Importance of Education Essay Example for Free

Importance of Education Essay The history of humankind is a history of progress; generations of our ancestors collected their experience, passed it to the next generation and as such were able to pass their knowledge to us. Education is the engine that moves mankind ahead, we enjoy the fruits of progress not only because the previous generations studied well but also because they passed their knowledge to us. In today’s world, driven by technology and forces to turn it into a global village, getting education is the best way to improve oneself. Studying is the best way to receive knowledge. Human knowledge collected over the generation is passed to us by teachers. Our school curriculum is structured to give us a wide breadth of information, some of this information appears to be useless but contrary to this view, this knowledge broadens our mind. An educated person critically thinks make decision and conclusions. Higher education, for instance, getting a degree helps one develop a character. In studying, we in addition to getting education are able to improve our characters. University is a social set up where we socialize, improve our communication skills and even learn how to speak in public. School set up teaches us to be responsible, persistent and assiduous. In the modern world, no career is possible without education. Not matter the devotion, desire and passion, without proper education there is no job for you. We need documented proof of our abilities to fit in the current job market. Education gives the back ground of the previous innovations without which one can hardly bring in a new idea in the world. To conclude, it is in getting education that we are able to improve our characters and state of our mind. We too become confident and more prepared to face the future. Khan sees education as knowledge of putting one’s potential to maximum use, which I totally agree with (2007).

Production of Mutant Based Epsilon Toxin (ETK) Vaccines

Production of Mutant Based Epsilon Toxin (ETK) Vaccines Vaccines improve the immune system of an animal or human by stimulating the production of antibodies to fight and combat bacteria, protozoan or viruses effectively creating immunity against disease (Salisbury 1997). Vaccines commonly contain weakened or dead strains of a virus, bacteria or protozoan which elicits the body’s immune system upon recognition to respond by producing antibodies to fight against the invading antigen. In effect, the vaccine introduces the disease or its causative agent into the body to gain a defence response; as a result if the disease enters the body in the future the body can produce the requisite antibodies to fight the disease faster, as it remembers measures taken to fight against the disease previously. Consequently, the time taken to recognize the disease, provide active measure against the disease and minimize any possible signs or symptoms associated with the causative virus, bacteria or protozoan. Building on this function of vaccines this essay critiques the study and subsequent paper of Li et. al. investigation into the production of mutant based epsilon toxin (ETK) vaccines which can provide protection against intoxication. Costridium perfringes a Gram positive spore forming bacterium, is ubiquitously found in the environment and the intestines of humans and animals. Furthermore, it is commonly found in raw meat and poultry and is also linked to foodborne illnesses and food poisoning (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2014). Presently, there are five known strains of C. perfringes which produce a minimum of twelve known protein toxins (The Centre for Food Security and Public Health 2004). To this end, the epsilon toxin (ETX) is produced by the type B and D strains (The Centre for Food Security and Public Health 2004). Moreover, ETX is a pore forming protein which damages cell walls leading to potassium and fluid leakage from cells and it increases the permeability of the cell membrane resulting in ion imbalance; as such ETX has been suggested as a possible biological weapon (Stiles, et al. 2013). Arizona Department of Health (2004) speculates that in the event of a biological attack the epsilon toxin can be spread through food, water or by aerosolization. While all five strains have the capacity to infect wounds in any species; type B and type D have the ability to cause severe enteritis, in young foals, lambs and piglets, and enterotoxemia in young calves, lambs, goats, sheep and foals just to mention a few (Arizona Department of Health Services 2004). The toxin is also known to cause pulmonary edema and neurological symptoms including recumbence hyperesthesia, convulsions, paddling, dyspnea and loss of conciseness when intravenously injected into animals. They are few reported cases on the toxicity of ETX in humans as the type B and D strains rarely infect humans. However, evidence suggest that it can affect the G-402 and ACHN cell lines of the human kidney highlighting its possible toxicity to humans (Li, et al. 2013). The epsilon toxin is secreted as an inactive prototoxin from the cytosol into the environment as a result of a 32 amino acid residue leader sequence. It is then activated by extracellular serine type proteases of the host such as trypsin or chymotrypsin; which subsequently results in the loss 10-13 amino terminal and 22 or 29 carboxy terminal residues depending on the protease used (Stiles, et al. 2013). Moreover, maximal activation results in the loss of 13N-terminal residues and 29 C-terminal residues producing the third most potent toxin of the clostridia class, loss of these two terminals results in the formation of a more acidic protein which possibly favours more productive receptor interactions (Hunter, et al. 1992). Bokori-Brown et al. (2011) states that the prototoxin can also become activated by C. perfringens ÃŽ » – protease. When activated the toxin becomes relatively resistant to proteases in the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals (Stiles, et al. 2013).The effects of the toxin on the cell membranes lead to cell dysfunction, cell death and suffering in the host which can sometimes be fatal. Proteolysis induces a conformational change in the toxin facilitating homo-oligomerization of the activated toxin on the external surface of the cell (Stiles, et al. 2013). After binding to a cell ETX acts quickly. Two groups of pore forming toxins exist, to this effect ETX is a beta pore forming toxin as it forms a beta-hairpin structure to facilitate membrane insertion (Stiles, et al. 2013). Moreover, the toxin has three domains with implications in the function of the toxin. The first domain, domain I-amino terminus, functions in receptor binding, the central domain or domain II functions in membrane insertion and channel formation (Stiles, et al. 2013). The final domain, domain III located at the carboxy terminus functions in proteolysis activation and act as monomer to monomer interaction sites. Subsequent to the loss of the C terminal peptide from the protoxin monomer-monomer interactions leads to homo-heptamer formation. ETX cause pore formation in cell membranes by detergent-resistant, cholesterol-rich membrane domains that promote aggregation of toxin monomers in homo-heptamers (Stiles, et al. 2013). Evidence from research highlights ETX forms transmembrane pores less than two nanometr e in diameter that facilitates the passage of molecule 1kDa in size, increase intracellular chloride and sodium levels and decreased intracellular potassium levels. Furthermore, secondary effects of the toxin include cytoskeletal dysfunction which affects the integrity of cell monolayers (Stiles, et al. 2013). The general layout and presentation of the paper was good and easy for readers to follow. However, the materials and methods should have occurred before the results and discussion to familiarise the readers with the methods used in the experiment. In doing this readers would have an idea of the type of results to be presented or expected. Furthermore, if presented earlier the procedure could be borne in mind in order to help readers understand the information presented in the results and discussion sections and the relevance of the information to the aim of the research. Additionally, if the methodology is placed earlier in the paper it helps readers to determine the extent of the internal validity of the study, as readers can determine for themselves the extent to which results can be interpreted accurately and with confidence with regards to the methods used to