Building Engineering Services Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Building Engineering Services - Research Paper Example Depending upon the location, the nature of the building, residential or commercial, renewable energy sources of appropriate origin can be employed (EERE, 2005). One of the major reasons for power consumption in buildings is for heating and cooling the buildings (EST, 2006). This consumes almost 42% of the energy consumed by the entire building. If this could be brought under the energy optimization and under renewable energy portfolio, it could result in immense savings for the buildings. A solar-powered energy source is one of the renewable sources that are adopted. Solar energy is a constant and free for use source that is available during the day time and has to be stored to make use of during the night. This is accomplished using two methods of solar energy tapping. One, solar energy is trapped as heat and is used to heat the house or building and it is insulated in such a way that it continues to maintain the warmth in the house throughout the day and the night. Secondly, solar energy is also converted into electric energy using solar photovoltaic cells. This gets saved in the batteries are is directly employed to run the types of equip ment for heating and cooling like the HVAC systems in association with the regular power supply. Transpired solar collectors are used to collecting solar heat. These are normally dark, the perforated metal wall that would collect almost 80% of the solar heat that falls over it. This is then used to heat the air draught that would provide needed heat for the ventilation of the building. Two methodologies are adopted in using the heat collected in the solar collectors. The draught of air gets heated up during the course of the day and continues to heat the entire building as it continues through the night. The other method heats the water to a high degree from which the heat is distributed through the regular heating lines in the building. Both the methods are used at different locations depending on the convenience. Solar Photo Voltaic Cells Solar panels are extensively used in environmentally friendly buildings to collect the heat of the sun and convert it directly into electricity to enable employing it effectively in all the spheres of work. This has been done extensively in many locations, as roof fitted photo panel; also as separate panels that would help in augmenting the electricity consumption exercises. Ground Source heat pumps These are normally pipes or bores dug into the ground to depths of about 200 to 300 feet is sunk and the additional heat is pumped into the ground during summer and taken off later during the winter when heating is needed. These ground source heat pumps are effectively employed in some of the locations in the US and in the rest of the world. It has been repeatedly found that the ground source heat pumps are efficient in pumping in and out the energy, contain it for a period of time and can be used as a large storage space for energy (EST, 2006). These are specifically suited in locations where there is a cooling requirement in the summer and a heating requirement in the winter.

Dell Computers Essay Example for Free

Dell Computers Essay Dell Computer pioneered a new way of making and selling personal computers. Its customers â€Å"custom-design† their computer over the Internet or phone. Dell reengineered its â€Å"supply chain† as it coordinated its efforts with its suppliers and streamlined its order-taking and production process. It can ship a computer within two days of taking an order. Personal computers lose 1 percent of their value every week they sit on a shelf. Thus, having virtually no inventory is a great advantage to Dell. Compaq tried to adopt Dells approach, but with limited success. Dell’s CEO Michael Dell understood that kind of execution. His direct-sales and build-to-order approach was not just a marketing tactic to bypass retailers; it was the core of his business strategy. Execution is the reason Dell passed Compaq in market value years ago, despite Compaqs vastly greater size and scope, and its the reason Dell passed Compaq in 2001 as the worlds biggest maker of PCs. As of November 2001, Dell was shooting to double its market share, from approximately 20 to 40 percent. Dell turns its inventory over eighty times a year, compared with about ten to twenty times for its rivals, and its working capital is negative. As a result, it generates an enormous amount of cash. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, with revenues of $8. 1 billion and an operating margin of 7. 4 percent, Dell had cash flow of $1 billion from operations. Its return on invested capital for fiscal 2001 was 355 percent—an incredible rate for a company with its sales volume. Its high velocity also allows it to give customers the latest technological improvements ahead of other makers, and to take advantage of falling component costs—either to improve margins or to cut prices. These are the reasons Dells strategy became deadly for its competitors once PC growth slowed. Dell capitalized on their misery and cut prices in a bid for market share, increasing the distance between it and the rest of the industry. Because of its high velocity, Dell could show high return on capital and positive cash flow, even with margins depressed. Its competition couldnt. The system works only because Dell executes meticulously at every stage. The electronic linkages among suppliers and manufacturing create a seamless extended enterprise. A manufacturing executive we know who worked at Dell for a time calls its system