Sunday, November 24, 2019

IR based street light Essay Example

IR based street light Essay Example IR based street light Essay IR based street light Essay Nowadays, it became essential for people work during nights and returning back to homes late nights, so safety parameter to be implemented to a great extent on highways. This can of this lighting system must be taken into account. The existing system is like, the high way lights will be monitored manually which in turns is a waste of huge human ewer as well as precious time in addition with power wastage at the instant when proper monitoring is failed. This drawback can be overcome by implementing a sophisticated automatic monitoring system through which high way lighting can be monitored automatically before the sun sets and they are switched off the next day morning after there is sufficient light on the roads. But the actual timings for these high way lights to be switched on are when there is absolute darkness. This project gives the best solution for electrical power wastage protection. Also the manual operation of the lighting system is completely eliminated. There is provided an infrared sensor unit for deactivating an electrical appliance when left unattended by its user. The sensor unit includes a passive infrared sensor distance of the electrical appliance An Infra-Red (R) sensor is an electronic device commonly used in security lighting, and burglar alarm systems. When a person in the field of vision of the sensor, the sensor detects the presence and activates highway lighting system, If it is day time he light gets OFF this operation can be performed by light sensor (LDR). E best achieved by implementing proper lighting system on highways. The efficient monitoring This project uses regulated IV, mama power supply. 7805 three terminal voltage regulator is used for voltage regulation. Bridge type full wave rectifier is used to rectify the AC out put of secondary of 230/IV step down transformer. Bridge Rectifier Filter Circuit Power supply to all sections Regulator Step down TIFF

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Management of Disasters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Management of Disasters - Essay Example Disaster management remains an important aspect of State and National management due to the fact that the occurrence and magnitude of most disasters are unpredictable (Kaser, 2007). Due to the severity in the need of ensuring that the occurrence of disasters does not outwit efforts that can be made by government through state institutions in responding effectively to the disasters, there has often been the call for collaboration with other agencies in disaster management in control. One of such agencies is the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is agreed that partnership between government agencies and non-governmental organizations can be very important for disaster recovery and response efforts. Generally, disaster response has been said to be the venture that cannot be accurately budgeted for (McKee, Figueras and Chenet, 1998). This is because of the unpredictable nature of disasters. Consequently, the allocation of resources on the part of government is often inadequate an d thus requires additional input from these NGOs. What is next, the management of disasters has been said to be better approached if they will be carried out in a manner that is holistic and community-based (Healy and McKee,1997). Meanwhile, most of these NGOs are community-based and thus have a better understanding of the needs and demands of the indigenes. Their contribution to planning, recovery and response efforts, therefore, become more people-centered (Kaser, 2007). Finally, it has been said that the decentralization of disaster response enhances effectiveness and efficiency. This is because it guarantees that recovery and response efforts will be carried out in a more proactive manner due to the fact that there will be detailed urgency among the local people (Kaser, 2007). What is more, the fact that the process is decentralized means that much can be achieved within a shorter timeframe? Meanwhile collaborating with NGOs is one way of bringing about decentralization of the d isaster response agenda.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Critical thinking case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical thinking case study - Essay Example 1. Assumes that the new product would help in restoring the old glorious status of AcuScan in the market. 2. Pat assumes that in order to thwart competition, the product must be announced and deployed within eight months 3. Assumes Secur-A Corporation is looking into this new retail opportunity and will come up with "some kind" of retail application in few months time. 4. Assumes that if others disagree with her that means they are not committed to the project and are trying to hamper the progress of the new product. 5. Assumes that producing a new product by August will not be difficult since AcuScan already has iScanner that can help in building the new product faster. 6. Predicts little investment on the part of staff's time and energy, which was one of the concerns, cited by Kelly. 7. Pat is looking for bringing out a new product in the market even if its not high quality for she feels that it's better to be first in the market than being high on quality. 8. Assumed customers would love the new product and actually felt they would be thrilled no matter what the product was. 9. Assumed I was "nit-picking" when tried to gather information. 10. Assumed project could be lent to outside contractors so that it would be finished on time. 11. Sees herself as a leader and a visionary and thus she must communicate her "dream" to everyone else. Chris Martinas - Vice President of Product Development 1. Agrees with Pat on some of her assumptions. a. Secure-A Corporation may come out with a product soon. b. Like Pat, Chris also sees minimal investment of existing staff's time since new product is a modified version of the existing old product. c. Must enter the market fast since speed is the main concern and not quality. d. This new product will help the company attain... 1. Kelly Thomas is of the view that Pat Lambert should not be assigned leadership since she doubts Pat's ability to lead. Kelly assumes that Pat doesn't possess the qualities required to lead "Operation Optimize" since Pat has irrelevant previous experience in a cereal industry. 2. Since Pat was unable to comprehend the term "QC," Kelly assumes Pat has no knowledge of quality control and the difficulties associated with the same. Thus she feels it would be impossible to produce a new product under her guidance. Cliff O'Connor: Cliff believes that a new product would "recapture our position as a market leader with our technology." Cliff further argues that AcuScan needs Pat's creativity. He views "Operation Optimize" as not something too different from the old product iScanner. Pat Lambert: Argues that iScanner should be modified and should be launched in a non-vertical market and sees this as the only viable solution for long-term growth. Pat argues that Kelly initially said it was easier to build on the existing product and create a new product from an old one. Finally, Pat also needs additional funding to hire an outside contractor for the completion of this product on time. After analyzing the situation

