Insourcing and Outsourcing of Companies

1-800-India Nations economic growths have rapidly emerged over the past decades. India is the leader in most global markets due to outsourcing white collar jobs. Workers in other countries like India do many different things such as tutoring, checking baggage, and x-rays for cheaper prices than here in the US, often with better results. Over half of the US jobs are going to India because of insourcing and outsourcing of companies. Majority of our customer service calls are being answered by foreign countries. Rwanda is one of the fastest growing places, due to outsourcing and have grown to 1. 6 million over the last decade. The secret is BPO. Many women have joined the work force and have become head of the households. BPO have tripled in size also have different workforces to chose from due to inexpensive educated labor such as insurance, customer service, and travel reservations. This workforce is cutting the cost of back office work by 50% from major companies in the US. BPO started with a hand full of people, today the numbers have grown to over 17,000 worldwide. This culture has learned to speak English in rapid numbers. The advancement of speaking many different languages gives India a huge advantage for American jobs. Many are becoming middle class and are changing the face of the country. Most of these workers are women. Doctors and other professionals have quit their jobs to work for 1-800-India. They are making more money now than they were making as doctors. Americans earn up to 10 times more than other countries but India are among the best paid groups. Before, India knew no value of the credit card but were thought to help Americans with their line of credit. These professionals take pride in customer care because this is their way to a good life. For every outsourcing job there are at least two more jobs created such as security and construction. Shopping has also become a way of life for the younger generation, being that they are paid more than their family have ever made. Many company workers work around the clock. The laws in India kept women from working nights. The outsourcing industry had to lobby the India government to change labor laws so women could work late shifts. The laws also made sure the women were picked up and dropped off back at home. They provided security while on duty. New jobs were created by transporting thousands of people 24 hours a day. This transportation company has become a big operation which has employed many people there. India still has hundreds of people below poverty lines. Working women stayed home and to support the immediate family. However, the first borne girl was seen as a burden to poor families in the India tradition. The father sees no value in the daughter’s education but except the son having an education. The girls would secretly work and pay for education, today they are the biggest support to their families. I believe this country does not want women to work simply because it takes focus off the households and by not educating women some how gives the power to the man. Moreover, women started educating themselves, started gaining confidence, and then dominated the workforce. Some India families who want their daughters to marry have to get approval from the mothers. The boyfriend must be of the same religious back ground and culture. Most marriages are arranged. India is one of the most married countries in the world. India communities live as normally as Americans. They are working communities juggling work, family, children, and school. Just remember the next time you call customer service you will know who you are talking to and hopefully will become more patient and understanding where our calls are coming from†¦

Monsters Are Real Donnie Darko

In storytelling, monsters are used to express the fears and worries of humans. They allow us to discover our values by questioning our morals through imagination and illusion. In both Donnie Darko and Pan’s Labyrinth illustrating real-life monsters Captain Videl and Jim Cunningham enhances our fear of monsters. These villains symbolize the vulnerability we feel as we identify ourselves with the victims of the attack. We can relate each example of monsters to an evolution of our fears throughout our lives. The fear we have of monsters stems from the idea that our moral imaginations shape the danger inside these beastly beings.As children, our vulnerability came from our fears of losing security. The monsters hiding under our beds taunted us with the threat that we’d be eaten and would never see our parents or that our most valued possession would be taken from us. This juvenile fear is illustrated in Pan’s Labyrinth through Captain Videl. He encompasses the threat s we felt as children by being controlling and dominating, as he manipulates Pan and she loses her innocence. As we mature and the limits of our moral boundaries widen, the term â€Å"monster† evolves into something more complex.As we enter into adolescence, and later into adulthood, our fears become something less to do with security and more to do with a threat to our happiness. Our moral imagination evokes fears of defeat and failure, a fear that we formulate in ourselves. As we grow older, we also fear the world and others that we cannot control. In Donnie Darko, Jim Cunningham, embodies our fears of a predator. He is the real-life monster we fear everyday with his complex, dark and twisted secrets. Ultimately, both Donnie Darko and Pan’s Labyrinth effectively embody our illusions of fear from childhood to adulthood.

Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Managing Change - Essay Example Introduction and Overview The University of Bradford is a traditional British University  established by Royal charter in 1966. There are around 12,000 students studying at the Bradford campus in the UK and another 6,000 studying the  University of Bradford degrees around the world. The University’s academic strengths are in the fields of computing, engineering, health  studies and life sciences, management and social and international  studies. Recently, the International Office at University of Bradford opened its first Regional Office in Dubai Knowledge Village to offer admission support  to students who would like to study for a Bradford degree in the UK and assist in delivering it’s prestigious and worldwide recognised MBA programme in Dubai as well.   In 2001, the International Office was reorganised to become part of Marketing and Corporate Communications. By mid 2001, the International Office had a cohort of six staff. Over the following five years, the International Office continued to evolve. As international student numbers grew and the university diversified into new markets, an additional eight staff were appointed. Appendix one provides information on International Student numbers. ... The International Office is one of the areas based within the HUB along with the following services: 1. Accommodation 2. Admissions 3. Bursaries and Financial Support 4. Education Liaison 5. Enquiries 6. Finance and Credit Control Group 7. Front of House 8. Pay zone 9. Student Administration and Support The International Office has developed considerably under its current management and has played a significant role in helping the University to achieve its current high proportion of international students from over a 110 different countries with a total population of 2000 International students which represent approximately 20% of the University of Bradford total population. Today the International Office has a total of 14 staff. Please refer to Appendix Two for the International Office chart. 2. The review methodology It was usual, at appropriate intervals, for the University to review areas of its activity; not only to reflect on its operation but to ensure that the role, purpose a nd function of that area of activity still meets the needs of the organisation and the market. International activities are of increasing importance to the University and currently represent approximately 20% of the University’s turnover. Change management and successful implementation of change in any organization is crucial for the expansion and success of the organization (Balogun and Hope Hailey 2004). Therefore, the university shows interest in bringing in positive change for the betterment of the institution. Given the changes within the HE Sector, the economic situation, volatility in overseas markets and perceived increasing competition from other Universities, it is important that the

Week 1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 1 - Coursework Example Most of these eligibility cases rise because of immigration status, citizenship and income. Only the immigrants legally in the country can buy the health insurance through the exchanges, these include the refugees, people on workers and the student’s visas, and the immigrants with green cards (Goodnough, 2014, p.13). The article provides a national perspective as its focus the immigrants in the United States and their failure to provide legal documents. The article states that the issue about eligibility is mainly in Florida and Texas that happen to have the largest number of immigrants. The information in the article affects many people living in the United States as it slows down the process of acquiring the health insurance. The immigrants face a greater problem as according to the administration most of these cases arise from the provision of wrong information by the immigrants. By 5th September, the immigrants should submit their documents failure to which they will lose the health care insurance. The provision of fraudulent information and the carelessness of the administration results to the cases of eligibility, these in turn affects all the citizens of the United States in the process of acquiring the health insurance. The article provides solutions for the immigrants to avoid losing their health insurance; these include the provision of immigration and citizenship documents by the immigrants. All immigrants in the country should provide the required legit information in order to avoid losing their health insurance (Goodnough, 2014,

