Character Analysis of Laertes From Hamlet - 503 Words

Laertes One of the most important subplots of the play Hamlet is the character of Laertes and how he demands revenge for the slaying of his father. Laertes is an antagonist character in the play Hamlet and works against the main character. However, Claudius is Hamlets real enemy in the play so Laertes might be classified as a foil rather than a true antagonist. Laertes is an extremely important character to the plot, although his importance is only seen at the end of the play. Therefore, he should be classified as a major character. His actions ultimately begin the final climax of the plays plot. Laertes is the son of the priest Polonius and the older brother of Ophelia, late female companion of Prince Hamlet. At first, Laertes seems to only be a peripheral character but functions to further the plot in the latter half of the play upon his return to Denmark. Towards the beginning of Hamlet Laertes is leaving Denmark to make his place in the world. At the beginning of the play, Polonius speaks to his son and gives him advice because he knows his sons character very well. Famously Polonius tells his boy, This above all: to thine own self be true (I. iii. 78). He is told to do what he feels to be right, indicating that if he listens and thinks then maybe he will not err in his actions. Laertes is hot-headed and quick to act, rash behaviors which his father worries will get him into trouble. Physically, no description of Laertes is given, but he is usually played by anShow MoreRelatedHamlet Character Analysis961 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s Hamlet, it is easy to overlook the female characters as powerless and subservient. However, things are not always what they seem at first glance, as a further analysis of Gertrude and Ophelia suggests. Although the plot centers around Hamlet’s quest for revenge, these two female chara cters have a profound influence on what transpires. These women certainly play more significant roles than they seem at first. In Act I, Gertrude appears to be an unfaithful wife who is detached from her sonRead MoreHamlet Relationships And Madness Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesMadness A few of the characters within the play Hamlet showed signs of madness. The characters went mad due to the antagonizing relationships they had with other characters; the madness within the play created a chain reaction among the characters. In the end, the characters’ madness led to their own and others untimely demise. Claudius’ jealousy of Hamlet senior began his downward spiral to madness. Claudius’ lust for Queen Gertrude, his brother’s wife, led to him killing Hamlet senior. â€Å"Pray canRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet : A Critical Analysis1511 Words   |  7 Pagess Hamlet: A Critical Analysis of Act V Regarded widely as an immutable element of classical literature, Shakespeare s Hamlet broke the proverbial bindings of dramatic convention in its time and hitherto continues to provoke careful consideration of the dramatic issues explored therein. As varied as they are extreme, the themes that Shakespeare s Hamlet explore continue to spur intense debate due to the ambiguity of dramatic elements present in-throughout. Act V as the denouement of Hamlet isRead MoreAn Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Essay1592 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Hamlet by William Shakespeare has been considered by many critics as one of the best plays in English literature. It has also been considered as one of the best tragedies among the many Shakespeare wrote. It is a story which revolves around this person called Hamlet, prince of Denmark. It is set in the Elizabethan times in the 16th century. It is a tragedy because it results in the deaths of many characters either accidentallyRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet1385 Words   |  6 Pagesof William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is that of the gulf between what appears to be and what something is in reality: in other words, to distinguish between what is fake interpretation from what they truly are. There is a degree of deceit, lies, deception cloaked by a perception of honesty within the play; we will refer to this concept as â€Å"the mask.† The theme of perception vs reality is so woodenly interlaced into the play due to the idea that most of the central characters in the play hide behindRead MoreHamlet By William Shakespeare : An Insight Into Human Character1676 Words   |  7 PagesHamlet is one of the key plays that gives the audience an insight into human character. Shakespeare chooses to focus on the influence of people’s emotions on their actions, rather than their rationality. In the play, the melancholic prince, Hamlet, chooses to rev enge on his uncle for having murdered his father in order to assume the throne and marry Prince Hamlet’s mother. Although the plot is simplistic, it shows how Hamlet undergoes considerable emotionality before exacting his supposed revengeRead MoreInvestigation of Hamlets Tragic Flaw that Led to his Demise Essay1384 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy plays have fascinated people from the time of the renaissance to present modern times. All his tragedy plays are five acts long, and the climax of the play occurs in the third act. In each and every tragedy play there is a tragic hero who bears a