Monday, September 30, 2019

American family

There are three common characteristics that would Impact types of marriages that have on family definitions. Monogamous, polygamous, and arranged marriages. Monogamous is where the family stays out of the decision. Polygamous is where they have multiple options, which is illegal in the US. This type of marriage finds it k to have multiple families. Arranged marriages are where the family of the bride and groom negotiate an arrangement before the two parties enter Into a relationship. . Family Is a group of two people or more related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together. Household refers to all people who occupy a housing unit regardless of relationship. They should be viewed different because people that live together doesn't necessarily have to be related, which makes it a household. 3. The United States include fewer marriages, fewer children, later age of marriage, which causes an increase in single-parent families and step families. 4. Marriage is in decline. 5.T he positive effects of family of origin Is high levels of parental affection during holding are associated with an improved ability to regulate negative emotions in childhood, high levels of parental warmth during childhood are associated with better physical health in adulthood, parents who are involved in their children's school activates have children with higher educational aspirations, and children whose parents model and explain financial tasks to them are better prepared to take on financial roles and responsibilities themselves.The negative effects of family of origin Is early exposure to violence in the family correlates with positive attitudes award marital violence, mothers with maladaptive eating habits may increase the likelihood of their daughters developing disorders, lack of parental affection and high levels of conflict at home may result in poor emotion regulation and maladaptive coping styles, children from divorced families are more likely to get divorced themsel ves and people who perceived their family of origin as less healthy are more likely to have negative attitudes toward marriage. . Families fulfill economic security, social prestige and status, education, recreation, and affection. . A race Is a group of people who are classified according to their skin color. An ethnic group is a group of people characterized by cultural factors, such as language, religion, and shared customs, that are passed from one generation to the next which can impact the definition of family. 8. Structural functionalist view the family as a system that promotes the maintenance of society, with the traditional nuclear family as the Ideal form.Conflict theorists believe that individual family members are Involved In a instant power struggle and that conflict within families is necessary because it results in change and adaptation. Symbolic interactions believe that individuals develop a sense of self through their interactions with others. 9. The perspective o f society, the perspective of small groups, and the perspective of the individual can be used to define families. 10.It has been said that step on it is the chilly of civilization. But In nutshell we can say that It's a distinct way from another (pronominal) human pick out his rush, as it is given by other person. So it becomes the pop out of his identity. This identity influences several aspects of the hereafter such as society, politics; etcetera American society has endlessly been enriched by its waves of immigrants. And hence at that place is a requisite for statistics due to its evolution and diversity.Therefore the authentic bodily characters, the alleged (pronominal) unit characters, such as cranial profile and size, stature, the proportions of the baseless automobile trunk and the relative length of the limbs, eye excuse (blue, gray, Rene, low-spirited or BRB owners eyes), the lips, sensory hair color and texture, irrupt form,? skin color, facial type, absence or abundance o f body hair, etc. Races were almost universally considered to reflect group differences in moral character and intelligence.Let's consider and cause session an example of Nordic or Baltic subspecies. 11. The â€Å"golden age† of the asses was also a contributing factor to rising divorce rates in the asses and asses. When soldiers returned from the war, many omen were forced to give up their factory Jobs to make way for the returning veterans and encouraged to stay at home and assume domestic roles. As a result, birth rates increased and the average age at first marriage decreased. 2. Although they all appear to be closely related to reality to me, I would have to say functionalism. 13. The family stress is related to work obligations. Changing the attitudes by less long work hours, more family time, and household management in the workplace could be done to reduce or eliminate these stresses. 14. Yes, one loud argue that the strong reduction in community/neighborhood ties has impacted the strength of American Families.The community IS the American family. 15. Yes, it is best for a researcher to conduct both the qualitative and quantitative studies. 16. Qualitative research is likely based on the theoretical perspective. 17. A. Ask a question about a specific topic B. Do background research on the topic C. Formulate a hypothesis. D. Test your hypothesis by conducting research and gathering data. E. Analyze your data and decide on a conclusion. F. Write up the results. American family There exists some fundamental differences between the 21st century American family and the 19th Century or early 20th Century American family. In sociological, political fronts, issues ranging from racism to cold war characterized the American family of the 1963. Eating habits were different and were influenced by economic activities as was the transport means commonly in use then. Back then, the typical American family was mostly made up of parents and children with a high affiliation to the extended family compared to today’s family.Back then the gender equity debate had not gained prominence. The male was widely considered as the sole bread winner and very few women compared to today were working although it is around this time that there was an upsurge in the number of women pursuing career lives. The American nation was back then an industrial power and therefore tasks for a husband included working in the industries, participating in various political meetings then domin ated by the segregation debate. Depending on personal interest, political movements were something the ordinary American would participate in.Major cities in America had started experiencing transportation crisis by 1963, which means the average American was not walking to work as they owned automobiles especially those in the urban settings [Wilentz, 1984. 436-440]. The road transport was one of the widely used means of transport although for movement further outside the major cities, railway transport was a major transport mode. Air transport was not widely used as it is today, as the aviation industry was still not very developed.In the 1960s most women and indeed the girl child was not treated the same way as men by the society. The girl child was viewed as fit for some professions. It was rare to get women competing in some fields like medicine or engineering and indeed the military. Women were constructed by the society as the weaker sex and only suitable for some professions such as nursing and education. The above can be attributed to the lack of strong forums for women to express themselves as well as lack of enough role models for the women.The media back then played a very important role in the lives of the Americans, by 1963, most families owned television sets. Although the flow of news was not as swift and faster as it is the case today, nevertheless most Americans had access to radios and TVs. The limited flow of information into and out of the US meant that most families could not quite comprehend and therefore appreciate other cultures. The above can be attributed to the not so advanced technology as compared to today’s era of internet technology.The education system in 1963 was not very different from what it is today although many amendments have been introduced to the education act. Overly the education system as it existed in 1963 left room for infiltration by racism and marginalization of the racial minorities. For instance in some states racial minority children would be openly denied access in white dominated schools, colleges and universities. Therefore where children would attend school largely depended on amongst others; social background.Overly, the society was not as sensitive to the disabled children to the special needs children as compared to today’s education system. Famous music bands such as the Beatles spiced American entertainment lives. Rock and pop music was what engulfed revelers and especially teenagers. Cinema had also gained popularity as a source of entertainment in the USA. Under the leadership of John F. Kennedy, America was experiencing a lot of political, social, environmental and economic activities.Generally, by 1963, the economy had shown signs of improvements and culturally people where having a more quality life. There were a lot of campaigns geared at fighting for total elimination of all forms of segregation something which often resulted into arrests of crusaders like Martin Luther King Junior. Back then getting admission to University was very much determined by one’s racial background. The year also saw the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November 22 and the swearing of Lyndon Johnson as the 36th President of the USA.It is worth noting that during this time, the country was just recovering from an economic depression suffered as a result of the world wars. Americans were awakening on matters like imperialism, civil rights and gender equality. Due to the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and the US a lot of government expenditure was directed towards military activity and covert missions something which might have influenced the onset of the Vietnam War. Americans are today faced with great nutritional problems, compared to 1963 the number of children who are obese and overweight is on the increase.This is not a 21st century problem; it started in the 1960s although the popularity of fast foods has made it look like a 2 1st century problem. The most common foods back in 1963 included pizza, hamburger, chocolate, coffee for breakfast, and wines and spirits [Cavan, & Shonle1969, 79-99]. The children attended schools according to their parents’ abilities although public schools were the choice of majority as they were affordable compared to private schools. In the 1960s Americans had shifted from eating traditional foods to eating of processed foods something which can be attributed to busy lives.There was an increase in obesity incidences in late 1960s, a problem which persists up to date. Of interest also is the fact that more Americans had started to use microwaves to cook, atleast not many used wood stoves. Since a significant portion of the population was still working in farms, fresh farm produce was in big supply and therefore most families included in their meals fresh vegetables, fresh meat, milk, poultry, eggs and butter. Soft drink intake also gained popularity as people became busie r and fast food restaurants became very popular.Due to mechanization of farming, food prices went down as the country become self sufficient in terms of food supply (Sanjur, 1995. 45-67). Also fruit and vegetable meals were common as more and more Americans began to appreciate health eating habits. Conclusion The American family has evolved a lot since 1963 up to date. Change is evident in the way people dress, eat, and the way they view the external world. A lot of the above changes have been occasioned by technological advancement, globalization and the advent of internet.The economy has also grown a lot and today more American families earn above average in terms of finances meaning that they can afford a quality life. Works cited Cavan, & Shonle, R. The American Family. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co. , [1969. 79-99] Sanjur, D. Hispanic Foodways, Nutrition, and Health. Boston . Allyn and Bacon. [1995. 45-67]. Wilentz, S. Chants Democratic: New York City and the Rise of the Ameri can Working Class. New York: Oxford University Press. [1984. 436-440]. American Family The modern American family as described by Joseph B. Verrengia is â€Å"always in motion, child-dominated, strained and losing intimacy. † It is actually the title of the paper that deals with common problems facing each family. American family is illustrated by a twenty-four hour activities by individual family members totally depart from each other from the head of the family down to children going to school. Only babies are pampered until they reach school age. In the article written by Joseph B.Verrengia, he described Jake Zeiss, a nine-year boy who after seven-hour of back-to-back meetings, would volley for an hour with his tennis pro, then slid back into Mercedes to take nutritious bar and to do paper works using his laptop while traveling with other family members in the car. When tempted to play yo-yo, his mother would say, â€Å"Is that a good use of your time? † Yet, the family was heading to a gym where they would meet their father to play some sports.David O sborne in an article entitled â€Å"The Cult of Fatherhood,† he illustrated how he struggled as he took care of their kid since birth because his wife had to stay in the hospital as a gynecologist where she worked 100 hours a week. He is a nontraditional father as he called himself because that was not the usual set up in the family but they had to cope up with the challenges. David Osborne told that traditional mothers work harder than anyone else could imagine; he referred to his own mother who had to rush with urgency in doing household chores twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty five days a year.These are just two of the many families that experience complexity that affect their relationship and child rearing. Financially they are sufficient but in the advent of assuming roles and responsibilities, the future of the family is also affected. The Modern-day Family There are differences between the traditional family model and modern-day family and the primary reason for the abrupt change in the family set up was economic reason, since both mother and father have to work away from home leaving the kids unattended for some times and the whole family do not have quality time together.Everyone is rushing trying to get works done, especially mothers, which is according to David Osborne, divided responsibilities are the reason for the â€Å"central unresolved conflict in the lives of the American women† (p. 195). Also, in the advent of change, fathers have to assume different role, which touches the sensitive part of his masculinity. On the other hand, the Zeiss family is an example of a family that enjoys the benefit of a good life, with bigger home, a Mercedes car, children attending exclusive schools and extra time for playing sports in the evening.Despite togetherness they are time-bounded; without proper scheduling, they may miss important events of the day as a family. Verrengia writes as he quoted one statement, â€Å"We’ve sch eduled and outsourced a lot of our relationships; there isn’t much room for the flow of life, those little moments when things happen spontaneously† (p. 6). The changes that occur in the lives of the American family especially in the middle-class working families present predicament that affect the country as a whole. And many of the dilemmas facing America right now could be associated with the family set up and relationship between each family member.The many incident reports of crimes and marriage break ups have something to do with family relationships that were left unresolved. Thus, if one would not be creative enough to gather the family in one activity, most likely, the family would suffer for not having intimate time together. Contrast of Traditional and Modern-day Family These issues are by-products of the advent of modernization and industrialization in America and that; traditional family had their own way of coping up with the challenges and struggles of li fe without neglecting responsibility to one another.Traditional family and modern-day family are distinct with each other in different ways. First, they are different as they view home. Traditional family model existed during the pre-Civil war and pre-sexual revolution; it was the time when family relied on agriculture as the source of income. Traditional family, which occurred during the pre-industrial America, the home would serve as a market, which was the main income source of the family. Usually, the home was not just a place for relaxation but a place where women could perform other income-generating activities like soap making, clothing production, etc.Whereas, the modern homes that existed during the era of industrial and urban development, is viewed as a private place for the family to enjoy one another and to find relaxation. The home became the ideal place for domesticity or the place centered on family activities. Second, they differ in terms of gender role. During pre-i ndustrial revolution, husband and wife had equal rights with one another and at the same time, perform equally for the betterment of the family. Clarence Roberts Jr. stated that men â€Å"worked at their various crafts (near the farm) or worked on the family farm† (The Changing Family).Mothers worked in the house at the same time; her responsibility was important to the health and survival of the family† according to Clarence Roberts, Jr. There was no individual breadwinner and each had distinct role to perform – the wife for the house and husband in the farm. In contrary, gender roles had also changed in the modern-day society. During the post-industrial revolution, men finally realized their roles as breadwinners; so they left the responsibility of child rearing to the wife who was left alone. However change in gender role also change at the present day.To use the example of Osborne, one distinct change was the fact that mother and father had interchanged their roles from being a provider to housekeeper and vice-versa. Women’s role in earning money for the family had been part of her responsibility since the pre-industrial era, but due to the disappearance and removal of home market, women had to look for a job outside the house, which is carried out until today. Third, family relationship had changed forever. Pre-industrial period family was seen as having a strong kinship.By tradition, American family during that period practice extended family relations wherein relatives are part of the family such as in-laws, first cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. In an article entitled â€Å"Redefining Family, it stated there that the traditional parents’ role â€Å"gave way to affectionate bonds,† while husband and wife were â€Å"companionable. † In effect, women were active in spiritual direction in the family, which shows her value in the family. However, industrialization and technology was the cause for the collapse of the tie that binds the family together.Fathers had to left home to work in far away lands; women were left with the kids; extended family was lost; and, children had to work also The case of two families mentioned in this paper, is a scenario of the modern day family that grasp for time to be spent for the family. As each family member strives to give quality time, there is still missing because each is a human being that needs affection and togetherness. If not sufficiently given, the family might suffer. Industrialization has the advantage in the family, yet, American family is tied up with the system. Work Citedâ€Å"David Osborne: Beyond the Cult of Fatherhood (1985). † Absorbing Stories, Creating Identities â€Å"Redefining Family. † Colonial Williamsburg. 2007. http://www. history. org/Almanack/life/family/essay. cfm#transformed Roberts Jr. , Clarence. The Changing Family: How Changes in the Family Reflects Social and Economic Changes in Society. Yal e-New Haven Teachers Institute. http://www. yale. edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1990/4/90. 04. 08. x. html Verrengia, Joseph. The Modern American Family: Always in Motion, Child-Dominated, Strained and Losing Intimacy. † UCLA College Report. http://www. college. ucla. edu/celfarticle. pdf

