Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Murders in the Rue Morgue Essay Example For Students

The Murders in the Rue Morgue Essay In Edgar Allen Poes short story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, a classic detective story is played out in a seedy Paris suburb. The story begins as the narrator meets Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, a poor but well-read young man. As they become close friends, they live together in seclusion, departing only briefly each evening to take introspective strolls along the dark Paris streets. Soon both the reader and the narrator begin to see Dupins intimate knowledge of the human mind, always an underlying element in Poes prose. Dupins extraordinary observances are made by retracing a course of human thought until an endpoint, the thought that is presently in the subjects head, is reached. With this still fresh in mind, Poe gives us a mystery taken right from the local Gazette, two recent murders with questionable motives and circumstances, the search for the murderer has proved futile. Poes stage is now set. The murders, of Madame and Mademoiselle LEspanaye are then related by a series of el even eyewitnesses, a diverse mix of occupation and culture. However, they concur on one point: all heard an indistinguishable voice (that of a foreigner) and one of an angered Frenchman at the scene of the crime. As the account of the last witness is registered, Dupin and the narrator decide to examine the apartment on the Rue Morgue for themselves. The Sherlock Holmes-like protagonist does not disappoint us. Dupin assures the narrator that he knows who the culprit is, and he is indeed awaiting his arrival. After collecting evidence and careful analysis, Dupin seems to have solved the murder beyond the shadow of a doubt. The strange circumstances lead Dupin to believe that the perpetrator could not have been human but of the animal kingdom. He cites an orangutan as the killer, an escapee from a careless owner. This accounts for the grotesque methods of murder and the foreign voice that is heard at the scene of the crime. The angry Frenchman witnesses mentioned was the apes owner, wh o discovered his pets plunder after it was too late. Dupin is correct in his accusation and places an ad in the Gazette for a found orangutan. The owner comes right to him, and the mystery is solved. We will write a custom essay on The Murders in the Rue Morgue specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Murders in the Rue Morgue is a showcase of Poes amazing writing style, and the short story is full of rhetorical devices. Two literary devices that are evident are Poes creative use of point of view and gothic setting. The Murders in the Rue Morgue is told in the first person point of view, presumably Poes view, acting as a narrator. This point of view provides for a more intimate relation of the sordid tale, stating, I often dwelt meditatively upon the old philosophy of the Bi-Part Soul, and amused myself with the fancy of a double Dupin-the creative and the resolvent. (p. 4) Without this personal point of view, the reader would be oblivious to Dupins separate personalities. This up close and personal view of Dupin is known because of the first person narration. Another point of view is also useful. Monsieur Dupin solves the mystery and to do so, must take on an entirely new point of view, that of the criminal. Using this technique, Dupin delves into the mind of a careless Fren chman and his pet orangutan. Poe also incorporates a gothic setting into the story. The gothic setting is absolute. Located on the Rue Morgue-Death Street, the title foreshadows a catastrophe. The murder scene is a grotesque setting complete with hideously dismembered bodies and severed heads. The Paris suburb of Faubourg-St.Germain gives the mystery an aura of gloom and sets the stage for violence. The home of the pair is described as, a time-eaten and grotesque mansion, a style which suited the rather fantastic gloom of our common temper, long deserted through superstition into which we did not inquire, and tottering to its fall in a retired and desolate portion of the Faubourg St. Germain. (p.3) This description certainly echoes Poes inclination for gothic setting, and he even goes so far to use words like grotesque and gloom. Both of these literary devices help to create an atmosphere of suspense and help further Poes narrative. .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e , .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .postImageUrl , .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e , .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:hover , .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:visited , .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:active { border:0!important; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:active , .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u659e9ab4744733c13c448786e04fe89e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Breast Cancer EssayIn The Murders in the Rue Morgue, the reader can tell this is a Romantic story because of Poes emphasis on the connection between human imagination and the natural world and the journey into the complex world of human emotion. Dupin serves as a predecessor of Sherlock Holmes as he successfully solves a problem by projecting himself into the thinking process of the criminal. He is able to collect and sift evidence, to screen the important from the unimportant in the conflicting testimony of bewildered or dishonest witnesses. Like many Romantic protagonists, Dupin depends upon his intellect and imagination to produce success that applies to the natural wor ld. For example, Dupin states, that he failed in the solution of this mystery is by no means that matter for wonder which he supposes it; for, in truth, our friend the police chief is somewhat too cunning to be profound. In his wisdom is no underlying principle. (p. 35) Here, Dupin explains that the police chief could not solve the mystery because he did not use his imagination and emotion to find a connection to the natural world. Unlike Dupin, the police chief did not seek a natural world solution to a natural world problem. Poe also reveals a Romantic view as Dupin says, it is not our part as reasoners, to reject it on account of apparent impossibilities. It is only left for us to prove that these apparent impossibilities are, in reality, not such.(p. 23) Here, Dupin states that the human imagination cannot be limited by improbability when looking for solutions applying to the natural world, but must consider all possibilities, however improbable, until proven wrong. In other wor ds, imagination and emotion should not limit, but guide the natural world. Because of this apparent connection, The Murders in the Rue Morgue is a true reflection of Romanticism.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

