Essay on The Salem Witch Trials - 2608 Words

The Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witchcraft trials in Massachusetts during 1692 resulted in nineteen innocent men and women being hanged, one man pressed to death, and in the deaths of more than seventeen who died in jail. It all began at the end of 1691 when a few girls in the town began to experiment with magic by gathering around a crystal ball to try to find the answer to questions such as what trade their sweet harts should be of . This conjuring took place in the Parris household where a woman named Tituba, an Indian slave, headed the rituals. Soon after they had begun to practice these rituals, girls who had been involved, including the Master Parris daughter and niece, became sick. They had constant fits, twitched,†¦show more content†¦Tituba, like Good, was very poor. She worked as a servant in the Parris home and was a Carib Indian born in Barbados in the West Indies. Reverend Parris brought Tituba to New England when he was still a merchant, and after this she married John Indian who also worked as slave for Reverend Parris. Tituba was the person asked to aid with the girls illnesses by making a witchs cake to find their culprit and after this did not work, she was arrested four days later for being a witch herself. Each of these three women was examined by local Salem officials before they were sent off to await trial in a Boston jail. The girls, who these witches had supposedly inflicted sickness upon, were also present during these trials to show the court how much pain the three women had caused. During the trial Sarah Good kept insisting that she was not guilty but rather that she had been wrongly accused. When asked why she hurts the innocent children she responded, I do not hurt them. I scorn it. Then, she attempted to shift all blame onto Sarah Osborne who in turn responded with disbelief. She said that she was more like to be bewitched than she was a witch. While Good and Osborne were trying to defend themselves, Tituba confessed, most likely in fear of her Master, Reverend Parris. When asked who was to blame for all the possessed girls she responded, The devil for aught I know. Tituba told the wholeShow MoreRelatedSalem Witch Trials And The Witch Trial1494 Words   |  6 PagesFirst of all, I wanted to talk about what Salem Witch Trial is and who are the persons involve in this event. Salem Witch Trials, according to Encyclopedia Britannica is â€Å"A series of investigations and persecutions that caused 19 convicted â€Å"witches† to be hanged and many other many suspects to be imprisoned in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.† There are many people involve in Salem Witch Trials and I’ll be going to describe their role in this event, followed by the different case studiesRead MoreSalem Witch Trials And The Witch Trial Essay2225 Words   |  9 Pagesaccused of witchcraft in Salem Village, Massachuset ts, many more died in jail, and around 200 people total were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Records from the event indicate that the Salem Witch Trials started when a group of young girls began acting strange, claiming they had been possessed by the Devil and bewitched by local villagers. The Salem Witch Trials is a much debated event; historians argue over the motivation and causes behind the trials and executions, not overRead MoreThe Trial Of The Salem Witch Trials905 Words   |  4 PagesI. Introduction In January 1692, when a group of juvenile girls began to display bizarre behavior, the tight-knit Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts couldn’t explain the unusual afflictions and came to a conclusion. Witches had invaded Salem. This was the beginning of a period of mass hysteria known as The Salem Witch Trials. Hundreds of people were falsely accused of witchcraft and many paid the ultimate price of death. Nineteen people were hung, one was pressed to death, and as many asRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials691 Words   |  3 Pageswere the Salem Witch Trials? The Trials happened in 1692 in Puritan Massachusetts, in a town called Salem. Nineteen men and women were hanged on grounds of practicing dark magic and making a pact with Satan (in other words, for being witches). Hundreds of people were imprisoned; several died there. Additionally, one man (of over seventy years!) was crushed to death with heavy stones and the lives of many were irrevocably changed. (Salem Witch Museum) IQ #2- How and why did the Salem WitchRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials were a prime part of American history during the early 17th century. During this time, religion was the prime focus and way of life within colonies. This was especially true for the Puritan way of life. Puritans first came to America in hopes of practicing Christianity their own way, to the purest form. The Puritans were fundamentalists who believed every word transcribed in the Bible by God was to be followed exactly for what it was. The idea of the devil controlling a womanRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials1866 Words   |  8 Pagessurrounding the cause of the Salem Witch Trials 1692 makes the topic captivating as many historian perspectives offer explanations for the causation of the trials, yet the personal context of each historian has determined its historic reliability. This questions the level of objectivity each historian has in their responses to the Trials. The aims and purposes of a historian, as well as their differing methodologies may alter the approach the have towards the investigation of the Trials. Many interpretationsRead MoreThe Trials Of Salem Witch Trials Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesThe notorious witch trials in Salem began in Spring of 1692. This started after a young group of girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, professed they were possessed by the devil. These young girls even went as far as accusing some local women of practicing witchcraft. As a frenzy spreaded throughout colonial Massachusetts, a specific court was summoned to hear cases. Bridget Bishop was the first convicted witch and she was hung in that June following her trial. Eighteen other people followed BishopRead MoreThe Trials Of The Salem Witch Trials1635 Words   |  7 Pagesovercome was the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials occurred in 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts. â€Å"More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft – the Devil’s magic – and 20 were executed† as detailed by Jess Blumberg on the web article A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials (Blumberg 2007). The trials had a major impact on the American society and the effects could be seen in colonial America as well as today. Why did the injustice of the Salam Witch Trials occur and whyRead MoreThe Trials Of Salem Witch Trials1069 Words   |  5 PagesEven though the Salem witch trials were made to seem formal, they were actually subjective and not based on fact. Since there were multiple people being accused of witchcraft, the trials were short and quick to sentence. The witch trials lasted less than a year. The first arrests were made on March 1, 1692, and the final hanging day was September 22, 1692. The Court of Oyer and Terminer was dissolved in October of 1692. The Salem Witch Trials occurred in the spring of 1692, when a groupRead MoreSalem Witch Trials And Trials1320 Words   |  6 PagesSalem Witch Trials was a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in the Salem Village of the 17th century New England. The trials caused executions of many people but mostly women. Salem Witch Trials exposed the different roles men and women were supposed to play during the seventeenth century. Women were supposed to take on â€Å"wifely duties† such as, be mothers and housewives. Women were thought to follow the men. The trials also revealed that there were strict religious

marriage as a universal cultural trait - 4265 Words

INTRODUCTION Marriage is a latin word which mean to connect two opposite sexes for the basic human needs. There are two types of sexual relationship, one is matting, the other is marriage.The former is commonly exist among animals and the later is among men and women.we may say that animal mates’ but man marries.Mating is biological but marriage is social affair.It means that marriage is a socially sanctionted union of one or more men with one or more women in the relationship of husband and wife.On the other hand matting is between unmarried couples and is not approved by many societies. Therefore marriage is a legalized relationship but the sexual relation is consider only a part of marriage.It has many causes for example, the†¦show more content†¦However, these forms of marriage are extremely rare. Of the 250 societies reported by the American anthropologist George P. Murdock in 1949, only the Caingang of Brazil had any group marriages at all. Various marriage practices have existed throughout the world. In some societies an individual is limited to being in one such couple at a time (monogamy), while other cultures allow a male to have more than one wife (polygyny) or, less commonly, a female to have more than one husband (polyandry). Some societies also allow marriage between two males or two females. Societies frequently have other restrictions on marriage based on the ages of the participants, pre-existing kinship, and membership in religious or other social groups. Marriage has been around for thousands of years and even existed among Hunter/gathering peoples. However, the modern understanding of what it means to be married (I.e. love, monogamy, partnership) are mostly constructs of our Christian past. Marriage was and in some cases still is used as a way to forge relationships/alliances between two groups. For example, one tribe will send their daughter to marry another tribes son, because of that these two tribes now have a connection and a vested interest inShow MoreRelatedCultural Universal Characteristics Essay878 Words   |  4 Pagestogether and create a society we begin making traits that soon will define the society in which we made. However, there are two basic types of traits that form when a society is created. First is the cultural universal trait(s) which are common features of human behavior that can be found in virtually all societies. The second is culturally specific traits which are traits that form in a society that are uni que to that specific society. Of course there are traits that lie on the border line of these twoRead MoreMorality Essay565 Words   |  3 Pagesones behavior which is deemed moral or immoral is dependent upon cultural norms. Her argument is as such: 1. Different cultures have radically different moral codes 2. There are no objective moral principles i.e. all moral principles are culturally relative Rachels, a professor at the University of Alabama (Pojman 375) disagrees with Benedict and believes that morality is not relative. Furthermore he holds Benedicts Cultural differences argument to be invalid. One who sides with BendedictRead MoreMorgan and Tyler1099 Words   |  5 PagesThe evolutionistic theory refers to the biological concept of progress and development. The theory states that organisms were meant to increase in complexity, and later on included cultural and social evolution by comparing primitive tribal groups to modern society, and studying how certain aspects in the tribal groups were repeated all over the continent. Edward B. Tylor and Lewis H. Morgan brought the term evolution to anthropology, which makes them crucial to the growth and improvement of anthropologyRead MoreEssay about A Closer Look at Sociological Theories1450 Words   |  6 Pagesthe way of life of a people. Cultural theories are thus tools that give understanding to values, codes, norms discourses, ideologies and pathologies. Theory offers a model of influence through which culture exerts on social life and social structures. Theories play a role in the provision of stability, opportunity and so lidarity or as in this article means to understand and resolve conflict (Burton et al.). This writing focuses on sociological theories in the cultural setting of Jena in LouisianaRead MoreFairy Tales And Folk Stories1668 Words   |  7 Pages but the portrayal of a good woman as a passive, beautiful girl waiting for your prince to arrive has changed. The story presents â€Å"idealizations which reflect culture’s approval, make the female’s choice of marriage commendable, indeed predestined† (Rowe 239). This is not to say that marriage is a bad choice for women, but that the way the female character’s main goals being solely romantic perpetuates stereotypical gender roles and limits women with this feminine expectation. This simplified portrayalRead MoreTruth Is Culturally Relative1639 Words   |  7 Pagesto judgement and interpretation, thus, truth can only be obtained gradually, through a never ending task. This process of understanding finds its anci ent roots in Greece, in the VII-VI century B.C., when philosophy was born and the slow loss of universal certainties has started. The very first interest of philosophers was that to define the concept of Being, a wide notion that embraces objective and subjective features of reality. Throughout the philosophy of truth, objectivism and subjectivism leadRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1693 Words   |  7 Pagesthe understanding of social, historical and cultural contexts through the reflections of illicit and explicit similarities and differences in the values and attributes presented. Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice and Fay Weldon’s 1993 epistolary text Letters to Alice, both challenge the worth of their time as contexts change, but values are upheld. Weldon’s reflection on Austen’s nineteenth century environment, conveys to responders how marriage, gender roles and social class continue toRead MoreThe Vs. The Purple Crayon And The Frog King Or Iron Heinrich1723 Words   |  7 Pageswonder, are meant to teach children morals and demonstrate to them the traits they need to successfully function in society. These tales are sustained, generation after generation, in our collective consciousness as literary manifestations of our values. But to what extent is this consciousness collective? Are these morals consistent globally or do they vary from culture to culture?According to Bruno Bettelheim, morals are universal and fairy tales are the ultimate means of teaching them. However, inRead MoreWhat Is Human Nature?1735 Words   |  7 Pagesthe 18th century, the Enlightenment period was occurring. This produced two products during the time period. First, humans were able to possess a newfound understanding of general principals in which the world works. They wanted to know all about universal human nature, such as why all human beings are alike. Secondly, out of the Enlightenment, we have an intellectual ability to understand the world through science. Defined, science is an empirical methodology in which accurate descriptive data isRead MoreArguments for and Against the Practice of Arranged Marriage1701 Words   |  7 Pagesagainst the practice of Arranged Marriage According to Encyclopà ¦dia  Britannica (2009), for Indians, most marriages are arranged by family elderly based on caste, degree of cognation, financial status, education (if any), and astrology. In the article entitled â€Å"Marriage: Is love necessary?† in Little India on 2nd June 2007, Sudhir Kakar upholds the practice of arranged marriages among Indians. The article focuses on how the establishment of an arranged marriage is tantamount to the vision of love