The Broader Impact Of DSP (Digital signal processing) In A Global Research Paper

The Broader Impact Of DSP (Digital signal processing) In A Global Economi And Social Context - Research Paper Example Each of these areas has involved substantial involvement of the digital signal processing technology with its own unique algorithms, mathematics and specialized techniques. As a result, digital signal processing has significant impact on the social, economic and in global lives in our society today. Digital signal processing convert analogue signals to digital signal. By doing this, there is extraction of signals, which later get modifications to meaningful and relevant information through the digital signal. In the pioneer ages digital signal processing was only in computers and by the application of technology limited in some key areas, for instance radar and sonar where national security appeared to be at risk. This is because of the international threats that were happening because of international tension. Another area is oil expiration and in this area, there are large amounts of revenue for example mad, oil sector industry is a very profitable industry that is capable of raisi ng the economic level of a nation. Space exploration is another sector that digital signal processing adopted because of the importance of data received. The collected data are of an irreplaceable nature. The final area of involvement in digital signal processing was medical imaging, where it could play a vital role in the treatment and saving of lives. Impact in an economic context Digital signal processing has had great impact in our lives especially economically. The recent technological advances have commanded entrepreneurs and investors to spend a lot of money in technology. Innovations in technology have led to many firms competing with each other to develop the most sophisticated technological devices that outsmart its competitors and gain the largest market share in the industry. Advances in computing, data storage and data transmit ion have enabled firms to reduce costs, create new market, expand existing market and create employment in the nation (44). Maintaining the inte grity of the specifications Companies and organizations have moved quickly to grab these newly found opportunities and as a result, firms are spending billions on their enterprise system. Firms are developing sophisticated software and hardware packages that integrate ordering, procurement, inventory, finance and human resources in their companies. Consumers get a wide range of goods and services for communication entertainment, shopping, education and other activities that relate to the firm and firms on the other hand get the opportunity to widen their consumer targets. With the embracing of technology, firms are able to reduce cost, maximize their profits and increase shareholders wealth. Consumers also benefit from these technological advancements where by prices of commodities are reduced due to the decrease of costs. This is also by being able to access wide ranges of products that are available (32). Telecommunication has also been a beneficiary of these technological advance s. Drastic improvements in computing power, accompanied by healthy competition in the industry have led to dramatic reduction rates among the consumers in communication. The telecommunication industry has been able to expand massively to tap the new opportunities; these firms now enjoy substantial customers in their networks. The introductions of wireless and broadband services have made communication much easier and faster (22). This

Airport Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Airport - Article Example The website shows the importance of a realistic airport design for purposes of safety, emergency and coordination of operations. The website insists on the importance of development as a measure of stability and growth (Federal Aviation Administration, 2009). The development of any small airport lies greatly on how it aligns its operations. This is with due respect to the overall management of finances through efficient public relations. The relations result in the trickling in of clients who have become regular’s as a result of the reliable service. It is clear that there is need to carefully foresee current and future problems in all airports. This is one sure way of ensuring that the operations run as smoothly as they are expected. The reality of how finances are applied in the airport is also defined as a crucial point. This is because if current finances are put to maximum use, then airport operations are enhanced. The website highlights the need to form a budget, and how to channel all the existing revenues to internal and external projects (Federal Aviation Administration, 2009). As a result of the nature of airport operations, the website also goes ahead to educate on aspects that should come into play when dealing with liabilities and insurance. In conclusion, the website greatly advocates for the need to ensure that airport designs, operations, developments and finances are in order for any airport which has a clearly set objective. Federal Aviation Administration (2009). Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP 16): Guidebook for managing small airports. Washington: Trb.org. Retrieved from

