The S'No Risk Program (Management Decision Models) 1 Assignment

The S'No Risk Program (Management Decision Models) 1 - Assignment Example The increasing interest among the customers to buy Toro provided dealers the opportunity to clear inventory and regained confidence. Also S’ no risk promotion had basic cost of sales of 2.1% of sales which is normally 10% and hence the rates were raised (Bell, 1994, pp.1-2). The fair estimate of insurance rates will depend on the following factors namely, customer confidence, demand, insurance rates of other companies, cost of sales and profit margin of the company. On the basis of information given in the case, the impact of probable insurance rate on the profitability may be analyzed as follows, Items Single Stage Power Shovel Two-Stage Power Shovel    Min Max Min Max    Price ($) Retail Price 270 440 640 1500 Units Sold 100000 100000 20000 20000 Total Revenues 27000000 44000000 12800000 30000000 Basic Cost of Sales/Premium @ 2.1% 567000 924000 268800 630000 Profit 26433000 43076000 12531200 29370000 Premium @6% 1620000 2640000 768000 1800000 Profit @ 6% 25380000 4136000 0 12032000 28200000 Premium @8% 2160000 3520000 1024000 2400000 Profit @ 8% 24840000 40480000 11776000 27600000 premium @ 10% 2700000 4400000 1280000 3000000 Profit @ 10% 24300000 39600000 11520000 27000000 From the above table it can be said that when the rates are increased profitability will decrease and vice-versa. 2. The S’No risk program by Toro is shown below From the consumer’s viewpoint, the above structure exhibits an alluring percentage of refund which is entirely dependent on the amount of snowfall in the region. The structure states that when the snowfall would be more, the consumers would have the option to buy any variant of the shovel and when the snowfall would be comparatively lesser than other years then the consumers would be entitled to a refund. However the refund option would be valid till the figure reaches 50% average snowfall. Beyond 50% snowfall the customers won’t get the money-back benefit. Therefore we can conclude that both the pla ns would be in favor of the consumer. However a situation might arise when in a particular year, a customer purchases a self-propelled two-stage machine by paying a price of $1500 and on the same year the average snowfall in the region reaches 80%, then he will not be entitled to any refund. In this case the customers might think that he has made a wrong decision by spending $1500 for the shovel when he had the option to buy the one priced at $ 640. The chart discussed previously exhibits that the consumers prefer to spend the minimum and derive the maximum benefit from a product or service. Therefore it can be concluded that the rate which is most preferred by the customers is 6%. But 6% would not be preferred by the insurance firm as it would not bring them adequate revenue. Therefore Toro must choose a middle path to satisfy both the groups and it should go for the 8% rate. 3. The common decision trap in this case is the snowfall. For Toro, the sales volume would entirely depend on the amount of snowfall. For the Insurance firm, the snowfall would decide how much premium they are going to earn and for the consumers the snowfall would guide their decision of spending money towards the shovel. For all the three groups, thus the deciding factor is snowfall which itself is an uncertain and

High School Dropouts Essay Example for Free

High School Dropouts Essay It’s been known for years that young people who do not earn a high school diploma face many more problems later in life than people who graduate. Dropouts are more likely to be unemployed, have poor health, live in poverty, be on public assistance, and be single parents. It all began in the 1960’s when students started to drop out due to the racial discriminations and gang violence. . High school drop outs have been a very serious problem in the United States. Here in this essay I will clarify how high school dropouts is a problem that should be solved. High school dropouts have been a continuous matter for many generations. Pregnancy, poor grades, truancy, low income, and bad behavior are the main causes of dropouts. Which leads for young people to more likely to unemployed, live in poverty and be depending on the help of the government. Approximately 7,000 high school students drop out every school day, which translates to one in three students. Once students make the decision to drop out, they lack the tools to compete in todays society and diminish their chances for greater success in the future. Many years of failure and frustration can also lead for a person to dropout. The loss of motivation, source of support and encouragement lead students to not believe in them selves and only find the solution to drop out. Now in days, there are many options for high school dropouts. The government offers students to enroll themselves in vocational and trade school or non traditional schools. Which allow students to finish the rest of their credits or receive there GED. Vocational schools allow for students to study the field in which they are interested in. This is an effective option as most students that drop out struggle with some classes, but excel in a class that they enjoy. Of course the best solution is for students to stay in school, but if a student is going to drop out there are options to help him or her get the education and experiences to help him or her to succeed. There is defiantly many advantages in these programs. Dropouts have the opportunity at a second chance to be successful. The only disadvantage there can possibly be only relies on the individual. The person is the only responsible one and it is up to them if they truly want to commit themselves to an education. If the person does not commit themselves they will only loose the chance and go back to the possibility of being unemployed or getting paid minimum wage for the rest of there life. It is important for young people to take school seriously in order to prevent a very unfortunate future. In my opinion I think that the best solution is to stay in school. It will prevent people from having to deal with unemployment and poverty. Staying school will allow students to achieve there goals and most of all make others feel proud of you as well. High school can defiantly open many doors only if he or she is committed to their education and motivated. It is time for people to make a difference and speak to future generations regarding there education. Preventing dropouts can certainly change the world in the future.

Myths About Embryonic Stem Cell Research :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Myths About Embryonic Stem Cell Research Myth: "Human life begins in the womb, not the Petri dish" Reality: Actually, it usually begins in the fallopian tube, but it can also begin in a Petri dish. The testimony of modern science is clear on this point: "At the moment the sperm cell of the human male meets the ovum of the female and the union results in a fertilized ovum (zygote), a new life has begun." Considine, Douglas (ed.). Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. 5th edition. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1976, p. 943. See Moore, Keith L. Essentials of Human Embryology. Toronto: B.C. Decker Inc, 1988, p.2; Dox, Ida G. et al. The Harper Collins Illustrated Medical Dictionary. New York: Harper Perennial, 1993, p. 146; Sadler, T.W. Langman's Medical Embryology. 7th edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1995, p. 3; Carlson, Bruce M. Patten's Foundations of Embryology. 6th edition. New York: McGraw_Hill, 1996, p. 3. The issue is not whether human life is present, but how society ought to treat it. Even President Clinton's bioethics advisors said: "We believe most would agree that human embryos deserve respect as a form of human life..." - National Bioethics Advisory Commission on stem cell research, September 1999 (emphasis added) "Stem cell research" refers to research using stem cells that come from embryos or other sources, such as adult tissue, placentas, or umbilical cord blood. The only way to obtain embryonic stem cells, however, is to kill the living human embryo. The embryos killed for their stems cells are about a week old and have grown to about 200 cells. Embryonic stem cells have not helped a single human patient, while adult stem cells and similar ethically acceptable alternatives have helped hundreds of thousands. Myth: "Excess embryos are going to be discarded anyway" Reality: Not necessarily. Today, parents can preserve "excess" embryos for future pregnancies as well as donate them to other couples. Under proposed NIH guidelines, parents will be asked to consider having them destroyed for federally-funded research instead. In a recent study, 59% of parents who initially planned to discard their embryos after three years later changed their minds, choosing another pregnancy or donation to infertile couples. New England Journal of Medicine, July 5, 2001. With the NIH guidelines, these embryos might have already been destroyed. Myths About Embryonic Stem Cell Research :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics Myths About Embryonic Stem Cell Research Myth: "Human life begins in the womb, not the Petri dish" Reality: Actually, it usually begins in the fallopian tube, but it can also begin in a Petri dish. The testimony of modern science is clear on this point: "At the moment the sperm cell of the human male meets the ovum of the female and the union results in a fertilized ovum (zygote), a new life has begun." Considine, Douglas (ed.). Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. 5th edition. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1976, p. 943. See Moore, Keith L. Essentials of Human Embryology. Toronto: B.C. Decker Inc, 1988, p.2; Dox, Ida G. et al. The Harper Collins Illustrated Medical Dictionary. New York: Harper Perennial, 1993, p. 146; Sadler, T.W. Langman's Medical Embryology. 7th edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1995, p. 3; Carlson, Bruce M. Patten's Foundations of Embryology. 6th edition. New York: McGraw_Hill, 1996, p. 3. The issue is not whether human life is present, but how society ought to treat it. Even President Clinton's bioethics advisors said: "We believe most would agree that human embryos deserve respect as a form of human life..." - National Bioethics Advisory Commission on stem cell research, September 1999 (emphasis added) "Stem cell research" refers to research using stem cells that come from embryos or other sources, such as adult tissue, placentas, or umbilical cord blood. The only way to obtain embryonic stem cells, however, is to kill the living human embryo. The embryos killed for their stems cells are about a week old and have grown to about 200 cells. Embryonic stem cells have not helped a single human patient, while adult stem cells and similar ethically acceptable alternatives have helped hundreds of thousands. Myth: "Excess embryos are going to be discarded anyway" Reality: Not necessarily. Today, parents can preserve "excess" embryos for future pregnancies as well as donate them to other couples. Under proposed NIH guidelines, parents will be asked to consider having them destroyed for federally-funded research instead. In a recent study, 59% of parents who initially planned to discard their embryos after three years later changed their minds, choosing another pregnancy or donation to infertile couples. New England Journal of Medicine, July 5, 2001. With the NIH guidelines, these embryos might have already been destroyed.

America in World War Two Essay -- WWII World War 2 Essays

Leading into the American involvement in World War II, American ideas were harsh. The United States turned to isolationism instead of involvement. Most Americans opposed taking a role in the war. Many even opposed any aid to help those countries who were in war. The diplomacy of isolationism quickly changed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. America suddenly was thrown into the warfront. During World War II many ways and ideas of the American culture changed once again. Now, most Americans supported the war. Technology was advanced immensely, thus creating weapons of mass destruction. Even stifle American women were now getting jobs that were once held only by men. The events leading up to and the actual American involvement in the war has changed America into what it is today. Roosevelt was elected for a third term in 1940. At his State of the Union address, he made it clear that Americans needed to shift away from isolationism. He stressed that America should help those who were in struggle to keep their rights. He expanded on several ideas, such as, equality, jobs and security. He also touched on such subjects like the social economy. Roosevelt also made sure to hit hard on the fact that it is in Americans freedoms to be from fear. With this idea, he tried to have people come to the realization that Great Britain needed out help, and that as Americans, we would only be contributing to those human rights by helping them keep their freedom. With Great Britain fighting the war alone, Americans slowly changed their minds to supporting them. Those who still opposed any intervention in the war fo... ...bing. She also talks about how there were many like her that were burned by the bomb. The entire city was burning, not only those who were hit directly by the bomb. America in the Second World War was very different. The direct isolationism that the American government first played was quickly switched to war intervention with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Gender and social roles were also affected by this war. Women and blacks were now able to work in jobs that were once reserved only for white men. The harsh environment that we forced upon our own citizens was nothing of the environments that those Japanese Americans had to live through. America in World War II was a very different kind of place. Our ideas and ways changed with a simple bombing. War is very delicate and it proved to be that way to the United States.

