Blood Clotting Essay

Blood clotting is an adaptive/defensive mechanism of the human body. Its primary purpose is to prevent the loss of blood from the cardiovascular system from damaged blood vessels in order to avoid shock and possible death. This accomplished by a process called coagulation wherein blood solidify at the site of injury through a complex process involving platelet aggregation and fibrin formation coupled with thrombin and a dozen other clotting factors. Though the mechanism is designed to prevent deleterious harm, clotting can also be harmful especially when inappropriately triggered such as in the case of strokes and infarctions. In the article by Cathleen Genova, she discusses the findings of a report made in the April 17th 2009 issue of Cell, a journal from Cell Press Publication, where researchers found a possible way of preventing life-threatening clots. The discovery might offer a new way to fight clot formation before it can even begin, according to the researchers. According to the findings, thrombin isn’t the only player in the clotting process, in fact â€Å"enzymes known as matrix metalloproteases have recently emerged as important players in platelet function and the biology of blood vessels. Two of those enzymes, MMP-1 and MMP-2 can actually encourage platelet activation† early in the clotting process. If treatments were aimed at blocking the MMP1-PAR1 pathway, a new way of treating patients with acute coronary syndromes may be developed. The advantages of such treatments, the researchers predict, would be that â€Å"an MMP-1 inhibitor might be better tolerated† especially since careful balance between the risk of dangerous blood clots and the risk of bleeding must be kept in mind. Works Cited Genova, Cathleen. â€Å"How Life-Threatening Blood Clots Take Hold. † Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intrnational Ltd. Accessed 23 April 2009 ARTICLE http://www. medicalnewstoday. com/articles/146508. php How Life-Threatening Blood Clots Take Hold Article Date: 18 Apr 2009 – 0:00 PDT When plaques coating blood vessel walls rupture and expose collagen, platelets spring into action to form a blood clot at the damaged site. Now, a new report in the April 17th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, reveals how those life-threatening clots – a leading cause of death in the United States, Europe and other industrialized countries – get an early grip. The discovery might offer a new way to fight clot formation before it can even begin, according to the researchers. â€Å"Compared to other diseases, blood clotting has been very well understood,† said Athan Kuliopulos of Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. Nevertheless, he continued, many people still suffer from heart attacks, ischemic stroke and death as a result of clot formation. â€Å"Drugs designed to inhibit clots through known pathways are widely used by millions. They work well, but not perfectly. There is still an unmet need. † Those drugs include aspirin and the so-called thienopyridines, including Clopidogrel (trade name Plavix). Scientists have known that a protein called thrombin plays an important role in clot formation as a potent activator of platelets. It also cuts fibrinogen into fibrin, a fibrous protein that works together with platelets to form a clot. But thrombin isn’t the whole story. Enzymes known as matrix metalloproteases have recently emerged as important players in platelet function and the biology of blood vessels. Two of those enzymes, MMP-1 and MMP-2 can actually encourage platelet activation, according to earlier studies, although the means were unknown. In cancer cells too, MMP-1 activates a receptor known as PAR1 – the same receptor that is also responsible for receiving the thrombin signal on human platelets. â€Å"There is abundant proMMP-1 coating platelets,† Kuliopulos said. â€Å"We thought maybe it was on the outside waiting to be activated by something. Maybe it could be involved in an early event in blood clotting, before thrombin is around. † Indeed, Kuliopulos’ team has now connected those dots. They show that exposure of platelets to collagen activates MMP-1, which in turn directly cut PAR1 on the surface of platelets. Collagen is the first thing a platelet â€Å"sees† when a blood vessel ruptures or is cut. The MMP-1-PAR1 pathway activates another set of molecular players known to be involved in early clot formation, he said. Those activated platelets change their shape, sending out spikes and membrane sheets. â€Å"Within seconds, they become more sticky,† adhering to the vessel surface and then other platelets. Moreover, they show that treatments that block the MMP1-PAR1 pathway prevent blood clots from forming in the presence of collagen, suggesting that drugs targeting this metalloprotease-receptor system could offer a new way to treat patients with acute coronary syndromes. According to the new results, PAR1 inhibitors already being tested in clinical trials might have an added benefit, Kuliopulos said. It’s also possible they might work a little too well, since there is a careful balance between the risk of dangerous blood clots and the risk of bleeding. â€Å"An MMP-1 inhibitor might be better tolerated,† he said. The researchers include Vishal Trivedi, Adrienne Boire, Boris Tchernychev, Nicole C. Kaneider, Andrew J. Leger, Katie O’Callaghan, Lidija Covic, and Athan Kuliopulos, of Tufts University School of Medicine, Molecular Oncology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA. Source: Cathleen Genova Cell Press