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT PROJECT ON WALMART Essay

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT PROJECT ON WALMART - Essay Example Wal-Mart values its inventories at the lower of cost or market value, which essentially means if the market value of inventory falls, the company will write-down the inventory value in its balance sheet. Wal-Mart is divided into three segments: Wal-Mart U.S, Wal-Mart International and Sam’s Club. All of the merchandise related to the U.S segment is valued using the Last in First out (LIFO) method. LIFO is an inventory valuation method allowed under US GAAP but not under IFRS (CFA institute, 2012). LIFO assumes that inventory items purchased most recently are sold first and hence the items remaining in the inventory are assumed to be the oldest items purchased. In period of rising prices, LIFO reports a higher cost of sales and lower ending inventory figure than other inventory valuation methods. Higher cost of sales lead to lower gross profit and hence results in tax savings. The company reports a LIFO reserve in its annual statements for reconciliation of LIFO cost of sales a nd inventory with FIFO cost of sales and inventory. This is to ensure that comparisons can be made with other companies in the retail industry that use FIFO as their inventory valuation method. Wal-Mart’s inventory turnover rate has been on the lower side considering the diverse range of product it sells. Inventory turnover rate fell from 8.6 times in 2011 to 8.2 times in 2012 which means that it took almost 44 days for Wal-Mart to convert its inventory into sales in 2012 and 42 days in 2011. Wal-Mart uses accrual accounting to prepare its annual statements. Accrual accounting is different from cash accounting in the sense that in accrual accounting revenues are recorded when they are earned and expenses are recorded when they are incurred whereas in cash accounting revenues are recorded when the money is received and expenses are recorded when cash is paid out (Investopedia, 2009). Wal-Mart has accrued liabilities of $18.154B indicating that these liabilities are due and Wal -Mart has not yet paid them. Moreover, prepaid expenses amounted to $1.685B in 2012 indicating that these expenses have already been paid in advance (Wal-Mart, 2012). In cash accounting, prepaid expenses and accrued liabilities are not recorded since these are obligations that are due but no cash outflow has been made in lieu of these obligations. Accrual accounting can be manipulated to show higher earnings by using estimates that inflate the income. For instance, unjustly inflating the ending inventory figure can result in a lower cost of sales and consequently inflate the net income of a company. In Wal-Mart’s case, figures are presented conservatively so that the income is not inflated unreasonably. The receivables of Wal-Mart increased by 16.7% from 5.089B in 2011 to $ 5.937B in 2012 (Wal-Mart, 2012). Wal-Mart records a provision for doubtful debts, which is a contra-asset account and is recorded to account for the prudence concept. According to the prudence concept, imp robable expenses are recorded whereas improbable revenues are not accounted for. Provision for doubtful debts is created to account for debts that will remain unpaid. The reserve for doubtful accounts is based on historical trends in collection of the past due amounts that debtors owe to a company and on the write-off history of the company. The total provision for doubtful accounts increased by 28% from $252M in 2011 to $323M in 2012

English take home final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English take home final - Essay Example Figure of speech: Almost every aspect of the poem has a symbolic meaning. Every detail flashes a gruesome and encoded message that readers are forced to decipher. Edgar often uses his fiction to describe his addictions such as laudanum. This drug comes from poppies. On the arms, the â€Å"field azure† may be an area with poppies. If so, this makes freedom in the story seem ironic. If it exemplifies addiction, it exemplifies captivity, hence showing the contrast between confinement and freedom. The Cask of Amontillado Setting: The setting has an important purpose. It suggests confinement or freedom, in opposition or harmony to the freedom or characters’ confinement. This is known as the â€Å"Gothic Interior.† The Montresor family catacomb and the carnival season are direct. The latter is a literal celebration of freedom which both Fortunato and Montresor are participating in as the story begins. Diction: Poes employs elevated diction. This is a polysyllabic, formal style. This is evidenced by the poet’s writing style which is formal in type. Besides mastering words, the Poet has an extensive vocabulary as seen in the poem. To achieve the goal of determining whether the author of Romeo Juliet borrows borrowed ideas from West Side Story (or vice-versa), there is need to compare and contrast the two stories. The major male characters possess several similarities. Romeo and Toni miss the foremost fight at the plays’ beginning. The two fall in love and unluckily are killed. In contrast, Toni existence occurs in the 1950’s, while Romeo’s in late 1500’s. The leading female characters, Juliet and Maria, come from families which detest each other’s families of the boyfriends. However, Juliet dies in her story unlike Maria who lives. In the plays, the leading male character takes life of their lover’s relative. Tybalta, Juliets cousin, is killed by Romeo just as Toni kills Bernardo who is Marias brother. The Prince and the Lieutenant tried

Ducati Sports and Cruisers Bike From Buyers Point of View Research Paper

Ducati Sports and Cruisers Bike From Buyers Point of View - Research Paper Example Research design can be considered as one of the most important tools in conducting the research in the quest for positive results. Ader et al  stated that the research design is concerned with what question to study, what data are relevant, how to collect those data and how to analyze those data in an effective and efficient manner. Usually, qualitative and quantitative research plays an important role in the research design. The qualitative research design is based on the theoretical aspects of the chosen topic based on analyzing the literature while quantitative research design is based on analyzing the collected data through statistical tools to derive conclusion and results based on the result question to achieve the proposed aim and objectives of the research. In quantitative research design, it is important to assess the variables along with relating them to the research question. Variables in this particular research can be personal attributes, likeliness and personality, op inions and personal and brand image. All these variables can be analyzed through primary research and data collection methods through the use of questionnaires and interviews. However, in this particular research, interviews can be considered as a feasible and appropriate option. Interviews will help in communicating with the riders on a personal basis along with analyzing their preference and likeliness for the sports bike and cruisers. Questionnaires can be of great help in analyzing data and variables using statistical tools and methods.

