Issues in Hospitality Industry Essay Example for Free

Issues in Hospitality Industry Essay What are the main issues in hospitality industry? The issues were discussed at the last meeting of International Society(ISSC). Asking from the guest their shortage, they gave some problems necessary for them. Main part: Capital available, Emerging market, Technology, Travel permit residence. Capital available: Capital provides asset liquidity and enables the development of new hotels. Increasing institutional investment into the hotel sector is enhancing asset values and consequently lowering returns. Expectations of revenue and profitability growth are stimulating capital availability for new development. This environment is expected to continue as long as the hotel industry’s cyclical expansion continues. Signs of a cyclical plateau are starting to appear, and the implications of capital availability will be profound. Many factors affect the amount, timing, and availability of capital. In the US the fractured economic conditions that existed after 2001 eroded operating results and values over the ensuing few years, but this in turn set the stage for the current cyclical upturn. Modest potential for new supply, together with the industry’s high degree of operating leverage, have now made hotels highly attractive relative to other commercial asset classes. As a consequence, a large migration of institutional capital to the hotel sector was not long in coming. Investors have bid up hotel prices and bid down required yields to relatively low levels. The momentum of the hotel investment market has been enhanced by significant liquidity in the mortgage markets. Emerging market: The World Tourism Organization estimates that global tourism visitation (as measured by arrivals) has increased from 770 million in 2005 to 983 million in 2011 and is expected to continue to increase reaching 1,561 million by 2020. China alone is expected to generate 100 million outbound tourists by 2020 up from less than 15 million currently. As the number of international travelers increases, the beneficiaries (i. e. , countries and specific destinations) of international tourism will also change. In many cases, historically popular destinations may make gains in the aggregate number of visitors, but the proportion of total share is likely to decrease. A growing interest in â€Å"new† and previously less accessible destinations (such as Vietnam and China) as well as the strong growth of more traditional destinations (e. g. , Singapore) is driving this shift as well as more practical considerations such as location and modes of transportation. What is driving this rapidly expanding outflow of visitors? Among the leading reasons, travel is being seen as luxury rather a consumer staple at most income levels and as incomes in emerging markets rise, so does the demand for traveling. Regarding the increasing share of Asia it can be attributed to a large extent to the growth of China outbound travel which concentrates in Asia (in 2004, over 70% to Hong Kong / Macao and almost 20% rest of Asia) Demographics are also supporting this interest, again notably among emerging countries, where populations tend to be younger (as opposed to the western world where seniors and near seniors are the fastest growing age brackets) and the middle class is rapidly expanding. Awareness of foreign destinations through electronic images, the rapid acceptance of new telecom products and international branding/marketing has a direct appeal to this younger, more affluent demographic. The four BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) provide an interesting perspective of this demographic shift. Technology: The challenges of keeping up with the fast pace of technology is difficult and expensive. Guests can now use the Internet’s interactive reservation systems, and hospitality companies are sometimes criticized for the (alleged) large number of keyboard clicks required to make a reservation. The number of reservations made via the Internet continues to increase. Surveys in the United States show that currently 20% of all reservations are made through the Internet, and this percentage is increasing every year. With such high percentage of reservations done through the Internet, a hospitality cannot afford not being connected. If the potential guest cannot book online, a reservation will be made at the competitors web site. Guest-room Innovations Multiple telephone lines, interactive opportunities for ordering room service, and guest-room check-out are examples of amenities that guests increasingly desire, but that are very expensive to install and implement. Data Mining This technology allows marketing and sales personnel to find new ways to use guest-related data. (data mining: using technology to analyze guest and other related data to make better marketing decisions. ) Yield Management This computerized process allows managers to match guest demand with room rates (high demand means higher rates because of lessened discounts; low demand result in higher discounts. (yield management: demand forecasting systems designed to maximize revenue by holding rates high during times of high guest-room demand and by decreasing room rates during times of lower guest-room demand). Yield management is critical to maximizing a hospitality’s profitability. The concept are applied to every revenue department and across department. The yield managers job is to maximize the revenue per available room by selling rooms to the right customers, at the right price, at the right time.