â€Å"the best manufacturing operation Ive ever seen. In 1998, Dell Computers launched its first global brand advertising campaign, beginning in the United States and Canada, to further highlight the advantages of its direct business model. The brand advertising campaign carries the theme Be Direct. The campaign highlights Dells unique business model, which helps to eliminate barriers between customers and the manufacturer, providing Dell with the means to enhance the overall customer experience. Dells advertising has focused primarily on its products and has been targeted largely at computer-enthusiast and industry trade publications, cable and local television and a few national newspapers. The Be Direct campaign will be in addition to the companys ongoing product-oriented advertising. The new brand campaign emphasizes the strengths and advantages of Dells direct-to-customer business philosophy. The direct model, pioneered by Dell in the computer industry, enables Dell customers to have computer systems built to their specifications; a single point of accountability; award-winning service and support; and fast access to the latest relevant technology. Presently, the growing number of orders comes in over the Internet. The order-taking system interfaces with Dells own supply chain control system, which ensures that inventory is where it needs to be for the computer to be manufactured quickly. In addition, Dell stores very little inventory. Instead, Dells suppliers have built warehouses close to Dells facilities, and Dell orders parts on a just-in-time basis. By implementing these strategies, Dell has been able to provide customers with exactly what they want very quickly. In addition, inventory costs are low, and Dell minimizes the danger of parts obsolescence in the rapidly changing computer industry. In this way, Dell has become a dominant player in the desktop PC market and is well on its way to doing so in the laptop and server markets. References Cravens, D. W. Piercy, N. (2003). Chapter 1: Strategic Planning and Decision Making. NJ: McGraw-Hill Companies. http://www.dell.com

Preventing Prolonged and Obstructed Labor

Preventing Prolonged and Obstructed Labor Prolonged labor and obstructed labor are major causes of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in india. One of the tools used to monitor labor and prevent prolonged and obstructed labor is the partograph, a single sheet printed paper on which labor observations are recorded. (Fistula care., 2011). The timing of interventions is the one of the crucial factors in active management of labor, whether these be amniotomy, augmentation, ceasarean section or transfer to a central unit. The maintenance of a partogram for the management of the labor helps to indicate, with its alert line and action lines, the optimum timing of these interventions and to clearly differentiate normal from abnormal progress in labor. The partogram could be used at all areas of obstetric care by basic care providers who are specially trained to assess dilatation of the cervix and when it used properly, helps to detect cases of abnormal labor without delay, thus allowing timely intervention. Partogram is a composite graphic record of cervical dilatation and descent of head against duration of labor in hours. It also provides information about fetal and maternal condition that are all recorded on a single sheet of paper. The modern partogram contains many relevant parameters related to labor, mother and the fetus. These parameters are cervical effacement and dilatation, descent of part which is present, fetal heart rate, duration and frequency of uterine contractions, color and quantity of amniotic fluid which is passed per vaginum, maternal parameters such as vital signs and drugs used during labour. This pictorial documentation of labor facilitates early recognition of poor progress. Plotting of cervical dilatation also enables prediction of the time of onset the recording of all relevant data on a single page, it facilitates the easy handing over of mothers, helps in early recognition of complications and highlights inefficient clinical practice. (James et al., 2001). The partogram is an observation chart that may be used to facilitate assessment of the progress of labor, including maternal and fetal well being. Historically progress is measured by linear progression along a prescribed time scale, whereby a curve of cervical dilatation is measured in centimeters plotted against time in hours (Friedman 1955), and descent of the head abdominally. Many modifications to the partogram have occurred, resulting in the introduction of alert line and action lines. Basically, the action line was 2 hrs to the right of the alert line, and augmentation instituted at this time. Once labor is confirmed as in the active phase, cervical dilatation is expected to progress at (Macdonald et al., 2011). An accurate record during labor provides the basis from which clinical improvements, progress or complications of the mother or fetus can be judged. For this reason the notes should be kept in chronological order. The maternity record is shared between the midwife and the obstetrician. The obstetrician makes notes of his or her findings, timing of visits and may prescriptions made. The same standards apply to all practitioners. The midwife usually enters the summary of labor and initial details about the baby. In recent years the partogram or partograph has been widely accepted as an effective means of recording the progress of labor. It is chart on which the salient features of the labor are entered in a pictorial form and therefore provides the opportunity for early