All Quiet on the Western Front Essay Example for Free

All Quiet on the Western Front Essay In the novel ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ by Erich Maria Remarque, the main character Paul Bà ¤umer’s development shows the horrors of the First World War and the effect it had on the young men who fought in it. Paul Bà ¤umer is the main character whom is nineteen years old, Bà ¤umer volunteered for the army along side four of his classmates. Some parts in the novel is written in past tense when Paul Bà ¤umer is collecting his thoughts. Most of the novel is written in Present tense. During the novel we see Paul Bà ¤umer changing as a person, he has just left school and is a young boy with no experiences. By the end of this novel end even half way through he had become a well experienced man. Paul Bà ¤umer is the main character and also the narrator. At just nineteen years of age, Bà ¤umer volunteers for the German Army. Before war is a young creative and passionate person who had lots of love for his family. As the war went on Bà ¤umer changed as a person. Bà ¤umer and four of his classmates joined because they felt it was their patriotic duty. After a while of being in the trenches Bà ¤umer starts to get visions of being in Kantoreks class as he gave his great ‘iron youth speech.’ He soon realises Kantorich persuaded the class to join. â€Å"During the drill time Kantorek gave us long lectures until the whole of our class went under his shepherding to the District Commandant and volunteered.† Bà ¤umer felt he was doing right by his country but he soon feels he can’t tell anyone about his experience in the army and where his families are concerned he feels like an outsider. People like Kantorek are hypocrites, urging young pupils to join up whilst not volunteering himself. Kemmerich dies. This is the first death we experience as readers in the novel which is very upsetting. â€Å"I became faint, all at once I can not do anymore†¦ He is dead. The face is still wet from the tears. The eyes are half open and yellow like old horn buttons.† Bà ¤umer feels upset and dark inside, he has just lost his best friend, and they grew up together, school buddies. He is almost like a brother to Bà ¤umer. I feel sorry for Bà ¤umer at this point in the novel because I would hate to lose any of my friends or classmates if I was in the army because I think you would need a lot of friends and good people around to keep your spirits high. This is one of Bà ¤umers most important memories because they got revenge on Himmelstoss. Himmelstoss was a postman before he enlisted in the war. He is a corporal who trains the recruits. Himmelstoss likes punishing the young recruits and is very harsh and strict. â€Å"Tjaden wets his bed†¦ Himmelstoss maintained that it was sheer laziness and invented a method worthy of himself for curing Tjaden†¦ with mattress of wire netting.† The young men ended up unwell or with the cold because of this they ended up sleeping on the floor. Bà ¤umer and his friends got revenge by getting him from behind with a big white bed sheet and they covered his mouth with a pillow so he could not scream. Tjaden pulled down Himmelstoss’ trousers with a whip in his mouth. The training camp is harsh and full of sadness, I would not like to be there. Baume describes the front line as a mysterious whirlpool. â€Å"I am in still water far away from its center. I feel the whirl of the vortex sucking e slowly, irresistibly, inescapably into itself. The front line is a line along which apposing armies face each other and is horrific because you are face to face and it is very hard to stay alive. Bà ¤umer feels different from everyone else in his hometown because he feels he is different, they are different. He has been away for so long he does not feel at home anymore. He’s not just a boy anymore, he’s now a man. I feel so much respect for Bà ¤umer by this stage because he has done so well and all army men deserve respect. When Bà ¤umer returns home from leave he feels obliged to volunteer for a dangerous night patrol. Whilst in ‘No-Man’s Land’ Bà ¤umer gets lost. Paul hides in a shell – hole but a bomb goes off behind him when he is alone. â€Å"This is the first time I have killed with my hands†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bà ¤umer feels so guilty for killing the French man. He starts to think about the French mans life and his family. â€Å"If only he had run two yards further to the left, he might now be sitting in the trench over there and writing a letter to his wife.† This changes Bà ¤umers character for the better because he now realises how precious life is. Bà ¤umer feels hatred against the war and realises it’s a bad thing. I personally think war should be illegal because what is the point in killing human beings for victory. I don’t think that’s a victory, it’s a crime to kill. If we are not at war you would be sent to prison and just because its war that makes it ok? The situation has got a lot worse for the German Army by this late stage in the Novel. In this part Bà ¤umer and Katazinsky are the last two soldiers alive from all the characters whom were introduced at the beginning of the Novel. Kat gets hit by a shrapnel at this point leaving him with a smashed shin. Bà ¤umer carried him back to camp on his back, only to discover on their arrival that a splinter had hit Kat on the back of the head and killed him on the way. Kats death makes Bà ¤umer careless to weather he dies in war or not and also he can now face the rest of his life without any fear. I feel sorry for Bà ¤umer at this point because he must feel so alone. Bà ¤umer is now alone without a friend in the trenches because the war has taken all of them away and now Bà ¤umer is all alone. â€Å"Let the months and years come, they can take nothing from me, they can take nothing more. I am so alone, and so without hope that I can confront them without fear.† At the end of the novel Bà ¤umer is careless of his life. He has changed dramatically since the beginning. At the beginning Paul was a young boy with lots of dreams, now he is a man who is careless. I feel very lucky that none of my family died during the war and it’s a very emotional thing to go into. This book is important and should be read by future generations to show how life was and that they should realise how life was and that they should notice how lucky they are. This book makes you have so much for our soldiers.

