Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Web Influence Over Business Essays - Web Applications, E-commerce

Web Influence Over Business The Internet will greatly alter the structure and operation of all industries. For the management of any existing business the central question is not whether the Internet will be relevant to your business, but rather what will we need to do to profit from that change ( "The Internet" ). The Internet is evolving many aspects of business and it creates many new business opportunities. It is developing what is called the "New Business Environment", because it changes the way products are developed, distributed, marketed, sold, and serviced ( "Business on the" ). In theory, doing business over the Internet with consumers should be ideal however, many people are not comfortable with it yet. It will take a little while before most people are completely at ease and order products. First off, the Internet will provide many capabilities that will be very beneficial to a business. Some of the benefits include E-mail, Mailing Lists, UseNet, Telnet, FTP, Gopher, and of course the World Wide Web. All of these are a way to keep you informed and in touch with business associates and customers anywhere in the world ( "What can the" ). With an Intranet in place you've got an infrastructure for group applications, you don't need to install software on everyone's PC, they can just use their Web browser and while the main costs are in employee time, the cost of software has dropped significantly ( "Put Your Own" ). The effects of the Internet will take a decade or more to generally replace existing patterns of business. The Internet and its strategic impact are not technological issues, they are business ones ( "The Internet" ). Executives are likely to carry responsibility for whether their organization ultimately prospers or perishes in an Internet impacted world. The particular impact will differ between industries, so you need to identify the likely form of impact it will have on your industry and adopt appropriate strategies. A few threats are when using the Internet, competitors become relatively more effective, e.g. reducing costs, improving service and increasing sales impact. Also, some important customers or suppliers may have migrated exclusively to the Internet and are inaccessible in any other way. Some firms redefine the industry in a very fundamental way that threatens all existing competitors ( "The Internet" ). With the advent of the Internet, it has dramatically improved operational and sales effectiveness in numerous different applications. A few such areas are, on-line stockbrokers: such as E*Trade and Ceres, on-line travel agents, banks and other financial services: such as on-line banking systems, and insurance and fund management. Right now, there are many companies whose outreach is global such as Amazon.com and CD Now, soon all of the above areas will be global ( Daring ). Another area of the business environment that will be significantly changed due to the Internet are small firms, especially ones who wish to export. The Internet can relatively easily give small firms access to international markets, and engage in electric commerce ( Cragg ). However, not much is known about the use of the Internet by small firms, mainly because it is such a new method. An example of such an idea was taken advantage of by Elizabeth Botham & Sons Bakery. The bakery is located in a small town called Whitby in North Yorkshire and business is tough because it is geographically restricting and it is based in a very seasonable town. In order to do business and keep their staff hired year around the manager, Mike Jarman turned to the Internet. He found a company called Octagon Ltd., which helped him get started. Since going on the Web in 1995, the company has had over 25,000 potential customers visit the site and receives a dozen hefty orders a week ( "Yorkshire Bakery" ). The Web is a great distribution tool, the information you place on your Web site can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Web can save you time and money in information distribution over traditional mail and printing methods ( Daring ). Rather than reading a static advertisement, your customers can go directly to their areas of interest and see an intriguing web page. They can get detailed information on your staff and services, browse your product lines, and get up to date information on what is happening in your company. One of the benefits of a web site is that your customer can respond to you directly ( Shaw ). Even though the Internet has

Friday, March 6, 2020

12 Angry Men Essays - English-language Films, 12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men Essays - English-language Films, 12 Angry Men 12 Angry Men A persons surroundings can influence him. In 12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose a young mans life is held by twelve men with contrasting views. After hearing, the case the jurors go into deliberations. Eleven of the 12 are convinced that the boy murdered his father. However, Juror # 8 a caring man, who wishes to talk about why the other jurors think that the boy is guilty, clashes with Juror # 3, a sadistic man who would pull the switch himself to end the boys life. Early on, it's not revealed why #3 feels so strongly about putting the boy to death. He is just so dead set on killing him though. But because of Juror # 8, the others must now go over the whole case again to review the facts. According to Rose, several elements can influence a jury's verdict, such as the emotional make-up of individual jurors. Many elements can change a jurors decision. Juror #3, who is convinced that the boy is guilty, and is allied with Juror#4, who is eventually convinced by #8 showing of how the two testimonies given by the old woman and old man are lies, votes guilty. Three outraged by this exclaims A guilty man's gonna be walking the streets... he's got to die! Stay with me. But #4 sees the truth that #8 has brought into the light and still votes guilty. Juror #8 tries to convince #3 how the boy is not guilty beyond reasonable doubt but #3 does not listen and would rather see the boy die. For this kid, you bet I'd pull the switch. This shows how emotionally unstable Juror #3 is. He is a grown man living in a civilized community and would like to see a boy who he does not even know die by his own hands Juror #8 does not think highly of Three for what he says about killing the boy and shouts your a sadist. which is the absolute truth about Three. The emotional make-up of a juror can change his decision on weather or not to let a man live or die. When someone is asked to judge someone else, should not you look at al the facts to be sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that the man who committed the crime is guilty? Yes, a juror should look at all the facts but some do not, they just judge the person on looks or how that person feels. In the end, #3 gives in after all the jurors have changed their guilty votes to not guilty, because of # 8. He is left behind. His hatred of the boy revealed because of his similar experiences with his own son. This story shows how close the boy came to death, and if the jurors did not review the evidence, he would have just been killed. It rather teaches the lesson of not jumping to conclusions and reviewing facts thoroughly before acting on vague ones. It really taught me that lesson

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Dario Argento Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dario Argento - Essay Example In Titanic, in the depiction of the ship sinking, the imagery that resulted from the decor was so real, it’s like Cameron actually rebuilt the whole ship again and destroyed it, especially when the ship tilted and broke into two, and the diming of the lights in the whole ship. In Avatar lighting, the way the imagery in the battle was perceived was due to great combination of intensity, direction, and very high lighting quality. Since light affects the way colors are rendered, this was used to focus attention predominantly on particular aspects, for example, the eyes of both Jake and Quaritch. This captured fully the flaring emotional moment. In Titanic, lighting was used to show the clarity of the disaster and details of the ship wrecking, especially when almost half of the ship was submerged, while the other half was still above the water but slowly being engulfed. In Avatar, space, depth, proximity, size and proportions of both Jake and Quaritch were well manipulated in 3D. The acrobatics in the battle were enhanced primarily by this careful manipulation. It effectively determined the mood between them. Titanic’s shear size was also captured well in 3D, displaying magnificent