Freemium pricing of Dropbox Essay

1. Describe Dropbox’s â€Å"Freemium Pricing strategy† to get users and revenue. What was this strategy? What did the company hope to accomplish with this strategy? Dropbox is a company providing remote-storage over the internet, cloud storage service as well. The â€Å"Freemium Pricing Strategy† is a popular pricing strategy which company provide client a basic service without paying a dime and premium services were paid. Dropbox offers 2GB cloud storage space for free and 1TB for $9.99 per month. The basic service attracts millions of customer to use and like it. On the other hand, the major revenue is generated by paid customers which weights 60% of total revenue. Moreover, Drew Houston, the CEO and founder of Dropbox, introduced an incentivize mechanism to expand the market. Satisfied users are more willing to recommend Dropbox to their friends, family and co-worker, in turn, they can get free storage upgrade. In corporate business, Dropbox provide paid â€Å"Dropbox for Business† which featured unlimited storage and administrative control. Corporate contribute 40% of Dropbox revenue for the effectiveness Dropbox provided. The freemium pricing and incentive mechanism accelerate Dropbox customer acquisition. Although 98% customers are unpaid and generate zero revenue, the significant amount of user base is potential wealth of Dropbox. Dropbox was considered as one of the most successful companies to offer â€Å"Freemium Pricing† in cloud storage market. Freemium offers customers an opportunity to try out a new product or service risk-free and cost-free. Meanwhile, Dropbox achieved the objective, 200 million of user. 1. What were the positive results of this strategy? With â€Å"Freemium Pricing†, Dropbox has 17% market share, and the second market dominator, beside Apple iCloud, which pre-programmed inside consumer hardware such as iPhone, iPad and laptop. Even several internet giants began vying a piece of promising cloud storage market, Dropbox was still possessing the second big vendor in the market. In short-term, â€Å"Freemium Pricing† speed up Dropbox user grew from 4 million to 200 million in four years and generate $400 million revenue by 2012. As well, in long-term, Dropbox builds brand image and cultivates customer habit. With huge potentials, Dropbox is valued at over 4 billion dollars. 2. What were the negative results or failures of this strategy, if any? The competition of cloud storage market is very intense, which makes Dropbox profitability less sustainable. Consumers may turned into other giant vendor such as Google, Apple and Amazon. â€Å"Freemium Pricing† and incentivize mechanism bring some negative influence on Dropbox. Customer prefer to get more storage with recommend to friends and their friend will do the same thing to get free upgrade by doing the same thing. This will increase Dropbox operation cost by purchasing more servers and maintain them. For venture capital investor, great volatility of future revenue means high risk. The value of D ropbox may be overestimated. Low user conversion rate, loss of customers and make people always want use Dropbox for free will be hidden risk for Dropbox. 3. What was the strategy that Dropbox used for corporate/business customers? Describe this strategy and its results. Firstly, Dropbox was applying the â€Å"Freemium Pricing Strategy† to acquire basic users. According to Drew Houston, his goal was to get individuals to use and like it so much that they, in turn, got their employers to sign up as well. Dropbox was offering a product that people didn’t know that needed until they tried. Free trial gives everyone a chance to try and experience the convenience and efficiency Dropbox brings to them. Secondly, Houston built an incentive strategy to stimulate the referral process Users benefit from getting more free storage and Houston get more customers. The referral hierarchy and accelerate the promotion of Dropbox. The quick expand of user create more chance that users will bring Dropbox to their workplace. After that, Dropbox holding a large share of the consumer cloud storage market. Internet giants stepped into the market, Houston turned his sight on corporate users. Dropbox termed corporate version â€Å"Dropbox for Business† which including unlimited storage space and administrative control. File sharing and co-working are become more efficiently than before. Finally, Dropbox achieved another success in corporate users whom become the secondary revenue stream weighted 40% of total revenue. 4. What other strategies can you think of that Dropbox could have chosen, instead of  Freemium Pricing? According to news, Dropbox is turning its direction into Big Data analysis. Diversity in product is necessary for Dropbox to develop a new stream of revenue. â€Å"Freemium Pricing† costs too much time and budget on customer cultivating, in exchange, high uncertainty and risk are fatal disadvantage of Dropbox. Alternatively, Dropbox could use penetration pricing strategy. They offer the basic service with lowest price and gain enough consumers to gain the market share. The difference between penetration pricing and Freemium is the cost of customer maintaining is low but they may loss more users when the price raised.

Hawthorne Studies (Organisational Behaviour)

HAWTHORNE STUDIES The most important contribution to the human relations movement within organizational behavior came out of the Hawthorne studies undertaken at western electric company’s Hawthorne works in Chicago in between 1924 and 1932. Main researches were Elton Mayo, Dickson, Whitehead, and Rothlisberger. The researchers originally set out to study the relationship between productivity and physical working conditions. They conducted various researches in four phases with each phase attempting to answer the question raised at the previous phase.The four phases were; 1. Experiments to determine the effects of changes in illumination on productivity; Illumination experiments (1924-27) 2. Experiments to determine the effects of changes in hours and other working conditions on productivity; Relay assembly test room experiments (1927-28). 3. Conducting plant wide interviews to determine worker attitudes and sentiments, Mass interviewing program (1928-30). 4. Determination and analysis of social organization at work; Bank wiring observation room experiments (1931-32). Illumination experiments:-The experiments began in 1924 and extended over several years. The purpose was to examine the relation of quality and quantity of illumination to efficiency of industrial workers. Control and experimental groups were established. The experimental group was presented with varying illumination intensities, while the control group worked under a constant intensity. The researches were surprised to see that productivity increased to roughly the same rate in both the test and control groups. It was only in final experiment, where they decreased illumination levels to 0. 0f foot candle (roughly moonlight intensity) that an appreciable decline in output occurred. The engineers concluded that illumination intensity was not directly related to group productivity, but they could not explain the behavior they had witnessed. Relay assembly test room experiments:- Relay assembly test room experiments were designed to determine the effect of changes in various job conditions on group productivity as the illumination experiments could not establish relationship between intensity of illumination and production.For this purpose, the researchers set up a relay assembly test room and two girls were selected. These girls were asked to choose four more girls as company-workers. Following ere the changes and the resultant outcomes; 1. The incentive system was changed so that each girl’s extra pay was based on the other five rather than output of larger group. The productivity increased as compared to before. 2. Two five-minute rests –one in morning session and other in the evening session – were introduced which were increased to ten minutes.The productivity increased. 3. The rest period was reduced to five minutes but frequency was increased. The productivity decreased slightly and the girls complained that frequent rest intervals affected the rhythm of the work. 4. The number of rest pauses was reduced to two of ten minutes each, but in the morning, coffee or soup was served along with sandwich and in the evening, snack was provided. The productivity increased. 5. Changes in working hours and workday were introduced. Productivity again increased.As each change was introduced, absenteeism decreased, morale increased and less supervision was required. Mass interviewing program During the course of experiments, about 20,000 interviews were conducted between 1928 and 1930 to determine employee’s attitude towards company, supervision, insurance plans, promotion and wages. Initially these interviews were conducted by means of direct questioning but later it was changed to non-directive interviewing where interviewer was asked to listen to instead of talking, arguing or advising.During the course of interviews, it was discovered that worker’s behavior was being influenced by group behavior. Bank wiring observatio n room experiments The concluding study at Hawthorne was significant because it confirmed that the importance of one aspect of the informal organization on worker productivity. Specifically, the researchers studied workers in the bank wiring room and found the behavioral norms set by the work group had a powerful influence over the productivity of a group. The higher the norms, the greater the productivity.The lower the norms, the lower the productivity. The power of the peer group and the importance of the group influence on individual behavior and productivity were confined in the bank wiring study. Findings ?Workplaces are social environments and people are motivated by much more than economic self-interest. ?The girls were allowed to have a friendly relationship with their supervisor and they felt happier at work. ?They felt like part of a team when changes were discussed in advance with them. Flowing from the findings of these investigations he came to certain conclusions as fo llows: Work is a group activity. oThe social world of the adult is primarily patterned about work activity. oThe need for recognition, security and sense of belonging is more important in determining workers' morale and productivity than the physical conditions under which he works. oA complaint is not necessarily an objective recital of facts; it is commonly a symptom manifesting disturbance of an individual's status position. oThe worker is a person whose attitudes and effectiveness are conditioned by social demands from both inside and outside the work plant. Informal groups within the work plant exercise strong social controls over the work habits and attitudes of the individual worker. oThe change from an established society in the home to an adaptive society in the work plant resulting from the use of new techniques tends continually to disrupt the social organization of a work plant and industry generally. oGroup collaboration does not occur by accident; it must be planned an d developed. If group collaboration is achieved the human relations within a work plant may reach a cohesion which resists the disrupting effects of adaptive society.

