Fictional Research About CCTV Cameras Essay

This report evaluates the social impact of the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV from now on) cameras in our neighbourhood. These cameras have been placed by the local government with the intention of lowering crime rates. Participants filled a questionnaire, and this report is based on their feedback. Positive effects It’s been a month since the installation of the cameras, and they have already paid off as a great discouraging system. Misdemeanours such as hold-ups have lowered by 25%, whereas sexual assaults have lowered by an astounding 78%. People say that they feel safer and protected now. Negative effects However (and paradoxically), people don’t want to be observed 24/7 by the government. 75% of the population feel mildly uncomfortable about being watched all day, but think that this is still a good measure, while another 10% do not agree at all with this system. Among the people who don’t care about the constant surveillance, 2/3 are the elderly people (60+ years old). On the other hand, the most reluctant people to the CCTV camera system are between 15 and 25 years old, about the 64% of them. This group has protested against the system, even resorting to vandalize and destroy the cameras. Conclusions Most people in the area think of the CCTV cameras as a necessary evil, and think that their children are now able to go out without the fear of being assaulted, of something even worse. Most of them don’t like being observed, specially young people, but only a few are really upset about this fact. Recommendations The best solution, given the local response (and the fact that the area was conflictive enough to force the administration to install the cameras), would be for the government to send more police to the area, both to protect the cameras and to enforce local laws. This should lead to a further lowering of crime rates.

Amusing Ourselves to Death Summary

Amusing Ourselves to Death Summary Neil Postman in his speech called â€Å"Amusing Ourselves to Death,† which he gave in the year of 1984, takes a point of view which explains how the American society is slowly trying to have entertainment over-take every aspect of their lives. He explains how America is losing its desire to read or explore education and informative literary sources. He says in his speech, â€Å"America is engaged in the world’s most ambitious experiment to accommodate itself to the technological distractions made possible by the electric plug. He states statistics that ninety-eight percent of all American homes have a television set and fifty-one percent have two or more television sets in 1984. He’s main point is that Americans use the television to provide entertainment to all aspects of their world. This includes the news, educational programs, and even religion. He says that, â€Å"television is transforming all serious public business int o junk. America is now forced with creating programs that will catch the attention of an audience that is used to having entertaining aspects in all forms of their life. In order to give a point of view or some other important information, television needs to present it in a way to keep the viewer interested. Neil Postman is afraid that America is starting to lose the ability to engage in discussions and lectures without an entertaining aspect in it. He says, â€Å"America is the world’s first culture in jeopardy of amusing itself to death. †

Aida Model Essay Example for Free

Aida Model Essay Choose cite format: APA MLA Harvard Chicago ASA IEEE AMA Haven't found the essay you want? Get your custom sample essay for only $13.90/page ? Every day we’re bombarded with headlines like these that are designed to grab our attention. In a world full of advertising and information – delivered in all sorts of media from print to websites, billboards to radio, and TV to text messages – every message has to work extremely hard to get noticed. And it’s not just advertising messages that have to work hard; every report you write, presentation you deliver, or email you send is competing for your audience’s attention. As the world of advertising becomes more and more competitive, advertising becomes more and more sophisticated. Yet the basic principles behind advertising copy remain – that it must attract attention and persuade someone to take action. And this idea remains true simply because human nature doesn’t really change. Sure, we become increasingly discerning, but to persuade people to do something, you still need to grab their attention, interest them in how your product or service can help them, and then persuade them to take the action you want them to take, such as buying your product or visiting your website. The acronym AIDA is a handy tool for ensuring that your copy, or other writing, grabs attention. The acronym stands for: Attention (or Attract) Interest Desire Action. These are the four steps you need to take your audience through if you want them to buy your product or visit your website, or indeed to take on board the messages in your report. A slightly more sophisticated version of this is AIDCA/AIDEA, which includes an additional step of Conviction/Evidence between Desire and Action. People are so cynical about advertising messages that coherent evidence may be needed if anyone is going to act! How to Use the Tool: Use the AIDA approach when you write a piece of text that has the ultimate objective of getting others to take action. The elements of the acronym are as follows: 1. Attention/Attract In our media-filled world, you need to be quick and direct to grab people’s attention. Use powerful words, or a picture that will catch the reader’s eye and make them stop and read what you have to say next. With most office workers suffering from e-mail overload, action-seeking e-mails need subject lines that will encourage recipients to open them and read the contents. For example, to encourage people to attend a company training session on giving feedback, the email headline, â€Å"How effective is YOUR feedback?† is more likely to grab attention than the purely factual one of, â€Å"This week’s seminar on feedback†. 2. Interest This is one of the most challenging stages: You’ve got the attention of a chunk of your target audience, but can you engage with them enough so that they’ll want to spend their precious time understanding your message in more detail? Gaining the reader’s interest is a deeper process than grabbing their attention. They will give you a little more time to do it, but you must stay focused on their needs. This means helping them to pick out the messages that are relevant to them quickly. So use bullets and subheadings, and break up the text to make your points stand out. For more information on understanding your target audience’s interests and expectations, and the context of your message, read our article on the Rhetorical Triangle. 3. Desire The Interest and Desire parts of AIDA go hand-in-hand: As you’re building the reader’s interest, you also need to help them understand how what you’re offering can help them in a real way. The main way of doing this is by appealing to their personal needs and wants. So, rather than simply saying â€Å"Our lunchtime seminar will teach you feedback skills†, explain to the audience what’s in it for them: â€Å"Get what you need from other people, and save time and frustration, by learning how to give them good feedback.† Feature and Benefits (FAB) A good way of building the reader’s desire for your offering is to link features and benefits. Hopefully, the significant features of your offering have been designed to give a specific benefit to members of your target market. When it comes to the marketing copy, it’s important that you don’t forget those benefits at this stage. When you describe your offering, don’t just give the facts and features, and expect the audience to work out the benefits for themselves: Tell them the benefits clearly to create that interest and desire. Example: â€Å"This laptop case is made of aluminum,† describes a feature, and leaves the audience thinking â€Å"So what?† Persuade the audience by adding the benefits†.giving a stylish look, that’s kinder to your back and shoulders†. You may want to take this further by appealing to people’s deeper drives†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ giving effortless portability and a sleek appearance and that will be the envy of your friends and co-workers.† 4. Conviction As hardened consumers, we tend to be skeptical about marketing claims. It’s no longer enough simply to say that a book is a bestseller, for example, but readers will take notice if you state (accurately, of course!), that the book has been in the New York Times Bestseller List for 10 weeks, for example. So try to use hard data where it’s available. When you haven’t got the hard data, yet the product offering is sufficiently important, consider generating some data, for example, by commissioning a survey. 5. Action Finally, be very clear about what action you want your readers to take; for example, â€Å"Visit www.mindtools.com now for more information† rather than just leaving people to work out what to do for themselves. – See more at: file:///C:/Users/GOPAL%20RATHORE/Downloads/AIDA%20%20Attention-Interest-Desire-Action%20-%20Communication%20Skills%20Training%20From%20MindTools.com.htm#sthash.nCxC0EZx.dpuf Aida Model. (2016, Apr 07).

Management Accounting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Management Accounting - Coursework Example Available at: . Anderson, DR, Sweeny, DJ, Williams, TA & Martin, RK 2007, An introduction to management science: Quantitative approaches to decision making, 12th edn, Cengage Learning. This book is quite helpful in the field of management accounting and the quantitative perspectives in decision making. The book has a great deal of citations proving academic value of wide content. The methods, calculations and examples in the book are accurate and simple to understand and can be used for real world cases. This text demonstrates how quantitative measures including labour costs, units produced and hours worked can be analysed and findings used for decision making. I will use this book to show how quantitative measures can be applied in management accounting mainly in budgeting. This book shows the relevance of quantitative measures in decision making and I agree with this concept. Available at: . Atrill, P & McLeany, E 2003, Accounting and finance for non-specialists, 4th edn, Financial Times/Prentice Hall. In this edition, the text introduces fundamental values and principal concepts of accounting and finance. It takes on practical and non-technical perspectives that I can apply in management accounting and decision making. The text is written from a 'user' perspective, signifying ways in which accounting statements and financial information can be used to develop the value of decision making. This book gives the relationship between the financial and accounting principles and this has been proven by studies over the years. Available at: . Atrill, P & McLeany, E 2009, Management accounting for decision makers, 6th edn, Financial Times/Prentice Hall. This book gives a clear understanding of management accounting and how it is applied in decision making. This edition gives an introduction to the main principles in management accounting including costing, budgeting and strategic management accounting with a strong practical importance and avoids extreme technical as pects. It gives a clear description on how accounting information can be used by management to better the quality of decision making. I can use this book to discuss the major areas in my proposal which are: budgeting, strategic management accounting and decision making. The text delves on the positive impacts of proper management accounting in decision making process. Available at: . Callahan, KR, Stetz, GS & Brooks, LM 2007, Project management accounting: Budgeting, tracking, and reporting costs and profitability, John Wiley and Sons. The concepts in this text are centred on sound accounting practices that are used to improve the management of firms and their