Mystery of Under Water Crop Circles Essay

Current Events Paper Synopsis: Under Water â€Å"Crop Circles† Thesis: Although 95% of the ocean hasn’t been explored, researcher and photographer Yoji Ookata just recently named his new find the â€Å"mystery circle†, an intricate design of an underwater crop circle created by a tiny puffer fish, a find that uncovers yet another mystery of the ocean. Summary: Yoji Ookata has been diving and documenting the ocean well over 50 years, just off the southern coast of Japan, Ookata observed what looked like a circular rippling pattern. 80 feet below sea level and 6 feet wide is a work of art Ookata never thought he would see, created by a puffer fish. The specific ridges are designed to attract female puffer fish, they lay eggs in the center so that they are shielded from ocean currents, the more ridges the more likely it will attract females. The little puffer works tirelessly to complete his design with just one fin. When Ookata discovered this circle he went out with a camera crew determined to find its creator, taken aback when this puffer fish made his appearance Ookata knew he had just unlocked another beautiful mystery hidden within the ocean. Sources: Knowles, Melissa. â€Å"Mystery Behind Deep-Sea Crop Circles Off the Coast of Japan Solved.† Yahoo.com September 19, 2012. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/mystery-behind-deep-sea-crop-circles-off-coast-165833308.html?_esi=1 Christopher. â€Å"Mysterious Underwater ‘Crop Circles’ Discovered Off the Coast of Japan† Thisiscolossal.com September 19, 2012. http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/09/mysterious-underwater-crop-circle-art-discovered-off-the-coast-of-japan/

Aspects of Social Class Mobility in lower class †Sociology Essay

Aspects of Social Class Mobility in lower class – Sociology Essay Free Online Research Papers Aspects of Social Class Mobility in lower class Sociology Essay The term â€Å"class† and â€Å"class social mobility† came into wide use in early 19th century, replacing term of rank or order as hierarchical groups in society after the industrial and political revolutions of last 18th century. Social mobility refers to a change in social position over time. This may involve a change in job or occupational, social class or status, educational level, income level, or wealth. Today, the boundaries between classes are loosened and people in various classes have been able to do what they want to enjoy, even buy luxuries. Consequently it may be difficult to distinguish people’s status in terms of the things they have, clothes they wear, a color of their skin (Scott. J Leonhardt. D, 2005). However, it is still true that our society is affected significantly through the influence of the class. Some believe that it is easy to raise their class through large scale mobility and it loose class structure rendering a culture more uniform. On the other hand, some argue that they experience difficulties of mobility to move up to upper class under inequality. According to the New York Times’ survey (2005), 66% of Americans think that rising living standards in America have generated significant changes in the class system compared to their parents’ generation. A general diminution of class differences has resulted from higher standards of living, greater social mobility, and more opportunities. Today, the ranks of the elite and upper class are opening more and many people are taking up its position based on their effort and good education. In fact, the New York Times’ survey (2005) on ‘income by education’ shows clear tendency that higher education brings much more income than lower education level. For example, Bill Clinton spent poor childhood in a small town with his stepfather who was a gambler and an alcoholic. However he was a great student in school and do his best. He won a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in England. After attending Oxford, Clinton obtained a Juris Doctor degree fro m Yale Law School and finally became a president of the U.S.A. So, most people commonly believe that good education and hard work are more important than wealthy background, which let them raise economic status and move to up to upper class (Scott. J Leonhardt. D, 2005). Some believe that they have equal opportunity as people who wealthy backgrounds because they have various opportunities to get scholarships and loan when they are eager about better education. Liebau(2005) notes that race, gender, religion, and even sexual preference, are not the stumbling blocks that they might have been just 50 years ago. People belonging to various groups believe that the American dream works. On the other hand, some people believe that it is still difficult to achieve mobility by overcoming a poor background. On Liebau’ article(2005), she reported, â€Å"Americans have limited social mobility and limited prospects because of income inequalities. Because income inequality is greater, there is a wider disparity between what rich and poor parents can invest in their children†(para5). Therefore, the lower class, which consists of about 20% of the population, are under a lack of wealth, power, and educational opportunities, compared to the higher class. Lower class people are arguing that, generally, they are poorly funded for college education by the government; less provided with Internet service, and that they suffer from low literacy and lack other employment skills, and so on. They are complaining about the rising cost of Medical insurance and education tuition which have resulted in paying more money to George W. Bush government and interrupt their economic al mobility. Also, sometimes those who attempt to rise or maintain a high position are kept back by invisible factors, such as racism, gender issues, and unequal opportunities and most of these people think it is still working significantly though all social class. Recently, inequality seems to be increasing between highly educated and poorly educated people and most American sense that they live within an extremely complicated system of social classes. People tend to think that social class is either equal or unequal with focusing on a narrow aspect of the phenomenon. Therefore, they may have various aspects and complains about these complicated social classes. Nevertheless, they still believe that the class system has changed, since extensive welfare and greater social mobility have resulted from changes in society structure. Because society cannot be a perfect well organized system, equality and inequality take place anytime anywhere. Therefore, American dream would be achieved when people are really eager for a faith of mobility with hard work and good education. [108.01 class] Why do international students come to America? They also believe American dream is working†¦. Reference: Fussell, P. (1992). A touchy subject. Class: A Guide Through The American Status System. Retrieved January 29, 2006, from pbs.org/peoplelikeus/resources/essays6.html Liebau, P. C (2005). Class in america. Carol Platt Liebau. Retrieved January 29, 2006, from http://carollienbau.blogspot.com/2005/05/class-in-america.html Scoot, J., Leonhardt, D. (2005, November 29). Does class still matter?. New Youk Times, 10-13. Social Structure of the United State. (2006, January 15). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 29, 2006, from http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Social_structure_of _the_United_States Tse, A., Werschkul, B. (2005). How class work. New York Times. Retrieved February 5,2006, from nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_01.html Research Papers on Aspects of Social Class Mobility in lower class - Sociology EssayStandardized Testing19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHip-Hop is ArtPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfResearch Process Part One

Leon Walras essays

Leon Walras essays What is the role of money in Walras' general equilibrium and what determines the demand for it? Leon Walras is considered by many as the founder of the modern theory of general economic equilibrium. Money and its valuation is an important element in his Elements of Pure Economics of 1874. Money can be defined most basically as one type of circulating capital; the other is circulating physical capital. In this short essay, both the role of money in Walras' general equilibrium and how the demand for money is determined will be treated. Walras asserted that circulating physical capital yields utility according to its service of availability, that is, to the degree that it is readily available. Money likewise provides a service of availability as the commodity that physical capital is destined to purchase, and it yields the same amount of utility as physical capital. The service of availability that money provides and consequently its utility is, in my opinion, the essence of Walras' theory of money. Although he assigned other roles to the use of money as a medium of exchange and as an element of production for entrepreneurs, these roles are encompassed by service of availability. By yielding services of availability, money does improve utility and therefore must be placed in the consumer's utility function. Walras treated money as analogous to capital. Capital, he recognized, is not a regular commodity. It is not desired for itself, but is rather a facilitator of 'intertemporal' production and thus allocation. It is demanded insofar as it provides this service. [Capital goods] are demanded because of the land-services, labour and capital-services they render, or better, because of the rent, wages and interest which these services yield (267). Similarly, money is not desired for itself. It rather provides a stream of services in the form of overcoming transaction costs or permitting the temporal break-up of purchases and sale...

King’s Western Fantasy Series “Comes of Age”

King’s Western Fantasy Series â€Å"Comes of Age† King’s Western Fantasy Series â€Å"Comes of Age† â€Å"I do not aim with my hand. He who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I do not shoot with my hand. I shoot with my mind. I do not kill with my gun. I kill with my heart.† So says Roland Deschain, the final gunslinger who has been involved in an eternal battle with the Man in Black, Walter O’Dim. The goal? to keep the Man in Black from toppling the Dark Tower, an edifice that holds the universe together. In just a few days, The Dark Tower: Gunslinger will open. It is a part of Stephen King’s western fantasy book series, that has never achieved the fame of his other famous books-turned-movies. Not Without Controversy The film has not come to launch without controversy, specifically over the selection of Idris Elba in the role of the Gunslinger, pitted against Matthew McConoughey as the Man in Black. Much of the controversy swirls around the fact that Elba is black, and those aficionados of the book series insist that the Gunslinger was always portrayed as white. While many angry fans insist that they are not racist, their comments sometimes come off as such. But in general, the anger does stem from the insistence of readers/fans that Elba was always portrayed as white. On Stephen King’s twitter account, the battles began to rage in 2015, to wit: And in a Wikia.com forum on the casting, one angry fan wrote the following: A FANDOM user 64.139.97.24 I can't believe they're casting Idris as Roland Deschaine in the new Dark Tower movie. I like the guy just fine, but he's NOT ROLAND!!! You can't just CHANGE the main character's race, especially when it will directly conflict with the ENTIRE storyline! WTF are these morons thinking? And I'm definitely NOT racist, so don't even go there. And I can't freaking believe Stephen King doesn't have the balls to stand up and say, "No F-ing Way!!. Roland was NOT BLACK!!!" Making Roland black changes the entire backstory of Roland, and for those of us who have perseveered through the years and invested more than just money into these stories, this change ruins it completely. Where I was once very excited to see the Dark Tower saga FINALLY made into a movie, now I can't imagine even watching it. Ever†¦ King’s Reaction It was pretty swift: The fact that King did not see the casting as an issue did serve to calm some of their anguish. And Producer Akiva Goldsman shared his thoughts/rationale for the casting. A Long Time Coming Most do not know that this movie has been â€Å"in the works† since 2007, and that at different times, directors J.J. Abrams and Ron Howard had some involvement. At one time, it was envisioned as a trilogy with an ensuing TV series, and during the planning phases, it was passed among Universal, Warner Bros. and finally to Sony Pictures. Filming began in South Africa in the spring of 2016, with an intended release date of January, 2017. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Box Office Predictions Obviously, the weekend of August 4-6 stats will tell us of the enthusiasm for this movie. Stephen King always has a big draw, but this older novel series (1980’s) is not as well known. Still there is a large demographic that will love the sci-fi aspect and the combination of the â€Å"wild west† with sci-fi. And there is certainly a huge contingent of King fans who will want to take a chance on the film. The controversy over the Idris Elba casting has indeed died down, despite some die-hard fans who continue to object. What will really matter, as King himself says, is how Elba carries the role. For those expecting a typical Stephen King plot, there may be some disappointment. The plots, themes, settings, etc. are not anything like King’s later novels and, in some respects, are more akin to Star Wars without the environment of space. Many, in fact, liken this series more to a Lord of the Rings genre, and those who love Tolkien may indeed love this film as well. The overriding theme is, of course, good vs. evil. As for the Controversy Over Elba It is important to look at the role history of Elba to understand why he was a logical pick for the role of the Gunslinger in The Dark Tower. These roles include major parts in two Thor films, American Gangster, Pacific Rim, Prometheus, Mandela, and The Losers. His roles have been amazingly varied and in each of them, he has demonstrated exceptional versatility. There is no reason to believe that his performance in The Dark Tower will be any different.

