Self instructional learning module

Designing an online learning environment Designing an online learning environment requires appropriate and relevant strategies to enhance successful learning. The learning environment must consist of clearly and comprehensively articulated learning objectives as well as the ultimate expectations. Since learning has to be conducted online, it is vital to come up with a website which is easily navigable.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Self instructional learning module specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Collaborative learning has to be enhanced through a learning structure that advocates for team work studies (Szuchman, 2005). Collaborative learning can also be enhanced through activities and assignments which tend to facilitate communication as well as participation among students. There is also need for computer facilitated elements through appropriate use of technology to enhance learning (Szuchman, 2005). There are various factors which need to be considered when designing a learning environment that incorporates both self instructional model and computer facilitated elements. One of these factors is known as learner motivation. For self instructional purposes, learners need to be subjected to a motivating learning environment. Learner motivation is important since it encourages students to work hard and also boosts their morale or self-esteem. Strategies which can be used for learner motivation include; recognition of hard working students through issuing certificates, presents and other prizes. Learners can also be motivated through setting up a reward system for those registering improved performances. Poor performing students can also be encouraged to work hard through setting up motivation and discussion groups for academic improvement (Trudy, 1997). For successful learning, resources have to be available and easily accessible. Learning resources can be made available and accessible t hrough setting up online libraries and giving guidelines to students on how hey can access the learning materials that are available. Some of the resources that should be made available for learning include books, stationary, web links and lecture notes. Students should also be allowed to access the internet for research purposes. In order to access the internet, computers need to be installed and connected to the internet (Stephen, 1992).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The learning environment should also consider learning by collaboration in groups. This is achieved through putting students in groups and giving them guidelines on how they can work collectively. Working in groups is beneficial because it helps students to learn new ideas from other and at the same time help one another to solve various academic problems. Learning by collaboration in groups also enhances the relation ship between students by facilitating respect and discipline (Trudy, 1997). Maintenance is another factor that needs to be considered when designing an online learning environment. Since learning is a continual process, all the learning resources, facilities, equipments and computers need to be maintained and sustained for future generation of students. Proper control strategies must be put in place to ensure that resources are not wasted. Damaged stationeries, computers and other facilities need to be repaired for re-use by students (Stephen, 1992). In order to create a productive learning environment, it is important to ensure that students are satisfied. Student satisfaction in an online learning environment entirely depends on the courses offered and their respective content. It is important to ensure that various students are enrolled for relevant courses that can be beneficial to them in future. The course content also needs to cover each and every aspect as required by the co urse standards. This will help students acquire adequate and relevant knowledge to enable them become competitive in the business and job market (Szuchman, 2005). The online learning environment should also be made virtual. A virtual learning environment will enable students to deliver and acquire learning materials from the internet, and make use of technology to come up with productive technological projects that are beneficial to the society as a whole.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Self instructional learning module specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Virtual learning environment will also enable creation of hyperlinks to students so that they can access lessons and lectures during their own free time and for revision purposes (Stephen, 1992). A rubric is also importance for an online learning program. A rubric is a tool used to access students’ performances in examinations, tests and assignments. Apar t from checking the performance of students, a rubric is also used to check adherence and compliance of students to course requirements. The tool needs to be made available for students enrolled in an online learning environment that they can comply with the course requirements for assessment purposes (Trudy, 1997). An online learning environment should also address issues of gender, race, culture and student’s backgrounds. An online learning environment should provide a free and fair environment for students from all corners of the world. The learning environment should not allow any form of discrimination especially in terms of gender, race and culture. Every student (both enrolled and applicants) should be subjected to equal opportunities in terms of education. The assessment systems should also be regularly checked to ensure that students are assessed equally and fairly (Szuchman, 2005). In conclusion, creating a self instructional module can be achieved through generatio n of an effective plan to present instructions to students. The instructional strategy for an online learning environment must involve all the learning components, student groupings, content sequence and the delivery systems (Szuchman, 2005). References Stephen, M. (1992). How to Create Online Learning Environments Instructional Strategy.American Journal of Education, 101(1), 60–70.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Szuchman, L.T. (2005). Designing online learning courses. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Trudy, D. (1997). Instructional Design for Online Learning. Education Journal, 88(4), 653–673 This essay on Self instructional learning module was written and submitted by user Mar1a to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

