Character Analysis of Meredith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy Essay

Meredith Grey, M. D. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey’s Anatomy, which airs on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The character was created by series’ producer Shonda Rhimes, and is portrayed by actress Ellen Pompeo. Meredith is the series’ protagonist, and was introduced as a surgical intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, eventually obtaining the position of resident, and later attending. As the daughter of world-renowned surgeon Ellis Grey, Meredith struggles with the everyday life of being an attending, maintaining the relationship with her one-night stand and eventual husband Derek Shepherd, her new-found motherhood, and the friendships with her colleagues. Meredith is the narrator of the show and serves as the focal point for most episodes. Pompeo’s connection with Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepherd) is acclaimed as a high point of the series. Rhimes has characterized Meredith as not believing in good or bad, but doing what she thinks is right. Pompeo has been nominated for several awards, winning many of them, for her performance on the show. Grey has been positively received by television critics, with Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times referring to her as â€Å"the heroine of Grey’s Anatomy†. News of Pompeo leaving uprose when it was made clear that her contract ended after the eighth season. Speculation occurred again when Rhimes reported that Grey’s Anatomy will be returning for a ninth season. TVLine reported that Ellen Pompeo has signed on for two more years, along with her fellow cast members.

Environmental Issues Essay

Not enough can be said about the environmental problems that the planet earth and its inhabitants is currently facing. Aside from the rampant pollution that people nowadays have to live with, people must also be concerned with the inescapable problems that affect the ozone layer, which in turn causes global warming. Global warming is not an issue that only affects a few people from poorer parts of the world. It is a global problem that people must face now before time runs out. Although it is true that global warming, the thinning and the destruction of the ozone layer, are irreversible, people can start working as one now to help alleviate the problem. This time no one is spared from the problems that Mother Earth has bestowed its inhabitants after years of abuse. There are a number of things that one can do in order to start solving the planet. These may be done in one’s home, school, office or community, and may even be simpler than one can even imagine. At home, people may start being more disciplined and conscious in recycling everything that can be recycled. Paper, bottles, cans, plastics, and other items may be recycled properly and taken to recycling centers. Brown paper bags and plastic bags may be reused to line trash cans rather than using new trash liners and garbage bags. Food may be used in reusable containers instead on disposable plastic containers. Electric energy may be conserved by avoiding the use of electrical appliances when needed, such as turning of lights, electronic devices when a person leaves the room, less ironing of clothes that are only worn at home, or the use of manual can openers and knife sharpeners instead of using the electric can openers and knife sharpening devices. The use of cold water in the washer rather than hot water also saves energy as well as prolongs the longevity of one’s clothes. Turning off the faucet when not in use, or even turning the heat down and putting on sweaters indoors instead are also energy-conserving ways. In one’s yard, a compost pit may be started where leaves and other biodegradable household waste may be put into. Rather than using insecticides, homeowners and gardeners may opt to pull weeds instead. Planting dense shrubs close to the house’s foundation also adds insulation to one’s home to protect against draft and the cold. People should also be more conscious of the ways they use their cars. More and more people are now observed to be using their bicycles, which is not only an excellent workout but also helps conserve energy. Further, more and more people have rediscovered the joys of carpooling and the use of public transit. A lot of new cars are now more fuel-efficient and produce lower emissions, which must be one of the greater considerations when buying a new car. Old cars must be regularly tuned up, and its oil must be regularly changed as well. The same is true in one’s office. Recycle all the materials, such as paper, paper clips, boxes, among others properly. There are a number of electronic office devices which are energy efficient and may be acquired instead of less energy efficient ones. The higher price makes up for more savings in the long run. All in all, there are a million things people can do to help alleviate the environmental concerns the earth is now facing. Joining a conservation organization, volunteering one’s time to conservation projects or even allotting a few loose change for conservation projects may also be helpful especially if done sincerely. People must start encouraging each one to take part and be more involved in the proper care of the environment. Children must be taught as early as possible to respect and care for the environment. Conservation concerns must be properly disseminated to the community to enjoin its members to help and take part in caring for the environment.

The Santa Barbara Courthouse Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Santa Barbara Courthouse - Assignment Example The structure, layout, and height of the building also make it very impressive to look at. The courthouse was built out of stone, metal, wood, terra cotta, stucco, glass, and ceramic tile. It is made up of four buildings including an 85-foot clock tower. The structure is quite tall and also covers an entire city block. The main entrance features very wide stairs and a very large half-circle door opening, creating a very majestic and stylish visual spectacle. The entry arches are made of sandstone. This entry also features a wrought iron Spanish pendant lamp. There is also a sandstone plinth at the bottom of square pilasters that collect rainwater around a 4-inch wide wall that resembles a castle moat. The building also features a rear entry arch as well. The inside of the building is equally as impressive as the outside; perhaps even more impressive. Hand-painted ceilings are found throughout the building which includes a mural room as well. The entire floor of the building is composed of hand-made terra cotta tile. The interior also captures the Mission Colonial Revival style and has a classic castle fortress style appearance. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is described by The Architectural Resources Group as an Andalusian castle-style building that has a â€Å"romantic fortress aesthetic, complemented by Andalusian massing and asymmetry† (‘Santa Barbara Courthouse’). This is also the sense I first got when looking at both the exterior and interior of the building. The landscaping around the building is also visually appealing and compliments the building as well. It features several different types of trees, plants, and flowers. A lawn also covers much of the building grounds. The building is visually appealing in a number of different ways and that is why I feel it is a place I would like to be in or around. As mentioned earlier, the architecture of the building also has historical and cultural significance.

Supply chain management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Supply chain management - Essay Example One of the major issues that businesses face while switching to the ‘e’ channels is the fact that they can convert themselves to the same in isolation; however, the supply chain network does not allow isolated implementations to be a success (Ginkel, 1998, p. 313). For higher chances of a success i.e. to reduce the risk of failure, a business should move towards ‘e’ or any other channel in collaboration with its network of stakeholders, in particular its supply chain (Houlihan, 1985, p. 17). Traditional Supply Chain Mechanisms Traditionally, prior to the era of 80s, supply chain management was assumed as a part of the business, and restricted to the supplies of inventory or raw material, depending on the nature of the business under consideration. The era of 80s and 90s has brought about changes in the way supply chain looks today (JOHNSON and WHANG, 2002, p. 411). Serving as the era of transitional changes, the big names of the business industry such as Uni lever and P&G realized that streamlining the supply chain can prove out to be a highly cost effective solution for running their business. Thereon, the phase initiated in business history, where supply chain networks gain importance (Wisner and Tan, 2000, p. 35). As the era of mid and late 90s saw the rising need of supply chain integration and businesses moving towards the ‘e’ channels, the early years of 2000s saw the application of ‘e’ channels across the supply chain network, keeping it tightly integrated from the rise of the raw material to the selling of the final commodity in the retail stores (Vickery et al., 1999, p. 18). Impact of e-business and e-commerce towards supply chain The add-on of the ‘e’ variable in business cycle has had a significant impact on how businesses have been conducted (Audy et al., n.d., p. 111). However, prior to moving forward with the discussion, it is critical to define the difference between e-commerce and e-business. Despite the fact that the terms tend to be used interchangeably today, e-commerce is about conducting a transaction which could either be B2B or B2C, or even C2C. On the contrary, e-business is about the application of the technology to enhance or improve a process or even replace it on the whole (Carter et al., 2000, p. 17). Adding up ‘e’ towards the business and commerce activities pulls the supply chain towards the core business processes for ensuring the network is integrated in a manner that does not allow any loophole, as that can turn out to be fatal for the business (Gurnani et al., 2011, p. 301). Classical example of how ‘e’ factor on the business and commerce can tightly couple the supply chain requirements is shown in the case of Dell. Dell, long back, has implemented e-business and e-commerce to their business; e-processes in terms of build-your-own-pc and e-commerce in terms of online purchases (Harland, 1996, p. S64). Such an appli cation requires extensive cooperation from the supply chain; the process of supply chain remains transparent to the customer. As a customer assembles their computer on the website, at the back-end, the support team needs to ensure that the required components are readily available or

Information Systems Development from a Semiotic Point of View Essay

Information Systems Development from a Semiotic Point of View - Essay Example Likewise, the design and analysis of information systems involves development of signs (digital codes) and a translation of these signs to some level of construct. The semiotic principles help in understanding the representation of information through some data and a better understanding of the information through appropriate interpretation. It is also important to understand that changes occur in the settings in which these information systems are used similar to the applications of signs at different settings. This paper focuses on semiotics as it applies to information system development. The development and growth of semiotics The development of this field of study is greatly attributed to a Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) and an American pragmatist Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) (About.com, 2012). Other theorists have made significant contribution towards the development of modern semiotics. Some of these are Roland Barthes (1915-1980), Algirdas Greimas (191 7-1992), Umberto Eco (b.1932), and Julia Kristeva (b.1941) among other theorists (Chandlers, n.d). The individuals worked independently to understand how meaning is developed from the structures that are used. Saussure developed a two-part model of sign that consists of a signifier (the sign) and the signified (the concept that is represented by the sign). The agreed practice enables the meaning to be derived. A sign is, thus, a ‘recognizable combination of a signifier with a particular signified’ (Chandlers, n.d). According to Saussure, there is no relationship between the signifier of a meaning (words or symbols) and the actual meaning (About.com). The framework of the model developed by Saussure provides the famous difference that has been observed between language and speech.... This essay stresses that telecommunication systems, process control systems, environmental control systems, and command and control systems are some of the common information systems in businesses. Business organizations need information systems to communicate to their customers, suppliers, or the shareholders whereas governments need the systems to provide services to its citizens at low costs. In either case, the accuracy, validity, and reliability of information are essential. This paper makes a conclusion that the development of information systems applies theories and principles derived from semiotics. Computer-based information system is described as ‘a sign system embedded in an artifact with action capabilities for organizational purposes’. Semiotics concerns signs and interpretation of their meanings. Likewise, the design and analysis of information systems involves development of signs and a translation of these signs to some level of construct. The semiotic principles help in understanding the representation of information through some data and a better understanding of the information through appropriate interpretation. It is also important to understand that changes occur in the settings in which these information systems are used similar to the applications of signs at different settings. Generally, the development of information systems is derived largely from methods and theories in semiotics. Semiotics is the study of the nature of signs and the laws governing the interpretation of these signs.

