Impacts of Video Game

A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device (Wikipedia, 2011). With many types of games, there are many different effects that affect our life and most of them are bad. The first and also the most dangerous problem is violence. According to Dr. Craig Anderson (2003), violent video games may have even stronger effects on children's aggression for many reasons. He says that video games are highly interactive and engaging.In the other hand, many games reward for violent behaviors and because children repeat these behaviors again and again, they become more violent (Craig Anderson, 2003). Share the same idea with Anderson, Barlett (2009) describes five negative effects of video games and violence is the most dangerous effect. Violent video games is causally related to aggressive thoughts, physiological arousal, aggressive behavior, and antisocial behavior, as a result, children become more violent and they can’t control their action.Besides, there is a strong connection between violent video games and narcissism. Highly narcissistic individuals may act more violent after playing violent video games (Barlett, 2009). It seems like almost attacks are directed to the violent video game but there are some different opinions. One study by University of Rochester (N. Y. ) researchers Daphne Bavelier and C. Shawn Green(2010) on the first-person shooter game â€Å"Unreal Tournament† found that players improved perceptual and attention skills by playing that game.It gives player some highly mental skills like problem solving, logic, quick thinking, making fast analysis and decisions. They found that playing pro-social games led to more subsequent â€Å"helping† behavior in users (Daphne Bavelier, 2010). These researchers’ opinions may right but this problem doesn’t stop there. The author of the research â€Å"The good and the bad effects of video gam es† (raisesmartkid. com, 2010) points out that the effects of video games on children is worsened by the games interactive nature. Children are rewarded for being more violent.In some other ways, violent video games affect our social life. We may spend less time in other activities such as doing homework, sports and interacting with the family and friends (raisesmartkid. com, 2010). â€Å"GTA series† is the best example for this problem. In this game, we can do everything we want like stole a car or kill people. Although many people agree with this opinion, we cannot deny the beneficial side of it. â€Å"For the U. S military, video games get serious† (Albert Rizzo, 2011). 2. 1. 2 Affect our health. The second problem is our health.Video games affect not only our behavior, feeling but also our body. According to Dr. Mohamed K. Khan (2006), in Great Britain, those between the ages of 7 and 19 were associated with a 1. 1 per 100,000 risks for experiencing a light-i nduced seizure. However, those in the same age range who played video games experienced a 1. 5 per 100,000 risk. Dr. Khan also finds out that video games affect our movement. Our muscles become smaller because when we play video game, our body doesn’t need to work, as a result, our body become weaker than the normal person (Mohamed K.Khan, 2006). 2. 1. 3 Become addicted. The last problem is video game addiction. With many bad effects, why game still becomes an addiction and make us spend all day for it? Dr. Charles Ungerleider (2007) explains that â€Å"they're very compelling with increasing complexity, so a child becomes more facile, yet wants to know more and apply new skills. † While wanting to improve their game isn't a problem in itself, it becomes one if video games are â€Å"taking a youngster away too much from other activities,† says Ungerleider. (Dr. Charles Ungerleider, 2007).According to the author of the research â€Å"The good and the bad effects of video games† (raisesmartkid. com, 2010), video games addiction will affect our social life. We spend all day to play video games and it will destroy our social skill (raisesmartkid. com, 2010). 2. 2 Solutions. 2. 2. 1 Buyers check the game carefully. According to the author of the research â€Å"The good and bad effects of video games†, Buyers should check the game carefully. Every video game has the Rating and buyers should check it before buying that game.The government divides video games into 6 levels, and each level suitable for each group of age. We also need to note the title and the cover picture. The reviews of the game are important and because of that reason, we should search for the game in the internet before decide to buy it. Some websites will give score of the game so choose prestigious websites. The information from these websites is very useful. It will give the buyer the day that the game is released or the type of that game.Buyer can watch the ga me review or play the demo of the game and it will give the buyer some experiences before decide to buy that game (raisesmartkid. com, 2010). 2. 2. 2 Players do more exercise to improve your help. Because of the bad effect of video games on our health, we should do more exercises to train our body. 1 hour per day for morning exercise will make our muscles stronger. In addition, some leisure activities like swimming, walking, fishing also well for your health (Pietro Galassetti and the other researchers, 2001). 2. 2. Players need family power. According to Los Angeles-based psychotherapist Robert Butterworth (2010) ,dysfunctional parenting, children with little guilt, and accessibility to firearms with little parental supervision can create violent children. â€Å"Most children who commit violent crime show an early combination of personality and family factors that include having trouble getting along with playmates in preschool,† ( Robert Butterworth , 2010). Therefore, pare nt should limit the amount of time their children play video games or set a password for their computer.According to the author of the research â€Å"Create a strong password†, the password should have eight characters or more and try to put more uncommon characters. However, some children can break the password easily because they have some hacking skill. Because of that reason, parent should learn some way to power up your password. There are four steps that will make your password stronger. Step one is use a full sentence. After that, parent should remove all the spaces between the words. Next step is turning words into shorthand.And finally, you should put some numbers that meaningful to you (Microsoft. om, 2011). If you think the password can’t stop your children from playing video game, you should use some software to lock the computer. In the other hand, parent should give their children a variety entertaining things to learn from, so they will be addicted to vi deo games. Children should join the other leisure activities like soccer, fishing, and swimming. If you think your children addict to play video games, you should send them to some Game Quitting Programs. Tran Nguyen (2009), reporter of Viet Nam news, says that these programs will focus on maintaining and enhancing feelings.Most of the students of these programs had quit video games while the others had moderated the time they spent playing (Tran Nguyen, 2009). 3. Conclusion The findings reveal that Video games have many bad effects. These effects affect not only our behavior but also our health. Video games become an addiction, a national issue. However, we still can avoid these bad effects with some solutions like game checking system, morning exercises and parent s’ responsibility. With these solutions, we can control the problem and make it become a powerful tool for everybody around the world.