Summary of Readings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Summary of Readings - Essay Example Regular prayers and devotions were part of the Christian religious processes for the welfare of the faithful and it was this formed the basis of the development of timekeeping technology and its dominance of our current capitalistic societies. It was not that time keeping was not there earlier, but the development of the clock as an expression of new timekeeping technologies removed the vagaries of nature that inhibit regulatory and order in the pervious time keeping technologies. Starting from the fourteenth centuries clock towers emerged in cities and towns to dominate life the life of their citizens (1). Other technologies may have come and may also lay claim to be all pervasive in human civilization, but there is no technology that has pervaded every niche of human presence and dominated the activities of humankind. The orderly punctual existence brought on by the mechanical clock is not in keeping with basic nature of humankind and yet, modern civilization remains a slave to the chimes of the mechanical clock. The regular chimes of mechanical time in seconds and minutes are in disharmony with the irregular nature of the human body, yet in modern civilization, basic human organic functions are controlled by this mechanical time. Humankind lives, works, and exists now in keeping with tunes of the tool of time keeping technology in the form of the time keeping clock (1). Biology in the Evolution of Technology In Chapter 3, History of the Seventh Kingdom in his book â€Å"What Technology Wants†, Kevin Kelly 2011, opines that the seventh kingdom of technology is not merely an invention of humankind, but has its origins in life itself, and continues to evolve as living organisms have done so from the time life dawned on planet Earth. The six kingdoms of living organisms have evolved and adapted over several hundred millions of generations in an unbroken link, and also learnt to build and evolve external structures. Structures to live in are the most commo n of these external structures. Such shelters of an animal are extension of the animal itself, and in this manner technology is the extension of humankind. This is visible in all the technologies developed and used by humankind, such as even the clothes that we wear. Technology in essence represents an external repository for human ideas (2). An evaluation of the evolution of human technology demonstrates a number of similarities with the evolution of genetic organisms. The manner in which a particular species of technology evolves over time is very similar to that of genealogical blueprint of species evolution, with the difference that in technology it is the expression of ideas and not the work of genes. Different branches of technology combine to create new products, just as evolution in organisms evolves through mating. Evolution in technology is parallel to evolution of nature. An example of this lies in the transformation of simple alphabets into books, which are the storehous es of human knowledge. This is similar to the transformation of DNA into cells and organisms (2). Yet there are differences too in the manner in which technology differs from living organisms. Organisms can be long-living while many technologies are short-lived. Innovations in organisms are passed down from parent down to the offspring vertically, while innovations in technology

Environmental Justice In Class, Gender, and Race Essay

Environmental Justice In Class, Gender, and Race - Essay Example Fair treatment signifies that no particular community or group of individuals should bear unbalanced allocation of off-putting or offensive environmental outcomes ensuing from industrial, business and legislative procedures or regulations. 2. The involvement as well as contribution of public directly persuade the decisions taken by the regulatory bodies about the developmental prospects of a particular area and its implications on the environment of that area. Thus, meaningful involvement is of paramount significance as it generates awareness in the mass not only towards their environment but also provide them with the justice to have a better living conditions. Meaningful involvement enables people belonging to that geographical are to understand the implications of the hazards caused by the establishment of the industrial setup or any other kind of arrangement that may have devastating consequences on their health and welfare. Generating awareness is the basic step towards any righteousness and when it comes to environment it becomes supreme. The altered environmental conditions cannot be replenished which not only affects the health of the inhabitants but potentially affects the climatic conditions as well. Therefore, meaningful participation/ involvement in matters related with the environment of the community is highly imperative. Instigators of Environmental Justice Movement have these thoughts in their concise that some communities are being treated as very high while others are not privileged and therefore their lives could be put in danger for the developmental benefit of the privileged communities. The Civil Rights Movement (1960s) paved the way for inciting awareness and provided an understanding to the people about the health hazards of their families and community as a whole. Gradually, with augmenting awareness the concern about the

Analysis & Critique of Canadian Court System Essay

Analysis & Critique of Canadian Court System - Essay Example These models are the inquisitorial and the adversary models. The Canadian Court System mostly applies the adversarial process in its legal processes. Adversarial justice system is the best approach to addressing justice and equality in court systems and the Canadian Courts should continue using it. Reasons for the Adversary Justice System The ultimate concern of the adversary court system is to ensure equal treatment between the prosecution and defense. The court assumes a neutral position and acts as referee between the two parties. This system requires all parties to adhere to the law in responding to different issues in the court. For instance, police officers must use the procedures that the law accepts to obtain evidence from suspects or the accused. The court will determine whether the police used the appropriate ways of gathering evidence that are recognized by the law and are free from deception and other malpractices. The neutral state of the court ensures a fair trial for t he accused (see Law Commission). Adversary system stresses on strict observance of the law in seeking justice for all parties involved in a case. This characteristic gives the system an added advantage over the inquisitorial justice system. Inquisitorial justice system involves the court in determining facts and evidence about a case. Therefore, the system gives room for bias where the court can favor one side of the case. This is unlike the adversary system that advocates for observance of the law in determining facts about a case. Moreover, the inquisitorial system denies the accused the right of privacy. The system requires the accused to collaborate with the police and other court officials in the process of gathering evidence. The accused has no right of remaining silent throughout the process unlike in the adversary system where the accused has the right of choosing to remain silent throughout the court process. Courts in the adversary justice system act as supervisors of the actions of the prosecution and the accused and eliminate any practices that conflict with the law. The system does not grant the court the authority of supporting the prosecution against the accused. This form of fairness does not exist in the inquisitorial justice system. It is possible for the authority or the police to coerce their authority on the accused in their attempt to gather evidence against him or her. The law does not allow use of evidence that is a result of coercion of authority. Police officers are known to use excessive power in their attempt to gather evidence against victims of crime. Therefore, involving the court and the police in the process is not in the best interests of ensuring equal and just treatment for offenders (see Prasad). The adversary system becomes even stronger when looking at emerging trends in the field of law. For instance, there have been efforts to introduce the system of restorative justice in the court process. Restorative justice is an em erging trend in the court system where victims and offenders interact in the process of seeking justice. Legal procedures are not the basic requirements of punishing an offender under restorative justice. Instead, the offender must take absolute responsibility for his or her actions by convincing the victims that he or she will not repeat such an offense in the future. The system does not recognize the state as an agent that feels the effect of law breaking. It holds the notion that actions of offenders

International monetary policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

International monetary policy - Term Paper Example Under that regime higher employment and sustainable economic growth was regarded through low inflation as one of the theoretical framework of monetary policy (Solow & Taylor, 1998). The effects of money supply decisions are transmitted through interest rate channel through the economy. The transmission mechanism in the economy is not as simple as it seems since there are uncertainties about timings, expectations, exchange rate, interest rate and balance of payments (Canada, 1999). This traditional framework of monetary policy has been effective for the domestic and closed economies but with the changing scenarios of economic integration and interdependence. This emergence of new economic activities across borders gave birth to a new dimension of monetary policy which was named as International Monetary Policy. International monetary policy analyses the effects of policy decisions over international finances of a country through exchange rates (Odell, 1982). Monetary policy only overlook the domestic aspect of interest rate while in international monetary policy the focus is more on balance of payments and on balance of trade. Policy decision of money supply lead to appreciation/ depreciation of currency while other factors remain same due to which exchange rate may overshoot instantly. Considering such complications and impediments, international monetary policy can serve the purpose to achieve target through either stabilizing exchange rate or through fixed exchange rate or through currency unions or through dollarization (Scammell, 1975). So, traditional monetary policy doctrine failed to capture the independent nature of monetary policy. The regime of International monetary policy was first acknowledged around four decades ago which recognized the international monetary policy spill over and helped in reconsidering and reshaping the macroeconomic and open economy monetary models. International policy regime since its

606 week 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

606 week 1 - Assignment Example For example, if someone is involved in criminal operations and security agents feel that getting into his system without his permission maybe the way to get evidence against him then that will be ethical. Also, if a company suspects something wrong is going on with its network then it maybe ethical to investigate the network connected to its network ( Bejtlich, 2003) . Ethical hacking is a good practice as it helps companies to enhance security of their computer system. Without proper audit of the computer system no real computer security exist. However, the certificate must be issued with a lot of caution and the authorized hackers should testify up on oaths. A Defensive Network Architecture is an information planning for the network security system which is well maintained and controlled and very closely monitored to identify weaknesses in the system (McClure et al., 1999). This architecture must be up to date to resist current forms of attack. Defensive network architect is important mostly for large organization since it helps to monitor their networks. Network monitoring also assist in evaluating environmental changes (McClure et al., 1999). For example, when there is an increase or decrease in traffic and assets which are currently maintained and secured. Our organization have an architecture in place which they use to control and monitor their security system. Since it is an organization which deals with confidential documents, this helps to secure their data. In conclusion, defensible network has become so important that on 14th March, 2014, Scott Air Force Base III marked a major progression when they signed a department of Defenses Joint Information Environment (Shelly, 2014). Shell, Petruske (2014) Cyberspace milestone reached for Air Force Network. Retrieved on 8th April, 2014

Lemurs in Madagascar Assignment Essay Example for Free

Lemurs in Madagascar Assignment Essay What are Madagascar’s biomes? Discuss the major features of at least one of these biomes. Use the textbook for biome examples. Madagascar is a tropical rainforest, rain forest savanna and grasslands. The rain forest receives 120 inches of rain at least a year. It has very wet and dense vegetation within the trees. Anywhere from 70 plus percent of animal life lives in the trees. It is filled with lakes, river, swamps and a wide variety of different terrain. There is an overabundance of green plant life that strives on the heavy rains received each year. The forest floor is full of nutrients which the large tree strive on giving the canopy effects and which houses so much plant and animal life. 2. What changes happening in Madagascar are posing challenges for lemurs? Give details about the sources, time scale, and types of change. All the time the environment is changing by people moving in and getting more populated. As people come into a new area they may alter a Lemurs normal route or main food supply in the area by cutting down a certain tree such as bamboo. 3. Which types of lemurs are adapting to the changes? Which types of lemurs are not adapting well? Why? The less vulnerable lemurs are good at adapting to a secondary environment with people. The vulnerable or endangered lemurs are having hard time moving and settling into a new food source or habitat which is causing them to go  extinct faster. Ringtail lemurs can adapt and defiantly go to multiple environments. 4. What behavioral and physical traits are being favored in lemurs in the changing Madagascar environment? People are studying lemurs to find out if you can teach other lemurs certain straight so that can adapt to a new type of environment. Such as eating habitats and what they eat. How the move and migrate from place to place. 5. Why might lemurs not evolve to adapt to the changes in Madagascar? They may not never adapt due to the constant changes in the environment nonstop. Some lemurs can adapt with evolution over hundreds of year but with humans within a few years they can destroy an entire habitat along with food sources within a year. The constant changes always leave the lemurs on their toes. Constantly roaming from one place to another 6. Which biogeochemical cycles may be altered by anthropogenic activities on Madagascar, and how? Many things may be altered such as the soils and living organisms by people moving into the new areas in such a rapid rate. What toll does this take on the environments such as global warming and pollutants in that areas now? What do the changes in the smaller spectrum of things do to the overall climate? Reference â€Å"Lemurs in Madagascar: Surviving on an Island of Change.† Films Media Group, 2006. Films On Demand.

