The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 31

Knowing he couldn't perform the ritual on an empty stomach, Stefan hunted down several squirrels in Mrs. Flowers's backyard, then returned to the boardinghouse's garage. Meredith had parked Mrs. Flowers's antique Ford out in the drive, and there was more than enough room to set up everything they needed for the banishment ritual. Stefan cocked his head at a skittering noise in the shadows and identified the fast-beating heart of a little mouse. The atmosphere might not be a comfortable one, but the spaciousness of the room and its cement floor meant it would be an excel ent place to work the spel . â€Å"Hand me the tape measure, please,† Alaric said from his sprawled position in the middle of the garage floor. â€Å"I need to get this line just the right length.† Mrs. Flowers had dug up a box of multicolored chalk from somewhere in the boardinghouse, and Alaric had the book propped open and was careful y copying the circles, arcane symbols, parabolas, and el ipses from its pages onto the smooth cement. Stefan gave him the tool and watched as he measured careful y from the innermost circle to a row of strange runes near the outermost edge of his drawing. â€Å"It's important that everything be precise,† Alaric said, frowning and doublechecking the ends of the measuring tape. â€Å"The smal est error could lead to us accidental y setting this thing loose in Fel ‘s Church.† â€Å"But isn't it loose already?† asked Stefan. â€Å"No,† Alaric explained. â€Å"This ritual wil al ow the phantom to appear in its corporeal form, which is far more dangerous than the insubstantial thing it is now.† â€Å"Then you'd better get this right,† Stefan agreed grimly. â€Å"If this al goes as planned, the phantom wil be trapped in the innermost circle,† Alaric said, pointing. â€Å"We'l be at the outermost edge, over there past the runes. We ought to be safe out there.† He looked up and gave Stefan a rueful grin. â€Å"I hope. I'm afraid I've never done any kind of summoning in real life before, although I've read a lot about it.† Terrific, Stefan thought, but he returned Alaric's smile without comment. The man was doing the best he could. Al they could do was hope it would be enough to save Elena and the others. Meredith and Mrs. Flowers entered the garage, each carrying a plastic shopping bag. Celia trailed behind them. â€Å"Holy water,† Meredith said, lifting a plant mister out of her bag to show him. â€Å"It doesn't work on vampires,† Stefan reminded her. â€Å"We're not summoning a vampire,† she replied, and went off to mist the outer spaces in the diagram, careful not to disturb the chalk lines. Alaric stood and started very cautiously hopping out of the huge multicolored diagram, clutching the book in one hand. â€Å"I think we're about ready,† he said. Mrs. Flowers looked at Stefan. â€Å"We need the others,† she said. â€Å"Everyone affected by the phantom's powers has to be here.† â€Å"I'l help you carry them down,† Alaric offered. â€Å"Not necessary,† Stefan told him, and headed upstairs alone. Standing by the side of the bed in the little rose-andcream bedroom, he looked down at Elena, Matt, and Bonnie. None of them had moved since he had placed Matt there. He sighed and gathered Elena in his arms first. After a moment, he also picked up her pil ow and a blanket. At least he could try to make her comfortable. A few minutes later al three of the sleepers were lying in the front of the garage, wel outside the diagram, their heads supported by pil ows. â€Å"Now what?† Stefan asked. â€Å"Now we each choose a candle,† Mrs. Flowers said, opening her plastic bag. â€Å"One that you feel represents you in color. According to the book, they real y should be handdipped and special y scented, but this wil just have to do. I won't pick one myself,† Mrs. Flowers said, handing the bag to Stefan. â€Å"The phantom hasn't focused its powers on me, and I don't remember being jealous of anyone since 1943.† â€Å"What happened in 1943?† asked Meredith curiously. â€Å"I lost the Little Miss Fel ‘s Church crown to Nancy Sue Baker,† Mrs. Flowers answered. When Meredith gaped at her, she threw her hands up in the air. â€Å"Even I was a child once, you know. I was strikingly adorable, with Shirley Temple curls, and my mother liked to dress me in fril s and show me off.† Putting the astounding image of Mrs. Flowers in Shirley Temple curls out of his mind, Stefan poked through the assortment of candles and chose a dark blue one. It seemed right to him somehow. â€Å"We need candles for the others, too,† he said. Careful y, he chose a golden one for Elena and a pink one for Bonnie. â€Å"Are you just going by their hair colors?† asked Meredith. â€Å"You're such a guy.† â€Å"You know these are the right colors for them, though,† Stefan argued. â€Å"Besides, Bonnie's hair is red, not pink.† Meredith nodded grudgingly. â€Å"I guess you're right. White for Matt, though.† â€Å"Real y?† Stefan asked. He didn't know what he would have chosen for Matt. American-flag patterned, maybe, if they had had it. â€Å"He's the purest person I know,† Meredith said softly. Alaric raised an eyebrow at her and she elbowed him. â€Å"Pure in spirit, I mean. What you see is what you get with Matt, and he's good and truehearted al the way through.† â€Å"I suppose so,† said Stefan, and he watched without comment as Meredith chose a dark brown candle for herself. Alaric shuffled through the bag and picked a dark green candle, and Celia selected one of pale lavender. Mrs. Flowers took the bag with the remaining candles and stashed it on a high shelf near the garage doors, between a bag of potting soil and what looked like an old-fashioned kerosene lantern. They al sat down on the garage floor in a semicircle, outside the diagram, facing toward the empty inner circle, holding their unlit candles. The sleepers lay behind them, and Meredith held Bonnie's candle in her lap as wel as her own; Stefan took Elena's, and Alaric Matt's. â€Å"Now we anoint them with our blood,† Alaric said. They al looked at him, and he shrugged defensively. â€Å"It's what the book says.† Meredith removed a smal pocketknife from her bag, cut her finger, and quickly, matter-of-factly, smeared a stripe of blood from the top to the bottom of her brown candle, then passed the knife to Alaric along with a little bottle of disinfectant. One by one, the others fol owed her lead. â€Å"This is real y unsanitary,† Celia said, wincing, but she fol owed through. Stefan was very aware of the smel of human blood in such an enclosed space. Even though he'd just fed, his canines prickled in an automatic response. Meredith picked up the candles and walked to their sleeping friends, crossing from one to the next and raising their hands to make a swift cut and wipe their blood against their candles. Not one of them even flinched. When she had finished, Meredith redistributed the sleepers' candles and returned to her spot. Alaric began to read, in Latin, the first words of the spel . After a few sentences, he hesitated at a word and Stefan silently took the grimoire. Smoothly he picked up where Alaric had left off. The words flowed off his tongue, the feel of the Latin on his lips reminding him of hours spent with his childhood tutor hundreds of years ago, and of a period when he lived in a monastery in England during the early days of his struggle with vampirism. When the time came, he snapped his fingers and, with a touch of Power, his candle lit itself. He handed it to Meredith, who dripped a little of the melted wax onto the garage floor at the edge of the diagram and stuck the candle there. One by one, at the appropriate points in the ritual, he lit a candle and she placed it, until there was a little row of multicolored candles bravely burning between them and the chalk outlines of the diagram. Stefan read on. Suddenly the pages of the book began to flutter. A cold, unnatural wind rose inside the closed garage, and the flames of the candles flickered wildly and then blew out. Two candles fel over. Meredith's long hair whipped around her face. â€Å"This isn't supposed to happen,† Alaric shouted. But Stefan just squinted his eyes against the gale and read on. The pitch-blackness and the unpleasant sensation of fal ing lasted for only a moment, and then Elena landed jarringly on both feet and staggered forward, clutching Matt's and Bonnie's hands. They were in a dim octagonal room lined with doors. A single piece of furniture sat in the center. Behind the lone desk lounged a tanned, beautiful, amazingly muscular, bare-chested vampire with a long, spiraling mane of bronze hair fal ing past his shoulders. Instantly Elena knew where she was. â€Å"We're here.† She gasped. â€Å"The Gatehouse!† Sage leaped to his feet on the other side of the desk, his face almost comical y surprised. â€Å"Elena?† he exclaimed. â€Å"Bonnie? Matt? What's going on? Qu'est-ce qui arrive?† Usual y, Elena would have been relieved to see Sage, who had always been kind and helpful to her, but she had to get to Damon. She knew where he must be. She could almost hear him cal ing to her. She strode across the empty room with barely a glance at the startled gatekeeper, pul ing Matt and Bonnie along with her. â€Å"Sorry, Sage,† she said as she reached the door she wanted. â€Å"We've got to find Damon.† â€Å"Damon?† he said. â€Å"He's back again?† and then they passed through, ignoring Sage's shouts of â€Å"Stop! Arretezvous!† The door closed behind them, and they found themselves in a landscape of ash. Nothing grew here, and there were no landmarks. Harsh winds had blown the fine black ash into shifting hil s and val eys. As they watched, a strong gust caught at the light top layer of ash and sent it flying in a cloud that soon settled into new shapes. Below the lighter ash, they could see swamps of wet, muddy ash. Nearby was an ash-choked pool of stil water. Nothing but ash and mud, except for an occasional scorched and blackened bit of wood. Above them was a twilit sky in which hung a huge planet and two great moons, one a swirling bluish white, the other silvery. â€Å"Where are we?† said Matt, gaping up at the sky. â€Å"Once this was a world – a moon, technical y – that was shaded by a huge tree,† Elena told him, walking steadily forward. â€Å"Until I destroyed it. This is where Damon died.† She felt rather than saw Matt and Bonnie exchange a glance. â€Å"But, uh, then he came back, right? You saw him in Fel ‘s Church the other night, didn't you?† Matt said hesitantly. â€Å"Why are we here now?† â€Å"I know that Damon's close,† Elena said impatiently. â€Å"I can feel him. He's come back here. Maybe this is where he began his search for the phantom.† They kept walking. Soon they were not so much walking as wading through black ash that stuck to their legs in nasty thick clumps. The mud underneath the ash clung to their shoes, releasing them at each step with a wet sucking sound. They were almost there. She could feel it. Elena picked up the pace, and the others, stil linked to her, hurried to keep up. The ash was thicker and deeper here because they were approaching where the trunk had been, the very center of this world. Elena remembered it exploding, shooting up into the sky like a rocket, disintegrating as it went. Damon's body had lain underneath and had been completely buried in the fal ing ash. Elena stopped. There was a thick, drifting pile of ash that looked like it would be at least as high as her waist in places. She thought she could see where Damon had awoken – the ash was disturbed and caved in, as if someone had tunneled out of one of the deeper drifts. But there was no one around except themselves. A cold wind blew up a spray of ash, and Bonnie coughed. Elena, kneedeep in cold, sticky ash, dropped Bonnie's hand and wrapped her arms around herself. â€Å"He's not here,† she said blankly. â€Å"I was so sure he would be here.† â€Å"He must be somewhere else, then,† said Matt logical y. â€Å"I'm sure he's fighting the phantom, like you said he was going to. The Dark Dimension's a big place.† Bonnie shivered and huddled closer to Matt, her brown eyes huge and ful of pathos, like a hungry puppy's. â€Å"Can we go home now? Please? Sage can send us back again, can't he?† â€Å"I just don't understand,† Elena said, staring at the empty space where the great trunk of the tree had once been. â€Å"I just knew he would be here. I could practical y hear him cal ing me.† Just then a low, musical laugh cut through the silence. It was a beautiful sound, but there was something chil y and alien about it, something that made Elena shudder. â€Å"Elena,† Bonnie whispered, her eyes wide. â€Å"That's the thing I heard before the fog took me.† They turned. Behind them stood a woman. A woman-shaped being, anyway, Elena amended quickly. This was no woman. And, like its laugh, this woman-shaped being was beautiful, but frightening. She – it – was huge, more than one and a half times the size of a human, but perfectly proportioned, and it looked like it was made of ice and mist in blues and greens like the purest glacier, its eyes were clear with just a touch of pale green. As they watched, its solid, icytranslucent hips and legs shifted and blurred, changing to a swirl of mist. A long wave of blue-green hair drifted behind it, its shape like a gradual y roiling cloud. It smiled at Elena, and its sharp teeth shone like silvery icicles. There was something in its chest, though, that wasn't ice, something solid and roundish and dark, dark red. Elena saw al of this in an instant before her attention was ful y riveted on what hung from the ice-woman-thing's outstretched hand. â€Å"Damon.† She gasped. The ice-woman was holding him casual y around the neck, ignoring his struggles as he dangled in the air. It held him so easily that he looked like a toy. The black-clad vampire swung out with his leg, kicking at the ice-woman's side, but his foot simply passed through mist. â€Å"Elena,† Damon said in a choked, thin voice. The ice-woman – the phantom – cocked its head to one side and looked at Damon, then squeezed his neck a little tighter. â€Å"I don't need to breathe, you†¦ idiot phantom,† he gasped defiantly. The phantom's smile widened and it said in a sweet, cold voice, like crystals chiming together, â€Å"But your head can pop off, can't it? That'l do just as wel .† It shook him a little, and then transferred its smile to Elena, Bonnie, and Matt. Elena instinctively stepped back as the glacier-cold eyes found her. â€Å"Welcome,† the phantom said to her in a tone of pleasure, as though they were old friends. â€Å"I've found you and your friends so refreshing, al your little jealousies. Each of you with your own special flavor of envy. You've got an awful lot of problems, don't you? I haven't felt so strong or so wel -nourished for mil ennia.† Its face became thoughtful, and it began to shake Damon gently up and down. He was making a guttural choking noise now, and tears of pain ran down his face. â€Å"But you real y should have stayed where I put you,† the phantom continued, its voice a little colder, and it swung Damon casual y in a great arc through the air. He wheezed and pul ed at its huge hand. Was it even true that he didn't need to breathe? Elena didn't know. Damon wasn't above lying about it if he had a reason, or even for no reason except to annoy his opponent. â€Å"Stop it!† Elena shouted. The phantom laughed again, genuinely amused. â€Å"Go ahead and make me, little one.† Its grip tightened around Damon's throat and he shuddered. Then his eyes rol ed back until Elena could see only the ghastly, red-veined whites of his eyes, and he went limp.

