I Don’t Even Know

Rebekah Newby March 28, 2013 Psychology Mr. Zeglin Road to Perdition Throughout Road to Perdition, Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development is evident mostly through the Post-Conventional stage in the abstract moral reasoning and quest for fairness by the main characters. Throughout the movie it follows an orphan named Mike Sullivan who’s raised by a crime boss by the name of Jeff Rooney. Mike Sullivan then becomes a hit man for Jeff Rooney. One night while on the job Sullivan’s own son Mike Sullivan Jr. witnesses him doing his job by killing someone.Sullivan makes his son promise to keep what he saw a secret. He then swears that his son will keep the secret and not tell anyone but Rooney’s biological son Connor is not satisfied with this. Connor then goes and kills Sullivan’s wife and younger child. This causes Sullivan to have to make some difficult choices while fleeing Chicago with his son Mike Jr. Right in the beginning of the movie we witness Ko hlberg’s Theory of Moral Development through the fact that Sullivan becomes involved in crime like Rooney.This shows the Conventional stage of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development because the Conventional stage states that in this stage one is more concerned with behaving in their own social roles expected of them by society. Society expects Sullivan to become involved in crime just like Rooney did because Sullivan didn’t really have parental figures and Rooney was his only real parental figure in life. Depending on the way that one looks at it some may argue that this could also be the Post-Conventional stage.The Post-Conventional stage states that in this stage one will go through what they have to go through to get fairness. One could argue that becoming a hit man to protect Rooney could be Post Conventional because Sullivan may feel as though it is fair to do this since Rooney raised him like a son. We can also see the Post-Conventional Stage of Kohlbergâ €™s Theory of Moral Development through the series of bank robberies done by Sullivan and his son.After the killing of his family Sullivan requests help from Al Capone in order to get revenge on Connor. Sullivan is declined by Al Capone and goes on a spree of bank robberies in order to get Capone to release information on Conner’s whereabouts. This is an example of the Post-Conventional stage Kohlberg’s theory because Sullivan is able to think abstractly and is able follow his own moral codes. Sullivan is able to go outside of cultural morals and norms and make his own morals based on the situation at hand.Unlike the conventional stage Sullivan is able to think in the Post Conventional stage and get revenge on those who harmed his family. The Post-Conventional stage of Moral Development is also seen closer to the ending after Maguire shoots Sullivan and Mike Jr. grabs the gun and nearly shoots Maguire. This stage of moral development is post conventional because Mi ke Jr. ’s motivation to kill Maguire is concerned with his quest for fairness and his own moral codes of killing one who kills your family.Some could also argue that this scene shows the Conventional stage where people do what society expects them to do. This shows the Conventional stage because Mike Jr. ’s father was a hit man and had the same moral philosophies. So, as a result of having a father like Sullivan society will automatically expect him to be violent and on a path to crime like other men in his family. However, in the end Mike Jr. goes against this and he exemplifies the Post-Conventional stage by not becoming involved in crime like his father.He shows his ability to think outside of the social norms and social expectations by doing something other than crime like his father and grandfather had done. To summarize, throughout The Road to Perdition, Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development we can see Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development in many ways. We mainly see the theory through the Post Conventional and Conventional stages. We are able to see these stages through the quests for fairness by Sullivan and Mike Jr. We are also able to see it through the abstract moral thinking done by Sullivan throughout the film.

Features of bluetooth technology Essay

The logo for Bluetooth is based on Runes surrounding the legend of Harald Bluetooth. Bluetooth the technology is based on communications central to man’s own personal space. Fundamentally Bluetooth operates within the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band at 2. 4 GHz. It is a short-range wireless communication standard defined as cable replacement for a Personal Area Network (PAN) (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, pp. 87-94). Figure 1 is the Bluetooth Logo. A cable replacement standard has been defined because cables limit mobility of the consumer; they are cumbersome to carry around, are easily lost or broken. Often connectors are prone to difficult to diagnose failures; or are proprietary. To counteract these limitations Bluetooth is designed to be light and portable. It can be embedded to take the riggers of physical knocks and shocks. It includes standards and protocols to make it mobile, robust, reliable and not limited to one manufacturer (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, pp. 87-94). The operating band also fits the goals of Bluetooth, imposing requirements as a cable replacement. The cost needs to be comparable with cable. Reductions can be achieved by operating in the licence free 2. 4 GHz ISM band, keeping backward compatibility wherever possible lowers the cost of ownership by avoiding upgrades and having a relaxed radio specification enables single chip integrated circuit solutions. It also needs to be as reliable and resilient as cable and cope with errors and degradation caused by interference. For mobile devices it must be compact, lightweight, low power and easy to use (see â€Å"Bluetooth†. Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, pp. 87-94). A. 1 Frequency Hopping We have addressed the reasons for the Bluetooth without delving into the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the technology to discover how it operates. For the majority of countries the ISM band used by Bluetooth is available from 2. 40-2. 4835 GHz, although some countries impose restrictions. In this band Bluetooth uses Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) techniques in order to improve its immunity from interference (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). In unrestricted countries the radios hop in pseudo random sequences around all available channels, this equates to 79 RF channels with a channel spacing of 1 MHz. Starting at a base frequency of 2402 MHz then the frequency of the channels, f, can be expressed as: f =2402 + n MHz where, n, is the channel number with an integer value in the range of 0 to 78. In restricted countries a limited frequency hopping schemes with just 23 channels is used and is catered for in the Bluetooth specification. Both hopping schemes have a 1 MHz channel spacing making it possible to design a simple radio interface whereby the baseband only has to specify a channel number and the radio multiplies this up to the appropriate frequency offset (see J.Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). In this FHSS scheme there are 1600 hops per second, which is a hop every 625  µs. Part of this hop timing is taken up by the guard time of 220  µs allowing the synthesizer time to settle. The frequency hopping implements time division multiplexing as shown in Figure 2. The basis of the scheme has the Master device transmitting in the first 625 us slot, k, and here the Slave receives. In the next slot k = 1 the Slave is permitted to transmit and the master listens (see J.Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). Figure 2: Frequency Hopping, master and slave interact on corresponding slots The radio must be able to retune and stabilise on a new frequency within tight time constraints. This is pushed further when establishing a connection; the hop rate can be shortened to every 312. 5 us. As the radios are constantly hopping to different radio channels, this ensures that packets affected by interference on one channel can be retransmitted on a different frequency channel. To further enhance resilience both ARQ (Automatic Repeat reQuest) and FEC (Forward Error Correction) form part of the specification (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall). One drawback with the normal hop sequence is the time taken for production testing. Bluetooth ensures adequate frequency coverage with a test sequence allowing the radios to be tested at a faster rate (see J. Bray and C. F. Sturman, Bluetooth: Connect Without Cables†, Prentice Hall).

