Saturday, August 31, 2019

Personal Learning

FAFM :Personal Learning Paper FAFM :Personal Learning Paper: SESSIONS : 28 DATE : 15. 11. 12- 01. 02. 13 Learning’s From FAFM: * 1st Class starts with ice breaking and course plan for upcoming session * Infosys annual report – How to read the annual report * Compare with previous year annual report – percentage change year by year. * Auditor report – is the annual report is as per AS and rules followed as per standards * Corporate governance – meetings attended by directors and maintenance of records * Notes on accounts – brief about the content in the balance sheet * Market share – value of a company in the market CXO Duties – which includes CEO, CFO, CMO * How to compare with other companies and to relate with market * And also saw the annual report of RIL , ITC , TATA Motors * Introduction to Financial analysis * How to do financial analysis * Tools and Techniques * Case Discussion * Gemini Electronics * Cash Flow Statement à ¢â‚¬â€œ will show the liquidity of the flow of cash in a company * Operating Activities – what are all the expenses will come under this, for selling , distributing etc. , * Investing Activities – what are all the expenses will come under this, investment in other companies or shares etc. * Financing Activities – what are all the expenses will come under this, dividends etc * Cash inflow and out flow * How an Income statement and Balance sheet differs from Cash Flow Statement * Lehman Brother Company * Movie about the company * About Lehman Brother company * Bankruptcy Identification * Ratios – solvency ratio, liquidity ratio, efficiency ratio, profitability ratio * Horizontal & vertical Analysis of Balance sheet and Income statement – how to compare and contrast the given numbers * Z – score calculation and analysis Cariboo Industrial ltd * Corporate Fraud * Z- score – to predict the value of the company in future as it will sustain in the market financially or not. * Liquidation and valuation * Financial Statement audit * Thaifoon Restaurant * Projected Income statement – assumption of future income or revenue * Projected Balance sheet – it consist of all except the net profit as it is full of assumptions * Seating arrangements – slightly operations related * Decision making – critical thinking of mind to go with or to drop it * Sales projection Financial Mathematics * EMI Calculation – monthly interest and principle payment. Principle rate will increase & interest will get decreased. * EPS calculation * Intrinsic Value – Future value of market price of a company * Bond Valuation * Simple Interest & Compound Interest Calculation * Financial Markets * Indian Financial System – full chart with sector wise divided. * Stock Markets * Case: Motilal Oswal IPO Case * Learn about IPO- what will be the companies value to enter into ipo.How the decision is taken * private equity shares, IPO basics & need, fixed price offer & basics of book building process * Book building process: Cut off price, method of Dutch auction, RII, NII, QII, over subscription, case – Midfield Industries Ltd, ASBA, prospectus, offer and private placement * Primary Market – New issue of shares in the market * Secondary Market – Buying & selling of shares * Under & over subscription – where the subscription of share is high or low * Stock Markets – functions of SEBI , RBI , BSE , NSE.Also learn about various stock markets in other countries * Sensex , Nifty , Otci – orgin , sustain , end of otci * Demat account * Difference between equity share and preference share * 24hrs market – ends in one country and the market starts in other country * Commercial papers * Treasury bills – pledged for money * Money Market: Harshad Mehta scam, various scams in Indian financial history, organized & unorganized money markets and treasu ry bills & its types * Case: Harshad Mehta Scam * Learn about there will not be any scam in share market. What are the tactics played to hike the price * How a person can be countered by his competitors * How big shots help them to play in market and earn money * Money Market: Commercial papers, call money market, certificate of deposits, derivatives – financial & commodities, players, forward & future contract, premium, strike price, strike data and call & put option * Forex Market: Indian forex market, features, settlement of transaction, quotations, types of transactions, factors determining exchange rate * Finally the course has been completed with how to present in the examAdditional Learning’s * Daily Business Quiz * News paper reading – make me to know some new departments process and valuation * Mini Projects for marketing * Know about DBF * IRDA * BAT

William blake-the lamb summary and analysis

William Blake-the lamb summary and analysis THE LAMB Summary The speaker, identifying himself as a child, asks a series of questions of a little lamb, and then answers the questions for the lamb. He asks if the lamb knows who made it, who provides it food to eat, or who gives it warm wool and a pleasant voice. The speaker then tells the lamb that the one who made it is also called â€Å"the Lamb† and is the creator of both the lamb and the speaker. He goes on to explain that this Creator s meek and mild, and Himself became a little child.The speaker finishes by blessing the lamb in God's name. Analysis William Flake's â€Å"The Lamb† is an intricately complex poem written in 1789. The poem takes its central focus the grand question of creation, but it does so in an understated way, opening as a simple question to a sweet, delicate creature: â€Å"Little Lamb, who made thee? † The first half of the two-stanza poem has the speaker ask the lamb who is responsible fo r life and creation of this sweet creature with the â€Å"softest looting† of delight† and â€Å"Gave thee such a tender voice. The lamb functions as a symbol for the connection between humanity and the natural world. Associated with the rural English countryside, the lamb is also a symbol of pastoral innocence, bridging the gap between the urban world of humanity and the natural world of God's creation. Pastoral life also takes a central position in the poem. The collection of work in which this poem appears, â€Å"Songs of Innocence,† includes many Astoria scenes.These idyllic images of life outside of bustling cities firmly establishes a sense of peace and tranquility within these poems, including the â€Å"The Lamb. † This connects the figures of the poem to the natural world, where the figures of the poem can contemplate their existence without the interference of completely human elements. Flake's gentle phrasing lends a reflective, spiritual mood t o the piece, which answers the question in first-person narrative in the second stanza that higher power is responsible.In answering as Jesus Christ, Blake displays his own reverence for God in the phrases: â€Å"He is called by thy name, For He calls Himself a Lamb. He is meek, and He is mild; He became a little child. I a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by His name. Little Lamb, God bless thee! Little Lamb, God bless thee! † By stating the lamb's creator as Jesus Christ, Blake is establishing that everyone is in some sense a little lamb, created by God.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Steroids in baseball

As time has evolved and science in medicine has grown, it seems that steroid use has become more and more popular amongst baseball players. We now find our baseball players in the â€Å"Steroids Era†. Steroids help athletes become stronger and more muscular, which is clearly necessary when trying to make a home run. Many people believe that using steroids is considered cheating and nothing is more â€Å"Un- American† as cheating. Steroids didn't make it to baseballs banned substance list until 1991, and testing for major league players did not begin until the 2003 season.But, the MLB has decided that steroids use will no longer be tolerated. Steroids use has become very popular, and it seems that we have more players admitting to the use. It is impossible to know how many players actually use the drug, but players have come forward to have us assume that this drug as well as other performance-enhancing drugs have been around for a long time. According to Huff Post Sport s, â€Å"In 2003 , David Wells claimed that up to 40 percent of major leaguers used steroids.Jose Canseco estimated that 80 percent of major leaguers had taken teroids and credited the drug for his entire career. † For a MLB player to credit a drug for his entire career Just simply sounds insane. In 2005, Jose Canseco released a tell-all book, Juiced, about his experience with steroids in his career. In the book, Canseco named several other players, including Mark McGuierre, Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Jason Giambi, as steroid users. The list of baseball players associated with steroid use goes on. In our book Envision in Depth they explain what Canseco said about steroid use.He says, â€Å"Different steroids do different things: if you ant Just to build muscle mass, one sort will do; if you want to run fast, there are steroids to increase your fast twitch muscle fibers†(437) Canseco claims to have used Deca-Durabolin, Winstrol, Equipoise, and Anvar. He also use d human growth hormones, which explains how he put on 25 pounds of solid muscle in Just a few months. Baseball players rely on steroids use to enhance their performance. In baseball's long storied history only 25 men have ever slammed more than 500 homers, 10 joining the elite group between 1998-2009 and six of those – McGwire, Alex Rodriguez,Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro, Gary Sheffield and MLS's all-time home run king, Barry Bonds, who have all been linked to drugs. This obviously includes being more recognized by the fans, but also more money in their pocket. The better a player is the more money they will receive. Everyone wants money we cannot deny that. Improved performances in players will elevate a players on- base percentage. According to Huff Sports, â€Å"An increase in OPS of . 100 leads to an estimated salary increase of two million dollars. The athletic performance would also increase a layers product sales, and endorsement deals. With steroid use it seems tha t the game of baseball has become a little tougher, and more violent. Players are getting hit harder by other players running to the base and by the balls hit into the field. Players should begin to wear more protective gear. The types ot injuries seen most commonly in baseball today result trom muscles ripping away from tendons and Joints that can no longer support them, which was typically not seen years ago. Steroids has side effects which may cause health problems.Many athletes may be higher doses than the average in order to get better results in the game. It comes with serious side effects. According to Mayo Clinic, † Men may develop baldness, infertility, and shrunken testicles. † They may also experience high blood pressure, heart and circulatory problems, drug dependence, and psychiatric disorders such as depression. These athletes may begin to use other drugs to counter balance the side effects. Addiction may come from all of this. It is important to care about the health problems of these MLB players.While steroids use may improve a players chance of hitting that next home run or breaking the sprint record, and players may make an extreme upgrade on their income. The use of steroids goes against the American vision of hard work because using steroids does become a way of cheating. What is this teaching the little ones looking up to all the baseball players? I dont believe that steroids use is setting a good example. I also do not believe that steroids use is beneficial in the long run. These MLB players are putting themselves through so many health risks that I do not elieve are worth it in the end.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Research plan on improving instructional strategies Essay

Research plan on improving instructional strategies - Essay Example † The modern classroom is primarily characterized by the availability of computers and ICT. Research studies (Henessy, Ruthven & Brindley, 2005 and John, 2005 as cited in Tabler, 2007) have shown how ICT have modified classroom practices and supported classroom tasks. The advantages of ICT are also revolutionary, but it has also its limitations, and as a very recent tool for teaching, I consider it significant to study how its potential can be maximized. It is within this context that I propose to carry out this action research project. Specifically, I plan examine its utility in teaching Geography among 4th grade students since professionally, this is where I am situated. In the succeeding section I will be proposing an action research plan following the format by McNiff & Whitehead (2006). II. The Action Research Plan My Context I am currently a 4th grade teacher in Geography and have been offered the opportunity of becoming the Head of Department in the next academic year. O ne of the challenges given to me is developing a comprehensive plan of integrating ICT into the curriculum and pedagogy. It requires me to examine strategies and eventually, propose best practices. Why am I concerned? In the past five years, the school has invested in modernization. However, it has been observed that very little has changed in terms of the use of ICT in the classroom. Teachers face challenges in using ICT in the classroom, not only because of its novelty, but also because it has implications on the teaching and learning philosophies adopted by teachers. â€Å"The sheer presence of technology itself in the classroom can be very daunting, cluttering up both physical space with cables and connections, and mental space in planning for access to equipment and familiarization with skills and techniques† (Loveless, 2002,p.20). While ICT in the classroom has been acclaimed as generally good, there are still challenges that should be addressed for it to be an effectiv e tool. What experiences can I describe to show the situation as it is? Since this will be a pilot project, I will gather data from my own class where I will implement ICT in teaching through observations. I will also talk to students and ask them to evaluate the classes that we had. For a period of two weeks, I will keep reflection notes of what is taking place during my classes. What can I do? An initial evaluation will be asked from the students where points for improvement will be taken. A focused group discussion among teachers from my department will also be implemented to have gather ideas from their experiences of implementing ICT in the classrooms. Other teachers will also be invited to observe my classes, and validate the findings I have initially recorded. Students will also be asked to evaluate the whole program so I can get feedback from their perspective. What will I do? I will write a report for presentation to the principal, vice-principal and other teachers in my de partment. The report will contain the observations I have conducted, evaluation from students, discussions with other teachers, and the observations of other teachers in my class. I will give them a background of the current situation, and explain my interest in this particular area. I will propose that as part of my coursework in the post-graduate school I am attending, I will carry out this research project. How will I gather data to show the situa

