29. Pearce, S.H. and Cheetham, T.D. January, 2010. Diagnosis and management of Vitamin D deficiency. BMJ, 11: 340. Roy D.K, Berry J.L., Pye, SR et al. 2007. Vitamin D status and bone mass in UK South Asia women. Bone 40(1): 200-4. Epub 2006 Sep 6. Shaw, N.J and Pal, B.R. 2002. Vitamin D deficiency in UK Asian families: activating a new concern. Arch Dis Child, 86: 147-149, Available at http://adc.bmj.com/content/86/3/147.full Zittermann A, Schleithoff SS, Koerfer R. 2005. Putting cardiovascular disease and vitamin D insufficiency into perspective. Br J Nutr 94: 483–92.

Congestive Heart Failure In Pediatrics Essay

Congestive Heart Failure is not a disease, but a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood needed to meet the cardiac demands of the body and facilitate systemic circulation. Congestive Heart Failure can be right or left-sided, and is mainly a fluid issue, in which there is a decreased amount of blood to the kidneys. In children, CHF can be long term and is most common in infants; it can also result from heart failure where ventricle contractility is impaired after an increased workload on the heart. â€Å"For most infants diagnosed with CHF, the cause is Congenital Heart Disease†(Perry, Hockenberry, Lowdermilk, & Wilson, 2010, p. 1454). There are many signs and symptoms of CHF, and if untreated damage to the heart occurs. Labs and diagnostic tests can include: a metabolic panel, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), CBC’s, x-ray imaging, and a fetal echocardiography for fetuses suspected of CHF. Medical treatment can be extensive, but easily implemented wi th preparation, attention, and care. Congestive Heart Failure can be divided into right sided heart failure (HF) and left sided heart failure (HF). Right sided HF is also known as Cor pulmonale, and is â€Å"failure of the right side of the heart that occurs after chronic hypertension in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricles of the heart. Right sided HF occurs with left sided HF and often results in fluid backup in the abdomen, legs and feet causing swelling† (â€Å"Cor pulmonale,† 2012, p. 1). Venous high blood pressure throughout the body causes an enlarged liver and spleen, and occasionally edema. â€Å"Left sided HF is the most common form of HF and may result in fluid backup in the lungs† and â€Å"increased pressure in the left atrium and pulmonary veins† (â€Å"Heart Failure,† 2011, p. 1). The lungs become congested with blood, causing elevated pulmonary pressures and pulmonary edema†(Perry et al., 2010, p. 1453). It is not usual to see only right sided or only left sided HF in children. Signs and symptoms of CHF include: anxiety and restlessness, clubbed fingertips, confusion, cool moist skin, cyanosis, dilated pupils, edema, fatigue, fright, pallor, petechia, and weakness; decreased BP, weak pulses, jugular vein distension, tachycardia(irregularly fast heart beats  including an S3 gallop), and decreased cardiac input within the cardiovascular system; dyspnea, shortness of breath on exertion, adventitious breath sounds such as crackles and wheezing or grunting, decreased oxygen saturation, tachypnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary congestion within the respiratory system; decreased urinary output as kidneys compensate for an increase in carbon dioxide by retaining sodium and water, renal overload and potential renal failure within the genitourinary system; and decreased motility, decreased bowel sounds, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and ascites within the genitointestinal system. â€Å"If the abnormalities precipitating CHF are not corrected, the heart muscle becomes damaged†(Perry et al., 2010, p. 1454). Diagnosing CHF thru testing is performed in various ways. Blood tests for congestive heart failure checks for levels of a hormone called B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Large amounts of BNP could indicate CHF. Coronary catheterization, or angiogram, is used to identify the strength of ones left ventricle and the health of the heart valves using a dye that is visible under x-ray. An echocardiogram can be used to produce a video image of your heart’s size, structure and function. It can help doctors determine the percentage of blood being pumped out of the left ventricle. â€Å"Right heart catheterization is a test in which a catheter is inserted through the neck or groin and is guided into the heart to measure pressures within the chambers† (â€Å"CHF Testing,† 2011, p. 2). These various tests, or combinations of tests, helps guide health care teams in the proper treatment of CHF. Medical treatment of Congestive Heart Failure includes but is not limited to: improving the heart’s function; removal of fluid in the peritoneal and thoracic cavities; decreasing cardiac demands; increasing tissue perfusion; and treating anaphylaxis. The primary focus is treating any