U3 Case Study Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

U3 Case Study - Coursework Example The connection is established if the certificate is valid; otherwise, the connection shuts down. The client then sends HTTPS request to the server. In the next step, the client sends SSTP control packets that are within the HTTPS session. The process establishes SSTP state machine for control purposes on both sides, which then initiate PPP layer communication (Minasi, 2010). At both the ends, PPP negotiation takes place by use of SSTP over HTTPS. The client then needs to authenticate the server. The session then binds to IP interface, which is both sides and assigned for a traffic routing. Breakaway Brothers can reach remote users by using two options. First, they can use a high-speed broadband connection by the use of either DSL or a cable modem. Alternatively, they can use an analog phone line and then connect it to an ISDN or a modem. Either way, the system will enable Breakaway Brothers to have a direct secure connection to the internet, and they can reach remote

Supply in health care services-physician services Essay

Supply in health care services-physician services - Essay Example The supply of physician services can be influenced by factors such as the price charged on physician services and the cost related to the production of those services. These factors may be influenced by the number of physicians, the number of hours that the physicians work, the capital and equipment available, the inputs and expenses considered critical in the provision of physician services. The supply of physicians is unique in the sense that it can be influenced by the level to which physicians delegate tasks influences the quantity, type and cost of physician services available (Feldstein, 2012). Medical education is a core determinant of the number of physician, which also influences the supply of physician services. Furthermore, government policies, on the supply side, have broadened the supply of physicians by availing subsidies for the construction of new medical schools, including provision of government loans and scholarships (Golden, Hannam, & Hyatt, 2012). The supply of physician services is inelastic since the supply of physicians is not highly responsive to a shift in price since there is only a small amount of response to a shift in price (Gwartney, 2011). For instance, in the event that the earnings of physicians rise from $200 to $300 per hour, only some increase will be registered within the quantity of services that physicians avail. This draws from the assumption that physicians ate price-taking utility maximizers, which indicate that physicians supply curve remains positively sloped. Countries can adopt diverse policy instruments to impact on the supply of physicians such as education and training policies, policies impacting on retention and retirement, and migration policies. Similarly, it is essential to note that factors such high income and job satisfaction influence the supply of

