Organizational Support for Creativity Part II Assignment

Organizational Support for Creativity Part II - Assignment Example ate Education (2012) noted about the impact of the size of organizations on the support for creativity, I am convinced that your organization can do even better in supporting creativity if there was a way of categorizing the potentials of different people within the organization. This way, the organization would have a relatively smaller quantum of creativity to support than supporting individual creativity in the manner that currently exists for your large organization with 6000 employees. Hoever, I., van Knippenberg, D., van Ginkel, W., & Barkema, H. (2012). Fostering team creativity: Perspective taking as key to unlocking diversitys potential. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 97(5), 982–996. In terms of the room given to employees to be creative, I find that your organization is very different from mine because in my case there is so much room for people to explore their individual creative skills. But analyzing your organization critically, I find that one crucial factor that influenced creativity was the nature of organizational structure you have where the top seem to be so much apart from the down. This is because Ekvall (1996) notes that in such situations, there is much likely to be absence of support for creativity because the top hardly knows what is taking place downward (Kim, Kim and Wilde, 2008). I am therefore of the opinion that if there was a frontline management system, a lot more would have been seen of employees in terms of what they have to offer to the organization and so they would have been given the freedom to create (Ekvall, 1996). I would therefore conclude by saying that the importance of leading from all levels of the organization is to ensure that leaders are close enough with subordinates so that they can promote them to be

Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Macbeth Essay â€Å"As the weird women promised: and I fear, Thou play’dst most foully for’t; yet it was said. It should not stand in thy posterity,/but that myself should be the root and father/Of many Kings.† -Banquo, Act 3, Scene 1 These lines are very important to the story of Macbeth, because it shows that Banquo is finally figuring out that Macbeth may have done something terrible to become king. The witches claimed Macbeth would first be Thane of Cawdor, then Thane of Glamis and finally King. He realizes that as soon as the â€Å"weird women† told Macbeth he would be King, Macbeth may have taken it too far and cheated the prophecies. â€Å"With bare-fac’d power sweep him from my sight/And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,/For certain friends that are both his and mine,/Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall/Whom I myself struck down†¦Ã¢â‚¬  -Macbeth speaking to the Murderers, Act 3, Scene 1 This quote is significant because it shows how Macbeth can have a very dark and malicious disposition. He realizes that Banquo has caught on that he killed the King to fulfill the Witches’ prophecies. He thinks that if he doesn’t get Banquo killed, he will be the one getting killed. Macbeth also knows that if he kills Banquo himself, he will lose his position as King and all of the people who support him. â€Å"Avuant! And quit my sight! Let the earth/hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;/Thou has no speculation in those eyes/Which thou glare with.† -Macbeth to Ghost of Banquo, Act 3, Scene 4 This is the part of the play when you can really tell that Macbeth is starting to go insane. He yells at the ghost of Banquo in front of all of his dinner guests, who don’t see Banquo. â€Å"And quit my sight!† shows that Macbeth is frightened by the sudden sight of his deceased companion. The cause of his hallucination could be because of a heavy weight of regret on his conscience. â€Å"And that well might advise him to a caution to hold what distance his wisdom can provide. Some holy angel,/Fly to the court of England†¦ Under a hand accurs’d!† -Lennox, Act 3, Scene 6

Improving Self-Care for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Essay examp

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease that is chronic and acute, most likely to affect women and those between 35-50 years of age. The process of RA begins as an inflammation episode in the synovium, causes it to thicken and become edematous. Synovial inflammation results in joints that are swollen, tender, and stiff. The patient with RA may manifest symptoms of pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, weight loss, anxiety, and depression. (Chen, & Wang, 2007) Self-care abilities are affected by the clinical manifestations related to the disease process of RA. Assessment The health history is beneficial to identify the risk factor for those with close relatives suffering with the disease. Physical examination is reliable when assessing the joints, range of motion, and circulation. A developed multi-dimensional health assessment questionnaire that is completed by the patient at each visit in their rheumatology clinic can be scored and provide the physician a current status of their physical and psychological areas that might raise concern for poor self-care. Assessing the patients ESR, CRP levels, and rheumatoid factor provides information of the patients’ baseline laboratory values with any deviations.(Palmer, El Gaafary, & El Mideany, 2007) The nurse should assess the patients’ psychosocial aspects including, social support; knowledge; education level; and socioeconomic status due to the positive correlation with self-care. (Chen, & Wang, 2007) Planning With RA being a chronic disease with acute exacerbations and remissions, it has social, emotional, physical, and psychosocial complications. Impaired physical mobility is a problem associated with RA, due to the symptoms of morning s... ...elf-care abilities with this disease. References Chen, s, & Wang, h. (2007). The relationship between physical function, knowledge of disease, social support and self-care behavior in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Nursing Research, 15(3),183-92. Makelainen , P, Vehvilainen-Julkunen, K, & Pietil, A. (2009). Change in knowledge and self-efficacy of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a six-month follow-up study. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 15(5), 368-75. Makelainen, P, Vehvilainen-Julkunen, K, & Pietil, A. (2007). Rheumatoid arthritis patients' education-contents and methods. Journal of Nursing & Healthcare of Chronic Illnesses, 16(11c), 258-67. Palmer, D, El Gaafary, M, & El Mideany, Y. (2007). Rheumatology. improving patient care: measurement of outcome in rheumatoid arthritis. British Journal of Nursing, 16(16), 1010-5.

The Great Depression in Canada :: essays research papers

Canada suffered its longest and most terrible economic depression in its history between 1929 and 1939. It is now known as the Great Depression. This essay will demonstrate the major causes, political, economic and social consequences, and the government’s solutions from the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected all of Canada and is a key part of our history. It is important that we learn from it so we can prevent it from happening again. There were many causes for the Great Depression. The first and one of the largest was the stock market crash. Before 1929 the stock market was flourishing and everyone wanted to buy stocks. People were so confident in the stock market that they were buying â€Å"on margin†, which meant that brokers would lend them 10% of the money they invested (D1). The problems began when stocks were being over speculated. When people began to realize this, they began selling there shares. On October 29, 1929, 16 million shares were sold (D9). This day became known as â€Å"Black Thursday†, the day the stock market crashed (D12). The second reason was the overproduction of goods. Factories had already produced too many goods and now there was no demand for them. The government began to raise tariffs to protect Canadian industries but things only led downhill from there. There were two major political consequences of the Great Depression. The first was that new political parties were formed in Canada. The new political parties were the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the Social Credit Party, and the Union Nationale (UN). The CCF was founded by J.S. Woodsworth and believed in the establishment of minimum wage, accident and sickness insurance, old age pensions and unemployment insurance. The Social Credit Party was founded by William Aberhart. He believed that governments should issue money to everyone so that they could buy goods in a form of â€Å"social credits†. In the 1935 provincial elections he took 56 of 63 seats giving him a total victory. The UN was founded by Maurice Duplessis due to the union of Action Liberale Nationale and the Conservative Party. They promoted the traditional values of the Catholic Church and believed in a rural lifestyle. The second political consequence was a conflicted relationship between the fe deral and the provincial governments. The depression showed the federal government that provincial governments did not have enough money to carry out significant projects. The Great Depression in Canada :: essays research papers Canada suffered its longest and most terrible economic depression in its history between 1929 and 1939. It is now known as the Great Depression. This essay will demonstrate the major causes, political, economic and social consequences, and the government’s solutions from the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected all of Canada and is a key part of our history. It is important that we learn from it so we can prevent it from happening again. There were many causes for the Great Depression. The first and one of the largest was the stock market crash. Before 1929 the stock market was flourishing and everyone wanted to buy stocks. People were so confident in the stock market that they were buying â€Å"on margin†, which meant that brokers would lend them 10% of the money they invested (D1). The problems began when stocks were being over speculated. When people began to realize this, they began selling there shares. On October 29, 1929, 16 million shares were sold (D9). This day became known as â€Å"Black Thursday†, the day the stock market crashed (D12). The second reason was the overproduction of goods. Factories had already produced too many goods and now there was no demand for them. The government began to raise tariffs to protect Canadian industries but things only led downhill from there. There were two major political consequences of the Great Depression. The first was that new political parties were formed in Canada. The new political parties were the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the Social Credit Party, and the Union Nationale (UN). The CCF was founded by J.S. Woodsworth and believed in the establishment of minimum wage, accident and sickness insurance, old age pensions and unemployment insurance. The Social Credit Party was founded by William Aberhart. He believed that governments should issue money to everyone so that they could buy goods in a form of â€Å"social credits†. In the 1935 provincial elections he took 56 of 63 seats giving him a total victory. The UN was founded by Maurice Duplessis due to the union of Action Liberale Nationale and the Conservative Party. They promoted the traditional values of the Catholic Church and believed in a rural lifestyle. The second political consequence was a conflicted relationship between the fe deral and the provincial governments. The depression showed the federal government that provincial governments did not have enough money to carry out significant projects.

