Sunday, May 24, 2020

Social inequality. Race and Class in America Free Essay Example, 2000 words

According to King, the Black Americans had been crippled by the chains of isolation and also discrimination. This is the reason for which the Blacks used to live on an isolated island in poverty, in the center of a huge ocean of measurable prosperity. King also affirmed that the chains of exclusion along with discrimination made the Blacks to remain languished in various corners of the American society and found themselves to be exiled from their respective own lands. Thus, King saw a dream to make the lives of the Blacks free from the chains of discrimination along with segregation and end up the prevalence of greater social inequality based on race and class in every corner of the American society (Schumann, â€Å"I Have A Dream Martin Luther King Jr. Speech: Watch, Read Full Transcript Of MLKs Historic Address Here [VIDEO]†). With this concern, in â€Å"King’s Dream Remains Elusive† Report, Whites and Blacks of the American Society were mainly asked to respon d about the prevalence of social inequality after the speech delivered by King. LITERATURE REVIEW While discussing the two major themes of the Pew report, four readings have been taken into concern. We will write a custom essay sample on Social inequality. Race and Class in America or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Firstly, Charles Murray’s article titled â€Å"The New American Divide† would be discussed, which elaborates the change in civic culture existing in the past, resulting in broadening the gaps between the new upper and the new lower classes of American society. Secondly, the discussion would be based upon a chapter from Dennis Gilbert’s â€Å"Social Class in America†, which demonstrates the class structure of the Americans in an age of growing inequality. Thirdly, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva’s book, â€Å"Racism without Racists†, is relevant to the discussion as it tends to relate about how Whites perceive racial inequality today. Finally, the reading of Dalton Conley’s â€Å"Being Black, Living in the Red† would be discussed, as this accentuates the significance of housing discrimination in creating racial inequality through wealth distribution policies enforced by the American government during the period of 1970. In relation to the article titled â€Å"The New American Divide† by Charles Murray, a sort of civic culture can be apparently observed to exist in the US during the year 1960, which embraced various significant aspects. These aspects included shared experiences relating to day-to-day lives of the Americans and collective assumptions associated with fundamental American values in terms of religiosity, marriage, hard work and honesty.

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Definition of Beauty Essay - 1145 Words

Advertising has changed in many ways over the years, growing and maturing to show us what we should be. Because our own self-esteem is not enough, we rely on advertising to tell us what is beautiful and what is not. Whether we realize it or not, beauty is ultimately defined for us. Products are advertised all around us, telling us that something in our life is missing because we do not have a certain product in our possession. Ranging from make-up to plastic surgery, most of this advertising is geared toward women. This can be shown through the advertisements analyzed in this essay. Both ads depict women who are approachable. The older ad depicts simplicity and innocence, while the current ad shows a more complex, sexual look. The images†¦show more content†¦You are only able to see her face; her hair is not visible. The only other part of her body you can see is a bit of her left shoulder, which has no straps or indications that she is wearing clothing. The background shows a clear blue sky and a busy street in modern day London, England (indicated by the infamous Big Ben clock tower. The girl has her lips parted slightly, showing a few of her white teeth. Her eyelashes are also outlined with mascara. Her eyelashes are not only thick and full, but nearly every individual lash seems to be clearly defined as well. She is wearing a thick necklace with many small pink jewels. On the right panel of the picture, there is text describing the product being advertised, which is mascara as well. The text is black and says, â€Å"The Max Volume Flash Mascara†¦Skinny to Fat in 10 Seconds Flat†¦14 times more volume†¦Our biggest brush ever†¦Collagen and Keratin enriched.† Below this text is the product, a long, thick pink tube of mascara. Below the mascara tube are the words, â€Å"Get the London look† in white text. On the current ad, pink eye shadow and lip gloss match the pink shade of the mascara bottle. The eye shadow draws at tention to her piercing, deep blue eyes and defined lashes that the product promises to give you. The older ad has darker colors. The green bracelet is one of the brightest objects and is near the face, which draws your attention to the smile and the eyes, which are green as well. The dark blue sweater she isShow MoreRelatedDefinition Of Beauty And Beauty884 Words   |  4 PagesDefinition of Beauty There are a lot of things to account for when people think of the word beauty, there is the dictionary definition, physical beauty, inner beauty, and how beauty affects everyone. In today’s society when someone hears the word beauty they most likely think of physical appearance. The word beautiful comes from the word beauty; people use it when they want to describe something that they think is flawless. We all know what beauty is, but we often struggle to find the words toRead MoreBeauty Definition Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesBeauty The ways people view beauty have changed over time. Beauty has many definitions, and so many people think about it in different ways. Some people like external beauty and some like internal beauty and many people like both together. Beauty controls how people live and think, but it depends on which definition of beauty they choose to believe in. We live in a world that misunderstands the true meanings of pretty much everything. Thousands of years ago people knew and understood what theRead MoreBeauty Definition Essay1156 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is beauty? How do we decide who is attractive and who is not? Society is full of information telling us what is beautiful, but that fact is that information based on? The topic of beauty has been studied, analyzed and controversial for centuries. We all know the feeling you can have when you hear a beautiful song that brings joy to your heart, stands in a field of flowers that excites your eyes, or admires a face that is visually pleas ing. As human beings, we are all drawn to beauty, but whatRead MoreDefinition Of Beauty Essay829 Words   |  4 Pagesthe word beauty or beautiful what do you think of? The way a person looks the way they are on the inside, or is it not even a human but things in nature. The definition of beauty has a very broad definition everyone has their own meanings their own thoughts on the subject. After a lot of research and interviewing two people getting the perspective of a male who I am very close to and a female who is just a girl in my class I have finally come to some kind of idea of what the word beauty really meansRead MoreBeauty Definition Essay858 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is beauty? How do we define who is attractive and who is not? Is it the models posing on the front of magazine, or the confident, bright eyed person sitting across the room? Our society and media is full of advice telling us what beauty is or how to become beautiful. As human beings we are drawn to beauty, but what exactly is beauty? The phrase, â€Å"beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,† is accurate since what one may consider beautiful can vary from what another may consider beautiful. SomeRead MoreDefinition Of Beauty Essay749 Words   |  3 PagesBeauty is