The Growth Rate Of The Gdp - 1633 Words

The GDP growth rate per year is derived from the reported GDP (in dollars $), therefore, the GDP ($) for 2004 and 2014 is needed in order to get a single summary growth rate for all 10 years (2004-2014). According to World Bank, the U.S. GDP for 2014 was $17,419,000,000,000.00 and the GDP for 2004 was $12,274,928,000,000.00. As a result, we get an annual GDP growth rate of 3.56% over the 10 years (2004-2014). The inflation rate informs us about the purchasing power of our currency; in other words, the higher it is, the weaker our currency becomes and the worse our economy becomes. However, at a moderate amount, it can actually stimulate the economy. In this case, the inflation rate is based on the consumer price index, which means we need the ending price index for 2014 and the beginning price index for 2004 in order to find the inflation rate over the 10-year period. As reported by World Bank, the consumer price index for 2014 was 108.6 and the consumer price index for 2004 was 86.6. Thus, the inflation rate over the past 10 years is 2.3%. This means we are a little over the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2.0% inflation, but with the right actions, the Federal Reserve could soon reach their goal. The unemployment rate is a good indicator of the percentage of people in the labor force are currently attempting to find work. However, the rate does not take into account individuals that aren’t showing interest in finding work or that aren’t in the process of securing a job. InShow MoreRelatedExpected US GDP Growth Rate Going Forward829 Words   |  3 PagesExpected U.S. GDP Growth Rate Going Forward As the newly appointed President of the local Chamber of Commerce, I will make a presentation of the trends, statistics and forecasts of the U.S Gross Domestic Product to give the business leaders an idea of what is the outlook of our economy. Based on the economic statistics from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) among other sources, I will provide a detailed up-to-date image of the United States economy. The one way one can comprehend the UnitedRead MoreFiscal Policy On Employment, Potential Gdp, And The Economic Growth Rate935 Words   |  4 Pagesof tax revenues, outlays, deficits, and debts†. The second object is to â€Å"explain how fiscal stimulus is used to fight a recession†. The third objective is to â€Å"explain the supply-side effects of fiscal policy on employment, potential GDP, and the economic growth rate†. The federal budget has two main reasons it was created. The first is to fund the activities of the federal government. The second was and still is to attain macroeconomic objectives. In order to create the Federal Budget, the PresidentRead MoreThe Correlation Between Three Different Women s Rights Change Rate And The Real Gdp Growth Rate926 Words   |  4 Pages Methodology and Results Combining with literature review, I collect the US real GDP per capita from 1985 to 2000 data and calculate the maximum, minimum, average value and growth rate of US real GDP per capita by using the formula g=[(X(t+1)/(Xt)](1/n)-1. Human rights is a subjective conception that is hard to quantify. So I adapted and rearranged the authoritative data of the women’s different rights index from CIRI Human Rights Project. And I calculated all the maximum, minimum, and averageRead MoreDifference Between Real Gdp And Nominal Gdp1395 Words   |  6 PagesThere exist some differences between real GDP and nominal GDP. Real GDP is the measure (macroeconomic measure) of economic output that has been adjusted for a change in price. The meaning for this adjustment is that inflation or deflation has been factored in the computation of real GDP. It is the aspect of adjustment for price changes that makes a transformation of the money value to become a nominal value (Tucker 230). Nominal GDP r efers to the value of Gross Domestic Product that has not factoredRead MoreDeveloping A Countrys Economic Data1489 Words   |  6 Pagesfactors can be analyzed separately but they are all interconnected which is why a country’s economy is so dependent on their individual success. The government’s goal is to prioritize economic growth in order to maintain a high standard of living for its citizens. Key Economic Factors Gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment, and inflation make up the most important economic indicators for Canada’s economy. As previously mentioned, these factors and interrelated but will be analyzed individually forRead MoreEconomic Growth Between Emerging And Developed Economics Essay1181 Words   |  5 PagesNowadays, the various economic growth patterns are very common in both emerging and developed economy. The countries that are having most advanced economy and highly developed capital markets with high levels of liquidity is called developed country. Developed countries are mostly located in North America and Western Europe, including nations like the U.S, Germany, U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Emerging countries can be identifying with rapid growth rate and development but lower perRead MoreAn Economic Comparison Between United Kingdom And The United States1692 Words   |  7 Pagescould still be made to distinguish the country with the better e conomic growth performance. Important indicators when comparing economies is economic growth rate, which is a measure of the yearly rate of development rate of GDP using the market prices (Ros, 2013: 26). Another indicator is the GDP, which is defined as the total amount of goods and services produced in a country per year (Mankiw, 2009: 521). Also, the inflation rate is used, which is a continuos increase in the prices for goods and servicesRead MoreMacroeconomics for Business Debt Sustainability1665 Words   |  7 Pagesinterest rate, the inflation rate, the real GDP growth and primary deficit remain constant for the next year, we can compute the projected next year end debt as a percentage of GDP by using the equation: dt+1=dt+i-Ï€dt-grdt-st+1 In this case, dt is the public debt (as % of GDP) of 2011, which is 88%; i is the government interest rate 7% according to our assumption; Ï€ is the inflation rate, which was 2% if it is held constant constant in the next year; gr is -1%, the real GDP growth; and -st+1Read MoreEconomic Growth Of The United States Essay1119 Words   |  5 Pagesmacroeconomic issue over the rate of economic growth. This issue consists of the potential regression of the United States, Gross Domestic Product, commonly known as GDP. GDP can be defined as the market value consisting of all the goods and services that are produced in a country that falls within the given time period, usually marked as a fiscal year. In terms of economic growth, GDP will always have a direct correlation to growth within a country. An increase in GDP will lead to an increase inRead MoreEconomic Growth Of A Recession1433 Words   |  6 Pagessloping growth rate. Additionally, recessions tend to have a time range o f two or more periods/quarters of falling real gross domestic product (GDP), consequently from the negative sloping economic growth rate. In order to properly define causal factors of a recession, it is most appropriate to elucidate what GDP’s meaning. GDP = I + C + G + NE GDP provides a monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a particular year. The independent variables make up the GDP, which

Explication of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Essay

Explication of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost When reading â€Å"The Road Not Taken,† by Robert Frost, I found that it was personal, especially to the author. The fact that it was written in first person form helped me to conclude that it was probably about the author. I think the reasoning behind his writing of this poem was because in life, you have many obstacles to overcome and many choices and decisions to make, which opens a path that leads the way to your future. Since those things relate to Frost, I think it motivated him to write this poem on a personal basis, like a short autobiography on his life. It motivated him because he could then tell others about his life and give advice and guidance to the people that read his†¦show more content†¦The thing that always holds true though, is that the major issues people’s lives are always ironically similar to each other or, at least can relate to them in many ways. Therefore, I found that this poem not only symbolizes or relates to the author, but i t also symbolizes or holds true to almost everybody’s lives. One of the major symbols within this poem is the roads. When he says â€Å"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,† he is using the roads to symbolize the paths, choices, and decisions that he has to make in his life. Those decisions guide the way to his future, because when you come to a two way street or road you have to decide or make a choice on which path to take. Also when he says â€Å"And sorry I could not travel both And be on traveler,† he is telling us how he is insecure on which road to take because he is unsure of what’s ahead and would like to travel both roads to come up with a conclusion or a decision on the correct road to take. So overall, what road basically symbolizes in this poem is the options that he has in his life and the decisions that he has to make. Another symbol in this poem is the many observations that he makes. When he says â€Å"long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth,† he is using his observations to symbolize the brainstorming, analyzing, and thinking you have to do before or ahead of time when you are offered two options in your life and only one path to take.Show MoreRelatedThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost , Poetry Explication Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesThe poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost addresses the idea of decision-making and choosing what direction life will take you. The poem is about the speaker arriving at a fork in the road, where both paths are carpeted with leaves. The persona, who is believed to be Frost himself, chooses to take the road less traveled by. He tells himself that he will take the other road another day, although he knows it is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to do so. The poem concludes with theRead MoreThe R oad Not Taken By Robert Frost912 Words   |  4 Pageswhat could have been? Profound poet Robert Frost depicts this dilemma in his poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken. The Road Not Taken is a narrative poem consisting of four stanzas of iambic tetrameter and was published in 1916 in the collection Mountain Interval. In this poem, Robert Frost uses title, imagery, and theme to complicate and lead the reader to unknowingly misunderstand the poem. Through careful explication of these elements of Frost’s â€Å"The Road Not Taken,† one may discover the true meaning toRead MoreThe Road Not Taken1084 Words   |  5 PagesWoods English 102 CHA 8 November 2010 The Road Not Taken The poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost describes the dilemma in decision making, generally in life each individual has countless decisions to make and those decisions lead to new challenges, dilemmas and opportunities. In Frost’s poem, the careful traveler observes the differences of each path, one is bent and covered in undergrowth (Frost 5) and the other is grassy and unworn (Frost 8). In the end he knows he can only choose oneRead MoreA Literary Explication on the Poem A Girls Garden by Robert Frost1054 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: A LITERARY EXPLICATION ON THE POEM A GIRLS A Literary Explication on the Poem A Girls Garden by Robert Frost Galen College of Nursing A Literary Explication on the Poem A Girls Garden by Robert Frost Even people who are not a connoisseur of poetry are familiar with Robert Frost and his works. Even though he was a very complex man who kept to himself he excelled in poetry. He found success in poetry that few poets are able to achieve. He lived from 1874-1963. LivingRead MoreThe Road Not Taken Poetry Exp.983 Words   |  4 PagesPoetry Explication: â€Å"The Road Not Taken† By Robert Frost The four time Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Robert Frost, is well known for his picturesque portrayal of rural lifestyle, focusing mainly on the New England region of the United States. â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, published in 1916 is one of his earliest written and most highly praised works. It is considered a masterpiece of American Literature and its content is frequently studied by high school and college students to this day. The poem isRead MoreExplication In Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken782 Words   |  4 PagesExplication of The Road Not Taken. The poem titled The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is about a man reflecting on a choice he once made. While the outcome of this choice is not implied to be positive or negative the speaker notes that the choice in itself and the consequences of that choice have made a huge difference in the way his life has unfolded. The poem is about the importance of choices. The poem begins with the speaker regretting that he could not have been two people soRead MorePoetic Devices and Poems3332 Words   |  14 Pagesthat at first seems self-contradictory but that on reflection makes sense. Ghost House by Robert Frost: â€Å"I dwell in a lonely house I know That vanished many a summer ago.† Symbolism: a thing that suggests more than its literal meaning. A symbol can be a thing or an action. Symbolism is the collective function of symbols in a work, or an author’s use of symbols. Example- The Road not Taken by Robert Frost. Cacophony: deliberate use of harsh, dissonant sounds. Example- Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll:Read MoreLove and Nature in the Poems of Robert Frost Essay2313 Words   |  10 Pages â€Å"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.† (Frost 697) Robert Frost was a unique writer of the 20th century. In his poems â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay† Birches Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Fire and Ice and Mending Wall Robert Frost explores the theme of nature, and the human emotion love. Robert Frost is considered a humanist and is one of the most well-known American poets. â€Å"If the United States ever adopted aRead MoreRobert Frosts Use of Nature and Love3230 Words   |  13 Pagesâ€Å"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference† (Frost 697). Robert Frost was a unique writer of the twentieth century. In his poems â€Å"Nothing Gold Can Stay†, â€Å"Birches†, â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening†, â€Å"Fire and Ice†, â€Å"Mending Wall†, and â€Å"After Apple-picking†. Robert Frost explores the theme of nature and the human emotion love. Robert Frost is considered a humanist and is one of the most well-known American poets. Robert Frost diedRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesa combination of the two? 2. What are the chief episodes or incidents that make up the plot? Is its development strictly chronological, or the chronology rearranged in some way? 3. Compare the plot’s beginning and end. What essential changes have taken place? 4. Describe the plot in terms of its exposition, complication, crisis, falling action and resolution. 5. Is the plot unified? Do the individual episodes logically relate to one another? 6. Is the ending appropriate to and consistent with the

Background of Circuit City Essay Example For Students

Background of Circuit City Essay Circuit city was founded in 1949 by Samuel Wurtzel under the original name or Wards. Due to Wurtzels business skills, President Kennedy appointed him to the U.S. Foreign Trade Mission to Switzerland and Austria. Originally opened as a television store, Circuit City has come to sell almost all electronic goods ranging from television and video products to cell phones and car stereo equipment. Circuit city competes in a consumer electronic market. The main competitors of Circuit City are Best Buy, Comp USA, Wal-Mart, RadioShack, and Amazon.com. Second in sales in this industry, Circuit City operates more than 600 stores nation wide and an additional 1,000 stores in Canada under its subsidiary InterTan Inc. While Circuit City normally sells a wide variety of products from different companies, in 2004 it stated carrying their own product line. This line includes LCD computer monitors through their Liquid Video brand, other consumer electronics through Verge, and easy, simple, affordable products through ESA brand. Circuit city grew rapidly between the 1960s and 1980s. During the 1990s the sales rate leveled off and in 1999 their revenue passed the $10 billion mark. They have been trying to revitalize the chain by eliminating certain products, such as appliances, and by lowering operating costs. Currently Circuit City is at a maturity level with declining sales and revenue. Over the past 55 years Circuit City has transformed from a small local television store to an international chain of superstores. Circuit City will continue to be a competitive company in the consumer electronics industry as long as they offer a strategic plan that leads to larger sales. We decided to choose Circuit City because we wanted to learn more about a company that was in risk of having to make many changes to compete in the technology world. Since there are so many companies competing in this field we though it would be interesting to see the possibility of success in a company who is revitalizing their companys structure.