Introduction to Tourism Destination Planning & Development Essay

Tourism provides a major economic development opportunity for many countries and a means of improving the livelihoods of its residents. Both the public and private sectors involved in tourism depend on planning to achieve sustainable tourism development that respects the local community, creates appropriate employment, maintains the natural environment, and delivers a quality visitor experience. Tourism destinations that pursue development without proper planning would face several negative impacts upon the community and host region, such as the erosion of the region’s cultural identity as well as the destruction of landscapes. Malaysia is situated in Southeast Asia and consists of 13 states and 3 federal territories, separated by the South China Sea. 11 of Malaysia’s states are located in Peninsular Malaysia and 2 in east Malaysia, situated on the island of Borneo. The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government and I skandar is known as the administrative center. Tourism is Malaysia’s second largest foreign exchange earner, with a total number of 1,817,061 tourist arrivals in January 2012 alone and 9,438,592 in the following five months[], nearly a hundred thousand more than in the first five months of 2011. Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Dato’ Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen has stated that total receipts from tourism in this period was RM 21.8 billion[] and according to the National Key Economic Area annual report in 2011, the tourism industry is projected to provide and incremental contribution of RM 66.7 billion to the country’s National Gross Income. All these show the very rapid growth of Malaysia’s tourism sector. Moreover, the tourism industry in Malaysia has also been noted to have provided a number of 1.2 million jobs in the country, helping boost the economic and socio-economic development of Malaysia; whether directly or indirectly, tourism has helped generate employment in industries such as agriculture, handicraft, hotel, transport and arts and culture[], while simultaneously conserving aspects of history, culture, heritage and environment of the country. Malaysia’s attractiveness as a tourist destination can be largely contributed by the fact that, in line with its international tagline ‘Malaysia, Truly Asia’, it is a colourful hotpot of cultural diversity. Malaysia’s community consists of not only Malays, Chinese and Indians, but also a number of ethnic people such as the Kadazandusun and Iban in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the Selatar clan in Johor. With its multi-cultural heritage and ‘exotic’ traditions, food and festivals, many tourists are drawn to visit the country every year. In addition, Malaysia also has the advantage of having a warm, tropical climate all year long, something which many Western travellers look forward to enjoying, as well as having the advantage of being free of major natural disasters such as volcanoes or earthquakes. Malaysia is also proud to have UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites to its name, primarily the Gunung Mulu Geo-Park in Sarawak[], and the historical sites of Malacca[], with Mulu attracting 15000 tourists annually[] while Malacca welcomed more than four million between January and April this year[]. Recently, it has been revealed that the tourism industry was allocated an RM358 million under Budget 2013 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2013/2014, in order to reach a target of 26.8 million arrivals for the coming year[]. The Government will also review domestic policies and regulations regarding foreign equity restrictions and limits on employment of foreign talent, as well as rules governing recognition of international qualifications, requirements for commercial presence, composition of board of directors, and residency for expatriates[] in order to assist in liberalising the services sector to reach its full potential in Malaysia. Successful implementation of tourism destination development involves a lot of planning, in terms of the assessment of available resources at the destination, marketing strategies to be undertaken, economic and financial analysis as well as an analysis of the market, the environment and also the social impacts of the development. In this assignment, I will attempt to measure the planning process and effects of it in regards to the state of Pahang in Malaysia. Introduction- Pahang Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia and is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and by the South China Sea. Its state capital is Kuantan, and the royal town is Pekan. Approximately 1.5 million people reside in Pahang to date and the ethnic composition is roughly 1,000,000 Malay and Bumiputera, 233,000 Chinese, 68,500 Indians, 13,700 others, while the rest are non-citizens. Geographically diverse, Pahang ranges from mountainous country in its west to one of the longest coastline in the east of Peninsula