details, especially when the ship slanted. ... Titanic’s depiction in aspects of costume in the scene was mainly in the falling off of passengers of different class as per their clothes, who were desperately clinging to the railings as the ship capsized (Passarella 10). In relation to implicit and explicit meaning in Avatar, viewers easily notice a very thinly veiled case scenario on the Iraq war, the US policy regarding terrorism, the inhumane actions based purely on greed in corporations, and environmental concern. There seem to be a reflection of the Israeli/Palestine conflict, as Jake depicts inferior fights, while Colonel Quaritch is seen using heavily armed and armored machines. Jakes decision and passion to fight his own way in defense of the Omaticaya is intriguing. Despite of having years of personal experiences with his kind, for example with colonel Quaritch, especially by virtue of being soldiers while having basically insignificant personal experiences with the Na’vi, Jake recognized the barbaric acts b eing committed against them and acknowledged the lack of correspondence between what he signed up to do, in relation to what his superiors like Quaritch were demanding of him. In Titanic, the ship was thought to be unsinkable, thus before setting out; a compromise was made regarding the number of lifeboats aboard the ship. When it began sinking, the richest got the first priority on the lifeboats, which did not carry the full passengers it could accommodate. While they waited in half-full lifeboats, they witnessed cries of people freezing to death, and didn't offer to help them. Since it came out in 1997, this film seem to depict the 1995 Rwanda genocide, which the able nations of the world just watched and did nothing to prevent the senseless killings of the poor people, since the rich already

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Discuss the representation of the supernatural in Frankenstein and Essay

Discuss the representation of the supernatural in Frankenstein and Lyrical Ballads and related writings - Essay Example These representations are probably the secret ingredients of writers to their works that usually hold their readers’ attention, and getting their praises in the end. As for Wordsworth and Coleridge, they were initially stoned with many negative comments from reviewers like Francis Jeffrey which resulted to readers refraining from embracing their works (enotes.com). However, with the rise of other reviewers who appreciated the simplicity of the two Romantics’ works, the dice was rolled for the authors’ favors and marked their names in history, where even today, the representations of their works are rediscovered time and again. Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein (Literature.org) is a lyrical ballad with representations of the unseen world and nature, of gods and humans. During the times of early discoveries of what we enjoy now like electricity, unseen powers greatly influenced the imaginations of men that this theme is scattered in many of their literary works. Fr ankenstein’s creation of a monster resulted from the understanding of the works of the gods who keep the equilibrium of the universe and things in it. The creator intended to make a man like himself through his study of Chemistry, one that he would be proud of, intended for the good of mankind. To his disappointment, he made alive a creature he eventually feared and despised; a demonstration of what the supreme can do to frustrate the illusions of man for fame, glory and power. Frankenstein, destroying his she monster before even taking the breath of life brings to him a realization that he can not play god again. He may have been able to create a man, but it was to his misfortune and not according to what he expected things to be. This realization may have not been explicitly mentioned but the representation rings through the story where Frankenstein’s fears for what the monster could do, with a helper who could be able to reproduce their kinds amongst humankind. It c ould also have been to Frankenstein, a submission and acceptance that he is not at all powerful as the gods who are able to look after their creations and limit their fantasies as they did to him and his creation, a monster instead of an adorable man. Looking at the story more closely and its implications to the modern world, Frankenstein obviously would represent men or scientists in particular and the monster are the bad effects of their discoveries and creations. For instance, men created bombs, missiles and guns. Like the monster of Frankenstein, these creations take millions of lives around the world not only the bad guys but more often than not, the innocent become the victims. The creators of which are not spared from the pain of such a great misery as seen in the life of Frankenstein whose loved ones were not spared, making him suffer all the more, blaming himself for such a misfortune. Men can not undo what they have done, they can not bring the time of ignorance about such destructive creations as Frankenstein was not able to destroy his monster. However, it could be implied in the story that such insanity can either be reinforced or put to a stop. Frankenstein, creating a she monster would strengthen the male counter part and eventually take more lives than he is able to do alone, likewise, scientists creating more and stronger kinds of bombs will physically do the same.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

International Human Resource Theories: Coca Cola Case Study

International Human Resource Theories: Coca Cola Case Study IHRM concepts in Coca Colas practices and reasons to transfer employees to the host countries 6 Selecting staff for global assignments in Coca Cola 7 The disadvantages of traditional selection in Coca Cola 8 Abstract This research project explains how the International Human Resource theories are used in Coca Cola as a multinational organization. More over it clarifies the IHRM theoretical side and how the company uses it in its practices. Also it explains both of the strength and weak points of the practical methods. Coca cola is an example of Multinational enterprises (MNEs) as it operates its business in more than 200 countries. Introduction Local Human Resource Management practices are different of international Human Resource Practices, because the core different in the organizational structure. The structure of a Multinational organization as Coca Cola should be different of another American local organization. These differences come from the significant role and senior strategies of the company. This should cause some significant change in the HR practices and functions. Since Coca Cola is a company operates its business around a huge number of countries around the world it began to respond to both of local and international needs. Environment, culture and political differences exist from a region to another. Globalization is the most important factor of the multinational enterprises phenomenon. Coca Cola one of the American companies became a multinational company to take the benefits of new markets and to minimize the labour costs. Haile (2002) mentioned that Bernadin and Russell (1998) and Robbins (1997) all stated that Coca-Cola and Pepsi receive more than half of their revenues from operations outside the United States. These reasons and more encourage the company to operate its business outside the boundaries. While the company started its operations outside USA it considered the environmental, cultural and political change. Also it considered the differences among the multinational employees. Therefore it started to find the methods and the practices which help to avoid any obstacles since the IHRM has new concepts were developed internationally. As a core point, the international human resource practices should be aligned with the predefined strategic business goals. Companys background Coca Cola was invested in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, its operations are in more than 200 countries, and with diverse work force of approximately 55,000 employees. The local and global strategy The strategic vision of the company is to achieve five strategic goals: Profit, people, value, partners and planet. One of the above strategic is people, which is the most important element in Coca Cola as people are the workforce which operates the whole work. Moreover the company gives its attention to the HRM to control the human functions and roles and to be aligning with the companys senior strategy. In line with the higher objectives of the company, human resources management seriously seeking to get the best management achieve the objectives of the company. For these reasons, IHRM should define know the structure of the company as a global. (The