Global issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global issues - Essay Example Britain had expanded its empire by military power whereas US has primarily increased its influence and domination through economic supremacy and expansion of trade across the world. Ferguson believes that liberal imperialism can be a good thing primarily because it provides the countries to expand its business across the regions and thereby establish more effective economic supremacy over the nations (Ferguson, 2004). Terrorism is an act of violence and intimidation against innocent people to meet the vested political goals and religious fanatics’ demands, committed by terrorists. They have no moral and infiltrate the society by luring the weak and the vulnerable common man who is then used as medium to commit the heinous crimes. That is the reason that terrorist outfits like Al Qaeda are difficult to combat. Powell Doctrine defines the defense strategy and states that the military power should be used as the last resort and all resources and tools should be used in the war to conquer enemy (Healy, 2003). It encourages nations to employ diplomacy and negotiation techniques to avert war and therefore, significantly restricts imperialistic tendencies of America. United State has increased significant influence in the world polity not only because of its military power but also as the biggest, richest, scientifically most advanced and economically established nation of the world (Johnson, 2004). Ferguson and Johnson have reiterated that in the recent times, America has been sidetracked from its public welfare policies to the use of military power to declare its military supremacy and domination over the weak nations. Zakaria has also compared US influence to that of British Empire and has emphasized that the British empire disintegrated because of lack of effective economic policies and though America’s considerable influence across the globe can be termed as

Explain how Marketing Communications can be used to change customers Essay

Explain how Marketing Communications can be used to change customers attitudes and influence customers behaviour.(Marketing communications) - Essay Example The different models and the ways are discussed below that may change the attitudes and perceptions of the consumers. The marketing models discussed below for the marketing communications allows the marketing managers to know about the attitudes of the customer and then influence different strategies to influence their buying behavior. Attractive marketing campaigns and promotions need to be done so that a huge level of customer base can be attracted towards the organisation. This model allows us to focus on the attitude level of the consumer and how they interpret and learn about the new information that is being communicated to them through the advertising messages and other marketing mediums. It is important to influence the strength and usability of a product or service to the consumers in the marketing messages so that they can show their interest towards the product or service (Fitzgerald and Arnott 2000). The McGuire’s information processing model basically focuses on five elements. They are as follows: Exposure, attention level from the customers, Comprehension, Acceptance level ability of the consumers, and the Retention level rate of the consumers (Dahlen et al 2009). The information processing model developed by McGuire allows the researcher to learn about the attitudes and changes in behavior of the consumers for the communication aspects that take place while communicating the marketing information to the consumers about any product or service. According McGuire, the changes in behavior will occur if the communication takes place in a persuasive manner. The communication can be delivered in a persuasive manner by following the steps that follows ahead (Fill 2008). Firstly, the message that is to be communicated to the consumers must be presented in a clear and unambiguous manner. Then, the message must be clearly attended by the one who has delivered it. All

The difficulties of complaining Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The difficulties of complaining - Essay Example It makes people feel special. Excellent patient care is the most important piece to keep hospital rooms full. As an example, â€Å"Mr Tadeus Kowalski was admitted to the ward a year ago for rehabilitation following hip replacement in an elective orthopedic centre. He has had a second hip replacement and there are plans to transfer him to the ward again for rehabilitation, Mr Kowalski and his family said they did not want him to return to the ward. Mr Kowalski has Parkinsons disease and said that, although his medication should have been given three hourly, it was often late. This caused him greater distress and impeded his recovery. In his notes, there are several entries indicating that he, his wife and family have been asked to keep his own medication as his medication has not been given on time. As cure costs more than prevention, to alleviate Mr Kowalski concerns and enable him to accept the rehabilitation, hospital needs to provide special ward and appoint a dedicated nurse for him. There is a requirement for the doctor to visit the patient more informally other than the scheduled official rounds.. He should be provided with labeled medicines and with chart indicating its dosage and time to take it, which will be helpful in absence of attendant. There are several such cases which affect hospital reputation. Many such problems creep up due to communication gap between working staff and patients, unawareness of staff regarding importance of timely medication or their neglecting behavior. Generally older people need more care as well as attention; thus, they should be allotted separate wards with a dedicated attendant to take care of their needs. Official visits by responsible persons should be increased to gather customer feedbacks. Emergency services should be more prompt. All patients, including old people, should be educated for self medication.

Real World Quadratic Functions Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Real World Quadratic Functions - Coursework Example This paper will determine the maximum possible profit for the chain store and the number of clerks that will maximize the profit. The parabola will cross the x-axis at 0 and 12. The value of a = -25 is large and negative, indicating that the parabola will be narrow and will open downward. This means that the maximum value will be at the vertex. The x-value for the vertex of the parabola is given by , where a = -25 and b = 300. Figure 1 shows the graph of the Profit function, . The graph of the profit function is a parabola with vertex at (6, 900). As shown in the graph, there will be no profit made when no clerk is working or when 12 clerks are working, and there will be loss if more than 12 clerks are working.. The maximum profit will occur when 6 clerks are working and will be equal to $900. The graph of the profit function is only relevant in the first quadrant, as the value of the x cannot be negative that is negative clerks cannot exist. In conclusion, the daily profit, P of a chain store is related to the number of clerks working that day, x, and is given by the function . This paper used quadratic function to determine the maximum possible profit for the chain store and the number of clerks that will maximize the profit. The graph of the profit function (and also solution) indicated that the maximum profit would occur when 6 clerks are working and would be equal to $900. The graph also indicated that there would be no profit made when no clerk is working or when 12 clerks are working, and there will be loss if more than 12 clerks are working. Therefore, the store manager should employ 6 clerks to achieve maximum possible profit at the

1-Pilot & Non-pilot Protection of Transmission Lines Essay

1-Pilot & Non-pilot Protection of Transmission Lines - Essay Example This is of course in addition to today’s independent systems. It is important to note that the emphasis in this paper is not on the pilot scheme to be used but rather on whether a pilot system would be necessary. This follows the realization that a typical pilot terminal would cost $150K more compared with a non-pilot terminal. The question in this case is why would someone spend so much on a pilot scheme rather than just take up a non-pilot system which is less costly? The answers to this question serve as the justifications for the pilot scheme. Taylor (1927) says that the pilot scheme come in with additional benefits such as improved resistive coverage, high speed reclosing, and improved sustainability compared with the non-pilot system. In addition, the pilot scheme comes with alternatives to protection including fall back strategies, extensions to Zone 1, and inverse time over current. The pilot system also provides extended considerations mainly used in the determination of the system’s redundancy usually dependent on a number of factors including security, reliability, and dependability. The pilot system is also preferred because of its free interactions with the regulatory issues (Taylor, 1927). The protection of a transmission line has been a unique concept in the sense that, the system’s zone limit will have to separate geographical locations. This is contrary to the concepts in other systems such as buses, capacitors, and transformers. The idea behind the transmission line protection system is the alignment of the system elements and the input devices in one location and provides room for the instantaneous configuration of tripping. With the pilot scheme, this is usually done with very little coordination problems (Kim, 1996). Following the alignment of the system elements and input sources, all terminals will be

Describe the ways in which swing music and popular culture Essay Example for Free