Shangri-La Hotel Stp free essay sample

These information will be mentioned and it is used to prepare for the major business report. Retrieved from http://www. shangri-la. com/en/corporate/aboutus/overview Table of content Introduction An international hotel is the hotel that has a chain in many countries but not just in one country. To compare with the normal hotel, international hotels are easier to satisfy different customers from all over the world, because they have more experience to treat the international customers. By contrast, the major customers of normal hotel are generally domestic customers.Industry background Organization’ background In this report, the Hong Kong luxury international hotel Shangri-la will be used. The first Shangri-la hotel was built in Singapore in 1971 and gradually became the most successful hotel in Asia and can be seen in many western countries, however, their major market is in Asia. Then they set stock exchange in Hong Kong in 1995. Competitors As we all know, nowadays, the tourist industry is developing fast that many countries need more international hotels. We will write a custom essay sample on Shangri-La Hotel Stp or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Shenzhen is a seaside city, many tourist go to the beach, Sheraton is a five star holiday hotel, which means their aims are different from Shangri-la, because Shangri-la is luxury hotel but Sheraton is a resort hotel. However, they are still competitors, having different strategies. Hilton hotel is similar to Shangri-la, they are both luxury hotel and they both seated in the city centre in Shenzhen. Also in the international area they are competitors. Environment In the series of factor of environment, the factor influence Shangri-la most is the cultural, political and economic forces, which are belong to macro-environment.It is a luxury hotel so they always need to face the changing situation of economic environment, when people’s income fall, it will affect their decision for hotel when they are travelling. The reason why cultural environment will affect them a lot is that they need to satisfy different customers in other countries, for example, they should justify style of decoration to make the local customers comfortable and make the customers from different cultures feel surprise and curious. Product categories A luxury hotel focus on bringing luxury services to customers because their main products are series of services.Shangri-la hotel in Sydney , for example, they have Spa services in the hotel, which is base on Chinese Spa theory, is called Chi. They also open a romantic Blu bar at night, it is a wonderful place to have a little drink. Of course, they have the basic service of a hotel, hotel room services (Shangri-la hotel, 2010). Marketing segmentation Firstly, a organization need to know what kind of customer will use their product or services, so they need to know the marketing segmentation of their organization.For Shangri-la, a luxury hotel, their segmentation focus on socioeconomic situation which is belong to demographic environment, customers’ behavior because they always face the high class customers, the customers who let them made the most of profits. Marketing targeting After segment the market, the organization need to target a specific market, or can be called the most important market to them from the segmentation. They can use undifferentiated marketing or differentiated marketing or concentrated marketing strategy. As a famous luxury hotel, Shangri-la use the differentiated strategy to distinguis h themselves and their competitors.