Finance Presentation for Apple Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Finance Presentation for Apple - Essay Example On top of this, they also sell a wide variety of software, services, peripherals and other networking solutions. A. History - Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and is considered one of the pioneers in the technology industry. They are now based in Cupertino, California (Kimmel 1998) and since their inception in the 70's, have become one of the most well known brands in the world not only in terms of hardware power but also as an entertainment media, a niche market they have practically dominated for many years. B. Products - While the original product line of Apple were the Mac hardware and software, they have, in the course of their business, diversified and morphed into a company that creates gadgets that combine function, style and entertainment into one amazing and compact tool. 2. Business Strategy - In general, the company is dedicated to provide up to date computing tools and portable entertainment media for a spectrum of users like students, educators, professionals and many others. Apple is anchored on five core principles that have proven to be vital to the company's success in attaining market leadership and profitability. A. A. Digital Lifestyle (Apple Inc., 2007, p.1) - Unlike other companies in the technology industry, Apple has positioned itself as a provider of total digital experience. They have been a trailblazer in integrating various media like music players, mobile communication, video players, cameras and game consoles into one compact but powerful contraption. This stratagem has proven to be very effective in realizing Apple's vision to be the leading technology provider in the world. B. Expanded Distribution (Apple Inc., 2007, p.2) - Another key element in the business of Apple Inc. is their belief in getting closer to their target market. While it is possible to settle for other distribution channels, the company opted to expand their own retail outlet network strategically around the globe. This way, they will be assured that the quality of sales personnel conveying the features and benefits of their products and services will conform to their standard and provide top level customer care and after sales service. This has proven to be effective and efficient for the company as it has enabled them not only to increase their loyal customer base but to ensure repeat sales. C. Education (Apple Inc., 2007, p.2) - While Apple caters to most corporate requirements, they have since been a strategic partner of the academe. As a matter of fact, the company has committed itself in alleviating the teaching and learning process for educators and students respectively by delivering tools and devices that support this process. Apple is a firm believer that technology stimulated education will result to a higher level of student achievement and that technology can play an important role in the learning process as it allows educators and students a wider access to information that used to be limited to the privileged ones. Some of these tools and services aimed at supporting this sector are the Mac computers and Apple TV to name a few. D. Creative Professionals (Apple Inc., 2007

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Marketing - Assignment Example This brand is promoted by a concept in marketing called branding. Branding affects the company’s relations with the customers and suppliers because it also deals with the experiences of the customers of the business you engaged into competitors (www.businesslink.gov.uk, Branding: the Basics). THE EVALUATION AND RANKING We have learned in class that it is very important to assess and evaluate the brands to make sure that the company has been effective and successful in promoting their products and services and highlighting the strengths of these products and services. A methodology is used by Interbrand to evaluate brands on the basis of how much they are likely to earn in the future considering the anticipated income. This method uses forecasting of the company’s future in market leadership, stability and the ability of the company and the brand to reach other countries. There are four steps in ranking a brand. The first step is to figure out what percentage of a compan y’s revenues can be acclaimed to brand. The next step is to project a certain number of years of earnings and sales for the brand. The third step is to subtract the expenses or costs such as taxes and cost for operation in the projected earnings to get the net earnings. The last step is to get other earnings to make sure that the earnings credited to the brand will be determined.

Marketing Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing - Research Paper Example The marketing decides about what to produce and where to position and sell the product – which market segment to cater or how to differentiate the product from competition. Correct identification of all these tasks in proper direction is of paramount importance that eventually makes the organization thrive with ever increasing sales. It will be most appropriate to explore how the marketing function can turn the tides in company’s favor so that the company is put on high trajectory of growth with thumping profits. Smith (2011) argues that some airlines increase their costs by 25 percent just to get additional 5 percent of the market. It just does not make sense if profitability is one of the goals. Southwest airlines continued with a strategy of low pricing for over 4 decades albeit with a focus on target market and that concept always stayed with the company. In a short distance travel, Southwest Airlines identified the customer needs as flexible and efficient travel, l esser time in boarding, timely service and of course, the affordable price. Southwest Airlines met with these needs of its customers by removing meals, no preselecting of seat, no first class travel, no booking through agent. In short, it was a selection between satisfying every customer at high cost or satisfying a vast majority at low cost and the Southwest Airlines smartly decided to choose the latter. Southwest continues with this philosophy even today. It operates with efficiency and without any extra frills when compared with competitors. At low cost, it still makes profit and continues to grow. The Starbucks Coffee Company is one of the fastest growing organization and worth mentioning for its prudent marketing strategies; especially, small businesses can learn a lot from the company. Starting with just one store about 30 years ago, currently the company owns thousands of outlets in the US and abroad with the total revenue exceeding $4 billion. Starbucks does not put ad in ne wspapers or a billboard or a poster. They focus on product quality providing delicious taste and aroma. Customer satisfaction has been their main guiding principle and in keeping with that the company has added more flavors in their serving, high speed wire-less internet capability in their outlets and pleasant environment. Their product and services speak for themselves through word-of-mouth publicity discarding any need for a high-level ad campaign. Apple Inc. is a classic case of innovation and product development that firmly establishes the company as most sought after in the market place so far its products are concerned. Apple came out with iPod, iTunes, iPhone and then the App Store. The iPod found the gap in MP3 player market and promptly filled the gap to grab over 70 percent market share; that is unprecedented in the history. In the field of tablet computer, iPad’s market share is over 50 percent – much ahead of its nearest rival Samsung who is languishing at meager 18 percent market share. In smart phone market, iPhone’s market share has risen by 10 percentage points to touch

Buddhism and the Nara Aesthetic Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Buddhism and the Nara Aesthetic Values - Essay Example One of the most significant of these foreign exports that have influenced the era’s aesthetic values is the Buddhist philosophy. The pre-Nara indigenous religions were markedly austere. But the imperial government was interested in staging elegant rituals for the protection and prosperity of the state and so this predilection was used by the Buddhists as the practical route to imperial patronage. (Reynolds & Tracy 1990, p. 134) Throughout the Nara period, Buddhism became the official state religion or philosophy and encroached every element of the Japanese society that at its height, Nara came to be known as the â€Å"Golden Age of Buddhism† in Japan as well. Nara itself has had six different sects of Buddhism and that their priests participated in a number of different fields of the Japanese society, from government administration to social work. The upshot was that Buddhism shaped many works of excellent craftsmanship and contributed and indispensable aesthetic value to the culture of the period. Buddhism, which originated in India in the sixth century B.C., was transmitted to China in at the time of the initial years of the European Christian era. Buddhism’s development was largely influenced by Taoism before its spread to Japan. The main feature of Buddhist thinking is expressed in what it calls the three characteristics of existence. Nancy Hume (1995) elaborates: Most forms of Buddhism view existence being characterized by dukkha, frustration or unsatisfactoriness, impermanence, and anatman, which refers to the idea that nothing possesses an intrinsic â€Å"selfless†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Buddhist thought is particularly opposed to the view that there are independently existing things, claiming that everything is â€Å"itself† only in relation to a set of conditions that make it what it is.  Ã‚  

Effects of graduating from college in a bad economy Essay

Effects of graduating from college in a bad economy - Essay Example dual works in the long run as compared to the number of working hours and probability of gaining employment during good economic conditions in the long run (Liu 2). The immediate to short term effects are that fresh graduates fail to obtain positions that are highly desired by them if they graduate in a recession and shifting between jobs is even quite difficult (Oreopoulos 23). They even fail to bargain for higher paying jobs as they fail to gain employment in high paying positions. For example: Kahn figured out that those who graduate during recessionary period earn around 3 to 5 percent less over a period of 20 years (Kahn 310). Those individuals who gain graduation during recessionary sessions do not face difference in gaining job opportunities and working hours in the long run as compared to their peers who graduate during booming conditions. In the short run they experience failure to find high paying jobs, desirable positions, failure to switch jobs and demand low wage rates. Oreopoulos, Philip, Andrew Heisz, and Till . Wachter. The Short and Long-Term Career Effects of Graduating in a Recession: Hysteresis and Heterogeneity in the Market for College Graduates. Cambridge, Ma: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2005. Internet resource. SABLIK, TIM. "Are New Graduates Left Behind in a Recession?." Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