commonly defined as the combination of qualities that pleases our senses, mostly our sight. Despite this, throughout many years, the concept of beauty has been considered one of the hardest riddles to solve. This happens not only because of all of what it covers, but also because of society’s beauty patterns. Society has been in charge in making people, mostly girls, to feel inferior because they do not complete this â€Å"beauty standards† in order to be considered beautiful. We need to beRead MoreThe Definition of Beauty Essay905 Words   |  4 PagesEssay #2 The definition of beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty has negative and positive influences on mostly people. Beauty is described by the inside and outside of us. Due to beauty, our self-esteem has been hurt dramatically, especially towards girls. Beauty is not always about our outside looks but it’s about our inside personality also. First of all, beauty has negativeRead MoreBeauty Definition Essay1126 Words   |  5 Pagestime? Most people judge beauty base on a person’s physical appearance. However, true beauty sis base on a person’s personality and a how a person treat someone else. The hardest thing is to describe beauty because everyone has their own views about beauty. In my opinion beauty has more to with the way someone see portray themselves. The expression â€Å"beauty† was first used in the 14th century as â€Å"physical attractiveness,† and also â€Å"goodness, courtesy.† The meaning of beauty also came from many placesRead MoreDefinition Of Beauty Essay722 Words   |  3 PagesThere is an English quote, â€Å"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.† The quote is correct in some people’s eyes but not everyone’s, because someone may think the individual is exquisite, but others may see the flaws you don’t. In the research of a well-known Philosophy about Plato, he saw that beauty wasn’t how someone introduced themselves, or how they looked on the outside but instead on how they are inside. The true beauty in some perspectives, is what they been through with their ownRead MoreBeauty Extended Definition Essay792 Words   |  4 PagesBeauty is something that can be interpreted completely different from person to person. A famous quote that goes along with this perfectly is â€Å"beauty is in the eye of the beholder.† I think a person’s inner beauty should be taken into account when deciding whether or not a person is beautiful. Wikipedia’s definition of beauty is, â€Å"a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure or satisfaction† while Oxford Dictionary states, â€Å"beauty

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Essay on Psychology and Characteristics - 766 Words

Ladies Gentlemen. Survey Report. Some may believe that being â€Å"gentleman† or a â€Å"lady† in today’s society is an outdated notion, but others may disagree. (1) Briefly summarize the main characteristics of a well-rounded person, â€Å"l’u omo universal,† referring to specific sections within the excerpt from The Courtier which identifies these characteristics. (2) Create a â€Å"survey† based on the identified characteristics and â€Å" poll† at least ten people to find out whether or not the characteristics are relevant for a â€Å"gentleman† or â€Å"lady† of today. (3) Tabulate and discuss the responses in terms of gender, age, vocation, etc. of your survey participants, making note of any interesting or surprising results which show up in your poll answers.†¦show more content†¦As I thought about who I wanted to survey, young adults immediately came to mind. My initial belief was that todays generati on of young adults have completely missed the mark on their ability to demonstrate the types of behavior present in The Courtier. It was important to target this group specifically, as they are our future. In addition to young adults, I wanted to speak to parents who are raising young children. The debate is still out about whether parents want their children to get good grades, be smart, rich, yet unhappy or whether we are more interested in lowering some of our expectations for academic success and focus more on helping our children to be well rounded, get good grades and still have the ability to manage conflict, develop relationships, be involved in community, be good citizens and love themselves. For most parents, the cultural aspects of being involved and interested in art, music and being exposed to those things far outweigh the desire for their children to just check the box in life. The survey results were very interesting, surprisingly so. The first group I interviewed consisted of 5 young adults, aged 16 to 25. I read a few passages from The Courtier without telling them what year it was written or where it came from. I then asked them to rate on a scale of one to five howShow MoreRelatedMain Characteristics of Psychology in Egypt1971 Words   |  8 PagesMain Characteristics of Psychology in Egypt To construct a meaningful picture of psychology as it is practiced in Egypt, the following features may be emphasized: 1. The manner in which Egyptian psychology emerged and has been growing over the years has earned it a solid base for a promising future. In this context, most important is the fact that the discipline made its first appearance in 1911 as part of establishing and operating the first secular universityRead MoreSocial Psychology: Characteristics, Motives, and Situationism1494 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Psychology: Characteristics, Motives, and Situationism PSYCH/550 May 27, 2013 Social Psychology: Characteristics, Motives, and Situationism According to Fiske (2010), the classic definition of social psychology is, â€Å"the scientific attempt to explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of other human beings† [ (p. 4) ]. In other words, where general psychology is the study of human behavior on an individualRead MorePersonality Characteristics and Health Psychology Essay4959 Words   |  20 PagesRunning head: PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Personality Characteristics and Health Psychology Introduction In the field of psychology, a growing interest in the interaction between physical and mental health has become apparent. Psychologists are beginning to realize the importance of treating a client as a whole unit with many working elements that are interdependent on each other. The term coined currently is the biopsychosocial approach. Here, it is recognizedRead MorePsychology Is The Scientific Study Of Human Brain And Its Characteristics1694 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology is the scientific study of human brain and its characteristics, especially the functions that drives our behaviour (Colman, 1999). It is a type of study which emerged in the nineteenth century and struggled in the first period to find the appropriate issues of a human to study. To be more precise, firstly, the study was focused with determining the unconscious behaviour of human which later transformed into analysing the behaviour of humans and animals due to the influence of the environmentRead MoreDifference s Among Clinical And Counseling Psychology Programs Essay897 Words   |  4 PagesDifferences Among Clinical and Counseling Psychology Programs The article that I reviewed called â€Å"Clinical and Counseling Psychology: Can Differences Be Gleaned From Printed Recruiting Materials?