The Biological Basis of Sleep

Introduction Sleep is a mental and physical state in which one becomes inactive and unconscious of the environment around him or her (Borbà ©ly, 2003). In the real sense sleep is just a partial disconnection from the world in which outside stimuli are obstructed from the senses. Normal sleep is indentified by a general reduction in most of the body functions including blood pressure, temperature, and the breathing rate. This is contrast to the human brain that never reduces in activity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Biological Basis of Sleep specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The brain is always active whenever a person is a wake or a sleep (Berger, 2007). A normal human being sleeps for eight hours. These eight hours are divided into two equal parts. The first part is the rapid eye movement, and the second is the non-rapid eye movement. The two parts form a cycle (Ishimori, 2004). The intention of this pape r is to look at the basis of sleep in relation to the biological mechanisms that cause people to sleep and stay awake. History of Sleep The history of sleep is believed to have been introduced by a psychologist professor at the University of Nagoya in Japan about one hundred years ago (Bayliss, 2006). The psychologist proposed a theory that explains the concept of sleep regulation. Kuniomi Ishimori and Heni Pieron neuroscientist state that, a hormonal chemical and not the neural network (Ishimori, 2004) cause sleep regulation. In earlier researches, researchers took some samples that were sterilized and dialyzed from dogs that had sleep then injected to the brains of the dogs that had no sleep. The dogs that received these samples fell after a short time. The scientists went ahead and took samples from normal dogs that did not have any sleep then introduced into the brains of other normal dogs without any sleep (Berger, 2007). The response showed that the recipient dogs did not slee p. This research indicated that there are substances that cause sleep known as â€Å"endogenous sleep-promoting substances.† Although the contradiction fact is that the nature of the chemical substances that caused sleep was not identified. Various research groups carried out their research and reported more than thirty endogenous sleep causing substances. In most cases, their physiological relevance was uncertain. Tokyo igakkai Zasshi from Japan published the first Ishimori’s paper entitled â€Å"true cause of sleep _ a hypogenic substance as evidenced in the brain of sleep deprived animals,† in the year 1909. Ishimori made further suggestion that when a person continuously stays a wake, it may also cause accumulation of factors that cause sleep in the brain (Borbà ©ly, 2003). Currently this is referred to as homeostatic sleep regulation. Starling and Bayliss discovered â€Å"scretin† in 1902. This is in relation with the existence of blood-borne messen gers. The new idea of hormonal control of the body functioning became quite fashionable and popular in those days.Advertising Looking for essay on biology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hans Berger a Germany neurologist in Jena invented an electroencephalogram (EEG) that records brain waves in 1920s. The discovery facilitated the qualitative and quantitative analysis of sleep. Until then, sleep was regarded as an unapproachable phenomenon mainly because it could not be explained scientifically. Kleitman and his coworkers discovered rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in Chicago. This discovery took place in the year 1953 in human beings (Bayliss, 2006). Jouvet and his group in Lyon identified that sleep is never a uniform phenomenon, and it consists of two main different stages. Sleep and wakefulness are the major complex, phenomena. Furthermore, sleep is divided into two parts: the REM and the non-REM sleep can easily be determi ned by examining the animal’s behavior (Berger, 2007). The authors suggest that it needs more accurate measurement of sleep and wake pattern by the use of the electrooculogram (EOG), the recording of the movement of the eye, EEG and (EMG) electromyogram, the recording of the tension of the muscles (Ishimori, 2004). When a normal, healthy person goes to sleep at eleven, the first step in sleeping starts with the NREM and then followed by the REM sleep. This makes a cycle in the sleeping pattern. As in the example, it all begins with the NREM that which progressively becomes deeper. It takes around four to five cycles in which one take about 90 minutes; arousal comes after the concluding REM sleep (Borbà ©ly, 2003). This principle has been in existence for a long time and yet the physiological regulatory mechanisms and the meaning have completely remained a mystery. Alexander Borbely from the Zurich University in Switzerland came up with his two famous process model that show sleep regulation in 1982. He argues that homeostatic process is entirely controlled by sleep pressure or sleep propensity that build up during the wakefulness period. The process is related to the Ishimori’s thus the name Ishimori-Pieron type. On the other hand, a biological or pacemaker clock that is independent of the prior waking and sleep determines the circadian process well known as the sleep-wake sequence during the night and day. This clock is found in the body of the animals. Researches indicate that Ultradian process can generate alternation of REM and NREM sleep (Pià ©on, 2003). From a scientific point of view, the molecular mechanisms that explain the sleep- wake regulation in all the processes have remained unknown.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Biological Basis of Sleep specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Sleep and Prostaglandin Prostaglandins (PGs) are the lipid mediators (Bayliss, 2006 ). There are more than thirty kinds of prostanoids, which are known worldwide. The compounds are distributed extensively in all mammalian organs and tissues. They have a diverse and numerous biological effects on various pathological and physiological activities in the body, and that is why they are sometimes called local or tissue hormones. In 1980s, the scientists discovered the most common prostanoid in the mammalians and mostly the rats and human beings (Berger, 2007). According to their findings, they suggest that PGD2 can be a distinctive component of the brain and might be having some essential function in the organ. They found out that when PGD2 cause sleep to rats when it is microinjected in the brains (Pià ©on, 2003). This was a notable achievement, and they decided to carry on with the study to the molecular mechanism and the physiological significance. Inoue and Honda from Tokyo Japan first designed the bioassay analysis system for sleep. The analysis of the structure i s as follows: through microinjection pump, the chemical PGD2 is injected gradually and constantly through a cannula which is chronically rooted in the 3rd ventricle of a rat . The stages that the rat undergoes to sleep are determined using polygraphic recording of EMG and EEG. Other aspects like food intake, water intake and brain temperature, are monitored and the general behavior of the rat is recorded using a video recorder under infra-red light. The rats are nocturnal animals that sleep most of the daytime, and remain active during the night. The outcome of the research showed that when the PGD was constantly injected in the third ventricle of a rat, the REM and the NREM sleep improved significantly during injection time. PGD2 caused the effect since the other PGs were ineffective (Borbà ©ly, 2003). The experiment mostly depended on the dose and the little picomolar quantity of PGD2 given to per minute it was enough to cause excess sleep to the rat. The quantity of the PGD2 tha t required causing sleep corresponded quite closely to the normal concentration inside the brain (Pià ©on, 2003). The results indicated that pharmacologically high doses are not necessary, and it can imply that the difference in the concentrations of PGDs which ordinarily occur in the brain have the ability to control sleep under physiological circumstances (Berger, 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on biology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most important aspect is that the PGD2 stimulated sleep was the same as the physiological sleep just as shown by electrophysiological principle and conduct that involves power spectral data. Contrary to PGE2, the PGD2 is never pyrogenic, but in the real sense, it caused little amounts of reduction in temperature as seen to happen throughout the physiological sleep (Ishimori, 2004). Others experiments, that were carried out, in Japan with monkeys, Mocaca mulatta, indicated clearly that PGD2 could induce natural or physiological sleep (Bayliss, 2006). The sleeping pills and drugs cause quite different sleep from the physiological sleep or the natural one. This shows that PGD2 is a true sleep hormone. Sleep-wake regulation The discoveries in the experiments above explain how sleep can be introduced to an animal from the beginning until it gets into a deep sleep. Then the next part is to identify if the same experiment can apply in the process of waking up the animal from the sleep explaining the wake sleep process. Philos published the brief summary of the experiment in the year 2000. The article observes that the main enzyme that induces sleep is mainly found in the arachnoid membrane and the choroid plexus. After this enzyme is generated, PGD2 is secreted into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and then flows inside the subarachnoid and ventricular spaces. The PDG receptors known as the DPRs are localized on the little area on the ventro-rostral plan of the basal forebrain. PGD2 that circulates in the CFS binds the receptors at the point where the sleep signal is generated (Pià ©on, 2003). The signal passes through the parenchyma brain to the ventrolateral preoptic area VLPO), which is a centre for sleep, across the pia membrane (Ishimori, 2004). The process is mediated through adenosine by A2A adenosine receptor. VPLO cast to the tuberomammilary centre (TMN) (Berger, 2007). The scientists, Oishi and coworkers, found out that adenosine from the TMN cause sleep by h indering the histamnergic structure via A1 receptor (Bayliss, 2006). This implies that PGD2 induce sleep by facilitating the functioning of sleep neurons (Borbà ©ly, 2003). On the same point, wake materials like orexin or PGE2 thruogh the histamine mechanism support an organisms’ wakefulness. According to the scientists, it is their view that the work on wakefulness still requires great attention and it forms the basis of greater basis for more investigation. Stages of sleep Sleep has four main stages. It starts from dozing and continuously progresses into a unusually deep sleep. Stage one The stage is can be termed as a doing stage. In this stage, five percent of the non-REM is spent. It is the transitional phase of the exact light sleep. The birthing rate, and the muscles start to relax and a person can be easily awakened (Berger, 2007). A person may feel a hypnic jerk during this period, the tendency to fall asleep and come back easily. After the rush of activities, the b ody starts to get into a slight slumber. The EEG at this stage is low, and the eye movements are slow. The eyes roll slowly as though closing and opening. Stage two This is the official onset of a consolidated sleep. A bout forty-five percent of the non-REM sleep is covered in this step (Pià ©on, 2003). The eye movement stops then the brain waves enlarge. There are two distinct brain waves in this stage, K-complexes and spindles (Borbà ©ly, 2003). A sleep spindle is a design by which EEG waves that consist of a burst of eleven to fifteen hertz wave that last from five to fifteen seconds. A K complex has quite a high voltage of EEG activity. It consists of a sharp downward constituent then followed by a slow upward constituent. This pattern lasts for over five seconds. Stage three As the sleep advances deeper and deeper, it becomes extremely difficult to arouse someone at this stage. An individual may spend about twelve percent of the non-REM sleep in stage three. Real slow wave sl eep starts with slow and large wave in amalgamate little, faster ones. Stage four This stage is normally characterized by extremely deep sleep. It mostly spends round seventy-five percent non-REM sleep, and thirteen percent of this part is spent in the last stage (Berger, 2007). An individual in the last two stages is more difficult to wake than an individual who is in the first two stages (Bayliss, 2006). People who wake up from sleep normally feel disoriented and groggy for some time. REM sleep This is the period that a person may experience dreams. During this time, there is an irregular breathing, periodic eye flattering, there is also an irregular heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. This makes a difference between non-REM and REM sleep stages (Ishimori, 2004). In other words, the REM is referred to as paradoxical sleep since brain wave activities is almost similar to a wakened state. During this stage, the brain obstructs all signals towards the muscles and they re main immobile so that the dreams cannot be acted out (Pià ©on, 2003). Most adults spend a round twenty to twenty-five percent of their sleep in REM. Conclusion The biological basis of sleep is dated back to more than one hundred years ago. Kuniomi Ishimori and Heni Pieron laid the foundation of sleep through their research done in Japan. The later physiologists identified that sleep can be classified into two main groups. These are the REM and the non-REM (Bayliss, 2006). All the two parts come in different stages, that is beginning from stage one up to stage four, all the stages follow one another from the beginning of sleep to the time a person wakes up. There is still more room for other scientists to make the research and prove the sleep phenomenon. Top of page Abstract HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION PROSTAGLANDIN (PG) AND SLEEP PROSTAGLANDIN (PG) D SYNTHASE, THE KEY ENZYME IN SLEEP REGULATION MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF SLEEP–WAKE REGULATION BY PGD2 AND E2 ROLE OF PGD2 IN THE CIR CADIAN PROCESS THE ROLE OF PGD2 IN THE HOMEOSTATIC PROCESS HUMAN EXPERIMENTS IN SUMMARY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONFLICT OF INTERESTS REFERENCES References Top of page Abstract HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION PROSTAGLANDIN (PG) AND SLEEP PROSTAGLANDIN (PG) D SYNTHASE, THE KEY ENZYME IN SLEEP REGULATION MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF SLEEP–WAKE REGULATION BY PGD2 AND E2 ROLE OF PGD2 IN THE CIRCADIAN PROCESS THE ROLE OF PGD2 IN THE HOMEOSTATIC PROCESS HUMAN EXPERIMENTS IN SUMMARY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONFLICT OF INTERESTS REFERENCES Bayliss, W.M. (2006). Starling EH. The mechanism of pancreatic secretion. J. Physiol. Chicago: Harvard Publishers Berger, H. (2007). ÃÅ"ber das Elektrenkephalogramm des Menschen. J. Psychol. Neurol. Chicago: Harvard Publishers Borbà ©ly, A.A. (2003). Two process model of sleep regulation. Hum. Neurobiol. New York: Macmillan Publishers Ishimori, K. (2004). True cause of sleep – a hypnogenic substance as evidenced in the brain of sleep-deprived animals. Tokyo: Igakka i Zasshi. Pià ©on, H. (2003). Le problà ©me physiologique du sommeil. Paris: Masson et cie. This essay on The Biological Basis of Sleep was written and submitted by user Amelie A. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Deviant Behavior essays

Deviant Behavior essays A person would be considered to be acting deviantly in society if they are violating what the significant social norm in that particular culture is. What causes humans to act certain ways is a disputed topic among researchers for some time now. There are three types of researchers that have tried to answer this question. There is the psychological answer, biological answer, and the sociological answer. With all of the studies that have been performed, no one group has come up with an exact reason to why people behave deviantly. Although, sociologists theories have not been disproved as often as the psychologists and biologists theories because their experiments are too hard to define and no one definition for deviance is agreed upon by all experimenters (Pfuhl, 40). My own curiosity to find out what the influences are behind deviant behavior is the purpose for this paper. We have already discussed this topic during class in part two, chapter four of the textbook which explains deviance and crime. This section talks more about deviance being a learned behavior. I wanted to find out more information to see if biological factors are also behind this kind of behavior. The most knowledge acquired for why people act deviantly is from the sociological perspective. There is need for more research, if possible, in the psychological and biological perspectives, but there is a lot more known in the sociological viewpoint. The reality that the definition of deviant behavior is considered different by everyone makes it complicated and unknown if a truly accurate answer can ever be found (Pfuhl 18). This is why this topic is important to the study of sociology. Sociologists have more information, and therefore may be closer to finding the cause. For this reason, my main focus in this paper is at the sociological stand point of deviance with some explanations from psychologists and biologists. The family is the l...