Concord Bookshop Paper Essay

The evidence of change has never been more apparent then as witnessed in the health care industry at present time. Both internal and external influences are serving to create a rapidly evolving health care marketplace that requires health care organizations to not only recognize change but be willing to incorporate a learning culture that is proactive to continuous change (Spector, 2010). The successful implementation of change is highly dependent upon how change is introduced, applied, and supported that enables old processes to be dismissed, new ideas are introduced, and a new vision that includes desired changes is accepted by all employees that it will influence (Spector, 2010). The owners of the Concord Bookshop viewed change as a stand-alone process for improving their business or the introduction of a business solution (Spector, 2010). The real application of change has to do with involving people to change a process, technology, or even organizational wide change modalities. Instead, the owners and board directed change and assumed that if it was mandated then change would be automatic (Spector, 2010). Communication A critical phase that was overlooked by Concord Bookshop is communication planning. Analytical assessments and the recognition of what changes are needed is a valid starting point, but if these changes are not communicated effectively then changes will be met with great resistance and confusion by employees, vendors, and most importantly customers (Spector, 2010). Awareness must be communicated that identifies the reason for change and the downside if change is not implemented (Spector, 2010). This awareness depends on ensuring that the communication applied is specifically designed for the audience it is intended. Communication of change will be delivered differently to front-line employees than it would be to upper management and  still different to vendors and customers. The owners of the Concord Bookshop communicated only to inform that change has taken place without giving anyone a chance to understand why change is needed in the first place. Sponsorship A buy-in by those most capable of implementing change is vital to ensuring a high level of change management and successful change (Spector, 2010). This is not the same as supporting change but instead is the active role of senior business leaders in involved in active participation that results in evidence of change. Management acting as agents of change can lead from the front and help identify problems, communicate, and create positive change environments. This is also an avenue to ensure the vision and direction of change is maintained throughout the change process (Spector, 2010). Resistance No matter how well the communication and sponsorship of change implementation processes is applied; there is always a level of resistance. This resistance must be managed in a proactive and timely manner (Spector, 2010). Change agents, teams, and leaders must recognize change resistance and apply proper processes and tools to support change implementation in all phases of change in an organization. The Concord Bookshop did not consider employee resistance to change and went as far as to disregard communication stating the reasons for resistance. A business that view employees as a liability and a cost, fail to see employees as human capital and assets. This view is counter to how vendors and customers view them (Spector, 2010). The Concord Bookshop represents an excellent example of how not to attempt change. If employees would have been included in the early stages of analysis to define the change required, they would have created a proactive change management environment (Spector, 2010). Instead, the surprise of change that was perpetuated upon the employees was met with across the board resistance, bewilderment, anger, and derision that resulted in the loss of many highly qualified employees and management. These factors created a  failure of change management where the loss of employees and resulting customers would cost the company far more than if they had taken the time to implement change management process correctly to begin with (Spector, 2010). References Spector, B. (2010). Implementing organizational change: Theory into practice (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