obtain the presented findings. Reliability, a necessary condition for validity, is related to consistency of results and t he extent to which the research can be independently replicated by other researchers (Leacock, Warrican and Rose 2009). Based on the information provided the study is reliable and can be replicated independently by researchers with the relevant resources. In addition the use of graphs, tables and photographs of the gels used in the experiment are good means of presenting information. To this end, it presents data in a concise format allowing readers to easily identify pertinent information and reduces the possibility of readers being overwhelmed if this information was to be fully present using only text. It is also important to note that the use of the photos form the SDS-PAGE and the immunoblotting aids in reader visualisation and acts as a point of reference for readers when examining the results and discussion. The introduction presents a good base for the readers but would have benefited from more in depth explanation on the mode of action and structure of ETX and more background information on mutant based vaccinations. Also a proper comparison of the proposed mutant based vaccine and how it would essentially function in contrast to the existing vaccine which only protects against enterotoxemia caused by the disease would have increased the reader’s knowledge about the topic and reinforce the importance of find a viable vaccine with low toxicity. It is important to note that the introduction provided supportive information from previous research about the amino acid residues present in the structure of ETX and their function. By extension the introduction also highlights the chosen sites for mutation in the toxin based and evidence also presented in the paper. A brief synopsis of the methods used with reference to article presented by Li et al. are as follows; sited directed mutagenesis of ETX in the pTIG-trx plasmid, with the obtained sequence being confirmed using nucleotide sequence analysis. Following this the pTIG-mETXs were transformed into competent E. coli for expression which was also driven with a T7 promoter. The bacteria was then collected and purified through a combination of centrifugation, buffer washes, resuspension, sonification, chelation and elution. The purified protein were subsequently analysed using SDS-PAGE, with the highly purified proteins undergoing dialysis and concentration. The next step employed ELISA to identify the antigenicity of the mETXs and rETX using anti-rETX monoclonal antibodies. After electrophoresis the purified mETX protein were transfer from the SDS-PAGE gel using the western blot technique. The ELISA and western blot steps served to illicit the antigenicity of the mETX which both involving the use of goat anti-mouse IgG during incubation periods. A cell culture and cytotoxicity assay was conducted to determine rETX activity by defining its effects on MDCK cells. Three dimensional structure of two mETXs, mETXF199E and mETXH106P, were generated for structural analysis. The two mentioned not-toxic mETXs were used to vaccinate six week old female mice with the same dosage of antigen being given on days 17 and 38 a week later the mice were injected with active recombinant mETX and observed for 72hours. The following step involved the measurement of sera antibody titers. The final step of the experiment tested mice for passive protection against rETX. The use of ELISA is a good means of detecting the presence of ETX and is one of the assays highlighted by the Arizona Department of Health Services for detection of the toxin due to its high detection rates (Stiles, et al. 2013). ELISA combines the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of simple enzyme assay by coupling the two, in the experiment it was us to detect the presence of antibodies which recognize ETX (Sino Biological Inc 2014). Additionally, the use of coloured tags indicate a positive reaction when the substrate interacts with the enzyme which also gives visual confirmation of the presence of the antigen or antibody which would have useful implications for this study. Furthermore, it is effective as it produces relatively fast results, which is especially relevant as samples can degrade over time, deterioration may also have implications for the levels of antibodies present. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry uses inmmunoaffinity beads to concentrate ETX or prototoxin from a complex matrix and is also a method commonly used to determine the presence of ETX and may be given consideration if the study is replicated (Stiles, et al. 2013). While ELISA and mass spectrometry are commonly used in the detection they do not determine if the toxin is biologically active. The use of titration was effective as it determined the amount and levels of antibodies required to neutralize the toxin. Random assignment to treatment groups is good as it gives each mouse the same change of being assigned to a group and reduces possibility of bias. However, as only three mice there were used in each group there are possible implications for the analysis of the results, as for experimental research the minimum recommended number is 15 participants for each group, as a sufficiently large sample size is required to produce results among variables that are significantly different (Leacock, Warrican and Rose 2009). A bigger sample size may also be effective in gi ving better credence to the obtained results for each treatment. The use of only female rats can have implications for the generalization of the results and by extension the validity of the study. Furthermore, all of the mice used in the experiment were six weeks in age this does not provide variation and as such does not account for the possible effects age can have on the function of the vaccine and results of the rETX challenge. Validity applies to the generalization of research and the vaccines is aimed for use in animals and humans and these populations contain both males and females, thus the use of one sex in the experiment have implications for generalization of results. The study may have also benefited from longer observation period after the mice were injected with the rETX. Despite the potential market for the vaccine including humans the research was conducted using mice due to ethical considerations. Additionally, the creation of pharmaceutical therapies require severa l animal experiments to be conducted using the treatment under before the ability for a clinical study using humans and the vaccine being offered to the public. The result section has sub headings corresponding to the methods used which aids in easy identification for readers. Some of the significant findings of the research include the yield of six mETXs and up to 98% purity was obtained after purification measures. Additionally, the results showed that the toxin mutants retained the same antigenicity as the rETX. Four of the toxin mutants showed decreased cytotoxicity, while mETXS111Y and mETXS111YF199E showed a slight decrease in toxicity and higher toxicity when compared to rETX thus the researchers excluded the latter two from further analysis. Also of importance is immunization and the subsequent ELISA results of the anti-mETX antibody titres highlighted mETXH106P and mETXF199E showed similar titres and there was no significant difference between the two; but antibody titers also increased after booster immunization. The most significant results demonstrated that mice when challenged with active rETX with dosages up to 100 x LD50 survi ved. In contrast all with dosage of 500 x LD50 or 1000 x LD50 died which have implications for use of the vaccine and provides grounds for further research to obtain vaccines which have a better response to higher dosage of rETX. Investigation into passive protection showed anti-mETXH106P or anit-mETXF199E can completely neutralize a 10 x LD50 dose of activated rETX. The discussion highlighted supporting facts from various sources but there was limited discussion to certain findings of the paper. A possible suggestion is that the authors provide a more in depth discussion about their findings instead of a synopsis. The discussion may have also benefited from a comparison of the mutant based vaccine with the effectiveness of current ETX related treatments. Furthermore in depth explanations of the findings would help readers understand the significance of the findings and implication for future production and use of the tested vaccine. A significant finding highlighted in the discuss ion is that