tragic flaw. Every tragic hero usually possesses valor characteristics such as bravery, honesty, intelligence, and so on. In the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet the tragic hero is Hamlet. He is an emotionally scarred youngRead MoreEssay about Analysis of William Shakespeares Hamlet895 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of William Shakespeares Hamlet The entire world, be it in the past, present or future, is entirely made up of a series of events inspired by a series of actions. The character Hamlet is a very careful man in determining how his actions will followRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet Prince Of Denmark 1540 Words   |  7 PagesHamlet Prince of Denmark is one of the key plays that gives the audience an insight into human character. William Shakespeare chooses to focus on the influence of people’s emotions on their actions, rather than their rationality. In the play, the melancholic Prince Hamlet, chooses to avenge his murdered father by killing his uncle who marries his mother and assumes the throne. Although the plot is simplistic, it shows how Hamlet undergoes considerable emotional stress before exacting his supposedRead MoreRevenge By William Shakespeare s Hamlet882 Words   |  4 PagesIn Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is very evident that hatred and a thirst for revenge can turn people into something that they are not. Many characters throughout this story exemplify this, but the main two are Hamlet and Laertes. This theme of revenge is established throughout the whole play and it acts as a vi tal character. Revenge is seen as a cause for many outcomes. Hamlet pursues revenge on Claudius to avenge his father s death. Gertrude is targeted by Hamlet for wedding Claudius too quickly after

A Guide to Understanding Homeschool Laws

Homeschooling has been legal in all 50 U.S. states since 1993. According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, home education was illegal in most states as recently as the early 1980’s. By 1989, only three states, Michigan, North Dakota, and Iowa, still considered homeschooling a crime. Interestingly, of those three states, two of them, Michigan and Iowa, are today listed among the states with the least restrictive homeschooling laws. Although homeschooling is now legal across the United States, each state is responsible for drafting its own homeschool laws, which means that what must be done to legally homeschool varies depending on where a family lives. Some states are highly regulated, while others place few restrictions on homeschooling families. Homeschool Legal Defense Association maintains an up-to-date database on the homeschooling laws in all fifty states. Terms to Know When Considering Homeschool Laws To those who are new to homeschooling, the terminology used in homeschool  laws may be unfamiliar. Some of the basic terms you need to know include: Compulsory attendance: This refers to the ages children are required to be in some type of school setting. In most states that define a compulsory attendance age for homeschoolers, the minimum is usually between the ages of 5 and 7. The maximum is generally between the ages of 16 and 18. Declaration (or Notice) of Intent: Many states require that homeschooling families submit an annual notice of intent to homeschool to either the state or county school superintendent. The content of this notice can vary by state, but usually includes the names and ages of the homeschooled children, the home address, and the parent’s signature. Hours of instruction: Most states specify the number of hours and/or days per year during which children should be receiving instruction. Some, like Ohio, state 900 hours of instruction per year. Others, such as Georgia, specify four and one-half hours per day for 180 days each school year. Portfolio:  Some states offer a portfolio option in place of standardized testing or professional evaluation. A portfolio is a collection of documents outlining your student’s progress each school year. It may include records such as attendance, grades, courses completed, work samples, photos of projects, and test scores. Scope and sequence: A scope and sequence is a list of topics and concepts that a student will learn throughout the school year. These concepts are usually broken down by subject and grade level. Standardized test:  Many states require that homeschool students take nationally standardized tests at regular intervals. The tests that meet each state’s requirements may vary. Umbrella schools/cover schools: Some states give the option for homeschooled students to enroll in an umbrella or cover school. This may be an actual private school or simply an organization established to help homeschooling families comply with the laws  in their state. Students are taught at home by their parents, but the cover school maintains records for their enrolled students. The records required by cover schools vary based on the laws of the state in which they are located. These documents are submitted by parents and may include attendance, test scores, and grades. Some umbrella schools help parents choose curriculum and offer transcripts, diplomas, and graduation ceremonies. States with the Most Restrictive Homeschool Laws States that are generally considered to be highly regulated for homeschooling families include: MassachusettsNew YorkPennsylvaniaRhode IslandVermont Often regarded as one of the most regulated states,  New York’s homeschooling laws require that parents turn in an annual instruction plan for each student. This plan must include information such as the name, age, and grade level of the student; the curriculum or textbooks you intend to use; and the name of the teaching parent. The state requires annual standardized testing in which students should be at or above the 33rd percentile or show a full grade level improvement from the previous year.  