Basic Network Technology, Structure, and Protocols Essay

Basic Network Technology, Structure, and Protocols - Essay Example This is not excusable in the 21st century hence looking at the basic or fundamental things that an individual should know is imperative. Computer networks have been used in sharing resources and data as well as for communication purposes. In order for one to have optimized performance, maintenance, data protection, security and improved reliability knowing the basics of the computer networks is of utmost importance. This paper outlines most of the things that a computer user needs to know. Computer networks security For any computer network, security is of utmost importance. Computer networks are always vulnerable to a number of security related threats which could be either external or internal. These include spyware, viruses, Trojan horses, web worms, hackers, adware, intruders and root kits. These security threats have a number of negative threats. Some of them impair certain computer applications and programs while others may modify, delete or corrupt files thereby making them in accessible. They may also attack the data that you have in the hard disk causing it to crash hence necessitating reformatting. While some may not necessarily harm the system’s integrity, they will always consume the system memory thereby slowing it down significantly. In some cases, you have computer malware which reinstalls itself in the computer system even when you have uninstalled them. Evidently, computer malware would have adverse effects on the computer networks. In this case, it is always important that an individual has a clear understanding as to the ways in which the computer security could be supplemented. There are several ways in which this could be done; they include installation of antivirus software, regularly updating the anti-malware programs and having the whole system scanned. Knowing about the security of the computer networks allows individuals to keep their data and resources protected. In addition, they would keep their systems functioning in an optim um manner in which case maximization of output from the computer network will be the direct result. While there may not be a standard way of teaching individuals about the security aspect of the computer networks, I think that the best way to tech people about hem is to outline the threats posed to computer networks, the effects and the best way to safeguard the network against such threats. Computer networks connectivity issues As stated earlier, computer networking is all about communication and sharing of data and other resources. This would only be accomplished when there is the appropriate connectivity. However, many are times when the connectivity of a computer network is impeded by varied factors. Connectivity problems emanate from faulty hardware, devices conflicts, improper configurations, faulty connectors or cables and even outdated drivers of the LAN card. This would call for troubleshooting by scanning the computer for spyware or viruses, checking the LAN card configura tions and updating its drivers, properly inserting the STP/UTP cable or even replacing the LAN card then reconfiguring it. Software troubleshooting issues For any computer system, software plays a very vital role in the whole operation process. Right from the operating system to the drivers, software and programs, their importance cannot be understated. This underlines the fact that when they are not operating in the appropriate manner, the whole system

A7-Chpt 9 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A7-Chpt 9 - Assignment Example 1-8). For example, Facebook and other social media sites allow users to design their own page. Wikipedia, on the other hand, allows users from all over the world to make changes to the pages where they perceive necessary. There are limitless applications of Web 2.0 to business organizations. For example, the interactive feature of the websites allows businesses to obtain feedback from their clients and thus tailor their products to suit the specific needs of their customers (Chui et al. 1-8). For example, most business websites and blogs allow the readers to leave comments, a feature that was only enabled by Web 2.0. In addition, Web 2.0 is a platform that can be used by business employees to share information among themselves (Chui et al. 1-8). This is a very important feature of business because it lowers the costs of communication and allows workers to have interactive forums where they can all participate in sharing and distribution of information. Web 2.0 also has applications in marketing. For example, all social networking sites use Web 2.0. Businesses use these sites to connect to customers and advertise new products. In fact, social networking sites are merging as the best advertising platforms (Chui et al. 1-8). They increase the application of Web 2.0 to

Human Influence on Spread of Disease

Human Influence on Spread of Disease Through the last 40 years, concern about the spread of infectious disease has progressed due to the public becoming more concerned about infectious diseases major public health threats. Despite the fact that everything these days is hygienic, hypoallergenic, sterilized, and individually wrapped for your protection, over 30 infectious diseases have cropped up over the last twenty-five years (Patz Confalonieri, 2004). Even with all these precautions, Infectious diseases have become the leading cause of death in the world and the third in the United States. Mainly as a result of advancements in medical technology, people are living for a longer time than they ever used to. Even in undeveloped countries the population density has become more intense. Third world countries do not have sufficient sewage systems, pure drinking water, ample housing, or proper medical facilities to handle the rising population. Because of the increasing population, people are packed into congested megacities, many of which are in humid regions where the environment is ideal for infectious diseases to flourish in (Hay et al. 2005). Today, in the 21st century, there are over 24 megacities in the world, the majority of them in under developed nations. It is predicted that before the year 2010, half of the worlds inhabitants will be residing in congested urban locations (Hay et al. 2005). The existing economic situation is surely causing numerous rural people to relocate to cities to attain work. Various contagious illnesses that were formerly localized in rural areas are now capable of reaching larger populations by way of rural urbanization. The number of people that dwell in poverty inside large metropolitan areas has grown at an alarming rate. Urban impoverished areas are breeding grounds for diseases comparable to tuberculosis (Hay et al. 2005). Data compilations, completed in 1990, estimated that there were, 20 million refugees and 30 million displaced people in the world. (Patz Confaloniere, 2004) Entire population movements were largely due to political, economic or catastrophic events such as flooding, earthquakes and drought are crucial elements in disease development. Such crises lead to temporary living arrangements, such as refugee camps and short-term shelters, which become the perfect environment for the spread of infections. Short-term living spaces frequently share similarities with impoverished city areas. Some of those similarities are; overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, restricted access to medical attention, lack of uncontaminated water and food, displacement, and ineffective barriers for disease-carrying agents. An example is the movement of 500,000 800,000 Rwandan refugees into Zaire in 1994. Almost 50,000 refugees died during the first month from cholera. (Patz Confaloniere, 2004) Importing and Exporting of goods We dine on foods from the worlds gardens, except not all imported foods are healthy. Raspberries from Guatemala made a great many Americans sick on account of a parasite known as Cyclosporine, which was in the water that was used to spray and water the raspberries. Potential disease-ridden bugs and tainted foods, vegetation, and other goods cross U.S. borders on daily basis. Ever since the 1980s, the quantity of imported food to the U.S. has doubled. Increases in food imports have endangered the nations food protection procedure. Despite the fact that we depend on the FDA, USDA and additional government organizations to safeguard our food supply, the number of inspections have reduced by 50% of what they had been a few years back (Garrett, 1996). Due to the worlds countries steadily become more entwined, inter-reliant, and extremely competitive, will the other nations of the world adjust their values to become more akin to those of the U.S. or will the U.S., regardless of elevated principles, turn out to be more susceptible to the rest of the worlds germs? (Garrett, 1996) Sexual Promiscuity and Drug Use The most recent epidemic on a worldwide scale is HIV/Aids. HIV/Aids appeared in 1979 but it was until the mid 1980s that the disease was given a name. Thirty years later there is still no cure for this disease. HIV/Aids are spread through body fluids with the main ways of becoming effected are through sexual contact and intravenous drug use. In 1997 it was estimated by UNAIDS (United Nations special program on the AIDS epidemic, that over 16,000 people worldwide were being infected with the HIV virus every day. This epidemic has shown the world that we are continually defending ourselves from an army of microscopic organisms that can emerge or mutate at any time (Eberstadt, 2002). Intravenous drug use continues to spread the disease far beyond those who inject drugs. Anyone who has sex with an intravenous drug user is at great risk of contracting the disease. Then to make matters worse, children born to HIV infected mothers may also become infected. Since the beginning of the HIV/Aids, intravenous drug use has either directly or indirectly accounted for over 36% of all Aids cases in the U.S. Racial and ethnic minority people in the U.S. are at the greatest risk. It is not only intravenous drug users that are at risk because studies have shown that crack smokers are three times more likely to contract Aids than those who do not smoke crack. Sixty-one percent of all women infected with the HIV virus had contracted it through sexual contact (Eberstadt, 2002). It is predicted that in the 21st century, the group with the highest risk will be children under the age of 15. In 1997, over half a million children, worldwide, under 15 years old had contracted HIV through birth by infected mothers, sexual contact, and drug use. HIV/Aids is the second leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 25 and 44. HIV/Aids is the leading cause of death for African American men and women between 25 and 44 years of age. Over half of the reported Aids cases in 1997 were among young homosexual men and 49% of infected women were infected heterosexually (Eberstadt, 2002). The HIV/Aids epidemic has also been the cause of another epidemic; Millions of children are being orphaned by HIV/Aids infected parents, quoted by Eberstadt, (2002). Changes in climate due to Global Warming Numerous transmittable diseases are extremely receptive to climatic shifts, mainly in temperature, surface water, and moisture. It is evident that climatic shifts are taking place as a result of increased emissions of green house gases. The main causes of climatic shifts are caused by human influences. The typical global surface temperature since AD 1000 began to increase around 1975. From 1975 to 2001, the worlds typical surface temperature has increased by .4 degrees Celsius. It is estimated that over the next century, the typical surface temperature will increase 2-3 degrees Celsius (IPCC 2001). According to Karl and Trenberth (2003), This change in temperature will soon exceed the bounds of natural variability. The frequency and geographical span of selected plant and animal infectious diseases has apparently altered, to some extent in reaction to climate shifts over recent years. Many infectious diseases are greatly influenced by the altering of local, regional, and global ecosystems that is being done by humans. In tropical regions, dams that were created by humans to store water for irrigation and hydroelectric power have made it possible for water borne diseases to expand in populated areas where they were previously nonexistent. (Harvell et al. 2002). Human transferable diseases are attributed to an intricate range of conditions making it hard to know precisely what the effects are as a result of climate variation alone. Even so, some data exists regarding an influence of recent climate change on Cholera in Bangladesh, tick-borne Encephalitis in Sweden, and Malaria in regions of eastern Africa (Lindgren Gustafson, 2001). There has been extensive research done to establish how human diseases such as malaria and dengue fever will react to the scope of worldwide climate shifts that are projected to take place over the next century. A great deal more research needs to be completed to conclude how climatic variations will effect microbial mutation and how the recent increase in severe weather events and natural disasters will affect the dispersion of communicable diseases (Kuno, 1995). Dengue fever is affected by urbanization, travel, trade, and weather conditions. Dengue is by far the most notable vector-borne viral disease of humans. This disease is extremely likely to become affected by worldwide climate alteration. Approx. 80 million cases of Dengue fever are reported each year, of which 20,000 die. Dengue is primarily a tropical disease and has expanded in recent decades to nations with moderate climates. The increase in the number of cases is also attributed to an increase in human mobility via air travel (Monath, 1994). The Dengue virus breeds in stagnate water locations that are commonly found in the urban environment. This virus strain has accomplished extraordinary evolutionary adjustment to coexist with humans, having originated in the tropical forests of Africa. It has been determined by scientific research, that Dengue is one of the main communicable diseases most expected to be affected by international climate shifts all the way through the 21st century and farther into the future (Monath, 1994). Many infectious diseases are greatly influenced by the altering of local, regional, and global ecosystems that is being done by humans. In tropical regions, dams that were created by humans to store water for irrigation and hydroelectric power have made it possible for water borne diseases to expand in populated areas where they were previously nonexistent (Kuno, 1995). Methodology The research for this article is qualitative in nature. Qualitative research is a method of used by many academic subjects, such as; social sciences and marketing research. Qualitative researchers have a goal of learning about human behavior (e.g. why and how people do what they do). This types of research focuses on researching specific items of a topic instead of the whole topic and all of its variables. The research conducted for this paper was focused on six human influenced factors that may or may not be the cause of increased spreading of infectious diseases. A small sampling of specific infectious diseases is discussed in relation to the factors that were researched. Data Collection Method The grounded theory data collection method was used for this paper. Grounded theory is used to form a theory or to prove or disprove a current theory from the data retrieved during the process of conducting research. Analysis of data: Interpretive techniques The most common analysis of qualitative data is observer impression. That is, expert or bystander observers examine the existing documented data, interpret it via forming an impression and report their impression in a structured and sometimes quantitative form. Limitations The research for this paper has determined that not all infectious diseases have been positively linked to modern day factors. Research in this field is in progress. In order for scientists to determine the factors causing the spread or mutation of a disease, they must first determine the cause of each factor. For example: it has been only recently, that the main cause of climate changes was human influence, had been discovered. Summary Research on all six factors was conducted by reading and compiling recorded data on factors and the diseases. It was determined that several very serious infectious diseases can be linked to one or more the researched factors. In the last 40 years over thirty new, renewed, or mutated diseases have plagued the world. It was also discovered that all of the factors were influenced by humans. It is my opinion that there is only one main factor that causes the spread of infectious disease, and that factor is humans. Conclusion Many of the past diseases that cause worldwide pandemics are still alive and mutating today. One of the biggest threats for the 21st century is the influenza virus. The flu virus constantly mutates and becomes immune to vaccines very quickly. The most recent deadly strain is H1N1 (Nipah virus) also known as the swine flu, and also recently the bird flu (Fong, 2008). According the St. Johns Providence Health System, In the first 10 years of this century, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) have noticed a disturbing trend. The number of people diagnosed with diseases such as West Nile, Monkey Pox, and Hantavirus has risen greatly. Diseases that had once been nearly wiped out, such as measles, mumps, pertussis, and malaria, have reappeared. And to top it all off, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like tuberculosis and Aids appear to be accelerating again. St. Johns Providence Health System feels that the reason for the escalation is the way humans live. A few of those reasons are: (2010) Weakened immune systems caused by genetics, other diseases, and malnutrition. Clearing forests and wetlands increases humans exposure to rats. Giving antibiotics to farm animals. The increase in worldwide natural disasters. War and biological weapons. Authors note: It will certainly take global efforts to control the spread of infectious disease. It seems that humans have been messing with Mother Nature and she is not very happy about it.