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Health Services Strategic Marketing Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Services Strategic Marketing - Coursework Example Porter’s value chain is significant as a marketing strategy since the manner in which value chain undertakings are conducted influences the cost of product and profit. The value chain emphasizes on systems and the process of changing inputs in to products that are sold to consumers. Porter identified two groups of activities that are essential to any business. Primary activities are necessary in the process of developing, selling, preservation and sustenance of a product or service. Support activities serve as back-up to the primary activities (Fortenberry, 2010). An example of primary activity is Bingham Memorial Hospital’s prescription for customers which depends on effective procurement process of medicines by the organization as a support activity. Another example is human resource management that is a support activity to primary activities such as operations, inbound and outbound logistics as well as sales and marketing. Response to Carla Setzler’s Script Indeed, the consumer purchasing decision is influenced by whether or not he/she perceives the products of a health care organization as valuable. Consumers attach value to employee competence, which is demonstrated by efforts of the organization to train and recruit professionals with the necessary competences. Customer service needs to be highly valued especially the first contact between the customer and the organization because it influences his/her perception regarding the value of product and service offerings (Rothaermel, 2012).

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, but all Paul left us was the Essay

Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, but all Paul left us was the church - Essay Example This paper will look at the statement Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, but all Paul left us was the Church and give reasons for either agreeing or disagreeing with the statement. I disagree with the statement Jesus Came Preaching the kingdom of God, but all Paul left us was the church. This is because both Jesus and Paul taught identical things. Settled, Paul concentrated more on theological concerns than Jesus did, but there is nothing that Paul said that is contradictory to Jesus Christ. Therefore, both Jesus and Paul preached the kingdom of God. As recorded in the Gospels, the basic elements in the preaching of Jesus Christ include, one, his teaching on wealth in which He asserts that it is extremely difficult for a rich individual to go to heaven, and also warns against the gathering of riches on a number of occasions. Two, Jesus gave teachings regarding violence. Finally, Jesus gave teachings regarding compassion and forgiveness (Shillington 17). On the other hand, Paulà ¢â‚¬â„¢s teachings included, one, his teachings on faith. Two, Paul taught the lordship of Christ in his letters. Finally, Paul taught justification in his letters. Jesus claimed in Mathew 5:17 that He did not come to put an end to the Prophets or Law, but He had come to fulfill them. Nonetheless, Jesus frequently re-interpreted the laws, or added to them, in various occasions in extremely radical manners. Paul marked a continuation of the message of Jesus. In Mark 10:25 Jesus claimed it was effortless for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to go into the kingdom of the Lord. Jesus continued to claim that the sole way a rich person could go to heaven was if he could sell all his wealth and give it to the less fortunate (Shillington 18). This statement meant that the Lord would only inspire a rich person to modify his way of life and voluntarily give his wealth to the less fortunate. In addition, Jesus Christ, in a number of instances, warned against the accrual of riches. In Mathew 6:19 Jesus asserted that people should not gather wealth on the universe. He also went ahead and claim that a person did not have the ability to both serve God and money. Jesus did not approve of wealth because he presumed that it was not right for a number of individuals to starve while others lived in wasteful luxury. According to Paul, the followers were to attempt to accumulate spiritual wealth, and as the command progressed, it is evident that the followers were to put their material possessions to use in this endeavor. In Paul’s view, the material wealth of the followers was to incorporate a special duty (Horrell 30). For the followers, the standard Christian life of virtuous duties should entail sensible manifestations of generosity and the eagerness to share. Paul also claimed that since all the rich had came from the Lord, they were to possess a proper opinion of their riches and utilize it to help the less privileged. Paul envisaged a s tewardship of the commodities of the world, and the people blessed with these possessions were to be conscientious administrators of the wealth. On violence, Jesus taught that people should love their enemies. This statement has been interpreted in a number of ways. A number of individ

Monday, August 26, 2019

Comparing Story to Real World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparing Story to Real World - Essay Example Oates revealed that a story she read in the Life magazine served as the main inspiration for her to write the short story. From the Life magazine, Oates became familiar with the increasing vulnerability of American adolescents in the hands of individuals who took advantage of their lack of experience. For this reason, Oates recreated the story in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been. In the Oates story, she introduced Connie and Arnold Friend, who would take advantage of the innocent girl (Caldwell 316). A close analysis of Connie’s life reveals that she was only beginning to gain self-awareness at the tender age of 15. As common with many adolescents, Connie has a bumpy relationship with her mother (Caldwell 3). Worth noting is the fact that Connie’s mother had recognized Connie’s curiosity to explore the world. However, she did not give her the relevant warnings that would serve as guidelines in her life. Connie exhibited two different lifestyles. While at home, Connie played the role of an innocent and naà ¯ve girl. However, when Connie went to the shopping mall, she behaved like an excited teenager ready to seek attention from boys. A close analysis of Connie’s attitudes reveals that the emotional and physical changes that take place during adolescents had taken a toll on her. She craved for attention and love from the boys. Unfortunately, Connie was unable to handle such attention as the film Smooth Talk illustrates. During one of Connie’s visits to the shopping mall, she spotted a peculiar boy, who eventually turned out to be Arnold Friend. The peculiarity with Arnold Friend is that he is much older, but deceives girls by faking a younger age. Since Connie craves for attention from boys, she becomes highly predisposed for Arnold Friend’s tactics (Caldwell 6). As both the film and short story highlight, Connie’s thoughts have focused

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Improving University of Bridgeport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Improving University of Bridgeport - Essay Example This causes me to be late for classes and I have had to miss a few tests in the process as I was locked out. This has been a problem for a while and I have asked for help in this regard but to no avail. As I drive a long distance, I am forced to set aside time to find parking space. I have had to face ticketing problems with police especially as there are sometimes no parking rules during emergencies. This makes it necessary for me to leave much earlier than I would have to if there was an adequate parking area. Many of my classes begin as early as 7.30 a.m. and hence I need to leave very early in order to make it in time. I think if the University can allot adequate designated parking areas for students it would make life much easier for students like me. Another problem I frequently face is that I do not get enough computer time for my research activities. There are always students waiting to find a free computer in the library, and a long wait for a computer terminal to get free is inevitable on most days. As mentioned before I do not live on campus and hence need to leave at reasonable hours. If the number of computers in the library could be increased, it could ease this problem faced by many of my colleagues too. I do hope you will look into the matter and find a solution

Saturday, August 24, 2019

I. The CEO of the company believes that the company should incorporate Essay

I. The CEO of the company believes that the company should incorporate fair value accounting from next year while preparing and - Essay Example The other stakeholders such as employees, suppliers, and stockholders also find fair value accounting more realistic in predicting the trends in business. It is, therefore, easier to ascertain if the business is a going concern concept is on course or otherwise. According to the international accounting standards, fair value refers to the value of an asset or liability, which forms the basis of exchange between willing parties trough arm’s length production. In other words, in free market transactions the fair value is equal to the market prices, which is determined by the forces of demand and supply. The fair value accounting has several models, which include equity approach, mixed approach, income approach, and full fair value. The equity approach incorporates the realized and unrealized profit or losses in the revaluation reserve (Bazley & Hancock, 2013). When any transaction is realized, the changes in fair value will be reflected under equity. Under equity approach, not a ll the realized gains have any effect on the income statement. The mixed approach on its part, allows all changes in the unrealized fair value to be incorporated in the income statement while the changes in the realized profits or losses are reflected in the income statement as opposed to equity. On the other hand, income approach takes into consideration in the income statement, all the changes in the fair value because of holding losses or gains (Britton & Jorissen, 2007). Finally, under full fair value model, all the changes are incorporated in the income statement including the internally generated goodwill. Proponents of fair value asserts that historical approach has lost its meaning since it does not take into consideration the relationship between market capitalization and the firm’s reported financial performance. For instance, if the firm depreciation policy is based on historical cost accounting, then it becomes increasingly hard to determine the actual market valu e of equity net worth for the firm. Moreover, it is very hard to ascertain the true financial position of the firm if the firm values its assets based on historical cost accounting (Britton & Jorissen, 2007). On the other hand, the opponents of fair value accounting approach asserts that fair value accounting cannot bridge the gap between market value of all equity and market capitalization. The reason for this is that most accounting practices through the fair value approach do not report the internally generated good will. Due to this fact, it becomes increasingly hard to have a convergence between net assets of the business and the market value for the business. The debate on historical cost and fair value accounting takes into consideration the concept of reliability and relevance. The fact that fair value accounting approach incorporates existing market conditions; it has a better platform to predict the future patterns of the business as compared to the historical approach to accounting. It is therefore widely viewed that historical approach is the most relevant approach used to determine the net assets. However, when the assets are held to maturity, the historical cost approach becomes more relevant since fair value appro