New York also lists specific subjects that parents must teach their children at various grade levels. Pennsylvania, another highly-regulated state,  offers three options for homeschooling. Under the homeschool statute, all parents must submit a notarized affidavit to homeschool. This form includes information about immunizations and medical records, along with criminal background checks. Homeschooling parent Malena H., who lives in Pennsylvania, says that although the state is â€Å"†¦considered one of the states with the highest regulations†¦it really isnt that bad. It sounds overwhelming when you hear about all the requirements, but once you have done it once it is pretty easy.† She says, â€Å"In third, fifth and eighth grades the student has to take a standardized test. There is a variety to choose from, and they can even do some of them at home or online. You must keep a portfolio for each child that has a few samples for each subject taught and the results of the standardized test if the child is in one of the testing years. At the end of the year, you find an evaluator to review the portfolio and sign off on it. You then send the evaluator’s report to the school district.† States with Moderately Restrictive Homeschool Laws While most states require that the teaching parent have at least a high school diploma or GED, some, such as North Dakota,  require that the teaching parent have a teaching degree or be monitored for at least two years by a certified teacher. That fact puts North Dakota  on the list of those  considered to be moderately restrictive with regards to their homeschool laws. Those states include: ColoradoFloridaHawaiiLouisianaMaineMarylandMinnesotaNew HampshireNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeVirginiaWashingtonWest Virginia North Carolina is often considered a difficult state in which to homeschool. It requires maintaining attendance and immunization records for each child. North Carolina also requires that children complete nationally standardized tests each year. Other moderately regulated states that require yearly standardized testing include  Maine, Florida, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. (Some of these states do offer alternative homeschooling options that may not require annual testing.) Many states offer more than one option to legally homeschool. Tennessee, for example, currently has five options, including three umbrella schools options and one for distance learning (online classes). Heather S., a homeschooling parent from Ohio, says that Ohio homeschoolers must  submit an annual letter of intent and a  summary of their intended curriculum, and  agree to complete 900 hours  of education each year. Then, at  the end of each year, families â€Å"†¦.can do state-approved testing or have a portfolio reviewed and submit the results... Children must test above the 25th percentile on standardized tests or show progression in their portfolio. Virginia homeschooling mom, Joesette, considers her state homeschooling laws reasonably easy to follow. She says parents must â€Å"†¦file a Notice of Intent each year by August 15, then supply something to show progress at the end of the year (by August 1). This can be a standardized test, scoring at least in the 4th stanine, a  [student] portfolio†¦.or an evaluation letter by an approved evaluator.† Alternately, Virginia parents can file a  Religious Exemption. States with Minimally Restrictive Homeschool Laws Sixteen U.S.  states are considered minimally restrictive. These include:   AlabamaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaDelawareGeorgiaKansasKentuckyMississippiMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew MexicoUtahWisconsinWyoming Georgia requires an annual Declaration of Intent to be filed by September 1, annually, or within 30 days of the date you initially begin homeschooling. Children must take a nationally standardized test every three years starting in 3rd grade. Parents are required to write an annual progress report for each student. Both the test  scores and progress reports  are to be kept on file but are not required to be submitted to anyone. Although Nevada is on the minimally restrictive list, Magdalena A., who homeschools her children in the state says that it is, â€Å"†¦homeschooling paradise. The law states only  one regulation: when a child turns seven...a notice of intent to homeschool should be filed. That is it, for the rest of that childs life. No portfolios. No check-ups. No testing.