modifications of various amino acid residues result in varying cytotoxicity of the ETX. To this end, the researchers should have discussed why all of the obtained mETX were not tested in the immunization phase. A recommendation is the use of all of the obtained mETXs in the vaccination section of the experiment to determine the possibility of its use as a vaccine to provide immunity against the epsilon toxin. The study did record some success in meeting its aims as two of the mETXs, mETXsH106P and mETXF199E as possible candidates for vaccines against the toxin as they showed strong immunogenicity and safety. However, mETXF199E still has toxicity, as a consequence the researchers have made a possible suggestion to improve the vaccination and lower toxicity. In concluding this article has led to the advancement of the body of knowledge pertaining to protection against ETX. The information from the study despite some limitations is a good read for persons interested in the topic. To this effect, it also provides a theoretical and empirical basis for further study about therapeutic measures to combat the epsilon toxin. It is important to note that it provides a preventative method against the toxin where as other treatments tend to target the ETX related diseases and related symptoms of the toxicity of the toxin, which some treatments delaying the onset of the toxin’s effects or delayi ng or preventing death (The Centre for Food Security and Public Health 2004). References Arizona Department of Health Services. 2004. Epsilon Toxin of Clostridium perfringens Bioterrorism Agent Profiles for Health Care Workers. August. Accessed March 20, 2015. http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/emergency-preparedness/documents/zebra-manual/zm-s5-epsilon-toxin.pdf. Bokori-Brown, M, C G Savva, S P Ferandes da Costa, C E Naylor, A K Basak, and R W Titball. 2011. Molecular basis of toxicity of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin. The FEBS Journal 278 (23): 4589-4601. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014. CDC- Clostridium perfrines Food Safety. January 29. Accessed March 20, 2015. http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/clostridium-perfingens.html. Hunter, S E, I N Clarke, D C Kelly, and R W Titball. 1992. Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin gene and its expression in Escherichia coli. Infection and Immunity 60 (1): 102-110. Leacock, C J, S J Warrican, and G Rose. 2009. Research Methods for Inexperienced Researchers. Kingston: Ian Randle Publisher. Li, Qing, Wenwen Xin, Shan Gao, Lin Kang, and Jinglin Wang. 2013. A low-toxic site-directed mutant of Clostridium perfringens Ɇº-toxin as a potential candidate vaccine against enterotoxemia. Human Vaccines Immunotherapeutics 9 (11): 2386-2392. Salisbury, David M. 1997. Some Issues Related to the Practice of Immunization. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 1 (3): 119-124. Sino Biological Inc. 2014. ELISA Principle. Accessed March 20, 2015. http://www.elisa-antibody.com/ELISA-Introduction/ELISA-Principle. Stiles, G Bradley, Gillian Bartg, Holger Barth, and Michel R Popoff. 2013. Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin: A Malevolent Molecule for Animals and Man? Toxins (Basel) 5 (11): 2138-2160. The Centre for Food Security and Public Health. 2004. Epsilon Toxin of Clostridium perfringens. January. Accessed March 20, 23015. http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/epsilon_toxin_clostridium.pdf.

Growing Up As A Catholic

Growing Up As A Catholic Growing up, my family practiced the catholic faith. My parents educated me as Catholic and I attended a Catholic School for women. I never really experienced another kind of faith but Catholic; all my friends and people around me were from the same church. Im from Panama a Latin country, where 80% of the population is Catholic, the rest is divided between: Evangelist, Mormons, Baptist, etc., just to name a few. When I became an adult, have had Jewish, Muslim and without affiliations, and also I have been in Indian and Jewish religious weddings. Im currently enrolled in Campbell University, and one of my curses is REL-125. I was assigned to attend a religious service different than mine. I had a few options, but I decided to go First Baptist Church Stedman on Sunday morning. First Baptist Church Stedman, is located at 6921 Clinton Rd. The whole church itself was ok. The Usher, the first person I see when I entered the church greet me and welcomed me and also handle me, the bulletin an d an envelope attached. It was a well organized congregation of around 50 people, not too many to look around like you usually see in a Catholic church. I saw a cross but the cross did not have Jesus on it. Everyone who was there was very well dresses; ladies wearing hats and nice dresses and man wearing formal suit. Even the preacher was dressed in formal attire. The choir was spectacular, is the best word to describe it, very organized and the congregation seems to know the songs and enjoyed. It was very entertaining the form of worship they used through the singing. They sang a lot of songs, after every interval described in the program. When the service started, one of the church attendees read the Opening Selection followed by Pastors Invocation and welcome everybody. One thing that called my attention was, every time they sing it was a five minutes song. They worshiped God on each one. I dont notice that until later, and I was wondered how long is the service. As they end the singing another church attendant read the Responsive Reading, they gave all the attendant an additional page attached to the bulletin, entitled: The Resurrection of Jesus in Matthew 28:1-8. The Priest instructed everybody to stand up and the Choir sang another song, followed by the reading of the scripture: For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hoping For who hope for what is seen? However, if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. When he finished reading it, they prayed followed by the Church Vision Statement that says: First Baptist Church Stedman will be a church in the community that transforms the community, and will make it our aim to reconcile as many individuals as we can to God through the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Â  At that moment, Im still wondering whats the envelope for. Differently, as we do in Catholic church, I was waiting for the pastor speech. They read the announcements for the community. It was like a fifteen-minute announcement, after that they called the visitors to stand up. At this time, I have been at that church around an hour and fifteen minutes. I stand and introduced myself as a visitor. The entire congregation came over to greet every single visitor, as to welcome them personally. Pastors Brief, I was wondering what is that? It was the replay of the announcements but now by the pastor. And then, the Tithes Offering start, thats when I realized, whats the envelope for? I have to put money on it with my name and address, of course I dont have the interest to be part of that church, so I just walk to the front and put the envelope on a basket. Suddenly, the priest everybody to stand up and read the scripture again followed by the Sermon. It was lengthy and noisy, but presen ted and explained very well. It was good it was about faith. It made me realize that no matter how things may look wo keep believing and expecting good things from God; dont give up. Hope is expectancy; there is no hope if we always know what God has for us. Real hope says: God will touch me. We got to be patient, and when we are patient God will come to our rescue. He may not be there when you want it, but it will be there on time when you need it. I enjoyed. More singing, and then, the priest called those one seeking salvation to come forward. There a few people who went forward, and he starts praying with his hand over their head; after praying with a lady, she is faint, I dont know what happened, I thought to that only happen on TV shows. It was a very long and unexpected religious service. As we were blessed, the pastor walk outside first and stood in the front of the church to greet and say goodbye to the congregation. As I walk outside he approached me and start asking me que stions like: Where I live, Where I come from? And then say We are very grateful you attend our service today, we hope to see you next Sunday. I know there are a lot of different kinds of Baptist church, I dont just generalize all of them with one experience, but I dont think I will return any time soon.