Pro And Cons Of Security Measure Information Technology Essay

Pro And Cons Of Security Measure Information Technology Essay This work requires the student execute a limited research based assignment in Network security. This work should be a conference style paper. Suggested Topics are given below. However, the work should reflect real thought and effort. The grade will be based on the following factors: novelty, depth, correctness, clarity of presentation, and effort. Students can select any other topics relevant to network security other than listed below with the approval of the module leader. In this paper student should explain the Security issues relevant to their topics and should analyze any two of the security tools/measures widely used to overcome those issues. More emphasize is given to the analysis of pros and cons of the security measures followed where a thorough knowledge/understanding of the problem and its countermeasures are gained. Introduction Voice over Internet Protocol also known as Voice over IP, IP Telephony or VoIP and it started by a small company called Vocaltec, Inc in February 1995 from Israel. [Joe Hallock, A Brief History of VoIP] By that time, it will be the first internet phone software. Vocaltec aims are to provide user to makes phone call from one computer to another computer using sound card, microphone and speaker. This VoIP software created by Vocaltec only works when both caller and the receiver have the same setup software installed. VoIP is design for deliver the voice communication and multimedia session over the Internet Protocol and it is also categorized as one of the internet technology, communication protocol and transmission technology. In simpler terms, VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. There are three types of VoIP tools that are commonly used; IP Phones, Software VoIP and Mobile and Integrated VoIP. The IP Phones are the most institutionally established but still the least obvious of the VoIP tools. Of all the software VoIP tools that exist, Skype is probably the most easily identifiable. The use of software VoIP has increased during the global recession as many persons, looking for ways to cut costs have turned to these tools for free or inexpensive calling or video conferencing applications. Software VoIP can be further broken down into three classes or subcategories; Web Calling, Voice and Video Instant Messaging and Web Conferencing. Mobile and Integrated VoIP is just another example of the adaptability of VoIP. VoIP is available on many smartphones and internet devices so even the users of portable devices that are not phones can still make calls or send SMS text messages over 3G or WIFI.[2] One of the most significant advantages of VoIP (over a traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN also known as a legacy networks) is that one can make a long distance phone call and bypass the toll charge. This integrated voice/data solution allows large organizations (with the funding to make the transfer from a legacy network to a VoIP network) to carry voice applications over their existing data networks. VoIP telephone systems are susceptible to attacks as are any internet-connected devices. This means that hackers who know about these vulnerabilities (such as insecure passwords) can institute denial-of-service attacks, harvest customer data, record conversations and break into voice mailboxes.[26] Another challenge is routing VoIP traffic through firewalls and network address translators. Private Session Border Controllers are used along with firewalls to enable VoIP calls to and from protected networks. For example, Skype uses a proprietary protocol to route calls through other Skype peers on the network, allowing it to traverse symmetric NATs and firewalls. Other methods to traverse NATs involve using protocols such as STUN or ICE. Many consumer VoIP solutions do not support encryption, although having a secure phone is much easier to implement with VoIP than traditional phone lines. As a result, it is relatively easy to eavesdrop on VoIP calls and even change their content.[27] An attacker with a packet sniffer could intercept your VoIP calls if you are not on a secure VLAN. However, physical security of the switches within an enterprise and the facility security provided by ISPs make packet capture less of a problem than originally foreseen. Further research has shown that tapping into a fiber optic network without detection is difficult if not impossible. This means that once a voice packet is within the internet backbone it is relatively safe from interception. There are open source solutions, such as Wireshark, that facilitate sniffing of VoIP conversations. A modicum of security is afforded by patented audio codecs in proprietary implementations that are not easily available for open source applications[citation needed]; however, such security through obscurity has not proven effective in other fields.[citation needed] Some vendors also use compression, which may make eavesdropping more difficult.[citation needed] However, real security requires encryption and cryptographic authentication which are not widely supported at a consumer level. The existing security standard Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) and the new ZRTP protocol are available on Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs) as well as various softphones. It is possible to use IPsec to secure P2P VoIP by using opportunistic encryption. Skype does not use SRTP, but uses encryption which is transparent to the Skype provider[citation needed]. In 2005, Skype invited a researcher, Dr Tom Berson, to assess the security of the Skype software, and his conclusions are available in a published report.[28] The Voice VPN solution provides secure voice for enterprise VoIP networks by applying IPSec encryption to the digitized voice stream. The IAX2 protocol also supports end-to-end AES-256 encryption natively. Traditional enterprise telecommunications networks used to be viewed as relatively secure because you practically needed to be within physical reach to gain access to them. Sure, things like toll fraud and war dialing were problematic, but those were easily remedied by longer or more complicated passwords and other access controls. The age of converged networks has changed that with voice now traveling over IP networks (VoIP). These converged networks inherit all the security weaknesses of the IP protocol (spoofing, sniffing, denial of service, integrity attacks, and so on). In addition, voice quality and confidentiality are potentially affected by common data network problems such as worms and viruses. Converged networks also offer an array of new vectors for traditional exploits and malware, as each IP endpoint becomes a potential point of network entry. Internet telephony refers to communications services-voice, fax, SMS, and/or voice-messaging applications-that are transported via the Internet, rather than the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The steps involved in originating a VoIP telephone call are signaling and media channel setup, digitization of the analog voice signal, encoding, packetization, and transmission as Internet Protocol (IP) packets over a packet-switched network. On the receiving side, similar steps (usually in the reverse order) such as reception of the IP packets, decoding of the packets and digital-to-analog conversion reproduce the original voice stream.[1] VoIP systems employ session control protocols to control the set-up and tear-down of calls as well as audio codecs which encode speech allowing transmission over an IP network as digital audio via an audio stream. The codec used is varied between different implementations of VoIP (and often a range of codecs are used); some implementations rely on narrowband and compressed speech, while others support high fidelity stereo codecs. Technical review In term of security issues, VoIP encounter numerous of issues reported and some of it can lead into big loss to a company. Below are some of the security issues that discuss in this research. Service Theft The most basic thing a hacker can do with your VoIP service is to steal it. In doing so, the perpetrator can make free calls and possibly start off a new VoIP telephony business of his/her own at amazingly cheap ratesjust like the first criminal who was charged with hacking VoIP 1. Service theft is relatively easy with VoIP because the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) that is used for authentication in VoIP calls does not use encryption by default. Identity Theft Close on the heels of service theft is the risk of identity theft. If someone can steal a service, they have everything else they need to steal the identity of the person(s) using the service. Accounts as basic as utilities and as critical as financial loans are often tied to a specific phone number. If all else fails, the hacker can, at a minimum, gather sig-nificant information about the target individual(s) to be able to take the next step towards stealing the persons identity. Eavesdropping One might remember when tapping a phone required some serious instruments that needed to be installed at the right places while at the same time the person bugging the phone would have to make sure that nobody watches him/her in action. This procedure is a lot easier with VoIP. The instrument might still look like a phone and work like a phone, but tapping this phone is not at all difficult for someone with the right knowhow and tools and the wrong intentions. Hackers today can take control over several VoIP features such as voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call forward-ing, calling plan selection, and billing details. Stealing the VoIP service to enable free calls is actually much less prof-itable and desirable for hackers. Instead, with businesses increasingly using VoIP, sensitive corporate information is now the target. VoIP packets flow over networks like packets of data that can be sniffed just like regular data pack-ets. These packets can then be merged together to play the voice conversation in a normal media player software. Mix VoIP hacking with corporate espionage and you end up with a very lucky and enabled hacker. Vishing Vishing is the criminal practice of using social engineering over the telephone system, most often using features facilitated by Voice over IP (VoIP), to gain access to private personal and financial information from the public for the purpose of financial reward. What if you were to receive a call from your bank or your credit card company that had an automated voice at the other end asking you to enter your debit/credit card number, PIN, and other details? Chances are you might comply with the request. Better still, if you were the person making the call to your phone banking number then these chances are actually quite high considering the fact that you were the person making the call. In both these cases, a Vishing attack could have been launched using VoIP that could lead you to believe that youre calling an entity that you trust. Specifically in the second case, redirecting your call to a Visher would actually be much easier if you use a VoIP based phone. Denial of Service One VoIP hacking method that can cause significant frustration and losses to businesses is the Denial of Service. As the name suggests, the main aim of the hacker is to ensure that your organization is denied the usage of your VoIP telephony service. Voice calls made by an organization can be manipulated, tampered, and even dropped. Hackers can even flood the target VoIP infrastructure with several call-signaling SIP messages. Many times, these DoS attacks are actually a smokescreen for hackers to plant malware or even take control of systems in the background. Spyware and Malware VoIP infrastructure rests on the same architecture as a normal computer system. Essentially, the issues that a normal computer system can face are quite applicable to VoIP infrastructures as well. Top of the list is spyware and malware. Consider the example of a software application that is used to enable VoIP telephony. A user would have to run this software over a computer, a PDA, an iPhone, or such. This introduces the vulnerabil-ity of falling prey to viruses, spyware, malware, worms, and just about all forms of malicious code. SPAM Spam exists with VoIP, although it is known as SPIT or Spam over Internet Telephony. While more typically just an annoyance, SPIT does at times carry viruses and malware, just like spam. While the occurrence of SPIT is not very common today, trends definitely dictate that SPIT is heading in the direction of SPAM. VoIP telephone systems are susceptible to attacks as are any internet-connected devices. This means that hackers who know about these vulnerabilities (such as insecure passwords) can institute denial-of-service attacks, harvest customer data, record conversations and break into voice mailboxes.[26] Another challenge is routing VoIP traffic through firewalls and network address translators. Private Session Border Controllers are used along with firewalls to enable VoIP calls to and from protected networks. For example, Skype uses a proprietary protocol to route calls through other Skype peers on the network, allowing it to traverse symmetric NATs and firewalls. Other methods to traverse NATs involve using protocols such as STUN or ICE. Many consumer VoIP solutions do not support encryption, although having a secure phone is much easier to implement with VoIP than traditional phone lines. As a result, it is relatively easy to eavesdrop on VoIP calls and even change their content.[27] An attacker with a packet sniffer could intercept your VoIP calls if you are not on a secure VLAN. However, physical security of the switches within an enterprise and the facility security provided by ISPs make packet capture less of a problem than originally foreseen. Further research has shown that tapping into a fiber optic network without detection is difficult if not impossible. This means that once a voice packet is within the internet backbone it is relatively safe from interception. There are open source solutions, such as Wireshark, that facilitate sniffing of VoIP conversations. A modicum of security is afforded by patented audio codecs in proprietary implementations that are not easily available for open source applications[citation needed]; however, such security through obscurity has not proven effective in other fields.[citation needed] Some vendors also use compression, which may make eavesdropping more difficult.[citation needed] However, real security requires encryption and cryptographic authentication which are not widely supported at a consumer level. The existing security standard Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) and the new ZRTP protocol are available on Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs) as well as various softphones. It is possible to use IPsec to secure P2P VoIP by using opportunistic encryption. Skype does not use SRTP, but uses encryption which is transparent to the Skype provider[citation needed]. In 2005, Skype invited a researcher, Dr Tom Berson, to assess the security of the Skype software, and his conclusions are available in a published report.[28] The Voice VPN solution provides secure voice for enterprise VoIP networks by applying IPSec encryption to the digitized voice stream. The IAX2 protocol also supports end-to-end AES-256 encryption natively. Securing VoIP To prevent the above security concerns government and military organizations are using Voice over Secure IP (VoSIP), Secure Voice over IP (SVoIP), and Secure Voice over Secure IP (SVoSIP) to protect confidential and classified VoIP communications.[29] Secure Voice over IP is accomplished by encrypting VoIP with Type 1 encryption. Secure Voice over Secure IP is accomplished by using Type 1 encryption on a classified network, like SIPRNet.[30][31][32][33][34] Public Secure VoIP is also available with free GNU programs.[35] [edit]Caller ID Caller ID support among VoIP providers varies, although the majority of VoIP providers now offer full Caller ID with name on outgoing calls. In a few cases, VoIP providers may allow a caller to spoof the Caller ID information, potentially making calls appear as though they are from a number that does not belong to the caller[36] Business grade VoIP equipment and software often makes it easy to modify caller ID information. Although this can provide many businesses great flexibility, it is also open to abuse. The Truth in Caller ID Act has been in preparation in the US Congress since 2006, but as of January 2009 still has not been enacted. This bill proposes to make it a crime in the United States to knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value [37] [edit]Compatibility with traditional analog telephone sets Some analog telephone adapters do not decode pulse dialing from older phones. They may only work with push-button telephones using the touch-tone system. The VoIP user may use a pulse-to-tone converter, if needed.[38] [edit]Fax handling Support for sending faxes over VoIP implementations is still limited. The existing voice codecs are not designed for fax transmission; they are designed to digitize an analog representation of a human voice efficiently. However, the inefficiency of digitizing an analog representation (modem signal) of a digital representation (a document image) of analog data (an original document) more than negates any bandwidth advantage of VoIP. In other words, the fax sounds simply do not fit in the VoIP channel. An alternative IP-based solution for delivering fax-over-IP called T.38 is available. The T.38 protocol is designed to compensate for the differences between traditional packet-less communications over analog lines and packet based transmissions which are the basis for IP communications. The fax machine could be a traditional fax machine connected to the PSTN, or an ATA box (or similar). It could be a fax machine with an RJ-45 connector plugged straight into an IP network, or it could be a computer pretending to be a fax machine.[39] Originally, T.38 was designed to use UDP and TCP transmission methods across an IP network. TCP is better suited for use between two IP devices. However, older fax machines, connected to an analog system, benefit from UDP near real-time characteristics due to the no recovery rule when a UDP packet is lost or an error occurs during transmission.[40] UDP transmissions are preferred as they do not require testing for dropped packets and as such since each T.38 packet transmission includes a majority of the data sent in the prior packet, a T. 38 termination point has a higher degree of success in re-assembling the fax transmission back into its original form for interpretation by the end device. This in an attempt to overcome the obstacles of simulating real time transmissions using packet based protocol.[41] There have been updated versions of T.30 to resolve the fax over IP issues, which is the core fax protocol. Some newer high end fax machines have T.38 built-in capabilities which allow the user to plug right into the network and transmit/receive faxes in native T.38 like the Ricoh 4410NF Fax Machine.[42] A unique feature of T.38 is that each packet contains a portion of the main data sent in the previous packet. With T.38, two successive lost packets are needed to actually lose any data. The data you lose will only be a small piece, but with the right settings and error correction mode, there is an increased likelihood that you will receive enough of the transmission to satisfy the requirements of the fax machine for output of the sent document. [edit]Support for other telephony devices Another challenge for VoIP implementations is the proper handling of outgoing calls from other telephony devices such as Digital Video RecordersDVR boxes, satellite television receivers, alarm systems, conventional modems and other similar devices that depend on access to a PSTN telephone line for some or all of their functionality. These types of calls sometimes complete without any problems, but in other cases they fail. If VoIP and cellular substitution becomes very popular, some ancillary equipment makers may be forced to redesign equipment, because it would no longer be possible to assume a conventional PSTN telephone line would be available in consumers homes. Improving Your VoIP The key to securing a VoIP infrastructure is to remember that it involves sending voice over the Internet Protocol (IP). So, the way to secure it is quite similar to the way you deal with an IP data network. Here are the key aspects to keep in mind when securing a VoIP infrastructure Encryption VoIP packets, by default, are transmitted in clear-text and so encryption is vital to ensure confidentiality. VoIP in-frastructures based on Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) take a step ahead of the unencrypted SIP and en-sure that VoIP traffic privacy and confidentiality is maintained. Alternatively, encryption in the form of Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) can also make a great difference. Network Design A basic rule of thumb to remember is to logically separate voice and data networks. The best case scenario would be to let the VoIP infrastructure have its own isolated network with only the minimum necessary interactions with other sub-networks via secure firewalls. Having dedicated VoIP servers with audited and hardened operating systems and all unnecessary services disabled is the next step to fortifying your VoIP infrastructure. Soft Phones Soft phones add to an administrators misery by offering another end point that needs to be secured. The ideal solu-tion is to avoid using Soft phones altogether. If they must be used, ensure that they are fully hardened and patched at all times. While it adds an additional bur-den, it is absolutely paramount to the security of the VoIP infrastructure. Hard Phones Hard phones offer a great alternative to soft phones, especially when coupled with private branch exchange (PBX) systems running on a hardened and, preferably, dedicated server. Periodic checks and updates are essential to ensure that the IP-PBX and IP Phone firmware is fully patched. Physical Security This is an often understated aspect of VoIP security. While an organization can spend countless hours and resources securing the medium of transmission, it is critical to also ensure the physical security of the enabling infrastructure components like the hard phones, the VoIP servers, and any other device that directly or indirectly supports the VoIP infrastructure. Physical security can become the Achilles heel of your VoIP infrastructure if it is not respected. Defaults and Passwords More often than not, default passwords and settings are not secure. These defaults are created with a generic scenario in mind and will most likely not fit the requirements and customization that your organization demands. It is impor-tant to replace all default passwords with strong passwords that are at least eight characters long, and employ a com-bination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This should be further bolstered by good password policies and robust identity management. Voice Messaging Systems and Storage One typical area that is easy to miss is the security of calls that are stored on voice messaging systems. Ensure that the voice message boxes of all users require that the password be changed each time the service is used. It might cause a bit of inconvenience, but it will also offer a mile of improved security. It is also important to secure the storage of voice messages by performing periodic checks and audits to look for exploitable holes. Vulnerability Assessments Last, but most important, a periodic vulnerability assessment of the VoIP infrastructure can ensure that no holes have emerged due to the ever-changing nature of business requirements and the networks that support them. Inde-pendent audits can often provide useful insights into the state of the VoIP infrastructure and serve as an additional piece of evidence of due diligence in the regulatory compliance armory. Make VoIP Work For You VoIP has truly been a genuine money saver for businesses all over the world and the world is a smaller place, in part thanks to VoIP technology. The security issues around VoIP are serious and very real. However, taking the right steps and countermeasures can truly help your organization make the most of VoIP. The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It accentuates what you would do anyway. If you want to be a loner, you can be more alone. If you want to connect, it makes it easier to connect. Research Methodology Secondary resources such as journal, white paper and thesis are being use in this research to analyze and further study in order to produce this research. Evaluation VoIP Sniffing Tools VoIP Scanning and Enumeration Tools VoIP Fuzzing Tools VoIP Sniffing Tools AuthTool Tool that attempts to determine the password of a user by analyzing SIP traffic. Cain Abel Multi-purpose tool with the capability to reconstruct RTP media calls. CommView VoIP Analyzer VoIP analysis module for CommView that is suited for real-time capturing and analyzing Internet telephony (VoIP) events, such as call flow, signaling sessions, registrations, media streams, errors, etc. Etherpeek general purpose VoIP and general ethernet sniffer. ILTY (Im Listening To You) Open-source, multi-channel SKINNY sniffer. NetDude A framework for inspection, analysis and manipulation of tcpdump trace files. Oreka Oreka is a modular and cross-platform system for recording and retrieval of audio streams. PSIPDump psipdump is a tool for dumping SIP sessions (+RTP traffic, if available) from pcap to disk in a fashion similar to tcpdump -w. rtpBreak rtpBreak detects, reconstructs and analyzes any RTP session through heuristics over the UDP network traffic. It works well with SIP, H.323, SCCP and any other signaling protocol. In particular, it doesnt require the presence of RTCP packets. SIPomatic SIP listener thats part of LinPhone SIPv6 Analyzer An Analyzer for SIP and IPv6. UCSniff UCSniff is an assessment tool that allows users to rapidly test for the threat of unauthorized VoIP eavesdropping. UCSniff supports SIP and Skinny signaling, G.711-ulaw and G.722 codecs, and a MITM ARP Poisoning mode. VoiPong VoIPong is a utility which detects all Voice Over IP calls on a pipeline, and for those which are G711 encoded, dumps actual conversation to separate wave files. It supports SIP, H323, Ciscos Skinny Client Protocol, RTP and RTCP. VoIPong ISO Bootable Bootable Live-CD disc version of VoIPong. VOMIT The vomit utility converts a Cisco IP phone conversation into a wave file that can be played with ordinary sound players. Wireshark Formerly Ethereal, the premier multi-platform network traffic analyzer. WIST Web Interface for SIP Trace a PHP Web Interface that permits you to connect on a remote host/port and capture/filter a SIP dialog. VoIP Scanning and Enumeration Tools EnableSecurity VoIPPack for CANVAS VoIPPack is a set of tools that are designed to work with Immunity CANVAS. The tools perform scans, enumeration, and password attacks. enumIAX An IAX2 (Asterisk) login enumerator using REGREQ messages. iaxscan iaxscan is a Python based scanner for detecting live IAX/2 hosts and then enumerating (by bruteforce) users on those hosts. iWar IAX2 protocol Wardialer Nessus The premier free network vulnerability scanner. nmap the premier open source network port scanner. Passive Vulnerability Scanner The Tenable Passive Vulnerability Scanner (PVS) can find out what is happening on your network without actively scanning it. PVS detects the actual protocol, various administrative interfaces, and VoIP scanner(s). Currently includes over 40 VoIP checks. SCTPScan This tool enumerates open SCTP ports without establishing a full SCTP association with the remote host. You can also scan whole networks to find SCTP-speaking machines. SIP Forum Test Framework (SFTF) The SIP Forum Test Framework (SFTF) was created to allow SIP device vendors to test their devices for common errors. SIP-Scan A fast SIP network scanner SIPcrack SIPcrack is a SIP protocol login cracker. It contains 2 programs, SIPdump to sniff SIP logins over the network and SIPcrack to bruteforce the passwords of the sniffed login. Sipflanker Sipflanker will help you find SIP devices with potentially vulnerable Web GUIs in your network. SIPSCAN SIPSCAN is a SIP username enumerator that uses INVITE, REGISTER, and OPTIONS methods. SIPVicious Tool Suite svmap, svwar, svcrack svmap is a sip scanner. It lists SIP devices found on an IP range. svwar identifies active extensions on a PBX. svcrack is an online password cracker for SIP PBX SiVuS A SIP Vulnerability Scanner. SMAP SIP Stack Fingerprinting Scanner VLANping VLANPing is a network pinging utility that can work with a VLAN tag. VoIPAudit VoIP specific scanning and vulnerability scanner. VoIP Fuzzing Tools Asteroid this is a set of malformed SIP methods (INVITE, CANCEL, BYE, etc.) that can be crafted to send to any phone or proxy. Codenomicon VoIP Fuzzers Commercial versions of the free PROTOS toolset Fuzzy Packet Fuzzy packet is a tool to manipulate messages through the injection, capturing, receiving or sending of packets generated over a network. Can fuzz RTP and includes built-in ARP poisoner. Interstate Fuzzer VoIP Fuzzer Mu Dynamics VoIP, IPTV, IMS Fuzzing Platform Fuzzing appliance for SIP, Diameter, H.323 and MGCP protocols. ohrwurm ohrwurm is a small and simple RTP fuzzer. PROTOS H.323 Fuzzer a java tool that sends a set of malformed H.323 messages designed by the University of OULU in Finland. PROTOS SIP Fuzzer a java tool that sends a set of malformed SIP messages designed by the University of OULU in Finland. SIP Forum Test Framework (SFTF) SFTF was created to allow SIP device vendors to test their devices for common errors. And as a result of these tests improve the interoperability of the devices on the market in general. Sip-Proxy Acts as a proxy between a VoIP UserAgent and a VoIP PBX. Exchanged SIP messages pass through the application and can be recorded, manipulated, or fuzzed. Spirent ThreatEx a commercial protocol fuzzer and ribustness tester. VoIPER VoIPER is a security toolkit that aims to allow developers and security researchers to easily, extensively and automatically test VoIP devices for security vulnerabilties. Differences in how security countermeasures are applied Discussion The Advantages and Disadvantages of VoIP VoIP has many advantages over a regular phone service. However, like any emerging technology, there are still a few kinks in the system. However, as standards are developed it becomes more reliab