identification of deviations from normal labour. (Fraser et al., 2007). The best clinical tool that diagnoses the poor progress of labor is the partogram (even in higher centers) and will always help in early detection of the abnormal labor. It is very handy, easy to use and easily reproducible too. The use of a partograph in labor was associated with reduction in prolonged labor and decreased caesarean section rate. Another advantage of the use of a partograph was improvements in fetal and maternal morbidity in a significant manner. (Kamini., 2011). The cervicograph is the pictorial representation of the cervical dilatation charted against the hours of labour. Studies have shown (Friedman and Sachtleben 1965 pearson 1981)that the cervical dilatation time of normal labor has a significant sigmoid curve which can be divided into two distinct parts such as the latent phase and the active phase. (Bennett et al., 2001). In some cases the partogram may allow space for a certain amount of comment but usually the midwife will keep a separate written account in which she records her observations of the women’s psychological condition and any other details not included on the graph. If any changes in the birth plan become necessary ,the midwife will note down how these were discussed with the women and her partner and with what outcome.In this way the women will feel involved in any decisions made, which encourages feelings of being in control and enhance the birth experiences. (Ali et al., 2010). The midwife can verify the progress of labor effectively through the use of graphic charts (partograms) on which one plot cervical dilation and station (descent), this type of graphic charting assists in early identification of deviations from expected labor patterns. (Lowdermilk, et al 1997 ). NEED FOR THE STUDY The latest available data on MMR india is 212 per 100,000 live births and IMR is 44 per 1000 live births. Out of 180 countries now india ia ranked 126 when countries are arranged in an ascending order for MMR and 45 out of 195 countries in IMR. (Petterson, 2004). The obstructed labor stands one of the five major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries like india. About 4% and 70% of all maternal deaths is due to obstructed labour or rupture of the uterus, accounting to a maternal mortality rate as high as 410/100,000 live births. (S. Quenby et al., 2003). Introduction of partograph in the management of labor(WHO 1994) has reduced the incidence of prolonged labor and caesarean section. There is improvement in maternal morbidity, fetal morbidity and mortality. (Dutta., 2013). The development of the partograph (or partogram) provides a graphical overview of the labor to allow early identification and easy diagnosis of the pathological labor for health care providers. Emanuel Friedman was the first obstetrician who provide an accurate tool for the study of individual labours. In the 1970’s partographs starts getting popularity and today majority of delivery and labour units use them. A large number of literature shows that their correct use reduced the rates of prolonged labors and many complications which arises during labour. There is also a suggestion that the use of the partograph results in fewer surgical interventions such as Caesarean sections. Nowadays the electronic partographs are becoming popular and it can be made into medical records systems. The use of partographs is very common in hospitals. A study has been conducted on health care workers and midwives who works in delivery units of Nigeria found that only 10% of caregivers used the partograph while conducting labour, and only few used it properly. The study found that the correct use of partograph may be restricted by training, time, and caregiver skill level. In many of the cases, literacy and numeracy are major problems to use it. Finally, the study concludes that the health workers requires training about partograph for the early identification of deviation from normal labour. (Neison et al.,2005) The partograph provides information about deviations from the normal progress of labor and about various abnormalities of maternal or fetal condition during labor. It may alters providers when a woman needs an intervention and which facilitates throughout evaluation of the effects of those interventions. (Fistula care., 2011). The partograph helps to reduce the time midwives spent on writing notes, while helps them to keep detailed and accurate records. It also allow them to provide an emotional support to the women in labour. Hence, the investigator who has done the research feels that it is very imperative to train the nurses working in maternity unit and to improve the knowledge and skill in the use of partograph. This would help the nurses to provide a comprehensive intrapartum care to the mothers in labour with early identification and prevention of complication arising during labour, So said that the partograph plays an important role in reducing the maternal mortality and morbidity due to labour. (Arez et al., 2009). In maternal health care, it is imperative that a skilled attendant be present at each delivery. According to WHO, a skilled attendant at birth is one of the most effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality. Among various interventions which have proven valuable in maternal health care is the partograph, which should be used in health facilities everywhere for monitoring labor and preventing complications. (Dangal., 2006). In a WHO multicenter trial conducted in southeast Asia which includes 35 484 women. The study shows that the introduction of the partograph during labor management significantly