Definition of Mergers and Acquisition Essay

One plus one makes three: this equation is the special alchemy of a mergers or an acquisition. The key principle behind buying a company is to create shareholder value over and above that of the sum of the two companies. Two companies together are more valuable than two separate companies – at least, that’s the reasoning behind Mergers and Acquisition. This rationale is particularly alluring to companies when times are tough. Strong companies will act to buy other companies to create a more competitive, cost – efficient company. The companies will come together hoping to gain a greater market share or to achieve greater efficiency. Because of these potential benefits, target companies will often agree to be purchased when they know they cannot survive alone. Distinction between Mergers and Acquisitions Although they are often uttered in the same breath and used as though they were synonymous, the terms mergers and acquisition mean slightly different things. When one company takes over another and clearly established itself as the new owner, the purchase is called an acquisition. From a legal point of view, the target company ceases to exist; the buyer â€Å"swallows† the business and the buyer’s stock continues to be traded. In the pure sense of the term, a mergers happens when two firms, often of about the same size, agree to go forward as a single new company rather than remain separately owned and operated. This kind of action is more precisely referred to as a â€Å"mergers of equals. † Both companies’ stocks are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place. For example, both Daimler – Benz and Chrysler ceased to exist when the two firms merged, and a new company, DaimlerChrysler, was created. In practice, however, actual mergers of equals don’t happen very often. Usually, one company will buy another and, as part of the deal’s terms, simply allow the acquired firm to proclaim that the action is a merger of equals, even if it’s technically an acquisition. Being bought out often carries negative connotations, therefore, by describing the deal as a merger, deal makers and top managers try to make the takeover more palatable. (Investopedia. com – the resource for investing and personal finance education. http://www. investopedia. com/university/mergers (Page 3 of 15). A purchase deal will also be called a merger when both Chief Executive Officers agree that joining together is in the best interest of both of their companies. But when the deal is unfriendly – that is, when the target company does not want to be purchased – it is always regarded as an acquisition. Whether a purchase is considered a mergers or an acquisition really depends on whether the purchase is friendly or hostile and how it is announced. In other words, the real difference lies in how the purchase is communicated to and received by the target company’s board of directors, employees and shareholders. Garbage (2007) in his thesis paper on International Mergers & Acquisitions, Cooperation and Networks in the e-business’ defines a mergers as â€Å"the combination of two or more companies in which the assets and liabilities of the selling firms are absorbed by the buying firm†. According to Gaughan (2002) â€Å"a mergers is a combination of two companies in which only one company survives and the merged company ceases to exist, whereby the acquiring company assumes the assets and liabilities of the merged company†. An acquisition also known as a takeover? s the buying of a company, the target? by another or the purchase of an asset such as plant or a division of a company. In the case of Vodafone acquisition of GT the acquired company Ghana Telecommunication Company limited still remains the legal name and Vodafone Ghana (VFGH) as the brand name. Rosenbaum and Pearl (2009) describe another form of acquisition known as a consolidation. According to them the terms mergers and consolidation are sometimes used interchangeably. As a general rule of thumb, a merger describes the acquisition of a smaller company by a larger one. If the union is between two corporations of more or less equal size, then the term consolidation is probably applicable. For the purpose of this study, the definition of Rosenbaum will be adopted as the working definition of a merger. Types of Mergers From the perspective of business structures, there are different kinds of mergers. According to Welch, P. and Welch, G. (2007) Economics: Theory and Practice (8th ed. ), economists generally classify mergers into three types: (1) horizontal, (2) vertical and (3) conglomerate. Horizontal mergers This type of mergers takes place when two firms in the same line of business i. . they are in direct competition or they share the same product lines and markets combine. A typical example is the 1999 Exxon Mobil mergers. The merger between Vodafone and Ghana Telecom which is the focus of our study is also a horizontal merger. Anticompetitive effects The vast majority of significant competition issues associated with mergers arises in horizontal mergers. A horizontal merger is one between parties that are competitors at the same level of production and/or distribution of a good or service, i. e. , in the same relevant market. There are two types of anticompetitive effects associated with horizontal mergers: unilateral effects and coordinated effects. Unilateral effects, also known as non-coordinated effects, arise where, as a result of the merger, competition between the products of the merging firms is eliminated, allowing the merged entity to unilaterally exercise market power, for instance by profitably raising the price of one or both merging parties’ products, thus harming consumers. In homogeneous markets, unilateral effects can be pronounced when two significant competitors merge to create a large, dominant player with only a few or no other competitors. In these markets, an important role in the assessment is played by market shares and by the capacity available in the market. In differentiated markets, unilateral effects tend to arise particularly when the two merging companies have highly substitutable goods. Such a price increase does not depend on the merged firm being the dominant player in the market. The likelihood and magnitude of such an increase will instead depend on the substitutability of the products supplied by the two firms – the closer the substitute, the greater the unilateral effects. Coordinated effects arise where, under certain market conditions (e. g. , market transparency, product homogeneity etc. ), the merger increases the probability that, post merger, merging parties and their competitors will successfully be able to coordinate their behaviour in an anti-competitive way, for example, by raising prices. As in the case of unilateral effects, the most common form of coordinated effects is in the case of horizontal mergers, i. e. mergers between firms active on the same market. The main question in analysing coordinated effects should be whether the merger materially increases the likelihood that firms in the market will successfully coordinate their behaviour or strengthen existing coordination. The task is to identify what factors are likely to lead to coordination taking place between firms post-merger. This was a controversial area with which competition authorities and courts have struggled to come to terms over the years, but experience has led to the emergence of some agreement on what conditions are most likely to give rise to coordinated effects. According to the â€Å"Airtours criteria†, coordination is more likely to emerge in markets where it is relatively simple to reach a common understanding on the terms of coordination. In addition, three conditions are necessary for coordination to be sustainable. First, the coordinating firms must be able to monitor to a sufficient degree whether the terms of coordination are being adhered to. Second, discipline requires that there is some form of credible deterrent mechanism that can be activated if deviation is detected. Third, the reactions of outsiders, such as current and future competitors not participating in the coordination, as well as customers, should not be able to jeopardise the results expected from the coordination. Vertical mergers These are mergers between firms that operate at different but complementary levels in the chain of production (e. g. , manufacturing and an upstream market for an input) and/or distribution (e. g. , manufacturing and a downstream market for re-sale to retailers) of the same final product. Another example is the acquisition of ABC television network by Walt Disney to enable Walt Disney air its recent movies to huge audiences. In purely vertical mergers there is no direct loss in competition as in horizontal mergers because the parties’ products did not compete in the same relevant market. As such, there is no change in the level of concentration in either relevant market. Vertical mergers have significant potential to create efficiencies largely because the upstream and downstream products or services complement each other. Even so, vertical integration may sometimes give rise to competition concerns. Anticompetitive effects Vertical effects can produce competitive harm in the form of foreclosure. A merger is said to result in foreclosure where actual or potential rivals’ access to supplies or markets is hampered or eliminated as a result of the merger, thereby reducing these companies’ ability and/or incentive to compete. Two forms of foreclosure can be distinguished. The first is where the merger is likely to raise the costs of downstream rivals by restricting their access to an important input (input foreclosure). The second is where the merger is likely to foreclose upstream rivals by restricting their access to a sufficient customer base (customer foreclosure). However, it should be noted that in general vertical merger concerns are likely to arise only if market power already exists in one or more markets along the supply chain. Conglomerate mergers involve firms that operate in different product markets, without a vertical relationship. They may be product extension mergers, i. e. , mergers between firms that produce different but related products or pure conglomerate mergers, i. e. , mergers between firms operating in entirely different markets. In practice, the focus is on mergers between companies that are active in related or neighbouring markets, e. g. , mergers involving suppliers of complementary products or of products belonging to a range of products that is generally sold to the same set of customers in a manner that lessens competition. This kind of mergers takes place when two firms in unrelated lines of business combine. A merger between a bank and a media house will be an example of a conglomerate merger. One example of a conglomerate merger was the merger between the Walt Disney Company and the American Broadcasting Company (http://www. sk. com/wiki/Conglomerate_merger) Anticompetitive effects Merger review in this area is controversial, as commentators and enforcement agencies disagree on the extent to which one can predict competitive harm resulting from such mergers. Proponents of conglomerate theories of harm argue that in a small number of cases, where the parties to the merger have strong market positions in their respective markets, potential harm may arise when the merging group is likely to foreclose other rivals from the market in a way similar to vertical mergers, particularly by means of tying and bundling their products. When as a result of foreclosure rival companies become less effective competitors, consumer harm may result. However, it should be stressed that in these cases there is a real risk of foregoing efficiency gains that benefits consumer welfare and thus the theory of competitive harm needs to be supported by substantial evidence. Evaluation of the effectiveness of existing regulations aimed to reduce anticompetitive practices of Mergers and Acquisitions in Ghana. Mergers and Acquisitions among companies in Ghana are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Securities Industry Law 1993 (PNDC Law 333) (Ghana Investment Promotion Center, 2008). The law mandates the SEC ‘to review, approve and regulate takeovers, mergers, acquisitions and all forms of business combinations in accordance with any law or code of practice requiring it to do so. Ghanaian law on mergers and acquisitions is an amalgamation of several executive and legislative instruments passed as the corporate finance industry continues to evolve. The need to generate constructive competition among enterprises has been recognized by the government, and monopolies are actively discouraged as a result. The merger in November 2003 of two prominent international mining companies – Ashanti Goldfields and AngloGold (AngloGold succeeded in outbidding Rand Gold in the highly con-tested race with an offering of $1. 4 billion) promises great value to shareholders and the operations of both companies. The Companies Code stipulates the manner in which mergers and amalgamations should be effected. It places emphasis on company resolutions that authorize mergers and amalgamations and on the preservation of affected creditors’ rights. Ghanaian courts frown upon the arbitrary treatment of members or shareholders, and ample provision is made for aggrieved persons to apply to the court for redress at different stages of the merger or acquisition process. Foreign enterprises are guaranteed unconditional transferability of profits and dividends through any bank authorized to deal in freely convertible currency, encouraging and securing foreign investment. The transfer of company shares is exempted from all stamp duties and capital gains resulting from mergers, amalgamations and reorganizations are also tax exempt. Under Ghanaian investment law, preferential treatment is given to foreign and Ghanaian joint ventures by guaranteeing lower minimum capital requirements than those required for wholly foreign-owned enterprises. On the whole, mergers and acquisitions in Ghana continue to evolve as the government secures an attractive environment through executive, legislative and judicial activism to attract direct foreign investment and thus improve the economy. Consequently, the local corporate finance market has began to see increasingly complex financial transactions taking place as more international companies elect Ghana as the regional centre for their operations and its courts for dispute resolution issues.