Eminem :: essays papers

Eminem In â€Å"like Eminem says, why all the fuss?† featured in The Age journalist Shaun Carney defends Eminem and his lyrics. Carny stresses that Eminem winning the category should not be so controversial when Mathers is clearly depicting a role. His contention through out the article is to convince the reader to refrain from reaching to eminem, as a parody. Carny effectively seeks the neutral role during the story. He leans neither way. Carny signifies specific word choice and language devices to shock his audience and to create an underlying sense of non-prejudice, realistic view on society perhaps to open up the views of a small-minded prejudice race. Carny’s headline is very striking it creates tension and almost gives a sense of obligation to the audience to read on. Carneys headline is used as a device to capture the readers immediate attention. This foreshadows the final remark made by Carny, â€Å"so much for scandal,† now leaving the reader with a question , a parallel between start and finish tightly constructing the article. This clever technique leaves the reader open handed and open-minded to think about the actual topic of the article. Though Carny’s contention through-out the article is to suggest Eminem is â€Å"Just Joking’, he is not all, scared of presenting Marshall as ‘not so nice’ explaining him as â€Å"a 28 year old production of a peripatetic white-trash upbrining.† Then contradicting himself saying â€Å"Mathers all wounded and victimised by his sole-parent upbrining .† Is this not a slight use of sarcasm? putting himself in the biased head of an out reaged parent. Carney conveys his opinion in a very structured way. He uses Eminem song lyrics to show that he is a role player and only joking, â€Å"I’m just playin ladies. You know I love you.† Carney uses other examples to reassure people say the situations he raps about are â€Å"just clownin’.† Although readers may not realise, Carney these more realistic, human-like comments as a source of evidence to back up his contention that eminem are not real, Marshall Mathers is an actor playing a role, ultimately just doing his job. Carney’s clever style of writing indicates a strong point of view defending Eminem , but his style of writing has allowed the reader to make their own decision, giving a fair balance between good and bad. â€Å"Eminem deals in some very sick stuff, no doubt about it,† but again goes on to say, â€Å"Eminem is a skillfull storyteller and role player.

Planet Earth Essay

Earth is the third planet from the sun. The place where many organisms exist, enhance with the beauty of nature. Packed with rich biodiversity, streams and rivers. Have you seen this place before? Maybe yes, but for how long? How much it matter to us if it is lost? What can we do to save them? Those are questions that that will hopefully strike our nerves. In this new millennium, many changes have occurred that altered the condition of the nature. Nearly all the natural rainforest has gone from several countries. It’s very alarming to know that our planet’s wealth is starting to vanish that provides us the basic-life supporting services. Imagine life without these resources, if we don’t put into effort conservation, were not going to only make our lives worse but it also going to impact wild life. People must keep in mind that gross materialism and the search of material wealth is not the only thing in life. Many species of animals are now in massive decline and various factors contribute to extinction. The Amur leopard that is rare and highly endangered and the wild Bactrian camel, the most endangered large animal are threatened to disappear. Nearly half of the world’s frog is extinct by now because of the fungus that hit them. Forest elephants and Walia Ilex are also on the top list. Folks are shooting them for their bush meat so they tend to go to sheer cliff where they are safe from guns and snares. If your protecting the species, first thing you should know is how close to extinction the species are. Extinction is driven by habitat change, release of pollution into the environment, by global warming. All these things are combining in a series of forces that likely to lead if we don’t take action very soon to the extinction of a large proportion of the wild life species. We can’t concentrate in only important species because every species is important. We need a great diversity of species. We need them all because when you start decreasing their number, you start reducing the stability of the area. To save one, typically means to save them all because if one of them got extinct, it will affect the others since they are part of them. It’s like a domino effect, if one piece falls automatically the rest of them will follow. In hot spot conservation, WWF’s strategy is to use anti-poaching patrols to protect the species, and so the rest get  protected also in the bargain. With extinction so close, conservation becomes desperate. The Audubon zoo creates the species survival plan which is like parent organisation in the United State. The clone the animals an d freeze the cells and 50 years from now, they could pull out the DNA and make them alive. It’s like living library in the future. The main thought is that they are getting attention from us. Protection and right treatment for these animals can give us such benefit in our life.