reduced both prolonged labor from 6.4 to 3.4 % of labors and the percentage of labors which requiring augmentation which is from 20.7 to 9.9% to 8.7 %, There was also a reduction in the mean number of vaginal examinations during labor probably leads to the drop in cases of postpartum sepsis by 59%. Improvement in maternal morbidity and fetal mortality which took place among both multiparous and nulliparous women. The participants in WHO trial agreed that the partogram improved the discipline communication about management of labor and freed midwives time, this may be an important element of the partograms success as more time can be devoted to ‘companionship’. The WHO trial points the way towards effective management of labor where reduced but timely intervention is the key to success. (James et al., 2011). Partographs are tools that allow labor progress to be graphically recorded and assessed visually . Partograph helps in early detection of abnormal progress of labour and are credited with decreasing rates of prolonged labor, oxytocin use, cesareans, and intrapartum morbidity or mortality as compared to regular care. Eventhen, partograph is not so used widely but only rarely in countires like U.S. A. A research team has made a partograph which is physiologically based for hospital use in assessing the labors of nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labour. They shows that their tool greatly improves the outcome which in turn, optimize the safety of the mother and the fetus during labour. (Neal et al., 2011). A study conducted to evaluate the Partogram programme in the University Center of Health Science in Cameroon, Africa and Yaounde. It ia a retrospective study with 686 patients and a prospective study with 1045 patients . The institution which has this program shows that the perinatal mortality has been reduced by 10 deaths per 1000 births because of use of partograph and it provides accurate and reliable results for early identification of abnormal labor. About two-thirds of the morbidity and mortality related to labour and 72% of deliveries with medical or surgical conditions has also occurred in the clinical area where the labor curve crossed the action line in the partograph. (Drouin et al., 1979). STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND SKILL REGARDING PARTOGRAPH AMONG MULTIPURPOSE HEALTH WORKERS IN SELECTED MATERNITY CENTRES IN COIMBATORE. OBJECTIVES To assess the level of knowledge, attitude and skill regarding partograph among multipurpose health workers in selected maternity centres. To identify the effect of structured teaching programme on knowledge, attitude and skill among multipurpose health workers in maternity centres. To associate the findings with demographic variables. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME Refers to a well planned instruction which is designed to improve knowledge, attitude and skill. KNOWLEDGE It refers to the actual understanding of Mutipurpose health workers on partograph as elicited by knowledge questionnaire. SKILL It refers to the ability to use partograph which is assessed by using checklist. ATTITUDE It refers to the belief of the multipurpose health workers towards partograph. PARTOGRAM The progress of labour depicted in the form of graphs. LABOUR The process of child birth. HYPOTHESIS H1: There will be a significant difference in the knowledge level of multipurpose health workers regarding partograph before and after administration of Planned Teaching Programme. H2: There will be a significant difference in the attitude level of multipurpose health workers regarding partograph before and after administration of Planned Teaching Programme. H3: There will be a significant difference in the skill level of multipurpose health workers regarding partograph before and after administration of Planned Teaching Programme. ASSUMPTION Multipurpose health workers may have previous knowledge on partogram. Planned Teaching programme will enhance the level of knowledge ,skill and attitude among Multipurpose health workers. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK A conceptual framework or models is a set of concepts, assumptions, principles and rules which provides an outline for conducting research. Thus the investigator adopted Donabedian’s Program Evaluation Model (1982). Avedis Donabedian a physician and health services researcher at theUniversity of Michigan, developed the original model in 1966. This model consists of three aspects such as structure, process and outcome. 1. Structure: Structure includes all the factors that affect the context in which care is delivered. It includes infrastructure, equipments, supplies, manpower etc. In this present study the infrastructure is the selected corporation maternity centres in Coimbatore where the teaching has been taken place. Equipments and supplies are the audio visuals aids used for teaching (pamphlet handout). The human resources are the multipurpose health workers 2. Process: It is the activities carried out with the help of structure to achieve the outcome. In this study, it is the structured teaching program regarding partograph done by the investigator with pamphlet and handout. Outcome: It is the result of execution of the process through the structure. In this study, the outcome is the improvement in knowledge, attitude and skill regarding partograph among multipurpose health workers. If the outcome is positive, it ensures that both the structure and process is functioning effectively. In this study the result shows that the teaching has improved the knowledge, attitude and skill regarding partograph among multipurpose health workers.