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Presented in Romeo and Juliet Essay

During the Play of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare portrays a very strong relationship between Juliet and her father, Lord Capulet. His initial attitude shows him as a caring, protective father who wants what is best for his daughter. This caring manner continues until Scene 5 of Act 3, in which Juliet defies her father, who wishes for her to marry the County Paris. This scene acts as a turning point in the play; Lord Capulet is now shown as a malevolent father who has his own intentions for his daughter’s future. However, when Juliet returns apologetically to her father, and agrees to marry Paris, he once again returns to being the loving and caring father we initially identified. Lord Capulet’s initial attitude to his daughter was generally kind and compassionate. He calls her his ‘hopeful lady of my earth’ which implies that he expects her to do well for herself. We see him as a typical father late in the 16th Century. It was commonplace for fathers to be in charge of who their daughter married, and Lord Capulet decided that Paris, a handsome, wealthy kinsman to the prince, would be able to provide for his daughter’s future.  Lord Capulet is very protective over Juliet, he does not think she is ‘ripe to be a bride’ because she is ‘yet a stranger to the world’ and ‘hath not seen the change of fourteen years’. This prominently reminds us of both Lord Capulet’s protectiveness, and the ongoing theme of youth and age throughout the play. The point at which Lord Capulet ceases from acting behind the caring faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade come in Scene 5 of Act 3 in the play. Juliet refuses to marry Paris when her mother tells her that they have arranged her marriage. Juliet, who is secretly already married to Romeo, cannot go ahead with the marriage to Paris, and she tells her mother that she is not ready to be married so soon after Tybalt’s death. Although upset, her mother does not overreact to this situation, and it is only when her father enters that the situation becomes overwhelming. He shouts at her, is unpleasant towards her, and threatens to disown her if she does not do as he says. Lady Capulet is then drawn into more of a quarrelsome situation with her daughter, her line ‘Fie, fie! what, are you mad?’ could be interpreted either as directed towards her husband or Juliet. It would seem that it was towards her husband as later in the scene she says to Lord Capulet ‘You are too hot’, which indicates that he is becoming too aggressive and malicious to his own daughter. This would suggest that Lord Capulet has a very influential personality, and he is able to get other people to do what he wants them to because of his authority, and their fear of what he will say if they, like Juliet did, refuse to co-operate.  Lord Capulet’s view of a daughter is that they are almost like property, who should be married to a handsome and wealthy gentleman when they are old enough to take on this responsibility. It was usual for this to happen, and so was not treated with the same scepticism as today. In one of Paris’ meetings with Lord Capulet he tells him that ‘younger than she are happy mothers made’. This implies that girls who are younger than Juliet are not only already married, but mothers as well. Even when her own mother asks her about marriage, she says it is ‘an honour I dream not of’, suggesting she does not feel ready for marriage, even when her mother reminds us that ‘younger than you †¦ are already made mothers’. Generally, Lord Capulet does care for his daughter, but does not respect her wishes and opinions as we would expect in today’s modern society. Capulet’s anger at Juliet’s defiance was the first point when we saw another side to him. He returns to being the gentle father only when Juliet comes to apologise to him. She tells him she has been at confession and has come to accept the offer of marriage from Paris. Her father then becomes the agreeable jovial character we first knew. His angry personality is only evident if things are not going in according with his plans, or Juliet is disobedient to him; he is almost like a spoilt child who does not like it when he does not get what he wants. When Juliet appears to be dead in Scene 5 of Act 4, Capulet seems to be devastated. He states that death ‘lies on her like an untimely frost’ which to all the other people on stage is accepted as a genuine comment from a grieving father. Alternatively, this could have been interpreted as another selfish comment; the use of the word ‘untimely’ emphasising the inconvenience of it to his plans. Capulet is once again being slightly selfish, he feels as though he has lost a daughter, rather than his daughter has lost her life, and he is worrying about how it will affect him instead of grieving for her. At the end of the play when Friar Lawrence Tells everyone the truth about the events through the play, I think Lord Capulet realises how narrow-minded he has been. He recognises that he has not treated his daughter with the respect she needed, and is aware that she had to marry Romeo secretly because he would never have agreed to it.  It is this recognition of the error of his ways that leaves the audience feeling that Lord Capulet is a good father. He acts upon what he has learnt straight away by calling Lord Montague his ‘brother’, and asking him to ‘give me thy hand’ to help them reach a better understanding. Behind Lord Capulet’s capricious faade, we see a father who cares for his daughter, but does not always know how to show it. His unpredictable nature was due to this, and it is not until the end of the play when the ‘true’ Lord Capulet is revealed. He shows remorse towards the death of his daughter and Romeo also, and looks towards the Montagues to help each other in grieving for their children by settling the dispute between the families.  Overall, Capulet is a good father to Juliet, but his influential position makes him feel under constant pressure to do what is right; both for his daughter and his image to the rest of the Capulets.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The use of Sales Tax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The use of Sales Tax - Essay Example The drive of capitalism for this country relied on many factors that included slavery, turned raw goods into products, factories, and the ability to produce such a drastic workforce. Hence, Smith’s ideas of capitalism along with an adequate tax system that can power the nation in its quest to be financially solidified. The use of sales tax in America is implemented at a state level and is utilized for education, infrastructure, and Medicare. Many cities and countries have their own special rules regarding state tax. In essence, there is no federal sales tax. Clearly, that is because the population of state tax varies based on population, deficit, and economic growth (â€Å"Rousse, 66†).   Although no clear of sales tax can be found during the revolutionary time period, the forefathers of the country did implement an excise tax on whiskey enacted in 1791. For instance, Minnesota does not have a sales tax. Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the original price of the item by a tax rate. Sales tax is also special in a fact because it is collected at the time of sale (â€Å"Rousse, 66†).    Sales tax is unique in its manner because it is only imposed once during the time of purchase. However, this rule can be modified. For instance, items such as used cars fit this description. In this particular scenario, sales tax can be charged on the same item multiple times (â€Å"Rousse, 66†). The common example of sales tax is prevalent in grocery stores in which individuals are charged with this tax when buying their produce and groceries. Researchers that study economics have comprehensively studies the effects of sales tax have concluded that it harnesses the local economy. One of the key elements that sales tax is utilized for is to fund education. Since sales tax is based on a state basis. Illinois is a prime example of this sales as the school system is injected with sales tax revenue (â€Å"Rousse, 66†). This is essential beca use the money is allocated in a very efficient manner that benefits the economy. Since the housing market is on the bubble right now, the sales tax that is derived from the properties are valuable enough to dictate funding of education. As a matter of fact, lawmakers approved sales tax as a funding source for school districts in 2007. Since the market is on the bubble, many economists say that it makes logical sense to facilitate individuals by relying on sales tax rather than property tax. The debate over sales tax has been the hallmark of criticism and critique. Many individuals feel that the sales tax should be regressive just like the progressive tax. Many people insist that the sales tax imposes a huge burden on low-income families. In addition, the government is contemplating the decision to charge sales tax to online retailers. During the year of 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that retailers don't have to collect sales taxes in states where they do not possess any leverage (â €Å""Should States Require Online Retailers to Collect Sales Tax?† ). Both state and the local government has been urging Congress to repeal that decision and actually charge online retailers a sales tax as numerous bills have been proposed in Congress. Many Americans feel that shopping online is cost-effective as it allows them to skip this tax. In essence, if an individual bought items from an online retailer, they are obligated to owe tax to state even though the states really do not have supreme authority to