The 5th Amendment Essay Example For Students

The 5th Amendment Essay The 5th AmendmentBasically, the 5th Amendment states that no one shall becharged with capital crimes without a Grand Jurys permission, except in cases regarding the military while under service in wartime or public danger. No one can be put on trial again for the same crime. You cant be forced to testify yourself. That no one should be executed, jailed, or have property seized without a legal precedent. Also you cant be put through cruel or unusually punishment. If private property is seized for public use, that the owner must be compensated for their losses fairly. It also forbids deprivation of life, liberty, or property without Due Process of the law. The 5th Amendment is also often cited as the Double JeopardyAmendment. The Constitution does not say that individuals cant be put on trail again for the same offense. The Constitution says that should he defendant be tried again on the same charge or charges, that they cant be executed or imprisoned for life without the possibility o f parole. We will write a custom essay on The 5th Amendment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The 5th Amendment is also sometimes called the Take the Fifth Amendment. It states that no defendant can be forced to testify against themselves in a criminal case. When under oath, you are expected to tell the truth, even if that truth was to put you in trouble. Taking the fifth allows you to tell the truth about th case without putting yourself in trouble. The Miranda are issued in 1966. This is also the amendment that protects citizens from manifest destiny. That is the federal government simply taking land or other property of citizens without giving anything back. In fact, the Constitution states that the owner shall be compensated a fair value ofthe item or items taken will be paid to the former owner. This is called Emient Domain. 5th Amendment Supreme Court Cases MIRANDA v. ARIZONA 1966The defendant, while in police custody, was questioned by police officers, detectives, or a prosecuting attorney. The defendant was not given a full and effective warning of his rights before the the interrogation. In this case Miranda was not ckarged and was sent free because he had no awarence of his rights. Since that day for the the police had to read your rights. CLARENCE EARL GIDEON v. LOUIE L. WAINWRIGHT, Director, Division of Corrections 1963The was charged in a Florida state court with having broken and entered a poolroom with intent to commit a misdemeanor. This offense is a felony under Florida law. Appearing in court without money and without a lawyer, the defendant asked the court to appoint counsel for him. the court denied him. The court said only time the court can appoint counsel to represent a defendant is when that person is charged with a capital offense. After defending himself he was found guilty by the ju ry. He was sentenced to five years in state prison. The defendant then filed in the Florida Supreme Court this habeas corpus petitioner attacking his conviction and sentence on the ground that the trial courts refusal to appoint counsel for him denied him rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights by the United States Government. But the State Supreme court denied him, because its only under federal constitutionaly. Kastigar v. United States 1972This case presents the question whether the United States Government may get testimony from an unwilling witness, who pleeds the Fifth Amendment so they will not self-incrimination, by conferring on the witness stand from use of the compelled testimony in criminal proceedings, as well as from use of evidence derived from the testimony.The witnesses were subpoenaed to appear before a United States grand jury in the Central District of California on February 4, 1971. The Government believed that the witnesses were likely to t ake their Fifth Amendment privilege. Prior to the scheduled appearances, the Government applied to the District Court for an order directing the witnesses to answer questions and produce evidence before the grand jury. The witnesses opposed of the order because they felt the would self-incrimanate. The District Court rejected this, and ordered the witnesses to appear before the grand jury and answer its questions.

History of Chicago essays

History of Chicago essays noun phrase+noun phrase We have tickets for the symphony and the opera. The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday. Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin? I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early. and noun phrase+noun phrase We have tickets for the symphony and the opera. The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday. Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin? I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early. and noun phrase+noun phrase We have tickets for the symphony and the opera. The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday. Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin? I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early. and noun phrase+noun phrase We have tickets for the symphony and the opera. The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday. Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin? I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early. and noun phrase+noun phrase We have tickets for the symphony and the opera. The orchestra reh...

The Legend of Lucretia in Roman History

The Legend of Lucretia in Roman History The legendary rape of Roman noblewoman Lucretia by Tarquin, king of Rome, and her subsequent suicide are credited as inspiring the revolt against the Tarquin family by Lucius Junius Brutus which led to the founding of the Roman Republic. Dates: 6th century BCE. The rape of Lucretia is said by Livy to have happened in 509 BCE.Also known as: Lucrece Where Is Her Story Documented? The Gauls destroyed Roman records in 390 BCE, so any contemporaneous records were destroyed. Stories from before that time are likely to be more legend than history. The legend of Lucretia is reported by Livy in his Roman history. In his story, she was the daughter of Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus, sister of Publius Lucretius Tricipitinus, niece of Lucius Junius Brutus, and wife of Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus (Conlatinus) who was the son of Egerius.    Her story is also told in Ovids Fasti. The Story of Lucretia The story begins with a drinking bet between some young men at the home of Sextus Tarquinius, a son of the king of Rome. They decide to surprise their wives to see how they behave when they are not expecting their husbands. The wife of Collatinus, Lucretia, is behaving virtuously, while the wives of the kings sons are not. Several days later, Sextus Tarquinius goes to Collatinus home and is given hospitality. When everyone else is asleep in the house, he goes to Lucretias bedroom and threatens her with a sword, demanding and begging that she submit to his advances. She shows herself to be unafraid of death, and then he threatens that he will kill her and place her nude body next to the nude body of a servant, bringing shame on her family as this will imply adultery with her social inferior. She submits, but in the morning calls her father, husband, and uncle to her, and she tells them how she has lost her honor and demands that they avenge her rape. Though the men try to convince her that she bears no dishonor, she disagrees and kills herself, her punishment for losing her honor. Brutus, her uncle, declares that they will drive the king and all his family from Rome and never have a king in Rome again. When her body is publicly displayed, it reminds many others in Rome of acts of violence by the kings family. Her rape is thus the trigger for the Roman revolution. Her uncle and husband are leaders of the revolution and the newly-established republic. Lucretias brother and husband are the first Roman consuls. The legend of Lucretia- a woman who was sexually violated and therefore shamed her male kinsmen who then took revenge against the rapist and his family- was used not only in the Roman republic to represent proper womanly virtue, but was used by many writers and artists in later times. William Shakespeares The Rape of Lucrece In 1594, Shakespeare wrote a narrative poem about Lucretia. The poem is 1855 lines long, with 265 stanzas. Shakespeare used the story of Lucretias rape in four of his poems via allusions: Cybeline, Titus Andronicus, Macbeth, and Taming of the Shrew. the poem was published by printer Richard Field and sold by John Harrison the Elder, a bookseller in St. Pauls Churchyard. Shakespeare drew from both Ovids version in Fasti  and Livys in his history of Rome.

Human resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Human resources - Essay Example Noe, et.al, Human Resource Management: Gaining a Competitive Advantage Boston, McGraw-Hill, 2006). HR Skills Training: Job related skill development programs and education is important to be conducted on the employees to enhance and improve their knowledge and work skills. In order to execute tasks and assignments in an efficient manner, employees must achieve behavioural competencies. The training and development program helps employees to gain motivation and efficiently contribute to quality performance at a lower operational cost which leads to higher employee satisfaction and retention (M. Armstrong and S.Taylor, Armstrongs handbook of human resource management practice UK: Kogan Page Publishers, 2014). Remuneration: It refers to the compensation granted to the employees in return of the amount of output given by them during work performance and target achievement. These compensations are the salaries, wages, bonuses, benefits and perquisites in terms of cash and kind given to the employees. Employee Relations: This HRM function leads to better employee relation with the organization and the employer. This leads to motivation and maintenance of employee morale leading to higher productivity. Problem solving and following a specific organizational code of conduct are part of employee relationship maintenance (M. Armstrong and S.Taylor, Armstrongs handbook of human resource management practice UK: Kogan Page Publishers, 2014). Line managers have accountability for directly managing and supervising an employee or a team. They are answerable to the higher management authority on the employee performance and their well-being. The front line managers are also referred to as the line managers and have a supervisory role. They can also be team leaders and are appointed internally by the management, as well as they are represented as the

Human Behaviour in Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Behaviour in Organisations - Essay Example Transactional leaders differ from transformational leaders, in the fact that they do not seek to transform the future. The aim of the transactional leader is to preserve the extant state of affairs (Odumeru & Ogbonna, 2013, p. 358). Transactional leadership is of great value in addressing crisis and emergency situations, and in completing projects in some specific manner. The Trait Theory of Leadership presumes the presence of inherited traits among people, and that some of these traits are especially suited to leadership. Effective leaders possess specific characteristics, and great leaders have certain common personality traits. This theory attempts to identify the physical, mental, and personality features associated with successful leadership (Chartered Technofunctional Institute, 2013). For several years, the trait theory had been ignored and it had been assumed that situational and learned factors were of greater significance than inherited traits among individuals accomplishing leadership roles. Subsequently, behavioral genetics has emphasized that genes and inherited traits have a significant effect on the individual (Warrilow, 2014). It is this writer’s opinion that leaders are made and not born. Upon assuming that leaders are born, most of their children would have become great leaders. This does not transpire. Hence, leaders are crafted by the situation and not hereditary. It has been concluded by researchers that successful leadership emerges from the interaction between the situation and the characteristics of the leader. This interaction has been regarded as the key to understanding leadership, in conjunction with the crucial situational and trait variables (Fleenor, 2006, p. 832). In the contemporary business world, it is essential for a company to possess the creative ability.  

Various Culture And Their Distictive Ways Essay Example for Free

Various Culture And Their Distictive Ways Essay Culture is a distinctive way of life of people or groups . Culture is manifested in all aspects of life which include norms and values such as age, language, gender and social values such as religion, marriage and rite of passage. Different cultural groups norms and values compare and contrast from one cultural group to another as shown in the table with a case study of western,African,Islamic,Hinduism and Chinese culture culture. Age influences learning as young people are more able to study, understand and conceptualize than the older people. Also due to age barrier the young may be unable to learn certain issues such as leadership. Where there is gender discrimination for instance, a girl child is discriminated and are not accessed to education . Where there is gender equality there is tendency of competition thus improving learning process. Learning will be slow where there is language barrier or if language needs to be translated from one to the other, this hampers understanding and communication. Social values influence learning for instance in Africa, after initiation girls went for marriage while boys became warriors. This curtails continuity with education. References: Marjorie Ebort,Margaret Gisler. (1999). career for culture lovers and other artsy types,McGraw-hill professional

A Rose for Emily :: A Rose For Emily, William Faulkner

What a mysterious life and death of Miss Emily with a mystifying history of her father and her lover that the whole community was effected by it and had to come to visit her at death, the men came from respect and women out of curiosity to get inside of the olden times and may to discover the secrets of the house. The town that Emily leaved had its own voice that was describing her as ?tradition a duty, and a care?. Everybody in town acted differently to Miss Emily, but they all come together to one opinion that she was a woman who kept her life to herself at the all time. In her younger years her father had driven all her suitors away by simply explaining that no man is good for his daughter. Emily did not have the confidence, or maybe self-esteem and self-worth, to believe that she could stand alone and succeed at life especially in the face of changing times. She had always been ruled by, and depended on her father, Tobe and Homer Barron to protect, defend and act for herself. Life can be sad or it can be very tragic, some of it we make ourselves and some of it is being done to us. Emily had a hard life because everything that she loved have had left her. After her father?s death she could select men of her choice and liking, he couldn?t chase them off any more, but she did not know how to date, how to show gentle and womanly expressions after all those years of her father?s actions. Unfortunately, Emily became home bound. Miss Emily didn?t socialize much except for with her manservant Tobe who visited her just for some chores around the house and go to a market. Faulkner portrays Emily and her family as a high social class and she did carry her self with high self-esteem and people gave her respect, based on fear of what Emily could do to them. She did have a gentleman friend named Homer Barron. Homer was a Forman for a road construction company and Emily?s father probably would not be pleased with this affair considering her upbringing. Of course, Emily like most women dreamed of getting married and having a family and most of all, being loved.