† Was written by Robert D. Morgan and Lee M. Cohen from Texas Tech University. The purpose of the article was to answer the question whether there were differences between Clinical and Counseling Psychology Doctoral programs that was advertised by the recruitment materials provided by the programs. In shortRead MoreProfessional Philosophy : Sports Psychology778 Words   |  4 PagesAdministrators’ Preferred Characteristics for Sport Psychology Positions: A Consumer Market Analysis†. The study conducted in this article looks into the market for Sport Psychologist in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It compares different Athletic administrator’s preferences for sport psychology positions based on time, commitment, affiliation, payment, services, and clients. The next scholarly article I found is titled â€Å"Professional Philosophy in the Sport Psychology Service Delivery:Read MoreDispositional Essay example1154 Words   |  5 PagesDispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Psychology University of Phoenix Dispositional, Biological, and Evolutionary Psychology Personality theory has come a long way since its beginning in psychology. Many theorists have based their work on theorists before them, but made changes that indicate that the characteristics of the individual affects the ideas behind their work (Feist, Feist, amp; Roberts, 2013). Comparing dispositional, biological, and evolutionary theories indicates the similaritiesRead MoreCharacteristics Of An Effective Counselor1340 Words   |  6 Pages Characteristics of an Effective Counselor Desirà ©e M. Ericksen Liberty University â€Æ' Abstract This paper reviews four published papers and/or studies that have researched the characteristics of effective counselors. Each of the papers/studies list their own set of characteristics, but share a common thread of empathy, compassion, warmth, genuineness and emotional stability. After reviewing each paper and research study, additional analysis was applied to the above five characteristics with theRead MoreEvidence-Based Treatment847 Words   |  4 Pagesdebate rages in psychology, but it is not one of the usual kind, dwelling on a specific aspect of the mind or a new drug, but a controversy dealing with the very foundations of psychology. The main issue is in determining what treatments for patients are valid. Some feel that they must be empirically- supported treatments, treatments backed by hard data and scientifically supported. Others feel that this standard for treatments is much too confining for the complex field of psychology. The AmericanRead MoreAbnormal Behavior As Its Own Discourse Community1345 Words   |  6 Pagesfully understand Psychology as a discourse community, I have decided to research the Abnormal behavior branch; which is a study in the psychology field. I will then correlate that information to that of the psychology discourse community. Which will allow me to not only evaluate the Abnormal behavior branch, using both Swales and Pratt’s texts. Finally, I will most likely come to the conclusion based on my research, that while the Abnormal behavior study is part on the psychology discourse community

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay on Nature in American Literature - 917 Words

Nature in American Literature In American Literature many authors write about nature and how nature affects mans lives. In life, nature is an important part of people. Many people live, work, or partake in revelry in nature. Nature has received attention from authors spanning several centuries. Their attitudes vary over time and also reflect the different outlooks of the authors who chose to discuss this important historical movement. A further examination of this movement, reveals prevalence of natures influence on man and how it affects their lives. An early work in American Literature, Thanatopsis, is also one of the most influential works of nature and how it affects man. This work portrays nature as†¦show more content†¦In this work, man is an object in the middle of living nature. Nature itself draws us from dependence upon the past and invites us to a richer state of being. Do not remember the past for [t]he sun shines today†¦[t]here is more wool and flax in the fields†¦[t]here are new lands, new men, new thoughts(215). Which suggests that because there is always a tomorrow. Man should not focus on the present and be more concentrated on what will be happening in the future. Emerson believed that nature was beautiful and nowhere else on earth could he find the majestic settings of the macrocosm. As Emerson declares [in] wilderness, [he finds] something more dear and connate than in streets or villages(216). He cannot find anything more loved and kindred than in towns and cities than what he finds in nature. Unlike Thanatopsis, Emerson focuses on the living and not the defunct. He tells us that [in] the tranquil landscape, and especially in the distant line of the horizon, man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature(216). Mans nature is more beautiful than the outside of his exterior. Therefore, according to this attitude, mans life is just a mere dot in this world of blackness. In 1854 Thoreau wrote the short story of Walden, eighteen years later from the publication of Nature and forty-three years later from the publication of Thanatopsis. In this work Thoreau presents anShow MoreRelatedThe Value Of Literature Courses1428 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is the value of literature courses? We live in an age where information is conveyed in 140 characters. Why should students be required to read longer works? (By way of helping students get started ... this question is based on your opinion and you should make a short argument for or against. It is okay to use first person, I.) Literature courses force people to think outside of their own cultural perceptions. They give students the ability to think critically and to analyze problems by lookingRead MoreRomantic Period of Literature in America Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesBeginning early in the 17th century, American authors and poets alike began the great shift in writing now known as the romantic period. This movement in literature has many influences, themes, and writing styles that can be highlighted with important works and authors. A promising frontier, new cultures brought by immigration, and a search for spiritual answers were all key influences in bringing about the romantic movement. Themes of the romantic period include nature as a refuge, high imaginationRead MoreThe Emergence Of Self Concept1489 Words   |  6 PagesThe Emergence of Self Throughout our history the idea of self has developed and proved to be a dominant concept that Americans have come to understand. Not defined or found in lineage, religion, or history, the concept of self is defined by a collection of values. These values and principles are rooted in individualism, self-actualization, and self-reliance where people are able to fulfill their own destiny and believe in the promise that through ward work and determination life can be differentRead MoreTranscendentalism And The American Renaissance1693 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Renaissance was a revolution for literature and writers in America itself that emphasized cultural authority. The American Renaissance took place throughout the nineteenth century, primarily in the early segment of this era. According to, The Norton Anthology of American Literature, â€Å"the idea of American Renaissance has been so influential in part of the literature of this time period, and was crucial to the deve lopment of American literary traditions† (4). This created a diverseRead MoreAmerica s World War II870 Words   |  4 Pagesdoubt that America’s World War II is a rich source of literature and a theme for many writers. As result, they wrote many works about war literature, such as novels, poetry, plays, diaries, and personal narrative. The American Literature was formed by the history of the state that produced it just like in other nationwide literature. America was just a cluster of colonies scattered alongside the eastern seaboard of the North American continent for approximately a century and a half. AfterRead More literature in America Essay916 Words   |  4 Pagesbuy a house, or go to church. We are free. We have opportunity to be whatever we want to make ourselves. When you ask, what is an American? I find it no different to ask, what is freedom? America and freedom are intertwined and this relationship is evident in American literature. The notion of freedom and everything relating to freedom unites all of the American