Describe the ways in which swing music and popular culture Essay There were many ways in which swing music and popular culture were interrelated during the time known as the swing era. Jazz became the cornerstone of popular culture during the period known as the swing era. The swing era influenced clothing styles, retail marketing, fashion, dance, and even language. Swing fans had their own clothing style and built a social phenomenon around it. With many dances coming and going the swing fans kept on dancing. Name some of the specific innovations Duke Ellington brought to jazz in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Duke Ellington brought some specific innovations to jazz in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Ellington was in time known as the greatest composer in jazz, he wrote roughly 2,000 compositions that had arranged from solo piano pieces, to works for orchestra’s, to highly symphonic concert music, etc. Ellington made a lot of changes to make the perfect sound, he used a variety of mutes on brass instruments to achieve more interesting tonal effects, often gave melodies to instruments that were not typically melodic instruments, and he used cross-sectional voicing. Ellington created an orchestra in the early 1940’s which later became known as his â€Å"Favorite Orchestra†. Describe why Count Basie’s rhythm section is called the first modern rhythm section. Count Basie’s rhythm section is called the first modern rhythm section. Basie made the rhythm section to â€Å"breathe† which helped compliment instead of duplicate, as well as having the drummer Jo Jones who played the high hat cymbal style. With this Basie had created the All-American Rhythm section which was known at the first modern rhythm section because Basie had created such an amazing rhythm section to go with the rest of his band it was solid. Describe some of the reasons why the swing era began and why it came to an end. There were many reasons why the swing era had begun and why it had come to an end. The beginning of the swing era started from a band called the Benny Goodman Orchestra. They traveled around on tour to get a spot and had been denied, until their last stop in Los Angeles, CA. The Palomar Ballroom wanted to hear the music that had been broadcasting and this began the swing era. The swing era decided to collapse with a shocking suddenness, with bands all over closing up their bags and shutting down. The swing era had suddenly ended from changing economics, the war, predictability, the changing audience, and bebop all of this had ended what was known as the swing era. Describe how the styles of Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins were different. The styles from Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins were very different throughout the swing era. Hawkins and Young were two of the best tenor sax players that had emerged during the swing era. Considerably different, Hawkins played a huge dark sound, whereas Young’s was light and breathy. Some of the differences were as follows; Hawkins improvisations were based on his superior knowledge of harmony, Young’s were rooted in the blues, Hawkins played with a rhythmic approach that was always closely tied to the beat, and Young’s rhythmic conception was much looser, and often untied to the beat. Although they had many differences, they inspired sax players for years to come. The arranging styles of Ellington and Basie are quite different when put next to each other to compare and contrast. In the song â€Å"Take the A Train† by Duke Ellington the rhythm section of the band is very on point, and broad it is a stand out section and wants to make their point. They are very loud obnoxious and want to make you want to dance. For the â€Å"One O’clock Jump† by Count Basie the rhythm section is very low key and mellow, although very good and has a good beat, more of a song to have a mellow night to or to hangout and relax to. I prefer the song â€Å"Take the A Train† by Duke Ellington, because I like to dance and it more fits my personality of a loud and obnoxious fun song.

Biodiversity Impact Of Invasive Plants In Tropical Biodiversity Biology Essay

Biodiversity Impact Of Invasive Plants In Tropical Biodiversity Biology Essay Tropical zone is the biodiversity hot spot (Briggs, 1996) about three-quarters of the worlds species are confined to the tropic of the world (Wilson, 1992). Though tropical forest ecosystems are more resistant to invasion by alien plants than other biome (Edward, 2009), they are exceedingly threatening by invasive species (Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, biotropica, 2010). Invasive species are creating significant challenges to the management and conservation of the indigenous biodiversity. The distribution of invasive plant species occurred at ecosystem level, community level and at the species level (Meyer et al., 2004). At least one exotic species is present in almost all tropical areas (Usher 1991). Invasive plants alter the local environment more favourable to them but less favourable to the native species (Hoffmann et al., 2004) and thus modified local ecosystem. Biological invasion has become a considerable economic, social, and particularly ecological problem of global impact (Cavalcante and Major, 2006). The important ecological impacts identified include reduction in native plant species richness, abundance and alternation in ecological function (Vitousek Walker, 1989; Adair Groves, 1998; Levine et al., 2003; Ogle, Reiners Gerow, 2003; Vila et al., 2006; Hejda, Pysek Jarosik, 2009 cited in Martin and Murray, 2010). Invasive plant species can covert the large area tropical vegetation to an exotic monoculture and greatly reduce the biodiversity, for example, the number of birds, mammals, tree seedlings were greatly reduced in Australia after the invasion of the area by alien plant species (Braithwaite et al. 1989) and Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) forms large, monotyp ic expanses, with Asia reporting over 35 million acres affected (Garrity et al. 1997). Invasive species are posing a serious threat to biodiversity (IUCN, 2000). The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) has pointed that the impacts of invasive species on the tropical ecosystems are increasing rapidly. Similarly, recognizing the increasing issue of impact of invasive species, Convention on Biological Diversity, call on contracting parties to prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate invasive species that threaten ecosystems, habitats and species Article 8 (h). This systematic review attempt to summarises, appraise and communicate the results  of the available studies to address the impact of invasive plants on tropical biodiversity. This protocol will provide a priori guide and allow scientific communities to comment on methodology and other relevant issues. Diverse studies are available related to impact of invasive plant species on tropical biodiversity. Some studies suggest that invasion of native vegetation by the non native plants does not always lead to decline in native biodiversity (e.g. Sax Gaines, 2003; Sax, Kinlan Smith, 2005). Biological invasions have been the subject of intensive ecological research during the last two decades (Fine 2001). Comprehensive studied have been done for many tropical forests e.g. the Hawaiian Islands (Fine, 2002) but some authors argues that the biological invasion research has generally ignored tropical forests ( Drake et al. 1989, Groves Burdon 1986, Williamson 1996 cited in Fine, 2002). In such contentious situation, it seems quite reasonable to syntheses these studies to improve the efficiency of the conservation efforts in preserving biodiversity of the tropics and develop a concrete evidence base on the impact of invasive species which will provide unbiased scientific evidence base to help decision-makers to decide and implement necessary policy intervention to stop further invasion of the tropical biodiversity and identify areas where evidence is lacking to direct research and funding on more crucial agendas. Objective of the review Primary question What are the effects of invasive plants on biodiversity of the tropical zone? Table 1: Definition of components of the primary systematic review question Subject Intervention Comparator Outcomes Biodiversity in the tropical zone Invasion by invasive plant species in tropical zone Biodiversity in forest, savannas or grassland before the invasion or any relevant or any relevant Any reported change in tropical biodiversity e.g. Species richness, abundance of native plant species, tree density Methods 3.1. Search Strategy Relevant published and unpublished literature and data will be collated by following strategy. Due to the resource constraints only English language literatures will be taken into consideration. 3.1.1 Scope of search I will use the following database search to retrieve the literatures and data ISI Web of Knowledge Science Direct Wiley InterScience Cambridge Journal Cab Direct CSA Biological Sciences Database (CSA/CIG)   BIOTROPICA In addition to grey literatures are searched in the website of relevant organization as listed in section 3.1.5 which helps to reveal important information about the tropical forestry and invasive species interaction. First searches are conducted on title, keyword and abstract basis and followed by full text searches. Hits are then checked for the relevance. 3.1.2 Search terms Effective and comprehensive list of related key words as described in the table -2 will be used to retrieve the literatures from the database specified above. Table 2: Search terms for review Subject term Intervention term combine with OR AND combine with OR Tropic* biodiversity Species richness Invas* plant non native plant exotic plant alien plant introduced plant Search term combinations Table: 3 Search term combinations and no of hits Key word 1 Key word 2 Total hits (Topic search) Refined hits in Web of science Tropic* biodiversity AND Invas* plant 54 Tropic* biodiversity AND Non native plant 32 Tropic* biodiversity AND exotic plant 74 Tropic* biodiversity AND alien plant 63 Tropic* biodiversity AND non-indigenous plant 07 Tropic* Species richness AND Invas* plant 38 Tropic* Species richness AND Non native plant 30 Tropic* Species richness AND exotic plant 60 Tropic* Species richness AND alien plant 34 Tropic* Species richness AND non-indigenous plant 04 tropical biodiversity AND (exotic plant) OR (invasive plant) OR(non native plant) OR (non indigenous plant) 7,109 425 No of hits and the retrieval of relevant literature varies between the data base searches, in the above table hits obtained by web of science is mentioned as an example. The same search tem combination give quite different hit in another database search, for example, for the first search term [tropic*biodiversity AND invas*plant] Cab direct retrieved 56 articles. In addition to the web of science the search databases mentioned in section 3.1.1 have been used in the preparation of this protocol and will also be used in final systematic review. 3.1.3 Specialist web sources will be conducted www.conservationevidence.com www.conserveOnline.org www.conservationevidence.org www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov 3.1.4. Internet Search The internet will be searched using the search engines. The first 70 hits for each search will be recorded and examined for relevance. www.google.com www.scholar.google.com www.scirus.com www.scientific.thomsonwebplus.com 3.1.5 Specialist agencies and organization data search At global level: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) IUCN/Invasive species specials group CABI- invasive species compendium Convention on biological diversity (CBD) International Weed Science Society (IWSS) UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) In addition to this regional level agencies and organization in tropical countries will also consulted. Asia: Association of Southeast Asian Nations , Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) Invasive Alien Flora of India Weed Science Society of Japan Weed Science Society of China Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) Australia: Invasive Species Council South America: Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network IABN Invasive Information Network 3.2. Study Inclusion criteria The relevant studies (articles, literatures, book sections) to be included in meta-analysis will be based in hierarchical judgment by first scanning the article titles followed by key words, abstracts and full text. The relevancy is determined by criteria as described below. If the data presented in the studies are not clear and needed to take more detailed description original authors and their respective organization will be contracted. Kappa analysis will be carried out for repeatability. Disputes between two reviewers will be solved by third independent reviewer. Geographical location: Study area of the relevant studies should be within the tropics (23.438 °S to 137 23.438 °N). 3.2.1. Relevant subjects: Any studies related to biodiversity changes in the tropical zone because of invasive plant species. 3.2.2. Types of intervention: Invasion of the tropical zone (forest land, agriculture land, grass land or savannas) by invasive plant species 3.2.3. Types of comparators: Any relevant studies and studies comparing the biodiversity of the tropical zone assessing before and after the effect of invasive plant species 3.2.4. Types of outcomes: Any study which shows biodiversity change (indicators like relative species richness or abundance) 3.2.5. Types of studies: Any study which describes qualitatively or quantitatively the effect of invasive plant species in the biodiversity (species richness, abundance) in forest land, grassland. Range land, agriculture land, savannas. Those studies which present comparison of before and after the invasion or the comparison of the proportion of exotic species to native species will be included. Studies can be articles in peer reviewed journals, book chapters or grey literatures 3.3. Potential effect modifier and reasons for heterogeneity Different edaphic, biotic, topographic and climatic condition which governs the vegetation type of the tropics such as soil quality, altitude, aspects, forest types and intensity of human disturbances which may respond to plant invasions in different ways affect the study outcomes. Furthermore, the biological characteristics of the invasive species also affect the study. 3.4. Study quality assessment The searched articles, grey literatures and documents will be assesses according to the previously designed study inclusion criteria. These are then checked independently for validity, reliability and applicability. A Quality assessment checklist is developed as shown below with the consultation of the review team and will be amended after stakeholders feedbacks. Internal and external validity will be checked using a set of criteria. Table 4: Quality assessment checklist for checking validity, reliability and applicability Variables Yes No 1 Target population and intervention defined 2 Sample representative 3 Experimental design/randomization 4 Base line information 5 Valid data collection 6 Description of confounding factors 7 Applicability of the research 8 Any biases Source: Adapted from class notes, 2010 and literature review 3.5. Data extraction strategy Qualitative and quantities information will be extracted from the studies included for the review. Information on invasive species, their effects on tropical biodiversity (species richness, abundance and competition) will be extracted in to a specially designed extraction form as shown in annex-1. Where data are available, data will be extracted as before and after data and other data will be extracted as appropriate. 3.6. Data synthesis and presentation Data synthesis method will be determined by the availability of the data and data type. The studies will be grouped according to the type of information available e.g. review article, original research. If sufficient quantitative information is available meta-analysis will be conducted to know the significance of the effect of invasive plant species to the tropical biodiversity. If in sufficient quantitative information is available qualitative analysis of evidence will be undertaken.