How to Cheat on the ACT

How to Cheat on the ACT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Disclaimer: we are not going to tell you how to cheat on the ACT. What we will tell you about are things you can get in trouble for, along with high-profile cheating scandals that have happened recently and in past years. We do not advocate cheating by any means! Let's take a look at some of these scandals, as well as make sure you're aware of all the rules and regulations of test day so you don't inadvertently jeopardize your scores or chance of college admissions. South Korea and Hong Kong:The Case of the Leaked Test The most recent cheating scandal around the ACT involves the June , 2016 administration of the test in South Korea and Hong Kong(or what was supposed to be the June administration). Officials heard that test materials had beenleaked in advance of the test. ACT, Inc's official statement was this: "ACT has just received credible evidence that test materials intended for administration in these regions have been compromised." The result? ACT, Inccanceled the test altogether, doing so only hours before students were supposed to take the test. About 5,500 students at 56 different test centers were unable to take the test they had registered for. While these students will get refunds, they don't get the chance to reschedule their June test. Instead, they'll have to wait until the next official ACT test date in September. At this point, it's unclear who got their hands on ACT test materials or how they did it. While the ACT has never been canceled abroad before, the SAT has been canceled or investigated several times over the past few years in both South Korea and Hong Kong. It seems that test centers take advantage of time zone differences to obtain information from students taking tests in the U.S. Unfortunately, it was the test-takers in South Korea and Hong Kong who suffered from this underhanded activity and were unable to take the ACT at all on their scheduled June test date. New York: The Case of False Identities Cheating scandals around the ACT haven't just happened overseas. In fact, thelargest and most high profile scandal to date happened in 20 on Long Island, New York. Over 20 arrests were made in this case where students paid other students (most of them already in college) to take the test in their place. They paid students up to $3,600, and these students used fake IDs to enter the testing center. When these cases of false identity were discovered, the perpetrators were charged with scheming to defraud in the first degree, criminal impersonation in the second degree, and falsifying business records in the first degree. None of these students ultimately faced jail time, but their names and this case will forever be on the public record. Apparently, this kind of identity swapping had been going on for years. As for the aftermath of this scandal? Now all students have to upload a photo of themselves when they register for the ACT. Would you be tempted to pay money if it meant a perfect scorer would take the ACT for you? Kentucky: The Case of Too Many Practice Tests In 2014, the principal and other school officials at Louisville Male High School came under investigation for heavy assistance of students taking the ACT. Because the ACT is used in many states as a high school standardized exam, it's a high stakes test for schools and administrators, as well as students. Several students reported that school officials gave substantial help during their test. Administrators let students take multiple practice tests with the real questions, before entering their real answers for the real test. Furthermore, officials helped students with questions they struggled with and even gave them answers, giving Louisville students an unfair advantage on the actual ACT. Even worse, students reported administrators telling them to keep hush about the cheating in interviews.In the end, the principal was fired from the school, and the school was required to institute new behaviors to prevent this cheating from happening in the future. Michigan: The Case of Calculator Misconduct Similar suspicions swirled around Fremont High School in Michigan in 2014. College Board received an anonymous tip about improper calculator use that indicated that school officials had uploaded far too much information on students' calculators, almost like having a "cheat sheet" while taking the ACT. Ultimately the ACT decided that while their actions gave students an unfair advantage, they had found a loophole in the rules and were not technically cheating. Students scores were eventually released, but they were withheld for a long time while the investigation was underway. While these cases of cheating on the ACT made the news, most cases are less high profile. Instead, they occur because a student or test proctor reports unusual behavior on test day. Let's take a look at the more common causes of ACT scores being withheld or canceled. Don't do this. What Else You Can Be Disqualified From the ACT For The basic signs of cheating - likelooking at someone else's test paper, talking, using inappropriate materials, or causing any disturbances - are all prohibited while taking the ACT. Since it is strictly timed, students cannot look back or ahead in the test booklet. They cannot flip through it or work on a different section than the one currently being timed, nor can they continue to write or fill in answers after time has been called. Once time has been called, that's it - absolutely no more filling in the bubble sheet or adding one last sentence to your essay. Otherwise your test proctor could take your test booklet and ask you to leave the testing center. Once your test has been scored, there may be a few unusual trends that alert scorers to possible signs of cheating. For example, huge fluctuations in your scores could prompt an investigation - if you improve by a great number of points between your first and second test administration, for example, or show large inconsistencies between similar sections. They may ask you to provide a testimonial on your behalf, but could withhold your scores indefinitely or have you retake the test. Another cause for concern is if your answers resemble that of a nearby student too closely. One Boston student was shocked to have her scores withheld, because her answers looked almost identical to a student she sat near. While very rare, these kinds of investigations begin after the tests have been scored and analyzed. So if your scores are withheld, what are the consequences? Consequences of Cheating on the ACT In the high profile New York case, which involved fake IDs and exchanges of large sums of money, actual charges were filed against students and arrests were made. In less nefarious circumstances, like the ones described above, usually the ACT will cancel your scores and you will have to retake the test. If your score reports have already been sent off to colleges, theACT will notify the colleges that your scores are now invalid. They usually won't provide a specific reason, but instead will say, "The ACT cancels scores for a variety of reasons, including illness of the examinee, mis-timing of the test, disturbances or irregularity at the testing site. It is the ACT policy to treat the ACT's reasoning for canceling a specific score as confidential." Colleges won't necessarily hear that you were accused of cheating, but cancellation of scores is still a big red flag that you don't want to have on your application. The college will likely know if your scores were the only ones to be canceled, thereby ruling out "mis-timing" or "disturbances at the testing site" as a possible explanation. Plus, many months will probably pass by the time you get a final decision from ACT, sign up for and retake the test, and receive and send off your new score reports, causing you to miss important deadlines. If your scores were withheld due to inconsistencies, the ACT may have you retake the test. If you score within three points of your last performance, then you will get to keep those new scores. If not, then your new and improved test scores will be canceled and invalidated. For the most part, students whose scores get withheld and/or cancelled may retake the test, but this can be a huge hassle, both emotionally and in terms of getting everything done in time for your college application deadlines. Relax! The ACT is an important test, but there's no reason to lose your head. What Can You Do Instead of Cheating? Don't cheat on the ACT - prep instead! Nothing is a replacement for preparation and familiarity with the content and format of the tests. Check out our free E-Book for the tips and strategies you need to know to improve your ACT score by 4+ points. To prep most effectively, use high quality materials that will show you all the concepts and question types you will encounter, so you really won't need to know the exact questions beforehand. To avoid raising any suspicions about cheating on the ACT, make sure you're familiar with all the instructions and timing of the test. This is especially crucial if English isn't your first language or you're unsure if you'll absorb the exact instructions once the test has been passed out. By knowing the exact instructions before test day, you can focus your energy and attention on the content, rather than on logistical details. As we mentioned above, the testmakers look at your scores to detect any unusual fluctuations or similarities with a nearby test-taker. To prevent this possibility, make sure you take the test seriously every time you take it. Don't treat any administration as a throw-away, as this could become a problem later on down the line. Instead, try your best every time so your scores are an accurate representation of your skills, abilities, and preparation every time you take the test. Finally, try to keep perspective through the pressures of achievement and competition. Make sure to give yourself breaks and use the coping skills that best work for you to alleviate stress, like meditation, mindfulness, and exercise. Try to see the forest through the trees - in other words, do your best to look at the big picture rather than stressing out about one part of it along the way.By acting with integrity and purpose, you will end up in the college that's the best fit for you. What's Next? Now that you know the behaviors that count as cheating on the ACT, what about the personal belongings that must stay out of the testing center? This article explains everything you need on test day, some little known things that could come in handy, and the things you should just leave home. Are you feeling stressed about the ACT? If you're like any other student, the answer is probably yes. This article suggests some practices for managing your anxiety, clearing your mind, and training your focus for test day. Aimingfor a high ACT score? Read our guide onhow to score a perfect ACT 36, written by our resident perfect scorer. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Rebecca Safier About the Author Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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Friday, November 22, 2019

Admiral Togo Heihachiro in the Russo-Japanese War

Admiral Togo Heihachiro in the Russo-Japanese War Early Life Career of Togo Heihachiro: The son of a samurai, Togo Heihachiro was born in Kagoshima, Japan on January 27, 1848. Raised in the citys Kachiyacho district, Togo had three brothers and was educated locally. After a relatively peaceful childhood, Togo first saw military service at age fifteen when he participated in the Anglo-Satsuma War. The result of the Namamugi Incident and the murder of Charles Lennox Richardson, the brief conflict saw ships of the British Royal Navy bombard Kagoshima in August 1863. In the wake of the attack, the daimyo (lord) of Satsuma established a navy in 1864. With the creation of a fleet, Togo and two of his brothers quickly enlisted in the new navy. In January 1868, Togo was assigned to the side-wheeler Kasuga as a gunner and third-class officer. That same month, the Boshin War between supporters of the emperor and the forces of the shogunate commenced. Siding with the Imperial cause, the Satsuma navy quickly became engaged and Togo first saw action at the Battle of Awa on January 28. Remaining aboard Kasuga, Togo also took part in naval battles at Miyako and Hakodate. Following the Imperial triumph in the war, Togo was selected to study naval matters in Britain. Togo Studies Abroad: Departing for Britain in 1871 with several other young Japanese officers, Togo arrived in London where he received English language training and instruction in European customs and decorum. Detailed as a cadet to the training ship HMS Worcester at the Thames Naval College in 1872, Togo proved a gifted student who frequently engaged in fisticuffs when called Johnny Chinaman by his classmates. Graduating second in his class, he embarked as an ordinary seaman on the training ship HMS Hampshire in 1875, and circumnavigated the globe. During the voyage, Togo fell ill and his eyesight began to fail. Subjecting himself to a variety of treatments, some painful, he impressed his shipmates with his endurance and lack of complaint. Returning to London, doctors were able to save his eyesight and he began a study of mathematics with Reverend A.S. Capel in Cambridge. After traveling to Portsmouth for further schooling he then entering the Royal Naval College at Greenwich. During the course of his studies he was able to watch firsthand the construction of several Japanese warships in British shipyards. Conflicts at Home: Away during the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, he missed the turmoil that it brought to his home region. Promoted to lieutenant on May 22, 1878, Togo returned home aboard the armored corvette Hiei (17) which had recently been completed in a British yard. Arriving in Japan, he was given command of Daini Teibo. Moving to Amagi, he closely watched Admiral Amà ©dà ©e Courbets French fleet during the 1884-1885 Franco-Chinese War and went ashore to observe French ground forces on Formosa. After rising to the rank of captain, Togo again found himself on the front lines at the start of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894. Commanding the cruiser Naniwa, Togo sank the British-owned, Chinese-chartered transport Kowshing at the Battle of Pungdo on July 25, 1894. While the sinking nearly caused a diplomatic incident with Britain, it was within the constraints of international law and showed Togo to be a master of understanding the difficult issues that could arise in the global arena. On September 17, he led Naniwa as part of the Japanese fleet at the Battle of the Yalu. The last ship in Admiral Tsuboi Kozos line of battle, Naniwa distinguished itself and Togo was promoted to rear admiral at the wars end in 1895. Togo in the Russo-Japanese War: With the conflicts end, Togos career began to slow and he moved through various appointments such as commandant of the Naval War College and commander of the Sasebo Naval College. In 1903, Navy Minister Yamamoto Gonnohyoe stunned the Imperial Navy by appointing Togo to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, making him the nations preeminent naval leader. This decision caught the attention of Emperor Meiji who questioned the ministers judgment. With the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, Togo took the fleet to sea and defeated a Russian force off Port Arthur on February 8. As Japanese ground forces laid siege to Port Arthur, Togo maintained a tight blockade offshore. With the citys fall in January 1905, Togos fleet conducted routine operations while awaiting the arrival of the Russian Baltic Fleet which was steaming to the war zone. Led by Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky, the Russians encountered Togos fleet near the Straits of Tsushima on May 27, 1905. In the resulting Battle of Tsushima, Togo utterly destroyed the Russian fleet and earned the nickname the Nelson of the East from the Western media. Later Life of Togo Heihachiro: With the wars conclusion in 1905, Togo was made a Member of the British Order of Merit by King Edward VII and acclaimed around the world. Departing his fleet command, he became Chief of the Naval General Staff and served on the Supreme War Council. In recognition of his achievements, Togo was elevated to hakushaku (count) in the Japanese peerage system. Given the honorific title of fleet admiral in 1913, he was appointed to oversee the education of Prince Hirohito the following year. Acting in this role for a decade, in 1926, Togo became the only non-royal to be given the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. An ardent opponent of the 1930 London Naval Treaty, which saw Japanese naval power given a secondary role relative to the United States and Britain, Togo was further elevated to koshaku (marquis) by now-Emperor Hirohito on May 29, 1934. The following day Togo died at age 86. Internationally respected, Great Britain, the United States, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and China all sent warships to take part in a Tokyo Bay naval parade in the late admirals honor. Selected Sources Portraits of Modern Japanese Leaders: Togo HeihachiroTogos Report of the Battle of TsushimaTime: Togo of Tsushima