When it Rains, We need it to Pour! Professor Ramos Blog

When it Rains, We need it to Pour! Water is one of the most important natural resources we have here on Earth. However, this natural resource is becoming less and less abundant. There are people around the world who do not have access to this essential source. And it can be frustrating to see how much water we here in the United States are wasting. We need more programs and educational information being out out in the world about how much water is being used and how we can use water wisely. With more information we would be able to save our beloved planet, and help make a better future for the next generation.   In southern California, it is not uncommon to hear a news story about the current weather. SoCal is known for being hot and its a running joke that when it rains in Los Angeles everything shuts down, because the locals are not used to the liquid substance that occasional falls from the sky. And while this is all very funny, the fact that we do not have water in southern California is not a joke. California is one of the most talked about places when it comes to draughts and water scarcity. California has been in a draught for about 376 weeks, and it has taken a real toll on the economy, and way of life for so many Californians. Many Californians have been penalized for watering their lawns, or having too high of water bills. While on the other hand, there are universities around this state who have lawns greener than the average St. Patrick’s Day party in Boston. California is so divided when it comes to its water usage and that is why we need Californians to understand how i mportant our water is. In the year 2017 I had an opportunity to live in the town of Muizenberg, South Africa for a few months. While I was there, I heard on the news, and from many locals, that Cape Town and the surrounding areas were literally running out of water. This was a huge problem for me and the whole South African community because not only was I basically living in the ocean for the months I was there, but this meant that drinking water from the faucet was 100 percent out of the question. Drinking water out of a plastic bottle has its own environmental problems, but when its the only water youve got, you take it without any question. Today South Africa is has made many new changes, that have helped it conserve more water. While their water supply is still lessing, but they are working on conserving. Here in California we could use some of the same techniques that have helped the South African communities.   South Africa has started to reduce their agricultural water usage by 60% (Flynn). Many restaurants have developed a â€Å"dry† menu, meaning that they have started to use paper plates in an effort to reduce the cost of doing dishes (Cotterill). There are so many different and unique ways that the locals have been able to help keep the water shortage from hitting â€Å"day zero†. Here in California we would take some notes on what the South Africans are doing to not only help their situation, but to help the world’s water shortage. If more people knew about the fact that the average American family uses around 300 gallons of water a day (EPA), they might be more inclined to help the situation out. There are so many ways we as just Californians can help our water situation, and most of it very simple. So what can we do help? The main fix, and probably the most effective, is getting all of your pipes and faucets checked for drips. Leaks account for about 12% of the water a family uses in a day (EPA). We can also work on watering our lawns for shorter hours durning the day, or figure out a more water conscious landscaping alternative. There are so many ways we can help get the water shortage under control, that do not mean we have to give up everyday comfortable lifestyle. I am not saying that we need to cut down on you daily shower routine, because trust me I believe that everyone should shower daily. I am just saying that, that cutting down the length you just letting water run down your body, or the length of time you are waiting for your shower to heat up, could be cut down.   If we had more educational information about how to cut down our water usage, we might be able to save our planet. Water is the setting for most of our favorite memories, and I would love to keep going to my uncle’s pool, and keep going to the beach to surf, but if we are not able to keep our good water clean and enjoyable, we may soon see a world with empty pools just like Los Angeles in 1990s. We need water to be around for the future generations, and for today’s way of life. If more people knew about how badly we need water, they might be more likely to help solve this global and California problem.   Work Cited https://www.ft.com/content/b9bac89a-4a49-11e8-8ee8-cae73aab7ccb https://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/how-cape-town-defeated-day-zero-now https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water

Theoretical framework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theoretical framework - Research Paper Example There are three key theories that seek to explain business ethics. The stockholder theory expounds on the fact that businesses are only obligated to earn profits for their stakeholders and are not necessarily indebted to the wider society (Shafritz, Ott and Jang, 2005). This theory holds the premise that a company is only morally obligated to fulfill the expectations of the people who invest in it. The social contract theory, on the other hand, which is another business social theory, stipulates that all companies function under a tacitly understood contract with the community they are established in. Business decisions are often affected by the social theory that is supported a company. For instance, if a small company was approached with a buyout offer by a larger organization that is known for its unethical practices, the stakeholder theory would support its consideration of how its stakeholders would gain from its agreement to this contract (Shafritz, Ott, and Jang, 2005). Howeve r, the social contract theory would call for the consideration of how the bigger companies operations would affect the entire community. Business Economic Theories Business economic theories seek to explain how businesses function in local and international financial systems. The business cycles theory holds that during a business cycle course, an economy develops, reaches a definite peak, and then experiences a downturn which is then followed by a recession prior to beginning another upturn. Another business economic theory, the "under-consumption" theory, holds that an excessive amount of income is directed to the wealthier classes instead of being channeled into investments that will create more opportunities for the disenfranchised groups in society (Shafritz, Ott and Jang, 2005). This can result in social instability. Business Educational Theories Business education management theories are basically the foundation of any operational and productive businesses, and seek to explai n how the organizations of different eras have been organized. The classical management theory is a theory that seeks to explain the best way for employees to execute their responsibilities. It is divided into the classic administrative and classical scientific branches. The classical scientific division mainly has to do with scientific mindset of boosting productivity (Shafritz, Ott, and Jang, 2005). Later management theories which moved from concentrating on the division of tasks to the issues that affect employees, were based on concepts such as those espoused by Abraham Maslow; who theorized that all workers possess a hierarchy of needs that needs to be acknowledged and catered to so that they can experience satisfaction with their lives. The Japanese scholar, Dr. William Ouchi, would create the Japanese Management Style which supports Maslow’s hierarchy in its assertion that even though it is natural for employees to want to work, all jobs should be created with the aim of keeping workers happy by means of fulfilling their psychological needs. Business Leadership Theories In business organizations, good managers will inspire their workers and assist them to realize their personal as well as professional objectives. Business leaders accomplish this by using various leadership theories. The trait theory holds that leaders who have characteristics such as openness, intelligence, self-efficacy, adjustment