Case Study of the Changes in Farming and Industries in Northampton

Case Study of the Changes in Farming and Industries in Northampton Introduction The objective of this project is to define revolution in a political/social context and to explain in two sections the processes of the Industrial and Agricultural revolutions in England. I have take the opportunity to study the effects of the Industrial revolution in Northampton. This project is written in five main sections. The first will define revolution. The second section will discuss the Agricultural revolution, providing statistics, and discussing the cause and effect of the Agricultural revolution in England. It will also explain what happened in the Agricultural revolution and what changed, explaining how farming methods changed. The third section will discuss the Industrial revolution and its cause and effects. It will show the effects of factory working on the social structure of English life. The fourth section provides an example of the industrial age in Northampton a town that had made shoes for hundreds of years and how the Industrial revolution effected its shoe making techniques. My conclusion, summarises the project and argues if revolution is a good thing and if the effect it had on England changed it for the better or the worse. It will also show the where all the information has come from, (references). 2. What is Revolution? There have been revolutions throughout the history of civilisation and England has not been the only country to experience revolution though they take different forms. From America to Russia there have been revolutions, changing the world we live in today. Some have been violent and claimed many lives and others have just been changes in the way we live and how our community functions. A revolution can be, violent although a revolution is a change of some kind and does not have to be violent. A revolution could be a change in the social structure of a community, a change in political power and government structure, or a religious change. A revolution could also be an advance in industry or agriculture as featured in this project. A revolution can be a sign of discontent or civil disobedience although if a peaceful revolution is taking place, people who do not like what is happening sometimes become violent and cause trouble. The revolt or change must be successful to be a revolution, after a revolution everybody lives in an idealistic dream, but it does not work because the winning party (s) split and the goals fade and a totalitarian regime can take control. After this happens the entire social structure is changed and the community can often end up worse than it was before the revolution began. Plato defined a revolution as; Any attempt by subordinate groups through the use of violence to bring about; 1) A change of government or its policy. 2) A changed of regime 3) A change of society, whether this attempt is justified by reference to past conditions or to an as yet unattained future ideal. The term REVOLUTION is normally used to describe a rapid change, but this is not always so, as we will discover in this report. For example the Industrial Revolution happened over a number of years, and some could argue it took up to a century to finish but according to Platos definition this is not a revolution, but could be described as evolution. My final definition is; A revolution is a typically violent rapid change, in regime, a government or its policy, technology, science or in society. 3. The Agricultural Revolution 3.1 Why did it happen? Unlike many revolutions the Agricultural Revolution worked as an incremental change, one thing happened, which then led to the next and the next. It began in the 1700s with the first enclosure laws and scientists experimenting with new farming methods. Then better breeding techniques were developed, creating bigger and better livestock realising lasting economic benefits. Better farming methods came into action like crop rotation, and then machines, first horse drawn and then with the help of the Industrial Revolution, steam powered. Because of the Industrial Revolution people started moving from the country to the towns and here there was better personal hygiene and new medicines were discovered, bringing around a population increase. Because of fertilisers and better techniques prices dropped and food became easier to obtain, economic growth had begun. For 100s of years economic development had stood still, the modern growth era had begun. Before the 1700s there were few changes in farming but after 1700 people started to make changes to farming, with new scientific investigations, better plants were grown and animals bred. These main factors brought about the Agricultural Revolution and brought about a significant increase in wealth. Before the revolution there was one main farming technique and that was strip farming. This kind of farming was when the land was divided into strips and each peasant had a strip of land to farm. This was not productive so land was fenced off, in 1495-1603 the first enclosure law was passed for sheep. A new law passed between 1750-1831 declared that land was to be farmed in large fields and fenced off. After the strips had been fenced off, crop rotation was used, this is when the crops on fields are changed each year, this provided food for cattle as well as stopping the need for a fallow year (when the land was left unused for a year to regain its nutrients). This was because certain cro ps planted put important elements back into the soil. Crop rotation worked in this way; wheat, root crop, barley, clover. The wheat was used for making bread and feeding people, the root crop was mainly turnips, which would mainly been used for cattle feed, then barley which would have been used for cattle feed as well as for humans, and then clover was planted, the main crop for replacing vital elements in the soil. During the agricultural revolution three million hectares of land was enclosed and farmed with crop rotation. The Agricultural Revolution experienced a number of new inventions and animal breeds. In 1799 Joseph Boyce invented the reaper and in 1701 Jethro Tull invented the horse drawn drill. This invention changed farming for the better, instead of ploughing the land and then just scattering the seeds it ploughed the seeds into the land and covered them. By 1790 the first threshing machines were developed first powered by horse and then by steam. New fertilisers were used like guano, lime gypsum, sandy clay and marl. In 1793 the agricultural society was established and in 1741-1820 Arthur Young informed Europe and America of Englands new discoveries. In 1710 the average weight of cattle was 144Kg but by 1795 it had nearly trebled to 360Kg. Wealthy landowners like Thomas Coke, Earl of Leicester, encouraged experimental breeding of sheep and cattle, to produce new, improved, more profitable strains. Every year Coke held a grand assembly at Holkham Hall, his country house. Guests came from all over Europe to discuss new farming ideas. This following quote outlines the main changes of English farming; to give a review of the husbandry which makes this country so famous. Great improvements have been made by means of the following: First: by enclosing without the assistance of Parliament. Second: by the use of marl (powered rock and lime) the clay. Third: rotation of crops: i) turnips; ii) barley; iii) clover; iv) wheat. Fourth: by the culture of turnips well hand-hoed. Fifth: by the culture of clover and ray-grass. Sixth: by the landlords granting long leases. Seventh: by the country being divided into large farms. From The Farmers Tour, Arthur Young, 1771 This source shows the use of machinery on the farms; Machinery was just coming into use on the land. Every autumn appeared as the farmer owned was horse-drawn and was only in partial use. In some fields a horse-drawn drill would sow the seed in rows, in other a human sower would walk up and down with a basket and fling the seed with both hands broadcast. In harvest time, the mechanical reaper was a familiar sight, but it only did a small part of the work. Flora Thompson Lark Rise to Candletord In the 1700s there was only a small population in England mainly in the south west and east Anglia but by 1901 the populati on was spread over the entire country, including Scotland and Wales with most areas with over 520 people per square mile. Between 1801 and 1851 the urban population had doubled and by 1901 it had almost doubled again because of the increasing birth-rate and migration from the country to the towns. The population also increased because between 1870 and 1914 the male and female death rates rapidly dropped. Families became smaller and from 1900 child death rates dropped too. Because of the population increase and dropping prices in farming food prices dropped and farmers became more wealthy and prosperous. There was less competition from abroad and because of a higher population more food was needed. Colonies made plantations in Africa, Asia, Pacific and the Caribbean and soon the first cash crops were made like coffee, tea, bananas and rubber. 3.2 Who lost out? There were few people who lost out in the Agricultural revolution but when the fields were changed from strips to fields the peasants lost their land and often their jobs. They often revolted in small numbers but there was never a full scale battle between the authorities and the peasants. The peasant farmers also lost out when the machines like the tractor were invented and there was less need for human labour and so man y peasants were made redundant. Who Gained? Many of the rich land lords were the main people to gain. They had large areas of land which before were unproductive and did not make them very much money, but when the new farming methods and fertilisers were introduced the land became more productive and the profits rose which made them happy and they could then afford to experiment in breeding bigger, better animals as well as developing new farming techniques. The Industrial Revolution 4.1 Why did it happen? During the industrial revolution there was a huge increase of population which was mainly based in the cities and towns. The Urban population changed from housing a minority of the population in 1801 to housing the majority by 1881 (see charts below). In the early 1700s, most people worked at home, making the slow old traditional way, usually by hand. Men were carpenters, blacksmiths, and weavers, Others were farm labourers, who worked on the land to grow crops to feed their families. Women worked in the home, looked after the animals, cleaned sheep fleeces, and spun wool into yarn for clothes. By the middle of the 19th century, all this had changed, Many British people now lived in towns, and worked in large factories, or in shops, offices, railways and other businesses designed to serve the resident workers of the industrial centres. British inventors continued to develop new machines, which performed the traditional tasks of spinnin g and weaving much faster than by hand. Machines were also used to make iron and steel. These metals were in turn used to make more machines and also to make weapons and tools. Factories housing the new machines made Britain the workshop of the world (a common phrase used by foreign traders). Four main factors helped to bring this change: coal mining, a canal system, money and cheap labour. Coal was used to smelt iron and steel, and to make steam power to power the new machines. Barges carried bulky raw materials and finished goods along the canals. The profits from Britains colonies overseas and years of peace at home meant there were merchants who had money to invest in industry. Poor farm workers, tired of starvation flocked to the towns to find work although they were sometimes worse off than before (see 4.2). Many would still argue that we are still going through an industrial revolution, i.e. it is a progressive continuous change (evolution), that of the computer and space exploration. This extract is called: The marvel of a cotton-spinning factory, 1835 We see a building with a 100 horse power steam engine with the strength of 880 men, working 50, 000 spindles and all the auxiliary machines. It needs only 750 workers to produce as much yarn as would have been spun by 200,000 men: one man now produces as much as 260 did in the old days. History of Cotton, Edward Baines, 1835 The Revolution changed many things like; Textiles The first multi-reel spinning machines, the Spinning Jenny, was made by James Hargreaves in 1764. At first, it was powered by hand but soon the steam version was built. Mines The First steam engine built by Thomas Newcomen in 1712 was used to pump water out of the water logged mines. Steel The Ironworks at Coalbrookdale in England produced more iron than anywhere e lse in Europe. Others were transport, electricity, light bulb and many other new inventions. 4.2 Who lost out? It was the people that moved from the country to the city to find work, who had to live in small, grotty houses with disease and no proper sanitation but the children who moved with their parents suffered too. From the age of six they were in the cotton factories pulling wool etc. out of machines with no safety systems, but worst of all young children had to go down mines where they would be beaten and worked until they were close to dying. Although the adults did suffer, I believe they were the people who gained in the revolution as I will explain in the next section. My proof children lost our in the revolution: Children aged six or seven go down the pit at four in the morning and stay there for 11 or 23 hours a day. Their work is to open and shut the doors of the galleries when the trucks pass: for this the child sits by itself in a dark gallery for all those hours. The peasants moved from a healthy country farming practice, to labourers in unhealthy cities and put in small houses where there was barely one room per person. Who gained? I believe it was the rich entrepreneurs who gained because they had capital they could invest in large factories and they could use that investment to explore new ideas and make more money. Effects of Revolution in Northampton The industrial revolution brought with it new machines and new methods of shoe making . It brought people to the towns and it made city life much more popular. Work was available even though there where machines to help with the work as people were still needed to operate them as the computer had not been invented yet. Factories started to thrive and every day of the week except Sundays the factories were jam packed with people. The machines made work a great deal easier, as the work was so easy the people at the factories could double their out puts so making Northampton a growing city with people moving in to the town for the work and people visiting to buy their shoes. One of the first machines to change shoe making was the sewing machine changed to sewing leather so the needle and thread was not needed. They now had machines to place the insoles and soles and heels onto the shoe so the hammer and nail were made redundant as these machines took over. These machines were wonderful as it made the work a lot easier for the workers. The cutting of the leather didnt change as it was still done with a knife, this is the skilled job of the Tacker. The Industrial Revolution helped to bring a new wealth to Northampton. Owners of factories and the merchants amassed personal wealth from the shoe industry they built large houses in fashionable parts of the town like the race course and Abington Park. They built attractive factories and modern terraced houses for the shoe workers that still exist today even though most of the factories have long since closed. The houses for the workers formed new suburbs around the factories, which included schools, churches, and shopping streets. These areas formed the boundaries of the town until very recently and provided almost all the manufacturing jobs. Conclusion Were the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions really revolutions, or where they the beginning of a evolutionary process. We are still going through the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, new farming methods are still being developed and new technologies are still being produced. I would argue that the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions were the beginning of an evolutionary process and not a revolution which according to many definitions is a rapid change, probably taking up to about three years. Was revolution a good thing for England? The Industrial and Agricultural revolutions were good things for the country as they gave England a new strength and knowledge that nobody else had. They helped the country expand and become more powerful, as well as strengthening our economy. The Agricultural Revolution reduced the risk of famine as the country was not well structured and food was now accessible to all. But who did these revolutions help? Well it definitely wasnt the peasants as they had to live in small cramped conditions with little privacy. They moved from farmers to industrial labourers and for that they had to pay the price of pollution, poor sanitation, long work hours, terrible working conditions. The only people that really benefited were the people with capital who invested their capital into the new factories. The Industrial Revolution helped make them money and that was all they wanted. So the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions were good for the country and the men with capital, but they were not goo d for the peasant farmers who moved from the country. The information in this project has come from the following sources.