A Beautiful Mind: The Case of John Nash Essay

John Nash was a Princeton University graduate student that begins to loose touch with reality. The movie begins with John’s days in college as a bright mathematical student focusing on creating a thesis. Upon this journey he is he develops schizophrenia and it begins to worsen. He is able to acquire a job at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is here where he meets his future wife Alicia. Alicia is not aware of John’s condition at the time but soon learns. John is admitted into treatment for help and is eventually released. He then continues his life, partially recovering from the disease and is honored the Nobel Memorial Prize. John Nash is a young college student in his adult years. He is in his mid to late twenties he begins to develop schizophrenia. Information about immediate was not given, though he later marries his student, a MIT graduate student, Alicia Larde and has a son. As John ages his symptoms begin to worsen. He starts off by hearing voices and then eventually progresses to hallucinations and delusions. He often created friends and event scene by actions in his head that he believed was happening. According to the DSM, Schizophrenia is a mental illness of the mind. Its sub-types include paranoid, catatonic, hebephrenic and simple. Symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and bizarre behavior. Patients also commonly hear voices. Though the voices may vary there are many categories. They can comment on present actions and well as previous thoughts. Another feature is a â€Å"command hallucination† which can tell the patient what to do. In these scenarios the patient must obey the voice. While in college John Nash began to hear voices. He then begins creates friends of them. Those included Charles, whom he believed was his roommate and William Parcher an agent for the United States Department of Defense. Charles would be an example of a voice (or person) that comments of present actions, and Parcher is a command voice because he displays authority and directs John on what to do. While teaching at MIT, John believes he is on a mission to solve Soviet codes to assist the United States in stopping Soviet plots. While giving a lecture he believes Soviet spies captured him. He also endured in incident where he left this young son in the bathtub while running water. He claims he has a friend that was going to turn the water off. He almost drowns his son. These occurrences clearly identify John as a schizophrenic. He displays the symptoms needed to be considered a schizophrenic. There are no specific causes of schizophrenia. However schizophrenia can be affected by genetics and environmental causes. Medically a cause of schizophrenia is higher levels of dopamine receptors in the brain. There are also abnormal behaviors that occur in the frontal cortex, amygdala, and thalamus. Younger patients with this disease tend to lose me brain tissue compared to those that do not have the disease. Another factor that could potentially lead to the development of schizophrenia is the contraction of any viral infection of the mother while the fetus is still inside of her. Improper nutrition and a lack of oxygen to the brain while in the fetus state can play a part in leading to this disease. Other factors may include the birth month (winter v. summer), the birth place- rural areas compared to urban areas, maternal depression, as well as family history. Though the movie did not give information about John’s childhood nor family history, his schizophrenia could have possible developed from many of the factors previously mentioned. Schizophrenia is a disease that cannot be fully cured but can be treated. When a patient is treated for schizophrenia it is not removed from their brain but the symptoms associated with the disease are treated. For example a patient may still have schizophrenia but the common everyday signs such as hallucinations or delusions may be cured for an amount of time. In the film, John was admitted to a mental facility in which he was treated. He left on medication that treated his delusions. However once he decided to discontinue his medications the symptoms reappeared. He was then treated with insulin shock therapy. During this therapy patients are treated with insulin for about eight days to two weeks. Observations have recorded that it speeds up the reduction of the intensity of the disease. Most patients have recorded no relapses after this treatment. Other treatments are psychotherapy and regular medicine are offered. Psychotherapy is a great choice to get individuals assimilated back into â€Å"normal society†. However I would not recommend this for John because he did not isolate himself of loose social skills, he simply had to deal with the balancing of what was actually happening versus what was occurring in his mind. I also would not offer regular medicine because as seen in the movie, patients can simply stop taking it for what ever person reason they have, which defeats the purpose. As done in the movie, I would prefer the insulin treatment for John. Because he is such an intelligent man I believe it would be possible for him to almost return to a normal lifestyle if this medicine is going to decrease his symptoms. He will eventually learn to ignore and small and non-significant reoccurrences of his symptoms. Works Cited A Beautiful Mind. Dir. Ron Howard. Perf. Russel Crowe. Dreamworks , 2001. DVD. Donahue, Time. Psychological Disorders [PDF document]. Retrieved from Lecture Notes Online Web site: https://blackboard.vcu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_group=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fcontent%2FcontentWrapper.jsp%3Fattachment%3Dtrue%26navItem%3Dcontent%26content_id%3D_3130818_1%26course_id%3D_88979_1%26displayName%3DDisorders%2BVCU%2BSpring%2B2011%2Bstudent%2Bcopy.pdf%26href%3D%2F%2540%2540%2FA351CAB57C41453726BD6BBA28AA5DBA%2Fcourses%2F1%2FPSYC-101-901-2011Fall%2Fcontent%2F_3130818_1%2FDisorders%252520VCU%252520Spring%2525202011%252520student%252520copy.pdf Grohol, John M., and Psy.D.. â€Å"Psych Central: Schizophrenia Treatment.† Psych Central – Trusted mental health, depression, bipolar, ADHD and psychology information .. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011. . â€Å"Insulin shock therapy – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.† Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2011..

