Demand Supply Of LNG Management In Australia-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Talk About The Demand And Supply Of LNG Management In Australia? Answer: Introducation Request and gracefully of a product can be distinguished as two of the significant constituents influencing the costs of the equivalent. Exactly, the interest and flexibly side of products has additionally relied upon various elements directing the costs to change. In this specific examination, the effect of expanding global interest for condensed flammable gas (LNG) on the costs in Australia has been explained giving considerable proof (Rudolph, 2016). As indicated by the reports, by 2021-22, the whole estimation of the LNG trades in Australia has been assessed to reach $42 billion from $17 billion out of 2015-16 (Drahos, 2017). The report distributed by the Australian Government in the article Resource and Energy Quarterly has affirmed that because of the expansion in worldwide interest and flexibly challenges in the long haul, the LNG costs in Australia have been guage to rise. In the in the interim, the flood later on contract costs can be recognized as one of the main drivers of flooding the ware value (Perry, 2016). On the opposite side, there are a few hazard factors related with flexibly side also (Bolle, 2011). Because of increment in the quantities of worldwide contenders and decrease in the interest in the Australian oil and gas division, the LNG extends in Australia are foreseen to decay. As far as LNG request from the worldwide side, the universal gas utilization is relied upon to flood at a normal yearly pace of 1.7% in the following five years or something like that (Drahos, 2017). Because of expanded interest from the developing economies in Asia and the European Union countries, the LNG send out framework will get a lift in the Australia and US to meet the gracefully development. In the in the interim, LNG imports gauges till 2022 have been introduced as beneath: Figure: LNG Imports Forecasts Source: (Drahos, 2017) As depicted in the figure, barring Japan, the conjecture has affirmed that the interest of LNG is relied upon to increment from South Korea, China, rising Asian economies, Europe, and the remainder of the world economies. As far as numbers, by 2022, the utilization estimate of LNG is relied upon to arrive at 330 billion cubic meters, up by 65%. In this way, import of LNG in China will ascend to 48 million tons by 2020, up by 19% (Drahos, 2017). Clearly, China will be the biggest LNG bringing in countries on the planet contributing towards the interest development of the asset in a solitary manner. Besides, import of LNG from developing Asian economies for example India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and so forth has evaluated to expand that will clearly benefits the Australian fares. Because of the outcomes, the costs of LNG in Australia will keep up an upward bend later on too. Regardless of Australia being the second biggest exporter of LNG over the globe, it is required to confront a deficiency of flexibly of petroleum gas in the up and coming years. As indicated by Bruce Robertson (a vitality authority), the Australian Government has permitted the gas extricating organizations to sell its valuable vitality assets in the abroad market without thinking about the future needs of the Australian individuals (Smead, 2015). Thus, the significant result that can be normal in the forthcoming years is a lack of LNG before the finish of 2020. Moreover, it is normal that the cost of LNG will increment at an unforeseen rate because of its developing interest in the universal just as household market and lack of gracefully because of eradication of the common assets. So as to clarify the difficulties for Australia economy with respect to the cost of LNG, the interest and flexibly bend hypothesis has been applied in this unique situation. It tends to be seen that the expansion cognizance among the Australian purchasers and advancement of innovation will prompt a base degree of ascend in the amount requested for petroleum gas later on (Giri and Roy, 2011). In any case, the more elevated level of fare in the current years will prompt undersupply of LNG by a tremendous sum. Consequently, the cost of LNG is relied upon to increment by a colossal sum later on. An interest and gracefully bend graph has been introduced underneath for better understanding: Figure: Demand and Supply of LNG Source: (Gilman, 2016) Based on the above figure, it very well may be seen that the gigantic fall in gracefully of LNG in the neighborhood market will prompt a leftward move in the Supply Curve from S to S1. In a similar way, the expansion in the amount requested by a littler sum in the local market will prompt a rightward move in the Demand Curve from D to D1. Subsequently, the market harmony will move from E to E1 prompting an expansion in the cost from P to P1. Based on the above investigation, it tends to be seen that a climb in the cost of LNG will be apparent in the Australian economy, which will prompt a monetary unevenness in the country. Chang (2017) recommend that the Australian government must put a keep an eye on the fare amount of petroleum gas so as to keep up showcase harmony later on. For instance, the legislature can force a higher assessment rate for fare of LNG and the income earned from the fare of the item can be utilized as appropriations to keep up a balance cost in the Australian market (Hattwick, Brown and Sailors, 2014). The conversation in the investigation has distinguished that the worldwide interest of LNG has evaluated to be expanded at an extensive rate in the following five years. Because of nonstop flood sought after of LNG, the Australia LNG fares will be relied upon to reach at a record high sooner rather than later. Then again, a portion of the flexibly side difficulties can assume a significant job fuelling the future agreement costs of LNG. Driven by the worldwide interest development and inside gracefully challenges, the costs of LNG in Australia has recuperated from US$ 7.2 a gigajoule in 2017 from a record low of US$ 5.5 a gigajoule in 2016. The flood of the costs in LNG is relied upon to keep up the grade bolstered by request development in the worldwide market. Subsequently, it is significant for the Australian Government to put a mind the creation and fare of LNG so as to keep up advertise harmony in the business References Bolle, F. (2011). Rivalry with gracefully and request functions.Energy Economics, 23(3), pp.253-277. Chang, C. (2017).The terrible arrangement Australians get over their gas. [online] NewsComAu. Accessible at: https://www.news.com.au/account/economy/australian-economy/how-australia-is-being-cheated its-gas/report/4187e60617aec18e87d57453cfca0167 [Accessed Aug. 2017]. Drahos, N. (2017). Assets and Energy Quarterly. [online] 5(5), pp.61-72. Accessible at: https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Documents/req/Resource-and-Energy-Resources-Quarterly-March-2017.pdf [Accessed Aug. 2017]. Gilman, L. (2016).Economics. third ed. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications. Giri, B. what's more, Roy, B. (2011). Gracefully Chain Coordination with Price-Sensitive Demand Under Risks of Demand and Supply Disruptions.Technology Operation Management, 2(1), pp.29-38. Hattwick, R., Brown, B. what's more, Sailors, J. (2014).Demand, gracefully, and the market component. fifth ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Perry, J. (2016).Energy costs. fourth ed. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Rudolph, M. (2016). Petroleum gas Supply, Demand and Prices.Natural Gas, 4(9), pp.29-30. Smead, R. (2015). Inlet Coast LNG Exports Still Moving Despite Oil-Price Decline.Natural Gas Electricity, 31(10), pp.28-32.

How Honey Bees Survive the Winter Cold

How Honey Bees Survive the Winter Cold Most honey bees and wasps rest during the colder months. In numerous species, just the sovereign endures the winter, developing in spring to restore a province. Be that as it may, bumble bees stay dynamic throughout the entire winter, notwithstanding the frosty temperatures and absence of blossoms on which to scrounge. Winter is the point at which they receive the rewards of their difficult work, by living off the nectar theyve made and put away. Winter Is Why Bees Make Honey The bumble bee colonys capacity to endure the winter relies upon their food stores. Keeping warm takes vitality as nectar. In the event that the state runs low on nectar, it will stick to death before spring. The working drones power the now pointless automaton honey bees from the hive, allowing them to starve. Its an unforgiving sentence, however one that is important for the colonys endurance. Automatons would eat a lot of the valuable nectar, and put the hive in hazard. When wellsprings of scavenge vanish, the bumble bees settle in for the winter. As temperatures fall beneath 57â ° F, the laborers dig in close to their store of nectar. The sovereign quits laying eggs in pre-winter and late-fall, since food stores are restricted and the laborers must concentrate on protecting the province. The Honey Bee Huddle The bumble bee laborers structure a bunch around the sovereign and brood to keepâ them warm. They keep their heads pointed internal. Honey bees within the bunch can benefit from the put away nectar. The external layer of laborers protects their sisters inside the circle of bumble bees. As encompassing temperatures rise, the honey bees outwardly of the gathering separate a piece, to permit more wind stream. As temperatures fall, the bunch fixes, and the external laborers arrange. As the surrounding temperature drops, the working drones effectively create heat inside the hive. To begin with, they feed on nectar for vitality. At that point, the bumble bees shudder. They vibrate their flight muscles yet keep their wings despite everything, raising their internal heat levels. With a huge number of honey bees shuddering continually, the temperature at the focal point of the group will heat up significantly, to about 93â ° F! At the point when the laborers on the external edge of the bunch get cold, they push to the focal point of the gathering, and different honey bees take a divert protecting the gathering from the winter climate. During hotter spells, the whole circle of honey bees will move inside the hive, situating themselves around new nectar stores. During long spells of outrageous chilly, the honey bees might be not able to move inside the hive. In the event that they come up short on nectar inside the bunch, the honey bees can starve to death just crawls from extra nectar saves. What Befalls the Bees When We Take Their Honey? A normal state of bumble bees can create 25 lbs. of nectar during the scavenging season. That is 2-3 times more nectar than they commonly need to endure the winter. During a decent scrounging season, a solid province of bumble bees can create as much as 60 lbs. of nectar. So the productive working drones make considerably more nectar than the state requires to endure the winter. Beekeepers collect the excess nectar, yet consistently ensure they leave an adequate gracefully for the honey bees to continue themselves through the winter months.

New SIPA-authored books discuss natural disasters, cultural diplomacy, more COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

New SIPA-authored books discuss natural disasters, cultural diplomacy, more COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Im always excited to share news about our Seeple. And since the academic year is already underway, I thought everyone would like to hear about the recent literary achievements of some of our SIPA faculty members. Who knows; maybe one of these titles will inspire you as you work on your admissions applications! SIPA lecturer  Hisham Aidi is the winner of  a 2015 American Book Award for  Rebel Music: Race, Empire, and the New Muslim Youth Culture.  The book delves into the role of America’s cultural diplomacy and how different states are trying to use music to shape Islamic politics and discourses.  Read the QA about Rebel Music  and the American Book Award  with SIPA News  here. Professor  Séverine Autesserres new book,   Peaceland, analyzes the everyday practices, narratives and habits of interveners in peace operations and how these often-unconscious factors influence and sometimes impair the effectiveness of international efforts.  Read the QA about Peaceland  with Global Peace Operations Review here. Professor  John Mutters book,  The Disaster Profiteers,  looks at the role of natural disasters in constraining development opportunities for poor and emerging societies.  Read the QA about The Disaster Profiteers  with SIPA News  here. Adjunct associate professor  Gernot Wagners new book  Climate Shock, received a great review by Jeffrey Sachs: deeply insightful, challenging, eye-opening, thought-provoking, and sheer fun to read,” Climate Shock reminds readers of the unknown risks associated with climate change, underscoring the need to address the issue.  Read the QA about Climate Shock  with SIPA News  here.