Times Newspaper, 2005, P. 2) The companys structure The home country of Coca Cola is USA it controls both of centralization and localizations functions. Senior decisions at The Coca Cola Company are made by an Executive Committee of 12 company Officers. This committee helped to shape the strategic priorities. The chair of the executive committee acts as a head for the company and chairs the board meetings. He is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and as such he is the senior decision maker. Other executives are responsible either for the major regions (e.g. Africa) or have an important business specialization for example the Chief Financial Officer. (The Times Newspaper, 2005, P. 3) There are seven main regions where Coca Cola operates in as the following: North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Eurasia, Middle East, Latin America. Each region has divided into countries and each country has its own structure the following figure explains the structure of Coca Cola in Great Britain. (The Times Newspaper, 2005, P. 3) IHRM concepts in Coca Colas practices and reasons to transfer employees to the host countries Staff selection, international assignments, international training and development, international compensation, and IHRM in the host Country context are some key concepts of the international practices which Coca Colas HRM is responsible to deal with. And it is important to know the reason of transferring people from a region to another among Coca Cola parent company, host countries and subsidiaries. The reason of sending staff for international assignment in Coca Cola is to achieve three major goals within short and long terms: to fill positions, develop the management and to fulfil Coca Colas development. (Hartono 2009) The following table shows the reasons of transferring staff from the parent country of Coca Cola to the host countries (e.g. china). Why does Coca Cola transfer staff from the parent country (USA) to the host countries Transfer of technical or Managerial knowledge, training of subsidiary managers, or lack of qualified local personal (Position Filling) Level of education in host country is low Subsidiary is young Subsidiary is Greenfield establishment Gain international experience develop global awareness (Management Development) MNC is more internationalized MNC is large Control and coordination of subsidiary operations (Organizational Development) Uncertainly avoidance in home country is high Level of cultural distance between home country and host country is high Level of political risk in host country is high Subsidiary is large Subsidiary is majority-owned Subsidiary is higher in corporate reporting chain Subsidiary is young Subsidiary is under-performing improvement of communication channels between head quarter and subsidiary (Organizational Development) Level of cultural distance between home and host country is high Level of political risk in host country is high Subsidiary is young Selecting staff for global assignments in Coca Cola Hartono (2009) argued that studies explained that selecting employees for global tasks to achieve international specific jobs is difficult. Also wrong selection may lead to significant problems. Therefore Coca Cola developed its own system for careful selecting employees, in this system the company determines carefully the appropriate persons for each assignment. (Slavenski 2003) In Coca Cola they always give enough time to assess employees they wish to go for an international assignment. First step is to receive applications from the employees who find that he is qualified for the task. Then conduct five hours assessment for all the applicants to identify the following nine skills: 1. Organizing and planning 2. Perception and analysis 3. Decision making 4. Oral communication 5. Decisiveness 6. Adaptability 7. Interpersonal skills 8. Written communication 9. Perseverance Second step is to determine the best applicants who have succeed in the first assessment and ask them to return next day for the organizational orientation, also there is three days of training for the line managers who are responsible for this selection. In Coca Cola usually the third step is an interview to select one of three applicants to do the international assignment. Comparing with the old approach of selecting staff to do a global task there are a significant change in the way and technique used currently in Coca Cola. According to Slavenski (2003) he stated that These results indicate that the new method of interviewing is more effective than traditional interviewing. Hence, the assessment/hiring ratio was lowered from 3: 1 to 2:1. T hat is, for every two people assessed in the center, one could be selected. The cost savings amounted to about $48,000 per center or $4,000 per candidate. The disadvantages of traditional selection in Coca Cola Selecting people who have equivalent skills, information, and organizational expectations is more complex than it earliest appears. Someone who has been successful somewhere else in a related position may not always be a good selection. Old selection in most organizations is not as useful as it could be because it is not based on an analysis of job necessities, rather than being prepared and logical, it is unofficial and incompatible, making it hard to compare and assess candidates, it may involve unrelated, and sometimes unlawful, it allows the candidates small chance to express actual job skills and it is based on poor inspection and records and generally relies on the interviewers ability to bring to mind complex information about number of candidates. Lxr- ÃŽ ±: Molecular Link in Epidermal Microenvironment Lxr- ÃŽ ±: Molecular Link in Epidermal Microenvironment ABSTARCT The nuclear receptor LXR-ÃŽ ± is a transcriptional regulator involved in numerousepidermal processes including proliferation, differentiation, permeability barrierformation, inflammatory responses, skin development and homeostasis. Owing to itscrucial for multiple cell types in the skin, its activation in one skin cell type mayinfluence its expression and activation in other, thereby having a functional impact. Inthis study we investigated the effects that LXR-ÃŽ ± activation in keratinocytes would exerton LXR-ÃŽ ± expression in melanocytes. For this, we cultured melanocytes from theclinically healthy subjects and them nurtured with the media from the LXR-ÃŽ ± activated (by both Ascorbic acid and Atorvastatin along with 22-R hydroxycholestrol) keratinocyte. The DOPA staining verified the growth of melanocytes and the validationfor viability was done by flow cytometry. The results so obtained supported ourspeculation that LXR-ÃŽ ± activation in the normal healthy melanocytes may lead to theirapoptosis. Therefore, LXR-ÃŽ ± may be a critical player in keratinocyte and melanocytebiology and could be a potential target for skin disease management. INTRODUCTION Epidermal melanocytes form a functional and structural unit with neighboring keratinocyte. There is apparently a close relationship between melanocytes and keratinocytes that is important for melanocyte survival and differentiation. and that may involve keratinocyte-mediated cytokines [1]. Growth factors produced by adjacent keratinocytes regulate the proliferation and differentiation of melanocytes [2-5]. Therefore, changes in keratinocytes function might have a significant effect on melanocyte survival [6, 7]. The LXRs in skin physiology and pathology have evolved rapidly in recent years as they modulate epidermal proliferation, carcinogenesis, differentiation and permeability barrier function, which identifies them as promising drug targets for the treatment of skin diseases. The nuclear receptors LXR-ÃŽ ± and LXR-ÃŽ ² are expressed in murine and human keratinocytes [8, 9]. LXR activation also stimulates epidermal lipid synthesis, lamellar body secretion and lipid processing in th e stratum corneum [10]. LXR-ÃŽ ±activators stimulate keratinocyte differentiation and also promote epidermal permeability barrier homoeostasis [10]. Activation of LXR-ÃŽ ±by oxysterols stimulates keratinocyte differentiation, thereby, making LXR-ÃŽ ±important in keratinocytes differentiation as well [11, 12]. LXR-ÃŽ ±is also known to play a key role as metabolic checkpoint that modulates cell proliferation in skin. At proper dosage, synthetic LXR agonists are safe on endothelial cells and may even transrepress inflammatory reactions [13].It has also been found that LXR-ÃŽ ± might be playing an important role in pathogenesis of pigmentary disorders like psoriasis [14, 15]and vitiligo [16]. Changes in the expression of this receptor in various diseased conditions of skin make it a candidate gene worth investigation, as it may be critical players in keratinocyte and melanocyte biology and