Tuesday, November 26, 2019
When to Use an Image in an Essay
When to Use an Image in an Essay When to Use an Image in an Essay Pages of text alone can look quite dull. And while â€Å"dull†may seem normal enough for an essay, using images and charts can make a document more visually interesting. It can even help you boost your grades if done right! Here, then, is our guide on how to use an image in academic writing. When to Use an Image in an Essay Usually, you will only need to add an image in academic writing if it serves a specific purpose (e.g., illustrating your argument). Even then, you need to make sure images are presently correctly. As such, try asking yourself the following questions whenever you add picture or chart in an essay: Does it add anything useful? Any image or chart you include in your work should help you make your argument or explain a point more clearly. For instance, if you are analyzing a movie, you may need to include a still from a scene to illustrate your point. Is the image clearly labelled? All images in your essay should come with clear captions (e.g., â€Å"Figure 1†plus a title or description). Without these, your reader may not know how images relate to the surrounding text. Have you mentioned the image in the text? Make sure to reference any images you use in the text of your essay. If you have included an image to illustrate a point, for instance, you would include something along the lines of â€Å"An example of this can be seen in Figure 1.†The key, then, is that images in an essay are not just decoration. Rather, they should fit with and add to the arguments you make in the text. Citing Images and Illustrations If you have created all the images you are using in your essay yourself, then all you need to do is label them clearly (as described above). But if you want to use an existing image you found somewhere else, you will need to cite your source as well, just as you would when quoting someone. The format for this will depend on the referencing system you’re using. However, with author–date referencing, it usually involves giving the source author’s name and a year of publication. For example: In the caption above, we have cited the page of the paper the image comes from using an APA-style citation. We would then need to add the full paper to the reference list at the end of the document: GrambliÄ ka, S., Kohar, R., Stopka, M. (2017). Dynamic analysis of mechanical conveyor drive system. Procedia Engineering, 192, 259–264. DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.06.045 You can also cite an image directly if it not part of a larger publication or document. If we wanted to cite an image found online in APA referencing, for example, we would use the following format: Surname, Initial(s). (Role). (Year). Title or description of image [Image format]. Retrieved from URL. In practice, then, we could cite a photograph as follows: Booth, S. (Photographer). (2014). Passengers [Digital image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevebooth/35470947736/in/pool-best100only/ Make sure to check your style guide if you are not sure which referencing system to use when citing images in your work. And don’t forget to have your finished document proofread before you submit it for marking.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Graphics in Business Writing, Technical Communication
Graphics in Business Writing, Technical Communication In business writing and technical communication, graphics are used as visual representations to support the text in a report, proposal, set of instructions, or similar documents. Types of graphics include charts, diagrams, drawings, figures, graphs, maps, photographs, and tables. Etymology: From the Greek, writing Successful visuals integrate substance, statistics, and design to achieve four principles: clarity, precision, efficiency, and integrity. The best visuals give the viewer the greatest number of ideas as quickly as possible in the least amount of space.(John M. Penrose, Robert W. Rasberry, and Robert J. Myers, Business Communication for Managers: An Advanced Approach, 5th ed. Thomson, 2004) Criteria for Effective Graphics Whether hand drawn or computer generated, successful tables and figures have these characteristics (From Sharon Gerson and Steven Gerson, Technical Writing: Process and Product, 5th ed. Pearson, 2006): Are integrated with the text (i.e., the graphic complements the text; the text explains the graphic).Are appropriately located (preferably immediately following the text referring to the graphic and not a page or pages later).Add to the material explained in the text (without being redundant).Communicate important information that could not be conveyed easily in a paragraph or longer text.Do not contain details that detract from rather than enhance the information.Are an effective size (not too small or too large).Are neatly printed to be readable.Are correctly labeled (with legends, headings, and titles).Follow the style of other figures or tables in the text.Are well conceived and carefully executed. Benefits of Graphics Graphics offer benefits that words alone cannot: Graphics are indispensable in demonstrating logical and numerical relationships[. . .]Graphics can communicate spatial information more effectively than words alone.Graphics can communicate steps in a process more effectively than words alone[. . .]Graphics can save space[. . .]Graphics can reduce the cost of documents intended for international readers. . . . As you plan and draft your document, look for opportunities to use graphics to clarify, emphasize, and organize information.(Mike Markel, Technical Communication, 9th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2010) Also Known As: visual aids, visuals
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Walmart overall financial health slp bus 305module 4 Essay
Walmart overall financial health slp bus 305module 4 - Essay Example So it gives you a look ahead at what to expect in terms of interest rates (Woodruff). Inflation is another aspect that would affect the organization. When the prices of essential commodities like rice, wheat, cooking gas go up and people spend more money for the same goods and services then it is inflation. Essentially inflation indicates that the value of money is going down and it takes more money to buy the same basket of goods. This will definitely lead to losses by business organizations as people would not be ready to spend such huge amount for the goods sold unless it is really essential. 3. If the Federal Reserve acts upon lowering the inflation, then it would best do it by maintaining price stability. Price stability preserves the integrity and purchasing power of the money in the economy. When prices are stable, people can hold money for transactions and other purposes without having to worry that inflation will eat away at the real value of their money balances (Bernanke). If the Federal Reserve lowers inflation by way of maintaining price stability, then the people would not worry about the prices of the goods and so purchasing goods by the consumers would get into normal routine without the fear of the increasing prices. This would help the organization benefit and indeed affects the organization