20th Century Humanities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

20th Century Humanities - Essay Example Artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque challenged the conventional methods of painting in perspective that was practised since the Renaissance. They came up with a new way of seeing things in the modern age, known as Cubism and it was the first form of Abstract Art. As the phenomenon of Cubism moved on to other parts of the Europe, it took different forms and names e.g. Futurism in Italy and Expressionism in Germany. In this way, Art took on different forms and names as new concepts developed and artists from different regions of the world contributed to the development and evolution of Art. This is a continual process that has moved on from the Twentieth century to the Twenty-first century. Hence, the importance of 20th century Art cannot be refuted, as the foundations of contemporary and future art have their roots back there. The Twentieth Century is also phenomenal in the development of cross-cultural art, which is the basis of globalization today. The invincible barriers between different cultures were broken down and the cultural values were assimilated; thus the cultural scene took on a new shape. Harlem Renaissance was one such phenomenon during the 1920’s when the African-American culture found new definition and dimension. It heralded the liberation of the oppressed and suppressed Negroes and they discovered new ways of self expression. This is exactly what the world shall desire in the future- liberation of man and assimilation of cultures in order to give birth to a global culture. For the first time in history, an attempt was made in developing a universal culture to promote harmony and encourage mutual cooperation. For those who look forward to the developments in arts and literature in the future can understand the relationship between man, society and Arts by studying 20th Century Humanities.

Business Ethics in the Business World Research Paper

Business Ethics in the Business World - Research Paper Example The world of business, naturally, is no exception. Applied in such a context, these principles come into play in all aspects relating to business matters, especially when moral or ethical problems arise. Organizations and individuals alike demonstrate their grasp of business ethics in everything they do. In fact, business ethics may encompass a whole world of subjects on its own, many of which touch on the nature of the relationship between an organization, its employees, its clients and its stakeholders. Regardless, the main point that comes into play is that of the concept of right and wrong - whether a given course of action is right and just with respect to all parties involved (Smith, 1952).  The origins of the entire concept of business ethics date back as far as before the Christian Era, having first been discussed in ancient times by Cicero (Goldin, 2006). His view on the matter, one in line with the principles of Stoicism, mainly holds that no single set of moral principle s can apply to all aspects of everyday life. This means that, while the business world is still bound by principles of morality, these principles are not necessarily the same as those ascribed to by laypeople; indeed, businessmen have every right to the pursuit of profit, as it is their way of contributing to society. At the same time, though, such right only extends insofar as it does not conflict with the common good, at which point the latter should always prevail. This directly ties into the related concept of corporate social responsibility.  ... The origins of the entire concept of business ethics date back as far as before the Christian Era, having first been discussed in ancient times by Cicero (Goldin, 2006). His view on the matter, one in line with the principles of Stoicism, mainly holds that no single set of moral principles can apply to all aspects of everyday life. This means that, while the business world is still bound by principles of morality, these principles are not necessarily the same as those ascribed to by laypeople; indeed, businessmen have every right to the pursuit of profit, as it is their way of contributing to society. At the same time, though, such right only extends insofar as it does not conflict with the common good, at which point the latter should always prevail. This directly ties into the related concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which in turn helps ensure that an organization consistently complies with ethical standards (Wood, 1991). In the academic context, on the other hand, business ethics is a fairly new topic of interest. Baumhart (1961) was probably the very first to discuss the subject in his studies, and is actually credited by DeGeorge (2005) as one of the main proponents of academic business ethics. At the time, the Cold War as well as the Vietnam War was well under way, and America as a whole was experiencing rapid paradigm shifts with respect to business and even society itself. In fact, it was during this time that most of the corporate giants we know today were born. Of course, the rise of these corporations also had certain detrimental consequences, some of which earned them the ire of the public. As further