Pozzo & Lucky’s Relationship

During the two character’s appearance in act 1 we learn a lot about both characters through the relationship they have with each other. While Lucky’s lack of speech under Pozzo’s domain makes it difficult to identify his personality, we can still infer a lot about him. ‘Pig’, ‘hog’ and ‘swine’. All abusive vocatives thrown at Lucky by Pozzo. An instant indication that the relationship between these two characters is far from friendly, and makes the relationship between Vladimir and Estragon seem certainly pleasant. It is clear that Lucky acts as a type of servant to Pozzo and this is clarified when he attempts to describe their relationship in the quote â€Å"He wants to mollify me, so that I'll give up the idea of parting with him†. It is instantly clear that Pozzo’s character is extremely arrogant. He lords over the others, and he is decisive, powerful, and confident. When his character is introduced he refers to the other two as human, but as inferior beings; then he condescendingly acknowledges that there is a human likeness, even though the â€Å"likeness is an imperfect one.† This image reinforces his authoritarian god-like stance. Pozzo's superiority is also seen in the manner in which he eats the chicken, and then casts the bones to Lucky with an air of complete omnipotence. Yet there are several quotes after he becomes acquainted with Vladamir and Estragon for example â€Å"I'd very much like to sit down† and referring to them as ‘gentlemen’ which suggest that, due to his long and lonely journey, he seeks the approval of them both and to be, as he quotes ‘old friends’. This provides the audience with a hint that despite has vast knowledge he is lacking somet hing which he cannot gain from Lucky which is a companion. Together the two characters represent the antithesis of each other. From one man who seems to be incapable of not contributing his input to someone who barely speaks a word. An inexhaustible amount of polarities can be applied to their relationship. However, Beckett has left a lot of information unsaid; Pozzo tells us that his profound knowledge was taught to him through none other than Lucky himself, whether this is simply a metaphorical term is undetermined however this does hint to the audience that perhaps the two characters were once not so dissimilar. Further enigma is created through pozzo exclamation that Lucky has become insufferable: â€Å"I can't bear it . . . any longer . . . the way he goes on . . . you've no idea†. This leaves the audience alienated in terms of context, we are unaware of Lucky even speaking let alone driving someone to such an extent. This could also be seen as a malicious side to Pozzo’s character as he could potentially be lying as he sees Estragon and Vladimir warming to Lucky and is envious of that. Read also Intro to Public Relations Notes Similarities can be seen between Pozzo ; Lucky’s relationship in comparison to Vladimir ; Estragon’s, in a sense that, the two relationships have an element of irascibility. Vladimir and Estragon fail to agree on things and often find themselves in disputes, yet they are still bound by each other and depend on one another. This is, in many ways mirrored in Pozzo and Lucky’s relationship, although there is a much bigger gap in terms of authority. Despite this, the two still depend on each other and are even bound by a rope which could be representative of an umbilical cord which brings about references to religion, life and other common themes within the play. To conclude, the relationship that Pozzo and Lucky have is very significant in the play and when the tables are turned in act 2 with Pozzo losing his sight we learn a lot more about the two characters than in their introduction in act 1. The master and the servant have little in common but are bound to each other much like our main characters Vladimir and Estragon.

Learn About the Peripheral Nervous System

Learn About the Peripheral Nervous System The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and a complex network of neurons. This system is responsible for sending, receiving, and interpreting information from all parts of the body. The nervous system monitors and coordinates internal organ function and responds to changes in the external environment. This system can be divided into two parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord, which function to receive, process, and send information to the PNS. The PNS consists of cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and billions of sensory and motor neurons. The primary function of the peripheral nervous system is to serve as a pathway of  communication between the CNS and the rest of the body. While CNS organs have a protective covering of bone (brain-skull, spinal cord- spinal column), the nerves of the PNS are  exposed and more vulnerable to injury. Types of Cells There are two types of cells in the peripheral nervous system. These cells carry information to (sensory nervous cells) and from (motor nervous cells) the central nervous system. Cells of the sensory nervous system send information to the CNS from internal organs or from external stimuli.  Motor nervous system cells carry information from the CNS to organs, muscles, and glands. Somatic and Autonomic Systems The motor nervous system is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls skeletal muscle, as well as external sensory organs, such as the skin. This system is said to be voluntary because the responses can be controlled consciously. Reflex reactions of skeletal muscle, however, are an exception. These are involuntary reactions to external stimuli. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary muscles, such as smooth and cardiac muscle. This system is also called the involuntary nervous system. The autonomic nervous system can further be divided into parasympathetic, sympathetic, enteric divisions. The parasympathetic division functions to inhibit or slow down autonomic activities such as  heart rate, pupil constriction, and bladder contraction. The nerves of the sympathetic division often have an opposite effect when they are located within the same organs as parasympathetic nerves. Nerves of the sympathetic division speed up heart rate, dilate pupils and relax the bladder. The sympathetic system is also involved in the flight or fight response. This is a response to potential danger that results in accelerated heart rate and an increase in metabolic rate. The enteric division of the autonomic nervous system controls the gastrointestinal system. It is composed of two sets of neural networks located within the walls of the digestive tract. These neurons control activities such as digestive motility and blood flow within the digestive system. While the enteric nervous system can function independently, it also has connections with CNS allowing for the transfer of sensory information between the two systems. Division The peripheral nervous system is divided into the following sections: Sensory Nervous System- sends information to the CNS from internal organs or from external stimuli.Motor Nervous System- carries information from the CNS to organs, muscles, and glands.Somatic Nervous System- controls skeletal muscle as well as external sensory organs.Autonomic Nervous System- controls involuntary muscles, such as smooth and cardiac muscle.Sympathetic- controls activities that increase energy expenditures.Parasympathetic- controls activities that conserve energy expenditures.Enteric- controls digestive system activity. Connections Peripheral nervous system connections with various organs and structures of the body are established through cranial nerves and spinal nerves. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves in the brain that establish connections in the head and upper body, while 31 pairs of spinal nerves do the same for the rest of the body. While some cranial nerves contain only sensory neurons, most cranial nerves and all spinal nerves contain both motor and sensory neurons.

Employee Training Programs

Employee Training Programs Success in any organisation depends on its ability to manage and utilise its workforce. To achieve this, organisations need to train their employees regularly. In this regard, this paper analyses several articles related to employee training programs.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Employee Training Programs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through this article, the author analyses training and the development processes of various organisations (Peretz 2011, p. 2). The author argues that by investing in employee training programs, firms can gain competitive advantages. To affirm on the importance of employee training, the author states that many international companies spend a large amount of their resources on training their employees. By analysing several researches, the author reveals that culture does influence firm’s investment in training. The article confirms that the connection between higher uncert ainty avoidance and investment in employee training is stronger in large companies than in smaller companies. In addition, the author reveals that large and high-tech firms tend to invest more in training to increase on productivity and maximise on profits. The author notes that it is disappointing for most firms to train their executives using enormous resources and later lose them to competitor firms. To deal with the executive’s departure, firms should come up with appropriate agreements. Through these agreements, the law will mandate executives to work for their sponsor companies reducing cases of executive departure. This article majors on employee training as a career-building approach and a means of promoting effectiveness in Saudi Arabian SMEs (Shiryan 2012, p.1). The article outlines employees’ engagements with organisations in the country. Using a conceptual framework, the article investigates the proportions of management training and development in Saudi Ar abia. In the article, the author employs hierarchical regression analysis to indicate the relationship among variables. Similarly, the nature of employees’ training is measured using Meyer’s method. On the other hand, the article measures the management motivation using the Tai’s methods. From the results collected in the research, the author notes that 38% percent of those interviewed were natives while 62% were foreigners. Similarly, the article indicates that many workers in Saudi Arabia have not had proper training for more than five years. Through this analysis, the author concludes that employee training in Saudi Arabia is a challenge to the growth of its SMEs. For instance, he asserts that many domestic firms in Saudi Arabia have managers with little management training background. To improve on the situation, managers in such firms need regular training.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This article analyses a literature review article on the efficacy of employee training programs from varied perspective (Vijayabanus 2012, p.2). Through the article, the author suggests that employees are vital assets to any organisation. In this regard, the author argues that for organisations to increase on their ability to cope with the current challenges, the organisations have to concentrate on enhancing their workforce’s abilities, wisdoms, and skills. Through the article, the author suggests that the pre-training process is essential for every training program. According to the author, the process consists of training need identification, selection of appropriate applicants, and proper application of training techniques. For effective pre-training process, the author insists that trainees should be motivated through behavioural modifications. As such, during the training sessions, the trainers should identify the mos t suitable programs for their trainees. Lastly, the author illustrates how several organisations have sharpened their capabilities in various functions through organisational development programs. In general, the author’s push for the adoption of modern pre-training arrangement process is illustrated through the article. This article seeks to explain the transfer of trained knowledge, skills, and attitudes in relation to a particular environment (Grossman Salas 2011, p.2). The article reveals that the acts of training workforce are major concerns to most firms. Through the article, the author affirms that many organisations are increasingly investing in employee training programs to produce powerful and efficient workforce. In this aspect, the author affirms that training should focus on developing key competencies for job performance.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Employee Training Programs specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Despite heavy investment in training, the article reveals that some organisations have failed to utilize their acquired skills and knowledge. The author attributes these limitations to failures to maintain the trained knowledge and skills. Through research, the article illustrates how training outputs and conditions of transfer hinder the transfer of training. In general, the article suggests that individuals with high cognitive ability are better equipped to process and retain competencies provided during training. This article focuses on the job training for low-paid workers in Canada (Zeytinoglu 2008, p.1). Through this analysis, the author analyses workplace conditions and individual factors with respect to job training. For comprehensive evaluation, the author uses data from Statistics Canada’s Workplace and Employee Survey in his analysis. Through the article, it is depicted that low paid workers are employees working under regular contracts, or ful l-time workers working for less than $10 per hour. The article suggests that wage disparities among the Canadian workforce has widened despite a 22% increase in GDP per employee in the 1989 and 2004. Using the human capital theories, the author details the situation of employee training and labour economics in Canada. In accordance with the theories, the author argues that investments in human capital occur via training environment. Through this, the author suggests that paying the trainees during the training period motivates them to acquire more skills needed in the workforce. In the article, the author affirms that 14% of regular full- time Canadian workers are underpaid while 86% are overpaid. Similarly, the article verifies that most of the underpaid workers in Canada have little or no training background. Reference List Grossman, R., Salas, E. 2011. ‘The transfer of training: what really matters’, International Journal of Training and Development, vol. 2 no. 15, pp.1-19.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Peretz, H. 2011. ‘The role of societal cultural practices in organizational investment in training: A comparative study in 21 countries’, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 5 no. 52, pp. 817–831. Shiryan, S. 2012. ‘Employee Training Effectiveness in Saudi Arabian SME Performance’, International Journal of Business and Social Science, vol.3 no.14, pp.1-8. Vijayabanus, C. 2012. ‘A Study on Efficacy of Employee Training: Review Of Literature’, Journal of Business Theory and Practice, vol.3 no.13, pp. 275-282. Zeytinoglu, I. 2008. ‘Low-Paid Workers and On-the-Job Training in Canada’, Journal of Economic Studies, vol.1 no 63, pp.1-26.