Relationship Between Zinc and Heart Disease

Relationship Between Zinc and Heart Disease Otoniel Santiago Shanil Juma, PhD Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one common cause of morbidity and death in all ethnicities. There are many contributing factors associated to this disease, which include: atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity and obesity1-3. Despite the many studies performed in these areas, nutrition and nutritional status play a major role in the decrease of CVD. One area that has been look at for almost a decade is the relationship of micronutrients in preventing the onset of cardiovascular disease. Although there are still many controversies in the areas of diet and obesity, the role of micronutrients especially zinc, have been closely studied to identify if its levels have any effect in reducing or potentially inducing cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this report will be to briefly discuss how zinc levels may play a role in promoting cardiovascular disease or preventing it. Zinc Functions Zinc is known as one of the essential trace elements vital for maintaining normal physiology and cellular functions in the body.1 It was during the 1960’s that zinc deficiency was discovered after it was found that dwarfism and delayed sexual maturation were related to zinc. This discovery lead to an increase in clinical studies in order to understand the critical role of zinc in human physiological growth and its relation to other conditions such as, dermatitis, impaired taste, and impaired immunity to name a few.1 Nonetheless, the role of zinc is not completely understood. This trace element has only been known for the past 50 years, but it has been clearly documented that it can improve an array of conditions like acute diarrhea in children, the common cold, and reduction of oxidative stress, the making of genetic material and wound healing. In all, zinc plays a major role in protein synthesis, thus, making it one of the most essential micronutrient needed for optimal healt h in the human body. Zinc and Heart Disease Zinc has been known for its many protective capacities and functions. However, low zinc levels have been associated with age, disease and lack of nutritional intake. It has been found that zinc deficiency increases the inflammatory response caused by increased vascular oxidative stress.2 For instance, in patients with type 2 diabetes suffering from cardiovascular disease, it was found that zinc serum levels were low3. Despite the fact that low serum zinc levels were found to be an independent factor for heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, non-diabetic patients who suffered from CVD was related to lower consumption of zinc.3 Zinc deficiency can also be associated to malabsorption caused by gastric conditions such as Chron’s disease and celiac sprue, or conditions like diabetes which increase zinc loss due excessive urinary output4. A study conducted by Frustaci et al, looked at selenium and zinc deficiency to identify if cardiac malfunction could occur with individuals who suffer from intestinal malabsorption. The study found that there was a great association of between the deficiency of selenium and zinc and the degeneration of cardiomyocytes5. Although this study looked into two micronutrients, it is important to point out that zinc played a major role in this study. As mentioned previously, zinc is an essential trace element that works in nearly over 300 enzymes exerting catalytic, structural, and regulatory functions4, 5. In addition to these functions, a deficiency of zinc can cause cell apoptosis and necrosis due to its role in growth and development. On the other hand, selenium has been associated with the Keshan disease that causes progressive dilated cardiomyopathy5. Both elements serve as antioxidants detoxifying cardiomyocytes from free radicals and a deficiency of any of these two elements can cause a decline a cardiac function5. Patients in this study were treated with a selenium/zinc infusion of 13.6 mg/d/wk for about six months. The group was divided into two groups consisting of one group of (A2, n=8) and another (A1, n= 10).5 All patients in group A1 received cardiac catherization, and an endomyocardial biopsy, while the A2 group were only treated with anti-heart failure therapy. Nonetheless, after the six months was completed group A1 showed an improvement in their left ventricle dimension when compared