Malaysia[]. There has been evidence found that indicates the earliest habitation of Pahang leads back all the way to the Mesolithic Era. Once famous for the deposits of tin and gold found along the upper reaches of the Tembeling River, Pahang had attracted the interest of outside powers long before the founding of Malacca in 1400. Under the control of the maritime empire of Srivijaya, Pahang had expanded to cover the entire southern portion of the Malay Peninsula in the 8th and 9th Centuries. With the collapse of Srivijaya power around 1000, Pahang was claimed first by the Siamese and then, in the late fifteenth century, by Malacca. After Malacca fell to the Portuguese in 1511, Pahang became a key part of the territorial struggles between Acheh, Johor, the Portuguese, and the Dutch. Repeated raids, invasions, and occupations devastated the state, until the decline of both Achenese and Portuguese power in the early 17th century allowed Johor to re-establish its influence on the much fought-over state. In the late eighteenth century, Pahang gradually gained autonomy, and in the middle of the nineteenth century it had become an independent state[]. The name ‘Pahang’ has been said to originate from the language of a Siamese ethnic tribe, meaning ‘ore’. The tribe once live there and opened up several mining areas, especially in Sungai Lembing. According to an old Malay story, at the place near the Pahang River, on the opposite side of Kampung Kembahang, a large ‘mahang’ tree fell across the river, thus the name ‘Pahang’ originated. The old name of Pahang is Inderapura[]. Two thirds of this huge state is covered in forest, thus Pahang’s population is dependent mainly on agriculture and natural resources. There is extensive palm oil, cocoa and rubber cultivation. Due to its long coastline, fishing and tourism related activities are prominent in Pahang and there are some small-scale manufacturing and cottage industries which residents are also dependant on[]. The tourism mission of Pahang is: Promoting Pahang as a Major Tourism Destination based on cultural heritage and natural resources for the socio-economic development of the state.[] Resources of Pahang The Arabic honorific of Pahang is Darul Makmur (â€Å"Abode of Tranquility†), an apt description of the state, with its lush tropical forests, cool mountain air, beaches, lakes and waterfalls nestling in the arms of mountain crevices. Pahang is truly a wild land with a picturesque and ethereal natural beauty beyond comparison. However, Pahang has more than that and its resources can be roughly categorized into different classes; natural resources, cultural resources, and manmade resources. Natural Resources of Pahang True to its fame, Pahang is home to many beautiful and breathtaking natural sites and wonders. It is home to unexplored rainforests, carefully preserved wildlife habitats, undisturbed ecological sites and raging, wild rivers and waterfalls. 1. Taman Negara The natural heart of Pahang is unquestionably Taman Negara, Malaysia’s oldest national park, lovingly referred to as â€Å"The Green Heart†. Gazetted as a National Park in 1938, Taman Negara is Malaysia’s largest and oldest natural park, with over 4000 km2 of wild, virgin rainforest. Although it also spans across the states of Terengganu and Kelantan, its largest protrusion is into Pahang. It is carefully conserved and protected due to its status as one of the last remaining frontiers of pristine rainforest, not only in Malaysia, but in the world. Taman Negara has a wide variety of flora and fauna, like the long-tailed macaques and rare Sumatran rhinos, as well as over 250 species of flora. One of the most frequented tourist attractions at Taman Negara is the Canopy Walkway, a suspension bridge of strong ropes, cables, net and wood that hangs 40 metres above the ground from which tourists are able to appreciate the park’s natural beauty without disturbing its resident wildlife. There are also several limestone hills in Taman Negara that have stayed undisturbed since several hundred millions of years ago. Some of the popular caves are Gua Telinga, Gua Kepayang, Gua Daun Menaru and Gua Luas. Visitors also have the chance to take a 40 minute boat trip up the Tahan River to the Lata Berkoh Waterfall, where they can get the invigorating experience of swimming in the cool waters of the deep pool beneath the fall. Adventure-seeking tourists are also able to shoot up the 7 rapids of the Tembeling River, which takes about 5 minutes as it is a 9km ride. With the help of a hired guide, visitors can also go jungle trekking to experience Taman Negara up close along well-marked trails like the Tahang, Terenggan and Neram Trail.   As Taman Negara is so meticulously guarded, tourists need to obtain certain permits or licenses in order to gain access to the park. These licenses differ depending on the tourist’s particular intention and can be applied for at any Department of Wildlife counters located at the Kuala Tembeling Jetty or Kuala Tahan. The permits and respective fares are listed in the following table.