Identification of Dermatophytes | Experiment

Identification of Dermatophytes | Experiment Abstract Dermatophytosis constitutes a group of superficial fungal infections of keratinized structures like stratum corneum of the skin, nails and hair. Despite the availability of effective antifungal agents, dermatophytic infections continue to be one of the principal infections throughout the world, especially in tropical countries like India. Identification of causative dermatophytic species in clinical settings are not only of epidemiological concerns but also important for the treatment of rather common dermatophytosis with great precision. To study the clinical variants, species of fungi causing dermatophytic infections, epidemiological factors responsible for the disease in central Mysore, molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility tests by MIC. The prospective observational analyses of clinically suspected 600 dermatophytic infected cases were studied at the Dermatology department of K.R. Hospital and C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India. The study was conducted from November 2010 to October 2012. All the cases were evaluated and patient’s data were recorded as per pre-designed proforma. Skin scraping, hair and nail samples were collected, processed, molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility test were done according to standard mycological protocol. Patients on topical and systemic antifungal treatment were excluded from the present study. Clinically suspected 600 patients samples were collected, among them 389 (64.8%) were skin scraping, 113 (18.8%) were hair plucking and 98 (16.3%) were nail clipping. They were processed for isolation and identification of dermatophytes from different clinical types. The specific and non specific variables effecting dermatophytosis were also analyzed. Samples were collected throughout the year, of which samples collected from July to October showed highest incidence of dermatophyte infection among patients. The number of specimen collected under the age group 21-30 years were 333 (55.5%), which was statistically significant (PMicrosporum canis and 12 were infected by Trichophyton verrucosum. Among 600 clinically suspected dermatophytes infected patients, 433 (72.2%) samples were collected from K.R. Hospital and 167 (27.8%) samples were collected from C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore. The various factors which were found to increase chances of acquiring dermatophytosis were by sharing bed, 343 (57.2%); not bathing daily, 362 (60.3%); and domestic animals in their house, 102 (17.0%). Partial treatment and over the counter medication was also considered as major factors influencing dermatophytic infection among patients. Less number of patients 86 (14.3%) showed family history of dermatophytosis. Most of the patients visited to the Doctor in 5th-8th week after infection, 391 (53.2%). During that period of infection, they were either taking home made medicine or over the counter medicine. Most of the cases found predominantly were tinea corporis and tinea capitis. Tinea corporis 282 (47.0%) and tinea capitis 75 (12.5%) were seen among 26-30 year old patients and 6-10 year old patients respectively. Most of the isolates belonged to three genera and eight species, where T. mentagrophytes was predominantly isolated 105 (29.7%), T. rubrum 84 (23.8%) was isolated from tinea corporis cases, T. violacium 4 (12.2%), T. verrucosum 54 (15.3%), Epidermophyton floccosum 11 (3.1%), M. canis 13 (3.6%), T. tonsurans 38 (10.8%) and T. schoenleinii 5 (1.4%) were also isolated from different cases of tinea. Dermatophytes infected culture positive, 132 patient samples (skin scrapings, hair plucking and nail clipping), were obtained for molecular characterization in the study. Nearly 87 males and 45 females were referred by Department of Dermatology, K.R. Hospital and C.S.I. Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore during two years of study period. The collected samples were analyzed by both direct microscopic examination and culture assays. Of the 132 culture positive cases, the organisms identified by phenotypic characterization were belonging to three genera and eight species viz., T. mentagrophytes 52 (39.4%), T. rubrum 30 (22.7%), T. violacium 18 (13.6%), T. verrucosum 11 (8.3%), E. floccosum 10 (7.6%), M. canis 6 (4.5%), T. tonsurans 3 (2.3%) and T. schoenleinii 2 (1.5%). The culture isolates of these organisms were further characterized by PCR. The present study showed positive result for phenotypically analyzed culture positive with 100% sensitivity and specificity by PCR. PCR targeting internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and Chitin synthase 1 was sensitive to detect 10 picograms and 1 femtogram of T. rubrum DNA respectively. From the same source (houses) 10 isolates from patients and 10 domestic animals were subjected to both PCR and RFLP. The product after agarosegel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme cutting patern was found to be infected by same T. verrucosum with 100% sensitivity and specificity. This indicates that T. verrucosum infection is from animal source. The dermatophyte specific primer based PCR-RFLP which targets the internal transcribed spacer and chitin synthase 1 region are useful in the direct identification of der ­matophytosis from clinical specimens. The application of the Hae III, Hinf I and Mva I restriction enzymes by using the ITS amplicons and chitin synthase 1 region are constant, stable and reproducible show variation within the species, so these sequences have been widely used to develop rapid procedures for the identification of fungal species by PCR-RFLP analysis. The PCR-RFLP method, on using the dermatophyte specific primer with restriction enzymes Mva I, Hae III and Hinf I, showed species differentiation among the T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes isolates. Since direct microscopy and culture have limitations, performing a direct PCR on the clinical speci ­mens can augment the diagnosis of more dermatophytic cases. PCR confirmed 132 dermatophytic samples were taken for antifungal sensitivity test. In the current study, among 132 isolates of dermatophytes some are sensitive and some are moving towards resistance, but high MIC value indicated that it has slowly acquired adaptation towards the drug. This indicates in near future it will develop drug resistance against the antifungal agents. Twenty three isolates (14.4%) were showing high MIC value for fluconazole of which T. mentagrophytes (8), T. rubrum (5) and T. verrucosum (10) and M. canis (3) had MIC50 of 16  µg ml-1. Second most frequently used drug next to fluconazole is ketoconazole, which had MIC50 of 0.125  µg ml-1 for most of the isolates. Griseofulvin, itraconazole and terbinafine showed similar results of 0.03-0.06  µg ml-1. The present study showed