SEM2-CELLPATH

Instructions:

Portfolio- poster and case study report. L6 SCENTIFIC LANGUAGE AND APPROACH

Learning outcomes

• Discuss the underlying pathological processes of selected disease.
• Relate the molecular and cellular aetiology and pathological process to the detection, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of selected disease.
• Relate A research evidence-based knowledge of pathological mechanisms to histology- based diagnosis, /clinical diagnostic methods and disease monitoring.

Case study 3:

50-year-old Asian women who was a non-smoker was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. Histology assessment demonstrated an acinar pattern. Additional tests were performed to determine the molecular basis of disease and the most appropriate course of treatment. The patient was identified as harbouring an EML4-ALK translocation.

This assignment is split into 2: All

• CASE STUDY REPORT – 750 words + 10%
• POSTER – 750 words +10%                              Total is 1500 words + 20%

Section 1- CASE STUDY REPORT

Prepare a report of the case study above to meet the first learning outcome listed above.

Analyse the case study, making references to it, link pathology to the patient’s symptoms.

Background of the disease and how it occurs.

• What is the pathological basis of disease given in the above case study?
• Is it linked to environmental and/or genetic alterations?
• Describe these processes.
• Link the pathology to the symptoms/findings of the case study listed above.

This needs to be a detailed account of how disease occurred in the case study.

Relate your findings to research-based knowledge using primary research papers.

Ensure the use of headings/subheadings, good organisation, use figures, illustrations, tables where appropriate.

Please evidence your research with the use on in-text citations and a full Harvard reference list

Section 2- POSTER

This section is carrying on from section 1 and its case study. This section 2 needs to be presented as a poster with all of the information below,

Once you have established and researched the aetiology and pathological process of your named disease, from completing the case report in SECTION 1….

• You must discuss laboratory methods used for diagnosis.
• Evaluate the current methods in use in a cellular pathology laboratory, clearly describing the methods.
• Identify strengths and weaknesses and highlight recent advances that have been implemented or likely to be used in the future.

THIS INCLUDES:

• How would this disease be detected/diagnosed? Think of relevant cellular pathology techniques (H&E staining)
• What additional tests are involved? IHC, special stains, Molecular tests (include all if relevant)
• Summarise these techniques – tissue requirement, processing, dissection etc.
• Explain the results (the use of figures, tables, images may be useful here) ensure you annotate images of staining to demonstrate your understanding of relevant cellular, architectural changes, where relevant.
• How would this patient be treated and monitored?
• What are the treatment pathways and how do they link to the pathology?
• What is the patient prognosis?
• Include limitations of techniques and treatments.

Please evidence your research with the use on in-text citations and a full Harvard reference list

 

 

A 23-year-old female presents to her GP with menorrhagia. She has recently moved into the area, so her GP feels it is a good idea to request some blood tests and to take her history. Her GP feels she looks slightly pale so decides to request some blood tests to determine whether she has any degree of anaemia. Her family origin is African, with her mother and father originating from Ghana. Her FBC, blood film and HPLC results are shown below, with normal ranges provided

Introduction

This report will focus on evaluating a case study of a patient’s diagnosis and symptom-related analysis. The report will, therefore, entail the interpretation of data presented in the case study, where relevant parameters involved in carrying out the tests are interrelated and how they attribute to the identified symptoms. The second step in the report will entail the differential diagnosis, where logical interpretation of information will be done to identify the correct answer or recommendations will be done to identify whether further tests are necessary. Finally, the report will end by summarizing the most likely disorder affecting the patient, along with comments on the prognosis and current treatment.

Data interpretation:

From the patient’s blood, the hemoglobin was low (94 g/l) and a hematocrit of 0. 260 L/L. This is an indication of anemia. Also, the results show decreased levels of the Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). This is an indication of microcytic and hypochromic anemia. Looking at the reticulocyte count as well as the red blood cells they seem to be within a normal range. This means an elevation of the reticulocyte’s percentage. There is a small elevation in neutrophils as well as the lymphocytes. On the other hand, the number of eosinophils is declining. A notable low level of ferritin is an indication of the deficiency of iron in anemia. Pale red blood cells, and hypochromic and microcytic anemia can be an outcome of aberrant haemoglobin synthesis.

Differential diagnosis

There are several diseases that can mimic thalassemia, so it is usually critical to carry out a thorough analysis. Some of these diseases may be sickle cell anemia, hemolytic anemia, and erythropoietin deficiency, among others. Therefore, distinguishing the relevant conditions is critical as each has different considerations in the treatment and clinical consequences. The MCV for thalassemia in most cases is <80, and so is for hemolytic anemia, and iron deficiency anemia. When checked for laboratory abnormalities, thalassemia will exhibit a performance lipid chromatography that is abnormally high. In addition, microcytic anemia is present. Overload of iron and also transfusions which are frequent lead to ferritin elevation. Hemolytic anemia on the other hand has low haptoglobin, and there is low ferritin in iron deficiency anemia.

The blood film in the test results presented indicates that there is mild poikilocytosis and anisocytosis. These particular traits illustrate or stipulate that the red blood cells tend to vary based on shape and size, which is often consistent with the general identification of alpha-thalassemia. It is possible to say that the patient’s genetic mutation is one of the attributing factors to her developing the menorrhagia complication. Alpha-thalassemia mostly affects people of African, descent especially, those who come from regions that are prone to malaria infections. Therefore, the GP should consider taking an approach that addresses her condition by diagnosing the problem from the perspective that she is having Alpha-thalassemia, rather than just considering her menorrhagia complication.