literature we have read. In Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, Huck leaves the cuffs of society so he can live in his own freedom. He doesn’t let societyRead MoreNaturalism : The Great. Who Has Read American Literature1368 Words   |  6 PagesNaturalism the Great Anyone who has read American literature will know of the significance of naturalism as a literary genre in American literature. Merriam Webster’s definition of Naturalism is as follows: A theory that art or literature should conform exactly to nature or depict every appearance of the subject that comes to the artist’s attention, specifically a theory in literature emphasizing the role of heredity and environment upon human life and character development. Naturalism went fromRead MoreWhite Males And The American Writers922 Words   |  4 PagesIn this nature writing course and in all my literature courses there haven’t been many African American writers represented. This isn’t because they don’t exist, but because the more commonly known writers have the attributes of being more respected, and are widely accepted writers in American literature, who majority of the time are white males like Thoreau and Leopold. These are just examples, and they are good writers but there are also good African American writers that deserve just as muchRead MoreThe Philosophy of Transcendentalism Essay1292 Words   |  6 Pagesplaced mainly on oneness with nature and God while making the possibility of social change a reality. Ralph Waldo Emerson was the leading American transcendentalist whose theories were a primary influence in transcendentalist thought and writing. Through the knowledge and direction of Ralph Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau also became leading scholars of their time by means of their influence on early American intellectual history and literature. â€Å"Transcendentalists were influencedRead MoreDiffferent Types of Colonial Literature Essay731 Words   |  3 Pages American literature extends its roots into colonial times. The works of the earliest North Americans include contributions by Natives and settlers alike, with many similar and differing historical influences, themes, and genres. The Native Americans, before colonial life even began, had developed a strong system of oral storytelling revolving mostly around mother nature. When the Puritans arrived, seeking religious asylum from Europe, their reserved and conservative ways leaked into colonial

The Secret to Ged Essay Example

The Secret to Ged Essay Example What You Don't Know About Ged Essay Example Writing an essay for the literary part of the GED (General Education Development) test ought to be easy, as it's exactly like writing any other kind of essay for your class. The GED Writing practice test is particularly designed to be certain that the test-taker is knowledgeable in regards to the GED and is ready to understand what to expect when it's time to take the Writing part of the GED. GED is not difficult to pass if you merely have the appropriate wisdom and follow it. The GED asks test-takers to write on a number of subject issue. One of the most difficult sections of the GED to get ready for is the writing portion. Some also find themselves stumble in this portion of the test, even if they've breezed through all the other portions of the GED test. Studying, thus, is paramount prior to taking the tests. The free GED Reading practice test is specially designed to make certain that the test-taker is knowledgeable in regards to the GED and has the capability to understand what things to expect when now is the time to take the Reading part of the GED. Up in Arms About Ged Essay Example? Keep in mind that you're NOT writing your opinion on the subject. Actually, you may choose any topic which you find interesting. You ought to select the type of topic that's appealing to you. To start with, you must realize that however much unpredictable the topic could be, practice still makes perfect sense. The writing portion is a great indication of your thoughtfulness for a student and your capacity to recognize per sonal and professional conditions and respond accordingly. Normally, students simply run over stimulus and prompt and start to write immediately believing they will conserve time this manner. The author starts with a clear major idea and supports the most important idea with three related concepts. Professional writers can help too. You do have some language mistakes which make it a little hard to follow along with. Just as crucial as being in a position to communicate ideas, is demonstrating you have a command of the English language at least enough where it is possible to distinguish the types of writing and set them in the most suitable connotation. There are several things you are able to write about! As a rule you know possible selection of topics beforehand, so I don't understand what things to write situation is extremely improbable. The Nuiances of Ged Essay Example A superb vocabulary will permit you to express precisely what you mean, as clearly and concisely as possible. Write neatly so the test graders can easily read what you've written. Bear in mind the topic needs to be interesting and catching not just for you, but additionally for the instructor. Unlike the different parts of the exam, gaining scores for writing isn't objective, as the answers aren't concrete. Explain how you want to achieve it. As you know what points you should address, writing should be comparatively quick. Again, you can choose how you want to word it, but the aim is total clarity on your position. More than being the end goal of an individual, gaining a GED certification has to be regarded as the launch of a nice and stable life. Within this essay you've got to impress graduation committee. A GED is a significant portion of life if one wants to pursue more education but wasn't able to graduate high school for some reason. Simply take a brief while and attempt to comprehend the questions completely in order to react to them appropriately. You don't n eed to compose a creative essay, you simply have to make sure you write appropriate grammar. Make sure your essay topic isn't broad, as it'll not be possible that you reveal the principal points. You are going to know that you're test-ready and that you could conquer any argumentative essay topic. You are able to read through GED essay examples to understand in what way the topics are written. The Tried and True Method for Ged Essay Example in Step by Step Detail A standard way of writing this kind of essay is the five-paragraph strategy. The writing section offers you 45 minutes to read a quick text and after that handle the prompt. While the next method isn't the only approach to format your support, I strongly suggest it, as it provides an extremely thorough, well-rounded execution of essay. This option permits you to highlight text on screen. Whispered Ged Essay Example Secrets The entire sample essay can be read on the ACE website, but here's a sample of the sort of question that might be asked. The most suitable selection of topic is vitally important. There are many GED-specific study guides which you can buy to further help you study and get ready for the essay section, in addition to the remainder of the test. Instead, you can search for essay topics online. Why Almost Everything You've Learned About Ged Essay Example Is Wrong Mastering essay writing takes quite a bit of practice and reading. Being stressed while it might keep your focus away from the task and affect the quality of your essay. Becoming a fantastic writer is basically a years-long procedure. Practicing the elements of superior essay writing is helpful regardless of what topic you concentrate on. While it isn't essential to provide quotes in your body paragraphs, it can be useful. Instead, you may look around you and select an interesting social topic. Attempt to know the topic and what's expected in your answers. Write down possible suggestions to utilize for th e key arguments and supporting paragraphs.