Ethics Religion And Sustainable Production Case Study Marketing Essay

Ethics Religion And Sustainable Production Case Study Marketing Essay The introduction of Fair Trade has indeed encouraged many businesses in building an efficient ethical supply chain which involves applying strict measures that comprises of identifying, forming and maintaining good supplier relationship with both upstream and upstream. It is important that companies build a viable ethical supply chain as well encourage good working condition in accordance to existing labor laws in other improve brand image and build a strong reputation as well as contribute to sustainable development. In todays business world, building ethical supply chains is extremely essential as it also comes with a lot of benefits attached to the practice. In an article by (Michael R. Levin and Richard J. Cellini, 2008) Consumers, investors, business partners, regulators, and media organizations now expect a company and its entire supply chain to be ethical. The world is becoming a global marketplace and companies must ensure that they have morally strong brand image and create a well trusted supply chain so as to add value not only to their brand but to their image in general, with the wide spread of internet and effective communication consumers are becoming aware of what is actually involve in production and distribution of goods and services. With the increasing rate of climate change people are becoming more conscious of how to care for the environment and the ways of how resources are being exploited. Interestingly, in these recent economic downturns big multinationals companies such as Kraft, Nestle and Starbucks have all managed to form strategic partnership with Rainforest Alliance for Ethical Sourcing of Coffee beans, according to (IGD.com, 2009) Kraft started working with Rainforest Alliance to show support as part of their contribution towards sustainability and helping the environment, shortly after gaining great experience Kraft successfully expanded more work with Rainforest Alliance and included other brands and with this, a total of 150,000 farmers benefited by gaining improved working conditions and better wages, they also helped to protect 70,000 acres of coffee farmland and helped protect rainforest plant and animal species as reported by (IGD.com, 2009) Nestle announced in 2005 to support sourcing its coffee beans ethically after bagging the title in the UK of being the most unethical company and partly responsible for driving down prices of coffee beans at the expense of poor small farmers, they decided to make a serious commitment to support Fair trade and fight poverty, invest in community projects such as improving schools and clinics, providing clean water and repairing roads. Fair Trade label is particularly strong and popular in the United Kingdom, The United States Starbucks made a pledge to make all of its popular espresso brand Fair Trade by the end of 2009 on the other hand, Nestlà © who happens to be a bigger brand with numerous has also join the bandwagon and made commitment to the mass consumer market like its number one rival Kraft, whose brands such as Maxwell house and Kenco has made sure all its coffee beans are from Rainforest Alliance certified farms. (Russell, 2009) Starbucks made a commitment to ethical sourcing in 2009, and has become one of the largest buyers of fair-trade coffee, they also made a decision to have 100% of its coffee certified or verified by an independent third party, such as TransFair USA. To show their commitment to the sustainability, they have planned to invest in communities by doubling loans to farmers by 2015. According to Starbucks, (starbucks.co.uk, 2011)responsibly grown, ethically traded coffee means working with farmers to produce coffee in ways that help provide benefits to their business, their communities and the environment. This falls in line with the Fair Trade objectives, which states that, coffee bean growers should be adequately compensated for their harvest. In addition, Fair Trades primary objectives is ensure that its sets standards for farmers organizations and labor are adhered to by all, they also work in the interest of small-scale producers and help them work in an organized manner, such as in a co-op and make sure all decisions are made democratically and not influenced. In Fair Trade, the farmers are allowed to form unions. While in the Rainforest Alliances standard, they do not get involved with the cooperation of farm workers, and are somewhat laidback. The Rainforest Alliance does not have any existing baseline premium for wages, and they only maintains the low wage bar set by local governments (Trauben, 2009) 2. According to research expert, (Johnson, 2010) who carried out a research in the UK to understand what consumers actually wants, in his studies he discovered that food is the most misunderstood area of public policy, as it accounts for 10% of household expenditure and is linked to 12% of employment, 70% of land use and 20% of energy use in the UK. He also mentioned that demand for food is higher than supply bearing in mind price, quality, availability and access such as logistics issues which play a very vital role in supply chain. (Doane, 2001) Defined ethical consumption as the purchase of a product that concerns a certain ethical issue human rights, labor conditions, animal well-being, and environment it is chosen freely by an individual consumer. With growing trends and change in lifestyle consumer behavior and expectations have changed, due to various issues which ranges from Self-interest to Purchasing Power. People are getting busier and barely have time to cook and therefore have to rely on instant junk foods, maintaining a healthy diet is increasing becoming a difficult task but it is important to make sure that they consume ethically by making sure they are well informed of the food being sourced in a sustainable way. Sending out clear information to create awareness should be encouraged by the government so as to enable the food retailers provide more knowledge and give more information to improve the eating habit of consumers said the Chief Executive of Wm Morrison Supermarkets (Philips, 2010) which is the fourth biggest grocery retailer in the UK and has 479 stores with a strong focus on fresh products. However, having access to affordable healthy foods should be greatly encouraged and not excluded economically from enjoying healthy meals, as these tends to be more expensive. With the recent economic downturn more people have very little disposable income to spend on buying food stuff, as price for simple basic commodities such as rice has witnessed an increase in price globally. (Philips, 2010) also said Key to the affordability of food is choice. Supermarkets offer wide choice in order not only to meet customers expectations but also to drive competition. This encourages innovation to help ensure excellent quality as well as to keep prices down. The conclusion of the research carried out by the (Johnson, 2010) is that consumers have growing expectations and it is the responsibility of the supermarkets to act sustainably, and not increase prices of more healthier foods, Fair trade products should be made affordable and serve as an economically sustainability initiative which helps the environment and must be backed by clear information and honest Fair Trade labeling of products so that consumers have clear knowledge of where the products originates from and the environmental impact. Consumers are becoming more aware of brands that practice responsible sourcing and procurement, carbon footprints and favorable ethical trade practices. Brands who adopt ethical sourcing are perceived as being environment friendly, these ethical firms avoid actions that may somewhat negatively influence, or probably appear to influence, supply chain management decisions for sourcing of resources. 3. Recommendations to help cure the ills of the coffee market would be as follows: In most developing countries where coffee is being exported, the coffee is regarded as very valuable export commodity which makes up a major contribution to their earnings, they are owned by small business owners, the coffee exported from these poor countries are highly consumed by the wealthiest countries, the coffee beans has variety of different grades most of they are somewhat identical which makes a standardized product, but they have distinctive flavors and specialty coffee falls into this category and has a much higher grade which makes it command a higher price than others. The Fair Trade coffee bean are in different grades, although specialty coffee requires a totally different production and pricing which in turn creates a quality control issue for Fair Trade coffee. (Haight, 2011) Fair Trade cannot solve all the problems relating to ethical supply and consumption, consumers should also play a part in curing the ills of the coffee by: a) Ethical Consumption should be encouraged in great measures so as to make consumers use their purchasing power as a means to change questionable ills of the coffee market business as well as the severe oversupply of low cost substandard coffee beans. According to (Jeremy, 2007) Fair Trade is defined as a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency, and respect that seek greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers especially in the South. One complaint amongst many coffee drinkers is that the quality of Fair Trade coffee varies widely. The fact that the growers are guaranteed a minimum price for their product may have unintended consequences, one being that there is no incentive to improve quality. b) Reward companies that practice high ethical standards to set an example for other unethical companies to change their ways of doing business, for example according to a recent study carried out by (Remi Trudel et el, 2012) in trying to understand how much more would consumers be willing pay for an ethically produced product? and also how much less would consumers be willing to pay for the product they think is unethical? 97 coffee drinkers were radomly chosen for the experiment and were given informations about the companys production standards, the result from the experiment showed that people punished unethical goods with a much higher discount than they rewarded ethical products with premiums price. c) Consume authentic ethical products and contribute to the lives of the growers by avoiding bad consumer choice and practices. d) Always check labels and investigate popular brands to understand its history of production and encourage fairness in labor. In conclusion, coffee experts in the industry must work hard to reduce the supply of low quality coffee beans and promote ethical supply of this commodity, which will not only improve the lives of the growers but also contribute immensely in shaping the coffee market, companies should increase actions towards socially responsible marketing, (McDonald, 2013) which involves: Customer oriented marketing Innovative marketing Customer value marketing Sense of mission marketing Societal marketing