Master of Business Administration Essay

Pricing policy refers to the policy of setting the price of the product or products and services by the management after taking into account of various internal and external factors, forces and its own business objectives. Pricing Policy basically depends on price theory that is the corner stone of economic theory. Pricing is considered as one of the basic and central problems of economic theory in a modern economy. Fixing prices are the most important aspect of managerial decision making because market price charged by the company affects the present and future production plans, pattern of distribution, nature of marketing etc. Generally speaking, in economic theory, we take into account of only two parties, i. e. , buyers and sellers while fixing the prices. However, in practice many parties are associated with pricing of a product. They are rival competitors, potential rivals, middlemen, wholesalers, retailers, commission agents and above all the Govt. Hence, we should give due consideration to the influence exerted by these parties in the process of price determination. Broadly speaking, the various factors and forces that affect the price are divided into two categories. They are as follows: I External Factors (Outside factors) 1. Demand, supply and their determinants. 2. Elasticity of demand and supply. 3. Degree of competition in the market. 4. Size of the market. 5. Good will, name, fame and reputation of a firm in the market. 6. Trends in the market. 7. Purchasing power of the buyers. 8. Bargaining power of customers 9. Buyers behavior in respect of particular product II. Internal Factors (Inside Factors) 1. Objectives of the firm. 2. Production Costs. 3. Quality of the product and its characteristics. 4. Scale of production. 5. Efficient management of resources. 6. Policy towards percentage of profits and dividend distribution. 7. Advertising and sales promotion policies. 8. Wage policy and sales turn over policy etc. 9. The stages of the product on the product life cycle. 10. Use pattern of the product. Objectives of the Price Policy: A firm has multiple objectives today. In spite of several objectives, the ultimate aim of every business concern is to maximize its profits. This is possible when the returns exceed costs. In this context, setting an ideal price for a product assumes greater importance. Pricing objectives has to be established by top management to ensure not only that the company’s profitability is adequate but also that pricing is complementary to the total strategy of the organization. While formulating the pricing policy, a firm has to consider various economic, social, political and other factors. The Following objectives are to be considered while fixing the prices of the product. 1. Profit maximization in the short term The primary objective of the firm is to maximize its profits. Pricing policy as an instrument to achieve this objective should be formulated in such a way as to maximize the sales revenue and profit. Maximum profit refers to the highest possible of profit. In the short run, a firm not only should be able to recover its total costs, but also should get excess revenue over costs. This will build the morale of the firm and instill the spirit of confidence in its operations. 2. Profit optimization in the long run The traditional profit maximization hypothesis may not prove beneficial in the long run. With the sole motive of profit making a firm may resort to several kinds of unethical practices like charging exorbitant prices, follow Monopoly Trade Practices (MTP), Restrictive Trade Practices (RTP) and Unfair Trade Practices (UTP) etc. This may lead to opposition from the people. In order to over- come these evils, a firm instead of profit maximization, and aims at profit optimization. Optimum profit refers to the most ideal or desirable level of profit. Hence, earning the most reasonable or optimum profit has become a part and parcel of a sound pricing policy of a firm in recent years. 3. Price Stabilization Price stabilization over a period of time is another objective. The prices as far as possible should not fluctuate too often. Price instability creates uncertain atmosphere in business circles. Sales plan becomes difficult under such circumstances. Hence, price stability is one of the pre requisite conditions for steady and persistent growth of a firm. A stable price policy only can win the confidence of customers and may add to the good will of the concern. It builds up the reputation and image of the firm. 4. Facing competitive situation One of the objectives of the pricing policy is to face the competitive situations in the market. In many cases, this policy has been merely influenced by the market share psychology. Wherever companies are aware of specific competitive products, they try to match the prices of their products with those of their rivals to expand the volume of their business. Most of the firms are not merely interested in meeting competition but are keen to prevent it. Hence, a firm is always busy with its counter business strategy. 5. Maintenance of market share Market share refers to the share of a firm’s sales of a particular product in the total sales of all firms in the market. The economic strength and success of a firm is measured in terms of its market share. In a competitive world, each firm makes a successful attempt to expand its market share. If it is impossible, it has to maintain its existing market share. Any decline in market share is a symptom of the poor performance of a firm. Hence, the pricing policy has to assist a firm to maintain its market share at any cost. Ques2. Explain the important features of long run AC curve. Ans: Long run AC curves Long run is defined as a period of time where adjustments to changed conditions are complete. It is actually a period during which the quantities of all factors, variable as well as fixed factors can be adjusted. Hence, there are no fixed costs in the long run. In the short run, a firm has to carry on its production within the existing plant capacity, but in the long run it is not tied up to a particular plant capacity. If demand for the product increases, it can expand output by enlarging its plant capacity. It can construct new buildings or hire them, install new machines, employ administrative and other permanent staff. It can make use of the existing as well as new staff in the most efficient way and there is lot of scope for making indivisible factors to become divisible factors. On the other hand, if demand for the product declines, a firm can cut down its production permanently. The size of the plant can also be reduced and other expenditure can be minimized. Hence, production cost comes down to a greater extent in the long run. As all costs are variable in the long run, the total of these costs is total cost of production. Hence, the distinction between fixed and variables costs in the total cost of production will disappear in the long run. In the long run only the average total cost is important and considered in taking long term output decisions. Important features of long run AC curve 1. Tangent curve Different SAC curves represent different operational capacities of different plants in the short run. LAC curve is locus of all these points of tangency. The SAC curve can never cut a LAC curve though they are tangential to each other. This implies that for any given level of output, no SAC curve can ever be below the LAC curve. Hence, SAC cannot be lower than the LAC in the ling run. Thus, LAC curve is tangential to various SAC curves. 2. Envelope curve It is known as Envelope curve because it envelopes a group of SAC curves appropriate to different levels of output. 3. Flatter Unshaped or dish-shaped curve. The LAC curve is also U shaped or dish shaped cost curve. But It is less pronounced and much flatter in nature. LAC gradually falls and rises due to economies and diseconomies of scale. 4. Planning curve. The LAC cure is described as the Planning Curve of the firm because it represents the least cost of producing each possible level of output. This helps in producing optimum level of output at the minimum LAC. This is possible when the entrepreneur is selecting the optimum scale plant. Optimum scale plant is that size where the minimum point of SAC is tangent to the minimum point of LAC. . Minimum point of LAC curve should be always lower than the minimum point of SAC curve. This is because LAC can never be higher than SAC or SAC can never be lower than LAC. The LAC curve will touch the optimum plant SAC curve at its minimum point. A rational entrepreneur would select the optimum scale plant. Optimum scale plant is that size at which SAC is tangent to LAC, such that both the curves h ave the minimum point of tangency. In the diagram, OM2 is regarded as the optimum scale of output, as it has the least per unit cost. At OM2 output LAC = SAC.