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Digital Video Broadcasting Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Digital Video Broadcasting - Term Paper Example Evolution of Television:- European and North American inventors pioneered the TV. Television is a hybrid word coming from the Greek letter ‘ Tele’ meaning far, and Latin word ‘visio’ meaning sight. 1) Monochrome TVs: - These early generation televisions were mostly based on electrochemical systems. The screen had a small motor with a spinning disc and a neon lamp which gave a reddish orange picture comparable in size to a business card (Udelson). The system continued to evolve with the inception of a line system to improve the results of the TV. In 1937 the 405 line monochrome system, known then as the ‘HD’, was selected as the UK standard of television. By 1950, most European countries had the 625 scanning lines, 25 frame per second, TV system as standard. Meanwhile, plenty of experimentation was taking place in the USA, however, the Federal communications commission was not satisfied with the quality of the systems and work on development of t he system continued. In 1942, the FCC endorsed the efforts of the National television systems committee and established a standard of 525 scanning lines with 60 frames per second. (Pritchard and Gibson) 2) The advent of Color TV: - During the 1940s, various color television systems were proposed and demonstrated in the United States. The first color television was developed in the early 1950s by the national television systems committee and submitted to the federal communication commission in 1953. Color TV was not successful in the United States until a decade of its introduction. Few color TVs were sold because they were expensive and there were not many programs televised in color. Time magazine even called color TV as ‘the most resounding industrial flop of 1956’. Slowly but surely, however, color TV started to thrive when color programs started to show up in abundance.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Biopharmaceuticals An Overview Biology Essay