Buddhism and the Nara Aesthetic Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Buddhism and the Nara Aesthetic Values - Essay Example One of the most significant of these foreign exports that have influenced the era’s aesthetic values is the Buddhist philosophy. The pre-Nara indigenous religions were markedly austere. But the imperial government was interested in staging elegant rituals for the protection and prosperity of the state and so this predilection was used by the Buddhists as the practical route to imperial patronage. (Reynolds & Tracy 1990, p. 134) Throughout the Nara period, Buddhism became the official state religion or philosophy and encroached every element of the Japanese society that at its height, Nara came to be known as the â€Å"Golden Age of Buddhism† in Japan as well. Nara itself has had six different sects of Buddhism and that their priests participated in a number of different fields of the Japanese society, from government administration to social work. The upshot was that Buddhism shaped many works of excellent craftsmanship and contributed and indispensable aesthetic value to the culture of the period. Buddhism, which originated in India in the sixth century B.C., was transmitted to China in at the time of the initial years of the European Christian era. Buddhism’s development was largely influenced by Taoism before its spread to Japan. The main feature of Buddhist thinking is expressed in what it calls the three characteristics of existence. Nancy Hume (1995) elaborates: Most forms of Buddhism view existence being characterized by dukkha, frustration or unsatisfactoriness, impermanence, and anatman, which refers to the idea that nothing possesses an intrinsic â€Å"selfless†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Buddhist thought is particularly opposed to the view that there are independently existing things, claiming that everything is â€Å"itself† only in relation to a set of conditions that make it what it is.  Ã‚  

Financial Analysis of Tesla Motors Research Paper

Financial Analysis of Tesla Motors - Research Paper Example Tesla Motors, Inc is an automobile company, which was established in the year 2003. The company headquarters is located at Palo Alto, California, in the United States. The company specializes in the design, manufacture, and sale of electric cars and electric vehicle power train components. The Tesla Motors, Inc is presently listed in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations. Apart from private investors the Toyota Group, which has a 10% stake in the company and the Daimler Ag, which has a 4.7% stake in the company, also own the company.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the most revered products produced by the company is the Tesla Roadster, which was the first fully electric sports car that it produced, followed by the Model S, which is a fully electric luxury sedan. Additionally, the company is also revered for the production of electric power train components such as the lithium-ion battery packs that are normally sold to other automakers such as the Toyota Motor Company and the Daimler Motor Company, which is the manufacturer of the Mercedes Benz brands.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is noted that despite being in operation since the year 2003, the company was only able to post its first profits, which was $11.2 million US dollars in the first quarter of 2013. According to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, its plan for the future is to become an independent automaker. with the capability

Romeo and Juliet Courage Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Courage Essay Romeo and Juliet, a story of two families. A story about two lovers that are willing to die for each other. A story where courage plays a huge and important role in. Life itself also involves a lot of courage Just to get by day to day. This essay will explain how courage plays an important role in literature and life. One example of how courage plays a role in literature is in shakespheres Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet both express their love for each other in a huge way. This shows a ton of courage because they would likely be killed or hated because they are with the other family. Romeo and Juliet are willing to die for each other with shows so much courage because they are very likely to be banished or killed for their actions. Another example of how courage plays an important role in literature is how much courage the Nurse in the play Romeo and Juliet shows. The nurse knows about Romeos love for Juliet and Juliets love for Romeo. Yet the Nurse keeps it a secret from the Capulet family even though she could be fired and ruin Romeos change to be with Juliet if the Capulet family found out. The Nurse shows courage by doing this and it plays an important role in the play and in literature. An example of how courage plays an important role in life is when you make a new friend. Before you meet them you have no idea who they are or what kind of person they are. But instead of leaving them alone and never getting a chance to make a new friend you talk to them. After talking to them you realize they are a good person. This is important because without courage you would never had the guts to go out and meet a new friend of learn about other people. In this essay I have showed you Courage, the ability to do something that frightens one, is important in life and also very important is literature.