to the A2 group who only received supportive therapy5. The study determined that a selenium and zinc cardiomyopathy can occur in patients with intestinal malabsorption and that an infusion of both elements can improve a nd possibly prevent the malabsorption associated cardiomyopathy5. In another study conducted by Soinio et al, after a seven year period follow up on both non-diabetic patients and type 2 diabetic patients, it was found that there was an increase in mortality from CVD in patients with lower serum levels of zinc (≠¤14.1 µmol/l) then those who did not (14.1>  µmol/l)3. Most patients on this study were between the ages of 45-64 and the population consisted of 1,050 patients from West and East Finland where 526 were men and 470 were women. Each participant was examined for zinc serum levels after a 12hr fast. Zinc serum levels were determined through atomic absorption spectrotometry after 10 years from stored samples. Out of the 1,050 participants 156 died of coronary heart disease and 254 patients suffered a myocardial infarction. The rest of the surviving participants were divided in groups of non-insulin treated and insulin treated subjects. Those with insulin treatment had a 15.3  µmol/l of fasting serum zinc levels when compared to the non-insulin treatment that had 15.8  µmol/l fasting serum zinc levels. However, after breaking the result into quartiles the results were that low serum levels were an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease for coronary heart disease and fatal/non-fatal myocardial infarctions in patients with type 2 diabetes3. Nonetheless, most of the lower serum zinc levels found in diabetics was related to urinary zinc excretion when compared to non-diabetics. It is important to point out that zinc play critical role in the synthesis and function of insulin and the inhibition of pathways that can lead to apoptosis and possibly the upregulation caspase genes3. In this study zinc was added to in vitro insulin preparations to extend the time of insulin action. Despite insulin being added to the treatment of 149 of the participants with type 2 diabetes, serum zinc levels had no considerable changes between the two groups. Thus, there is a possibility that zinc supplementation may be useful to prevent atherosclerotic complications in type 2 diabetes individuals3. Another study showed that coronary artery disease was more prevalent among individuals with diabetes4. In the same study patients with coronary artery disease had higher urinary excretion of zinc when compared to those without coronary artery disease. In addition there was no association with the zinc levels and diseased arteries, but there was an increase in urinary zinc loss and the number of diseases arteries4. In relation to diabetes mellitus similar to the study performed by Soinio et al, patients with diabetes excreted greater amounts of zinc when compared to normoglycemic individuals4. Regardless of the zinc loss linked to diabetes mellitus and polyuria, zinc concentration was not associated with the onset of coronary arterial disease. The loss of zinc, on the other hand, correlated to the severity of the coronary artery disease. Consequently, the loss of zinc causes a shift of zinc from the intracellular fluid to the extracellular fluid to maintain homeostasis. Thus, affectin g zinc dependent enzymes such as the activating nuclear factor Ä ¸B and the reduction of nitric oxide bioavailability and the macrophage-mediated oxidative modification of LDL cholesterol along with the inflammatory cascades associated with it that ultimately promote atherogenesis4. On the other hand, zinc only accounts for about 0.1% of total body pool and zinc plasma concentrations are an insensitive marker for whole body reserves. Thus, the use of the urine zinc/24hour ratio is a better marker to reflect the risk of coronary artery disease. This was compared to other studies that identified that children from parents with coronary artery disease had higher zinc urinary levels. Suggesting that genetically predisposed children with coronary artery disease have in a long term, ongoing zinc losses taking place before the manifestations of clinical symptoms4. Yet, the question still remains whether supplementation of zinc in individuals with low zinc serum levels could prove to be beneficial to prevent or eliminate cardio arterial disease. In relation to children Sadoh looked if there was any relationship in loss of serum zinc