Gandhi Teachings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gandhi Teachings - Essay Example This law is the basis of many arguments proposed by supporters of this separation and opponents alike. The heated debate arose out of differing interpretation of the law. Some people have argued that religion is an inherent part of the constitution. As a result, eliminating it completely from the state would be a direct contradiction. Therefore modern societies can still integrate Satyagraha without necessarily possessing a world view. For instance, there are large parts of the state's proceedings that still go on after acknowledging the presence of God and these practices indicate Satyagraha. Most legislative meetings proceed after prayer and the state currency refers to the word 'God'. Additionally, states can still practice Satyagraha by letting members of the population practice their religious beliefs in public but they need not make this a rule for all members of the public. By doing this, the State will still be respecting its citizens' religions without necessarily restricting it. It is also possible to practice Satyagraha today by allowing specific members of the population a chance to recite the oath of allegiance despite the fact that it mentions the word God. However, the State may not necessarily have to make this recital a mandatory requirement in schools. The government of today needs to allow its people the right to practi... As long as no single person is required to engage in a particular religion while condemning another, than religious practices should be allowed in public. In fact, some people argue that when modern governments completely eliminate any form of religious symbol or expression in the public, then what they are really saying is that the beliefs held by atheists are more important than those held by other religions. Consequently, the government should allow fair representation of these issues given the fact that all people within the state have the right to practice their religion. (Lovett, 2007) Benefits, limitations and problems of applying Gandhi's Satyagraha in secular society today Gandhi was an outstanding leader during his time because of the fact that he had an ability to apply foundational religious teachings in the political and social context of his time. He had understood the underlying truths behind most religions and believed that they were instrumental to prevailing social and political environments. Gandhi believed that there was no way one could separate the state and the religion because the law was founded upon religion. In relation to this, the Indian leader asserted that religion assisted man to understand his place in the world. Additionally, he believed that religion is the foundation for understanding reality in the world today. Some of the issues that Gandhi submitted can be applied in the secular environment. Christianity can make its contribution to political life by providing a basis for understanding the relationship between man and his environment. Additionally, the same can be said about Hinduism and Islam with regard to the latter mentioned issue. Modern society can apply the same aspects into political life and reap their

What Is Geographic Profiling?