Fast Food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Fast Food - Essay Example not just limited to any particular region or country and town, rather all over the world fast food is quite common and strongly followed and like all over the world. However being the most ubiquitous form of food that is available in every nook and corner, it has resulted in plenty of criticism from the experts over ages and has been tested for many cases of improper diet. American teen agers are perhaps the most frequent ones and most fond of fast food. For this reason this generation is called the fast food generation (Schlosser). They are fonder of this food than the conventional form, be it their schools, their evening outings, all around they would prefer fast foods. The modern generation and modern times are termed as fast food generation and fast food era respectively. Since every individual is enrolled and associated with the consumption of fast food in one way or the other, therefore they have become an integral part of modern day civilizations. They have a direct negative impact on the pregnant women as well. A multi billion industry that cannot be packed up by any means, and statistics showing the business being expanded by very high proportion around the world. In the United States, one out of three adults is a regular eater of fast food and as a result are not able to stop their children from eating the junk food. Other survey conducted in this regard resulted in showing that some of them ate the food in company of their children; as a result the children are in direct line of attack as well whenever their parents visit the fast food chains. Study conducted over number of school students and their usage of fast food showed considerable percentage of increase in obesity due to the amount of fast food intake, and the amount of weight gained is staggeringly alarming(Currie, Moretti, et.al). While fast foods may not be all unhealthy food items, the problem associated is that of extremely high energy food intake in form of fast food and further on,

Setting Up and Using a Facebook Account Assignment

Setting Up and Using a Facebook Account - Assignment Example Setting up and using a Facebook account is easily enhanced by the simple available online tools such as electronic mail address and password. These mark the beginning point for establishing a basic account that can later be updated with additional designs and tools. Once registered to use this online social utility through creating a user profile, one can add friends with whom to network. Additionally, one can post information, videos or photos to update their statuses and this is open for viewing by friends. One can also join interest groups created by workmates, friends, and businesses or by institutions of learning. This online social utility enables exchanging of messages and sharing of ideas. Hence the following steps should be the guidelines in setting up and using a Facebook account. Have an email address which can be with the Google Mail (Gmail), Yahoo, Hotmail and many more. This makes use of both alphabetical letters and numerical numbers or just letters only. The email add ress can be individual or is based on an organization or institution with a central managing point.

Book Report from List Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Book Report from List - Essay Example that began with the New Hampshire Primary on the 1st of June to the eve of the elections in November 1972, Crouse assembled his observations into a series of articles that became the basis for the book. The book became an instant best-seller. Surprisingly, it was the only book that Crouse wrote. Soon after, he dabbled in freelance writing, spending some time as Esquire’s Washington correspondent, before going into his real love: writing for the theater. The son of well-known Broadway producer Russell Crouse, whose credits include â€Å"Sound of Music†, â€Å"Life with Father†, and â€Å"Call Me Madam†, and the brother of respected actress Lindsay Crouse, Timothy left journalism in the 1980s and ventured into playwriting. The captivating narrative of the book highlights Crouse’s storytelling talent. Combining real-life drama with humor, he painted an amusing portrait of the main characters – the journalists, media supporters, and the candidates – on the campaign bus. The bus was a mere metaphor for the closed, cozy, and clubby group of journalists on the campaign trail, but it projects a precise picture of the riotous, fun, and chaotic feel of a school bus packed with a bunch of immature, eccentric, and hyperactive kids. Crouse’s book sheds a theatrical light on the dramatic aspects of U.S. history in the making. By using as backdrops for his story-telling Nixon’s desperate re-election drive until his political blunder at Watergate, and McGovern’s futile campaign to put up a worthy challenge, Crouse chronicles the minds and characters of the people who tell the stories to America and the whole world. At the same time, he also presents an image of America at a crossroads, caught in the maelstrom of civil unrest at home, a bloody war in Vietnam, and a cold war with Communist Russia. The journalists that covered the elections moved around like wolves, giving rise to the term pack journalism that marks much of the craft’s contemporary practice,

Why is it important to pay attention in class Essay

Why is it important to pay attention in class - Essay Example Hence, instructors have a basic part in keeping learners on learning track (Driscoll 23). Regard less of the particular models of listening conduct that exist, most concur that listening or attention includes sensing, going to, deciphering, recollecting, and respond ­ing to boosts (the sights and sounds we listen to). Paying attention in classroom incorporates many things. Sensing alludes to our five faculties and the sum of the data audience members can pick up from them. The faculties of listening to and sight are most applicable to the present dialog of tuning in. When learners completely listen to anything, they first sense it by listening to it, seeing it, or both. In the classroom, there are various things learners can sense: the lawnmower outside, the two understudies talking and snickering in the back, the magnetic understudy in the following seat over, the person with the uproarious hack, and possibly the instructor. Add to the greater part of this tactile data any mental preoccupations: an alternate class in which a person may be battling, issues with money r elated help, nervousness about an approaching discourse, whats continuing throughout the weekend, issues with a beau or sweetheart, issues at work, issues with a flat mate or with family at home (Driscoll 41). Given this plenitude of accessible tangible jolts, it is clear that educators are not ensured their scholars consideration. Learners may have the capacity to sense every ­ thing, however they cant keep their concentrate on everything and thusly they must be particular in their consideration. Something must be yielded, and unless instructors are receptive to their understudies listening conduct it may be the instructors message that is disregarded. Educators ought to be mindful that consideration regarding classroom messages requires exertion and that consideration compasses are short when contrasted with the regular length of a lecture. Paying attention in classroom helps students to

Built Environment Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Built Environment - Article Example This will have a negative impact in the future generation. Research has proven that responsible urbanization practices can help reduce the negative effects on the environment. Responsible urbanization involves urban connectivity which has examples like sewer and water contamination, proper disposal of waste materials, recycling, energy conservation and proper management operations. The article describes ways in which sustainable environment can be achieved but does not provide the exact guidelines on how to achieve. Many readers may find the article convincing but they may not gain much because it lacks guidelines. The writer should have explained further on how energy conservation will be achieved and also the methods of avoiding pollution. However the article is very beneficial towards the conservation of the environment for the future. Waste materials should be disposed properly for example recycling of plastic bags instead of burning them in open air. We find that in the recent days climatic changes have been observed. Places which used to receive rainfall are now experiencing drought. This is due to poor environmental conservation practices like carelessly cutting down trees. If contractors are clearing an area for the purpose of construction, they should also think of environmental construction like planting more trees in neighborhood