The Ideas And Reforms Of Marx And Kuyper - 1142 Words

The nineteenth century was a time of wide-spread changes across Europe and America. Two great seminal thinkers, Karl Marx and Abraham Kuyper, examined the issue of poverty during this time through their books The Communist Manifesto and The Problem of Poverty respectively. Both philosophers exposed economic, political, and social problems of this period. The ideas and reforms of Marx and Kuyper proved to be so tectonic that they resulted in the greatest political upheaval of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While Marx wrote his book to rally society against capitalism for a socioeconomic change, Kuyper viewed poverty through a Christian lens and weighed the effect of society in regards to this issue. It is true both philosophers†¦show more content†¦In this case, the split is between the Bourgeoisie (the middle class) versus the Proletariat (the working class). Marx argued the capitalist Bourgeoisie abused the Proletariats by profiting from their work while the Prolet ariats were not receiving what they deserved (Marx, p. 30). Marx knew the wealth of the Bourgeoisie depended on the work of the Proletariat, but he predicted the underclass would get sick of being exploited and revolt. In fact, he encouraged the underclass to overthrow the capitalists and stand up for their rights with his views known as Marxism. Abraham Kuyper also acknowledged the unfairness of the social classes that had developed. He related the inequalities between men were due to the belief that â€Å"the stronger devours the weaker,† and declared they were living in an animalistic society rather than a humane one (Kuyper, p. 25). The desire for wealth and material things had overcome the desire for the Christian faith. Kuyper urged the people to carry out their responsibilities as Christians and work toward shrinking the division between rich and poor by giving to the poor. Both Marx and Kuyper recognized the negative effect capitalism had on society, but Marx aimed to eliminate the capitalists’ economic system while Kuyper endorsed a giving society. Though Marx and Kuyper agreed on the need to change the inequality between the different classes, their views regarding religion differed. Marx thoughtShow MoreRelatedThe Revolution Of The Middle Of A Revolution1292 Words   |  6 Pagesthe gap between the poor and the rich. Aware of the widening gap, Karl Marx wrote out against the problem. However, the problem was still around about fifty years later when Abraham Kuyper also addressed the problem. Both Marx and Kuyper agreed that poverty was a problem and need to be fixed. Each one took a different view on how to fix poverty, and both have their flaws, but in the end, both Karl Marx and Abraham Kuyper are calling for action to end poverty. The problem with poverty is thatRead MoreCommunist Manifesto And Abraham Kuyper s The Problem Of Poverty1385 Words   |  6 PagesKuyper’s The Problem of Poverty. Both Marx and Kuyper’s writings focus on the social struggle between the privileged, wealthy, and unprivileged, poor; however, Marx presents the struggle and his solution from an economic viewpoint while Kuyper presents the struggle and his solution from a religious viewpoint. Marx begins his presentation with a defining of both socio-economic groups then presents the political movement of Communism as a solution to the contrast. Kuyper, on the other hand, focuses hisRead MoreKuyper Against Marx1795 Words   |  8 Pagesbetter. Although Kuyper and Marx agreed that social conditions in the Industrial Age were not acceptable, they differed on the cause and solution to the poverty and despair in the modern world. Kuyper’s approach to the problem of poverty is like minimally invasive surgery, less dam aging but more time-intensive. Marx’s approach, however, is like amputation with no cauterization, quick but with little chance of recovery. Marx seeks to heal a wound by creating another; Kuyper seeks to heal through

Working At Ibm As A Software Engineer - 2513 Words

One thing that a person realizes when they start working in a group of people is the fact that people are diverse. This can be in their way of thinking, their actions and even in the way they relate to one another. This makes the expected results to vary and become subjective in all manner of ways. This paper focuses on a clear description of the events that took place while I was working at IBM as a software engineer. This paper will focus with one of the projects; VPMI, which happened to be a very complex endeavor, not just for me, but also the team I was working with. Having been selected for the project for the sole reason of my educational background; software engineering, I was automatically made the technical leader of the group.†¦show more content†¦On Fridays we would then meet again and establish the steps that had been taken within the week. The project manager, who we all referred to as Andy, was a modern kind of manager, who believed in delegating duties to all persons who were willing to take them, so on Friday he would ensure the meeting was casual and everyone had an opportunity of taking a stand on what they thought were the barriers to the project’s development. I believe this was a move to have constant communication within the group so that we could avoid conflict. Despite this, conflict arouse at given incidents within the project development period. As I stipulated earlier, this was a diverse group, it had all sorts of people, and for instance Alisha who was one of the member in the group was very competitive. Having attended one of the premier institutes for her undergraduate she felt she had the upper hand in some matters within the IT scope within the group. Alisha was slender, dressed elegantly at all times and exhibited all the traits that a competitive person exhibits. On one of these meetings, she had been given the role of facilitating the Friday session. As usual the team was discussing the issues that had faced the project that week. An issue was raised regarding the software to be used for one of the sub-projects and my opinion was asked on it. Alisha was not in agreement with it, however, instead of facilitating

Business law Reflective Free Essays

Abstract Reflective writing provides â€Å"evidence of reflective thinking† (Thorpe, 2010, p. 2) and generally involves the writer looking at back at tasks that have been undertaken and considering what improvements need to be made. In order to conduct a reflective statement for a presentation that has been carried out Gibbs (1988, p. We will write a custom essay sample on Business law Reflective or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1) model of reflection ought to be used. This enables the writer to provide a description of what happened and then consider what thoughts and feelings they have about the presentation. An evaluation of the good and bad points is then provided and an analysis as to what affected the outcome is made. Once this has been done a conclusion is then drawn about what changes could be made in order to improve future presentations. In this reflective assignment I will therefore write a reflective account of how the performance went by considering the strengths and weaknesses as well as any feelings I had when conducting the tasks (Moon, 2013, p. 140). Outline of law The presentation was based upon the advantages and disadvantages of Limited Liability Partnership’s (LLPs) and whether LLPs have been taken up by many professional (unlimited) partnerships. Accordingly, it was thus made clear that LLPs are advantageous in that partners of LLPs have limited liabilities (Cody et al, 2007, p. 82) and are therefore not responsible for another partner’s misconduct or negligence (Haywood, 2010, p. 546). As such, there is a reduced risk to the personal wealth of all partners from creditor’s claims. LLPs also provide great flexibility for partners in that they facilitate participation in the management and maintenance of the partnership (Rouch and Smethurst, 2004, p. 46). Moreover, because LLPs require registration at Companies House, these types of partnerships may give the perception that they are much more substantial than they actually are. LLPs do, however, have a number of disadvantages including the lack of privacy since all finan cial information must be disclosed to the public (Morris, 2001, p. 161). In addition, there is also the requirement for an LLP agreement which may not be desirable for many partnerships. LLPs are also taxed in the same way as sole traders and traditional partnerships and so do not obtain the same tax benefits that a Limited Liability Company would receive. The limited liability protection that is provided may also lead to trade suppliers being unwilling to provide credit to the partnership as they may perceive the protection as a high risk for themselves. If an LLP fails, no redress would be provided to the partners even if they are owed money (Murray, 1998, p. 15). The strengths and weakness of the workings of group Strengths In undertaking the above presentation, I was provided with the opportunity to work as part of group. In doing so, I was able to pool my ideas together with others and understand the advantages and disadvantages of LLPs from different perspectives. In addition, any complex problems that I faced were more easily tackled since I was able to discuss the problems with the others in the group and therefore gain relevant feedback. As a group, we were able to meet up in order to work on the presentation together, which enabled us to generate ideas that we may not have come up with individually. The end product was therefore a success because of the fact that everyone in the group was able to contribute to what was being said. Weaknesses Although it was enjoyable working with other people, there were many drawbacks of the workings of the group. This was evidenced by the lack of team work that existed at times as some individuals provided more input than others. As a result, I often found myself taking the leading position on this assignment as opposed to working with the group as equals and I subsequently ended up providing the group with the appropriate guidance needed to conduct the presentation. This could have been due to the fact that I was better at organising what needed to be addressed, whereas the others in the group were better at expressing their opinions. When we were initially provided with the instructions for the presentation, we all agreed that it was best to start off by each giving our own opinions as to what we thought would work best for this particular topic. It was then decided that each individual ought to research a different matter on the topic. Some parts of the research that was gathered we re, however, stronger than other parts and so further clarification was needed. Nevertheless, one of the main things that I learnt from this process was the acceptance of other people’s ideas and opinions. At times it was difficult to decide whose particular research was the most useful and it seemed as though the information being gathered was not sufficient enough to convey the issues surrounding LLPs within our presentation. Hence, it would have been a lot better if the group had communicated with each other more effectively and were thus prepared to get more involved with the team (Maughan Webb, 2001, p. 1). This is because, it seemed as though a lot of independent work was still be undertaken for this assignment even though it was a group project. This had a significant impact upon the overall presentation as it appeared that the group had not worked together in considering the advantages and disadvantages of LLPs. This could have largely been due to the difficulty it was in getting groups members together since we had to find an appropriate time th at was convenient for everyone in the group. This was quite difficult to achieve as we had to figure out a time that would suit the needs of all and then email each other to find out if this was in fact appropriate. The strengths and weakness of presentation Strengths The presentation skills of each individual in the group were sufficient in that we all maintained a fair level of eye contact and an appropriate use of language throughout. We also maintained a very good pace and I became aware of my strong expressive voice and powerful eye contact. The presentation was also well organised and we had memorised what we had included in the presentation so there was little need to script read. Overall, the presentation was well delivered and organised in an a clear concise manner that allowed the reader to easily identify the advantages and disadvantages of LLPs. Weaknesses In conducting the presentation I felt that I lacked the ability to put my audience at ease because of the lack of clarity that existed in the presentation. Better preparation would have rectified this, yet because of the complexities that existed within the group it was extremely difficult to prepare as well as we should have done. Furthermore, although I had the ability to explain the different concepts of LLPs clearly, I was unable to answer the question that was put to me at the end of the presentation appropriately. As a result, it is evident that further reading on the topic would have been beneficial as it would have enhanced my knowledge and understanding of LLPs and would have provided me with the ability to answer any questions that were put to me. The tone of my voice could also have been a little more varied and I could have had greater confidence in the subject matter. More preparation would have resolved this as well as further collaboration with the other group members. In addition, we also had a lack of skill when it came to using PowerPoint and so it would have been better if we had got ourselves familiar with the software before making the presentation. How any weaknesses can be overcome in the future? Whilst there were certain parts that appeared to be satisfactory, such as the appropriate level of eye contact and use of language, it has become evident that my presentation lacked any clarity. As such, I will ensure that future presentations will be a lot more clear and concise. This can be achieved through preparation and ensuring that greater efforts are made to communicate with the group. Preparation and practice would also allow me to answer questions from the audience with greater confidence and I would have a better understanding of the topic (Marathe, 2007, p. 7). I would also practice the tone of my voice in order to ensure that more variance was provided throughout. In relation to the use of PowerPoint, I would ensure that I am fully aware of how the software works so that difficulties do not arise during the actual presentation. What you learnt about teamwork and oral presentation skills After listening to the feedback I received following my presentation, I have learnt that there are certain elements of my teamwork and presentation skills that need improvement. For teamwork to be effective, all members of the group need to be confident in the subject matter and willing to participate through group discussions. This will ensure that the ideas are expressed with greater clarity and the nature of each individual’s contribution will be better understood. I also learnt that in order for a team to be successful, we need to be more efficient with resources and therefore need to manage time more effectively. From this experience, I also learnt the complexities that can arise from trying to collaborate with others and although I was often left frustrated, it all came together in the end. In effect, it became evident that different ideas are often generated when collaborating with others, yet it is important that all group members listen to each other as well as provid ing their own information. For oral presentations to be effective, it is important that the presenters know the subject matter inside and out as this will become clear to the audience. Confidence is thereby important for a successful presentation to be conducted, which can be conveyed through eye contact. This provides an element of intimacy and makes the audience feel comfortable. In addition, too much information should not be provided to the audience as this will divert their attention away from the most important points. Preparation is also essential, especially for presenters who lack experience, because those who do not prepare as well end up going off on tangents. References Cody, T., Hopkins, D. A., Perlman, L. A., and Kalteux, L. L., (2007) Limited Liability Companies, Business Economics, 9th Edition. Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods, SCED, Birmingham. Haywood, J. (2010) LLP Members: How Limited is Your LiabilityPart 1, Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, Volume 9, Issue 9. Marathe, M. (2007) The Successful Speaker: 273 Tips for Powerful Presentations, Lulu. Maughan, C., and Webb, J., (2001). Small group learning and assessment. Retrieved August 01, 2007, from the Higher Education Academy accessed 01 May 2013. Moon, J. A. (2013) A Handbook of Reflective and Experimental Learning: Theory and Practice, Routledge. Morris, G. D., (2001) Limited Liability Partnerships, Tolley’s Practical Business Fortnightly for Senior Administrators, Volume 24, Issue 21. Murray, C. (1998) Comment – Take it to the Limit, Law Society Gazette, Volume 95, Issue 40. Rouch, D. and Smethhurst, J. (2004) Limited Liability Partnerships: Flexing the Body Corporate, Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, Volume 49, Issue 2. Thorpe, K. (2010) Reflective Learning Journals: From Concept to Practice, Reflective Practice: International Multidisciplinary Perspectives, Volume 5, Issue 3. How to cite Business law Reflective, Essay examples