Friday, August 23, 2019

A reflective account of the application of learning to clinical Essay

A reflective account of the application of learning to clinical practice - Essay Example Globally, Ischaemic stroke affects more people than other forms of strokes. The stroke can happen or occur in two ways; arterial thrombosis or cerebral embolism. Arterial thrombosis is when a blockage forms in the artery that supplies blood to the brain. As a consequence, blood supply to the brain is blocked (Baker, 2008). On the other hand, cerebral embolism occurs when a blood clot forms in a different part of the body (usually a large artery or the heart) and subsequently travels to the brain and blocks the blood supply. The disease is most prevalent in older adults (people over 65 years of age). In light of this, the paper will employ Gibbs’ reflective cycle model. The model is preferable since it is fairly straight forward. Additionally, the model advocates for a succinct description of the scenario, evaluation of the feelings and experience, conclusion, and a reflection based on experience of what I would do if a similar situation came up again. The condition that I am dealing with is called the ischaemic stroke. It is the clotting of the blood in the blood arteries. In his book, a Schmer (1973) stated that the brain is deprived off food and the oxygen when clotting occurs in the arteries. As a result, the brain cells die. Although some blood cells may die immediately at the onset of the stroke, some may survive longer. If the blood supply is regained, the surviving cells may live or die. The condition may occur very fast, within seconds, or the patient may experience symptoms for some hours. The patient needed to be checked for the symptoms of an ischaemic stroke. At times, the underlying problems might not be the stroke but something different (Wilbur 1997). A patient suffering from ischaemic stroke shows numbness or some weaknesses of one side of the body. This is called contractual hemiplegia. On the other hand, some may show defects of the face such as dropping eyelids, and aptosis. Still, others get visual

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Medieval Christianity and Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medieval Christianity and Islam - Essay Example The kingdom split into three in the late 6th century. Great leaders like Charlemagne ruled over the kingdom before its collapse (Watson, 2003). The Frankish kingdom was a Christian dominated the western European region during the middle ages. The church played an important role in leadership and redesigning of the kingdom. Their major concept was to spread the Christianity across the kingdom and fight the insurgent of the Moore and other Islamic kingdom. Christianity was used as a toll to unite the kingdom (Moore, 2011). Christianity dictated upon the nature of leadership. Religion was also a tool in designing the initial laws. Leaders such as Charles where made strong through religion. The Scottish missionaries played an important role in shaping the Frankish kingdom as a fully-fledged Christian kingdom (Moore, 2011). Religious rulers characterized the Al-Andalus region. In this case, the main religion was Islam. The nature of ruling was driven by the Islamic culture brought about by the Tariq during the European conquest. Spain becomes a Muslim state after Ar- Rahman is inaugurated the ruler of Cordoba. Leadership was religious based (Watson, 2003). The ideologies being spread at the then reign was driven by the Arabic culture. The purpose was to spread Islam throughout the region with the focus being Spain. The reign lasted until 1490s AD when the last religious leader surrendered to the Romans and the Frankish. Religion laid the basis of the then laws and leadership (Watson, 2003). Both Christianity and Islam dominated Europe during the 6th century. The manner in which religion played part in matters administration differed. Religion was a pillar stone to each kingdom. The Franks were Christian dominated while Muslims dominated the Al-Andalus era. The nature of administration differed (Watson, 2003). In the Islamic region, the concept of conversion was note encouraged in that the tax differences made it

What Literacy Means to Me Essay Example for Free

What Literacy Means to Me Essay What literacy means for me and the impact that it has had on my life. Literacy refers to the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently, and think critically about the written word. The primary sense of literacy still represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from a critical interpretation of the written or printed text. Key to all literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Literacy is taught through parents by making reading to your child a regular part of your daily schedule, just as my mother did when I was younger. She would read both early readers and chapter books to me. When reading, she would point to the words as she said them and read slowly. This allowed me to read along with her. Once she noticed that I understood certain words, such as the word the, my mother would let me say that word a few times when it appears in the story. This method taught me to be quite an advanced reader by the age of 5 and was heading into kindergarten. The definition of literacy is a difficult one to answer. When the word literacy comes to mind I think of it first in basic terms of just being able to read, but I know it contains more elements of being just able to read. In my mind literacy as a whole defines the relationship that people have with literature. Just like the way my mother taught me the love of reading, which has continued to grow as Ive aged and encouraged me to develop a love for chapter books and the stories depicted in them. I find myself becoming engrossed in these stories and sometimes even comparing them to my own life experiences. Literacy as a whole means the relationship with different types of literature and how well people can comprehend them. There is the basic standard of literacy which would be reading. Then the next step would be how well the reader could comprehend what is being read. Understanding the words written and know most of their meaning. After that it would be how well the reader could analyze the text. The next step from there would be if the writer could then analyze the text well enough to point out anomalies, binaries, patterns, strands, and any repetition that the literature being read may have. After the interpretation of reading and understanding the literature one should be able to write about it. When writing on the literature the reader should be able to communicate clear decisive thoughts about the text that isn’t already spelled out in the literature. With a sharp focused analytical claim. This shows that the reader understood the literature and is capable of translating it to others without retelling the literature that has already been read. For me literacy is very important and has a really strong impact in my life. When I was a kid I remember my mother always telling me â€Å"the more you know the better it is†. I never really understood what she meant nor did I pay that much attention. Society has proven time and time again, it will reward those individuals who are competent and impede those who are not, whether expressed in terms of employment opportunities or just on a social level. One needs look no further than their everyday activities in order to realize how important literacy is. Without adequate literary skills one may not be able to identify on a label the correct amount of medicine to give a child, or read and interpret a sign giving instructions on what to do in case of a fire. These two examples bring perspective to literacys importance. I discovered that I mainly use text or literacy to communicate with others for maintaining family connections or for work related information. I use text or literacy for entertainment as well, but I spend far less time using it for work than I do for entertainment. Overall, I think literacy is a very fluid concept—it is ever changing and evolving as we change and as our way of life changes. A generation or two ago, it was merely important to be able to read and write. Now, one must be able to read and write and use technology to be successful in the world. And for this necessary ability, I have my mother to thank for all her hard work teaching me these skills as a young child.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Erythropoietin: Advantages and Disadvantages for Athletes

Erythropoietin: Advantages and Disadvantages for Athletes EPO (Erythropoietin), its advantages and disadvantages for endurance athletes. For the purposes of this essay an understanding of what EPO (Erythropoietin) is will be established. An understanding of how EPO works in the body will also be established. EPO’s use in medicinal practice is wide and varied and will be referred to also. Given an understanding of its mechanism and its effect on the body, its usefulness to endurance athletes will be established. Studies on its effectiveness will then be analyzed and referred to with reference to the health risks attached to this use. This will culminate in a brief overview of the history of EPO usage or â€Å"Blood Doping† in professional sports. EPO acts in the body as a glycoprotein hormone that regulates red blood cell (RBC) production. Its function is as a protein signaling molecule for RBC precursors in the bone marrow. EPO is produced naturally in the body by interstitial fibroblasts in the kidneys and by perisinusoidal cells present in the liver. Production of EPO in adults is most common in the kidneys. Notwithstanding, EPO is also involved in the healing process after the infliction of wounds and is part of the cerebral response to neuronal trauma. In terms of modern medicine, EPO is harvested from cell cultures and is used to treat anemia (a decrease in the bodies RBC count). EPO is also used in the treatment of Myelodysplasia, which is a type of cancer that inhibits the bone marrows ability to produce healthy RBCs. Most EPO prescribed to patients contain major health warnings about increased risk of heart attack, stroke and even the reoccurrence of certain tumors. Put simply, athletes who harness the power of EPO can go harder for longer. EPO allows bone marrow to create RBCs and thus extra hemoglobin. Consequently EPO is most generally utilized among endurance athletes as a means to increasing their RBC count which in turn results in better oxygen transportation along these lines and a vast improvement in aerobic respiration. The quicker the rate of high-impact respiration, the higher the level at which the competitor can work without using the anaerobic frameworks which deliver lactic acid and increase weakness. Traditionally, â€Å"blood doping† involved training at high altitude for a period of between 4 and 6 weeks. The blood that was rich in oxygen was then harvested from the body exactly as one would donate blood. The oxygen rich blood was then transfused back into the body at sea level prior to or during competition. Despite its natural occurrence in the body it can be synthesized into a serum that people can inject through the skin. Therefore its usefulness for endurance athletes is quite apparent. A vast number of studies concerning the effectiveness of EPO injection for Endurance athletes. The primary study to be analyzed as part of this essay is â€Å"Hemoglobin Mass and Running Time Trial Performance after Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Administration in Trained Men† by Yiannis Pitsiladis et al. The study was undertaken by infusing long distance runners with EPO every other day for a month. Their times were enhanced 3% to 6% on average after 4 weeks of use. The Pitsiladis study was part funded by the World Anti-Doping agency. They stated the reason for funding the study was the find ways of increasing the detectability of EPO use among professional endurance athletes, rather than to highlight the drug’s effectiveness. Be that as it may, the current report made no notice of any such testing or test outcomes. The study did note that EPO infusions, which expand the bodys RBC mass (consequently prompting more prominent oxygen conveyance and speedier running exhibitions on persistent occasions), additionally diminish the bodys aggregate blood plasma volume. A further study by Prof. Max Gassmann from the University of Zurich stated that EPO usage had massive psychological benefits to an athlete. He found that there were serious gains to be made in terms of motivation after treating genetically modified mice that produced human EPO solely in their brains. He surmised that EPOs possible mental health benefits were limitless given proper dosage and that it could be used to potentially alleviate the devastating symptoms suffered by Schizophrenics. I contrast to this, a peer reviewed study of the effectiveness of EPO doping for cyclists suggested that there was no tangible evidence to support the claim that EPO enhances performance in top athletes. The study was titled â€Å"Erythropoietin doping in cycling: Lack of evidence for efficacy and a negative risk benefit† by J A A C Heuberger et al. The summary of their findings suggested there was no increase in performance for top cyclists and that performance was based on more than V02 max results and that higher power output for longer doesn’t correlate with athletic performance, particularly in cycling. The main finding of the report was that the health risks associated with EPO supplementation were simply not worth the increase in V02 max or power output. Athlete’s use of artificial EPO became a very popular method of performance enhancement, specifically for cyclists in the 1980s and has been linked with many champion athletes being stripped of titles and banned from the sport. The most famous case of admitted EPO use was by seven times Tour De France Champion, Lance Armstrong. Advances in retroactive testing of blood, hair and urine samples may lead to other high profile athletes suffering the same fate in the years to come. However athletes prior to the EPO era were more inclined to use anabolic steroids and amphetamines as a means of performance enhancement. To summarize, EPO usage leads to an increase in RBC mass and its ability to transfer oxygen molecules around the body. It allows for an increase in Vo2 max and power output. However its effectiveness on the performance of top athletes is up for debate as an increased ability to go harder for longer does not necessarily lead to increased athletic performance. Despite this EPOs prevalence endurance sports would suggest that many athletes across different codes consider it a performance enhancing substance, despite the obvious health risks. References Amby Burfoot. (2013).Study: EPO Effective, Long-Lasting.Available: http://www.runnersworld.com/race-training/study-epo-effective-long-lasting. Last accessed 22nd Nov 2014. J A A C Heuberger et al. . (2013). â€Å"Erythropoietin doping in cycling: Lack of evidence for efficacy and a negative risk benefit†.British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 75 (6), 1406-21. Andy Layhe. (2011).Types of Drugs and Methods Used in Cycling. Available: http://bikepure.org/resources/list-of-banned-substances/types-of-drugs-and-methods-used-in-cycling/. Last accessed 22nd Nov 1014. Carsten Lundby and Niels Vidiendal Olsen. (2011). Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin in normal humans.The Journal of Physiology. 589 (1), p1265-1271. Yannis P. Pitsiladis et al.. (2013).Haemoglobin Mass and Running Time Trial Performance after Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Administration in Trained Men.Available: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0056151. Last accessed 18th Nov 2014. Elizabeth Quinn. (2014).EPO and Blood Doping in Sports.Available: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/performanceenhancingdrugs/a/EPO.htm. Last accessed 19th Nov 2014. Johannes Vogel, Max Gassmann. (2007). Erythropoietic and non-erythropoietic functions of erythropoietin (Epo) in mouse models.The Journal of Physiology. 584 (1), 709.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Characterizing HP’s from Leptospira Interrogans