So, You Say you’re Against Mercy Killing

So, You Say you're Against Mercy Killing†¦. Abstract This paper examines three sources of information regarding the events at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and throughout the wait for evacuation. It explores the ethical dilemmas of those left to care for the sick. The main issue, mercy killing, was foisted upon some of the staff with the added stressors of very little sleep, food, relief staff, or aid from governmental agencies.The sources are used in a deliberate attempt to read between the lines of how perceptions and memories may have been affected over time as well as the self-preservation and rotection sought from those in charge. Keywords: ethical dilemma, mercy killing I wrestled wit n the issues involved in this story. I always prided myselt as an absolutist. I have always felt mercy killing to be wrong unequivocally. I saw it as a way to dispose of the unwanted of society. I was always reminded of the infamous name whenever the term mercy kil ling would be uttered and that is the name most people associate with the term; Hitler.He used that excuse to exterminate 6 million innocent people. To hear the word made me physically ill. That's why I wrestled with the ethical issues in this article to the degree in which I did. This was not an easy account to come to grips with. After reading the events that transpired I have come to a partial change of heart. In late August 2005 the staff at Memorial Hospital, owned by Tenet Hospitals in Houston, was braced to weather the storm. They had weathered hurricanes before and they thought they were braced for it. I don't think anyone could be prepared for what was about to ensue.The rain and winds hurled their attacks, but the hospital stood strong. The people of the community that used the hospital as their fortress were safe and sound. All was relatively calm until the following day. That is when all hell broke loose. Decisions were made that are hard to delineate as moral or immoral . There were no easy answers. I don't think there were any hard answers. There were Just impossible dilemmas with equally impossible answers. One year after the hurricane, it would be front page news that two nurses and a well-known physician would be arrested for second degree murder. 5 people died at Memorial Hospital that week and 17 of them had been injected with morphine or midazolam or both. There is a plethora of characters involved in this story and all had a different part to play, in what some say was easing suffering atients' pain, and others would call mercy killing. To get a clearer picture of this incident, you will need to be introduced to the main characters. Dr. Pou was a head and neck cancer surgeon who was later arrested on 2nd degree murder charges for euthanizing 4 patients. Fink, 2009) Richard Deichmann was a newly promoted administrator who helped oversee the physicians during the crisis and was instrumental in the decision to evacuate patients with a terminal illness or a DNR status last. Susan Mulderick was the rotating â€Å"emergency-incident commander† and nursing director that also participated in â€Å"medicating† patients that were not thought o survive. Diane Robichaux was the incident commander for LifeCare Hospital. She advocated tor the evacuation ot ner patients . LiteCare leased the seventh tloor ot Memorial and cared for long term sub-acute patients.Therese Mendez, a LifeCare nurse executive, complied with requests to dismiss her staff knowing her patients were going to be euthanized. Steven Harris was the LifeCare pharmacist who provided Dr. Pou with additional morphine and a strong anti-anxiety medication, midazolam. Ewing Cook was a pulmonologist who euthanized the first patient and instructed Dr. Pou how much â€Å"medication† to give to â€Å"ease the patient's suffering. † Cheri Landry and Lori Budo were ICU nurses that agreed with other staff members that the last LifeCare patients left o n the floor should be euthanized.They were arrested with Pou, but also not indicted. I am a logical person. Two and two make four. In reading the account of what happened after Katrina, I am full of questions. Many of which are never answered by the New York Times article or any of the sources I have found. The more I explore the circumstances of this unfolding story and read between the lines, the more morally outraged I become about what appened and didn't have to as well as the blame game that seems to have ensued. As the story goes, from the accounts reported in the Times piece, all hell broke loose in New Orleans after the storm.

Section 2 of principles of corporate social responsibility Essay

Section 2 of principles of corporate social responsibility - Essay Example ocial responsibility can be defined as continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at large (Baker). As a person that values the benefits that businesses bring to our community I am motivated by companies that do the right thing. I once worked in a company that was very involved in the community. Employees were encouraged to participate in community service. The firm would provide economic incentives for people that wanted to get involved in the community. Employees were eligible to get paid their normal day salary for doing community service once a month. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model help me understand the things that motivated people and me. When I worked in a homeless shelter I realized the importance of first order need of physiological. These poor people were very motivated when they received a meal from the shelter. The third need in Maslow’s pyramid is social. When I was working for a Saudi Airline I was motivated by my manager due to the fact that we talked about different things with each other. Corporate social responsibility is a strategy that must be implemented in order to comply with the expectation of the customers. Back in the 1990’s the apparel giant Nike Corporation got involved in some bad business practices. The firm established several sweetshops in developing countries. A sweetshop can be defined as a business establishment that makes its employees work under harsh and hazardous conditions and pays only minimal wages that are barely enough for the employee to meet its physiological needs (Businessdictionary, 2010). When the scandal was reveal to the general public Nike took a big hit. The firm lost millions of dollars in revenue due to the bad press it received in the aftermath. Despite the rotten apples that exist in the corporate world there are many companies that

Passion for arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Passion for arts - Essay Example My passion for arts has conveyed me opportunities to have fun, enhance my strengths, and help other people. I fully enjoy my task of being the art/costume director of one of our school plays. I consider this as one of my greatest achievements in life because the play highlights my dexterity in designing costumes which suit the role of the different characters. I also gain unique insights with my responsibility as an assistant art teacher in primary school. This experience exposes me to the tedious yet pleasurable task of teaching and discovering the creativity of young minds. These roles enable me to gain happiness from art and interaction with other people. I believe that arts bridge us to our unique culture and express our real identity. Even though I have gained substantial knowledge in European art during my high school education, I desire to gain knowledge within my origin. I take pride in being a Qatari as well as my Islamic heritage and I believe that pursuing the education in Islamic art will be most pleasurable considering that I am already exposed and familiar with various art pieces. For me, as Islamic art represents the artistry of a unique culture, it exudes its own sophistication which is lacking in Western Art. Gaining knowledge in Islamic art will also provide me with the head start of my plan on building a career in the Islamic Museum of Qatar. Recognizing my nation’s need of preserving our artworks, I would like to devote my passion to the art by building and enhancing the museum. ... I also gain unique insights with my responsibility as an assistant art teacher in primary school. This experience exposes me to the tedious yet pleasurable task of teaching and discovering the creativity of young minds. These roles enable me to gain happiness from art and interaction with other people. I believe that arts bridge us to our unique culture and express our real identity. Even though I have gained substantial knowledge in European art during my high school education, I desire to gain knowledge within my origin. I take pride in being a Qatari as well as my Islamic heritage and I believe that pursuing education in Islamic art will be most pleasurable considering that I am already exposed and familiar with various art pieces. For me, as Islamic art represents the artistry of a unique culture, it exudes its own sophistication which is lacking in Western Art. Gaining knowledge in Islamic art will also provide me with the head start of my plan in building a career in the Islamic Museum of Qatar. Recognizing my nation's need of preserving our artworks, I would like to devote my passion in art by building and enhancing the museum. In this role, I will be enabling other people to explore their culture, gain a deeper knowledge in their artistic origin, and provide them a better view of their identity as Asians and Qatari. I will also be uplifting my people's perception and concept of Islamic art. My passion for art, my various interests, my pride for my heritage, and my future career goal all justifies my desire to pursue a diploma in Asian arts. Going beyond the stereotype of the docile, meek, and quiet Qatari woman, I want to attain

Writing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Writing - Research Paper Example The writers can create their accounts on the website and take classes according to their writing requirements. I like the website as a whole because of its chances that it provides to new writers. I recommend it to all the learners of writing, as it is very constructive. Writing.com is a supportive site for writers all over the world. The website works as a community of writers and readers where people can upload their writing content and collect comments from readers. Like FanStory.com, Writing.com also offers writing contests to its participants. The website offers its contributors various writing tools with the help of which, writers can create some writing piece with standard skills. The content that is published on Writing.com can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social networking websites. As it is a supportive writing websites for new and old writers, I like this site. I recommend it for its writing tools that can be accessed and used by writers to polish their writing skills. Writersdigest.com is an encouraging website for writers. The writers are required to submit their written content and get it published. To make writing skills better, the writers are allowed to join online workshops for writing. This website is worthy of praise as writers are facilitated with many benefits such as online workshops, competitions, writing tips and so on. This website is recommendable because it smoothes the progress of writers towards being a skilled and accomplished writer. The website is a guide to grammar and writing. It facilitates its readers and viewers to get grammatical and writing support. The viewers can get help related to the full English language and grammar. The website also provides help for writing student papers such as research papers, essays, reviews, etc. as it gives guidelines as to how papers can be arranged and organized. I like this

Public Relations Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Public Relations Plan - Essay Example The College height is to create a competitive private sector, which accommodates the diverse academic fields that the world can offer. Our institution boasts of lodging seven schools in its park. The present faculties are growing to put up with the blissful near future our college is set to thrive in it. As an institution, we believe we are growing from the nugget of a small private college that was to a multi-national academic footprint. The history of this park, where the vast buildings of this college sit; have an olden times of a long tradition of education, and magnificent achievement. The institution will grow from the well re-known London Zoo it harbors to a better academic institution with distinction (Duhe, 2007:21). The presidential visit provides us with a ripe time to highlight what the institution boasts of and what it can offer. Like every other Educational Institution, this possibility of a stately visit lays our grounds to grow in the eyes of the world. The few minute s of grace and honor presented to us by the president calls for proper channeling for the benefit of the entire Regent College. It is an opportunity that opens us to the international focus. Regent’s College, which has grown into a multi-disciplinary campus community, will rise up to the pinnacle of the seven world-renowned schools if we utilize the president’s visit amicably. This public relation plan efforts divines the event goals: the presidential visit to serve as a friendraiser for the institution. As an academic community, we would like to harvest as many beneficiaries globally to our institution as possible. This in return will increase the scholars’ attendance, inform new global audience, in better way educate, and inform our public. Planning and programming Audience Having drawn seven successful colleges in its Villa Park grounds, the presidential visit should attract not only the internal scholars but also the international community. The president wi ll address a range of audience who will substantially benefit. Regent’s fraternity is bound to witness a tumult of internal audience. From this view, we will have full attendance of the internal scholars, parents and guardians, kids and teaching staff (Watson, 2007:12). Every faculty will also parade its staff and the personnel’s owing to its success. The speech is destined to address the uncommon path of its success and the possible reason for its unmatched itinerary. The internal audience will keenly want to hear their stake in comparison to the other international academic community. The College has preserved enough space as well for the external audience. The presidential speech will be a reason for the general public, volunteer groups and charity organizations. All this, being put into place; is to highlight the expansiveness of the historical park and its viability to develop still further. The potential and existing founders and commissioners, service users, pol itical and professional stakeholders expected to gather at Regent’s College will form part of the multitude the president will address. They will be all in not to listen to eloquent American president, but also to listen a powerful person speak of their own Regent College. Key messages The presidents speak will be key to the public. His messages must communicate in order to reach the