Creating Tension in Act 2 of The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay

Creating Tension in Act 2 of The Crucible by Arthur Miller Arthur Miller's play The Crucible is set in Salem in 1692. At that time there was a lot of tension, as many people were being accused of witchcraft and being against God. In the play Miller shows how the accusations affected everyone in Salem. Miller creates a sense of tension by setting the scene in a "low, dark room." This room is quiet and gloomy as very little light is getting in. Miller does this to create an atmosphere which is unhappy and depressing. The tension is already high as the scene before ended with satanic accusations. The room is bare, which is unwelcoming, and it seems unlived in as nothing is out of place. Miller uses the scenery to bring atmosphere to the stage before the characters enter, he also uses the bareness to get the audience to focus purely on the actors and the dialogue. The stage directions show how John and Elizabeth act when they are around each other, for example "a sense of their separation arises". Here we can see that even though they are married they seem very alone, the cause of this is due to their different personalities. "She doesn't want friction, and yet she must". Elizabeth dislikes the way John treats her. She also is upset with him as in previous scenes we see that he has had an affair with Abigail. Miller uses the affair and the fact that John is keeping secrets about the background to accusations, to build a sense of conflict between Elizabeth and John. The language used is from the period the play is set in, the 1600's. The dialogue in this scene, begins quite softly but becomes harsh, as Elizabeth and John argue at the climax of the scene. When Elizabeth and John converse they begin poli... ... John is shown as a deceiver, as he is in the dominant of the two and keeps secrets from Elizabeth. We see proof of this when he adds more salt to the food that she had prepared earlier, without her knowledge, and later compliments her, "it's well seasoned". This is an empty complement. He further expresses his dominance by ordering her around "Woman. I'll not have your suspicion anymore". Men of this period where at a higher position in society they where seen to be strong and forceful, this is why John tries to press his dominance on her. Miller draws attention to this side of his character in order to heighten the sense of conflict between them. In The Crucible Miller wanted to create a sense of tension and conflict. He successfully used the beginning of act 2 to achieve this by clever use of lighting, sparse scenery, characterisation and dialogue.

The Case For Work For The Dole :: essays research papers

Youth faces an uncertain future - it always has in one way or another. The progression from parental dependency to self-sufficiency and independence has always been (and will continue to be) a difficult one. The stresses of successfully completing high school are compounded by peer pressure, personal and family relationship problems, and the natural problems inherent in being an adolescent. As well, today, moreso than in yesteryear, there is an ever-present temptation to turn to drugs and alcohol, either as an escape route, or in order to cope with it all. Doing well at school does not guarantee a future career path, even if the correct choices are known and made. "Starting at the bottom" no longer means that you will get to the top one day. Today, people in their 40s and 50s are being made redundant from positions they once justifiably regarded as being secure until retirement. And competition is strong. Each year it becomes stronger - each year thousands more students join the ranks of the unemployed, and long term unemployment, especially amongst youth, is a real problem. The Government's "Work for the Dole" Scheme is a much-needed positive step that is helping youth make the transition from student, to unemployed, to employee. Each year 25,000 places in the Scheme are available, 20,000 of which are set aside for young people. Under the Scheme, unemployed people perform work (from 12 to 15 hours per week) in return for their fortnightly unemployment benefit. Participation is for a maximum of six months for people unemployed for a period of more than six months. People aged 17 to 21 are required to work for two six-hour days per week, and people aged 21 and over are required to work for 21/2 six-hour days per week. An extra $10 per week is paid to the participant to allow for extra costs incurred relating to transportation, and child minding facilities are available if necessary. Time off from the scheme can be arranged for attendance at interviews for paid employment. In order to reach those most in need of assistance, participation in the Scheme is compulsory. This is necessary so that the chances of success can be maximised to provide the most benefit to participants.It may be of concern to some that the compulsory nature of the Scheme undermines the altruism inherent in volunteer work. Some may fear that it will lead to resentment, lack of cooperation and poor motivation by those forced to take part under threat of diminished or no social security payment.