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

LensCrafters Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

LensCrafters Case Study - Essay Example These factors, together with the chain’s value chain and potential challenges are the principal focus of this paper. LensCrafters’ operations strategy and sustainability based competitive advantage LensCrafters was the first optical vendor to promise its customers quality eyeglasses within a short duration of one hour. The chain is able to attain this challenging feat by introducing autonomous onsite optometrists, fully equipped optical laboratories, as well as, a broad range of glasses’ frames at every outlet. LensCrafters’ operations strategy is guided by its mission, which explicitly states that the chain focuses on being the world’s best optical outlet. This happens through creating a loyal customer base, by promoting formation of a dynamic team of leaders and associates, who craft high quality eyewear in just one hour, and deliver superior services that meet customer’s personal needs and preferences (Collier & Vans, 2011). It is clear th at LensCrafters is a distinctive optical chain in marketplace, since it offers full laboratory analysis onsite and is also able to provide the customers with quality eyeglasses or contacts within one hour or even less. This service is coupled with a ninety day guarantee, which allows customers to return their spectacles unconditionally or exchange them, if they do not meet specifications. Additionally, the optical retailer offers an extended protection scheme and optometrists to give customers’ a comprehensive eyes’ examination, while offering them the chance to pay later. This allows them to broaden the customer base, since everyone can afford services provided (Collier & Vans, 2011). In terms of sustainability, the company has a broad range of strategies that give it competitive advantage over rivals in the optometric industry. For instance, LensCrafters has focused extensively on its philanthropic efforts in the diverse societies in which its service outlets are loc ated. An excellent example is the optical retailer’s partnership with Lions Club’s branches to facilitate recycling of used spectacles, in order to help those individuals that do not have enough money to purchase new eyeglasses. This distinctive service is provided not only in the chain’s American domicile, but also in developing countries like South America’s Puerto Rico. This philanthropic act enables the optical dealer to provide its immense expertise to needy individuals. The strategy has brought the company a lot of goodwill among customers, since they know that associating with LensCrafters allows them to reach out to the underprivileged in society. Humanitarian efforts, therefore, gives LensCrafters competitive advantage over other global optical companies. For specificity, the company has programs like â€Å"Give the sight gift†, in which the company offers vouchers to needy customers, for them to acquire free eyeglasses. There is also the â€Å"See more† program, whereby official company vans travel to public schools locally and internationally giving free eye care to kids (Collier & Vans, 2011). Another important aspect is that, LensCrafters’ staff work for longer office hours. This allows them to cater for many customers, in an economic environment characterized by extremely busy work schedules and little free time. The firm also upholds environment protection efforts, an action evident from its eyewear recycling program. All these efforts clearly depict LensCrafters’

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Shouldice Hospital Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 71

Shouldice Hospital - Case Study Example The data indicate that some former patients had been attending the event for over thirty years. The most interesting fact is that out of 100 patients who attend Shouldice hospital one is a doctor. Past data indicates that the large patient turns up at Shouldice hospital is attributed to the efficiency and effectiveness of its service delivery (Chase, Jacobs & Aquilano, 2007). For example, the doctors employ superior techniques such as ambulation to ensure patients recover fist. There is the proper rapport between the nurses and the patient, this attracts patients to come back even after recovering. The management of Shouldice hospital has been faced by two options namely; whether to add one more operating to the hospital schedule or to add a second floor to the hospital by increasing bed capacity by 50%. Based on the Shouldice hospital data it can be observed that there are 5 major rooms for operation. The first room is utilized by a patient for recovery purposes, the second one is t he laboratory where patients are tested blood and other samples are tested to determine the disease that they could be suffering (Schumpelick & Fitzgibbons, 2007). There are other 6 rooms where patient’s health condition is examined. The data further indicates that the hospital had been having an average of ninety beds. This could only allow the doctors at Shouldice hospital to carry out 40 operations each day and an average of 7000 medical operations each year (Robert and Richard, 2012). Therefore, adding one operation day could increase the hospital capacity by 20%. This means that the current hospital capacity will be optimally utilized, this indicates that per year the hospital will be able to serve 1500 patients. However, it might be assumed that increasing an extra working day (Saturday) without increasing doctor’s remuneration could make the quality of service to decline because some workers might feel de-motivated.  

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Summary Industrial Organization Essay Example for Free