underlying causes of signs and symptoms associated with CHF. Improving cardiac function may be done with oxygen administration, repositioning patients for comfort and increased vascular circulation, and medication administration including: Digoxin (Lanoxin) which increases cardiac output by increasing the strength and contractility of the heart; and ACE inhibitors, such as Captopril (Capoten) and Enalapril (Vasotec), which inhibit vasoconstriction, thus vasodilating blood vessels. Removal of fluid in the peritoneal thoracic cavities may include fluid restriction, and be completed via paracentesis or thoracentesis, or by administering  diuretics such as Furosemide (Lasix) and Spironolactone (Adalactone), which decrease water concentration in the blood and in turn lower arterial blood pressure. â€Å"Diuretics are the mainstay of therapy to eliminate excess water and salt to prevent re-accumulation†(Perry et al., 2010, p. 1459). Children are not more likely to have sodium-restricted diets because they need a higher caloric intake than adults and they may not eat as much as adults with CHF. Decreasing cardiac demands includes keeping metabolic needs low and may be done by maintaining body temperature, limiting activity, reducing the work of breathing, and treating any infections so the body can reach homeostasis. Cool cloths, clustered care, oxygen administration, sedative medications to promote relaxation, and prophylactic antibiotics may all be effective treatment methods for decreasing cardiac demands. Increasing tissue perfusion can be done with oxygen administered via nasal cannula, face mask, face tent or oxygen hood and will increase oxygenation to the heart and blood vessels and â€Å"improve myocardial function or lessen tissue oxygen demands† (Perry et al., 2010, p. 1459-60). Oxygen dilates blood vessels and increases pulmonary blood flow. Treating anaphylaxis includes: identification of alle rgens, detection of early and late signs of anaphylaxis, and management of anaphylaxis. Identification of allergens is recognizing what people may be allergic to or what may trigger anaphylactic reactions. Early signs of anaphylaxis are irritability, headache, dizziness, itching, sneezing, watery eyes, and rash. Late signs of anaphylaxis are shortness of breath and wheezing, pulmonary edema, decreased cardiac output, and if untreated, death. Management of anaphylaxis includes establishing airways for patients that may need intubation; oxygen administration; antihistamine and vasopressor administration; and education of how to prevent future anaphylactic events. As a nurse caring for a patient with Congestive Heart Failure, one needs to complete thorough assessments to identify signs and symptoms of CHF, report any abnormal lab values or findings to physicians immediately, and be prepared to assist with any interventions needed to manage the condition and provide comfort and support to patients and their families. Nurses responsibilities include but are not limited to assessing patients and the severity of their condition, forming nursing diagnoses for potential risks to patients and staff caring for patients with CHF, observing for worsening conditions, planning and  implementing adequate and professional care for CHF patients and their families, correct medication calculation and administration, and evaluating the effectiveness of care for patients to ensure that conditions will improve. CHF is a condition that has affected the lives of many people. Some well-known persons include: Bill Clinton, David Letterman, Larry King, Mike Ditka, Tommy Lasorta, Dick Cheney, Phyllis Diller, Elizabeth Taylor and Victoria Gotti. Famous people such as these often have access to better health care because of financial stability. This often times proves beneficial when treating congestive heart failure in earlier stages, and helps them extend their lifespan with less signs and symptoms. Unfortunately they also live a life that is altered by their disease and ultimately no form of financial stability will cure the condition. Congestive Heart Failure is not a disease, but a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood needed to meet the cardiac demands of the body and facilitate systemic circulation. There are many signs and symptoms of CHF, and if untreated damage to the heart occurs. Medical treatment can be extensive, but easily implemented with preparation, attention and care. References Cor pulmonale. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/ PMH0001186/ Congestive Heart Failure Testing. (2011). Retrieved from http://labtestsonline.org /understanding/conditions/chf/start/1 Heart Failure. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-failure/ds00061/dsection=causes Perry, S. E., Hockenberry, M. J., Lowdermilk, D. L., & Wilson, D. (2010). Maternal Child Nursing Care (4th ed.). Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.