Business based analysis of Nestle

Business based analysis of Nestle Nestle, the largest FMSG Company is working all over the world with more than 500 factories in 86 countries making up of most of the continents. Henri Nestle set up Nestle in Switzerland customers are provided with more than 500 products by Nestle. Nestle was entitled by Henri Nestle. The logo of the company consists of his family coat of arms, the nest with a mother bird protecting her young. The symbol of the company is associated with its care and attitude to lifelong nutrition. The Nestle nest bears the meaning of nourishment, security and sense of family that are important to life. Hr activities at Nestle Recruitment: The current report is that innumerable employees are engaged in Nestle,. Nestle hires most of the employees through a method. An opportunity of employment comes when some employees want to resign or there is an urgent need. But in case of these three situations the head of the department must have to obtain consent of the managing Director (MD). The Divisional Head fills up a Recruitment and Budgeted Form if the request is approved. Performance Appraisal: The corresponding manager or supervisor evaluate or Judge the Job performance of an employee by a method like performance appraisal, employee appraisal, and performance review or development discussion. The employees are given importance at their work place as the Nestle Company is absolutely dependent on the quality of its employees performance. The company pays incentives to its employees to encourage them to give better performance. Compensation Benefit: Compensation is a main thing of Nestle Real Rewards package, which forces the top performers to give their best. The philosophy of Nestle is to afford and keep up disciplined compensation programs that keep up a long term relationship with employees at the time of judging their performance. Nestle promise to offer compensation packages including base pay, short and long term incentives and benefits,. Nowadays they are competitive in market. P2. Objective of the Organization HRM The protection of its employees is Nestle first priority because employees are the asset of this company. To maintain the global corporate standard Nestle focuses on the need for safe working environments. Nestle has resolved to provide a safe working environment for all their employees, contractors and visitors and they are trying to implement Health and safety practices and programs at all working places objectives of the organization are We provide a safe work place to owe employees. We lessen risks of our employees and contractors and visitors and take care of their injury or illness. We meet all requirements like health, safety, legislative etc. We establish and monitor new purposes to decrease work related injury or illness. We develop an efficient injury management system which helps the affected employees return to work. We supply information, provide training to employees and contractors to make them aware of their roles and responsibilities in decreasing the risk of work place injury or illness. We are encouraged a safety and Health management from our suppliers and contractors. We discuss on Health and safety matters with employees and other stakeholders. Method of HRM at Nestle: The Nestle group in the area of interpersonal relations and its management style and the corporation values of those areas are stated by the Nestle. Their respect demands specific attitude that is worthy to be highlighted in the present policy. For taking any advice and decision Nestle depends on its employees. So Nestle has a Democratic Leadership Style. If the company is able to attract employees and develop its growth continually, they will easily achieve a long term success. This is a primary duty of all managers. The principle of the Nestle policy is to hire staff with personal attitude and professional skills because it will make them able to consolidate a long term relationship with the company. Hence the potential for professional advancement is an important standard for recruitment. So a clear communication of these principles and values are necessary for beginning the recruitment process. In Nestle people are dealt with respect and faith. There is not intolerance, harassment or discrimination in the management and this principle is applied and maintained at every stage and situation. Nestle management does not work in complexity and they are honest in behaving with customers and employees for excellent communication. The Nestle is improving continuously for their sincerity in work, dialogue and transparency. No effective delegation and improvement of knowledge are possible if all information is not conveyed to those who need to do their work properly. To communicate means not only to inform but to listen and to engage also in dialogue and all employees are given right to communicate with their superiors or co-workers. If there is any difference of opinion or any dispute between employee and the superiors the possibility must be offered for a fair hearing. The HR staff of Nestle will help to remove disharmony impartially and give them opportunity to express their opinion freely. P3. HRM Models The source approach to HRM gives importance on an employee to be resourceful who increases performance by using motivation, communication, leadership to increase commitment and loyalty. The soft model considers that if satisfaction is increased it will be the only way to go about in the management against various estimated methods possibly used in the hard model. Best Practices approach of HRM: The approach, inspired partly by Jeffrey Pfeffer (1998) is based on the idea of a set of best, universal HRM practices as per their situation that adopting them lead to superior organizational performances. Some of the best practices Pfeffer (1998) are employment security, selective hiring, self manager teams, High compensation contingent performances training to afford a skilled and motivated workforce, reduction of status differentials and sharing information. P4. THE OBJECTIVE OF HR/MANPOWER PLANNING: Manpower planning is done to balance and develop the organizations ability to meet its goal by developing Strategies that will contribute its optimum contribution of human resource. The line manager and staff manager take the responsibility of Manpower planning. The line management gives the estimate of manpower requirements and staff manager works on selection and recruitment related to line manager to whom man power is vital. Organizations HR Planning and development: What the employee requires can be understood by an effective mechanism called HR planning. HR planning can manage the changes in the organization like growing decrease in requirements of employees. HR planning implements new recruitment and hold skilled and efficient staff by understanding easily the needs of future Workforce Planning Workforce planning is a process which is designed to foretell what, when how much can bring about in talent management. It is an integrated and forward looking process. It provides action plans to the managers to work in a prescribed way. This process helps the managers to avoid or decrease problems of people to take advantage of talent opportunities and to develop the talent pipeline. It builds a competitive advantage over other firms. Goals of Workforce Planning: Workforce planning cuts down labor costs quickly and does not impact on productivity negatively. It makes the leaders and managers prepared for future openings. It fills up sudden vacancy immediately and keeps up a flexible contingent workforce. It moves talent proactively to increase the return on talent. It has target retention activities on talent. It has target retention activities on key talent. Man Power Planning: According to Steiner, manpower planning is a strategy for the acquisition, utilization, improvement and preservation of an enterprises human resources. It refers to setting up job specifications or the quantitative requirements of jobs determining the number of personnel required and improving sources of manpower. The diagnostic approach: Source: www.wikipedia.org This approach helps to understand why manpower problems cause. It is possible by using the combination of qualitative planning techniques and qualitative techniques. Manpower planning is mixed into the total process of management of the employment relationship by identifying the more complex factors. Organizational structure, job design and work practices can be damaged by the effect of the diagnostic approach. Links between strategy, structure and people can be made by Human Resource planning HRP Forms and develops the rationalized and diagnostic approaches to manpower planning. Training and development of Nestle: It must be admitted that the company culture has learning. All employees try to upgrade their skills and knowledge continuously. So employees are willing to learn to be recruited by Nestle. Training and development is done on-the-job. Every manager has a duty to guide and train employees for their progress. Formal training programs are arranged with purpose of improving pertinent skills and competencies. Besides, these programs perform individual development. As a result one cannot get reward by attending programs. Manager of Nestle measures progress which can be achieved by training programs. The purpose behind this is to motivate employees by providing attractive but realistic career that helps them develop their skills over a long-term period within the area of economic reality and a changing environment. The act of mentor is done by each manager for his employees. Formal assessment of Nestle is done once a year on a standard basis. It gives feedback on past performance and future potential. Other related aspects concerning a staff members performance are provided feedback. P5. Objective Evaluation of the Organization Human resource function has significance with the onset of global competition. Human resource managers and corporate planning managers think more strategically and step by step. How intense competition impacts upon employment stability can be addressed by them. Implementing cost savings policies regarding employment and thinking with executives on the process of supporting corporate activities are not the same things. To stop downside of global competition the human resource managers should be more active and recruit and keep up efficient workforce. Planning should be done from the very beginning to stop bloating of organization. Human resource managers should identify human resource strategies like flexible dynamic employees are attracted, selected and then trained and motivated to be more productive than the competition. Human resource managers are not administrators but strategic partners. None but they can act will to help top management particularly in a climate of economic uncertainty. Inspire of being Human Company Nestle has most of the above mentioned qualities seen in the managers of present time. The role of HR at Nestle is changing for certain factors. The HR managers at Nestle focus on following qualities along with professional skills and practical experience. The HR managers should develop and motivate employees by addressing the issues that help others to improve in their work and their ability. The managers should be curious and broadminded and interested in other culture and lifestyles including continuous learning and sharing knowledge and ideas freely with others. P6. Performance Management: The function of performance management is to ensure the fulfillment of goals in an effective and efficient manner. Moreover, it watches performance of organization and process of production, employees etc. Performance Management at Nestle: Line managers and HR assess formally once in a year and get feedback. Subordinate managers can interrogate for an unfair evaluation. The HR department has enlisted specific key performance indicators. Remuneration structure and promotion criteria consider individual performance. HR staff must help the management in elaborating training programs. Sufficient training programs are developed at the level of every working company that capitalizes on the availability of local regional or global resources of the group. Some training programs improve the language skills of the employees. These programs also try to consolidate corporate cohesion as well as to promote networking throughout the group. They develop and share best practices of the different management disciplines practiced in the group. E-learning programs are alternative to formal training programs. Competency profile mapping: Competencies are accumulated by totalizing success factors important for obtaining good results in a particular job or in a particular company at nestle. Success factors are made up of knowledge, skills and attributes that are stated in case of particular behaviors and are exhibited by efficient performers in those works. Attributes include personal characteristics, features, motives, values or ways of thinking affecting an individuals behavior. Competencies in organization can be divided into two categories- personal functioning competencies that include broad success factors untied to a specific work function or industry. These competencies often notice leadership or emotional intelligence behavior. Functional/Technical competencies involve specific success factors within a given work function at nestle. P7. Critical Analysis of HR PERFORMANCE The performance of an organization must be analyzed for the development. This analysis makes revaluation of existing strategy possible and easy to understand the faults so that organization can rectify them at once. Recruitment, training and development of employees caliber have been done with high standards. HR Management provides best working conditions with suitable growth opportunities. Employees must maintain rules and regulation of the country. HR Management keeps the record of the best performing employees and gives them opportunities for growth. This analysis proves the best performance standard of HR dept. in the present market. It is clear that Nestle emphasizes on personal achievement and the pay structure HR has planned for its employees and the company also mixes practices like Job Enrichment and Job enlargement, to motivate employees and to break the monotony of their Job tasks. An example of Job enlargement is the correspondent who acts both in sales and brand manageme nt department. Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of Needs: In the year 1950 people accepted the theories of motivation by Maslow. These theories state the process of satisfying peoples requirements in the workplace. The theory explains that dissatisfaction can be created by unsatisfied needs. The hierarchy generally appears to be a pyramid with each level consisting of a certain class of needs. According to Maslow bottom needs of the pyramid are basic needs which are concerned with existence their needs must be met before a persons moving to the next level. Physiological needs: Food, shelter and clothing are the three elementary things essential for man to live on this earth. Only the workplace can satisfy these needs. Safety needs: These needs are concerned with physical survival. Some security needs are high standards of health and safety in the workplace. Job security absence of bullying sufficient rest period pension and sick schemes these needs are fulfilled at Sainsburys. Love and belonging: The work together in a group means to give and receive affection and friendship. The working part of a team, social Facilities and working friendship can satisfy the needs in the workplace. The employees at Sainsburys work together and feel part of a team. Self Esteem: In the workplace all the members should respect each other and feel valued. They should have confidence and self respect. Businesses can offer rewards for achievement or promotion. Self Actualization: All people are offered training challenges and opportunities to develop each individual needs. They should achieve their full potential. Performance related pay (PRP) Performance related pay in an extra payment system added to the base pay. The employees get this payment according to the standard of their performance. Besides, this payment is given to a company after considering how it is performing in financial context. Some forms of PRP are strategic pay, flexible pay, and variable pay. Strategic pay is a pay design process starting with business strategy and organizational design. It disputes against an assumption that certain best practices must be mixed with a companys approach to pay. (Lawler 1995) Flexible pay is that kind of payment system where the pay of the employee is tied to the market situation. In this system the pay of an employee depends on customer satisfaction, customer retention and repeat revenue. The employees will be paid according to their skills and experience rather than job based. This will deploy employees to any projects where their particular skill is required. Variable pay is offered to the employees with financial incentives after they whom their favorable behavior to the business strategy of a company. Heery (1996) recommended importantly that the proportion of pay which is contingent on performance should go up as a proportion of total remuneration. Suggestion for Nestle Communication strategy: There must be an effective communication strategy in Nestle and the employees should be educated and trained about the changes occurring in the organization. Through open to use meetings and bulletins can help to do this. Effective Training and Development: Training and development play a huge role in the practices followed by Nestle. It is an inseparable part of the corporate strategies. In house, trainers conduct most of the training programs. External trainers are required for some specialized training programs., All the employee get the scope of going abroad for training and having an idea of global markets. Entrepreneurship strategy: Every employee should be an entrepreneur who can think ideas independently and realize them by using existing resources and support of the organization to build new kind of product and service. Recruit purposefully: The reason of the expected global shortage of workers is that the baby boomers are choosing to act for short time as their retirement savings have been decreased. If the market comes back fully there can be a mass exodus as the boomers leave the workforce. Company making severe staffing cuts and do not keep their HR people connected to potential hires will be caught severely short staffed. Now savvy companies can hire talented people who have been downsized by other organizations. High HR operation cost should be reduced. The decision making process could be enhanced by leverage of real time information for HR decisions.

Rudyard Kiplings Captains Courageous Essay -- Rudyard Kipling Captain

Rudyard Kipling's Captains Courageous Captains Courageous, by Rudyard Kipling, was referred to as a children’s nautical adventure story, but it has entertained audiences for generations. The main character in the story was Harvey Cheyne. Harvey is the son of a millionaire and a snobbish little brat. He acts pretty big around the crew of the ship he was aboard. The next important character is Manuel. Manuel is a Portuguese boy about Harvey’s age, which by the way is in his pre to mid teens. Manuel’s dialogue helps add to a bit of comic relief. The next character is Dan. Dan is around Harvey’s age as well. Dan is the son of Disko Troop, the Captain of the We’re Here. Speaking of Disko Troop, he is an honorable man who runs his ship well. He is very set in his ways. Throughout the story there were other characters that are referred to such as the cook, and some others. At one time, I felt that Harvey would try to abandon ship, but instead he did not, and did something almost completely opposite. Throughout the story, the major action and story takes place aboard the We’re Here. The setting sets the tone for a true nautical story. The relationship between Dan and his father is textbook. Disko Troop is pretty set in his ways and all that, while Dan follows instructions, but still leaves room to think and dream. The theme seems to relate to our class, in that I feel that the overall theme was change and maturing. It seems that if there were a...

great gatsby :: essays research papers

â€Å"Now we have an American masterpiece in its final form; the original crystal has shaped itself into the true diamond.† (James Dickey)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is deemed to be a true classic in all terms. The Novel is a timeless masterpiece that any era throughout history can relate to. â€Å"Though written in the 1920’s The Great Gatsby stands as ... one of the masterpieces of the twentieth century American literature .â€Å" The book has â€Å"transcended its own age and turned into a timeless classic.† The novel may have been written to justify society at that time, however the entire storyline can be related to anyone that reads it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Faulkner is an author who wrote a famous Nobel Prize acceptance speech. â€Å"He writes not of love but lust, of defeats in which nobody loses anything of value, of victories without hope and worst of all, without pity or compassion.† Here Faulkner speaks of issues that also pertain to that of The Great Gatsby. Gatsby desired Daisy throughout the entire story. Everything he did and thought had been decided upon by his undying lust. When Daisy married Tom, Gatsby lost his chance with her. Then Gatsby won a glance at happiness with Daisy when she fell in love with him. There was no hope though, his poor youth kept him from being an aristocrat. Daisy only wanted to be with an aristocrat. Finally when Faulkner said â€Å"without pity or compassion† this relates to The Great Gatsby in how Tom and Daisy packed up and moved far away without even showing their faces at Gatsby’s funeral.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Plot of the novel, is based on the fact that the newly rich, (those who were not born into money, but have acquired it over time), will never have the power of those who were born in to family wealth. The woman that Gatsby, the main character, is in love with, is married to Tom, a man of higher power than Gatsby.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Living in East Egg, the couple looked down on those in West Egg. West Egg was â€Å"The less fashionable of the two,†(pg. 9) the area where those who had just acquired their new money lived.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Daisy, Gatsby’s love interest, deserted him after their past relationship and married Tom while Gatsby was at war. Gatsby’s newly obtained money was still not good enough for Daisy. This type of scenario is still typical today in society. Much of the world today is based on materialism and the worth of one’s fortune is more valuable than their own happiness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the most part the characters, their problems they face, and how they