Stock and Berkshire Hathaway

1. What is the possible meaning of the changes in stock price for Berkshire Hathaway and Scottish Power plc on the day of the acquisition announcement? Specifically, what does the $2. 17-billion gain in Berkshire’s market value of equity imply about the intrinsic value of PacifiCorp? The significant change in stock prices for Berkshire Hathaway and Scottish Power plc is partially due to the wide variety of products produced under these names. The approval of these investments and products are indicated by the overall market because they are creating value for both the buyer and the seller. Berkshire Hathaway is responsible for eight different types of product ranging from insurance and financial products to retail including wholesale distributing and apparel along with an array of smaller businesses. Warren Buffett’s name goes a long way based on the type of work and success he has had in the past. His decision to run the company in the interests of the shareholders has proven to be successful. â€Å"In 1977, Berkshire Hathaway’s year-end closing share price was $102; on May 24, 2005 the closing price on Class A shares reached $85,500†. It seems that Warren Buffett refuses to ‘split’ the firm’s share price in order to make it more accessible to everyday investors is because of the value of the company and the contribution that these investors have made to Berkshire Hathaway. They make risky decisions and expect a successful outcome which in turn results in a profitable project. The $2. 17-billion gain in Berkshire’s market value implies that the intrinsic value of PacifiCorp is increasing as well. The market value may be different than the intrinsic value however the intrinsic value is the actual value of the company including assets and the underlying perception of that value. Both tangible and intangible factors may be included. Therefore the intrinsic value of the PacifiCorp is on the rise with the amount of revenue they are generating. 1. Based on the multiples for comparable regulated utilities, what is the range of possible values for PacifiCorp? What questions might you have about this range? PacifiCorp |Revenue |EBIT |EBITDA |Net Income |EPS |Book Value | |Median |$6. 252B |$8. 775B |$9. 023B |$7. 96B |$4. 277B |$5. 904B | |Mean |$6. 584B |$9. 289B |$9. 076B |$7. 553B |$4. 308B |$5. 678B | | For the most part, the means are higher than the medians for the enterprise financial value of PacifiCorp. 2. Assess the bid for PacifiCorp. How does it compare with the firm’s intrinsic value? As an alternative, the instructor could suggest that students perform a simple di scounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway’s bid of $5. 1 billion for PacifiCorp was a risky yet profitable move for the pair. With the average revenue earning of $6. 584 billion and an average net income of $7. 53 billion, the earnings seem to exceed the overall cost of purchasing this corporation. PacifiCorp had steady returns for numerous years as presented below. 5. 4 percent of their stock was preferred stock for two consecutive years with dividends of $1. 35 per share. With the wide range of businesses under their belt including, insurance, apparel, building products, finance and financial products, flight services, retail, grocery distribution and carpet and floor coverings along with an assortment of smaller businesses, PacifiCorp would just be another notch in the belt of Warren Buffet. His investment strategies have proven to be profitable and his decisions have proven to be knowledgeable and successful. The intrinsic value of the corporation will definitely be of value to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway based on PacifiCorp’s earnings, financial worth and the value of their assets in years prior to Warren Buffett’s acquisition. [pic][pic] 3. How well has Berkshire Hathaway performed? How well has it performed in the aggregate? What about its investment in MidAmerican Energy Holdings? Berkshire Hathaway has become an investing empire. Their enterprise value in 2005 was nearly $520 billion. Taking a look at their current value is no different. According to Berkshire Hathaway’s most recent 10K report (2010), they had 1,648,000 outstanding shares of class A stock. At the end of 2010 the price of the class A stock was $120,450 per share. If we use the formula for market capitalization we get: Market Capitalization = Outstanding shares * share price Market Capitalization = 1,648,000*120,450 Market Capitalization = 198,501,600,000 We then use the 10K to find their cash, cash equivalents and debt for 2010. According to their annual report they had cash and cash equivalents of $2,673,000,000 and a reported debt of $6,621,000,000. We then use these numbers to find the current enterprise value: Enterprise value = 198,501,600,000-2,673,000,000+6,621,000,000 Enterprise value = 202,449,600,000 These estimates from 2005 and 2010 show us that Berkshire Hathaway did lose some value; however they still have an enterprise value of over $200 billion. This shows us that even through the last few years when the United States has been in an economic recession overall they have remained strong. Using Yahoo Finance we see that there was a slight drop in stock A prices in February of 2009 when it reached a low of about $78,000 per share. But by the end of 2009, prices rose back to above $100,000 per share and have remained, showing consistency and continuing to build shareholder confidence. Berkshire Hathaway has increased its interest in MidAmerican from 88. 6% to 89. 8% since 2005. By doing this it only adds even more value to Berkshire Hathaway as MidAmerican is a leading provider of natural gas for more than 2. 4 million customers. The investment has surely paid off as the 2010 annual report showed 1. 13 billion dollars of earnings for Berkshire from MidAmerican. 4. What is your assessment of Berkshire’s investments in Buffett’s â€Å"Big Four†: American Express, Coca-Cola, Gillette (now part of Procter and Gamble), and Wells Fargo? With a little more than 150,000,000 shares of American Express, Berkshire Hathaway owns about 12. 6% of the company. It initially cost about $1,300,000,000 to invest in these shares. As of today the market value is right around $7,500,000,000. As you can see, Investing in American Express has turned out to be a smart move for Buffet as they have seen over $6. 2 Billion in profit. American Express shows a consistent trend year after year of making a profit and continues to be a safe and attractive purchase. Berkshire owns around 200,000,000 shares of Coca-Cola coming out to be about 8. 6% ownership of the company. The cost of these shares was about $1,300,000,000 and the market value of the shares today has grown to be almost $13,400,000,000. Again we see a smart investment, with Coca-Cola producing a $12. billion dollar profit for Berkshire. Coca-Cola continues to be a leader in effectively running their finances as it seems their stock prices rises every year. They carry low debt and our consistent fitting perfect into the Berkshire mold. Berkshire Hathaway owns close to 73,000,000 shares of Procter and Gamble. These shares are equal to a 2. 6% ownership of Procter and Gamble. When they invested this cost them $464,000,00 0. Today these shares are worth around $4,800,000,000. Again we see that this investment has worked out in favor of Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway. Proctor and Gamble carries a low amount of debt and produces a high net income and continues to grow year in and year out making Buffet and other investor’s very happy shareholders. The last company Wells Fargo, Berkshire has about a 6. 8% ownership of or roughly holds around 360,000,000 shares. The cost of the Wells Fargo stock to Berkshire was estimated at around $8,000,000,000. In today’s market these shares hold a value of about $10,600,000,000. Even though this is a profit of about $2. 6 billion I’m not sure if Buffett is extremely happy with this investment. Proctor and Gambles stock price is relatively low giving it much room to grow however over the last couple of years it has fluctuated quite a bit. Out of the four investments this is definitely the least effective and efficient. 5. From Warren Buffett’s perspective, what is the intrinsic value? Why is it accorded such importance? How is it estimated? What are the alternatives to intrinsic value? Why does Buffett reject them? As I already stated, intrinsic value is found by using a company’s stock price and their earnings per share. People tend to buy the stocks that they feel are worth more than what the market claims they are worth adding to the notion of a company’s intrinsic value. Warren Buffet obviously does much more than the average person when he chooses stocks to invest in as we can see from the amount of money he and Berkshire Hathaway have. When deciding whether or not to invest in a company he looks at the return on equity of a company to see the consistency of a company’s performance and how much equity they are able to generate for their shareholders. Buffet performs this calculation year after year to be sure that the company is consistent. Next, he looks at the company’s debt to equity ratio to be sure that the company is avoiding large amounts of debt. None of the companies he invests in have higher liabilities than assets as he believes that debt in large amounts is a bad thing. In order for him to be willing to invest he must see that the company is or will be highly profitable for years to come. If the company hasn’t been publically traded for at least 10 years more times than not, he won’t even consider investing. He does not believe in short-term success; he claims that â€Å"in the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. He chooses stocks by looking at the overall ability and potential of a company rather than how they perform in the short-term ignoring the supply/demand attraction. When Buffet considers companies for the long-term, he looks at them more as an owner than a shareholder concerned with receiving capital gains. He is concerned with the individual company and their abili ty to make money over the long-term. He prefers to act as almost an owner and less of a shareholder concerned with receiving capital gains. 6. Critically assess Buffett’s investment philosophy. Be prepared to identify points where you agree and disagree with him. . Economic reality, not accounting reality. When looking at a business, Warren Buffet looks at the economic reality as opposed to the accounting reality. Accounting reality looks at a company using the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to determine the value of the company. GAAP covers revenue recognition, balance sheet item classification, and outstanding share measurements. Economic reality is broader than accounting reality and includes intangible assets, such as patents, trademarks, special managerial expertise, and reputation of the company. When looking at the value of a company looking at the economic reality makes more sense because it includes intangible assets that can’t be computed, but are an important factor for the value of a company. For example, the reputation of a company cannot be quantified, but reputation is valuable in the sense that a company with a good reputation will draw more favor from customers and investors while a company with a bad reputation will drive away customers and potential investors. 2. The cost of lost opportunity. This compares an investment opportunity against the next best alternative. What this means is that when making a decision as to whether to invest in one company or the other, choices are made as either/or decisions rather than yes/no. By looking at companies this way, Buffet is able to see how investing in one company would compare by looking at the potential returns on common stock from investing in another company. 3. Value creation: time is money. In terms of value creation, Buffet believes that intrinsic value is a better indicator of future expected performance as opposed to using book value. Intrinsic value is the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life while, book value is the number of total assets a company has minus intangible assets and liabilities. What makes the intrinsic value a better indicator of future expected performance is the fact that book value may not reflect the economic reality because depending on the relationship between expected returns and the discount rate; value can either be gained or lost. What this means is that the estimates of the return on equity can drastically change whether or not a company is seen as valuable. . Measure performance by gain in intrinsic value. Performance is measured by gain in intrinsic value as opposed to accounting profit. Warren Buffet says that Berkshire’s performance is not measured by the size of the company, but by the companies per share progress. The gain of intrinsic value is modeled as the value added by a business compared to the cost for the use of capital in that business. Other forms of measuring performance look at the ability to earn returns in excess of the cost of capital. By looking at per share progress, it is easier to see growth in a company than by looking at how large it is because a large company does not mean that it is a profitable company or that their growth is related to an increase in profit, if anything their growth could just be related to a large number of acquisitions. 5. Risk and discount rates. When looking at risk and discount rates, instead of using the traditional capital asset pricing model (CAPM) to estimate discount rates, Buffet chooses to use the rate of return on the long term treasury bond to discount cash flows. The CAPM model of estimating discount rates adds in a risk premium to the long term risk free rate of return, while Buffet’s method avoids risk altogether and uses a risk-free discount rate. The reason behind this is that Buffet likes to invest in companies with predictable and stable earnings and avoid financing his firm with debt. Overall this is a smart strategy because if there was ever an economic crisis, like there was a few years ago, a company not financed with debt and low risk would pull through better than a company who had many high risk investments and was financed by debt. . Diversification. Buffet’s view on diversification is that it is an unnecessary precaution, and that instead of inventing in many stocks to avoid risk, it would be more profitable to wait for one exceptional company to invest in. The logic behind this makes sense, but the execution is difficult because of the fact that the stock market is so volatile and investors do not have all of the information necessary to make an informed decision with 100% confidence that there investment will pay off. There is also the fact that some investment opportunities may be missed if companies wait too long to find that one exceptional company to invest in. 7. Investing behavior should be driven by information, analysis, and self-discipline, not by emotion or â€Å"hunch†. Buffet believes that stock prices have become unreliable measure of intrinsic value of a company because they are influenced by the fear and greed of investors. He also doesn’t believe in the efficient markets hypothesis (EMH), which states that stock prices are fair in reflecting what was known about a company. Buffet disapproves of this theory because he believes that stock prices do not accurately portray the intrinsic value of the company and believing in this theory prevents investors from seeing the bigger picture on how the stock market really works. It is important to use information and analysis of companies when making an investment decision because you can’t always trust the information that is given and the information given may not give the whole picture on the value of a company. 8. Alignment of agents and owners. When it comes to investing Buffet believes that an alignment of agents and owners is important. This means that the needs of the company are that of the needs of the shareholders. Keeping the needs of the shareholders first is important to having a successful business. If shareholders are happy, businesses can expect to receive a good supply of cash flow from investments. Shareholder wealth can also lead to more profits in the company as well as the company will be focused on long term profit maximization and not just the short term. 7. Should Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders endorse the acquisition of PacifiCorp? While looking at PacifiCorp’s Consolidated Financial Statement (Exhibit 7) PacifiCorp’s income from operations before tax fits the criteria 1 presented in Berkshire Hathaway’s acquisition criteria (Exhibit 8) by having more than $75 million in pretax earnings, (PacifiCorp has $4. 2 billion. ) However, they do carry about $3. 92 billion in long-term debt, which fails criteria 3 in Exhibit 8. They do however, fill criteria 2 in Exhibit 8 by bringing in about $3. 6 million more in net income from 2005 to 2004 (Exhibit 7) although more data would be needed to see if PacifiCorp was consistently earning a profit. Compared to 6 other companies in the same field in Exhibit 9, PacifiCorp doesn’t seem like the best investment. PacifiCorp is number 2 for total assets, but also number 2 for total liabilities. This goes in hand with their total long-term debt as they are also number 2, but for short-term debt they are number 5. For total debt they are number 2. For total revenue before taxes, PacifiCorp is number 4. What these numbers mean is that compared to other companies, it seems that PacifiCorp is a more risky investment. PacifiCorp generally has more debt and is not bringing in as much revenue, though they still have positive growth in net income. Another source of concern is that PacifiCorp has very low earnings per share with a EPS of just $0. 81 with the next competitor having an EPS of $1. 42 (Exhibit 10). From looking at the data presented in the tables, shareholders should not endorse the acquisition of PacifiCorp because the company fails several criteria that were established by Berkshire Hathaway as guidelines for acquiring corporations, and it is unlikely that the acquisition will result in the 15% annual growth of the intrinsic value of the firm.