Facts about African American History Essay -- essays research papers

FACTS ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY I. Introduction to Afro-American History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Central theme-Quest for 1. Freedom, 2. Equality, 3. Manhood/Women Suffrage   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. Reasons for the Afro-American Movement-1. Record sake, 2. Inspirational   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sake, 3. Fight for the concept that blacks are inferior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. Africanism-anything that has an African origin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. Eras of History- Ancient (Stone Age), Medieval (Dark Ages History), Modern   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Reform), & Current II. Discuss the four group of Black Historians.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  - The Author of Black Historians is Dr. Thrope.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -The Beginning School-Rope to justify Emancipation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -The Middle School-Builder of Black Studies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -The Layman School-Untrained Historians   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -The New School-Professional Historians   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first historian was George Washington Williams. John Rustwrum   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  was the black undergraduate historian to graduate from Harvard. III. Fathers of History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Carter G. Woodson-Father of Negro History ( Founder of Black History Day)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. Charles Wesley & Monroe Clark-Father of African American Studies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. Herodotus-who was Greek, Father of History in General-He wrote his history   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   in Hodge Podgy, meaning something thrown together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. Thucydides-Father of Scientific History IV. Review of the Browder Files by Anthony T. Browder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Introduction-Why can’t African American reunite as a race?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. We don’t know our heritage.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. We fail to produce the thing s we need.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3. We have a loss of sense of family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  &nb... ...deal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   with. Example: County schools have higher scores than city schools.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. Emancipatory-used to helps resolve contradictions between practical and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   technical knowledge. It is a knowledge that can be used to change negative   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   conditions into positive conditions in order to improve the life   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   chances/experiences for black people. Example: County schools may have   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   better teachers. Important to Know Africa is the birthplace of humanity. Africa had 3 main kingdoms-Ghana, Mali and Songhai Bicades Sudan means land of black people. Kongo means land of Black Smith Egypt was once known has hemit, which means land of blacks. Africa was called Ethopia, which means land of black skin. NPCRO means dead. MANCY means worship, honor, & celebrate the dead. Griots-oral historians Human life began in Eastern Africa about 160,000 years ago.

Ancient Greeks :: essays research papers

Hesiod: Works and Days, c. 750 BC First of all, get a house, and a woman and an ox for the plough--a slave woman and not a wife, to follow the oxen as well--and make everything ready at home, so that you may not have to ask of another, and he refuse you, and so, because you are in lack, the season pass by and your work come to nothing. Strabo: Geographia circa 550 BCE And the temple of Aphrodite [at Corinth] was so rich that it owned more than a thousand temples Slaves---prostitutes---whom both free men and women had dedicated to the goddess. And therefore it was also on account of these temple-prostitutes that the city was crowded with people and grew rich; for instance, the ship captains freely squandered their money, and hence the proverb, "Not for every man is the voyage to Corinth." Antiphon: On the Choreutes, c. 430 BCE So powerful is the compulsion of the law, that even if a man slays one who is his own chattel [i.e., his slave] and who has none to avenge him, his fear of the ordinances of god and of man causes him to purify himself and withhold himself from those places prescribed by law, in the hope that by so doing he will best avoid disaster. Demosthenes: Against Timocrates. c. 350 BCE If, gentlemen of the jury, you will turn over in your minds the question what is the difference between being a slave and being a free man, you will find that the biggest difference is that the body of a slave is made responsible for all his misdeeds, whereas corporal punishment is the last penalty to inflict on a free man. Aristotle: The Politics---On Slavery, c. 330 BCE Let us first speak of master and slave, looking to the needs of practical life and also seeking to attain some better theory of their relation than exists at present. Property is a part of the household, and the art of acquiring property is a part of the art of managing the household; for no man can live well, or indeed live at all, unless he be provided with necessaries. And so, in the arrangement of the family, a slave is a living possession, and property a of such instruments; and the slave is himself an instrument which takes precedence of all other instruments. The master is only the master of the slave; he does not belong to him, whereas the slave is not only the slave of his master, but wholly belongs to him.

Rene Descartes is a Rationalist :: Rationalism vs Empiricism

There is a distinct difference between rationalism and empiricism. In fact, they are very plainly the direct opposite of each other. Rationalism is the belief in innate ideas, reason, and deduction. Empiricism is the belief in sense perception, induction, and that there are no innate ideas. With rationalism, believing in innate ideas means to have ideas before we are born.-for example, through reincarnation. Plato best explains this through his theory of the forms, which is the place where everyone goes and attains knowledge before they are taken back to the â€Å"visible world†. Innate ideas can explain why some people are just naturally better at some things than other people are- even if they have had the same experiences. Believing that reason is the main source of knowledge is another clear distinction of rationalism. Rationalists believe that the 5 senses only give you opinions, not reasons. For example, in Descartes’ wax argument, he explains how a candle has one shape to begin with- but once the candle is lit, it begins to melt, lose its fragrance, and take on a completely different shape than it had started with. This argument proves that our senses can be deceiving and that they should not be trusted. Deduction is the third characteristic of rationalism, which is to prove something with certainty rather than reason. For example, Descartes attempted to prove the existence of God through deductive reasoning in his third meditation. It went something like this: â€Å"I have an idea of a perfect substance, but I am not a perfect substance, so there is no way I could not be the cause of this idea, so there must be some formal reality which is a perfect substance- like God. Because only perfection can create perfection, and though it can also create imperfection- nothing that is imperfect can create something that is perfect. Unlike rationalists, empiricists believe that sense perception is the main source of knowledge. John Locke explained this by dividing ideas into 2 parts: 1) simple, and 2) complex. Simple ideas are based only on perception, like color, size, shape, etc. Complex ideas are formed when simple ideas are combined. Another belief of empiricists is that ideas are only acquired through experience, and not through innate ideas. Empiricists reject the concept of innate knowledge because, for example, if children had this knowledge, why do they not show it? Like why does a baby need to learn to walk or talk, why does he or she not have this knowledge at birth?

Advantages and Disadvantages of ESL Course Books Essay

The use of course books in the ESL classroom is very common because the course books have the advantages of being visually appealing, easy for the teacher to prepare, and the activities fits well into the timetable. However, from the researcher’s own teaching experience, there are several problems and issues with the course books such as uninteresting topics, repetitive activities, and not enough language exposure. This in terms may affect the student’s learning attitude and motivation. Overall, using course books has its share of benefits and advantages such as having a well organized content with a consistency in the topics and genres for the four skill area (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). Teachers who adopt a course book may also find it easier to teach since most of the preparation, including the types of activities, audios and in some cases, achievement tests, are already done by the publisher. This would be a great help to those inexperienced teachers who are just getting started into teaching. However, nothing in the world is perfect and teachers need to somehow solve the issues and problems that may come with ESL course books. These issues and problems may include finding ways to motivate students and teaching students academic skills not found in the course books. In this sense, the teacher’s job is not as easy as it seems. Many hours of planning and developing other activities are still required, but these planning and development will benefit both the student and the teacher by making the classroom activities more fun, more interesting, and result in more learning.