Exploring Music Trading :: Essays Papers

Exploring Music Trading Background The recording of live music goes back over a century to the beginnings of audio recording technology itself. The organized recording and trading of a band's live shows by devoted fans, however, is generally traced back to the late '60s or early '70s. The first band which allowed and encouraged such activity was, of course, the Grateful Dead. Although the Dead never had a true radio hit, they were able to become the most consistently successful touring act of all time in no small part by allowing their fans to record and then trade (but never sell) copies of each of their live shows. Both the library and music trading communities may find themselves under profit-minded assault in the present and near future. By the time the Grateful Dead called it a career in 1995 with the death of guitarist and guru Jerry Garcia, a number of other bands had taken notice and were emulating the practice of allowing audience taping and trading. Prominent among these bands were first-wave "HORDE" (named for a successful festival tour) or "jambands" such as Phish and Blues Traveler. Despite the lack of MTV or radio support, Phish managed to gross over $20 million per year from their tours in the late '90s. The band consistently sold out venues for multi-day runs, while MTV-friendly bands were playing in front of half-full houses. While there is no real estimate of the number of touring bands today which allow audience taping and trading, a rough guess would place the low end at well over a hundred (given that 80-taper friendly bands were at the High Sierra Music Festival last summer, and at least an equal number were not). Many of these bands now allow, encourage or initiate the posting of their shows to var ious online sites such as www.archive.org (a must-see site for all library types, not just for the excellent live shows contained therein), usually in SHN or FLAC formats, where they are available for free download to anyone with a high-speed connection. Given the harsh attitude of the major recording labels (as expressed through the Recording Industry Association of America's various peer-to-peer lawsuits) toward "unauthorized" distribution of copyrighted recordings on the ground that it damages the fortunes of their artists [author's note: one should be properly skeptical of any record company claims of interest in their artists' well being], why, then would bands allow the essentially free distribution of live shows?

Management Concepts

Managerial decision-making Problem avoiders Problem solvers Problem seekers Approaches to decision making Classical decision model Behavioral decision model Judgmental decision model 2. With references to decision-making theory covered in the chapter, describe the type of managerial decision-making evident in this case, and the conditions under which decisions were made. Managerial Decision Making *Problem avoidably problem solvers *Problem seekers Decision conditions: *Certain environment *Risk environment uncertain environment 3.Evaluate the decisions made in the case in relation to the classical, behavioral and Judgmental heuristics approaches to decision-making that are outlined In the chapter. Which model do you believe best describes the situation and subsequent decision-making process In this case? Justify your answer? Approaches to decision making Classical decision model Judgmental decision model Case decision *Classical decision model Problem: it was the flood that damage B risbane and PhysicsPossible alternative: Not releasing flood waters. Consequently threatened stability of dam Optimizing decision: Release of flood waters being aware of potential damage. SOOT Analysts: Strengths: *New technology *They set priorities *Manage time Weakness: Lack of communication Misunderstanding Misconduct Problem solving Crisis Opportunities: *Professional engineer *Employment Threats: Natural disaster (climate change) Damage roads and homes. Conclusion People should make wise decision to save the life's of the others.

Use and develop system that promote communication

On a daily basis within my current role I maintain a high level of communication in various ways with residents and their families, medical practitioners, colleagues internal staff, other professionals, and external agencies e. t. c. The ability to communicate effectively breaks barrier, it enhances learning and accomplishes goals. My level of communication within my current role is of extreme importance with regards to the individuals who are at the heart of all communication of the establishment.I ensure that whatever the form of communication, be it written, electronic, organisational, promotional, verbal, non-verbal, confidentiality is maintained at all times. Effective communication is what enables all the different departments to work well within an organisation including liaising with external agencies and individuals such as the CQC, Social Services, and health professionals, In my current role I ensure that all forms of communication is clear and precise, that it has a purpo se, it could be to inform, to instruct, to convince or to serve some other purpose.Communication is said to be successful when the desired objective is attained. In my current role I sometimes use body language as I do with words with some individuals this could be facial expressions, eye contact, movement of arms, hands and legs or focus my eyes on the individual but without intimidating the individual. I communicate in ways that respect the individuals' and key people's rights and concerns, using individuals' preferred method of communication and languages, for example when I am dealing with individual with hearing or sight impairments I ensure my communication is clear and not lengthy.I ensure that I come as close to them as possible without evading their personal space and that they can see my face, I speak slowly and clearly and speak to them in a way that i would like to be spoken to myself. When i ask a question I usually wait for the answer, even if it takes a little longer to come than usual. I use various ways to break down information to enable the residents to have a good understanding, for example using pictorial methods to promote choice and independence enabling me to understand what it is they want and need.I would also use this to help them understand which staff will be working with them, help them understand they have appointments with the doctors, dentist, optician or hairdresser etc In my current role we use two types of communication methods to deal with families and relatives. This is due to different backgrounds and relationships they have with them. For example one service user is very involved with his family and is very open with them and wants them to be involved in most aspects of his life, but we respect his decision that he would like his family to be on a need to know basis.There are guidelines in place which I follow when dealing with another service user’s family a professional but pleasant manner is used to communicate a strictly no sharing of information I support effective communication by various methods within my job role. I ensure a detailed handover of daily event is carried out for continuity of care and ensure that a record of daily events is written in the communication book and it it accessible.I ensure the regular scheduling of staff, relatives and resident for meetings, I send out memo and emails for notification when planning meetings or events and a planned agenda is being distributed to the relevant parties and requests for any suggestions in additions to the agenda which will be beneficial in opening the lines of communication. I ensure that minutes of meetings are taken and distributed to relevant parties following the meeting. Within my job role I communicate with a variety of people. These include residents, relatives, employees and colleagues within the larger sanctuary group team.I also communicate with external professionals, social services and safeguarding teams. On a larg er scale I maintain communication with the regional team, head office and support systems within sanctuary. I also have a part to play in the communication with the inspecting authorities such as CQC I am always looking for ways to improve communication systems in order to meet the needs of the residents and to help promote partnership working with colleagues, health professionals, social workers etc. I review practice and look at what others have written, if there is any thing i could adapt or adopt.