What Is Geographic Profiling? Crime is not randomly distributed and offenses are more likely to occur in certain places and at certain times. The apprehension process can be significantly accelerated if geographic profiling is used to organize an abundance of information via geographical links (Ramsland n.d.). This technique is an effective tool in ascertaining a suspects residence and/or place of employment because it is conducted in a scientific manner on the basis of well-established psychological principles (Sammons n.d.). The geographical patterns in data can be analyzed using the following principle elements: mobility, mental maps, locality demographics and distance (nij.gov 2006). A geographical analysis highlights the crime location, any physical boundaries that were present (that might not otherwise be noticed), and the types of roads and highways that come into both the abduction and body dump sites. Hypotheses are developed which can be tested against evidence and modified or rejected as the evidence dictates. (Sammons n.d.) Objective measurements are frequently used as a component of geographic profiling in order to pinpoint precisely the locus of criminal activity. (Sammons n.d.) One of the methods used to obtained predictions is a geographic profiling system. The area most likely to contain the offenders home is computed by the system using algorithms and indicated in the probability surfaces. The probability of an offender residing at a particular location generally decreases with increasing distance from an offense, so these algorithms are referred to as distance decay functions (Bennell, Corey Keyton 2007). According to the available research the accuracy of geographic profiling systems reduces the overall area that police have to search by up to 90% (Bennell, Corey Keyton 2007). This method can assist police through the use of the most effective tools to target crime prevention resources in the appropriate areas. When we understand the link between offenses and location it is beneficial in our understanding of why certain locations attract more crime than others. Investigative efforts can be targeted when we are able to predict characteristics of the offender(s) responsible for a series of crimes. The use of geographic profiling also facilitates in law enforcements ability to prioritize suspects by an individuals most likely place of residence, their knowledge of a particular area and to determine which offenses are linked and which are not, so that they can determine whether or not a certain crime may have been carried out by the same offender(s) (Sam mons n.d.). GIS capability, database management, powerful visualization tools and analytic engine are incorporated together and compose what is known as computerized geographic profiling (Harris 1999). The use of geographic profiling can be deployed through a number of investigative strategies. Some examples may include: department of motor vehicle searches, mass DNA screening prioritization, canvasses and searches, zip code prioritization, information request mailouts, patrol saturation and surveillance, address-based searches of police record systems and suspect and tip prioritization (Harris 1999). In order for computerized geographic profiling to be most effective crime locations should first be broken down by type such as: body dump sites for a murder, victim encounter or murder. Each of these crime locations should be entered into the system by latitude/longitude, digitization or by entering the address (Harris 1999). Scenarios are created and weighted based on crime locations and the use of theoretical and methodological principles (Harris 1999). A probability chart known as a z-score histogram is created from the suspect addressed and is evaluated according to their hit percentage on the chart Mental Maps A mental map, is a cognitive image of ones surroundings that is developed through experiences, travel routes, reference points and centers of activity. This is another significant factor in geographical profiling. (nij.gov 2006) Each person has their own mental map that contains the places he or she feels safe and takes for granted regardless of offender status. These mental maps do not accurately represent reality, but rather the perspective and experience of the individual. (Sammons n.d.) An offenders mental map can be reconstructed and interpreted with the assistance of the familiarity of the location in relation to his or her awareness of space (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007). Inferences about a criminal can be made about them by reviewing the distribution of their offenses since they were likely influenced by that individuals mental map of an area (Sammons n.d.) Crime site selection is influenced by these mental maps as the offender must first be aware of the site befo re a target can be victimized. (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007). Many times an offenders mental map will change as he becomes more confident which in turn will increase his range of criminal activity. A criminal may be either geographically stable or transient or may start as geographically stable and become transient with time and number of criminal acts. (nij.gov 2006) An offender is influenced by several factors which determine his tendency toward stability or mobility such as: their experience with travel, means for getting places, sense of personal security, and predatory motivations. (nij.gov 2006) Routine Activity Theory and Circle Theory Routine Activity Theory otherwise known as RAT is another approach that is taken into consideration by geographical profiling. Three circumstances must coincide according to the RAT principle: a motivated offender, a suitable victim and the absence of a capable guardian (Sammons n.d.). RAT assumes that in any area there are a certain number of people motivated to commit crime (Sammons n.d.) This theory sees offenses as just another activity that a person might do on a regular basis without any attempt to explain the reason why. Another belief of this theory is that the routine activity of victims is important because people tend to stick with familiar territory. Clues about where an offender lives can be provided by an analysis of all the crime scenes (Ramsland n.d.). There is a difference between perceived distance and actual distance and certain components influence how this disparity can affect the commission of a crime. The perception of distance varies from one person to the nex t and can be influenced by any of the following: familiarity with a specific region, types of roads, availability of transportation and number of barriers such as bridges or state boundaries (nij.gov 2006) Since most peoples activities are confined to a few fairly limited area where they work, where they live, where they socialize a persons offenses will be limited in that same geographical area according to RAT (Sammons n.d.). A successful example of geographical profiling using RAT involves a computerized system called Dragnet. The location of the offenses allows Dragnet to predict where an offender is likely to lived based on that information. Dragnet created a map that suggested probabilities that the offender responsible was based in different regions according to the information it received on a number of linked rapes in Las Vegas. The focus of the investigation was able to be narrowed to a single apartment block as a result of the investigating officers knowledge of the local area and the offender in turn was subsequently arrested (Sammons n.d.). Canter and Larkin (1193) came up with the circle theory of environmental range which proposed that the majority of the time, if a circle is drawn that encompasses all of a series of linked crimes, the offender will be based somewhere within the circle. (Sammons n.d.) There is a fair amount of support for this view. Godwin and Canter (1997) found that 85 per cent of the offenders they studied lived inside the circle encompassing their offenses (Sammons n.d.). Serial rapes and arson attacks in Australia were reviewed by Koscis and Irwin (1997) which confirmed the circle theory. The only exception appeared to be burglary since burglars only lived in the circle defined by the offenses about half the time. A review the offense locations of 53 serial murderers in Germany was conducted by Snook et al (2005).The results of his study discovered that the killer lived within six miles of where the bodies were found in 63% of the cases. Younger offenders travel shorter distances and killers with higher IQ travel further. Information about the dispersal of offenses may indicate some general characteristics of the offender responsible because it has been found that experience and intelligence influence killers attempts to disguise their crimes (Sammons n.d.) Importance of Geographic Profiling and how it can be most effective Geographical profiling has a particular importance in the United States because there are many different law enforcement agencies which share little data between them, so this method enables a connection between crimes to be established that might not have otherwise been linked (Sammons n.d.). In order to construct an accurate geographical profile all of the following elements need to be included in the assessment: computerized analysis, study of area maps, analysis of neighborhood demographics for both the abduction site and body dump site, examination of the crime scenes, complete familiarity with the case file and interviews with investigators and witnesses. (Ramsland n.d.) In order for geographical profiling to be effective the following should be taken into consideration: it requires accurate data on the offenses that have been committed in an area, police data on crime is likely underreported, so the data used to generate the crime maps is likely to be incomplete as a result, s ince police will have a vast amount of data available it may be difficult for them to determine what should be left out when they attempt to construct a crime map and additional problems can arise from inconsistencies in how the locations of the crimes may be recorded by the police (Sammonds n.d.). Information about five or more crime locations needs to be available in order for geographic profilers to be most effective according to a 2005 study conducted by Rossmo (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). He also claimed that as additional crime locations were incorporated into the prediction that there would be an even further increase in accuracy. (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). This assumption is not supported by the analysis of CrimeStats performance across maps with varying numbers of crimes. Participant performance is shown to increase from three to five crimes, but the increase vanishes when making predictions from seven crimes according to the findings in this study (Be nnell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). . A localized improvement in performance was found with five crime locations, but it is not evidence of a large positive correlation between the number of crime locations and predictive accuracy. Accuracy does not increase as more crime locations are added to the information used to make a prediction (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). Generalizability When a crime occurs in a specific location, the area surrounding that location may experience an increased risk of a similar crime occurring for a distinct period of time which is known as a near repeat phenomenon. Trends in spatiotemporal proximity which involve both space and time are referred to as near repeat crimes (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). A rival explanation for the observation of near repeat crime is spree crime which is a pattern characterized by high frequency of criminal activity involving the same offender across a short time span such as hours or days. This phenomenon can be generalized across multiple crime types and effect various temporal bands on near repeat pattern. The temporal dimension of near repeat crime may vary across different types of offenses (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). The majority of crime types have a component of repeat victimization except for manslaughter or murder. A disproportionate amount of crime has been shown by research to occur in specific geographic areas known as hot spots. These areas have a higher than average risk of victimization and vary in size, but are typically blocks or street segments. The identification of hot spots allows law enforcement to understand where crimes are most likely to take place, so they can more effectively target its resources. (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). Repeat victimization is different than hot spots which include multiple targets and crime types and they are not concentrated in a specific amount of time even if they are concentrated in space. An overall consensus was found that homes that are burglarized have a higher likelihood of being burglarized again in the future. In the month following an original burglary Johnson et al. (1997) found the risk of re-victimization to be elevated. Another study conducted by Morgan (2001) also found that re-victimization was most likely to occur in the month following a burglary, however the data reflected that areas of higher ov erall burglary rates had more stability in their likelihood of repeat victimization (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). A near repeat pattern for burglaries that extended at least 200m for two weeks existed in all of the study locations examined by Johnson et al (2007). This was the result in all ten areas within the five counties despite the fact that the patterns differed in the geographic areas. A pattern of increased risk of victimization in the surrounding area of a residence after a burglary was discovered by Morgan. Morgan referred to these incidents as near repeats. In the week following a burglary the homes in the surrounding area were particularly at an increased risk of burglary (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). They also determined that affluent areas as opposed to deprived areas appeared to reflect more evident space-time clustering. Townsley et al. (2003) found that there was an increase in burglary incidents within 200 m (approximately 650 feet) and 2 months of an origi nal burglary. Similarly, Johnson and Bowers (2004) found increased risk of burglaries for dwellings within 400 feet of a previously burgled home for 1 to 2 months following the incident, especially on the same side of the road (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). The overall burglary rate can be reduced by 25% if repeat victimization can be prevented and is also a highly important crime reduction strategy. A similar result to burglary was found when Johnson et al. (2009) looked at the spatiotemporal relationship of theft from motor vehicles. Over a two week period evidence of near repeat crimes was found occurring within 800m of the original incident. Ratcliffe and Rengert (2008) analyzed the spatial and temporal distributions of shooting incidents in Philadelphia to explore the near repeat phenomenon for traditional violent crime (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). The analysis for this crime type was partially guided by the theoretical information provided by Ratcliffe and Rengert. Thi s study discovered there is a significantly increased likelihood of another shooting within one block of the initial shooting for two weeks after the incident. It cannot be determined whether a near repeat pattern for shooting is common to all geographic areas or whether characteristics specific to the study location influenced the pattern since this was the first study to examine shootings (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). A global near repeat phenomenon for shootings may exist if the Philadelphia pattern is exhibited in different geographical areas, but if they did not find similar results then individual locations would need to identify their own unique near repeat patterns if they existed at all. The near repeat pattern for auto theft spans a greater spatial distance than the other crimes which is likely attributed to the goal of stealing specific vehicles, but patterns of offending will vary according to motivation. Any near repeat pattern for robbery occurs with small spatial and temporal bands and exhibits a small, doughnut like spatial pattern as a result of the spontaneity of robbery (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). Prior research has shown robbery to cluster temporally within 1 to 2 days, and spatially, close to the original incident, but not within the immediate 500m (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). The spatial similarity of near repeat patterns for robbery and auto theft regardless of crime type illustrates that offenders committing different crimes may still share a comparable decision making process. Offenders may still work within distinct reference areas regardless of crime type which is the basis for geographic profiling and offender identification through circle theory. Repeat offenders select their targets in familiar areas that tend to be closer to the offenders residence (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). The result is that geographic patterns can be found in crimes that are linked to the same perpetrator, which can then be used to identi fy the probable location of the offenders residence. Patterns in both near repeat crimes and spree offending can likely be attributed to the same offender. Bowers and Johnson (2004) found that near repeat burglaries exhibited the same modus operandi as the original crimes, indicating that near repeat burglaries were likely being committed by the same offenders or groups of offenders. Bernasco (2008) found that same-offender involvement is directly tied to spatial and temporal distances between burglaries. Additionally, Johnson et al. (2009) found that crimes occurring closest to one another in space and time were most likely to be attributed to the same offender (Cook, Nobles Ward et al. 2011). A successful first offense increases the likelihood of repeat offending in the general area although the same exact location may not be re-victimized. Residential Proximity Research has consistently shown that the number of criminal offenses that an offender commits decreases as distance from an offenders residence increases with the exception of violent and/or sex offenders (Donnay, Duwe Tewksbury 2008). The determination of offense location was influenced more by characteristics of events and relationships rather than characteristics of victims and opportunities (Donnay, Duwe Tewksbury 2008).Offenses occured an average of more than three miles from offenders homes according to data from five hundred sixty five rapes committed by serial rapists. Of this same population 86% marauded outward into an area of an average of 180 square miles rather than offending against victims that lived nearby (Donnay, Duwe Tewksbury 2008). In New Zealand, serial sexual assault offenders committed their offenses an average of 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) away from their residences. For other types of violent crime, Groff and McEwen (2006) reported that homicide offenders committed the offense, on average, 0.69 miles from their homes. In addition, Tita and Griffiths (2005) showed that across 9 years of homicides in Pittsburgh, homicide offenders rarely killed in their own neighborhoods (Donnay, Duwe Tewksbury 2008).When offenders commit their crimes it is likely to result in different spatial patterns because factors related to opportunity and risk will vary even if motivational level across offender types is constant. Since the targets of serial burglars are immobile they will exhibit more commuting behavior than serial murderers (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). A burglar can travel into the same area to commit more crimes in the future because while the crime is being committed he or she can locate potential targets through the observation of other residences in the area. While serial murderers may observe other targets while offending it is not very likely that these potential victims will remain in this same place for long (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). Another factor that will determine whether an individual will exhibit commuting behavior is the level of perceived risk associated with committing crimes in the same geographic area (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). Serial burglars would not be dissuaded from repeatedly commuting into the same area to commit their crimes because they are largely unaffected by the risks associated with committing multiple offenses in close proximity to one another (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). Serial murderers would typically have to exhibit marauding behavior to avoid detection. As a result of the attention their crimes receive they would not be able to display the same behavior as the serial burglars (Bennell, Corey Keyton, et al. 2007). Rational Choice Approach There is a relationship between the behavioral and geographic aspect of criminal behavior referred to as the rational choice approach. This approach recognizes that the offenders behaviors are dependent on environmental cues associated with the criminal event like: nature (indoor vs. outdoor locations) and familiarity with the offense location (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007).Target selection is highly dependent on the physical environment and there is a pattern in both spatial and temporal distribution of offenders and victims. As a result of the connection between the types of location and the types of strategy exhibited by an offender means that offender strategies might be triggered by the types of location at which the offender and victim met (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007).One study conducted by Ouimet and Proulx (1994) reflects the correlates of spatial behavior in violent crimes by showing that a majority of child molesters offended in or near their residen ces. There are several advantages to an offenders home over competing locations which make it the best possible location to commit an offense (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007).One of these advantages may be facilitating the security children might feel which might make them more willing to participate in sexual contact. There is an association between interactional, transactional and adaptive nature of human behavior. The level of violence of the crime is positively associated with the distance traveled by the offender from his home to the target. (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007).The offender has to adapt his crime strategies and use the appropriate approach method for the situation. Information processing and decision making occurs through experience whether or not a person is a criminal. For example, child molesters may have to travel farther if they are not able to find a suitable victim near their homes. It will become harder for the offender to convince a child take a car trip with a stranger and get him or her to return to the offenders home the farther he has to travel (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007). Geographic profiling must take into account the linkage between location types and both offender victim search methods and attack methods. Hunting patterns may be helpful to determine which crime locations are the best predictors of an offenders anchor point (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007). The relationship between offending and geographic behavior may serve as the basis for integrated criminal-geographic profiling as unique investigative strategy (Allaire, Beauregard, Leclerc et al 2007). CONCLUSION Geographic profiling determines the most probable area that an offender lives through the use of an investigative methodology that reviews the locations of a connected series of crimes. This methodology is based on a model that describes the hunting behavior of the offender. It is generally applied in cases of serial murder, rape, arson, robbery and/or bombing cases, but may also be implemented in single crimes that involve multiple scenes or other significant geographic characteristics (Harris 1999). Geographical profiling is an attempt to make predictions about an offender based on information obtained from the crime scene such as the location and timing of the offense (Sammons n.d.). People in general take more short trips than long trips in their daily lives according to the distance decay concept, so offenders are more likely to live close to the sites of their crimes than far away (Harris 1999). Geographic profiling is essential in that it refocuses the scope of the case from t he whole metropolitan area to a small area of the community which in turn substantially reduces the amount of time and resources required to conduct the investigation. (Ramsland n.d.) Geographic profiling provides a means for managing the large volume of information generated in major crime investigations and should be regarded as one of several powerful decision support tools available to the detective. It is best employed in conjunction with other police methods and does not in itself solve cases. When properly decoded geographic crime patterns are clues that can be used to point the detective in the direction of the offender (Harris 1999).

Oklahoma City Bombing :: essays research papers

Do you remember the conflict that America had in the Persian Gulf a few years back? An incident occurred there where a man drove a truck loaded with explosives into the building where more than 100 Marines were stationed. He blew up the building, along with the Marines. The incident was published by the AP Press soon after. Now do you remember the bombing just four years ago, in Oklahoma City? Suspects Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols drove a Ryder Van loaded with 4,800 pounds of fertilizer and fuel oil to the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, where it subsequently exploded, killing 169 people and injuring some 500 others. Of course you do. While both were massive acts of violence involving American citizens, the impact of such acts is always felt the most when it happens right here at home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These days, America is filled with those people who disagree with our system of government. Most times, these people suffer silently, expressing their opinions through their votes, or within the discussions that they hold in their own private homes. When these people act upon this anger, and their disagreement, the feelings are brought beyond the point of normal behavior to vigilantism and violence. This animosity, when pushed to these limits, often results in tragedy, a tragedy that we call domestic terrorism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being the oldest daughter of a Senior ATF Agent, I have been exposed to domestic terrorism all of my life. My father has investigated thousands of bombings, fires, and explosions for more than twenty years now. Many of these incidents were examples of the terrorism that I speak about. His experiences have taught me countless lessons and informed me of many current events. The information that I have obtained from him is far more valuable than anything that the media could ever possibly convey. Though he is always strictly guarded with the confidences of his profession, he has always provided me with a firsthand knowledge of the impact that domestic terrorism has on the citizens and law enforcement. Through him, I learn the facts of these incidents without the media’s exaggerations. Today I will share with you some of these facts. I will talk to you about the impact that domestic terrorism has on our citizens. These impacts include: the monetary damages that terrorism inflicts, along with the injuries to the victims, the shocking repercussions that are embedded into the minds and souls of the people who come to sort through the rubble to find the survivors and the remaining evidence.