The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence Essay -- Rocking Horse Winne

The Rocking-Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Rocking-Horse Winner is a complex story that is best understood if one examines it through the 5 Elements of Fiction: setting, character, plot, point of view and theme. This story is about a little boy named Paul who is trying to gain love and affection from his greedy mother. One day he told his mother that he had luck and he knew his mother did not believe him. This compelled him to go out and find luck on his own. He set off on his rocking horse on a journey to find luck. When Paul would come back from his journeys the horse would tell him who the winners of the horse races would be. By this he won money and thought if he gave a large amount to his mother that she could finally be happy and would love him. Until one day he went crazy on his rocking horse, screaming ?Malabar!? He had fallen off, hitting his head and was knocked unconscious. Later in the night he had died, never meeting his needs for love from his mother. Through the 5 elements of Fiction the reader is able to better understand the story The Rocking-Horse Winner.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are 5 Elements of Fiction in The Rocking-Horse Winner. The setting starts off with the mother, who is described as beautiful but shown as having no luck. She has a very handsome husband and 3 beautiful children, a boy and 2 girls. They live in a pleasant home, with a garden and discreet servants. They live in style with little income and felt superior to anyone in their neighborh...

President Wilson in the Twentieth Century :: Essays Papers

President Wilson in the Twentieth Century President Woodrow Wilson was an early twentieth century president that held a large amount of power. Not only did he have extreme power in the United States, but he made important decisions based on his own personal beliefs and ideas that effected the world. President Wilson was geniunely concerned by the sufferings of humans. Wilson felt that his role in office was to serve the public as best he could. Contrary to popular belief he was not the â€Å"machine-like psychotic,† so many people make him out to be. In his inaugural speech, given in March 1913, he stated, â€Å"This is a not a day of triumph, it is a day of dedication. Here muster, not the forces of party, but the forces of humanity. Men’s hearts wait upon us; men’s lives hang in the balance; men’s hopes call upon us to say what we will do. Who shall live up to the great trust? Who dares fail to try? I summon all honest men, all patriotic, all forward-looking men, to my side. God helping me, I will not fail them, if they will but counsel and sustain me.† This was the attitude that Wilson carried out all of his activities with. He jumped into the Presidency with complete dedication. He truly loved the executive responsibility. The outlines of Wilson’s presidential character could not be clearer. He did not just work hard, he slaved away, often to point of complete exhaustion. In letters to his lady friends, one can see the determination and sense of drive that Wilson exemplifies. â€Å"I work hard, of course (the amount of work a president is expected to do, but it is not that that tells on a fellow. It’s the anxiety attending the handling of... affairs in which you seem to be touching quicksilver...I have been under a terrible strain as I have undergone ever since Congress convened in April,† (Barber 65). This dedication carried over to people all over the world. Another powerful move for Wilson was the Fourteen Points. One aspect was a proposal to end secret treaties. Therefore, European couldn’t go behind each other’s backs in time of war. The second point was freedom of the seas. This was that no one could control the oceans.