† California homeschooling mom, Amelia H. outlines her state’s homeschooling options. â€Å"(1) Home study option through the  school district. Material is provided and weekly or monthly check-ins are required. Some districts provide classes for home study kids and/or allow kids to take some classes on campus. (2) Charter schools. Each one is set up differently but they all cater to homeschoolers and provide funding for secular curriculum and extracurricular activities through vendor programs†¦Some require that kids meet state standards; others simply ask for signs of ‘value-added growth. Most require state testing but a handful will allow parents to generate a portfolio as a year-end assessment. (3) File as an independent school. [Parents must]  state the curriculum goals at the start of the school year†¦Getting a high school diploma through this route is tricky and many parents choose to pay someone to help with the paperwork. States with the Least Restrictive Homeschool Laws Finally,  eleven states are considered very homeschool-friendly with few restrictions on homeschooling families. These states are: AlaskaConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaMichiganMissouriNew JerseyOklahomaTexas Texas is notoriously homeschool-friendly with a strong homeschool voice at the legislative level. Iowa homeschooling parent, Nichole D. says that her home state is just as easy. â€Å"[In Iowa], we have no regulations. No state testing, no lesson plans submitted, no attendance records, nothing. We dont even have to inform the district that were homeschooling.† Parent Bethany W.  says, â€Å"Missouri is very homeschool-friendly. No notifying districts or anyone unless your child has previously been public schooled, no testing or evaluations ever. Parents keep a log of hours (1,000 hours, 180 days), a written report of progress, and a few samples of [their students’] work.† With a few exceptions, the difficulty or ease of complying with each state’s homeschooling laws is subjective. Even in states that are considered highly regulated, homeschooling parents often state that compliance isn’t as difficult as it may appear on paper. Whether you consider your state’s homeschooling laws restrictive or lenient, it is essential to make sure you understand what is required of you to remain compliant. This article should be considered a guideline only. For specific, detailed laws for your state, please check your statewide homeschool support group’s website or Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

The Business of Facebook Free Essays

The business model of any organization is very important in helping a business become successful or unsuccessful. They help guide the leaders in the company to reach the goals and purpose of their organization. In recent news, the business model of Backbone has been under a large amount of scrutiny. We will write a custom essay sample on The Business of Facebook or any similar topic only for you Order Now I will be analyzing the business model of Backbone using the definition of business model from the textbook which states â€Å"A business model defines how an organization interacts with its environment to define a unique strategy, attract the resources and build the abilities required to execute the strategy, and create value for all stakeholders† (Applegate, Austin Souls, 2009). STRATEGY There are four key dimensions to strategy: market positioning, product positioning, business networking positioning, and boundary positioning. These four dimensions combined help an organization develop a strategy which by definition of the textbook is the series of choices that determine the opportunities you pursue and the market potential of those opportunities (Applegate, Austin Souls, 2009). In order to analyze the business strategy of an organization you must first determine what kind f business it is (Applegate, Austin Souls, 2009). In E. B. Body’s (2012) article â€Å"What is Passbooks Business† she states â€Å"[Backbone] creates a place for people to hang out and upload photos or pithy notes on what they are doing right that second, and then it posts advertising along the side of that status update highway. † Backbone services 845 million members all over the world, excluding China where Backbone has been blocked by the Chinese government. In December of 2011 Backbone averaged a total of 483 million daily active users worldwide (Form S-l, 2012). For a company such as Backbone, marketing position is very important. Market positioning determines the selection of customers that a business decides to serve (Applegate, Austin ; Souls, 2009). One of Passbooks ten main principles is â€Å"One World† which states â€Å"The Backbone Service should transcend geographic and national boundaries and be available to everyone in the world (backbone. Com, 2012). Passbooks customer base is two-sided. They have the 845 million individuals that have profiles on the site and then they have the companies that advertise. Considering the fact that Backbone already has 845 million users and there are only seven billion people on the earth, here is not much room for Backbone to grow their consumer base. With China off significant growth in the user base of Backbone is very unlikely (Boyd, 2012). The other side to Passbooks customer base is the companies that purchase advertising on Backbone. Jonathan Blue (2012) states, â€Å"Any business would be foolish not to consider Backbone as an ongoing marketing option. † According to Blue, Passbooks advertising costs are incredibly cheap. For a monthly fee advertisers can run ads and in return they receive a report on viewer’s impressions and click-through (Blue, 2012). In 2011 Backbone brought in $3. Billion in revenues from advertising alone. This accounts for eighty-five percent of their revenues. Backbone receives revenues from advertisers with many different objectives ranging from long-term brand awareness to