How To Use Evernote For Blogging To Boost Your Efficiency

How To Use Evernote For Blogging To Boost Your Efficiency Tons of people use Evernote. More than 100 million, in fact- and that was two years ago. And lots of those folks are bloggers and marketers like Colin here: A1: I usually start with ideas and planning in Evernote. #CoChat Colin Haas (@colinmhaas) June 4, 2015 Some awesome bloggers  like Michael Hyatt are also  extremely vocal about using  Evernote for blogging- just check out his  ultimate guide to creating blog posts with Evernote. So last week when made it possible to convert Evernote to WordPress, we thought youd enjoy some actionable advice on how to use Evernote for blogging and content marketing. Yeah, let me repeat that quick: You can now turn  Evernote notes into WordPress blog posts with  . Here is how to use Evernote for blogging (and stick around to the end for tips on how we use Evernote  at ). How To Use Evernote For #Blogging To Boost Your EfficiencyWhy Evernote Is Awesome For Blogging Evernote, at its core, is a note-taking tool. It helps you organize notes into notebooks, which helps you remember everything. You can use Evernote for anything. For bloggers, that includes  marketing strategy, content plans, meeting or interview  notes (and you can also record the audio), content ideas, research, and actual content creation. You can use Evernote anywhere.  The tool integrates with literally hundreds of other apps and devices, some of which you're probably using already, like . Because Evernote focuses on making the tool useful for any device, you can take notes wherever you are. You don't even need to be online- when you have an idea while on an airplane, you can still make a note that will sync with your other devices once you find the Internet later (because let's face it, who pays $10 to have sketchy Internet for a couple hours?). And because of that, you have access to all of your blogging notes wherever you are. While it's a simple concept, Evernote  has some serious  features that make it a blogger's best friend. 1. Capture Blog Post Ideas In Evernote Any blogger who's been at it for a while will relate to Emma's problem with blog post ideas here: @eradscantina see ideas always come at inconvenient times and by the time I get home its gone - I write it down now Emma White (@TheRealSupermum) March 19, 2015 It seems like great post ideas come- they exist for a few seconds- then we forget them. Since Evernote is on your smartphone (which, let's face it, is always with you), you can use it  to "write it down now" and never forget  an idea again. Get Started:  Set up a notebook for all of your  blog post ideas. This notebook is where you'll  add every blog post idea as an individual note. So how can Evernote help you capture blog post ideas? Use Web Clipper and the Evernote Helper  to store your ideas. How many times have you cruised the interwebs and found inspiration for a blog post? Evernote's Web Clipper is awesome for capturing those fleeting thoughts before you ever forget them. With search engines like Google looking further into facts, data, and research in your posts to rank them higher on their search engine results pages, Evernote makes it easier to gather the information you need to boost your SEO. Watch this, and you'll know exactly how to use  Web Clipper in less than a minute: Here are a few ways you can use Evernote's  Web Clipper and Helper  for blogging: Read blogs in your niche. When they have a great idea, blow their post away with something way better. Capture that post with the Web Clipper to save the idea. You may already have a few blog post ideas and are doing online research to validate your points.  Web Clipper gives you the opportunity  to copy entire articles into your Evernote. Another option for research, and my preferred, is to use Evernote Helper  to copy and paste URLs and even the coolest facts, quotes, or pieces of inspiration. That way, there are fewer notes to sort through in Evernote, but you capture the gist of what you needed with a link to reference the source. And you can do all that without ever leaving your browser, which saves a ton of time. Get started with Evernote's free Web Clipper to gather blog post ideas easier than ever.  Just imagine how many more ideas you'll have in your drafts bin! And how much time that can save you when writing your posts. Use Skitch to take screen shots with arrows, notes, and highlighted areas. Skitch is a super powerful tool to take screen shots and provide context to your readers to help them understand what to focus on. I've seen tons of bloggers use Skitch including thought leaders like  Neil Patel. You may already know the importance of using visuals in your blog posts: 60% of your audience is  visual learners. Skitch makes it easy to include more images in your posts  to help you visually tell your story. Again, Evernote pulled together a great 2-minute video to show off some of the ways you can use Skitch to take screen shots and mark up pictures: Skitch makes blogging easier  for four reasons: Skitch is excellent for showing your customers and prospects exactly how to do something on your website or with your product. Our  customer success team at could probably not survive without the help of Skitch to annotate "how-tos" for help docs. And if you read this post about marketing calendars, you would understand why at least some product-centric content should come first before inbound-only content. Lots of bloggers like to include screenshots of Web pages that prove their points. Skitch makes it easy to take the screen shots and hone in on specific areas by using rectangles, arrows, and text. That gives your screen shots more context, which is super helpful when you rely on visuals to tell your story. The blur out tool is super handy. I thought I'd never really use it, but when you take a screen shot of your own  social media accounts or examples from forums (you get the picture), it's nice to keep information private while getting your point across. Trust me, this is a billion times easier than figuring out how to do it with a tool like Photoshop. Skitch connects directly into Evernote. Once you're done with your image, you can simply drag and drop your Skitch image into the note where you're working on your post. That keeps your content in one place when you're researching, outlining, and gathering information in general. Get Skitch for free now to include better annotated images and screenshots on your blog. Email blog post ideas directly into Evernote. If you've never used Evernote before for capturing your blog ideas, I totally get the learning curve of figuring out a new tool. So why not start gathering ideas with a tool you've used for years- your email- and simply send them directly into Evernote? Michael Hyatt has a detailed post to help you understand the tech behind this. It's really simple to get started: Find your Evernote email address in Account Info More Account Settings. Optimize your subject lines to add emails as notes directly into your existing notebooks with tags and reminders. Your subject line becomes your note name, so use this syntax: Note Name @Notebook Name #Tag Name !YYYY/MM/DD. Send your email. Even if you don't remember the subject line syntax, that's fine. The email will just go into your default folder which you can change under  Preferences General. While you could move files from your default, it saves a ton of time to learn the subject line syntax now and simply know that your notes are filed properly without any other manual steps. This feature is awesome for bloggers and marketers: You may  subscribe to a few different blogs to receive their content via email. Now that you use Evernote, when an email comes through with an idea you love, you can easily forward it directly into Evernote to turn that email into a note in your "Blog Post Ideas"  notebook. When you come up with an idea as you look through your email, just write yourself an email and send it into Evernote. That keeps you focused on getting through email without ever leaving the tool, and you won't forget your blog post idea. You may have an approval process or want some general feedback before pursuing a blog post idea. You can easily write the email to whomever you'd like, and  send it directly into your Evernote. Pro  Tip: If you're a Gmail user, there is also a way to clip email threads with Web Clipper to send them directly into Evernote. 3 bonus  ways to capture blog post ideas with Evernote. Admittedly, I don't use these ways often (yet). But they sound pretty powerful for those of you who blog slightly differently than me: If you're a big fan of writing posts on paper- or gathering some of your thoughts on graphic designs, brainstorms, etc. offline- you can easily scan directly into Evernote. While I've never scanned, I've definitely taken pictures on my phone and added them into Evernote, which is super easy, too! If you're a big reader, chances are, blog post ideas come to you all the time from the books you read. You can actually use Kindle's highlighter tool and get all of the awesome quotes you highlighted into Evernote for blog post fodder. Imagine book reviews or even a nice area for your favorite quotes to use in multiple posts. 6 Ways To Capture Blog Post Ideas With Evernote2. Write Your Blog Posts In Evernote Michael Hyatt has some great advice for turning blog post ideas in Evernote into actual content. Begin with a template and flesh out your blog post outline right in Evernote: Set up a blogging template in Evernote. There are certain components that I want to create or collect for every blog post. For example, I am now using the SCORREâ„ ¢ method from the Dynamic Communicators Workshop (DCW) to prepare every post. This is an acronym for Subject, Central Theme, Objective Statement, Rationale, and Evaluation. I store my template in an Evernote notebook called Templates, along with numerous other templates I use on a regular basis. Michael even included a screen shot of his template you can use to build your own: Essentially, you'll use this template to turn a blog post idea into real content. This is an easy way to shape up an outline for your posts, getting the inspiration flowing for that idea you may have thrown in Evernote a couple weeks or even months ago. Here is that blog post template in text format so you can easily copy and paste it into a new note in your Evernote: Subject: [What do I want to talk about?] Central Theme: [What do I want to focus on?] Objective Statement: Persuasive: Every person should ___ because of/for ___ (keyword). Enabling: Every person can ___ by ___ (keyword). Rationale: Resources: [Title Ideas] [Illustrations] [Images] [Links] Evaluation: Write the first draft Edit the first draft Read it aloud Insert relevant HTML code Publish a draft Proof-read the draft and make corrections Insert metadata and run post through ScribeSEO Tweak as necessary Schedule for publication Set the featured image in WordPress Draft: [Lead Paragraph] [Relevant Image] [Personal Experience] [Rationale] [Conclusion] [Discussion Question] Outline your posts to write them better and faster. #bloggingtipsWhat I like about this template is that it helps you turn an idea into real content. It helps you focus on: Finding unique angles for your posts so you don't sound just like everybody else. Focusing on objectives that essentially answer the question, "What will my  audience learn when they read this post?" Targeting keywords your audience uses to help them find your content through search engines. Brainstorming many different headlines to eventually choose the best ones for your blog posts. Following a simple, task-based workflow to make sure you don't accidentally forget something as you write and publish your posts. And one of the cool things about this template is that you can tweak and customize it for your own preferences. At least now, you have a starting point to see what it may look like in your Evernote. Recommended Reading: How To Write A Blog Post: Your 5-Point Checklist To Rock A Perfect Post 4-Step System For Writing A Great Blog Post, Even If You Have Writers Block How To Write Blog Posts (Even When You Really Don’t Want To) How To Save Time Writing Blog Posts 3.  Publish Your Blog Posts From Evernote To WordPress (Or Wherever, Really) Well, technically you can actually publish your blog posts from Evernote to WordPress- or to HTML or PDFs. It's all possible with the new integration between Evernote and your editorial  calendar. Watch this video to learn exactly how to  plan your Evernote notes as content with your editorial calendar: Sidebar: Some of you- the planning nerds like me- may want to plan your Evernote posts on your editorial calendar before you start writing it. There are a lot of benefits of doing just that: You can plan your time a whole lot better by knowing what you'll publish ahead of time. Planning ideas on your calendar will help you prioritize your blog posts based on what has the best opportunity to "move the needle" or in real people words- it focuses your energy on the projects your audience should really love. Your editorial calendar provides a list of publish dates. So whatever tasks you do to make a blog post happen, you can work backward to knock them all out before you wake up and think, "Crap! I need to write and publish a post today!" And planning your Evernote ideas on your editorial calendar- even before you write the posts- is totally possible. Follow this same process, just  write your posts later on. The process is simple: Connect your Evernote notebooks into . Drag and drop your notes from your drafts bin in as real content on your editorial calendar. Use the workflows and communication  you love in for managing your Evernote-created content. When your Evernote content is ready to publish, send  it to WordPress, or even share it as a link,  HTML, or a PDF. After publish, use your  social queue to promote your content right from . It's seriously that easy. Bonus! How Really Uses Evernote You just learned how to capture blog post ideas, write your blog posts in Evernote, and how to transfer your posts to WordPress and beyond. Well done! So  here's a bonus  of how  we use Evernote for blogging at . 1.  Capture blog post ideas in Evernote. You just read all about this in some extreme detail, so I'll save you from repeating myself on the how-to process. At , we capture blog post ideas using the Web Clipper, Evernote Helper, and email into Evernote features. Right now, we have  one note where anyone on the team can add in ideas, too. That way, if it's just one sentence and a link to the source of inspiration, we have slightly fewer notes to sift through for the good ideas versus the stinkers. We use one notebook for all of our notes relating to blog post ideas. That same notebook is where we start to flesh out posts, too, with research. Use Evernote to capture your blog post ideas. Here's how to turn them into real, published content.2. Research blog post ideas with Evernote. Once we vet our ideas to know if they're any good, we throw them on the calendar as Content in . From here, we use Evernote's tools  like Web Clipper and Evernote Helper as we conduct online research to fact-check our posts before we ever write them. This also plays into Evernote's ability to record audio. We do a lot of case study-esque content to help our audience learn how to plan content even better from the pros who use like Raven Tools, Convince and Convert, and THINK creative group. After  doing a few of these interviews with me writing a million miles an hour, I started researching how to record what my interviewees are saying to help me focus on the conversation instead of just writing down their answers to my questions. I'm excited to try out the recording feature for the next interview. Pro Tip: Folks like Krista and Ashton on our team use the recording feature to remember what Garrett says during meetings. He's got a bunch of ideas, so this way, we can all go back and make sure we knock out projects without forgetting any details. (He has lots of ideas, by the way). 3. Write your blog posts in Evernote. Garrett has mentioned this before: He writes every post in Evernote. It's nice to forget about formatting for a little bit, and concentrate purely on writing great content. Here's what Garrett has to say about it: One of my all time favorite writing tools is most definitely Evernote. I use it to keep track of all of my blog post ideas and regularly add notes and outlines to my documents as I come up with new ideas or details for posts. With Evernote, I can easily take my â€Å"blogging brain† on the go, so time and location are never a limitation to my writing process. Here's a screen shot of how he starts with a brief idea, then fleshes out his outline in Evernote first, then fills in the blanks with his real posts: Read the post this outline turned into:  How To Save Time Writing Blog Posts. 4. Plan a note for this week's projects, what's on deck for next week, and all upcoming projects. I'm at risk to nerd out right now. So I'll try to be as clear as possible. is a software as a service (SaaS) startup built on agile development processes. That works for us for the development team, so we've adopted that model of project management for marketing. Essentially, we have one note to which the entire team has access. This note has three main sections: Active Projects: What are we doing this week? On Deck Projects: What are we planning to do next week? Upcoming Projects: What are things we could do, but aren't planning  to do quite yet? Some projects constantly happen every week- so we know they'll happen- like publishing on our blog, sending emails and newsletters, and hosting our Twitter chat. Yet this process, managed at a high-level in an Evernote note, helps us plan the additional projects  we're working on. This note serves as the itinerary for our Monday marketing meetings, and helps us talk through the projects, know who the owners are, and address any road blocks. Read this post on Evernote's blog for a lot more detail on how we use Evernote to coordinate marketing and our team. 5. Document your progress toward your marketing goals with Evernote. I just mentioned we have marketing meetings on Mondays. Just as it's important for us to know what we're doing  this week and get a glimpse of next week's projects, it's super important for us to understand how our past marketing performed so we can optimize future projects. Document your progress toward your marketing goals with Evernote. Here's how.We document our progress toward our marketing goals in a notebook with new notes added once a week to track weekly progress. Our goals include increasing: Social media shares Traffic Email subscribers Customer conversions Our weekly reports run through stats from a bunch of different tools, often of  screenshots of various dashboards showing our weekly progress: Social media analytics from Traffic reports from Google Analytics Email subscribers from Campaign Monitor and KISSmetrics Customer conversions from Intercom and KISSmetrics At the start of a new month, we'll look at how all the data added up. Basically, we look for trends to understand what's working and what's not so that we prioritize our time (and future projects) according to what will drive growth. Evernote helps us track all of that. 6. Have one notebook for active projects and separate notebooks for ongoing projects. I don't like clutter. So I don't like new notebooks for every project because sometimes they're really small and then notebooks just sit there, making it difficult for me to see the few notebooks I use every day. We have  one notebook for one-off active marketing projects we're working through. We actually write a lot of our content in Evernote notes, whether it's blog posts, Web pages, landing pages, case studies, tear sheets- you name it. When a project is done, we move the notes to another notebook for closed marketing projects. This  keeps it simple to archive  since  we've most likely edited the content once it was formatted, so we consider the final published content to be  the master source. For ongoing projects like our #CoChat Twitter chat, we have a notebook to which we add new notes all the time. For example, it makes sense to manage all of our #CoChat stuff together, and to easily reference what we've created in the past. How Will You Use Evernote For Blogging And Marketing? The beautiful thing about Evernote is that there are a billion different ways to use it. We'd love to hear how you  use Evernote for blogging!