Anti C1q Antibodies and Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Anti C1q Antibodies and Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells The complement system is one of the major effector mechanisms of the innate immune system and it plays an important role in immune defense. The biological functions of complement are opsonization and phagocytosis, stimulation of inflammatory reactions by anaphylatoxins and complement-mediated cytolysis of microbes, especially encapsulated bacteria. The complement system is formed by an enzymatic cascade composed of plasma proteins that, once stimulated, can achieve tremendous amplification and effectively fight the invading microorganisms (Abbas et al., 2009). Under certain conditions, a pathological immune reaction may develop against complement components, which on one hand reflects an underlying autoimmune process and may lead to inflammation and tissue injury on the other (Potlukova and Kralikova, 2008). The first component of the classical pathway of complement activation, C1q, plays a crucial role in the clearance of immune complexes and apoptotic bodies from the organism. Autoantibodies against C1q (anti C1q) have been found in a number of autoimmune and infectious diseases. They have been best described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, where they are thought to play a pathogenic role in lupus nephritis (LN). Their high negative predictive value for the occurrence of active proliferative LN, as well as their possible ability to indicate a renal flare as soon as 6 months in advance, have rendered anti C1q antibodies a novel non-invasive tool in the detection of active LN (Potlukova and Kralikova, 2008). The Complement C1q and Its Antibodies C1q is the first component of the classical pathway of complement activation. Together with the enzymatically active components C1r and C1s, C1q forms the C1 complex. Binding of C1 to immunoglobulins in the form of immune complexes leads to activation of protease function of C1r and C1s and further activation of the classical pathway of complement (Schumaker et al., 1986). C1q is a glycoprotein belonging to the collectin family with a molecular weight of about 410-462 kDa. It is a hexamer composed of globular heads attached to collagen-like triple-helix tails (Fig. 8). The globular heads of C1q specifically bind to the constant heavy (CH2) domain of IgG molecules or the CH3 domain of IgM. Each heavy chain of the immunoglobulin molecule contains only one binding site for C1q. Since C1q must bind to at least two heavy chains in order to change its conformation and activate C1r and C1s, its activation ensues only after binding to immunoglobulins in the form of immune complexes bound to multivalent antigens (Schumaker et al., 1986). Most complement proteins are synthesized in the liver by hepatocytes. However, macrophages can synthesize early complement components of both the classical and alternative pathways and can provide sufficient local tissue complement for opsonization without recruiting plasma complement (Colten et al., 1986). C1q is unusual, for a complement protein, that it is synthesized by tissue macrophages but not hepatocytes (Loos et al., 1989). In addition to being the first component of the classical pathway of complement activation, C1q has many physiological roles. C1q can directly opsonize apoptotic cells (AC) for phagocytosis. In vitro, C1q binds to surface blebs on AC but not normal host cells (Korb and Ahearn, 1997). C1q binds to calreticulin (CRT) in AC blebs and opsonizes AC for enhanced phagocytosis through C1q interaction with CD91. C1q can opsonize AC also indirectly through complement activation (Lu et al., 2008). Consistent with this, the finding that C1q-deficient mice have been shown to have an accumulation of apoptotic bodies in the kidneys (Botto et al., 1998); and macrophages of C1q-deficient mice and humans have a decreased ability to clear apoptotic bodies in vitro (Botto, 1998; Taylor et al., 2000). In this way, C1q promotes the clearance of autoantigens, preventing stimulation of the immune system and disruption of this process may lead to development of autoimmunity (Botto, 2001). C1q-opsonized AC also regulates DC production of cytokines, but data from different studies are not entirely consistent (Lu et al., 2008). Apparently, most studies report C1q inhibition of IL-12 production from DCs and that AC stimulated macrophages produce more IL-10 and less IL-12. This suggests a tolerogenic property of C1q which is consistent to the development of autoimmunity at C1q deficiency (Botto et al., 1998). C1q has also miscellaneous roles in regulation of multiple macrophage activities, in DC differentiation, activation and antigen presentation and in granulocytes, mast cells and fibroblasts regulation (Lu et al., 2008). There are several autoantibodies to complement proteins that interfere with the physiological regulation of complement activation in vivo, and each of these has been associated with the development of SLE. These antibodies are C3 nephritic factor, anti-C1 inhibitor autoantibodies, and anti C1q antibodies. In each of these cases, there is a chicken and egg dispute, since it could be argued that development of the anticomplement autoantibody is itself part of the SLE process. However, in the case of C3 nephritic factor, which stabilizes the C3bBbC3 convertase enzyme of the alternative pathway, 8 cases of SLE have been described )Sheeran et al., 1995; Walport et al., 1994). In each of these, the onset of SLE occurred many years after the development of the main clinical phenotypes associated with the presence of C3 nephritic factor, supporting the idea that the C3 nephritic factor was the egg rather than the chicken. History and epidemiology of anti C1q antibodies: Binding of monomeric IgG to C1q was first described in 1971, in sera from patients with