By reviewing the test results, it is clear that pale red blood cells, and hypochromic and microcytic anemia, can be an outcome of aberrant haemoglobin synthesis. Iolascon et al., (2009), stipulate that microcytic hypochromic anaemia is a condition that can be an outcome of having an absence of the globin genes, which is a defect in heme-related synthesis. Therefore, this particular type of anemia can be or not be sideroblastic, a trait that reflects the implications of having different gene abnormalities. Red blood cells that have reduced MCV (Mean corpuscular volume) tend to depict a reduced level of haemoglobin synthesis which can be attributed to several causes.

The HPLC results stipulate that there is a significant rise in HbA2, which is a type of haemoglobin that tends to increase in the presence of alpha-thalassemia. According to Khera et al. (2014), HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography is a practice utilized for accurate diagnosis of thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies. The primary advantage of utilizing HPLC is its excellent resolution, quantification and reproduction of several; abnormal and normal haemoglobin; hence resulting in accurate diagnosis of symptoms associated with thalassemia syndrome. Therefore, it is evident that the test results played a significant role in facilitating the overall diagnosis of the patient’s condition, hence helping the GP identify the relationship between the several symptoms that the patient was experiencing concerning her genetic makeup (putting in mind that she had inherited the condition from one or both of her parents).

Disease biology, prognosis, and treatment,

Alpha-thalassemia is a is a blood disorder that is hereditary, and occurs when there is an absence of the chains of alpha-globin, or when they are deficient. According to Husna and Handayani (2021), the blood that is produced by the body is inadequate. Alpha-thalassemia destroys the RBC leading to anemia. This condition develops if there is a gene abnormality, in one of the genes involved in hemoglobin production. It is hereditary from the parents. If one of the parents has thalassemia, there is a high chance that the child will develop thalassemia minor. The chances are higher is both parents have the disease. Shafique et al. (2021) point out that during the development of embryonic or fetal stage, proteins of γ globin partner with globin α, which later get replaced by the protein globin β. Therefore, the imbalances in the global chain lead to hemolysis and as a result impede erythropoiesis. Depending on the severity of Alpha thalassemia, it can lead to hemolytic anemia (resulting from Betathalassemia) or a condition known as fatal hydrops fetalis.

For previous countries which are non-endemic, the prognosis for the patients is not quite clear. Patients with the disease seem to lead a life that is normal. Some may never even get diagnosed in their lifetime. In its diagnosis, the carrier identification for alpha-thalassemia should include the determination of MCV as well as MCH, and the quantitative analysis of Hb (Vijian et al., 2021). This can be performed through y high-performance liquid chromatography. The absence of typical changes in HbA2 makes it difficult to identify the carriers of alpha-thalassemia, even though microcytosis and hypochromia are present. Bone marrow transplant is the only cure for Thalassemias. Also, gene therapy can be used, however, there has not been any recorded success rate for it.

 

 

References

Husna, N. and Handayani, N. S. N. (2021) ‘Molecular and Haematological Characteristics of alpha-Thalassemia Deletions in Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia’, Rep Biochem Mol Biol,10(3),pp.346-353. doi: 10.52547/rbmb.10.3.346. PMID: 34981010; PMCID: PMC8718782.

Shafique, F., Ali, S., Almansouri, T. S. et al. (2021) Thalassemia, a human blood disorder. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 83. e246062. ISSN 1519-6984

Vijian, D,, Wan Ab Rahman, W.S., Ponnuraj, K.T, Zulkafli, Z., Mohd Noor, N. H. (2021) ‘Molecular Detection of Alpha Thalassemia: A Review of Prevalent Techniques’, Medeni Med J,;36(3),pp. 257-269. doi: 10.5222/MMJ.2021.14603. Epub 2021 Sep 30. PMID: 34915685; PMCID: PMC8565582.

Assignment: Reflection on the movie ”Juno”

”Juno” the 2008 Oscar winner for best original screenplay is a film about a teenage girl who gets pregnant and decides to give her baby up for adoption. After viewing the movie please complete this assignment. You may answer these questions on this document using a different font.

1. At the start of the movie did you feel that Juno’s discovery and initial reaction to her unplanned pregnancy was depicted realistically?

2. When Juno informs her friend Beeker that she is pregnant what did you think of his reaction to her pregnancy?

3. How did you view the depiction of Juno’s visit to the abortion clinic?

4. As Juno told her father and step-mother about the pregnancy what came to mind when you hear their reaction?

5. Do you feel Juno’s parents were supportive of her initially and then throughout the pregnancy”

6. Juno and her friend search through advertisements in local publications to pick parents for her unborn child. Do you think that Juno’s choice of parents was drawn from an idealized teenager’s view of what model parents are?

7. What is your reaction to the film’s treatment of the adoption issue?

8. How did you feel about the way Juno’s classmates treated her when her pregnancy became apparent?

9. How do you think you would be of support to a woman or couple in labor who planned to give their baby up for adoption after viewing Juno and Beeker’s behavior in the hospital post-delivery?

10. What do you think contributes to “sexually active” adolescents and unplanned pregnancies?

11. Aside from providing sex education in schools are there any ways you can see nurses making an impact on teen girls to postpone pregnancy until they have completed schooling and met personal career goals?