Characterizing HP’s from Leptospira Interrogans Introduction: Genome sequencing projects and genetic engineering has revealed many aspects of complex cellular environment containing large number of proteins. Despite sequences of most of organisms are available and proteins coded are studied experimentally, there are some proteins whose functions are unknown, need to be characterised(5). Such proteins are known as Hypothetical proteins (HP) sequences of which are known but there is no evidence of experimental study(6). There is extensive need to study and classify these hypothetical proteins which can open new way to design drug molecules against infectious organisms. Functional annotation of HP’s involved in infection, drug resistance, and essential biosynthetic pathways is important for development of the potent antibacterials against infectious agents. Improved understanding of these proteins may make them potential targets of antimicrobial drugs [26]. Leptospira interrogans is gram negative spirochete, having an internal flagella is p athogenic which causes Leptospirosis (1)(2), other serovars (strains) are distinguished on the basis of cell surface antigens. These are infectious to animals, but through animal urine can be spread to human(3). Leptospira enters in body via broken skin, mucosa and spreads in body, if immune system fails to stop the growth of bacteria it cause severe hepatic and renal dysfunctions(4). This present study highlights thein silicostudies to characterize HP’s from Leptospira interrogans. Methods: Sequence Retrieval: KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes) is a large collection of databases having entries of genes, proteins, pathways in metabolism and diseases, drug and ligands of organism (7). We have selected the Sequences of 12 hypothetical proteins of Leptospira interrogans randomly from KEGG database (www.genome.jpg/kegg).   Pfam: Pfam is curated Protein families database, it uses jackhmmer programme (HMMR3). To give profile HMM ( Hiden Markov Model) with PSI-BLAST, which were searched against UniProt(9). However, to include protein in a family its domain and sequence bit scores must be equal or above the Gathering Thresholds (GA). Pfam gives Pfam A families which are manually curated and Pfam B families generated automatically(8). Batch CD search: Hypothetical Protein sequences were searched for conserved domains at batch CD search, which gives results by using MSA and 3D structures for homologous domains available on Pfam and SMART(9)(10). ExPASy-ProtParam tool: ProtParam tool (www.expasy.org/tools/protparam.html) was used to estimate physicochemical parameters of hypothetical proteins(11). Query protein can be submitted in form of SWISS/TrEMBL ID or protein sequence. Server provides directly calculated values of pI/MW (Isoelectric point, Molecular Weight), Percentage of each amino acid, Extinction coefficient (EC), Instability Index (II)(12), Aliphatic Index (AI) and GRAVY (Grand Average of Hydrophobicity). SOSUI server: Amphiphilicity index and Hydropathy index of query protein sequences were calculated by SOSUI server which categorises protein into cytoplasmic or transmembrane nature(13). Protein-Protein Interaction network: Protein in the cell environment interacts with other proteins, in silico these interactions were studied by STRING v9.1 (Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes). STRING is a large repository of protein-protein interactions involving functional interactions, stable complexes, and regulatory interactions among proteins(14,15). Figure 1. Shows resulting protein-protein interaction network of selected hypothetical proteins, for better understanding interaction networks should be seen on server site. Disulfide-Bonding in Protein Disulfide bonds among cysteine residues in protein plays an important role in folding it into functional and stable conformation. DISULFIND server utilizes SVM binary server to predict bonding state of cysteins, these cysteins are paired by Recursive Neural Network to show disulfide bridges(16). Protein Structure Prediction: Protein structure prediction server (PS)2 (17) requires query sequence in fasta format to generate 3D structure by comparative modelling(18). Server utilizes consensus strategy to find template using PSI-BLAST and IMPALA. Query sequence and template aligned by T-coffee, PSI-BLAST, and IMPALA [13]. 3D structures are predicted from template using MODELLER and visualised by CHIME, Raster3D. Resulting 3D structural model of selected hypothetical proteins are shown in Figure 2. Ligand Binding site Prediction: Q-site finder(19) server was used for binding site prediction in selected proteins. Server uses energy based methods to find clefts on protein surface for ligands(20). These hot spots for ligand binding have predicted after ranking their physicochemical properties as hydrophobicity, desolvation, electrostatic van der waal potentials. Discussion: ProtParam tool computes different physicochemical parameters depending on the queries submitted to the databases. Isoelectric focusing separates proteins according to pI where pH gradients are developed(21). Predicted pI via server may not be adequate because in case of high number of basic amino acids and lower buffer capacity. By using pH gradients and calculated pI, proteins can be separated experimentally. MW of proteins along with pI is used for the 2D gel electrophoresis. EC shows a light absorbed by a protein relative to their composition at a specific wavelength. EC given (Table 1) are calculated with reference to Tryptophan, Cysteine, Tyrosine (11). Instability index (II) refers to the stability of the protein in test tube(22). Among studied proteins giÇâ‚ ¬24214908, giÇâ‚ ¬24215664, giÇâ‚ ¬24216444, giÇâ‚ ¬24213620, gi|24213945 were found to be unstable, and rest are stable (proteins with II above 40 are unstable). Aliphatic amino acid constitute s the aliphatic index (a relative volume of aliphatic side chains). Increased AI results into a hydrophobic interactions and thus gives thermostatic stability to protein, predicted AI and II shows inverse relation for stability except these two proteins giÇâ‚ ¬24215664 and giÇâ‚ ¬24215909. GRAVY(23) values are a ratio of all hydropathy values of amino acids to the number of residues in sequence. Smaller the GRAVY(23) more hydrophilic is protein, giÇâ‚ ¬24214908 and gi|24213945 proteins found the most hydrophilic. In case of 3D structure hydrophilic domains tends to be on exterior surface, while hydrophobic domains avoids external environment and forms internal core of the protein. Search of family for hypothetical proteins based on conserved domains having consensus sequence in their structure is given in Table 3. Hypothetical protein giÇâ‚ ¬24214908 found to be a member of GH18_CFLE_spore_hydrolase, Cortical fragment Lytic Enzyme bearing a catalytic doma in from glycosyl hydrolase, an enzyme used in breaking a spore peptidoglycans so as to activate it for germination when favourable conditions are available. Hypothetical protein giÇâ‚ ¬24215649 from PDZ_serine_protease involved in protein reassembly and work as a heat shock protein. Protein giÇâ‚ ¬24215664 belongs to Leucine-rich Repeats (LRR), ribonuclease inhibitor like family. LRR are motifs having role in protein interactions in complex networks. S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) enzyme for biosynthesis of spermine and spermidine by decarboxylation of SAM belongs to Ado_Met_dc family (giÇâ‚ ¬24217373). Pilz domain in giÇâ‚ ¬24213620 is found in bacterial cellulose synthase and other proteins that forms biofilm around a bacterium and involve in effluxing drug(24). Hypothetical protein giÇâ‚ ¬294827583 (FecR superfamily) is involved in Iron transport system in bacterial membranes, Fe3+ (insoluble) loaded on citrate carrier is sensed b y FecR protein found in periplasmic space in bacterial membrane(25). Protein sites are predicted as cytoplasmic, host associated, extracellular, cytoplasmic membrane proteins. SOSOI server predictions (Table 6) shows that positively charged amino acids are more at the end of trans membrane region. Protein-protein interaction study has shown some hypothetical proteins are involved in essential cellular process such as transport across membrane, biosynthesis of molecules, translational regulation. Hypothetical protein giÇâ‚ ¬24214908 (Figure 1) interacts with SUA5 protein which is known as one of translational regulator from YrdC/SUA5 family. Search for giÇâ‚ ¬24215909 shown to be involved in chloride transport with chloride channel protein (EriC gene). Protein giÇâ‚ ¬24217373 found to be interacted with S-layer like protein (slpM) which forms layer around bacteria to attach other surfaces and protect it from environment. Additionally it involve in cell devising p rocesses and transport across membrane. Protein giÇâ‚ ¬294827687 had shown interaction with proteins for bleomycin resistance, chorismate synthase (Trp biosynthesis) and Mammalian Cell entry (MCE) like proteins. Figure 2 shows 3D structures of proteins giÇâ‚ ¬24214908, giÇâ‚ ¬24213620, giÇâ‚ ¬24214753, gi|24213945 predicted from amino acid sequence on PS2 server by using templates 1vf8A, 3bo5A, 1f9zA, and c2efsA respectively. Conclusion: Development of potential bioinformatics tools and databases has opened new platform for in-silico study. Currently it is very needful to annotate and characterize hypothetical proteins in Leptospira interrogans serovar. These hypothetical proteins may have an imperative role in producing many virulence factors and cause serious infection or disease. We have analyzed 12 hypothetical proteins from KEGG database and categorized its physicochemical properties and recognized domains and families using various bioinformatics tools and databases. The structures were modeled and their ligand binding sites were identified. Physicochemical predictions made for hypothetical proteins, which can be used to find therapeutic agents against infections caused by Leptospira interrogans. Some of hypothetical proteins serves as channel proteins, ribosomal proteins or are involved in cell cycle process. Families which were identified for these hypothetical proteins are involved in normal cellular process es and the resistance against drugs. Ligand binding hotspots were found with Q-sitefinder which shown amino acids involved in interaction with ligands. It will help in study of molecular docking for development of potent and effective target against Leptospira infection. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by NIPER Guwahati academic staff. We are very grateful for their excellent support in every manner. References: Chou L-F, Chen Y-T, Lu C-W, Ko Y-C, Tang C-Y, Pan M-J, et al. Sequence of Leptospira santarosai serovar Shermani genome and prediction of virulence-associated genes. Gene [Internet]. 2012;511:364–70. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23041083 Langston CE, Heuter KJ. Leptospirosis. A re-emerging zoonotic disease. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. [Internet]. 2003;33:791–807. Available from: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0195561603000263 Kohn B, Steinicke K, Arndt G, Gruber AD, Guerra B, Jansen A, et al. Pulmonary abnormalities in dogs with leptospirosis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. Am. Coll. Vet. Intern. Med. [Internet]. 2010;24:1277–82. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20738768 Picardeau M, Brenot A, Saint Girons I. First evidence for gene replacement in Leptospira spp. Inactivation of L. biflexa flaB results in non-motile mutants deficient in endoflagella. Mol. Microbiol. [Internet]. 2001;40:189–99. Available from: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0035050686partnerID=40md5=ea6dce51e08375c70cdc92eb578e74b1 Adinarayana KPS, Sravani TS, Hareesh C. A database of six eukaryotic hypothetical genes and proteins. Bioinformation. 2011;6:128–30. Hsieh W-J, Pan M-J. Identification Leptospira santarosai serovar shermani specific sequences by suppression subtractive hybridization. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. [Internet]. 2004;235:117–24. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15158270 Kanehisa M, Goto S, Kawashima S, Okuno Y, Hattori M. The KEGG resource for deciphering the genome. Nucleic Acids Res. [Internet]. 2004;32:D277–D280. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14681412 http://pfam.sanger.ac.uk/. Punta M, Coggill PC, Eberhardt RY, Mistry J, Tate J, Boursnell C, et al. The Pfam protein families database. Nucleic Acids Res. [Internet]. 2012 Jan [cited 2013 Sep 20];40(Database issue):D290–301. Available from: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3245129tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract Letunic I, Doerks T, Bork P. SMART 7: recent updates to the protein domain annotation resource. Nucleic Acids Res. [Internet]. 2011;40:D302–5. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22053084 Wilkins MR, Gasteiger E, Bairoch a, Sanchez JC, Williams KL, Appel RD, et al. Protein identification and analysis tools in the ExPASy server. Methods Mol. Biol. [Internet]. 1999 Jan;112:531–52. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10027275 Mohan R, Venugopal S. Computational structural and functional analysis of hypothetical proteins of Staphylococcus aureus. Bioinformation [Internet]. 2012 Jan;8(15):722–8. Available from: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3449381tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract Mitaku S, Hirokawa T, Tsuji T. aid in the characterization of amino acid preference at membrane – water interfaces. 2002;18(4):608–16. Lewis ACF, Saeed R, Deane CM. Predicting protein-protein interactions in the context of protein evolution. Mol. Biosyst. [Internet]. 2010;6:55–64. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20024067 Franceschini A, Szklarczyk D, Frankild S, Kuhn M, Simonovic M, Roth A, et al. STRING v9.1: protein-protein interaction networks, with increased coverage and integration. Nucleic Acids Res. [Internet]. 2013 Jan [cited 2013 Sep 17];41(Database issue):D808–15. Available from: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3531103tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract Vullo A, Marta VS. Disulfide Connectivity Prediction using Recursive Neural Networks and Evolutionary Information. :1–12. http://ps2.life.nctu.edu.tw. Chen C-C, Hwang J-K, Yang J-M. (PS)2: protein structure prediction server. Nucleic Acids Res. [Internet]. 2006 Jul 1 [cited 2013 Sep 24];34(Web Server issue):W152–7. Available from: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1538880tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract http://www.bioinformatics.leeds.ac.uk/qsitefinder. Burgoyne NJ, Jackson RM. Predicting protein interaction sites: binding hot-spots in protein-protein and protein-ligand interfaces. Bioinformatics [Internet]. 2006 Jun 1 [cited 2013 Sep 23];22(11):1335–42. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16522669 Bjellqvist B, Hughes GJ, Pasquali C, Paquet N, Ravier F, Sanchez JC, et al. The focusing positions of polypeptides in immobilized pH gradients can be predicted from their amino acid sequences. Electrophoresis [Internet]. 1993;14:1023–31. 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Monday, August 19, 2019