Rationalism vs. Irrationalism Essay

Jane Evans was spending a week at the Crown Point Ward girls camp. She and her friends were laughing and enjoying the crisp night air. They giggled and talked of crushes on boys and gossiped all night about the notorious girls at school. But the fun stopped when a rat bit one of the girls. Screaming, squirming and frightened, they worried and stayed awake for the remainder of the night. Unable to sleep, they decided to go indoors, to avoid another possiable attack. A rationalist would argue that this is a ridiculous reaction to a rat bite, however as a person with an irrational perspective, I plead the contrary and throughtout this essay, will demonstrate why. Through a rationalistic perspecive we observe the mind as active, the emotions passive, and the notion that no material thing can cause an nonmaterial idea; however from the viewpoint of irrationality I will prove that: 1) Emotion is in fact not passive and 2) Intelligence can be created materially. Before going into detail on irrationalism I wish to explore the rationalistic perspective. The rationalist tends to believe in the existence of truths that could not be discovered through the senses alone, the world cannot be ascertained simply by experiencing the content of our minds. Advocates of some varieties of rationalism argued that, starting with basic principles, like the realm of geometry, one could deductively derive the rest of all possible knowledge. (Markie 1) The philosophers who held this view most clearly were Spinoza and Leibniz, whose attempts to understand the epistemological and metaphysical problems raised by Descartes led to the development of rationalism. Both Spinoza and Leibniz asserted that, ideally, all knowledge (including scientific knowledge) could be gained through the use of reason alone, though they both observed that this was not possible in practice, except in specific areas such as mathematics. Which is perhaps why they depended on geometry and logic (a linguistic geometry) so significantly. To Brentano, a rationalist, the mind is active, not passive as the British empiricists, and French sensationalists had believed. Rationalists  alleged the mind as active and the emotions as passive. The rationalist belief in a more active mind meant that the mind acts on information from the senses and gives it meaning it would otherwise not have. (225) They argued that the mind added something to sensory data rather than just passively organizing and storing it into memory. Leibniz emphasized that nothing material (such as the activation of a sense receptor) could ever cause an idea that is nonmaterial. (169) The rationalists emphasized the importance of innate structures, principals, or concepts and stated that because nothing material could come from anything nonmaterial that certain ideas must be innate. Having introduced rationalism I find it only appropriate that irrationalism should have a breif introduction of its history. Irrationalism was a philosophical movement which started as a cultural reaction against positivism in the early 20th century. The perspective of irrationalism opposed or de-emphasized the importance of the rationality of human beings. Part of the movements involved claims that science was inferior to intuition. Rationalism, I find, is void of certain accuracy. The rationalist’s first assumption that truths can only be arrived at by such processes as logical deduction, analysis, argument, and intuition, is false. I wish to emphasize the notion that logical deduction, analysis, argument, and intuition are not to be brushed off lightly and given little importance. On the contrary they are in fact valuable, however only if they are employed with an emphasis on the irrational view of emotion. The rationalists assume that emotions are not necessary and truths can be reached by reason alone. This is false. Although the girls in the beginning of the story experienced an emotional rat fright, they were able to use their logical reasoning and their emotional drive to come to a solution. Is it not through your emotions that you are moved to action? Without emotions the rationalists would not have come up with any logical theory in the first place! They would have had no drive to come up with another theory, no passion. I cannot imagine every rationalist unenthused in his work. Through personal experience I have come to understand the importance of emotion. There have been occasions in my life that I over-rationalized. Reluctantly I’ll admit that perhaps it happens on more than just occasions, it is a constant burden to me and hinders my current and future relationships. My ex-boyfriend and I would get into an argument, as couples often do, and I would analyze the situation in my mind to attempt to come to a conclusion of how we achieved this particular position. How did I approach it; how did he? Was I overly critical and picky? Why did I respond in that way? Was it a past hurt? Could it be from my childhood when my favorite Hamster Gus-Gus died, and I felt personally hurt by God? What about him, did he have the same amount of childhood damage as me; another hamster trauma perhaps? At this point I had analyzed the situation to such an extent that I couldn’t even remember what the argument was about in the first place. It was then that I realized that I needed to become an irrational being: irrational in the worlds respect anyway. I became an emotional person and therefore respectively irrational. This is often rejected in our society; emotions are largely frowned upon. A professor once mentioned the need for me to think less and feel more, and I decided that I should do just that; feel. My second criticism of the rationalists is the notion that no material thing can cause a nonmaterial idea. Leibniz invites us to imagine a machine or human being capable of thinking (of having ideas). Then he asks us to imagine increasing the size of that machine to the point where we could enter it and look around. According to Leibniz, our exploration would yield only interacting, physical parts. Nothing we would see, whether examining the machine or a human being, could possibly explain the origin of an idea. (169) Because ideas cannot be created by anything physical like the brain; they must be innate. Through study of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a branch of computer science that deals with intelligent behavior, learning and adaptation in machines, we see that innate ideas are infact nonexistent. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, research in AI is concerned with producing machines  to automate tasks requiring intelligent behavior. (Artificial Intelligence 2) Examples of such intelligent behavior include control, planning and scheduling, the ability to answer diagnostic and consumer questions, handwriting, speech, and facial recognition. The idea of producing an artificial sentient being is not new, infact it is an ancient idea and is featured in numerous myths, the Golem, the Greek promethean myth, mechanical men in Chrà ©tien de Troyes, and the creature in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein being examples. In science fiction, artificial conscious beings often take the form of robots or artificial intelligences. Artificial consciousness is an interesting philosophical problem because, with increased understanding of genetics, neuroscience and information processing, it is possible to create a conscious entity. The myths of writers and philosophers are no longer myths. In order to avoid ambiguity and confusion I will define the term â€Å"artificial intelligence† based on the literal meanings of â€Å"artificial† and â€Å"intelligence†. According to Websters dictionary the term artificial refers to something which is not natural, often implying that it was created or manufactured by humans and intelligence is the capacitiy to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn. (Websters 3). Throughout the past decade there has been a debate between strong AI and weak AI philosophers which tackles the question, ‘can a man-made artifact be conscious?’ This question involves philosophy of mind and the mind-body problem. In the philosophy of artificial intelligence, strong AI is the supposition that some forms of artificial intelligence can truly reason and solve problems; strong AI supposes that it is possible for machines to become sapient, or self-aware. (Markie 1) The term strong AI was originally coined by John Searle, who writes: â€Å"according to strong AI, the computer is not merely a tool in the study of the mind; rather, the appropriately programmed computer really is a mind.† Artificial consciousness (AC), also known as machine consciousness (MC) or synthetic  consciousness, is a field related to artificial intelligence and cognitive robotics whose aim is to define that which would have to be synthesized were consciousness to be found in an engineered artifact. AI systems are now in routine use in economics, medicine, engineering and the military, as well as being built into many common home computer software applications, traditional strategy games like computer chess and other video games. Through the rationalistic perspecive we observed the mind as active, the emotions passive, and the notion that no material thing can cause an nonmaterial idea; however from the viewpoint of irrationality I proved that: 1) Emotion is in fact not passive and 2) Intelligence indeed can be created materially through Artificial Intelligence. Works Cited 1) Markie, Peter. Rationalism vs. Empiricism. 13 Aug. 2004. 12 Aug. 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalism 2) â€Å"Artificial intelligence.† Encyclopedia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service. 12 Aug. 2006 . 3) â€Å"Artificial.† Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2006. 12 Aug. 2006. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/artificial 4) Hergenhahn, B. R. An Introduction to the History to Psychology Belmont, CA: Transcendental Printing, 2005.

Ariel Levys Essay

There is no doubt about it that sex sells. In today’s world it is impossible to turn on the television without seeing a sexual-based commercial playing. Raunch culture is known as a sexualized lifestyle. Many businesses, advertisements, movies, and people partake in this lifestyle choice every day. Ariel Levy’s is a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine and author of the book Female Chauvinist Pigs she has appeared in big name magazines such as Vogue and the New York Times. Ariel Levy’s standpoint in â€Å"Female Chauvinist Pigs† is that raunch culture empowers women. I have mixed feelings about this article. I disagree that raunch culture empowers women however I agree there is just a certain way you have to do it. In reading Levy’s article she discusses raunch culture and how women feel empowered by it. Women feel like being sexy or sexually stimulating men makes them feel more in control. Levy gives a different outlook on the women that partake in this lifestyle. Levy feels that women are close-minded when discussing sexual things. Levy gives an inside look on certain women that partake in this industry by showing that its way more than just â€Å"sex†. Ruanch culture makes women look worthless and gives off the impression that they don’t have any self-respect. We are looked at as just a â€Å"sexual object† rather than a respected woman. Ruach culture suppresses us as women and we are getting nowhere as women with these kind of vulgar activity’s. Women today are still being looked at as weaker than men. I have googled multiple porn stars of today such as Pinky, Jenna Jameson, and many others; they all seem to have one thing in common. These women don’t have husbands, children, and they don’t get along with their family. I know from a personal experience with having brothers that they would never take a stripper or a porn-star home to my mother. It might be cool to sleep with them but at the  end of the day a man wants a woman that is respectable and classy, basically someone they can actually take home there to mom. My mother always says â€Å"if you don’t have respect for yourself, how are you going to have respect for others†. Ruanch culture also objectifies women instead of empowering them. I did some research and found a biography on Jenna Jameson, a world known porn-star, on YouTube. She talked about her life, family, community service that she has done. Although she spoke on all those positive things people’s comments were still derogatory, calling her a â€Å"hoe† and a â€Å"slut†. Even though she has done many things in the community she is still looked upon as nothing more than a porn-star. This is what I meant by saying that ruanch does not empower women. This woman can give thousands to charity’s do numerous community activities help people all around the world but her erotic lifestyle will never get her the respect she deserves. If anyone has ever watched the HBO show called â€Å"Sex in The City† raunchy culture is the whole makeup of the show. Basically the show is about four ladies that are the best of friends they go to parties and they speak about their sexual experiences love interests and careers. The main character Carrey Bradshaw is a sex column writer for the New York Times. She gives women advice on how to deal with sex and relationships. This to me walks a fine line with raunchiness. In the show people are so glad that she writes these columns, she helps out regular women with awkward situations such as sex. This is a different form of raunchiness and I actually accept it. Carrey helps women get through difficult times with the different men in their life. A lot of times women don’t know what to do in certain situations and feel embarrassed about asking someone for advice that is where she comes in to help with her column. She is not showing her breast or objectifying her, she is only just giving advice on the topic of sex still raunchy but in the way that she is writing, it comes off respectable. As women we should come together and stop objectifying ourselves. I feel that porn should be banded on the fact that as women it’s getting us nowhere. People are only looking at us as these sexual objects rather than  smart sophisticated human beings that we actually are. Porn is a disgrace for all women. It makes us look bad as women, like as if there is nothing more to us than a nice butt and a perky set of boobs. Levy’s argument that raunch empowers women is only good up to a certain extent. If you have to put yourself out there to get attention our show your body then that is not empowerment.There are many other ways that woman can empower themselves such as fighting for positive/worthy causes, mentoring to young ladies, and volunteering services for young woman. If woman today focus on more of these positive aspects of empowerment then there will be no need to take off your clothes to fill liberated. These kind of empowering activities will give us the respect we deserve as woman. Outline i. There’s no doubt about it that sex sells a. Sex doesn’t empower women b. It is occurring every day in today’s society commercials, movies, people etc. c. It is affecting young women d. We have to start respecting ourselves more as women so we can get to get on the same level as a man ii. Author Ariel levy believes that raunch culture empowers women a. Levy feels that raunch is a form of empowerment for some women b. I agree and disagree that raunch empowers women iii. Levy feels that as women we are closed-minded about talking about sex we should open our minds to different things and how ruanch empowers women and makes them feel in control or dominate over a man. iv. I believe that raunchiness suppresses women a. Levy feels that raunch empowers women b. She talks about strippers and â€Å"how they could teach you a thing or two† quoted by Levy pg.267 c. I believe that levy is wrong it doesn’t help us as women to achieve equality with men they look at us as sexual objects rather than human beings. Summary In ‘Female Chauvinist Pigs† author Ariel levy speaks on how raunchiness empowers women and makes them feel more in control. She gives an inside look on the woman who partake in this lifestyle. I believe it doesn’t empower women but actually suppresses us as women. Men look at us as only â€Å"sexual objects† rather than sophisticated human beings. As women I feel we should have a lot more respect for ourselves. I believe there are only a few exceptions to raunchiness for example journalism or advice columns or a sex doctor other than that it is simply wrong. As a woman I feel we need to get rid of porn, it’s getting us nowhere as women. We are not on the same playing field as man and I believe that porn is preventing it from happening. If we could come together as women and start respecting ourselves more I feel a lot can change in the future. K.A.N Knowledge 1. My audience knows about sex and the role it plays in everyday life 2. Raunchiness is suppressing women because we are not equal to man 3. The reason its suppressing women is because we will never be able to be equal to a man if this doesn’t stop Attitude 1. This is a serious essay so serious would be the attitude I’m going for 2. I want them to take this essay seriously because it’s a serious matter Needs 1. The reader to understand the seriousness of the topic 2. For women to have more self-respect 3. Abolish porn to help women get on the same playing field as men 4. To come together to make this all happen