Free Essays on Computer Graphics

Introduction Hollywood has gone digital, and the old ways of doing things are dying. Animation and Television networks have embraced special effects created with computers. Film editors, who for decades worked by painstakingly, Cutting and gluing film segments together, are now sitting in front of computer screens. There, they edit entire features while adding sound that is not only stored digitally, but also has been created and manipulated with computers. Viewers are witnessing the results of in he forms of stories and experiences that they never dreamed of before. Perhaps the most surprising aspect is that the entire digital effects and Animation. The future looks bright. How It Was in the beginning, computer graphics were as cumbersome and as hard to control as dinosaurs must have been in their own time. Like dinosaurs, the hardware systems, or muscles, of early computer graphics were huge and ungainly. The machines often filled entire buildings. Also like dinosaurs, the software programs or brains of computer graphics were hopelessly underdeveloped. Fortunately for the visual arts, the evolution of both brains and brawn of computer graphics did not take eons to develop. It has, instead, taken only three decades to move from science fiction to current technological trends. With computers out of the Stone Age, we have moved into the leading edge of the silicon era. Imagine sitting at a computer without any visual feedback on a monitor. There would be no spreadsheets, no word processors, not even simple games like solitaire. This is what it was like in the early days of computers. The only way to interact with a computer at that time was throug h toggle switches, flashing lights, punch cards, and Teletype printouts. How It All Began In 1962, all this began to change. In that year, Ivan Sutherland, a Ph.D. student at (MIT), created the science of computer graphics. For his dissertation, he wrote a program called Sket... Free Essays on Computer Graphics Free Essays on Computer Graphics Introduction Hollywood has gone digital, and the old ways of doing things are dying. Animation and Television networks have embraced special effects created with computers. Film editors, who for decades worked by painstakingly, Cutting and gluing film segments together, are now sitting in front of computer screens. There, they edit entire features while adding sound that is not only stored digitally, but also has been created and manipulated with computers. Viewers are witnessing the results of in he forms of stories and experiences that they never dreamed of before. Perhaps the most surprising aspect is that the entire digital effects and Animation. The future looks bright. How It Was in the beginning, computer graphics were as cumbersome and as hard to control as dinosaurs must have been in their own time. Like dinosaurs, the hardware systems, or muscles, of early computer graphics were huge and ungainly. The machines often filled entire buildings. Also like dinosaurs, the software programs or brains of computer graphics were hopelessly underdeveloped. Fortunately for the visual arts, the evolution of both brains and brawn of computer graphics did not take eons to develop. It has, instead, taken only three decades to move from science fiction to current technological trends. With computers out of the Stone Age, we have moved into the leading edge of the silicon era. Imagine sitting at a computer without any visual feedback on a monitor. There would be no spreadsheets, no word processors, not even simple games like solitaire. This is what it was like in the early days of computers. The only way to interact with a computer at that time was throug h toggle switches, flashing lights, punch cards, and Teletype printouts. How It All Began In 1962, all this began to change. In that year, Ivan Sutherland, a Ph.D. student at (MIT), created the science of computer graphics. For his dissertation, he wrote a program called Sket...

The Grim Sleeper Serial Killer Case

The Grim Sleeper Serial Killer Case For more than two decades, the Los Angeles Police Department worked to solve a series of 11 murders that occurred between 1985 and 2007 that were linked to the same suspect by DNA and ballistic evidence. Because the killer took an apparent 14-year hiatus between 1988 and 2002, the media dubbed him the Grim Sleeper. Here are the current developments in the trial of Lonnie Franklin Jr. Judge Blocks Defense DNA Evidence Nov. 9, 2015 - A proposed witness for the defendant in the Los Angeles Grim Sleeper case is not qualified to testify as an expert, a judge has ruled. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy said the testimony of a so-called DNA expert could not be used at the upcoming trial of Lonnie Franklin Jr. Lawrence Sowers was prepared to testify that some of the DNA found at the crime scenes of victims attributed to Franklin belonged to convicted serial killer Chester Turner instead. Judge Kennedy ruled that Sowers woefully failed to meet the generally accepted methods of the scientific community in the area of forensic DNA analysis. During a week-long evidentiary hearing, Sowers buckled under fierce cross-examination by Deputy District Attorney Marguerite Rizzo, who challenged him on his education, his calculations, and errors in his findings. When Sowers began to change his finding during the hearing, Franklins defense attorney Seymour Amster asked the judge to postpone the hearing. I do not feel comfortable, Amster told the judge, representing Mr. Franklin at this moment with Dr. Sowers on this case. An obviously frustrated Judge Kennedy denied the request. I’m not suspending this proceeding, Kennedy said. We have been in progress on it for days and days and days and days and days and we’re going to finish it. Franklin is scheduled to go on trial Dec. 15 on 11 counts of murder and other charges. Franklin Questions DNA Evidence May 1, 2015 - An attorney for the accused serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper believes DNA evidence in the cases of two women his client is suspected of killing belongs to another serial killer already on death row. Seymour Amster, attorney for Lonnie Franklin Jr., told the court that an expert hired by the defense connected DNA from two of the cases to Chester Turner, who was convicted of killing 14 women in the Los Angeles area in the 1980s and 1990s. At a pretrial hearing, Amster told the judge that the defenses case will revolve around the DNA evidence. He said his experts finding will produce lingering doubt in the minds of the jurors. Prosecutor Beth Silverman called the defense DNA findings outlandish. She said Turners DNA has been in the system for years and if any of the DNA evidence in the Franklin case was Turners it would have produced a match a long time ago. This guys taking it [the DNA] and doing his own abracadabra, Silverman told reporters, and coming up with a conclusion that is outrageous. The defense had requested DNA profiles of everyone who committed a violent felony during the 1980s and 1990s. Judge Kathleen Kennedy denied the motion, calling it a fishing expedition. Grim Sleeper Trial Date Set Feb. 6, 2015 - Nearly five years after a suspect was arrested in a series of Los Angeles murders known as the Grim Sleeper case, a trial date has finally been set. Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy said jury selection will begin June 30 in the murder trial of Lonnie Franklin Jr., who is accused of killing 10 women and one man from 1985 to 2007. The setting of the trial date came after members of the families of victims in the case spoke out in court demanding a speedy trial. The family members were able to do so under the provisions of a new California law, known as Marsys Law, which is a voter-approved bill of rights for victims of crime. The law allows family members to address the court and demand a speedy trial. Those who spoke during the hearing blamed Franklins attorney for the delay in justice, saying he has been dragging his feet. Prior to the passing of Marsys Law, it was up to the discretion of the judge if victims families were allowed to speak at court hearings, parole hearings, and sentencing. The prosecution also blamed the defense for the delays in the case. Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman said Judge Kennedy has failed to hold the defense to deadlines. Franklins attorney, Seymour Amster, said it was the prosecution who was responsible for delays because they have not turned over evidence in the case for further DNA testing. Amster said a defense expert found DNA from another man and three of the Grim Sleeper crime scenes and wants to run tests on more pieces found at the scenes. There are rumors that Im trying to delay this thing, he said. Im really not. Im a strong proponent of do it once, do it right. Previous Developments Grim Sleeper Evidence Legal, Judge RulesJan. 8, 2014DNA evidence that linked a former Los Angeles garbage collector to at least 16 murders was obtained legally, a California judge has ruled. Judge Kathleen Kennedy ruled that DNA from Lonnie Franklin Jr. could be used at his trial in what is known as the Grim Sleeper serial killer case. Death Penalty Sought for Grim SleeperAug. 1, 2011Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a California man accused of the serial killings of women in a case known as the Grim Sleeper murders. Lonnie Franklin Jr. is facing charges in the murder of 10 women and attempted murder of another. More Victims Linked to Grim Sleeper?April 6, 2011Investigators in Los Angeles believe the Grim Sleeper serial killer, already accused in 10 murders, may be responsible for eight additional deaths. Police are looking for the publics help in identifying three possible victims of Lonnie Franklin Jr. from photos they found hidden at his home. Grim Sleeper Pictures Provide Few CluesDec. 27, 2010Suspecting more victims in the Grim Sleeper serial killer case, the Los Angeles Police Department released to the public 160 photographs of women found in the possession of the main suspect, Lonnie David Franklin Jr. Although many of them have been identified, none have turned out to be victims. Grim Sleeper Suspect Pleads Not GuiltyAug. 24, 2010The man accused of killing ten women in South Los Angeles in the Grim Sleeper case has entered a not guilty plea to 10 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Lonnie Franklin Jr. also faces special circumstance charges making him eligible for the death penalty in California. Arrest Made in Grim Sleeper Serial Killer CaseJuly 7, 2010Using DNA from his son to identify him as a suspect, the Los Angeles Police Department has arrested a man suspected in 11 serial killings going back to 1985. Lonnie Franklin Jr., who once worked as a police garage attendant, was charged with 10 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder with special circumstances of multiple murders. Police Release Sketch of Grim SleeperNov. 24, 2009The Los Angeles Police Department has released a sketch of a man they suspect in at least 11 deaths since the 1980s in hopes of tracking down the serial killer. The suspect is known only as the Grim Sleeper due to the fact that he apparently took a 14-year hiatus. Reward Set for Grim Sleeper Serial KillerSept. 5, 2008Los Angeles detectives hope a $500,000 reward set by the city council last week will produce some new leads in the case of a serial killer they believe is responsible for 11 deaths over a two decade period. All of the victims, 10 women and a man, were black and were found near South Los Angeles.