Business Valuation and Analysis Strategy

Question: Describe about the Business Valuation and Analysis for Strategy? Answer: Summarization of ALTADIS Strategy: The cigar manufacturing company Altadis has many strategies for their company to make their company to earn more profit by selling cigars to different countries of the world. One of the strategies adopted by the cigar manufacturing company is Cash Flow Driven: The Altadis Company has reduced the fiscal opinion for the cigar division of France. They have reduced the rate of tax for the product of France. But the manufacturing company has increased the price of the cigar in the French market. They have reduced the volume of blond cigar in French market in two consecutive years. That is why the annual selling cigar is declined by almost 2 %. The total remuneration yield is increasing in every year as the company is buying back the share from the share holders of Altadis. But still the company is having the growth in revenue of almost 6%. Valuation: The company is buying back the shares capital of the company in every year and returning millions of money to the share holders of the company. The company is also declaring the dividend to its share holders. The total remuneration of the company is increasing in every year. The estimated total remuneration of the company is almost 600 million Euro. Ratio Analysis: The Altadis Company is entered into the emerging market. The Altadis Company is trading at a large discount on their EBITDA and EBIT. The price earnings ratio of the Altadis Company is falling down. This is because the lower leverage value and the fiscal funds. The lower ratio of BATs is exposed to the litigation in the market and for the highest revenues of shares in the emerging market. The strategies approved by the Altadis Company should improve: The research analyst after observing the strategies acquired by the company found that the Altadis Company should perform better during the year. This is because the annual sales of the cigar are declining vigorously. The company should counter balance the negative performance of cigar sales in the French market. The revenues of the cigar company are falling by almost 4.1%. The EBDITA of the cigar company is declining by almost 5.2%. This is because the volumes of sales of cigar in the French market are declining. The sales volume of cigar in the French market should be increased to improve the revenues of the company. If this situation continues for the company then the operating results of the company will also decrease. According to the research analyst, the company should stop buying back the shares of the company from their share holders. The sales volume of the cigar should be improved to generate the revenues for the company. If both the revenues of the company and sales volume of the company increased then the share price of the company will also increase in the French market. Evaluation of Strategies: If the company stops buying back the shares from the share holders of the company then the company will have enough funds with them. The share price of the company will also increase in the share market. If the company improves the sales volume of the product then the company will generate more revenues for the company. The price earnings ratio of the company will also increase. The company can earn a huge amount of profit which will help the company to generate more funds for the betterment of the company.

Prescriptive Jurisdiction and Enforcement Jurisdiction in International Law

Even though parliament can reprimand any action through its local regulation, global law does not allow the State to impose its rule outside its land. For instance, Saudi Arabian (SA) law states that infidelity is a felony that is punished by stoning to death.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Prescriptive Jurisdiction and Enforcement Jurisdiction in International Law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This rule is applicable only in Saudi Arabia (Dupuy Kerbrat 2010, p. 64). It cannot be applied in other places even if a citizen of Saudi Arabia was found committing adultery. This takes us to the earliest code in the Lotus case, which says that a State cannot apply its rule in any shape in the land of another nation unless there is a global tradition or principle allowing the State to do so (Dixon 2007, p. 87). The UK-Netherlands accord of 1991 can serve as an example, where UK got approval from Netherlands before in dicting two Libyans charged with the Lockerbie intimidation (Shaw 2003, p. 23) Therefore, a jurisdiction centers deeply on the power to prescribe (Sweeney 2007, p. 50) in addition, this is what the paper will focus on. A state’s jurisdiction in the modern international system refers to its power to control the actions of individuals and property. Again, jurisdiction can be either civil or criminal (O’Keefe 2004, p. 736). Jurisdiction in real terms is not a universal concept that is; its meaning is not common to all people. The ancient activities of states and doctrinal inscriptions enables people comprehend that jurisdiction is broadly categorized into two major forms, that is, prescriptive and power to enforce. In the criminal context, jurisdiction to prescribe refers to the power of the state to invoke its criminal law in arbitrating certain actions. Jurisdiction to enforce on the other hand refers to the power of the state to employ criminal law practically through its criminal justice system that is, arresting (police), arbitrating (courts) and correcting (Amerasinghe 1994, p. 14).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Whereas jurisdiction to prescribe might be extra-territorial, the power to enforce is strictly territorial. This implies that any state cannot take its criminal justice system (CJS) to another state since this might be considered intrusion. In case a state would wish to prosecute its citizen abroad, it has to issue an arrest warrant to the foreign state and urge the same state to assist in arresting the culprit. It is therefore evident that the power to prescribe and the power to enforce are not compatible at all (O’Keefe 2004, p. 740). Jurisdiction to prescribe and the power to enforce are rationally self-sufficient. However, the two forms of jurisdictions are intertwined. The state has the authority to make laws as long as they benefit the public. The same laws are not applied universally since environments are different. Laws apply well where they originate since the procedure employed in making them is logical. For prescriptive authority, utilization of force to implement an opinion is more realistic inside state boundaries than outside. When it takes place outside state boundaries, the possibility of inter-state disagreement is inevitable. A state in the international system may decide to punish its citizen or a resident of another state in case its interest is in danger (Simma Paulus 1999, p. 21) This brings about hostilities among states, which may cause wars. International law allows a state to issue an arrest warrant even when the suspect is not available in the state, what is referred to as arrest in absentia. The best example is the mutatis mutandis case that applies to individuals based on citizenship, flaccid personality and service in the military. States have rights to prescri be laws according to the internationally established standards (Lawson Bertucci 1996, p. 69) Through this, the rule of law is guaranteed in the international system. The implementation of prescriptive authority based on a jurisdictional nexus instituted after execution of the offence is a type of ex post facto criminalization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Prescriptive Jurisdiction and Enforcement Jurisdiction in International Law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is disgusting because a substantive public criminal proscription and its subsequent castigation are applied to the offender only after execution of the impugned behavior. It is not a matter of following a proficient public process (O’Keefe 2004, p. 743). Enforcement jurisdiction pertains directly to the use of coercive authority. Between the two forms of jurisdiction, Enforcement type is the narrowest. This implies that it survives only w hen the criterion for prescriptive authority exist (Domingo 2003, p. 54). Enforcement Jurisdiction is applicable only with respect to people, belongings, or behaviors. The connection between the two forms of laws is comprehensible. A state cannot implement enforcement jurisdiction unless it subscribes to prescriptive jurisdiction (Brownlie 2008, p. 38). A good example that elucidates this connection is the Canadian Criminal code, which states that the state can exercise authority over any individual within Canada. An individual can be impeached whether in a foreign state or in his own country as long as he/she committed an offence. Judges Higgins and Kooijmans categorize this type of jurisdiction accurately. Prosecuting an individual present in the state is termed as ‘in personam’. Prosecution of an individual who sought refuge to another state is termed as ‘in absentia’ (O’Keefe 2004, p. 755). The decision to implement international law uniformly is meant to bring peace and tranquility in the global society. List of References Amerasinghe, C 1994, The Law of the International Civil Service, 2nd edn, Vol. 1, Clarendon Press, Oxford. Brownlie, P 2008, Principles of Public International Law, 7th edn, Oxford University Press, Oxford.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Dixon, M 2007, Textbook on International Law, 6th edn, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Domingo, OR 2003, The New Global Law, Cambridge University Press, New York. Dupuy, MP Kerbrat, Y 2010, Droit international public, 10th edn, Dalloz, Paris. Lawson, E Bertucci, ML 1996, Encyclopedia of human rights, 2nd edn, Taylor Francis, New York. O’Keefe, R 2004, â€Å"Universal Jurisdiction, clarifying the basic concept†, Journal of International Criminal Justice, Vol. 2, no. 3. Shaw, MN 2003, International Law, 5th edn, Cambridge University Press, Oxford. Simma, B Paulus LA 1999, â€Å"Symposium on method in International Law: The Responsibility of Individuals for Human Rights Abuses in Internal Conflicts: A Positivist View†, American Journal of International Law, Vol. 93, no. 302. Sweeney, B 2007, â€Å"Combating Foreign Anti-competitive Conduct: What Role for Extra-territorialism?† Melbourne Journal of International Law, Vol. 8, no. 35. This essay on Prescriptive Jurisdiction and Enforcement Jurisdiction in International Law was written and submitted by user Lauren D. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Caryl Churchill Essays - Caryl Churchill, Postmodern Theatre