The Usage of Mobile Devices in Education Research Paper

The Usage of Mobile Devices in Education - Research Paper Example ing systems in the hands of everybody, now the era of technology has reached to a level where people have started using mobile devices for learning and educational purposes. However, when information and communication technology (ICT) in education has been trialed, results have been miscellaneous. In view of the fact that the mobile communication systems also fall in the category of information and communication technology devices, hence why should we still assess that making use of mobile devices in education is less fixable (Goundar, 2011). In addition, mobile phones are a great deal more different from traditional systems and computer labs filled with computers or a cart of net-books for the reason that the cell phone is one of the most personally used communication technologies. In fact, the majority of students and teachers have invested much of their time in learning the characteristics of the mobile phone. Additionally, various researches show that mobile phones are one of the most important devices for the sake of more efficient educational purposes. These systems are more and more prevalent and known these days for the sake of improving students and educators' performance (Ormiston, 2012). This paper will present a detailed analysis of how mobile and portable communication systems can be used for the sake of improving the performance and capability of students and learners. This research will discuss the role of mobile devices for the education and learning. Literature Review For a long time computer systems played a significant role in approximately all probable areas of our lives and we have experienced numerous modern methods and ways to utilize computers for learning and teaching in education. There came a time when the power of portable computing systems... This paper approves that mobile phones are a great deal more different from traditional systems and computer labs filled with computers or a cart of net-books for the reason that the cell phone is one of the most personally used communication technologies. In fact, the majority of students and teachers have invested much of their time in learning the characteristics of the mobile phone. Additionally, various researches show that mobile phones are one of the most important devices for the sake of more efficient educational purposes. These systems are more and more prevalent and known these days for the sake of improving students and educators' performance. In addition, this research based survey as well outlined that educators, teachers and administrators who dynamically make use of mobile systems at home or in the classroom consent that mobile systems and computers should be employed for learning in the 21st century’s schools. This paper makes a conclusion at the present, information and communication technologies are playing a significant role in all the areas of life. Without a doubt, the majority of tasks are currently performed through the latest tools and technologies. The developments and advancements of technology have significant impacts on all the areas of life. In the same way, they have also started playing a significant role in the education sector. The mobile device is a most important and commonly used information and communication technology. This paper has discussed the uses of mobile devices in education. This paper has highlighted that the use of mobile devices in education increases the students’ performance. This research has shown that mobile as a communication tool is one of the most attractive technologies.

Engineering Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Engineering Ethics - Essay Example The whistle-blowing is kept within the organization. External whistle-blowing happens when the employee reports any act of wrongdoing by the organization to higher authorities outside the organization. This could be newspapers or any law-enforcement authority. Just like whistle-blowing in a football match, this act is termed as disloyal. The act of whistle-blowing could be anonymous when it is done by an employee who does not want to be identified or acknowledged when the whistle-blower reveals him or herself. Whistle-blowing may lead to distrust, disharmony and conflict among employees. Whistle-blowing should be attempted when the following four conditions are fully met; the need, proximity, capability and as a last resort (Fleddermann 108). Case Study: Vandivier the Whistle-Blower B.F. Goodrich Corporation was in-charge of producing breaks and wheels for military craft and became a major contractor to the Air Force. The design for the product was to be tested and the need for its p erformance mandatory so that the corporation could be awarded the contract. Materials that could work perfectly from the design were not available, hence the design failed to meet the required specifications. Nevertheless, Kermit Vandivier, a technical writer for the corporation wrote a report on the new A7-D brakes that was integral for decision-making process by the Air Force. Vandivier knew that some of the test results had been rigged and raised an alarm but the management thwarted him. His concern was on the safety of the brakes and his legal responsibility. He further contacted his attorney and later the FBI who investigated the matter. Vandivier left the firm later and blew the whistle again to Daily News and the matter was handled by Senator William Proxmire. From the GAO report, the discrepancies were noted but no official action was taken (Fleddermann 115,116). Did Vandivier meet the criteria set out in the previous section for whistle blowing? In other words, was there a need for the whistle to be blown? YES. The conditions set for whistle blowing are; the need, proximity, capability, and last resort. The brakes offered safety for the Air Force staff when their airplanes take off or land or during emergencies. The harm that could be created was clear and important, hence there was need to blow the whistle (Fleddermann 109). Did he have proximity? He also had first hand information about the brakes since he was the one responsible for writing a credible report that would lead to acceptance or disqualification of the product. This made him qualify the second condition of proximity (Fleddermann 109). Was he capable? Although he internally blew the whistle, he was not in a capable position to stop the vice. The management thwarted his efforts and this risked his career and financial security. He left the job and got employment in other firms, yet the issue was not resolved (Fleddermann 109). Was it a last resort? The forth condition to consider before w histle-blowing is that it must be a last resort after focusing on other alternative options, and other available options within the organization do not bear fruit. Vandivier followed this condition. His first attempt was to report to the management about the malpractice. After the management thwarted his efforts, he reported the matter to the U.S Attorney who advised him to

The Impact of ICT in the Local Community Essay Example for Free

The Impact of ICT in the Local Community Essay Redbridge The London borough of Redbridge is located in greater London. It has a good supply of technology and transport but all of this was possible because of ICT. Without ICT there would not have been an attraction of tourism and business. It now has a wider population than it did before and by day is improving. In this assignment I shall explain a variety of technologies and the uses they brought into the community. I will evaluate the effectiveness of the ICT in meeting the needs of the community. Oyster cards Oyster cards are electronic tickets used on Transport of London and national rail services. The card contains a unique code which the computer detects once you swipe it on an oyster card surface. Oyster cards are widely used in Redbridge. They bring in more tourists and travellers to Redbridge. The oyster card contains an electronic chip which is also used in Malaysia on their Touch n go cards. The advantages of the oyster card are, it is easier to use, can hold up to three ticket products at the same time, to prevent misuse the card must be swiped in the beginning of a journey and at the end of a journey. It also can store up to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 90. The disadvantage of the oyster card is that it is only available in greater London and not in any other part of Great Britain. Also some oyester cards can be stolen and can be misused. Mobile phones A mobile phone is a portable electronic device for peer-to-peer telecommunications over long distances. Mobile phones are very widespread in Redbridge and have helped people telecommunicate in times of need. Whenever there is an emergency, people dont have to go to a phone booth to call someone because they can always reach into their pocket where they shall find a mobile phone. I can Mobile phones are found entertaining as well as useful because they have games, puzzles, video calling, movies, ring tones and some of them have access to the internet. All these things can fit into a mobile phone because of the large storage capacity it has. A mobile phone is a little like an organizer because it has a calendar to remind people of important dates like a meeting or special occasion and tells time. It also has an alarm clock to wake me up in the morning The disadvantages of a mobile phone are that sometimes the network will not work properly and others will not be able to hear the caller on the other line, it also makes funny noises at times. Another problem is that the mobile phone may freeze or crash suddenly which is bad because if someone is in a bad situation, then they could be in great danger. Some times the phone does not have enough storage and will ask you to delete a few items. Mobile phones have brought great uses to the community as we can all now interact with each other and stay in touch. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) In Redbridge there are many places to shop the most common is the Exchange. To keep safety levels up security alarms are used like EAS. Electronic article surveillance is a technological method for preventing shoplifting from retail stores or pilferage of books from libraries. Special tags are fixed to merchandise or books. These tags are removed or deactivated by the clerks when the item is properly bought or checked out. At the exits of the store, a detection system sounds an alarm or otherwise alerts the staff when it senses active tags. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_article_surveillance#Types_of_EAS Electronic tags are of 4 types * Magnetic * Acousto-magnetic * Radio frequency * Microwave The advantages of EAS are that it prevents things from getting stolen and if a shoplifter tries to steal an item then they may be caught. This system will lower the levels of shoplifting in the community and will make people within Redbridge feel safe. The disadvantages of EAS are that sometimes false alarms may go of which can be very embarrassing for the customer especially when they are honest. It is also embarrassing for the business as they now have a very upset customer. These false alarms usually go of because the tag has not been deactivated properly. Also some shoplifters may be able to take the tag of which can bring a loss to the company. These tags are also very expensive to buy and can result into being a loss for small businesses. Automated teller machine (ATM An automated teller machine (ATM) is an unmanned automated telecommunications device which provides a customer with financial transactions in public space. On most ATMs a customer is recognized when a plastic card with a metal strip or a smartcard with a chip is inserted in an ATM, the card contains a unique code which only belongs to the card holder. The cardholder then needs to enter a personal identification number (PIN) for security reasons. The ATM gives customers access to their bank account. Using the ATM customers can check out their bank balances, deposit cash or cheques, pay bills, transfer money between bank accounts and buy goods or services. The advantages of ATMs are that instead of walking a long way to the bank we can access an ATM. In the Exchange mall there are many ATMs which is very useful because it is time efficient. Another great thing about ATMS are that everybody has a unique code which means there wont be any mix up. To make sure that ATMs are reliable they undergo a very expensive test. The disadvantages of ATMs are that thieves can use chemicals to break them apart and take all the money out. They can also cause damage to the ATM, this result into a loss for the company. The first known instance of a fake ATM was installed at a shopping mall in Manchester, Connecticut in 1993. By modifying the inner workings of a Fujitsu model 7020 ATM, a criminal gang known as The Bucklands Boys were able to steal information from cards inserted into the machine by customers. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.05/atm_pr.html This incident goes against the Computer Misuse Act (1998). Overall I think that ICT has very much helped fulfill the needs of the community and has made Redbridge a much better borough to live in. It has benefited the community in many ways and has made Redbridge quite popular. Without ICT we would not have as many facilities we have now.