Biology Revisited :: essays research papers

Concepts and Methods in BiologyBiology RevisitedA. What is life?1. Experience and education refine our questions and our answers.2. Consider the meaning of "alive."3. This book is biology revisited. It will provide:a. Deeper understanding.b. A more organized level of understanding.B. To biologists, life reflects its ancient molecular origins and its degree of organization. Life is:1. A way of capturing and using energy and materials.2. A way of sensing and responding to specific changes in the environment.3. A capacity to reproduce, grow, and develop.4. Capable of evolving.I. DNA, Energy, and LifeA. Nothing Lives Without DNAl. Living and nonliving matter are composed of the same particles, operating according to laws governing energy.a. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the special molecule that sets the living world apart from the nonliving.b. DNA carries the hereditary instructions for assembly of proteins.2. Each organism is part of a reproductive continuum that extends back through countless generations.a. Each organism arises through reproduction in which DNA instructions are transmitted from parents to offspring.b. DNA also guides development of a fertilized egg into a multicelled organism.B. Nothing Lives Without Energy1. Energy, the capacity to do work, is transferred throughout the universe.2. Metabolism refers to the cell’s capacity to extract and convert energy from its surroundings and use energy to maintain itself, grow, and reproduce.a. Plants acquire energy from sunlight and transfer some of the energy into ATP.b. Underlying the assembling and tearing down of biological structures are energy transfers.3. Organisms can sense changes in the environment and make controlled responses to them.a. Receptors detect specific information about the environment.b. Special cells receive stimuli and make appropriate responses.c. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a tolerable internal environment.II. Energy and Life’s OrganizationA. Levels of Biological Organization1. The cell, composed of "biological molecules," is the basic unit of life.4. Multicelled organisms have increasingly complex levels of organization that result in tissues >>> organs >>> organ systems >>> organisms >>> populations >>> communities >>> ecosystems >>> biosphere. B. Interdependencies Among Organisms1. Energy flows from the sun.a. Plants (producers) trap this energy by photosynthesis.b. Animals (consumers) feed on the stored energy in plants, using aerobic respiration.c. Bacteria and fungi (decomposers) break down the biological molecules of other organisms in order to recycle raw materials.2. All organisms are part of webs that depend on one another for energy and raw materials.III. If So Much Unity, Why So Many Species?A. All organisms are made of the same materials and function according to the same laws of energy.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Jonathans Swifts Real Argument :: essays research papers

Jonathan's Swift's Real Argument God only knows from whence came Freud's theory of penis envy, but one of his more tame theories, that of "reverse psychology", may have its roots in the satire of the late Jonathan Swift. I do not mean to assert that Swift employed or was at all familiar with that style of persuasion, but his style is certainly comparable. Reverse psychology (as I chose to define it for this paper) means taking arguments that affirm an issue to such a degree that they seem absurd, and thus oppose the issue. Swift, in "An Argument [Against] The Abolishing Of Christianity In England" stands up for Christianity, and based on the absurdity of his defense, he inadvertently desecrates it. He sets up a fictitious society in which Christianity is disregarded and disdained, but nominal Christianity remains. The author writes to defend this nominal Christianity from abolition. The arguments that the author uses, which are common knowledge in his time, if applied to Christianity in Swift's time would be quite dangerous allegations. Indeed, the reasons that Swift gives for the preservation of the fictitious Christianity are exactly what he sees wrong with the Christianity practiced in his time. By applying Swift's satirical argument for the preservation of this fictitious religion to that which was currently practiced, Swift asserts that their Christianity served ulterior motives, both for the government and for the people. If we are to prove that the government was using religion for selfish purposes, we must be sure that it was not serving its intended purpose, the assurance of the moral sanctity of its policies. This is quite evident in the author's comment that if real Christianity was revived, it would be, "destroy at one blow all the wit and half the learning of the kingdom; to break the entire frame and constitution of things[.]" This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christianity has no influence on the government's current policies. It even seems as if the government established Church isn't completely rooted in Christianity, as the author weakly suggests that, "[A]bolishing Christianity may perhaps bring the church into danger." The ways that the government actually uses Christianity are completely selfish. One such purpose is the consolation of allies, "among whom, for we ought to know, it may be the custom of the country to believe a God." He later goes on to suggest the abolition of Christianity in peace-time in order to avoid the loss of allies. It also seems as if the government uses Christianity to pacify the commoners. Although Swift sarcastically interjects, "Not that I [agree] with those who hold religion to