Catalase Write Up

This experiment was performed to determine the factors that positively influence catalase reaction rates in the break down of hydrogen peroxide. Catalase enzyme activity was measured through its break down of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen through the displacement of water. We compared the decomposition rates in samples with varying pH levels of 2-10. The samples with the most neutral ph level decomposed hydrogen peroxide the quickest and most efficiently. Hypothesis Catalase is a fast working enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and gas. dictionary. com) Many factors affect the break down of hydrogen peroxide, one of the main factors that relates to the human body is pH levels. With the presence of strong acids or strong bases the production rate of oxygen gas will increase the rate of reaction. As quoted from allsciencefair. com â€Å"The optimal pH range is about 7-8 (physiological pH of most cells), but a few enzymes can work at extreme pH, such as prote ase enzymes in animal stomachs, which have an optimum of pH 1. This shows that for the human body catalase needs to be able to function properly at extreme pH levels, proving where our hypothesis was drawn from. http://www. all-science-fair-projects. com/science_fair_projects/105/901/69adbb37c02f0fb4f8b674fbae189d9f. html Procedure Record the pH level of the mix between catalase and the acid/base Dip the circles of filter paper into the mixture and place on top of the inside of the glass bottle. Add 5mL of hydrogen peroxide into the glass bottle ensuring that none touches the opening or the filter paper.Place the bottle in the water tray and slide the nossel under the graduated cylinder full of water. Flip the bottle so the hydrogen peroxide mixes with the catalase filter paper. Measure the production of oxygen gas every 5 seconds for 1 minute. Repeat for the remaining pH levels. Materials -Sulphuric Acid (0. 05M) -Potassium hydroxide (0. 05M and 0. 5M) -Catalase -water tray -3 250m L beakers -pH paper -3 eye droppers -2 graduated Cylinders -Dissection probe -filter paper -Hole Punch -Water -Distilled water -square glass container with nossel -Safety glassesThrough the results that were gained in our experiment the information proves that as pH level’s move towards their extremes, the rate of oxygen produced decreases severely. As you can see in our sixth trial on day 2 the pH was recorded at f 7 with a rate of reaction of INSERT # HERE indicating to us our middle value to compare other data to. When looking at the trends of trial 1 which is a pH of 5 you can see that the rate decreases as it becomes more acidic, then when comparing to trial 4 with a pH of 2 there is no oxygen gas being produced.Similarly when the solution becomes more basic the rate decreases as we can see in trial two which yields a pH of 8. As the curve of best fit demonstrates as the pH increases or decreases from the neutral of 7 the reaction rate approach’s 0. In the human b ody all organs produce catalase but the greatest quantity of catalase is found in the liver. In completing this experiment and analyzing the results it is noticeable that for the human body to have it’s greatest rate of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, a neutral environment is a necessity.If the human body was to suffer from a case of acidosis where the body became to acidic it would negatively affect the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by slowing do the process. Hydrogen Peroxide is created by many enzymes in our body that break down fatty acids and amino acids. When the hydrogen peroxide is created its kept in peroxisomes as it can be damaging. Peroxisomes are also where our catalase is stored allowing for the easy break down of the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. http://www. madsci. org/posts/archives/1999-09/938519528. Bc. r. html http://www. scribd. com/doc/90888398/Catalase-Blood-Hydrogen-Peroxide

Deaf Again Journal

Deaf Again Journal Studying American Sign Language, I have learned a lot about the Deaf community and I also have learned a lot about their language, American Sign Language, hoping to be someday fluent. By reading Deaf Again By Mark Drolsbaugh, I have learned even more about the life of a Deaf person. Drolsbaugh not only tells you how he became Deaf he also tells the story of his life. This intriguing autobiography, by Mark Drolsbaugh, has taught me more about the life of a Deaf person than I can ever hope to find out.Many deaf children, born or soon after became deaf, are not raised by sign communication and, I’ve always wondered why. By reading more into this novel, I have realized that it has helped me to better understand how people can become Deaf or hard of hearing, and teaches me how Deaf people live their lives in the hearing world. Drolsbaugh wasn’t born deaf but later on in his childhood slowly became deaf. I saw him struggle in school. I saw him try to live t he life of a hearing person and pass his classes as such. Learning sign language takes time and concentration.In order to learn American Sign Language you must try to see through the eyes, or in this case, hear through the ears of a Deaf or hard of hearing individual. Drolsbaugh later learned that not learning to sign had impacted his academics negatively and his development through life. As a hearing person struggles through life to find their place in their community, Drolsbaugh struggles to find his place in the Deaf community. This novel is surrounding the audiences of teens and young adults dealing with their everyday lives.The novel, in addition gives the necessary advice to those people, young or old, who were born deaf, or who recently became deaf. The impactful life of Mark Drolsbaugh gives the audience the confidence to find out who they are in life and where they were meant to be. For the Deaf people, this novel gives them a safe haven inside their heads. It also gives th em something and someone to relate to. Drolsbaugh gives every reader a walk through his shoes. He shows you the ups and downs of being born with deaf parents and eventually becoming deaf himself and never earning sign language early in his childhood. He explains the battles living in a hearing world and barely knows sign language and ultimately learning and being able to correspond, but only with other Deaf people like himself. He didn’t really know it but he had the support of the Deaf community. Only when he went to Gallaudet University did he realize that they were there behind him. Gallaudet gave him even more confidence to continue his roller coaster journey to become an astonishing author. In my honest opinion I didn’t find many weaknesses in this book.Mark Drolsbaughs strengths were his capabilities to be born hearing with Deaf parents. Gradually become deaf and not know or understand a single sign of American Sign Language, attend hearing people schools which h ad little Deaf teaching. Attend a college in which he wasn’t too happy to attend. Make money by working in a supermarket surrounded by hearing people. Eventually studying at Gallaudet and finally being at peace when surrounded by people who â€Å"speak† just like him, in American Sign Language. Read also  Summary : Love Is Never SilentHes been through a lot showing the world that hes not just surviving through his life but he is living it for the moment, and hes living it as a Deaf person. Being an idealistic student with wonderful grades and academics getting into Harvard-type schools wasn’t so easy being deaf as he explained through chapter 6. After being accepted into Germantown Friends’ School he self taught himself, with help from a few caring people. He struggled through just as any student would through high school but he had to make sure he â€Å"heard† his teacher’s lectures appropriately.Drolsbaugh eventually took up Tae Kwon Do and it then gave him the assurance and self esteem he lacked living in a hearing world. It relieved him of any worries and stress and helped him through his effort in life. In his efforts to prove to the world that a Deaf person can live, no survive, in the Deaf community and in the hearing community, he succe eded. He, as any young adult, starts out working at a small temporary job, like a supermarket, and progressively makes his way in to bigger and better things. He graduated Gallaudet with his bachelors and decided to go for his Masters in grad school.He even got married, to Melanie. He showed the world that deaf people can make it in the hearing world. Mark Drolsbaugh’s main message in this book is â€Å"being Deaf isn’t a disability or handicap, it’s a blessing†. He portrayed this messaged when he showed the world that deaf people can go to a â€Å"regular† school and still be able to do extraordinary thing. He lost his self confidence when he became deaf but got it back whilst taking Tae Kwon Do. He met the girl of his dreams and married her. He went on to become an astonishing writer and wrote this autobiography.He found that he can depend on the Deaf community to be there for him as he is for them. He found that although he is Deaf, he can defy the expectations of the entire world and bring out the best in himself. He and Melanie also had 3 beautiful children, hearing. No matter whether they remain hearing or slowly become deaf they are still people and will go on to live their normal lives. I absolutely loved this book. To be able to read a book that actually catches my attention for longer than five minutes was almost impossible.After reading this autobiography about the life of a Deaf person it helped me to believe, although I am not deaf, that I can be what I amount to be, no matter my weaknesses. This novel gave me the strength to try n build my self esteem and also showed me that I am not alone when it comes to having a low confidence in myself. I’ve always been fascinated by the Deaf community and the American Sign Language. I have always wondered what it would be like to be Deaf, and would it be hard, but just like a hearing person in school its still hard.Life is never easy even if you are hearing. And just because you don’t have something that everyone else has, that doesn’t make you any less of a brilliant person. This book gave me the heart to go on to get my masters and become a Deaf elementary school teacher so I too can teach, not only deaf, but hearing students too, about being deaf and hopefully being able to teach them some Sign Language so it can benefit them to become a part of the Deaf community. Maybe I can enlighten a Deaf child to read Deaf Again and hopefully watch them grow to be a author like Mr. Mark Drolsbaugh.

Examine the arguments of those who object to the Porters monologue in Macbeth and to the succeeding dialogue between and Macduff.

Examine the arguments of those who object to the Porters monologue in Macbeth and to the succeeding dialogue between and Macduff. In every great piece of literary work, two aspects can be found. One deals with different values and incidents from the contemporary society while the other reflects eternal and universal values in them. But the more interestingfact is that these two aspects can lie hidden in a single piece of work.Shakespearean dramas are also no exception. Besides, these dramas, in them, have a few scenes that appear to provoke laughter but underneath lie a deep message from the dramatist which reveals the spirit of the drama, or at least, the spirit of the scene concerned. So it is not unnatural that some of the critics should trace only one aspect while the other remains rather obscure.And precisely this is why there are so many contradictory criticisms about some such scenes of this great Elizabethan dramatist.One such controversial scene is the so-called Porter scene in Macbeth-(Act II; Scene III).The sleepwalking Lady MacbethThere are many critics who are of the opinion that the Porter scene, in its style and the coarseness, is un-Shakespearean. This group ofcritics is headed by Coleridge who says , "This low soliloquy of Porter and his few speeches afterwards I believe to have been written for the mob by some other hand, perhaps with Shakespeare's consent: and that finding it he with the remaining ink of a pen otherwise employed just interpolated the words' I'll devil porter it no further. I had thought to have in some of all professions, that go the primrose way to the everlasting bonfire' "Anyway, Coleridge's criticism has not been generally accepted. The Clarendon editors considered this scene to have been interpolated by Middleton and they think it to be strangely out of place amid the tragic horrors which surround it.Both of these criticisms, anyway can be...