Sunbird Facts (Family Nectariniidae)

Sunbird Facts (Family Nectariniidae) Sunbirds are tropical nectar-sipping birds belonging to the family Nectariniidae. Some members of the family are called spiderhunters, but all are considered to be sunbirds. Like unrelated hummingbirds, they feed primarily on nectar. However, most sunbirds have curved bills and perch to feed rather than hover like hummingbirds. Fast Facts: Sunbird Scientific Name: NectariniidaeCommon Names: sunbird, spiderhunterBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: Less than 4 inchesWeight: 0.2-1.6 ouncesLifespan: 16-22 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Southeast Asia, Africa, northern AustraliaPopulation: Stable or decreasingConservation Status: Least Concern to Endangered Species The Nectariniidae family consists of 16 genera and 145 species. All birds in the family are sunbirds, but those in the genus Arachnothera are called spiderhunters. The spiderhunters are distinct from other sunbirds in that they are larger and both sexes have the same dull brown plumage. Description Sunbirds are small, slender birds measuring less than 4 inches in length. The smallest sunbird is the black-bellied sunbird, which weighs about 5 grams or 0.2 ounces. The largest sunbird is the spectacled spiderhunter, which weighs 45 grams or 1.6 ounces. Generally, males are larger than females and have longer tails. Most members of the family have long, downward-curved bills. Except for the spiderhunters, sunbirds are strongly sexually dimorphic. Males often have brilliant iridescent plumage, while females tend to be duller or different colors than males. Some species have distinctive juvenile and seasonal plumage. Male and female sunbirds may have very different plumage colors. Irtiza7 / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Sunbirds live in tropical forests, inland wetlands, savannas, and scrubland in Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East, and northern Australia. They tend not to favor coasts or islands. Some species migrate seasonally, but only a short distance. They are found from sea level to 19,000 feet of elevation. Some species have adapted to live near human habitation in gardens and agricultural land. Diet For the most part, sunbirds feed on flower nectar. They eat from orange and red tubular flowers and are important pollinators for these species. A sunbird dips its curved bill into a flower or else pierces its base and then sips nectar using a long, tubular tongue. Sunbirds also eat fruit, small insects, and spiders. While hummingbirds hover to feed, sunbirds land and perch on flower stalks. Behavior Sunbirds live in pairs or small groups and are active during the daytime. They aggressively defend their territories from predators and (during the breeding season) other bird species. Sunbirds tend to be talkative birds. Their songs consists of rattles and metallic-sounding notes. Reproduction and Offspring Outside of the equatorial belt, sunbirds breed seasonally, usually during the wet season. Birds that live near the equator may breed any time of year. Most species are monogamous and territorial. A few species engage in lekking, where a group of males gather to put on a courtship display to attract females. Female sunbirds use spiderwebs, leaves, and twigs to build purse-shaped nests and suspend them from branches. However, spiderhunter nests are woven cups attached beneath large leaves. The female lays up to four eggs. Except for spiderhunters, only sunbird females incubate the eggs. Purple sunbird eggs hatch after 15 to 17 days. Male sunbirds help rear the nestlings. Sunbirds live between 16 and 22 years. Olive-backed female sunbird with chicks. Paul T Photography / Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies most sunbird species as least concern. Seven species are threatened with extinction and the elegant sunbird (Aethopyga duyvenbodei) is endangered. Populations are either stable or decreasing. Threats Threats to the species include habitat loss and degradation from deforestation and human encroachment. The scarlet-chested sunbird is considered an agricultural pest, as it spreads parasitic mistletoe in cocoa plantations. Although sunbirds are stunningly beautiful, they are not typically captured for the pet trade because of their specific nutritional needs. Sources BirdLife International 2016. Aethopyga duyvenbodei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22718068A94565160. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22718068A94565160.enBirdLife International 2016. Cinnyris asiaticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22717855A94555513. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717855A94555513.enCheke, Robert and Clive Mann. Family Nectariniidae (Sunbirds). In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Editions. pp. 196–243. 2008. ISBN 978-84-96553-45-3.Flower, Stanley Smyth. Further notes on the duration of life in animals. IV. Birds. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, Ser. A (2): 195–235, 1938. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1938.tb07895.xJohnson, Steven D. The pollination niche and its role in the diversification and maintenance of the southern African flora. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 365 ( 1539): 499–516. 2010. doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0243

Feasibility Of Atomic Bombings In Hiroshima And Nagasaki Essay

Feasibility Of Atomic Bombings In Hiroshima And Nagasaki - Essay Example This paper will look at the usage of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the perspective in three dimensions and stages, how it impacted the situation in present, near future and longer future. Scenario behind Hiroshima events: There was a built up towards the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing event, and it did not happen without a reason or in a fortnight, series of events led to the occurrence of this, and it can be said that the threat was in the atmosphere ever since 1942. Events like Peal Harbor and Mid way Island incident further ignited it and can be termed as the possible reasons towards Hiroshima and Nagasaki events. Short term outcomes: In short term, it lead to the victory of the allies, while the Normandy operation, Pearl Harbor were hall marks of recent days in the Second World War, and a solution was sought. Japan was going all guns and exploiting anything possible and in sight, thereby they had to be controlled. The single event of Pearl Harbor speaks for the type of offensive intentions they possessed. Their actions were indiscriminate on many fronts pertaining to the non military and civilian areas attacks. The consequence of using atomic bomb was total destruction of axis. Leaving them crippled. The atomic bomb was a death blow and a last nail in the coffin, which led to complete surrender in no time. this had a direct impact on the German moral, and their troops surrendered in no time. A warning to Nazis: The atomic bomb on Japan was a clear warning to Germany. If they did not halt their activities, Berlin, Frankfurt, would be the next target. Thereby this action had great repercussions and all to the... Scenario behind Hiroshima events: There was a built up towards the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing event, and it did not happen without a reason or in a fortnight, series of events led to the occurrence of this, and it can be said that the threat was in the atmosphere ever since 1942. Events like Pearl Harbor and Mid way Island incident further ignited it and can be termed as the possible reasons towards Hiroshima and Nagasaki events. Short term outcomes: In short term, it leads to the victory of the allies, while the Normandy operation, Pearl Harbor was hall marks of recent days in the Second World War, and a solution was sought. Japan was going all guns and exploiting anything possible and in sight, thereby they had to be controlled. The single event of Pearl Harbor speaks for the type of offensive intentions they possessed. Their actions were indiscriminate on many fronts pertaining to the non-military and civilian areas attacks. The consequence of using the atomic bomb was the total destruction of the axis. Leaving them crippled. The atomic bomb was a death blow and a last nail in the coffin, which led to complete surrender in no time. this had a direct impact on the German morale, and their troops surrendered in no time. A warning to Nazis: The atomic bomb on Japan was a clear warning to Germany. If they did not halt their activities, Berlin, Frankfurt, would be the next target. Thereby this action had great repercussions and all to the positives in terms of the Allies action and strategies.

E-commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

E-commerce - Essay Example e mysterious flu virus that originated in Southeast Asia, soon spread throughout the world and many countries so affected had been crossed out as travel destinations. As for the surging oil prices, all kinds of transportation systems were logically the first and worst sufferers. The airline industry received the hardest blows. In effect, the airline industry was among the sectors of the world economy lying prostrate as the old millennium changed to the new. Many flag carriers, notably Swissair of Switzerland and Sabena of Belgium, could not hang on and wrote finis to their operations. In the US, a number of domestic airliners filed for bankruptcy proceedings as an option for folding up completely. Going into 2005, the airline industry as a whole was estimated to have suffered losses to the tune of $43 billion (Watson, J., 2006). This was equivalent to the combined capitalization of 13 American airlines in today’s terms. The British Airways (BA), which for many years held the distinction of being the world’s most profitable airline, found itself hemorrhaging by 2 million pound-sterling per day in operating costs during those troubled years, following the 9/11 tragedy and the added one-two punch of SARS and the almost doubling cost of fuel. From 2001 onwards, BA went through an almost uninterrupted four-year decline. As the world’s largest international airline, BA is regarded as the industry leader, its profit ledger the bellwether of the market. Had it collapsed in the aftermath of 9/11, there would have been serious repercussions for both the aviation industry worldwide and global business as a whole. Airlines have precisely taken to forming an alliance among themselves to consolidate their resources so they can joined hands in warding off industry-wide problems like rising fuel costs, overcapacity and under-capacity. Such an industry grouping is the American Alliance which consists of Cathay Pacific, Qantas and other airlines. BA, an