Business in europe Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business in europe - Case Study Example It is home to some of the world known scholars who have made great contribution to the modern world of education. Greek is a member of the European Unions after joining in 1981. It also a member of the Economic and monitory union of the Europe union which it joined in 200. It is also a member for NATO which it joined in 1952 and OECD since 1961. Greek is credited to be the home of civilization in Europe. This happened in the Aegean Sea which has been shown as the home to the first civilization in Europe. The Minoa civilization in the Crete and Mycenae civilization happened later in the mainland of Greece which emerges with Greek cities of Peninsula and spread to other parts of Europe. At the same time Greece has been able to develop a world class economy. Ti has one of the growing economies in Europe which it has been able to sustain since 1950s. There has been a major shift in the economic constant of Greek for all that time. It has shifted from agrarian economy to a technology driven economy recently. The country has developed a capitalist economy with a GDP of more the $305.595 billion as per the 2006 data. The country has diversified economic activities including tourism, shipping industry, banking, manufacturing and construction, and telecommunications. The country has also been resettled as regional hub for many developing multination companies as they try to venture in the three continents where Greek sits at a juncture. The country has been able to develop a standard economy and there has been an emerging middle class in the country. It has been raked 24th in the 2006 HDI on the quality of life index. According to the IMF, the country has a per capital income of $35,166 which has been places at the same level with other European countries like Germany, France, Italy and others.A historical review of Greece economy Since 1950, Greece stared economic reforms which were aimed at ensuring that the country developed a sustainable economic development plan. From 1950, the country began transforming its economy from an agrarian economy to service and manufacturing industry. Even if there was a slow progress in the economic performance at that time, the government was able to sustain a standard 7% economic growth rate from 1950 to 1970 which has been described as a the economic miracle of the time. At the same time, the government came up with economic policies which were aimed at attracting foreign investors in the country in order stir that economy. Government economic policy there was at the time targeting foreign investors, state intervened in the economic planning and the growth too of tourism. The tourism sector became a major player in the economic growth of the nation. After three decades of economic miracle the economy again stagnated in 1979 and since then it has been struggling to resume it earlier growth without necessarily causing increased inflation rate. (CIA World Fact book, 2006) Until the mid 1970s, the govern policies in Greece had been aimed at ensuring that there was principle look at the growing agriculture and industry sectors, controlling the prices of goods an services and the rate of inflation, improving the financial status of the operating firms, development of natural resources and the creation

Push and pull factors in Syrian migration Assignment - 4

Push and pull factors in Syrian migration - Assignment Example About 100  000 refugees have also managed to get asylum in European countries. David Williams also concurs with this by stating that â€Å"An average of almost 5,000 Syrians are fleeing into neighbouring countries every day.† This has resulted in the officials warning of the need for more humanitarian aid to the support communities. Many Syrians have been forced out of their homes and ultimately their country as a result of raging war. There is no peace in this country as a result of the war and it is hardly possible to live in such a place. It can also be seen that homes and other necessary infrastructure have been destroyed as a result of this war. As a result, the Syrians are left with no option but to migrate to other areas that are believed to be safe. Many people who have migrated from the war torn Syria have sought refuge in neighbouring countries as well as other European countries. These people are often forced to seek asylum or refuge as a result of the fact that they are left with nowhere to stay after their homes have been destroyed in the raging civil war in their country. Some people are also encouraged to migrate to other destinations by the favourable conditions thought to exist there. However, not all of them find their lives rosy in these far away destinations such as Europe. Yardly Jim and Planigiani, Gaia aptly state that â€Å"Having risked their lives in hopes of settling in prospering Northern Europe, many Syrians found themselves trapped in the south, living illegally in Italy, hiding from the police, as they tried to sneak past border guards and travel north to apply for asylum.† There are some lucky ones who have successfully applied for refuge and some have found employment. As a result of tough European laws on migration as well as asylum seeking, many people have found themselves trapped in these far off destinations believed to be safe havens. The children as well as the education sector have not been spared by the

As a policy matter, should the government be able to restrict the sale Essay

As a policy matter, should the government be able to restrict the sale of video games with violent content, and if so, what rest - Essay Example The students were reported to have played the video game â€Å"Doom,† and were inspired by it. This led to heated debates between two opposing sides. While advocates argued in favor of a restriction in sales of violent video games, groups of opponents led by the game developers argued against such move. They explained that correlation between the violent video games and the acts of the two students were incidental and could not be used as a justification (IDEA, 2012). While proponents argued about a link between violence and increased watching of violent games, the opponents denied any link between violent behaviors and watching of violent videos. Therefore despite the efforts the government has undertaken to restrict violent video games, the government is not able to regulate them as required due to legal implications and high demand of such games in the market. In 2011, the Supreme Court struck down a ban on selling violent games to minors. The Supreme Court found the Califo rnian law that sought to restrict the sale of violent games to minors to be in contradiction with the free speech rights and was overturned. The judgment was overwhelming in a 7 to 2 decision and declared that the Californian statute against the sale of violent games was in serious violation of the rights protection under the First Amendment (Richey, 2011). The Californian State as the judges agreed had the right to protect children against harm by such violent games. However, the judges noted that such powers cannot be free floating to restrict all ideas to which children have possibilities of being exposed to (Richey, 2011). This was the first ruling on violent materials restriction, which was a huge setback to the California state in its bid to protect children against harm caused by such violent games. It implies that the government is not able to restrict or control such video games as required. The government has weak laws and statutes aimed at limiting such sale of violent ga mes to minors. In 1968 the Supreme Court upheld a New York statute that sought to restrict and ban any sale of nude and obscene materials to underage children. The court found that the government indeed had the right and the power to regulate and restrict sale of such sexual materials to children without violating the protection of free speech as stated under the First Amendment (Mcmahan 2013). However, the Supreme Court on the Californian case rejected any application of the same principles by arguing speech of violence is not obscene; thus the 1968 ruling could not be applied in the ban of violent materials. This revealed a serious anomaly under the First Amendment. As one of the 2 dissenting judges, Stephen Breyer noted, there was no sense of preventing a child from accessing a nude picture of a woman, while in the same violent games children are allowed to view such women and even go further to strangle them to death virtually (Mcmahan 2013) . The law in this case is contradicto ry and needs a more elaborate evaluation of the First Amendment to include violent materials under the same category with obscene materials to facilitate the government to use the, law in protecting children against such violent materials. Psychiatrists and research suggest that offering blanket blame to violent games would e missing the point behind violence in children, which would hugely impact on efforts by the government to restrict such games. Kathy Royer a clinical nurse specialist at 4Kid Help Center for Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Ohio

Ethics, Moral dilemmas, and the Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethics, Moral dilemmas, and the Law - Assignment Example dilemma of freedom versus control, telling the truth versus deception, the distribution of resources dilemma, plus the application of empirical knowledge versus personal beliefs (Guido, 2010). In applying any of these, nurses should do so to protect the lives of their patients and discharge their duties in an ethical manner. (Koutoukidis, et al., 2013)Â  states that understanding the law is a crucial integral of the nursing education. This is because there are legal issues that create a dilemma to the nursing fraternity. Nurses are faced with the problem of choosing to attend to their patients who could have been hurt in a crime and reporting them to the police. They also face the risk of the likelihood of breaking the law in the event of their working. They are required to honour their civil contract of service regardless of the situation. If they contravene any of these laws, a nurse risks being prosecuted. Moral dilemma in nursing arises when a number of morally conflicting issues arise. A nurse who has respect for life and values its sanctity will have difficulties in termination an unwanted pregnancy, whether it is likely going to save the mother’s life or not. The nurse understands of the psychological torment or pain that the mother is likely to be going through, yet she cannot do what she considers to be morally bad. Such a nurse knows what morally is right, but institutional constrains render it impossible for her to institute the right thing (Fitzpatrick & Kazer,

Fibre Reinforce Polymer Composites in Bridge Structures Term Paper

Fibre Reinforce Polymer Composites in Bridge Structures - Term Paper Example From the research it can be comprehended that mechanically, a composite is a separable combination of two or more materials that are not the same at the molecular level but purposefully mixed to come up with a new material that has optimal and superior properties, which are different from those of its components. These materials have been utilized over the years in construction. An ancient way was the use of straw for reinforcement in clay and mud bricks. In the last century, in several structural systems, combination of reinforcing concrete and steel has been used for construction. However, a new crop of composite material has since been largely accepted by most engineers for construction and the rehabilitation of new structures and existing facilities. This class consists of Fibre Reinforced Polymer composites, which were in the earlier days developed specifically for defense and aerospace. Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) are a combination of polymeric resins which acts as binders o r matrices that has stiff and strong fibre assemblies which act as the reinforcing phase. The combination of a reinforcing phase with the matrix phase produces a material system that is analogous to steel reinforced concrete and is new. However, these concentrations may significantly vary; generally, the reinforced concrete rarely has more than 5% reinforcement, whereas Fibre reinforced polymer composites contains more than 30% reinforcements.... This class consists of Fibre Reinforced Polymer composites, which were in the earlier days developed specifically for defense and aerospace. Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) are a combination of polymeric resins which acts as binders or matrices that has stiff and strong fibre assemblies which act as the reinforcing phase. The combination of a reinforcing phase with the matrix phase produces a material system that is analogous to steel reinforced concrete and is new. However, these concentrations may significantly vary; generally, the reinforced concrete rarely has more than 5% reinforcement, whereas Fibre reinforced polymer composites contains more than 30% reinforcements. Components of a Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composite Fibre This is a material that has been made into a long filament. A single fibre normally has up to 15Â µm. When the diameter is bigger, the probability of surface defects increases. The aspect ratio of diameter and length in continuous fibres can range from thousa nds to infinity. They usually occupy 50% of the weight and over 30% of the volume. Fibres are mainly meant for providing fitness, carrying the load, providing thermal stability, strength, and other structural properties to Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) (2). The fibres in FRP composite need to have very high ultimate strength, high modulus of elasticity, low variation strength, high uniformity of diameter, high stability, and high uniformity of surface dimension among fibres. There are various forms of fibre used as reinforcements for polymer composite reinforcement exists. The manufacturer of materials made from FRP composites normally present