Freedom of Information Act Essays

Freedom of Information Act Essays Freedom of Information Act Essay Freedom of Information Act Essay Freedom of Information Act Name: Course: Institution: : Instructor: Date: Freedom of Information Act The Freedom of Information Act was initiated by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. He saw the need of transparency and implemented the Act in 1967 (Moore, 2005). This Act ensures the public has access to information it deserves to know. The government has the responsibility of disclosing its records to the public if they request to access them. In cases where the government withholds information, the intention of withholding the information should be justified to the public (Moore, 2005). The article discusses some of the secrets that the public needs to know about the Bush administration. The secret documents that people want to be publicized include documents containing information about what treasury did with money that was allocated for people who had lost their assets. The public also wants to know why the government allowed the torture of innocent Americans during interrogations claiming that it was in the best interests of the country. This kind of information is very important so that the public understands how the government operates to avoid friction with public offices. Information about hurricane Katrina should also be made public. People want to know what plans the government is making to avoid similar situations. When Katrina struck, the whole country was caught oblivious and measures to save lives and property were hurried. Since people do not want the same to happen again, they want the government to keep them in the loop about its preparations and procedures about handling disasters of any kind. Since president Obama got into office, there have been numerous letters requesting that he releases to the public documents from the bush administration. These documents are believed to contain information that is considered highly enigmatic. Those who worked for the bush administration claim that the documents could not be released then because they were â€Å"internal memos and also contained information about trade secrets† (Nation, 2009). Members of the public found this hard to believe since even Congress had not seen those documents. There is mounting pressure on the Obama administration to order for the release of these documents by various humanitarian groups. These groups believe that the profanity of these documents warrants their instantaneous release to the public because the public deserves to know. Obama is said to be defending the bush administration and all their discretions. This, even after white house lawyers admitted to discovering emails that had been accounted for as destroyed. As president, Obama could order the release of those emails. However, the justice system continues to protect the bush administration making it harder to gain access to these documents. One of the activist groups wants to know why names of the visitors to the white house are kept secret. This group believes that the public has every right to know the names of those who visited the white house during the bush era regardless of the purposes of their visits. The group’s efforts to get that list o names has proved futile as the vice president ordered the secret service not to release the list under any circumstances. Obama can make this list public; all he needs to do is give the order. The justice department also needs to disclose how cases used to be handled and how they are being handled presently. Its policies also need to be made known to the public. The Obama memoranda advocates for absolute transparency between government and the people. In his efforts to demonstrate this transparency, he should release emails from the bush administration and emails and documentation from his administration. These measures are of the essence if president Obama wants to be re-elected back into office. Reference March Issue. The Nation. (2009) Retrieved from: thenation.com/doc/20090316/wiener Moore, A. D. (2005). Information ethics: Privacy, property, and power. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

Chordates - Chordata - The Animal Encyclopedia

Chordates - Chordata - The Animal Encyclopedia Chordates (Chordata) are a group of animals that includes vertebrates, tunicates, lancelets. Of these, the vertebrates- lampreys, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fishes- are the most familiar and are the group to which humans belong. Chordates are bilaterally symmetrical, which means there is a line of symmetry that divides their body into halves that are roughly mirror images of each other. Bilateral symmetry is not unique to chordates. Other groups of animals- arthropods, segmented worms, and echinoderms- exhibit bilateral symmetry (although in the case of echinoderms, they are bilaterally symmetrical only during the larval stage of their life cycle; as adults they exhibit pentaradial symmetry). All chordates have a notochord that is present during some or all of their life cycle. A notochord is a semi-flexible rod that provides structural support and serves as an anchor for the animals large body muscles. The notochord consists of a core of semi-fluid cells enclosed in a fibrous sheath. The notochord extends the length of the animals body. In vertebrates, the notochord is only present during the embryonic stage of development, and is later replaced when vertebrae develop around the notochord to form the backbone. In tunicates, the notochord remains present throughout the animals entire life cycle. Chordates have a single, tubular nerve cord that runs along the back (dorsal) surface of the animal which, in most species, forms a brain at the front (anterior) end of the animal. They also have pharyngeal pouches that are present at some stage in their life cycle. In vertebrates, pharyngeal pouches develop into various different structures such as the middle ear cavity, the tonsils, and the parathyroid glands. In aquatic chordates, the pharyngeal pouches develop into pharyngeal slits which serve as openings between the pharyngeal cavity and the external environment. Another characteristic of chordates is a structure called the endostyle, a ciliated groove on the ventral wall of the pharynx that secretes mucus and traps small food particles that enter the pharyngeal cavity. The endostyle is present in tunicates and lancelets. In vertebrates, the endostyle is replaced by the thyroid, an endocrine gland located in the neck. Key Characteristics The key characteristics of chordates include: notochorddorsal tubular nerve cordpharyngeal pouches and slitsendostyle or thyroidpostnatal tail Species Diversity More than 75,000 species Classification Chordates are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Chordates are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Lancelets (Cephalochordata) - There are about 32 species of lancelets alive today. Members of this group have a notochord that persists throughout their entire life cycle. Lancelets are marine animals that have long narrow bodies. The earliest known fossil lancelet,Yunnanozoon,  lived about 530 million years ago  during the Cambrian Period. Fossil lancelets were also found in the famous fossil beds of the Burgess Shale in British Columbia.Tunicates (Urochordata) - There are about 1,600 species species of tunicates alive today. Members of this group include sea squirts, larvaceans and thaliaceans. Tunicates are marine filter-feeders, most of which live a sessile life as adults, attached to rocks or other hard surfaces on the seafloor.Vertebrates (Vertebrata) - There are about 57,000 species of vertebrates alive today. Members of this group include lampreys, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fishes. In vertebrates, the notochord is replaced during development by multiple ver tebrae that make up the backbone. Sources Hickman C, Robers L, Keen S, Larson A, IAnson H, Eisenhour D. Integrated Principles of Zoology 14th ed. Boston MA: McGraw-Hill; 2006. 910 p. Shu D, Zhang X, Chen L. Reinterpretation of Yunnanozoon as the earliest known hemichordate. Nature.  1996;380(6573):428-430.

Macbeth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Macbeth - Essay Example This order doesn't seem to be something Duncan thought carefully about and seems to be a violation of justice in that Cawdor is denied a final defense. Macbeth's murder of the king reasserts justice for Cawdor, but it violates the justice of his society. Also, Duncan's actions are repeated by Macbeth when he orders the murder of Macduff’s family and the execution of Banquo. Because he has violated justice, Macbeth suffers mental torture that eventually leads to his own destruction. This illustrates how a king who resorts to violence as a means of asserting his power will be forced by his own nature to continue escalating his violent actions until he himself is destroyed. Macbeth’s elevation to Cawdor near the beginning of the play reinforces the witches' prediction and the idea that Macbeth is more committed to his own personal interests than he does to justice. This is a slowly developing process that begins when Macbeth writes to his wife about the prophecy and his pr omotion to Thane of Cawdor. Although he knows his only reason for moving against his king is â€Å"vaunting ambition, which o’erleaps itself† (I, vii, 25-27), Macbeth decides his commitment to Lady Macbeth and his greed is stronger than his commitment to the less tangible ideals of truth and justice that he's vowed to uphold. When Macbeth willingly participates in murder for his own welfare with no concern for the welfare of the realm, the consequences quickly escalate to massacres of perceived but often innocent enemies and the need for Macbeth to lie and deceive as a means of maintaining the perception others have of him. Because Macbeth has violated the rules of justice, he is unable to see innocence in friends and expects nothing from them but harm. His own violations force Macbeth to consider Banquo's possible schemes, leading him to order murder as a form of self-protection even though Banquo has sworn himself to secrecy after they meet with the witches: â€Å"I f you shall cleave to my consent, when ‘tis, / It shall make honor for you† (II, i, 25-26). When Banquo brings up the subject of the witches, Macbeth's betrayal causes him to assume Banquo will do the same. â€Å"Our fears in Banquo stick deep, / And in his royalty of nature reigns that / Which would be feared. ‘Tis much he dares; / And to that dauntless temper of his mind / He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valor / To act in safety† (III, i, 49-54). Macbeth realizes that he has Banquo’s silence only as long as keeping silent benefits Banquo. While Macbeth wouldn't have seen Banquo as a threat had he acted in the name of justice, Macbeth's violation of justice makes him see Banquo as a threat that must be eliminated. This is highlighted by the fact that Banquo had no intention of doing anything to bring about Macbeth’s downfall since he was excited for the benefits to his own son from the prophecy. Because he can't depend on justice to give him success, Macbeth must again turn to the witches for advice. â€Å"I conjure you by that which you profess, / Howe’er you come to know it answer me †¦ Even till destruction sicken, answer me / To what I ask you† (IV, i, 50-51, 60-61). He realizes that these are creatures of evil, but he has already turned his back on justice and has no other resource to turn to. For their part, the witches drive Macbeth to further evil action in his seeking of Macduff,

Case student of a site of adoult learning in san antoino Essay

Case student of a site of adoult learning in san antoino - Essay Example The clubs operated by curves, however, only provide fitness services to women. The organisation was founded by enthusiasts of fitness, Gary and Diane Heavin, who have been involved in fitness advertising. The founder had a passion for sharing information regarding health and fitness to women. The first club targeted women and provided comprehensive 30 minute fitness sessions, which proved to be highly effective. The successes realised by the first two clubs resulted in the massive expansion of the club. The club began undertaking educational training to people on how to operate fitness clubs, in different communities. This created the current franchise of curves, which reached over 7000 outlets in less than a decade. The organisation has been identified as the fastest growing franchise, globally, with presence in 85 countries and running over 10,000 outlets. Initial training, of the individuals running the outlets, ensures the organisation maintain s uniform operating standards. Within the online site of the company people can learn a lot regarding physical fitness as well as other elements regarding healthy living. The site provides free information on various aspects of fitness, including exercising, losing weight, among many others. The focus of the website is women, who commonly lack information regarding physical exercises which help individuals maintain their fitness. The website provides answers to fitness questions which visitors might have, absolutely free. The organisation provides information to empower members towards adopting fitness measures which enhance their health(Merriam & Bierema, 2014). The organisation itself provides very effective methods of keeping fit through exercise. The organisation has created a signature 30-minute workout which has been fundamental in ensuring the popularity of the clubs, globally. This approach ensures individuals running on a busy