Industrialization Example

Industrialization Example Industrialization – Coursework Example Industrialization Shortly after the civil war, increases in industrial productions marked this duration. These changes were catalyzed by technological innovations and business innovations as well. The development of railway roads, introduction of new corporate practices and resistance of governmental regulations fueled industrialization. From these changes, corporations had to seek larger workforce as their pull factor as farm migrants, immigrants or even the southern blacks. These workers were subjected to division depending on their race, skill ethnicity and education. These were among the reasons and plights that led to the formation of workers’ union to protect the employees as industrialization intensified. Competition played a major role as every entity wished to kick their competitor out of business to dominate in industrialization at all cost. Availability of raw material such as that used to manufacture steel also had a room to modify this era, those who had the labor force to handle it caused further industrialization while making names for themselves to prove stronger against their rivals. Other factors that lead to rapid growth of industries after the civil war includes; better technology and specialized production, which was boosted by the skilled labor in response to the specified market demands, and the newly created collection of consumers (Boyer 58). New methods of marketing and advertising were attributed to creation of consumer goods’ markets while the use of trademarks, guarantees and brand names were the main indicators. Although unskilled workers were exposed to harm, labor-saving machines were the other lead to industrialization. In conclusion, industrialization was boosted by the spirit of adventure, competition and availability of cheap resources besides the numerous discoveries. Work CitedBoyer, Paul S..  The enduring vision: a history of the American people. 5th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Print.

Chapter 9 Meeting Technology Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Chapter 9 Meeting Technology Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Chapter 9 Meeting Technology The introduction to technology can have impacts on the meetings, convention, and expositions industry. In this information age, technology becomes an indispensable part of our lives and it is very valuable and important to the meetings, convention, and expositions industry. Technology such as overhead projectors, telecommunications and computerized meetings can enhance meeting presentations and it can further affect meetings which is in the planning stages as the meeting planners can discover the invaluable capabilities of the technology advances and building relationship with the attendees with the availability of technology. The types of technology available to the meetings, conventions, and expositions industry includes visual presentation and projection media such as overhead and slide projectors and non-projection media and they can enhance the impression and retention if audience can see and hear the information. Technologies would be electronic writing boards, teleconferencing and closed- circuit television. Also, people will use video recordings in the meetings, conventions, and expositions The major disadvantages of technology is the cost, yet using technology in this industry is the key to success. Using independent audiovisual supplier for company to provide services needed for the meetings, conventions, and expositions by themselves is popular nowadays.The use of LCD panel, videoconferencing and three-dimensional imagery is also a popular technology now. Moreover, technology makes the work of meeting planning more easily and convenient and also saves the time for planning. Also, the promotional videotapes, fax machines and E-mail is very useful for successful planning. For how the technology can help the meeting attendee, the business center which is most likely for business travelers, telecommunication technology and computerized check-in and check-out contributed a lot for making meetings more successful.Thus, the introduction of technologies into the meetings, conventions, and expositions industry can enhance and enrich this industry and hence all areas in this industry can be impacted by the technologies used as it can provide outstanding services and further affect the future development of the meetings, conventions, and expositions industry. Chapter 10: changes affecting the meetings and conventions industryThere are three factors that affect the attendees to join a meeting, convention or exposition or not. The first factor is information and understanding about the payback for their time and money Second, is their expectation of how the meeting will enable them to grow personally or to allow them to indulge themselves and spend on quality activities or to allow them to do serious business. The last factor is the consideration of the area of service. Yet, the main reason for people to meet is to educate themselves and for building network. Since being a city for holding meeting, convention or exposition can generate huge amount of revenue, so big cities as well as the small cities want people to hold meeting in their cities. Also, they will invest in services and products to enhance their images. Spending money to have investment on expanding the current facilities, public transportation and airport access or develop the new one to equip themselves better and make travelers move conveniently. Also, promoting local tourist attractions can make the city more attractive for group business. On the other hand, the advantage of small cities is that they are cheaper than the big city to hold meetings and to do business in. Moreover, education is an indispensable part of the meeting, convention or exposition industry and the role of education continues to become a dominator in this industry into the next millennium. And educating the people to have professional mindsets and professionalism behavior is important to attend success in this industry as well as developing future leaders. The enhancement of technology, training and other skills needed to be a major strategy for the professional and trade association in the future. In order to enhance the competitiveness of the organization, it is important to have an international visions and missions in this globalized industry. Finally, we need to discuss about the logistic of planning an international meeting. We need to have a local host or host organization for handling the details of the event with a good communication and contact the tourism board about it. Also the registration of the event is needed and we should think of the security issues to enable

A Chip of Glass Ruby Responses

Showing his true feelings only this one time, Bamjee reveals his opinions when the police come to arrest his wife for participating in and promoting a cause that he is opposed to. Before and after that outburst of his though he really is rather distant and detached from his family and what’s going on. As aloof as Bamjee is, he is also quite proud. He is proud that wealthy and influential people are coming and going through his house, but he is even more proud of his ethnicity. He is proud because he is Indian which means he is of a higher social status than the Bantu. 12. When Mrs. Bamjee was taken away by the police she reminded Bamjee about Ismail’s, Mrs. Bamjee’s daughter Girlie’s fiance’s, engagement party. This shows that even in the midst of the arrest she keeps her cool and remains the good and normal wife that Bamjee fell in love with by reminding him of something as insignificant as an engagement party. Protesting and promoting equality, she is still a simple Indian woman who wants the best for her family and to respect the values of others (in this case, making sure not to offend Ismail by not showing up to his party). 13. In South Africa the social classes are prominent barricades from equality in the country. Having the highest social status, the whites remain the most powerful while the Indians, like Bamjee, are below them and even lower are the Bantu, the native people of South Africa. Bamjee considers himself better than the Bantu and this is showed in the story when he snaps at her â€Å"There you are! That’s what you’ve got for it. † ‘It’ referring to her helping organize the protests and getting involved in the issues of the Bantu. Another part of the story that demonstrates Bamjee’s belief of his superiority over the Bantu is after Mrs. Bamjee has been arrested and gone for two weeks. Bamjee is talking to himself out of rage saying â€Å"For a crowd of natives who’ll smash our shops and kill us in our houses when their time comes. †, â€Å"She will starve herself to death. †, â€Å"She will die there. †, â€Å"Devils who will burn and kill us. † Clearly he believes that his wife must not be acting so ridiculous for people she is better than and clearly he believes the Bantu to be devilish creatures. A Chip of Glass Ruby Responses Showing his true feelings only this one time, Bamjee reveals his opinions when the police come to arrest his wife for participating in and promoting a cause that he is opposed to. Before and after that outburst of his though he really is rather distant and detached from his family and what’s going on. As aloof as Bamjee is, he is also quite proud. He is proud that wealthy and influential people are coming and going through his house, but he is even more proud of his ethnicity. He is proud because he is Indian which means he is of a higher social status than the Bantu. 12. When Mrs. Bamjee was taken away by the police she reminded Bamjee about Ismail’s, Mrs. Bamjee’s daughter Girlie’s fiance’s, engagement party. This shows that even in the midst of the arrest she keeps her cool and remains the good and normal wife that Bamjee fell in love with by reminding him of something as insignificant as an engagement party. Protesting and promoting equality, she is still a simple Indian woman who wants the best for her family and to respect the values of others (in this case, making sure not to offend Ismail by not showing up to his party). 13. In South Africa the social classes are prominent barricades from equality in the country. Having the highest social status, the whites remain the most powerful while the Indians, like Bamjee, are below them and even lower are the Bantu, the native people of South Africa. Bamjee considers himself better than the Bantu and this is showed in the story when he snaps at her â€Å"There you are! That’s what you’ve got for it. † ‘It’ referring to her helping organize the protests and getting involved in the issues of the Bantu. Another part of the story that demonstrates Bamjee’s belief of his superiority over the Bantu is after Mrs. Bamjee has been arrested and gone for two weeks. Bamjee is talking to himself out of rage saying â€Å"For a crowd of natives who’ll smash our shops and kill us in our houses when their time comes. †, â€Å"She will starve herself to death. †, â€Å"She will die there. †, â€Å"Devils who will burn and kill us. † Clearly he believes that his wife must not be acting so ridiculous for people she is better than and clearly he believes the Bantu to be devilish creatures.

Economic Consequences of Ageism on the Elderly and the American Research Paper

Economic Consequences of Ageism on the Elderly and the American Healthcare System - Research Paper Example From this paper it is clear that old persons have less employment opportunities and have a lower pay scale as compared to younger employees. The 1967 Equal Employment opportunity Commission provides protection to job applicants and employees from discrimination on the basis of mature age. Aged Americas are an important part of society and can still contribute towards nation building.This report highlights that  the word â€Å"ageism† was coined in 1968 by Robert Butler. The media accepted the term and later it found its way into The Oxford English Dictionary. Ageism has been reported by many old persons and is widely present in the country’s establishment resulting in bigotry in the media, workplace, healthcare and language. For instance, presence of discrimination in case of appointing older persons,   absence of health care in health care institutions, the use of abusive language and the negative portrayal of old persons in cartoons showing them as ugly, cantanker ous and dirty. Negative feelings about a certain group can be called as the negative attitudes. Sickness, impotency, health decline, mental illness, poverty, gloominess, isolation, unattractiveness and futility are the major nine stereotypes depicting bias against elders.A major discrimination against elders is made on the basis of illness faced by majority of their population.  About half of the American population believes that poor health is a grave trouble faced by majority of people over 65.... Negative feelings about a certain group can be called as the negative attitudes. Sickness, impotency, health decline, mental illness, poverty, gloominess, isolation, unattractiveness and futility are the major nine stereotypes depicting bias against elders. A major discrimination against elders is made on the basis of illness faced by majority of their population. About half of the American population believes that poor health is a grave trouble faced by majority of people over 65. However, the fact is that most of the elderly people which constitute more than 85 percent of the elderly population take on strong activities of daily life like ingestion, bathing, etc. Only about 5 percent of these elderly persons are hospitalized. Another stereotype is that older persons have no desire for sexual activity and those who spend ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF AGEISM ON THE ELDERLY AND THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM time in such action can be called as ethically nasty or at the slightest peculiar . The truth is that persons crossing the age of 65 have concern and capability for sexual relationships. They have freedom from alarm of pregnancy, job stress and childbearing errands, free time and more grown-up relations. Ugliness of old people is another common stereotype. Beauty is associated with youth and women particularly fear the loss of their beauty as a result of aging. In contrast to our culture, some cultures like those of the Japanese tend to associate wrinkles and gray hair with insight, development and long term service. Palmore (1999) states that it is thought that age increase from middle age is associated with a decline in ability to learn and remember. But most aged adults tend to keep hold of learning abilities. Illness, lack of education, style of learning,

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing - Essay Example Either way, each person needs to look at the facts and decide for themselves if the treatment is worthy or worthless. Understanding exactly what EMDR is and how it works is needed before being able to make an informed decision as to whether it works or not. Developed in 1989 by Francine Shapiro, the concept was that by focusing on a traumatic event while either refocusing on following an object causing eye movement, tapping, or touching an object over time would alleviate the stress and traumatic feelings associated with the memory (Kitchiner, Roberts, & Bisson, 2006). The eye movement was supposed to refocus the memory or desensitize it and reprocess with a new positive affirmation or memory (Devilly, 2005; Karatzias, Power, McGoldrick, Brown, Buchanan, Sharp, et al, 2007; Kitchiner et al, 2006; Lee, Taylor, & Drummond, 2006; Taylor, Thordarson, Fedoroff, Maxfield, Lovell, & Ogrodniczuk, 2003). Much research has been conducted in regard to this therapy and there seems to be no middle ground in the fall out of the results. People either believe the treatment works or not. Proponents of EDMR have conducted studies, both observational and empirical and have found that the rapid eye movement is an investigatory action which is known to help disassociate the patient from the traumatic memory.