Mobile Technology Essay

Mobile technology is the technology used for cellular communication. Mobile code division multiple access (CDMA) technology has evolved rapidly over the past few years. Since the start of this millennium, a standard mobile device has gone from being no more than a simple two-way pager to being a mobile phone, GPS navigation device, an embedded web browser and instant messaging client, and a handheld game console. Many experts argue that the future of computer technology rests in mobile computing with wireless networking. Mobile computing by way of tablet computers are becoming more popular. The most popular tablet at the moment is the iPad, by Apple. Tablets are available on the 3G and 4G networks. Contents 1 4G networking 2 Operating systems 3 Channel hogging and file sharing 4 Future of smartphone 5 External links 6 References 4G networking One of the most important features in the [4G] mobile networks is the domination of high-speed packet transmissions or burst traffic in the channels. The same codes used in the 2G-3G networks will be applied to future 4G mobile or wireless networks, the detection of very short bursts will be a serious problem due to their very poor partial correlation properties. Recent study has indicated that traditional multi-layer network architecture based on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model may not be well suited for 4G mobile network, where transactions of short packets will be the major part of the traffic in the channels. As the packets from different mobiles carry completely different channel characteristics, the receiver should execute all necessary algorithms, such as channel estimation, interactions with all upper layers and so on, within a very short time to make the detections of each packet flawless and even to reduce the clutter of traffic. Operating systems Many types of mobile operating systems (OS) are available for smartphones, including: Android, BlackBerry OS, webOS, iOS, Symbian, Windows Mobile Professional (touch screen), Windows Mobile Standard (non-touch screen), and Bada. Among the most popular are the Apple iPhone, and the newest – Android. Android is a mobile operating system (OS) developed by Google. Android is the first completely open source mobile OS, meaning that it is free to any cell phone carrier. The Apple iPhone, which has several OSs like the 3G and 3G S, is the most popular smart phone at this time, because of its customizable OS which you can use to download applications (â€Å"apps†) made by Apple like games, GPS, Utilities, and other tools. Any user can also create their own Apps and publish them to Apple’s App Store. The Palm Pre using webOS has functionality over the Internet and can support Internet-based programming languages such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), HTML, and JavaScript. The Research In Motion (RIM) BlackBerry is a smartphone with a multimedia player and third-party software installation. The Windows Mobile Professional Smartphones (Pocket PC or Windows Mobile PDA) are like that of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and have touchscreen abilities. The Windows Mobile Standard does not have a touch screen but uses a trackball, touchpad, rockers, etc. The original smartphone OS is Symbian, with a rich history and the largest marketshare until 2011. Although no single Symbian device has sold as many units as the iPhone, Nokia and other manufacturers (currently including Sony Ericsson and Samsung, and previously Motorola) release a wide variety of Symbian models each year which gave Symbian the greatest marketshare. Channel hogging and file sharing There will be a hit to file sharing, the normal web surfer would want to look at a new web page every minute or so at 100 kbs a page loads quickly. Because of the changes to the security of wireless networks users will be unable to do huge file transfers because service providers want to reduce channel use. AT&T claimed that they would ban any of their users that they caught using peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing applications on their 3G network. It then became apparent that it would keep any of their users from using their iTunes programs. The users would then be forced to find a Wi-Fi hotspot to be able to download files. The limits of wireless networking will not be cured by 4G, as there are too many fundamental differences between wireless networking and other means of Internet access. If wireless vendors do not realize these differences and bandwidth limits, future wireless customers will find themselves disappointed and the market may suffer setback. Future of smartphone The next generation of smartphones are going to be context-aware, taking advantage of the growing availability of embedded physical sensors and data exchange abilities. One of the main features applying to this is that the phones will start keeping track of your personal data, but adapt to anticipate the information you will need based on your intentions. There will be all-new applications coming out with the new phones, one of which is an X-Ray device that reveals information about any location at which you point your phone. One thing companies are developing software to take advantage of more accurate location-sensing data. How they described it was as wanting to make the phone a virtual mouse able to click the real world. An example of this is where you can point the phone’s camera while having the live feed open and it will show text with the building and saving the location of the building for use in the future. Along with the future of a smart phone comes the future of another device. Omnitouch is a device in which applications can be viewed and used on your hand, arm, wall, desk, or any other everyday surface. The device uses a sensor touch interface, which enables the user to access all the functions through the use of finger touch. It was developed at Carnegie Mellon University. This device uses a projector and camera that is worn on the person’s shoulder, with no controls other than the user’s fingers. Acknowledgment I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals and organizations. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to (Name of your Organization Guide) for their guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project & also for their support in completing the project. I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents & member of (Organization Name)for their kind co-operation and encouragement which help me in completion of this project. I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to industry persons for giving me such attention and time. My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleague in developing the project and people who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.

Saint Augustine and Friedrich Schleiermacher Research Paper

Saint Augustine and Friedrich Schleiermacher - Research Paper Example This paper will provide biographical examination of Saint Augustine as well as Friedrich Schleiermacher, comparing and contrasting their legacy, analyzing their significance in general and to Christianity in particular. The first prominent figure that will be discussed in this paper is Saint Augustine. This Christian saint was born in the middle of fourth century in the territory of the modern Algeria1. It must be noted that his mother is recognized as a saint, namely Saint Monica, but his father remained to be a pagan until his death, when he finally decided to be baptized. Augustine had a wonderful education, especially in rhetoric which is considered to be the strong part of his individuality; despite this, he was never fluent in Greek, one of the major languages of the time. During his youth, he experienced all the pleasures of life, not being very pious. He also adopted various worldviews, which he later claimed to be false. At the age of thirty he was baptized by his close frie nd Ambrose of Milan and since they became a significant figure in the Christian world. The next individual whose legacy will be examined is Friedrich Schleiermacher. He was born many centuries after Saint Augustine and in a completely different cultural background. He was born in the middle of eighteenth century in Prussia into a family of a Christian pastor2. Quite early Schleiermacher adopted love for religion and was genuinely interested in pursuing this path. However, he always rejected blind faith into dogmas and rebelled against orthodoxy.