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
CEO remuneration and a firm performance Dissertation
CEO remuneration and a firm performance - Dissertation Example Typically, it is a combination of salary, incentives, and shares of and call options on the stock of a company, ideally configured to consider the government rules and regulations; a company’s goals/strategy and its executive’s desires, tax law and recognitions for the performance. Executive compensation is viewed through the observable outcomes. It should be designed to give appropriate and befitting incentives. Many shareholders do not want or expect executives to take risk with an aim of getting large profit; in fact nowadays there is a significant emphasis on risk control and strengthening of audit committees to ensure that any risks are understood, assessed and managed properly. The financial collapse in 2007 has changed shareholders’ perception in the light of many ‘reckless’ actions taken by executives, particularly in the financial services sector. That is why the compensation of chief executive officers has increasingly been receiving a lot of attention. As basic salaries are not viewed as an adequate method of influencing the performance of the top executives, the other, different types of rewards were brought in. It is feared that top executives, driven by high profits, were/are acting in their own and not a company’s shareholders’ interests thus encouraging the separation of control and ownership in modern companies. That is why Remuneration Committees have now changed inventive plans to ensure that they do not reward short term behaviour or aggressive ‘risk taking’. The executive remuneration or compensation landscape has greatly and rapidly changed during recent years with executive pay remaining a focus point for the UK Government as well as European Commission, shareholders, and media. Draft new rules and regulations will give shareholders new powers to vote down pay arrangements and alter the way organizations will report on the remuneration of directors, which will considerably alter the environment of executive remuneration. Taking into account the changes in the attitude to the remuneration brought about by the last recession and current tightening legislation, the aim of his research paper is to analyse the correlation between Executive Remuneration and a firm performance. 1.2Aims and objectives 1.2.1Aims of the Study To identify and discuss contemporary issues in Executive Remuneration topic; To determine the impact of Executive Remuneration on a firm’s performance To access executive remuneration and its impact on a firm’s evaluation To establish the correlation between Executive Remuneration and firm’s performance. 1.2.2. Objectives of the Study To evaluate the arguments in Executive Remuneration To evaluate the impact of the Executive Remuneration on a firm’s performance using the following proxies: - Return on Assets - Return on Equity -Dividends Yields Share price. To verify the type of correlation between Executive Remunera tion and firm’s performance. 1.3. Main research questions The main purpose of this research is to determine the correlation and the impact, if any, of Executive Remuneration on a firm performance; hence this work is aiming to answer the following questions: What are the determinants of Executive Remuneration? 1.3.1 Objective 1- the determinants for executive
Sunday, November 17, 2019
The Integrative Nature of Psychology and Music Essay Example for Free
The Integrative Nature of Psychology and Music Essay Creativity, while it is recognized and valued by many, means different things to different people. Artists, musicians, and poets are considered to be creative individuals because their products are creative. Art works are valued for their novelty, beauty, uniqueness, and a host of other qualities that are considered to reflect creativity. Scientists who discover a new medicine or cure are considered creative. Young children who have created a finger painting or a poem are praised for their creativity. Often proud parents will even excuse perverse behavior traits in their offspring by saying, â€Å"he is just being ‘creative’. † Creativity is a part of everyday life as much as eating is.            However, creativity is a concept that is difficult to define with specific measures and parameters. For the purposes of this discussion, the author provides theories on creativity in terms of psychological concepts. Freud’s (1952) psychoanalytic technique seems to be the prerogatives of art. The creation of a meaning for a patient’s random acts resembles literary creation. In both psychiatric interpretation and artistic creativity meaning does not emerge fully clothed out of the raw material of incident and language. Rather, from a first experience significance is gradually inferred and elaborated by a process of free association.            What links psychoanalysis and creativity is the notion of symbolic function. Ricouer (1970) speaks of the symbolic function as meaning something other than what is said and therefore he defines a symbol as â€Å"a double meaning linguistic expression that requires an interpretation†(p. 9). An interpretation is seen as a work of understanding that aims at deciphering symbols. Psychoanalysis is first and foremost a form of interpretation, hermeneutic that arrives at an understanding of the facts of mental life by regarding both dreams and neurotic symptoms as symbols to be analyzed. Freud’s interpretation of dreams reveals the dynamics of the mental processes, the â€Å"strategies of man’s deepest desires and instincts†, and provides the paradigm for the analysis of all men’s cultural activities (Ricoeur, 1970, p. 162).            For Freud the dream symbolism is not merely one device of the dreamwork; but rather provides the dreamwork with the material for condensation, displacement and dramatization. These devices then, are all methods of disguise clothing the unconscious symbolic meaning. This universal symbolism is not limited to dreams, but is to be found in fairy-tales, myths, legends, folklore, and also underlies all art, including music.            According to Dalhaus (1978), absolute music is historically rooted in the idea of an unspeakable sublime, in the idea that â€Å"music expresses that words are not even capable of stammering†(p. 63). As a performer, composing or listening to some Western music is an experience of the sublime. As with Freud’s dream symbolism, every music symbolizes something that requires interpretation. Music, through which some of feelings of the musicians are expresses, is essentially a system of symbols. Each symbol is equivalent to an event or an object; when these symbols are put together they give us a kind of an interpretation of the world. According to Langer (1957), the world of sentiments and emotions could also be expressed in a symbolic manner. Music is, therefore, an alternative means of symbolic expression. Elements of music, just as with dreams, do not contain in themselves fixed references to things, but rather a flexible system of symbols capable of expressing various complex feelings. Through music, a composer can express ambivalent and contradictory feelings simultaneously.  