Managing Capabilities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Managing Capabilities - Essay Example The adoption of new technology on regular intervals has boosted the marketing capabilities of ASDA. For any organization to stay competitive in the world it is very important to adopt the strategic changes. For ASDA the distribution channel in connection with the internet by online stores has helped the company a lot to expand the range of services and providing the customers with various purchasing options. Another approach used by ASDA that enhances its overall capabilities is the process of acquiring more information related to the product while the customer is in the process of taking decision. Online services also serve as sales tool. ASDA is the second retail store to offer this online service. ASDA has also brought in structural changes like removing the top layer hierarchy and the freezing wages. This change brought in positive change in the performance of the organization. The transparency has helped the company win the name of the best employer in the UK today. This led to an increase in the shareholder value. ASDA is the second largest supermarket chain in UK and has about 17% of the market share. It is a powerful retailing business and is well reputed for the products it has and the convenience it gives to its customers. The primary focus of ASDA is to save money and keep the costs as low as possible. The company has a strong technology system that supports its operations. If we talk about the weakness of the company so it can be regarded as the lack of convenience stores and the small supermarkets (Ackerman, 1997). Talking about the biggest competition to ASDA that is Tesco it is found out that almost two third of its total... Managing Capabilities Structuring tools and strategy frameworks are main keys to assess the situation of the business. Value trade-offs and risks are made explicit that lead to proposals that are concrete for adding value and reducing the risk. The frameworks that have been discussed in this study and the Pestle analysis in specific are likely to help ASDA in the identification of related laws planning and conform to decrease any distraction associated with them. To retain the customer base ASDA meets the customer needs, customizes the service, ensures lower prices, helps in making better choices, continuous flow of in-store promotions. These analysis will help the company in assessing the possible success for opening new stores, that are small in any area, which is the need to stay in competition. These analyses are likely to assist in identifying the policies, regulations and laws that govern the competition and monopolies. This is a challenge faced by ASDA in its pursuit to expand its business. Under t he European Union law, the unfair competition and the large market share (dominant) can lead to low quality services and products that consequently will increase the prices of services and goods. ASDA needs to keep this in mind as it aims to increase the number of its stores and move to new areas. This study can be of great help for ASDA to maintain its strong position and implementation of the frameworks given in this study can further assist the company to enjoy the heights of success.

Db Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Db - Essay Example The performance of an employee is essential to the profitability of a corporation. This is the reason why every company should develop an appraisal system that will recognize an employee’s contribution to the company. The first step in designing an appraisal system is to set the objectives of the system. The criteria and metrics for evaluating successful performance must be determined. The appraisers or reviewers and participants should also be chosen. The appraisal does not end in the measurement of the employees’ performance but there should also be a feedback mechanism so that a reward system can also be properly put in place. There are several techniques of appraising performance of employees. One technique is to use a numerical or scalar rating system. The managers are asked to score an individual against a number of objectives/attributes. Other companies do not only ask the managers to rate the employees but they also ask their co-workers and customers to rate the employee. Sometimes the employee is asked to rate himself too (Admin, 2010). Another common method of appraisal is the Management By Objectives (MBO) which is the process wherein managers and employees set objectives for the employee then periodically evaluate the performance of the employee and reward him according to the results.

Discuss the Influence of Modern Media Sources On Terrorism In a Essay

Discuss the Influence of Modern Media Sources On Terrorism In a Globalised World With Many Cultural Differences - Essay Example The paper will first discuss the impact of modern media on world cultures where it will be argued that the media has become a tool for globalising culture and therefore dissolving the independence of national cultures. The debate as to whether the media and terrorism form a symbiotic relationship will also be analysed. There will then be particular emphasis on the internet to see how it is becoming a new form of violent radical milieu for terrorism. Finally, the role of modern media in advancing counterterrorism will also be investigated. This essay makes a conclusion that advancement in technologies has been an avenue by which terror groups have used of modern media as a powerful tool in advancing their course. With the line of analysis however, it will not be accurate to conclude that the media has done this as a deliberate agenda. Rather, its role in terrorism which is more of a symbiotic relation has been created against its own will. This is because through modern technologies, even small terror groups have had the means of making their actions and programmes hyped on the internet, thereby creating news for themselves. Meanwhile the media is there to report the news, forcing the media to give more attention to terror groups. Again, the internet, which is a key component of modern media, has become an avenue by which news is self-generated. Indeed through the internet, terror groups do not even require the attention of popular international media houses to get attention for themselves.

Managing Capabilities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Managing Capabilities - Essay Example The adoption of new technology on regular intervals has boosted the marketing capabilities of ASDA. For any organization to stay competitive in the world it is very important to adopt the strategic changes. For ASDA the distribution channel in connection with the internet by online stores has helped the company a lot to expand the range of services and providing the customers with various purchasing options. Another approach used by ASDA that enhances its overall capabilities is the process of acquiring more information related to the product while the customer is in the process of taking decision. Online services also serve as sales tool. ASDA is the second retail store to offer this online service. ASDA has also brought in structural changes like removing the top layer hierarchy and the freezing wages. This change brought in positive change in the performance of the organization. The transparency has helped the company win the name of the best employer in the UK today. This led to an increase in the shareholder value. ASDA is the second largest supermarket chain in UK and has about 17% of the market share. It is a powerful retailing business and is well reputed for the products it has and the convenience it gives to its customers. The primary focus of ASDA is to save money and keep the costs as low as possible. The company has a strong technology system that supports its operations. If we talk about the weakness of the company so it can be regarded as the lack of convenience stores and the small supermarkets (Ackerman, 1997). Talking about the biggest competition to ASDA that is Tesco it is found out that almost two third of its total... Managing Capabilities Structuring tools and strategy frameworks are main keys to assess the situation of the business. Value trade-offs and risks are made explicit that lead to proposals that are concrete for adding value and reducing the risk. The frameworks that have been discussed in this study and the Pestle analysis in specific are likely to help ASDA in the identification of related laws planning and conform to decrease any distraction associated with them. To retain the customer base ASDA meets the customer needs, customizes the service, ensures lower prices, helps in making better choices, continuous flow of in-store promotions. These analysis will help the company in assessing the possible success for opening new stores, that are small in any area, which is the need to stay in competition. These analyses are likely to assist in identifying the policies, regulations and laws that govern the competition and monopolies. This is a challenge faced by ASDA in its pursuit to expand its business. Under t he European Union law, the unfair competition and the large market share (dominant) can lead to low quality services and products that consequently will increase the prices of services and goods. ASDA needs to keep this in mind as it aims to increase the number of its stores and move to new areas. This study can be of great help for ASDA to maintain its strong position and implementation of the frameworks given in this study can further assist the company to enjoy the heights of success.

Discuss the Influence of Modern Media Sources On Terrorism In a Essay

Discuss the Influence of Modern Media Sources On Terrorism In a Globalised World With Many Cultural Differences - Essay Example The paper will first discuss the impact of modern media on world cultures where it will be argued that the media has become a tool for globalising culture and therefore dissolving the independence of national cultures. The debate as to whether the media and terrorism form a symbiotic relationship will also be analysed. There will then be particular emphasis on the internet to see how it is becoming a new form of violent radical milieu for terrorism. Finally, the role of modern media in advancing counterterrorism will also be investigated. This essay makes a conclusion that advancement in technologies has been an avenue by which terror groups have used of modern media as a powerful tool in advancing their course. With the line of analysis however, it will not be accurate to conclude that the media has done this as a deliberate agenda. Rather, its role in terrorism which is more of a symbiotic relation has been created against its own will. This is because through modern technologies, even small terror groups have had the means of making their actions and programmes hyped on the internet, thereby creating news for themselves. Meanwhile the media is there to report the news, forcing the media to give more attention to terror groups. Again, the internet, which is a key component of modern media, has become an avenue by which news is self-generated. Indeed through the internet, terror groups do not even require the attention of popular international media houses to get attention for themselves.

Chronic Disease Essay Example for Free

Chronic Disease Essay Chronic disease is an illness. It can be regulated but not cured. It is in most cases a long-lasting medical condition that can have a long-term variation in the body (Prakash, Porwal, Saxena, 2012). There are many cases of chronic disease around the world but in the United States it is the foremost cause of death. Seven out of 10 deaths amid Americans every year are from chronic diseases. One disease that can be severe, depending on the stage is colon cancer. It is also known as colorectal cancer. It grows in the digestive tract, which ultimately can change into a cancerous polyp. A polyp is a benign growth on the body that sometimes becomes malignant (Prakash, Porwal, Saxena, 2012). This means it can spread throughout the body. The colon is complete with three parts, the ascending, transverse, and descending also known as the sigmoid colon. It lies within the large intestine and is directly above the rectum. The sigmoid is to help digest, process, and eliminate food. If someone were to get colon cancer it would start in the sigmoid and if it is not treated early, it can result in losing his or her colon (Prakash, Porwal, Saxena, 2012). There are quite a few risk factors with this disease; the people who have the highest risk to develop colon cancer are 50 or older, the chances increase with age. Gender also plays a big role; they say men have a higher risk than women because they tend to have more occurrences with adenomas or benign tumors in tissue glands. There are also two types of medical conditions that increase chances of acquiring colon cancer; they are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s. Another name for them is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. They are set off by long-term inflammation. My boyfriend has ulcerative colitis and a friend has crohn’s disease, they have to get regular checkups every six weeks and an infusion. Otherwise they would be sick and probably develop colon cancer. They also get colonoscopies every so often seeing how much of a risk they have. According to Emedicinehealth (2012), â€Å"A colonoscopy is a procedure through which a physician inserts a viewing tube (endoscope) into the rectum for the purpose of inspecting the colon. During a colonoscopy, polyps can be removed, bleeding can be cauterized, and a biopsy can be performed if abnormal areas of the colon are seen† (para.27). To do this procedure they, use an endoscope. It is a medical tool made up of a long tube inserted into the body. It may sound scary to have done or painful, but it could save a life. Some ways to decrease modifiable risk factors for colon cancer are by doing what is best for the body, just like with any other types of disease but there are a few differences. One important thing to do is screening, which is a test for a disease (2002). That way if one does have any polyps it can get removed before becoming cancerous. Another important thing to do is diet, especially if they are obese because obesity is a high risk factor. Fats, alcohol, and too much red meat can also lead to a higher risk. Eating more vegetables, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight, these are good lifestyle choices, and everyone should keep them in mind. (Davies, Batehup, Thomas, 2011). One thing that lowers the risk of most cancers is staying away from smoking; it is a bad habit for anyone, whether they are sick or not (Daniela, Simona, Imola, 2011). So if one starts to have symptoms such as rectal bleeding, dark stools called melena which is began by bleeding into the bowel, passing of solid waste, gas discomfort, backache, and liquid discharge from the rectum, they should go immediately to see a doctor because those are signs of a tumor in the colon and can lead to severe colon cancer. If someone needs help or support when dealing with colon cancer there are quite a few sources of help that he or she may reach out to. The American Cancer Society, the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), and Fight Colorectal Cancer.org. These organizations care about people and their needs. Colon cancer is a very serious disease and can be life threatening. So if you or someone you love has cancer make sure to eat healthy, exercise, avoid unhealthy habits, such as smoking and get daily screenings to protect yourselves. Acquiring a polyp or strange bleeding from your rectum can be life threatening, so a screening and a colonoscopy is crucial. ‘Works Cited Continue colonoscopy screening in stable patients, regardless of age. (2002). Geriatrics, 57(1),23.http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7cc2eb43-5583-4161-b181 f6ccc2c74387%40sessionmgr112vid=3hid=102 Daniela, C., Simona, B., Imola, T., Melania, M., Silvia, S. (2011). Smoking and the