12. What impact has viewing “Juno” had on you and your attitude toward “unwanted” pregnancies?

13. Visit the CDC.gov Teen Pregnancy Home Reproductive Health and answer the following question.

https://www.cdc.gov › teenpregnancy

What thoughts can you share on the “Teens”, “Parent Resources” and “Healthcare Provider Resources” available on the CDC Teen Pregnancy Homepage.

 

Gun Control in the USA

America is an exceptional country when it comes to firearms, on one hand, the right to bear arms is protected under the constitution. On the other hand, America is by far the most homicidal country among developed nations. Statistics from PEW Research (2019), show that seventy-five percent of the murders in 2017 involved firearms, and about 51% of suicides involved guns. Moreover, just in August of this year, a total of 31 people died following mass shootings in the Walmart store in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio (). In fact, statistics show that there have been about 21 mass shooting killing a total of 124 people in 2019 alone (CBNC ). Along with the loss of lives, gun violence also causes injuries that exert a significant burden to the US health system, costing about $2.3 billion annually as well as an economic burden that is more than $100 billion every year (Gani et al. 1735). This comes in even as more states continue to relax restrictions on conceal carry laws and the federal reforms on gun legislation being stagnant.

Until recently, the debate on gun control and the effect of available legislations on preventing mass shootings and gun vilence have taken a higher notch in the aftermath of the August tragedy in Walmart store in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio. The discussion on gun control has been an issue of contention in America, despite having a functional criminal justice in place plus a socioeconomic environment that is comparable with the best in the world (Webster). Gun regulation in the USA is a very contentious topic primarily because of the countries’ historical and political context.

Gun violence and related deaths are a concern for many citizens in the USA.  Yet, finding ways to reduce gun violence and death is amongst the most contentious issues. Krouse (11), estimates that there are more than 25 million handguns in the country, even as reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local enforcement agencies and Crime Reports show that the firearm rates have risen to significant levels over the decades. A report by PEW Researchers indicates that about 1.4 million people have died from death related to firearms (homicides, accidents, and suicides) between 1968 to 2017. Compared to other developed countries, USA gun-related homicides is significantly high (Malcolm 108). A study conducted by John Hopkins estimates that victims of gun violence spend approximately $2.8 billion per year in medical expenses (Gani et al. 1730). Further, a report published by the House Joint Economic Committee estimates that gun violence costs the country approximately $229 billion a year (CNBC) . This provides clear evidence that despite the counter-argument gun proliferation and their misuse is a national problem. Unfortunately, despite the seriousness of this issue and the massive support by the majority of the citizens there is yet to be nationally acceptable gun legislation that works.

It is worth noting that firearms plus the freedom and regulations that surround their use and possession have been a controversial issue in the USA. Matters relating to gun control gain significant prominence during elections. In retrospect, it has been noted that lawmakers approach this topic with caution because of the profound differences in opinions among voters with respect to public safety and violation of rights that are protected by the Second Amendment (Doeden). Therefore, despite the ongoing cry for the need for stringent firearm laws, there has been limited progressive legislation on gun control. Moreover, politicians are facing stiff opposition from enthusiastic lobbyists who are against gun control. For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has several supporters and funds use a scorecard system to rate the politicians’ position on gun control. Support is given to candidates who are not actively opposed to guns, and these leaders are voted into the government.

With this said, studies about the impact of gun control have shown mixed reactions. Proponents for increased regulations on gun control cite the use of guns in suicides and homicides, with public health researchers such as the Centre of Disease and Control (CDC) and John Hopkins arguing that the health costs related to gun violence is astronomically high hitting billions of dollars per year. Indeed, numerous other scholars are of the opinion that access to guns correlates to high crime rates. This is in line with data on gun violence against gun ownership on country to country basis. With research suggesting that countries that allow their citizens to carry guns have a significantly high firearm-related crime rate than their counterparts (Malcolm 34).

On the other hand, critics argue that it is within the second amendment for individuals to be able to protect themselves and their property by having the ultimate power to protect themselves against criminal activities (Doeden).  Yet, using the legal justification that it is right to be armed for self-defense in a situation that is perceived to be dangerous is unlawful, and life-threatening attack is imminent.  It is plausible that a gun could provide one with protection during an assault. To begin with, guns are more likely to exacerbate a situation, than it would in reducing it. Indeed, a study conducted by Branas et al. (109), found that individuals possessing a gun during an attack were more likely to be shot than those without firearms. Presumably,individuals who do not have guns cannot act aggressively; thus, eliminating the need for shot-outs.

For the most part, restrictive laws on gun control are designed to prevent dangerous people from having them. Infact, Carter (45), argues that licensed gun holders are law-abiding citizens. Indeed,

the FBI notes that a majority of criminals who possess guns do not get them from lawful retailers (Krocker 110). This is to mean that violent criminals typically obtain guns through illicit markets or from family members, and acquaintances.  Therefore, gun control laws are not effective in controlling crimes.  Understandably, gun control laws may infringe upon an individual’s interest in gun possession, but the consensus is that most people would prefer to live in safe societies that have reduced risks for violence related to guns. In fact, restrictions on carry laws have been, to some extent effective in reducing violence, suicide, and homicide (Doeden). Thus, lowering the risk for gun-related violence by having gun control laws provide individuals with increased options regarding their preferences in the place to live, school, work and enjoy their leisure time.