Cultural Barriers to Women's carrer success Essay

Cultural Barriers to Women's carrer success - Essay Example This eventually results in creating barriers not only in their career but also in their basic education, it is true that women are prefered to study fields that would result in taking interest in feminine career opportunities. Along with this the civil and political rights of a women are also neglected. Even then women have had their share to experience leadership ventures in private as well as many government sectors. It is also true that attaining leadership for women has never been easy. There are numerous workplace challenges that are considered worthy of no importance. Cultural barriers tend to impact a women’s careers in one way or another. According to Kiamba, the phenomenon came to be known as â€Å"glass ceiling†, (Kiamba’ 2008). The term actually related to the crucial barriers that resulted in a full stop to a woman’s career and blocking of the top level career opportunities A very detailed research analysis on the subject had proven it to be tr ue to a great extent since rarely women are found as the executives members of the organizations they have invested years in. Background: Impact of Gender inequality on a woman's career: According to McCarthy and Berger, one of the major reasons for the inequality in the workplace is that most societies have failed to establish a gender neutral environment especially in the workplace.Women participation in any official progress is usually not so notable, the participation is most likely to be not translated to achieve favorable positions. Even if the participation in the process involves great hard work once the output has been achieved it is most often realized that the involvement of women in the certain project has been made entirely invisible, ( McCarthy and Berger’ 2008) The pace to establish a gender neutral situation is relatively slower in most regions. Attaining leadership positions that involve the empowerment of the holder in the workplace is yet another dilemma fo r women. Most probably the attainment requires women to pay a much high price as compared to what would lead a man to achieve the same position effortlessly. Impact of balancing work and Family on a Woman's Career: According to the author the choice of having to balance between family and work is one of the crucial cultural barrier every women have to face. Not only is balancing something that a career oriented women might have to go through but also along with it comes the stress and fear of failure . The factor definitely leads to less input in both matters respectively. The balancing of family and work for men is quite different from that of women, they are certainly at ease with lesser responsibilities from family. In case of any career women the task of having to give appropriate to both work and family can be exhausting as well as frustrating at time. It not like there has never been any success story, obviously there are many but as compared to the accomplishment of men they are way too less. The accomplishment in career for most women involves excessive efforts to rise above the given circumstances , which mostly involves some risks resulting in the breaking of family ties. Impact of Individual factors on a woman’s Career: Along with all of the other career effecting factors individual factors play a vital role in determining the success in woman’s career. One of the prominent individual factors

Food Advertising and Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Food Advertising and Marketing - Essay Example Foods marketed to children are predominantly high in sugar and fat, and as such are inconsistent with national dietary recommendations. The purpose of my dissertation will be to examine the food advertising and marketing channels used to target children and adolescents and the impact of food advertising on children's eating behavior. Issue of fairness: I believe like most parents and consumer protection groups that advertising directly to children is dangerous and unethical as it can be deceptive and manipulative. It also promotes consumerism and poor nutritional habits to a defenseless target audience . To create awareness and promote stricter Regulations: In the UK, as compared to many other European nations, there are currently few policies or standards for food advertising and marketing aimed at children. For example, The Nordic countries are at the forefront of protecting children from the effects of advertising. Sweden has the strictest controls in Europe and in 1991 instituted a ban on television and radio advertising targeted at children under the age of 12. The Swedish government views advertising to children as morally and ethically unacceptable, since children have difficulty distinguishing between the purpose of advertising and other modes of communication. In Belgium, it is forbidden to broadcast commercials during children's programs as well as during the 5 minutes before and after them. (National Council of Better Business, 2003).So I believe that more research and analysis in this area is required in the UK to create more awareness of the importance of the issue at h and. This in turn would hopefully encourage the concerned authorities to introduce stricter laws to protect our children. A Need to explore all channels of Marketing: When I examined the existing body of literature review on my chosen subject, I found that majority of the focus of the current and ongoing analysis of brand promotions to children is on television advertising. While the huge impact of television advertising on vulnerable children cannot be denied, there also needs to be equal focus on other increasingly popular ways of advertising like the internet, schools, video games, movies, kid's clubs etc. A good understanding of the above mentioned marketing techniques is essential to completely eradicate the corruption of children's minds. Literature Review: Food Advertising: It is estimated that in UK , the food industry spent in excess of 0.3 billion in 1999 promoting unhealthy food products.(Advertising Association Yearbook,2000). These are processed foods which contain high levels of fat and/or sugar and/or salt and include confectionery, crisps and savory snacks, soft drinks and other so-called 'fast' or pre-prepared 'convenience' foods. In July 2001 Sustain published TV Dinners, a report which examines the nature and extent of food advertising during children's TV programmes(Sustain,2001).The study shows that between 95% and 99% of the food advertising during children's programming is for fatty and/or sugary and/or salty foods. Fatty and

Interesting Sociology Essay Topics Essay Example for Free

Interesting Sociology Essay Topics Essay Sociology essays deal with the study of human social behavior in a society, thus, it is quite interesting for the students who are interested in human psyche but boring for those who dont like studying their species. By and large, essays on sociology are mostly based on informative and argumentative style of writing, the argumentative sociology essay demands to work on thesis while essays on the sociology of knowledge are mostly assigned to the students in the informative arena. Whether it is argumentative or informative essays, one has to develop a topic that can grab the attention of the reader in no time and this is not such an easy task. While developing a topic for sociology essay, on should remember the nature of the subject, that is it deals with human behavior, psychology, humanities and social science. Thus, the topic should be as such which revolves around these subjects. Following are some of the recommended sociology essay topic for the students who are not able to select a good topic for their assignment. 1- Youth addiction to alcohol Causes and concerns 2- Comparison between the children brought up in Filipino and Europe 3- What is and should the role of politicians in socializing through campaigning? 4- Merits and demerits of media for a society? 5- How cross cultural media transformation destroys the culture of a particular society? 6- Internet and its implications on a society. 7- Diffusion of innovation in European culture. 8- Critical comparison between sociology and anthropology 9- Homosexuality crucial warning to our society 10- Views about organ transplantation in our society 11- What are the causes of increasing street crimes in our society? 12- What does mean to be a single parent in a conservative society? 13- Comparison between marriages and live-in? 14- Life in rural areas and life in a metropolitan city 15- Increasing materialism increases the depression in a society 16- In spite of such an advanced means of communication people are increasingly going for solitude. 17- Adoption and its consequences for an adopted child 18- How does divorce effects on the minds of the children 19- Comparison between materialistic and a spiritualistic person 20- Living a life as an eternal bachelor 21- Women empowerment in a conservative society 22- Challenges a working women faces in our society 23- Comparison between inferiority and superiority complex 24- Living whole life in a prison 25- Origin of sociology as a science

