Marks and Spencers Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marks and Spencers - Case Study Example For this, using a cultural web on the floor is important. Michael E Porter has paved the way for revolutionary strategising trends and a whole new perspective on competition through his competitive advantage theory. In the corporate world, Porter's first book Competitive Strategy (1980), which he wrote in his thirties, became an international best seller, and is considered to be an authoritative piece of work on corporate strategy. The book, which has been published in nineteen languages and re-printed approaching sixty times, changed the way business leaders' minds worked. Further, it remains a guide of choice for strategic managers on a global scale. Apart from being rich in lessons about why and how industries, regions, and nations succeed or fail, this book is of great value as the first serious attempt to develop a really original grand theory of national economic development processes since the early years of Postwar development economics, and one of the most original ways of thinking about development policy in years. Under the leadership of Rose, the company had seen growth in Food, clothing and other departs by April 2006. Before laying down the formal plan of action, it is necessary to understand the elements that will be involved in the strategy that has been by Rose, from the perspective of the company. This will help us understand the exact application of the theories through the length and breadth of the paper. A major part of Rose's plan of action must include following a strategy based on gaining competitive advantage as well as achieving sustainable entrepreneurial growth. Let us first examine competitive advantage to see how and where it will fit in with the overall growth and expansion of M & S. External Perspective Competitive advantage is the response of afirm to the pressing need to organize and perform discrete activities. While these needs may not be perpetually spelt out, it is the responsibility of the planners and executers of policies to foresee such situations when catering for growth and development of the firm on various levels. The basic explanation for this comes from the fact that any change on an individual level is effected by changes on a national level. Yet, Porter's theory cannot accommodate strategies and competitiveness at such levels due to various constraints. The first of these emerges from the fact that people run businesses and economies - and everyone has his or her own unique style. These cannot be covered at length when talking which factors and resources will be utilized in which combination. Thus Porter's theory does not provide an accurate account of the diversity and dynamism in the corporate and commercial environment that businesses and firms thrive in. Secondly, there are various activities to take into consideration in the case of M&S. The activities performed when competing in a particular industry can be grouped into

Cultural Differences Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cultural Differences - Research Paper Example American workplace however differs that individuals are expected to rely on its own merit where hiring and promotion depends on what one have done or can do. It will not be offensive to impose professionalism at work. While kinship is valued in Philippine society in general, its professional class understands the virtue of performance and results as a basis for hiring and promotion. The perspective about power has the biggest disparity between United States and the Philippines. US scored 40 on this and this is reflective of American values of equality, liberty and justice for all compared to the Philippines which is a younger society and thus still feudalistic scoring 94 manifesting its hierarchial society which is reflective of its society’s inherent inequalities. Unlike in the US workplace where both managers and employees share information frequently in a manner that is informal, direct and participative, it is quite the opposite in the Philippines where subordinates expect to be told what to do and the ideal boss is the benevolent autocrat. While American workplace requires little structure and little rules, these are emphasized in the Philippine workplace. Subordinates know their places and are generally accepting of this structure. This difference in perspective of the workplace an easily be resolved as a new manager in the Philippine context by clearly stating what is expected of its employees or subordinates. It can initiate a new culture of being more â€Å"egalitarian† in the workplace making it more flat which Philippine society is generally accepting of any initiative from the management as long as it does not threaten them. Both countries scored low on long-term orientation with the Philippines scoring 19 while the US scored 29. This does not however mean that both countries share all the characteristic of short sightedness. US short

On the Meaning of Life - John Cottingham Essay Example for Free

On the Meaning of Life John Cottingham Essay What is our relationship with the universe – who are we and how did we come to be seems to be the ultimate question of the meaning of life. This question has always sparked powerful debates between the views of the religious and modern science. Many believe this topic is a one-sided issue where these views cannot co-exist with one another, either one’s a theist, believing in God as the soul creator and ruler of the universe or an atheist, disbelieving of a supreme being or beings. But in actuality, modern science does not count against the nature of a divine creator behind the universe. So as modern science offers an account of how things happened, religious beliefs account for a certain aspect of â€Å"why,† aiming towards finding significance and value. In On The Meaning of Life, John Cottingham argues in order to have meaning, you must not eliminate one theory from the other; modern science and religion must co-exist together. First, what’s the meaning of modern science, and why does it contribute to the meaning of life? Philosopher Rene Descartes believed in mechanism, a theory holding that organisms are machines in the sense that they are material systems, therefore explains biological processes, within the framework of science. In order to discover a fundamental set of principles that is â€Å"based ultimately on the universal laws of mathematical physics that governed the behavior of all natural phenomena, celestial and terrestrial alike,† (6) Descartes banish teleology (any system attempting to explain a series of events in terms of ends, goals, or purposes) from science. He believed in order to conceive this unified theory there was no room for purposiveness, and since this universal law was made of mathematical physics, â€Å"there was no attainable answer to the question why† (6). But Cottingham thinks if we were to achieve and complete a [super-theory linking gravity and quantum physics] together to answer the ultimate question, we still would [fall short of explaining why there should be a universe at all]. Cottingham’s belief is acceptable because if this super-theory was completed, that included all observable phenomena in the universe, this theory still would not answer the question to â€Å"why is it so. † This is where science has reached its limits. Religion takes off of where science can no longer be held accountable to the meaning of life. Why should there be a universe there to explain? Unlike the language of science, religious language â€Å"grapples with the task of addressing what cannot be fully captured by even the most complete scientific account of the phenomenal world† (8). Instead of finding significance in terms of physical quantities and mechanical interactions, religious language reflects on the universes power, beauty, rhythm, and harmony. Therefore, religious discourse pushes the limits of the observable, towards uncovering something beyond the phenomenal world, in hopes of giving meaning to the universe and to our human lives. Cottingham believes religion â€Å"adds a framework within which that nature is revealed as more than just a set of characteristics†¦ encourages us with the hope that the pursuit of virtue†¦ contributes to the establishment of moral order that the cosmos was created to realize† (72). In other words, the religious perspective offers a possibility for human purposeness by providing a powerful focus on moral goodness. Religious discourse is important because since science accounts for how the universe and humans were made. We feel that we are thrown into this world where nothing ultimately matters, but religion offers hope, value and significance towards life. After examining the different aspects modern science and religion brings to the ultimate question, Cottingham urges to combine the language of science and religion together in order to have meaning. Cottingham states â€Å"in strict logic there is nothing to prevent such a purely mechanical system (of efficient causality) coexisting with a purposive system (of final causality)† (48). Therefore we must not eliminate the possibility of the two systems (modern science and religion) existing together. Philosopher Leibniz’s envisioned a world of spiritual purposes functioning in harmony with the world of physical mechanisms. This is also known as blind mechanical systems, â€Å"whose outputs, at the same time, constitute the purpose planning and doings of conscious agents† (48). Believing mechanisms and purposes could together provide an instance in support of the ultimate question of the universe. In addition, Spinoza had a parallel vision to Leibniz. He believed the universe of physical mechanisms (under the attribute of extension) exactly corresponds to spiritual ideas linking meaning and purpose to a willed creator (under the attribute of thought). Thus, we are dealing with [one and the same thing but expressed in two ways]. This showed Cottingham that since there has been no evidence to favor modern science of being the explanation of a divine nature, it does not logically eliminate the possibility of a divine creator of its meaning. So where science accounts for our human nature and origin, saying we have no ultimate significance, spirituality offers human life a sense of value. Darwin’s theory of natural selection opposes the possibility of linking modern science and religion together in one system. In order to get a sense of what threatens the framework of religion, this is the standard account of our human nature and origin: About fourteen billion years ago, the cosmos†¦including matter, radiation, space and time somehow began, exploding from a tiny concentration of matter-space energy†¦gravitational effects caused matter to clump into hydrogen masses†¦fusing into helium. Explosions caused new heavier elements, which formed into plants. On at least one planet, a self-replicating molecule arose†¦evolved into living organisms, which diversified into all kinds of plants, animals, microbes etc. , all solely as a result of natural selection. After millions of years one such species became intelligent. Man is a product of these blind forces. The main conclusion from this theory is that the universe and everything in it is a result of natural selection, including humans therefore Nottingham presumes â€Å"there is no ultimate significance to the universe or to human life,† (42) throwing out the idea of any religious significance. Darwin believed that human origin came from a purely accidental chain of blind natural forces. His view gave no choice or purposiveness in the divine nature, because everything was an entirely impersonal process. But Cottingham argues although this discovery has been scientifically accounted for, it is based on interwoven interpretation, an â€Å"interpretation that goes far beyond the truths and hypotheses that pertain strictly to the natural science† (43). And that viewing religious thought as something able to be replaced by modern science is strictly a metathesis â€Å"-a claim that operates at one remove from the claims of science itself† (43). As a result, Darwin’s theory cannot be taken very seriously because the standard account of human nature and origin is dependent on interwoven interpretation that has exceeded far from the fundamental principles of science. In essence, in order to account for the meaning of life, one must not choose modern science over religion or religion over modern science. Having one theory over the other does not manifest to the ultimate question of the meaning of life. Instead, we must link the two frameworks, divine nature and creator into a unified system. In Cottinghams words, we â€Å"must leave the door open for the theist as indeed it does for the atheist. † For where modern science can be longer contribute its findings to the meaning of life, religious language ascends from it bringing significance and value to human life. Beckie Chung Dreaming of the Earth 4 November, 2007 Cottingham, John. On The Meaning of Life. New Fetter Lane: Routledge, 2003.