So far, there is nothing that indicates that the availability of guns operates uniformly to promote violence across different states in the USA.For the most part, crime is highest in places where individuals do not have legal access to guns and vice versa. This is to mean that firearms do not necessarily promote violence in the USA. Indeed, advocates of carry laws argue that mass shootings cannot be explained by ownership of guns but by looking at the underlying historical and cultural relationships that Americans have with firearms. For example, looking back, you realize that guns have been central in American struggles such as the Civil war and the American Revolution (Carter 34). Therefore, control of the possession and use of firearms is not the way forward to preventing gun-related deaths and violence. Engaging in public education campaigns on gun safety and how to handle situations related to firearms will be vital to ending this menace.

In this light, the study recommends that the government should put in place campaigns to educate the public on gun safety. This is of utmost importance because of the increased rate of mass shootings. It gets scary, especially for foreigners who are new in America. You go about with the realization that anyone can be a victim. Therefore, it is better to be prepared. Comprehensive education on safety measures during an attack should be laid down and also how well to handle yourself in a gun attack plus possible channels, which number to call, and so much more.

In conclusion, the study looks at mass shootings and gun-related deaths and violence. The fundamental questions being asked is whether gun control will be effective in reducing violence and whether restrictive policies on gun control will prevent an individual from defending their selves.  The study concludes that even though having in place stringent legislation on guns can curb gun-related violence, homicides, and suicide, there is also need to educate the public on gun safety and risk management practices to take in the event of an attack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

 

 

Branas, C. C., Richmond, T. S., Culhane, D. P., Ten Have, T. R., & Wiebe, D. J. Investigating the Link Between Gun Possession and Gun Assault. American Journal of Public Health, 2009. 99(11), 2034-204.

Bureau of Justice  Statistics. Nonfatal Firearm  Violence,  1993-2011, special tabulation from the Bureau of Justice  Statistics’  National  Crime Victimization Survey, provided National Institute of Justice, 2011.

Carter, Gregg L. Gun Control in the United States. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO [u.a., 2006. Print.

Doeden, Matt. Gun Control: Preventing Violence or Crushing Constitutional Rights? Minneapolis: Lerner Publishing Group, 2011. Internet resource.

Gani, et al. Emergency Department Visits For Firearm-Related Injuries In The United States, 2006–14. Research Article Public Health Affairs, VOL. 36, NO. 10 October 2017.pp 1729-1738.

Gramlich, J. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. PEW RESEARCH. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/08/16/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/18/gun-violence-costs-the-us-229-billion-annually-report.html

Kim, S. Gun violence costs the US $229 billion annually: Report. CNBC, Wed, Sep 18 2019,

Krouse,   W.J. Gun control legislation.   Congressional   Research   Service. 2010. Retrieved from www.crs.gov

Malcolm, Joyce Lee. Guns and violence: The English experience. Harvard University Press, 2009.

Regoli, Natalie. “21 Biggest Pros and Cons of Gun Control Laws.” ConnectUS, 6 Mar. 2019, https://connectusfund.org/21-biggest-pros-and-cons-of-gun-control-laws

Webster, Daniel W, and Michael R. Bloomberg. Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013. Internet resource.

When done properly, marketing events turn into essential marketing channels. Marketing events serve as direct ways of forming new connections, providing learning opportunities, and creating memorable experiences for returning as well as potential customers. Different organizations use different event marketing strategies such as conferences, networking, seminar, trade shows, forums, and parties. Whichever strategy is used, marketing events remain the best for marketing your products or services.

Description

For this paper, Payoneer Shenzhen Forum 2019, a roadshow event, is selected for analysis. Payoneer hosts various marketing events. For example, in 2018, it hosted various forums in 13 countries across the world (Steel, 2019). Payoneer is a platform that facilitates cross-border payment. It has a global customer base. With the vast opportunities brought by today’s interconnected world, Payoneer utilizes marketing events to scale the heights. The title of the Shenzhen marketing event 2019 was ‘smart sharing, global winning’ (Steel, 2019). Over 1,500 merchants attended the event. It also drew over 30 marketplaces from across the world. The forum covered various topics including management of international tax obligations and taking advantage of the growing Indian market. The marketing vent had engaging content all sizes of business.

Global giants such as Walmart, eBay, and Amazon joined the event. Also, lading marketplaces such as Lazada and Shopee attended the event (Steel, 2019). From the attendees, merchants were able to learn various insights on how to expand their businesses. Payoneer took advantage of the event to launch the Green Channel (Steel, 2019). The purpose of this Green Channel is creating a seamless onboarding experience for marketplaces as well as merchants. The service connects merchants with marketplaces in a safer manner. It utilizes Payoneer’s compliance capabilities and comprehensive fraud protection.

INCOME-PRODUCING ASSETS: REITs VERSUS OTHERS

The current reality of our world hinges upon the shoulders of investments. From the decadent nests of world governments to the steely environments of corporate organizations and even to the innocent spheres of little kids, every part of our society operates under the principles of finance and investment.

To invest is to allocate a thing of value with the hopes of gaining some benefits. For instance, you’re investing your time into this article for the sole purpose of obtaining some forms of knowledge that you could use to sharpen your mental acuity. Whether you choose to invest time, money, or your heart, the resultant expectation is one of a return or a dividend.

Unfortunately, this article, although finance-centric, is not crafted to introduce you to the nuances of finance or cover the expanse of investments. To dabble in this realm is to go on a journey that may span a few years.