The Purpose and Function of Business PowerPoint Presentation

The Purpose and Function of Business - PowerPoint Presentation Example The basic factors of running a business are land, labour, capital and enterprise (or expertise). Entrepreneurs are those who work upon developing and running a business. The entrepreneurs have to use the factors of production for starting a business. Opportunity cost refers to the alternatives that we leave while buying a certain product. We buy particular bread and leave the others; the left one is called the opportunity cost. Consumers have to undergo opportunity cost because they have to make choices while buying their products and services. Three examples of features of business are: Each business has its own goals and objectives for becoming successful and profitable. To increase market share, earning higher revenues and building a large customer base, utilizing latest technology, reducing labour costs are some of the objectives of businesses. To achieve all these objectives and purpose of the business, the organizations have to plan in becoming an international business as well. Once they make an international presence, they knock on many opportunities, have the chance to invest in latest technology and ensure that business operations are running successfully with higher profit margins. Importing and exporting, licensing and franchising allow new business units to commence and also allow the products and services to reach a wide audience at the global level. There are certain factors that are increasing the demand of globalization such as advanced technology, liberalisation of cross-border trade which allows the process of trading to easen, services that help international business in becoming successful, consumer demands, competition in the global business environment, the effect of political situations (favourable in many of the countries) and other such factors. These factors impede local organisations to have an international business expansion plan and deal with all rules and regulations of each country accordingly. 1.3 The legal and

MIH 514 - Cross Cultural Health Perspectives (Mod 4 SLP) Essay

MIH 514 - Cross Cultural Health Perspectives (Mod 4 SLP) - Essay Example He then lights a candle and places it on the floor in the center of the room, and shook his sacred rattle, commanding . The grating sound of the rattle draws all attention and he recites a ritual sometimes to the audience and sometimes whispered in the ear of the deceased. Soon he straddles the corpse and orders the gros-bon-ange to come out. When the gros-bon-ange comes out the priestess cuts tufts of hair from the head of the deceased which are sealed in a clay jar and later placed next to his body and buried with him. The spirit gros-bon-ange then roams among the family members and enters one of their bodies. This family member goes into a trance and tells everyone good bye one by one. The family member is then released from his trance and the gros-bon-ange then moves away to enter heaven (OGorman, 2008). They believe the body is then just an empty tomb that no longer holds any essence of the person who was there before. The final ritual at the end of the sequence of events is the breaking of a large clay jar. The jar is beaten into pieces and then buried. The clay jar represents the body because they believe that they body is made of clay and water and it is beaten to represent the cruelty of taking someone away from their life with their community. Finally it is buried and every single fragment is assured to be in the same place for burial. The Haitian people are encouraged not to have sorrow over the loss of this family member or friend as they believe this soul is soon born into the body of a new baby. Therefore there is reason to celebrate and not morn. However, it is of course difficult to do this and many times they will go to the celebration whaling at one minute and laughing and dancing at another. Catholicism and vodum are a necessary part of Haitian existence. God and the Saints of the Church and loas the ancestral spirits of Africa on the other. For Haitians, the

The Social Factors Influencing Consumer Decision Essay - 1

The Social Factors Influencing Consumer Decision - Essay Example Similarly, the purchase situation also has an impact upon the consumer decision making procedure (South-Western College Publishing, 1997). Hereby, the main objective of the report is to critically discuss the role of internet upon the five stages of consumer decision making process and how internet assists the consumers in their ultimate decision regarding purchase. The first step of the consumer decision making process prompts all succeeding activities. The consumer is bound to fill the gap that exists between the actual state and the desired state when the person’s threshold regarding the problem awareness is reached. It is the external as well as the internal factors that assist in triggering the problem recognition in such cases. In traditional markets, conventional marketing communication increases the demand by means of conventional media such as advertisements made on the television. However, the internet as a medium tends to be comparatively new and therefore novel forms of communication is required. Computer-mediated environments facilitate recognition of the individual needs (Amazon, 2012). In the context of consumer problem recognition, it becomes quite significant for the internet marketers to acquire the consumers in the initial stage. The marketers with the assistance of the databases related to the consumer information are in a good position to identify and predict the requirements of the customer. Amazon.com can be considered as one of the good examples of online business that intends to narrow the service gaps so that the customers demand can be satisfied. When the consumer begins to shop at Amazon’s online store, Amazon tends to comprehend their expectations.

Quiz 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Quiz 1 - Essay Example The renewed struggles to win over Ravenna, for instance, failed to deter the setting up of foreign-controlled regions at the heart of Italy. The subsequent occupation of the southern regions such as in the Po valley, and in the Balkans, is clear signs of the weakness of the imperial regime. Additionally, although reinforcements ordered by the leaders were successful at first, the operation witnessed an unprecedented number of settlers who streamed into the Danube in an effort to look for rich agricultural land, Byzantine fighters began to weaken. Military failures were compounded by the lack of resources to support the operations. As a result the regime decided to reduce salary of the personnel. Despite the earlier wins against the Persians, the regime had to grapple with defiance within the military ranks. The emperors’ commanders were facing disobedience from the fighters. During the Islamic era of the Six Century, Christianity struggled to assume prominence, and eventually managed to command a strong following in these rather Islamic regions of the East Mediterranean region and North Africa. The massive number of Christian followers effectively surmounted the influence of the regimes. Attempts by the regimes to put in place an orthodox of their liking generally failed because the society observed the differences in religious teachings, and conformed to their individual beliefs. The Antioch’s refusal to conform to the ecclesiastical influences fronted by Constantinople can also be attributed to the failure of the state actors to manipulate the Church1. Anastasios of Antioch, who was a close ally of Pope Gregory, made vigorous attempts to redeem the image of the society and revitalize government control in the wake social divisions by advocating the theory of Monoenergism. The leader thought that upon such reasoning, the society would be united under the government.

The Social Factors Influencing Consumer Decision Essay - 1

The Social Factors Influencing Consumer Decision - Essay Example Similarly, the purchase situation also has an impact upon the consumer decision making procedure (South-Western College Publishing, 1997). Hereby, the main objective of the report is to critically discuss the role of internet upon the five stages of consumer decision making process and how internet assists the consumers in their ultimate decision regarding purchase. The first step of the consumer decision making process prompts all succeeding activities. The consumer is bound to fill the gap that exists between the actual state and the desired state when the person’s threshold regarding the problem awareness is reached. It is the external as well as the internal factors that assist in triggering the problem recognition in such cases. In traditional markets, conventional marketing communication increases the demand by means of conventional media such as advertisements made on the television. However, the internet as a medium tends to be comparatively new and therefore novel forms of communication is required. Computer-mediated environments facilitate recognition of the individual needs (Amazon, 2012). In the context of consumer problem recognition, it becomes quite significant for the internet marketers to acquire the consumers in the initial stage. The marketers with the assistance of the databases related to the consumer information are in a good position to identify and predict the requirements of the customer. Amazon.com can be considered as one of the good examples of online business that intends to narrow the service gaps so that the customers demand can be satisfied. When the consumer begins to shop at Amazon’s online store, Amazon tends to comprehend their expectations.

Pediatric Echocardiography Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Pediatric Echocardiography - Research Paper Example The researcher states that due to the complexity in the mechanics, anatomy, and physiology of the heart, exact diagnosis of the cardiac condition is critical for management of cardiac disease. In the pediatric age group, the spectra of cardiac diseases are wide and also complex and hence arises the need for the reliable investigating tool. Further advances in this technology a couple of decades ago have led to more reliable and accurate forms of echocardiography, the 3D imaging, Doppler echocardiography, and tissue Doppler. These advances have posed a challenge to echocardiographers who need to be on their tiptoes in acquiring knowledge and also maintaining their skills by keeping abreast with the latest technology and changes. In this article, pediatric echocardiography will be discussed with references to its uses, limitations, impact on the professionals, impact on the patients, feasibility, and accessibility. Creating images of the heart using ultrasonic waves is known as echocar diography. The images of the heart are created using 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional or Doppler ultrasound. The test is routinely used in a clinical set up for screening, diagnosis, and management of various diseases of the heart. In the current medical era, echocardiography has become the primary imaging tool for the evaluation, diagnosis, assessment, and management of congenital and acquired cardiac disease in newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. The most ideal tool for assessment of cardiac problems is transthoracic echocardiography. The procedure is portable, efficacious and noninvasive and provides the detailed overview of the various anatomical, physiologic, and hemodynamic information of the heart. The various types of echocardiogram currently used are 2D echocardiogram, pediatric transesophageal echocardiogram, fetal echocardiogram, stress echocardiogram and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram. Pediatric echocardiography is unique when compared to adult echoc ardiography. There is a wide spectrum of diseases. Many of the cardiac conditions encountered are congenital.