SLE with hypocomplementemia (Agnello et al., 1971), and in 1978, precipitation of C1q by monomeric IgG was documented in the hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) (Marder et al., 1978). In 1984, anti C1q antibodies were found in patients with SLE (Uwatoko et al., 1984). Since then, occurrence of anti C1q antibodies has been described with varying prevalence in patients with autoimmune and also some infectious diseases (Wisnieski and Jones, 1992). Anti C1q antibodies were mostly of the IgG subtype with IgG1 and IgG2 being the predominant subclasses (Siegert et al., 1990). The prevalence of anti C1q in the general population varies between 2% and 8% (Potlukova et al., 2008). As is the case with other autoantibodies, the occurrence of anti C1q increases with age (Ravelli et al., 1997; Siegert et al., 1993). The mere positivity for anti C1q antibodies in an otherwise healthy individual does not appear to bear any pathological or prognostic significance (Potlukova and Kralikova, 2008). Pathogenic role of anti C1q antibodies: Anti C1q antibodies have high negative predictive value for active lupus nephritis (LN) suggesting a pathogenic role in SLE patients. In addition, the elimination of anti C1q antibodies from circulation by repeated plasmapheresis or C1q immunoabsorption brought alleviation of the patients symptoms (Berner et al., 2001; Grimbert, et al., 2001). The binding of anti C1q antibodies to C1q is mediated via Fab fragments and in contrast to immune complexes, anti C1q antibodies do not bind to globular heads of the C1q molecule but to its collagen-like tail (Fig. 8). The binding is very weak in the liquid phase, but achieves high affinity in the case of a conformationally changed C1q in the bound state exposing new antigenic determinants. Thus, any possible pathogenic role of anti C1q antibodies probably remains confined to local deposits of C1q in tissues (Potlukova and Kralikova, 2008). Another intriguing mechanism of the pathogenicity of anti C1q antibodies might be a switch from non-inflammatory recognition of apoptotic bodies by C1q and its receptors to inflammatory recognition when C5a and other complement activation fragments are generated during enhanced complement activation due to anti C1q antibodies at sites where C1q is recognizing nuclear antigens (Holers, 2004). Fig. 8: A simplified scheme of the binding of anti C1q antibodies to the molecule of C1q. Anti C1q antibodies per se do not seem to activate complement; however, their binding to C1q may amplify complement activation by increasing the amount of the bound IgG in a vicious circle manner. Furthermore, they might attenuate the physiological functions of C1q, including the capacity to activate the classical pathway of complement and to clear immune complexes and apoptotic bodies. Taken together, several different mechanisms seem to be involved in the pathogenicity of anti C1q antibodies (Potlukova and Kralikova, 2008). The presence of anti C1q antibodies in lupus is typically accompanied by a number of clinical and serological features. The complement profile is similar to that seen in HUVS, with very low levels of C1q, C4, and C2, and, to a lesser extent, C3. Anti C1q antibodies tend to remain positive in SLE for prolonged periods, and there is associated prolonged hypocomplementemia. This differs from anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels, which tend to fluctuate in concentration, together with inverse changes in complement levels (Pickering et al., 2000). Â   Â   Anti C1q antibodies in infectious diseases Anti C1q antibodies have also been found in some infectious diseases Prohaszka et al. (1999) have found an increased occurrence of anti C1q antibodies in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: 13% of infected patients were positive when compared with 5% controls. Furthermore, the levels of anti C1q antibodies significantly decreased during a follow-up period of 65 months. Interestingly, sera with detectable anti C1q antibodies were more likely to neutralize HIV than sera without them in in-vitro experiments. Saadoun et al. (2006) have reported an increased prevalence of anti C1q antibodies in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), with 26% being positive. Contrary to expectations, the occurrence of anti C1q antibodies did not differ between HCV-infected patients with and without mixed cryoglobulinemia indicating that immune complexes do not cross-react with the anti C1q assay and proving also the abundant presence of immune complexes in the circulation does not seem to be sufficient to provoke generation of anti C1q. Further studies are needed to elucidate their role and clinical relevance in other diseases. Measurement of anti C1q antibodies In the past, radioimmunoassay based on the binding of immune complexes to C1q fixed to a solid phase was mainly used to determine the concentration of immune complexes (Hay et al., 1976). Later, the solid-phase C1q binding assay was modified into an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For this purpose, either whole C1q or the collagen-like region of C1q was employed. However, the use of individually prepared ELISA kits with differently set cut-off limits for positivity led to a rather large disparity between the results of clinical studies. Nowadays, measurement of anti C1q antibodies in serum has become easier; thanks to commercially available and standardized ELISA kits using the whole C1q molecule as antigen (Potlukova and Kralikova, 2008). The main pitfall in the measurement of anti C1q antibodies consists in a possible binding of circulating immune complexes to the solid-phase bound whole C1q. However, it has been shown that the use of high ionic strength conditions in the incubation media inhibits any similar unwelcome binding and it renders the ELISA reliable for clinical use (Kohro-Kawata et al., 2002).