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Monsoon Insurance

IMPACT OF INDEX MONSOON INSURANCE IN INDIA Literature review †¢AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE IN INDIA-A PERSPECTIVE By Dr. A. Amarender Reddy Scientist (Agricultural Economics) Indian Institute of Pulses Research, com/about-kanpur/" class="ilgen">Kanpur-208024. Abstract Background the paper reviewed the innovative techniques in agricultural/rural insurance, which overcome some of the disadvantages of yield based group insurance and suggests rainfall (weather) index insurance as a better alternative/complement to the existing agricultural insurance scheme.The weather (rainfall) index based insurance is also more compatible with reinsurance practices worldwide, which make primary insurers to cover their local/regional risks by reinsuring themselves with international reinsures. †¢Agriculture & Rural Development Working Paper 9 Innovative Financial Services for Rural India Monsoon-Indexed Lending and Insurance for Smallholders Ulrich Hess The World Bank Agricultural and Rural Dev elopment Department Abstract This paper was prepared by Ulrich Hess.It draws extensively from author’s work on weather insurance and rural finance in India and Morocco †¢Townsend, and James Vickery, Barriers to Household Risk Management: Evidence from India,† Harvard Business School Working Paper, 2010, 09 (116). Abstract What types of households buy index insurance? What factors prevent the remaining households from participating? And does the purchase of index insurance result in more efficient risk taking? †¢Rainfall Index Insurance in India Daniel Stein Dissertation submitted to the Department of Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics atThe London School of Economics and Political Science September 2011 Abstract This thesis provides three works which each contribute to understanding of the promising yet struggling market for rainfall index insurance in India Findings of the study †¢Post impact of monsoon index insurance in stabi lisation of farmer’s income. †¢Comparison of growth between states having index monsoon insurance with the states without monsoon insurance †¢Overall economic development of Indian economy due to index monsoon insurance †¢Penetration of monsoon insurance in India. Purpose of the research (or rationale for the study)For the rural poor in India, formal financial services would enable them to maximize returns on their surplus, smooth their consumption, and reduce their vulnerability to risk. However, their financial service needs—which include consumption credit and cash savings are seldom met due to systemic problems in the financial sector and monsoon risk. In 1991, a comprehensive household survey addressing rural access to finance revealed that barely one-sixth of rural households had loans from formal rural finance institutions (RFIs). Beyond credit, most of the rural poor also lack access to the banking system for savings.Farmers respond to the lack o f formal financial services by turning to moneylenders; reducing inputs in Farming; over capitalizing and internalizing risk; and/or by over diversifying their activities which leads to sub-optimal asset allocation. The combined effect of these coping strategies is a poverty trap. Smallholders cannot risk investing in fixed capital or concentrating on the most profitable activities and crops, because they cannot leverage the start-up capital and they face systemic risks that could wipe out their livelihoods at any point in time.The challenge for banks is to innovate a low-cost way of reaching farmers and helping them better manage risk . Agricultural activity is inherently risky due to pest or disease-induced harvest failure, price volatility in commodities markets, or extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods. Smoothing consumption across years or seasons is a significant challenge for agrarian households in developing countries. Parchure (2002) estimated that in India ab out 90% of variation in crop production levels is caused by variation in rainfall levels.In response to these problems, innovative index-based weather insurance was developed, in which the payment schemes are based on an exogenous publically observable index, namely local rainfall. This mitigates problems such as moral hazard and adverse selection and eliminates the need for in-field assessments, lowering the cost of providing insurance. The purpose is to study the effect of insurance in the farmer’s income and how insurance helps in agriculture risk mitigation in Indian context.Coverage for crops and also schemes pertaining to monsoon insurance are also studied and its penetration in Indian market. Aim To study economic development due to monsoon insurance 1. Objectives †¢To study the effect of insurance in the farmers income †¢How insurance helps in agriculture risk mitigation in Indian context †¢To study coverage for crops and also schemes pertaining to mons oon insurance †¢To study Overall economic development of Indian economy due to index monsoon insurance †¢To compare and study agricultural growth pre and post effect implications of monsoon insurance in Indian economyHypothesis (or key questions) Index monsoon insurance has overall created a positive impact on Indian economy. Research Methodology Stage 1 Literature Research A comprehensive review of the relevant literature including a computer assisted search will be Undertaken in order to develop an understanding of previous work related to index monsoon insurance. Stage 2 descriptive research Review of literature in the field of agriculture and insurance to understand the growth of both the fields Stage 3 article researchEffect of insurance is studied by reviewing different articles and case studies related to monsoon insurance impact on specifies states which are more exposed to extreme climatic conditions Stage 4 statistics research A review of current as well as past statistics related to agricultural sector to analyse the trend Stage 5: Writing Up This stage involves writing up the content of the dissertation and should cover their chapters proposed Proposed Contents of the dissertation 1. Introduction 2. Agricultural sector and its challenges 3. Index monsoon insurance and its different schemes 4. Theoretical Framework of the study . Implications of monsoon index insurance 6. Interpretation and conclusion 7. Bibliography Work Plan/Diary First and second week -Review of Literature Second and third week- case study research Next 2 weeks- analysing the statistics Next 4 weeks – interpretation of statistics Next 2 weeks- collecting information from experts in the field of insurance Next 2 weeks – writing up the case study Next 2 weeks – Submission of soft copy for approval http://www. cirm. in/events/agriculture-index-insurance-conference-2012 -imp http://www. cgap. org/blog/lessons-india-weather-insurance-small-farmers

The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating Essay

We have all heard the expressions â€Å"you are what you eat† and â€Å"an apple a day keeps the doctor away.† Turns out these expressions hold more truth than we’d probably like to admit. With so many delectably refined, enriched, neon colored, pseudo foods out there, our brains are more confused than ever before. Today, food is specifically formulated to hit all the right spots on our tongues; also, its being reinforced with chemical additives that stimulate our appetites through receptors in our brain, much like opiates. Then, its all wrapped up in carefully designed, brightly colored packaging, so how could we resist? Not to mention this food is cheap! If you’re on a budget you might be in the crosshairs of the mean machine I’m calling modern food. It’s getting increasingly difficult to see past all the pizzazz, and divert our attention back to plain old, dingy apples, or murky green spinach. I’d like to spill the beans, so to spea k, about how I came to believe that modern food is deceiving us and exploiting our weaknesses. Before I had my children I was aware, to some extent, that the food I was attracted to, and ate regularly wasn’t the best. It can be very difficult to weed out the ‘bad eggs’ of the bountiful grocery store shelves. A pivotal point in my nutritional pilgrimage was when I found out I was carrying my first son. I started reading about nutrition and learning how the systems of the body digest and use the foods we eat. I began by reading articles on the Weston A. Price Foundation website, whose proclamation is: â€Å"Restoring nutrient-dense foods to the American diet through education, research and activism.† I learned that I had an opinion about nutrition, and that I didn’t agree with a lot of the guidelines set for us. I discovered that the largest section on the American Food Pyramid, reserved for 6-11 servings, belonged to grains. Eating this quantity of any one type of food each day is alarming in itself. I decided to look into the topic of grains i n particular. I read the book â€Å"Wheat Belly† by author, William Davis, a renowned cardiologist who noticed the adverse effects that modern day wheat is reaping on our bodies. This book is an alarming read. It basically states that modern wheat is actually a product of genetic tinkering and agribusiness and not the wheat our grandparents ate. This â€Å"wheat† is highly toxic and should be completely removed from our diets. I  decided to use this new perspective of food to my advantage, and ultimately to the benefit of the bun I had in my oven. With all this nutritional information and a baby on the way, I could no longer deny that I needed to change my diet. Even still, I would have never guessed how difficult this change would be. I was about to be served a huge slice of humble pie. It would seem that modern agriculture and big business did not want me to know what was in my food. Standing in the grocery store isles reading the back of packages was tedious, but crucial. I practically had to learn a new vocabulary to dissect the 15 letter terms on the ingredient lists. I must have missed the lesson in school on Mono- and Diglycerides: The most common emulsifiers, and Xanthan Gum: The most common stabilizer and thickener. Since these ingredients are abundant in prepared foods, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to throw them a bone early on, with a lesson on additives. Can you imagine a nursary rhyme filled with words like Thiamin Mononitrate, Benzoate, and Hexametaphosphate? The story of Hansel and Gretel stumblin g upon a house made of Monosodium Glutamate. The Cookie Monster chomping down on some yummy, crunchy, calcium chloride. This brings me to my next bone of contention with modern food, one that has become especially prevalent in teaching my children proper nutrition. Why is it necessary to dress up the boxes of terrible foods with cartoons my children recognize? It feels slightly like an ambush to me. It’s come to the point where taking my kids to the store has become dreadful because every turn they want Dora this, and Spongebob that. The natural, instinctive attraction to healthy foods is being ripped from our children as a result of targeting and over marketing. That adorable rabbit on the box of cereal is pulling more Trix on me than I would have ever guessed. Amply informed, we decided to change our eating habits as a family. We started full force, because lets face it, there is no easing into a change like this. I gathered my groceries and we began our health experiment. We didn’t consume any gluten, we amped up our fats, we ate tons of meat and dairy, and we plied on the fruits and vegetables. I got creative with snacks and meal plans to keep from feeling repetitive. The first few weeks  were hard; I’d pick up a cracker, and right when I’d go to take a bite, I’d realize that I wasn’t supposed have it, so I’d put it back. Although, there were many more times that I would actually take a bite, and then end up having to abort that mouthful, mid-chew. With all big adjustments, the beginning is the hardest. Days went by, then weeks, and this became less of a stumbling block and more second nature. Beginning this endeavor with hopes of avoiding certain substances, we didn’t anticipate the other benefits that would ensue. We showed noticeable weight loss, increased stamina and energy, mind clarity, and drastically improved digestive function. We might as well have hit the wellbeing jackpot. Our pocketbooks, however, would reflect a significantly less profitable state. We were learning just how expensive keeping stocked on perishables, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy could be. This is where, I believe, the American food system has deeply failed us. You can buy an overflowing cart of prepared foods for about $100 and have it last over a week, but the same amount of healthy food would cost well over $200, and possibly last that long. Why should the low income families be forced into buying imitation food? We all know that this is more than an epidemic in America, where every year more people die from diet related complications than car crashes, alcoholism, and dr ug use combined. Children are being born with new age conditions. Childhood obesity and diabetes has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. How could that not be diet related? It is almost inconceivable that there could be such a simple fix to these enormous problems. It doesn’t involve depriving ourselves of delicious foods, its more about avoiding toxic chemicals and genetically engineered ingredients hiding in our food. Whether it is an obvious, 15 letter ingredient like those mentioned previously, or a seemingly innocent grain, like the toxic GMO wheat; We need to understand what we are consuming and ultimately nourishing our bodies with. There is an expression I like that does a good job summing up, â€Å"You can be well fed and malnourished at the same time.†

Friday, August 16, 2019

Essay on Once More to the Lake

An Analysis of E. B Whites, â€Å"Once More to the Lake† In E. B Whites essay, â€Å"Once More to the Lake† he reflects on his summer outing with his son. Throughout the trip, memories of his childhood, long forgotten, resurface themselves as he experiences the same vacation with his own son. These memories create in him a feeling as if time has not changed and that he is reliving his old days. His father used to take him to the same camping spot as a boy.He was certain that there would be changes since then, but on arrival his senses are awakened and old feelings revived as he takes in the unchanged sights, sounds, and smells of the peaceful lake in Maine. The overall theme of this story is the acceptance of aging and the passing of time. The passage of time throughout the story has a relentless hold on White, he struggles throughout as reality becomes harder and harder for him to grasp. The author incorporates many literary devices which add to his overall vivid descr iptions and comparisons, a few which include: imagery, tone, and symbolism.By these techniques the narrator is able to set the reader’s imagination on fire! Throughout this literary work detailed comparisons are blended in as he remembers his own vacation to the lake as a young boy. These comparisons make it hard for him to face the fact that he has aged very much since that time. The feelings and emotions these reincarnated memories create bring about sensations of a â€Å"dual existence† (25) in White. The narrators detailed diction in describing these emotions and senses that are being brought back and relived, arouse similar feelings in the reader.It makes us empathize for the now, grown man. He remembers such things as the smell of his bedroom, â€Å"picking up a bait box, or a table fork† (25), as well as many other intricate details. Everything seems to bring him back to the cherished memories he had stored for so many years of him camping on the lake wit h his own father. The imagery used in the essay enhances the overall experience. Another important technique which adds to this story is how the author meticulously compares the past with the present. For the duration of the story White repeats the same phrase, â€Å"there has been no years† (25, 26).He feels as if time is at a standstill. The tone that the speaker incorporates, works to bring out deep emotions in the reader. We feel for him as he describes this, â€Å"utterly enchanted sea† (26). The reverence he has for the, â€Å"peace, and goodness, and jollity† (27) of this special place reveals itself in multiple occasions of the story. He upholds this seemingly sanctuary in the utmost respect as it holds the memories of him and his father. In the course of time, this dwelling place of remembrance will rebirth into future generations.Something’s that have changed about the place, bring white back to the reality of time and aging. He speaks of how he came upon an old path used by horse drawn carriages back in his day, it used to have three tracks, but now that the automobile was invented only two were seem, etched in the dirt, tire tracks from the cars passing to and from. He states that for a moment he, â€Å"missed terribly the middle alternative† (26). Although this actuality is brought up, White pushes it aside and adopts his dual existence willingly.He continues to imagine that he is his father, and his son, is in fact him, he states, â€Å"which was I, the one walking at my side, the one walking in my pants† (28). White notices another difference, in this otherwise, so familiar place, it was the sound of outboard motors, â€Å"unfamiliar nervous sound† (27). They are sounds that bring him out of his dream world; he is distraught over these changes. This makes us believe that the very thought of these dissimilarities were unbearable for him to cope with. He was in denial of the fact that time had passe d.The symbolism used in this essay is brought about in a clear manner when White describes the thunderstorm. This storm is used to represent a sort of rebirth. The rain comes and there is a sudden sense that there is a, â€Å"return of light, and hope, and spirits† (29). At this point he begins to see the trip in a whole new perspective or â€Å"light† (29). He is hit with a sudden realization that though everything seems just the same, he can make the connection that this is a new generation and new memories are soon to be fabricated, â€Å"linking the generations in a strong, indestructible chain† (29).In the end he is forced to face the absoluteness of time. As he watches his son slip into his cold, wet swimming trunks he once again imagines it is himself then he is suddenly hit with a, â€Å"chill of death† (29). He realizes that switching places with his father also means he is going to die. He is brought to the fact that much time has passed. This l eads to his concluding acceptance of his own mortality. He wanted so dearly to hold onto the memories of old and never acknowledge the fact that the times had changed, yet deep down he knew that this would be impossible.In the end White embraced the process of aging and found the good that could stem from it; but it was clear that throughout the narrative the overall theme was his struggle in the acceptance of aging and the passing of time. He concludes that eventually he can use these memories and experiences to connect with future generations of his son, and furthermore his son’s son. He did not have to hold onto the false idea that aging was a curse but he was able to let go and take it as more of a blessing.He would be able to pass these memories on for years and years to come. People should certainly accept the fact that everyone ages and time goes by quick. Every new moment counts and wonderful memories, experiences, and also wisdom can ultimately be cherished and passe d on to further generations of people through these durations of time. Abraham Lincoln once said, â€Å"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years†, this quote rings true in the inspirational story, â€Å"Once More to the Lake†.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Microsoft: An Overview