Implementation Process After Initial IFRS -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Implementation Process After Initial IFRS? Answer: Introducation Goodwill of Brickwork limited is tested on annual basis for the impairment purpose along with other intangible assets. Brickwork limited has conducted impairment testing of its plant, equipment and property and the total amount corresponding to this impairment stood at $ 30 million before taxation. It has been ascertained from the analysis of annual report of company that noncurrent assets have also been tested for impairment in year 2016 and the total amount of impairment is recorded at $ 3046 and $ 62185 in year 2016 and 2017 respectively. Impairment of tangibles and goodwill was done in year 2016 of amount $ 47258. Plant, equipment and property impairment in year 2016 and 2017 stood at $ 3046 million and $ 14927 respectively (brickworks.com.au 2017). The procedure of impairment incorporates assessment of carrying value of assets in the event of indication whether impairment is required. Assets carrying mount is written down to recoverable amount if the estimated recoverable amount is less than carrying amount. For conducting impairment, group performs the allocation of goodwill to the cash-generating unit, the assessment of recoverable amount is done for impairment determination, and to which the goodwill is relating. The assessments of impairment in reference to brand name with indefinite useful lives have been allocated to CGU of Australian bricks (brickworks.com.au 2017). Brickwork limited has not recorded any impairment expense in relation to land and building in financial year 2017 and the total amount of impairment expenses for financial year 2016 and 2017 stood at $ 14927 and 3046 respectively. Impairment expense attributable to plant and equipment for both the financial year stood at $ 3046 million and 13610 million. Impairment expenses for land and building in year 2016 stood at $ 1317 million. No impairment expense has been recorded in relation to intangible assets (brickworks.com.au 2017). For the assessment of non-financial assets carrying amount for determining impairment, management of Brickwork limited is required to make considerable judgments and estimates. Carrying amount of each CGU is supported by valuations that are based on assumptions that are forward looking and they are uncertain by their very nature. All such CGU incorporates intangible assets, goodwill and property, equipment and plant. Estimation of discount rates and future cash flow forms is done by nature and basis of some key assumptions. Value in use formed the basis of recoverable amount of CGU and the computation of value in use involves projection of cash flows, movement of working capital and financial projections. Computation of costs is done by estimating inflation rates and by considering gross historical margin. Valuation of cash flow involves assumption of long-term growth rates (brickworks.com.au 2017). Appropriate discount rate is calculated by using an independent external adviser IAS 36 provides the involvement of substantial subjectivity in the impairment testing procedure for goodwill (Lin and Graham 2017). If an organization practices higher degree of subjectivity in the process of impairment testing, then a scope allows manager to act opportunistically when they tests goodwill for the impairment purpose. Moreover, if the management of organization involves subjectivity in the methodology of impairment testing, then it make somewhat difficult for the users to obtain informations that are appropriate and accurate. Presence of subjectivity makes the measurement of recoverable amount of assets highly sensitive to some unverifiable assumptions. After the evaluation of annual report of Brickwork limited, it has been depicted that there is no involvement of subjectivity in the valuation of impairment and in the methodology of conducting impairment (brickworks.com.au 2017). Management of the group is not acting opportunistically in determining impairment assessme nt. The impairment testing methodology of Brickwork limited has been found to be surprising as there were separate and proper discussion of the impairment testing. Arrangement of the impairment procedures is done in a segregated way so that users of financial statement can derive appropriate information that helps them in identifying whether the recoverable and carrying amount of assets are done by maintaining accuracy. Assessment of impairment relating to goodwill, other intangible assets and assets such as plant, equipment and property is done in separate section that outlines the detailed discussion of their recognition and measurement. Amount of impairment is calculated by group as difference between carrying amount and recoverable amount of the joint ventures and its associates (brickworks.com.au 2017). While assessing the impairment testing process of Brickwork limited, some interesting and new insights have been gained by users of financial statement. Annual report depicts that there has been segregated disclosure of all the components of impairment and this comprise of formation of all key estimates and assumptions and determination of recoverable amount. Recognition and measurement of all the impairments of all assets that is intangible assets, goodwill and property, plant and equipment are done separately so that users do not get confused (brickworks.com.au 2017). Furthermore, there was separate recognition of impairment losses relating to all such assets. In nutshell, it can be said that users of financial stamen of company will be able to gain detailed and proper information about impairment testing method that will assist them in understanding the position of reporting entity in better way. Measurement of investment property and derivative financial instruments are done using fair value. Organization does the grouping of assets and liabilities into level 1 to level 3 if they are measured at fair value if they are measured on degree of observation of fair value. Level 1 fair value are those that are derived from quoted price for identical liabilities and assets. Level 2 fair value measurement are those that derive value from inputs other than quoted price and level 3 are those whose values are derived from valuation techniques (brickworks.com.au 2017). Identification of all liabilities and assets at fair value is depicted in the notes to financial statements and are categorized into the provided levels. Some of the elements of several financial statements that are recorded at fair value involve borrowing, derivatives, foreign currency, government grants and properties. Cost of assets that are acquired is measured at fair value and such costs are directly attributable to business combination (brickworks.com.au 2017). The reason why the former accounting standard for lease does not reflect true economic reality is its underlying principle that does the classification of leases into operating lease and financing lease. Treating leas as operating lease by reporting entity make them disclose it as an expense in the footnotes and treating operating lease as liabilities and assets in the balance sheet. Comparison of operating lease can be done to regular rental agreement and comparing finance lease as debt financed purchase. The criteria for lease recognition under the existing lease standard are ambiguous and there is a possibility of exploitation if organization intends to achieve specific classification (Joubert et al. 2017). Organization might dupe investors my making them appear financial stronger than they actually are by classifying lease contracts as operating lease. It would enable them to obtain assets while maintaining same level of debt. Therefore, the value of debt disclosed on balance she ets might be less than liabilities off balance sheets. Hence, in this regard, it can be said that former lease accounting standard do not reflect true economic reality to users. The former accounting standard does not mandate the disclosure of operating lease in the balance sheet of reporting entity. Due to this principle of the former standard, organization is able to obtain additional assets by classifying lease contracts as operating lease and there will not be any impact on debt structures. It would depict that while organization has more debt in reality but the absence of their disclosure would make it appear to be less leveraged that they actually are. Furthermore, the existing lease standard does not come with