The Biopharmaceuticals An Overview Biology Essay Biopharmaceuticals are defined as proteins and nucleic acids which are used for therapeutic purpose. These are high molecular weight substances prepared by biotechnological means and genetically engineered. Due to their complex structure and intricate molecular composition it is very difficult to characterize and formulate such products. Most of these products are derived from biological species and genetically engineered to produce a potent compound [1-3]. Humulin (biosynthetic recombinant human Insulin) was the first biopharmaceutical product developed by Genentech but licensed and marketed by Eli Lily and Company in 1982. In the modern era biopharmaceutical products have become a major facilitating reason of technological changes in health care sector, causing extraordinary benefits for patients, cost challenges for consumers, and profits for market shareholders.[4] Over the last decade biopharmaceutical market is the fastest growing segment in the pharmaceutical organizations. After post-recession period vigorous advancement has been seen in this area. It has been reported that approximately 40% of total pharmaceutical RD investment is occupied by biopharmaceutical products amongst which, monoclonal antibodies and product produced by recombinant DNA method are the most prevalent one.[5,6] Proteins with different amino acid sequences are the primary structure of such products. For determining the biological activity of a protein it is necessary to study its three-dimensional structure. The structure of protein is generally divided into four categories i.e. primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary (fig. 1). The primary structure is the sequence of amino acid residues which folds and stabilized by the formation of hydrogen bonds with subsequent molecules in the polypeptide chain to produce an  ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ± helix,  which is a spiral, rod-like st ructure, or a  ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ² sheet,  a planar structure. This structure resembles to the secondary structure of proteins. The tertiary structure is a three-dimensional arrangement which gives an overall conformation of a polypeptide chain. Through hydrophobic interactions between the non-polar side chains and disulfide bonds, this tertiary structure is stabilized. A quaternary or multimeric protein contains two or more polypeptide chains, held together by non-covalent bonds.[7] fig 1. Structure of protein. Because of their unique physicochemical characteristic it is very hard and challenging to formulate biopharmaceuticals as products with therapeutic effects and storage characteristics. Meanwhile their formulation is in many ways different from conventional low-molecular drug formulation. Despite of such facts biopharmaceuticals gains lots of attention in the modern era of drug formulation. In the recent reviews it has been discussed that around 400 biotechnology-based medicinal and therapeutic agents are either registered or in the clinical trials are reviewed by the regulatory bodies. These agents are helpful in treating many life threatening diseases some of them are cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and AIDS/HIV. Some of the agents which are already in the market are monoclonal antibodies, recombinant hormones, cytokines, vaccines, recombinant blood factor, and therapeutic enzymes.[5] Discussion Biopharmaceutical market In 1970, discovery of recombinant DNA technology and monoclonal antibodies lead to initiate the development of biopharmaceutical industries. A substantial growth from $8 billion in 1992 to $149 billion in 2010 quenched the thirst of investors towards the biopharmaceutical industry. It is expected to reach $239 billion by 2015 with a growth rate of 9.9% annually. There are more than 400 Biotech drugs and vaccines are scrutinized under clinical stage, targeting more than 200 diseases. Meanwhile a large number of the population is now taking benefits from a number of biotechnological innovations like recombinant protein-based products e.g. monoclonal antibodies and some large molecule prescription drugs, which include hormones and vaccines. Table 1 illustrates some of the leading biopharmaceutical therapy classes by size worldwide in 2002. In 2008 approximately 39%, among the top 10 drugs sold globally, are biopharmaceuticals and is expected to rise to 79% of the top 10 drug sales by 20 14.[8] Table.1: Leading biopharmaceutical therapy classes by size worldwide 2002. Source: IMS MIDAS December 2002. However after the post recession period, fundings over health care and other sector is reduced which impede the growth rate of pharmaceutical industries up to significant extent. Although biopharmaceutical global sales thrive to attain high numbers in the global health sector. Biotechnological based products have generated $229 billion revenue in 2012 with an annual growth rate of 10.4%. Meanwhile the major focus of pharmaceutical organizations is on biopharmaceutical vs. Small molecule drugs which enables to allocate high funding towards this area. This may be due to very less generic biosimilar products available in the market. In year 2009 there are total 18 biopharmaceutical products are approved by US FDA which is higher than the previous years i.e. 11 in 2008 and 10 in 2007. In a report of Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, it was estimated that the overall impact of biopharmaceutical sector on the US economy is $917 billion. These companies are making alliances with oth er essential services such as computing and information, clinical trial and regulatory support services, technologies, manufacturing and equipment, and transportation and logistics providers.[9-11] Types of Biopharmaceuticals Cytokines Cytokines are a diverse group of non-antibody intercellular signalling regulatory proteins i.e. glycoprotein and low molecular weight peptides produced in very little amount inside the body. They function as a mediator for communication between various cells and induce certain response by binding to specific cell surface receptors which results in triggering various intracellular signal transduction mechanism. There are over 80 sub class of cytokines have been found. Some of these are categorized in table 2. They play an important role in coordinating embryonic development, cell growth and maturation, wound repair and healing, the immune response including acute phase reactions and septic shock, and new blood vessel formation. Cancer is among the major class of disease which is thoroughly scrutinized by the researchers with an emphasis on cytokines. However cytokines also play a vital role in mediating signalling response to systemic inflammation which tends to regulate specific neur onal network to induce sickness. Some animal studies reveal the role of cytokines in situations characterized by abnormal sleep, with emphasis on the pathogenesis of symptoms and consequences of OSAS (Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome). Cytokines interact with specific cells via (1) intracrine, in which both cytokine and receptor remain within the cell (rare); (2) autocrine, where a cytokine acts on the receptors of the same cell it is produced; and (3) paracrine, where the cytokine from one cell type interacts with receptors on other cell types.[12-16] Table 2: categorization of cytokines. There are various cytokines products available in the market and some of them are reviewed under the clinical phase for example Interleukin-2 (IL-2) aldesleukin (Proleukin), for treating renal cell carcinoma is approved by FDA. IL-1 blocker, anakinra (Kineret) and rilonacept (Arcalyst) are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes respectively.[1] Enzymes Enzymes are complex molecules produced by living cells. They increase the rate of chemical reaction without even showing their own effect in the process and hence act as a catalyst in living organisms.[17] Because of their reaction specificity, catalytic efficiency and ability to operate under mild condition of temperature and hydrogen ion concentration they are preferred as a novel class of therapeutic agents. Despite of their therapeutic role enzyme endures significant importance as a replacement therapy in many genetic disorders. However there are some disadvantages as well associated with their use such as, their parental administration required extensive purification to remove contaminants. They are also very costly to prepare and due to their large molecular structure they have limited distribution in the body. As they are proteins hence when administered inside the body act as antigen to the host cell.[18,19] Enzymes are categorized under six major classes i.e transferases, lysases, hydrolases, isomerases, ligases, and oxidoreductases. The potential utility of enzyme as pharmaceutical was noted many decades ago. However most of the enzyme therapies are used to treat functional defects. Activase ® (alteplase; recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator), is the first recombinant enzyme drug which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1987. Pulmozyme ® (Dornase alpha), a recombinant DNAse I that digests DNA in the mucous secretions in lungs, used to treat cystic fibrosis. Adagen ® (pegadamase bovine), is the first marketed product as enzyme therapy for the treatment of SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency disease).[20] Hormones Hormone is characterized as an important group of regulatory molecule which is synthesized in an organ or in tissue and then secreted into circulatory system where it affects respective organs whose cell bears an appropriate receptors. They are chemical messengers either small or a large macromolecule and are fairly defined as endocrine hormones. Approximately all endocrine hormones possess therapeutic importance and hence subsequently used by the researchers e.g. insulin(Insugen ®, Humulin ®, Novolin ®), human growth hormone (Ascellacrin ®, Crescormon ®), glucagon, and the gonadotrophins.[1] Antibodies: Antibodies or immunoglobulin are proteins produced, as an immune response, through white blood cells when a foreign particle or antigen intrudes inside the body. There are five classes of immunoglobulin IgE, IgM, IgG, IgD, and IgA. Amongst them IgG is the most common as a biopharmaceutical agents. A more specified term i.e. monoclonal antibodies (mAb  or  moAb) are the novel class compounds that are first developed in mid 1970s by kohler and Milstein, who successfully fused immortal cells with antibody- producing B lymphocytes. This fusion results in a hybrid which is stable, cancerous, antibody- producing cells. These are referred as hybridoma cells which unveil great source of monoclonal antibody. mAb identify antigens on a particular foreign body very specifically. mAbs are categorized under four groups according to their source: murine (derived solely from mice), chimeric (mixture of murine and human sequences), humanised (contain over 90% human sequences) and fully human.[8, 17] In 1986, Murobmonab (OKT3), a murine antibody, is the first monoclonal antibody tested as a therapeutic in humans. However it fails to produce a substantial response in the transplantation rejection patients because of production of anti-murine antibody.[20] Monoclonal antibodies are the fastest growing therapeutic class in the field of biopharmaceutical market. The market of monoclonal antibodies crosses the mark of $30 billion in 2011. Infliximab (Remicade) is the top selling monoclonal antibody in 2002 which was developed by Centocor and is marketed by Centocor and Schering-Plough for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Crohns disease. Rituximab (Rituxan), developed by Genentech and IDEC and marketed by Genentech, IDEC and Roche, for the treatment of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, is the second largest selling monoclonal antibody.[21] Vaccines: Vaccines are antigenic proteins which are either partial or modified form of bacteria, viruses and toxins which causes certain diseases against which vaccine protects. The antigenic property of vaccines is altered from its original form by certain processes such as utilizing attenuated viruses, inactivated viruses, part of a virus or bacteria and toxin produced by bacteria; hence they lack ability to cause disease although, endures ability to produce an immune response.[22] Vaccines are the only known prophylactic approach which are commonly available to cure many infective diseases. Vaccines cover the global market share of $ 3 billion annually. Government health agencies run different immunization programs which alleviate the risk of many infective disorders. However, there are approximately 15 million people die every year from certain infectious diseases that can be cured by vaccination process. Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries seek great potential in this area but the use is limited because of their high production cost, delivery and distribution problems. Vaccines may contain animal derived products such as Bovine serum albumin or fetal calf serum or human derived product for example using cell lines of human tissues. However in recent years transgenic and recombinant plants are also utilized for the production of vaccines.[12,23,24] There are different vaccines available in the market for many infectious diseases such as poliomyelitis, cholera, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, measles, meningitis etc. For hepatitis B virus some examples are Baraclude (Entecavir ®), Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera ®), Lamivudine (Epivir ®-HBV, 3TC), Alfa Interferon (Intron ® A, Infergen ®, Roferon ®).[1,25] Antisense drugs: Antisense compounds are non-coding strand of messenger RNA(mRNA), which hybridize with mRNA and inactivates the ability of genes to produce the protein for which it holds the recipe.[26] They do not alter human gene causing variation in human genetic information. It was first developed in 1978 using a string of DNA nucleotide which binds with messenger RNA and block its function. These drugs are designed to treat a wide range of diseases such inflammatory, infectious, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Fomiversen was the first antisense drug approved in 1998 for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinits in AIDS patients. These are categorized under three sub-classes i.e. antisense oligonucleotides(ASONs), ribozymes and RNA interference(RNAi). Affinitak, manufactured by ISIS pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, is used for the treatment of non-small-cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC). There are certain antisense compound are under review by health agencies for their therapeutic efficacy towards ma ny anomalies[27,28] Peptide therapeutics: Peptides are polymers having one or two amino acids linked with amides and are chemically synthesized by using liquid phase or solid phase synthesis. Their chemical synthesis is preferred over biosynthetic approach because it facilitates the conjugation or incorporation of small molecules and non-natural amino acids. This approach reveals the potential of such molecules as cytotoxic agents for antitumor therapy. Peptides with non-natural opens up the possibility for greater chemical diversity, analogous to small-molecule medicinal chemistry approaches for developing high-af ¬Ã‚ nity, highspeci ¬Ã‚ city molecular recognition. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) and peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs)are developed from the effectors of innate immune response in eukaryotes during their defense mechanism. However there are not many products of peptides found in the market but researchers are trying to develop some therapeutic peptides and proteins with significant effect towards certain diseases. Nesiritide (Natrecor, Noratak) is produced by Johnson Johnson2001, Teriparatide (Forteo) is developed and marketed by Lily in 2002 Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) is manufactured by Trimeris 2003.[29-31] Challenges associated with biopharmaceutical products: Biopharmaceutical products such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, certain hormones, and cell therapies are rewarded as some of the most promising innovation in the field of medicine and health. However there are certain risk and challenges associated with such products which hamper their performance. One of the major challenges is the purification of proteins although it can be achieved by various processes but still purification of such compound is very critical hence requires a lot of attention during manufacturing. Next generation pharmaceutical.[32] However the whole process is carried out under two phases i.e. upstream and downstream regulation. Immunogenicity associated with some of these proteins is also a major concern for biopharmaceutical agents. A repeated injection of human protein may affect the immune tolerance towards self- antigen, leading to humoral response.[33]   Biopharmaceutical products require greater attention, process level as well as monitory level, in the development phase of the drug discovery process it requires approximately $200 million to develop a biopharmaceutical product hence the risk associated with their failure during development stage is increased. Apart from purification and immunogenicity some other issues also make some impact during their development such as government regulations which influence the cost of such products. As discussed earlier it takes a large amount of money to develop such agents hence companies also compensate their development cost and earn profits from their products, ones marketed, which exponentially increases the cost of the drugs. Last and one of the most important risk associated with such products is the introduction of biosimilar products. Biopharmaceutical market is growing very fast, the initial compounds of the first generation are now coming to an end. The expiry of the patents opens the market for generic products which not only influence the established market of some very popular brands, it also forms a milieu of competition to sell the products at cheaper rates which is compensated by their quality.[34] Conclusion Biopharmaceutical products are one amongst the novel class of therapeutic compounds. These are medical agents obtained from biological sources and some special one are manufactured by biotechnological means. They are cellular products, therapeutic proteins, vaccines, gene therapy products and plasma blood product derivatives. Erythropoietins, insulins, and monoclonal antibodies, are some of the leading biopharmaceutical products available in the market hence biopharmaceutical companies are now focusing on their use in long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and asthma. The blockbuster sales of some existing biopharmaceutical products accompanied by the tremendous innovation and a plethora of pipeline products demonstrate the vigorous growth in the biopharmaceutical market in upcoming years. This significant growth is supported by some of the key segments of the field like monoclonal antibody and vaccines. In addition approaches like gene therapy and peptide ther apeutics holds enormous potential for some life threatening anomalies and the combined approach of proteomics, genomics and biotechnology is predicted to empower the most part of the healthcare sector in the upcoming days.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Impact of looming oil crisis on global trade