Prevention of Absenteeism in Organisation

How to reduce absenteeism in organisations 1. Identify the causes for an employee’s absenteeism. If you can find out why an employee is consistently absent, then you can deal more effectively with the problem. For example, if an employee is often absent because of issues with childcare, you could offer them the option of more flexible working hours. 2. Implement a thorough record system. For every employee, you should record the date, duration and reason for each case of absenteeism.This way you will have evidence of each absence if you need to refer back to it. 3. Meticulously follow up on each case of absenteeism. You should write a letter recording each case of absenteeism and distribute it to the employee. This will make them aware they are being monitored and make them more likely to think before they take a sick day. 4. Properly inform and regularly update your employees about your standards and policies regarding absenteeism.If you make a change to your absenteeism poli cy, make sure you let your employees know. Even if you don’t make a change, you should still remind your employees regularly of the standards you have in place. You could do this via a company-wide email or memo. Employee absence is a significant cost to 90% of businesses, according to the survey. This section outlines ten tips to help you in managing absence and tackling poor performance in the workplace. Top 10 Absence Management Tips: Create an absence policy and communicate it 2 Record and measure absence 3 Reduce absenteeism by enforcing and managing the staff absence policy 4 Follow employee absence with return to work interviews 5 Proactive absence management – reward excellent attendance 6 Be realistic – plan for unscheduled staff absence 7 Consider unpaid leave or options to buy more holiday time 8 Minimise absence by improving their working conditions 9 Make controlling absenteeism a business priority 10 Keep your staff absence policy up-to-date

Communication Within The Construction Industry Essay

Communication Within The Construction Industry - Essay Example In this context, it has been found that the Simon reports (1944, 1945, 1948) could be possibly regarded as a primary theoretical approach to the issue of communication in the construction industry. These reports refer to the â€Å"distribution of building materials, awareness of the problems faced and the contingency planning required to overcome post-war problems† (Emmitt et al., 2003, 12). In other words, there was an ‘indirect’ reference to the communication as a necessary element for the successful completion of a construction project. The study of the role of communication in the development of a construction project was expanded after the decade of 1960s while in the 1970s one of the most important studies appeared in the area is that of Broadbent’s Design and Architecture in 1973 which included â€Å"an entire chapter for the issue of communication† (Emmitt et al., 2003, 16). Another important study was also that of Paterson ‘Information Methods: For Design and Construction’ in 1977 which refer to the value of information towards the successful completion of a construction project. Other studies also followed in recent years emphasizing the need for effective communication in order to achieve the targets set in any construction project. Communication should be considered as an element of primary importance for the success of any construction project. In this context, it has been supported by Brown (2001, 1) that â€Å"communication has been cited by 25 per cent of all construction employers as a basic reason for failure†. On the other hand, it has been found that â€Å"differences in communication techniques, language and subsequent translation of the language into the design product mean that the existence of certain hurdles must be accepted; techniques need to be developed to ensure that they become simple obstacles, as opposed to

The Role of Stakeholders in the Indigenous Employment Program of Rio Case Study

The Role of Stakeholders in the Indigenous Employment Program of Rio Tinto - Case Study Example The company has been steadfast in creating employment opportunities for the indigenous people in Australia. A majority of these people are of aboriginal origins, but some of them belong to other tribes or sub-tribes. Since most of its major operations and plants are located in rural or remote areas, Rio Tinto feels obligated to return the favor by promoting the development of those areas. The only way it is capable of doing this is by creating space for those people in their company. This gives indigenous people the opportunity to secure the futures of current and future generations, and move away from the mainly subsistence form of life they are used. In this day and age, it is worrying to know that there are people who are so close, yet so far, to civilization. What Rio Tinto is doing is bringing civilization to the indigenous people of Australia, and there is nothing better than what they are doing at the moment. It is worth noting that the company is not solely focused on just employing indigenous people. It supports (through educational grants and other forms of support) individuals from indigenous communities who have the potential to make positive changes in society. This makes a lot of sense because if its only intention was to employ people it would be unable to find enough people to employ. For example, if the company wanted indigenous people to form ten percent of its total workforce and only managed to realize a five percent figure, where would the other five percent come from? Rio Tinto’s strategy is based on spot, supporting, training and then employing individuals from indigenous communities. This ensures that its conveyor belt does not run dry, and keeps churning out skilled and qualified personnel. For many years, the indigenous peoples of Australia were maligned, ridiculed, scorned and mistreated2. This however changed with the passing and signing into law of several legislations that made it mandatory for indigenous people to be accorded their full rights as lawful citizens of Australia.