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Key Strategic Issues That ABB Company Is Facing Coursework

The Key Strategic Issues That ABB Company Is Facing - Coursework Example This research tells that in today’s world, global organizations and companies are changing day by day due to the ever-increasing world changes across all sectors. This has led to the emergence of different strategies of doing business by different companies. Based on researches carried out on various case studies including ABB, key strategic issues ought to be addressed in order for companies to overcome the difficulties and problems they face. According to De Wit and Meyer, the concept of mergers and acquisitions (M& A’s) has been seen as the way out to the globalization of economies. Globalization of economies is identified as a key strategic issue faced by ABB given that Companies are competing more and more in relation to costs of raw materials, operational costs, cost of labor and technological advancements. Concern on competitive advantage by ABB like other companies is used for testing better and effective strategies to counter increased competition in the market . Although it has led to improved and better performance in ABB, other companies have been faced with difficulties resulting in financial crisis hence closures. High rates of competition have presented companies to external as well as internal economic forces. Moreover, clients have experienced low-quality service and product delivery due to the use of poor management strategies. Financial crisis resulting from a competitive advantage on other hand has catapulted competition forces between market segments. All together management strategies and associates impact general economic growth and development to national economies. The aspect of inside-out strategy has enabled companies like ABB to create the organizations newly through mergers or acquisitions. Also, capability building through strategic management provides appropriate market opportunities to companies. Therefore, economic sustainable growth and development become an issue in relation to management strategies. Using the bri efings that you have prepared for the tutorials apply the key points from your briefings to the case study ABB case study presents globalization as argued by Haberberg and Rieple, referring it as whereby global economies, societies, and cultures practice economic integration id different perspectives. Companies have embarked on forming global networks in the name of attaining development goals in major sectors of transport, trade and communications. Based on the ABB case, internationalization is identified as a significant factor in the development, management and growth of the business. Globalization faces criticisms from the negative perspective of its resultant activities. it is argued that the concept has led to the increased disparity between the rich economies and the developing poor nations. According to the researches carried out, this has contributed to increased global competition between companies. The field of electrical and management within relevant organizations such as ABB are not left out in the consideration of planning strategy towards standardization. Thus, poor and developing economies continue to experience difficulties at the expense of the developed ones in the name of globalization.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Intellectual property (Trade Marks Act 2005, Designs Act 2003, Patents Essay

Intellectual property (Trade Marks Act 2005, Designs Act 2003, Patents Act 1990) - Essay Example It is a business for them. But to actually think there are professionals out there who paid their way through university is a worry†¦. To be honest I do feel a bit guilty using samedayessay.com. I had no idea that such a company existed until about 2 months ago when I was in over my head, totally desperate for some type of help and stumbled across this site via a Google search! I was shocked, a bit skeptical, but relived at the same time. I haven’t studied since 2004. I work full time + overtime and I stupidly enrolled myself into 2 online subjects, thinking it would be a breeze†¦. Well boy was I wrong. It has been so much work, doing all the readings, all the activities, online participation, not having any face to face lessons. Six weeks into the course felt I was drowning. So stressed, so busy! That is when I decided to get a few of my assignment done via the company. I am glad I got the help, but in a way I feel I cheated, I cheated myself, that is why I am readi ng and trying to learn and understand. Next year I will only be enrolling into 1 subject, that way I can focus 100% on it and not feel as stressed, and hopefully not need an essay writing company. But in saying that, in case I ever do need help, I would like to keep in touch. Not sure how long you plan to stay with samedayessay.com, and I am not sure if you are allowed to pass on your details to clients, but I will give you my details: (face book – katerina cvetkovski katerinacvet@hotmail.com) other email kcvetkovski@optusnet.com.au. The paper sounds very good. Thank you so much. Please read my comments/ questions Question 1 Issue The main point of contention is whether Fred's registration of the trademark GOOD FRIENDS FENCE is potentially an infringement of the Trade Marks Act 1995 with regards to the claims being made by GOOD NEIGHBOURS FENCE which is asserting that they have the rights to the trade mark. In other words, is it likely that Fred has committed a breach under t he Trade Mark's Act (1995) or not. Rules The Trade Marks Act 1995 states that a trade mark needs to be distinctive and reflect the trade commercial or trade origins of a person (EJ Gallo V Lion Nathan, 2010). In Section 20, it is noted that the owner of a trademark has the right to use the trademark, authorise the use of the trademark and obtain relief when the trademark is infringed. A trademark is infringed if a person uses a sign that is identical with or is deceptively similar with the the trademark (Section 120 (1)). However, for action on trademark infringement to be taken, the trademark must be used as a trademark [Konininkliike Philips V Remington (2000)]. Section 120(2) of the Act states that a trademark is infringed if the goods or service for which the trademark is used are similar or closely related. An action on infringement can also be taken if the trademark is known is Australia and unregistered (Van Caenegem 2010 p139: Davison et al, 2008 p133). Also infringement occ urs when the trademark is substantially identical or deceptively similar to goods or services that are unidentical. Section 120 also states that action can be taken on infringement when there is a realization that the owner's interest could be adversely affected. In the case of Belei Hestia V Bali Inc (1973), it was established that

Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego Essay

Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego - Essay Example Group psychology is not concerned with group, as one could get the wrong impression by the name; on the contrary, it is connected with the individual who is part of the group, because every human being happens to be a member of many groups according to his environment and situation in life. "Group Psychology is therefore concerned with the individual man as a member of a race, of a nation, of a caste, of a profession, of an institution, or as a component part of a crowd of people who have been organised into a group at some particular time for some definite purpose (p.3)1. Group psychology is only the sum total of all the individual psychologies belonging to that particular group. Freud was of the opinion that the crowd, a gathering, or a mass of people, can reflect different psychological dimensions than loose individuals. Those dimensions need not be part of their daily life. They might surprise themselves by exhibiting totally alien behaviours, which are more in step with the group, and have less to do with their individuality and identification. He says that an individual could be brought to a condition where his personality traits are totally lost and he would commit uncharacteristic deeds on being suggested. A group is always more susceptible to influence, and it could swing dangerously without any regard for personal gain. "While with isolated individuals personal interest is almost the only motive force, with groups, it is very rarely prominent," (p.17). Group can create an unusual influence on the individual's mental activity so that his emotions are extraordinarily intensified and sometimes it inhibits the intellect and rational factors. He says that if an individual gives up his identity and becomes a part of the group, he does so, because he feels the need of being in harmony with others. There is a kind of bonding in a group, which might compel an individual to be carried away instinctively. "that a group is clearly held together by a power of some kind; and to what power could this feat be better ascribed than to Eros, who holds together everything in the world" he asks. Libido, as Freud sees it, is an emotional form comprising all sentiments that come under 'love' with sexual union as its aim. It can contain self-love, love for parents/children, friendship and general love for all and animals, or nature, because all tendencies are part of 'an expression of the same instinctive activities which might result in various kinds of relationships'. The soul of the mass is another kind of libido, which emotionally binds the individual into the group and each individual usually feels the same and this libido becomes the mass soul that compels all the likewise members of the group to feel and emote identically. Another most important factor here is the leader of the group who "stands in the relation of a kind elder brother; he is their father surrogate" (p.43). Freud theorises that the same group essence could be found in the libidinal ties of panic phenomenon that exists in the military groups. This collective dread can happen "either owing to an increase of the common danger or owing to the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