Caryl Churchill Essays - Caryl Churchill, Postmodern Theatre Caryl Churchill Caryl Churchill is one of England's most premier females, modern playwrights. She has strived throughout her career as theatrical personality to make the world question roles, stereotypes and issues that are dealt with everyday, such as violence and political and sexual oppression. Not only has she been a strong force on the stage, but has also had strong influences with radio and television. Overall, this woman can simply be summarized to be a fascinating personality. Especially in a time where women did not have the same rights as women nowadays, we can safely infer that her feats represent her determination as a playwright as well as an actor. Churchill was born in London on September 3, 1938. She lived in England until the age of ten when her family moved to Canada. There she attended Trafalgar School in Montreal until 1955. At this time she moved back to England to attend Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. This is the key place where her career began. While studying English at Oxford she took an interest in theater. Actually, she wrote her first three plays while at the university. When her career in theater and performance started at Oxford she had begun the first phase in her career. She was very focused on sounds and voice. In fact, her first three plays, Downstairs (1958), You've No Need to be Frightened (1959), and Having a Wonderful Time (1959) were all extremely focused on sound. This fact might have been propelled by her career as a radio playwright. For the next ten years she concentrated her energy mainly on radio plays, starting off with The Ants, which she herself, thought of it as a TV play, but my agent Margaret Ramsey sensibly sent it to radio. During the time of her writing for theater and her sounds phase, she was looking outward, investigating new places for her to take her art. She wrote a few stage plays during her radio phase, but none were produced. She re-wrote some of her radio plays and, this time, eight of them were produced between the years of 1962 and 1973. She then slowly made here transition from her radio career into acting and writing television plays. She became very unsatisfied with it very quickly, commenting that Televisionattracts me very much lessIt has the attraction of large audiences and being the ordinary peoples' medium and not being the sort of effete cultural thing that no one ever pays any attention to anyway. But as an actual medium, as a physical thing that happens, I don't find it anything as exciting as acting on a stage. Gradually, Churchill's reputation would become comparable to that of the Royal Court, a rather well-known producing company. She became the first female resident dramatist, and later helped with the Young Writer's Group program. During her time at the Royal Court she wrote many plays, still focusing a great deal on sound and voice. At the same time that she held her position of resident dramatist for the Royal Court, she also worked at other theatres and with other groups. She founded the Theatre Writers Group, now known as the Theatre Writers Union, and had works produced by Joint Stock Theatre Group and Monstrous Regiment. From then on in her career, Caryl Churchill would both write as well as act in many plays challenging society in many different ways such as racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, and more. These plays challenge not only the thoughts and practices of the past and of her present, but also that the reputations of history be regarded as sealed records not amenable to change in the present. In other words, she was trying to say that anything done in the past cannot be changed in any way, because the damage has already been done. The next move that Churchill made in her career was to attack the ideas of gender in her society. In her plays, Churchill somehow manages to cross-gender the characters of the play, creating humorous scenes. One critic exclaimed, By mismatching the performers with their stage roles, Churchill underscores the artificiality and conventionality of the characters' sex roles. A clever theatrical idea thus serves a dramatic purpose, and

Best practice review - work based learning Literature

Best practice - work based learning - Literature review Example Recognizing the importance of learning for development and has led to the origination of large number of methodologies. The single objective working behind development of leanings methodologies has been to improving the level of effectiveness.Among various methodologies introduced for the purpose, Work Based Learning is most recognized and accepted one. As the name signifies Work Based Learning refers to the learning that predominantly takes place through work (Garnett, 2001). Learning in work place maintains focus on job. Work based learning is being associated with on job training, skill development and experiential learning that is being provided to the students in the employment environment; hence reducing the gap of between pedagogical learning and work based experiences of learning and doing. Though considerable development is being made on the matter and great variety of models and themes have been devised there is still gap existing between the work-based learning demands as the opportunities facilitated by the workplace to align on same page. Hence, along with development of the field towards success the criticism has also been coming along. REVIEW FROM LITERATURE Eraut and Hirsh (2007) have suggested in contrast to the traditional forma l learning settings; work based learning is accredited with greater knowledge and skill development along with higher level of effectiveness based on the knowledge that is adopted by being part of the work environment . It further refers that strength of the knowledge is developed from responding to the issues originating from pieces of work. Work based learning is not only regarded as the form of combination of theory and practice but at the same time it is conceptual development that has combination of explicit and tacit forms knowledge (Brodie, and Irving, 2007). The combination of the explicit as well as tacit knowledge is further generated from the dual aspects facilitated from the knowledge. Learner in the work b ased learning environment develops tacit and explicit knowledge on both levels of individual as well as collective level as given presented below: (Raelin, 1998) Hence, the combination of the work based learning best practices has to facilitate the combination of these factors in a negotiated combination in order to achieve the effective and robust results (Lester, 2002). Settings; however, may vary with respect to the need of the learner and the facilitator. For instance, the methodology of work based learning that is applied at Middlesex University is of format that has negotiation as critical element. Work based learning in Middlesex University is designed with high level of negotiation between the parties involved such as the learner, the facilitator as well as the employer that provides learning set up. Such negotiated learning results in developing the learner that reflects greater commitment to work and self development. However, the commitment of learners within this format and self development is dependent on the level of motivation provided by the employers; especially in work activities that does not offer learner some level of discretion with respect to decision making as well as authority to take action (Zembylas, 2006). Work based learning settings also offer a distinctive form of learning where learners are provided with conceptual development. The learning is since provided with vocational training therefore the conceptual development is conducted with experiences and reflections (Reeve, and Gallacher, 2005). Further, the concept of action research that facilitates learning with conducting research in order to solve the real world problems is also accepted influential methodology. In the mentioned settings the solution to the problem is more democratic as it is arrived by collaborative discussions on work place or any other structured format that falls in the category of work based learning. Hence, in every context the success is derived from p ragmatic concept of

Political sciencemiddle east Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Political sciencemiddle east - Essay Example They failed to protect key strategic resources and national treasures. In addition, they failed to have a workable form of rule and order in place to replace the ousted Sadaam Hussein, This failure to plan resulted in a weakened and fragile economy, social upheaval, and political instability that will continue to burden Iraq for years to come. The war in Iraq wrecked an already declining economy and failed to deliver on the promises of prosperity and oil revenues. In the 20 years leading up to the war, the per capita income had declined by 75 percent and the first year of the war cut that in half again to just $450 (Schifferes). The country was burdened by high unemployment, massive numbers of people employed in "inefficient state-owned enterprises", and half the population that was dependent on food aid (Schifferes). At the time there was a plan to privatize the industries, and increase oil revenues so that Iraq would have a self-sustaining economy. However, oil production, which accounts for 90 percent of Iraq's economy, continues to stagnate at about 2.4 million barrels per day, far off the peak production of 3.5 million barrels reached in 1990 (Kumins CRS-1; Iraq Economy 2008). In addition, unemployment continues to hover between 18 and 30 percent (Iraq Economy 2008). ... But it didn't last. Both the privatizations and the pension conversion were rushed into place before the country had the infrastructure or investor sophistication to support them". Without a long term plan and commitment to the restructuring of Iraq's economy, the US will be mired down for years continually trying to jump-start it. A recent effort at privatizing the oil industry has met with considerable resistance due to its demands that Iraq surrender a significant degree of sovereignty. The 2003 invasion of Iraq set off one of the bloodiest periods in Iraq's history, and had been responsible for a period no less violent than the era of Sadaam Hussein. There is little debate about the ruthlessness and cruelty of Sadaam Hussein and his inappropriateness as a leader in the modern world. However, when Hussein was ousted, the US had made no plans for a system to replace him. Religious factions rushed in to fill the void, and resulted in a civil war with the US forces attempting to act as referee. While accurate body counts are difficult to estimate, counts range from between 100,000 to over 2 million. The Lancet, a well-respected British medical journal estimated that 600,000 deaths had been attributable to the war as of 2006 (Polya). This is on an even par with the number of deaths blamed on Sadaam Hussein in the 20 years leading up to the war. In addition, the social strife has caused many people to flee the country and "approximately two million Iraqis have fled the c onflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey" (Iraq Economy 2008). This has torn apart families, communities, and social institutions. If the US had planned a stable transfer of power in Iraq after the invasion, the