Primary Factors Affecting Tourism Demand Tourism Essay

Primary Factors Affecting Tourism Demand Tourism Essay Primary factors affecting tourism demand are the economy with matters ranging from the exchange rate to job losses.Politics,the growth in size of the EU,environment and taxation.Crisis and threats including earth quakes,epidemics and terrorism.Demographic change with a shifting age structure,effects of migration and the rise of educational levels.Technology and it effects on transportation,communication and information.There is change in consumer attitudes and for the industry itself,product standardization,the growth of information channels,and pricing strategies. The realisation of deciding to have a holiday is dependent in large part on the individuals economic position and freedom to make the journey.External factors proving influential to this need would be freedom,fitness,time and money.The behaviour trend includes a host of factors including an internal state of mind relating to the motive and the capacity to make the journey.Emerging factors may be useful to examine as they will become somewhat predictable and constant in their evolution.Power relating to market concerns lies with the consumer.The prospective tourist. The enlargement of the EU is especially important.Its size has grown some 25%,its population by some 20% and the GDP by 5% over the years.The general process of political maturation spanning over twenty years has influenced changing tourism demand.Media coverage influences a seed bed of latent interest in the recently inaugurated members of the community.Most prospective travellers are now able to see the world as their oyster.The holiday destinations therefore have become intensely competitive.Yet barriers to immediate progress remain especially for the countries of Eastern Europe.Here low investment rates,undeveloped infrastructure for the countryside,a poor transport system with third rate hotels and cuisine are capped by weak tourism marketing. Image is a vital ingredient to the tourist destination.Their is prevailing ignorance of the new member countries.Destinations are chosen usually by motive matching.Here the enlargement of the EU has had remarkably little effect on the consumer,so it seems that only a transformation in marketing strategy management is going to improve matters.There will be significant change for the EU in source markets and the upswing of a rising welfare.The impulses undoubtedly come from the south and east with the traditional source markets such as Germany being saturated. Demographic considerations have made their appearance and are now featuring as a focus for online debates and deliberations.Society consists of an older population with increasing life expectancy;and there is a decline in the number of children because of an increased proportion of the population divorcing and living separately.Traditional family patterns are dissolving.Also becoming influential is a rise in educational levels,the changing role of women in society and a more vibrant society due to admixture from migratory patterns.Yet tourists,people,are not going to alter their travel behaviour as they turn 60 or because of retirement.Patterns are adhered to originating from earlier years.Because of this it is possible to cater for future requirements in tourism for such a population.The generation of ‘baby boomersis likely to be super active in their endeavour to satisfy themselves on prospective travel horizons.There will be senior trips accommodating to individual tailoring .Consider Germany as an example.The age group of 70-80 will rise more than 50% by 2018.Alterations of family numbers will become slow in maturation but this allows the industry to maintain orientation and supply a strong focus for needs and expectations of destination.Older people are becoming increasingly involved with their younger forebears and this will require adjustment.Factors to consider here are higher spending,longer stays,and other destination choices.The kids trip being a standard incurs its own behaviour pattern.More flight trips and usage of more tour operators.Playmates will be needed so this is another feature that the destination will have to meet.It is clear therefore that the changing nature of demography has impacts that will reflect in tourism demand. The very important pre-trip phase involving the search for information and deciding upon the tourism product has as an emerging factor the skilled consumer with low involvement.This situation has produced interchangeable products.Distinctions of destination and tour operator is not a contentious issue with information overload these days.What happens to us all is an agreeable solution.Just a number of aspects for the required products from a few information sources.Arguing is not necessary and therefore the position is that of ‘low involvement.And so the actual position is that of convenience together with experience helping ones orientation;variety being a feature which of course is sought by everyone.Our personal experiences and emotional banks have now become part of the product on offer promised by the producer. Price orientation has become a dominant feature.This has been induced by strategy within the industry.The selling of quality trips for remarkably low prices in the hope of higher market shares is likely to result in a high turnover with probably a lower profit.But convenience and product quality rank with the consumer and so the phenomenon of induced price orientation continues to spiral.Yet it is the consumer who is more flexible than the industry itself.If one destination doesnt turn out as I expected I can go to another.I dont honestly have too much fancy for flying so I take the train or road network.There is contingency with the availability of an alternative even if more inconvenient;I can still get there.Consuming,drinking is fun not a necessity.There is no sense of lack because everything now is available on the market.But this means it becomes impractical to predict individual behaviour,yet it is becoming an importance to have at ones disposal as far as the industry is conce rned the most accurate figures possible.Such market conditions,with decidedly knowledgeable consumers and vast resources in the field are presenting a serious challenge to the marketing departments.The problem has become even more intense and difficult;with globalization and a computer based technology tending to incline to standardization but tourism demand and products are becoming more differentiated and fragmentized.There are winter sports,field trips and holidays for the family.Expectations involve both quality and difference.With such standardization and differentiation this imposes more pressure without; in effect guaranteeing an increased demand or turn-over. Without the consumer the service industries along with tourism go nowhere.This fact relates not only tourism but for any policies to do with tourism.Destinations have to become switched on,alerted, to realise they have become truly involved with intense competition.It is not sufficient simply to have a reliable product or for the consumer to realise this.There has to be the correct placement with the correct set and shrewd judgement is required for doing so.Here travel operators and agencies can assist in the phenomenon of the information overload providing well-timed guidance and convenience within the information jungle.Yet the politics involved has to pinpoint inconsistency and contradictions within the set of proposed objectives and establish solutions and priorities.Financial support should be discriminative here not everybody necessarily being acceptable as to the validity of following such objectives.Social balance of resources may be variable and indeed there could be a widen ing gap developing but tourism does require a broad base of comfortable incomed people with time and money.Any kind of vision is going to accomodate pan-european,national,regional and local needs.All the different levels of destination and industry segmentation will have to be linked somehow. There are two categories of circumstances requiring priority of action.Either supply exceeds demand or the opposite of demand exceeding supply.Strategies adopted are tailored to meet circumstances arising either on a daily,weekly,seasonal or a long term basis.With demand being low either at below capacity or only at certain periods there is a variety of strategy engaged.Product modification and diversification with adjustment of distribution channels if needs be to strengthen.There has to be identification of alternative or even new sources of demand and price discounting.Reappraisal of promotional strategy.An example of the application of all these would be the Caribbean destinations responding to low levels of occupancy during a summer period.VFR is promoted to domiciles as the holidays usually fall within the summer period.While casinos as attractions are being promoted on some of the islands within the group. Another condition is the necessity to reduce costs because it is not possible to increase the desired demand factor.To reduce fixed and variable costs in the hotel sector for example it may be necessary not only to reduce the rooms available but whole wings or even the hotel itself.Again this is prevalent in the Caribbean.Airlines can reduce plane quota available or rent them to other companies. Redistribution becomes necessary as the demand for a product is no longer self-sustaining.Converting factors for hotels might consist of fusing two rooms into one or the provision of no-smoking rooms.Conventional hotel rooms are being transformed into time-share units being an example of long-term adaptive strategy.Or for the airline industry the conversion of scheduled flights into charter itineries.These are examples of adaptive supply redistribution. When demand exceeds capacity additional charging for such resources incurs increased pricing for seating or rooms so gaining extra revenue per unit.Theme parks with ever increasing clientele but negative impaction can resort themselves to significantly higher entrance charges. Then,responding to higher demand level, destination management may expand the current capacity factor.The hotels again being an example with additional infrastructure being acquired.Cot facilities are often available to increase the room capacity.Portable accommodation in the southern hemisphere is quite attractive and popular.Resort communities in the slack season make use of their surveillance staff to accommodate for the daily and weekly pattern of demands by supplying patrolled beaches. The Caribbean again may be referred to as an example of the transference of demand at times of excess to periods of low demand.Differential seasonal pricing is an attempt to redistribute demand following from a high winter demand to a low summer one. Accomodation forms an integral part of the tourist destination.The range is wide.From five-star luxury apartments to bed and breakfast;but all contributing to the experience of the destination.So the accommodation sector is a vital element in the supply of services and products to the tourist. Supply of accommodation with easy access and amenities contribute to the pulling influence of the destination,its attraction;the only limitation being that of ones own personal budgeting which at times might well be variable.The concept of relative value becomes therefore a primary consideration for finalisation of destination choice for the prospective tourist.Income levels rule the volume of demand whereas relative prices will determine actual choice of such a destination.Exchange rates apart from cost format will influence price levels so if the dollar proves to be stronger compared with European currencies then more US visitors will appear in Europe because it is cheaper.With floating exchange rates this proves not to be so influential as in the past.Complications are bound to arise and it is therefore generally the case that volume for demand is linked to real income levels, real discretionary income.Precisely, it is elasticity of demand regarding income and how the exchange rat es effect on prices influences this. The exchange rate itself reflects the general well-being of the country concerned.Yet what constitutes economic data for the country involved has little meaning to the tourist who actually is only interested in relative prices for consumption items e.g.accomodation,shopping etc.Attempts are effected to install a ‘value-for-money concept whereby tour operators for example cost such items as bottle of wine to provide a means of comparison with the purchase of like items within the home country.This concept of value-for-money is useful regarding holiday expenditure.Affluent countries such as France and Britain have significant tourist outflows to quite poor countries such as Greece and Portugal. Quality of amenities at the host destination including accommodation will influence demand.A certain aggregate of tourists will have to be present for a sufficiently powerful stimulus to further the demand flow.There should be a range of attractions for a certain degree of market differentiation to be existent. With the all-inclusive tour the actual nature of the decision making process has changed;effectively the tour operator becomes the interpreter and coordinator of demand.Their specialised knowledge proves to be particularly useful here.Markets are known to exist for a certain price banding.As noted in this report the potential tourist is becoming exceedingly knowledgeable about such matters in some instances being able to displace such a function. It has become necessary to examine tourist motivation over a period of time.Only partial explanations are expected in a field strewn with inconsistencies.Essentially the reason(s) for motivation must revolve around a persons personal preference,experience and the social and economic circumstances.Hopefully the understanding of tourist motivation will enable us to realise why it is that some destinations hold a heightened attraction compared to others and why decline occurs with changing tastes and fashions providing a greater knowledge of the world and its requirements than was so for earlier industry forecasting. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Cooper,C et al (2005) Tourism:Principles and practice.FT Prentice Hall Page S. (2006) Tourism Management: Managing for Change Butterworth-Heinemann Tribe John (1995) The Economics Of Leisure And Tourism.Butterworth-Heinemann Weaver D and Oppermann M (2000) Tourism Management. John Wiley Holloway JC. (2006) The Business of Tourism