Clothing and Boutique Business

http://www. geo-slope. com/res/price%20list. pdf A boutique is a small retail store which focuses on selling unique items, or items targeted at a niche market. Boutiques are established to sell a wide range of things, although products like clothing, food, or jewelry are common offerings. Many people associate boutiques with elite, special products, and they may pay a premium for goods purchased in a boutique. Many resort towns and areas which cater to wealthy populations have a high concentration of boutiques in their shopping districts. At one point, any small shop was considered a boutique, and most stores were in fact boutiques since merchants usually focused on a single product, like fabric, produce, fish, and so on. The word is French in origin, and derived from the Old French word botica, for apothecary. Around the 1950s, people starting referring to specialized, elite fashion shops as â€Å"boutiques. † This meaning of the word quickly obscured previous usages, and spread to include any highly specialized or fashionable store. Many people think of a boutique as a standalone shop with a single owner. However, some high-end shopping chains actually own multiple boutiques; these stores may be scattered in wealthy areas all over the world. Chain boutiques sell specialized products and target a very specific market, just like their standalone counterparts. These stores may have very well marketed and recognized brands; Tiffany's is a good example of a boutique with international branches, with its distinctive little blue boxes and their contents being prized and coveted objects for some people. Types of Boutiques and their Classification A boutique store is a small retail shop that specializes in merchandise for a particular market segment. These department stores focus on fashionable products such as clothing, accessories, jewelry, and other miscellaneous items. Boutique stores are uniquely positioned to serve a well-defined category of consumers, and are equipped to cater to these niches and themes. As you can see below, there are many different niches that boutique stores can specialize in, and a diverse range of markets to choose from. Boutiques can be classified by their demographic target: Maternity Boutiques Some very successful boutiques target expecting mothers and the unique set of challenges that pregnancy brings to women; one of these challenges is to have clothing that is both stylish and comfortable. Given the dynamic nature of expectancy, dress sizes and how they are managed are extremely important to future moms who want dresses that they can use through the lifecycle of their pregnancy. Boutiques for Children A common way to segment a market is through targeting those of a particular age. If you love kids, then a boutique store for toddlers is calling for you. A boutique for children would carry children clothing, but may also contain toys and games. You can further define this category for just: †¢ Baby: An example is Baby Gap †¢ Toddler: Gap Kids for toddlers is in this category †¢ Pre-teens Casual Teen Boutiques Teenagers are a volatile bunch, and their casual boutiques are a reflection of this. These retail shops can cater to the â€Å"skater† crowd as PacSun does with grungier clothing and pointier jewelry. In contrast, they may cater to the â€Å"sporty† teens like Foot Locker does with sweat pants, shorts, and jerseys. Casual College Boutiques Another strong market is the college crowd seeking casual wear. Examples of such stores are American Eagle, Hollister, and Old Navy. Jeans and t-shirts dominate the shelves of these boutiques, along with the occasional accessories rack. Business Casual Boutiques Retailers like Banana Republic, Gap, and Club Monaco fit this category. Business casual boutiques mainly consist of dress shirts, polo shirts, and dress pants. Accessories that you might find in these stores are belts, cuff links, and ties. Boutiques for Women These might be the most common type of boutiques, and they specialize in the clothing and style needs of women; within this classification there are such specialities as Lingerine with the most known example being Victoria's Secret. Within this type of boutique you will also find boutiques for Mature Women that cater to their specific needs. Boutiques for Mature Men These boutique stores are the Tommy Bahamas that look great on the Pierce Brosnans and George Clooneys. They specialize in casual wear like polo shirts, shorts and sweaters, but also sell sunglasses, watches, and fragrances. These shops are a blend between professional and completely casual, resulting in a fashion line that accommodates men who are near or in retirement. Boutiques by Lifestyle and Theme Boutique stores can also be target markets that go beyond age and function. Thematic boutiques exist that sell tourist souvenirs or religious items. Boutiques can also cater to pets or special occasions like parties or bar mitzvahs. Examples of these lifestyle and thematic boutiques are: Beach Lifestlyle: An example is PacSun, which also caters to the extreme sport crowd Sports Boutiques: Such as Soccer Baseball, Football, or Lacrosse Gothic: Gothic boutiques carry specialized items that target the gothic lifestyle, are usually found in partying sites of town. Music Lifestyle: Rap, Reggaeton and Reggae fans have special dressing needs that boutiques answer. Pet Boutiques: Who said pets didn’t deserve to be stylish? As people devote more time to their pets, they also feel the need for a little style on their pet’s life. Pet sweaters are very popular in parts of the country that are subjected to hard winters. Touristic place Boutiques: A touristic place without a boutique which sells typical items is not as touristic as it should be. Patriotic and festivity date: People like to dress for occasions, and boutiques that cater in a timely matter to these occasions usually become successful. Religious: Think of the religious items and religious dates that are popular with each religion A boutique business is one that is always success and profitable as people need clothes to wear to work, parties at home and dress up. Starting a boutique is as professional as any other business whether you design your own line of clothes or stock some other designers’ clothes. If you are fond of designing clothes, have a creative mind and can design clothes that people love, it is a very profitable business to start. As a boutique owner you get to choose the products you will stock and set the prices and open your doors to eager customers who want to buy your latest creations and show them off. To start your boutique business, you need to be aware of the fashion sense, have a creative streak that enables you to match colors and fabrics together to design heavenly creations and also a substantial sum of money to invest in a shop, clothes and advertising. Read out articles for more information on how to start your own boutique business for a rewarding and satisfying career. Steps to starting a boutique business How to make your boutique a success How to run a profitable boutique business Establishing your boutique business Important factors for opening a boutique business From sportswear to beachwear, t-shorts to lingerie, shoes and sandals to causal dresses and evening wear, there is a large variety that you can offer in your boutique. You can also offer matching accessories like bangles and earning to match with the dresses and attract more clients. From clothes for women to men and children to teenagers, there is a large market you can work on for a successful boutique business. Starting a boutique business is a solid venture with constant demand for new clothing and apparels also there. Boutiques are very in these days and people value the personalized service and attention they receive, the cozy ambience and the unique products they get even if they are at slightly higher prices. You really don’t have to be a fashion designer to start your boutique business, you can sign up with some clothing line that provides you good quality readymade clothes to sell or you can design your own clothes and get them stitched by tailors to sell. You can also make clothes on order on customers’ demand. You can pursue your dreams and become a boutique owner by designing clothes or getting them designed exclusively for your shop and sell them with your brand name. It is very easy to become a part of the lucrative growing fashion industry with your creative designed line of clothes that are trendy, comfortable and durable. While you will not become country’s biggest chain of clothes, yet you will be able to earn a decent living for with a fulfilling lifestyle with a successful boutique business. Steps to Starting a Boutique Business Starting a boutique business is an exciting and fun experience and take planning, a good eye