drug concentration inhibition of some fungi against 50% of isolates and 90% of isolates and their geometric mean of five drugs against 132 isolates. MIC50 and MIC90 were not determined because of small number of samples i.e., C. parapsilosis ATCC-22019 were within the value standardized by CLSI guidelines. The study highlighted tinea corporis as the most common clinical pattern of dermatophytosis followed by tinea capitis in Mysore. The predominant causative fungal species isolated were T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. violacium, T. verrucosum, E. floccosum, M. canis, T. tonsurans and T. schoenleinii confirmed by PCR with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Trichophyton verrucosum was isolated and confirmed by PCR and RFLP from human and their domestic animals (from animals to human). PCR-RFLP provides the best technique for dermatophytic identification at species level. MIC was done to see susceptibility and resistance pattern for clinician as well as for lab workers where terbinafine was 100% sensitive drug against dermatophytes. Clinical evaluation and fungal species identification are mandatory for proper management of dermatophytosis rather than empirical treatment. Need for the study In the medical science dermatophytes are constant parasites of human beings, and has survived several generations of therapeutic regimens, ranging from single dose antifungal to several dose drugs like griseofulvin, tolnaftate and early imidazole. There are some dermatophytes which were abundant once upon a time but now it is rare, it may be due to geographical restrictions, indicate that economy, geography, type of the species and environmental factors also interferes with the dermatophytic survival and distribution. It is equally important to review anthropophilic dermatophyte as well as zoophilic dermatophytes, which may increase chances of infection in the near future, as immunocompromised diseases are increasing day by day. The dermatophytes are oldest parasites of human and animals. Good and specified knowledge about these agents are still far from human understanding. The medical mycologists have done considerable work, but the studies were mainly devoted to the reactions of the host rather than the study of the parasites. The rates of publication on dermatophytes are limited as compared to the extensive work being done in the field of bacteriology and virology. As we know, these dermatophytic infections are not usually life threatening, but offer an interesting approach to the variety of fundamental problems in human, animals and fungal biology. The obvious reasons apparently disregard to the study of Medial Mycology Most of the fungal diseases are not fatal and hence do not attract much attention of the investigators. The development of the infection is very slow and persists for years without any serious damage to the host. Carrier among human and animals is very common and survives for decades without harming the host. Methods of isolation and identification are relatively very complicated and require long time to obtain positive results. Most of them are sensitive to the limited antifungal drugs except few and drug resistance is very slow and limited. Sources of infection are mostly human, animals and soil. Factors that attract to do research on dermatophytes Increasing incidence of immunocompromised diseases in and around the world. Changing patterns of dermatophytic infections with change in environment. Development of resistant species among the dermatophytes. Carrier harbours pathogenic species for many years to produce disease under favourable condition. Formulate treatment of choice according to the new changing pattern of drug resistant dermatophytes. Fungal infections of skin, hair and nail are common in hot and humid climate. Humans acquire various dermatophytic infections due to poor health hygienic conditions. The present investigation was aimed to study molecular level identification of tinea by PCR and its antifungal susceptibility test. Objectives of the study To study the incidence of dermatophytic infections and their clinical variants To identify the sources of infection by PCR for dermatophytes To determine the in vitro antifungal susceptibility test Slide culture For visualization of the normal colonial characteristics, arrangement and morphology of spores and mycelial appendages, slide culture was done. SDA media without antibiotics or cornmeal agar with 1% glucose was used. Lactophenol cotton blue was used as the mounting fluid for easy visualization of hyphae and spores (WHO, 1986). Advantages It is arapid method of preparing fungal colonies for examination and identification. Permits fungi to be studied virtually in situ with as little disturbance as possible fungi were identified mostly by close examination of its morphology and the characteristics it possess. We were growing the fungi directly on the slide on a thin film of agar. By doing this, there was no need to remove a portion of the fungus from a culture plate and transfer it to the slide. So there wasless chances for the features that were key to identification, notably the spore-bearing structures, without any damage. A modified method adapted from Roberts et al. (2003) and described here fulfills those requirements. Sterile 1.5% water agar (7 to 8 ml) was poured into sterile 60-mm plastic petri plates and allowed to solidify. A sterile 22-mm2 cover glass was centered on the agar. The desired nutrient agar medium (10 ml) was poured into a second 60-mm petri dish, allowed to solidify, and cut with a sterile stainless steel spatula into blocks approximately 5 to 8 mm2. One block was aseptically removed and placed on the cover glass. Inoculation of the agar block on one or more sides with fungal hyphae or conidia was followed by placement of a second sterile cover glass on top of it. After the petridish lid was replaced, the completed modified slide culture was incubated at the desired temperature until adequate growth and conidiogenesis had occurred. Each cover glass was used to prepare a semi permanent mount on a standard microscope slide 3 by 1 inch (7.62 by 2.54 cm). The top cover glass was lifte d off with forceps and wetted on the specimen side with a drop of ethanol (70 to 90%). One drop of fungus mounting medium (e.g., lactophenol cotton blue) was applied to the specimen, and the cover glass was lowered gently onto the slide, specimen side down. The bottom cover glass was lifted from the water agar and similarly mounted on a second slide. The nutrient agar block adhered to one of the cover glasses during the cover glass mounting procedure and was carefully lifted off with a sterile dissecting needle before the application of alcohol and mounting medium. Heat fixation of the cover glasses before mounting as described by McGinnis may improve the stability of the conidium-bearing structures (James, 