Social Advantages of EU Memebership

Social Advantages of EU Memebership Introduction The following working paper presents the Social assistance and social advantages in the European Union and third country nationals (with special attention for Turkish persons). It has been organized in seven main chapters which are summarized briefly in the following paragraphs. In order to have a view of what makes the legal basis for TCN’s rights in European Union, this paper tries to describe the most important International and European legal instruments.  These instruments set minimum standards relating to the protection of migrants, their families and refugees as well as for international co-operation on migration. International law protect migrant according to fundamental principles like; equality of treatment between regular migrant workers and nationals in the realm of employment and occupation; universal human rights apply to all human beings, including all migrants, regardless of status. International instruments provide normative standards for all national legislation and policy on migration. The main international human rights Conventions and Covenants apply to all human beings, including migrants and refugees. The Council of Europe’s migration instruments cover general human rights and more specific agreements relating to migrants and migrant workers. The Community has power to enter into agreements with third countries which agreements may either be limited to matters within the exclusive competence of the Community or cover a wider mix of issues including areas of shared competence between the Member States and the Community[3].  Agreement with third countries in this working paper are mentioned not because they provide direct social rights (referring to the Turkey agreement) to TCN’s but because the European Court of Justice often make reference to them conferring direct effect[4]  for the equal treatment of TCN’s. Under the EU law, where a right deriving from an agreement is found to be directly enforceable by the ECJ (direct effect), it is part of the acquis communautaire and must be applied by the Communitys national courts. The jurisprudence of the ECJ clarify the treatment of third country nationals having an advantageous legal status close to nationals of Members States. Moreover, it has been tried to provide a general view of social advantages for TCN’s in European Union. It is well known that social advantages and social rights for  TCN’s depend mainly on their legal status. Different categories of TCN’s are treated differently in respect of social rights within the Union.  Irregular immigrants and persons illegally residing in a country are mentioned in this paper but are not treated deeply considering that they have very restricted rights in respect of social rights. Regular immigrants have a more favorable situation and enjoy rights and obligations comparable to those of citizens of the European Union. A description of different directives and regulations has been made in order to explain what social rights and advantages have the category of third country nationals within the European Union. Reference to the definition of social advantages according to ECJ case laws has been made. In the following chapter, Social assistance in the European Union, it has been tried to explain several definitions that exist for social assistance, Social Regimes and Social Protection Delivery Systems, the role of social assistance, its personal scope, level and duration of social assistance benefits and conditioning of social assistance. The general situation of social assistance is further analyzed in four European countries; Germany, Austria, France and Belgium. European Union Countries provide social assistance for persons in need in different ways. They are guided almost from the same principles but apply different provisions and eligibility criteria because access to social assistance is governed according to national rules. This section aims to present an analysis of how social assistance systems are administered in Germany, Austria, France and Belgium, their legal and administrative structures and rules of eligibility, relative rules which determine the benefits etc. In general, immigrants with permanent residence status have access to social security benefits on the same basis as nationals in all Member States. There are greater differences in regulations relating to social assistance, where the great majority of the States provide access to long-resident third-country nationals on the same basis as for nationals. Regulations and practices regarding the provisions available for asylum seekers also differ. Contribution-based benefits are generally accessible on the same basis as they are for nationals.  However, there are often limitations linked to minimum contributions or waiting periods. Conditions of access to social assistance can have an important impact on the social inclusion of immigrants. Considering the above, in the chapter 6 of this working paper â€Å"Social assistance for third country nationals in four European union countries†, it has been tried to provide a view of how TCN’s are treated in Germany, Austria, Franc e and Belgium as regarded to social assistance. The selection of these countries has been made according to the differences they have in providing social assistance to third country nationals. France and Germany have more liberal social assistance system concerning third country nationals than Belgium and Austria. In the first two countries social assistance is provided for all persons without any condition relating to period of residence in the national territory, meanwhile in Belgium and Austria residence condition is mandatory for being eligible to social assistance.   In the last chapter of this paper has been described different social rights, which are found in different directives and regulations for Turkish persons in European Union.  Even though, it is obvious that the arrangements for Turkish migrants under the association instruments provide less legal protection compared nationals of Member States, they have a more favorable social situation than other third country nationals. The methodology used is that of qualitative content analyses of International and European primary and secondary legal instruments as well as a description of the situation of social assistance in four European  Union Countries. 1.  Legal Instruments For Social Security of TCN In European Union International and European legal instruments set minimum standards relating to the protection of migrants, their families and refugees as well as for international co-operation on migration. Although States have their sovereign rights over migration policies in their countries, international law protect migrant according to fundamental principles like; equality of treatment between regular migrant workers and nationals in the realm of employment and occupation; universal human rights apply to all human beings, including all migrants, regardless of status. International Legal Instruments   International instruments provide normative standards for all national legislation and policy on migration. The main international human rights Conventions and Covenants apply to all human beings, including migrants and refugees. Nonetheless, specific sets of instruments have been elaborated to address the particular situations of, respectively, refugees and asylum seekers, migrant workers, and trafficking and smuggling of human beings. Certain aspects of other international treaties also apply to migration, notably International Labor Standards, international consular law and certain international trade agreements. International Human Rights Conventions provide a broad and ample normative framework for the protection of migrants. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 laid out a comprehensive set of universal human rights principles. It is not legally binding, but it has provided the foundation for the recognition of social secu ­rity rights in treaties subsequently adopted. Art. 22 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantee the right to social security. Art. 25 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right of everyone to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age and other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his or her control[5]. Specific conventions subsequently explicitly extended the application of universal rights to victims of racial discrimination, women, children, and migrants: Convention for the Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination (CERD), Convention Against Torture (CAT), Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families(CMR)[6].These instruments have been characterized as fundamental human rights instruments that define basic, universal human rights and ensure their explicit extension to vulnerable groups world-wide[7]. The Convention on the Status of Refugees 1951 provides essential standards regarding recognition, protection of and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. The Convention defines who is a refugee, sets out rights of individuals granted asylum, delineates the responsibility of States to non-refoulement and provides other provisions such as regarding refugee travel documents. ILO Convention No. 102 on Social Security (Minimum Standards) recognizes the following nine spe ­cific branches of social security: medical care, sickness benefits, unemployment benefits, old ­age benefits, unemployment injury benefits, family benefits, maternity benefits, invalidity benefits and survivors’ benefits[8].  Minimum re ­quirements are stipulated as to the coverage of the population, the content and level of benefits, the protection of the rights of con ­tributors and beneficiaries and matters of administration. Other relevant Conventions of ILO are: Maternity Protection Conven ­tion (Revised), 1952 (No. 103); Equality of Treatment Social Se ­curity) Convention, 1962 (No. 118) (concerning equality of treatment of nationals and non-na ­tionals); Maintenance of Social Secu ­rity Rights Convention, 1982 (No. 157). International Labor Standards to policy and practice regarding employment dimensions of migration have repeatedly underscored the applicability to all migrant workers of International Labor Standards covering conditions at work, occupational safety and health, maximum hours of work, minimum remuneration, non-discrimination, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and maternity leave, among others. European Legal Instruments The Council of Europe’s migration instruments cover general human rights and more specific agreements relating to migrants and migrant workers. The European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR)[9] applies clearly to everyone within the jurisdiction of a state party, which means that all migrants in Council of Europe member states are covered by its provisions irrespective of their country of origin[10]. The importance of this Convention is because, unlike other Council of Europe instruments, its personal scope is not limited to nationals of other states parties. The ECHR primarily safeguards civil and political rights and that the legal status of migrant workers. This convention is strongly connected to the protection of their economic and social rights but its role in this field is limited. Nevertheless, the discriminatory application of economic and social rights in respect of migrants may well lead to a violation of the ECHR.  While there are no specific provisions on migrant workers in the ECHR, migrants have obtained remedies from the European Court of Human Rights under its cas e law in protection of their right to respect for family life and the non-discrimination principle (Arts. 8 and 14 respectively)[11]. The European Social Charter (1961) and its Additional Protocol (1988), as well as the Revised European Social Charter (Council of Europe, 1996) which entered into force in July 1999[12], in contrast to the ECHR, has a limited personal scope because it only applies to foreigners who are nationals of other contracting parties.  The Charter is the only treaty which guarantees the right to social and medical assistance. The dichotomy between social security and social assistance is highly controversial, it appears in the Charter, which approaches the two areas in two separate Articles (Article 12 and Article 13) carrying different undertakings. Article 12(4), is concerned with ensuring equal treatment between the nationals of contracting parties in respect of social security rights by the conclusion of bilateral or multilateral agreements (or by other means) and Article 13(4), is concerned with the treatment of foreigners lawfully within the territory of contracting parties in respect of social and medical assistance in accordance with the obligations of contracting parties under the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance. It considers as social assistance, benefits for which individual need is the main criterion for eligibility, without any requirement of affiliation to a social security scheme aimed to cover a particular risk, or any requirement of professional activity or payment of contributions. European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers (Council of Europe, 1977) includes provisions relating to the main aspects of the legal status of migrant workers coming from Contracting parties, and especially to residence and work permits, medical examinations and vocational tests, recruitment, housing, family reunion, travel, conditions of work, transfer of savings, expiry of the contract of employment, dismissal and re-employment, social and medical assistance, social security, and preparation for return to the country of origin[13]. European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance ensure that nationals of contracting parties lawfully present in the territory of another contracting party, and who are without sufficient resources, are entitled to social and medical assistance on the same basis as nationals (Article 1) [14]. As of 15 September 2002, this convention was in force in seventeen member states[15]. The convention prohibits a contracting party from repatriating nationals from other contracting parties who are lawfully resident in its territory on the sole ground that they are in need of assistance (Article 6.a), although it may still do so if the following three conditions in Article 7.a are satisfied: the person concerned has not been continuously resident in the territory of that Contracting Party for at least five years if he entered it before attaining the age of 55 years, or for at least ten years if he entered it after attaining that age, he is in a fit state of health to be transported, and has no close ties in the territory in which he is resident[16]. The importance of this convention is that both the provisions concerning social and medical assistance in the European Social Charter (Article 13(4)) and the European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers (Article 19) refer specifically to the obligations of contracting parties under the convention. Articles 13(1)-(2) of the Charter require contracting parties to ensure that persons without adequate resources are provided with adequate assistance and health care and that they do not suffer from the diminution of their political and social rights because they receive such assistance. Article 13(3) provides that everyone should be able to benefit from public or private services to prevent, remove or alleviate personal or family want. These rights also apply to nationals of contracting parties who work regularly or reside lawfully within the territory of another contracting party on the same basis as nationals. Article 13(4) of the Charter extends the scope of these provisio ns by stipulating that they are to be applied by contracting parties on an equal basis to the nationals of other contracting parties lawfully within their territories in accordance with their obligations under the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance[17]. Treaty Establishing the European Community (EC Treaty) provides for freedom of movement for workers from EU member states, although transitional arrangements are in place limiting this freedom for nationals from certain new member states. The Treaty prohibits any discrimination based on nationality between these workers as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment, including social security (Arts. 12 and 39). The EC Treaty also invites the EU Council of Ministers to take measures necessary to ensure equality of treatment and to combat discrimination based on, inter alias, race, ethnic origin, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. The Council is also empowered to take measures in the field of asylum, immigration and safeguarding of the rights of nationals of third countries, although the measures adopted to date on legal migration have afforded third-country nationals lesser rights than those granted EU citizens. European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, adopted in 2000, sets out in a single text, for the first time in EU history, the whole range of civil, political, economic and social rights of EU citizens and all persons resident in the European Union. Council Directive 2003/109/Ec f 25 November 2003 on 3rd country nationals who are long term residents respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognized in particular by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union[18]. It promotes the integration of third-country nationals who are long-term residents in the Member States as a key element in promoting economic and social cohesion[19]. This directive specifies that long-term residents should enjoy equality of treatment with citizens of the Member State in a wide range of economic and social matters.  