Imigration Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Imigration Policy - Essay Example Yet, their policies towards immigration are surprisingly similar. Both candidates have shifted their policies from the polarizing liberal and conservative stance to a middle of the road approach in hopes of gaining a national consensus. One of the initial problems that needs to be addressed in the immigration issue is how to secure the border. There are additional questions of costs and departmental responsibilities for stopping the flow of illegal entry. Both candidates voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which calls for the construction of 700 miles of fence along the Mexican border (Carter et al.). While both candidates profess securing the border as a priority, McCain is more detailed in his planning. McCain has said that securing the border is the "first and foremost priority" (qtd. in Carter et al.). He has called for the Governors of border states to be the responsible party for certifying that the border is secure (McCain). However, the republican candidate makes no mention of how this would be enforced or what federal legislation would enact this requirement. Both candidates call for increasing the viability of the existing infrastructure as a means to enforce border security. McCain states that he will divert funding to US Attorney's offices, implement Homeland Security software and infrastructure, and deploy unmanned aerial drones to patrol the border (McCain). Obama's policy would "support additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry" (Obama and Biden 2). Obama and Biden additionally believe that we require "additional Customs and Border Protection agents equipped with better technology and real-time intelligence" (Obama and Biden 2). Neither candidate tells the public the cost of their programs nor how they would be funded. Public policy debates often become polarized on either right wing or left wing interests. In fact, conservatives have been critical of the traditional liberal policy positions on immigration. Newt Gingrich has stated, "The elites on the left oppose border control, oppose English as the official government language, want to find a way to allow everyone here illegally to stay, all while prohibiting illegal immigration in the future". Yet, these remarks made in January 2008 may only be indicative of how far the right has moved towards the center on immigration during this election year. The very positions that Gingrich criticizes are very similar to both the Obama and the McCain stances on these issues. McCain "Supports a path to legalization for illegal immigrants that includes learning English and paying fines" (qtd. in Carter et al.). Obama's policy states that he will "support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens" (Obama). Both candidates "Co-Sponsored the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007, which would allow states to give illegal immigrants in-state tuition for higher education and let the homeland security secretary confer legal resident status on some illegal immigrant students" (Carter et al.).Both policies are nearly identical and are in some agreement and some opposition to what Gingrich criti

Critically assess the potential use of the marketing information Essay

Critically assess the potential use of the marketing information system (MIS) to help marketing managers understand and fulfill - Essay Example However the previous research studies suggest that following avenues of the firms’ decisions in relation to its market operations are typically addressed in modern-day MIS; (1) the background factors (2) the actual information processing behavior and (3) the role of information activities in shaping the firm’s competitive advantage. Therefore it is clear that MIS address all the avenues of decision making in marketing. Current study attempts to compile the characteristics of the information processing involved in making sound marketing decisions and the specific advantageous of using MIS. Steps involved in information processing which is aimed at formulating sound marketing decisions are illustrated and the performances of modern-day MIS are evaluated in terms of the advantageous and scope for development. Marketing is a well structured subject area which contains clear conceptual frameworks and a substantial amount of empirical case studies which utilize the subject th eory. It is defined as â€Å"a social and managerial process whereby individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others† (Kotler, and Armstrong, 2010). ... changes in market conditions and anticipating market competition from new domestic and international firms entering into market and intensifying competition from the existing firms (3) design reliable marketing plans, considering the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives marketing strategies (4) find effective solutions to specific problems such as what is the best approach for launching a new product and what are the suitable product promotion strategies and (5) improve the overall performance of the organization by better controlling, monitoring and implementing marketing strategies which in turn increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of firms’ marketing division (Churchill, 2001; & Leonidou, and Theodosiou, 2004). Basic characteristics of MIS 1) The Background Factors Incorporated in MIS The background factors which can influence the marketing decisions include characteristics of the firm and the manager, government policies and consumer preferences and income levels. Previous researches which are aimed at exploring the background factors indicate that organizations with innovative cultures are more likely to seek information and appreciate its usefulness in making marketing decisions. Experience, level of education, cognitive styles and decision-making levels determine the manager’s information-processing style. Organizations which are not hierarchical in structure and decision making process is rather decentralized obtain more advantageous from MIS compared to those organizations which are highly formalized (Menon & Varadarajan, 1992). Moreover, the volatility in the external marketing environment also increases the degree of usefulness of MIS to marketing managers. Market volatility increases the supply and demand uncertainty which in turn

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

Career Explorations - Assignment Example eason why there is certainty in the future of the careers in the field is because of the findings by the researches that improvement in the health sector in the next coming years will not be guaranteed by research in medicine but public measures to prevent them. The other reason to pursue career in public health is because in modern days, there is a shift in focus towards concentrating more resources in the prevention measures in order to cut health costs. This is through public education and other raft of measure to improve public health. The specific career in the field is senior development specialist. A post in Essentia located in greater London. It is in health-public, health industry and technology development. The term of employment is permanent. Its’ main work is the design and development of programs to improve the public health infrastructure. This is important because it enables smooth and organized running of the healthcare services. It greatly helps facilitate the offering of services and it is important as it saves the overall cost of running the health sector due to its ability to reduce the number of labor workforce. It is not just about design; it goes beyond that to implementation. It requires one with knowledge in both commercial and the health sector. It focuses on the implementation of proper solutions that improve service efficiency for both workers and patients. To enter the field one need to have experience in JavaScript application to be guaranteed position in the internal service, now development team. The preferred candidates should have Knowledge and experience in BMC, CA, remedy or other ITSM tools. To be more suited for the job or be highly recommended for the job, one ought to possesses good technical background knowledge specifically in Jelly scripting and also being conversant with software development that are helpful in JavaScript application. A candidate should possesses good knowledge in modern technology, but the candidate

Acid rain Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Acid rain - Research Paper Example It appears to change the characteristics of the environment on a planetary scale; therefore, the global ecological crisis is dangerous to the world’s population. Dealing with global environmental crisis is complicated due to the fact that it requires the cooperative actions of the whole world, rather than the individual actions of the certain country or population group. It needs to minimize the pollution produced by mankind to the levels that the nature can cope with it on its own. Currently, the global environmental crisis consists of two main components: acid rain, the greenhouse effect, pollution with super toxicants, and the ozone holes. In the current paper we are going to discuss the phenomenon of acid rain and its effects on nature and humanity. The term â€Å"acid rain† was introduced by Robert Smith, English engineer, in his book Air and Rain: The Beginning of a Chemical Climatology (1872) (Myers 267). Acid rains containing solutes of sulfuric and nitric acids cause serious damage to nature, because soil, water, vegetation, animals, and people become their victims. Gases that are released by burning of fossil fuels, among others, are composed from dioxins of sulfur and nitrogen. Depending on the composition of a certain fuel there may be more or less of these dioxins. Fuel oil and sour coal provide the most saturated sulfur dioxide emissions. Tons of sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere resulting from chemical reactions turn into weak acid solution. In the internal combustion engines and boiler systems, nitrogen and oxygen under high temperatures form the nitrogen oxides. In this respect, energy production is accompanied by oxidation of the environment. Emissions are dispersed over vast areas due to the heigh t of the power plant pipes (Granier, Artaxo, and Reeves 54). The acidity of the water solution is determined by the presence of positively charged hydrogen ions H+ in it and

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

Career Explorations - Assignment Example eason why there is certainty in the future of the careers in the field is because of the findings by the researches that improvement in the health sector in the next coming years will not be guaranteed by research in medicine but public measures to prevent them. The other reason to pursue career in public health is because in modern days, there is a shift in focus towards concentrating more resources in the prevention measures in order to cut health costs. This is through public education and other raft of measure to improve public health. The specific career in the field is senior development specialist. A post in Essentia located in greater London. It is in health-public, health industry and technology development. The term of employment is permanent. Its’ main work is the design and development of programs to improve the public health infrastructure. This is important because it enables smooth and organized running of the healthcare services. It greatly helps facilitate the offering of services and it is important as it saves the overall cost of running the health sector due to its ability to reduce the number of labor workforce. It is not just about design; it goes beyond that to implementation. It requires one with knowledge in both commercial and the health sector. It focuses on the implementation of proper solutions that improve service efficiency for both workers and patients. To enter the field one need to have experience in JavaScript application to be guaranteed position in the internal service, now development team. The preferred candidates should have Knowledge and experience in BMC, CA, remedy or other ITSM tools. To be more suited for the job or be highly recommended for the job, one ought to possesses good technical background knowledge specifically in Jelly scripting and also being conversant with software development that are helpful in JavaScript application. A candidate should possesses good knowledge in modern technology, but the candidate