Loss Of A Friend :: essays research papers

Loss of a Friend   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today in society many people rely on computers as much as they rely on their lungs to keep breathing. If Y2K had occurred, modern life would have collapsed into a world of chaos. People would not know what to do with themselves or their families. Three main problems supercede the rest in the amount of chaos they would bring to life; people’s life savings would no longer be accounted for, the government would not be able to monitor the activity of other countries activities, and people would line the streets looting for all they can hold.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first problem is that people who had worked so hard to save money for their children would have lost all of the money they had saved. The banks keep al of their records on computers and there would be nothing anyone could do to save their money. The people would storm the banks trying to get their money back. People need to have the security of that much money to fall back on in case something happened but when something finally did happen it would not only take away their security but the money they had invested. Americans invest money in hopes to get rich or to have so money put aside for retirement but with no computers they can’t prove that they had stocks in the first place. People would start to get angry and then violent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second problem facing this now primitive society is that the government would have no way of knowing if a strike from an adversary was eminent. Any group of people that wished to send a few nuclear warheads wrapped in pretty red bows over to the white house would have no problems doing so. All of our military intelligence would be lost and global chaos would soon follow. People’s insecurity would soon overtake them and they would feel the way Freud explains when he speaks of the â€Å"id† that lives inside of every human being. These wild feelings lead to the third social problem that would develop.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The third problem that would occur almost immediately after the computers shut down is looting. After every major event where the immediate outcome was negative looting soon followed. People realize that all of the things that they never had that they always wanted is at their fingertips. All they have to do is walk down to the nearest store, throw something heavy through the window and suddenly everything is free.

A Massive Project For The Benefit Of Mankind: A Look At The Human Geno :: essays research papers fc

A Massive Project for the Benefit of Mankind: A Look at the Human Genome Project Scientists are taking medical technology to new heights as they race to map all of the genes, nearly 100,000, in the 23 chromosomes of the human body. Along the way, they hope to understand the basis of, and maybe even develop methods of treating certain genetic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Muscular Dystrophy. They plan to do this by identifying the DNA sequence of an abnormal gene in which a disease originates and comparing it with the data of a normal or healthy gene. The entire research project is entitled "The Human Genome Project." "The Human Genome Project" is a large scale project being conducted by more than 200 laboratories, with even more researchers and labs having joined in. Most of the labs and researchers are located in France and the United States. The project started in 1990 and was slated to take 15 years and cost $3 billion in U.S. money for the entire project coming to roughly $200 million per year. Federal funding for the project is nearly 60% of the annual need. This has created some funding problems for the project. There also have been technological advances and discoveries that have helped to speed up the project. This automation may help to reduce the cost and help the project to meet its objectives ahead of schedule. The project was estimated to have detailed maps of all of the chromosomes and know the location of most of the human Genes by 1996. Researchers have successfully located the gene and DNA sequence for Huntington’s Disease on Chromosome 4 and have created a genetic test to determine if a person carries this gene. "The child of a person with Huntington's has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene, which inevitably leads to the disease." Once an individual acquires the gene, it is only a matter of time before they acquire the disease. Because the medical costs of treating such persons in terminal illnesses are extremely high, insurance companies who want to stay in business see this genetic test, and others like it, as an opportunity to screen prospective clients for the probability of such diseases. Some people feel that this information gives insurance companies unfair advantage over those covered by medical insurance and point out that release of genetic information to insurance companies puts a severe disadvantage on the person who is screened, as well as violates the patients right to privacy. If this genetic information is not safegua rded as confidential for the patient’s and doctor’s knowledge alone, then the patient can be labeled as undesirable and

Mechanomyography (MMG) :: essays research papers

MMG simply stated, is the sound that resonates from the muscle during a stimulated contraction. The act of pulling on a taught string and letting go has been related to model the sound generated by the muscle. This sound can be caused by the cycling of the actin myosin cross bridges, or perhaps by the gross lateral shift of the muscle, or maybe even the brief shock generated by the thickening of several active muscle fibers. These are three of the hypothesis that try to account for the sound emitted from the muscle. The exact cause of mechanomyography is yet to be determined, but there are a few attributes that can be spoken for. It is understood that ‘the muscle sound is related to muscle activity and its properties are related to the properties of the contraction.’ (8) The main frequency of MMG is 25 Hertz, British physicist, chemist, and physician William Wollaston determined this. This can possibly be attributed to the ATP turnover rate. ATP can hydrolyze and refurb ished at a rate of about 40msec, which translates into 25Hertz. (8,10)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The MMG signal can be recorded using a variety of transducers. One is the piezoelectric crystal contact sensor (microphone). Some researchers have used a hydrophone in studies when the muscle was submerged in water in vivo, others have used condensers.(11) It will be discussed later some of the differences between the types.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Factors that influence the MMG signal can include stiffness of the muscle, fluid in an around the muscle, temperature of the tissue, fiber type, gender, technique and equipment used, type of contraction performed, amount of fatigue, and cross talk between muscles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stiffness can alter the MMG by lowering the amplitude. As the muscle produces a greater force the stiffness of the muscle increases linearly with the force increase. When subject reaches 80 – 100% of MVC this stiffness can cause the amplitude of the signal to decrease due to the fusion of motor unit twitches, which will limit the oscillation.(2) This stiffness can also be attributed when talking about the different types of contraction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Types of contraction have been shown to provoke different amounts of peak torque. Eccentric forms of contraction elicit greater force production than that of concentric. This could cause a greater stiffness in the muscle during eccentric contractions, which could lower the MMG. Also there is the mechanism behind the contraction that could be the factor.