11 Things You Must Avoid During SAT Practice Tests

Things You Must Avoid During SAT Practice Tests SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you preparing for the SAT by taking practice tests? Awesome! You’re on the right track! How can you ensure that you’re getting the most out of each practice test you take? You need to make sure you’re taking each practice test underrealistic testing conditions. What’re you doing (maybe subconsciously) that’s ruining your realistic testing conditions? #1: Not Timing Yourself You need to stick to the exact timing of the SAT.If you’re not following the timing, you’re not going to be prepared the day of the test.You need to time yourself on your SAT practice tests so that you get used to the pacing of the test. It’s like training for a marathon. Don’t show up to a marathon without timing your practice and expect to place!The SAT is amarathon. Time yourself. Get used to the pace, so you don’t have issues on test day! Not sure the exact time you’re allowed for the SAT?On the SAT, the time allowed for each section is listed on the first page of that section of the practice test. See below: If you want more guidance, thencheck out our guide to SAT timing. #2: Using Your Phone But, Dora, you just said to time myself, and if I can’t use my phone, how do I time myself?I recommend that you use a watch instead of a phone.If you get used to timing yourself with your phone, you may feel lost the day of the test when you’re not allowed to use your phone. (NOTE: you’re not allowed to have your phone out at all during the test even during breaks). Instead, buy a cheap watch such as this one which you would be able to use the day of the test.Start using it during your practice so that you get used to pacing yourself with the watch. What if I use my phone in airplane mode?Don’t do it!Yes, it’s better than using your phone not in airplane mode, but you’ll still have the same issue: you’ll be so used to relying on your phone to pace yourself that you may feel confused using a normal watch/clock the day of the test. What if I’m using my phone as my calculator?No!!!Your phone will not be permitted the day of the test, so make sure you buy yourself an approved calculator and use it during your SAT math calculator section practice, so you get used to it. #3: Using Your Calculator On All Sections Speaking of calculators, remember that you’re only allowed to have your calculator out for one part of the test: the SAT math calculator section.You can’t have your calculator out for the Reading, Writing, or non-calculator Math test.During your practice, you should only use your calculator on the one math section that allows you to use a calculator. Do not use your calculator on the non-calculator math section.You need to practice your mental math so that you’re prepared to do mental math the day of the test.If during your practice, you use your calculator instead of your brain, you’ll be tempted to do so the day of the test. #4: Watching TV, Listening to Music, and/or Wearing Ear Plugs For some students, watching tv and/or listening to music while you take your practice test will serve as a distraction, making them score worse because they can’t concentrate.For other students, watching tv and/or listening to music can serve as an aid, helping them maintain their focus, artificially increasing their score.Either way, you cannot have the TV on nor music playing during your practice tests.You need to get used to taking the test in a quiet environment. That being said, do not wear ear plugs during your practice.Some students like ear plugs because it cuts out all background noise.However, the College Board does not allow the use of ear plugs during their tests.You need to get used to hearing background noise while you take the test because on your test day, you’ll have background sounds of paper rustling, pencils scratching, erasers rubbing, and more. Not during practice tests! #5: Eating and/or Drinking You will not be allowed to eat or drink during the test.You’ll be allowed to eat and drink outside of your testing roomduring the scheduled breaks. Don’t eat or drink while taking practice tests (exception: you can eat and drink during the break).This may sound silly, but it is important.If you're trying to eat and test at the same time, that can be a problematic distraction. Also, your body gets an energy boost when you have a snack or drink water.If you eat and drink non-stop during your practice, you’ll likely get an energy boost, and the test may seem â€Å"easier.†Then, the day of the test you might be surprised when the test seems â€Å"longer† and â€Å"harder† because you don’t have the added energy from the food and drink. As I’ve said, the SAT is amarathon.Train for the SAT as such.During your practice, only grab food or drinkduring the scheduled breaks. #6: Taking Unscheduled Bathroom Breaks Just as you won’t be allowed to eat or drink during the test, you also won’t be allowed to leave the room to go to the bathroom during the SAT.You’ll have to wait to go to the bathroom until the schedule breaks.Practice this during your practice tests. You need to get used to only using the restroom during the scheduled breaks.The last thing you want on your test day is to be thinking about how badly you need to pee while trying to take the test. I highly recommend using the restroom immediately before the test begins (or you start your practice test). #7: Not Sitting at a Desk Where you take the test is important, don’t sit on your couch or your bed!You need to get used to sitting upright.If you lounge on the couch or bed while taking your practice tests, you might feel thrown the day of the test when you’re put in a new, uncomfortable desk. Set up your practice test environment like the actual SAT test environment.Sit at an empty desk or table with nothing on it other than your practice test booklet, pencils, erasers, and calculator (when allowed). NOOOOOO! #8: Splitting the Test Over a Few Days Remember how I said the SAT is amarathon?Well, runners aren’t allowed to split up a marathon across several days.You need to practice sitting for full-length SAT tests.While you might not have 4 hours every day to sit for a full-length practice test, you need to make sure you sit for at least two full-length practice tests before you take the real SAT. On the days where you cannot sit for a full-length practice test, you should, at least, complete a full section of the test.For example, sit for the full 25-minute non-calculator math section without taking any breaks.The same rules mentioned in this article apply when you sit for just one section of the test: no food/drink, no music/tv/ear plugs, etc. #9: Not Bubbling In It’s easy to forget about the scantron and just to circle the answers in your practice test.However, using a scantron can be confusing, so you don’t want your first time using one to be on the day you take the SAT/ACT. During your practice tests, practice bubbling in answers as you work through your practice test.You want to get practice bubbling in so that you don’t accidentally bubble in wrong answers the day of the test.If you have time, I recommend double checking your scantron answers with your booklet answers at the end of the section, so you make sure you didn’t accidentally bubble any incorrectly. #10: Using Pen Since you need to practice bubbling in, you also need to practice using a pencil and eraser!You’re required to use a pencil on the SAT. NOTE: You cannot use a mechanical pencil. You can only use a regular #2 pencil. I recommend bringing at least 3 sharpened #2 pencils with you to your test center. Also, you should have a basic pencil sharpener and a big eraser. Take your SAT practice tests using these supplies.The day of the SAT you want to walk into your test center feeling confident and comfortable.To do that, you need your practice to mimic the real testing environment as much as possible!Get used to having these supplies on your desk. Get used to sharpening a broken pencil with your hand sharpener! If you’re anything like me, any little issue can spike your nerves during a big test.Practice with pencils, erasers, and a pencil sharpener, so you don’t get nervous using them the day of the test. Get your pencils ready! #: Using Any Support Material Do not use any extra materials during your practice tests.As I’ve mentioned, the day of the test, you won’t be allowed to have anything on your desk except for your test booklet, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, and your calculator (only during the calculator math section).Only use those materials during your practice! Do not use a formula cheat sheet (other than what’s provided in the SAT math section if you’re taking the SAT), and do not use a dictionary to look up words!During the test, you will not be able to use any outside resources, so do not incorporate them into your practice. If there are words you don’t know during your SAT practice test, try to figure out what they mean by using context clues(use the words around that word to figure out what the word means).Try your best to answer the questions without looking the word up.Circle the words you don’t know so that after you finish your practice test, you can easily find those words and look them up in a dictionary. Summary: How to Get Realistic Practice All of the above can be summarized simply: obey the rules of the test during your practice!Realistic practice will prepare you the best to ace the test and make you feel confident and comfortable the day of the test. Still unsure of how to get realistic practice? Check out our guide to making your practice test just like the real thing. What’s Next? Not sure whether the SAT or ACT is right for you? Let’s help you pick the right test for you! Not sure where you’d like to go to college? Figure out how to find your target school. Interested in attending Harvard or another Ivy League school? Check out our guide to getting in! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Renewable Energy Future for the Developing World Essay

Renewable Energy Future for the Developing World - Essay Example The greatest concern of the major multiples, especially Tesco in regards to political activity, relates to the rulings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission which can prevent supermarkets from establishing themselves in certain locations because of anti-competition legislation. Similarly, legislation relating to anti-competition activities, such as price fixing and cartel-like activity, can prompt investigation from the Government body known as the Office of Fair Trading (OFT 2011). However, such investigations on a national scale are relatively rare and the large supermarkets are seldom investigated for such activity. There is also a need to consider legislation and regulation, the UK food and retail sector is covered by numerous laws, codes of practice and regulations. One such regulator, Food Standards Agency, has a statutory right to protect the public the consumer in relation to food and drink such as correct labelling, food sell by dates, hygiene etc. There is also European legislation, General food law and Codex (Food Standards Agency 2012). ... K economy has been in and out of recession since 2008, interest rates have been reduced to historic lows to try and stimulate growth and minimize the rise in unemployment, which has risen sharply since 2009 (BBC 2012a). Although the UK food and retail market itself has remained relatively stable because people need food, there have been marked shifts in consumer spending habits as consumers cut back and â€Å"trade down† from premium brands to supermarkets’ own branded labels, or even switch to cheaper rivals (Hall 2011). This is set against the context of rising raw material prices thanks to bad weather, the costs of which have been pushed onto the consumer. For example, according to the RPI (Poulter 2011), the average cost of a basket of â€Å"staple goods† has risen an average of 28% in real terms. It is also important to note this is closely linked to social issues such as changing consumer habits and a decline in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). In addition to these trends in the retail sector, considering performance of the sector over the past 40 years (See Figure 1), it is expected that there will be the lowest ever growth recorded for 2012 in UK’s retail sector history. The growth rate for 2012 is expected to remain 1.2 %, which is although higher than that of 2011’s growth rate (0.9 %) (SAS 2011). Figure 1: UK Retail Sector’s Growth Rates for Past 40 years (SAS 2011) Social For the UK food retail industry, it is fair to suggest that the recession and subsequent level of decreasing economic growth has caused consumers to become far more price conscious. They are demanding greater value for money and supermarkets are responding with aggressive price cuts and price wars in order to attract and retain customers (Wood 2011). As yet it is too early to determine