In this article, I will be delving into one very specific part of financial investments wherein I’ll compare and contrast a few key players in the field.

So without further ado, let’s take a roller-coaster ride through the financial scope of income-producing assets!

INCOME-PRODUCING ASSETS: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT’S THE FUSS?

When breaking down the term “Income – Producing – Asset,” we can immediately observe a connection between the isolated words: Income, Production, and Asset.

Intuitively, this term refers to assets (anything of value that possessed the potential to yield more value) that generate (or produce) a consistent revenue stream (income), which can manifest as interest, dividends, or even cash distributions.

Income-producing assets generate income depending on the asset value. Hence, returns could be on a monthly, quarterly, or even annually basis. The important thing to note is that no income-producing asset is established in stone. Diversity and flexibility characterize the bulk of income-producing resources.

Some of the perks of income-producing properties include:

1. The leeway to reinvest often
2. Relative predictability of the assets
3. Diversity of Choice
4. Affordability
5. They possess utility
6. You have the possibility of sheltering them from Taxes
7. Loss offset characteristic
8. Capital Appreciation.

Some examples of income-producing assets are:

-Rental properties,
-REITs,

-Real estate crowdfunding,

-Mortgage Investment Corporations,

-Bonds and Debentures,

-Syndicated mortgages,

-Sublease of properties,

-Peer-to-Peer Lending (P2P lending),

-Investment funds,

-Tax lien certificates,

-Dividend stocks,

-Annuities,

-Private lending,

-Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs),

-Lease option real estate

-Proof of Deposit (CDs)

-Guaranteed Asset Certificates, and a plethora of others.

As we can see, there are a myriad of income producing assets available in the financial investment space. However, the crux of this article isn’t to go into the laborious work of delineating each and every income-producing asset out there. Instead, we’ll be focusing on one specific type of income-producing asset; discussing, comparing, and contrasting its merits with respect to other income-producing assets. Investors and co. I give you, REITs.

MUCH ADO ABOUT REITs.

REITs stand for Real Estate Investment Trust, and REITs are corporations that possess, and in some cases operate an income-producing real estate. As a starter, know that real estate is a word that describes a form of property which is made up of land and an erected structure, along with its natural resources like water, or minerals, or even agriculture; an interest vested in this an item of real property.

Real Estate Investment Trusts are repute for generating steady long-term revenue as the worth of real-estate appreciates over time. REITs focus on assets that produces income because tax laws promote them to allocate most of their net earnings to their shareholders.

ME TYPES OF REITs

REITs are one of the most diverse and flexible income-producing assets out there. Some few examples of REITs include:

-Apartment

-Office

-Health care

-Industrial

-Data Center

-Hybrid

Let’s take a quick look at them:

1. APARTMENT REITs:

Apartment Real Estate Investment Trusts revolve primarily around the acquisition of apartment structures. These income generating properties are basically leased to residential occupants. Apartment REITs are an expansive source of large revenue streams due to the massive availability of compartmentalized housing spaces and the growing need for affordable housing. People will ALWAYS want a place to reside, so regardless of how the economic situation of a region, there will always be viable demand for leasing housing.

The flip side, nevertheless, to this REIT lies in class migration from either lower to middle or middle to upper. As more people gain more wealth, they will naturally require more space and try to exit the rental housing scheme. At this point in time, apartment REIT viability will wane.

 

2. OFFICE REITs

As the name suggests, Office Real Estate Investment Trusts buy office space. In this type of REIT, there are generally two broad classifications: Grade A and Grade B spaces. The Grade A spaces are basically high-end office spaces whilst the Grade B spaces are economical in nature.

Office REITs generally make for a solid income-producing asset, especially in today’s clime where startups and gusty entrepreneurs are looking for spaces to set up shop. However, no REIT is unassailable and Office REITs follow this. Office REIT performance is usually subject to the economy of a certain environment, as when the economy weakens and businesses go bankrupt, they most often have to close their office spaces or look for alternative options to stay afloat for until the economic conditions improve. This can greatly put a dent in the revenue stream of an Office REIT.

The internet is also another wall standing in the way of the Office REIT and its revenue streams. As more and more people transition from conventional brick-and-mortar stores to online hosting platforms, office spaces may become redundant. Ultimately, Office REITs have to evolve to target more flexible business operations where office space is a criteria for growth.

 

3. Health Care REITs

Health Care REITs possess assets like hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical stores, nursing environment, retirement home amenities, and medical structures. Health Care REITs are founded upon the principle that health care is an indispensable and universal right that every citizen, regardless of status or dispensation, requires. And with millions of people around the globe needing constant healthcare, investors key into this salient fact to invest in Health care REITs.

 

4. Industrial REITs.

Ever bought something on Amazon or Alibaba? Do you use Googlregularlyis? If you have or if you do, then you’ve mostly felt the indirect presence of industrial REITs. Large companies who are into shipping, manufacturing or production (such as FMCG companies) on a large scale require some sort of space large enough to sustain their operations. This is where Industrial REITs come into play.

Industrial REITs acquire millions of square feet of storage areas on a global scale and invest in them to amass large returns. Not only have the REITs ended for efficient and substantive income-producing assets, but have also been amongst the highest dollar acting REITs in recent years according to financial statistics.

 

5. Data Center REITs

As our reality continues to evolve in terms of Data acquisition and processing, Data Centre REITs have sprung up to cater for deficits in infrastructure.