2011). Lactophenol Cotton Blue (LPCB) The Lactophenol Cotton Blue wet mount preparation was the most widely used method of staining and observing fungi and was simple to prepare. The preparation has three components: phenol, which will kill any live organisms; lactic acid which preserves fungal structures, and cotton blue which stains the chitin in the fungal cell walls. It was used constantly as a mounting fluid when examining culture of fungi microscopically (Leck, 2012). Materials Lactic acid †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20 ml Phenol (crystals†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20 gm Glycerine†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 40 ml Water (distilled)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 20 ml Mixed the above gently and added 50 mg the dye,  cotton blue. Procedure Placed a drop of 70% alcohol on a microscope slide. Immersed the specimen / material in the drop of alcohol. Added one or at most two drops of the lactophenol cotton blue mount and stained before the alcohol dries out. Holding the cover slip between forefinger and thumb, touched one edge of the drop of mount with the cover slip edge, and lowered gently, avoiding air bubbles. The preparation was ready for examination. Hair penetration test Many isolates of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are difficult to distinguish between on the basis of colony morphology and microscopic appearance. This in vitro test is the best method to distinguish between these two dermatophytes: Procedure Obtained a small amount of juvenile human hair and washed off fats and oils (kept hair in flask or beaker with 50 to 100 ml of ether, acetone or alcohol, shacked for 2 to 5 minutes and pour off the liquid). With scissors, a scalpel or a razor blade cut the hair into segments approximately 1 cm long. Put the hair in a glass petri plates, place on the lid and autoclaved for 10 to 15 minutes. This maintained sterility in the petri plates and can be used for 10 years. Calcofluor White Stain (CFW) It is a fluorescent stain for rapid detection of yeasts, fungi and parasitic organisms. Calcofluor White stain is a non-specific fluorochrome that binds to cellucose and chitin in cell walls (Chattaway and Barlow, 1954; Green et al., 1983; Hageage and Harrington, 2005). Composition: Calcofluor White M2R 1g/l and Evans blue 0.5g/l. Directions: Put the sample to be examined onto a clean glass slide. Add one drop of Calcofluor White Stain and one drop of 10% Potassium Hydroxide Place a cover slip over the specimen and let stand for 1 minute. Examine the slide under UV light at 100X to 400X magnification. Calcofluor White Stain was a non-specific fluorochrome that binds with cellulose and chitin contained in the cell walls of fungi and other organisms. The staining procedure with Calcofluor White Stain is a rapid method for the detection of many yeasts and pathogenic fungi like Microsporidium, Acanthamoeba, Pneumocystis, Naegleria, and Balamuthia species. Evans blue present in the stain act as a counter stain and diminishes background fluorescence of tissues and cells when using blue light excitation (not UV). A range of 300 to 440 nm (Emmax 433nm; 0.1 M phosphate pH 7.0; cellulose) can be taken for emission wave length and the excitation occurs around 355nm. Fungal or parasitic organisms appear fluorescent bright green to blue, while other material is reddish-orange fluorescent. Attentions to be taken as cotton fibers will fluoresce strongly as well amoebic cysts are fluorescent. One drop of 10% potassium hydroxide solution can be added for better visualization of fungal elements.

Effect of Feed on the Mineral Composition of Labeo Rohita

Effect of Feed on the Mineral Composition of Labeo Rohita Khalid Javed Iqbal*1, Muhammad Ashraf1, Arshad Javid2, Farzana Abbas1, Muhammad Hafeez-ur-Rehman1, Fayyaz Rasool1, Noor Khan1 , Sumaira Abbas1 and Muhammad Altaf 2 ABSTRACT Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of plant-fishmeal feed and/or plant by-product based feed on minerals composition of Labeo rohita. Fish fed on rice polish alone served as control (T0). Feed ingredients were grouped together with two ingredients in each test diet which served as an independent trial during these studies. Group 1(T1) contained guar meal and canola meal, group 2(T2) soybean meal and cotton seed meal, group 3(T3) guar meal and cotton seed meal, group 4(T4) soybean meal and canola meal and group 5(T5) fishmeal and canola meal. Each group including control had two replicates. 12 earthen ponds with uniform area of 0.03 ha each, were randomly stocked with 100 fish (average weight 200 g) in each following standard stocking protocols. All the 12 ponds were then randomly allotted to individual treatment including control group. Experimental fish were fed @ 4% of their wet biomass twice a day. Minerals specifically Na, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Cu significantly differed (Pâ ‰ ¤0.05) among treatments which might be linked with their variable release in digestive system of fish in the presence of various anti-nutritional factors. Key Words: fishmeal; soybean meal; canola meal; Ca; Na. INTRODUCTION Fish is rich in animal protein, low in cholesterol and high in unsaturated fatty acids (Kromhout et al., 1995; Zenebe et al., 1998a; Arts et al., 2001; Fawole et al., 2007) and due its these peculiar qualities is preferred over red meats (Sadiku and Oladimeji, 1991; Mozaffarian et al., 2003; Foran et al., 2005;). Nutritional quality of fish is however, not uniform and varies a lot among different fish species even within species when cultured under environments and different culture systems. Among herbivorous fish varieties Labeo rohita is preferred among consumers due to its typical taste and texture and among culturists due to growth, hardiness and wide range feeding habits. That is the reason that it is dominant fish in current fish cultural practices (Khan et al., 2004; Hussain et al., 2011; FAO, 2000; Chaudhuri et al., 1974). Other than nutritional competencies the fish is an important economic source, and its culture is rapidly growing not only in developing countries but in developed contraries too (Delgado et al., 2002; Louka et al., 2004). The success of fish culture depends on availability and selection of appropriate diets that are proficiently digested, are cost effective and provide the necessary nutrients for optimal growth (Mokolensang et al., 2003). Improvement and selection of appropriate feed ingredients has pronounced effect on the nutritional values, fish growth and its adjunct qualities (Shioya et al., 2011; Yang et al., 2011). Cost effective quality feed has pivotal role in fish production and has always been a constraint in the expansion of fish culture and in sustained development of aquaculture industry. It determines growth, flesh composition, especially lipid, mineral content of produced