Impact of looming oil crisis on global trade The availability of OLL Is taken for granted every day by businesses, governments and individuals alike. However, an oil crisis Is looming and could feasibly hit at any point. This brings back memories of the oil shortages during the asses, which had a major impact on the economic growth, particularly In major Industrial countries such as united States. During the 1973 oil crisis – an embargo initiated by the Organization of PetroleumExporting Countries (OPEC) to protest against some of the American trade practices. As a result of this embargo, the price of oil increased by 300%, causing widespread oil shortages and in some cases forcing petrol stations to close. Experts have warned that similar crisis may be Imminent, with Western countries' presence In the middle east causing friction with some of the countries who are members of OPEC. 011 prices have been Increased In many areas in an attempt to reduce consumption levels and prot ect our natural resources.However, research has indicated that despite these measures the consumption of 011 continues to Increase, with an estimated 89 million barrels of oil being used globally every day. Should a crisis like this hit, the effect on the global economy will be huge – importing materials and goods has become an essential practice for larger organizations, but any increase in oil price would dramatically increase the transportation costs of importing and exporting.As a result, companies would need to either seek cheaper alternatives, or more likely raise the cost of their end product, something which will slow the growth of the economy and prolong the recession. Travel has become a major source of expenditure for large firms, with employees often flying to business meetings Internationally as well as domestically. Budget airlines' turnover has grown throughout the recession as a result of the increase in business travel, however any increase in the cost of oil would force these airlines to pass the costs onto their customers in the form of increased air fares.In the event of another oil crisis, businesses which currently have large travel expenses would suddenly find themselves with vastly increased overheads, and have a sudden need to explore cheaper alternatives which may not suit their business plan. Transportation is by far the biggest cause of oil consumption, with this sector estimated to account for more than half of all consumption worldwide, and more than two thirds of consumption within the US.As well as Increased transportation costs, the costs of operating machinery would also Increase during an OLL crisis, leading to Increases In the cost of many essential items, including foodstuffs. As with the rising cost of transportation, any increase in Experts are unsure when another oil crisis might hit, but most experts agree that a crisis of some sort is likely to occur soon. While the exact effect it will have on the world economy can't be accurately predicted, there is no doubt that businesses of all sizes will need to adapt very quickly to continue trading.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