Companies like IBM, Google, Facebook and Twitter for instance collect huge amounts of information about their users. All of this data has to be stored somewhere and that’s where DATA CENTER REITs come in. They provide the computing infrastructure needed to make this possible.

Investors have begun to pick up the pace in Data Center REITs due to the huge prospects that exist in Data and Data analytics. It goes without saying that the world is constituted by an expanse of Data. Data is an all important asset that possesses the potential to reel in huge amounts of revenues by companies that haven’t even been born yet. Data REITs are thus huge futuristic assets to consider in the long term.

 

6. Hybrid REITs.

Hybrid REITs combine the vibrancy of regular REITs and Mortgage REITs (REITs that lends real estate projects developers’ money, instead of offering equity) by indulging in both the debt and equity sides of real estate. For investors who needs double exposure to property, hybrid REITs can be a great Income-producing asset.

Some other types of REITs include:

Hospitality REITs (principled on comfort as they develop hotels, resorts and motel),

Timberland REITs (which invest in lots of acres of forests that are useful for selling wood or harvest mineral resources,

Senior Living REITs (focused specifically on the care of the elderly)

Publicly traded type of REITS (provides shares of publicly traded REITs that list on a national securities exchange) and so much more.

As can be seen, REITs can cater to virtually any sector of human endeavor. This makes them very unique compared to other income-producing assets. But what else distinguishes REITs from the rest of the income-producing assets? Why exactly should any investor really invest in REITs over other income-producing assets?

COMPARING REITs AND OTHER INCOME-PRODUCING ASSETS.

One distinguishing factor of REITs is that they allow anyone who wishes to invest in portfolios of real-estate assets (through the buying of individual company stock or through a joint fund or exchange trust fund). Thus, the bondholders of a REIT make a portion of the produced income through real-estate investments without actually having to buy or manage finance property. This is so financially viable and convenient that according to statistics, 87 million Americans finance in REIT stocks through their 401(k) and other form of investment funds.

Taking a historic comparison, REITs have been observed to outperform other income-producing assets in the area of risk-adjusted returns and stable cash flow. In REITs that deal in rental housing assets for instance, a steady cash flow can be generated on a consistent basis. This structure applies to most REIT schematics. As a result, portfolio volatility is greatly reduced. This characteristic of REITs is immensely beneficial to investors looking to sustain their revenue streams.

Compared to other equities, REITs are by definition “pass-through entities” and are needed to distribute minimum of 90% of their taxable income annually to stockholders in the form of viable bonuses. On average, this ensures that REIT shareholders are on a roll in terms of dividends most of the time.

REIT investments also offer critical portfolio diversification for its investors. This means that investors have the ability to diversify what kinds of assets they would like to invest in. Ultimately, REITs have grown exponentially in popularity amongst investors.

In addition, REITs are not only viable income-producing assets, they also appreciate over specific period of time.

One of the most important pros of REITs is that they function alongside a straightforward and easily logical business model. Taking a rental housing asset for instance, the general schematic is:

-obtain leasing space and collection of rent

-produce income

– Disbursement to investors in the form of dividends.

-Report financial results.

CONCLUSION:

REITs provide the means to generate income streams on a level that will not only ensure viability and stability, but also fosters convenience. As with any investment, understanding the pros and cons of every undertaking is key to success.

REITs aren’t all rosy for instance. They may boast limited liability and low liquidity, may be easy to buy and sell and provide a viable means for portfolio diversification, but are prone to control issues. REITs investors can’t control what a REIT does or doesn’t invest in as opposed to those investors who invest directly in real estate (buying their own properties). Also, there are a number of tax implications that may result as REITs are pass-through entities.

The important thing to note, however, is that every investment is a risk, and the greater the risk the greater the reward. REITs are a potentially growth-centric investment that is sure to consistently churn out steady dividends, all things being constant. A great deal of financial research coupled with expertise is the key to making the best possible financial decisions as an investor.

Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) is a global manufacturer as well as a marketer of makeup, skin care, hair care products and fragrance. This company has a portfolio of over 100 products with mainly its foundation, moisturizing lotion and the fragrances driving its growth twice the industry’s performance, with a 40%-60% range in growth.

Let’s take a look at the performance

A peek at the annual sales ranging from 20009-2019 shows that there has been an increased growth in sales over time. This has been driven by the more affluent consumers of skin care products as compared to past years. The company has witnessed growth in net sales in the fiscal year 2019, especially from international growth. China and Hong Kong have accelerated this growth through the online channel.

Dividends

In August 16, 2019, the company declared a dividend of $. 43 per share on both classes A and B common stock. It also expects to continue paying cash dividends in the future. The total amount of dividends paid for the FY2019 was $609 million, an increased amount from the previous FY of $546million necessitated by increased net earnings.

Growth

A look at the cumulative five-year return shows an appreciation of the stock price plus the dividends.

In the FY2019, the company had a 9% increase in net sales closing at $14.86 billion, $1.79billlion in net earnings. There was also an increase in diluted net earnings of $4.82 for every common share, an increase from the previous years’ $2.95.

EL operates in a very volatile market, and investors would be wary of investing in their stock. However, given the past statistics and growth in market share, the prospects are a bit promising. China, which is the main growth engine for the company has driven skin care product at a high level. Their target for the middle class, especially for markets in India, Middle East and also South East Asia boosted the sales.