Summary Industrial Organization Essay A perfectly competitive industry has 6 main characteristics: 1) large number of buyers and sellers 2) producers and consumers have perfect knowledge 3) the products sold by firms are identical 4) firms act independently and aim at maximizing profits 5) no entry or exit barriers 6) firms can sell as much output as they want at the current market price NEOCALSSICAL THEORY: Static conception, focus on long-run According to Schumpeter and the Austrian School, the fact that a firm earns an abnormal profit (monopoly) profit does not constitute evidence that the firm is guilty of abusing its market(monopoly) power at the expense of consumer: entrepreneur, creative destruction monopoly status is only a temporary phenomenon competition is a dynamic process Disequilibrium reflects imperfect information or ignorance on the part of buyers and sellers!! Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) Paradigm Structure is the central element. It influences conduct which in turn has an effect on the performance STRUCTURE Number and size of firms, entry conditions, product differentiation, vertical integration, diversification; fixed int he short-run CONDUCT Business objectives, pricing, design and branding, advertising and marketing, RD, collusion, merger; refers to the behaviour of a firm PERFORMANCE Profitability, growth, quality of products and services, technological service, productive and allocative efficiency; Chicago School about abnormal profit: causes may be cost advantage and superior efficiency STUDY CASE: EUROPEAN BANKING To prevent from damaging implications for consumer welfare, there can be interventions of the government. The government policy is regulatory intervention to promote competition and prevent abuses of market power preventing a horizontal merger, break up of a large incumbent producer price controls, punishment of unlawful collusions The Chicago School is a group of prominent academic lawyers and economists, whose promarket, pro-competition and anti-government views were perhaps of their most influencial during the 1970’s and 80’s Critics of the SCP Paradigm the theory does not always specify precise relationships between S, C, P variables it is often difficult to decide which variables belong to which category performance is only some measure of the degree of success in achieving desired goals the definition of market or industry structure has a number of dimensions danger of overemphasizing the role of concentration little comprehensive information is available on more subtle aspects of market structure and essentially no systematic data aside from accounting profit rates is available on conduct and performance relationships are oftein quite weak in terms of statistical significance no explanation is offered as to the evolution of the market structure variables, and the influence of the current co nduct and performance on future structure according to the collusion hypothesis, a positive association between concentration and profitability was interpreted as evidence of collusion or other abuses of market power designed to enhance profit according to the efficiency hypothesis (Chicago), a positive relationship between concentration and profitability reflects a natural tendency for efficient firms to be successful and to become dominant in their industries Strategic management: 5 forces model 1) Extent and intensity of competition 2) Threat of entrants 3) Threat of substitute products and services 4) Power of buyers 5) Power of suppliers Porter’s approach: static, underemphasises the problem of uncertainty caused by change in the competitive environment, competitive advantage is measured by the value the firm is able to create in excess of its costs, Porter introduces the concept of the value chain, which disaggregates the firm into its strategically relevant activities: Primary activities (physical creation of produt/service), Support activities (support primary activities and each other) each activity is linked to another, this approach examines how these links can be improved in order to increase margins on each of the firm’s products Kay argues that each individual firm is inherently different, and therefore dismisses the notion of generic strategies. Instead, firms develop distinctive capabilities in an ettempt to achieve competitive advantage. This shift away from analyzing the characteristics of the environment, and towards examining each firm’s unique attributes strategies mirrors the shift of emphasis away from structure and towards conduct that is imlicit in much of the NIO literature. Sources of distinctive capabilities: Innovation, architecture, reputation determinants of performance Firms can only maintain a competitive advantage if they can protect their strategies from imitation The strategic management approach has been criticized for placing insufficient emphasis on the interaction between firms at the level of the market or industry. Instead, the focus is mainly on strategic options available to the firm. †¢ Chapter 2: Microeconomic foundations: The short-run relationships between inputs, outputs and production cost is governed by the law of diminishing returns, and the long-run relation is governed by economies or diseconomies of scale!! The Production Function: q=f(L,K) inthe short run labor is variable but capital is fixed!!! Law of Diminishing Returns: As increasing quantities of labor are used in conjunction with a fixed quantity of capital, eventually the additional contribution that each successive unit of labor makes to total output starts to decline Marginal Product of Labor (MPL): It is the qunatity of additional output the firm obtains by employing an additional worker. Average Product of Labor (APL): It is the ratio of total output to quantity of labor employed. It is important to notice that APL is increasing whenever MPLAPL and APL is decreasing when MPL2f(L,K) f(2L,2K)=2f(L,K) f(2L,2K)1 price elastic sensitive quantity PED =1 unit price elasticity PED 0 for substitutes, 2: more weight to larger firms if for above average performers. †¢ Business unit effects form low performers o The new empirical industrial organization. The new empirical industrial organization shifts the focus from structures analysis to conduct analysis. It is grounded firmly in microeconomic (oligopoly) theory. NeIO makes direct observations of conduct in specific industries, and draws inferences about what these observed patters of conduct might mean for structure. The Rosse-Panzar revenue test is based on empirical observation of the impact on firm-level revenues of variations in the prices of the factors of production that are used as inputs in the production processes of a group of competing firms. The H-statistic is defined as sum of elastic ties if a firm’s total revenue w.r.t. each of its factor input prices. It differs under perfectly competitive, imperfectly competitive and monopolistic market conditions. See page 336 for graphs. If H = 1 conduct perfect competition If H O conduct monopoly If 0 H 1 conduct imperfect competition Empirical evidence: †¢ Commonly, price-setting behaviour in accordance with intermediate competition models is detected. Limits: †¢ Offers a determination of only what the market structure of degree of monopoly is not, and does not suggest what it is. o The persistence of profit Persistence of profit approach examines the time-series behaviour of firm-level profit dates. It suggest: profitability in more profitable industries tends to fall and profitability in less profitable industries tends to rise. tendency for profit rates to converge. supports the disequilibrium hypothesis. Firm level studies suggest there are significant differences between firms in long run equilibrium profit rates, and differences in the speed of convergence. Industry level studies: †¢ If current profitability is higher than expected, entry should take place causing profitability to fall and v. v. the empirical results suggest the process of adjustment towards l.r. equilibrium takes about four years. Industry level variables such as entry barriers, concentration and growth in demand determine the speed of adjustment. There is evidence of a tendency for profitability to persist, especially in highly concentrated industries. †¢ Firm level studies: o If competition is anything less then perfect, and there are barriers to entry, it may take some time for any abnormal profit to be eroded. s.r. profit persistence. o L.r. profit persistence: where there are barriers to entry, there no convergence of firm level rates towards a common l.r. average value. If some firms posses and are able to retain specialized knowledge or other advantage, theses firms may be able to earn profits that remain above the norm persistently, in the long run. o L.r. persistence refers to the degree of variation between firms in the l.r. average profit rates no convergence (empirical result) Part 3: analysis of firm strategy: †¢ Chapter 10: Pricing: o Critic of neoclassical theory: do firms have enough information to apply the profit maximization rule MR = MC? o Cost plus pricing Under cost plus pricing, the firm calculates or simply estimates its AVC and then sets it price by adding on a percentage mark-up that includes a contribution towards the firm’s fixed costs and a profit margin. P = (1+m)AVC This is simple to understand and can be implemented using less information. AVC is relatively flat over a relevant range of output levels; minor variations in the level of demand need not lead to changes in price. So it reduces consumer’s search costs and also reduces destructive price competition. The mark up determination appeals to a sense of fairness. Otherwise it is not simply implemented for a multiproduct firm. The wide-spread use of cost plus pricing might suggest it as a convenient rule of thumb form firms that are really profit maximizers- cost plus pricing is equivalent to profit maximization pricing if AVC is approximately constant, and the mark up is set to a value of 1/(PED/1). Research showed that firms where more profit oriented where competition was more intense and also large firms turned out to be more likely profit maximizing. o Price discrimination A firm that enjoys some degree of market power might consider adopting a more complex pricing policy, for example to sell at different prices to different consumers. First degree price discrimination: †¢ Perfect price discrimination involves making the price per unit of output depend on the identity of the purchaser and on the number of unit purchased. Second degree price discrimination: †¢ Involves making the price per unit of output depend on the number of units purchased. Third degree price discrimination: †¢ Involves making the price per unit depend on the identity of the purchase. The term dumping describes the practice of charging a lower price to consumers in poorer countries than to charge in richer countries. Two conditions: †¢ Some degree of market power and the market has to be divisible into sub-markets different demand conditions, no trade or resale, significant transport costs can also help to achieve an effective physical separation of sub-markets. First degree: †¢ Each consumer’s reservation price is the max. price the consumer is willing to pay. The monopolist can exploit the differences in willingness to pay by charging each consumer high or her own reservation price. It is worthwhile for the monopolist to supply all consumers whose reservation price exceeds the monopolists marginal costs. It is also possible that if reductions in the prices of further units are offered, that the consumer is induced to buy three, four †¦ units. Another way to abtain surplus is to charge a two-part tariff: uniform additional price + fixed fee. In this form of pr. Discr. Producers earn an abnormal profit, there is no CS and there is no DWL. It is known as perfect price discrimination because all the available surplus is extracted by monopolists. †¢ Page 360 Second degree: †¢ In the case where the monopolist cannot distinguish between consumer, the best policy is to offer the same menu of prices and quantities to all and allow the consumers to self select. †¢ Page 362 †¢ If the monopolist sets a fixed fee slightly lower than PCAF, and charging a uniform price per unit slightly higher than PC, he can gain additional PS †¢ With Pc + P the fixed fee is reduced from WXY to W. †¢ Here the producer cannot extract all of the surplus. So first degree price discrimination (perfect information about consumer preferences) is more profitable than second degree (imperfect information) Third degree: †¢ Here the price per unit that each consumer pays is constant, but the monopolist can segment the market by offering different prices to different consumers. Partial market segmentation is achieved through age, membership, gender, profession etc. †¢ The monopolist should select the price quantity combination for each sub-market at monopolistic output. †¢ One price will always be higher and the other price lower than the uniform monopoly price in the non discriminating case. Consumers in the sub market with the lower price have more CS and are always better off than in the non-discriminating case. †¢ Examples: o With intertemporal price discrimination, the supplier segments the market by the point in time at which the product is purchased by different groups of consumers. Each consumer is willing to make his purchase in one of the two periods. (page 369). But: Coase: consumers may learn that prices will be cut and wait with purchasing. o Brand labels: do not really represent pr. Discr. More products are different because of genuine product characteristics. o Loyalty discount: 2nd degree pr. Disc. o Coupons: some from but connected with effort o Stock clearance: some form o Free on board pricing same prices neglecting different costs in different areas. o Peak-load pricing Much of the theoretical literature on peak load pricing is based on an assumption of social welfare maximization. When a peak-load pricing problem exists, often capacity cannot be adjusted. Page 372 The optimal price for each period is the total marginal cost incurred through the installation of additional capacity and the additional production in both periods minus the price charged in the other period. The peak-period consumers, whose demand or willingness to pay is stronger are charged a higher price than the off-peak consumers. MC of installing additional capacity is lowered to B’. Chapter 11: Auctions: o Auction formats, and models of bidder valuation An auction is a market mechanism for converting bids from market participants into decisions concerning the allocation of resources and prices, though a specific set of rules. price formation under conditions of uncertainty, asymmetric information and interdependence. There are four basic auction formats providing the cornerstone for the economic theory of auctions. The English auction (ascending bid auction) involves the price being set initially low and then raised successively until a level is reached which only one bidder is willing to pay. The Dutch auction (descending bid auction) works in the opposite way. In the first price sealed bid auction, each bidder independently submits a single bid, without seeing the bids submitted by other bidders. The highest wins and pays. The second price sealed bid auction (vickrey auction) works similar as the first prices sealed bid auction, but here the highest bidder gets the item and pays a price equal to the second highest bid. Asymmetric information means that seller and buyers typically do not have perfect information concerning the distribution of bidders valuations of the item being auctioned. There are also two alternative assumptions: †¢ In the pure common value model, the item is a single, intrinsic value that is the same for all bidders, but nobody knows the true value. †¢ In the independent private values model, each bidder knows the true value of the item to himself personally. no single value †¢ The affiliated valuation model includes elements of both. o The pure common value model and the winner’s curse The winner’s curse appears to be a rather common feature of many auctions in which bidders valuations conform to the pure common value model. It is very likely that the winning bidder, with the highest private estimate has overvalued the item. The winning bidder is very likely to turn out to be a loser, in the sense of having overpaid the item. Two possible estimates of the true value: a) original private estimate unconditional. b) revised estimate (knowing other valuations) conditional. In order to avoid the winners curse, the sealed bid should be based on a revised estimate, conditional on the bidder’s original estimate being the highest estimate. In fact, in a first price sealed bid auction, it pays to submit a bid some distance below the bidders opinion as to the true value. o Optimal bidding strategies and revenue equivalence in the independent private values model. Assumptions: private values are randomly drawn from a uniform distribution. Risk neutrality of the bidders. The English auction: †¢ Withdraw as soon as the price equals or exceeds the private value. You gain a rent equal to the difference between private value and winning bid, or nothing. Second price sealed bid auction: †¢ A bidder’s optimal bidding strategy is to enter a bid equivalent to his or her own private value. By raising your bid, you can only lose, you cannot possibly gain. The rival’s bid determines the price you would have paid if you had bid your private value. Therefore by lowering your bid you have forfeited an opportunity to buy the item for less than your private value. †¢ English and second price auctions can be described as strategically equivalent when everybody behaves rationally. In the terminology of game theory it is in both cases a dominant strategy. First price sealed bid auction: †¢ It pays to submit a bid that is below your own private value. †¢ Page 396: o P(0) = 0 o P(B) is and increasing function of B. The higher the bid, the higher P(B) to win. o P(B) is a decreasing function of l. The higher the number of bidders, the lower P(B) to win. †¢ By reducing the submitted bid below BH =Vi, bidder i gains by committing to pay a lower price, but also loses by accepting a lower P(B) of winning. The position of the P(B) curve depends on the bidding strategies of the bidders. †¢ Nash equilibrium’s optimal bid: ((N-1)/N) * Vi †¢ As the number of N increases, the optimal bid approached the bidder’s private value. Dutch auction: †¢ Wait until the price has fallen a certain amount below the private value. gain a positive rent. By allowing the price to drop, you can only gain and you cannot lose. Bidder I should bid when the price reaches ((N-1)/N) * Vi. So, also the two last auctions types are strategically equivalent. The revenue equivalence theorem: †¢ All four auctions formats are expected to yield exactly the same price to seller on average. The seller is expected price is always the expected value or expectation of the second highest private value (page 399). Sellers expected proceeds: o E(V2) = (N-1)/(N+1) †¢ It is important to remember that the revenue equivalence theorem relies heavily on the independent private values assumption. Evidence is rather limited o Extensions and additional topics in auction theory. To ensure a certain price for the seller, he can introduce a rule that the item is not sold if the price payable by the winning bidder does not at least match (or exceed) a reserve price. It can be shown that it is optimal for the seller to set a reserve price that is higher than his own private value. Inefficient allocation of resources can be consistent with the maximization of the seller private proceeds. The optimal reserve price does not depend on the number of bidders. The price should not be too high, because then the item won’t be sold anymore. Risk averse bidders: †¢ In an English auction, risk aversion makes no difference to the optimal bidding strategy. In a Dutch auction, in contrast, risk aversion causes the bidder to call out earlier. Therefore the revenue equivalence theorem breaks down if bidders are risk averse (Dutch auction yields higher profit for the seller). In a second price auction, risk aversion causes nothing to change. In a first price sealed bid auction, risk averse bidders tend to bid closer to their private values than risk neutral bidders theorem brakes down again. †¢