A Comparative Analysis of the Hero’s Quest: Harry Potter Vs King Arthur Essay

ABSTRACT From the pages of literature many ideas are born. Often these ideas are borrowed, passed down and transferred from work to work; author to author. This has led many to conclude that a generic mold has been established for certain ways of telling-or in some cases retelling-a story, and that authors often write to fit this mold, whether purposefully or not. The main mold discussed by celebrated novelists such as Joseph Campbell, and used frequently by renown authors like J.K. Rowling and T.H. White, is that of the classic hero. Rowling has made her young protagonist, Harry Potter, very similar to the King of Camelot, as presented by the many Arthurian authors, including T.H. White and Sir Thomas Mallory. There are a great deal of parallels between Potter and Arthur and I have analyzed the plot and other aspects of both stories-along with the works of critics and researchers like Campbell-to demonstrate the shocking similarities between the two heroes. The amazing similarities from both stories spawn from the constant recycling of the hero and his quest. Harry Potter as a person, is a very dynamic character with complete mood changes and varying personalities, yet when it comes to his adventures he is not at all unique. King Arthur, as a hero, is a very dynamic character but as a person he is flat and boring. To compare both I read the complete Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling ( Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.), I’ve read the authoritative Arthurian legends (The Sword in the Stone, by T.H White, and Le Mort d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory.) The author’s own life stories were also analyzed in hopes that I could perhaps come to a conclusion of why their Heroes are so alike. HARRY POTTER VS KING ARTHUR The King Arthur novels have been a part of literature for years, influencing authors, movies and even song writers. This generation’s â€Å"King Arthur† is known by another name. He was conceived on a napkin by a struggling single mom and goes by the name of Harry Potter. Many parts of Rowling’s Harry Potter Series are infused with elements of the Arthurian legend. From reading and researching both stories I have found many parallels between both tales. Arthur and Harry are both the protagonists of their worlds, both were deprived of their parents at an early age, both were on quests to achieve their destiny, both had old wizard mentors, and neither knew of his own importance till a late age. This extended essay explores the themes and characters linking the two tales and also analyzes the author’s life and language and how they affected the story. Joseph Campbell is a world renown author who wrote the book â€Å"The Hero With a Thousand Faces.† Mentally digesting this book has helped me to understand the bonds that tie all heroes together and was what led to the thought that Harry and Arthur are very similar. Both Arthur and Harry fit into the category that Joseph Campbell refers to as the ‘classic hero.’ Both character’s lives follow the pattern of up and downs that rules the life of any literary being. Using excerpts and themes from this and other novels written by Campbell I will bring to light the chilling parallels between both dramas. Both Harry Potter and King Arthur lived lives that were chosen by them. This may seem obvious as their lives were written out by their author’s imagination, but in the novels themselves their fates were pre-destined. Harry Potter was the only person ever to survive Lord Voldemort’s Avada Kedavra curse, also known as the killing curse. Any time that someone does something for the first time–something that was thought impossible–they are immediately raised on a pedestal of awe and leadership. Having survived the curse, Harry thwarted Voldemort’s plan of world domination, therefore saving the wizarding world. Besides being the first to survive the curse, Harry was also the wizarding community’s savior, and he was only one year old. So at a very early age Harry already had a reputation to live up to. What put the final seal on the situation was Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy which stated that â€Å"neither can live while the other survives,† meaning that when Voldemort returned to conquer the world Harry would be the only one capable of saving everyone†¦again. No pressure Harry. His destiny was chosen for him, but then again isn’t every protagonist’s destiny chosen for them in a sense? The magician Merlin, who is living life backwards was already aware of who Arthur was going to be when he urged Uther Pendragon to give him his first born child in exchange for his help to lay with the Duke of Cornwall’s wife, Lady Igraine. Merlin knew Arthur would grow up to be King and save Britain from the Saxons when he saw the Wart stumbling across the forest floor in T.H. White’s â€Å"The Sword in the Stone.† So the fact that he knew Arthur would become King when he asked Uther for his child means that Merlin is the person who chose Arthur’s fate. Had it not been for his request to receive Arthur, Uther would never have given him over and perhaps Arthur would never have become King. Furthermore, Merlin was the one who placed the sword in the stone and prophesied that whoever pulls it out would become King. Merlin already knew that Arthur was of noble blood, but had he not placed the sword in that stone nobody would have known that Arthur was the heir to the throne. So not only did Merlin arrange for King Arthur to actually be born, but he also arranged for the circumstances that made his nobility come to life, therefore Merlin steered Arthur’s destiny. Arthur and Harry were also raised in complete ignorance of their true lineage. Merlin knew that Arthur would not be safe with the Duke of Cornwall on the prowl for Uther’s heir, so he hid him away with a knight named Sir Ector. Knowing that Arthur would be safe Merlin went to live in the woods nearby, and left him alone until his services were needed again. Therefore Arthur grew up thinking he was Sir Ector’s nephew and had no idea of his noble heritage. He lived comfortably enough and managed to gain the proper morals and code of honor that would one day benefit him as King. Harry was not so lucky. From what we surmise from JK’s novels, Harry Potter would have lived quite a comfortable and quiet life had he not been thrown into tragedy when Voldemort attacked. On the night of the attack Harry was barely a year old, and his parents and he were quietly enjoying their evening at Godric’s Hollow. Voldemort burst in and massacred James and Lilly Potter, Harry’s parents, but when he attempted to kill Harry, the love that Harry’s mother had shown in trying to protect her child formed a sort of protective barrier which caused the curse to bounce back and strike Voldemort. Dumbledore hid the orphaned Harry with his Aunt and Uncle Dursley, who wished to have nothing to do with him due to his being of â€Å"that lot,† meaning a wizard. For eleven years Harry grew up hated and ridiculed with his aunt and uncle, not having a clue of his magical world connections. At this point we notice that while Arthur grew up comfortably with his loving foster family, Harry grew up hated and down trod with his unbearable aunt and uncle. Also, while Arthur’s foster brother Kay greatly helped him on quests and adored him as his own brother, Harry was bullied and annoyed by his cousin Dursley. Another striking similarity between Arthur and Harry is that they both exist to protect and save the people they lead. When Harry unwittingly vanquished Lord Voldemort as a young baby he saved the wizarding community from the greatest threat it had ever faced, at least until Voldemort returned in The Goblet of Fire. So from a surprisingly early age Harry was the savior of his people. When he attended Hogwarts and became a prominent figure in the lives of many people he was not only their â€Å"leader,† but their savior. After Lord Voldemort had returned to power Dumbledore started to guess that he and Harry would be pitted against one another until one was vanquished. This was made certain by was Sybill Trelawney’s prophecy: â€Å"‘The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches†¦ born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies†¦ and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not†¦ and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives†¦ the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies†¦Ã¢â‚¬  So once again Harry was made the only one capable of saving the world from the evils of Marvolo Riddle, or Lord Voldemort. The power which he had that Voldemort knew nothing about was his deceased mother’s love, which made it possible for baby Harry and teenage Harry to thwart Voldemort on every attempt he made to conquer the wizarding world. In the final part of J.K Rowling’s thrilling series Harry vanquishes Lord Voldemort once and for all, therefore f ulfilling his prophecy and saving â€Å"his people.† Arthur also was presented as a hero and savior for his subjects. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, historian and author of History of the Kings of Britain, around 1100 Britain was overrun by Saxons, Picts, and Scots. Arthur came about due to the subdued and downtrodden imaginations of the British people. Whenever a people are subject to tyranny they create heroes and saviors. Arthur was the product of poverty, hunger and injustice, so in the Arthurian legends he is the ultimate hero, the total savior and the peace bringer of Camelot. Another similarity between both heroes is that Arthur is helped on his way to victory by the legendary Sword Excalibur, and Harry defeated Lord Voldemort with the aid of The Elder Wand. As both novels developed the presences of many characters guide the protagonists in the right direction, but none more so than their mentor and protector. For Harry it is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and for Arthur it is the enigmatic Merlin. Harry was hidden for his own safety by Dumbledore and throughout the whole series he was nudged in the right direction by him. In the Philosopher’s Stone, Dumbledore tells Harry how the Mirror of Erised works, in the Chamber of Secrets he sends Fawkes to rescue him from Slytherin’s Heir and the basilisk, in The Prisoner of Azkaban he gives Hermione the Time Turner†¦there are a cornucopia of examples on how Dumbledore is always helping Harry along the way. Although J.K. Rowling claims that Dumbledore had flaws and was ‘gay,’ he was still one of my favorite characters due to his complete devotion to the novel’s cause: defeating Lord Voldemort. In this sense Dumbledore is Harry’s main parent al figure, aside from his Godfather, Sirius, and he sees him through all the hard times. Merlin is that reason that Arthur exists. So if anything, you could sort of call Merlin Arthur’s father. Not only did he arrange for the birth of Britain’s greatest king, but he made him king by putting the sword in the stone. He guided Arthur through his quests and adventures and made him Lord of the Knights of the Round Table. Whenever anyone thinks about Arthurian legend they think of Merlin. Merlin, who found Wart wondering in the woods. Merlin, who taught him valuable life lessons by turning him into different animals. Merlin, who gave him the marvelous sword Excalibur. In both books the mentors are described as having long, white, flowing beards, pointed hats with stars and astrological robes of purple, half rimmed spectacles and twinkling blue eyes. Is it coincidence that J.K. had all these parallels between Arthur and Harry AND Dumbledore and Merlin? Both Harry and Arthur lead very distinguished, eventful and public lives. The life of the hero isn’t an easy one, but it is quite rewarding. As Campbell puts it â€Å"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself† (Campbell). Both of these heroes have accepted their fate and played the role perfectly. A common thread found in most hero stories is the chance at immortality. Campbell writes in his novel, â€Å"The Hero With A Thousand Faces,† that â€Å"To this very day, the possibility of physical immortality charms the heart of man† (Campbell, 188). All hero figures, from Gilgamesh, to Buddha, to Jesus, even Arthur and Harry are all presented with immortality. This longing for eternal life can be understood when we see what a hero is and how man (and woman in JK’s case), fears death. As we know, a hero is spawned during times of upheaval and social distress. Arthur was thought up during the Saxon’s occupation of England and Harry was born when J.K. needed to be saved from poverty and discontent. Whenever a peoples is oppressed they think of becoming rich, overcoming their difficulties and living forever. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry is presented with the opportunity to keep the Sorcerer’s Stone, from which he can create the Elixir of Life, enabling him to live forever. In the Deathly Hallows he was searching for the three Deathly Hallows, one of which was the resurrection stone. The Resurrection Stone made it so that Harry could bring back anyone from the dead. Yet because he didn’t want the Sorcerer’s stone or the Resurrection stone for his own use, he made himself immortal in a different way. He made himself immortal in his follower’s memories and in his many fans’ minds. Arthur, also, had the chance at immortality. On his quest for the Holy Grail he was presented many times with challenges and dilemmas for which the reward was immortality. When Arthur is killed by his son Mordred, he is then taken to the Isle of Avalon to be treated. A popular legend, current among the British people, claimed that King Arthur had never actually died and that he would one day return to his people when their need was great. In this sense King Arthur was thought to be the perfect man, pure of sin. Harry is similarly clean of sin – as Dumbledore tells him in Half-Blood Prince, â€Å"In spite of all the temptation you have endured, all the suffering, you remain pure of heart, just as pure as you were at the age of eleven.† Finally, the greatest parallel between both heroes is the quest. The myths and legends surrounding King Arthur center on the quest for the Holy Grail. According to legend, King Arthur saw the Grail in a vision, and subsequently he and his knights attempted to find the Grail. The Holy Grail and the vessel used by Christ at the Last Supper that was then used by St. Joseph to catch the blood of Christ were then thought to be the same cup. While the location of the Grail was forgotten over time, there was a prophecy at the Court of King Arthur that the Grail would one day be rediscovered by a descendant of St. Joseph. According to the prophecy, the person who would find the Grail would be the person designated to sit in the Siege Perilous, the perfect seat at the round table. This would be Sir Galahad. In comparison Harry Potter is also on a quest. In fact seven quests, one for each book written. Each one of the Harry Potter books written involves quests. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Voldemort is on a quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone to achieve immortality. Voldemort’s quest becomes Harry’s quest, as Harry believes himself to be the only one capable of stopping Voldemort from obtaining the Stone once he learns that Dumbledore has left Hogwarts. The quest takes Harry through a series of obstacles, and while he is accompanied at first by Ron and Hermione, it is he alone – like Galahad – who must complete the quest and save the Stone from Voldemort. Philosopher’s Stone actually tells us about two quests – the quest for the Stone, as well as Voldemort’s quest to kill the boy who has been prophesized to be the only one who can be his undoing. As Galahad’s seat is marked with his name, signifying that he is the only one who can find the Grail, Voldemort’s attack on Harry as a baby leaves him marked with the scar that signifies Harry as Voldemor t’s equal and as the only one who can vanquish Voldemort. Also, Harry is the only one who can achieve the quest for the stone, like Galahad is the only one who can find the Holy Grail. As in Arthurian legend, Harry is not the only one who embarks on quests through the Harry Potter series. In Philosopher’s Stone, Voldemort uses Quirrell to try to find the Stone. The entire Hogwarts teaching staff (with the one notable exception of Professor Lockhart) is looking for the Chamber of Secrets in Book Two. The Dementors are searching for Sirius Black in Prisoner of Azkaban. The other contestants in the Triwizard Tournament, like Knights of the Round Table, are also on quests as they complete each Tournament task in Goblet of Fire. At the Yule Ball, the contestants and the judges even sit at a large round table. In Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort is on a quest to obtain the prophecy and regain his power. This signifies that many try, or feel compelled to achieve the status of hero, but the true hero doesn’t choose his destiny. The true hero becomes what he is because he has no choice, because it is in his blood. Like Harry and Arthur, who did not choose their future, and never wanted fame and glory, the true hero does things alone. There exists many parallels between both heroes and in finality we can conclude that this is no mere coincidence. Rowling must have intended to at least base her protagonist off of Britain’s greatest hero: King Arthur. The reason that J. K. Rowling is able to put so much life and actuality in her writings is that she herself has experienced much of what she writes. She was born on July 31st, 1965 in Gloucestershire, England. Divorced and living off of welfare Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on a napkin between her daughter’s naps. When Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published her life changed. Much like Harry’s life, Rowling’s has the characteristics of a fairy tale. Barely making a living she managed to get by and lived in a small apartment flat in Edinburgh, where she says she was rescued by Harry Potter. She was given money to finish her books and has since become richer than even the Queen. She has written the harshness and nightmares of her pre-Potter life into her books, which is why they appear so real. Whenever a people live an oppressed lifestyle they create saviors to rescue them, which is what J.K did. T.H White, on the other hand lived a pretty well off life, yet displeased with the world he too re-made a hero for himself, Arthur. There isn’t much in common between both authors other than their British descent and the fact that they write. Their language is also very similar and the way they write is strikingly alike. Perhaps it’s the fact that they both attended Exeter college? In the quest for literary glory, both authors overcame tremendous upheaval and problems of a bad economic start. Yet they both wrote novels that changed mankind, and that continued the Hero’s journey through literature. It is certain true then, that â€Å"There is only one hero, and he has a thousand faces† (HWTF, Campbell). BIBLIOGRAPHY White, T.H. â€Å"The Sword in the Stone.† Random House, Inc. October 1963 Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.† Cornell Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.† Cornell Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.† Cornell Books Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.† Cornell Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.† Cornell Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.† Cornell Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rowling, J.K. â€Å"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.† Cornell Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Campbell, Joseph. â€Å"The Hero With A Thousand Faces.† New World Library Books, 1949, First Ed.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Dont Overload the Bridge