How systems and processes deployed within the organization are aligned Assignment

How systems and processes deployed within the organization are aligned with organizations objectives - Assignment Example This research aims to evaluate and present the analysis that is provided in the context of theories and practices in operations management at the workplace. Finally suggestions are provided on how the process can be managed better in order to attain organizational objectives. The key to the company’s business operation is the fact that it keeps changing itself with the ever changing world that it exists in. The company undertakes successful business process re-engineering which is objected to provide solutions to the three main factors in business, namely, customer, change and competition. BPR accounts for one of the main operations strategy of Walmart for achieving radical improvement in contemporary and critical measures of performances such quality, costs, services and speed. The strategy focuses on re-examining its basic roots and aiming to undertake complete reinvention. BPR activities have been particularly employed in Walmart for attaining scale of operations and reduci ng costs so as to attain a competitive edge in the market. Following is a typical BPR process undertaken in Walmart involving cross functional cooperation and changes, identifying expectations of customers and also identifying where the process is falling short of meeting those expectations. The supply chain operator in Walmart seeks to enhance efficiency to such a level such as to attain low price leadership among other retailers in the market. (Haag, Cummings & McCubbrey, 2004, p.101). Because of this high efficiency the company has been able to attain low margins as compared to other retailers. As commented by Pete Abell, the research director at AMR Research Inc. at Boston, cost of goods of Walmart is at least low by 5% to 10% from that of its competitors. The retail giant was effective in becoming the best supply chain operator of all times in terms of undertaking two fundamental strategies. Firstly, it has leveraged its scale in numerous ways for the creation of operational ef ficiencies consequently driving significant competitive advantage. Secondly, it has used its scale for creating competitive advantage through best execution and investment in supply chain (Dorado, 2006, p.1). Globally the retailer has around 9000 number of suppliers which includes Nestle, P&G, Unilever and even Kraft. The company also exercises tremendous power and control over its suppliers. For negotiating with suppliers Walmart

Information Systems Design and sociotechnical systems Essay

Information Systems Design and sociotechnical systems - Essay Example The authors appreciate the need for proper systems to model and analyze the interaction and composition of software and hardware components with organizational and human actors. The authors evaluate and select the right trade-off between social and technical dimensions. They propose tool-supported procedures of requirement analysis for technical-social systems that adopt planning schemes for exploring the range of requirement alternatives in addition to a number of social criteria for their assessment. The authors illustrate the proposed approach using a case study. The publication proposes a systematic, tool-supported procedure that aims at supporting the designer in evaluating and exploring alternative configurations and frameworks of socio-technical system delegations. It supposes that the accomplishment of such processes be done through Artificial Intelligence planning techniques in constructing design alternatives. It also gives a set of assessment criteria for evaluating and comparing the available options (Volha, Paolo, & Mylopoulos, 2012, p. 7). The paper has presented the presented schemed process that supports the proposed approach. It also gives the outline of the planning, discussion and formalization of the concrete set of evaluation criteria. The white paper has reported on the assessment of the proposal through a number of case studies in addition to a series of scalable experiments. Bert, P. (2011, June 3). Sicio-Technocal Design of Knowledge Work & IT; A Case Study. Retrieved Feb 12, 2014, from Independent Consulting Social Scientist: http://moderntimesworkplace.com/good_reading/GRNewTech/STS.Design.of.KnowledgeWork_IT.v2.pdf The author uses a case study of E-File introduction into the system of an insurance company as an imperfect, but powerful example of the challenges and the potentials of designing technical and social elements of knowledge work interactively and concurrently. Bert explores a case study of a public insurance

An argumentative paper with a thesis statement which argues for or Research

An argumentative with a thesis statement which argues for or against liberty for the individual - Research Paper Example Liberty is our freedom to self-determine and self-govern our lives, both in thought, expression, and actions. The Pursuit of Happiness is considered to be a substitution for the traditional right of Property, and this is a fundamental difference between the concept of natural rights as posited by the American founders vs. their European counterparts in Enlightenment thinking. Nevertheless, they key to both views of Liberty is the writing of John Locke where he posited a system of â€Å"natural rights† which were endemic to the human existence, and as such inalienable, unable to be abrogated by government institutions. Men could bind together to form governments that protected these rights and led to progress in many areas, but if governments violated these fundamental rights of man, it was nature itself and no other legal or political power that the individual could invoke as the foundation for resistance or revolution. â€Å"The state of Nature has a law of Nature to govern it, which obliges every one, and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of Nature for his rule.† (Locke, 1690) Thus, because of the natural rights of man, the individual has an autonomy based in liberty, freedom and self-determination, this is fundamental – in religion, God-given. In this manner, other men cannot violate these rights or take away the liberty of the individual without inspiring a legitimate self-defense reaction from the individual, just as if another sought to steal his property or take his life. The justification of defense of Liberty is natural, based in the natural rights of man, and thus in Ayn Rand’s â€Å"Anthem† we see how the totalitarian society of the