Marketing Communication (IMC) - create Marketing communication plan Essay

Marketing Communication (IMC) - create Marketing communication plan for the charity of your choice - Essay Example The UNICEF has several programs being implemented in the United Kingdom. These programs touch the areas: childcare and breastfeeding, education, communities, and interaction with the government on changing particular laws and policies that are deemed detrimental to a child’s rights. This Marketing Communications Plan will zoom in UNICEF’s program called ‘Communities’, an effort that aims to interact with various organizations that involve children and the youth to develop a new award scheme called Child Friendly Communities. UNICEF has defined the characteristics of a child-friendly community, which includes general knowledge, understanding and upholding f children’s rights and an equal regard for children with ethnic background, origin and orientation. These communities must have active programs that engage the youth and give high regard to their opinion and contribution. II. DISCUSSION 1. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS (PESTEL) There are four basic rights of a child, namely: The right to survival – life, health, nationality, nutrition and name The right to development – education, leisure, care and recreation The right for protection – from exploitation, abuse, neglect The right to participation – to expression, information, thought and religion (Child Rights 2011) However, most, if not all rights are not being observed in many parts of the world. In UK alone, studies show that there are 3.8M children considered to be living in poverty (Poor children in England as young as five hide their needs from parents to protect them from the impact of poverty, new report reveals 2011). In 2005, approximately 1.4 billion people across the globe are living in extreme poverty, and every day, around 16,000 children die from causes that are hunger related (Global Hunger 2011) The alarming figure has caused non government organizations to unite and build The Campaign to End Child Poverty, a nonprofit organization working to end child poverty in the UK. Their aim is to drive the government to improve benefits and tax credits for children, and improve housing programs as well. Though the targeted campaigns have ended in 2010, each and every organization that formed the campaign is still actively pursuing their own advocacies towards upholding of human rights for children (End Child Poverty 2011). The United Kingdom upholds several laws on children welfare and protection, particularly on their rights to education, medicine, employment and the justice system. The UK government is also an active participant in global efforts to standardize human rights laws for children, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child, among others (Children’s Rights: United Kingdom, England and Wales 2011). There are also specific programs for healthcare, not only for children but also for mothers, education and labor. In short, UK is one of th e nations that actively push for the observance of children’s rights. In terms of Economy, UK is considered to be the sixth largest in the world as on 2010, according to nominal GDP. It employs free trade among other members of the European Union (EU) and is known to be one of the countries at the forefront of technological advances (UK Economy: The British

Adaptation of the body to hot and cold Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Adaptation of the body to hot and cold - Essay Example Since ancient times, human beings have been surviving in hot and humid weather of Sahara and extreme cold weather of Antarctica. Much of the earth’s hot and cold places are inhabited by human beings. The important fact is that the body of the person is permitted to live in any harsh weather conditions. However, the body needs a supply of water, shade and limited physical activity in order for the human being to survive. According to Wenger (2009), â€Å"Problems due to heat stress may occur whenever the rate of heat production or heat gain from the environment is sufficiently large in relation to the body’s ability to dissipate heat.† In a human body, problems such as numbness and snow bite can occur in extreme cold weather. However, sudden adaptation to an extreme weather is not likely for the physiology of a human being. There is an extent to which people can survive in a harsh climatic condition. The adaptation to hot or cold weather for the human body is poss ible only through the conditioned genetic make of the body. Unfortunately, it is a fact that with the continuous exposure to hot or cold weather, the tissues of the human body get injured. The body has different mechanisms by which it can adapt to cold and hot weather conditions. However, if a person is exposed to extreme hot or cold directly, then he can famish in a short period of time. Body’s adaptability to heat The human body is designed to sustain at an average temperature level and the body also maintains an average temperature level of 37 degree centigrade. However, when we attempt to sustain in a temperature above that, then the body brings out its adaptation mechanisms. When our body gets hot, it starts a biological process called sweating in order to cool off the body. But when the heat of the environment gets hotter than that, the tissue of the body is injured. The heat can affect the protein’s biological processing and this can lead to complication in the health of the human being exposed to extreme heat. The change in the protein configuration of the cell is called â€Å"denaturation.† High temperature can alter the nature of protein or kill the cells. If a living cell is exposed to heat above 45 degrees, then burning of the skin occurs. The damage of the skin depends on the duration and intensity of the heat applied to the human body. We, human beings, like any other mammal, are â€Å"homeotherms†; in other words, warm blooded animals. The human body has the ability to maintain its temperature by different biological processing. The human body does not react negatively to any minor changes in temperature, whether it is hot or cold. The main method by which the body defends against the heat in the environment is by perspiration. By perspiration the body injects fluid into the surface of the skin to make it moist and cool. As per Dugdale (2012), â€Å"Sweating is the release of a salty liquid from the body's sweat glan ds. This process is also called perspiration.† The phenomenon of sweating The phenomenon of sweating is the only way in which the body reacts to the extreme hot weather conditions. In this biological process, body injects salty liquid on to the surface of skin with the aid of sweat glands. There are millions of sweat glands in a human body and this process of sweating, in other words, is called â€Å"perspiration.† Sweating is an extremely important activity of the body to stay cool in harsh environmental conditions. Sweat is mainly obvious on the palms of the hand, under the arm or under the feet. The quantity a person sweats depends on the amount of sweat glands a person possesses. The sweat glands of an individual are functional as one attains their puberty period. Although, women possess more sweat glands, men

Language and Lexicon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Language and Lexicon - Essay Example Language and Lexicon As long as it meets the description, it is a language, even if other organisms do not understand it. Generally, it is the cognitive ability to learn and utilize complex communicative systems. Language relies on semiosis in order to relate signs with their meanings. It contains phonological systems, which govern the manner in which symbols combine to create sequences of words. Lexicon, on the other hand, is the vocabulary of the said language, also referred to as an individual’s lexical knowledge. It is taken along the lines of meaning in a language of written symbols and speech sounds. It is essential to know a language’s lexicon in order to understand the language. Every culture possesses its own lexicon and language. Lexicon includes bound morphemes, for example, majority of affixes, which cannot be used alone as words. Lexicon can also include various idiomatic classes of expression, as well as other collocations, and compound words. Dictionaries normally attempt to list a given language’s lexicon in alphabetical order, although they do not include bound morphemes. Lexicon, more formally, is the inventory of lexemes that is present in a particular language. Key Features of Language There are several key features of any language. Language is quite complex since it is the only full lexicon. One feature of language is a vocal-auditory channel. Majority of languages are spoken with hearing and the voice being medium for the majority of communication. Vocal communication acts as the basis for language communication (Trask, 2012). Directional reception and broadcast transmission is another feature of language. Human language is dispersed in every direction when it is spoken, although the ear pinpoints the sound’s direction. Another key feature is transitoriness or rapid fading, which refers to the fact that sound, fades quickly. This gives sufficient opportunity for people to hold discussions that would be lost in confusion if the sound s hang in the air. Interchangeability is another key feature of language, which allows for speech utterances in use by the two genders. This is not present in all organisms. The feature allows for empathy and thorough understanding among the sexes (Trask, 2012). Another key feature of language is total feedback that ensures all humans can hear what they say while checking the communicative effect and quality of their speech. Individual analysis of speech allows one to correct mistakes that lead to clearer communication in conversations held in the future, as well as for the avoidance of undesirable action (Trask, 2012). Specialization is yet another feature with the human body possessing parts that let them vocalize the phonemes. These are essential increased communication perception and depth of understanding, both non-verbal and verbal. Other features are semantics, which refer to the use of different words to express similar meanings in the same language. Moreover, arbitrariness that ensures sounds are given a meaning by the person hearing them, discreteness that refers to the ability of humans to put sounds in context even where the sounds are not clear, and duality of patterning that is referent to the switching of known sounds to come up with new meanings (Trask, 2012). Levels of Language There are four levels of language; text, sentences, words, and