homeostasis [17]. In this article we characterize the effect of alteration in expression of LXR-ÃŽ ± in the keratinocytes influence the survival of the melanocytes. In our previous studies we have already explored the effects of agonists and activators of LXR-ÃŽ ± on its own gene expression in keratinocytes. We here report the effect of melanocytes viability following LXR-ÃŽ ± activation with Atorvastatin+22R hydroxycholestrol and Ascorbic acid +22R hydroxycholestrolin cultured keratinocytes, with both the cell types derived from of the same the skin biopsy METHODS Selection of the subjects and clinical evaluation This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. A total number of 6 controls were enrolled, after their informed consent. The age range was 18–40 years. Skin grafts were collected in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and immediately transported to the laboratory in ice. Cellular models employed Fresh biopsy specimens were obtained under aseptic conditions in phosphate buffer saline with antibiotics (penicillin and streptomycin). Keratinocyte Cultures: Culturing of keratinocytes derived from skin biopsies of clinically healthy subjects were carried out in Keratinocytes Specific Media containing no antibiotics. The treatment with Atorvastatin+22R hydroxycholestrol and Ascorbic acid +22R hydroxycholestrol was performed. Cells in one of the wells were incubated with 30Â µM Atorvastatin and the other well was treated with 0.2mg/ml Ascorbic acid or 12 hours [18]. Then 10 Â µM 22R hydroxycholestrol was added to both the wells and cells were then incubated for 48 hours. Melanocyte Cultures: Culturing of melanocytes derived from skin biopsies of same clinically healthy subjects was carried out in Melanocyte Media Promocell containing no antibiotics. Then the media from the above mentioned treated keratinocytes was transferred to the respective melanocytes cultures for consecutive three days. Cell identification Keratinocytes: To verify that the cells cultured from the skin biopsies exhibited the characteristic signatures of keratinocytes, Melanocytes :DOPA staining To verify that the cells cultured from the skin biopsies exhibited the characteristic signatures of melanocytes, DOPA staining was performed following a modified method previously described [19]. RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis Total RNA was isolated using the Tri Reagent kit (Ambion, Austin, TX, USA), and cDNA was synthesized using the First-Strand cDNA Synthesis kit (Fermentas, St. Leon-Rot, Germany) following the manufacturers’ protocols. Semiquantitative RT-PCR Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the gene tran- scriptional expression. PCR amplification was performed using the GeneAmp PCR System 9700 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). All primers were synthesized by Sigma (St. Louis, MO, USA). The primer sequences used are given in Table S2. PCR amplification of cDNA was performed in a reaction mixture containing 10X polymerase, 2 ll cDNA template and sterile RNAse-free water added to a total volume of 25 ll. All PCR reagents were from Fermentas. We first amplified a housekeeping gene encoding b-actin, to monitor RNA quality and cDNA synthesis and to ensure that equivalent amounts of cDNA were used in all PCR amplifications. All PCR products were analysed by separation on a 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide. Annexin V staining Cultured melanocytes after culturing in conditioned media were were processed as previously mentioned [20] before being used for Annexin V staining (Roche, Mannheim, Germany), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. RESULTS Identifications of melanocytes Melanocytes were cultured with conditioned media from treated keratinocytes (both cell types derived from from skin biopsies of the same patient). After getting pure cultures, these cells were characterized by DOPA staining (Figure 1). LXR-ÃŽ ± mRNA expression We checked the expression profile of LXR-ÃŽ ± gene in melanocytes cultured in the conditioned media was compared to the controls (Figure.2). The aim was to detect any change in gene expression of LXR-ÃŽ ± and its effector genes . Results revealed the higher presence of LXR-ÃŽ ± mRNA expression in melanocytes cultured in bot the treated conditioned media compared to controls. Effect on the apoptosis Experiments were performed and it was interesting to find that there was an increase in the apoptosis of melanocytes nurtured with the media transferred from the keratinocytes treated Ascorbic acid + 22-R hydroxycholestrol i.e. 26% compared to 17.6% in the melanocytes nurtured with the media transferred from the keratinocytes treated Atorvastatin + 22-R hydroxycholestrol whereas the control non- treated melanocytes showed 10% apoptotic cell population (Figure 3). DISCUSSION The role multivalent LXR-ÃŽ ± has recently been described in many skin diseases. A marked expression of LXR-ÃŽ ± has been observed in cells adjacent to dermal papilla, speculating that it may correlate with site of hair melanocytes [21]. Important genes involved in regulation of both keratinocytes and melanocytes are target genes of LXR-ÃŽ ±; it can be speculated that LXR-ÃŽ ± might be playing the important role in pathogenesis of varied skin disorders and homeostasis [17]. Studies have previously shown that chronic activation of LXR-ÃŽ ± in pancreatic ÃŽ ²-cell provoked lipid dysregulation and concomitant apoptosis. To verify the speculation, the cultured melanocytes from the clinically healthy subjects were nurtured with the media from the LXR-ÃŽ ± activated (by both Vitamin C and Atorvastatin alongwith 22-R hydroxycholestrol) keratinocyte media. The DOPA staining in Figure 1 shows the viable melanocytes which were further validated by FACS and the results so obtained supported our speculation that LXR-ÃŽ ± activation in the normal healthy melanocytes may lead to their apoptosis, as LXR-ÃŽ ± is known to inhibit cell proliferation and enhance apoptosis (Figure 3). We have already reported that the LXR-ÃŽ ± expression was present in human melanocytes and keratinocytes [15, 16]. In this study, we compared the expression of LXR-ÃŽ ± in conditioned media from keratinocytes treated with Ascorbic acid + 22-R hydroxycholestrol and Atorvastatin + 22-R hydroxyc holestrol compared to the control and found that mRNA expression of LXR-ÃŽ ± was significantly higher in both the treated groups as compared to the control.So, it can be said that there is an LXR-ÃŽ ± imbalance in the genesis of skin disorders. Although future studies will reveal whether LXR-ÃŽ ± dysregulation in skin cells contributes to the diseased state in vivo, the data presented here suggest a potential target for the development of a successful method of regulating the diseased skin conditions. Not only LXR-ÃŽ ± has a robust anti-inflammatory activity in skin, but they also modulate epidermal proliferation, differentiation and permeability barrier function. The abnormal increase in LXR-ÃŽ ±expression in the pancreatic islets of obese and diabetic animal models and the ability of LXR-ÃŽ ±ligands to induce cell dysfunction suggest the involvement of chronic LXR-ÃŽ ±in cell apoptosis [22] . Keeping in view, the findings reported here coupled with earlier reported findings, it is not unlikely that LXR-ÃŽ ± transcriptome may be of crucial importance, not only in understanding of genomic basis of skin disorders it could be useful in designing futuristic therapy for these skin disorders.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

On Being Brought from Africa to America: Issue of Race Essay