Plastic money: Indian Experience Essay

Introduction to Plastic Money Plastic money or polymer money, made out of plastic, is a new and easier way of paying for goods and services. Plastic money was introduced in the 1950s and is now an essential form of ready money which reduces the risk of handlings a huge amount of cash. It includes Debit cards, ATMs, smart cards, etc. Credit cards, variants of plastic money, are used as substitutes for currency. see more:what is plastic money MEANING Plastic money refers to credit cards, we use them whenever we want and pay later (with interest, of course). It makes it too easy for us to buy things we normally could not afford, which makes it easier to get into debt. DEFINITION A slang phrase for credit cards, especially when such cards used to make purchases. The â€Å"plastic† portion of this term refers to the plastic construction of credit cards, as opposed to paper and metal of currency. The ―money† portion is an erroneous reference to credit cards as a form of money, which they are not. Although credit cards do facilitate transactions, because they are a liability rather than an asset, they are not money and not part of the economy’s money supply. The History Of Credit Cards and Debit Cards InPlastic Money Credit cards have evolved into a safe and secure manner to purchase goods and services. The Internet has given credit card users additional purchasing power. Banks have options like cash-back rewards, savings plans and other incentives to entice people to use their cards. Debit cards allow people the convenience of cards without the worry of racking up debt. The convenience, security and rewards offered by credit and debit cards keep shoppers using their cards as opposed to checks or cash. Credit Card Origins The first credit cards were issued by individual stores and merchants. These cards were issued in limited locations and only accepted by the businesses that issued them. While the cards were convenient for the customers, they also provided a customer loyalty and customer service benefit, which was good for both customer and merchant. It was not until1950 that the Dinner’s Club card was created by a restaurant patron who forgot his wallet and realized there needed to be an alternative to cash only. This started the first credit card specifically for widespread use, even though it was primarily used for entertainment and travel expenses. Plastic Becomes the Standard The first Diner’s Club cards were made out of cardboard or celluloid. In 1959 American Express changed all that with the first card made of plastic. American Express created a system of making an impression of the card presented at the register for payment. Then that impression was billed to the customer and due in full each month. Several American Express cards still operate like this as of 2010. It was not until the late 1980s that American Express began allowing people to pay their balance over time with additional card options. Bank Card Associations In 1966, Bank of America created a card that was a general purpose card or â€Å"open loop† card. These â€Å"closed loop† agreements limited cards like Diners Club and American Express to certain merchants, unlike the new† open loop† cards. The new general purpose system required interbank cooperation and additional regulations. This created additional safety features and began building the credit card system of today. Two systems emerged as the leaders–Visa and Master Card. However, today there is little difference between the two and most merchants accept both card associations. Debit Cards Emerge The Visa association of cards took credit cards to a new level in 1989 when they introduced debit cards. These cards linked consumers to their checking accounts. Money was now drawn from a checking account at the point of sale with these new cards and replaced check writing. This helped the merchants check that money was available and made it easier to track the customer if the funds could not be obtained. Consumers liked the convenience of not having to write checks at the point of sale, which made debit cards a safe alternative to cash and checks. The Future There were almost 29 million debit card users as of 2006, with a projected 34.4 million users by 2016. However, online services like Pay Pal are emerging as a way for people to pay their debts in new, secure and convenient ways. Technology also exists to have devices implanted into phones, keys and other everyday devices so that the ability to pay at the point of sale is even more convenient. TYPES OF PLASTIC MONEY Different types:- Credit card A credit card is plastic money that is used to pay for products and services at over 20 Million locations around the world. All you need to do is produce the card and sign a charge slip to pay for your purchases. The institution which issues the card makes the payment to the outlet on your behalf; you will pay this ‘loan’ back to the institution at a later date. In short†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Cashless payment with a set spending limit Payment takes place after the purchase Great flexibility thanks to installment facility Most well-known credit cards: American Express, MasterCard, Visa Debit card Debit cards are substitutes for cash or check payments, much the same way that credit cards are. However, banks only issue them to you if you hold an account with them. When a debit card is used to make a payment, the total amount charged is instantly reduced from your bank balance. Don’t borrow on your credit card! Here’s why A debit card is only accepted at outlets with electronic swipe-machines that can check and deduct amounts from your bank balance online. In short †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Card is linked to the cardholder’s bank account Transaction is directly Debited immediately from bank account No credit or installment facility Most well-known debit cards: Maestro, Postcard Charge card A charge card carries all the features of credit cards. However, after using a charge card you will have to pay off the entire amount billed, by the due date. If you fail to do so, you are likely to be considered a defaulter and will usually have to pay up a steep late payment charge. When you use a credit card you are not declared a defaulter even if you miss your due date. A 2.95 per cent late payment fees (this differs from one bank to another) is levied in your next billing statement. In short Cashless payment without a set spending limit Payment takes place after the purchase No credit or installment facility Most well-known charge cards: American Express, Diners Club Amex card Amex stands for American Express and is one of the well-known charge cards. This card has its own merchant establishment tie-ups and does not depend on the network of MasterCard or Visa. Credit cards: Remember these dos and don’ts. This card is typically meant for high-income group categories and companies and may not be acceptable at many outlets. There are a wide variety of special privileges offered to Amex cardholders. Dinner club card Diners Club is a branded charge card. There are a wide variety of special privileges offered to the Diners Club card holder. For instance, as a cardholder you can set your own spending limit. Besides, the card has its own merchant establishment tie-ups and does not depend on the network of MasterCard or Visa. However, since this card is typically meant for high-income group categories, it may not be acceptable at many outlets. It would be agood idea to check whether a member establishment does accept thecard or not in advance. Global card Global cards allow you the flexibility and convenience of using a credit card rather than cash or travelers cheque while traveling abroad for either business or personal reasons. Co-branded card Co-branded cards are credit cards issued by card companies that have tied up with a popular brand for the purpose of offering certain exclusive benefits to the consumer. A debit card with a difference For example, the Citi-Times card gives you all the benefits of a Citibank credit card along with a special discount on Times Music cassettes, free entry to Times Music events, etc. Master card & Visa MasterCard and Visa are global non-profit organizations dedicated to promote the growth of the card business across the world. They have built a vast network of merchant establishments so that customers worldwide may use their respective credit cards to make various purchases. Smart card A smart card contains an electronic chip which is used to store cash. This is most useful when you have to pay for small purchases, for example bus fares and coffee. No identification, signature or payment authorization is required for using this card. The exact amount of purchase is deducted from the smart card during payment and is collected by smart card reading machines. No change is given. Currently this product is available only in very developed countries like the United States and is being used only sporadically in India. Photo card If your photograph is imprinted on a card, then you have what is known as a photo card. Doing this helps identify the user of the credit card and is therefore considered safer. Besides, in many cases, your photo card can function as your identity card as well. Customer card/store card (PLCC) Card with payment and credit function can only be used at specific retailers Well-known customer cards: my One, Globus, Media Markt. Prepaid card/gift card Card is topped up with credit before use No credit or installment facility Open system (American Express, Visa, MasterCard) or closed system (can only be used at specific retailers) CREDIT CARD INTRODUCTION A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder’s promise to pay for these goods and services. The issuer of the card grants a line of credit to the consumer or the user) from which the user can borrow money for payment to a merchant or as a cash advance to the user. Usage of the term â€Å"credit card† to imply a credit card account is a metonym. When a purchase is made the user would indicate consent to pay by signing a receipt with a record of the card details and indicating the amount to be paid. Issuer agrees to pay the merchant and the credit card user agrees to pay the card issuer. DEFINITION The credit card can be defined as â€Å"A small plastic card that allows its holder to buy goods and services on credit and to pay at fixed intervals through the card issuing agency. MEANING A credit card is a card or mechanism which enables card holder to purchase goods, travels and dine in a hotel without making immediate payments. The holders can use the cards to get credit from banks up to 45days.The credit card relieves the consumers from the botheration of carrying cash and ensures safety. It is a convenience of extended credit without formality. Thus credit card is a passport to, â€Å"safety, convenience, prestige and credit. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OFCREDIT CARD ADVANTAGES OF CREDIT CARD The benefits of credit card can be grouped as follows: (A) BENEFITS TO THE BANK a) A credit card is an integral part of banks major services these days. The credit card provides the following advantages to the bank: the system provides an opportunity to the bank to attract new potential customers. b) To get new customers the bank has to employee special trained staff. This gives the bank an opportunity to find the latent talent from among existing staff that would have been otherwise wasted. c) The more important function of a credit card, however, is simply to yield direct profit for the bank. There is a scope and a potential for a better profitability out of income / commission earned from the traders turn over. d) This also provides additional customer services to the existing clients. It enhances the customer satisfaction. e) More use by the car holder and consequently the growth of banking habits in general. f) Better network of card holders and increased use of cards means higher popularity and image of the bank. g) Savings of expense on cash holdings, i.e . stationery, printing and man power to handle clearing transactions while considerably is reduced. It increases. (B) BENEFITS TO CARD HOLDER The principal benefits to a card holder are: a) He can purchase goods and services at a large number of outlets without cash or cheque. The card is useful in emergency, and can save embarrassment. b) The risk factor of carrying and storing cash is avoided. It is convenient for him to carry credit card and he has trouble free travel and may purchase his without carrying cash or cheque. c) Months purchases can be settled with a single remittance, thus, tending to reduce bank and handling charges. d) The card holder has the period of free credit usually between 30-50 days of purchase. e) Cash can usually be obtained with the card, either on card account or by using it as identification when encasings a cheque at the bank. f) Availing credit with minimum formality. g) The credit card saves trouble and paper work to traveling business man. (C) BENEFITS TO THE MERCHANT ESTABLISHMENT The principal benefits offer credit card to the retailer is a) This will carry prestigious weight to the outlets. b) Increases in sale because of increased purchasing power of the card holder due to unbilled credit available to the card holder. c) The retailers gain from the impulse buying and trading up the tendency to buy the bigger or better article. d) Credit card ensures timely and certainly of payments. e) Suppliers/sellers no longer have to send reminders of outstanding debits. f) Systematic accounting since sales receipts are routed through banking channels. g) Advertising and promotional support on national scale. h) Development of prestigious clientele base. DISADVANTAGES OF CREDIT CARD The following are the common disadvantages of the credit card: a) Some credit card transactions take longer time than cash transactions because of various formalities. b) The customer tends to overspend out of immerse happiness. c) Discounts and rebates can rarely be obtained. d) The cardholder is responsible for charges due to loss or theft of the card and the bank may not be party for loss due to fraud or collusion of staff, etc e) Customers may be denied cash discount for payment through card. f) It might lead to spending habits and cardholders may end up in big debts i) Avoid the entire cost and security problem involved in handling cash. j) Losses to bad debts and reduced an additional liquidity is. k) It also allows him to delegate spending power to add on members. l) Credit card is considered as a status symbol. Parties Involved Cardholders: The holder of the card used to make a purchase, the consumers. Card-issuing Bank: The financial intuition or others organisations that issued the credit card to the cardholder. Acquiring bank: The financial institution accepting payment for the products or services on behalf of the merchant. Merchant Accounts: This could refer to the acquiring bank or the independent sales organization, but in general is organization that the merchants deal with. Credit Card Association: An association of card-issuing banks such as Discover, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc. that set transaction terms for merchants, card –issuing banks, and acquiring banks Transaction network: The system that implements the mechanics of electronics transaction. May be operated by an independent company, and one company may operate multiple networks. Affinity Partner: Some institutions lend their names to an issuer to attract customers that have a strong relationship with that institution, a nd get paid a fee or a percentage of the balance for each card issued using their name. Insurance Providers: Insurers underwriting various insurance protections offered as credit card perks. Transaction Steps Authorization: The cardholder presents the card as payment to the merchant and the merchant submits the transaction to the acquirer (acquiring bank). The acquirer verifies the credit card number, the transaction type and the amount with the issuer (Card-issuing back) and reserves that amount of the cardholders credit limit for the merchant. An authorization will generate  an approval code, which the merchant stores with the transaction. Batching: Authorized transactions are stored in â€Å"batches†, which are sent to the acquirer. Batches are typically submitted once per day at the end of the business day. If a transaction is not submitted in the batch, the authorization will say valid for a period determined by the issuer, after which the held amount will be returned to the cardholders available credit. Clearing and Settlement: The acquirer sends the batch transactions through the credit card association, which debits the issuers for payment and credited the acquirer. Essentially, the issuer pays the acquirer for the transaction. Funding: Once the acquirer has been paid, the acquirer pays the merchant. The merchant receives the amount totalling the funds in the batch minus the â€Å"discount rate†, â€Å"mid-qualified rate†, or â€Å"non-qualified rate† which are tiers of fees the merchant pays the acquirer for processing the transactions. Charge backs: A Chargeback is an event in which money in a merchant account is held due to a dispute relating to the transaction. Charge backs are typically initiated by the cardholder. In the event of charge backs, the issuer returns the transaction to the acquirer for resolution. The acquirer then forwards the chargeback to the merchant, who must either accept the chargeback or contest it. Costs Credit card issuers (banks) have several types of costs: Interest Expenses Operating Costs Charges offs or Bad Debts Rewards Fraud Promotion Revenues Offsetting the costs are the following revenues: Interchanges fee Interest on outstanding balance Over limit charges Fees charged to customers Late payments or overdue payments Charges that result in exceeding the credit limit on the card (whether done  deliberately or by mistake), called over limit fees Returned cheques fees or payment processing fees (e.g. phone payment fee) Cash advances and convenience cheques Transactions in a foreign currency. A few financial institutions do not charge a fee for this. Membership fees (annual or monthly), sometimes a percentage of the credit limit. Exchange rate loading fees. ADVANCTAGES OF PLAST MONEY Plastic is very useful in the building and construction, electronics (laptops wouldn’t work well if they were made from glass), packaging (glad wrap), transportation industries. Very easy to make – water bottles, plastic bags, pens, cups etc. The main advantages of plastic materials are also the reason why plastic is such a problem. It lasts forever and it is very cheap to make. When I say it last forever, I mean it does not biodegrade. There is a flotilla of plastic the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. It gradually photo-degrades into tiny pieces that enter the marine food chain. Plastic is good, light, strong and cheap to produce. There are many advantages to using plastic. It does not decompose but it can instead be recycled. This is done more easily than producing more plastic. Unlike aluminum cans, plastic bottles can be re-used and stored over and over again. Plastic is usually not breakable and it is see-through. It’s light-weight and odourless. Plastic comes from a natural resource (oil) but CAN’T be re-made into bottles (but they can be re-made into other items- WEIRD!) It takes a long time to break down†¦ Customer having poor credit worthiness can opt for debit card. Instant finalization of accounts less identification and scrutiny than personal checks, thereby making transactions quicker and less intrusive. A debit card may be used to obtain cash from an ATM or a PIN-based transaction atnoextracharge. DISADVANCTAGES OF PLAST MONEY it is a compound that is indestructible, even when it is melted the compound gas that is gives off is very harmful to our heath and environment; it weakens the ozone layer. Most plastic is produced from oil. The world is gradually running out of oil. Scientists are now developing plastics that are made from vegetable oil and other organic matter. This means that the plastic is more likely to be degradable, so it will be less of a problem in future. Another Disadvantage is pollution Plastic accumulation in the environment is a looming catastrophe. It is cheap but it is not easily disposable so it is in a lot of landfills. plastic bags can kill the marine animals and destroy the soil Limited to the existing funds in the account to which it is linkedÊ Banks charging over-limit fees or non-sufficient funds fees based upon pre-authorizations, and even attempted but refused transactions by the merchantÊ Lower levels of security protection than credit cardsÊ More prone to frauds. Plastic Fraud State-of-the-art thieves are concentrating on plastic cards. In the past,this type of fraud was not very common. Today, it is a big business for criminals. Plastic cards bring new convenience to your shopping and banking, but they can turn into nightmares in the wrong hands. This pamphlet describes credit and debit cards and some common schemesinvolving card fraud with tips to help you avoid them. The following are the types of frauds 1.Stolen Cards at the Office 2.Extra Copies of Charge Slips 3.Discarded Charge Slips 4.Unsigned Credit Cards 5.Loss of Multiple Cards 6.Strange Requests for Your PIN Numbers 7.Legitimate Cards 8.Altered Cards 9.Counterfeit Cards TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE One of the most important features that Plastic Money offers is thetechnology associated with this business. Credit card businesses rely on very reliable and secure technology anddemands very Strong connectivity backbone. Although a third world country, with lot of insecurities and almost noinfrastructure, Pakistanhas no exception when it comes to credit card business. There is approximately 3000 Point of Sale Terminals (POST) presenton merchant’s sites connected with bank host system. Inter-city connectivity is accomplished through X.25 networks. Perhaps, it is the most important time in the history of Pakistan as the parameters of its Infrastructures are coming into existence. There is an immense need of reliable wide area connectivity and thismarket is so huge and lucrative that it can accommodate many moreindustry giant CASE STUDY What Happens in Credit Card Fraud Cases? The Basics A variety of crimes constitute credit card fraud. The term candescribe a person using a stolen credit card to purchase goods or services posing as the person named on the card. It can also describe illegally andfraudulently withdrawing funds from an account that is not yours. Identitytheft, which is the act of posing as an individual to make purchases, is oftenclassified together with credit card fraud. A victim of credit card fraud cansometimes see bank accounts emptied of all their funds or negative marksgoing on her credit report for things she had nothing to do with. Many banks will monitor transactions made with a credit card and alert the personnamed on the account of any potentially suspicious activity. This is to protect the bank or Credit Card Company just as much as it is to protect thecustomer. Investigation Exactly what happens during a credit card fraud case depends a great deal on the actions of the Credit Card Company or bank involved. If fraudulent transactions are proven to have been made on a person’s account but the amount of the transactions is lower than the cost of an investigate on the company can credit the money back to a person and then close the account to protect from further farm. If the amounts of fraudulent charges are so great that an investigation is warranted, the police will be notified. The credit card company can look at a list of the fraudulent charges and determine where they were made. At that point an officer can question witnesses and review security camera footage in an attempt to identify suspects. If a suspect isarrested he can be tried in a court of law. Felony Credit card fraud is considered a felony by the courts of the United States. As a result a person convicted of credit card fraud could face jail time (the exact amount of which depends on the extent of the crime). A felony conviction stays on a person’s record and can prevent the person from getting hired for a job. Having a felony on a criminal record will also take away a person’s eligibility in terms of running for public office. If a person who is not a natural- born citizen of the United States commits credit card51 fraud and is convicted of a felony the result could be being deported to their country of origin CONCLUSION 21STCentury banking has become wholly customer-driven &technology driven by challenges of competition, rising customer expectations & shrinking margins, banks have been using technology to reduce cost & enhance efficiency, productivity & customer convenienence. Technology intensive delivery channels like net banking, mobile banking, etc have created a win-win situation by extending great convenienence. &multiple options for customer. From educating customers about credit cards there is a need to educate them about the differentiating factors of the cards. Because visa and master card are advertising regularly and thereby increases awareness. The strategy should be to emphasize on its differentiating characteristics. They also need to identify potential customers and target those using mailers. As internet is growing at a fast rate the net users can be targeted by having interactive sites. The prospective company’s card personality could also be used in the home page to solve c ustomer queries in the ‘Best Possible Manner The Indian Plastic Money Journey Citibank and HSBC were the pioneers in the Indian credit card market in the 1980s. Over the next two decades, the number of players increased to more than ten in 2000. The credit card market registered a healthy annual growth rate of over 25% during 1987-2001†¦ While companies were putting in place various measures to address security issues, the debit card market was having a smooth run in India. After being introduced in the mid 1990s, debit cards acquired popularity  and user acceptance at a rapid pace. A major reason for the quick popularity gained by debit cards was the absence of the credit component that resulted in elimination of interest charges or monthly card bills†¦ Plastic Money: the Currency of Modern India Indian consumers have never had it so good. The soiled notes are definitely out. Carrying cash is no more `a pain in the neck’ as consumers are relying more on the `plastic card’ which gives them money on credit. Plastic money basically means debit cards and credit cards which is having a magnetic stripe, logo, signature of the cardholder made of plastic. Credit Cards have finally arrived in India. The card industry which is growing at the rate of 20% per annum is flooded with cards ranging from gold, silver, global, smart to secure†¦.the list is endless. From just two players in early 80s, the industry now houses over 10 major players vying for a major chunk of the card pie. Currently four major bishops are ruling the card empire—Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC and State Bank of India (SBI). The industry, which is catering to over 3.8 million card users, is expected to double by the fiscal 2003. According to a study conducted by State Bank of India, Citibank is the dominant player, having issued 1.5 million cards so far. Stanch art follows way behind with 0.67 million, while Hongkong Bank has 0.3 million credit card customers. Among the nationalized banks, SBI tops the list with 0.28 million cards, followed by Bank of Baroda at 0.22 million. OBJECTIVE OF STUDY Primary objectives †¢To know the perception of people towards plastic money Secondary objectives †¢To know the importance of plastic money in the daily life of consumers’ W.R.T creditand debit cards. †¢To study the benefits of debit card and credit cards. †¢To find out the market leader among the various banks/companies issuing credit anddebit cards †¢To know the problems faced by respondents using plastic money. †¢To study the satisfaction level of consumers towards plastic money. NEED AND SCOPE OF THE STUDY Need of the study It is rightly said the plastic money is need of hour. People are using these cards on a vastscale. But after considering the review of literature it is seen the whole payment process of processing these cards is not safe and customer are facing many problems relating to plasticmoney. That’s why study is focused on consumer perception regarding the plastic money. Need of the study is to get to know about the comparative analysis of plastic money. Thereare many ethical issues and challenges in the market of plastic money which is required to bestudied. This study is concerned with the Seven perks of plastic money Convenience,Budgeting technology, Reputation boosting, Corporate might,Cops and robbers, The float,Openness,to negotiations.