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Symbols and Symbolism in A Tale of Two Cities - Symbolic Events Essay

Symbolic Events in A Tale of Two Cities      Ã‚  Ã‚   Many events that take place in A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, foreshadow upcoming obstacles and give insight into the hardships of the townspeople. Symbolic events occur which describe the vengefulness of the peasants towards the aristocrats. The novel contains many events, which have symbolic value. Many of the symbols have to do with the inevitable clash between the aristocrats and peasants. These events foreshadow the war that is soon to become reality.    The first apparent symbolic event is the broken wine cask. A large cask of wine drops and breaks in the street and the people of St. Antoine stop their daily business to drink the wine from the ground. "Those who had been greedy with the staves of the cask, had acquired a tigerish smear around the mouth" (Dickens 33). The people are very poor and live in poor conditions. They will do anything for something to eat or drink and the broken wine cask provides proof. The Marquis de Evremonde kills Gaspard's son and confesses that he would wil...

Monday, November 11, 2019

James Wong Howe Essay

HOWE, JAMES WONG (1898-1975), photographer, cinematographer. Howe was born in Canton, China, in 1898 and came to the State of Washington in 1904 with his parents. His original name was Wong Tung Jim, which he continued to use until 1922. He is recognized for his great camera work in the United States and for bringing new, revolutionary techniques to the camera world. Among his best known photographic innovations are the use of the wide-angle lens, deep focus, and ceilinged sets to give the claustrophobic feeling of being aboard ship. In 1947 he was also one of the first cameramen to use a hand-held camera. In his innovative methods of filming he used roller skates and wheelchairs. Because of his artistic and revolutionary techniques Howe won Oscars for the films The Rose Tatoo and Hud in 1957 and 1963, respectively. His other acclaimed films include Come Back Little Sheba, The Last Angry Man, and The Old Man and the Sea. (Hyung-Chan Kim, 1986) Howe arrived in America aged five and grew up in Pasco, Washington. Short (5’1†³) but stocky, he trained as a boxer and fought professionally as a teenager, but he was bascinated by photography Making his way to Los Angeles, he landed a job with DeMille’s unit at the Lasky Studios and worked his way up to camera assistant. Howe owed his breakthrough to a happy change. Assigned to shoot stills of the star Mary Miles Minter, he delighted her by making her eyes appear dark. (The orthochromatic film of the time lightened blue eyes into blankness. ) Puzzled at first, Howe realized that black velvet drapes behind him had created the effect. Minter insisted he should shoot all her films, and rumours spread that she had imported her own Chinese cameraman who hid behind black velvet to work his magic. Howe was soon widely in demand. Luckily, the magician had more than one trick up his sleeve. Imaginative and experimental, Howe was never content to rely on accepted techniques. He believed that a good cinematographer ‘should be willing to gamble a little more. The normal thing is not really interesting; it’s the unusual and sometimes even accidental things that are. ‘ Right to the end of his carrier he went on taking chances. Reacting against the flat, shadowless photography preferred by his directors. Howe set about exploring the creation of mood through the camera. To suggest the fantasy world of Peter Pan (1924) he used low-key lighting (a technique which for a while became so characteristic that he gained the nickname ‘ Low-Key Howe’). He seized eagerly on devices to increase camera mobility: Mantrap (1926) was one of the first films to make extensive use of dolly-short. When sound it Hollywood Howe was in China trying to set up a film to direct. The project fell through, and when he returned to America he found himself tagged ‘silent-era’. Work was scarce until Howard Hawks chose him for The Criminal Code (1930). This earned him a two year contract with Fox where he lent The Power and the Glory (1933), a tycoon’s life-saga, a quasi-newsreel look that may have influenced Welles’s Citizen Kane (1941). There followed a stint at MGM, creating dark, opulent interiors for Manhattan Melodrama (1934) and The Thin Man (1934), but Howe came under constant pressure from Cedric Gibbons, the studio’s design head, to over-light. Quitting, he visited England, where two costume dramas, Fire over England (1936) and Under the Red Robe (1937). Were flattered by his warm, romantic treatment. Returning to Hollywood, Howe freelanced for a while. The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) and Algiers (1938), moody and atmospheric, mark the culmination of his 1930s black and white work; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) was his first color feature Rejecting the brash tones beloved of Technicolor, Howe went for subdued, earthy colors befitting the poor rural setting, to the alarm of Technicolor’s house cameraman Wilfred Cline. Howe simply ignored Cline, and was banned from Technicolor films for the next twelve years. In 1938 Howe signed with Warners. The studio style, grainy and downbeat, should have suited his penchant for realism, but in the event he found Warners as restrictive as MGM. Their cut-price, fast-shooting methods outraged the perfectionist Howe, who liked to prepare meticulously and take time to get things right. (Esther Mikyung Ghymn, 2000) Even so he achieved some fine work; often in an expressionistic vein all high contrast and oppressive shadows – to match melodramas like Kings Row (1942) or Passage to Marseille (1944), besides the near-documentary look of Air Force (1943) and Objective Burma! (1945). Released from Warners, the ex-boxer captured some sweatily vivid fight scenes for Body and Soul (1947) by having himself pushed round the ring on roller-skates. For the rest of his career Howe freelanced. Most of his colour films date from this period, from the picture-book fantasy of Bell, Book and Candle (1958) to the muted subterranean shades of The Molly Maguires (1969). There was never a uniform Howe look; the style, he insisted, ‘whould conform to the story’, but he preferred black and white, and his late masterpieces are all in monochrome: Hud ( 1962), with its flat white Texan skies; the tormented distortions of Seconds ( 1966); and the slick, glitzy night world of Sweet Smell of Success ( 1957). Howe was never easy to work with. Tireless and dedicated, he demanded equal dedication from his crews and, perhaps in reaction to the racial slurs he suffered all his life, adopted an autocratic approach that risked alienating colleagues. Given an inexperienced director Howe would virtually take over, sometimes to the point of directing the actors, and even strong directors knew better than to cross him. But few doubted that whatever he did was for the sake of the story – nor that he was, as Alexander Mackendrick put it, ‘quite simply, the best’. As stated earlier, Chinese Americans’ physical appearance alone has rendered them â€Å"unassimilable† throughout American history. Compounding this first barrier are the culture-specific traits of language, food, custom, and value. Popular presses continue to stigmatize Asian Americans as â€Å"model minorities,† which means that despite prejudice, this group has â€Å"made it† so others should follow suit and not complain. The reality is that visible Asians experience â€Å"glass ceilings† in the workplace and â€Å"tuning out† by whites in interpersonal communications. † (David A. Cook, 1996) â€Å"Success,† for Asian Americans at least, does not readily dictate the ethnic person’s cultural identity. This was what Frank Chin realized when he interviewed an award-winning Chinese American cinematographer and director: â€Å"From greeting us in the oldest homeliest Sze Yup Cantonese I’d heard since Chinatown old James Wong Howe was a Chinaman. He took us out for Chinese food and ordered for everyone like a Chinaman. He got along with whites, was the genius of the most American art Hollywood movies and had two Oscars without losing any of his Chinese language, culture, or taste. † (Vincent LoBrutto, 1999)

Saturday, November 9, 2019

With Reference to Acid-Base Balance Explore the Role of the Respiratory System in Maintaining Blood Ph?