fish and ultimately market response (Izquierdo et al., 2003; Rasmussen, 2001). Among other nutrients minerals also has an important role and contribute to the growth of fish being an integral components of many enzymes involved metabolism (Glover and Hogstrand, 2002). Several minerals are required for proper development and normal execution of organism’s bodily functions as Ca is necessary element for the bone development (Erkan and Ozden, 2007) and Ca, Mg, Na and K, are involved in cellular metabolism which are usually found in higher quantities in biological tissues (Wagner and Boman, 2003). Zn is well known to be involved in most metabolic pathways in plants and animals (Hambidge, 2000). Copper, iron and manganese are essential for maintenance of normal growth and reproduction (Turkmen et al., 2005; Roy and Lall, 2006). Fish is a major source of Fe (Fraga, 2005) which is involved in blood synthesis in liver (Wagner and Boman, 2003), is an integral component of oxygen carrying protein from lungs to the tissues (Wagner and Boman, 2003; Camara et al., 20 05). Mn is required in minute quantities on daily basis for better health and growth in humans and its deficiency may result in nervous system disorder (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004). Keeping in view all the above mentioned concerns the present study is planned to find out the effect of plant-fishmeal feed and/or plant by-product based feed on minerals profile of Labeo rohita. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental site and study trials This three month study was conducted in earthen ponds of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Ravi Campus Pattoki, using juvenile Labeo rohita as an experimental animal. Experimental design Studies were designed following Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were 5 treatments and a control with two replicates in each group and whole trial was managed in 12 ponds. 100 juveniles of Labeo rohita having mean body weight of 200g were randomly stocked in each pond (0.03 ha) and then all these ponds were arbitrarily distributed among 5 treatments and a control. Five experimental diets pertaining to each treatment, by proportionate ratio of the two feed ingredients was maintained at 1:1 i.e. (T1) guar meal and canola meal, (T2) soybean meal and cotton seed meal, (T3) guar meal and cotton seed meal, (T4) soybean meal and canola meal, (T5) fishmeal and canola meal and a control diet (T0) i.e. rice polish with two replicates in each. Fish were regularly fed @ 4% of wet body weight twice a day. Proximate analysis Feed proximate analysis was analyzed by using Bà ¼chi NIR Technology (Bà ¼chi NIRFlex N-500) Feed were dried and finally ground in pestle and mortar and then placed in sampler cups. The cups were placed in Bà ¼chi NIR machine for two minutes which then displayed a complete proximate analysis report which was saved for future use (Table 1). Table 1 Proximate analysis of feed combinations Mineral analysis Well ground 0.5 g sample was taken in conical flask which 10 ml HNO3 was added in. Mixture was then boiled for 15 minutes at 60 0C and then 5 ml perchloric acid was added and boiled it again for another 15 minutes at 60 0C. Sample flask was then placed on hot plate and heated till sample volume reduced to 1 ml. This sample was diluted to 100 ml by addition of distilled water. Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) were measured by flame photometric method while calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis The data generated during the course of this trial from various sources was analyzed by one way ANOVA using SAS software to determine the significance of various treatment groups. Difference among various means obtained from computation of treatment data sets was compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test to indentify the presence of variations. Probability level for these tests was fixed at P≠¤0.05. RESULTS Mineral composition of Labeo rohita showed statistically significant (P ≠¤ 0.05) differences in Na, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu content while non-significant in K and Mg. Significantly higher Na (27.400 ±0.98 ppm) was observed in fish fed on T2 and the lowest (18.05 ±5.30 ppm) in T4, similarly significantly higher Ca content was observed in fish fed on T5 (14.245 ±0.09 ppm) while the lowest in T3 (10.515 ±0.09 ppm), significantly higher Fe content was recorded for fish fed on T5 (5.960 ±0.87 ppm) while the lowest in T4 (1.910 ±0.14 ppm), significantly higher (0.815 ±0.09 ppm) and lower (0.470 ±0.04 ppm) Zn contents were observed in T1 and T2. Higher Cu concentrations were recorded in fish fed on T3 (0.045 ±0.01 ppm) and lower in fish fed on T0 (0.015 ±0.01 ppm), higher values of K was observed on T2 (68.550 ±23.97 ppm) while lower for T3 (53.100 ±2.82 ppm), maximum Mg values were observed for T1 (3.270 ±0.11 ppm) and minimum for T2 (2.915 ±0.10 ppm) (Table -2). Table 2 Effect of feed on mineral composition of Labeo rohita DISCUSSION In present study mineral composition of Labeo rohita showed significant (P ≠¤ 0.05) variation in Na, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu content in different treatments. Statistically significantly higher Na, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu were observed in fish were observed in T2, T5, T5, T1, T3 while non-significantly higher K and Mg were observed in T2 and T1 respectively. Contrary to our study Khan et al. (2012) observed non-significant variations in mineral content in major carps reared in mono and polyculture systems. Similarly Luczynska et al. (2009) also observed non-significant differences in fishes having different feeding niches. During present study significantly higher Na was observed in fish fed T2 and lower in fish fed wit T4. Comparatively higher Na concentrations were observed in marine fish by Pirestani et al. (2009). Significantly higher Ca was observed in fish fed on T5 and lower for fish fed on T3. Our findings are in line with Babalola, et al. (2011) who observed significant variations in c oncentration of Ca among different commercial fish species of Nigeria. Significantly higher Fe content was observed in fish fed on T5 and lower in fish fed on T4 during present analysis. Mean Fe values were observed within the ranges given by Pirestani et al. (2009) in C. carpio. Babalola et al. (2011) observed non significant differences in Fe content among different commercial fishes of Nigeria. Significantly higher Zn was determined in fish fed with T1 while lower on T2 during present study. Contrary to our study Stezycka et al. (2003) observed higher Zn content in non-predatory fishes and marine fish species (Pirestani et al., 2009). During present study significantly higher Cu concentration was determined in fish, fed on T3 while lower for T0 diet. Contrary to our study Pirestani et al. (2009) observed higher Cu concentrations in fish collected from South Caspian Sea. During present analysis higher Mg concentrations were observed in fish fed on T1 while lower for T2 diets. Our findings confirm Babalola et al. (2011) who observed non-significant dif ferences in Mg content among different commercial fishes of Nigeria. Contrary to our observations Pirestani et al. (2009) found significantly higher Mg content in different commercial fishes of Nigeria. During present study higher K values were determined for fish fed on T2 while lower for T3. Contrary to our study significantly higher K contents were recorded in different commercial fishes of Nigeria (Pirestani et al. 2009), freshwater fish species (Achionye-Nzeh et al. 2011) and commercial fishes of Sudan (Mohamed et al. 2010). REFERENCES Achionye-Nzeh C. G., Adedoyin O. M., Oyebanji, S., and Mohammed M.O., 2011, Mineral composition of some marine and freshwater fishes. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America. 2(7): 1113-1116. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 2004. Agency for toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology, Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA. Available from: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/. Arts, M. T., Ackman, R. G. and Holub, B. J., 2001. Essential fatty acids in aquatic ecosystems: a crucial link between diet and human health and evolution. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 58: 122–137. Babalola, A. F., Adeyemi, R. S., Olusola, O. A., Salaudeen, M. M., Olajuyigbe, O. O., and Akande, G. R., 2011. Proximate and Mineral Composition in the Flesh of Five Commercial Fish Species in Nigeria. Internet Journal of Food Safety, Vol.13, 2011, p.208-213 Camara, F., Amaro, M. A., Barbera, R. and Clemente, G. 2005. Bioaccessibility of minerals in school meals: comparison between dialysis and solubility methods. Food Chemistry, 92: 481-489. Chaudhuri, H., Chakraborty, R. D., Rao, N. G. S., Janakiram, K., Chatterjee, D. K. and Jena, S., 1974. 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A. and Schwager, S. J., 2005. Risk- based consumption advice for farmed Atlantic and wild pacific salmon contaminated with dioxins and dioxin- like compounds. Environmental health perspectives, 33: 552-556. Fraga, C. G., 2005. Relevance, essentiality and toxicity of trace elements in human health. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 26: 235-244. Glover, C. N. and Hogstrand, C., 2002. Amino acids in vivo intestinal zinc absorption in freshwater rainbow trout. Journal of Experimental Biology, 205: 151-158. Hambidge, M., 2000. Human zinc deficiency. Journal of Nutrition, 130: 1344S-1349S. Hussain, S. M., Rana, S. A., Afzal, M. and Shahid, M., 2011. Efficacy of phytase supplementation on mineral digestibility in Labeo rohita fingerlings fed on corn gluten meal (30%) based diets. Pakistan Journal of Agriculture Science, 48:237-241. Izquierdo MS, Obach A, Arantzamendi L, Montero D, Robaina L, Rosenlund G (2003). Dietary lipid sources for sea bream and sea bass: Growth performance, tissue composition and flesh quality. Aquacult. Nutr. 9: 397-407. Khan, M. A., Ahmed, I. and Abidi, S. F., 2004. Effect of ration size on growth, conversion efficiency and body composition of fingerling mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton). Aquaculture Nutrition, 10: 47-53. Khan, N., Ashraf, M., Qureshi, N. A., Sarker, P. K., Vandenberg, G. W. and Rasool, F., 2012. Effect of similar feeding regime on growth and body composition of Indian major carps (Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo rohita) under mono and polyculture. African Journal of Biotechnology, 11(44), 10280-10290. Kromhout, D., Feskens, E. J. and Bowles, C. H., 1995. The protective effect of a small amount of fish on coronary heart disease mortality in an elderly population. International Journal of Epidemiology, 24: 340-345. Louka, N., Juhel, F., Fazilleau, V. and Loonis, P., 2004. A novel colorimetry analysis used to compare different drying fish processes. Food Control, 15: 327-334. Luczynska, j., Tonska, E., luczynski, J. M., 2009. Essential mineral components in the muscles of six freshwater fish from the Mazurian Great Lakes (northeastern Poland). Arch. Pol. Fish. 17: 171-178. Mohamed, H. A. E., Rabie Al-Maqbaly and H. Mohamed Mansour. 2010. Proximate composition, amino acid and mineral contents of five commercial Nile fishes in Sudan. African Journal of Food Science. 4(10), 650-654. Mokolensang, J. F., Yamasaki, S. and Onoue, Y., 2003. Utilization of Shochu distillery by-products for culturing the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L). On Line Journal of Biological Sciences, 3(5), 502-507. Mozaffarian, M. D., Rozenn, N. L., Lewis, H. K., Gregory, L. B., Russell, P. T. and Davis, S. S., 2003. Cardiac benefits of fish consumption may depend on type of fish meal consumed. Circulation, 107:1372-1382. Pirestani, S., Sahari, A. M., Barzegar, M. and Seyfabadi, S. J., 2009. Chemical compositions and minerals of some commercially important fish species from the South Caspian Sea. International Food Research Journal, 16: 39-44. Rasmussen, R. S., 2001. Quality and farmed salmonids with emphasis on proximate composition, yield and sensory characteristics. Aquaculture, 32: 767-786. Roy, P. K. and Lall, S. P., 2006. Mineral nutrition of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus (L.): a comparison of wild and cultured stock. Journal of Fish Biology, 68: 1460-1472. Sadiku, S. O. E. and Oladimeji, A. A., 1991. Relationship of proximate composition of Lates niloticus (L), synodontis schall. Research Communications, 3: 29-40. Shioya I., Inoue, K., Abe, A., Takeshita, A. and Yamaguchi, T., 2011. Beneficial effects on meat quality of yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata induced by diets containing red pepper. Fisheries Science, 77: 883-889. Stezycka E., Bzdà ªga J., Pawlikowska K. and Siwicki, A., 2003. Metals content in fish caught in Wloclawek surroundings, zywienie Czlowieka Methbolizm. 30: 593-597 (in Polish). Turkmen, A., Turkmen, M., Tepe, Y. and Akyrt, I., 2005. Heavy metals in three commercially valuable fish species from Iskenderun Bay, Northen East Mediterranean Sea, Turkey. Food Chemistry, 91: 167-172. Wagner, A. and Boman, J., 2003. Biomonitoring of trace elements in muscle and liver tissue of freshwater fish. Spectrochimica Acta (Part B), 58: 2215-2226. Yang S. D., Tung, T. Y., Chou, R. L., Lan, H. L., Chen, G. R., Pai, J. N., Liu, F. G. and Chen, T. I., 2011. Comparison of the effects of two floating pellets on the growth and meat quality of Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica). Journal of Taiwan Fisheries Research, 19: 17-28. Zenebe, T., Ahigren, G. and Boberg, M., 1998a. Fatty acid content of some freshwater fish of commercial importance from tropical lakes in the Ethiopian rift valley. Journal of Fish Biology, 53: 987-1005.