Hinduism and Drug Abuse Essay

â€Å"Hinduism’ has many religious and cultural traditions which stem from the Vedas, the ancient Sanskrit writings of India. The tradition, therefore, has no clear beginning, and has no single founder or single belief, but there are a number of beliefs and practices which are widely accepted. Practically all Hindus believe in the idea of reincarnation, in which the eternal soul (ATMAN) moves through different species, from one body to another according to ‘the law of Kama’ ,the goodness or badness of their deeds in this life. The belief that every soul is trapped in a cycle of birth and then death and then rebirth is known as Samsara. The quality of a life that the soul is born into depends on the previous life. The aim of human life, for most Hindus, is to escape from the cycle of birth and death (Moksha), through union with the Supreme BRAHMAN who is present in everything. Behind Hindu practice is So Hinduism is about the sort of life a person should lead in order to be born into a better life next time and eventually become free from rebirth altogether. Every Hindu wants to escape from this cycle so Hindus aim to live in a way that will cause each of their lives to be better than the life before. Living or acting in the right way is known as dharma. Every Hindu has a purusharthas, or life goal, and leading a pure life through purity of body and mind is very important so that they are able to carry out their religious duties. To reach their individual goal they must create good Karma through control over gratification of the senses; pleasure; sensual, sexual, and mental enjoyment. The Laws of Manu are guidelines for a pure life and describe the perfect man as: ‘He who has perfect 3 fold control: that is control over speech, thought and actions.’ So a perfect man should only say pure things, think pure thoughts and act in a controlled, alert way. Anything which takes man from this control is harmful and wrong, which is known as AHISMA. Hindus follow this principle of non-violence, non-harming and therefore use of drugs and alcohol can harm the body and so go against the principle of AHISMA. Also Hindus rely so much on Karmic energy for their ultimate goal that AHISMA and bad actions taint this karmic energy and will affect the rebirth and drugs can therefore be viewed as an obstacle to the ultimate goal of a Hindu’s life. As all living things are part of a life cycle.and as BRAHMAN is in all living things, they deserve respect. Life has value, is sacred and to exploit creation by harming the body with drugs and alcohol Hindus practice meditation to bring the mind under control and then control the body through the mind eg the Indian custom of walking on a bed of nails without pain. Drugs, especially Hallucinogenic drugs, do the opposite to meditation as the mind is not under strict control. So drug and alcohol abuse is not generally allowed because a man is not in control leading to bad KARMA and bad REBIRTH. HINDU LAW states that Brahmin priests are not allowed to drink alcohol as alcohol affects nervous system making you do things you normally wouldn’t d, and speech becomes slurred which goes against. In the same way LSD affects the way we think and act, causes Hallucinations and makes us do things out of the ordinary ‘For liquor is the defiling dirt excreted from rice, therefore a priest, a ruler or commoner should not drink liquor.’ (11:94) Since Brahmin priests are not allowed alcohol, most Hindus follow their example and do not have alcohol. Modern medicine uses drugs to fight disease and suffering. Used properly, drugs like aspirin, penicillin bring benefits whilst others can cause all sorts of harm. They can increase suffering and affect individuals and society. Drugs such as opium can relieve pain but have been exploited by western demand in the form of heroin, which is addictive and causes many problems. Experimentation for fun can be extremely dangerous and lead to self-degradation, crime and early death. These dangerous drugs are known as speed and grass also called pot, dope or hash, smack and acid. Hindu society in general does not tolerate these drugs. However, in saying this, modern medicine is not rejected because it does benefit the body, which is the guiding line for a Hindu, for a healthy body is needed to perform all religious duties and therefore medicines which restore the body’s natural balance are acceptable. Hinduism is perhaps the only religious tradition to have had some experience of drugs at an early stage in its history. Hallucinogenic vegetation such as the soma plant, native to India, was used by certain groups to gain ‘religious experience’. As a result, there are certain unclear lines within the Hindu tradition where the use of non-medical drugs are concerned, especially amongst different denominations of Hindus Most of the commonly used drugs in India are derived from the Hemp or cannabis plant. They include Hashish, Bhang, ganja, and charus. Many SADUS still use them to bring on trances or visions. Although Hindus in Britain such as Gujurati traders and Krishna Consciousness regard AHIMSA very highly as a guide to lifestyle, many follow the guideline given by The Law of Manu which states: ‘Meat-eating is not wrong, nor alcohol, nor sex. These are natural actions of living beings; but abstention from such action is highly rewarded.’ (M 5:56) Abstinence from these every day actions is highly valued amongst these Hindus but they are not seen as bad actions. The views about alcohol vary again from region to region, and caste to caste. In general, frequent use of alcohol is looked down on, the exception to the rule being Tantrics, whose aim is to unite all things and gain freedom form the restrictions of human life; they therefore use cannabis and alcohol as part of their rituals. In general, it is better to refuse alcohol or drug as laid down by the Law of Manu which warns against wilful addiction. ‘He (man) must not get wilfully addicted to any object or substance of self-gratification; he must try to overcome such dependence through will.’ Hindus realise that the problem of drug abuse needs to be dealt with. It is seen as ‘Trendy’ for upper classes, and for the poor a welcome escape from hard and unpleasant reality of life. Hindus believe that people who suffer, for whatever reasons, should really be helped, even if suffering is brought about by their own stupidity or bad karmic action. The reason behind this is their respect for life in general and ‘Honour all humankind’ is one of their 4 daily practices. All human beings and forms of life are related through the divine spirit of BRAHMAN . Each person is a part of the whole and a Hindu knows that no-one can be totally evil because of their soul (ATMAN) being a part of the divine BRAHMAN. Therefore it is better to help them and not judge them ; to encourage them to lead a life that demonstrates respect for both religious duties and for their soul and for those of others. There is some control of drug use in the home as strong family structures are valued and smoking in the presence of elders is regarded as showing a lack of respect. Also, smoking in India, as in Britain is forbidden on public transport, in cinemas, theatres and temples. In the modern world drugs are avoided mainly for the emphasis on purity of body, but it is also against the Hindu tradition of still meditation which aims to bring the mind under control and then control of the body through the mind. In everyday life the mind is often led by desires and sense- pleasure of the body, but with meditation (YOGA) a person is encouraged to take disciplined control over their life according to the Hindu ideal of purity. Drugs, especially ones with hallucinogenic properties would totally reverse the meditation process since the mind would not be under strict control but left to follow its own course. However, any individual would be under an obligation, in the context of DHARMA , to ensure they could continue to pursue their life goals . So in for the Hindu, the use of drugs does not always appear to be considered inappropriate, but the question of limits comes in, and this, as is often the case in Hinduism, is a matter of individual judgement.

Using Simulation to Educate the Healthcare Professional

Using Simulation to Educate the Healthcare Professional The purpose to the article was to give an overview of types, implementations and resources for human simulation in nursing education. â€Å"Gaba (2004) has defined simulation as a â€Å" †¦ technique, not a technology, to replace or amplify real experiences with guided experiences (as sited in Galloway, 2009). Aldrich (2005 ) stated â€Å"[t]he objective in creating any simulation experience is achieving fidelity, i. e. , a close replication of the real-life, human situation† (as cited in Galloway, 2009).The fidelity created the environment for learning, when fidelity is high there is a greater potential for learning. There are six types of simulations role-playing, standardized patients, partial task trainers, complex task, integrated simulators or human patient stimulators, and full mission simulation (Galloway, 2009). The author showed how the use of simulation for learning was not limited to nursing students an d that regardless of the limited numbers for studies, the results for simulation have been positive in many areas of high-risk training. The evidence base for the use of simulation in patient care is limited (Galloway, 2009).The sky is the limit in terms of how much it will cost to incorporate simulation into health professional education† (Galloway, 2009). The technology for educators is rapidly changing and they need to be keep up; a task many educators are unable and unwilling to do (Galloway, 2009). Kyle and Murray (2008) , authors of Clinical Simulation: Operations, Engineering and Management , offer tools to help educators determine what fits best for their specific learning objectives and settings (as cited in Galloway, 2009). The patient is trusting the health care professional to safely and skillfully care for them.Simulation techniques need to be implemented today and improved for tomorrow (Galloway, 2009) Quote â€Å"Simulation enables healthcare professionals to h one the clinical skills that are needed to provide safe care without harming patients as they develop these skills† (Galloway, 2009). Paraphrase In healthcare, simulation will facilitate professionals as they fine-tune their skills to improve patient safety without putting them at risk. Evaluation Commander Susan Galloway is a doctoral student at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Her MSN concentration was nursing education.She works currently as the Chief of Health Professions Education for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region. She has worked with Washington Hospital Center and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences to improve education with simulation. Commander Galloway is currently working on research focused â€Å"on the human factors related to the transfer of skill acquisition from simulation sites to the real world† (Galloway, 2009). Her background in the integration of simulation and her current researc h focus makes her qualified in the area of simulation in healthcare education.The article was published in May 2009 in The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Some technological changes may have occurred since the paper was published, but the simulation types and educational approaches are the same. The article was written to educators in all health professions. The author wanted to show educators from the OR setting to the nursing student, the importance of using simulated learning tools to increase skill competency. She also showed how simulations could improve interdisciplinary teamwork, one of the core competences. The objective data in the paper was distinguished by the use of quantitative data.The author uses the limited research data from other fields using simulation to assume that the benefits will transfer to the healthcare setting. She also used two specific rescue studies that were done on simulation. Subjective information was confined to the conclusion. There are twen ty-three references listed, the majority of them are from 2009 and 2008. This was the most up-to-date information she could have used for the paper. The older references were used to show how implementations is a slow process with many components. The information is still useful for future reading.This article was found using the MSU database search engine with the key words simulation nursing education and a date range limited to 2006-2010. I chose this article because it not only addresses simulation for nursing students but also for nurses of all levels in all areas including interdisciplinary settings. This article a good resource because it is American Nurse Association peer reviewed. References Galloway, S. J. (2009) Simulation techniques to bridge the gap between novice and competent healthcare professionals. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing,Vol. 14, No. 2, Manuscript 3. doi:10. 3912/OJIN. Vol14No02Man03