Top 100 Allied Health Jobs That Are Hiring Today

Top 100 Allied Health Jobs That Are Hiring Today If you’re interested in a career in medical and health services, you have your eye on the right prize. Allied health positions can vary from patient work, to management positions, to technologist jobs, and come with a solid salary. While some require a bit of schooling, most don’t need a huge amount of education to break into, and offer good growth opportunities.Here is a varied list of jobs that fall under the allied health umbrella.Allied Health Job TitlesAssistant Director of NursingBehavior AnalystCardiac NurseCath Lab NurseCertified Medical Assistant (CMA)Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)Certified Ophthalmic TechnicianCertified Registered Nurse (RN)- MidwifeCharge NurseClinical AssistantClinical Documentation SpecialistClinical EducatorClinical PsychologistClinical Services DirectorClinical Services ManagerClinical SupervisorCritical Care NurseCT TechnologistDental AssistantDental HygienistDentistDietary AideDietitianEmergency Medical Technician (EMT)- ParamedicEme rgency Room NurseEnvironmental Health SpecialistEnvironmental Services ManagerER TechnicianFamily PhysicianHealth Information TechnicianHealth Service CoordinatorHealthcare Information Services ManagerHealthcare Project ManagerHome Care AdministratorHome Care NurseHome Health Aide (HHA)Home Health Care NurseHospital Admissions CoordinatorHospital TransporterLaboratory CourierLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN)Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)MDS CoordinatorMedical AssistantMedical Case ManagerMedical CoderMedical DirectorMedical Laboratory Technician (MLT)Medical Records AnalystMedical Technologist (MT)Medical TranscriptionistMedication TechnicianMental Health TechnicianMonitor TechnicianMRI TechnicianNurse ManagerNurse Practitioner (NP)Nurse SupervisorNursing AideNursing AssistantNursing Care CoordinatorNursing DirectorNutritionistOccupational Health ManagerOccupational Therapist (OT)Occupational Therapist AssistantOffice NurseOncology NurseOperating Room NurseOpticianOptometric Technicia nOral Surgeon AssistantOrthodontic AssistantPACU NursePathology AssistantPatient Care Technician (PCT)PediatricianPhlebotomistPhysical Therapist (PT)Physical Therapist AidePhysical Therapist Assistant (PTA)PhysicianPhysician AssistantPractical Registered Nurse (PRN)Psychiatric NursePsychiatric TechnicianPsychiatristRadiologic TechnicianRadiologic TechnologistRegistered Dental Assistant (RDA)Registered Nurse (RN)Respiratory TherapistSafety RepresentativeSchool NurseSchool PsychologistSpeech Language Pathologist (SLP)Staff NurseSurgical TechnicianUltrasound TechnicianAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of allied health  jobs is projected to grow 19% through  2024, adding about 2.3 million new jobs.The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (such as registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, and dental hygienists) is around $63,420, while healthcare support occupations (such as home health aides, occupational therapy assistant s, and medical transcriptionists) have a median annual wage of $27,910.

AP Exams vs SAT Subject Tests Whats More Important

AP Exams vs SAT Subject Tests What's More Important SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many high-achieving students end up taking both SAT Subject Tests and AP Tests during their time in high school. SAT Subject Tests are required for admission to mostcompetitive colleges, and AP Tests and coursework are encouraged. Is one more important than the other? In this article, I’ll give details on how these two types of tests compare to each another and whether it's a good idea to take AP Tests and SAT Subject Tests in the same topic areas. What's the Difference Between AP Tests and SAT Subject Tests? SAT Subject Tests are hour-long multiple-choice exams that are scored on a scale of 200 to 800.AP Tests consist of multiple choice and essay sections, last for several hours, and are scored on a scale of 1-5. Many more students take AP tests every year than SAT Subject Tests (2.3 million versus about 500,000). This is becauseAP Tests are tied directly to the corresponding Advanced Placement classes. In recent years, the AP program has spread to more and more high schools across the country. To get college credit for these classes, students must pass the tests. SAT Subject Tests are less popular because students only take them for certain selective colleges that ask for them in the application process. The most selective schools usually require or recommend two or three subject tests. These tests are not directly tied to specific classes, so students typically have more freedom in deciding which ones they want to take. SAT Subject Test scores can showcase your unique interests and talents on your college application. SAT Subject Tests are rarer than AP Tests. This red panda is also rare, but it's much cuter than anything the College Board will ever create. What Is the Purpose of an AP Test Compared to That of an SAT Subject Test? AP Tests measure a student’s mastery of college-level subject matterthrough questions that touch on the main points of a year-long AP curriculum.Your AP Test scores validate the hard work you did in class and confirm that you learned the material. The dean of admissions at Harvard says, "We have found that the best predictors [of grades] at Harvard are Advanced Placement tests and International Baccalaureate Exams, closely followed by the College Board subject tests."Students who do well on AP Tests are likely to be successful in college classes, so selective schools are interested in them for their predictive value. AP Test scores alsohelp admissions officers decide whether your grades are an accurate reflection of your academic ability. If you got a 1 on the test but an A in the class, the class was probably way too easy. If you got a 5 on the test but a B- in the class, the class was probably very challenging. This will affect the judgments that admissions officers make about your potential. Your AP scores also make a difference in whether or not you earn college credit for the work you did in your AP class.At most schools, an AP score of 4 or 5 will either lead to college credit or allow you to place out of introductory college courses. SAT Subject Tests are slightly different because they measure students’ readiness for college-level work. SAT Subject Tests are sometimes used to place students out of courses in college, but you can’t earn college credits for doing well on them. They're also less relevant for predicting college grades, although they still have some value. Since SAT Subject Tests don't correspond with specific classes on your transcript, they can be used to emphasize your abilities in the subjects that are most relevant to what you plan on studying in college. Colleges view subject tests as assessments of how much you learned in high school and where your academic strengths lie. High scores on AP Tests might allow you to ascend the college escalator more quickly. Are AP Tests Harder Than SAT Subject Tests? Most students find the material on AP Tests to be more difficult than the material on SAT Subject Tests because it's intended for students who are working at a college level. AP Tests also require more stamina.As a rule, essays are almost always harder than multiple-choice questions because you have to come up with an answer entirely on your own. Even within the multiple choice sections, AP Tests demand a deeper understanding of the material than SAT Subject Tests.They also require students to possess more in-depth knowledge and analytical abilities when it comes to interpreting primary source materials. Still, it is technically easier to get a 5 on an AP Test than an 800 on an SAT Subject Test. On most AP Tests, you can still earn a 5 if you get a fair amount of questions wrong, whereas there’s almost no room for error on subject tests if you want a perfect score.A student who gets 70% of questions correct and a student who gets 100% of questions correct may both end up with 5s on an AP test depending on how strong the curve is. However, this is deceptive, since the actual content and test format for AP Tests is significantly more difficult.A student who earns a high score like a 700 on a subject test might not get a 5 on an AP Test due to the greater complexity.I'll do a comparison with real questions to show you how the two tests differ. Come with me on this journey down two divergent paths that wind through the strange wasteland of Collegeboardia. Here’s a sample multiple-choice question from the US History SAT Subject Test: "If the Creator had separated Texas from the Union by mountain barriers, the Alps or the Andes, there might be plausible objections; but He has planed down the whole [Mississippi] Valley including Texas, and united every atom of the soil and every drop of the water of the mighty whole. He has linked their rivers with the great Mississippi, and marked and united the whole for the dominion of one government, the residence of one people." This quotation from the 1840's can be viewed as an expression of: A. The New NationalismB. popular sovereigntyC. Manifest DestinyD. the Good Neighbor PolicyE. the frontier thesis (the answer is C) And here’s a sample multiple-choice question from the AP US History Test (multiple choice questions refer to excerpts from primary sources): Excerpt: â€Å"We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.† -Chief Justice Earl Warren, writing the unanimous opinion of the United States Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 1954 Which of the following was the most immediate result of the decision excerpted? A. Radicals critiqued government actions as doing too little to transform the racial status quo. B. Education advocates raised awareness of the effect of poverty on students’ opportunities. C. Civil rights activists became increasingly divided over tactical and philosophical issues. D. Segregationists in southern states temporarily closed many public schools in an effort to resist the decision. (the answer is D) Notice the differences between these two questions.The SAT Subject Test question is much more straightforward.It requires basic knowledge of terminology related to US History.Most students who took any standard class in US History would probably answer it correctly. The AP Test question, on the other hand, is more nuanced.It asks for the â€Å"most immediate† result of the Supreme Court decision.All of the answers are true to some degree, but only D reflects the â€Å"most immediate† initial response.This is tricky, and it requires students to think more carefully about the question.It expects a certain degree of advanced knowledge of larger trends related to racial tension in US History and when and how the responses of different groups to legislative changes played out. You can also see this difference between the two tests magnified in the open response section of the AP Test. Here’s an example of an AP open response question: Using your knowledge of United States history, answer parts a and b. a) Briefly explain why ONE of the following periods best represents the beginning of a democracy in the United States. Provide at least ONE piece of evidence from the period to support your explanation. Rise of political parties in the 1790s Development of voluntary organizations to promote social reforms between the 1820s and the 1840s Emergence of the Democrats and the Whigs as political parties in the 1830s b) Briefly explain why ONE of the other options is not as persuasive as the one you chose. This question requires students to formulate a coherent definition of American democracy, make a decision about which time period best exemplifies its roots (while backing up their point with historical knowledge), and refute a counterargument.This is college-level analytical thinking.You won’t encounter questions like this on an SAT Subject Test. Choose your responses carefully. Uncle Sam is watching. Should You Take SAT Subject Tests and AP Tests in the Same Subjects? Is it OK to take SAT Subject Tests and AP Tests in the same subject? Yes, colleges won't think you're being lazy if you have overlap in the two exam types. The key factor when deciding which SAT Subject Tests to take isn't how similar or different they are to your AP Tests, it's if those SAT Subject Tests fit the subject test requirements of the schools you're applying to. If the colleges where you’re applying simply request that you take two or three unspecified SAT Subject Tests, it makes a lot of sense to take the tests that correspond with your APs. Since SAT Subject Tests are less challenging than AP Tests, you will already be prepared and may not have to do any extra studying.AP Tests are typically held in May, and you can take SAT Subject Tests in June. Certain college programs do require you to take specific subject tests to be eligible for admission.This is often the case at engineering schools that want to ensure students are well-versed in math and the hard sciences.For example, the California Institute of Technology requires prospective students to take the Math 2 subject test and one of the subject tests in Biology, Physics, or Chemistry.Math 2 is the most commonly required SAT Subject Test. If you aren’t taking an AP Test in the same subject area as the SAT Subject Test you want or need to take, you should plan to take the subject test at the end of your most relevant high school class.For Math 2, this will most likely be at the end of your junior year after you’ve taken classes in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus.In general, it’s always a good idea to take an SAT Subject Test right after you finish a class in the subject.That way, you can just do a quick review and avoid having to refresh your memory on material you learned a while ago. You, radiating confidence during your SAT Subject Tests. Conclusion AP Tests and SAT Subject Tests differ in many ways, although they both can have an impact on your chances of admission at competitive colleges. SAT Subject Tests are only an hour long, and they are comprised entirely of multiple-choice questions. AP Tests, on the other hand, can last for over three hours and always include both multiple-choice and essay questions. AP Tests are associated with specific AP classes, and their content tends to be more challenging than that of SAT Subject Tests. AP Tests ask students to demonstrate college-level analytical skills while SAT Subject Tests require more basic knowledge of high school curriculum. Your scores on AP Tests may also earn you college credit or allow you to place out of introductory college classes if they are high enough. SAT Subject Tests are only occasionally used for placement purposes. Both types of tests may be important for you in the admissions process, so make sure that you prepare accordingly! What's Next? Curious about AP? Learn how you can register for Advanced Placement classes and tests. If you're looking to delve deeper into variations in difficulty on AP tests, read this article on the hardest AP tests that you can take. If you're planning on taking SAT Subject Tests, take a look at this article to get a better sense of your ideal score range. Need a little extra help prepping for your Subject Tests? We have the industry's leading SAT Subject Test prep programs (for all non-language Subject Tests). Built by Harvard grads and SAT Subject Test full or 99th %ile scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so that you get the most effective prep possible. Learn more about our Subject Test products below:

Capital Punishment in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Capital Punishment in the United States - Essay Example Due to the threat posed by such predicament, the government now carries the burden of taking the necessary actions to alleviate the miserable condition that we are in now. The government has continually faced the option whether to utilize death penalty as punishment to vicious criminals or not Capital punishment is too rarely used to prove a very efficacious deterrent. Yet, its occasional use renders it as ridiculous and purposeless outrage. For as it is now applied, death penalty is nothing but arbitrary discrimination against occasional victims. It cannot be even considered that it is reserved as an instrument of retributive justice for the most atrocious criminals. And these people whom we call murderers, who our society is so anxious to be rid of, most of them could be remolded or reformed given the proper treatment, guidance, and rehabilitation. If we grieve so of the danger that these people pose to society, we could at least put them to prison for life or segregate them from society until such time when they are once again fit to live a normal life. The debate about death penalty could not be equated to a simple game of chance. There are just so many complications involved. It has embroiled society and challenged the soundness of its moral, spiritual, and spiritual wisdom. Since the institution of death penalty, it has been forever been plagued not only with questions as to the uprightness of imposing such punishment but also with doubts in its execution. Up to this day, the arguments rage on and the governing bodies the world over are still entangled in their differing opinions. And while the debate continues, men and women, some guilty while some were innocent, march their way to the guillotines. Everybody knows that we need to finally resolve this matter, decide whether it is politically, spiritually, morally right or wrong. The church has always expressed opposition to such form of punishment. Politicians or authorities take different stands depending on their principles while morality would basically dictate that killing of any form is wrong. Many countries, including the United States, have swung back and forth in its stand regarding death penalty. Such conditions should have been reason enough to doubt and seek to finally decide on this matter. (Wikipedia) So many issues need to be resolved. What is the principle behind using such form of punishment What does society seek to achieve by using death penalty Does it seek to punish, chasten, discipline, or correct However, all these objectives do not require or imply the imposition of death. This way, some would be lead to think that such action taken by society is tinged with retaliation or revenge, which makes it all the more wrong. The institution of death penalty is an issue of morality, discipline, justice, and accuracy issues that society has up to this very day compounded with and has not resolved or has somehow let degenerate. Statistics show how society and government wavers in almost all respects, even to that of capital punishment. It also shows how a bigger percentage of capital convictions have been overturned. Statistics also show the

Discuss the contrasting literary styles used in James Baldwin's Essay

Discuss the contrasting literary styles used in James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues and Tim O'Brien's The Things They - Essay Example Literary Analysis Paper The stories of James Baldwin and Tim O’Brien have a common element amongst them, mentioned explicitly; the attribute of undergoing struggle. In O’Brien’s book, struggle and hardships can be seen through the eyes of American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War, whereas in Baldwin’s tale, Sonny is seen fighting life and addictions in order to patch his relationships with other people around him as well as himself. ‘The Things They Carried’ is about experiences that the soldiers, led by Tim O’Brien went through, which included tangible as well as intangible important elements. These included emotions and feelings like fear, dread and guilt, as well as the kind of machines and guns which formed an inherent part of their routine lives in the War. ‘Sonny’s Blues’ is about a young heroin addict, set in a post World War era, depicting a great amount of political and economical tension raging in Ameri ca at the time, with respect to culture and the old arts. The book is a story full of symbolism; in this particular tale, O’Brien has marked a very vivid description of all the objects that the various soldiers carry with them.

Is social networks a waste of time Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Is social networks a waste of time - Essay Example The article starts with the cons of social networks and as to how it is decreasing productivity amongst the workers. But this decreased productivity is not the only problem posed by the social networks as the problem expands to the younger generation. The younger ones have also been indulged with the social networks and it is found that many of them even log in to their accounts when they are in school. Thus it is not only affecting their school hours but is also affecting the way that they study. However in the conclusion the author puts forward different views about social networking. According to him the advantages overweigh the disadvantages if the portals are used perfectly. He believes that the students should be encouraged to use it in accordance to the positive uses of the portal so that the disadvantages can be minimized. I agree with Bernhard Warner as he puts both the disadvantages and advantages of social networks. But in my view the younger generation should be discourag ed to a certain extent so that the social networks do not hamper their study life. I agree with the view of Warner when he puts forward the views about the workers losing productivity because of excess usage of these networks. However these workers can use these social networking sites to their advantages. In some cases it is seen that the workers advertise through social networks and this can prove to be an advantage for many companies. In some way the companies can increase their productivity rather than the view put down by Warner. Similarly the theme of the article is the effect of social networking on students. Warner believes that the young generation uses social networks even in the schools during classes and this can prove to be a disadvantage for the schooling system. In my view he is quite right in putting forward the concern for these students as at such a tender age attentiveness is quite necessary in understanding the basic concepts of a subject. In my view social netwo rking can be a waste of time when used in unusual circumstances and the circumstances in which the students are using the social networks is quite wrong. In order to limit the usage of social networks in a schooling system certain measures are necessary. It is not necessary to completely stop the students from accessing these social networking sites but it is necessary that the students are kept under observation so that they do not access it in unusual times. Warner cites creativity as an advantage of the social networking sites if the students use it in the right way. Research has also shown that there are some educational benefits associated with social networking if it is used in the right way. I personally think that social networking does allow creativity to exist if used in the right way (Science Daily 2008). It can help to diffuse information all over the world about important topics such as HIV and poverty. Warner believes that the students should be encouraged to use socia l networking sites in a positive way so that this creativity can exist in these students. In my view they should be encouraged but a limit should also be enforced upon them where these social networking sites do not interfere with their academics. I also use Facebook as a communicating device through which I can easily talk to my family back home. In some case it is seen that social netwo

Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-systemic autoimmune disease that was first described in 1941, by Klemperer and colleagues (Gonzalez-Buitrago and Gonzalez, 2006). It is a disease that can attack almost any organ or system in the body, where imbalances in self tolerance create an abnormal immune response to self proteins resulting in autoimmunity (Male et al, 2006). SLE is a disease that has a strong correlation to defects in apoptosis; however no specific cause of the disease is known (Arbuckle et al, 2003). The prevalence of the disease is worldwide; however it commonly affects people of African descent, particularly in Europe and Northern America (Kumar et al, 2009). Environmental triggers are known to contribute to the disease manifestation; although genetic links have also shown association with all HLA classes (I, II, III) on chromosome 6. Other transcription factors such as IRF5, STAT and proteins such as PTPN22 have also been seen to contribute to the manifestation (Mal e et al, 2006). SLE is particularly common between the ages of 15-50, where patients present with positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANA are a group of heterogenous antibodies that are capable of binding to components of the nucleus, resulting in damage of DNA. The initial screening method for patients with AIDs such as SLE is via the ANA test. 80-90% of patients with SLE present with a positive ANA (Bonilla et al, 2007), however other AID such as Sjà ¶grens syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, Autoimmune hepatitis, Scleroderma and Polymyositis Dermatomyositis, also see positive results. Antigen specific assays such as extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) and double stranded DNA (dsDNA) must then be performed to confirm a diagnosis, as approximately 70% of patients with SLE have antibodies to dsDNA (Rahman Isenberg, 2008). Positive results can be seen within the aging population as the immune system begins to deteriorate. Nilsson et al, (2006) supports this and found that positive ANA results were fo und particularly in elderly patients over 85 years. 90% of patients with SLE are women, suggesting a hormonal link (Rahman et al, 2008). Hormonal imbalances are seen in women with SLE, thus it becomes difficult to maintain immune tolerance. Increased oestrogen levels result in increased antibody production and Th2 response, whilst decreased levels of androgens depress the response resulting in an abnormal immune response (Danchenko et al, 2006). 1.2 The clinical significance of ANA testing The diagnosis of SLE is dependent on a variety of factors including clinical details, family history, age, race, sex, medication and infection (Stinton Fritzler, 2007). The classical symptom for SLE is a butterfly-shaped rash which is commonly seen on the face (Figure 1.1). In 1982 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) described a set criterion (Table 1) (updated in 1997), for the diagnosis of SLE aiding clinicians to correctly diagnose patients. Four points of the criteria must be met, for a definite diagnosis of SLE. The criterion for SLE includes symptoms, immunological and haematological tests. Points 10 and 11 are of particular importance, as they are confirmatory of SLE. A study by Arbuckle et al, (2003) examined the onset of SLE in 130 patients and found that 115 patients had positive indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) ANA, before diagnosis. 1. Malar Rash A butterfly rash usually seen on the face 2. Discoid rash red, scaly patches on skin that cause scarring 3. Photosensitivity Skin rash as a result of unusual reaction to sunlight 4. Oral ulcers Oral or nasopharyngeal ulceration 5. Nonerosive Arthritis tenderness or swelling of joints 6. Pleuritis or Pericarditis Pleuritis inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs Pericarditis small amount of fluid builds up between the two layers of the pericardium. 7. Renal Disorder Persistent proteinuria Cellular castsmay be red cell, hemoglobin, granular, tubular, or mixed 8. Neurologic Disorder Seizures 9. Hematologic Disorder Hemolytic anemiawith reticulocytosis Leukopenia Lyphopenia Thrombocytopenia 10. Immunologic Disorder Anti-DNA: antibody to native DNA in abnormal titer Anti-Sm: presence of antibody to Sm nuclear antigen Positive finding of antiphospholipid antibodies on: 11. Positive Antinuclear Antibody An abnormal antinuclear antibody by immunofluorescence Once a positive ANA test has been performed there is no reason to repeat the test, however if clinicians have a strong suspicion of an evolving connective tissue disease (CTD) negative ANAs should be re-requested (Blerk et al, 2008). Other immunological tests such as complement components (C3 and C4), C-reactive protein, anti-phospholipid antibodies and anti-histone can also be tested to investigate SLE; however these may not always aid all patients (Egner, 2000). 1.3 History of ANA testing and how the diagnosis of SLE evolved The ANA test has been around for over 40 years and is the most widely performed autoantibody test, worldwide. The test is commonly performed within Immunology laboratories and has evolved very little over the years. ANAs originated from lupus erythrocytosms, also known as the LE cell phenomenon. LE cells were discovered in 1948 by Hargrave, who saw that patients with SLE have polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which had phagocytosed nuclei, within the bone marrow (Hepburn, 2001). Following the discovery, Lee et al, (1957) showed that the LE cells were formed by gamma proteins in leukocytes which were thought to be antibody. Fluorescent labels were also introduced in 1957, to show homogenous patterns on human tissue (Hughes et al, 2008). By 1961 rat sections substrates were introduced, enabling patterns such as homogenous, speckled and nucleolar to be seen in patients with rheumatic diseases. The use of rat substrates brought about a new discovery, which saw that washing cells in saline, c aused alterations to cells within slides, thus altering patterns seen, thus the precursor of the ENA screen was introduced. By the 1970-80s Human epithelioma type 2 cells: CCL-23 (HEp-2) substrates were widespread and National quality assurance schemes began to establish. 1.4 Techniques implemented in laboratories for ANA detection There are many techniques available for the testing of ANAs; these can be seen in the UK National External Quality Assessment Service (UKNEQAS) report found in Appendix 1. 1.4.1 Indirect immunoflourescent (IIF)-ANA Indirect immunoflourescent (IIF) is a general screening technique performed to identify patients with autoantibodies. It enables scientist to link autoantibody patterns present within a patient sera, to help diagnose and monitor their progress during treatment. ANA testing using IIF was developed by George Friou in 1957, where initially substrates such as chicken erythrocytes were used (Kumar et al, 2009). ANA substrates were traditionally prepared in-house using rodent tissue where thin layers of tissue were sliced using a cryostat. However as demand for the screening of autoantibodies increased (Figure 1.2), preparing slides was no longer feasible, as it was time consuming and laboratories could no longer manage rodent houses as they required expert attention. Commercial companies then began to produce ready to use tissues substrates, offering a greater sensitivity. However as many commercial substrates are now available, variability between kits, manufactures, substrate, conjugate and the degree of cellularity (good monolayer of cells and a number of mitotic spindles), make it difficult to standardise methods of detection and reporting. In order to produce accurate results, substrates must be present in the correct phase of the cell cycle (Figure 1.3). Identification of IIF-ANA patterns is dependant on the true state of chromosome. Most autoantibodies are directed against antigens expressed during interphase. Interphase is divided into 3 stages: G1, S and G2, where cytoplasmic organelles and fibres structure are most visible and the nucleoli appear well differentiated. A mix of mitotic and non mitotic forms of cells are needed in the metaphase stage as it is influential in interpreting IIF-ANA patterns, especially centromeres and homogenous patterns (Sacks et al, 2009). The HEp-2 substrate is commonly used in ANA detection and was introduced commercially in 1975 (Kavanaugh et al, 2000). HEp-2 provided a greater sensitivity for the testing of SLE as they were composed of human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, allowing the recognition of over 30 nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens (Gonzalez-Buitrego Gonzalez, 2006). HEp-2 substrate contains various organelles (Figure 1.4) allowing uniform distribution of cells, showing large nucleolus, meaning no interference of the intercellular matrix is seen (Gonzalez et al, 2002). The introduction of the HEp-2 substrate was a big step forward in identifying patients with the ribonucleoprotein complex (anti-Ro). The anti-Ro antigen is particularly significant in patients with SLE as it offers a poor prognosis. However this antigen is seen to overlap between different autoimmune diseases such as Sjà ¶grens syndrome, thus the detection of the antigen must be precise. The Ro (SS-A) antibody is seen to target protein antigens associated with small RNA molecules known as hY-RNAs11, 12 and are of unknown function (Cozzani et al, 2008). HEp-2 cells were seen to destroy the Ro antigens during fixation, so commercial companies began to devise ways around this. To overcome this problem, HEp-2 cells were genetically modified to produce extra Ro antigen and this substrate was known as HEp-2000. HEp-2000 substrate is uniquely produced by ImmunoConcepts (Sacramento CA, USA). The slides have 10-25% mitotic human epithelia and offer a greater sensitivity (Table 2) in the diag nosis of SLE. They have aided in reducing the number of ANA negative SLE patients; however detection of Ro is dependent on the stability of actin, as it can denature easily. Although HEp-2000 substrates were seen to be more beneficial in detection of Ro antigen, they limit the identification of the different epitopes of the Ro antigen. At present HEp-2000 substrate can only identify the 60kDA Ro antigen; but since the 52kDA Ro antigen also exists, patients with this epitope are missed. A study by Cozzani and colleagues (2008) looked at 5,949 people over a 5 year period. All participants were photosensitive and 2,315 of these had connective tissue disease (CTD) such as SLE. The study found that the anti-Ro was easy to identify on HEp-2000 slides with a sensitivity of 81% according to the Altman test, of accuracy. However a study by Bossuyt and Luyckx (2005) compared IIF to EIA and saw that patients with anti-Ro antibodies were missed using HEp-2000 slides, as the undetected patients contained the Ro 52 antibody; although they reported a sensitivity of 82.9%. One patient in this study was negative for IIF-ANA, but was shown to have a positive Ro antigen by EIA. A study by Dahle et al, (2004), looked at HEp-2 and compared three ANA methods; Enzyme immunoassay (EIA), double radial immunodiffusion (DRID) and IIF. 3,079 patients were examined and overlapping results between IIF and DRID were seen and 60% of IIF-ANA gave a positive homogenous pattern. However results for EIA showed that positive IIF results appeared negative by EIA. In 2006 the LGI performed a study looking at 18,320 samples, requesting ANA tests by IIF. The study found that 1 in 5 patients, identified as negative or weak positive by IIF, showed positive for anti-Ro via EIA. This proved that Hep2000 cells cant detect the different epitope of Ro, thus concludes that antigen-specific testing is required following the ANA test. This agrees with Morozzi et al, (2000), who suggest that a combination of 2 or more methods are required for the detection of the anti-Ro antibody in patients. This study looked at 64 people with connective tissue disorders and tested them by IIF, EIA and DRID. Results showed that 54 people were positive by at least one method and the specificity of each technique was good, whilst sensitivity varied. Sensitivity for IIF-ANA via HEp-2000 was 89%, EIA (Ro60) was 89%, EIA (Ro52) was 67% and DRID presented with a sensitivity of 76%. Although the NEQAS report shows that DRID is no longer used within laboratories, results from thi s study suggest that EIA has the ability to detect the different epitopes, preventing misreading of the anti-Ro antigen. Thus to ensure that all SLE patients are identified antigen-specific tests such as extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) should be used to detect the various epitopes (Cozzani et al, 2008). Conjugates play a significant role in the determination of IIF and EIA results. Fluorescein-conjugated antibodies produced from goat, sheep or rabbit are commonly used. These are usually bought from commercial companies, which produce pre-diluted conjugate, raised against mouse or human, which aims to achieve optimal sensitivity and reactivity. Immunoglobulin fraction can be also be used; however fluorescein conjugates such as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) are preferred as they produce less background staining. A fluorescein/protein (FP) molar ratio is employed, with in-house diluted conjugates. The ratio varies between kits, however a 1:3 dilution with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) is usually used (Egner, 2000). At LGI the conjugate used for detection of ANAs is IgG, as it allows accurate diagnosis and monitoring of diseases such as SLE. IgM-ANA can also be employed, although this indicates milder or non-specific diseases, whilst IgA-ANA gives little information so arent used. Due to the use of fluorescence conjugate, slides fade overtime, thus it is particularly important to determine results as soon as possible as photographs are not taken. As IIF varies daily due to slides and condition of the microscope, it would be appropriate to carry out daily checkerboards to see which working dilution is best for the conjugate, improving consistency; however this is no longer feasible in high-throughput laboratories. When reporting ANA three factors require evaluation: the pattern observed; substrate used and the titre of the positive test. Experienced scientist can interpret ANA slides and distinguish titre levels; however this takes years of experience. The screening dilution is important in patients presenting with positive results, as it helps determine an individuals severity of disease and can prove beneficial to clinicians. Serial dilutions at 1:10, 1:20, 1:40, 1:80, 1:160 and 1:320 can be performed, where the titre value is the one at which positive sample becomes negative. 5% of a healthy population can present with a positive low ANA titre, with no disease activity and are commonly women aged over 60 (Shmerling, 2003). Peterson et al, (2009) found that beside patients with SLE patients, other diseases also present with positive ANA titres. 