Diversity Management at BRIGGS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Diversity Management at BRIGGS - Essay Example This HRM policy will be based on the principles of equality and diversity at the workplace. It should also be noticed that the particular characteristics of the firm’s workforce have to be taken into account when designing and implementing the specific strategy. In accordance with the Public Employment Office of New South Wales Government â€Å"The concept of diversity is based on individual acceptance and respect. It is an understanding that individuals are unique and different. Diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, culture, age, physical ability and religious, political and other beliefs† [1]. Moreover, it is made clear that a cultural diversity workplace could lead to the improvement of the firm’s performance or the increase of productivity on a national basis. In this context, it is supported that â€Å"a culturally diverse workplace promotes equity and enhances staff skills and agency success; agencies working with diversity have identified the significant benefits to of having a culturally diverse workplace† [1]. From a different point of view, in accordance with a definition given by the Civil Service (Cabinet Office) in UK, a proper diversity policy should be base d on the following criteria: â€Å"there must be no unfair discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, or (in Northern Ireland) community background, working pattern, employment status, gender identity (transgender), caring responsibility, trade union membership† [2]. The issue of diversity has been examined by several aspects; however in all definitions given there are common elements and characteristics. For this reason, in a definition of diversity given by the University of Oregon [3] it is noticed that diversity means â€Å"understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual

The Coffee Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Coffee Crisis Essay Introduction In 2011, Diego Comin, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, revised his 2009 case study on the Great Moderation (reproduced by permission for Capella University, 2011). The case explores whether or not the Great Moderation, defined by investopedia. com as â€Å"the period of decreased macroeconomic volatility experienced in the United States since the 1980’s [during which] the standard deviation of quarterly real GDP declined by half, and the standard deviation of inflation declined by two-thirds (para.1)† is still in effect. This paper will use evidence from research in a draft by Pancrazi and Vukotic (2011) that proposes â€Å"macroeconomic variables in the last thirty years have not only experienced a reduction in their overall volatility, but also an increase in their persistence (p. 2). † The 2011 research paper also purports that â€Å"by using a New-Keynesian macroeconomic model the responsiveness of output variance to changes in the monetary policy decreases with an increase in the persistence of technology (p. 2). † The result, according to Pancrazi and Vukotic, is an â€Å"overestimate† of the monetary influence and authority to â€Å"smooth out the real economic dynamics (p. 2). † The Great Moderation and the The Great Recession. Comin, in â€Å"The Great Moderation, Dead or Alive? † (Capella, 2011), quotes Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve: reduced macroeconomic volatility has numerous benefits. Lower volatility of inflation improves market functioning, makes economic planning easier, and reduces the resources devoted to hedging inflation risks. Lower volatility of output tends to imply more stable employment and a reduction in the extent of economic uncertainty confronting households and firms. The reduction in the volatility of output is also closely associated with the fact that recessions have become less frequent and less severe (p. 17). † Comin points out that these conditions existed until the Great Recession of 2007 when the U. S. and other countries experienced the longest period of recession and â€Å" the largest GDP contraction in the U. S. since the Great Depression (p. 17). In â€Å"Overlooking the Great Moderation, Consequences for the Monetary Policy† (2011), the researchers hypothesize that the â€Å"Great Moderation might have been fertile ground for the recent recession (p. 3), in that technology caused an â€Å"increased persistence in the macroeconomic variables (p. 4). † Macroeconomic Observations. To summarize Comin’s (2011) account of macroeconomic activity in the U. S between 1930 and 2010, when observing the GDP during this period, he says, â€Å"it is clear that since around 1984 it has been harder to observe large deviations from the average growth rate (p.17). † When examining other macroeconomic variables, Comin says that hours worked, consumption, investment, labor productivity, and total factor productivity (TFP), have, for the most part, â€Å"experienced stabilization by roughly the same magnitude, [where] the stock market has not stabilized significantly. If anything, it has become more volatile over the last few decades (p. 18). † Pancrazi and Vukotic focus their research on â€Å"studying the behavior of the total factor productivity (TFP) before and after the Great Moderation (p.4)†¦[by] using a basic New-Keynesian model featuring imperfect completion and price stickiness, [to ascertain] whether a change in the persistence of TFP affects the responsiveness of the real variables to the monetary policy (p. 6). † Their observations include an examination of the stability of TFP and an assessment that â€Å"a higher Microeconomic impact of the coffee crisis. The case study conveys that â€Å"coffee was the main source of income for roughly 25 million farmers, mostly small land holders, in Latin America, Africa, and Asia (p.1). † The coffee crisis created immense hardship for these small producers; â€Å"in some countries, farmers had been forced to take their children out of school and put them to work (p. 1). † One of the consequences of the coffee crisis that was less publicized was how larger farms and their workers were devastated. Large farms generally do not use non-cash family workers, like many of the smaller farmers do; as a result of the crisis, many workers were laid off, subsequently putting larger farms completely out of business. (Price, 2003) Where some producers chose to get out of the coffee business and venture into unknown territory with a new crop, others either attempted to break into the coffee â€Å"niche† market or decrease their outputs. (Line Tickell, 2003) In the ICO report on the impact the coffee crisis has had on poverty, the socio-economic impact reported by the respondent countries is filled with narratives that describe families and farmers who worked in the coffee industry unable to pay for medicine, food, and other essentials. Families are also reported to have migrated to cities, where there is typically no work for skilled farmers; some countries report that workers have migrated leaving their families behind. (Osorio, 2003) Solutions for long term sustainability. The case study presents an outline of solutions recommended by the ICO, Technoserve (as reported to the Inter-American Development Bank) and Oxfam. â€Å"The Coffee Crisis† states that, according to Oxfam, â€Å"the long run solution†¦was a commitment to ‘fair trade’†¦ a system in which a buyer in the first world agrees to pay third-world producers enough to support a decent living (p.5). † Oxfam says that â€Å"the fair trade movement was designed to provide an assured income and other benefits to the farmers associated with it (Line Tickell, 2003, p. 8). † Technoserve believes the following â€Å"three areas offer the highest potential for sustainable impact: 1. Increasing coffee consumption in producer countries and emerging market countries; 2. Assisting unprofitable producers of high-quality Arabica to move into higher-priced specialty coffees; and 3. Helping regions with a high concentration of marginal coffee producers who cannot differentiate their product or compete on price to diversify into other products and industries (para. 15 16). † In June, 2004, Nestor Osorio of the ICO presented to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) a report titled: â€Å"Lessons Learned from the Coffee Crisis: A Serious Problem for Sustainable Development. † In it he outlines the economic strategies he believed would prevent a future crisis and assist coffee producer toward long-term sustainability. Two proposed policies address the supply-demand problem: 1. To use the experience of the coffee crisis to create awareness – best achieved through the ICO – in national and international bodies of the danger of embarking on any projects or programmes (sic) which will further increase supply; and 2. Working to increase the benefits accruing from value-added products rather than traditional bulk commodity exports. Osorio recognizes the importance of â€Å"the need for market development to increase demand (p. 5)† also. He says that projects intended to benefit the supply chain should include actions from farmer to consumer, as well as farmer to exporter. These include: 1. â€Å"Support for the ICO’s Quality-Improvement Programme as a means of improving consumer appreciation and consumption of coffee; 2. Action to increase consumption in coffee-producing countries themselves, which should have a number of positive effects such as providing an alternative market outlet, increasing producer awareness of consumer preferences, stimulation of small and medium enterprises, etc. as well as acting to increase demand; 3. Action to enhance knowledge and appreciation of coffee in large emerging markets such as Russia and China, following the successful ICO campaigns in the 1990s; and 4. Protecting consumption levels in traditional markets through quality maintenance, development of niche markets and dissemination of positive information on the health benefits of coffee consumption. (p. 5-6). † Conclusion The coffee market has been described as an â€Å"imperfect market; a market that in recent years has failed – both in human and economic terms (Lines Tickell, 2003, p. 8). † The coffee crisis illuminated the impact the market had on international trade, national economies, businesses and families many in underdeveloped, low income countries. Because the regions where coffee can be grown are also many times third-world or repressed countries, coffee production is considered a humanitarian concern as well as an economic issue. Where an organization like Technoserve may lean toward business partnership solutions for the coffee industry, and Oxfam may concentrate on the humanitarian perspective, the International Coffee Organization appears to have taken a balanced approach in presenting the plight of coffee producers from both altruistic and economic perspectives. Where it is understood that many depressed areas and nations depend on coffee crops for sustenance, the ICO has taken a stand that the lessons learned from the coffee crisis must be solved with the tenets of economics, coupled with social responsibility, if families, farms, businesses and coffee-producing nations are going to achieve long-term sustainability. References Capella University. (Eds. ). (2011). MBA6008: Global Economic Environment. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Lines, T. , Tickell, S. (2003, May 1). Walk the Talk, Oxfam International Briefing Paper, May, 2003. Oxfam International | Working together to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. Retrieved May 5, 2012, from www. oxfam. org/sites/www. oxfam. org/files/walk. pdf Osorio, N. (2002). ICO. org Documents/Global Crisis. International Coffee Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from dev. ico. org/documents/globalcrisise. pdf Osorio, N. (2003). ICO. org Documents/G-8. International Coffee Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from dev. ico. org/documents/g8e. pdf Osorio, N. (2004). ICO. org Documents/UNCTAD. International Coffee Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from dev. ico. org/documents/UNCTAD. pdf Prince, M. (2003, December 3). CoffeeGeek Coffee Crisis:TechnoServe Releases Fact-Based Industry Analysis. CoffeeGeek News, Reviews, Opinion and Community for Coffee and Espresso. Retrieved May 5, 2012, from http://coffeegeek. com/resources/pressreleases/technoservedec42003.