An analysis of how photography addresses ideas about still life, with Essay - 1

An analysis of how photography addresses ideas about still life, with particular reference to the works of Irving Penn Still Life - Essay Example rtant element complementing composition and the message conveyed by the artwork or â€Å"communicating allegorical or latent meanings† (Martineau, p.6); it later developed as an independent art form, acquiring its own definition, canons and traditions. Most dictionaries give the following definition to still life: it is a picture that consists of inanimate objects like flowers, fruit, vessels or dead game. But on the other hand, still life as a genre has always been a subject to cultural influences that formed differences in defining and thinking of this genre. The first photographic still life picture emerged about a decade before the official announcement of photography invention in 1839 (Martineau, p.6). Nicephore Niepce, the inventor, was an author of the picture named Set Table depicting a laid table offering a meal for one person. The objects on the picture are rounded by deep shadows (the evidence of lengthy exposure), and the austerity of the photographed meal conveys allusions to Da Vinci’s Last Supper (Martineau, p.6). As photography emerged as a revolutionary art enabling â€Å"painting† not with brushes, but with light, the golden age of painting was gradually replaced by the age of digital fine art. Photography virtually borrowed almost all genres from painting, vesting them in the form of new technologies and using new means to create a desirable effect. In this way, still life migrated to photography, carrying all the key traditions of conventional still life painting to the newly invented art. Particularly, the photographers working at the dawn of photography practiced nature morte as one of the principal genres, using the same objects of depiction their predecessors used to paint with oil or watercolor. Thus, first attempts in photography mirrored compositions used previously in pictorial art (Ingledew, p. 57). The reason pioneers of photography such as Roger Fenton chose still life as the most favorable genre and inanimate objects as their

The Eight and the Ashcan School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

The Eight and the Ashcan School - Essay Example It is not only that commercial and residential boundaries of New York changed but perceptions and public views were undergoing rapid changes. It was a favorable milieu for the formation of popular culture. New York was growing in size, its population was diversifying. Many ethnic groups mixed together contributing to creation of new forms of artist expression, reflecting changing social relationships. The early 20th century witnessed a radical change in American painting. This was not a change in attitude toward painting but in attitude toward life. It was a journalist's revolution originating from Philadelphia. New York City with financial growth explosion, office work for women and the sweatshops for immigrants – all these conditions brought young newspaper illustrators to develop their careers as fine artists in New York getting away from the conservative, static art establishment of Philadelphia. The rapidly changing scenes of New York as it is were captured by artists who are better known as "the Eight": Robert Henri, Arthur B. Davies, Maurice Prendergast, Ernest Lawson, William Glackens, Everett Shinn, John Sloan, and George Luks. â€Å"These artists framed a contemporary realism that explored the drama, humor and exoticism of life in the turbulent metropolis.† â€Å"The Ashcan school† which united "the Eight" and a number of other artists took roots in Philadelphia under the leadership of Henri. In Philadelphia, Henri's rebellious nature made him "a catalyst, an enthusiast ...".

How is war understood in the Realist theoretical tradition Outline

How is war understood in the Realist theoretical tradition - Outline Example It is established in this analysis that the Realist theoretical tradition has been the most pertinent theoretical perspective on the subject of war and conflict in the post-Cold War order in the world. Realism is one of the most important positivist theories which focus on state security and power Introduction The end of Cold War brought about an inevitable focus on the concept of war and conflict in the study of international relations and several significant theoretical perspectives emerged. It is essential to realize that the realist, liberal, and radical traditions have been the most significant theoretical perspectives dealing with war and conflict in the international relations theory. Significantly, the realist theoretical tradition of war maintains that there is an enduring propensity for conflict between states in the international relations, whereas the liberal theoretical tradition identifies various ways to alleviate the conflictive tendencies and the radical theoretical tradition emphasizes on the of transformation of the entire system of state relations. As Little and Smith (2006) maintain, the realist theoretical tradition was the most dominant theoretical perspective all through the Cold War. ... ures of the American-Soviet rivalry.†1 It is pertinent to establish that state security and power above other states are the essential components of the realist theoretical tradition regarding war and conflict. Significantly, realism is not a single theory and it has several classifications which evolved considerably during the Cold War period. In an examination of how war is understood in the realist theoretical tradition, it becomes evident that the intellectual construct called ‘realism’ focuses on international anarchy, insecurity, and the state, and it provides an effective way to deal with the contemporary world politics. As it remains the overriding paradigm in the study of international relations, it is fundamental to analyze how the realist theoretical tradition explains war. Significantly, the realist theoretical tradition relies heavily on the structure of the international system or the distribution of power as the major element in explaining foreign po licies and international outcomes. â€Å"If realism provides a worthwhile explanatory framework, then propositions derived from it should yield insights about state strategies and behavior in light of this shift in the global distribution of power†¦ Realism remains a powerful and valuable explanatory framework, the end of the Cold War notwithstanding.†2 Therefore, it is important to recognize that the role of the realist theoretical tradition remains unquestioned even in the contemporary international relations and world politics, and an analysis of the realist interpretation of the concept of war is most warranted. Scope of the Study In a world threatened by the realities of war in spite of the existence of several theoretical frameworks for international relations, it is fundamental to be aware of the

TuiNaTraditional Chinese massage and Sport Therapy Essay

TuiNaTraditional Chinese massage and Sport Therapy - Essay Example Sports research points to rigorous studies in order to determine the best forms of sports massage to maximize the benefits to the health and well being of people taking part in sports (Martin, Zoeller, Robertson, & Lephart, 1998; Jonhagen, Ackerman, Eriksson, Saartok, & Renstrom, 2004). Tui Na, a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine massage may be a viable complement to traditional sports massage used in the West. Overuse knee injury is commonly referred to as patellofemoral syndrome, to describe pain on and around the kneecap (patella). It is most commonly the result of damage to the surface underneath the kneecap, through a blow or fall, of from continuous rubbing on the bone underneath (Devan, Pescatello, Faghri, Anderson, 2004). Other names for the injury are chondramalacia patellae, patella pain syndrome or runner's knee. If the injury is not treated that it becomes a chronic condition that does not respond well to recovery methods. The pain can originate from over-tightness of the illio-tibial band (ITB), with the tendon rubbing on the knee bone. As a result the patella does not move or track correctly when the knee is bent from being outstretched (i.e., it does not move toward the inside surface of the knee) to position correctly in the intercondylar notch of the femur. The cartilage under the patella can become damaged, and the ITB inflamed. It is a common injury for runners aged 10-20 years. It is also more likely for those who have small kneecaps, or those whose feet roll in (pronate). Weak quadriceps muscles can increase likelihood of experiencing the condition. There is increased incidence among long distance running and hill running athletes, or those who have had previous knee injury. Clear Identification of TopicSports massage can help stretch the ITB, as tight knots within the tendon may be causing it to shorten. Soft tissue and deep friction massage are traditional sports massage techniques to aid in stretching the ITB, as well as myofascial releasing techniques. In contrast, Tui Na treats the whole body by working on meridians (energy channels)

Hybrid Cultural Object Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hybrid Cultural Object - Essay Example Language entails the sharing of ideas and thoughts from one person to the other. The culture of the language has been evolving from one community to another. The evolving nature of language has led to the object of communication being improved to a level of being termed as a hybrid language. The most common element of this tool is the use of signs and symbols to communicate. The use of signs has developed significantly due to the interaction of human beings from different regions around the globe. The pressure to find out an aspect of sign language that would unify different cultures in the region have led to the scientific study of signs; semiotics. Signs having been developing, and this study helps the human diversity to know how they are supposed to behave in a particular situation without there being a second person to engage in the verbal communication (Ipsen). The hybrid nature of communication in this state is that signs are being developed into a global unified way that every community get aligned to the communication base to one another. In other words, the signs developed are familiar to everyone around the globe. The global awareness and unity in communication have been established by the fact that there is an organised system that the signs follow. Since there is an organised way of communicating through the use of signs, every stakeholder in the signs language will follow the laid down system. The following of the laid down rules and regulations help different cultural groups to have a unified sign that helps in communication. When a person at one corner of the world sees an image or a picture representing, a situation will be able to give the meaning from the picture and interpret it. Therefore, a person can analyse the situation and act accordingly. It is the globally accepted picture that will help the reader to communicate accordingly in that situation. Signs as used in communication changes

Happening Truth Essay Example for Free

Happening Truth Essay I was wearing white, sparkly Skechers and those pants that swoosh together every time you take a step. Fourth grade was a tough year as my class moved to Proctor Elementary school and hit my awkward stage. I was taller than all my friends and my chubby cheeks overwhelmed my face. My self confidence was very low being fairly heavy for my age, I felt as if I had not excelled at anything so far. Gym class was my least favorite class because I was slower than most of the class and the year started with a dreaded test. Sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and the timed mile were in my very near future. After I made it through that week we played games and I most significantly remember playing soccer hockey. After Mrs. Magner chose the teams it was up to us 10 year-olds to choose positions. I had my back turned to him when he said it. Rachel should be goalie because she is so fat! he yelled to the class. I felt my face overcome with hotness and my heart seemed to fall into my stomach. I turned to the rest of the class and looked down at the floor but still felt their eyes on my growing body. My eyes began to water but I still took my position in the net. On the bus ride home I saw people whispering about the days events and when I got off the bus I broke down. My mom tried to comfort me with compliments but I knew those were just things she had to say. School the next day was terrifying for me and when I opened my lunch the Yodels were replaced with carrots and dip. It is hard to believe that I was so affected by this event that seems ridiculous to some. I dont hold a grudge against the boy who humiliated me that day but I am actually grateful for the experience. Today I am confident in class and I enjoy going to school with my peers. I am comfortable with my body and dont feel self conscious because I know there are more important things than a simple body type. From that day I learned that others opinions should not affect your personal outlook on life. My sister is in fifth grade and is going through the same stage I experienced so I do my best to relay what I have learned so she never needs to fear school or classmates. As a high school junior, I believe I have grasped this concept by becoming involved and improving the outlook I have on myself. Self confidence is so important coming into high school and throughout life so not one person, or minute comment like the one I heard, should interfere with that.