With dreams which, as Freud explains, are disguised fulfillment of repressed wishes or desires of the dreamer. Since the instincts hide themselves in dreams, interpretation is necessary to reveal them. The same thing is true with music.            To illustrate this, Kivy (1991) Bach’s Prelude in C Minor from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier. In referring to this piece he gives an â€Å"autumnal†interpretation, â€Å"the rustling sixteenth-notes figure, in both the right and left hands, that pervades the entire piece, represents the rustling of the dry autumn leaves in the cold October wind†(p. 206-207). What is relevant is the meaning of the listener fins departing from musical experience and musical analysis. Or at least that is what the listener thinks he does. Perhaps this is the point which Kivy describes when the listener who obtains pleasure from absolute music without needing free associations.            On the most basic level, the interpretation of art is analogous to the interpretation of dreams, for art is based on the same universal symbolism of the unconscious. The first assumption of a Freudian aesthetic then is that it is possible to analyze a work of art in order to reveal its hidden motivations in the same way as we unlock the secrets of the dream.            Weiss has extended and placed more emphasis on Freud’s analysis of the condensation of psychic energy that gives a minimum of pleasure in wit, and discovered that the spectator gets pleasure, at least in regarding a painting, from two kinds of perceptual economies, one quantitative and one qualitative. The pleasure of perceptual economy which form affords is the pleasure of overcoming repression of archaic visual modes by sharing in the artist’s childish and primitive visualization (Shapiro, 1966).            However, this pleasure does have the more noteworthy effect of contributing, in the form of a bonus, to the erotic, aggressive and cynical tendencies of the mind. That is, the technique of wit, the use of puns, strange and funny combinations and the like, seduces us to enjoy those sadistic or obscene tendencies whose expression would repel us if it were not combined with the skillful technical creation of the joke itself. In the same way, all the aesthetic pleasure we gain from the work of the imaginative writer is of the same type as this ‘forepleasure’. Therefore, the true enjoyment of art proceeds from the release of unconscious tensions in our minds.            According to Freud (1958), †¦the capacity of certain art forms to express and elicit emotions directly, that is, without reference to representational or symbolic images of drive related objects. This is expressed in the idea that art forms are isometric with the forms of feeling and mood. (p. 11) According to this view, significant content could include those art elements and forms capable of effecting instinctual discharge through the relatively immediate arousal of affective states. This seems to be particularly true of music. The question – whether is it the work or the emotions the work arouses in us that conveys the powerful meaning of music – by saying that our emotions by themselves are the result of our interaction with the music. They are the byproduct of the musical experience. Music seems to create similar emotions and furthermore a similar meaning for different people. People can all have different ways to express our subjective feelings and meanings of the music but at the same time relate to an object that has its own characteristics. Another such psychological concept is the psychology of perception. The most influential theory of perception in the first half of the twentieth century was developed by the gestalt psychologists Kohler and Koffka. In a series of experiments, they were able to demonstrate that inherent in the process of seeing is a natural tendency to bisect the visual field into two distinct areas, a significant figure and an insignificant ground. They also maintained that it is impossible to hold within a single sweep of vision figure and ground simultaneously, focusing on one automatically excludes the other.  Even when perceiving the famous Rubin profiles, a series of diagram whose meaning is ambiguous because figure and ground are equally significant, attention is forced to centre on either the figure, so that a certain diagram will appear as the outline of two vases, or on the ground, in which case the same diagram appears as two faces in profile. The apparent ambiguity in these visual counterchanges arises from the fact that either the figure or ground represents a coherent object but attention cannot perceive both meaning at the same time.            This mutually exclusive, ‘either-or’ structure of attention is found in aural phenomena as well, particularly in the perception of music in which a clear melodic line is distinguished from the harmonic matrix of chords in which it is situated. Finally, the significant figures or forms spotlighted by attention tend to possess the properties of simplicity, wholeness, and coherence while at the same time eliminating any vague, incoherent or inarticulate structures from our perception (Ehrenzweig, 1965).            Through the study of philosophers, theorists, and musicians, aesthetics is no longer simply a â€Å"theory of nice feelings†(as Hegel put it) but a complex philosophy of art: it involves interpretation, criticism and reflection upon works of art. A work of art, such as a symphony, has an existence, a history and a place that constitute it as the object of the aesthetic experience. Having said that, psychoanalysis presents a new way of looking at things – not only at music or art. It is in this way the departure point for an aesthetic revolution, in the sense of a new treatment of what we hear (and see) in the world.            Musical works have represented an enormous value for each culture. In psychoanalytic terms we can say that music generates a jouissance, which for many musicians and non-musicians alike becomes on occasion an experience of the sublime. References: Dalhaus, C. (1978). The idea of absolute music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Ehrenzweig, A. (1965). The psychoanalysis of artistic vision and hearing. London. Freud, S. (1952). A general introduction to psychoanalysis. New York. Freud, S. (1958). The Moses of Michelangelo. In S. Freud (Ed.), On creativity and the unconscious. New York. Kivy, P. P. (1991). Sound and semblance. Cornell University Press. Langer, S. (1957). Philosophy in a new key. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Ricoeur, P. (1970). Freud and philosophy. New Haven. Shapiro, M. (1966). Leonardo and Freud: An art historical study. Journal of the History of Ideas, 17(2).