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Interprofessional Studies. With reference to acid-base balance explore the role of the respiratory system in maintaining blood pH? ‘We live and die at the cellular level’ (Reid, 2011). Homeostasis is crucial for normal cellular function. Acid-base homeostasis is the part of human homeostasis and refers to the balance between the production and elimination of H+ hydrogen ions (pH) within the body fluids (William, Simpkins, 2001, p. 236). Metabolic reactions within the cells often produce a huge excess of H+.Lack of any mechanism for its excretion would lead H+ levels in body fluids rise quickly to the lethal levels (Tortora, Grabowski 2006, p. 1001); therefore the homeostasis of the right H+ levels is crucial for our survival. In a healthy person several systems work interdependently on maintaining blood’s pH (Sheldon, 2001, p. 23): buffer, renal and respiratory systems. In this essay I will concentrate on the pH of the blood in rel ation to the acid-base balance and the role that respiratory system has in maintaining it. Blood pH is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 7. is considered neutral in the systemic arterial blood within its narrow range of around 7. 35 and 7. 45. When the pH is greater than 7. 45 the blood is considered to be alkalotic and when the pH is lower than 7. 35 then the blood is considered acidotic (Sheldon, 2001, p. 23). Fig. 1: Diagram of blood pH scale: (JupiterIonizer, 2004) The acidity or alkalinity of blood is a result of H+ concentration within it, and this on the other hand results from the carbon dioxide concentration in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a toxic waste product generated in the oxidation of fats, carbohydrates and proteins within the cells.The gas itself is not an acid, but it reacts with water to form carbonic acid which then dissociates to form a hydrogen ion and a bicarbonate ion: CO2+H2O- H2CO3-H++ HCO3- The respiratory system helps to control the acidity of blood by regulating the elimination of CO2 and H2O through ventilation and on the other hand, blood pH (H+ concentration) plays a major role in respiratory control. Respiratory muscles belong to the voluntary breathing system and are controlled by the respiratory centre located in the medulla oblongata and the pons of the brain stem (Hinchliff, Montague, Watson, 2005, p. 605). Gregoire and Gallagher (2004, p. 24) suggest, that the breathing centre controls a number of inseparable parts, which work together to ensure that any inspiration is harmoniously followed by an appropriate expiration. Also, the frequency and the volume of air per inspiration are regulated. In order to regulate the breathing in an efficient manner, the respiratory centre must be informed of the need for the ventilation in the body mainly by chemoreceptors which are sensitive to the PCO2 (carbon dioxide pressure) or the pH of the blood. Those chemoreceptors can be found in the aortic arch and in the carotid a rtery (Thomson, Adams, Cowan, 1997, p. 1). According to Tortora and Derrickson (1006, p. 1002), the pH of bodily fluids and breathing rate react via the negative feedback loop. When the aforementioned chemoreceptors detect any changes in blood pH, they will stimulate the respiratory centre to alter the ventilation rate in order to bring the acid-base balance to its homeostatic level. When the blood acidity increases, the pH decreases and causes the chemoreceptors to stimulate the inspiratory area in the brain. This results in diaphragm and other respiratory muscles to contract more frequently and forcefully (resulting in increased CO2 excretion).This will cause less H2CO3 to form, therefore less H+ will be present in the blood, resulting in increase of blood’s pH. When this response will bring blood pH back to normal, its acid-base balance will be back to its homeostatic level (Tortora, Derrickson, 2006, p. 1002). The same negative feedback will respond, when the blood CO2 le vel will increase (increase in ventilation, therefore CO2 excretion from the blood, reducing its H+ concentration and finally increase in pH). Hypoventilation= CO2 = H+ =pH = Acidosis Hypoventilation= CO2 = H+ =pH = Acidosis CO2 CO2H+ H+ pH pH Normal blood pH (7. 35-7. 45) Normal blood pH (7. 35-7. 45) Chemoreceptors stimulate the respiratory centre Chemoreceptors stimulate the respiratory centre Breathing becomes slower and shallower Breathing becomes slower and shallower Chemoreceptors stimulate the respiratory centre Chemoreceptors stimulate the respiratory centre Breathing becomes deeper and faster Breathing becomes deeper and faster pH pH H+ H+ CO2 CO2 Hyperventilation=CO2 = H+ =pH = Alkalosis Hyperventilation=CO2 = H+ =pH = Alkalosis Fig. 2: Respiratory regulation of blood pH.Simple act of breathing also regulates blood’s pH.. When the ventilation rate increases, more CO2 will be excreted, leading to decreased H+ concentration and raise in pH. Contrarily, when the venti lation rate decreases, less carbon dioxide will get excreted, leading to its accumulation, therefore increase in H+ and decrease in blood’s pH (Tortora, Derrickson, 2009, p. 1002). As we can see, lungs and brain control blood’s pH minute by minute. When the respiratory system fails to control the pH of the blood through ventilation it can lead to respiratory acidosis or alkalosis.Respiratory acidosis is an excess of carbonic acid that is caused by conditions resulting in hypoventilation and CO2 retention. The major effect of acidosis is depression of the central nervous system (Disney, 2002, p. 281). When the pH of the blood falls below 7. 35, the central nervous system starts to malfunction, and the patient will become disoriented and possibly comatose as the condition worsens Respiratory alkalosis occurs in case of deficit of carbonic acid caused by conditions resulting in alveolar hyperventilation and CO2 deficit.First, the peripheral nerves will be affected leading to spontaneous nervous stimulation of muscles (spasms) and extreme nervousness. Severe alkalosis can lead to death as a result of contraction of respiratory muscles (Disney, 2002, p. 283). Although in this essay I am concentrating on the role of the respiratory system in regulating the pH of blood it is worth mentioning the role of buffer and renal systems in their connection to the role of the respiratory system. Renal system is the slowest mechanism in regulating of the blood pH, however the only way to eliminate acids other than carbonic acid responsible for raise in the blood pH.It helps to restore long term acid-base imbalance but is not quick enough to react in sudden changes (Powers, 2001, p. 312-313). The pH buffer systems are a combination of body’s own natural weak acids and bases. They exist in balance under normal pH, however when any changes in pH solution occur, they change their proportions to chemically restore the balance (Appel, Downs, 2008). The important buffer systems include proteins, carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffers and phosphates (Thomson, Adams and Crown, 1997, p. 53). Prolonged acid imbalances of any kind are not well tolerated by the body as they disturb its normal functions.A chronically over-acidic pH corrodes body tissue and if left unchecked, it will interrupt all cellular activities and functions. The blood pH has a serious effect on all of the body’s systems and that’s why it is important for the body to maintain its acid-base balance, as even minor deviations from the normal range can severely affect every cell in our body. Due to close connection between the respiratory system and blood’s acid-base balance any malfunctions of the respiratory system will lead to blood pH imbalances. Word Count: 1099 SCENARIO 2 (1000 words)With reference to negative feedback loops explore the role of the pancreas in glycaemic homeostasis. PLEASE TYPE YOUR ANSWER BELOW: Cells need a stable environment in order to su rvive. Negative feedback is the mechanism by which our body maintains its conditions at a homeostatic level (Guyton, Hall, 2006, p. 861). When the conditions exceed the above range of homeostasis, negative loop will release a hormone to bring those conditions back to normal. Contrarily, when the conditions exceed the lower range of homeostasis, the production of the second hormone will be triggered.Negative feedback loop requires a receptor, a control centre and an effector. Located in the body are eight major endocrine glands that secrete hormones. Blood glucose concentration regulation through the negative feedback shows, how the endocrine system maintains the homeostasis within our body using two antagonistic hormones: insulin and glucagon (CliffsNotes, no date), released in the pancreas. In this essay I will explore what is glycaemic homeostasis and why is it essential for the health of cells and therefore for the health of the entire body.I will find out how is it maintained wi thin our body by the negative feedback loops and what is the role of the pancreas in this process. Glucose is the main source of energy for majority of cells in the human body (Tortora, Grabowski, 2006, p. 614). Its molecules are broken down in the cells to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, which provide energy for many cellular processes. Circulating blood delivers glucose molecules to cells and therefore the constant supply of glucose is reliable on the glucose levels being maintained at continuous and adequate level.However, it is equally important, that the concentration of glucose in the blood and tissues is not excessive (Paul, 