With regard to social assistance, the possibility of limiting the benefits for long-term residents to core benefits is to be understood in the sense that this notion covers at least minimum income support, assistance in case of illness, pregnancy, parental assistance and long-term care[20]. The modalities for grantin g such benefits should be determined by national law. A broader view of directive 109 provisions is presented in the chapter with social advantages for TCN’s in EU. Council Recommendation 92/441/EEC[21] of 24 June 1992 on common criteria concerning sufficient resources and social assistance in social protection systems. This Recommendation, adopted in June 1992 at the Lisbon European Council, recognizes the basic right of a person to guaranteed sufficient resources and social assistance, as part of a comprehensive and consistent drive to combat social exclusion, and to adapt their social protection systems as necessary. It is open to all individuals resident in the Member State in accordance with national and Community provisions that do not have access to sufficient resources individually or within the household in which they live. Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community (5), provide Third-country nationals with refugee status equal social security rights with EU nationals. Council Regulation (EC) No 859/2003 extends the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and Regulation (EEC) No 574/72 to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by those provisions solely on the ground of their nationality. It ensure fair treatment of third country nationals legally residing in the territory of Member States, granting them rights and obligations comparable to those of EU citizens. In this regulation is enhanced social and cultural life and the legal status of TCN is approximated to that of Member States nationals. A high level of social protection is promoted and a set of uniform rights as near as possible to those enjoyed by EU citizens is granted to TCN. European Community agreements with third countries The Community has power to enter into agreements with third countries which agreements may either be limited to matters within the exclusive competence of the Community or cover a wider mix of issues including areas of shared competence between the Member States and the Community[22].   Turkey Agreement: The EEC-Turkey Association Agreement[23], implemented by Association Council Decisions 2/76, 1/80 and 3/80,4 provides for certain rights for Turkish nationals and their family members employed and resident in EU member states. Turkish workers resident in EU member states are also entitled to the same protection from expulsion as EU nationals employed in other member states. With regard to social security rights, the European Court of Justice has also held that Article 3(1) of Decision 3/80, which affords Turkish workers and their family member’s treatment equal to that of nationals of member states, confers direct effect[24]. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia: The agreements with the Maghreb countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia[25] confer equal treatment on Maghreb nationals employed and resident in EU member states as regards their working conditions or remuneration and social security[26]. These non-discrimination provisions have been found by the European Court of Justice as containing sufficiently clear and precise obligations to confer direct effect in EU countries of employment[27]. Equal treatment in social security extends to family members, who have been defined broadly by the ECJ to include the parents of the worker and his or her spouse residing in the host member state[28]. In the field of social security, these agreements are generally based on the following principles: Equal treatment with nationals of the Member States in which they are employed, of Moroccan workers and members of their families living with them, for all branches of social security covered by Regulation 1408/71. Aggregation of periods of insurance, employment or residence completed in the Member States for each of the above social security branches, with the exception of unemployment benefits, industrial accident or occupational disease benefits, and death grants; Transfer of family benefits to other Community countries; Transfer to Morocco of old-age, survivors’ and invalidity benefits, and industrial accident or occupational disease benefits; Application of these principles by Morocco to Community workers, with the exception of aggregation. Europe Agreements: The Community can enter into Europe Agreements with third countries which may also be candidates for accession to the EU. These agreements include a provision guaranteeing equal treatment of migrant workers and nationals as regards working conditions, remuneration or dismissal. In contrast to the agreements with the Maghreb countries, however, equality of treatment in the Europe Agreements in respect of social security is dependent on the adoption of provisions for the co-ordination of social security schemes by the Association Council established under each agreement. The Ruling of the European Court of Justice Under the EU law, the rights of non-EU nationals (including Turkish nationals) to entry, residence, work, social security benefits, education and other social and tax advantages are based either on their relationship with EU nationals or firms (derivative rights) or on their status as a national of a country with which the Community has concluded an international agreement (direct rights)[29]. The EU law differs from other instruments of international law in that decisions, agreements and acts of the institutions of the Community are directly applicable in the Member States. Of course, not all provisions of directly applicable international law are capable of direct effect[30]. When a provision of EU law is directly effective, domestic courts are under an obligation not only to apply it, but to do so in priority over any conflicting provisions of national law according to the principle of primacy of EU law[31]. Therefore, EU law has priority over national laws in the areas in which they apply. Under the EU law, where a right deriving from an agreement is found to be directly enforceable by the ECJ (direct effect), it is part of the acquis communautaire and must be applied by the Communitys national courts. Furthermore, if it appears to a national court that a national provision does not comply with community law, the court is under an obligation to apply Community law and if necessary grant interim relief while the opinion of the ECJ is being asked[32]. Despite the jurisprudence of the ECJ clarifying the treatment of third country nationals having an advantageous legal status close to nationals of Members States, a comprehensive and exclusive Community competence in this area still remains to be unresolved. A dichotomy was developed over the years by the Member States, by explicitly recognizing, on the one hand, the requirement of much closer consultation and co-operation at Community level in the implementation of national migration policies vis-ÃÆ'  -vis third countries[33]. On the other hand, Member States always underlined that matters relating to the access, residence and employment of migrant workers from third countries fall under the jurisdiction of the governments of the Member States and nothing shall stop them to take measures to control immigration form third countries[34]. 2.  TCN In European Union Definition of TCN According to Article 17(1) of the Treaty†[35] ‘third country national (TCN) is â€Å"any person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of this definition includes a number of categories of persons: Refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers, those who enter through family reunion, and legally resident and undocumented immigrants. It also includes stateless persons, in accordance with the definition in the Constitutional Treaty. Categories of TCN Third country nationals are contrary to EU-nationals. Their situation differs not only from European Union Nationals but also between the different categories of third country nationals. Referring to the definition of TCN the following categories can be distinguished: Asylum Seeker: is someone who makes a claim for asylum in a country other than their own. The rights of asylum seekers are more restricted than the rights of refugees in relation to movement (where they can travel to), employment, health care and social security. Illegal Immigrant: is someone who has moved from one state to another without any legal claim, such as a visa or a claim for asylum. Migrant Unlike refugees, migrants do not fear persecution from their home state. Instead, they make a conscious decision to move and have the freedom to return to their state of origin if they wish. Refugee: in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees a refugee is defined as someone who: owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country[36]. Stateless Person: is someone who does not belong as a citizen to any state. A stateless person may also be a refugee but this is not always the case. For example, a person may leave their home state without persecution. Some people are also born into statelessness due to their parents either being stateless themselves, or unable to register the birth of their child. According to the legal base which covers TCN the following categories can be distinguished[37]: Third country Nationals from EFTA states. They are covered by regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and their situation is similar to EU-nationals. Third country Nationals who are family members of EU nationals, partly covered by Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71. Third country Nationals covered by agreements concluded between the community and third countries. Third country Nationals covered by multilateral agreements such as agreements of the Council of Europe, ILO etc. Third country Nationals covered by bilateral agreements. Third country Nationals who are not covered by any agreement. Legal Status of TCN According to their legal status, immigrants in European countries can be grouped into four different categories[38]: The immediate citizenship model. The receiving state recognizes the immigrants as citizens immediately on their arrival. The quasi-citizenship model, immigrants have a similar status but not completely identical to the citizenship model. Alien resident have the same rights as the citizens of the host state in almost all fields of social life. Privileged treatment for special categories of immigrants, rights to enter or stay in the country are granted to certain special categories of aliens. Their residence rights are protected. Those aliens have limited possibilities for expulsion or deportation[39]. They have special rights or same treatment as citizens in several areas. Denizen[40] status, or semi-citizen status, aliens receive almost full residence rights (expulsion being limited to exceptional cases). Equal treatment with citizens is granted in most areas of public life (access to all jobs, equal rights to housing, education and social security) and sometimes even in political life. The exact content of the rights included in each model may differ slightly from country to country. The main differences in Social and political rights granted to immigrants are between the first model and the other three models. Full set of social and political rights are granted only to immigrants with citizenship of the country of residence. As for the other three models immigrants social and political rights are limited to the right to participate in elections on the local or the regional level and the access to certain jobs in the public service. 3.  Social Advantages of Third Country Nationals In European Union It is not easy to define social advantages of TCN’s in European Union. Social advantages and social rights of TCN’s depend on their legal status. Different categories of TCN’s enjoy different social rights within the Union.  Illegal immigrants, for example, cannot claim any rights and are not eligible for any welfare schemes because of their impossibility of presenting any official documents (identification, residence or work permit, etc.) regarding their status. Regular immigrants have a more favorable situation and enjoy rights and obligations comparable to those of citizens of the European Union. According to their status, their social rights are included within different directives and regulations. The European Council, in its special meeting in Tampere on 15 and 16 October 1999, acknowledged the need for harmonization of national legislation on the conditions for admission and residence of TCN’s. In this context, it has in particular stated that the European Union should ensure fair treatment of third country nationals residing lawfully on the territory of the Member States and that a more vigorous integration policy should aim at granting them rights and obligations comparable to those of citizens of the European Union. Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 has a restricted personal scope of application and provides equal social security rights with EU nationals only to third-country nationals with refugee status.