Comparing Mens Assumptions in Susan Glaspells Trifles and Henrik Ibse

Men's Assumptions in Trifles and A Doll House There are many similarities in the relationships between men and women in Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House. The conflict in each play is the result of incorrect assumptions made by the males of a male-dominated society. The men believe that women focus on trivial matters and are incapable of intelligent thinking, while the women quietly prove the men's assumptions wrong. In the plays Trifles and A Doll House men believe women only focus on trivial matters. While Mrs. Wright is being held in jail for the murder of her husband, she is concerned about the cold weather causing her jars of fruit to freeze and burst. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale discuss Mrs. Wright's concern over her canned fruit after finding a broken jar. Mrs. Peters voices Mrs. Wright's concern, "She said the fir'd go out and her jars would break" (Glaspell 1.27). The Sheriff's response is, "Well can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves" (Glaspell 1.28). The women realize the hard work involved in canning this fruit and understand Mrs. Wright's concern. The men see this as unimportant compared to the trouble Mrs. Wright is facing. Likewise, in Isben's play A Doll House Helmer believes that his wife Nora only focuses on trivial matters. Three weeks prior to Christmas Nora spent every evening working alone. Helmer believes that Nora is making the family Christmas ornaments and other treats for the Christmas holidays. In reality, Nora is working for money to repay a loan that she illegally acquired when Helmer was ill. The house cat is blamed for destroying the nonexisting ornaments. Helmer reminds her of the long hours spent away from the family. Helmer sa... ...n, John S. Ibsen: The Open Vision. 1982. Durbach, Errol. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Glaspell, Susan. "Trifles." Plays by Susan Glaspell. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company,   Inc., 1920. Reprinted in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama.   X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia Eds. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1995.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2000. 127-137. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Templeton, Joan. "The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen." PMLA (January 1989): 28-40.    Comparing Men's Assumptions in Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Henrik Ibse Men's Assumptions in Trifles and A Doll House There are many similarities in the relationships between men and women in Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House. The conflict in each play is the result of incorrect assumptions made by the males of a male-dominated society. The men believe that women focus on trivial matters and are incapable of intelligent thinking, while the women quietly prove the men's assumptions wrong. In the plays Trifles and A Doll House men believe women only focus on trivial matters. While Mrs. Wright is being held in jail for the murder of her husband, she is concerned about the cold weather causing her jars of fruit to freeze and burst. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale discuss Mrs. Wright's concern over her canned fruit after finding a broken jar. Mrs. Peters voices Mrs. Wright's concern, "She said the fir'd go out and her jars would break" (Glaspell 1.27). The Sheriff's response is, "Well can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves" (Glaspell 1.28). The women realize the hard work involved in canning this fruit and understand Mrs. Wright's concern. The men see this as unimportant compared to the trouble Mrs. Wright is facing. Likewise, in Isben's play A Doll House Helmer believes that his wife Nora only focuses on trivial matters. Three weeks prior to Christmas Nora spent every evening working alone. Helmer believes that Nora is making the family Christmas ornaments and other treats for the Christmas holidays. In reality, Nora is working for money to repay a loan that she illegally acquired when Helmer was ill. The house cat is blamed for destroying the nonexisting ornaments. Helmer reminds her of the long hours spent away from the family. Helmer sa... ...n, John S. Ibsen: The Open Vision. 1982. Durbach, Errol. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Glaspell, Susan. "Trifles." Plays by Susan Glaspell. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company,   Inc., 1920. Reprinted in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama.   X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia Eds. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1995.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2000. 127-137. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Templeton, Joan. "The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen." PMLA (January 1989): 28-40.   