stimulating an immediate purchase (Form S-l, 2012). The advertising on Backbone is based on the likes that users have on their accounts. Advertisers can decide what type of audience they think would be interested in their product, then Backbone displays adds on the sides of people’s news feeds based on their likes and preferences (Blue, 2012). Product positioning is the choice of products and services hat a company offers. It includes the features of these products and the price at which they will be offered. Backbone offers a variety of product including pages, profiles, ads and sponsored stories and platforms (backbone. Com, 2012). Different sides of their customer base use different products that Backbone has to offer. Although the majority of Passbooks revenues come from advertising, they also receive income through other platforms where users purchase virtual and digital goods (Form S-l, 2012). The majority of the payments that Backbone receives from third-party applications come from Zingy, a social network gaming company (Boyd, 012). Business networking is the role that an organization plays and the activities it performs within an extended network of suppliers, producers, distributors and partners. Over the years Backbone has partnered with many different companies in order to offer more to its users and make it become more enticing to use. Backbone has formed partnership with many companies such as Microsoft, Cell Partners, Digital Sky Technologies and more. Boundary positioning is when an organization determines the markets and products that they will not pursue. Backbone has not specified any specific market that it has not decided to pursue. The founder, Mark Seersucker even traveled to China to speak with some of China’s top technology executives in hopes of them removing the ban that had been placed on the use of Backbone in China. In 2009 the number of Backbone users in China plummeted from one million to 14,000 due to the ban. While user numbers in China have slightly risen, many users are still blocked from accessing the site (Chaos, 2010). CAPABILITIES Capabilities help a company implement their business strategy while paving the way for future growth. It also helps a business see what resources are necessary in order o successfully execute their strategy (Applegate, Austin, Souls, 2009). In order to service its consumers, Backbone has created an intricate infrastructure, including custom-built servers, racks and UPS units. In an article by Rich Miller, the CEO of Backbone, Mark Seersucker is quoted saying, â€Å"Being able to design more efficient servers†¦ Is a big part of enabling us to build the features we add† (2011). When Backbone has not released a definite number of servers that it runs off of, it is believed that by 2009 the company was running at least 60,000 servers in its data centers (Miller, 2010). We can conclude that since Backbone has began to design more efficient servers, that they have the resources and technology needed to support their user base. As the number of users increases, Backbone increases the number of servers and data centers so that their consumers can receive the best in class. The Backbone team is also comprised of very well educated people, who have the expertise needed in order to run and continue to improve the operations of Backbone. In my research of the company I did not run into anything that made me believe that the employees of Backbone were not fully qualified and competent in order to run the business. I also believe that the company has strong leadership and is comprised of people who are committed to making Backbone successful. Mark Seersucker is very involved in all aspects of the company. VALUE The majority of Passbooks stockholders are internal stockholders. Mark Seersucker, the CEO and founder of Backbone, owns twenty-four percent of the shares of Backbone. Some of the other leading stockholders include Cell Partners, Digital Sky Technologies, Microsoft, and co-founder Dustin Muscovite as well as many more (Carlson, 2010). Backbone has made recent headlines when GM decided to withdraw TTS $10 million contract with Backbone for advertising (Junk, 2012). This raised a very important question for many investors. Will Backbone be able to attract and retain key customers? The majority of Passbooks revenue is generated through advertising and in their S-l that was filed in January of this year Backbone warns investors that there is a high degree of risk that is involved in investing in Backbone. In order for Backbone to continue generating revenues, it will need to continue selling advertisement. While these revenues from advertising are purchased by business OTOH big and small, the success of Backbone selling advertising relies largely on the individuals that have profiles on Backbone. In their S-l Backbone states â€Å"If we fail to retain existing users or add new users, or if our users decrease their level of engagement with Backbone, our revenue , financial results and business maybe significantly harmed† (2012). One of the biggest marketing factors that Backbone has in selling advertisers is that a company who purchases advertising on Backbone could potentially reach the more than 800 million monthly active users on Backbone. This is also the downfall of advertising on Backbone. If the number of users decreases or people become less active, then that is less people that the advertising is reaching. How to cite The Business of Facebook, Papers