House Buliding Industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

House Buliding Industry - Case Study Example (Dunlop, 2000) Home building and selling industry have been one of the industries in the US that have been hard hit by the current economic crisis. For along time now, the home industry in the US has recorded massive growth due to the rising demands of new home and due to the response of the financial services for provision of funds to purchase homes. In the last two decade the home building industry has been recording massive growth and it had attracted many investors. There has also been massive input by the financial sector as they lent out money for the construction of these homes. Since 1980s, there have been increasing trends towards individual ownership of homes which has been the main reason behind the growth of the industry. (Allan, 2007) My company is one of the major players in this industry and has been in the industry for along time. Established in 1970s the company has been working closely with other major players in the industry and has been able to grow. It has been building and selling homes in all states in the country. With its base in New York, the company has established branches in 15 states where it has been building and selling residential and business premise. However the company has been facing many challenges in the industry although it has still held on. Let us look at some of the challenges that the company has been facing in regard to the changes that have been taking place in the industry. Challenges being faced by the company There have been many challenges that the company has been facing in its operation in the industry. These have been related to the changes that have been taking place in market which are being affected by the fluctuating rate of growth of the economy. In order to understand the challenges that the company has been facing, we need fist to understand the US home industry so that we can deduce how the company has performed relative to the changes that have been taking place the industry. The US home buying industry has been recording changing times since it was formed. This has been driven by the fact that the industry is driven by subprime mortgages which have been changing with time. In the 1980s, there have been increasing changes that have taken place in the financial institution that have been contribution to these changes. Most of the companies that have been involved in building and selling of homes have been relying on financial institution to provide loans of building those homes which they sell and repay later. The home buyers also rely on financial institution for money to buy homes which they pay in terms of mortgages. Therefore as the value of homes rises, home builder flock the financial institution in order borrows and invest more in building homes. This has been the practice that has led to increased homes in the United States. (Casey, 2008) However in the recent past, there have been increased decline of home value and more and more homes are facing foreclosures. This has been contributed by increased inventory on unsold units in the country which has led to decline in the price of homes. This has been contributed by many factors including the practice of financial institutions. Due to the rate of falling home prices, many home builders have been struggling to sell their remaining unsold units in order to avoid losing more value which means more loss on their investments. This has caused increased rate of interest and the

Midterm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Midterm paper - Essay Example While some people view this process as ethical, others totally disagree with the practice on moral and other ethical considerations. Therefore, this necessitates for an outline of both perspectives. Consequently, the paper will outline both arguments for and against the issue as stipulated in the book before providing a conclusion. Consequently, the paper will first outline the argument against the issue as stipulated by Teresa Savage. Next, it will outline the argument for the issue as stipulated by Sarah Shannon. Thus, both arguments will be outlined with regard to the Ashley Treatment. Therefore, this implies that Sarah’s argument will be in support of the Ashley Treatment whereas Teresa’s argument will be in opposition of the Ashley Treatment. In addition, the paper will also provide an assessment of the issue based on individual views and thoughts. Finally, the paper will conclude by asserting that the process of using steroids and surgery to stunt disabled childre n’s growth is not ethical and morally upright; thus, reinstating the thesis statement that use of steroids and surgery in stunting the growth of disabled children is not ethical. Issue Summary As mentioned earlier, there exist contrasting views with regard to whether or not it is ethical to use steroids and surgery in the stunting of disabled children’s growth. ... On the contrast, Nurse Teresa Savage believes that severely disabled children should have independent advocates championing for them. These advocates should preferably be persons with disabilities. Thus, they offer a more critical judgment to the situation with respect to both the benefits and risks of the proposed interventions. Summary of the Ashley Treatment Ashley was born in 1997 with an extreme brain impairment referred to as encephalopathy. Consequently, this condition implies that Ashley can never develop beyond the level of an infant. Thus, Ashley was developing physically, but her mental ability was limited to that of an infant. Consequently, this situation posed a significant challenge to her parents in regards to her upbringing. Her parents felt that her physical growth would, at some point, become overwhelming, rendering them unable to effectively care for their child. Consequently, they sought for a medical intervention that would stunt her growth and prevent her from p hysically growing. This implied that Ashley would not have fully developed physical organs such as reproductive organs and breasts. It also meant that she would not undergo the menstrual process and that she would also be infertile. Consequently, this process involved the use of sex steroids in effecting stunted growth on Ashley; thus, resulting in crucial moral and ethical issues. In the analysis of the use of steroids and surgery to achieve the desired results, a few factors have to be considered: Ashley’s underlying medical condition Social context surrounding the issue Resources available for caring for severely disabled children Yes: In Support of the Ashley Treatment (Sarah Shannon) In her support of the Ashley Treatment Sarah

United States Essay Example for Free

United States Essay Nowadays most of students after graduating high school start to think and infer which college or university will offer education and affordable tuition. Some future students decide on its prestige, well known student life, or the distance from home to school. When I graduated from high school, I had to decide stay in my native country and study at the university or come over to the United States of America. I chose being in the USA and study at Lone Star College for many reasons. First reason why I chose to attend this college is the unique distance. I would say I drive from my house to school approximately for 3 minutes or  even can take a walk for 10 minutes. That is amazing when you get to school in a couple minutes and you do not have to stick in permanent heavy traffic in the morning or afternoon. When school is close to the house, students will not have problems with attendance. Another reason was incredibly low tuition fee because it is pretty minor for international students. Even when student has financial problems, this college has all financial helps. For instance, scholarships and loans are available for students. All these financial help open doors for every student  who is interested in being educated. Finally I chose this college because all my major classes are in one campus. My prospective major is petroleum engineering, so I spend lots of time in the library studying math and other subjects. I am very lucky that I do not need to waste my precious time being stuck in traffic before I get from one campus to another. Lone Star College is the best community college and I suggest for future students choose very carefully their colleges or universities. There are lots of colleges with their unique teachers and students and it is not easy to make a decision.

Holiday and Comfort Zone Essay Example for Free

Holiday and Comfort Zone Essay The scorching hot sun was beating down on my bare pale skin, the warm light breeze gently brushed through my blonde hair and the cool, shimmery, turquoise water soothed my skin. The smell of coconuts and pina coladas whirled in from the snack bar and the fresh salty air made my whole body calm and relaxed. This is just how the vacation of my lifetime would start and It would soon be my favorite place in the world to visit. My vacation in Mexico brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that brought a positive insight in me as it made me break out of my comfort zone, made me want to travel the world more often, and also to get involved and make a difference in the world. As I glanced out the window on the bus ride to the resort, I couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful scenery that was surrounded all around me. I was ecstatic because I was looking at the most alluring scenery I have ever seen in my life and I knew at this moment I never wanted to go back home. In the whistling wind, the palm trees swayed side to side while brushing against each other and slightly hitting my window. I heard a screeching, loud noise from the brakes and then I finally realized we had arrived at our final destination. As I stepped off the bus, I could smell the salty, clean and fresh air right away and an empty but warm breeze blew against my face. â€Å"Taylor wait for us! We don’t want you to get lost! † My family yelled as I had already started running over to the lobby in excitement. When we got assigned our room we walked around the resort and that’s when it all had hit me. With my mouth wide open, all I could say was, â€Å"this place is absolutely breathtaking. † As we went around to the back, there were 4 fairly large pools on both sides of me, and chairs directly around each of the pools. In the blink of an eye I noticed the beach up ahead of me and I have never seen something more beautiful, serene and relaxing. The sinking feeling as my feet step into the fine, white sand as it started to burn the soles of my feet, I dragged myself over to the shoreline and stepped into the water while it soothed my feet. The beach was a scorching furnace, as I felt it slowly burn my body and my face and the sweat on me was a river running down my forehead. As the day ended, I lay myself in my bed and my thoughts were consumed by all of the stunning scenery that I had witnessed that day in this beautiful and enchanting location and I started to think about it more and more and it made me realize that when I’m older I want to travel the world and witness all the different locations and the beautiful scenery they have to offer and learn about different cultures. I woke up the next morning and jumped out of my bed as I was thrilled to start off the day with a bunch of fun and adventurous activities that I’ve never experienced before. â€Å"Taylor, would you like to swim with the dolphins today and go zip lining? † my mom said as my eyes were wide open and had the biggest smile on my face, I couldn’t help but scream â€Å"YES! †. As we got our stuff packed and soothed the sunscreen all over our body, we were set to go. The water was splashing against our legs and the warm breeze whistled through our hair and the smell of the salty clean air overhead as we walked over to the hut where I would soon experience one of my most memorable moments. As we got into the water, Melanie the dolphin came gliding across the water as we all lined up and pet her. The best part of this whole experience was getting a ride on the dolphin while I held onto her fins and she glided across the whole water.. Dolphins are definitely the most graceful and intelligent sea creatures and the way they interacted and understood us was absolutely outstanding. Also, it was really interesting and heartbreaking learning about the dolphins and how not many of them are surviving because they are being slaughtered and they are dying from toxic exposure. As a result, the dolphins made a huge impact on my life because once I heard what was happening to the dolphins it touched deep into my heart and made me want to make a difference in the world and stop the cruelness of people slaughtering and taking advantage of them. Afterwards, we went over to the zip lining and I couldn’t help but have that stomach drop feeling as we got there. I was standing at the very top and almost ready to go and my fear of heights was almost sickening me out but I knew I had to experience this. My feet lifted off of the platform and I felt pretty comfortable as I felt like I was a superhero for a couple of minutes. I was soaring over the stunning beach and the palm trees just below me and all I could say in my head was, â€Å"this view is just outstanding† and I wish I could stay in that moment forever. For the most part, today I took a leap of faith out of my comfort zone as there was a huge adrenaline rush in me as I was about to soar really high, but being able to experience this made me want to go out and try new things that I could eventually overcome my fear of because life begins just beyond your comfort zone. A day to remember, I will never forget these astonishing experiences that I spent with the lovely dolphins and zip lining over the most gorgeous view. The climate in Mexico made it the best part because without it I wouldn’t have enjoyed the memorable and adventurous activities that I will cherish forever. Since we were in Mexico in February it was sunny almost every day and when it did rain it would only rain for a short period of time during the day. Since it was hot and sunny most of the time, we got a much better experience with the friendly dolphins, zip lining over a tremendous view and other adventurous activities that we will never forget. Also, with this weather I got a golden brown tan from the beaming rays of the sun. However, some days the humidity was really high and it felt as humid as a steam room, as the moist heat stuck to my body. By the middle of the day temperatures can reach up to about 40 degrees, where the sun is just scorching on my body. Without the beautiful weather, my experiences and memorable moments wouldn’t be enjoyed as much and I got a nice golden brown tan. Also with this being said, the bright, warm and sunny summer days encouraged me to think about traveling to a numerous of warm climate places and also experience other vacations where the climate is different. Early in the morning, we exhaustingly started to pack our bags and head off to the airport and as soon as I got on the plane my mind was filled with reflections from my unforgettable vacation. My vacation in Mexico brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that brought a positive insight in me as it made me break out of my comfort zone, made me want to travel the world more often, and also to get involved and make a difference in the world. The lovely scenery made me want to stay in this gorgeous place forever, experiencing new activities in a different location made for a lot of memorable moments that I’ll remember forever, and without the comfortable climate I wouldn’t have enjoyed the trip as much as I did.