Everyday Leadership

Drew Dudley believes leadership is not a characteristic reserved for the extraordinary. He works to help people discover the leader within themselves, so he posted this video on Feb 2012 about discovering the meaning of leadership. He is a leadership educator. Drew Dudley's interest in developing people's leadership began when he was the leadership development coordinator at University of Toronto, Scarborough. In 2010, he founded Nuance Leadership Development Services Company creates leadership for communities, organizations and individuals- a subject on which he also speaks widely. How many of you are completely convinced calling her or him a leader? According to Drew's video, he always ask this kind of question, and huge of audience prevent to raise their hands. Thus, he became to realize that we made leadership something bigger than us, we made it something beyond us, and we made it something changing the world. We spend so much time celebrating amazing birthdays that anyone can do, and we persuade that is the only thing we can celebrate with, and starting to ignore things we can do every day. He told us a short story which is made difference of his life, and led him to change the meaning of leadership. This was the crucial reason for posting this amazing video by drew since he wants to discover the exact meaning of leadership. Before start talking about the most important points for this video, I prefer to share with you a short story in my life which encouraged me to chosen this great topic that I am interested with. For two years ago, my best friend –REHAM- who is younger than me about approximately two years. She told me that she consider me as the only person in her life who made changing in her life. She told me a very short attitude happened once between us. For ten years ago, at elementary school, when I was in the last years at this school, and she was years before. We were prepared for the graduation ceremony, and I was the main presented for most of songs. She was shy to stand up in front of audience, and I did not know that before. Also, she always watched my actions since we were together at school, because she cares about me and she loves me so much. Just as I am a person who feels more confident since I was child, I am interested in most of activities in the school until I graduated from university. I just hold her hand and I keep her beside me when we sung. Reham said â€Å"in that moment I felt so proud of you and you made me feel more confident about myself and since that time, I decided to get over fear of standing in front of public†. She became very confident about herself. We are more than sister now. Furthermore, I am so lucky to hear that, and I did changing on her life. All of you changed something of others people's life without being realizes. Moreover, we need to make redefinition of leadership in our lives. Leadership is making one big decision, positive decisions on others people's life. How many we create? , how many we pay for it? , and how many we say thank for? As long as keeping leadership bigger than us, as long as keeping leadership beyond us, we will give us excuse not to expected everyday from ourselves and each others. Consequently, we need to get over our fears about changing other people's life. To conclude, it is important to recognize the profoundly positive impact that can come from insignificant actions more than money, power, and tittles. That will make a difference for others people's life. Simple idea, but I do not think is a small one.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 30

â€Å"Strip to your underwear and get in on the other side,†Damon said. His voice was neither angry nor fatuous. He added shortly, â€Å"Elena is dying.† The last three words seemed to affect Stefan particularly, although Elena couldn't parse them. Stefan wasn't moving, just breathing hard, his eyes wide. â€Å"Bonnie and I have been gathering hay and fuel and we're All right.† â€Å"You've been exercising – moving about – wearing clothes that kept you warm. She's been dunked in ice water and sitting Still – high up in the wind. I got the other thurg to break off wood from the dead trees around here and try it on the fire. Now get the hel in, Stefan, and give her some body warmth, or I'm going to make her a vampire.† â€Å"Nnn,†Elena tried to say, but Stefan didn't seem to understand. Damon, however, said, â€Å"Don't worry. He's going to warm you up from the other side. You won't have to become a vampire just yet. For God's sake,†he added suddenly, explosively, â€Å"some prince you picked!† Stefan's voice was quiet and tense. â€Å"You tried putting her in a thermal envelope?† â€Å"Of course I tried, you idiot! No magic works beyond the Mirror except telepathy.