Basic of Chromatography-Click to get Free Sample Solution

Question: What is Metabolomics. What is LC/MS and GC/MS also analysis GC/MS and LC/MS for analyzing steroids. Also Tell some Advantages of GC/MS in steroid profiling in paediatrics. Answer: Introduction: Metabolomics is the study of metabolites and since there is huge variety of metabolites present hence a comprehensive research of metabolites today requires both LC/MS (Liquid chromatographymass spectrometry) and GC/MS (Gas chromatographymass spectrometry). However not all the metabolomic studies in practice are comprehensive, the factors such as chemical characteristics of the metabolites, the cost and the sample matrix lead to make a choice between LC/MS and GC/MS (Lu, 2008). The present paper attempts to make a critical comparison between the two techniques in the detection of steroids. The paper will review some of the characteristics of LC/MS and GC/MS and present factors that have to be considered for choosing one of the techniques. LC/MS is form of HPLC system having a mass spec detector attached to it. The chemicals are being separated by the HPLC by the column chromatography and this process is reverse phase chromatography. In the presence of hydrophilic solvent (such as water) the metabolite binds to the column due to hydrophobic interactions and then eluted by the hydrophobic solvent for example methanol. As the metabolites elute out from one end of the column they then enters the mass detector from where metabolites the solvent is removed and are ionized. The mass spectrometers are able to differentiate number of chemicals mixed together on the basis of their masses. Hence it is not necessary to bother to separate chemicals with HPLC first (Lu, 2008). GC/MS is a technique consisting of gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer. A complex mixture of chemicals are separated, identified and quantified. With these characteristics the GC/MS is an ideal technique for analyzing number of low molecular weight compounds that are present in environment. The compound that is to be analyzed using GC/MS has to be volatile and thermally stable. Apart from this the functionalised compounds may require some modifications such as derivatization before analyzing it by GC/MS. This is done to avoid any unwanted adsorption effects that would otherwise result into inferior data quality. The samples before subjected to GC/MS analysis have to be first dissolved in organic solvent and then the solvent has to be extracted and the extract is subjected for various analyses. The sample when injected into the GC is vaporised and moves into the chromatographic column with the help of carrier gas. As the sample flows through the column the compounds of interest from the mixture gets separated with respect to the interaction of the metabolite with the coating of the column as well as the carrier gas (Hbschmann, 2008). Comparative analysis of GC/MS and LC/MS for analyzing steroids The steroid profiling has always been most important part of diagnosis related to steroid hormone disorders and metabolism. Various techniques have been used from decades such as thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Apart from this many other immunoassays have been used extensively for plasma steroid hormones quantification in common diagnostic processes. These techniques have been central to the clinical disorder diagnosis but the data are not fully reliable as the problem of cross reactivity has never been solved completely for many analytes thus influencing the specificity. When the concentration of the hormones to be quantified is very less such as in the case of pediatric patients or in the case of postmenopausal women problem occurs. Further there is variability present in the interassay of common measurements such as estradiol, testosterone and the progesterone. These variabilities have been reduced significantly by using liquid chromatography-ma ss spectrometry. Nowadays the immunoassays are rarely used as the latest generation of LC/MS and GC/MS have been proved to be superior to such assays. Many diagnostic laboratories have adopted LC/MS due to its superior immunoassays, its specificity and its providing good linearity even at very low concentrations. Though LC/MS is steroid analysis has emerged as a mainstream diagnostic technology but it has many limitations with one major drawback that the analyte measurements are always targeted even though the panels of the steroids are being measured in a single run (Krone, 2010). An alternative analytical technique to LC/MS available is known as GC/MS which is available for more than 40 years. The GC/MS is used for the analysis of metabolites of steroid hormones as well as their precursors. This technique can be sued both in targeted and comprehensive mode. A scanned GC/MS run consist of all the excreted steroids and the data can be looked for any required analyte even after long period of analysis (Vogeser, 2007).The advantage of LC/MS is the rapid and required analysis of a little amount of compounds at very high sensitivity and is easily automated. Derivatization and hydrolysis of any conjugates is not required. Hence this makes the LC/MS an attractive and ideal diagnostic technique. However structural characterization of some novel steroids cannot be carried out with this technique and the scanning will result into ill defined metabolites and the data