The Role Of God In Rene Descartes Meditations

The Role Of God In Rene Descartes Meditations In this essay I am going to argue that God plays a significant role in Renà © Descartes Meditations, as he argues for Gods existence using different arguments, however I find him to be incorrect in his conclusions, and I find he is not entitled to appeal to Gods existence in this way, and all of his arguments are either fallacious or unsound. In his meditations discuss his thoughts concerning the human mind body, true false, the essence and existence of material things and the real distinction between mind and body. As I previously said, God plays a significant role to Descartes Meditations, including the proof of Gods existence. Descartes goes through numerous proofs of Gods existence through-out his Meditations, starting in Meditation 3 and continuing onto the end. This is the first role God plays in Descartes system as it is like a building block, an essential part of the structure of the system, as he uses the idea of God (specifically a non-deceiving God) to prove conclusions and dispel any other doubts he may have. He dispels the evil-demon doubt through the proof that a benevolent God exists. He also uses God within the clear and distinct perception proof. In Meditation three Descartes states that there are three types of ideas: innate, factitious or adventitious. Innate ideas are ideas built into our minds from birth, factitious ideas are invented ideas we have produced from our imagination and adventitious ideas are from experience in the outside world. Descartes argues that God cannot be a factitious or adventitious idea and the idea of God must be built into our minds from birth: I did not derive it from the senses, nor did it ever arrive unexpectedly as the ideas of sensible things usually do when external objects impinge, or seem to impinge, on the sense organs. Nor was it fabricated by me, for it is clear that I can neither add to it nor subtract from it. Thus it follows that it is innate in me, just as the idea of myself is innate in meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.This is the artisans trademark imprinted on his work. (Med 3, p42-43) Along with these three types of ideas, you have varieties of idea: substances (persisting particulars), and modes and accidents (properties of substances). Substances can be either finite or infinite substances. Here is his first argument for the existence of God, his causal argument. Here he implies that whatever is possessed by an effect must have been given it to by its cause. For example, a rock cannot be produced by anything with less formal reality (such as a property like a colour), or a pot of water is heated up until it boils, it must have been subjected to heat from some cause that had at least as much heat. Moreover, something that does not have as much heat would not be able to cause the water to boil, because it doesnt have the necessary reality to bring about the effect something cannot give what it does not have. Now, it is evident by the natural light of reason that there must be as much reality in an efficient and total cause as in the effect of that cause. For I ask: where could the effect get its reality from, apart from its cause? Something which is more perfect in other words, that which contains more reality in itself cannot be made from that which is less perfect. (Med 3, P35) Descartes second argumentative question concerning God was could one exist in the absence of God? By the third meditation the meditator has established he exists, and therefore this existence must have a cause. The only possible cause for existence has to be one of the following: from himself, having always been in existence, his parents, something less perfect than God or God. Firstly the cause cannot be from oneself, as he would have been created perfect; assuming to have been in existence always also does not help as what keeps him in existence? As a dependent being, there is a need to be sustained by another. It cannot be from parents, as this would lead to an infinite regress (who caused and maintains there existence?), and it cannot be caused by a being less perfect than God as the idea of perfection that exists cannot have originated from an imperfect being, therefore God is the cause, and God exists. Descartes discussed the ontological argument for Gods existence. The meditator states that the idea of God, the essence, has a necessary connection to the idea of existence. Take an example the connection between mountains and valleys; if there were no mountains, there wouldnt be any valleys, and all land would be flat. Descartes claimed it is impossible for us to conceive of existence without conceiving there is a God, just as it is impossible for us to conceive a valley without a mountain. As previously stated, the proofs of Gods existence played an essential role in Descartes system, as he had established that he was created by an all-powerful, non-deceiving God, Descartes could then place a great deal of trust in his cognitive abilities. Meditation Six gives a clear example of this in its discussion of the mind and of the body. In Meditation Three, Descartes idea of clear and distinct The key part to Descartes system however is the Clear and Distinct Rule: Everything that I perceive very clearly and distinctly is true. To prove that what we see clearly and distinctly to be true is essential to establish a foundation to build upon. He proves both that God exists through the use of Clear and Distinct perceptions, and he proves that clear and distinct perceptions are true because of the existence of God. This argument can be represented in the following structure: P1) If God exists, then he is no deceiver P2) If God is no deceiver, then all I clearly distinctly perceive will be true P3) God exists __________________ C1) All I clearly distinctly perceive is true P1) All I clearly distinctly perceive is true P2) I clearly distinctly perceive the idea of God P3) The idea of God is true _________________ C1) God exists These two arguments create the Cartesian Circle, from which the conclusion of one argument exists as a premise in the other, and vice versa. He begs the question here, assuming the conclusion he is arguing for in both arguments. Throughout the Meditations God play an important role for Descartes and his system, however I do not believe he is entitled to appeal to Gods existence in this way. All of Descartes arguments for the existence of God- the ontological argument, causal argument, and the trademark argument are not convincing alone. The use of God in his defining of clear and distinct perceptions also falls short. At the time of publication, there were many objections raised to some of his meditative conclusions and, understandably at the time to disprove or argue against the existence of God would be considered heresy by the Catholic Church, however the proofs for the existence of God Descartes argues I find unsound. Firstly the ontological argument for the existence of God is a priori proof, which is independent of experience, and states that if we can imagine a perfect being he must exist. God could not be perfect without existence as existence is stated as a property of perfection. So therefore a perfect being/God must exist. This argument commits a bare assertion fallacy. It does not give any backup premise to prove what it is stating and it relies on us just believing what it is saying. You cannot define or imagine a thing into existence. The ontological argument states that if we can imagine a perfect being he must exist, however it generalizes that all people will have the same the idea of a perfect being/God, however as different cultures have different ideas of God, even people within one culture will have different ideas of perfection and different ideas of a perfect God. Therefore either the complete plethora of Perfect Gods is true and exists, or Descartes argument is unsound. We also cannot guarantee that our human perception of perfection is, in fact perfect. Our own conceptions of perfection are through our subjective experience; therefore the ideas of perfection are an expansion of own thoughts and collective ideas. The causal argument for the existence of God appears in Meditation Three. It states that everything must have a cause, and it is impossible to continue backwards to infinity with causes (infinite regress), therefore there must have been an original first cause, one which wasnt conditioned by a previous cause, and such a cause is God. The causal argument is flawed in that if you allow one thing to exist without a cause, you contradict your own premise. To say then that the idea of an all-perfect God must come from an all-perfect cause can be argued against. We can take the idea of goodness, intelligence, and kindness and amplify it, similarly to how we reach the idea of mathematical infinity. The concept of spontaneous generation also argues against the causal principle, where we can imagine the idea of life emerging from a non-living and non-sentient basis. The trademark argument states that the idea of God is innate, and built into us from birth, as that is God leaving his trademark on us. I strongly disagree with this argument. The idea of God is not innate, it is indirectly an adventitious idea, and idea through experience. This experience however is provided through teaching and influence. The idea of God for all beings, at the time of Descartes specifically, were brought up religious and instilled with the idea of God. This is again reflected on the fact that there are different Gods from different cultures and civilizations. The Romans, the Greeks, the Vikings etc., all had different distinct Gods, the ideas of which were instilled to them again through teachings and influence.

Forgetting and Hope :: essays research papers

Forgetting, as defined by the Webster dictionary, means to be unable or fail to remember. There are many theories as to why people forget. Some of which include encoding failure, decay theory, interference, consolidation failure, motivated forgetting, and prospective forgetting. Encoding failure happens when the information was not stored in long-term memory in the first place. If information did not transfer from short-term memory to long-term memory, most likely the information will not be retained. Probably the oldest theory of forgetting, decay theory, assumes that memories, if not used, fade with time and ultimately disappears entirely. The â€Å"neural trace† or physiological record of an experience may decay within a very short period or over a much longer period. (Boyd, D., Wood, Ellen Green, & Wood, Samuel E. (2004). Mastering the World of Psychology, Pearson Education, Inc.) Another cause of forgetting is interference. There are two types of interference forgetting. The first, proactive interference happens when information already stored in long-term memory makes the tasks of remembering newer information difficult. For example, you may already know a particular version of software and an upgraded version may not have the some â€Å"short cut† keys that have been stored in long-term memory. The second type of interference forgetting is retroactive interference. Retroactive interference occurs when new learning interferes with the ability to retain previously learned information. The more similarities there are to the new learning’s, the more interference there may be When memories are being encoded into stores memory, a process called consolidation is occurring. If a tragic incident, such as a car accident leading to the loss of consciousness during the time of the consolidation process happens, the memory may not make it to long-term memory. Therefore, there many be loss of memory or events taking place before the accident, referred to as consolidation failure. Occasionally events happen in our life that we may choose to forget because the even was painful or unpleasant. Forgetting that these events took place is called motivated forgetting. There are two types of motivated forgetting. Sometimes a person is still aware that an event happened even after making an effort to put it out of their mind, referred to as suppression. Other times, during repression, a person is able to remove the memory from consciousness and are not longer aware the event occurred. Lastly, prospective forgetting happens when people forget to so something that may seem unpleasant, like going to the dentist.

The Lovemad Woman in Nineteenth Century Literature :: literature literary criticism

The Lovemad Woman in Nineteenth Century Literature    The lovemad woman was a very important part of nineteenth-century literature. The lovemad woman, originally characterized as a female who becomes insane due to the departure of her lover, was an important character in literature. From Antigone to Ophelia to Jane Eyre, the lovemad woman is seen throughout literature in various contexts. The definition of such a woman changed as the definition of what is it to be a woman in general changed throughout history. Love madness was seen both in the literature of the nineteenth century and in reality. At the time, the definition of insanity and how it should be treated was going under dramatic changes. Love madness was seen as a primarily female disease. Insanity in general was seen to occur more often in females due to their natural weakness. Being female was almost a form of insanity because of what is seen as their biological inferiority. Living in a male-dominated society, women were forced to be weak, to be sickly. Women were looked at as unnatural if they were too forceful in their actions and emotions. They were also looked down upon if they expressed their sexuality too blatantly. Love madness itself is linked with "sexual knowledge and innocence" (Small 83). A woman was in danger of becoming mad if she had too much sexual knowledge: "A young lady was only worth as much as her chastity and appearance of complete innocence . . . . Once lead astray, she was the fallen woman, and nothing co uld reconcile her until she died" (Lee). Nineteenth-century British society was able to brainwash females into ignoring their sexuality through tales of Medusa-like creatures (Gilbert 53). Young women would hear various tales of women who had given into their carnal desires and then as punishment became virtual monsters. An example of this can be seen in Bertha Mason, who becomes a monster due to her overpowering sexual nature. Elaine Showalter addresses these legends in her book, A Literature of Their Own, by saying "the legends themselves express a cultural attitude toward female passion as a potentially dangerous force that must be punished and confined" (Showalter 119). These monsters of women are experiencing what became to be known as moral insanity. J.C. Prichard defined moral insanity as "a morbid perversion of the natural feelings, affections, inclinations, temper, habits, and moral dispositions without any notable lesion of the intellect" ( Small 163).