Disinfectants Used Within Microbiology Laboratory

Disinfectants Used Within Microbiology Laboratory The purpose for this literature review was to examine the literature currently available to the general public on the application of a range of disinfectants used within a microbiology laboratory in both the public e.g. hospital laboratories and the private sector e.g. university laboratories. This literature review was carried out on the effectiveness of disinfectants so that previous and current knowledge on the use of these disinfectants can be analysed. This will help give an insight into the subject area and help with the preparation and production of the final report based on the research being carried during the literature review and research project. The main purpose of the research project being conducted was to compare the effectiveness of a variety of disinfectants especially Trigene which has been endorsed for use in the microbiology laboratories of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board and that of Virkon which is currently used by the microbiology laboratory at the University of the West of Scotland. The literature examined showed that the disinfectants used in clinical laboratories and any other area where microorganisms can cause a problem with cross-contamination, should be evaluated for their effectiveness against the range of organisms which might be encountered. It is an important requirement that the disinfectants being used are able to inhibit or kill the microorganisms quickly and by using the lowest concentration available. (Isenberg, 1985) A study conducted by Kasthjerg et al (2010) which looked at the effects of a range of disinfectants on the expression of virulence genes present in the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This study showed that effects on the virulence gene in the bacterium could be linked to the chemicals found in the disinfectant with some causing an inhibition of the gene while others showed an induction of the gene Disinfectants A disinfectant is a chemical which is widely used to eradicate a variety of microorganisms that are currently found in the samples received into a laboratory or are currently used within an educational setting for the teaching of microbiology to students. Disinfectants can have any of the following chemicals as their main active ingredient: halogenated tertiary amines, chlorine containing compounds, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds and peroxygens. (Tyski et al, 2009) Thus the disinfectants can be divided into groups relating to the chemical present as the active ingredient and these groups will be discussed later in the report. It is important that certain criteria are met when classifying a chemical as a disinfectant, these include:- That the chemical components of the disinfectant will not have an adverse effect on the health of the user and if any health issue is realised then appropriate action can be taken to remove this risk i.e. use PPE such as gloves or respiratory mask. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) It. is also important that the disinfectant has the ability to render inactive or kill a wide range of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria and fungi. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) It is also important that a disinfectant does not have an adverse effect when used on equipment. The research conducted by Kim, Ryu Beuchat, (2007) showed that the effectiveness of certain disinfectants can be diminished when they are in contact with biofilm surfaces. It is currently thought that there is very little resistance to the disinfectants used due to the presence of a variety of chemicals considered to have an antimicrobial effect in each disinfectant. (Kasthjerg et al, 2010) Efficiency testing of disinfectants has been around for roughly 50 60 years ago. (Werner, 2007) In more recent years a working group was set up which set Standards which govern the microbial activity testing of chemicals used as antiseptics and disinfectants. (Werner, 2007: Tyski, S., et al, 2009) The introduction of these standards has allowed the efficiency tests to become more quantitative and produce lower margin of error. (Werner, 2007) Peroxygen This group of disinfectants consists of chemical disinfectants which contain the chemical peroxygen and includes Virkon which is one of the disinfectants which will be evaluated during the research project being carried out. Virkon is available as a powder and is diluted for use by dissolving it in distilled water to give the required concentration. Virkons method of action is through the combination of the chemicals chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and paraoxymonosulphate. (Alegente, G., et al, n.d.) These chemicals act by oxidation of the plasma membranes of microbial organelles. The effects of peroxygen disinfectants was investigated by a study conducted by Quilez et al, (2005) to discover what concentration of the disinfectant and time required for the disinfectant to be most effective when dealing with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The literature review conducted by Severs Lamontagne, (2002) indicated that there was only a moderate risk of irritation to the user when the Virkon is in powder form. The Virkon may induce coughing, chocking or wheezing if inhaled while preparing the diluted disinfectant. However, when the powder has been diluted into a liquid form it is thought to cause no harm to the users skin or eyes. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) As the suggested research to be conducted is related to the efficiency of disinfectants then it was important to review current literature which gives an indication of the effectiveness on a range of microorganisms. From the literature it was shown that Virkon is effective when used as indicated against a wide range of microorganisms including Gram positive and gram negative bacteria, viruses, fungi and spore forming bacteria. The study conducted by (Severs Lamontagne 2002) showed that these organisms were inactivated using a 1% solution of Virkon. A study conducted by Gaparini et al, (1992) showed that Virkon was effective when used against spores which had been cultivated onto nutrient agar. This study also indicated that the effects of Virkon were quick acting; this could be attributed to the high concentration coefficient of the disinfectant. Group 2 Halogenated Tertiary Amine This type of disinfectant is considered broad spectrum and biodegradable and is generally found in combination with detergents. (Health and Safety Executive, 2005). The halogenated Tertiary Amine group of disinfectants includes Trigene on which part of the research project is based. Trigene is available as a concentrated liquid or as a manufacturer diluted liquid. (Trigene Company) Trigene is also available in sachets which have been approved for use on submarines used by the Armed forces in the UK. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) The findings of the study by Severs Lamontagne, (2002) showed that as with Virkon the use of Trigene was effective at rendering inactive viruses, bacteria and fungi when used in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Health and safety tests were carried out on Trigene and the results have shown that the disinfectant poses a low risk to the users if accidently inhaled or ingested and there are no known health hazards with the use of Trigene. (MediChem international) Quaternary ammonium compounds This group of disinfectants is considered to be effective against most bacteria strains; however they are ineffective against viruses, bacteria which form spores and Mycobacterium. It is likely that this would not be an efficient disinfectant to be used within a clinical or university microbiology laboratory due to the risk of receiving samples containing spore forming bacteria, Mycobacterium species. The disinfectant can become inactivated by a low PH or the presence of organic material. (Health and Safety Executive, 2005) The mode of action for members of this group of disinfectants is that they damage the cell membrane which will result in cell leakage. (Ioannou et al, 2007) This study also showed that an increase in temperature increased the time taken to eradicate the bacterium. The study done by, Kim, Ryu Beuchat, (2007) showed that the efficiency of the disinfectant could be linked to the chemical structure of the Benzylalkonmium chlorides hydrophobic alkyl chain. It also showed that the presence of organic material (infant formula) can decrease the efficiency of the disinfectant. Hypochlorite and other chlorine-releasing agents This is a disinfectant which contains chlorine as its active ingredient, and an example of this disinfectant is Milton which is currently used to sterilise baby utensils. It is considered a broad spectrum disinfectant as it can inactivate or kill a range of bacteria and viruses. However, it is considered less effective against bacterial spores. As with the quaternary ammonium compounds this group of disinfectants has been shown to be inactivated by organic material and has to be prepared daily, this is due to the instability of the chemicals caused by concentration and temperatures at which the disinfectant is stored. (Health and Safety Executive, 2005) The hypochlorite disinfectant is provided in the form of Sodium Hypochlorite and it is commonly used within a clinical laboratory especially for the cleaning of equipment when recommended by the manufacture. Phenolic This group includes the disinfectant Hibetine which is currently used at the University of Glasgow and the active chemical is phenol. It has been shown to be a broad spectrum disinfectant which is effective against certain bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and some viruses, although shows no action against bacterial spores. The disinfectant is used with a combination of the phenolic chemical and a detergent. The advantages of using this type of disinfectant is that it is considered stable in undiluted form and organic material does not appear to have the same negative effect on the efficiency of the disinfectant as has been observed in other disinfectants.. Microorganisms an introduction The main purpose of conducting the research project was to observe the efficiency of disinfectants when used against a range of microorganisms. The microorganisms to be investigated include a Gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, a spore forming bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and a yeast e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The study conducted by Tyski, S., et al, (2009) used microorganisms which could easily be isolated from hospitals. The study carried out by Ioannou et al, (2007) suggests that a common feature of bacteria especially staphylococcus aureus can acquire a plasmid which contains genes which will allow the bacteria to become resistant to certain antimicrobials. The literature search carried out showed that the organisms which are commonly used in research to show the efficiency of disinfectants are commonly isolated from hospital patient samples. (Gasparini, et al, 1992) Gram negative bacteria Gram positive bacteria Yeast Sporing bacteria The use of disinfectants in combating the spread of infections from bacterial spores from organisms such as C. parvum, Bacillus anthraxis, Clostridium difficile and bacillus cereus is important as these are the most difficult of all microorganisms to eradicate. (Quilez et al, 2005) Discussion The literature reviewed has shown that disinfectants are an important part of the working environment of a laboratory as it is essential that the disinfectant has the ability to inactivate or destroy a wide range of microorganisms. The study by (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) showed that both Virkon and Trigene could be classed as efficient and broad spectrum disinfectants as they both killed a variety of microorganisms ranging from viruses (both enveloped and non-enveloped) to fungi and bacteria including spore forming species. The study by Kasthjerg et al, (2010) deduced that the disinfectants which contained the peroxygen and chloride compounds decreased the virulence gene expression; however, the disinfectants containing the quaternary ammonium compounds encouraged the expression of the virulence gene. Conclusion The study conducted by Severs and Lamontagne, (2002) suggested that Both Virkon and Trigene were effective at eliminating the bacteria which could poses a health risk to divers but they felt that as the Virkon product had managed to eradicate more bacterial and viral strains than Trigene and that these effects were produced quicker with Virkon so the conclusion was that this product (Virkon) should be considered a better disinfectant and be recommended for use by divers.