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Signification of Icons in a Computer GUI :: Icons Symbols Essays
Signification of Icons in a Computer GUI In 1867 in his paper "On a New List of Categories", Charles Peirce said that there were three kinds of signs: icons, indices, and symbols. According to Thomas Sebeok "a sign is said to be iconic when there is a topological similarity between a signifier and its denotata". Icons are then something that resembles the object that they represent. That similarity between icon and object is fundamentally what sets icons apart from the other two kinds of signs. Indices do not have any similarity with their significants, but have a cause and effect relationship. Symbols do not have any direct relationship with an object other than the meaning that imposed or collectively agreed upon a group of humans. In this paper I want to reflect only on one of the three kinds of signs in Peirce triad. I have selected the icon for this discussion because this is currently one of the most common used and misunderstood terms in our society. One of the reasons for this phenomenon is the fact that some very particular pictures called icons have appeared in millions of computer screens around the world. These so called icons are the core elements of the concept called "graphical user interface" (GUI). The GUI is the computer industry's attempt to make personal computing a reality for every one. This virtual environment provides pictures that are suppose to be familiar and allows users to interact directly with them by virtue of a kinesthetic action like the movement of a mouse. This has proven to be a lot more appealing for a great amount of people as oppose to having to memorize and type verbal (symbolic) computer commands. Computer icons within a GUI are supposed to resemble some real object. The success of an icon on communicating the right meaning to the user depends on the accuracy of the representation and, of course, the user's ability to recognize the relationship. Notice that a computer system will have all kinds of signs built in to communicate with the user. Key words and sentences that provide instructions or alert the user of the status of the system are symbols. A user is considered computer literate when he or she can understand those symbols. Another way in which a computer system communicates with a user is by means of indices. When a system is turned on or off, a light that indicates the status of the system is an index.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Assessment Equality and Diversity Essay
1. What is meant by diversity? It’s meant that every individual is unique and recognizing our individual differences (race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies). It’s about understanding each other, understanding and appreciating interdependence of humanity, cultures, and the natural environment, practicing mutual respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own, understanding that diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing, recognizing that personal, cultural and institutionalized discrimination creates and sustains privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others, building alliances across differences so that we can work together to eradicate all forms of discrimination . Diversity is a reality created by individuals and groups from a broad spectrum of demographic and philosophical differences. It includes knowing how to relate to those qualities and conditions that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong. 2. Describe the community you live in. Highlight some of the variations you may observe in terms of: †¢Interests †¢Beliefs †¢Ages †¢Lifestyles †¢Personal, social and cultural identities. I live in very diverse community. People who surround me – my friends, co-workers, neighbours are different age, they’ve got different lifestyles, interests, beliefs, personal, social and cultural identities. For example: there are many different race and ethnic background people in my community. I live with Lithuanians, one of my neighbours is black, other ones white English. The English ones are pensioners and the black one is young mother, who spend a lot of time in her garden, looking after her plants. My housemates love sports, they go to the gym almost every day. The English couple most of their time spend at home, I often see their children visiting them. They are Catholics. There also are some Muslims living somewhere close to me, I often see them passing by my house. 3. Explain how the variations in question 2 contribute to the diversity of the community. The mixture of tolerant people who are different age, have got different nationalities, interests, beliefs, lifestyle create a diverse community. Different religions contribute into many different kinds of churches and temples, ethnic groups contribute to continental food shops and restaurants, because of different interests there are many different places to spend time – gyms, cinema, theatre, spa centre, etc. and better variety of goods and shops. 4. Give some examples to explain how diversity: †¢Enhances your life †¢Enhances the local community †¢Enhances this country. Just because of the diversity I’ve tried many different kinds of food, learnt to cook continental food. I also know more about different cultures and traditions. The diversity improves tolerance in the community as there are many different people and you have to be kind and tolerate each other if you want to live peacefully. There is a very big diversity in this country and it’s a good thing for its economy: different people have got different needs so there are good conditions for many kinds of businesses. 5. Describe what it means to respect people’s differences and why it is important to respect differences. Respect people’s differences means that we have to tolerate people who are different gender, age, ethnic background, etc. This is important, because we live in a very diverse society and we have to prevent discrimination and ensure equal abilities.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
The Effect of MMR Vaccination to the Occurrence of Autism in Newborn Children