There are many factors that must be considered when â€Å"scoping† out a company for a potential merger or acquisition. I being the CEO of a major competitive software manufacturing company look for many things. Things such as strategic planning, financial performance, technological advances and marketing opportunities are just some of the factors that must be looked at when considering another company for acquisition. In this case, Microsoft Corporation is our target. I will be examining the above-mentioned factors before making my decision on whether or not an acquisition will be feasible. Microsoft Corporation was founded in 1975 by William H. Gates III. The company, which was inspired by Gates, had a vision of computers powered by software developed by the company being a way of life. The goal was to integrate computers into people†s everyday lives. The company started out in Gates† garage with primitive technology and unlimited aspiration. Today the company has grown to be the world†s number one software developer and manufacturer. The company offers a very diverse line of products ranging from home user applications to high tech business software. Microsoft develops and manufactures a full line of games, web publishing, and most importantly, it†s number one piece of software, Windows 2000 and ever-popular Office 2000. The world basically runs on Microsoft software. The software is shipped with 70% of the world†s computers giving Microsoft a total of over 19 billion dollars in revenues for 1999. Microsoft has recently emerged in the world of Internet Service Providers (ISP†s) to become a competitor of the well-known America Online. The Microsoft Network (MSN) as it is known offers users the same advantages of the leading ISP†s while incorporating its own technology to make the online experience more user friendly and technologically advanced than the others. MSN allows users to interface their online work with their regular operating software to allow for easier web publishing, more advanced multimedia presentations, and quicker processing time. There have been many issues concerning Microsoft†s strategies. Many say that the company is only in the market to take over and monopolize. As a matter of fact, the United States Government is currently in a civil anti-trust case against the company. Evidence and criticism has been brought against them in order to try to stop them from monopolizing. In the past five years, Microsoft has made over forty acquisitions of companies of all sizes. It seems now that they are doing more investing in companies rather than taking over. Microsoft holds large investment positions in NBC, Nextel Communications, AT&T, NTL Inc. , Qwest Communications and United Pan-Europe Communications. Of course those are only the largest investment positions of 200 million dollars and over. There are many other small investment positions as well. This is just one of the strategies of the company, as a result of all of their investment positions, it allows them to increase their market share through exposure in different markets. Another strategy that Microsoft adheres to is to be the most technologically advanced software developer in the market. Microsoft has always been the leader in technology when it comes to all types of software, whether it is for home user or business. It is said that within the next few years, many people will begin to live in â€Å"smart homes. Microsoft is currently developing technology that will enable a computer to run an entire household, without the user being home! It is this type of technology that keeps Microsoft ahead of the rest of the competition. This goes hand in hand with the expected $3. 8 billion expected investment in R&D in fiscal 2000. It is no wonder why the government is trying to break up this enormous super power of a company! A critical strategy that Microsoft is part of is immense globalization. Microsoft has marketing locations in over 73 countries worldwide. This is a big part of Microsoft†s strategy because it allows them to gain exposure all over the world, which will influence businesses and homes all over the world to become part of the Microsoft network of software. Financially Microsoft has always been a top performer. Since the company went public in March of 1986, the company has grown to 325% of its original size. In fiscal year 1985, the company had a net income of $24 million, as of fourth quarter 1999; the company had a net income of $7. 7 billion. Total stockholders equity in fiscal 99 was over $28 billion. Numbers like these are not very common in the software developing and manufacturing business. Most of Microsoft†s revenues come from Licensing Agreements. Licensing Agreements are software agreements that companies enter into with Microsoft for the permission to install and use Microsoft software in their business. When new software is available, the company has a choice to renew their lease agreement of use other software, the latter not being too wise. This brings me to the topics of competition and threats. True there is competition in the world of software, lots of it. The biggest competitor with Microsoft is a company called Red Hat. Red Hat manufactures a platform known as Linux. Linux is strictly business application software that is used by large corporations for implementing inventory systems, databases, and the like. Another source of competition comes from a company known as Novell. Novell is known for Novell Netware. This is business application software that is used mainly in financial institutions like banks and brokerage firms. This software is used for logging transactions at banks and brokerage firms, while maintaining an internal network within the company. Red Hat and Novell only occupy about forty to fifty percent of the market share combined. One should keep in mind that behind these two software platforms is Microsoft†s NT Server Client software powering the servers that allow the companies to use this software! Basically, even thought there is competition, Microsoft still is able to gain a piece of the market share by being one step ahead of its competition. A big issue for Microsoft that is becoming a growing threat to the company is Software Piracy. Software Piracy is committed by making illegal copies of the software and perhaps even selling it. This is a very common act today with the ease of using a CD burner. In fact, many businesses operate on illegal software, which in turn hurts the revenues of Microsoft. Microsoft is currently working on programs that cannot be copied to blank disks in order to protect themselves from this threat. Currently, anyone who knows where to get the software from illegal web sites can download them absolutely free. Once this software is downloaded to a hard drive, it can be written to a CD and then re-written, an infinite number of times from that one CD that was originally used. It is clear to see that this can become quite harmful if not taken care of promptly. This is especially done with businesses. However, they do buy one copy of the software from Microsoft and then copy it onto all of the computers in the office, thereby saving themselves large amounts of money. It is a proven statistic that in some companies, there exists over five hundred copies of illegal software that are being used in normal business operation. It is easy to see how this can create a loss for Microsoft, no doubt that this problem will be resolved in the future. Another threat to Microsoft as I mentioned before is the ongoing Anti-trust case that is currently pending. In this case, the government is trying to break up Microsoft into perhaps a number of smaller companies, which would allow for more competition to enter the market. Bill gates sees this as a better opportunity to further diversify the line of product that Microsoft delivers. This will actually give Microsoft a better chance to scope out different markets and perhaps develop new products for PC†s and businesses that will better enable other countries to prosper. As the CEO of my firm, I have a very involved decision to make. I feel that the wisest decision would be to not acquire Microsoft. Microsoft is a company that is a pioneer of software and is fully established and in order to be able to take them over, my company needs to be able to continue what Microsoft started. My company does not have the type of funds to be able to take over Microsoft, nor do we have the market cap to cover a stock for stock purchase. However, there is one consideration that I may make, that is, to form a joint venture with Microsoft. I feel that this will benefit us both in many ways. First, our technology can be combined in order to make the worlds top software developer and manufacturer that will occupy every sector of the software industry. Our manufacturing plants can be consolidated and re-structured to cut costs, wile adapting to manufacture the new software line that my company would introduce. Our management team can be re-structured as well so that strategic planning and decision-making will better implement our new ideas and technological advances. Finally, our market share will be greatly increased because of the ability to be exposed to countries that we are not currently involved in. I feel that a combination of our companies would be probably the most beneficial event that could occur in my company. Microsoft has proven itself to be the number one software company in the world; together we would be unstoppable. One problem with this joint venture would be the matter with the pending Anti-Trust case, which would probably be further fueled by this joint venture. Whatever the outcome of the case, which by the way seems to be nearing a settlement, I feel that the newly formed company will be the best thing that has happened in software since 1975.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