Continue to the previous topic (internet) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Continue to the previous topic (internet) - Essay Example People need information but this particular type of information should be controlled so that it does not negatively impact on the interests of a certain group of people in a given country. The first reason why the internet should be censored is that the responsible authorities know the cultural values and norms they should preserve in their country given that each nation has its own culture which makes it distinct from other cultures. For example, the aspect of homosexuality is a taboo in other countries while it is allowed in other nations (Naik, 2010). In order for the countries that do not recognize homosexuality to protect their norms and values, they should censor the internet and remove this content from different web pages that are likely to be accessed by different people in their respective countries. This will help protect the interests of the citizens. This disrupts the moral fabric of the society and it can also be seen that unity is also created if people have a common u nderstanding towards something. The internet has no boundaries and dominant nations use this medium to impose their cultural values over other weaker nations. Therefore, individual countries should protect their cultures through internet censorship. The second reason why the internet should be censored is that individual countries are in a better position to regulate information so that it does not disrupt peace in that country. There is a tendency by other powerful nations to dominate weak countries through disseminating distorted information that is likely to affect peace in weaker nations. Each country has its own way of governing its people hence the need for these countries to put measures in place that are meant to protect the interests of the whole nation. The information accessed from the internet may suggest that other countries are ruled by bad leaders and this can lead to conflicts hence the reason why nations should regulate the information disseminated through the inter net. Research has shown that other powerful nations want to impose their hegemonic control over other weaker nations through the use of distorted information to such nations (Naik, 2010). The other important reason why censorship of the internet is important is that it helps to curb dissemination of illicit content and material like pornography to the people. This particular type of content corrupts the mind of people and it can impact negatively on their behaviour. The dissemination of illicit material may be against the values of a certain group of people hence the need for them to put measures in place that are meant to protect these important components of their life. Therefore, I think individual countries should have measures that are designed to prevent their interests such as internet censorship given that this medium of communication has no boundary. It is very important to preserve culture in each country so that people can be in a position to maintain their identity. A cr itical analysis of an article entitled â€Å"Internet Censorship Pros and Cons† by Abhijit Naik Published November 25, 2010 shows that to a larger extent, â€Å"such regulations are necessary to keep certain problems, such as sexual exploitation of children and spread of drug cartels at bay.†

Accounting and Finance Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Accounting and Finance Assignment - Essay Example For instance; in â€Å"the general theory of finances† there are two definitions of finance and accounts: 1. Finances of the socialistic state represent economical (cash) relations, with the help of which, in the way of planned distribution of the incomes and savings the funds of money sources of the state and socialistic manufactures are formed for guaranteeing the growth of the production, rising the material and cultural level of the people and for satisfying other general society requests†. 2. â€Å"Finances characterise the formation of centralized ad decentralized money sources, economical relations relatively with the distribution and usage, which serve for fulfilment of the state functions and obligations and also provision of the conditions of the widened further production†. This definition is brought without showing the environment of its action. We share partly such explanation of finances and think expedient to make some specification. The system of creation and usage of necessary funds of cash resources for guarantying socialistic widened further production represent exactly the finances of the socialistic society. And the totality of economical relations arisen between state, manufactures and organisations, branches, regions and separate citizen according to the movement of cash funds make financial relations†. Just to more simplify the term â€Å"Accounts†, Accounts are simply established to provide a record of individual business transactions as they apply to a certain area or item. Your personal checking account is established in order to provide a record of individual personal financial transactions you create when you write a check. All of the accounts are listed in a general ledger. Today, the actual ledger book has long since been replaced by accounting software that creates a general ledger on the computer. The concept however has not been altered. The general ledger is the central location for maintaining all your accounts.

Interview Questions Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interview Questions Assignment - Essay Example My academic background is the main reason as I have gained significant knowledge for practice in the profession. Hiring me at this stage of my study will also mould me into the organization’s culture, as I develop my career while in the organization. An experienced person, having experienced many organizational cultures, may find it difficult to change into the company’s environment, a challenge that I do not face. I also offer the company leadership potentials that will help in empowering and motivating employees. Being a dynamic person and a fast learner, I can play many roles in the organization and shall therefore save it the burden of employing many people for specialized roles. My greatest weakness is my orientation to results. I always focus on achieving expected results in my environments, whether the results are my responsibility or that of a peer. This means overworking and sometimes stepping into other people’s mandates. The weakness has two major adverse consequences by I often manage them. One of the consequences is overworking to burnout but I normally take a rest when I experience fatigue. Another adverse consequence is conflict with peer when I move in to help in their roles. Though I often explain my intentions before engagement, there is sometimes lack of time for explanations and some people have accused me of taking advantage of their responsibility to seek recognition. This has however never been the case. An example of a time of successful communication with a difficult person involved a conflict with a classmate. He was known for his arrogance and lack of rationale that often involved him in violence, especially when he was under drugs. We were on an informal discussion about a news article that divided public opinion and he rose against my opinion. He quickly got emotional and people feared a fight. I had to either walk away to avoid a violent encounter or to confront him and let him know that his behavior was not right. I

Contract Negotiations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Contract Negotiations - Research Paper Example Finally, the conclusion will sum up the thesis as well as the findings. A contract is a lawful agreement involving two or more parties. This means that contract negotiation is a process of talking about the stipulations of the agreement to reach a specified goal. Before attempting to negotiate a contract, one need to identify the main objectives for entering into the agreement, research on the present contract laws, build trust with the negotiators, and prepare for the entire negotiation by getting important figures and facts. Contract negotiators have immense skills and knowledge that help them to acquire a more appropriate and constructive contract for their clients (Garrett, 2005, pp. 18-21). Therefore, under the theoretical foundation, this treatise aims at describing the main areas of knowledge and skills that are important to ensuring success of a contract negotiator. It also details one strategy that an effective negotiator ought to consider to achieve a favorable contract. In addition, under the discussion part, relevant implications in regard t o contract negotiation will be analyzed. This discourse concludes that effective communication, critical thinking, active listening, legal and technical understanding, management, and social perceptiveness are some of the skills and knowledge that are required to guarantee a constructive contract. Research shows that the main job of a contract negotiator is to maximize value for their employers. Therefore, they need to be highly competent and possess particular skills and knowledge that are in accordance to their line of work. For instance, one of the main qualifications that they need to have to ensure a favorable contract is impeccable communication skills. This means that they must effectively articulate the needs of the organization and be in a position to win more clients. Moreover, they need to have a rich ground for knowledge and be critical thinkers. In that