The MMR is a single shot vaccine which prevents the onset of deadly diseases that are common during childhood, such as measles, mumps, and rubella.The first shot of the vaccine is administered during the 12th to 15th month of an infant, and is followed by a booster shot during the 4th to 6th year. (Medline Plus) Several research studies and health care professionals have linked the MMR Vaccine to autism, despite its inclusion in the standard immunizations for infants.This has raised the interest of other health care professionals and has conducted several studies in order to prove whether the link between MMR vaccines and autism exists. The research studies shall be discussed in the following statements.The online portal for Evidence-Based Nursing have published several research studies which have proved that the occurrence or autism is not in any way connected to the said vaccine.The first research study was conducted by Wilson, Mills, Ross, et. al. based on epidemiological evidence s, that is a study that concentrates on the total population of those who received MMR vaccination, the rate of occurrence of autism with the increase in populations who receive the vaccine, the correlation between the time of vaccination to the occurrence of autism, and the relationship between certain types of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the vaccine. (Jack, 2004)For this particular review, several researches were used as sources, such as twelve researches studies from scholarly journals and articles. The study has revealed several evidences that prove there is no relation between MMR vaccines and autism.First, the risk of autism in children does not vary for vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. Second, the rate of occurrence of ASD is not influenced by the increased rate of populations getting the vaccine. Third, diagnosis for ASD has not increased over time after the vaccination of MMR. Lastly, there is no connection between the MMR vaccine and the occurrence of seve ral types of ASD. (Jack, 2004)The second research study was funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, National Vaccine Program Office & National Immunization Program, and National Alliance for Autism Research. It was conducted in Denmark with 537,303 children. Half of the total population studied for research purposes were males.Data were gathered from the Danish National Board of Health, wherein the researchers obtained significant information regarding the participants of the study. The breakdown of the total population of participants was such that 440,655 children were vaccinated, 316 children were diagnosed with autism, and 422 were diagnosed with ASD. However, further study proved that the children who were vaccinated with MMR were not at a higher risk of being diagnosed with autism. (Wright, 2003)The third research study was funded by the same institutions and researchers in the second research study; however, the focus of the study was to determine whether the combi nation of three vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines, were connected with the diagnosis of autism.The participants included in the research study aforementioned were used in this particular research study. Additional information were obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System, Danish National Board of Health, Danish Medical Birth Registry, etc.The results of the study proved that there is no significant difference in the risk rate of vaccinated and unvaccinated children from being diagnosed with autism, and that the combination of the three vaccines in a single shot was not connected with the occurrence of autism.         Both the studies conducted in Denmark may be considered accurate because of the accurate data recorded in the Danish system.Moreover, because the two studies were conducted on a large population, consisting of both vaccinated and unvaccinated children, the results of the study may be considered precise and that parents should continue immunizing their children with the MMR vaccine. (Tidmarsh, 2003)These research studies suggest that people, especially members of the nursing practice, should be aware of this fact that there is no known connection between the MMR vaccine and the occurrence of autism. The news that came out about the links between the vaccine and autism caused inquiries, as well as fears, from families who have children vaccinated for MMR.Moreover, because of these issues, people would hesitate to let their children be immunized from measles, mumps, and rubella, leaving their children at high risk from contracting these deadly diseases.Members of the nursing practice, as well as health care professionals, should be aware of the facts and figures which disprove previous claims about MMR and autism in order for them to become the stakeholders’ reliable and trusty sources of information. This would encourage families to continue with the immunization process in order to protect their children from being exposed with the dangers of these diseases.Moreover, the knowledge of these evidences presented should be used by health care professionals in order to publicize the invalidation of rumors about MMR and autism or ASD. In order to strengthen their claim, further research should be conducted including wider population ranges and longer time frames for observations, so as to make sure there are no loopholes from which people may base their worries or fears. The important thing is that reliable health care professionals are able to clarify the misinformed and advocate MMR vaccination.Stating the possible dangers of measles, mumps, and rubella, and missing the vaccination, would be instrumental in assuring the people that there are no links between MMR vaccinations and autism or ASD.ReferencesMedline Plus. (2008). â€Å"MMR-Vaccine.†Retrieved April 12, 2008, from National Library ofMedicine. Website: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/articl e/002026.htmJack, S. (2004) â€Å"Review: Existing Epidemiological Evidence Does Not Show an AssociationBetween Mumps, Measles, and Rubella Vaccination and Autism. Evidence-Based Nursing. 2004 Jan; 7(1): 25. Website: http://www.cinahl.com.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=1646&accno=2004157790Tidmarsh, L. (2003). â€Å"There is Little Evidence that Combined Vaccination against Measles,Mumps and Rubella is Associated with Autism.†Evidence-Based Mental Health. 6(2): 62. Website: http://www.cinahl.com.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=2296&accno=2003085837Wright, S. (2003). â€Å"Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, Vaccine Was Not Associated With Autism inChildren.†Evidence-Based Nursing. 6(3): 89. Website: http://www.cinahl.com.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/cgi-bin/refsvc?jid=1646&accno=2004050484 Â