EBusiness and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EBusiness and Ethics - Essay Example The growth and advancement of computer technology and several networks have encouraged an incline in the number of criminal activities propagated over the computers as well as risks (Jamrich and Dan Oja 28). The world is currently witnessing the development of new criminal activities that are being committed through the digital world. Therefore, there is a greater need of coming up with measures and strategies that can help curb cyber risks. There are many system administrators and skilled enough to do the work and provide what the client need. However,  it is hard to find the one that can do what you want with the right way and beneficial and effective for long time. The biggest problem that companies face is the security in the network. The data and information are crucial to a company that is why they need security. In these days, there are many viruses that can harm the computers and destroy the data in companies and it cost them lots of money and gives them a bad reputation. The project will provide and set up data security to the cell phones that helps to secure the data and protect it from threats and viruses (Siegel 31). Furthermore, there is need for security from the outside network. Also, the cell phones should have protection from viruses that destroy and might consequently steal data. Nowadays, every company needs to setup a security program and the only way to do it is to hire system administrators to do that with the right way. What the project intend to  set up is the required security for the data and cell phone. Further, the data will be backed up because it is better to have backed up data in case it is lost or destroyed. Setting up security for the data and cell phone will include activating the firewalls, blocking any spyware attacks, as well as using valid malware software or anti-virus. Protection of data entails using encryption for the most sensitive files such as the financial records, tax returns, and backing up the significant

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

World History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

World History - Essay Example When we talk of the impact which these civilizations had on us we need to accumulate factors concerning political, social, religious, and scientific impact. The people of those ancient civilizations laid strong foundation in the field of astronomy. The Mesopot The concept of living with a multi-cultural society was basically originated in their civilization. Since the Mesopotamians started their dwelling in between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, which was already occupied with Assyrians, Aklad Babylonians, Sumerians etc,. Today we could find multi-cultural societies every where .As a result the impact of one culture lays on the other. The art of predicting the future, the study of astronomy [the stellar movements], the learning of atmospheric sciences all came from Mesopotamian civilization. The Greeks seemed to have excelled in every field. Their civilization was the most influential one. They were the pioneers to built multi-storied buildings, formulated trade routes covering large territories such as Turkey, Cyrus, Egypt, Afghanistan and Scandinavia. Athletics and other art of sports such as â€Å"Bull-leaping†, Marathon was given by them and we still conduct these sports world wide .The Greeks were the first to introduce â€Å"Epic poetry† and â€Å"Lyric†. All the credit goes to Homer, the first person to present Greek Literature. The â€Å"Democratic form of government† and the voting system, the meeting of those people who voted was called as â€Å"assembly† was all their contribution and its impact could be felt obviously. The urbanized culture started from their time onwards. One more important impact is the logical and philosophical approach towards every concept of life, was given by them. The philosopher’s quest resulted in teaching an exact way of moralistic life. The Greeks had the view that the state should be

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Volunteer Work Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Volunteer Work Experience - Essay Example When I was a young teenager, my mother would let me conduct simple bookkeeping, perform inventory counts, and supervise the workers while she was away. Working alongside my mother made me realize that my vision of becoming a competent entrepreneur was attainable. My mother’s theory that economics and accounting were the governing languages of business was not only reflected in her business decisions, but also evident in her daily conducts. It was as if her every motion and speech had been calculated for the highest accuracy and efficiency. Her ability to handle tough situations with poise coupled with an undeniable attention to details made her an exceptional businessperson. She was able to keep the family above waters even when my father's ventures failed. Whether mom was trying to maintain her little textile shop or tending to her catering business, she always managed to keep an optimistic outlook despite countless missed opportunities and unfruitful investments. Every week, she would gather donations and organize trips to local orphanages. Her intelligence and selfless altruism strengthened my aspirations to soar as a successful businesswoman and break free from society’s patriarchal expectations. My achievements function as a medium from which I could give back to the community. In the summer of 2010, I felt extremely defeated when my hopes of scoring an internship with the auditing firm Ernst & Young Jakarta was crushed. However, my disappointment left me searching for other opportunities that would allow me to accomplish something in the business world. When my 17-year-old boyfriend came up with a spontaneous idea to build a small Internet business in the underdeveloped area of West Jakarta, I impulsively agreed to be his bookkeeper.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest in Poland Essay Example for Free

Tourist Attractions and Places of Interest in Poland Essay Poland is officially the Republic of Poland in Central Europe. We will be briefly going through all the sights that attract tourists. The annual number of visitors to Poland has increased rapidly since 1990. In 2002 there were 14 million visitors in Poland. The major tourist attractions in Poland are the resorts along the Baltic Sea, the Lake District south of the coast, the Karpaty and Sudety mountains, and the country’s numerous national parks and its museums (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2005). Poland’s borders are marked by the Sudety mountains (Sudetes) in the southwest, the Carpathian Mountains (Karpaty) in the southeast, the Odra and Neisse (Nysa) rivers in the west, and the Bug River in the east. On the northeast, the country is bounded by a section of the Baltic Sea – all breath-taking places to visit (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2005). Warsaw, Polands capital since the late 16th century is by far the biggest and fastest developing Polish city. It is visited every year by thousands of tourists from all over the world, especially during the summer. Wroclaw, the capital of Lower Silesia (Dolny Slask) amazes with its volume of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. Several musical and theatre festivals, as well as its busy nightlife, attract innumerable visitors from all over Poland and abroad (tourism in poland.com). Krakow is probably the most beautiful and fascinating city in Poland. The attraction is not just the splendid architecture and the treasures of art – but also the unique ambience of the former Jewish district and the masterpieces of Polish Art Nouveau. Thanks to an amazing density and variety of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, Krakow sparkles with life. Anyway, there is no point in merely talking about its attractions – everyone should see Krakow with their own eyes (staypoland.com). Places to see in Poland include, Zakopane, Polands premier mountain resort, is one of the countrys most popular holiday destinations, both in the winter for skiing, and in the summer, for hiking and camping. Tricity (the Triple City also called the Treble City, in Polish Trà ³jmiasto) is the metropolitan area consisting of the three Polish cities Gdaà ±sk, Gdynia and Sopot. They are situated very close to each other on the coast of the Gdansk Bay on the Baltic Sea, in Eastern Pomerania. Sopot has a great geographical location lying between the beautiful woods of the TriCity Landscape Park, and the numerous sand beaches of the Bay of Gdansk. Sopot is known for its sanitaria and countless artists and tourists, who visit the city especially during summertime. Gdynia is a young, but quickly expanding harbor city situated just at the seashore, offering many tourist attractions as well as splendid shopping opportunities and a lot of entertainment (tourism in poland.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Great Masurian Lakes is an area in northeastern Poland. Masurian Lakeland are known in Polish as land of a thousand lakes. It is the paradise for sailors, hikers, anglers, canoeists and also photographers (tourism in poland.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many national parks in Poland awaiting tourists, these include the Babia Gora National Park, Bialowieza National Park, Biebrza National Park, Bieszczady National Park, Bory Tucholskie National Park, Drawa National Park, Gorce National Park, Gory Stolowe National Park, Kampinos National Park, Karkonosze National Park, Magura National Park, Narew National Park, Ojcow National Park, Pieniny National Park, Roztocze National Park, Slowinski National Park, Swiety Krzyz National Park, Tatra National Park, Wielkopolska National Park, Polesie National Park, The Warta Mouth National Park, Wigry National Park and Wolin National Park (tourism in poland.com).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With readily available transport facilities and money exchange offices Poland with all its cities, health resorts, tourist resorts, national parks and its history is a very fascinating vacation spot. References Poland. Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® Encyclopedia 2005  © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Tourism in poland.com. All rights reserved tourisminpoland.com ©. Retrieved from http://www.tourisminpoland.com/ Stay Poland.com All rights reserved StayPoland Sp. z o.o.Retrieved from http://www.staypoland.com/poland-attractions.htm