for fashion and ability to talk well. These days owning a boutique is probably one of the easiest businesses to start and makes you a part of the lucrative and even thriving and growing fashion industry. The demand and need of both online and offline boutiques is on the rise and makes it a very selling trade. You can start your own boutique and become a business owner by selling clothing such as evening gowns, formal and casual wear for men and women and even children. People love buying clothes that fit them as if they were custom designed for them. From a small town to a big city, boutiques are a popular place to buy clothes from. Regardless of your education and experience, you can start a boutique business, offer exclusive services to customers and earn a rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle. Fashion boutiques are hip, cutting edge and fresh and can sell anything from children clothing to maternity wear and even men’s fashion. Here are some steps on starting a successful and thriving boutique business. Step 1 First of all, decide on what type of boutique you want to open. From accessories to vacation wear, sportswear to formal or casual clothing to consignment clothing there is a wide variety of things you can sell. You can also sell specialty clothing such as evening gowns or maternity wear. It is important to decide what kind of clothing items you want to sell as it will become your signature and you will be known by the type of clothing you sell. Step 2 When starting a business especially one such as a boutique, it is necessary to get a business licenses. Check out with your local city or county department and ask them about any other requirements for opening a business. You will need to pick up a business name and complete all the necessary paperwork such as opening and account and getting a tax number before you can start. Step 3 You will need to find a nice place to open your boutique. You will need a storefront that has good street visibility and easy access so that customers can find and reach you easily or see the clothes in the window when passing by. A boutique doesn’t need to have very big space and it can have any arrangement or setting you want. However, having a good location is very important for a good business. Find a space that is attractive, located in a clean and respectable area and caters to the type of people who are likely to buy from you. Step 4 Find suppliers who will supply you with the clothing you need for your boutique. Go to trade shows and join organizations to get a list of suppliers who will provide you with the kind of products you want to sell in your shop. You can also contact suppliers who can make clothes according to the designs or styles you give them. While it might be an expensive and lengthy process, it will ensure that you sell clothes that are exclusively your designs and customers will be getting designed clothing. All these steps are very important and play a very crucial role in starting your boutique business. Running a boutique is fun and exciting if you enjoy your work, love fashion and advising others on what to buy that will suit them. With a good clothing line, excelling customer service and communication skills and good location, you can start a boutique business very successfully. How to Make Your Boutique a Success People who are fashion conscious and want to be recognized for their special way of dressing prefer buying their clothes from boutiques that sell something superior and different both in design and quality. Boutiques sell clothes that have their own personality, style and flare and which becomes very popular and trendy. If you are a boutique owner, it is important to sell not only just fashionable clothing but clothing that is at the same tie trendy, comfortable and speaks of class and design. Only these traits can make your boutique business a successful and profitable one. Starting a boutique business needs more than matching shoes with a dress or finding the right belt to go with the purse; it needs the perfect blend of colors and ideas that can make even two odd things look good and make them popular. To make your boutique a success, it is necessary to be well versed in fashion, choosing the best things to sell and an eye for details to help customers select the best thing to suit them. Here are some tips to managing and making a boutique a success. Tips for a Successful Boutique Decide on the type of items that you will sell in your boutique. It is necessary to determine what will be the highlights of your store such as hats, flashy tops or sunglasses. This is something where your personal style as a boutique owner must shine to give a distinctive aura and individual touch to the business. It is important to serve clothes that are at the same time individuals, will look good on everyone and leave a lasting impression others. Customers will only buy your clothes if they are comfortable, look good on them and offer them a chance to look different from others. If you provide all these things, you will definitely have a successful boutique. It is now necessary to have both online as well as offline stores to sell your clothes. While in the past, only a brick and mortar location served well, the rise in buying and selling products and services online has increased the need for an online store and more and more customers are now moving to buying clothes online. Get a website that is attractive, easy to navigate and offers the complete range of variety that you sell. A successful boutique has to remain in the good books of the government by paying all the taxes on time and maintaining a good reputation. Get a tax id number as it will allow you to track expanses paid for employees and remain in compliance with federal government rules. It doesn’t leave a good impression if your boutique name is associated for evading taxes and not following government policies. You will have to carry on schemes and advertising campaigns that keep you in the limelight and attract customers to your boutique to make it a success. From having a great opening event and inviting celebrities to wear your creations, there are many ways to attract attention and make sure people visit your shop regularly. You can also hold a fashion show, a charity function or a barbecue annually to make sure you draw crowds and bring attention to your boutique. This goes a long way in making a business successful and memorable. It is important to be customer oriented and serve customers the best way possible to make them come again. The main goal of having a boutique is to focus on the customers and keep them satisfied with your clothes. Be passionate about your clothes, serve them the best way, offer them great prices and you will see them coming back for more. You can start your boutique business on a small scale if you don’t have much to invest. Start on a scale that is equal to availability of funds or apply for a small loan and expand the business once it gets established and start making customers. Hard work, customer satisfaction and selling good clothing will go a long way in making your boutique a success and profit. How to Run a Profitable Boutique Business How to Make Your Boutique a Success, tips for a successful boutique, offering the best clothing to customers, pay government taxes Running a boutique business is as professional as any other business. From getting the best products to sell to effective marketing campaigns and from a good business plan to serving customers the best way, there is a lot needed to run a profitable boutique. Tips to Run a Profitable Business Here are a few tips to help you run a profitable boutique business: Sell Quality Clothing – The clothes and accessories that you sell should be cost effective. Even if they are expensive, the customers should feel that the clothes you sell are worth their money with the comfortable fitting, trendy designs and styles and their durability. This is one thing that will make your boutique business profitable even if you are a bit expensive than your competitors. Sell at Good Price – While quality is something that surpasses even the cost of products, make sure the cost of your clothing is inline or has an edge over your competitors. Too expensive clothing will only be affordable by rich people and it is important to create your market in all circles so it is better to sell at a good price that gives you a nice profit and customers a chance to wear boutique wear. Excellent Customer Services – Offering excelling customer services is very important as it can make or break a client. A customer might come back next time just because you gave them your full attention and advised them on what would suit them best. Customers prefer going to friendly shops where they are served with a smile. It is necessary to select and train your