Analysis of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM): Ginger

Analysis of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM): Ginger Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are being used more and more by health professionals and patients in addition to medical based therapies. The Cochrane Collaboration (2000) defines alternative and complementary medicines as;Â   a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health system, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. Complementary medicine models form the foundation of primary care systems in some countries worldwide. There are many different types of complementary and alternative medicines such as: ginger, raspberry leaf, castor oil, cabbage leaves, acupuncture and jasmine herbal tea. This written assignment will focus on ginger and will explore the use of this complementary alternative medicine across the childbearing continuum as recommended by midwives in clinical practice and will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the midwife when endorsing this intervention and the potential risks for both the woman and baby. There are many reasons why people use complementary alternative medicines such as: conventional medicine has not fixed their problem and some people believe that natural products are much more safe and healthier to use rather than prescription drugs (Women’s Health Organisation, 2012). Ginger has been used as a cooking spice as well as a herbal medicine throughout history, and has been commonly used to treat morning sickness, motion sickness, colic, gas, upset stomachs and nausea. There are special precautions and warnings that should be followed as using ginger when pregnant is debated. Herbs may contain substances that could cause premature birth, uterine contractions and miscarriage (American Pregnancy Association, 2013).There are some concerns that ginger may affect the sex hormones of a fetus and there are also reports of a miscarriage occurring close to the 12th week of pregnancy in women who took ginger to alleviate their morning sickness. There are also a few concerns that ginger may increase the risk of bleeding with some professionals advising women to not use it close to their delivery date (Medline Plus, 2014). There is not enough proof to show whether or not the use of ginger during breastfeeding is safe, therefore it is best to not use when women are breastfeeding. Morning sickness can affect up to 85% expectant mothers during the first three months of pregnancy (Koren Maltepe , 2013). From time to time the symptoms of morning sickness can become so serious, that they lead to a condition known as hyperemesis gravidum. When this occurs the woman will require hospitalization in order to replace both fluids and electrolytes intravenously. Morning sickness usually resolves in the first trimester of pregnancy, however in a small number of women, it can continue throughout the whole pregnancy. Some drugs, which are used to treat hyperemesis gravidum, have the potential to cause harm to the fetus (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2008). The first three months of pregnancy are a vital period for fetal growth, as the fetus is especially vulnerable to the detrimental effects of specific drugs and treatments. Even though today’s prescribed anti-nausea drugs do not seem to cause birth defects, many women choose to decline taki ng any medication during pregnancy and shift to the use of more natural types of remedies such as the complementary alternative medicines (Beauchamp, 2005). Few studies have been performed on whether or not complementary alternative medicines cause harm to the developing fetus however, one study suggests that ginger is safe to use for morning sickness without harming the unborn fetus with the risk of abnormalities having a rate of 1-3%. A study was performed on ‘the effectiveness and safety of ginger for pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting’, with randomised controlled trials of ginger and pregnancy related vomiting and nausea being sourced from companies such as Medline and the Cochrane library. Four of the randomised controlled trials met the inclusion standards with each of the trials finding that ginger given orally was found to be suggestively more effective than placebo when decreasing the occurrence of vomiting and nausea. The conclusion of this study shows that ginger is a safe and effective treatment for pregnancy related vomiting and nausea. On the other hand, hesitation still remains in regards to gingers maximum dosage, the correct length of the treatment, the effects of over dosage and the possible interactions with prescription medications (Ding et al., 2012). Although herbs are considered natural not all of them are safe to use during pregnancy. It is the midwives role and responsibility to refer women to an herbalist to discuss complementary alternative medicines that the women may wish to use during her pregnancy. The use of alternative medicines are out of the midwives scope of practice, therefore it is important for not only midwives but other health professionals to refer the appropriate source so the women can receive the correct care. It is important for midwives to recognise the limits of their knowledge when discussing the woman’s options and alternative medicines and refer to those who are trained and accredited in their own professions (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood, Pincombe, 2010). It is also the midwives responsibility to document any herbal medicines that she discloses she is using. It is the woman’s decision as to whether or not she takes up the offer to be referred to an herbalist, however no matter what her de cision is her record of herbal alternative medicines will be documented in her pregnancy health record for effective continuity of care. Overall, the use of complementary alternative medicines is increasing worldwide with someone women preferring these options rather than other medical therapies and substances. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of alternative medicines, there safety and effectiveness during pregnancy. For complementary alternative medicines to be considered this issue requires more research before any conclusions can be made on their effectiveness and treatment recommendations can then be put forth. The safety of complementary alternative medicines also needs to be considered before revealing a pregnant woman to these biologically active compounds (Anderson Johnson, 2005). Midwives will be increasingly called upon to assess the effectiveness and safety of complementary alternative medicines so it is crucial for them to understand the correct benefits and potential risks of these medicines and treatments to best serve patients throughout their individualised maternity care. Reference List American Pregnancy Association (2013). Herbs and pregnancy. Retreived from: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/naturalherbsvitamins.html Anderson, F.W.P., Johnson, C.T. (2005). Complementary and alternative medicine in obstetrics. International Journal of Gynaecology Obstetrics, 91, 116-124. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.07.009 Beauchamp, K. (2005). Health Conditions and Concerns: Ginger Treats Morning Sickness Retreived from: http://www.bastyrcenter.org/content/view/631/ Ding, M., Leach, M., Bradley, H. (2012). The effectiveness and safety of ginger for pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review. Journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 26 (1), e26-e30. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2012.08.001 Koren ,G., Maltepe ,C. (2013). How to survive morning sickness successfully. Retrieved from http://www.motherisk.org/documents/BSRC_morning_sickness_EN.pdf Medline Plus (2014). Ginger. Retreived from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/961.html National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2008, March). Antenatal Care; Routine Care for the healthy pregnant woman. Retrieved from http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG62fullguideline.pdf Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Thorogood, C., Pincombe, J. (2010). Midwifery: Preparation for Practice. (2nd ed). Australia: Elseiver. University of Maryland Medical Centre (2010). Ginger Overview. Retreived from: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/ginger Women’s Health Organisation (2012). Complementary and alternative medicine. Retreived from: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/the-healthy-woman/alternative_medicine.pdf Zollman, C., Vickers, A. (2000). What is complementary medicine? British Medical Journal, 319 (693). Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.319.7211.693

Alien Attack :: essays research papers

It was a day like any other day in Decatur, except for the constant rumble coming from the sky. Nobody knew what it was. After awhile the rumble had turned into a low, discrete roar. A little girl named Emma, who lived in a ranch home heard these noises as well, and woke her mother up. Both being terse, not talking a lot, new something bad was about to happen. Emma was trying to be diffident, hoping nothing bad happens, about this unusual situation. After all of the confusion of the sounds, the town went quiet and nothing happened. Although later that night a UFO disembarked from the dark and dreary sky. This UFO landed in manure, animal excrement used to enrich land, of a farm. All of the towns people including Emma and her mother reconnoited, scouted out, around the crash sight. Starring at this gigantic structure, a flap came down on the fresh manure, and coated every body. Through the smoke came out an imp, a small demon, who stood on the ramp for an extended period of time. The alien made a sibyl, lispy sound, screeching sound that was extremely loud. Out came hundreds of aliens from the UFO. More of them came out as the people ran. Some of the aliens were scintillant, things that sparkle, and others were grandiose, uncommon size, and freighting to look at. When the chase was over Emma arrived back home without harm, but her mother she could see was supine, lying on her back. To Emma, her mother was very devoted, sincere, and gave care to Emma. Emma’s grandmother came over to care for Emma, and to bring her over to her home. The towns people started a cabal, group of people joined in a common cause, about this â€Å"alien attack.† This cabal was started because there was a decry, strong disapproval, about how aliens will not take over. One day two people approached the UFO, the flap came down, and out came the same alien as before. The alien wanted one of them to step forward. a detarded, one who commits a cowardly act, man pushed the woman f orward. The woman was comatose, state of non-responsiveness, about what to do. That alien turned out to be a surrogate, person appointed to act in place of another. The woman walked in, and a minute later walked out.