Windows Server Essay -- Computers Software Essays

Windows Server There are some key differences between Windows DNS Services servers and non-Windows DNS server appliances in the areas of AD integration and security. For example, some non-Windows DNS server appliances lack complete AD integration features. Conversely, Windows DNS Service servers don't support encrypted zone transfer and update features like some non-Windows DNS server appliances do. (ref: DNS server appliances) One cant use any DNS service. Active Directory requires that the DNS support dynamic updates via RFC 2136; Windows 2000 has the advantage of being the only one that does it out of the box Those environments that already have Internet domains and DNS servers on their networks have two options.Either replace their existing DNS servers with Windows 2000 boxes or create a new internal domain to host the AD. For example, if your company is called WidgetCo, and all your internal servers are TCP/IP hosts on widgetco.com, you either need to create a sub-domain called ad.widgetco.com or you need to create something like widgetco.net, as one of my associates had to do at a large Manhattan-based international law firm. It's possible to make Unix DNS servers like BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Daemon) support Windows 2000 dynamic DNS, but it's a little tricky. Microsoft TechNet's white paper on Windows 2000 DNS provides information on getting your non-MS DNS to comply with RFC 2136. Chances are you'll need to upgrade your Unix server to the latest version of BIND, version 8.2, to make it work. Creating an entirely new domain may be less of a headache. (ref: How Microsoft went wrong with Active Directory) When Microsoft started to talk about AD and AD's DNS integration, the company said AD would operate with any DNS implementation that is compatible with the standards for dynamic DNS. DDNS is a key piece of the AD model. As the development of AD progressed, Microsoft downplayed the support for non-Win2K DNS servers. At press time, Microsoft claimed that Win2K will be compatible with UNIX's Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) 8.2, but to fully utilize AD's features, you will need to use Win2K's DNS. UNIX advocates believe that NT isn't stable enough to provide the 24 X 7 service that DNS services require and that the Microsoft DNS implementations aren't sufficiently compatible with the open-source UNIX standards. Win2K and NT advo... ... Native Mode? When a domain is first installed, it is in mixed mode. The mode of operation can be changed from mixed mode to native, but this is not reversible. In native mode, Windows NT 4.0 Domain Controllers cannot participate in the domain. (ref :Step by step guide) Changing the Domain Mode Windows 2000 domains operate in one of two modes: ï‚ §Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mixed Mode. Allows domain controllers running both Windows 2000 and earlier versions of Windows NT ® Server to co-exist in the domain. In mixed mode, the domain features from previous versions of Windows NT Server are still enabled, while some Windows 2000 features are disabled. You can change to native mode after making sure all domain controllers in your domain are running Windows 2000 Server. 4.Your organisation contains four geographic locations connected via slow links. Currently all locations belong to the one Domain with a number of domain controllers all located at one site. Users are complaining of slow authentication and access to AD information. Describe 2 different options you could consider to improve the performance of the Domain. Recommend one of the options providing reasons for your choice.

Cognitive psychology Essay

Cognitive psychology focuses on how a person interprets a picture or message. For example, a double figure drawing such as the top down example below is one part of the cognitive thinking process. Another mental exercise is the bottom-up perception of drawings and messages.   Often times, the judge in court cases would ask the professional interpretation of the psychologist to help mitigate or aggravate the current sentence of a criminal offender. The following paragraphs explain in detail what cognitive psychology means. 1. what advice would you give a judge to persuade her or him of the potential danger of wrongful conviction based on eyewitness testimony as the sole or primary kind of evidence? Support your claim using cognitive psychology research. The judge should not base his sentencing only on the sole eyewitness’ statement. For, the judgment should be mitigated or aggravated by the professional opinion of the psychologist.  Ã‚   It is a standard procedure for the U.S. judge to ask the Forensic psychologist  Ã‚   to give a psychological profile of the defendant. The psychologist will then make a profile of the psychological well –being of the person charged in court. The psychologist then applies the theories of cognitive psychology to determine the behavior, pathology and motivation and submit his findings to the judge. The judge will then include the psychologist’s professional opinion increase the defendant’s sentence for aggravating reasons (Burke 1). On the other hand, the judge could also decrease the defendant’s sentence for mitigating reasons. And the psychologist’s findings will be used either as an aggravating or mitigating evidence.   Normally, the psychologist can draw up the behavioral tendencies of the defendant by viewing the other evidences on the crime scene, the statements of various witness, friends, neighbors and relatives and prior psychological findings.   The psychologist is very much needed in the juvenile courts because the child’s behavior is not as mature as those who are eighteen yrs old and above. Generally, the juveniles commit crimes because of their psychological growth is not normal ( or abnormal?), The psychologist can recommend to the judge to transfer the child to child rehabilitation center for psychological rehabilitation(Barsalou 5). Likewise, the psychologist can persuade the judge to lessen the sentence in adult criminal cases.   The psychologist can opine that the sexual offense was psychologically caused by the defendant’s state of mind at the time of the crime. He or she could have been abnormal then. The psychologist can recommend a plea bargaining agreement with the Judge using his psychological findings in order to reduce the sentence that has been mandated by the criminal laws of the United States( Berger 10). In addition, the psychologist can issue his opinion to the courts regarding the reliability of the lone witness’ psychological profile. For, the witness may not qualify as a lone witness if the psychologist opines that witness’ statements were hallucinations, a big lie, or simply made because of the witness had misinterpreted the situation as what is was not. The psychologist will then assess the stimuli – response   makeup (cognitive psychology) of the offender. The psychologist can also assess the criminal offender’s impulse control and potential for the individual to commit crimes. Likewise, the psychologist can opine to the judge that he defendant cannot psychologically defend himself or herself in the witness stand (Gillespie , 27). This will then be a ground to decrease the sentence of the defendant upon conviction. To reiterate, the psychologist can tell the court that the defendant was psychologically abnormal when he or she committed the crime. Thus, the judge must compulsorily use the psychologist’s evaluations of the defendants and the witnesses to plug the holes in his sentencing process. Also, the sex offenders would need the psychologist’s hand to help them. The psychologist would then tell the court that the sexual offender’s sentence be reduced to being jailed at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center.   The psychologist would go about by stating that the defendant’s psychological makeup is the main cause of his continuing spree of sexual abuse cases. 2. Describe what implicit memory is. Based on Reber (1993) how is implicit learning and memory different from explicit learning and memory. Implicit memory states that prior experiences affect the current behavior of a person even though the person does not intentionally exert a single effort to ponder over his or her prior experiences.   Likewise, repressed memories of the past are equated with implicit memory.   For example, improving ones’ job performance falls under implicit memory and learning. This is the main reason why many companies prefer to hire and give higher salaries to people who have many years of hands –on experience behind them when they apply for a job. Definitely, a carpenter that has worked in house construction for the past twenty years would definitely be more skilled than a carpenter has tucked under his belt only one week’s hands –on experience.   Whereas, explicit memory is the conscious and intentional recalling of a person’s past experiences and informational data (French 26). A very clear example is trying to remember what today’s itinerary or hectic schedule is.   It would include a ride in the park with the family, a meeting with the board of directors in the company, or a customer dropping by to purchase new products. Another is trying to recall the details asked for in the Civil war classroom test. Further, trying to recall the ATM password or the email address log –in username and password when withdrawing money from the ATM machines falls under Explicit learning and memory. In short, explicit memory and learning entails effort exertion which includes thinking about one’s past experiences.   It also includes talking about one’s past experiences and writing them done. Further, it includes studying ones’ past experiences. For, they will surely increase one’s expertise on doing a specific job assignment (Esgate 15). Reber stated that implicit learning refers to the variances in the behavior of a person that is influenced by past experiences. However, the person is not aware or exerts effort to try to recall the past experiences. Reber proved his theory through countless experiments including probability learning.   His probability experiments prove that the subjects were able to recognize or learn the variance in probabilities of recurring events without their knowing that their prior experiences in the same situation have improved their changes of choosing the next probable event. One Reber experiment shows that the subjects were placed in a training phase. The subjects were told to observe   1,000 scenes at the rate of two scenes in one second in one experiment. The findings of this experiment shows that the subjects were able to learn what the next outcome would be in increasing accuracy as the test went on (Reder, and Schunn 46). Another Reber experiment shows that a person that solves several problems of the same will increase his or her speed and accuracy in solving such problems due to experience. However, the subjects were not aware of that their prior acts had influenced their current speed and accuracy. This is very true in classroom math exercises (Reder, and Schunn 69). Reber further emphasizes that memory and learning consists of conscious (Explicit) and unconscious (Implicit) learning processes (O’Brien-malone, and Maybery 38).   And, Reber insists that the questionnaire index test is an explicit learning process (O’Brien-malone, and Maybery 38). 3. Define what cognitive psychology is about. Cognitive Psychology is that branch of psychology that delves into the process of how a person uses his mind to find solutions to problems, memory as well as communication. It had metamorphosed from the Gestalt school of Max Wertheirmer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka. However, it was Jean   Piaget who increased interest in Cognitive Psychology with his theory that people have different cognitive processes from infancy to old age. Naturally, he emphasized that child cognitive learning is much different from a married person’s cognitive learning. Going deeper, cognitive psychology involves how the brain solves mathematical and other real life problems. And, the cognitive scientists believe that the problem solving cognitive process boils down to the basic stimulus and response theory.   For, each stimulus gives different responses to different people (Fleck, 6). What are the main topics? History. Cognitive psychology had branched out from mainline psychology into its own specialized field in the 1950s and 1960s as discussed in Donald Broadbent’s masterpiece entitled Perception and Communication in 1958.   It focused on the processing of information with the incorporation of Donald Broadbent’s paradigm theory. Basically it was a study on how a person thinks and reasons as he tackles each problem or situation in real life or in the classroom. Broadbent emphasized that the brain is a the central processing unit of the human being.   Then, George Miller created the WordNet which is the foundation for many machine ontologies today. This was also the basis that has permeated from cognitive psychology to other fields like social psychology, personality psychology, abnormal psychology,developmental psychology.   Currently, current cognitive theories are being attacked from many sides. One such side is the dynamic system proponents. Further, cognitive psychology has gathered the fruits of researches in artificial intelligence and other fields of expertise in the 1960s and the 1970s (Esgate 15). Major research areas.   Currently, the major research areas of cognitive psychology are general perception, psychophysics, attention, pattern recognition, object recognition and time sensation (Berger ). Cognitive psychologists.   The list of cognitive psychologists continues to grow through the years. Some of the more famous ones are Johan Anderson, Robbie Case, Lev Vygotsksy, Alan Baddeley, Frederic Barlett, Aaron T. Beck, Donald Broadbent, Reber, Jerome Bruner, Fergus, Craik, Keneth Craik, Hermann Ebbinghaus. Albert Ellis, and Jean Piaglet (Berger, 4). What are some basic assumptions? Cognitive process involves a stimulus and the corresponding response to such stimulus. Basically, cognitive theory states the problems in math and other real life situations can be easily accomplished with the use of algorithm. Algorithm is the set of rules that will give a specific solution for a set of inputs. For example, one plus one (inputs) is equal to two ( the algorithm here is to count how many ones are there). Here, the rules for cognitively solving problems are rather vague or too complex for the simple -minded person to comprehend.  Ã‚   Logically, there is another way of cognitively solving problems. This is what is called in psychology circles as heuristics. In sharp contrast, heuristics shows that the rules of solving classroom and real life problems are clearly understood but the final solution varies from one situation to another. What are some of the different methods employed by cognitive psychologists? The psychologists employ several methods to deepen their study of cognitive psychology. One such method is the scientific method. Another method is to use a person’s cognitive outfit in terms of belief, motivation and desire that are part of the mental processes. But, they always use subjects in their researches on how a person interprets a picture, a messages or other types of communication signals passing his or her way.