staff in offering best customer service for customer satisfaction and a profitable business. Offer Seasonal Stock – Every season has its own market and people buy clothes according to the seasons and fashions. Identity them and stock your boutique accordingly for a profitable business. Vacations and festival seasons mean more sales such as summers, Christmas and winters. Make sure you are adequately equipped with proper clothing to for the seasons and fashions to satisfy customers. Avoid Over Stocking – While it is best to be prepared with the seasonal stock to make good sales, it is very important to avoid over stocking as excessive stock means imminent loss. Estimate your future sales from past records and buy your stock accordingly. Proper amount of stock is very essential for the smooth and profitable running of a boutique. Along with all these above mentioned tips to help you run a profitable business, effective and targeted marketing campaign is absolutely necessary for running a boutique business. Plan your advertising to meet the requirements of your potential clients to attract them and offer them great deals they cannot resist. Professional account maintenance will help you to cover the financial aspects of making your business profitable and help you expand the business wisely. Proper account handling plays a very crucial role in avoiding financial pitfalls and ensures a profitable business. From buying stock to paying your employees and setting aside money for rent are not included in the profit. Profit is they left over amount of money that you get after covering all expenditures and it can vary depending upon how you sell your clothes, how you serve the clients and what methods you use to make your boutique business a profitable and successful one. Establishing Your Boutique Business Establishing a boutique needs lots of planning and preparation from selection of a great line of clothing to be sold to finding a great storefront that will attract customers and profit margins to be earned. However, only selling trendy and stylish clothes or having the best location for your shop is something that will not work every time. How to Establish Your Boutique Business the Right Way First of all, make your boutique as inviting and cozy as possible. Remember, it is a deviation from store or supermarket clothing so it has to look personal and give a very inviting look to the customers where the feel comfortable in choosing their clothing. Decorate your boutique and give it a distinct theme or feel that will set it apart from other shops. Make your boutique memorable by adding special little touches to personalize the store and merchandise and to give customers a unique shopping experience. Windows play a very crucial role in advertising and promoting your shop and your line of clothing. It is necessary to put out and display your special items in the windows to entice customers as before entering the shop, every customer takes a look at the window and if they like what they see, they will definitely come inside. Try new variations on clothing to satisfy every customer. You don’t have to stock everything in large quantities but it is best to try everything out and see customers’ response. This way you will be able to judge what sells most and make more profits based on this calculation. Purchase your merchandise from a variety of places such as fashion markets, local designers and even eBay or garage sales. You will find some wonderful items in the most unusual places that customers are going to love. In some cases, creating a specialty store makes it easier to target your marketing campaign such as men’s clothing or sportswear or maternity wear. This limits your clientele to a certain section of society and you can target them only. However, it doesn’t work all the time and in most of the cases, business owners prefer having a large variety to cater to different clients. It is very important to listen to customers’ feedback and try to fulfill their needs. It will help you two ways. First of all, it will give them the feeling that you care and they will come to your boutique for more, secondly, it will increase your profits and your clientele once people come to know about the personalized services you offer. Marketing your boutique is the best way to make it known and popular among customers. Put ads in local newspapers, yellow pages and whatever you can afford. You can also offer special sales or discounts and you will see people flocking to get a look at what you are selling. All these tips to establish your boutique are meant to guide you in making your business a success. However, don’t expect immediate profits as it will take some time to establish your business, earn customers trust and start making money. Explore your options and see what you can do to set your boutique business apart from others to make it a profitable and thriving venture. Important Factors for Opening a Boutique Business Breaking into and succeeding as a boutique owner, running a boutique and selling fashion clothing is a demanding but also a rewarding business. You can pursue your dream of owning a boutique and sell beautiful clothes to women, men, children and even teenagers and become a part of lucrative fashion industry There are all sorts of fashion boutiques ranging from selling everyday items to haute couture evening gowns. It is for you to decide what you want to specialize in and make your mark in. However, whichever form of boutique you choose to start, you will have to work hard, pay attention to and plan meticulously to make your place in the market and beat your competition. From expensive and designer label to low cost items with high turn around, you can start the kind of boutique business you can run successfully. There are numerous important factors that play a very crucial role in opening and running a boutique successfully and help to make it a big name. There are numerous things to do before you can even open your doors to the customers. This article discusses some of the most important factors that can help you open and run a boutique business. Money for Investment The most important factors that play a very vital role in opening a boutique is money for investment. Renting a place, buying stock, decoration of the shop and advertising it, all need substantial amount of money. You will either need to come up with lots of money or need credit. Loans and grants are another way to arrange for money to open your boutique. Calculate how much money you will need for investing into the business before applying for it. Deciding on the Type of Boutique There are many types of boutique from men’s wear to women wear and children wear to specialty boutiques that sell sportswear, maternity wear or evening wear. You will have to decide which type of boutique you want to open. You can also specialize in second hand clothing, wedding or formal wear, clothing accessories or something completely different. Find out your competition and choose a genre that is not very common so you can make your place in the market easily. Go for something that makes your stand apart from the crowd and get noticed. Finding the Right Manufactures and Suppliers Another important factor that can help to open and run a boutique is finding the right manufactures and suppliers who will supply clothing for your boutique. The best way to find them is to search online or attend trade shows and select the best ones. It is necessary to talk to different suppliers and check their merchandise and decide on their cost before actually signing up with them. It is important to ensure that the clothes you are getting are of superior quality, durable and look good as your reputation as a boutique owner depends on them. Advertising and Marketing Advertising and marketing is something that starts even before the store is opened. Put up banners on the shop announcing what you are going to do, give ads in the newspapers, organize a small show or offer discounts on first few days of openings. These are all effective and valuable advertising and marketing tips that help to promote a business and help it get noticed. Opening and running a boutique is as professional as any other business and need careful planning and preparation before you open your doors to the customers. It is important to give due consideration to all the factors that are necessary and play a crucial role in setting up and running a business to make sure your boutique venture becomes successful and gets good returns on investment. Managing A Boutique Business Running your own Boutique Business can be undermined by the very simplest of problems: your ability to manage! Having the product, resource and cash to start a Boutique Business is important but without an ability to get the best from those around you, and of course yourself. then you may