Compare and contrast the three sky's religions Essay

Compare and contrast the three sky's religions - Essay Example From these stories, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have a reference point, the Hebrew Bible. In light to this argument, it is justified to argue that the Abramic god is the centerpiece of the three religions. Additionally, the three religions believe in God being eternal, omnipresent, and the sole creator. They are of the belief that God is holy and exists in all places, is powerful, present at all times. These aspects link the three religions to the concept of God and the role of Abraham in religion- the founder. They also believe that in prayer, the transcendent God can answer the prayer of all individuals. This means that God is the creator and controller of all humans. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are referred to as self-described monotheistic religions. They, however, have varying views in terms of their understanding of God (Ridgeon, 2003). According to the Muslims and the Jews, God is just in one form. Their doctrines emphasize on the unity of God. On the other hand, the Christians believe in the three manifestations of God- the trinity. This entails God the father, son and Holy Spirit. The Muslims and the Jews argue that the Christians do not uphold the doctrine of oneness. This means that Muslims and the Jews argue against the fact that Christians separate the concept of the unity of God. However, the Christians argue that God is a divine being and cannot operate in wholeness deviant of the three explanations. They also argue that just like Judaism and Islamism are singular existences, the same case is the Holy trinity. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam also have varying opinions on the concept of afterlife and the end of the world. According to Ridgeon (2003), Christians believe that the kind of life one leads on earth determines the kind of afterlife they will lead. Those who end up in hell are the ones who led a wicked life, and that those who repent their sins and lead a godly life will enjoy eternal satisfaction in heaven. In the case of

Critical Context of law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical Context of law - Case Study Example tax inspectorate. Mandox had purchased Bleak Hall when the property market was cheap. It is obvious that Mandox had purchased Bleak Hall as part of his investment plan. Bleak Hall belongs to Mandox although his wife, Muriel, uses it more often for political reasons. His wife, Muriel, and three daughters have judicially enforceable rights in the ownership, use and occupation of Bleak Hall. There is no mention of Muriel's and their daughters' rights anywhere concerning Bleak Hall. However, Muriel's status as Charles Mandox's wife gives her judicially enforceable rights. This could prove useful in case of any divorce claims, although there is no mention anywhere of Charles and Muriel contemplating divorce. Apart from Muriel and their children, no one else has any right or claim on Bleak Hall. Charles Mandok may spend much of his time taking drinks. However, he has sharp business sense. The possibility of anyone other than Muriel making any claim on Bleak Hall is remote. Mandok is too powerful and ruthless to tolerate any third party claims on Bleak Hall. However, Muriel makes good use of Bleak Hall. She sensed rightly that in the emotional vacuum of Bleak Hall she would encounter little opposition to her own designs. A political career, she adjudged, needed a prosperous backcloth. Bleak Hall was close to the residence of the then prime minister, Tony Blair. What additionally would Muriel Mandox need to have done or be able to demonstrate to show a legal or equitable interest in Bleak Hall Charles Mandox uses Muriel's paycheck to pay for the outgoings and maintenance of Bleak Hall. Muriel could have asked for co-ownership of Bleak Hall. Muriel is quick-tempered and Charles is ruthless. The couple has lived through to see three children, all daughters, although most of the children's time is spent with girls hired as childcare. Muriel is so caught up with her political career that she does not consider as necessary the need to spend time to talk with Charles Mandox about their property affairs. For a man of wealth like Charles Mandox, it is necessary to have property and financial affairs well sorted out to take care of any contingencies. Her background as a miner's daughter and traumatic home life did not breed in her the systematic and planned thinking of those used to sophistication. Her father had disappeared after having a bottle smashed on his head by her mother. Her socialist background and political proclivities aroused in her the grandiose prospects of career in politics. Her political life brought out her innate qualities of quick thinking that included brilliant albeit raw calculations. She had first joined the Conservative party and then switched over to the Labor. The first time Charles called her out on a date, she almost told him to go to hell. His persistence on dating her