Childhood obesity research paper Essay

â€Å"One out of every five children in the U.S. is overweight or obese† (â€Å"Obesity in Children†), and as the number rises the significance of the problem grows. Obesity is a widespread epidemic that is taking a toll not only on the US, but also other parts of the world. There are many causes for obesity in young children that stem from genetics, poor diet, and lack of physical activity. Obesity in children not only puts them at many risks for disease during their early ages, but also puts them at risk for problems later in life. These risks for disease can be prevented through the combined efforts of parents, doctors, government, school systems, and the children themselves. People are starting to take action against childhood obesity in numerous ways so that they can shape the lives of children and adults by encouraging healthier lifestyles now and in the future. Childhood obesity’s various causes and effects are increasing at epidemic proportions; however, through different ways of prevention childhood obesity can make a turn for the better in the future. Obesity can be defined as an excessively high amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass (â€Å"Childhood Obesity: The Effects†). Obesity is the result of a â€Å"caloric imbalance† which is when too few calories are expended for the amount of calories consumed (â€Å"Childhood Obesity Facts†). A child is not obese until his or her weight is at least ten percent higher than what is recommended for his or her height and body type (â€Å"Obesity in Children And Teens†). People that become obese at a young age are at a high risk of becoming overweight in their adulthood. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that the child will be, and if both parents are obese than the child has an 80 percent chance (â€Å"Childhood Obesity: The Effects†). Obesity generally starts between the ages of 5 and 6, or during adolescence. Studies show that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming obese when he or she enters adulthood (â€Å"Obesity in Children And Teens†). One of the most important ways to decide whether someone is obese or not is based on BMI or Body Mass Index. BMI uses a mathematical formula, in which a person’s weight in pounds is divided by the square of the person’s height in inches and this result is then  multiplied by 703. Then, the BMI-for-age and gender specific is put on a growth chart and the person’s condition is determined. BMI over the 95th percentile is considered overweight or obese (â€Å"Childhood Obesity: The Effects†). As more and more children join the BMI percentile considered obese, the statistics increase. Thirty percent of adults who are categorized as obese got this way from problems in childhood. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. The percentage of children aged 6 to 11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7 percent in 1980 to nearly 18 percent in 2012. In the same time period, obese adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have increased from 5 percent to 21 percent (â€Å"Childhood Obesity Facts†). In 2005 a study showed that 12.5 million U.S. children and adolescents are considered obese, and with this number the average lifespan of all children could be lowered by up to five years (Manning). Although obesity is one of the easiest medical conditions to detect, it is one of the most difficult conditions to treat as obesity numbers grow to epidemic proportions. There is no single factor or behavior that causes obesity. Two of the most common factors that can be linked with the cause of obesity are genetic factors and lack of physical activity (â€Å"Obesity in Children†). Genetic factors affect obese children when the child’s parents are obese or there is history of obesity in their family. However, genetics are not the only cause of obesity, and other factors must take place (â€Å"Causes†). Lack of physical activity is becoming a more common factor as children are spending more time inside, and less time outside, or being active. Since technology is becoming a huge part of modern children’s lives, activities such as watching television, gaming, texting, and playing on the computer, all of which require very little energy, replace the physical activities which the children should be taking part in. Also, when children watch television, they often see commercials for unhealthy high-calorie snacks, and thus crave these foods. Another source for obesity is medical conditions, and although it is rare, it does sometimes occur. Hormone disorders or low thyroid function, and certain medications, can cause a child’s appetite to increase,  which in time can increase their risk for obesity (â€Å"Causes†). Also, if a child has a medical illness such as neurological problems, they can become obese (â€Å"Obesity in Children And Teens†). Unhealthy eating habits are a prominent cause of obesity in children. When children are at young ages, their parents will tell them to finish everything on their plate, which forces the children to ignore their fullness. When this behavior is repeated over many years, it becomes a habit, and can cause a person to eat whether they are hungry or full, and the habit is often very hard to break. Also, when parents have less time to plan and prepare healthy meals, their child usually ends up eating more processed and fast foods that are less healthy than home-cooked meals. If a child’s parents or siblings are overweight and have poor diet and exercise habits, the child is most likely to adopt these same habits (â€Å"Causes†). When stressful life events or changes, such as divorce, moves or deaths occur in a child’s life, they often seek food for comfort (â€Å"Obesity in Children And Teens†). As well as in the home and family, school and community resources also influence a child’s habits regarding diet. Vending machines and convenience stores rarely sell healthy foods, however they make it easy to grab a quick snack that is usually high in calories or fat. Restaurants reinforce the unhealthy habit by advertising high-calorie foods and large portion sizes. Schools have an important role in teaching students about healthy food choices and exercise, however not all schools offer these healthy choices or time for physical activity (â€Å"Causes†). These causes, which lead to obesity, have many immediate and long-term effects. Some of the immediate effects include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, bone and joint problems, and skin conditions such as fungal infections and acne (â€Å"Obesity in Children†). Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults, which puts them at greater risk for adult health problems. A few of these long-term effects include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and osteoathritis (â€Å"Child Obesity Facts†). However, some diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, which are thought of to be long-term effects, have increased dramatically in overweight children and adolescents (â€Å"Childhood Obesity: The Effects†). Childhood and adolescent obesity also has many mental health effects, and is associated with increased risk of emotional problems. The most immediate consequence of being overweight is social discrimination and low-self-esteem. In 2003 a study asked 106 children between the ages of 5 and 18 to rate their quality of life based on things like their ability to walk more than one block, play sports, sleep well, get along with others, and keep up in school. The study showed that obese children would often rate themselves with scores as low as those of a young cancer patient on chemotherapy. The results showed that teasing at school, difficulties playing sports, fatigue, sleep apnea and other problems severely affected the children’s well-being (â€Å"Childhood Obesity: The Effects†). Low-self-esteem leads to many cases of depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder found in obese children (â€Å"Obesity in Children And Teens†). Although obesity greatly affects a person’s well being, there are many ways to prevent obesity from becoming worse and to help obese children get on the right path for adulthood. Children and adolescent’s dietary and physical behaviors are influenced by many parts of society, including families, communities, schools, child care settings, medical care providers, faith-based institutions, government agencies, the media, and the food, beverage, and entertainment industries (â€Å"Childhood Obesity Facts†). One of the most successful ways to help an obese child is through his or her family, by providing support and helping to make lifestyle changes. Family members can plan activities such as walking, biking, or swimming, and can reduce the amount of sedentary activities (â€Å"Obesity in Children†). Parents can lower the amount of fatty and sugary foods the child is eating, and can emphasize healthy eating by having fruits, vegetables and low-fat snacks available (â€Å"Childhood Obesity: The Effects†). Schools also play a crucial role in establishing a supportive environment, by providing the children with opportunities to learn about and practice a healthy eating and physical lifestyle (â€Å"Childhood Obesity Facts†). Children can also attend support groups, which are helpful because the others around them are dealing with the same issue. When a child or adolescent also has emotional problems, a  psychiatrist can work with the family’s physician to develop a treatment plan, that would include weight loss goals, dietary and physical activity management, behavior modification, and family involvement. Obesity often becomes a lifelong issue, so by learning at a younger age to eat and enjoy healthy foods in moderate amounts and to exercise regularly can prev ent the child from ever becoming obese (â€Å"Obesity in Children And Teens†). As the importance of prevention spreads, more and more communities nationwide are taking steps to fight against childhood obesity. Many foundations have been started, such as the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation, which declared a goal of reversing childhood obesity by 2015 and has put millions of dollars into the effort. The Wood foundation partnered with the YMCA of the USA to bring together activists, government officials, school administrators and parents, the medical community, and other leaders to broadcast a possible attack on the problem. The foundation funded efforts in 6 states and 32 communities. They have created policy changes in communities, such as purchase of healthier food and serving it in schools, the availability of fresh fruit and vegetables at corner stores, and increasing physical activity in school and after school programs and in the community through better transportation systems such as bicycle and walking trails (â€Å"Communities†). Foundations are at tempting to make the purpose of physical activity and following a healthy diet a use of the opportunities children have to be active and healthy, rather than being a chore (â€Å"Obesity in Children†). Obesity is an ongoing epidemic that is affecting a bounteous number of children every day. There are lots of causes for obesity in youth that can expose them to disease and other problems during their early childhood and adolescence, as well as later in life. However, these immediate and long-term effects are being noticed and are starting to be prevented. People across the nation are becoming involved in foundations that are trying to hinder childhood obesity and take steps toward healthier lifestyles for children. Although childhood obesity has a profuse count of causes and effects, and the statistics show an intimidating growth in numbers, prevention of childhood obesity can make for a healthier society and a  decrease in the amount of people who are impacted by this malady.