Expression of TDP43 in Development of ALS Model Zebrafish

Expression of TDP43 in Development of ALS Model Zebrafish Change in expression of TDP43 in various organs during development of ALS model zebrafish. Anuj Dhoj Raut Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the devastating motor neuron disease that is characterized by progressive degeneration of both upper and lower motor neuron that control voluntary movement of body. The degeneration of the neurons seen in ALS result in muscle weakness, spasticity and atrophy of both cranial and spinal nerves muscle groups. Since there is often respiratory muscle involvement, aspiration pneumonia is the most common cause of death for the patients with ALS. At present, ALS is invariably fatal disease with no absolute cure and patients usually die within 3-5 years after the clinical onset of symptoms. The mean age of onset of ALS is between 55 and 65 years with slightly more prevalence in male (Male: Female ratio ~ 1.5:1) (1). Even though, incidence rate of ALS are different in different countries of the world, globally average annual incident rate is between 1.5 and 2.5 per 100,000 populations. There has been an increase in death rate of ALS and current internatio nal death rates for ALS have be close to 1 per 100,000 population per year(1). Currently, riluzole, an inhibitor of glutamate release, is the only disease modifying treatment available for the disease and can extends life only for couple of months (2,3). The etiology of ALS is currently unknown. However, approximately 10% of ALS patients have family history for ALS (Familial ALS;FALS) and remaining 90% of case occur sporadically (Sporadic ALS; SALS)(4). Although definitive evidence for environmental factor that cause ALS has remain mostly unknown, the evidence of genetic alternation that cause ALS has been increasing. Till date, only known cause of ALS is mutation in the gene. Mutations in more than 13 different types of genes have already been identified that can cause FALS. FALS is often a Mendelian inheritance with high penetrance, although most cases are autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, autosomal recessive pedigrees have also been reported (5,6). Even though, FALS are cause due to genetic alternation, FALS are indistinguishable from SALS form histopathological perspective and both the types’ presents with similar sign and symptoms, thus suggesting common intra-cellular processes that lead to the disease symptoms. Among those 13 different types of gene mutation that causes FALS, mutation in Transactive response DNA binding Protein 43kDa (TDP-43) gene is seen in approximately 4% of FALS and 2% of SALS (7). Transactive response DNA binding protein 43kDa (TDP-43) is a DNA/RNA-binding protein encode by the TARDBP gene on chromosome 1. TDP-43 is an ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein capable of shutting between the nucleus and cytoplasm (8). TDP43 is present in almost all the tissue of a body and have different roles in different tissues (9). Although the precise cellular function of TDP-43 is unknown, TDP-43 has been implicated in regulating of gene transcription (9),alternative exon splicing (10) and mRNA stability (11). Under normal physiological conditions, TDP-43 resides predominantly in the nucleus where it involved in gene expression. But, in abnormal pathological conditions such as ALS, TDP-43 is mislocalized in the cytoplasm as inclusions body (12,13) . Analysis of TDP-43 in the brain and spinal cord of ALS patients reveled that TDP-43 is pathologically modified and redistribution to the cytoplasm, which is accompanied by loss of normal nuclear function and a toxic gain-of-function in the cytoplasm (14,15). The mislocalization of TDP-43 into cytoplasm is believed to be cause of neuron loss in ALS patients. Moreover, TDP-43 positive inclusions are also found either independent or partially colocalize with the other characteristic inclusion, such as tau, ÃŽ ±-synuclei, ÃŽ ²-amyloid and polyglutamines, which are found in other neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, Pick disease and Parkinson’s disease. Interestingly, TDP-43 positive cytoplasmic inclusion are found in almost all ALS patient along with other neurodegenerative disease (16). Although evidence suggest that there is a definitive association between ALS and TDP-43, above observations make it confusing to whether TDP-43 pathology is causative or a secondary response in this disease. Studies done to unravel if TDP-43 is pathology or secondary response to ALS have come with conflicting result. Moreover, the present of TDP-43 in inclusion body of another neurodegenerative has been a mystery. The precise role of TDP-43 in ALS and other neurodegenerative disease is not well known and needs further evaluation. Study, in the mouse has shown that TDP-43 protein is essential for normal prenatal development. Homozygous loss of TDP-43 in mouse cause early embryo death. But, in heterozygous loss TDP-43 mouse, the TDP-43 protein levels were nearly normal suggesting an auto-regulatory mechanism controlling this protein levels(17,18). Moreover, research on mRNA expression levels of TDP-43 protein in various tissues has shown that TDP-43 plays different roles in different tissue(9). Furthermore, about 40 different mutant in TDP-43 have already been identified so far that is associated with ALS (10). But all this various types of mutations in TDP43 have only affected motor nerve of spinal cord and brain. At the same time, mutation and/or overexpression of TDP-43 has not cause any pathology alternation in other cells and tissue of the body or has been found to be associated with diseases of other organ system. A protein that is so vital for a development of organisms that it’s absent cause deat h, but when there is mutation in its gene has only abnormalities in nervous system and that abnormalities are evidence after mid-life is yet to be understood. Moreover, within the nervous system mutation in TDP-43 seems to affect only motor neuron and at the same time spares other neuron such as sensory, autonomic nervous system. And this preference to the motor neuron by mutant TDP-43 is even seen till the late stage of the disease. Physiological roles of TDP-43 and early cellular pathogenic effects caused by disease associated mutations in differentiated neurons is yet to be fully understand. Causative link between TDP-43 positive inclusion and ALS can be well established, if nuclear to cytoplasmic expression of mutant TDP-43 could be study in vivo and in real time. And at the same time, will also be able to understand if TDP-43 pathology is causative or a secondary response to ALS and other neurodegenerative disease. Transgenic rodent models of ALS have been extremely valuable in providing some insight into biological mechanisms underlying ALS. But, due to difficulty in conducting in vivo real time study with rodent, change in intra cellular expression of TDP-43 has not being well understand. The zebrafish has recently emerged as powerful genetic model system for studying ALS. External development and transparency make it great tool to study the development stages of almost all the organ. External development of its eggs allows easy observation and manipulation of early development process. And, transparency makes is a powerful tool to observe the change at cellular level by using fluorescent reporters. With the help of fluorescent reporter, specific cell type and protein expression within those cells can be easily identify and study in vivo and in real time in zebrafish. In addition, zebrafish is a vertebrate and their nervous system is highly conserved with higher vertebrates including humans a nd many pertinent feature of the nervous system start to develop within 1 day of development. Moreover, genetic manipulations are comparatively easy in zebrafish. Therefore, zebrafish is a great model system to study the association of TDP-43 and ALS. In this study, I am trying to understand the change in expression of mutant and overexpressed TDP-43 protein in different tissue of zebrafish. At the same time also will be evaluating the change in expressions of TDP-43 as the zebrafish grow from embryo to adult. I will then compare the change in level of TDP-43 from asymptomatic stage of ALS zebrafish to that of symptomatic stage of ALS zebrafish. In order to conduct this experiment, transgenic zebrafish with human mutant TDP-43 will be created by genetic engineering. Human mutant TDP-43 will be fused with green florescent protein (GFP) before creating transgenic zebrafish. By combining human mutant TDP-43 with GFP will allow easy visualization of TDP-43 protein in zebrafish. Then, image of the fluorescent labeled TDP-43 at different stage of development of zebrafish period will be capture with fluorescent microscope. References 1.Logroscino, G., Traynor, B., Hardiman, O., Couratier, P., Mitchell, J., Swingler, R., and Beghi, E. (2008) Descriptive epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: new evidence and unsolved issues. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery Psychiatry 79, 6-11 2.Bensimon, G., Lacomblez, L., and Meininger, V. (1994) A controlled trial of riluzole in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS/Riluzole Study Group. The New England journal of medicine 330, 585-591 3.Miller, R., Mitchell, J., Lyon, M., and Moore, D. (2007) Riluzole for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1 4.Pasinelli, P., and Brown, R. H. (2006) Molecular biology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from genetics. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 7, 710-723 5.Mulder, D. W., Kurland, L. T., Offord, K. P., and Beard, C. M. (1986) Familial adult motor neuron disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology 36, 511-517 6.Gros-Louis, F., Gaspar, C., and Rouleau, G. A. (2006) Genetics of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biochimica et biophysica acta 1762, 956-972 7.Corrado, L., Ratti, A., Gellera, C., Buratti, E., Castellotti, B., Carlomagno, Y., Ticozzi, N., Mazzini, L., Testa, L., and Taroni, F. (2009) High frequency of TARDBP gene mutations in Italian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Human mutation 30, 688-694 8.Winton, M. J., Igaz, L. M., Wong, M. M., Kwong, L. K., Trojanowski, J. Q., and Lee, V. M.-Y. (2008) Disturbance of nuclear and cytoplasmic TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) induces disease-like redistribution, sequestration, and aggregate formation. Journal of Biological Chemistry 283, 13302-13309 9.Ou, S., Wu, F., Harrich, D., Garcà ­a-Martà ­nez, L. F., and Gaynor, R. B. (1995) Cloning and characterization of a novel cellular protein, TDP-43, that binds to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 TAR DNA sequence motifs. Journal of virology 69, 3584-3596 10.Lagier-Tourenne, C., Polymenidou, M., and Cleveland, D. W. (2010) TDP-43 and FUS/TLS: emerging roles in RNA processing and neurodegeneration. Human molecular genetics 19, R46-R64 11.Strong, M. J., Volkening, K., Hammond, R., Yang, W., Strong, W., Leystra-Lantz, C., and Shoesmith, C. (2007) TDP43 is a human low molecular weight neurofilament ( h NFL) mRNA-binding protein. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience 35, 320-327 12.Arai, T., Hasegawa, M., Akiyama, H., Ikeda, K., Nonaka, T., Mori, H., Mann, D., Tsuchiya, K., Yoshida, M., and Hashizume, Y. (2006) TDP-43 is a component of ubiquitin-positive tau-negative inclusions in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 351, 602-611 13.Mackenzie, I. R. (2007) The neuropathology of FTD associated with ALS. Alzheimer Disease Associated Disorders 21, S44-S49 14.Kabashi, E., Lin, L., Tradewell, M. L., Dion, P. A., Bercier, V., Bourgouin, P., Rochefort, D., Hadj, S. B., Durham, H. D., and Velde, C. V. (2010) Gain and loss of function of ALS-related mutations of TARDBP (TDP-43) cause motor deficits in vivo. Human molecular genetics 19, 671-683 15.Neumann, M. (2009) Molecular neuropathology of TDP-43 proteinopathies. International journal of molecular sciences 10, 232-246 16.Da Cruz, S., and Cleveland, D. W. (2011) Understanding the role of TDP-43 and FUS/TLS in ALS and beyond. Current opinion in neurobiology 21, 904-919 17.Kraemer, B. C., Schuck, T., Wheeler, J. M., Robinson, L. C., Trojanowski, J. Q., Lee, V. M., and Schellenberg, G. D. (2010) Loss of murine TDP-43 disrupts motor function and plays an essential role in embryogenesis. Acta neuropathologica 119, 409-419 18.Sephton, C. F., Good, S. K., Atkin, S., Dewey, C. M., Mayer, P., Herz, J., and Yu, G. (2010) TDP-43 is a developmentally regulated protein essential for early embryonic development. Journal of Biological Chemistry 285, 6826-6834