Alcohol Abuse: Alcoholism as a Disease Essay -- Health Addiction

The problem of alcohol abuse has been recognized for thousands of years, but only more recently have we begun to see alcohol addiction as a treatable disorder. According to the Classical Disease Model of `Alcoholism,' habitual use of alcohol can be identified as a disease. Webster's Dictionary defines the concept of `disease' as follows: "Any departure from health presenting marked symptoms; malady; illness; disorder." Therefore, as many occurrences of alcohol excess provoke such symptoms, it is somewhat understandable that `alcoholism' is classified as a disease. The Classical Disease Model appears to offer a hopeful option. Treatment and sobriety can allow people to lead fulfilling lives. Adjacent to the notion of alcoholism as personal failure or moral deterioration, the Classical Disease Model appears to be a more desirable concept as it provides a motive for the alcoholic to seek treatment and gain sympathy, minimizing personal guilt. As alcoholism is seen as a progressive and, to an extent, hereditary illness for which those afflicted are not accountable, victims avoid being ostracized from society (Jellinek, 1960). Labeling the problem as a `disease' allows the medical profession to take responsibility for the treatment of alcoholism, which puts the problem in a more favourable light than if it were in the hands of psychologists or social workers, thus detaching the stigma connected with the problem while it is put on a par with other diseases such as diabetes or cancer. However, critics of the Classical Disease Model believe stigma helps reduce alcohol problems and aids the alcoholic. Any effort to reduce the stigma which is faced by the alcoholic will reduce pressures to moderate consumption and could have the additional ... ... the alcoholic of responsibility for their problem. Labeling an alcohol problem as a disease is perhaps as stigmatising as the problem itself and could have the effect of dissuading many problem drinkers from seeking help. It focuses mainly on those whose drinking has become excessive and is thus restrictive. The Classical Disease Model may appear convenient for alcoholics who want to deny they have a problem, yet it is likely to do more harm to the individual and the community than good, therefore it is clear to see why, in the 21st Century, the Classical Disease Model is viewed as entirely inadequate. Works Cited Jellinek, E. M. (1960.) The Disease Concept of Alcoholism. New Haven, Conn.: College and University Press. Lender, M. E. (1979). Jellinek's typology of alcoholism: Some historical antecedents. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 10(5), 361-375.

Old Money vs. New Money

Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby. By including this aspect in the boo k, Fitzgerald purpose is to reveal the two faces Of corruption in America through the novel' s geography and its characters. The book's geography represents the dichotomy of corruption through its pee pole. Two regions of Long Island, East Egg and West Egg, make up the setting of the novo el. These separate entities reveal the corrupt nature of â€Å"old wealth† versus â€Å"new wealth,† and con firm the formers distaste of the latter.When Gatsby invites the narrator, Nick, to one of his extra vagrant parties, Nick notices upon first observations that those in the party from East Egg â€Å"ass med to themselves] the function of representing the staid nobility of the countryside East Egg condescending to West Egg, and carefully on guard against its spectroscopic g tatty' (Fitzgerald 49). Since the residents of West Egg have unlaundered wealth, those in East Egg of more established wealth look d own upon them as possessing a lower social status. However, both groups are equally corrupt.Despite people of old money condescending ‘the blatant kinds of corruption† demonstrated by those with new money, they themselves â€Å"[Indus GE] quietly and Benson 2 discreetly in bribery, blackmail, and manipulation to maintain and consoled et [their] power† (Miller 81). Through Fitzgerald depiction of these mutually corrupt groups, h e makes the parallel between the unrealized corruption of West and East Egg and the Unit deed States' blindness to this fact. In addition, the characters' residence in the setting directly relate to their set o f values.For example, both Nick Caraway and Jay Gatsby (who live in West Egg) strong lay desire the acquisition of wealth. Nick is a stock broker, and Gatsby gains money by apart captivating in â€Å"every sort of illegal mischief, some of which is so dangerous that people are afraid t o talk about it† (Foster 146). These char acters represent the people in America who were new lay rich and achieved success through their strong desire for money. In contrast, character RSI such as Tom and Daisy Buchanan (from East Egg) represent the values of those with establishes d wealth: In their selfishness they lack compassion for others.When Gatsby dies at the end oft he book, â€Å"the only . Are his father, Nick, a postman, a handful of servants, and the o mourners welled man who at the first party had admired the library' (Foster 141). But Tom and Daisy choc SSE to leave Long Island behind rather than attend his funeral. Although it is unlikely that Tom loud go to his rival's funeral navy, he also lacks â€Å"a series of virtues .. . In the America of w which [he] is paradigmatic, such as vitality, efficiency, loyalty, and the necessity of a realize able dream† (Lena 40).Even though people in East Egg do not have the strong desire for wealth lie eke those in West Egg, they exhibit a different face of corr uption that is no less immoral. By giving g these traits to his characters, Fitzgerald depicts America's people as either greedy for wealth or lacking in common values. Benson 3 The geography and characters portrayed in the book reveal Fitzgerald depict ion off irrupt America through the concept of â€Å"old wealth† and â€Å"new wealth. † Throw ugh the book's geography, the author represents the separation of these groups in a clear w ay and describes the rivalry between them.