Friday, September 20, 2019

Dictyostelium as a Predictive Model for Bitter Tastant

Dictyostelium as a Predictive Model for Bitter Tastant Developing Dictyostelium as a Predictive Model for Bitter Tastant Identification INTRODUCTION Bitter tastant (emetic) research utilises a variety of animal models for the identification of the emetic susceptibility of novel compounds and aim to characterise the underlining mechanisms that give rise to emesis. There are two categories of animals used in this type of research, those that have the ability to vomit (ferrets, dogs and cats), and those that lack the emetic reflex (rats and mice) (Holmes et al., 2009). In addition to this, there is a different sensitivity to emetic compounds amongst these animal models, due to the existence of multiple pathways for the emesis induction. There are also differences in the receptor pharmacology and distribution, and metabolic pathway regulation. This makes it very hard to use a unique animal model for emetic research, pushing research towards a multi-model approach, therefore increasing the utilisation of animals (Robery et al., 2011). Ingestion of bitter tastants can lead to innate aversive behaviour, reduced gastric emptying, nausea and vomiting in mammals and as such bitter tastants are thought to provide a potentially vital warning sign of toxicity (Robery et al., 2011). Humans recognise thousands of different compounds as bitter. Despite this ability only around 25 taste 2 receptors (TAS2R) have been identified. Common bitter ligands include cycloheximide, denatonium, PROP (6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil), PTU (phenylthiourea), and ÃŽ ²-glucopyranosides (Meyerhof et al., 2010). As previously stated, bitter substances are detected by a specific subset of taste receptors, known as BITTER TASTE-SENSING TYPE 2 receptors (TAS2Rs) (Meyerhof et al., 2010). These are part of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and can be found on cell surface that mediate gustatory taste perception on the tongue. Signal transduction of bitter stimuli is accomplished via the ÃŽ ±-subunit of gustducin (Gulbransen et al., 2009). This G protein subunit activates a taste phosphodiesterase and decreases cyclic nucleotide levels. The ÃŽ ²ÃŽ ³-subunit of gustducin also mediates taste by activating IP3 (inositol triphosphate) and DAG (diglyceride). These second messengers may open gated ion channels or may cause release of internal calcium. Although all TAS2Rs are located in gustducin-containing cells, knockout of gustducin does not completely abolish sensitivity to bitter compounds, suggesting a redundant mechanism for bitter tasting (unsurprising given that a bitter tas te generally signals the presence of a toxin). One proposed mechanism for gustducin-independent bitter tasting is via ion channel interaction by specific bitter ligands, similar to the ion channel interaction which occurs in the tasting of sour and salty stimuli (Gulbransen et al., 2009). The properties of TAS2Rs are different from other GPCRs, because of the ability of binding a wide range of compounds with low specificity and affinity. TAS2Rs have recently been suggested to have important extra-oral functions in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In the human airway epithelium TAS2Rs are expressed on the solitary chemosensory cells and ciliated epithelial cells, where they sense chemical irritation and promote ciliary beat frequency, respectively. Thus TAS2Rs may be protective and part of the defence against inhaled noxious compounds (Zhang et al., 2013). Recent studies have found that in resting primary airway smooth muscle cells, bitter tastant activate TAS2R-dependent signalling pathway that results in an increase in [Ca2+]i levels, although to a level much lower than that caused by bronchoconstrictors (2-adrenoceptor agonist) (Zhang et al., 2013). Under physiological circumstances, bitter tastants can activate TAS2Rs to modestly increase [Ca2+]i levels without affecting contraction, but in the situation of muscle constriction, they can block L-type calcium channels to induce bronchodilation (Zhang et al., 2013). TAS2R agonists showed both greater relaxation and inhibition of airway hyper-responsiveness than a ÃŽ ²2-adrenoceptor agonist in mouse airways. Given the large selection of known natural and synthetic agonists recognized by the 25 TAS2Rs, the findings have introduced bitter taste receptors as a potential new family of targets for asthma pharmacotherapy (Zhang et al., 2013). Dictyostelium as  a biomedical model organism D. Discoideum is a well-established research model organism, especially in investigating chemotaxis. D. Discoideum is a social amoeba that feeds on bacteria as its staple food source. Once the food supply is exhausted, cells start a developmental program leading to the production of spores that are able to survive in hostile conditions (Frey et al., 2007). Starving cells produce a chemo-attractant, cyclic AMP (cAMP), which serves as a signal for 1 x 105 neighbouring cells to aggregate, which then develop into a mature fruiting body (after 24 hours), where 20% of the cells form a stalk that supports a spore head incorporating 80% of the remaining cells as spores. When food sources are available again, the spores germinate into amoebae, completing the life cycle (Figure 1) (Frey et al., 2007). (Frey et al., 2007) Figure 1 D. Discoideum, develops from a single vegetative amoebae (0hrs) through to the generation of the mature fruiting body (24hrs). Aggregation is caused by the chemotaxis of cells toward cAMP waves to give rise to a multicellular aggregate. Aggregation results in the creation of a mound, then a tipped mound, and as development proceeds, the tip prolongate and forms a finger. Ultimately, the finger collapses to form a slug or continues to form a fruiting body. During final stage of the development, the cells differentiate into vacuolated stalk cells that sustain a spore head containing spores, which can tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions. The full developmental process from starvation of vegetative cells to the formation of a mature fruiting body is accomplished in 24 h (Frey et al. 2007). D. Discodeum has been extensively utilised to investigate a range of fundamental biological processes such as cell migration, signal transduction, phagocytosis and signalling during morphogenesis and cell differentiation. The fully sequenced genome contains 34 Mb of DNA (84-fold smaller than the human genome). D. Discoideum has a genome that encodes for a variety of proteins that are human homologues, associated with a variety of disorders (Boeckeler et al., 2007). Therefore, it has been suggested that the primary role of those proteins can be analysed in the model to understand their related disease function. Nausea and vomiting are common but serious side effects associated with many therapeutic drugs. Whilst the physiological mechanisms behind the generation of the vomiting response are well characterised, the diverse range of emetic stimuli that can generate the response are poorly understood. The potential of using D. Discoideum, a eukaryotic amoeba, as a model for predicting emetic liability was examined in this thesis. The effects of a diverse range of known emetic and aversive compounds on Dictyostelium cell behaviour was investigated, resulting in the identification of a small number that strongly inhibit cell behaviour in a concentration-dependent manner. Recent studies using Dictyostelium as a simple model system for bitter related (emetic) research has shown the validity of using this approach for the reduction of animals in testing for emetic liability. Even though Dictyostelium does not contain genes encoding homologues to T2R proteins associated with bitter compounds detection, it has been identified the molecular mechanism responsible of PTU detection. The screening of mutants resistant to the effects of PTU on growth identified a putative G-protein coupled receptor mutant, GrlJ-. Translation of this discovery to human context identified an uncharacterised human gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type B isoform, with a relatively weak homology to GrlJ. The expression of the human GABA-B receptor restored GrlJ- sensitivity to PTU, implicating this human protein as a novel receptor for PTU. In addition, GrlJ only partially controls PTU detection but not detection for all bitter substances. This research was carried out by monitoring the cell behaviour (motility, circularity, protrusions formation and displacement) following exposure to a range of known emetic compounds. Results show that bitter tastants cause an acute, marked and concentration dependent effect on cell behaviour. Therefore, this suggests that Dictyostelium may guarantee a new model for the analysis and screening of novel bitter/emetic compounds, and therefore reducing the utilisation of animal models by identifying the best candidates in a range of molecules. In this study a range of eight compounds were tested to investigate their effects on Dictyostelium random cell movement. The compounds list was specifically created to understand if the model system was able to predict the bitterness of those compounds and ultimately obtain a ranking order comparable to the in vivo rat brief access taste aversion (BATA) and human sensory panel models (Rudnitskaya, et al., 2013). The set of substances consisted of both organic and inorganic – azelastine, caffeine, chlorhexidine, potassium nitrate, paracetamol, quinine and sumatriptan. Results have shown that the bitterness ranking order obtained by using random cell movement assays was comparable to the one obtained with the BATA and the human sensory panel models. In particular, amongst those compounds, Azelastine, a selective (non-sedating) H1 antagonist structurally similar to other anti-histaminic molecules has shown to be one of the most potent compounds in the inhibition of Dictyostelium cell behaviour. This bitter-tasting compound is pharmacologically classified as a 2gen antihistamine, with relative lack of CNS (central nervous system) activity. Clinical trials, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the combined effect of direct inhibition and stabilisation of inflammatory cells. In vitro studies suggest that the affinity of azelastine for H1 receptors is several times higher than that of chlorpheniramine, a 1gen H1 antagonist. Azelastine directly antagonizes TNF-ÃŽ ±, leukotrienes, endothelin-1, and platlet-activating factor. In vivo studies in a guinea pig model have demonstrated that both histamine-related and h-independent bronchoconstriction were inhibited by azelastine (Williams et al., 2010). The second most potent compound tested is Chlorhexidine (CHX), a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, frequently used in dental-care to inhibit bacterial growth and in periodontal disease prophylaxis. It is classified as antibacterial, but it can also interfere with the proteolytic activity of some periodontal pathogens. This inhibitory effect is associated with its chelating properties (Trufello et al., 2014). One of the chemicals used as standard for bitterness measurements is Quinine, a natural occurring alkaloid with different medicinal properties, such as antipyretic, antimalarial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Methods D. discoideum discoideum maintenance Cells and spores were stored at -80  ºC, and every month an aliquot of the frozen stock was collected and placed on a Raoutella planticola bacterial lawn. After 3-4 days, plaques of growth were visible, which were then scraped and transferred into liquid dishes. Culture dishes were kept in absolute sterile conditions at the constant temperature of 21  ºC. Cells needed for experiments were transferred into shaking cultures (120 rpm/min) or washed off every 2 days. In order to make shaking cultures, cells were washed off the plate, transferred to a G0 media (Ax medium containing 100 µ/ml Penicillin and 100 µg/ml Streptomicin), and kept in the shaking incubator at 21  ºC and counted and or diluted every day. Cells were utilised for experiments after 2-3 days of shaking and flasks were kept for one week before replacing them with fresh cultures. The liquid content in flasks was 1/5 of the total flask volume, in order to maintain ideal growth conditions (oxygen and surface area) , and they were be kept between 2 and 5 x 106. Development assay Dictyostelium development assays were performed in triplicate experiments. Cells were plated onto membranes at the concentration of 1 x 107 per membrane (in KK2), then the membranes were transferred onto millipore filters embedded with the selected drug. Cells were placed in small petri dishes (6 cm diameter) and kept at 22  ºC for 24 hours in humid environmental conditions. Development images were taken after 24 hours at different magnification resolutions (x2, x3.2, and x4 side at 45-degree angle). D. discoideum Permanent stock At least 1 x 107 cells were collected from fresh culture plate, and resuspendend in 200ÃŽ ¼l D. discodeum freezing medium (7% DMSO, Horse serum), and frozen to -80 ºC using isopropanol freezing containers for two hours, then stored at -80  ºC in liquid nitrogen. Live cell microscopy To prepare D. discodeum cells (Ax2) for behaviour analysis experiments, cells were grown in shaking suspension in Axenic medium (Formedium Co. Ltd, Norfolk, UK) for at least 48hrs. Cells were washed and resuspended in phosphate buffer at 1.7 x 106 cells/ml. Cells were then pulsed for 5 hours with 30 nM cAMP at 6 min intervals whilst shaking at 120 rpm. Cells were then washed in phosphate buffer, resuspended at 1.7105 cells/ml, and 250  µL aliquots of cells were added to into a Lab-Tek 8-well chambered coverglass wells (Thermo Fisher, Leicestershire, UK), and allowed to adhere for 10-15 min, and for each experiment double concentrated drugs (250  µl) were administrated at the 15th frame by using a P1000. Cells movement was investigated using an Olympus IX71 microscope at 40X magnification, and images were recorded with a QImaging RetigaExi Fast1394 digital camera. Images were acquired every 15 seconds over a 15 min period for each compound, and at each concentration, with a minimu m of three independent experiments for each drug/concentration and an average cell number of 10 cells quantified per experiment. Solvent only controls were carried out for all experiments to ensure readouts were based upon compounds listed, with for example, no effect of DMSO shown at 1% – the highest concentration used in the experiments described here. References Ayana Wiener; Marina Shudler; Anat Levit; Masha Y. Niv. BitterDB: a database of bitter compounds. Nucleic Acids Res 2012, 40(Database issue):D413-419. Bachmanov AA, Beauchamp GK (2007). Taste Receptor Genes. Annual Review of Nutrition 27: 389–414. Choi, D.H. et al., 2013. Evaluation of taste-masking effects of pharmaceutical sweeteners with an electronic tongue system. Drug development and industrial pharmacy, 9045, pp.1–10. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23786206 [Accessed October 10, 2013]. Finger, T.E. Kinnamon, S.C., 2011. Taste isn’t just for taste buds anymore. F1000 biology reports, 3(September), p.20. Available at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3169900tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract [Accessed December 9, 2013]. Finger, T.E. Kinnamon, S.C., 2011. Taste isn’t just for taste buds anymore. F1000 biology reports, 3(September), p.20. Available at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3169900tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract [Accessed December 9, 2013]. Gulbransen, B. D., Clapp, T. R., Kinnamon, S. C., Finger, T. E. (2009). NIH Public Access, 99(6), 2929–2937. doi:10.1152/jn.00066.2008.Nasal Holmes, a M., Rudd, J. a, Tattersall, F. D., Aziz, Q., Andrews, P. L. R. (2009). Opportunities for the replacement of animals in the study of nausea and vomiting. British Journal of Pharmacology, 157(6), 865–80. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00176.x Margolskee, R.F., 2002. Molecular mechanisms of bitter and sweet taste transduction. The Journal of biological chemistry, 277(1), pp.1–4. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11696554 [Accessed December 4, 2013]. Meyerhof, W. et al., 2010. The molecular receptive ranges of human TAS2R bitter taste receptors. Chemical senses, 35(2), pp.157–70. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20022913 [Accessed October 17, 2013]. Pulkkinen, V. et al., 2012. The bitter taste receptor (TAS2R) agonists denatonium and chloroquine display distinct patterns of relaxation of the guinea pig trachea. American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 303(11), pp.L956–66. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22962016 [Accessed September 19, 2013]. Pulkkinen, V. et al., 2012. The bitter taste receptor (TAS2R) agonists denatonium and chloroquine display distinct patterns of relaxation of the guinea pig trachea. American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 303(11), pp.L956–66. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22962016 [Accessed September 19, 2013]. Robery, S. et al., 2011. Investigating the effect of emetic compounds on chemotaxis in Dictyostelium identifies a non-sentient model for bitter and hot tastant research. PloS one, 6(9), p.e24439. Available at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3169598tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract [Accessed October 10, 2013]. Rudnitskaya, A. et al., 2013. Assessment of bitter taste of pharmaceuticals with multisensor system employing 3 way PLS regression. Analytica chimica acta, 770, pp.45–52. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23498685 [Accessed October 10, 2013]. Ueda, T. et al., 2003. Functional interaction between T2R taste receptors and G-protein alpha subunits expressed in taste receptor cells. The Journal of neuroscienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¯: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 23(19), pp.7376–80. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12917372. Wiener, A. et al., 2012. BitterDB: a database of bitter compounds. Nucleic acids research, 40(Database issue), pp.D413–9. Available at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3245057tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract [Accessed October 17, 2013]. Williams, P.B., Crandall, E. Sheppard, J.D., 2010. Azelastine hydrochloride, a dual-acting anti-inflammatory ophthalmic solution, for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Clinical Ophthalmology, p.993. Available at: http://www.dovepress.com/azelastine-hydrochloride-a-dual-acting-anti-inflammatory-ophthalmic-so-peer-reviewed-article-OPTH [Accessed February 3, 2014]. Zhang, C.-H., Lifshitz, L. M., Uy, K. F., Ikebe, M., Fogarty, K. E., ZhuGe, R. (2013). The cellular and molecular basis of bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. PLoS Biology, 11(3), e1001501. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001501 Available at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=3589262tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract [Accessed October 15, 2013]. Trufello, a M. et al., 2014. Subclinical concentrations of chlorhexidine inhibit gelatinase activity of carious dentine in vitro. Australian dental journal, pp.1–6. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24494744 [Accessed February 10, 2014].