1999). The homeostatic level of glucose is achieved through the negative feedback systems of endocrine system which ensure that the glucose concentration is maintained within the normal range of 70 to 110 milligrams of glucose per decilitre (Paul, 1999). In a healthy person the homeostatic glucose levels are restored by one of the organs o f the endocrine system- the pancreas. Fixed firmly in the pancreas is a large of endocrine tissue called the islets of Langerhans.Simpkins and Williams (2001, p316) suggest, that the islets contain two types of cells- ? – and ? – cells, are responsible for the production of glucagon and insulin. Tissues use glucose at different rates, depending on the metabolic activity (Simpkins, Williams, 2001, p. 317). More glucose would be used by our body during exercise than during the rest time. The concentration of glucose will also rise after a meal, when the nutrients are being absorbed. After the glucose enters the bloodstream (following food digestion), the ? ells detect that the blood glucose concentration has raised and release the enzyme- insulin (Tortora, Derrickson, 2009, p. 340-341). Insulin has several functions. One of them is accelerating the conversion of glycogen from glucose. Blood leaving the gut contains the absorbed products of digestion and then passes them to the liver. The liver cells contain enzymes controlled by insulin, which help to synthesize the glycogen, the polymer of glucose. Glucose absorbed from the gut is stored in a form of glycogen in the liver and some of the skeletal muscles (Simpkins, Williams, 2001, p. 316).Glucagon has the opposite role to the insulin. It stimulates the transformation of glycogen to glucose (Guyton, Hall, 2006, p. 861). The other functions of insulin include speeding up the entry of glucose from the blood into the respiring cells, increasing the cellular rate of glucose utilization as an energy source and stimulating of the fat synthesis from glucose in the liver cells (Paul, 1999). All these effects would together cause the decrease in the blood glucose concentration and the insulin secretion discontinuation (from negative feedback from declining levels of glucose).Contrarily, when the blood glucose concentration decreases (for example during starvation), the pancreas will respond by stopping the insulin secretion and stimulating the alpha cells to secrete glucagon. Apart from accelerating the breakdown of glycogen to glucose, it increases the breakdown of fats to fatty acids and glycerol in adipose tissue as well as it stimulates liver cells to increase the synthesis of glucose from glycerol absorbed from the blood (Paul, 1999).These effects will cause an increase in blood glucose level and the secretion will discontinue when reaching the homeostatic level (negative feedback). Blood glucose concentration declines Blood glucose concentration declines Blood glucose concentration rises Blood glucose concentration rises Pancreas stimulates alpha cells to release glucagon Pancreas stimulates alpha cells to release glucagon Pancreas stimulates beta cells to release insulin. Pancreas stimulates beta cells to release insulin. Increased breakdown of glycogen to glucoseIncreased breakdown of glycogen to glucose Homeostasis- normal blood glucose level Homeostasis- normal blood glucose level Increased rate of glucose transport to the cells Increased rate of glucose transport to the cells Increased breakdown of fats to fatty acids Increased breakdown of fats to fatty acids Increased rate of glucose utilization Increased rate of glucose utilization Increased breakdown of protein to amino acids Increased breakdown of protein to amino acids Increased conversion of glucose to glycogen Increased conversion of glucose to glycogenIncreased protein synthesis Increased protein synthesis Increased synthesis and release of glucose Increased synthesis and release of glucose Increased fat synthesis Increased fat synthesis Blood glucose concentration rises Blood glucose concentration rises Blood glucose concentration decline Blood glucose concentration decline Fig. 1: The homeostatic regulation of blood glucose concentration via the negative feedback loop. In relation to negative loop system, the glucose transporters that bind glucose are the receptors. The ? – and ? cel ls act as the control centres, as by processing the information from the receptors they act by releasing effectors- insulin and glucagon- in order to restore the internal conditions back to their normal level (Haaland, 2001). Maintenance of glycaemic homeostasis is crucial, as glucose is the only nutrient that can be used by brain to supply it with energy required for its functioning (Guyton, Hall, 2006). Contrarily, raised glucose concentration can produce a large amount of osmotic pressure in the extracellular fluid and lead to cellular dehydration.High glucose concentration will also cause loss of glucose in the urine, which can deprive body of its fluids and electrolytes. Long-term increases in blood glucose may cause damage to many tissues, especially blood vessels and can lead to heart attack, stroke, blindness and renal diseases. Any disturbances in the glucose levels will be an indication of disease. For example, raised glucose levels would be present in diabetes mellitus, C ushing’s syndrome, liver disease and hyperthyroidism. Contrarily, decreased glucose levels are present in Addison’s disease, hypoinsulinism and hypothyroidism (Paul, 1999).The most common of all aforementioned diseases is diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes body’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. This means that pancreas is unable to secrete insulin (Tortora, Derrickson, 2001, p. 341). People affected by the disease will need external source of insulin in order to survive Type II is the most common type of diabetes. In this disease insulin secretion is not reduced, however the tissues in the body become resistant to insulin over time. Person affected by type II diabetes can control their glucose levels with the medication and the right diet.Glucose is needed for the cells to function. Pancreas has a major role in maintaining right glucose levels as it is responsible for secretion of two antagonistic hormones responsible for th e glucose regulation. Negative feedback loop stimulates the pancreas to release the right hormone at the time to bring the blood glucose to its homeostatic level. Any disturbances in the secretion of aforementioned hormones can lead to many diseases and body dysfunctions. Any pancreas malfunction will automatically lead to blood glucose level disturbances. Word count: 1098PLEASE TYPE YOUR REFERENCE LIST BELOW: Appel, S. , Downs, Ch. , (2008) ‘Understanding acid-base balance’. Nursing. 38 (9), pp9-11. CliffsNotes Antagonistic Hormones. [online] Available at: http://www. cliffsnotes. com/study_guide/topicArticleId-277792,articleId-277669. html (no date) (Accessed 11 Jan 2013). Disney, J. (2002) Acid-base disorders. In: Marx, J. et al. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts of Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Oxford: Elsevier. Esmond, G. , (2001) Respiratory Nursing. London: Bailiere Tindall. Gregorie, L. , Gallagher, P. 2004) Life Sciences: Anatomy and Physiology for Healt h Care Professionals. Edinburgh: Nelson Thornes Limited. Guyton, A. C. , Hall, J. E. (2006) Textbook of medical physiology. 11th ed. London: Elsevier. Haaland, W. (2001) Homeostasis. [online] Available at: http://www. bioedonline. org/slides/slide01. cfm? tk=25 (Accessed 16 January 2013). Hinchliff, S. M. , Montague, S. M. , Watson, R. (2005) Physiology for Nursing Practice. 3rd ed. London: Elsevier. | | | | Jupiterionozer, 2004. Are you overly Acidic? [online] Available at: http://www. jupiterionizer. om/are_you_overly_acidic. htm (Accessed 02 January 2013). Marino, P. , Sutkin, K. , (2006) Acid-base interpretations. 3rd ed. [e-book] Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Available at: Scribd. >http://www. scribd. com/doc/35400593/The-ICU-BOOK-Paul-Marino-Complete< (Accessed 3 January 2013). Paul, I. (1999) Blood sugar regulation. [online] Available at: http://www. biologyreference. com/Bl-Ce/Blood-Sugar-Regulation. html (Accessed 09 January 2013). Powers, A. (2001). Acid-Base Balance. In: Curley, M. , (2001). Critical care nursing of infants and children. nd ed. Michigan: Elsevier. pp. 309-321. Reid, J,. (2011) Undersatnding acid/alkaline balance. [pdf] Manchester: Integrative Complementary Wellness Centre. Available at: http://www. byregion. net/images/pdfs/1019_9. pdfn (Accesses: 06 January 2013). Simpkins, J, Williams, J. I. (2001) Advanced Human Biology. London: Collins Educational. Sheldon, L. (2001) Oxygenation. Thorofare: Slack. Tortora, G. , Derrickson, B. (2009) Principles of Anatomy and Physiology: Maintainance and Continuity of the Human Body. 12th ed. Volume 2. Hoboken: Wiley. Tortora, G. , Grabowski, S. 2006) Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 10th ed. Hoboken: Wiley. Thomson, W. , Adams, J. , Cowan, R. , (1997) Clinical Acid-Base balance. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Triplitt, C. L. (2012) ‘Understanding the mechanisms to maintain glucose homeostasis: A review for managed care’. The American Journal of Managed Care, 18(1), pp. 4-27. [Online] Available at: https://secure. pharmacytimes. com/lessons/pdf/201201-02. pdf (Accessed 09 January 2013). Waugh, A. , Grant, A. , (2010) Ross and Willson: Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness. 11th ed. London: Elsevier.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