Applications of Radioactivity in Medicine

Applications of Radioactivity in Medicine Introduction A radioactive element is an element with an unstable nucleus, which radiates alpha, beta or gamma radiation and gets converted to a stable element. Both radioisotopes and enriched stable isotopes are essential to a wide variety of applications in medicine, where they are used in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. In addition, extensive applications of isotopes in biomedical research finds wide parallel uses in research chemistry, physics, biology and geosciences, with additional needs existing in the commercial sector. HISTORY Radioactivity arrived on the scene of the world in the 19th century, just when people thought they knew everything in science. With its discovery in 1896, radioactivity opened a box of many questions and revealed a new world, waiting to be explored in the microcosm of the atomic nucleus. Radioactivity also helped in answering the questions which were not yet known. This helped science in many fields. WHAT MAKES AN ELEMENT RADIOACTIVE? There are three kinds of particles inside an atom: that is protons, neutrons and electrons. The nucleus contains the above mentioned two particles i.e. protons and neutrons. The region beyond the nucleus contains electrons that balance out the charge of the protons. The number of protons is equal to the number of neutrons that is why the atomic weight is twice the atomic number. Since like charges repel each other which results a force that tries to push the electrons and protons apart. If the ratio of protons to the neutrons is not within certain limits then the proton can not be held firmly together which leads to the formation of an unstable nucleus. Making the isotopes of some elements radioactive. For example, carbon, the element found in all living things has a chemical symbol C. the normal form has an atomic weight of 12 and is written as carbon-12, but the radioactive version has two extra neutrons, so the symbol iscarbon-14. As we shall see, the radioactive form behaves chemically just like the non-radioactive form, although one shall never change into the other. There are three kinds of radioactivity each with different radiation type. RADIOACTIVITY Radioactivity is a very interesting phenomenon in nature. Classical Electromagnetism cannot explain radioactivity. Its a spontaneous and random phenomenon whereby nuclei of certain chemical elements like Uranium, radiate gamma rays, beta particles and alpha particles. By the emission of these particles and radiation, the unstable nucleus gets converted into a stable nucleus. This is called RADIOACTIVE DECAY. Radioactivity was accidentally discovered by HENRI BECQUEREL. Scientists like Madam Curie and her husband Pierre also worked hard to isolate other radioactive elements such as Polonium and Radium. Knowledge of radioactivity helped scientists to work out the structures of atoms. USES OF RADIOACTIVITY We could not do without radioactive materials in todays world, even if we wanted to. We rely on these radioactive elements every day to make us healthier, to help supply necessities like food and electricity, keep us safer, help us to protect our environment, add fun and convenience to our lives and help us learn more about our world. Radioisotopes have found a large number of applications. Some of them are as follows: Medical Diagnosis Generate Electricity Synthesis of new elements Preservation of food Smoke detectors and many more RADIOACTIVITY IN MEDICINE Ionizing radiations has many beneficial uses as they can be used for the diagnosis and for the curing of many diseases. Since infected cells can be killed by these radiations. Hence they are widely used in caner treatments. Radioactive isotopes are commonly used in medicine, which help the physicians to know more about the body structures. For the treatment of cancers radioisotopes are commonly used which require destruction of harmful cells causing these type of diseases. Although nuclear medicine started its clinical origin in the 1930 decade, the invention of gamma scintillation camera by an American engineer Hal Anger in the mid of 1950s, though, this invention brought an important turn back in medicine imaging Radioactive isotopes also allow excellent quality imaging of bones, heart, liver and many parts of our body. Gamma ray emitted tracers are used in large number of diagnostic procedures in nuclear medicine. These traces are formed due to the bonding of radioisotopes having short life period with chemical compounds that allow the targeting of a particular body regions or physiologic processes. Emitted gamma rays can be detected by gamma cameras and computer enhancement of the resulting images allows quick and relatively non-invasive assessments of trauma or physiological impairments. CANCER which is a process of rapid growth of cells gets damaged by radio isotopic radiations. Somehow, some cancerous growth of cells can be eliminated or restricted by the use of radioisotope radiations. The most common forms of external radiations therapy is use of the gamma radiations and X-rays. During the last half of the twentieth century the radioisotope Cobalt-60 was most commonly used source of radiation used in such treatments. Today thousands of hospitals all over the world use radioisotopes in medicine, and about 90% of the procedures are used for diagnosis. Technetium-99 is the most common isotope used in diagnosis, with some 30 million procedures in a year, accounting for 80% of all nuclear medicine procedures all over the world. ISOTOPS COMMONLY USED IN MEDICINE: There are about 20 radioactive isotopes used in medicine. Each isotope has its own use in this field. Some of them are: Chromium-51, cobalt 60, Erbium 169, Iodine-125, Iridium-192, Sodium-24, Xenon-133, Selenium-75, Strontium-89, Phosphorus-32 etc. Here is a list of isotopes with there half life period and uses: Chromium-51: Half life period 28 days Purpose: Used to label red blood cells and quantify gastro- intestinal protein loss. Cobalt-60: Half life period is 10.5 months Purpose: Formerly used for external beam radiotherapy. Erbium-169 Half life period is 9.4 days Purpose: Use for relieving arthritis pain in synovial joints. Iodine-125 Half life period is 60 days Purpose: Used in cancer Brach therapy (prostate and brain), also diagnostically to evaluate the filtration rate of kidneys and to diagnose deep vein thrombosis in the leg. It is also widely used in radioimmunology- assays to show the presence of hormones in tiny quantities. Iodine-131 Half life period is 8 days Purpose: Widely used in treating thyroid cancer and in imaging the thyroid; also in diagnosis of abnormal liver function, renal (kidney) blood flow and urinary tract obstruction. A strong gamma emitter, but used for beta therapy. Iodine used for curing thyroid cancer Iridium-192 half life period is 74 days Purpose: Supplied in wire form for use as an internal radiotherapy source for cancer treatment (used then removed). Sodium-24 Half life period is 15 hours Purpose: For studies of electrolytes within the body. Xenon-133 Half life period is 5 days Purpose: Used for pulmonary (lung) ventilation studies. Phosphorus-32 Half life period is14 days Purpose: Used in the treatment of polycythemia Vera (excess red blood cells). Beta emitter. X-Rays are used to examine the internal parts of the body that is bones to see the fractures. Applications of X-Rays: Radiography: Radiography is used to diagnose the ailment and diseases of the internal and hidden parts of the body using x-rays. Fluoroscopy: Fluoroscopy is a type of medical imaging that shows a continuous x-ray image on a monitor. Digital Subtraction Angiography: Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is used to image blood vessels. Computerized Axial Tomography: A computerized axial tomography scan is an x-ray procedure that combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images of the internal organs and structures of the body. Mammography: Mammography is a special type of x-ray that is used for the detailed images of breast. Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy), high-energy rays are used to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. A specialist in radiation therapy is called a radiation oncologist. Uses of Radioactive Materials in Medical Research Used in Biomedical researches: The Radioactive isotopic materials are very essential in curing many dreadful diseases like AIDS, cancer and Alzheimers disease. In Pharmaceutical drug testing: The U.N. Food and Drug Administration require all new pharmaceutical drugs to be tested for safety and effectiveness. More than about 80 percent of those drugs are tested with radioactive materials. One of the most important tests is to determine if the pharmaceutical is going to the other parts of the body than the desired or intended target and what effect it can cause to the parts where it is not needed. By adding a radioactive tag to the pharmaceutical, researchers can pinpoint all the parts of the body and the concentration that accumulates non-targeted areas. From this they can determine if there is likelihood of adverse reactions in other parts of the body. Metabolic Research: Radionuclide is used extensively in metabolic studies and genetic engineering. Chemical Reaction Imaging: the latest single photon emission typography (SPET) on positron emission tomography (PET) enable scientists to watch colour images of chemical reactions in living tissue and, in particular, to trace opioid molecules- naturally occurring morphine-type drugs which eliminate pain within the brain. Side Effects of Radiation The form of the energies that are released from these elements in radiation therapy is often administered by machine. The machine aims those radiations at the cancer. Radioactive substances can also be kept inside the body of a person. These types of treatments can cause many side effects. These side effects may include: hair loss nausea vomiting swelling difficulty swallowing urinary and bladder changes The side effects caused due to the treatment of the patient can last long for a certain period of time. It may be a period of two months, six months or even a year. So the patient has to bear some pains after or during the curing of fatal diseases like cancer using radiation therapy. Radioactive Waste Disposal: An Environmental Perspective Any activities that produce or use radioactive materials generate radioactive wastes. Various processes in medicine, scientific result and in all other fields produce bi products that include radioactive wastes. Radioactive waste can be in gas, liquid or solid form, and its level of radioactivity can vary. The waste can remain radioactive for a few hours or several months or even hundred or thousands of years. Because it can be hazardous and can remain radioactive for so long, finding suitable disposal facilities for radioactive wastes is very difficult. Depending on the type of waste disposed, the disposal facility may need to contain radiations for a very long time. Proper disposal is essential to ensure protection of the health and safety of the public and quality of the air, soil and water supplies. Radioactivity waste disposal practices have changed substantially over the last twenty years. Evolving environmental protection considerations have provided the impetus to improve disposal technologies, and, in some cases, clean up facilities that are no longer in use. Designs for new disposal facilities and disposal methods must meet environmental protection and pollution prevention standards that are stricter than were foreseen at the beginning of the atomic age. CONCLUSION One hundred years ago, a group of scientists unknowingly ushered in the atomic age. Driven by curiosity, these men and women explored the nature and also the functioning of atom. Their work initiated the paths of research which changed our understanding of the building blocks of matter. There discoveries prepared the way for development of new methods and tools used to explore our origins, the functioning of our bodies both in sickness and health, and much more. How did our conceptions of atomic properties change? How has that change affected our lives and our knowledge of world? Radiation is a two edged sword: its usefulness in both medicine and anthropological and archaeological studies is undisputed, yet the same materials can be used for destruction. Human curiosity drove inquiring scientists to harness the power of an atom. Now humankind must accept the responsibility for the appropriate and beneficial uses of this very powerful tool.