Channel Conflict Analysis of Schwinn Essay Example for Free

Channel Conflict Analysis of Schwinn Essay With Schwinn’s recent expansion into many large-scale retail stores (i. e. Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Target, etc. ), they began to shift into a dual channel marketing strategy. Often times, if not handled properly, this type of approach can result in significant problems for some or all of the distribution channel partners. Fortunately for Schwinn however, they were able to make many critical decisions which ensured that each of the partners’ distinct interests was narrowly aligned with their own. This proactive plan not only motivated many of their smaller independent bicycle dealers to continue carrying their products but it also allowed Schwinn to effectively reach a much larger segment of their target market. By closely analyzing this case, we can learn many valuable lessons regarding the overall importance of strong channel management. Product differentiation was one of the primary ways that Schwinn managed to avoid channel conflict. Schwinn segmented the market and delivered to the different segments of the market through different channels. The product line delivered through the mass market channel consisted of completely different bicycles than those found at the independent bicycle dealers. This segmentation reduced the likelihood of conflict between the two channels, since the two product lines were targeted at segments with little to no crossover. Additionally, Schwinn introduced products like the Sting Ray which had nostalgic appeal and stretched beyond the traditional customer base of the independent bicycle dealers. These types of bicycles provided them with a unique product and furthermore a healthy margin to bolster profits. By maintaining distinct product lines for their two channels, Schwinn was able to minimize multi-channel conflict. The key to motivating channel members is to provide value and benefits to each partner in order to align interests and thus achieve the ultimate goal: satisfy the customer’s needs. Schwinn used both push and pull strategies effectively. By offering a relatively higher margin level than other high-end manufacturers catering to independent bicycle dealers, they were able to restore the confidence and interest of their long term retailers in spite of going for a dual channel strategy. Moreover, as mentioned in the article, unlike most companies in the industry, there was no complicated loyalty formula required to get the best prices from Schwinn. In addition, Schwinn did not require specific pre-order sales in order to carry their products. Instead, suppliers were granted flexible purchasing options so they did not have to unnecessarily stock inventories during their off-seasons (i. e. winter months in cold climates). This push strategy not only reduced the administrative cost of the retailers, but also improved the inventory turnover and ultimately the retailers’ bottom line. Conversely, Schwinn was also able to simultaneously create a pull strategy after they utilized the extensive media exposure of products, such as the Sting Ray, to increase the brand recognition among customers thus drawing them to the independent bicycle dealers. In addition to this, the specialty storeowners found significant profits lying in the repairing of these bikes and selling of parts/accessories. This proved to be a great factor for specialty bike owners to remain in business while selling Schwinn. They had a clear edge over other big retailers like Wal-Mart who did not provide any after sales service to its customers. Because they were making money by servicing the bikes sold at the mass market stores, the independent bicycle dealers were more tolerant of losing some sales on the edge of their segment to Wal-Mart, Target, Toys-R-Us, etc. Schwinn has done a good job of heading off any channel conflict by keeping the incentives aligned for its two main distribution channels. By expanding its product line into major retailers, the company has been able to target a new segment of casual bike riders. With Schwinn’s new line of entry-level bikes, big-box stores can satisfy the needs of casual bike riders by offering a large selection of affordable bikes at convenient locations. Meanwhile, Schwinn still provides a number of incentives to local bike shops, which form the company’s other main distribution channel. These shops still profit from service and repair, which large retailers do not offer. Additionally, some of Schwinn’s higher-end models are exclusively available in bike shops. Finally, Schwinn is flexible with its inventory requirements and offers good margins. By offering different incentives to each of its distribution channels, Schwinn has been able to target more customers while also keeping its retailers happy.

Online Learning V.S Traditional Classroom Learning Essay Example for Free

Online Learning V.S Traditional Classroom Learning Essay I think whether it is online learning or traditional class learning both should be taken into consideration when planning to further education. I personally did not consider the facts when I decided to further my education. I had started out in a traditional classroom but soon after realized it was not the right choice. It was hard to fully apply myself when I was attending a traditional classroom because I was a working wife and mother. Online learning and traditional learning will show that both of these are great options depending on who the student may be and which educational program the student has chosen. Online learning and traditional learning each have their merits and faults. Online degrees have become a perfect option for individuals who may not be able to enroll in a traditional classroom. When you compare the two learning classes, the biggest difference is that students studying online have the flexibility to attend classes at their own pace and time. In a campus-based classroom they require that students attend class a certain number of times every week, at specific times. Traditional class learning may not be the option for people who have children or work long hours. Learning online would be a better option for these people because they can make their own schedule for when they will attend class. Both online and traditional classes give students the opportunity to interact with other students and their professors. With a traditional classroom you can interact with students and professors face -to -face. In online learning there is no face- to -face interaction with classmates or instructors. Online learning interaction can consist of chat rooms, e-mail, main forums, and over the telephone. Traditional class students have a better advantage of understanding the materials because they can have that one –on- one time with the instructor face- to -face. It may be a little harder for online students to grasp the materials because they do not have that face- to -face interaction. Online learning and traditional class learning work assignments are similar and different in their own ways. In both online and traditional learning classes you still have assignments that have to be completed by a certain time. In the traditional class your assignments are done on paper and with online learning you have to submit your assignments on the computer. Also with traditional class learning one has the opportunity to present in front of their classmates, while online students do not have that option. They are only able to present their presentations to the instructors. In both classes you still have homework and you have to participate in class. Online learning requires you to participate and attend class a certain number of times but there is no specific times or days. They have the option to decide when that will be but with traditional class you have to attend class every day you are scheduled and participate every day. Earning a degree at a traditional college can be very expensive but obtaining a online degree can be a lot less expensive for students. Exceptionally less, but they offer students the same loan and grant benefits offered at a traditional college. Online schools and traditional schools offer the same financial aid packages. Students who attend a traditional class usually have to pay traveling cost and living cost. Online learning students do not have to pay these extra costs because they are learning from home and that requires no traveling. Also with online schools you do not have to pay for facilities like residence halls, dining halls, gyms and libraries. Most provide access to virtual libraries and some even have partnerships with local facilities. There are many similarities and differences between online learning and traditional class learning. The facts show that both are great options to consider, depending upon the person and his or her day- to- day schedule. One method to determine how well online learning and traditional class learning might work for you is to consider the benefits and disadvantages of both. Researching and planning ahead can help a person in deciding which would better fit his or her needs. I have found online learning to better fit my needs because I can make my own schedule concerning attending class. I am a mother and wife so I have many responsibilities and this option gives me time to take care of my household while still being able to obtain a degree at my own pace. Do the research to see which one is the right option for you at this time in your life. Most people think that their decision to go to college only affects them but it affects your family also. You have to still be able to do for your family and handle your business at home. I also suggest if you are attending a traditional college and it seems to be too overwhelming for you at times you should really consider trying the online learning. Becoming successful in life depends on the choices you make throughout life, whether they be good or bad choices. So choose wisely which learning class be it online learning or traditional learning is right for you and your family.

The Constant Gardener | Analysis

The Constant Gardener | Analysis Fernando Meirelless adaptation of John le carres 2001 novel The Constant Gardener is a drama film which is sure to thrill the global audience around the world. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, which includes Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, and Best Supporting Actress for Rachel Weisz, which she won. The film had a budget of $25 million but it made a huge profit with gross revenue of $82,466,670 proving to be a commercial success among the audience around the world. Story Based on the novel by John Le Carrà ©, The Constant Gardener starts with a murder, as any good mystery film does. British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) assigned to Nairobi sees his world fall apart when his wife, activist Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz), is found brutally maimed in a remote area of Northern Kenya. His colleagues at the British High Commission, especially close friend Sandy (Danny Huston), believe the usually easy going Justin will quietly let them take care of the situation. Up to this point in his life, Justin has done little but quietly does his melodious job, tend to his gardens, and marry an extraordinary woman. Haunted by his past memories, and sceptical that his wife may have been unfaithful and cheating on him, Justin will no longer sit by submissively. He cannot accept what happened to Tessa, especially when he finds out that the government wants to sweep the whole thing under the rug. It seems Tessa was trying to discover somethingand was perhaps even on the verge of exposing a deadly pharmaceutical conspiracy. So, Quayle embarks on his own investigation, risking his life to uncover the truth and whether he succeeds or stopped under his tracks form the chief outline of the film. Acting Fiennes and Weisz are outstanding in this film. The Oscar winning actor Fiennes Playing Justin steals the show. He captures all the sad beauty of a man mourning for a woman he loved very much but who he also realizes he didnt know all that well. Its almost as if in investigating Tessas murder, Justin finally sees what kind of woman his wife truly wasand falls in love with her all over again. You feel his pain and feel sorry for him. For her part, Weisz has certainly proven she is more than just a sweet face alarmed by disturbed mummies. She expertly portrays a determined social activist driven to help these Kenyan people any way she can, even if it means sacrificing her own personal happiness and life. She in the end sacrifices her own life in order to find the truth and find justice for the Kenyan people. Weisz is radiant in every single shotwhich is rather an accomplishment considering that the actress was nine months pregnant, sweaty and without make-up in many scenes. You often w onder how it is these two characters ever fell for each other to begin with, but thats the true tribute to these fine actors. In their capable hands, they make Justin and Tessas opposites-attract-but-modest love story unquestionable. Danny Huston is a peculiar choice to play Sandy, Justins devious colleague. He struggles with his fake British accent and a better choice of cast would have been a better choice for the character. Direction With The Constant Gardener, Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles proves his surprise Academy Award nomination for directing the scorching City of God wasnt a stroke of luck. The guy obviously knows what hes doing and he provides energetic direction nailing the audience glued to their seats. Meirelles hands us the horrible, heart wrenching plight of the African people, focusing on the hauntingly beautiful Kenya and lovingly detailing its colourful people. Scenes of Tessa walking through barely liveable shantytowns, as bright, seemingly happy children run around her while singing, leaves a very indelible impression. He zooms in on these two people whose love is put to the test because of the circumstances they find themselves in, while wrapping up the narrative in a compact murder mystery, which may or may also involve a conspiracy of global proportions. The Constant Gardener is much more than just a mystery. Its going to make you thinkand think hard. Trivia .The novel was originally banned in Kenya because it depicts corrupt Kenyan officials. . Ralph Fiennes held and operated the camera for Justins point of view in the film. . The filmmakers installed water tanks, a new bridge and a classroom in Kibera, the slum in which the film was shot. They also built a secondary school in the desert of northern Kenya where the final scenes were photographed. My verdict The Constant Gardener is an elegant, absorbing, and suspenseful mystery with rich performances from the leads. Despite an unhurried opening, the energetic direction by Fernando Meirelles and admirable lead performances by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz make this adapted film an exciting and suspenseful thriller 4 broccolis out of 5 COME BACK FOR LATER The Constant gardener is primarily set in Kenya loilangalani and slums on Kibera a section of Nairobi, Kenya. It follows the lives of a shy low-rung British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) who is posted in Kenya and his beautiful young humanitarian activist Tessa (Rachel Weitz). Justin is satisfied to represent his country without questioning his boss. when his wife Tessa and an African man (who he suspects Tessa to be cheating with) are found brutally raped and murdered in a remote area in North Kenya, he did not believe the death reports that they were assaulted and harassed by bandits, and he begins to ask penetrating questions against the activities of the government, much to the astonishment of Sandy Woodrow (Danny Huston) and his other equals at the British high Commission located in Kenya. But as his inspections quickly lead him to an awry trail of blackmail, dishonesty, exploitation, political scandal and global conspiracy, he revives what he represents and what made h im marry and find love for his wife in the first place forms and whether he avenges the death of his wife forms the chief outline in the film For most of the movie, which is an elegant style of flashbacks and foreshadowings, Tessa is dead, murdered in the Kenyan wilds, where she had travelled with a African doctor named Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Koundà ©), who many in the Nairobi community assumed was her lover. In that gossipy world, Tessa was always something of a scandalous woman, pricking the fake civility of cocktail parties with impolite questions about money, authority, hardships and illness of the poor people in Kenya. She favours to spend her time usually in the company of Dr. Bluhm travelling through slums and communities, during her pregnancy, where she was kind of a good figure among the native villagers. After she gets murdered Justin sets out to find who caused the death of his wife and her companion and whether he finds his solution forms the rest of the story. The actors have done a splendid job in my opinion Fiennes as the literal gardener Justin Quayle the perfect dashing and sensitive heartthrob learns how much he loves his wife and he wants to bring the big pharmacy corporation down and bring dirty secrets out. Rachel Weisz is absolutely joyful as Tessa, a brilliant and determined social activist, unwavering in her pursuit to uncover the immoral research methods practiced at the expense of indigent Kenyan citizens. Weisz is radiant in every single shotwhich is quite an accomplishment considering that the actress was nine months pregnant, sweaty and without make-up in many scenes. Danny Huston is a peculiar choice to play Sandy, Justins devious colleague. He struggles with his fake British accent and a better choice of cast would have been a better choice for the character. Despite an unhurried opening, the energetic direction by Fernando Meirelles and admirable lead performances by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz make this adapted film an exciting and suspenseful thriller My verdict The Constant Gardener is an elegant, absorbing, and suspenseful mystery with rich performances from the leads. Despite an unhurried opening, the energetic direction by Fernando Meirelles and admirable lead performances by Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz make this adapted film an exciting and suspenseful thriller 4 broccolis out of 5