Fields Of Psychology :: essays research papers

Psychology (Ph.D. Code: PSY) Fields of study: Clinical, cognitive, and social psychology; neuroscience and behavior; visual perception. The program offers doctoral study for students who intend to become psychological scientists or scientist-practitioners. Students who plan to terminate their studies with the master's degree are not encouraged to apply. Admission is not limited to students with undergraduate backgrounds in psychology. Theory, method, and research experience in a number of areas of psychological science are emphasized. Course requirements are organized into the three broad areas of cognitive science, neuroscience, and clinical science. Students have intensive research training with individual faculty in the areas of clinical psychology, cognition, functional imaging, perception, psychobiology, sensory neurophysiology, and social psychology. Students in clinical psychology are also provided with extensive training in clinical skills. Major practicum facilities in which students receive supervised clinical and/or applied research training are found in the Vanderbilt Medical Center and other institutions in Nashville. The department is in a building which offers generous laboratory space for individual and group experiments with human subjects, and facilities for animal experimentation. It has a computerized classroom and connections to the campus mainframe computers. Computerized equipment for neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and psychophysics is also available and is especially suited for work on sensory systems. Human subjects are available through a University research pool, Vanderbilt clinics, and the local school system. In addition, the department has an animal facility providing a wide variety of species, including fish, rodents, and primates. Faculty: 22 Graduate enrollment: In residence 37; average in entering class 5-8 Address: 111 21st Avenue South; 37240 Phone: (615) 322-2874 E-mail: patricia.m.burns@vanderbilt.edu [Psychology] Psychology and Human Development (M.S., Ph.D. Code: GPSY) Fields of study: Clinical, cognitive studies, community, developmental, and quantitative psychology. The Clinical program focuses primarily on issues facing children and families. Faculty members study the development of aggressive behavior and depression in children and adolescents; psychological factors accompanying developmental disability and chronic physical disease; the role of communities in mental health; cognitive intervention for learning and behavioral problems; and the delivery of mental health services to children, youth, and families. The goal of the clinical program is to educate psychologists as scientists and practitioners so that they may pursue a variety of career paths. The Cognitive Studies program focuses on laboratory- and field-based research into cognitive processes as they occur in formal and informal learning situations. Areas of research emphasis include cognition, instruction, and technology; cognitive development;

Staging of a Tragic Drama :: essays research papers

â€Å"Staging of A Tragic Drama†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Much of our knowledge of Greek theater comes from archaeological studies and historical writings of the time. By the 600s B.C., the Greeks were giving choral performances of dancing and singing at festivals. Tradegies were performed as part of an important yearly religious celebration. Greeks then later staged performances in the Theater of Dionysus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ancient Greek theaters were outdoors, that seated thousands of spectators for annual contests in acting, choral singing, and writing comedy and tradegy. Beyond the circle and facing the audience was the skene, originally used as a dressing area and later as a background for the action. According to Webster, pg. 326. The theater seated about 14,000 people. It consisted of rows of stadiumlike seats that curved about halfway around the orchestra. The stage house, that was facing the audience had three doors. The action may have taken place on a raised platform, or perhaps entirely in the orchestra. A wide central opening, to which were added later two smaller side openings, a rolling platform which can be pushed through the central opening, a roof, and a crane.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greek tragedy, perhaps because it originally was associated with religious celebrations, was solemn, poetic, and philosophic. Nearly all the surviving tragedies were based on myths. The main character was an admirable, but not perfect, person confronted by a difficult moral choice. According to Webster, pg. 326. Greek tragedies were performed by a few actors, never more than three on stage at one time. The main characters struggle against forces ended in defeat and in most Greek tragedies, his or her death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The actors wore masks to indicate the nature of the characters they played. Men played women’s roles and the same actor appeared in several parts. The acting style was probably far from realistic. The poetic language and the idealized characters suggest that Greek acting was formal. According to Webster, pg. 326. The dancers were men wearing a kind of jersey which held in the padding. Sometimes they danced with women, padded, naked or clothed. Men wear masks, tights, and over the tights any other clothing that suits his part.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greek tragedies consisted of a series of dramatic episodes separated by choral odes. The episodes were performed by a few actors, never more than three on stage at a time, during the 400s b.c. A chorus danced and sang and chanted the odes to musical accompaniment. According to Webster, pg. 327. The performances was a unique performance to please the god Dionysos. The earliest record of Greek drama dates from about 534 b. Staging of a Tragic Drama :: essays research papers â€Å"Staging of A Tragic Drama†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Much of our knowledge of Greek theater comes from archaeological studies and historical writings of the time. By the 600s B.C., the Greeks were giving choral performances of dancing and singing at festivals. Tradegies were performed as part of an important yearly religious celebration. Greeks then later staged performances in the Theater of Dionysus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ancient Greek theaters were outdoors, that seated thousands of spectators for annual contests in acting, choral singing, and writing comedy and tradegy. Beyond the circle and facing the audience was the skene, originally used as a dressing area and later as a background for the action. According to Webster, pg. 326. The theater seated about 14,000 people. It consisted of rows of stadiumlike seats that curved about halfway around the orchestra. The stage house, that was facing the audience had three doors. The action may have taken place on a raised platform, or perhaps entirely in the orchestra. A wide central opening, to which were added later two smaller side openings, a rolling platform which can be pushed through the central opening, a roof, and a crane.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greek tragedy, perhaps because it originally was associated with religious celebrations, was solemn, poetic, and philosophic. Nearly all the surviving tragedies were based on myths. The main character was an admirable, but not perfect, person confronted by a difficult moral choice. According to Webster, pg. 326. Greek tragedies were performed by a few actors, never more than three on stage at one time. The main characters struggle against forces ended in defeat and in most Greek tragedies, his or her death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The actors wore masks to indicate the nature of the characters they played. Men played women’s roles and the same actor appeared in several parts. The acting style was probably far from realistic. The poetic language and the idealized characters suggest that Greek acting was formal. According to Webster, pg. 326. The dancers were men wearing a kind of jersey which held in the padding. Sometimes they danced with women, padded, naked or clothed. Men wear masks, tights, and over the tights any other clothing that suits his part.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greek tragedies consisted of a series of dramatic episodes separated by choral odes. The episodes were performed by a few actors, never more than three on stage at a time, during the 400s b.c. A chorus danced and sang and chanted the odes to musical accompaniment. According to Webster, pg. 327. The performances was a unique performance to please the god Dionysos. The earliest record of Greek drama dates from about 534 b.

Why Do We Teach Art in Schools? Essay -- Why Art Education?