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Negotiation. Hofstedes Cultural Model in Negotiations
Negotiation. Hofstedes Cultural Model in Negotiations Introduction Negotiations are important avenues through which different parties can mutually agree to a solution after holding discussions. Negotiations are often held between interested parties with a view of achieving positive results at the end of the process. Culture may affect the level of success of a negotiation, particularly where the parties involved hail from different cultural backgrounds.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Negotiation. Hofstede’s Cultural Model in Negotiations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper seeks to discuss in detail the concept of negotiations by specifically analyzing the significance of Hofstede’s cultural model in negotiations, addressing impasses in negotiations, and examining relationships and their significance during negotiations. Hofstede’s Model of Culture and Its Impacts There are four dyads of cultural aspects, according to Hofstede’s cult ure differentiation model. These include masculinity against femininity, long term orientation against short term orientation, individualism against collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance index (Steers and Nardon 137). Masculinity against femininity focuses on a culture’s emotional roles distribution between the genders. Masculine cultures have specific characteristics, such as assertiveness, competitiveness, and power, whereas feminine cultures characteristically give more emphasis on quality of life. Examples of masculine societies include Germany and the USA, while Sweden is a feminine society (Steers and Nardon 137). Longs of collectivistic cultures include Latin America and Indonesia, while individualistic cultures include Australia and the Scandinavian countries (Steers and Nardon 137). Uncertainty avoidance measures the scope of a people’s feeling of threat out of situations that are uncertain.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let 's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Where a society is considered as having low uncertainty avoidance, the subjects tolerate ambiguity and there is little need for regulations in order to put uncertainty into check. Examples of such societies include the United Kingdom and Singapore. High uncertainty avoidance societies, on their part, are intolerant where there is ambiguity, and it requires many regulations to control uncertainty. Such societies include Greece and France (Steers and Nardon 137). Significance on International/Multi-Cultural Negotiations Hofstede’s dimensions are significant in minimizing cultural conflicts between countries. There is a greater possibility of misunderstandings emerging where individuals from different societies meet for negotiations since cultural practices and beliefs vary. Through understanding this model, such misunderstandings are minimized because individuals get to learn about cultural practices of other countries and learn to appreciate them. Thus, participants will be keen on the verbal cues, as well as the non verbal cues that they choose during negotiations. For instance, an American who is highly individualistic and who negotiates with an Indonesian may likely consider his personal interests as taking precedent in their discussions. The Indonesian, however, may shelve his own interests in favor of collective benefit. This may prompt the American to consider him a coward, which may not augur well for the negotiations. Understanding Hofstede’s cultural model, however, will make both parties understand and respect each other’s position in their negotiations. Impasses in Negotiations It is possible to determine the most appropriate time when negotiations would require third party involvements. Several pointers to this effect exist, including a stressful or emotional situation, when the participant lacks the appropriate expertise required for the negotiation, and when a participant’s strategy is failing. In the first instance, where the situation seems to be emotional, a participant’s rational thinking is likely to be affected by the situation. A third party involvement would, thus, help in making the discussions clearer to the advantage of the participant. Lack of technical skills, on the other hand, may deprive a participant the advantage of negotiating from an informed position. A third party negotiator in this instance, therefore, would involve a person who is highly skilled in the aspects being negotiated and whose arguments are made from an informed position. A doctor, for instance, would argue on health matters from a point of understanding compared to the contributions that a teacher would give on the same topical issue (Dietmeyer 112). Equally, when a negotiation strategy fails, it is important that a third party negotiator is involved in order to ensure the objectives are attained.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Negotiation. Hofstede’s Cultural Model in Negotiations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The third party negotiator must have adequate understanding on the negotiations such that it would be easy for him to employ alternative strategies until the anticipated results are achieved (Dietmeyer 112). Forms of Third Party Involvement Third parties may take part in negotiations through mediation or arbitration. While acting as mediators, the third party negotiator seeks to build up mutually satisfactory solutions such that the parties to the negotiations may easily arrive at a conclusion. For instance, a mediator would seek to establish an agreeable solution for both parties where workers withdraw their services because they demand a 50% increase in salaries, yet the employer can only add 20%. This may be done by suggesting a 30% pay increase. This would call for the workers to climb down from thei r initial position of 50%, while imploring on the employer to include an additional 10% to the previous position of 20%. Third parties may also participate in negotiations as arbitrators, where they act by dictating outcomes. Arbitrators