Color Band Resistors Essay Example for Free

Color Band Resistors Essay RESISTOR A resistor is a component of a circuit that resists the flow of electrical current. It has two terminals across which electricity must pass, and it is designed to drop the voltage of the current as it flows from one terminal to the other. Resistors are primarily used to create and maintain known safe currents within electrical components. Resistors are coated with paint or enamel, or covered in molded plastic to protect them. Because they are often too small to be written on, a standardized color-coding system is used to identify them. The first three colors represent ohm value, and a fourth indicates the tolerance, or how close by percentage the resistor is to its ohm value. This is important for two reasons: the nature of its construction is imprecise, and if used above its maximum current, the value can change or the unit itself can burn up. †¢ RESISTANCE In physics, resistance is defined as the ability of a substance to prevent or resist the flow of electrical current. A substance resists electrical current because of a collision between electrons and atoms, which slows the electrons down and converts some of their energy to heat energy. In some cases, the energy is also converted into light. German physicist Georg Ohm (1789-1854) is credited with discovering the effect of a materials make up, length and thickness on its resistance. In fact, the standard unit of measuring resistance, the ohm, is named after him. Ohms law became publicly known in 1827 and states that a circuit’s resistance is 1 ohm if a 1-volt voltage make 1 amp of current. According to Ohms law, a circuits resistance is equal to its voltage divided by the amount of current. †¢ RESISTIVITY The measure of the potential electrical resistance of a conductive material. It is determined experimentally using the equation [pic] = RA/l, where R is the measured resistance of some length of the material, A is its cross-sectional area (which must be uniform), and l is its length. It is measured in ohm-meters. Resistivity of a material remains constant whether it is taken about 1 cm..or 1km (on a constant temperature and other physical conditions remains the same) The Resistivity of a material depends on temperature( and other physical conditions such as air pressure) and the nature of the material (avaibility of free electrons.number of free electrons are same in an element atoms). †¢ TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT The temperature coefficient is the relative change of a physical property when the temperature is changed by 1 Kelvin. In the following formula, let R be the physical property to be measured and T be the temperature at which the property is measured. T0 is the reference temperature, and ΔT is the difference between T and T0. Finally, ÃŽ ± is the (linear) temperature coefficient. Given these definitions, the physical property is: [pic] Here ÃŽ ± has the dimensions of an inverse temperature (1/K or K−1). This equation is linear with respect to temperature. For quantities that vary polynomially or logarithmically with temperature, it may be possible to calculate a temperature coefficient that is a useful approximation for a certain range of temperatures. For quantities that vary exponentially with temperature, such as the rate of a chemical reaction, any temperature coefficient would be valid only over a very small temperature range. Different temperature coefficients are specified for various applications, including nuclear, electrical and magnetic. 1. What are the uses of resistors? †¢ Resistors are essential in electronic circuits, as they control the amount of current that runs through them. Without resistors voltage would be too great for individual components to handle and would result in overloading or destruction. The principle by which resistors work can also be applied to heating elements in irons, toasters, heaters, electric stoves and hair dryers, which dissipate voltage as heat. Variable resistors may function as sensors, switches or voltage dividers. Specialist end uses, such as new generation automotive LED light clusters, demand a specialist resistor solution. Aluminum clad wire wound resistors provide high power dissipation in a limited space, and are designed for direct heat sink mounting, using thermal compound to achieve maximum performance. The resistors work as a ballast to augment the resistance in the LED, mimicking that of a conventional 2. What is the difference between 4 color, 5 color, and 6 color band resistors? †¢ 4 Color Band Resistors- These resistors have two bands for the resistance value and 1 band for the multiplier and 1 tolerance band. This is the most common variation. †¢ 5 Color Band Resistors- These are with high precision and have an extra band to indicate a 3rd significant digit. The 1st three bands indicate the significant digits, the 4th band is the multiply factor and the 5th represents the tolerance. There are exceptions to this. For example, sometimes the extra band indicates failure rate or temperature coefficient. †¢ 6 Color Band Resistors- These are resistors that are usually for high precision that have an additional band to specify the temperature coefficient (ppm/k). The 1st three bands are for the resistance value, the 4th for the multiplier, the 5th for the tolerance and the 6th for the temperature coefficient. Sources: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-resistor.htm http://www.wisegeek.com/in-physics-what-is-resistance.htm http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100627073410AAvDj3T http://www.thefreedictionary.com/resistivity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature_coefficient http://www.rapidonline.com/infozone/resistors/applications.htm

Relational Contracts: Advantages and Disadvantages

Relational Contracts: Advantages and Disadvantages Relational contract is defined as â€Å"Contracts in which what is expected by both sides is not written out in detail but develops as an ongoing relationship.† (Chrystal: 1997 p.702) whereas referring to CRC CI (2002), it deals with identifying and endeavouring an approach of mutual benefits through developing cooperative relationships and establishing a mechanism of risk-sharing. Thus, it is not only based on expectation but also underpins the mechanism of encouraging mutual collaboration between parties. As per Kumar N (1996), relationships must have a degree of elasticity to flourish which cannot be established by enforcing legal force of contracts rather by mutual obligatory force of trust. (p.105) and as the term ‘relational refers to the expectancy situation that benefits both parties from its continuance therefore, establishing the element of trust between the parties leads to economical benefits of sustainable lower cost of performing business activities and strategic advantage of meeting organisational goals. As relational contracts rely on existence of corresponding expertise and knowledge that the parties dont need to produce or buy in order to carry out transactions therefore, it cuts down short-run transactional (informational) costs, preventing parties to spend on buying expertise and information that other party can bring. The association between the parties also encourages innovation outcomes by sharing of information and skills so this people-orientated approach leads to develop competitive advantage which in turn manages the costs effectively. Thus, saving contractual cost that would otherwise have incurred in buying information as in classical contracts where there is not a free flow of data. Nowadays, more concern is paid to manage relationships than to maintain contractual terms as Neoclassical and arms-length contractual relations are against â€Å"lean† working which ensures mistrust and defensive behaviour that adds to transaction costs therefore establishment of partnerships especially between public agencies and services requires maintenance of trust. ‘Adverse approaches to contracting in construction industry have led to reduced efficient industry with lower productivity levels however, the relational contracting approach has evidently increased the efficiency by developing partnering agreements and joint team goals and reviews that enhanced financial returns and reduced incidents and conflicts. (Latham, 1994; Egan, 1998; RCF, 1995, ECI, 1997; CIB, 1997) It also supports creation of networks and also enhances goodwill that can be beneficial at the time when one company fails to work in the required way which saves cost of switching between the compani es. Relational contracts occur in variety of play between senior and middle-level managers, administration and employees, suppliers and the company so the strength of the relationship develops through the course of dependent learning that is hard to imitate. For example, according to Chrystal.K (1997:72), the job specifications evolve over time which may not be same as when the person applied for the job. Also, there may be many problems in completely specifying the performance required by the other party. In other words, employee and employer have reciprocal obligations which the either party obliges to fulfil anyway even if they were imprecise or ill-defined earlier. If not, then the negative consequences may be evident. Therefore, having a more open-handed, relational contract approach in firms can avoid the unconstructive circumstances, allowing employer to later specify the task and exploit the skills which also save cost that can be claimed by employee for breaching of the specific ations in the formal contract. (Shore and Barksdale, 1998) however, parties may not disclose all the relevant information and interpret the terms in contract their own way which may give rise to adverse selection and moral hazard problems. This shows that presence of clauses may prevent the opportunistic approach and ensures reliability which signifies that ‘real trust does not exist in business world. (Williamson, O.E, 1993:97-107) Also, if contractual relations are based on social norms then fewer transactional relations will be observed with primitive approach as most of them will exist between the reliable known parties whereas the legal approach proposes agreements with anonymous too. Thus, reducing the cost by specification of risk allocation if transactional cost were nil, decreasing coordination and informational expenses. Also it prevents ex ante opportunistic approach by establishing legal enforcement and reduces ex post opportunism by specifying rules. Thus, formal contracts are ‘lubricant of economy. (Schafer.H Ott.C: 2004:277-278) however, its clear specification to avoid opportunism can make contracts costly. Also Nooteboom (2002) criticises this view as contracts can be based on moral values, habits and certain other factors that ensure reliable performance as in relational contracts. Moreover, empirical research by Macaulay (1963) and Beale Dugdale (1975) concludes that â€Å"Businessmen prefer relying on a mans word in a brief letter, a handshake, or ‘usual honesty and decency even though there is high risk transactional cost included†. The underlying basis for formation of relational contracts is the value that it establishes over the years to maintain contracting relationships rather than investing sole concentration on transaction taking place between firms. Different deferred remunerations like promotion based on seniority, lifetime employment, generous pension schemes all serve to the aim of establishing relational contract which develops long-term bonding. Thus, saving cost on investment in establishing future relationship. Also it can establish successful long-term bonding at the start of the relationship which saves costs by enhancing the probability ratio of establishing mutual policy objectives which can encourage alliance over the utilisation of resources that are scarcely available within the parties. (Brown et al., 2004, p.748) This relationship flourishes over time that promotes flexibility of adapting to altering situations and priorities without affecting focus on outcomes thus leading to successful transactions between companies and saving cost that would otherwise have incurred in bringing the change. (Gibbons as cited from Kleins studies: 2005, p.209) (Levin, 2003, p.837) Also contracts that are established on relational basis rely on long-term reputation factor rather than contractual time-limit. (Kragly J et al: 2007) it is also backed by Williamson (2006), that ‘parties dont renegotiate the terms in contracts as they carry symmetric knowledge in relational contracting however black and white contract involves costs that increases with the increase in number of terms in agreement (p.290). Referring to Gibbons (2005:p.237), relational contracts can remedy the imperfection of the formal contract. Thus, saving cost on written agreement. Also relational contracts overcome the hardships of formal contracts that are enforced by law as formal contractual terms need to be specified before ex ante that the third party verifies ex post but in relational contracts, only contrac ting parties can notice outcomes ex post. Also the specification of ex ante can be costly so it is avoided in relational contracting. Thus, this ‘self-enforcing nature of relational contract saves contractual costs, allowing parties to utilise their elaborated knowledge and adapt to upcoming information as in employee-employer relationship. However, the same reason could lead to a disadvantage of not being enforced by a third party as traders might face a problem with ruling out of third party enforcement as they are most concerned about the identity of trading partners. (Brown et al., 2004, p.748) and as per Levin (2003), relational contracts are based on ‘self-enforcing characteristic therefore, reneging can not only end relationship but also can make other party suffer loss which in turn increases cost. (p.836) however, the basis of establishing relational contract is the incentive that both parties share thus, halting the reneging approach. Also the violator would su ffer loss of reputation which delineates the ‘self-enforcing nature of relational contracting. (Klein Nevin, 1997, p.417) The point of concern is stated by Simon (1995), that the capability of processing information by humans is limited (Bounded rationality) which can increase relational contract costs. Also contractual rawness can be a result of ambiguity aversion which can be haggling cost because of different acknowledgements of both the parties thus increasing the cost of transaction and contract contingency. (Williamson, 1985, Mookerji, 1998) however, in relational contracts the strength of the relationship develops through the course of dependent learning that is hard to imitate and is more flexible than classical contracts which require more cost of abiding by contractual terms and as the relationship between trust and cost works inversely, the absence of trust would require compliancy to certain standards and rules so as to maintain relationship which then would increase the cost of setting conditions, negotiating, regulating and monitoring formal contracts. Thus, in medium to long term, relatio nal contracting saves costs of uncertainty by establishing reliability on trust that lowers down the degree of insecurity on accomplishing objectives as trust decreases ratio of conflicts and opportunistic conduct. Also less control of regulation means the requirement of tight control is not necessary thus saving cost. In conclusion, relational contracts approach within firms is very effective and need to develop trust across different cultures is required however, some multi-organisations with complex business dealings require formal contractual enforcements that are more cost-efficient for them whereas in construction industry, this is the most widely practised effectual form of contracting. Thus, relational contracts save cost by establishing mutual trust and encouraging multi-disciplinary approach which creates long-term tangible and intangible value that promotes mutual cost-efficient collaboration and flexible dealings however, on the other hand its non-specification can give rise to moral hazard and opportunistic behaviour problems which can further increase the cost. It is suggested that a win-win situation should be created that is founded on relational contracting to establish sustainable long-term relationships and trust which will keep the costs low as compared to formal contract enforc ement. Bibliography Chrystal.K Lipsey.R (1997), â€Å"Economics for business and management†, published by Oxford University press, New York, pg.72 Davis.D Holt.C (1993), â€Å"Experimental Economics†, Princeton University press, New Jersey McAleesee.D (2004), â€Å"Eonomics for Business-Competition, Macro-stability and Globalisation†, 3rd Edt, Published by Financial Times Pearson Education Limited, England Samuelson.P Nordhaus.W (1995), â€Å"Economics†, 15th International Edt, published by Mc-Graw-Hill, USA Kumar N (1996), â€Å"The Power of Trust in Manufacturer-Retailer Relationships†, Harvard Business Review, p 105. Williamson, O.E., (1985), â€Å"The Economic Institutions of Capitalism†, Free Press, New York Trust and relational contracting, http://www.mdl.co.nz/library/librarydocs/partnership_contracting/Relational_contracting, date accessed 2-11-09, last updated unknown Kay. J (1995), â€Å"Why firms succeed†, Oxford University Press, New York, pg 54 Kragly J et al (2007), â€Å"Relational Contracts and Inequity Aversion†, Technical University Berlin, http://www.bgpe.de/texte/paper/kragl Mouzas S Blois K, â€Å"Relational Contract Theory: Confirmations and Contradictions†, University of Lancaster, http://www.impgroup.org/uploads/papers/6764, Henderson.R et al (2008), â€Å"What do managers do (to build competitive advantage) The development of contracts the origin of organisational capability†, Harvard Business School Colledge B (2005), â€Å"Relational contracting-Creating value beyond project†, Vol.2, Lean construction journal, www.leanconstructionjournal.org, Baker.G et al (2001), â€Å"Relational contracts and the theory of firm†, Journal of Economics Anonymous, â€Å"An Investigation Of The Relational Component Of The Psychological Contract Across Time, Generation, And Employment Status†, Journal of Managerial Issues, 2001, http://www.entrepreneur.com/interstitial/default.html, Shore, L. M. and K. Barksdale. 1998. Examining Degree of Balance and Level of Obligation in the Employment Relationship: A Social Exchange Approach. Journal of Organizational Behavior 19. 731-744. Grimmer. M Oddy. M (2007), â€Å"Violation of the Psychological Contract: The Mediating Effect of Relational Versus Transactional Beliefs†, Australian Journal of Management, Vol. 32 Foss.N, â€Å"Bounded rationality and organisational economics†, http://organizationsandmarkets.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/foss-n-bounded-rationality-and-organisational-economics.pdf, Schafer.H Ott.C (2004), â€Å"The economic analysis of civil law†, published by Edward Elgar publishing Limited, UK, 277-278 Williamson, O.E (1993), â€Å"Opportunism and its critics†, managerial and decision economics, 14, pp 97-107 Simon, H.A. (1955), â€Å"A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice†, Quarterly Journal of Economics 69, 99-118. Simon, H. A. (1979), ‘Rational Decision Making in Business Organizations, American Economic Review 69, 493-513. Williamson, O.E. (1985), ‘The Economic Institutions of Capitalism, New York: Free Press. Mookerji, S. (1998), ‘Ambiguity Aversion and Incompleteness of Contractual Form, American Economic Review 88, 1207-1231. Rowlinson Steve, â€Å"Relational contracting, culture and Globalisation†, http://www.alliancingassociation.org/Content/Attachment/Relational%20Contracting,%20Culture%20and%20Globalisation%20-%20S.%20Rowlinson%20F.%20Cheung%202007.pdf, CRC CI (2002), â€Å"A review of concepts and definitions of the various forms of relational contracting†, (2002-022-a), Barisbane, Australia, unpublished report. Egan J. (1988), â€Å"Rethinking Construction†, HMSO, London Egan J (2004)., â€Å"The Egan Review: Skills for Sustainable Communities†, OPDM, London, Latham M. (1994), â€Å"Constructing the Team, Joint Review of Procurement and Contractual Arrangements in the UK Construction Industry†, HMSO, London Macaulay S. (1963), â€Å"Non-Contractual Relations in Business: A Preliminary Study†, American Sociological Review, Vol.28, No. 55 Beale and Dugdale (1975), â€Å"Contracts between Businessmen†, British Journal of Law and Society, Vol. 2, Issue 45, pp 45-48 Rowlinson, Steve and Cheung, Yan Ki Fiona (2004), â€Å"Relational contracting, culture and globalisation†, AIT, Bangkok