† Elena had no sense of time going by, but suddenly there was a familiar body pressed against hers from the other side. And somewhere directly in her mind: Elena? Elena? You're All right, aren't you, Elena? I don't care whether you're playing a joke on me. But you're real y All right, aren't you? Just tell me that, love. Elena wasn't able to answer at all. Dimly, fragments of sound came to her ears: â€Å"Bonnie†¦on top of her and†¦pack ourselves back on either side.† And dul feelings stirred her sense of touch: a smal body, almost weightless, like a thick blanket, pressing down on her. Someone sobbing, tears dripping on her neck from above. And warmth on either side. I'm asleep with the other kittens, she thought, dozing. Maybe we'l have a nice dream. â€Å"I wish we could know how they're doing,†Meredith said, on a pause from one of her pacing bouts. â€Å"I wish they knew how we're doing,†Matt said wearily as he taped another note card amulet onto a window. And another. â€Å"Do you know, my dears, I kept hearing a child crying last night in my dreams,†Mrs. Flowers said slowly. Meredith turned, startled. â€Å"So did I! Right out on the front porch, it sounded like. But I was too tired to get up.† â€Å"It might mean something – or nothing at all.†Mrs. Flowers frowned. She was boiling tap water for tea. The electricity was sporadic. Matt and Saber had driven back to the boardinghouse earlier that day so that Matt could gather Mrs. Flowers's most important instruments – her herbs for teas, compresses, and poultices. He hadn't had the heart to tel her about the state of the boardinghouse, or what those maggot malach had done to it. He'd had to find a loose board from the garage to get from the hal to the kitchen. There was no third floor anymore and very little second. At least he hadn't run into Shinichi. â€Å"What I'm saying is that maybe there's some real kid out there,†Meredith said. â€Å"At night alone? Sounds like a Shinichi zombie,†Matt said. â€Å"Maybe. But maybe not. Mrs. Flowers, do you have any idea of when you hear the crying? Early in the night or late?† â€Å"Let me think, dear. It seems to me that I hear it whenever I wake up – and old people wake up quite frequently.† â€Å"I usual y hear it toward the morning – but I usual y sleep without dreaming for the first few hours and wake up early.† Mrs. Flowers turned to Matt. â€Å"What about you, Matt, dear? Do you ever hear a sound like crying?† Matt, who deliberately overworked himself these days to try to get a solid six hours of sleep at night, said, â€Å"I've heard the wind kind of moaning and sobbing around midnight, I guess.† â€Å"It sounds as if we have an al -night ghost, my dears,†Mrs. Flowers said calmly and poured them each a mug of tea. Matt saw Meredith glance at him uneasily – but Meredith didn't know Mrs. Flowers as well as he did. â€Å"You don't real y think it's a ghost,†he said now. â€Å"No, I don't. Ma ma hasn't said a word about it, and then it's your house, Matt, dear. No gruesome murders or hideous secrets in its past, I should think. Let me see†¦Ã¢â‚¬ She shut her eyes and let Matt and Meredith go on with their tea. Then she opened her eyes and gave them a puzzled smile. â€Å"Ma ma says ‘search the house for your ghost. Then listen well to what it has to say.'† â€Å"Okay,†Matt said poker-faced. â€Å"Since it's my house, I guess I'd better search for it. But when? Should I set an alarm?† â€Å"I think the best way would be to arrange a watch rota,† Mrs. Flowers said. â€Å"Okay,†Meredith agreed promptly. â€Å"I'l take the middle watch, from midnight to four; Matt can have the first one; and Mrs. Flowers, you can have the early-morning one, and get a nap in the afternoon if you want.† Matt felt uneasy. â€Å"Why don't we just break it up into two watches and the two of you can share one? I'l take the other.† â€Å"Because, dear Matt,†Meredith said, â€Å"we don't want to be treated like ‘ladies.'And don't argue† – she hefted the fighting stave – â€Å"because I'm the one with the heavy equipment.† Something was shaking the room. Shaking Matt with it. Stillhalf-asleep, he put his hand under his pil ow and pul ed out the revolver. A hand grabbed it and he heard a voice. â€Å"Matt! It's me, Meredith! Wake up, wil you?† Groggily, Matt reached for the lamp switch. Again, strong, slim cold fingers prevented him from doing what he wanted. â€Å"No light,†Meredith whispered. â€Å"It's very faint, but if you come with me quietly, you can hear it. The crying.† That woke Matt up the rest of the way. â€Å"Right now?† â€Å"Right now.† Doing his best to walk quietly through the dark hal s, Matt fol owed Meredith to the downstairs living room. â€Å"Sh!†Meredith warned. â€Å"Listen.† Matt listened. He could hear some sobbing All right, and maybe some words, but they didn't sound al that ghostly to him. He put his ear to the wal and listened. The crying was louder. â€Å"Do we have a flashlight?†Matt asked. â€Å"I have two, my dears. But this is a very dangerous time of night.†Mrs. Flowers was a shadow against darkness. â€Å"Please give the flashlights to us,†said Matt. â€Å"I don't think our ghost is very supernatural. What time is it, anyway?