enjoy immense powers because the solutions they offer to a negotiating party are final and have to be adopted even though they may not be acceptable. In an election dispute, for example, an arbiter may decide that a particular candidate is the winner and the solution offered will be allowed to stand even though the candidate ruled against may not be in agreement with the decision. Relationship Building and Negotiations Relational contexts during negotiations may be considered as integrative or distributive. In an integrative context of negotiation, the parties assume greater cooperation and trust and relations are given priority (Schermerhorn 350). This contrasts with a distributive context, where hard positions during the bargaining are adopted. Th e parties involved often lack past interactive relationships and are least expected to forge any interactive relationship (Schermerhorn 350). Manifestation of the negotiation process Negotiators in an integrative context focus more on value creation during the entire process. Their idea revolves around expanding the subject of their negotiation such that both parties may emerge as winners at the end of the process.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Each party begins the negotiating process by understanding the interests of the other party such that this takes the center stage rather than focusing on their individual arbitrary starting positions. Strict observation of the objectives is significant in achieving successful results for the whole process, even though the entire negotiation process will look at the issue at hand as a common problem (Schermerhorn 350). This negotiation process involves both parties seeking to outdo the other in order to benefit more. The parties regard each other as adversaries more than partners, with the negotiations adopting hard line positions from the onset (Schermerhorn 350). How to earn trust in a relationship One way through which parties to a negotiation can earn trust in order to bolster relationships is by minimizing on perceptions and the effects of stereotypes. Negative consideration of others will only create a counter reaction, which ends up creating conflict. Negotiators can adopt use of pleasant adjectives, such as honorable or brother, to portray their positive perception towards the other party (Movious and Susskind 98). Recognition of the other party’s legitimacy is also significant in earning trust and bolstering relationships in negotiations. This equally creates a situation where the other party considers its counterpart as legitimate, and therefore opens up fully without any kind of fear (Movious and Susskind 99). All the necessary details required during the process will be issued by both parties, making the negotiation healthy altogether. Number of Parties in Negotiations Types of parties Several types of parties involved in negotiations exist, including agents and constituencies, and negotiating dyad. Agents and constituencies refer to a negotiation type where the negotiator involved is acting on the behalf of another party. The individual involved in the actual negotiation is referred to as the agent, while those represented are the constituen cy (Gelfand and Brett 214). Another type of negotiation by party composition is the negotiating dyad, which involves two individuals actively and directly involved in the negotiations. Such negotiations often center on the needs and interests of the participants. The diagram below depicts a negotiating dyad structure. Source: Lewicki, Barry, and Saunders (2010) How the Parties Shape Pending Negotiations Agents begin by negotiating with the constituents whom they seek to represent in another negotiation, where the collective view of what is intended in the negotiation is determined. The agent next establishes a relationship with the other party in the negotiation in order to reach an agreement. Measures to lessen complexities in multi-party negotiation Complexities can be eliminated by ascertaining the compatibility of the two parties where constituents and agents are involved. This means both parties must be understanding each other properly and be ready to work together as agreed between them. The contract binding the two must also be clear. Clarity of the contract should involve spelling out the expectations properly and determining the terms and conditions of the cooperation. It is important to provide the agent with the discretion to design, as well as develop the overall negotiation process since he or she will assume the full responsibility of a party to a negotiation, thus the need to have the discretion. Conclusion Negotiations are part of an important discussion that brings together individuals or parties in their bid to achieve a common goal over a divergent issue. It is important for parties to a negotiation to prepare adequately before engaging each other in order to achieve quality negotiations. Preparations aim at creating trust and building relationships. Understanding the culture of parties involved in a negotiation is important as it aims at reducing conflicts that mainly occur through assumptions or stereotypes. It is important to include te rms and conditions of the relationship as a measure of reducing conflicts where third parties are involved. Dietmeyer, Brian. Strategic Negotiation: A Breakthrough Four-Step Process for Effective Business Negotiation. New York, NY: Kaplan Professional. 2004. Print Gelfand, Michele and Brett, Jeanne. The Handbook of Negotiation and Culture. Stanford, CA: Stanford University, 2004. Print. Lewicki, Roy, Barry Bruce, and Sauders David. Negotiation. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Movious, Hallam and Susskind Lawrence. Built to Win: Creating a World-Class Negotiating Organization. Boston, MA: Harvard, 2009. Print. Schermerhorn, John, R. Exploring Management. Danvers, MA: Wiley. 2010. Print. Steers, Richard M, and Luciara Nardon. Managing In The Global Economy. New York, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc, 2006. Print.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
The Biggest Sharks in the World