Free College Admissions Essays - A Loss of Innocence :: College Admissions Essays

A Loss of Innocence The United States of America lost its innocence on September 11, 2001. No longer are the vicious attacks on democracy in some far away country; they are now in our own backyard. President Bush said it best, "freedom itself was attacked by a faceless coward..." but now we know the name of that face. For many of us, this is the first time we have experienced what others around the world live with daily. As young people, we can have a profound impact on the future. We can start at this level by supporting our country and the ideals it holds dear. We must remember that the very privilege of an education is one that those who attacked us plainly detest. In fact, it is illegal for women in that country to pursue an education at all. Every step we achieve in the learning process is in defiance to those who keep their citizens ignorant. As students and citizens, we must realize that the power of education comes with a responsibility: to help people of all backgrounds understand that if we are to make any progress as a society, we cannot tolerate terrorism anywhere in our world. However, we must be careful not to express our outrage irrationally against people who had nothing to do with that evil act. One motive for the terrorist attack on our country was contempt for the freedom that allows America to tolerate those who hold different beliefs. Our future belongs to those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. As a nation, we are now at the crossroads: we can choose to allow those with evil intentions to have the loudest voices or we can stand together with one voice. It has been said, "All that evil needs to succeed is for

Dream: Electrical Engineering and Hard Work

Some people may say that dreams are hard to follow and it's impossible to be able to achieve them. But, that's actually not true. The fact is that dreams are the most amazing things in life; we all love to dream, love to hope and love to see our dreams come true. Our dreams are in our hands. We are the ones who control them; we are the ones who can make them either come true or not. In the article â€Å"A Vision of Stars, Grounded in the Dust of Rural Indian,† Somini Sengupta talks about Anupam Kumar, an Indian boy who lives and grows up in a poor family but has a big dream. He wants to works at NASA. In the article, the author describes the road to fulfill his dream as well as the difficulties he met such as poverty, difficulty gaining acceptance to go to college, the intensity of competition, and his failure on the first exam. However, Anupam never gives up on his dream and finally achieves his dream with his own determination and hard work as well as support from his parents and his teacher. Like Anupam, I also have my own dreams. My dream is to become a computer engineer because I love technology and I believe that in the future, computers will become indispensable to human life. I will definitely reach my dream because of the support from my mother, my determination and my passion for computers. I will reach my goal thanks to the support from my mother. When I was a child, I was introverted. I hardly left the house and often spent my time in boredom, I did not have a goal and I also did not know what kind of person I would be in the future. Despite all of this, my mother is a person who changed me and helped me determine a goal of my life. My mother is the first person who realized my passion for computers. Whenever we went to my uncle’s house, I always asked him to teach me how to use his computer. At the time, I did not realize that I loved to study computers so much. I thought it was just because of my curiosity, but my mother did not. She saw through my heart and she knew what I needed. Living in Vietnam, computers were outrageously expensive, but my mother worked very hard in other to give me a chance to a new world of technology. Since I have my own computer which I got as a result of a lot of sweat and hard work by of my mother, I feel like a fish returned to the ocean. I became a new person. I studied hard and got good grades and my life became more interesting because I have more friends not only in Vietnam but also all over the world. I think that my life wouldn’t turn a new page if I did not receive my mother’s support. Therefore, I always try my best to reach my dream and deserve my mother’s faith. Determination is one of my qualities which will help me reach my goal and one of the aspects of determination is hard work. I still remember the hard time I had when I tried to use a computer the first time. It was written in English and at that time, English was one of the courses I hated the most in school. But I liked computers more than anything else, so that I decided to study seriously. Every day, I tried to remember and understand ten computer’s vocabulary words. I tried to read book in English one page or two pages a day. That really was a hard time for me. It took me hours to complete two pages with help from a dictionary and I followed it day by day. After three months, I could read more than five pages in an hour because I knew more vocabulary than before. My computer skill also got better and I really enjoyed it. Another aspect of determination is persistence. Persistent people will not give up the things they follow or they believe in even if in front of them are a lot of difficulties. I am one a persistent person. For example, when I was in college, I had a difficult time with a programming course; it was too new for me. I could not understand at all and for that result I got only three points (out of 10) on the first exam. I wasn’t the only one who did badly; almost seventy percent of the students had the same grade like me. For that reason, almost half of the students gave up on that course after two months. But I did not give up so easily. I tried to understand and remember lessons in class. After school, I read a book, practiced at home on the material which our teacher showed us, and read the next lesson for the next day so that when I had a question, I could ask my teacher immediately. I believe that I can do better if I follow the things I believe in. Finally, I passed that course with 8. 5/10 on the final exam, whereas others students had to study again for the next semester. I think that hard work and persistence will still help me in the road to fulfill my dream. Passion for computers is also one of my qualities which will help me reach my goal. Since I knew how interesting computers are. I was excited by this machine. I had so many questions about this machine. I wondered how one machine could do so many things. However, computers were very expensive in the past; it was only for rich people and my family could afford it. My dream looked like impossible at that time, but the passion for computers in me did not let me stop thinking about it and it helped me believe in the future that I will have my own computer. The hope of having my own computer followed me in two years and finally my mother helped me make it come true. Since I have gotten my own computer, I have begun studying seriously; I knew what my dream is and what I need to do to make it come true. I borrowed books from my uncle and read it when I have free time. When I had a problem with my computer, I tried to fix it, but it was useless. My mother had to hire a computer engineer to fix it, and at that time fixing computer was very expensive. Therefore, I learned how to fix the computer by watching the engineer so that I will be able to do this myself in the future. Now, I am learning computers in the U. S. where the first computer was born. I believe that if we really love something we can achieve it by passion and hope. After read the article about Anupam Kumar and the road to fulfill his dream, I have more confident, hope, and power to make my dream come true. I am deeply gratitude my mother who did everything for me so that I have more opportunity to accomplish my dream. My experience with computers has taught me to be patient and persistent and never to give up. This is a lesson I can apply throughout my life – not just for computers.