Living a Pluralistic Way of Life Who Sees Diversities as a Connection t

"Culture", as a word, fits with a group of words that do not have just one definition or meaning, but multiple. With a diverse population prevailing in the United States today, our country is a melting pot of diverse cultures, every distinctive in its own respect. Culture is distinguishing one social group from another, including beliefs, language, traditions, art, food, religion and economic systems. Through lifelong and ever altering processes of learning, and sharing, culture shapes our patterns of behavior and thinking. A culture’s significance is so philosophical that it touches almost every aspect of who and what we are. As Henslin once said â€Å"Culture becomes the lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on around us.† It becomes who we are and how we see things differently from the people of a different nationality. In Warren St. John’s Outcasts United, culture is an important aspect that plays a significant role throughout the book and challenges the refugees in their daily lives. Having a pluralistic society can influence the behavioral and thinking styles of the people living around them. Some of these people may learn from the diverse range of cultures to find faults in their own living styles and try to better improve them. The Liberian’s, the Middle Easterner’s and the African’s are some of the examples of how one’s culture can impact lives of the people living around them. Starting a new life in a different culture is not easy, but instead, it is very hard to overcome some of the challenges that one may encounter. When visitors first arrive to a striving country, like America, they are excited to live the life they have been dreaming about for years. But after a certain amount of time, they start fee... ...ge that benefits every single individual. Clarkston, Georgia gave thousands of refugees a home to live in; they provided the immigrants with their basic necessities. Some of these new cultures that impacted the society to a certain limit were Middle Eastern, African, and the Liberians. The people in Clarkston got exposed to a lot of diversity around them which brought a lot of change into society caused by the various range of people living there. While some changes were beneficial, the others were not so good. However, in the end Clarkston symbolized a perfect model pluralistic society for others to look at and be appreciative. People should be acceptable to change; you never know, it could change your life forever in a moral way. A good way to look at culture through your eyes is to â€Å"see the world’s variety as a blessing rather than a burden† (The Aga Khan).

People Like Us :: Literary Analysis, David Brooks

This essay will discuss the intrinsic relationship between diversity conceptualization and social integration presenting a response against David Brooks’ essay entitled â€Å"People Like Us.† In order to do this I will discuss four crucial elements: the influences of different definitions of diversity in cultural unification, Brook’s ideas about social groups working together and social groups coexisting together, the importance of diversity, and the influence of diversity in social changes. I will examine why some people have the perception that our American society ignore or see as unworthy diversity. Thus, I will dispute Brook’s view stating that our society disregards diversity, and Americans just pretend that it is important to them. First, I will discuss the influences of different definitions of diversity in cultural unification. The major problem concerning this issue is that many people differ in the real meaning of the concept and how they view their personal involvement. Brook argues that â€Å"we do not really care about diversity all that much in America, even though we talk about it a great deal† (306). However, they are the general, erroneous interpretations of diversity that are really creating this wrong image of indifference. According to Kira Hudson Banks in her research entitled â€Å"A Qualitative Investigation of Students’ Perceptions of Diversity,† many people defined diversity as race and do not include other types of diversity (153). The real definition of diversity includes different elements of the identity and culture of each person. Diversity involves cultural differences, such as origins, religious or political affiliation, race, and gender, and other more profound differences, such as experiences and personality. As Banks argues in her research, the real definition involves several elements of our identity (149). Therefore, the way in which we define and conceptualize diversity affects the way in which we interact with people of others culture, race, and affiliations. Second, I will discuss Brook’s ideas about social groups working together and social groups coexisting in a specific area. According to Brooks, in the United States we cannot see neighborhoods with different races or cultures because people always try â€Å"to group themselves with people who are basically like themselves† even in their workplaces (306-307). He makes this asseveration giving just an example on how wealthy Democratic and Republican lawyers do not tend to buy expensive houses in the same neighborhoods (307). However, in our country we can see middle class neighborhoods where we have different social groups coexist together, such as Coral Gables in Miami, Fl or Pembroke Pines in Broward, Fl.