control-based approach and are not inclined toward focusing on risks and reward of ownership of lease contracts. Therefore, the true-leased assets and liabilities are not truly reflected in the balance sheets. Consequently, actual leased assets and liabilities might be considerably more than what is disclosed in the balance sheets (Lim et al. 2016). This explains why the off balance sheets liabilities were 66 times more than debt that the balanc e sheets of entity reports. Under the lease standard IAS 17, airline companies keep the liabilities and assets concerning fleet of vehicles and airplanes off balance sheets. Airline Company such As Emirates leases most of their aircraft fleets as compared to its competitor such as German airline Lufthansa that buys most of its fleets might look different in terms of their financial obligations (Morales and Zamora 2017). However, in reality, their financial obligations are similar and there do not exist much difference. The off balance sheet treatment of leases has the possibility of significantly influencing analysts and investors (Irvine 2016). It has also been ascertained from some sources of secondary research that leases most of its aircraft fleets have lower financial leverage and lower assets base compared to companies that leases few aircrafts. However, the scenario is different and the absence of information of lease would make it difficult for investors to make a comparison between such airline compani es. This explains why there were no level playing fields between airline companies under existing lease standard. Several criticisms that are associated with the new lease accounting standard are the reason for becoming unpopular. Balance sheets and debt structure of companies will increase as the focus of new standard is on operating lease capitalization. There exists possibility of violation of debt covenants due to hundred percent increases in balance sheets. Other criticism is in relation to short-term lease that new standard will replace the existing bright line between finance and operating leases (DiSalvio and Dorata 2014). This is so because companies for taking advantage of short-term lease would start shortening terms of lease and this corresponds to operating lease. It has been found that with the effectiveness of new standard, it will be difficult for companies to receive financing from banks, as there will be lower return on capital, lower asset turnover ratios and debt to equity ratios. Furthermore, unpopularity of new lease standard is also associated with considerable increase in administrative burden. Some of the common examples relating to this involve implementation of new IT system, changes in process and control system along with updating of the accounting system and increases expenditure in relation to consultation fees. Management is required to make investment in large amount of new IT systems and increased reporting time and complexities of management (Choubey 2016). It is so because organization under new standard that is IFRS 16 will be required to make more detailed estimates regarding the right to use assets and lease liabilities compared to IAS 17. ccounting standard IFRS 16 will eliminate all the subjective elements and lessees are required to depict most of lease on their balance sheets as liabilities and assets. There is the likelihood that some of the performance metrics such as cash from operations, earnings before interest, tax and depreciation and all in sustaining costs. Users and investors will accurately identify distinction between operating lease and financing lease under new lease. Some of the benefits that will be derived by companies from the implementation of new leasing standard incorporate flexible funding structures, reduction in cash flow due to residual value investment, cost effective funding compared to traditional funding, avoidance of disposal and ownership (Cheng 2015). Investors will be able to make better-informed decisions as they will not be required to make any rough estimation and calculation for operating the lease commitments of organization on to balance sheets. Comparison between the organiza tions will be facilitated and there will be more transparency that will help investors in making desirable investment decisions. In the former standard, most of entities used to treat lease as operating lease so that their overall debt structure remains same and they do not appear to be more leveraged (Barone et al. 2014). However, obligation of entity to make disclosure of all their liabilities and assets will reflect their actual financial position and lease commitments. It would lead management to make a better and balanced lease versus buy decisions. References list: Barone, E., Birt, J. and Moya, S., 2014. Lease accounting: a review of recent literature. Accounting in Europe, 11(1), pp.35-54. Biddle, G.C., Callahan, C.M., Hong, H.A. and Knowles, R.L., 2016. Do Adoptions of International Financial Reporting Standards Enhance Capital Investment Efficiency?. Brickworks.com.au. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.brickworks.com.au/IRM/content/annualreport/2017/files/assets/common/downloads/Brickworks%20Limited%20Interactive%20Annual%20Report%202017.pdf [Accessed 24 Jan. 2018]. Cheng, J., 2015. Small and Medium Sized Entities Managements Perspective on Principles-Based Accounting Standards on Lease Accounting. Technology and Investment, 6(01), p.71. Choubey, S., 2016. IFRS 16 Leases. The MA Journal, 51(2), pp.91-94. Dinh, T., Fink, C., Schultze, W. and Schabert, B., 2016. Leasingbilanzierung nach IFRS 16. PIR-Praxis der internationalen Rechnungslegung, (9), pp.235-243 DiSalvio, J. and Dorata, N.T., 2014. Lease accounting change: it's not over yet. Review of Business, 35(1), p.16. Florou, A., Kosi, U. and Pope, P.F., 2017. Are international accounting standards more credit relevant than domestic standards?. Accounting and Business Research, 47(1), pp.1-29. Irvine, J., 2016. IFRS 16 will bring $2.8 trn on to companies balance sheets, Economia, 13 januari. Tillgnglig online: https://economia. icaew. com/news/january-2016/ifrs-16-will-bring-2trn-pounds-on-balance-sheet.[Hmtat 2016-02-04]. January, I., 2016. the IASB issued IFRS 16, Leases. The new standard brings most leases on-balance sheet for. Joubert, M., Garvie, L. and Parle, G., 2017. Implications of the New Accounting Standard for Leases AASB 16 (IFRS 16) with the Inclusion of Operating Leases in the Balance Sheet. Journal of New Business Ideas and Trends, 15(2), pp.1-11. Lim, S.C., Mann, S.C. and Mihov, V.T., 2014. Market Recognition of the Accounting Disclosure and Economic Benefits of Operating Leases: Evidence from Borrowing Costs and Credit Ratings. Lin, K.C. and Graham, R.C., 2017. How Will the New Lease Accounting Standard Affect the Relevance of Lease Asset Accounting?. Mhedhbi, K., Mhedhbi, K., Zeghal, D. and Zeghal, D., 2016. Adoption of international accounting standards and performance of emerging capital markets. Review of Accounting and Finance, 15(2), pp.252-272. Morales-Daz, J. and Zamora-Ramrez, C., 2017. Effects of IFRS 16 on Key Financial Ratios: A New Methological Approach. Osei, E., 2017. THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB), AND THE INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (IASB) SINGS SIMILAR TUNE: COMPARING THE ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF NEW IFRS 16 WITH THE IAS 17, AND THE NEW FASB MODEL ON LEASES. Journal of Theoretical Accounting Research, 13(1). Picker, R., Clark, K., Dunn, J., Kolitz, D., Livne, G., Loftus, J. and Van der Tas, L., 2016. Applying international financial reporting standards. John Wiley Sons. Plotnikov, V.S., Plotnikova, O.V. and Melnikov, V.I., 2017. O teoreticheskikh aspektakh Mezhdunarodnogo standarta MSFO (IFRS) 16 Arenda[On the theoretical aspects of the International Standard IFRS 16 Lease]. Mezhdunarodnyi bukhgalterskii uchetInternational accounting, (1), pp.2-15. Sari, E.S., Altintas, A.T. and Ta?, N., 2016. The Effect of the IFRS 16: Constructive Capitalization of Operating Leases in the Turkish Retailing Sector. Simola, K., 2014. Successful IFRS standard change implementation process after the initial IFRS implementation. Song, X., 2016. Changes in lease financing practice during lease accounting standard overhaul (2005-2014). American Journal of Finance and Accounting, 4(3-4), pp.309-326. Warren, C.M., 2016. The impact of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)/International Financial Reporting Standard 16 (IFRS 16). Property Management, 34(3).