Many times in life, the importance of the creative mind is overlooked in a hope that beyond that mind is something of more importance to society. The need for someone to find a cure for â€Å"x† or to discover why â€Å"q=p† is viewed as a higher priority than discovering the next Gustav Klimt or Rembrandt. Being of significance in today’s society is measured in beakers and equations not watercolors and pencils. Because of this mentality it is vital that teachers not overlook the merit of teaching and incorporating art into his/her daily lesson plans. What many people do not realize is how incorporating art into a lesson plan can not only add to the learning practice, it can bring fun and introduce different elements to a seemingly mundane or routine experience. In addition to these things studies have shown that incorporating art in lesson plans can raise the level of SAT scores. According to the College Entrance Examination Board, â€Å"SAT scores of students who studied arts for more than four years were 59 points higher on the verbal portion and 44 points higher on the math portion than were the scores of students with no course work or experience in the arts† (Sakura). Cutting art from a school’s program, due to financial cutbacks, may prove to be more costly than keeping it would be. Martin F. Gardiner of Brown University’s Center for the Study of Human Development found that first-grade students who regularly received just one hour of music and one hour of visual art each week showed â€Å"improved reading skills and were significantly ahead in math skills compared to control groups in other first-grade classrooms† (Gardiner). What do these statistics show us? Obviously it means that art is more... ...cate art programs in our schools. If schools are looking for an equation that proves that art is necessary, this is it: art + children = success. Works Cited Ansary, Tamim. More Art, Better Schools. 2006. 27 Sept. 2014. . Gardiner, Martin F. Study of arts, music may enhance young pupils' math and reading skills. 12 Feb. 1998. 18 Sept. 2014. . The Importance of Art In Schools. 27 June 2000. Sakura of America. 19 Sept. 2014. . The Painter’s Keys. Genn, Robert. 2006. 18 Sept. 2014. . Wachowiak, Frank and Robert D. Clements. Emphasis Art. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. 2006. Why Do We Teach Art in Schools? Essay -- Why Art Education? Many times in life, the importance of the creative mind is overlooked in a hope that beyond that mind is something of more importance to society. The need for someone to find a cure for â€Å"x† or to discover why â€Å"q=p† is viewed as a higher priority than discovering the next Gustav Klimt or Rembrandt. Being of significance in today’s society is measured in beakers and equations not watercolors and pencils. Because of this mentality it is vital that teachers not overlook the merit of teaching and incorporating art into his/her daily lesson plans. What many people do not realize is how incorporating art into a lesson plan can not only add to the learning practice, it can bring fun and introduce different elements to a seemingly mundane or routine experience. In addition to these things studies have shown that incorporating art in lesson plans can raise the level of SAT scores. According to the College Entrance Examination Board, â€Å"SAT scores of students who studied arts for more than four years were 59 points higher on the verbal portion and 44 points higher on the math portion than were the scores of students with no course work or experience in the arts† (Sakura). Cutting art from a school’s program, due to financial cutbacks, may prove to be more costly than keeping it would be. Martin F. Gardiner of Brown University’s Center for the Study of Human Development found that first-grade students who regularly received just one hour of music and one hour of visual art each week showed â€Å"improved reading skills and were significantly ahead in math skills compared to control groups in other first-grade classrooms† (Gardiner). What do these statistics show us? Obviously it means that art is more... ...cate art programs in our schools. If schools are looking for an equation that proves that art is necessary, this is it: art + children = success. Works Cited Ansary, Tamim. More Art, Better Schools. 2006. 27 Sept. 2014. . Gardiner, Martin F. Study of arts, music may enhance young pupils' math and reading skills. 12 Feb. 1998. 18 Sept. 2014. . The Importance of Art In Schools. 27 June 2000. Sakura of America. 19 Sept. 2014. . The Painter’s Keys. Genn, Robert. 2006. 18 Sept. 2014. . Wachowiak, Frank and Robert D. Clements. Emphasis Art. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. 2006.

After failing

Europe was needed as an ally because if Lincoln had dated that he wanted the abolishment of all slavery in all territories then Europe would have joined the war which have resulted in a much more complicated situation, meaning the North would have lost. The Union war effort wanted not only to include reunification but also to abolish slavery. To achieve this so called emancipation the Union was forced to invade the South and take over their lands. Unable to use limited war tactics for victories, the North needed to take more drastic measures to ensure victory.After failing to cake the lead in the war, the decision to use total war was enforced by taking on the goal of eliminating slavery. Knowing the slaves were crucial to their way of life, the North used this ‘fault' as motive for the spirit of the war. The war effort was being promoted throughout the North as it became more than just a war to preserve the nation. The attack on the Southern way of life allowed the North to ru in the economic framework oftener opponents. 2.Careful Union diplomacy managed the Civil War crisis with Britain and need British flirtations with the Confederacy by providing cautious tactics on dealing with the, at the time, easily provoked 3. The primary military strategies of each side were that the Confederacy could fight defensively behind the interior lines, the South had an advantage in morale, they had the most talented officers including General Robert E. Lee himself, and that Southerners seemed always prepared to fight. The North's great strength in the Economy made up for the South's great lack in that area.The North had about three-fourths of the nation's wealth and three-fourths of the railroads. They had control over the sea which was a huge advantage because they were able to cut off Southern supplies and crush the Southern morale. Their sea power also enabled them to exchange big grain quantities for munitions and supplies from Europe. The North also had the vast ma jority Of the men with a population Of 22 million to 9 million in the seceding States. Each side attempted to carry them out by using each one of their advantages o the best of their abilities throughout the Civil War.