How Xerophytes Are Adapted for Water Loss Essay

Biology essay: describe the adaptations shown by xerophytes to reduce water loss A Xerophyte is a type of plant that is well adapted to water. Water loss is something that is very bad for the plants if the ratio of water lost to water taken in is too drastic. The cells may lose their turgidity and may even submit to plasmolysis, which will result in the plant wilting and eventually dying. Water loss via transpiration (loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant due to evaporation) is fundamentally inevitable due to the fact that plants exchange gases with the atmosphere, via their stomata-the pores in a leafs epidermis . The bad aspect of this is the fact that the plants must photosynthesise in order to acquire the energy vital for their survival; for this exchange to occur the plant must be able to allow the gases in and out of the leaves, and to do this the stomata must open, meaning that water can be lost due to the opening of an exit, and also the change in the water va pour potential gradient. Water potential is the measure of the tendency/ability of water to move freely in a solution. Water moves from an area of high water potential to an area of lower water potential, and this is what causes the water vapour in the plant to be lost to the outside atmosphere, due to the difference in the water potential gradient, and we call this â€Å"moving along the water potential gradient†. If the water potential outside the plant was higher than the water potential inside the plant, then the plant would absorb water vapour rather than lose it, but because of the extreme weather conditions, and the difference in water potential the plant loses rather than gains water. The potential of water vapour is the same concept, and simply means the same thing but in terms of the gaseous form of water. Most plants can reduce water loss by structural and behavioural adaptations such as: * A waxy cuticle on the leaf will reduce water loss due to evaporation through the epidermis * The stom ata are often found on the undersurface of leaves, not on the top surface- this reduces the evaporation due to direct heating from the sun * Most stomata are closed at night, when there is no light for photosynthesis * Deciduous plants lose their leaves in winter, when the ground may be frozen (making water less available) and when temperatures may be too low for photosynthesis. However although xerophytes do execute these adaptations, they also have a number of adaptations specific to their own requirements that reduce the rate of water loss. Firstly, the surface area. Xerophytes have much smaller leaves, often shaped like needles. This reduces the surface area of the leaves significantly; hence the total leaf surface area is also reduced. This means that there is a much smaller area for the water vapour to escape from, this works well because the smaller the surface area, the smaller the quantity of water that can escape, therefore the less water lost. The thorn like structures reduce the area exposed for transpiration. Pine trees are prime examples of this, as they have small needle-shaped â€Å"leaves† that h ave a small surface area, therefore are able to retain more water as a result, because less of the area is exposed, and so transpiration cannot occur as abundantly. Next, includes the way mesophyll, the spongy inner tissue of a leaf that is composed of loosely arranged cells of irregular shape, is densely packed together. This reduces the cell surface area that is exposed to the air inside the leaves, meaning that the space for water to have access to is reduced, because the cells are more compact, thus creating a sealed wall where water cannot escape into and less water will evaporate into the leaf air spaces as a result, hence reducing the rate of water loss. A third factor of xerophytes that they have adapted themselves to include the waxy cuticle, which appears on all plants, is a lot thicker than the typical cuticle. The waxiness reduces evaporation further, particularly cuticular transpiration, where water escapes from fissures through the cuticle. This is because the cuticle, found at the epidermal (outermost) layer of cells, is made up of a complex formula of waxy substances known as Cutin, which acts sort of like a waterproof layer to p revent the loss of water from the surface cells, therefore reducing the amount of water that could be lost to the atmosphere. Fourthly, closing the stomata when water availability is low will reduce water loss and so reduce the need to take up water. This is because when the stomata is open for various reasons including gas exchange, water can escape from the openings made by the stomata, this is bad or a plant like a xerophyte which wants to retain as much after as possible, therefore keeping the stomata closed as much as possible increases the plants chances of retaining water, particularly when water is scarce. Next, hairs on the surface of the leaf trap a layer of air close to the surface. This air can become saturated with moisture and will reduce the diffusion of water vapour out through the stomata. This is because the gradient of the water vapour potential between the inside of the leaf and the outside has been reduced, for if there is a â€Å"barrier† of water between the inside of the cell and the out, then the gradient of water potential is significantly reduced, because the difference in water potential is less, hence water will not want to move from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential. Pits containing stomata at their base also trap air that can become saturated with water vapour, and so also reduce the rate of water loss. This will reduce the gradient in the water vapour potential between inside and outside the lea, so reducing loss by diffusion. Behavioural aspects of adaptations that xerophytes achieve include rolling their leaves up so that the lower epidermis is not exposed to the atmosphere which can trap air that becomes saturated. This is another way to reduce or even eliminate the water potential gradient. Another point to make is that some plants have a low water potential inside their leaf cells. This is achieved by maintaining a high salt concentration in the cells. The low water potential reduces the evaporation o water from the cell surfaces as the water potential gradient between the cells and the leaf air spaces is reduced. An excellent example of a xerophyte is marram grass. A dense green plant with protruding spikes that appears in tufts, which you often see dotted along the coastal scenery. Its principal habitat is sand dunes and the conditions are very severe and can be particularly brutal at times, with winds and salty, dry terrain. The features described above mirror a lot of the characteristics that marram grass possess, such as rolling up its leaves to trap air inside as well as a thick waxy cuticle to reduce water evaporation rom surface cells, and hence is a very good example of a xerophyte. In conclusion, xerophytes are very durable plants that have adapted exceedingly well to living in such harsh conditions. Their features allow them to retain water incredibly well, and that provides them with an advantage to living in places such as the desert in comparison with a normal plant.

Journal 1 – The Metamorphosis

The opening paragraph of this short story begins with the introduction of Gregor Samsa as a newly transformed insect. The narrator's intent in regards to this brusque stating of Gregor's new physical shape, is perhaps to convey Gregor's own surprised and confused feelings into the reader's mind. The narrator seems to anticipate what the reader is thinking, as he immediately states that Gregor is transformed, and what shape he now possesses. The narrator pushes his description to unfolding the exact contours of Gregor's body. He takes the perspective of Gregor, looking down on his own body, perhaps to heighten the vividness and brutal psychological shock of the first vision of his â€Å"numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly before his eyes. † The reader is thus enabled, through this first-person point-of-view, to visualise that precise image, which inherently helps the reader better understand the effect of the transformation through Gregor's perspective. The paragraph detailing Gregor's metamorphosis is followed by a description of his room and of his non-bug life. The reader notices that where the first paragraph was leaning towards structure and a coherent and precise description of Gregor, this paragraph seems to consist of more random thoughts than anything else. It's as if Gregor's mind is wandering about his room, trying to rebuild his human character, whereas the previous paragraph had completely shattered his notion of humanity. We can see in the following quote just how determined Gregor is to re-ascertain his humanity, † What has happened to me? he thought. It was no dream. His room, a regular human bedroom, only rather too small, lay quiet between the four familiar walls. † Firstly, the fact that Gregor states very plainly that he lived in a good, human bedroom seems odd, as he feels the need to qualify the normalness of his place of residence through it's ‘human' appeal, instead of, say its ‘roomy' or ‘comfortable' appeal. Furthermore, the description of his room continues in its peculiarity, as Gregor feels compelled to further solidify the mundane-ness of his room through its ‘four familiar walls'. It seems that Gregor feels further compelled to make his room normal by depicting it as being of usual dimensions, hence the four walls, which are familiar – a contrast perhaps to his newly acquired uncomfortable feeling of not belonging, of being odd – hence the insect-like shape. The seemingly xenophobic attributes of his new character seriously conflict with the person he used to make himself be. As he states, â€Å"Above the table on which a collection of cloth samples was unpacked and spread out – Samsa was a commercial traveler – (†¦ † The position he held, and assumedly still has, of being a commercial traveler would lead one to believe that Gregor was not antisocial in any way, in fact the reader could assume that Gregor worked as a traveller because of his affinity with people. Yet the manner in which he now describes his room perhaps suggests that a deeper transformation had occurred, one that affected his self-confidence and his pers onality. Lead by hermit-like comments such as the â€Å"four familiar walls†, one can see that Gregor may now find sanctuary in the closeness of these walls, rather than seeking the public world of a traveller. This reaction is rather evident, as one could assume that any person would feel demoralized after being transformed into a huge bug. Yet where some people may be affected only physically, this transformation seems to have affected Gregor's psyche as well. Lastly, the end-description of the lady, â€Å"sitting upright and holding out to the spectator a huge fur muff into which the whole of her forearm had vanished! † seems odd, as Gregor's reaction to the huge fur muff somehow seems detached, like it was the first time he had seen it done. Ironically, Gregor tells the reader that he had recently framed the picture and had placed it above his desk, which would lead one to believe that he had looked at the picture before hanging it. Moreover, his reaction to the disappearing forearm may be related to the fact that he no longer has any, which would therefore explain his shocked reaction; the fact that a human is being portrayed in some light other than a normal one is both terrifying and appalling to Gregor, a notion that is explained again through his reaction to the picture, and perhaps thus to his physical state.