Read an article and answer questions Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Read an and answer questions - Article Example Aside from these surveys, researchers used real women and digitally manipulate their overall appearance as the participants watched; researchers can immediately recount their reactions and perceptions to their own bodies. Women are insecure and at times overly degrade themselves because of not achieving â€Å"the look.† Binge eating --- Women feel more satisfied with their bodies when they are not eating and their stomach became flatter. Throwing away the food eaten and followed by eating fruits as subordinate. Time and again, binge eaters or bulimics, in their latter life recorded serious illnesses that include death. Anabolic steroid use – Because of the pressure to keep up with the competition specifically in the body building field, men are taking steroids to further enhance their muscle shapes or bulkiness. This addicting drug use has harmful effects in the body. Through time using this enhancer results in the breaking down of the functions of the kidney and liver. Hypertension, hepatitis and high risk of fan HIV infection for those who uses the injectable that centers on men because they are the ones subjective to body building. Cosmetic surgery – A billion dollar industry and a phenomenon for the society of youth-obsessed society. Commercials dominantly affected the women on how they supposed to look. What is the norm and what is the â€Å"perfect† that pushed them to decide to go on the knives. Cosmetic surgery is not just simply placing make up on and being washed off at the end of the day. This would reverse the natural look of ones’ physical being. This also includes liposuction. Dieting (â€Å"fad† or â€Å"faddy†) --- This is usually a liquid protein diet or fruit diet and a powder mixed with water protein drinks. A person would eat no other than fruit throughout this period. Dieting with only drinks and easily digested fruits tend to make a person hungrier and crave more than ever thus, diverting into another kind

Strangers on a Train Flim Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strangers on a Train Flim - Essay Example He uses double crossing at various point. Firstly, the lighter of Guy Haines plays an important role in the movie and has a crosses tennis racket set. Secondly, in the beginning of the film, Hitchcock shows Bruno ordering for two drinks, no the train. This again, is an attempt to accentuate the criss-crossing theme. Thirdly, the initial part of the film shows a murder being committed and this is captured as double reflection on the glasses of the victim. Thus, Hitchcock makes use of this motif to create a greater impact on the audiences. 3) Hitchcock sets most of the story in the world of Washington, D.C. (not the setting in the novel on which the film is based). Name three places in D.C shown in the film, and explain briefly how this world (physical and cultural) contributes to the meaning of the story. Washington D.C is the main setting of ‘Strangers on the Train’ and Hitchcock shows us few scenes placed in the capital. Firstly, the scene where in the two strangers get down form their cabs and board the train is a great way to establish the capital city, in the movie. Secondly, the scene before Miriam is murdered shows her with her two boyfriends, at an amusement park. This again is set in Washington D.C. Thirdly, the scene wherein Guy Haines, the tennis pro is shown at a tennis club is again set in Washington D.C. The very fact that Guy’s girlfriend, Ann Morton’s father is a Senator strengths the Washington D.C setting further more. The physical world at Washington D.C is rather rich and sophisticated, with shiny cabs, amusement parks, tennis clubs, etc. This establishes the

Going for growth by investing in people, products and plant 2 Essay

Going for growth by investing in people, products and plant 2 - Essay Example Question 1 Before making an investment, it is prudent that one possesses an effective understanding of the market of operation. This is important in making an informed investment move. The process of studying the market and developing an understanding of the same is collectively referred to as investment appraisal. It involves a series of market evaluation through a number of mechanisms which result in the comparison of the business’ key objectives which are profitability under the existent market forces (Willey, 2012). There are a number of investment appraisal methodologies including net present value which investigates the ability of the market to repay the investment given the numerous present market factors such as inflation. One of the most preferred of these methods is the direct payback method in which the investor calculates the number of years it may take the business to return the initial investment. Some other investment appraisal method is the accounting rate of r eturn which bases its assessment of the market on its ability to earn profit to the investment. Despite their different approaches to the appraisal, the methods safeguard the interest of the business by trying to determine its profitability and above all its longevity. The life of a business is of great importance to the investor since the longer a business stays viable, the more the investor earns. The company makes an extensive capital investment with the sole aim of achieving the business objective. Capital investment is the amount of money that the enterprise invests in fixed assets which are directly used before implementing its investment plan. In this case, the Hazelwood Sandwiches Company carries out an extensive market research and investment appraisal thereby ensuring that their company stays relevant in the evidently dynamic market (Tabbush, 2011). This includes enhancing the production process such as the machinery and the production plant. The company does this after st aying in operation for some time; it therefore has an understanding of the market. Its decision to make such an expansive capital investment arises from the understanding that it has for the market. The company, just as any other desires, to stay active in the industry for as long as it takes. It therefore collects adequate information about the market and has its market facts right (Thomas & Michael, 2001). After determining the market size, the company determines its market share which is indeed the largest. The subsequent investment therefore arises from the desire to retain the position thus safeguarding both the profitability and the longevity of the company. The company has therefore mapped out its capital investment plan in phases to ensure that it does not become bankrupt in the process since such as scenario might have stifled the production process thereby either incurring debts or resulting in the eventual closure of the company. While purchasing fixed assets and improvin g the scale of production, the company also increases its working capital which is also part of capital investment. Question 2 The investment decision technique is synonymous to the investment appraisal method. The three discussed in the article are the playback method, the net present value, and the account rate of return (Alexander, 2010). Despite the fact that they all lead to an appropriate investment decision, they are different in their provisions and therefore possess unique advantages and disadvantages. The net

Diversity Leadership in IHRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Diversity Leadership in IHRM - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that diversity is often referred to as the differences between the individuals. The dissimilarities among individuals materialize in both nonvisible and visible aspects. Some of the key examples of diversity among the individuals are dissimilarities in gender, age, skills, sexual preferences, learning styles, tenure, etc. These differences are evident the workplace but at times the differences are not visible. â€Å"Excellence through diversity is one of the Chancellor's goals†, yet this term is often faced confusion, controversy, and tension. Regarding this aspect, scholars such as Griffin emphasizes managing diversity in the firm offers various advantages and the most common one emerges in the form of catering to the diversified base of customers. However, contradicting this statement another set of scholars such as Inyang and Akpama and Kiggundu believes that although managing a diverse workforce provide benefits to a firm, but it requires strong management and failure to which can lead to intergroup conflicts. Hence, it is obvious that firms planning to recruit diverse employee group must a good frame management system. In this rapidly changing workplace environment, maintaining a diverse workforce helps a company to remain competitive in the marketplace. Scholars such as Inyang emphasizes that diversity not only brings fresh perspectives to the company but also promotes innovation and equips the company with the ability to solve complex problems. Furthermore, having a diverse workforce also allows a firm to have an efficient workforce, which is a necessity in this diverse business setting. Executives who are having intercultural management skills have high demand as they have the ability to constantly adapt to this shifting trend of a marketplace.

Distributive Justice and Ownership Rights Coursework

Distributive Justice and Ownership Rights - Coursework Example This is equivalent to forcing other people to work for the needy, which may be treated as unjust. From this perspective, distribution process is unjust and is oppressive to those people who work an extra mile in search for wealth.Nozick, in his entitlement theory, discusses the various ways that a person may be entitled to legal property (453). To begin with, one may legitimately own property by acquiring previously unheld properties. In such a process, one follows a legal process to ensure that they can own that property. Secondly, a person may acquire a property that was previously held by another through a transfer process. The transfer process implies that the property exchanges hands from one person to another. A good example is when a person sells their land to another person through a legal process. In this case, the person pays for this land or is given without exchange of any material property. For instance, when a person inherits land from their parents may not pay anything but the transfer process can be initiated. However, Nozick notes that there are many illegal ways that a person can acquire a property including fraud or stealing. However, the distributive justice seems to fail in controlling the illegal acquisition of justice. While the rectification of injustice helps to correct cases of injustice in ownership, it lacks the essential thoroughness that a just distribution should encompass.The historical and current time distribution principles depict the flawed nature of the distributive justice.

The Role of Neurotechnology In Mitigating Developmental Progression of Research Paper

The Role of Neurotechnology In Mitigating Developmental Progression of Brain Disease - Research Paper Example One such condition which has been studied thoroughly is congenital diaphramatic hernia2. Of recent interest is fetal investigation and therapy of neurological disorders like spina bifida which are potential candidates for fetal therapy and there is some evidence that fetal interventions, when compared to postnatal interventions can improve postnatal neurological outcomes. This study aims to ascertain the role of neurotechnological advances in mitigation of the progression of neurological disorders, through review of suitable literature. Methods In order to retrieved articles for review, the electronic databases PUBMED and Google Scholar were used. The words used for search were â€Å"fetal therapy† or â€Å"fetal intervention† or â€Å"neurotechnology† with â€Å"brain disorders of fetus†. Several articles were displayed. Based on the contents of the abstracts, some of the articles were selected and studied. Both reviews and controlled studies were picked up for this research project to gain overall information about the topic and the research aim in study. Discussion Advances in technology in the form of powerful imaging strategies and improved sampling techniques have revealed the mystery of the fetus that was once secretive3. Most of the malformations that are diagnosed prenatally are managed best by appropriate medical and surgical therapy after birth. This may required planned delivery at a tertiary care after safe maternal transport. However, a few anatomic abnormalities with predictable consequences after birth may require surgical intervention before birth itself4 . In early 1980s, developmental pathophysiology of several anomalies which were potentially correctable was ascertained in animal models.5 The natural history of these diseases was determined through serial observation among animal models. Thereafter, selection criteria for prenatal intervention were developed. In the process, various anesthetic and tocolytic regime ns were refined and protocolised and also surgical aspects of hysterotomy and fetal repair were refined and developed. In the later stages, minimally invasive techniques for fetal intervention were developed and refined. All these advances in technology have benefited several fetal patients and it is hoped that more advances are made in this novel strategy allowing advanced forms of treatment on the fetus like tissue engineering, stem cell transplantation and gene therapy in both anatomic and non-anatomic defects (Harrison, 2003).6 During the previous decade, 3 important trends pertaining to fetal therapy have emerged for congenital diaphragmatic hernia7. In the first trend, the surgeons moved away from total surgical repair of the anatomical defect, especially in those liver herniation where repair was technically difficult, and developed induction of lung growth by