Dont Overload the Bridge Dont Overload the Bridge Dont Overload the Bridge By Michael Every good writer is burning to say something, and fiction writers are no exception. Though their job is to tell a story well, they often have a message they want to get across too. Many seasoned fiction writers would say, Dont do it! Concentrate on your story. Let your characters do what comes naturally to them, and dont turn them into puppets for your beliefs. I try to take that advice, but I cant always do it. The message is often what excites me about writing the story. If youre thinking about how to squeeze your message into your story, imagine a ravine. A deep, flooding ravine. You have to get your readers across it. So, you build a bridge. You create believable settings and characters, and let them do believable things. You look at your story, and ask others to look at your story, with the question, Does this ring true? Then, you load up your readers into a bus to drive them across the bridge. Oh, and you also load up your message, your cargo, into the storage area under the bus. Will your bridge stand the strain? Have you built it strong enough and sturdy enough to hold up under the weight of your profound message to the world? Will the bus make it over without crashing through? If not, build the bridge again. Dont let your readers try to cross it until youve made it ready for them. The heavier the message, the stronger the story has to be. The characters need to be so believable, the plot so engrossing, that your readers wont worry that the cargo youve stashed underneath their feet is going to put them into the bottom of the ravine. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Farther vs. Further15 Words for Household Rooms, and Their Synonyms90 Verbs Starting with â€Å"Ex-†

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

All About Si, the French Adverb or Conjunction

All About Si, the French Adverb or Conjunction The French word si can be an adverb or a conjunction. Either way, si has several meanings and is used in numerous French constructions. Practicing the use of this word is important for grasping its nuances. Si If Si is the French word for if: Je ne sais pas si je veux y aller. (I dont know if I want to go.)Dis-moi si à §a te conviendra. (Tell me if that will work for you.)Et si je ne suis pas fatiguà ©? (And if Im not tired?)Si jà ©tais riche, jachà ¨terais une maison. (If I were rich, I would buy a house.) Si So Si can be used as an intensifier: Je suis si fatiguà ©. (Im so tired.)Jai si faim. (Im so hungry.)Je ne savais pas quil à ©tait si mignon. (I didnt know he was so cute.) Si As, So Si can make a comparison: Il nest pas si intelligent quil pense. (Hes not as smart as he thinks.)Ce nest pas si facile. (Its not as easy as that, Its not that easy.) Si While, Whereas Si can put two clauses in opposition: Sil est beau, sa femme est laide. (Whereas he is handsome, his wife is ugly.)Si tu es gentil, ton frà ¨re est mà ©chant. (Youre kind, while your brother is mean.) Si However, No Matter How Si can be followed by a subjunctive clause to express a concession: Si beau quil fasse, je ne peux pas sortir (No matter how nice the weather is, I cant go out)Si gentil que tu sois, je ne taime pas (However kind you are, I dont love you) Si Yes Si means yes in response to a negative question or statement: Tu ne vas pas venir? Si, je vais venir. (Youre not going to come? Yes, I am going to come.)Nas-tu pas dargent? Si, jen ai. (Dont you have any money? Yes, I do.)Jeanne nest pas prà ªte. Si, si! (Jeanne isnt ready. Yes, yes!) Si Did I Hear Correctly, Is This What Youre Asking? If someone asks a question and youre not sure (or cant believe) you heard correctly, you can request confirmation or clarification by repeating what you did hear with the word si:Si jai faim?(Are you asking) if Im hungry?(You couldnt really hear the question)Si je veux quoi?Youre asking if I want what?(Youre not sure you heard correctly; you heard Do you want a free TV?)Si jai combien denfants?Youre asking if I have how many kids?(You didnt hear how many, or you heard Do you have 7 kids?) Et Si What if, How About In informal French, et si is often tacked on the beginning of a suggestion (with the verb in the imperfect): Et si on allait au cinà ©? (How about going to the movies?)Et si tu amenais ton frà ¨re? (Why dont you bring your brother?)Et si on parlait damour? (What if we talked about love?)