levels with congenital heart diseases and pneumonia. Sadoh looked at 41 Nigerian children with confirmed congenital heart disease and 41 without congenital heart disease. Because congenital heart diseases with left or right shunt are associated with pulmonary over-circulation, which leads to congestive heart failure, the loss of serum zinc levels seem to be increased with pneumonia6. In addition, it has been shown that patients with heart failure who are also receiving diuretic therapy are prone to develop zincuria. The medications associated with zincuria are thiadize and angiostenin converting enzyme inhibitors. In poor countries like Nigeria, children are forced to live with chronic heart failure and the bronchopneumonia, which as mentioned previously can cause low zinc levels. Another possibility for these children to have low zinc serum levels can be related to poor food intake and absorption that arises from the malnutrition they are exposed to6. All participants were evaluated for congenital heart disease and any febrile conditions that would had altered results. In any case, patients would have had to resolve the febrile condition prior to the commencement of the study. Patients were seen every month for seven months were 3 ml of blood was collected from each person. Serum zinc levels were evaluated using the Dogan et al method and atomic absorption spectrophotometer6. The results showed that the mean zinc levels in children congenital heart disease was 101.3 ± 21.6  µg/dl when compared to the controlled who had 106.5  ± 18.3  µg/dl. In children less than one years of age, the mean serum zinc was the highest at 102.6  ± 30.7  µg/dl when compared to children ten years and older at the lowest levels 94.8  ± 12.4  µg/dl. Sadoh also compared children with bronchopneumonia whose zinc levels were lower 89.5  ± 15.0  µg/dl indicating an increase loss of zinc due to the disease. When compared to children without bronchopneumonia, the zinc levels were at 103.9  ± 22.2  µg/dl6. This study showed that congenital heart failure along with complications such as bronchopneumonia increases the chances of low zinc serum levels. Zinc plays a major role as an acute phase reactant in bronchopneumonia thus, causing its depletion in children with both of these conditions. Whether the patients with severe pneumonia usually have low zinc serum levels, the combination of both pneumonia and congenital heart disease make patients more susceptible to low zinc levels. The same is applied to patients with chronic congenital heart disease, although their levels seem to be lower due to the use of diuretics as a treatment. In all cyanotic congenital heart disease patients had higher levels of zinc when compared to those with acyanotic congenital heart disease6. In this study no zinc supplementation was used, but it can be safe to say that a supplementation could have resulted in improvement of both conditions as seen in the previous studies. Conclusion Zinc appears to have protective effects in coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy in individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes and children with congenital hearts diseases. Intracellular zinc plays a critical role in the oxidative stress reduction protecting from the inflammatory response caused atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases. Zinc supplementation has been shown to improve cardiac function and prevent further damage. Thus, its investigation, although emerging in the cardiovascular disease research, its mechanism needs to be better understood in order for it to be used as a preventative and treatment of cardiovascular disease. References Little PJ, Bhattacharya R, Moreyra AE, Korichneva IL. Zinc and Cardiovascular Disease.Nutrition26.11/12 (2010): 1050-057. Abdel-Khalek Abdel-Salam N, Wessam Aly W, Ahmed Hamza S, Mosfata Fahmy H, Kamel Mortagy A. Relation between zinc level and one year mortality among elderly patients with heart failure.Egyptian J H Med. 2014;54:11-14. Soinio M, Marniemi J, Laakso M, Pyà ¶rà ¤là ¤ M, Lehto S, Rà ¶nnemaa T. Serum zinc level and coronary heart disease events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 30:523-528, 2007. Giannoglou G, Konstantinou D, Kovatsi L, Chatzizisis Y, Mikhailidis D. Association of Reduced Zinc Status With Angiographically Severe Coronary Atherosclerosis: A Pilot Study.Angiology. July 2010;61(5):449-455. 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