Ad Reinhardt, American Abstract Expressionist Painter

Ad Reinhardt, American Abstract Expressionist Painter Ad Reinhardt (December 24, 1913 - August 30, 1967) was an American abstract expressionist artist who sought to create what he called, absolute abstraction. The result was a series of works known as the Black Paintings, which consisted of geometrical shapes in subtle shades of black and near-black. Fast Facts: Ad Reinhardt Full Name: Adolph Frederick Reinhardt Occupation: PainterBorn: December 24, 1913 in Buffalo, New YorkDied: August 30, 1967 in New York, New YorkSpouse: Rita ZiprkowskiChild: Anna ReinhardtSelected Works: Untitled (1936), Study for a Painting (1938), Black Paintings (1953-1967)Notable Quote: Only a bad artist thinks he has a good idea. A good artist does not need anything. Early Life and Education Ad Reinhardt was born in Buffalo, New York, but moved to New York City with his family at a young age. He was an outstanding student and showed an interest in visual art. During high school, Reinhardt illustrated his schools newspaper. Upon applying to college, he turned down multiple scholarship offers from art schools and enrolled in the art history program at Columbia University. At Columbia, Ad Reinhardt studied under the art historian Mayer Schapiro. He also became good friends with theologian Thomas Merton and poet Robert Lax. The three all embraced approaches to simplicity in their specific disciplines. Untitled (1936). The Pace Gallery Works Progress Administration Work Shortly after graduation from Columbia, Reinhardt became one of the few abstract artists hired in the Federal Arts Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). There he met other prominent 20th-century American artists including Willem de Kooning and Arshile Gorky. His work of the period also demonstrated the impact of Stuart Davis experiments with geometric abstraction. While working for the WPA, Ad Reinhardt also became a member of the American Abstract Artists group. They were profoundly influential in the development of the avant-garde in the U.S. In 1950, Reinhardt joined the group of artists known as The Irascibles who protested that the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York was not modern enough. Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, Hans Hofmann, and Mark Rothko were part of the group. John Loengard / Getty Images Absolute Abstraction and the Black Paintings Ad Reinhardts work was non-representational from the beginning. However, his paintings show a distinctive progression from visual complexity to simple compositions of geometrical shapes in shades of the same color. By the 1950s, the work began approaching what Reinhardt called absolute abstraction. He believed that much of the abstract expressionism of the era was too full of emotional content and the impact of the artists ego. He aimed to create paintings with no emotion or narrative content at all. Although he was part of the movement, Reinhardts ideas often ran counter to those of his contemporaries. In the latter part of the 1950s, Ad Reinhardt began work on the Black Paintings that would define the rest of his career. He took inspiration from Russian art theorist Kazimir Malevich, who created the work Black Square in 1915, referred to as the, zero point of painting. Malevich described an art movement focused on simple geometric shapes and a limited color palette that he called suprematism. Reinhardt expanded on the ideas in his theoretical writings, saying that he was creating, the last paintings one can make. While many of Reinhardts black paintings look flat and monochrome upon first glance, they reveal multiple shades and intriguing complexity when viewed close up. Among the techniques used to create the works was the siphoning of oil from the pigments used that resulted in a delicate finish. Unfortunately, the method also made the paintings challenging to preserve and maintain without damaging the surface. Black Series #6. U.S. Department of State embassy collections Despite the purging of all references to the outside world in his paintings, Ad Reinhardt insisted that his art could impact society and bring about positive change. He saw art as an almost mystical force in the world. Legacy The paintings of Ad Reinhardt remain an essential conceptual link between abstract expressionism and the minimalist art of the 1960s and beyond. Although his fellow expressionists often criticized his work, many of the most prominent artists of the next generation saw Reinhardt as a vital leader pointing toward the future of painting. Ad Reinhardt in Museum of Modern Art exhibition of his paintings. Robert R. McElroy / Getty Images Ad Reinhardt began to teach art in 1947 at Brooklyn College. Teaching, including a stint at Yale University, was a significant part of his work for the next 20 years until his death from a massive heart attack in 1967. Source Reinhardt, Ad. Ad Reinhardt. Rizzoli International, 1991.

10 Quotes to Help Celebrate a 30th Birthday

10 Quotes to Help Celebrate a 30th Birthday Some like a big splash, others like a quiet affair, but most everyone likes their birthday celebrations. If you like birthdays, even the morning of your birthday seems like the best morning of the year. Even if a cloud threatens to explode in the skies, you wake up feeling happy. You quickly go through your birthday greetings that come in the form of text messages, phone calls, and social media posts. And isnt it wonderful to receive flowers or a beautiful birthday cake, with a Happy Birthday card in it? You thank everybody who remembered your birthday. You feel a sense of joy when you express gratitude to your loved ones. Why Do We Enjoy Celebrating Birthdays? Once a year, you get the chance to be special. Friends, family, and loved ones wish you happiness, good health, and prosperity. They shower you with love, attention, gifts, and goodies. They spend time with you and share your happiness. The 30th birthday is special. You are now officially a mature and responsible adult who has the necessary wisdom to make important decisions in life. The 30th birthday heralds your adult status with measured indulgence. Here are some noteworthy quotes that put matters in the right perspective, ready to share in birthday cards and on cakes, during celebratory toasts, and more. Muhammad Ali The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. Hervey Allen The only time you really live fully is from 30 to 60. The young are slaves to dreams; the old, servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits. Anonymous At the age of 20, we dont care what the world thinks of us; at 30, we worry about what it is thinking of us; at 40, we discover that it wasnt thinking of us at all. Georges Clemenceau Everything I know I learned after I was 30. Charles Caleb Colton The excess of our youth are checks written against our age, and they are payable with interest 30 years later. F. Scott Fitzgerald Thirty- the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning briefcase of enthusiasm, thinning hair. Benjamin Franklin At 20 years of age, the will reigns; at 30, the wit; and at 40, the judgment. Robert Frost Time and tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of 30. Elbert Hubbard Ones 30th birthday and ones 60th are days that press their message home with iron hand. With his 70th milestone past, a man feels that his work is done, and dim voices call to him from across the Unseen. His work is done, and so illy, compared with what he had wished and expected! But the impressions made upon his heart by the day are no deeper than those his 30th birthday inspires. At 30, youth, with all it palliates and excuses, is gone forever. The time for mere fooling is past; the young avoid you, or else look up to you and tempt you to grow reminiscent. You are a man and must give an account of yourself. Lew Wallace A man 30 years old, I said to myself, should have his field of life all ploughed, and his planting well done; for after that it is summertime.