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Determine Clinical Utility For Procalcitonin-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Determine Clinical Utility For Procalcitonin? Answer: Introduction The reflective journal report is based on the article, Procalcitonin-guided diagnosis and antibiotic stewardship revisited (1). The article is the narrative review on the potential of the infection biomarker procalcitonin in infections other than the respiratory tract infections and sepsis. The aim of the article is to determine the clinical utility for procalcitonin or PCT in other infections such as Urinary tract infections, meningitis, and other superficial infections. The use of antibiotic treatment can be challenging for physicians due to ambiguity in using the conventional diagnostic markers such as C reactive protein and blood cultures in-patient suspected to have infection. The limitation pertains to the sensitivity and specificity (2). Antibiotic treatment for prolonged period has adverse consequences. In fifty per cent of the cases, the antimicrobial use has been found inappropriate and is unneeded in inpatient setting (3). It may lead to the antibiotic resistance and colla teral damage such asClostridiumdiffiicile-associated diarrhea. Recently, there is an increasing focus on the Procalcitonin, as an infection marker. Under normal circumstances it is produced by the thyroid C cells. However, in the case of bacterial infections, PCT is produced by many body tissues and it parallels to the severity of the inflammatory insult. Further, it is the prognostic indicator that the higher serum level of PCT is associated with the risk of mortality (2, 4). There is a growing body of literature on the use of PCT for the rationale use of the antibiotics. Thus, strong scientific evidence is needed to diagnose the bacteria infection using this marker, so that the antibiotic treatment can be reduced in duration when compared to other standard care. Thus, it is important to determine the efficacy of the PCT guided therapy. The benefits may include quick diagnosis, reduced hospital stay of patients even in severe sepsis and mortality (1, 3). If the clinical evidence is strong, the clinicians will be benefited. They can quickly diagnose the bacterial infections and treat on time, to prevent the clinical outcomes. The aim of the reflective journal is to summarise the selected journal article and critically evaluate the content of the research paper. Lastly, the overall summary is discussed based on the critically appraisal. Summary of article In the article by (1), the author has intended to update the clinicians on the new indications for PCT after the review published in 2011 indicating the use of prolactin in diagnosis and treatment of the lower respiratory tract infections and sepsis. This author of the article has performed a narrative review of the studies published in the period 2012-2013. The review includes various observational and interventional research and study designs. Most of the study designs selected were randomised control trials (RCT), RCT with real life (registry), meta-analysis of the RCTs, observational RCT of secondary analysis, only observational metaanalysis study, and only observational study. These chosen studies have investigated the use of the PCT in different types of infections and at different sites. The rationale for this narrative review is the inappropriate use of the antibiotics. With the emerging bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent call for intense ef forts to deal with the self-limiting nonbacterial and resolving diseases (5). There is a need of the one size fits all approach. This narrative review by (1) may add to the growing body of literature, highlighting a useful strategy for antibiotics treatment reduction. In the given article, pulmonary site, the infections covered are AECOPD, Asthma, bronchitis, community acquired immunity, and pulmonary fibrosis and upper respiratory infections. The infections related to heart studied are congestive heart failure, and endocarditis. The infections related to abdominal region covered are pancreatitis, appendicitis abdominal infections with peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. The blood related infections that are considered for determining the efficacy of PCT are Blood stream infection, Neutropenia and Severe sepsis/ shock. Some studies are included in the narrative review and deal with other infections such as arthritis, erysipelas, meningitis, and postoperative infections. Lastly, the article draws conclusion based on the results from different studies (1). Critical evaluation of the article The strength of the narrative paper is the flexibility of narratives (7). The author has focused on the broad picture of the Procalcitonin-guided diagnosis. The article has presented a comprehensive background on the chosen research area and the related gaps in this domain (1). The article contains wide range of relevant information on the Procalcitonin-guided diagnosis and its potential as infection biomarker. The strength of the study is the comprehensive details on the limitations of PCT (6). The interpretation of role of PCT is made carefully. The drawback of PCT related to suboptimal sensitivity and specificity was necessary to get idea of its clinical implication (1, 2). The literature review could have been presented in the article (1) precisely, instead of directly starting with the review (8). The article grabs the readers attention as it had clear question and focused on range of infections. The review has specified the type of the studies considered that makes easy for the readers to comprehend the methodology. It is the advantage of the study (9). However, the narrative review is limited due to lack of presentation of the search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thus, it remains ambiguous if the researcher had personal contact with the experts (8, 10). It is not clear if all the relevant studies in the chosen time frame were considered or not. The quality of the studies chosen for narrative review does not seem to be assessed and there is no hint on the assessment of the methodological quality. This is the drawback of the study. Hence, the validity of the narrative review is doubtful although the findings address the clinical question to some extent (11). It is evident from the paper (1) that the PCT is promising in reducing the antibiotic exposure. Thus, it will be highly beneficial for the patients suffering from the critically ill sepsis, UTIs, acute heart failure, meningitis, postoperative infections and other infections. If the antibiotics treatment can be reduced with PCT, it is added an advantage (12). Highlighting this aspect is the strength of the article. The most interesting finding was the antibiotic stewardship (for respiratory infection and sepsis) by monitoring PCT kinetics. It resulted in the shorter antibiotic treatment duration in case of other infections (2). The emphasis on the PCT kinetics for antibiotic stewardship for severe infections appeared to be the effective strategy to decrease the mortality due to short duration of the antibiotic treatment by early cessation of therapy. Highlighting these findings has positive clinical implications (1). This proves to be of prognostic value related to disease severity (1 2). The results are overall combined in a systemic manner, including all the