IPCSL Case Study Essay

In 1944, Debi Prasad Aggarawal had realized the need for a cold storage facility. Consequently he established a facility with the latest cold storage equipments from the UK which was mainly utilized by the potatoes harvest. Debi’s son, Jadish, succeeded him as Managing director in early 1960. Jagdish had successfully opened new markets and brought new clients when he started promoting the facility to fruits producers. In 1977, Sanjay Aggarawal, Debi’s grandson, joined the company with the task of supervising and the construction of the new 2500 MT facility in Azadpur. Fruits & Vegetables market The growers of fruits and vegetables in India mostly harvest their produce manually, transporting to orchards for grading & packing. Afterwards, the fruits and vegetable are shipped to wholesale markets by road. India being world’s second largest fruits producer with total of 44 mn MT (approx 10% of world’s production) and one of the largest vegetable producers in the world with around 86 mn MT, the new Sabji Mandi at Azadpur is Asia’s and one of the world’s biggest fruits and vegetable market in volume of produce handled contributed to the huge demand for cold storage facilities. Commission agents At the arrival of fruits at Azadpur, the commission agents take charge of the produce by offloading, storage and sale at a rate of 6% of the sale amount. During this process all the expenses involved are borne by the growers. As a way to get business, some of the commission agents offer growers advance loans at the commencement of the fruits season and deduct the same amount when the produce is sold in the market. As the fruits reach the market, some will be sold on the same day while roughly 45% – 60% need cold storage facility to be sold at a later date or at the off-season. Wholesalers Wholesalers buy the produce from commission agents which in turn they sell to sub-wholesalers. Cold storage Industry A conventional cold storage facility can preserve fruits for a period of 10 days to 2 months depending of the type of the fruits while a CA or GC storage facility can double or triple this period respectively. The total capacity of storage facilities available was nearly 10.35 mn MT against total produce of over 130 mn MT, this can demonstrate the very high demand of storage facilities. IPSCL has differentiated itself from the market by upgrading the facility to state-of-the-art Gas Controlled cold storage (3900 MT, around 78% of the capacity), Controlled Atmosphere Cold Storage (100 MT, 2% of the available capacity) and a Deep Freezer storage (1000 MT, 20% of the capacity). Besides, there was a lack of refrigerated trucks to mobilize the produce from the growers’ location to the wholesale markets and from the markets to sub-wholesalers or retailers. The refrigerated trucks play a vital role in ensuring the freshness, quality and firmness of the produce. Government Aimed at encouraging the growing industry, the GoI offered a capital investment Subsidy Scheme for the construction, expansion and / or modification of cold storage units. Competition Besides IPCSL, no other cold storage facility is operating under the GC or GA technology. However due to this technology differentiation, IPCSL was operating at a very high cost in comparison to the other facilities. In fact, the conventional cold storage facilities where offering their clients a price almost equal to IPCSL’s operating cost. Customers IPCSL has two types of customer, commission agents & wholesalers who store their fruits to sell at a later date or off-season. The fruits and vegetables market has seen about 60% growth owing to the increase in income of the middle-class category in India. Observations The cold storage services is a price driven over quality driven market, the cold storage service providers currently in business are not having any points of differentiation which led to a price war and very slim margins. The very low profit margins have restricted the competitors from changing out their old technology storage facilities to an international standard facility. Some of the customers (wholesalers & commission agents) are not highly appreciating the cold storage services especially during the winter season where the fruits and vegetables don’t get affected much due to the very low temperature. In the case of conventional cold storage facility, the only way to make decent profit is by maximizing the sales volume and effectively utilizing capacity available (dynamic facility management system). This would give some cost preference over competitors allowing to capture bigger market share and make higher profit margin. In the case of IPCSL, the GC & CA storage technology is giving them a market edge to charge a premium price. However the customers should value the added services provided over the difference in charges. Other than the limitation in the period fruits and vegetables can be stored in the conventional cold storage facility, there are additional quantities wasted during storage & handling which will not be the case in GC or CA operated facility. This will decrease the cost per kg and increase the wholesalers / commission agent profit margin. IPCSL didn’t focus much on marketing of their new state-of-the-art cold storage facility; instead, they focused on the value they add to the fruits and vegetables industry. As rightly quoted by one of the company’s senior managers to Sanjay, the fruits and markets industry lack formal education. It takes time to show value and build confidence. However, to speed up the learning curve and attract customers, price & marketing strategy can play a crucial factor especially in the introductory stage. Recommendations & Suggestions Marketing: IPCSL should offer the large, large-middle or all clients a free, discounted or at-cost trial to demonstrate the difference in quality between the conventional facilities against the GC & CA operated ones. IPCSL should organize visits / tours for the large wholesalers to the facility to show how differently can they store the fruits and vegetables and exhibit the benefits to the prospective clients. As IPCSL is a high-end cold storage service provider, the marketing strategy should focus on the clients of the same level i.e. the wholesalers and commission agents dealing with organized retail stores, hotels etc. these clients are willing to pay some extra charges for higher quality fruits and vegetables which cannot be matched by any other cold storage facility in the market. Price: IPCSL should strategize a price discrimination based on the volume similar to what the competitors are doing. The price discrimination will attract the large exporters, high volume wholesalers and commission agents towards IPCSL. From IPCSL’s revenue statement; it is obvious that more than INR 6 mn is fixed cost while variable cost is around INR 7.5 per 20kg box. IPCSL priced their services at INR 60 for imported fruits and INR 20 for Indian fruits against INR 10 per 20kg box by competitors for imported and Indian fruits. Alternatively, IPCSL should price their services at the point where they maximally utilize their 5000 MT facility. The determined price along with the 5000 MT sales volume (if achieved) should cover up for the variable cost (INR 7.5 per 20kg box) as well as the very high fixed cost.