Evolution Of Immunity And The Invertebrates :: essays research papers

Evolution of Immunity and the Invertebrates "Article Summery" Name: "Immunity and the Invertebrates" Periodical: Scientific American Nov, 1996 Author: Gregory Beck and Gail S. Habicht Pages: 60 - 71 Total Pages Read: 9 The complex immune systems of humans and other mammals evolved over quite a long time - in some rather surprising ways. In 1982 a Russian zoologist named Elie Metchnikoff noticed a unique property of starfish larva. When he inserted a foreign object through it's membrane, tiny cells would try to ingest the invader through the process of phagocytosis. It was already known that phagocytosis occurred in specialized mammal cells but never in something less complex like a starfish. This discovery led him to understand that phagocytosis played a much broader role, it was a fundamental mechanism of protection in the animal kingdom. Metchnikoff's further studies showed that the host defense system of all animals today were present millions of years before when hey were just beginning to evolve. His studies opened up the new field of comparative immunology. Comparative immunologists studied the immune defenses of past and current creatures. They gained further insight into how immunity works. The most basic requirement of an immune system is to distinguish between one's own cells and "non-self" cells. The second job is to eliminate the non- self cells. When a foreign object enters the body, several things happen. Blood stops flowing, the immunity system begins to eliminate unwanted microbes with phagocytic white blood cells. This defensive mechanism is possessed by all animals with an innate system of immunity. Innate cellular immunity is believed to be the earliest form of immunity. Another form of innate immunity is complement, composed of 30 different proteins of the blood. If these mechanisms do not work to defeat an invader, vertebrates rely on another response: acquired immunity. Acquired immunity is mainly dealt by specialized white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes travel throughout the blood and lymph glands waiting to attack molecules called antigens. Lymphocytes are made of two classes: B and T. B lymphocytes release antibodies while T help produce antibodies and serve to recognize antigens. Acquired Immunity is highly effective but takes days to activate and succeed because of it's complex nature. Despite this, acquired immunity offers one great feature: immunological memory. Immunological Memory allows the lymphocytes to recognize previously encountered antigens making reaction time faster. For this reason, we give immunizations or booster shots to children. So it has been established that current vertebrates have two defense mechanisms: innate and acquired, but what of older organisms ? Both mechanisms surprisingly enough can be found in almost all organisms (specifically

evilmac Free Essay on Shakespeares Macbeth - The Evil of Lady Macbeth :: Macbeth essays

The Evil Lady Macbeth In Shakespeare's final play, Macbeth the main character Macbeth is very weak, and if it was not for the other characters he would not have committed any of those heinous crimes. The play opens with Macbeth accidentally running into three witches who give him his fortune. The go on to explain that he would become the new Thane of Cawdor, and from that point he would go onto commit many murders. Macbeth also has a wife who seems to be very controlling, and is able to persuade this already weak man to actually go through with committing these murders. I believe that the Macbeth was brainwashed by the witches, and then forced by his wife Lady Macbeth to commit these murders, and he can not be held accountable for his weakness. In the play Macbeth I believe that Lady Macbeth is trying to control Macbeth and persuade him to do things against his will. The quote that I chose to portray this characteristic of Lady Macbeth was: Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, And chastise with the valor of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round (I.v.26-29) In this next quote Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth that on the inside he must be like a snake but everyone must see him as an innocent flower: look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under't. (I.V.66-68) I believe that Lady Macbeth is training Macbeth to be evil, and she knows so much about being evil because Lady Macbeth herself is evil. I this next quote it proves that Macbeth did not want to commit any of the murders in the first place: I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on th' other-- (I.vii.25-28) The last quote that I chose shows that Macbeth has finally cracked, and Lady Macbeth has changed him totally. In this quote Macbeth has changed, and when Lady Macbeth is in doubt he says don't worry, I will take care of everything:

Submission or Revolt in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre :: free essay writer

Jane Eyre: Submission or Revolt The single greatest conflict of Charlotte Brontà «'s Jane Eyre is Jane's struggle between submission and revolt. At times it is difficult for her to know which of those two actions to choose-- she is a spirited woman who cannot accept oppression but sometimes has no choice but to submit. As a little girl she had no knowledge that there was a medium between the two. Eventually she learns moderation and she doesn't need to choose submission or revolt; she comes into her own money by the end and escapes from the oppression she suffered as a child. Jane's oppression begins at Gateshead Hall while living with her Aunt Reed and cousins. For most of her time there, she chooses submission to all their cruelties because she has no choice really. She is a little child with no money and not living relatives that she knows about. John Reed is terrible to her; he teases Jane cruelly and tries to harm her. Jane sees "in him a tyrant: a murderer" in the instance when he yells at her for reading his books and then throws the book at her, drawing blood (13). This is when Jane decides not to remain passive and submit to these cruelties, but to revolt fully against him. She insults him back and physically fights with him. As a result of this, however, Jane is forced to submit to even greater oppression by Mrs. Reed; she is locked in the red-room like an animal. She tries to revolt, but she is unable to accomplish anything at all while locked in the room, except for becoming ill with fear of the room. Before Jane leaves Gateshead for Lowood Institution, she chooses to verbally revolt against Mrs. Reed, as she was unable to before. She tells Mrs. Reed that she is "bad, hard-hearted" and "deceitful" and renounces her as a relation (39). Soon after, Jane is off to Lowood school where more adults tell her what to do. Jane is not as oppressed at Lowood school, but she still is not allowed to do as she pleases, especially not at first. The teachers treat her well, especially Miss Temple, one of her closest friends there. However, after she has been there a few weeks, Mr. Brocklehurst puts her in front of the class and denounces her as a liar. Helen Burns entreats Jane not to let it get her down because Brocklehurst "is not a god" and is disliked by everyone (71).