The annual prestige beauty market in which EL is also a key player showed a growth of 7%. Globally, a sneak peek on this growth from 2014 shows there has been no decline in the annual growth in this industry, an indication that beauty products have been embraced worldwide and there are prospects for further growth.

The posted value of adjusted EPS, which showed a series of increase of 19% to $1.67 beat the $1.60 ZCE. The earnings improved due to excellent operations and vigorous top line performance. Despite concerns on the Brexit impact on costs and softness in brick and mortar retail space, EL is expecting an increased demand in 2020, given that it is implementing the leading Beauty Forward Initiative to manage both costs and operations. Since the 2020 growth of global prestige beauty industry is expected to be 5%-6%, EL is banking on this too. China’s emerging market will propel the share growth further

EL has faced a heated criticism by its 100 point reduction in its guidance in the global growth of the beauty market as a whole. However, a price target analysis on EL shows a $217.78 average target price, with a $235.00 high forecast, and $200.00 low forecast. This is a 14.03% increase from the last price of $190.99. As pertains to China’s market growth, and basing on its historical growth data, it is believed that this market share will continue to accelerate.

From its 2020 outlook, EL approximates a 5-6% on the global prestige beauty with an assumption that the geopolitical risk remains constant. Net sales are forecasted to grow by 8%-9%. There is an estimated increase in diluted net earnings per common share of between $1.83 to $1. 86. EL expects there will be growth in market share driven by increased spending for innovation, programs for the holiday season and through boosting share through increased traffic.

It is without doubt that technological advancement has in so many ways influenced and improved education systems all over the world. This has revolutionized the way teaching and learning have been carried out, with institutions moving to virtual learning, with e-learning being commonly used. E-learning enables anyone to learn from anywhere at any given time without making any travels through a Learning Management System (LMS), which bridges geographical gaps (Buzzetto-Hollywood, 2007). Globally, e-learning for corporates has been rising over time and it is projected that it will still grow by 13% by 2022.

Source: Market Research Future (2018).

According to Fernando (2017), given the importance of pedagogical training, e-learning training techniques and the methods of training the learners should blend to ensure that quality of content delivered is not compromised, and the learning outcomes are attained. However, there are concerns as to how agriculture teachers can be imparted with the desired pedagogical skills through e-learning; and this is what this paper seeks to answer.  It is possible to train the teachers to acquire skills via e-learning if the following thematic areas are considered and carefully implemented;

Content Development

The content to be trained should be developed using a systematic approach in order to ensure that the learning materials are congruent with the predetermined and the desired outcomes and objectives. The teams who are tasked with developing the content should ensure that the e-learning content is designed as well as developed into bits of manageable nuggets, commonly referred to as learning objectives (LO). The importance of the LO is that it enables the learners to access and also internalize it in a single sitting. It also enables to gauge the learners on whether they can proceed to the next set of LO, or be directed to another rudimentary LO which acts as a prerequisite. The LMS should also fully integrate all possible features of technology on pedagogical learning.

Student/Learner support

Since in e-learning the trainees only have an interaction through instruction systems which are programmed, all manner of problems are bound to be witnessed. In order to ensure its effectiveness, therefore, the trainer should foresee these problems in advance, and also come up with features that are tailored for performance support. The trainers can adopt Laurillard’s Conversational Framework, which champions for the use of an interactive teaching strategy between the trainer and the learner (Holmberg, 2016). The learner should be given a chance to have an interaction with the learning material as they reflect on what is being taught. On the other hand, the trainer should give a constructive feedback to any of the learners’ concerns. The learners should be reinforced positively after tracking and reviewing their rate of access by distinguishing the high achievers from the slow learners, and tailor making revision modules.

Course objectives and expectations

From the onset, the learners should be made aware of the expectations, how long it will take the course to complete, and the best way to communicate. This sets the student at pace and makes them plan their time well. Moreover, the e-learning should synchronize the activities and make them more interactive, as well as allow the students brainstorm a topic. See below example

Source: FAO (2011)

Content delivery

In addition, e-learning should be prepared accurately, and creative instructional techniques used, as this makes the learning experience motivating as well as engaging. The learning materials presented should use simple language and should be devoid of jargon for it to be understood by all learners. Different e-learning resources and elements should be adopted, for instance, by the use of word, charts, audio, ppt, graphics and story boards. This makes the process interactive and eliminates monotony and boredom. Use of graphics as shown below allows the learner draw attention to a particular element in the course, supports understanding and also makes the content more interesting hence motivating the learners.

 

Source: FAO (2011)

Assessment

The e-learning approach used should be able to assess the learner’s achievement of objectives. Both summative and formative assessment can be used. The use of multiple choice questions, if cautiously selected and designed proffers the learners with an in-depth understanding of what is being taught. Take for instance, a learner who wants to gain more knowledge on plant species can filter all questions on this subject area from the repository. Going through the many questions will help the learner to master the content and cement his/her understanding.

In conclusion, since e-learning offers flexibility and makes learning more efficient, the right teaching methodologies if adopted in training the teachers will enable them acquire the desired pedagogical skills. Given its versatility, a well-designed program of e-learning is able to technically offer fulfillment to the diverse learning needs of the teachers. In order to retain the interest of the teachers, the e-learning instructional strategy should incorporate elements that are quite engaging, as this ensures that there is a sturdy transfer of knowledge.