† â€Å"About twelve forty A.M.,†Meredith answered. â€Å"But why do you think it isn't supernatural?† â€Å"Because I think it's living in our basement,†Matt said. â€Å"I think it's Cole Reece. The kid who ate his guinea pig.† Ten minutes later, with the stave, two flashlights, and Saber, they had caught their ghost. â€Å"I didn't mean anything bad,†Cole sobbed, when they had lured him upstairs with promises of candy and â€Å"magic†tea that would let him sleep. â€Å"I didn't hurt anything, honest,†he choked, wolfing down Hershey bar after Hershey bar from their emergency rations. â€Å"I'm scared that he's onto me. Because after you hit me with that sticky note, I haven't been able to hear him in my head anymore. And then you came here† – he gestured around Matt's house – â€Å"and you had amulets and I figured it would be better to stay inside them. Or it could be my Last Midnight too.† He was babbling. But something about the last words made Matt say, â€Å"What do you mean†¦'your Last Midnight too'?† Cole looked at him in terror. The rim of melted Hershey bar around his lips made Matt remember the last time he'd seen the boy. â€Å"You know, don't you?†Cole faltered. â€Å"About the midnights? The countdown? Twelve days til the Last Midnight? Eleven days til the Last Midnight? And now†¦tonight is one day til the Last Midnight†¦Ã¢â‚¬ He began to sob again, even while cramming chocolate into his mouth. It was clear that he was starving. â€Å"But what happens on the Last Midnight?†Meredith asked. â€Å"You know, don't you? That that's the time when†¦ you know.†Maddeningly Cole seemed to think they were testing him. Matt put his hands on Cole's shoulders, and to his horror felt bones under his fingers. The kid really was starving, he thought, forgiving him al the Hershey bars. His eyes met Mrs. Flowers's eyes and she immediately went to the kitchen. But Cole wasn't answering; he was mumbling incoherently. Matt forced himself to apply pressure to those bony shoulders. â€Å"Cole, talk louder! What's this Last Midnight about?† â€Å"You know. That's when†¦al the kids†¦ you know, they wait up and at midnight†¦they get knives or guns. You know. And we go into our parents'room while they're asleep and†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Cole broke down again, but Matt noticed he had slipped into saying â€Å"we†and â€Å"our†by the end. Meredith spoke in her calm, steady voice. â€Å"The children are going to kil their parents, is that right?† â€Å"He showed us where to slash or stab. Or if there's a gun – â€Å" Matt had heard enough. â€Å"You can stay – in the basement,†he said. â€Å"And here are some amulets. Put them on you if you feel like you're in danger.†He gave Cole a whole packet of Post-it Notes. â€Å"Just don't be afraid,†Meredith added, as Mrs. Flowers came in with a plate of sausages and fried potatoes for Cole. At any other time the smel would have made Matt hungry. â€Å"It's just like that island in Japan,†he said. â€Å"Shinichi and Misao made it happen there, and they're going to do it again.† â€Å"I say time's running out. Actual y it's already the Last Midnight day – it's nearly one thirty in the morning,†Meredith said. â€Å"We have less than twenty-four hours. We should either get out of Fel ‘s Church or do something to arrange a confrontation.† â€Å"A confrontation? Without Elena or Damon or Stefan?†Matt said. â€Å"We'l be murdered. Don't forget Sheriff Mossberg.† â€Å"He didn't have this.†Meredith tossed the fighting stave into the air, caught it neatly, and put it at her side. Matt shook his head. â€Å"Shinichi wil Stillkil you. Or some little kid wil , with the semi-automatic from Daddy's closet.† â€Å"We have to do something.† Matt thought. His head was pounding. Final y he said, head lowered, â€Å"When I got the herbs I got Misao's star bal , too.† â€Å"You're kidding. Shinichi still didn't find it?† â€Å"No. And maybe we could do something with it.† Matt looked at Meredith, who looked at Mrs. Flowers. Mrs. Flowers said, â€Å"What about pouring out the liquid in different places in Fel ‘s Church? Just a drop here and a drop there? We could ask the Power in it to protect the town. Maybe it would listen.† Meredith said, â€Å"That was the exact reason we wanted to get Shinichi's and Misao's star bal s in the first place. The star bal s control their owners, according to legend.† Matt said, â€Å"It may be old-ways thinking, but I agree.† Meredith said, â€Å"Then let's do it right now.† While the other two waited, Matt got Misao's star bal . It had a very, very little liquid on the bottom. â€Å"After the Last Midnight she plans to fil it to the top with the energy of the new lives that get taken,†Meredith said. â€Å"Well, she's not going to get a chance to do that,†Matt said flatly. â€Å"When we're done we'l destroy the container.† â€Å"But we probably should hurry,†Meredith added. â€Å"Let's get some weapons together: something silver, something long and heavy, like a fire iron. Shinichi's little zombies are not going to be happy – and who knows who's on his side?†