Role of amygdala in the experience of fear

Role of amygdala in the experience of fear The amygdalae (from the Greek for almond) are two groups of almond-shaped nuclei located deep within the medial temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans, (see Fig 1 below). Research has shown that the amygdalae perform a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, and are considered to be part of the limbic system. [pic] Fig 1: Location of Amygdala. (Image from: imemat.blogspot.com) The regions described as amygdalae are a combination of several nuclei with distinct functions. Among these nuclei are the basolateral complex, the cortical nucleus and the centromedial nucleus, (see Fig 2 below). The basolateral complex can be further subdivided into the lateral, the basal and the accessory basal nuclei. Anatomically, the amygdala and more particularly, its centromedial nucleus, may be considered as a part of the basal ganglia. The amygdala sends impulses to various parts of the brain, for example, to the hypothalamus to activate the symp athetic nervous system; to the thalamic reticular nucleus to increase reflex movement; and to the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus for the activation of various neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. The cortical nucleus is involved in the sense of smell and pheromone- processing. It receives input from the olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex. The lateral amygdalae, which send impulses to the rest of the basolateral complexes and to the centromedial nuclei, receive input from the sensory systems. The centromedial nuclei are the main outputs for the basolateral complexes, and are involved in emotional arousal in rats and cats. [pic] Fig 2: Nuclei of the rat amygdaloid complex. (ABmc = accessory basal magnocellular subdivision; ABpc = accessory basal parvicellular subdivision; Bpc = basal nucleus magnocellular subdivision; e.c. = external capsule; Ladl = lateral amygdala medial subdivision; Lam = lateral amygdala medial subdivision; Lavl = lateral amygdala v entrolateral subdivision; Mcd = medial amygdala dorsal subdivision; Mcv = medial amygdala ventral subdivision; Mr = medial amygdala rostral subdivision; Pir = piriform cortex; s.t. = stria terminalis). (Image from: Physiol Rev 83: 805) The amygdala filters sensory information and acts as a sort of interpretation channel. The basolateral amygdala receives sensory information from the thalamus and cortex and then forwards a signal to the appropriate target areas (see Figure 3 below). It is also known as the amygdala proper, and the several areas of the brain that it targets are part of a broader network that serves much more specialized functions. Because the basolateral amygdala is critical for emotion, a better understanding of the chemicals within these brain circuits should lead to improved pharmacological treatments for emotional dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. [pic] Fig 3: The basolateral amygdala. (Image from: Current Biology, Vol.10, (4)) Within most of these disorders i s a common symptom in that the patient often says I didnt think, I just reacted. Straker, D. (2006) believes they may be exactly right. All sensory data, with the exception of the sense of smell, is sent by the body first to the thalamus which then forwards it to both the relevant part of the cortex and to the amygdala. The information is sent out over two parallel pathways: the thalamo- amygdala pathway (the short route) and the thalamo-cortico-amygdala pathway (the long route). The short route transmits a quick estimated representation of the situation, in which no cognition is involved. This pathway activates the amygdala which, through its central nucleus, generates emotional responses before the mind can form a complete representation of the stimulus. The amygdala does a quick threat assessment by comparing the sensory data received with already stored fear responses. If any of these are triggered, then the amygdala floods the cortex with chemicals to stop it taking over. The r esult is action without conscious thought. (See Fig 4 below). Subsequently, the information that has travelled via the long route and been processed in the cortex reaches the amygdala and tells it whether or not the stimulus represents a real threat. Should a real threat be presented the amygdala will then activate the efferent structures responsible for physical manifestations of fear, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, sweaty hands, dry mouth, and tense muscles. The parallel operation of our explicit (hippocampal) and implicit (amygdalic) memory systems explains why we do not remember traumas experienced very early in our lives. At that age, the hippocampus is still immature, while the amygdala is already able to record unconscious memories. Early childhood traumas can disturb the mental and behavioural functions of adults by mechanisms that they cannot access consciously. In complex vertebrates, including humans, the amygdalae perform primary roles in the formation and storage of memories associated with emotional events. Amunts et al (2005) indicate that, during fear conditioning, sensory stimuli reach the basolateral complexes of the amygdalae, particularly the lateral nuclei, where they form associations with memories of that particular stimuli. These associations between stimuli and the aversion may be mediated by long-term potentiation, a lingering potential for affected synapses to react more readily. Memories of emotional experiences that become imprinted in the reactions of synapses in the lateral nuclei produce fear behaviour through their connections with both the amygdalaes central nucleus and the bed nuclei of stria terminalis (BNST). These central nuclei are involved in the production of many typical fear responses, including freezing (immobility), tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), increased respiration, and stress-hormone release. Damage to the amygdalae impairs both the attainment and the expression of Pavlovian fear conditioning, which is a form of classical conditioning of emotional responses.    [pic]Fig 4: The Amygdala Bypass System. (Image from: www.changingminds.org) Advances in neuroimaging technology such as fMRI, have allowed neuroscientists to show just how much of a role the amygdala plays in many psychological disorders. Donegan et al. (2003) studied patients with Borderline personality disorder who showed significantly greater left amygdala activity than the normal control subjects. Some of these borderline patients even had difficulties classifying neutral faces or classed them as being threatening. In support of these findings, in 2006, researchers at Monash University, Australia, observed increased levels of activity in the amygdala when patients with social phobia were shown images of threatening faces or when they were confronted with frightening situations. These activity levels in the amygdala were in direct correlation with the severity levels of the social phobia. Similarly, depressed patients showed more activity in the left amygdala when interpretin g emotions for all faces, and especially for fearful faces, although this hyperactivity was normalized when patients were prescribed antidepressants. Cultural studies such as Williams et al (2006) showed that normal subjects exposed to images of frightened faces or faces of people from another race will show increased activity of the amygdala, even if that exposure is subliminal. However, according to Tsuchiya et al (2009), the amygdala is not necessary for the processing of fear-related stimuli, since people with bilateral damage show rapid reactions to fearful faces. Early research on primates has also provided explanations for the functions of the amygdala in relation to emotional disorders. An early study by Brown Shafer (1888) observed rhesus monkeys with a lesioned temporal cortex (including the amygdala) and found that they suffered from significant social and emotional deficits. Kluver Bucy (1939) later expanded upon this observation by showing that large lesions to the an terior temporal lobe produced not only fearlessness, but also severe emotional disturbances including increased sexual behaviour and a propensity to place objects in their mouths. Some monkeys also displayed an inability to recognize familiar objects and would approach both animate and inanimate objects indiscriminately, while also exhibiting fearlessness towards the researchers. This behavioural disorder was later named Klà ¼ver-Bucy syndrome. However, their study can be criticised in that these lesions were so large and crude when compared to todays techniques, that researchers werent exactly sure of the structures responsible for these significant changes in behaviour. Improved techniques, such as using the neurotoxin ibotenic acid to make more precise lesions are partly responsible for the more detailed understanding of the amygdale today. | | | |[pic] |   | Fig 5: Sensory data routes, the fear response and the amygdala. (Image from: http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/index_a.ht ml) Previous studies have examined activation of the amygdala in response to emotional facial stimuli, but these have been carried out in either the U.S. or Western Europe, although none of these explored cross-cultural differences. Although culture shapes several aspects of human emotional and social experience, including how fear is perceived and expressed to others, very little is known about how culture influences neural responses to fear stimuli. In response to this gap in the research, a study by Chiao et al (2008) found that the bilateral amygdalas response to fear faces is, in fact, modulated by culture. Using fMRI, they measured the amygdalas response to fear and non-fear faces in two distinct cultures, Native Japanese in Japan and Caucasians in the United States. Both culture groups showed greater activation in the amygdala to fear expressed by members of their own culture, (their in-group), than in any of the other emotional measures such as anger, happiness or neutrality . (See Fig 6 below). [pic] Fig 6: The amygdalas response to fearful facial expressions is culture- specific. (Image from: Chiao et al 2008). As mentioned earlier, sensory data, apart from the sense of smell, is sent by the body to the thalamus and then forwarded to both the cortex and the amygdala. In relation to this sense of smell, when faced with a threatening situation, many organisms, including insects, fish and mammals, release volatile pheromones, signalling the danger to other members of the same species. Nearly 70 years ago, Karl von Frisch (1941), described the alarm response in a species of small freshwater fish called the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). Frisch, who was one of the founders of the scientific study of animal behaviour, demonstrated that when a minnow was eaten by a predator, a chemical released from its damaged skin would be reacted to by other minnows that were close by. They would at first dart about randomly, form a tight school and then retreat fro m the source of the chemical. Frisch called this substance schreckstoff, meaning scary stuff, and we now know that similar chemicals are used throughout the animal and plant kingdoms. A team of researchers from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland (Brechbuhl et al, 2008) have shown that mice detect alarm pheromones by means of a recently identified sensory system in the nose by examining a structure called the Grueneberg ganglion (GG), which in mammals is located on both sides in the tip of the nose, close to the openings of the nostrils. When the GG was first discovered by Hans Grueneberg in 1973, its anatomy was not known in such detail and so it was thought to be a non-sensory structure. It is only very recently that the olfactory system has come to be viewed as containing 3 distinct channels, each with a unique structure and function. The main channel is involved in detecting aromatic molecules; the second channel is called the vomeronasal system, and is an accessory olfact ory system which is now known to be involved in the detection of pheromones; the GG constitutes a third component of the olfactory pathway, one that was thought to be involved in mother-pup recognition and suckling behaviour, because it is present at the time of birth. The researchers sought to investigate the role of the GG in behaviour. Because of its location, the GG is easily accessible, so they were able to cut the axons of GG neurons in live mice (axotomy), thus preventing any signals from reaching the brain. But after numerous tests for nipple finding and other possible functions, the team actually found that the ganglion played a role in danger communication. [pic] Fig 7: Scanning electron microscope images of the mouse Grueneberg ganglion. Left: a cluster of neurons (GC) in a meshwork of fibroblasts (Fb) Right: and a higher magnification of a single GG neuron (green), with its axon (red) and thin ciliary process (blue). Scale bars: 20 microns (L) and 5 microns (R). (Image f rom: Brechbuhl et al, (2008)). 30 days after the axotomy, the researchers then compared how mice with and without their Grueneberg ganglia responded to alarm pheromones. According to Broillet, the contrast was very striking. Normal mice with the ganglia showed fear immediately by freezing while mice without the ganglia seemed to be unaffected and they carried on as before, apparently unaware of the danger signals that affected the normal mice. Although their sense of smell did not seem to be affected as they were able to sniff out cookies hidden in their cages as well as the normal mice. This study clearly shows that in mice the GG is involved in detecting alarm pheromones, rather than in mother-pup interactions, as was previously thought. It is able to perform this primitive function thanks to a specialized yet very basic structure as the GG consists simply of a small group of cells separated from the external environment by a water-permeable sheet of epithelial cells. Its location , far away from the main olfactory system, enables rapid detection of alarm pheromones. Such a mechanism is crucial an organisms survival rate, and the GG is found in every mammalian species examined so far, including humans. However, whether or not alarm pheromones affect, or even exist in humans, has been a subject for debate in the scientific community. Since pheromones are not detectable by the human sense of smell, scientists believe that pheromones are sensed by the vomeronasal organ (VNO), part of the olfactory system and located inside the mouth or nose. For many years, the existence of the VNO produced much speculation because it had only been found occasionally in adult humans, and when it was found, it was believed to be vestigial. However, Johnston et al, (1985) conducted a study in which the noses of 100 human adults were examined post-mortem and the VNO was found in the septums of 70% of those examined. Since then, much evidence has been gathered to support these findi ngs of a presence of the VNO in most adult humans, but many scientists still believe it to be a functionless organ that was inherited from some ancestor of humans. However, recent genetic research has shown the possibility of a receptor in the nose that could sense pheromones. When searching the human genome for genes that had similar sequences to those of rodent pheromone receptors, a team of researchers from The Rockefeller University in New York and the Yale University School of Medicine identified for the first time a candidate pheromone receptor gene in humans. The findings, reported in Nature Genetics, may shed new light on the molecular basis of social communication between humans, including the fear response. In conclusion, despite the saying, have no fear, to live without the ability to experience and recognise fear is to be deprived of a vital neural mechanism that enables appropriate social behaviour, and possibly even survival.