Vision Statement Comparison Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Vision Statement Comparison - Assignment Example Even though it does not show where the company intends to go it explains the planning in the company. Therefore, the vision statement in the two companies is directed towards making a profit to the shareholders and also satisfying their clients. (MacDonald, 1997) The vision statement is similar with the educational vision statement in that it shows a bigger picture on where the company intends to be. MacDonald (1997) they are also similar as both articulate the dream on where either the company or the institutions intends to be. For example, in Georgia intends to maximize the potential in students through creating a productive citizen that can contribute to positive development of the society. California University of Pennsylvania intends envisions being the top university in the entire America. In the company, vision statement can apply to different divisions; the educational vision statements also might be different from one faculty to another. But what is clear that the overall vision statement should be consistent. The example of the vision statement from both companies and two educational institutions act as a driving force to employees and the staff towards achieving the bigger picture in the or the fundamental laid objectives. (Clarke,

Patient Care And Influence On My Career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Patient Care And Influence On My Career - Essay Example I used to work under the directions of Registered nurses and physicians in delivering patient care in the hospital. I made a huge contribution in bathing patients and assisting patients during their physical therapy sessions. I also provided basic bedside care services such as taking the vital patient disease signs such as blood pressure levels, pulse rate and body temperature. My patient care in assisting the patients relieve pain and discomfort through applying new dressings, applying ice packs and providing alcohol rubs enabled me to acknowledge the valuable work that nurses do in delivering high quality patient care. I appreciate the dignity of human life and need to handle all patients with respect and that is why I participated in feeding the patients, recording the fluid intakes, and assisting patients with their personal hygiene (Chang 12). I believe that my approach to patient care was holistic since carried out an ongoing physical, social and emotional assessment of the patients in the hospital and fostered the independence of the patient in making the decisions concerning the preferred treatment method. Accordingly, I participated in the development and implementing of patient care plans through collection of laboratory samples and performance of simple laboratory tests. Another aspect of patient care that aroused by interest in joining nursing school is the care of babies and the need to educate the mothers and families on hygienic and healthy baby care habits. In this regard, I participated in disseminating information on hygienic baby care procedures and monitoring of any illness signs on the young babies (Harrion 104). I believe that I will contribute immensely to the nursing profession after completion of my education. I am confident that I will gain practical skills that are capable of meeting the needs of the health care system. I will be in a position to understand the economic, political and social forces that have shaped the nursing profession. Accordingly, the demand for nursing care services is currently increasing thus I will be able to contribute towards delivering a patient-centered care. I am sure the nursing knowledge, skills and attitudes will enable me improve the patient outcomes and ultimately lead to a higher satisfaction level among the patients. I will provide physical patient care, make sure all patients complete the treatment prescribed by the physicians and document the patient’s response to the particular treatment. I will provide patients the prescribed medication according to the existing legislation and assist in the rehabilitation of patients. In addition, I will assist in post-operative care procedures such as nutritional management and dressing of the wounds (Chang 14). Accordingly, I will be capable of providing direct patient care such as administerin g prescribed medication, carrying out basic diagnosis, and providing emotional support to patients. The course will enable me adequately demonstrate knowledge of nursing techniques and principles through constantly monitoring the patients’ medical conditions and updating the medical records. I will be in a position to supervise junior nurses such as LPNs and midwifery students in order to foster the quality of health care. In this regard, I will adhere to ethical and professional expectations of the nursing profession through respecting patient autonomy, maintain cordial working relationships with my colleagues and providing the highest attainable quality of nursing care. I will remain committed to continuing nursing education through attending nursing workshops and participating in nursing associations in order to contribute in new nursing knowledge generation

Understanding Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Understanding Strategic Management - Assignment Example It has also assisted the organisation to understand their position on the global market. The internal analysis has illustrated various weaknesses and threats of the organisation such as strict pricing policy, legal issues and market saturation. The external analysis of the organisation has elaborated the current political, social, environmental and technological condition of their operated countries. It has also helped the management to analyse the impact of these situation on the overall performance of the organisation. The final outcome of the report has helped the management to introduce various new strategies to improve the performance of the organisation. The report is based on the situational analysis of the organisational strategies of the Starbuck Corporation, a leading multinational coffeehouse chain. Starbuck Corporation was established in the year of 1971 and it is headquartered in Washington, USA. The organisation operates in almost 62 countries through 19,767 company owned outlets. They have recorded revenue of $14.89 billion by the end of 2013 (Marketline, 2014). The internal and external analysis of the organisation will be conducted to understand the strategic position of the organisation. Therefore, a strategic formulation of the organisation will be discussed to analyze the most appropriate course of action to achieve the overall goal of the organisation. The long term objective of the organisation is to establish themselves as a premium seller of finest coffee products across the world. Their mission is to maintain the uncompromising business principle to achieve the sales growth (Marketline, 2014). The SWOT analysis will assist the management of the organisation to evaluate the internal strength and weaknesses of the organisation. This will also illustrate the external opportunities and threats to expand their business venture (Pahl and Richter, 2009). The changes in the political relationship with the raw material sourcing countries

Account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy Essay

Account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy between 1789 and 1792 - Essay Example By late 1792, the rule of monarchy was overthrown and replaced by the first French Republic. The vision of an ideal society in which the government worked for the good of the nation and not for individual interests was the driving force behind the political ideas of the French revolutionaries (Hanson, 2004: 4). This paper proposes to account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy between 1789-1792 during the French Revolution. Further, the extent to which the attitude and behaviour of the king were damaging to the monarchy, and the significance of the development of a more radical strand of politics will be determined. Until 1789, hereditary monarchy which is also known as absolute monarchy was the norm in France, as in other parts of Europe. Though there were no constitutional restraints, every ruler operated within certain constraints. However, several difficulties were commonly experienced by thr rulers such as poor communications, lack of information, absence of a trained civil service which made reforms difficult to implement, resistance to change by vested interests, etc (Simpson, 2000: 11). The representatives of the third estate who took the new title of National Assembly, demanded that France should have a constitution, a set of rules by which it would be governed, and which even the monarch would have to obey. A large part of the first National Assembly’s legislation became incorporated in the Constitution of 1791. It was agreed that the monarchy should remain, which was to be a new constitutional monarchy, stripped of former absolute control over government, legislation, army and justice. Actual power would lie in the hands of the National Assembly itself, with unlimited powers over taxation, authority in all legislative matters, limited only by the requirement to hold elections every two years. The new constitutional