Biomolecules Notes

Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins 3. 2. 1 Distinguish between organic and inorganic compounds (2). Distinguish means to give the differences between two or more different items. ?Organic compounds are based on carbon and are found in living things. There are a number of exceptions including hydrogen carbonate (HCO3- ), carbon dioxide (CO2 )and Carbon monoxide (CO). ?Inorganic compounds are by default all the molecules other than those in the category above. Identify amino acids, glucose, ribose and fatty acids from diagrams showing their structure(2). Identify means to find an answer from a given number of possibilities. The following are examples of the most common organic molecules in living things: Monosaccharide sugars. These are the monomers from which larger polymer molecules are constructed. Molecules like glucose and fructose are metabolically active molecules usually stored in an inactive, insoluble polysaccharide form. ?Glucose: C6H12O6 this is a hexose sugar (six carbons) most commonly found in this ring structure. ?Glucose will be known to most students as a product of photosynthesis or the substrate molecule for respiration. Glucose is also found in a polymer as starch, glycogen or cellulose. ?All bonds are covalent. ?Glucose is a reducing sugar and will give positive (Brick red) precipitate in a Benedicts test. ?Glucose is metabolically active compound Glucose is soluble and has osmotic effects when in solution This is an alternative diagram of glucose where the carbons are assumed to be at each of the corners or end s of the lines (bonds). In this image the carbons are numbered so you can compare to the diagram above. Normally such numbers would be omitted form a diagram. These shorthand diagrams allow organic molecules to be drawn faster. There are examples further down the page of this type of diagram. ?Ribose: Pentose (5 carbon sugar). ?Ribose is part of one the important organic molecules in photosynthesis, ribulose bisphosphate. (RUBP) ? A modified version of ribose, deoxyribose is perhaps best known for its role in Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA where it forms part of the sugar phosphate backbone. The chemical properties of deoxyribose are very different from the properties of ribulose ? Both Ribose and Glucose will attract water molecules (hydrogen bonding ) to form solutions. Amino Acids: There are 20 common amino acids found in the protein structures of living things. Amino acids are monomers which combine to form the larger polypeptides. In turn polypeptides combine to form proteins. Proteins molecules are the basis of enzymes and many cellular and extra cellular components. ? This model shows the structure of the general amino acid. If you build one in a molecular kit you will appreciate better the 3D structure. Each of the common amino acids has the same structure as the one shown except that the R group is different. ?Amino acids are soluble ? This is an alternative way to draw the general amino acid structure. ?This diagram illustrates the ‘amino' group which is -NH2 ? There is also the acidic group -COOH which ionizes in solution to form an -COO-and H+groups ? This acid group is known as a carboxylic acid group. ? This is an illustration of the smalles t of the amino acids, Glycine. ?Notice that Glycine has an amino group, carboxylic acid group and a R group = H ? A common source of glycine is sugar cane. This image shows a common amino acids, Alanine ?Note the similarity in structure with glycine but this time the R group is -CH3 ? Students are not required to know the structure of all 20 common amino acids Fatty Acids: These molecules are the basis of triglycerides and many other types of lipid. These molecules are also the basis of the phospholipid molecules that form the bilayer of the cell membrane. ? The image shows a basic saturated (no double bonds) fatty acid. ?There is a methyl group (-CH3) at one end of the chain. Chain is the formed from a series of covalently bonded carbons saturated with hydrogens. ?The chain is non-polar and hydrophobic ?The carbonyl group is polar making this ends of the molecule hydrophilic. ? The complex diagram of the fatty acid can be abbreviated to this simpler diagram. ? This image show the unsaturated double bond which is characteristic of animal fats. ?If there are many double bonds the fatty acid is kn own as polyunsaturated. Micelle ?In water fatty acid molecules arrange themselves into spheres called micelles. The polar carbonyl groups on the outside in contact with water molecules. ?The non-polar tail sections are in the centre away from water. ?This is an important aspect of fat digestion and membrane structure. List three examples each of monosaccharide, disaccharides and polysaccharides (1) List means to Give a sequence of names or other brief answers with no explanation. State one function of glucose, lactose and glycogen in animals, and of fructose, sucrose and cellulose in plants(1) State means to give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