Reversing Stroke and Spinal Cord Damage :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Reversing Stroke and Spinal Cord Damage Scientists are on the brink of doing the unthinkable-replenishing the brains of people who have suffered strokes or head injuries to make them whole again. If that is not astonishing enough, they think they may be able to reverse paralysis. The door is at last open to lifting the terrifying sentence these disorders still decree-loss of physical function, cognitive skills, memory, and personality. Until recently there was virtually nothing doctors could do for the 500,000 Americans who have strokes each year, the 500,000 to 750,000 who experience severe head injury, or the 10,000 people who are paralyzed after spinal cord damage (3). However, that is about to change. Researchers now think it may be possible to replace destroyed brain cells with new ones to give victims of stroke and brain injury a chance to relearn how to control their body, form new thinking processes, and regain emotions. After demolishing the long-standing myth that brain cells cannot regenerate or proliferate, scientists are developing ways to stimulate cells to do just that. Although stroke, head injury, and paralysis are three of the most devastating things that can happen to anyone, scientists have recently learned that the damage they cause is not preordained. It takes place over minutes, hours, and days, giving them a precious opportunity to develop treatments to halt much of the damage. Most of the n ew remedies are not yet available, but an explosion of research in the last five to ten years has convinced scientists that some of them will work (8). Guided by fabulous results in preventing permanent damage from stroke and other injuries to the central nervous system in rats and other animals, researchers around the world have launched scores of trials in humans (12). However, many promising new therapies are sitting on the shelf because of a lack of money and other resources necessary to conduct large, lengthy, and expensive studies to conclusively show that a new drug or treatment really works in people. The requirement for safety and efficacy can be frustrating, especially for badly needed treatments that are very promising, but such caution is necessary. One organization is trying to raise funds for a major study to test a pill for paralysis-4 amino pyridine (4 AP) -which has shown promising results in preliminary human trials (14). About half of the small number of people in the study, who had been paralyzed for four to fifteen years, regained some sensation and muscle function when they were given intravenous infusions of 4 AP. Reversing Stroke and Spinal Cord Damage :: Biology Essays Research Papers Reversing Stroke and Spinal Cord Damage Scientists are on the brink of doing the unthinkable-replenishing the brains of people who have suffered strokes or head injuries to make them whole again. If that is not astonishing enough, they think they may be able to reverse paralysis. The door is at last open to lifting the terrifying sentence these disorders still decree-loss of physical function, cognitive skills, memory, and personality. Until recently there was virtually nothing doctors could do for the 500,000 Americans who have strokes each year, the 500,000 to 750,000 who experience severe head injury, or the 10,000 people who are paralyzed after spinal cord damage (3). However, that is about to change. Researchers now think it may be possible to replace destroyed brain cells with new ones to give victims of stroke and brain injury a chance to relearn how to control their body, form new thinking processes, and regain emotions. After demolishing the long-standing myth that brain cells cannot regenerate or proliferate, scientists are developing ways to stimulate cells to do just that. Although stroke, head injury, and paralysis are three of the most devastating things that can happen to anyone, scientists have recently learned that the damage they cause is not preordained. It takes place over minutes, hours, and days, giving them a precious opportunity to develop treatments to halt much of the damage. Most of the n ew remedies are not yet available, but an explosion of research in the last five to ten years has convinced scientists that some of them will work (8). Guided by fabulous results in preventing permanent damage from stroke and other injuries to the central nervous system in rats and other animals, researchers around the world have launched scores of trials in humans (12). However, many promising new therapies are sitting on the shelf because of a lack of money and other resources necessary to conduct large, lengthy, and expensive studies to conclusively show that a new drug or treatment really works in people. The requirement for safety and efficacy can be frustrating, especially for badly needed treatments that are very promising, but such caution is necessary. One organization is trying to raise funds for a major study to test a pill for paralysis-4 amino pyridine (4 AP) -which has shown promising results in preliminary human trials (14). About half of the small number of people in the study, who had been paralyzed for four to fifteen years, regained some sensation and muscle function when they were given intravenous infusions of 4 AP.