School leadership and social justice: Evidence from Ghana and Tanzania

This paper will be a critical analysis of the quality and rightness of the methods of informations aggregation and analysis in the paper produced by Bosu et Al. ( 2011 ) . I will try to supply with logical thinking, an apprehension for the grounds of the methods used in the instance surveies analysed and do usage of literature to supply back uping and opposing positions on the informations aggregation methods every bit good as its analysis. The context of the paper is set in the African states of Ghana and Tanzania, both considered 'emerging and developing economic systems ‘ harmonizing to the International Monetary Fund ( IMF, 2010, p. 152 ) . Three instance surveies are scrutinised, each with the subject of educational leading with undertones of societal justness nevertheless it is non clear what the aims of the research workers are, which is critical in a instance survey due to their being â€Å" wide in nature † ( Best, 2010a, p. 1 ) . Each was an explanatory instance survey, look intoing the consequences of determinations made by school leaders based upon informations collected utilizing an etic attack. In each instance survey there is a reappraisal of an action research run, where the facilitator was the caput instructor of a school. Two of the caput instructors, both from Ghana, attended an action research workshop where they were introduced to research techniques, there is no reference of the history of the Tanzanian caput instructor, or if they had received similar preparation. There is no lucidity of the research workers focus, be it the difference that go toing the workshop makes to the effectivity of action research, the difference caused by lodgers or merely the end point of changing methods of action research. At this occasion I shall try to reexamine the informations aggregation methods of each single instance survey, reasoning by reexamining the informations aggregation by the research workers, of the paper as a whole. Case Study: School A – Gold coast This instance survey had the focal point of trying to cut down adolescent gestations of members of the school in inquiry. To accomplish this, the caput teacher attempted to derive information from the community. There is clear grounds of the usage of interview techniques, notably the caput teacher keeping a ‘discussion ‘ with the PTA which was a focus-group interview. A focal point group interview does look allow in this instance as they are designed to â€Å" explicate and understand, the significances, feelings, beliefs and attitudes that influence the behavior of persons who are assumed to portion a common civilization, job or issue † ( Best, 2010b, p. 23 ) which in this instance seems to be pertinent despite a deficiency of information as to who is invited to the PTA and if they do hold a cognition of the country to be discussed. Maxwell ( 1997 ) explains the importance of purposive trying – of which this is grounds – saying â€Å" peculiar scene s, individuals, or events are intentionally selected for the of import information they can supply that can non be gotten every bit good from other picks † ( p. 87 ) . There is no clear indicant of the construction, although utilizing the word treatment, one could determine that the signifier of an in-depth interview was taken where the caput instructor had compiled a list of the issues to be covered and the interview construction was of a guided conversation. The proclamation of progressive betterment in footings of Numberss of gestations, and in reading accomplishments by the caput instructor was followed by a announcement that the intercession was a success. There is besides an indirect suggestion by the research workers that all communities and schools can work collaboratively facilitated by the caput instructor to turn to societal justness jobs. This is clearly grounds of a authoritative characteristic of the literature and observations of school betterment, as evidenced by Coe ( 2009, p. 368 ) , with instructors frequently declaring: ‘My school was neglecting in A, B, C ways. We did X, Y, Z. Now the grounds of success is P, Q, R ‘ Coe warns against doing summing ups that what is observed in one school may needfully be true for another ( ibid. ) Case Study: School B – Gold coast This instance surveies focus was that of trying to cut down hookies of students who on market yearss absented from school to do money. Harmonizing to the baseline informations collected by the caput instructor, utilizing quantitative informations beginnings such as registries and text books, there was a clear group of male childs identified with low attendings and hapless public presentation, this is an illustration of secondary analysis, which harmonizing to Lewis ( 2003, p. 76 ) is analyzing a set of informations which was originally used for one intent with a different intent. There was a meeting between the caput instructor and a instructor to make up one's mind upon an intercession, there is no reference of the format of this meeting or how the format of the intercession was taken. It was concluded that a focal point group interview with the students followed by single interviews. The quality of this information is arguably high, harmonizing to Best ( 2010b, p. 23 ) the group in terview can potentially supply ‘deeper and richer ‘ informations due to the societal interaction and inquiring of the group members. As with School A this is grounds of purposive sampling. The usage of single interviews besides allows for personal issues to be expressed, which participants may experience uncomfortable with showing in the group environment. This is grounds of usage of method triangulation in that the caput teacher used two different informations aggregation methods on the same group of students in order to increase the cogency of the informations. An chance to roll up farther information arose from the meetings with the parents, enabling the caput instructor to foreground a group of three students every bit high hazard due to parental indifference with respect to their kids ‘s instruction. The intent of these meetings were clearly to educate the parents, nevertheless it seems unintentionally critical information has come from them. Due to the intercession the caput instructor provided informations for attending as being 100 % , with increased degrees in mathematics and English, collected from monthly trials. The quality of these trials could be questioned every bit good as the instruction methods used as there is no information provided. One could oppugn if these kids were taught specifically to execute in trials. The caput instructor took this farther roll uping informations on six of the male childs after graduation to junior high school ; the consequences harmonizing to the research workers were sustained. Case Study: School C – Tanzania The instance of the Tanzanian caput teacher differed from the old instances due to the deficiency of history in relation to their experience in action research. The caput instructor, look intoing the consequence of poorness and hard place environments on the schooling of the students, attempted to reply some inquiries. The caput teacher ‘sought information ‘ from instructors, the format of which is unspecified, nevertheless due to the anterior readying and clear apprehension of the inquiries needed replying it could be suggested that there was an interview, utilizing a structured or semi-structured method. In add-on informations was collected from quantitative beginnings including, day-to-day attending records and trial and scrutiny consequences, every bit good as qualitative beginnings like category assignments and prep. In uniting multiple methods a research worker must be cognizant of equilibrating differing theoretical backgrounds with any ascertained relationships be tween the informations sets ( Brannen, 1992, p. 33 ) . It is the position of Ritchie ( 2003, p. 38 ) that there can be benefit in tackling the two methods provided that the two informations sets can be described exactly. There may be biographical histories within the category assignments or the prep which can supply critical information and â€Å" sensitise a research worker to identify issues † ( Plummer, 2001, p. 130 ) . This is supported by Angell and Freedman ( 1953 ) who explain that this signifier of information has great value at the get downing phases of research instead than the terminal stages in order to derive an apprehension of an probe, which is reflected in the methodological analysis of this instance survey. They emphasise the value of the apprehension that this type of informations can supply with regard to the topic of probe ( p. 305 ) . Harmonizing to Best ( 2010c ) the dependability of this attack is questionable nevertheless utilizing a theoretical generalization the informations can be used to beef up the cogency of a chosen theory or in this instance the signifier of an intercession ( p. 5 ) . It is of import at this phase to underscore the obvious ethical issues in this instance, ab initio due to the nature of the survey, look intoing students personal lives, and secondly due to the aggregation of the biographical information of students. Interviews were held with the students separately, presumptively utilizing the same set of inquiries. If this was the instance it would be grounds of usage of informations triangulation by the research worker, in that the same informations aggregation method was used on legion respondents in an effort to increase cogency of the consequences. All students insisted they enjoyed school and they felt that they could â€Å" freely show their jobs to instructors who were comparatively more caring and considerate than many of their parents and defenders † ( p. 75 ) . One could oppugn nevertheless if the responses were wholly true due to the nature of the relationship between the students and the caput instructor and if the students would supply different responses to a alien. There is grounds to propose that interviewees are more willing to supply true replies to aliens, although this statement relates specifically to online scenes instead than in face to confront interviews ( Paine et al. , 2007, p. 533 ; Nguyen and Alexander, 1996, p. 104 ; Wellman and Gulia, 1999, p. 172 & A ; 178 ) . Harrison ( 2008, p. forty ) highlights the importance of the ‘subjective ‘ nature of informations aggregation every bit good as how the relationship between the research worker and participant may ‘impinge ‘ on its cogency. An intercession similar to that in School A was held, with fluctuating consequences, with students neglecting to go to and execute good in monthly trials. There is a clear contrast from the consequences of the old instance surveies, nevertheless due to the nature of the description of the instance surveies it is ill-defined what the cause of assortment in consequences is. The research workers attempt to salve some sense of achievement by underscoring the sense of authorization of the caput instructor, where due to the fortunes, it would be probably that many would experience helpless. Provided is no grounds of the authorization of the caput instructor after the completion of the instance survey, every bit good as a deficiency of grounds for the innuendo that the fortunes would most likely generate a sense of weakness, taking to inquiries of the quality of informations analysis displayed in this instance. In the chief the informations analysed was qualitative, which as Harrison ( 2008 ) notes, has a different attack to analyzing quantitative informations, although there are attacks which aim to accomplish a comparable ‘routinization ‘ ( that is a modus operandi of analysis ) ( p. 51 ) . Chiefly there is the method of analyzing the construction of the text and based on Glaser and Strauss ‘ ( 1967 ) propositions, the designation of commonalties and relevant theory ( p. 105-106 ) . Evidence of usage of this methodological analysis is present with the research workers placing typical instances in each of the instance surveies, doing comparings with literature and adverting the ascertained differences between the Westernised literature and African world. Second there is the method of nonsubjective hermeneutics ( that is the survey of reading theory ) developed by Oevermann et Al. ( 1979, in Harrison, 2008, p. 51 ) . It involves the reading of the motivations behind an action, with research workers adhering to two rules ( Soeffner, 1997, p. xiv ; Harrison, 2008, p. 51 ) . The research worker should bring forth a extremely extended reading, supplying all points of position that the information may stand for nevertheless improbable, and look into the motive behind an action extensively before supplying any sentiment about the information. There is grounds that both of these rules have been neglected to some grade by the research workers ; there is a mostly unbalanced penchant towards the positives that action research has provided in these instances despite its clear failure in the survey of School C of which there is small mentioned. There is besides grounds of the informations being used to suit the statement, with a clear anterior co gnition of practise in Ghana that relates to the research carried out. Decisions Although the fact-finding attack of the research workers is by usage of instance surveies, it is besides biographical in nature as there is a clear narration produced, reflecting upon the experiences of the caput instructors. All three caput instructors participate in action research that affects them straight, harmonizing to Erben ( 1993, p. 15 ) this is good pattern for a biographical research worker ; supported by Mills ‘ statement, as explained by Best ( 2010c, p. 7 ) that frequently ‘personal jobs are public issues. ‘ It is clear that the research workers feel they have obtained critical informations from the instance surveies that strengthens their stance on action research as a method of school betterment ( p. 75-76 ) . There is clear grounds of varied interview methods including single and focus-group interviews with varying construction, with more than one method used in the instances. One could propose that the rules of method triangulation could besides use for analyzing the usage of different interview attacks. Although there is fluctuation in the method of informations aggregation, the literature suggests that there are informations aggregation methods that were non utilised in this paper, such as questionnaires, ocular analysis ( exposure, picture, being present ) , on-line interviews or usage of informations analysis package to explain qualitative informations. It could be suggested that a more complete, higher quality of informations could hold been accumulated had there been more fluctuation in the techniques used by the caput instructors in the instance surveies, inquiries can so be raised about the quality of the action research workshop. Bearing in head the context of the instance surveies, it is apprehensible that in developing states, there may non be every bit much entree to computing machines and hence electronic mail, and that people may non hold every bit much clip to pass on informations aggregation because of a demand to be at work to do money. The information that was collected nevertheless was utile to each caput teacher, evidenced by a considered attack to each intercession warranting the information as appropriate for each instance. The decisions drawn by the research workers focus on the positives that action research offers, and the chances it offers, in these instances to the caput instructors, schools and communities ( p. 75-76 ) . The writers nevertheless are involved in the administration at the caput of the undertaking which has hereafter purposes to supply service in developing states ( p. 69-70 ) . The quality of the analysis is besides questionable, Harrison ( 2008 ) high spots two attacks to analyzing qualitative informations, and the research workers have merely displayed grounds of the usage of one of these. Although the intent of the probe clearly has value, covering with issues of societal justness, one could presume that the writers have non taken a entirely humanistic attack. Due to their engagement and the wholly affirmatory nature of the decisions drawn, it is right to oppugn the objectiveness of the research workers as there may be an component of politically oriented rating evident ( Best, 2 010d, p. 1-2 ) .