Karl Marx and Old Major

Karl Marx believed that the policies of the government should be controlled by the lowest working class rather than the upper middle class. â€Å"The first step on the path to the workers' revolution is the elevation of the proletariat to the position of ruling class (â€Å"Dictatorship of the Proletariat†). † As the animals was the labor community of the farm they should command, â€Å"getting rid of Man, and the produce of our labor would be our own (Orwell 7). † Just like Karl Marx, Old Major also believe that a community should be ruled by those who work for it, not the upper middle class.The power concentrated in the hands of the minority was getting in the way of the development of communism. â€Å"The theory of communism may be summed up in one sentence: abolish all private property (â€Å"Chapter II. Proletarians and Communists†). † Their lives was simple, â€Å"The animals were born and given just so much food as will keep the breath in ou r bodies, and those who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of their strength (Orwell 6). The majority works on behalf of a minority, this small piece grows while the overall decays, the labor of the animals it isn't in their favor, Mr. Jones takes advantages of them just like the capitalism system. In a socialist society, everyone would receive an equal amount of goods. In Critique of the Gotha Programme, Karl Marx said â€Å"From each, according to his ability, to each, according to his need (â€Å"Critique of the Gotha Programme†).Manor farm would support a dozen horses, twenty cows, hundreds of sheep- and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond their imagination (Orwell 7). † In the farm, the animals were underfeed in a land where everybody could eat properly as Marx and Old Major believes every goods should be equally divided. Karl Marx wanted the equality between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. Rachel McHenr y wrote about his theories, â€Å"It was also Marx's belief that before complete equality could take place there must be a dominance of the proletariats.The dictatorship of the former lower class will last for a short while, this being necessary for order's sake. (â€Å"Encountering Communism: The Theories of Karl Marx†). † Man serves the interest of no creature except himself, no one should be submissive to another. And among the animals let there be perfect unity (Orwell 10)† In Animal farm, Karl Marx ideas are mirrored by Old Major ideas, the union of the lower classes is the power of change.

Acupuncture for Pain Management

Acupuncture for Pain Management Everyone at one point in his or her life has felt pain. Image if you had constant pain with no relieve in site. With acupuncture, relief is just a thin wire away. Scientists are not ready to admit that acupuncture works in pain management. However, studies have shown that acupuncture can modifies the perception of pain and how it is processed by the brain. Through neuroimaging and genomics, scientists can see the changes within the brain’s pain center. They have observed molecular changes in the nervous and immune system. Acupuncture has very few side effects, compared to side effects that one might receive from a management that uses drugs. Overall, one could say that acupuncture is the better choice for pain management. Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing practices in the world. There is recorded evidence that it can be dated back to 200 B. C. Acupuncture is one of the key components of the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). (NCCAM1) It was widely used in China and Asian countries, until 1972 when acupuncture gained attention in the United States. In 1972, James Reston, a reporter traveling with President Nixon in China, had to undergo an emergency appendectomy. He was impressed with his post-operative pain relief consisting of acupuncture and upon his return to the United States, he wrote an article in the New York Times about his experience. Then in 1997, acupuncture was formally recognized as a mainstream medicine healing option. (UOMaryland) Acupuncture is described as a system of healing where the patient is treated by insertion of extremely thin needles into their body at specific points. It is a principle of Chinese medicine that works off your body’s energy called qi, which can be described as one’s life force, or energy. This energy flows through pathways called meridians and each meridian is attached to one organ or a group of organ to maintain proper flow of Qi. When there is a blockage of energy, illness and pain can happen. Insertion of extremely thin acupuncture needles into the precise point within the meridian can resolve balance and restore energy flow. nccam1) With classic Taoist philosophy, believes that illness is cause by imbalanced elements of yin and yang. Yin refers to material substance and yang is energy. When there is an imbalance between yin and yang, acupuncture helps restore balance. (Brit) All of our life we have been conditioned into believing that drugs and medication are the only relief for our aches, pains, and discomforts. Medication comes in two varieties, over the counter and prescription drugs. Over the counter drugs is w hat most people take for pain, rather than prescription drugs. The most common type of over the counter drugs is NSAID’s, some common names are Aleve, Ibuprofen, and Tylenol. To find out more about a drug and their side effects, you can look on line, read the package, or consult a physician desk reference (PDR). Take Aleve for example; it is for temporary relief of minor aches and pains and can temporary reduce a fever. Some common side effects are; constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, gas, headache, heartburn, nausea, stomach upset and stuffy nose. Also listed on the PDR for consumer’s page online are some severe side effects for Aleve: Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; trouble breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; wheezing); bloody or black, tarry stools; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; depression; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; loss of appetite; mental or mood changes; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; severe headache or dizziness; severe or persistent stomach pain or nausea; severe vomiting; shortness of breath; sudden or unexplained weight gain; swelling of the hands, legs, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual joint or muscle pain; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision or speech changes; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the skin or eyes. (drugs. com) Acupuncture works off one’s own energy within the body to eliminate pain, without t he major side effect that drugs can produce. How acupuncture works is not entirely clear, but technology has allowed scientists it uncover pathways in the brain that respond to acupuncture. The number of meridians varies, ranging from 14 to 20 with at least 2000 acupuncture points. nccam1) One theory of many, suggest that acupuncture stimulates the nerve fibers that transmit to the brain and spinal cord, which activates the body’s central nervous system. This in turn releases hormones that make us feel less pain and improve overall health. (uofmary) Researchers are using genomic techniques to see what happens on a cellular level and the effects in the expression of genes involved in pain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and megnetoencephalography (MEG) that are able to reveal areas of the brain that are affected during pain and show the impact of acupuncture. (nccam2) Dr. Vitaly Napadow, a Harvard Medical School neuroscientist, and his colleagues performed a research study on patient with carpal tunnel syndrome. This study used fMRI before and after acupuncture demonstrated that the brain responded to acupuncture with greater activation in the hypothalamus region of the brain and deactivation in amygdala, located deep in the temporal lobe of the brain. These areas of the brain are connected with long-term memory, emotions, behavior and the maintenance of persistent pain state. (nccam2) The FDA has had very few complications reported with the amount of people who receive acupuncture and the number of needles used. Some of the common side effects are minor bruising and forgotten needles. Fainting has also been reported as a side effect. With the use of single usage needle, infections are rare, but still a possibility. There are some but very rare cases of organ puncture. (AFP Article) Work Cited Unites States. Dept. of Heath and Human Services. Acupuncture: An Introduction. National Center For Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2011 United States. Dept. of Heath and Human Services. Acupuncture and Pain: Applying Modern Science to an Ancient Practice. Feb. 2010. Web. 11 Nov. 2011 Rosted, Palle. â€Å"Adverse Reactions after Acupuncture: A Review. † The Medical Acupuncture Web Page. Web. 12 Nov 2011. Williams, Craig. â€Å"Modern Pain, Ancient Solutions. † Acupuncture Today. Nov. 2011: Vol. 12, Issue 11. Web. 12 November 2011. Novella, Steven. â€Å"Acupuncture Does Not Work for Back Pain. † Science-Based Medicine. 13 May 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. Novella, Steven. â€Å"Does Acupuncture Work or Not. † Neurologica Blog. 25 Sep. 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.