Environment of business (globalisation) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Environment of business (globalisation) - Essay Example The admission of the overseas traders in to the less developed economies is an advantage, though it presents a number of troubles. The two main drivers towards this recent increase in globalization have been opinionated as well as industrial aspects. They have led to the flourishing of trade between countries globally. â€Å"Beginning from 1950s, globalization of industries increased at a high rate† (Griffiths and Wall, 2007 p. 37). This essay gives a critical analysis of two of the main drivers of this wave, which are political forces and technological aspects. The driving force towards adopting the various forms of globalization and the consequences of these options as well as the benefits and disadvantages of globalization have been discussed. Several examples of globalization have been highlighted. In the early 1950s, leaders especially from the developed economies needed to build up scheme of making certain that a war of such intensity could never recur. This had to be realized through removal of the barriers that formed impediments to trade in order to boost success and increase interdependence amongst nations globally. Mainly the powerful were involved in developing frameworks for international trade and investment through agreements. They established key global institutions. According to (Barry 2008 p. 91), â€Å"These political powers promoted international treaties that were aimed at upholding international trade through tariff reductions and encouragement of free trade amongst its members. Barry (2008 p. 91) further states that, â€Å"By 1994, its membership included more than 100 member states†. Through it, there was a major reduction in the restrictions that hampered trade before it was established. Such restrictions included a minimum quantity of what was to be traded. Held and Mcgrew, (2000 p.18) observe that â€Å"GATT membership kept on rising, and in 1995, it was transformed in to World Trade Organization†. This was transformation was a step taken

Account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy Essay

Account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy between 1789 and 1792 - Essay Example By late 1792, the rule of monarchy was overthrown and replaced by the first French Republic. The vision of an ideal society in which the government worked for the good of the nation and not for individual interests was the driving force behind the political ideas of the French revolutionaries (Hanson, 2004: 4). This paper proposes to account for the failure of the experiment in constitutional monarchy between 1789-1792 during the French Revolution. Further, the extent to which the attitude and behaviour of the king were damaging to the monarchy, and the significance of the development of a more radical strand of politics will be determined. Until 1789, hereditary monarchy which is also known as absolute monarchy was the norm in France, as in other parts of Europe. Though there were no constitutional restraints, every ruler operated within certain constraints. However, several difficulties were commonly experienced by thr rulers such as poor communications, lack of information, absence of a trained civil service which made reforms difficult to implement, resistance to change by vested interests, etc (Simpson, 2000: 11). The representatives of the third estate who took the new title of National Assembly, demanded that France should have a constitution, a set of rules by which it would be governed, and which even the monarch would have to obey. A large part of the first National Assembly’s legislation became incorporated in the Constitution of 1791. It was agreed that the monarchy should remain, which was to be a new constitutional monarchy, stripped of former absolute control over government, legislation, army and justice. Actual power would lie in the hands of the National Assembly itself, with unlimited powers over taxation, authority in all legislative matters, limited only by the requirement to hold elections every two years. The new constitutional

A Concise History of Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Concise History of Latin America - Essay Example The term Latin America was first used during the 19th century as a way of reaching a compromise. The Latin America region consisted of all the countries that were colonized by the Spanish administrators and authorities; the only exception of these large parts is Brazil because it was colonized by Portugal. The term came into force when almost all the regions that lie south of North America started using Spanish or Portuguese as their official languages. The settlement of Spanish administrators was preceded by the voyages of Columbus who discovered the new land as part exploration and conquest. His made the Spanish monarch at the time to struggle in an effort to seize its newfound opportunities. By 1500, the Spanish had explored the entire region that spans the Caribbean shore. After the 14th century, the speed of the Spanish conquest, expansion and consolidation was fast considering the vastness of the region. By the year 1516 all, the islands of the Caribbean were under Spanish admi nistration, therefore, acting as the launchpad for further expansion in the region (Rosenthal 78). Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Latin American democracies, flourished, economies grew, and republics were established. This paper focuses on the political, social and economic transformations that were characterized in Latin America during the 19th century. The paper seeks to highlight the formation of republics that ended the imperial rule of monarchies across the region (Holloway 89).The early years of the 19th century witnessed a period of radical transformations on the Spanish dominated territory of Latin America. Latin America was characterized by monarchies that collapsed as republics started being formed. The regimes that were in power became disregarded or dismembered as colonial Latin America split into numerous parts. This split was followed by revolutions that established new politics and [political territories.