International financial services Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International financial services - Essay Example Intex is a third-party cash-flow projection technique that can provide accurate data on existing collateral investments and compute cash flow projection faster and easily. This enables the stock exchange to get the information they need faster and accurately for better decision making. Second reason is high frequency transactions in secondary market. This is because of two reasons. As the transaction frequency increases, the stock exchange has less time and fewer resources devoted to the primary markets. Secondly, high frequency transactions generate higher income to stock exchanges. Therefore, they will naturally put resources in areas that give them more money. Impact to the United Kingdom companies The first impact to the UK companies is reduction in their capital base. As the stock exchange concentrates in the secondary market, the primary markets experience shortage of skilled personnel who advises them on best ways of raising maximum capital for their companies. As a result, mo st companies may opt for other sources of capital because it is extremely hard to raise capital where there is no adequate help. Secondly, most companies take longer time to raise their capital from primary markets. This is because as the stock exchange gets busy with the secondary markets, they will be long queues of companies seeking help. As a result, there will be delays in getting assistance. 2. A company has the following capital structure, and all securities issued have the same nominal price of ?4.00. 400,000 5% Debenture Stock @ ?4.00 600,000 2? Preference Stock @ ?4.00 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares @ ?4.00 (a) the value of the gearing ratio and the significance of this ratio to potential investors Stock Quantity Price /unit in ? Amount capital in ? Debenture 400,000 4 1600000 Preference 600,000 4 2400000 Ordinary Shares 1,000,000 4 4000000 Total Fixed Capital 8000000 Gearing ratio indicates the proportion of debts used to finance assets in the company. The higher the gearing r atio, the riskier is the company. This is because most of the money used is borrowed from other sources other than ordinary shares. (b) When Directors decided to distribute only forty percent of the profit (?800,000), the dividend declared on ordinary shares is given below. =?320,000  The return on investment   (c) a. The price/earnings ratio  (c) b. The concept of price/earnings ratio and the significance to future Price/earning ratio measure the value of the stock. This is because it establishes the relationship between the stock price and the company’s earnings. When price/earning ratio is high in a given stock, the forecast earning growth is also high. It is a valuable ratio because investors can use to compare values of stock of different companies. Investors normally prefer stocks with higher price/earning ratio because it indicates higher returns. 3. The concept of Right Issues as well as advantages and disadvantages to the stockholders Rights issue refers to a n alternative means of raising capital whereby, a company issues additional shares or stocks to already existing shareholders in proportion to their shareholding in exchange for cash (Banerjee, 1990). For example, a company may offer rights issue on the basis of one rights issue for every six held by the shareholders. A company does this via seasoned equity offering or primary offering market at a premium or discount. The procedure for rights issue is easy. Once the issues

Role of land use planning in judicious distribution of population, Essay

Role of land use planning in judicious distribution of population, housing, and infrastructure and orderly development of the built environment - Essay Example nd efficient development of the built environment, as well as resolving adverse consequences of development such as; urban traffic congestion, quality of life, housing, protection of environment and security among others. It assesses the structure of cities, towns and rural landscapes and how land use planning influences them. It also highlights differences in;  built form, mix of land uses, density, and size of property / land parcels, street layout and neighborhood pattern, treatment of the public realm as well as public and private transportation.   Land-use planning can be defined as the organized evaluation of geographical, social and economic aspects with the aim of supporting and empowering land users in identifying sustainable alternatives that enhance their output and also facilitate accomplishment of societal needs (FAO, 1993). The idea of land use planning should not only be conceptualized in terms of production. Rather, many other aspects such as land utility for example protected areas, leisure neighborhoods, transport, water catchments and dumping sites among others. Berke & Godschalk (2006) observed that land use planning is practiced in all societies although some do not apply the phrase. Failure in land use planning leads to degradation and depletion of land resources as well as conflicts in the use of common resources. In rural landscapes, lack of land use planning leads to poor productivity of land. The built-up area significantly affects the functioning of cities. This is the area that comprises human activities except the open areas that extend to more than four hectares, land that is under cultivation, forest land, water bodies and other parcels of land that are under no productive use. Airfields and highways that are not adjoining the urban used land are not classified among the built-up land (Honachefsky, 1999). There are differences in the built form of different cities, towns and rural landscapes. Most cities’ built form is