Cusick and Her Lesbian Relationship with Music Essay

In the essay â€Å"On a Lesbian Relationship with Music: A Serious Effort Not to Think Straight† by Suzanne G. Cusick, she brings up an interesting topic about the connection between her being a lesbian and her being a musician, a musicologist, if there exists any. I’m especially interested in the â€Å"power system† and the link between musicality and lesbianism she mentions in this article. Here, I’ll try to analysis them in detail and relate them with other issues in music and sexuality, exploring them in a more general picture. Cusick redefines the concept of sexuality in her essay, as the way of â€Å"expressing and/or enacting relationships of intimacy through physical pleasure shared, accepted, or given.† According to her, this process of expressing and enacting can also be found in our musical activities, where the circulation of physical pleasure can be experienced as well. Thus, she says that our musicalities and our sexualities are â€Å"psychically next-door neighbors.† (70) I need to claim that this idea of her amazes me. From my previous musical experience, I’m pretty sure that music is a subject highly intimate for me. For instance, I usually have reluctance when I’m asked to sing or perform a song written by myself, even if I think it is a brilliant one. And this won’t happen if the song is someone else’s. In my opinion, music, especially my own music which I’m personally attached to, is an expression of my true self, and that identity and personal characteristics contained in it makes it so special that I won’t be willing to share it with others, unless it’s someone really close to me. Another fact that I think will support Cusick’s idea is that different people always have different opinions towards the same piece of music. No matter how the composer perceives it, the listener usually has the tendency to relate it to his/her own personal experiences, which differ from person to person. It is reasonable to think that music is a symbol of someone’s personalities and characteristics, because of the intimacy the music creates. Therefore, I believe that there exists a connection between the musicality and the sexuality of a certain person, since both of them are revelations of his/her true identity, and we can examine our own behaviors on both of them. In other words, these two factors are connected because of the person who they belong to, and they are contained in the system of his/her perspectives. Cusick also explains in her article what does it mean to be a â€Å"lesbian† and how to define sexuality, which are essential questions if we want to relate it to music. From her point of view, the essence of one’s sexuality and the element of all relationships is the power system. An example that can explain this is what musicologists say about the masculinity in Beethoven. In Susan McClary’s opinion, there exist musical constructions of gender and sexuality. She regards the field of music and musicology as male-dominated, since the masculine norm and the distinction between genders are deeply rooted in music, such as masculine and feminine cadences, rhythms, gendered major and minor triads, etc. (7) She also analyzes Beethoven’s music, which to her contains â€Å"pounding†, â€Å"thrusting† gestures that represent masculinity. (75) On the contrary, in Sanna Pederson’s article â€Å"Beethoven and Masculinity,† she redefines the concept of masculinity and the link between it with Beethoven. She states that we can find an alternative approach, arguing that we regard Beethoven as symbol of masculinity because of the overwhelming idea that viewing woman as â€Å"as unchanging, eternal essence, as the opposite of the dynamically striving and achieving man.† (326) Matthew Head also approaches this from another perspective by examining the heroic in Beethoven’s works, finding many cross-dressed he roines. (132) It’s notable that although there is importance put on female characters, women usually need to conceal their sexuality and transgress the gendered norms in order to serve as the epitomes in the aesthetic sphere. This shows that, no matter what kind of connection there exists between Beethoven and masculinity, there does exist a power system that emphasis on the inequality between men and women, where women as less – worth less, power less – man, in both our society and in music. Whichever argument we believe, we should admit the extensive presence of the power system in our society, and in practice, it can be found both in music and in many relationships between people, especially heterosexual ones. The most significant point of view of her in this essay, I think, is that she believes being a lesbian is an escape from this power system: As a woman, as a non-dominating and non-power woman who loves another woman in her relationship, the flow of power can exist in both directions, as opposed to a heterosexual relationship where a man typically plays the dominating and powerful part. And Cusick believes that this is the beauty of a lesbian relationship: it’s about â€Å"organizing the force field of power, pleasure, and intimacy that refuses the simple binary opposition male and female†. The lack of opposition creates a world that scrambles the usual components of â€Å"man† and â€Å"woman†, and a world â€Å"free of fixed categories.† (73) This reminds me of the documentary â€Å"Paris is Burning†, which stunned me with its idea of celebrations of a powerful expression of personalities, without any restriction of boundaries. There, what matters is the personal prides, which are fully showed in the â€Å"drag nights† in New York. Cusick further explains the elements in a lesbian relationship as the â€Å"power/pleasure/intimacy† triad. (71) From my understanding, this is indeed an appropriate way to observe a relationship. As I mentioned before, power is an important factor that circulates within the relationship. What’s more, pleasure and intimacy are objectives that we usually want to achieve when we are involved someone we love, and thus they are essential bolsters of a relationship. As Cusick says, this triad can be experienced more freely in lesbian relationships, because without the power flowing only in one direction, the equality and balance between the two lovers can give them more intimacy and pleasure, both physically and psychically, from their relationship. Hence, in Cusick’s article, being a lesbian is not merely a sexual orientation; it is also the way one prefers to behave, to organize the relationship to the world in a â€Å"power/pleasure/intimacy† triad. It’s a way of refusing, breaking, and creating, and to cope with the world in a way that she prefers. And these behaviors can also be detected in a person’s musicality, which is also built in his/he r identity. More interestingly, Cusick talks about the â€Å"lesbian relationship† she has with music. She treats music as a woman, and a woman that can be a lover, and also the beloved – as in a lesbian relationship where the power circulates both ways and cross without boundaries. (78) In the article â€Å"Musicality, Essentialism, and the Closet† written by Philip Brett, he also discusses music be perceived as feminine. Brett says that in history, music has often been considered a dangerous substance, â€Å"an agent of moral ambiguity always in dander of bestowing deviant status upon its practitioners.† (11) By describing music as a woman that â€Å"ravish† our sense or our soul, people from the medieval and early modern times let us see how close music and sexuality can be. This also makes Cusick’s treating music as a female lover more sensible. Another idea of her that interests me is that she thinks her choice of music can reflects her sexuality. She says that her love for hidden relationships and the tension between the ostensible structure, which represents the tension between a social norm and â€Å"a very high degree of eccentricity,† suggests her escape from the power system. Also, she dis-prefers music hat upset this power equilibrium. (77) She explains this by saying that her â€Å"lesbian self† let her prefer certain kinds of music and reject some other kinds. This makes me think about in general, how people’s choices of music reflect their sexuality and identity, and to what degree. I agree that the choices of music can reflect that person’s personality to some extent, but I also believe that the music he/she listens can shape that person into the qualities and personalities that the music wants him/her to have. The same as Cusick’s relationship with her music, there is a counter -influence here as well. Rentfrow and Gosling found in their research that people’s music preferences are related to a wide array of personality dimensions and self-views. If the links between music preferences and personality do exist, we can easily infer that our choices of music reflect our identity, which also links to our sexuality. Besides, we can always see the influences of music on people. It has been shown by Frederick H. Martens that music exerts its collective influence in the course of history. He also says that as an individual influence, music is one of the factors in the life of kings and rulers, which also â€Å"has exerted a more or less direct influence on the destinies of countries and peoples.† We can see clearly from his article that music can significantly affect one’s views and thoughts on this world, therefore it is an important element in directing people’s personality and characteristics. Hence, the relationship between a person and the music he/she listens is a mutual one. People’s preference of music decides the music they choose, and what they choose can reversely change them as well, directing them into the qualities that can be defined through that music. This can also illustrate Cusick’s point that her relationship with music is about the power dynamic that circulates both ways between music and her, and this relationship highly resembles the one between lesbian lovers. Thus, the link between music and sexuality is obvious. Furthermore, I’m wondering about how the connection between identity and sexuality works in other subjects and fields of study. Cusick says in her article that she does not address the texts of music because she thinks that they tend to trick us into staying in a â€Å"power-over paradigm that is mighty close to the regime of compulsory heterosexuality.† Personally, I don’t entirely agree with her on this. In my opinion, other subjects such as literature and art can also illustrate one’s identity, thus they can represent people’s qualities through the â€Å"â€Å"power/pleasure/intimacy† triad as well, and so does texts in music . The reason why Cusick thinks that focusing on texts can deviates us is that her love and professional interests in music leave her only looking at music as an intimate lover. But for people from other fields and domains, their subjects can be treated as lovers and beloved as well. For example, it is reasonable to imagine a poet feels extreme intimacy in his relationship with poems. Cusick mentioned by herself in the notes that she can also find tremendous joy from cooking, and she loves to peel fruits and vegetables without a knife, because she believes it will create wholly pleasurable experiences. (83) I would not say Cusick is also in love with vegetables, but what she says can suggest that pleasure and intimacy do not solely exist between people and music. As Pygmalion can fall in love with the statue he carved, why can’t a songwriter build a romantic tie with the texts of music he wrote? In other words, as long as we have passion, the relationship between people and his/her subject of study can be developed in any area, within which we can find its connection with sexuality. This essay of Cusick is not very long, but the notions it contains, I believe, are really valuable sources of thoughts if we want to explore the relationship between music and sexuality, especially when we want to discover it from a perspective about our own identity and personal characteristics. Cusick has nicely shown that the boundary between music and sex can be a blurred one, where both are means of negotiating power and intimacy through the circulation of pleasure. Here, the most important is the people that involves both with music and with sex, intimately experiencing them and wholly mingling with them. As Cusick says, what really matters is neither music nor sex, but â€Å"the transcendent joy of being alive, not dead, and aware of the existence.† (69) Works Cited: Brett, Philip, Elizabeth Wood, and Gary Thomas. Queering the Pitch : the New Gay and Lesbian Musicology. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2006. McClary, Susan. Reading Music : Selected Essays. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2007. McClary, Susan. Feminine Endings : Music, Gender, and Sexuality. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1991. Rentfrow, Peter J, and Samuel D Gosling. â€Å"The do re miÊ ¼s of everyday life: the structure and personality correlates of music preferences.† Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84.6 (2003) : 1236-1256. Frederick H. Martens. The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Apr., 1925), pp. 196-218 Burnham, Scott G, and Michael P Steinberg. Beethoven and His World. Princeton [N.J.]: Princeton University Press, 2000. Head, Matthew. â€Å"Beethoven Heroine: A Female Allegory of Music and Authorship in Egmont.† 19th-Century Music 30 (2006-07), 97-132.

Evolution of bullying Essay

Bullying behavior has been continuously changing over the years. Different forms of bullying have emerged and they continue to develop and be used in the schools. Technology has played a very big role in the evolution of the behavior. The first forms of bullying that have existed over the years included both direct and indirect methods that were used in the practice. The methods continue to be in use till today but have been evolved by the use of technology. Name calling was one of the types of bullying that were used by the bullies on the victims (Stanffordshire, n.d). The victims were given certain names that were intended to humiliate them and lower their self esteem. The method has since evolved and is in use in more places rather than just in schools. Physical bullying has also evolved from the physical injuries that were inflicted on the victims and it has included theft as a method that is used to involve threats and lead to the violence. Social isolation that was once used to make the victims stay alone without friends and was experienced by children of all age groups has evolved to also include homophobic isolation. Homophobic isolation is the type of isolation that is practiced by the bullies on the children who are termed as gay or they are seen to be gay (Stanffordshire, n. d). It also includes those seen to be bisexual or they portray characteristics that make them seem to be associated with the opposite sex. It is being practiced in the secondary schools and higher levels of education. The method is normally spread through the social websites through gossip and in other websites. One form of bullying that has emerged in schools involves the abuse that is directed on children who are of different races and cultures. This form of bullying has been growing over the years with cases being reported that show the increase. The cases also show that the bullying is also changing according to the different age groups. 25% of children of age 8 were seen to be bullied more compared to the children who were 5 years who only made 20% of the overall cases in that age group (Stanffordshire, n. d). Cyber bullying is the latest and most commonly used form of bullying in the schools today. It continues to evolve with the changes in technology. It uses text messages, emails and various posts on websites as a way of bullying. Studies show that over 20% of young people in schools who are between the ages of 11 and 19 have been bullied through this form of bullying (Stanffordshire, n. d). The children in the schools today are growing up in a different technological world that is very different from that of the adults. They have experienced information and technological developments that they are now using to evolve the bullying practice. The environment in the technological world is becoming threatening and is creating anxiety among the children. They are misusing the technology especially the mobile and internet to bully others. Over 22% of young people have been reported to carry out cyber bulling (Digizen, n. d). They are able to carry out the whole practice remaining anonymous to the victim. This form of bullying has made it possible for the bullies to carry out the practice at any time or place (Digizen, n. d). Effects of Bullying There are various consequences that are seen to arise from the practice of bullying. Students who are seen to bully others tend to carry the practice out of school and they tend to get involved in criminal activities and they experience a lot of legal trouble in their adulthood. They maintain this behavior even in the workplaces negatively affecting their ability to develop relationships that are positive. A study has proven that 60% of the students who were bullies when they were in grade 6-9 were convicted of a crime by the age of 24 (Banks, 1997). The bullies are also prone other problematic behaviors such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. Victims of bullying tend to be very unhappy while in schools and they end up getting depressed and have low self esteem (Wright, 2003). Their school work is affected and they may choose to remain at home instead of going to school. They tend to isolate themselves from social activities that involve the schools and this makes them even lonelier. The loneliness and depression may lead them to commit suicide. This is particularly in the cases of emotional bullying where the emotions are targeted by the bullies. The victims also have difficulties when forming relationships in the future. The by standers who witness the bullying also get affected by it. They are not able to stop the bullying or help out the victim even though he or she may be their friend. Some are usually afraid of becoming the next victim so they end up avoiding confronting the bully. Others on the other hand may be of the opinion that the victim deserved the bullying (Sampson, 2002). They may actively get involved by teasing and ostracizing the victim and motivating the bully. They may also feel less accountable for the actions that are going on when they are in a group. Hence they do not feel the urge to help the victim. Role of Teachers and School Administrators Teachers and school administrators have a role to play in preventing bullying in the schools and making the schools a safe haven free from any bullying activities. They should first be aware of the existence of the problem so that they can develop measures to intervene. The teachers can help detect the existence of the practice and encourage the victims of bystanders to speak out. The interventions that are developed should be able to include the whole school and not intimidate the bullies or the victims either (Olweus, n. d). Teachers and the school administrators can also help identify the areas that are used by the bullies to attack the victims since they mostly do so in private and hidden areas. They should therefore eliminate the existence of such areas within the school’s compound. They can also involve the students to develop rules within the classrooms that are against the behavior. To increase awareness of the problem to the parents, the school administrators should develop parent teacher days to make the parents aware of the problem’s existence and the importance of the parents to get involved in the whole process (Sampson, 2002).