Climate Change On Food Security Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate Change On Food Security Environmental Sciences Essay Roughly a billion people around the world live their life in constant fear of what to eat at night or how to provide for their familys and humanitys failure to give them better improvement has been one of its most uncontrollable flaws. This research paper talks about the negative effects of climate change on food security. Long term change in the earths climate especially a change due to an increase in the average atmosphere is what we call climate change, and many people are affected by it right now all around the world. Food security is a scenario that prevails when all individuals, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and healthy meals that fits their nutritional needs and meals choices for an effective and healthy life, but the negative effect, the adverse external effect changes these situation for people. Climate change has severe significance for food production and availability of food all over the world. Trying to view the overall impac t of climate change on our food can be tough. Constant Changes in the climate change like, drought and floods could pose as a challenge for farmers and fishers. Right now climate change is already having a great influence to the quality and to the quantity of food produced causing it to increase malnourishment. The topic of climate change and food security is a very sensitive issue to touch upon since food is one of the most important parts of our daily life. Imagine a year where there is no rainfall, or a cold weather in a wrong time of year, or even floods, they all can have a great deal of impact on local crop yields and livestock production. However not everyone around us is aware of these issues, therefore this paper informs people to realize that climate change can affect every part of food production like the impact of climate change on food availability. This paper manly focuses to inform people about the changes that climate change can bring to food production and what are the consequences of not being able to produce food. Impacts on Food Production and Availability Joseph Schmidhuber and his associates examined the effect of climate change on food security all around the world. The article reviews the impact of climate change and how it has a big impact on food production and food price. Climate change is most definitely to affect the manufacture of food in several ways. The more known impact of climate change on the volume and quality of food produced is the effect of weather patterns that are constantly changing over time, in addition these changes are varied based mainly on location and the effect might be greater in different populations (Schmidhuber et al., 2007). Worldwide the weather conditions are to become more unreliable than present, with the increase in the rate and asperity of intense events such as cyclones, floods, hailstorms, and droughts. By providing greater changes in crop yield and local food resources and greater threats of landslides and erosion damage, they can adversely affect the balance of foods resources and thus food s security (Schmidhuber et al., 2007). Liliana Hisas (2011) looks at the issues by assessing and collaborating population growth, food development, nutrition and undernourishment, and connecting these factors to climatic change, to measure the effects on food development. Recuperating more area fit for farming production is unlikely. Hisass research has shown that globally the amount of area that is useful for farming will remain the same in 2080 as it is today, because increases in useful land in some regions will be mostly balance by failures in others. It is the other two elements, water and different climate conditions which would most significantly affect food development globally due to climatic changes. The expected effects of climatic change on food development are farming in low-latitude areas, due to reduced water accessibility and adverse water balances; and water resources in mid-latitude and dry low-latitude areas, due to changes in rainfall (Hisas, 2011: 16). Wulf Killmann (2008) investigates in the article paper a wider view and examines the multiple effects that global warming and climatic change could have on food systems and food security. It also explains the adverse effect of not having enough food and not being able to produce food to feed a nation. Greater temperature ranges lead to heat pressure for vegetation, improving sterility and decreasing overall development. Greater temperature ranges also increases water loss from vegetation and dirt, enhancing water supplies while decreasing water accessibility. In many locations, growing seasons are changing, environmental locations are moving, and rain fall is becoming more unforeseen and not reliable both in its time and its volume. This is leading to greater doubt and increased risks for farm owners and potentially deteriorating the value of traditional farming knowledge such as when to plant particular crops (Killmann, et al., 2008). Agriculture is important for food security in two ways, it generates the food people eat and it provides the main earnings for 36 % of the globes total employees. In the intensely booming nations of Japan and the Hawaiian, this share varies from 40 to 50 %, and in sub-Saharan Africa, two-thirds of the working population still earns a living from agriculture. If farming growth in the low-income developing nations of Japan and Africa is seriously affected by global warming, the earnings of huge numbers of the non-urban inadequate will be put at danger and their access to meals uncertainty will be increased. Effects on the food production will impact food supply at the international and regional levels. Worldwide, higher results in in moderate areas could balance out lower results in in exotic areas. However, in many low-income nations with limited financial capacity to trade and high dependency on their own development to cover food requirements, it may not be possible to balance out p roblems in regional supply without increasing dependency on food aid. Effects on all forms of farming development will impact the earnings and access to foods. Manufacturer groups that are less able to deal with climate change, such as the non-urban inadequate in developing nations, risk having their safety and wellbeing composed (Killmann, et al., 2008). To be food secure, a nation, family, or individual needs regular access to adequate food resources. The concept of food stability represents the accessibility and availability to food. Climate uncertainty is an important aspect in a constant food supply. For example, the expected improvement in rate and asperity of intense events such as flooding and droughts can create significant changes in crop and local food resources. In addition, agriculture workers and others who rely on farming earnings in a region where extreme weather activities are increasing would be at high chance of losing their income and, their ability to purchase food (Hisas, 2011: 23). It also will lower the lifestyle conditions of farm owners, fisherman and forest-dependent individuals who are already inferior and food insecure. Hunger and lack of nutrition will increase. Non-urban areas reliant on farming in a weak environment will face an immediate chance of increased crops failing and lack of livestock. Mostly a t danger are individuals living along shorelines, in floodplains, hills, dry areas, and the arctic. In general, the inadequate will be at probability of food uncertainty due to lack of resources and lack of sufficient insurance policy (Killmann, et al., 2008). Climate change will have a great effect on all aspect of food security, like food availability, food stability, and food consumption. The value of the many matter and the overall effect of climate change on food security will be different across areas and over time and, most of all, is identified by the overall position that a country has achieved as the effects of climate change has set in.

Mourning and Melancholia in Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls Essay

Mourning and Melancholia in Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) begins with a quotation from John Donne’s â€Å"Meditation XVII.† With this epigraph, Hemingway identifies the source of his title and defines the connections achieved between human beings through mourning.: Donne’s argument begins, â€Å"No man is an island,† and it concludes with an assertion of our bond to the dead: â€Å"never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.† Proper mourning acknowledges the losses to our self in the death of another. Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls depicts such connections to the dead and examines the emotional effects of incomplete mourning in terms that parallel Freud’s own comments in â€Å"Mourning and Melancholia†(1917. Hogarth Press edition 1937). Hemingway’s novel about mourning concludes by depicting Robert Jordan, the American volunteer in Spain, as he prepares for his death. Jordan accepts the inevitability of this death and he designs a ritual which expresses his commitment to his lover, Maria, and contributes to the successful retreat of the members the guerrilla band (401-10). He provides a last effort of participation in their struggle against fascism and affirms his 1 Page 2 connection to the future of Spain. In a parallel to the argument of Donne’s â€Å"Meditation,† Jordan’s death while fighting as a volunteer in the Spanish Civil War is presented as a loss to fascism suffered by the people of all the republican nations of the world. In a report published in 1938 Hemingway wrote of the deaths of such volunteers of the International Brigades, and said, â€Å"They die fighting for you† (Hem on War 293). The depiction of Jordan’s life and death parallels the ... ...ocative that Rickman’s edition of Freud’s essay appeared shortly before publication of For Whom the Bell Tolls. Gajdusek, Robert E. (2002). Hemingway In His Own Country. Notre Dame Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press. 11 Page 12 Gellhorn, Martha. (1986). The Face of War. New York: Atlantic Press Ed, 1988. Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. (1940 ) Blakiston: Philadelphia. ________________.By-Line Ernest Hemingway. (1967) New York: Scribners. ________________ Hemingway on War.(2003 ) Ed. with an Introduction, Sean Hemingway. New York: Scribners. Myers, Jeffrey. (2000) Hemingway: Life into Art. New York: Cooper Square Press Nelson, Cary (1994). Remembering Spain: Hemingway’s Civil War Eulogy and the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Winnicott, D.W. Playing and Reality. (1971) London: Pelican, 1980. 12

Essay on Appearance vs Reality in Everyday Use and The Gilded Six-Bits

Appearance versus Reality in Alice Walker's and Zora Neale Hurston's Everyday Use and The Gilded Six-Bits  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   In "The Gilded Six-Bits" it appears that Otis D. Slemmons, the towns newest arrival, is rich, but by closer inspection by Joe Banks and Missie May, is found to be poor.   In "Everyday Use," Maggie doesn't appear to be smart enough to honor and appreciate her heritage, but she and not Dee/Wangero is really preserving the family traditions as well as heritage.   Both "The Gilded Six-Bits" by Zora Neale Hurston and "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker have the theme of appearance and reality.    Hurston and Walker use the theme of appearance versus reality to convey the message that things aren't always as simple as the outward appearances suggest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The theme of appearance and reality is seen in "The Gilded Six-Bits" upon our first meeting Joe Banks and Missie May.   Even out first glimpse into their lives, we don't know they are married. It seems they are only dating.   Lillie P. Howard, author of the book Zora Neale Hurston, states, "The Gilded Six-Bits is the story of a beautiful marriage beset by difficulties, of trials and successes, of appearances and reality" (151). Joe admired Slemmons.   He says, "Yeah, he's up to date.   He got de finest clothes Ah ever seen on a colored man's back" (2089). Joe also admired Slemmons coins "He's got a five-dollar gold piece for a stick pin and he got a ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain and his mouf is jes' crammed full of gold teethes.   Sho wisht it wuz mine" (2089-90). Slemmons gave the impression to Joe and the rest of the town that he had lots of money and expensive jewelry. Joe wants the possessions that Slemmons has, and Mis sie wants him to have them too.   Ã‚  Ã‚  ... ...ity, v. XXI, no. 3, Summer, 1985.   Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler, v. 5.   Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1990.   Baym, Nina, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature.   Shorter fifth edition.  New York: Norton, 1999.   Hurston, Zora Neale.   "The Gilded Six-Bits" Baym 2087-2095.   Walker, Alice.   "Everyday Use" Baym 2522-2528.   Bone, Robert.   "Three Versions of Pastoral" in his Down House: Origins of the Afro-American Short Story, Columbia University Press, 1988.   Short Story Criticism. Fowler, Carolyn. "Solid at the Core," in Freedom Ways, v 14, no. 1, first quarter, 1974.  Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler, v. 5.   Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1990.    Howard, Lillie P.   Zora Neale Hurston.   New York: Twayne Publishers, 1980.    Winchell, Donna Haisty.   Alice Walker.   New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992.    Essay on Appearance vs Reality in Everyday Use and The Gilded Six-Bits Appearance versus Reality in Alice Walker's and Zora Neale Hurston's Everyday Use and The Gilded Six-Bits  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   In "The Gilded Six-Bits" it appears that Otis D. Slemmons, the towns newest arrival, is rich, but by closer inspection by Joe Banks and Missie May, is found to be poor.   In "Everyday Use," Maggie doesn't appear to be smart enough to honor and appreciate her heritage, but she and not Dee/Wangero is really preserving the family traditions as well as heritage.   Both "The Gilded Six-Bits" by Zora Neale Hurston and "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker have the theme of appearance and reality.    Hurston and Walker use the theme of appearance versus reality to convey the message that things aren't always as simple as the outward appearances suggest.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The theme of appearance and reality is seen in "The Gilded Six-Bits" upon our first meeting Joe Banks and Missie May.   Even out first glimpse into their lives, we don't know they are married. It seems they are only dating.   Lillie P. Howard, author of the book Zora Neale Hurston, states, "The Gilded Six-Bits is the story of a beautiful marriage beset by difficulties, of trials and successes, of appearances and reality" (151). Joe admired Slemmons.   He says, "Yeah, he's up to date.   He got de finest clothes Ah ever seen on a colored man's back" (2089). Joe also admired Slemmons coins "He's got a five-dollar gold piece for a stick pin and he got a ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain and his mouf is jes' crammed full of gold teethes.   Sho wisht it wuz mine" (2089-90). Slemmons gave the impression to Joe and the rest of the town that he had lots of money and expensive jewelry. Joe wants the possessions that Slemmons has, and Mis sie wants him to have them too.   Ã‚  Ã‚  ... ...ity, v. XXI, no. 3, Summer, 1985.   Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler, v. 5.   Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1990.   Baym, Nina, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature.   Shorter fifth edition.  New York: Norton, 1999.   Hurston, Zora Neale.   "The Gilded Six-Bits" Baym 2087-2095.   Walker, Alice.   "Everyday Use" Baym 2522-2528.   Bone, Robert.   "Three Versions of Pastoral" in his Down House: Origins of the Afro-American Short Story, Columbia University Press, 1988.   Short Story Criticism. Fowler, Carolyn. "Solid at the Core," in Freedom Ways, v 14, no. 1, first quarter, 1974.  Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler, v. 5.   Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1990.    Howard, Lillie P.   Zora Neale Hurston.   New York: Twayne Publishers, 1980.    Winchell, Donna Haisty.   Alice Walker.   New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992.   