Plan for a A Virtual Community for Teenagers on the Web :: Internet Communities Essays cyberspace

Plan for a A Virtual Community for Teenagers on the Web The Internet, though only considered to be approximately a decade old, has blossomed into an incredible method of communication. However, many of the resources contained on the Internet are hard to find, especially for less-experienced users. A virtual community project would ideally consist of all resources needed for high school juniors and seniors to access at any time and at any location. A perfect online community for teens would consist of many useful resources while allowing for expandability as technology advances. The most important factor of a virtual community would be the obligatory desire to visit and use the site. This could be accomplished by utilizing various techniques. A simple yet appealing interface would have to be employed to build a successful online village. Contests would also draw students from around the world to such a site. Daily winners to trivia or knowledge contests, all with some educational component involved, could win prizes supplied by the site's advertisers. Another important element, the aspect of customization, would also draw students to the site. An abundance of popular Internet sites are progressing toward personalization within the confines of their Web presence. All users to the virtual community would enroll using a short but complete registration form directly linked to the main page of the site. The initial form would consist of such straightforward entries as the user's name, e-mail address, ZIP code, time zone, desired username, and password. By using existing technology, the user would be greeted with a "Hello [name]!" message each time that he or she visited the site. The key to a successful community is accessible information about all of the site's users, but a sensitive issue arises with the mention of personal information. Many students and parents feel uncomfortable releasing information about themselves to a worldwide audience. It is important, therefore, that any particular user does not have to submit personal information to be released to all other users of the site. A strong emphasis would be placed on the importance of releasing enough information so that other users could find those students with similar interests. It is important to note that after completing the initial entry form, all registered users could access all services of the site. After providing personal information, users would be able to create a profile utilizing that information to show such information as interests, location, and current classes.

Comparison of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Book versus Movie Essay

Comparison of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Book Vs. Movie For this paper, I chose the Roald Dahl modern fantasy book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Dahl’s books are mostly fantasy and full of imagination. They are always a little cruel, but never without humor - a thrilling mixture of the grotesque and comic. A frequent motif is that people are not what they appear to be. Dahl's works for children are usually told from the point of view of a child, and they typically involve adult villains, usually women who hate and mistreat children, and feature at least one "good" adult to counteract the villain(s). However, this tale offers a different formula in that the adults in Charlie’s life are good. It is the children that he goes to the factory with that would be considered â€Å"bad† and there are consequences to their bad behavior. This paper will discuss some of the differences between the book and the film, as well as some of my own thoughts on the two. The film stars Gene Wilder as the eccentric chocolate maker, Peter Ostrum as Charlie, and Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe. The film was released in 1971. It was not a full musical in the usual sense, featuring only six songs. Some were notably well received, including "The Candy Man Can," and "The Oompa Loompa Song." "Cheer Up, Charlie" and "I've Got a Golden Ticket" are songs are regularly edited o...

Jubilee Year :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book of Leviticus is filled with different rules and teachings. They were written down by priests. They were known as the Holiness Code. One of the most prominent teachings in this section of Leviticus was about the jubilee year. Every fifty years, debts should be forgiven, and people who have lost their property have an opportunity to get it back. I wish we had a jubilee year in our time because it would allow people who have been struggling with their life to regain their footing and start over.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In modern times, most people are very greedy and materialistic. Perhaps that is one reason why, in ancient times, debts were forgiven every fifty years. People who had borrowed money from others but were too poor to pay them back normally lived a harder life. If debts were forgiven every fifty years, if they were still alive, it would give them a chance to try and live a normal life again. Nowadays, people would not stand for such a principle. Richer people would not agree to it because they would be losing money they had lent to other people. People who had borrowed money, however, would like it because they would not have to work to pay them back.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When people lose land, it is normally because they owe money, and whoever they owe money to is taking the land as a payment. Again, if people had a chance to regain their land after having it seized, their life would return back to normal and they could try and restart their lives also. As with the forgiving of debts, I do not think this would be followed in modern day and age. Land is very expensive nowadays, so having to give back a piece of land would make many people angry.