M3 Interpret the contents of a trading and profit and loss account performance of the organisation Essay

Interpret the contents of a trading and profit and loss account and balance sheet for a selected company explaining how accounting ratios can be used to monitor the financial performance of the organisation . Profit and Loss account. The P&L will not tell you about the underlying health of the business, such as how much money it owes or is owed and what the value of its assets are. It shows how much money did business made in a year. It records two things sales and cost/turnover. The trading account shows the income from sales and the direct costs of making those sales. It includes the balance of stocks at the start and end of the year. There are different sections of P&L which include: 1. Sales- it is the total value of what you’ve sold during the period of time. The formula for it is price time’s quantity. 2. Cost of sales- these are the costs that are directly related to the sales you have made. It includes raw materials or stock you have purchased to resell. It may also include the cost of creating the items that you sold, including the cost of staff time if you are selling service. 3. Gross Profit – This is the sum of sales revenue minus cost of sales. It tells you how much profit you are making directly from your sales. 4. Operating Costs – These are all the other costs associated with running a business, such as the rent and rates on your premises, accountancy and legal fees, and depreciation. These costs cannot be directly linked to your sales and may not change very much even if your sales figures were to change significantly. 5. Net Profit – This is the gross profit minus the operating costs. This is almost the true profit of your business because it’s made up of all the income and all the costs. The net profit is transferred over to balance sheet. Balance sheet A balance sheet shows the value of a business on a particular date. A balance sheet shows what the business owns and owes. It is also used as a guide for solvency of the company. Anything in your business that has financial value is included in the balance sheet. Everything is split into four groups. 1. In first group is included everything that can be liquidated (sold for cash) including stock, cash, and money owed by customers, are current assets. These are usually short term. 2. Second group is more long-term; including property, machinery, patents and long-term investments these are called fixed assets, which are long term liquidation. 3. Third part of balance sheet is current liabilities and they are what the business owes in the short-term: money owed to suppliers, taxes due, short-term loans and overdrafts. 4. The last group is long-term liabilities they are what the business owes in the long-term – to be paid after one year, as well as capital and reserves. Gross Profit Margin This ratio examines the relation between the gross profit and sales revenue. It also measures the % of gross profit that is made from a given amount of sales. It shows how efficiently a business is using its materials and labours in the production process and gives an indication of the pricing, cost structure, and production efficiency of your business. The higher the gross profit margin ratio the better it is for business. The higher the percentage, the more the business retains of each pound of sales, which means more money is left over for other operating expenses and net profit. A low gross profit margin ratio means that the business generates a low level of revenue to pay for operating expenses and net profit. It indicates that either the business is unable to control production or inventory costs or  those prices are set too low. Acid Test Ratio This method excludes stock as stock is not a very liquid asset. Acid-Test ratio provides a more rigorous assessment of a company’s ability to pay its current liabilities. A higher acid-test ratio indicates greater short-term financial health. The acid-test ratio is more conservative than the current ratio, which measures much the same thing, because the current ratio excludes the value of inventory. Net Profit Margin Net profit margin measures how much of each pound earned from sales of good and service the company is translated into profits. It also provides clues to the company’s pricing, cost structure and production efficiency. Net profit is used to pay for interest, tax and distribution to the owners. The higher the net profit margin ratio the better it is for the business. It indicates whether a firm has enough short-term assets to cover its immediate liabilities without selling inventory. A low net profit margin ratio may mean that you are not generating enough sales, the gross profit margin is too low, or that you are not keeping your operating expenses under control to leave an acceptable profit. A business with a low ratio might need to take on debt to pay its expenses. Return On Capital Employed It shows the return for money that is spent and it also says how well you do with the money. ROCE should always be higher than the rate at which the company borrows otherwise any increase in borrowing will reduce shareholders’ earnings and it indicates that the company is not employing its capital effectively and is not generating shareholder value. For a company, the ROCE trend over the years is also an important indicator of performance. In general, investors tend to favour companies with stable and rising ROCE numbers over companies where ROCE is volatile and bounces around from one year to the next. Debtors Days It shows how long it takes debtors to pay you money back. Increases in debtor days may be a sign that the quality of a company’s debtors is decreasing. This could also mean a greater risk of defaults. It could similarly be an indicator that cash flow is likely to weaken or that more working capital will be required. Investors should be aware of why changes in debtor days are happening, especially if there is a very large increase or a clear long term increasing trend. It may reflect a change in how the business operates, or its environment. This is not necessarily bad, but it can be an indication of a potentially serious problem.

Develop an online strategy to create advertising to improve business Essay

Develop an online strategy to create advertising to improve business - Essay Example With the colossal development of technology, e-commerce has now become one of the important business tools for small and large business houses across the globe. E-commerce is not just used as the technology for promoting sales, but is also used as a tool for engaging customers and remaining in touch with them (Gao, 2013). Furthermore, e-commerce is one of the cheapest forms of business transaction. Along with that it has mass reach (Goel, 2007). One of the biggest advantages of e-commerce technology is that it has no time limitations and companies can use this technology to carry out business operation across the whole day. The labor cost and delivery time also get reduced to a great extent thereby reducing the overall cost of operation (Alsmadi, Alhami & Alsmadi, 2009). Studies have shown that e-commerce market is growing at a robust rate (Ecommerce-land, 2004). When it started the market value of e-commerce business was considerably less, but according to latest reports, the global e-commerce market has reached $1 trillion reflecting a growth of 21.1% market share. Forecasters have predicted that this year the market will grow further and will touch $1.298 trillion worldwide reflecting a growth of 18.3% (Emarketer, 2013). ... With a staggering 384 million internet users, e-commerce provides companies with the opportunity to expand business and increase the overall revenue. Therefore it can be affirmed that recommending Mary and Joe Johnson to implement e-commerce technology for their business operation is fully justified. The next sections of the study will throw light on the certain aspects of e-commerce and its associated concepts. Importance and Features of a Website The growth and development of technology have influenced a number of firms across the world to implement new systems for enhancing their overall productivity. The emergence of internet has taken the use of technology for business to the next level. Eminent scholars and industry experts have stated that internet has actually changed the way of business transaction is carried out. Furthermore, it has also played pivotal roles in the improving business communication and the flow of information across the organization hierarchy (Jagoda, 2010). A company considering e-commerce implementation for business transaction should also encompass a website, which is the platform over which business deals will be carried out. A website is defined as a collection of different ‘web pages’ under a single domain name. Websites are powerful and cost effective marketing tools as well. In addition, a company having its own website increases the chances of getting recognized and remains visible in the marketplace. Some of the key features of a website are as follows: - 1. Provide Information: - The most important feature of a website is that it provides information to the users about the subject of concern. It not only offer the users with

Maternal & paediatric care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Maternal & paediatric care - Essay Example Rheumatic fever is an infection that can be compared to an inflammatory disease. It is said to develop two or three weeks after a group A Streptococcal infection. This type of infection is referred to through a scarlet fever or a strep throat.The basis of this kind of infection is found in cross reactivity that is created through a conflict between antibodies. Such an infection can affect various parts of the body. This includes the heart, joints, skin and brain (Robbins Basic Pathology). An acute version of rheumatic fever is said to appear in children who fall between the ages of five and fifteen. Adults are inflicted at a lesser degree with this fever. 20% of adults are thought to be affected by a first time attack of this disease. The results of this disease are said to leave a life long mark on the patient (American Heart Association). There are not many differences between a rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. While rheumatic fever can be caused by an inflammation, the heart disease caused by this kind of fever is known as rheumatic heart disease. The damage done by this infection to the heart is a direct result of the fever itself. Any patient who has suffered from this kind of fever is more susceptible to suffering from the heart damage which follows. This is the reason why patients who have undergone this kind of fever are given a monthly dose of antibiotics for the rest of their life. Any problems caused to the heart by the fever can lead to an increased risk to the heart and further complications such as infective endocarditic. Rheumatic heart disease leads to a clogging of the heart valves. Thus, rheumatic heart disease is a direct cause of the fever in itself and has the same symptoms and cure. There are many symptoms to a rheumatic fever. They are usually preceded by a strep throat that is responsible for causing the inflammation as mentioned previously which can later develop into a fever, chest pain and skin rashes. There are several ways to cure this type of a fever. It can be done with by reducing the inflammation in itself. This can be done using several ways. Anti inflammatory medicine likes aspirin or corticosteroids to help reduce the infection. If this medicine is not taken then the patient can suffer from acute rheumatic fever. Antibiotics can also be taken to cure the strep throat. Later in life, a recurring fever can be prevented by eradicating the infection with the use of antibiotics. Dehydration Dehydration is not a disease or illness. It is caused by an excessive loss of water in the body (MedicineNet). Another term for it is hypohydration where water is removed from an object. Because the water in the human body is responsible for possessing so many solutes a loss can lead to severe deficiencies. Thus, while the body losses its water it is coupled with the loss of important solutes needed by the body as well. Dehydration can be caused by a variety of reasons. These states or diseases can lead to the body's inability to impair water. The first of this can be blamed on external causes. Physical activity which can lead to sweating without the consumption of adequate water can cause this problem. Another is the exposure to humid weather which can lead an individual to lose water in an atmosphere of dry air. Along with this the individual's health can also affect their levels of hydration. These include vomiting, diarrhea or hyperthermia, any of which can cause a severe loss of water in the body. Infectious diseases can also be held responsible for dehydration: such as cholera, gastroenteritis or yellow fever. Another reason for dehydration is malnutrition which can lead to an individual receiving a reduced amount of water required for the body. The symptoms of dehydration can be easily discovered depending on the degree it has reached in the body. A mild dehydration can lead to