Joyce’s novel Essay

The novels Mrs. Dalloway and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, written by Virginia Woolf and James Joyce respectively, are tales of persons who are challenged by the society in which they live. The roles traditionally handed down to men and women become elements of restraint for many of the characters within the stories. While convention dictates the actions that the characters should perform, the readers get the impression that the authors are in opposition to these traditions. Throughout the day spent with Mrs. Dalloway and her friends, situations arise in which characters become critical of others’ choices in a way that depicts the ideas of the narrator or author. Likewise, in the experiences of Stephen Dedalus and the other characters of Joyce’s novel, one finds that they often desire to perform actions alien to the stereotypical roles of their genders. In these novels, therefore, we find that there is no apparent desire within characters for males or females to inherit traditional gendered roles. In fact, we discover a desire to occupy a multi-gendered identity. This is important because it gestures at an identity separate from societal construction of gender. Hermione Lee relates that Virginia Woolf sought a â€Å"combination of sensibility and tenacity† in her work (xvii). This suggests a similar mixing of feminine and masculine qualities with which she imbues several of her characters in Mrs. Dalloway. Clarissa Dalloway has become a woman who ostensibly fits perfectly within the role societally configured for her gender. She is the wife of a statesman and the mother of a beautiful daughter. She throws fine parties and does the traditional female jobs of overseeing the servants, visiting the sick, and other things. Yet, Woolf appears immediately to intimate to the reader the undesirability of all this tradition to Clarissa herself, as she is seen at the outset of the novel going on an errand that should normally have been reserved for her servants. Her desire for independence is asserted in the first sentence, â€Å"Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself (Woolf 1). Though this rebellion is a small one and is buried in the guise of â€Å"womanly† work (going to buy flowers), the commercial aspect of it places her in the position of a business person, just as the errand frees her from the confines of the home. On this walk she thinks of Peter Walsh, a man with whom she once shared her passions for literature and freedom. Her thoughts and desires break through conventions that dictate the subservience of women. She considers marriage in a way that seems alien to its constitution, as she imbues her role in it with the type of independence that one does not usually find in the traditional view of marriage. She explains that her decision against marrying Peter was made because â€Å"In marriage a little licence, a little independence there must be between people living together day in day out in the same house; which Richard gave her, and she him† (Woolf 5). This demonstrates the extent to which she desires not to be subsumed by her husband as women often are in marriages. Continuing, she thinks, â€Å"When it came to that scene in the little garden by the fountain, she had to break with him [Peter] or they would have been destroyed, both of them ruined, she was convinced† (6). This tells what she considers her life would have been like with Peter. She seeks to add a portion of masculinity to her role by keeping something of herself and continuing to show herself to the world—a right that is usually granted without reservation to married men, but tacitly withheld from women of that time. Clarissa continues to demonstrate her inner tendencies to throw off the traditional gender role and to fulfill her political and occupational dreams. During that time in England, women’s occupations were limited to household-related chores. She considers other women who had lived non-traditional lives, and longs to have her life to live again so she could make different choices. The first of those choices would have granted her an occupation that would defy her gender. The narrator assures us that Clarissa Dalloway â€Å"would have been, like Lady Bexborough, slow and stately; rather large; interested in politics like a man; with a country house; very dignified, very sincere† (Woolf 8). The use of the phrase â€Å"like a man† is telling, in that it highlights the extent to which Mrs. Dalloway longs to be released from the confines of her sex. She wants to be endowed with the possibilities that attend a man. Also telling is her desire to be â€Å"very sincere† (8). Sincerity is not a trait that has been traditionally accorded to women, as they were encouraged to keep their thoughts to themselves (or perhaps not to have any at all). Therefore, a woman with any ideas or opinions can be considered to have been somewhat forced into insincerity by their very act of subordination to the will of their husband and in their pretence at never having anything to say beyond remarks about the running of the household. Clarissa’s urge to speak sincerely demonstrates her desire to combine traditionally masculine qualities with her feminine ones.

A Proposal to Purchase Echocardiography Machine

Dear Sir, I would like to offer the proposal of purchasing an echocardiography machine, which in my suggestion is an urgent need for our hospital because of its large cardiac department.I would like to put forward my proposal in front of the panel of judges to justify my urge to buy the equipment as it is a need and an asset to the hospital as well.Such costly equipment should only be purchased when trained staff, ready to give undertaking of its optimum utilization, is available. This becomes all the more important when the financial constraints in the institution are so severe that even life saving medicines and common use items are not available even in the Emergency.EchocardiographyEchocardiography is a technique that uses very high frequency sound, or ultrasound (with frequency between 2 and 15 MHz, well above the human hearing limit of about 20 kHz), to visualize the details of heart anatomy. Echocardiography is the most widely used diagnostic test to detect and quantify heart disease. It has been used in virtually all areas of cardiovascular examination, evaluation and management.There is growing interest in the smaller, portable, hand-carried devices because they offer the ability to bring echocardiography to point-of-care management, particularly for cases that previously required delays in testing due to the necessity of scheduling sonographers and moving equipment through the hospital.Hand-carried devices have the potential to be used in areas such as the critical care unit (CCU), the cardiac catheterization laboratory, the electrophysiology laboratory, the emergency department and all surgical intensive care units.There is also a rising conviction that because of the ease of use of the hand-carried ultrasound, it eventually will be incorporated into the standard physical examination, much like the stethoscope is today.Price Of Echocardiography MachineAn echocardiography machine can be purchased at approx $125,000 (Leech, 1998). These machines do not depreciate easily physically; however, they rapidly become outdated technically. An echocardiography machine practically and technologically can not live up to five years. For this reason, and to give a better life to the machinery, the manufactures regularly provide upgrades to the machines, which enhance the technical life of the machine to up to 12 years.To take a rough idea, the up-gradation at the rate of at least 5 % per year of the purchasing cost, will cost $30,000 to every 3–5 years. As capital sum can generate some bank interest could, the ‘cost of money’ is required to be included. In the United States, the Government’s Treasury rate is 6%. Servicing the machine will be charged annually at approximately 6–8% of the purchasing cost (Leech, 1998).

History of analytical techniques used in structure determination Essay

History of analytical techniques used in structure determination - Essay Example The map tends to be fuzzy in some parts this is due to the problem of phasing loops but with the help of some software can usually predict up to 90% of the structure correctly and the remaining part is computed manually. The problem in this method is that it is very expensive and takes time and we can determine structure of only large crystal. The structural determination of protein is difficult by method because Crystallography requires purified protein in fairly large amount and it requires protein in form of a crystal and every protein can't be crystallized. This is due to the fact that forming the crystal required rather unusual conditions of pH and ionic strength. This method is also used to determine the structure of the components. This method is similar to X-ray diffraction but the main difference between these two methods is that it is done in the gas phase. In place of X-ray beam a beam of electrons is used in this method that scatter off the molecular electrons. Due to this large atoms scatter better than smaller ones. The main drawback or disadvantage of this method is that the compound must be volatile and maintain its structure in the gas phase. This method sometimes has lower accuracy because the compound is sometimes heated to put it in the gas phase. 3. Neutron Diffraction This method is also used to determine the structure of the crystal. This method is similar to X-ray crystallography except that a beam of neutrons is used in place of X-ray beam. This neutron beam scatters off the nuclei. The main advantage of using neutron beam is that all nuclei are of similar size and all can be found with comparable accuracy. This method is very useful when the location of hydrogen atoms is desired. Neutron diffraction generally gives more accurate bond lengths