Review Article - Rheumatoid Arthritis & Il-6 Essay Example for Free

Review Article Rheumatoid Arthritis Il-6 Essay Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune condition principally causing synovial joint inflammation and cartilage erosion. The pathogenesis encompasses intricate cellular and humoural manifestations, and vascular reactions that result in the infiltration of the synovium by white blood cells, of which release inflammatory mediators, inclusive of Interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 serum levels of RA patients as shown by Capell et al. (1993) displayed a median of 55 IU/ml, as compared to that of healthy controls of 10 IU/ml. With a wide-ranging pleiotropy endorsed by both a membrane-bound (IL-6R) and soluble (sIL-6R) receptor, and by the relative omnipresence of the trans-membrane protein gp130, IL-6 endorses a pro-inflammatory effect via its influence on numerous cell types and signalling-pathways. As a result, heightened levels of IL-6 aids in the promotion of osteitis, sequential joint damage, pain/discomfort and impaired function in RA patients. Pleiotropy of IL-6 Interleukin 6 exerts effects on numerous pathways contributing to the pathophysiology of RA. IL-6 as it is called today has been known by several names that exemplify its pleiotropy for example, hepatocyte-stimulating factor known to cause the induction of C-reactive protein (CRP); due to IL-6 association with synovial fibril aggregation has been known as Amyloid protein; a thrombopoietin; both B-cell differentiation and stimulating factor 2; plasmacytoma growth factor; and cytotoxic T-cell differentiation factor. It also causes the differentiation of Th17 cells; is a causative factor in adhesion molecule expression on the surface of endothelial cells, and is involved in the differentiation to mature from precursor osteoclasts cells (REF!!). IL-6 Recptor binding IL-6 implements its influence via a protein complex primarily comprised of a membrane bound IL-6R and a glycoprotein comprised of two intra-cytoplasmic transducer sub-units, gp130. When IL-6 binds to membrane bound IL-6R (mIL-6R) it causes homo-dimerisation of the gp130 sub-units, of which triggers intra-cytoplasmic signal transduction. Whilst expression of gp130 is relatively omnipresent upon the surface of the body’s cells (Akil, et al., 2008), IL-6R is most prominently located on hepatocytes, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils and select lymphocytes. However, (sIL-6R) of which is systemic also binds IL-6, and just as mIL-6R, can also engage with gp130 for sIL-6-gp130 trans-signalling (REF!). Synoviocytes, for example do not express mIL-6R but do express gp130. Raised levels of IL-6 in the synovium is a characteristic biomarker of RA (Attar, et al., 2010), and Kim, et al. (1996) states enhanced IL-6/sIL-6R in synovial fluid increased the risk of joint destruction, as IL-6 stimulates endothelial cells to express adhesion cytokines and other molecules of which attract inflammatory cells to synovial membrane (Romano, et al., 1997) thus could contribute to exemplifying the significance of sIL-6R in RA pathophysiology. sIL-6R is formed by either an incomplete proteolytic enzymic dissection of mIL-6R or alternative splicing of mRNA (REF!!). With the aforementioned ubiquitous nature of gp130, mIL-6R and systemic sIL-6R, increasing evidence REFERENCES SEE NOTES!! shows that a non-membrane bound, systemic, soluble gp130 (sgp130) found in higher circulatory concentrations than that of sIL-6, also binds IL-6/sIL-6R, thus functioning as a redundency factor inhibiting the cytoplasmic signal-transducing potential of mgp130 REFERENCES SEE NOTES!!, (IL-6/IL-6 receptor system and its role†¦) thus serving as a natural inhibitor of IL-6 signalling (IL-6/IL-6 receptor system and its role†¦). Intracellular signalling gp130 dimerisation brings Janus Kinases (JAKS), a receptor-associated protein complex, into close proximity causing a trans-activation of the two molecule types. Auto-phosphorylation of JAKS occurs, of which causes intracellular signal transduction by recruiting signal-transducers and activators of transcriptions (STAT) that form either hetro or homo dimers and migrate to cell nucleus effecting target gene transcription of various physiological processes (REF). IL-6 can be detrimental to human physiology (REF!), thus expression of proteins known as the suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) function as a negative-feedback system, and are activated by STAT’s. The regulation of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway by SOCS is more specifically down-regulated by SOCS 3 (REF!). SOCS 3 binds JAK’s causing negative-regulation thus functioning as an auto-regulatory mechanism, by inhibiting JAK activity. IL-6 and the Adaptive Immune System The trans-signalling of IL-6 is known to cause the induction of pre-B-cell-colony-stimulating factor (PBEF) in fibroblast cells of the synovium (Bryant, et al., 2006), and since PBEF upon its discovery was considered a B-cell differentiation cytokine(McNiece et al., 1994), it could be considered plausible that IL-6-induced PBEF and the IL-6 maturation of B-cells, collectively contribute to RA. It has been found the effect of IL-6 on plasmablasts indirectly induces the production of B-cell antibodies by assisting elements of CD4+ T-cells (of which act upon activated B-cells) due to elevated IL-21 production (Bond, et al., 2009), thus IL-6 may potentially be a co-adjuvant to humoural immunity enhancement (Bond, et al., 2009). Enhanced levels of the RA associated Rheumatoid Factor are located in the IgA, IgG and IgM isotypes (Ahmed, et al., 2010), and citruline antibodies located in serum and joints, can be linked to the plasmablast-induced antibody production of IL-6 (Ahmed, et al., 20 10). IL-6 enhances T-cell proliferation where they have been mitogen stimulated (Mihara, et al., 2002). IL-6 also impacts T-cell development (Mihara, et al., 2002). Along with transforming growth factor (TGF)- ÃŽ ², IL-6 contributes to Th 17 differentiation, an effector T cell with pro-inflammatory elements, and is further compounded by Th 17 production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 (Bettelli, et al., 2007). Interestingly, without IL-6, TGF- ÃŽ ² induces Treg production, of which are Th 17 cell suppressors (Hirota, et al., 2008). CD4+ Th cells have been considered Th 1 and Th 2 based upon their cytokine-producing characteristics (Diehl and Rincon, 2002). Th 1 and Th 2 produce IFN-á µ § and IL-13 respectively, of which are both pro-inflammatory molecules, however whereas IL-6 bolsters IL-4 induced differentiation of Th 2, it causes the inhibition of IL-12 induced differentiation of Th 1 (Diehl and Rincon, 2002). Acosta-Rodriguez, et al. (2007) found that in vitro levels of IL-1ÃŽ ² – induced Th 17 polarisation of naà ¯ve human CD4+ T-cells were heightened by IL-6 involvement. More research however, is required to make clear the full extent of IL-6 role in human Th 17 cell development, in vivo. During inflammation, neutrophils of which are essential inflammatory mediators, systemically increase substantially, resulting in relative neutrophilia. Endothelial cells, macrophages and monocytes all emit IL-6. Neutrophils are directly affected by IL-6 due to the expression of IL-6R. Filer, et al. (2005) found that co-cultured endothelial cells and fibroblasts extracted from synovial fluid of RA patients caused an increase in IL-6 and neutrophil recruitment. Adhesion molecules, of which it has been shown in the work of Woodfin et al. (2010) to be required in the transmigration of neutrophils, are augmented by IL-6 such as vascular cell adhesion molecule – 1 (VCAM) and intracellular adhesion molecule – 1 (ICAM) of which produce chemokine production. Thus neutrophils being the most numerous and systemic of leucocytes have a strong initial synovial presence and is bolstered by the amplification of the inflammatory cascade, contributing to the inflammatory escalation during acute-phase response; and findings from animal and human studies revealed that the blockade of IL-6 caused a reduction in neutrophil levels at inflamed sites (Hashizume, et al., 2008), as well as a reduction in systemic neutrophil counts in RA patients (Deguchi, et al., 2003 and Broll, et al., 2006),thus indicating a prominent role for IL-6 in neutrophilia. IL-6: Acute to Chronic Farnarier, et al. (2003) suggests the transition from acute to chronic inflammation as emphasised by a shift of biomarker from neutrophil to monocyte, is influenced by IL-6. It was found that if stimulated for a number of hours by inflammatory cytokines, neutrophils switched from the production of IL-8 and transitioned to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (Yamashiro, et al., 1999). sIL-6R is released from neutrophils of which in turn causes the chemokine release of endothelial cells, thus Romano, et al. (1997) suggests the IL-6 – sIL6R complex contributes to the release of MCP-1 from endothelial cells. As earlier discussed, neutrophil-count was found to be directly associated with the blockade of IL-6R?!; and endothelial cells expressing the gp130 but not the IL-6R, thus reliant upon the IL-6 – sIL6RÃŽ ± complex for induction of MCP-1 release, i.e. the release of monocyte, not neutrophil specific chemo-attractants (Gres, et al., 2001), it would appear IL-6 tran-signalling plays an integral role in the transition from acute to chronic inflammation via neutrophil and endothelial cells. *CHART SHOWING CELLS THAT RELEASE IL-6!!* IL-6 induces a disintigrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) proteinases of which are pivotal in the degradation of extracellular matrix. IL-6 more specifically, has been shown to induce ADAMTS-4 and MMP’s 1, 2 and 13 production in cells lining the synovium and chondrocytes (Hashizume and Mihara, 2009; Hashizume, et al., 2010; 2012). However, it has been suggested the IL-6 – sIL-6R complex has bearing on the extracellular matrix turnover, as it causes generation of tissue inhibitors of MMP’s (TIMP’s) in synovium fibroblasts and chondrocytes (Dayer, et al., 1998 and Hashizume, et al., 2012). The drug tocilizumab (TCZ), an IL-6 inhibitor reduces MMP-3 blood serum levels of RA patients (Garnero, et al., 2010), and has been show to restore biomarkers associated with cartilage turnover (Dayer, et al., 1998). Thus, in RA patients the reduction of IL-6 activity appears to be a mediatory factor in sustainment of healthy joint cartilage. Angiogenesis is a key process in the local inflammatory process. Neovascularisation of the synovium and other angiogenic processes such as hyperplasia of synovial cells and permeation by inflammatory cells are characteristic processes in pannus development and RA pathology (Ballara et al., 2001). In addition to notable constituents of the inflammatory process such as monocytes and T cells, both of which as stated previously have affiliations with IL-6 expression (CITATION OF A FEW), levels of a key angiogenic specific growth factor Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) has also been associated with systemic levels of IL-6, as demonstrated in the work of Hasizume, et al., 2009 and Hagihara, et al., 2003 revealing IL-6 induces VEGF production from synovial cells. VEGF induces proteins that contribute to the breakdown of endothelial basement membrane, including MMP’s, of which increases the permeability of blood vessels, thus allowing enhanced infiltration of inflammatory constituents (Delisle, et al., 2010). VEGF levels accordingly, have been shown to coincide with the articular severity of RA (Hagihana, et al., 2003), and has shown a reduction in response to TCZ (Hagihana, et al., 2003), of which correlates with findings of a semi-quantitative assessment by Akoi, et al. (2011) using ultrasonography that found TCZ responsible for a marked reduction in RA neovascularisation. Bone Remodelling Bone remodelling is a highly regulated process in which mature bone tissue is removed by osteoclasts and formation by osteoblasts. The pathogenesis of RA favours bone loss (resorption) via the excessive production of osteoclasts. Anecdotal evidence by Kazuto et al. (1996) revealed synovial fluid highly +ve for IL-6 –sIL6R complex from RA patients, stimulated increased formation of osteoclasts in mouse co-culture of osteoblast and bone marrow cells. This study coincides with research by Balena, et al. (1994) of which indicated that mice deficient in IL-6 displayed no significant changes in gross or trabecular bone structure. In human studies, biopsies of RA patients revealed that peri-articular bone loss was found to correlate with local excessive presence of IL-6 (Sugiyama, 2001), and work by Garnero et al. (2009) showed the administration of TCZ to RA patients in a multi-centre double-blind placebo-controlled study yielded an increase in bone-formation markers, with a decrease in bone-resorption markers. Collectively, research suggests IL-6 has a negative effect on bone mass. Acute-phase response Acute-phase response is an innate immune reaction in which IL-6 is notably involved via the stimulation of hepatocytes, and is a key inducer of the acute-phase protein CRP. CRP is considered a dependable biomarker of inflammation and RA activity as serum half-life remains constant due to its inflammatory-induced, hepatic-stimulated production being the exclusive systemic determinant and due to its noted increase in RA serum levels (Hirshfield and Pepys, 2003). Anaemia Approximately 1-in-4 RA patients will suffer symptoms of anaemia within the first year (Figenschau, Nikolaisen and Nossent, 2008). The hormone hepcidin, produced in the liver and integral in stemming the metabolism of iron, has been shown in vitro to increase in presence due to IL-6 stimulation of hepatoma cells (Ganz, 2003). This study correlates with Gabayan et al. (2004) in which IL-6 induced patients experienced a 7.5 fold increase in hepcidin production. Anaemia in RA patients, as a result of a hepcidin-IL-6 axis, has limited but supported credence. Osteoporosis has also shown a correlation with IL-6. As mentioned earlier, healthy bone metabolism requires adequate regulation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, in which excessive IL-6 expression and the Th17 derived IL-17 (Gillespie, et al., 1999) both contribute to excessive osteoclast formation (Campbell et al., 2005). This has also been found to be the case in transgenic mice (De et al., 2006; and Choy and Dayer, 2009) in which bone formation was reduced, and negative ossification was reported. As shown, there are comparable cross-over aspects of IL-6 pathology between RA and osteoporosis. Treatment As highlighted throughout this review, IL-6 plays a pleiotropic pathophysiological role in RA, thus would make an ideal therapeutic target. The most promising and note-worthy of treatments at present, TCZ interrupts IL-6 induced trans-signalling. Numerous studies have shown promising results including a phase III clinical trial in 2005 using the ACR (American College of Rheumatology)* RA activity measure, which had improvement measures of 89, 70 and 47% at ACR’s of 20, 50 and 70 respectively at 52 weeks, in patients treated with TCZ. This multicentre, double-blind placebo-controlled trial by Hashimoto et al. (2004) showed bone resorption and joint destruction could potentially be completely prevented (Kishimoto, 2010), as exemplified when a culture of patient synovial and peripheral mononuclear cells, extracted from the same patients showed that osteoclast generation was completely prevented (Hashimoto et al., 2004; Kishimoto, 2010). At 6 weeks within this study, it was also found that IgG, CRP and serum amyloid A levels all normalised. It has also been suggested that TCZ aids in Th17 differentiation, hence IL-17 production, thus aids in the improvement of RA symptoms (Kimura and Kishimoto, 2010). Other notable studies such as the SAMURAI (Study of Active controlled Monotherapy Used for RA, an IL-6 Inhibitor) and LITHE (TociLIzumab safety and THE prevention of structural joint damage trial) served to enhance conscensus. This humanised, monoclonal antibody has now been approved in many countries^^. 286 With a wide-ranging pleitropy, IL-6 has the most profuse SF and systemic cytokine presence in RA pathophysiology, and coincides with cartilage erosion and disease activity. It has a role in elements of B-cell differentiation and increasing evidence suggests a definite yet ambiguous role in Th17 differentiation. IL-6 has several key positions in immune and inflammatory processes (recruitment, permeation and adhesion of inflammatory elements), and bone and joint degradation, of which over-expression causes adversity, such as release of hepcidin and CRP from the liver contributing to anaemia and inflammation, osteoporosis and pannus development. It plays a key role in the cross-over from acute-to-chronic disease. 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Amsterdam Tourism Marketing Condition Tourism Essay