Heathcliff of Wuthering Heights Essay

Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontes only novel, published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. Wuthering Heights is the name of the manor around which the story centers. Wuthering is also a Yorkshire word which refers to turbulent weather. The novel tells the account of the sweeping and fanatical love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, and how this unresolved obsession ultimately destroys them and others around them. The character I chose was that of Heathcliffs, around whom the story centers. The first paragraph of the novel provides a vivid picture of him, as Lockwood describes meeting him; â€Å"A capital fellow! He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld his black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I rode up, and when his fingers sheltered themselves, with a jealous resolution, still further in his waistcoat.. †. (Bronte). The novel begins with his introduction into the Earnshaw family, his revengeful scheming drives the whole plot, and his death ends the book. The want to understand his complicated character and his vengeful motivations has kept incalculable readers engaged in the novels since its inception in the literary world. Bronte spun a complex Heathcliff who defies being understood, and the charm of this multifaceted character has fascinated readers and will continue to do so evermore. The novel torments the reader with the likelihood that Heathcliff is something other than what he seems – that his malice is simply an expression of unrequited love for Catherine, or that his menacing behavior serves to hide the soul of passionate hero. However, his malice proves so great and long-lasting that it cannot be sufficiently explained even as a desire for vengeance against Hindley, Catherine, Edgar, etc. As he himself points out in the novel, his mistreatment of Isabella is purely sadistic, as he amuses himself how much cruelty she can take and still comes back for more. Critic Joyce Carol argues that Emily Bronte does the same thing to the reader that Heathcliff does to Isabella, testing to see how many times the reader can be shocked by Heathcliff’s unwarranted violence and still, masochistically, insist on seeing him as a romantic hero. (Oates 48). Heathcliff arrived in the Earnshaw family by mere chance. Mr. Earnshaw found a boy who looked like a gypsy and had been apparently deserted on the streets of Liverpool. He brought the child home to join his own family and named him after his son who had died. All the members of the household were opposed to the introduction of the strange boy, in particular the Earnshaw children, who detested the darked-skinned Heathcliff. But Catherine quickly comes to love Heathcliff, and they become inseparable, spending many a day playing on the moors. After his wife’s death, Mr. Earnshaw begins to love Heathcliff to his own son, and when Hindley persists his cruelty to Heathcliff, Mr Earnshaw sends Hindley away to college, keeping Heathcliff nearby. Three years later, Hindley returns home after his father’s death to inherit Wuthering Heights and brings a wife with him. Hindley seeks revenge on Heathcliff. Heathcliff then finds himself treated as a common labourer, forced to work in the fields. Heathcliff leaves Wuthering Heights, staying away for three years, and returns shortly after Catherine and Edgar’s marriage. When he returns, he immediately sets about seeking revenge on all who wronged him. He lends large amounts of money to the drunken Hindley, knowing that Hindley will increase his debts and fall into deeper despondency. When Hindley dies, Heathcliff inherits the manor. He also places himself in line to inherit Thrushcross Grange by marrying Isabella Linton, who he treats very cruelly. Catherine gets ill, gives birth to a daughter, and dies. Isabella flees to London and gives birth to Heathcliff’s son, named Linton after her family. Isabella dies thirteen years later, and Linton comes to live with his father, who treats his sickly, whining son even more cruelly than he treated his mother. Three years later, young Catherine meets Heathcliff on the moors, and makes a visit to Wuthering Heights to meet Linton. She and Linton begin a secret romance, but it soon becomes evident that Linton is pursuing Catherine only because Heathcliff is forcing him. Heathcliff forces Catherine to marry Linton, who dies very shortly afterwards. Edgar is also dead. Catherine is forced to live as a common servant at Wuthering Heights, while Thrushcross Grange is rented to Mr. Loockwood. Although Catherine originally mocked Hareton’s ignorance and illiteracy (in an act of retribution, Heathcliff ended Hareton’s education after Hindley died), Catherine grows to love Hareton as they live together at Wuthering Heights.. Heathcliff becomes more and more obsessed with the memory of the elder Catherine, to the extent that he begins speaking to the ghost. Everything reminds of her. Shortly after a night spent walking on the moors, Heathcliff dies. Hareton and Catherine plan to be married, and they inherit Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange after Heathcliff’s death. The most hauntingly beautiful aspect about this novel is the extent of Heathcliffs love for Catherine even after her rejection of him (although she professed ever-lasting love) by marrying Edger. His love survives the rejection and continues undaunted. His loyalty to her is unwavering in spite of the emotional rejection. When Catherine falls ill, he exclaims that life without her would be hell. Her death kills his love for her and he focuses his existence on exacting revenge. His thwarted passion converts into an obsession for destruction and revenge. The love that Catherine and Heathcliff share is not mere romantic love; nor is it based on physical attraction. It is a coming together of souls, as they professed to be soul-mates. Heathcliffs motivations and brutality can be understood to some extent when one brings into consideration the cruelty he had to endure as a child at the hands of the superior richer classes. He becomes persistent, and anti social to protect himself from the humiliation suffered in his earlier years. He is the incarnation of pauperization masses rejected by the system as human refuse; and his revenge can be seen as that of accumulated class hatred which brings down members of the privileged social class. He was only a child when he wished to avenge Hindley; ‘I’m trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I don’t care how long I wait, if I can only do it last. I hope he will not die before I do it. ’ (Bronte 64). The root of his bitterness is the consequences of the actions of the adults towards him. The recollection of the humiliation which he experience in his childhood left a devastating effect on him, impressed upon his soul like a heated iron; the undeserving spanking from Hindley and the contempt of the Lintons who exclaimed that there was no place for a gypsy in a decent house. Their daughter Isabelle, whom he later married, detested him and suggested to her father to throw him into the basement, while Edgar compared his hair to the mane of a horse. But the cruelest were Catherine’s words: ‘It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Bronte 80) The basic motivation of Heathcliff’s actions has a social background. From the beginning of the novel and most likely from the beginning of his life, he has endured rejection and pain. When he is brought to Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnshaw, he is viewed as a thing rather than a child. The subject of revenge is so important in Wuthering Heights that it is compared to a renaissance tragedy of revenge: Admiration provoked by such a creature fascinates imagination and we are almost terrified by this creature, but still, he was added a trait of kindness which will make us feel compassion, almost respect. (Kovacevic, p. 268 ). Heathcliff’s character is emotionally explicable; from the first memories of Nelly Dean, his portrait was built in front of the reader. He was a sullen, patient child; hardened, perhaps, to ill-treatment: he would stand Hindley’s blows without winking or shedding a tear. Heathcliff’s revenge occupies the biggest part of the book. His hatred takes on sick proportions and includes even his own son Linton and Catherine’s daughter. His cruelty and embitterers were necessary to Emily Bronte so that his infatuation could be exaggerated to incredible proportions. In spite of that, Heathcliff doesn’t seem to be a man lacking a conscience or a pathological sadist. At the end of the novel, when Heathcliff’s revenge has subsided in the sequence of crimes, he suffered most: after Catherine’s death he is left without his life’s goal, unhappy, and wished for spiritual peace which only her grave could give him. ? Works Cited Bronte, Emily, Wuthering Heights, 1847. Kovacevic, I. Istorija Engleske, Wuthering Heights, a Selection of Critical Essays. Beograd, 1979. Oates, Carol, The Magnanimity of Wuthering Heights, Originally published in Critical Inquiry, Winter 1983. Reprinted in The Profane Art : Essays and Reviews.