Institutional Discrimination Essay

Sociologists often follow (Merton 1972, p. 20) in defining discrimination as the treatment of a functionally relevant status (such as race or sex) as relevant for the distribution of some reward or penalty. While legal standards of discrimination have changed since the passage of Title VII (Blumrosem, 1993, p. 110), legal scholars theoretically concur that discrimination involves the desperate treatment of similarly situated individuals because of their sex, race, color, national origin, religion or some other protected characteristics (Belz 1991; Blumrosen 1993, p 50). Diversity is defined as real or perceived difference among people that affect their interactions and relationships. (Bell, 2007). Knowing how to deal professionally with racism and racial discrimination in the workplace is important in managing the situation quickly and effectively and with the least upset possible. In the fiscal year 1997-2008, the United States EEOC received 28,372 charges of sex discrimination. EEOC resolved 24,018 sex discrimination charges in FY 2008 and recovered $109. million in monetary benefits for charging parties and other aggrieved individuals (not including monetary benefits obtained through litigation). Causes: Sexism, gender and racial discrimination are more common in the patriarchal societies. The term patriarchy refers to a society where men are granted the majority of social and political power. When thought of in this way, the cause of gender or racial discrimination has to do with unequal power where men and people of a particular race are granted more power than others. Institutional discrimination begins with recruitment process. Most jobs, especially the better ones, are not openly advertised. Knowledge of their existence is usually limited to friends and colleagues of those in power in the institutions, and in turn their friends and associates. Much institutional discrimination results from judgments made on secondary rather than primary characteristics such as educational background employment history, supervisory experience, age, income, etc. Misconceptions about employment experiences of women of color, particularly black women abound. Black women are often stereotyped as being unwilling to work, preferring nstead to use welfare to support her children (Bell 2007). Consequences: Cost associated with doing a poor job by not integrating workers from different background and gender could be very high. Organizations that do not value diversity reduce employee relations and also increase the cost of staff turnover. Costs associated with turnover include exit interviews, lost productivity while positions are unfilled and recruiting cost for replacement of employees. Cox, T. , & Blake, S. (1991). Talked about non-resourceful acquisition. Cox and Blake describe an organization’s ability to attract and retain employees from different backgrounds as resource acquisition. Employees from diverse backgrounds may include women, people of color, older workers, workers with disabilities and minorities, therefore organizations who do not have diverse workers are not resourceful in acquiring employees. An organization that does not value diversity lacks creativity and problem solving capability. Organizations composed of the same group of people, with same background would lack creativity and the problem solving ability of these competitive business environments. Research indicates that groups composed of people from different backgrounds bring with them different experiences that result in greater creativity and problem solving ability. These abilities stem from different life experiences, language abilities, and education that groups composed of different members have. An organization that discriminates or does not appreciate diversity in the workplace lacks system flexibility. System flexibility is the final way that Cox and Blake proposed that valuing diversity provides organizations with a competitive advantage. They argue that women have a higher tolerance for ambiguity than men. Tolerance for ambiguity is associated with cognitive complexity and success in uncertain situations. Other researchers have pointed out women’s ability to† multitask,† successfully handling multiple tasks concurrently. Organizations that discriminate against women therefore lack the flexibility and thus poor turnover. Due to amount of media attention focusing on lawsuits and damage settlements, an organization that discriminates in hiring employees from different ethnic groups and cultures might be at risk for law suits. Firstly to find solution to discrimination one has to be aware of one’s own stereotypes and biases, making conscious efforts to challenge and address them. Evaluation of current system of recruitment and promotion in the workplace is also very important. The current system of recruitment and promotion in a workplace needs to be examined and evaluated. Occupational hierarchies need to be examined both to determine the actual content of jobs and to remove barriers to mobility built into such hierarchies which serve to discriminate (Jo Freeman 1970). Not only are efforts to recruit and hire people from diverse backgrounds important, efforts to ensure that they are treated fairly after employment are also critical to successful diversity programs. Managers and professionals should be made to understand the importance of diversity in the workplace. The benefits of diversity is not farfetched, if an organization develops a reputation for valuing all types of employees, it would become known as an employer of choice, increasing its ability to attract and retain workers from a variety of backgrounds. Valuing diversity can also benefit organizations in the areas of cost, resource acquisition, marketing, creativity, and problem solving and system flexibility. As a manager or supervisor that is hiring in an organization, pay particular attention to relevant information and ignore irrelevant, race-based stereotypes. This will help to eliminate what is not necessary and help to focus on necessity. Applying sanctions for violation of anti-discriminatory norms by employers is very important to stop discrimination in workplaces. Title VII of the civil right act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Federal and state law has expanded the rights afforded employees, giving them greater opportunities to bring claim against employer. The 1991 civil rights act specifically permits both punitive and compensatory damages for most type of discrimination and grants the right to a jury trial for such claim. I will also advice employees if they have suffered an insult, an injury, or a wrong at work to go slowly. Decide what you want to gain. If an apology from your employer would suffice, save yourself the time and expense of filling a legal action. Finally in light of societal changes, responsible managers and professionals at all levels should acknowledge the need to reassess the influence of culture and diversity on achieving expected organizational outcome. The deliberate attempt to discover and apply the positive benefits of cultural variation promotes respect and a celebration of the value of diversity, whereas perpetuating prejudice fosters narrow-mindedness and contempt.

Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay

Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affection. In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream love is tossed around significantly. For example, one day a young person may find themselves in love with one person and then wake up only to love someone else. It is supposedly done by magic. Magic and love inconstancy are the biggest themes expressed in the play. Love is toyed with by magic making it some supernatural power at the control of the mischievous fairies. The inconstancy of love shown through several sets of young lovers is the most powerful theme making the play a kindhearted comedy rather than a solid love story. The course of true love never did run smooth. † (Shakespeare 8) One of the young lovers, Lysander, sums up the whole theme of the play that love can never run its course without obstacles. Lysander falls in love with a young girl named Hermia who is loved by Demetrius. As if this love triangle isn’t enough, there is another girl named Helena who loves Demetrius and was previously engaged to him. Of course this couldn’t be it! Hermia’s father Egeus has sworn to make her a nun or even kill her if she doesn’t marry, in his eyes, the glorious Demetrius. This whole love pentagon is the epitome of the theme of love inconstancy. There is no option that would make everybody happy! Magic interferes making it an utterly baffling tale within the tale of loves inconstancy. Another problem involving love in the play is that of the soon to be wedded Theseus and Hippolyta. â€Å"Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword, and won thy love doing thee injuries; but I will wed thee in another key, with pomp, with triumph, and with reveling. † Hippolyta was a former Amazon and had her people conquered by Theseus. This reflects how Hippolyta truly feels about her engagement with Theseus, as she most likely opposes Theseus’s belief that love can be obtained by power. It is not truly known how Hippolyta feels toward the whole thing, as she has yet to come out and say anything; however, the reader gets the idea she isn’t nearly as thrilled as Theseus. The final set of lovers who find themselves in a typical husband and wife dispute. Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies. They originally are in a meaningless quarrel over some little fairy, and Oberon is angered. Oberon calls for one of his fairies, Puck, to place a spell on Titania so that she falls in love with the first thing she sees. Quite the set up for the disaster! It ends up turning out better than Oberon could have ever hoped as Titania falls in love with a worthless peasant, Nick Bottom, who is funny enough dressed as an ass. Magic has once again turned love into something supernatural(for supernatural beings). â€Å"My Oberon what visions have I seen! Methought I was enamored of an ass. How came these things to pass? O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now! †(Shakespeare 64) After Oberon eventually has the spell removed, Titania awakens only to realize that she has no idea what she was thinking and now is disgusted by him. These sets of lovers all had a role in the main theme of the inconstancy of love. The endings of all their problems are very much expected, as this aids the lightheartedness of the play rather than an unexpected moving love story. Magic ties it all together making love something controllable, and quite fun to mess with at that. Whether it be through the love pentagon of the five crazy Athenians, the powerful Theseus and his disconsolate, disapproving queen Hippolyta, or the problematic fairy rulers, Shakespeare does an excellent job using the theme of the inconstancy of love.

Diamond Water Paradox Essay

Marginalism was very important in the historical development of economics. Up through the 1870s, the marginal idea had not been grasped, which led to â€Å"paradoxes† such as the diamond-water paradox. This paradox was resolved by the introduction of marginal thinking. A modern equivalent of the diamond-water paradox: Why do basketball players get paid so much more than teachers, when teachers are so much more important? Because we have plenty of people who are capable of doing what a teacher has to do (at least at the elementary/middle/high school level), whereas we have very few people who can do what a pro basketball player does. Not all decisions are marginal, however. Some decisions really are all-or-nothing: deciding whether to shut down your business or stay open; deciding whether to offer a new product line; deciding whether to get married; deciding whether to move to New York. For decisions like these, you need to compare the total expected benefit to the total expected cost. 2: As in the diamond water paradox, water is less expensive than diamonds because they are readily available and an additional unit of water adds little value to the individual. On the other hand, diamonds are scarce and every additional unit adds substantial value and this is the reason it costs more than water. The same is the reason for the disparity in salaries between teachers and athletes. While teachers are available in abundance like water, athletes are rare and so they are considered to be a precious commodity like diamonds and this scarcity is the reason they are paid such enormous amounts of money each year.