Analytical review of the financial position and reporting

This is what the University of Bradford policy on academic integrity says about plagiarism: â€Å"A dissertation, thesis, essay, project or any other work which is not undertaken in an examination room under supervision but which is submitted by a student for formal assessment must be written by the student and in the student's own words, except for quotations from published and unpublished source, which shall be clearly indicated and acknowledged as such†¦ † If you copy work for assessment, it defeats the whole purpose of the exercise.When work that you have copied is marked it is not your progress that is being evaluated but that of somebody else. And if it is someone else's work, the feedback you receive will not help you improve your own potential. Plagiarism is an issue that the University of Bradford takes very seriously and is treated as a form of Academic Misconduct (or cheating). There are four main forms of plagiarism: 1. Copying or using another person's work, including the work of another student (with or without their consent), and claiming or pretending it to be your own; 2.Presenting arguments that use a blend of your own and the directly copied words of the original author, with or without acknowledging the source; 3. Paraphrasing another person's work, but not giving due acknowledgement to the original writer or organization publishing the writing, including work on Internet sites; 4. Colluding with other students and submitting identical or near identical work. However it is very important that you are aware of Self-plagiarism. This is described in a document called â€Å"What is Academic Misconduct† which is available on the Legal and Governance website.You must not submit the same assignment, or the any part of that assignment, as the assessment for two modules, nor should you â€Å"cut and paste† large sections of work from one submission into another. You can refer to your own work (whether vomited for another mod ule or published elsewhere) but you must acknowledge this by citing the original work, Just like any other source that shapes your own work. How to avoid plagiarism: Applying, analyzing, criticizing or quoting other people's work is expected of you and is perfectly acceptable providing you always: 1.Attempt to summarize or restate in your own words another person's work, and give acknowledgement to that person. This is usually done by citing your sources in the text of the assignment and presenting a list of references at the back ; or 2. By always using quotation marks (or indenting lengthy quotations in your text) to distinguish between the actual words of the writer and your own words. Once again, you would cite all these sources in the text straight after the quote and present full details of these in your list of references.Using Turning: You must be very careful to ensure that your submission is free from Plagiarism before you submit it. All submissions are made electronically via Turning which is a piece of software that is able to identify â€Å"non-original† content within a submission. When you submit your work it is matched to previously submitted work both at the University of Bradford, on the web and work submitted to other Universities across the world. You will be presented with an Originality Report which will highlight any non-original content in your work.You are permitted to submit a draft version of your work to Turning before the final submission deadline. This will allow you to see the Originality Report for the draft and to address any issues that the report identifies. The report can take a few hours to generate, so give yourself sufficient time to receive and examine the report and to be able to work on your submission as necessary before the deadline passes. It is essential that you understand what is expected and how plagiarism can be avoided.The university provides a great deal of resources to help students understand their r esponsibilities. Information about these services is available at the LASS workshop site. If there are any specific issues relating to plagiarism and or Turning please contact the relevant Module Leader or your Personal Academic Tutor. Executive summary The purpose of this report is to prepare an analytical review of the financial position of BP Billion, using the ratio analysis as a financial instrument.This review is Sistine to the stakeholders (investors), based on the latest available annual financial statement, to identify and reconcile the group's profit position and identify trends in the business performance. The company's performance is analyzed more deeply using ratio analysis. In addition, we will compare the group main indicators with the respective figures of close competitors such as ROI Tint, Vale S. A. And Alcoa Inc. As well as Mining Industry and Energy Sector average coefficients (Scimitars 2014).Background Information BP Billion was set up in 2001 as a result of a Dual Listed Company (DEL) merger twine Broken Hill Proprietary Company known as BP Limited, an Australian-listed company, and Billion Pl, a I-J-Existed company (BP Billion 2013). Although the companies have preserved their separate ownership structures both are run by the almost identical committees of directors and one managing body. It is a leading global resource company and its major business units are: Copper; Iron Ore; Manganese and Nickel; Coal; and Aluminum, Petroleum and Potash.The aim of the group is to provide long-term shareholder value through the development, acquisition and marketing of natural resources. Despite the continuing recession the group has continued to retain its market position with capitalization US $147 billion at 30 June 2013, revenue US $66 billion and net profit US $11 billion for 2013 financial year and there are now 128 thousand employees and contractors working in 140 subdivisions in 26 countries (BP Billion 2013). This year the group announced t he appointment of Andrew Mackenzie as CEO who replaced Marcus Slippers.The company being a participant of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (2014) conducts the corporate procedures and policies in concordance with hose principles to provide security for its operations. The recent study suggested that the 90 fossil fuel marketers (Goldenberg 2013) are in charge of two-thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions produced in the industrial age and BP is in this list. According to the management's statement Just the tenth of the emissions are from direct operations, while the rest are from outsourced goods (Hannah 2013).In 2011 BP Billion initiated with University College London the foundation of two energy institutions aimed at teaching and research of sustainable use of the environment and resources (CUL 2011). Basis of preparation The financial information for the year ended 30 June 2013 has been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with Australian Accountin g Standards that is an Australian equivalent of International Financial Reporting Standards (FIRS) and FIRS and their interpretations as adopted by European Union effective as the reporting date.The principles of accounting for DEL merger were adopted under I-J and Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAP) and the consolidated financial statement is compiled as follows: Assets and liabilities of the BP Billion PL and BP Billion Limited Group were consolidated at the date of the merger at their book value; Results for the period ended 30 June 2013 comprise the consolidated data of the both entities.A number of new standards and interpretations have not yet entered into force, and their demands are not taken into account in preparing the consolidated financial statements: FIRS 11 Ð’Â «Joint ArrangementsÐ’Â » modifications were not applied but will have an impact on financial years commencing from 1 July 2013. The company will recognize its share on a single line in entities where it does not meet with the revised definition of Joint control. AFRICA 20 Ð’Â «Striping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface MineÐ’Â » modifies the policies for production striping and applies to annual periods starting on 1 January 2013.The company disclosed the effect of adjustments at the transitional date of 1 July 2011. Ratio Analysis External factors and trends affecting to the group's financial outcomes The major external trends and factors have had a considerable impact on the company financial position and ratios and the next section disclosures them. Commodity prices. Metal commodity prices were decreased in comparison with the previous year as a result of apply growing faster than demand. For instance the average price of Iron Ore decreased 16% from IIS$1 51 /DMS to IIS$127/DMS, Aluminum decreased from IIS$334/ DMS to US$327/DMS according to the Note 3. . 1 of the Financial Statement (BP Billion 2013). Metal products share in aggregate reven ues exceeded 63% whereas crude oil and gas totaled 20%. Metallurgical coal price decreased 31% from IIS$239/t to IIS$1 59/t mostly driven by low growth rates of global pig iron production. Conversely energy commodities' price were affected positively namely crude oil price increased by 8% driven by Chinese demand growth in the first half of the year followed by moderate improvements in macroeconomics in the United States later. In whole the price effect reduced underlying BIT by IIS$8. Billion but partially offset by increased sales volumes. Exchange rate. Other substantial risk influencing profitability ratio is exchange rate as majority of sales are denominated in US dollars as well as this currency plays major part in the group financial activities. Operating costs are primordially influenced by changes in local currencies such as South African rand, Chilean peso and Australian dollar. Overall the Australian dollar, Brazilian real and South African rand ended the financial year w eaker against the US dollar, while the Chilean peso strengthened.Product demand and supply. Global demand and supply for the products is a crucial factor of market prices, and fluctuations in commodity supply and demand influence the group performances, including asset values and cash flow. The company forecast relatively balanced growth over the long term as large developed economies, such as the US, grow despite fiscal challenges and China also shows the development of its economy. Operating costs. As the product prices are regulated by the global commodity markets controlling production costs is a key task of the management.The company could reduce external services by IIS$2 billion and third party purchases by IIS$O. 7 billion, government royalties by IIS$O. 4 billion and exploration and evaluation expenses by IIS$O. 6 billion. But these reductions were offset by higher impairment charges of IIS$I . 9 billion, additional depreciation charges of IIS$O. 5 billion, decrease in fore ign exchange incomes of IIS$O. 2 billion as it was shown in Note 3. 4. 4 of the annual report (BP Billion 2013). Capital and exploration expenditures.This item increased almost 77% in the previous 2012 year from IIS$13 billion in 2011 to IIS$23 billion. It related to investments in project pipeline, especially in Petroleum, Iron Ore and Coal divisions. The management concentrated on monitoring capital and exploration expenses in the reporting year and it reduced by IIS$O. 7 billion. Interest rates. The company financial performances are sensitive to alterations of interest rates as the majority of company borrowings are based on floating interest rates (see the Note 29 of the financial statement).Based on the net debt position as at 30 June 2013, taking into account interest rate swaps, cross currency interest rate swaps and captions, it is estimated that a one percentage point increase in the US LABOR interest rate will decrease the company's equity and profit after taxation by US $136 million. Profitability ratio In this year Return of capital fell by 26% as against 2012 year and equaled 17% (see Appendix 3). Firstly, it associates with the reduction of Gross profit by 19% or almost IIS$4. Billion as the income fell by 9% (see Appendix 1), namely Coal unit's revenue reduced by IIS$2. Billion, Iron Ore income by IIS$2. 4 billion (see the section Ð’Â «Commodity pricesÐ’Â »). In any case it should be noted that this figure is considerably high than the close competitors' results: Vale S. E. (2014) showed 14%, ROI Tint (2014) 5% (see Appendix 3). The details of calculations are given in the Appendix 4. Gross profit margin ratio equaled 29% although that is less by 11% as compared to 2012 (see Appendix 3).This can be explained by disproportionate decrease of production costs by 4% billion (see the section Ð’Â «operating costsÐ’Â ») with respect to revenues (see the section Ð’Â «Commodity pricesÐ’Â »). But it corresponds with the respective average ratio of Metal Mining Industry (Scimitars 2014). Vale S. E. ‘s figure exceeded with 30% Gross margin (see Appendix 2) but its Net profit margin totaled Just 1% due to extremely high interest expenses (see Appendix 2) whereas BP Billion demonstrated consistent performances with 17% Net profit margin.Net profit margin for 2013 totaled 17% as against 22% for previous year chiefly due to decrease of the amount of Gross profit (see the previous paragraph) and increase of financial expenses by 60% (see the section Ð’Â «lintiest ratesÐ’Â »). In spite of this the company's result is outstanding in comparison with the industry index (2%) as well as immediate rivals (ROI Tint – 2%, Vale S. A. – 1%). Efficiency ratios Asset turnover ratio of the last year decreased by 17% and totaled 0. 6.This is due to the fact that the amount of total assets were increased as additional construction expenses were capitalized to the sum of IIS$20 billion, and decrease of t otal revenue of the group for reasons described earlier (see the section Ð’Â «Commodity pricesÐ’Â »). At the same time the group continues to use its assets efficiently in comparison with lose rivals 0. 5 for ROI Tint (2014) and Vale (2014) 0. 4 (see Appendix 3) as well as the average industry figure (0. 4). The details of calculations are given in the Appendix 5.With respect to Receivable turnover ratio it has not been changed and equaled 9 that is in the middle of ROI Tint and Vale's coefficients (10 and 7 respectively). The decrease in Trade and other receivables correlated with the same trend in the revenues of the last two years (see the section Ð’Â «Commodity pricesÐ’Â »). Interestingly, the industry average ratio did reach 12 (see Appendix 3). Inventory turnover has slightly en decreased by 6% and totaled 11 that is twice better than industry figure (5) and close rivals (8 and 10 respectively).The number of employees increased by 7% and totaled almost 50 thous and. It together with the revenue reduction resulted to Revenue per Employee ratio that decreased by 14% and equaled IIS$I ,332 thousand per employee. At the same time this performance significantly exceeded the industry average ratio (IIS$486 thousand) as well as close competitors (ROI Tint with IIS$775 thousand and Vale S. E. With IIS$583 thousand). It can be explained by diversified cuisines structure of the group as the average Energy sector Revenue per Employee totals US$1,896 thousand at the same period of time (see Appendix 3).Liquidity ratio The current ratio totals 1 that indicates that the group has enough short-term assets to cover its short-term debt. It is advisable to improve this performance further (0. 9 for previous 2012 year) as for instance the industry (1. 9) and major market players (ROI Tint 1. 4, Vale S. E. 2. 5) demonstrated better short-term financial health. The details of calculations are given in the Appendix 6. Quick ratio also remains worse Han competit ors. But it corresponded with the industry average figure 0. 6 and seemed enough (see Appendix 3).Financial gearing The Gearing ratio has slightly been changed and totaled 39% and it indicates relatively prudent attitude of the management and low degree of creditor's funds (see Appendix 1). For example the same coefficient for both of close rivals' equaled 44% whereas the industry average figure exceeded 150%. The details of calculations are given in the Appendix 7. The performance of interest cover ratio was felt by 56% due to impact of interest rates (see the section Ð’Â «lintiest ratesÐ’Â »). Even so it showed due to low gearing and high gross profit of the group (see the respective analyses).Investment ratio Price per earning for 2013 equaled as 12 and became worse as against 8. 8 for previous period. It associates with the reduction of earning per share by almost 30% (see Appendix 1). But dividend yield with 8% is positive as compared to rivals (ROI Tint 4%, Vale S. E. 1%) and average industry ratio (2%). Conclusion Based on the review above we can see that BP Billion is a highly profitable company that provided consistently strong operating performance during the analyzed period of time. The total dividend for 2013 was increased by 4% to IIS$116 cents per share (BP Billion 2013).The low gearing ratio in comparison with rivals indicates the group's financial strength and invulnerability to downturns in the business cycle that is important particularly in the last years. The high efficiency ratios witnessed how well the group used its assets and liabilities internally relative to the others. Also we saw its importance because an improvement in these ratios translated to improved profitability. Though the current ratio is relatively lower than he industry average likely the group will not experience any difficulty meeting current obligations.