Analysis Batangas University by Porter 5 Forces

There are a number of models and frameworks used in the analyses of competitiveness of engineering universities in the context of internationalization and globalization. Although much can be derived from such analyses, it is argued that universities that can be harnessed to provide competitive advantage can be best analyzed when regarded as an industry.In this study, the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering was determined based on Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Model and was defined by the following: the threat of new entrants, rivalry among existing firms within an industry, the threat of substitute products or services, the bargaining power of suppliers, and the bargaining power of buyers. The intensity of threats of new entering universities, short-term substitutes, and rivalry among existing universities were determined over the strength of Batangas State University College of Engineering as supplier, and as viewed by the industries and alu mni as buyers.PURPOSEThis paper examined the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering using Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Model. It assessed the competitive edge of the College as perceived by alumni and other stakeholders vis-à  -vis other engineering institutions, which highlighted the applicability of this model in determining the competitiveness of the College.DESIGN / METHODTo be able to analyze the competitive advantage of Batangas State University College of Engineering over the other existing engineering schools in Batangas, its graduates from twelve engineering programs over the last five years were surveyed. This determined the graduates’ assessment of faculty competence in different aspects, effectiveness of its curriculum, and the capability of the university in providing quality services to the students.On the other hand, the personnel from different companies in the region were included in the population of this study to det ermine their assessment of the competitiveness of the graduates of Batangas State University College of Engineering. The respondents of this study were 386 alumni out of 2,197 graduates from twelve engineering programs of Batangas State University from the school year (SY) 2005-2006 to SY 2009-2010. On the other hand, a total of 52 respondents from major industries in the CALABARZON region were the second group of respondents of the study.RESULTSResults revealed that the perceptions of the alumni and industry partners on the College’s competitiveness as regards buyer power, supplier power, threats of new entry and rivalry among existing competitors were relatively high. On the other hand, they had an average perception on the competitiveness of the College’s programs considering threats of substitutes .CONCLUSIONPorter’s Five Competitive Forces Model has been found applicable in the analysis of competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering similar to that in business entities to have distinct attributes and capabilities which are presented to their clientele if they are to have a strong market and competitive position.The results underscore the competitiveness of the University in terms of faculty, curriculum and other attributes that make it a University of choice by students for an engineering education. Despite these, it is challenged by  aggressive competition by other institutions and by alternative substitute modes of learning equal to an engineering degree.KEYWORDSPorter's Five Competitive Forces, competitive advantage, differentiation strategiesIntroductionGlobalization has become inevitably beyond the control of individual Higher Education Institutions and governments. Characteristically, since global cities have a high density of participation in higher education, there is a strong positive correlation between the higher education enrolment ratio of a nation or a region, and its global competitive performa nce (Bloom, 2005). Future opportunities and challenges for internationalization of higher education must be explored in order to respond to globalization of societies, cultures, economies and labor markets (Kà ¤lvermark & Wende, 1997).There has been a continuing interest in the analysis of forces that induce impact on organizations, particularly those that can be harnessed to provide competitive advantage like universities. (Thurlby, 1998).The Batangas State University stands as a university offering engineering education anchored on its mission and the mandates of the Commission on Higher Education. Having acquired recognition for its engineering education through the years, there is a felt need to verify how it stands as to the entities it has served: the alumni, and the market – the industries.One of the bases of competitiveness is readiness for internationalization. Termed as internationalization of tertiary education (ITE), this means integrating international, intercul tural or global dimension into the goals, functions, and delivery of higher education (Knight and de Wit, 1997) as cited by Eglitis and Panina (2010). Evidently, this is seen in the crafted vision of Batangas State University, which has geared its direction in the shaping of a global Filipino. Also, the Batangas State University is governed by national regulations, policies and norms which according to Duczmal (2006) may have an impact on students and their academic and  personal and social behaviors as well as their choice of university.To date, the College is home to 122 top performers in national licensure examinations notably in mechanical, electrical, electronics and communications, civil, chemical, environmental and sanitary and architecture programs, and the graduates’ performance in national licensure examinations is consistently higher than the national passing percentage expected among engineering graduates. As a result of the efforts to continuously improve the q uality of its curricular programs, faculty, and research capabilities, it has become a university of choice by future engineering students and one of the top producers of globally competitive professionals in the region.According to Porter, it is imperative that organizations have their own strategies that reflect their needs and plans, given the institutional arrangements and external conditions. The Batangas State University took the risk of program differentiation when it started offering programs other engineering schools in the province did not offer. It adapted by making the faculty strong by sending them for advanced studies and trainings abroad to prepare them for the instructional needs and challenges of the new programs.To Porter, this move shows the competitiveness of an organization. Organizations adapting to new institutional arrangements and new demands will choose the way they respond and reorganize themselves. One way is to create added value to its products which in this context, Batangas State University did. Duczmal (2006) had cited not-for-profit organizations, such as a higher education institutions use added value strategies not just for money but works for value for society and performance of their mission, as well.MethodologyThe study was anchored on the theory of Michael Porter on competitiveness which is a tool used to analyze an industry’s or company’s structure and their corporate strategies. This will present the different competitiveness models and frameworks as applied to business and knowledge intensive organizations. Industry analysis in higher education institution was also presented to show the appropriateness of Porter theory in the analysis of competitiveness of universities.The respondents of this study were the 386 alumni out of 2,197 graduates over the past five years from twelve engineering programs of Batangas State University from the school year (SY) 2005-2006 to SY 2009-2010. The number of respondents used exceeds the 339 minimum required number of samples determined using Slovin’s Formula with a margin of error of 0.05, distributed to different programs using stratified proportional sampling technique. On the other hand, a total of 52 respondents from major industries in CALABARZON region were the second group of respondents in the study.Survey Questionnaire DesignGenerally, the developed questionnaire consisted of seven sections (Sections A to G). The first six sections (Sections A to F) were intended for alumni respondents while the seventh section (Section G) was aimed for industry personnel who were able to handle Batangas State University College of Engineering graduates and trainees. The responses of the respondents to the questionnaire items were given scalar values of 1-5 with 1 as the lowest to 5 as the highest.Section A. This part of the questionnaire dealt with the general criteria in choosing engineering university. This includes affordability, adequacy of fac ilities, laboratories and library resources, availability of scholarships, efficiency of students’ services, accreditation of programs, honors and achievements earned by the university, and linkages with industries and other agencies. This reflects the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering as based on Porter’s buyer power attribute as perceived by alumni.Section B. This part pertained to faculty competence as to professional qualification, advanced education, sufficiency of teaching experience and training, affiliation to professional organizations, participation to seminars and conferences, and linkages with the industry. This reflects the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering based on Porter’s supplier power attribute as to  faculty competence as perceived by alumni.Section C. This was concerned with the strength of the curriculum as to submission to Commission on Higher Education standards, updated ness and responsiveness to industry needs, and involvement of the stakeholders in its revision. This reflects the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering based on Porter’s supplier power attribute as to curriculum as perceived by alumni.Section D. This section dealt with the strength or limitations of Batangas State University as compared to other existing engineering schools in Batangas with regard performance, affordability, faculty, accreditation, research and innovation, awards and honors, linkages and international affiliation. This reflects the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering as based on Porter’s attribute of rivalry as perceived by alumni.Section E. This contained the preference to other substitutes to engineering courses which includes enrollment to short term or technical courses, affiliation to some professional organization, and enrollment to some online programs. This indicates the competitiven ess of Batangas State University College of Engineering as based on Porter’s threats of substitute attribute as perceived by alumni.Section F. This part focused on the acceptability of Universities that introduce new engineering programs that are competitive in providing engineering education. This shows the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering based on Porter’s threats of new entry attribute as perceived by alumni.Section G. This concerned the attributes of the graduates of Batangas State University College of Engineering as well as the responsiveness of its curriculum relative to the needs of the industry. This reflects the competitiveness of Batangas State University College of Engineering as based on Porter’s buyer power attribute as perceived by the industries.Competitiveness ModelsIn the higher education literature, Pringle and Huisman (2011) observed that most models and frameworks for analysis are based on defining governan ce structure or coordination models such Clark’s Triangle of Coordination (1983), van Vught’s Rational Planning and Control Model (1989), Olsen’s Four States Model (1988) and Hood’s Comparative Framework (1998).Porter (1990) outlined his conceptual framework of competitiveness first in ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations’. At a broad level, Porter distinguished between two sets of factors that impact competitiveness: The social, political, macroeconomic, and legal context on the one hand and the microeconomic foundations on the other hand (Porter, 2004). In his research, Ketels (2006) pointed out that without microeconomic improvements macroeconomic reforms fail to achieve sustainable improvements in prosperity.Within the set of microeconomic factors, Porter distinguishes between the sophistication with which companies operate and the quality of the business environment Haataja and Okkonen (2004) synthesized the three competitiveness models as applied to knowledge intensive organization. This includes value chain, resource-based view and knowledge-based view.Porter (1985) pointed out that every activity in the process creates value for the customer through the chain of activities. According to this view, the chain of activities helps to develop knowledge creation and service processes.Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Model has already been applied in a wide array of businesses including non-profit organizations where competitive advantage is a central theme. As cited by Pringle and Huisman (2011), Porter’s model (1985) is anchored on microeconomics and despite criticisms from Mintzberg (1994) and others, it is still one of the most strategic frameworks used today. Since engineering universities can be harnessed to provide competitive advantage, it is in this context that Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Model was chosen by the researcher in analyzing the  competitiveness of Batangas State Univer sity College of Engineering.Industry Analysis in Higher EducationAccording to Collis (1997), industry analysis is based on the concept that all industries create value. The questions are what amount of value the industry can create and who captures the created value. The two forces that affect the size of the industry include threat of entry of new providers and threat of substitute products. On the other hand, the three forces that determine the division of the industry include power of buyers, power of suppliers, and the degree of rivalry. Together these five forces are considered contributory to the average profitability of an industry.Duczmal (2006) cited that some industries are inherently more profitable than others because of the distinct differences in their structure. In the analysis of higher education, the success of industry analysis lies in its focus at the various agents of change that operate directly or indirectly through the ‘five forces’. The framework considers the collective changes caused by the five forces, and how the resulting changes may reconfigure the higher education industry as a whole rather than looking at the impact of the individual forces or drivers.Each public and private higher education institution always strives to gain a competitive advantage in the market. (Porter, 1980, 1998). Having a competitive advantage over other competing organizations attracts prospective sufficient students, and further generate state funding and tuition fee income, which is necessary for sustainable development. Porter distinguished two families of business concepts or strategies useful for industry analysis namely: product differentiation strategy and efficiency or cost leadership strategy.The first type of strategy refers to the idea that the organization is unique for it serves  a particular market and offers products and services that are different from  the products offered by other suppliers. In the second family of strat egies, the advantage of the organization lies in its ability to produce its product in a less costly way as compared to its competitors. As further identified by Porter, strategies can be directed towards either a broad market; or specific market segments. In some cases, targeting the broad market may lead to an increased added value and a better competitive position in the market (Duczmal, 2006).In the case of higher education applying focus strategy, universities and colleges concentrate on a narrow student or program segment, and within that segment they manage to develop the best offer and capture the students’ interests. This discourages other providers from competing directly. In this case, students have less choice and are left with fewer alternatives to choose from.On the other hand, a broad market-wide business concept suggests a broad market strategy, where the products offered caters to a wider market segments. Organizations choosing the broad market strategy can a dopt the differentiation strategy or the cost leadership strategy, emphasizing price first then availability. However, most often they will mix both strategies, offering low-cost products to some consumer groups that emphasize the price first, and high-quality products to those consumers that are attracted by the brand and quality of the products (Porter, 1980). Universities that consider a broad market strategy offer a wide range of programs, including those leading to bachelor, master or even doctoral degrees.They may offer varied modes of delivery, including full-time, part-time and evening-time programs. Their offer is targeted at a wide array of students groups from different economic classes. They also try to attract students from rural areas by opening branches in smaller non-academic cities. Higher education institutions that decide to adopt such a broad market strategy need to have diversified sources of financial resources in the form of state subsidies or large endowments , or donations (Duczmal, 2006).Porter’s Five Competitive Forces TheoryAccording to Porter (1980, 1985) and Porter and Millar (1985), as cited by Shin (2001), a firm develops its business strategies in order to obtain competitive advantage over its rivals. This is done by responding to five primary forces: the threat of new entrants, rivalry among existing firms within an industry, the threat of substitute products or services, the bargaining power of suppliers, and the bargaining power of buyers (Figure 1). The threats of new entrants become a competitive force when they are new and render the same products and services. The easier it is for new companies to enter the industry, the more cutthroat competition there will be.Power of suppliers is the pressure suppliers can place on a business. If one supplier has a large enough impact to affect another company's offerings, definitely it becomes a competitive force to reckon and then it holds substantial power. On the other hand, power of buyers is manifested by the pressure customers can place on a business. Businesses have to adopt strategies so that they provide requirements and demands of customers as they have impact to the success sustainability and profitability of the business.Availability of substitutes is a pressure as buyers will have the tendency to switch to another supplier with a competitive product or service. These forces help analyze the intensity of competition to the profitability and attractiveness of an industry. Figure 1 shows the interaction among the different competitive forces.In the context of Porter’s Five Competitive Forces, the study presupposed that these could also be adopted as assessment factors in determining the competitiveness of educational institutions. Along this end, the forces were aligned so that they may appropriately be useful on the educational field. Supplier in the educational sector referred to faculty and curriculum.