Process Strategy and Analysis: Toyota Motors Case study Essay

Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan’s largest and the world’s #4 carmaker by 2003 sales (after General Motors, Ford, and Daimler Chrysler), had a wide range of products and strong brand names with high quality image. Toyota’s growing reputation for quality and very small numbers of technical problems in its vehicles generated interesting customer loyalty and a growing demand for its products. Toyota management was managing the company’s inventory, costs and capacity very successfully and was applying cost reduction programs very well. Toyota had riving ambition to become greener. The company made a hybrid-powered (gas and electric) sedan- the prius- that had already being snapped up in U.S. and European markets. Toyota also made huge investments in developing fuel-cell technology for its vehicles. Its gas-powered cars, pick-ups, minivans, and SUVs included such models as the Camry, Celica, Corolla, 4Runner, Echo, Land Cruiser, Sienna, the luxury Lexus line, and a full-sized pick-up truck, the v-8 Tundra. Toyota also was making forklifts and manufactured housing, and was offering consumer financial services. With its wide distribution channels, strong channel efficiency and effectiveness, Toyota was both successfully competing with the world’s upper three auto makers and poised to replace GM in the top spot this decade. Toyota was known world-wide for its up-to-date vehicles, strong vehicle design, comfortableness, safety, strong resistance to wind and rollover, low fuel consumption, presence of electronic and other devices in the vehicles, and strong reputation for luxury. Surveys, however, rated the attractiveness and comfort of its passenger cars as mediocre. Also rated mediocre was the off-road excellence of its SUVs. Toyota was a leader in technological improvements, such as drive, production and vehicle construction technology and had a solid ability to design and innovates new products, to differentiate its products, to innovate new vehicle lines, or to extend existing vehicle lines. Global sales of Toyota vehicles were increasing every year beginning in 2001. Toyota showed a growth of 20% in its sales from March 2002 to March 2003 and growth of 49.6% in its net income for the same period. This increase reflected not only the quality of its vehicles, but also Toyota’s strong efficiency in sale operations, applying one-to-one marketing, entering into partnership and joint ventures with other companies world-wide, being price competitive, strongly applying sales incentives such as warranty extensions, and applying advertisement tools such as TV commercials, ads in magazines and newspapers and exhibition presentations. Toyota needed little use of financing packages and radio commercials in its sale incentive programs. Also, Toyota was known for strong after-sale services that helped the company to strengthen relationships with its customers and quality of service provided to them. Toyota had a strong, unique corporate culture that helped the company remain very well organised and highly competitive. Toyota also had strong co-operation with its partners and among its divisions that allowed Toyota to further co-ordinate interdivisional operations. In comparison to its big three competitors, Toyota had strong manufacturing operations with the ability to produce highly innovative products, taking advantage of low cost structures, ability to open new manufacturing plants, benefiting from economies of scale. Transplant assembling. Availability of technology for its production, and availability and standards of sources, the ability to enter new markets, and the like, Also, Toyota had strongly balanced its activities both domestically and internationally. There are five basis ways in approve: (1) reduce resources, (2) reduce errors, (3) meet or exceed expectations of downstream customers, (4) make the process safer, and (5) make the process more satisfying to the person doing it. First, a process that uses more resources than necessary is wasteful. Reports that are distributed to more people than necessary wastes copying and distribution time, material, user read time, and, eventually, life space. Second, for the most part, errors are a sign of poor workmanship and require rework. Typing errors that are detected after the computer printout require opening the file, making the correction, and printing the revised document. Third, meeting or exceeding expectations of downstream customers improves the process. For example, the better the weld, the less grinding required, making the appearance of a finish paint more The fourth way a process can be improved is by making it safer. A safer workplace is a more productive one with fewer lost-time accidents and less workers compensation claims. The fifth way to improve process is to increase the satisfaction of the individual performing the process. Sometimes a little change, such as an ergonomically Make a substantial change in a person’s attitude toward their work. Manufacturing cycle The manufacturing cycle typically occurs at the distributor/manufacturer for retailer/ manufacturer) interface and includes all processes involved in replenishing distributor (or retailer) inventory. The manufacturing cycle is triggered by customer orders or by the forecast of customer demand and current product availability in the manufacturer’s finished-goods warehouse. One extreme in a manufacturing cycle is an integrated steel mill that collects orders that is similar enough to enable the manufacturer to produce in large quantities. In this case, the manufacturing cycle is reacting to customer demand (referred to as a pull process). Another extreme is a consumer products firm that must produce in anticipation of demand. In this case the manufacturing cycle is anticipating customer demand (referred to as a push process). The processes involved in the manufacturing cycle Order arrival from the finished-goods warehouse, distributor, retailer, or customer Production scheduling Manufacturing and shipping Receiving at the distributor, retailer, or customer Order arrival During this process a finished- goods warehouse or distributor sets a replenishment order trigger based on the forecast of future demand and current product inventories. The resulting orders are then conveyed to the manufacturer. In some cases the customer or retailer may be ordering directly from the manufacturer. In other cases a manufacturer may be producing to stock a finished products warehouse. In the latter situation, the order is triggered based on product availability and a forecast of future demand. This process is similar to the retail order trigger process in the replenishment cycle. Production scheduling This process is similar to the order entry process in the replenishment cycle where inventory is allocated to an order. During the production scheduling process, orders (or forecasted orders) are allocated to a production plan. Given the desired production quantities for each product, the manufacturer must decide on the precise production sequence. If there are multiple lines, the manufacturer must also decide which products to allocate to each line. The objective of the production scheduling process is to maximise the proportion of orders filled on time while keeping costs down. Manufacturing and Shipping This process is equivalent to the order fulfilment process described in the replenishment cycle. During the manufacturing phase of the process, the manufacturer produces to the production schedule. During the shipping phase of this process, the product is shipped to the customer, retailer, distributor, or finished-product warehouse. The objective of the manufacturing and shipping process is to create and ship the product by the promised due date while meeting quality requirements and keeping costs down. Distribution Toyota used the traditional distribution channels; vehicles from the production places were distributed to national or regional distribution, which then distributed the vehicles to the local dealers. The three units of Toyota that produced passenger cars, SUVs, light trucks, and mini vans. Toyota was also entering into partnerships with other carmakers world-wide, such as South Korean Hyundai and Chinese carmakers, and used their distribution channels to enter the markets where these partners were predominant. With these activities, Toyota was trying to balance its distribution channels world-wide and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their distribution channels. Manufacturing Toyota had manufacturing facilities in 37 countries and sold its products in 200 countries around the world. As the situation deteriorated in 2003, manufacturers were increasingly experiencing inventory problems as they were unable to shift their growing stockpile of cars into the saturated fleet market. With the increasing costs of product storage and reduced retail revenues, coupled with relaxed consumer demand, production cuts was likely to occur in the company. Also, Toyota was looking for ways to open production places in regions like China and Mexico, in order to benefit from cheap labour force and gain competitive advantage. In this process the product is received at the distributor, finished-goods warehouse, retailer, or customer and inventory records are updated. Other processes related to storage and fund transfers also take place. Few companies in the world excel at continuous improvement on a corporate-wide basis like Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota is perhaps best known for its highly effective production system, dubbed â€Å"lean manufacturing† by an MIT study in the 1980’s (Womack et. Al, 1990). But interestingly, history’s most efficient method of production was not born from a sudden brainstorm by an ingenious individual (although Toyota has had plenty of those over the years). Rather, it evolved into its present state over decades of sustained, high level of continuous improvement activity (Cusumano, 1985). Toyota’s efficiency extends not only to the production floor, but also to product development, prototyping, testing, and all other business operations. Manufacturers the world over have been emulating Toyota’s practices, and have done so with much success (Liker, 1998). However, unlike Toyota, much of the success has been confined to the production floor and little success elsewhere. Toyota’s product development system, the first author found this tool to be used pervasively and with incredible power and effectiveness (Sobek, 1997). Toyota uses it to systematically guide problem-solvers through a rigorous process, document the key outcomes of that process, and propose improvements. The tool is used so pervasively that it forms a keystone in Toyota’s world-famous continuous improvement program. Toyota calls this tool the A3 report. The A3 Problem-Solving Report The A3 report is so named because it is written on an A3 sized paper (metric equivalent of 11† x 17†). Toyota has developed several kinds of A3 reports for different applications. Every report starts with a â€Å"theme† or title. The theme indicates the problem being addressed, and is fairly descriptive. The theme should focus on the problem, and not advocate a particular solution Theme: Every report starts with a â€Å"theme† or title. The theme indicates the problem being addressed, and is fairly descriptive. The theme should focus on the problem, and not advocate a particular solution As Spear and Bowen (1999) elucidate, Toyota indoctrinates its people with its own version of the scientific method—every improvement is designed as an experiment. The A3 problem-solving process is a structure to implement the scientific method. The current condition and root cause constitutes the necessary background research, the target condition and implementation plan outline the experimental design and the follow-up plan states the hypothesis. TQM is based on a number of ideas. It means thinking about quality in terms of all functions of the enterprise and is a start is a start-to-finish process that integrates interrelated functions at all levels. It is a systems approach that considers every interaction between the various elements of the organisation. Thus, the overall effectiveness of the system is higher than the sum of the individual outputs from the subsystems. The subsystems include all the organisational functions in the life cycle of a product, such as (!) design, (2) planning, (3) production, (4) distribution, and (5) field service. The management subsystems also require integration, including (1) strategy with a customer focus, (2) the tools of quality and (3) employee involvement (the linking process that integrates the whole). A corollary is that any product, process, or service can be improved, and a successful organisation is one that consciously seeks and exploits opportunities for improvement at all levels. The load-bearing structure is customer satisfaction. The watchword is continuous improvement. (Ross, 2) Hence TQM requires six basic concepts: A committed and involved management to provide long-term top-to bottom organisational support. An unwavering focus on the customer, both internally and externally. Effective involvement and utilisation of the entire work force. Continuous improvement of the business and production process. Treating suppliers as partners. Establish performance measures for the processes. (Besterfield, Michna, Besterfied & Sacre, p.2) (Crosby, 1979) presented the following steps in order to undertake TQM effectively. Management Commitment: Top management must become convinced of the need for quality and must clearly communicate this to the entire company be written policy, starting that each person is expected to perform according to the requirement or cause the requirement to be officially changed to what the company and the customers really need. Quality improvement team: From a team composed of department heads to oversee improvements in their departments and in the company as a whole. Quality measurement: Establish measurements appropriate to every activity in order to identify areas in need of improvement. Cost of quality: Estimate the costs of quality in order to identify areas where improvements would be profitable. Quality awareness: Raise quality awareness among employees. They non-conformance. Corrective action: Take corrective action as a result of steps 3 and 4. Zero defects planning: From a committee to plan a program appropriate to the company and its culture. Supervisor training: All levels of management must be trained in how to implement their part of the quality improvement program. Zero defects day: Schedule a day to signal to employees that the company has a new standard. Goal setting: Individuals must establish improvement goals for themselves and their groups. Error causes removal: Employees should be encouraged to inform management of any problems that prevent them from performing error free work. Recognition: Give public, non-financial appreciation to those who meet their quality goals or perform outstandingly. Quality councils: Composed of quality professionals and team chairpersons, quality councils should meet regularly to share experiences, problems, and ideas. Does it all over again: Repeat steps 1 to 13 in order to emphasise the never-ending process of quality improvement. (Ross, p. 6-7) Management must participate in the quality program. A quality council must be established to develop a clear vision, set long-term goals, and direct the program. Quality goals are included in the business plan. An annual quality improvement program is established and involves input from the entire work force. Managers participate on quality improvement teams and also act as coaches to other teams. TQM is a continual activity that must be entrenched in the culture- it is not just a one-shot program. TQM must be communicated to all people. The key to an effective TQM program is its focus on the customer. An excellent place to start is by satisfying internal customers. We must listen to the voice of the customer and emphasise design quality and defect prevention. Do it right the first time and every time, for customer satisfaction is the most important consideration. TQM is an organisation-wide challenge that is everyone’s responsibility. All personnel must be trained in TQM, statistical process control (SPC), and other appropriate quality improvement skills so they can effectively participate on project teams. Including internal customers and, for that matter, internal suppliers on project teams are an excellent approach. They understand the process better than anyone else does. Changing behaviour is the goal. People must come to work not only to do their jobs, but also to think about how to improve their jobs. People must be empowered at the lowest possible level to perform processes in an optimum manner. There must be a continued effort to improve all business and production processes. Quality improvement projects, such as on-time delivery, order entry efficiency, billing error rate, customer satisfaction, cycle time, scrap reduction, and supplier management, are good places to begin technical techniques such as SPC, benchmarking, quality function deployment, and designed experiments are excellent for problem solving. On the average 40% of pounds is purchased product or service; therefore, the supplier quality must-be outstanding. A partnering relationship rather than an adversarial one must be developed. Both parties have as much to gain or lose based on the success or failure of the product or service. The focus should be on quality and life-cycle costs rather than price. Suppliers should be few in numbers so that true partnering can occur. Performance measures such as uptime, percent non-conforming, absenteeism, and customer satisfaction should be determined for each functional area. These measures should be posted for everyone to see. Quantitative data are necessary to measure the continuous quality improvement activity. (Besterfield, Michna, Besterfied & Sacre, p.3) The purpose of TQM is to provide a quality product and/or service to customers, which will, in turn, increase productivity and lower cost. With a higher quality product and lower price, competitive position in the marketplace will be enhanced. This series of events will allow the organisation to achieve the objectives of profit and growth with greater case. In addition, the work force will have job security, which will create a satisfying place to work. As previously stated. TQM requires a cultural change. The change is substantial and will not be accomplished in a short period of time. Small organisations will be able to make the transformation much faster than large organisations. (Besterfield, Michna, Besterfied & Sacre, p.3) Hence summarising the key points discussed above, productivity is a major concern of managers. It implies measurement, an essential step in the control process. The productivity measurement of skill workers is generally easier than that of knowledge workers such as managers. Yet managerial productivity is very important, especially for organisations operating in a competitive environment. Production management refers to those activities necessary to manufacture products; it may also include purchasing, warehousing, transportation, and other operations. Operations management has a similar meaning, referring to activities necessary to produce and deliver a service as well as a physical product. The operations management systems model show inputs, the transformation process, outputs, and the feedback system. A variety of tools and techniques make operations more productive. Seven steps are often involved in planning and designing a product and its production. Companies can choose from six different kinds of production layouts. In order to operate the system, the managerial functions of organising, staffing, and leading must be carried out effectively. Controlling requires an information system often supported by computers. (Koontz and Weihrich, 1994; p.653) Among the various tools for planning and controlling operations is operations research, which is the application of scientific methods to the study of alternatives in a problem situation to obtain a quantitative basis for arriving at the best solution. The operation research procedure consists of six steps. Examples of tools are linear programming, inventory planning and control, the just-in time inventory system, and distribution logistics. Other tools and techniques are time-event inventory system, engineering, work simplification, quality circles, total quality management, and a variety of computer-aided approaches. (Koontz and Weihrich, 1994; p.653) References Besterfield, D. H., Michna, C. B., Besterfied, G., H.,   & Sacre, B.   S., (no date available). Total Quality Management, Third Edition, pp. 1-3. Crosby, P., (1979). Quality is Free, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1979. Cusumano, M.A., 1985, The Japanese Automobile Industry: Technology and Management at Nissan and Toyota, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. Koontz, H., and Weihrich, H., (1994). Management: A Global Perspective, Tenth Edition, McGraw-Hill, International Editions, pp.633-653 Ross, J. E., (no date available). Total Quality Management: Text, Cases and Readings, Second Edition, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 1-3   Liker, J.K. (ed.), 1998, Becoming Lean: Inside Stories of U.S. Manufacturers, Productivity Press, Portland, OR. Sobek, II, D.K., 1997, Principles that Shape Product Development Systems: A Toyota-Chrysler Comparison, Ph.D. dissertation, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Spear, S. and H.K. Bowen, 1999, â€Å"Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System,† Harvard Business Review, Sept.-Oct., 77(5), 97-106. Womack, J., D.T. Jones, and D. Roos, 1990, The Machine that Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production, HarperPerennial, New York.   