Black Students’ Sit-In Protests in Public Spaces Examples from the 30s -40s essay

Black Students’ Sits from the 30s -40s essay Black Students’ Sits from the 30s -40s essay Black Students’ Sits from the 30s -40s essayBlack students’ sit-ins have direct relation to the beginnings of the so-called student-phase of Civil Rights Movement after February 1960. Taking into consideration the presented materials, it is possible to explore the role of student activism in achieving the established goals, namely establishing the civil rights, which prohibit racial discrimination. The sit-in tactic used before 1960 is relative to the famous Greensboro event. Such tactic was aimed at challenging the rules, established by white people. Public demonstrations organized by black people became the following stage of the struggle for the civil rights.My thoughts as I read about these events are based on historical evidence. The following sit-ins and strikes: Alexandria Sit-In of 1939, NAACP sponsored sit-ins by Howard University Students in Washington, D.C., as well as Morgan State Sit Down strike of 1959, reflected the role of student activism in the civil r ights movement. The sit-ins evoked support of the black community and promoted national unity in the struggle for social justice and racial equality (Brown 274).I believe that black students’ sit-in protests in public spaces played a significant role in the development of the civil rights movement. As discrimination and segregation acts were prevalent in many places across the United States, the civil rights movement contributed to the changing attitudes of black students through these protests. 1939 Library Sit-In was one of the protests against racial segregation.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, the increased incidence of protests resulted in the government’s decision to pass two acts: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Due to the adoption of the Civil Rights Act, segregation in public places and schools was prohibited. Due to the Voting Rights Act, black people were allowed to vote in elections.

Georgia - Crime Victims Rights

Georgia - Crime Victims' Rights You Have The Right To Be Notified Of: Arrest of the accused.Availability of victim service programs.Availability of compensation for victims of violent crime.Any court hearings where release of the accused will be considered.Release of the accused.Court proceedings during prosecution of the case.Motion for new trial or appeal dates.Change of status of the defendant, if you request this in writing. You Have The Right To: Express your opinion on the release of the accused pending court proceedings.Express your views on the outcome of the case prior to plea negotiations or sentencing of the accused.Complete a Victim Impact Statement. Notification To Victims Of Crime The Office of Victim Services will notify registered victims when any of the following occurs: The inmate is released from prison having completed the court ordered incarceration.The inmate has been approved for transfer to a work release transition center.Removal from transition center to be returned to prisonEscape of an inmate from custody.Recapture of an escapee.The release from prison after completing the confinement portion of the sentence to begin a court ordered probation period.A scheduled parole release from prison.An offenders parole is revoked and the parolee is returned to the custody of the Department of Corrections.Transfer to the custody of another authority outside of the Georgia Department of Corrections.The death of the inmate while in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections Services to Victims of Crime A toll free number is available for crime victims to contact the Office of Victim ServicesRegistration of crime victims for notification of the release of their offender from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.Notification of an inmates release or escape from the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections.Advocacy on behalf of victims concerning their particular needs in the correctional process, including but not limited to: situations involving harassment by inmates, compliance with court mandated conditions, unwanted contact, etc.General information regarding the status of offenders in the custody of or under the supervision of the department of corrections.Referrals for crime victims to other state, federal and community based services.Notification of execution dates along with preparation and orientation for the survivors of homicide victims who choose to be present at an execution. Victim Information and Notification Every Day V.I.P. is an automated information and notification system used by the Georgia Department of Corrections to provide registered victims or their families with access to information about their offender 24 hours a day, everyday. V.I.P. Hotline: 1-800-593-9474. V.I.P. also functions as a notification system. Through computer generated telephone calls, victims who have registered with the Georgia Department of Corrections will automatically receive notification of the release of their offender from custody. The information and notification services of the V.I.P. system are available in both English and Spanish. How to Register with V.I.P. The V.I.P. hotline may be used to obtain updates on the following inmate information: The current location of incarceration.The parole status/eligibility.Maximum or scheduled release date.The system will advise you if the offender is not in custodyNotification Calls Registered victims will automatically begin receiving computer-generated telephone notification calls when any of the following occurs: The inmate is released from prison having served the court ordered term of incarceration.Release from prison after completing the confinement portion of the sentence to begin a court ordered probation period.Upon being paroled from prison.The escape and recapture of an inmate.The death of the inmate while in the custody of corrections.Notification calls will be placed to the registered phone number every hour. The calls will continue for a 24-hour period or until the victim enters the assigned PIN, confirming the notification process has been completed.

Past experience with inter-enterprise information system Essay

Past experience with inter-enterprise information system - Essay Example More specifically, the experience with computers has allowed me to have ability to use both application and system software for computational activities. The various hardware with which my experience was involved includes computer CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer and scanner which comprise the input and output devices of a computer. In addition, I was able to learn the various components of a CPU and their functions. More importantly, though, is the ability to use applications such as word processing and spreadsheets to execute different computational processes. My experience with computers also made me more appreciative of the value that these systems have added in facilitating communication among individuals, departments, organizations and institutions. More importantly, during my experience I have appreciated the Internet as a computational communication tool which has connected individuals and organizations across the world. This is a reflection of the important contributio n of computers to the globalization process. In my experience with information systems, I was able to understand the system theory as it applies in computation and business processes. Additionally I now understand the correlation among the various components of information systems in performing a holistic function. The hardware and software components of an information system allowed me to improve my computer skills. I was also able to apply software to solve problems. This experience significantly improved my critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, the experience with information systems accorded me the ability to process data through computer application and extract meaning out of the data. This means that I am able to develop relevant and meaningful information out of data through the use of computer applications such as SPSS and Microsoft Excel. It is through my experience that I am more appreciative of the importance of information systems in organizations such as facilitatin g communication, business activities and decision making. Moreover, I now understand information systems as a network of computers which would be connected worldwide through the Internet. I have attained knowledge and skills on the application of both intra-enterprise and inter-enterprise information systems. In addition, I have achieved an understanding of how these information systems have been used to facilitate business or organizational processes. The knowledge that I have on these systems is significantly important for my short-term and longtime career plans. For example, this knowledge has prepared me to apply information systems within my work place. This involves the use of intra-enterprise computer systems such as local area network in facilitating communication within the organization. Additionally, the use of inter-enterprise information systems such as wide area networks and the Internet to promote communication among subsidiaries of an organization and sectors of its s upply chain is well understood by me. I have sufficient knowledge on the issue of security in the use of intra-enterprise and inter-enterprise information systems, which will allow me to ensure that these systems are secured when I will use them within my workplace. Additionally, I understand the use of intra-

Museums and the Advantage of the Product Differentiation Research Paper

Museums and the Advantage of the Product Differentiation - Research Paper Example â€Å"The British Museum Company Limited was founded in 1973 by the Trustees of the British Museum to advance the educational aims of the Museum. The Company currently engages in a number of activities, including wholesale and retail, publishing, the production of replicas and other merchandise, and licensing. The Museum has expanded its retailing division over the last few years, with the opening of the Great Court at the centre of the Museum offering further opportunities for trading. Having the best-designed shops the company offers several products for the customers from the books Specializing in ancient history, archaeology, art history and ethnography to pocket money priced items. The Company stocks many materials suitable for use in National Curriculum project work. These also include guidebooks to the Museum, postcards, T-shirts, stationery, camera film, stamps, jewellery and inexpensive gifts and the Museum's exclusive collection of replica sculpture, jewellery and fine sil k textiles. The British Museum has a long history of publishing, dating back to the mid 18th century, with the first recorded publication of catalogues to the early collections in 1749. The British Museum Press was founded in 1973 and is the world's leading museum publisher. Around 60 books are published each year in the broad subjects of history, archaeology, ethnography, fine and decorative arts and numismatics for scholars, children and the layman. For a number of years, the Company has been producing replicas and gifts based on objects in the collections of the Museum.

Australia Fast Food Industry Analysis (Hungry Jack) Essay

Australia Fast Food Industry Analysis (Hungry Jack) - Essay Example IBIS has reported that the fast food industry of Australia will grow at a rate of 3.7% per annum for next few years while there is a possibility dwindling spending capacity of consumers caused by economic recession might decrease the projected growth rate (IBIS World, 2012). Low entry of barrier is an important characteristic of Australian fast food industry. IBIS (2012) has reported that new entrants need to invest capital in the range of $90,000 up to $300,000 to set up fast food outlet in Australia. The analysis will try to determine the dynamics of the industry in terms of external environment, industry forces, competitor analysis and critical success factors. Major aim of the study is to analyze the Australian fast-food industry in terms of both internal and external environment. Major findings of the study can be explained in the following manner. Entry barrier for fast food industry in Australia is low. Companies need to launch low calorie fast foods to keep pace with changing consumer preference. Major recommendation for companies planning to enter fast food business in Australia are 1- use market development strategy in order to increase penetration and 2- use focus strategy to decrease risk factors. First section of the study will discuss brief introduction of fast foods industry in Australia, second portion of the study will analyze the fast-food industry in Australia in terms of PESTLE analysis, porter five force analyses & contingency theory and critical success factors. Third section of the study will provide suitable recommendation to companies planning to enter in fast food business in Australia. B. Industry Analysis A snapshot of the fast food industry of Australian can be used in order to understand the underlying opportunities in the business environment of the country. Market Value Market Value Forecast Market Volume Market Volume Forecast Category Segmentation Market Competition Total market value of fast food industry in the country is mor e than $5,000 million. The market value will increase at growth rate of 2.5% and it will touch the mark $6,000 million within 2016. Total transaction recorded for the industry is recorded as $1,160.1 million for the year 2012. Market volume will decrease at a rate of 3% and it will touch the mark $1,130.1 million transactions within 2016. Restaurant business contributes 66% of total market value of the industry. 45% of market share is dominated by four big players such as Domino's Pizza, McDonald's, Hungry Jacks and Yum! Brands. (Source: Market Line, 2011) Market volume of Australian fast food industry has decreased by significant level in last two years. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the industry has decreased by 4.2% in last five years. PESTLE Analysis Henry (2008) has stated that PESTLE analysis is an important tool to analyse the macro environment of any country. Political Australian government has implemented carbon tax on companies operating in the country. High carbon tax rate imposed by government can increase the operating cost of fast food companies. Australian government also increased restriction on advertising for children hence fast-food companies need to be careful while designing advertisement for