Family history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Family history - Essay Example Through agriculture, my parents have managed to educate us to the highest levels of education despite the struggles that come with such a business. However, my parents are hopeful that we will get good jobs so as we do not end up like them though my youngest sister has shown great interest in agriculture especially on cash crops. My granddad has played a crucial role in our family. He always says that regardless of all the odds in life, one must endeavor to succeed. Even at his age, he has sought to open his own business that has all sorts of merchandise. The returns are indeed appealing and any person would envy his work. As the siblings in the family, we are more challenged by the day to strive to do more especially when we see our grandfather wake up so early to start his days at his business. This business has also boosted the little income that we get from agriculture. Life is looking up for us and we expect brighter days ahead. Religion also plays a role in the success of our family. My parents are always keen to ensure that we follow the expected norms of the society through inculcating the good deeds in our religion. This has played a major role in ensuring that we are admirable by all in the society and are also the envy of many. For my case, the virtues taught by my parents especially of honesty and hard work have enabled me survive in the tough times of today’s society. I have succeeded in my education, and though I do not have a job yet, I am sure I will get one and give it full effort and dedication. My family is also fond of giving especially to the poor and the homeless. After every three months, it is compulsory that we visit the unfortunate in the society. One would question why we do such activities yet we do not have enough, but my parents do not take any excuse for not helping others. I find this reasonable as if our situation is not very comfortable with farming as our chief source of livelihood, then for the ones without a job is

Jhumpa Lahiri And Local Colors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jhumpa Lahiri And Local Colors - Essay Example Her collection of short stories, The Interpreter of Maladies, won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. It drew criticism especially from the Indians because they said that India was not painted in a more positive light. However, it still managed to become a bestseller. Lahiri writes nonfiction, sometimes published in The New Yorker, like Cooking Lessons, which talks about the importance of food in her relationship with her mother. Her writing style is actually simple. She uses simple words and plain language. Her characters are usually Indian-American, or Indians, by default. The setting is mostly America in which her characters have to navigate their native values into their new adopted home. Sometimes, one might think that her work is autobiographical, which is true because she says, she draws from her experiences. Of course, she also draws from the experiences of her friends and family, and this makes her literature more accessible and familiar to her readers. Her work is a good r eference to find the nuances of immigrant life, especially the Indian-American life. Her literature is also heavy on the use of local color. Of course, since her work is largely regionalistic, it can’t be helped if she uses local color to demonstrate the customs or other cultural artifacts native to her own land. It is both romantic and realistic; Romantic in a sense that it invokes nostalgia and sentimentality but also romantic since it involves realism, as in the realistic struggles of some folks in the stories. Local color stories tend to focus more on the details of the character and setting rather than the individual character itself. They can sometimes be stereotyped rather than be identified as a special character in the story. The characters are important because they are the ones who demonstrate the culture and the other cultural artifacts that the author is writing about. They also give away the values and the customs, as well as their adherence to tradition and tha t is directly related to the regional context of the author. The setting is also important. Unlike the character, details of the setting can be heavily detailed as to provide the necessary mood in the story. Sometimes, the setting is not the motherland, especially if they are talking about disconnect. Although Lahiri’s stories are fiction, she uses the first person point of view. This lends the story a personal touch. The narrator in her stories acts as a tour guide in the world that she paints. This first person point of view is quite refreshing because the readers feel extra special because they think that they are entering a secret world with the author. This makes Lahiri’s works exceptional. Another thing that makes Lahiri’s works exceptional is the fact that she uses food, language and religion as tools that mark her ethnic identity. These â€Å"little† details provide the necessary atmosphere in order for the story to be successful in portraying the local colors. In the story When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine, Lahiri’s persona takes as a character of the narrator, who happens to be a little girl named Lilia. At one point of her life, a certain Mr. Pirzada from Dacca came to their house regularly for dinners. This was the time when Pakistan and India were fighting around 1965 (Indian-Pakistani War). Mr. Pirzada came to their house for the food, because he was not at all well-off as an immigrant, and of course, as someone from their own race/culture, even if they are Indians and Mr. Pirzada is a Pakistani, they welcomed him because they understood his plight as an

Style Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Style - Essay Example James Joyce has also zeroed in on the psychoanalysis, whereby his mind has acknowledged the streams of consciousness within his work. It is a concise example of a writer who is trying his best to make do with the intrinsic realities of a heroine as well as her endeavors to deal with the surroundings. Hypotactic Style in Eveline The social conditions of the women within Ireland are highlighted within Eveline which they faced within the latter years of the 19th century (Gordon 1995). The hypotactic style has been presented from the thoughts of the heroine as these are being depicted through her mind whilst recalling events sitting in front of a window. The story seems to be non-linear in structure. James Joyce has been able to represent the hypotactic style through his interest on character thoughts. What one can understand from the short story Eveline is the ideology that James Joyce has given his best at making people understand the nuances of thinking and how perspectives are aligne d in a way that seems fit with the hypotactic style as is surely known through the aegis of James Joyce. What one can comprehend from Eveline is the fact that it centers on the premise of different characters living within Dublin who were having issues in dealing with the time period. Eveline is the advent between adolescence and maturity.

Introduction to Biometric Identification Database Essay

Introduction to Biometric Identification Database - Essay Example But the evolution of biometrics in the form of automated identification of finger prints, geometry of hand, iris construction, facial structure, genetic makeup etc. is a relatively new phenomenon. Portuguese explorer Joao de Barros also points out1 the existence of Biometrics in China in the 14th century. Barros narrates that Chinese merchants used to stamp their children's palm prints and footprints on a piece of paper with ink. This way the Chinese merchants used to distinguish the young children from one another. This can be termed as the beginning of the modern biometrics. The recent advances in Information Technology and computing have provided newer dimension to this emerging field. During the last couple of decades biometrics has established itself as a comprehensive tool for establishing Identities and Verification. In 1890, Alphonse Bertillon, a Parisian police desk, studied body length to identify criminals. Subsequently the method came to be known as Bertillonage method, which relied heavily on measuring the body length. But the method did not last long as there were many false alarms as a result of false identifications. Thereafter, finger printing became the reliable method of identifying the criminals. There are human rights groups and civil liberties advocates argue that increasing use of biometrics has resulted in trespassing into the privacy of all human beings, but the rise in terrorist activities in recent years has forced the defense and security experts to rely heavily on the biometrics for identifying the mischief makers. Types of Biometrics and their usage A biometric system is designed to test one out of the two possible hypotheses (Wayman et al., 2005): (1) That the submitted samples are from an individual known to the system; or (2) That the submitted samples are from an individual not known to the system. Applications to test the first hypothesis are called "positive identification" systems (verifying a positive claim of enrollment), while applications testing the latter are "negative identification" systems (verifying a claim of no enrollment). Biometrics, in general can be divided into two main groups, physiological and behavioral i. Physiological factors: These factors depend upon the physical structure and appearance of the individual. Iris Scan: The Iris of an individual is scanned to match it with the stored image. Quite often the iris scan may not come out with actual on if the person is putting on dark glasses, or is suffering from some eye disease. Fingerprint: This is one of the oldest tried and tested methods of biometrics. In fact the nail is also included for identification in fingerprinting. Hand: This includes the structure of knuckles, palm and the vascular networking of hand. Face, Earlobe, Lips: The camera scans the facial structure or the fleshy pendulous part of the external ear or lips of the individual. Voice: The voice is also one of the most distinguishing features to identify an individual. Therefore the voice patterns form one of the most dependable biometric measures. Retina: like iris, the retinal structure too provides an insight into the nature and character of the person. DNA: This method too is quite frequently used in a number of cases to establish the identity of the individual. Body Odor and Sweat Pores: There are biometric techniques which can sense the

Outline the main elements in Karl Marxs social theory and examine the Essay

Outline the main elements in Karl Marxs social theory and examine the strengths and weaknesses of his theory. Explain why Marxs social theory has had such a - Essay Example Ideologies in this context refer to the values, feelings and ideas by which people perceive their particular societies which the upper-class controls so as to prevent people in the lower-class from knowing how society truly operates. For example, literature can be used to form a society’s ideology as was prevalent in eighteenth century England. The fundamental conception behind Marxism is identified as materialism, socialism and the unification of action and structure. Marx’s idealistic view of socialism involved actions that would better serve society within the realm of unselfish inspiration, a society not interested in existing social inclinations. The wealth of a nation should be divided not according to greed but to need. He sees the technological advances as the basis for entire societies to be redistributed in accordance to the requirements of the upper class. Marx â€Å"sees the source of these changes in changing technologies, ‘productive relations,†™ which bring changes in the way people are organised or ‘social relations.’† (Sowell, 1985: 70). His theory does not suggest philosophical concerns or the study of social structures alone but the actions necessary to implement social change as well. One of the most often used axioms in the Marxist ideology is that their ambition is ‘not to study society but to change it.’ According to Applebaum (1988: 15), society should â€Å"understand how Marx sought to bridge the concerns of both philosophy and science in developing a theory that operates simultaneously at the levels of structure and action [†¦] the philosophic critique of consciousness, the ‘scientific’ analysis of capitalist economic institutions, and the historical study of politics and society.† This is the intent of this discussion along with identifying various strengths and weaknesses of the theory and to examine the reasons why Marx’s social theory has