Middle School vs. High School Essay

One, the closing of one’s grade school years, and the other, a gateway to young adulthood. Middle school and High school, two very important times of a young person’s life, share some similarities and many differences. Middle school, just like its title explains, is the time when students are stuck in the middle of childhood and young adulthood. People start to mature from earlier elementary years, and try to find out who they are. While in the process of trying to fit in, new friend groups are shaped and instead of being one big group of people, circles form and groups are segregated. In addition to more classmates and teachers, responsibilities increase as students take on the load of multiple classes, and now receive grades for their work. Teachers expect them to participate actively in class, and complete their assignments on time. Although it only lasts 3 years, middle school is the critical transitional period when new teachers, new classmates, more classes, and more work are introduced all to prepare you for high school. After 8th grade, people leave the middle school bubble, and advance to the jungle of high school. Not only is the campus physically larger, but class sizes increase, and great expectations come along with it. Although middle school may have seemed like a challenge, high school comes with once again more work and more responsibilities. For students, high school is a sink or swim moment, and some struggle to stay afloat. Some may have trouble focusing in school, but the ideal student is completing their homework on time, studying for their exams, attending practice for their extracurricular activities, and achieving a respectable grade point average, that will all pay off and get them into their dream college. Not only is the work different between the two environments, but so is the amount of freedom students get. In middle school, kids are restrained to a certain curriculum. The schedule they get, is the schedule they get, and nothing is changing. Part of their schedule, lunch, is also a time that is also very different in middle school. All students are required to eat lunch in the same room at the same time, and lunches include a choice between mystery meat, or last week’s hot dogs disguised as soup. Contrary to middle school, in high school, students are granted much more freedom. Students can choose which classes they will take, what teachers they have, what groups or clubs they will participate in, what sports they will play, and much more. Not only can students choose all of their activities, but students also have many options for what they want to eat. High schools often carry popular foods such as subway, burgers, and French fries, and healthy foods such as fruit, and salads. Just in case the school food is not good enough, many high schools often allow upperclassman to leave for lunch to enjoy a meal in their own home, or food from another restaurant. Overall, high school and middle school are both made to prepare students for higher education, but are very different in many aspects. As we all grow older, we can see how we have changed from middle school to high school, and can see the many distinctions between the two.

Why Beowulf is a True Epic Hero Essays

Why Beowulf is a True Epic Hero Essays Why Beowulf is a True Epic Hero Paper Why Beowulf is a True Epic Hero Paper It seems as though humanity is fixed on one form of what and how a hero ought to be. The epic hero is the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values and heroic ideals of a particular society. Beowulf is an illustration of this in most aspects because he fought for the common good, had a superhuman trait of strength in his hands, and showed tremendous courage and bravery when entering a battle despite death might win in the end. Beowulf shows throughout the poem that his actions are in no way selfish. John D. Niles states in The Fatal Contradiction in Beowulf (94), Before the fight he declares himself willing to accept whatever outcome the lord see fit to grant. This shows that Beowulf does not fight to win personal glory; he did it for his people. A quality an epic hero should acquire. Beowulf was proud to know he pleased his people by defeating Greened and later on Grenades mother. He goes on to show throughout the poem that he will defend the Gears at all costs. Bernard F. Happen suggests that Beowulf is in fact far from a true hero. He states In The Failure of the Heroic Ideal (82), Beowulf behavior from beginning to end Is governed by the ethic of vengeance and the desire for glory. Its apparent that this Is not exact because its proven that Beowulf chose to fight alone so the fight would be equal. He knew the potential outcome, death. Epic heroes dont naturally fight with an army or side by side a friend, they take on their challenger alone. Beowulf chose to conquer a number of villains by his own hand to ensure the Seats would remain In peace. When we think of heroes, we automatically think of superpowers and extravagant Holon suits with capes and gadgets. Like Superman and Spenserian, modern day examples of heroes, Beowulf contained an almost superhuman Like quality. He had an ultimate strength In his hands. In his battle with Greened, Beowulf fought with no weapons to equal the fight and to show the meaning of true defeat without It being all for his glory. He killed Greened and put Warthogs and his people at ease. They saw Beowulf as a true hero as well. Beowulf Is definitely an epic hero. He fought for his people to the death and defeated numerous monsters. He was aware of his responsibility as a king to do whatever It took to protect the Seats. Beowulf Is a ferocious warrior with no tragic flaws who died for his people. Like John D. Niles states, If the behavior of anyone In the poem Is to be considered Irresponsible and Impractical, It Is that of the Gears, whoso failure to live by the heroic Ideal proves to be Impractical In the extreme, even to the point of leading to their ruin as soon as they no longer have a hero to protect them. This Is a Ideal example of why Beowulf Is a true epic hero. BY earner 991 be. The epic hero is the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values and Niles states in The Fatal Contradiction in Beowulf (94), Before the fight he declares Beowulf does not fight to win personal glory; he did it for his people. A quality an epic that he will defend the Seats at all costs. Bernard F. Happen suggests that Beowulf is in fact far f rom a true hero. He states in The Failure of the Heroic Ideal (82), Beowulf behavior from beginning to end is governed by the ethic of vengeance and the desire for glory. Its apparent that this is equal. He knew the potential outcome, death. Epic heroes dont naturally fight with an conquer a number of villains by his own hand to ensure the Seats would remain in examples of heroes, Beowulf contained an almost superhuman like quality. He had an ultimate strength in his hands. In his battle with Greened, Beowulf fought with no weapons to equal the fight and to show the meaning of true defeat without it being Beowulf is definitely an epic hero. He fought for his people to the death and defeated numerous monsters. He was aware of his responsibility as a king to do whatever it took to protect the Seats. Beowulf is a ferocious warrior with no tragic flaws who died for his people. Like John D. Niles states, If the behavior of anyone in the poem is to be considered irresponsible and impractical, it is that of the Seats, whos failure to live by the heroic ideal proves to be impractical in the extreme, even to the point of leading to their ruin as soon as they no longer have a hero to protect them. This is a ideal example of why Beowulf is a true epic hero.

psychological analysis of A Cry in the Night essays

psychological analysis of A Cry in the Night essays Deceiving is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about this novel. Throughout this novel, many things and many people are very deceiving. Mary Higgins Clark, who is a very talented author who resides in Saddle River, New Jersey, wrote A Cry In The Night. She is described as the Queen of suspense, which fits her very well; this novel was filled with suspense from beginning to end. A Cry In The Night started off with a calm heart warming plot, with a rich talented artist coming in and sweeping a struggling single mom off her feet. Jenny MacPartland, the main character was working at an art gallery in New York City owned by Mr. Hartley. She was setting up, and stepped outside the gallery to view one of the artists paintings in the window. As she stood mesmerized by Memory of Caroline she stepped back and unknowingly bumped into the man that would change her life forever. She spun around and saw Erich Krueger, the artist whose work was being exhibitioned. After the fun fille d day she spent with him, she thought her life would be making a dramatic turn for the good, or so it seemed. But her good friend Fran said it best, hes too perfect, implying that underneath his perfect guise was something wrong. She was right, but it wasnt just wrong, it was horribly wrong. This report will examine and scrutinize the novel from a sociological view. The analysis will include the values, status, role conflicts, and relationships of the main character, and the cause, classification, norms broken, and sanctions of the deviant character. A cultural trait is the smallest element in a culture. A cultural trait can be material like a tangible object or non-material like an action, superstition, or belief. Two extremely important and highly representative material traits from the novel are Erichs hockey stick and his mothers green nightgown. The hockey stick was fir...

Learn How to Calculate Molarity of a Solution

Learn How to Calculate Molarity of a Solution Molarity is a unit of concentration, measuring the number of moles of a solute per liter of solution. The strategy for solving molarity problems is fairly simple. This outlines a straightforward method to calculate the  molarity of a solution. The key to calculating molarity is to remember the units of molarity (M): moles per liter. Find the molarity by calculating the number of moles of the solute dissolved in liters of a solution. Sample Molarity Calculation Calculate the molarity of a solution prepared by dissolving 23.7 grams of KMnO4 into enough water to make 750 mL of solution. This example has neither the moles nor liters needed to find molarity, so you must find the number of moles of the solute first. To convert grams to moles, the molar mass of the solute is needed, which can be found on  certain  periodic tables.​ Molar mass of K 39.1 gMolar mass of Mn 54.9 gMolar mass of O 16.0 gMolar mass of KMnO4 39.1 g 54.9 g (16.0 g x 4)Molar mass of KMnO4 158.0 g Use this number to convert grams to moles. moles of KMnO4 23.7 g KMnO4 x (1 mol KMnO4/158 grams KMnO4)moles of KMnO4 0.15 moles KMnO4 Now the liters of solution is needed. Keep in mind, this is the total volume of the solution, not the volume of solvent used to dissolve the solute. This example is prepared with enough water to make 750 mL of solution. Convert 750 mL to liters. Liters of solution mL of solution x (1 L/1000 mL)Liters of solution 750 mL x (1 L/1000 mL)Liters of solution 0.75 L This is enough to calculate the molarity. Molarity moles solute/Liter solutionMolarity 0.15 moles of KMnO4/0.75 L of solutionMolarity 0.20 M The molarity of this solution is 0.20 M (moles per liter). Quick Review How To Calculate Molarity To calculate molarity: Find the number of moles of solute dissolved in solution, Find the volume of solution in liters, andDivide moles solute by liters solution. Make certain to use the correct number of significant figures when reporting your answer. One easy way to track the number of significant digits is to write all your numbers in scientific notation.