Unhealthy Images of the Female Body :: Psychology, Self-esteem

To some degree women in various cultures have always experienced the pressure to conform to specific ideals. The new phenomenon in Western society is telling women that beauty has requirements. That is, to be attractive you must be incredibly thing, firm, but not muscular and large breasted (Grogan 41). Unhealthy images of the female body are continuously displayed in almost all aspects of media, but television commercials are an incredibly strong influence. Although there are many influential commercials, the ad campaign by Victoria's Secret, Love My Body, is particularly frightening. The television commercials star the typical "stick thin and busty" models (McDonell-Parry) parading around in their underwear, wind blowing through their hair, making comments such as "I love my body", "my body is sexy" and "my body is my favorite body". The idea of confidence is possibly trying to be portrayed here, but the company strongly reinforces the narrow image of beauty created in Western society by choosing models that conform to Westernized beauty standards, thus contradicting the theme of confidence (McDonell-Parry). This specific Victoria's Secret commercial, along with many other commercials, are being viewed by thousands of women, both young and old. The portrayal of these women on TV sends a message to young females that confidence is fun and sexy, but you can only have it if you are extremely thin, busty, and beautiful like the displayed women. The commercials for the new line of bras could have easily been made to promote the love and appreciation of all women, despite their shape or size, but it chose to reinforce the unrealistic standards that the typical media source holds. It is images and ads like these that create inward negative feelings in young women. Self-esteem is considered to be a â€Å"positive or negative attitude toward†¦ the self† (Clay 451). Negative attitudes in young women can stem from a variety of internal or external forces. An accurate method to measure a young female’s self-esteem is through the interpretation of body dissatisfaction and what provokes it. Body dissatisfaction occurs due to three things, in the present day: the desire to be thin, the dread of weight gain and the idea that weight and shape are essential to a female’s character (Levine 11). All of these determinants of body dissatisfaction are a result of how media uses an unrealistic female body in virtually all of its aspects, thus creating a cultural norm that being "thin is attractive" (Levine 15).

Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee Essay -- Literary Analysis

Report on the Novel: DISGRACE by J. M. Coetzee For a man of his age, fifty-two, divorced, he has, to his mind, solved the problem of sex rather well. On Thursday afternoons he drives to Green Point. Punctually at two pm. He presses the buzzer at the entrance to Windsor Mansions, speaks his name, and enters. Waiting for him at the door of No. 113 is Soraya. This weekly rendezvous with a prostitute is the closet thing to a personal and intimate relationship Professor David Lurie has. J. M. Coetzee' novel, "Disgrace," takes place in post-apartheid South Africa. The times swing chaotically in the great upheaval as South Africa's political power arm swings from a white ruling minority, to black majority rule. The power shift is anything but smooth; victims become victors and, likewise, oppressors become the oppressed. As the story opens, Croetzee's main character , David Lurie lives in Cape Town, South Africa, as a respected university professor. He lives a life of sexually fulfilled non-commitment relationships, misusing his authority and good standing in the community to fulfilling his sexual desires, with or without the permission of the women, he targets for seduction. He was born and raised as a member of the white minority, that ruled South Africa for decades during the apartheid era. He has not tempered his apartheid attitude, nor, changed his ways to adjust to the new South African post-apartheid era. He acts on his sexual desires and deems he answers to no man for what he does. Thus far, David Lurie's role in life has seen only a fleeting few personal relationships that were not lasting for any length of time. He has solely existed to pursue sex without any conscience regard, evening seducing yo... ...o Petrus, and agrees Petrus can publicly claim her as one of his wives. Lucy tells Lurie, the young rapist has returned, and he is Petrus' brother-in-law. Soon they both agree the young rapist is mentally retarded. As the book come to the last page – Lurie is at the shelter, and with tears in his eyes – he is carrying a dog he has formed an attachment to be put to sleep. SOURCES, other than the novel: â€Å"DISGRACE.† Ruman, Md. Abdul Karim Ruman. "Is Disgrace Justified?: Psychological, Ethical and Political Significance of the Title in J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace." web: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature-articles/is-disgrace-justified-psychological-ethical-and-political-significance-of-the-title-in-jm-coetzees-disgrace-2599298.html. Posted: Jun 10, 2010 wikipedia: web page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)

Tattoo Essay

TATTOO Indians , Japaneses , American and African civilizations maked a tattoo for ornamental. In many civilizations tattoo used for protection to sickness and evil spirits. Tattoo used for emphasize the position of the individual in society (slave,lord,soldier,etc. ) A. C. 2000 in egypt , first tattoo found in mummy. Britons,Gauls and Thracians interested to tattoo art. Hellen and roman civilizations used tattoo for slave nd guilties people. First christian people wrote Jesus name to their body.Tattoo swords coming from Tahiti language â€Å"tautau†. Tattoo was used romantic feeling , patriotism or religionist aim but in 20 century just prof tattoo makers doing this art who has a licance . Because of hygiene problems and contegion as like AIDS. Tattoo , people usually say its a kind of an addiction. Well I think they are mostly right. But it depends on the people for sure. Some people are getting inked just for the model they like. Some are getting inked to tell others the th ings he has on deep inside his mind.People also say inked people will be regretful in the future cause they think tattooed people will get bored of their tattoos. Actually there is no really something like that. Tattoo is a way to show people what or who you are. Its a lifestyle. Or maybe just art. Tattoo will be a taboo for those forever. And the most amazing thing for some others,us. I love tattoo , I think tattoo isn't a sin . If you are ready tk get inked, you got to make sure you are doing it safe. You need A clean place and the professional hands .Its your body and There is no return at all. Price is never the same at tattoo studios. There is only one reason,quality. You re getting a painting on your body, get it well done! When you are getting inked, you need to be sober. If you drink alcohol,that makes your blood run faster and that means more blood out. Yes some of your blood would want to get out of your veins the pain of tattoo changes for the people. Some people says it a little bit hurts. Some even faint. Nothing to worry though. I think it's worth a shot.