Since independence, there has been exponential growth of both public and private universities in Kenya, with both being complementary in increasing accessibility of higher education. As of 2019, the number of public accredited universities has increased to 31, with 6 constituent colleges (public), 18 chartered universities (private), 5 constituent colleges (private) as well as 14 universities bearing interim authority letters (Ministry of Education, 2019). An increase in the number of universities has led to the increase in new student enrollment, and it is estimated that the enrollment rate will increase even further by the year 2030.

Source: University Education Commission

However, the quality of university education rather than its quantity is essential to ensure that the sector delivers its mandate. The question, therefore, is about how the university education in Kenya can be improved and delivered better, and this is what this paper seeks to find out.

Challenges undermining quality of University Education in Kenya

Increased student-Teacher ratios

Even though there has been a 13% growth in academics teaching in public universities, this is not matched by the rise in the number of student enrollment. The outcome of this is that there is an insufficient number of available teaching staff. This, therefore, subverts the quality of training that the students receive. This gap in the number of students enrolled and the availability of qualified staff has risen to 70:1 as witnessed in public Universities (Titi, 2016).

Traditional Pedagogical practices

Charo et al. (2019) reiterate that many higher learning institutions over rely on obsolete curricula, which in most cases is theoretical. Kenya has a vision and is in the process of putting more developmental efforts in articulating the big four agenda, and this also encompasses making the country competitive. Competitiveness also includes ensuring that the graduates produced by the Kenyan universities match the job market. However, if the Universities still rely on traditional methods and rote learning, then the graduates produced will be half baked and will not be a perfect fit for the job market.

Industrial Action and Student strikes

According to Ige (2013), industrial actions negatively affect students learning as well as their performance. External environmental factors, in this case industrial action, influence values, goals and output of the university system. The time wasted on these industrial actions could be used to offer quality education to the university students, and device more innovative ways to deliver competitive skills. On the other hand, students’ strike is considered a mechanism of self-destruction, and it negatively affects the quality of education of the students, with the students ending up as the losers (Albar and Onye, 2016).

Poor leadership and governance

The top management in the universities should be up to the task and ensure that they brand the University as a top employer. They are expected to exhibit sound management and leadership skills. When delivering their mandate, they should put the interests of the universities at the forefront while exercising impartiality. Transparency should be maintained at all levels. However, some of the university leaders have recently been in the limelight for the wrong reasons. For instance, consider the expose of the ‘Mara heist’, where there was a blatant plundering of the university funds and resources by one of the top leaders for selfish gains (Kenya Citizen TV, 2019). If accountability lacks in a leader, then there is weak delivery of services. As a result, these funds which could have otherwise been utilized in research and development and investing in other innovative areas for the betterment and value addition are embezzled.

Insufficient Funding

Current estimates show that only half of student loan demand can only be funded by HELB. Sustaining the swift growth in enrollment in the public universities in the long run may be an uphill task given the limited budgetary resources (Ige, 2013). Thus, the government should device alternative funding strategies, especially which aim at not only boosting the number of enrollments, but also which are performance based as these will increase the quality of university education over time.

Recommendations for delivery of quality university education in Kenya

Given the above shortcomings, the question then is how can the university education in Kenya be improved and delivered better? To improve this there should be collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders; students, university staff and the government. Although the results may not be instantaneous, they will be felt over time. The necessary actions to be taken include:

• In terms funding, the Kenya government can introduce mechanisms of budget allocation which are performance based, as this would act as incentives for university institutions which have shown improvement in results. For instance, a country like the Netherlands uses a funding formula where an incentive is used to increase internal efficiency; half of recurrent funding is offered depending on the number of awarded degrees. Other mechanisms include the use of performance contracts and competitive funding.
• Funding research. Kenya is not on the leading edge when it comes to funding university students for research because it relies on research grants only. The students, therefore, end up doing substandard research due to limited resources. Research is geared at finding a solution to an existing problem and needs funds especially during data collection. Since some of the students lack the financial muscle for this, they do the research for formality and to just to pass the course. The government can commit to increase these funds to 2% of the GDP as outlined in the vision 2030 as this will boost both economic and social developments.
• HELB can also employ alternative sources of funds by delegating the management of funds to private companies and also the local government. In order to have a sustainable alternative financing source for institutions of higher learning, initiatives similar to the Afya Elimu fund can be employed.
• The government should also balance the student-teacher ratio by employing competent teachers who meet the set out qualification. This will improve the quality of education at the universities, as a teacher will be able to gauge the performance of students without being overburdened.
• Strengthening the annual performance contracts to foster good governance. Implementation of the annual performance contracts has been unevenly adopted since there is inadequate funding to ensure that the same is implemented. This only means than this framework just acts an imposed requirement, and thus does not satisfy the purpose for which it was intended. If there is seamless good governance, then issues of instabilities and unrests will be dealt with, because there will be channels and frameworks of dialogue and conflict resolution.
• Adoption of pedagogical practices and use of an innovative curricular. If universities use a more interactive and experiential teaching, then this will facilitate collaborative and active learning. This can be through the establishment of teaching centers, which are well-resourced to foster innovation.

In conclusion, university education should be adoptive, proactive as well as responsive, so that the benefits can be fully utilized by all the stakeholders. The skills and expertise that students received is determined by the quality of the training offered by these institutions. It is, therefore, the mandate of all parties involved to ensure quality and effectiveness of delivery of university education.