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Finance For Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance For Management - Essay Example 383) This part of the paper seeks to analyse the Jensen argument in 1978, quoted by Pike& Neale that the efficient market hypothesis is the "best established fact in all of social science". Whilst Neale & McElroy (2004) were less categorical "sometimes stock market valuations may look irrational. But in the longer term the markets are efficient processors of information and get valuation about right" Numerous papers have demonstrated that early identification of new information can provide substantial profits. Insiders who trade on the basis of privileged information can therefore make excess returns, violating the strong form of the efficient market hypothesis. Even the earliest studies by Cowles (1933,1944), however, make it clear that investment professionals do not beat the market. It has already been stated that an efficient market is one where the prices of securities fully reflect all available information, but then what are the sufficient conditions for capital market efficiency In an idealized world, such conditions would be the debate about market efficiency has resulted in thousands of empirical studies and literature attempting to determine whether particular markets are in fact 'efficient', and if so to what degree. In fact, the majority of studies and researches of technical theories have gone to the result that it is difficult to predict prices. No wonder, Neale & McElroy (2004) were less categorical, and stated that "sometimes stock market valuations may look irrational. But in the longer term the markets are efficient processors of information and get valuation about right" In addition, the random walk theory indicates that price movements will not follow any trends and so by knowing the past price movements it's not possible to predict the future price movements. All these state that markets are in fact efficient. However, researchers have also exposed many stock market anomalies that seem to be inconsistent with the efficient market hypothesis. Conclusion This section attempts an analysis of Michael Jensen 1978 arguments on the efficient market hypothesis. An attempt was also made to reconcile this statement with Neale & McElroy 2004 statement. From the above analysis, one can gently conclude that trading strategies seem to be widespread among fund managers and there is little evidence that they would generate excess returns in practice (Malkiel, 2003). Researchers have also exposed many stock market anomalies that seem to be inconsistent with the efficient market hypothesis. The end of the year effect, small firm effect is all good examples to this effect. The efficient market hypothesis has been challenged by numerous studies on the grounds that there are often underrreactions or overreaction of stock markets to information. (Baberies et al, 1998; Daniel et al, 1998; Hong and Stein, 1999). Accordingly, in a variety of markets, sophisticated investors can earn

Friday, November 1, 2019

Prevention of Falls in Acute Care Setting Research Paper

Prevention of Falls in Acute Care Setting - Research Paper Example Other factors leading to deterioration in acute care of falls include the strategies used by individuals, the first stages of patients’ assessments, and continuing reassessment of the patients. The study on the approaches used in preventing injuries caused by falls includes assessment of individuals at high risks. In case of injuries, interviewing staff and members of the affected family is necessary for proper care. Factors leading to the problems In viewing the contributions to the problem, a number of factors cause increased cases of falls. Cognitive dysfunction is among the main risk factors. It refers to patients in severe confusion state known as delirium and those with existing cognitive injury known as dementia. Research shows at some point, over 30% of the inpatients have delirium 15% being the elderly (McCarter-Bayer et al., 2005). Dementia patients also suffer from a disease called Alzheimer and vascular dementia. Patients suffering from these infections have deteri orated strength and at risk of poly pharmacy. Impaired mobility is another falling risk factor resulting to body weakening. Low extreme mobility of the body causes the failure. This forces the patients to be in need for assistive devices. The use of medicines in an effort to counter the weaknesses in the body has side effects. These effects also contribute to risks in falls. Because of metabolic changes and hepatic impairment more prone to the elderly, they suffer more from the side effects of medicines. The living environment of the affected group causes falls leading to injuries. These may be due to the foreign materials in their living areas such as debris, poorly anchored floors and poor safety measures in the living rooms (Koh et al., 2007). Alternative solutions to the problem Falls minimization entails a number of precautions. The main precaution is to communicate the risk factors to respective authorities for undertaking of appropriate actions (Koh et al., 2007). By visual c ommunication, identifiers like posters, charts and signs showing risk areas are of considerable importance in preventing falls. It is necessary to inform all the people visiting a new environment and those living in a given area on the meaning of the risk signs placed at various points. The staff handling the patients requires the clarity of the fall status of the patients visiting any health care. In cases with affected patients, the people accompanying the patient have to identify and communicate a brief history of the patient before treatment. A number of interventions are a requirement for every patient. The patients must familiarize with the environment, be assisted whenever in need, for example, when going to the washrooms or by ensuring that walking belts are available at the bedside. In case of an emergency, communication devices should be in place and within the reach of the patients so that they can talk to nurses (Mezey et al., 2005). Course of action From literature, pre vention method of falls has a little impact on minimizing the rates of injuries (Mezey et al., 2005). To achieve best results, I recommend organizational support in ensuring prevention method, which has a high priority. This means that there is a need to encourage support from health care organizations than it was before. Studies show that best results are possible only with assistance across disciplines dealing with fall cases. The organization expected