Comment on the Three Conditions on Market Efficiency

An efficient capital market is one in which stock prices fully reflect available information. Professor Andrei Shleifer has suggested three conditions lead to market efficiency. (1)rationality, (2)independent deviations from rationality, and (3)arbitrage. This essay will examine investors’ behavioral biases and then discuss the behavioral and empirical challenges to market efficiency. In the attached article, James Montier suggested three behavioral biases that investors had. (1) illusion of control, (2)self-attribution, and (3)over-confident. Illusion of control means people fell they are in control of a situation far more than they are.Self-attribution means good outcomes are contributed to their skill while bad outcomes are contributed to external, such as back luck. These two biases lead people to be over-optimistic and exaggerate their own abilities. People are always over-confident as well. They always think they are smarter and have better information than they actually do. These three behavioral biases form a potential combination and lead investors to overestimate their ability and knowledge and understate the risks. In reality, there are some other behavioral biases. Investors usually prefer to put their money into a company that they know or familiar with.This is known as familiarity bias. They will invest heavily in the company they work for. They will also allocate a larger fraction of their investments to domestic stock even though it is easier to diversify investments across geographies. In addition, people tend to perceive probabilities and resonate with their own pre-existing ideas even though the conclusions drawn are statistically invalid. And this is called representativeness. The next bias exists in reality is conservatism, it means that people are too slow in adjusting their beliefs to new information.They clings to prior views or forecasts at the expense of acknowledging new information. The last bias I want to mention is herd beha vior. This is a tendency for individuals to mimic the actions(rational or irrational) of a larger group. It may comes from social pressure of conformity and/or believing the larger group knows something that they don’t. Most of the above-mentioned behavioral biases contradict Professor Andrei Shleifer’s three conditions for market efficiency. One of the conditions he suggested was rational.People will adjust their estimates of stock prices in a rational way after new information is released in the marketplace. Are people really rational? Not always. People will exert familiarity bias. They will be too favor the investments in companies they are familiar with. Tendency by investors to invest in domestic stock or the companies they work for. They do not achieve the degree of diversification that they can easily achieve. Others are over-confident and over-optimistic to believe they can pick winners and losers when, in fact, they cannot; this leads them to trade too much, generating both commissions and taxes.The behavioral view is that not all investors are irrational. Rather, it is some, perhaps many, investors are. Independent deviation from rationality was the second condition for market efficiency suggested by Andrei Shleifer. However, psychologists have long argued that people deviate from rationality in accordance with a number of basic principles. Some of them can apply to finance and market efficiency. One of the most examples in recent memory would be the bursting of the internet bubble. The behavior bias, representativeness can be used to explain this phenomenal.People perceive their pre-existing idea and draw conclusions from insufficient data. They saw a short history of high revenue growth and extrapolate that it will continue forever. Another behavior bias to explain internet bubble is herd behavior. Investors face pressure of conformity and trust large group irrationally. Result into a tendency for individuals to mimic the actions of a larger group that contributed to Internet bubble as well. Another behavior bias contradict independent deviations from rationality is conservatism. People are too slow in adjusting their beliefs to new information.In 2005, Kolasinski and Li have done a research by ranking companies by the extent of their earnings surprise. They found that prices adjust slowly to the earning announcements with the portfolio with the positive surprises outperforming the portfolio with the negative surprises. Behavioral finance suggests that investors exhibit conservatism. Professor Andrei Shleifer suggests that domination of rational professional will carry the stock meet its efficient prices by simultaneous purchasing and selling of misprice stock. However, in a world of many irrational amateurs and a few professionals, prices would not adjust to correct level.The risk of further mispricing may reduce the size of arbitrage strategies. In 1907, Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport merge interes t and split the cash flow in a 60/40 basis. However, empirical finding shows that two parties have rarely traded at parity (60/40) over the 1962 to 2004 period. Deviation from parity could increase in the short run, implying losses for the arbitrageur. There are also a numbers of empirical challenges to market efficiency. The common features among those empirical studies were all in an international basis.A number of studies of relationship between the return and its market capitalizations have been replicated over different periods and in different countries. They found that return on small stocks was quite a bit higher than the average return on large stocks. It may be not all but merely a compensation for the extra risk. In 1998, Fama and French found the average return on value stocks was above the average return on growth stocks in 12 to 13 major international stock markets. The return difference is so large and these ratios can be obtained so easily.The results constitute stro ng evidence against market efficiency. Security prices sometimes move wildly above their true values and eventually fall back to original level. The crashes and bubbles of Internet stock in late 1990 consistent with this bubble theory and constitute evidence against market efficiency. Size, value versus growth, crashes and bubbles were all found in international stock market. And those behavioral biases studies were carried around the world. Therefore, we may expect those behavioral and empirical challenges discussed above may hold in all counties or market setting.