be looking at a failure; a costly failure. If you are a business owner and you accept your weaknesses then it is very simply to plan a simpler way for you to manage your Boutique Business. A business plan will help you set out exactly what you need from your customers our suppliers your financiers your staff, and most importantly, you! The first thing a great manager understands is that people are impossible to manage! To try and take a hands-on approach to every single aspect of managing a Boutique Business is impossible; the key to a great business is that it will run without hands-on management. Your systems should run your business; you should write your Boutique Business Plan to clearly set out how you want your business to run. The type of customers you are looking for and how you want to present your xyz business to them. The suppliers you need to help you and how you want those relationships to work. The right level of long-term secure finance and how you will return their money and what they can expect by way of information from you. A clear set of instructions for your staff. A very clear set of instructions to yourself. Great businesses do not rely on people having to make decisions every minute of every day; they are built with a clear system so that everyone knows what is expected. Great Boutique Businesses have a great Boutique Business Plan. The following are several common mistakes that decrease the effectiveness of your management: Depending on unqualified friends or family in key management positions. Assuming that previous success in other industries applies to your current industry. Presenting a â€Å"one-man-team† management philosophy. We all know that it is difficult to wear every hat and successfully run and grow a company. Attempting to attract top managers without sharing ownership. Failing to ensure every person that comes into contact with your Boutique company knows exactly what your business does! Imagine this scenario: You are a private investor searching for that next exciting investment opportunity. A business plan lands on your desk, right next to the sixteen others you have received recently and are in the process of reviewing. Half of the plans present solid business concepts. Some of the plans seem to offer exceptional long-term growth possibilities. But in your opinion, only two of the plans present management teams capable of turning ideas into reality. As you consider your investment options, you eventually eliminate all the business plans except for those with the strong management teams.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Interview Nursing Essay

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) I interviewed is FS; she is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) with the department of Urology at Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) and has been licensed and board certified since 2010. FS graduated in 2005 from Goldfarb School of nursing in Saint Louis earning her bachelor of science (BSN) and then took an intensive care staff position with Missouri Baptist hospital for two years. With two years of experience she felt she needed to continue her education in nursing and enrolled in a Saint Louis University (SLU) ACNP program. She realized after the first year that trying to work full time and take classes was too much for her, so she decided to quit her job to focus full time on her studies. Her first position as an ACNP was with the trauma department step down floor at SLUH in 2011. This position was advertised in newsprint and after sending in her resume she was contacted to for an interview in person. My first interaction with FS was last fall when I was teaching Advance Trauma Care for Nurses as she was one of the students that I recognized from the trauma department. We struck up a conversation and I basically did a mini interview then and she since has given me contacts for preceptors this summer. Last week I notified her regarding this interview and she informed me to meet her at noon in her office where we discussed questions listed according to the description of assignment for a total of 30 minutes. Personal history including education FS received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University in Economics and International Business. When working out a problem or learning a new skill she likes to get the general picture and start gradually focusing in on specifics similar to deductive theory. She knew she wanted to work in a hospital setting, from there to a surgical floor, and now she has focused in on Urology. She learned the Urology department at SLUH wanted to bring in two or three APN’s on service to round and be first assistants in the operating room through networking with other APN’s in the hospital. When she interviewed for the position she had a great working relationship with that service already. They knew she was punctual along with having familiarity with documentation system. She basically had been marketing herself before she even knew it by having a proactive relationship with consults. Description of current practice FS does not currently have a formal job description since her position is new and she is the first APN to fill this newly developed role with this service. Other than being told she would round on patients in the hospital, write orders, discharge patients, and first assist in the operating room she has no formal written description. When she applied for her position she was informed it would be a lateral move with no increase in pay or benefits. FS arrives to the hospital at 0600 similar to an intern or second year resident. Every morning she receives report from night float of any new patients or issues to existing patients who have been admitted. Information is gathered on labs and radiology films that have been completed and she uses this information when her first patient assessment is completed early that morning. The fellow or senior resident will round on each patient to discuss labs, radiology, and patient assessments. From this a plan is developed what needs to be done that day to move forward before the attending rounds with the team to discuss the same items. From this point she may go to the operating room to first assist if it is her patient or write new orders on the other patients assigned to their service. If she happens to be first assistant she will follow the patient back to their room and write post operation orders. Her role is very similar to a second year surgery resident duties. Description of APN functions using the APN core competencies. Working in an inner metropolitan city hospital that has many ethnicities has been challenging. She has had to learn certain customs, body posture, and position can have either a positive or negative impact in perception from the patient with regard to attitude of care they are receiving. She has learned from staff of the same ethnicity or watched family and friends interact with one another on proper cultural customs. The first of two main core competencies FS uses is clinical and professional leadership with fellow APN’s and physicians discussing assessments and plan of care. The second of two core competencies is consultation with other services and the nursing staff in consideration to patient care and goals (Cooke, Gemmill, & Grant, 2008). APN’s have additional competencies but these are the two main descriptions FS uses daily. FS has worked through many challenges as an APN the last few years. Some of the minor issues have been the acceptance from other services that do not have APN’s. Over time other services have become accustomed to consults from APN’s by her demonstrating knowledge, professionalism, and kindness. The biggest challenge she has faced is an overabundance additional patient work load since the department will no longer have residents this year. She has the attending’s blessing to hire more APN’s and they will take on more direct patient care. Issues confronting the APN in current practice FS reports there are no real issues she faces at present other than just continue to work on suturing skills in the operating room. She stays current in Urology by attending grand rounds along with reading and presenting journal articles. She also has the luxury of having a fellow who has been a great source of knowledge. Perceived impact on APN role pursuant to current healthcare developments, changes, and national recommendations. It is my personal belief APN’s will be one of the fastest growing professions in the coming years when the Affordable Health Care Act takes place. It appears that many physicians will probably be in specialized services along with the APN. In addition, APN’s will be the majority of primary care in the future as more individuals will seek wellness physicals and the baby boom generation is nearing 70 years of age.