obtained is difficult to interpret. Here the GC/MS has the advantage over the LC/MS of providing better r esolution. Recently the resolution of the LC column has improved greatly with the use of small particle size but still the data is compromised due to the short run time. In GC/MS derivatization of the steroids is required with the use of methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether. This is the disadvantage with this technique as this consumes time and need extra labour. However this allows the characterization of the structures through comparatively easier determination of the number of C=O and C-OH groups. The MS fragmentation takes place due to derivatization hence huge information is available on the genesis of the particular ions that are generated from the analysis of GC/MS. This results into easier determination of the functional groups and their position on the steroid molecule. The GC/MS analysis have been proved to be superior in separating the epimeric steroids hence it is very useful specifically in the metabolism disorders such as 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency and others. When GC/MS is at scan mode non targeted steroid profiling and identification of novel compounds can be done along with identification of their synthesis and metabolism pathways and this data can be stored for longer period of time to be used in future (Bowden, 2009).When small amount of required analyte is to be measured with high background GC/MS is invaluable for this LC/MS as very small amount of sample ka be analysed easily (Rauh, 2009). Advantages of GC/MS in steroid profiling in paediatrics With the introduction of LC/MS the amount of the sample required for the analysis of steroid hormone has been greatly reduced in comparison to other immunoassays and the steroid profiling has also been established successfully as the diagnostic test method for the differentiation between the defects in the steroid disorders. This technique has been established as the confirmation tests in the screening of neonatal congenital adrenal hyperplasia relying only upon blood samples. Hence it has to be kept in mind that this technique relies only upon the blood samples which in a pediatric settings may not be easy to obtain as it is traumatizing both for the patient and their parents. Moreover the blood sampling only reflects single time point than the integrated picture of the steroid metabolome for a longer period of time which is possible in GS/MS steroid analysis technique. Another specific advantage that GC/MS has over LC/MS is that it is non-selective in nature that is a scan will run for all the excreted steroids which will give an oerall picture of single metabolome. One of the major drawbacks of using GC/MS technique in the clinical steroid analysis is the presenting data in the simple form which can be interpreted by the endocrinologists. The endocrinologists find it difficult to analyse the intricacies of the steroid metabolism. A more user friendly presentation of GC/MS data has to be established which can make the complex metabolomes easier to interpret and understandable by the clinicians and the scientists. Conclusion: With the advent in the technologies of LC/MS the most classical steroid analytical methodology can be replaced by measuring the hormones and the precursors specifically for the known analytes. With LC/MS appropriate values are obtained mostly for the first time specifically in pediatric and females where low concentrations of androgens and estrogens are present and the work is important and requires reproducibility (Rauh, 2009). However in spite of this the GC/MS still plays a major role in the analysis of the rare and unidentified conditions and is able to retain its place as the eminent discovery in defining new and unknown pathways of metabolism of the unknown steroids. Among the two the GC/MS appears to be the best technique for the study of metabolism and is a good option in the pediatric condition when a small amount of blood sampling is desired. This method still remains the core of the prenatal diagnosis of steroid disorders by analysing the maternal urine or the amniotic flu id. However from analysing both the technique it can be concluded that both the technique in steroid analysis if complementary more than competing. References: Bowden, J. A., Colosi, D. M., Mora-Montero, D. C., Garrett, T. J., Yost, R. A. (2009). Enhancement of chemical derivatization of steroids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).Journal of Chromatography B,877(27), 3237-3242. Hbschmann, H. J. (2008).Handbook of GC/MS: fundamentals and applications. John Wiley Sons. Krone, N., Hughes, B. A., Lavery, G. G., Stewart, P. M., Arlt, W., Shackleton, C. H. (2010). Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) remains a pre-eminent discovery tool in clinical steroid investigations even in the era of fast liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology,121(3), 496-504. Lu, X., Zhao, X., Bai, C., Zhao, C., Lu, G., Xu, G. (2008). LCMS-based metabonomics analysis.Journal of Chromatography B,866(1), 64-76. Rauh, M. (2009). Steroid measurement with LCMS/MS in pediatric endocrinology.Molecular and cellular endocrinology,301(1), 272-281. Vogeser, M., Parhofer, K. G. (2007). Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-technique and applications in endocrinology.Experimental and clinical endocrinology diabetes,115(09), 559-570.