Classic Hollywood on Any Given Sunday Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Classic Hollywood on Any Given Sunday - Essay Example As Beaman starts growing to fame, aging Coach D'Amato and Rooney begin to question if Beaman is worth risking the rest of the season and their likelihood for the contest as he is tiresome to make the team succeed by himself (Gary Arnold. I, 2000, P 20). According to the cinematographic experts half as long as The Super Bowl, but two times as long as its substance warrants, Any Given Sunday arrives in theaters by all the bone crunching strength of a blind side late hit, apart from that you can see it coming a mile away. Oliver Stone's break team of editors rattles off shots like machine-gun fire. It's tender to watch at first, but it has its own beat. If you pay thought to only each third or fourth shot, the rest can wash over you and labor on a subconscious level. As a sensorial suggestion of football, Any Given Sunday very captures the inhuman effective conditions together on and off the field (George Arnold, 2000, P20). In this film Al Pacino played his role as Coach Tony D'Amato. His entity life is in shambles and so is his team. An old-guard coach, he still attaches a better sense to football beyond wins and losses.

Personal Statement for Baccalaureate Child Welfare Education Program Essay

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Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Philosophy - Essay Example Nehamas examines what he refers to as â€Å"Nietzsche’s ambiguous attitude toward the question whether truth is discovered or created.† What is not being considered here on the part of Nehamas is the possibility that the attitude is less ambiguous in a sense that Nietzsche didn’t consider the full implications of this sort of attitude than it is that Nietzsche unambiguously considered this attitude to be the only defendable position. There are two basic parts of this attitude to examine. First, we must consider the aspect of the unity of the self. As Nehamas states, Nietzsche considered there to be an utter lack of unity of self, considering that one’s thoughts and desires so readily contradict each other, and even one’s own desires change and run contrary to each other as well. In this sense there is no single self that uniformly acts upon a person’s behalf. In considering this attitude with the assertion that Nietzsche’s attitude was ambiguous in matters of whether the truth was discovered or created, Nehamas’ attitude does not hold up as well. If people are always in a state of becoming because there are so many tendencies that work in contradictory manners, then obviously the truth is both found and created. This is less a matter of ambiguity than an attempt to be contradictory. The truth cannot be determined by a person who is in such a state of determining what one thinks about things. If we are attempting to determine something that is considered to be fixed and finite such as the truth, then there would be no way for people who are ever shifting in their self-perceptions to discover such a thing. Therefore, in the process of the organization of the unity of the self, the truth is created for an individual, and an individual who is constantly shifting is able in a sense to discover the truth that the organization of the unity of the self has created. Secondly, we must return to the idea

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example Cloud computing refers to a new method of adding capabilities to computers through investment of hardware or infrastructures (Sun Microsystem, 2009). In this case, it does not acquisition of software, licensing or training programs of employees. In fact, it offers substantial business applications through the internet, which are accessed from a web. Web 2.0 involves application of Web technologies to the Web in a way that offers control to users through interactive visual presentation. Uses of Cloud Computing and Web 2.0 Cloud computing offers services accessed by businesses from different parts of the world. In fact, the cloud that is accessed by different users across the world is located at a single point to serve all customers and satisfy their needs. Cloud computing enables users and firms to access various software and storage services whenever they need them at a low cost; in fact, this form of deployment is called Software as Services (SaaS). Web 2.0 involves integration of W eb technologies in order to enable automation of a significant part of users’ action during the process of browsing (Guha, 2009). In this case, it enables direct embedment of target webpage into user browser, furthermore, Web 2.0 has facilitated technological advancements that enabled browsing the Web on small devices such as mobile phones, through reliance on Web API, Rich Site Summaries (RSS) and Atom feeds. Required Technology to Use these Tools Cloud computing and Web 2.0 requires infrastructure that entails reliable services that are offered through data centers and built on serves; in fact, these severs have different echelon of virtualization technologies (Handler, Shadbolt, Hall, Berners-Lee & Weitzner, 2008). Therefore, cloud computing require physical manifestation of data centers, whereby computing and storage is shifted from users’ device to a remote location having a large collection of serves, network equipment and storage systems. On the other hand, Clou d computing and Web 2.0 requires computing components such as CPUs and memory, which serves as recipients of two thirds of total energy consumed by servers. Benefits of Using Cloud Computing Setting up infrastructure for cloud computing such as acquisition of serves, data centers, database administrators is a role taken by services provides, users or business pay a price to access these services based on their usage (Sun Microsystem, 2009). Resources management and maintaining infrastructure is taken by the service providers, thereby making the processes of setting up simple. On the other hand, cloud offers increased reliability on network and data access, which is guaranteed and maintained by service providers. In addition, cloud computing offers a significant level of flexibility since data can be accessed from anywhere by users. Benefits of Using Web 2.0 Web 2.0 facilitates free flow of information among internet users, whereby they are able to share ideas and opinions about thei r business. Web 2.0 enables personalization of internet services based on different users’ needs and preferences. It has also facilitated acquisition of information based on users’ requirements, by making websites in a way that provides interactive interface, which is user friendly. In addition, Web 2.0 enables internet users to have easy navigation