Shadow Kiss Chapter 19

Nineteen LISSA HAD BEEN MY best friend ever since elementary school, which was why keeping so many secrets from her lately had hurt so much. She was always open with me, always willing to share what was on her mind – but then, maybe that was because she had no choice. I used to be that way with her, yet at some point, I'd started locking my secrets in, unable to tell her about Dimitri or the real reason I'd messed up with Stan. I hated it being that way. It ate me up inside and made me feel guilty around her. Today, however, there was absolutely no way I could wiggle out of explaining what had happened at the airport. Even if I made up something, the fact that I was on half-time with Christian would be a huge tip-off that something was going on. No excuses this time. So, as much as it hurt, I gave her and Christian – as well as Eddie and Adrian, who were hanging around – the short version of what had happened. â€Å"You think you saw ghosts?† Christian exclaimed. â€Å"Seriously?† The look on his face showed me that he was already building a list of snide comments to make. â€Å"Look,† I snapped, â€Å"I told you what was going on, but I don't want to elaborate on it. It's getting worked out, so just let it drop.† †Rose †¦Ã¢â‚¬  began Lissa uneasily. A hurricane of emotions was beating through to me from her. Fear. Concern. Shock. Her compassion made me feel that much worse. I shook my head. â€Å"No, Liss. Please. You guys can think whatever you want about me or make up your own theories, but we're not going to talk about it. Not now. Just leave me alone about it.† I expected Lissa to badger me because of her normal persistence. I expected Adrian and Christian to because of their irritating natures. But even though my words had been simple, I realized I'd delivered them with a harshness both in voice and manner. It was Lissa's surprised mental reaction that alerted me to that, and then I needed only to look at the guys' faces to realize I must have sounded incredibly bitchy. â€Å"Sorry,† I mumbled. â€Å"I appreciate the concern, but I'm just not in the mood.† Lissa eyed me. Later, she said in my mind. I gave her a brief nod, secretly wondering how I could avoid that conversation. She and Adrian had met to practice magic again. I still liked being able to be close to her, but I was only able to do so because Christian was hanging around too. And honestly, I couldn't figure out why he stayed. I guess he was still a little jealous, despite everything that had happened. Of course, if he'd known about the queen's matchmaking schemes, he might have had good reason. Nonetheless, it was clear these magic lessons were starting to bore him. We were in Ms. Meissner's classroom today, and he pulled two desks together and stretched out across them, tossing an arm over his eyes. â€Å"Wake me when it gets interesting,† he said. Eddie and I stood in a central position that let us watch the door and windows while also staying near the Moroi. â€Å"You really saw Mason?† Eddie whispered to me. He turned sheepish. â€Å"Sorry†¦you said you didn't want to talk about it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I started to say yes, that was exactly what I'd said†¦but then I saw the look on Eddie's face. He wasn't asking me about this out of perverse curiosity. He asked because of Mason, because of their closeness, and because Eddie wasn't over his best friend's death any more than I was. I think he found the idea of Mason communicating from beyond the grave reassuring, but then, he hadn't been the one to actually see Mason's ghost. â€Å"I think it was him,† I murmured back. â€Å"I don't know. Everyone thinks I imagined it.† â€Å"How did he look? Was he upset?† â€Å"He looked †¦ sad. Really sad.† â€Å"If it was really him †¦ I mean, I don't know.† Eddie looked at the ground, momentarily forgetting to watch the room. â€Å"I've always wondered if he was upset that we didn't save him.† â€Å"There was nothing we could have done,† I told him, reiterating exactly what everyone had told me. â€Å"But I wondered that too, because Father Andrew had mentioned that ghosts sometimes come back for revenge. But Mason didn't look that way. He just seemed like he wanted to tell me something.† Eddie looked back up suddenly, realizing he was still on guard duty. He didn't say anything else after that, but I knew where his thoughts were. Meanwhile, Adrian and Lissa were making progress. Or rather, Adrian was. The two of them had dug up a bunch of scraggly plants that had died or gone dormant for the winter and put them in little pots. The pots were now lined up in a row on a long table. Lissa touched one, and I felt the euphoria of magic burn within her. A moment later, the scrappy little plant turned green and sprouted leaves. Adrian stared hard at it, as though it held all the secrets of the universe, and then exhaled deeply. â€Å"Okay. Here goes nothing.† He lightly placed his fingers on a different plant. Here goes nothing might have been an accurate statement, because nothing actually happened. Then, a few moments later, the plant shuddered a little. A hint of green started to grow in it and then it stopped. â€Å"You did it,† said Lissa, impressed. I could also feel that she was a little jealous. Adrian had learned one of her tricks, but she still hadn't learned any of his. â€Å"Hardly,† he said, glaring at the plant. He was completely sober, with none of his vices to mellow him. Spirit had nothing to stop it from making him feel irritable. With our moods, we actually had something in common tonight. â€Å"Damn it.† â€Å"Are you kidding?† she asked. â€Å"It was great. You made a plant grow – with your mind. That's amazing.† â€Å"Not as good as you, though,† he said, still sounding like he was ten years old. I couldn't help but pipe in. â€Å"Then stop bitching and try again.† He glanced over at me, a smile twisting his lips. â€Å"Hey, no advice, Ghost Girl. Guardians should be seen and not heard.† I flipped him off for the â€Å"Ghost Girl† comment, but he didn't notice because Lissa was talking to him again. â€Å"She's right. Try it again.† â€Å"You do it one more time,† he said. â€Å"I want to watch you†¦. I can kind of feel what you do to it.† She performed her trick on another plant. I again felt the magic flare up, as well as the joy that came with it – and then she faltered. A flash of fear and instability tinged the magic, smacking a little of when her mental state had deteriorated so badly. No, no, I begged silently. It's happening. I knew it would if she kept using the magic. Please don't let it happen again. And like that, the dark spot within her magic went away. All of her thoughts and feelings returned to normal. I noticed then that she'd also made the plant grow. I'd missed it because I'd been distracted by her lapse. Adrian had missed the magic too because his eyes were on me. His expression was troubled and very, very confused. â€Å"Okay,† said Lissa happily. She didn't realize he hadn't paid attention. â€Å"Try again.† Adrian focused his attention back on their work. Sighing, he moved to a new plant, but she gestured him back. â€Å"No, keep working on the one you started. Maybe you can only do it in small bursts.† Nodding, he turned his attention to his original plant. For a few minutes, he just did nothing but stare. Silence reigned in the room. I'd never seen him so focused on anything, and sweat was actually forming on his forehead. Finally, at long last, the plant twitched again. It grew even greener, and tiny buds appeared on it. Glancing up at him, I saw him narrow his eyes and grit his teeth, no doubt concentrating for all he was worth. The buds burst. Leaves and tiny white flowers appeared. Lissa made what could only be called a whoop of joy. â€Å"You did it!† She hugged him, and feelings of delight washed over me from her. She was sincerely happy that he'd been able to do it. And while she was still disappointed at her lack of progress, it inspired hope in her that he'd replicated her abilities. That meant they truly could learn from each other. â€Å"I can't wait until I'm able to do something new,† she said, still a tiny bit jealous. Adrian tapped a notebook. â€Å"Well, there are plenty of other tricks in the world of spirit. You've got to be able to learn at least one of them.† â€Å"What's that?† I asked. â€Å"Remember that research I did on people who'd shown weird behaviors?† she asked. â€Å"We made a list of all the different things that showed up.† I did remember. In her search to find others with spirit, she'd uncovered claims about Moroi demonstrating abilities no one had ever seen. Few people believed the reports were true, but Lissa was convinced they were spirit users. â€Å"Along with healing, auras, and dream walking, we seem to also have some super compulsion going on.† â€Å"You already knew that,† I said. â€Å"No, this is even more hard-core. It's not just telling people what to do. It's also making them see and feel things that aren't even there.† â€Å"What, like hallucinations?† I asked. â€Å"Kind of,† he said. â€Å"There are stories of people using compulsion to make others live through their worst nightmares, thinking they're being attacked or whatever.† I shivered. â€Å"That's actually kind of scary.† â€Å"And awesome,† said Adrian. Lissa agreed with me. â€Å"I don't know. Regular compulsion is one thing, but that just seems wrong.† Christian yawned. â€Å"Now that victory has been achieved, can we call it a night with the magic?† Glancing behind me, I saw that Christian was sitting up and alert. His eyes were on Lissa and Adrian, and he did not look happy about the victory hug. Lissa and Christian had broken apart, though not because they'd noticed his reaction. They were both too distracted by their own excitement to notice his glare. â€Å"Can you do it again?† asked Lissa eagerly. â€Å"Make it grow?† Adrian shook his head. â€Å"Not right away. That took a lot out of me. I think I need a cigarette.† He gestured in Christian's direction. â€Å"Go do something with your guy. He's been terribly patient through all of this.† Lissa walked over to Christian, her face alight with joy. She looked beautiful and radiant, and I could tell it was hard for him to stay too mad at her. The harsh expression on his face softened, and I saw the rare gentleness that only she could bring out in him. â€Å"Let's go back to the dorm,† she said, grabbing his hand. We set off. Eddie walked near guard with Lissa and Christian, which left me with far guard. It also left me with Adrian, who had chosen to lag behind and talk to me. He was smoking, so I got to be the one to deal with the toxic cloud that generated. Honestly, I couldn't figure out why no one in charge had busted him for this. I wrinkled my nose at the smell. â€Å"You know, you can always be our far-far guard and stay behind with that thing,† I told him. â€Å"Mm, I've had enough.† He dropped the cigarette and stamped it out, leaving it behind. I hated that almost as much as him smoking in the first place. â€Å"What do you think, little dhampir?† he asked. â€Å"I was pretty badass with that plant, wasn't I? Of course, it would have been more badass if I'd, I dunno, helped an amputee grow a limb back. Or maybe separated Siamese twins. But that'll come with more practice.† â€Å"If you want some advice – which I'm sure you don't – you guys should lay off on the magic. Christian still thinks you're moving in on Lissa.† â€Å"What?† he asked in mock astonishment. â€Å"Doesn't he know my heart belongs to you?† â€Å"It does not. And no, he's still worried about it, despite what I've told him.† â€Å"You know, I bet if we started making out right now, it would make him feel better.† â€Å"If you touch me,† I said pleasantly, â€Å"I'll provide you with the opportunity to see if you can heal yourself. Then we'd see how badass you really are.† â€Å"I'd get Lissa to heal me,† he said smugly. â€Å"It'd be easy for her. Although†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The sardonic smirk faded. â€Å"Something weird happened when she used her magic.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"I know. Could you sense it too?† â€Å"No. But I saw it.† He frowned. â€Å"Rose †¦ remember when you asked about being crazy and I said you weren't?† â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I think I might have been wrong. I think you are crazy.† I nearly stopped walking. â€Å"What the hell does that mean?† â€Å"Well†¦you see, the thing is, when Lissa did the second plant†¦ her aura dimmed a little.† â€Å"That would go along with what I felt,† I said. â€Å"It was kind of like she †¦ I don't know, grew mentally fragile for a moment, kind of like she used to. But it went away.† He nodded. â€Å"Yeah, that's the thing†¦the darkness in her aura went away and into yours. Like, I've noticed before that you guys have a big difference in auras, but this time, I saw it happening. It was like that spot of darkness jumped out of hers and into yours.† Something about that made me shiver. â€Å"What does it mean?† â€Å"Well, this is why I think you're crazy. Lissa isn't having any side effects from the magic anymore, right? And you, well†¦ you've been feeling kind of short-tempered lately and you're, like, seeing ghosts.† He said the words casually, like seeing ghosts was just something that happened from time to time. â€Å"I think whatever harmful thing there is in spirit that screws with the mind is leaking out of her and into you. It's making her stay stable, and you, well†¦ as I said, you're seeing ghosts.† It was like being smacked in the face. A new theory. Not trauma. Not real ghosts. Me â€Å"catching† Lissa's madness. I remembered how she'd been at her worst, depressed and self-destructive. I remembered our former teacher, Ms. Karp, who'd also been a spirit user – and completely out of her mind enough to become Strigoi. â€Å"No,† I said in a strained voice. â€Å"That's not happening to me.† â€Å"What about your bond? You have that connection. Her thoughts and feelings creep into you †¦ why not the madness too?† Adrian's manner was typically light and curious. He didn't realize just how much this was starting to freak me out. â€Å"Because it doesn't make any – â€Å" And then, it hit me. The answer we'd been searching for this whole time. St. Vladimir had struggled his whole life with spirit's side effects. He'd had dreams and delusions, experiences he wrote off to â€Å"demons.† But he hadn't gone completely crazy or tried to kill himself. Lissa and I had felt certain that it was because he had a shadow-kissed guardian, Anna, and that sharing that bond with her had helped him. We'd assumed it was simply the act of having such a close friend around, someone who could support him and talk him through the bad times since they hadn't had antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs back then. But what if†¦ what if†¦ I couldn't breathe. I couldn't go another single moment without knowing the answer. What time was it anyway? An hour or so before curfew? I had to find out. I came to an abrupt halt, nearly slipping on the slick ground. â€Å"Christian!† The group in front of us stopped and looked back at me and Adrian. â€Å"Yeah?† Christian asked. â€Å"I need to take a detour – or rather, we do since I can't go anywhere without you. We need to go to the church.† His eyebrows rose in surprise. â€Å"What, you need to confess something?† â€Å"Don't ask questions. Please. It'll only take a few minutes.† Concern crossed Lissa's face. â€Å"Well, we can all go – â€Å" â€Å"No, we'll be fast.† I didn't want her there. I didn't want her to hear the answer I was certain I'd get. â€Å"Go to the dorm. We'll catch up. Please, Christian?† He studied me, expression oscillating between wanting to mock me and wanting to help. He wasn't a complete jerk, after all. The latter emotion won out. â€Å"Okay, but if you try to get me to pray with you, I walk.† He and I split off toward the chapel. I moved so fast that he had to scurry to keep up. â€Å"I don't suppose you want to tell me what this is about?† he asked. â€Å"Nope. I appreciate your cooperation, though.† â€Å"Always glad to help,† he said. I was certain he was rolling his eyes, but I was more focused on the path ahead. We reached the chapel, and the door was locked, unsurprisingly. I knocked on it, staring anxiously around to see if any lights shone through the windows. It didn't look like it. â€Å"You know, I've broken in here before,† said Christian. â€Å"If you need inside – â€Å" â€Å"No, more than that. I need to see the priest. Damn it, he's not here.† â€Å"He's probably in bed.† â€Å"Damn it,† I repeated, feeling only a little bad about swearing on a church's doorstep. If the priest was in bed, he'd be off in Moroi staff housing and inaccessible. â€Å"I need to – â€Å" The door opened, and Father Andrew peered out at us. He looked surprised but not upset. â€Å"Rose? Christian? Is something wrong?† â€Å"I have to ask you a question,† I told him. â€Å"It won't take long.† His surprise grew, but he stepped aside so we could enter. We all stopped and stood in the chapel's lobby, just outside the main sanctuary. â€Å"I was just about to go home for the night,† Father Andrew told us. â€Å"I was shutting everything down.† â€Å"You told me that St. Vladimir lived a long life and died of old age. Is that true?† â€Å"Yes,† he said slowly. â€Å"To the best of my knowledge. All the books I've read – including these latest ones – say as much.† â€Å"But what about Anna?† I demanded. I sounded like I was on the verge of hysteria. Which I kind of was. â€Å"What about her?† â€Å"What happened to her? How did she die?† All this time. All this time, Lissa and I had worried about Vlad's outcome. We'd never considered Anna's. â€Å"Ah, well.† Father Andrew sighed. â€Å"Her end wasn't as good, I'm afraid. She spent her whole life protecting him, though there are hints that in her old age, she started growing a little unstable too. And then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And then?† I asked. Christian was looking between the priest and me, completely lost. â€Å"And then, well, a couple months after St. Vladimir passed on, she committed suicide.† I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second and then opened them. This was what I'd been afraid of. â€Å"I'm sorry,† Father Andrew said. â€Å"I know how closely you've followed their story. I didn't even learn this about her until reading it recently. Taking one's life is a sin, of course†¦but, well, considering how close they were, it's not hard to imagine how she may have felt when he was gone.† â€Å"And you also said that she was starting to go a little crazy.† He nodded and spread his hands out. â€Å"It's hard to say what that poor woman was thinking. Many factors were probably involved. Why was this so pressing?† I shook my head. â€Å"It's a long story. Thanks for helping me.† Christian and I were halfway to the dorm before he finally asked, â€Å"What was that all about? I remember when you guys were looking into this. Vladimir and Anna were like Lissa and you, right?† â€Å"Yeah,† I said glumly. â€Å"Look, I don't want to get between you guys, but please don't tell Lissa about this. Not until I find out more. Just tell her †¦ I don't know. I'll tell her that I suddenly panicked because I thought I had more community service scheduled.† â€Å"Both of us lying to her, huh?† â€Å"I hate it, believe me. But it's also best for her at the moment.† Because if Lissa knew that she might potentially make me insane †¦ yeah, she'd take that hard. She'd want to stop working her magic. Of course, that was what I'd always wanted †¦ and yet, I'd felt that joy in her when she used it. Could I take that away from her? Could I sacrifice myself? There was no easy answer, and I couldn't start jumping to conclusions. Not until I knew more. Christian agreed to keep it secret, and by the time we joined the others, it was almost time for curfew anyway. We had only about a half hour together, and then we all split off for bed – including me, since the part-time field experience agreement said I couldn't do nighttime duty. The Strigoi risk was low in general anyway, and my instructors were more concerned about me getting a full night's sleep. So when curfew came, I walked back to the dhampir dorm alone. And then, when I was almost there, he appeared again. Mason. I came to an abrupt halt and glanced around me, wishing someone else was there to witness this and settle the crazy-or-not thing once and for all. His pearly form stood there, hands in the pockets of his coat in an almost casual way that somehow made the experience that much weirder. â€Å"Well,† I said, feeling surprisingly calm, despite the sorrow that washed over me whenever I saw him. â€Å"Glad to see you're alone again. I didn't really like the extras on the plane.† He stared, expression blank and eyes sad. It made me feel worse, guilt twisting my stomach into knots. I broke. â€Å"What are you?† I cried. â€Å"Are you real? Am I going crazy?† To my surprise, he nodded. â€Å"Which?† I squeaked. â€Å"Yes, you're real?† He nodded. â€Å"Yes, I'm crazy?† He shook his head. â€Å"Well,† I said, forcing a joke through my hurricane of emotions. â€Å"That's a relief, but honestly, what else would you say if you're a hallucination?† Mason just stared. I glanced around again, wishing someone would come by. â€Å"Why are you here? Are you mad at us and looking for revenge?† He shook his head, and something in me relaxed. Until that moment, I hadn't realized how worried I'd been about that. The guilt and grief had been wound up so tightly in me. Him blaming me – just as Ryan had – had seemed inevitable. â€Å"Are you †¦ are you having trouble finding peace?† Mason nodded and seemed to grow sadder. I thought back to his final moments and swallowed back tears. I'd probably have a hard time finding peace too, taken from my life before it began. â€Å"Is there more than that, though? Another reason you keep coming to me?† He nodded. â€Å"What?† I asked. There were too many questions lately. I needed answers. â€Å"What is it? What do I need to do?† But anything other than a yes or no question was beyond us, apparently. He opened up his mouth as though he would say something. He looked like he was trying hard, like Adrian had with the plant. But no sound came out. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I whispered. â€Å"I'm sorry I don't understand †¦ and†¦I'm sorry for everything else.† Mason gave me one last wistful look and then vanished.