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Chrysler Building Essay -- Architecture Structure Building Essays

Today technology allows us to construct structures that we would never have been able to make in the past. Some of the creations are impressive based on what they accomplish but others are masterpieces in themselves. Man’s capability to build such tall buildings, as the skyscrapers we are familiar with covering our cities today, is a major expression of the advancements we have made as a culture. The power necessary to build such tall structures inspired competition between architects to see who could build the tallest one. One skyscraper that has inspired many and served as a model, for high rise buildings that were created after, is the Chrysler Building. The Chrysler Building serves as an identifying mark to anyone that views the New York City skyline. The history surrounding the Chrysler Building is almost as intricate as the artwork and engineering of the building itself. Today it elicits a reaction from anyone who passes by just as it did when it was f irst created. The term skyscrapers has become the term used for tall, multi-storied buildings that have a height of at least 152 meters or 500 feet. The term was originally used to refer to a tall mast on a sailing vessel. Skyscrapers were first introduced in the 19th century. Prior to the 19th century a high rise building was thought of as unrealistic because it was irrational to have people walk up multiple flights of stairs. There was also the problem of providing the top floors with water pressure. Early on they only had the technology to provide water up to 50 feet or 15 meters. These problems were soon rectified by the invention of the elevator and also with the development of a water pumps that were made of steel and reinforced w... ...i-bin/articles/partners/cbs/search.cgi>. 3. Chrysler Building- SkyscraperPage.com. 2004. SkyscraperPage.com. 7 Nov. 2014 . 4. Chrysler Building and 42nd Street: New York History. 7 Nov. 2014 . 5. Chrysler Building, New York City. 2004. 7 Nov. 2014 . 6. Icon of the Modern. 7 Nov. 2014 . 7. Skyscraper. 7 Nov. 2014 . 8. The Chrysler Building. 2003. Daniel's Manhattan Architecture. 7 Nov. 2014 . 9. The Midtown Book- The Chrysler Building. The City Review. 7 Nov. 2014 .

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

McDonalds, what does it mean to you? Essay -- essays research papers

Marketing Management 3-4:30 Current Issues Paper McDonald’s, What Does It Mean to You?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McDonald’s Corporation has held a prominent position in the fast-food market for much of its existence. A person would be hard pressed to find consumers who would not readily recognize the famous golden arches, as the company has expanded its market globally. However, as global consumer tastes shift to a more heath-conscious public which cares less about â€Å"super sizing† and more about â€Å"slenderizing† the popular burger chain has been experiencing a drop in sales. McDonald’s strategy for its globalization plan has included the concept of localizing their product (to a degree) for an international market; for example, local managers in British versions of the restaurant are able to make their own decisions that pertain to adapting to the current market. A difficult challenge for the corporation’s marketing team is how to reposition this wildly successful brand in a stagnant British market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  McDonald’s, which has operated in London successfully for thirty years, has recently become aware of dropping sales which have been attributed to the country’s growing health concerns. The plan the British marketing team has developed includes sending the famous â€Å"golden arches† on hiatus while a new campaign will attempt to reposition the fast-food chain as a healthy choice for consumers. The theory is interesting, due to McDonald’s strong consu...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