Empowerment of three main characters in The Crucible Essay

During ‘The Crucible’ the acts which unfold able some characters to empower themselves: most notably Abigail Williams, Mary Warren and even John Proctor. Some characters begin with little or no power, then abuse the situations to gain power, whereas others begin with power and lose it, sometimes justly and other times unjustly. This could be seen as a moral message for the audiences of the play, warning of power abuse which could lead to devastating consequences. In the introductory comments, Miller comments before the events begin to unfold how â€Å"†¦the children were anything but thankful for being permitted to walk straight† which shows before the witchcraft trials and accusations had begun, children were powerless under the authority of the male dominated society -children had no power to roam freely. One of the people that gained power in the play is Mary Warren, who is a servant and so is one of the lowest ranks of the Puritan society- much like the children of Salem. At first she does not have any power at all as she is taught that she has to follow orders from the Proctors, who she works for. This is seen when she â€Å"lept† with â€Å"fright† upon Proctors entrance. Yet, she manages to turn from a â€Å"mouse† to a â€Å"daughter of a prince† as she suddenly gains power from working in the court, trying possible witches. Her increasing power is also shown from her defiance of Proctor when she refuses his order of not going to â€Å"court again†, and responds that she â€Å"must† and â€Å"will be gone everyday†. It also shown through stage directions, when Mary is â€Å"terrified† of Proctor but quickly becomes â€Å"erect†, which highlights her ability to overcome her fear of Proctor because of her growing confidence and power. Mary even manages to intimidate Proctor in this part of the play. When threatened with the â€Å"whip† from Proctor, she manages to threaten him further by responding â€Å"I would have you speak civilly to me, from this out. † Mary, filled with this newly found power, is able to threaten Procter to stop beating her or she will not speak so highly of his family next time. By using the phrase â€Å"from this out† shows that Mary doesn’t usually expect that kind of treatment from the Proctor, yet now she is able to demand it because of the power gain. Again, further on in the play Mary is also able to â€Å"numb† Proctor when she overthrows his â€Å"grip† on her to tell the truth about the accusations, and instead turns on him. When pressured by Abigail and the other girls, once they start accusing Mary to save themselves, she is not able to stand her ground – which highlights her feebleness and weakness which was seen at the very start of the play. This is seen as she even admits she has â€Å"no power†. This links to her inferior position in the society and even within her social group, she is not popular, and respected. This is shown when Abigail tells Mary to â€Å"shut it† and Mercy Lewis starts â€Å"pointing† and â€Å"looking† at Mary as if she were to blame. However, the fact that Mary was able to then accuse Proctor of being â€Å"devil’s man†, who is a highly respected in the village, shows that she does have more power than she started with. But she is abusing her power, to save herself and because of her lack of power on her social circle. So, this once ‘innocent’ girl who thought they â€Å"must tell the truth† took advantage of the situation so she and her friends would not be â€Å"whipped†. Overall, Mary arguably, has the most progressive power of all the girls and possibly all of the characters in ‘The Crucible’, but that’s not to say she has the most power overall. Another character like Mary Warren who gains power throughout the play is Abigail Williams. Once shunned and scorned by the inhabitants of the village because of her â€Å"blackened name†, Abigail becomes a domineering power, and is treated like a â€Å"saint†. A mere accusation from Abigail or one of her girls is enough to convict even a well-respected inhabitant of Salem like Rebecca Nurse who does â€Å"great charities†. Even though in present day we would associate â€Å"saint† with good Samaritans, which would seem absurd to see Abigail called this in present day, she was seen in this way because in puritan society if you went against god, you went against the law. So Abigail’s act of bringing Salem’s attention to the presence of the devil, and then through the court eradicating it was seen as an act of greatness. Abigail starts off as a scared young girl which is seen through Millers stage directions, as she â€Å"quavers† when being questioned by Parris about Betty’s mysterious illness. However, soon she is able to assert her power of the girls by â€Å"smashing† Betty round the face and threatening all the girls not to tell anyone about the events of the previous night, or she will â€Å"come† to them at the â€Å"black of one terrible night†. This implies they could be her prey, and if they make a wrong move she could pounce on them, which again puts her in a domineering position. This characteristic allows her to control within the group which creates more tension because Abigail also seems to be possessive which is seen when she says â€Å"Now look you. All of you†. The repetition of â€Å"you† makes the phrase quite aggressive and short commanding sentences have a strong impact, and make Abigail seem hostile but ultimately powerful. Her empowerment is also documented as the inhabitants of Salem think the â€Å"sea parts like Israel† for Abigail, so her sins are overlooked, as people take her word to be an expression of â€Å"God’s will. † This allowed Abigail to control and manipulate even the most powerful men in Salem, which is seen when Abigail threatens that Danforth- a high court official. So, Abigail Williams, who was once powerless in general society, is a perfect example of someone who became empowered by deciding the fate of other people and, by controlling and threatening people. Although, Abigail did have a powerful status among her social group from the outset and throughout which is shown when she starts â€Å"pointing with fear† and accusing Mary of â€Å"hurting her†, and quickly all the girls chime in with her. The third character who is subtly empowered is John Proctor. Despite his prideful ways, John Proctor describes himself as a â€Å"sinner. † His conversation with Elizabeth in act two where he exclaims for Elizabeth to â€Å"judge him not† demonstrated his internal conflict and his own unwillingness to forgive himself for his act of lechery. There are moments when his anger and disgust towards himself burst forth, such as when he exclaims to Judge Danforth: â€Å"I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours. † So, although it is not clear from the outset that John Proctor has been empowered, he has. He is able for the first time to â€Å"see some shred of goodness† in himself- his relief from his constant guilt- when he decides to deny his confession. In conclusion, all three characters were empowered through the play, which led to the unjust killing of numerous inhabitants of Salem through the false allegations of witchcraft. So, Miller uses this to show the audience the consequence of abuse of power. Abigail is the best example because she falls from her position of high power, and resorts to boarding a â€Å"ship†, in order to escape.

All My Sons: Miller’s Chief Criticism of American Society Essay

A shot was heard throughout the Keller home as Joe ended his guilty, worthless life. Miller criticizes that American society has become corrupt- a place of selfishness, where people care too much about themselves, and that which benefits them, and will go to any lengths to achieve that goal; even if the repercussions of their actions will bring harm to other people. He stresses that money seems to be the key factor that drives society to this level of corruption. Miller emphasizes this point in several ways. The first example is that Keller knowingly ships out cracked cylinder heads, that will crash an airplane if used, to prevent his business from going bankrupt, claiming that he did it for his family. The second example is that Sue would rather Jim make allot of money, and not do medical research- which is what he really wanted to do. The third example is Jim’s abdication of his pursuit of medical research do to the lack of profit involved. In his play â€Å"All My Sons,† Miller makes it apparent that society in general values money and profit more than human life. He shows this by his portrayal of Keller. Keller ships out cracked cylinder heads, aware that in flight they will cause planes to crash, to save his business from being shut down. Furthermore, he goes on to allow the blame to fall on Steve, in order to save himself from going to jail, even though Steve was not the only one guilty. Keller tries to rationalize his actions by saying that he committed this heinous act for the benefit of his family- so that they will have money and everything else they need and can live happily. â€Å"Chris†¦ Chris I did it for you. It was a chance and I took it for you. † This portrays the human characteristic of creating a false sense of innocence in spite of ones guilty actions- and conscience. Honesty only comes out of ones guilty conscience when it benefits them. Sue would rather have Jim make money than do what he wants to do- medical research. Apparently she values profit over allowing an individual to do what he wants to do- what he enjoys doing. â€Å"Research pays twenty-five dollars a week minus laundering the hair shirt. You’ve got to give up your life to go into it. † Sue is willing to deny Jim his real desire, in order to make more profit. Miller stresses that society has become so corrupt, that people would rather do something they do not enjoy doing, just for the profit. Due to greediness, money has made people give up their dreams and goals in search of more profit. What Jim really wants to do with his life is research medicine, but remains a doctor only for the profit involved. Sue’s greediness seems to have rubbed off on him, and he gives up research for more money. â€Å"I would love to help humanity on a Warner Brothers salary. † By saying this, Jim shows that profit means more to him than pursuing his dreams and â€Å"helping humanity. † Miller makes it clear that money, dishonesty, and selfishness take precedence over friendship and human life in our corrupt society. The selfishness that influences one mans relationship to another has destroyed the truth and honesty that used to preside over American society. He suggests that all these factors put together are quickly destroying the basic human values of goodwill and honesty. Evil is prevailing over good, and if society continues down the same path it is on now- a catastrophic collision course with humanity- evil will eventually succeed in destroying honesty and righteousness. Maybe the world would be a much better place to live in if only people considered the needs of others, besides their own needs.

A fascination for Science Technology in the todays world

A fascination for Science & Technology in the today's world Developed through the technological architecture of electrical engineering and the computational language of mathematics, the science of computer technology has provided considerable recognition and financial gain for many of its well deserving pioneers. Steve Jobs famous quote ‘computers themselves and software yet to be developed will revolutionize the way we learn. He believed that there are tremendous developments and endless possibilities yet to be explored in this field of computer science. I foresee computer science being used as a tool, as mathematics is used, for all the fields of science. It has always been important for physicists, chemists and biologists to have some understanding of specific areas of mathematics to express their ideas, to write down formulas, and to make predictions. Similarly, in the near future, computer software will become an integral part of the research to create new breakthroughs. For instance, all fields of science collect and analyze a large amount of data. Finding patterns in large amounts of data has always been a crucial block. However, by using state of the art of software for data mining and machine learning, hidden trends and patterns may emerge that can help increase understanding and solve problems. All these problems and their seemingly possible solutions have always motivated me to make artificial intelligence as my part and parcel of my life. A fascination for Science Technology and a keen interest in the ever-growing world of technology motivated me to take up engineering. I choose to major in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering with an intense urge to delve into the challenging field. During my undergraduate program, I learned the various fundamentals of Electronics Engineering, I was exposed to various courses with applications like Electromagnetic field, Control systems, Power Electronics, Electrical measurements, Linear Integrated Circuits, Electronics, Digital Signal Processing, Introduction to Operating Systems, Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and object-oriented programming with C++, Analog, and Digital electronics. I was always fascinated about microcontrollers, the fact that it is something that bridges the gap between computer software and real-world mechanical devices, which gives it the potential to sense the surrounding using various sensors and take decisions based on parameters it receives. This fascination inspired me to do a project on Coal Mine Safety System using Atmel AVR microcontroller in my final year. I enrolled myself in the course of CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional ) which introduced me to the world of networking and communications. My knowledge of computer networks and programming skills helped me to get a job in Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited. I am working as a part of network planning and optimization team for past 10 months. M y responsibility is to plan and provide optimal indoor solutions for smooth network coverage and data throughput. A quotation attributed to Edsger Dijkstra, states that ‘computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. The design and deployment of computers and computer systems are generally considered the province of disciplines other than computer science. Computer science is the cross-fertilization of ideas between the various computer-related disciplines, and electronic engineering. I believe that combining these two disciplines will give an excellent grounding in both subject areas and will prepare us for a wide range of careers in both or either fields. This cross-discipline study will give the advantage of becoming a multi-skilled professional engineer with a thorough understanding of the concepts and techniques plus the chance to explore the exciting interface between the two. It is in this context that I wish to pursue a Master in Computer Science. The decision to pursue Masters in Computer Science naturally followed after a good deal of self-evaluation, carefully considering my area of interest, and my ultimate professional ambition, which is to pursue a research career, either as a teaching faculty member or in an RD department of an industry. I am confident that a graduate degree specializing in Artificial Intelligence will enable me to achieve the goal and prepare me for a Ph.D. program in the future. I believe that graduate study in a reputed department, such as yours, is important for a person aspiring for a research career. Working for a thesis under the guidance of an expert whose work can serve as a model is the most effective method of transforming a student into a largely independent researcher making significant original contributions. I feel that XX university with its comprehensive facilities and competent faculty doing quality research work in the field of artificial intelligence will be an ideal place for me to pursue graduate studies.