studies selected. Different infections and the role of PCT in diagnosis and treatment are well presented under individual subheadings (13). The heterogeneity of the results are however, not considered by the author (14). The reviewer does not mention the other parameters related to the PCT evaluation such as odd ratio, relative risk, or p-value. It is not clear, if it was not mentioned or if it is not applicable to this review. Thus, the presentation of the results is descriptive. The tabular representation of the PCT cut off is mentioned among other parameters (15). The strength of the results section comes from the various settings that are useful for PCT-guided therapy. The theme of recoding the PCT values on admission can be of great help to the clinicians as it was found to reduce the antibiotic treatment in low risk situation (2, 3). The author at the end of the review emphasise on the need of the comparis on between CRP and PCT in terms of the antibiotic stewardship. The review concludes with need of intense efforts to reduce the inappropriate use of the antibiotics as also mentioned in other articles in this research area (1). These additional factors can be useful and be applied as it might contribute to the change in the clinical practice. There are several limitations to the narrative review inspite of the background of the broad topic. The nature of this type of research paradigm becomes too subjective in regards to the type of studies to be included or excluded and the overall conclusion drawn (16). The selection bias may lead to misleading results. The author has not conducted the systemic review for each type of the infection in the concerned article. Only selected studies based on the PubMed search were found and some were based on the authors expertise, that makes the results of the paper very enthusiastic due to subjective weighing of the studies chosen (1). Further, there is a probability of bias, as most of the studies did not bind the patient. When large set of studies are involved, it is challenging to determine and integrate the complex interactions (17). The author of the article has presented a very less data on the CRP markers of infection. Even for the other types of infections, PCT has not been well studied. This is the weakness of the study. However, there is a significant evaluation of the PCT marker and its role in different types of infection. The results related to this have been promising inspite of the limitations. The author of the chosen article has restricted the research to a very short time period that is 2012-2016. This is the drawback as the article has chance of missing relevant data pertaining to the research topic that has been published before this time (13). It may limit the reliability of the study and the conclusions dawn (15). Overall, the results are based on the personal evaluation, beliefs, thoughts and interpretations of the author. Since, it is an expert opinion; it can be considered an evidence of lowest type. These studies are not as rigorous as they should be (16). Systematic approach may eliminate the limitation of the narrative review. Thus, the futures studies may take this rigorous approach. This approach is suggested as systematic review is the reproducible and explicit summary of the health care interventions and their effects. Further, systematic review involves two reviewers and follows a well-structured peer review protocol. Since the reviewers review the methodology, the bias is reduced. The systematic review indentifies the quality of the chosen study therefore; they are more transparent than the narrative review. Further, systematic review is considered the cornerstone of the evidence based practice as it focuses on clinical question and indentifies the best evidence (18). The narrative question has established by developing a broad question. It should start with more clear and focused question. The focused question can include the population, intervention, comparison and outcomes. It is also called as PICO question in short and is effective in finding answers more efficiently. This process decreases the element of vague and chance of getting unnecessary results (19). Summary and discussion Based on the critical appraisal of the narrative review on the Procalcitonin-guided diagnosis, and antibiotics stewardship it is evident that there is a need of finding solution that will work as all purpose strategy. There is an emerging bacterial resistance to the antibiotics. However, the prolonged use of bacteria has many adverse consequences such as collateral damage and diarrhea associated with C.difficle. Earlier, many studies have tried to determine the efficacy of the PCT in the diagnosis and treatment of the bacterial infection. However, the focus of these previous studies was mainly on respiratory tract infections and sepsis. The narrative review however highlights the clinical utility for PCT in other infections such as Urinary tract infections, meningitis, and other superficial infections. This deviation in focus was necessary for the clinicians struggling with the prolonged use of the antibiotic therapy. Based on the findings of the narrative review, there are many clinical situations where the PCT may be useful. It includes the differentiation of the bacterial and the viral respiratory tract infection. PCT will be useful in the diagnosis of the septic arthritis, renal involvement in the paediatric urinary tract infections and distinguish between the bacterial and the viral meningitis. Other clinical situation were PCT can be used include monitoring of the response to the antibacterial therapy and diagnosis of the postoperative infection (systemic secondary infection) or cases of trauma, burns ad transplants (2, 3, 5). According to (4), clinicians should not make the decisions regarding the antimicrobial therapy based on the serum level of PCT. Rather; it will be effective if PCT is placed in the clinical context of each patient scenario (1, 4). The clinicians must consider the site of possible infection, the extent of bacteria invasion and the degree of illness. Other clinical data must also be considered, pertaining to the situation. However, once the use of PCT is approved, the factors to be considered are cost. It is expensive than CRP but hold greater value for determining the cessation of antibiotics. If there is a decreased antibiotic use, the cost savings through the use of the PCT can be identified. Based on the emerging studies, it can be concluded that, PCT appears to be persuasive and is an evidence based approach to use antibiotics more rationally. This article is like an eye-opener for diagnosis of different infections using PCT. There is a need of further research to compare the effectiveness of the CRP and PCT for diagnosis of adult emergency department patients. References Sager R, Kutz A, Mueller B, Schuetz P. Procalcitonin-guided diagnosis and antibiotic stewardship revisited. BMC medicine. 2017 Jan 24;15(1):15. Schuetz P, Daniels LB, Kulkarni P, Anker SD, Mueller B. Procalcitonin: A new biomarker for the cardiologist. International journal of cardiology. 2016 Nov 15;223:390-7. Sager, R., Wirz, Y., Amin, D., Amin, A., Hausfater, P., Huber, A., Haubitz, S., Kutz, A., Mueller, B. and Schuetz, P., 2017. Are admission procalcitonin levels universal mortality predictors across different medical emergency patient populations? 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