the best :: essays research papers

- Navigate Here - Context Plot Overview Characters Character Analysis Themes --- The Custom-House Chapters I and II Chapters III and IV Chapters V and VI Chapters VII and VIII Chapters IX and X Chapters XI and XII Chapters XIII and XIV Chapters XV and XVI Chapters XVII and XVIII Chapters XIX and XX Chapters XXI and XXII Chapters XXIII and XXIV --- Quotations Key Facts Study Quiz Further Reading Edition 11 Chapters IX–X (Read: Chapter IX Â · Chapter X) Summary Chapter IX: The Leech By renaming himself upon his arrival in Boston, Chillingworth has hidden his past from everyone except Hester, whom he has sworn to secrecy. He incorporates himself into society in the role of a doctor, and since the townsfolk have very little access to good medical care, he is welcomed and valued. In addition to his training in European science, he also has some knowledge of "native" or "natural" remedies, because he was captured by Native Americans and lived with them for a time. The town sometimes refers to the doctor colloquially as a "leech," which was a common epithet for physicians at the time. The name derives from the practice of using leeches to drain blood from their patients, which used to be regarded as a curative process. Much to the community's concern, Dimmesdale has been suffering from severe health problems. He appears to be wasting away, and he frequently clutches at his chest as though his heart pains him. Because Dimmesdale refuses to marry any of the young women who have devoted themselves to him, Chillingworth urges the town leadership to insist that Dimmesdale allow the doctor to live with him. In this way, Chillingworth may have a chance to diagnose and cure the younger man. The two men take rooms next to the cemetery in a widow's home, which gives them an opportunity for the contemplation of sin and death. The minister's room is hung with tapestries depicting biblical scenes of adultery and its punishment, while Chillingworth's room contains a laboratory that is sophisticated for its time. The townspeople were initially grateful for Chillingworth's presence and deemed his arrival a divine miracle designed to help Dimmesdale. As time has passed, however, rumors have spread concerning Chillingworth's personal history. Even more ominously, the man's face has begun to take on a look of evil. A majority of the townspeople begin to suspect that Chillingworth is the Devil, come to wage battle for Dimmesdale's soul.

Imported Medicines: A Strategic Shift in Human Thinking Essay

Internet and online businesses gradually change our lives. What used to be impossible two years ago now has turned into a matter of daily performance. With Internet, we are no longer limited in our activities and can broaden the scope of all major operations that have previously been unachievable. Healthcare and medicines are not exceptions, and where Internet works to provide us with additional opportunities for communication, we have finally been given a chance to reconsider the costs of all healthcare services and medical preparations. Online medical markets have produced an irreversible change in the structure of healthcare services and human thinking. With the advent of the new technological age and the growing globalization, customers have become more attentive to what they buy and how much they pay for it. Imported medicines purchased online offer a competitive alternative to brand-name drugs. Simultaneously, imported drugs are not always licensed and may create serious health risks. In this situation, the state should actively work to impose severe price restrictions on the major brand-name drugs and to develop effective monitoring systems with regard to the imported drugs that are sold online, to guarantee that customers are given a viable choice and are not limited in their access to quality healthcare services and medical preparations. True, the growing customer commitment to imported medicines is the result of the national pharmaceutical markets’ being largely non-regulated. Americans typically pay the highest prices for brand-name drugs because, unlike Canada and many other countries, the United States does not impose price controls on pharmaceutical companies† (Colliver). The growing number of online pharmacies reflects the misbalanced nature of the price strategies, to which present day pharmaceutical companies adhere. Despite the fact that brand-name drugs are sold with significant discounts, the majority of healthcare insurance plans does not cover them and does not make them affordable for consumers. The current economic crisis makes Americans more attentive toward their expenditures, and online pharmaceuticals offer an excellent opportunity to obtain the needed list of medical preparations for a much lower price. â€Å"If the government doesn’t get its act together, and with 47 million who are uninsured, there is a marketplace for alternative supply of some of these drugs† (Colliver). It appears that in the current system of healthcare services customers are not given any relevant choice. With the absence of price restrictions, pharmaceutical companies feel free to establish prices as high as they deem necessary, making customers seek effective alternatives elsewhere. That is why imported drugs as such, and online imported drugs in particular have caused a strategic shift in human thinking, giving people a chance to resolve their health issues at a lower cost. With the growing number of Internet users and given the cost-effectiveness of imported drugs, customers are no longer willing to stick to traditional purchasing practices and choose a technological way of resolving their health issues. More and more people realize the benefits of online pharmaceutical marketing. Many of them enjoy the freedom of choice and convenience they are offered by online pharmaceuticals. â€Å"More Americans appear willing to take a calculated risk in the absence of prescription drug coverage† (Colliver). In other words, when health and life are at stake, customer will not think twice before ordering an affordable imported medical preparation from online suppliers. For many of them, imported medicals offer the most attractive and acceptable option; that is why online companies gradually grow to cover larger shares of online markets even without any specific advertising. Unfortunately, ordering imported drugs online is not always safe. Despite the fact that technology has forever changed the direction of human thinking and has made the process of purchasing imported drugs fast and convenient, imported drugs are associated with substantial risks. Customers cannot always be confident that they buy an authentic drug from an authentic foreign manufacturer. Some Web sites hawk controlled substances without a prescription or falsely purport to get drugs from a Canadian pharmacy or other more trustworthy source. While operators try to separate themselves from such operations, it’s tough to tell the difference† (Colliver). Even if the government imposes strict limitations on pharmaceutical prices, the shift that has already occurred in customer attitudes will require time to be reversed. The problem is not in imported drugs; given the growing globalization trends, imported drugs will keep conquering larger shares of pharmaceutical markets. The problem is that for customers to purchase imported products is a matter of â€Å"no other choice†. Many of them are no longer willing to return to conventional medical practices. As a result, and taking into account that online businesses will further work to conquer the minds and spirits of the American customers, the state should develop effective monitoring systems that will impose price restrictions and will control imported drugs sold online, to provide customers with a reasonable choice and to give them another chance for recovery. Conclusion Imported drugs and Internet have produced an irreversible change in customer attitudes toward healthcare. Beyond broader access to imported medical products, customers are given an opportunity to reduce their costs and to purchase medical products in fast and convenient manner. Given the threats which imported non-licensed products may produce on human health, and taking into account the growing customer commitment to purchasing imported medicines online, it is the state’s responsibility to develop effective regulatory and monitoring strategies that will not limit customer choice but will guarantee safety of all imported medical products.

Monday, September 16, 2019

3 Songs and a Creed

Engineer Song Pin the castle on my collar, I’ve done my training for the team. You can call me an engineer soldier, The warrior spirit has been my dream. Essayons, whether in war or peace, We will bear our red and our white. Essayons, we serve America, And the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Essayons! Essayons! 1st Armored Division March Iron Soldiers, Old Ironsides 1st Armored Division, honor and pride Guarding Freedom, we are proud to be America’s Tank force, Steel Victory With that Iron Patch, worn on my sleeve I follow those who, fought for Liberty Always ready, for peace we strive Iron Soldiers, Old Ironsides The Army Song First to fight for the right, And to build the nation’s might And the Army goes rolling along. Proud of all we have done, Fighting ‘till the battle won, And the Army goes rolling along. Then it’s HI! HI! Hey! The Army’s on its way. Count off the cadence loud and strong! For where are we go, You will always know, That the Army Goes ROLLING ALONG. Soldiers Creed I am an American Soldier I am a warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and the live the Army values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically, and mentally tough, Trained and proficient in my warrior task and drills. I will always maintain my arms, my equipment and my Self. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the Enemies of the United States of America in close Combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of Life. I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Othello presents women as the victims of men Essay