Wheatly ´s poem â€Å"On being brought from Africa to America† consists of two central messages. First Wheatly ´s gratitude for her Christian salvation that â€Å"mercy† embodied as the enslavement brought her not only to America, but, â€Å"thaught [her] benighted soul to understand.† Second there is a subtle message, a delicate revolutionary thought, dealing with the issue of race. â€Å"Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain† describes the importance to remember that those who do right according to Christian belief and are converted and saved like Wheatly will be rewarded in heaven regardless of their skin colour. Her subtle emphasis on religion becomes a gateway for her statement against racism that every other slave should be equal on earth as well. The diversity of tone as at first there is gratitude tuned with understanding, yet in the end authoritative diction and sound creates a more mild, soothing than aggressive tone and claim on racism . The Ballot or the Bullet† speech by Malcolm X concerns the crossroads, a descriptive determination, that Afro Americans have to encounter, choosing between trusting in American democracy and justice to eventually gain equality â€Å"the ballot† or taking matters into their own hands becoming much more militant â€Å"the bullet†. In fact Afro Americans either need to push harder for their rights to be acknowledged by society or there is a need of a physical fight against the system to overcome the â€Å"American nightmare†. With patience and faith, in 1964 Afro Americans still encountered segregation. Malcolm ´s religious background, his aggressive negotiation, contrasting juxtaposition and provocation like â€Å"[†¦] if the white man does not want us to be anti-white, let him stop oppressing and exploiting and degrading us† or â€Å"our mothers and fathers invested sweat and blood† creates a too aggressive tone, militant and radical, . DuBois first chapter in â€Å"Souls of Black Folk†, brings awareness to the fact that there is a â€Å"problem of the twentieth century, [and it], is the problem of the colour line.†. Afro Americans seem to be haunted by a double image and as a result, see themselves through the eyes of others, especially white America â€Å"longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge [the] double self into a better and truer self.† Du Bois internal conflict â€Å"double consciousness† proposes to Afro Americans to simply strive to become â€Å"[†¦] both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows†. The chapter also addresses themes such as the salience of political power, the need for civil rights, innate loyalty of the Negro, ideal education, unfulfilled promise to the Negro, and a future bi-racial America. All this content is presented within an alleviating tone, intended as negotiation. DuBois â€Å"Souls of Black Folk† is the strongest text concerning the issues of race as for his alleviating tone serves best for negotiation in both radical -superior and inferior- sides of segregation. In fact by choosing an alternating, subtle and friendly tone, the aggressiveness somehow is eased into acceptance, and the militant, radical anti racist encounters a mirror showing his own personal circumstance within segregation. DuBois not only targets exclusively at the suppressor â€Å"that happens to be the a white man† like Malcolm X, he rather aims at the internal conflict within every oppressed Afro American. Yet enlightenment and internal balance, serves as initial step to overcome the issues of race in order to achieve ultimate equalisation. Lack of religious fundamentalism, militancy and only subtle and non-violent provocation creates a body of thoughts free of extremes. DuBois adjustment of his writing style from a rather narrative tone in Philadelphia Negro(1899) with regards to his manly white audience towards an advocating tone in The Souls of Black Folk (1903), his civil rights activism, crusade on segregation, political disfranchisement and intended improvement of Afro American life strengthen his arguments. Amongst revolutionary thoughts, aggressive radicalism and hatred, DuBois set of tone and arguments is the best harmonising way within an era of riot and anger against segregation and racial injustice. http://www.occidentaldissent.com/american-racial-history-timeline-2/american-racial-history-timeline-1900-1960/

Friday, January 10, 2020

Filipino Teen-Ager’s Perspective on the Use of Herbs for Health and Body Care

INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Herbs are essential ingredients today. Different kinds of products made of it are now sprouting. Examples are herbal soaps for whitening the skin, herbal tea for cleansing the body, herbal hair supplements for hair growth, etc. But it is primarily used for medical and health purposes. An herb, as stated by the Microsoft Encarta Dictionaries (2007), is â€Å"a low-growing aromatic plant used fresh or dried for seasoning, for its medicinal properties. â€Å" A common feature of Filipinos is their persuadable character. Nowadays, because of the herb thing being shown in TV commercials and informative shows, many are starting to notice herbs and their useful properties for health purposes. Due to this increasing interest of Filipinos on herbs, the researcher chose to study about it but limited the topic to Filipino adolescents’ (ages14-19) view on herbs. The researcher is a teen herself. She wants to know if people her age have a common view and response on the subject matter. This is the main reason she limited the respondents to just Filipino teens rather than the whole age range of Filipino citizens. Significance of the Study Studying the perspective of the young on herbs can benefit a lot of people. If proven that a larger part of the group would have a positive view on the use of herbs, meaning they are very open to the use of herbs, then there would be possibility that this study can convince: (a) foreign and local investors to invest in herb businesses in the Philippines; (b) the government to supply more herbal products for the poor and/or to support Filipino entrepreneurs who are into herb business; and (c) the medical researchers to study this topic on herbs further. This study is interesting because herbs are in vogue today. Filipinos are now into herbal use and medication. Many herbal commodities are coming out in the market. This study, likewise, can have a hand in the prevailing knowledge of Modern Filipino lifestyles and Filipino Culture. It can also contribute to the studies of the behaviors of Filipinos on herbal products. It can negate or verify the hearsays that most Filipinos are using herbal commodities in their every day life. Statement of the Problem Teens are willing to use herbs, a rising trend in the world, for their health and body care for reasons that their environment they have grown up influenced them and that the effects of their daily experiences also affects their behavior. Objectives of the Study This study intends to: †¢ Enable readers to know about the Filipino Teen-agers’ attitude on the use of herbs for daily living. †¢ Have knowledge of the factors that lead Filipino Teen-agers to be convinced or discouraged to use herbs. †¢ Enhance people’s awareness on the issue of herbal use. Help in foreseeing the undesirable consequences of the use of herbs. †¢ Encourage researchers to explore further the topic and research on the other applications of herbs. †¢ Help in the economic environment of the Philippines. Review of Related Literature â€Å"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fr uit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat†¦and to†¦everything†¦wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so,† stated in Genesis 1: 29, 30. There are a number of texts in the Bible that can be references to the people’s use of herbs in that time. The above text is one of them. Herminia de Guzman-Ladion interpreted this text from the Bible. She said in her book Healing Wonder of Herbs that herbs were used in God’s dietary plan for man and His creatures (de Guzman-Ladion, 1985). This is an example of how people of the positive ways in using herbs. There can be a conclusion that man, in the time when the Bible had been written, already believed in the good effect of the use of herbs for their daily living. As a relation to this, Winston J. Craig (1996) said in his article Herbs in the March-April 1996 issue of Health & Home Magazine that a number of herbal products (plants) have been found to be beneficial for people’s health (Craig, 1996). Yes, herbal plants can be very useful for a person’s health but cautions must be taken. In the article Herbal Supplements in the same issue of the same magazine, The Mayo Clinic (1996) asserted that lack of scientific basis doesn’t mean all herbs are hazardous for anyone, but taking them is uncertain (The Mayo Clinic, 1996). As a result of the herb’s popularity caused by declarations or overstated bits of scientific evidence, people are spending millions a year for herbal remedies. These herbs are selling like hotcakes and promise to enhance one’s well-being naturally (The Mayo Clinic, 1996). An example of the popularity of herbs is the survey assessed by the World Health Organization. The result of the said survey is it revealed 65% – 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine as their principal method of health care (Drew, 1997). (Herbal use is a part of the traditional medicine. This survey like the surveys of the SWS has shown that not only Filipinos use herbs but also a lot in the world. Herbs are very useful, especially for helping cure diseases. Dr. Gerard Penecilla, a Filipino pharmaceutical scientist, found out that that 2 herbal plants, banaba and tsaang-gubat, found out that these plants contain ingredients that can fight the growth and multiplication o f cancer cells. (Herbs, 2003) Many Filipinos like him want to expand and explore the applications of herbs in the scientific knowledge. Former acting