1:20 healthy people presented with a positive ANA and the number of positives increased to 1:3, with a dilution of 1:40. To reduce the number of fals e positives, titres are commonly performed at 1:80. At LGI titres were performed on all positive samples and pregnant women, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. Pregnant women are closely monitored as a precaution as IgG antibodies cross the placenta, thus anti-Ro/La antigen is capable of causing fetal heart block (Rahman Isenberg, 2008). Patients who presented with symptoms for SLE were also titrated; however lots of weak positive results were seen as a dilution of 1:40 was employed. As workload increased titrations became laborious and impractical, thus performing titres routinely was abolished and titres are now only performed upon request. Cut-offs exist, however these are modified around the local population, to give a better sensitivity (Stinton Fritzler, 2007). Shmerling, (2003) has suggested that ANA titres can correlate with disease activity, but as positive samples undergo antigen specific testing via EIA, titres should be abolished, unless there are specifically requested by the clinicians to monitor changes to disease. Wieser et al, (2001) found that there was a lack of correlation between the clinical features of patients and laboratory results obtained. The study looked at 3 cases with varying antibody titres and established algorithms seen in Figure 1.5. Similarly Hanley et al, (2009) suggested algorithms help in diagnostics (Appendix 2). As a small number of cases were analyses, it appears that there is not sufficient evidence to develop an algorithm; however both the studies have been adapted in Europe as they were seen to prevent patients with detectable antibodies being missed and to avoid the unnecessary testing and time of laboratory staff. Slide processors are available to prepare IIF slides. They first appeared in the late 1990s and include platforms such as ASP1200 and AFT from Binding Site (Figure 1.6). These slide processors ensure that all samples are prepared quickly, reliably and accurately, avoiding cross reactivity in sample preparation. Slide processors perform IIF via indirect antibody reactions as seen in Figure 1.7. Patient serum is incubated with a substrate, followed by washing to remove any unbound protein. A second antibody, FITC is added and this reacts with immunoglobulins which have combined with the substrate. Another washing stage is performed and slides are ready to be mounted and interpreted manually, however this causes subjectiveness. IIF-ANA result interpretation is dependent on the operators setup of the microscope, type and number of hours the bulb (mercury) has been used, type of objective lens, filters and most importantly magnification. At the LGI the Leica DMRB mercury microscope is employed and allows cells to magnify at X200, X400 and X500. Positive results fluoresce an apple-green colour (Table 3), whilst negative samples have little fluorescence. Two independent observers interpret the slides to prevent reading errors and any conflicting results are followed by an anti-ENA and anti-DNA screen. Automated commercial slide readers are now available to allow interpretation of ANAs. Images are automatically scanned and stored within computer systems, where positive and negative ANA results are determined by the amount of flourenscene emitted. The operator can then scan through positive ANAs, identifying their patterns. This aims to improve the subjectiveness seen between scientists and aims to improve accuracy; however these are not robust so not widely used. The advantage of IIF-ANA is that it is easy, inexpensive, available from a wide range of commercial companies, sensitive, reliable and has reduced cross reactivity and background fluorescence. The disadvantages of IIF-ANA are that it is laborious and requires a high degree of technical expertise. Within most Immunology laboratories the ANA test is not linked to the pathology computer systems, so tests cannot be picked up via an interface. This can be problematic as wrong samples can be analysed and reported. The use of barcode readers can overcome this problem. Homogenous Homogenous Pattern is the most common pattern seen in 60% of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients. However it can be seen in drug induced lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis. Positive patients are then further evaluated against: Anti-dsDNA, Anti-Smith Speckled Speckled Pattern can exist as coarse expressing is Sm, U1-RNP antigen or fine expressing Ro or La. Sm positive is seen in 4-40% of SLE patients, whilst RNP is seen in high titres in patients with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD). Patients with Scleroderma and Sjogrens Syndrome also present with positive results. Centromere Centromere pattern is seen in 57-82% of patients with CREST syndrome and Raynauds. The suspected antigen is CENP A, CENP B, CENP C. Nucleolar Nucleolar Pattern seen in patients with Scleroderma. There are multiple nuclear antigens, such as fibrilliarin. Positive patients are then further tested against Scl-70 (Anti-Topoisomerase I). Table 3: Shows the various ANA patterns seen by IIF on the HEp-2000 substrate (Produced by Nisha Lad, 2010) As different laboratories use different substrates and conjugates, IIF-ANA lacks standardisation worldwide (Bonilla, 2009). A study by Blerk et al, (2008) showed that if laboratories employed the same cells, substrate and conjugate they were able to report the same staining patterns. Over 157 laboratories across Belgium participated and each looked at 9 different samples. Looking at the results it is clear that after considering the variable factors, participants that employed the same HEp-2 slide substrates (Medica, USA) and method of detection were able to produce consistant results, suggesting standardization can be achieved. Although IIF-ANA is subjective, replacement with EIA or bead technology is suggested to increase sensitivity. Bonilla et al (2007) performed a study in the USA suggesting that IIF had a sensitivity of 90.6%, whilst bead technology had a sensitivity of 41.9% and the specificity of IIF was lower at 76%; however for bead technology was 87%. Having tested 385 patients a conclusion was made saying IIF was a better technique for diagnosis of patients with SLE. Olaussen and Rekvig (1999) also produced similar results, where two commercial IIF assays and two commercial ELISA kits consisting of a range of antigens, significant in the diagnosis of SLE were used. The study showed correlation between IIF and ELISA, where sensitivity for IIF was 88%, whilst that for ELISA was 86%. Specificity however varied with 67% for IIF and 60% for ELISA. Another study by Gonzalez et al, (2002), analysed 709 samples comparing IIF and EIA for the diagnosis of ANA. Results showed good reproducibility in both as says, but found that the antibodies which produced a homogenous and speckled IIF patterns were best detected via EIA. On the other hand a study by Nifli et al, (2006) compared routine technology in a selection of Clinical Immunology laboratories and analyzed 11088 samples, using IIF and ELISA at the University Hospital of Heraklion in Greece. Results showed a highly significant correlation for ANA performed by ELISA; however it suggested that as IIF had a low sensitivity of 58%, this could be replaced by multiplex technology, allowing multiple antigen measurement. Looking at these studies closely it appears that although there were similarities between technologies, different kits and manufacturers were used, producing variable results. 1.4.2 Antigen-specific assays for the detection of ANA Many different patterns can be seen by IIF-ANA, however to determine autoantibody specificity further antigen-specific assays are needed. Antibodies against Sm, native dsDNA and chromatin are used in the diagnosis of patients with SLE (Hanley et al, 2009). Currently ANAs are categorised into two main groups; ANA to DNA and histones (dsDNA) and ANA to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), also known as an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) are now available for antigen specific testing, providing a new horizon for SLE testing, as they are able to identify individual antigens. ELISA/EIA is the most commonly performed technique, implemented in laboratories today. In the past, ELISA plates were assembled in-house, however as a successful assay requires careful assembly of the different layers, this soon became difficult to achieve, thus commercial ELISA kits were developed in the 1980s to overcome assay failure and to overcome the subjectiveness of IIF-ANA. The ELISA assay can be performed either manually or via automated technologies. 96 well plates coated with the same antigens are commonly used, however Phadia produce an EIA platform, whereby pens containing singles wells with individual antigens can be used, allowing multiple antigen recognition and analysis. Both ELISA/EIA operate via immunometric methods of detection for anti-ENAs and anti-DNAs. The principle (Figure 1.8) of this technique is via microplates which are coated with purified antigens of interest. Patient serum is incubated in the wells and unbound antibody is then washed away, followed by the addition of a conjugate such as alkaline phosphotase (AP) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Another wash stage is performed and colorimetric results develop, which are proportional to the initial concentration of antibody in the patients sample. Results are dependant on kit standards, which produce a calibration curve and then the optical density of the wells is taken to give a q uantitative result (Branda et al, 2009). ELISA are a versatile assay, where the amplification of the signal, increases the overall sensitivity of the assay, as it uses an antibody which are specific to the type of antigen/protein being measured. Studies suggest that ELISA is a sensitive assay, however lacks specificity so false positives results are detected (Castro and Gourley, 2009). The advantage of ELISA is that it can be performed both manually and via automation. Analysers can also be linked to the pathology computer systems, preventing transcription errors in result interpretation. However disadvantages for ELISA are that purified antigens need to be prepared via HPLC, meaning assays are not cost effective and can be time-consuming. As microtitre plates are now purchased with one antigen, there is a limited dynamic range of detection; however EIA pens now overcome this problem. To produce successful assays, instrumental conditions need to be carefully considered. Washing errors, contamination of substrate or inadequa te incubation times may produce little signal amplification resulting in false negative results (Castro and Gourley, 2010). 1.4.2.1 Anti-dsDNA Anti-dsDNA were first described in 1957, by Ceppelini and colleagues. Anti-dsDNA are found in patients with SLE and are mainly found in the form of nucleosomes. Nucleosomes are fragments of chromatin that cells release during apoptosis. dsDNA antibodies bind to the nucleosome to form complexes which settle in the glomeruli, resulting in glomerulonephritis and increasing the risk of lupus nephritis flare, thus detection is crucial as it helps to determine the therapy required for treatment. à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¡-actinin (100kDA) is a microfilament skeletal muscle protein, which aids in maintaining the function of podocytes in the kidney. This protein is not specific for SLE, although it can act as a marker for renal involvement (Raheman et al, 2008). The dsDNA assay can be performed via (Figure 1.9); IIF with Crithidia luciliae substrate (CLIF), Farr assay also known as radioimmunoassay (RIA), however the most commonly used technique is EIA/ELISA as described in 1.4.2. The Farr assay is regarded as the gold standard technique for the detection of dsDNA (Launey et al, 2010). It uses cultured cells labelled with thymidine and idocythidine, which act as radioactive DNA. In the assay bound and free DNA is separated by precipitating immuglobulins and ammonium sulphate. Although this method is good, it misses low avidity anti-DNA antibodies due to a nitrocellular filter, which allows the passage of free DNA and however double stranded DNA (dsDNA) cannot be filtered. Thus the radioactivity is said to be proportional to serum anti-DNA (Isenberg Smeenk, 2002). The Farr assay can detect high affinity antibodies, with relatively high specificity; however it requires precision in pipetting as there must be sufficient labelled DNA to bind to samples in order to reach an endpoint. Although the use of radiolabels within the Farr assay provides highly reproducible results, it becomes very costly, dangerous and difficult to dispose of the radioactive isotopes. Other limitations with this assay are that it only detects IgG and cannot determine any other immunoglobulin isotopes (IgA/IgM), thus patients presenting with dsDNA antibodies to IgA/IgM can be missed (Egner 2000). UK NEQAS shows that the Farr assay is still being used (Figure 1.9), as it is a more accurate confirmatory test that can be used in the diagnosis of SLE. The accuracy of the Farr assay can be seen in many studies. A study by Launey and colleagues (2010) compared the Farr radioimmunoassay to three commercial enzyme immuoassays and CLIF staining. The study looked at 99 patients with SLE and found that the Farr assay was the best assay, offering greater sensitivity and specificity of 95%, than the three other ELIA and CLIF assays. Derksen et al, (2002) also showed similar results. He compared the Fa rr assay with the Varelisa EIA assay and found that the Farr assay was superior to the EIA assay as it presented with a specificity of 95% and a sensitivity of 72%, whilst in EIA specificity corresponded to sensitivities at 44%. Many laboratories also perform follow-up DNA tests by EIA, using CLIF to determine the avidity of anti-dsDNA antibodies. However CLIF can also be used alongside IIF to measure anti-DNA (IIF-DNA) and this does not requiring any specialist equipment, other than a fluorescence microscope. The CLIF assay allows detection of high affinity antibodies through titrations, however this requires precise pipetting. CLIF detects antibodies to kinetoplast of organisms, which consists of circular dsDNA and allows both IgG-anti-dsDNA and IgM-anti-dsDNA to be tested (Gonzalez-Buiterego Gonzalez, 2006). The test is highly reproducible and is particularly suitable for a limited number of samples. Although the assay offers the highest specificity for ANA testing, it has a relatively low diagnostic sensitivity for SLE. Due to the degree of accuracy of the Farr assay, it is undoubtedly the best assay for the detection of dsDNA and so has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and operates under the WHO80-IRP standard. However due to the risk of handling radioactive substance and the cost of the assay; this is not routinely used within Immunology. 1.4.2.2 Anti-ENA Positive IIF-ANA are typically followed up by extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). ENAs were discovered in 1966 by Smith and colleagues, offering a greater specificity, to allow a more accurate disease diagnosis, in correlation to the initial IIF-ANA screen. Originally ENAs referred to proteins found in a saline extract of cell nuclei, however since then the components have been identified and these consist of cytoplasmic molecules. A whole spectrum of approximately 100 antigens can be screened; however most have no clinical significance. In order to cover the majority of inflammatory autoimmune diseases 6 clinically significant antigens (Table 4); Ro, La, Sm, RNP, Scl-70 and Jo1 are used within most laboratories across the UK. It can be seen that SLE is associated with many of the antigens in the screen. Although ENAs are commonly performed via EIA (Figure 1.10), other methods such as qualitative gel precipitation assays, passive haemagglutination, immunoblotting, counter current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and antigen microarray can also be used (Kumar et al, 2009). Sceening of ENAs is expensive in comparison to IIF-ANA as it allows specific antigen detection, offering a greater sensitivity as approximately 90% of positive IIF-ANA produce negative results via EIA (Dahle et al, 2004). Gel precipitation assays such as double immunodiffusion (DID) and counter current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) are still being used within laboratories; however these were discovered over 5 decades ago. CIE uses an electric current to accelerate the migration of antibody