The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 21 VERDICT

WE WERE IN A BRIGHTLY LIT, UNREMARKABLE HALLWAY. The walls were off-white, the floor carpeted in industrial gray. Common rectangular fluorescent lights were spaced evenly along the ceiling. It was warmer here, for which I was grateful. This hall seemed very benign after the gloom of the ghoulish stone sewers. Edward didn't seem to agree with my assessment. He glowered darkly down the long hallway, toward the slight, black shrouded figure at the end, standing by an elevator. He pulled me along, and Alice walked on my other side. The heavy door creaked shut behind us, and then there was the thud of a bolt sliding home. Jane waited by the elevator, one hand holding the doors open for us. Her expression was apathetic. Once inside the elevator, the three vampires that belonged to the Volturi relaxed further. They threw back their cloaks, letting the hoods fall back on their shoulders. Felix and Demetri were both of a slightly olive complexionit looked odd combined with their chalky pallor. Felix's black hair was cropped short, but Demetri's waved to his shoulders. Their irises were deep crimson around the edges, darkening until they were black around the pupil. Under the shrouds, their clothes were modern, pale, and nondescript. I cowered in the corner, cringing against Edward. His hand still rubbed against my arm. He never took his eyes off Jane. The elevator ride was short; we stepped out into what looked like a posh office reception area. The walls were paneled in wood, the floors carpeted in thick, deep green. There were no windows, but large, brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung everywhere as replacements. Pale leather couches were arranged in cozy groupings, and the glossy tables held crystal vases full of vibrantly colored bouquets. The flowers' smell reminded me of a funeral home. In the middle of the room was a high, polished mahogany counter. I gawked in astonishment at the woman behind it. She was tall, with dark skin and green eyes. She would have been very pretty in any other companybut not here. Because she was every bit as human as I was. I couldn't comprehend what this human woman was doing here, totally at ease, surrounded by vampnes. She smiled politely in welcome. â€Å"Good afternoon, Jane,† she said. There was no surprise in her face as she glanced at Jane's company. Not Edward, his bare chest glinting dimly in the white lights, or even me, disheveled and comparatively hideous. Jane nodded. â€Å"Gianna.† She continued toward a set of double doors in the back of the room, and we followed. As Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gianna, and she giggled. On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception. The pale boy in the pearl gray suit could have been Jane's twin. His hair was darker, and his lips were not as full, but he was just as lovely. He came forward to meet us. He smiled, reaching for her. â€Å"Jane.† â€Å"Alec,† she responded, embracing the boy. They kissed each other's cheeks on both sides. Then he looked at us. â€Å"They send you out for one and you come back with two and a half,† he noted, looking at me. â€Å"Nice work.† She laughedthe sound sparkled with delight like a baby's cooing. â€Å"Welcome back, Edward,† Alec greeted him. â€Å"You seem in a better mood.† â€Å"Marginally,† Edward agreed in a flat voice. I glanced at Edward's hard face, and wondered how his mood could have been darker before. Alec chuckled, and examined me as I clung to Edward's side. â€Å"And this is the cause of all the trouble?† he asked, skeptical. Edward only smiled, his expression contemptuous. Then he froze. â€Å"Dibs,† Felix called casually from behind. Edward turned, a low snarl building deep in his chest. Felix smiledhis hand was raised, palm up; he curled his fingers twice, inviting Edward forward. Alice touched Edward's arm. â€Å"Patience,† she cautioned him. They exchanged a long glance, and I wished I could hear what she was telling him. I figured that it was something to do with not attacking Felix, because Edward took a deep breath and turned back to Alec. â€Å"Aro will be so pleased to see you again,† Alec said, as if nothing had passed. â€Å"Let's not keep him waiting,† Jane suggested. Edward nodded once. Alec and Jane, holding hands, led the way down yet another wide, ornate hallwould there ever be an end? They ignored the doors at the end of the halldoors entirely sheathed in goldstopping halfway down the hall and sliding aside a piece of the paneling to expose a plain wooden door. It wasn't locked. Alec held it open for Jane. I wanted to groan when Edward pulled me through to the other side of the door. It was the same ancient stone as the square, the alley, and the sewers. And it was dark and cold again. The stone antechamber was not large. It opened quickly into a brighter, cavernous room, perfectly round like a huge castle turret which was probably exactly what it was. Two stories up, long window slits threw thin rectangles of bright sunlight onto the stone floor below. There were no artificial lights. The only furniture in the room were several massive wooden chairs, like thrones, that were spaced unevenly, flush with the curving stone walls. In the very center of the circle, in a slight depression, was another drain. I wondered if they used it as an exit, like the hole in the street. The room was not empty. A handful of people were convened in seemingly relaxed conversation. The murmur of low, smooth voices was a gentle hum in the air. As I watched, a pair of pale women in summer dresses paused in a patch of light, and, like prisms, their skin threw the light in rainbow sparkles against the sienna walls. The exquisite faces all turned toward our party as we entered the room. Most of the immortals were dressed in inconspicuous pants and shirtsthings that wouldn't stick out at all on the streets below. But the man who spoke first wore one of the long robes. It was pitch-black, and brushed against the floor. For a moment, I thought his long, jet-black hair was the hood of his cloak. â€Å"Jane, dear one, you've returned!† he cried in evident delight. His voice was just a soft sighing. He drifted forward, and the movement flowed with such surreal grace that I gawked, my mouth hangmg open. Even Alice, whose every motion looked like dancing, could not compare. I was only more astonished as he floated closer and I could see his face. It was not like the unnaturally attractive faces that surrounded him (for he did not approach us alone; the entire group converged around him, some following, and some walking ahead of him with the alert manner of bodyguards). I couldn't decide if his face was beautiful or not. I suppose the features were perfect. But he was as different from the vampires beside him as they were from me. His skin was translucently white, like onionskin, and it looked just as delicateit stood in shocking contrast to the long black hair that framed his face. I felt a strange, horrifying urge to touch his cheek, to see if it was softer than Edward's or Alice's, or if it was powdery, like chalk. His eyes were red, the same as the others around him, but the color was clouded, milky; I wondered if his vision was affected by the haze. He glided to Jane, took her face in his papery hands, kissed her lightly on her full lips, and then floated back a step. â€Å"Yes, Master.† Jane smiled; the expression made her look like an angelic child. â€Å"I brought him back alive, just as you wished.† â€Å"Ah, Jane.† He smiled, too. â€Å"You are such a comfort to me.† He turned his misty eyes toward us, and the smile brightenedbecame ecstatic. â€Å"And Alice and Bella, too!† he rejoiced, clapping his thin hands together. â€Å"This is a happy surprise! Wonderful!† I stared in shock as he called our names informally, as if we were old friends dropping in for an unexpected visit. He turned to our hulking escort. â€Å"Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this.† â€Å"Yes, Master.† Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come. â€Å"You see, Edward?† The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond but scolding grandfather. â€Å"What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?† â€Å"Yes, Aro, I am,† he agreed, tightening his arm around my waist. â€Å"I love a happy ending.† Aro sighed. â€Å"They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?† He turned to gaze at Alice with curious, misty eyes. â€Å"Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake.† â€Å"Oh, I'm far from infallible.† She flashed a dazzling smile. She looked perfectly at ease, except that her hands were balled into tight little fists. â€Å"As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them.† â€Å"You're too modest,† Aro chided. â€Å"I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!† Alice flickered a glance at Edward. Aro did not miss it. â€Å"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not.† Aro shook his head; his tone was envious. â€Å"And also exponentially more powerful,† Edward added dryly. He looked at Alice as he swiftly explained. â€Å"Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had.† Alice raised her delicate eyebrows, and Edward inclined his head. Aro didn't miss that either. â€Å"But to be able to hear from a distance† Aro sighed, gesturing toward the two of them, and the exchange that had just taken place. â€Å"That would be so convenient.† Aro looked over our shoulders. All the other heads turned in the same direction, including Jane, Alec, and Demetri, who stood silently beside us. I was the slowest to turn. Felix was back, and behind him floated two more black-robed men. Both looked very much like Aro, one even had the same flowing black hair. The other had a shock of snow-white hairthe same shade as his facethat brushed against his shoulders. Their faces had identical, paper-thin skin. The trio from Carlisle's painting was complete, unchanged by the last three hundred years since it was painted. â€Å"Marcus, Caius, look!† Aro crooned. â€Å"Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her! Isn't that wonderful?† Neither of the other two looked as if wonderful would be their first choice of words. The dark-haired man seemed utterly bored, like he'd seen too many millennia of Aro's enthusiasm. The other's hice was sour under the snowy hair. Their lack of interest did not curb Aro's enjoyment. â€Å"Let us have the story,† Aro almost sang in his feathery voice. The white-haired ancient vampire drifted away, gliding toward one of the wooden thrones. The other paused beside Aro, and he reached his hand out, at first I thought to take Aro's hand. But he just touched Aro's palm briefly and then dropped his hand to his side. Aro raised one black brow. I wondered how his papery skin did not crumple in the effort. Edward snorted very quietly, and Alice looked at him, curious. â€Å"Thank you, Marcus,† Aro said. â€Å"That's quite interesting.† I realized, a second late, that Marcus was letting Aro know his thoughts. Marcus didn't look interested. He glided away from Aro to join the one who must be Caius, seated against the wall. Two of the attending vampires followed silently behind himbodyguards, like I'd thought before. I could see that the two women in the sundresses had gone to stand beside Caius in the same manner. The idea of any vampire needing a guard was faintly ridiculous to me, but maybe the ancient ones were as frail as their skin suggested. Aro was shaking his head. â€Å"Amazing,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ he said. â€Å"Absolutely amazing.† Alice's expression was frustrated. Edward turned to her and explained again in a swift, low voice. â€Å"Marcus sees relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of ours.† Aro smiled. â€Å"So convenient,† he repeated to himself. Then he spoke to us. â€Å"It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you.† I looked at Marcus's dead face, and I believed that. â€Å"It's just so difficult to understand, even now,† Aro mused, staring at Edward's arm wrapped around me. It was hard for me to follow Aro's chaotic train of thought. I struggled to keep up. â€Å"How can you stand so close to het like that?† â€Å"It's not without effort,† Edward answered calmly. â€Å"Butstillla tua cantante! What a waste!† Edward chuckled once without humor. â€Å"I look at it more as a price.† Aro was skeptical. â€Å"A very high price.† â€Å"Opportunity cost.† Aro laughed. â€Å"If I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift, and yet you† â€Å"Waste it,† Edward finished, his voice sarcastic now. Aro laughed again. â€Å"Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of himonly he was not so angry.† â€Å"Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well.† â€Å"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame.† â€Å"Hardly.† Edward sounded impatient. As if he were tired of the preliminaries. It made me more afraid; I couldn't help but try to imagine what he expected would follow. â€Å"I am gratified by his success,† Aro mused. â€Å"Your memories of him are quite a gift for me, though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path he's chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd scoffed at his plan to find others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, I'm happy to be wrong.† Edward didn't reply. â€Å"But your restraint!† Aro sighed. â€Å"I did not know such strength was possible. To inure yourself against such a siren call, not just once but again and againif I had not felt it myself, I would not have believed.† Edward gazed back at Aro's admiration with no expression. I knew his face well enoughtime had not changed thatto guess at something seething beneath the surface. I fought to keep my breathing even. â€Å"Just remembering how she appeals to you† Aro chuckled. â€Å"It makes me thirsty.† Edward tensed. â€Å"Don't be disturbed,† Aro reassured him. â€Å"I mean her no harm. But I am so curious, about one thing in particular.† He eyed me with bright interest. â€Å"May I?† he asked eagerly, lifting one hand. â€Å"Ask her,† Edward suggested in a flat voice. â€Å"Of course, how rude of me!† Aro exclaimed. â€Å"Bella,† he addressed me directly now. â€Å"I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talentso very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was wondering, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to tryto see if you are an exception for me, as well?