health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan said, â€Å"if only we could establish more herbal processing plants (in the Philippines), importing expensive drugs and medicines will become a thing in the past. † (Filipinos, 1996) If only what Mr. Tan’s hope would happen, there would be more convenient medicines for the less fortunate. Medicines would be affordable that people would not experience the anxiousness they feel whenever there is someone stricken by viral diseases in their families. This could happen in the near future but there are still no implications that studies are already closer today than yesterday. Methodology The researcher’s topic is about the behavior of Filipino teens on the use of herbs or health and body care. The most appropriate way to address this matter is by the method of a survey. Though it is very expensive and time-consuming, a survey would tell the concrete ideas of the participants regarding the topic. Besides from surveys, the researcher will research about existing data from the different libraries near her home. This would help her in proving or negating her interview results. This would also provide a better understanding of the subject matter. Participants About 20 Filipino teen-age students (ages 14-19), living or studying in Pampanga preferably in the cities of San Fernando and Angeles, will be interviewed. This age range is very suitable for the study because the younger generation is very prone to technological and scientific changes. They have the capacity to adapt in such changes, yet they can be instruments to promote or obliterate these alterations. These made them a very suitable group in studying the above concern. They should be knowledgeable of the subject matter and can give critical answers to questions raised to them. Procedure The researcher will conduct surveys with the participants. Before she will start the discussion, the researcher will request for the participant’s permission to answer the questions in her study and will guarantee the participant that his or her private identity will not be specified in the report. The researcher will explain beforehand the purpose and goals of her study. Then, she will hand to the participant the survey questionnaire and the respondent will answer them with his or her own opinion and idea about the matter as the researcher will explain some details in the questionnaire that the participant is confused of. The survey will take place in the school or home of the participant and will last not more than 10-20 minutes. After the dialogues, the researcher will give her utmost gratitude to the participant for lending his or her time and sharing his or her views. All the data will be summed up and run through. The researcher will give a particular consideration to the outlook of the participants on herbal use. Related studies and literatures collected will be used in analyzing the data. They will be added to support or refute the present study. Common scenarios will be pointed out and elaborated. Outline Thesis Statement: Teens are willing to use herbs, a rising trend in the world, for their health and body care for reasons that their environment they have grown up influenced them and that the effects of their daily experiences also affects their behavior. I. There is a rising trend of the use of herbal products and medicine in the world. A. The ancient world was using herbs for centuries. 1. Man and plant are complementing one another. 2. Chinese herbology is the most popular use of herbs in the world. . The Greek physicians collected and prescribed medicinal plants and their extracts for various illnesses. 4. Writings of Egyptians containing plants for the cure of diseases were found. B. The demand and trend for herbal products and medicines were reflected on certain economic issues of different countries. 1. Germany imports medicinal plants for its people’s use. 2. The herbal market is growing in the United States . 3. Asia exports a lot of herbal plants such as Indonesia’s Jamu and Korea’s Ginseng. 4. Canada consumes a lot herbal medicines for their health. 5. Japan will work to regulate supplements as foods instead of drugs. C. Studies and surveys were conducted to prove the popularity and effectiveness of herbal products, medicines and supplements. 1. The world Health Organization estimated 80% of people in the world use herbal medicines. 2. Unity Maketing, Business Communication Company and National Marketing Institute researched separately the herbal market. 3. The dietary supplements sales on the internet reached $40 million in 1998. 4. Supplement companies have united to increase research and education on supplements. 5. The PCCARD revives herbal use for their services. 6. An SWS survey showed that the Filipinos are using herbal medicines to cure illnesses. II. The environment where the teens are growing up is the primary factor for their positive attitude in using herbs. A. The familys lifestyle takes part in their behaviors. 1. Beliefs and practices regarding folk medicine were handed down from ancestors. 2. Safe and natural medications are now of primary concern. B. Friends are the one of the best source of information. C. Media is also a factor. 1. Most teenagers engage with media everyday. . Television ads on herbal products are aired. 3. Teens are reading a lot of publications and browsing the web in this stage of their growth. 4. Artists have been endorsing herbal teas and organic products. III. Another factor that affects their behavior is effects of their daily experiences. A. The increasing pollution in the teens’ society becomes disturbing. B. The teens’ lack of exercise adds to their need for an instant remedy to maintain good status of their health. C. Stress is very usual to students. I. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY The World’s View Before, man used plants in two ways. First, plants were used in religious rituals and ceremonies. They were thought to be divinatory agents. Through offering plants, people believed that gods can hear and interact with them. They also believed that this is a way to please the gods. The second way is the medical use of plants. There are illnesses that are believed to be treatable by plants. These diseases included mental illnesses, diarrhea, worm infection, lung diseases, and diabetes. Plants were known to be the medical folklore of people. They were used for centuries (Lisca, 2000). In their introduction in Medical botany: plants affecting man’s health, Walter and Memory Lewis (1977) stated that â€Å"Man’s survival has been dependent on his innate curiosity, his desire to examine by trial and error all aspects of his environment, and to conclude, for example, which materials are remedial, which ones are harmful and which give him the greatest nourishment† (Lewis, 1977). China is very popular with its great contribution to science. In the Chinese History, the legendary Empereor Shen Nung put together the Pen T’sao where he rated 365 herbs as superior, mediocre or inferior (Modell, 1980). At present, herbology and acupuncture blended with cosmopolitan medicine form the new Chinese medicine which Chinese are proud of because of its therapies and concepts that treat men as a whole entity (Lewis, 1977). In the Ancient Greece, medicinal plants were also used to cure diseases. Some great physicians like Hippocrates, gathered and prescribed drugs that contain herbs and medicinal plants (Modell, 1980). In Ancient Egypt, the Papyrus Ebers, an ancient text (1500 B. C. ) containing 700 herbal remedies, showed how skilled the Egyptians were in use of herbal medicines (Herbs, 2005). Not only in the ancient world are herbs used, but also in the present world. Plants do not only benefit our health but they also benefit the economical growth of a country. People are now having interest on using herbal products. This could have been the main reason for the growing interest on the herbal market. Countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, and Australia are now on the course of licensing herbal remedies. The European Commission had made a draft directive in licensing herbal preparations where in these herbal products will be given licenses if they passed the procedures in assessing their quality and safety (De Smet, 2002). Germany is the home of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. But it is also the biggest importer and consumer of medicinal plants. An example of the Germans extensive use of herbal products is the high priced herbal laxatives. These laxatives cost 10 times more than pharmaceutical chemical laxatives (Escobar, Economic). In the United States, 60 million Americans used herbs in 1996, accounting $3. 