Delivering a Killer Dissertation the First Time Around

Delivering a Killer Dissertation the First Time Around Writing your masters thesis or doctoral dissertation is quite an undertaking with a long checklist of important characteristics to include to make yours a truly well done paper. In fact, there are five key areas to watch to assure your paper turns out a succinct and scholarly work:StyleFormatting and layoutQuotations, citations and referencesHeadingsGrammar, spelling, punctuation and other writing issuesNow youre stylinFirst and foremost, use what your school gives you. Most departments have some sort of general style guide, or at the very least, a checklist of points to model your dissertation after. The very thorough departments have whole dissertation handbooks, as well as sample paper templates and more. Dont just throw these at the bottom of a pile or never download them. They are quite valuable to you. Yes, it may make for a bit of laborious reading at first, but getting the margins, fonts, spacing and general style right the first is definitely worth the effort, as it will sav e you valuable time down the road.Whats more, get your own copy of the style guide your college recommends you follow for writing. A great deal of dissertations follow the APA Publication Manual (but not all do, so check in your dissertation guide/handbook to be sure). Yes, its another $20.00 you dont have to spend, but this guide is absolutely essential if youre writing a dissertation. Its a small price to pay for the peace of mind of being able to look up some questionable fact at 2 a.m. when youre revising your paper for the third time on deadline.Proper formatting and layoutNow that you have the two most empowering things to get you on your way to writing a great dissertation, its a matter of using them. Some people get caught up in the details and cant do a bit of writing until they know every little ounce of knowledge there is to know about how to write their dissertation properly. Others just jump right in and start typing, completely ignoring meaningful characteristics like margins, fonts, formatting and proper citations. To be a success the first time around, you need to land somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.That is, by all means you should open a document and make sure you have the margins, font type and font size set properly. You should know to have only one space between sentences. And you should also be sure your header or footer is properly formatted and has the required combination of words and numbers in it that your institution requires. But dont get so hung up on the details that you cant make strides in substantial writing of the document as well.Quotations, citations and referencesIncorporating the vital components for quotations and citations in your dissertations style is another key to a successful paper from the start. You must know how to properly cite an author within the text of your paper, with or without a direct quote. Also know how to format a longer quotation within the text. Dont just copy reference listings from other sources and assume they are correct in the style your paper uses. The three key references writers typically use most are a book, a journal article and a Web source. Do know how all three of these should look in your papers chosen style. The other odd exceptions you can look up when needed, but you will save yourself a world of time by committing these three types of references to memory.Heads up on correct headingsLikewise, knowing the correct way to format the levels of headings throughout the text are imperative. Most writing styles have anywhere from two to five heading levels that are typically used. Based on the style used (MLA, Chicago, APA), the heading placement differs from the center of page, left justified or at the start of an indented paragraph, and appearing in plain text, italicized, all capitalized first letters or just a capital on the first letter of the first word.Grammar, spelling, punctuation and other writing issuesNaturally, your professors expect a dis sertation that is free of grammar mistakes, loads of misspellings, misplaced or altogether missing punctuation and other marks of poor writing. In fact, some of the most commonly forgotten- but inevitably frowned upon by dissertation committees and advisors- are anthropomorphisms and personification issues.Anthropomorphisms and personification occur in writing when human qualities are given to something that is not human. For example, the sentence, The study examined five different dog breeds, is personifying an object, the study, which cannot truly examine anything. However, the researcher performing the study can. Therefore, a better and correct way to write the sentence would be, In the study, the researcher examined five different dog breeds. Another common habit of some writers is giving this same sort of human quality to an organization. For example, these sentences both present anthropomorphisms:The company mandated a 10% raise for all employees.The Department of Defense orde red an increase in troops.Correcting such personification is simple- a human element of the organization needs to be added. For instance,The leaders of the company mandated a 10% raise for all employees,Officials at the Department of Defense ordered an increase in troops.As you can see, its not rocket science to correct this often-made writing mistake, but it definitely makes for easier editing (and less criticism from ones dissertation advisor) when its handled as one does the writing, rather than having to correct multiple occurrences throughout the paper later.

Threats to Homeland Security essays

Threats to Homeland Security essays The United States has always faced threats from abroad, but also increasingly from within. In the 21st century, new threats have been introduced due to technological, biological, and chemical advances. These new concerns compromise the security of our nation, while the threats of classic warfare that have existed in the past still exist. The War on Terror has made terrorists abroad seek new ways to harm our country. Besides the fear of international terrorists, the threat from within in country from anarchists or rebels is an equally important concern. Our country has two major fronts of concern, the domestic threat, and the growing international one. Although the War on Terrorism focused on threats from abroad, many of the new threats to our country lie within our own borders. One form of domestic terrorism is Lone Wolf terrorism. This form occurs when an individual believes strongly in a certain cause and is willing to inflict violence on his own country. The most well known lone wolf is Timothy McVeigh, known for the Oklahoma City Bombing. McVeigh believed he was a crusader, defending the constitution. He hoped to start a revolution against what he believed to be a tyrannical federal government. In order to carry out his attack he parked a van containing 4,000 pounds of explosive material outside of the Federal Alfred P. Murrah Building, where it destroyed about half of the building, killing 168 people, including children in a day care on one of the floors. This attack was the second most deadly terrorist attack in the United States, the first being 9/11. This is one example of domestic terrorism that our own citizens have p articipated in. Although this is a severe problem, the most dangerous threat comes from outside of our borders. Therefore, securing our nations entry ways, including our ports and expansive borders, is vital for our security. The United States has over 300 sea and...

Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Assault and Abuse

Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Assault and Abuse Protecting your child from sexual assault or helping your child if they have been sexually abused can be traumatic and confusing. Many people share the same questions and concerns. Here are comments, frequently asked question, and feedback about the topic of child abuse and sexual assault. 11 Common Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Assault I am afraid of scaring my children by talking to them about sexual abuse, but I am also afraid not to talk to them about it. What should I do? Answer: There are many things that we teach our children to be careful about or about how to react to different scary situations. For example, how to cross the street (looking both ways) and what to do in the case of a fire (drop and roll). Add the topic of sexual abuse to the other safety tips that you give to your children and remember, the subject is often more frightening to parents than to their children. I do not know how to tell if someone is a sex offender. Its not like they wear a sign around their neck. Is there any sure way to identify them? Answer:  There is no way to tell who is a sex offender, with the exception of offenders listed on sex offender registries online. Even then, the chances that would recognize the offenders in a public place is questionable. That is why it is important to trust your instincts, keep an open dialog with your children, stay aware of your surroundings and the people involved with your children, and follow general safety guidelines. People may falsely accuse someone of being a sex offender or of being sexually abused.  How do you know for sure what or who to believe? Answer:  According to research, the crime of sexual assault is no more falsely reported than other crimes. In fact, victims of sexual assault, especially children, will often hide that they have been victimized because of self-blame, guilt, shame or fear. If someone (an adult or child) tells you that they have been sexually abused or identifies the person that sexually abused them, it is best to believe them and offer your full support. Avoid interrogating them and allow them  to decide the details that they are comfortable sharing with you. Help guide them to the proper channels for finding help. How does a parent possibly handle knowing that their child was sexually assaulted? I am fearful that I would fall apart. Answer: A common fear with children who have been victimized, is how their parents will react when they find out what has happened. Children want to make their parents happy, not upset them. They may feel ashamed and fear that it will somehow alter how a parent feels about them or relates to them. That is why it is paramount that if you know or suspect that your child has been sexually assaulted that you remain in control, make them feel safe, nurture them and show them your love. You must be strong and remember that the trauma that your child has endured is the issue. Redirecting the focus away from them to you, by displaying out of control emotions, is not be helpful. Find a support team and counseling to help you deal with your emotions so that you can remain strong for your child. How can children ever recover from such an experience? Answer:  Children are resilient. It has been shown that children who can talk about their experience with someone that they trust, often heals more quickly than those that keep it inside or who are not believed. Offering full parental support and providing the child with professional care can help the child and family to heal. Is it true that some children willingly participate in sexual activities and are partly to blame for what happened? Answer: Children cannot legally consent to sexual activity, even if they say that it was consensual. It is important to remember that  sexual abusers use deviant ways to gain control over their victims. They are highly manipulative, and it is common for them to make victims feel that they are to blame for the assault. If the child feels that they somehow caused the sexual assault, they will be less likely to tell their parents about it. When dealing with a child that has been sexually assaulted, it is important to reassure them that nothing that was done to them by an adult was their fault, no matter what the abuser did or said to make them feel otherwise. There is so much about sex offenders on the news. How can parents avoid being overprotective with their children? Answer: It is important that children learn how to react to the possible dangers that they may be confronted with in life. By being overprotective or exhibiting irrational fear, children tend to become helpless. It is more productive to teach children common sense, provide them with the information that can help them, and keep an open and inviting dialog going so that they feel safe to talk about their problems. I am fearful that I will not know that my child has been a victim. How can a parent tell? Answer:   Unfortunately, some children never tell that they have been victims of sexual abuse. However, the more informed parents are about what to look for, the better the odds are that they will recognize that something has happened to their child. Learn to keep close tabs on your instincts and look for any change in your childs behavior that is concerning. Do not dismiss thoughts that something might be wrong.   Is the court process terribly traumatic for child victims? Are they forced to relive the abuse? Answer:  Ã‚  Children who go through the court process often feel that they had regained the control that was lost when they were sexually assaulted. The court process can become part of the healing process. In many states, there are professionally trained personnel and child-friendly places designed to help child victims through the interview process. If my child is a victim of sexual abuse, does talking to them about it afterward make it worse? Answer:  Ã‚  A child should not feel that they are being forced to talk about being sexually assaulted. Be careful that you are opening the door for them to talk, but not forcing them through the door. Most children will open up when they are ready. It will help them to get to that point by knowing that when that time comes, you will be there for them. What should I do if I suspect someone is sexually abusing my child or child in the neighborhood? Answer:  Ã‚  It is best to contact the authorities and let them investigate. If you suspect the abuse because of something your child or another child told you, your primary role is to believe the child and give them your support.