45 Topics for Term Paper Writing

45 Topics for Term Paper Writing The list of the most trending term paper topics of 2017 covers three difficulty levels: hard, medium easy on the following subjects: Politics, Health, Medicine, Science, and General topics. In case you are working on a term paper or are simply looking for a topic to start your research, we have written down a short list of sample topics for you. The list includes such topics as Politics,  Health, Medicine, Science, and General. All topics are grouped by levels of difficulty, so you will be able to pick the topic that is the exact match to your requirements. Please note that this list is just sample topics. TERM PAPER FORMAT While choosing a topic its important that you select a topic that is neither too narrow nor too broad. Here is a list of the most trending term paper topics of 2017. Feel free to use any of them for your term paper. Politics Hard: US Troops Aiding Syria: Is this the right move? Obamacare: Constitutionally unjust or a way to force regulation on citizens? What happens behind the scenes that the Government keeps from the citizens of the US? Why the US feels the need to get involved in other countries affairs Medium: Electing Obama to a second term: Was it really the right choice for this country? Turmoil in the US Government: Why republicans and democrats disagree Is there controversy between the US and China or is it all made up for media purposes? Easy: The reason for multiple political parties and what each really represents Are electoral votes the right way to call an election? The people speak but the states ultimately decide The right way to approach local and state government entities with your political concerns to ensure they are handled Health Hard: The controversy surrounding aspartame Why whole grains help digestion and the reason to back away from starches not made from whole grains Is a liver cleanse really beneficial for those suffering from chronic illnesses Reducing processed food intake and why it is beneficial to your health Medium: How to make dietary changes to improve your health without shocking your body Foods that Diabetics should avoid maintaining body systems and eyesight The latest diet crazes and how they are potentially dangerous Easy: When too much exercise leads to obsession: Knowing when enough is enough How exactly does stress play a role in your total bodys   health? Stress reduction techniques to improve your mental stability and overall mental health Medical Hard: Scares from vaginal mesh surgeries and how to get help for your complications Understanding drug interactions and what side effects are more prominent dependent upon your ailment Spinal surgeries: Is the risk really worth it and why you should consider alternative treatment options Medium: How to know when it’s time to turn off the life support and let go of a family member When do you believe what you read about supplements and what doctors really know about them Is your doctor pushing specific medications to his/her patients to help pharmaceutical companies or is it really going to help you? Easy: Filing malpractice charges against your doctor: Understanding what malpractice really is Is your doctor telling you the truth? Understanding why second opinions are valuable for your treatment plan Recognizing mental illness in a loved one: The right steps to take so that they get the help they need Science Hard: Should NASA gain new funding for continued space travel explorations or do we know all we need to know? Cancer Research: What is really being done scientifically to find a cure for each specific type? Is there a scientific method to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, renal failure and joint deterioration? Mixing technology with scientific method to create convenience items for the disabled Medium: Studying the scientific formulations of water, ice and snow to compile meteorological differences What exactly about science is taught in the classroom? Is it really relevant? Is there true scientific validity to Women being from Venus and Men being from Mars? Easy: Getting your kids more involved with science and experiments are safe to complete at home What is the scientific explanation for how the Chinese zodiac and astrological signs are assigned? What is the scientific method of curing meats for preservation? General How much damage does stereotyping really do to a persons mental health? Why grief plagues some more than others Does getting a degree really make you more money and give you a more stable career? What is the real reason that higher Education costs keep rising? Why are fast food hamburgers so much higher in calories than homemade options? Auto branding: What is the reasoning behind the loyalty and which manufacturers are really better than others? APA TERM PAPER Email us your requirements and our writers will start coming up with all kinds of term paper topics. Once you have selected the topic you like, the writer who came up with that topic of your choice will be assigned to work on your paper. Together with you, the writer will draft the paper and then work on its text. We will only assign those writers who are professionals at what they do and have experience in the subject. This will ensure that your paper is well-written and properly formatted, contains no plagiarism and is a full match to your original requirements. Ultimately, this will result in your customer satisfaction, which is our utmost goal. Just place an order and get your professionally written term paper on time.

Monday, November 4, 2019

American Identity Construction In Raising Victor Vargas English Literature Essay

American Identity Construction In Raising Victor Vargas English Literature Essay Peter Sollet’s 2002 movie â€Å"Raising Victor Vargas†, is a fascinating piece of cinematic work because it has the incredible ability to transport an audience member from the movie theatre and place him or her behind main character Victor, thus becoming an eye witness of his daily actions in the barrio. By taking this approach, Sollet gives the audience the opportunity to analyze the negotiation and construction of Dominican self-identification in the United States. The movie is set in New York City’s Lower East Side and a majority of the main characters are members of the working class Vargas family. The head of the household is grandmother Anna Guzman, who is a first generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic. She has the responsibility to raise her three grandchildren named Victor, Vicki and Nino. Victor is a real ladies’ man and the central narrative of the movie revolves around his attempts to seduce popular neighborhood girl Judy Ramirez. His involvement with Judy is a desperate effort to rescue his reputation as Victor’s friends assume that he has slept with â€Å"Fat Donna.† Over the course of his seduction process, Victor gets both his brother and sister tangled up in his actions which makes raising victor vargas a mission impossible for his traditional grandmother. Both the general audience and critics appreciate the movie. It faired well at the box office and it received many positive critical reviews, including one from popular Chicago-Sun Times critic Roger Ebert who gave it three and a half stars out of four. â€Å"Raising Victor Vargas† also won several prizes including the Grand Special Prize at Deauville Film Festival and the Made in Spanish award at San Sebastian International Film Festival. Reasons for its success may lie in the fact that it is not a typical teenage comedy, since it not merely touches upon teens’ experiences with relationships. It also raises issues concerning th e search for an Dominican-American identity, the defining of race through language, the acceptance of generational tensions and the existence of cultural differences. All of these issues give a glimpse of how ethnic-racial identities are played out in New York City’s Lower East Side. By analyzing the construction of an ethnic-racial identity in â€Å"Raising Victor Vargas† by means of the previously listed topics, this paper will demonstrate how the existence of fluid identities encompasses feelings of inclusion and exclusion that are able to dominate lives within an urban minority community. The academic discussion on identity construction in Latino communities in New York City mostly focuses on the existence of panethnicity among Latinos and how this affects integration into American society. According to scholars Josà © Itzigsohn and Carlos Dore-Carbal, the existence of panethnicity â€Å"refers to the expansion of ethnic group boundaries to include different nati onal or ethnic groups that share a common language, a common culture, or a common regional origin into an encompassing identity.† This panethnicity has been examined as a secondary identity that coexists with national identifications. In addition, the link between America’s racial classification system and panethnic identity has also been researched extensively. Overall, research has drawn the conclusion that separate racial and ethnic categories are able to construct panethnic identities, yet they can also create panethnic identities together.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Symbolism often compliments the plot and crimes that may occur. By Essay

Symbolism often compliments the plot and crimes that may occur. By analyzing the use of symbolism in Reservoir Dogs ( the screenplay) what do we learn about crime - Essay Example h symbolic meaning which directly catalyzes more significant comprehension of the content and implications of the complete work as a portrayal of humanity and criminality. The use of uniforms, the application and use of color-coded nicknames by core characters, and the tortuous removal of Marvin Nash’s ear are examples of Tarantino’s use of symbolism to enhance the dimensionality of the work as they reveal key insights into the story dynamic. The most immediate introduction of symbolism within â€Å"Reservoir Dogs† occurs in the introductory scene in which the characters are described as wearing black suits as they sit around the cafà © table. Though subtle, this uniformity of dress is a factor which prevails throughout the vast majority of the later screenplay. This neo-noir style attire, which hearkens back to accepted aspects of the classic cinematic criminal archetype, is applied to the core characters and impacts the overall story significantly. The uniform used by these thieves reveals the tentative cohesiveness of the group and draws a distinction between them and the police in subsequent scenes, effectively setting both groups apart from general society, or as Mr. Pink remarks, â€Å"real people† (Tarantino, p.13). However, this is not the only area in which the symbolic value of the criminal uniform impacts the overall screenplay. A lack of uniform description in scenes which introduce and explain the involvement of individual characters signifies their previous separation and tentative civilian status. Additionally, this definitive division between the thieves and the police intensifies the sense of betrayal which arises from the revelation of Mr. Orange/ Freddy Newendyke’s duplicitous role within the group beginning in scene 25 (Tarantino, p.56). Tarantino continues his incorporation of symbolism in the use of color coded nicknames by core characters in the context of the screenplay which succeeds in achieving several key effects on the story and