Amsterdam Tourism Marketing Condition Tourism Essay Amsterdam has long been regarded as diversified, international city. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, in 2008, 4.5 million visitors stayed over in Amsterdam. The city break markets significance and economic value is increasingly being acknowledged by city managers and administrators (Dunne, 2007). Domestic tourists constantly account for about 20% of Amsterdam tourist arrivals, followed by 18% of U.K tourists and 11% U.S tourists  [1]  . In 2009, due to the economic recession, during the first six months of 2009 the number of bed nights of international guests continued to decrease, with the UK (-23%), Spain (-20%) and the US (-9%)  [2]  . The significant change in 2009 tourism was the increase of Spain tourists and tourists from BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). This indicated that no matter within or outside Europe, even during economic recession, the market potential would be worth exploring in the future. What makes a potential tourist come to Amsterdam? Before they start the trip, they have a perception of this city, which refers to destination image. The importance of the tourist destinations image is universally acknowledged, since it affects the individuals subjective perception and consequent behaviour and destination choice (Chon, 1990; Echtner Ritchie, 1991). That is to say, destination image motivates people travelling. Hall and OSullivan (1996) proposed that the creation of a destination image is based on three elements: (a) Returning tourists through word-of-mouth reporting, (b) Media reporting and image-making and (c) Government policies and interests. Supported by Seddighi et al. (2001), stated that perceptions about country image are formed through advertising and promotion, news accounts, conversation with friends and relatives, travel agents and past experiences (2001, p.182), suggesting that the attractiveness of destination needs an informative city image. In the three elements mentioned above, returning tourists reporting and media reporting are important factors in motivating people visiting Amsterdam. Amsterdam has various types of recreational areas that serve different types of tourists. Comparing with Berlin, Paris and Rome, Amsterdam has its language advantage. Amsterdam inhabitants speak fluent Nederlands and sufficient English. This creates an accommodating and friendly tourist environment. Whats more, the general hygiene of Amsterdam is well maintained. This city is relaxing and has no specific religion restrains. As a result, word-of-mouth would be generally good. The second factor, media reporting and image-making, is the part that can be improved. And the improvement will make significant difference in motivating more people coming to Amsterdam. It has a lot to do with target marketing. The city image of Amsterdam is diversified. On one hand, it could be a good thing: any types of tourists will find that this city fit them. However, it makes Amsterdam an optional place to visit. If potential tourists are not fully motivated to come to Amsterdam, they can easily change their destination to Paris or Madrid. It is important for Amsterdam to have specific image to target tourist groups. As to government policies, Amsterdam has a stable and safe social environment. Despite marijuana and prostitution are legal in this city, the crime rate holds medium to low comparing with other EU cities. And these two factors are attracting a lot of curious tourists and generating money from them. The local government of Amsterdam is making an effort to promote tourism. It is obvious this city welcomes tourist, for instance, the spread of tourist information office and tickets centres, English introductions in major tram lines to entertainment area. So this element can be regarded as accomplished. 2. Tourist Segmentation and Motivation 2.1 Demographic Breakdowns Collectively, previous studies have demonstrated that tourists with different cultural backgrounds may show differences in their motivations, preferred tourism resources, and behavioural characteristics (Chen et al. 2000). According to the factsheet 2009 of Amsterdam, the main travellers are from EU countries (76%). The geographic category is: The Netherlands, U.K, U.S, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, rest of Europe, Asia, rest of America, Africa and Oceania. Since tourism is a price sensitive industry, the demographic should include income. Educational background and age are also parts of tourist profile. 2.2 Subjective Culture Groups Hofstede (1980) found that people from different societies varied in terms of four subjective cultural aspects, including power distance, masculinity-femininity, individualism-collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance. Power distance refers to the degree to which cultures encourage or maintain status differences between power holders. Masculinity-femininity refers to the relative emphasis on achievement which characterizes gender distinctions in some national cultures. Individualism means ones identity is by determined by personal choices and achievement. Collectivism has to do with ones identity is determined by the character of the collective groups to which one is attached. Uncertainty avoidance has to do with the degree to which societies and cultures develop ways to deal with the anxiety and stress of uncertainty (Kim, 1999). Previous research showed that western and Asian culture has distinctive difference with respect to four subjective cultural aspects (Enright, 1994; Dann, 1981). Power distance is bigger in Asian countries than in western countries. This implies the way people wanted to be accommodated differs when the culture background changes. Gender and religion issue could arise by travellers from Middle Eastern countries, for example, gender-separated prayer room would be appreciated by Muslims, while people from Japan and China probably would not pay much attention to it. Whats more, individualism is more appreciated in western countries while collectivism is an idea that commonly shared by Asian countries. The implication would be different focus when advertising Amsterdam. In western countries, DIY booklet of city tour would be more popular. In Asian countries, group easy access would satisfy potential travellers. People from different subjective cultural groups tend to link themselves with preferred city image of Amsterdam. So the city image of Amsterdam should have a different focus on media in different countries. 2.3 Motivation Factors Motivation has been referred to as psychological/biological/social needs and wants, including internal (or emotional) and external forces (Dann, 1981). In the context of tourist motivation, internal force is the desire to go travelling; external forces could be public holiday, attractive city experience, budget,etc. Motivation based segmentation helps marketers determine why visitors are consuming a product or service, and suggests the means by which visitors desires can be met (Oh et al., 1995). Therefore, tourist motivation studies are useful in developing product, promotion, and segmentation strategies. Analysis of tourist motivation attempts to extend the theoretical and empirical evidence on the causal relationship among the push and pull motivations, satisfaction, and destination loyalty (Yoon and Uysal, 2005). According to Uysal Hagan (1993), these forces describe how individuals are pushed by 6 motivation variables into making travel decisions and how they are pulled or attracted by destination attributes. Push factors are defined as origin-related and refer the intangible, intrinsic desires of the individual traveler, such as desire to escape, rest and relaxation, adventure, health and prestige. Pull factors are defined mainly related to the attractiveness of a given destination and tangible characteristics such as beaches, accommodation and recreation facilities and cultural and historical resources (Uysal Hagan, 1993). Goossens (2000) describes push and pull factors of tourist behavior as, two sides of the same motivational coin (2000, p. 302) and further posits that the psychological concept, emotion, connects both sides with needs functioning as a pushing motivation and benefits as a pulling motivation. More specifically, Kozak (2002) has categorized motivation push and pull factors into four subcategories: culture, pleasure-seeking/fantasy, relaxation, physical (2002, p.226). These four factors can be used in measuring tourist motivation. While Kay (2009) categorized motives as: social consumption, novelty, learn local culture and relaxation. These two categories shared similarity and have differences. 3. Marketing implication The travel market is often divided into four types of markets: personal business travel, government or corporate business travel, visiting friends and family, and leisure travel. Market segmentation is based on the profiles of target groups and measuring the attractiveness of the market (Zhang et al. 2007). In this paper, the main focus will be on leisure travel, because three types mentioned above are not sensitive to marketing strategies. They can be regarded as more fixed travel pattern on a fixed schedule and destination. 4. Theoretical Framework Motivations: 1. Relaxation 2. Social consumption 3. Pleasure-seeking/Novelty 4. Local culture Marketing implication of leisure travel to Amsterdam Subjective Culture Groups