The Biggest Sharks in the World The whale shark holds the title of the worlds biggest shark species. Growing to a length of about 65 feet (the length of about 1 1/2 school buses!) and weighing about 75,000 pounds, this streamlined fish is really a gentle giant. Some areas frequented by these sharks, such as Ningaloo Reef in Australia, have become popular tourist destinations because of their swim-with-sharks programs. Whale sharks live in tropical and warmer temperate waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In addition to their size, these sharks can be easily recognized by their gorgeous coloration, which is formed from lighter spots and stripes over a gray, blue or brown skin. They also have very wide mouths, which they use to eat tiny prey primarily plankton, crustaceans, and small fish, which are filtered from the water as the shark swims. The second-biggest shark species is the basking shark, which grows to about 40 feet long. These animals are also plankton feeders. They live primarily in temperate ocean waters throughout the world. The Biggest Shark Filmed In summer 2015, a video swept the news, touting it was the biggest shark ever filmed. What many of the news reports failed to mention is the species. There are more than 400 shark species, and they range in size from the 60-foot whale shark to pygmy sharks and lantern sharks that are less than a foot long when fully grown. The biggest shark filmed was actually a white shark, also known as a great white shark. At average lengths of 10 to 15 feet, white sharks are generally much smaller than a whale shark or basking shark. So, while the 20-foot white shark nicknamed Deep Blue may (or may not) be the largest white shark ever filmed, its by far not the largest shark ever filmed as there is plenty of video footage of much larger whale sharks and their slightly smaller relatives, the basking shark. The Biggest Shark Ever Caught According to the International Game Fish Association, the largest shark ever caught was a white shark nabbed in Ceduna, Australia. This shark weighed 2,664 pounds. Another one of the largest white sharks caught is thought to be a 20-foot shark caught by a trawler about 12 miles off the coast of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The significance of the sharks size was underestimated at the time, and the shark was initially buried. Eventually, a scientist dug it up to investigate it and realized the enormity of the find. The shark was later estimated to have been about 20 years old, meaning it may still have had some growing to do Sources Bateman, D. 2015. Canadian Who Caught Real-Life Jaws Wishes He Hadnt. Toronto Star Newspapers. CBS News. 2015. Giant Great White Shark Caught OFF P.E.I. Was a Teenager. Grenoble, R. 2015. This Is Deep Blue, Probably the Biggest Shark Youve Ever Seen. The Huffington Post.Martins, Carol, and Craig Knickle. 2009. Whale Shark. Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
On Morphology of Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer (TPE-E) Research Paper
On Morphology of Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer (TPE-E) - Research Paper Example The amazing versatility and utility of TPE-Es is because of their specialized structures. TPE-Es have a biphasic structure with one phase remaining soft at room temperature and the other remaining hard at room temperature (Holden 2010). The soft segments are amorphous while the hard segments are structured/crystalline, and both the segments are immiscible (Jelinski, Schilling and Bovey 1981; Sarwade & Singh 2003). The hard segment becomes fluidic when heated and imparts a thermoplastic nature to the polymer, while the soft segment imparts an elastomeric nature (Sarwade & Singh 2003; Holden 2010). The hard segments form noncovalent networks that are thermally reversible, relying on intramolecular interactions for their stability (Jelinski, Schilling and Bovey 1981). A simple TPE-E copolymer structure comprises of alternating A-B-A blocks, where A is the hard phase, and B is the soft phase (Holden 2010). The hard and soft phases are randomly joined head-to-tail, yielding the copolymers (Witsiepe 1973). The general structure of TPE-E copolymers is as follows: SOFT HARD In case of TPE-Es, the soft phase comprises of polyethers while the hard phase comprises of polyesters. By varying the relative amounts of each of these two phases, the properties of the copolymer can be modulated (Witsiepe 1973). Electron microscopic studies by Cella have shown that phase separation occurs in these polyether-polyether co-polymers below their melting points (cited in Witsiepe 1973). The morphology of TPE-Es comprises of the soft segment (polyether), which is the continuous amorphous phase along with interspersed segments of polyesters that have not been crystallized because of their small size, high melt viscosity or due to chain entanglement (Witsiepe 1973). While some of the polyesters remain as short segments in the soft continuous phase, the remaining polyesters exist as closely connected fibrillar crystalline lamellae. This crystalline network of the hard phase along with the s oft amorphous continuous phase forms an elastic network. In simple terms, as described by Witsiepe (1973), â€Å"a more or less continuous crystalline network is superimposed on a continuous amorphous network†(p. 50). The chemical structure of hard and soft phases of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) affects its mechanical properties. Therefore, by experimenting with different compounds, TPEs with novel properties can be developed for industrial purposes. Examples of industrially prominent TPE-Es include Hytrel, Ecdel, RTP, Pibiflex, Keyflex and Riflex (Fakirov 2005). Hytrel engineering thermoplastic elastomer is a TPE-Es manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (Jelinski, Schilling and Bovey 1981; Fakirov 2005). This elastomer is available in varying compositions of m teramethyline terephthalate, which is the hard segment, and n poly (tetramethyleneoxy) terephthalate, which is the soft segment (Jelinski, Schilling and Bovey 1981). The chemical structure of Hytrel is s hown below: Like all TPE-Es, Hytrel has the flexibility and elasticity of rubbers and the strength and rigidity of plastics, is as easily processable as thermoplastics and comes in both standard and high-performance grades with a Shore D hardness ranging from 30 to 82 (Fakirov 2005). C13 NMR studies by Jelinski, Schilling and Bovey (1981) have shown that the widths of the aliphatic carbon chain of the soft segment of Hytrel are a linear function of the average length of the hard
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