Critical Reflection Journal. Teachers and activism Essay

Critical Reflection Journal. Teachers and activism - Essay Example The second question illustrates the types of changes realized due to activism; for example, social equality in education process. 1) What is the impact of activism in education sector? 2) What are the categories of changes realized by education activism? Indeed, this article is quite informative. It has equipped me with lots of information about the development and roles of activism in the education sector. Besides, it has enabled me to know much about the reforms that still need to be introduced in education so as to make it accomplish its role of bringing social order in the society. As explained by the author, such transformations are necessary because of â€Å"our changing notions of freedom and the changing relationship between individuals and society and between individuals and government† (p65). During most of the twentieth century â€Å"social democratic liberalism became increasingly dominant as workers, women, and people of color pushed for and were able to extend their personal and political† interest (p 63). Activism has two major applications in the education sector. The first application involves enhancing equality in the education sector. All students must be treated equally, in terms of resource allocation, and instructional processes. Secondly, activism improves the relevance of education objectives and activities in the society. The education curriculum must aim at ensuring the people become self reliant. This is through acquisition of appropriate skills, knowledge and experience. The three critical questions for understanding education activism involve: What is the effectiveness of the education reforms? What is the opinion of the teachers and related education stakeholders on the illustrated education concept? What is the opinion of the parents on the new education concept? The research of the study

Activity Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Activity Report - Essay Example From the cooperation, portrayed by all members of the team, all plans indicated in the work plan were achieved as planned. During the first month of the project, the group held a meeting, whose agenda was to outline all the requirements required for successful of the project. All members of the group attended the meeting held at the conference centre and the online meeting. Upon successful completion of the meetings, e-mails containing minutes and roles of each member in the project, were sent to all members to avoid future miscommunications. With the assistance of Sheehan book on ‘Technical communication’, my group has opted for the use of computer skills to make the team’s work easier. Computers have aided in fast and effective communication between members of the group as well as conducting comprehensive research on the requirements of the project. Majority of the members of the group are optimistic that with the use of computers, they will be in an easier position to research on their work, edit and present in a more fashionable manner. Thanks to Sheehan (pp.45) on his work, my group has portrayed the best skills and virtues of team work. We were able to prepare documents as well as print them, thus having an easier time while making the team’s presentations to the

Primark and the 5 Gaps Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Primark and the 5 Gaps Model - Essay Example Primark is famous because they sell their items of clothing at budget end prices of the market. This is the main reason of success of Primark as they supply their sources cheaply. The clothing they have is of simple fabrics and designs. Sizes of the clothes are of the standards sizes and they make it in bulks with different types of varieties (About us- Primark, 2010). These are some of the brands of Primark (About us- Primark, 2010): Atmosphere — Women wear/footwear Active - menswear Backswing - Women and men’s sportswear Butler & Webb — formal menswear Cedar wood State — casual menswear Denim Co. — women wear, casual men's and children’s wear Early Days — baby wear (newborn-23mnths) Essentials - basic cheaper items Girl 2 Girl — young girls wear (2yrs-7yrs) Limited Edition — women wear Competitors of Primark The main competitors of Primark are all the fashion retail stores such as Marks and Spencer, John and Lewis, Zara ’s and other such brand retail stores. The difference between Primark and its competitors are that Primark has adopted a low cost strategy in fashion retailing and its competitors are high priced. ... The type of services provided by the organisation is at times very difficult to measure as service is an intangible thing (Wisniewski, 2001). There have been many definitions discussed on the term service quality and the most common ones are the service quality is the meeting of the expectation of the needs of the customers (Lewis and Mitchell, 1990). It should be strongly adhered by all organisations that they should constantly work upon improving their service quality so that they can attain a large customer base. The type of services provided by the organisation has to be valued against the perceived service by the customer. In other words it is the difference between the expectations of a customer of the service and the perceived service (Asubonteng et al., 1996). All service organisations need to match up to the expectation level of the customers so that they have a good perception level of the organisation. If the customers have expected vey high and the performance is not up t o the level, then dissatisfaction is observed from the customer (Parasuraman et al., 1985). Organisations need to constantly work upon improving their standards of service delivery so that they can attain a high level of customer satisfaction from their valuable customers (Dotchin and Oakland, 1994). Reasons for Primark’s Success In the midst of high competition in the fashion retail market, Primark has successfully managed to overcome their tough competitors such as Marks & Spencer, John & Lewis and other such fashion retail stores. The reasons for Primark’s success are as follows: Primark implemented the low cost strategy in their organisation and this strategy worked perfectly for them. In the time periods of high inflation, everyone has to work upon their budgets; they cannot

Explain and evaluate the significance of the IAASB clarity project for Essay

Explain and evaluate the significance of the IAASB clarity project for UK audits - Essay Example As a result, any case of bankruptcy of corporations whose financial accounts were audited; would directly or indirectly point out the role and possible and probable contribution of auditors. Since the fall of Enron, WorldCom and the most recent global financial crisis, the role and practices of auditors have come under more scrutiny than ever before. And these scandals and termed as ‘audit failures’, defined as an event in which the auditor fails either to implement generally accepted accounting principles or to issue qualified report.( Francis, 2004). But, previous research suggests that audit failures result in the impairment of auditor reputation, as witnesses by a loss in market share (Firth, 1990; Wison and Grimlund, 1990; weber et al.2008), also lower audit fees (Davis and Simon, 1992). The recently emerged financial conditions have put more pressure on the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) to revisit some of the basic International Stand ards on Auditing (ISAs). Undoubtedly, the use and need of these international auditing standards is never more needed and felt than this time. In the current economic and financial global circumstances, the need and significance is timely understood and realised by the IAASB. In collaboration with other international professional auditing, accounting and other professional bodies, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board began its working on the clarity project in the year of 2006 (Smith, 2010). This clarity project is designed and established to reduce the ambiguity in some of the standards on the auditing, and it is designed to enhance clarity on some of the standards. Additionally, another significant aim of this clarity project is introduced to enhancing understandability on some of the auditing standards. The new clarified audit related standards came into force in the UK and in Ireland for the purpose of audit of financial statements for period ending on or aft er the date of 15 December 2010, But, before going to explain and evaluate this clarity project for UK, it is vitally important to understand the main objectives behind the establishment of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Background of International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board The IAASB is established to develop auditing and assurance standards

A Critical Evaluation of How Muslims Living in Britain Can be Both Essay

A Critical Evaluation of How Muslims Living in Britain Can be Both British and Muslim - Essay Example Issues of identity in Britain have largely centred on the concept of ‘otherness’. Muslims were considered ‘aliens’ in the 1950s and 1960s. The term ‘alien’ means otherness, and also means difference, threat, and inequality (Ahmad and Sardar, 2012: 2). Towards the latter part of the 20th century, cultural difference became very popular and otherness became the latest thing. Difference is no longer intimidating; and otherness today is valued for its commercial aspect, the exoticism and delight it could provide. Still, identity has been one of the most important concerns for Muslims living in Britain. Contrary to earlier thoughts on identity, which view it in quite permanent terms, the present belief is changeable and continuously influenced by the evolving environment. This essay critically evaluates how Muslims living in Britain can be both British and Muslim. This essay analyses the historical events, social and political aspects, and cultural f actors that contributed to the creation of a distinctive Muslim identity. The different features of identity class, ethnicity and religion are believed to be subjected to historical dynamics, and it is viewed as being continuously reinterpreted and recreated according to external and internal factors. The diverse and worldly characteristic of British society is believed to create various opposing identities. A large number of Muslims living in Britain have had to harmonise their religious and ethnic features at the individual and societal levels. All have been made difficult by drastic cultural and social transformation in the latter part of the 20th century, forcing them to adjust and compromise (Norcliffe, 2004). As the impact of the cultural and societal norms from which they came from on behaviour and beliefs has disappeared with the appearance of a bigger population of Muslims born and educated in Britain, they have become more and more integrated into the British society. Bein g British and Muslim A national narrative that includes Islamic history would allow Muslims, especially younger generations of Britain-born Muslims, to understand how much of their own traditions are an important aspect of British traditions. This would help present and future generations gain a strong identity as British Muslims. However, there is a much larger benefit to be gained from Britain’s acceptance of its Islamic influences and the acceptance by British Muslims that British traditions are an important aspect of Islamic culture. Diasporas have historically influenced Islamic societies. Even the Prophet Muhammad moved from his homeland; and the community he formed in Medina were shaped by a diaspora (Ahmed, 2012). The historical Islamic culture was formed not by Arabs but by groups from Africa, the India, and central Asia. The Abbasid caliphate, widely viewed as the high point of Islamic learning and wisdom, was the product of a diaspora. The autonomous Muslim states that were built in the 20th century, like Malaysia and Pakistan, were usually formed in Britain by a diaspora (Gould, 2011). British Muslims can take advantage of this history to change Islam, as well as Muslim societies across the globe. The British Muslim scholars consider Britain as a perfect site of change. The study of Waqar Ahmad shows that British Muslim scholars have a dream of a democratic and diverse Islam. There are major internal changes that reveal â€Å"the fruition of a tangible Muslim consciousness among Muslim communities† (Ahmad and Sardar, 2012: 8). Muslims adapt to socially created and faith-oriented identities, and carefully choose how they define themselves. They made use of British history to defend their status like on Islamic schools, they formed their public