Effect of Glucocorticoids on Serum Level of Omentin-1

Effect of Glucocorticoids on Serum Level of Omentin-1 Effect of glucocorticoids on serum level of omentin-1 and the possible link with insulin resistance in rats Khaled Abdelfattah Abdelhamid Abulfadle ABSTRACT Background: Omentin-1 is an adipokine that decreases insulin resistance and its level is affected by body weight and serum adiponectin level changes, while, glucocorticoids are steroid hormones, secreted by adrenal cortex, affected insulin resistance, body weight and serum level of adiponectin. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of glucocorticoids on serum level of omentin-1 in male albino rats and the possible link with insulin resistance. Design: 30 adult male albino rats, weighting 190-230 gm, were divided into three groups each of which included 10 rats; control, dexamethasone treated (Hyper-C) and metyrapone treated (Hypo-C). In (Hyper-C) group, rats were injected with dexamethasone (1mg/kg/day intra peritoneal) for two weeks. In (Hypo-C) group, metyrapone was administered orally dissolved in saline (200 mg/kg body weight) for two weeks. In the control group, normal saline was injected intraperitoneally (1 ml/rat/day) for two weeks. Rats were kept fasting for 8 hours and then, sacrificed under ether anesthesia by decapitation. Blood samples were collected and sera were separated and serum levels of omentin-1, corticosterone, ACTH, glucose and insulin were estimated. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by calculation of the homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) index. Body weights were measured at the start (initial body weight) of the study and just before rats being sacrificed (final body weight). Results: There was a significant increase in body weight in Hyper-C group final weight (235.8 ±3.28), but, there was a significant decrease in body weight in Hypo-C group final weight (200 ±3.22) in comparison to that of control group final weight (217 ±2.85). On the other hand, there was a significant increase in serum levels of both glucose and insulin in Hyper-C group (237.8 ±10.4) and (4.88 ±0.16) in comparison to that in the control group (96.9 ±1.5) and (2.15 ±0.07) respectively. On the contrary, there was a significant decrease in serum levels of both glucose and insulin in Hypo-C group (72.2 ±2.2) and (1.28 ±0.1) in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group (237.8 ±10.4) and (4.88 ±0.16) respectively. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in HOMA-IR in the Hypo-C group (0.25 ±0.02) in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group (2.88 ±0.17). Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in serum omentin-1 level in Hyper-C group (14.5 ±0.47) but, a s ignificant increase in its serum level in Hypo-C group (26.58 ±0.5) in comparison to that in the control group (21 ±0.35). On other hand, there were negative correlations in the Hyper-C group between serum omentin-1 and serum level of both insulin (R= -0.6, P Value= 0.07) and corticosterone (R= -0.22, P Value= 0.54), respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study may explain a novel mechanism by which glucocorticoids cause insulin resistance and this is through the regulation of serum level of omentin-1. Also, the results confirmed presence of a link between serum levels of both glucocorticoids and omentin-1 which is mostly the change in body weight and this confirmed the importance of body weight control on glucose homeostasis. Keywords: Omentin-1, Metyrapone, Dexamethasone, Glucose, Insulin resistance, ACTH, Corticosterone. Introduction: Omentin-1 is an adipocytokine, 35-kDa protein with 313 amino acids, that is expressed in visceral adipose tissue, endothelial cells, and, small intestine, and has insulin-sensitizing effects (Yang, Lee et al. 2006, Gà ¼rsoy, KÄ ±rnap et al. 2010, Chen, Shang et al. 2017). It has a preferred expression in visceral (omental) fat tissue (Yang, Xu et al. 2003). Two isoforms of Omentin are known, Omentin-1 and Omentin-2; Omentin-1 is the main circulating form (de Souza Batista, Yang et al. 2007, Zorlu, Kiskac et al. 2017). Omentin increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in human adipocytes in vitro and its expression in visceral adipose tissue is reduced in obesity and insulin resistance (Yang, Lee et al. 2006, de Souza Batista, Yang et al. 2007, Smitka and Maresova 2015). Brunetti, Orlando et al. (2013) stated that Omentin-1 has a central orexigenic function. Recently, Oswiecimska, Suwala et al. (2015) reported that serum omentin correlated negatively with serum insulin, and h omeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) index and they concluded that omentin is the nutritional marker reflecting body weight and insulin resistance. Herder, Ouwens et al. (2015) stated that omentin indirectly increased insulin sensitivity through adiponectin upregulation. On the other hand, Lee, Schnee et al. (2001) declared that excess of cortisol increases growth of visceral fat depots. Also, Morgan, Sherlock et al. (2009) stated that cortisol induced insulin resistance. Moreover, Purnell, Kahn et al. (2009) found that increased blood cortisol caused obesity and increased insulin resistance. Furthermore, Zhuang, Zhao et al. (2009) stated that although, visceral adipose tissue produced a large amount of omentin yet, its gene expression is reduced in visceral fat depot of obese subjects. Also, CÄ‚TOI, SUCIU et al. (2014) declared that omentin-1 enhanced adipocytes insulin-stimulated glucose uptake with no intrinsic insulin mimicking activity. Moreover, Elâ‚ ¬Ã‚ Mesa llamy, Elâ‚ ¬Ã‚ Derany et al. (2011) stated that omentin level was decreased in overweight, impaired glucose regulation and diabetes type 2 patients. Furthermore, de Souza Batista, Yang et al. (2007) found that Omentin-1 plasma levels were positively correlated with the plasma adiponectin and inversely correlated with insulin resistance. Adiponectin is a known insulin-sensitizing adipokine (Kadowaki, Yamauchi et al. 2006) and its levels contribute to insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) while its high levels increase insulin sensitivity (Singh, Akhtar et al. 2012). Positive correlation of omentin-1 with adiponectin levels has been reported in patients with obesity and T2DM (de Souza Batista, Yang et al. 2007, Yan, Liu et al. 2011). On the other hand, glucocorticoids were found to decrease serum adiponectin level (Shi, Du et al. 2010). As glucocorticoids affect body weight, adiponectin level and insulin resistance, thus, the aim of this study was to e valuate the effect of changes in serum glucocorticoid, corticosterone, levels on serum omentin and to identify the possible link between glucocorticoids, omentin and insulin resistance and up to our knowledge there is no study confirmed this link. Materials and methods: Animals preparations and experimental protocol: 30 adult male albino rats, weighting 190-230 gm, were purchased from the animal house of Zagazig University and were housed at 20-22 °C on a 12-h light-dark cycle and for 5 days, to achieve acclimatization, they were supplied with tap water and a standard chow diet. Then, the rats were divided into three groups each of which included 10 rats; control, dexamethasone treated (Hyper-C) and metyrapone treated (Hypo-C). In (Hyper-C) group, rats were injected with dexamethasone (1mg/kg/day intra peritoneal) for two weeks (Burà ©n, Lai et al. 2008). In (Hypo-C) group, metyrapone was used to induce hypocortism. It was administered orally dissolved in saline (200 mg/kg body weight) for two weeks (Miyamoto, Mitani et al. 1999). Adrenal cortex zona fasciculata cells contain glucocorticoid synthesizing enzyme, cytochrome P-45011à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¢, which is essential for synthesis of corticosterone in rats. Metyrapone, an inhibitor of the P-45011à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¢Ãƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  dependent l1à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¢-hy droxylase reaction was used to inhibit corticosterone synthesis (Miyamoto, Mitani et al. 1998). Metyrapone-treated rats were given 0.9% sodium chloride along with drinking water to compensate the loss of mineralocorticoids and thereby the ionic loss (Miyamoto, Mitani et al. 1999). In the control group, normal saline was injected intraperitoneally (1 ml/rat/day) for two weeks. Just after the end of the two weeks, the rats were kept fasting for 8 hours and then, sacrificed under ether anesthesia by decapitation. Body weight changes among different groups: Body weights of the used rats were measured in the different groups, initially at the start of the study (initial body weight) and finally at the end of the study just prior to being sacrificed by decapitation (final body weight). Measurement of serum parameters: From all groups, blood samples were collected and sera were separated and stored at -20oC.   An automated analyzer (YSI 2300; YSI Life Sciences, Yellow Springs, OH) was used to measure serum glucose through glucose oxidase method. Also, ELISA kits (RD Systems, Minneapolis, MN) were used to estimate serum insulin. For evaluation of insulin resistance (IR), the homeostasis model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) index was calculated by this equation: HOMA-IR =    (Nayak, Hillemane et al. 2014). The index value is interpreted as follows: when the value of HOMA-IR increased, insulin resistance increased, which means decreased insulin sensitivity (Bonora, Targher et al. 2000). Thus, in order to know changes in insulin resistance among different groups, the value of the HOMA-IR index was compared among them. Serum omentin-1, ACTH and corticosterone levels were quantitated using commercially available ELISA kits as per manufacturers instructions (RayBiotech, Inc.; Catalog No. EIAR-OME), (Sigma-Aldrich, Catalog No. SE120080) and (Assaypro LLC, Catalog No. EC3001-1) respectively. Statistical analysis: By the use of IBM SPSS Statistics for windows package version (24), data were analyzed and described as Mean ± SEM. For calculation of the statistical significance, One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc test for multiple group comparison were used. P†°Ã‚ ¤0.05 indicated significance. Results: Table-1: Body weight (in gm) changes among different groups Control Initial body weight 205.5 ±2.64 Final body weight 217 ±2.85a Hyper-C Initial body weight 208.3 ±3.81a c Final body weight 235.8 ±3.28b, d e Hypo-C Initial body weight 213 ±3.57a, c, f g Final body weight 200 ±3.22a, d, f, g h Data was expressed as Mean ±SEM. a P>0.05 in comparison to the control group (initial body weight).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   b P0.05 in comparison to the control group (final body weight). d P0.05 in comparison to the Hyper-C group (initial body weight). g P0.05 in comparison to the Hyper-C group (final body weight). Table (1) showed changes in body weights of the used rats among different groups at the start (initial body weight) and just before rats being sacrificed (final body weight). In comparison to the control group initial body weight (205.5 ±2.64), there was a significant increase in body weight in the Hyper-C group finally (235.8 ±3.28), but, there were insignificant changes in body weight of the remaining groups. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in body weight in Hyper-C group final weight (235.8 ±3.28), but, there was a significant decrease in body weight in Hypo-C group final weight (200 ±3.22) in comparison to that of control group final weight (217 ±2.85). Also, there were insignificant changes in body weight in both Hyper-C group initial weight (208.3 ±3.81) and Hypo-C group initial weight (213 ±3.57) in comparison to that of control group final weight (217 ±2.85). Moreover, there was a significant increase in body weight in Hyper-C group final w eight (235.8 ±3.28) in comparison to that of Hyper-C group initial weight (208.3 ±3.81), although, there were insignificant changes in body weight in both Hypo-C group initial weight (213 ±3.57) and Hypo-C group final weight (200 ±3.22) in comparison to that of Hyper-C group initial weight (208.3 ±3.81). Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in body weight in both Hypo-C group initial weight (213 ±3.57) and Hypo-C group final weight (200 ±3.22) in comparison to that of Hyper-C group final weight (235.8 ±3.28). Finally, there were insignificant changes in body weight in Hypo-C group final weight (200 ±3.22) in comparison to that of Hypo-C group initial weight (213 ±3.57). Table (2) showed changes in serum level of omentin-1, glucose, insulin, ACTH and corticosterone among different groups. Also, it showed changes in HOMA-IR among them. Regarding serum levels of corticosterone among different groups, there was a significant increase in its level in Hyper-C group (96.37 ±2.52), but a significant decrease in its level in Hypo-C group (8.08 ±0.32) in comparison to that in the control group (36.04 ±1.22). On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in serum level of corticosterone in Hypo-C group (8.08 ±0.32) in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group (96.37 ±2.52). On studying serum levels of ACTH, there was a significant decrease in its level in Hyper-C group (26.15 ±0.84), but a significant increase in its level in Hypo-C group (77.1 ±1.53) in comparison to that in the control group (46.75 ±1.2). On the other hand, there was a significant increase in serum level of ACTH in Hypo-C group (77.1 ±1.53) in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group (26.15 ±0.84). Regarding serum level of both glucose and insulin, there was a significant increase in serum level of both of them in Hyper-C group (237.8 ±10.4) and (4.88 ±0.16) in comparison to that in the control group (96.9 ±1.5) and (2.15 ±0.07) respectively. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in serum level of both glucose and insulin in Hypo-C group (72.2 ±2.2) and (1.28 ±0.1) in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group (237.8 ±10.4) and (4.88 ±0.16) respectively. On other hand, on studying HOMA-IR among different groups, there was a significant increase in its value in Hyper-C group (2.88 ±0.17), but, there was an insignificant decrease in it in the Hypo-C group (0.25 ±0.02) in comparison to that in the control group (0.51 ±0.01). On the contrary, there was a significant decrease in HOMA-IR in the Hypo-C group (0.25 ±0.02) in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group (2.88 ±0.17). On studying serum omentin-1 level among different groups, there was a significant decrease in its serum level in Hyper-C group (14.5 ±0.47), but, there was a significant increase in its serum level in Hypo-C group (26.58 ±0.5) in comparison to the control group (21 ±0.35). Also, there was a significant increase in serum omentin-1 in Hypo-C group (26.58 ±0.5) in comparison to the Hyper-C group (14.5 ±0.47). Figure (1 AB) showed negative correlations in the Hyper-C group between serum omentin-1 and both serum insulin (R= 0.6, P Value= 0.07) and serum corticosterone (R= 0.22, P Value= 0.54), respectively. On the other hand, figure (1 CD) showed positive correlations in the Hypo-C group between serum omentin-1 and both serum insulin (R= 0.54, P Value= 0.11) and serum corticosterone (R= 0.6, P Value= 0.07), respectively. Table-2: Serum omentin-1 (ng/ml), glucose (mg/dl), Insulin (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­IU/ml), HOMA-IR, ACTH (ng/ml), Corticosterone (nmol/L) among different groups: Control Hyper-C Hypo-C Corticosterone (nmol/L) 36.04 ±1.22 96.37 ±2.52a 8.08 ±0.32ab ACTH (ng/ml) 46.75 ±1.2 26.15 ±0.84a 77.1 ±1.53ab Glucose (mg/dl) 96.9 ±1.5 237.8 ±10.4a 72.2 ±2.2bc Insulin (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­IU/ml) 2.15 ±0.07 4.88 ±0.16a 1.28 ±0.1ab HOMA-IR 0.51 ±0.01 2.88 ±0.17a 0.25 ±0.02bd Omentin (ng/ml) 21 ±0.35 14.5 ±0.47a 26.58 ±0.5ab Data was expressed as Mean ±SEM. a P0.05 in comparison to the control group. Figure-1: Correlations between; serum omentin-1 (ng/ml) and insulin (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­IU/ml) in Hyper-C group (A), serum omentin-1 (ng/ml) and corticosterone (nmol/l) in Hyper-C group (B), serum omentin-1 (ng/ml) and insulin (à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ­IU/ml) in Hypo-C group (C), serum omentin-1 (ng/ml) and corticosterone (nmol/l) in Hypo-C group (D). R, is the correlation coefficient. P Value, for the correlation, is considered significant when its value is †°Ã‚ ¤ 0.05. Discussion: The results of this study showed a significant increase in serum levels of corticosterone in Hyper-C group, but a significant decrease in its level in Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the control group. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in serum levels of ACTH in Hyper-C group, but a significant increase in its level in Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the control group. These results were supported by Zardooz, Rostamkhani et al. (2010) who stated that increased serum levels of corticosterone were accompanied a significant decrease in serum levels of ACTH. Regarding serum glucose and insulin, the results of this study showed a significant increase in both of them in Hyper-C group in comparison to that in the control group. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in serum glucose and insulin in Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group. These results were supported by Morgan, Sherlock et al. (2009), Purnell, Kahn et al. (2009) and Zardooz, Rostamkhani et al. (2010) who found that increased serum levels of corticosterone significantly increased serum levels of both glucose and insulin as a result of increasing insulin resistance. Also, there was a significant increase in HOMA-IR in Hyper-C group, but, there was an insignificant decrease in it in the Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the control group. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in HOMA-IR in the Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the Hyper-C group. These results reflects incidence of insulin resistance in Hyper-C group which was supported by Nanda, Mahapatra et al. (2015) who stated that insulin resistance is considered when the normal response of the tissues to insulin action is reduced, especially at the muscles and adipose tissues level with a compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Moreover, the results of this study showed a significant decrease in serum level of omentin-1 in Hyper-C group in comparison to the control group. This re sult confirmed that there is a link between omentin-1 and hyperglycemia as considered by Fu, Gong et al. (2004) who stated that, in the 1q22-q23 chromosomal region that was linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus, omentin gene was located. This was also supported by Yang, Lee et al. (2006), de Souza Batista, Yang et al. (2007), Tan, Adya et al. (2008), Yan, Liu et al. (2011), Elâ‚ ¬Ã‚ Mesallamy, Elâ‚ ¬Ã‚ Derany et al. (2011) and Shibata, Ouchi et al. (2012) and Nanda, Mahapatra et al. (2015) who found that increased serum glucose and insulin levels significantly decreased the serum level of omentin-1. This is further supported by Kazama, Usui et al. (2012), Oswiecimska, Suwala et al. (2015), Du, Ji et al. (2016) and Arman, Kirna et al. (2017) who stated that serum omentin-1 is correlated negatively with blood glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR. They explained this negative correlation by their results which declared that omentin-1 had adiponectin-like actions. On the other hand, the re sults of this study showed a significant increase in serum omentin-1 in Hypo-C group in comparison to that in both control and Hyper-C groups. This result was supported by Moreno-Navarrete, Català ¡n et al. (2010) and Saremi, Asghari et al. (2010) who found that omentin-1 serum level was increased by weight loss in obese patients. Also, the present study results declared a negative correlation between serum level of omentin-1 and that of both corticosterone and insulin in the Hyper-C group. These results confirmed that there was a negative relationship between serum omentin-1 level and insulin resistance which was supported by de Souza Batista, Yang et al. (2007) and Tan, Adya et al. (2008) who found that serum level of omentin-1 was correlated negatively with insulin resistance and they explained this relation by the positive correlation between serum level of omentin-1 and that of adiponectin. This is also was supported by Yang, Lee et al. (2006), Gà ¼rsoy, KÄ ±rnap et al. (2010), CÄ‚TOI, SUCIU et al. (2014), Herder, Ouwens et al. (2015) and Chen, Shang et al. (2017) who found that, in adipose tissue, omentin has an insulin sensitizing action through increasing both insulin signal transduction and insulin effects by stimulating glucose uptake in an insulin-mediated manner. Moreover, Herder, Ouwens et al. (2015) stated that omentin indirectly increased insulin sensitivity through adiponectin upregulation. Furthermore, Cai, Wei et al. (2009), Pan, Guo et al. (2010) and Nanda, Mahapatra et al. (2015) supported the incidence of insulin resistance with the decrease in serum omentin-1 levels as they found that in insulin resistance diabetic patients, the serum insulin level and HOMA-IR score were high while, serum omentin-1 level was low. On the other hand, the results of this study showed a significant increase in the final body weight in the Hyper-C group, but, a significant decrease in the final body weight in the Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the control group final body weight. These results were accompanied, as mentioned early, by a significant decrease in serum omentin-1 level in Hyper-C group, but a significant increase in its level in Hypo-C group in comparison to that in the control group. These finding were supported by Lee, Schnee et al. (2001) and Purnell, Kahn et al. (2009)   who stated that excess of glucocorticoids significantly increased body weight. Also, Zhuang, Zhao et al. (2009), Xu, Huang et al. (2010), Elâ‚ ¬Ã‚ Mesallamy, Elâ‚ ¬Ã‚ Derany et al. (2011) and Feng, Yuan et al. (2013) reported reduction in serum omentin-1 level with the increase in body weight. The significant changes in the final body weights in the Hyper-C and Hypo-C groups in comparison to the control group in the results of this study, may explain the possible link between glucocorticoids, omentin-1 and insulin resistance as corticosterone levels significantly affected final body weight which in turn affected serum le vel of omentin-1 and insulin resistance. These results were supported by Yang, Lee et al. (2006), de Souza Batista, Yang et al. (2007), Oswiecimska, Suwala et al. (2015)   and Smitka and Maresova (2015) who stated that omentin expression in visceral adipose tissue is reduced in obesity and insulin resistance. Also, Oswiecimska, Suwala et al. (2015) considered omentin as a nutritional marker that reflected the body weight. From the above discussed results, it was clear that glucocorticoids may be one of the regulators for omentin-1 and changes in body weight accompanied the abnormal serum levels of glucocorticoids may explain that regulation. This may also give a new explanation for the changes in insulin resistance that occur with abnormal serum levels of glucocorticoids. Also, it confirmed the importance of body weight control on glucose homeostasis. Conclusion   Ã‚   The results of this study may explain a novel mechanism by which glucocorticoids cause insulin resistance and this possibly through the regulation of serum level of omentin-1. Also, the results confirmed presence of a link between serum levels of both glucocorticoids and omentin-1 which is mostly the change in body weight and this confirmed the importance of body weight control on glucose homeostasis. Further studied should be conducted to confirm these results.