Using movement to teach academics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Using movement to teach academics - Essay Example Learning through movement is the preferred mode of learning for young children. This is because through active involvement, children are able to learn the best. For example in prepositions, should be made part of movement in class as they are critical in life; children need to understand them fully. As children move in every direction (under, slide, around, in tunnels, near and over objects) the words make more meaning to them. Such orientation in the space is important for children to identify letters and symbol orientation in a page. Sandra Minton says that the difference between a letter â€Å"b† and â€Å"d† is dependent upon orientation as both letters are comprised of a circle and a line (2003). Whenever children talk or listen to each other like on the playground as they make new inventions, they are practising and expanding vocabulary as well as learn how to communicate which is an important lesson. In Saudi Arabia where I come from, active learning was not part of the curricula as teachers saved on the academic time. What they did not understand is that young children can not concentrate in class like adults, listen to all the vocabularies and remember them next time in class. Practice through activities makes learning a quicker method in early childhood development. When children are made to keep quiet and listen in class, they do not learn how to communicate. But when they are encouraged to move and talk, have physical classes, they can invent games and reinvent the rules, which further enhance their communication skills (Block, 2001). Such children are able to express themselves even when they become adults. When they are made to skip lightly, this means that they are utilizing adjectives in the field, they are no longer abstract concepts in on the wall of the classroom. Physically demonstrating their actions with words makes the children comprehend their word easily and last longer. For example, words like stalk, or

Why do teens use self-injury as a coping mechanism Research Paper

Why do teens use self-injury as a coping mechanism - Research Paper Example It is a fact that as the materialism and modernism are increasing at a fast face all over the globe, the probability of self-injury is also mounting at an astounding pace in the teens. Myriad critical reasons form the bedrock of the self-abusing tendency in teens and a complex and intricate meshwork of crude realities needs to be scrutinized for identifying the major factors. These factors should explain the reason why more and more teenagers are readily seeking refuge in self-injury mechanism. People are oblivious to many distressing realities concerning this issue and this paper is basically an effort to highlight the relation between problems faced by teenagers and increased tendency of self-abusing. Facts and discussion presented in this paper are basically meant to illuminate the reality of the claim that â€Å"more and more teenagers are using self-injury as a coping mechanism because they are unable to relate their aggravated problems to their parents, peers, or teachers beca use of poor self-esteems, low morals, and continuous feelings of guilt and shame.†... It is an unequivocal fact that depression is highly capable of paralyzing one’s thinking, self-assessing, and comprehending abilities. Therefore, one finds oneself eventually trapped in a tight spot where one can neither hear any voice from the outside world that is normal nor translate the inner rushed and psychic emotions that are abnormal into something that could be understood by the people surrounding that person. An increased number of teenagers are selecting self-harm as a way of emotional projection in the hope of coping with horribly bizarre feelings of numbness, shame, regret and for punishing themselves for certain past failures. 3. Inability of parents and teachers to help teenagers increases self-harm incidence: Self-harm is a horrendous and powerful reality that affects all teenagers irrespective of social, racial, ethnic, or economic differences. It is an issue of concern around the globe that what majorly makes most of the distressed and disappointed teenagers seek refuge in self-harm in spite of the presence of parents at homes and teachers at schools. Research suggests that teenagers engage in self-destructive behavior because they find it increasingly difficult to relate their gross problems with their parents as the depression intensifies. With ever-heightening materialistic approach, most of the parents are unable to share more time with their families due to which, teenagers find it impossible to verbally communicate the nature of their problems in the short time their parents spare them. Nearly same is the scenario experienced by such depressed and anguished teenagers at the schools, where owing to increased cultural diversity and number of students, teachers are unable to relate to all the students

Morally permissible for abortion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Morally permissible for abortion - Essay Example In this article, two basic assertions will be fortified – one that there are no good grounds to believe that abortion is morally incorrect and secondly, that there are good causes to prove that abortion is morally permissible. Providing a brief critique of a known pro-life argument is deemed necessary before we proceed with the construction of an argument for the moral permissibility of abortion. The eminent anti-abortion philosopher Marquis has stated that â€Å"the future of a standard fetus includes a set of experiences, projects, activities, and such which are identical with the futures of adult human beings and are identical with the futures of young children...it follows that abortion is prima facie seriously wrong.† According to him, killing a fetus is nothing but killing a human being since the fetus is a future resemblance of human being which makes abortion morally wrong. He added that killing a fetus certainly implies a potential loss of value. All pro-life a ctivists believe that killing children and infants is wrong in the same way as it is killing any human being (cited in Marquis 184-185). To counteract the premises of Marquis, Mary A. Warren, a well known pro-abortion feminist philosopher deduces the following anti-abortion argument: 1) It is wrong to kill innocent human beings, 2) fetuses are innocent human beings, and 3) therefore, it is wrong to kill fetuses. ... e biological species Homo sapiens and incorporates not only functioning children and adults, but also fetuses (even very early fetuses) and alive human bodies without working brains (e.g. those in irretrievable comas). The human in the moral sense refers to all beings who are full-grown members of the moral community and includes all but only persons. Warren further states that if ‘human being’ has the same meaning in both the settings then one of them is questionable. The argument either presumes that it is incorrect to kill a fetus simply because it is a homo sapient or it is a member of the moral community. Further arguments are required to clarify the matter since both the claims are controversial. To clarify this matter, Warren next considers whether genetic humanity is sufficient enough for moral humanity.   She asks â€Å"What characteristics entitle an entity to be considered a person [in the moral sense]?† Exemplifying her theory of personhood, Warren s tates that a being or entity to be considered a ‘human being’ or a ‘person’ in the moral sense must possesses most of the following characteristics: ‘(1) Consciousness, (2) Reasoning, (3) Self-motivate activity, (4) communication capability, and (5) the presence of self-concepts and self-awareness’. She further added that the degree of a being’s similarity to a person decides its degree of right to life. In other words, the more resemblance a being holds to a person, the stronger are its consideration for having a right to life, and the stronger its right to life is. On the basis of this theory, she claims that a fetus doesn’t have any similarity to a ‘person’ at any stage of its development to be considered enough for having the right to life (cited in Warren 259-260). Moreover, on the

Moore's Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Moore's Law - Essay Example The law started as just as an article in a journal has not only become a guiding principle in the semiconductor electronics industry but it has also helped in analyzing the technology trajectories in general. In fact Moore’s law means better technologies and more Performance in the field of electronics and IT. Rapid pace of advancements in electronics and IT industry from big vacuum valves to ICs, and from ENIAC to laptops and palmtops made it sure that the processing power, measured in Millions of Instructions per Second (MIPS)2, kept steadily rising because of increased transistor counts. Had there been only the advancements in technologies without a matching invitation for the customers to use the technology, Moore’s law would not been such a big success. This law also ensured that costs too went down. This helped in integrating the powerful technique more seamlessly into our daily lives. Moore’s law is in fact not a ‘law’ in actual terms, as its proponent himself kept revising it from time to time. But it was indeed a well thought out business foresightedness on the part of an able entrepreneur. The law itself may have undergone changes couple of times, but one constant throughout the varying formulation of Moore’s law is that all formulations observe that the number of transistors per chip, also known as complexity, has been growing rapidly3. This provides an indication of the applicability of Moore’s law. Even after providing for the tolerance for manufacturing variances, inefficiencies in wires, noise margins, etc. the semiconductor technology has indeed delivered on the expected lines. Intel has been one of the pioneers in proving the applicability of this law. Company’s commitment to Moores Law has in fact delivered exponential increases in the number of transistors integrated into our processors and other leading platform ingredients’4. It is depicted in the graph below. The rapid