24billion in sales. The US herbal market experienced unprecedented growth as herbal medicine sales increased by 59% in 1997 (Miller, 1998). Dr. Herbert Loveless expected the US herbal market to reach $6 to $8 billion in 1998 with an annual growth rate of 25% (US, 1999). Now, the annual sale of drugs from plants is $10 billion. Investigations on new uses of plant-derived drugs are also growing. There are more than 200 organizations are experimenting and researching on plants today (Lisca, 2000). Asia has been the largest exporter of herbal products and supplements. According to Vicenta M. Escobar, Pharm. D. , Indonesia uses â€Å"Jamu† and Korea uses â€Å"Ginseng†. Both also created export markets for their herbal products (Escobar, Economic). Governments also help in the use of herbal medicines and products. The Canadian government allocated $10 million to establish a natural product organization in response to the growing public demand for herbs and dietary supplements in Canada (Canada, 1999). Also, over 1700 retail outlets, with an estimation of $680 million annual retail sales, are classified as health food stores or supplements/ nutrition stores there (Schleich, Herbal). In Japan, the government will work for a reclassification of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements as food instead of drugs (Japan, 1999). Aside from the government, various groups and companies do research for the development of the knowledge and use of herbs. As said by the World Health Organization, 80% of people worldwide are depending on herbal medicines for their healthcare because of the increasing cost of prescription medicines and the interest to go back to the natural remedies (Hart, 2002). The unity Marketing reported that doctors were the consumer’s best source of credible information on vitamins and herbs, followed by publications, product labels, and friends. According to the Business Communications Company, there is an expected increase in the amount of botanical raw materials at a rate of 9. 7% annually through 2004. National Marketing Institute noted that in the next five years, the biggest sellers would be products that assist the immune system, followed by stress reducers and cognitive enhancers (Market, 2000). As stated by the Nutrition Business Journal, a $40 million supplement sales was reached on the internet in 1998 (Online, 1999). The Corporate Alliance for Integrative Medicine, composed of 10 major supplement companies, will focus on research programs at major American Universities. It also aims to develop programs for medical professionals and consumers (Industry, 1998). In the Philippines, the PCCARD, or the Philippine Council for Agriculture Resource Research and Development, is reviving the use of herbs and medicinal plants for health care services. They encourage people by imposing simple instructions on how to grow these plants and listing the ailments that can be cured by these medical plants and herbs (Filipinos, 2008). There had been a study conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) in 1994. It disclosed that 78% of Filipinos were making use of herbal medicines to cure different kinds of common ailments (Filipinos, 1996). A previous survey presented that 66 of Filipinos are availing themselves of local herbs or medicinal plants when suffering from various illness or discomfort (Filipinos, 1996). These surveys show that, even before, there is an existing knowledge of the Filipino behavior on the subject of herbs. The Filipino Teenagers’ view The word ‘herbs’ is a common word heard from the conversation of most adults. They know a lot about it and its great contribution to the society. But does the next generation know about it? The researcher wants to know the answer to this question. In her survey, she asked if the respondents know anything about herbs and its so-called ‘natural healing powers’. The teenagers’ response was not surprising. 90% (18 out of 20) confirmed that they knew about it. Some of the respondents’ views were: â€Å"They are plants. Some of them have soft stems and can be used in cooking, medicine and cosmetics. I learned many herbal medicines in our botany class. And well, (maybe because) I’m taking up Pharmacy. † -Female, 17 â€Å"Herbs are medicinal plants. They contain minerals that are proven to be effective by science. † – Female, 17 The Filipino family is the family wherein each member is very much influenced by the culture, beliefs and practices of the family. Their lifestyle would have a great part in each member’s personality and views. In the survey 100% of the respondents affirmed that their families are knowledgeable on herbs. 85% (17 out of 20) of the respondents assumed their families believe in the ‘natural healing powers’ of herbs, 10 %( 2 out of 20) answered their families wouldn’t believe, and 5% (1 out of 20) didn’t respond to the question. 0% (14 out of 20) of the respondents stated that their families use herbs, 25% (5 out of 20) stated that their families are not using herbs, and 5% (1 out of 20) didn’t respond to the question. Philippine culture is rich with beliefs and practices in folk medicine. A lot of them are still passed on from generation to generation. O ne of them is the belief of the herbolario’s (albularyo) capacity to cure different illnesses. From the encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Customs of Fr. Francisco Demetrio, S. J. , a herbolario is called as such because he uses herbs or some kind of grass in curing the sick (Demetrio, 1991). But this belief was not very much seen on the survey. Only 40% (8 out of 20) stated that their family consulted a herbolario at least once, 35% (7 out of 20) said no, and 25% (5 out of 20) were uncertain. Many families use herbs for it is natural and safe. According to the survey, 65% (13 out of 20) said that their families use herbs due to its natural properties and 55% (11 out of 20) said their families use herbs due to its safer properties than synthetic drugs. Aside from the families, the next factor that builds the personality of a teenager is his/ her friends. They are with him or her most of the time in this stage of his or her life. Thus, they converse a lot of different topics which makes the ‘friends’ factor one of the primary sources of information. There had been a 50-50 result on the survey regarding the teens’ conversations with their friends about herbs. 50% of the respondents said that they had conversed about herbs with their friends and the other 50% said they did not. 60% (12 out of 20) of them presumed that their friends believe in herbs’ ‘natural healing powers’, 10% (2 out of 20) didn’t think so, and the others did not respond to the question. Teenagers engage with media, such as television, internet, radio, magazines and newspapers, everyday. It is also a source of information where they can be knowledgeable of things easily. 90% (18 out of 20) of the respondents said that they know television advertisements of some herbal products, supplements, and medicines. 80% (16 out of 20) of them stated that they have read articles talking about herbs/ herbal products in some publications and over the net. 85% (17 out of 20) of them said that they know some local and foreign artists who endorse herbal products. But only 10% (2 out of 20) of participants believed these artists use the products they endorse and 45% (9 out of 20) supposed these artists do not use the products they endorse. Pollution is brought about by the advancing technology today. Smokes from cars and other pollutants are everywhere. With this, most teenagers are alarmed for its harmful effects to their health and to the society. 65% (13 out of 20) of the respondents stated that they are currently alarmed of the danger of their health brought about by pollution. 55% (11 out of 20) of respondents said that herbs can help them be protected against pollution. A problem that also bothers the teenagers is their lack of exercise. 85% (17 out of 20) of them said that they don’t exercise regularly. 0% (8 out of 20) of them think that taking herbal remedies can help in maintaining a good status of their health, 25% (5 out of 20) of them said they don’t think so, and 35% (7 out of 20) of them are neutral about it. The respondents are also students. Most of them are stressed out and tired of school works and activities. But only 30% (6 out of 20) of them think that herbs can help them relieve str ess and tiredness, 15% (3 out of 20) don’t think so, and 55% (11 out of 20), the majority, are neutral about it. 5% (13 out of 20) of the respondents said that they prefer to use herbals due to their natural and safer properties than taking synthetic drugs. 75% (15 out of 20) stated that they are not taking herbs at present and 65% (13 out of 20) of the respondents said they are planning to use it in the future. II. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Teenage life is the stage of a person’s learning of the society and growth of personality through culture and environment. It is affected by different factors in which the attitudes and behaviors of the teenagers are being molded upon. At present, the world is already in the stage wherein technology is advancing fast and the teenagers have the capacity to adapt in such changes, yet they can be instruments in promoting or obliterating these alterations. But behind these technological and scientific changes, the use of herbs has still been a major notion. Practical living is the system of living the society mostly needs now due to such changes that greatly affect the people’s daily living. And one practical way is to use herbal remedies for its safer properties but cheaper price than synthetic drugs. The world, since the ancient times, uses herbs as medicinal cures for different diseases. Writings in the Ancients China, Greece, and Egypt of the use of herbs as remedies have been found. Presently, many countries, such as Germany and the United States of America, are extensively using herbal products and remedies. They have been researching and finding ways on how to prove and further enhance the healing ingredients of herbs. In the Philippines, programs and seminars were held by the government in encouraging Filipino families to grow medicinal plants and herbs and, therefore, use them for health and care purposes. Now, considering that Filipinos have a persuadable character and the economic crisis happening in the Philippines, it is likely possible that they would use medicinal plants and herbs in attending to their healthcare services. And because the Filipino family is the family wherein each member is very much influenced by the culture, beliefs and practices of the family, it is possible that the Filipino teenagers’ attitudes towards the use of herbs are mostly affected by their families. The survey has shown that majority of the respondents’ families are knowledgeable and using herbs. They also believe in the ‘natural healing powers’ of herbs. Aside from their families, the respondents’ friends and daily engagement with media affected their attitudes towards using herbs. It has been shown in the survey that majority of the respondents assumed that their friends are believing in the ‘natural healing powers’ of herbs and affirmed that they have watched commercial advertisements and read articles talking about the positive results in using herbs for healthcare. Other minor factors affecting the teenagers’ behavior in using herbs are pollution, stress and their lack of exercise. As revealed in the survey, majority of the respondents affirmed that using herbs can help them be protected from the harmful effects of pollution, be relieved from stress and tiredness, and maintain a good status of their health. Clearly, Filipino teenagers accepted the concept of herb in their daily living due to the influences and knowledge from their families, their friends, their experiences, and the media. Most of them are already conscious of their health that they are also considering the use of herbs for their health and body care. But still, some are not yet greatly bothered by it or concerned on the possible benefits or consequences they can get from using it. But because of what they hear and learn about it, they are, somewhat, expressing their interest on the subject matter. The research has shown how some of the Filipino teenagers address the issue of herbs for health and body care. But due to the limited time given and a small sample size used for the said research, the researchers does not recommend her research to be used in basing the whole standing of the Filipino Teenagers on the issue. It is not suitable because, aside from being small to be relied on, the sample used in the survey consists of students, either living or studying in the cities of Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga. It would have been better if a larger sample size consisting of both literate and illiterate teenagers from different parts of the Philippines should be used. But time and money has been very limited so the researcher opted to use the present sample. The researcher also recommends that if another research will be based from the said research, a wider range of factors should be taken into notice. Aside from the factors used, other factors affecting Filipino teenagers’ attitudes and behaviors should be studied and pointed out. A wider range of factors would significantly help in showing the nature of general stand of the Filipino teenagers regarding the issue. Survey and library research are the two methods used in accomplishing the present research. These two methods are the most appropriate methods to be used because of the limited time given. But if time will not be a great consideration, the researcher recommends that the method of interviewing should be used instead of conducting a survey. The interview method would really reveal, in details, how Filipino teenagers address the issue of using herbs for health care purposes. It would greatly help in identifying the stand of the Filipino teenagers’ on the matter. But using this method would be very time-consuming and money-spending. Man and plant really cannot live without the other. They coexist in this world to benefit one another. References: Canada forms new federal natural products organization. (June 1999). Natural foods merchandiser. Retrieved January 27, 2008 from the World Wide Website: http://herbs. rg/current/canorg. html Craig, J. (1996 March-April). Herbs. Health & home: The national journal of better living, 2, 10-11. Demetrio, F. (1991). Herbolario of ancient Philppines. Encyclopedia of Philippine folk beliefs and customs (Vol. 2). Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines: Xavier University. De Smet, P. (19 December 2002). Herbal remedies. The New England journal of medicine. Retrieved February 2, 2008 from the World Wide Website: https://content. nejm. org/cgi/content/extract/347/25/2046 De Guzman-Ladion, H. (1985). Healing wonder of herbs. Manila, Philippines: Philippine Publishing House. Drew, Anna & Stephen Myers. (18 February 1997). Safety issues in herbal medicine: Implications for the health professions. The medical journal of Australia. Retrieved Dec. 15, 2007 from the world wide website: mja. com. Escobar, V. M. (n. d. ). Economic issues in medicinal plants. Retrieved from DOST regional office library (region 3). Filipinos are using herbal medicine. (2001-2008). Living in the Philippines Inc. Retrieved January 27, 2008 from the World Wide Website: https://www. livinginthephiluippines. om/herbalmedicine/filipino_uses_herbal_medicine. html Filipinos go herbal. (1996 May-June). Health & home: The national journal of better living, 3, 2. Hart, J. & Shumake, L. (1 December 2002). Herbal medicine. Retrieved January 27, 2008 from the World Wide Website: http://www. umm. edu/altmed/articles/herbal-medicine-000351. htm â€Å"Herb. † Microsoft Encarta. 2007. Herbs to cure cancer? (2003 May-June). Health & home: The national journal of better living, 3, 2. Herbs of Egypt. (2005). Retrieved January 27, 2008 from the World Wide Website: http://www. erbsofegypt. com/ Industry alliance formed to increase research and education on supplements. (8 October 1998). Retrieved Dec. 15, 2007 from the world wide website: http://www. herbs. org/current/indallies. html Jocano, F. L. (1973). Major specialists. Folk medicine in a Philippine municipality. Diliman,QC: Punlad Research House, Inc. Japan moves to regulate supplements as foods. (17 May 1999). The Tan sheet. Retrieved January 27, 2008 from the World Wide Website: http://herbs. org/current/japansup. html Lewis, W. & M. P. F. 1977). Medical botany: Plants affecting man’s health. Missouri: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lisca, K. (2000). Drugs and the human body (with implications for society). Diliman,QC: Punlad Research House, Inc. Market research and predictions summarized. (July / August2000). Nutritional outlook. Retrieved Dec. 15, 2007 from the wo rld wide website: http://www. herbs. org/current/mktresearchsumm. htm The Mayo Clinic. (1996 March-April). Herbal supplements. Health & Home: The national journal of better living, 2, 10-11. Miller, Lucinda. (10 June 1998). Selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Retrieved Dec. 15, 2007 from the world wide website: archinte. ama-assn. org Modell, W. et. al. (1980). Life science library: Drugs. Hong Kong: Time Life Books. Online sales of dietary supplements reach $40 million. (May 1999). Natural business. Retrieved Dec. 15, 2007 from the world wide website: http://www. herbs. org/current/onlinesup. html Schleich, David John (n. d. ). Herbal medicine a continuing trend. Retrieved from DOST regional office library (region 3). US herbal market nearing