To what extent do you agree that in â€Å"Othello† Shakespeare presents women as the tragic victims of men? Throughout ‘Othello’, Shakespeare uses the manipulation of the protagonist, by the antagonist, Iago, to present a play controlled by men. In such a male dominated society, Shakespeare presents the women in the play as tragic victims at the hands of their husbands, in particular Desdemona and Emilia. Throughout this essay I will relate to the Aristotelian and Senecan descriptions of tragedy to come to a conclusion of how in ‘Othello’ Shakespeare presents women as tragic victims of men. Firstly, throughout ‘Othello’ Shakespeare presents men as the dominant characters of the play, whereas the women are portrayed as characters to always be suspicious of. No female character is given as many lines in the play as any male character, in particular Iago. This is reflective of Iago’s dominance in ‘Othello’, therefore meeting one of the Senecan definitions of tragedy presenting women as tragic victims of men. Furthermore Othelloâ€℠¢s suspicious nature towards his wife, Desdemona, is false, and though the women are constantly thought of cheating, they never do. In act 3 scene 4 of the play Desdemona claims that Othello is â€Å"true of mind†. The dramatic irony of that statement once again implies that Desdemona is a character who follows social conventions, yet her husband’s false accusations relate to the Aristotelian definition of tragedy in the Desdemona is pitied by the audience due to her pure feelings of love towards Othello. The use of the adjective â€Å"true† further shows Desdemona as a tragic victim of Othello as she is unaware of Othello’s beliefs that she is cheating on him with Cassio, which is false. Though women may be portrayed as tragic victims in ‘Othello’, Emilia gives the audience reason to believe that women are far from tragic victims in the play. She challenges social convention in that women should be passive to their husbands. In defiance of Iago’s â€Å"Be wise, and get you home†, Emilia here opposes the model of a â€Å"good† wife, who should be silent and marginalised. Though Emilia is undoubtedly ultimately a tragic victim of the play, s he reveals how corrupted a male dominated society is when she clears Desdemona’s â€Å"reputation†. Her death opposes an immoral conviction against her sex, exonerating her part in the tragedy. In act four scene three of the play, Emilia implies that she is equal to men, which suggests to the reader  further that she is a character who once again defies society’s expectations of women. Emilia criticises the way men behave, in which she asks â€Å"have we not affections/desires for sport-and frailty-as men have?† claiming that women’s needs are just the same as men, although it is acceptable for men to cheat on their wives. This is supported earlier in the play when Emilia likens men’s behaviour to that of belching, which itself is a vulgar activity. â€Å"they are all but stomachs, and we all but food/they eat us hungerly, and when they are full/they belch us† this corrupt truth is also reflective of how men treated women, and that it was ok for men to cheat on their wives, but had women done the same, it would have been considered a sin. On the other hand, Emilia could be interpreted as a tragic victim at the hands of men in ‘Othe llo’. As oppose to Desdemona’s marriage to Othello, Emilia’s marriage to Iago has lost all signs of romance and affection, and her victimisation could be interpreted through her satirical attitude towards men. Her death at the hands of Iago, her manipulator, shows that Iago was truly to blame for Othello’s murder of Desdemona, as it was him whom Emilia stole Desdemona’s handkerchief for. Her death is therefore her punishment, furthermore making Emilia a tragic victim as she has died through no fault of her own. Like Emilia, Desdemona is also a tragic victim of the men in ‘Othello’. Her murder, like Emilia’s, is through no fault of her own is a result of Othello’s jealousy and Iago’s interference. What makes Desdemona even more tragic to the audience is the fact that even in death she tries to protect her husband, telling Emilia that she has killed herself, â€Å"nobody, I myself†, this further depicts to the audience that Desdemona is a good and pure character. Her devotion to her husband makes her a tragic victim in the play as she can not be blamed for her death. Contextually it is important to understand how women are presented as t ragic victims of men in ‘Othello’. Contemporary views of women were, according to Sir Thomas Elyot â€Å"to be mild, timorous, tractable, benign, of sure remembrance, and shamefast.† Conversely men were seen to be â€Å"fierce, strong in opinion, covetous of glory, desirous of knowledge, appetiting by generation to bring for his semblable.† Elyot’s views of the contemporary man, though much grander than those of women, could prove to be their downfall in ‘Othello’. Shakespeare’s protagonist’s downfall could be based on the fact that he is desirous of knowledge, and Iago’s manipulation of  Othello’s trustworthy nature suggests that not only are women the tragic victims of men, but it is men who are also victims of men. The use of derogatory language and coarse sexual imagery is used by Shakespeare to show the male character’s misogynistic attitudes towards women, and this is evident whenever Iago speaks of the opposite sex. His lamenting of Desdemon a, a character who is pure and good throughout the play, particularly portrays how women are presented as tragic victims of men. He tells Brabantio that â€Å"a black ram is tupping your white ewe†, referencing Othello and Desdemona’s romance. The contrast of black and white suggests that Iago views Desdemona and women in general as guilty beings, which further suggests to the audience that women are tragic victims of men in ‘Othello’ as it is the men who are guilty, not the women. Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, holds a highly misogynistic view towards his daughter upon hearing of her affection for Othello, when he answers the question â€Å"is she dead?† with â€Å"aye to me†. Iago also views women as objects- â€Å"look to your house, your daughter and your bags†, his materialistic view of women, in which equating Desdemona to material good, suggests that Iago is a misogynist as he does not hold women in high regard at all. In conclusion, women are certainly presented by Shakespeare as tragic victims in ‘Othello’, however it is not completely at the hands of the male characters. Yes, both Emilia and Desdemona die at the hands of their husbands, but it is through socie ty’s expectations of women that they are murdered, as well as Iago’s evil manipulation of The Moor. Desdemona dies through no fault of her own, this making her a tragic victim at the hands of Othello, as she has not committed any sin, and she is only murdered through Iago suggesting to Othello that she had been cheating on Cassio. Desdemona is also a tragic victim as not only has she done nothing wrong, but throughout the play she is portrayed by Shakespeare as a genuinely good and pure character. Emilia is a tragic victim as ultimately she dies from knowing that Desdemona’s murder was due to the actions of her husband. Finally it was the women who were tragic victims at the hands of a society where the man is judge, jury and executioner, as well as manipulating them to satisfy their selfish needs.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Can Video Games Make Kids More Violent Essay

Can video games make kids more violent? A new study employing state-of-the-art brain-scanning technology says that the answer may be yes. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine say that brain scans of kids who played a violent video game showed an increase in emotional arousal – and a corresponding decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition and attention. Does this mean that your teenager will feel an uncontrollable urge to go on a shooting rampage after playing â€Å"Call of Duty?† Vince Mathews, the principal investigator on the study, hesitates to make that leap. But he says he does think that the study should encourage parents to look more closely at the types of games their kids are playing. â€Å"Based on our results, I think parents should be aware of the relationship between violent video-game playing and brain function.† Mathews and his colleagues chose two action games to include in their research — one violent the other not. The first game was the high-octane but non-violent racing game â€Å"Need for Speed: Underground.† The other was the ultra-violent first-person shooter â€Å"Medal of Honor: Frontline.† The team divided a group of 44 adolescents into two groups, and randomly assigned the kids to play one of the two games. Immediately after the play sessions, the children were given MRIs of their brains. The scans showed a negative effect on the brains of the teens who played â€Å"Medal of Honor† for 30 minutes. That same effect was not present in the kids who played â€Å"Need for Speed.† The only difference? Violent content. What’s not clear is whether the activity picked up by the MRIs indicates a lingering — or worse, permanent — effect on the kids’ brains. And it’s also not known what effect longer play times might have. The scope of this study was 30 minutes of play, and one brain scan per kid, although further research is in the works. OK. But what about violent TV shows? Or violent films? Has anyone ever done a brain scan of kids that have just watched a violent movie? Someone has. John P. Murray, a psychology professor at Kansas State University, conducted a very similar experiment, employing the same technology used in Mathews’ study. His findings are similar. Kids in his study experienced increased emotional arousal when watching short clips from the boxing movie â€Å"Rocky IV.† So, why is everyone picking on video games? Probably because there’s a much smaller body of research on video games. They just haven’t been around as long as TV and movies, so the potential effects on children are a bigger unknown. That’s a scary thing for a parent. Larry Ley, the director and coordinator of research for the Center for Successful Parenting, which funded Mathews’ study, says the purpose of the research was to help parents make informed decisions. â€Å"There’s enough data that clearly indicates that [game violence] is a problem,† he says. â€Å"And it’s not just a problem for kids with behavior disorders.† But not everyone is convinced that this latest research adds much to the debate – particularly the game development community. One such naysayer is Doug Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association. â€Å"We’ve seen other studies in this field that have made dramatic claims but turn out to be less persuasive when objectively analyzed.† The ESA has a whole section of its Web site dedicated to t he topic of video game violence, which would suggest that they get asked about it — a lot. And they’ve got plenty of answers at the ready for the critics who want to lay school shootings or teen aggression at the feet of the game industry. Several studies cited by the ESA point to games’ potential benefits for developing decision-making skills or bettering reaction times. Ley, however, argues such studies aren’t credible because they were produced by â€Å"hired guns† funded by the multi-billion-dollar game industry. â€Å"We’re not trying to sell [parents] anything,† he says. â€Å"We don’t have a product. The video game industry does.† Increasingly parents are more accepting of video game violence, chalking it up to being a part of growing up. â€Å"I was dead-set against violent video games,† says Kelley Windfield, a Sammamish, Wa.-based mother of two. â€Å"But my husband told me I had to start loosening up.† Laura Best, a mother of three from Clovis, Calif., says she looks for age-appropriate games for her 14 year-old son, Kyle. And although he doesn’t play a lot of games, he does tend to gravitate towards shooters like â€Å"Medal of Honor.† But she isn’t concerned that Kyle will become aggressive as a result. â€Å"That’s like saying a soccer game or a football game will make a kid more aggressive,† she says. â€Å"It’s about self-control, and you’ve got to learn it.† Ley says he believes further research, for which the Center for Successful Parenting is trying to arrange, will prove a cause-and-effect relationship between game violence and off-screen aggression. But for now, he says, the study released last week gives his organization the ammunition it needs to prove that parents  need to be more aware of how kids are using their free time. â€Å"Let’s quit using various Xboxes as babysitters instead of doing healthful activities,† says Ley, citing the growing epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. And who, really, can argue with that?

Friday, September 13, 2019

Facebook Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Facebook - Research Paper Example ing Facebook scored a grade point lower with their weekly period of study ranging between 1 and 5 hours as compared to 11 to 15 hours by the non-users of Facebook (23). This paper looks at the arguments by these researchers, analysing the implications of networking sites on learning and compares them to counterarguments by various researchers. Indeed, Facebook does not make us dumb but rather imparts important learning skills that prevent dumbness among its users. The evaluation of the effects of social media on learning which determine dumbness in an individual has been cited by Ahn (1436) as a complex undertaking. According to this researcher, the media effects paradigm provides appropriate explanation to the dynamics involved in influencing learning. This postulates that any media or technological form would have causal relationship on some outcome, though it remains elusive to conclude on a direct causal relationship existing between technology and social outcome like learning. But the media effect paradigm has helped researchers conclude that a media tool in itself would not influence learning but rather, the learning behaviours associated with the software used or the educational program (Ractham, Kaewkitipong and Firpo 173). According to Ahn (1437), it is the features of a technology and not a technology in itself that that constrains or propagates the usage of the tool. Furthermore, behavioural practices and cultural norms influence one’s usage of technology. This offers insights in studies seeking to determine the effects of social media. This social informatics perspective implies that the social platform media would not cause outcomes like learning; the cultural and communication behaviours exhibited by its users would. Therefore, it would be important to consider the user populations involved in these social communities, the features of the social media sites and behaviours that could be likely associated with the social outcomes (Rouis, Limayem and