Statistical Models for Forecasting milk production Statistics Project

Statistical Models for Forecasting milk production - Statistics Project Example In time series analysis, an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model is a generalization of an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model. In theory, the most general class of models for forecasting a time series are stationary and can be made stationary by transformations such as differencing and logging. ARIMA models form an important part of the Box-Jenkins approach to time-series modeling. A non-seasonal ARIMA model is classified as an ARIMA (p, d, q) model, where: p is the number of autoregressive terms, d is the number of non-seasonal differences and q is the number of moving average terms.Estimation At the identification stage one or more models are tentatively chosen that seem to provide statistically adequate representations of the available data. The parameters are estimated by modified least squares or the maximum likelihood techniques appropriate to time series data.Diagnostic For adequacy of the model, the residuals are examined from the fitted model and alternative models are considered. Different models can be obtained for various combinations of AR and MA individually and collectively. The satisfactory model is considered which adequately fits the data.Method selection The best model is obtained on the basis of minimum value of Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) which is given by:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   AIC = -2 log L + 2m   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Where m = p + q   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   L is the likelihood function p& q are orders of Auto-Regressive and Moving Average models respectively - number of parameters, Akaike (1974)

Whale Rider. Movie and the book, which one is better Essay

Whale Rider. Movie and the book, which one is better - Essay Example Whale Rider is yet another book that has been taken by the screen industry, and morphed into a movie. Yet, there is little that can be complained about. While the book itself is powerful, the changes made to create a movie from the story bring it to life, making it a story of power and a happily ever after for those who watch it. Everything comes out right, and everyone learns a powerful lesson. While many would argue that all movies should stay loyal to the text they are inspired by, many are just that, only inspired. The story stays enough the same that people recognize the link, but the story being told is different. In those cases, it does not seem logical or reasonable for the movie to strictly follow the book. In many cases (such as Jurassic Park) it does not make sense, as the book has scenes and moments that either cannot be portrayed cinematically, or that draw from the primary plot, and damage the story. Movies are limited in both time, and in their ability to accurately portray everything that a book can get across, and the same is true in reverse. Where a movie portrays emotion, a book might share each character's innermost thoughts, which is hard to do on a large screen. So it becomes necessary to change the story enough that it will be successful cinematically, but also still follow the story.

Primate comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Primate comparison - Essay Example The diet of the animal includes sap, fruit, arthropods as well as nectar. The animal unlike other animals such as the Bengal Slow Loris does not in any way show forms of sexual dimorphism with an increase in weight. In fact, the vestigial tail that exists within the animal is often hidden beneath the fur and is reduced to what can be described as a stump. The primate has a toothcomb; this means that it has six teeth that are forward facing on the bottom of the jaw (Wiens, 2002). These teeth are mainly incisors and canine teeth. The structure of these teeth is often used to graze off gum when it comes to the process of foraging. The animal excretes a brawny smelling fluid from the glands used in communication. The Sunda Slow Loris often moves swiftly through trees with its four limbs. Callithrix pygmaea often known as the pygmy marmoset can be described as new world monkey species that is often native to Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia. Its range often stretches expansively over the Andrean foothills of the Southern Colombia to the Southeastern Peru (Townsend, 2001). The pygmy marmosets often live and thrive in a multistratal river edge forests at different and diverse lower evaluations. The pygmy marmosets are often described as the smallest extant monkeys, this is because they have an average body length of 13 cm. The animal has a coat of buff as well as grey fur that is marked with yellow, green as well as black ticking on the head. Infants initially have grey heads as well as yellow coats that are covered with black ticking and they exhibit the adult pattern with the first month life. Although the pygmy marmosets are not often considered as being sexually dimorphic, the females are often known to be slightly heavier than the males. Longer hair that exists around the face as well as the neck often gives the pygmy pygamae the facade of a lion like mane. The animal has hindlimbs are often