† My eyes flashed up to Edward's face in terror. Despite Aro's overt politeness, I didn't believe I really had a choice. I was horrified at the thought of allowing him to touch me, and yet also perversely intrigued by the chance to feel his strange skin. Edward nodded in encouragementwhether because he was sure Aro would not hurt me, or because there was no choice, I couldn't tell. I turned back to Aro and raised my hand slowly in front of me. It was trembling. He glided closer, and I believe he meant his expression to be reassuring. But his papery features were too strange, too alien and frightening, to reassure. The look on his face was more confident than his words had been. Aro reached out, as if to shake my hand, and pressed his insubstantial-looking skin against mine. It was hard, but felt brittleshale rather than graniteand even colder than I expected. His filmy eyes smiled down at mine, and it was impossible to look away. They were mesmerizing in an odd, unpleasant way. Aro's face altered as I watched. The confidence wavered and became first doubt, then incredulity before he calmed it into a friendly mask. â€Å"So very interesting,† he said as he released my hand and drifted back. My eyes flickered to Edward, and, though his face was composed, I thought he seemed a little smug. Aro continued to drift wnh a thoughtful expression. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering between the three of us. Then, abruptly, he shook his head. â€Å"A first,† he said to himself â€Å"I wonder if she is immune to our other talents Jane, dear?† â€Å"No!† Edward snarled the word. Alice grabbed his arm with a restraining hand. He shook her off. Little Jane smiled up happily at Aro. â€Å"Yes, Master?† Edward was truly snarling now, the sound ripping and tearing from him, glaring at Aro with baleful eyes. The room had gone still, everyone watching him with amazed disbelief, as if he were committing some embarrassing social faux pas. I saw Felix grin hopefully and move a step forward. Aro glanced at him once, and he froze in place, his grin turning to a sulky expression. Then he spoke to Jane. â€Å"I was wondering, my dear one, if Bella is immune to you.† I could barely hear Aro over Edward's furious growls. He let go of me, moving to hide me from their view. Caius ghosted in our direction, with his entourage, to watch. Jane turned toward us with a beatific smile. â€Å"Don't!† Alice cried as Edward launched himself at the little girl. Before I could react, before anyone could jump between them, before Aro's bodyguards could tense, Edward was on the ground. No one had touched him, but he was on the stone floor writhing in obvious agony, while I stared in horror. Jane was smiling only at him now, and it all clicked together. What Alice had said about formidable gifts , why everyone treated Jane with such deference, and why Edward had thrown himself in her path before she could do that to me. â€Å"Stop!† I shrieked, my voice echoing in the silence, jumping forward to put myself between them. But Alice threw her arms around me in an unbreakable grasp and ignored my struggles. No sound escaped Edward's lips as he cringed against the stones. It felt like my head would explode from the pain of watching this. â€Å"Jane,† Aro recalled her in a tranquil voice. She looked up quickly, still smiling with pleasure, her eyes questioning. As soon as Jane looked away, Edward was still. Aro inclined his head toward me. Jane turned her smile in my direction. I didn't even meet her gaze. I watched Edward from the prison of Alice's arms, still struggling pointlessly. â€Å"He's fine,† Alice whispered in a tight voice. As she spoke, he sat up, and then sprang lightly to his feet. His eyes met mine, and they were horror-struck. At first I thought the horror was for what he had just suffered. But then he looked quickly at Jane, and back to meand his face relaxed into relief. I looked at Jane, too, and she no longer smiled. She glared at me, her jaw clenched with the intensity of her focus. I shrank back, waiting for the pain. Nothing happened. Edward was by my side again. He touched Alice's arm, and she surrendered me to him. Aro started to laugh. â€Å"Ha, ha. ha,† he chuckled. â€Å"This is wonderful!† Jane hissed in frustration, leaning forward like she was preparing to spring. â€Å"Don't be put out, dear one,† Aro said in a comforting tone, placing a powder-light hand on her shoulder. â€Å"She confounds us all.† Jane's upper lip curled back ever her teeth as she continued to glare at me. â€Å"Ha, ha, ha,† Aro chortled again. â€Å"You're very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. I asked Jane to do that to me oncejust out of curiosity.† He shook his head in admiration. Edward glared, disgusted. â€Å"So what do we do with you now?† Aro sighed. Edward and Alice stiffened. This was the part they'd been waiting for. I began to tremble. â€Å"I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind?† Aro asked Edward hopefully. â€Å"Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little company.† Edward hesitated. From the corner of my eye, I saw both Felix and Jane grimace. Edward seemed to weigh each word before he spoke it. â€Å"I'd rather not.† â€Å"Alice?† Aro asked, still hopeful. â€Å"Would you perhaps be interested in joining with us?† â€Å"No, thank you,† Alice said. â€Å"And you, Bella?† Aro raised his eyebrows. Edward hissed, low in my ears. I stared at Aro blankly. Was he joking? Or was he really asking me if I wanted to stay for dinner? It was the white-haired Caius who broke the silence. â€Å"What?† he demanded of Aro; his voice, though no more than a whisper, was flat. â€Å"Caius, surely you see the potential,† Aro chided him affectionately. â€Å"I haven't seen a prospective talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?† Caius looked away with a caustic expression. Jane's eyes sparked with indignation at the comparison. Edward fumed beside me. I could hear a rumble in his chest, building toward a growl. I couldn't let his temper get him hurt. â€Å"No, thank you,† I spoke up in barely more than a whisper, my voice breaking in fright. Aro sighed. â€Å"That's unfortunate. Such a waste.† Edward hissed. â€Å"Join or die, is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your laws.† The tone of his voice surprised me. He sounded irate, but there was something deliberate about his deliveryas if he'd chosen his words with great care. â€Å"Of course not.† Aro blinked, astonished. â€Å"We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidi's return. Not for you.† â€Å"Aro,† Caius hissed. â€Å"The law claims them.† Edward glared at Caius. â€Å"How so?† he demanded. He must have known what Caius was thinking, but he seemed determined to make him speak it aloud. Caius pointed a skeletal finger at me. â€Å"She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets.† His voice was papery thin, just like his skin. â€Å"There are a few humans in on your charade here, as well,† Edward reminded him, and I thought of the pretty receptionist below. Caius's face twisted into a new expression. Was it supposed to be a smiled. â€Å"Yes,† he agreed. â€Å"But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betrays our secrets, are you prepared to destroy her? I think not,† he scoffed. â€Å"I wouldn't,† I began, still whispering. Caius silenced me with an icy look. â€Å"Nor do you intend to make her one of us,† Caius continued. â€Å"Therefore, she is a vulnerability. Though it is true, for this, only her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish.† Edward bared his teeth. â€Å"That's what I thought,† Caius said, with something akin to pleasure. Felix leaned forward, eager. â€Å"Unless† Aro interrupted. He looked unhappy with the way the conversation had gone. â€Å"Unless you do intend to give her immortality?† Edward pursed his lips, hesitating for a moment before he answered. â€Å"And if I do?† Aro smiled, happy again. â€Å"Why, then you would be free to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle.† His expression turned more hesitant. â€Å"But I'm afraid you would have to mean it.† Aro raised his hand in front of him. Caius, who had begun to scowl furiously, relaxed. Edward's lips tightened into a fierce line. He stared into my eyes, and I stared back. â€Å"Mean it,† I whispered. â€Å"Please.† Was it really such a loathsome idea? Would he rather die than change me? I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. Edward stared down at me with a tortured expression. And then Alice stepped away from us, forward toward Aro. We turned to watch her. Her hand was raised like his. She didn't say anything, and Aro waved off his anxious guard as they moved to block her approach. Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes. He bent his head over their touching hands, his eyes closing as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank. I heard Edward's teeth snap together. No one moved. Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand. The seconds passed and I grew more and more stressed, wondering how much time would pass before it was too much time. Before it meant something was wrongmore wrong than it already was. Another agonizing moment passed, and then Aro's voice broke the silence. â€Å"Ha, ha, ha,† he laughed, his head still bent forward. He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement. â€Å"That was fascinating!† Alice smiled dryly. â€Å"I'm glad you enjoyed it.† â€Å"To see the things you've seenespecially the ones that haven't happened yet!† He shook his head in wonder. â€Å"But that will,† she reminded him, voice calm. â€Å"Yes, yes, it's quite determined. Certainly there's no problem.† Caius looked bitterly disappointeda feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane. â€Å"Aro,† Caius complained. â€Å"Dear Caius,† Aro smiled. â€Å"Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household Besides, I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!† Aro seemed convinced. Did he not realize how subjective Alice's visions were.' That she could make up her mind to transform me today, and then change it tomorrow? A million tiny decisions, her decisions and so many others', tooEdward'scould alter her path, and with that, the future. And would it really matter that Alice was willing, would it make any difference if I did become a vampire, when the idea was so repulsive to Edward? If death was, to him, a better alternative than having me around forever, an immortal annoyance? Terrified as I was, I felt myself sinking down into depression, drowning in it â€Å"Then we are free to go now?† Edward asked in an even voice. â€Å"Yes, yes,† Aro said pleasantly. â€Å"But please visit again. It's been absolutely enthralling!† â€Å"And we will visit you as well,† Caius promised, his eyes suddenly half-closed like the heavy-lidded gaze of a lizard. â€Å"To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances.† Edward's jaw clenched tight, but he nodded once. Caius smirked and drifted back to where Marcus still sat, unmoving and uninterested. Felix groaned. â€Å"Ah, Felix.† Aro smiled, amused. â€Å"Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience.† â€Å"Hmm.† Edward's voice had a new edge to it. â€Å"In that case, perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than later.† â€Å"Yes,† Aro agreed. â€Å"That's a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you don't mind.† â€Å"Of course,† Edward agreed, while I cringed at the thought of waiting out the day before we could escape. â€Å"And here,† Aro added, motioning to Felix with one finger. Felix came forward at once, and Aro unfastened the gray cloak the huge vampire wore, pulling from his shoulders. He tossed it to Edward. â€Å"Take this. You're a little conspicuous.† Edward put the long cloak on, leaving the hood down. Aro sighed. â€Å"It suits you.† Edward chuckled, but broke off suddenly, glancing over his shoulder. â€Å"Thank you, Aro. We'll wait below.† â€Å"Goodbye, young friends,† Aro said, his eyes bright as he stared in the same direction. â€Å"Let's go,† Edward said, urgent now. Demetri gestured that we should follow, and then set off the way we'd come in, the only exit by the look of things. Edward pulled me swiftly along beside him. Alice was close by my other side, her face hard. â€Å"Not fast enough,† she muttered. I stared up at her, frightened, but she only seemed chagrined. It was then that I first heard the babble of voicesloud, rough voicescoming from the antechamber. â€Å"Well this is unusual,† a man's coarse voice boomed. â€Å"So medieval,† an unpleasantly shrill, female voice gushed back. A large crowd was coming through the little door, filling the smaller stone chamber. Demetri motioned for us to make room. We pressed back against the cold wall to let them pass. The couple in front, Americans from the sound of them, glanced around themselves with appraising eyes. â€Å"Welcome, guests! Welcome to Volterra!† I could hear Aro sing from the big turret room. The rest of them, maybe forty or more, filed in after the couple. Some studied the setting like tourists. A few even snapped pictures. Others looked confused, as if the story that had led them to this room was not making sense anymore. I noticed one small, dark woman in particular. Around her neck was a rosary, and she gripped the cross tightly in one hand. She walked more slowly than the others, touching someone now and then and asking a question in an unfamiliar language. No one seemed to understand her, and her voice grew more panicked. Edward pulled my face against his chest, but it was too late. I already understood. As soon as the smallest break appeared, Edward pushed me quickly toward the door. I could feel the horrified expression on my face, and the tears beginning to pool in my eyes. The ornate golden hallway was quiet, empty except for one gorgeous, statuesque woman. She stared at us curiously, me in particular. â€Å"Welcome home, Heidi,† Demetri greeted her from behind us. Heidi smiled absently. She reminded me of Rosalie, though they looked nothing alikeit was just that her beauty, too, was exceptional, unforgettable. I couldn't seem to look away. She was dressed to emphasize that beauty. Her amazingly long legs, darkened with tights, were exposed by the shortest of miniskirts. Her top was long-sleeved and high-necked, but extremely close-fitting, and constructed of red vinyl. Her long mahogany hair was lustrous, and her eyes were the strangest shade of violeta color that might result from blue-tinted contacts over red irises. â€Å"Demetri,† she responded in a silky voice, her eyes flickering between my face and Edward's gray cloak. â€Å"Nice fishing,† Demetri complimented her, and I suddenly understood the attention-grabbing outfit she wore she was not only the fisherman, but also the bait. â€Å"Thanks.† She flashed a stunning smile. â€Å"Aren't you coming?† â€Å"In a minute. Save a few for me.† Heidi nodded and ducked through the door with one last curious look at me. Edward set a pace that had me running to keep up. But we still couldn't get through the ornate door at the end of the hallway before the screaming started.